cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-injection drug use and HIV disease progression in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy

Little is known about the effects of non-injection drug use (NIDU) on HIV antiretroviral treatment outcomes. We conducted a systematic literature search and identified nine publications from prospective cohort studies investigating the relationship between NIDU and clinical HIV disease progression. Hazard ratios from studies estimating the effect of drug use on time to AIDS-related mortality ranged from 0.89 to 3.61, and only two of these were statistically significant. Hazard ratios from studies assessing time to an AIDS-defining event ranged from 1.19 to 2.51, with 8 of the 14 estimates falling between 1.55 and 1.65 regardless of drug use definition and measurement of use or frequency. It is suggested that NIDU may have a moderate effect of increasing the risk of progression to AIDS, but its impact on AIDS-related mortality is uncertain. NIDU may affect HIV antiretroviral treatment outcomes primarily through interaction with antiretroviral therapy and, to a lesser extent, through immune modulation and deterioration of general health. The limitations about published studies are discussed, and future perspectives on research on this topic are provided.
On the properties of polarization elements as used in optical instruments. II. Sinusoidal modulators

The paper begins with a general formulation of the problem of the optimum polarizer. It is suggested that the problem must be investigated by studying separately each of the classes of applications of polarizers, and the rest of the paper is addressed to the derivation of the optimum polarizer for use in a sinusoidal modulator, defined as two polarizers rotating at substantially constant relative angular velocity. The optimum polarizer is defined as the one which yields a sinusoidal modulator whose operation upon a given beam of light yields a maximum signal-to-noise ratio in the transmitted light. An expression is derived for said signal-to-noise ratio, and from this a specific combination of polarizer parameters is obtained which is to be maximized. Explicit expressions are obtained for the values of the various parameters which provide the optimum polarizer; the results are exhibited graphically in Figs. 4 and 5.
Risk Factors and Treatment Strategies in Patients With Retinal Vascular Occlusions.

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and retinal artery occlusion (RAO) cause significant visual impairment. The role of thrombophilia and cardiovascular testing is uncertain, and optimal treatment strateg...
The Relationship Between Diet and Dwarfism in Diverse Genetic Backgrounds on Egg Parameters

Abstract The phenotypic expression of dwarfism on egg formation was investigated by examining the weights of eggs and specific egg components from diverse weight lines into which the sex-linked dwarf gene, dw, had been introduced. The dw gene depressed egg weights, with a realtively greater reduction occurring in the low-weight than in the high-weight line. When expressed as a percentage of egg weight, egg shell was reduced by dw in both lines. Percentage yolk and albumen were not significantly affected by dw. Absolute weights of all components paralleled body weights, with the exception of shell membranes which tended to be relatively constant. Feeding diets containing higher nutrient densities partially alleviated the depressive effect of dw on egg weights. High density diets also attenuated the depressive effect of dw on percentage egg shell in the low-weight but not the high-weight line. Diet did not significantly alter the percentage of either yolk or albumen. It was postulated that some of the detrimental effects of dw on egg formation were related to insufficient food consumption due to defects in the basic mechanisms regulating appetite and feeding behavior.
Vertical Buoyant Jet Analysis in an Enclosure Using ITM and LES

The objective of this study is to investigate vertical buoyant jets in an enclosure using Large Eddy Simulation (LES) methods with no sub-grid scale model. This type of methodology is called Implicit Turbulent Modeling (ITM). Two different boundary conditions are applied at the inlet, being a uniform and periodic forcing velocity distribution. To accomplish this goal, a numerical solver was written, named DREAM® , which is capable of solving three dimensional, transient flows using an accurate monotonic upwinding scheme. The three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are solved in Cartesian coordinates, with the control volume approach being implemented on a staggered grid. The numerical scheme uses a fractional time step method, Crank-Nicolson, with the overall spatial and temporal accuracy being second order. In ITM simulations, there is no explicit subgrid-scale model (SGS) used for the modeling of the small scale vortical structures. ITM simulations assume that through strict conservation of the fluxing quantities in and out of the cell, the grid resolution is fully capable of capturing the important scales of the flow. The control volume averaging techniques used in the ITM methods acts as an implicit subgrid-scale model, and the resolvable scales of the flow are only dependent on the grid resolution within the domain. The available experimental data, as well as simulations that used SGS models, compare favorably to the ITM simulations from DREAM® in most cases as long as an “adequate” grid resolution is maintained. Results show that the density stratification tends to accelerate the jet and increase the amount of turbulence present within the flow. Perturbation of the inlet boundary condition ensures a sooner onset of turbulence, which is faster than the non-perturbed inlet boundary condition. A similarity solution is achieved at approximately 8 and 13 inlet diameters downstream of the inlet for the perturbed and uniform inlet boundary condition. Comparison between the vertical buoyant jet simulations to the available experimental data shows good agreement for the jet width and buoyant path centerline locations based on the internal densimetric Froude number. The application of these methods to immiscible fluids shows a new dimension to ITM and allows for a high resolution of the resulting flow field without the need for an explicit SGS model.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Accelerating Maximum Likelihood Based Phylogenetic Kernels Using Network-on-Chip

Probability-based approaches for phylogenetic inference, like Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference, provide the most accurate estimate of evolutionary relationships among species. But they come at a high algorithmic and computational cost. Network-on-chip (NoC), being an emerging paradigm, has not been explored yet to achieve fine-grained parallelism for these applications. In this paper, we present the design and performance evaluation of an NoC architecture for RAxML, which is one of the most widely used ML software suites. Specifically, we implement the top three function kernels that account for more than 85% of the total run-time. Simulations show that through novel core design, allocation and placement strategies our NoC-based implementation can achieve function-level speedups of 388x to 786x and system-level speedups in excess of 5000x over state-of-the-art multithreaded software.
Chromium-aluminium orthophosphates, II. Effect of AlPO4 loading on structure and texture of CrPO4−AlPO4 (20–50 wt.% AlPO4 catalysts obtained in aqueous ammonia

The AlPO4 content in CrPO4−AlPO4 (CrAlP-A) systems has a marked influence on thermal behavior, speeding up the transformation of amorphous CrPO4 to crystalline β-CrPO4. Thus, XRD analysis showed that amorphous systems are formed at AlPO4 loadings less than 50 wt.% and calcination temperatures below 1273 K. Moreover, on 50 wt.% AlPO4 developed crystalline β-CrPO4 in CrAlP-A systems for every calcination temperature. Besides, at 1273 K crystalline systems (β-CrPO4 and tridimite-AlPO4) are formed for every composition. Moreover, surface area at any calcination temperature increases with the rise in the AlPO4 content. Also, a surface area decrease on increasing calcination temperature is shown. Furthermore, CrAlP-A catalysts thermally treated below 1273 K only exhibited hydrogen bonded hydroxy groups (υO-H≃3450 cm-1).
Analysis of ten novel rhenium complexes by desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry

The desorption chemical ionization (DCI) mass spectrometry of ten rhenium compounds is compared to the desorption electron impact (DEI) mass spectrometry of the same compounds. Using 10% ammonia in nitrogen as the reagent gas, the DCI mass spectrometric (MS) technique provided [M + H]+ ions for each rhenium compound. In most cases, the DEIMS method provided only fragment ions.
Contact activation of the plasma coagulation cascade. III. Biophysical aspects of thrombin‐binding anticoagulants

A biophysical model linking fibrin polymerization kinetics (following release from a thrombin-fibrinogen complex), coagulation time, and competitive inhibition of thrombin illustrates the utility of thrombin-binding ligands as anticoagulants in blood collection applications. The resulting mathematical relationship connecting fibrinogen, ligand, and thrombin concentrations was tested against experimentally observed anticoagulation of whole, platelet-poor porcine plasma induced by short, single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides originally found to bind thrombin by screening combinatorial libraries. The thrombin-fibrinogen dissociation constant Ks served as the single adjustable parameter in a least-squares fitting of the model to experimental anticoagulation data. Best-fit Ks values corroborated microM values measured in plasma-free systems, and application of the model to a ligand challenge to the intrinsic pathway of plasma coagulation corroborated nM endogenous thrombin concentrations measured in porcine blood activated by endotoxin insult in vivo. The model fit to data suggests that only about 20% conversion of blood fibrinogen to fibrin is required to coagulate (gel) porcine plasma. This prediction is consistent with the common clinical laboratory observation of latent fibrin formation in "serum" separated from blood before fibrinogen is fully converted to fibrin. It was concluded that the thrombin-binding anticoagulation model was a reasonable simulation of the situation in which an initial bolus of either exogenous or endogenous thrombin is rapidly partitioned between fibrinogen-bound and ligand-bound forms with little or no additional free thrombin created over time.
Effect of the expansion associated with the plutonium α-β-γ phase transitions on storage can integrity

Abstract The effects of the volume expansion of plutonium metal through the α–β and β–γ phase transitions on a stainless steel storage container were examined. A cylindrical plutonium ingot was placed in the axial center of an annealed stainless steel cylinder and thermally cycled until a steady state in the strain response of the cylinder was reached. The average plastic hoop strain was 1.47% and 1.55% after six and four cycles through the α–β and α–β–γ phase transitions, respectively. Elastic strain was ∼0.2%, indicating a 8.96 MPa back pressure on the Pu ingot. This is an order of magnitude less than the compressive yield strength of α- and β-Pu at the transition temperature. Metallographic analyses indicate that anisotropic expansion of the Pu ingot is due to preferentially oriented grain growth of the β-Pu along the axial direction due to stress applied by the steel cylinder during the α–β phase transition.
Amine modulation of extension command element-evoked motor activity in the lobster abdomen

1. Stimulation of small bundles of axons in abdominal connectives of the lobster (Homarus americanus), as well as application of two monoamines, octopamine and serotonin, can activate the motor pattern for tonic extension or flexion of the abdomen. To study the interaction between amines and these axons (which can be termed command elements or CEs, within a larger postural command system), the postural motor pattern evoked by stimulation of extension CEs in lobster abdominal ganglia was monitored in vitro during bath application of octopamine and serotonin. 2. Octopamine enhanced the CE-evoked extension motor pattern, while serotonin diminished the evoked motor output. These effects were greater than aminergic effects on spontaneous activity of postural motoneurons, suggesting a specific interaction with the CE-activated neuronal network (Figs. 1 and 2). 3. The time course of octopamine action was more prolonged than that of serotonin (Fig. 3). 4. Octopamine enhanced and serotonin diminished the ability of single CE-evoked excitatory post-synaptic potentials (epsps) to elicit action potentials in a postural motoneuron, F5 (Figs. 4 and 5). This was accompanied by an octopaminergic enhancement and serotonergic reduction in the amplitude of the CE-evoked epsp in motoneurons F5 and M15 (Fig. 6). 5. These results demonstrate that the final synapse from pre-motor interneurons onto postural motoneurons is one site of aminergic modulation of CE-evoked motor activity.
Inertial and slow manifolds for delay equations with small delays

Abstract Yu.A. Ryabov and R.D. Driver proved that delay equations with small delays have Lipschitz inertial manifolds. We prove that these manifolds are smooth. In addition, we show that expansion in the small delay can be used to obtain the dynamical system on the inertial manifold. This justifies “post-Newtonian” approximation for delay equations.
Online Graduate Students' Perceptions of Face-to-Face Classroom Instruction

This article reports online graduate students' perceptions of face-to-face classroom instruction in a doctoral program at a large public university in the eastern United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of graduate students returning to a face-to-face classroom after becoming accustomed to online learning. The students' online course experiences impacted their subsequent return to the face-to-face classroom in terms of logistics anxiety finding a physical classroom, budgeting time to make it there and learning including interactions with students and instructors. The primary impact was increased appreciation of face-to-face interactions. Instructors also gained experience applying some other strategies to improve their classes. These findings could inform course developers and instructors about student expectations in face-to-face classrooms as well as stimulate reflections on recommendations for instructional improvements to enhance student learning.
Inferring Road Maps from Global Positioning System Traces

As a result of the availability of Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors in a variety of everyday devices, GPS trace data are becoming increasingly abundant. One potential use of this wealth of data is to infer and update the geometry and connectivity of road maps through the use of what are known as map generation or map inference algorithms. These algorithms offer a tremendous advantage when no existing road map data are present. Instead of the expense of a complete road survey, GPS trace data can be used to generate entirely new sections of the road map at a fraction of the cost. In cases of existing maps, road map inference may not only help to increase the accuracy of available road maps but may also help to detect new road construction and to make dynamic adaptions to road closures—useful features for in-car navigation with digital road maps. In past research, proposed algorithms had been evaluated qualitatively with little or no comparison with prior work. This lack of quantitative and comparativ...
Smads mediate signaling of the TGFβ superfamily in normal keratinocytes but are lost during skin chemical carcinogenesis

The Smads are the signaling mediators of the TGFbeta superfamily. In the present study, we examined Smad expression in mouse epidermis and chemically-induced skin tumors. Mutations in Smad2 and -4 genes were also screened. Transcripts of Smad1 through -5 were constantly expressed in the epidermis regardless of changes in TGFbeta signaling, state of differentiation and stages of carcinogenesis. Smad7 transcripts were barely detectable in keratinocytes, but were induced by TGFbeta1 treatment and in chemically-induced skin tumors. At the protein level, Smad1 was detected throughout the epidermis, whereas Smad2 through -5 exhibited greater levels in suprabasal layers than basal keratinocytes. In cultured keratinocytes, Smad2, -3 and -4 underwent nuclear translocation upon TGFbeta1 treatment. Furthermore, nuclear translocation of Smads correlated with decreased BrdU labeling in proliferative keratinocytes. Although no mutations were detected in the Smad2 and -4 genes in tumors, proteins of Smad1 through -5 were partially or completely lost in carcinomas. These data document that Smads are expressed at high levels in the epidermis and mediate signaling of the TGFbeta superfamily. During skin carcinogenesis, loss of Smad1 through -5 and overexpression of Smad7 may contribute to the loss of growth inhibition mediated by TGFbeta superfamily members, thus resulting in tumor progression.
Operational Comparison of Transit Signal Priority Strategies

Priority strategies for bus transit are implemented with the purpose of expediting transit flow by reducing travel times and delay while providing a more reliable system that may attract new riders and increase transit capacity. Such strategies are a critical component of bus rapid transit, although the strategies can also be applied to regular local bus operations. The interference of general traffic when buses are operating in mixed traffic results in a reduction in speed and capacity. Intersection priority treatments reduce signal delay and result in travel time savings to transit. Transit signal priority (TSP) strategies may be applied across several intersections, depending on the level of service and lane configuration characteristics of the signalized intersections along a corridor, and can be combined in the same signal operation for each approach serving transit. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating the impacts of TSP treatments on transit operations at a specific intersection by comp...
A variation-aware approach for task allocation in wireless distributed computing systems

Wireless distributed computing (WDC) enables the radio nodes with reduced computing abilities to cooperate in processing complex computational tasks for minimizing the overall processing latency (makespan). However, the uncertainty of the dynamic mobile wireless environment, which is not an issue for the traditional distributed computing, poses a challenge for WDC. In this paper, a variation-aware approach for WDC is proposed to determine the task allocation by considering the heterogeneous computing capability of the radio nodes as well as the impact of the radio environment. To this end, the transmission latency is characterized as a random variable that depends on the channel fading and the transport protocol. A variation-aware task graph analysis is proposed for the estimation of the makespan’s distribution. The evolutionary algorithms are employed for the allocation mapping. We use simulation results to affirm makespan estimation improvement of the proposed approach compared with the traditional deterministic approach, and give insights on the dominating factors for the improvement.
The Spiritual Competency Scale

This study describes the development of the Spiritual Competency Scale, which was based on the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling's original Spiritual Competencies. Participants were 662 counseling students from religiously based and secular universities nationwide. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a 22-item, 6-factor solution with internal consistency. The data highlighted areas for remediation, suggested that a stand-alone spirituality in counseling course may be the most effective instructional strategy, and provided a template for revisions to the Spiritual Competencies.
Validation of the S-LANSS in the community setting

The Self-Administered Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS), an assessment tool to determine if pain is predominantly neuropathic, has not been validated in a community setting. Previously identified residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, with chronic pain were recruited using a stratified randomization process to increase the frequency of neuropathic pain in the study sample. Subjects completed the S-LANSS in mailed and telephone formats, and underwent clinical assessment to determine if a component of their pain was neuropathic. Sensitivity and specificity of the S-LANSS as compared to the clinical assessment were determined. Two hundred and five subjects participated in the study. Eighty-three subjects (40%) had a positive S-LANSS score in the mailed, as did 59 of 173 (34%) in the telephone format, with little inter-subject difference in scores (p=0.57). Clinical assessment identified a component of neuropathic pain in 37% of the sample (75/205). Compared to clinical assessment, sensitivity and specificity in the mailed S-LANSS were 57% (95% CI, 46-69%) and 69% (95% CI, 61-77%), respectively, and in the telephone S-LANSS were 52% (95% CI, 39-64%) and 78% (95% CI, 68-85%), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the S-LANSS in both formats were lower than the initial S-LANSS validation study. Differences in survey format and subject population could account for these differences, suggesting that the S-LANSS is best suited as a screening tool and its use to determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain in population studies should be viewed cautiously.
Learning by Tension

Memory and learning in animals is mediated by neurotransmission at the synaptic junctions (end point of axons). Neurotransmitters are carried by synaptic vesicles which cluster at the junctions, ready to be dispatched for transmission. The more a synapse is used, higher is the clustering, and higher is the neurotransmission efficiency (plasticity), i.e., the junction “remembers” its use in the near past, and modifies accordingly. This usage dependent plasticity offers the basic mechanism of memory and learning. A central dogma in neuroscience is that, clustering is the result of a complex biochemical signaling process. We show, using MEMS sensors and fruit fly (Drosophila) embryo nervous system, that mechanical tension in axons is essential for clustering. Without tension, clustering disappears, but reappears with application of tension. Nature maintains a rest tension of 1nN in axons of Drosophila for learning and memory.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
CHAPTER 18: Small Steps

ABSTRACT This chapter describes a self-study of an innovation in the content of a graduate course in literacy methods designed to help teachers understand and implement learner-centered pedagogy in an age of accountability. A curriculum module was designed to integrate a workshop at the American Museum of Natural History with assigned readings and class instruction. Teachers learned through their own experiences how to integrate literacy skills and strategies into experience-based units of study. The data sources suggest that a renaissance in teacher education can be supported when experiential models of progressive schools of teacher education are revisited, rearticulated, adapted and enacted to meet today's needs.
Resolutions and Hilbert series of determinantal varieties and unitary highest weight modules

Abstract Let (G,K) be a Hermitian symmetric pair and let g and k denote the corresponding complexified Lie algebras. Let g = k ⊕ p + ⊕ p − be the usual decomposition of g as a k -module. There is a natural correspondence between K C -orbits in p + and a distinguished family of unitarizable highest weight modules for g called the Wallach representations. We denote by Yk the closure of the K C -orbit in p + that is associated to the kth Wallach representation. In this article we give explicit formulas for the numerator polynomials of the Hilbert series of the varieties Yk by using BGG resolutions of unitarizable highest weight modules. A preliminary result gives a new branching formula for a certain two-parameter family of finite dimensional representations of the even orthogonal groups. Our work is an extension of previous work by Enright and Willenbring.
A method of analysis for gas explosions: H2Se case study

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for conducting a simplified gas-explosion analysis when there are uncertainties about the amount of fuel involved and the mode of combustion. The methodology is illustrated by a case study of an explosion of a cloud of hydrogen-selenide (H 2 Se), nitrogen and air. Hydrogen-selenide (H 2 Se) diluted with N 2 is used in a reactor vessel to produce solar cells. An explosive mixture could be created if the reactor vessel failed and its contents mix with ambient air. Mixtures of 20% or 6% H 2 Se in N 2 were considered as feedstock into the reactor. It was determined theoretically that an explosion involving either mixture would challenge the reactor room's integrity. However, it is unlikely that a local ignition will propagate in the dilute 6% H 2 Se mixture, because its adiabatic flame temperature is only 850 K; the 20% mixture is borderline flammable. Because of the proximity of personnel to the reactor room and the high toxicity of H 2 Se, any damage to the room boundary is considered unacceptable. To prevent accidental mixing of H 2 Se with air in the reactor, a nitrogen buffer was installed between the reactor vessel and the ambient air.
What is a lab-on-a-chip?

A lab-on-a-chip (LoC) is a device that integrates multiple laboratory operations on a single chip platform and utilizes micro volumes of liquids to perform chemical or biochemical operations. The basic idea is to miniaturize and automate the tasks performed by human operators of equipment in a chemical laboratory, who transfer liquids in test tubes or beakers from one apparatus to another based upon local outcomes or established protocols. After each lab operation, the beakers and equipment are cleaned (by humans) and readied for reuse. Thus, although the chemical lab may not be automated and generally requires milliliters or liters of liquids, the tools are at least reconfigurable and reusable, giving great flexibility. Thus, a single lab with a standard set of tools and protocols can perform a large variety of tests and analyses. This, then, is a goal of a LoC device, but at a reduced scale.
Three-Dimensional Structural Strain Measurement with the Use of Fiber-Optic Sensors

Three-dimensional strain sensing inside a structure is not feasible with conventional strain sensing techniques such as electrical strain gauges, which are limited to surface measurements. Three-dimensional strain measurement inside a structure would find uses in a variety of new applications: enhanced understanding and detection of composite failure modes, such as delamination; sensing for adaptive structural control; intelligent vehicle highway systems; and structural health monitoring systems for civil structures. The latter application could involve remotely monitoring structural integrity during and after an earthquake, for example. A fiber-optic strain sensor array (FOSSA) in a planar, patch-like configuration was developed, and accurate measurement of the three principal strains inside a simple structure was demonstrated. The planar configuration was chosen to avoid the difficulty and structural degradation of embedding optical sensors in three planes. Two extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFP...
The biochemical basis for the symbiosis between the ant, Atta colombica tonsipes, and its food fungus

The fungus cultured by the attine ant, Atta colombica tonsipes, is deficient in the full complement of proteolytic enzymes necessary to grow well on substrates in which the nitrogen is present predominantly as protein. The faecal material of the ant, which is regularly applied to the fungus gardens of the ant, contains allantoic acid, allantoin, ammonia, and a mixture of twenty one amino acids. In addition, it exhibits significant protease activity. The applica- tion of faecal material to the fungus cultures, therefore, directly compensates for the metabolic deficiencies of the fungus. IMany other features of the ants' fungus-culturing behaviour can be interpreted in terms of their effect upon the competitive status of the fungus. The symbiotic association of A. c. tonsipes and its food fungus is a biochemical alliance predicated upon metabolic integra- tion. The ants directly contribute their protein-degrading capabilities to the fungus, and the fungus indirectly contributes its cellulose-degrading ability to the ants.
Characteristics of Users of Consumer-Run Drop-In Centers Versus Clubhouses

Clubhouses and consumer-run drop-in centers (CRDIs) are two of the most widely implemented models of consumer-centered services for persons with serious mental illness. Differences in structure and goals suggest that they may be useful to different types of consumers. Information on what types of consumers use which programs would be useful in service planning. This study analyzes data from the authors’ NIMH-funded research on 31 geographically matched pairs of clubhouses and CRDIs involving more than 1,800 consumers to address the following question: are there significant differences in the characteristics and outcomes of members of clubhouses versus CRDIs? Results from multilevel analyses indicated that clubhouse members were more likely to be female, to receive SSI/SSDI, to report having a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and to live in dependent care; and they reported both a greater number of lifetime hospitalizations and current receipt of higher intensity traditional MH services. Controlling for differences in demographic characteristics, psychiatric history, and mental health service receipt, clubhouse members also reported higher quality of life and were more likely to report being in recovery. CRDI consumers were more likely to have substance abuse histories. Possible reasons for the differences are discussed. The results suggest that CRDIs are a viable alternative to more traditional mental health services for individuals who might not otherwise receive mental health services.
ESTIMATION OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THYROID DOSES IN A POPULATION EXPOSED TO I-131 FROM WEAPONS TESTS.

The mathematical relationships that determine the distribution of thyroid doses in an exposed population are disculations based on both existing data and data yet to be obtained. (P.C.H.)
Hematologic, hepatic, renal, and lipid laboratory monitoring after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy in the United States, 2000-2010.

We assessed laboratory monitoring following combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation among 3,678 patients in a large US multi-site clinical cohort, censoring participants at last clinic visit, cART change, or three years. Median days (interquartile range) to first hematologic, hepatic, renal and lipid tests were 30 (18–53), 31 (19–56), 33 (20–59) and 350 (96–1106), respectively. At one year, approximately 80% received more than two hematologic, hepatic, and renal tests consistent with guidelines. However, only 40% received one or more lipid tests. Monitoring was more frequent in specific subgroups, likely reflecting better clinic attendance or clinician perception of higher susceptibility to toxicities.
Why are diverse relationships observed between phytoplankton biomass and transport time

Transport time scales such as flushing time and residence time are often used to explain variability in phytoplankton biomass. In many cases, empirical data are consistent with a positive phytoplankton-transport time relationship (i.e., phytoplankton biomass increases as transport time increases). However, negative relationships, varying relationships, or no significant relationship may also be observed. We present a simple conceptual model, in both mathematical and graphical form, to help explain why phytoplankton may have a range of relationships with transport time, and we apply it to several real systems. The phytoplankton growth-loss balance determines whether phytoplankton biomass increases with, decreases with, or is insensitive to transport time. If algal growth is faster than loss (e.g., grazing, sedimentation), then phytoplankton biomass increases with increasing transport time. If loss is faster than growth, phytoplankton biomass decreases with increasing transport time. If growth and loss are approximately balanced, then phytoplankton biomass is relatively insensitive to transport time. In analyses of several systems, portions of an individual system, or time periods, apparent insensitivity of phytoplankton biomass to changes in transport time could arise due to the superposition of cases with different phytoplankton-transport time relationships. Thus, in order to understand or predict responses of phytoplankton biomass to changes in transport time, the relative rates of algal growth and loss must be known.
Dual signal amplification for bioassays using ion release from nanolabels and ion-activated enzyme kinetics

A dual signal amplification technique was developed for bioassays. The technique consists of zinc-ion release from ZnS nanoparticle labels and enzyme kinetics activated by the released zinc ions as cofactors. In the ion release process, each ZnS nanoparticle label liberates a high number of zinc ions by acidic dissolution. After the ion release, at appropriate pH levels, the released zinc ions are used as cofactors to trigger the enzymatic activity of carbonic anhydrase. The fluorescence produced from the activated enzyme kinetics is measured for bioassay signal quantification. A model bioassay on mouse IgG adopting this technique presents a detection limit around 0.5 pM and a detection range over at least two orders of magnitude. This technique was also successfully applied to the detection of human cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in human serum samples to demonstrate a clinical diagnosis application. The developed immunoassay is capable of distinguishing clinically critical levels of cTnI. This technique possesses a high detection resolution and offers the advantage of straightforward operation (simple preparation of ZnS nanoparticles and no enzyme immobilization).
STRATEGIC TIME PERIODS AND STRATEGIC GROUPS RESEARCH: CONCEPTS AND AN EMPIRICAL EXAMPLE

This article briefly reviews previous research on strategic groups and focuses upon the influence of time on strategic positioning. This stability approach also motivates research into the dynamics of strategic group shifts. An illustrative example drawn from the drug industry emphasizes the practical application of these concepts. The analytically-derived strategic groupings are then compared with evidence drawn from industry and academic research. Finally, following discussion of the results, some suggestions about integrating the strategic group concept into strategic management research are also made.
Effects of subsurface volume scattering on the lunar microwave brightness temperature spectrum

The effects of volumetric scattering on the lunar microwave brightness temperature are examined for a broad range of feasible lunar rock population distributions. Mie-scattering phase functions and the radiative transfer method are utilized. Surveyor and Apollo data relevant to lunar rock size distributions are discussed, and parameters are chosen for nine scattering models which liberally cover the range of studied rock population distributions. Scattering model brightness temperature predictions are analyzed in terms of the lunar disk center emission averaged over a lunation for wavelengths of 3-30 cm. The effects of scattering on the amplitude of disk center brightness temperature variations and resultant deductions of regolith electrical loss are examined. Constraints on the global scale variability of subsurface scatterers imposed by microwave brightness temperature maps are considered.
Hatchling sea turtles use surface waves to establish a magnetic compass direction

Abstract Hatchling sea turtles emerge from underground nests, crawl to the ocean, and swim away from the land. In shallow water near shore, hatchlings maintain offshore headings by swimming into oceanic waves; in deeper water, however, turtles appear to rely on different mechanisms to maintain their courses. To determine whether loggerhead hatchlings, Caretta caretta L., are able to transfer a course initiated on the basis of waves to a course maintained by a magnetic compass, we studied the orientation behaviour of turtles that had been exposed to waves for either 15 or 30 min before being tested in still water. Hatchlings that swam into waves for 15 min failed to continue swimming on similar courses when the waves were discontinued, but turtles that swam into waves for 30 min maintained similar mean headings after the waves stopped. Inverting the vertical component of the magnetic field during the test period reversed the direction of orientation of this latter group of turtles. Thus, hatchlings can transfer a heading induced by waves to a magnetic compass, and thereby continue to migrate away from land after contact with the coast is lost. Migratory orientation in turtles resembles that of birds in that both rely on multiple cues and an ability to transfer information between various cues and compasses at appropriate times during the journey.
Learning kinematic mappings in laparoscopic surgery

We devised an interactive environment in which subjects could perform simulated laparoscopic maneuvers, using either unconstrained movements or standard mechanical contact typical of a box-trainer. During training the virtual tool responded to the absolute position in space (Position-Based) or the orientation (Orientation-Based) of a hand-held sensor. Volunteers were further assigned to different sequences of target distances (Near-Far-Near or Far-Near-Far). Orientation-Based control produced much lower error and task times during training, which suggests that the motor system more easily accommodates tool use with degrees of freedom that match joint angles. When evaluated in constrained (physical box-trainer) conditions, each group exhibited improved performance from training. However, Position-Based training enabled greater reductions in movement error relative to Orientation-Based (mean −13.7%, CI:−27.1, −0.4). Furthermore, the Near-Far-Near schedule allowed a greater decrease in task time relative to the Far-Near-Far sequence (mean −13.5%, CI:−19.5, −7.5). Training at shallow insertion in virtual laparoscopy might promote more efficient movement strategies by emphasizing the curvature of tool motion. In addition, our findings suggest that an understanding of absolute tool position is critical to coping with mechanical interactions between the tool and trochar.
Sp1 and Its Likes: Biochemical and Functional Predictions for a Growing Family of Zinc Finger Transcription Factors

The discovery and functional characterization of Sp1 as a GC-rich binding zinc finger protein provided a useful paradigm for understanding mechanisms mediating transcriptional activation in eukaryotic cells. This early paradigm suggested that promoters carrying GC-rich sequences are activated by Sp1 through its interaction with proteins from the basal transcriptional machinery to upregulate gene expression. Since the time of this seminal work, studies from several laboratories have led to the discovery of many Sp1-like transcription factors containing highly homologous DNA binding motifs that bind to similar sequences. Consequently, this knowledge poses many important questions regarding whether these related proteins have similar or antagonistic biochemical and functional properties to Sp1. The goal of this article is to use available database information and recent experimental evidence to describe the current repertoire of Sp1-like zinc finger transcription factors in mammalian cells. Furthermore, we discuss structural and functional studies that reveal that these proteins may share a role in morphogenetic pathways. Altogether, this information is aimed at better understanding how this growing family of transcription factors work to regulate gene expression and morphogenesis.
Single- Versus Multiple-Incident Rape Victims A Comparison of Psychological Reactions to Rape

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of prior victimization on long-term functioning of rape victims. Subjects were 52 rape victims who had been assaulted from 3 months to 34 years previously. All participants were given a structured interview and a battery of assessment measures. Data were examined by means of MANOVAs and ANOVAs two ways, single-incident versus multiple-incident rape victims and single-incident victims versus victims with other prior major victimization. On the first set of analyses no differences emerged between single- and multiple-incident rape victims. The second set of comparisons resulted in two significant findings. Victims with prior major victimization were more assertive than single-incident victims but had more problems with somatic symptoms. Results are discussed within the context of other relevant studies as well as theory.
Segmentation of magnetic resonance brain images using analogue constraint satisfaction neural networks

Abstract The Grey-White Decision Network (GWDN) is presented as an analogue constraint satisfaction neural network that segments magnetic resonance brain images. Constraints on signal intensity, neighbourhood interactions and edge influences are combined to assign labels of grey matter, white matter or ‘other’ to each pixel. An improved version of this novel segmentation network that is provably stable is described. Results of the network are presented, along with a comparison of these results to a collection of human segmentations. The network is discussed in relation to other methods for segmentation, and the network's extendibility is described.
Magnetic fluctuations close to Io: ion cyclotron and mirror mode wave properties

Abstract As Galileo approached Io on December 7, 1995 and passed through the Io wake it passed from a region of ion cyclotron waves at the SO+2 gyrofrequency into a region of strong compressional waves at the edge of the wake region and through a region of waves linearly polarized transverse to the magnetic field in the center of the wake region. As the Io wake was approached the properties of the ion cyclotron waves changed as if there was a change in the wave generating region. The cyclotron waves were also significantly weaker outbound than inbound. We interpret the compressional waves to be mirror mode waves generated by the anisotropic pick-up distribution of SO+2. The appearance of the mirror mode waves at the edges of the wake suggests that the magnetic field or plasma gradient plays a role in limiting the growth rate of the ion cyclotron instability in this region, in addition to the disappearance of the isotropic warm torus plasma that stabilizes the mirror mode outside of the wake region.
Iconic memory and central processing capacity

Three experiments were conducted to assess whether or not iconic memory is influenced by demands placed upon central processing capacity. In Experiment 1 S was required to store material in short-term memory while performing an iconic memory task. In Experiments 2 and 3 S performed an auditory classification task concurrently with iconic storage. The three experiments did not reveal any significant impairment of iconic memory as a function of performing a subsidiary task. Similarly, performance on the subsidiary tasks did not suffer as a result of the concurrent iconic memory task.
A display editor with random access and continuous control

Abstract An analysis of human information-processing during editor positioning led to a text editor with two significant features: continuous control and random access to text. Continuous control is a feature that allows the user to control the editor while it executes a positioning command. It will be shown that such a style of interaction eliminates difficult design decisions and leads to new methods of positioning an editor which are also less sensitive to human error. Random access to the text file means that the editor can be positioned to any point in the file in a constant time. The advantage of random access is that it is noticeably faster than the sequential access used by most editors. The implementation of continuous control and random access is discussed.
Spectrum analysis of gastric emptying

The application of spectral analysis methods to radiologically gathered gastric data is discussed. The data is obtained by sampling counts of gamma rays present in the antrum section of the stomach of gastrointestinal patients after each patient was fed two scrambled eggs injected with a radioactive material. The primary goal of this investigation is to provide a noninvasive diagnostic tool to determine the stomach contraction pattern for normals and abnormals. The frequency components of contraction cycle are computed using three methods: (1) Fourier transform, (2) maximum entropy method (MEM), and (3) multiple signal classification (MUSIC). Statistical tests are performed on the frequencies of the normal and abnormal groups, to assess the discrimination powers of these methods. It is shown that Fourier transform performance is not adequate, while MEM and MUSIC produce very good results. The frequency components estimated agree with physiological findings for the normal and abnormal patients. >
Time‐Resolved (CW) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: An Overview of the Technique and Its Use in Organic Photochemistry

— Steady-state and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) experiments are described. Comparison of the TREPR continuous wave method to other time domain EPR techniques such as Fourier transform EPR (FT-EPR) is made, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are presented. The role played by several mechanisms of chemically induced dynamic electron spin polarization (CIDEP) in the appearance of the spectra is explained. The advantages of using higher frequency spectrometers than the standard X-band (9.5 GHz) are presented and discussed. Examples are presented that are relevant to organic photochemistry and electron donor-acceptor chemistry. The use of TREPR to study polymer photodegradation, polymer chain dynamics, free radical initiator chemistry and biradical spin exchange interactions is described. Emphasis is placed on magnetic field effects studied by multiple frequency TREPR in these systems. Finally, several future directions in the field are discussed in terms of new developments in microwave and magnetic field technology.
Voice Disorder Management Competencies: A Survey of School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists in Nebraska

Purpose The purpose of this survey was to determine the self-perceived competence levels in voice disorders of practicing school-based speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and identify correlated variables. Method Participants were 153 master's level, school-based SLPs with a Nebraska teaching certificate and/or licensure who completed a survey, including demographic information and a 25-item voice disorders competency checklist. Results Findings indicated school-based SLPs did not feel particularly competent in their ability to assess and treat students with voice disorders. Only 1 response mean was higher than a “moderately competent” level. All other item means were at or below this level. Four correlations indicated positive associations with SLPs' overall self-perceived competence levels: number of continuing education activities related to voice disorders, number of clients with voice disorders in the last 3 months, percentage of time spent with clients who have voice disorders, and feelings of prepa...