cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of reproductive knowledge in an inner-city clinic

A number of studies have shown that misinformation and lack of information about the menstrual cycle contributes to unwanted fertility, particularly among black women. A short, self-administered questionnaire was developed and tested in an inner-city, prenatal clinic serving a primarily low-income undereducated, black clientele. Data were gathered concerning numbers of pregnancies and abortions, knowledge of the menstrual cycle, past contraceptive use, including dissatisfaction and discontinuance, and planned future use of contraception. Results showed that the majority of women had had at least one unwanted pregnancy. Their knowledge base about female reproductive function and their poor use of contraception contributed to these unwanted pregnancies. It is concluded that a few key questions can help identify the woman with special informational needs, enabling the health professional to gear educational efforts to the individual patient.
An improved analytical method for the determination of urea nitrogen isotopomers in biological samples utilizing continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Over the past few years numerous dual inlet isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) applications have been adapted to continuous flow systems which allow the automation of sample admission and a higher throughput. The isotopomer analysis of urea nitrogen by IRMS requires the offline conversion of urea into nitrogen gas before analysis. The oxidation of urea with LiOBr results in the monomolecular degradation of urea, which preserves the identity of the parent urea molecule, and has to be conducted under vacuum to prevent contamination with atmospheric nitrogen. We have developed an offline system of urea degradation utilizing disposable Exetainers, in which atmospheric nitrogen is displaced by helium. Recovery of urea nitrogen was linear within the range of the standards tested (0 to 420 microg nitrogen) and standard curves for 15N15N-urea standards showed high coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.9998). A small portion of urea degrades in a non-monomolecular fashion and has been shown to depend on the concentration of urea in the sample. Long-term storage of prepared samples showed a decline in 15N15N enrichment, suggesting air contamination. However, samples were stable for 24 h, which allows for the analysis of large sample batches. Interest in urea metabolism, particularly in ruminant species, has increased recently due to the environmental implications of urea and nitrogen excretion by farm animals. This novel analytical method will allow for accurate measurements and the rapid throughput needed in order to support these field studies.
Early mid trimester abortion — By intramuscular 15 methyl prostaglandin E2

Abstract Intramuscular administration of 15(s) 15 Methyl Prostaglandin E2 was successful in terminating twelve of thirteen second trimester pregnancies. Two patients had an incomplete abortion and one case was classified a failure. Side effects were limited to nausea and vomiting in seven cases, diarrhea in eight cases, chills in twelve cases and and elevated temperatures in eight cases. The intramuscular route does offer an advantage in early second trimester abortions and in patients where the intra-amniotic route is not available.
A methodology for interactive evaluation of user reactions to software packagesn empirical analysis of system performance, interaction, and run time

Abstract This study deals with identifying primary factors which determine the usefulness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Usefulness is defined as user performance score. The study establishes linear models which explain the effects of CAI modifications designed to improve the utilization of computer facilities as well as users' performance.
Large-scale quantum mechanical simulations of carbon nanowires

Abstract The stability of quasi-one-dimensional structures of carbon is investigated using a generalized tight-binding molecular-dynamics scheme. Large-scale simulations are made possible by the parallel implementation of the diagonalization routines. Our results show that these structures can be stable provided that their geometries consist of a core of four-fold coordinated atoms, surrounded by a three-fold coordinated outer surface accommodating one of the most stable reconstructions of bulk diamond structure.
Influence of mRNA secondary structure on binding and migration of 40S ribosomal subunits

Abstract Reovirus messenger RNA was modified by reaction with bisulfite (in denaturing conditions) or by incorporation of IMP in place of GMP, thereby irreversibly unfolding the mRNA. Messenger RNA in which the secondary structure was weakened or abolished retained the ability to bind to wheat germ ribosomes, suggesting that conformational features around the AUG codon are not required for ribosome recognition of mRNA. Ribosomes were not able to attach (directly) to spurious internal sites, even in extensively unfolded RNA, indicating that the monocistronic character of eucaryotic messages (in which initiation is limited to a single 5′ proximal site) is not simply due to conformational masking of all the internal AUG codons. The secondary structure in eucaryotic messages does contribute to the fidelity of the translation process, however, because when 40S ribosomal subunits were incubated with denatured mRNA they failed to stop at the 5′ proximal AUG codon. Extensive migration beyond the 5′ region occurred when 40S ribosomes (in the absence of 60S subunits) attached to unfolded mRNA, implying that the secondary structure in native mRNA facilitates correct translation by impeding migration of 40S subunits beyond the 5′ proximal initiation region. Secondary structure in mRNA may also modulate the efficiency of translation. Studies with BrUMP-substituted mRNA, in which the secondary structure is enhanced, suggested that the efficiency of mRNA binding to ribosomes decreases as the stability of the secondary structure increases.
Permeability of the cell-to-cell membrane channel and its regulation in an insect cell junction

Cells of organs and tissues commonly communicate directly with one another via permeable membrane junctions. Cell-to-cell channels, spanning the width of both membranes of a junction, are thought to provide the pathways between the cytoplasms of adjacent cells for the immediate exchange of ions and small molecules. We study these cell-to-cell channels in a cell model system, the salivary gland of Chironomus. Using intracellularly injected fluorescent labelled peptides and oligosaccharides of various molecular dimensions as channel permeability probes we find the channels to have a bore of about 2 nm. The channel permeability can be modulated and, in the extreme, the channels can be closed under various experimental conditions. With the aid of the Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein aequorin as monitor of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration, we show that a determining factor in this modulation of channel permeability is the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration. Moreover, results obtained by injection of different-sized and different-labelled channel permeability probes together with Ca2+ indicate that closure of the individual channels may occur in more than one step, i.e., by a graded reduction of channel bore.
The Probability of KL Ionization and X-Ray Satellites

A theory of the multiple ionizations produced by a fast cathode electron in the target of an x-ray tube is developed, based on the Born approximation of collision theory. The effective cross section for $1s2s$ ionization of potassium by an incident electron having five times the energy required for $K$-ionization or $1s$-ionization of potassium, and the distribution of energy and of angular momentum among the three electrons after collision is shown in detail. The probability of $1s2p$ ionization is also estimated roughly by the same method, and the two taken together are shown to be roughly in agreement with the experimental value of the integrated satellite intensity for $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ of potassium. The predicted variation of the relative intensity with atomic number is also shown to be in rough agreement with experiment.
Thermal annealing effect on zinc nitride thin films deposited by reactive rf-magnetron sputtering process

Abstract Zinc nitride films were deposited by reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtering using a zinc target in a nitrogen and argon plasma. The deposited films were annealed in either air or O 2 at 300 °C to investigate the annealing effect on the microstructure, optical properties, and electronic characteristics of zinc nitride films. It was found that the annealing process decreased the crystallinity of zinc nitride films. It was also found that the optical band gap decreased from 1.33 eV to 1.14 eV after annealing. The analysis of film composition suggested that the concentration of oxygen increased slightly after annealing. Although the conduction type of both as-deposited and annealed films were n-type, the annealed films exhibited a higher resistivity, lower carrier concentration and lower mobility than the as-deposited films. Also, it was found that the as-deposited films did not exhibit any photoconducting behavior whereas the annealed films exhibited a pronounced photoconducting behavior.
Dose–response relations between preschool teachers’ exposure to components of professional development and increases in quality of their interactions with children ☆

Abstract The present study examined the pattern of associations over time between the quality of observed interactions and exposure to features of an effective coaching model for 170 preschool teachers enrolled in a study investigating professional development impacts. Using a treatment-on-the-treated approach, teachers exposed to a greater number of cycles of coaching showed more improvement in classroom interactions over the year. More specifically, of the two components of treatment examined, video exemplars and individual coaching prompts, exposure to prompts was associated with growth from baseline in instructionally supportive interactions while watching video exemplars was associated with growth in emotionally supportive behaviors in analysis of linear effects. Watching emotional support video exemplars was negatively associated with growth in classroom organization behaviors. The non-linear pattern of these associations suggested that the initial dosage of prompts created observable effects on instructional support, but after a certain point additional dosage was not effective. Conversely, initial dosage did not create observable effects on emotional support, but improvement was observed after exposure to a certain minimum dosage of time watching video exemplars. The results have implications for the design, delivery, and focus of professional development for early childhood educators.
Aquifer Response to Record Low Barometric Pressures in the Southeastern United States

A late-winter cyclone classified as one of the most intense of the 20th century moved across the Southeastern states of Georgia and South Carolina and onto the Northeast during March 12–14, 1993. Record low barometric pressures were recorded in Augusta, Georgia (28.93 inches of mercury) and Columbia, South Carolina (28.63 inches of mercury) on March 13, 1993, and pressures returned to normal values (near 30 inches of mercury) within one day following these record lows. This relatively unusual event provided an opportunity to examine the attendant water-level response in continuously monitored ground-water wells in regional Atlantic Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge aquifers in the Southeast. Water levels in all wells examined responded inversely to the short duration, extreme drop in barometric pressure. Barometric efficiencies (Δground-water level/Δbarometric-pressure level) calculated were dependent on depth to screened- or open-interval midpoint (highest correlation coefficient, r2= 0.89) and, to a lesser extent, total thickness of confining material above the aquifer tapped (highest r2= 0.65). Wells in crystalline-rock aquifers had a correlation with depth to open-interval midpoint (r2= 0.89) similar to the sedimentary aquifers examined. The magnitude of barometric efficiency was also strongly related to a well's increased distance from aquifer outcrop areas in the Cretaceous aquifers in South Carolina (r2= 0.95) and the upper Brunswick aquifer in Georgia (r2= 0.90), because these aquifers are more deeply buried toward the coast. This relation between barometric efficiency, well depth, and extent of confinement suggests that barometric efficiency determinations can provide useful information to hydrologists concerned with examining an aquifer's degree of confinement and corresponding isolation from land surface, particularly when the aquifer is used as a source for public supply.
Traumatic Loss: Conceptual and Empirical Links Between Trauma and Bereavement

Abstract This article focuses on conceptual issues and empirical studies regarding the topic of traumatic loss (i.e., loss that occurs suddenly and under violent circumstances) as a method for linking the field of trauma, and that of grief and bereavement. Several definitions of trauma are presented that include the concept of loss, and additional concepts are suggested that may be helpful in thinking about the two areas together. Also, modes of death associated with poor recovery are noted, and it is argued that these modes are those that make a bereavement more “traumatic”. Some empirical studies on the psychological outcomes associated with traumatic loss are reviewed, and preliminary findings from a new study of traumatically bereaved women are briefly presented
The diverse roles of ribbon synapses in sensory neurotransmission

Sensory synapses of the visual and auditory systems must faithfully encode a wide dynamic range of graded signals, and must be capable of sustained transmitter release over long periods of time. Functionally and morphologically, these sensory synapses are unique: their active zones are specialized in several ways for sustained, rapid vesicle exocytosis, but their most striking feature is an organelle called the synaptic ribbon, which is a proteinaceous structure that extends into the cytoplasm at the active zone and tethers a large pool of releasable vesicles. But precisely how does the ribbon function to support tonic release at these synapses? Recent genetic and biophysical advances have begun to open the 'black box' of the synaptic ribbon with some surprising findings and promise to resolve its function in vision and hearing.
Do alternative spatial healthcare access measures tell the same story

To effectively target area and population with relatively poorer healthcare access requires information on how access to healthcare varies spatially. Considering hospitals as important components of the healthcare system, this case study of Central Missouri presents a comparison of the relatively underserved areas and population based on the results from three alternative indicators of spatial hospital access calculated at three different levels of geography. Results indicate that the alternative spatial healthcare access indicators show considerably different pictures of the relative ranking of census units, and identification of the relatively underserved areas and population. The relative ranking of census units and the identification of relatively underserved area and population are all critical indicators for policy makers when public resources are limited and distributive choices must be made.
Hybrid carcinoma of the salivary gland: salivary duct adenocarcinoma adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Aims: Hybrid tumours of the salivary gland are rare neoplasms that have been described only in the parotid and palate. Their recognition is important particularly when the component tumours have different biological behaviours. The occurrence of a submandibular hybrid tumour has not been reported. Methods and results: We describe a case of a 36-year-old woman with a hybrid carcinoma composed of salivary duct adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right submandibular gland. There was no evidence of a pre-existing or concurrent pleomorphic adenoma. The presence of the two components was verified by differential immunohistochemical staining using a panel of cytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscle actin and S100. The patient subsequently developed metastases to the pelvis, lumbar, vertebra and wrist. The clinical course in this patient was consistent with the behaviour of the salivary duct adenocarcinoma component. Conclusions: The histogenesis of hybrid tumours is largely unknown, but in this case it may represent diverging differentiation of luminal tumour cells. Because some histological features of different salivary gland tumours overlap, immunohistochemistry is a valuable tool especially when used to delineate the components of a hybrid tumour.
Multiple populations on the horizontal branch. I - Observations in the (log g, log T/eff/)-diagram

Log T(eff) and log g have been determined for blue horizontal branch (HB) stars in the globular clusters M15, M3, M5, M92, and NGC 288 as a first step in determining the physical origin of gaps or bimodal distributions in the blue horizontal branches of a number of globular clusters. The (log g, log T/eff/) diagram for the 'normal' HB cluster M5 matches the standard theory quite well. The stars blueward of the gap in NGC 288 and the blue extension of the M3 HB have significantly lower gravity than predicted by the standard theory. The cooler stars in M3 agree well with the standard theory while those of NGC 2988 lie at slightly lower gravity. In M92, the sequence of stars is broadened toward the low gravity side more than expected either from standard evolution or from observational error. The data for M15 are too scattered to support firm conclusions but seem consistent with NGC 288.
SU-FF-T-314: Patient-Specific Quality Assurance Techniques for RapidArc Radiotherapy

Purpose: To develop a patient‐specific quality assurance protocol for RapidArc™ radiotherapy.Method and Materials: Following the commissioning of RapidArc™ treatment delivery, we tested several methods of patient‐specific quality assurance (QA). Ion chamber and film measurements were used as the “gold standard”. One ion chamber measurement was taken in a region of low‐dose gradient. Four film measurements were taken in three planes: axial, sagittal, coronal, and a coronal180° (testing setup uncertainty). Measurements were also taken using the Matrixx® device (IBA Dosimetry, Bartlett, TN) in two orientations, sagittal and coronal. The Matrixx® consists of a 24×24cm2 grid of ion chambers, providing a 2D absolute dose comparison. All plans were designed and calculated using Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). Eleven patient plans were evaluated, consisting of 4 brain, 1 head&neck boost, and 6 prostate radiotherapy treatments. Results:Ion chamber measurements were typically ∼2% greater than those predicted by Eclipse. Using a gamma index with 3%, 3mm, 5% threshold criteria, 88% of films had gamma pass rates of >90%. Three of 7 axial films failed, but passed with thresholds of 30–40%. Similarly, Matrixx® measurements had gamma pass rates of >90% for 100% of measurements. The average reading of 4 Matrixx ion chambers was significantly correlated with the single ion chamber results (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.839, p = 0.002), and the 2D Matrixx results agreed well with film measurements (gamma pass rate >90% for 10 of 11 comparisons). Conclusion: These QA measurements produced good agreement between planned and measured doses. Through utilizing ion chamber and film measurements, we have gained confidence in the Matrixx® for RapidArc QA. The chosen passing criteria were +/−3% for ion chamber readings, and gamma passing rates of >90% for film and Matrixx® with 3%, 3mm, and 5% threshold.
Sources of Status and Influence in All Female and Mixed Sex Groups

Hollander's (1958) theory on conformity, status, and idiosyncrasy credits was tested using female rather than male groups. Each group contained either one male or one female confederate who broke procedual norms early, in the middle, late, or never during the 15 trials of an experimental game task. For some groups the task was described as a quasi-mathematical task; for others it was described as a common game. The quasi-mathematical definition of the task and male sex of the confederate resulted in greater conformity to the confederate's choice. Contrary to Hollander's theory, previous conformity was not related to influence. The results were interpreted in terms of traditional sex role expectations and in terms of the perceptual marker function that nonconformity plays in small groups. The marker function was related to perception in Hollander's original theoretical formulation.
The accessibility of antigenic determinants of ribosomal protein S4 in situ.

Antibodies to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein S4 react with S4 in subribosomal particles, eg, the complex of 16S RNA with S4, S7, S8, S15, S16, S17, and S19 and the RI* reconstitution intermediate, but they do not react with intact 30S subunits. Antibodies were isolated by three different methods from antisera obtained during the immunization of eight rabbits. Some of these antibody preparations, which contained contaminant antibodies directed against other ribosomal proteins, reacted with subunits, but this reaction was not affected by removal of the anti-S4 antibody population. Other antibody preparations did not react with subunits. It is concluded that the antigenic determinants of S4 are accessible in some protein deficient subribosomal particles but not in intact 30S subunits.
Timing and force control deficits in clumsy children

This study investigated the link between cognitive processes and neural structures involved in motor control. Children identified as clumsy through clinical assessment procedures were tested on tasks involving movement timing, perceptual timing, and force control. The clumsy children were divided into two groups: those with soft neurological signs associated with cerebellar dysfunction and those with soft neurological signs associated with dysfunction of the basal ganglia. A control group of age-matched children who did not exhibit evidence of clumsiness or soft neurological signs was also tested. The results showed a double dissociation between the two groups of clumsy children and the tests of timing and force. Clumsy children with cerebellar signs were more variable when attempting to tap a series of equal intervals. They were also more variable on the time perception task, indicating a deficit in motor and perceptual timing. The clumsy children with basal ganglia signs were unimpaired on the timing tasks. However, they were more variable in controlling the amplitude of isometric force pulses. These results support the hypothesis that the control of time and force are separate components of coordination and that these computations are dependent on different neural systems.
Robust asymptotic tracking for linear systems with unknown parameters

Abstract This paper considers a tracking problem for a linear system with uncertain parameters. The objective is to design a state feedback controller so that for all allowable parameter values the system is internally stable and its output asymptotically tracks the command reference input. A controller having this property is termed a robust tracking controller. Conditions are given which can be used to design a robust tracking controller. The controller is linear with readily computable gains. The results are illustrated with an example.
New Approach to Solving the Radiative Transport Equation

We propose a novel method for solving the linear radiative transport equation in a macroscopically homogeneous medium. The method can be used with an arbitrary phase function of a medium consisting of spherically-symmetric microscopic scatterers.
Anthrax infection inhibits the AKT signaling involved in the E-cadherin-mediated adhesion of lung epithelial cells

The effect of anthrax infection on phosphoprotein signaling was studied in human small airway lung epithelial cells exposed to B. anthracis spores of the plasmidless dSterne strain in comparison with the Sterne strain containing the toxigenic plasmid (pXO1). The differential regulation of phosphorylation was found in the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade (ERK, p38, and P90RSK), the PI3K cascade (AKT, GSK-3α/β), and downstream in the case of the proapoptotic BAD and the transcription factor STAT3. Both strains stimulate phosphorylation of CREB and inhibit phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 required for activation of cap-dependent translation. Downregulation of the survival AKT phosphorylation by the Sterne strain inhibits the process of Ca2+-dependent homophilic interaction of E-cadherin (EC) upon formation or repair of cell–cell contacts. Both lethal and edema toxins produced by the Sterne strain inhibit the AKT phosphorylation induced during the EC-mediated signaling. Activity of ERK1/2 and p38 inhibitors indicates that inhibition of AKT phosphorylation takes place through the ERK1/2-PI3K crosstalk. In Sterne spore-challenged mice, a specific inhibitor of PI3K/AKT, wortmannin, accelerates the lethal outcome, and reduction of AKT phosphorylation in the circulating blood cells coincides with the death of animals. We conclude that the PI3K/AKT pathway controlling the integrity of epithelium plays an important survival role in anthrax infection.
Radiocephalic fistula: review and update.

Since initially described in 1966, radiocephalic fistula or Brescia–Cimino fistula is one of the most commonly performed fistulas in the world of arteriovenous access. The indications for insertion include, but are not limited to, hemodialysis. Although this is a frequently performed procedure, the primary and secondary patency rates and predictors of failure are not well defined. The review of this topic is difficult because of the diversity in reporting and the absence of consensus between series. Following the current published recommendations by the Society of Vascular Surgery regarding standardization of terminology to facilitate meaningful comparison between the diversity of published data, this review is an attempt to summarize and highlight the relevant information with regard to primary patency, secondary patency, and predictors of failure of radiocephalic fistula using the available English literature.
Emetic activity of the trichothecene 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol in swine.

Abstract The emetic activity of 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), a deoxynivalenol (DON) precursor, was evaluated in swine over a dose range of 25–200 μg/kg body weight and found to be very similar to that of DON. The minimum effective oral doses for 15-ADON and DON were 75 and 50 μg/kg, respectively, with 3 15 of the 15-ADON- and 4 15 of the DON-treated pigs exhibiting emesis, over the total dose range. The minimum effective ip doses for 15-ADON and DON were also 75 and 50 μg/kg, respectively, with 9 15 pigs in each group exhibiting emesis, over the total dose range. For pigs receiving 15-ADON and DON ip, increased dosage was associated with decreased average time to vomition, increased duration of emesis and increased average number of vomitions.
Absolute wavelength determinations in molecular tellurium: new reference lines for precision laser spectroscopy

We have observed the spectrum of 130Te2 in the range 4712–5020 A by using Doppler-free frequency-modulation spectroscopy. The wave numbers of 32 selected lines have been measured interferometrically with an accuracy of 2.2 parts in 109. These measurements provide a well-distributed set of precise reference lines for this region. Good agreement is found with four lines that were previously measured in other laboratories for use as transfer standards in the spectroscopy of hydrogen, deuterium, positronium, and muonium.
ON THE USE OF AMPULLATE GLAND SILKS BY WOLF SPIDERS (ARANEAE, LYCOSIDAE) FOR ATTACHING THE EGG SAC TO THE SPINNERETS AND A PROPOSAL FOR DEFINING NUBBINS AND TARTIPORES

Abstract The means by which female wolf spiders attach an egg sac to their spinnerets was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. In four Pardosa species, we observed that silk fibers emerging from ampullate gland spigots had been affixed to the surface of the egg sac. More specifically, primary (1°) and secondary (2°) major ampullate (MaA) glands and 1° and 2° minor ampullate (MiA) glands all contributed fibers for this purpose. The diameters of the 2° MaA and 2° MiA fibers were greater than those of the 1° MaA and 1° MiA fibers and, correspondingly, the widths of the 2° ampullate spigots were clearly greater than those of the 1° ampullate spigots. Larger 2° ampullate spigots were also observed in adult females of species from three other lycosid genera. Thus, 2° ampullate glands, which in araneoids function only in juveniles during proecdysis, are not only functional in adult female lycosids (and adult females of several other families), but they appear to play a greater role than the 1° ampull...
Perylenediimide functionalized bridged-siloxane nanoparticles for bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaics

Perylenediimide functionalized bridged siloxane nanoparticles were prepared by direct hydrolysis and condensation of a perylenediimide silane precursor in the presence of a catalytic amount of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The sizes of the particles were controlled by adjusting organotrialkoxysilane, base, and TEOS concentrations. Using this modified Stober method, we were able to incorporate a higher load of organic content (∼70%) into the siloxane core compared to typical organically modified Stober silica nanoparticles. The size, shape, and surface morphology of these functionalized particles were visualized using transmission electron microscopy. Their compositions were confirmed by FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The photovoltaic performance of these nanohybrids in the poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer matrix was evaluated. The device made from a sample annealed at 150 °C showed reasonably good photovoltaic performance with a power conversion efficiency of 1.56% under standard test conditions of AM 1.5G spectra at an illumination intensity of 100 mW cm−2.
Dyadic Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Family Responsibility Questionnaire

Objectives Evaluate the factor structure of youth and maternal involvement ratings on the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Family Responsibility Questionnaire, a measure of family allocation of condition management responsibilities in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Methods Participants included 251 youth aged 11–18 years with inflammatory bowel disease and their mothers. Item-level descriptive analyses, subscale internal consistency estimates, and confirmatory factor analyses of youth and maternal involvement were conducted using a dyadic data-analytic approach. Results Results supported the validity of 4 conceptually derived subscales including general health maintenance, social aspects, condition management tasks, and nutrition domains. Additionally, results indicated adequate support for the factor structure of a 21-item youth involvement measure and strong support for a 16-item maternal involvement measure. Conclusions Additional empirical support for the validity of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Family Responsibility Questionnaire was provided. Future research to replicate current findings and to examine the measure’s clinical utility is warranted.
Enzootic toxoplasmosis in caged squirrel monkeys Saimiri sciureus.

Spontaneous and experimental toxoplasmosis have been reported sporadically as the cause of death in nonhuman primates. These reports indicate that New World monkeys and marmosets (cebidae and hapalidae), are more susceptible to infection by Toxoplasma gondii, or more often develop disease in response to this infection than monkeys and baboons of the Old World (cercopithecidae). This difference is not readily explained, but it parallels a difference in a capacity to adapt to confinement. An enzootic of fatal toxoplasmosis in a laboratory group of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciwew, a New World primate) is described.
Integrated optical coherence tomography and reflectometry system for ocular anterior segment imaging and tear film thickness evaluation

We report an integrated optical coherence tomography (OCT) and reflectometry system for ophthalmology imaging. The dual-functional device provides a complementary high-resolution tear film evaluation by reflectometry and anterior segment imaging by OCT, offering a more com- prehensive anterior segment examination. The imaging measurement capabilities have been demonstrated on a human eye as well as on a model eye. The minimum measured tear film thickness is 0.3 μm with measurement resolution of less than � 0.58% of film thickness yet the OCT anterior segment offers a depth resolution of 7 μm with a 45-nm band- width superluminescent light source at 840-nm center wavelength. The integrated system has demonstrated the capability for three-dimensional imaging in the anterior segment of the eye. © 2014 Society of Photo-Optical
Schur orthogonality relations and invariant sesquilinear forms

Important connections between the representation theory of a compact group G and L 2 (G) are summarized by the Schur orthogonality relations. The first part of this work is to generalize these relations to all finite-dimensional representations of a connected semisimple Lie group G. The second part establishes a general framework in the case of unitary representations (π, V) of a separable locally compact group. The key step is to identify the matrix coefficient space with a dense subset of the Hilbert-Schmidt endomorphisms on V.
Frequency analysis of human atrial fibrillation using the surface electrocardiogram and its response to ibutilide

Abstract This study assesses a technique for quantifying the frequency spectrum of atrial fibrillation (AF) using the surface electrocardiogram. Electrocardiograhic recordings were obtained in 61 patients during AF. After bandpass filtering, the QRST complexes were subtracted using a template-matching algorithm. The resulting fibrillatory baseline signal was subjected to Fourier transformation and displayed as a frequency power spectrum. These frequency spectra were compared to direct measurements from the right atrium and coronary sinus in 35 patients undergoing electrophysiologic study. The clinical use of this technique was explored by correlating fibrillatory frequency with the behavior of the arrhythmia in 26 patients referred for cardioversion. The electrocardiographic frequency spectrum during AF was characterized by a single peak that varied widely between patients (range 228 to 480 beats/min). There was a strong correlation between electrocardiographic peak frequency and that measured in the right atrium and coronary sinus (r = 0.79 to 0.98, p 5 minutes (324 ± 36 vs 402 ± 78 beats/min, p = 0.001). Chronic AF ( 3 months) (336 ± 48 vs 408 ± 60 beats/min, p = 0.012). Fibrillation frequency was an accurate predictor of conversion with ibutilide. Success rate was 100% in patients with peak frequency
BAIT DELIVERY FOR ORAL RABIES VACCINE TO GRAY FOXES

Rabies is a widespread zoonotic disease that has reached epizootic proportions in gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) in central Texas. Because each species of carnivore has different food preferences and foraging strategies, it is essential that the efficacy of a bait delivery program be examined for gray foxes prior to an oral vaccination program being attempted. Field trials were conducted to determine bait preferences of free-ranging gray foxes to selected baits and odor attractants. Baits consisted of polymer cubes made of either dog food meal or fish meal, and a wax-lard cake that was enhanced with marshmallow flavoring. Attractants added to baits exuded sulfurous, fatty, cheesy, or sweet odors and flavors. During 3,589 operable bait station nights, gray fox visitation and bait uptake rates were 9.2% and 8.3%, respectively. Gray foxes exhibited no preference in bait uptake rates between bait and odor attractant combinations. Gray foxes exhibited no difference in cumulative bait uptake rates between onroad and offroad sites; however, the uptake rate by raccoons was significantly greater for baits placed on roads than for baits randomly placed. Raccoons were the major non-target species competing for baits, being attributed with 73% of the total uptake. Visitation and bait uptake rates by raccoons significantly increased after a 7-day lethal removal of raccoons (n = 37) from the study area. Random distribution of baits is recommended; it reduced bait uptake by non-target species without adversely affecting uptake by gray foxes.
Neural Bases of Social Anxiety Disorder: Emotional Reactivity and Cognitive Regulation During Social and Physical Threat

Context Social anxiety disorder is thought to involve emotional hyperreactivity, cognitive distortions, and ineffective emotion regulation. While the neural bases of emotional reactivity to social stimuli have been described, the neural bases of emotional reactivity and cognitive regulation during social and physical threat, and their relationship to social anxiety symptom severity, have yet to be investigated. Objective To investigate behavioral and neural correlates of emotional reactivity and cognitive regulation in patients and controls during processing of social and physical threat stimuli. Design Participants were trained to implement cognitive-linguistic regulation of emotional reactivity induced by social (harsh facial expressions) and physical (violent scenes) threat while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging and providing behavioral ratings of negative emotion experience. Setting Academic psychology department. Participants Fifteen adults with social anxiety disorder and 17 demographically matched healthy controls. Main Outcome Measures Blood oxygen level–dependent signal and negative emotion ratings. Results Behaviorally, patients reported greater negative emotion than controls during social and physical threat but showed equivalent reduction in negative emotion following cognitive regulation. Neurally, viewing social threat resulted in greater emotion-related neural responses in patients than controls, with social anxiety symptom severity related to activity in a network of emotion- and attention-processing regions in patients only. Viewing physical threat produced no between-group differences. Regulation during social threat resulted in greater cognitive and attention regulation–related brain activation in controls compared with patients. Regulation during physical threat produced greater cognitive control–related response (ie, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) in patients compared with controls. Conclusions Compared with controls, patients demonstrated exaggerated negative emotion reactivity and reduced cognitive regulation–related neural activation, specifically for social threat stimuli. These findings help to elucidate potential neural mechanisms of emotion regulation that might serve as biomarkers for interventions for social anxiety disorder.
CHEMO‐PLASTICITY OF CLAYS SUBJECTED TO STRESS AND FLOW OF A SINGLE CONTAMINANT

SUMMARY Isothermal chemo-elasto-plasticity of clays is discussed, to describe strains induced in clay by permeation of it with a low dielectric constant organic contaminant, in the presence of stress. The strain is crucial in controlling permeability changes in chemically a⁄ected clay barriers of landfills and impoundments. The theory encompasses chemical softening or yield surface reduction, coeƒcient of chemical reversible expansion or contraction due to mass concentration increase, as well as chemical sensitivity of bulk plastic modulus. The experiments on chemistry and stress dependent permeability of Sarnia clay performed by Fernandez and Quigley (1985, 1991) are interpreted using this model. The numerical representations of the chemo-plastic softening function and the chemo-elastic strain function, as well as plastic bulk modulus sensitivity to concentration are evaluated for dioxane and ethanol. Specific requirements for the tests for chemo-plastic behavior of clays are discussed.
Simulation of accelerating structures with large staggered tuning

One idea for controlling multibunch beam breakup in future linear colliders is to use accelerating structures that have a large ( approximately 10%) staggered tuning, that is, a large cell-to-cell spread in frequencies of the transverse dipole modes. Simulations of such structures using the programs TBCI and LINACBBU are compared. Issues relevant to the design and optimization of such structures, such as choice of cell frequency distribution and role of cell-to-cell coupling are discussed. >
An application of discrete-event simulation to an outpatient healthcare clinic with batch arrivals

An application of discrete-event simulation is performed on an unique outpatient primary care clinic serving a military population at Fort Sill, OK. Access to the clinic is on an exclusively walk-in basis. Arrivals occur primarily in batches; arrival times and batch sizes are stochastic in nature. The nursing and medical staffs available each day also follow a stochastic process. The arrival process is characterized through discrete distributions. Several alternatives are modeled to examine procedural changes that may result in improved patient flow and provider utilization. A hybrid appointment/walk-in model was determined to have the best promise for improvement, but the possible benefits it may yield do not seem to justify the costs of its implementation in this setting. Possible applications of the hybrid model to other facilities such as urgent care facilities are discussed.
EARLY ACQUISITION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS ANTIBODY IN SEVERAL ISOLATED MELANESIAN POPULATIONS

Significant differences among diverse human populations have been found in the seroepidemiology of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The present report documents a very high rate of early acquisition of antibody to CMV and EBV among three remote populations living in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the New Hebrides, respectively. These three genetically distinct populations, living in widely different ecologies and social settings, each had the same pattern of early acquisition of infection with both viruses. It is suggested that spread of CMV and EBV is determined by patterns of interpersonal contact as well as by the prevalence of virus-shedders. The large number of handlers of each infant in these studied groups appears directly related to the early acquisition of these viruses.
Translation quality control is critical for bacterial responses to amino acid stress

Gene expression relies on quality control for accurate transmission of genetic information. One mechanism that prevents amino acid misincorporation errors during translation is editing of misacylated tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. In the absence of editing, growth is limited upon exposure to excess noncognate amino acid substrates and other stresses, but whether these physiological effects result solely from mistranslation remains unclear. To explore if translation quality control influences cellular processes other than protein synthesis, an Escherichia coli strain defective in Tyr-tRNAPhe editing was used. In the absence of editing, cellular levels of aminoacylated tRNAPhe were elevated during amino acid stress, whereas in the wild-type strain these levels declined under the same growth conditions. In the editing-defective strain, increased levels of aminoacylated tRNAPhe led to continued synthesis of the PheL leader peptide and attenuation of pheA transcription under amino acid stress. Consequently, in the absence of editing, activation of the phenylalanine biosynthetic operon becomes less responsive to phenylalanine limitation. In addition to raising aminoacylated tRNA levels, the absence of editing lowered the amount of deacylated tRNAPhe in the cell. This reduction in deacylated tRNA was accompanied by decreased synthesis of the second messenger guanosine tetraphosphate and limited induction of stringent response-dependent gene expression in editing-defective cells during amino acid stress. These data show that a single quality-control mechanism, the editing of misacylated aminoacyl-tRNAs, provides a critical checkpoint both for maintaining the accuracy of translation and for determining the sensitivity of transcriptional responses to amino acid stress.
Addictive links: engaging students through adaptive navigation support and open social student modeling

Empirical studies of adaptive annotation in the educational context have demonstrated that it can help students to acquire knowledge faster, improve learning outcomes, reduce navigational overhead, and encourage non-sequential navigation. Over the last 8 years we have explored a lesser known effect of adaptive annotation -- its ability to significantly increase student engagement in working with non-mandatory educational content. In the presence of adaptive link annotation, students tend to access significantly more learning content; they stay with it longer, return to it more often and explore a wider variety of learning resources. This talk will present an overview of our exploration of the addictive links effect in many course-long studies, which we ran in several domains (C, SQL and Java programming), for several types of learning content (quizzes, problems, interactive examples). The first part of the talk will review our exploration of a more traditional knowledge-based personalization approach and the second part will focus on more recent studies of social navigation and open social student modeling.
Tree Growth—Hybrid Genetic Algorithm for Predicting the Structure of Small (TiO2)n, n = 2–13, Nanoclusters

The initial structures for the search for the global minimum of TiO2 nanoclusters were generated by combining a tree growth (TG) algorithm with a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA). In the TG algorithm, the clusters grow from a small seed to the size of interest stepwise. New atoms are added to the smaller cluster from the previous step, by analogy to new leaves grown by a tree. The addition of the new atoms is controlled by predefined geometry parameters to reduce the computational cost and to provide physically meaningful structures. In each step, the energies for the various generated structures are evaluated, and those with the lowest energies are carried into the next step. The structures that match the formulas of interest are collected as HGA candidates during the various steps. Low energy candidates are fed to the HGA component to search for the global minimum for each formula of interest. The lowest energy structures from the HGA are then optimized by using density functional theory to study the diss...
Characterization of leukocyte subpopulations in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis

Monoclonal antibodies identifying leukocytes subpopulations were applied to smears of laparoscopically collected peritoneal fluid leukocytes and parallel samples of peripheral blood leukocytes from women with endometriosis (n = 33), those with unexplained infertility (n = 9), and fertile controls (n = 8). Peripheral blood leukocyte profiles in all groups were indistinguishable from reported normal values. Peritoneal fluid leukocyte profiles were observed to be different between groups. The most significant elevations in total leukocytes, macrophages, helper T lymphocytes and natural-killer cells were observed in women with stage I and II endometriosis. Significantly elevated levels of total leukocytes, macrophages, and T lymphocytes were also observed in peritoneal fluid from women with unexplained infertility. The results from this study indicate that the peritoneal environment is immunologically dynamic and suggest that cellular immune mechanisms may contribute to reproductive failure in women with endometriosis and unexplained infertility.