cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HIV Diagnoses and Viral Suppression Among US Women in Rural and Nonrural Areas, 2010-2017.

BACKGROUND Women in rural areas face challenges to HIV diagnosis and care, including limited access to testing and treatment facilities. Recent declines in HIV diagnosis rates among women in the United States are encouraging. However, few studies have addressed how HIV diagnosis and care differ by rurality. METHODS We analyzed National HIV Surveillance System data for women aged ≥13 years with diagnosed HIV infection. We examined diagnoses in the United States during 2010-2017. Then, for women living with diagnosed HIV in 40 jurisdictions with complete laboratory reporting, we assessed viral suppression (viral load <200 copies/mL). Analyses were stratified by rural-urban category: rural (population <50,000), metropolitan (population 50,000-499,000), and metropolitan statistical areas (MSA, population ≥500,000). RESULTS Among 64,004 women who received a diagnosis of HIV infection during 2010-2017, 4.2% resided in a rural area, 15% resided in a metropolitan area, and 80% resided in an MSA. Rural women had the highest percentage of stage 3 infection (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) at diagnosis (rural 30%, metropolitan 27%, MSA 25%). Of 190,735 women living with diagnosed HIV, viral suppression was lower in rural areas (rural 55%, metropolitan 59%, MSA 58%). CONCLUSIONS During 2010-2017, most HIV diagnoses occurred among women residing in nonrural areas. However, women in rural areas had slightly higher levels of late diagnosis and lower levels of viral suppression, which might have resulted from differences in access to testing and treatment services. Interventions are needed to increase HIV testing, care, and viral suppression among women in rural areas.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles elevated iron and copper contents and mitigated the bioavailability of lead and cadmium in different leafy greens.

Abstract Advances in large hydroponic production of leafy greens, easy adoption in urban agriculture, and large leaf surface area of many leafy greens, greatly increase their exposure to heavy metals and nanoparticles. Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are two highly toxic heavy metals, which threaten the health of humans and livestock even at trace levels. These heavy metals may be taken up by plant roots through the protein transporters used for essential minerals such as iron (Fe2+) and copper (Cu2+). Previous studies have shown that some metallic nanoparticles affect the performance of protein transporters and modify the plant uptake of co-existing heavy metal ions. This study aims to understand the role of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in the uptake pattern of Cd and Pb and two key micronutrients of iron and copper in edible tissues of three leafy green species including spinach (Spinaciae oleracea), parsley (Petroselinum sativum) and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum). Pre-grown plant seedlings in soil (containing Cu and Fe) were transplanted to a hydroponic system (1/4th Hoagland solution) for 7 days as a transition, and then were exposed to four treatments in deionized water (1.0 mg L−1 Cd2++100.0 mg L−1 Pb2+, 1.0 mg L−1 Cd2++100.0 mg L−1 Pb2+ + 100 mg L−1 ZnONPs, 100 mg L−1 ZnO-ENPs and a control with no chemical exposure) for additional two weeks. At termination, shoots were gently separated from the roots, and the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Fe, Zn, and Cu in all plant tissues were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results revealed that ZnONPs mitigated the uptake of both heavy metals in roots. The translocation of heavy metals was similar in the edible tissues of three species. The response of three leafy greens to the co-exposure of heavy metals and ZnONPs was different in Cu and Fe accumulation in edible tissues. Fe concentration in edible tissues in the co-exposed plants was increased in spinach (+10%) and cilantro (+9%) but decreased in parsley (−8%) compared to controls, while the Cu level in edible tissues increased in all three species following the order of cilantro (+8%)> spinach (+4%)> parsley (+1.5%).
A Comparison of Quality of Life Indicators During Two Complementary Interventions: Adaptive Gardening and Adaptive Riding for People with Dementia

Abstract Objectives We sought to provide a fine-grain description and comparison of how people living with dementia responded to adaptive gardening and adaptive riding through durations of their observed participation and emotional well-being, two dimensions of quality of life. Design A descriptive case study design enabled in-depth description and comparison of participation and emotional well-being, two quality of life indicators, observed during four videotaped sessions of adaptive gardening and adaptive riding. Interventions Eight people living with dementia self-selected into one of two complementary interventions, community-based adaptive gardening (n = 4) or adaptive riding (n = 4), in Northern Colorado. Both occurred for hour-long, weekly sessions for eight-weeks. Outcome Measure Durations of observed quality of life indicators of participation and apparent affect were documented using a modified version of the Activity-in-Context-in-Time on 31 hours of videotaped data. Durations for each quality of life indicator were averaged per participant and aggregated by group for comparison using a Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney U test Results Both interventions supported emotional well-being and participation. Longer durations of active participation were observed during adaptive riding with significantly higher durations of complex active participation (U = 16, p= 0.029). Conclusion Both interventions supported quality of life and merit continued development. Adaptive riding appeared to support longer durations of active participation with more complex forms when compared to adaptive gardening. Findings can inform healthcare providers’ recommendations for adaptive gardening and adaptive riding for people with dementia. More research is needed with a larger sample size to further examine similarities and differences.
Body Temperature and White Blood Cell Count in Postpartum Dairy Cows

The objectives of this study were to evaluate rectal temperature as a diagnostic tool in postpartum dairy cows and to compare body temperature and white blood cell counts in cows that remained healthy with those that became ill. Fifty Holstein dairy cows had complete physical examinations every four hours and a complete blood count once daily for the first 10 days after calving. Illness was defined as a rectal temperature of at least 104.5Â°F (40.3Â°C) in the absence of other clinical signs, or a clinical sign of illness other than increased temperature. Fifteen cows were diagnosed with illness and 35 remained healthy throughout the 10-day study period. No difference between mean rectal temperatures of cows that became ill and cows that remained healthy was found. Among cows that remained healthy, 23 (66%) had a rectal temperature of at least 103.1Â°F (39.5Â°C) at least once, 17 (49%) had a rectal temperature of at least 103.5Â°F (39.7Â°C) at least once and six (17%) had a rectal temperature of at least 104Â°F (40Â°C) at least once during the study period. Over the first three days after calving, mean total white blood cell counts and neutrophil counts were higher in healthy cows than in cows that became ill. Because rectal temperatures were frequently elevated in healthy postpartum cows, it was concluded that rectal temperature has low specificity for diagnosing illness in postpartum dairy cows in the absence of other clinical signs.
Reasons for undergoing amyloid imaging among cognitively unimpaired older adults.

Author(s): Ryan, Mary M; Gillen, Daniel L; Grill, Joshua D | Abstract: ObjectivesPreclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trials screen cognitively unimpaired older adults for biomarker criteria and disclose their results. We examined whether participants in the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's disease Study with "elevated" and "not elevated" amyloid differed in scores on the "Views and Perceptions of Amyloid Imaging" questionnaire. We hypothesized that, prior to disclosure, those with elevated amyloid would score higher than those with not elevated amyloid. We also quantified how responses changed after result disclosure.MethodsWe assessed data from 4327 individuals who completed the questionnaire at screening visit 1 and after amyloid disclosure. We used linear regression models to assess the relationship between questionnaire category scores and amyloid status. We also quantified the relationship between category score changes and amyloid status.ResultsOverall, participants scored altruism and contribution to research as the strongest motivations for undergoing amyloid imaging. Those with elevated amyloid scored 0.23 points higher in the Perceived Risk category, on average, than those who had not elevated amyloid prior to disclosure; this effect attenuated towards zero after adjusting for Cognitive Function Instrument score. After disclosure, participants with elevated amyloid demonstrated less within-subject change in Perceived Risk, on average, compared to those with similar pre-disclosure scores who had not elevated amyloid, while demonstrating greater changes in the altruism and planning categories.InterpretationAltruism and learning disease risk motivated enrollment in this preclinical AD trial. Participants with elevated amyloid differed from their not elevated counterparts in their perceptions of amyloid imaging, even before undergoing the procedure.
‘Guys, get your guns out!’ – An autobiographical account of a US community corrections training academy:

This article addresses community corrections training from the perspective of a former practitioner. Though CC training has received modest consideration, academies’ roles in reinforcing occupation...
The Undecidability of Typability in the Lambda-Pi-Calculus

The set of pure terms which are typable in the λII-calculus in a given context is not recursive. So there is no general type inference algorithm for the programming language Elf and, in some cases, some type information has to be mentioned by the programmer.
Microhabitat selection by Kelp Gulls, Larus dominicanus, in Patagonia, Argentina

We studied the microhabitat selection of Kelp Gulls, Larus dominicanus, at 16 colonies along 2500 km of coastline in Patagonia, Argentina, between 1998 and 2001. We quantified 15 habitat variables at 553 nest-sites and at 422 random points. Kelp Gulls selected particular nest-sites from the available habitat. They selected sites with higher cover within 1 m of the nest, closer to the nearest vegetation, but further from the nearest clearing than random points. Slope also showed a clear pattern, where in most colonies, mean nest values were lower than at random points. The variability and diversity of the selected nest-site features indicate that Kelp Gulls are generalists with respect to nest-site habitat selection. Although Kelp Gulls have preferences for certain nest-site characteristics, these preferences are flexible enough to allow them to take advantage of different microhabitats within the diversity of habitat types observed in their colonies.
Video sequence modeling by dynamic Bayesian networks: a systematic approach from coarse-to-fine grains

A dynamic Bayesian network (DBN) based framework to model video sequences is proposed. The video sequences of interest include single-shot video sequences containing only one event and multishot video sequences containing various events. By taking advantage of the temporal continuity of video sequences and assuming Markovian property between successive image frames, we propose DBNs as the tool to map low-level features to high-level concepts. The feasibility of DBN modeling is tested on single-and multishot video sequences. Specifically, a coarse-grained video interpretation framework based on one kind of DBN, the hierarchical hidden Markov model (HHMM), is proposed for multishot video sequences. For single-shot video sequences, we present a fine-grained object based interpretation and classification system based on another version of DBNs. The preliminary simulations show great promise on the efficiency and flexibility of using DBNs for video sequence modeling.
Heterodimeric thymidylate synthases with C-terminal deletion on one subunit.

We have combined site-directed mutagenesis with the technique of reversible unfolding and subunit dissociation to construct heterodimeric thymidylate synthases that lack the C-terminal valine from only one subunit of the dimer. Removal of this residue either from both subunits of the dimer by mutagenesis (V316Am mutation) or from only one subunit by treatment with carboxypeptidase has been reported to result in an inactive enzyme (Carreras, C. W., Climie, S. C., and Santi, D. V. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 6038-6044; Aull, J.L., Loeble, R.B., and Dunlap. R.B. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 1167-1172). Arg-178 is an essential active site residue of thymidylate synthase that is donated from the opposing subunit of the dimer. The R178F-V316Am heterodimer was formed by the unfolding and refolding of a mixture of inactive R178F and V316Am mutants. This enzyme has one intact active site and was found to have half of the activity and the same Km values as wild-type thymidylate synthase that was unfolded and refolded as a control. We have also formed the V316Am-WT heterodimer and report that this heterodimeric enzyme is also active, has a kcat value that is approximately half of that of the wild-type thymidylate synthase dimer, and binds substrate and cofactor with Km values similar to those of the wild-type enzyme.
The Scope of Regulatory Authority Under the Second Amendment

This paper will appear as a chapter in a forthcoming book to be published by the Johns Hopkins University Press that analyzes the efficacy of firearms regulation. In this paper, the authors analyze the emerging jurisprudential framework for assessing the validity of firearms regulation under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. This emerging framework, the authors contend, preserves substantial regulatory authority for federal, state, and local governments. The authors then assess the constitutionality of the leading proposals for regulatory reform that have emerged in the wake of the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
Molecular Profiling in Breast Cancer

Since the declaration of the qwar on cancerq three decades ago, an improved understanding of molecular mechanisms behind malignant disease has led to the discovery of novel targets for cancer therapy. Despite such great efforts, many compounds that have performed well in the preclinical setting have failed in clinical trials. This may be because of the dynamic nature of cancer, where cells continuously acquire a series of genetic alterations that allow them to escape the constraints of normal cell proliferation and to develop resistance to various drug therapies. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how these genetic changes are involved in the etiology of cancer development and progression, and to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. In recent years, the emergence of new genomic technologies has allowed us to address these fundamental issues. Because cellular and molecular heterogeneity of breast tumors involve many genes in pathways that control cell growth, death, and differentiation, the utility of microarray technology for genomic profiling of human breast cancer has provided remarkable insights into the multiple genetic alterations that are involved in the disease that may dictate clinical outcome. Examination of gene expression patterns are being correlated with tumor sensitivities or resistance to particular pharmacological agents. Taken together, microarray technology has led to more definitive classification of breast cancer, identification of signature markers for diagnosis and prognosis, and potential predictive response to clinical treatments that should greatly improve and individualize patient therapies.
Large numbers of primitive stem cells are active simultaneously in aggregated embryo chimeric mice.

two distinct stem cell populations. each of which produces a different hemoglobin type (d and s). These were compared with F1 hybrids in which every stem cell produces both types. We measured the percentage of type d in seven to ten serial samples of circulating reticulocytes taken at three- to seven-day intervals and found that the variability in percent of this hemoglobin was only slightly higher in the chimeric mice than in F1 controls; SD ranged from 2.7% to 5.5% in the chimeric mice and from 3.4% to 3.9% in the controls. Using the binomial formula. the numbers of new clones formed during the reticulocyte life span. approximately three days. ranged from 33 to 1 1 8 in the individual T HE HYPOTHESIS that normally functioning somatic cells have a limited proliferative capacity’ appears to be contradicted by findings that long-term repopulating abihities of stem cells are unchanged after a life span of normal function.2� However, only a small fraction of differentiating cells are primitive stem cells, so the kinetic patterns by which they multiply and differentiate have not been defined unambiguously. Important basic information such as the number of stem cells in a marrow graft or the number of doubhings that can be achieved by hematopoietic cells cannot be estimated without knowing these patterns. It is possible that most stem cells proliferate very little, so that at any given time only a few contribute to erythropoiesis.�’#{176} This would allow the remaining stem cells to conserve their proliferative capacity. Numbers of clones contributingto a population made up of two cell types may be estimated using the binomial formula8” in which the estimated number of clones (n) depends inversely on the variance of the observations (see below). Numbers calculated in this way are underestimates because the variance includes experimental error and is thereby increased so that n is decreased. The estimated number of stem cells is also decreased if any other source of variability within the individual mice is increased. Use of this calculation in our studies is based on the following assumptions: that the different phenotypes in reticulocytes and in mature erythrocytes will occur in the same proportions as those of the active primitive stem cells; that no other mechanisms influence the proportioning of cells of the different genotypes; and that each primitive stem cell becomes mactive after it produces its burst of erythrocytes. To obtain cells with two distinguishable hemoglobin types, we made chimeric mice by aggregation of early embryos of two distinguishable genotypes. Such mice are normal
Bacterial meningitis. A symposium.

Prior to the introduction of specific antibacterial therapy, bacterial meningitis was a disease with a universally fatal or disastrous outcome. The introduction of typespecific antiserum, and then of the antibacterial drugs, improved this situation dramatically. Improvements in the general medical care of acutely ill children, and the introduction of a series of more potent antibiotics against its bacterial causes helped to generate an attitude that bacterial meningitis was, or soon would be, a disease of the past. The experience of the past two decades belies this thesis. Today, interest in many facets of this disease has been renewed by many physicians concerned with the health of children: the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. This symposium attempts to summarize for the practitioner the highlights of current knowledge in this area, and to outline certain areas in which recent advances can be anticipated, or will be studied. Tuberculous meningitis will be omitted for the sake of brevity, as will the special problems of meningitis in the newborn infant. There has been a resurgence of interest in developing vaccines to prevent Hemophilus influenzae b, pneumococcal, and meningococcal Group A, B, and C meningitis. These organisms cause almost all the bacterial meningitis after the first two months of life. If, as now seems possible, vaccines against most or all of these organisms will soon become available, those children having the greatest risk must be defined to determine who, and at what age should have priority in receiving the vaccine(s). A. THE CURRENT MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM
Aluminum inhibits neurofilament protein degradation by multiple cytoskeleton-associated proteases.

The environmental neurotoxin aluminum exerts several distinct biochemical effects on neurofilament proteins, including subunit aggregation, disruption or the normal segregation of phosphorylated subunits within axons leading to abnormal perikaryal accumulation, and inhibition of in vitro degradation by the calcium-dependent neutral protease, calpain. In the present study, we demonstrate that exposure of mouse CNS cytoskeletal preparations to aluminum chloride inhibits the degradation of neurofilament proteins by both calcium-dependent and -independent proteases that co-purify with cytoskeletons. Aluminum inhibited both calcium-dependent and calcium-independent proteolysis of the high and middle molecular weight neurofilament subunits, but inhibited only calcium-dependent, and not calcium-independent proteolysis of the low molecular weight neurofilament subunit. These findings demonstrate that aluminum interferes with multiple aspects or neurofilament protein metabolism.
Isolation, characterization, and cloning of a plasmid-borne gene encoding a phosphotransferase that confers high-level amikacin resistance in enteric bacilli.

Clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens at a hospital that had used amikacin as its principal aminoglycoside for the preceding 42 months demonstrated high-level resistance to amikacin (greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml), kanamycin (greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml), gentamicin (greater than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml), netilmicin (64 micrograms/ml), and tobramycin (greater than or equal to 16 micrograms/ml). The resistant strains contained an identical 6.8-kilobase plasmid, pRPG101. Transformation of pRPG101 into Escherichia coli produced high-level resistance to amikacin (greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml) and kanamycin (greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml) but unchanged susceptibilities to gentamicin, netilmicin, and tobramycin. The clinical isolates and transformants produced a novel 39-phosphotransferase, APH(39), that modified amikacin and kanamycin in vitro. The location and orientation of the amk gene encoding this APH(39) were determined by analysis of insertions in pRPG101 of the defective gene fusion phage Mu dII1681 (mini-Mulac). Cells containing plasmids with insertions into amk that had the lac operon fused to the amk promoter were selected as Lac+ and amikacin susceptible. A collection of these mini-Mulac insertions was mapped by restriction enzyme analysis. This characterization of amk facilitated its cloning as a 1.8-kilobase EcoRI-Bg/I fragment of pRPG101 into the pUC19 vector. E. coli strains containing this recombinant plasmid had APH(39) activity and demonstrated high-level resistance to amikacin and kanamycin (greater than or equal to 256 micrograms/ml) but were as susceptible to gentamicin, tobramycin, and netilmicin (less than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml) as the strains harboring the original pRPG101 plasmid. Images
Municipal Point Source and Agricultural Nonpoint Source Contributions to Coastal Eutrophication

: Tidally influenced reaches of several coastal rivers in eastern North Carolina are suffering from very serious water quality problems — massive surface blooms of noxious blue-green algae, major fish kills from anoxic water, epidemics of red sore disease among fish, fresh water intrusion into estuarine waters, and declining commercial and sports fisheries. An intensive investigation of point source and nonpoint source inputs of nutrients was conducted in one of the eutrophic rivers, the Chowan River. Nonpoint source loading dominated the estimated annual flu of nutrients from the river basin. Automated water quality samplers were utilized to record nutrient levels in stormflow and baseflow from several small agricultural watershed in the basin. Levels of nitrate nitrogen and total phosphorus were from five to 40 times greater in these agricultural watersheds than levels in mostly forested watersheds. Existing water quality data in these eutrophic river basins implicate agricultural activities – particularly animal operations and cropland in watersheds with extensive drainage improvements – as the major contributing factor to the water quality problems.
Expression of a Parathyroid Hormone-Like Protein and Its Receptor during Differentiation of Embryonal Carcinoma Cells

Differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma cells to the parietal endoderm phenotype is associated with expression of PTH-responsive adenylate cyclase. A PTH-like protein (PLP), which binds to PTH receptors and activates adenylate cyclase in classical PTH target cells was recently isolated and cloned. We assessed whether the parietal endoderm phenotype is associated with the expression of PLP or its receptor. A 1.4-kilobase PLP transcript was detected in the mouse parietal endoderm cell line PYS-2. No hybridizing transcripts were evident in undifferentiated mouse embryonal carcinoma cells PSA-1 or F9. However, differentiation of these cells to parietal endoderm, either spontaneously (PSA-1) or by treatment with retinoic acid and dibutyryl cAMP (F9), resulted in expression of the 1.4-kilobase PLP message. Undifferentiated F9 cells displayed negligible specific binding of [125I]PLP-(1-34)amide. When F9 cells were induced to differentiate to parietal endoderm, specific binding sites for [125I]PLP-(1-34)amide were expressed in parallel with PLP-responsive adenylate cyclase. These receptors, like those in classical PTH target tissues, displayed identical affinity (Kd = 5.2 nM) for bPTH-(1-34) and hPLP-(1-34)amide; with binding capacity (Bmax) of 6.6 x 10(4) sites/cell. In the presence of retinoic acid, exogenous PLP substituted for dibutyryl cAMP in a concentration-dependent fashion in promoting the differentiation of F9 cells to parietal endoderm. Thus, both PLP mRNA and PLP receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase are expressed during the differentiation of mouse embryonal carcinoma cells. Increased cAMP levels produced by autocrine stimulation of PLP receptors by PLP may contribute to differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells into parietal endoderm.
KidArt: displaying children's art in the home

In this paper we present a device to display children's art in the home. Our primary goal was to create a device that can enhance the display of art, capturing the experience families have both when the child creates the art and when they reflect on that art together. The display device removes the burden of organizing and displaying the art children create so that families can enjoy the art in their homes instead.
Single molecule enzymology using carbon nanotube circuits

For over a decade, researchers have pursued sensitive, label-free biosensing and biodetection using nanoscale electronic devices like field-effect transistors. Prototype devices made with single-walled carbon nanotubes proved to have enough sensitivity to detect single molecule events, as well as sufficient bandwidth to monitor real time dynamics. Combining these characteristics has led to novel electronic measurements where the bond-by-bond chemical activity of single enzyme molecules is monitored in real time. The high bandwidth of the nanotube transistors allow every individual chemical event to be clearly resolved, providing excellent statistics from tens of thousands of turnovers by a single molecule.
The redistributive roles of unemployment insurance and the dynamics of voting

Abstract Public unemployment insurance is analyzed as the majority voting equilibrium policy of a dynamic stochastic economy. Abstracting from incentive effects, we focus on redistribution. Some results are: because of the distribution of heterogeneous employment opportunities, public insurance may be democratically chosen even if complete private markets exist: and because of the dynamics, even when agents are intrinsically homogeneous, the equilibrium benefit level (or duration-benefit schedule) deviates from what has been described as optimal in the literature. The effects of differences in the average frequency or duration of unemployment on equilibrium taxes and benefits are investigated, with some unanticipated results.
Reexamining and Rethinking: The New Face of Queer Issues in Schools. A Review of Rethinking Sexual Identity in Education. Susan Birden. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2005. 208 pp. $65.00 (hardcover), $22.95 (paper).

Playing It Straight: Uncovering Gender Discourses in the Early Childhood Classroom. Mindy Blaise. New York: Routledge, 2005. 216 pp. $75 (hardcover), $26.95 (paper). A Radical Rethinking of Sexuali...
Intent to purchase from 3-D virtual environments: An exploratory study

Despite the challenging economy, online retail in the United States and western Europe is continuing to have double-digit growth. Regardless of retailer size, the Internet offers an affordable alternative to opening a brick-and-mortar store and provides innovative ways of doing business. However, the evolution of the Internet as a shopping channel is not without drawbacks. Online store lacks interactivity and fails to create the store ambience achieved in a physical store, which can detract from the overall shopping experience. Thus, to ensure success, retailers are exploring various avenues to create a deeply immersive online shopping experience. One such platform is the creation of stores in virtual worlds such as Second Life (SL). This virtual world represents a shared space with a 3-D graphical environment in which several users can simultaneously interact with each other and perform activities similar to those they perform in the real world.This study examined the main features of 3-D stores which co...
Poisoning in children: Indian scenario

The retrospective data on childhood poisoning from eight regional hospitals in India has been reviewed. The demographic features and types of poisonings encountered have been compared. The analysis of the data indicated that pediatric poisonings constituted 0.23-3.3% of the total poisoning. The mortality ranged from 0.64-11.6% with highest being from Shimla. Accidental poisoning was common involving 50-90% of children below 5 years of age and males outnumbered the females. Suicidal poisoning was seen after 13 years of age and was due to drugs and household chemicals. One of the hospitals in Delhi recorded a very high incidence (66.6%) of drug poisoning in children. The drugs consumed belonged to phenothiazines, antiepileptics and antipyretics. Iron poisoning was seen in younger children. Kerosene was one of the causes of accidental poisoning at all hospitals except Shimla and rural Maharashtra were probably wood charcoal is widely used. Pesticide poisoning was more prevalent in Punjab and West Bengal whereas plant poisoning was very common in Shimla. Significant number of snake envenomation has been recorded from rural Maharashtra. Other less common accidental poisonings in children included alcohol, corrosives, heavy metals, rodenticides, detergents and disinfectants. Thus various regions in the country showed some variation in types and frequency of childhood poisoning which could be attributed to different geographical and socio-economic background. Language: en
Addition of Cover Crops Enhances No-Till Potential for Improving Soil Physical Properties

Inclusion of cover crops (CCs) may be a potential strategy to boost no-till performance by improving soil physical properties. To assess this potential, we utilized a winter wheat (L.)–grain sorghum [ (L.) Moench] rotation, four N rates, and a hairy vetch (HV; Roth) CC after wheat during the first rotation cycles, which was replaced in subsequent cycles with sunn hemp (SH; L.) and late-maturing soybean [LMS; (L.) Merr.] CCs in no-till on a silt loam. At the end of 15 yr, we studied the cumulative impacts of CCs on soil physical properties and assessed relationships between soil properties and soil organic C (SOC) concentration. Across N rates, SH reduced near-surface bulk density (ρ) by 4% and increased cumulative infiltration by three times relative to no-CC plots. Without N application, SH and LMS reduced Proctor maximum ρ, a parameter of soil compactibility, by 5%, indicating that soils under CCs may be less susceptible to compaction. Cover crops also increased mean weight diameter of aggregates (MWDA) by 80% in the 0- to 7.5-cm depth. The SOC concentration was 30% greater for SH and 20% greater for LMS than for no-CC plots in the 0- to 7.5-cm depth. The CC-induced increase in SOC concentration was negatively correlated with Proctor maximum ρ and positively with MWDA and cumulative infiltration. Overall, addition of CCs to no-till systems improved soil physical properties, and the CC-induced change in SOC concentration was correlated with soil physical properties.
Polar polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives in extracts of particulates: Biological characterization and techniques for chemical analysis

A protocol incorporating the concept of “bioasssay directed chemical analysis” has been developed for the analysis of polar polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (polar-PAH) derivatives in particulate matter samples. As an example of the protocol, results and are presented for a National Bureau of Standards (NBS) candidate standard reference diesel particulate material (SRM 1650). Good recovery of mutagenicity and mass suggests that compound decomposition/conversion was minimized. Identification of polar-PAH derivatives was undertaken for liquid chromatographic fractions of a heavy-duty diesel particulate extract that were found to contain a large portion of the total extract mutagenicity. Hydroxy-PAH, hydroxy-nitro-PAH, PAH-quinones, and nitrated heterocyclics were tentatively identified in the polar fractions of the diesel extract. The compounds of most interest at this time, because of their relatively high mutagenicity, are multifunctional nitrated-PAH (e.g., hydroxy-nitro-PAH) and nitrated-heterocyclics. Several new techniques are described that could greatly facilitate the identification of specific isomers of polar mutagens.
Role of red cell membrane lipid peroxidation in hemolysis due to phenylhydrazine.

Abstract Although red cell membrane lipid peroxidation has been identified as a consequence of certain oxidizing hemolytic drugs, the relative contribution of lipid peroxidation to red cell damage leading to hemolysis is unclear. This has been evaluated by studying the response to phenylhydrazine of vitamin E-deficient rats as compared to vitamin E-supplemented rats. Following repetitive phenylhydrazinc injections, a lower hematocrit was observed in the vitamin E-deficient group which was associated with higher levels of lipid peroxidation, as indicated by the fluorescence of lipid-containing red cell extracts. However, no significant difference in the initial extent of hemolysis following phenyl-hydrazine injection was observed. Evidence was also obtained suggesting that malonaldehyde, a decomposition product of polyunsaturated fatty acids, is capable of cross-linking hemoglobin to the red cell membrane. These findings suggest that red cell membrane lipid peroxidation is of relatively minor consequence in the acute response to phenylhydrazine but may be of importance in chronic hemolysis due to this oxidizing drug.
Techniques of Biopsy of Cutaneous Neoplasms

General principles of biopsy technique of cutaneous malignancies are given and specific techniques are described in detail for lesions of different types. Schematic drawings further elucidate subtleties not easily put into words.
Intravenous Linezolid Administered Orally: A Novel Desensitization Strategy

A 41-year-old woman with a history of myasthenia gravis was admitted to a local hospital because of severe muscle weakness, ptosis, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Blood cultures revealed Enterococcus faecium resistant to several antimicrobial agents. The organism had minimum inhibitory concentrations above 16 microg/ml for vancomycin and above 2 microg/ml for quinupristin-dalfopristin. In the absence of therapeutic alternatives, treatment with linezolid was required (minimum inhibitory concentration 1.5 microg/ml). The first dose of linezolid resulted in a hypersensitivity reaction consistent with an immunoglobulin E-mediated response requiring medical intervention. Because of a lack of intravenous access and because of limited availability of the oral suspension from the manufacturer, a desensitization protocol was implemented in which the intravenous formulation of linezolid was given orally. The patient was successfully desensitized by using an escalating, 14-dose procedure. We believe this is the first case in the English language literature to describe successful desensitization with the oral administration of intravenous linezolid in a patient with E. faecium bacteremia who was allergic to oxazolidinone.
Nuclear data sheets update for A = 76

Abstract Nuclear spectroscopic information for known nuclides of mass number 76 (Ni,Cu,Zn,Ga,Ge,As,Se,Br,Kr,Rb,Sr) have been evaluated and presented together with adopted energies and Jπ of levels in these nuclei. No data are yet available for excited states in 76 Ni and 76 Cu. This evaluation represents a revision of earlier ones (84Si14, 76Be41). No experimental data are available for 76 Zr and 76Mo. Structure calculations for 76 Zr related to potential energy surfaces, binding energies and rms radii are reported by 93Ki04, 92Ma39, 85Bo36 and 84He07. The role of n-p interaction in deformation for 76Mo a calculated by 93Ki04.
Effects on Neurobehavioral Performance of Chronic Exposure to Chemically Contaminated Well Water

Occupational exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and other solvents impairs neurobehavioral performance. Use of well water contaminated with TCE and solvents has been associated with excessive symptoms, cancers, birth defects and impaired blink reflex. We extended these observations by measuring the neurophysiological (NPH) and neuropsychological (NPS) status of subjects who used water contaminated with 6 to 500 ppb of TCE for 1 to 25 years. The 170 well-water exposed subjects who resided in southwest Tucson, Arizona overlying the Santa Cruz River aquifer, were compared to 68 referent subjects for NPH and NPS tests. Also, 113 histology technicians (HT) were referents for blink reflex latency only. Affective status was assayed by a Profile of Mood States (POMS). Exposed subjects were statistically significantly impaired when compared to referents for NPH tests. These impairments included sway speed with eyes open and closed, blink reflex latency (R-1), eye closure speed, and two choice visual reaction time. NPS status was statistically significant impaired for Culture Fair (intelligence) scores, recall of stories, visual recall, digit span, block design, recognition of fingertip numbers, grooved pegboard and Trail making A and B. POMS scores were elevated. Prolonged residential exposure to well-water containing TCE at lower levels than occupational exposures, but without time away from exposure for metabolism and excretion of toxins, was associated with neurobehavioral impairment.
Split-thickness skin graft for the management of concealed penis

ABSTRACTPurpose:: We review the use of split-thickness skin grafting in children with concealed penis.Materials and Methods:: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients younger than 20 years seen at our institution from 1995 to 2003 with a diagnosis of concealed penis. Patients were separated into “primary” and “secondary” groups based on the cause of concealment. Primary factors were prominent prepubic fat pad, dysgenetic dartos fascia or both. Secondary factors were post-circumcision phimosis and overzealous circumcision.Results:: A total of 26 patients 1 month to 19 years old were treated. In the primary group of 23 patients 11 underwent lysis of dartos fascia. Four of these 11 patients had insufficient skin, and split-thickness skin grafting was necessary to resurface the penile shaft. Five of the patients underwent excision of the fat pad only, and 2 underwent excision of the fat pad and lysis of fascia. Five patients are being observed. Of the 3 patients in the secondary group 1 ...
PLASMA PROTEIN FORMATION IN VITRO BY TISSUES FROM MICE INFECTED WITH STAPHYLOCOCCI

Isotopic labeling of plasma proteins in vitro by tissues from staphylococcal-infected and control mice was examined, using autoradiography of immunoelectrophoretic patterns. The results indicate that in infected animals there is hyperactivity of liver tissue in producing albumin, α- and s-globulins, and of spleen tissue in producing immune globulins. The observed increase in labeling of some proteins by tissues from infected mice is to a large extent correlated with an increase of these proteins in the serum.
Power Steering, Power Brakes, and Jamming: Evolution of Collective Cell-Cell Interactions

Theodosius Dobzhansky famously argued that nothing in biology makes sense except in the context of evolution ([3][1]). It was later argued–somewhat less famously but no less correctly–that nothing in evolution makes sense except in the context of ecology ([5][2]). That is to say, the ultimate
Network structure, and vaccination strategy and effort interact to affect the dynamics of influenza epidemics

There is growing interest in understanding and controlling the spread of diseases through realistically structured host populations. We investigate how network structures, ranging from circulant, through small-world networks, to random networks, and vaccination strategy and effort interact to influence the proportion of the population infected, the size and timing of the epidemic peak, and the duration of the epidemic. We found these three factors, and their higher-order interactions, significantly influenced epidemic development and extent. Increasing vaccination effort (from 0% to 90%) decreased the number of hosts infected while increasing network randomness worked to increase disease spread. On average, vaccinating hosts based on degree (hubs) resulted in the smallest epidemics while vaccinating hosts with the highest clustering coefficient resulted in the largest epidemics. In a targeted test of five vaccination strategies on a small-world network (probability of rewiring edges=5%) with 10% vaccination effort we found that vaccinating hosts preferentially with high-clustering coefficients (similar to real-world strategies) resulted in twice the number of hosts infected as random vaccinations and nearly a 30-fold higher number of cases than our strategy targeting hubs (highest degree hosts). Our model suggests how vaccinations might be implemented to minimize the extent of an epidemic (e.g., duration and total number infected) as well as the timing and number of hosts infected at a given time over a wide range of structured host networks.
Predicting devolatilization at typical coal combustion conditions with the distributed-energy chain model

Abstract Predictions from the Distributed-Energy Chain Model (DISCHAIN) are compared with transient volatiles yields for heating rates between 103 and 105K/s and ultimate temperatures between 1000 and 2100K. All model parameters were assigned by correlating transient volatiles yields for much lower heating rates and temperatures, and no further adjustments have been made. Predicted reaction time scales and yields agree quantitatively with the behavior in an atmospheric entrained-flow pyrolysis study, an atmospheric entrained-flow study of the initial stages of coal combustion, and a fuel-rich, one-dimensional coal flame.
Orientational anisotropic studies by field rotation technique: near zero-field pulsed EPR experiments of pentacene doped in p-terphenyl.

Abstract We report a new technique to map the orientational anisotropy of paramagnetic systems without physically changing the crystal orientations in near zero-field (NZF) pulsed EPR experiments. By implementing three sets of orthogonal coils around the sample, we are ble to create a magnetic vector up to 2 mT in any three-dimensional orientation in space. In NZF region, the hyperfine tensor elements are comparable to the electronic Zeeman interaction energy, thus very rich spectral patterns can be obtained by “dialing” in a magnetic field vector without moving the sample. The technique further allows us to examine the site symmetry of organic crystals and powdered solids doped with chromophores which can be photo-excited to the triplet state by laser light. The technique is exemplified in the study of pentacene in p -terphenyl crystals.
Compensation procedures for the anisometropic presbyope

When changing to bifocal lenses from distance anisometropic lenses, presbyopic patients may experience diplopia when attempting to do close work. Prescription failure can be dramatically reduced by utilizing the procedures outlined in this article. Why would a patient experience diplopia when attempting to read with bifocals? The diplopia may simply be a result of the optical difference in power between the two lenses. Anisometropia creates a disparity in the size of the retinal image as well as a prismatic imbalance when looking away from the optical center. A practical approach to coping with these problems is recommended.
Multifunctional periodic cellular metals

Periodic cellular metals with honeycomb and corrugated topologies are widely used for the cores of light weight sandwich panel structures. Honeycombs have closed cell pores and are well suited for thermal protection while also providing efficient load support. Corrugated core structures provide less efficient and highly anisotropic load support, but enable cross flow heat exchange opportunities because their pores are continuous in one direction. Recent advances in topology design and fabrication have led to the emergence of lattice truss structures with open cell structures. These three classes of periodic cellular metals can now be fabricated from a wide variety of structural alloys. Many topologies are found to provide adequate stiffness and strength for structural load support when configured as the cores of sandwich panels. Sandwich panels with core relative densities of 2-10% and cell sizes in the millimetre range are being assessed for use as multifunctional structures. The open, three-dimensional interconnected pore networks of lattice truss topologies provide opportunities for simultaneously supporting high stresses while also enabling cross flow heat exchange. These highly compressible structures also provide opportunities for the mitigation of high intensity dynamic loads created by impacts and shock waves in air or water. By filling the voids with polymers and hard ceramics, these structures have also been found to offer significant resistance to penetration by projectiles.
THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF POLYVALENT CARRIERS IN CELLULAR TRANSPORTS.

Abstract The featurewise approach of steady-state analysis has been applied to analyse the behaviour of polyvalent transport carriers with more than one binding sites for solutes. Kinetic criteria are derived for establishing the existence of such carriers as well as for their characterization, especially with respect to the pattern of specificity of their binding sites. The consideration of polyvalent carriers as functional units in the mediation of cellular transports is shown to obviate basic insufficiencies of monovalent carriers and markedly extend the usefulness of the carrier theory for quantitative descriptions of complex linkages between the transports of different solutes.