cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pneumonia in children.

Pneumonia represents an inflammatory, usually infectious process involving the alveoli and airway structures of the lungs. Pneumonia continues to be a significant cause of infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. It is twice as common in infants as in older children. Respiratory tract infection still represents the most common illness that occurs in the child. The method of infection is usually inhalation. Occasionally, particularly in neonates, infection may be caused by hematogenous spread. Rarely, it spreads from contiguous structures. Endemic or epidemic disease is common, particularly in the winter and spring months. The signs and symptoms of these various pneumonic diseases are similar and mainly relate to fever, cough, malaise, tachypnea, wheezing, and progressive respiratory distress. Radiographic patterns are frequently indistinguishable from one another.
Antimonide superlattice complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD)

Abstract The nearly lattice-matched InAs/GaSb/AlSb (antimonide) material system offers tremendous flexibility in realizing high-performance infrared detectors. Antimonide-based superlattice infrared absorbers can be customized to have cutoff wavelengths ranging from the short-wave infrared (SWIR) to the very long-wave infrared (VLWIR). They can be used in constructing sophisticated heterostructures to enable advanced infrared photodetector designs. In particular, they facilitate the construction of unipolar barriers, which can block one carrier type but allow the un-impeded flow of the other. Unipolar barriers are used to implement the barrier infrared detector (BIRD) design for increasing the collection efficiency of photo-generated carriers, and reducing dark current generation without impeding photocurrent flow. We report our recent efforts in achieving state-of-the-art performance in antimonide superlattice based long-wavelength infrared photodetectors using a complementary barrier infrared detector (CBIRD) design.
Evidence of Transfer and Loss in Developing Second Language Writers

Literacy skills are thought to be transferable across languages. That is, good L1 readers and writers should be able to transfer their reading and writing abilities to the L2. However, studies of language attrition suggest that loss of language skills might influence the transfer of literacy skills from L1 to L2. This study investigates the role that transfer and/or loss of L1 writing abilities plays in the development of L2 writing proficiency. Data from native Chinese speakers enrolled in academic and preacademic English courses in American universities indicate that academic writing skills develop as a function of educational experience in L1 and in L2. There is also evidence that good LI writers tend to become good writers in their L2, but that L1 writing proficiency may decline as L2 writing proficiency increases. Furthermore, there appears to be a writing aptitude factor that imposes a ceiling on writing development both in L1 and in L2.
Impact of generated solar radiation on simulated crop growth and yield

The availability of observed daily solar radiation (OSR) is restricted to recent years. Its estimation through different methods is necessary to develop long-term data sets for agricultural and environmental applications. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of using generated daily solar radiation (GSR) on simulated growth and yield of cotton, maize, and peanut. Nine locations representing Georgia's major crop belt were selected. Daily weather data from the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (AEMN), including solar radiation, maximum and minimum temperature, and precipitation, were duplicated. The OSR was removed from one set and then generated using a stochastic procedure. The Cropping System Models (CSM)-CROPGRO-Cotton, CERES-Maize, and CROPGRO-Peanut of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v4 were used to simulate crop growth and yield at each location with both OSR and GSR and for rainfed and irrigated conditions. The statistical analysis included summary statistics, Pearson's coefficient of correlation, mean squared deviation (MSD) and its components, namely: squared bias (SB), squared difference between standard deviations (SDSD), lack of correlation weighted by the standard deviations (LCS), and regressions. Within locations, for the three crops under rainfed and irrigated conditions, GSR did not significantly affect simulated total evapotranspiration and aboveground biomass and yields. For the three crops, deviations of simulated water use and yields from GSR with respect to simulated water use and yields from OSR were lower for the rainfed than for the irrigated conditions. Yields from the CSM-CROPGRO-Cotton and -Peanut models had lower deviations than yields from the CSM-CERES-Maize model. LCS was the major component of the MSD suggesting that the extent of the difference between standard deviations of GSR and OSRG could affect the outputs of the crop models. Nevertheless, for most locations none of the MSD components of the GSR showed significant correlation with simulated yields and the overall performance of the models was not affected. It can be concluded based on the results of this study that GSR can be used as an input for crop model simulation models when OSR is not available.
Chromosomal radiosensitivity of lymphocytes from skin cancer-prone patients

Abstract Frequencies of spontaneous and radiation-induced chromosome aberrations were documented in lymphocytes from patients with basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) and from those with epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV). Cells were irradiated with single or double doses of γ-rays or UV light. For the double dose irradiation protocol, the two doses were separated from each other by 60 min. After irradiation of cells with 4 or 2 + 2 J/m2 UV light, lymphocytes from seven BCNS patients had a similar number of aberrant cells compared with normal controls, while cells from three EV patients showed a significantly increased number of cells containing aberrations, particularly chromatid-type aberrations, compared to controls (p
Wind Energy Resources Prediction Based on EOF Method and RBF Neural Network

In this paper, research starts from the data captured from several wind measuring stations. Firstly, the main spatial Patterns are extracted by EOF (empirical orthogonal function) method, and then the time coefficient series corresponding to principal spatial patterns are processed and predicted by RBF (radial basis function) neural network. Furthermore, according to the EOF decomposition method, inversely the new prediction time coefficient series are used to calculate the wind speed values in the future. Finally, the validity and advantages of this prediction approach are tested by the simulation results.
Plasminogen gene expression is regulated by nerve growth factor.

Summary. Background: Studies have documented a requirement for an intact plasminogen (Plg) activation system in neurite outgrowth induced by nerve growth factor (NGF). Objective: In this study we addressed the effect of NGF on Plg synthesis in model NGF-responsive PC-12 cells. Methods: The effect of NGF on Plg gene expression was assessed using Western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, luciferase reporter assays, site directed mutagenesis, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results: NGF treatment increased Plg expression 3-fold and steady state levels of Plg mRNA were increased 6.82-fold. This effect also was observed in cortical neurons. PC-12 cells transfected with a luciferase reporter gene under the control of a 2400 bp fragment of the murine Plg promoter exhibited a 5-fold increase in luciferase activity following treatment with NGF. This response was dependent on Ras/ERK and PI3 K signaling because treatment with PD98059 together with wortmannin decreased promoter activity, in response to NGF, to the level exhibited by untreated cells. Furthermore, co-transfection with a dominant-negative mutant Ha-Ras completely blocked NGF-induced luciferase activity. In deletional and mutational studies we identified two Sp1 binding sites located between nucleotides -255 and -106 of the Plg promoter that were required for the full response of the Plg promoter to NGF. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays the Sp1 transcription factor bound to the endogenous Plg promoter. Conclusions: These results suggest that Plg gene expression is up-regulated by neurotrophins that may provide a previously unrecognized mechanism for enhancing the effects of neurotrophins via the proteolytic activity of plasmin.
Sources of CP violation in the two-Higgs-doublet model.

Assuming $\mathrm{CP}$ violation arises solely through the Higgs potential, we develop the most general two-Higgs-doublet model. There is no discrete symmetry that distinguishes the two Higgs bosons. It is assumed that an approximate global family symmetry sufficiently suppresses flavor-changing neutral scalar interactions. In addition to a Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase, neutral boson mixing, and superweak effects, there can be significant $\mathrm{CP}$ violation due to charged Higgs boson exchange. The value of $\frac{{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}$ due to this last effect could be as large as in the standard model.
Biooxidation of organic solutes in oil shale wastewaters

Abstract Biooxidation of nine retort waters was evaluated in batch culture. Because losses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by volatilization could be extensive (up to 32%), biotreatment was evaluated in screw-capped shake-flasks that contained enough headspace to ensure aerobic conditions. Biological removals of DOC ranged only from 9 to 49% using bacteria subjected to extensive enrichment periods. A simple reverse-phase chromatographic fractionation scheme indicated that the majority of refractory DOC for each water resided in the lipophilic fraction (LpF); the polar fraction comprised most of the degradable carbon. The LpF organic nitrogen content did not change significantly after biooxidation, and LpF molar ratio of carbon to nitrogen was similar for each treated water. Molar C:N ratios ranging from 7 to 15 and high u.v. absorbances indicated that the malodorous and colored solutes, which are predominantly associated with the biorefractory LpF, primarily comprised aromatic nitrogenous compounds. Extracellular fluid that remained after exhaustive biooxidation of one wastewater was used in over 200 enrichment cultures, each of which failed to further remove DOC.
Modeling Protein Domain Function

This simple but effective laboratory exercise helps students understand the concept of protein domain function. They use foam beads, Styrofoam craft balls, and pipe cleaners to explore how domains within protein active sites interact to form a functional protein. The activity allows students to gain content mastery and an understanding of the vital role of proteins within cells. The exercise also enables teachers to assess student performance on several levels.
On the locus of the stimulus suffix effect

Two experiments contrasted short-term memory and sensory memory (precategorical acoustic storage) explanations of the stimulus suffix effect. Experiment 1 attempted to interfere with recency recall by forcing subjects to encode nonverbal acoustic suffixes into a verbal, articulatory code. Subjects in this condition showed recall that was comparable to that of subjects who were told to ignore the suffixes. However, Experiment 2 showed that silently mouthed articulation of a suffix can produce interference on recall of recency items, although not as much as that produced by vocal articulation. The results are discussed in terms of current models of the stimulus suffix effect.
Physical adsorption of gases: the case for absolute adsorption as the basis for thermodynamic analysis

We discuss the thermodynamics of physical adsorption of gases in porous solids. The measurement of the amount of gas adsorbed in a solid requires specialized volumetric and gravimetric techniques based upon the concept of the surface excess. Excess adsorption isotherms provide thermodynamic information about the gas-solid system but are difficult to interpret at high pressure because of peculiarities such as intersecting isotherms. Quantities such as pore density and heats of adsorption are undefined for excess isotherms at high pressure. These difficulties vanish when excess isotherms are converted to absolute adsorption. Using the proper definitions, the special features of adsorption can be incorporated into a rigorous framework of solution thermodynamics. Practical applications including mixed-gas equilibria, equations for adsorption isotherms, and methods for calculating thermodynamic properties are covered. The primary limitations of the absolute adsorption formalism arise from the need to estimate pore volumes and in the application to systems with larger mesopores or macropores at high bulk pressures and temperatures where the thermodynamic properties may be dominated by contributions from the bulk fluid. Under these circumstances a rigorous treatment of the thermodynamics requires consideration of the adsorption cell and its contents (bulk gas, porous solid and confined fluid).
Transient CNS deficits: a common, benign syndrome in young adults.

The incidence of transient ( 2 2 = 4.3). Except for inflammatory bowel disease in one respondent, no obvious cause of the nonvisual episodes was evident from follow-up structured interviews. Five of the ten with nonvisual loss and eight of the 15 with isolated visual symptoms thus had no obvious cause for their episodes. Follow-up is limited to a median of 5 years, but none of the 25 has had any residual deficit or chronic neurologic disorder, suggesting that these relatively common episodes of CNS deficit are benign. As new, hyperacute stroke therapies emerge, efforts to distinguish these episodes from true, early strokes will become increasingly important.
Dermal and airway responses to monoclonal antibodies specific for canine IgE

In order to understand mechanisms underlying variability of IgE-mediated responses in vivo, we compared effects of different monoclonal antibodies to IgE on dermal and airway responses in a group of atopic dogs. Using intradermal testing, fourteen antibodies were screened in Basenji-Greyhound dogs. For further comparisons between dermal and airway responses, we selected the two antibodies that stimulated the greatest and least dermal responses, respectively. These antibodies bound to IgE with similar affinities (4.1 ± 0.2 · 109 and 1.5 ± 0.2 · 1010 M−1). Dose-response curves to intradermal testing were constructed for these two antibodies. On a separate occasion, peripheral airway resistance (Rp) was determined before and after aerosol challenge with an antibody or saline in the same dogs. For one antibody (affinity 4.1 ± 0.2 · 109 M−1), Rp reached a maximum (407 ± 142% above baseline; mean ± SE, n = 6) 10 to 15 min after challenge, while maximum responses to saline (62 ± 16% above baseline, p < 0.01) occurred immediately after aerosol delivery. Responses to the other antibody were similar (p = 0.068) to responses to saline. The magnitude of skin responses did not predict the magnitude of airway responses. These findings suggest that differences in affinities, alone, do not predict magnitude of responsiveness to the anti-IgE antibody and that mechanisms underlying skin and airway responses may differ qualitatively and/or quantitatively.
Progressive genetic algorithm for solution of optimization problems with nonlinear equality and inequality constraints

Abstract A new approach, identified as progressive genetic algorithm (PGA), is proposed for the solutions of optimization problems with nonlinear equality and inequality constraints. Based on genetic algorithms (GAs) and iteration method, PGA divides the optimization process into two steps; iteration and search steps. In the iteration step, the constraints of the original problem are linearized using truncated Taylor series expansion, yielding an approximate problem with linearized constraints. In the search step, GA is applied to the problem with linearized constraints for the local optimal solution. The final solution is obtained from a progressive iterative process. Application of the proposed method to two simple examples is given to demonstrate the algorithm.
Inflation in a shear- or curvature-dominated universe

Abstract We show that new inflation occurs even if the universe is shear- or (negative) curvature-dominated when the phase transition begins. In such situations the size of a causally coherent region, after inflation, after inflation, is only slighty smaller (by powers, but not by exponential factors) than the usual result. The creation and evolution of density perturbations is unaffected. This result is in marked contrast to “old” inflation, where shear- or curvature-domination could quench inflation.
Modulation of Reactivity in Native Chemical Ligation through the Use of Thiol Additives

In native chemical ligation, an unprotected peptide α-carboxy thioester is reacted with a second peptide containing an N-terminal cysteine residue. It was anticipated that addition of thiophenol to a native chemical ligation reaction would keep cysteine side chains reduced, catalyze the reversal of unproductive thioester formation, and generate a more reactive phenyl thioester through thiol exchange. Several model peptide−α-thioesters were treated with an excess of a competing thiol to investigate their susceptibility to thiol exchange: a highly activated 3-nitro-4-carboxybenzyl α-thioester was smoothly converted to the less activated benzyl α-thioester through the addition of an excess of benzyl mercaptan; similarly, a peptide containing the benzyl α-thioester group was converted to a more reactive phenyl α-thioester by addition of thiophenol. Even a weakly activated peptide−α-thioester was converted to a substantially more reactive species, as demonstrated by the conversion of peptide−αCOS-CH2COOH to p...
Nurse leaders' perceptions of quality nursing: an analysis from academe.

Abstract Nurse leaders share their perception of quality nursing, including their thoughts on barriers and facilitators, and offer suggestions to colleges and universities preparing nurses to practice quality nursing. An analysis from academe includes recommendations to the service and education sectors for ensuring quality nursing.
Effect of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and neutral salts on the conformation of spin-labeled erythrocyte membrane proteins

Abstract Erythrocyte membranes have been solubilized with anionic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium deoxycholate), neutral salts (guanidine-HCl and KSCN), and a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100). Conformational changes are observed by means of covalent attachment of N-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)maleimide to sulfhydryl groups of the membrane proteins. Conformational changes are produced by the anionic surfactants and neutral salts and are correlated with solubilization. Sodium dodecyl sulfate produces a unique effect; the conformational change lags the solubilization, and the threshold of the conformational change coincides with the critical micelle concentration. At concentrations giving partial solubilization, the conformation of the unsolubilized protein in the membrane is essentially identical with the conformation of the solubilized proteins. Superimposed spectra for a given agent have isoslopic points and suggest that solubilization with a particular agent may be a two-state process. Sodium dodecyl sulfate shows a third state at high concentrations. Conformational changes are not detected in protein solubilized by the nonionic surfactant.
Viscous flow through a grating or lattice of cylinders

Viscous flow perpendicular to a line (or ‘grating’) of evenly spaced identical cylinders is considered in the case when the spacing between the cylinders is much smaller than their cross-sectional dimensions. Lubrication theory is used to find the pressure drop across the grating and hence the force on each cylinder. A square array (or ‘lattice’) of closely packed cylinders is similarly treated.
Poster: What's on your mind?: a mind-based driving alert system

In recent years, the enforcement of safety features like seatbelt and reactive automotive technologies like lane assistance system etc. have enabled drivers to drive more safely and effectively. Better safety can be achieved by using proactive technologies to predict driver's intentions ahead of time and inform surrounding drivers of the course of the current action. This work introduces a novel system to predict driver's intention based on Electroencephalography (EEG).
AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF FERROUS IRON AND HYDROQUINONE IN THE HILL REACTION.

Abstract A method is described in which the chelating agent N -hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetic acid is used in conjunction with 1,10- o -phenanthroline for the determination of ferrous iron and hydroquinone in the Hill reaction. The advantages of this method are that it is rapid, gives low blank readings, and is not affected by many substances that chelate or complex iron.
Characterization of the Promoter of Human Prostaglandin H Synthase-1 Gene

The gene of human prostaglandin H synthase-1 (PGHS-1,EC 1.14.99.1) was isolated from a human cosmid library and was contained in two overlapping clones. Multiple transcriptional start sites were identified. The major one located 136 bases upstream from the ATG initiation codon. The promoter region contains no canonical TATA box but possesses a high G+C content. These observations suggest that PGHS-1 gene has the characteristics of a housekeeping gene. Both 0.8 and 0.4 kb of the 5'-flanking sequence of the PGHS-1 gene can confer transcriptional activity.
THE EFFECTS OF RESOURCE SHORTAGE ON DE‐ESCALATION IN A SIMULATED PRICE WAR

A simulated price war between two competing gas stations provided the context to assess the effects on de‐escalation of the subject's financial shortage, the competitor's financial shortage, and a message from the competitor conveying a non‐exploitative intent. Subject shortages encouraged gasoline price increases (de‐escalation) and competitor shortages encouraged price decreases (escalation). Subjects who were suffering a financial shortage rated their competitor as less likely to cooperate and more likely to exploit them than those who were not. Results were discussed in terms of a simplification of Pruitt and Kimmel's (1977) goal‐expectation hypothesis. One possible explanation for our results is that subjects make a comparison of relative strength before choosing either to de‐escalate or escalate.
Booster seat or seat belt? Motor vehicle injuries and child restraint laws in preschool and early school-age children.

ISSUES AND PURPOSE. Despite numerous interventions to reduce motor vehicle injuries and deaths in children living in the United States, unintentional motor vehicle injuries continue to be the leading cause of death of U.S. children. CONCLUSION. Even though child restraint laws have been enacted, many children 5 to 9 years of age continue to be injured in motor vehicle crashes. These injuries are related to the improper use of child restraints. Reasons for injuries in this age group were explored by a review of the current literature. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Nurses have a unique role in educating families about proper restraint and in contributing to the evidence base for practice.
Prosthesis-patient mismatch after "high-risk" aortic valve replacement.

Since the initial description of prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) more than 3 decades ago [(1)][1], the clinical import of PPM after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has been debated in the surgical published data. The phenotypic manifestation of PPM is an elevated aortic valve gradient
Receptor endocytosis: Frizzled joins the ubiquitin club

Wnt/β‐catenin signalling is initiated by binding of secreted Wnt ligands to Frizzled and LRP5/6/Arrow co‐receptors. A new study in this issue of The EMBO Journal provides compelling evidence that the level of cell surface Frizzled is controlled by a cycle of mono‐ubiquitylation–deubiquitylation, the latter being mediated by the deubiquitylating enzyme UBPY/USP8. The amount of Frizzled on the plasma membrane appears to be a major rate‐limiting factor in determining a cell9s Wnt responsiveness.
Empirically-Derived, Person-Oriented Patterns of School Readiness in Typically-Developing Children: Description and Prediction to First-Grade Achievement.

School readiness assessment is a prominent feature of early childhood education. Because the construct of readiness is multifaceted, we examined children's patterns on multiple indicators previously found to be both theoretically and empirically linked to school readiness: social skill, interactions with parents, problem behavior, and performance on tests of cognition and attention. Multistage cluster analysis with independent replications was used to empirically identify normative profiles in a sample of 964 typically developing 54-month-old children. This procedure considered how the aforementioned indicators operate in concert by accounting for the nonlinear multivariate relations among them. Results supported six common (or core) profile types that satisfied all formal heuristic and statistical criteria, including complete coverage, satisfactory within-type homogeneity, between-type dissimilarity, and replicability. Resulting profiles suggest that cognitive process and self regulation develop somewhat...
Studies of clean and oxidized tellurium surfaces

Abstract Clean and oxidized surfaces of tellurium films have been studied using electron-excited Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy loss spectroscopy, and electron-stimulated desorption. The results for clean tellurium are in general agreement with previous studies, but the oxidation studies have provided new information. Reaction between oxygen gas and tellurium was found to be an activated process requiring tellurium temperatures in excess of 60°C to produce detectable oxide for 30 min exposures to ~800 Torr of oxygen. Increasing the temperature to 200°C produced a 10.6 A layer of TeO2. This layer was rapidly removed by electron irradiation with a cross-section of ~3 × 10−18 cm2 for electron-stimulated desorption of oxygen by 2 keV electrons; however, there was evidence for reduced cross sections for thinner TeO2 layers.
Self-reported psychotic symptoms predict impulsivity among African-American patients in an urban non-psychiatric medical setting

A variety of epidemiological studies have documented self-reported psychotic symptoms among individuals in the general population. Research has not been conducted on the associations between self-reported psychotic symptoms and enduring personality characteristics, such as impulsivity, among participants in non-psychiatric settings. We hypothesized that impulsivity scores, as measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), would be predicted partly by the presence of one or more of a variety of positive psychotic experiences, determined by the revised Symptom Checklist-90. The sample consisted of 100 African-American men and women seeking care in medical clinics in an urban public sector hospital. The sample was divided into those participants endorsing one or more of six psychotic symptoms and those not reporting psychotic symptoms. Multiple linear regression models examined predictors of impulsivity (as measured by the BIS-11 total score and the two derived subscales), including the effect of self-reported positive psychotic symptoms. The presence of psychotic symptoms was predictive of the total impulsivity score and the ideo-motor impulsivity subscale score, even after adjustment for the effects of other correlates of impulsivity, including gender, homelessness, history of conviction for a misdemeanor or felony, and history of past treatment or hospitalization for psychiatric or substance abuse problems. The findings suggest that there is an important link between the presence of self-reported psychotic symptoms and impulsivity, especially ideo-motor impulsivity, in a general sample of low-income African-American men and women seeking ambulatory medical care. Further research on self-reported psychotic symptoms in non-psychiatric populations is needed, as well as research on the personality correlates of such symptoms, including impulsivity.
Pretransitional Optical Activity in Chiral Smectic Liquid Crystals

Abstract Pretransitional optical activity measurements in smectic liquid crystals of both law and high chirality are reported. In the low chirality sample, p-(n-(decyloxybenzylidene)-p-amino-(2-methylbutyl)cin-namate (DOBAMBC), the results indicate that the optical activity in both the isotropic phase just above the smectic A phase and in the smectic A phase just above the smectic C* phase can be explained in terms of a Landau-deGennes free energy with no coupling between the chiral modes. In the high chirality sample, 1-methylheptyl 4′-[(4″-tetradecyloxyphenyl)propioloyloxy]biphenyl-4-carboxylate (14PlM7), the data in the isotropic phase above the recently discovered smectic A* phase cannot be explained in this way, even when coupling between the chiral modes is considered. Whether this is due to some feature of the smectic A* phase or is simply the result of strong coupling between the orientational and positional order parameters is a question which remains unanswered.
THE PATHOGENESIS OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN EXPERIMENTAL ANTIGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS II. PREFERENTIAL LOCALIZATION OF ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY COMPLEXES TO COLLAGENOUS TISSUES

In an experimental arthritis induced by injection of bovine serum albumin or egg albumin into the joints of previously immunized animals, it has been demonstrated that the major portion of the radioactively labeled antigens injected was localized to avascular collagenous tissues in the joint, i.e., articular cartilage, menisci, and intra-articular ligaments. The antigens were partially eluted from the tissues with 5 M guanidine solution, but not with acid buffers or by 3 M magnesium chloride. The radioactive material eluted with guanidine was at least 80% precipitable by specific antisera. The radioactively labeled-inducing antigen was identified on the surface of articular collagenous tissues from arthritic joints by radioautography and immunofluorescence. Rabbit immunoglobulin and C3 were demonstrated in the same sites by immunofluorescence. The presence of specific antibody in collagenous tissues was demonstrated by the selective in vitro binding of 125I-labeled-inducing antigen to menisci from arthritic joints of immunized animals. The evidence obtained indicates that in this model of chronic arthritis, the inducing antigen persists for long periods of time in the form of immune complexes in the surface layers of the intra-articular collagenous tissue. The antigen retained in this form may be responsible for the chronicity of the synovitis by serving as a direct stimulus for the maintenance of prolonged antibody synthesis in the synovium and by providing a source of complement-fixing antigen-antibody complexes for the mediation of joint inflammation.
Involvement in the criminal justice system among attendees of an urban mental health center

Incarceration rates for people with serious mental illnesses are higher than the general population. However, research has been limited in regards to patterns of incarcerations for patients treated in public mental health settings. This study examines differences in lifetime imprisonment rates among patients of a U.S. urban Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and national samples, within gender, race and education subgroups. Participants were interviewed about their criminal history. Analyses compared lifetime incarceration history in this sample to a group with similar demographics. A majority (69.6%) of the sample had been incarcerated and 34.0% had been incarcerated with a felony charge as compared with 2.7% expected for the control sample. Within every racial and educational subgroup, incarceration rates were high compared to the general population. Though racial and educational factors partly explained added incarceration risk, presence of a serious mental disorder heightened the incarceration risk within all strata in this public sector setting.
A Prospective Study of Statin Drug Use and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Older Men

Dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation may play a role in the cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in older men. Use of statin drugs, which are prescribed to lower cholesterol and appear to reduce inflammation, may decrease the incidence or progression of LUTS. The associations of statin drug use with LUTS incidence and progression were prospectively evaluated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study from 1992 to 2008. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of incident LUTS (from no or a low International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 0–7 to a moderate or worse IPSS of ≥15; n= 5,790 cases in 24,715 men) and of LUTS progression (from modest IPSS of 8–14 to severe IPSS of ≥20; n= 2,238 cases in 8,709 men) were calculated comparing current statin use with nonuse. The hazard ratios of LUTS incidence and progression comparing current use to nonuse were greater than 1. However, when comparisons were restricted to participants who used drugs to treat hypertension (a surrogate for uptake of medical care), statin use was not associated with LUTS incidence (hazard ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 0.94, 1.12) or progression (hazard ratio = 0.98, 95% confidence interval: 0.85, 1.13). Thus, statin use is unlikely to beneficially influence the development or course of LUTS. The present study highlights a methodological issue (confounding) that must be addressed in observational studies on the use of common drugs for indications other than the primary use. cohort; lower urinary tract symptoms; risk; statin drug
The Influence of Extended‐Year Schooling on Growth of Achievement and Perceived Competence in Early Elementary School

The influence of additional school days on academic and psychosocial skills was examined through comparison of an extended-year program (210 days) with a traditional program (180 days). Kindergartners matched on background characteristics and magnet school attendance received tests of mathematics, reading, general knowledge, vocabulary, and perceived competence at the beginning (Fall K) and end (Spring K) of the traditional kindergarten year and at the beginning of the next traditional year (Fall 1). Although groups performed equivalently at Fall K, extended-year students outperformed traditional students at Fall 1 in mathematics, reading, and general knowledge and had higher levels of cognitive competence. Mathematics and reading achievement differences at Fall 1 were not associated with differences in the quality or intensity of educational efforts made during the traditional school year (i.e., Fall K to Spring K) or to differences between teachers in the traditional and extended-year programs. Results indicated that providing students with additional instruction time by lengthening the school year could be a promising educational reform.
Tn5386, a Novel Tn916-Like Mobile Element in Enterococcus faecium D344R That Interacts with Tn916 To Yield a Large Genomic Deletion

We describe Tn5386, a novel ca.-29-kb Tn916-like mobile element discovered to occur in ampicillin-resistant, Tn916-containing Enterococcus faecium D344R. PCR amplification experiments after overnight growth with or without tetracycline revealed “joint” regions of circularized Tn5386 composed of 6-bp sequences linking different transposon termini. In one case (no tetracycline), the termini were consistent with those derived by target site analysis of the integrated element. In the other case, the termini were virtually identical in distance from the integrase binding regions, as seen with Tn916. These data are consistent with a model in which one PCR product results from the action of Tn5386 integrase, whereas the other results from the action of the Tn916 integrase on Tn5386. Spontaneous conversion of D344R to an ampicillin-susceptible phenotype (D344SRF) was associated with a 178-kb deletion extending from the left end of Tn5386 to the left end of Tn916. Examination of the Tn5386 junction after the large deletion event suggests that the deletion resulted from an interaction between the nonintegrase ends of Tn5386 and Tn916. The terminus of Tn5386 identified in this reaction suggested that it may have resulted from the activity of the Tn916 integrase (IntTn916). The “joint” of the circular element resulting from this excision was amplifiable from D344R, the sequence of which revealed a heteroduplex consistent with IntTn916-mediated excision. In contrast, Tn5386 joints amplified from ampicillin-susceptible D344SRF revealed ends consistent with Tn5386 integrase activity, reflecting the absence of Tn916 from this strain. Tn5386 represents a new member of the Tn916 transposon family. Our data suggest that excision of Tn5386 can be catalyzed by the Tn916 integrase and that large genomic deletions may result from the interaction between these heterologous elements.
Salient Consequences, Cultural Values, and Childbearing Intentions1

In this study of childbearing intentions, 163 young married women were interviewed using measures derived from Fishbein's behavioral intentions model. Unlike most research testing Fishbein's theory, in which fixed alternative modal belief measures have been employed, in the present study open-ended measures of consequence salience were used. The finding that different consequences of childbearing are salient for those who intend versus those who do not intcnd to have a child raises questions about earlier research using fixed alternative methods. In contrast with the results of earlier studies, intender/non-intender differences in the evaluation of childbearing outcomes were also found. Statistically significant correlations between childbearing intention and religiosity, sex-role traditionalism, and affluence values were reduced to a statistically non-significant level when the model's attitudinal and normative predictors were controlled by partial correlation. Analyses of indirect effects indicate that religiosity and sex-role traditionalism were largely mediated through the motivation to comply with husband's childbearing preference.
Port-wine stain laser treatments and novel approaches.

Background and Objectives Port-wine stains (PWSs) are capillary vascular malformations that are commonly resistant to treatment. Currently, the pulsed dye laser (PDL) is the treatment of choice. Multiple treatments are required and complete blanching after laser irradiation is rarely achieved. We review current therapeutic modalities for PWSs and recent developments for enhanced clearance. Study Design/Materials and Methods Relevant literature was reviewed including PDL modifications for improved efficacy, alternative laser devices for treatment-resistant PWSs, and the addition of agents to modulate the wound-healing response after laser irradiation. Results Although PDL is the treatment of choice for PWSs, increased understanding of interactions between PWSs and PDL has led to improvements in therapeuticoutcome in terms of lesion blanching. Conclusions Preliminary evidence of combination therapy using antiangiogenic agents after laser irradiation appears promising and could lead to the development of a new standard of care for PWSs.
A generative programming framework for adaptive middleware

Component middleware technologies such as the CORBA component model (CCM), J2EE (Alur et al., 2001), and .NET, were developed to address many limitations like interdependencies between services and object interfaces, limited re-use, of first-generation middleware technologies such as CORBA 2.x, XML, and SOAP (Snell and McLeod, 2001). These component technologies have addressed a wide range of application domains, but unfortunately for distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) systems, the focus of these technologies has been primarily on functional and not quality of service (QoS) properties. Research on QoS-aware component models such as the CIAO project (Wang et al. 2003) shows that there is a fundamental difference between configuration of functional and QoS properties even within such a unified component model: the dominant decomposition of functional properties is essentially object-oriented, while the dominant decomposition of QoS properties is essentially aspect-oriented. In this paper, we describe how a focus on aspect frameworks for configuring QoS properties both complements and extends QoS-aware component models. This paper makes three main contributions to the state of the art in DRE systems middleware. First, it describes a simple but representative problem for configuring QoS aspects that cut across architectural layers, system and distribution boundaries, which motivates our focus on aspect frameworks. Second, it provides a formalization of that problem using first order logic nfrastructure configuration logic - which both guides the design of aspect configuration infrastructure, and offers a way to connect these techniques with model-integrated computing (Ledeczi et al. 2001) approaches to further reduce the programming burden on DRE system developers. Third, it describes alternative mechanisms to ensure correct configuration of the aspects involved, and notes the phases of the DRE system lifecycle at which each such configuration mechanism is most appropriate.
LANGUAGE, GENDER AND VIOLENCE IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

The purpose of this exploratory study is to provide a deep understanding of young women’s personal accounts of violence to inform prevention programs and policies. Individual and focus group interviews about everyday experiences with violence were conducted with 67 young women, ages 15-19, at a high school in San Francisco, California. Qualitative methods were used to assess the range of young women’s experiences with community and interpersonal violence. Three themes emerged from the data: 1) witnessing dating violence; 2) emotions and the language of the body; and 3) the paradox of love and violence. Violence in the lives of young women challenges assumptions about what “youth violence” means, how it happens, and who it happens to.
Relating values and consideration of future and immediate consequences to consumer preference for biofuels: A three-dimensional social dilemma analysis

The present study sets preference for biofuels (corn- and cellulose-based ethanol) vs. gasoline within a three-dimensional social dilemma framework recognizing a social conflict (individual vs. collective interests), a temporal conflict (immediate vs. future interests) and a biospheric conflict (human vs. biospheric interests). Using this framework, values (egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric) and time orientation (concern with immediate, and concern with future consequences) are hypothesized to relate to preference for biofuels. To test these hypotheses, a panel of U.S. consumers completed a brief inventory of values, the consideration of future consequences-14 scale, and made a series of choices in fueling scenarios. Results revealed that values and CFC overlap, and that preference for biofuels was inversely related to egoistic values and consideration of immediate consequences and positively related to biospheric values and consideration of future consequences, supporting the three-dimensional social dilemma framework.
Evaluating the quality of a UML business model

Many Siemens operating companies build software products or products with a high software content (e.g. embedded software). Siemens Corporate Research has had the unique opportunity over the last few years to look at the analysis models from which the software products were derived, analyze them, and recommend changes. All the models investigated define commercial products that are or will be in the marketplace in the near future. Because of the size and complexity of the models (some running over a thousand use cases) the internal analysis tool design advisor was created to facilitate their inspection. An analysis was then performed on several models with interesting results.
Performance of an optical packet switch with an optimal FDL bank

We present an optimal method to assign delay values to a bank of FDLs and compare the performance of an optical packet switch with various FDL configurations.
An invasive frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui, increases new leaf production and leaf litter decomposition rates through nutrient cycling in Hawaii

A frog endemic to Puerto Rico, Eleutherodactylus coqui, invaded Hawaii in the late 1980s, where it can reach densities of 50,000 individuals ha−1. Effects of this introduced insectivore on invertebrate communities and ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling, are largely unknown. In two study sites on the Island of Hawaii, we studied the top-down effects of E. coqui on aerial, herbivorous, and leaf litter invertebrates; herbivory, plant growth, and leaf litter decomposition rates; and leaf litter and throughfall chemistry over 6 months. We found that E. coqui reduced all invertebrate communities at one of the two study sites. Across sites, E. coqui lowered herbivory rates, increased NH4+ and P concentrations in throughfall, increased Mg, N, P, and K in decomposing leaf litter, increased new leaf production of Psidium cattleianum, and increased leaf litter decomposition rates of Metrosideros polymorpha. In summary, E. coqui effects on invertebrates differed by site, but E. coqui effects on ecosystem processes were similar across sites. Path analyses suggest that E. coqui increased the number of new P. cattleianum leaves and leaf litter decomposition rates of M. polymorpha by making nutrients more available to plants and microbes rather than through changes in the invertebrate community. Results suggest that E. coqui in Hawaii has the potential to reduce endemic invertebrates and increase nutrient cycling rates, which may confer a competitive advantage to invasive plants in an ecosystem where native species have evolved in nutrient-poor conditions.
Comparing the strength of f.c.c. and b.c.c. sub-micrometer pillars: Compression experiments and dislocation dynamics simulations

We compare mechanical strength of f.c.c. gold and b.c.c. molybdenum single crystal pillars of sub-micrometer diameter in uniaxial compression tests. Both crystals show an increase of flow stress with decreasing diameter, but the change is more pronounced in Au than in Mo. The ratio between the observed maximum flow stress and the theoretical strength is much larger in Au pillars than in Mo pillars. Dislocation dynamics simulations also reveal different dislocation behavior in these two metals. While in a f.c.c. crystal a dislocation loop nucleated from the surface simply moves on its glide plane and exits the pillar, in a b.c.c. crystal it can generate multiple new dislocations due to the ease of screw dislocations to change slip planes. We postulate that this difference in dislocation behavior is the fundamental reason for the observed difference in the plastic deformation behavior of f.c.c. and b.c.c. pillars.