cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mariner 10 Venus encounter

Review of the scientific objectives of the Mariner 10 mission with regard to observations of Venus during a flyby, and description of the equipment installed on the spacecraft to fulfill these objectives. A detailed description is given of the hardware modifications made to the payload specifically for the Venus sequence. In discussing the encounter operations, two spacecraft problems which significantly affected the Venus encounter sequence are cited - namely, a failure of the television optic heaters to come on shortly after launch, and the occurrence of a roll gyro oscillation.
Factors associated with perceived risk of breast cancer among women attending a screening program

A person's perception of the risk of, or susceptibility to, developing a disease is believed to be an important determinant of health-related behavior, yet little is known about the determinants of perceived risk. Knowledge of these correlates may be useful in identifying and addressing barriers to performance of health behaviors such as mammography screening. Data collected from over 36,000 women participating in a breast cancer screening program in Texas were used to examine the associations between perceived risk of ever getting breast cancer and a number of demographic factors, health-related behaviors, and risk factors for breast cancer. There was a strong positive association between family history of breast cancer and risk perception (OR = 11.3, CI = 10.34-12.35). Women who reported other risk factors for breast cancer also reported higher perceived risk, but those associations were of lesser magnitude. Age was inversely associated with perceived risk, and black, but not Hispanic, women were more likely to perceive their risk as high compared with white women. Of the health-related behaviors for the early detection of breast cancer, only having had a prior mammogram was associated with perceived risk. Educational interventions to heighten women's awareness of breast cancer risk factors may increase perceived risk in high risk women and influence their decision to undergo screening mammography.
Elite Bargains and the Onset of Political Liberalization in Jordan

From the perspective of approaches focusing on political culture or social movements, Jordan seems an unlikely candidate for political liberalization. Yet, it has experienced the most far-reaching liberalization of any Arab country. By viewing the transition process as an unfolding series of bargains between government and opposition elites, this study accommodates both the reality that the decisions taken at each step reflected the self-interested calculations of a small group of people and the equally undeniable fact that those calculations were forged in a historical and normative context that constrained certain options while fostering others. This study traces the predispositions and calculations that propelled government and opposition elites from one decision locus to the next to illustrate how the interaction of a monarchy and an Islamist-dominated opposition actually promoted the initiation of political liberalization in Jordan and how the subsequent practice of political contestation generated a...
ID project abstracts

The first stage of a needs analysis is disconcerting if too much time is spent grappling with the unknown. The Project Data Sheet minimizes that time by uncovering a large amount of information in a relatively short period of time. Again, it must be emphasized that the Project Data Sheet is simply a preliminary step in needs analysis and must be followed by additional tools and techniques that will validate and enhance this basic information.
Dynamic behavior of oligomeric inorganic pyrophosphatase explored by quasielastic neutron scattering.

The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether a large oligomeric protein, inorganic pyrophosphatase (IPPase) from Thermococcus thioreducens with quaternary structural complexity, would have distinguishable dynamic characteristics compared to those of the small simple monomeric model protein, lysozyme. In this study, the β-relaxational dynamics of the two proteins, IPPase and lysozyme, are compared in the 10 ps to 0.5 ns time interval using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS). Both of the protein dynamics show a characteristic logarithmic-like decay in the intermediate scattering function (ISF) of the hydrogen atoms. Distinguishable dynamical behavior found between two proteins reveals local flexibility and conformational substates unique to oligomeric structures. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the mean square displacement (MSD) of the hydrogen atoms in protein molecules, which is a traditional way to determine the “softness” of the protein molecule, is measured and shows no differ...
Reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections by implementation of a postinsertion care bundle

Background: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) cause substantial morbidity and incur excess costs. The use of a central line insertion bundle has been shown to reduce the incidence of CLABSI. Postinsertion care has been included in some studies of CLABSI, but this has not been studied independently of other interventions. Methods: Surveillance for CLABSI was conducted by trained infection preventionists using National Health Safety Network case definitions and device-day measurement methods. During the intervention period, nursing staff used a postinsertion care bundle consisting of daily inspection of the insertion site; site care if the dressing was wet, soiled, or had not been changed for 7 days; documentation of ongoing need for the catheter; proper application of a chlorohexidine gluconate-impregnated sponge at the insertion site; performance of hand hygiene before handling the intravenous system; and application of an alcohol scrub to the infusion hub for 15 seconds before each entry. Results: During the preintervention period, there were 4415 documented catheter-days and 25 CLABSIs, for an incidence density of 5.7 CLABSIs per 1000 catheter-days. After implementation of the interventions, there were 2825 catheter-days and 3 CLABSIs, for an incidence density of 1.1 per 1000 catheter-days. The relative risk for a CLABSI occurring during the postintervention period compared with the preintervention period was 0.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.63; P 5 .004). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that implementation of a central venous catheter postinsertion care bundle was associated with a significant reduction in CLABSI in a setting where compliance with the central line insertion bundle was already high.
PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE EXERCISE RESPONSE IN PULMONARY ATRESIA

Patients (PTS) with pulmonary atresia (PA) subjectively may have increased exercise (EX) tolerance after 1st stage (RV to Pul. Art. conduit placement without VSD closure) or 2nd stage (RV to Pul. Art. conduit and VSD closure) repair. To measure precisely the degree of EX intolerance in PTS with PA and to assess improvement of EX tolerance after operation 10 PTS preop, 4 PTS after 1st stage and 7 PTS after 2nd stage repair performed graded cycle ergometry. The groups were similar in sex, age, ht. and BSA. As percent predicted, total work performed (P< 0.005), maximal power (P<0.01) and EX time (P<0.001) increased following either 1st or 2nd stage repair. EX performance was similar for PTS after 1st and 2nd stage repair. Resting and exercise blood pressures were similar among the three groups. As percent predicted, resting heart rate (HR) was lower (P<0.02) after 1st or 2nd stage repair than preop. Maximum EX HR was highest after 2nd stage repair (P<0.05). Both resting and EX oxygen saturation increased with degree of repair (P<0.05). Resting, respiratory rate, minute ventilation (Ve), oxygen uptake (VO2) and Ve/VO2 were similar among the groups. EX Ve and VO2 were greater (P<0.001 and Ve/VO2 less (P<0.001) for the two postop groups than the preop group. Graded cycle ergometry is a useful technique to evaluate the impact of surgery on congenital heart disease. By it we demonstrated that both 1st and 2nd stage repair of PA improves cardiorespiratory response to exercise and exercise tolerance.
Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Affirmative Outreach and Advocacy

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is pervasive and crosses all boundaries of sexual orientation, race, and class. Scholars contend that the intimidation of another person through abusive acts and words is not a gender issue. Organizations seeking to offer equitable services to survivors of IPV must intentionally establish themselves as inclusive agencies. This article presents a review of common societal myths and barriers to help-seeking for survivors of same-sex partner violence and offers program guidelines for lesbian, gay, and bisexual affirmative outreach services and advocate training.
Abstract art and emotion: expressive form and the sense of wholeness.

This paper limits itself to abstract art the better to concentrate on the relation between the emotionally expressive power of esthetic form--apart from its narrative content--and emotional responsiveness. The emotionally expressive power of art--not to be confused with the artist's own emotions--has to do with the way sensuous esthetic forms highlight the rhythmic changes of tension and release inherent in ordinary perceptual experience. Tension and release are useful terms in thinking about how the perception of an esthetic structure is transformed (transduced) into feelingful psychological meanings, and contributes to the subjective sense of wholeness. The sense of wholeness may be illusory and/or authentic depending on the mix of elements in the individual's responsiveness. It comes about through a unified organization of tension and release, as embodied in expressive forms such as rhythm and rhyme, resonating with tension and release evoked in the observer's associations to such psychological issues as separation and reunion. Having stirred the viewer's emotional responsiveness, the art work provides a reliable "container" for the objectification of latent emotions.
Biosynthesis of Drosophila yolk polypeptides

The three yolk polypeptides (YPs) of Drosophila are synthesized and secreted by female fat body and ovarian follicle cells, sequestered by pinocytosis into oocytes, and finally deposited into yolk granules. The biosynthesis of the YPs was studied using two-dimensional gels. Labeling the YPs with [35S]-cysteine, an amino acid found only near the amino terminus of YP1 and YP2, showed that an amino terminal peptide is removed from YP1 and YP2 shortly after or during translation. Intermediates in YP biosynthesis corresponding in electrophoretic mobility to pancreatic membrane-processed primary translation products were also detected in a 5-min pulse label with [35S]-methionine. Genetic variants that alter YP structure were used to identify which YP precursor comes from which Yp gene. Pulse labeling with [35S]-methionine revealed that all three YPs becomes more negatively charged, that YP1 and YP2 become heterogeneously charged, and that YP1 gains in apparent molecular weight within 15 min after translation. Injecting female flies with radioiabeled sugars or orthophosphate revealed that the YPs are glycosylated and phosphorylated. Treating hemolymph proteins with phosphatase showed that phosphorylation is responsible for much of the change in charge and increase in molecular weight of the maturing YPs. These experiments with wild-type flies provide a basis for the analysis of mutations at the Yp genes which alter the structure of individual YPs.
EVALUATION OF METHODS TO COMPUTE COMPLEX SAMPLE STANDARD ERRORS IN LATENT REGRESSION MODELS

Several complex sample standard error estimators based on linearization and resampling for the latent regression model of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are studied with respect to design choices such as number of items, number of regressors, and the efficiency of the sample. This paper provides an evaluation of the extent these estimators are appropriate for the models and test lengths often encountered in NAEP and what the effect is on the NAEP imputation model. It is shown that in general the resampling method used in this study provides the most accurate standard errors. However, the differences with the linearization method chosen in this study are relatively small if only small models are used with respect to the independent variables of the latent regression. Illustration is provided through several small simulation studies and NAEP data analysis.
Effect of biological treatments on COD adsorption

Abstract A simulated wastewater, which contains eight metal cutting fluids, was treated using three biological schemes: anaerobic, anaerobic followed by aerobic and aerobic. Sludge ages for the biological schemes were sufficiently long to produce the effluents in which the residual organics were practically nonbiodegradable. Adsorption isotherms, obtained using the wastewater and the three biologically treated effluents, revealed that the absorption capacity of activated carbon increased substantially after the wastewater was biologically treated. This increase appeared to be due to selective, biological removal of poorly adsorbable organics, displaying a synergistic relationship between adsorption and biodegradation. The organic compositions in the anaerobic/aerobic effluent and in the aerobic effluent might be similar because the adsorption isotherms for the effluents were virtually identical.
Electrical conductivity in disordered systems

Abstract Results are presented from two- and three dimensional analog simulations, together with digital solutions, of the bulk conductivity of a hetrogeneous lattice as a function of the fraction of conducting nodes, p. The conductivity in three dimensions is proportional to (p − pc)2 over the entire range pc ⩽ p ⩽ 1, where pc is the percolation threshold. With this result, it is shown that the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity of a disordered system is very similar to the T− 1 4 behavior observed over limited temperature ranges, and often ascribed to phonon-assisted hopping.
Scenarios, personas and user stories

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted We modeled communicable disease (CD) workflow at health department using user-centered design.Public health CD work is mobile and episodic yet CD reporting systems are stationary and fixed.Health department efforts are focused on CD investigation and response rather than reporting.Current CD information systems do not conform to PH workflow thus affecting their usefulness.Personas, scenarios and user stories provide evidence-based representations for designers. PurposeDespite years of effort and millions of dollars spent to create unified electronic communicable disease reporting systems, the goal remains elusive. A major barrier has been a lack of understanding by system designers of communicable disease (CD) work and the public health workers who perform this work. This study reports on the application of user-centered design representations, traditionally used for improving interface design, to translate the complex CD work identified through ethnographic studies to guide designers and developers of CD systems. The purpose of this work is to: (1) better understand public health practitioners and their information workflow with respect to CD monitoring and control at a local health agency, and (2) to develop evidence-based design representations that model this CD work to inform the design of future disease surveillance systems. MethodsWe performed extensive onsite semi-structured interviews, targeted work shadowing and a focus group to characterize local health agency CD workflow. Informed by principles of design ethnography and user-centered design we created persona, scenarios and user stories to accurately represent the user to system designers. ResultsWe sought to convey to designers the key findings from ethnographic studies: (1) public health CD work is mobile and episodic, in contrast to current CD reporting systems, which are stationary and fixed, (2) health agency efforts are focused on CD investigation and response rather than reporting and (3) current CD information systems must conform to public health workflow to ensure their usefulness. In an effort to illustrate our findings to designers, we developed three contemporary design-support representations: persona, scenario, and user story. ConclusionsThrough application of user-centered design principles, we were able to create design representations that illustrate complex public health communicable disease workflow and key user characteristics to inform the design of CD information systems for public health.
Spatial and temporal variation in tissue halide levels of Salicornia virginica

Succulence, tissue chloride, bromide, and iodide levels were determined in the coastal salt marsh halophyte Salicornia virginica taken from three elevations over a 12-month period. Soil samples from each sampling area were also taken for the determination of halide concentrations. The average percent dry weight (% DWt) over the 12 months and three elevations ranged from 10.8 ± 0.4 to 16.1 ± 0.3 % (± sd), with a general increase in % DWt (decrease in succulence) in tissue from all elevations peaking in September, after the dry summer, followed by a decrease in % DWt (increase in succulence) during the rainy season. The mean halide levels in S. virginica tissues over the 12 months and three elevations ranged from 17.5 to 30.3 % Cl−, 0.27 to 0.76 % Br−, and from 3.00 to 1.21 × 104 ppm I−. Mean halide concentrations in plant water ranged from 0.66 to 1.6 M Cl−, 4.6 to 12 mM Br− and 3.3 μM to 16 mM I−. No environmental factors correlated with changes in tissue halide levels. Tissue Cl− levels tended to increase during the dry summer months and decrease during the wet winter months. Bromide levels were more stable. Large increases in tissue I− levels were found during the months of September and October when the plants were in flower, suggesting a developmental control of I− uptake. Soil concentrations of all three halides at the low elevation were consistently higher than those in the middle and high elevations. The high elevation soil Cl− was the most variable of the three halides. Higher I− soil levels in the low elevation during the spring/summer as compared to fall/winter probably reflect an increase in the biological and chemical reduction of IO3− to I−. Tissue halide levels at the three elevations did not correlate with their respective soil concentrations. Plant water halide molar ratios were lower than in seawater and soil, indicating the selective uptake of halides in the order I− > Br− > Cl−.
Piroxicam decreases postirradiation colonic neoplasia in the rat.

This study evaluated the effects of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent piroxicam on chronic radiation proctitis in the rat. Forty female Wistar rats received a 2250-cGy dose of irradiation to the distal 2 cm of the colon. Twenty received piroxicam 8.0 mg/kg orally 30 minutes before exposure and 24 hours after exposure; 20 rats served as irradiated controls. All animals were evaluated by colonoscopy 1 and 3 weeks postexposure and every third week until death or killing at 1 year. At killing, colons were removed for light microscopic examination. One year postirradiation results showed no differences in mortality, vascular changes, acute inflammation, colitis cystica profunda, or rectal stricture between the control and piroxicam-treated groups. However, at 1 year postirradiation the control group demonstrated neoplasia in 15 of 19 animals compared with eight of 20 animals in the piroxicam-treated group. The first endoscopic appearance of colonic neoplasm occurred at 15 weeks postirradiation in one control irradiated rat whereas the first evidence of endoscopic neoplasm in the piroxicam-treated group did not occur until 36 weeks postirradiation. Histologic examination documented a tendency toward a greater presence of adenocarcinomas in the control group compared with the piroxicam-treated group. The authors conclude that piroxicam treatment significantlymore » decreased the incidence of colonic neoplasia in general as well as delayed the endoscopic appearance of colonic neoplasia in rats after pelvic irradiation. 41 references.« less
Catalyst-Free Synthesis and Characterization of Metastable Boron Carbide Nanowires

Catalyst-free growth of boron carbide nanowires is achieved by pyrolysis of diborane and methane at 650–750 °C and around 500 mTorr in a quartz tube furnace. Electron-diffraction analysis using a novel diffraction-scanning transmission electron microscopy (D-STEM) technique indicates that the crystalline nanowires are single-crystal orthorhombic boron carbide. TEM images show that the nanowires are covered by a 1–3 nm thick amorphous layer of carbon. Elemental analysis by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) shows only boron and carbon while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show the presence of oxygen as well as boron and carbon.
Trimethylamine Oxide and Urea Synthesis in Rainbow Smelt and Some Other Northern Fishes

ABSTRACT Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) and urea levels in the blood of rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax, were previously shown to increase dramatically in winter, but the means by which these osmolytes are acquired has remained unclear. In this study, I show that the smelt can synthesize TMAO via liver trimethyl‐amine oxidase activity and thus are not completely dependent on a dietary source of TMAO. Cold‐acclimatized Pacific herring, Clupea harengus, were also found to have high levels of TMAO in the blood, while individuals from a temperate‐water population of herring did not. Herring also had liver TMA oxidase activity, which appeared to be due to a flavin‐containing monooxygenase. In both species, TMA oxidase activity did not appear to be strongly affected by temperature. TMAO data were obtained for three other northern species (Macro‐zoarces americanus, Eleginus gracilis, and Platichthys stellatus), and these results, together with previously reported data, suggest that TMA oxidase activity is a necessary...
Assessment of temporal bias in longitudinal measurements of carotid intimal-medial thickness in the asymptomatic carotid artery progression study (ACAPS)

A randomly selected subset of 100 pairs of baseline and 36-month follow-up carotid B-mode ultrasound examinations from the 919 patients participating in the Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Progression Study (ACAPS) were subjected to a blinded rereading at the conclusion of the trial to assess temporal bias in the measurement of carotid artery intimal-medial thickness (IMT). The original measurements of the primary outcome variable and five secondary outcome variables at baseline and 36 months, respectively, and the 3-year change in each of these variables, were compared with those obtained from the rereadings. For the primary outcome variable, the mean value of 12 IMT measurements obtained from predefined carotid segments, the mean difference (original-rereading) and the 95% confidence interval which resulted from the rereadings were -0.005 (-0.033, 0.023) mm at baseline and -0.009 (-0.031, 0.013) mm at 36 months. The difference in the 3-year change was -0.004 (-0.038, 0.028) mm. The 95% confidence interval for the mean difference between the rereadings and the original readings for the baseline and the 36-month follow-up examinations included zero for all of the six outcome variables as was also the case for the 3-year change in each variable. The magnitude of the mean differences for these 18 variables ranged from 0.004 to 0.034 mm. Intraclass correlation coefficients between the original readings and rereadings ranged from 0.56 to 0.87 with the 3-year changes in outcome variables tending to have lower correlations and the 36-month examinations higher correlations. The carotid IMT measurement process, when combined with uniform reader training, certification and monitoring of reading performance throughout the course of the study, can avoid the temporal bias observed in other studies.
Investigation of a Cellulosic Polymer—Polyhydroxyl Polymer Interacted Polyelectrolyte System I. Rheology and Suspension Characteristics

The rheological investigation of a series of aqueous cellulose polymer (carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose)-polyhydroxyl compound (polyethylene glycol) systems showed large increases in η' (indicator of viscosity) as determined using the power law equation (η' = F N /G ). These increases were most predominant when the lower molecular weight polyethylene glycols were evaluated with CMHEC. A computer program was written using Fortran for the IBM 7090/1401 computer system for solution of the power law equation and determination of regression coefficients. Certain of these CMHEC-polyethylene glycol systems were used as vehicles in preparing 10 per cent suspensions containing either zinc oxide or sulfamerazine calcomites. Superior suspension stability was noted for both insoluble drugs in the interacted systems with little or no phase separation and no caking occurring in a 120-day observation period.
Serial Pathways from Primate Prefrontal Cortex to Autonomic Areas May Influence Emotional Expression

Experiencing emotions engages high-order orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal areas, and expressing emotions involves low-level autonomic structures and peripheral organs. How is information from the cortex transmitted to the periphery? We used two parallel approaches to map simultaneously multiple pathways to determine if hypothalamic autonomic centres are a key link for orbitofrontal areas and medial prefrontal areas, which have been associated with emotional processes, as well as low-level spinal and brainstem autonomic structures. The latter innervate peripheral autonomic organs, whose activity is markedly increased during emotional arousal. We first determined if pathways linking the orbitofrontal cortex with the hypothalamus overlapped with projection neurons directed to the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord, with the aid of neural tracers injected in these disparate structures. We found that axons from orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortices converged in the hypothalamus with neurons projecting to brainstem and spinal autonomic centers, linking the highest with the lowest levels of the neuraxis. Using a parallel approach, we injected bidirectional tracers in the lateral hypothalamic area, an autonomic center, to label simultaneously cortical pathways leading to the hypothalamus, as well as hypothalamic axons projecting to low-level brainstem and spinal autonomic centers. We found densely distributed projection neurons in medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices leading to the hypothalamus, as well as hypothalamic axonal terminations in several brainstem structures and the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord, which innervate peripheral autonomic organs. We then provided direct evidence that axons from medial prefrontal cortex synapse with hypothalamic neurons, terminating as large boutons, comparable in size to the highly efficient thalamocortical system. The interlinked orbitofrontal, medial prefrontal areas and hypothalamic autonomic centers were also connected with the amygdala. Descending pathways from orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortices, which are also linked with the amygdala, provide the means for speedy influence of the prefrontal cortex on the autonomic system, in processes underlying appreciation and expression of emotions.
Integrative data analysis through coordination of measurement and analysis protocol across independent longitudinal studies.

Replication of research findings across independent longitudinal studies is essential for a cumulative and innovative developmental science. Meta-analysis of longitudinal studies is often limited by the amount of published information on particular research questions, the complexity of longitudinal designs and sophistication of analyses, and practical limits on full reporting of results. In many cases, cross-study differences in sample composition and measurements impede or lessen the utility of pooled data analysis. A collaborative, coordinated analysis approach can provide a broad foundation for cumulating scientific knowledge by facilitating efficient analysis of multiple studies in ways that maximize comparability of results and permit evaluation of study differences. The goal of such an approach is to maximize opportunities for replication and extension of findings across longitudinal studies through open access to analysis scripts and output for published results, permitting modification, evaluation, and extension of alternative statistical models, and application to additional data sets. Drawing on the cognitive aging literature as an example, we articulate some of the challenges of meta-analytic and pooled-data approaches and introduce a coordinated analysis approach as an important avenue for maximizing the comparability, replication, and extension of results from longitudinal studies.
Role of EXT1 and Glycosaminoglycans in the Early Stage of Filovirus Entry

ABSTRACT Filoviruses, including both Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV), can infect humans and other animals, causing hemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate. Entry of these viruses into the host is mediated by a single filoviral glycoprotein (GP). GP is composed of two subunits: GP1, which is responsible for attachment and binding to receptor(s) on susceptible cells, and GP2, which mediates viral and cell membrane fusion. Although numerous host factors have been implicated in the entry process, the initial attachment receptor(s) has not been well defined. In this report, we demonstrate that exostosin 1 (EXT1), which is involved in biosynthesis of heparan sulfate (HS), plays a role in filovirus entry. Expression knockdown of EXT1 by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) impairs GP-mediated pseudoviral entry and that of infectious EBOV and MARV in tissue cultured cells. Furthermore, HS, heparin, and other related glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), to different extents, can bind to and block GP-mediated viral entry and that of infectious filoviruses. These results strongly suggest that HS and other related GAGs are attachment receptors that are utilized by filoviruses for entry and infection. These GAGs may have therapeutic potential in treating EBOV- and MARV-infected patients. IMPORTANCE Infection by Ebola virus and Marburg virus can cause severe illness in humans, with a high mortality rate, and currently there is no FDA-approved vaccine or therapeutic treatment available. The ongoing 2014 outbreak in West Africa underscores a lack of our understanding in the infection and pathogenesis of these viruses and the urgency of drug discovery and development. In this study, we provide several pieces of evidence that demonstrate that heparan sulfate and other closely related glycosaminoglycans are the molecules that are used by filoviruses for initial attachment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these glycosaminoglycans can block entry of and infection by filoviruses. Thus, this work provides mechanistic insights on the early step of filoviral infection and suggests a possible therapeutic option for diseases caused by filovirus infection.
Joint n-best rescoring for repeated utterances in spoken dialog systems

Due to speech recognition errors, repetitions are a frequent phenomenon in spoken dialog systems. In previous work (G. Zweig et al., 2008) we have proposed a joint decoding model that can leverage structural relationships between repeated utterances for improving recognition performance. In this paper we extend this work in two directions. First, we propose a direct, classification-based model for the same task. The new model can leverage features that were fundamentally hard to capture in the previous framework (e.g. spellings, false-starts, etc.) and leads to an additional performance improvement. Second, we show how both models can be used to perform a combined rescoring of two n-best lists that are part of a repetition pair.
Evidence-Based Milestones for Surveillance of Cognitive, Language, and Motor Development

Abstract Objective Fewer than half of the nation's pediatricians conduct systematic surveillance of young children's development. Because time and cost are among the barriers, our objective was to create a brief set of parent-report questions about cognitive, motor, and language milestones that is freely available and can be administered and scored quickly. Methods A team of experts developed candidate items after reviewing existing instruments and prior research. We selected final items based on statistical fit to a graded item response model developed and replicated in separate samples enrolled from primary care settings (n = 469 and 308, respectively). We then developed a 10-item form for each visit on the pediatric periodicity schedule. Combining our initial samples with 395 families enrolled from referral clinics, we tested these forms' concurrent validity with respect to the ASQ-3 and parent reports of developmental diagnoses. Results A final set of 54 items displayed adequate fit to our statistical model regardless of race/ethnicity, education level, and child gender. Beginning at 4 months, scores on 10-item forms displayed consistent associations with the ASQ-3, and all but the 60-month form detected parents' reports of developmental delay with adequate sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions The Milestones is one element of the Survey of Well-being of Young Children (SWYC), a brief but comprehensive screening instrument for children under 5 years. The Milestones is a set of evidence-based items with individual normative data that are appropriate for pediatric surveillance. In addition, the scoring of 10-item Milestones forms may provide many advantages of a first level developmental screening instrument.
Carbon Monoxide and Nitric Oxide Mediate Cytoskeletal Reorganization in Microvascular Cells via Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein Phosphorylation: Evidence for Blunted Responsiveness in Diabetes

OBJECTIVE— We examined the effect of the vasoactive agents carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) on the phosphorylation and intracellular redistribution of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), a critical actin motor protein required for cell migration that also controls vasodilation and platelet aggregation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— We examined the effect of donor-released CO and NO in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and platelets from nondiabetic and diabetic subjects and in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) cultured under low (5.5 mmol/l) or high (25 mmol/l) glucose conditions. VASP phosphorylation was evaluated using phosphorylation site-specific antibodies. RESULTS— In control platelets, CO selectively promotes phosphorylation at VASP Ser-157, whereas NO promotes phosphorylation primarily at Ser-157 and also at Ser-239, with maximal responses at 1 min with both agents on Ser-157 and at 15 min on Ser-239 with NO treatment. In diabetic platelets, neither agent resulted in VASP phosphorylation. In nondiabetic EPCs, NO and CO increased phosphorylation at Ser-239 and Ser-157, respectively, but this response was markedly reduced in diabetic EPCs. In endothelial cells cultured under low glucose conditions, both CO and NO induced phosphorylation at Ser-157 and Ser-239; however, this response was completely lost when cells were cultured under high glucose conditions. In control EPCs and in HMECs exposed to low glucose, VASP was redistributed to filopodia-like structures following CO or NO exposure; however, redistribution was dramatically attenuated under high glucose conditions. CONCLUSIONS— Vasoactive gases CO and NO promote cytoskeletal changes through site- and cell type–specific VASP phosphorylation, and in diabetes, blunted responses to these agents may lead to reduced vascular repair and tissue perfusion.
Improvement in quality of life measures in patients with refractory hepatitis C, responding to re-treatment with Pegylated interferon alpha -2b and ribavirin

In this paper, we report the health related quality of life (HRQOL) data from patients with hepatitis C viral infection (HCV) who were refractory to prior therapy and had re-treatment with a combination of Pegylated interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin. We hypothesized that the HRQOL will improve in those patients who attain sustained viral response similar to naive patients undergoing treatment for HCV. HRQOL data was obtained from 152 patients enrolled into a randomized study for re-treatment of HCV refractory to prior therapy with interferon alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin. The treatment protocol was for 48 weeks and had a high and low dose arm. The HRQOL data was collected at baseline, weeks 24 and 48 of treatment, and at 24 week follow-up after treatment. A repeated measures statistical model was used for comparing the HRQOL domain scores between the responders and non-responders and the treatment groups. The responders and non-responders were also compared to the age and sex adjusted national mean scores. Twenty-five of the 152 (17%) patients achieved a sustained viral response. At baseline, HRQOL is lower in HCV patients compared to national norms. The norm based HRQOL domain scores for the different domains of the SF-36 instrument were as follows: physical functioning = 47.13, role-physical = 46.87, bodily pain = 48.00, general health = 44.01, vitality = 45.39, social functioning = 47.05, role-emotional = 48.88, mental health = 48.76, physical component score 43.26 and mental component score = 46.17. The scores decreased during therapy in those who would be responders and non-responders, but the pattern of change was different. During the treatment, the HRQOL domain scores of responders decrease notably in the domain of vitality. At week 48 vitality scores were worst in responders. 5 of the 8 domain scores were lower compared to baseline in non-responders. At 24 weeks post treatment follow up, HRQOL in those refractory patients who respond to re-treatment tended to be better than the national average in the domains of vitality (p = .06), social functioning (p = .06) and role-emotional (p = .03) while the non-responders improved their scores in domains of physical function and bodily pain. We conclude that patients who are to be responders and non-responders behave differently in terms of the HRQOL domain scores when re-treated with a combination of interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin. The responders sustained a significant decrease in the domain score of vitality while 5 of the 8 domain scores decrease in non-responders at the end of treatment. At the end of follow up, in responders, the HRQOL score tended to be better than the national average notably in the domains of role-emotional, vitality and social functioning. On the other hand, in non-responders, the domain scores of physical function improve, while that of role-emotional worsened.
Partial word DFAs

Recently, Dassow et al. connected partial words and regular languages. Partial words are sequences in which some positions may be undefined, represented with a "hole" symbol ⋄. If we restrict what the symbol ⋄ can represent, we can use partial words to compress the representation of regular languages. Doing so allows the creation of so-called ⋄-DFAs which are smaller than the DFAs recognizing the original language L, which recognize the compressed language. However, the ⋄-DFAs may be larger than the NFAs recognizing L. In this paper, we investigate a question of Dassow et al. as to how these sizes are related.
Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Prostatic Abscess Presenting as Acute Urinary Retention: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background. Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains have emerged as a substantial cause of infection in individuals without exposure to the healthcare system. Prostatic abscess is an uncommon disease. To date, there are only 6 published reports of a prostatic abscess secondary to CA-MRSA. Case Description. A 52-year-old diabetic Caucasian presented to the emergency department with severe lower abdominal pain of few hours duration, urinary frequency, and dribbling over the last 3 weeks. Physical examination was remarkable for an enlarged nontender prostate. A urine analysis showed pyuria while urine cultures grew CA-MRSA. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed multiple prostate abscesses and a thickened urinary bladder wall. A TURP was performed by the urology team and pathology showed severe acute and chronic prostatitis with abscess formation and necrotic tissue. Our treatment regimen included IV vancomycin followed by oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and rifampin. Eradication of CA-MRSA was confirmed by follow-up cultures 2 months following discharge. Conclusion. This case illustrates the successful identification, diagnosis, and prompt treatment of a prostatic abscess secondary to CA-MRSA in a diabetic patient without recent hospitalization. Early treatment with antibiotics and transurethral resection of the prostate abscess led to a shortened hospital stay and decreased morbidity.
A comparison of aerosol and intragastric routes of infection with Listeria spp

Abstract Aerosol infection (AI) of Porton outbred mice with Listeria species, exhibiting varying degrees of virulence, was compared with gastric intubation (GI) on the basis of numbers of deaths, 50% lethal dose (LD50) and pattern of listerial infection. The AI route appeared to be more sensitive, efficient and consistent than GI in that it required 10(5) fewer micro-organisms to obtain infection and death then ensued within 4 days, with GI deaths usually occurring on day 7. All the virulent strains tested caused 100% mortality by AI, while virulent and avirulent strains were indistinguishable by GI. Bacterial counts in the livers and spleens of infected mice were consistent with the relative virulence of the infectious agent using AI but not in GI mice. There were higher numbers of micro-organisms and more widespread lesions in the organs of AI mice than in GI. Results indicate that AI is an accurate in vivo indicator of virulence in listeria and using AI, bacterial counts in the liver and spleen could replace LD50 tests, thereby reducing the number of animals required for in vivo virulence testing.
Learning and classification of monotonic ordinal concepts

Ordinal reasoning plays a major role in human cognition. This paper identifies an important class of classification problems of patterns taken from ordinal domains and presents efficient, incremental algorithms for learning the classification rules from examples. We show that by adopting a monotonicity assumption of the output with respect to the input, inconsistencies among examples can be easily detected and the number of possible classification rules substantially reduced. By adopting a conservative classification criterion, the required number of rules further decreases. The monotonicity and conservatism of the classification also enable the resolution of conflicts among inconsistent examples and the graceful handling of don't knows and don't cares during the learning and classification phases. Two typical examples in which the suggested classification model works well are given. The first example is taken from the financial domain and the second from machining. Le raisonnement ordinal joue un role important dans le traitement cognitif de l'information. Cet article traite d'une classe importante de problemes de classification des formes provenant de domaines ordinaux, et presente des algorithmes incrementiels efficaces pour l'apprentissage des regles de classification a partir d'exemples. Les auteurs demontrent qu'en adoptant une hypothese de monotonicite de la sortie en fonction de l'entree, les incoherences dans les exemples peuvent ětre facilement detectees et le nombre de regles de classification possibles considerablement reduit. En choisissant un critere de classification prudent, le nombre requis de regles decroit davantage. La monotonicite et la prudence de la classification permettent egalement la solution de conflits parmi les exemples incoherents, ainsi que le traitement habile des incertitudes et des indifferences durant les phases d'apprentissage et de classification. Deux exemples classiques dans lesquels le modele de classification propose fonctionne sont fournis. Le premier exemple est tire du domaine financier et le second de l'informatique.
Fast drying of Fine Needle Aspiration slides using a hand held fan: impact on turn around time and staining quality.

To analyze the impact of using a hand held fan to speed the air-drying process during immediate adequacy evaluation of Fine Needle Aspirations. The effect on turn around time and staining quality is evaluated.
Signal Transduction Pathways Controlling the Switch Between Keratinocyte Growth and Differentiation

Self-renewing epithelia are characterized by a high turnover rate and a fine balance between growth and differentiation. Such a balance is influenced by many exogenous factors, including gradients of diffusible molecules, cell/substrate adhesion contacts, and direct cell-cell communication. The inter-connection between these various extracellular signals and underlying intracellular pathways is clearly of great interest. Primary keratinocytes of either human or murine origin provide an ideal experimental system to elucidate early signaling events involved in the control of epithelial differentiation. Relative to established cell lines, use of a primary system eliminates the possibility of alterations in critical regulatory events which may occur during prolonged propagation in culture. Primary keratinocytes are easily grown in large numbers, and their differentiation can be induced under well-defined culture conditions. The ensuing rapid and homogeneous response is amenable to careful biochemical analysis. Gene transfer technology (transient transfections, adenoviral and retroviral vectors), together with the use of keratinocytes derived from gene knockout and transgenic mice, makes it possible to assess the specific contribution of individual genes to the control of the differentiation process. This review focuses on the significant progress that has been made over the last few years in our understanding of the specific signals that trigger keratinocyte differentiation, the underlying signaling pathways, and how they impinge on specific transcription and cell-cycle control mechanisms associated with the onset of keratinocyte differentiation. Recent developments and future directions in this important area of research will be highlighted.
Bonds to the Work Unit and Official Offense Status in Urban China

This research examines the relationship between bonds to one’s work unit (danwei) in China and official criminal status, as reflected in placement in a correctional facility. The authors describe the distinctive features of the Chinese work unit and hypothesize that the strength of the worker’s bonds to his or her work unit is negatively related to the likelihood of being officially identified as a criminal. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis for a sample of young workers from Tianjin support the hypothesis. Workers who have strong bonds to their work unit are at significantly lower risk of becoming official criminals (inmates) than are their counterparts with weaker bonds.