cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Log-Additive versus Log-Linear Analysis of Lead-Contaminated House Dust and Children's Blood-Lead Levels

The Environmental Protection Agency has been mandated to develop a health-based standard for lead in residential dwellings in the United States. Prior estimates of the relationship between residential dust-lead levels and children's blood-lead concentrations have usually been obtained by using a log-linear regression of blood-lead concentration on levels of lead-contaminated house dust. It remains unknown, however, whether the log-linear model or a frequently cited alternative, the log-additive model, is the preferable regression method for analyzing these data. Secondary analysis of the Lead-in-Dust Study data was undertaken to compare log-additive with log-linear regression analysis for the purpose of developing a health-based dust lead standard. Specifically, we were interested in comparing the log-additive and log-linear analyses in their ability to characterize adequately the relationship of dust-lead loading on various surfaces with blood-lead concentrations among urban children and to develop a predictive model to estimate the risk that a child will develop an elevated blood-lead level on the basis of a known level of dust lead. We used two dust sampling methods, the Baltimore Repair and Maintenance (BRM) vacuum method and the wipe method, to compare the log-linear and log-additive models. The log-linear model was consistently superior to the log-additive model in its ability to explain the variability in the observed blood-lead concentrations of the studied children, for both the wipe sampler and the BRM sampler. In addition, the log-additive model often predicted only a limited increase in the probability of blood-lead concentrations exceeding 10 μg/dl as a result of doubling the dust-lead loading exposure, whereas the log-linear model consistently demonstrated a significant increase in the probability of blood-lead concentrations exceeding 10 μg/dl. BRM lead loading explained additional variability in blood lead above and beyond that explained by wipe loading for both carpeted and uncarpeted floors. In contrast, wipe-lead loading explained significant additional variability after adjustment for BRM loading for both uncarpeted floors and interior window sills. Although BRM loading better predicted children's blood-lead concentrations than did wipe loading, these differences were not statistically significant. We conclude that the log-linear model explained a greater percentage of the variability in blood-lead concentrations than did the log-additive model, indicating that the log-linear model should be the default model of choice for developing a dust-lead standard.
Handling high mobility in next-generation wireless ad hoc networks

Next-generation ad hoc networks need to be able to handle high mobility in order to support a wide range of emerging applications such as vehicular networks. Maintaining communication links of an established communication path that extends between source and destination nodes is a significant challenge in mobile ad hoc networks due to the movement of the mobile nodes. In particular, such communication links are often broken under a high mobility environment. Although a new communication route can be established when a break in the communication path occurs, repeatedly reestablishing new routes incurs delay and substantial overhead. To address this limitation, we introduce the Virtual Router abstraction in this paper. A virtual router is a dynamically created logical router that is associated with a particular geographical area. Its routing functionality is provided by the physical nodes (i.e. mobile devices) currently within the geographical region served by the virtual router. These physical nodes take turns in forwarding data packets for the virtual router. In this environment, data packets are transmitted from a source node to a destination node over a series of virtual routers. Since virtual routers do not move, this scheme is much less susceptible to node mobility. We give simulation results to demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique in handling high mobility. They show that the Virtual Router approach can achieve several times better performance than the traditional approach based on physical routers (i.e. relay nodes). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. In this paper, we introduce the Virtual Router abstraction to maintain communication links in a high mobility environment. A virtual router is a dynamically-created logical router that is associated with a particular geographical area and its routing functionality is provided by the physical nodes (i.e. mobile devices) currently within the geographical region served by the virtual router. In this environment, data packets are transmitted from a source node to a destination node over a series of virtual routers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of specific response elements of the c-fos promoter and involvement of intermediate transcription factor(s) in the induction of Sertoli cell differentiation (transferrin promoter activation) by the testicular paracrine factor PModS

A mesenchymal-epithelial cell interaction exists in the testis between the Sertoli cells that form the seminiferous tubule and the mesenchymal-derived peritubular myoid cells that surround the tubule. Analysis of the mesenchymal-epithelial interactions between these cells revealed the local production of a mesenchymal factor, PModS. PModS modulates the differentiated functions of Sertoli cells in vitro, including stimulation of the iron-binding protein transferrin (Tf). Previous results have indicated that PModS-induced Tf gene expression involves the activation of immediate early genes. One of the immediate early genes was identified as c-fos. The importance of c-fos was demonstrated in the current study when a c-fos antisense oligonucleotide was found to inhibit the ability of PModS to induce the expression of a Tf promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) construct. The regulation of c-fos by PModS was investigated with various CAT constructs containing segments of the c-fos promoter, such as the serum response element (SRE), sis-inducible element (SIE), cAMP response element (CRE), and phorbol ester/TPA response element (TRE), transfected into cultured Sertoli cells. PModS has no effect on cAMP response element-CAT or TRE-CAT, suggesting that PModS does not act through stimulation of cAMP and protein kinase C pathways. PModS was found to activate the c-fos SRE-CAT construct and the SIE-CAT construct. A construct containing both SIE and SRE was stimulated to the same degree as either element alone. Gel mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from PModS-stimulated Sertoli cells and a radiolabeled SRE oligonucleotide resulted in retarded mobility of a DNA-protein complex. A gel shift with a SRE oligonucleotide containing an ETS domain resulted in a unique shift only detected in PModS stimulated cells. PModS also promoted a gel shift with the SIE that is adjacent to the SRE on the c-fos promoter. The data imply that PModS can activate the c-fos promoter through the SRE and SIE. PModS caused a labeled activating protein 1 (AP1) oligonucleotide to form a DNA-protein complex, indicating activation of the c-fos gene and binding of the c-fos/jun complex. To study the downstream regulation of Sertoli cell differentiation, Tf gene expression was examined. CAT constructs containing deletion mutants of a 3-kilobase (kb) mouse Tf promoter were used. When transfected into Sertoli cells the 581-base pair Tf minimal promoter had only a slight response to PModS, but was activated by FSH. The 2.6-kb Tf promoter construct responded to PModS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A New Anomaly Detection Algorithm Based on Quantum Mechanics

The primary originality of this paper lies at the fact that we have made the first attempt to apply quantum mechanics theory to anomaly (outlier) detection in high-dimensional datasets for data mining. We propose Fermi Density Descriptor (FDD) which represents the probability of measuring a fermion at a specific location for anomaly detection. We also quantify and examine different Laplacian normalization effects and choose the best one for anomaly detection. Both theoretical proof and quantitative experiments demonstrate that our proposed FDD is substantially more discriminative and robust than the commonly-used algorithms.
Earnings Progression and the Workforce Investment Act: Evidence from Washington State

This research measures earnings progression among participants in federally funded Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs in the state of Washington during the period 2001 through 2008, using state administrative data and propensity score-weighted regressions. Unlike previous evaluations that have emphasized earnings levels, this study addresses both earnings progression and levels to assess whether workers are on a path to reaching economic self-sufficiency within a short time after participation. The analysis finds that participants in WIA Adult services had similar earnings progression as people receiving only less-intensive Labor Exchange services.
Combinatorial methods in molecular imprinting

Molecular imprinting is a general method for synthesizing robust, network polymers with highly specific binding sites for small molecules. Recently, combinatorial and computational approaches have been employed to select an optimal molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) formulation for a targeted analyte. The use of MIPs in the combinatorial field, specifically their use for screening libraries of small molecules, has also been developed.
Raman and infrared spectra of lead gallosilicate glasses

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra for two series of lead gallosilicate glasses were measured. Vibrational spectra are fully consistent with a previous structural model for these glasses consisting of two ‘sub’-networks of polyhedral chains, i.e., a gallium tetrahedral network and a lead pyramidal network, intertwined in various configurations. Silica enters the glass substituting directly for GaO 4 tetrahedra in the gallium sub-network. Vibrational bands associated with the bonds necessary to form this type of structure are present in both infrared and Raman spectra. Discrete sub-networks are indicated by the presence of separate bands attributable to both GaOGa bonds and PbO bonds (contained within lead chains). The intensities and frequencies of these bands as well as those attributable to intra-network bonds vary with composition in a manner predicted by the structural model. The SiO vibration frequency is close to that reported elsewhere for the vibrational band associated with SiOGa bridges.
Potential Applications of Behavioral Decision Research to Treatments for Drug Abuse, Related Risky Behaviors, and Other Problems: A Comment on Fischhoff and Downs

This commentary highlights potential applications of behavioral decision research to treatments for substance abuse and related risky behaviors Some research questions are suggested to help determine how risk information developed with behavioral decision methods could be used with maximal impact to treat and prevent substance use The relevance of behavioral decision research treatments for other problems such as anxiety is briefly discussed The important and direct applicability of behavioral decision methods to informed consent for research participants also is noted
Growth properties for solutions of differential equations defined in the disk

We investigate the growth of solutions of a class of differential equations which are defined in the unit disk and for which the coefficients have slow growth in the unit disk as measured by the Nevanlinna characteristic. These results extend earlier work of S. Bank.
Uncertainty Analysis of Historical Hurricane Data

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) study was conducted for historical hurricane data dating back to 1851 that was obtained from the U. S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The data set was chosen because it is a large, publicly available collection of information, exhibiting great variability which has made the forecasting of future states, from current and previous states, difficult. The availability of substantial, high-fidelity validation data, however, made for an excellent uncertainty assessment study. Several factors (independent variables) were identified from the data set, which could potentially influence the track and intensity of the storms. The values of these factors, along with the values of responses of interest (dependent variables) were extracted from the data base, and provided to a commercial software package for processing via the ANOVA technique. The primary goal of the study was to document the ANOVA modeling uncertainty and predictive errors in making predictions about hurricane location and intensity 24 to 120 hours beyond known conditions, as reported by the data set. A secondary goal was to expose the ANOVA technique to a broader community within NASA. The independent factors considered to have an influence on the hurricane track included the current and starting longitudes and latitudes (measured in degrees), and current and starting maximum sustained wind speeds (measured in knots), and the storm starting date, its current duration from its first appearance, and the current year fraction of each reading, all measured in years. The year fraction and starting date were included in order to attempt to account for long duration cyclic behaviors, such as seasonal weather patterns, and years in which the sea or atmosphere were unusually warm or cold. The effect of short duration weather patterns and ocean conditions could not be examined with the current data set. The responses analyzed were the storm latitude, longitude and intensity, as recorded in the data set, 24 or 120 hours beyond the current state. Several ANOVA modeling schemes were examined. Two forms of validation were used: 1) comparison with official hurricane prediction performance metrics and 2) cases studies conducted on hurricanes from the 2005 season, which were not included within the model construction and ANOVA assessment. In general, the ANOVA technique did not perform as well as the established official prediction performance metrics published by NOAA; still, the technique did remarkably well in this demonstration with a difficult data set and could probably be made to perform better with more knowledge of hurricane development and dynamics applied to the problem. The technique provides a repeatable prediction process that eliminates the need for judgment in the forecast.
Writing the mother, the mother writing: the space of motherhood and feminine écriture in Alien and The Matrix

The series of films Alien (1979 ), Aliens (1986), Alien (1992), and Alien Resurrection (1997), and the 1999 movie The Matrix illustrate the present state of ...
Intestinal absorption of calcium and the effect of renal insufficiency

To properly consider the effects of uremia on intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption, it is important to review the normal physiology of its intestinal transport and to evaluate the various methods utilized to study Ca absorption in man. Since intestinal absorption of Ca is largely influenced by calciferol (vitamin D), a consideration of calciferol action and metabolism in uremia will be included. In addition, the contribution of the intestine toward overall Ca homeostasis in normal humans and in patients with chronic renal failure will be discussed. Ca intake approximates 1,000 mg/day [1] in the normal adult human who ingests a diet containing a small amount of dairy products. Fig. 1 is a schema showing the amounts of Ca that are absorbed by the intestine and excreted in the feces, and the sources of fecal calcium. The quantity of Ca in the feces is about 200mg less than that ingested, and 80 to 180mg of the fecal Ca is derived from intestinal secretion and is termed, "endogenous fecal Ca" [2]. Unlike other elements, such as sodium, potassium and phosphate, which are absorbed completely or nearly so, only 25 to 45% of ingested Ca is absorbed. Thus, the intestine and the factors regulating its absorptive function play a major role in maintaining Ca balance. The variations in Ca absorption which occur in conditions such as malabsorption syndromes, vitamin D deficiency, acute milk-alkali syndrome [3] and, possibly, idiopathic hyper-calciuria can lead to alterations in Ca homeostasis.
Belief in a Just World, Job Loss, and Depression

Abstract This paper assesses the relationships among three variables: the degree to which individuals believe the world to be just; job loss; and depressive symptomatology. Using self-consistency and identity theory, we postulate that for those individuals who have recently lost a job, those who strongly believe that the world is just are more likely to experience depressive symptoms than those who have little belief that the world is just, and that such an event does not result in the weakening of the belief. Using questionnaire data from a random sample of 283 adult citizens of Northern Ireland, these observations are confirmed. The findings from this initial research effort are discussed in terms of self maintenance theories together with implications for the study of mental health.
The elusive empire: Kazan and the creation of Russia, 1552–1671

Matthew Romaniello’s study of the mid-Volga region adds to the growing literature on provincial administration, frontier assimilation, and empire-building in tsarist Russia. Hailed by contemporarie...
Laboratory Production of Peridroma saucia and Its Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Previously published methods for rearing the variegated cutworm, Peridroma saucia (Hubner), were modified to maintain a culture of this species. Laboratory stock cultures and cultures which produced 200+ new larvae per day were successfully maintained for 11 generations by using both bean medium and fresh natural food. Methods are described which are suitable for producing and purifying sufficient amounts of P. saucia nuclear polyhedra for experimental laboratory and field testing. Most of the techniques described can be carried out without special equipment.
High-Dose Hepatitis B Vaccine in Patients Waiting for Lung Transplantation

Study Objective. To increase the response rate to hepatitis B vaccine in patients awaiting lung transplantation. Design. Historically controlled, open-label study. Setting. Lung transplant clinic at a university hospital. Subjects. Twenty-seven consecutive individuals with end-stage pulmonary disease who were enrolled to accrue 15 subjects who would complete the vaccine series before transplantation; and 27 lung transplant recipients who were immunized with the conventional dose before the study and served as historical controls. Intervention. Intramuscular injection of high-dose hepatitis B vaccine 40 μg at 0, 1, and 6 months. Measurements and Main Results. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) concentrations were measured 1–2 months after completing the high-dose series. Individuals with undetectable anti-HBs received additional vaccine to a maximum of six doses. The response rate to the series was compared with that in the control group. Seventeen individuals in the high-dose group and 14 controls met the study criterion of complete vaccine series before transplantation. The former had a much higher response rate than the latter (9 [53%] vs 1 [7%], p<0.01). Four of six patients who received additional doses of vaccine seroconverted. Two of them underwent transplantation shortly after completing the three-dose series. Conclusion. The high-dose hepatitis B vaccine series produced a protective immune response in lung transplant recipients; however, the response was suboptimal, and alternative immunization strategies should be studied.
Distinctive patterns of medical care utilization in patients who somatize.

Background:Somatizing patients have maladaptive and increased rates of medical care utilization. If there were a way of routinely identifying such patients, one that did not require intensive, case-by-case review, they could be targeted for specific interventions to improve their use of medical care
Transplanted infections: donor-to-host transmission with the allograft.

Abstract Purpose:To evaluate the transmission of infectious agents from organ donors to transplant recipients, and to assess risk factors for transmission, primarily in recipients of kidney, cornea...
Validity of pain intensity assessment in persons with cerebral palsy: a comparison of six scales.

Chronic pain is a common condition in persons with cerebral palsy (CP), although there is a paucity of research studying CP-related pain. One of the barriers to a better understanding of pain in persons with CP is the lack of information concerning the validity of pain measures that may be used with this population. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative validity of several pain measures in a sample of persons with CP-related pain. Six pain rating scales and measures of depression and pain interference were administered to a sample of 45 adults participating in a longitudinal study of pain in persons with CP. An additional 24 persons with CP were administered 5 of the 6 pain intensity scales. The results of factor analyses support the validity of each measure of pain in this sample of persons with CP. However, an examination of the pattern of associations between each of the pain ratings with measures of pain interference and depression suggest that the 7-point Faces Scale may be somewhat less valid than the other measures.
Contributions to color-discrimination theory: review, summary, and discussion.

Dr. Verriest’s valuable addition to the empirical data on age and color discrimination raises questions about sample selection and suggests the desirability of longitudinal follow-up work on the younger age groups. The advisability of treating the discrimination losses produced by selective short-wave absorption as a tritan type of color vision deficiency is questioned (a) on theoretical grounds and (b) because selective filtering never completely mimics congenital color-vision defects. An explanation is suggested for Dr. Verriest’s report that color equations made through selective filters are not those expected on the basis of computed stimulus transmittances. Generalities are sought in his large body of data on diseased eyes and color vision, and the puzzling fact that no color-vision defects are found in about 25% of the diseased cases tested is pointed out.In contrast to Dr. Boynton’s views concerning color adaptation limits, the linkage between stable color perceptions and extremely labile chromatic adaptation is emphasized. Arguments are presented against his suggestion that the experimental parameters in research on visual thresholds be standardized. The importance of the time variable in visual research is agreed upon. Because of the discrepancies between the spectral sensitivity curves inferred from Stiles’ increment-threshold technique and those derived from the “over-all spectral sensitivity method,” it is suggested that the increment threshold data might more fruitfully be analyzed in terms of the three-variable opponent color response systems which have been shown to cope satisfactorily with a wide variety of other psychophysical data.Professor Helson’s systematic research on the Bezold spreading effect stimulates further questions requiring experimental answers. There is the possibility that asymmetrical effects, i.e., contrast and assimilation, occur on the two different sides of his test fields, and that differential rates of the two processes may favor one or the other net effect. The use of a matching technique might expose the presence of such asymmetries, and the relevance of retinal light distribution and image spread functions to the limiting conditions for the two effects is suggested.
Wolbachia Infections in the Cimicidae: Museum Specimens as an Untapped Resource for Endosymbiont Surveys

Wolbachia spp. are obligate maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria that infect diverse arthropods and filarial nematodes. Previous microscopic and molecular studies have identified Wolbachia in several bed bug species (Cimicidae), but little is known about how widespread Wolbachia infections are among the Cimicidae. Because cimicids of non-medical importance are not commonly collected, we hypothesized that preserved museum specimens could be assayed for Wolbachia infections. For the screening of museum specimens, we designed a set of primers that specifically amplify small diagnostic fragments (130 to 240 bp) of the Wolbachia 16S rRNA gene. Using these and other previously published primers, we screened 39 cimicid species (spanning 16 genera and all 6 recognized subfamilies) and 2 species of the sister family Polyctenidae for Wolbachia infections using museum and wild-caught material. Amplified fragments were sequenced to confirm that our primers were amplifying Wolbachia DNA. We identified 10 infections, 8 of which were previously undescribed. Infections in the F supergroup were common in the subfamily Cimicinae, while infections in the A supergroup were identified in the subfamilies Afrocimicinae and Haematosiphoninae. Even though specimens were degraded, we detected infections in over 23% of cimicid species. Our results indicate that Wolbachia infections may be common among cimicids and that archived museum material is a useful untapped resource for invertebrate endosymbiont surveys. The new screening primers listed in this report will be useful for other researchers conducting Wolbachia surveys with specimens with less-than-optimum DNA quality.
REACTIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN FOLLOWING TRAUMA/DISASTER

REACTIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN FOLLOWING TRAUMA/DISASTER Compiled by Robin H. Gurwitch, Ph.D., Jane F. Silovsky, Ph.D., Shelli Schultz, Ph.D., Michelle Kees, Ph.D., & Sarah Burlingame, B.A. Department of Pediatrics University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center What to Expect After Trauma: Possible Reactions in Elementary School Students 1) Feelings of anxiety, fears, and worries about safety of self and others (more clingy to teacher or parent) 2) Worries about re-occurrence of violence 3) Increased levels of distress (whiny, irritable, more "moody") 4) Changes in behavior: a) Increased activity level b) Decreased concentration and/or attention c) Withdrawal d) Angry outbursts e) Aggression f) Absenteeism 5) Increased somatic complaints (e.g., headaches, stomachaches, aches and pains) 6) Changes in school performance 7) Recreating event (e.g., talking repeatedly about it, "playing" the event) 8) Increased sensitivity to sounds (e.g., sirens, planes, thunder, backfires, loud noises) 9) Statements and questions about death and dying In addition, at home parents may see: 1) Changes in sleep 2) Changes in appetite
The effect of gene dispersal on the dynamics and statics of gene substitution in plants

A computer model has been developed to determine the effect of pollen and seed dispersal patterns on the probability of fixation and time to near-fixation of a rare advantageous gene in a plant population composed of 225 individuals. In the model, pollen and seed dispersal are according to four schedules (i) zero distribution, (ii) stepping-stone distribution, (iii) leptokurtic distribution, (iv) or random distribution. All combinations of pollen and seed dispersal schedules are treated. Relative fitnesses are assigned to three genotypes, AA, Aa, and aa, the latter always being the superior type. Relative fitness takes the form of competitive ability among the several seedlings germinating at each of the 225 safe sites in the population. The probability of fixation of a rare advantageous recessive gene (a = 0·013) is inversely correlated with neighbourhood size. Restricted pollen and seed movements also retard the tempo of gene substitution relative to that expected with panmixia. Decreasing the intensity of competition has the same effect. Gene frequency heterogeneity among subpopulations arises as a by-product of gene flow restriction, with graded patchworks of gene frequencies being most prominent when pollen and seed dispersal is narrow. We considered the consequences of three receipt patterns (edge, leptokurtic, and random) of extraneous genes via pollen from a population located in a prescribed direction from the recipient. If the gene is advantageous, the more restricted the distribution to one edge of the population, the slower the tempo of gene substitution. If the gene is detrimental, the equilibrium gene frequency is depressed by restricting the deposition of pollen to the edge. In both cases non-random receipt yields properties very different from that when random immigration is assumed. The literature indicates that gene flow within and between populations is non-random in plants. Our simulation demonstrates that abandoning the notion of panmixia will be a major step in understanding the dynamics and statistics of gene frequency change in plants.
Composite Deformable Mirror

A mathematical model for a spherical hexagon mirror is described along with the model verifications. A flat hexagon epoxy mirror with aluminum core is used in test procedures in addition to a flat aluminum honeycomb mirror. Deformable reflector concepts are discussed and piezoelectric actuators are analyzed. The concept of a deformable mirror can be used to improve the overall RMS error of the mirror as presently designed and/or make necessary on-orbit adjustments.
Evaluation of VANET-based advanced intelligent transportation systems

This paper aims at enabling accurate and efficient evaluation of emerging vehicular network applications such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). A distributed simulation platform that integrates transportation simulation and wireless network simulation is proposed and implemented, providing a user level simulation environment to evaluate the feasibility and performance limitations of VANETs in supporting ITS. The proposed simulation platform facilitates the dynamic interaction between the two simulation domains, allowing runtime control of vehicles' behavior in the transportation simulation as they react in real time to information exchange in the simulated communication network. Case studies are conducted within the proposed simulation platform to evaluate the performance of Dynamic Route Planning when deployed in VANETs, using metrics collected at the transportation system level such as travel and delay time. The effectiveness of three representative VANET dynamic adaptation protocols in enhancing the application performance in scenarios with high vehicle density are compared in the case studies. The experiment results show that Dynamic Route Planning can be effectively supported by a VANET system with up to 118% increase on the number of vehicles reaching the destination, 36.2% reduction on travel time and 56.1% reduction on delay time.
South–South cooperation and the international development battlefield: between the oecd and the UN

This article discusses the transformation in development architecture, focusing on the role of emerging powers and the growing relevance of South–South cooperation (ssc). Drawing on a conceptual toolkit based on the work of Pierre Bourdieu, it aims to approach ssc as a narrative and to understand the processes of contestation that have turned international development into a battlefield since the end of the 1990s. The article argues that the emergence of ssc has contributed to decentring the field of international development, both in terms of the agents authorised to play and the practices considered legitimate. Within this process the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, led by the oecd’s Development Assistance Committee, and the United Nations Development Cooperation Forum have become two sites on the battlefield on which the borders of international development are being redrawn.
Risk of Postoperative Visual Loss in Advanced Glaucoma

The incidence of sudden visual loss after an intraocular procedure in patients with glaucoma and visual field defects has been disputed for over a century. We examined the risk of sudden visual loss associated with trabeculectomy in glaucoma patients with advanced visual field defects. Fifty-four filtering operations performed on 44 patients were reviewed. All patients had visual field defects encroaching on or splitting fixation, a visual acuity of 20/100 or better, and a follow-up period of at least two months. Thirty-one of the 54 preoperative visual fields (57%) disclosed a fixation-splitting defect. Sudden visual loss was not observed in any patient during the two-month postoperative period. These findings suggest that the incidence of sudden postoperative visual loss is lower than previously reported.
Isolation and compositional analysis of secretion granules and their membrane subfraction from the rat parotid gland.

A secretory granule fraction has been isolated from rat parotid by discontinuous gradient centrifugation using hyperosmotic sucrose-Ficoll solutions of low ionic strength. The secretion granule fraction comprises 25% of the total tissue α-amylase activity and is judged to be of high purity, both morphologically and by its low level of contamination by enzyme activities associated with other organelles. Secretion granules were lysed by capitalizing on their lability in KCl-containing media, and the low density granule membranes were separated from residual organelle and soluble contaminants by flotation in a sucrose gradient. Residual, poorly extractable secretory contaminants of the granule membrane subfraction were selectively removed by a saponin- (10 μg/ml) Na2SO4 (0.3m) wash, apparently with negligible disruption of granule membrane structure. Based on detailed consideration of the extent of contamination by residual mitochondria and incompletely removed secretory polypeptides, it is possible to estimate that ∼95% of the protein associated with the purified secretion granule membrane is bona fide granule membrane protein. Further analyses indicate that γ-glutamyltransferase constitutes a marker enzymatic activity shared by granule membranes and the apical domain of the plasma membrane. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretograms of radio-iodinated granule membrane polypeptides are characterized by 20–25 radioactive bands of which 5–6 are suggested to be glycoproteins by virtue of their binding of concanavalin A. The limited polypeptide composition of the secretion granule membrane (in comparison to membranes of other cellular compartments) and the high phospholipid-protein ratio (4.4 mg/mg) may reflect the functional specialization of this storage container for secretory proteins.
Eradication of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a female patient with total hip arthroplasty, with debridement and retention: a case report.

Introduction Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has become a significant cause of healthcare-associated infections, but few reports have addressed Acinetobacter baumannii infections associated with orthopedic devices. The current recommended treatment for complicated infections due to orthopedic devices, including resistant gram-negative rods, consists of antimicrobial therapy with debridement and removal of implants.
Acute oral ulcers

In general, a detailed history and examination of the patient provides sufficient information for diagnosis. The pattern, frequency, and natural history of ulcer episodes are helpful. The presence or absence of associated features and the site of oral involvement guides most physicians accurately in the diagnosis. Additional investigations, including blood tests, and occasionally the use of oral cultures or biopsy, are needed to make a definitive diagnosis. A multispecialty approach is often necessary to evaluate patients with other systemic features. Most acute oral ulcers heal spontaneously without specific therapy being necessary, but an understanding of the cause of the ulcer is reassuring to the patient and guides the clinician in management to prevent recurrent episodes of oral ulceration, or chronicity of ulcers.
Mechanisms by which selenium influences immune responses

Selenium (Se) is an essential dietary trace element that influences immune responses through its incorporation into selenoproteins as the amino acid selenocysteine. This review summarizes data available to date regarding the mechanisms by which Se exerts its effects on inflammation and immune responses. This includes the effects of Se on phagocytes as well as effects on lymphocyte activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Also examined are the known functions of individual selenoproteins for regulating reactive oxygen species and redox potential in leukocytes. Overall, determining how Se contributes to optimal immune responses will depend on a better understanding of the mechanisms by which the selenoproteins, individually and collectively, shape inflammation and immune responses.
Unsteady heat conduction in finite hollow circular cylinders under time-dependent boundary conditions of the second kind

Abstract A complete analytical study is presented for the determination of the three-dimensional unsteady temperature distributions in a finite hollow circular cylinder under the influence of a variable internal heat source and an arbitrary initial temperature distribution when the entire surface is subjected to variable heat flux rates. The volume heat source as well as the surface flux rates are prescribed in terms of arbitrary functions of space and time. General expressions are derived and their various alternative forms are noted. Corresponding general expressions for the two-dimensional and the one-dimensional heat flow problems are systematically deduced as limiting cases.
Total hemispherical emittances for CO2 or H2O including particulate scattering

Abstract The total hemispherical emittance from a planar layer containing a spectrally absorbing gas and isotropically scattering particulate is determined. The exponential wide band model is used to represent the gaseous absorption while the optical path length concept is employed to include the effects of scattering. Total emittance values for either water vapor or carbon dioxide with particulate are presented. Numerous gas-scattering interactive effects and variable effects are identified and explained. A charted solution technique is presented which allows approximate yet accurate total emittance values to be obtained without calculation.
Glaucoma as a cause of poor vision in severe retinopathy of prematurity

Despite surgical reattachment of the retina in infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), visual acuity may decline. We performed gonioscopy and applanation tonometry on 26 eyes of 17 infants with severe ROP who were randomly selected and followed prospectively for 2 years. Of these 26 eyes, one eye of one patient had only peripheral retinocryopexy for threshold stage III disease and had an attached retina before enrollment into the study. Sixteen infants subsequently underwent vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or both. Retinal reattachment of the posterior pole was present in at least one eye each of 10 of the 17 infants. Glaucoma was diagnosed in 5 of the 10 patients; all 5 showed a decrease in visual acuity of greater than 1 octave. Of the 5 infants without glaucoma, 3 showed visual improvement, and 2 remained the same. Although we studied a small number of cases, our results suggest that glaucoma may be a cause of visual decline in infants with severe ROP. A decline in visual acuity in infants with severe ROP and surgical retinal reattachment may warn us of glaucoma, as this diagnosis is difficult to make in these small infants.
A stochastic model for the unit commitment problem

The authors develop a model and a solution technique for the problem of generating electric power when demands are not certain. They also provide techniques for improving the current methods used in solving the traditional unit commitment problem. The solution strategy can be run in parallel due to the separable nature of the relaxation used. Numerical results indicate significant savings in the cost of operating power generating systems when the stochastic model is used instead of the deterministic model.
Cytochrome P450: cellular distribution and structural considerations

Abstract The application of molecular biology to the study of cytochrome P450 has resulted in the elucidation of more than 150 primary sequences within this superfamily of hemoproteins. Only a single tertiary structure, howeve r, has been solved: that of the soluble bacterial cytochrome P450cam. Major questions that remain involve the topology of eukaryotic P450s in cellular membranes and whether or not amino acids that contact the substrate (camphor) in P450cam can be used as guideposts in the identification of substrate-binding sites in all other P450s.
Measurement of insulin-like growth factor-II in physiological fluids and tissues. I. An improved extraction procedure and radioimmunoassay for human and rat fluids.

The measurement of serum insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in serum is complicated by the presence of high affinity IGF-binding proteins. The accurate measurement of IGFs by radioligand binding assays requires that the interference from binding proteins be eliminated. Acid-gel chromatography, the standard method for removing binding proteins, is laborious and time consuming. Alternative methods for extracting serum IGFs include the use of HCl-ethanol treatment and reverse phase minicolumns. However, these methods are unsuitable for use with serum for some species, such as rat and sheep, due to incomplete removal of binding proteins. We developed a fast protein liquid chromatography size-exclusion chromatographic method for characterizing the presence of IGF-binding proteins in physiological fluids and used this method to systematically investigate different combinations of acids and organic solvents as potential extraction methods for IGFs. We developed and validated an improved extraction procedure that...
On the Origin of the Infrared and X-Ray Continua of Active Galactic Nuclei

The continuum spectra of radio-quiet active galactic nuclei, which are steeper in the near-IR and flatter in the X-ray regime, can be produced in a synchrotron self-Compton model with a broken power law electron distribution that is flat at low, and steep at large, Lorentz factor values. While the steeper part generates the IR spectrum via synchrotron process, both parts together produce the flatter X-ray spectrum via Compton scattering. The intersection of the two spectra corresponds to equipartition between the magnetic field and synchrotron photon energy densities, giving approximately the same luminosities in the synchrotron and Compton components. The photon spectra are self-consistently computed here, taking the effects of cooling, e(+)e(-) pair production, and higher order Compton scattering into account.
Effects of Decelerating and Accelerating Flows on Juvenile Salmonid Behavior

Abstract Migratory and resident fish species have evolved inherent flight responses to avoid potentially harmful situations. At many dams, fish screens or other structures have been installed to guide fish away from turbines or attract them to routes that will result in higher survival. Avoidance responses of fish to rapidly decelerating and accelerating flows at these structures have been repeatedly observed and can result in ineffective fish guidance. By using controlled flume experiments, we analyzed the avoidance behavior of actively migrating spring Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha smolts in relation to flow decelerations and accelerations. As smolts drifted into areas with decreasing velocities, they actively swam into the current; the larger was the change in water velocity with distance (spatial velocity gradient [SVG]), the faster was the swimming speed exhibited by smolts. Under accelerating flows, the response velocity varied significantly with flow conditions, but the median SVG at whic...
College students and risk-taking behaviour on Twitter versus Facebook

The propensity of college students to post content that they know may be unacceptable to future employers or other authority figures has been well established. Yet research on this topic has tended to focus exclusively on Facebook, which is problematic for two reasons. First, many young social media users are shifting away from Facebook and towards Twitter and other services. Second, college students have changed their use of social media over time and may now be more cautious about what they post on Facebook. To address this issue, a survey-based field study was conducted to compare student comfort levels with authority figures viewing their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Specifically, undergraduate business students attending a large university in the midwest of the USA were surveyed about their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Findings indicate that college students are markedly less comfortable with authority figures viewing their Twitter accounts. Paradoxically, a great majority of the study respondents were found to have public Twitter accounts, while only a very small minority have public Facebook accounts. This finding suggests that students perceive less risk on Twitter versus Facebook or that they are writing to different imagined audiences on the two platforms. Implications include the need for further inquiry and an awareness of educators and human resources professionals about students’ current social media practices.
Fourier–Bessel harmonic expansions for tomography of partially opaque objects

Tomographic reconstruction from a limited amount of projection data of fields with embedded opaque objects can result in streaks and other artifacts in the reconstructed image. These artifacts result from the use of local-basis-function expansions to represent the image. I demonstrate that reconstructions by circular-harmonic expansions are largely free of these artifacts. A Fourier–Bessel expansion on a circular domain is used as the reconstruction basis; this expansion is used to compare circular-harmonic reconstructions with square-pixel reconstructions to determine qualitative differences between the local bases and the circular harmonics. Computational issues are also discussed.
Pseudomonas Osteochondritis Complicating Puncture Wounds of the Foot in Children: A 10-Year Evaluation

From 1978 to 1988, microbiologically proven Pseudomonas osteochondritis and septic arthritis following nail puncture wound to the foot was diagnosed in 77 children aged 18 mo-19 y (77 and 17 cases, respectively). The syndromes were found in children with a history of wearing tennis shoes (70 cases), other shoes (5), and no shoes (2). All cases had surgical debridement of the infected cartilage or bone and drainage of infected joints. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 38 cases and in conjunction with Staphylococcus aureus in 18. Anti-Pseudomonas antibiotics were initiated in all cases before surgical exploration; the average duration of treatment was 7.5 +/- 1.2 d postoperatively. Patient follow-up was 5.2 +/- 3.4 y (median, 4.8 y; range, 3 mo-10 y). Two relapses occurred; both patients had a previously undetected septic arthritis. These data suggest that with aggressive surgical management, Pseudomonas osteochondritis and septic arthritis can be treated effectively with postoperative antibiotics for 7 d.
A stochastic population model for high demand CCRCs

Abstract This paper presents a multi-state stochastic model for analyzing continuing care retirement community (CCRC) populations. The model considers CCRCs with a number of independent living units and a skilled nursing facility. Residents may transfer temporarily or permanently to this facility. It is assumed that units vacated by deaths, withdrawals or permanent transfers are immediately occupied by a new resident. Transfers are modeled using a time-homogeneous Markov process. Under this model, a procedure is developed for determining the equilibrium joint distribution of the number of temporary transfers and the number of permanent transfers.