cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Randomized controlled trial of a special acupuncture technique for pain after thoracotomy

Objective We sought to determine whether an acupuncture technique specially developed for a surgical oncology population (intervention) reduces pain or analgesic use after thoracotomy compared with a sham acupuncture technique (control). Methods One hundred sixty-two patients with cancer undergoing thoracotomy were randomized to group A (preoperative implantation of small intradermal needles that were retained for 4 weeks) or group B (preoperative placement of sham needles at the same schedule). The numeric rating scale of pain and total opioid use was evaluated during the in-patient stay, and the Brief Pain Inventory and Medication Quantification Scale were evaluated after discharge up to 3 months after the operation. Results The principal analysis, a comparison of Brief Pain Inventory pain intensity scores at the 30-day follow-up, showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups. Pain scores were marginally higher in the intervention group (0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.74 to −0.64; P = .9). There were also no statistically significant differences between groups for secondary end points, including chronic pain assessments at 60 and 90 days, in-patient pain, and medication use in the hospital and after discharge. Conclusion A special acupuncture technique, as provided in this study, did not reduce pain or use of pain medication after thoracotomy more than a sham technique.
Outpatient group therapy with adult male sex offenders: Clinical issues and concerns

Abstract Outpatient group treatment of adjudicated male sex offenders presents multifaceted clinical challenges. Major goals of treatment are (a) elimination of inappropriate sexual ideation and behaviors in the offender and (b) development and practice of relapse prevention skills. Pertinent clinical concerns of a sex offender population include personal losses and external pressures at the outset of treatment, ongoing intevace with the mental health, legal and child protection systems, changes in the offender's interpersonal system and changes in the offender's sexuality. Therapists working with this population require broad-based clinical skills, an ability to coordinate legal and mental health domains, and attention to self-care.
Observing and Characterizing Early Folding Intermediates of E.Coli Rnase H using Kinetic and Equilibrium Approaches

E. coli ribonuclease H has been an important model system for protein folding for many years. It has long been known that it folds through an intermediate (Icore) en route to the native state. However, because folding to Icore occurs on the fast millisecond timescale, and there is very little Icore populated under equilibrium conditions, key questions have remained unanswered: What is the nature of the folding pathway en route to Icore, and how well packed is Icore?In this work, a new ultrarapid mixing technique coupled with time-correlated single photon counting detection of intrinsic fluorescence allows observation of the millisecond folding to Icore, including new early intermediates formed along the way. Mutagenesis and hydrogen exchange methods provide structural information about these new early intermediates. Additionally, two equilibrium models of Icore are made and characterized, providing new insight into the nature of this intermediate. This work increases our knowledge about the folding pathway and energy landscape of an important protein folding model system, at a time- and size-scale that is amenable to comparison with protein folding simulations.
Perventricular Device Closure of Doubly Committed Subarterial Ventral Septal Defect Through Left Anterior Minithoracotomy on Beating Hearts

Background Surgical repair of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect (VSD) under cardiopulmonary bypass has been the gold standard with full median sternotomy, complicated by skin scarring and potential mortalities and morbidities from cardiopulmonary bypass. Perventricular device closure of muscular and then perimembranous VSD on beating heats with a small subxiphoid or inferior sternotomy has been attempted in the past few years with good results. We have tried perventricular closure of doubly committed subarterial VSD through a left anterior minithoracotomy as an alternative procedure with a modified occluder. Methods Between January 2008 and December 2010, 6 selected patients with doubly committed subarterial VSD were recruited for modified device closure on beating hearts without cardiopulmonary bypass through left anterior minithoracotomy involving a short incision through the third intercostal space. Their ages ranged from 18 to 46 months and their body weights from 11 to 23 kg. A single per-right ventricular "U" like suture under pulmonic annulus was established, and a delivery system was introduced, aided by an 18G trocar, including a guidewire, delivery sheath, and loading sheath. A proper device was selected according to the VSD size established by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and then the device was released under real-time monitoring of TEE if no residual shunt, increased aortic prolapse or regurgitation, abnormal atrioventricular valvular motion appeared. Results In 5 of the 6 children, the device was successfully closed through a left minithoracotomy with satisfactory cosmetic effects. In the other child, the procedure was converted to conventional open-heart repair because the relatively larger occluder induced significantly increased aortic regurgitation. There was no operative or late mortality or major morbidity. All children were followed up for 10 to 21 months. No residual shunt, increased aortic prolapse or regurgitation, or serious atrioventricular block was recorded until the most recent follow-up. Conclusions Selected doubly committed subarterial VSD can be safely closed with a proper occluder through left anterior minithoracotomy. The Cosmetic results are highly satisfactory.
Assessing the Importance of Tiebout Sorting: Local Heterogeneity from 1850 to 1990

This paper argues that long-run trends in geographic segregation are inconsistent with models where residential choice depends solely on local public goods (the Tiebout hypothesis). We develop an extension of the Tiebout model that predicts as mobility costs fall, the heterogeneity across communities of individual public good preferences and of public good provision must (weakly) increase. Given the secular decline in mobility costs, these predictions can be evaluated using historical data. We find decreasing heterogeneity in policies and proxies for preferences across (i) a sample of U.S. municipalities (1870-1990); (ii) all Boston-area municipalities (1870-1990); and (iii) all U.S. counties (1850-1990).
ARIES-RS safety design and analysis

ARIES-AT is a 1000 MWe conceptual fusion power plant design with a very low projected cost of electricity. The design contains many innovative features to improve both the physics and engineering performance of the system. From the safety and environmental perspective, there is greater depth to the overall analysis than in past ARIES studies. For ARIES-AT, the overall spectrum of off-normal events to be examined has been broadened. They include conventional loss of coolant and loss of flow events, an ex-vessel loss of coolant, and in-vessel off-normal events that mobilize in-vessel inventories (e.g., tritium and tokamak dust) and bypass primary confinement such as a loss of vacuum and an in-vessel loss of coolant with bypass. This broader examination of accidents improves the robustness of the design from the safety perspective and gives additional confidence that the facility can meet the no-evacuation requirement under average weather conditions. We also provide a systematic assessment of the design to address key safety functions such as confinement, decay heat removal, and chemical energy control. In the area of waste management, both the volume of the component and its hazard are used to classify the waste. In comparison to previous ARIES designs, the overall waste volume is less because of the compact design.
Temperature-sensitive mutants of influenza virus XVI. Transfer of the two ts lesions present in the Udorn/72-ts- 1 A2 donor virus to the Victoria/3/75 wild-type virus

Abstract Previously, the influenza A/Hong Kong/68-ts-1[E] virus and its recombinants (38° shutoff temperature of plaque formation) were shown to be insufficiently attenuated for persons who lacked immunity to both the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase surface glycoproteins, i.e., doubly seronegative individuals. To meet the need for immunization of such individuals, a virus more defective than the ts-1[E] recombinants was produced. The resulting virus, designated Udorn/72-ts-1A2, possessed is mutations in genes represented by complementation-recombination groups 1 and 5 and was more restricted in replication in vitro at 37° and in vivo in the hamster's lungs and nasal turbinates than the Udorn/72ts-1[E] virus. These properties suggested that the Udorn/72 ts-1A2 virus might serve as a donor of its two ts lesions to new variants of influenza A virus to produce attenuated strains for use in doubly seronegative individuals. The Udorn/72-ts-1A2 virus was mated with the influenza A/Victoria/3/75 wild-type virus, and six is recombinant viruses bearing the Vic/75 hemagglutinin were isolated. Five of these Vic/75-ts-1A2 recombinants had a 37° shutoff temperature and two ts lesions like their Udorn/72-s-1A2 parent. Each of these clones replicated to low titer or not at all in the hamster's lungs and were 100-fold restricted in the nasal turbinates like their ts parental virus. Each of 158 isolates recovered from hamsters infected with the parental Udorn/72-ts-1A2 virus or one of its Vic/75 ts double lesion recombinants retained the ts phenotype. One Vic/75-ts-1A2 recombinant clone that had a 38°hutoff temperature, and only the group 1 ts lesion replicated in the hamster's lungs to a level intermediate between that of the parental ts-1A2 and wild-type virus. All isolates recovered from hamsters infected with this recombinant were also ts. Infection of hamsters with a Vic/75-ts-1A2 recombinant, bearing the group 1 and group 5 ts mutations, induced resistance to homologous wild-type virus challenge. Since the parental and double lesion recombinant ts-1A2 viruses had similar restriction of replication in vitro at 37° and in vivo, it is likely that the two ts-1A2 is lesions will effect a similar level of attenuation following transfer into other antigenic variants of influenza A virus.
Larval trails of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) as kairomonal host-finding cues for the parasitoid Cephalonomia waterstoni (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

Wandering late fourth instars of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), leave a substrate-borne chemical trail that serves as a kairomone for their host-specific bethylid parasitoid Cephalonomia waterstoni Gahan. Male C. waterstoni show no trail-following behavior to this kairomone. Experienced C. waterstoni females follow trails of ≥0.0001 larval equivalents per centimeter (LE/cm), whereas naive females show no trail following responses to dosages of <0.1 LE/cm. A dose-dependent response for time spent on the trail and length of trail followed was shown by the parasitoid to natural trails. The time spent by the parasitoid on artificial trails produced by using beetle extracts also showed a dose dependent response. The parasitoid shows weak or nonexistent trail-following responses to hexane extracts of larvae of the flat grain beetle Cryptolestes pusillus (Schonherr) or the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). The trails of C. ferrugineus larvae are only moderately persistent. Natural trails aged on filter paper elicit trail-following responses by the parasitoid for less than one week. Artificial beetle extract trails on ground glass plates elicited trail following by the parasitoid for almost two weeks. The disappearance of both natural and solvent extract kairomonal trails follows an exponential decay model.
Spike noise in soft under layer for perpendicular recording and its impact on error rate

Dual-layer perpendicular recording uses a magnetically soft under layer (SUL) beneath the recording layer to conduct the flux from the recording head. The required thickness of the SUL is determined by the SUL moment, the write pole moment and pole dimensions. Typically, the SUL thickness is from tens to a few hundred nanometers. Domains are often present in this thickness range. In this study, we examine in detail the properties of spike noise and assess the effect of spike noise on error rate.
Effect of acute stimulation of renin secretion on renal renin content in vivo.

Effect of acute stimulation of renin secretion on renal renin content in vivo. Acute stimulation of renal renin secretion has been reported to increase, not change, or decrease intra-renal renin (IRR) content. However, these effects and the potential mechanisms for acute changes in IRR content have not been studied directly. In this study, the effect of acute stimulation of renin secretion on IRR content was studied directly using a new in vivo blood perfused rabbit kidney preparation. Following removal of the right kidney for determination of IRR content (N = 7) the left kidney was cannulated and perfused for an average of 55 minutes (baseline) at mean arterial blood pressure. Renin secretion by the left kidney was subsequently stimulated by reducing renal perfusion pressure to 60mm Hg and administering enalapril, 1 mg/kg intravenously. After 38 to 140 minutes (mean 90 min) of stimulation, the left kidney was also removed and IRR content assessed. Renal blood flow and renin secretory rate (RSR) were determined frequently at baseline and following stimulation of renin secretion. The total amount of renin secreted in response to acute stimulation was calculated by integrating the RSR response over time. RSR from the left kidney increased by 515% during acute stimulation. IRR content in the left kidney also increased and averaged 16% greater than the right kidney from the same animal. In order to account for all of the renin secreted as well as the increase in IRR content following acute stimulation, it was calculated that the renin synthesis rate would have been required to increase over 26-fold. Alternatively, the increase in IRR content observed could have resulted from activation of a previously synthesized pool of inactive renin. Thus, acute stimulation of renin release in this in vivo model is accompanied by an increase in IRR content which can be explained by a large increase in renin synthesis and/or intra-renal activation of inactive renin.
Single ventricle palliation: greater risk of complications with the Fontan procedure than with the bidirectional Glenn procedure alone.

Abstract Background This study was performed to evaluate and compare the early, intermediate, and long-term outcomes of the bidirectional Glenn procedure and Fontan procedure in patients who live at moderately high altitude. Methods The outcome of each method of palliation for patients with a functionally single ventricle was retrospectively evaluated from a review of medical records. Results The bidirectional Glenn procedure was performed in 177 patients from October 1984 to June 2004. The Fontan procedure was performed in 149 patients from June 1978 to June 2004. Cardiovascular death or heart transplantation occurred in 8% of patients after the bidirectional Glenn procedure and 17% of patients after the Fontan procedure. Complications of systemic thromboembolic events, bleeding associated with anticoagulation therapy, protein losing enteropathy, and arrhythmias requiring implantation of a pacemaker, cardioversion, or radiofrequency ablation occurred in 7% of patients after the bidirectional Glenn procedure and 47% of patients after the Fontan procedure. Cardiovascular deaths and heart transplantation occurred less frequently when the Fontan procedure was performed in patients with a previous bidirectional Glenn procedure. However, the actuarial transplant-free survival and freedom from complications was not superior for a subgroup of patients who had a Fontan procedure after a bidirectional Glenn procedure in comparison to a subgroup of patients who had a bidirectional Glenn procedure alone. Conclusions The bidirectional Glenn procedure can be used for long-term palliation of patients with a functionally single ventricle. Additional palliation with a Fontan procedure may increase the risk of stroke, protein losing enteropathy and arrhythmias without improving survival.
3′-Azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) inhibits thymidine phosphorylation in isolated rat liver mitochondria: A possible mechanism of AZT hepatotoxicity

3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) is a staple of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Prior to HAART, long-term use of high-dosage AZT caused myopathy, cardiomyopathy, and hepatotoxicity, associated with mitochondrial DNA depletion. As a component of HARRT, AZT causes cytopenias and lipodystrophy. AZT-5'-triphosphate (AZTTP) is a known inhibitor of the mitochondrial polymerase gamma and has been targeted as the source of the mitochondrial DNA depletion. However, in previous work from this laboratory with isolated rat heart mitochondria, AZT phosphorylation beyond AZT-5'-monophosphate (AZTMP) was not detected. Rather, AZT was shown to be a more potent inhibitor of thymidine phosphorylation (50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 7.0+/-1.0 microM) than AZTTP is of polymerase gamma (IC50 of >100 microM), suggesting that depletion of mitochondrial stores of TTP may limit replication. This work has investigated whether an identical mechanism might account for the hepatotoxicity seen with long-term use of AZT. Isolated rat liver mitochondria were incubated with labeled thymidine or AZT, and the rate and extent of phosphorylation were determined by HPLC analysis of acid-soluble extracts of the incubated mitochondria. The results showed that in the phosphorylation of thymidine to TMP, liver mitochondria exhibit a higher Vmax and Km than heart mitochondria, but otherwise heart and liver mitochondria display similar kinetics. AZT is phosphorylated to AZTMP, but no further phosphorylated forms were detected. In addition, AZT inhibited the production of TTP, with an IC50 of 14.4+/-2.6 microM AZT. This is higher, but comparable to, the results seen in isolated rat heart mitochondria.
Systematics of Etheostoma tippecanoe and Etheostoma denoncourti (Perciformes: Percidae)

Abstract Recently, populations of Etheostoma tippecanoe from the Tennessee River drainage were described as a new species, Etheostoma denoncourti. Although populations of E. tippecanoe from the lower Tennessee River (Duck and Buffalo Rivers) were assigned to the new taxon, the species description did not contain an analysis of specimens from these rivers. To evaluate the phylogenetic placement of these unanalyzed populations with respect to all other populations of E. tippecanoe and E. denoncourti, we assembled a dataset composed of DNA sequences (complete cytochrome b) from 32 individuals representing all known populations of these species. Parsimony analysis of these populations, 11 other darter taxa, and five outgroup taxa resulted in 3868 equally most-parsimonous trees at 1687 steps. Populations from the Duck and Buffalo Rivers were always resolved as members of the newly described taxon, E. denoncourti, consistent with the original description. Further, E. tippecanoe and E. denoncourti were resolved ...
Complex frequencies, analytic continuation, and equivalent spectra in generalized quantum theory

The spectrum of a physical Hamiltonian or even of a time-dependent wave function is not unique, but may be chosen in accordance with the physical aspects to be emphasized. In particular, complex continuous and discrete frequencies are not in addition to, but in place of, a real continuous spectrum.
An evaluative study on the effect of contention on message latencies in large supercomputers

Significant theoretical research was done on interconnect topologies and topology aware mapping for parallel computers in the 80s. With the deployment of virtual cut-through, wormhole routing and faster interconnects, message latencies reduced and research in the area died down. This paper presents a study showing that with the emergence of very large supercomputers, typically connected as a 3D torus or mesh, topology effects have become important again. It presents an evaluative study on the effect of contention on message latencies on torus and mesh networks. The paper uses three MPI benchmarks to evaluate the effect of hops (links) traversed by messages, on their latencies. The benchmarks demonstrate that when multiple messages compete for network resources, link occupancy or contention can increase message latencies by up to a factor of 8 times. In other words, contention leads to increased message latencies and reduces effective available bandwidth for each message. This suggests that application developers should consider interconnect topologies when mapping tasks to processors in order to obtain the best performance. Results are shown for two parallel machines - ANL's Blue Gene/P and PSC's XT3.
The speciation of dissolved water in rhyolitic melt

Concentrations of water molecules and hydroxyl groups have been measured in rhyolitic glasses with 0.5% to 5.0% H_2O_t using infrared spectroscopy at room temperature. The glasses were cooled at ~10^2 C/s after having been held at 400 to 600C, for sufficient time for the equilibrium distribution of species to have been reached. The speciation of water in samples with greater than 2.5 wt.% total dissolved water and quenched rapidly from temperatures ≥600C were shown to reequilibrate during quench. However, samples with less than 2.0% water and quenched rapidly from ≤600C, and those with less than 5.5% water and quenched rapidly from ≤500C, did not undergo changes on quench and record the equilibrium species concentrations of the experimental run conditions. Knowledge of the equilibrium speciation of water in samples at lower temperatures can be used to predict the species concentrations at magmatic temperatures and allow us to explore the effect of melt structure on the physical properties of natural hydrous magmas. Ideal mixing models can be used as a rough approximation for modeling the solution of water in rhyolitic melts with less than 2.5 wt.% total water: ln[(X^(melt)_(OH))^2/(X^(melt)_(H_2O_m) X^(melt)_(O))] = ln K = 1.89 ± 0.05 - (3120 ± 40)/T, where X^(melt)_i is the mole fraction of species i on a single oxygen basis, H_2O_m = water molecules, O = anhydrous oxygens, and T is temperature in Kelvin. This fit provides a standard state enthalpy and entropy of ΔH° = 25.9 ± 0.4 kJ/mol and ΔS° = 15.7 ± 0.4 J/mol • K for the mixing of water molecules in rhyolitic melt. At high water contents, either a modification to the infrared calibration or more complex models (such as a regular solution model) are required to fit the data. Our measurements differ with recent studies using in situ measurement techniques that show lesser concentrations of molecular species at magmatic temperatures, and we address concerns associated with the in situ method. Our study on quenched glasses can be applied to natural rhyolites; using measured species concentrations, the “apparent” equilibration temperature can be calculated to within 12°C (2σ uncertainty) which can be used to determine the cooling rate of a naturally quenched rhyolitic glass.
Informational Inputs as Influences on Efficient Consumer Decision‐Making

The effects of consumer information and consumer sophistication on the ability of consumers to make purchases offering the greatest benefits were examined. It was found that consumer information enhances the likelihood that consumers will make efficient choices of products. Consumer sophistication was also found to be an intervening variable in consumers' use of information.
CO2 enrichment and soil nitrogen effects on wheat evapotranspiration and water use efficiency.

Evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated for two spring wheat crops, grown in a well-watered, subsurface drip-irrigated field under ambient (about 370 mmol mol 1 during daytime) and enriched (200mmol mol 1 above ambient) CO2 concentrations during 1995‐1996 and 1996‐1997 in Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiments in central Arizona. The enriched (FACE) and ambient (Control) CO2 treatments were replicated in four, circular plots, each 25 m in diameter. Two soil nitrogen (N) treatments, ample (High N) and limited (Low N), were imposed on one-half of each circular plot. Wheat ET, determined using soil water balance procedures, was significantly greater in High N than Low N treatments starting in late-March (anthesis) during both years. Differences in ET between CO2 treatments during the seasons were generally small and not statistically significant, however, there was a tendency for the ET to be lower for FACE than Control under the High N treatment. The reduction in the cumulative seasonal ET due to FACE averaged 3.7 and 4.0% under High N and 0.7 and 1.2% under Low N in the first and second years, respectively. However, WUE (grain yield per unit seasonal ET) was significantly increased for the FACE treatment under both soil N treatments. For the High N treatment, the WUE was 19 and 23% greater for FACE than Control and for the Low N treatment the WUE was 12 and 7% greater for FACE than Control in the 2 years, respectively. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Reduced lecithin: Retinol acyltransferase expression correlates with increased pathologic tumor stage in bladder cancer

Purpose: Retinoids, which include vitamin A (retinol; ROL) and its derivatives, have been investigated in the treatment of bladder cancer. We have shown that expression of the enzyme lecithin:ROL acyltransferase (LRAT), which converts ROL to retinyl esters, is reduced in several human cancers. Here we evaluated expression of LRAT protein and mRNA in normal and malignant bladder tissue specimens from human patients. We also examined the effect of retinoids on LRAT expression in bladder cancer cell lines. Experimental Design: We evaluated 49 bladder cancer specimens for LRAT protein expression using immunohistochemistry with affinity-purified antibodies to human LRAT. LRAT mRNA expression was assessed using reverse transcription-PCR in bladder specimens from an additional 16 patients. We examined the effect of retinoic acid and ROL on LRAT mRNA expression in five human bladder cancer cell lines. Results: LRAT protein was detected throughout the nonneoplastic bladder epithelium in all of the specimens. In bladder tumors, LRAT protein expression was reduced compared with the nonneoplastic epithelium or was completely absent in 7 of 32 (21.9%) superficial tumors versus 16 of 17 (94.1%) invasive tumors ( P LRAT mRNA expression, compared with 5 of 8 (62%) superficial tumors and 0 of 5 (0%) invasive tumors ( P = 0.001). Three of five human bladder cancer cell lines expressed LRAT mRNA independent of retinoid exposure, whereas in two cell lines LRAT mRNA expression was induced by retinoid treatment. Conclusions: We report a significant reduction in LRAT expression in bladder cancer. Moreover, we demonstrate an inverse correlation of LRAT mRNA and protein expression with increasing tumor stage. These data suggest that loss of LRAT expression is associated with invasive bladder cancer.
Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: Clinical challenges, pathophysiology and management

NEC remains a major concern for neonatologists, surgeons, and gastroenterologists due to its high morbidity and mortality. These infants often have poor developmental outcome, and contribute to significant economic burden resulting in marked stress in these families. By developing and adhering to strict feeding protocols, encouraging human milk feeding preferably from the infant's mother, use of probiotics, judicious antibiotic use, instituting blood transfusion protocols, the occurrence of NEC may possibly be reduced. However, because of its multifactorial etiology, it cannot be completely eradicated in the NICUs, particularly in the extremely premature infants. Ongoing surveillance of NEC and quality improvement projects may be beneficial.
Clinical Determination of Energy Cost and Walking Velocity via Stopwatch or Speedometer Cane and Conversion Graphs

Work rate and relative exercise intensity are basic considerations in developing optimal exercise training prescriptions in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Velocity and energy cost of walking are directly related to work rate and indirectly related to exercise intensity. This article describes two methods of measuring walking velocity and estimating oxygen uptake. The validity and accuracy of the methods are discussed. We believe both methods are clinically useful. Because one method uses a specially instrumented speedometer cane, technical information concerning its design and construction is also included.
Knowledge of HIV transmission and sexual behavior of college students in Pune, India.

AIDS-related knowledge attitudes and sexual practice were investigated through administration of a questionnaire to 95 university students (average age 20 years) from Pune India in 1995. One-third of respondents were medical students. The overall median correct score on the knowledge questions was 76.9%. Although students were reasonably knowledgeable about the role of sexual contact blood transfusions infected needles and vertical transmission they had misconceptions about the transmission of HIV through casual contact. Women were less knowledgeable than their male counterparts. Although medical students were more aware of the major modes of HIV transmission 66% believed HIV is transmitted by donating blood and 17.5% were unaware that condoms lower the risk of HIV transfer. 57% of students thought AIDS was preventable by a vaccine 51% believed AIDS is curable and only 63% considered AIDS to be a serious public health problem in India. 10.5% of respondents were sexually active. Among the sexually active subgroup 8.2% had had a sexually transmitted disease 24.7% reported sex with a prostitute 29.7% had had more than five partners and only 39.2% always used condoms. Overall these findings indicate a need for intensive AIDS educational efforts especially condom awareness in this vulnerable population.
Does Supply Chain Excellence Pay? - New Evidence

Current theory promotes the view that embracing supply chain management (SCM) has led to lower costs, and increased financial performance and shareholder value. Consistent with this view, Hendricks and Singhal (2003) report empirical evidence that demonstrates that supply chain glitches lead to destruction of shareholder value. However, no evidence exists demonstrating that attaining SCM excellence leads to increased value. Our study examines this prediction by examining the stock market reaction to a publicly released report that ranks companies using a SCM performance rating. We find that inclusion as a top 25 SCM firm is associated with a positive stock price reaction on the order of around 2.85%, on average. Further, this reaction is differentially higher for firms that score higher in the excellence rankings. Combined with the results of Hendricks and Singhal, our results suggest that SCM performance is not only important at the threshold of avoiding supply chain glitches, but also encompasses achieving SCM excellence.
Single Trojan injection model generation and detection

Driven by cheaper fabrication facilities around the world, IC design houses are increasingly outsourcing the fabrication of their ICs. This poses the risk of intellectual property loss and to the possibility of design modifications and insertion of Trojans for sinister purposes. We present a Trojan modeling and test generation techniques for small and large Trojans. The quality of the generated test set is evaluated in term of its ability to detect modeled and un-modeled Trojans. We show experimentally that the derived tests detect all injected detectable Trojans.
History and Principles of Humanitarian Action

Humanitarian aid has been present in some form throughout human history, yet the modern concept of humanitarian aid has only truly emerged since the later half of the 20th century. Through a complex progression of world events and largely brought about in response to armed conflict, modern humanitarian aid is provided by a multitude of organizations and actors. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the history of humanitarian action, a review of the principles of humanitarian aid and an overview of the major documents which delineate those principles.
Discontinuous Galerkin Scheme Applied to Chimera Overset Viscous Meshes on Curved Geometries

The Chimera overset method is a powerful technique for modeling uid ow associated with complex engineering problems. The use of structured meshes has enabled engineers to develop a number of high-order schemes, such as the WENO and compact di erencing schemes. This paper demonstrates a Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) scheme with a Chimera overset method applied to viscous meshes on curved geometries. The small stencil of the DG scheme makes it particularly suitable for Chimera meshes. The small stencil simpli es the hole cutting and partitioning of grids that contain holes. In addition, because the DG scheme represents the solution as cell local polynomials, it does not require an interpolation scheme with a large stencil to establish the inter-grid communication in overlapping regions. Furthermore, the DG scheme is capable of using curved cells to represent geometric features. The curved cells resolve issues associated with linear non-co-located Chimera viscous meshes used for nite volume and nite di erence schemes. The DG-Chimera method is demonstrated on a set of viscous Chimera meshes, which would produce erroneous results for a nite volume or nite di erence scheme without corrections to the interpolation.
Global petroleum systems in space and time

Abstract Each of the Earth9s approximately 900 sedimentary basins is a unique result of geologic, hydrologic, atmospheric and biologic processes. The interaction of these processes results in complex histories that are palaeogeographically linked within tectonic provinces. Process-based genetic analysis provides the fundamental framework for predicting the distribution and character of petroleum systems. New technologies enable the exploitation of this predictability and are themselves the origin of new ideas and improved systems understanding. Petroleum geoscience embraces both forward modelling of processes as well as observation, calibration and inverse modelling. This approach of forward and inverse modelling promotes a general scientific methodology of simulation, prediction, testing and learning that allows us to describe the genetics of sedimentary basins. Genetic analysis can be applied to the spectrum of resource types from hydrocarbon to groundwater to mineral systems and across the range of scales from regional to play to prospect. Like the study of evolution through the fossil record, fundamental characteristics of petroleum systems can be recovered from the patterns of their distribution within the framework provided by plate motion, palaeogeography and palaeoclimate. These fundamental drivers control regional tectonics, subsidence, fill history and deformation that result in the phenotypic expression of individual basins and their fluid systems. Genetic analysis results in a taxonomic hierarchy that facilitates prediction and guides resource exploration. Although genetic analysis provides a framework for understanding the distribution and nature of petroleum systems, that framework itself is insufficient to address the challenges now facing the petroleum industry. New technologies are required to enable exploration in frontier settings, to identify new opportunities in mature basins, to maximize recovery from existing fields, and to unlock the potential of unconventional resources. Future success in all of these areas is fundamentally dependent on our ability to conceptualize new ideas.
Distribution of binding sites for thromboxane A2 in the mouse kidney

Thromboxane A2 (TxA2) is a potent vasoconstrictor eicosanoid that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of both human and experimental renal diseases. The biological actions of TxA2 in the kidney are mediated through specific cell-surface receptors. In this report, we characterize the distribution of thromboxane receptors (TxR) within the normal mouse kidney by receptor autoradiography. With the iodinated TxR agonist [125I]BOP, TxA2 binding sites were detected throughout the kidney. Competitive inhibition curves of whole kidney binding demonstrated a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 6.5 nM. When Scatchard analysis was performed on anatomically discrete regions, the [125I]BOP binding in the medulla was best fit by a one-site model, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 8.2 +/- 2.2 nM. In contrast, [125I]BOP binding in the cortex was better described by a two-site model, with estimated Kd of 262 +/- 16 pM for a higher affinity site and 16.9 +/- 1.3 nM for a lower affinity site. These sites do not a...
The first demonstration of RNA interference to inhibit mRNA function

Abstract I review how RNA interference was discovered for the first time in 1984 in our laboratory.
Plagiarism, Instruction, and Blogs

This chapter takes as its point of departure the Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin Plagiarism Project (http://leeds. bates.edu/cbb), which sought to approach the problem of undergraduate plagiarism as a pedagogical challenge. By revisiting the decision to publish the project’s content by means of a weblog, the article considers the ways in which weblogs provide a reflective tool and medium for engaging plagiarism. It considers weblog practice and use and offers examples that attest to the instructional value of weblogs, especially their ability to foster learning communities and to promote the appropriate use of information and intellectual property.
The Proteasome and Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer's Disease.

Abstract Significance: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is projected to exceed more than 100 million cases worldwide by 2050. Aging is considered the primary risk factor for some 90% of Alzheimer's cases but a significant 10% of patients suffer from aggressive, early-onset forms of the disease. There is currently no effective Alzheimer's treatment and this, coupled with a growing aging population, highlights the necessity to understand the mechanism(s) of disease initiation and propagation. A major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease pathology is the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates (an early marker of Alzheimer's disease), and neurofibrillary tangles, comprising the hyper-phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein Tau. Recent Advances: Protein oxidation is frequently invoked as a potential factor in the progression of Alzheimer's disease; however, whether it is a cause or a consequence of the pathology is still being debated. The Proteasome complex is a major regulator of ...
Severity of Nasal Inflammatory Disease Questionnaire for Canine Idiopathic Rhinitis Control: Instrument Development and Initial Validity Evidence.

Background Effective treatments are needed for idiopathic chronic rhinitis in dogs, but assessment of efficacy requires a practical, quantifiable method for assessing severity of disease. Objectives To develop and perform initial validity and reliability testing of an owner-completed questionnaire for assessing clinical signs and dog and owner quality of life (QOL) in canine chronic rhinitis. Animals Twenty-two dogs with histopathologically confirmed chronic rhinitis and 72 healthy dogs. Methods In this prospective study, an online questionnaire was created based on literature review and feedback from veterinarians, veterinary internists with respiratory expertise, and owners of dogs with rhinitis. Owners of affected dogs completed the questionnaire twice, 1 week apart, to test reliability. Healthy dogs were assessed once. Data were analyzed using the Rasch Rating Scale Model, and results were interpreted using Messick's framework for evaluating construct validity evidence. Results Initial item generation resulted in 5 domains: nasal signs, paranasal signs, global rhinitis severity, and dog's and owner's QOL. A 25-item questionnaire was developed using 5-point Likert-type scales. No respondent found the questionnaire difficult to complete. Strong psychometric evidence was available to support the substantive, generalizability, content, and structural aspects of construct validity. Statistical differences were found between responses for affected and control dogs for all but 2 items. These items were eliminated, resulting in the 23-item Severity of Nasal Inflammatory Disease (SNIFLD) questionnaire. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The SNIFLD questionnaire provides a mechanism for repeated assessments of disease severity in dogs with chronic rhinitis.
Dhahran Roads (a) (Spanish Translation)

This is a Spanish translation of the February 1, 1994, version of UVA-QA-0296. Cummins, Epley, and Mayo, a U.S.-based construction firm, has been selected as the prime contractor for a road-reconstruction project in Saudi Arabia. Based on company cost estimates, the project provides a 15% return on costs, well below the required 18%. Because of a substantial advance payment and the specific timing of the payments, the project's IRR is 40%. This case can be used as an introduction to or a reinforcement of discounted-cash-flow techniques. It provides a dramatic portrayal of the time value of money, an opportunity for sensitivity analysis, and a possibility for using decision diagrams for structuring realistic contingencies. Excerpt UVA-QA-0830 Ultima edicion: 2/7/14 DHAHRAN ROADS (A) Hasan Malik, el director financiero de SADE, una compania de Bahrein dedicada a la ingenieria civil, releyo el fax que acababa de recibir. Estaba muy satisfecho de que las interminables conversaciones con el Ministerio de Transportes del municipio de Dhahran en el este del Reino de Arabia Saudi estuviesen llegando a su fin. SADE habia sido elegida como el subcontratista principal de un proyecto de 168 millones de Riyales Saudies (RS), que consistia en la reconstruccion y mejora de la red vial que unia las diferentes terminales del aeropuerto de Dhahran entre si, y con la ciudad. El proyecto Dhahran Roads era el tipo de proyecto con el que SADE habia establecido su reputacion internacional como destacado contratista en el campo de la construccion. El coste total estimado era 146 millones de RS, de manera que la cifra ofertada solo permitia una rentabilidad del 15%, por debajo del 18% de la requerida por SADE para este tipo de proyectos. Por otro lado, este margen menor a lo deseado parecia un precio muy bajo para poder establecerse en el mercado saudi de la construccion, que estaba en plena expansion. El telex requeria una respuesta de Malik a la propuesta del proyecto en un plazo inferior a una semana. El contrato definitivo se redactaria en las semanas siguientes y se firmaria a mediados de enero de 1993. . . .
Toxicity comparison of the shoreline cleaners Accell Clean® and PES-51® in two life stages of the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio

Oil spills are a significant source of coastal pollution. Shoreline cleaners, used to remove oil from surfaces during spill response and remediation, may also act as toxins. Adult and larval grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, were tested for lethal and sublethal impacts from two shoreline cleaners, Accell Clean SWA® and PES-51®, alone and in combination with crude oil using Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fractions (CEWAFs). Median lethal toxicity values determined for the individual cleaners were similar. However, when tested in mixture with oil as CEWAFs, Accell Clean SWA resulted in greater hydrocarbon concentrations in the water column and greater toxicity than PES-51. Increased glutathione levels were observed for adult shrimp exposed to Accell Clean SWA, and glutathione was elevated in shrimp exposed to both CEWAFs. Larval shrimp development was delayed after exposure to both CEWAFs. These findings may have implications for managing and mitigating oil spills.
Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Military Service Members and Veterans After Traumatic Brain Injury/Polytrauma Inpatient Rehabilitation

Abstract Objective To determine the effect of the established polytrauma/traumatic brain injury (TBI) infrastructure on immediate posttreatment functional gains, the long-term sustainability of any gains, and participation-related community reintegration outcomes in a baseline cohort of patients 8 years postadmission. Design Retrospective review and prospective repeated measures of an inception cohort. Setting Polytrauma rehabilitation center (PRC). Participants Patients consecutively admitted to the PRC inpatient rehabilitation unit during its first full fiscal year, 2006 (N=44). Interventions The PRC infrastructure and formalized rehabilitation for polytrauma/TBI. Main Outcome Measures FIM scores at admission, discharge, 3 months, and 8 years postdischarge; participation-related socioeconomic factors reflecting community reintegration 8 years after admission. Results Functional gains were statistically significantly increased from admission to discharge. Improvements were maintained at both 3 months postdischarge and 8 years postdischarge. The socioeconomic data collected at 8-year follow-up showed >50% either competitively employed or continuing their education and 100% living in a noninstitutionalized setting. Conclusions This study addresses a concern regarding the long-term functional outcomes of rehabilitation patients treated by the established infrastructure of the Polytrauma System of Care inpatient rehabilitation centers. The results suggest that polytrauma/TBI rehabilitation care using a comprehensive, integrated approach is effective and durable in achieving functional gains and successful community reintegration within our initial PRC cohort. Follow-up of subsequent fiscal year cohorts would add to the validity of these outcome findings.
Applications of magneto-dielectric materials in wearable antenna design

This paper is focusing on suggesting realizing antennas using flexible Magneto-Dielectric (MD) materials for wearable applications. For proof of concept, different monopole antenna configurations are studied and their performances evaluated at 2.45 GHz. Monopole based MD antenna integrated a ground plane at a distance of 4 mm away from the antenna has showed a comparable performance to the monopole integrated flexible Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC) structure and a superior performance compared to the monopole based dielectric antenna. In addition, a study on the structural deformation of the proposed monopole configurations in terms of antenna bending in two perpendicular planes is presented. Results demonstrated the effectiveness of using flexible MD materials to stabilize antenna performance within the industrial, scientific, and medical ISM-2.45 GHz band.
Antitumor Necrosis Factor Agents in Crohn’s Disease

Antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) medications have revolutionized the treatment for Crohn’s disease (CD). The first anti-TNF was approved for CD in 1998, and since then a total of three anti-TNFs are approved by the FDA for use in CD: infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab pegol. This chapter will review each anti-TNF with regard to clinical efficacy (induction and maintenance of remission) as well as other key outcomes such as mucosal healing and fistula healing. Additionally this chapter will summarize key differences between the anti-TNFs and review why not all anti-TNFs work to treat CD. Anti-TNF medications have become the standard of care for moderate to severe CD. Understanding the evidence for the various anti-TNFs, as well as the pros and cons of each, is essential for practitioners treating patients with CD.
Patterns in Family Violence

The prevalence of physical and sexual abuse among family members is greater than most people realize. A generic approach to the study of abuse in families suggests that there are many similarities ...