cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic accuracy of criteria for urinary tract infection in a cohort of nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate nursing home residents with suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) to determine whether they met the McGeer, Loeb, or revised Loeb consensus-based criteria and whether any set of criteria was associated with laboratory evidence of UTI, namely bacteriuria (>100,000 colony forming units) plus pyuria (>10 white blood cells). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three New Haven–area nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: Of 611 residents screened, 457 were eligible, 362 consented, and 340 enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Participants underwent prospective surveillance from May 2005 to April 2006 for the development of suspected UTI (defined as a participant's physician or nurse clinically suspecting UTI). One hundred participants with suspected UTI and a urinalysis and urine culture performed were included in the analyses. RESULTS: Participants were identified who met the criteria of McGeer, Loeb, revised Loeb, and laboratory evidence of UTI. Using laboratory evidence of UTI as the outcome, the McGeer criteria demonstrated 30% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 57% positive predictive value (PPV), and 61% negative predictive value (NPV); the Loeb criteria showed 19% sensitivity, 89% specificity, 57% PPV, and 59% NPV; and the revised Loeb criteria demonstrated 30% sensitivity, 79% specificity, 52% PPV, and 60% NPV. CONCLUSION: All of the consensus-based criteria have similar test characteristics. The diagnostic accuracy of UTI criteria in nursing home residents could be improved, and the data suggest that evidence-based clinical criteria associated with laboratory evidence of UTI need to be identified and validated.
Philosophy of medical education

Introduction: Education is defined as an art with scientific principle. It isdescribed as a form of learning by which knowledge, skills and attitudes of an age group are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, research and practice.Method: This is a historical review about the philosophy of medical education and its changes during the time.Results: It is unfortunate that many developing countries follow the US system rather than those with public financing pattern. Indeed, these systems are “disease care” and not “healthcare” and are mainly motivated by profit.Conclusion: The educational planners in medical schools must design acurricula for students and residents to acquire a crucial set of professional values and qualities, by which the willingness to put the needs of the patient and society first.Keywords: Education, Medical education, Philosophy
Female Physician Stress

In one survey, 66% of women physicians indicated that they had had at least one very difficult period in their lives and felt that they were frequently “skating on thin ice” (Cartwright). This is indicative of a relatively high level of stress. The practicing women physicians in Cohen’s study (1988) cited the following as the greatest detractors to career development: unable to work long hours without distraction (cited by 20% of the women), lack of female role model (19%), lack of satisfactory household help (12%), lack of confidence in personal competence (11%), lack of satisfactory child care (11%), lack of sponsors and/or mentors (9%), and unable to relocate to advance career (10%). Men cited these areas much less often.
Effects of Titanium Salicide Process on Oxide Charge Trapping and Hot-Electron Reliability in Submicron MOS Devices for VLSI

In VLSI technology, the devices are continuously scaled down for higher packing density and better performance. To take the full advantage of device scaling, a titanium salicide(1) process has been proposed recently. At the same time, in the submicron MOSFET's, the gate oxide thickness has been scaled down to around 15nm. Both the oxide breakdown and hot carrier effects become crucial issues to the device reliability. The oxide breakdown and hot carrier effects have been attributed to either oxide charge trapping(2, 3) or interface state generation(4). In this paper, we have observed that the titanium salicide process can reduce both electron and hole trapping in the oxide. and improve high field induced hot electron reliability, A hydrogen model has been proposed to explain these phenomena.
Algorithmic search for flexibility using resultants of polynomial systems

This paper describes the recent convergence of four topics: polynomial systems, flexibility of three dimensional objects, computational chemistry, and computer algebra. We discuss a way to solve systems of polynomial equations with resultants. Using ideas of Bricard, we find a system of polynomial equations that models a configuration of quadrilaterals that is equivalent to some three dimensional structures. These structures are of interest in computational chemistry, as they represent molecules. We then describe an algorithm that examines the resultant and determines ways that the structure can be flexible.
Monitoring of Bacterial Status and Antibacterial Cleaning of Saturation Diving Systems

Infection of the outer ear (otitis externa) is a common problem during saturation diving. The moist, warm environment of high-pressure heliox facilitates the growth of the gram-negative bacillus Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Symptoms of itching, burning, pain and discharge can become intense and result in the diver being unable to work (Farmer, 1982). If, as a result, divers have to leave saturation, this causes inconvenience and loss of earnings to them and disruption of the work schedule they were undertaking.
Fundamentals of Modern VLSI Devices

Learn the basic properties and designs of modern VLSI devices, as well as the factors affecting performance, with this thoroughly updated second edition. The first edition has been widely adopted as a standard textbook in microelectronics in many major US universities and worldwide. The internationally-renowned authors highlight the intricate interdependencies and subtle tradeoffs between various practically important device parameters, and also provide an in-depth discussion of device scaling and scaling limits of CMOS and bipolar devices. Equations and parameters provided are checked continuously against the reality of silicon data, making the book equally useful in practical transistor design and in the classroom. Every chapter has been updated to include the latest developments, such as MOSFET scale length theory, high-field transport model, and SiGe-base bipolar devices.
The Utilization of Extracellular Proteins as Nutrients Is Suppressed by mTORC1

Despite being surrounded by diverse nutrients, mammalian cells preferentially metabolize glucose and free amino acids. Recently, Ras-induced macropinocytosis of extracellular proteins was shown to reduce a transformed cell's dependence on extracellular glutamine. Here, we demonstrate that protein macropinocytosis can also serve as an essential amino acid source. Lysosomal degradation of extracellular proteins can sustain cell survival and induce activation of mTORC1 but fails to elicit significant cell accumulation. Unlike its growth-promoting activity under amino-acid-replete conditions, we discovered that mTORC1 activation suppresses proliferation when cells rely on extracellular proteins as an amino acid source. Inhibiting mTORC1 results in increased catabolism of endocytosed proteins and enhances cell proliferation during nutrient-depleted conditions in vitro and within vascularly compromised tumors in vivo. Thus, by preventing nutritional consumption of extracellular proteins, mTORC1 couples growth to availability of free amino acids. These results may have important implications for the use of mTOR inhibitors as therapeutics.
Physics of dielectric surface flashover at atmospheric pressure

The limits of the applicability of DC, AC, or pulsed high voltage are determined by breakdown along insulators or insulating support structures. It is of major technical importance to predict breakdown voltages for given structures, with parameters such as geometry, material, and temporal characteristics of the applied voltage. The impact of atmospheric conditions such as humidity, pressure, temperature, and types of gas present is also important. A setup has been devised to simulate and closely monitor flashover across various gap distances and insulator geometries at atmospheric conditions at different humidities. Current, voltage, luminosity, and optical emission spectra were measured with nanosecond to subnanosecond resolution. Spatially and temporally resolved light emission data yielded quantitative information about the charge carrier amplification, the location of this amplification, and its role in the formation of streamers.
Volume holographic imaging of three-dimensional objects

Spherical-reference volume holograms exhibit spatial selectivity to the location and color of the reconstructing beam. We show that this property enables tomographic operations on extended incoherent polychromatic objects, and derive the shapes and spectral contents of the reconstructed slices for several holographic arrangements.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Neutrophils, dendritic cells and Toxoplasma

Toxoplasma gondi rapidly elicits strong Type 1 cytokine-based immunity. The necessity for this response is well illustrated by the example of IFN-γ and IL-12 gene knockout mice that rapidly succumb to the effects of acute infection. The parasite itself is skilled at sparking complex interactions in the innate immune system that lead to protective immunity. Neutrophils are one of the first cell types to arrive at the site of infection, and the cells release several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in response to Toxoplasma. Dendritic cells are an important source of IL-12 during infection with T. gondii and other microbial pathogens, and they are also specialized for high-level antigen presentation to T lymphocytes. Tachyzoites express at least two types of molecules that trigger innate immune cell cytokine production. One of these involves Toll-like receptor/MyD88 pathways common to many microbial pathogens. The second pathway is less conventional and involves molecular mimicry between a parasite cyclophilin and host CC chemokine receptor 5-binding ligands. Neutrophils, dendritic cells and Toxoplasma work together to elicit the immune response required for host survival. Cytokine and chemokine cross-talk between parasite-triggered neutrophils and dendritic cells results in recruitment, maturation and activation of the latter. Neutrophil-empowered dendritic cells possess properties expected of highly potent antigen presenting cells that drive T helper 1 generation.
Dietary Habits of Two Olympic Female Athletic Teams

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify four key strategies for promoting optimal performance in world class female athletes. Female athletes tend to restrict energy to lose or maintain wt. Low intake of total energy may influence micronutrient intake. Dietary composition, such as >60% kcal from carbohydrates (CHO) can negatively influence protein and fat, compromising training and performance outcomes. US Women's Soccer (S) and Field Hockey (FH) Teams (N=54), ranked 1st and 2nd in the world respectively, completed 3-day food records, attended 2 nutrition education sessions and a grocery shopping tour, and had individual nutrition consults during Jan. and April, ‘96. Mean energy intake was 2500 kcal/day based on self-reported food records. Mean hours of daily practice=7. Supplements were used by 14% of FH players and 100% of S Players. Adequate fruit and vegetable intake, based on Food Guide Pyramid recommendations, was met by 16%. Misconceptions pertaining to CHO and protein were noted by 100% of athletes. Disordered eating was identified on both teams. Grocery shopping tours assisted in food selection and reinforced nutrient composition lessons. Follow-up phone conversations revealed a positive change in food selection patterns with regard to all food groups and fat. Nutrition education for Olympic athletes must be improved at the level of each National Governing Body within the US Olympic Committee. R.D.'s who maintain expertise in athletics are positioned to assume roles with teams who have not identified dietitians as an integral part of the training program.
An interactive program assists layout planning

Abstract An interactive computer program is described for layout planning. This program is a construction routine. It is written in BASIC and has been tested on an Apple II microcomputer. The program generates multi-story layouts of up to three floors with sixty-four departments per floor.
Multimedia Educational Interventions for Consumers about Prescribed and Over‐the‐Counter Medications

Keywords: medication skill acquisition; multimedia patient education; patient medication knowledge
Missile guidance design tradeoffs for high-altitude air defense

Practical design considerations for a high-altitude radar-guided air defense missile are presented. Three major contributors to miss distance are discussed—the radar signal return, the radar tracking seeker component imperfections, and the missile response limitations. At high altitude, glint may be the major contaminant in the radar signal. In addition, seeker component imperfections such as imperfect gimbal stabilization, radome refraction slope, and seeker gyro acceleration sensitivity cause stability and miss distance problems that the guidance system designer must solve. Finally, the missile response to guidance commands is limited by reduced acceleration capability, increased response time, and control fin rate saturation. The miss distance sensitivity of each of these factors is discussed and, in addition, the stability issues associated with the unwanted feedback paths created by component imperfections are addressed. Numerical examples are presented showing the significance of including practical hardware imperfections in preliminary design if performance goals at high altitude are to be met when the system is built. The paper provides a perspective of real-world problems which in theoretical investigations are often viewed as secondary issues, but which in fact may be the dominant factors that dictate the guidance and control system design parameters.
Caregiving in pediatric epilepsy: Results of focus groups and implications for research and practice

The process of caring for youth with epilepsy (YWEs) has been understudied. Previous research has identified that caregivers of YWEs report increased parenting stress, unanticipated caregiving responsibilities, and negative effects on family life. Using the adapted Caregiving Process Model, perceptions of the caregiving process were explored in four focus groups of caregivers of youth with epilepsy diagnosed at 5 years. Thematic analysis guided the data analysis. The prevalent theme that emerged during the data analysis was navigating the noncontingencies (lack of a perceived relationship between action and outcome, unpredictability). This was supported by the subthemes, namely, blessings and sacrifices, uncertainty today and tomorrow, constant vigilance, and caregiving is more than parenting. The focus groups displayed similarities and differences in caregiving perceptions across the three postdiagnosis time periods, providing support for conceptualization of the caregiving as multifactorial, multidirectional, and fluid process. With this knowledge, epilepsy health-care professionals are encouraged to promote patient and family centeredness, provide information on how to access community resources, and work with caregivers to enhance epilepsy self-management skills.
CaM kinase control of AKT and LNCaP cell survival

AKT and its substrate BAD have been shown to promote prostate cancer cell survival. Agonists, such as carbachol, and hormones that increase intracellular calcium concentration can activate AKT leading to cancer cell survival. The LNCaP prostate cancer cells express the carbachol-sensitive M3-subtype of G protein-coupled receptors that cause increases in intracellular calcium and activate the family of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM Ks). One type of CaM Kinase, CaM Kinase Kinase (CaM KK), phosphorylates several substrates including AKT on threonine 308. AKT phosphorylation and activation enhances cell survival through phosphorylation of BAD protein and the subsequent blockade of caspase activation. Our goals were to examine the mechanism of carbachol activation of AKT and BAD in LNCaP prostate cancer cells and evaluate whether CaM KK may be mediating carbachol's activation of AKT and cell survival. Our results suggest that carbachol treatment of LNCaP cells promoted cell survival through CaM KK and its phosphorylation of AKT. The bacterial toxin anisomycin triggered caspase-3 activation in LNCaP cells that was blocked by carbachol in a CaM KK- and AKT-dependent manner. AKT and BAD phosphorylation were blocked by the selective CaM KK inhibitor, STO-609, as well as siRNA directed against CaM KK. BAD phosphorylation was also blocked by treating cells with the AKT inhibitor, AKT-X, as well as siRNA to AKT. Additionally, epinephrine promoted LNCaP cell survival through activation of AKT that was insensitive to STO-609. Taken together these data suggest a survival role for CaM KK operating through AKT and BAD in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1514–1526, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amidohydrolase activity of Escherichia coli extracts with formylated amino acids and dipeptides as substrates.

Extracts of Escherichia coli B contain highly specific N-formyl- l -methionine amidohydrolase activity. With the exception of N-acetyl- l -methionine, all other formylated and acetylated amino acids tested were hydrolyzed at rates which were small compared with the rate of hydrolysis of N-formyl- l -methionine. Extracts of an ornithine-requiring mutant of E. coli in which N-formyl- l -methionine amidohydrolase activity is only 1% of that observed with E. coli B have been used to demonstrate the existence of an amidohydrolase which removes the formyl group from dipeptides without prior hydrolysis of the peptide bond. This enzyme exhibits specificity for methionine as the formylated N-terminal amino acid. The amidohydrolase activity observed in the ornithine-requiring mutant is also present in E. coli B. Thus extracts of E. coli B can readily hydrolyze formyl groups from N-formyl- l -methionine as well as from N-formyl- l -methionyl- l -alanine. It is concluded that these two activities are probably due to separate enzymes.
Measurable outcomes of quality improvement in the trauma intensive care unit: The impact of a daily quality rounding checklist

Objective: The use of "care bundles" in the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and other intensive care unit (ICU) complications have been increasingly used in critical care practice. However, the effective implementation of these strategies represents a challenge in a busy Level I trauma ICU. We devised a daily "Quality Rounds Checklist" (QRC) tool for use in the ICU to increase compliance with these prophylactic measures and identify areas for improvement in quality of care. Methods: A prospective before-after design was used to examine the effectiveness of the QRC tool in promoting compliance with 16 prophylactic measures for VAP, deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, central line infection and other ICU complications. Compliance was assessed for 1 month before institution of the QRC. On daily analysis, the QRC was then applied by the ICU fellow to assess compliance. Any deficiencies were actively corrected in real time. Compliance was assessed by a multidisciplinary team for the next 3 months and compared with the pre-QRC compliance rates. Results: Implementation of the QRC tool facilitated improvement of all measures not already at >95% compliance. Compliance with VAP prevention measures of head of bed elevation >30 degrees (35.2% vs. 84.5%), sedation holiday (78.0% vs. 86.0%), and prophylaxis for both peptic ulcer disease (76.2% vs. 92.3%) and deep venous thrombosis (91.4% vs. 92.8%) were all increased. A decrease in central line duration >72 hours (62.4% vs. 52.8%) and ventilator duration >72 hours (74.0% vs. 61.7%) was also noted. Additionally, a decrease in mean monthly rates per 1,000 device days of VAP (16.3 vs. 8.9), central line infection (11.3 vs. 5.8) and self-extubation (7.8 vs. 2.2) was demonstrated. Conclusion: Introducing a daily QRC tool facilitated improved compliance rates for 16 clinically significant prophylactic measures in a busy Level I trauma ICU. The daily use of this tool, requiring just a few minutes per patient to complete, results in a sustainable improvement in patient outcomes.
In vitro synthesis of Escherichia coli ribosomal RNA.

Abstract Synthesis of ribosomal RNA in a cell-free system was achieved using purified Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and bacterial DNA templates from E. coli, Proteus mirabilis and E. coli/P. mirabilis hybrid strains carrying an E. coli DNA enriched for ribosomal RNA genes. Both direct and indirect competition hybridization revealed that from 5 to 15% of the in vitro product, depending on the template used, had sequences homologous to rRNA. The level of synthesis of sequences homologous to rRNA was related directly to the proportion of rRNA genes in the template. The use of heterologous DNA during competition hybridization ensured at least a 100-fold greater sensitivity for the detection of rRNA sequences than from any messenger RNA sequence.
Naturalism, Reduction and Normativity: Pressing from Below

David Papineau's model of scientific reduction, contrary to his intent, appears to enable a naturalist realist account of the primitive normativity involved in a biological adaptation's being “for” this or that (say the eye's being for seeing). By disabling the crucial anti-naturalist arguments against any such reduction, his model would support a cogni-tivist semantics for normative claims like “The heart is for pumping blood, and defective if it doesn't.” No moral claim would follow, certainly. Nonetheless, by thus “pressing from below” we may learn something about moral normativity. For instance, suppose non-cognitivists like Mackie are right that the semantics of normative claims should be “unified”: if the semantics of moral claims is non-cognitivist, so too is that of all normative claims. Then, assuming that a naturalist reduction does yield a sound cognitivist account of the primitive normativity, it would follow that our semantics of moral claims is cognitivist as well.
Nonepileptic-epilepsia partialis continua

We report three patients with focal prolonged myoclonic jerking movements suggestive of epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) but produced on a psychogenic basis [nonepileptic seizures-EPS (NES-EPC)]. NES-EPC was identified by (1) variability in the areas of motor activity in the same patient, (2) distribution and spread of motor activity without neuroanatomic basis, (3) transient abolition of movements with distraction (e.g., when other body parts are engaged in effortful tasks), (4) eliciting and abolishing typical episodes with suggestive techniques, (5) absence of motor weakness during or in between episodes, (6) absence of electroencephalogram (EEG) correlate of motor activity, and (7) absence of hyperperfusion on ictal SPECT scan.
Cheliped regeneration in the megalopa of the mud crab, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould)

Summary The process of autotomy-induced cheliped regeneration in the megalopa of the mud crab, Rhithropanopeus harrisii has been studied by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Following blastema eruption, four time intervals were selected arbitrarily to cover the entire period of limb regeneration. Epidermal proliferation preceded muscle and nerve regeneration. On the basis of morphologic observations, nerve tissue regenerated from existing pedal nerve. It is proposed that blood vessels arose from epidermal differentiation, while muscle differentiated from immigrant cells. Three types of haemocyte, resembling those described in adult crustaceans, were identified in the haemolymph of the larval limb bud: granular haemocytes, hyaline cells and lipoprotein cells. Two other immigrant cell types, which appear to be primitive in nature and may be variants of a single cell type, are also described. Morphological evidence is provided to suggest that the more electron dense variant differentiate...
Afferent stimulation regulates oxytocin messenger ribonucleic Acid during early lactation in rats.

The physiological factors that regulate the levels of oxytocin (OT) mRNA in the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system during lactation are unknown. The major objective of the present studies was to test whether afferent stimuli provided by the offspring influence the level of OT mRNA in the magnocellular nuclei of the hypothalamus, i.e. the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), supraoptic nucleus (SON) and anterior commissural nucleus (ACN), during lactation. In addition, these studies provide a detailed description of the changes that occur in OT mRNA levels in these nuclei during pregnancy and lactation. Levels of OT mRNA were determined in the total RNA extracted from pooled PVN/SON/ACN, which were microdissected from pregnant and lactating Holtzman rats, by slot-blot hybridization. RNA blots were hybridized sequentially with a [(32) P]5'end-labeled, 25-base oligonucleotide probe complementary to bases 912-936 of the OT gene and with a random primer-labeled cDNA complementary to α-tubulin mRNA, which was used for normalization. Autoradiographs were quantitated by scanning laser densitometry. Compared to the levels on day 1 of pregnancy (the day of mated estrus) the relative levels of OT mRNA were decreased on pregnancy days 7 and 14, and then returned to the mated estrus value on days 16 to 20. The level of OT mRNA again declined prior to parturition on day 23, although it was restored to the estrus value the day after parturition and generally remained at this level throughout lactation. To assess the influence of stimuli provided by the offspring for the regulation of OT mRNA levels during lactation, lactating females were separated from their litters immediately after parturition or on lactation day 8. As compared to nonseparated, time-matched controls, removal of the litters immediately after parturition resulted in a statistically significant reduction of approximately 25% in the levels of OT mRNA 24 and 48 h later, which returned to control levels by 72 h. In contrast, removal of the litters on lactation day 8 did not significantly alter the level of OT mRNA in the PVN/SON/ACN over the next 3 days. These findings suggest that the level of OT mRNA in hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei is influenced to some extent by afferent stimuli provided by the offspring during an early period of lactation but, thereafter, becomes unresponsive to removal of this influence. Afferent suckling stimuli may be one component of a multifactorial regulation responsible for the maintenance of OT mRNA expression during lactation.
A modified Aarhus negative-ion source☆

Abstract We report intensity, emittance, and brightness measurements both for the Cu − beam as a function of source parameters and for several atomic and molecular negative-ion beams when our modified Aarhus negative-ion source (ANIS) operates on a cold PIG discharge (CPD). A hot PIG discharge (HPD) produces a significantly larger (factor of ∼6) Cu − beam intensity. However, the larger Cu − beam from a HPD also has significantly increased emittance, resulting in only a small improvement (∼40%) in Cu − beam brightness. In the HPD mode the bias of the filaments is important. The relative yields of the atomic negative-ion beams are only in fair agreement with the predictions of the Saha-Langmuir equation. Finally, we compare ANIS with other negative-ion sputter sources.
Evaluation of a Modified Scheme for Shallow Convection: Implementation of CuP and Case Studies

AbstractA new treatment for shallow clouds has been introduced into the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). The new scheme, called the cumulus potential (CuP) scheme, replaces the ad hoc trigger function used in the Kain–Fritsch cumulus parameterization with a trigger function related to the distribution of temperature and humidity in the convective boundary layer via probability density functions (PDFs). An additional modification to the default version of WRF is the computation of a cumulus cloud fraction based on the time scales relevant for shallow cumuli. Results from three case studies over the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site in north-central Oklahoma are presented. These cases were selected because of the presence of shallow cumuli over the ARM site. The modified version of WRF does a much better job predicting the cloud fraction and the downwelling shortwave irradiance than control simulations utilizing the default Kain–Fritsch scheme. The modifie...
OC19.06: The psychological effects and patient acceptability of a test to predict viability in early pregnancy: a prospective randomised study

Objective: To establish if women obtain any measurable short term psychological benefit or perceived benefit from having a test to determine the probability of their pregnancy being on-going when this is uncertain on ultrasound examination. Study design: This was a prospective randomised controlled study conducted January 2012–June 2012 at the EPU of King’s College Hospital. The study population was women who conceived spontaneously and had a single intrauterine gestational sac of <20 mm mean diameter, with no visible embryo on their first ultrasound scan. Eligible women were randomised to have a test to calculate the probability of viability (cases) or not (controls). Depression and anxiety levels were calculated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) and were performed prior to randomisation and seven days later. A repeat scan for pregnancy outcome was performed after one to two weeks as clinically indicated. A sample size of 69 in each group was calculated to have 80% power to detect a probability of 0.362 that an observation in the cases was less than an observation in controls using a Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney rank-sum test with a 0.05 two-sided significance. Results: At recruitment there was no significant difference in anxiety levels between cases and controls. After seven days anxiety levels were significantly lower in cases than controls (p = 0.04). Of those who received the probability score, 55/70 (78.6% 95% CI 67.5–86.7%) found it useful and 58/70 (82.9% 95% CI 72.2–90.1) would choose to have the test in a future pregnancy if indicated. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that there is evidence of psychological benefit from a simple blood test that gives women the likelihood that their pregnancy will be on-going at the next scan.
MMP-9/Gelatinase B Is a Key Regulator of Growth Plate Angiogenesis and Apoptosis of Hypertrophic Chondrocytes

Abstract Homozygous mice with a null mutation in the MMP-9/gelatinase B gene exhibit an abnormal pattern of skeletal growth plate vascularization and ossification. Although hypertrophic chondrocytes develop normally, apoptosis, vascularization, and ossification are delayed, resulting in progressive lengthening of the growth plate to about eight times normal. After 3 weeks postnatal, aberrant apoptosis, vascularization, and ossification compensate to remodel the enlarged growth plate and ultimately produce an axial skeleton of normal appearance. Transplantation of wild-type bone marrow cells rescues vascularization and ossification in gelatinase B–null growth plates, indicating that these processes are mediated by gelatinase B–expressing cells of bone marrow origin, designated chondroclasts. Growth plates from gelatinase B–null mice in culture show a delayed release of an angiogenic activator, establishing a role for this proteinase in controlling angiogenesis.
Human activity classification using Hilbert-Huang transform analysis of radar Doppler data

The automatic identification of human activities has become an area of interest in recent years. Identifying human activities is useful in various applications, such as through-barrier identification of intruders and non-contact monitoring of patients in hospitals. Numerous methods of human activity classification have been proposed in the past, including the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). Most research in this area thus far has utilized the Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) as a method of obtaining the feature vectors necessary for classification. In this paper, we propose the use of the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) algorithm as an alternative approach for obtaining feature vectors from human micro-Doppler signals and utilize an SVM for classification. Since the micro-Doppler signature is unique to a specific activity, the EMD outputs can be utilized as feature vectors. By utilizing the EMD algorithm in conjunction with an SVM, binary classification of human activities have shown to yield accurate results. Because SVMs were originally developed to solve the binary classification problem, additional steps must be taken in order to extend the problem to identify multiple classes. In this paper, two methods for multi-class classification will be demonstrated and compared. The first method is the one-against-all approach and the second is a decision tree based approach. In both cases, a high degree of accuracy is achieved.
HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF THALASSEMIA: THE GREEK EXPERIENCE

INTRODUCTION: Although prevention remains the cornerstone for the management of thalassemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative approach. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess our experience with HSCTs for the treatment of patients with thalassemia. METHODS: From 1994 to 2006, 96 HSCTs have been performed in 84 thalassemic children from Greece, 3 with sickle cell/thalassemia and 1 with sickle cell disease. According to Pesaro classification, of these 84 children, 20 were in class I, 35 were in class II, and 29 were in class III. Donors were 84 histocompatible siblings and 4 unrelated volunteers. The graft was of bone marrow in 85, cord blood in 3, bone marrow and cord blood in 4, and peripheral blood stem cells in 4. The conditioning regimen consisted of busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and antilymphocyte globulin. RESULTS: All except 1 patient received engraftments. Ten patients rejected the graft. Eight received another transplant from the same donor, 7 of which were successful. Four patients died; causes of death were graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (2), disseminated toxoplasmosis (1), and brain hemorrhage (1). At a median follow-up time of 6.5 years, 84 of 88 children survived, 81 were cured and free from transfusions, and 3 remained transfusion-dependent. Severe acute GVHD developed in 18 children, and chronic GVHD developed in 8 patients. The overall survival rate, event-free survival rate, rejection rate, and transplant-related mortality rate were 95%, 94%, 11%, and 5%, respectively. Event-free survival was 100% for class I, 95% for class II, and 87% for class III. Eleven children had mixed chimera (residual recipient hematopoiesis) with normal levels of hemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS: HSCT is a highly effective treatment for thalassemic patients who have a fully matched donor (related or unrelated). Younger age at transplant secures excellent results with reduced morbidity and mortality rates.
A systemic approach to enhancing teacher quality : The ohio model

All those responsible for the preparation of teachers agree that having a highly qualified teacher in every classroom is essential to student academic achievement. The research of the past decade by William Sanders and others clearly demonstrates the significance of the teacher in fostering student growth and academic achievement. What researchers and practitioners are having difficulty agreeing on is the essential characteristics of the teachers who create value-added learning and the ways in which professional development experiences need to be structured in order to foster and develop those critical teacher characteristics. The Ohio Teacher Quality Partnership represents one state's approach to better understand the relationship between teacher behaviors and student achievement and how a wide variety of stakeholders are collaborating to create a more vital educational system for P-12 students.
Intranuclear cascading at ultrahigh energy in heavy-ion interactions

Intranuclear cascading mechanism one of the important non-linear effects in high energy nucleusnucleus collisions is investigated. The data on multiplicity (ns) and pseudorapidity (η) distributions of shower particles produced by32S and16O at 200A GeV,16O at 60A GeV,28Si at 14.5A GeV and He at ≈140A GeV are presented and compared with the string model VENUS, which takes into account the cascade interactions of secondary particles. The effect of the intranuclear collisions on the distributions of versus is discussed for all the beams.
Xenopus Pax-6 and retinal development.

We have cloned a homolog of Pax-6 in Xenopus laevis. Its deduced amino acid sequence has a 95% overall identity with Pax-6 homologs in other vertebrates. It is expressed early in development in cells fated to form the eye and parts of the forebrain, hindbrain, and spinal cord. It has two phases of expression in the eye. In the early phase, from stage 12.5 to stage 33/34, Xenopus Pax-6 is expressed throughout the developing retina. In the late phase, after stage 33/34, it is excluded from mature cells in the outer half of the retina and from cells in the ciliary marginal zone, remaining only in amacrine and ganglion cells. Misexpression of Pax-6 early in development results in axial defects, but no specific eye phenotype is observed. Targeted misexpression in the retina at later stages does not result in any significant bias toward formation of amacrine or ganglion cells or away from photoreceptors. Ectopic expression of the proneural gene NeuroD alters the pattern of Pax-6, substantially reducing its expression in the eye field and later reducing or eliminating the eye itself. Our results show that Pax-6 expression appears to be necessary, but not sufficient, for eye formation in Xenopus. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 32, 45–61, 1997.
Uncoupling the roles of synaptotagmin I during endo- and exocytosis of synaptic vesicles

Synaptotagmin I (syt1) is required for normal rates of synaptic vesicle endo- and exocytosis. However, whether the kinetic defects observed during endocytosis in Syt1 knockout neurons are secondary to defective exocytosis or whether syt1 directly regulates the rate of vesicle retrieval remains unknown. To address this question, we sought to dissociate these two activities. We uncoupled the function of syt1 in exo- and endocytosis in mouse neurons either by re-targeting the protein or via mutagenesis of its tandem C2 domains. The effect of these manipulations on exo- and endocytosis were analyzed using electrophysiology, in conjunction with optical imaging of the vesicle cycle. Our results indicate that syt1 is directly involved in endocytosis. Notably, either of the C2 domains of syt1, C2A or C2B, was able to function as a Ca(2+) sensor for endocytosis. Thus, syt1 functions as a dual Ca(2+) sensor for both endo- and exocytosis, potentially coupling these two components of the vesicle cycle.
Issues influencing psychiatric nurse retention during the first year of employment: a case analysis.

Aim To explore the work experiences of psychiatric-registered nurses (RNs) that influence retention within the first year of employment. Background One corporation with four psychiatric inpatient facilities experienced an average RN turnover rate of 54% annually, with approximately 75% of new hires leaving within 6 months of employment. Methods This case analysis used a grounded theory approach involving structured telephone interviews with 14 former and currently employed nurses. Results The nursing role in this organization was limited and task oriented, with issues involving education and training, team dynamics and organizational support converging to influence nurses’ decisions to terminate employment within the first year. Conclusions Retention of psychiatric nurses requires the implementation of a variety of strategies to clarify the role. Implications for nursing Nurse administrators need to review organizational policies and procedures to determine if current practices support the retention of psychiatric nurses.
A Combinatorial Scaffold Approach Based upon a Multicomponent Reaction

A combinatorial scaffolding procedure for the synthesis and spatial arrangement of tripartite structures was developed.
Response of uranium-based heavy-fermion magnets to hydrostatic pressure

Abstract We have studied the response of heavy-fermion magnets UCd 11 , U 2 Zn 17 and UAgCu 4 to hydrostatic pressures exceeding 17 kbar through temperature-dependent electrical resistance measurements. Results for U 2 Zn 17 and UAgCu 4 can be understood in terms of competing Kondo and RKKY interactions. UCd 11 exhibits two new phase transitions induced by pressure.
Leaching of 210Po in human saliva from smokeless tobacco

Use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is associated with cancer of the oral cavity. 210Po, a known carcinogen present in SLT may leach into the saliva when the snuff is held in the mouth. Alpha emission from leached 210Po can cause oral tissue damage, especially in the presence of non healing ulcers seen frequently in snuff users’ mouth. Leaching of 210Po from SLT in human saliva was determined for six popular US snuff brands. 210Po was leached into human saliva for 30 min, separated radiochemically and its activity was determined by α-counting. Approximately 2–10% of 210Po present in SLT was observed to leach. Annual exposure from leached 210Po, based on average daily consumption of 15 g of SLT, was calculated to range from 1.1 to 3.8 Bq year−1.
Inhibition of Fruit Drop and Colour Stimulation with N -Dimethylaminosuccinamic Acid

THE retardation of vegetative growth of legumes and certain other species by foliar application of substituted maleomic and succinamic acids was reported by Riddell et al.1. The N-dimethylaminosuccinamic acid (designated B995) was found to be more stable in aqueous solution than the substituted maleomic2 and was effective in retarding growth of the same species.
Intervention strategies to improve compliance with medical regimens by ambulatory hemodialysis patients

This research examined the relative efficacies of three intervention strategies designed to increase compliance to medical regimens in a group of ambulatory hemodialysis patients. The interventions examined included behavioral contracting (with or without the involvement of a family member or friend) and weekly telephone contacts with patients. Compliance was assessed with regard to following dietary restrictions and limiting fluid intake. Data were collected from 116 patients drawn from two outpatient clinics. Within clinics, patients were randomly assigned either to an intervention program or to a control group. The study employed a pretest-posttest control group design. Patients were interviewed before the intervention programs began (T1), after a 6-week intervention period (T2), and 3 months after completion of the intervention period (T3). Results showed that the interventions achieved substantial reductions in patients' serum potassium levels and in weight gains between dialysis treatments between T1 and T2. In general, however, these program effects tapered off to preintervention levels between T2 and T3. The findings thus indicate a need for long-term intervention programs.
A 12-Bit 200-MHz CMOS ADC

A pipelined ADC incorporates a blind LMS calibration algorithm to correct for capacitor mismatches, residue gain error, and op amp nonlinearity. The calibration applies 128 levels and their perturbed values, computing 128 local errors across the input range and driving the mean square of these errors to zero. Fabricated in 90-nm digital CMOS technology, the ADC achieves a DNL of 0.78 LSB, an INL of 1.7 LSB, and an SNDR of 62 dB at an analog input frequency of 91 MHz while consuming 348 mW from a 1.2 V supply.
HEMANGIOMA PRESENTING AS AN ULCERATION OF THE SCROTUM

Although hemangioma is the most common benign tumor in infancy, occurring in 8 to 12% of full-term white neonates and up to 22% of pre-term neonates weighing less than 1,000 gm., there have been few studies of hemangioma of the genitalia.’ Cutaneous ulceration is the most common complication of hemangioma in infancy, often developing at the height of the proliferative phase of development. In contrast, skin ulceration as the initial presenting sign of hemangioma has rarely been reported. While there are 43 cases of cavernous hemangioma of the scrotum in the literature, there are only 3 reports of ulcerating superficial hemangioma of the scrotum, all in the dermatological literature. We report the fourth case of this condition, which responded rapidly to pulsed dye laser therapy. CASE REPORT A 4-week-old male neonate born full term to a healthy mother after an uncomplicated pregnancy presented to the pediatrician with a “little pimple” on the left hemiscrotum. The mother had no history of herpes simplex virus infection. She was negative for group B streptococcus and reactive for varicella immunoglobulin. At physical examination the neonate was afebrile but fussy. The right hemiscrotum and testis were normal. The left testicle was in the superficial inguinal pouch with a hypoplastic, soft hemiscrotum. A tender, erythematous, nonindurated 4 mm. papule draining purulent material was centrally located on the left hemiscrotum. The remainder of the physical examination was normal, and there were no other cutaneous lesions or birthmarks. Three weeks after the onset of the scrotal lesion, and following unsuccessful topical therapy with bacitracin, nystatin and sulfadiazine a pediatric urology consultation was obtained. At that time the lesion had developed into a 1 cm. superficial, nonpurulent ulcer on the left hemiscrotum that was believed to be consistent with contact dermatitis secondary to the previously applied topical ointments. All antiinfective ointments were discontinued and topical 1% hydrocortisone cream was initiated. By week 4 after onset the ulcer was 2 cm. with a large amount of purulent exudate at its center. The infant remained afebrile but he was increasingly difficult to console. The patient was admitted to the hospital for local wound care and intravenous ceftazidime and cefazolin. Wound cultures obtained before the initiation of intravenous antibiotic therapy yielded mixed flora with Pseudomonas aeruginosa predominant. During the next 9 days the ulcer decreased in size but did not completely resolve. Scant granulation tissue developed at the base of the lesion. White blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and nitroblue tetrazolium study were normal. The
Transitional Justice and “Genocide”: Practical Ethics for Genocide Narratives

In the wake of the Cold War a characteristic style of genocide narratives emerged in the West. For the most part, philosophers did not pay attention to this development even though they are uniquely qualified to address arguments and conceptual issues discussed in this burgeoning genocide genre. While ostensibly a response to a specific recent article belonging to the genre, this essay offers an outline of an ethics of genocide narratives in the form of four lessons on how not to write about genocide. It is argued that to the extent that works on the subject of genocide are dominated by narrativism, genocidalism, activism, or extreme pacifism, they cannot properly be classified as scholarly endeavors and must be met with resistance per the requirements of academic ethics and proper scholarly methodology.