cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Coarse Spray Administration of Commercial Intermediate Infectious Bursal Disease Vaccines

The efficacy of two intermediate infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccines (Clone Vac D-78 and S-706) for immunizing specific pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens by coarse spray (CS) against subclinical IBD was compared. Both intermediate IBD vaccines were equally capable of immunizing day-old SPF chickens by CS and were safe as evidenced by the absence of morbidity, mortality, or severe gross and microscopic bursal pathology at 28 days of age.
Arginine Determination with Ion-Selective Membrane Electrodes

Abstract A new method for the determination of the amino acid arginine utilizes a dual enzyme catalyzed reaction monitored with an ammonium ion selective membrane electrode of the antibiotic type. The technique gives a linear correlation between arginine concentration and electrode response over the 3 × 10−3 M to 3 × 10−5 M range and a useful, but non-linear, response over a wider range. Major interferences are urea, K+, and NH4 +, but Na+ does not interfere in the physiological concentration range.
Scissors-grip model for DNA recognition by a family of leucine zipper proteins

C/EBP is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein that regulates gene expression in certain mammalian cells. The region of the C/EBP polypeptide required for specific recognition of DNA is related in amino acid sequence to other regulatory proteins, including the Fos and Jun transforming proteins. It has been proposed that these proteins bind DNA via a bipartite structural motif, consisting of a dimerization interface termed the "leucine zipper" and a DNA contact surface termed the "basic region." An evaluation of the properties of conserved amino acids within the basic region of 11 deduced protein sequences, coupled with the observation that they are located at an invariant distance from the leucine zipper, has led to the formulation of a "scissors-grip" model for DNA binding. The architectural features of this model are well suited for interaction with directly abutted, dyadsymmetric DNA sequences. Data supportive of the model were obtained with chemical probes of protein: DNA complexes.
Education for Healthy Body Weight: Helping Adolescents Balance the Cultural Pressure for Thinness

: Though education for healthy body weight traditionally has focused on obesity, the increased incidence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia among young women suggests education also is needed to address the opposite end of the spectrum. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are complex and multidimensional disorders associated with individual, family, and sociocultural factors. This article examines the cultural pressure for dieting and thinness currently experienced in America and its impact as a possible predisposing factor for developing eating disorders among adolescent females. Literature is reviewed related to the changing American standard of attractiveness for females reflected by 20th century mass media and its subsequent influence on adolescent concerns for dieting and thinness. Preventive strategies are recommended to help adolescents balance the cultural pressure for thinness and their own desires for attractiveness within the larger context of overall good health.
On physics-based preconditioning of the Navier-Stokes equations

We develop a fully implicit scheme for the Navier-Stokes equations, in conservative form, for low to intermediate Mach number flows. Simulations in this range of flow regime produce stiff wave systems in which slow dynamical (advective) modes coexist with fast acoustic modes. Viscous and thermal diffusion effects in refined boundary layers can also produce stiffness. Implicit schemes allow one to step over the fast wave phenomena (or unresolved viscous time scales), while resolving advective time scales. In this study we employ the Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) method and develop a new physics-based preconditioner. To aid in overcoming numerical stiffness caused by the disparity between acoustic and advective modes, the governing equations are transformed into the primitive-variable form in a preconditioning step. The physics-based preconditioning incorporates traditional semi-implicit and physics-based splitting approaches without a loss of consistency between the original and preconditioned systems. The resulting algorithm is capable of solving low-speed natural circulation problems (M~10^-^4) with significant heat flux as well as intermediate speed (M~1) flows efficiently by following dynamical (advective) time scales of the problem.
Catecholestrogen Sulfation: Possible Role in Carcinogenesis.

A growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that estrogens can be carcinogens as a result of their conversion to genotoxins after biotransformation to form the catecholestrogens (CEs) 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1), 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2), 4-hydroxyestrone (4-OHE1) and 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2). CEs can then undergo further metabolism to form quinones that interact with DNA to form either stable or depurinating adducts. These events could potentially be interrupted by the sulfate conjugation of both the parent estrogens and/or the CEs. We set out to determine whether CEs can serve as substrates for sulfate conjugation, and-if so-which of the growing family of human sulfotransferase (SULT) isoforms are capable of catalyzing those reactions. We determined apparent K(m) values for 10 recombinant human SULT isoforms, as well as the three most common allozymes for SULT1A1 and SULT1A2, with 2-OHE1, 2-OHE2, 4-OHE1, and 4-OHE2, and with the endogenous estrogens, estrone (E1) and 17beta-estradiol (E2), as substrates. With the exception of SULT1B1, SULT1C1, and SULT4A1, all of the human SULTs studied catalyzed the sulfate conjugation of CEs. SULT1E1 had the lowest apparent K(m) values, 0.31, 0.18, 0.27, and 0.22 microM for 4-OHE1, 4-OHE2, 2-OHE1, and 2-OHE2, respectively. These results demonstrate that SULTs can catalyze the sulfate conjugation of CEs, and they raise the possibility that individual variation in this pathway for estrogen and CE metabolism as a result of common genetic polymorphisms could represent a risk factor for estrogen-dependent carcinogenesis.
Erratum to: Determination of stresses from their stress trajectories in plane elastic systems: the five constant theorem

Let K be a cylindrical region of finite height, having a generator parallel to the z-axis and a bounded, simply connected cross section S whose boundary is a sufficiently smooth Jordan curve. Moreover, let the material in K be elastic and isotropic, and in a state of plane stress or plane strain of elastic equilibrium, under the action of a conservative, z-independent body-force field and appropriate boundary tractions. We prove that at each z the principal stress-trajectory net corresponding to the stresses τxx, τxy, τyy is a 2–5 real-parameter family, as conjectured by Nemenyi.
Characteristics and issues of haze management in a wafer fabrication environment

The haze nucleation and growth phenomenon on critical photomask surfaces has periodically gained attention as it has significantly impacted wafer printability for different technology nodes over the years. A number of process solutions have been promoted in the semiconductor industry which has been shown to suppress or minimize the propensity for haze formation, but none of these technologies can stop every instance of haze. Fortunately, a novel technology which uses a dry (no chemical effluents) removal system, laser-based, through pellicle process has been reported recently. The technology presented here avoids many of the shortcomings of the wet clean process mentioned previously. The dry clean process extends the life of the photomask; maintains more consistent CD’s, phase, and transmission; avoids adjustment to the exposure dose to account for photomask changes, reduces the number of required inspections and otherwise improves the efficiency and predictability of the lithography cell. We report on the performance of photomask based on a design developed to study the impact of metrology variations on dry clean process. In a first step we focus on basic characteristics: CD variation, phase, Cr/MoSi transmission, pellicle transmission, registration variations. In a second step, we evaluate haze removal and prevention performance and wafer photo margin. Haze removal is studied on the masks for several haze types and various exposure conditions. The results of this study show that some of metrology variation are likely to be a problem at high technology node, and haze removal performance is determined whether the component of haze is remained or not after treatment.
Aging effect on psychosocial outcome in traumatic brain injury

Abstract Objective: To examine the effects of age on outcome in persons with traumatic brain injury. Design: Longitudinal cohort design. Setting: Level I trauma center. Patients: A total of 411 hospitalized subjects with mild to severe traumatic brain injury prospectively studied to 1 year; their age range was 18 to 89 years. Main Outcome Measures: Glasgow Outcome Scale, living situation, and employment. Results: Increasing age is associated with increasing levels of psychosocial limitations, especially in persons 60 years of age and older. Part of the reason is the greater severity of injury sustained by older persons as reflected in longer coma (despite equivalent initial coma depth) and greater numbers of complications and surgeries for subdural hematomas. However, the consequences of traumatic brain injuries appear to worsen with increasing age at each level of brain injury severity examined, including the milder injuries. Conclusions: Older adults clearly show less complete recovery 1 year after brain injury than younger adults, either because they have reduced reserves with which to tolerate brain injury or because their physiologic status creates a more destructive injury. Glasgow Coma Scale alone may underestimate the severity of brain injury in the aged as well as its associated consequences. Caution is advised in generalizing findings based principally on younger individuals to older adults with traumatic brain injuries.
Update on the management of prostate cancer with goserelin acetate: patient perspectives

The guidelines for the use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) have changed significantly over the last 5 years. This paper reviews the current recommendations and documents the reasons for these changes, in a review of the world’s literature on ADT over the last 5 years. Special emphasis on randomized controlled trials and high-impact journals was included in the Medline search and review. One hundred articles on this topic written in the last 5 years were reviewed. Fifty-nine contained nonindustry-biased findings in major-impact journals and were available in English. The benefits of ADT are evident in several areas, including neoadjuvantly and adjuvantly in patients treated with external beam radiation therapy for intermediate- and high-risk disease; in patients who have undergone prostatectomy and who are found to have lymph node involvement on surgical resection; in high-risk patients after definitive therapy; and in patients who have developed symptomatic local progression or metastasis. This paper reviews the risks and benefits in each of these scenarios and the risks of androgen deprivation in general, and delineates the areas where ADT was previously recommended, but has been found to no longer be of benefit.
The Stability of Blood Cell Suspensions to Small Disturbances in Circular Couette Flow: Experimental Results for the Taylor Problem

Experimental results for the stability of human blood, red cell suspensions and blood plasma to small disturbances in circular Couette flow are presented. The viscoelastic nature of whole blood and blood cell suspensions is confirmed. Blood plasma is found to be Newtonian. Elasticity is shown to have a sizably stabilizing effect on normal Hematocrit blood behavior. Two mechanisms by which elasticity may arise in blood are identified; namely red cell deformability and red cell aggregation.
Cardiac adrenoceptors in the failing heart: effect of intervention

The sympathetic nervous system is chronically activated in heart failure. This results in a reduction in numbers and sensitivity of β-receptors, making the heart less responsive to the actions of catecholamines. This is specific to β-receptors, the adenycyclase system being largely unaffected. Sympathomimetic agents are still used in patients with heart failure to augment cardiac contractility, but tachyphylaxis limits their long-term usefulness, and they may actually cause further myocardial damage. On the other hand, β-blockade can improve sensitivity to catecholamines and cardiac action in some patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction, although this treatment can be hazardous and cannot yet be routinely recommended. Partial β-agonists are theoretically useful since they can provide bareline sympathetic drive while protecting the heart against excessive sympathetic stimulation and down-regulation of β-receptors. Xamoterol, a partial agonist with half the sympathetic activity of isoprenaline, has been shown to be superior to placebo and to digoxin in patients with mild to moderate heart failure.
Daily aspirin--only half the answer.

Polycythemia vera is a chronic clonal hematopoietic–stem-cell disorder of unknown cause characterized by autonomous bone marrow function. Among the long-term consequences of this unregulated hematopoiesis are the extramedullary production of blood, primarily in the spleen and the liver, with painful and debilitating organomegaly and portal hypertension; hyperuricemia with secondary gout and renal stones; often intractable aquagenic pruritus; and hemorrhage, usually mucocutaneous. In a small proportion of cases, clonal succession or evolution, frequently abetted by chemotherapy, leads to myelofibrosis and bone marrow failure or acute leukemia. However, it is a short-term consequence, thrombosis, that causes much of the illness and death . . .
THE SUBSTANTIVE NATURE OF PERFORMANCE VARIABILITY: PREDICTING INTERINDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN INTRAINDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE

The nature of intraindividual performance variability over time, along with individual difference predictors of such variability, was examined using latent growth curve methodology. Quarterly sales performance for a sample of securities analysts (n= 303) was measured at 8 times. Average intraindividual performance approximated a basic “learning” curve, although there were considerable individual differences in each of the latent performance growth parameters. Individual difference predictors from a biodata inventory were moderately related to these latent growth parameters. Theoretical and practical implications of performance variability for personnel selection are also discussed.
Serial linkage of target selection for orienting and tracking eye movements

Many natural actions require the coordination of two different kinds of movements. How are targets chosen under these circumstances: do central commands instruct different movement systems in parallel, or does the execution of one movement activate a serial chain that automatically chooses targets for the other movement? We examined a natural eye tracking action that consists of orienting saccades and tracking smooth pursuit eye movements, and found strong physiological evidence for a serial strategy. Monkeys chose freely between two identical spots that appeared at different sites in the visual field and moved in orthogonal directions. If a saccade was evoked to one of the moving targets by microstimulation in either the frontal eye field (FEF) or the superior colliculus (SC), then the same target was automatically chosen for pursuit. Our results imply that the neural signals responsible for saccade execution can also act as an internal command of target choice for other movement systems.
Block Investment and Partial Benefits of Corporate Control

are much smaller than what is generally considered necessary for control. This paper develops a theory whereby such blocks can confer to their holders partial benefits of control; in particular, small block shareholders can join together and form controlling coalitions. The implications of such a cooperative game among block shareholders for the shareholder structure within and across firms are examined. This paper predicts large investors will "create their own space" by staking out large enough blocks to deter other block investors, there will be a threshold level above which large investors are not challenged, and that the shareholder structure across firms will exhibit a particular clientele effect among block shareholders. These predictions are consistent with a preliminary review of empirical evidence.
Spin coating fabrication of thin film transistors using enriched semiconducting SWNT solution

Semiconducting single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are excellent candidates for thin film transistor (TFT) applications. Major obstacles in developing low cost separation techniques for high purity semiconducting SWNTs have hindered their incorporation into many low-end functional devices. For low-end transistor devices a moderate ON/OFF ratio and performance is sufficient. A mix of single wall nanotubes with enriched semiconducting tubes can meet these needs. Using such 90% semiconducting enriched SWNTs, we have fabricated thin film transistors with a maximum 104 ON/OFF ratio. The device-manufacturing yield was low due to inconsistencies in the distribution of the SWNTs across the wafer. Increasing the density of the SWNTs in the channel using the drop casting method increased the device-manufacturing yield but decreased the performance. Conducting multiple spin coating processes is expected to increase the device-manufacturing yield without sacrificing device performance.
Possible New Futures for Our Journal on the World Wide Web.

Abstract The author argues that this journal, Religious Education, as a premier outlet for religious education scholarship, must take more creative steps in making its scholarship accessible via electronic media. In particular, she suggests three possible new arenas: leveraging existing content by creating “electronic content collections,” moving the journal into an online format that would allow for multimedia articles, and developing a site that would promote “open source” scholarship in religious education.
Colonization of the Lesser Antilles by land birds.

This study addresses characteristics of source and island populations of non-raptorial land birds that have colonized the Lesser Antilles to determine whether colonization by individual source populations is a continuous process or occurs in transient phases. Species were classed as non-colonists, recent colonists, old endemic residents in the Lesser Antilles, and old endemic taxa that had recently spread within the archipelago. If colonization were transient, source populations of recent colonists would be more widely distributed than source populations of older, endemic island species. I compared the ecological and geographic distributions of source populations and island populations for each of the colonization groups based on a variety of literature and field data. Ages of colonization events and spread within the islands were determined by sequence divergence in mitochondrial genes, where available; relative ages were otherwise inferred from taxonomic differentiation and gaps in island distribution. ...
Induction of pseudofoci and inhibition of density-mediated neoplastic transformation by PMA in NIH 3T3 cells after short-term exposures.

Depending on the precise conditions and cellular starting material, phorbol-13-myristate-12-acetate (PMA) can induce or suppress the transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. In sublines that do not undergo rapid transformation, exposure to PMA over the course of several weeks accelerated the process, while sublines that are primed for density-mediated transformation respond to PMA with a suppression of the process. This study examines the latter phenomenon. Within 1 h of exposure to 0.02µg/ml PMA, sparse cultures had undergone a morphological transition after which the cells appeared smaller and the processes thinner. These sublines exhibited a two-to sixfold increase in the saturation density achieved in 2% calf serum (CS). Phorbol ester analogs with hydrocarbon substitutions of 4 or more carbons at positions 12 and 13 of the phorbol nucleus had a similar effect as PMA on the saturation density. High concentrations of PMA (1µg/ml) induced the formation of cell aggregates (pseudofoci) that resembled transformed foci in their high local density, but unlike transformed foci, did not reinitiate focus formation if the cells were diluted and replated without PMA as secondary cultures. PMA inhibited the processes of neoplastic transformation and progression that occur readily in these NIH 3T3 sublines when they reach high cell density. I suggest that such changes occur because PMA abolishes the selection pressure at high densities that favors the transformation of some cells in heterogeneous populations. Induction of transformation by PMA (reported previously) occurs after much longer exposures in sublines that are relatively resistant to rapid density-mediated transformation. These results are discussed in the context of progressive state selection, a concept that has been developed to account for spontaneous transformation in this system.
Can regular solution theory be applied to lipid bilayer membranes

Abstract Direct measurement of the partition coefficient of n- hexane into phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol bilayers showed that (a) isotropic liquids are not good models for lipid bilayers and (b), Regular Solution Theory cannot, in general, be applied to lipid bilayer membranes at temperatures above their phase transition. Theoretical and experimental evidence is given.
Restructuring Agricultural Economics Extension to Meet Changing Needs: Discussion

Knutson correctly identifies the concern for extension's future and the major origins of this concern. He notes that the empirical evidence available suggests that the rate of return to investments in extension education have been relatively high and approximately equal to those earned on investments in agricultural research. While I am in substantial agreement with many of the recommendations, the recommendations fall short of what is needed and/or are less specific than required. My comments are intended to supplement Knutson's paper. They are organized under four headings: a conceptual framework, clientele and mission, organizational structure, and the dynamics of change.
Approximation of pseudoanalytic functions on the unit disk

Pseudoanalytic functions F are constructed as complex combinations of real-valued analytic solutions of a generalized Stokes-Beltrami system. Function-theoretic methods identify the radius of the maximal open disk of analyticity of F, and the growth of F at its boundary from local pseudoanalytic polynomial approximates in the sense of S. N. Bernstein's classical theorem in analytic function theory.
Fat Metabolism in Higher Plants. XXXIV. Development of Fatty Acid Synthetase as a Function of Protein Synthesis in Aging Potato Tuber Slices

Experiments with inhibitors of protein synthesis (actinomycin D, puromycin, actidione) showed that the increase and the change in fatty acid synthetase activity, observed during the aging of potato disks, were accompanied by and related to a temporary rise in the rate of protein and RNA synthesis. These results concur with the earlier suggestion by Click and Hackett that the aging process involves a type of derepression. A possible course of events during aging, and possible derepression mechanisms are suggested and discussed.
Control of porosity on durability of limestone at the great sphinx, Egypt

The study of the porosimetric data obtained from intrusion, extrusion, and reintrusion of mercury in limestone samples from the region of the sphinx reveals the characteristics of the pore system and allows analysis of durability factors.
Necrotic mass after transurethral resection of a bladder tumor: novel management with robotic partial cystectomy

A 76-year-old female with a history of high-grade transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder presented with persistent nocturia and urge incontinence and was diagnosed with a necrotic bladder lesion. Cystoscopy revealed a 4 cm area of necrosis, ulceration, calcification, and fat. Transurethral biopsy confirmed the lesion to be benign, and two attempts to re-epithelialize the area of necrosis with cold scraping of exudate failed. Decision was then made to proceed with removal of necrotic lesion with bladder preservation. With the aid of concomitant cystoscopic visualization of the necrotic lesion, a robotic partial cystectomy with bladder reconstruction was performed. The patient tolerated the procedure, had an uneventful post-operative course, and remains asymptomatic and disease-free at last follow-up of 6 months. To our knowledge, this case represents the first report of a necrotic lesion as a complication of transurethral resection of a bladder tumor (TURBT) and the first description of a robotic partial cystectomy for the management of either benign or malignant bladder disease.
Effect of borate excess and calcium ion on mitosis of pea root-tip meristem cells

Abstract Meristematic activity of sterile pea ( Pisum sativum L.) root-tips was abolished within 24 hr after presentation of 10 mM borate to the culture medium. Transfer of borate-repressed root-tips showing no mitotic activity to borate-free medium resulted in resumption of mitosis within 2 hr; control-level mitotic activity and normal distribution of mitotic figures were observed within 6 hr; Analysis of studies with tritiated thymidine labeling suggest that borate arrest of mitosis is during G 2 . Calcium ion reversed the borate repression of mitotic activity.
1682 AEROSOL INHALATION TECHNIQUE FOR ASTHMATIC CHILDREN

42 children with asthma who had been taking aerosol medication from canister nebulizers for longer than 6 months were evaluated for aerosol inhalation technique. Proper inhalation technique is a simple procedure. Patient should close lips around the mouthpiece of the nebulizer and exhale first. As the canister is actuated he should inhale deeply by mouth and breathhold for a few seconds before exhaling. The mouthpiece of a canister nebulizer was modified so that actuation of the canister and inhalation through the mouthpiece could be recorded on paper. The age range of the patients was 7 to 15. They were either on bronchodilator or steroid aerosols or a combination of both. Of the 42 tested, 24 had correct technique and 18 (43%) did not. 11 simply squirted the aerosol into the mouth without inhaling. 6 inhaled first, then actuated the aerosol. One inhaled only a whiff of air (50ml) with the actuation. Those who inhaled incorrectly were taught the correct technique. 11 learned it within 5 minutes of instructions and demonstrations. 7 required a teaching aid. When retested 1-2 weeks later, 15 out of 18 had retained the correct technique. 2 others learned it after the second lesson, but 1 could not be taught even after 6 lessons. Incorrect inhalation technique is a frequent finding among asthmatics taking aerosol medications. The physician starting this form of therapy should be certain to teach each patient the correct inhalation technique and also check those already on it.
Two-Dimensional Permeate Transport with Facilitated Transport Membranes

Abstract An analytical model has been developed for steady-state permeate transport with facilitated transport membranes. The model contains no adjustable parameters. The model accounts for both axial permeate transport parallel to the membrane and facilitated permeate transport through the membrane. The model predicts the fraction of permeate separated through the membrane as a function of physical properties and operating conditions. The model was derived for a cylindrical geometry but can be applied to a planar geometry. Also, the model could be used for the simple diffusion case when no facilitation is present. Reasonable agreement with experimental data is presented.
Least squares estimator for Ornstein―Uhlenbeck processes driven by α-stable motions

Abstract We study the problem of parameter estimation for generalized Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes driven by α -stable noises, observed at discrete time instants. Least squares method is used to obtain an asymptotically consistent estimator. The strong consistency and the rate of convergence of the estimator have been studied. The estimator has a higher order of convergence in the general stable, non-Gaussian case than in the classical Gaussian case.
CA2-05: Continuous Monitoring and Timely Intervention are Needed to Improve Adherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy Among Breast Cancer Patients

Background/Aims There are approximately 150,000 new hormone-sensitive breast cancer cases in the U.S. each year. Numerous studies have shown that adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) dramatically reduces breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Daily treatment for 5 years is the recommended therapy among ER+ women. Yet, reports of under-utilization are alarming, ranging from 30% to more than 50%.
The opportunity for friendship in the workplace: An underexplored construct

This paper hypothesized and tested a theoretically-based model of the relationship between perceived friendship opportunities in the workplace and work-related outcomes. The empirical findings are based on the survey responses of 174 employees in a small electric utility. Results indicate that employees' perceptions of friendship opportunities in the workplace have direct effects on job involvement and job satisfaction, as well as indirect effects on organizational commitment and intention to turnover. Management implications of friendship opportunities and social features within the workplace are discussed.
Optical processing at MICOM

The Weapons Sciences Directorate of the U.S. Army Missile Command has been directly involved in research and development of optical processing technology for several years. Extensive publications have described developments in several key areas of research. Current efforts are aimed toward military applications, for which optical processing offers great potential for improved speed and performance in automatic target detection, location, and recognition. Research is directed toward overcoming the remaining technical issues. Topics of investigation include: spatial light modulator performance and use; photorefractive materials for data storage; Vander Lugt, joint transform, and acousto-optic correlator designs; neural network implementations for morphological transforms, region and texture segmentation, rapid training techniques; and composite filter design, development, and implementation. This paper describes progress and accomplishments in some of these areas, with projections for future work.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Food pattern, diet quality, and related characteristics of schoolchildren in New York State

Abstract Objectives To examine the food patterns and diet quality of elementary schoolchildren in New York State (outside of New York City) and to determine sociodemographic characteristics correlated with diet quality. Design A nonquantitative 24-hour recall administered to students and a brief questionnaire completed by parents. Sample 1,797 second and fifth graders (51% of those asked) in 51 randomly selected schools (46% of those asked) in New York State outside of New York City. Statistical analyses Multiple regression analyses, η 2 , and t tests. Results On the day they were surveyed, 40% of students did not eat vegetables, except for potatoes or tomato sauce; 20% did not eat fruit; 36% ate at least four different types of snack foods, and 16% of fifth graders did not eat breakfast. Children who ate a school lunch ate significantly more dairy foods and fruits and vegetables, and fewer snack-foods than those who brought lunch from home. Fifth graders ate significantly more snack foods and were more likely to skip breakfast than second graders; boys had lower food-group pattern scores than girls; children of lower socioeconomic status had less diverse diets but ate less snack foods than children of higher socioeconomic status; children with single parents were more likely to skip breakfast and to eat fewer vegetables than those with two parents; and children with mothers employed outside the home had less diverse diets than those with mothers at home. Applications/conclusions The findings indicate that nutrition interventions are clearly needed for this age group and that targeted messages should be based on sociodemographic characteristics.
Exploring Database Keyword Search for Association Studies between Genetic Variants and Diseases

Abstract Keyword search plays a critical role for researchers in bioinformatics to retrieve structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. In addition, in order to fully exploit the rich repository of biological databases, data mining has drawn increasing attention of researchers. An interesting issue is to examine the possible relationship between database keyword search (DB KWS) and in- depth database exploration (or data mining) in the context of bioinformatics, and in particular, the potential contribution of DB KWS for data mining. However, so far there is no known systematic investigation on this relationship. In this paper, we provide a preliminary discussion on how we can take advantage of DB KWS for in-depth exploration of biological databases, and describe a case study on the association between genetic variants and diseases. The case study is motivated from the fact that the advent of high throughput sequencing technologies have facilitated in generating a huge amount of genomic data. A wealth of genomic information in the form of publicly available databases is underutilized as a potential resource for uncovering functionally relevant markers underlying complex human traits. The discovery of genetic associations is an important factor in the understanding of human illness to derive disease pathways and a plethora of other information such as the disease-gene associations, the variants associated with the diseases etc. A database was curated of the genome wide association studies, and an algorithm inspired by DBXplorer was used to implement the keyword search over the database in JAVA. The case study further proposes ways to include the association rule mining as a data mining technique, which is useful for discovering interesting relationships hidden in large data sets, to further investigate the results of the keyword search when done with different yet sensible combinations of disease and genes. We believe that such an integrated study to explore the potential of how bioinformatics can take advantage of both techniques in a single bioinformatics application would be a very interesting issue of both theoretical and practical importance.
Molecular cloning of a novel protein regulated by opioid treatment of NG108-15 cells

Abstract A new cDNA clone, NGD5, has been identified from a subtraction cDNA library constructed with mRNA isolated from control neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 cells and cells treated for 48 h with the δ-opioid agonist, d -Ala2, d -Leu5 enkephalin (DADLE). NGD5 mRNA is decreased, in a naloxone-reversible manner, upon long-term treatment of NG108-15 cells with DADLE, indicating that this clone may be related to opioid receptor function. Northern analysis indicates that NGD5 mRNA is expressed in rat brain. Two similar nearly full-length NGD5 clones, NGD5A and NGD5B, were isolated from a λgt10 NG108-15 cDNA library and sequenced. The predicted 40-kDa peptide encoded for by the NGD5 cDNA has no significant homology to the recently cloned μ δ or κ opioid receptors nor to any other known proteins.
Cell cycle traverse in AHH-1 tk +/- human lymphoblastoid cells exposed to the chromosomal mutagen, m-amsa.

AHH-1 tk +/- cells were exposed to the chemotherapeutic agent, m-amsa, both in complete medium and in medium without serum, subcultured in complete medium, and the effect on the traverse of the cell cycle determined by flow cytometric analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-labeled DNA. After exposure to m-amsa (day 0), the percentage of S-phase cells increased significantly (P < 0.0017) with increasing concentration. Cells also accumulated in G2/M as evidenced by the significant (P < 0.0026), concentration-dependent increase in the percentage of cells detected within this phase. Serum deprivation during exposure resulted in significantly (P = 0.024) more cells in S-phase than in cultures exposed to m-amsa in complete medium. After three days in culture, a significant (P = 0.0001) accumulation of cells in G2/M was present; the percentage of cells in G2/M did not differ significantly (P = 0.148) in cultures exposed to m-amsa in complete medium or in serum-free medium. However, a significant (P < 0.001) loss of S-phase cells was found in cultures exposed without serum. At day 7, no significant concentration effects were detected (G0/G1, P = 0.6026 ; S-phase, P = 0.9773 ; G2/M, P = 0.8401). These results demonstrate that exposure to m-amsa perturbs the traverse of the cell cycle, initially by inhibiting the completion of S-phase and followed by an accumulation of cells in G2/M. In addition, exposure to m-amsa under conditions of serum deprivation results in an increased percentage of cells in the initial S-phase after exposure, the loss of S-phase cells from the culture after three days, and the appearance of a subdiploid peak, consistent with cells undergoing apoptosis.
Metabolism of [14C]1,2,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in a ruminating Holstein calf.

1. [UL-7,8-ring 14C]-1,2,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1278-TCDD) was administered orally to a ruminating Holstein bull calf (43.6 kg; 1.2 mg kg-1 body weight). Urine and faeces were collected daily for 96 h, while blood was sampled at multiple time points. Tissues were removed for combustion analysis. 2. Each tissue contained < 0.6% of the dose at 96h. Tissues with highest levels of 1278-TCDD, as a percentage of administered dose, were the large and small intestine, rumen, liver and carcass. 3. Urinary excretion accounted for 10.6% of the dose, and faecal excretion accounted for 81.6% of the administered dose. The major urinary and faecal metabolites were isolated and characterized by mass spectrometry and 1H-NMR. 4. Plasma levels of 14C peaked at 24 h, and decreased to near background at 96 h. Detectable plasma levels of 1278-TCDD were observed by 2 h. 5. A hydroxylated metabolite of 1278-TCDD was detected in calf plasma, which has the potential to interfere with thyroid hormone homeostasis.
Simple broadband implementation of a phase contrast wavefront sensor for adaptive optics

The most critical element of an adaptive optics system is its wavefront sensor, which must measure the closed-loop difference between the corrected wavefront and an ideal template at high speed, in real time, over a dense sampling of the pupil. Most high-order systems have used Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors, but a novel approach based on Zernike's phase contrast principle appears promising. In this paper we discuss a simple way to achromatize such a phase contrast wavefront sensor, using the pi/2 phase difference between reflected and transmitted rays in a thin, symmetric beam splitter. We further model the response at a range of wavelengths to show that the required transverse dimension of the focal-plane phase-shifting spot, nominally lambda/D, may not be very sensitive to wavelength, and so in practice additional optics to introduce wavelength-dependent transverse magnification achromatizing this spot diameter may not be required. A very simple broadband implementation of the phase contrast wavefront sensor results.
An extracellular matrix infrastructure provides support for murine secondary palatal shelf remodelling

A crucial part of secondary palate morphogenesis is the movement of the palatal shelves from an initial vertical position on either side of the tongue to a final horizontal one above it to achieve palate closure. The immunocytochemical localization of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules in the palatal shelf during this remodelling and reorientation revealed the existence of an ECM infrastructure within the mesenchyme. The major components of this infrastructure were collagen III, fibronectin, and hyaluronate (HA). With remodelling, HA's domain within the mesenchyme was expanded, whereas those of fibronectin and collagen III became more circumscribed. The expansion of an HA-rich matrix within the mesenchyme is thought to be crucial for palatal reorientation. The results of this study suggest that, as this expansion occurs, it is modulated by collagen and fibronectin components of the ECM infrastructure. Prior to shelf remodelling, this infrastructure may be anchored by a specialized region of the midoral epithelial-mesenchymal interface and the subjacent mesenchyme which is characterized by the unique distribution of collagen III, fibronectin, and tenascin. The midoral palatal epithelium also may play a role in directing shelf expansion. This epithelial region undergoes changes in cell packing and epithelial cell layering that correlate with shelf remodelling. These changes occur concomitantly with changes in the expression of collagen III, collagen IV, and laminin within the underlying basement membrane. The localization and patterning of tenascin within the developing palate suggests that it not only contributes to the postulated anchoring structure of the midoral epithelial-mesenchymal region, but also plays a role in the determining the fate of the medial edge epithelial cells during the final stage of palate closure.
Combining exposure information from various sources in an analysis of a case-control study

Summary. This paper describes a method for estimating disease‐exposure odds ratios in a case‐ control study where information on the exposure variable is available from several, possibly imperfect, sources. A hybrid approach is developed where a Bayesian perspective is used in combining information from multiple sources, although the ultimate analysis of the disease‐exposure association is likelihood based and incorporates the design considerations from a frequentist perspective, namely matching cases and controls on the basis of certain characteristics. The basic analytical strategy involves using Gibbs sampling to draw several sets of actual exposure variables at random from their posterior distribution, conditional on the exposure ascertainment from several sources and other pertinent variables. Each set of drawn values of the actual exposure variable and the confounding variables are used as independent variables in a conditional logistic regression model with case‐control status as the dependent variable. The resulting point estimates and their covariance matrices are then combined. This method is applied to a population-based case‐control study of the risk of primary cardiac arrest and the intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived mainly from fish and seafood, which motivated this research. This hybrid strategy was developed for pragmatic reasons as these data will be used for several analyses from differing perspectives by different analysts. Hence, this paper also reports an evaluation from a frequentist perspective that investigates the sampling properties of estimates so derived through a simulation study that is similar in many respects to the actual data set analysed. These results show that the estimate of the log-odds ratio obtained by using the method described in this paper is better in terms of bias, the mean-square error and the confidence coverage when compared with the estimate obtained by using only one of the several sources as the exposure variable.
Study of Transitional Flow through a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade by Application of Higher-Order Compact- Difference Scheme to Large-Eddy Simulation

Subsonic, transitional flow through a low-pressure turbine (LPT) cascade is investigated using high-order compact difference scheme in conjunction with large-eddy simulation (LES). Three-dimensional simulations are performed at chord inlet Reynolds numbers (Re) of 25,000 and 50,000. The inlet Mach number is approximately 0.06. An MPI-based higherorder accurate, Chimera version of the FDL3DI flow solver developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force base, is extended for the present turbomachinery application. The implicit solver is based on an approximate factored timeintegration method of Beam and Warming. Fourth-order compact-difference formulations are used for discretizing spatial derivatives in conjunction with sixth-order non-dispersive filtering. Solutions are obtained both with and without a sub-grid scale (SGS) model. A dual topology, 16-block, structured grid generated using GridPro is utilized for all simulations. The flow features are examined, and the results for both LES approaches are compared to each other, and with experimental data.
A general growth stage key for describing trees and woody plants

Biologishe Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and CHemical Industry (BBCH) scales are a system for the uniform coding of phenologically similar growth stages of plants, using a two-digit decimal code. Currently, scales exist for a number of tree and woody species grown as crops; however, researchers are often forced to adapt existing scales or create their own when describing other tree or woody species growing as crops or weeds. This paper describes a general BBCH scale for the phenological growth stages of tree and woody species, including plant-specific descriptions and decimal codes covering vegetative and reproductive stages. The scale uses eight of the 10 principal BBCH stages, starting with sprouting/bud development (stage 0) and ending with dormancy (stage 9). This BBCH scale represents a single, standardised growth stage key for describing the growth of needle-bearing and leaf-bearing woody plants and promotes the adoption of the use of BBCH scales more widely. It is expected that the scale will form the basis for the creation of further scales specific for family, genus or species.
Array Redundancy and Diversity for Wireless Transmissions with Low Probability of Interception

In contrast to the classical spread spectrum or data encryption methods, we propose an array redundancy-based approach for wireless transmissions with inherent low probability of interception (LPI). The redundancy of transmit antenna arrays introduces some degrees of freedom for deliberate signal randomization, based on which, diversity is exploited to randomize the eavesdropper's signal. LPI is analyzed by proving the indeterminacy of eavesdroppers' blind deconvolution. Extensive simulations and preliminary experiments are conducted to demonstrate the proposed method.
When Methods Meet Politics: How Risk Adjustment Became Part of Medicare Managed Care

Health-based risk adjustment has long been touted as key to the success of competitive models of health care. Because it decreases the incentive to enroll only healthy patients in insurance plans, risk adjustment was incorporated into Medicare policy via the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. However, full implementation of risk adjustment was delayed due to clashes with the managed care industry over payment policy, concerns over perverse incentives, and problems of data burden. We review the history of risk adjustment leading up to the Balanced Budget Act and examine the controversies surrounding attempts to stop or delay its implementation during the years that followed. The article provides lessons for the future of health-based risk adjustment and possible alternatives.
The Normal Distribution

In this chapter, we discuss a most useful tool for determining probabilities needed for testing hypotheses and finding confidence intervals: thenormal distribution.In addition to its role as a computing tool for probabilities, the normal distribution frequently serves as a mathematical model for describing populations of interest to statisticians.