cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Home-Based Parent-Child Therapy in Low-Income African American, Caucasian, and Latino Families: A Comparative Examination of Treatment Outcomes

This study examined parent and child treatment outcomes for a home-based Parent-Child Therapy (PCT) program for 66 children from families living in poverty. African American, Caucasian, and Latino families were examined to determine if an evidence-based program would produce similar results across different ethnic groups. The results showed that caregivers across the three ethnic groups reported improved child challenging behavior, increased positive parent-child interactions, improved parental expectations, higher levels of nurturing, and less reliance on verbal and corporal punishment as a form of discipline. Practical implications for these results are discussed.
A remark on papers by pixton and oliveira: Genericity of symplectic diffeomorphisms of S2 with positive topological entropy

We prove the existence of an open and dense subset of mapsfeDiff ω ∞ (S2) which have positive topological entropy. It follows that these maps have infinitely many hyperbolic periodic points and an exponential growth rate of hyperbolic periodic points. The proof is an application of Pixton's theorem
Determination of protein synthesis initiation factor levels in crude lysates of Escherichia coli by a sensitive radioimmune assay.

Abstract Antisera specific for protein synthesis initiation factors IF1, IF2, and IF3 were prepared by immunizing rabbits. When crude cell lysates are analyzed by double immunodiffusion or by immunoelectrophoresis, each antiserum forms a single precipitin line antigenically identical to its cognate factor. The antisera do not crossreact with other initiation factors or with ribosomal proteins. A radioimmune assay was developed for each initiation factor by using the specific antisera and radioactive factors prepared by reductive alkylation with [ 14 C]formaldehyde. The assays detect as little as 10 to 30 ng of factor. Initiation factor concentrations were measured in crude Escherichin coli MRE600 extracts prepared from cells grown exponentially in a rich medium. The three initiation factors are present in approximately stoichiometric amounts and comprise about 1% of the cell protein. The molar ratio of initiation factors to ribosomes is about 0.15, which corresponds to the concentration of native ribosomal subunits.
Temperature dependence of the structure and shear response of a Σ11 asymmetric tilt grain boundary in copper from molecular-dynamics

We investigate the effect of temperature on the structure and shear response of a Σ11 asymmetric tilt grain boundary in a classical embedded-atom model of elemental copper using molecular dynamics simulations. As the temperature is increased the structure of the boundary disorders considerably, but with a boundary width that remains finite at the melting point. The disordering of the boundary structure becomes significant for homologous temperatures above 0.83 (1100 K). As temperature increases above this point the boundary width and roughness increases monotonically. Near the temperature where the boundary starts to disorder we observe a change in the temperature dependence of the ideal shear strength of the boundary, as well as the value of the coupling parameter β, defined as the ratio of the velocity of relative translation of the grains parallel to the boundary plane to that corresponding to the motion of the boundary normal to its plane.
Conservation criteria, canonical transformations, and integral invariants in the field theory of Carathéodory for multiple integral variational problems

A composition of n into s parts is a partition in which the order of the parts is taken into account. For example, the compositions of 4 into two parts are (3, 1), (1, 3), (2, 2). In the above example there is only one composition of 4 into two parts with no part exceeding 2, namely (2, 2). Let c(n, s, r ) be the number of compositions of n into s parts with no part exceeding r, and let c(s, r ) be the maximum of c(n, s, r ) over n for fixed s and r. The following results are established for r ~> 2:
Effect of adhesive retention of maxillofacial prostheses. Part 2: Time and reapplication effects.

Abstract Statement of problem. The success of most non-implant-retained extraoral prostheses depends on retention derived from skin adhesives. Part 1 of this study found that Skin-Prep Protective Dressing improved the retentive properties of adhesives and that Secure 2 Medical Adhesive was stronger than Epithane-3. Part 2 investigates the application of a second layer of adhesive to the prosthesis, which was earlier noted to improve retention at later time periods. Purpose. This study measured the force needed to remove silicone elastomer strips with Secure 2 Medical Adhesive from the skin of human subjects. Testing was performed before and after the removal of the strips and reapplication of the adhesive. Material and methods. Secure 2 Medical Adhesive was painted on silicone rubber strips and placed in a nonsequential random order of the 3 variables to 3 sites on the ventral forearms of 21 human subjects and tested over an 8-hour period. The bond strength was measured at 0, 4, and 8 hours. After a reapplication of adhesive over the existing adhesive, additional bond strength measurements were made at 4 and 8 hours. Testing was at 10 cm/min in an Instron. All subjects had Skin-Prep coating applied before adhesive application. Results. Bond strengths for both single applications and reapplications of the adhesive were greater at 0 hours and became significantly weaker after the 4- and 8-hour periods. The second application of the adhesive produced the strongest bonds when measured at 4 hours (110 N/m). Bonding was significantly higher at 8 hours if a second application of adhesive was applied at 0 or 4 hours. Conclusion. The results of this study indicate that the bond strength of silicone elastomer to skin decreased over an 8-hour interval. After removal of the silicone rubber strip and reapplication of Secure 2 Medical Adhesive over the existing adhesive, bond strengths increased. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;85:438-41.)
Protein synthesis requirements during resumption of meiosis in the hamster oocyte: early nuclear and microtubule configurations.

The organization of chromatin and cytoplasmic microtubules changes abruptly at M-phase entry in both mitotic and meiotic cell cycles. To determine whether the early nuclear and cytoplasmic events associated with meiotic resumption are dependent on protein synthesis, cumulus-enclosed hamster oocytes were cultured in the presence of 100 μg/ml puromycin or cycloheximide for 5 hr. Both control (untreated) and treated oocytes were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy after staining with Hoechst 33258 and tubulin antibodies. Freshly isolated oocytes exhibit prominent nucleoli and diffuse chromatin within the germinal vesicle as well as an interphase network of cytoplasmic microtubules. After 4–4.5 hr in culture, most oocytes were in prometaphase I of meiosis as characterized by a prominent spindle with fully condensed chromosomes and numerous cytoplasmic asters. After 5–5.5 hr in culture, microtubule asters are no longer detected in most cells and the spindle is the only tubulin-positive structure. Incubation for 5 hr in the presence of inhibitors does not impair germinal vesicle breakdown, chromatin condensation, kinetochore microtubule assembly, or cytoplasmic aster formation in the majority of oocytes examined; however, under these conditions, a population of oocytes retains a germinal vesicle, exhibiting variable degrees of chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic aster formation. Meiotic spindle formation in inhibited in all oocytes. These effects are fully reversible upon culture of treated oocytes in drug-free medium for 5 hr. The data indicate that meiotic spindle assembly is dependent on ongoing protein synthesis in the cumulus-enclosed hamster oocyte; in contrast, chromatin condensation and aster formation are not as sensitive to protein synthesis inhibitors during meiotic resumption. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gravitational microlensing of gamma-ray bursts

A Monte Carlo code is developed to calculate gravitational microlensing in three dimensions when the lensing optical depth is low or moderate (not greater than 0.25). The code calculates positions of microimages and time delays between the microimages. The majority of lensed gamma-ray bursts should show a simple double-burst structure, as predicted by a single point mass lens model. A small fraction should show complicated multiple events due to the collective effects of several point masses (black holes). Cosmological models with a significant fraction of mass density in massive compact objects can be tested by searching for microlensing events in the current BATSE data. Our catalog generated by 10,000 Monte Carlo models is accessible through the computer network. The catalog can be used to take realistic selection effects into account.
Millimeter-Wave Precipitation Retrievals and Observed-versus-Simulated Radiance Distributions: Sensitivity to Assumptions

Abstract Brightness temperature histograms observed at 50–191 GHz by the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) on operational NOAA satellites are shown to be consistent with predictions made using a mesoscale NWP model [the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5)] and a radiative transfer model [TBSCAT/F(λ)] for a global set of 122 storms coincident with the AMSU observations. Observable discrepancies between the observed and modeled histograms occurred when 1) snow and graupel mixing ratios were increased more than 15% and 25%, respectively, or their altitudes increased more than ∼25 mb; 2) the density, F(λ), of equivalent Mie-scattering ice spheres increased more than 0.03 g cm−3; and 3) the two-stream ice scattering increased more than ∼1%. Using the same MM5/TBSCAT/F(λ) model, neural networks were developed to retrieve the following from AMSU and geostationary microwave satellites: hydrometeor water paths, 15-min average surface-p...
Illumination normalization of retinal images using sampling and interpolation

Blood vessels in retinal images are often spread wildly across the image surface. By using this feature, this paper presents a novel approach for illumination normalization of retinal images. With the assumption that the reflectance of the vessels (including both major and small vessels) is a constant, it was found in our study that the illumination distribution of a retinal image can be estimated based on the locations of the vessel pixels and their intensity values. The procedures for estimating the illumination consists of two steps: (1) obtain the vessel map of the retinal image, and (2) estimate the illumination function (IF) of the image by interpolating the intensity values (luminance) of non-vessel pixels using a bicubic model function based on the locations of the vessel pixels and their intensity values. The illumination-normalized image can then be obtained by subtracting the original image from the estimated IF.20 non-uniformly illuminated sample retinal images that were tested using the proposed method. The results showed that the over-all standard deviation of the illumination for the image background reduced by 56.8% from 19.82 to 8.56, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the normalized images was greatly improved in the application of the global thresholding for image/region segmentation. Furthermore, when measured by the local luminosity histograms, the contrast of regions with low illumination containing features that are normally difficult to detect (such as small lesions and vessels) was also enhanced significantly. Therefore, it is concluded that the proposed method can be used to produce a desirable illumination- normalized image, from which region segmentation can be made easier and more accurate.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Sintering of Nano-Particle Powders: Simulations and Experiments

Abstract The sintering and consolidation of nano-particle powders were investigated using both computer simulation and direct experimentation. Molecular dynamics was employed to investigate the sintering of Cu nano-particles. Both spherical and cylindrical particles were employed in these simulations. The work demonstrates that sintering of these systems can take place on a time scale of tens of picoseconds, owing to the high shear stresses that develop at small particle contacts. For two and three particle sintering, it was observed that mass transport occurs by plastic flow. It was also found that crystallographically misaligned particles rotate to form low energy boundaries. The influence of the initial packing configuration was also investigated. Full densification occurs during pressureless sintering at room temperature only if the nano-particle assembly is close-packed. The effect of both isostauc and uniaxial stress on densification of Cu was also studied. Grain boundary sliding and grain boundary ...
P. M. H OLT , The Sudan of the Three Niles: The Funj Chronicle, 910–1288/1504–1871, Islamic History and Civilization: Studies and Texts (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1999). Pp. 228. $71.00 cloth.

P. M. Holt's The Sudan of the Three Niles is an annotated translation of the Funj Chronicle, a history of the Funj sultanate (1504–1821) based at Sennar, along the Blue Nile, and of the Turco-Egyptian regime that succeeded it at Khartoum. Along with the Tabaqat of Wad Dayf Allah (a biographical dictionary of Sudanese Muslim holy men compiled in the late 18th century), the Funj Chronicle is the most important Arabic source on the northern riverain Sudan in the Funj era, a period in which Islam was spreading widely and the region was developing its pronounced Arab–Islamic identity.
Local time and a particle picture for Euclidean field theory

Abstract The ( φ k ) 2 model of Euclidean field theory is constructed using Brownian motion to model the movement of particles in space-“time.” The Brownian particles' path intersections are controlled by local time techniques and are associated with Feynman diagrams for the physical particles' interactions.
Thermal Analyses of Composite Copper/ Porous Graphite Spreaders for Immersion Cooling Applications

The performance of composite spreaders cooled by nucleate boiling of FC-72 liquid and made of top porous graphite layer (≥ 0.4 mm or ΔPG ≥ 0.2), for enhancing nucleate boiling, and copper substrate (≤ 1.6 mm), for efficient spreading of the thermal power dissipated by underlying chips is investigated. The spreaders are of the same thickness (2.0 mm) and have square surface areas that are sized depending on the composition and cooling condition of the spreaders. The 10 × 10 mm and 15 × 15 mm chips considered in the analysis are assumed to uniformly dissipate the thermal power. With composite spreaders (ΔPG = 0.2) cooled by 30 K subcooled nucleate boiling the removed total dissipation thermal powers of 160.3 W and 98.4 W from the 10 × 10 mm and 15 × 15 mm chips, respectively, are attainable at total thermal resistances of 0.29 and 0.48 °C/W, respectively. When these spreaders are cooled by saturation nucleate boiling, however, the removed dissipation thermal powers (85.6 W and 53.4 W, respectively) and the total thermal resistances (0.12 and 0.20 °C/W, respectively) are much lower. For same cooling conditions, the removed dissipation thermal powers by the porous graphite spreaders (ΔPG = 1.0) are much lower and the thermal resistances are much higher than those with composite spreaders, because of the relatively low and anisotropic thermal conductivity of porous graphite. Results also showed that the surface temperatures of the chips are not uniform. The maximum chip temperatures at the highest removed dissipation powers by composite spreaders are < 71 °C and the temperature differentials across the chips are < 8 °C. Results demonstrated that composite spreaders are an attractive option for cooling high power computer chips at relatively low chip temperature.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Flame optics in atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract Single-slot and three-slot air-acetylene flames were interposed between brightly-illuminated printed pages and a camera, and photographs were made of the pages through the flames. The photographs showed that optical artifacts were produced in the boundary zones of both flames, where light from the pages traversed long flame-air interfaces. A central artifact-free zone was present in both flames, but was much larger in the three-slot than in the single-slot flame. It is concluded that the reduced baseline noise seen with three-slot burners is largely due to optical advantages.
Time series patterns in credit ratings

Abstract This article offers a substitute setting to simulate credit rating migrations. The internal correlations model tracks time-series movements within credit rating entries, rather than cross-ratings correlations. The proposed nonhomogeneous process is authenticated through the likelihood ratio Dickey–Fuller test, and is found to be statistically and economically significant, by better fitting observed cumulative default rates. Several nonlinear regression models assist to better identify these time-related patterns. The economic structure underlying the time dependency often corresponds to changes in GDP, business cycles, and market risk. Furthermore, significant positive autocorrelation is detected mostly among downgrade probabilities.
Monogamy and secondary sexual partnerships among Afro-Amerindian immigrant women in New York City: A qualitative study

In New York City, HIV is increasingly concentrated in the foreign-born population, necessitating a greater exploration of the mechanisms through which changes in behavior and risk for HIV occur within migrant populations. Interviews were conducted with 22 Honduran-born Garifuna women to explore partnerships, sexual behaviors, and HIV risk in the context of migration, and transcripts were coded by thematic analysis procedures. Five themes emerged: (1) migration ends relationships, (2) new relationships in the U.S. form because of material and psychological needs, (3) secondary sexual partnerships are a man’s issue, (4) female secondary sexual partnership participation as a marker of equality, and (5) monogamy due to a lack of time. These findings suggest that greater attention be paid to women’s participation in secondary sexual partnerships for purposes other than economic need, and demonstrate a need for HIV interventions that are based in an understanding of how the social context of migration affects sexual behaviors.
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Using Infrared Heating on a Microfluidic Chip

IR-mediated PCR in microdevices is an established technique for rapid amplification of nucleic acids. In this report, we have expanded the applicability of IR-PCR to quantitative determination of starting copy number by integrating fluorescence detection during the amplification process. Placing the microfluidic device between an IR longpass filter and a hot mirror reduced the background to a level that enabled fluorescence measurements to be made throughout the thermal cycling process. The average fluorescence intensity during the extension step showed the expected trend of an exponential increase followed by a plateau phase in successive cycles. PUC19 template at different starting copy numbers were amplified and the threshold cycle showed an increase for decreasing amounts of starting DNA. Amplification efficiency was 80% and gel separation indicated no detectable non-specific product. A melting curve was generated using IR heating and indicated a melting temperature of 85 °C for the 304 bp amplicon which compared well to the melting temperature obtained using a conventional PCR system. This methodology will be applicable in other types of IR-mediated amplification systems, such as isothermal amplification and in highly integrated systems that combine pre- and post-PCR processes.
Removed Antibiotic-Impregnated Cement Spacers in Two-Stage Revision Joint Arthroplasty Do Not Show Biofilm Formation In Vivo

Use of antibiotic-impregnated spacers is common in the two-stage approach to treatment of periprosthetic joint infection despite the lack of information regarding in vivo performance of these implants. Antibiotic elution levels likely often fall below the minimal inhibitory concentration need to inhibit bacterial growth, raising concern that the spacers themselves may provide a potential attachment site for biofilm formation. Advanced microscopy was used in this study to evaluate the surface characteristics of antibiotic-eluting spacers collected at the time of prosthesis reimplantation from 6 patients undergoing two-stage treatment for an infected total joint arthroplasty. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal scanning microscopy of the removed spacers revealed modest fibrous matrix formation and inflammatory cells with no biofilm or bacteria detected. This study supports the continued use of antibiotic spacers in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection.
Reliability of Daniels systems subject to Gaussian load processes

Abstract A general method is developed for estimating reliability of Daniels systems subject to quasistatic and dynamic Gaussian load processes. The method is based on a generalization of the Slepian model, an identity involving first passage time probabilities and conditional mean crossing rates of response processes, and first/second order reliability methods. The use of the method is illustrated by an example.
MODE LOCALIZATION DUE TO SYMMETRY-BREAKING NONLINEARITIES

We present some ideas regarding the occurrence of mode localization in nonlinear structural systems. Preliminary analytical and numerical findings indicate that even if the linearized system has perfect periodicity, and thus cannot feature localized behavior, severe localization may occur in the nonlinear system when nonlinear terms break symmetry. These symmetry-breaking nonlinear terms play the same role as disorder does in nearly periodic linear systems.
Histochemical studies of cholinesterases in Ciona intestinalis.

Abstract 1. 1. The cholinergicity of tunicates is at present controversial. The results of this study on Ciona intestinalis based on Koelle's histochemical technique suggest that acetylcholinesterase is present in “detritus” found in the gut lumen and in the sinus of the neural gland. 2. 2. The tissues of Ciona contain an acetylthiocholine splitting enzyme not affected by cholinesterase inhibitors such as DFP and physostigmine. 3. 3. This enzyme is relatively slow acting and not found solely in nervous tissues.
Defining the Difference: Comparing Integrated and Traditional Single-Subject Lessons

Early childhood curricula should be authentic and child-centered, however, many teachers still rely on direct instruction lessons. To better define how an integrated curriculum meets the needs of students, this study examined teacher talk and actions during instructional activities with first and second graders under two conditions: (1) subject-integrated social studies lessons of an integrated curriculum unit (experimental condition); and (2) single subject-focused mathematics lessons of a traditional separate subject curriculum (control condition). The mixed-methods study sought to define and compare characteristics of both curriculum approaches. Fourteen hours of observations were collected in each setting. In the integrated curriculum setting, the teacher was a facilitator of teamwork, offering choices, and giving praise; students made choices, decisions, and worked collaboratively. In the traditional setting, the teacher delivered direct instruction and controlled behavior; students followed directions, recalled knowledge, and worked individually. Less teacher energy was expended for behavior management in the integrated curriculum setting, indicating intrinsic motivation of students. Implementation of integrated curricula is recommended because of the student-centered focus that results in greater motivation, ownership, and teamwork, along with deeper knowledge connections. Because many factors hinder implementation, teachers need support when first teaching with this approach.
Results of a 2-arm Phase II study of 9-nitrocamptothecin in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas

BACKGROUND The authors conducted a 2-arm Phase II trial of 9-nitrocamptothecin (9-NC), an oral topoisomerase I inhibitor, to define response rates in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) leiomyosarcomas and other soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). METHODS Patients were required to provide informed consent and have measurable disease, Zubrod performance status ≤ 2, and adequate organ function. 9-NC was administered orally at 1.5 mg/m2 per day × 5 days every week. Response evaluation was performed at 8 weeks, and those with stable or responding disease continued treatment until maximal response was achieved. A total of 56 patients (30 females and 26 males) with a median age of 55 years (range, 19–79 years) were enrolled on the study. Seventeen patients were enrolled on the GI leiomyosarcoma arm; only 1 minor response, lasting < 8 weeks in a patient with liver metastases, was noted, and so this arm was terminated. Thirty-nine patients were entered on the other STS arm. RESULTS Three patients achieved a partial response (response rate, 8%) for durations of 4, 6, and 13 months, respectively. Fourteen patients had stable disease for a median of 4 months (range, 2–8 months). Two patients died of disease during the first 2 months. Four other patients required hospitalization for nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Other toxicities included diarrhea (36 patients, 5 with Grade 3 toxicity); fatigue (42 patients, 11 with Grade 3 toxicity); anorexia (32 patients, 1 with Grade 3 toxicity); nausea (37 patients, 2 with Grade 3 toxicity); vomiting (24 patients, 3 with Grade 3 toxicity); neutropenia (14 patients, 5 with Grade 3 toxicity); and thrombocytopenia (16 patients, 5 with Grade 3 or 4 toxicity). CONCLUSIONS 9-NC is well tolerated but inactive in GI leiomyosarcomas and has minimal activity in previously treated patients with STS. Cancer 2003;97:2848–52. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11385
Effects of Nonvacuum, Vacuum and Nitrogen Back-Flush Tumbling on Various Characteristics of Restructured Cured Beef

Nonvacuum (NV), vacuum (V) or nitrogen back flush (NB) processing conditions during intermittent tumbling (10 min/hr) were compared for effects on the characteristics of restructured cured beef. Meat in a NV atmosphere exhibited higher (P<0.05) cooked yields than either V or NB; also V-tumbled meat had higher yields than the NB atmosphere (P<0.05). Meat tumbled in a NB atmosphere had higher (P<0.05) protein extraction values than meat treated in either V or NV. In summary, meat tumbled at any of the three atmospheres was satisfactory.
Enhancement of ampicillin efficacy by peroral levodopa in rat pyelonephritis

Abstract Levodopa or DOPAC, 40 to 100 mg/kg, potentiate the antibacterial effect of ampicillin against Escherichia coli in experimental rat pyelonephritis but exhibit no significant antibacterial effect when administered alone. Comparable results were not found with cephalothin or nitrofurantoin. The urines from uninfected rats given ampicillin and levodopa or DOPAC exhibited no in vitro antibacterial effect against E. coli beyond that found in urines from rats given ampicillin alone. The relationship of these observations to the function and control renal lysozyme levels is discussed.
Utilization of metabolic energy under saline conditions: changes in properties of ATP dependent enzymes in plant cells grown under saline conditions

The effect of growth in saline medium on the activity of two ATP utilizing enzymes was studied. Hexokinase in carrot (Daucus carota L.) cells grown in suspension culture either in the absence or presence of 150 ml NaCl, and tonoplast H+-ATPase in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38) cells grown in suspension culture either in the absence of presence of 428 mM NaCl. There was no difference in the pH profiles, NaCl sensitivity and kinetic parameters towards glucose of hexokinase activities from carrot cells grown in the presence or the absence of NaCl, but the activity from cells grown in the presence of NaCl was more resistant to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide and to inactivation by heat. Two separate apparent Km values toward ATP were delineated in the extract from cells grown in presence of NaCl while extracts from cells grown in the absence of NaCl had only one apparent Km value. The tonoplast H+-ATPase from NaCl grown tobacco cells showed changed kinetic compared to this activity from cells grown in the absence of NaCl. These data may indicate that growth in NaCl results in the appearance of isozymic activity that enhances the ability of plant cells to utilize metabolic energy more efficiently.
Long-term Outcome of a Cuffed Expanded PTFE Graft for Hemodialysis Vascular Access

Background Development of venous outflow stenosis has been a major obstacle in maintaining the patency of dialysis vascular grafts. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the long-term results of cuffed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and non-cuffed (standard) ePTFE grafts placed for hemodialysis access. Materials and methods A total of 67 patients who underwent placement of either cuffed (n = 41) or standard (n = 26) ePTFE grafts were retrospectively analyzed. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to age, gender, cause of end-stage renal disease, and anatomic placement of the graft. Endpoints consisted of primary (without any intervention) and secondary (with radiological or surgical intervention) graft patency rates at 1-3 years. Results There was a trend toward better primary graft patency rates in the cuffed versus the standard ePTFE: 37.7% vs. 25.7% at 1 year, 35% vs. 10.3% at 2 years, 28% vs. 5.1% at 3 years, respectively (p = 0.086, Kaplan-Meier). Secondary patency rates in the cuffed group were significantly superior (p = 0.047) to those in the standard group (81.8% vs. 56.1% at 1 year, 61.8% vs. 46.3% at 2 years, 51.5% vs. 33.1% at 3 years, respectively). Thrombosis as a cause of complete graft failure was significantly higher (34%) in the standard group than in the cuffed group (9%) (p = 0.0125). Conclusions Compared to the standard ePTFE, the cuffed ePTFE graft provided better long-term outcome, especially in terms of secondary patency rates after radiological intervention.
Does Drug Testing Deter Drug Court Participants from Using Drugs or Alcohol

This study evaluates 3 drug-testing strategies implemented in 5 different jurisdictions with drug courts in Orange County, California. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the sweat patch acts as a deterrent and under what conditions it can be used to improve outcomes. Results indicated that although the use of the sweat patch did not result in statistically significant higher retention or graduation rates, it was perceived to be equal to the use of urine analysis in deterrent effect. The effectiveness of testing as a deterrent for drug use will likely depend on the scheduled administration of the tests and the immediacy of rewards and sanctions for participants.
Three-dimensional singular stress/residual stress fields at crack/anticrack fronts in monoclinic plates under antiplane shear loading

Abstract A recently developed eigenfunction expansion technique, based in part on separation of the thickness-variable, is first developed to derive three-dimensional asymptotic stress field in the vicinity of the front of a semi-infinite through-thickness crack/anticrack weakening/reinforcing an infinite monoclinic plate, of finite thickness and subjected to far-field antiplane shear loading. Crack/anticrack-face boundary conditions and those that are prescribed on the top and bottom (free or fixed) surfaces of the anisotropic (monoclinic) plate are exactly satisfied. Five different through-thickness crack/anticrack-face boundary conditions are considered: (i) slit crack, (ii) anticrack or perfectly bonded rigid inclusion, (iii) transversely rigid inclusion (longitudinal slip permitted), (iv) rigid inclusion in part perfectly bonded, the remainder with slip, and (v) rigid inclusion located alongside a crack. The three-dimensional stress intensity factor for a center-crack, and stress singularity coefficients for/on a center-anticrack are then derived by incorporating an extension of the Stroh type approach in the present analysis. Through-thickness distribution of stress intensity factor and stress singularity coefficient for a crack and an anticrack, respectively, is also presented. Additionally, singular residual stress fields in the vicinity of the fronts of these cracks, anticracks and similar discontinuities are also discussed. Hitherto unavailable expressions for three-dimensional energy release and absorption rates for center-cracks and anticracks are derived by using Irwin’s crack closure and Eshelby’s eigenstrain approach, respectively. A heretofore unavailable expression for the energy release rate on the super-rigid inclusion is derived, using an approach which is analogous, in a reverse sense, to Irwin’s crack closure method. Finally, a new mode III crack deflection/bifurcation criterion is also derived. The crack deviation under antiplane shear loading is strongly correlated with the elastic stiffness constant, c45, of the monoclinic single crystal or off-axis composite lamina concerned.
Significance of endo-polygalacturonase activity to symptom expression of verticillium wilt in cotton, assessed by the use of mutants of Verticillium dahliae Kleb

Abstract Conidia of three defoliating isolates of Verticillium dahliae Kleb. from cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) were irradiated with ultraviolet light. Survivors showing no endo-polygalacturonase activity were detected on an indicator medium containing polygalacturonic acid. Loss of enzyme activity was confirmed by viscometric assay. These mutants induced the same disease symptoms as parent strains when they were inoculated into 6-week-old cotton plants. Mutant strains reisolated from infected tissue retained their endo-polygalacturonase deficiency. It is concluded that production of active endo-polygalacturonase by V. dahliae is not essential for symptom expression of verticillium wilt in cotton.
Long-term follow-up and phenomenologic differences distinguish among late-onset schizophrenia, late-life depression, and progressive dementia.

Objective The diagnosis of patients with late-life onset of hallucinations and delusions but an absence of mood or cognitive disorder remains controversial. The authors used long-term follow-up and phenomenology to assess whether outcome varied by diagnosis. Methods Twenty-eight individuals with late-life psychosis but no mood or cognitive disorder were compared with 48 individuals with late-life major depression and 47 individuals with psychotic symptoms and late-life dementia. All subjects were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Data from the last time examined were used to determine likelihood of death at 84 months by Kaplan-Meier analysis in all groups and the likelihood of developing dementia in the depression and late-life onset psychosis groups at 120 months. Results Patients with dementia-plus-psychosis were more likely to die at 84 months than those with major depression or late-onset hallucinations and delusions. Subjects with depression or late-onset hallucinations and delusions did not differ in likelihood of developing dementia at 120 months. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that a condition characterized by psychiatric symptoms and no mood symptoms can begin in later life and that this disorder is not a precursor to dementia.
What Types of Difficulties do Seniors Encounter When Using the Internet to Make Health Care Decisions

The Internet is an important source of information for health-related topics and services. Currently, however, an age-related digital divide exists, especially for lower SES minority elderly. This study examined the ability of a sample of 40 community dwelling adults aged 50–85 yrs. to use the Internet to make choices related to Medicare services. Performance data included response time, accuracy, and search behavior (based on videotape recordings) and ratings of usability. Overall the data indicate that although most of the of participants were able to find the needed information many of them made errors, used inefficient search strategies, and encountered search problems. Furthermore, most of the sample indicated problems with usability and that they were frustrated interacting with the website. These findings are discussed in terms of recommendations for training and website design. The paper will also discuss how screen capture data can be used in the development of design guidelines.
Improved 2-D regional transit time analysis for optimized scaling of SiGe HBTs

A new method for two-dimensional (2-D) regional transit time analysis in SiGe HBTs is presented, using a commercially-available TCAD suite with hydrodynamic device simulations. The quasi-static 2-D transit time analysis is first used to determine the cutoff frequency of a well-calibrated 200 GHz SiGe HBT and then applied to the design of hypothetical SiGe HBTs with peak cutoff frequencies of 375 GHz and 450 GHz. These results are benchmarked against full frequency-domain simulations. The new regional analysis is then demonstrated at each scaling node and used to illuminate the 2-D nature of the onset of the Kirk effect and heterojunction barrier effect. These techniques enable the cutoff frequency and transit time components to be determined at lower computational complexity and in greater detail than traditional frequency-domain simulations, and are very useful for optimized scaling.
Towards Instruction Level Record and Replay of Sensor Network Applications

Debugging wireless sensor network (WSN) applications has been complicated for multiple reasons, among which the lack of visibility is one of the most challenging. To address this issue, in this paper, we present a systematic approach to record and replay WSN applications at the granularity of instructions. This approach differs from previous ones in that it is purely software based, therefore, no additional hardware component is needed. Our key idea is to combine the static, structural information of the assembly-level code with their dynamic, run-time traces as measured by timestamps and basic block counters, so that we can faithfully infer and replay the actual execution paths of applications at instruction level in a post-mortem manner. The evaluation results show that this approach is feasible despite of the resource constraints of sensor nodes. We also provide two case studies to demonstrate that our instruction level record-and-replay approach can be used to: (1) discover randomness of EEPROM writing time, (2) localize stack smashing bugs in sensor network applications.
A Synergistic Framework for Geographic Question Answering

QA (question answering) systems designated for answering in-depth geographic questions are highly demanded but not quite available. Previous research has visited various individual aspects of a QA system but few synergistic frameworks have been proposed. This paper investigates the nature of geographic question formation and observes their unique linguistic structures that can be semantically translated into a spatial query. We create a new task of solving non-trivial questions using GIS (Geographic Information System) and test it with an associated corpus. A dynamic programming algorithm is developed for classification and voting algorithm for verification. Two types of ontologies are integrated for disambiguating and discriminating spatial terms. PostGIS serves as the GIS backend to provide domain expertise for spatial reasoning. Results show that exact answers can be returned quickly and correctly by our system. Contrast classification results in improved accuracy compared with the baseline which proves the effectiveness of proposed methods.
Aortic Dissection Complicating Cardiac Surgery: Diagnosis by Intraoperative Biplane Transesophageal Echocardiography

Aortic dissection is a rare but devastating complication of cardiopulmonary bypass. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography can be a useful technique to define the anatomy of the dissection, to evaluate its extension and progression, and to detect the presence of aortic insufficiency. We describe two cases in which transesophageal echocardiography helped in making a rapid diagnosis of aortic dissection during cardiac surgery and demonstrate how it may play a role in therapeutic decision making.
Ethanol metabolism in postmenopausal women fed a diet marginal in zinc

Five postmenopausal women aged 50-63 y were fed a diet of mixed Western foods that supplied an average of 2.6 mg zinc/d for 6 mo. Plasma zinc did not change significantly during Zn depletion but increased slightly when Zn was fed. Zn content of blood cellular components and activities of Zn-containing enzymes were not affected by Zn intake. Ethanol tolerance tests performed at the end of control, middle of depletion, end of depletion, and end of repletion showed a change in ethanol metabolism at the end of the low-Zn intake period that was corrected within 1 mo with Zn supplementation. These data suggest that there are homeostatic mechanisms that maintain circulating levels of Zn. Zn and activity of Zn enzymes in tissues may be decreased before changes in circulating Zn levels are seen. Functional indices of Zn biochemistry, such as ethanol metabolism, may be more sensitive indicators of Zn stores and nutriture than circulating Zn.
The Urban Studio Project recipe: A multidisciplinary approach to feminist practice through community engagement

The Urban Studio was initially planned to enhance the pedagogy and curriculum of students in the Department of Interior Architecture through the design and construction of a home for a needy family. This project grew to include faculty and students from the Department of Social Work when the need for a psychosocial perspective was identified. The project resulted in a discovery of the potential benefits of an interdisciplinary endeavor framed by a feminist perspective. It became both a service learning opportunity and a way to make a significant impact by ameliorating a substandard housing structure in a transitional neighborhood.
Modulation of therapeutic sensitivity by human papillomavirus

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small double-stranded DNA viruses that pose significant public health concerns as the causative agent of approximately 5% of worldwide cancers. The HPV oncogenes E6 and E7 play key roles in carcinogenesis. In the last 15years there has been a significant increase in the incidence of HPV-related head and neck cancers arising primarily in the oropharynx. Patients with HPV-positive head and neck cancers (HNCs) have a significantly improved prognosis compared to those with HPV-negative disease. In this review we will discuss data suggesting how HPV oncogenes modulate both the intrinsic radiation sensitivity of HNCs and also have important effects upon the tumor microenvironment. Together, these findings contribute to the improved outcomes seen in patients with HPV-positive HNC.
Detection of the antimicrobials triclocarban and triclosan in agricultural soils following land application of municipal biosolids.

The occurrence of the antimicrobials triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) was investigated in agricultural soils following land application of biosolids using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS) with negative ion multimode ionization. The method detection limits were 0.58 ng TCC/g soil, 3.08 ng TCC/g biosolids, 0.05 ng TCS/g soil and 0.11 ng TCS/g biosolids and the average recovery from all of the sample matrices was >95%. Antimicrobial concentrations in biosolids from three Michigan wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) ranged from 4890 to 9280 ng/g, and from 90 to 7060 ng/g, for TCC and TCS respectively. Antimicrobial analysis of soil samples, collected over two years, from
Techniques for multimodality image registration

The authors describe the development of techniques used for cross-modality correlation of medical images. To accomplish this goal, software routines were developed which automate and standardize the comparison of images within and between three-dimensional tomographic imaging modalities. Data from phantoms and clinical studies reflect the success of this technique. >
Electrical impedance tomography of cell viability in tissue with application to cryosurgery.

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A Photochemical Investigation of the Dynamics of Oligonucleotide Hybridization

The nucleic acid double strand helix is now known to have several struc­ tural forms that are themselves rather variable or changeable in response to environmental conditions such as ionic strength, temperature, and the presence of a wide variety of solutes in the solutions in which the solvent is almost always water. A common chemistry among all of these helical forms is the reaction that separates the strands of the helices into single strands. The strands ideally may be thought of as random coils but, in reality, may fold back upon themselves and form local double stranded helical regions of secondary structure. The process of separation of the strands in the double helices is called melting by analogy to the melting of a crystal, because the transition of a long helix from double-stranded form to single-stranded form occurs in a narrow temperature interval with high temperature favoring the single strands and low temperature favoring the helix. Despite the descriptive language, it is clearly incorrect to think of the helix-coil transition as a phase transition, for there are major in­ homogeneities in nucleic acid helices that invariably lead to stable inter­ mediate states, each with its own melting temperature, in the transition from helix to coil. When a sample of melted single strands is allowed to reverse the melting process and reform the double helix, the process is