cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the need for treatment of postendodontic asymptomatic periapical radiolucencies in bone marrow transplant recipients

Oral screening and treatment of existing oral disease before bone marrow transplantation have been reported to decrease the incidence of infectious complications during bone marrow transplantation. Information about the adverse sequelae of specific preexisting oral diseases during bone marrow transplantation is lacking. The presence of postendodontic periapical radiolucencies may suggest recurrent or latent infection. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of endodontic treatment with nontreatment of asymptomatic postendodontic periapical radiolucencies on the frequency of infectious oral complications during bone marrow transplantation. The records of 276 patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation examined between July 1988 and June 1991 were reviewed retrospectively. Twenty-three postendodontic periapical radiolucencies were identified in 8 women and 15 men. The mean age of patients was 41 years (range, 25 to 58 years). Fourteen of the lesions were untreated, and nine were treated before bone marrow transplantation. When outcomes of transplant complications were compared, neither increased systemic infection as measured by neutropenic days febrile nor local oral infectious complications were significantly different. These results suggest that nontreatment of asymptomatic postendodontic periapical radiolucencies does not increase the incidence of infectious complications during bone marrow transplantation.
Purification of surcrose esters by selective adsorption

Long chain fatty acid esters of sucrose from the solvent-free, soap-catalyzed interesterification of molten sucrose and glycerides were acidulated to destroy the soaps, washed to remove unreacted sucrose, and freed of unreacted glycerides and free fatty acids by a procedure adaptable to large scale use. Separation of the glycerides and free fatty acids from the sucrose esters was accomplished by passing the product through selected adsorbents, up to a 1:2 ratio of product to adsorbent, and eluting with selected solvents. Effectiveness of the separations was monitored by thin layer chromatography. Neutral bleaching clay would be the adsorbent of choice for a large scale purification scheme employing benzene as the eluent for the removal of glycerides and free fatty acids followed with ethanol for removal of the sucrose esters.
Intermediate temperature creep properties of gamma TiAl

Abstract Compressive creep tests of single phase γ Ti 47 Al 51 Mn 2 have been conducted at stresses from 280 to 400 MPa in a temperature range of 500–600°C. The creep curves exhibited a primary region in which the creep rate decreased rapidly, a secondary region corresponding to a minimum creep rate, and an extended tertiary region in which the creep rate increased steadily with time. Unlike yielding, the creep behavior of this alloy was found to be normal; creep strength decreased with increasing temperature. Temperature change experiments and TEM observations have clearly elucidated the fact that a microstructural steady-state is not attained in the creep of this alloy. Instead, the overall creep performance is dominated by the tertiary creep that results from internal changes in the deformation microstructure. Although several dislocation and twinning mechanisms have been associated with the creep of TiAl, the multiplication and increased mobility of ordinary dislocations was found to play a dominant role in determining the creep behavior of this alloy.
HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN SPATIAL ANALYSIS

In the early years of the quantitative revolution in geography, the questions asked were dominantly about spatial regularities in patterns of events. In the 1960s, a subgroup turned their focus on the decisions of individuals and organizations in their spatial context. Much was learned about spatial behavior as well as about behavior in space. Determining the synergistic relationships between behaviors that change in their spatial context and spatial contexts that become changed by the pattern of behaviors within them proved to be a challenge that was abandoned too early. These relationships can now be studied more effectively as a result of the recent development of methods for encoding, storing and manipulating spatial data in geographic information systems. Spatial analysis has entered a new age where human-map interactions in a data-rich environment are becoming a part of traditional scholarship, entering many practical domains, and, for those who want to be a part of the next revolution, a world of k...
A study of the critical behavior of the O(N) linear and nonlinear σ models

Abstract A study of the large N behavior of both the O ( N ) linear and nonlinear σ models is presented. The purpose is to investigate the relationship between the disordered (ordered) phase of the linear and nonlinear sigma models. Utilizing operator product expansions and stability analyses, it is shown that for 2 ≤ d λ ∗ is the IR fixed point) limit of the linear σ model which yields the nonlinear σ model. It is also shown that stable large N linear σ models with λ d , less than four, is derived which determines when λ d = 4 large N linear (for λ > 0) and nonlinear models are trivial. This result (i.e., triviality) is well known but only for one and two component models. Interestingly enough, the λ d = 4 linear σ model remains nontrivial and tachyonic free.
The Not-So-Silent Majority: Uyghur Resistance to Han Rule in Xinjiang

"Have you heard the rumors?" a local official in Urumchi asked me one day in the spring of 1997. "Uyghurs are saying that the day Hong Kong returns to China is the day Xinjiang becomes independent." He reported this information in a scornful voice but went on to say that the government of the autonomous region had increased security preparations dramatically. Tensions were already high. In early February, several hundred Uyghurs in the northwestern city of Ghulja had marched in the streets to protest government policies. The violent response by People's Armed Police units turned the peaceful demonstration into a riot in which a number of police and scores (some say hundreds) of protesters died. In the following weeks, hundreds were arrested. Later that month, bombs exploded on three buses in Xinjiang's capital city, Urumchi, their detonation timed to coincide with the funeral of Deng
Global‐local finite element

Finite element procedures usually require more degrees of freedom for a specified accuracy than does a classical Ritz procedure if suitable coordinate functions are available. This paper develops a combined global and local dependent variable representation which couples the conventional and finite element Ritz methods. This hybrid method preserves much of the flexibility of the finite element method while increasing the solution accuracy for a specified system order. The method is illustrated by examination of a beam and a plate vibration problem.
Flaviviruses Are Sensitive to Inhibition of Thymidine Synthesis Pathways

Dengue virus has emerged as a global health threat to over one-third of humankind. As a positive-strand RNA virus, dengue virus relies on the host cell metabolism for its translation, replication, and egress. Therefore, a better understanding of the host cell metabolic pathways required for dengue virus infection offers the opportunity to develop new approaches for therapeutic intervention. In a recently described screen of known drugs and bioactive molecules, we observed that methotrexate and floxuridine inhibited dengue virus infections at low micromolar concentrations. Here, we demonstrate that all serotypes of dengue virus, as well as West Nile virus, are highly sensitive to both methotrexate and floxuridine, whereas other RNA viruses (Sindbis virus and vesicular stomatitis virus) are not. Interestingly, flavivirus replication was restored by folinic acid, a thymidine precursor, in the presence of methotrexate and by thymidine in the presence of floxuridine, suggesting an unexpected role for thymidine in flavivirus replication. Since thymidine is not incorporated into RNA genomes, it is likely that increased thymidine production is indirectly involved in flavivirus replication. A possible mechanism is suggested by the finding that p53 inhibition restored dengue virus replication in the presence of floxuridine, consistent with thymidine-less stress triggering p53-mediated antiflavivirus effects in infected cells. Our data reveal thymidine synthesis pathways as new and unexpected therapeutic targets for antiflaviviral drug development.
Effects of gender differences and selection agent expertise on leader influence and performance evaluations

Abstract The effects of selection agent expertise and various gender factors upon the influence and perceived expertise of male and female leaders, and upon group cohesiveness, were examined. Leaders (male or female) were selected by an agent (male or female, expert or nonexpert) to lead groups working on either a masculine or a feminine task. While the influence of the leaders was unaffected by the manipulations, ratings of expertise and group cohesiveness were affected. Leaders selected by experts were given higher expertise ratings than were those selected by nonexperts, as were leaders working on masculine as opposed to feminine tasks. Also, in the feminine task condition, perceived expertise was higher for female leaders and for leaders chosen by female agents. Cohesiveness ratings were highest for groups with leaders chosen by experts, except for groups with male leaders and masculine tasks, where cohesiveness ratings were higher when the agent was a nonexpert. The implications of these results for the effects of selection agent and task characteristics in leader selection, and issues of criterion selection in leadership research, are discussed.
Characterization of TCO deposition for CIGS solar cells

Transparent conducting ZnO:Al (AZO) thin films were deposited by using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering system and were analyzed with regards to their potential application as a window layer for CIGS solar cells. Their properties were measured in-situ and ex-situ by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE) and were correlated with ex-situ characterization, such as AFM, XRD, and T&R measurements. As the deposition power was increased, an increase in the conductivity (via an increase by the contribution of the Drude oscillator), a reduction of the transmittance in the IR and an increase in the grain size was observed by RTSE, while the growth mechanism remained the same for all powers.
NMR studies of the active site of DNA polymerase I and of a 50-residue peptide fragment of the enzyme

Abstract Transferred nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) and selective t 1 measurements were used to determine interproton distances in the substrates Mg 2+ dATP and Mg 2+ TTP bound to the large fragment of DNA polymerase I (Pol I). The distances are consistent with high anti , O1' endo conformations for the enzyme-bound substrates, similar to nucleotides of B-DNA. These substrate conformations show little or no change when the complementary RNA templates (rU) 57 or (rA) 50 are bound. In contrast, multiple conformations, including syn and anti species, are required to fit the interproton distances measured on the enzyme-bound guanine nucleotide substrates Mg 2+ dGTP and Mg 2+ ddGTP. These multiple substrate conformations simplify to a single high anti , O1' endo conformation when the complementary template (rC) 37 is bound, possibly due to base-pairing with the template, as in the active complex. In the presence of both template and primer, enzyme-bound Mg 2+ ddGTP reverts to multiple conformations. This ability of Pol I to decrease the fraction of bound substrate which is appropriate for primer elongation may be an error-preventing mechanism. In all cases, the conformations of the average nucleotide of the enzyme-bound RNA templates are also B-like. Transferred NOEs from protons of the enzyme to those of bound dNTP substrates suggest hydrophobic (Ile, Leu) and an aromatic amino acid (Tyr) at the substrate binding site. Peptide I, a synthetic 50-residue peptide based on residues 728 to 777 of the Pol I sequence, containing the conserved sequence L-I-Y-G, retains significant secondary and tertiary structure in solution as found by circular dichroism (CD) and 2D NMR. While the X-ray structure shows 48% helix in this region, the sequence specific NOESY analysis suggests 18% helix, and the preservation of two of the three β turns. Peptide I shows tight binding of dNTP substrates, the substrate analog 2',3'-trinitrophenyl-ATP, and duplex DNA, providing direct evidence that the active site for polymerization lies in this region of the enzyme, with the substrate binding along the O-helix near Leu-764, Ile-765, and Tyr-766. Another synthetic peptide, peptide II, based on residues 840 to 888 of the Pol I sequence also retains much secondary structure as detected by CD but does not bind the substrate analog TNP-ATP.
Nucleon decay matrix elements for domain-wall fermions

Abstract We report on the nucleon decay matrix elements with domain-wall fermions in quenched approximation. Results from direct and indirect method are compared with a focus on the process of a proton decaying to a pion and a lepton. We discuss the renormalization necessary for the matching to the continuum theory. Preliminary results for the renormalized chiral lagrangian parameters are presented.
Thermoluminescence of meteorites and their orbits

The thermoluminescence (TL) levels of 45 ordinary chondrites were measured to obtain information about the meteorite orbits. The low-temperature TL reaches equilibrium while the meteorite is in space and reflects the temperature of the meteorite at perihelion. Samples of Pribram, Lost City, and Innisfree, whose orbits are accurately known, were used as control samples. The TL levels in 40 out ot 42 meteorites are similar to the three control samples, indicating that the vast majority of ordinary chondrites that survive atmospheric entry have perihelia similar to three known orbits, i.e., in the range 0.8–1 AU. The effects of albedo and rotation are also considered. A simple model indicates that temperature gradients of 1–2°K/cm are possible in slowly rotating meteoroids and such a temperature gradient is consistent with the unusually large TL gradient measured in the Farmville meteorite. Since slow rotation rates are improbable, other possibilities are examined but no satisfactory explanation has been found. The TL level measured in the Malakal meteorite is two orders of magnitude lower than control samples and is best explained by thermal draining due to solar heating in an orbit with a small perihelion distance. The perihelion is estimated to be∼0.5–0.6AU.
The Comstock research school in evolutionary entomology.

Quels sont les facteurs qui ont dynamise l'emergence de l'entomologie evolutive aux Etats-Unis et quel est le role joue par Comstock (J.H.) dans ce developpement?
20 W CW 589 nm sodium beacon excitation source for adaptive optical telescope applications

Abstract Operation of a doubly resonant sum-frequency generation (SFG) ring containing a lithium triborate (LBO) crystal has been demonstrated. It is pumped by 1.064 and 1.319 μm Nd:YAG injection-locked ring lasers and produces a 20 W, diffraction-limited, single-frequency, continuous wave, 589 nm beam. Nearly 60% conversion of pump laser power is obtained. Such a device produced a guidestar in the mesospheric sodium layer that can provide improved sky coverage for adaptive optical telescope applications. “First light” on the sky for the laser source was 21 November 2002 at the Starfire Optical Range, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
An examination of the shear‐thickening behavior of high molecular weight polymers dissolved in low‐viscosity Newtonian solvents

The anomaly of shear thickening at high shear rates can be observed under certain conditions for high molecular weight polymers dissolved in low-viscosity Newtonian solvents despite the fact that shear-thinning behavior is considered the norm for these fluids. The nature of the shear-thickening region of the flow curve is examined herein through the application of a recent rheological model that has the capability of quantifying not only the rheological properties of the material, but its internal microstructural state as well. The results of this examination provide a self-consistent explanation of the full flow characterization of this anomalous behavior, including both rheological and optical experimental measurements. The results presented herein suggest that the shear-thickening behavior is actually caused by the destruction of structures formed during shear at lower shear rates, not by their formation, as previously assumed. The linear birefringence and linear dichroism observed experimentally in correlation with the shear-thickening behavior are well described by the rheological model and give predictions in line with experimental measurements. Furthermore, quantitative predictions are made for rheological characteristic functions, such as the first and second normal-stress coefficients, for which experimental measurements for these solutions have not yet been made. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1714–1735, 2002
Line reversal breaking in K±N → K° Δ(1236) and K±N charge exchange at 4 and 6 GeV/c

Abstract Differential cross sections for the line-reversed reaction pairs K + 0p → K o Δ ++ (1236), K − n → K o Δ − (1236) and K − p → K o n , K + n → K o p have been measured with good statistics at 4 and 6 GeV/ c . The line reversal breaking for the Δ (1236) reactions is found to have no significant variation with energy and to be larger than for the charge exchange reactions. The cross sections for all four reactions show a dip in the forward direction, indicating the importance of spin-flip amplitudes.
Residues and fate of endosulfan on field-grown pepper and tomato

Endosulfan (Thiodan 3 EC), a mixture of α- and β-isomers, was sprayed on 92-day-old field-grown pepper and tomato at the recommended rate of 0·61 kg AI ha-1. Plant tissue samples were collected at 1 h to 14 days after application and analysed to determine the content and dissipation rate of endosulfan isomers (α- and β-endosulfan) and the major metabolite, endosulfan sulfate. Analysis of samples was accomplished using gas chromatography-mass selective detection (GC-MSD). The results indicated the formation of endosulfan sulfate as a residue component on the plant tissues and also the relatively higher persistence of the β-isomer as compared to the α-isomer on pepper fruits. The initial total residues (α- and β-endosulfan isomers plus endosulfan sulfate) were higher on leaves than on fruits. On pepper fruits, the α-isomer, which is the more toxic to mammals, dissipated faster than the less toxic β-isomer. Total residues (α- and β-endosulfan isomers plus the sulfate metabolite) on tomato leaves revealed longer persistence (t1/2 4·6 days) compared to the total residues detected on pepper leaves (t1/2 2·0 days) 3–14 days following spraying. Persistence of the β-isomer on pepper fruits was high 3–14 days following spraying compared to on tomato fruits. This long persistence increases risk of exposure of the consumer. In addition, the longer persistence of the total residues on tomato foliage should be considered of importance for timing the safe entry of tomato harvesters due to the high mammalian toxicity of endosulfan. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry
Cross-linguistic transfer in second language reading

Research on reading skills transfer has taken shape in two major disciplines: second language (L2) acquisition and reading. Inevitably, its evolution reflects major conceptual shifts in their respective research sub-fields. In L2 research, as a case in point, transfer was initially viewed as interference stemming from first language (L1) structural properties. This view, however, was significantly altered by the subsequent postulation that the language proficiency underlying cognitively demanding tasks, such as literacy and academic learning, is largely shared across languages, and therefore, once acquired in one language, it promotes literacy development in another (Cummins 1979). Reflecting the latter view, the current conceptualizations of transfer uniformly underscore the facilitative nature of previously learned competencies as resources available to L2 learners (e.g. Genesee et al. 2007; Koda 2008).
Rostrolateral prefrontal cortex and individual differences in uncertainty-driven exploration.

SUMMARY How do individuals decide to act based on a rewarding status quo versus an unexplored choice that might yield a better outcome? Recent evidence suggests that individuals may strategically explore as a function of the relative uncertainty about the expected value of options. However, the neural mechanisms supporting uncertainty-driven exploration remain underspecified. The present fMRI study scanned a reinforcement learning task in which participants stop a rotating clock hand in order to win points. Reward schedules were such that expected value could increase, decrease, or remain constant with respect to time. We fit several mathematical models to subject behavior to generate trial-by-trial estimates of exploration as a function of relative uncertainty. These estimates were used to analyze our fMRI data. Results indicate that rostrolateral prefrontal cortex tracks trial-by-trial changes in relative uncertainty, and this pattern distinguished individuals who rely on relative uncertainty for their exploratory decisions versus those who do not.
Behind the Facts: Helping Students Evaluate Media Reports of Psychological Research

This article describes an activity that can help students (a) understand how the research process influences the outcomes of that research and (b) appreciate the media's limitations of reporting research findings. Students read about research reported in an online newspaper and in a scholarly journal and responded to questions that guided their critique of the research methods and their comparison of the 2 sources. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations suggested that this activity can help students understand the impact of research procedures on a study's findings and to appreciate the limitations in the reporting of such findings from mainstream media sources.
Drainage-basin–scale geomorphic analysis to determine reference conditions for ecologic restoration—Kissimmee River, Florida

Major controls on the retention, distribution, and discharge of surface water in the historic (precanal) Kissimmee drainage basin and river were investigated to determine reference conditions for ecosystem restoration. Precanal Kissimmee drainage-basin hydrology was largely controlled by landforms derived from relict, coastal ridge, lagoon, and shallow-shelf features; widespread carbonate solution depressions; and a poorly developed fluvial drainage network. Prior to channelization for flood control, the Kissimmee River was a very low gradient, moderately meandering river that flowed from Lake Kissimmee to Lake Okeechobee through the lower drainage basin. We infer that during normal wet seasons, river discharge rapidly exceeded Lake Okeechobee outflow capacity, and excess surface water backed up into the low-gradient Kissimmee River. This backwater effect induced bankfull and peak discharge early in the flood cycle and transformed the flood plain into a shallow aquatic system with both lacustrine and riverine characteristics. The large volumes of surface water retained in the lakes and wetlands of the upper basin maintained overbank flow conditions for several months after peak discharge. Analysis indicates that most of the geomorphic work on the channel and flood plain occurred during the frequently recurring extended periods of overbank discharge and that discharge volume may have been significant in determining channel dimensions. Comparison of hydrogeomorphic relationships with other river systems identified links between geomorphology and hydrology of the precanal Kissimmee River. However, drainage-basin and hydraulic geometry models derived solely from general populations of river systems may produce spurious reference conditions for restoration design criteria.
Bradykinin B2 receptor contributes to the exaggerated muscle mechanoreflex in rats with femoral artery occlusion

Static muscle contraction activates the exercise pressor reflex, which in turn increases sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and blood pressure (BP). Bradykinin (BK) is considered as a muscle metaboli...
Fabrication of sharp conical microstructures on Si films by Nd:YAG-laser single-pulse irradiation

Sharp Si micro-cones were obtained by single-pulse laser irradiation (Q-switched Nd:YAG, 4th harmonic), of thin crystalline Si films on insulating substrates. The formation is due to localized melting and is controllable with important technological implications.
Comparison of gray-scale thresholding algorithms applied to coronary arteriograms

An algorithm, called the iterative trinary classification (ITC) algorithm, is presented for image segmentation. Two gray-scale thresholds are used to define three pixel classes (object, background, and undecided). On the basis of a learning process, the two thresholds are iteratively modified until the number of undecided pixels drops to a certain level, the stopping criterion. The performance of the ITC algorithm on synthetic and human coronary angiograms is compared with that of a relation algorithm and a scattering based algorithm. The ITC algorithm is computationally efficient and provides the best segmentation performance. With its strong potential for speedup by exploiting parallel processing the algorithm should be useful in various computationally intensive procedures for the analysis of coronary angiograms. >
Game Theory and Family Business Succession: an Introduction

One of the most significant challenges to enduring family businesses is the process of passing the leadership of a firm from one generation to another. This article introduces game theory as a mode...
TSH-Induced Thyroxine Release from Puromycin-Blocked Thyroid Glands of Intact Rabbits

When leucine-14C was infused via the carotid artery directly into the thyroid gland of intact, anesthetized rabbits, the 14C was readily incorporated into thyroid protein. Inclusion of approximately 10-3M puromycin in the infused solution consistently inhibited thyroid protein formation about 95 %. In 131Iinjected rabbits, whose thyroids were continuously exposed to puromycin infused via the carotid, TSH was injected peripherally, and its effect on 131I-thyroxine release from the thyroid was compared with that observed in saline-infused animals. The response to TSH was unaffected in the puromycin-blocked rabbits. These observations suggest that TSHinduced thyroxine release from the thyroid gland does not depend on prior stimulation of protein synthesis. This particular action of TSH, therefore, probably does not involve stimulation of messenger RNA synthesis. (Endocrinology 78: 103, 1966)
Genesis of What Is Life?: A Paradigm Shift in Genetics History

Erwin Schrodinger's 1944 book What Is Life? has often been cited as a driving force in figuring out the structure of DNA and cracking the genetic code. Schrodinger's book drew upon a paper by Nikolai Timofeeff-Ressovsky, Karl Zimmer, and Max Delbruck— the “Three-Man Paper.” Creating a Physical Biology argues why and how this paper produced a paradigm shift in biology.
Enteral tube feeding in a cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Malnutrition affects up to half of all chronic dialysis patients and is an important predictor of mortality, but the efficacy of interventions designed to improve the nutritional status of dialysis patients has been poorly studied. Specifically, although enteral tube feeding is often cited as an important option in the treatment of malnourished dialysis patients, there are few studies examining the effectiveness and complications of enteral tube feedings in adults on dialysis. We performed a retrospective analysis of a small cohort (n = 10) of chronic hemodialysis patients who received enteral tube feeding as all or part of their nutrition between January 1 and May 1, 1999, with follow-up through May 1, 2000, to assess the efficacy and complications of enteral tube feeding. Six patients received feeding via a peritoneoscopically placed (PEG) tube, 3 via nasogastric (NG) tube, and 1 patient was switched from PEG to NG feeding after an exit site infection developed at her PEG site. Seven patients received enteral feeding because of swallowing difficulties occurring after a cerebrovascular accident. Four patients were fed via enteral tube temporarily (</=4 months); the range of time on enteral feeding was 0.5 to 36 months. Five patients died by study end; only 1 recovered and no longer required enteral feeding. Patients were well dialyzed (median urea reduction rate, 73%). A significant improvement in serum albumin was seen (initial median albumin, 2.8, versus final median albumin, 3.4 g/dL, P =.04). Hypophosphatemia occurred in 8 of the 10 patients, and the nadir median phosphorus level was 1.95 mg/dL. One patient died as a result of an infected PEG. We conclude that enteral tube feeding is an important tool in the treatment of malnourished chronic hemodialysis patients and deserves formal study. Hypophosphatemia commonly occurs, and phosphorus levels should therefore be followed closely when initiating tube feedings in hemodialysis patients. In some cases, a nonrenal enteral formula may be useful for avoiding hypophosphatemia in these patients.
Determinants of health insurance status for children of Latino immigrant and other US farm workers: findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey.

Objective To characterize the health insurance status of farm workers' children, an understudied topic. Design A population-based multistage survey. Setting Employer-based study conducted in the continental United States from 2000 to 2002. Participants A total of 3136 parents with children younger than 18 years and no children residing outside of the United States who participated in the US Department of Labor's National Agricultural Workers Survey, which is administered to a national probability sample of US farm workers. Outcome Measures Children’s parent-reported health insurance status. Results Of the farm workers who were parents, 87% were Latino, 81% were foreign born, 15% were migrant workers, 55% had less than a sixth-grade education, and 68% reported little to no English language proficiency. Thirty-two percent of all farm-worker parents, including 45% of migrant-worker parents, reported that their children were uninsured. In multivariate analyses, older parental age (odds ratio [OR] for parents aged 30-39 years, 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-2.50; OR for parents aged ≥40 years, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.99-4.74), less parental education (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.09-2.10), less time in the United States (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.56-0.91 per 10 years in the United States), being a migrant worker (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.31-2.93), and living in the Southeast (OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 2.00-5.02) or Southwest (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 2.32-6.57) were significantly associated with having uninsured children. Conclusions Farm workers' children were uninsured at roughly 3 times the rate of all other children and almost twice the rate of those at or near the federal poverty level. Programs aimed at extending insurance coverage for children should consider the unique social barriers that characterize this vulnerable population of US children. Moreover, there is significant regional variation that may reflect varying levels of insurance resources and eligibility from state to state.
Academic attainment findings in children with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) demonstrate deficits in cognitive and academic functioning. This study compared the academic attainment of children with SCD relative to national, state, and local school district rates for African American students. METHODS A retrospective chart review of children with SCD was completed and academic information was collected from caregiver report and school records. One-sample tests of proportions were calculated to compare academic attainment rates in children with SCD relative to national, state, and local school district normative data of African American students. RESULTS Overall, 197 patient records were reviewed. A higher proportion of children with SCD were retained a grade relative to national, state, and local school district rates for African American students. In addition, a higher proportion of children with SCD received special education services relative to the national, state, and local school district rates for African American students. CONCLUSION Children with SCD demonstrate higher rates of special education services and grade retention relative to African American peers. Overall, children with SCD demonstrate poorer academic attainment relative to healthy, African American peers highlighting the need for increased focus on special education services to address school performance issues within this population.
Driving multilayer PDMS based peristaltic pump with laser pulses

We have demonstrated a novel pulse laser driven peristaltic pump based on widely used multilayer PDMS channels without using any mechanical or electrical interconnects for fluid pumping. It is realized by scanning tightly focused nanosecond laser pulses to induce rapidly expanding bubbles through laser induced water breakdown in the control channels. The expanding bubbles deform the thin PDMS membranes between the control and sample channels for fluid actuation. By synchronizing the dynamics of membrane deformation with laser pulsing, we can achieve a maximum pumping flow rate of 460 pl/s in a 16 µm high and 100 µm wide flow channel at a 557 Hz pumping frequency.
Mission Risk Diagnostic (MRD) Method Description

Abstract : Although most programs and organizations use risk management when developing and operating software-reliant systems, preventable failures continue to occur at an alarming rate. In many instances, the root causes of these preventable failures can be traced to weaknesses in the risk management practices employed by those programs and organizations. In particular, Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute (SEI) field experience indicates that programs and organizations throughout government and industry are unable to assess their risks effectively. For example, SEI independent assessments routinely uncover significant risks that have not been brought to the attention of key decision makers. When decision makers are unaware of significant risks, they are unable to take action to mitigate those risks. As a result, SEI researchers undertook a project to examine and improve the practice of risk assessment. The SEI has developed the Mission Risk Diagnostic (MRD) to assess risk in interactively complex, socio-technical systems across the life cycle and supply chain. To date, the SEI has employed the MRD in a variety of domains, including software acquisition and development, cybersecurity, software security, and business portfolio management. This technical note provides an overview of the MRD method.
A 12-year-old girl with dyspnea and a normal chest radiographic finding

(CHEST 2001; 120:1372–1376) A 12-year-old white girl was referred for the evaluation of a several-year history of progressive dyspnea on exertion. She denied shortness of breath at rest but was unable to run or complete one flight of stairs, and she described herself as “huffing and puffing” after walking the length of the hallway at school. She denied having wheezing, significant cough or sputum production, active sinus symptoms, chest pain, lower-extremity edema, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and orthopnea. She denied specific exacerbating causes of her dyspnea. She had been prescribed inhaled medications for possible exerciseinduced airways disease without any improvement. Workup data from her referring physician included an unremarkable chest radiograph (CXR) finding. Her medical history was significant for seasonal allergic rhinitis with recurrent sinusitis, bronchitis, and depression with suicidal ideation. Current medications included valproic acid, bupropion, and lithium carbonate. She had no known drug allergies. She was a never-smoker and denied alcohol or recreational drug use. She lived with her mother and stepfather and had missed numerous days of seventh grade. Her family history was noncontributory. Findings of a detailed review of systems were positive only for occasional arthralgia, typically her large joints, including her hip.
Comparative time efficiency of aligner therapy and conventional edgewise braces.

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the time efficiency of aligner therapy (ALT) and conventional edgewise braces (CEB) based on large samples of patients treated by the same highly experienced orthodontist, with the same treatment goals for both groups of patients. Materials and Methods: The retrospective portion of the study evaluated 150 CEB patients who were matched, based on mandibular crowding and number of rotated teeth, to 150 ALT patients. All records were obtained at one orthodontist's office. All of the patients had mild-to-moderate Class I malocclusions (≤5 mm incisor crowding) and were treated nonextraction. Age, gender, total treatment time, total number of appointments, types of appointments, materials used, mandibular crowding, and number of rotated teeth were recorded from the patients' records. The prospective portion of the study timed the various types of appointments for both treatments with a stopwatch. Results: Compared to ALT, CEB required significantly (P < .01) more visits (approximat...
Exploring the extension of item response theory models to the economic and social measurement

This paper has a methodological focus and is aimed at exploring the advantages of using the Item Response Theory (IRT) models in the measurement of financial strain. Basically, the IRT models allow deriving a latent measure and a scale from a set of dichotomous or polytomous items. Although IRT is a traditional technique of educational and psychological measurement, it can be also used as an econometric model in the measurement of economic and social constructs. In this paper, the one and the two parameter- IRT models are compared with the sum-score approach and the multivariate probit regression, as to point out different methodological aspects, applied to the Luxembourg socioeconomic panel (PSELL-3). The paper also examines the software used in the IRT analysis.
Computer and Software Use in Teaching the Beginning Statistics Course

We report the results of a survey examining computer-assisted data analysis in undergraduate psychology departments. Although 90% of the departments offered computer-assisted data analysis somewhere in their curriculum, one third did not use this approach in their beginning-level statistics course. We discuss the implications of the findings and suggestions for future research.
Synoptic-Scale Disturbances near the Equator

Abstract A spectral analysis of winds analyzed and initialized at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reveals an abundance of power in the 850 mb meridional wind along the equator with periods near four days. The power is mostly in the westward propagating component. Using high-pass filtered data it is shown that the waves have westward phase and eastward group propagation relative to the mean wind. The longest wavelengths are found over the Pacific Ocean, while the shortest are found over the convectively variable regions of Indonesia, South America, and Africa. Mean phase speeds at 850 mb are positively correlated with the mean wind on the equator at 500 mb and below, and negatively correlated with the mean wind above that level. The effective advecting zonal wind of the disturbances seems to be the density weighted average of the lower troposphere. The structure of the disturbances bears resemblance to the expected structure of an equatorially trapped mixed Rossby-gravity wave over t...
The structure and composition of the yeast NPC.

The double-membraned nuclear envelope (NE) behaves as a selective barrier that segregates the genome from all cytosolic processes. A highly regulated exchange system between these two compartments is essential for proper cell growth, progression through the cell cycle, accurate responses to developmental and extracellular signals and to maintain the functional integrity of the nucleus. The sole mediators of controlled nucleocytoplasmic transport are the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), large proteinaceous machineries embedded within specialized circular pores that traverse the NE. In actively growing cells it is estimated that every minute hundreds of proteins and ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) traverse each NPC in both directions. The basic mechanisms of nuclear transport appear to be highly conserved across distantly related species (reviewed in Nigg 1997; Mattaj and Englmeier 1998; Gorlich and Kutay 1999; Wente 2000). Although metabolites, water, ions and small macromolecules can freely diffuse through aqueous channels of 10 nm in the NPC, large macromolecular particles with a diameter of up to 30 nm are selectively transported across the NPC via a highly regulated energy-dependent process. Active transport requires specific soluble transport factors that recognize individual substrates both inside and outside the nucleus and mediate their interaction with the stationary phase of the NPC translocation machinery. Specifically, the translocation of transport substrates is known to require the docking of the transport complex to the NPC, the active translocation of the docked complexes across the NPC and the release of the substrate into the target compartment. Various models have been proposed to explain how this docked complex is actively translocated across the 50–60 nm long NPC transporter and then subsequently released into the nucleoplasm, and the matter is still highly controversial (see below). All models agree in attributing a crucial importance to the protein Ran in maintaining vectorial cargo transport and regulating the binding and release steps that take place during translocation. As a member of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases, Ran exists within the cell in a GDP-bound and in a GTP-bound form. The balance between these two forms is regulated by a variety of Ran cofactors that are asymmetrically distributed within the cell. As a consequence cytoplasmic Ran is thought to exist prevalently in the GDP-bound form, while Ran-GTP is thought to predominate in the nucleus. This differential distribution of Ran-GTP versus Ran-GDP would establish directional transport by ensuring that transport complexes are formed in one compartment and disassembled in the other (reviewed in Cole and Hammell 1998; Mattaj and Englmeier 1998; Pemberton et al. 1998; Wozniak et al. 1998; Gorlich and Kutay 1999). Understanding this regulated transport demands an understanding of the detailed three-dimensional map of the NPC and of the interactions and relationships between the soluble and stationary phases of nuclear transport.
Optimum Prostate Biopsy: Techniques and Strategies

Since its dissemination 20 years ago, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has revolutionized the landscape of prostate cancer (PCa) detection and resulted in a considerable stage migration. Such results would not have been achieved without the contemporary refinements of the technique of prostate biopsy (PBx). PBx has evolved from the digitally guided transrectal biopsy, described by Astraldi in 1937, to the systematic biopsy method, described by Hodge et al. in 1989. Over the past few years, there has been a rising interest in defining more accurate PBx schemes in an attempt to improve PCa detection. Intuitively, this aim could be mainly achieved by adding more biopsies to prostatic areas not sampled by standard sextant schemes as initially described by Hodge. The introduction of effective local anesthesia periprostatic block has allowed an increase in the number of biopsies taken in the outpatient setting without increasing discomfort and pain. Thus, the concepts of “extended biopsy (ePBx)” and “saturation biopsy (sPBx)” have rapidly evolved in the past 10 years, radically changing the general idea of PBx. Moreover, modern efforts have been focused on the use of new imaging modalities and configuration of the biopsy probe in attempts to further enhance PCa detection.
Super PAC Spending Strategies in the 2012 Federal Elections

What strategies do super PACs pursue in allocating their money? In this paper, we examine how super PACS spent their money in the 2012 federal elections. What principles guided super PAC spending strategies? Do they follow strategies similar to traditional PACs? We argue that their spending patterns have changed the dynamics of federal campaign finance by directing more funds to individual candidate races than in the past, particularly through candidate-specific super PACs. We find that most super PACs spend their money differently than conventional PACs in that they are less interested in access to sitting lawmakers and more focused on an electoral strategy to affect the partisan composition of government. Thus, super PACs behave more like political parties than traditional PACs. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that some super PAC practices challenge the court decisions and regulations that govern their activities, raising concerns about the impact these new campaign finance organizations have on U.S. elections.
LiCoPO4 cathode from a CoHPO4·xH2O nanoplate precursor for high voltage Li-ion batteries

A highly crystalline LiCoPO4/C cathode material has been synthesized without noticeable impurities via a single step solid-state reaction using CoHPO4·xH2O nanoplate as a precursor obtained by a simple precipitation route. The LiCoPO4/C cathode delivered a specific capacity of 125 mAhg−1 at a charge/discharge rate of C/10. The nanoplate precursor and final LiCoPO4/C cathode have been characterized using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis − differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the electrochemical cycling stability has been investigated using different electrolytes, additives and separators.
Apparent arterial compliance

Recently, there has been renewed interest in estimating total arterial compliance. Because it cannot be measured directly, a lumped model is usually applied to derive compliance from aortic pressur...
Design and Optimization of Area-Constrained Wirelessly Powered CMOS UWB SoC for Localization Applications

This paper discusses the design of a batteryless wirelessly powered ultra-wideband (UWB) system-on-a-chip (SoC) tag for area-and-volume-constrained localization applications such as insect tracking. Key challenges for wirelessly powered operation at 10-m range include the design of high-sensitivity rectifiers and low-voltage high-efficiency UWB transmitters (TX). An antenna-rectifier co-design methodology is presented for sensitivity optimization under area constraints. A 300-nA power management unit (PMU) and low-voltage (0.8-V) UWB TX increases tag operating range by ensuring high rectifier sensitivity under loaded conditions and reducing required rectifier output voltage. The rectifier, PMU, and UWB TX are integrated in 65-nm CMOS, and the rectifier demonstrates state-of-the-art $-\hbox{30.7–dBm}$ sensitivity for 1-V output voltage with only 1.3 $\hbox{cm}^{2}$ antenna area, representing a 2.3 $\,\times $ improvement in sensitivity over previously published work, at 2.6 $\,\times $ higher frequency with 9 $\,\times $ smaller antenna area, translating into a 50% longer range at the same frequency. The 0.8-V UWB TX consumes 64 pJ/pulse at 28-MHz pulse repetition rate and achieves 2.4 GHz $-\hbox{10-dB}$ bandwidth. Wireless measurements demonstrate sub-10-cm range resolution at ranges exceeding 10 $~$ m. Tag measurements in typical office environments demonstrate 20-m-range RF-energy harvesting with 36-dBm effective-isotropic radiated power in the 2.4-GHz ISM band.