cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Telehealth, telemedicine, and telecare

Abstract Breakthroughs in telecommunication, digital health, and electronic health records systems facilitate significant growth in the deployment of technological tools such as telehealth (TH), telemedicine, and telecare for extending health, rehabilitation, and wellness services. The extension of these services facilitates the availability of expert knowledge and expertise, conventionally contained within medical centers, to virtually any location where telecommunication can reach, at any time 24 × 7 × 365, in an instant, that is, in real-time or in delayed format like during the use of e-mail communication. Today’s TH has changed significantly from the early one-way monitoring and telemedicine system that broadcasted human’s ECG from remote environment of the space flights. While TH systems maturation was challenged for the past 30 years, it has now reached quality, reliability, and integration levels that promote wide use and in some conditions the only solution for delivering needed services such as during and immediately after disaster events. The TH market size has increased in both types of program application and variation of technological tools available and expected to exceed US$113 billion by 2025 enjoying projected annual growth of over 18%.
Condition of mule deer during winter: stress and spatial overlap with North American elk

We assessed body condition, diet quality (indexed by fecal nitrogen), and stress levels (using fecal glucocorticoid metabolites) in mule deer Odocoileus hemionus in southeastern Idaho, USA, during a mild (2007) and a harsh winter (2008) to evaluate spatial overlap and potential competition with North American elk Cervus elaphus. We used data from GPS telemetry to construct spatially explicit maps of local population density of elk for January–April. Loss of body condition over winter in yearling and adult female mule deer was not related to elk density but to winter severity. Fecal nitrogen increased as winter progressed in both winters, was significantly lower during 2008 than in 2007, but was not related to local population density of elk. In the mild winter of 2007, a significant positive relationship existed between local population density of elk and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels of mule deer, indicating increased physiological stress among mule deer wintering in close proximity to elk. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels in deer were lower in 2008 than in 2007 and exhibited no significant relationship with elk density. Declining fecal glucocorticoid levels through winter may be typical of northern cervids. No difference existed in levels of fecal glucocorticoids between sexes of deer. A reduction in elk populations may not improve diet quality, physiological stress levels, or body condition of mule deer on winter range, especially during severe winters. Consequently, management and conservation of winter habitat are more likely to benefit mule deer than would altering density of elk.
Whole-genome sequencing of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici mutant isolates identifies avirulence gene candidates

The stripe rust pathogen, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), threats world wheat production. Resistance to Pst is often overcome by pathogen virulence changes, but the mechanisms of variation are not clearly understood. To determine the role of mutation in Pst virulence changes, in previous studies 30 mutant isolates were developed from a least virulent isolate using ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis and phenotyped for virulence changes. The progenitor isolate was sequenced, assembled and annotated for establishing a high-quality reference genome. In the present study, the 30 mutant isolates were sequenced and compared to the wide-type isolate to determine the genomic variation and identify candidates for avirulence (Avr) genes. The sequence reads of the 30 mutant isolates were mapped to the wild-type reference genome to identify genomic changes. After selecting EMS preferred mutations, 264,630 and 118,913 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites and 89,078 and 72,513 Indels (Insertion/deletion) were detected among the 30 mutant isolates compared to the primary scaffolds and haplotigs of the wild-type isolate, respectively. Deleterious variants including SNPs and Indels occurred in 1866 genes. Genome wide association analysis identified 754 genes associated with avirulence phenotypes. A total of 62 genes were found significantly associated to 16 avirulence genes after selection through six criteria for putative effectors and degree of association, including 48 genes encoding secreted proteins (SPs) and 14 non-SP genes but with high levels of association (P ≤ 0.001) to avirulence phenotypes. Eight of the SP genes were identified as avirulence-associated effectors with high-confidence as they met five or six criteria used to determine effectors. Genome sequence comparison of the mutant isolates with the progenitor isolate unraveled a large number of mutation sites along the genome and identified high-confidence effector genes as candidates for avirulence genes in Pst. Since the avirulence gene candidates were identified from associated SNPs and Indels caused by artificial mutagenesis, these avirulence gene candidates are valuable resources for elucidating the mechanisms of the pathogen pathogenicity, and will be studied to determine their functions in the interactions between the wheat host and the Pst pathogen.
HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Adolescents in the US: A Review.

Importance Many adolescents and young adults in the US are disproportionately affected by HIV. Several others who are uninfected are at risk and in need of effective preventive strategies. The uptake rate of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has remained low among US adolescents. This review assesses the current status of PrEP uptake among at-risk adolescents aged 13 to 19 years and recommendations for improving PrEP access, uptake, and future needed directions, including specific recommendations for health care professionals. Observations Of the 37 377 new HIV diagnoses made in 2018, 7734 diagnoses (21%) occurred in adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 24 years; of these, 1707 diagnoses (22%) occurred in adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. The greatest burden of HIV is found among young African American men who have sex with men, accounting for two-thirds of all HIV infections in adolescents and young adults. Preexposure prophylaxis awareness and engagement are lowest in adolescents with the greatest risk for HIV. Adolescent primary care clinicians and specialists do not routinely offer HIV testing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or routinely assess sexual risk exposures of patients through sexual history taking. Clinicians’ decision to prescribe PrEP for adolescents is often guided by their perceptions of the patient’s HIV risk and their knowledge and acceptance of PrEP guidelines. State laws on consent, confidentiality, and the rights of the adolescent to independently access PrEP outside of parental influence differ across jurisdictions, often limiting access and uptake. Conclusions and Relevance Use of PrEP in adolescents at risk for HIV is an important component of HIV prevention. Optimizing uptake includes improving clinicians’ knowledge about HIV risk and prevention strategies, enhancing sexual history taking and risk assessment through training and retraining, and improving PrEP knowledge and acceptance of prescribing among clinicians. Leveraging the ubiquity of social media, encouraging family support, and performing research aimed at finding lifestyle-congruent formulations can help mitigate HIV transmission in adolescents at greatest risk for HIV.
Outpatient risk stratification for traumatic brain injury

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common presentation in the Emergency Department and accounts for a third of all injury-related deaths in the U.S. Among all the people who seek care only 10% suffers from an intracranial injury and less than 1% requires neurosurgical interventions. Therefore, the majority of head-injury patients experiences some form of concussion with symptoms ranging from short term cognitive dysfunction to long term behavioral changes. However, the diagnosis of concussion is ill-defined leaving room for divergent consensus statements by specialty organizations. Although, recent computer-based neurocognitive testing have shown promise, traditional diagnostic tests focusing on memory, balance and oculomotor function have had limited predictive value for concussion. Despite recent advances, the diagnosis and clinical assessment of concussion pose a challenge, leaving much room for further research and investigation.
Dwelling in Strangeness: Accounts of the Kingsley Hall Community, London (1965-1970), Established by R. D. Laing.

This article explores archival accounts of the experimental community, Kingsley Hall (1965-70), established by R. D. Laing, the radical Scottish psychiatrist. The paper contributes to renewed interest in Kingsley Hall, R. D. Laing's radical psychiatry and UK counterculture. Archival sources enable not only the further exploration of already known figures but also let us hear previously unheard voices. Following a discussion of archival materials, the Hall is analyzed thematically and historically as (i) an inner spaceship; (ii) an embattled middle-class countercultural plantation; (iii) a site of spiritual renewal and development; (iv) a single-building arts colony; and (v) a countercultural experiment. Finally, it is argued that with re-evaluation of 1960s and 1970s counterculture now underway on the Left, the Hall’s experiment in Laingian countercultural psychiatry—as we may fittingly call it—may yet inform future radical projects (in mental health and beyond).
Humans-Only Norms: An Unexpected Kantian Story

According to official Kantian doctrine, genuine moral norms are “pure” or a priori—viz., nonempirical, and marked by “necessity and strict universality.” And Kant interprets “strict universality” to mean that such norms apply not merely to all human beings but to “all rational beings in general.” But Louden draws attention to a second kind of norm in Kant’s philosophy—“humans-only norms.” These norms are impure, a posteriori, and empirical. After giving several examples of humans-only norms found in Kant’s own writings, Louden attempt to show both that some of these norms are genuine moral norms (even though they are not pure), and that they play a necessary and important role in Kant’s ethical theory. Louden concludes with some (not-quite-strictly Kantian) arguments in favor of a humans-only morality.
Methods for Rapid Protein Depletion in C. elegans using Auxin-Inducible Degradation

Numerous methods have been developed in model systems to deplete or inactivate proteins to elucidate their functional roles. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a common method for protein depletion is RNA interference (RNAi), in which mRNA is targeted for degradation. C. elegans is also a powerful genetic organism, amenable to large-scale genetic screens and CRISPR-mediated genome editing. However, these approaches largely lead to constitutive inhibition, which can make it difficult to study proteins essential for development or to dissect dynamic cellular processes. Thus, there have been recent efforts to develop methods to rapidly inactivate or deplete proteins to overcome these barriers. One such method that is proving to be exceptionally powerful is auxin-inducible degradation. In order to apply this approach in C. elegans, a 44-amino acid degron tag is added to the protein of interest, and the Arabidopsis ubiquitin ligase TIR1 is expressed in target tissues. When the plant hormone auxin is added, it mediates an interaction between TIR1 and the degron-tagged protein of interest, which triggers ubiquitination of the protein and its rapid degradation via the proteasome. Here, we have outlined multiple methods for inducing auxin-mediated depletion of target proteins in C. elegans, highlighting the versatility and power of this method. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Long-term auxin-mediated depletion on plates Support Protocol: Preparation of NGM and NGM-auxin plates Basic Protocol 2: Rapid auxin-mediated depletion via soaking Basic Protocol 3: Acute auxin-mediated depletion in isolated embryos Basic Protocol 4: Assessing auxin-mediated depletion.
Evaluation of Different Extraction Methods for the Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Dried Blood Spots from the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus).

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmental contaminants linked to adverse health effects in humans and wildlife. Marine mammals, particularly manatees, have shown potential as sentinels for evaluating the presence and effects of anthropogenic chemicals. However, traditional blood collection techniques with marine mammals can be challenging, highlighting the need for improved strategies. In the present study, four different methods for the extraction of PFAS from dried blood spots were evaluated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of oral aspirin for protection of melanocytic nevi against UV-induced DNA damage

DNA damage plays a role in ultraviolet (UV)-induced melanoma. We previously showed that aspirin (ASA) can suppress prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and protect melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage in mice, and suggested that taking ASA before acute sun exposure may reduce melanoma risk. We conducted a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine if orally administered ASA could suppress PGE2 in plasma and nevi and protect nevi from UV-induced DNA damage. After obtaining plasma and determining the minimal erythemal dose (MED) in 95 subjects at increased risk for melanoma, they were randomized to receive a daily dose of placebo, 81 mg ASA, or 325 mg ASA, in double-blind fashion for one month. After this intervention, one nevus was irradiated (dose = 1 or 2 MED) using a solar simulator. One day later, MED was re-determined, a second plasma sample was obtained, and the UV-irradiated nevus and an unirradiated nevus were removed. ASA metabolites were detected in the second plasma sample in subjects in the ASA arms. There were no significant differences in the pre- and post-intervention MED between those patients receiving ASA and placebo. Significantly reduced PGE2 levels were detected in plasma (second vs. first samples) and in nevi (both unirradiated and UV-treated) in subjects receiving ASA compared to placebo. Comparing UV-treated nevi from the ASA and placebo cohorts, however, did not reveal significant reductions in CD3-cell infiltration or 8-oxoguanine and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Thus ASA did not effectively protect nevi from solar-simulated UV -induced inflammation and DNA damage under the conditions examined.
Feshbach Resonances in Fermionic 6Li

Feshbach resonances in $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ were experimentally studied and theoretically analyzed. In addition to two previously known $s$-wave resonances, three $p$-wave resonances were found. Four of these resonances are narrow and yield a precise value of the singlet scattering length. The position of the broad $s$-wave resonance near $83\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mT}$ is mostly sensitive to the triplet potential. It was previously determined in a molecule-dissociation experiment for which we, here, discuss systematic shifts.
A Review of “Visibly Invisible”

In Visibly Invisible, W. Graham Monteith shares his journey from a young boy born with cerebral palsy whose experience with Sunday school lasted one Sunday to that of a retired parish minister of t...
Gasohol: Technical, Economic, or Political Panacea?

A systems analysis of the gasohol production processes indicates that gasohol is increasing rather than decreasing the nation's dependence on crude oil. The federal government's claim that gasohol can reduce the nation's dependence on imported energy appears to be based principally on political considerations, but also on the assumption that coal will eventually replace the petroleum and natural gas currently used in the gasohol production wherever possible. The authors advocate reevaluation of the government's commitment to gasohol and increased governmental support for using the nonrenewable resources needed for gasohol production on the production of synthetic gasoline and diesel fuel, and methanol, all of which are projected to be less expensive and more energy efficient fuels.
Modeling and Quantification of Protein Maps by Gaussian Fitting

We present a fitting method applied to high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). The goal of this technique is to improve protein quantification by 2D-PAGE modeling. Two-dimensional gaussian functions (2D-Gaussian) have been used to model protein patterns contained in a 2D-PAGE. The patterns are sequentially approximated by a 2D-Gaussian. This is performed, first, by a least square fitting algorithm (linear method); then, by a conjugate gradient minimization algorithm (non-linear method). Results of this method are discussed.
Tiered replication: a cost-effective alternative to full cluster geo-replication

Cloud storage systems typically use three-way random replication to guard against data loss within the cluster, and utilize cluster geo-replication to protect against correlated failures. This paper presents a much lower cost alternative to full cluster geo-replication. We demonstrate that in practical settings, using two replicas is sufficient for protecting against independent node failures, while using three random replicas is inadequate for protecting against correlated node failures. We present Tiered Replication, a replication scheme that splits the cluster into a primary and backup tier. The first two replicas are stored on the primary tier and are used to recover data in the case of independent node failures, while the third replica is stored on the backup tier and is used to protect against correlated failures. The key insight of our paper is that, since the third replicas are rarely read, we can place the backup tier on separate physical infrastructure or a remote location without affecting performance. This separation significantly increases the resilience of the storage system to correlated failures and presents a low cost alternative to georeplication of an entire cluster. In addition, the Tiered Replication algorithm optimally minimizes the probability of data loss under correlated failures. Tiered Replication can be executed incrementally for each cluster change, which allows it to supports dynamic environments in which nodes join and leave the cluster, and it facilitates additional data placement constraints required by the storage designer, such as network and rack awareness. We have implemented Tiered Replication on HyperDex, an open-source cloud storage system, and demonstrate that it incurs a small performance overhead. Tiered Replication improves the cluster-wide MTTF by a factor of 20,000 compared to random replication and by a factor of 20 compared to previous non-random replication schemes, without increasing the amount of storage.
Can We Do Without Monotonically Non-decreasing Levels in Class Hierarchies?

Most object-oriented security models require that the security classifications applied to classes be monotonically non-decreasing as one proceeds from class to subclass in a hierarchy. However, this restriction has a number of detrimental consequences for object-oriented software developers and object-database designers. In this position paper, I attempt to demonstrate why monotonically non-decreasing class hierarchies should be avoided in object-oriented security models and then briefly discuss a number of approaches to OODBMS design that make monotonicity restrictions unnecessary.
Optimal sidelobe suppression for biphase codes

A technique is developed for the generation of filters for pulse compression sidelobe reduction in radar systems. This technique has two advantages over the standard Wiener filtering technique: it minimizes sidelobe energy over multiple input sequences, and it can shape the sidelobe energy through the application of a weighting function that indicates which sidelobes are most important to reduce. Two example applications are provided, showing the effectiveness of this technique in generating filters for orthogonal code pairs and in generating filters for compressions with low sidelobes near the main peak. >
A unified description of cerebellar inter-spike interval distributions and variabilities using summation of Gaussians.

Neuronal inter-spike intervals (ISIs) have previously been described as Poisson, Gamma, inverse Gaussian or other unimodal distributions. We analyzed ISIs of rhythmic and arrhythmic neuronal spike trains in cerebellum recorded from freely behaving rats, and found that their distributions can be described as the summation or integration of multiple Gaussian distributions. The ISIs of rhythmic cerebellar Purkinje cells have a main Gaussian peak at a basic firing interval and exponentially reduced peaks at multiples of this firing period. ISIs of arrhythmic Purkinje cells can be modeled as the integration of multiple Gaussian distributions centered at continuous intervals with exponentially reduced peak amplitudes. The sources of variability are directly related to the relative timing of action potentials between neighboring cells since we show that irregularities of discharge in one cell are associated with the previous history of its discharge in time relative to another cell. Through relative phase analys...
Designing Census Public Use Samples for Aging Research

The author attempts to identify questions and issues relevant to the development of public use samples for aging research using U.S. census data. (ANNOTATION)
Should the IDC-9 Trauma Mortality Prediction Model become the new paradigm for benchmarking trauma outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Optimum quantification of injury severity remains an imprecise science with a need for improvement. The accuracy of the criterion standard Injury Severity Score (ISS) worsens as a patient's injury severity increases, especially among patients with penetrating trauma. The objective of this study was to comprehensively compare the mortality prediction ability of three anatomic injury severity indices: the ISS, the New ISS (NISS), and the DRG International Classification of Diseases-9th Rev.-Trauma Mortality Prediction Model (TMPM-ICD-9), a recently developed contemporary injury assessment model. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients in the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2008. The TMPM-ICD-9 values were computed and compared with the ISS and NISS for each patient using in-hospital mortality after trauma as the outcome measure. Discrimination and calibration were compared using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve. Subgroup analysis was performed to compare each score across varying ranges of injury severity and across different types of injury. RESULTS: A total of 533,898 patients were identified with a crude mortality rate of 4.7%. The ISS and NISS performed equally in the groups with minor (ISS, 1-8) and moderate (ISS, 9-15) injuries, regardless of the injury type. However, in the populations with severe (ISS, 16-24) and very severe (ISS, ≥25) injuries for all injury types, the NISS predicted mortality better than the ISS did. The TMPM-ICD-9 outperformed both the NISS and ISS almost consistently. CONCLUSION: The NISS and TMPM-ICD-9 are both superior predictors of mortality as compared with the ISS. The immediate adoption of NISS for evaluating trauma outcomes using trauma registry data is recommended. The TMPM-ICD-9 may be an even better measure of human injury, and its use in administrative or nonregistry data is suggested. Further research on its attributes is recommended because it has the potential to become the basis for benchmarking trauma outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level III. Language: en
Nelson's drift coefficient and the structure of quantum spacetime

Abstract The drift coefficient of Nelson's stochastic differential equation describing the particle dynamics of the quantum two-slit experiment is studied using symbolic computation. For any fixed space and time resolutions, quantum spacetime has a lattice-like structure with nodes that are shaped and dependent on the space scale. This permits intuitive explanations for time-irreversibility and non-locality.
Transient response analysis of linear differential systems on minicomputers

A common problem in system simulation is producing the solution to a differential equation of the form x(t)= Ax(t) + Bu(t), where A and B are constants. In particular, simulation often requires solutions for a step, ramp, or constant-acceleration forcing function. Standard numerical integration methods may fail or be extremely slow when implemented on a mini computer because of its short wordlength. This paper presents a new deterministic integration method which will accurately and rapidly produce the solution. Some numerical experiments are shown to demonstrate the new method.
A transportation and logistic support model for aircraft aboard navy carriers

Abstract The U.S. Navy's 13 carrier battle groups play a critical role in support of U.S. defense strategy. However, the mission of the combat aircraft aboard these aircraft carriers cannot be sustained unless they have sufficient transportation and logistic support. This paper describes the development of an econometric model of the transportation and logistic support system that keeps the carrier's combat aircraft flying.
Acute Ethanol Intoxication and the Trauma Patient: Hemodynamic Pitfalls

Many trauma patients are acutely intoxicated with alcohol. Animal studies have demonstrated that acute alcohol intoxication inhibits the normal release of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin in response to acute hemorrhage. Ethanol also increases nitric oxide release and inhibits antidiuretic hormone secretion. This article studies the effects of alcohol intoxication (measured by blood alcohol level, BAL) on the presentation and resuscitation of trauma patients with blunt hepatic injuries. A retrospective registry and chart review was conducted of all patients who presented with blunt liver injuries at an ACS-verified, level I trauma center. Data collected included admission BAL, systolic blood pressure, hematocrit, International Normalized Ratio (INR), liver injury grade, Injury Severity Score (ISS), intravenous fluid and blood product requirements, base deficit, and mortality. From September 2002 to May 2008, 723 patients were admitted with blunt hepatic injuries. Admission BAL was obtained in 569 patients, with 149 having levels >0.08%. Intoxicated patients were more likely to be hypotensive on admission (p = 0.01) despite a lower liver injury grade and no significant difference in ISS. There was no significant difference in the percent of intoxicated patients requiring blood transfusion. However, when blood was given, intoxicated patients required significantly more units of packed red blood cells (PRBC) than their nonintoxicated counterparts (p = 0.01). Intoxicated patients also required more intravenous fluid during their resuscitation (p = 0.002). Alcohol intoxication may impair the ability of blunt trauma patients to compensate for acute blood loss, making them more likely to be hypotensive on admission and increasing their PRBC and intravenous fluid requirements. All trauma patients should have BAL drawn upon admission and their resuscitation should be performed with an understanding of the physiologic alterations associated with acute alcohol intoxication.
A CtrA homolog affects swarming motility and encystment in Rhodospirillum centenum

The α-proteobacterium, Rhodospirillum centenum, has a complex life cycle that allows adaptation to different environments. Transitions between vegetative swim cell and swarmer cell types depend on whether the organism is growing in liquid surroundings or on a solid substrate. Moreover, starvation can induce vegetative cells to differentiate into quiescent cysts. This paper describes the results of our investigation into the role of a putative DNA-binding response regulator that is homologous to CtrA, the cell cycle regulator from Caulobacter crescentus. Deletion of ctrA from the R. centenum genome resulted in a viable strain with impaired swarming motility coupled with an increased tendency to form cysts. Conversely, overexpression of wild type CtrA or a phosphomimetic allele, CtrAD51E, suppressed cyst cell formation, whereas overexpression of a CtrAD51A allele failed to suppress encystment but did prevent swarming motility. Thus, we propose that CtrA participates within a two-component signal transduction pathway that promotes swarming motility while contributing to the suppression of cyst cell formation.
Multibreather stability in discrete Klein-Gordon equations: Beyond nearest neighbor interactions

Abstract We present results on multibreather stability in one-dimensional nonlinear Klein–Gordon chains. Our analysis is based on Aubryʼs band theory and perturbation theory. First, we provide an alternative proof of the stability of multibreathers in a chain with nearest neighbor interactions only. Then, we extend our analysis to the case of interactions with up to three neighbors. For next-nearest neighbor and third-nearest neighbor interactions we also extend the theory to study the stability properties of recently found multibreathers that have nonstandard phase shifts (not equal to 0 or π).
Comparison of the properties of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase in normal and leukemic human white blood cells

Abstract Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase (PRPP synthetase) from normal human lymphocytes and granulocytes was compared with phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes and leukemic white blood cells of several types with respect to enzyme activity and kinetic constants. PRPP synthetase activity was determined by measuring the production of 14CO2 in a coupled reaction with ¦14C¦orotic acid in the presence of orotidylate pyrophosphorylase and orotidylate decarboxylase. Enzyme activity was expressed both as nmoles/mg of protein/30 min and as nmoles/103 cells/30 min. In more than 50 per cent of the leukemic patients, activity was above normal values when compared on a per mg protein basis. However, when activity was compared on a per cell basis, only the acute myelocytic leukemic patients showed a change from the normal value, and in this case activity was inversely related to the percentage of blast cells in the peripheral circulation. Michaelis constants for ATP (KmATP) and ribose-5-phosphate (KmR5P) were found to be 17.6 ± 1.8 and 51.3 ± 2.4 μM, respectively, in normal lymphocytes, and 55.9 ± 8.0 and 82.5 ± 1.1 μM in normal granulocytes. The KmATP was found to decrease in all leukemic cell types, while the KmR5P showed deviation from normal values depending on the type of leukemia. The inhibition constants (KiATP and KiR5P) were also compared in all leukemic cell types and showed deviations from normal which were cell type dependent. These results suggest that sufficient alteration of the properties of PRPP synthetase from leukemic cells exists to warrant further investigation into the therapeutic implications of alterations of the properties of this enzyme.
The development and application of a SiSiO2 interface-trap measurement system based on the staircase charge-pumping technique

Abstract An automated SiSiO2 interface-trap measurement system based on the staircase charge-pumping technique is developed. This system can perform interface-trap density (Dit) energy distribution measurements directly on n- and p-channel submicrometer MOSFETs without requiring complex transient recombination modeling. It is demonstrated that the staircase charge-pumping technique is capable of characterizing interface-trap densities as low as 109 cm−2 eV−1 as well as detecting trap states within 50 meV of the conduction-band edge. The technique is also sensitive to recombination time constants (τ) ranging over four orders of magnitude. In this study, experimental evidence is presented confirming several significant assumptions used in the staircase charge-pumping technique. Verification is provided of the establishment of quasi-equilibrium, the independence between trapping and detrapping processes, and the justification of neglecting edge effects and parasitic current components. Criteria are presented outlining the regions of validity for utilizing staircase charge pumping. Applications in the monitoring of oxide degradation due to Fowler-Nordheim tunneling and hot-electron injection are demonstrated.
Role conflict for adult probation and parole officers: Fact or myth

Abstract The studies reported here examined the nature of role conflict in adult probation and parole officers. The first focused on state probation officers, who were expected to demonstrate high levels of role conflict because of a change in agency policy and because of the mandatory use of weapons. The expected role conflict did not appear in the data. It was suggested that the role conflict did not occur because of a sizable economic incentive that was attached to the use of weapons. The second study collected data from federal probation officers in the same geographical area. Although the federal officers demonstrated higher levels of role conflict than the state officers, the levels observed appeared to be relatively low.
Sibylline syllables: the intratextual Aeneid

As recent scholarship on the poem has demonstrated, the Aeneid is punctuated by reiterated episodes of opening. These ruptures, often violently produced, release violence into the world of the poem, prolonging the epic action by postponing its appointed end. The pattern is set in the first book when Aeolus strikes at the mountain that houses the winds, unleashing the storm that drives Aeneas off course, from Italy to Carthage. What is ‘opened’ here is at once something within the poem (the cavernous prison of the winds) and the poem itself, which restarts, as it were, when it seemed on the verge, with Aeneas' approach to Italy, of shutting down. Much valuable work has been done to illuminate and complicate this convergence of the action in the poem with the action of the poem, with one focus being the agency of Juno, a figure especially closely linked here with openings and beginnings.
The Structure of d(TpA)*, the Major Photoproduct of Thymidylyl-(3′–5′)-Deoxyadenosine

Irradiation of the dinucleotide TpdA and TA-containing oligonucleotides and DNA produces the TA* photoproduct which was proposed to be the [2+2] cyclo-addition adduct between the C5-C6 double bonds of the T and the A [Bose,S.N., Kumar,S., Davies,R.J.H., Sethi,S.K. and McCloskey,J.A. (1984) Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 7929-7947]. The proposed structure was based on a variety of spectroscopic and chemical degradation studies, and the assignment of a trans-syn-I stereochemistry was based on an extensive 1H-NMR and molecular modeling study of the dinucleotide adduct [Koning,T.M.G., Davies,R.J.H. and Kaptein,R. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 277-284]. However, a number of properties of TA* are not in accord with the originally proposed structure, and prompted a re-evaluation of the structure. To assign the 13C spectrum and establish the bond connectivities of the TA* photoproduct of TpdA [d(TpA)*], 1H-13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) spectra were obtained. The 13C shifts and connectivities were found to be inconsistent with the originally proposed cyclobutane ring fusion between the thymine and adenine, but could be explained by a subsequent ring-expansion reaction to give an eight-membered ring valence isomer. The new structure for the d(TpA)* resolves the inconsistencies with the originally proposed structure, and could have a stereochemistry that arises from the anti, anti glycosyl conformation found in B form DNA.
Castor bean intoxication

We report the cases of a child who ingested two or more castor beans and two adults who each ingested four beans. All three patients developed severe gastroenteritis and recovered without sequelae after receiving IV fluids. The literature contains reports of 424 cases of castor bean intoxication. Symptoms of intoxication include acute gastroenteritis, fluid and electrolyte depletion, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemolysis, and hypoglycemia. Delayed cytotoxicity has not been reported. Of the 424 patients, 14 died (mortality rates: 8.1% of untreated and 0.4% of treated). Deaths were due to hypovolemic shock. Recommended treatment for asymptomatic patients who have chewed one or more raw beans is emergency department evaluation, gastric decontamination, administration of activated charcoal, observation until four to six hours after ingestion, and discharge instructions to return if symptoms develop. After decontamination and activated charcoal, symptomatic patients require hospitalization for treatment with IV fluids, supportive care, and monitoring for hypoglycemia, hemolysis, and complications of hypovolemia. Monitoring for delayed cytotoxicity is unnecessary. Castor beans and their dust are highly allergenic and may cause anaphylaxis.
Associations between change in hope and change in physical activity in a pediatric weight management program

The present study was designed to examine how changes in an individual factor, hope, are associated with changes in physical activity over the course of a weight-management program for children (i.e., “Positively Fit”). This study consisted of 67 participants measured for height and weight (to determine body mass index [BMI] percentiles), and who completed self-report measures of hope and physical activity pre- and post-intervention. Results indicated that changes in hope were significantly associated with changes in physical activity over the course of treatment. Future research may benefit from examining the relationship between hope and more objective measures of physical activity, but the present study suggests that hope may be an important individual factor in physical activity change.
Application-guided tool development for architecturally diverse computation

Architecturally diverse computation exploits non-traditional computing platforms (e.g., field-programmable gate arrays, graphics processors, heterogeneous chip multiprocessors) to execute user applications. We have designed the Auto-Pipe tool set with the goal of easing the task of developing applications for architecturally diverse systems. Prior to and during the course of Auto-Pipe's design, we have developed a number of real, substantial applications, and the the lessons learned during the development of these applications has had a direct bearing on the capabilities of Auto-Pipe. In this paper, we describe the relationship between our application development experience and Auto-Pipe. In short, how have applications guided the tools' evolution and development?
Trends in Accounting Student Characteristics: Results from a 15‐Year Longitudinal Study at FSA Schools

This article updates the results from a continuing longitudinal study of characteristics of accounting students, sponsored by the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA) since 1991. Specifically...
Study of Electron Correlation in Helium-Like Systems Using an Exactly Soluble Model

The exact solution of a two-electron system in which the electron-electron interaction is Coulombic but the electron-nuclear attraction is a harmonic oscillator potential gives the following wave function: ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{2}f({r}_{12})$, where the $\ensuremath{\chi}'\mathrm{s}$ are one-particle spherical harmonic oscillator wave functions. The exact $f({r}_{12})$ has only a small curvature in ${r}_{12}$, the distance between the two electrons. This exactly soluble model is used to gain some insight into electron correlation in actual two electron atoms and into the usual approximations. A variational trial function, $f({r}_{12})=1+\ensuremath{\alpha}{r}_{12}$, where $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is a variable parameter, gives energies and even wave functions close to the exact solution. The correlation energy determined from an analytic Hartree-Fock solution and the average angle between the two electrons are somewhat less than in actual helium-like systems.
Risk stratification of patients with medically treated unstable angina using exercise echocardiography

Functional testing is recommended for risk stratification of medically treated patients with unstable angina. Exercise echocardiography is used in this situation, but its safety and prognostic value are not well defined. The objective of this study was to assess the incremental prognostic value of exercise echocardiography in 226 consecutive patients (128 men, age 59+/-13 years) with medically treated unstable angina, who underwent exercise echocardiography from 1991 to 1996. Clinical risk was designated as low in 108 patients, intermediate in 116, and high in 2 patients according to the unstable angina practice guidelines. There were no major complications from the stress tests. The exercise electrocardiogram was nondiagnostic in 57 patients (25%). Ischemia was identified by exercise electrocardiography in 33 patients and exercise echocardiography in 55 patients. Patients were followed for 29+/-18 months. After exclusion of 38 patients who underwent early revascularization, 28 patients had cardiac death, nonfatal infarction, and late (>3 months) revascularization. Ischemia at exercise echocardiography was associated with a 24-month event-free survival of 81%, compared to 95% with negative exercise echocardiography (p=0.02). A positive exercise electrocardiogram was associated with a 24-month event-free survival of 84%, compared to 93% with negative exercise electrocardiograms (p=0.08). In a Cox regression model, event-free survival was predicted by ischemia at exercise echocardiography (relative risk 2.8, confidence interval: 1.3 to 6.3, p=0.05), but not at exercise electrocardiography (relative risk 2.1, confidence interval 0.7 to 5.8, p=0.16).
A rejoinder to Durham

Our paper, "Beyond Crime Seriousness: Fitting the Punishment to the Crime" (Rossi et al., 1985), attempted to accomplish two main tasks. First, we presented an exposition of how the factorial survey approach can enhance empirical assessments of the complex judgment principles involved in public perceptions of just punishments for convicted offenders. Second, we showed that there is not a one-to-one direct relationship between serious ness values of crime and desired sanctions. Instead, the impact of crime seriousness is modified by the characteristics of offenders and victims and by the consequences of the crimes. We believe that Durham (1986) has no quarrel with our paper over the potential usefulness of the factorial survey approach or the importance of determining the components of public attitudes toward punishment. Durham's criticisms of our research seem to fall into two categories. The first concern is that, without further evidence to the contrary, our use of the factorial survey technique may have failed .. to produce a crime-event realm that approximates that found in the real world " Consequently, the likely presence of atypical crime scenarios may have produced distorted judgments by our respondents in comparison to judgments that might have been rendered had the crime scenarios more closely approximated the more usual distributions of crimes and offenders. Because this concern is the essential theme in three of the four subsections of Durham's comment, it is the focus of our reply. The second type of concern expressed by Durham pertains to the dimension of crime seriousness. Here, he emphasizes the possibility that errors were introduced by our measure of this variable. Since our paper both acknowledged and discussed possible difficulties associated with some of the crime seriousness scores, we discuss them only briefly in this reply.
Theoretical principles for knowledge management system design: application to pediatric bipolar disorder

Knowledge management systems (KMS) are systems designed to support organizational knowledge processes. Knowledge-oriented theories of the firm are emerging, as theories of KMS design continue to evolve. This paper adopts Habermas' theory of communicative action and discourse ethics [Drake, B, Yuthas, K, and Dillard, J F., "It's Only Words - Impacts on Information Technology on Moral Dialogue", Journal of Business Ethics 23:41-59, 2000, Habermas, J., The Theory of Communicative Action: Reason and the Rationalization of Society," Beacon Press Books, Boston, MA., 1984, Habermas, J., "Reconciliation through the Public Use of Reason: Remarks on John Rawls's Political Liberalism," Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 92, No. 3, March, 1995, 1109-131.], and Churchman's [Churchman, C.W., The Design of Inquiring Systems: Basic Concepts of Systems and Organizations, Basic Books, New York, NY, 1971.] Singerian inquiring system as kernel theories [Van Gigch, J.P., "The Paradigm of the Science of Management: In Celebration of C.W. Churchman's 80th Birthday," Interfaces, 25 (2), March - April 1995, 81-88.] on which to base KMS design principles. Specifically, we build on Churchman's nine requirements for an object to constitute a system and his Singerian inquiring system, and Habermas' critical theory to develop the notion of Churchmanian-Habermasian knowledge management systems (CHKMS) and principles for their design. We define a CHKMS as a purposeful, ethical and adaptable system that creates exoteric knowledge (relevant for solving social and managerial problems) through communicative action, providing a link between knowledge and action in an organization or community of practice. The design principles involve a strong emphasis on ethical behavior, the development of success measures for CHKMS, the need to ensure that the CHKMS enhances the dignity of humankind, a highly participatory design process, the desire to unify the designers, the decision makers and clients, the need to shape CHKMS components in relation to the system as a whole, and the need for a "guarantor" to validate knowledge through discursive communication and the "cashing in" of validity claims. The principles are illustrated by applying them to management of knowledge concerning pediatric bipolar disorder. The implications of the design theory for KMS research are discussed.
Thiol-Functionalized, 1.5-nm Gold Nanoparticles through Ligand Exchange Reactions: Scope and Mechanism of Ligand Exchange

Ligand exchange reactions of 1.5-nm triphenylphosphine-stabilized nanoparticles with omega-functionalized thiols provides a versatile approach to functionalized, 1.5-nm gold nanoparticles from a single precursor. We describe the broad scope of this method and the first mechanistic investigation of thiol-for-phosphine ligand exchanges. The method is convenient and practical and tolerates a surprisingly wide variety of technologically important functional groups while producing very stable nanoparticles that essentially preserve the small core size and size dispersity of the precursor particle. The mechanistic studies reveal a novel three-stage mechanism that can be used to control the extent of ligand exchange. During the first stage of the exchange, AuCl(PPh3) is liberated, followed by replacement of the remaining phosphine ligands as PPh3 (assisted by gold complexes in solution). The final stage involves completion and reorganization of the thiol-based ligand shell.