cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical versus Medical Treatment for Stable Angina Pectoris: Prospective Randomized Study with 1- to 4-Year Follow-up

Abstract A prospective randomized study to evaluate aortocoronary bypass was done on 116 patients (56 surgical, 60 medical) who had documented coronary artery disease (70% luminal obstruction in a major artery). The two groups were similar in age and risk factors. All patients have been followed for a mean of 34 months, and recatheterization has been done in 106 of the survivors. Important results show that although most patients in both groups are improved, more surgical patients are asymptomatic (68 vs 8%). Exercise tolerance was better in the surgical group (+94% vs +43%). There was significantly greater evidence of preinfarction angina in the medical group ( p
Probing the Structure of the PI-SceI-DNA Complex by Affinity Cleavage and Affinity Photocross-linking

The PI-SceI protein is an intein-encoded homing endonuclease that initiates the mobility of its gene by making a double strand break at a single site in the yeast genome. The PI-SceI protein splicing and endonucleolytic active sites are separately located in each of two domains in the PI-SceI structure. To determine the spatial relationship between bases in the PI-SceI recognition sequence and selected PI-SceI amino acids, the PI-SceI-DNA complex was probed by photocross-linking and affinity cleavage methods. Unique solvent-accessible cysteine residues were introduced into the two PI-SceI domains at positions 91, 97, 170, 230, 376, and 378, and the mutant proteins were modified with either 4-azidophenacyl bromide or iron (S)-1-(p-bromoacetamidobenzyl)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate (FeBABE). The phenyl azide-coupled proteins cross-linked to the PI-SceI target sequence, and the FeBABE-modified proteins cleaved the DNA proximal to the derivatized amino acid. The results suggest that an extended beta-hairpin loop in the endonuclease domain that contains residues 376 and 378 contacts the major groove near the PI-SceI cleavage site. Conversely, residues 91, 97, and 170 in the protein splicing domain are in close proximity to a distant region of the substrate. To interpret our results, we used a new PI-SceI structure that is ordered in regions of the protein that bind DNA. The data strongly support a model of the PI-SceI-DNA complex derived from this structure.
An analysis of nicotine conditioned place conditioning in early postweanling and adolescent rats neonatally treated with quinpirole

Abstract This study investigated nicotine place conditioning in early postweanling and adolescent male and female rats neonatally treated with quinpirole, a dopamine D 2 /D 3 agonist. Previous research has shown that neonatal quinpirole treatment results in an increase of dopamine D 2 -like receptor sensitivity that persists throughout the animal's lifetime, relevant to psychosis. Rats were neonatally treated with quinpirole or saline from postnatal day (P)1-21, and animals were conditioned with nicotine or saline daily from P23-30 as early postweanlings or P32-39 as adolescents in a two- or three-chambered place conditioning apparatus. A drug free test was given on P31 for early postweanlings, and P40 for adolescents. Results on the two chamber apparatus revealed that nicotine increased time spent in the drug-paired context at both ages tested. Neonatal quinpirole treatment resulted in less time spent in the drug-paired context in early postweanling males and increased time spent in the drug-paired context in adolescent females conditioned with nicotine. Adolescent females neonatally treated with saline and conditioned with nicotine on the two chamber apparatus did not differ from controls. On the three-chambered apparatus, nicotine increased time spent in the drug-paired context in both ages tested, which was blocked by neonatal quinpirole in early postweanling males, but enhanced by neonatal quinpirole treatment in adolescents. These results demonstrate both age and sex differences in the effects of nicotine and point to significant differences in performance depending on the apparatus used. Additionally, neonatal quinpirole enhanced the effects of nicotine, but this is true only in adolescents and task-dependent.
Bringing Parents to School: The Effect of Invitations from School, Teacher, and Child on Parental Involvement in Middle Schools.

Parental involvement in children's school activities is beneficial for children's academic and social competence. However, parental involvement tends to decrease as children become older and it is therefore important to promote parental involvement at the secondary level, especially in middle schools. Frequent, positive home–school communications have been found to promote parental participation in children's educational activities and parental perceptions of invitations for participation in school activities are positively associated with parental involvement. Consequently, the differential effect of three types of invitations (i.e., general school invitation, an additional specific teacher invitation, and an additional specific child invitation) on parents' attendance at a special science event held at their child's school was studied in three middle schools. Results from multilevel logistic regression analysis showed the additional specific teacher invitation to be a better predictor of parental attend...
Conformational analysis of colchicine and isocolchicine by molecular mechanics

Abstract The structures of isocolchicine ( 3 ) and colchicine ( 1 ) have been calculated using the MMX routine. The low energy conformations for isocolchicine and colchicine fit well with x-ray crystallographic data. The B ring atropisomer of isocolchicine, which can be spectroscopically observed, is calculated to be kcal mole higher in energy than 3 . The boat-boat inversion conformer of colchicine, which has been predicted to be important in the binding of 1 to tubulin, is also calculated. The B ring geometry of this isomer does not differ to the extent previously predicted.
Polycation-like behaviour of chitosan on suspension-culture derived protoplasts of slash pine

Abstract Protoplasts from slash pine (Pinus elliottii) suspension cultures were treated with chitosan which caused concentration dependent agglutination and rapid death at 10,μg/ml or higher. Poly- l -lysine and poly- l -ornithine showed similar effects. Chitosan effects were mitigated by complete medium components. Accumulation of lignin-like compounds were not stimulated by poly- l -lysine in cell cultures, providing mixed evidence for chitosan behaviour as a typical polycation.
The Effects of Functional Brain Asymmetry upon Subliminal Perception

The study examines children's preconscious processing of auditory subliminal stimuli. Subjects used five adjective continua scales to rate the affect of a blurred neutral face and their own affect. Subjects preferring left hemisphere cognition were most sensitive to the subliminal stimulation. And, subjects processing messages unilaterally were significantly more sensitive to subliminal stimuli than were subjects processing the messages bilaterally. Further, subjects' personal affect was influenced by the subliminal stimuli at a significantly greater level than subjects' ratings of a neutral face. Finally, significant differences emerged among the rating scales, with some scales more sensitive to the subliminal effect than others. Results are discussed in light of research on functional brain asymmetry.
A CLASS OF MODELS DESCRIBING AGE STRUCTURE DYNAMICS IN A NATURAL FOREST

. The age dynamics of a natural forest is modeled by the von-Foerster partial differential equation for the age density, while the seedling density is obtained as a solution of an integro-differential equation. This seedling density equation contains a small parameter, the ratio of seedling re-establishment time and the life span of an average tree in the forest. Several models are introduced that take into account various mortality curves and growth functions of trees, the dependence of seedlings carrying capacity on forest size, and different types of seedlings re-establishment. Asymptotic, analytic and numerical methods are used to solve typical example problems.
Cultural Competence in Action: “Lifting the Hood” on Four Case Studies in Medical Education

In recent decades, clinicians and clinical educators have increasingly turned to the ‘‘cultural competence’’ paradigm and its correlates (e.g., ‘‘cultural sensitivity,’’ ‘‘cultural humility,’’ ‘‘cultural safety,’’ etc.) in an effort to engage clinicians in the monumental task of redressing health disparities between privileged and disadvantaged populations. Such efforts hinge on several key assumptions: first, that ‘‘culture’’ and disadvantage are related in significant and predictable ways, and second, that certain identifiable dimensions of clinical encounters are both (a) associated with meaningful differences in health outcomes and (b) amenable to change. A great deal has been written about the wide and disparate array of efforts that have developed under the ‘‘cultural competence’’ umbrella. At the same time, it has also become increasingly common to wield (sometimes devastating) critiques of such interventions, especially in an anthropological vein.
Ion release from, and fluoride recharge of a composite with a fluoride-containing bioactive glass

Abstract Objectives Materials that are capable of releasing ions such as calcium and fluoride, that are necessary for remineralization of dentin and enamel, have been the topic of intensive research for many years. The source of calcium has most often been some form of calcium phosphate, and that for fluoride has been one of several metal fluoride or hexafluorophosphate salts. Fluoride-containing bioactive glass (BAG) prepared by the sol–gel method acts as a single source of both calcium and fluoride ions in aqueous solutions. The objective of this investigation was to determine if BAG, when added to a composite formulation, can be used as a single source for calcium and fluoride ion release over an extended time period, and to determine if the BAG-containing composite can be recharged upon exposure to a solution of 5000 ppm fluoride. Methods BAG 61 (61% Si; 31% Ca; 4% P; 3% F; 1% B) and BAG 81 (81% Si; 11% Ca; 4% P; 3% F; 1% B) were synthesized by the sol–gel method. The composite used was composed of 50/50 Bis-GMA/TEGDMA, 0.8% EDMAB, 0.4% CQ, and 0.05% BHT, combined with a mixture of BAG (15%) and strontium glass (85%) to a total filler load of 72% by weight. Disks were prepared, allowed to age for 24 h, abraded, then placed into DI water. Calcium and fluoride release was measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy and fluoride ion selective electrode methods, respectively, after 2, 22, and 222 h. The composite samples were then soaked for 5 min in an aqueous 5000 ppm fluoride solution, after which calcium and fluoride release was again measured at 2, 22, and 222 h time points. Results Prior to fluoride recharge, release of fluoride ions was similar for the BAG 61 and BAG 81 composites after 2 h, and also similar after 22 h. At the four subsequent time points, one prior to, and three following fluoride recharge, the BAG 81 composite released significantly more fluoride ions (p 0.05) for the two composites. Significance These results show that, when added to a composite formulation, fluoride-containing bioactive glass made by the sol–gel route can function as a single source for both calcium and fluoride ions, and that the composite can be readily recharged with fluoride.
A Long March: The Lives of Frank and Alice Baldwin

An examination of the lives of a frontier couple -- both the army activities of the husband and the home activities of the wife.
Integrating a Research Station into Community Development and Area Protection in Nicaragua

Abstract The entire southeast of Nicaragua and parts of neighbouring Costa Rica are presently being organized according to an ambitious regional development scheme called Si-a-Paz (Yes-to-Peace). Included are areas from high to low management intensity, such as sustainable agricultural and ranching developments, forest restoration and buffer zones, cultural monuments, as well as biological and wildlife reserves. Integrated in this grand scheme is the isolated subsistence community of New Greytown (San Juan del Norte), access point to a stunning variety of unique habitats, including riverine, estuarine, marine, coastal lowland, and upland environments, which are virtually intact at this time. A research station is planned for this growing community, with the intent to not only serve the exploration of the nearby Rio Indio-Maiz Biological Reserve, but also to contribute lo the economic development of the community itself, by assuring scientifically sound resource management input, diversification of the loc...
Transcription factors modulating angiotensinogen gene expression in hepatocytes

Transcripting factors modulating angiotensinogen gene expression in hepatocytes. The gene encoding angiotensinogen is regulated at the transcriptional level in hepatocytes in response to glucocorticoids and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNF). These hormones activate transcription of the angiotensinogen gene by changing the abundance of DNA binding proteins that interact with a multihormone-inducible enhancer located between nucleotides -615 to -440 upstream of the major transcription start site. Activation of this enhancer in hepatocytes is effected by glucocorticoid- and cytokine-inducible DNA binding proteins. Cytokine induction is mediated through the interaction of two classes of transcription factors that bind to the acute-phase response element (APRE): nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and CCAAT-Box/Enhancer Binding Protein (C/EBP). NF-κB is a multiprotein DNA binding complex sequestered in the cytoplasm that is induced in the nucleus by cytokines, whereas C/EBP is a nuclear transcription factor family implicated in the expression of differentiated hepatic proteins. During the acute-phase response, individual C/EBP family members are discordinately regulated: C/EBPα levels fall, whereas another C/EBP family member termed nuclear factor IL6 (NF-IL6), is induced. We investigated the interaction between the two acute-phase induced APRE-binding proteins: NF-κB and NF-IL6. Both proteins bind to overlapping nucleotides in a mutually exclusive fashion with similar affinities for the APRE. NF-IL6, a less potent transactivator, attenuates NF-κB mediated transcription late in the evolution of the acute-phase response. These observations argue for a temporal model of sequentially-expressed transcription factors occupying the APRE during the evolution of the inflammatory process.
Prevalence of diabetes and depressive symptomatology and their effect on mortality risk in elderly Italians: The Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract Aim This study assessed the prevalence of depressive symptomatology (DS) in older individuals with diabetes to determine whether diabetes and DS are independent predictors of mortality, and if their coexistence is associated with an increased mortality risk. Methods Analyses were based on data from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (ILSA), a prospective community-based cohort study in which 5632 individuals aged 65–84years were enrolled. The role of diabetes and DS in all-cause mortality was evaluated using the Cox model, adjusted for possible confounders, for four groups: 1) those with neither diabetes nor DS (reference group); 2) those with DS but without diabetes; 3) those with diabetes but no DS; and 4) those with both diabetes and DS. Results Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was present in 13.8% of the participants; they presented with higher baseline rates of DS compared with the non-diabetic controls. During the first follow-up period, participants with DS but not diabetes had a 42% higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with the reference control group (HR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.02–1.96), while participants with diabetes but not DS had an 83% higher risk of death than the reference group (HR=1.83; 95% CI: 1.19–2.80). The risk of death for those with both disorders was more than twice that for the reference group (HR=2.58; 95% CI: 1.55–4.29). Analyses of deaths from baseline to the second follow-up substantially confirmed these results. Conclusion The prevalence rate of DS is higher in elderly people with diabetes and their coexistence is associated with an increased mortality risk.
A general microchip surface modification approach using a spin-coated polymer resist film doped with hydroxypropyl cellulose.

We have developed a simple and effective method for surface modification of polymer microchips by entrapping hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) in a spin-coated thin film on the surface. Poly(methyl methacrylate-8.5-methacrylic acid), a widely available commercial resist formulation, was utilized as a matrix for dissolving HPC and providing adherence to native polymer surfaces. Various amounts of HPC (0.1–2.0%) dissolved in the copolymer and spun on polymer surfaces were evaluated. The modified surfaces were characterized by contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The developed method was applied on both poly(methyl methacrylate) and cyclic olefin copolymer microchips. A fluorescently labeled myoglobin digest, binary protein mixture, and human serum sample were all separated in these surface-modified polymer microdevices. Our work exhibits an easy and reliable way to achieve favorable biomolecular separation performance in polymer microchips.
Amplifying Public Opinion: The Policy Impact of the U.S. Environmental Movement

Time-series data from 1960-1998 is used to test hypotheses regarding the impact of protest and public opinion on the passage of U.S. environmental legislation. An amplification model of policy impact is introduced which posits that protest affects legislative action independent of public opinion as suggested by protest event theorists, whereas the impact of public opinion on legislative action is greater depending on the level of protest. Evidence is found for the existence of an amplification mechanism between environmental movement protest and public opinion, where public opinion affects policy above and beyond its independent effect when protest raises the salience of the issue to legislators. These findings point to the need to restructure analyses of the impact of social movements on public policy.
Order-distributions and the Laplace-domain logarithmic operator

This paper develops and exposes the strong relationships that exist between time-domain order-distributions and the Laplace-domain logarithmic operator. The paper presents the fundamental theory of the Laplace-domain logarithmic operator, and related operators. It is motivated by the appearance of logarithmic operators in a variety of fractional-order systems and order-distributions. Included is the development of a system theory for Laplace-domain logarithmic operator systems which includes time-domain representations, frequency domain representations, frequency response analysis, time response analysis, and stability theory. Approximation methods are included.
Adaptive rejection of stochastic and deterministic sinusoidal disturbances with unknown frequency

In this paper, an adaptive control algorithm is proposed to reject unknown deterministic disturbances and minimize output variance. The proposed algorithm contains two adaptive control actions. One rejects a set of unidentified deterministic disturbances by an adaptive internal model with online frequency identification. The other minimizes the output variance using an adaptive finite impulse response filter. The stability and performance of the proposed algorithm are analyzed and demonstrated by simulation results.
The distribution and interactions of some Paleozoic fungi

The span of geologic time extending from the Early Devonian to Late Permian is examined for several sources of information about four major groups of fungi. The Lower Devonian Rhynie chert is characterized by a mycota consisting of a diverse assemblage of chytrids and zygomycetes. In Carboniferous coal-swamp communities, zygomycetes may have been the principal cellulose and lignin decomposers, in part because of their hypogeous habit. By late Permian time wood-rotting basidiomycetous fungi of several types were common and these can be traced into the Mesozoic. Although the remains of fungi are infrequently recognized in the fossil record, thus potentially biasing the stratigraphic distribution of major groups, the complexity of the fungus-host interactions during these geologic times suggests that most modern groups should extend well back into the Precambrian.
Definitive Treatment of Poor-Risk Patients with Stage I Lung Cancer: A Single Institution Experience

Purpose: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. A substantial number of patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are unfit for standard surgery due to cardiopulmonary dysfunction and/or other comorbidity. The appropriate management for this population has not been defined. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC judged to be unsuitable for lobectomy between 1996 and 2005. Results: Ninety-six patients, representing 23% of all patients treated for clinical stage I NSCLC were included in this analysis. The median age was 73 years and most patients were female. Patients underwent limited resection (LR, n = 45), primary radiotherapy (RT, n = 39) or radiofrequency ablation ( n = 12). With median follow-up of 30 months, 61 patients remain alive. Actuarial 3-year survival is 65% following LR and 60% after primary RT. Local tumor relapse and distant metastases were observed with approximate equal probability following either LR or RT. Conclusion: Medical inoperability does not necessarily correspond to poor survival in patients with early stage NSCLC. A nihilistic approach is not warranted towards this population, and prospective trials are needed to better define optimal treatment strategies.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Acyclovir, Zidovudine, and Acyclovir-Zidovudine in Pregnant Rats

The pharmacokinetics and placental transfer of acyclovir and zidovudine monotherapies and acyclovirzidovudine combination therapy were compared in the pregnant rat. Timed-pregnancy Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. Doses of 60 mg of each drug/kg of body weight in monotherapy and in combination therapy were given by intravenous bolus, and samples of maternal plasma, amniotic fluid, fetal tissue, and placental tissue were collected over a period of 8 h postdose. Concentrations of each drug in the various matrices were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. All data were analyzed by using WinNonlin. A one-compartment model with first-order elimination was used to fit the AZT plasma data from the combination therapy rats, but the plasma data from the other groups were fit to a two-compartment model. Tissue data were analyzed by noncompartmental analysis to generate area-under-the-concentration-time-curve values. Implementation of the combination therapy altered the pharmacokinetics of each drug compared to its monotherapy pharmacokinetics. The combination of these two drugs may potentiate fetal and amniotic fluid exposures to each drug. Acyclovir (9-[{2-hydroxyethoxy}-methyl]-guanosine [ACV]), an acyclic analog of the natural nucleoside 2-deoxyguanosine (Fig. 1), is active against the members of the herpes group of DNA viruses (14, 42). For over 2 decades, ACV has been considered the first choice of treatment for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2), but it has also been shown to effectively treat varicella-zoster virus and provide protection from cytomegalovirus in immunosuppressed patients receiving transplants (12, 32). The success of ACV in treating HSV has prompted the synthesis of several structural analogs, but none has shown to be as tolerable as and have shown to have such a
The Relationship Between Adaptive Behavior and Specific Toileting Problems According to the Profile on Toileting Issues (POTI)

Toileting problems in people with intellectual disabilities are common but have rarely been studied. Recently, the Profile on Toileting Issues (POTI) was developed as a standalone measure to evaluate these problems. The POTI has established psychometrics. Research on interface between toileting problems in persons with intellectual disability and adaptive functioning is lacking. Eighty adults from two developmental centers were assessed to establish relationships between these skills. Greater toileting problems were strongly associated with greater deficits in adaptive skills. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Molecular Mechanisms in Progressive Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

There is clear evidence that environmental exposures and genetic predisposition contribute to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing IPF several-fold, as do other exposures such as metal-fume and wood-dust exposure. Occupations that increase the risk of IPF are agricultural work, hairdressing, and stone polishing, supporting the role of environmental exposure in disease pathogenesis. Genetic predisposition to IPF is evident from its familial aggregation and the fact that pulmonary fibrosis develops in several rare genetic disorders. Mutations in surfactant proteins lead to pulmonary fibrosis and are associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress in alveolar type II epithelial cells. Mutations in telomerase have been found in several families with IPF, and shortened telomeres are found in sporadic cases of IPF. A common variant in mucin 5B predisposes to both familial and sporadic IPF and is present in the majority of cases, indicating sporadic IPF occurs in those with genetic predisposition.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of skeletal muscle extracellular matrix ultrastructure

The skeletal muscle extracellular matrix (ECM) supports muscle's passive mechanical function and provides a unique environment for extracellular tissues such as nerves, blood vessels, and a cadre of mononuclear cells. Within muscle ECM, collagen is thought to be the primary load-bearing protein, yet its structure and organization with respect to muscle fibers, tendon, and mononuclear cells is unknown. Detailed examination of extracellular collagen morphology requires high-resolution electron microscopy performed over relatively long distances because multinucleated muscle cells are very long and extend from several millimeters to several centimeters. Unfortunately, there is no tool currently available for high resolution ECM analysis that extends over such distances relevant to muscle fibers. Serial block face scanning electron microscopy is reported here to examine skeletal muscle ECM ultrastructure over hundreds of microns. Ruthenium red staining was implemented to enhance contrast and utilization of variable pressure imaging reduced electron charging artifacts, allowing continuous imaging over a large ECM volume. This approach revealed previously unappreciated perimysial collagen structures that were reconstructed via both manual and semi-automated segmentation methods. Perimysial collagen structures in the ECM may provide a target for clinical therapies aimed at reducing skeletal muscle fibrosis and stiffness.
Sample size and statistical power in clinical orthopaedic research

Classic principles of treatment in orthopaedic surgery—the immobilization of fractures or the draining of infected wounds, for example—were not first established in prospective clinical trials or laboratory experiments. Rather, they were derived from perceptive observation: the methods were seen to work in practice, and they were retained. Observation has a noble history in medicine and science. Still, the modern reader is at least intuitively aware of the limitations of mere observation. Imagine if an investigator were to claim that prophylaxis against deep-vein thrombosis after hip replacement is not needed simply because only two thromboses were observed in ten patients who did not receive prophylaxis compared with three thromboses in ten patients who did. Such a study, were it to be published, would be the object of ridicule. A single clinical observation is actually a sample of the entire set of possible observations, and methods of statistical inference are needed to draw valid conclusions. Almost all clinical research for the assessment of treatments and outcomes relies on statistical sampling—that is, a set of rules that help to ensure that the individuals included in a study are representative of the larger population to which the investigator wishes to generalize the findings. After the data have been gathered, statistical inference is applied. Statistical inference is a mechanism for evaluating an observed finding (for example, a difference between two treatment groups) relative to differences that may have occurred by chance alone, given the observed variability in measurements. This allows statements about an entire population to be made without the necessity of studying every member of that population—which is rarely feasible even if desired. To determine if observed differences represent true differences as opposed to differences that could be expected to occur because of random chance alone, the investigator uses statistical tests. These tests determine …
Evaluation of Three Multiplex Flow Immunoassays Compared to an Enzyme Immunoassay for the Detection and Differentiation of IgG Class Antibodies to Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2

The diagnosis of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections is routinely made based on clinical findings and supported by laboratory testing using PCR or viral culture. However, in instances of subclinical or unrecognized HSV infection, serologic testing for IgG class antibodies to type-specific HSV glycoprotein G (gG) may be useful. This study evaluated and compared the performances of three multiplex flow immunoassays (AtheNA Multi-Lyte [Zeus Scientific], BioPlex 2200 [Bio-Rad Laboratories], and Plexus HerpeSelect [Focus Diagnostics]) for the simultaneous detection of gG type-specific IgG antibodies to HSV types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). Serum specimens (n = 505) submitted for routine gG type-specific HSV IgG testing by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (HerpeSelect; Focus Diagnostics) were also tested by the three multiplex flow immunoassays. Specimens showing discordant results were tested by HSV type-specific Western blotting (WB). For HSV-1 IgG, the AtheNA, BioPlex, and Plexus assays demonstrated agreements of 94.9% (479/505 specimens), 97.8% (494/505 specimens), and 97.4% (492/505 specimens), respectively, with the results of EIA. For HSV-2 IgG, the AtheNA, BioPlex, and Plexus assays showed agreements of 87.9% (444/505 specimens), 97.2% (491/505 specimens), and 96.8% (489/505 specimens), respectively, with EIA results. Timing studies showed that the AtheNA, BioPlex, and Plexus assays could provide complete analysis of 90 serum specimens in 3.1, 1.5, and 2.9 h, respectively, versus 3.1 h by EIA. These findings suggest that the gG type-specific HSV IgG multiplex immunoassays may be beneficial to high-volume clinical laboratories experiencing significant increases in the number of specimens submitted for HSV serologic testing. The evaluated systems provide comparable results to those of EIA, while reducing hands-on time and eliminating the necessity to aliquot specimens prior to testing.
Ceramic dielectric resonator oscillator aging

Two ceramic dielectric resonator oscillators (CDROs), one operating at center frequency of 1.5 GHz and the other one operating at 8.3 GHz, are being investigated for frequency aging characteristics. The oscillators were ovenized in a Sigma temperature chamber with aging temperature set at +65/spl deg/C. Datas are taken with an automated test system. The frequency aging for the 1.5 GHz CDRO is found to be /spl plusmn/0.5 ppm/3 months and 40 ppb/hour. Aging is better than /spl plusmn/3 ppm/two month for the X-band CDRO. The oscillators were also evaluated for its single side band phase noise characteristic. The measured phase noise levels for the L-band oscillator were -100 dBc/Hz and -130 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz and 1 kHz carrier offset frequencies, respectively. The X-band CDRO's phase noise levels were -66 dBc/Hz and -93 dBc/Hz, at 100 Hz and 1 kHz carrier offset frequencies, respectively. >
Exploring the Application of Simulations and Games in Advanced Manufacturing

Simulations and games are typically used in education, training, and research. Simulation & Gaming has published articles on simulation and gaming for a variety of contexts. We are pleased to present, for the first time, this issue on Exploring the Application of Simulations and Games in Advanced Manufacturing, with a special emphasis on Lean. Our objective is to broaden the coverage of simulation and gaming by initiating the publication of lean manufacturing–related simulation articles. The first article, “Simulations and Games for Teaching Lean Manufacturing: A Survey and Future Directions,” sets the stage for this special issue. The article presents a critical assessment of existing simulations for lean manufacturing instruction. A taxonomy was developed to summarize the current state of these resources based on the principles/practices emphasized, the focus in terms of the activity simulated, the lean tools and techniques covered, and the use of assessments to evaluate the simulations. Four gaps are found in existing simulation designs: lack of stress on soft skills, a mistaken focus on “linear lean,” misunderstanding of the key role of the facilitator, and lack of realism. They followed up by identifying gaps and proposing best practices for developing simulations for Lean Manufacturing education and training. The second article examines the application of games to learning of lean concepts by office and administrative personnel. This article presents a web-based version of a lean simulation training game. As with any educational game, in order to be effective, it is important that such a game be not only educational but also fun, realistic, and easy to play. In addition to these general game characteristics, for a lean game to be truly effective, it is important that the game is also intuitive and inspirational. The article, “An Information Provision Framework for Performance-Based Interactive E-Learning Application for Manufacturing,” examines the effectiveness and
Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest Feasibility and Safety of an External Cooling Protocol

Background No proven neuroprotective treatment exists for ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest. Mild-to-moderate induced hypothermia (MIH) is effective in animal models. Methods and Results A safety and feasibility trial was designed to evaluate mild-to-moderate induced hypothermia by use of external cooling blankets after cardiac arrest. Inclusion criteria were return of spontaneous circulation within 60 minutes of advanced cardiac life support, hypothermia initiated within 90 minutes, persistent coma, and lack of acute myocardial infarction or unstable dysrhythmia. Hypothermia to 33°C was maintained for 24 hours followed by passive rewarming. Nine patients were prospectively enrolled. Mean time from advanced cardiac life support to return of spontaneous circulation was 11 minutes (range 3 to 30); advanced cardiac life support to initiation of hypothermia was 78 minutes (range 40 to 109); achieving 33°C took 301 minutes (range 90 to 690). Three patients completely recovered, and 1 had partial neuro...
Transport through magnetic quantum point contacts

Hybrid magnetic quantum point contacts were fabricated in the plane of a high mobility AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well structure. The hybrid gates are magnetized in an applied inplane magnetic field and generate both magnetic fringe fields and an electrostatic confining potential. Low-temperature electrical characterization yielded well-resolved conductance plateaus and a strong 0.7-structure in the absence of an applied field. However, the well-known spin polarization effect of a quantum point contact in an applied magnetic field was absent, possibly due to suppressed electron-electron interactions. In addition, a sharply magnetic field dependent washout of the conductance plateaus suggested evidence of a significant effect of the local fringe field on electron transport in the QPC region.
Partial response adaptive blind equalization using channel estimation standard (CES)

The channel estimation standard concept and error criterion are applied to the process of adaptive quadrature partial response blind equalization (QPRBE), where an adaptive QPRBE algorithm is developed. This CES partial response adaptive blind equalizer is simulated and evaluated through a QAM data transmission system. Further discussion and comparison have been made between the full response and partial response CES adaptive blind equalizers. >
United yet Autonomous: Indymedia and the Struggle to Sustain a Radical Democratic Network

The past decade has witnessed an emergent form of activism increasingly defined by its reliance on internet strategies, network social structures and participatory practices. Internet strategies employed by many contemporary activists include websites, listservs and hyperlinked networks used for exchanging information, mobilizing both old and new constituencies, and coordinating collective action. Networks of organizations and individuals are formed both on and offline and decision-making within these groups is often made by consensus. Perhaps best characterizing this activism is its lack of hierarchy, epitomized by democratic communications, both within and between networked organizations. This article focuses on Indymedia, a prime institutional exemplar for the indicators mentioned above internet-based activism, network formation and participatory politics. Specifically, it addresses issues related to sustainability and political efficacy in radical democratic activist networks that are increasingly ena...
Noninvasive Transcutaneous Sampling of Glucose by Electroporation

Background: In people with diabetes, blood glucose levels should be monitored regularly to prevent serious complications associated with diabetes. This involves the invasive method of withdrawing blood, which causes inconvenience to patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of the noninvasive electroporation and transcutaneous sampling (ETS) technique for predicting blood glucose levels. Methods: In vitro studies were carried out in Franz diffusion cells using porcine epidermis to assess the feasibility of transcutaneous sampling of glucose. In vivo, the ETS technique was assessed in the diabetes-induced Sprague– Dawley rat model. Glucose was sampled following the application of 30 electrical pulses of 1 ms duration at 120 V/cm 2 , 1 Hz. Clarke error grid analysis was carried out for the venous blood glucose levels that were determined by the ETS with reference to those measured by a glucose meter. Results: The amount of glucose sampled by the ETS method both in vitro and in vivo was proportional to the dermal glucose concentration. All data points from in vivo studies were in A and B zones of Clarke error grid analysis, and the mean absolute relative error was 12.8%. Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrate that ETS technique could be developed as a noninvasive method of predicting venous blood glucose levels in people with diabetes.
Complete Stereochemistry of Neamphamide A and Absolute Configuration of the β-Methoxytyrosine Residue in Papuamide B

The absolute stereochemistry of the three unresolved structural components in neamphamide A (1) was determined to be (R)-β-methoxy-l-tyrosine, (2R,3R,4S)-4-amino-7-guanidino-2,3-dihydroxyheptanoic ...
AURORA: THE LOS ALAMOS KrF LASER FUSION SYSTEM

ABSTRACT The Los Alamos AURORA Laser Facility is now routinely operational at the 1-kJ level with pulses variable between 1 and 5 ns. Target physics experiments at 248 nm are now underway to characterize focal spot distributions, x-ray conversion in planar targets, and the beneficial effects of bandwidth and pulse shaping on target performance.
Consistency of electron scattering data with a small proton radius

We determine the charge radius of the proton by analyzing the published low momentum transfer electron-proton scattering data from Mainz. We note that polynomial expansions of the form factor converge for momentum transfers squared below $4{m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{2}$, where ${m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ is the pion mass. Expansions with enough terms to fit the data, but few enough not to overfit, yield proton radii smaller than the CODATA or Mainz values and in accord with the muonic atom results. We also comment on analyses using a wider range of data, and overall obtain a proton radius ${R}_{E}=0.840(16$) fm.
Connecting models to movements: testing connectivity model predictions against empirical migration and dispersal data

Connectivity has become a top conservation priority in response to landscape fragmentation. Many methods have been developed to identify areas of the landscape with high potential connectivity for wildlife movement. However, each makes different assumptions that may produce different predictions, and few comparative tests against empirical movement data are available. We compared predictive performance of the most-used connectivity models, cost-distance and circuit theory models. We hypothesized that cost-distance would better predict elk migration paths, while circuit theory would better predict wolverine dispersal paths, due to alignment of the methods’ assumptions with the movement ecology of each process. We used each model to predict elk migration paths and wolverine dispersal paths in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, then used telemetry data collected from actual movements to assess predictive performance. Methods for validating connectivity models against empirical data have not been standardized, thus we applied and compared four alternative methods. Our findings generally supported our hypotheses. Circuit theory models consistently predicted wolverine dispersal paths better than cost-distance, though cost-distance models predicted elk migration paths only slightly better than circuit theory. In most cases, our four validation methods supported similar conclusions, but provided complementary perspectives. We reiterate suggestions that alignment of connectivity model assumptions with focal species movement ecology is an important consideration when selecting a modeling approach for conservation practice. Additional comparative tests are needed to better understand how relative model performance may vary across species, movement processes, and landscapes, and what this means for effective connectivity conservation.
Exploring the Implications of Top Management Team Characteristics on Business Process Innovativeness

Business process innovativeness refers to the willingness and ability of an organization to explore and realize disruptive process designs that set new industry standards for the delivery of products and services. It is a dynamic capability of an organization and hence requires strategic support through the organization’s top management team (TMT). We develop eight propositions that illustrate the relationship between TMT characteristics and the ability of an organization to develop business process innovativeness. In particular, we postulate that the size of the TMT, the age of its members, their tenure, their educational background, their prior careers, as well as the presence of a Chief Process Officer have an impact on business process innovativeness. Our propositions form a framework of how TMT characteristics can be used a predictors of an organization’s success in creating an explorative BPM capability.
Coherent and Incoherent Contributions to Charge Separation in Multichromophore Systems

In organic materials, exciton dissociation into free charges requires overcoming an electron–hole Coulomb interaction that exceeds the thermal energy and may still be large after charge transfer at a donor/acceptor interface. We analyze the factors affecting efficiency of charge separation and subsequent removal of electrons and holes from such a donor–acceptor interface and suggest strategies for optimizing these processes. Energy transfer, charge separation, and charge transfer in the vicinity of the donor–acceptor interface are studied within a common theoretical framework based on a quantum master equation, for a model system with realistic excitation energies and electronic couplings. We find that enhancing the efficiency of both charge transfer from the donor to the acceptor and of charge removal from the donor–acceptor interface requires an intricate balance between the extent of electronic delocalization throughout the material and rates of energy dissipation. For very large exciton binding energi...
Kaposi's sarcoma : how can epidemiology help find the cause ?

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in AIDS patients. Neither the cause nor a cure for AIDS-related KS is known. KS serves as a striking example of how epidemiologists seek the cause of any disease. Epidemiologic analysis of reported KS cases is revealing but not definitive. The leading hypotheses for the cause of AIDS-related KS are an as-yet-unidentified sexually transmitted infectious agent and exposure to inhalant alkyl nitrites, often called poppers. Epidemiology suggests that persons can reduce their risk of KS by avoiding nitrite inhalants and changing behavior to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
TIMEBOMB revisited 10 years later: can we sustain progress or are we losing the war?

TIMEBOMB: The Global Epidemic of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis was published in September 2001 to call attention to a deteriorating global tuberculosis (TB) situation. Although its impact was blunted by the events of 11 September, it is sobering to compare its description of TB problems at that time with the state of global TB control at present. TB--and the even worse resistant forms of the disease, multi-, extensively and even totally drug-resistant TB, a problem completely of our own making-is out of control due to neglect and inattention. Urgent attention is required to begin to rectify the situation.
A STUDY OF EXTREME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GROUPS OF YOUNG MEN.

Abstract Fifty highly active junior and senior high school boys were compared to 50 physically inactive boys in the same schools and grades. A total of 101 variables was used; the data were collected through questionnaires concerning the subjects' physical activities, a motor performance test, fat measurements, a step test, the High School Personality Questionnaire, school records, and a parental interview. Statistically significant differences were found on 31 of the variables. In each case the highly active group was either numerically higher or superior. A summary of the 31 variables follows: anthropometric (8), physical fitness (9), academic and personality (6), number of highly active older brothers, degree of physical activity in early childhood, attitude toward the importance of physical activity, self estimate of physical fitness, attitude toward the school physical education program, last school grade completed by the mothers, current degree of physical activity of the fathers, and degrees of par...