cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidural steroid therapy for back and leg pain: mechanisms of action and efficacy.

Abstract Background context Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is one of the most common nonsurgical interventions prescribed for back and leg pain symptoms. Although the use of ESI is widespread, proof of efficacy among the broad population of low back pain patients is lacking and use is predicated to a great extent on the cost and morbidity of the perceived “next step” in many patient's care—surgery. Purpose To review the relative indications and clinical features that predict success with ESI therapy, and to provide a physiological rationale to guide clinical decision-making. Study design/setting Review of literature and clinical experience. Results Clinical studies have alternately supported and refuted the efficacy of ESI in the treatment of patients with back and leg pain. Steroid medications do benefit some patients with radicular pain, but the benefit is often limited in duration, making efficacy difficult to prove over time. Steroids appear to speed the rate of recovery and return to function, however, allowing patients to reduce medication levels and increase activity while awaiting the natural improvement expected in most spinal disorders. Fluoroscopic verification of needle placement, with contrast injection, greatly improves steroid delivery while reducing risks. Although it is assumed that the benefit of steroids is related to their effect on inflammation, that remains unproven, and it is possible that benefit is gained through an unrecognized action. Conclusions Randomized, controlled trials are needed to conclusively identify those patients most likely to benefit from ESI, and when and for how long. Until then, epidural steroids provide a reasonable alternative to surgical intervention in selected patients with back and/or leg pain, whose symptoms are functionally limiting. When appropriate goals are established and proper patients are selected, sufficient short-term benefit has been documented to warrant continued use of this tool.
Comparison of the 2007 and 2011 Appropriate Use Criteria for Transthoracic Echocardiography in Various Clinical Settings

Background The 2007 Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for echocardiography was revised in 2011 to cover a wider range of scenarios of use. Previous studies of the 2007 AUC found a relatively large number of unclassified transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs). Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review comparing TTE usage in three clinical environments: academic inpatient, academic outpatient, and community outpatient. We assessed the TTE ordering behavior using both the 2007 and 2011 AUC. Results We reviewed 150 consecutive TTEs performed in 2011 in each of the three practice settings (total 450). Using the 2007 AUC, 347 TTEs (77%) were classifiable, and, using the 2011 AUC, 441 TTEs (98%) were classifiable ( P P P = .14), and the percentage of uncertain TTEs was 0% and 7% ( P P = .004). Conclusions The 2011 AUC classified a significantly greater proportion of TTEs than the 2007 AUC across a variety of practice settings. The rate of appropriate TTEs was lower using the 2011 AUC, and the appropriateness ratings varied by clinical setting. These findings suggest that the expanded AUC offer an opportunity for improvement in TTE usage.
The Complex Syntax Skills of Poor, Urban, African-American Preschoolers at School Entry

The present study examines complex syntax production by a sample of 45 preschool-age African-American boys and girls (chronological age [CA] 4:0 to 5:6, years:months) from urban, low-income homes. ...
Trapped free radicals and electrons in organic glasses.

Free radicals, hydrogen atoms, and electrons produced in rigid organic glasses at sufficiently low temperatures have lifetimes of minutes to years. They can be studied by their electron spin resonance spectra and, in the case of electrons, by their optical spectra, recombination luminescence, and electrical conductivity. The decay kinetics of these reaction intermediates serve to distinguish those trapped as geminate pairs or in spurs of high concentration from those formed with random distributions. Electron spin resonance studies of relaxation times and of the spectra of radical pairs provide further evidence on geometrical distributions. The decay rates of radicals combining with reactive geminate partners are dependent on the size and shape of the radical, the temperature, and the nature of the matrix. Decay is much slower in deuterated matrices than in protiated matrices. The factors that control the physical trapping of electrons in organic glasses are under intensive investigation. There is evidence that many electrons trapped relatively weakly during irradiations at 4°K deepen their traps by orientation of dipoles when the matrix is warmed; that most electrons are trapped in the field of the geminate positive ion; that in some matrices the traps have a bound excited state to which the electron can be promoted without detrapping; and that trapped electrons can tunnel to solute molecules with a higher electron affinity than the trap depth.
A Bayesian Method for Managing Uncertainties Relating to Distributed Multistatic Sensor Search

Predicting the search effectiveness of a distributed multistatic sensor field is highly conditioned on information which is unknown and, for all practical intents, unknowable when engaged in a two-sided tactical situation. Yet, it is imperative to have a method for assessing the military value of such systems to inform decisions relating to procurement, optimal employment, and maximal military exploitation. The combination of Monte Carlo simulation methods and Bayesian fusion techniques allow for a robust approach for modeling the effects of uncertainty on the distribution of likely outcomes. Exemplar analysis for an Area Clearance and an Area Denial scenario demonstrate how a combined Monte Carlo simulation and Bayesian fusion system might be employed to account for uncertainty and the types of information products they can provide a decision-maker.
Modeling of a Chain Link Statcom in EMTP-RV

This paper describes an alternative circuit arrangement to form a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM), by connecting a number of gate turn off (GTO) thyristor converter 'chain links' in series per phase on the AC side of the system. Each GTO converter forms one 'link' of a 1-phase bridge voltage-sourced converter (VSC) and is referred to as a 'chain link converter'. In the proposed scheme, each GTO is switched 'ON' and 'OFF' once per cycle of the fundamental frequency by using a sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) technique. This SPWM technique uses two triangular carrier bands - one positive and one negative - per link, and has a carrier frequency of twice the fundamental frequency and one modulating signal for all the links. A 1-phase, 3-link STATCOM is modelled in EMTP-RV and evaluated. The 1-phase version is suitable for analysis purposes at this stage to gain insight into the operational behavior of this special type of STATCOM. A 3-phase version of this topology will be implemented next. The proposed STATCOM is connected at the end point of a radial transmission line to stabilize the voltage by compensating the reactive power at the point of connection. The performance of this STATCOM is analysed by using open loop control under both steady state and transient operating conditions. An open loop control is employed here as a preliminary step towards the subsequent controller design by evaluating the behavior of the STATCOM for different values of control inputs under different operating conditions. The details of the model along with the results of the preliminary simulation tests in EMTP-RV are presented here
Worksite Follow-Up and Engagement Strategies for Initiating Health Risk Behavior Changes

Information is presented from a multiplant study of interventions to improve cardiovascular health among employees. Risk factors targeted were high blood pressure, obesity, and cigarette smoking. The study utilized on-site wellness counselors who periodically contacted all employees identified through screening as having one or more of the three risks. Use of a structured protocol for client outreach resulted in the large majority of clients being seen in follow-up during the three-year intervention period. Drawing from caseload experience and from various theoretical perspectives, seven engagement strategies were used to help guide at-risk clients toward successful behavior changes to reduce health risks. Results showed that of the three at-risk groups, clients with high blood pressure were most likely to be seen in follow-up, and most likely to begin a risk reduction program. For the overweight and smokers, clients seen three or more times were more likely to begin a weight-loss/smoking cessation program than clients seen less often. Frequency of follow-up showed a positive relationship with risk reduction for all three risks, in samples of employees rescreened at the end of the intervention period, but the relationship was not statistically significant for smoking cessation.
Vibration analysis and control of flexible beam by using smart damping structures

The temperature effects on frequency, loss factor and control of a flexible beam with a constrained viscoelastic layer and shape memory alloy layer (SMA) are discussed. It is shown that the temperature in the SMA (actuation) layer is very important in the determination of frequency and loss factor of such a structure. The effects of damping layer shear modulus and damping layer height as affected by the temperature are also discussed. As temperature plays such an important role, it is, therefore, imperative to evaluate temperature effects on the control of the system as well. Results with and without active control are discussed.
Effects of emotion and product involvement on the experience of repeated commercial viewing

The intensity of the viewing experience people have while watching television was expected to enhance recall of commercials and also to render commercials less vulnerable to negative attitude change over multiple exposures. The effects of two variables, commercial induced emotion and product involvement, were tested in an experiment where people watched one hour of programming and embedded commercials on four consecutive days. Testing occurred after the fourth session; ads were repeated from two to 12 times during this time period. Broadly stated, findings indicate that emotional appeals and product involvement have favorable effects on brand name recall, attitudes, and purchase intention. Results are discussed with regard to their managerial and social implications.
A new family of predicted Krüppel-like factor genes and pseudogenes in placental mammals.

Kruppel-like factors (KLF) and specificity proteins (SP) constitute a family of zinc-finger-containing transcription factors that play important roles in a wide range of processes including differentiation and development of various tissues. The human genome possesses 17 KLF genes (KLF1-KLF17) and nine SP genes (SP1-SP9) with diverse functions. We used sequence similarity searches and gene synteny analysis to identify a new putative KLF gene/pseudogene named KLF18 that is present in most of the placental mammals with sequenced genomes. KLF18 is a chromosomal neighbor of the KLF17 gene and is likely a product of its duplication. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that mammalian predicted KLF18 proteins and KLF17 proteins experienced elevated rates of evolution and are grouped with KLF1/KLF2/KLF4 and non-mammalian KLF17. Predicted KLF18 proteins maintain conserved features in the zinc fingers of the SP/KLF family, while possessing repeats of a unique sequence motif in their N-terminal regions. No expression data have been reported for KLF18, suggesting that it either has highly restricted expression patterns and specialized functions, or could have become a pseudogene in extant placental mammals. Besides KLF18 genes/pseudogenes, we identified several KLF18-like genes such as Zfp352, Zfp352-like, and Zfp353 in the genomes of mouse and rat. These KLF18-like genes do not possess introns inside their coding regions, and gene expression data indicate that some of them may function in early embryonic development. They represent further expansions of KLF members in the murine lineage, most likely resulted from several events of retrotransposition and local gene duplication starting from an ancient spliced mRNA of KLF18.
An interactive student information system

This paper describes an on-line interactive student information system designed for graduate level student information at Mississippi State University. It was designed with three objectives in mind. The first was to keep graduate students abreast of the requirements to be met for an advanced degree. The second objective was to aid the Office of Graduate Studies and the Registrar in certifying the completion of requirements for advanced degrees. Thirdly, the system was designed so that information retrieval for various colleges, departments and federal agencies could be accomplished without a time-consuming manual search of student records.A description of the software and data files is given, as well as a description of the major report forms produced by the system. In addition, the operation of the system will be briefly described.
Leverage, imports, profitability, exchange rates, and capital investment: a panel data study of the textile and apparel industries 1974–1987

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between capital structure and import competition for the textile and apparel industries from 1974–1987. The level of import penetration should have an important effect on business risk and hence on financial leverage. We also examine the response of leverage to the interrelationships that may exist between import competition and three other factors: firm profitability, strength of the dollar, and investment in capital equipment. The evidence suggests that leverage for the textile firms increases with rising imports but that the effect is less marked if the imports are the result of a strengthening dollar. The textile firms also seem to have inaugurated a capital investment campaign in reaction to import competition. For apparel firms, the interrelationship between profitability and import penetration seems to have been the primary determinant of leverage.
Frequency of Atrial Septal Aneurysms in Patients With Cerebral Ischemic Events

Background-Atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) is a putative risk factor for cardioembolism. However, the frequency of ASA in the general population has not been adequately determined. Therefore, the frequency in patients with cerebral ischemic events, compared with the frequency in the general population, is poorly defined. We sought to determine the frequency of ASA in the general population and to compare the frequency of ASA in patients with cerebral ischemic events with the frequency in the general population. Methods and Results-The frequency of ASA in the population was determined in 363 subjects, a sample of the participants in the Stroke Prevention: Assessment of Risk in a Community study (control subjects), and was compared with the frequency in 355 age- and sex-matched patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography in search of a cardiac source of embolism after a focal cerebral ischemic event. The proportion with ASA was 7.9% in patients versus 2.2% in control subjects (P=0.002; odds ratio of ASA, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.64 to 8.13, in patients versus control subjects). Patent foramen ovale (PFO) was detected with contrast injections in 56% of subjects with ASA. The presence of ASA predicted the presence of PFO (odds ratio of PFO, 4.57; 95% CI, 2.18 to 9.57, in subjects with versus those without ASA). In 86% of subjects with ASA and cerebral ischemia, transesophageal echocardiography did not detect an alternative source of cardioembolism other than an associated PFO. Conclusions-The prevalence of ASA based on this population-based study is 2.2%. The frequency of ASA is relatively higher in patients evaluated with transesophageal echocardiography after a cerebral ischemic event. ASA is frequently associated with PFO, suggesting paradoxical embolism as a mechanism of cardioembolism. In patients with cerebral ischemia and ASA, ASA (with or without PFO) commonly is the only potential cardioembolic source detected with transesophageal echocardiography.
A commentary on some recent methods in sibling group reconstruction based on set coverings

The use of genotypic markers for kinship estimation within natural populations has become an important research tool. The nonstandard nature of the problem has led to the necessity of developing specialized statistical and computational algorithms. In this note, one such algorithm for the reconstruction of sibling groups (without information on the parental cohort) is examined [A. Chaovalitwongse, T.Y. Berger-Wolf, B. DasGupta, and M.V. Ashley, Set covering approach for reconstruction of sibling relationships, Optim. Meth. Softw. 22 (2007), pp. 11–24.]. It is found that the algorithm and the method used to evaluate its accuracy have a number of serious flaws.
PROPERTIES AND USEFULNESS OF THE ORIGINAL K-562 HUMAN MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA CELL LINE

THE K-562 CELL line was originally established in our laboratory in 1970 from a pleural effusion of a patient with CML in terminal blastic crisis and has been characterized as a highly undifferentiated cell of the granulocytic series [17, 23-25, 28]. In view of the fact that this laboratory was the original source of K-562 cells and the progenitor of all sublines now in existence and doubts have recently been cast [1, 2] on the nature of the K-562 cell line, an update of the structural and functional features of the original cell line appears to be warranted. This cell line has been maintained in our tissue culture unit for nearly 9 y as continuous serial culture passages and as a series of stock passages preserved frozen in liquid nitrogen. Data on the K-562 cells not reported previously are presented. The applications and usefulness of this unique and reliable source of myelogenous leukemia cells of human origin in approaches to the immunotherapy of leukemia have also been included in this review. The information provided herein should serve as the standard reference information to compare with the characteristics of sublines derived from the original K-562 cell line and currently maintained in literally hundreds of laboratories around the world. To fully assess the information of the original K-562 cell line, the results of studies done by others on sublines of K-562 have purposely been excluded.
UNION DISORDERS OF ALMOND TREES ON PLUM ROOTSTOCK

Almond scions growing on the plum rootstock Marianna 2624 (Prunus cerasifera×P. munsoniana) developed symptoms of deep pits in the xylem and necrotic bark tissues (almond brown line and decline – ABLD) or a mild etching (UME) in the woody cylinder at the union. Trees affected by ABLD decline rapidly while those affected with UME often recover and generally remain in remission thereafter. However, UME-affected trees produce significantly less trunk growth and nut yields. Symptoms of ABLD can be induced by peach yellow leafroll phytoplasma. The etiology of UME is unknown.
Iontophoresis of nafarelin: Effects of current density and concentration on electrotransport in vitro

The effects of administered concentration and applied current density on the iontophoresis of the leutinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analog, Nafarelin, have been studied in vitro. Peptide electrotransport, at fixed current density as a function of concentration, and at fixed concentration as a function of current density, has been measured across hairless mouse skin. The results indicate that Nafarelin delivery does not increase linearly with applied concentration: while there is an increase when the donor concentration is doubled from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/ml, further increments in applied peptide level result in decreased transport. At constant concentration, Nafarelin flux does increase with increasing current density (up to 0.63 mA/cm2), but the dependence is very weak. Further experiments utilizing radiolabeled mannitol as a neutral marker of electroosmosis revealed that Nafarelin electrotransport is very sensitive to the extent and direction of convective flow. With increasing amounts of applied Nafarelin, reversal of electroosmosis (from the anode-to-cathode to the cathode-to-anode direction) was apparent; it appeared that the cationic peptide associated strongly with, and neutralized, the net negative charge on the skin, thereby resulting in depression and, ultimately, reversal of the convective flow. This, in turn, inhibits Nafarelin transport by the electroosmotic mechanism and explains, we believe, both the inverse dependence of flux upon concentration and the only weakly dependent behavior upon current density (where, although more current delivers more ions, more current also drives more peptide into the skin and thereby diminishes electroosmosis). Overall, then, this research emphasizes the complicated interplay between peptide structure, skin electrical properties and formulation variables which must be carefully considered in the development and optimization of an iontophoretic drug delivery device.
The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene is induced by cell adhesion through the MEK/ERK pathway.

The type-I plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), the primary inhibitor of both tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators (t-PA, u-PA), is the primary regulator of plasminogen activation and possibly of extracellular proteolysis. In anchorage-dependent cells, the PAI-1 gene is regulated by cell adhesion. PAI-1 gene expression is induced more evidently in cells that adhered to the culture plate than in those that did not adhere. In this study, we further demonstrate that the PAI-1 gene expression associated with cell adhesion is elicited through the activation of MEK and p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (MAPK; ERK) signal pathways. We found that the MEK inhibitors, PD98059 and U0126, inhibited the induction of PAI-1 gene and protein expression during cell adhesion, PD98059 also inhibited the adhesion of cells to the culture plate, and cell adhesion elicited the kinase activities of MEK and ERK. In addition, we illustrate that two transcription response elements, the serum response element (SRE) and the hypoxia response element (HRE), which exist in the PAI-1 promoter, might be correlated with PAI-1 gene expression during cell adhesion. We discovered that the binding ability of nucleoproteins to both SRE and HRE was enhanced by cell adhesion and was dependent on MEK. Based on these results, we suggest that both MEK and ERK are involved in the induction of PAI-1 gene expression during cell adhesion. Furthermore, the subsequent downstream molecules, Elk-1 and HIF-1, may also participate.
Structure-foundation interaction of a nuclear power plant with a seismic disturbance

Abstract Structure-foundation interaction effects have been investigated to determine their influence on the dynamic response of a nuclear power plant to a seismic disturbance. The horizontal, vertical and rotational motion history of the facility is determined by means of a computer program, termed the SIM (Structure-In-Medium) code, which incorporates interaction effects by means of an approximate interaction law. The facility studied is the BONUS plant and the seismic disturbance applied to the site is the 1957 Golden Gate earthquake record. The response of the center of gravity of the BONUS facility was found to be less than that of the free-field disturbance, with peak acceleration attenuation varying inversely as soil stiffness. The rotational motion of the facility, however, was found to have a major influence on the motion of points far removed from the center of gravity. At these locations, the motion in the facility can be more severe than the free-field disturbance.
ANCA are detectable in nearly all patients with active severe Wegener's granulomatosis.

Abstract Background The pathogenic significance of antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in Wegener's granulomatosis is controversial. Their presence is influenced by the extent, severity, and activity of the disease at the time of sampling. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of ANCA in patients with active Wegener's granulomatosis and to assess the influence of disease severity on test results. Methods Baseline serum samples from the 180 participants in a multicentric prospective trial were tested for ANCA by indirect immunofluorescence, direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and capture ELISA. Disease activity was measured using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegener's granulomatosis. All patients had active disease at enrollment. Patients were categorized as having severe (n=128) or limited (n=52) Wegener's granulomatosis. Results When all ANCA detection methods were combined, 166 patients (92%) were ANCA positive, including 96% with severe disease and 83% with limited disease. Conclusion ANCA are detectable in nearly all patients with active severe Wegener's granulomatosis, but approximately 1 of 5 patients with active limited disease are ANCA negative. Immunofluorescence and both direct and capture ELISAs are required for optimal detection, suggesting that ANCA are not recognized equally well by all testing methods.
Real interest rates and endogenous growth in a monetary economy

Abstract In endogenous growth models where the engine of growth is human capital acquired via formal education, inflation taxes may raise or lower real interest rates depending upon whether or not physical and/or human capital are liquidity constrained. Cases are examined.
Cloning and sequencing of genes encoding the TthHB8I restriction and modification enzymes: comparison with the isoschizomeric TaqI enzymes

Abstract Genes encoding the TthHB8I restriction and modification (R-M) system from Thermus thermophilus HB8 (recognition sequence T↓CGA) were cloned in Escherichia coli. The genes have the same transcriptional orientation, with the last 13 codons of the methyltransferase (MTase) overlapping the first 13 codons of the endonuclease (ENase). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the TthHB8I ENase revealed a single chain of 236 amino acid (aa) residues that share a 77% identity with the corrected isoschizomeric TaqI ENase. Likewise, the Tth MTase (428 aa) shares a 79% identity with the corrected sequence of the TaqI MTase. This high degree of aa conservation suggests a common origin between the Taq and Tth R-M systems. However, codon usage and G+C content for the R-M genes differed markedly from that of other cloned Thermus genes. This suggests that these R-M genes were only recently introduced into the genus Thermus.
On Lie algebras having a primitive universal enveloping algebra

In his book “Structure of Rings” [7, p. 231 Professor Jacobson raised the following open question: “What are the conditions on a finite dimensional Lie algebra L over a field K that insure that its universal enveloping algebra U(L) is primitive ?” [Since U(L) h as an anti-automorphism the notions left and right primitive are the same for U(L).] If R is of characteristic p f 0, then U(L) cannot be primitive unless L = 0 [7, p. 2551. Th ere f ore we may assume from now on that L is a nonzero finite dimensional Lie algebra over a field Fz of characteristic zero. For each linear functional f EL* we denote by L[f] the set of all x EL such that f (Ex) = 0 for all E in the algebraic hull of ad L C End L. Clearly L[f] is a Lie subalgebra of L containing the center Z(L) of L. The aim of this paper is to prove the following.
Memory-conscious collective I/O for extreme scale HPC systems

Upcoming extreme scale platforms are expected to have millions of nodes with hundreds to thousands of small cores for each node. The continuing decrease in memory capacity per core and the increasing disparity between core count and off-chip memory bandwidth can lead to significant challenges for I/O operations in extreme scale systems. Collective I/O is a critical I/O optimization technique, and the extreme scale challenges require rethinking this strategy for the effective exploitation of the correlation among I/O accesses. In this study, considering the constraint of the memory capacity and bandwidth, we introduce a Memory-Conscious Collective I/O. The new collective I/O strategy restricts aggregation data traffic within disjointed subgroups, coordinates I/O accesses in intra-node and inter-node layer, and determines I/O aggregators at run time considering memory consumption and variance among processes. The preliminary results have demonstrated that this strategy holds promise in mitigating the memory pressure, alleviating the contention for memory bandwidth, and improving the I/O performance for projected extreme scale HPC systems.
From Traditional Accountability to Shared Responsibility: The Benefits and Challenges of Student Consultants Gathering Midcourse Feedback in College Classrooms

The explicit purpose of gathering feedback in college classes is to improve those courses, usually along the lines of structure, organisation, pace, or some other aspect of the course over which the professor typically has control. A potential outcome that is less immediately obvious is the shift that can take place regarding who is responsible and in what ways for the analysis and revision of pedagogical practices at the college level. In this article, I take as a foundation for my discussion the premises of new wave student voice work, and I describe a project through which students were positioned as consultants who gathered midcourse feedback for faculty members. I analyse how those student consultants supported faculty members in revising not only their courses but also their relationships with students – both student consultants and students enrolled in the courses.
The Responsibility of Geography

Abstract Geographers have a six-fold responsibility: to truth and scientific integrity; to the discipline of geography, a body of knowledge and a corps of people; to the physical environment; to our communities; to our society; and to humanity. Those responsibilities are difficult to keep, and the attempt to do so may engender personal and disciplinary conflicts.
Zinc Requirement of the Chick: Factors Affecting Requirement

Abstract EARLY experiments by Titus (1932), Insko, Lyons and Martin (1938) and Lyons, Insko and Martin (1938) failed to show zinc to be a dietary essential for the chick. More recently, Mehring, Brumbaugh and Titus (1956) observed no beneficial effect upon growth of chicks from increasing the amount of zinc consumed from 42 to 820 mg. of zinc per kg. of diet. In studies on perosis, Wilgus, Norris and Heuser (1937), found that zinc as well as manganese had a beneficial effect upon the incidence of perosis, but under the conditions of their experiments manganese was shown to be the primary deficiency. Therefore, it was not until 1957, as a result of studies by O’Dell and Savage, that a true zinc deficiency was recognized in the chick. Edwards, Young and Gillis (1958), Moeller and Scott (1958), Morrison and Sarett (1958), Patrick (1958), and Roberson and Schaible (1958) have confirmed the original…
Effect of sex on symptoms and return to baseline in sport-related concussion.

Object Sport-related concussions (SRCs) among youth athletes represent a significant public health concern. Prior research suggests that females fare worse symptomatically after an SRC. The authors aimed to assess sex differences in number, severity, and resolution of postconcussive symptoms using reliable change index (RCI) methodology applied to days to return to symptom baseline. Methods Between 2009 and 2011, 740 youth athletes completed valid neurocognitive and symptom testing before and after an SRC using Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT). A total of 122 female and 122 male athletes were matched on number of prior concussions, age, and number of days to first postconcussion test. At baseline and postconcussion, the authors compared each of the individual 22 symptoms on ImPACT to calculate individual symptom severity and aggregate symptom severity, or the Total Symptom Score (TSS). When comparing individual symptoms, the significance level for the comparison of each ...
Novel ceramides recovered from Porphyromonas gingivalis: relationship to adult periodontitis

The primary purpose of this study was to characterize the major structural features of ceramides recovered from Porphyromonas gingivalis, a suspected periodontal pathogen. Complex lipids extracted from P. gingivalis were treated with N, O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mass spectra of lipid derivatives revealed cleavage products consistent with structures of four major ceramides. Two of the major ceramides are proposed to contain long chain bases of either 2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol or 2-amino-1, 3-nonadecanediol in amide linkage to 3-hydroxy isobranched C17:0. The remaining major ceramides are proposed to contain either 2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol or 2-amino-1,3-nonadecanediol in amide linkage to C17:1. Alkaline hydrolysis of P. gingivalis lipids and subsequent formation of suitable derivatives revealed 3-hydroxy isobranched C17:0, C17:1, 2-amino-1,3-octadecanediol, and 2-amino-1, 3-nonadecanediol as hydrolysis products. Therefore, the constitutive fatty acids and long chain bases recovered in alkaline hydrolysis products of P. gingivalis lipids are consistent with the proposed ceramide structures. The next goal of this study was to investigate whether these bacterial ceramides exist in lipid extracts of human teeth and gingival tissue at sites of severe adult periodontitis. Using selected ion monitoring of characteristic ions and retention times for each ceramide described above, lipids from teeth and gingival tissue were shown to contain primarily the ceramides containing C17:1. It is concluded that P. gingivalis synthesizes at least four major ceramides and two of these ceramides are selectively adsorbed to diseased tooth surfaces and may penetrate into diseased gingival tissue.
An Investigation of the Sociological Patterns of Prayer Frequency and Content

The majority of previous social scientific research on prayer has focused on the relationship between prayer and various types of health outcomes. Only limited attention has been given to prayer itself. This study examines the frequency and content of prayer using empirical data from the Baylor Religion Survey (2005), a national random sample of U.S. adults (N=1,721). Results indicate that women, African-Americans, and those with lower incomes pray more often than males, whites, and those with higher incomes. Concerning content of prayer, African-Americans and those at lower levels of income and education are more likely to pray about petitionary concerns such as asking God to influence personal health or one’s financial situation. In addition people at lower income levels are more likely to offer prayer in an effort to gain supernatural favor and good standing with the divine. Theoretically this is understood by conceptualizing prayer as a coping mechanism. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of prayer to religion, for it is “belief and ritual at the same time” (Mauss 2003:22) and “to religion what thinking is to philosophy” (the poet Novalis as quoted in Heiler 1932:viii). Although prayer represents a fundamental aspect of religious life, the influence of social factors on prayer patterns has yet to be extensively explored. This study uses the 2005 Baylor Religion Survey to provide information about sociological patterns of prayer frequency and content. Demonstrating how sociodemographic variables influence prayer provides evidence for the connection between sociological factors and even the most private of religious practices. Prayer represents an individual’s attempt to communicate with the supernatural (Stark and Finke 2000), as well as oneself and others (Ladd and Spilka 2002, 2006). It is expected that social factors will play a fundamental role in determining how communication with the supernatural manifests itself by influencing the reasons people pray and the needs prayer addresses. Sociology of Religion 2008, 69:2 169-185
UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS IN STRUCTURAL NUMBER DETERMINATION IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN - A CONVEX MODEL APPROACH

Abstract The AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures uses a structural number as one of the major inputs for flexible pavement thickness design. Previous studies have shown that the layer coefficients, which are a component of the structural number, have variability. The use of these values without a strong consideration of their variability can influence the overall determination of the structural number, hence, the thickness of the pavement. This paper proposes to use convex models as a tool for addressing the variability and uncertainty in the structural number determination. The convex models provide a completely non-probabilistic representation of uncertainty. The uncertainty is treated as unknown-but-bounded. The approach is illustrated by an example.
STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF WEATHER ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION: A SIMULATION MODEL1

Daily engineering records from two road construction projects near Jefferson City, Mo., for the years 1965-68 were combined with soil moisture and precipitation measurements from nearby meteorological stations to develop a model capable of producing an experimental series describing conditions suitable for road building activities. This model was then applied to a long-term series of daily precipitation records for Jefferson City (1918-65) to calculate road construction conditions over this period. Monthly and seasonal statistics describing the feasibility of various levels of road building activity are presented for the 48-yr period. These statistics include second-order Markov chain probability estimates of working and nonworking days. Aside from the inferences which can be directly drawn from the seasonal and monthly descriptive data, the statistics may have value in developing further simulation models for estimating the effects of various management strategies. Effects of weather conditions on particular components of the economy have been considered by a number of investigators. Studies assessing the association between weather and agricultural production (Maunder 1968), housing starts (Musgrave 1968), retail trade (Linden 1961), electrical power production (Johnson et al. 1969), natural gas consumption (McQuigg and Thompson 1966) , and agricultural land prices (Johnson and Haigh 1970) are among those of more recent vintage. The weather sensitivity of the construction industry in the United States has also been considered (Russo 1966, Theil 1966, US. Department of Commerce 1966), but little attention has been devoted to the road building sector. Expenditures for road construction are, however, an important part of the total expenditure on construction and of the budgets of Federal, State, and local governments from which they are financed. In this study, effects of climatic variables on the highway construction industry are estimated through their influence on working conditions during the main construction months. Data from two construction projects are combined with a soil moisture index to obtain conditions under which construction activities can proceed. This relationship is used to generate an experimental series of working conditions based on available weather data. The resulting series of simulated working conditions are then assessed regarding their potential as aids to planning and scheduling highway construction projects.
Does Foreign Direct Investment Transfer Technology Across Borders

Previous studies have found that importing goods from R&D-intensive countries raises a country's productivity. In this paper, we investigate econometrically whether foreign direct investment (FDI) also transfers technology across borders. The data indicates that FDI transfers technology, but only in one direction: a country's productivity is increased if it invests in R&D-intensive foreign countries—particularly in recent years—but not if foreign R&D-intensive countries invest in it. Other findings of the paper are that the ratio of foreign-R&D benefits conveyed by outward FDI to foreign R&D benefits conveyed by imports is higher for large countries than it is for small ones, that failure to account for international R&D spillovers leads to upwardly biased estimates of the output elasticity of the domestic R&D capital stock, and that there are much larger transfers of technology from the United States to Japan than there are from Japan to the United States.
Prospects for Vaccine Prevention of Meningococcal Infection

Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States and worldwide. A serogroup A/C/W-135/Y polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine has been licensed in the United States since 1981 but has not been used universally outside of the military. On 14 January 2005, a polysaccharide conjugate vaccine that covers meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y was licensed in the United States for 11- to 55-year-olds and is now recommended for the routine immunization of adolescents and other high-risk groups. This review covers the changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the United States, issues related to vaccine prevention, and recommendations on the use of the new vaccine.
Mass Spectrometric Determination of Genistein Tissue Distribution in Diet-Exposed Sprague-Dawley Rats

Genistein, the principal soy isoflavone, was administered in the diet to male and female Sprague-Dawley rats as part of a multigeneration study of potential endocrine modulation. The rats were exposed to genistein in utero, through maternal milk, and as adults through postnatal d 140 via essentially isoflavone-free feed (approximately 0.5 microg/g) fortified at 5, 100 and 500 microg/g with genistein aglycone. Analytical methods based on liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and the use of deuterated genistein were developed and validated for use in measuring genistein in serum and tissues. Pharmacokinetic analysis of serum genistein showed a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the elimination half-life and area under the concentration-time curve between male [2.97 +/- 0.14 h and 22.3 +/- 1.2 micromol/(L. h), respectively] and female rats [4.26 +/- 0.29 h and 45.6 +/- 3.1 micromol/(L. h), respectively, +/- SEM]. Endocrine-responsive tissues including brain, liver, mammary, ovary, prostate, testis, thyroid and uterus showed significant dose-dependent increases in total genistein concentration. Female liver contained the highest amount of genistein (7.3 pmol/mg tissue) and male whole brain contained the least (0.04 pmol/mg). The physiologically active aglycone form was present in tissues at fractions up to 100%, and the concentration was always greater than that observed in serum in which conjugated forms predominated (95-99%). These results for measured amounts of genistein, present as aglycone and conjugates, in putative target tissues provide a link with other studies in which blood concentrations and physiologic effects of genistein are measured.
N,N,N′,N′‐Tetraethyl‐P‐phenylphosphonous Diamide

[1636-14-2] C14H25N2P (MW 252.34) InChI = 1S/C14H25N2P/c1-5-15(6-2)17(16(7-3)8-4)14-12-10-9-11-13-14/h9-13H,5-8H2,1-4H3 InChIKey = HTIVDCMRYKVNJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N (used as phosphorylating agent and ligand) Alternate Names: bis(diethylamino)phenylphosphine, phenylphosphonous tetraethyldiamide, phenylphosphonous bis(diethylamide). Physical Data: bp 113–116 °C (2 Torr); 80 °C (0.005 mmHg); d 0.971 g cm−3(25 °C); refractive index 1.5340 (20 °C); flash point 106 °C. Solubility: sol in benzene, toluene, THF, chloroform, and dichloromethane. Form Supplied in: colorless liquid. Preparative Methods: may be prepared by treating a suitably substituted dichlorophenylphosphine1-4 or chlorophosphine5 with an appropriate amine and removing the amine salt that forms. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: stable under recommended storage conditions. Avoid strong oxidizing agents. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers that are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. No toxicological information is available.
Hermeneutics and Postmodernism: Can We Have a Radical Reader-Response Theory? Part II

The flaws in Fish's hermeneutics that were diagnosed in Part I (it is now argued) are consequences of his underlying epistemology. This is a version of anti-foundationalism which claims that facts are the product of interpretation; but a careful study of how this issue is handled by N. R. Hanson and Thomas Kuhn shows that Fish's epistemology is fundamentally unsound. An alternative account of the fact-interpretation relationship is then proposed, and the outline of an objectivist, readerindependent hermeneutics are sketched. This is further developed by showing how a common argument against objectivism (based on the historical situatedness of reason and knowledge) may be refuted.
Phenology and Environmental Education

This volume has presented many scientific and applied aspects of phenology; almost the whole of biology from algal blooms through hibernating mice and larval mosquitoes to germinating zoospores. Authors have indicated wide public interest in biological events, from the first robin to the last green leaf. This interest has motivated the many lay observers who serve as the backbone of the major phenological networks. Probably reports from lay observers are generally more reliable and of better quality than if the reports were received from scientifically trained observers engaged in distracting studies.
Robust Context Dependent Spectral Unmixing

A robust hyper spectral unmixing algorithm that finds multiple sets of end members is introduced. The algorithm, called Robust Context Dependent Spectral Unmixing (RCDSU), combines the advantages of context dependent unmixing and robust clustering. RCDSU adapts the unmixing to different regions, or contexts, of the spectral space. It combines fuzzy and possibilistic clustering and linear unmixing to learn multiple contexts and the optimal end members and abundances for each context. RCDSU uses fuzzy membership functions to partition the data, and possibilistic membership functions to identify noise and outliers. An extension of RCDSU to deal with the case of an unknown number of contexts is also proposed. The performance of the proposed work is evaluated using simulated and real hyper spectral data. The experiments show that the proposed methods can handle noisy data and identify an "optimal" number of contexts and appropriate end members within each context.
Exploiting the Structure of Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (Doctoral Consortium)

In the proposed thesis, we study Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOPs), which are problems where several agents coordinate with each other to optimize a global cost function. The use of DCOPs has gained momentum, due to their capability of addressing complex and naturally distributed problems. However, the adoption of DCOP on large problems faces two main limitations: (1) Modeling limitations, as current resolution methods detach the model from the resolution process, assuming that each agent controls a single variable of the problem; and (2) Solving capabilities, as the inability of current approaches to capitalize on the presence of structural information which may allow incoherent/unnecessary data to reticulate among the agents as well as to exploit structure of the agent’s local problems. The purpose of the proposed dissertation is to address such limitations, studying how to adapt and integrate insights gained from centralized solving techniques in order to enhance DCOP performance and scalability, enabling their use for the resolution of real-world complex problems. To do so, we hypothesize that one can exploit the DCOP structure in both problem modeling and problem resolution phases.