cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Group B Streptococci Isolated from Patients with Invasive Disease: 10-Year Perspective

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 192 group B streptococcal isolates from patients with invasive disease demonstrated that 31 (16%) were resistant to erythromycin and 17 (9%) were resistant to clindamycin. One isolate demonstrated high-level resistance to streptomycin, but none was highly resistant to gentamicin. Erythromycin and clindamycin are no longer reliable empirical alternatives to penicillin for the treatment and prevention of group B streptococcal infections.
A Monte Carlo comparison of two production frontier estimation methods: Corrected ordinary least squares and data envelopment analysis

Abstract This paper reports the results of an experiment with simulated data that compares the estimation accuracy of two simple and very different production frontier methods: corrected ordinary least squares and data envelopment analysis. The experimental design extends a previously published paper by introducing measurement errors, a factor we show to be critical for comparative analysis of the frontier methods. Both low and high measurement error distributions are used, resulting in 95% error intervals of roughly ± 10% and 40%, respectively, of outputs. Other variations include four inefficiency distributions covering a wide range of behavior; four sample sizes, from 25 to 200, and two piecewise Cobb-Douglas technologies with two inputs and one output each. Results include: 1) selection of the proper estimation method for a case can result in substantial gains in estimation accuracy for technical efficiencies, from 15 to 40% in mean absolute deviations; 2) COLS performs better for the classical distribution case with sample sizes of 50 or over; 3) DEA performs better for all nonclassical inefficiency distributions, even with relatively high measurement errors; 4) DEA provides surprisingly accurate estimates for the small sample size of 25, for all cases in the experiment; 5) COLS fails to decompose deviations into efficiency and measurement error components (it assumes that deviations from the frontier are either totally due to measurement errors or technical inefficiencies); and 6) neither method performs satisfactorally for high measurement errors.
Effect of zinc upon growth and incidence of perosis in turkey poults.

SummaryTurkey poults fed a purified ration containing an isolated soybean protein (Drackett C-1) developed perosis. Addition of zinc to the ration improved growth and markedly reduced the incidence and severity of the perotic condition. Approximately 40 ppm of zinc, in addition to the 26 ppm contained in the basal ration, were required for optimum growth.
CCKB/gastrin receptor mediates synergistic stimulation of DNA synthesis and cyclin D1, D3, and E expression in Swiss 3T3 cells

In order to develop a model system for identifying signaling pathways and cell cycle events involved in gastrin-mediated mitogenesis, we have used high efficiency retroviral-mediated transfection of cholecystokinin (CCK)B/gastrin receptor into Swiss 3T3 cells. The retrovirally-transfected CCKB/gastrin receptor binds 125I-CCK-8 with high affinity (Kd = 1.1 nM) and is functionally coupled to intracellular signaling pathways including rapid and transient increase in Ca2+ fluxes, protein kinase C-dependent protein kinase D activation, and MEK-dependent ERK1/2 activation. In the presence of insulin, CCK-8 or gastrin induced a 66.5 ± 8.8-fold (mean ± SEM, n = 24 in eight independent experiments) increase in cellular DNA synthesis, reaching a level similar to that achieved by stimulation with a saturating concentration of fresh serum, and much greater than the response to each agonist added alone. CCK-8 also induced a striking increase in the expression of cyclins D1, D3, and E and hyperphosphorylation of Rb acting synergistically with insulin. Similar effects were observed when CCKB/gastrin receptor was activated in the presence of EGF or bombesin. Our results demonstrate that activation of CCKB/gastrin receptor retrovirally-transfected into Swiss 3T3 induces a potent synergistic effect on DNA synthesis, accumulation of cyclins D1, D3, and E and hyperphosphorylation of Rb in combination with insulin, EGF, or bombesin. Thus, the CCKB/gastrin receptor transfected into Swiss 3T3 cells provides a novel model system to elucidate mitogenic signal transduction pathways and cell cycle events activated via this receptor. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differential Dimensions of Death Anxiety in Nursing Students with and without Nursing Experience

Researchers have demonstrated death anxiety in nursing professionals; however, it is unclear as to when this anxiety develops. This study used a multidimensional measure to investigate death anxiety in a group of experienced (n = 53) and inexperienced (n = 49) nursing students and a control group of non-nursing students (n = 50). Experienced nursing students reported significantly more fear of the dying process than inexperienced nursing students and controls whereas both experienced and inexperienced nursing students reported more fear of the unknown than controls. The results suggest that death anxiety may develop early in a nurse's training.
THE GLOBAL REGISTRY PROGRAM ON LONG-TERM ORAL ANTI-THROMBOTIC TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (GLORIA-AF): FIRST ASSESSMENT OF BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS OF DABIGATRAN AND VKA COHORTS IN NORTH AMERICA

The Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (GLORIA-AF) is designed to identify factors influencing the selection of antithrombotic treatment to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). While Phase I assessed the
Prognostic Impact of KRAS Mutation Subtypes in 677 Patients with Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinomas

Background We previously demonstrated that patients with metastatic KRAS mutant lung cancers have a shorter survival compared with patients with KRAS wild-type cancers. Recent reports have suggested different clinical outcomes and distinct activated signaling pathways depending on KRAS mutation subtype. To better understand the impact of KRAS mutation subtype, we analyzed data from 677 patients with KRAS mutant metastatic lung cancer. Methods We reviewed all patients with metastatic or recurrent lung cancers found to have KRAS mutations over a 6-year time period. We evaluated the associations among KRAS mutation type, clinical factors, and overall survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. Any significant findings were validated in an external multi-institution patient dataset. Results Among 677 patients with KRAS mutant lung cancers (53 at codon 13, 624 at codon 12), there was no difference in overall survival for patients when comparing KRAS transition versus transversion mutations ( p = 0.99), smoking status ( p = 0.33), or when comparing specific amino acid substitutions ( p = 0.20). In our dataset, patients with KRAS codon 13 mutant tumors ( n = 53) had shorter overall survival compared with patients with codon 12 mutant tumors ( n = 624) (1.1 versus 1.3 years, respectively; p = 0.009), and the findings were confirmed in a multivariate Cox model controlling for age, sex, and smoking status (hazard ratio: 1.52, 95% confidence interval: 1.11–2.08; p = 0.008). In an independent validation set of tumors from 682 patients with stage IV KRAS mutant lung cancers, there was no difference in survival between patients with KRAS codon 13 versus codon 12 mutations (1.0 versus 1.1 years, respectively; p = 0.41). Conclusions Among individuals with KRAS mutant metastatic lung cancers treated with conventional therapy, there are no apparent differences in outcome based on KRAS mutation subtype.
Families of proteins forming transmembrane channels.

Channel-forming proteins/peptides fall into over 100 currently recognized families, most of which are restricted to prokaryotes or eukaryotes, but a few of which are ubiquitous. These proteins fall into three major currently recognized classes: (i) α-helix-type channels present in bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic cytoplasmic and organellar membranes, (ii) β-barrel-type porins present in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacterial cells, mitochondria and chloroplasts, and (iii) protein/peptide toxins targeted to the cytoplasmic membranes of cells other than those that synthesize the toxins. High-resolution 3-dimensional structural data are available for representative proteins/peptides of all three of these channel-forming types. Each type exhibits distinctive features that distinguish them from the other channel protein types and from carriers. Structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects of transmembrane channel-formers are discussed.
Projection Theorems And Their Application In Multidimensional Signal Processing

Several sophisticated imaging methods are based on measurements that lead to accessing a finite volume of the 3-D Fourier domain of an interrogated object and subsequent retrieval of 3-D image detail by 3-D Fourier inversion. Examples are found in inverse scattering, integral holography, x-ray and radio emission imaging, crystalography, and electron microscopy.This paper examines a unified approach to all these methods, namely through reduction of dimensionality based on the pprojection-slice property of the multidimensional Fourier transform. We describe two hybrid (opto-digital) computing schemes, one employing coherent light and the other incoherent light, that can be used with these techniques to reconstruct and display true 3-D image detail tomographically. Reduction of dimensionality is shown to provide flexibility in hybrid (opto-electronic) computing by permitting trade-off between the degree of parallel and serial processing employed. It leads to new architectures capable of enhanced throughput and dynamic range and extends the domain of optical computing beyond one and two dimensional signals.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hemodynamic Effects of Glucagon in Patients with Heart Disease

The intravenous administration of 3 or 5 mg of glucagon to 13 patients with heart disease resulted in a statistically significant increase in heart rate, cardiac index, stroke power index, mean rate of left ventricular ejection, and maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure, whereas systemic vascular resistance declined. A moderate increase in mean stroke volume index and stroke work index and a slight fall in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure also occurred, although these changes were not statistically significant. The increase in cardiac index averaged 19%, with nine of the patients demonstrating an increase exceeding 10% of their respective control value. These effects of glucagon generally reached a maximum within 15 min after drug administration and also were of short duration. Positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of glucagon were observed in most but not all of these patients. In addition, the magnitude of these effects varied considerably among patients; the variation, however,...
Development of depolarization-induced calcium transients in insect glial cells is dependent on the presence of afferent axons

Changes in the intracellular Ca 2 + concentration ([Ca 2 + ] i ) induced by depolarization have been measured in glial cells acutely isolated from antennal lobes of the moth Manduca sexta at different postembryonic developmental stages. Depolarization of the glial cell membrane was elicited by increasing the external K + concentration from 4 to 25 mM. At midstage 5 and earlier stages, less than 20% of the cells responded to 25 mM K + (1 min) with a transient increase in [Ca 2 + ] i of approximately 40 nM. One day later, at late stage 5, 68% of the cells responded to 25 mM K + , the amplitude of the [Ca 2 + ] i transients averaging 592 nM. At later stages, all cells responded to 25 mM K + with [Ca 2 + ] i transients with amplitudes not significantly different from those at late stage 5. In stage 6 glial cells isolated from deafferented antennal lobes, i.e., from antennal lobes chronically deprived of olfactory receptor axons, only 30% of the cells responded with [Ca 2 + ] i transients. The amplitudes of these [Ca 2 + ] i transients averaged 93 nM and were significantly smaller than those in normal stage 6 glial cells. [Ca 2 + ] i transients were greatly reduced in Ca 2 + -free, EGTA-buffered saline, and in the presence of the Ca 2 + channel blockers cadmium and verapamil. The results suggest that depolarization of the cell membrane induces Ca 2 + influx through voltage-activated Ca 2 + channels into antennal lobe glial cells. The development of the depolarization-induced Ca 2 + transients is rapid between midstage 5 and stage 6, and depends on the presence of afferent axons from the olfactory receptor cells in the antenna.
Superficial dosimetry imaging of Čerenkov emission in electron beam radiotherapy of phantoms

Cerenkov emission is generated from ionizing radiation in tissue above 264 keV energy. This study presents the first examination of this optical emission as a surrogate for the absorbed superficial dose. Cerenkov emission was imaged from the surface of flat tissue phantoms irradiated with electrons, using a range of field sizes from 6 cm × 6 cm to 20 cm × 20 cm, incident angles from 0° to 50°, and energies from 6 to 18 MeV. The Cerenkov images were compared with the estimated superficial dose in phantoms from direct diode measurements, as well as calculations by Monte Carlo and the treatment planning system. Intensity images showed outstanding linear agreement (R(2) = 0.97) with reference data of the known dose for energies from 6 to 18 MeV. When orthogonal delivery was carried out, the in-plane and cross-plane dose distribution comparisons indicated very little difference (± 2-4% differences) between the different methods of estimation as compared to Cerenkov light imaging. For an incident angle 50°, the Cerenkov images and Monte Carlo simulation show excellent agreement with the diode data, but the treatment planning system had a larger error (OPT = ± 1~2%, diode = ± 2~3%, TPS = ± 6-8% differences) as would be expected. The sampling depth of superficial dosimetry based on Cerenkov radiation has been simulated in a layered skin model, showing the potential of sampling depth tuning by spectral filtering. Taken together, these measurements and simulations indicate that Cerenkov emission imaging might provide a valuable method of superficial dosimetry imaging from incident radiotherapy beams of electrons.
The Effect of Irrigation on Regional Temperatures: A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Trends in California, 1934–2002

Abstract The response of air temperatures to widespread irrigation may represent an important component of past and/or future regional climate changes. The quantitative impact of irrigation on daily minimum and maximum temperatures (Tmin and Tmax) in California was estimated using historical time series of county irrigated areas from agricultural censuses and daily climate observations from the U.S. Historical Climatology Network. Regression analysis of temperature and irrigation changes for stations within irrigated areas revealed a highly significant (p 0.3). The mean estimate for Tmax was a substantial 5.0°C cooling for 100% irrigation cover, with a 95% confidence interval of 2.0°–7.9°C. As a result of small changes in Tmin compared to Tmax, the diurnal temperature range (DTR) decreased significantly in both spring and summer months. Effects on percentiles of Tmax within summer months were not statistical...
The importance of firm wage differentials in explaining hourly earnings variation in the large-scale sector of Guatemala

Abstract I utilize unique firm-based data to examine firm-wage differentials among private firms with ten or more workers in the capital area of Guatemala City. Approximately one-seventh of the overall hourly earnings variation in this sector is related to firm effects not captured by other observable characteristics of individuals and firms. For most variables, including observable characteristics of firms used in most previous studies, the bias from not including firm fixed effects in the estimation of log wage equations is small in magnitude, though statistically significant.
Impact of Migraine in the United States: Data from the National Health Interview Survey

Data from the 1989 National Health Interview Survey concerning migraine occurrence and impairment were analyzed to assess the impact of migraine on the US population. About four of every one hundred persons in the United States were found to have migraine, accounting for nearly 10 million individuals. Migraine was most prevalent in those aged 25 to 44 years and was about 2.5 times more frequent in females than males. Migraine was most common in whites (85%) and those with low household income. In women, migraine prevalence increased with the level of education. About 10% of migrainous children missed at least one day of school over a two-week period due to migraine; nearly 1% missed four days. Migraineurs were bedridden for about three million days per month and had an estimated 74.2 million days per year of restricted activity due to migraine. The potential cost of lost productivity was estimated at $1.4 billion per year for the estimated 6,196,378 migraineurs who worked outside the home. It is difficult to derive similar estimates for costs of lost productivity in housewives; however, housewives experienced an estimated 38 million days per year of restricted activity. Eighty-five percent of females and 77% of males reported a physician visit at some point for their migraine. Migraine is a relatively common disease whose social and financial impact has been poorly understood.
The Nature of Laboratory Learning Experiences in Secondary Science Online

Teaching science to secondary students in an online environment is a growing international trend. Despite this trend, reports of empirical studies of this phenomenon are noticeably missing. With a survey concerning the nature of laboratory activities, this study describes the perspective of 35-secondary teachers from 15-different U.S. states who are teaching science online. The type and frequency of reported laboratory activities are consistent with the tradition of face-to-face instruction, using hands-on and simulated experiments. While provided examples were student-centered and required the collection of data, they failed to illustrate key components of the nature of science. The features of student-teacher interactions, student engagement, and nonverbal communications were found to be lacking and likely constitute barriers to the enactment of inquiry. These results serve as a call for research and development focused on using existing communication tools to better align with the activity of science such that the nature of science is more clearly addressed, the work of students becomes more collaborative and authentic, and the formative elements of a scientific inquiry are more accessible to all participants.
Structural Characterization of Rhodium-Containing Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) Catalysts Derived from a Laser Vaporization Cluster Source☆☆☆

Abstract A series of highly dispersed Rh-based materials have been prepared by deposition of laser-generated gas-phase clusters onto an industrial-grade alumina. While the diameter of the gas-phase metal clusters could be kept at or below 1 nm, the average diameter of the resulting supported Rh particles was always at least 1.5 nm. The reaction of the clusters with either O 2 or C 2 H 4 failed to prevent Rh aggregation on the alumina surface. The addition of O 2 upstream of the Rh target was sufficient to form bulk Rh 2 O 3 , whereas downstream addition of O 2 or C 2 H 4 to the Rh clusters was insufficient to form Rh oxide particles. Most of the Rh-containing particles further aggregated during either sulfiding or HDS testing. Nevertheless, the resulting rhodium sulfides were comparable in activity to sulfided, commercial Co–Mo or Ni–Mo catalysts on a per gram of catalyst basis and superior on a per gram of metal basis. At low loadings (0.1 wt%), the cluster-derived catalysts were more hydrogen-efficient than the commercial catalysts.
Networks of queues with batch services, signals and product form solutions

Consider a network of queues with batch services at each node and signals. The nodes in the network have the feature that upon a service completion an entire batch of customers coalesce into a single customer. When a signal arrives at a node, it also triggers a batch of customers to leave as a single unit. The batch sizes are arbitrarily distributed. When a batch completes its service (or triggered to leave by a signal), it goes to another node either as a single customer or as a signal with given routing probabilities. We obtain the steady state probability for this network which turns out to be product form.
New views of evolution and regulation of vertebrate β-like globin gene clusters from an orphaned gene in marsupials

Few, if any, proteins have been studied in as many organisms as have the hemoglobins. They are found in bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, serving physiological roles ranging from oxygen transport in the blood of vertebrates to catalyzing the combination of oxygen and nitric oxide to form nitrate in bacteria, yeast, and worms (1, 2). Hence hemoglobins and the globin genes encoding them have been an important system for investigating many biochemical and evolutionary issues. Furthermore, the tissue-specific and developmental regulation of globin gene expression has been studied intensively in mammals and birds. This led to the discovery of many cis-regulatory sequences such as promoters, enhancers, locus control regions (LCRs) (3), and insulators (4). If any model system were well understood both in terms of gene evolution and regulation, this should be the one. However, by their discovery of an orphaned β-like globin gene in marsupials, Wheeler et al. (5) show in a recent issue of PNAS that previously inferred relationships between the β-globin gene clusters in eutherian mammals and birds were oversimplified. The new data force a reconsideration of the evolutionary course of this gene cluster, how these regulatory elements evolved, and how they may be acting today. … the eutherian ɛ-γ-δ-β-globin gene cluster appears to be descended from a different gene cluster from that which led to the avian ρ-β-ɛ cluster.
Copper-Catalyzed Radiolytic Reduction of CO2 to CO in Aqueous Solutions

Radiolysis of aqueous solutions containing CO2 and Cu(II) ions under reducing conditions leads first to reduction of the Cu(II) and then to formation of CO. Experiments under various conditions sho...
Glutaminase-like immunoreactivity in the organ of Corti of guinea pig.

Abstract The distribution of glutaminase (GLNase)-like immunoreactivity (IR) in the normal and surgically de-efferented organ of Corti of guinea pig was studied. Primary antisera were against phosphate-dependent GLNase from rat kidney. Indirect immunocytochemical techniques were used; IR was visualized in cryostat sections through immunofluorescence, and through immunofluorescence or with horseradish peroxidase reaction product in surface preparations. Standard microscopy and video-enhanced light microscopy with asymmetric illumination contrast were used. GLNase-like IR was found at inner hair cells (IHCs) in the normal and in the de-efferented organ of Corti, in the tunnel spiral bundle, in tunnel-crossing fibers, in endings high up on outer hair cells (OHCs), in outer spiral bundles, in puncta close to OHCs, and in large, efferent endings at OHC bases. There was no GLNase-like IR at OHCs in the de-efferented organ of Corti. It is concluded that GLNase-like IR is present in auditory nerve dendrites at IHCs and in olivocochlear efferents of the medial system, and that future studies are needed to determine whether also the lateral system of olivocochlear efferents contains GLNase-like IR. A diagram is included depicting the relation between OHCs and efferent nerve endings along the cochlear spiral, showing that in the apicalmost 3 4 turn of the spiral OHCs have no efferent endings.
Rydberg atoms in time-dependent electric fields

Abstract An approximate representation of atomic states in a rapidly varying time-dependent electric field F ( t ) is presented, and its range of validity is explicitly determined. The approximation is tested for different time-dependent forms of F ( t ) by comparing with exact numerical solutions, where the field induced mixing is treated by including spherical hydrogenic states up to n ⩽ 25 in the coupled equations. Within this validity range, the proposed formula describes the field dressed atomic wave functions surprisingly well, and improves with increasing principal quantum number of initial states. The formula has a wide range of applicability, and may be used to treat the effects of fluctuating plasma dipole fields and externally imposed oscillating electric fields on atomic transitions.
A CARRIER STATE OF MUMPS VIRUS IN HUMAN CONJUNCTIVA CELLS : II. OBSERVATIONS ON INTERCELLULAR TRANSFER OF VIRUS AND VIRUS RELEASE

Mumps virus in a carrier culture of human conJunctiva cells (C-M cultures) persisted through 5½ months of cultivation in a medium containing sufficient specific antiserum to keep the fluid free of infectious virus. Cells from the C-M cultures were cloned under antiserum with an efficiency equal to control, uninfected cultures (40 to 100 per cent). Of 269 C-M cell clones examined, the cells of 262 contained antigen. Eight infected clones were grown into cultures sufficiently large to demonstrate that they released infectious virus and adsorbed erythrocytes in a manner similar to the original C-M cultures. Two uninfected clones were as susceptible to the effects of a cytopathogenic line of mumps virus as were uninfected control cells. In healthy, growing cultures of C-M cells 0.1 to 1.0 per cent of cells adsorbed erythrocytes to their surfaces, suggesting that these cells were releasing virus. Reduction of serum content of the medium to less than 3 per cent, depletion of the medium, or crowding of cultures resulted in hemadsorption by 50 to 90 per cent of cells and an increase of virus in the medium. In growing cultures hemadsorbing cells did not appear damaged. It was observed that cells could simultaneously exhibit hemadsorption and mitosis.
Recurrence as a mode of determining efficacy in treatment of carcinoma of the larynx

A study population of 374 patients with cancer of the larynx was evaluated, treated, and followed at yearly intervals up to a maximum of 18 years post-diagnosis. Of these, 348 received definitive therapy to attempt to eradicate their disease and were followed for recurrence and presence of cancer at death. In Stages I, II, and III recurrence of disease appears to be a very good indicator of therapeutic efficacy. Stage I carcinomas of the larynx should be treated with radiation as the proportions of patients with recurrences were the same for both primary surgical or radiation therapy. In Stages II and III, primary surgical therapy significantly lowered the proportion recurring when compared with primary radiation therapy. In Stage IV carcinomas of the larynx, both survival and recurrence accurately reflect therapeutic efficacy since most patients suffer recurrence of their carcinoma and die of the disease.
Science studies, situatedness, and instructional design in science education: A summary and critique of the promise

This article critically examines the claim that findings from the sociology of science (or science studies) literature may be used as benchmarks in designing authentic school science curricula. First, it argues that such instructional design claims are based on erroneous understandings of the concepts of situated learning and authenticity, which result from the historically evaluative orientation of education research. Second, it considers several specific claims about the success of designed environments from the science education literature (Roth & McGinn, 1998), and contrasts those claims with an alternative way of viewing students’ work in school science. The article concludes that science education could productively consider situated actions in school science settings as interesting and authentic phenomena in their own right, apart from measuring them against professional scientific activities.
Prereading questions and online text comprehension.

Prereading questions can be an effective tool for directing students' learning. However, it is not always clear what the online effects of a set of prereading questions will be. In two experiments, this study investigated whether readers direct additional attention to and learn more from sentences that are potentially relevant to a set of prereading questions. Eye-tracking data indicated that participants directed additional attention (as indicated by first-pass reinspection and lookback duration) to sentences that were potentially relevant to the prereading questions they had received. Participants also learned more information from these sentences (as indicated by free recall rates). Judgment data suggested that the featural similarity (both lexical and semantic) of a sentence to a prereading question can be a strong indicator that a sentence will be deemed potentially relevant by readers. Results are discussed with respect to an account of instructional effects in which featural similarity drives early...
Characteristics of face seal leakage in filtering facepieces.

Several studies have found that aerosol size, testing method, leak size, leak position, sampling probe location, and the mixing condition inside the respirator affect the results of fit factor measurements. This study focuses on the effect of leak shape and filter resistance because leaks have been reported to vary in shape from circular to slit-like. Four leaks of different shape but the same cross-sectional area were used to study their effect on aerosol penetration. Dust-mist and high-efficiency particulate air filtering facepieces provided different filter resistances. An aerodynamic particle sizer and a laser aerosol spectrometer were used to measure the particle size–dependent aerosol concentrations inside and outside the respirators. The filtering facepieces were sealed to a mannequin and artificial leaks were inserted near the right cheek. Aerosol penetration was measured for five flow rates ranging from 5 to 100 L/min. The pressure drop across the mask was monitored with an inclined manometer. At...
Ultrasensitive DNA and protein analysis using molecular beacon probes

Molecular beacons (MBs) are novel nucleic acid hairpin-shaped probes that brightly fluoresce when they are bound to their targets and have a significant advantage over conventional nucleic acid probes. We have developed ultrasensitive MB DNA biosensors, including a fiber optic evanescent wave sensor and a submicrometer optical fiber sensor. The fiber optic sensors are rapid, stable, reproducible, regenerable and have the capability for one base mismatch discrimination. The sensors have been applied for both detection of DNA and specific mRNA sequences. A sensor array has also been demonstrated for multiple target identification. A microwell array methodology has been developed for ultrasmall amount DNA analysis, and can detect 50 DNA molecules in each well. Our study has also extended the applications of MBs from pure nucleic acid hybridization to DNA-protein interactions. These recent advancements of ultrasensitive DNA/protein analysis by molecular beacon probes provide a powerful tool for genomics and proteomics studies, molecular diagnoses of diseases, and new drug development.
Accounting for Patterns of Father Involvement: Age of Child, Father‐Child Coresidence, and Father Role Salience

This study examines the extent to which fathers are involved in parenting their children under several conditions, using a multivariate regression model. The model includes the age of the child, father role salience, and the father and child's coresidential status as predictors of father involvement. Although nonresidential fathers tend to be less involved than residential fathers under most conditions, this is not the case for fathers of adolescents who find the father role to be at least moderately salient. Explanations for their greater involvement are proposed, focusing specifically on the unique characteristics of the parent-child relationship involving an adolescent child and a nonresidential parent
Enhancement of Integrated GPS/INS Performance Utilizing Frequency Domain Implementation of INS Calibration

: A new approach for improving integrated GPS/INS performance is presented. The approach is based on frequency-domain mechanization of the INS algorithms. The frequency-domain development proposed is motivated by the existing imbalance between conventional INS algorithms and current DSP technology, as well as the recent evolution of GPS block processing techniques that have the promise to significantly enhance GPS performance. The new approach focuses on the implementation of frequency-domain in-flight calibration techniques to achieve centimeter-level accuracy when GPS is integrated with a low-grade INS. This paper demonstrates that the proposed frequency-domain calibration approach allows for suppression of conventional calibration drawbacks. In particular, test results obtained indicate an order of magnitude reduction of errors caused by conventional representation of calibrated parameters (methodical errors). It is also shown that the proposed techniques can compensate for unbounded degradation of inertial accuracy in singularity (or poor observability) cases.
Factors predicting cesarean delivery for American Indian women in New Mexico.

BACKGROUND American Indian women have one of the lowest cesarean delivery rates among all ethnic groups evaluated in the United States. Our objective was to identify risk factors for cesarean delivery among American Indian women in New Mexico. METHODS Live birth certificate data (1994) from the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health statistics were used to compare American Indian women who had a cesarean delivery with those who had a vaginal delivery. We examined demographic, prenatal, and intrapartum factors to determine risk factors for cesarean delivery. RESULTS In 1994 American Indian women in New Mexico had a cesarean delivery rate of 12 percent. Risk factors for cesarean delivery included age equal to or over 35 years (OR = 1.8, 1.3-2.5) and nulliparity (OR = 1.9, 1.5-2.5). Obstetric risk factors included prematurity (OR = 2.3, 1.5-3.6), low birthweight (OR = 2.6, 1.7-4.2), diabetes (OR = 1.7, 1.1-2.5), pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR = 2.6, 1.8-3.8), and labor and delivery complications (OR = 9.5, 7.5-12.1). Age less than 20 years was negatively associated with cesarean delivery (OR = 0.5, 0.3-0.7). CONCLUSION American Indian women have risk factors for cesarean delivery that are similar to those reported in other populations. Future prospective research evaluating intrapartum management may help identify reasons for the low cesarean birth rate.
The relationship of communication apprehension to communication behavior: A meta‐analysis

This meta‐analytic review examines the connection between communication apprehension (CA) and communication behaviors. The results indicate a consistent negative relationship between the level of communication apprehension and communication skills (r = ‐.220) using a total of 36 studies involving 3742 participants. This relationship indicates that as a person becomes more apprehensive both the quantity and quality of communication behavior diminishes. Subgroup analysis indicated that the relationship was largest for ratings of the quality of communication (r = ‐.383), next largest for the quantity of communication (r = ‐.284), next largest for the impact on graded classroom communication (r = ‐.146), and smallest for nonverbal indicators (r = ‐.057). The results point to the ability of self‐report communication instruments to correlate with communication behavior.
Lidocaine inhalation for cough suppression

The purpose of this study was to observe the effectiveness of lidocaine in suppressing cough which is a logical extension of its established use in bronchoscopy. Nebulized lidocaine, preceded by standard nebulized albuterol inhalation driven by oxygen was given to suppress cough in a selected group of patients with intractable cough severe enough to disrupt daily life activities, especially sleep. Patients included those with asthma, reactive airways disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In these selected patients, nebulized lidocaine was very effective in suppressing cough, and thus buying time for more definitive therapies to work. This observation merits further study and confirmation for the benefit of patients.(Am J Emerg Med 2001;19:206-207.
Vitamin D levels in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship with disease activity, vascular risk factors and atherosclerosis

Objectives. To study the relationship of 25(OH)D3 level with disease activity, vascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in SLE. Methods. Consecutive patients who fulfilled four or more ACR criteria for SLE were recruited for assay of 25(OH)D3 level. Disease activity was assessed by the SLEDAI and physicians’ global assessment (PGA). Patients with vascular risk factors were screened for atherosclerosis at the coronary or carotid arteries. Correlation between 25(OH)D3 levels and SLEDAI scores was studied by linear regression. The link between vascular risk factors, atherosclerosis and vitamin D deficiency was also examined. Results. A total of 290 SLE patients were studied [94% women; mean (S.D.) age 38.9 (13.1) years; disease duration 7.7 (6.7) years; 78% patients had clinical or serological lupus activity]. Two hundred and seventy-seven (96%) patients had vitamin D insufficiency [25(OH)D3 < 30 ng/ml] and 77 (27%) patients had vitamin D deficiency (<15 ng/ml). Levels of 25(OH)D3 correlated inversely with PGA (b � 0.20; P = 0.003), total SLEDAI scores (b � 0.19; P = 0.003) and subscores due to active renal, musculoskeletal and haematological disease. Subjects with vitamin D deficiency had significantly higher total/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio [3.96 (2.94) vs 3.07 (0.80); P = 0.02] and prevalence of aPLs (57 vs 39%; P = 0.007). Of 132 patients, 58 (44%) with vascular risk factors screened were positive for subclinical atherosclerosis. No association could be demonstrated between 25(OH)D3 level and atherosclerosis, which was mainly associated with increasing age, menopause, obesity and hyper-triglyceridaemia. Conclusions. In this large cross-sectional study of SLE patients, 25(OH)D3 level correlates inversely with disease activity. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with dyslipidaemia. In patients with vascular risk factors, subclinical atherosclerosis is not associated with hypovitaminosis D.
The Self-Consciousness Scale: A revised version for use with general populations.

Recent research suggests that some of the wording of the original Self-Consciousness Scale is too abstract for easy understanding by research participants who are not college students. This article presents a revised version of that scale, along with information regarding its psychometric properties. In general, the psychometric properties of the revised scale compare quite favorably to those of the original scale. It is suggested that the revised Self-Consciousness Scale be used whenever data are collected from populations other than college students.
Mechanism of action of des-His1-[Glu9]glucagon amide, a peptide antagonist of the glucagon receptor system.

Abstract We have investigated the mechanisms through which des-His1-[Glu9]glucagon amide functions as a peptide antagonist of the glucagon receptor/adenylyl cyclase system. Studies with radiolabeled peptides identified that (i) the antagonist bound to intact hepatocytes according to a single first-order process, whereas the rate of association of glucagon with the same preparation could be described only by the sum of two first-order processes; (ii) the interaction of the antagonist with saponin-permeabilized hepatocytes was not affected by the addition of GTP to the incubation medium or by the elimination of Mg2+, whereas the interaction of glucagon with the same cell preparation was modified significantly by the presence of the nucleotide or by the absence of the divalent metal ion; (iii) the dissociation of antagonist from intact hepatocytes incubated in buffer was complete, whereas that of agonist was not; and (iv) the antagonist bound to intact hepatocytes at steady state according to a single binding isotherm (as did both agonist and antagonist in permeabilized hepatocytes), whereas glucagon bound to the intact cell system with two clearly defined apparent dissociation constants. A model is presented for the mechanism of action of the glucagon antagonist in which the analog binds to glucagon receptors in a Mg(2+)- and GTP-independent fashion and in which resulting ligand-receptor complexes fail to undergo sequential adjustments necessary for the stimulation of adenylyl cyclase.
Roentgenographic findings in a spectrum of uncommon tracheo-oesophageal anomalies

Roentgenographic and clinical findings in a spectrum of malformations of the trachea and oesophagus are discussed. Five previously unreported patients representing four rare anomalies of tracheal agenesis, laryngotracheo-oesophageal cleft, oesophageal atresia with a tracheo-oesophageal (T-E) fistula to the proximal oesophageal pouch, and T-E fistula without oesophageal atresia (H-type fistula) are presented. These anomalies can be characterised by a failure in separation of the oesophagus and trachea and by atresia of either organ. All of the patients were diagnosed roentgenographically. Since the incidence of associated abnormalities is high in babies with these anomalies, a generalised embryological defect must be a basic assumption in any theory to explain the development of T-E anomalies.
The Impact of Atypical Antipsychotic Medications on the Use of Health Care by Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract Objectives Using data in real-world clinical practice, this study aims to compare the health-care use patterns of patients with schizophrenia who use oral antipsychotics. Methods A total of 219,504 episodes of antipsychotic drug therapy initiated during the period from 2000 to 2002 were identified using data from the California Medicaid program. Four types of episodes were analyzed based on the patient's drug use history as far back as 1994: restarting therapy after a break in therapy using the same drug used in the preceding episode; switching therapy after a break in treatment using a different medication; switching therapy without a break in therapy; and augmentation. Health-care use patterns over a 1-year post-treatment period were analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions, Cox proportional hazards models, and logistic regression. Results The impact of atypical antipsychotics on health-care use in the first post-treatment year varies by episode type. Patients switching to atypical medications generally cost significantly more than similar patients switching to a conventional antipsychotic. Olanzapine and risperidone, however, were associated with reductions in total costs relative to conventional antipsychotics when used in restart and augmentation episodes. Differences across all three second-generation antipsychotics were relatively small. Conclusions Small differences across the atypical antipsychotics suggest that these drugs are interchangeable, raising the question of whether drug costs could be reduced through selectively contracting for a preferred drug. Potential savings may be limited by several factors. First, most episodes of treatment are restart episodes. Switching these patients to a preferred drug may have clinical risk. Second, patients with schizophrenia switch and augment therapies frequently, thus quickly reducing the population of patients who could be effectively treated with a single preferred drug.
High-efficiency, all-optical wavelength conversion without spectrum inversion for optical switching networks

The theoretical and experimental study on maximizing FWM conversion efficiency driven by dual-pump in nonlinear fiber is developed. The accordant demonstration is presented for the 40 Gbit/s payload and 2.5 Gbit/s label without spectrum inversion in optical label switching networks.
A SPARSE-GRID METHOD FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL BACKWARD STOCHASTIC DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS *

A sparse-grid method for solving multi-dimensional backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs) based on a multi-step time discretization scheme [31] is presented. In the multi-dimensional spatial domain, i.e. the Brownian space, the conditional mathematical expectations derived from the original equation are approximated using sparse-grid Gauss-Hermite quadrature rule and (adaptive) hierarchical sparse-grid interpolation. Error estimates are proved for the proposed fully-discrete scheme for multi-dimensional BSDEs with certain types of simplified generator functions. Finally, several numerical examples are provided to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of our s
Common Scrotal and Testicular Problems

Scrotal and testicular problems range from the benign and painless to the malignant and debilitating. The primary care physician should be able to triage these problems and know when to give reassurance and when to initiate a targeted workup that may lead to specialist intervention. This article focuses on scrotal pain and palpable abnormalities. Scrotal pain includes well-defined acute causes such as torsion and infection and the less well-defined chronic orchialgia. Palpable abnormalities covered here include cryptorchidism, hydrocele, spermatocele, varicocele, and testicular cancer.
A pigeon magazine shutter for preventing unprogrammed grain reinforcement

A modification of the standard pigeon magazine is described. A transparent shutter, which can be displaced by the action of a solenoid and silent clutch, covers the aperture through which access to grain can be provided. This device permits the presentation of all the visual and auditory stimuli which accompany food presentation while preventing access to food at all times except when food reinforcement is programmed.
Justification by Faith: a Patristic Doctrine

This essay challenges the criticism usually levelled at the early Fathers prior to Augustine for not articulating a view of justification by faith that corresponded with Pauline Christianity as reflected in the formulas of the sixteenth-century reformers. Not only is such a view anachronistic and tends to assume that there was (or is) a uniform definition of justification, but there is evidence that Latin theology before Augustine promulgated the tenets of unmerited grace and the necessity of righteousness that come only through justifying faith. In particular, the Matthew commentary of Hilary of Poitiers explicitly formulates a biblical theology of ‘fides sola iustificat’, and probably contributed to a revival of interest in the Pauline Epistles by the end of the fourth and early fifth centuries.
A rad-hard, low-noise, high-speed, BiFET charge preamplifier for warm liquid calorimetry in the SSC

A fully integrated BiFET charge preamplifier is described which meets the specifications imposed by the Superconducting Supercollider (SSC): a rise time under 100 ns, total noise less than 1000 electrons r.m.s., and power consumption below 80 mW. It has been designed for a detector capacitance of 10 pF and tested up to a total gamma dose of 1.44 Mrd and neutron fluence of 2*10/sup 13/ n/cm/sup 2/. An industrial junction-isolated BiFET process with an 80-MHz f/sub T/ for the P-JFETs, 260 MHz for the n-p-n's, and 10 MHz for the p-n-p's was used to implement the preamplifier circuit. >