cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of neural network applications for channel assignment in cellular TDMA networks and dynamically sectored PCS networks

The use of artificial neural networks (NNs) to address the channel assignment problem (CAP) for cellular time-division multiple access and code-division multiple access networks has previously been investigated by this author and many others. The investigations to date have been based on a hexagonal cell structure established by omnidirectional antennas at the base stations. No account was taken of the use of spatial isolation enabled by directional antennas to reduce interference between mobiles. Any reduction in interference translates into increased capacity and consequently alters the performance of the NNs. Previous studies have sought to improve the performance of Hopfield- Tank network algorithms and self-organizing feature map algorithms applied primarily to static channel assignment (SCA) for cellular networks that handle uniformly distributed, stationary traffic in each cell for a single type of service. The resulting algorithms minimize energy functions representing interference constraint and ad hoc conditions that promote convergence to optimal solutions. While the structures of the derived neural network algorithms (NNAs) offer the potential advantages of inherent parallelism and adaptability to changing system conditions, this potential has yet to be fulfilled the CAP for emerging mobile networks. The next-generation communication infrastructures must accommodate dynamic operating conditions. Macrocell topologies are being refined to microcells and picocells that can be dynamically sectored by adaptively controlled, directional antennas and programmable transceivers. These networks must support the time-varying demands for personal communication services (PCS) that simultaneously carry voice, data and video and, thus, require new dynamic channel assignment (DCA) algorithms. This paper examines the impact of dynamic cell sectoring and geometric conditioning on NNAs developed for SCA in omnicell networks with stationary traffic to improve the metrics of convergence rate and call blocking. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are also considered in PCS networks as a means to overcome the known weakness of Hopfield NNAs in determining global minima. The resulting GAs for DCA in PCS networks are compared to improved DCA algorithms based on Hopfield NNs for stationary cellular networks. Algorithm performance is compared on the basis of rate of convergence, blocking probability, analytic complexity, and parametric sensitivity to transient traffic demands and channel interference.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
PDB68 Physician Beliefs About Insulin Pens Versus Vials, Therapy Choice Factors, and Patient Characteristics Among Elderly Type 2 Diabetes Patients

PHYSICIAN BELIEFS ABOUT INSULIN PENS VERSUS VIALS, THERAPY CHOICE FACTORS, AND PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS AMONG ELDERLY TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS Eby E1, Frois C2, Guerin A3, Boggs JA1, Nyhuis A1, Swindle R1 1Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA, 2Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA, USA, 3Analysis Group, Ltee., Montreal, QC, Canada OBJECTIVES: To assess physician beliefs on the relative benefits of pens vs. vials, prescribing drivers, and characteristics of patients newly initiated on basal insulin analog via pens vs. vials among elderly type 2 diabetes patients. METHODS: An online survey of 352 U.S. primary care physicians was used to collect retrospective patient chart data on 500 elderly type 2 diabetes patients who initiated on basal insulin analog in 2009. For each physician, patient chart selection was randomized among eligible patients. Data on physician characteristics, physicians’ opinion on the impact of different routes of administration (ROA), main drivers for selecting a particular ROA for each patient, and patient characteristics were collected. RESULTS: The majority of physician respondents were part of a group practice (77.8%) and treated a mean of 235.5 (SD 185.0) type 2 patients 65 years old in 2009. Patient characteristics were similar in terms of age and diabetes duration. However, significantly more Caucasians (p 0.011) and patients covered by Medicare only (p 0.015) were initiated on pens, whereas significantly more women (p 0.003), Black/African Americans (p 0.011), and dual eligible patients (Medicare Medicaid; p 0.008) were initiated on vials. Patients initiated on vials had higher median baseline HbA1c values (8.7 vs. 8.4, p 0.001).Survey findings suggested that physicians prescribed vials primarily due to patients’ economic constraints (62.9% of vial users vs. only 2.4% for pen users), although a majority of physicians considered pens better than vials (89.2% in terms of adherence, 65.1% in terms of HbA1c control, and 55.4% in terms of resource utilization). CONCLUSIONS: Results from this retrospective chart extraction survey suggest that patient characteristics differed between patients initiated on pens vs. vials, and that despite insulin pens being perceived as having better outcomes by physicians, economic considerations play a dominant role in the choice of insulin vials.
Melt Crystallization of Bisphenol A Polycarbonate in Blends of Polycarbonate with Zinc Salts of Sulfonated Polystyrene Ionomers

The addition of zinc salts of sulfonated polystyrene ionomers (ZnSPS) to bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) induced melt crystallization of the PC. This phenomenon was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Gel permeation chromatography was used to monitor changes in molecular weight to assess whether polymer degradation was responsible for the melt crystallization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering were used to evaluate specific interaction and the microstructure of the blends. Melt crystallization of PC at 190 °C was accelerated in both single-phase and phase-separated blends. The crystallization induction time ranged from 1 to 42 h depending on the sulfonation level of the ionomer, and crystallinities of 20%−28% were achieved. An Avrami analysis of the crystallization kinetics indicated that the crystallization was a nucleated process. Although some molecular weight reduction of the PC did occur during thermal annealing ...
Rings of power series in the binomial polynomials

The study of the ring of all formal series $a_{0}+a_{1}\binom{x}{1}+a_{2} \binom{x}{2}+\cdots$ with integer coefficients, denoted by $\mathbb{Z}[\hspace{-1.6pt}[\binom{x}{1},\binom{x}{2},\dots]\hspace{-1.6pt}]$ , or $\mathbb{Z}[\hspace{-1.6pt}[\binom{x}{n}]\hspace{-1.6pt}]_{n\geq0}$ for short, is motivated by the elementary number theoretical properties of the binomial coefficients. The binomial polynomials as well as the binomial coefficients and their generalizations can be found in different branches of mathematics, e.g. in algebra, analysis, combinatorics and in topology. The question of finding the remainder when dividing $\binom{n}{k}$ by a prime (Lucas's 1878 theorem) leads to base- $p$ expansions in the binomial coefficients and the consideration of integer-valued polynomials with rational coefficients. And although the study of these polynomials dates back to the seventeenth century, the study of this set as a ring began in 1936 with Skolem. More generally, the bijective correspondence between the set of functions defined on the set of non-negative integers and the series $a_{0}+a_{1}\binom{x}{1}+a_{2}\binom{x}{2}+\cdots$ is used by Mahler in the field of $p$ -adic analysis and naturally leads to the expansion of Skolem's approach and the definition of $\mathbb{Z}[\hspace{-1.6pt}[\binom{x}{1},\binom{x}{2},\dots]\hspace{-1.6pt}]$ or in fact of $R[\hspace{-1.6pt}[\binom{x}{1},\binom{x}{2},\dots]\hspace{-1.6pt}]$ (with $R$ any ring). Iwasawa used such series in connection with the $p$ -adic $L$ -functions but without considering the ring.
A Proposal for the Establishment of Scientific Criteria for Health Claims for Functional Foods

Functional foods are defined and used differently in different nations. Health claims for these foods influence consumer behavior and potentially affect public health. In an increasingly global economy, health claims for functional foods should meet internationally agreed upon scientific criteria. The concept of health claims as it exists internationally is discussed, and suggestions to assist consumers, government, industry, and academia in deciding on a scientific and ethical basis for international agreement on health claims for functional foods are offered.
Relative nursery function of oyster, vegetated marsh edge, and nonvegetated bottom habitats for juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus

Shallow estuarine habitats, including vegetated marsh edge (VME), oyster reefs (oyster), and nonvegetated soft bottom (NVB), provide important functions for estuarine resident and estuarine-dependent species. A paucity of information exists concerning relative nursery value of these habitats for juvenile fishes and invertebrates. In Grand Bay, MS and Weeks Bay, AL, National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR), this study evaluated the potential of the three habitats to serve as nurseries by quantifying habitat-specific density, size, growth, and survival of juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus. Drop sampling in Oct 2003 and Jul 2004 indicated that white shrimp density was significantly greater in oyster and VME when compared with adjacent NVB. No significant difference occurred in density between oyster and VME. Significantly larger shrimp were collected in NVB, intermediate-sized shrimp were collected in oyster, and smaller shrimp were collected in VME. Using field enclosures to study growth of juvenile white shrimp we found significantly higher growth in oyster when compared with NVB and VME. Predator mesocosm experiments indicated that when blue crabs were used as predators, white shrimp juveniles experienced significantly higher survival rates in VME and NVB when compared with oyster. Our study suggests that juvenile white shrimp may select for oyster over NVB because of higher food availability and not necessarily for refuge needs from predation by blue crabs. In addition, juvenile habitat needs may shift with individual growth, indicating that the relative nursery value of a habitat is not inclusive for all juvenile sizes. Similar to VME, oyster provides an important function in the juvenile stages of white shrimp and should be examined further as a potential nursery habitat.
Voiding dysfunction following incontinence surgery : Diagnosis and treatment with retropubic or vaginal urethrolysis

ABSTRACTPurpose: A retrospective analysis was done of women undergoing urethrolysis for postcystourethropexy voiding dysfunction to identify possible predictors of outcome.Materials and Methods: The charts of 51 sequential women who underwent 54 urethrolysis procedures between 1986 and 1996 were reviewed. The most common presenting symptoms were irritative in 38 patients, obstructive in 31, de novo urge incontinence in 28 and persistent retention in 12. Onset was immediate after suspension in 84% of the patients. Median time from last cystourethropexy or sling to urethrolysis was 15 months (range 4 to 268). Initial evaluation consisted of multichannel video urodynamics and cystoscopy in all women. The techniques of urethrolysis were retropubic in 35 cases, vaginal in 15 or infrapubic in 4, with simultaneous repeat suspensions performed in 63%.Results: A successful outcome with complete resolution of symptoms or significant improvement was achieved in 86% (retropubic), 73% (vaginal) and 25% (infrapubic) of...
Embedded device solution life cycle support with Eclipse

The effectiveness of life cycle management of an embedded device solution is crucial to its value proposition. This paper shows that Eclipse technology can be used for both tooling and runtime support of device solutions using a visual flow language. We introduce a prototype implementation based on Eclipse 3.2 and Equinox and demonstrate that it helps a user in each stage of a solution life cycle.
Poetry therapy and schizophrenia: Clinical and neurological perspectives

The focus of this article is on the clinical utility of poetry therapy for people diagnosed with schizophrenia (SCZ). The neurological basis of metaphor processing is also briefly reviewed. A theoretical link between poetry and neuroscience is addressed with subsequent implications for clinical practice. The author found that various methods of poetry therapy can be used to effectively treat schizophrenic symptoms despite the language impairments implicated in SCZ.
Poverty, ethnicity, and risk of obesity among low birth weight infants

Abstract The independent and joint effects of family and neighborhood poverty and ethnicity upon weight trajectories from age two to six-and-a-half were examined using data from the Infant Health and Development Program (N = 985), an early intervention program for low birth weight children and families. At age two, family poverty was associated with higher body mass index (BMI), whereas neighborhood poverty and ethnicity were not. Over time, the BMI of toddlers from poor and near poor neighborhoods increased nonlinearly, while those from nonpoor neighborhoods remained stable. BMIs of Hispanic-American toddlers increased steadily over time, unlike African-American and Anglo-American toddlers. Although initially similar, over time African-American toddlers' BMIs increased more rapidly than Anglo-American toddlers. Family and neighborhood poverty and ethnicity were associated with BMI. More work is needed on how poverty and ethnicity contribute to differences in early weight gain in conjunction with sociocultural and environmental factors in the home and community.
Mapping Intergenerational Tension in Multicultural Coming-of-Age Literature

As classrooms across the United States become more diverse, including those in previously homogeneous suburban and rural communities, teachers and students need effective ways to discuss and relate...
Influence of local-regional lymph node metastases on prognosis in neuroblastoma

Data relative to the prognostic and therapeutic significance of lymph node metastases in regionally confined neuroblastoma (Evans stages II-III) are scant. We have analyzed lymph node status in order to assess the significance of nodal involvement. Disease-free survival (minimum follow-up of 2 years) was 84% (21/25) among node-positive patients compared with 95% (18/19) for node-negative patients (P greater than 0.1, two-tailed test). These results contrast with the results from two other centers in which lymph node involvement was a significant adverse prognostic indicator. The use of intensive multimodal therapy including surgical resection of the primary tumor, wide-field radiation therapy to the tumor bed and regional lymph nodes, and chemotherapy may have accounted for the better survival in our node-positive patients.
INTRACELLULAR MECHANISMS IN THE GnRH NEURON REGULATING PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT.• 593

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a hypothalamic decapeptide that plays a key role in the initiation of normal puberty. In children, pathologic processes such as CNS tumors or CNS trauma may accelerate this process resulting in precocious puberty. The mechanisms involved in the induction of GnRH secretion are still unclear, but may involve the binding of growth factors (TGF-α), secreted by glial cells at the lesion site, to EGF receptors on GnRH neurons. A GnRH-expressing neuronal cell line (Gn11) was derived from a CNS tumor in transgenic mice bearing a human GnRH (hGnRH) 5' flanking DNA -SV40 T antigen transgene. An RNAse protection assay on cells cultured in 10% serum confirmed the presence of GnRH mRNA. We demonstrated that the consensus AP-1 site (TGACTCA) in the hGnRH gene (-402/-396 bp) binds a purified recombinant human c-jun protein and a phorbol ester(TPA) inducible protein from GN11 cells. TPA exposure increased the transcriptional activity of stable clones of GN11 cells containing 5' hGnRH-Luciferase fusion constructs. The increased luciferase expression mapped to the AP-1 site, and was preceded by an increase in c-jun and c-fos mRNA, indicating that stimulation of GnRH-Luciferase expression is mediated by increased AP-1(c-jun/c-fos) activity. Exposure to TGF-α also increased GnRH-Luciferase expression by acting through EGF receptors present on GnRH neurons. Thus, CNS lesions which release TGF-α may induce precocious puberty by increasing GnRH transcription via a signalling mechanism involving AP-1 activation. Inhibitors of this pathway may provide future therapeutic modalities for precocious puberty.
Regulation of Tau Dynamics by Phosphorylation in the Squid Giant Axon

Tau is a conformationally dynamic microtubule-associated protein expressed at high levels in neurons. It is localized primarily in the axonal compartment where it has been implicated in a number of intracellular functions, including microtubule stabilization, cross-linking between the cytoskeleton and plasma membrane, acting as a scaffold for a variety of signaling molecules, and modulating the axonal transport process. Tau's myriad of functions are likely to be related to its conformationally dynamic structure, but the structure/function relationships within this molecule remain poorly defined. Additionally, Tau is known to be regulated by phosphorylation at numerous Ser/Thr and Tyr sites throughout the molecule, but the effects of phosphorylation on Tau's structural dynamics are also unclear. Previous in vitro work in our lab has shown that Tau interconverts between static and mobile (diffusive) states on the microtubule surface in an isoform and microtubule-lattice specific manner (McVicker et al., (2014) Cytoskeleton 71:184). To further extend these studies into a physiologically relevant environment in which Tau is naturally regulated by phosphorylation, we have used single-molecule imaging to examine the dynamic behavior of fluorescently-labeled Tau on the surface of microtubules within the isolated axoplasm of the squid giant axon. Tau maintains its isoform-specific ability to interconvert between static and diffusive states on the microtubule surface under these conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate phosphorylation influences Tau's dynamic behavior on the microtubule surface, e.g., inhibition of CDK5 by Roscovitine results in a significant shift in Tau's dynamic equilibrium towards the diffusive state. These studies establish the isolated axoplasm of the squid giant axon as a novel model system for studying Tau dynamics under physiologically relevant conditions, and provide new insight into the role of phosphorylation in regulating Tau's structural dynamics on the microtubule surface.
PO-0413 Trigeminal Odours Released By Healthcare Products Activate Olfactory And Pain Cortical Areas In Preterm And Full Term Newborns

Background/aim Hospitalised newborns are highly exposed to nosocomial odorous substances (OS) triggering possibly the intranasal trigeminal subsystem. Irritation of the nasal mucosa can induce pain and activations in pain processing areas in adults We aimed to evaluate cortical activation in trigeminal/olfactory and pain areas following OS exposure in newborns. Methods Forty-four newborns (17 full-terms, 12 preterms at term PMA and 15 preterms – water (control); – a hand rub (DES60 ® ) diluted to match the odour’s intensity released by hands; – an adhesive remover (Convacare ® ). We recorded bilaterally cortical activation in orbito-frontal gyri (OFG), prefrontal (PFC) and somatosensory (S1 and S2) cortices during 40s (10s-baseline, 10s-presentation, 20s-post-stimuli) by multichannel-NIRS. HbO2 changes were analysed from baseline (ANOVA) and by subgroups (Kruskall-Wallis). Results In the whole population, we observed: – no activations for water. – cortical activations (HbO 2 increase) for DES60 ® (p ® (p We noticed significant profiles of response for all infant’s subgroups, in at least one olfactory and one pain processing areas. The average magnitude of HbO 2 increase from baseline was higher in full-terms vs both subgroups of preterms: 8.5(2.8–12.6) µmol/l vs 5.9(2.6–10.4) and 5.7(1.8–9.2) µmol/l for DES60 ® (p Conclusion Full-term and preterm newborns can perceive OS at a cortical level. Exposure to OS can activate trigeminal/olfactory and pain processing areas and may induce discomfort/pain in newborns.
Response of five insect herbivores to multiple allelochemicals under fluctuating temperatures

Analysis of the combined effects of allelochemicals on insect herbivores is useful because there may be adverse additive or even synergistic effects. Analysis of the simultaneous effects of temperature and alleochemicals is also necessary because these factors may interact. We examined the effects of three allelochemicals found in tomato (chlorogenic acid, rutin and tomatine) and thermal regime (21:10 °C and 26:15 °C, representing spring and summer respectively) on five insect herbivores (a Solanaceae specialist, Manduca sexta, and the polyphagous Heliothis virescens, Pseudoplusia includens, Spodoptera frugiperda and Trichoplusia ni). There were allelochemical interactions and thermal regime-allelochemical interactions for all species, and so the patterns were complex. In some cases, paired allelochemicals or the combination of three allelochemicals showed adverse additive effects on insect performance. But that was not always the case, and there were only a few examples of synergism. Negative effects of the allelochemicals were sometimes, but not always, damped by the cooler thermal regime. Comparing the growth rates of the five species in this study with those of a previous study (a total of seven species) revealed five patterns. For two of three pairs of closely-related species, the paired species had distinctly different patterns. For example, for H. virescens, tomatine prevented development and chlorogenic acid slowed growth, whereas for Helicoverpa zea, tomatine just slowed growth and the phenolics had little effect. The specialist Manduca sexta had a pattern that was midway between patterns of the generalists; it was not the most tolerant of the allelochemicals.
Predictors of Gluten Avoidance and Implementation of a Gluten-Free Diet in Children and Adolescents without Confirmed Celiac Disease

Objectives To determine independent predictors of gluten avoidance and of a physician's decision to initiate a gluten-free diet (GFD) in children and adolescents without confirmed celiac disease. Study design We performed a structured medical record review of 579 patients aged 1-19 years presenting for evaluation of celiac disease between January 2000 and December 2010 at a large Boston teaching hospital. We collected data including demographic information, medical history, serology, small intestinal biopsy, history of gluten avoidance, and the postworkup recommendation of implementation of a GFD. Predictors of gluten-related issues were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Results Among 579 children without a previous diagnosis of celiac disease (mean age, 8.7 years), 43 (7.4%) had ever avoided gluten. Independent predictors of gluten avoidance were irritability or poor temper (OR, 3.2), diarrhea (OR, 2.5), weight issues (OR, 0.4), pervasive developmental disorder (OR, 5.3), and family history of celiac disease (OR, 2.2). Among 143 children without confirmed celiac disease who underwent diagnostic evaluation, several predictive factors were associated with a physician- recommended/parent-initiated GFD: irritability (OR, 6.4), diarrhea (OR, 3.4), pervasive developmental disorder (OR, 7.9), and positive serology before the referral (OR, 4.3). Conclusion Gluten avoidance among children and adolescents without a previous diagnosis of celiac disease is relatively common. The identified predictors suggest that gluten avoidance is associated with nonspecific behavioral and gastrointestinal complaints and perhaps with the perceived dietary responses in another family member thought to have celiac disease.
Complementary studies of T=2 Al-30 and the systematics of intruder states

Low-spin states were studied in $^{30}\mathrm{Al}$ following the \ensuremath{\beta} decay of $^{30}\mathrm{Mg}$ produced in the fragmentation of 140-MeV/AMU $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$. Analysis of the $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidences revealed a new ${1}^{+}$ state at 2413 keV, confirmation of the level scheme, and a more accurate half-life measurement of 315(6) ms for the $^{30}\mathrm{Mg}$ ground state. Higher-spin states were investigated in the reaction of $^{14}\mathrm{C}$ on $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ at 22 MeV. Protons and deuterons were detected in a segmented E-\ensuremath{\Delta}E Si telescope in coincidence with one or two \ensuremath{\gamma} rays in the FSU Ge detector array. A comparison of the resulting level and decay scheme with predictions of the $\mathit{sd}$ shell model shows good agreement with all but six of the states in both excitation energy and \ensuremath{\gamma}-decay branching ratios. The root-mean-square deviations in energy of these states using the older USD and newer USDA and USDB interactions were 265, 176, and 173 keV, respectively. The remaining six states are well described as ${4}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ to ${7}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ states, similar in relative energy to those in $^{28}\mathrm{Al}$ but shifted down by about 1200 keV. These states also agree well with the predictions of shell-model calculations using the WBP interaction. A comparison of the lowest ${4}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ states in even A Na, Al, and P isotopes shows a systematic decrease in energy with increasing N and with decreasing Z. The energies of the ${4}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ states are almost identical in nuclei with the same $N\text{\ensuremath{-}}Z$ values.
Molecular Evolution: The HIV Envelope Protein

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) particles, a.k.a. virions, can exist in the bloodstream of an infected individual. However, HIV replication or production of more HIV virions occurs within cells of the lymph nodes of an infected individual. HIV is capable of infecting multiple human cell types, but for simplicity’s sake, we will focus on HIV infection of CD4-positive immune cells, a.k.a. T helper cells. The HIV envelope protein (Env) is essential for binding to a human lymphocyte or T cell. Env is composed of two subunits, a transmembrane protein called gp41 and a surface protein gp120, which are attached to one another noncovalently (Fig. 1). This dimer associates with two other dimers forming the trimer that binds to CD4 receptors on the surface of the lymphocyte. CD4 receptors usually act as adhesion molecules to bind to other immune cells such as antigen-presenting cells, but HIV takes advantage of this receptor and uses it to bind to the T cell. A third type of receptor involved in this interaction, called a coreceptor, is also required for HIV infection. This coreceptor is located on the T cell. HIV also needs either the coreceptor CCR5 or the coreceptor CXCR4 to enter the cell. Different types of T cells will express CCR5 or CXCR4 on their cell surface. Regions within the gp120 subunit of the envelope protein interact with both CD4 and the coreceptor, causing conformational changes in the envelope protein. This initiates the fusion of the HIV and the T cell lipid membranes, ultimately leading to the insertion of HIV's RNA genome into the host cell, subsequent copying of the RNA genome into double-stranded DNA, integration into the host's genome, and production of new virus particles. Scientists have found that the fitness of an HIV virion is directly correlated with how fast it can infect a cell, so they are very interested in studying the evolution of gp120 in particular. The gp120 domain is important because it is a target for our immune system. The gp120 protein is composed of five hypervariable regions separated by constant regions. The V1/V2 region is involved in modulating the interaction of the envelope receptor with CD4. Both the V1 region and V2 region consist of approximately 40 amino acids each. The V3 region is important for modulating interactions with the coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4. Little is known about the function of V4/V5, but the region has been shown to contain epitopes for neutralizing antibodies. The simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is very similar to HIV. In fact, HIV evolved from SIV. SIV is endogenous to nonhuman primate populations (chimpanzees, macaques, etc.). The Rhesus macaque serves as a model organism to study SIV infection and pathogenesis. There are many similarities between how SIV infects macaques and how HIV infects humans, although with some differences. Thus, scientists can learn much from experimenting with the SIV–macaque model to further determine molecular events during HIV infection of humans. Evo Edu Outreach (2008) 1:179–183 DOI 10.1007/s12052-007-0023-6
Model fabrication using surface layout projection

Abstract The paper presents a model fabrication scheme that automatically approximates a model whose boundary consists of several freeform surfaces by developable surfaces and then unrolls these developable surfaces onto a plane. The model can then be fabricated by assembling the sets of developable surfaces which have been cut from planar sheets and rolled back to their proper Euclidean locations. Both the approximation and the rolling methods can be made arbitrarily precise.
A congruity effect in the discrimination of presentation frequencies: Some data and a model

In a mental comparison task, subjects discriminated the frequencies of words that had been presented from zero to five times each. Reaction times were recorded. Half the subjects indicated which member of a pair had occurred more often and half indicated which had occurred less often in the list. Reaction times displayed both a distance effect and a congruity effect. A simulation model, based on a theory in which the congruity effect entails a speed-accuracy tradeoff, did a good job of accounting for the data.
Erratum: Density effect for the ionization loss of charged particles in various substances

The density-effect correction $\ensuremath{\delta}(\ensuremath{\beta})$ for the ionization energy loss of charged particles has been evaluated for 72 substances (34 metallic elements, 26 compounds, 11 gases, and liquid hydrogen), using up-to-date values of the mean excitation potential $I$ and of the atomic absorption edges $h{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{i}$, which were employed as input data for the general equations for $\ensuremath{\delta}(\ensuremath{\beta})$ previously derived by Sternheimer.
Practical guidelines for performing alcohol interventions in trauma centers

Nearly 50% of trauma patients are injured while under the influence of alcohol; however, addressing alcohol problems is not considered a routine component of trauma care. A public health approach to trauma prevention should include attention to underlying risk factors in the same way that advice regarding smoking cessation is offered in adult respiratory medicine clinics, and blood pressure, cholesterol, dietary, and exercise advice is provided in coronary care units. The Department of Health and Human Services, in its recent report to Congress, stated that efforts to reduce death and disability from injuries must be combined with efforts to reduce alcohol abuse, and called for an increase in the use of alcohol interventions in trauma patients. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the responsibility to provide counseling for patients with uncomplicated cases of mild to moderate alcohol abuse lies not with specialized alcohol treatment centers, but with physicians and other health care staff in general hospital settings trained to provide brief interventions. This paper provides practical guidelines for the administration of alcohol interventions that are suitable for trauma center use, and that have documented efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption.
An analysis of the effect of system variables on the quality of thin films and powders produced by laser-breakdown chemical vapor deposition

A gas phase process for large area depositions on an ambient temperature substrate using laser-induced dielectric breakdown of gas phase precursors has recently been developed. Deposits of nickel alloys show excellent grain refinement (<10 nm) and metastable phase incorporation due to rapid quenching from the gas phase. Particle size distribution and compositional variance within the deposited films have been studied using electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Kinetic expressions to explain homogeneous gas phase nucleation and growth of the deposited materials have been developed in an effort to better understand this process. The effect of system variables on film and powder grain sizes has been studied. This analysis gives insight into the fluid flow/heat transfer patterns involved in the system and their effect on the final deposited material. Heat transfer and fluid flow patterns must be optimized to minimize residence time in the gas phase to prevent excessive agglomeration of the fine particles. Results of the effect of system pressure, gas phase composition, laser pulse energy, and gas flow rate are presented as they effect particle size distribution within the deposition. 13 refs., 5 figs.
Television commercials as a symbolic representation of reward in the delay of gratification paradigm

The effects of television commercials as a symbolic representation in the delay of gratification paradigm were studied. Preschool children waiting for a food reward in a no-television-commercial condition had substantially shorter waiting times than children in a food-ad or a toy-ad condition. However, there were no significant differences between the food-ad and the toy-ad group in terms of amount of time waited. A post hoc analysis suggested that both the toy ads and the food ads had, as their most salient feature to the children, not consummatory or play aspects but general “fun,” distracting aspects. This replicates Mischel, Ebbesen, and Zeiss's (1972) finding that children's generating fun thoughts served to facilitate their delaying. The need for research on the influence of television commercials on children's self-control and the apparent feasibility of the delay of gratification paradigm as one experimental approach are discussed.
The welfare costs of nonoptimal airport utilization

Abstract A transportation model is developed and applied to the three airports in the Washington-Baltimore area of the United States. The model utilizes peak-load congestion pricing and also allocates trips efficiently among ‘near’ airports (Washington National) and ‘far’ airports (Dulles and Baltimore-Washington). Differences that travelers place on the value of their travel time play a crucial role in the model. Equilibrium marginal-cost prices and congestion tolls are estimated for the system. The welfare cost of the present nonoptimal utilization of the airports is estimated to be $14 million per year, 16 percent of current trip costs.
A technique for collection of bone paste.

A rapid, efficient, inexpensive method of collecting bone dust for tym-panoplastic reconstruction is presented.
Pediatric renal trauma.

Abstract Objectives. To review the pediatric renal trauma cases during the past 10 years to determine the appropriate indications for imaging and operative intervention. Methods. We searched the medical records from 1989 to 1999 and identified 61 patients aged up to 18 years old with objective data on renal trauma grade by either computed tomography or operative exploration and analyzed the data. Results. Of the 61 cases, 46 were blunt and 15 were penetrating injuries. Thirty-two (70%) of 46 patients with blunt injuries and all 15 patients (100%) with penetrating injuries sustained significant grade 2-5 injuries. The 14 grade 1 blunt injuries included 4 (29%) with gross hematuria, 7 (50%) with microscopic hematuria, and 3 (21%) with normal urinalyses. The 32 grade 2-5 blunt injuries included 20 (63%) with gross hematuria, 8 (25%) with microscopic hematuria, and 4 (13%) with normal urinalyses. The 15 grade 2-5 penetrating injuries included 9 (60%) with gross hematuria, 2 (13%) with microscopic hematuria, and 4 (27%) with normal urinalyses. Five of the blunt (11%) and 13 of the penetrating (87%) injuries were managed with renal operative intervention, including 12 repairs of lacerations or vessel injuries and 6 nephrectomies. Conclusions. Renal injuries of significant grade were encountered that presented with microscopic hematuria, as well as with normal urinalysis findings. Therefore, the decision for renal imaging for the diagnosis and grading of renal injuries should not be based on urinalysis alone in isolation from clinical status, history, and mechanism of injury. Although the vast majority of renal injuries do not require surgical intervention, their accurate grading prompts treatment with surveillance, bed rest, and close in-hospital monitoring.
Role of Ornithine Decarboxylase in Diallyl Sulfide Inhibition of Colonic Radiation Injury in the Mouse

Abstract Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a major flavor component of garlic ( Allium sativum ) that has previously been shown to inhibit colon carcinogenesis in experimental animals, was investigated for its ability to reduce acute colonic mucosal injury following γ-ray exposure. Female C57BL/6J mice received either vehicle or DAS (200 mg/kg) by gavage 3 h prior to a single, whole body dose of radiation from a 60 Co source. After 24 h, animals were killed and their colons were excised, fixed, and sectioned. DAS significantly inhibited nuclear aberration formation (a measure of nuclear damage) over a radiation dose range of 0.5 to 10 Gy. The degree of protection was related to the dose of DAS and the compound was ineffective if given after irradiation. Following 6 Gy, both DNA synthesis in vivo (measured by [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation into DNA) and the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (an important regulator of DNA synthesis) were elevated for more than 14 days. The induction of both these parameters was significantly suppressed by administering DAS prior to radiation exposure. To determine the role of polyamine synthesis in affecting the severity of radiation damage in the large intestine, difluoromethylornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, was administered in the drinking water of the animals 24 h prior to and following radiation treatment. Difluoromethylornithine abolished the ability of DAS to reduce colonic nuclear damage caused by radiation exposure. Thus DAS protects against colonic radiation injury via a polyamine-dependent pathway.
Chemoenzymatic enantiodivergent synthesis of 1,2-dideoxy-2-amino-1-fluoro-allo-inositol

Abstract Both enantiomers of dideoxyfluoroamino inositols (+)-9 and (−)-9 were synthesized from bromocyclohexadiene cis-diol 1 obtained by microbial oxidation of bromobenzene with toluene dioxygenase. Selective introduction of the amino group was achieved through SN2 displacement of triflates 7, 11. Fluorine was selectively introduced via trans-diaxial epoxide opening with tetrabutylphosphonium fluoride dihydrofluoride (TBPF-DF).
Beyond DNA Repair: Additional Functions of PARP-1 in Cancer

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are DNA-dependent nuclear enzymes that transfer negatively charged ADP-ribose moieties from cellular nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide (NAD+) to a variety of protein substrates, altering protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. The most studied of these enzymes is PARP-1, which is an excellent therapeutic target in cancer due to its pivotal role in the DNA damage response. Clinical studies have shown susceptibility to PARP inhibitors in DNA repair defective cancers with only mild adverse side effects. Interestingly, additional studies are emerging which demonstrate a role for this therapy in DNA repair proficient tumors through a variety of mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss additional functions of PARP-1 – including regulation of inflammatory mediators, cellular energetics and death pathways, gene transcription, sex hormone- and ERK-mediated signaling, and mitosis – and the role these PARP-1-mediated processes play in oncogenesis, cancer progression, and the development of therapeutic resistance. As PARP-1 can act in both a pro- and anti-tumor manner depending on the context, it is important to consider the global effects of this protein in determining when, and how, to best use PARP inhibitors in anticancer therapy.
Chi-square analyses of self-efficacy data: A cautionary note

To gauge relations between perceived self-efficacy and behavior, researchers have employed a “microanalytic congruence” measure that assesses the percentage of individual tasks for which self-efficacy judgments and performance are congruent. Lee (1985) has proposed that chi-square analyses should be employed to assess the statistical significance of efficacy-behavior congruences. The present paper demonstrates that such analyses are inappropriate. Chi-square analyses assume that each of the observations being analyzed is independent of each of the other observations. This assumption is violated in self-efficacy data because each individual subject contributes more than one observation to the analysis. Alternative analyses of self-efficacy data are discussed.
Multicultural Environments of Academic versus Internship Training Programs: Lessons to Be Learned

Psychology training programs have a responsibility to train multiculturally competent psychologists. Predoctoral interns were surveyed to compare the multicultural environment of academic and internship programs. Internship programs were perceived as more multicultural than were academic programs. Factors contributing to differences are examined, and suggestions are made for improving multicultural environments in training. Los programas de formacion en psicologia tienen la responsabilidad de formar psicologos competentes multiculturalmente. Se entrevisto a interinos predoctorales para comparar el ambiente multicultural de sus programas academicos y de interinidad. Se percibio que los programas de interinidad eran mas multiculturales que los programas academicos. Se examinan los factores que contribuyen a estas diferencias, y se ofrecen sugerencias para mejorar los ambientes multiculturales en la formacion.
In Vitro Recombination of Non-Homologous Genes Can Result in Gene Fusions that Confer a Switching Phenotype to Cells

Regulation of protein activity is central to the complexity of life. The ability to regulate protein activity through exogenously added molecules has biotechnological/biomedical applications and offers tools for basic science. Such regulation can be achieved by establishing a means to modulate the specific activity of the protein (i.e. allostery). An alternative strategy for intracellular regulation of protein activity is to control the amount of protein through effects on its production, accumulation, and degradation. We have previously demonstrated that the non-homologous recombination of the genes encoding maltose binding protein (MBP) and TEM1 β-lactamase (BLA) can result in fusion proteins in which β-lactamase enzyme activity is allosterically regulated by maltose. Here, through use of a two-tiered genetic selection scheme, we demonstrate that such recombination can result in genes that confer maltose-dependent resistance to β-lactam even though they do not encode allosteric enzymes. These ‘phenotypic switch’ genes encode fusion proteins whose accumulation is a result of a specific interaction with maltose. Phenotypic switches represent an important class of proteins for basic science and biotechnological applications in vivo.
Utility of ultrasound in evaluating hematuria

Hematuria is a common clinical problem. Ultrasound is an effective first line screen for pathology of the kidneys and bladder. Its use in older male patients is apt to yield a cause of hematuria in about 15%.
Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma

Trauma patients that require pediatric intensive care unit services are likely to have significant orthopaedic injuries, and treatment of those injuries is increasingly likely to involve close coordination with orthopaedic surgery. This chapter on PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA focuses on the most common injuries that the pediatric intensivist will encounter in such situations. Available evidence that focuses on diagnosis, treatment, and clinical outcomes will be summarized.
Quantifying the distribution of probes between subcellular locations using unsupervised pattern unmixing

Motivation: Proteins exhibit complex subcellular distributions, which may include localizing in more than one organelle and varying in location depending on the cell physiology. Estimating the amount of protein distributed in each subcellular location is essential for quantitative understanding and modeling of protein dynamics and how they affect cell behaviors. We have previously described automated methods using fluorescent microscope images to determine the fractions of protein fluorescence in various subcellular locations when the basic locations in which a protein can be present are known. As this set of basic locations may be unknown (especially for studies on a proteome-wide scale), we here describe unsupervised methods to identify the fundamental patterns from images of mixed patterns and estimate the fractional composition of them. Methods: We developed two approaches to the problem, both based on identifying types of objects present in images and representing patterns by frequencies of those object types. One is a basis pursuit method (which is based on a linear mixture model), and the other is based on latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA). For testing both approaches, we used images previously acquired for testing supervised unmixing methods. These images were of cells labeled with various combinations of two organelle-specific probes that had the same fluorescent properties to simulate mixed patterns of subcellular location. Results: We achieved 0.80 and 0.91 correlation between estimated and underlying fractions of the two probes (fundamental patterns) with basis pursuit and LDA approaches, respectively, indicating that our methods can unmix the complex subcellular distribution with reasonably high accuracy. Availability: http://murphylab.web.cmu.edu/software Contact: [email protected]
Incidental Exposure to Online News

News readership is shifting to the Internet because of accessibility, inexpensive technology, and free content. The prevalence of news on the Web provides opportunities for people to come across news in an incidental way as a byproduct of their online activities. This paper presents findings related to incidental exposure to online news from a study on information behavior of news readers. Erdelez's (2004) Information Encountering model guided the mixed method study, which consisted of two phases. The first phase involved the analysis of a web survey with 148 participants recruited through the website of a local newspaper. Respondents who demonstrated an awareness of their incidental exposure to online news were selected for the second phase. In the second, qualitative phase, the researcher interviewed 20 respondents using critical incident, explication interview, and think-aloud techniques. This paper presents findings from the second phase focusing on four main areas: the respondents' perception of incidental exposure to online news, the frequency of these experiences, the characteristics of the environment where they take place, and the respondents' feelings associated with this behavior. The study indicates that incidental exposure to online news is becoming a major way for some respondents to get informed about news events. Respondents' perceptions of incidental exposure to online news are grouped into three contexts: news reading, non-news reading, and Internet in general. The majority of respondents stated that they have positive feelings about incidental exposure to online news.
Determination of rate constants for turnover of myosin isoforms in rat myocardium: implications for in vivo contractile kinetics

The ventricles of small mammals express mostly α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC), a fast isoform, whereas the ventricles of large mammals, including humans, express ∼10% α-MHC on a predominately β-MHC (...