cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long Term Physical, Mental and Social Health Effects of COVID-19 in the Pediatric Population: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT Background The majority of COVID-19 symptom presentations in adults and children appear to run their course within a couple of weeks. However, a subgroup of adults has started to emerge with effects lasting several months or more after initial infection. However, little is known about long term physical, mental and social health effects of COVID-19 in the pediatric population. The purpose of this review was to determine these impacts well into the second year of the pandemic. Methods A search was conducted using PUBMED, Web of Science, Science Direct, and COCHRANE between 11/1/2019 and 9/1/2021. Search inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) COVID-19 illness and symptoms in children; (2) SARS-COv2 in children; (3) English language; and (4) human studies only. Results The few studies that have documented long-term physical symptoms in children show that fatigue, difficulty in concentrating (brain fog), sleep disturbances, and sensory problems are the most reported outcomes. Most studies examining the impact of COVID-19 in pediatric populations have focused on initial clinical presentation, and symptoms, which are similar to those in adult populations. Additionally, COVID-19 has had a moderate impact on children and adolescents’ social environment, which may exacerbate current and future physiological, psychological, behavioral, and academic outcomes. Conclusions There are limited studies reporting long physical symptoms of COVID-19 in the pediatric population. However, pediatric COVID-19 cases are underreported due to low rates of testing and symptomatic infection, which calls for more longitudinal studies. Children who have experienced COVID-19 illness should be monitored for long physiological, psychological, behavioral, and academic outcomes.
Improving environmental sustainability in outpatient clinics: Lessons from a waste audit

Abstract Background The healthcare industry is the second leading contributor of waste in the United States. While there are multiple examples of medical waste audits in the literature, few were conducted in outpatient settings. The objective of this study was to utilize a waste audit to identify key waste generators in an outpatient practice and start immediately reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional, observational study wherein waste from a total of 31 randomly selected encounters from December 2020 through June 2021 in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Sports and Spine clinics of an academic center was collected and weighed, and key waste generators were identified. Results The outpatient surgical center produced the most waste per patient encounter (1,758 g), followed by in-clinic procedure visits (379 g per encounter). Clinicians who performed in-clinic procedures using pre-packaged procedure kits produced an estimated 819.5 kg more waste annually than those who selected individual sterile components for their procedures. Discussion By identifying and developing interventions that target key waste generators, such as reducing the use of pre-packaged injection kits, we demonstrate how outpatient offices can immediately reduce waste. In doing so, we demonstrate the significant potential environmental savings of such measures.
Ultraviolet light-mediated drug delivery: Principles, applications, and challenges

UV light has been extensively employed in drug delivery because of its versatility, ease of manipulation, and ability to induce chemical changes on the therapeutic carrier. Here we review the mechanisms by which UV light affects drug delivery systems. We will present the challenges facing UV-induced drug delivery and some of the proposed solutions.
High Temperature Induced Termination of Diapause in Lepidopterous Insects

Pupal diapause in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, is induced by the cumulative physiological effects of daily photoperiods (13.5 hrs or less) experienced during the late embryonic and subsequent larval feeding stages. However, photoperiodic induction of the ultimate diapause response occurs most effectively when the eggs and larvae (photosensitive stages) are exposed to temperatures in the range of 20 to 30°C which is considered optimal for this experimental population. Higher temperatures (33°C) strongly inhibited the diapause inducing effects of short photoperiods (Bell et al., 1975). These results then prompted further experiments to examine the effects of temperature on the maintenance and termination of diapause in this insect.
SU-E-T-107: An Investigation Into Attenuation Effects On the Energy Spectrum for 137Cs Using Monte Carlo Techniques

Purpose: The calibration of radiation protection instrumentation including ionization chambers, scintillators, and Geiger Mueller (GM) counters used as survey meters are often done using 137Cs irradiators. During calibration, irradiators use a combination of attenuators with various thicknesses to modulate the beam to a known air-kerma rate. The variations in energy spectra as a result of these attenuators are not accounted for and may play a role in the energy-dependent response of survey meters. This study uses an experimentally validated irradiator geometry modeled in the MCNP5 transport code to characterize the effects of attenuation on the energy spectrum. Methods: A Hopewell Designs G-10 137Cs irradiator with lead attenuators of thicknesses of 0.635, 1.22, 2.22, and 4.32 cm, was used in this study. The irradiator geometry was modeled in MCNP5 and validated by comparing measured and simulated percent depth dose (PDD) and cross-field profiles. Variations in MCNP5 simulated spectra with increasing amounts of attenuation were characterized using the relative intensity of the 662 keV peak and the average energy. Results: Simulated and measured PDDs and profiles agreed within the associated uncertainty. The relative intensity of the 662 keV peak for simulated spectra normalized to the intensity of the unattenuated spectra ranged from 0.16% to 100% based on attenuation thickness. The average energy for simulated spectra for attenuators ranged from 582 keV with no attenuation to 653 keV with 5.54 cm of attenuation. Statistical uncertainty for MCNP5 simulations ranged from 0.11% to 3.69%. Conclusion: This study successfully used MCNP5 to validate a 137Cs irradiator geometry and characterize variations in energy spectra between different amounts of attenuation. Variations in the average energy of up to 12% were determined through simulations, and future work will aim to determine the effects of these differences on survey meter response and calibration.
Gate control circuit and switching characteristics of a MOS controll thyristor (MCT)

The author describes a simple gate-controlled circuit for a MOS-controlled thyristor (MCT) in which the frequency, duty cycle, and pulse width are all controllable. The gate pulses generated are used to study the switching characteristics of an MCT connected in a DC chopper. Several experimental waveforms and a study of the variation of switching losses with gate pulse width are presented. It is shown that there is an increase in the switching losses with pulse width. There are also considerable oscillations both in the gate voltage and in the device voltage at higher frequencies, indicating the need for modifications in the drive circuit. >
Spinach Leaf Sucrose-Phosphate Synthase and Nitrate Reductase Are Phosphorylated/Inactivated by Multiple Protein Kinases in Vitro

The regulation of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) and nitrate reductase (NR) activities from mature spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves share many similarities in vivo and in vitro. Both enzymes are light/dark modulated by processes that involve, at least in part, reversible protein phosphorylation. Experiments using desalted crude extracts show that the ATP-dependent inactivation of spinach SPS and NR is sensitive to inhibition by glucose-6-phosphate. Also, a synthetic peptide homolog of the spinach SPS phosphorylation site inhibits the ATP-dependent inactivation of both enzymes with a similar concentration dependence. We have addressed the possibility that SPS and NR are regulated by the same protein kinase by partially purifying the protein kinases involved. Three unique kinase activities can be separated by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Each peak of activity has a different substrate specificity. By gel filtration, they have apparent molecular masses of approximately 45, 60, and 150 kD. Additionally, the activities of the two smaller kinases are dependent on micromolar concentrations of Ca2+, whereas the 150-kD kinase is not. Finally, the 150-kD kinase has a subunit molecular mass of about 65 kD as determined by renaturing the kinase activity in situ following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Abstract 25: Six-year Change in C-reactive Protein Levels and Risk of Incident Diabetes, Cardiovascular Events and Mortality

Background: High levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mortality. It is unclear whether changes in CRP or persistently high CRP are associated with these outcomes beyond the baseline measure. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of 10,229 participants from the ARIC Study with two measurements of CRP six years apart (at visits 2 and 4, 1990-92 and 1996-98, respectively). CRP was categorized into two groups using a standard cut-point for defining high levels (≥3 vs. <3 mg/L). Six-year change in CRP was categorized as: persistently not high (<3 mg/L), decreasing (≥3 to <3 mg/L), increasing (<3 to ≥3 mg/L), and persistently high (≥3 mg/L). Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between visit 2 CRP, visit 4 CRP and six-year change in CRP and each of the following outcomes from visit 4 through 2010: diabetes, coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, heart failure and all-cause mortality. Models were adjusted for traditional risk factors at visit 2. Sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for visit 4 covariates. Results: Persons with CRP ≥3 mg/L at visit 2 or 4 had higher risk of each outcome compared to those with CRP <3 mg/L ( Table ). We observed higher risk of all outcomes in persons with persistently high CRP, and of all outcomes except stroke in persons with increasing CRP, compared to those with CRP <3 mg/L at both visits ( Table ). Persons whose CRP decreased from high to <3 mg/L did not have significantly increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes or diabetes compared to those with CRP persistently <3 mg/L. Results were similar after adjusting for visit 4 covariates. Conclusions: Persons with sustained high levels of CRP or whose CRP increased to high levels had higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and death, while those whose levels decreased from high to moderate or low were at lower risk. Multiple measures of CRP may better characterize inflammatory status and provide more comprehensive information regarding long-term risk. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
From the Bench. Obituary: The American Trial Lawyer, Born 1641 - Died 20??

In the age of the vanishing civil jury trial an experienced federal district judge pens a fictitious obituary for the American Trial Lawyer.The American trial lawyer (ATL), who, in innumerable ways, enhanced the lives of so many Americans and made the United States a fairer, healthier, safer, more egalitarian, and just nation, passed away recently. Although a precise age is uncertain, ATL is believed to have been at least 371 years old at the time of death.
The Nature of Hybrid Community: An Exploratory Study of Open Source Software User Groups

Much prior emphasis in the study of open source software has been placed on the virtual nature of development activities. We argue that many open source projects are better characterized as hybrid communities, which are comprised of both virtual and physically bounded activities. Our field study adopts a dual ontology to investigate the relationships between virtual and physical representations of the Linux user community. Our findings suggest that the virtual and physical representations of a hybrid community complement each other in a number of ways. Specifically, we uncover six ways through which a physical representation may complement the virtual one, and four ways through which a virtual representation may complement the physical one. We conclude that leaders of open source projects should strive to organize complementary activities across virtual and physical representations of the community.
Improving large-signal FET/HEMT model accuracy by optimization of diode response

In this paper, a simple technique for measuring and modeling the response of the gate-source and gate-drain diodes in a large-signal FET/HEMT model is presented. Measurements are conducted on an ATF36163 PHEMT transistor, and significant improvement in a large-signal model for the PHEMT is achieved by optimizing the response of the diode models. The significance of the gate-source and gate-drain diodes in large-signal modeling is discussed.
Effect of Pediatric Influenza on Caregivers’ Burden—A Literature Review

Influenza, or the flu, is a common and potentially serious infection that disproportionally affects children with more than 20,000 yearly hospitalizations in children under the age of 5. A literature review of the caregiver burden associated with pediatric influenza was conducted. Two main types of burdens were identified: economic and noneconomic. Flu treatment costs $3,990 for pediatric inpatients services and $730 for emergency department (ED) pediatric patients. Caregivers may also face out-of-pocket costs ($178 for inpatients, $125 for ED patients, and $52 for outpatients) or those not covered by health insurance. Caregivers can also face indirect costs while caring for their children with the flu. Indirect costs were common, and 75% of pediatric caregivers reported these costs when caring for a sick child. Missed work is the most common indirect cost and is estimated as high as 73 work hours ($1,456) missed while caring for a sick child. Other costs associated with pediatric influenza included nonec...
Dating relationship quality in the U.S. and Taiwan: Does similarity or parental approval matter?

This study investigated how personality or value similarity between the members of a couple (an influential factor in Western people’s close relationships) and parental approval (a unique characteristic in close relationships of Chinese people) affect dating relationship satisfaction and commitment (relationship quality) of Americans and of Taiwanese. Data were collected from 269 Americans and 237 Taiwanese undergraduate students, and culturally sensitive scales were used to estimate people’s personality and values. Our results indicate that, perceived personality similarity plays a more influential role in relationship quality for Americans than for Taiwanese. Perceived value similarity, however, plays an important role for both American and Taiwanese relationship quality. Furthermore, secondary control moderated the association between perceived personality or value similarity and relationship satisfaction for Americans. For those Americans who highly value the importance of adjusting themselves to fit the needs or expectations of their partners, they may receive positive reinforcement from their partner and become close to their partner, regardless of the level of personality or value similarity within the couple. Finally, for both Americans and Taiwanese, when they perceived high levels of parental approval for their dating decisions, they reported higher relationship quality.
On graph-theoretic lemmata and complexity classes

Several new complexity classes of search problems that lie between the classes FP and FNP are defined. These classes are contained in the class TFNP of search problems that always have a solution. A problem in each of these new classes is defined in terms of an implicitly given, exponentially large graph, very much like PLS (polynomial local search). The existence of the solution sought is established by means of a simple graph-theoretic lemma with an inefficiently constructive proof. Several class containments and collapses, resulting in the two new classes PDLF contained in PLF are shown; the relation of either class of PLS is open. PLF contains several important problems for which no polynomial-time algorithm is presently known. >
Auditory and neuropsychiatric behavior patterns after electrical injury

Major electrical injury causes widespread tissue destruction. Slow and incomplete functional recovery after electrocution-type injury has led clinicians to suspect residual brain damage. One hundred and one consecutive patients who were admitted to the hospital because of electrical injury were studied. Forty-eight had electric-current injury. The other 53 had flash, contact, or arcing burns (electrical injury without passage of current). A primary study cohort of 16 patients with electric-current injury and 18 patients who had electrical injury without passage of current received specialized trauma-based psychiatric treatment, which was coordinated with serial auditory and neurologic studies. This strategy served to highlight discrepancies between preinjury and postinjury performance. Twelve of 16 patients with electric-current injury showed neurobehavioral (organic) dysfunction after 1 year, which implied brain damage; eight showed persistent auditory changes. Four of 18 patients who had electrical injury without passage of current met criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder after 1 year; none had neurobehavioral or auditory dysfunction. These findings indicate that patients with electric-current injury are at risk for permanent auditory dysfunction and brain damage, whereas those with other types of electrical burns are not.
Human papillomavirus vaccine and cervical cancer prevention: practice and policy implications for pharmacists.

Abstract Objectives To review the epidemiology and natural history of human papillomavirus (HPV), summarize relevant clinical trials of the prophylactic HPV vaccines, and describe the practice and policy implications that HPV vaccine represents for pharmacists. Data sources Search of Medline through June 2007 using keywords human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil, and Cervarix; meeting abstracts; bibliographies from selected articles; and National Institutes of Health clinical trials registry. Study selection English language review articles, clinical trials, and published abstracts were considered for inclusion. Data synthesis HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that is necessary for the development of cervical cancer, and types 16 and 18 are associated with 70% of cases of invasive cervical cancer worldwide. A quadrivalent prophylactic vaccine against HPV-6, −11, −16, and −18 is currently available, and a bivalent vaccine targeting HPV–16 and −18 is under review by the Food and Drug Administration. Both are highly effective at preventing persistent HPV infection and precancerous lesions caused by vaccine-specific HPV. HPV vaccine is currently indicated for girls aged 9 to 26 years, but ongoing trials are evaluating the efficacy in other populations. Implementation of a vaccine administration program is an area of opportunity for new policies to include pharmacists in the administration of prophylactic HPV vaccines. Pharmacists are allowed to administer vaccinations in 46 states and can potentially play a role in HPV vaccine administration. For this to happen, however, multiple legal and regulatory changes must occur. Conclusion Prophylactic HPV vaccines safely and effectively prevent HPV infection and precancerous lesions in the cervix. The availability of these vaccines also create new clinical opportunities for community pharmacists, provided needed legal, regulatory, and policy changes are made.
Stonehenge 56 Year Cycle

Colton and Martin1 are to be congratulated on the independent discovery of eclipse cycles based on a fixed number of lunations. The cycles that they list are among the long list of cycles which have been exhaustively studied and described in a rare book by Professor G. van den Bergh2 that is seldom found outside astronomical libraries. The particular cycles tabulated by Colton and Martin are named, in order of increasing length, Hepton, Octon, Inex, etc.
The Immunological Status of the Low Birth Weight (≤ 2100 g) and Very Low Birth Weight (≤ 1200 g) Infant and Relationship to Infection

We prospectively evaluated the immunologic status (IgG, IgM, C3, C4, CH50, and fibronectin) of 45 low (≤ 2100 g) or very low (≤ 1200 g) birth weight infants both during and after hospitalization. Data on infections and illness during the initial hospitalization and 2 to 12 months posthospitalization were obtained. The average nadir IgG, which occurred at 3 months of age, was 66 mg/dl for all infants and 56 mg/dl for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Until infants were 5 months of age, IgG was < 200 mg/dl for low birth weight (LBW) infants and < 100 mg/dl for VLBW. IgM increased during the first 7.5 months from an average of 14 mg/dl to an average of 87 mg/dl. The lowest C3 and C4 occurred during the first 3 months. Fibronection did not appear to vary significantly with age. VLBW infants had significantly more (p ≤ 0.002) infections than LBW infants. There was a negative correlation (r = -0.58) between birth weight and the number of hospital infections. There was a significant (p = 0.01) association be...
Mesh network design for smart charging infrastructure and electric vehicle remote monitoring

Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) charging today happens with little knowledge of the state of the vehicle being charged. In order to implement smart charging algorithms and other capabilities of the future smart grid, provisions for remote PEV monitoring will have to be developed and tested. The UCLA Smart-grid Energy Research Center (SMERC) is working on a smart charging research platform that includes data acquired in real time from PEVs being charged in order to investigate smart charging algorithms and demand response (DR) strategies for PEVs in large parking garage settings. The system outlined in this work allows PEVs to be remotely monitored throughout the charging process by a smart-charging controller communicating through a mesh network of charging stations and in-vehicle monitoring devices. The approach may be used for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) communication as well as PEV monitoring.
Molecular gas in low-redshift Palomar-Green quasi-stellar objects

Abstract Millimeter-wave (CO and HCN) observations of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) are potentially a powerful way of studying the properties of both QSOs and their host galaxies. This paper summarizes the state of molecular gas observations of PG QSOs by focussing primarily on a sample of z ⩽ 0.17 Palomar-Green (PG) QSOs with infrared (IR) excesses. Approximately 70% of the PG QSOs observed thus far in CO have detectable amounts of molecular gas, with M H 2 ∼ 1 – 36 × 10 9 M ⊙ . Optical images of the QSO host galaxies show them to be mixture of spiral, elliptical (i.e., featureless), and merging galaxies. Two QSOs observed at optical wavelengths to reside in featureless, elliptical-like host galaxies are also rich in molecular gas, thus illustrating the usefulness of CO observations in differentiating between old, gas-poor elliptical galaxies and advanced mergers. The CO velocity dispersions of the QSOs are calculated to be ΔvFWHM ∼ 280 km s−1, consistent with that of ultraluminous IR galaxies and suggestive of massive host galaxies. In addition, the QSO host galaxies are observed to have high IR-to-CO luminosity ratios, L IR / L CO ′ , relative to IR galaxies with similar luminosities, which is an indication of high star formation efficiencies (i.e., L IR / L CO ′ ∼ L starburst / M H 2 ) or significant dust heating by the AGN. If the naiive assumption is made that the LIR is due entirely to star formation, then star formation rates are estimated to be SFRIR ∼ 20–420M⊙ year−1. However, analysis of recent HCN observations of several PG QSOs, and of [O II] observations of a large sample of QSOs, have provided evidence that a significant fraction of LIR may emanate from dust heated by the AGN.
Geometric surface features applied to volumetric CAE mesh models

In this paper, we discuss a way to extend a geometric surface feature framework known as Direct Surface Manipulation (DSM) into a volumetric mesh modeling paradigm that can be directly adopted by large-scale CAE applications involving models made of volumetric elements, multiple layers of surface elements or both. By introducing a polynomial-based depth-blending function, we extend the classic DSM mathematics into a volumetric form. The depth-blending function possesses similar user-friendly features as DSM basis functions permitting ease-of-control of the continuity and magnitude of deformation along the depth of deformation. Practical issues concerning the implementation of this technique are discussed in details and implementation results are shown demonstrating the versatility of this volumetric paradigm for direct modeling of complex CAE mesh models. In addition, the notion of a model-independent, volumetric-geometric feature is introduced. Motivated by modeling clay with sweeps and templates, a model-independent, catalog-able volumetric feature can be created. Deformation created by such a feature can be relocated, reoriented, duplicated, mirrored, pasted, and stored independent of the model to which it was originally applied. It can serve as a design template, thereby saving the time and effort to recreate it for repeated uses on different models (frequently seen in CAE-based Design of Experiments study).Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Five factors in Sentence Completion Test Categories: Toward rapprochement between trait and maturational approaches to Personality

Ego level is a maturational construct assessed using sentence completions. The five factors are relatively static and are typically assessed using ratings or questionnaires. The current investigations explored relations between these two approaches using the Sentence Completion Test (SCT). In the first of two studies, persons with extreme scores on the five factors could be readily identified from the SCT. In the second study, measures of the five factors were derived from the response categories that are generated in the standard scoring of the SCT. These category-based measures converged with both the Revised NEO Personality Inventory and an existing content analytic measure of the five factors. These results suggest both that a developmentally tuned approach to measuring the five factors may be productive and that there is meaningful variation in the routinely scored (but typically discarded) SCT category ratings.
DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II from Acanthamoeba castellanii. Comparison of the catalytic properties and subunit architectures of the trophozoite and cyst enzymes.

Abstract The actively growing cells (trophozoites) of the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii were found to contain three or perhaps four different forms of class II DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6). The chromatographic and catalytic properties of all forms of the Acanthamoeba class II polymerases suggest them to be cognates of the class II polymerases previously reported. The predominant form was purified to near homogeneity and its subunit composition determined. Nine different polypeptides were found associated with the purified enzyme: 210 000; 185 000; 140 000; 70 000; 35 000; 21 000; 19 000; 18 500 and 16 200. These polypeptides were interpreted in terms of two class II RNA polymerases which differ in the molecular weight of their largest subunit. When A. castellanii is transferred to a medium lacking nutrients, the cells undergo cellular differentiation resulting in the formation of metabolically inactive cells (cyst formation). During this process there are significant changes in the RNA sequences transcribed. In contrast to this, we find that the chromatographic and catalytic properties of all of the class II RNA polymerases remain unchanged. Further, the subunit architecture of the predominant form(s) of polymerase II is unaltered. These findings suggest that although new RNA sequences are transcribed during encystment their appearance is not a consequence of extensive alterations in the subunit composition of the major class II RNA polymerase.
Rapidly fatal disseminated acanthamoebiasis in a single lung transplant recipient.

Background Lung transplant recipients are at great risk for developing various infectious complications. These infections portend a significant morbidity and mortality throughout their lifetime following transplantation. At times, cutaneous manifestations are the only clues to systemic infection. Case report A 62 year-old man with a history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis presented 6 months after receiving bilateral sequential cadaveric lung transplantation for anorexia, early satiety, weight loss, exertional dsypnea, arthralgia, and depression. On exam, two rapidly growing non-painful 1.5-3 centimeter erythematous nodules with purulent draining on the anterior chest wall were noted. On Hospital Day 7, the patent was found to be un-responsive, hypotensive, and febrile. Brain imaging revealed diffuse thick nodular enhancement of leptomeningeal surface and multiple areas of hypodenisty associated with mass effect in the bilateral vermis and cerebellar hemispheres with effacement of the fourth ventricle. CSF PCR analysis showed Acanthamoeba sp. confirmed by the Center for Disease Control. Despite multi-modal therapy, his clinical course deteriorated and resulted in brain death. Conclusion Acanthamoeba infection is extremely rare in thoracic organ recipients. We report the fifth case of progressive disseminated acanthamoebiasis in a lung transplant recipient.
Partial-decay-rate asymmetries of charged bottom mesons and CP violation.

The partial-decay-rate asymmetries of charged-bottom-meson decays ${B}_{u}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$,${B}_{c}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}PP and PV are systematically studied and estimated. More attention has been paid to penguin contributions. We find that ${B}_{c}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$D${\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}}^{0}$,${K}^{0}$${F}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and ${\mathit{B}}_{\mathit{u}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathit{F}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$${\mathit{D}}^{0\mathrm{*}}$,${\mathit{F}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{*}}$${\mathit{D}}^{0}$ are extremely promising because of their large asymmetry and small number of bb\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} pairs needed for testing them.
Multi-Locus Assortment (MLA) for Transgene Dispersal and Elimination in Mosquito Populations

Background Replacement of wild-type mosquito populations with genetically modified versions is being explored as a potential strategy to control vector-borne diseases. Due to lower expected relative fitness of transgenic individuals, transgenes must be driven into populations for these scenarios to be successful. Several gene drive mechanisms exist in a theoretical sense but none are currently workable in mosquitoes. Even if strategies were workable, it would be very difficult to recall released transgenes in the event of unforeseen consequences. What is needed is a way to test transgenes in the field for feasibility, efficacy and safety prior to releasing an active drive mechanism. Methodology/Principal Findings We outline a method, termed Multi-locus assortment (MLA), to spread transgenes into vector populations by the release of genetically-modified mosquitoes carrying multiple stable transgene inserts. Simulations indicate that [1] insects do not have to carry transgenes at more than 4 loci, [2] transgenes can be maintained at high levels by sequential small releases, the frequency of which depends on the construct fitness cost, and [3] in the case of unforeseen negative non-target effects, transgenes can be eliminated from the population by halting transgenic releases and/or mass releases of wild-type insects. We also discuss potential methods to create MLA mosquito strains in the laboratory. Conclusions/Significance While not as efficient as active drive mechanisms, MLA has other advantages: [1] MLA strains can be constructed for some mosquito species with currently-available technology, [2] MLA will allow the ecological components of transgenic mosquito releases to be tested before actual gene drive mechanisms are ready to be deployed, [3] since MLA is not self-propagating, the risk of an accidental premature release into nature is minimized, and [4] in the case that active gene drive mechanisms prove impossible to develop, the MLA approach can be used as a back-up transgene dispersal mechanism for disease control efforts in some systems.
Bacteria of the soybean rhizosphere and their effect on growth of Bradyrhizobium japonicum

Abstract We studied the rhizosphere populations of soybean ( Glycine max . L.) in two soils throughout the growing season and evaluated the activities of selected organisms on nodule occupancy of serogroup 123 (USDA 123), the dominant Bradyrhizobium japonicum found in mid-U.S.A., soils. Non-specific bacteria and actinomycetes. Gram-negative bacteria, enterobacteria and pseudomonads were enumerated approx. every 3 wk on six occasions during the growing season. Early in the season, 31% of the rhizosphere bacteria were inhibitory to USDA 123 as estimated by an agar-overlay technique, but only 8% were stimulatory. Nine of the stimulatory organisms were tested in the greenhouse in sterile soil for their ability to alter occupancy of soybean nodules by strain USDA 123 when challenged by USDA 110. Two of these rhizosphere organisms significantly enhanced nodulation of USDA 123, but further tests indicated that the results were not reproducible in non-sterile soil. In general, rhizosphere populations in the field increased throughout the season but varied with climatic variables. Populations were positively correlated with precipitation and temperature and negatively correlated with evaporative index.
FPGA Acceleration of Phylogeny Reconstruction for Whole Genome Data

In this paper we describe our design and characterization of a co-processor architecture to accelerate median-based phylogenetic reconstruction for gene-rearrangement data. Our current design performs a parallelized version of the breakpoint median computation and achieves an average speedup of 876 for simulated input data having a high evolution rate. After integrating our hardware-based median computation into the GRAPPA toolset, we have achieved an average speedup of 189 over the entire phylogenetic reconstruction procedure. The results in this paper suggest that FPGA-based acceleration is a promising approach for computationally expensive phylogenetic problems that are based on combinatorial optimization.
An Anxiolytic Action of Oxytocin is Enhanced by Estrogen in the Mouse

The established role of oxytocin (OT) in facilitation of steroid-modulated reproductive and affiliative behaviors led to the speculation that it may have anxiolytic actions under certain hormonal conditions. NIH-Swiss mice were tested for responsiveness to OT in two behavioral tests of anxiety, the holeboard apparatus and elevated plus-maze. Dose-response assessment indicated that 3 mg/kg was the optimal dose for peripherally administered (IP) OT on the elevated plus-maze. There were no consistent effects at any dose on the holeboard apparatus. In ovariectomized mice pretreated with estradiol (E2), peripherally administered OT increased the number of entrances onto the open arms, as well as the amount of time on the open arms compared to other groups (ANOVA; p < 0.05). There was little to no effect of OT in ovariectomized animals not pretreated with E2. When OT was administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV), there was an increase in entrances and time on the open arms compared to that of females infused with arginine vasopressin (AVP). This increase was apparent in ovariectomized females, but was further enhanced in those pretreated with E2 (ANOVA; p < 0.05). In contrast, the combination of E2 pretreatment and ICV AVP decreased the number of entrances and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus-maze compared to those receiving OT, suggesting an estrogen-modulated anxiogenic action of AVP. Analyses of [125]I-OVTA binding density indicated a significant increase in binding density in the lateral septum of E2-treated females compared to OIL-treated controls (ANOVA; p < 0.05). There was no effect of E2 treatment on [125]I-OVTA binding density in the amygdala or ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. Taken together, these data indicate that OT exerts an anxiolytic action that is enhanced in the presence of circulating estrogen. This behavioral effect may be mediated by estrogen-induced increases in OT binding density in the lateral septum and may be important to the facilitation of social interactions.
El Libro de Alixandre : en marcha hacia el original

If we are to recover the original text, the need to recognize and accept «latent» variants in the handling of the two codices PO is demonstrated. In order to compare the ecdotic efforts of the three editores —Canas, Marcos Marin and Nelson— the author makes a detailed analysis of fifty strophes contained in the description of Hell and the treatise on the Deadly Sins (2334-2383). He uses eight objective and pratical criteria to discriminate variants accurately: orthography, prefixation, scansion, lexical selectivity, cultural traditions, scribal proclivities, asynchronism, and contextual meaning. The article concludes with an example of the unified text produced by the proposed procedure, which guaranties greater intratextual coherence.
I didn't even know it was user services

We decided to write this paper in the third person since we are merging two co-workers' views of the evolution of User Services.
On the formation of vortex streets behind stationary cylinders

The formation of vortex streets behind stationary cylinders is found to be caused by an absolute instability in the wake immediately behind the cylinder. The inviscid Orr–Sommerfeld equation is used together with measured profiles at Reynolds numbers of (a) Re = 56 when the absolute instability provides a Strouhal number of 0.13; and (b) Re = 140000 providing a Strouhal number of 0.21, both in agreement with experimental values. At the subcritical Re = 34 the instability is of the convective type; i.e. the disturbance decays, being convected away once the external disturbance is removed, in agreement with experimental observations. Finally, the instability of the mode which causes a symmetric array of vortices is shown to be always of the convective type.
Abnormalities of phosphoprotein gene expression in three osteopetrotic rat mutations: Elevated mrna transcripts, protein synthesis, and accumulation in bone of mutant animals

Osteoclast abnormalities that characterize osteopetrosis, a disorder of bone resorption, may derive from aberrant signals from the osteoblast or the bone matrix. In the present studies, both synthesis and the bone matrix content of the major bone phosphoprotein component, osteopontin, were found to be elevated in three osteopetrotic rat mutations (ia, op, and tl). In whole bone, a twofold increase in the content of the characteristic amino acid O-phosphoserine for osteopontin occurred in op and tl mutant long bone, but a smaller (15%) and more variable increase was observed in ia mutant rat long bone. Extraction of the bone matrix components and partial purification by reverse phase chromatography showed a twofold increase in a phosphoprotein fraction relative to other noncollagenous components. Amino acid analysis and staining characteristics of SDS-PAGE fractionated proteins indicated this to be osteopontin. Organ cultures of calvarial bone from 4 day ia osteopetrotic mutant and normal rats in the presence of 3H-proline showed increased synthesis of this 60 kD protein, which was stimulated by vitamin D. Preparation of total cellular RNA from bone of 2- and 6-weekold mutants and normal rats supported increased synthesis of osteopontin as reflected by hybridization with osteopontin cDNA probe, showing significantly higher levels of mRNA transcripts in ia (3–5 fold), tl (1.4–2 fold), and op (6–25 fold) mutant bone compared to normal littermates. The changes in osteopontin mRNA levels in mutant bone were also examined in relation to other growth and phenotype-expressed genes. The findings of increased accumulation of osteopontin in osteopetrotic bone and increased synthesis by osteoblasts are interesting in light of the previously reported decrease in bone osteocalcin content (Endocrinology, 126:966, 1990), confirmed here by decreased osteocalcin mRNA transcripts. Such aberrations in the composition of skeletal extracellular matrix could be a reflection of or a contributing factor to the osteoclast abnormalities of some of these osteopetrotic disorders. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Effect of Fluoride on the Size and Morphology of Apatite Crystals Grown from Physiologic Solutions

In adult human bone, fluoride uptake is accompanied by an increase in apatite crystal size. This increase, however, is not isotropic but is restricted primarily to growth in width and/or thickness, with no measurable change in length. In the present study, seeded growth experiments were conducted in vitro to determine whether this anisotropic effect is physicochemical in origin, i.e., a direct result of F- selectively enhancing lateral crystal growth, or is an indirect consequence of F--induced alterations in cellular function and matrix development. The growth reactions were maintained at 37°C under physiologic-like solution conditions (1.33 mmol/liter Ca2+, 1.0 mmol/liter total phosphate, 0 or 26 mmol/liter carbonate, 270 mmol/kg osmolality, pH 7.4) using constant-composition methods. When new accretions accumulated to three times the initial seed mass, the solids were collected and net crystal growth was assessed by X-ray diffraction line broadening analysis. The X-ray results revealed that the carbonate constituent in our physiologic-like solutions promoted the proliferation of new crystals at the expense of further growth of the seed apatite. Solution F- concentrations of ∼2 μmol/liter partially offset the repressive effect that carbonate had on primary crystal growth. Moreover, F- stimulated seed crystal growth in the same anisotropic manner as had been observed for adult human bone apatite, a finding that suggests that the latter growth in vivo was the consequence, in part, of direct F--mineral interactions.
The Correlates of War (Cow) Project Direct Contiguity Data, Version 3.0:

This research note summarizes version 3.0 of the Correlates of War Direct Contiguity data set, which covers the geographic proximity of all directly contiguous states in the international system du...
Integrated Health System for Chronic Disease Management: Lessons Learned From France

Rated number one in overall health system performance by the World Health Organization, the French spend less than half the amount on annual health care per capita that the United States spends. One contributing factor may be the attention given to chronic care. Since the mid-1900s, the French have developed regional community-based specialty systems for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency or failure. COPD is the major cause of respiratory failure, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, and its prevalence is increasing. Despite the clinical success of home mechanical ventilation and the potential for cost savings, providing such services in the United States remains a challenge. Lessons from France can inform the development of cost-effective chronic care models in the United States In this article, we review the French experience in the context of the United States Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, mandating that people in "more restrictive settings" such as nursing homes be offered community-based supports. We suggest that regional demonstration projects for patients with chronic respiratory failure or insufficiency can provide an important step in the development of effective chronic care systems in the United States
BepiColombo gravitational capture and the elliptic restricted three‐body problem

This paper shows how the BepiColombo trajectory near Mercury follows the invariant manifolds to its final capture. The BepiColombo gravitational capture provides several recovery opportunities at nominal conditions and was designed by exploring the solution space entirely, without knowledge of the invariant manifolds. In this work we reproduced the trajectory in the model of the elliptic restricted three body- problem ( due to the high eccentricity of Mercury’s orbit) and showed t hat it does follow the manifolds. Consequently we envision that manifolds should be used to give insight on the solution space, speeding up the design and optimization process and there by saving cost. Copyright line will be provided by the publisher
Isotopic discrimination during long-term decomposition in an arid land ecosystem.

Abstract Discrimination in carbon and nitrogen isotopes of decomposing plant litter in the northern Chihuahuan Desert was determined for a 5-year period. Factors influencing isotopic change were assessed from inter-species comparisons of litter chemistry, mass loss patterns, and isotope values of associated soil. Average δ15Nlitter values of buried roots increased 1.2 and 2.6‰ for Big Blue Stem (Schizachyrium gerardi, grass) and Varital (Drypetes glauca, hardwood) during the study, respectively. Small but inconsistent variations were observed for Slash Pine (Pinus elliotii, conifer) roots. Average δ15N values of wooden dowels from Ramin (Gonystlylus bancanus, hardwood) increased ca. 2.0‰ during years 1–4, and then decreased slightly during year 5. Changes in δ15Nlitter were independent of N content, and may reflect microbial fractionation or preferential retention of 15N enriched substrates. Surprisingly, there was no clear relationship between litter N dynamics and C/N ratios. There were no discernable changes in δ13Clitter values for Gonystlylus bancanus and Pinus elliotii. Average δ13Clitter values for Schizachyrium gerardi decreased ∼2.0‰ during years 0–2 and then increased slightly. In contrast, average δ13Clitter values for Drypetes glauca increased ∼0.5‰ from years 0–1 then remained relatively constant until decreasing slightly in year 5. δ13Clitter discrimination may have been masked by interfering δ13C fractionations or feedbacks between decomposers and litter chemistry. Our data indicate that isotopic discrimination is characteristic of early litter decay stages. These results may highlight aspects of isotope discrimination and nutrient cycling unique to arid land environments. Additional studies will be needed to confirm this.