cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementing a Novel Remote Physician Treatment Coverage Practice for Adaptive Radiation Therapy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Abstract Purpose The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic has placed an increased importance on physical distancing to minimize the risk of transmission in radiation oncology departments. The pandemic has also increased the use of hypofractionated treatment schedules where magnetic resonance-guided online adaptive radiation therapy (ART) can aid in dose escalation. This specialized technique requires increased staffing in close proximity, and thus the need for novel coverage practices to increase physical distancing while still providing specialty care. Methods and Materials A remote-physician ART coverage practice was developed and described using commercially available software products. Our remote-physician coverage practice provided control to the physician to contour and review of the images and plans. The time from completion of image registration to the beginning of treatment was recorded for 20 fractions before remote-physician ART coverage and 14 fractions after implementation of remote-physician ART coverage. Visual quality was calculated using cross-correlation between the treatment delivery and remote-physician computer screens. Results For the 14 fractions after implementation, the average time from image registration to the beginning of treatment was 24.9 ± 6.1 minutes. In comparison, the 20 fractions analyzed without remote coverage had an average time of 29.2 ± 9.8 minutes. The correlation between the console and remote-physician screens was R = .95. Conclusions Our novel remote-physician ART coverage practice is secure, interactive, timely, and of high visual quality. When using remote physicians for ART, our department was able to increase physical distancing to lower the risk of virus transmission while providing specialty care to patients in need.
Multiple Ventricular Tachycardia/Ventricular Fibrillation Episodes

A 73-year-old man with coronary artery disease, hypertension, and depressed ventricular function presents after receiving multiple shocks from his single chamber ICD. On physical examination, the blood pressure is 148/73, with heart rate 86. The jugular venous distension measures 8 cm, lungs are clear, gallops are absent, the abdomen is unremarkable, and trace lower extremity edema is noted. Diagnosis and management are discussed.
Troponin Revealed: Uncovering the Structure of the Thin Filament On-Off Switch in Striated Muscle.

Abstract Recently, our understanding of the structural basis of troponin-tropomyosin’s Ca2+-triggered regulation of striated muscle contraction has advanced greatly, particularly via cryo-electron microscopy data. Compelling atomic models of troponin-tropomyosin-actin were published for both apo- and Ca2+-saturated states of the cardiac thin filament. Subsequent electron microscopy and computational analyses have supported and further elaborated the findings. Per cryo-electron microscopy, each troponin is highly extended and contacts both tropomyosin strands, which lie on opposite sides of the actin filament. In the apo-state characteristic of relaxed muscle, troponin and tropomyosin hinder strong myosin-actin binding in several different ways, apparently barricading the actin more substantially than does tropomyosin alone. The troponin core domain, the C-terminal third of TnI, and tropomyosin under the influence of a 64-residue helix of TnT located at the overlap of adjacent tropomyosins are all in positions that would hinder strong myosin binding to actin. In the Ca2+-saturated state, the TnI C-terminus dissociates from actin and binds in part to TnC; the core domain pivots significantly; the N-lobe of TnC binds specifically to actin and tropomyosin; and tropomyosin rotates partially away from myosin’s binding site on actin. At the overlap domain, Ca2+ causes much less tropomyosin movement, so a more inhibitory orientation persists. In the myosin-saturated state of the thin filament, there is a large additional shift in tropomyosin, with molecular interactions now identified between tropomyosin and both actin and myosin. A new era has arrived for investigation of the thin filament and for functional understandings that increasingly accommodate the recent structural results.
Integrated Photodetection Leveraging Plasmonic Radiation Pressure

We present novel integrated photodetectors based on the radiation pressure of a plasmonic mode. Light absorbed in a plasmonic or hybrid plasmonic/optical waveguide builds a voltage along the length of the waveguide via the photon-drag effect. We implement this device concept for the first time and investigate its potential for fast, broadband, and inexpensive optical detection in an integrated platform.
Mixed germ cell-sex cord stromal tumour of the testis and ovary: comparison and contrast

Mixed germ cell-sex cord stromal tumours (MGC-SCSTs) of the testis and ovary differ significantly in their histological appearance, clinical behaviour, and molecular genetics. Until recently, the germ cells of testicular MGC-SCST were considered to be invariably histologically bland, whereas those from neoplasms that arise in the ovary have histological features characteristic of premalignancy. However, a recent histological and molecular genetic study demonstrated histological abnormalities and multiple chromosomal losses and gains in a small subset of testicular cases, thus providing the first evidence that testicular MGC-SCSTs can exceptionally show histological and molecular abnormalities. All cases of testicular MGC-SCST reported to date have been clinically benign, whereas ovarian examples are sometimes the precursor of a malignant germ cell neoplasm that can be clinically aggressive. Both genetic and epigenetic influences likely account for dissimilarities in these uncommon gonadal neoplasms.
Strong Potential for the Detection of Refrozen Ice Layers in Greenland's Firn by Airborne Radar Sounding

The formation of impermeable ice layers within Greenland's firn can significantly increase surface meltwater runoff by capping percolation, thus increasing the continent's immediate contributions to sea level rise. Detection of these layers by airborne radar sounding would permit large scale assessment of their spatial coverage and temporal evolution. We present an electromagnetic forward model for radar scattering in dry firn, as well as a statistical model of firn density profiles, which together allow us to robustly simulate airborne radar sounding measurements in the ice sheet near-surface. We use these models to simulate the response of the University of Kansas Accumulation Radar to refrozen ice layers thinner than the radar vertical resolution. Our results suggest that continuous ice layers are detectable as anomalously bright reflections within the firn, so long as the background density does not exceed 0.72 g/cm3. We find that approximately 81% of single ice layers thicker than 2 cm are detectable, as well as over 90% of all multi-layer configurations. This suggests that the Accumulation Radar is an effective tool for studying the spatial and temporal coverage of thin ice layers in Greenland's firn, but such a survey would likely still underestimate the total areal extent.
Clinical significance of quantitative e antigen in a cohort of hepatitis B virus-infected children and adults in North America.

BACKGROUND In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) viral infection, e antigen positivity (HBeAg+) is associated with high levels of viral replication and infectivity. Furthermore, HBeAg-positive CHB is associated with a liver disease spectrum ranging from none to severe. AIM To assess whether the level of circulating HBeAg is associated with different clinical presentations of HBeAg-positive CHB. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis was conducted among HBV mono-infected participants enrolled in Hepatitis B Research Network (HBRN) cohorts to explore clinical and virological associations with quantitative HBeAg (qHBeAg). RESULTS Among 763 HBeAg+ participants (56% female; 85% Asian; median age 26 years), multivariable median regression modelling significantly associated qHBeAg with liver injury (inverse qHBeAg association with ALT p<.001 and APRI p<.001), and with both race and age (p=0.01). Among Asians, qHBeAg was inversely related to age; a relationship less clear among Blacks and Whites. Among Asians also, median qHBeAg levels were higher among those infected with HBV genotype C versus B (p<0.001), suggesting causal virologic differences. Across all races, median qHBeAg was higher in women (p=.01). Independent of sex, age, race and HBV genotype, qHBeAg was higher in participants with predominant wild-type versus basal core promoter and/or precore 'stop' viral variants (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Lower qHBeAg was observed among HBRN participants with the greatest degree of liver injury independent of demographics and HBV genotype. These data support longitudinal studies to examine the role of qHBeAg in modulating the host immune response and predicting the outcomes of chronic HBV infection.
Patterns of Sex Work Client Solicitation Settings and Associations with HIV/STI Risk Among a Cohort of Female Sex Workers in Baltimore, Maryland

Female sex workers’ (FSWs) risk for HIV/STIs is influenced by their work environments. While previous research has characterized vulnerability in a single workplace, many FSWs solicit clients from multiple settings. Using latent class analysis (LCA), we examined client solicitation patterns and associated HIV/STI-related behaviors (consistent condom use with clients, asking clients about HIV/STIs, and past 6-month HIV/STI testing) among 385 FSWs in Baltimore, Maryland. The LCA yielded a three-class solution: predominantly street (61.2%), mixed street/venue (23.7%), and multisource (street, venue, and online) (15.1%). Consistent condom use differed significantly (p < 0.01) by class, with the mixed street/venue having the lowest (40.6%) rate and the multisource having the highest (70.6%). Classes differed on HIV/STI testing (p < 0.01), with the predominantly street class having the lowest testing rate (56.2%) and multisource with the highest (85.7%). These findings underscore the importance of considering how solicitation patterns are linked to HIV/STI susceptibility of FSWs and adapting interventions accordingly.
Consensus molecular subtype differences linking colon adenocarcinoma and obesity revealed by a cohort transcriptomic analysis

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and worldwide. Obesity - a worldwide public health concern - is a known risk factor for cancer including CRC. However, the mechanisms underlying the link between CRC and obesity have yet to be fully elucidated in part because of the molecular heterogeneity of CRC. We hypothesized that obesity modulates CRC in a consensus molecular subtype (CMS)-dependent manner. Methods RNA-seq data and associated tumor and patient characteristics including body weight and height data for 232 patients were obtained from The Cancer Genomic Atlas – Colon Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-COAD) database. Tumor samples were classified into the four CMSs with the CMScaller R package; Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. Results We observed a significant difference in CMS categorization between BMI categories. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between obese and overweight samples and normal samples differed across the CMSs, and associated prognostic analyses indicated that the DEGs had differing effects on survival. Using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, we found differences in Hallmark gene set enrichment between obese and overweight samples and normal samples across the CMSs. We constructed Protein-Protein Interaction networks and observed differences in obesity-regulated hub genes for each CMS. Finally, we analyzed and found differences in predicted drug sensitivity between obese and overweight samples and normal samples across the CMSs. Conclusions Thus, we conclude that obesity has CMS-specific effects on the CRC tumor transcriptome.
Extending Human Life: To What End?

The burgeoning field of regenerative medicine is poised to transform healthcare. Advances in genetics, stem-cell research, and cloning hint that we may be on the brink of a golden age of medical care, culminating in greatly extended longevity. These advances, however, are accompanied by a number of troubling and divisive religious, moral, and political issues. Although careful analysis and scrutiny are rightfully being devoted to resolving a wide range of discrete problems, the larger concern of toward what end regenerative medicine is taking us has received inadequate attention.
Bilateral intracranial electroencephalographic monitoring immediately following corpus callosotomy

Although many patients with medically refractory focal epilepsy are candidates for resective surgery, patients with multifocal epilepsy and symptomatic generalized epilepsy remain difficult to treat medically and surgically. Corpus callosotomy has been utilized since 1940 for the treatment of seizures, with reports of efficacy in multiple seizure types. Previous studies have demonstrated subsequent lateralization of bilateral/bisynchronous epileptiform activity following callosotomy. To investigate the efficacy of bilateral intracranial electroencephalographic studies immediately following corpus callosotomy, we retrospectively identified 26 patients who underwent corpus callosotomy at our center, 18 of whom had intracranial monitoring following corpus callosotomy. Five of the 18 had focal resections following intracranial electroencephalography (EEG). No patients were seizure free following callosotomy or resection. No differences in postoperative outcomes were seen between patients with intracranial EEG versus those without.
VITAMIN B-12 |[lpar]|Cb|[rpar]| AND FOLATE INTERRALATIONSHIP IN A CASE OF HOMOCYSTINURIA-MEPHYIMALONIC ACID|[lpar]|HC-MMA|[rpar]|-URIA DUE TO GENETIC CO-FACTOR DEFICIENCY

We observed the 9th known case of HC-MMAuria and the 4th with associated megalobloblastic anemia. Treatment accomplished for the first time recovery from biochemical and clinical manifestations in a 2 month old female. The response provided insights into the mechanism of the "folate trap" and the pathogenesis of symptoms. Prior to treatment, plasma folate and Cb were elevated. Oral folate (0.5 mg/d) was given for the first 2 weeks. Reticulocytes rose to 7.6; urine HC dropped from 3.01 to 1.44 uMol/mg Cr; but MMA did not change (5.70 mg/mg Cr). Subsequent treatment with (HO)Cb (1000 μg q.o.d.) over 3 months caused these changes: Hgb:7.2 to 12.8 g/dl; MCV:117 to 102; RBC 2.05 to 3.68 Mill; WBC:3200 to 8000, head growth from 0.20 to 0.42 cm/wk; but there was persistent HCuria (1.44-0.76 μMol/mg Cr), although MMAuria remained absent. Plasma methionine was low. Oral folate (2 mg/d) was therefore added. HC disappeared and head growth accelerated further to 0.5 cm/wk. Methionine supplements caused reappearance of HC (0.4 μMol/mg Cr). After oral betaine HC was minimal (0.10 μMol/mg Cr) and disappeared when folate was increased to 4mg/d. These observations speak against the existance of a biochemical folate trap, but do not rule out physical trapping of methyltetrahydrofolate due to Cb deficiency. Differences in the resolution of symptoms is attributable to differences in sensitivity of Cb requiring functions to the deficiency. Cb dependant folate transport into cells for demethylation appears to be most sensitive.
Evaluation of patients presenting with knee pain: Part II. Differential diagnosis

Knee pain is a common presenting complaint with many possible causes. An awareness of certain patterns can help the family physician identify the underlying cause more efficiently. Teenage girls and young women are more likely to have patellar tracking problems such as patellar subluxation and patellofemoral pain syndrome, whereas teenage boys and young men are more likely to have knee extensor mechanism problems such as tibial apophysitis (Osgood-Schlatter lesion) and patellar tendonitis. Referred pain resulting from hip joint pathology, such as slipped capital femoral epiphysis, also may cause knee pain. Active patients are more likely to have acute ligamentous sprains and overuse injuries such as pes anserine bursitis and medial plica syndrome. Trauma may result in acute ligamentous rupture or fracture, leading to acute knee joint swelling and hemarthrosis. Septic arthritis may develop in patients of any age, but crystal-induced inflammatory arthropathy is more likely in adults. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint is common in older adults.
Pharyngoesophageal (Zenker's) diverticulum: a reappraisal.

Abstract Manometric evaluation of pharyngeal contraction and upper esophageal sphincter relaxation was performed in a group of patients with Zenker's diverticulum using a specially designed low compliance manometric recording system. The results were compared with those in normal controls. In all cases, the upper esophageal sphincter showed complete relaxation during swallowing and no incoordination between pharyngeal contraction and upper esophageal sphincter relaxation could be demonstrated compared to time intervals found in the control group. Resting upper esophageal sphincter pressures were significantly lower in diverticulum patients than in controls. It is concluded that symptomatic patients with Zenker's diverticulum have normal pharyngeal-upper esophageal sphincter coordination, exhibit complete upper esophageal sphincter relaxation on swallowing, and have low resting upper esophageal sphincter pressures. These results seriously question the previous concept of abnormalities of pharyngeal-upper esophageal sphincter coordination in patients with Zenker's diverticulum.
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) is Division 14 of the American Psychological Association (APA) and an organizational affiliate of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). The mission of SIOP is “to enhance human well-being and performance in organizational and work settings by promoting the science, practice, and teaching of industrial-organizational psychology” (http://www.siop.org/siophoshin.aspx). Industrial organizational psychology (IO) applies psychological principles to the development of strategies that build better organizations that contribute to the health and well-being of both individual employees and the organizations for which they work. Keywords: industrial psychology; organizational psychology; personnel; psychology organization; work environment
Growth of Staphylococcus aureus MF 31 on the Top and Cut Surfaces of Southern Custard Pies

A Staphylococcus strain was inoculated on the top and cut surfaces of freshly baked Southern custard pies which were then packaged in a pasteboard carton and held at 30 C. Daily plate counts of surface sections 0.3 inch (0.76 cm) in thickness were made. The top surface inoculum showed a 24-hr lag time. This was due to the protective action of a top cakelike layer as shown by homogenization of the mix and coating of the surface. Substitution of all sweeteners with dextrose completely inhibited growth on the top surface. Further addition of dextrose to lower water activity (Aw) to 0.9 prevented growth on the cut surface as well, but such pies were organoleptically unacceptable. Growth on the top surface could also be prevented by 80 mug of undissociated sorbic acid per g in combination with 100 mug of undissociated propionic acid per g in the baked pie. Growth on the cakelike top surface was always retarded longer than on the cut surface provided the packaging allowed evaporation of surface moisture. Reducing the Aw of a different type of cream pie to 0.907 prevented top surface growth. It was concluded that baked cream pies with a cakelike top layer could be marketed with a "refrigerate after opening" label, provided the package maintains the moisture gradient caused by the surface skin and either a combination of 80 mug of undissociated sorbic acid per g and 100 mug undissociated propionic acid per g is present in the baked pie or the Aw of the baked pie is 0.920 or lower.
Identification of micro RNA biomarkers for cancer by combining multiple feature selection techniques

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers for cancer. The aim of this study was to see if an ensemble technique would identify novel cancer biomarkers from miRNA datasets, in addition to those already known. We applied an ensemble technique to three published miRNA cancer datasets (liver, breast, and brain). In addition to confirming many known biomarkers, the main contribution of this study is that seven miRNAs have been newly identified by our ensemble methodology as possible important biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma or breast cancer, pending wet lab confirmation. These biomarkers were identified from miRNA expression datasets by combining multiple feature selection techniques (i.e., creating an ensemble), and then classified by different learners. Generally speaking, creating a subset of features by selecting only the highest ranking features (miRNAs) improved upon results generated when using all the miRNAs, and the ensemble approach outperformed individual feature selection methods.
Microelectrode technologies for neuroengineered systems

Many neuroengineered systems, such as neural recording and neural stimulation devices, make use of microelectrodes to establish direct neural-electronic interfaces. The design of microelectrodes used in neural-electronic interfaces varies considerably from application to application in order to meet a wide range of different performance specifications (electrical, mechanical, chemical, biological, thermal, magnetic, and optical). Desirable characteristics of chronically implanted devices used to record activity in the cortex include stable high-impedance electrodes, high electrode count, and 3-D electrode arrangement. Desirable characteristics of chronically implanted prosthetic devices used to stimulate activity in the retina or auditory nerve include low-impedance electrodes, high electrode density, 1-D or 2-D electrode arrangement, flexible substrate, and long electrode lifetime. Microelectrodes can also be used to quantify the concentration of specific chemicals if properly prepared with ion-selective thin-film coatings. A variety of microelectrode applications, technologies, and performance specifications will be compared and discussed.
Radiation-Induced Instability of MnS Precipitates and its Possible Consequences on Irradiation-Induced Stress Corrosion Cracking of Austenitic Stainless Steels

Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is a significant materials issue for the light water reactor (LWR) industry and may also pose a problem for fusion power reactors that will use water as coolant. A new metallurgical process is proposed that involves the radiation-induced release into solution of minor impurity elements not usually thought to participate in IASCC. MnS-type precipitates, which contain most of the sulfur in stainless steels, are thought to be unstable under irradiation. First, Mn transmutes strongly to Fe in thermalized neutron spectra. Second, cascade-induced disordering and the inverse Kirkendall effect operating at the incoherent interfaces of MnS precipitates are thought to act as a pump to export Mn from the precipitate into the alloy matrix. Both of these processes will most likely allow sulfur, which is known to exert a deleterious influence on intergranular cracking, to re-enter the matrix. To test this hypothesis, compositions of MnS-type precipitates contained in several unirradiated and irradiated heats of Type 304, 316, and 348 stainless steels (SSs) were analyzed by Auger electron spectroscopy. Evidence is presented that shows a progressive compositional modification of MnS precipitates as exposure to neutrons increases in boiling water reactors. As the fluence increases, the Mn level in MnS decreases, whereas the Fe level increases. The S level also decreases relative to the combined level of Mn and Fe. MnS precipitates were also found to be a reservoir of other deleterious impurities such as F and O which could be also released due to radiation-induced instability of the precipitates.
Organizational and Individual Determinants of Evidence Use by Managers in Public Human Service Organizations

Promoting the use of evidence by managers is a strategy for enhancing effectiveness in human service organizations, and for responding to the demands of performance management. This study addresses two multipart questions. First, what levels of managerial evidence use exist in public human service organizations and for what purposes is this evidence used? Second, what organizational factors and individual attitudinal characteristics are associated with different levels of evidence use? Based on survey data from a sample of administrators, middle managers, and supervisors in 11 county public human service organizations located in the San Francisco Bay Area, we find that managers are engaged in evidence use at moderate levels. They are most engaged in reviewing agency reports, searching for research literature and other evidence, and using online resources to identify promising practices. Evidence use is found to be positively associated with having access to performance measurement systems, being an admini...
Tools For Constructing Knowledge-Based Systems

The original expert systems for the most part were handcrafted directly, using various dialects of the LISP programming language. The inference and knowledge representation components of these systems can be separated from the domain-specific portion of the expert system and can be used again for an entirely different task. Some of these tools, generically called shells, are discussed. Although these shells provide help in building knowledge-based systems, considerable skill in artificial intelligence programming is still necessary to create an expert system that accomplishes a nontrivial task.
High-Intensity Deuteron Linear Accelerator (FMIT)

For fusion reactors to become operational, one of the many problems to be solved is to find materials able to withstand the intense bombardment of 14-MeV neutrons released by the fusion process. The development of alloys less likely to become damaged by this neutron bombardment will require years of work, making it desirable to begin studies in parallel with other aspects of fusion power generators. The Fusion Materials Irradiation Test (FMIT) Facility, to be built at the Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory (HEDL), Richland, Washington, will provide a high neutron flux and a neutron energy spectrum representative of fusion reactor conditions in volumes adequate to screen and qualify samples of candidate fusion reactor materials. FMIT's design goal is to provide an irradiation test volume of 10 cm3 at a neutron flux of 1015 n/cm2-s, and 500 cm3 at a flux of 1014 n/cm2-s. This will not allow testing of actual components, but samples in the most intense flux region can be subjected to accelerated life testing, accumulating in one year the total number of neutrons seen by a fusion reactor in 10-20 years of operation. To produce the neutrons, a 100-mA, 35-MeV deuteron beam will be directed onto a 2-cm-thick, 600-gpm curtain of liquid lithium metal, which strips the deuterons and allows the remaining neutrons to continue on to the test samples. The deuterons will be produced by the largest component of the facility, a high-intensity, continuously operating linear accelerator (Linac).
Endothelin and platelet-activating factor: significance in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion-induced fetal growth restriction in the rat.

Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of endothelin-1 and platelet-activating factor in ischemia/reperfusion-induced fetal growth restriction in the rat. Study design On day 17 of gestation, the right uterine and ovarian arteries were occluded for 30 minutes in experimental but not sham-operated rats. All rats received endothelin receptor A antagonist, A-127722 (10 mg/kg per day), platelet-activating factor antagonist, WEB-2086 (1 mg/kg), or vehicle. On gestational day 21, litter size, fetal viability, and fetal and placental weights were recorded. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction for phospholipase A 2 -IIA and preproendothelin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid was performed on uterus and placentas from each uterine horn. Groups were compared statistically by analysis of variance. Results Ischemia/reperfusion reduced fetal weights, in both the ischemic horn and the nonischemic horn ( P 2 -IIA and preproendothelin-1 messenger ribonucleic acid expression did not differ between right and left uterine horns in any group. Uterine and placental tissues in the ischemia/reperfusion group exhibited increased phospholipase A 2 -IIA ( P Conclusion Endothelin-1 and platelet-activating factor are both important mediators in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion-induced fetal growth restriction in the rat, contributing to the fetal growth restriction observed in both the ischemic and nonischemic horns. Antagonism of either mediator produces normal fetal growth in this model of fetal growth restriction.
Trends in sunscreen use among U.S. high school students: 1999-2009.

Abstract Purpose To examine trends in sunscreen use during 1999–2009 among U.S. high school students. Methods Data from the 1999–2009 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were analyzed. The surveys used a three-stage cluster sample design to produce nationally representative samples of students in grades 9–12 attending public and private schools. Student participation in the survey was anonymous and voluntary. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire during a regular class period. The overall response rates ranged from 63% to 72%. Results During 1999–2009, the percentage of white students who never or rarely wore sunscreen when outside on a sunny day for >1 hour increased (from 57.5% to 69.4%), as did the percentage among Hispanic students (from 71.6% to 77.9%). This increase was most pronounced among white female students. The percentage of white and Hispanic students who most of the time or always wore sunscreen decreased during this same period. Rates of sunscreen use did not change among black students. Conclusions Because of declines in sunscreen use, professionals in clinical, school, and community settings should emphasize the important role sunscreen may play in preventing skin cancer.
CWA-solutions for data exchange settings with target dependencies

Data exchange deals with the following problem: given an instance over a source schema, a specification of the relationship between the source and the target,and dependencies on the target, construct an instance over a target schema that satisfies the given relationships and dependencies. Recently - for data exchange settings without target dependencies - Libkin (PODS'06) introduced a new concept of solutions based on the closed world assumption (so calledCWA-solutions), and showed that, in some respects, this new notion behaves better than the standard notion of solutions considered in previous papers on data exchange. The present paper extends Libkin's notion of CWA-solutions to data exchange settings with target dependencies. We show that, when restricting attention to data exchange settings with weakly acyclic target dependencies, this new notion behaves similarly as before: the core is the unique "minimal" CWA-solution, and computing CWA-solutions as well as certain answers to positive queries is possible in polynomial time and can be PTIME-hard. However, there may be more than one "maximal" CWA-solution. And going beyond the class of positive queries, we obtain that there are conjunctive queries with (just) one inequality, for which evaluating the certain answers is coNP-hard. Finally, we consider the EXISTENCE-OF-CWA-SOLUTIONS problem: while the problem is tractable for data exchange settings with weakly acyclic target dependencies, it turns out to be undecidable for general data exchange settings. As a consequence, we obtain that also the EXISTENCE-OF-UNIVERSAL-SOLUTIONS problem is undecidable in genera.
Calculation of Ku- and C-band polarimetric azimuthal dependences of radar backscattering from sea surfaces

Existing airborne and satellite polarimetric radar data at Ku- and C-band show sensitivity of radar signals with various polarizations to anisotropy of the wind-driven ocean waves. The results of such experiments reveal different symmetry properties of the co-polarized backscattering coefficients compared to the correlation coefficients between co-and cross-polarized scattering signals. Usually, comparisons are made with the composite (two-scale) model predictions in order to explain these differences. There is a qualitative agreement between the composite model predictions and the measured polarized backscattering cross sections and corresponding correlations. However, significant quantitative differences remain between the theoretical predictions and experimental data.
Achieved Reading Level, Self-Esteem, and Grades as Related to Length of Exposure to Bilingual Education.

A quasi-experimental design was used to compare two groups of Mexican American seventh-grade students enrolled in a tra ditional junior high school where all subjects of the curriculum were present...
Crystal structure of NaeI—an evolutionary bridge between DNA endonuclease and topoisomerase

NaeI is transformed from DNA endonuclease to DNA topoisomerase and recombinase by a single amino acid substitution. The crystal structure of NaeI was solved at 2.3 Å resolution and shows that NaeI is a dimeric molecule with two domains per monomer. Each domain contains one potential DNA recognition motif corresponding to either endonuclease or topoisomerase activity. The N-terminal domain core folds like the other type II restriction endonucleases as well as λ-exonuclease and the DNA repair enzymes MutH and Vsr, implying a common evolutionary origin and catalytic mechanism. The C-terminal domain contains a catabolite activator protein (CAP) motif present in many DNA-binding proteins, including the type IA and type II topoisomerases. Thus, the NaeI structure implies that DNA processing enzymes evolved from a few common ancestors. NaeI may be an evolutionary bridge between endonuclease and DNA processing enzymes.
Novel Microtechnology System for Cytometric Analysis of Adherent Cell Populations

The increasing appreciation of tissue cellular heterogeneity and recent identification of rare cell populations within tissues that are associated with specific biological behaviors, e.g., progenitor cells, has illuminated a limitation of current technologies to study such adherent cells directly from primary tissues. The micropallet array is a recently-developed technology designed to address this limitation by virtue of its capacity to isolate and recover single adherent cells on individual micropallets [1]. Micropallet arrays consist of hundreds of thousands of microscale polymer pedestals (“micropallets”) uniformly arrayed on a glass microscope slide. The micropallets are made from a high aspect photopolymerizable polymer using photolithographic methods. Cells are applied to the arrays and fall stochastically upon its surface, with single cells adhering to individual micropallets. Cells are then analyzed in situ and single, unperturbed cells can be selected and collected from the array by releasing the underlying micropallets using a focused pulsed laser.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Protein Kinases Linked to the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease

Two papers in this issue of Neuron identify a causative gene, LRRK2, for familial parkinsonism. Several dominantly inherited missense mutations have been identified in a number of families that exhibit a broad spectrum of neuropathological features, including deposition of alpha-synuclein and tau proteins. The LRRK2 gene is predicted to encode a large protein containing leucine-rich repeats and Ras/GTPase, tyrosine kinase-like, and WD40 domains.
Factors that affect social cue recognition in schizophrenia.

Abstract Earlier research (Corrigan and Green, Am. J. Psychiatry, 150 (1993) 589–594) showed fairly symptomatic persons with schizophrenia give more false-positive responses when answering questions about abstract cues in a social situation (i.e. affect, rules, and goals inferred about an interpersonal situation) than concrete cues (i.e. actions and dialogue observed in a situation). It is unclear, however, whether differential cue recognition is due to schizophrenia per se, or some aspect of the illness commensurate with significant symptoms and in-patient care. Moreover, the abstract and concrete dimension in the earlier study had not been independently validated. In this study, the 288 items of the Social Cue Recognition Test (SCRT) were divided into three sets based on abstraction ratings provided by 38 college students. The SCRT was then completed by 48 participants with DSM-III-R diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Participants with schizophrenia were divided into low and high symptom groups using scores from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Results showed both low symptom and high symptom groups exhibited a differential deficit in cue recognition. False positives were greater for items rated as more abstract. Implications for understanding the social cognitive deficits of persons with schizophrenia are discussed.
Blocking the gate to ligand entry in human hemoglobin.

His(E7) to Trp replacements in HbA lead to markedly biphasic bimolecular CO rebinding after laser photolysis. For isolated mutant subunits, the fraction of fast phase increases with increasing [CO], suggesting a competition between binding to an open conformation with an empty E7 channel and relaxation to blocked or closed, slowly reacting states. The rate of conformational relaxation of the open state is ∼18,000 s−1 in α subunits and ∼10-fold faster in β subunits, ∼175,000 s−1. Crystal structures were determined for tetrameric α(WT)β(Trp-63) HbCO, α(Trp-58)β(WT) deoxyHb, and Trp-64 deoxy- and CO-Mb as controls. In Trp-63(E7) βCO, the indole side chain is located in the solvent interface, blocking entry into the E7 channel. Similar blocked Trp-64(E7) conformations are observed in the mutant Mb crystal structures. In Trp-58(E7) deoxy-α subunits, the indole side chain fills both the channel and the distal pocket, forming a completely closed state. The bimolecular rate constant for CO binding, k′CO, to the open conformations of both mutant Hb subunits is ∼80–90 μm−1 s−1, whereas k′CO for the completely closed states is 1000-fold slower, ∼0.08 μm−1 s−1. A transient intermediate with k′CO ≈ 0.7 μm−1 s−1 is observed after photolysis of Trp-63(E7) βCO subunits and indicates that the indole ring blocks the entrance to the E7 channel, as observed in the crystal structures of Trp(E7) deoxyMb and βCO subunits. Thus, either blocking or completely filling the E7 channel dramatically slows bimolecular binding, providing strong evidence that the E7 channel is the major pathway (≥90%) for ligand entry in human hemoglobin.
Transactional framework of sharecropping: empirical evidence

Abstract Chew [Chew, Tek-Ann, 1991. Share contracts in Malaysian rubber smallholdings. Land Econ., 67: 85–98; Chew, Tek-Ann, 1993. The Transactional framework of sharecropping: further implications. Can. J. Agric. Econ., 41: 209–221.] proposed a transactional framework of sharecropping that accommodates both the Marshallian and the Cheungian equilibria. An important conclusion arising thereof is the hypothesis that Cheung's sharecropping equilibrium is the rarity while the Marshallian equilibrium is the norm. In this paper, we collated some recent evidences to verify this hypothesis. The evidences support the Marshallian equilibrium, thereby providing indirect support for the transactional framework of sharecropping.
Chromatographic separation of ribonucleases in corn.

Abstract Two RNAases have been isolated from corn seedlings by chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose. RNAase A, secreted from the scutella and found in root supernatant solutions, is eluted by pH-6.0 buffer. RNAase B is eluted by pH-8.0 buffer. RNAase B is adsorbed onto mitochondria, but may be removed by 0.5 M KCl. RNAase A has a pH optimum at 5.0 and RNAase B at 6.2. Both RNAases are stimulated by KCl at their optimum pH. RNAase A is stimulated by MgCl 2 at pH 5.0 and inhibited at pH 5.8, whereas RNAase B is stimulated at pH 5.8. A third RNAase, similar to RNAase A in chromatographic behavior and to RNAase B in pH optimum, was isolated, but it may be an artifact of isolation. It is suggested that the RNAases have different functions.
An Analysis of Content and Instructional Strategies in Multicultural Counseling Courses

The authors present a content analysis of syllabi from introductory multicultural counseling training (MCT) courses. Results suggest that these courses focus on knowledge of other cultural groups, emphasize the cultural identity exploration of the student at a lower level of training, and almost completely ignore the development of skills. The study revealed that MCT frequently includes groups beyond racial and ethnic minority groups. A broad range of instructional strategies are used, with a handful being used on a frequent basis. Los autores presentan un analisis del contenido de planes de estudios empleados en cursos introductorios de formacion en consejeria multicultural (MCT, por sus siglas en ingles). Los resultados sugieren que estos cursos se centran en el conocimiento de otros grupos culturales, enfatizan la exploracion de la identidad cultural del alumno en los niveles iniciales de su formacion e ignoran casi por completo el desarrollo de habilidades. El estudio revelo que la MCT incluye con frecuencia grupos aparte de las minorias raciales y etnicas. Se utiliza una amplia gama de estrategias didacticas, un punado de las cuales se emplea frecuentemente.
Death Concern and Religious Beliefs among Gays and Bisexuals of Variable Proximity to Aids

In view of the high mortality rates associated with a diagnosis of AIDS, we investigated gay and bisexual (G/B) men's levels of death fear and threat and their relation to religiosity. Participants were grouped into three categories: forty-three who were seropositive for HIV (the HIV+ group), sixty-eight who were seronegative but who were involved as volunteers or professionals in AIDS hospices, wards or organizations (the AIDS-involved group), and fifty-five who had no direct involvement in AIDS other than their risk group membership (the uninvolved group). We found that 1) the HIV+ group reported greater fear of premature death, 2) the AIDS involved group demonstrated significantly lower levels of death concern than the other two groups, and 3) both the involved and HIV+ groups reported higher levels of religious belief than the uninvolved group of G/B men. Finally, intrinsic religious orientation was negatively related to both overall death threat as measured by the Threat Index and fears specific to t...
Force-free magnetic fields and flares of August 1972

On the basis of observations (Zirin and Tanaka, 1973) inferring the presence of shear in magnetic fields, the amount of extractable energy stored in a class of force-free magnetic fields is evaluated for the flares of August 1972, using the formulations developed by Nakagawa and Raadu (1972). It is shown that the evaluated energy storage could be built up by the proper motions of sunspots in the active region McMath 11976 during July 31 and August 7. Then for the flare of August 7, a detailed analysis is made of the manner of energy release in the post maximum phases deduced from the configuration of flare loops. It is shown that the observed flare loops could be represented closely by the force-free magnetic fields and that the evaluated rate of energy release is consistent with observed rate given by the soft X-ray emission. The results of analysis suggest that the flare of August 1972 could be identified with the relaxation of an energetic force-free magnetic field towards lower energy states. The limitations and possible future extension of this type of analysis are discussed.
Elastic supports for rotating machinery

NOISES ORIGINATING from electrical machinery are of two general types, namely, direct air noise, and noise transmitted through the machine foundations to the framework of the enclosing structure. (A. L. Kimball, Journal of the Acoustical Society, Vol. 2, No. 2, Oct. 1930, pp. 297–304.) Disturbances of the latter type often may be reduced by a properly designed elastic support between the machine and building.
Iconic indexing and maintenance of spatial relationships in image databases

In this paper we model each 2D image as a generalized extended pseudo-symbolic picture based on the absolute spatial relationships in the image. Each generalized extended pseudo-symbolic picture can then be represented by a GEP-2D string. We combine GEP-2D strings and usual 2D strings into generalized combined 2D strings to represent 2D images in order to capture both the absolute and relative spatial relationships in the image. Then we address how to maintain the complete information about the absolute spatial relationships in the image. Picture retrieval by generalized combined 2D strings is discussed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
RELATION OF RHEUMATIC-LIKE CARDIAC LESIONS OF THE MOUSE TO LOCALIZATION OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL CELL WALLS

Mice injected intraperitoneally with isolated cell wall fragments of Group A streptococci develop a carditis similar to that previously observed in mice injected with crude extracts of this organism. Neither the soluble cytoplasmic components of Group A streptococcal cells nor the nonfragmented cell walls produced carditis in this experimental model. Fluorescein and 125I-labeled antibodies specific for Group A streptococcal cell wall antigens were used to demonstrate that, for 5 wk after injection, cell wall material is localized around the sites of active lesions in the heart. In addition, the cell wall antigen accumulates in the liver, spleen, mediastinal lymph nodes, and the adjacent loose connective tissue, where it persists for at least 10 wk.
Sensing of damage in carbon nanotubes and carbon black‐embedded epoxy under tensile loading

In situ sensing of damage in epoxy embedded separately with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon black (CB) microparticles is investigated under quasi-static uniaxial tensile loading. Three different weight fractions of CNTs (0.1, 0.3%, and 0.5%) and one-weight fraction of CB (10%) are used to generate a conductive network in epoxy. A modified four circumferential ring probes technique is employed and a constant current was applied through the outer probes. The resulting voltage drop between the inner probes is measured using a high-resolution electrometer-based system to determine the resistance change associated with nonlinear deformation, damage initiation, and growth in the material. As the generated conductive network is different with changing weight fractions of CNTs, the resulting electrical response was identified to be significantly different between composites. The nonlinear deformation associated with the unfolding of entangled polymer chains and further straightening of them, decreased the distance between neighboring CNTs, resulting in improved electron hopping. For CB-embedded epoxy, a very high percentage increase in resistance is noticed when compared to CNTs case owing to induced microcracks associated with agglomerated CB particles. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers