cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hospitalizations of infants and young children with Down syndrome: evidence from inpatient person-records from a statewide administrative database

Background Although individuals with Down syndrome are increasingly living into the adult years, infants and young children with the syndrome continue to be at increased risk for health problems. Using linked, statewide administrative hospital discharge records of all infants with Down syndrome born over a 3-year period, this study ‘follows forward’ over 200 infants with Down syndrome from each individual's birth until they turn 3 years of age. By utilizing this procedure, we were able to assess the amount, reasons for, and timing of inpatient hospitalization and to investigate how congenital heart defects (CHDs) relate to hospitalization for young children with Down syndrome. Method This population-based, retrospective study used statewide administrative hospital discharge data. Subject inclusion criteria included residents of Tennessee, born between 1997 and 1999, and diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. Inpatient records were linked to create person-record histories of hospitalization from birth to age 3. Main outcomes included the number of Non-birth Hospitalizations, length of stay, principal and other diagnosis codes to indicate reason(s) for hospitalization, and patient's age at first (non-birth) hospitalization. Procedure codes were added to determine if children with CHD were hospitalized primarily for operations on the heart. Results Of 217 births, 213 children survived birth; 54% (115) had CHDs. Almost half (49.8%) of all children were hospitalized before age 3; these 106 children were admitted 245 times. Children with CHDs were 2.31 times more likely to be hospitalized than children without CHDs. Respiratory illnesses affected 64.9% of all hospitalized children with CHD, were the principal diagnoses in 38.3% of their hospitalizations, and were the main principal diagnoses for non-CHD children. Thirty-three (of 77) hospitalized children with CHD underwent cardiac surgeries, accounting for 19.3% of all admissions. Median time to first hospitalization was 96 days (CI: 78–114) for CHD infants, 197 days (CI: 46–347) for non-CHD infants. Conclusions Children with Down syndrome are at high risk for early hospitalization. Prevention and treatment of respiratory illnesses require more attention. Down syndrome is associated with early, serious, physical health problems and substantial inpatient care use.
T‐cell lymphocytosis associated with lymphocyte‐rich thymoma

BACKGROUND Peripheral T-cell lymphocytosis is found on very rare occasions in patients with thymomas. The immunophenotypic features and clonality of the lymphocytes in tumor and peripheral blood now are elucidating this enigmatic phenomenon. METHODS The author presents what is believed to be the seventh case of peripheral T-cell lymphocytosis associated with thymoma and reviews the previous six cases. The pathology slides of the thymoma were reviewed with a pathologist who confirmed the presence of neoplastic thymic epithelium with cytokeratin stains. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry was performed at Dianon Systems, Inc., on both the thymoma cells and cells in the peripheral blood. In addition, gene rearrangement analysis was performed on the peripheral lymphocytes using the previously described Southern blot analysis technique with immunoglobulin probes (heavy chain, kappa light chain, and lambda light chain) and T-cell receptor gene probes (beta and gamma chains). RESULTS Analyses of the T cells within the thymoma and the peripheral blood confirm that the peripheral T cells are both polyclonal and more mature than those populating the thymoma. Clearly the peripheral T cells are not themselves neoplastic, and yet they represent more than physical "spillover" of the immature tumor-related T cells. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral T-cell lymphocytosis occurs rarely with locally aggressive, lymphocytic thymomas. Although it is clear that these cells are not neoplastic, as they are in other T-cell proliferative disorders, the etiology of this unusual phenomenon remains obscure and may reflect the perturbation of systemic immunoregulation that accompanies thymic neoplasia. It is important to differentiate this condition from T-cell lymphomas or leukemia to treat affected patients appropriately. Cancer 1997; 80:1409-17. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
International Norms and Women’s Rights in Turkey and Japan

In 1985, the final year of the UN Decade for Women, 20 countries ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In this article we examine the decisions of two non-Western states to ratify the convention as part of this flood of ratification: Japan and Turkey. We find empirical support for the main hypotheses advanced in the literature on norm cascades in international relations, but we also find important evidence that suggests scholars must be sensitive to context in determining which states are “critical” in helping bring about norm cascades.
Education Tax Credits in a Post-Zelman Era Legal, Political, and Policy Alternatives to Vouchers?

This article examines an emerging preference for education tax credit programs in a post-Zelman era. First, the authors detail the origin of tax credits and the types of existing plans. Second, they review the assumptions underlying the supposed advantages that may favor tax credits as a feasible alternative to vouchers. Third, they analyze legal, political, and policy implications of this form of school choice. They review evidence from recent research on tax credit programs and analyze new evidence collected for this article on the Minnesota Tax Credits and Deduction Program. They posit that although education tax credit plans may be more widely accepted than education vouchers, substantial obstacles may still restrict their implementation.
Spatial and temporal analysis of a global landslide catalog

Abstract Landslide inventories are critical to support investigations of where and when landslides have happened and may occur in the future; however, there is surprisingly little information on the historical occurrence of landslides at the global scale. This paper presents a new publicly available global landslide catalog (GLC), which is based on media reports, online databases, and other sources. This database is currently available at http://ojo-streamer.herokuapp.com/ . The 5741 points in the GLC provide a foundation for evaluating spatial and temporal trends in landslide activity from 2007 to 2013. Globally, landslides were reported most frequently from July to September. Most events occurred in Asia, North America and Southeast Asia. In contrast, fewer than 5% of the fatalities were reported in North America, suggesting a significant amount of under-reporting in other regions as well as potential discrepancies between developing and developed regions. Reported landslide events were also compared to satellite-based precipitation estimates from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) to evaluate the co-occurrence of extreme precipitation and landslide activity. Of the 3550 points considered in a subset of the GLC, approximately 60% of the reported landslides have daily precipitation exceeding the 95th percentile of precipitation calculated over a 14-year TRMM record for the same location. This study also investigated how the recurrence interval of extreme precipitation corresponded to some of the most catastrophic landslide events. In spite of several reporting and cataloging biases, spatial and temporal analysis of the GLC suggests that it is a valuable database for characterizing global patterns of landslide occurrence and evaluating relationships with extreme precipitation at regional and global scales.
Maternal nutrition knowledge versus schooling as determinants of child micronutrient status

This study considers the demand for child micronutrient status (represented by hemoglobin concentration). A central focus concerns the distinct roles of maternal schooling versus maternal nutrition knowledge as determinants of micronutrient status. Applying both parametric and non-parametric techniques to Indonesian household data, the study finds that critical determinants include: child gender and age, household expenditure levels, access to water, and maternal nutrition knowledge. Maternal schooling contributes to child micronutrient directly, but also through its effects on nutrition knowledge and household expenditures. Maternal nutrition knowledge substitutes for schooling, particularly at lower levels of income and schooling. Copyright 2007 , Oxford University Press.
Complex Noun Phrases and Linkers

Abstract. Complex noun phrases crosslinguistically contain meaningless elements whose sole function is to serve as linkers of predicates to their subjects—thus, Mandarin Chinese de links inverted AP predicates to their subjects as well as possessors, PPs, relative clauses, and noun-complement clauses (e.g., the claim that John was asleep). Taking a comparative analysis of French de and Thai thii as its point of departure, this paper argues for a maximally generalized account of the noun phrases in which linkers occur, in terms of DP-internal Predicate Inversion. This approach prompts an analysis of relative-clause constructions that recognizes relative clauses as predicates of DP-internal small clauses, combining the attractions of the traditional approach and the Vergnaud/Kayne raising approach by assigning relative clauses an internal structure similar to the traditional one while giving it the external distribution of a predicate by treating it as the predicate of a noun-phrase-internal small clause. For noun-complement clauses, the approach leads to a revitalization of Stowell's (1981) predication approach to the relationship between the head noun and the clause, the latter serving as the former's subject in a DP-contained small-clause structure. A uniform linker approach to French de, Thai thii, Mandarin Chinese de, Japanese no, and so on (a) emphasizes the pervasiveness of Predicate Inversion in the noun phrase, (b) confirms the role of linkers as purely functional aides to the inversion operation, (c) furthers our understanding of the structure and derivation of complex noun phrases, and (d) presents a particularly interesting window on microparametric variation in the syntax of noun phrases.
Protease inhibitor TPCK represses Ha-ras (Val12) transformation and nuclear factor-kappa B activation

Certain chymotrypsin-like protease inhibitors such as TPCK exhibit a well described anti-tumorigenic activity by an as yet undescribed mechanism. One potential cellular target for TPCK in transformed cells is the ms-inducible NF-kappa B family of transcription factors. We therefore used TPCK to examine the physiologic role of NF-kappa B during Ha-ras induced transformation, independent of another major downstream effector of Ha-ras, AP-1. Using a conditionally transformed NIH3T3 cell line, we found that TPCK (but not the control inhibitor TLME) inhibited the anchorage-independent growth of Ha-ras transformed cells, but not their anchorage-dependent growth on plastic tissue culture dishes. Likewise, TPCK reduced the ability of Ha-ras to stimulate DNA synthesis in growth factor depleted cells, but not the ability of serum to stimulate DNA synthesis in the same growth factor depleted cells. Gel shift analysis and reporter gene expression indicated that TPCK blocked Ha-ras-induced NF-kappa B activity, while only having minimal effects on Ha-ras-induced AP-1 activity. TPCK is therefore able to Inhibit the Ha-ras transformed phenotype of cells by inhibiting the transcriptional activity of NF-kappa B, while having little effect upon transcriptional activity of AP-1.
The Role of c-KIT in Tumorigenesis: Evaluation in Canine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors

The c-KIT proto-oncogene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neoplastic diseases, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors and mastocytosis in humans, and mast cell tumors (MCTs) in canines. Cutaneous MCTs are common neoplasms in dogs and have a variable biologic behavior. The goal of this study was to define the prognostic significance of c-KIT mutations identified in canine MCTs and the associations between c-KIT mutations, KIT localization, and KIT expression levels. Microdissection and polymerase chain reaction were performed on 60 MCTs to identify c-KIT mutations. Anti-KIT antibodies were used for immunohistochemical evaluation of KIT localization. Forty-two MCTs were included in a tissue microarray, and KIT expression was quantified using immunofluorescence. Canine MCTs with c-KIT mutations were significantly associated with an increased incidence of recurrent disease and death. c-KIT mutations were also significantly associated with aberrant protein localization; however, the level of KIT expression did not correlate with either c-KIT mutations or changes in protein localization. Considering the high prevalence of canine MCTs and the central role of c-KIT in the tumorigenesis of certain tumors, canine MCTs are an excellent model for characterizing the role of c-KIT in neoplastic diseases and is a potential target for novel therapeutic agents in clinical trials.
Elevated gray and white matter densities in cocaine abstainers compared to current users.

Rationale Numerous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated lower neural tissue density in chronic cocaine users, which may be linked to cognitive dysfunction.
Ordinal data AHP analysis: A proposed coefficient of consistency and a nonparametric test

Virtually all AHP studies reported in the literature entail paired comparison ratio judgments from respondents. This paper considers situations where respondents can only supply ordinal judgments with reliability and validity. Results of the paper can also be applied to ratio scaled paired comparison matrices to test for ordinal response inconsistencies. The paper introduces an ordinal Coefficient of Consistence and a nonparametric test of paired comparison response circular triads (inconsistencies).
A martingale approach for testing diffusion models based on infinitesimal operator

Abstract I develop an omnibus specification test for diffusion models based on the infinitesimal operator. The infinitesimal operator based identification of the diffusion process is equivalent to a “martingale hypothesis” for the processes obtained by a transformation of the original diffusion model. My test procedure is then constructed by checking the “martingale hypothesis” via a multivariate generalized spectral derivative based approach that delivers a N ( 0 , 1 ) asymptotical null distribution for the test statistic. The infinitesimal operator of the diffusion process is a closed-form function of drift and diffusion terms. Consequently, my test procedure covers both univariate and multivariate diffusion models in a unified framework and is particularly convenient for the multivariate case. Moreover, different transformed martingale processes contain separate information about the drift and diffusion specifications. This motivates me to propose a separate inferential test procedure to explore the sources of rejection when a parametric form is rejected. Simulation studies show that the proposed tests have reasonable size and excellent power performance. An empirical application of my test procedure using Eurodollar interest rates finds that most popular short-rate models are rejected and the drift misspecification plays an important role in such rejections.
Recent developments in wood machining processes: Novel cutting techniques

Three new approaches to kerfless wood cutting are evaluated: (1) vibrating cutters; (2) high-velocity liquid jet; and (3) laser beam. Their origin and recent developments are discussed in detail, based on the current research findings. Particular emphasis is placed on the possibilities for industrial application of these techniques. From this evaluation it is apparent that the high-velocity liquid jet and laser beam offer great potential in secondary manufacture, in particular for cutting of intricate contours and complex computer-controlled operations. Kerfless cutting with vibrating cutters cannot be objectively evaluated at present because of lack of sufficient theoretical and experimental work.
Temporomandibular disorders. Part II: Occlusal factors associated with temporomandibular joint tenderness and dysfunction.

Two complete classes of freshman dental and dental hygiene students, 120 men and 102 women (mean age 23.9 years) were assessed for the presence of masticatory pain or dysfunction by questionnaire, clinical examination, and evaluation of dental casts according to strict criteria. The purpose was to identify the degree of association between observable signs of TMJ disorders and selected combinations of occlusal variables. TMJ tenderness was more frequent in class II, division 2 than in class I (p less than .05), but overall was not associated with occlusal factors such as deep overbites, length of a symmetric RCP-ICP slide, and unilateral contact in RCP. Overall, clicking was not associated with Angle class, deep overbite, length of symmetric RCP-ICP slide, or unilateral RCP contact. Among subjects with unilateral RCP contact, those with no clinically obvious RCP-ICP slide (p less than .005) and those with asymmetric slides (p less than .05) had more TMJ clicking than subjects with symmetric slides. Luxation clicking of the condyle over the articular eminence on wide opening was absent in class II, division 2 subjects, but was most frequent in subjects with some teeth in unilateral posterior crossbite, particularly when this was a unilateral condition (p less than .001). Certain occlusomorphologic conditions may require less adaptation in the TMJs. This article indicates that an ICP anterior to the RCP in association with bilateral occlusal stability may be protective.
Modeling Social Relations in Cross-Color Play

Patterns of social interaction between black and white sixth graders in free play peri-ods are examined in an observational study. Using the idea of play as a model of so. cia/ relations, two patterns of play are described: competition between black and white teams and play in mixed-color teams. The differences in the process of play in these two contexts are discussed and their implications for cross-color relationships considered.
Cyclodextrin driven hydrophobic/hydrophilic transformation of semiconductor nanoparticles

Quantum dots (QDs) have been the subject of considerable study in theoretical physics, and water soluble QDs now appear to have numerous applications in biological tagging, molecular electronic devices, and nanoscale engineering. The work reported here supports the notion that the aliphatic chains of the trioctylphosphine oxide molecules decorating these (CdSe)ZnS core-shell QDs are stabilized by the hydrophobic cyclodextrin (CD) lumen. Photoluminescence studies show a redshift of over 15nm in the emission wavelength of the QDs upon complexation with the CD, and first-principles calculations reveal an exothermic exchange of the S in the ZnS shell with the CD hydroxyl oxygen. Unlike simple water-driven surface transformations, the directed bonding of hydroxyl groups to the ZnS shell results in stable structures, verified by photoluminescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
iNOS/NO signaling regulates apoptosis induced by glycochenodeoxycholate in hepatocytes

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) can ameliorate apoptosis induced by toxic glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) in hepatocytes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet understood in detail. This study is to clarify the function of iNOS/NO and its mechanisms during the apoptotic process. The apoptosis was brought about by GCDC in rat primary hepatocytes. iNOS/NO signaling was then investigated. iNOS inhibitor 1400W enhanced the GCDC-induced apoptosis as reflected by caspase-3 activity and TUNEL assay. Exogenous NO regulated the apoptosis subsequent to NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The GCDC-induced apoptosis was decreased with 0.1mM SNAP or 0.15mM SNP, while it was increased with 0.8mM SNAP or 1.2mM SNP. The endogenous iNOS inhibited apoptosis, but the exogenous NO played a dual role during the GCDC-induced apoptosis. There was a potential iNOS/Akt/survivin axis that inhibited the hepatocyte apoptosis in low doses of NO donors. In contrast, high doses of NO donors activated CHOP through p38MAP-kinase (p38MAPK), upregulated TRAIL receptor DR5, and suppressed survivin. Consequently the high doses of NO donors promoted the apoptosis in hepatocytes. Our data suggest that the iNOS/NO signaling can modulate Akt/survivin and p38MAPK/CHOP pathways to mediate the GCDC-induced the apoptosis in hepatocytes. These signaling pathways may serve as targets for therapeutic intervention in cholestatic liver disease.
Photochemotherapy: a new promising chemical derivative.

A new synthetic psoralen (5′aminomethyl-4,4′,8-trimethylpsoralen) is presented which possesses potential superior photochemotherapeutic efficacy. Results of studies conducted on the guinea pig and hairless mouse in our laboratories reveal that following oral administration there is a more rapid onset of photosensitization, a more rapid loss of photosensitization indicating apparent chemical inactivation or excretion, and a lower systemic toxicity on a milligram to milligram basis when compared to conventional psoralen derivatives.
Gsα Mutations in Fibrous Dysplasia and McCune‐Albright Syndrome

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a focal bone lesion composed of immature mesenchymal osteoblastic precursor cells. Some FD patients also have hyperpigmented skin lesions (cafe-au-lait spots), gonadotropin-independent sexual precocity, and/or other endocrine and nonendocrine manifestations (McCune-Albright syndrome [MAS]). MAS results from somatic mutations occurring during early development, resulting in a widespread mosaic of normal and mutant-bearing cells, which predicts that the clinical presentation of each patient is determined by the extent and distribution of abnormal cells. These mutations encode constitutively active forms of G(s)alpha, the ubiquitously expressed G protein alpha-subunit that couples hormone receptors to intracellular cAMP generation. These mutations lead to substitution of amino acid residues that are critical for the intrinsic GTPase activity that is normally required to deactivate the G protein. This leads to prolonged activation of G(s)alpha and its downstream effectors even with minimal receptor activation. This explains why MAS patients have stimulation of multiple peripheral endocrine glands in the absence of circulating stimulatory pituitary hormones and increased skin pigment, which is normally induced by melanocyte-stimulating hormone through G(s)alpha/cAMP. Similar mutations are also present in 40% of pituitary tumors in acromegaly patients and less commonly in other endocrine tumors. FD results from increased cAMP in bone marrow stromal cells, leading to increased proliferation and abnormal differentiation. Parental origin of the mutated allele may also affect the clinical presentation, because G(s)alpha is imprinted and expressed only from the maternal allele in some tissues (e.g., pituitary somatotrophs).
(Un)dressing the interface: Exposing the foundational HCI metaphor computer is woman

Two fundamental (and oftentimes opposing) metaphors have directed much of HCI design: HCI is communication and HCI is direct manipulation. Beneath these HCI metaphors, however, is the unspoken metaphor of computer is woman. In this paper we expose this foundational metaphor. We begin by identifying the origin of computer is woman in the early history of computing. Drawing upon postmodern feminist theory, we then explore how this metaphor has resulted in the feminization of HCI is communication and second person interfaces. We show how images of femininity proliferate, becoming the projected images of male fantasies and ideals of womanhood. In becoming these idealized images, the interface is revealed as man in female drag. Finally, not only do we undress the interface to uncover how HCI is communication wraps the computer's difference from human being within the more basic metaphor of computer is woman, but we also disclose dangers that can arise when this metaphor goes unacknowledged and unexamined.
Enhancing privacy management support in instant messaging

Instant Messaging (IM) is a useful tool for collaborative work. However, the awareness and communication features of IM pose a tension with privacy desires. Inadequate support for managing privacy could lead to suboptimal use of IM and thereby undermine its benefits. We conducted interviews and an Internet survey to understand privacy attitudes and practices in IM usage. Based on the findings from these studies, we designed an IM plugin to improve the support for privacy management in current IM systems. The plugin detects conflicts in privacy preferences, notifies the parties involved, and allows negotiation of a resolution. It also encrypts the communication channels and archives, allows different privacy preferences for different contact groups, and provides visualizations to facilitate the comparison of one's own IM activities with those of any IM contact group. A usability evaluation of the plugin indicated that it can be expected to succeed in its goal of providing IM users with better privacy management.
Using the living laboratory framework as a basis for understanding next-generation analyst work

The preparation of next generation analyst work requires alternative levels of understanding and new methodological departures from the way current work transpires. Current work practices typically do not provide a comprehensive approach that emphasizes the role of and interplay between (a) cognition, (b) emergent activities in a shared situated context, and (c) collaborative teamwork. In turn, effective and efficient problem solving fails to take place, and practice is often composed of piecemeal, techno-centric tools that isolate analysts by providing rigid, limited levels of understanding of situation awareness. This coupled with the fact that many analyst activities are classified produces a challenging situation for researching such phenomena and designing and evaluating systems to support analyst cognition and teamwork. Through our work with cyber, image, and intelligence analysts we have realized that there is more required of researchers to study human-centered designs to provide for analyst’s needs in a timely fashion. This paper identifies and describes how The Living Laboratory Framework can be utilized as a means to develop a comprehensive, human-centric, and problem-focused approach to next generation analyst work, design, and training. We explain how the framework is utilized for specific cases in various applied settings (e.g., crisis management analysis, image analysis, and cyber analysis) to demonstrate its value and power in addressing an area of utmost importance to our national security. Attributes of analyst work settings are delineated to suggest potential design affordances that could help improve cognitive activities and awareness. Finally, the paper puts forth a research agenda for the use of the framework for future work that will move the analyst profession in a viable manner to address the concerns identified.
Exact solutions of Einstein conformal scalar equations

The massless scalar field which satisfies a conformally invariant equation is in some respects more interesting than the ordinary one. Unfortunately, few, if any, exact solutions of Einstein's equations for a conformal scalar stress-energy have appeared previously. Here we present a theorem by means of which one can generate two Einstein-conformal scalar solutions from a single Einstein-ordinary scalar solution (of which many are known). As an example we show how to obtain Weyl-like solutions with a conformal scalar field. We obtain and analyze in some detail two families of spherically symmetric static Einstein-conformal scalar solutions. We also exhibit a family of static spherically symmetric Einstein-Maxwell-conformal scalar solutions (parametrized by both electric and scalar charge), which have black-hole geometries but are not genuine black holes. Finally, we present all the Robertson-Walker cosmological models which contain both incoherent radiation and a homogeneous conformal scalar field. One class of these represents open universes which bounce and never pass through a singular state; they circumvent the “singularity theorems” by violating the energy condition.
Memories of reward and nonreward regulate the extinction and reacquisition of both excitatory and inhibitory associations

Abstract The memories of the unconditioned stimulus (US) and its absence (No US), symbolized as S R and S N , respectively, may be retrieved on US or No US trials giving rise to four types of associations, S R → US, S R → No US, S N → US, and S N → No US. Here, following acquisition under partial reward (PRF), rats were shifted either to different schedules of PRF (Experiment 1) or extinction (Experiments 1 and 2). Inhibitory S R → No US associations formed in acquisition survived extinction and shifts to one, but not another type of PRF schedule (Experiments 1 and 2). Excitatory S R → US associations also survived extinction (Experiment 2). These findings, as well as the acquisition findings of Experiment 2, are consistent with the sequential model but not with the only other two theories said to be able to explain PRF findings, the frustration hypothesis of Amsel and the attention hypothesis of Mackintosh [see Haselgrove, M., Aydin, A., & Pearce, J. M. (2004). A partial reinforcement extinction effect despite equal rates of reinforcement during Pavlovian conditioning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes , 30 , 240–250]. Also, the reacquisition findings obtained here are inconsistent with two views applied to several learning phenomena, the rule-learning view and the position-item view.
Models for GRBs and diverse transients

The observational diversity of ''gamma-ray bursts'' (GRBs) has been increasing, and the natural inclination is a proliferation of models. We explore the possibility that at least part of this diversity is a consequence of a single basic model for the central engine operating in a massive star of variable mass, differential rotation rate, and mass loss rate. Whatever that central engine may be--and here the collapsar is used as a reference point--it must be capable of generating both a narrowly collimated, highly relativistic jet to make the GRB, and a wide angle, sub-relativistic outflow responsible for exploding the star and making the supernova bright. To some extent, the two components may vary independently, so it is possible to produce a variety of jet energies and supernova luminosities. We explore, in particular, the production of low energy bursts and find a lower limit, {approx} 10{sup 48} erg s{sup -1} to the power required for a jet to escape a massive star before that star either explodes or is accreted. Lower energy bursts and ''suffocated'' bursts may be particularly prevalent when the metallicity is high, i.e., in the modern universe at low redshift.
Pilgrims: New World Settlers and the Call of Home – By Susan Hardman Moore

As the author of this book notes, some have considered the phenomenon of reverse migration from New England. No one has made any serious effort to quantify the phenomenon and gain a sense of its pr...
Denosumab, a RANK Ligand Inhibitor, for Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis:

OBJECTIVE:To review the evidence for use of denosumab for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.DATA SOURCES:A search of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was conducted during January 2012, using the terms denosumab and osteoporosis, with index dates of 2000 to 2011. Additional information was gathered from Amgen and references cited in articles retrieved.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:English-language articles including clinical trials involving denosumab for treatment of osteoporosis and review articles were reviewed. Articles using denosumab in males or as treatment for conditions other than osteoporosis or osteopenia were excluded.DATA SYNTHESIS:Many clinical trials have supported the safety and efficacy of denosumab in postmenopausal women with bone loss. It has been shown to improve bone mineral density, decrease markers of bone turnover, and prevent new vertebral fractures. It shows improvement over placebo in studies and has at least similar efficacy to alendronate in measurements of bone m...
Trivalent counterion condensation on DNA measured by pulse gel electrophoresis.

Pulse gel electrophoresis was used to measure the reduction of mobilities of λ-DNA-Hind III fragments ranging from 23.130 to 2.027 kilobase pairs in Tris borate buffer solutions mixed with either hexammine cobalt(III), or spermidine3+ trivalent counterions that competed with Tris+ and Na+ for binding onto polyion DNA. The normalized titration curves of mobility were well fit by the two-variable counterion condensation theory. The agreement between measured charge fraction neutralized and counterion condensation prediction was good over a relatively wide range of trivalent cation concentrations at several solution conditions (pH, ionic strength). The effect of ionic strength, trivalent cation concentration, counterion structure, and DNA length on the binding were discussed based on the experimental measurements and the counterion condensation theory. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Implementation of multi‐site neurocognitive assessments within a pediatric cooperative group: Can it be done?

Background Neurocognitive functioning is an important construct in childhood cancer survivorship, given the potential neurotoxicity of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and treatments and the relevance for important functional outcomes in adulthood. However, within pediatric oncology cooperative groups there have been significant barriers to neurocognitive data collection that have historically resulted in incomplete data (<30% compliance), thereby limiting progress in understanding the neurocognitive functioning of survivors. This paper describes the development, feasibility, and potential efficacy of a brief neurocognitive battery to maximize collection of psychometrically robust neurocognitive data within a pediatric cooperative group. We hypothesized that a novel set of procedures could result in collection of data from over 80% of eligible children. Procedure A novel assessment battery (ALTE07C1) that evaluates a child's cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning was developed. It included measures that were psychometrically sound, normed, widely available, and could be administered by any licensed psychologist. The battery required approximately 1 hour of administration time. A data monitoring team was developed to ensure prompt data collection. Results Approximately 75% (105 of 140) of institutions with eligible patients opened ALTE07C1; 159 participants have been enrolled. The overall compliance rate for submission of neurocognitive data exceeded 90%. Discussion Our study supports the feasibility and potential efficacy of a brief neurocognitive battery and a data monitoring team to evaluate children participating in multi-site pediatric oncology trials. Future work will utilize ALTE07C1 as a primary or secondary endpoint for pediatric trials when there is risk for neurocognitive impairment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012;59:536–539. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using ALSM to map sinkholes in the urbanized covered karst of Pinellas County, Florida—2. Accuracy statistics

We apply the logic of clinical epidemiological studies to quantify the accuracy of mapping sinkholes by ALSM in the 750 km2 Pinellas County. By such studies, a new diagnostic procedure is tested by comparing the diagnoses in a clinical trial to diagnoses on the same patients from a more reliable, but more elaborate and expensive procedure (“gold standard” in epidemiological context). A relatively undeveloped, 65 km2 focus area where we have aerial photographs that are effectively contemporaneous with the ALSM flights serves as the “clinical trial”. The xy-locations in the focus area are the “patients” in the trial. The “diagnostic test” for having “sinkhole disease” is inclusion in a database of sinkhole polygons delimited by ALSM contours (“ALSM-alone”), as detailed in Part 1. The standard of comparison (“gold standard” would be an overstatement in the absence of geophysical testing) is inclusion in a database of sinkhole outlines derived by best judgment of conjunctive interpretation of ALSM and aerial photography. GIS intersections that indicate the sensitivity and specificity of the test (ALSM-alone) are 43 and 98.3%, respectively, and, in the focus area where the prevalence of “sinkhole disease” is 4.7%, the positive and negative predictive values are 55.5 and 97.2%, respectively. Over much of the rest of the county, where only the test can be applied, the prevalence of sinkholes is sufficiently small that it cannot be determined to be any different from zero given the paucity of interpreted sinkholes (positive diagnoses) and the low specificity of the test method. The conclusion, therefore, is that contemporaneous aerial photography is essential to compile an ALSM-derived database that aims to state that the given xy-points lay inside or outside of topographic depressions in the covered karst of west-central Florida.
Practical error probability estimation for digital radio systems in the presence of interference and noise of finite crest factor, and prediction of residual error rate

The probability of incorrect reception of a transmitted bit under hostile propagation conditions is commonly estimated from bit error ratio measurements performed in the presence of additive white noise and interference. The paper stresses the effects of the finite crest factor of realisable noise sources on the theoretical error probability of digital radio systems. Formulas are presented for calculating this under given combinations of noise, interference and crest factor for common modulation schemes, and are suitable for simple numerical integration on desk-top calculators. Some implications for test equipment design are highlighted. The residual error rate of digital radio systems is so low that it is not practical to measure it directly. However, an estimate can be made by adding sinusoidal interference to produce the carrier/interference ratio (CIR) required to establish a specific error rate, dependent on the amount of residual noise present around the phase states in the constellation employed.
Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services: Has the Agenda Changed?

OBJECTIVE:To provide an extensive review of ambulatory care clinical pharmacy services and evaluate the services and research data in the field.DATA SOURCES:MEDLINE was searched from January 1992 through July 1999. Search terms included pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, and pharmaceutical care, cross-referenced with ambulatory care, primary care, family medicine, and managed care.STUDY SELECTION:Relevant peer-reviewed studies and reports since our previous article in 1992 were selected and described. Literature prior to 1992 was briefly reviewed.DATA SYNTHESIS:The relevant literature was reviewed and some examples from the authors' institutions are provided. Much research has continued to be published documenting the value of clinical pharmacy services in ambulatory care, including in community pharmacy, anticoagulation services, family medicine, primary care clinics, Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and managed care. However, these innovative services are underrepresented in the community at large. The vast ...
The Impact of Salsalate Treatment on Serum Levels of Advanced Glycation End Products in Type 2 Diabetes

measured in patient serum samples. RESULTS Forty-eight weeks of salsalate treatment lowered levels of HbA1c and serum furosine (P < 0.001) and CML compared with placebo. The AGEs CEL and G- 1 Ha nd MG- 1 H levels were unchanged, whereas pentosidine levels increased more than twofold (P < 0.001). Among salsalate users, increases in adiponectin levels were associated with lower HbA1c levels during follow-up (P < 0.001). Changes in renal and inflammation factor levels were not associated with changes in levels of early or late glycation factors. Pentosidine level changes were unrelated to changes in levels of renal function, inflammation, or cytokines. CONCLUSIONS
Clinical Features of Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease A Need for Increased Awareness and a Consensus for Screening

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the liver not associated with infection, medication, or an autoimmune process. The majority of individuals with NAFLD are asymptomatic and are found to have elevated hepatic transaminases on blood work that has been drawn for screening purposes or as part of an entirely different evaluation. NAFLD is a spectrum of disease ranging from relatively benign nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to an inflammatory process affecting the hepatocytes called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that can ultimately lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.1–3 Currently, the only way to differentiate between NAFL and NASH is by determining the histopathology on liver biopsy. NAFLD is a common condition, affecting approximately 20% of Americans overall,4,5 and an estimated 3% to 17% of children.6,7 An obesity-associated condition, nearly 75% of overweight/obese adults5 and 38% of overweight/obese children have NAFLD.6 The prevalence of NASH is also rising as it affects approximately 1.1% to 14% of Americans,8,9 including 19% of individuals who are obese, and 50% of individuals who are morbidly obese.10 These numbers may ultimately lead to a rise in progressive liver scarring or NAFLD-associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.11 In addition to adiposity, NAFLD is associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease and “type 2” diabetes mellitus (T2DM).6,7,12 NAFLD’s associations with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma make NAFLD a serious public health concern. In this review, we will discuss emerging data regarding etiology and clinical features of NAFLD in childhood, particularly as they relate to the need for screening among children with obesity and increased metabolic risk.
Leadership and Ethics in Nurse-Nurse Relationships

Qualities of nursing leadership may be reflected in the patterns of relating illuminated through communications between interdependent members of a discipline and interdisciplinary professional healthcare relationships. Authority and responsibility in leading-following reside with the designated leader. However, there is power with person in situation with the ever-present possibility of conflict. The author in this column will begin a discussion of conflict in nurse-nurse relationships and offer questions for straight thinking regarding the ethics of leading-following situations with nurse-nurse relationships from a humanbecoming nursing theoretical perspective.
Nutritional Adequacy of Dietary Intake in Women with Anorexia Nervosa

Understanding nutrient intake of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients is essential for the treatment. Therefore, estimates of total energy and nutrient consumption were made in a group of young women (19 to 30 years) with restricting and binge purge subtypes of AN participating in an ecological momentary assessment study. Participants completed three nonconsecutive 24-hour diet recalls. Mean nutrient intakes were stratified by subtype and by quartiles of energy intake and compared to the age specific Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) levels, as well as to the reported intakes from the What We Eat In America (WWEIA) dietary survey 2011–2012. Reported intake was determined for energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients. The mean body mass index (BMI) for all participants was 17.2 ± 0.1 kg/m2. Reported nutrient intake was insufficient for participants in quartiles 1–3 of both AN subtypes when compared to the DRIs. Intake reported by participants in quartile 4 of both subgroups met requirements for most nutrients and even met or exceeded estimated energy needs. Counseling of AN patients should be directed to total food consumption to improve energy intake and to reduce individual nutritional gaps.
Antigen Capture Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays Using Baculovirus-Expressed Antigens for Diagnosis of Bluetongue Virus and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease Virus

Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) are orbiviruses that infect both livestock and wild ruminants. Antigenic cross-reactivity between BTV and EHDV often results in serologic misdiagnosis. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (c-ELISAs) show increased sensitivity and specificity for the identification of these viral diseases; however, the preparation of cell culture-derived viral antigen for these tests is laborious and variable from batch to batch, and the resulting antigen may be infectious. To overcome these problems, the genes coding for a structural protein, VP7, of BTV and EHDV were cloned into baculovirus and the recombinant proteins were expressed in Sf9 cultured insect cells. Recombinant viral proteins released into the baculovirus-infected Sf9 cell culture supernatant were used in antigen capture c-ELISAs (Ag Cap c-ELISA) tests that specifically detected antibody in the serum of cattle experimentally infected with BTV and EHDV. The diagnostic utility of the Ag Cap c-ELISA was demonstrated by comparison with a commercial c-ELISA. The Ag Cap c-ELISA offers the advantages of using an easily produced, easily standardized, noninfectious antigen that does not require further purification or concentration.
3 User interference channel: Degrees of freedom as a function of channel diversity

In this paper we characterize, in the context of vector space precoding strategies, the degrees of freedom of the parallel three-user interference channel as a function of the channel diversity L. A channel diversity of L is modeled by L independently fading real-valued parallel channels. Our results also apply to the case of parallel complex-valued channels, where the channel matrices H ij ∊ Cl×l are still diagonal but have complex entries. Here L = 2l is twice the number of parallel channels, and the resulting formulas (as a function of L) for the degrees of freedom are the same as in the real-valued case.
Eight Motivational Forces and Voluntary Turnover: A Theoretical Synthesis with Implications for Research

In this study, we synthesize, from the attitude and turnover literatures, a framework of eight (8) distinctive motives, or “Forces”. We then illustrate how the “8 Forces” framework can be utilized by turnover researchers as clarification of reported reasons for turnover, as causal mediators of turnover predictors, and as factors related to the type of turnover decision process. Finally, we discuss further implications of this framework.
Multilevel signaling and pulse shaping for spectrum efficiency in subcarrier multiplexing transmission

Subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) transmission has been widely used for analog video transmission in CATV systems. As digital video technology rapidly advances, there is a strong need to transmit digital video over the same SCM system. Since digital video such as HDTV requires a much larger bandwidth, multilevel signaling becomes an important approach. As the number of levels increases, however, the noise margin decreases and the system is more subject to adjacent channel interference (ACI). In this paper, we analyze the spectrum efficiency and power penalty of multilevel SCM transmission. We found that using pulse shaping can make multilevel signaling attractive. Depending on the ACI that can be tolerated, results show that multilevel amplitude-shift keying (ASK) of 5-7 b/symbol can give the optimum spectrum efficiency using the raised-cosine pulse. The price paid is a slight power penalty of 0.4 dB to reduce intersymbol interference (ISI) to zero. >