cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PRIMARY INFECTION WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DURING PREGNANCY

Since the majority of postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are unrecognized, the risk to the fetus of primary CMV infection at various times during pregnancy has not been meticulously assessed. During a prospective study of over 3000 pregnant teenagers, 8 patients with primary CMV infection defined as virologic as well as serologic conversion from negative to positive, were identified and followed. Asymptomatic primary infection occurred during the 1st trimester in one patient, during the 2nd trimester in 4 patients, and during the 3rd trimester in 3 patients. All 8 infants were asymptomatic but 4 (50%) were congenitally infected; all 3 neonates of the 3rd trimester converters and one of the 4 infants of the 2nd trimester converters. The single 1st trimester converter delivered an uninfected infant at term despite cytomegaloviremia during the 1st and 2nd trimesters as well as consistent viruria and intermittent positive throat and cervical cultures throughout her pregnancy. Placenta cultures of 6 converters resulted in one CMV isolate from an infected neonate born to a 3rd trimester converter. Primary CMV infection during pregnancy results in an infected infant in a significant percentage of patients, particularly if the infection occurs during the 3rd trimester. Nevertheless, primary CMV infection can occur during any trimester without resulting in an infant with any of the stigmata of cytomegalic inclusion disease at birth.
Temporal variation in precipitation chemistry on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay

We studied precipitation chemistry at the Rhode River on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. We sampled on an event basis, beginning in 1973 for some constituents in bulk precipitation. Beginning in 1981, we also sampled wet precipitation separately from bulk precipitation. In this report, we examine temporal variability of precipitation chemistry at different time scales. Several constituents showed long-term trends. In bulk precipitation, hydronium concentration increased by 27% of its mean concentration per decade, calcium by 67%, ammonium by 28%, and nitrate by 25%, while organic nitrogen decreased by 41%, organic phosphorus by 31%, and organic carbon by 16%. In wet precipitation, ammonium increased by 33% and calcium by 100%, while magnesium decreased by 78% per decade. Concentrations differed greatly among precipitation events, increasing as the volume of precipitation decreased and as the interval since the previous event increased. Most constituents also showed marked seasonal variation. We used a regression model to predict concentrations for each event from month, precipitation volume, and the time since the previous event. We evaluated how much of the interannual variability could be explained by these factors. The event-scale model accounted for almost half of the variability among annual means for ammonium, sodium, and magnesium in bulk precipitation, and for potassium in wet precipitation. This suggests that much of the interannual variability of concentrations may result from interannual variation in the temporal distribution of precipitation.
Tripodfish (Aulopiformes: Bathypterois) locomotion and landing behaviour from video observation at bathypelagic depths in the Campos Basin of Brazil

Abstract A video observation of a deep-sea tripodfish (Aulopiformes: Bathypterois) taken from a remotely-operated vehicle at a depth of 1443 m in the Campos Basin, Brazil is analysed for swimming and landing movements. The observed specimen is identified here as Bathypterois grallator, and this record is the first video observation of a tripodfish exhibiting periodic swimming followed by landing in a resting position on deep-sea substrate which we interpret as ‘bathypteroiform’ movement, a locomotive mode unique to taxa within Bathypterois. This observation describes the functional role of the fins associated with landing, including independent movements of the elongated fin ray elements. The specimen is observed to display subcarangiform body and/or caudal fin movement while swimming in a periodic state. Prior to landing, the specimen is observed to raise its elongated caudal fin element parallel to the body, a behaviour that has not been described previously. Following contact of the elongated pelvic fi...
Tissue-specific differences in the accumulation of sequence rearrangements with age

Mitotic homologous recombination (HR) is a critical pathway for the accurate repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) and broken replication forks. While generally error-free, HR can occur between misaligned sequences, resulting in deleterious sequence rearrangements that can contribute to cancer and aging. To learn more about the extent to which HR occurs in different tissues during the aging process, we used Fluorescent Yellow Direct Repeat (FYDR) mice in which an HR event in a transgene yields a fluorescent phenotype. Here, we show tissue-specific differences in the accumulation of recombinant cells with age. Unlike pancreas, which shows a dramatic 23-fold increase in recombinant cell frequency with age, skin shows no increase in vivo. In vitro studies indicate that juvenile and aged primary fibroblasts are similarly able to undergo HR in response to endogenous and exogenous DNA damage. Therefore, the lack of recombinant cell accumulation in the skin is most likely not due to an inability to undergo de novo HR events. We propose that tissue-specific differences in the accumulation of recombinant cells with age result from differences in the ability of recombinant cells to persist and clonally expand within tissues.
An integrated simdization framework using virtual vectors

Automatic simdization for multimedia extensions faces several new challenges that are not present in traditional vectorization. Some of the new issues are due to the more restrictive SIMD architectures designed for multimedia extensions. Among them are alignment constraints, lack of memory gather and scatter support, and the short and fixed-length nature of SIMD vectors. Since these constraints affect some very basic components of a program, a compiler must not only provide solid solutions to individual issues, but also take an integrated approach to address these constraints in combination.In this paper, we propose a simdization framework that addresses several orthogonal aspects of simdization, such as alignment handling, simdization of loops with mixed data lengths, and SIMD parallelism extraction from different program scopes (from basic blocks to inner loops). The novelty of this framework is its ability to facilitate interactions between different techniques based on the simple intermediate representation of virtual vectors. Measurements on a PPC970 with a VMX SIMD unit indicate speedup factors of up to 8.11 for numerical/video/communication kernels and speedup factors of up to 2.16 for benchmarks, when automatic simdization is turned on.
GOI characterization of 300-mm furnace tools

The purpose of this characterization was to gain an initial understand of the gate oxide integrity (GOI) differences on wafers processed in the 300mm furnace tools at SC300, a joint venture between Motorola and Infineon Technologies for 300mm wafer, process and equipment development, compared to similarly processed 200mm wafers at Motorola. Measurements were done using mercury probe tools located at different sites to characterize the various gate oxide films and thicknesses. Separately, a study was done on defectivity levels of the Epi-layered 300mm wafers used in this study.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
254: Electrocardiographic Infarct Pattern Early Following Cardiac Transplantation: Prevalence and Prognostic Implication

heart transplants during this period. Ten of the CHKTx were performed simultaneously and 2 as a staged procedure using the same donor for both organs. Pretransplant left ventricular ejection fraction was 27.5 16 and creatinine clearance was 31 11 mL/min. Five patients underwent pretransplantation dialysis. Results: There was no operative mortality. Mean follow-up time was 49 36 months. Patient survival rates for the CHKTx recipients at 1 and 3 months were 91% and 83% respectively and had not changed during a follow up period. Survival rates for isolated heart transplantation (IHTx) recipients at 1, 3 months, 3 and 7 years were 97%, 95%, 87% and 79% respectively (p 0.61). Eight patients showed no evidence of significant (IHLT grade2) cardiac allograft rejection. The freedom from rejection at 3 months was 73% for CHKTx and had not changed further; for IHTx freedom from rejection at 3 months, 1 year and 6 years was 61%, 56% and 42%. (p 0.19) Heart and renal allograft survival was 100% with LVEF 66% 8.4 and creatinine clearance 61 25 at last follow-up. Conclusions: CHKTx using organs from the same donor yields favorable long-term outcome with a low incidence of cardiac and renal allograft rejection. Immediate kidney transplantation without delay after heart transplantation appears favorable, if cardiac function and hemodynamics are satisfactory. This approach effectively expands the selection criteria for transplantation in potential candidates with coexisting end-stage cardiac and renal disease.
Views of academic and community partners regarding participant protections and research integrity: a pilot focus group study.

When community partners have direct interaction with human research participants, it is important to consider potential threats to participant protections and research integrity. Few studies have d...
Treatment options for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

The introduction of testing for high-risk HPV types and P16 immunostaining of CIN2 histologic specimens allows for determination of the risk of progression versus regression for a woman with a particular cytologic or histologic specimen. Observation with serial cytological or colposcopic examinations is now appropriate for women with low-grade histologic lesions as well as pregnant and young women with certain high-grade histologic lesions. Current recommendations for management of high-grade lesions, the efficacy of treatment options (cryotherapy and LEEP), and the immediate (bleeding, infection) and longer term complications (cervical incompetence, preterm delivery) of cervical dysplasia treatment are presented.
Isolation and nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding human rhodopsin

We have isolated and completely sequenced the gene encoding human rhodopsin. The coding region of the human rhodopsin gene is interrupted by four introns, which are located at positions analogous to those found in the previously characterized bovine rhodopsin gene. The amino acid sequence of human rhodopsin, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of its gene, is 348 residues long and is 93.4% homologous to that of bovine rhodopsin. Interestingly, those portions of the polypeptide chain predicted to form loops on the cytoplasmic face of rhodopsin are perfectly conserved between the human and bovine proteins.
Microelectronics and neural prostheses

The realization of effective neural prostheses requires both understanding of the neural physiological substrate of the function and the availability of hardware, stimulation electronics, electrodes, sensors, and information processing electronics, to execute the required function. Microelectronics, especially custom and semicustom integrated circuits, have effectively removed some of these barriers. Particularly in the area of implantable stimulation electronics, custom integrated circuits and advanced hermetic packaging techniques have been developed so that it is possible to make very small, long-lived multichannel stimulation systems. Similarly, the availability of low-power CMOS microprocessors, logic and memory components makes it possible to execute complex information processing in small, low-power portable systems. The principal technological bottlenecks in neural prostheses remain stimulation electrodes and physiological sensors. The techniques underlying microelectronic photolithographic fabrication may also make possible the “solution” of the electrode and sensor problems. In our auditory prosthesis project, we have photolithographic electrode arrays of both rigid and flexible character now nearing operational status. These electrodes are probably generalizable to a fairly wide number of prostheses applications. A number of sensors, especially those of pressure, motion and temperature, are also yielding to photolithographic fabrication. The sensor problem, however, for such physiologic parameters as ionic concentration remains the most difficult to conquer. Examples and illustrations of the state-of-the-art in these areas, as achieved by microelectronic techniques, will be given.
Human leukocyte interferon induces 2′,5′-Oligo(A) polymerase and protein kinase☆

Abstract Treatment of HeLa cells with human leukocyte (Le) interferon resulted in elevated levels of two enzymatic activities which have been implicated in the antiviral state: the 2′,5′-oligo(A) polymerase and a protein kinase. The increase in these enzymatic activities and an inhibition of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA synthesis was related to the dose of Le interferon added to cell cultures during a 20-hr treatment. The effect of separate or simultaneous addition of Le and fibroblast interferons was investigated. When the two species of human interferon were added together at concentrations which give a moderate increase in the two enzymatic activities assayed, an additive effect was observed. When one species of interferon was added at a much higher concentration, however, simultaneous addition of the other interferon had little or no effect. The Le and fibroblast interferons induce a similar cellular response with respect to the two enzymatic activities investigated; it seems possible that an antiviral state is elicited by these interferon species by similar biochemical mechanisms.
RF Microcoil Design for Practical NMR of Mass-Limited Samples

Abstract This paper addresses practical issues involved in obtaining high resolution 1 H NMR spectra from samples containing less than 10 nmol. Solenoidal microcoils have been constructed to: (a) assess the effects of magnetic susceptibility mismatches at 500 MHz, (b) increase the concentration sensitivity of microcoil probes, (c) incorporate a lock channel for 2D experiments and long 1D acquisitions, and (d) assess the total amount of the sample required (with respect to the coil length) to avoid line broadening due to edge effects. Compared to previously published microcoil results, sample volumes have been increased by a factor of 20 with a concomitant decrease in the required concentration (5–20 mM). Perfluorocarbon susceptibility matching remained effective at 500 MHz, allowing acquisition of high resolution NMR spectra. A lock channel has also been successfully incorporated in microcoil probes. The limits of detection for sucrose with a 10 min acquisition time were found to be 17.8 and 34.1 pmol for the single and double resonance coils, respectively. A sample length of approximately 10 times than that of the coil was required to avoid magnetic susceptibility artifacts.
Soil structure characterization using electromagnetic waves

ABSTRACT The interaction effects of particle shape, orientation, porosity, and relative disparity between electrical parameters (conductivity and dielectric constant) of soil particles and pore fluid on electrical response of bulk soil at very low and very high frequencies of excitation by an alternating current are studied and compared with experimental data. The type of pore fluid and soil mineral can have a large influence on the response. The ratio of conductivities (and permittivities) of the solid particle to pore fluid has a significant influence on the electrical response of soils. Higher ratios reduce the effects of particle shape and the anisotropy arising from particle orientation. Results indicate that the electrical response, in general, can be used to characterize soil structure, detect anisotropy and identify pore fluid characteristics.
Trends in PM2.5 composition at the Department of Energy OST NETL fine particle characterization site in Pittsburgh, PA, USA

This paper reports on the results from the first 6 months (from November 1999 to April 2000) of an ongoing monitoring study of fine particulate air pollutants at the Department of Energy's Office of Science and Technology (OST) NETL sampling site, 30 km southwest of Pittsburgh city center, Pennsylvania. This study is part of a 2-year sampling program for PM characterization, under the auspices of The University Coal Research Program of the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), US Department of Energy in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Samples were collected daily with a Particle Concentrator-Brigham Young University Organic Sampling System (PC-BOSS) to determine PM2.3 composition, including the semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) and ammonium nitrate lost from particles during sampling. Average fine particulate composition during the 6-month period was: constructed PM2.3, 19.4 μg m−3; ammonium sulfate 4.3 μg m−3; non-volatile organic material, 6.9 μg m−3; elemental carbon, 0.4 μg m−3; SVOC lost from particles during sampling, 6.1 μg m−3; retained ammonium nitrate, 1.4 μg m−3; lost ammonium nitrate, 0.3 μg m−3. Results from the PC-BOSS sampler are also compared with those obtained from a Federal Reference Method PM2.5 sampler, and a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance monitor, both of which tended to not measure the semi-volatile particulate matter. SVOC concentrations were highest in the spring. Episodes of fine particulate non-volatile organic material occurred throughout the 6-month period. Average ammonium sulfate concentrations were higher in November and January than the other months for the study period.
Galerkin method in radiative transfer

Abstract An assesment is made of the Galerkin technique as a method of solution of the radiative transfer equation in absorbing, emitting and scattering media in terms of two specific applications: one between two parallel boundaries separated by a finite distance and the other between two concentric spheres. In both cases the bounding surfaces are maintained at different, but uniform temperatures and are considered to be opaque, gray and diffusely emitting and diffusely reflecting with uniform emissivity over each surface. By the implementation of the Galerkin technique, formal relations are developed for the computation of the radiative heat flux in both applications. In the second case, results are compared with the ‘exact’ numerical results available in the literature. It is demonstrated that the method is relatively simple to use and yields highly accurate results.
Californian blueschists, subduction, and the significance of tectonostratigraphic terranes

Glaucophane and related schists are present as tectonic fragments in ophiolitic suture zones and as discrete lithotectonic belts along the accreted Mesozoic/Tertiary Californian margin. Occurrences include parts of the Klamath Mountains, the western Sierran Foothills, the Coast Ranges, faulted marginal segments of the Mojave Desert, the Transverse Ranges, and the southern California borderland. These high-pressure, low-temperature blueschist assemblages reflect the thermal regime of subduction-zone environments. Considerable underflow accompanied drifting and the assembly of far-traveled tectonostratigraphic terranes, as documented by sea-floor magnetic anomaly patterns and age relationships of the oceanic crust-capped lithosphere: the eastern limbs of paleo-Pacific plates (especially the Farallon-Cocos), have been extensively or completely overridden by the westward-encroaching North American plate—7000 km since Early Cretaceous time and nearly 10 000 km since Jurassic time. Subduction is attested to by remnant high-pressure mineral assemblages scattered throughout California; by construction of related, roughly contemporaneous calc-alkaline volcanic-plutonic belts and forearc basin deposits; and by the stranding of ophiolitic complexes. Although substantial northward drift transported exotic oceanic and continental materials to the growing Californian crust and caused extensive dislocation of the post-Paleozoic continental margin, much of the plate motion evidently involved a large component of convergence and eastward underflow. Terrane shuffling has complicated the picture, but the dominant mechanism of continental growth at the Californian margin during Mesozoic and Paleogene time was subduction.
LIFETIME RISK ALGORITHM IDENTIFIES MORE PATIENTS WITH CAROTID AND FEMORAL PLAQUES THAN 10 YR OR 30 YR FRAMINGHAM RISK ALGORITHMS

•Mortality from ischemic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is epidemic in the US, with a million cardiovascular deaths and 770,000 first coronary attacks every year. First coronary attacks have a 38% mortality within the first year (American Heart Association Heart and Stroke Facts, 2008) • Traditional risk factor assessment analysis will identify only 50% of those with disease (Kannel WB et al. American Heart J. 2004, 148:16-26) • Yet among patients with fatal and non-fatal MIs, 90% have a remediable risk factor (Greenland P et al. JAMA 2003, 290: 891-7) •Atherosclerosis is commonly found in more than one vascular bed (Allison MA et al., ATVB 2004) •CAFES-CAVE Study showed that even very low risk populations had significant cardiovascular disease and that carotid (CP) and femoral plaque (FP) predict cardiovascular events (Belcaro G et al. Atherosclerosis 2001, 156:379-387) • Current CVD prediction algorithms utilize traditional risk factors in populations but have failed to identify those at highest risk due to underlying disease. We compared a newer algorithm, “Lifetime Risk” (LR), with 10-yr and 30-yr Framingham Risk Score (FRS) algorithms as to their ability to identify those subjects at highest risk because of initial CVD event, based on having carotid or femoral artery plaque.
Masking of physicians in the Growth Failure in Children with Renal Diseases Clinical Trial.

Masking — hiding identities of treatments from the patient, physician and/or statistician — is a critical element in clinical trials. Wherever possible, masking is implemented to eliminate observational bias or systematic error. In this paper, general concepts of masking in clinical trials are examined. Specific masking procedures used in the “Growth Failure in Children with Renal Diseases” (GFRD) Clinical Trial are described. A method to evaluate the “success” of this masking procedure for physicians is introduced. For each randomized patient at each clinical center, the clinic director was asked to predict which treatment (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or dihydrotachysterol) was assigned. Results showed that 72% of responses initially indicated “absolutely no idea” of treatment. Additional analyses revealed that the number and percentage of “correct” guesses were essentially equal for the two treatment groups and that a patient's time on treatment did not affect the mask. We conclude that the mask of physicians in the GFRD Clinical Trial was well maintained.
Sonographic detection of the fetal pancreas

With the fetal stomach utilized as a general marker, targeted-imaging of the fetal abdomen was initiated to locate the pancreas. Overall, the pancreas was seen in 77 of 149 cases (51.7%). Menstrual age and the position of the fetus were significant factors in determining the frequency of pancreatic visualization.
A precise 40Ar–39Ar reference age for the Durango apatite (U–Th)/He and fission-track dating standard

The distinctive Durango apatite is widely distributed as a reference material for mineralogy, geochemistry and thermochronology. The apatite occurs within the Cerro de Mercado open-pit iron mine, located in the northern portion of Durango City, Mexico. It is largely confined to vugs and open fractures within the lower portion of the ore deposit. Apatite and iron ore formed in situ and concurrently along with emplacement of small felsic intrusions along the southern margin of the Chupaderos caldera complex. This activity occurred between eruptions of two major ignimbrites from the caldera complex. Four single-crystal sanidine-anorthoclase ^(40)Ar–^(39)Ar ages from these ignimbrites and from a conformable older unit have been used to compute a reference age of 31.44±0.18 Ma (2σ) for the apatite itself. Four additional multi-crystal measurements are in general agreement with this age. Also in agreement are a set of 24 (U–Th–Sm)/He ages recently determined directly on the apatite, which have a mean of 31.02±1.01 Ma 1σ, with a standard error (S.E.) of ±0.22 Ma.
A Non-Regular Grobner Fan

The Grobner fan of an ideal $I\subset k[x_1,\dots,x_n]$, defined by Mora and Robbiano, is a complex of polyhedral cones in ${\Bbb R}^n$. The maximal cones of the fan are in bijection with the distinct monomial initial ideals of I as the term order varies. If I is homogeneous the Grobner fan is complete and is the normal fan of the state polytope of I. In general the Grobner fan is not complete and therefore not the normal fan of a polytope. We may ask if the restricted Grobner fan, a subdivision of ${\Bbb R}_{\geq 0}^n$, is regular, i.e. the normal fan of a polyhedron. The main result of this paper is an example of an ideal in n = 4 variables whose restricted Grobner fan is not regular.
Considerations on the logic of intention

While logical theories of informational attitudes, such as knowledge, certainty and belief, have flourished in the past two decades, logical formalization of other facets of rational behavior has lagged behind significantly. One intriguing line of research concerns the concept of intention. I will discuss one approach to tackling the notion within a logical framework.
Vectorization of molecular dynamics simulation for fluids of nonspherical molecules

Abstract A simple method is described for molecular dynamics simulation of fluids of nonspherical molecules on vector processing supercomputers such as the IBM-3090 with Vector Facility and the CRAY-XMP. Speed-ups of around two are reported for fluids modeled using a Gaussian overlap pair potential, a diatomic Lennard-Jones pair potential, and a six-site Lennard-Jones potential for benzene. It is also shown that modifications to make the program suitable for vector processing require 5 to 10% more computation.
Dysphagia, Nutrition, and Hydration in Ischemic Stroke Patients at Admission and Discharge from Acute Care

Dysphagia may predispose stroke patients toward undernutrition and hydration. These comorbidities increase patient risks for reduced functional outcome and short-term mortality. Despite this impact, available information on relationships among dysphagia, nutrition, and hydration status in acute stroke is limited and conflicted. This study evaluated nutrition and hydration status in ischemic stroke patients with versus without clinically significant dysphagia at admission and at discharge from acute care. Sixty-seven patients admitted to the stroke unit in a tertiary-care hospital provided data for this study. On the day of hospital admission and upon discharge or at 7 days post admission, serum biochemical measures were obtained for nutrition (prealbumin) and hydration status (BUN/Cr). Clinical evaluation for dysphagia, nutrition status, and stroke severity were completed an average of 1.4 days following hospital admission. Dysphagia was identified in 37 % of the cohort. At admission 32 % of patients demonstrated malnutrition based on prealbumin levels and 53 % demonstrated evidence of dehydration based on BUN/Cr levels. No differences in nutrition status were attributed to dysphagia. Patients with dysphagia demonstrated significantly higher BUN/Cr levels (greater dehydration) than patients without dysphagia at admission and at discharge. Dehydration at both admission and discharge was associated with dysphagia, clinical nutrition status, and stroke severity. Results of this study support prior results indicating that dysphagia is not associated with poor nutrition status during the first week post stroke. Dehydration status is associated with dysphagia during this period. The results have implications for future confirmatory research and for clinical management of dysphagia in the acute stroke period.
Learning via distributed dialogue: Livenotes and handheld wireless technology

This paper introduces a new learning technology for in-classroom and remote learning. The system and practice is called "Livenotes" and is motivated by the empirical success of peer learning methods, and by theoretical considerations of distributed dialogue among student peers as a facilitator of learning. The technical part of Livenotes is a collaborative whiteboard running on wireless handheld computers. We describe the system and the affordances we have developed for it to support the distributed dialogue model. We then examine the interactive dialogue that resulted from two classroom trials, using transcript captures, and analyze how users developed ways to navigate between pages, organize space on screens, determine whether the system was operational, and create social rapport. Finally, we suggest several issues that researchers can consider in designing collaborative software.
New azobenzene non-linear optical materials for eye and sensor protection

Abstract The synthesis and properties of poly(methylmethacrylate) films containing new azobenzene materials with potential applications in eye and sensor protection devices are reported. These films offer both improved wavelength coverage and optically-induced anisotropy compared to a commercially available azo dye, disperse red-1. Films with added diethyl phthalate plasticizer exhibit enhanced optical characteristics, as evidenced by the relatively faster response time in a pump–probe experiment. Plasticized polymer films showed good mechanical, thermal and optical stability.
An in vitro system for human cytomegalovirus immediate early 2 protein (IE2)-mediated site-dependent repression of transcription and direct binding of IE2 to the major immediate early promoter

In vivo, negative autoregulation of the strong major immediate early promoter (MIEP) of human cytomegalovirus requires the viral immediate early 2 protein (IE2) and a cis element located from position -13 through position -1 relative to the transcription start site. We have established an in vitro transcription system that reproduces the specificity of IE2-mediated negative autoregulation. The carboxyl-terminal 290-amino acid fragment of IE2 was purified as a bacterial fusion protein. Addition of this chimeric protein to the cell-free system specifically repressed transcription from the MIEP containing the wild-type cis-acting repressor element but not from a mutated template in which the cis element had been replaced by heterologous DNA. Control protein and a mutant IE2 fusion protein containing two specific amino acid substitutions in a putative zinc finger motif did not repress the MIEP in vitro. Using conditions defined by this functional assay, we demonstrated by mobility-shift experiments that IE2 binds directly and specifically to DNA bearing the cis-acting repressor element. In addition, IE2 bound to the MIEP in the in vitro transcription reaction mixture.
Psychological effects of stillbirth

summary Despite the high prevalence globally, the death of a baby to stillbirth is an often misunderstood and disenfranchised loss. Mothers, fathers, and families struggle to cope with the immediate and long-lasting effects of a baby’s death which can last for years and sometimes decades. In addition, providers can be adversely affected by stillbirth, particularly when met with experiential avoidance and a sense of guilt and failure. There is little evidence on intervention efficacy in acute grief following perinatal death; however, there is a growing body of scientific literature on the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in treating anxiety, depression, and other biopsychosocial maladies as well as improving patient satisfaction with psychosocial care. This paper explores one such intervention model, ATTEND (attunement, trust, therapeutic touch, egalitarianism, nuance, and death education), as a means to improve psychosocial care during both acute and chronic states of bereavement. Whereas the death of a baby to stillbirth is the ultimate paradox for providers and patients e the convergence of life and death and the fundamental contradiction it represents e with proper care and compassion, families stand a better chance in the face of such indescribable loss and they need not suffer alone. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Decomposing change in energy input-output coefficients

Abstract In updating input-output models using partial information from a new time period, it is important to know the relative contributions of model components in order to determine which new data lead to the greatest improvement in accuracy. In this work, using the standard energy input-output model, inverse coefficient change attributable to changes in the economy's direct energy requirements, direct non-energy requirements, and the composition of output within aggregate sectors is separated and measured. Results show that very accurate updated energy intensities can be estimated when updated direct energy flows and changes in the composition of output are accounted for.
A mitochondrial DNA sequence is associated with abnormal pollen development in cytoplasmic male sterile bean plants

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in common bean is associated with the presence of a 3-kb unique mitochondrial sequence designated pvs. The pvs sequence encodes at least two open reading frames (297 and 720 bp in length) with portions derived from the chloroplast genome. Fertility restoration by the nuclear restorer gene Fr results in the loss of this transcriptionally active unique region. We examined the effect of CMS (pvs present) and fertility restoration by Fr (pvs absent) on the pattern of pollen development in bean. In the CMS line, pollen aborted in the tetrad stage late in microgametogenesis. Microspores maintained cytoplasmic connections throughout pollen development, indicating aberrant or incomplete cytokinesis. Pollen-specific events associated with pollen abortion and fertility restoration imply that a gametophytic factor or event may be involved in CMS. In situ hybridization experiments suggested that significant reduction or complete loss of the mitochondrial sterility-associated sequence occurred in fertile pollen of F2 populations segregating for fertility. These observations support a model of fertility restoration by the loss of a mitochondrial DNA sequence prior to or during microsporogenesis/gametogenesis.
Impact of Quality Improvement Efforts on Race and Sex Disparities in Hemodialysis

ContextBy improving the process of care, quality improvement efforts have the potential to reduce race and sex disparities. However, little is known about whether reductions actually occur. National quality improvement activities targeting hemodialysis patients provide an opportunity to examine this issue.ObjectiveTo determine the effect of quality improvement efforts on race and sex disparities among hemodialysis patients.Design, Setting, and SubjectsLongitudinal study of 58 700 randomly selected hemodialysis patients from throughout the United States in 1993 through 2000.InterventionMedicare-funded quality improvement project involving monitoring of patient outcomes, feedback of performance data, and education of clinicians at dialysis centers.Main Outcome MeasuresChanges in hemodialysis dose (Kt/V), anemia management (hemoglobin level), and nutritional status (albumin level).ResultsThe proportion of all patients with an adequate hemodialysis dose increased 2-fold. In 1993, 46% of white patients and 36% of black patients received an adequate hemodialysis dose compared with 2000 when the proportions were 87% and 84%, respectively. Thus, the gap between white and black patients decreased from 10% to 3% (P<.001). The gap between female and male patients decreased from 23% to 9% over the same period (P = .008). The proportion of all patients with adequate hemoglobin levels increased 3-fold. The proportion of all patients with adequate albumin levels remained unchanged. Race and sex disparities in anemia management and nutritional status did not change significantly.ConclusionsQuality improvement efforts have a variable impact on race and sex disparities in health outcomes. Further work is needed to determine how quality improvement methods can be targeted to reduce health disparities.
Optical Processing In Radionuclide Tomographic Image Reconstruction

Optical and digital processing of tomographic data is presented and discussed in the context of a Fourier reconstruction algorithm applied to phantom radionuclide sources of nuclear medicine. The point spread function of the reconstruction process is discussed in relation to the angular sampling of frequency space and investigated using coherent optical techniques. Approximations due to gammaray attenuation in the source and the non-stationarity of the point spread function of the detector system are also presented.
Citizen Preferences and Paying for Police

: Researchers frequently approach questions dealing with local fiscal decision-making using economic models. These models typically base the demand for public services on a set of socioeconomic characteristics that serve as rough proxies for voter preferences. Our study focuses more directly on preference formation and explores the nature of the relationship between citizens’ attitudes about police services and their willingness to pay for them. We pay particular attention to the role of demographic traits, television media, and direct contact with service providers. We present data from a survey of Connecticut adults and use these data to test direct and indirect effects models with regression analysis. We find evidence that attitudes about police predict willingness to pay for police services, holding the demographic attributes of respondents constant. We also find that the effects of some demographic traits on demand for services are mediated by preferences, as are some types of experience and media exposure.
Oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by flocculated Thiobaccillus denitrificans in a continuous culture

In a continuous fermentation, significant advantages may be gained by immobilization of microbial cells. Immobilization allows cells to be retained in the fermenter or to be readily recovered and recycled. Therefore, the hydraulic retention time and the biomass retention time are decoupled. A novel cell immobilization has been developed for the immobilization of autotrophic bacteria by coculture with floc-forming heterotrophic bacteria with growth of the latter limited by the availability of organic carbon. The result is an immobilization matrix which grows along with the immobilized autotroph. We have previously demonstrated the utility of this approach by immobilizing the chemoautotroph Thiobacillus denitrificans in macroscopic floc by coculture with floc-forming heterotrophs from an activated sludge treatment facility. Floc with excellent settling characteristics were produced. These floc have now been used to remove H(2)S from a gas stream bubbled through continuous cultures. The stoichiometry and kinetics of H(2)S oxidation by immobilized T. denitrificans were comparable to that reported previously for free-cell cultures. Oxygen uptake measurements indicated the growth of both T. denitrificans and the heterotrophs although the medium contained no added organic carbon. Continuous cultures with total biomass recycle were maintained for up to four months indicating the long-term stability of the commensal relationship between the immobilized autotroph and the heterotrophs which composed the immobilization matrix. It was observed that at any given H(2)S loading the biomass concentration reached a maximum and leveled out. The ultimate biomass concentration was dependent upon the H(2)S feed rate.
Effects of various parameters on lateral displacement estimation in ultrasound elastography.

Complementary to axial, lateral displacement and strain can provide important information on the biolog- ical soft tissues. In this paper, the effects of key parameters (i.e., lateral displacement, pitch, beamwidth, beam overlap and interpolation) on lateral displacement estimation were investigated, in simulations and homogeneous phantom experiments, using lateral rigid motion only to study its fundamentals separately from the effects of axial motion and 2-D deformation on lateral displacement estimation. The performance of the lateral motion estimator was eval- uated by measuring its associated bias, jitter and correlation coefficient. Simulation results showed that the bias and jitter of the lateral displacement estimation and correlation coefficient of RF signals undergo periodic variations depending on the lateral displacement, with a period equal to the pitch. The performance of the lateral estimation was improved when a smaller pitch or a larger beamwidth, was used. The effect of the pitch on the lateral estimation on lateral displacement estimation was found to be greater than the beamwidth effect. Therefore, a smaller pitch is preferred when the beam overlap remains the same. The use of cubic spline, instead of linear interpolation, increases the correlation coefficient, and decreases the jitter, with the trade-off of increased bias. The results of the phantom experiments were shown in good agreement with the simulation findings, including the periodic variation of the perfor- mance with lateral displacement and effects of pitch, beamwidth and interpolation method on lateral displacement estimation. In conclusion, smaller pitch, wider beamwidth and spline interpolation were shown to be key in reducing the jitter error in the lateral displacement estimation. (E-mail: ek2191@columbia.edu) 2009 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.
A Contextual Analysis of Incomeand Asset‐Based Approaches to Private Equity Valuation

The question of how to best value privately held businesses for purposes of taxation and other legal reasons remains open to debate. In general, valuation models are asset‐based, income‐based, or hybrid models that aggregate asset and income information. An example of the latter is the controversial excess earnings method recommended by IRS Rev. Rul. 68–609. In this research, we focus on the relative performance of the excess earnings method vis‐a`‐vis other widely used valuation models. We consider the valuation accuracy of each model in a general setting along with examining contextual performance under varying levels of intangible versus tangible assets and varying levels of business profitability. We show that the hybrid model provides superior valuation accuracy in general and more consistent valuation accuracy across the contexts examined. We also show that the inclusion of two capitalization rates in the excess earnings method, which is required in order to distinguish returns from tangible versus ...
Relational Uncertainty Predicting Appraisals of Face Threat in Courtship: Integrating Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Politeness Theory:

This article combines uncertainty reduction theory and politeness theory to deduce hypotheses about how relational uncertainty may predict appraisals of face threat. Participants were 273 individuals who (a) reported on relational uncertainty; (b) simulated leaving a voice mail message for their dating partner to address the assigned goal of catching up, sharing information, giving comfort, or receiving comfort; and (c) evaluated the face threats of their message. As expected, relational uncertainty was positively associated with appraisals of face threat, and it was negatively associated with the extremity of appraisals of face threat, even after judges’ ratings of face management strategies were covaried. The article closes by discussing the implications for understanding relational uncertainty, politeness, and appraisals of face threat.
Do forest fires affect lightning

Lightning statistics are analysed downwind of forest fires in 1998 and 2000. The previously studied 1998 case shows anomalously high frequencies of positive cloud-to-ground lightning (+CG%) in the southern Great Plains region of the USA, coincident with the smoke plume from forest fires in Central America. Fires in the northwestern USA in summer 2000 produced a smoke pall commensurate with the 1998 fires, but were not accompanied by statistically significant lightning anomalies. Analyses of meteorological data reveal that the southern Great Plains region was abnormally dry and hot during the period of anomalous lightning in 1998. Using a 1.5-dimensional thunderstorm model on a day with high +CG%, 15 May 1998, we find that whereas the percentage of positive cloud-to-ground lightning did not change significantly with changes in cloud condensation nuclei, adding moisture to the model significantly decreases the percentage of positive cloud-to-ground lightning, making it closer to the climatological norm. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Implicit human resource management theory: a potential threat to the internal validity of human resource practice measures

Since the publication of Huselid's (1995) paper examining the relationship between HR practices and firm performance, there has been an explosion of published papers examining the empirical relationship between HR practices and various measures of firm performance. This study examines the possibility that informants typically providing data about organizational HR practices may be biased by an implicit theory of human resource management. Our findings suggest the responses from subjects typically providing data about HR practices may be biased in their reporting by the performance of the organization. The generalizability of these results is considered and implications for future studies of the HR-firm performance relationship reviewed.
Estimated limits of IMRT dose escalation using varied planning target volume margins

To estimate the limits of dose escalation for prostate cancer as a function of planning target volume (PTV) margins, the maximum achievable dose (MAD) was determined through iterative plan optimizations from data sets of 18 patients until the dose constraints for rectum, bladder and PTV could no longer be met. PTV margins of 10, 5 and 3 mm yielded a mean MAD of 83.0 Gy (range, 73.8-108.0 Gy), 113.1 Gy (range, 90.0-151.2 Gy) and 135.9 Gy (range, 102.6-189.0 Gy), respectively. All comparisons of MAD among margin groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Comparison of prostate volumes of 30-50 mL (n = 8) with volumes of 51-70 mL (n = 7) and 71-105 mL (n = 3) showed an inverse relationship with MAD. Decreases in PTV margin significantly decreased the PTV overlap of the rectum (P < 0.001 for all margin comparisons). With decreases in the PTV margin and maintenance of identical dose constraints, doses well above those currently prescribed for treatment of localized prostate cancer appear feasible. However, the dose escalation suggested by these findings is a theoretical estimate, and additional dose constraints will likely be necessary to limit toxicity to normal tissue.