cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periprosthetic Fractures of the Distal Femur: Is Open Reduction and Internal Fixation or Distal Femoral Replacement Superior?

Abstract Background The purpose of this study is to compare open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) to distal femoral replacement (DFR) for treatment of displaced periprosthetic distal femur fractures. Methods We identified 72 patients with minimum 2-year follow-up following a displaced periprosthetic distal femur fracture: 50 were treated with ORIF and 22 with DFR. Outcomes were assessed with multivariate regression analysis and include Knee Society Scores (KSS), infection rates, revision incidence, and mortality. Results Patients treated with DFR had a higher Charlson comorbidity index (5.2 vs 3.8; P = .006). The mean postoperative KSS were similar between groups, but the Knee Society Functional Scores were higher in the ORIF group (P = .01). Six ORIF patients (12%) and 3 DFR patients (14%) underwent a revision surgery (P = .1). In the ORIF group, 3 revisions were associated with periprosthetic infection, and 3 revisions occurred for aseptic nonunion. In the DFR group, 1 infection was treated with irrigation and debridement, and 2 cases of patellar maltracking resulted in 1 liner exchange with soft tissue release and 1 femoral revision for malrotation. More patients in the ORIF group required repeat revisions, with twice as many total revisions (P Conclusion The Knee Society Functional Score favored ORIF, but the total incidence of revision was higher in the ORIF cohort. Given the high mortality and the substantial risk of reoperation in both groups, additional studies are needed regarding the prevention of and optimal treatment for patients with periprosthetic distal femur fractures.
Treating Opioid Use Disorder and Related Infectious Diseases in the Criminal Justice System

This article provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of opioid use disorder and its infectious complications among populations with criminal justice involvement. Opioid use disorder and chronic infections such as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus are highly prevalent among incarcerated individuals and some of the unique features of correctional facilities present challenges for their appropriate medical management. We outline evidence-based strategies for integrated, patient-centered treatment during incarceration and the potentially hazardous transition back to the community upon release.
Ten-year outcomes of extracorporeal life support for in-hospital cardiac arrest at a tertiary center.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is controversial, given both the lack of evidence for improved outcomes and clarity on appropriate candidacy during time-sensitive cardiac arrest situations. The primary objective of our study was to identify factors predicting successful outcomes in ECPR patients.Between March 2007 and November 2018, 112 patients were placed on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) during active CPR (ECPR) at our institution. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Survivors and non-survivors were compared in terms of pre-cannulation comorbidities, laboratory values, and overall outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify pre-cannulation predictors of in-hospital mortality. Among 112 patients, 44 (39%) patients survived to decannulation and 31 (28%) survived to hospital discharge. The median age was 60 years (IQR 45–72) with a median ECLS duration of 2.2 days (IQR 0.6–5.1). Patients who survived to discharge had lower rates of chronic kidney disease than non-survivors (19% vs. 41%, p = 0.046) and lower baseline creatinine values [median 1.2 mg/dL (IQR 0.8–1.7) vs. 1.7 (0.7–2.7), p = 0.008]. Median duration from CPR initiation to cannulation was 40 min (IQR 30–50) with no difference between survivors and non-survivors (p = 0.453). When controlling for age and CPR duration, multivariable logistic regression with pre-procedural risk factors identified pre-arrest serum creatinine as an independent predictor of mortality [OR 3.25 (95% CI 1.22–8.70), p = 0.019] and higher pre-arrest serum albumin as protective [OR 0.32 (95% CI 0.14–0.74), p = 0.007]. In our cohort, pre-arrest creatinine and albumin were independently predictive of in-hospital mortality during ECPR, while age and CPR duration were not.
Development of a Real-Time Software-Defined GPS Receiver in a LabVIEW-Based Instrumentation Environment

The ubiquitousness of location-based services has proven effective for many applications such as commercial, military, and emergency responders. Software-defined radio (SDR) has emerged as an adequate framework for the development and testing of global navigational satellite systems such as the global position system (GPS). SDR receivers are constantly developing in terms of acceleration factors and accurate algorithms for precise user navigation. However, many SDR options for GPS receivers currently lack real-time operation or could be costly. This paper presents a LabVIEW (LV) and C/C++-based GPS L1 receiver platform with real-time capabilities. The system relies on LV acceleration factors as well as other C/C++ techniques such as dynamic link library integration into LV and parallelizable loop structures, and single instruction, multiple data methods, which leverage host PC multipurpose processors. A hardware testbed is presented for compactness and mobility, as well as software functionality and data flow handling inherent in LV environment. Benchmarks and other real-time results are presented as well as compared with the other state-of-the-art open-source GPS receivers.
Surgical Approach to Total Hip Arthroplasty Affects the Organism Profile of Early Periprosthetic Joint Infections.

The optimal approach for total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains hotly debated. While wound complications following the direct anterior approach are higher than with other approaches, the organism profile of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) by approach remains unknown. Our goal was to compare the organism profiles of PJIs following direct anterior and non-anterior THA. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 12,549 primary THAs (4,515 direct anterior and 8,034 non-anterior) that had been performed between January 2012 and September 2019 at a university-affiliated single-specialty orthopaedic hospital to identify patients with an early postoperative PJI. Criteria used for the diagnosis of a PJI were the National Healthcare Safety Network, which screens for PJI that occurs within 90 days of index arthroplasty, and the Musculoskeletal Infection Society guidelines. Patient demographic information and organism characteristics were recorded for analysis. Results We identified 84 patients (38 who underwent the direct anterior approach and 46 who underwent the non-anterior approach) with an early postoperative PJI following primary THA (0.67% total THA PJI rate, 0.84% direct anterior THA PJI rate, and 0.57% non-anterior THA PJI rate). The direct anterior THA cohort had a significantly lower body mass index and American Society of Anesthesiologists score than the non-anterior THA cohort (29.5 versus 35.2 kg/m2, p < 0.0001; 2.29 versus 2.63, p = 0.016, respectively). Regarding organism profile, patients in the direct anterior THA cohort had significantly more monomicrobial gram-negative infections than the non-anterior THA cohort (4 versus 0, p = 0.038). We did not identify any demographic risk factors other than approach for gram-negative PJI. There were no significant differences in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, obligate anaerobes, polymicrobial, or PJIs due to other organisms by approach. Conclusions Direct anterior THA approaches have a greater risk of monomicrobial gram-negative PJI, likely due to the unique microbiome of the inguinal region. While targeted infection prophylaxis may reduce these infections, it is not entirely effective on its own. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to help us develop more targeted perioperative infection prophylaxis. Level of Evidence Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Goat γδ T cell subpopulations defined by WC1 expression, responses to pathogens and cytokine production

Abstract The major functions of γδ T cells in mammals overlap with those of αβ T cells but differ in that γδ T cells are rapid responders and see different types of antigens. While γδ T cells have been shown to be a major population of circulating lymphocytes in artiodactyl species such as cattle, sheep, and pigs, less is known about these cells in goats, an important agricultural species. We have recently shown that WC1, a γδ T cell-specific family of hybrid pattern recognition receptors/co-receptors, is a multigenic family in goats expanded beyond what occurs in cattle. This study was conducted to address some of the limitations of previous studies in determining the proportions of γδ T cells, WC1+ γδ T cells as well as the WC1.1+ and WC1.2+ subpopulations in blood and to evaluate their responses to various pathogens. Previously, the proportion of caprine γδ T cells was determined using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) 86D that we show here does not react with all γδ T cells thereby underestimating their contribution to the lymphocyte population. Using a mAb reactive with the TCRδ constant region we found the proportion of γδ T cells in blood was not significantly less than that of either CD4 or CD8 T cells and did not decrease with age after 6 months. γδ T cells that expressed WC1 ranged from ~20 to 85% of the total γδ T cells. Less than half of those were classified as WC1.1+ or WC1.2+ by mAb staining thus indicating a third major WC1+ population. We found that naive γδ T cells proliferated in cultures of PBMC stimulated with antigens of Leptospira or Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) more than they did in control medium cultures or in those stimulated with M. bovis BCG antigens and that the responding γδ T cells included both WC1+ and WC1- cells. In ex vivo PMA/ionomycin-stimulated cultures of WC1- γδ T cells but not WC1+ cells produced both IL-17 and IFNγ. In longterm cultures with Leptospira or MAP both WC1- and WC1+ cells proliferated but only WC1- γδ T cells produced IL-17. In conclusion, goats have a substantial number of WC1- and WC1+ γδ T cells in PBMC that do not decrease with animal age after 6 months; both populations respond to bacterial antigens as naive cells but in these cultures only the WC1- γδ cells produc IL-17 and IFNγ .
Respiratory Function of Hemoglobin: From Origin to Human Physiology and Pathophysiology

Hemoglobin packaged within erythrocytes stores, delivers, coordinates and actively regulates the exchange of multiple gases including oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide and nitric oxide among distant sites of uptake, production, utilization and elimination. Hemoglobin traces its origin to the earliest anaerobic prokaryote that ingested metals from the rock to produce hemoproteins that facilitate non-O2-based cellular respiration, only later acquiring O2-binding ability. In multi-cellular organisms, some hemoprotein-producing cells either extruded their product or detached to enter the circulation, becoming erythrocytes and co-evolving in complexity with the microvascular system. This article surveys the origin and natural selection of hemoglobin, its respiratory functions and close interactions with erythrocytes and the microvasculature, and how its evolutionary history informs gas transport physiology and clinical medicine in terms of understanding the pathophysiological disturbances in hemoglobin quantity, quality, function and dynamic regulation.
Calculus Deconstructed: A Second Course in First-Year Calculus

Preface Contents 1. Precalculus 2. Sequences and their limits 3. Continuity 4. Differentiation 5. Integration 6. Power series A. Methods of proof B. Answers to selected problems Bibliography Index.
Some Observations on Sexual Reproduction in Tubularia

Observations of the sexual reproduction of the hydroid Tubularia have been made over a period of several years in connection with my work on animal sperm chemotaxis prior to fertilization. What follows is a summary of my findings, in an attempt to add this data to the published literature on an organism which has been used almost solely for studies of asexual reproduction (Rose, 1974).
Detection of Tyrosine Sulfation on Proteins

Tyrosine sulfation is a post-translational modification (PTM) where a sulfate group is added to a tyrosine moiety. This PTM is responsible for strengthening interaction between proteins. One of the drawbacks of studying this PTM is the lack of an antibody that can detect all tyrosine-sulfated proteins. In addition, due to the labile nature of the tyrosine sulfate, other techniques such as mass spectrometry cannot be used to study this PTM unless special modification procedures are used. This requires considerable skill and knowledge of mass spectrometry. This unit describes an in vitro technique that can be used to study tyrosine-sulfated proteins by radiolabeling the recombinant protein. The protein is then subject to barium hydroxide hydrolysis and thin-layer electrophoresis (TLE). Co-localization of radioactive tyrosine-sulfate with nonradioactive tyrosine sulfate standard spiked in before TLE analysis identifies a protein as tyrosine-sulfated protein. The advantage of this technique is that, it identifies all tyrosine-sulfated proteins without any bias and is the only technique that identifies the tyrosine sulfate residues in the protein.
A Self-Tuning Controller using an Incremental Predictor in the Presence of Bounded Disturbances

A self-tuning controller is presented for the process described by a controlled auto-regressive integrated moving average model in the presence of bounded disturbances. The bounded-input bounded-output stability is proven and a upper bound of the tracking error is also given. The controller produces an integral control term in a natural way, so the offset can be avoided.
Agricultural Biotechnology, Policy, and Nutrition

Introduction Food Biotechnology: Promise or Reality Theoretical Potential Economic Realities Safety Issues Unintended Consequences: Tryptophan Supplements Allergenicity Antibiotic Resistance Regulatory Issues Food Safety Environmental Impact Intellectual Property Rights Public Perceptions Predictive Implications: Recombinant Products Pharmaceuticals: Insulin Enzymes: Chymosin Hormones: Bovine Somatotropin (rbST) Foods: The “Flavr Savr” Tomato Food Crops: Soybeans and Corn Policy Implications Keywords: agricultural biotechnology
Comparison of A-SMGCS requirements with observed performance of an integrated airport CNS system

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has recently drafted a reference document describing the operational requirements for Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS) [1]. During the summer of 1997, NASA, the FAA, industry, and academia partners demonstrated a holistic system approach that has the potential to meet many of the proposed A-SMGCS requirements. An assessment of the field tested system and data resulting from the field testing is presented to determine its compliance with A-SMGCS requirements. In those areas where compliance was not demonstrated, a recommendation is presented suggesting further research or a modification of the system architecture.
Subribosomal particles of cultured Chinese hamster cells: Identification of ring-shaped structures with 21S protein particles☆

Abstract The relationship of protein and ribonucleoprotein 18–21S subribosomal particles to 120 A ring-shaped structures was determined. Such structures were found to co-sediment with the 21S protein particle and to concentrate with this particle during purification. Resolved 21S particles freed of 18S particles, LMM-RNPs, and 20S tRNP were shown to be comprised mainly of four or more proteins having molecular weights in the range of 22 000–28 000 D. Such proteins are completely absent from resolved 18S protein particles.
Nucleotide sequence and transcriptional start site of the Methylobacterium organophilum XX methanol dehydrogenase structural gene.

Abstract The nucleotide sequence of a cloned 2.5-kilobase-pair SmaI fragment containing the methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) structural gene from Methylobacterium organophilum XX was determined. A single open reading frame with a coding capacity of 626 amino acids (molecular weight, 66,000) was identified on one strand, and N-terminal sequencing of purified MDH revealed that 27 of these residues constituted a putative signal peptide. Primer extension mapping of in vivo transcripts indicated that the start of mRNA synthesis was 160 to 170 base pairs upstream of the ATG codon. Northern (RNA) blot analysis further demonstrated that the transcript was 2.1 kilobase pairs in length and therefore appeared to encode only MDH.
An Improved Prosthesis for a Syme Amputation

A Syme amputation, which is the most conservative below-the-knee amputation and which provides the best functioning stump for weight-bearing, has been rarely recommended for women, because the unsightly prosthesis is objectionable. Some time ago it was necessary to amputate the foot of a female patient, twenty-two years old. After a conference with the young woman, it was decided that the many merits of a Syme amputation far outweighed the objection of the unattractive prosthesis, and an amputation of the Syme type was carried out. A very good stump was obtained, and it was fitted with the conventional prosthesis. Although the artificial limb was most serviceable, it was indeed unsightly and our patient was very unhappy. The problem of finding a more pleasing prosthesis was discussed with our limb maker and, after several attempts, a very neat, light, and functional prosthesis was constructed from laminated plastic material reinforced with glass cloth. After the first lamination or molding, a window was cut out of the back of the prosthesis sufficiently large to allow the stump to slip completely into the socket. Following the last lamination, the open area was closed with a leather lacer. Although the stump had the usual bulbous end, it was possible to make the bulge less apparent by the proper build-up of the shin portion of the prosthesis and by thinning the plastic material in the region of the malleoli during the laminating process.
A Descriptive Study of the Knowledge-Base of Malaria between the Visually-impaired and the Non-Visually impaired in Two Primary Schools in Lagos, Nigeria; implications for health education.

Background: The study was carried out in two primary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. One hundred students were from Pacelli School for the Blind and one hundred and sixty-four students were from Onitolo Primary School, a main stream school. The study compared the knowledge base of the two groups on malaria prevention and treatment options. Approval for the study was granted by the Ethics Committee of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria and consent was sought from parents/ guardians of the students and from the principals of the two schools.Method: The instrument of data collection was a close ended questionnaire. The average time it took to fill the questionnaire was twenty minutes. Analysis of categorical variables was done by Chi- Square Analysis.Results: The respondents from Pacelli School for the Blind were older than the respondents from Onitolo Primary School when matched by class in primary school (P 0.05). In Pacelli School, 44 (44%) of the respondents had had malaria in the past twelve months. In Onitolo School, 49 (29.9%) of the respondents had had malaria in the past twelve months. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of times both groups had had malaria in the past twelve months.Conclusion: There were more visually-impaired males in Pacelli School than females. There was a statistically significant difference on their knowledge base on the cause of malaria. More students from Pacelli School had the correct knowledge on the cause of malaria. The major source of information about malaria from both schools was from their doctors and other health personnel. Teacher/School was the least source of information about malaria in Pacelli School and in Onitolo. Health Education on preventable diseases like malaria should be strengthened in both schools. More schools for the visually –impaired should be replicated across the states in Nigeria and more schools for the visually-impaired should be replicated in Lagos State.Keywords: Malaria; Health Education; Visually-impaired; knowledge base; Pacelli School; Onitolo School; The Blind; Treatment; Prevention.
The Standard of Review for the Voluntariness of a Confession on Direct Appeal in Federal Court

I confess. These two words-if the jury hears them-often seal the fate of a criminal defendant.' As a result, defense lawyers will fight furiously to suppress a client's confession. A trial court will not admit a confession into evidence if the defendant did not make it voluntarily. Even after the trial court has ruled on the confession's voluntariness, an appellate court can reverse that ruling.2 In Miller v Fenton, the Supreme Court held that the question whether a trial court correctly ruled on the confession's
Development of an in vitro organ culture model to study transmission of HIV-1 in the female genital tract.

Development of an in vitro organ culture model to study transmission of HIV-1 in the female genital tract
In situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) to accelerate transient computational fluid dynamics with complex heterogeneous chemical kinetics

Abstract This paper extends the in situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) algorithm for accelerating the simulation of complex heterogeneous chemical kinetics within transient, three-dimensional, computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The ISAT algorithm, initially developed for homogeneous combustion kinetics, takes advantage of the fact that initial conditions for the chemistry in a particular cell (i.e., temperature and composition) may have been present in this cell or another cell earlier in the simulation. In such cases, the solution can be extracted from a tabulation of prior solutions more efficiently than solving the local kinetics problem. The ISAT algorithm uses efficient tabulation and retrieval algorithms, greatly accelerating the solution process. Illustrative results are based on the simulation of methane reforming in a catalytic microchannel reactor, considering coupled fluid mechanics, catalytic chemistry, and conjugate heat transfer.
Capacity and error rate of spatial CDMA for multiple antenna multiple accessing

Pulse radio has been considered a power efficient method for communication in a multiple path fading environment. We extend the method to the use of multiple transmitters per user, and the use of receiver arrays distributed over a geographic area. We show that we can obtain a linear growth in transmission capacity if we use multiple receivers. We explore the notion of spatial capacity, similar to the earlier results for point-to-point communications with multiple antenna elements (MAE). Since spatially separated users each uses a different set of paths to reach a receiver, we can imagine that the multipath "impairment" actually could be used to our advantage to improve capacity and reduce transmission errors. In effect, each user has a multipath transmission signature that helps to distinguish its information transmission. This transmission signature becomes more complex when we have multiple receivers at the base station, and multiple transmitters at the user. The signature can be seen as a spatial CDMA code, and the use of MAE actually increases the multiple access capacity linearly with the multiplicity of antennas. We study the spectral characteristics of monocycle pulses and other bandwidth efficient pulse shapes. We propose a novel technique of using a convolution formula for the Poisson shot noise process to calculate the probability distribution of multiple access interference (MAI). The technique analyses the Poisson process. Using the distribution, we calculate the channel capacity of spatial CDMA for various pulse shapes. We show that spatial CDMA provides high capacity wireless multiaccess communications.
Do aftercare mental health services reduce risk of psychiatric rehospitalization for children

Appropriate and timely aftercare services are considered critical for children and adolescents with previous psychiatric hospitalization. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between type and amount of aftercare received and rehospitalization among youths who have been previously hospitalized due to psychiatric illness. The sample consisted of 569 youth ages 6-18 who received services in a large public service system. The sample of youth was 58% female and consisted largely of ethnic minorities (51% Hispanic, 26% White, 16% African American, and 7% were another race/ethnicity). Demographic, diagnostic, and service use data was obtained from billing records. Time-dependent Cox regression models evaluated the impact of aftercare (the primary dependent variable of interest) on risk of rehospitalization. Separate models were analyzed for each type of service and all models were adjusted for race/ethnicity, age, gender, diagnosis, insurance status, and comorbid substance use. Seventy percent of youths with a psychiatric hospitalization received aftercare and 28% were rehospitalized within 6 months of discharge. The total hours of services youths received was significantly related to a smaller likelihood of rehospitalization. Having a diagnosis of schizophrenia was associated with a higher risk of rehospitalization and receiving more days of day treatment was associated with a lower risk of rehospitalization. Given the restrictiveness and cost of hospitalization, mental health practitioners should focus on improving access, engagement, and quality of aftercare services. (PsycINFO Database Record
Millimeter-wave Schottky diode imaging array development

Low cost focal plane imaging arrays are being developed for radar and radiometric applications in the millimeter-wave region. Passive radiometric imaging has been demonstrated using mechanically scanned single Schottky diode mixer waveguide systems ranging from 90-200 GHz. The use of 1D imaging arrays will significantly reduce scanning time and cost as current fabrication techniques allow multiple channels to be economically constructed. Twenty channel arrays are currently under development in the laboratory for use at 94 GHz. >
Validation of the Weight Reduction Treatment Package for the Retarded

This paper describes a cost-effective treatment package for the obese retarded population. The components of the treatment package and a description of the teaching strategies are included. A series of studies validating this package for a variety of retarded individuals is presented.
Home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS in Plateau State, Nigeria: Findings from qualitative study

As health-care services in Nigeria and other African countries are becoming overstrained with patients, home-based care has increasingly been touted as a possible solution. The faith-based organisation, Gospel Health and Development Services, provides a home-based care programme for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) residing in Plateau State, Nigeria. This paper assesses the challenges that PLWHA in the programme faced while maintaining their health and livelihoods. The frustrations that volunteers endured in performing their work are also described, as well as the benefits and weaknesses of the programme from the perspective of PLWHA and their volunteer caregivers. Focus groups and interviews were done with 30 PLWHA and 22 volunteers to learn about their experiences with the home-based care programme and possible areas for its improvement. From these discussions three major challenges facing PLWHA emerged: discrimination towards PLWHA; the lack of money, food, and transport to health-care centres; and the desire for closer antiretroviral drug access.
Matrix Isolation Chemistry in a Porous Metal−Organic Framework: Photochemical Substitutions of N2 and H2 in Zn4O[(η6-1,4-Benzenedicarboxylate)Cr(CO)3]3

Reaction of the microporous metal−organic framework Zn4O(BDC)3 (BDC2- = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) with Cr(CO)6 at 140 °C in a 6:1 mixture of dibutylether and THF affords Zn4O[(BDC)Cr(CO)3]3 (1). This compound retains the porous cubic structure of the parent framework, but features Cr(CO)3 groups attached in an η6 fashion to all of the benzene rings. Compound 1 is also microporous, exhibiting a BET surface area of 2130 m2/g. It can be fully decarbonylated by heating at 200 °C, but the resulting gray solid (2) shows little affinity for N2 or H2 at 298 K, suggesting aggregation of the chromium atoms. In contrast, photolysis of 1 using 450-nm light in an atmosphere of N2 or H2 produces solids with infrared spectra indicative of Zn4O[(BDC)Cr(CO)2(N2)]3 (3) and Zn4O[(BDC)Cr(CO)2(H2)]3 (4). Under an N2 atmosphere, compound 4 completely converts into compound 3 over the course of 12 h, demonstrating the lability of the Cr0−H2 bond. Owing to isolation of the metal centers within the rigid, evacuable framework stru...
ICP0 and the US3 protein kinase of herpes simplex virus 1 independently block histone deacetylation to enable gene expression

SK-N-SH cells exposed to low ratios of ICP0-null (ΔICP0) mutants of herpes simplex virus per cell express the viral α proteins, but the progression to β and γ gene expression does not ensue. In these restrictive cells, post-α gene expression can be induced after exposure of the infected cells to sodium butyrate, an indication that VP16 brought into cells by the virus and the α gene products made after infection cannot block the silencing of viral post-α genes by histone deacetylases (HDACs). This observation is consistent with evidence reported earlier that ICP0 dissociates HDAC1/2 from the CoREST/REST complex. In permissive U2OS cells, replication is independent of the ratio of ΔICP0 mutant per cell. To determine whether other viral genes are involved in blocking HDACs, we used a surrogate system consisting of baculoviruses carrying viral or cellular genes driven by CMV immediate–early promoter. Expression of these genes requires blocking of histone deacetylation. We report that (i) cotransduced US3 or US3.5 protein kinase substitutes for sodium butyrate in enabling the expression of a reporter gene in restrictive cells and enhancing it in permissive cells; (ii) HDAC1 is phosphorylated concomitant with the expression of reporter genes; and (iii) the amounts and appearance of HDAC1 are altered in transduced cells expressing US3 protein kinase in the absence of other viral proteins. We conclude that the US3 protein kinase blocks histone deacetylation by a mechanism distinct from that of ICP0 and that debilitated histone deacetylation contributes to the permissiveness of U2OS cells for ΔICP0 mutants.
Performance evaluation of university extension providers : A frontier approach for ordered response data

A frontier model is used to evaluate the performance of extension service providers in the US land grant university system when providing assistance to organic producers. Performance efficiency indicates the effectiveness of extension agents in achieving the highest evaluations from their clientele conditioned on the farm level characteristics and environmental resources and constraints of the organic farmers. Mean performance efficiency of the extension agents is above 0.69 for entire sample with top performing extension service experts outperforming the average providers by about 44%. Performance efficiency, or advisory outcomes that are below the best that extension could provide, are not significantly reduced when extension agents deal with difficult evaluation situations.
The Behavioral Assessment of Social Interactions in Young Children: An examination of convergent and incremental validity

Abstract Many treatment programs for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) target social skills, and there is growing attention directed toward the development of specific interventions to improve social skills and social interactions in this population ( Hestenes and Carroll, 2000 , Strain and Hoyson, 2000 ). However, there are limited tools available to assess social skills in children with ASD. Furthermore, there are even fewer designed to assess response to intervention. The focus of the current study was to examine the convergent, criterion, and incremental validity of a new measure designed to assess the development of social interaction skills in individuals with ASD; namely, the Behavioral Assessment of Social Interactions in Young Children (BASYC; Gillis, Callahan, & Romanczyk, 2010 ). A total of 44 individuals with ASD participated in this study (mean age was 7 years 11 months; range was 2–12 years old). The BASYC demonstrated convergent validity with the Social Approach subscale of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Behavior Inventory (PDDBI; Cohen & Sudhalter, 2005 ) and criterion-related validity with the Socialization domain of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II (VABS-II; Sparrow, Cicchetti, & Balla, 2005 ). One of the two BASYC subscales demonstrated incremental validity over the PDDBI in predicting variability in the VABS-II Socialization domain. The results of this research provide further support for the clinical utility of the BASYC as a measure of social interaction skills in individuals with ASD.
A factor analysis of mathematical giftedness.

90 mathematically gifted high school students selected on the basis of aptitude and interest in mathematics were compared with 63 unselected college preparatory high school students in the same gen...
Mechanistic Insights into Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation: Echocardiographic and Surgical Implications

Ischemic mitral regurgitation is a common complication of the healing phase of myocardial infarction. A number of mechanisms have been invoked in its pathogenesis, including alterations of papillary muscle position, annular dynamics, and intraventricular synchrony. The echocardiographic hallmark of ischemic mitral regurgitation is systolic tethering of the mitral valve leaflets away from the annular plane. A number of leaflet tethering parameters have been described (tenting height and area, leaflet angles) that provide insight into the mechanism of tethering as well as prognostic information about the durability of mitral valve repair. Restrictive annuloplasty and coronary artery revascularization promote reverse remodeling and remain the most common surgical treatment. Innovative subannular therapies and a number of percutaneous interventions are under investigation.
Comparison of light quark and charm quark fragmentation

Abstract Separate samples of charm quark and light quark (u, d, s) jets have been isolated in an experiment studying e+e− annihilations at s = 29 GeV . The results come from data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 111 pb−1 collected by the High Resolution Spectrometer. Differences were observed in charged multiplicities, momentum distributions, and rapidity of the size expected from the different fragmentation functions and leading particle decay properties of the two samples.
WISC‐III correlations with the WIAT

Correlations between WISC-III IQs and Index scores with the eight achievement subscales of the WIAT were investigated for a sample of 202 students with specific learning disabilities, 115 students with mental retardation, and 159 students who failed to qualify for special education services (total N = 476). Corrected correlations between the WISC-III Full Scale IQ and WIAT subtests indicated differences with the correlations reported in the WIAT manual. Interestingly, our relationships were generally higher than those previously reported. Only on one subtest, Basic Reading, were significantly lower correlations than those reported in the WIAT manual present. Correlations between the Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Organization Index scores and WIAT subtests were almost all lower than those calculated between the Verbal and Performance IQs and WIAT subtests. Implications are discussed, especially those involving the use of correlations between ability and achievement measures in regression formulas.
Central pharmacological activity of a quaternary ammonium compound in streptozotocin diabetic mice

Abstract Possible changes in blood-brain barrier (BBB) function as a result of diabetes were investigated by assessing antagonism of morphine analgesia in diabetic mice by methylnaltrexone (MeNTX), an opioid receptor blocker that does not cross the BBB when administered subcutaneously (SC). In streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic mice—but not vehicle-treated, non-diabetic mice-treatment with SC MeNTX significantly reduced morphine analgesia. In vehicle-treated, non-diabetic mice, morphine analgesia was antagonized by MeNTX administered intracerebroventricularly and by SC naltrexone, which crosses the BBB. Reduction of STZ-induced hyperglycemia by insulin reversed the effectiveness of SC MeNTX in antagonizing morphine analgesia. We hypothesize that in STZ diabetic mice, MeNTX was able to cross the BBB and block brain opioid receptors.
GaAs under Intense Ultrafast Excitation: Response of the Dielectric Function

We used a new broadband spectroscopic technique to measure the dielectric function of GaAs over the spectral range of 1.5--3.5 eV following intense 70-fs laser excitation. The results provide the most detailed information thus far on the electron and lattice dynamics both above and below the fluence threshold for permanent damage, ${F}_{\mathrm{th}}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1.0\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{kJ}/{\mathrm{m}}^{2}$. There are three distinct regimes of behavior: lattice heating $(l{0.5F}_{\mathrm{th}})$, lattice disordering (0.6--0.8) ${F}_{\mathrm{th}}$, and a semiconductor-to-metal transition $(g{0.8F}_{\mathrm{th}})$. Below ${F}_{\mathrm{th}}$, the changes are completely reversible.
Permeability, diffusivity, and microstructural parameters: A critical review

Abstract It is important to understand the rates of diffusion of ionic species and the viscous flow of fluids in the pore structure of cementitious materials on the basis of microstructural parameters, as these rates control the rate at which degradation processes can proceed. Significant progress has been made in the related area of the diffusivity and permeability of sedimentary rocks in the last decade or so. This article has the following two purposes: to provide a critical review of popular theories linking microstructure and transport coefficients of porous materials, and to explore the applications of new concepts, developed for analyzing transport in sedimentary rocks, to understand transport processes in cementitious materials.
Color image enhancement algorithms based on the DCT domain

This paper presents a novel modified multi scale contrast enhancement (MMCE) technique for color image enhancement based on manipulating the DCT coefficients. Modified multi contrast enhancement (MCE) is an improved version of multi contrast enhancement by redefining the frequency spectral bands and introducing more band enhancement techniques to achieve a better performance. This paper also uses an image contrast measure SDME to choose the optimal parameters and to demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods. Computer simulations and analysis are shown that the presented method outperforms the commonly used methods such as Retinex and the original MCE for most images.
The US clean water act and habitat replacement: Evaluation of mitigation sites in Orange County, California, USA

Both permit requirements and ecological assessments have been used to evaluate mitigation success. This analysis combines these two approaches to evaluate mitigation required under Section 404 of the United States Clean Water Act (CWA) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which allow developers to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to wetlands. This study reviewed permit files and conducted field assessments of mitigation sites to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation required by the US Army Corps of Engineers for all permits issued in Orange County, California from 1979 through 1993. The 535 permit actions approved during this period allowed 157 ha of impacts. Mitigation was required on 70 of these actions, with 152 ha of enhanced, restored, and created habitat required for 136 ha of impacts. In 15 permit actions, no mitigation project was constructed, but in only two cases was the originally permitted project built; the two cases resulted in an unmitigated loss of 1.6 ha. Of the remaining 55 sites, 55% were successful at meeting the permit conditions while 11% failed to do so. Based on a qualitative assessment of habitat quality, only 16% of the sites could be considered successful and 26% were considered failures. Thus, of the 126 ha of habitat lost due to the 55 projects, only 26 ha of mitigation was considered successful. The low success rate was not due to poor enforcement, although nearly half of the projects did not comply with all permit conditions. Mitigation success could best be improved by requiring mitigation plans to have performance standards based on habitat functions.
Service discovery using volunteer nodes in heterogeneous pervasive computing environments

Abstract We propose a service discovery architecture called VSD (Service Discovery based on Volunteers) for pervasive computing environments. The proposed architecture exploits stable and resourceful nodes, called volunteers, that perform directory services in the network. The VSD architecture recognizes node heterogeneity in terms of mobility and capability. We analyze the characteristics of VSD architecture and operations for optimal system performance. Additionally, trust management is incorporated for secure collaboration among nodes in open environments. By showing that VSD outperforms broadcast-based solutions in MANET scenarios prevalent in pervasive environments, we validate that VSD is a flexible and adaptable architecture appropriate for dynamic environments.
What do adolescents want? An exploratory study regarding end-of-life decision-making.

Abstract Purpose To explore whether differences exist between chronically ill and healthy adolescents with regard to their attitudes about end-of-life (EOL) issues. Methods A convenience sample of 25 adolescents without and 25 with a chronic illness, aged 13 to 21 years, were surveyed in hospital clinics, using a 25-item instrument; 60% were female and 76% were African-American. Items were developed based on previous research, interviews with health care providers, and a focus group with patients. Data were analyzed using the Fisher's exact test for 2-tailed p values. Results Ninety-six percent of chronically ill and 88% of healthy teens want to share decision-making if they are very ill; 76% prefer to discuss their wishes earlier in the course of a life-threatening illness. There was a trend for chronically ill adolescents to prefer to wait until later in the course of their illness (32% at diagnosis, 32% when first ill, 20% first hospitalization, or 16% if dying), when compared with their healthy peers (68% at diagnosis, 20% first ill, 4% first hospitalization, 8% if dying) ( p = .074). Chronically ill adolescents were significantly more likely to prefer to wait to have these discussions, if the data were collapsed for time (first hospitalized and/or dying) (Fisher's p = .037). Half of all adolescents believed that they would be allowed to change their minds once they had made a decision. Eighty percent of chronically ill and 68% of healthy teens believed that their doctor would respect their wishes, while many were uncertain. Conclusions Even teenagers without chronic illness have thoughts about end-of-life issues and have opinions remarkably similar to those of chronically ill teens. Those who are chronically ill are less likely to wish to discuss EOL issues early in their illness.
Association of radionuclide bone scan and serum alkaline phosphatase in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives We assessed the frequency of bone metastases, their association with serum alkaline phosphatase (AP), and prognostic capabilities of AP in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), using bone scan as the reference standard for diagnosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients with metastatic RCC treated with either autologous ex vivo activated T-lymphocytes and cimetidine (ALT) or cimetidine alone. Results Twenty-eight of 90 patients (31%) had evidence of bone metastases by bone scan. With 100 mg/ dL as the upper limit of normal, 11 of 28 (39%) patients with bone metastases had normal AP levels. Of these 11 patients, 8 had bone pain. Of the 3 asymptomatic patients with bone metastasis and normal AP levels, only 1 had bone as the only site of metastasis and would have been incorrectly staged without the scan. Patients with bone metastases had a significantly shorter median survival than those without bone metastases (13.8 versus 25.3 months; P P P Conclusions In a high-risk group of patients with metastatic RCC, 31% had bone metastases. Elevated AP levels, the presence of bone pain, or the presence of other metastases correctly predicted bone metastasis in all but 1 patient. A bone scan may safely be omitted in patients with RCC, normal AP levels, and no bone pain. However, AP elevation itself had little prognostic capability in these patients.
Frequency of incidental intracranial aneurysms in neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is often mentioned among the heritable connective tissue disorders associated with intracranial aneurysms, but the association has not been firmly established. We therefore reviewed a contemporary series of hospitalized patients with NF1, many of whom underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We identified patients with NF1 who were hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2001 through the hospital's centralized medical records system using DRG codes. The mean age of the 39 patients was 30.4 years, and 22 patients had undergone MRI of the brain for the evaluation of symptoms due to the presence of central or peripheral nervous system tumors. Incidental intracranial aneurysms were detected in 2 (5%) of the 39 patients. Limiting the patient population to the 22 patients who had undergone MRI examination, the detection rate was 9%. This was significantly (P < 0.005) higher than the aneurysm detection rate in a control population (0/526 [0%]) of patients hospitalized for primary or secondary brain tumors, all of whom had undergone MRI examination. Our study suggests that patients with NF1 are at an increased risk of developing intracranial aneurysms.
SiC line deposition using laser CVD

Abstract This study demonstrates the deposition of silicon carbide (SiC) lines by Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD). SiC lines were deposited on a graphite substrate using the precursors methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) and H2 and were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy. To fabricate neat shaped SiC lines, response surface experiments were employed to correlate the volcano effect with laser power, laser scan speed, and MTS concentration. The processing conditions for generating volcano-free SiC lines were determined to be an average temperature of 1020–1100 °C over a circle region of 350 μm in diameter, ratios of H2/MTS from 13.2 to 30, and laser scan speed from 0.04 to 0.08 in./min.