cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
#44 Changing racial/ethnic disparities in homicide mortality in nyc 1990–98

Abstract PURPOSE: Homicide mortality rates have historically been higher among African-Americans (AAs) than whites in the US. There has been a significant decrease in homicide mortality in New York City (NYC) during the past decade. We were interested in determining how disparities in homicide mortality between racial/ethnic groups have changed during that time and if drugs played a role in these changes. METHODS: All homicides in the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner records for 1990–1998 were identified. We calculated annual age and race standardized rates of homicide with positive toxicology. We calculated proportions of white, AA, and Hispanic decedents with positive cocaine, opiates, cannabis, and alcohol toxicology for each year in the period. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 1998, overall homicide rate decreased from 28.6 to 6.92 per 100,000 (75.8%). In 1990, the homicide rates among AAs and Hispanics were 9.5 and 8.2 times greater than among whites respectively. In 1998, homicides among AAs and Hispanics were 7.9 and 3.8 times greater than among whites. Proportion of homicide decedents with positive toxicology was stable and similar for all three groups between 1990-98 (range: 74.6% to 89.2%). The proportion of homicide decedents with positive cocaine toxicology declined, the proportion of decedents with positive cannabis toxicology increased, and the proportion of opiate and alcohol positive decedents was stable during the period. Changes in proportions of drug-positive homicide decedents were similar for all drugs for whites, AAs, and Hispanics between 1990–1998. DISCUSSION: Although overall homicide rates in NYC declined between 1990–98, there remained substantial disparities in homicide rates between whites, AAs, and Hispanics at the end of the decade. Proportions of homicide deaths with positive toxicology changed similarly in all three racial/ethnic groups. Factors other than drug use likely account for the persisting racial/ethnic disparities in homicide rates in NYC.
ON THE USE OF GEOMEMBRANES IN VERTICAL BARRIERS

Vertical barrier walls backfilled with soil, bentonite, and/or cement are used to control lateral migration of contamination plumes in geoenvironmental applications. The effectiveness of such barriers can be enhanced by orders of magnitude with a geomembrane placed within or adjacent to the soil/bentonite, soil/cement, or other component to form a composite system in the same manner as with a composite landfill liner or cover. This paper discusses methods of installing geomembranes, contrasts geomembrane walls with other types of barriers, provides information on quality assurance procedures, and presents a ranking matrix of economic and environmental benefit/cost. The paper also discusses the efficiency of using a geomembrane for (i) a flawlessly constructed, (ii) a typically constructed, and (iii) a poorly constructed, traditionally backfilled vertical wall. This is followed by a review of selected installations and their performance, and some generalized conclusions.
Minimum Path Bases

Abstract In this paper we introduce a new vector space associated with the paths and cycles in a graph (this space properly includes the well-known cycle space). We present a polynomial algorithm for finding a minimum weight basis for this space; we then present an application of this algorithm. The application is an algorithm that finds in a graph a minimum weight subgraph whose cycle space has specified dimension k (when k = 1, this is the problem of finding a minimum weight cycle in a graph). We then show how this algorithm easily provides a new algorithm for the planar k-split problem ; for a planar graph, this is the problem of finding a minimum weight set of edges whose deletion results in a graph with k components (when k = 2, this is the problem of finding a minimum cut in a planar graph). The algorithm for the application is polynomial for fixed k . In particular, for the planar three-split problem, our algorithm can be implemented with worst case time complexity O (| V | 3 ), whereas the best previous algorithm has complexity O (| V | 6 log| V |).
Properties of the Electron

IT has been shown by me (Phil. Mag., 7, p. 493; 1909) that some of the main difficulties of the Bohr atom disappear if the electron possesses the property that it absorbs radiant energy during its motion, which induces a decrease of its electrical field, and under certain conditions ejects again the energy as radiation. A deduction of these properties was given based on thermodynamics and kinetic theory, which will be further elaborated in subsequent papers. The results may also be obtained in other ways, one of which will be pointed out here.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Latency-Associated Transcript-induced Immunoreactivity of Substance P in Trigeminal Neurons is Reversed by Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) primarily infects mucoepithelial tissues of the eye and the orofacial region. Subsequently, the virus is retrogradely transported through the axons of the trigeminal sensory neurons to their nuclei, where the virus establishes a life-long latent infection. During this latency period, the viral genome is transcriptionally silent except for a single region encoding the latency-associated transcript (LAT). To understand how HSV-1 latency might affect the expression of substance P in sensory neurons, we transfected primary cultures of trigeminal neurons obtained from rat embryos, with LAT expressing plasmids. The expression of LAT increased the percentage of substance P-immunoreactive neurons by two thirds. To examine the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) on the LAT-induced increase in substance P expression in trigeminal neurons, cultures transfected with LAT were treated with BMP7. Treatment with BMP7 reversed the effects of LAT on substance P expression in trigeminal neurons. Our data show for the first time that LAT increases substance P expression in trigeminal neurons and BMP7 can reverse these effects of LAT.
A Model for Optimizing Material Removal Rate in Low-Pressure CMP: Effects of Pad Porosity and Abrasive Concentration

The necessity to planarize ultra low-k (ULK) dielectrics [1], and the desire to reduce polishing defects leads to use of lower polishing pressures in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). However, lowering the applied pressure also decreases the material removal rate (MRR), which causes the polishing time for each wafer to increase. The goal of this work is to investigate effects of pad porosity and abrasive concentration on the MRR.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Collaborative calibration of on-chip thermal sensors using performance counters

Thermal sensors are currently deployed in processors to collect thermal information for dynamic thermal management (DTM). The calibration cost for thermal sensors can be prohibitively high as the number of on-chip sensors increases. We propose an on-line multi-sensor calibration method which combines potentially inaccurate temperature values obtained from two sources: temperature readings from thermal sensors and temperature estimations using system performance counters. A data fusion strategy based on Bayesian inference, which combines information from these two sources, is demonstrated along with a temperature estimation approach using performance counters. The approaches are verified via simulation for an AMD Athlon 64 processor with 24 on-chip temperature sensors scaled to a 45nm technology node. Our results show that the standard deviation of temperature sensor measurement errors can be reduced from 3 ~ 4 °C to ≤ 1 °C using the proposed method. Additionally, our MATLAB implementation shows that the new approach runs at least 67x faster than competing approaches based on Kalman filtering making it highly appropriate for run-time use.
Semantic Mediation Bus: An Ontology-based Runtime Infrastructure for Service Interoperability

In this industry case study, we introduce the concept of semantic mediation that enables service interoperability through common ontologies, even when the services are implemented using different data models and message standards. Leveraging open standards such as Web Ontology Language (OWL) and Semantic Annotations for XML Schema and WSDL (SAWSDL), the Semantic Mediation Bus (SMB) removes the need to perform manual correlation among disparate data sources by extending the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) infrastructure for ontology-based runtime service mediation.
Women and the Transmission of Religious Knowledge in Islam

1. A tradition invented: the female companions 2. The successors 3. The classical rebirth 4. Traditionalism and the culmination of women's hadith transmission.
A strategy for simulating and validating the Nuss procedure for the minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum

Surgical planners are used to achieve the optimal outcome for surgery. They are especially desired in procedures where a positive aesthetic outcome is the primary goal, such as the Nuss procedure which is a minimally invasive surgery for correcting pectus excavatum (PE) — a congenital chest wall deformity. Although this procedure is routinely performed, the outcome depends mostly on the correct placement of the bar. It would be beneficial if a surgeon had a chance to practice and review possible strategies for placement of the corrective bar and the associated appearance of the chest. Therefore, we propose a strategy for the development of a Nuss procedure surgical trainer and planner, taking into account the biomechanical properties of the PE ribcage, emerging trends in surgical planners, deformable models, and visualization techniques. Additionally, we present the initial results of before and after surgery surface scans analysis as a means to validate results, comparison of an average chest shape with post-operative to quantify the outcome of the surgery, and the hardware setup of the simulator.
Normative data for the steroidogenic response of mineralocorticoids and their precursors to adrenocorticotropin in a healthy pediatric population

The responses of mineralocorticoids and their precursors 1 h after a 0.25-mg bolus of ACTH has not previously been established in infancy or childhood. We report the steroidogenic responses of pregnenolone, progesterone (Prog), deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone (B), 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18OHB), and aldosterone (A) measured 1 h after a 0.25-mg bolus of ACTH in 102 healthy children who were divided into 5 age groups: group 1 (< 1 yr; n = 22), group 2 (1-5 yr; n = 22), group 3 (6-12 yr; n = 15), group 4 (early to midpuberty; n = 21), and group 5 (late puberty; n = 22). Baseline pregnenolone levels were constant throughout childhood; however, there was a significant fall in the stimulated level after the first year of life (group 1 vs. 2, P < 0.0125). Baseline Prog levels rose significantly with the onset of puberty (group 3 vs. 4, P < 0.0125), but levels did not increase after ACTH stimulation during puberty. Both baseline and stimulated levels of Prog, DOC, and 18OHB were significantly higher i...
Bigger is better: megadalton protein NMR in solution.

NMR spectra recorded on the 900 kDa GroEL–GroES complex substantially raise the bar for the size of macromolecules that can be studied by NMR techniques.
Gender, Marital Power, and Marital Quality in Later Life

This study uses data from the 1992 Health and Retirement Study to examine gender differences in marital power and marital quality among older adults and to assess whether there are gender differences in the correlates of marital quality and marital power in later life. Results show that women report lower marital happiness, marital interaction, and marital power than do men, on average. These differences persist even after controlling for a number of life-course events and transitions. Further, results show that gender differences are also evident in the relationship of employment, childrearing, caregiving, and health factors with marital quality and power.
Near-field microwave microscopy of high-κ oxides grown on graphene with an organic seeding layer

Near-field scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) is used for non-destructive nanoscale characterization of Al2O3 and HfO2 films grown on epitaxial graphene on SiC by atomic layer deposition using a self-assembled perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride seeding layer. SMM allows imaging of buried inhomogeneities in the dielectric layer with a spatial resolution close to 100 nm. The results indicate that, while topographic features on the substrate surface cannot be eliminated as possible sites of defect nucleation, the use of a vertically heterogeneous Al2O3/HfO2 stack suppresses formation of large outgrowth defects in the oxide film, ultimately improving lateral uniformity of the dielectric film.
Historical conditions in mixed-conifer forests on the eastern slopes of the northern Oregon Cascade Range, USA

Abstract Historical forest conditions in frequent-fire forests may be increasingly useful in guiding contemporary forest management given (1) projections for increased drought stress associated with climate change and (2) increases in vertical and horizontal fuel connectivity related to changes in land use over the past 150 years. Records from a 1922–25 timber inventory reveal historical variability at the landscape-level on mixed-conifer habitats on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in northern Oregon. Live conifers >15 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) were tallied by species and diameter class in a 20% sample of over 50,000 hectares (ha). Forests were predominantly low density (66 tph, standard deviation = 32, range = 0–289) relative to current conditions (312 ± 245, 0–1643 tph). Historical basal area averaged 14 ± 7 (0–70) m 2 ha −1 . Total stand density, large tree (>53 cm dbh) density, and ponderosa pine density were relatively stable across a wide moisture gradient (42–187 cm annual precipitation). Large trees dominated total basal area (73 ± 16%) and comprised 42 ± 17% of total trees per hectare (tph). Ponderosa pine contributed 62 ± 27% of basal area. Together, ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir constituted 91 ± 15% of basal area. Large ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir were nearly ubiquitous across the landscape in this historical data set, occurring on 94% and 83% of transects respectively. Large grand fir occurred on 20% of transects but contributed only 2 ± 6% to large tree basal area. Higher-density values (>120 tph), although rare, were distributed throughout the mixed-conifer habitat while large (>1.6 ha) treeless (no conifers >15 cm dbh) areas were almost entirely restricted to higher elevation, colder, wetter habitat types. Currently ponderosa pine no longer dominates large tree basal area, large trees no longer dominate total basal area, and Douglas-fir is now the dominant species across the landscape. Current mean tree densities are more than four times greater than values recorded in the historical cruise, and current basal area is approximately two times greater. Currently, large trees dominate basal area on only 29% of area inventoried compared to 91% in 1922–25. This systematic sample of a large landscape provides information about variability in species composition, densities, and structures at multiple spatial scales, which are highly relevant to management activities to restore and conserve desired ecosystem functions. Forest conditions comparable to those in this historical record have demonstrated resilience and resistance to fire and drought-related stressors in other frequent-fire forests.
Hydrogen-induced vacancies on metal surfaces

Abstract Statistical mechanical calculations have been carried out in order to determine the vacancy concentration C 1v in bulk nickel crystals containing dissolved hydrogen. As expected the C 1v concentrations are enhanced with respect to the H-free crystal due to the formation of H-vacancy clusters. Corresponding calculations on the {111} surface have shown that the presence of H-atoms also results in an enhancement of the surface vacancy concentrations. The energy level spectra for the H-decorated bulk and surface vacancy calculations were taken from effective medium calculations.
Influence of Thermal Effects on Hole Quality in Dry Drilling, Part 2: Thermo-Elastic Effects on Hole Quality

A finite element thermo-elastic model is devised to capture the radial errors induced in the workpiece in drilling. The temperature rise in the workpiece modeled in Part 1 of this paper is utilized in obtaining the thermo-elastic deformations in the workpiece at various process conditions. The predicted errors are compared to the average errors measured with the aid of a CMM. The predicted profiles agree well with the experimentally observed tapered hole profiles in the absence of cutting fluids. In the presence of cutting fluids the predicted radial errors only account for 10 percent of the experimentally observed errors.
Dosimetric and protective considerations for radioactive iodine.

INTRODUCTION I AM deeply appreciative of the honor done me by your society in asking that I give the guest lecture at your annual meeting. In a very real sense however, the honor is more properly assigned to you. I am here only because you are seeking to discharge your highest duties as physicians by looking for counsel on the hazards of the new, exciting, and largely uncharted regions that are revealed by the application of radioisotopes to medical problems. I am here not as an expert with all the answers, but as a colleague whose prior experience perhaps qualifies me to indicate the areas in which more knowledge is necessary if the patient's best interests are to be protected, and to indicate the reasons for and methods of protecting ourselves and our assistants from the dangers of these new tools. The problems we shall discuss today are new ones in the sense that the medical profession as a whole has had little reason to concern itself with them. To those of us who have been interested in radiobiology ...
Syntheses and structural systematics of trialkylphosphine complexes of open titanocenes, zirconocenes and hafnocenes

The synthesis and characterization of the open hafnocene, Hf(2,4-C7H11)2(PMe3) (C7H11 = dimethylpentadienyl), is reported. Additionally, a much improved synthetic procedure has been developed for Hf(2,4-C7H11)2(PEt3). Structural data have been obtained for these complexes, and for Ti(2,4-C7H11)2(PEt3) and Zr(2,4-C7H11)2(PMe3), thereby allowing for detailed comparisons between all M(2,4-C7H11)2(PX3) species (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; X = Me, Et). The presence of the coordinated phosphines led in all cases to the adoption of the expected syn-eclipsed geometries, with the phosphines positioned by the open dienyl edges. These phosphine ligands lead to substantial alterations of the bonding patterns in these species, relative to ligand-free complexes. Most notably, the shortest M–C distances involve the central dienyl carbon atoms. Additionally, the data reveal high degrees of steric crowding within these complexes, especially for the weakly bound Ti(2,4-C7H11)2(PEt3), and also demonstrate that significant deformations which have taken place within the dienyl ligands were substantially determined by the relative sizes of the metal centers.
Discovery of a Previously Unrecognized Ribonuclease from Escherichia coli That Hydrolyzes 5'-Phosphorylated Fragments of RNA.

TrpH or YciV (locus tag b1266) from Escherichia coli is annotated as a protein of unknown function that belongs to the polymerase and histidinol phosphatase (PHP) family of proteins in the UniProt and NCBI databases. Enzymes from the PHP family have been shown to hydrolyze organophosphoesters using divalent metal ion cofactors at the active site. We found that TrpH is capable of hydrolyzing the 3′-phosphate from 3′,5′-bis-phosphonucleotides. The enzyme will also sequentially hydrolyze 5′-phosphomononucleotides from 5′-phosphorylated RNA and DNA oligonucleotides, with no specificity toward the identity of the nucleotide base. The enzyme will not hydrolyze RNA or DNA oligonucleotides that are unphosphorylated at the 5′-end of the substrate, but it makes no difference whether the 3′-end of the oligonucleotide is phosphorylated. These results are consistent with the sequential hydrolysis of 5′-phosphorylated mononucleotides from oligonucleotides in the 5′ → 3′ direction. The catalytic efficiencies for hydroly...
An Amphipathic α-Helical Synthetic Peptide Analogue of Melittin Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1)-Induced Cell Fusion and Virus Spread

Abstract Baghian, A., J. Jaynes, F. Enright and K. G. Kousoulas. An amphipathic α-helical synthetic peptide analogue of melittin inhibits herpes simplex virus-1 (Hsv-1)-induced cell fusion and virus spread. Peptides 18(2) 177–183, 1997.—The effects of hecate, a 23-amino acid synthetic peptide analogue of melittin, on HSV-1-induced cell fusion and virus multiplication was investigated. Hecate completely inhibited cell fusion induced by HSV-1 syncytial (syn) mutants HSV-1 HFEM (tsB5) and HSV-1 mp (MP) at a concentration of 5.0 μM. Metabolic labeling experiments indicated that hecate did not adversely affect cellular growth and protein synthesis. The synthesis of virus-specified glycoproteins B, C, D, and H was reduced in the presence of hecate; however, the transport of these glycoproteins to the surface of infected cells was not affected. Production of infectious virions for wild-type and syn mutants tsB5 and MP was reduced in the presence of hecate. The effect of hecate on virus titer was dependent on the multiplicity of infection. Virus titers were reduced 2–28-fold at an M.O.I. of 0.1, 3–6-fold at an M.O.I. of 0.5, and 0–2.5-fold at an M.O.I. of 2.5. Direct treatment of semipurified virions with hecate reduced titers by approximately 4-fold for KOS, 2-fold for tsB5, and over 30-fold for MP.
The Swiss Equal Rights Amendment: A Case Study

In June, 1981, the Swiss passed a constitutional amendment providing legal equality for men and women. How that could happen in a legal system that appears to be more than most designed to maintain male privilege is the major topic of this case study. The nature of the political system into which the Swiss equal rights amendment was introduced and of the support and opposition to the amendment are examined. The impact of the amendment since its passage is reported. Each major aspect of the Swiss situation is compared with the American experience with the Equal Rights Amendment and the significance of the Swiss case for American social action is delineated.
A multi-tiered robust steering controller based on yaw rate and side slip estimation

In this paper we propose a multi-tiered full-size road vehicle steering controller that simultaneously considers kinematics and dynamics. The kinematic controller embeds a surface for converging to the desired path that is tuned based upon vehicle capability in order to provide robust yaw rate references commands. The dynamic controller then establishes a sliding surface for yaw rate error convergence that allows the controller to be tuned based upon vehicle speed. The dynamic controller is designed to be robust to lateral disturbances characterized by side-slip angle, which is estimated by a robust observer. Simulations verify capabilities of this system with various speeds and road friction coefficients. Experiments using a full scale road vehicle with lateral disturbances demonstrate this approach at low speeds.
Impact of primary molecular cytogenetic abnormalities and risk of progression in smoldering multiple myeloma

We studied 351 patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) in whom the underlying primary molecular cytogenetic subtype could be determined based on cytoplasmic immunoglobulin fluorescent in situ hybridization studies. Hundred and fifty-four patients (43.9%) had trisomies, 127 (36.2%) had immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) translocations, 14 (4%) both trisomies and IgH translocations, 53 (15.1%) no abnormalities detected and 3 (0.9%) had monosomy13/del(13q) in the absence of any other abnormality. Among 127 patients with IgH translocations, 57 were t(11;14), 36 t(4;14), 11 musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (MAF) translocations, and 23 other or unknown IgH translocation partner. Time to progression (TTP) to symptomatic multiple myeloma was significantly shorter in patients with the t(4;14) compared with patients with t(11;14), median 28 versus 55 months, respectively, P=0.025. The median TTP was 28 months with t(4;14) (high-risk), 34 months with trisomies alone (intermediate-risk), 55 months with t(11;14), MAF translocations, other/unknown IgH translocations, monosomy13/del(13q) without other abnormalities, and those with both trisomies and IgH translocations (standard-risk), and not reached in patients with no detectable abnormalities (low-risk), P=0.001. There was a trend to shorter TTP with deletion 17p (median TTP, 24 months). Overall survival from diagnosis of SMM was significantly inferior with t(4;14) compared with t(11;14), median 105 versus 147 months, respectively, P=0.036.
Effect of metal interaction on the Schottky barrier height on adsorbate-terminated silicon surfaces

Abstract Through the use of adsorbate-terminated semiconductor (ATS) surfaces, the Schottky barrier heights (SBH) for the Ag/Si(1 1 1) and Au/Si(1 0 0) were recently found to be significantly modified. In the present work, this “partisan interlayer” (PI) approach is studied systematically for selected stable ATS surfaces of Si and with metals with widely different work functions. When viewed in combination with previous data, these new results highlight the varied effectiveness of the ATS surfaces used, which depends critically on the inertness of the ATS against metal interaction. Electrical characteristics are interpreted through a simple model for interface charge transfer to suggest that the As-terminated Si(1 1 1)1 × 1, with a nominal interface behavior parameter (S-parameter) of ∼0.53, is most promising among the ATSs. Additionally, the formation and characterization of the ATS surfaces and the scientific basis of the PI approach are discussed in detail. The implications of these results for applications and the understanding of the formation of SBH in general are also discussed.
Is There a New Bibliography

Describes the position claiming that the contemporary technological, sociopolitical, and socioeconomic environment gives us pause to consider the core theory and practices of bibliography, combining bibliography of the work (in library and information science), bibliography of the text (in textual studies and scholarly editing), and bibliography of the artifact (in book history and now digital forensics), and calls for collaborative multidisciplinary research at the intersection of these fields to ask, is there a new bibliography?
Reperfusion in acute myocardial infarction: Effect of timing and modulating factors in experimental models

Timely reperfusion of ischemic myocardium in experimental animals halts the advancing transmural "wavefront" of ischemic cell death and thereby limits myocardial infarct size by limiting its transmural extent. The time window of opportunity for such salvage in most experimental models of regional ischemia is the first 3 hours. The number of myocytes that can be salvaged by reperfusion decreases exponentially during this period, such that at 3 hours, reperfusion limits infarct size by only about 10%. The rate of lethal ischemic cell injury and therefore the amount of myocardium that can be salvaged by reperfusion after a particular duration of ischemia is dependent both on the degree of blood flow deficit and the rate of ischemic metabolism. In experimental animal models, several interventions, including hypothermia, calcium antagonists, and "ischemic preconditioning," have been shown to reduce the rate of ischemic metabolism and to limit myocardial infarct size when assessed after a defined period of ischemia and reperfusion. Hypothetically, interventions that could prevent additional myocyte necrosis caused by some deleterious aspects of reperfusion ("lethal reperfusion injury") also could serve as valuable adjunctive therapy. However, studies of therapies designed to prevent lethal reperfusion injury have produced conflicting results. Thus, the concept that lethal reperfusion injury occurs remains controversial. Experimental evidence indicates that reperfusion accelerates both the initial inflammatory response and later process of infarct repair. Late reperfusion of infarcts in dogs, which does not limit myocardial infarct size, appears to accelerate the replacement of necrotic myocardium by scar without altering the size of the final scar.
Gene Expression Analysis of Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) Suggests a Role for Reactive Oxygen Species in Response to Yersinia pestis Infection

Fleas are vectors for a number of pathogens including Yersinia pestis, yet factors that govern interactions between fleas and Y. pestis are not well understood. Examining gene expression changes in infected fleas could reveal pathways that affect Y. pestis survival in fleas and subsequent transmission. We used suppression subtractive hybridization to identify genes that are induced in Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in response to oral or hemocoel infection with Y. pestis. Overall, the transcriptional changes we detected were very limited. We identified several genes that are likely involved in the production or removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Midgut ROS levels were higher in infected fleas and antioxidant treatment before infection reduced ROS levels and resulted in higher bacterial loads. An ROS-sensitive mutant strain of Y. pestis lacking the OxyR transcriptional regulator showed reduced growth early after infection. Our results indicate that ROS may limit Y. pestis early colonization of fleas and that bacterial strategies to overcome ROS may enhance transmission.
Hyperhomocysteinemia, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular risk: the potential role of ADMA

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of hyperhomocysteinemia are not completely defined, but endothelial dysfunction resulting from impaired bioavailability of nitric oxide is a consistent finding in experimental models. One potential mechanism for decreased nitric oxide bioavailability is inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by its endogenous inhibitor, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Elevated plasma levels of ADMA have been found in association with hyperhomocysteinemia and endothelial dysfunction in both animals and humans. Additional studies are required to determine the mechanisms by which ADMA accumulates in hyperhomocysteinemia and to define the importance of ADMA in the endothelial dysfunction of hyperhomocysteinemia in vivo.
Two algorithms for the sieve method

Abstract We present two algorithms that implement the sieve method. The first one sieves numbers. It finds the numbers of objects that have exactly each number of properties. The second sieves sets. It finds the sets of objects that have exactly each number of properties. The algorithms are essentially identical, and both are direct descendants of Horner's method for solving polynomial equations, a method of numerically translating the roots, that dates back to 1819 (e.g., [1]). The algorithms differ in one respect at least. The first one is quite an efficient way to accomplish its task, while I cannot imagine a situation in which the second algorithm would be optimum from the point of view of efficiency.
Making Sense of Water Quality: Multispecies Encounters on the Mystic River

This paper takes water quality as an ethnographic subject. It looks at how water quality monitors in Boston make sense of the quality of water through mundane engagement with three non-human beings who they encounter during their monitoring activities: herring, bacteria and water lily. Each of these organisms suggests a different understanding of water quality for the monitors and poses a dilemma. Water quality monitors who contribute to the production of water quality data come to know water quality as through direct interactions with these beings, mediated by both sensorial experience and laboratory data. These experiences, at the same time, confuse and redraw relationships between science, water flows, non-human vitality, including that of invasive species, and people.
Examining students’ reflective thinking from keywords tagged to blogs: using map analysis as a content analysis method

Reflective learning refers to a learner's purposeful and conscious manipulation of ideas toward meaningful learning. Blogs have been used to support reflective thinking, but the commonly seen blog software usually does not provide overt mechanisms for students' high-level reflections. A new tool was designed to support the reflective thinking process. Beyond writing blog posts, the tool allowed users to attach up to five keywords to each post and link the keywords on a concept map. This study aimed to seek evidence of reflective thinking in participants’ keyword-attaching activities. Data analysis included producing mental maps of the blog texts, calculating nodes of high centrality (most talked-about nodes and most connected nodes) with the help of software including AutoMap and Organizational Risk Analyzer, and comparing student-generated keywords against mental map nodes. Results of keyword analyses revealed that two-thirds of the student-attached keywords matched mental map nodes. Results also indicat...
In vivo R1-enhancement mapping of canine myocardium using ceMRI with Gd(ABE-DTTA) in an acute ischemia-reperfusion model.

Purpose To demonstrate the usefulness of normalized ΔR1 (ΔR1n) mapping in myocardial tissue following the administration of the contrast agent (CA) Gd(ABE-DTTA). Materials and Methods Ischemia-reperfusion experiments were carried out in 11 dogs. The method exploited the relatively long tissue lifetime of Gd(ABE-DTTA), and thus no fast R1 measurement technique was needed. Myocardial perfusion was determined with colored microspheres (MP). Results With varying extent of ischemia, impaired wall motion (WM) and lower ΔR1n values were detected in the ischemic sectors, as opposed to the nonischemic sectors where normal WM and higher ΔR1n were observed. Based on the ΔR1n, data from the myocardial perfusion assay and the ΔR1n maps were compared in the ischemic sectors. A correlation analysis of these two parameters demonstrated a significant correlation (R = 0.694, P < 0.005), validating the ΔR1n-mapping method for the quantitation of ischemia. Similarly, pairwise correlations were found for the MP, ΔR1n, and wall thickening (WT) values in the same areas. Based on the correlation between ΔR1n and MP, ΔR1n maps calculated with a pixel-by-pixel resolution can be converted to similarly high-resolution myocardial perfusion maps. Conclusion These results suggest that the extent of the severity of ischemia can be quantitatively represented by ΔR1n maps obtained in the presence of our CA. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Productivity improvements utilizing OptiScan, interlaced beam scanning, for Axcelis Purion XE implanter

The Axcelis Purion XE is a RF linac based single wafer, hybrid scan, high energy ion implanter. The Purion XE provides customers the highest mechanical throughput with best in class beam currents. It is also equipped with features to fully utilize its high beam current capability such as IntelliScan. IntelliScan maintains precise dose and uniformity even under conditions of extreme photoresist outgassing due to high beam power. To further enhance the Purion XE's industry leading productivity, OptiScan, a system for enhancing the beam utilization, has been developed.
Orange, Blue and White, and Blonde: The Electoral Geography of Ukraine's 2006 and 2007 Rada Elections

Two American geographers specializing in the electoral geography of post-Soviet Russia and Ukraine examine the results of the two successive elections to Ukraine's national parliament, in 2006 and 2007. Their primary focus is on identifying spatial differences in voter preferences and turnout across Ukraine, and on exploring the associations between these and the historical background and social and economic conditions within Ukrainian regions. The revealed general relationships between geographic setting and voting outcomes, when applied to the study of shifts in voter turnout and party preference across regions over time, yield insights into voting patterns that may be manifest in Ukraine's next presidential election in 2010. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: H10, O18, R10. 7 figures, 6 tables, 42 references.
NiAs- versus zinc-blende-type intermetallic insertion electrodes for lithium batteries: lithium extraction from Li2CuSn

Abstract The extraction of lithium from Li2CuSn with a lithiated zinc-blende-type structure has been investigated both chemically and electrochemically. The data show that the resulting LixCuSn (x≈0) product has a NiAs-related structure similar to that of Cu6Sn5 (CuSn0.83). The Li2CuSn structure is described in detail; this structure type has important implications for designing new intermetallic insertion electrodes with zinc-blende-type structures.
Environmental changes during the past 2000 years in north-central Wisconsin: Analysis of pollen, charcoal, and seeds from varved lake sediments

A 2000-year accumulation of varved sediments from Hell's Kitchen Lake in north-central Wisconsin was analyzed for pollen, charcoal, and seeds. The varves provided an accurate time scale for the study. The pollen record indicates changes on two different time scales. Short-term changes lasting several decades appear to be superimposed on long-term changes lasting several centuries. The short-term changes are related to individual fires, and the long-term changes result from increases or decreases in the frequency of these perturbations. From 2000 to 1150 years ago the average interval between fires was about 100 years, and from 1150 to 120 years ago the interval increased to about 140 years. Evidence from pollen, seeds, and charcoal at Hell's Kitchen Lake suggests that at least two “moist” intervals occurred during the past 2000 years, one between 2000 and 1700 years ago and the other between 600 and 100 years ago. A third but minor “moist” period occurred about 1150 to 850 years ago. A pollen and seed diagram shows that these intervals are characterized by increased percentages of white pine pollen, hemlock pollen, and yellow birch seeds, and by decreased levels of charcoal. The “dry” interval of 1700 to 1150 years ago is characterized by increased percentages of paper birch seeds, oak pollen, and aspen pollen, along with high levels of charcoal. The times of climatic change indicated at Hell's Kitchen Lake are nearly synchronous with those based on studies of tree rings, soils, glacial activity, and other pollen studies from various regions of North America, but the direction of these inferred changes is not always the same. This result suggests that the long-wave pattern of the general circulation has been variable during the past 2000 years.
Comprehension of affective and nonaffective prosody

We studied patients with damage of either the right (RHD) or left hemisphere (LHD) and control subjects to determine whether the RHD patients had a global or limited prosodic defect. Compared with LHD patients and controls, RHD subjects had decreased comprehension of emotional prosody. Both LHD and RHD groups had more impaired comprehension of propositional prosody than controls, but the RHD and LHD groups did not differ. The right hemisphere, therefore, seems to be dominant for comprehending emotional prosody but not propositional prosody.
Frailty in Parkinson's disease and its clinical implications.

Abstract The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of frailty in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and the relationship between individual frailty criteria and the severity of PD. We measured the five components of frailty (Fried et al.) and the severity of PD (unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS)) in 50 optimally treated PD patients. Frailty was more prevalent in PD patients. While UPDRS scores differed between frail and non-frail participants (44.8±15.8 vs. 31.4±12.7, P
Antitrust and regulation: Forestalling competition in the telecommunications terminal equipment market

This article examines how AT&T responded to competition in the terminal equipment market by requiring a telephone company provided connecting arrangement. We test the hypotheses of whether connecting arrangements were used to protect the integrity of the system or to forestall competition. Through analysis of various antitrust cases, we conclude that AT&T attempted to monopolize the market through the connecting arrangement requirement. This conclusion is important because it suggests that a regulated firm has the ability to use its market power to thwart competition in non-regulated markets.
Is there a place for music in medical school

Music permeates the medical literature regarding disease therapy. However, there are only few articles concerning music as a tool for development of cultural competency and interpersonal relations. We share our experience of forming a musical act of students and faculty at a medical school. We believe that this group has encouraged medical humanism and enhanced communication in the learning environment.
Effect of Ta-doping on dielectric properties of yPbMg1/3(Nb(1−x)Tax)2/3O3–(1−y)PbTiO3

Abstract Lead magnesium niobate–lead titanate (referred to PMN–PT or PMNT) is a very attractive material for the applications in multi-layer capacitors and electro-mechanical transducers. This material has unusually high dielectric permittivity, low dielectric loss and high strain around Curie temperatures. Niobium oxide, one of the components for fabricating PMNT, always contains tantalum impurity. It was originally thought that to make high quality PMNT, it was necessary to use high purity niobium oxide. High purity niobium oxide is very costly. Therefore, it limits massive application of this material. If Ta-doping in PMN–PT does not significantly degrade the properties, it will lower the cost for large-scale industrial production and make the materials more applicable. Our previous work shows that an appropriate amount of tantalum doping in 0.9PMN–0.1PT significantly increases the dielectric constant and refine the grain size. In this work we extend the investigation to 0.65PMN–0.35PT and 0.70PMN–0.30PT that are more close to the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB).
Molecular, haematological and clinical studies of the −101 C T substitution of the β-globin gene promoter in 25 β-thalassaemia intermedia patients and 45 heterozygotes

We report the clinical, haematological, biosynthetic and molecular data of 25 double heterozygote β-thalassaemia intermedia patients and 45 β-thalassaemia heterozygotes with the C T substitution at nucleotide position −101 from the Cap site, in the distal CACCC box of the β-globin gene promoter. This mutation is considered the most common amongst the silent β-thalassaemia mutations in Mediterranean populations. Of the 25 compound heterozygotes for the β−101 C T and common severe β-thalassaemia mutations, all but one had mild thalassaemia intermedia preserving haemoglobin levels around 9.5 g/dl and haemoglobin F levels < 25%. The only transfused patient was characterized to have an additional α-globin gene. Strict assessment of haematological and biosynthetic findings in the heterozygotes for the β−101 C T mutation (excluding six cases with an α-globin gene defect) demonstrated that less than half of them had completely normal (silent) haematology; the remainder had either high haemoglobin A2 values (in the range of 3.7–5.1%) and/or low red cells indices and/or raised haemoglobin F values. The α/non-α-globin chain synthesis ratios were generally raised, with mean 1.44 (1.07–2.10). Amongst the parents of the compound heterozygotes, who were not selected for molecular analysis following haematological screening, half of the cases were completely silent. Interaction with severe β-thalassaemia mutations always resulted in the clinical phenotype of mild non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia intermedia.
A simple bis-annelation route to 3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrido[3,2-c]quinolin-2-ones

Abstract A short, novel synthesis of the title ring system is described involving the intramolecular reaction of an amide dianion with a nitrile followed by in situ N-alkylation of the resultant intermediate.
Semi-automatic quantification of neurite fasciculation in high-density neurite images by the neurite directional distribution analysis (NDDA).

Abstract Background Bundling of neurite extensions occur during nerve development and regeneration. Understanding the factors that drive neurite bundling is important for designing biomaterials for nerve regeneration toward the innervation target and preventing nociceptive collateral sprouting. High-density neuron cultures including dorsal root ganglia explants are employed for in vitro screening of biomaterials designed to control directional outgrowth. Although some semi-automated image processing methods exist for quantification of neurite outgrowth, methods to quantify axonal fasciculation in terms of direction of neurite outgrowth are lacking. New method This work presents a semi-automated program to analyze micrographs of high-density neurites; the program aims to quantify axonal fasciculation by determining the orientational distribution function of the tangent vectors of the neurites and calculating its Fourier series coefficients (‘ c ’ values). Results We found that neurite directional distribution analysis (NDDA) of fasciculated neurites yielded ‘ c ’ values of ≥∼0.25 whereas branched outgrowth led to statistically significant lesser values of c ’ values correlated directly to the width of neurite bundles and indirectly to the number of branching points. Comparison with existing methods Information about the directional distribution of outgrowth is lost in simple counting methods or achieved laboriously through manual analysis. The NDDA supplements previous quantitative analyses of axonal bundling using a vector-based approach that captures new information about the directionality of outgrowth. Conclusion The NDDA is a valuable addition to open source image processing tools available to biomedical researchers offering a robust, precise approach to quantification of imaged features important in tissue development, disease, and repair.
Optimal location of pollutant monitoring stations in an airshed.

Abstract One possible criterion for locating a given number of pollutant monitoring stations is selected. That criterion is that the locations be chosen as those at which the concentration measurements are most sensitive to perturbations in source emission strengths. A theory and computational algorithm is developed whereby, assuming an airshed simulation model is available, the optimal locations of a given number of stations can be determined. The algorithm proposed actually encompasses the general problem of the optimal location of measurements both in space and time for a system governed by a set of parabolic or first-order hyperbolic partial differential equations. The theory is illustrated on the simple example of optimally locating one monitoring station downwind of a continuous, elevated crosswind line source.
Dual bases and bit-serial multiplication in F q n

Abstract We present the case for using trace function and dual bases in explaining bit-serial multiplication in F q n . This approach leads to a better insight into the structure of bit-serial multiplication and considerably simplifies the proofs of the efficiacy of some designs proposed in the past.