cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of Prenatal Aortic Arch Angle Measurements in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Coarctation of the Aorta

Prenatal prediction of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is challenging. Methods identifying prenatal CoA have high sensitivity with significant false positives. We previously derived prenatal aortic arch angles for identifying CoA with high sensitivity and specificity and aim to validate these angles and compare them with a model utilizing ascending aorta (AAo) and isthmus (Aoi) measures. Retrospective case/cohort study of fetuses with prenatal suspicion for CoA. 35 fetuses were included. Measurements included: ascending—descending aortic angle (AAo.DAo), transverse—descending aortic angle (TAo.DAo); diameters and z-scores of Aoi from sagittal (Aoi-sag), three-vessel (Aoi-3VV) view and AAo. Discriminant functions for the 5 variables were compared using histograms and positive/negative predictive values (PPV/NPV). CoA was confirmed in 28/35 neonates. The PPV and NPV for angle measures were 100% and 77%. The AAo + Aoi-3VV model PPV and NPV were 92% and 80% and Aoi-sag + Aoi-3VV model were 82% and 71%. A linear discriminant model utilizing the 3 most predictive variables improved NPV to 90% and PPV to 100%. In conclusion, we validate that angle measures are superior to standard models of predicting CoA. An optimized 3 variable model maintains accuracy of identifying CoA while eliminating false positives.
Grieving as a form of learning: Insights from neuroscience applied to grief and loss.

Abstract Recent grief research suggests that the influential cognitive stress theory should be updated with evidence from cognitive neuroscience. Combining human and animal neuroscience with attachment theory, we propose that semantic knowledge of the everlasting nature of the attachment figure and episodic, autobiographical memories of the death are in conflict, perhaps explaining the duration of grieving and generating predictions about complications in prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Our gone-but-also-everlasting model emphasizes that grieving may be a form of learning, requiring time and experiential feedback. Difficulties before loss, such as spousal dependency or pre-existing hippocampal volume, can prolong learning and predict PGD. Complications such as avoidance, rumination, and stress-induced hippocampal atrophy may also develop after loss and create functional or structural mechanisms predicting PGD.
Chronic binge alcohol and ovariectomy-mediated impaired insulin responsiveness in SIV-infected female rhesus macaques.

Aging people living with HIV (PLWH), especially postmenopausal women may be at higher risk of comorbidities associated with HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART), hypogonadism, and at-risk alcohol use....
Stress reduction and wafer bow accommodation for the fabrication of thin film lithium niobate on oxidized silicon

Sub-micrometer-thick lithium niobate on an insulator is a promising integrated photonic platform that provides optical field confinement and optical nonlinearity useful for state-of-the-art electro-optic modulators and wavelength converters. The fabrication of lithium niobate on insulator on a silicon substrate through ion slicing is advantageous for electronic-photonic integration but is challenging because of debonding and cracking due to the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between silicon and lithium niobate. In this work, the fabrication of thin film lithium niobate on insulator on a silicon handle wafer is achieved, informed by structural modeling, and facilitated by accommodating for dissimilar wafer bows using a bonding apparatus. Structural finite element analysis of strain energy and stress, due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatch at elevated temperatures, is conducted. High strain energies and stresses that result in debonding and cracking, respectively, are studied through modeling and reduced by selecting optimized substrate thicknesses followed by an experimental technique to bond substrates with dissimilar bows. A lithium niobate thin film with a thickness of 800 nm is successfully transferred to an oxidized silicon wafer with a root mean square surface roughness of 5.6 nm.
Adhesive pili of the chaperone-usher family

The chaperone–usher (CU) pathway constitutes one of the most prevalent mechanisms for the assembly of adhesive pili on the surface of Gram-negative bacteria. Studies at the interface of genetics, biochemistry, and structural biology have detailed the functions of the chaperone and the usher, providing a step-by-step understanding of pilus biogenesis by this sophisticated molecular machine. Further work has elucidated the molecular basis of specificity in host recognition by CU pili. Snapshots in CU pilus assembly and CU pilus-mediated pathogenesis have unveiled necessary molecular details for the design and application of promising antibiotic compounds that may soon prevent and treat acute, chronic, and recurrent bacterial infections in humans.
Stabilizing Low Frequency Beam Motion in the Tevatron

A feed back orbit stabilization system is being developed using a set of BPMS and existing Tevatron corrector magnets to stabilize beam motion up to 50 microns below 25 Hz. The construction of this system is described and the stability limits and magnitude of beam motion reduction is explored.
A Theory of Consistency for Modular Synchronous Systems

We propose a model for modular synchronous systems with combinationM dependencies and define consistency using this model. We then show how to derive this model from a modular specification where individual modules are specified as Kripke Structures and give an Mgorithm to check the system for consistency. We have implemented this Mgorithm symbolicMly using BDDs in a tool, SpecCheck. We have used this tool to check an example bus protocol derived from an industrial specification. The counterexamples obtained for this protocol highlight the need for consistency checking.
Activated calphostin C cytotoxicity is independent of p53 status and in vivo metastatic potential.

The development of novel therapeutic agents to modulate programmed cell death independent of genetic background or malignant potential is a primary goal of modern cancer therapy. In this report, the light activation- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of calphostin C, a photoactivatable perylenequinone, is carefully evaluated using a series of nine well-characterized human and rodent prostate cancer cell lines representing the spectrum of disease progression (e.g., variations in metastatic ability, ploidy, and tumor suppressor gene status). Treatment of these cancer cell lines with nanomolar concentrations of calphostin C in combination with increasing amounts of light exposure established a relationship between light and dose dependence of calphostin C cytotoxicity. The induction of apoptosis is rapid, as evidenced by the fact that immediately after treatment, cells exposed to calphostin C with light activation exhibit both morphological and biochemical changes consistent with apoptosis (cellular and nuclear shrinkage and chromatin condensation). For example, 78% of cells treated with 100 nM calphostin C in combination with 2 h of light activation underwent apoptosis within 24 h of treatment. DNA ladder formation could be detected within 12 h of treatment. In the absence of light activation, treatment with calphostin C at all concentrations tested had no acute or durable cytotoxic effects in any of the cell lines. Our findings demonstrate that calphostin C cytotoxicity is strictly light dependent. Furthermore, its efficacy is independent of the genetic background, p53 status, or in vivo malignant potential of a cell, making it a suitable candidate for the treatment of heterogeneous tumor cell populations.
Effect of steam-flaked sorghum grain density on performance, mill production rate, and subacute acidosis in feedlot steers.

Two trials were conducted to determine the effects of steam-flaked sorghum grain bulk density on animal performance, cost of production, and propensity to induce ruminal acidosis in feedlot steers. In Trial 1, 336 yearling steers (343 kg; SEM = .346) were fed diets for 125 d that contained sorghum grain (82.5%, DM basis) flaked to .283 (L), .322 (M), or .361 (H) kg/L (i.e., 22, 25, and 28 lb/bu). Steers fed L consumed 3.2% less DM than those fed H (linear, P < .05), resulting in 6.9% lower ADG (linear, P = .02) and 3.6% lower gain efficiency (linear, P < .15). Sorghum grain flaked to M and L had 16 and 46% greater starch gelatinization than H (measured using differential scanning calorimetry; linear, P = .002). Dressing percentage increased linearly (P < .05) with increasing flake density, but no other carcass measurements were affected by treatment. Increasing flake density increased mill production rate linearly (P < .01), resulting in the lowest energy usage per unit of flaked grain for the H treatment. Trial 2 was an acidosis challenge study that incorporated six ruminally cannulated steers (422 kg; SEM = .129) into a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square experiment. Reducing flake density resulted in linear reductions in ruminal pH following intake challenge at 3, 33, and 36 h after the d-12 challenge (P < .05). There was a linear increase in the area between the pH vs time curve and a line at pH 5.5 (P < .01) and 5.0 (P = .09) with decreasing flake density (28.0, 25.2, and 18.2 pH-hours below 5.5 and 9.6, 7.3, and 3.9 pH-hours below 5.0 for L, M, and H, respectively). Cattle consuming L also tended to have higher VFA concentrations (mM) at 36 h after challenge (P = .12). There was no significant treatment effect on ruminal lactate. Flaking sorghum grain to .283 and .322 kg/L resulted in reduced intake and poorer animal performance compared with .361 kg/L (58.7% starch gelatinization), higher susceptibility to subacute acidosis, and higher costs of production.
The use of applied electric fields the photorefractive tungsten bronze ferroelectrics

The traditional method of determining the photorefractive effective charge density is to plot the photorefractive space charge field versus the crossing angle in a two-beam coupling experiment. The difficulty with this traditional measurement technique is that the apparatus must be moved several times in order to obtain data over the sufficient number of crossing angles needed for an accurate fit with theory. Moreover, with small crossing angles the overlap between the two crossing beams can easily extend over the entire crystal, while with larger crossing angles the overlap between the two beams becomes less certain. In this paper we demonstrate an alternative method of determining the photorefractive charge density. In this approach we measure the phase shift between the optical intensity pattern in the crystal and the resulting index pattern, as a function of the magnitude of an applied d.c. field. By comparing the measured value of the d.c. field which produces a minimum phase shift with that predicted by theory the photorefractive effective charge density is found. In this case, only the magnitude of the applied field is varied and the apparatus remains fixed. The result is obtained quickly and with little error.
Anatomy of Graph Matching based on an XQuery and RDF Implementation

Graphs are becoming one of the most popular data modeling paradigms since they are able to model complex relationships that cannot be easily captured using traditional data models. One of the major tasks of graph management is graph matching, which aims to find all of the subgraphs in a data graph that match a query graph. In the literature, proposals in this context are classified into two different categories: graph-at-a-time, which process the whole query graph at the same time, and vertex-at-a-time, which process a single vertex of the query graph at the same time. In this paper, we propose a new vertex-at-a-time proposal that is based on graphlets, each of which comprises a vertex of a graph, all of the immediate neighbors of that vertex, and all of the edges that relate those neighbors. Furthermore, we also use the concept of minimum hub covers, each of which comprises a subset of vertices in the query graph that account for all of the edges in that graph. We present the algorithms of our proposal and describe an implementation based on XQuery and RDF. Our evaluation results show that our proposal is appealing to perform graph matching.
MANTIS Multi-Attribute Networked Terrorism Identification System; A Neural Paradigm for Fighting the Jihad

The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility and importance of creating an innovative class of multi-attribute behavior signatures. These behavior signatures will provide an invaluable tool to the warfighter for predicting, identifying, detecting, following, and anticipating the activities of members of transnational terrorist groups, whether state- sponsored or independent actors. The primary means of accomplishing this objective is through the identification of particular domestic and international behavior, followed by a correlation of this conduct to worldwide terrorist activities. The newly identified behavior signatures may then be applied to a searchable, multi-attribute, networked terrorism identification system (hereafter "MANTIS"). An application of this kind will be searchable, fungible, scalable and responsive, thereby leveraging disparate data streams and bases of knowledge and allowing the anticipation of enemy activities.
Satiation effects in the perception of single letters

When single letters were presented for five flashes, with S making a clarity judgment after each exposure, initial potentiation and subsequent satiation effects were found. A processing task and complete prior knowledge led to an increased probability of a “clear” response on the first exposure and to an earlier onset of the satiation effect. The results are discussed in terms of the neural network model underlying this research.
Polynomial expressions of electron depth dose as a function of energy in various materials: application to thermoluminescence (TL) dosimetry

Abstract The CEPXS/ONEDANT code package was used to produce a library of depth–dose profiles for monoenergetic electrons in various materials for energies ranging from 500 keV to 5 MeV in 10 keV increments. The various materials for which depth–dose functions were derived include: lithium fluoride (LiF), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), beryllium oxide (BeO), calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ), calcium fluoride (CaF 2 ), lithium boron oxide (LiBO), soft tissue, lens of the eye, adiopose, muscle, skin, glass and water. All materials data sets were fit to five polynomials, each covering a different range of electron energies, using a least squares method. The resultant three dimensional, fifth-order polynomials give the dose as a function of depth and energy for the monoenergetic electrons in each material. The polynomials can be used to describe an energy spectrum by summing the doses at a given depth for each energy, weighted by the spectral intensity for that energy. An application of the polynomial is demonstrated by explaining the energy dependence of thermoluminescent detectors (TLDs) and illustrating the relationship between TLD signal and actual shallow dose due to beta particles.
Sequence analysis of mutA and mutM genes involved in the biosynthesis of the lantibiotic mutacin II in Streptococcus mutans

Abstract Streptococcus mutans , along with many other Gram-positive bacteria produce small antibacterial peptides called bacteriocins. Bacteriocins elaborated by S . mutans , termed mutacins, may provide a selective force necessary for initial or sustained colonization in dental plaque by this major dental pathogen. Previously, we purified and characterized mutacin II, the first lantibiotic found in S. mutans . Specific oligonucleotides designed according to the N-terminal amino acid sequence permitted amplification of 0.7 kb upstream and 2.1 kb downstream of the N-terminus, using single-specific-primer PCR (SSP–PCR). The gene encoding the mutacin II prepeptide, mut A, was subsequently cloned and sequenced. The complete prepeptide consists of 53 amino acids, including the 26 amino acid amphipathic leader peptide with the Gly −2 –Gly −1 sequence at the processing site. The prepeptide showed similarity to the lantibiotics lacticin 481, variacin, salivaricin and streptococcin A-FF22. A 3 kb open reading frame immediately downstream of mut A, denoted mut M, showed sequence similarities to LCNDR2 from Lactococcus lactis . By analogy, mut M is probably involved in post-translational modification of the mutacin prepeptide. Gene disruption with an insertional vector pVA891 showed that intact copies of mut A and mut M are required for production of mutacin II.
Aphthous ulcers responding to etretinate--a case report.

Summary Aphthous ulcers are notoriously difficult to treat. We report repeated remission of recurrent aphthous ulceration in a female while taking etretinate for plantar pustular psoriasis. Although systemic retinoids are potent teratogens and are generally inappropriate for women of childbearing potential, this case report suggests further assessment of retinoids in severe aphthosis is warranted in selected patients.
Size and shape of mineralites in young bovine bone measured by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to obtain three-dimensional images of isolated mineralites extracted from young postnatal bovine bone. The mean mineralite size is 9 nm x 6 nm x 2.0 nm, significantly shorter and thicker than the mineralites of mature bovine bone measured by the same technique. Mineralites of the young postnatal bone can be accommodated within the hole zone regions of a quasi-hexagonally packed collagen fibril in the fashion described by Hodge [9] in which laterally adjacent hole zone regions form continuous "channels" across the diameter of a fibril for a distance of at least 10 nm. Deposition of mineralites of the size noted above in this void volume of the fibrils would result in little or no distortion of the collagen molecules or supramolecular structure of the collagen fibril. The new AFM data supporting this claim is consistent with findings obtained by electron microscopy and low-angle x-ray and neutron diffraction that mineralites formed within collagen fibrils during initial stages of calcification occur within the hole zone region. However, the deposition of additional mineralites in the intermolecular spaces between collagen molecules in the overlap region of the fibrils would significantly distort the fibrils since the space available between adjacent molecules is considerably less than even the smallest dimension of the mineralites.
Controlled privacy preserving keyword search

Data sharing on public servers has become a popular service on the Internet, in which users can store and share data with other users through public servers. However, because the public servers are not under the control of users, there concerns on the privacy on the users data stored in the servers, which hinders the applications of public data sharing. Although some services, like Yahoo Briefcase, require passwords for data requests, this mechanism is designed to protect the privacy of users' data against malicious outsider users rather than untrusted public servers. Hence, a new approach is needed to protect users' data privacy in public data sharing applications when servers are not trusted.In this paper, an approach to controlled privacy preserving keyword search is presented to safeguard the privacy of users' data and queries in data sharing applications through public servers. With our approach, 1) users could store and share information with other users without worrying about the servers to compromise their privacies, 2) users can control both the access and the keyword search capability to their data without relying on the servers, and 3) all data requests are well protected from malicious users and the servers.
The role of pay and market pay variability in job application decisions.

Abstract The influence of pay and three other attributes on job application decisions under two sets of market conditions were examined. Consistent with economic hypothesizing, results suggested that most respondents used noncompensatory strategies to evaluate pay in making their application decisions. Moreover, both model usage and the pay importance appeared to vary as a function of market pay variability. Results are discussed primarily in terms of likely limitations to the generalizability of findings obtained from studies of attribute importance.
Differential Rates of Evolution for the ZFY-Related Zinc Finger Genes, Zfy, Zfx, and Zfa in the Mouse Genus Mus

A comparative study of the last exon of the zinc finger genes Zfx, Zfy, and Zfa from species of mice in the genus Mus was conducted to assess the extent of gene-specific and chromosome-specific effects on the evolutionary patterns among related X-, Y-, and autosomal-linked genes. Phylogenetic analyses of 29 sequences from Zfx, Zfa, and Zfy from 10 taxa were performed to infer relatedness among the zinc finger loci, and codon-based maximum likelihood analyses were conducted to assess evolutionary pattern among genes. Five models of nucleotide sequence evolution were applied and compared using a likelihood ratio test. Estimates of nonsynonymous to synonymous changes (dN/dS) for these genes suggest that amino acid substitutions are occurring at a more rapid rate across the autosomal- and Y-specific lineages compared to the X-specific lineage, with the Y-specific lineage showing the highest rate under certain models. The data suggest the action of gene-specific effects on evolutionary pattern. In particular, Zfa and Zfy genes, both with presumed restricted expression, appear less functionally constrained relative to ubiquitously expressed Zfx. Slightly elevated dN/dS for Zfy genes in comparison to Zfa also suggest Y-specific effects.
DETECTION OF ISOPROPANOL IN ACETONEMIC PATIENTS NOT EXPOSED TO ISOPROPANOL

Isopropanol has been identified in five acetonemic patients not exposed to this compound. Serum concentrations ranged up to 297 mg/L for IPA and up to 321 mg/L for acetone. Concentration ratios (isopropanol:acetone) ranged up to 5.12. All five patients had Type I diabetes mellitus and were insulin-dependent. At the time isopropanol was detected each patient was hyperglycemic, and four patients were acidotic. These findings tend to corroborate clinically some earlier autopsy reports that acetone may be converted to isopropanol in physiological conditions in which reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is elevated. The conversion of acetone to isopropanol in vivo has significant clinical and forensic toxicological implications.
Quantitative relations between hypertonia and stretch reflex threshold in spastic hemiparesis

The relative contributions of variations in stretch reflex threshold and total joint stiffness to changes in stretch-evoked torque were assessed in the spastic elbow muscles of 14 hemiparetic spastic subjects. For a given subject, variations in torque, measured after a constant angular deflection, were mediated largely by changes in stretch reflex threshold, rather than by changes in reflex stiffness. Between-subject comparisons were sensitive to stiffness differences between limbs, but reflex thresholds were still broadly correlated with torque magnitude, suggesting that reductions in stretch reflex threshold are uniformly present in spastic muscles. These findings, coupled with the apparent similarity of reflex stiffness estimates in voluntarily activated spastic and normal muscles, suggest that the central disturbance in spasticity is a reduction in the threshold of the stretch reflex, without a significant enhancement of reflex gain.
A novel low profile wireless flow sensor to monitor hemodynamic changes in cerebral aneurysm

A proof of concept of low-profile flow sensor has been designed, fabricated, and subsequently tested to demonstrate its feasibility for monitoring hemodynamic changes in cerebral aneurysm. The prototype sensor contains three layers, i.e., a thin polyurethane layer was sandwiched between two sputter-deposited thin film nitinol layers (6μm thick). A novel superhydrophilic surface treatment was used to create hemocompatible surface of thin nitinol electrode layers. A finite element model was conducted using ANSYS Workbench 15.0 Static Structural to optimize the dimensions of flow sensor. A computational fluid dynamics calculations were performed using ANSYS Workbench Fluent to assess the flow velocity patterns within the aneurysm sac. We built a test platform with a z-axis translation stage and an S-beam load cell to compare the capacitance changes of the sensors with different parameters during deformation. Both LCR meter and oscilloscope were used to measure the capacitance and the resonant frequency shifts, respectively. The experimental compression tests demonstrated the linear relationship between the capacitance and applied compression force and decreasing the length, width and increasing the thickness improved the sensor sensitivity. The experimentally measured resonant frequency dropped from 12.7MHz to 12.48MHz, indicating a 0.22MHz shift with 200g ( 2N) compression force while the theoretical resonant frequency shifted 0.35MHz with 50g ( 0.5N). Our recent results demonstrated a feasibility of the low-profile flow sensor for monitoring haemodynamics in cerebral aneurysm region, as well as the efficacy of the use of the surface treated thin film nitinol for the low-profile sensor materials.
Counseling needs and attitudes toward prenatal diagnosis and abortion in fragile‐X families

The genetic counseling needs of 32 women of normal intelligence at-risk for having children with the fragile-X syndrome (FXS) were determined by a questionnaire study which included assessment of their attitudes toward prenatal diagnosis and the option of pregnancy termination. Eighteen (56%) of the women had one or more children with the FXS and 14 (44%) had no affected children. Twenty-six (81%) of the subjects stated that they would choose to have prenatal diagnosis and 9 (28%) indicated they would terminate an affected pregnancy. There was no significant difference between women who had affected children and those who did not have affected children, nor between Catholics and non-Catholics regarding acceptance of prenatal diagnosis. Catholic women were less likely to consider pregnancy termination than non-Catholics, but the majority of subjects (56%) were unsure what they would do if a fetus they were carrying was found to be affected. Issues the subjects considered most important for discussion with a genetic counselor included: 1) availability of treatment, 2) risk for having an affected grand child, 3) expectations for future functioning of affected children, and 4) availability of prenatal diagnosis.
Effect of Ara-CTP on DNA replication and repair in isolated hepatocyte nuclei

Abstract Ara-CTP differentially inhibits two types of DNA synthetic activity occurring in isolated hepatocyte nuclei in vitro. Ara-CTP inhibits type A synthesis (replication) with a K 1 of 5 × 10 −7 M, whereas type C synthesis (presumed repair) is much less sensitive, the K 1 being 5 × 10 −4 M. Significant inhibition of type C synthesis does not occur until type A synthesis is suppressed by more than 50%.
Resuscitations in an observation unit.

The outcome of all resuscitations in a 20-bed observation unit of a large teaching hospital over a 25-month period was reviewed. Resuscitation was defined as a patient receiving one or more of the following: external chest compressions; defibrillation, assisted ventilation (e.g. intubation); and/or advanced cardiac life support drug therapy such as atropine or lidocaine for life threatening dysrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or asystole. There were nine patients out of 10 245 patients admitted to the observation unit (9/10 245 = 0.088% or approximately 0.09%) over the 26-month period from May 1994 to July 1996 who needed resuscitation. Each patient was initially successfully resuscitated. There was only one death (1/10 245 = 0.0098% or approximately 0.01%) in the observation unit. This patient was resuscitated with return of a spontaneous pulse and blood pressure only to expire while awaiting transfer to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Eight of the nine patients were admitted to the ICU, four of whom later died, making a total of five deaths (5/10 245 = 0.049% or approximately 0.05%). The other four patients were discharged neurologically intact and at 1 year follow-up were alive and doing well. Compared with resuscitation rates for the prehospital setting, the emergency department, the hospital medical/surgical floors, or the intensive care units, there is a higher successful resuscitation rate for the observation unit.
First-Year Responses of Cheatgrass Following Tamarix spp. Control and Restoration-Related Disturbances

Current invasion ecology theory predicts that disturbance will stimulate invasion by exotic plant species. Cheatgrass or Downy brome (Bromus tectorum) was surveyed in three sites near Florence, Colorado, U.S.A., immediately following Tamarisk or Saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) control and restoration activities that caused disturbance. Despite predictions to the contrary, neither mowing with heavy machinery nor tilling for seedbed preparation stimulated invasion, with a trend for the opposite pattern such that highest percent cover of B. tectorum was observed in the least disturbed transects. Aerial application of imazapyr for Tamarix spp. control caused mortality of nearly all B. tectorum and other understory plant species in all sites. Mechanical control of Tamarix spp. will not necessarily result in increased abundance of invasive species already present, possibly due to the effects of mulch usually left on-site. Imazapyr will control B. tectorum and other herbaceous understory species when applied aerially for Tamarix spp. control. These results are encouraging for managers of riparian systems who may fear that control of woody invasives will stimulate herbaceous invasions.
Simultaneous analysis of monoterpenes and diterpenoids of conifer oleoresin

A simple and rapid procedure for the simultaneous determination of monoterpenes and diterpenoid resin acids of conifer stem oleoresin is described; it involves tissue extraction with methyl tert-butyl ether and methylation of the resin acids with CH2N2. The resin acid methyl esters and the monoterpenes are then analysed in a single gas chromatographic step. Enantiomer composition of the major monoterpene constituents is determined, after preliminary purification by thin layer chromatography, by capillary gas chromatography on a cyclodextrin column. The method is applicable to conifer species of high resin content (Iodgepole pine) and low resin content (grand fir).
Distributions of kinetic energy release in benzoyl ion formation

Distributions of the kinetic energy release have been determined for reactions of metastable ions leading to formation of the benzoyl cation. Although the reactions studied were all apparent simple bond cleavages, the shapes of these distributions varied widely, as did the magnitude of the most probable energy release. There is evidence that the shape of the distribution function is related to the mechanism of the reaction. In one case the distribution shows structure not seen in the metastable peak itself, suggesting that at least two reaction pathways are operative. Thus, the present measurements on energy distributions supplement the information concerning different elementary reactions that can be obtained from the study of metastable peaks.
General and Target-Specific RNA Binding Properties of Epstein-Barr Virus SM Posttranscriptional Regulatory Protein

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) SM protein is an essential nuclear shuttling protein expressed by EBV early during the lytic phase of replication. SM acts to increase EBV lytic gene expression by binding EBV mRNAs and enhancing accumulation of the majority of EBV lytic cycle mRNAs. SM increases target mRNA stability and nuclear export, in addition to modulating RNA splicing. SM and its homologs in other herpesvirus have been hypothesized to function in part by binding viral RNAs and recruiting cellular export factors. Although activation of gene expression by SM is gene specific, it is unknown whether SM binds to mRNA in a specific manner or whether its RNA binding is target independent. SM-mRNA complexes were isolated from EBV-infected B-lymphocyte cell lines induced to permit lytic EBV replication, and a quantitative measurement of mRNAs corresponding to all known EBV open reading frames was performed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The results showed that although SM has broad RNA binding properties, there is a clear hierarchy of affinities among EBV mRNAs with respect to SM complex formation. In vitro binding assays with two of the most highly SM-associated transcripts suggested that SM binds preferentially to specific sequences or structures present in noncoding regions of some EBV mRNAs. Furthermore, the presence of these sequences conferred responsiveness to SM. These data are consistent with a mechanism of action similar to that of hnRNPs, which exert sequence-specific effects on gene expression despite having multiple degenerate consensus binding sites common to a large number of RNAs.
Corporal punishment and primary prevention of physical abuse.

Abstract Objective: To bring to the attention child maltreatment professionals the potential for primary prevention of physical abuse of ending or reducing corporal punishment by parents. Method: The October 1999 special issue of Child Abuse & Neglect on “A National Call to Action: Working Toward the Elimination of Child Maltreatment” was reviewed in relation to coverage of corporal punishment by parents. Results: Corporal punishment was not mentioned in any of the nine articles. Conclusions: The combination of research showing that corporal punishment is a major risk factor for physical abuse and research showing the wide prevalence and chronicity of corporal punishment suggests that the “National Call For Action” should include steps to end use of corporal punishment as a mode of discipline.
Organ culture studies of coupled fetal cord and adult muscle from normal and dystrophic mice.

Abstract Organotypic cultures of adult mouse muscle, both normal (+/+) and dystrophic ( dy dy ), coupled with embryonic spinal cord from both +/+ and dy dy mice were studied. Regeneration in muscle cultures without cord was rare. Regardless of the type of embryonic cord (+/+ or dy dy ) coupled with muscle, normal muscle consistently regenerated, exhibiting cross-striations and spontaneous contractions; dystrophic muscle produced myoblastic outgrowth followed by abortive cell fusion, and atypical degenerating myotubes. Dystrophic muscle regeneration as scored by cellular outgrowth and myotube formation was precocious compared to that of normal. The large majority of dystrophic regenerated myotubes were flat and unstriated, and exhibited no spontaneous contractions in contrast to the rounded, striated, spontaneously contracting tubes of normal muscle. It is concluded that cultured adult myogenic cells which are genetically dystrophic are capable only of abortive regeneration, which is not “cured” by the presence of normal fetal neural tissue. The sequence of regeneration of adult normal muscle in vitro is not altered when muscle is cultured in the presence of genetically dystrophic fetal spinal cord. These results are compared with other in vitro studies of dystrophic muscle development.
Assembly of proteins into membranes

Two pathways for protein assembly into biological membranes have been proposed. The "signal hypothesis" emphasizes the role of specific membrane proteins in binding the growing polypeptide and conducting it into the bilayer during its synthesis. The "membrane-triggered folding" hypothesis emphasizes self-assembly and the role of changing protein conformation during transfer from an aqueous compartment into a membrane. These ideas provide a framework for reviewing recent data on the biogenesis of membrane proteins.
The effect of standard care, ibuprofen, and music on pain relief and patient satisfaction in adults with musculoskeletal trauma.

Abstract Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the most effective nursing intervention to decrease pain for patients with minor musculoskeletal trauma and moderate pain at triage and to examine patient satisfaction. Methods: Patients were assigned to 1 of 3 intervention groups: (1) standard care (ice, elevation, and immobilization); (2) standard care and ibuprofen; or (3) standard care and music distraction. Patients were monitored for pain ratings for 60 minutes. Patients who sustained minor musculoskeletal trauma within the past 24 hours and presented with pain ratings of 4 or greater were included. Two patient satisfaction questions were asked upon discharge from the emergency department. Results: Seventy-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. No differences in pain ratings between groups were demonstrated. A statistically significant reduction in pain for all patients occurred at 30 minutes (F = 16.18, P P =.003). Conclusion: None of the therapies—standard care (ice, elevation, immobilization), standard care with ibuprofen, or standard care with music distraction—provided clinically significant pain relief to patients who had minor musculoskeletal trauma (ie, sprains and fractures) and moderate pain at triage. Interestingly, satisfaction scores were sometimes positive, even when pain was not relieved.
A view from the entry level: student perceptions of critical information systems job attributes

Globalization and the expanding digital nature of today's business environment have resulted in skyrocketing demand for qualified IT personnel. Organizations are increasingly turning to recently graduated IS students as a critical source of supply. In light of this, the objective of this paper is to identify the relative importance of job attributes considered by IS students when evaluating a job. Drawing on content motivation as a general theoretical foundation, this paper surveyed 243 IS students at two large southwestern universities to determine what job attributes they find most appealing when assessing potential positions and organizations. Prior research was aggregated to compile a comprehensive list of job attributes. Two methods were used by respondents to evaluate these attributes; rank ordering, and points allocation (weighted measure). The results provide insight into the relative importance that IS students attach to specific job attributes. This information may be used by organizations to provide relevant information to potential employees, resulting in improved alignment between employee preferences and organizational reality, with a subsequent effect on job attitude and turnover.
Atomic layer deposition of TaSix thin films on SiO2 using TaF5 and Si2H6

Abstract The atomic layer deposition (ALD) of TaSix thin films was achieved on SiO2 at 500 K through the repetition of separate, alternating exposures to TaF5 and Si2H6. Films were deposited and in situ analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to evaluate growth kinetics, interfacial chemistry with the substrate, and film composition. The first 25 exposure cycles resulted in an average film thickness of only 0.3 nm. Afterward, film thickness increased linearly at a rate of ∼0.1 nm/cycle, and films deposited using 50 ALD cycles were about 2.5 nm thick. The formation of a Ta oxyfluoride interfacial compound was observed and attributed to the reaction of TaF5 with SiO2, based upon previous surface chemistry studies. After 150 cycles, films were thick enough to suppress photoelectrons from the substrate and substrate film interface. Based on XPS data, the surface composition of these as-grown films, which were cooled in Si2H6, was in atomic percent: 26.6% Ta, 51.3% Si, 17.9% F, 1.6% O and 2.6% C. After 30 s of sputtering with 5 keV Ar ions, the F XPS signal was at the noise level indicating negligible fluorine incorporation in the films. The Ta 4f and Si 2p XP spectra are consistent with zero-valent Ta and Si, most likely as a non-stoichiometric tantalum silicide-like phase.
Microwave Observation of the Weddell Polynya

Satellite microwave image data from Nimbus 5 of the Weddell Sea are examined for the years 1973-77. During the winters of 1974, 1975 and 1976 a polynya or ice-enclosed open water area is observed. It has an area 200,000-300,000 sq km and is observed drifting west at about 1 cm/s in the Weddell Sea ice pack. The long-term and short-term behavior of the polynya margin and the regional ice concentration are interpreted in light of several oceanographic and meteorological theories explaining the circulation relevant to its origin, stability and role. It is concluded that water column stability preconditioning alone is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the existence of the polynya.
Reversible inactivation of visual processing operations in middle suprasylvian cortex of the behaving cat.

Abstract Extrastriate visual areas on the banks of the middle suprasylvian sulcus were inactivated by cooling to assess the behavioral contribution of this cortical region to the extraction of a stationary figure from a moving mask. Cooling blocked figure-ground separation when the mask was moving but had no influence when the mask was static. This difference provides strong evidence that the areas bounding the middle suprasylvian sulcus contribute to the neural separation of stationary from moving visual stimuli.
IL-12hi Rapamycin-Conditioned Dendritic Cells Mediate IFN-γ—Dependent Apoptosis of Alloreactive CD4+ T Cells In Vitro and Reduce Lethal Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Abstract Rapamycin (RAPA) inhibits the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), a crucial immune system regulator. Dendritic cells (DC) generated in RAPA (RAPA-DC) enrich for CD4+ forkhead box p3 (FoxP3+) regulatory T cells and induce T cell apoptosis by an unknown mechanism. RAPA-DC also promote experimental allograft survival, yet paradoxically secrete increased IL-12, crucial for the generation of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells. However, IFN-γ is pro-apoptotic and IL-12-driven IFN-γ inhibits experimental graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We hypothesized that IL-12hi RAPA-DC would facilitate IFN-γ-mediated apoptosis of alloreactive T cells and, unlike control (CTR)-DC, would reduce lethal GVHD. Following LPS stimulation, RAPA-DC exhibited decreased MHCII and co-stimulatory molecules and contained a significant population of CD86lo IL-12hi cells. Consistent with our hypothesis, both unstimulated and LPS-stimulated RAPA-DC enhanced alloreactive CD4+ T cell apoptosis in culture. Augmented T cell apoptosis was ablated by IFN-γ neutralization or using T cells lacking the IFN-γ receptor, and it was associated with increased expression of Fas and cleaved caspase 8. DC production or responses to IFN-γ were not important to increased apoptotic functions of RAPA-DC. LPS-stimulated IL-12p40−/− RAPA-DC induced lower levels of T cell apoptosis in culture, which was further decreased with addition of anti-IFN-γ. Finally, whereas CTR-DC accelerated mortality from GVHD, LPS-treated RAPA-DC significantly prolonged host survival. In conclusion, increased apoptosis of allogeneic CD4+ T cells induced by LPS-stimulated IL-12hi RAPA-DC is mediated in vitro through IFN-γ and in part by increased IL-12 expression. Enhanced production of IL-12, the predominant inducer of IFN-γ by immune cells, is a probable mechanism underlying the capacity of LPS-treated RAPA-DC to reduce GVHD.
Electron-beam assisted CVD of silicon homoepitaxial films

The use of a wide-area electron beam to aid the deposition of epitaxial silicon films has been studied. The electron beam used in this study is generated using a cold cathode, abnormal-glow discharge which allows a wide variation of electron energy and beam current. Depositions are performed on single crystal silicon substrates which are prepared using standard wet chemical silicon cleaning techniques and an in situ plasma etch using nitrogen tri-fluoride diluted in hydrogen. The beam diameter is approximately 10 cm and can readily be scaled up to accommodate larger diameters, allowing great potential for large area single wafer deposition. Using electron beams generated in this system, we have demonstrated enhanced growth rates and improved crystalline quality for films grown with electron-beam enhancement. 8 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.
National patterns and predictors of liver biopsy use for management of hepatitis C.

Background & Aims Liver biopsy remains the standard, recommended method for assessing liver damage associated with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. However, there is considerable debate about how liver biopsy should best be used, especially with the advent of more efficacious antiviral therapies. To identify the factors that influence the use of liver biopsy for HCV patients, we describe variations in liver biopsy use at the delivery system and patient level in a national VA sample. Methods We analyzed VA HCV registry data for 171,893 VA patients with confirmed chronic HCV. Delivery system characteristics included geographic region and specialist time. Patient characteristics included antiviral treatment indicators, contraindications, volume of healthcare visits, and demographic variables. Logistic regression was used to explore correlates of biopsy use. Results Liver biopsy use in the VA system increased from 1997 to 2003 but began declining in 2004. Rates of liver biopsy from 2004 to 2006 varied by VA region, ranging from 5% to 18%. Treatment contraindications and laboratory tests were significantly associated with more biopsies. Demographic variables (higher age, lower BMI, race/ethnicity, and less% service connected disability) were associated with fewer biopsies. Regional variability remained significant independent of volume of care and specialist time. Conclusions Liver biopsy rates in the VA system have variability that seems unrelated to clinical need. New antiviral therapies and non-invasive assessment techniques may create additional uncertainty for the role of liver biopsy, perhaps explaining its decline in recent years. The availability of more effective antiviral therapies may also affect biopsy rates in the future.
Emotional Determinants of Infant‐Mother Attachment

The present study examined the assumption that emotion-related characteristics of mothers and infants contribute to the development of infant-mother attachment in the first year of life. Mothers' emotion and personality characteristics were assessed with expressive-behavior ratings and self-report scales. Infant characteristics were measured by emotion and temperament questionnaires (mother report) and objective coding of facial expressions of emotions. Attachment classifications were determined by means of the Strange Situation procedure, and a continuous-variable index of attachment security was derived by a discriminant function procedure. Mothers' emotion experiences, expressive behaviors, and personality traits were significant predictors of the level of security of the infant-mother attachment. Infants' expressive and temperamental characteristics as rated by their mothers were also significant predictors of attachment security.