cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Binding of the Carcinogen 4-Nitroquinoline-1-Oxide to phiX174 DNA - Selectivity and Distortion

Optical titration studies, NMR studies and studies with DNA oligonucleotides have suggested that the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide [NQO] binds to DNA with marked sequence selectivity and cooperativity and that the binding affects the reactivity of enzymes with DNA. To further examine the sequence selectivity of NQO binding to DNA, we have examined the binding of NQO [at NQO/DNA bp ratios 0.1-3] to various locations on phiX174RF DNA using restriction enzyme activity assays employing seven restriction enzymes chosen to have different reaction sequences and flanking sequences. Alterations in restriction enzyme activity were observed with the restriction enzymes Alw44, BssH II, Dra I, Stu I and Xho I while no effect was observed for cleavage by Mlu I and Pst I. While the cleavage sites for the affected enzymes differ, the flanking sequences contain similar motifs [TCTT, TGATTG, TGTTG, TCCTTG, TGTTG]. This motif type is not found in the vicinity of the unaffected enzymes. This motif type was previous shown, with oligomers, to be a hot spot for NQO binding and to be a hot spot for the binding of the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene. The alterations in DNA cleavage [enhanced cleavage by Alw44 and inhibition by the other enzymes] provide further indication that NQO alters DNA structure upon binding. The effects of NQO binding on DNA structure were probed using E.coli topoisomerase I assays and mung bean nuclease assays. The topoisomerase I assays suggest that NQO unwinds the DNA upon binding. NQO/DNA bp ratios from 0.07 to 0.3 produced enhancement in mung bean nuclease activity. NQO/DNA bp ratios from 0.7 to 3 produced inhibited cleavage. This change in effect with concentration may indicate cooperativity in NQO binding. These assays provide further indication that NQO distorts the structure of DNA - which could lead to the changes in restriction enzyme activity. The results presented provide further insight into the modes of carcinogen attack on DNA.
USING COUPLES' DISCORDANT REPORTS TO ESTIMATE FEMALE COVERT USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

Substantial numbers of married women use contraceptives without their partner’s knowledge in sub-Saharan Africa, but studies of female covert use across time are rare. This study investigates the levels, trends and correlates of covert use in nine countries and determines which contraceptive methods are more frequently used covertly by women. Data from monogamous couples in Demographic and Health Surveys were used from nine sub-Saharan African countries that had experienced an increase of 10 percentage points in current modern contraceptive use between an earlier (1991–2004) and later (2007–2011) survey. Covert use was indirectly estimated as the percentage of women who reported a female modern method whose husband did not report a modern method. The percentage of women using covertly increased in eight of the countries studied (significantly in three of them), yet when comparing across countries cross-sectionally, covert use was lower where contraceptive prevalence was higher. In general, women with more years of schooling and those with larger spousal schooling gaps had lower odds of covert use. There was no significant difference between covert and open injectable use, though more than half of both groups used this method in the later surveys. Encouraging couple communication about contraception, where the woman feels it is safe to do so, could be an important strategy to minimize covert use. Further research is needed to better identify the contraceptive prevalence and social context in which covert use declines within a country.
Frege’s Theorem: AN INTRODUCTION

Frege's work was largely devoted to an attempt to argue that the'basic laws of arithmetic' are truths of logic. That attempt had both philosophical and formal aspects. The present note offers an introduction to both of these, so that readers will be able to appreciate contemporary discussions of the philosophical significance of 'Frege's Theorem'.
Integrity in nursing students: A concept analysis.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this review was to clarify the concept of nursing student integrity. Unlike published reviews that highlight the absence of integrity, the author sought to identify the positive defining characteristics of integrity. Design Concept analysis. Data Sources A literature review was conducted using the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health, Social Science Index, Psyc Info and Medline. Inclusion criteria included peer reviewed articles, written in English, with no limitation on publication date. The search also revealed that a concept analysis of integrity had not been performed. Review Methods Walker and Avant's (2005) eight step modification of Wilson's (1963) classic concept analysis procedure was used as the organizing framework to explore how the concept of integrity is defined in the current literature. Results Nursing student integrity was analyzed using Walker and Avant's method of concept analysis: concept definition, defining attribute, model, borderline, related and contrary cases, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents (Walker and Avant 2005). Defining attributes to nursing student integrity were honesty, ethical behavior and professionalism. Antecedents to integrity included an academic culture of respect, characterized by student-faculty relationships derived from mutual respect, trust and a shared learning goal. Conclusions This review identified honesty, ethical behavior and professionalism as the defining attributes of integrity. The importance of faculty as role models of integrity was paramount in building a culture of honesty. Future research should explore faculty perceptions of their professional role as models of integrity, and faculty perceptions of behaviors that promote a culture of respect.
Similarities and differences in estimates of sleep duration by polysomnography, actigraphy, diary, and self-reported habitual sleep in a community sample.

Abstract Objectives To compare estimates of sleep duration defined by polysomnography (PSG), actigraphy, daily diary, and retrospective questionnaire and to identify characteristics associated with differences between measures. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Community sample. Participants The sample consisted of 223 Black, White, and Asian middle- to older-aged men and women residing in the Pittsburgh, PA area. Interventions Not applicable. Measurements Two nights of in-home PSG; 9 nights of wrist actigraphy and sleep diaries; retrospective sleep questionnaires; and measures of sociodemographic, psychosocial, and adiposity characteristics. Results All measures of sleep duration differed significantly, with modest associations between PSG-assessed and retrospective questionnaire-assessed sleep duration. Individuals estimated their habitual sleep duration about 20-30 minutes longer by questionnaire and their prospective sleep diaries compared with both PSG- and actigraphy-assessed sleep duration. Persons reporting higher hostility had smaller associations between PSG-assessed sleep duration and other methods compared with those with lower hostility; those reporting more depressive symptoms and poorer overall health had smaller associations between actigraphy-assessed sleep duration and questionnaire and diary measures. Apnea-hypopnea index was not related to differences among estimates of sleep duration. Conclusions PSG, actigraphy, diary, and retrospective questionnaire assessments yield different estimates of sleep duration. Hostility, depressive symptoms, and perceptions of poor health were associated with the magnitude of differences among some estimates. These findings may be useful in understanding the health consequences of short or long self-reported sleep duration and for guiding investigator decisions about choices of measures in specific populations.
RISK OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Chronic inflammation is linked to increased cardiovascular risk. The association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and myocardial infarction (MI) is not well understood. We sought to elucidate this risk using a large database. We reviewed data from a large commercial database (Explorys, IBM
Optimizing Photoactive Proteins for Optoelectronic Environments by Using Directed Evolution

Genetic engineering has recently emerged as a popular tool for tailoring biological macromolecules to function in nonnative environments. Most protein optimization efforts have advanced in large part as a result of significant advances in the methods and procedures of genetic engineering, most notably, directed evolution. Directed evolution mimics natural selection by combining techniques in genetic modification with differential selection. Most protein engineering research focuses on improving the thermal and chemical properties of enzymatic proteins for pharmaceutical applications. However, the recent emergence of nanobiotechnology has led researchers to broaden the scope of directed evolution. This chapter describes a strategy for tailoring the electronic and photochemical properties of proteins for performance in device applications. Among the many photoactive proteins found in nature, bacteriorhodopsin and its eubacterial counterpart, proteorhodopsin, are two leading candidates for protein-based device applications. The intrinsic stability, branched photochemistry, and photovoltaic properties of bacteriorhodopsin and proteorhodopsin make both proteins excellent candidates for three-dimensional volumetric memories, real-time holographic media, protein-based semiconductor devices, and artificial retinas.
Information Flows in Soviet Research and Development

Because the dissemination of scientific and technical information is a central part of the research and development process, a careful appraisal of the Soviet R&D system must include an analysis of information flows. This paper analyzes the Soviet exchange of information through documentary as well as nondocumentary channels. The discussion covers exchange within the USSR and between the USSR and other countries. Most of the paper’s findings are drawn from two reports I wrote on this subject in the early 1980s, updated by a survey of more recent Soviet materials.1
Acceptable Environmental Change from Waste Disposal

Environmental alterations result from the disposition of waste materials. The identification of acceptable changes is a major criterion of effective waste husbandry. The protection of public health and of ecosystem integrity constitute the primary guidelines for appropriate waste management. Still, subjective judgements are often necessary and can supplement the assessments based on scientific and technological data. Three examples of possible changes in the marine environment as the consequence of the entry of societal discards are considered: (1) the disposal of sewage sludge; (2) the release of tin butyls through their use in anti-fouling paints on boats and ships; and (3) artificial radionuclide releases. Once the maximum acceptable levels or fluxes of polluting substances are determined, the translation of these numbers into regulatory and monitoring activity is essential. Public perception of environmental problems can conflict with rational disposal tactics.
Differential Media Reporting of Unintentional Child Deaths in Chicago, 2011-2015.

The article explores sudden unintentional infant death (SUID), the leading classification of death in the postneonatal period in the U.S. Particular focus is given to how this relates to media reporting of unintentional child deaths in Chicago, Illinois, between 2011 and 2015. Additional topics discussed include recommended sleep practices for infants and the importance of sleep habits and hygiene for infants.
Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Improves Sleep Quality Postoperatively.

Purpose To describe the prevalence of abnormal sleep quality in patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and to determine whether arthroscopic hip preservation surgery with cam/pincer correction, labral preservation, and capsular plication can improve sleep quality postoperatively. Methods All patients undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for cam/pincer correction who failed nonoperative management between March 1, 2017, and July 1, 2017, were administered a validated sleep quality questionnaire—the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)—preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Exclusion criteria included patients undergoing revision arthroscopy, gluteus medius repair, or a contralateral procedure during the follow-up period and those with known sleep disorders. A global (total) PSQI score >5 indicates poor sleep quality. The Hip Outcome Score–Activities of Daily Living, Hip Outcome Score–Sports Specific Subscale, modified Harris Hip Score, and International Hip Outcome Tool-12 were used to assess functional outcomes. A repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Greenhouse-Geisser and Bonferroni corrections was conducted to determine statistically significant changes in sleep patterns. Results A total of 52 patients (94.6%) were included in the final analysis. The mean (± standard error) patient age was 37.8 ± 1.9 years, and body mass index was 27.6 ± 0.7. Preoperatively, 49 (94.2%) of patients experienced poor sleep quality, defined as a global PSQI score >5, with a mean PSQI score of 9.8 ± 0.6. At 24 weeks postoperatively, 10 (21.7%) of patients experienced poor sleep quality with a mean PSQI score of 2.2 ± 0.2. All patients had significant improvements in all hip outcome instruments at 24 weeks postoperatively (P Conclusions Preoperatively, patients with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome have a high prevalence of sleep disturbance. These patients experience subsequent improvement in sleep disturbance after arthroscopic hip surgery early in the postoperative period. Level of Evidence Level IV, case series.
Some methods for privacy in RFID communication

For RFID tags to gain general acceptance, they will have to offer powerful and flexible privacy mechanisms. After reviewing existing and upcoming privacy mechanisms for RFID privacy, we propose that a key aspect of RFID communication with passive tags, namely its required energy transference from an external antenna, may offer promise when developing privacy mechanisms. We present two proposals for such mechanisms. In the first mechanism, analysis of the received signal by the tags can be used to estimate reader distance (and hence trust). We show that a simple metric analogous to signal to noise ratio correlates well with rough distance. In the second, antenna energy is used to power a tiered authentication scheme, in which tags reveal more information about themselves to more trusted and/or “energetic” readers.
What are the Psychological Implications for the Separation/Individuation Process for an African American Family that is Poor?:

It will be argued that the psychological implications of the Separation/Individuation (S/I) process in an African American family structure of lower socioeconomic status. can best be described in terms of the borderline syndrome. This will prove to be a challenging task in that the literature on African American families does not directly include references to the complex theoretical issues associated with the S/I process or with borderline patients. Furthermore, the literature on S/I is mostly concerned with issues related to the dominant culture. Consequently, the integration of these two areas into a functional understanding of poor African American family structure will have to be inferential in nature. It was the work of Mahler et al. (1949) who introduced the psychological characteristics of children that later became associated with the concept of the borderline syndrome. In the years to follow, numerous authors (Geleerd, 1958; Knight, 1954; Rosenfeld & Sprine, 1963) began the systematic investigation of the confusing characteristics associated with this pathological state. These investigations were dynamic and developmental in origin and relied on three basic sources: "observation of the transference-countertransference interaction in intensive psychotherapy or analysis, observation of the preverbal infant in interaction with his mother, and study of the family in interaction" (Shapiro, 1978, p. 1305). Em-
Impact of β-Lactam Allergies on Antimicrobial Selection in an Outpatient Setting.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to determine whether patients prescribed nonpreferred antibiotics received appropriate alternative antibiotics. Methods This was a retrospective observational analysis of military veteran patients with a β-lactam allergy treated in an outpatient clinic or emergency department for an infection during a 5-year span. Antibiotic regimens were first stratified as preferred or nonpreferred based on infection-specific guidelines. The nonpreferred regimens were then evaluated for appropriateness based on allergy history and culture and sensitivity reports. Results Of 445 fills of antibiotics evaluated, 269 met inclusion criteria, comprising 253 unique infections in 80 patients. Patients received nonpreferred antibiotics for their infection type in 57% of cases. Of the nonpreferred antibiotics, 56% were inappropriate based on guideline-recommended alternatives, allergy history, and culture and sensitivity data. Of the 88 allergies, 97% were historical/self-reported and 48% were cutaneous. In addition, 39% of patients safely received β-lactam antibiotics after documentation of their allergy. Conclusions Patients with documented β-lactam allergies are at high risk of receiving nonpreferred and inappropriate antibiotics, and many reactions likely do not reflect true allergies. These data emphasize the negative impact of the "β-lactam allergy" label and the importance of reassessing allergies.
Cancer Cell Membrane-Coated Nanoparticles for Cancer Management.

Cancer is a global health problem in need of transformative treatment solutions for improved patient outcomes. Many conventional treatments prove ineffective and produce undesirable side effects because they are incapable of targeting only cancer cells within tumors and metastases post administration. There is a desperate need for targeted therapies that can maximize treatment success and minimize toxicity. Nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable physicochemical properties have potential to meet the need for high precision cancer therapies. At the forefront of nanomedicine is biomimetic nanotechnology, which hides NPs from the immune system and provides superior targeting capabilities by cloaking NPs in cell-derived membranes. Cancer cell membranes expressing “markers of self” and “self-recognition molecules” can be removed from cancer cells and wrapped around a variety of NPs, providing homotypic targeting and circumventing the challenge of synthetically replicating natural cell surfaces. Compared to unwrapped NPs, cancer cell membrane-wrapped NPs (CCNPs) provide reduced accumulation in healthy tissues and higher accumulation in tumors and metastases. The unique biointerfacing capabilities of CCNPs enable their use as targeted nanovehicles for enhanced drug delivery, localized phototherapy, intensified imaging, or more potent immunotherapy. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art in CCNP technology and provides insight to the path forward for clinical implementation.
A Study of “Fossil Free” Equity Portfolio Performance

A growing number of institutions now consider fossil free investing, a portfolio strategy that seeks to minimize exposure to companies that are sources of current and future carbon emissions, such as coal, oil, and natural gas companies. The strategy is a subset of the broader social responsibility investment movement, which seeks to balance environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors alongside traditional financial analysis. Before implementing a fossil free strategy, institutions may want to know the historical impact of eliminating carbon-oriented stocks from a conventional equity portfolio. We compare the two investment strategies over the period from 2004 to 2017 and find that going fossil free causes no undue harm to the investor. The fossil free portfolio performs worse than the conventional equity portfolio in the early years, but the trend reverses in the later years. The long-term stock performance of Carbon Underground 200 firms also shows that firms added to the list in the later years experience significantly negative abnormal returns for the three years subsequent to the month of addition. TOPICS:Portfolio theory, portfolio construction Key Findings • Over the 13 years, 2004–2017, a fossil free portfolio had similar annualized returns and volatility, compared to a conventional equity portfolio. • Divided into two sub-periods, the fossil free portfolio did worse in the earlier years, but reversed this trend in later years. • The performance of carbon-heavy stocks changed over time. Such stocks performed worse in the later years than in the early years. This differential perhaps reflected institutional investors’ increased adoption of socially responsible investment tactics over time.
Repeated norepinephrine receptor stimulation in the BNST induces sensorimotor gating deficits via corticotropin releasing factor

Abstract Intense stress precipitates symptoms in disorders such as post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and schizophrenia. Patients with these disorders have dysfunctional sensorimotor gating as indexed by disrupted prepulse inhibition of the startle response (PPI), which refers to decreased startle response when a weak pre-stimulus precedes a startling stimulus. Stress promotes release of norepinephrine (NE) and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) within the brain, neurotransmitters that also modulate PPI. We have shown that repeated stress causes sensitization of NE receptors within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) via CRF receptors and promotes long-lasting PPI disruptions and startle abnormalities. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is another crucial brain region that could be involved in stress-induced alterations in NE and CRF functions to promote PPI changes as this anatomical structure is enriched in CRF and NE receptors that have been shown to regulate each other. We hypothesized that repeated infusions of NE into the BNST would cross-sensitize CRF receptors or vice versa to alter PPI. Separate groups of male Sprague Dawley rats received, CRF (200ng/0.5 μl), NE (20μg/0.5 μl), or vehicle into the BNST, once/day for 3 days and PPI was tested after each infusion. Repeated CRF-or vehicle-treated rats were then challenged with a subthreshold dose of NE (0.3μg/0.5 μl) while repeated NE-treated rats were challenged with CRF (200ng/0.5 μl), and PPI was measured. Surprisingly, initial/repeated CRF or vehicle in the BNST had no effects on PPI. In contrast, initial and repeated NE disrupted PPI. Sub-threshold NE challenge in rats that previously received repeated CRF had no effect on PPI. Interestingly though, intra-BNST challenge dose of CRF significantly disrupted PPI in rats that previously had received repeated NE infusions. Taken together, these results indicate that repeated stress-induced NE release could alter the activity of CRF receptors in the BNST to modulate sensorimotor gating as measured through PPI.
Many species of the Carnivora consume grass and other fibrous plant tissues

Within the Carnivora order, the consumption of fibrous plant tissues (FPT), such as leaves and stems, is only known to serve the nutritional needs of eight species in the Ailuridae and Ursidae. Apart from the Ailuridae and Ursidae, the extent of FPT ingestion in the Carnivora is poorly understood. A literature search was conducted to compile studies containing evidence of FPT consumption in the Carnivora, primarily based on analyses of scats or gastrointestinal tracts. Among 352 studies, there was evidence of FPT consumption in any amount in 124 species, or 41%, of the Carnivora. Grass consumption was documented in 95 species, while ingestion of sedges, marine plants, bryophytes, conifers, and dicots was much less frequent. A few species showed evidence of consuming fungi or soil. Nine studies observed co-occurrences of intestinal parasites with grasses or sedges in the scats of the Carnivora, suggesting these abrasive or hairy plant tissues help to expel intestinal parasites. The relevance of consuming marine plants, bryophytes, conifers, dicots, fungi, or soil has also been underappreciated. Deliberate ingestion of FPT may be more widespread and important than previously realized in the Carnivora.
Bezanson, Randall P. The Right to Privacy Revisited: Privacy, News, and Social Change, 1890-1990, 80 Cal. L. Rev. 1133 (1992)

Scholarship often traces American privacy law to Samuel D. Warren and Louis D. Brandeis’s influential 1890 Harvard Law Review article. 1 The Warren and Brandeis article argues judges ought to prote...
The Oldest Unit Operation

This is the first installment of the new “Food for Thought” column, written by Dr. Margot Vigeant. The column explores the relationship between food/drink and chemical engineering processes/concepts.
Making Data's Economic Value Transparent

My research studies the economic inequity in the data economy, in which those who contribute data are not those who benefit from data financially. My prior work highlighted that dissatisfaction with data monetization is technology users? top motivation for stopping or changing use of a technology. Building upon this study and other scholarly and legislative efforts, my dissertation work will focus on addressing the lack of transparency about data's monetary value to both technology users and policymakers. I will assess the economic value of users? data and develop tools to make this value transparent, with the goal of supporting collective action and policymaking. Additionally, I expect my work to provide design recommendations for technologies that profit from user data to communicate data?s monetary value openly. Overall, I see my work as a step toward a more equitable data economy.
Immunohistochemistry of p16 in nevi of pregnancy and nevoid melanomas: a clinical follow-up study.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16 has been evaluated in melanocytic lesions,with most nevi exhibiting positivity for p16 while melanomas are more likely to show loss of p16 expression.1 This difference in expression has led to the use of p16 immunohistochemistry as a diagnostic marker for the distinction of nevi from melanoma.2 In a prior study, we analysed p16 expression in nevi of pregnancy, with particular emphasis on evaluating the potential utility of p16 as marker to distinguish these lesions from nevoid melanomas. The majority of nevi from pregnant patients demonstrated significant p16 positive immunohistochemical staining, while most nevoid melanomas showed significant loss of p16 expression.3 Since nevi from pregnant patients may display unusual morphological features4 that could potentially lead to a misdiagnosis, in particular nevoid melanoma, the results of our investigation supported use of p16 as an adjunctive diagnostic tool to distinguish between these lesions. One limitation of the prior study was lack of long-term clinical outcome data. Herein, we present clinical follow-up analysis exploring the relationship between p16 expression and clinical outcome in patients with nevi of pregnancy and nevoid melanoma. Cases, as previously reported, consisted of 14 nevi and 20 patients with melanoma. Clinical follow-up data of the patients were obtained through our electronic medical record system. Recurrence or metastasis, number of months of follow-up, living or deceased status, chemotherapy treatment, and other pertinent information were gathered. …
On the 10 μm Silicate Feature in Active Galactic Nuclei

The 10 μm silicate feature observed with Spitzer in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) reveals some puzzling behavior. It (1) has been detected in emission in type 2 sources, (2) shows broad, flat-topped emission peaks shifted toward long wavelengths in several type 1 sources, and (3) is not seen in deep absorption in any source observed so far. We solve all three puzzles with our clumpy dust radiative transfer formalism. Addressing (1), we present the spectral energy distribution (SED) of SST1721+6012, the first type 2 quasar observed to show a clear 10 μm silicate feature in emission. Such emission arises in models of the AGN torus easily when its clumpy nature is taken into account. We constructed a large database of clumpy torus models and performed extensive fitting of the observed SED. We find that the cloud radial distribution varies as r^(–1.5) and the torus contains 2-4 clouds along radial equatorial rays, each with optical depth at visual ~60-80. The source bolometric luminosity is ~3 × 10^(12) L_⊙. Our modeling suggests that ≾ 35% of objects with tori sharing these characteristics and geometry would have their central engines obscured. This relatively low obscuration probability can explain the clear appearance of the 10 μm emission feature in SST1721+6012 together with its rarity among other QSO2. Investigating (2), we also fitted the SED of PG1211+143, one of the first type 1 QSOs with a 10 μm silicate feature detected in emission. Together with other similar sources, this QSO appears to display an unusually broadened feature whose peak is shifted toward longer wavelengths. Although this led to suggestions of non-standard dust chemistry in these sources, our analysis fits such SEDs with standard galactic dust; the apparent peak shifts arise from simple radiative transfer effects. Regarding (3), we find additionally that the distribution of silicate feature strengths among clumpy torus models closely resembles the observed distribution, and the feature never occurs deeply absorbed. Comparing such distributions in several AGN samples we also show that the silicate emission feature becomes stronger in the transition from Seyfert to quasar luminosities.
Expectations of Hospitality Students Regarding Entry Level Positions in the Hospitality Industry

A study which included eleven four-year hospitality programs was conducted to identify specific expectations of students regarding their first job. Expectations relating to salary, hours, time span for promotion and importance of various fringe benefits were identified.
Preconception care: a systematic review.

Objectives: To perform a systematic review of published research trials of preconception care services to determine what evidence for effectiveness of care at improving the course of pregnancy or its outcomes has accumulated since the last major review in 1990. Methods: The review was conducted adapting the systematic methods developed by the Cochrane Collaboration to collect evidence from published clinical research literature with as little bias as possible. The review included literature published after January 1990, and posted on MEDLINE by July 1999. Results: Although more than 40 preconception risk conditions were searched and 470 articles were abstracted, only four problem areas and 19 research trials met the review criteria. New evidence of effectiveness was found for screening women who are seeking family planning for risk conditions; having sexually active women of reproductive age take dietary folate supplements; and providing women affected by certain metabolic conditions (diabetes and hyperphenylalanemia) with nutrition services. Conclusions: To help improve pregnancy outcomes MCH professionals need to promote the concept of readiness for pregnancy and help see that women are as healthy and appropriately nourished as possible before they become pregnant.
Proteins and enzymes from seeds of Arachis hypogaea L: IX. Electrophoretically detected changes in 15 peanut cultivars grown in different areas after inoculation with Aspergillus parasiticus

Abstract Dehulled and testa-free peanuts from 15 cultivars of Arachis hypogaea L. (representing most of the commercial acreage in the United States) were all susceptible to invasion by Aspergillus parasiticus when kept in moist chambers at 30°C. Gel electrophoretic patterns of proteins and seven enzymes (esterase, peroxidase, catalase, leucine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase and an achromatically detected oxidase) of contaminated seeds, cotyledons and axial tissues from these cultivars showed the same sequence of changes from 0 to 5 days after contamination, distinguishable from a “standard” profile of uninoculated peanuts. During the 5 days, the following transitions occurred: (a) decomposition of high molecular weight globulins (conarachin, arachin) to smaller components; (b) quantitative depletion of these proteins; (c) changes in the composition of enzymes, such as the depletion of alcohol dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase, intensification of esterase and peroxidase, and production of new isozymes of esterase, peroxidase, leucine aminopeptidase, catalase and oxidase; and (d) synthesis of aflatoxins. Manu of the new isozymes in contaminated peanuts were also observed in zymograms from extracts of fungal tissue only, collected from the exterior surface of seeds. Transformations such as the rapid catabolism of peanut proteins coincide with the changes in isozyme patterns during the invasion of Arachis hypogaea seeds by Aspergillus parasiticus.
Comment on “A Compact Analytic Model of the Strain Field Induced by Through Silicon Vias”

In the title paper, Jan et al. applied the Kane–Mindlin theory to solve the strain field of a unit through silicon via (TSV) model in response to thermal loading ${\Delta }T$ . We comment on this paper by clarifying why the thermal strain ${\alpha \Delta }T$ cannot affect the mobility of electrons. We also demonstrate that a $ {2 \times 2}$ TSV array would suffice to predict the maximum stress.
Photosynthesis by isolated chloroplasts. VI. Rates of conversion of light into chemical energy in photosynthetic phosphorylation.

Abstract Under improved experimental conditions, rates of photosynthetic phosphorylation up to 500 micromoles of orthophosphate esterified per hour per mg of chlorophyll were obtained with isolated chloroplast fragments. Expressed on a nitrogen basis these rates correspond to about 780 micromoles of orthophosphate esterified per hour per mg N. These rates are similar to maximum rates of photosynthesis in intact leaves of land plants with optimal light and CO 2 supply (about 180 micromoles of CO 2 fixed per hour per mg of chlorophyll) and are several times higher than rates of oxidative phosphorylation from mitochondria from various plant and animal sources. The significance of these rates in the evaluation of the role of photosynthetic phosphorylation as a source of ATP in photosynthesis is discussed.
A Moral Defense of the ‘Moral Values’ Voter:

How should citizens in a democracy decide for whom to vote? Liberal political philosophers, following Rawls, have held that voters should think of the candidate as a proxy for the policies he or she will predictably help put in place, and then vote according to which policies are best supported by the balance of public reasons. Call this the proxy model. I reject the proxy model as too restrictive a moral requirement on voting, but accept that citizens are obligated to use some reasons rather than others. In particular, voters should only weigh considerations that are morally relevant. These may include factors like the character of the candidate. I argue that this alternative to the proxy model is more faithful to liberal theory and places a more reasonable set of demands on voters, given what political science has taught us about voting behavior.
Venn diagrams, coupon collections, bingo games and Dirichlet distributions

This chapter is an extension of the coupon collectors problem which arose from the free baseball cards that used to be inserted in a penny package of chewing (bubble) gum. The setting is that of a bingo game with a number caller. Each player has a list of numbers and waits for all his numbers to be called. These lists may be overlapping to any degree; hence, the need for Venn diagrams. The contest usually ends with the first winner, but need not. If not, we have to specify whether or not we use curtailment, i.e., stop as soon as the results are known. The calculations include many concepts including: 1. Expected waiting time for the first winner (in terms of numbers called) and for the entire contest (if it is different), 2. Probability of a single winner, i.e., without ties, 3. Expected number of integers not yet observed when the contest ends. In addition, for “with replacement”, we also find: 1. Expected maximum frequency among the numbers called, 2. Expected number of singletons among the numbers called, 3. Expected number of integers repeated among the numbers called. In summary, it is generally not realized how useful the Dirichlet integrals and their hypergeometric analogues can be to solve challenging, non-trivial problems; this chapter illustrates one more important use of these integrals.
Correlation of M Protein Production with Those Factors Found to Influence Growth and Substrate Utilization of Streptococcus pyogenes

In the absence of proteinase formation, factors reported to influence the growth or fermentation by streptococci have been evaluated to determine their quantitative effect upon the production of M protein during the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes. Buffers, amino acids, peptides, gross organic additions, and carbohydrate substrates were tested under a variety of cultural conditions. The M protein content was remarkably constant throughout the late logarithmic period of growth, i.e., when the cell population doubled, the M protein doubled. However, several factors affected the M protein content per milligram of cells (dry weight). When types 1, 12, and 22 were grown aerobically in a semidefined medium, the M protein content of the cell population essentially doubled; in Todd-Hewitt broth, this aerobic effect on M protein synthesis was not observed. When cells grown on Todd-Hewitt broth were transferred to medium containing 0.1% starch and no added glucose, the M protein content per milligram of cells (dry weight) increased as much as fourfold. When growth was initiated in glucose, the rate of M protein formation was at a maximum in the early logarithmic phase of growth and was comparatively greater than the rate of cellular multiplication. When the amount of substrate fermented was greater than 0.2%, increased M protein was not observed. An evaluation of the effects of medium or conditions of growth showed the units of M per milligram of cells (dry weight) were not influenced by a shift in the stoichiometry of either the anaerobic or aerobic fermentation, substrate used, or adenosine triphosphate utilized for growth. These results show that M protein synthesis is subject to limited glucose repression or substrate catabolite repression.
HSV latency-associated transcript and neuronal apoptosis.

In a study of the latency-associated transcript ( LAT ) gene in herpes simplex virus–type 1 (HSV-1), Perng et al . reported that “in rabbit trigeminal ganglia [TGs], extensive apoptosis occurred with LAT − virus but not with LAT + viruses,” and concluded that the LAT gene “promotes
Evalution of Acesulfame-k in Reduced-Fat Brownies

Abstract Acesulfame-K (ace-K) is a non-absorbable, high intensity non-calorie sweetener. Recently, it has been approved by the FDA for use in baked products. Brownies are a popular dessert item and are traditionally high in energy, simple sugars and fat. The aims of this project were (a) to incorporate the ace-K as a sweetener into the brownies and (b) to evaluate the effect of ace-K on nutritional and sensory qualities of brownies with varied amounts of fat. Sugarcare, a commercially available sugar substitute (186kcal/100g) was used as a source of ace-K. Also, Sugarcare contains polydextrose, maltitol and tactitiol as bulking agents. Based on the initial trials, we have chosen two test samples, i.e., ace-K with 25% less added fat and ace-K with 50% less added fat. Sugarcare to sugar ratio in test brownies was 1:1. Nutritional analysis of brownies was performed using a software program. A 22-member semi-trained panel evaluated the sensory quality for flavor, moistness, aftertaste, compactness and overall acceptability using a hedonic scale (1=least acceptable and 9=most acceptable). In 25% less fat and 50% less fat brownies, energy and total fat were reduced by 26% and 16%, and 35% and 31%, respectively. Scores for moistness and compactness of test brownies were not affected by either addition of ace-K or reduction of added fat. Aftertaste, flavor and overall acceptability scores for ace-K with 50% less fat brownies were significantly lower compared to control brownies (p
Practicing Medical Anthropology at a Veterans Administration Medical Center: An Investigation of the Health Care Experiences of WWII-ERA Veterans

In 2011, President Obama announced that the United States war against Iraq had ended. The end of this particular conflict signaled imminent return of thousands of American soldiers during an extended economic recession. In addition to the challenge of finding employment, many military personnel had already returned home with conflictassociated physical injuries, as well as with psychological and/or behavioral health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress, depression, and alcoholism.
Adaptive versus fixed policies for economic or ecological objectives in forest management

Abstract In the context of forest management, a fixed harvesting policy consists in trying to convert stands of trees to a chosen state at fixed intervals, regardless of the stand state and of the state of the market. In an adaptive policy, instead, the post-harvest state and the timing of the harvest depend on the stand and market states at the time of the decision. The objective of this study was to determine the practical gain from the theoretically superior adaptive policies. To this end, we compared optimal fixed and adaptive policies obtained with identical models and assumptions, and with data from the Douglas-fir/western-hemlock forests in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. In maximizing economic returns from harvests over an infinite time horizon, the net present value was 17 percent higher with an adaptive than with a fixed policy. It was 22 percent higher when the objective was to maximize annual harvest. The adaptive policy was even more superior with undiscounted, non-economic objectives, such as the area of spotted owl habitat (+37 percent gain), or the area of late-seral forest (+51 percent), but less so in maximizing the stock of high quality logs (+6 percent). The adaptive formulation also lent itself readily to multi-objective management.
Growth coalescence shapes for islands during metal (100) homoepitaxy

During submonolayer homoepitaxy, instability in the shapes of growing two-dimensional islands can develop due to the diffusion-limited aggregation of deposited adatoms at their edges. However, in metal (100) systems, periphery diffusion is typically efficient, quenching this shape instability, and resulting in simple near-square or near-rectangular shapes of isolated islands. Despite this feature, growth coalescence shapes resulting from collision of two or more growing islands are nontrivial. These coalescence shapes are elucidated here by developing three complementary formulations: (i) suitable atomistic lattice-gas models analyzed by kinetic Monte Carlo simulation; (ii) deterministic rate equations for the dynamics of kinks along island step edges; and (iii) continuum theories for step-edge evolution. Characterization of coalescence shapes is important as they affect interlayer transport during multilayer growth. Such a characterization is also necessary to enable coarse-grained modeling of film growth with a realistic treatment of the evolution of island edge morphologies, e.g., using level-set methods.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents and the Nuclear Pharmacist

The nuclear pharmacist works with a very specific group of drugs. These drugs generally exhibit no toxic effects and are used almost exclusively for diagnosis. In the past these have been the radioactive drugs used in nuclear medicine and the iodinated contrast agents used in radiology. However, with the advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is an additional class of drugs used in radiology, the magnetopharmaceuticals. These drugs are designed especially for increasing diagnostic sensitivity with MRI. This article is intended to provide topical insight into the basics of MRI and magnetopharmaceuticals.
Bootstrapping sums of independent but not identically distributed continuous processes with applications to functional data

In many areas of application, the data are of functional nature, such as (one-dimensional) spectral data and two- or three-dimensional imaging data. It is often of interest to test for the significance of some set of factors in the functional observations (e.g., test for the mean differences between two groups). Testing hypotheses point-by-point (voxel-by-voxel in neuroimaging studies) results in a severe multiple-comparisons problem as the number of measurements made per observation is typically much larger than the number of observations (''large p, small n''). Thus solutions to this problem should take into account the spatial correlation structure inherent in the data. Popular approaches in such a setting include the general Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) approach and the permutation test, but these rely on strong parametric and exchangeability assumptions. In situations in which these assumptions are not satisfied, a nonparametric multiplier bootstrap approach may be used. Motivated by this problem, we present general results for multiplier bootstraps for sums of independent but not identically distributed processes. We also consider the application of these results to an imaging setting and provide sufficient conditions that will ensure asymptotic control of the familywise error rate.
Reconstructions and origin of surface states on AlN polar and nonpolar surfaces

The AlN (0001), $(000\overline{1})$, $(10\overline{1}0)$, and $(11\overline{2}0)$ surfaces and their electronic structures are studied based on density-functional theory using the generalized gradient approximation as well as the hybrid functional approach. The stable reconstructions generally satisfy the electron-counting rule, except for cases where Al adlayers are present. We find that the transitions between different reconstructions exhibit a distinct trend for group-III nitrides. For all surfaces, Al dangling-bond states tend to be close to the conduction-band minimum (CBM) and N dangling-bond states close to the valence-band maximum (VBM). Al-N bonding states also occur near the VBM, while Al-Al bonding states occur in the middle of the gap. We find that Al dangling-bond states on the Al-polar (0001) surface can pin the Fermi level of $n$-type AlN at 1.0 eV below the CBM at moderate Al/N growth ratios. At high Al/N ratios, metallic Al adlayers form which pin the Fermi level in the middle of the gap. The lack of a surface donor state in the upper part of the gap suggests that the surface states on clean AlGaN surfaces are unlikely to be the source of carriers in the two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors.