cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specificity of putative psychosocial risk factors for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.

Background: Most psychosocial risk factors appear to have general rather than specific patterns of association with common childhood and adolescence disorders. However, previous research has typically failed to 1) control for comorbidity among disorders, 2) include a wide range of risk factors, and 3) examine sex by developmental stage effects on risk factor–disorder associations. This study tests the specificity of putative psychosocial risk factors while addressing these criticisms. Methods: Eight waves of data from the Great Smoky Mountains Study (N = 1,420) were used, covering children in the community age 9–16 years old. Youth and one parent were interviewed up to seven times using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment, providing a total of 6,674 pairs of interviews. A wide range of putative neighborhood, school, peer, family, and child risk factors, and common and comorbid youth disorders were assessed. Results: The majority of putative risk factors were specific to one disorder or one disorder domain. A unique or ‘signature set’ of putative risk factors was identified for each disorder. Several putative risk factors were associated with a disorder in preadolescent males, preadolescent females, adolescent males, or adolescent females only. Conclusions: Our findings support the need to define risk factors and disorders narrowly, to control comorbidity and other risk factors, and to consider developmental patterns of specificity by sex.
Real-Time Estimation of Center of Gravity Position for Lightweight Vehicles Using Combined AKF–EKF Method

In this paper, a real-time center of gravity (CG) position estimator, which is based on a combined adaptive Kalman filter-extended Kalman filter (AKF-EKF) approach, for lightweight vehicles (LWVs) is proposed. Accurate knowledge of the CG longitudinal location and the CG height in the vehicle frame is helpful to the control of vehicle motions, particularly for LWVs, whose CG positions can be substantially varied by the payloads on board. The proposed estimation method, taking advantage of the separate front/rear torque control capability available in numerous LWV prototypes, only requires that the vehicle be excited longitudinally and/or vertically, thus avoiding potentially dangerous excitation of the vehicle lateral/yaw/roll motions. Moreover, additional parameters, such as vehicle moments of inertia, suspension parameters, and the tire/road friction coefficient (TRFC), are not necessary. A three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) vehicle dynamics model, taking the vehicle longitudinal velocity, the front-wheel angular speed, and the rear-wheel angular speed as states, is employed in the filter formulation. The designed estimator consists of two parts: an AKF for filtering noisy states and an EKF for estimating parameters. To minimize the effects of undesirable oscillation and bias in the filtered states, the optimization-based AKF judiciously tunes the suboptimal process noise covariance matrix in real time. Meanwhile, the EKF utilizes the filtered states from the AKF and takes the parameters as random walks. Simulation results exhibit the advantages of the AKF over the standard KF with fixed covariance matrices. Experimental results obtained from vehicle road tests show that the proposed estimator is capable of estimating the CG position with acceptable accuracy. Moreover, an investigation of the two-layer persistent excitation (PE) condition reveals that, although the CG height estimation largely depends on the excitation level in the maneuver, the CG longitudinal location can be always estimated via the input torque injections.
The definition of electromagnetic radiation

Momentum and energy of electromagnetic radiation emitted from a charge are Lorentz-covariantly defined. The non-local measurement of a Lorentz inlariant, the rate of radiation energy emission is proposed as a necessary and sufficient criterion for the emission of radiation at a gilen time. This measurement is a field measurement which can be performed atany distance from the charge and need not be made in the wale zone. It can be regarded as an operational definition of radiation in terms of rate of energy emission. These results permit a simple derilation of the equation of motion of a charged particle which aloids the self-energy difficulties. A question concerning the principle of equilalence and radiation in uniformly accelerated motion is answered.
Purified high molecular weight synthetic Aβ(1-42) and biological Aβ oligomers are equipotent in rapidly inducing MTT formazan exocytosis.

Abstract Synthetic soluble Aβ oligomers are often used as a surrogate for biologic material in a number of model systems. We compared the activity of Aβ oligomers (synthetic and cell culture media derived) on the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and C2C12 mouse myoblast cell lines in a novel, modified MTT assay. Separating oligomers from monomeric peptide by size exclusion chromatography produced effects at peptide concentrations approaching physiologic levels (10–100 nM). Purified oligomers, but not monomers or fibrils, elicited an increase of a detergent-insoluble form of MTT formazan within 2 h as opposed to a control toxin (H 2 O 2 ). This effect was comparable for biological and synthetic peptide in both cell types. Monomeric Aβ attenuated the effect of soluble oligomers. This study suggests that the activities of biological and synthetic oligomers are indistinguishable during early stages of Aβ oligomer–cell interaction.
Banishing the past : The German avant-garde and Nazi art

How do radical changes in cultural policy affect artistic reputations? Nazi policy to control memory—through the stigmatization of artists and the confiscation of their art—was less than fully successful for two main reasons: (1) Refugees and the German need for foreign exchange carried many pieces into the international market, where they escaped destruction from bombing raids; and (2) in post-war Germany a considerable effort was made not only to connect with a “broken” tradition but also to locate victims and to salvage as much of their work and reputations as possible. Allied efforts to banish Nazi-approved art from the collective memory have been far more successful. Many works that survive still rest in repositories not open to the public and, while work by a few Nazi favorites are still in demand, public commemoration remains politically controversial. Whether the reputation of an artist survives such sharp breaks in the political culture depends not only on the physical preservation of prior work but also on decisions as to who merits a place in the archives accessible to posterity.
Populism and the triumph of the politics of identity: The transformation of the Canadian party system

The collapse of the Canadian Conservative Party provides the clearest example of the displacement of the mainstream right by new parties that are neither left nor right on that traditional dimension. Using factor analyses, we relate neo‐populism to support for the Reform Party and Bloc Quebecois. We argue that the politics of identity as a subcategory of neo‐populism is the best way to characterize this emerging category of parties. Electoral success causes such parties to lose their populist soul.
RADIATION-INDUCED DIMENSIONAL CHANGES IN PYROLYTIC CARBONS DEPOSITED IN A FLUIDIZED BED.

A range of pyrolytic carbon structures representative of those used as coatings for nuclear fuel particles was irradiated at temperatures between 540° and 1060°C to fast neutron exposures of 1.5 to 2.4 × 1081 nvt (E > 0.18 MeV). Changes in linear dimensions, density, and crystallite size were measured. The data show that irradiation-induced dimensional changes in pyrolytic carbons depend sensitively on their structure. At ~1000°C the dimensional changes depend primarily on the degree of preferred orientation with a secondary dependence on the density of the carbon. The changes calculated for the crystallites are independent of the crystallite height, Lc, in the range 30 to 145 A but the changes are less for larger Lc values. At ~600°C the dimensional changes depend on the Lc, the density, and the degree of preferred orientation. At this temperature the calculated crystallite changes are very sensitive to variations in Lc in the range 30 to 200 A. At all temperatures the irradiation causes the carbons to densify. The irradiation tends to increase the Lc value of carbons with initially small Lc values and decreases those of carbons with initially high Lc values. The observed irradiation-induced changes are discussed in terms of current theories of irradiation damage in carbons and graphite.
The grass genus Andropogon in the United States

A key is provided for Andropogon and the segregate genera, Schizachyrium, Bothriochloa, and Dichanthium, as represented in the United States. Included also is a listing of the native and introduced species of each: 17 species of Andropogon (all native) ; 11 species of Schizachryium (all native) ; 14 species of Bothriochloa (8 native + 6 introduced) ; 3 species of Dichanthium (all introduced). New combinations are proposed for: Schizachryium niveum; S. rhizomatum; S. sericatum; S. scoparium var. divergens, var. frequens, var. littoralis, var. neomexicanum, and var. virile.
The Nucleation and Growth of Polycrystalline Silicon Carbide

Silicon carbide was deposited from methyltrichlorosilane onto polished polycrystalline SiC substrates at reduced pressure, and the resultant surface morphology was characterized by analyzing the angular spectrum of scattered light which was generated with a He-Ne laser. Light-scattering analyses incorporating specific nucleation and growth models were developed. With these methods, it was possible to analyze the angular scattering spectra and directly measure the nucleation and growth rates. These results were verified by using image analysis to quantify the number and size distribution of surface features that were observed with scanning electron microscopy. The nucleation and growth rates that were obtained by fitting the models to the image-analysis results were in good agreement with the rates obtained from the light-scattering.
Practitioner perceptions of peer relationships in adolescents with chronic pain.

Nine practitioners who specialize in the treatment of adolescents with chronic pain were interviewed on their perceptions of the adolescents’ peer functioning. A qualitative analysis based on Conse...
Environmental predictors of geographic variation in human mating preferences

Sexual selection theory classically posits consistent and directional mate-preferences for male traits that provide benefits to females. However, flexible mate-choice tactics may persist within a species when males display multiple desirable features that confer different benefits to females under variable environmental conditions. Ecological factors such as population density, resource demand, and sex ratio can influence the value that female animals place on certain male characteristics across mating environments. In this study, I used human mate-preference data from `lonely hearts' advertisements in the newspapers of 23 cities in the USA to assess geographic differences in female preferences for male traits (e.g. physical attributes, resource-holding potential, emotional characteristics, personal interests) in relation to these ecological parameters. I found that females placed more emphasis on the resource-accruing ability of prospective mates in densely populated cities and cities having greater resource demands (higher cost of living). In contrast, women from densely populated or resource-demanding cities placed less emphasis on the emotional aspects or personal interests of males. Preferences for physical features were not environmentally linked, but instead were a function of the degree to which females advertised their own physical attractiveness. Collectively, these results suggest that certain mate-choice criteria employed by women are sensitive to variation in local environmental conditions and that variable levels of resource or mate availability may favor different mating tactics across human populations.
Physical environment and job satisfaction in a community mental health center

Relocation of professional staff in a community mental health center provided a setting in which to evaluate the effects of physical environment on job satisfaction. Two mental health teams moved from an old, drab central clinic building to new satellite clinics while a third team remained in the old building. Relocated staff reported significant increase in satisfaction with physical surroundings as compared to staff that did not move. Furthermore, satisfaction with physical surroundings had some impact on overall satisfaction ratings. Physical surroundings in a community mental health center may be a mediating variable for staff morale and effectiveness.
High energy parton-parton elastic scattering in QCD

Abstract We show that the high energy limit of quark-quark, or gluon-gluon, elastic scattering is calculable in terms of the BFKL pomeron when − t / Λ 2 ⪢1. Surprisingly, this on-shell amplitude does not have infrared divergences in the high energy limit. We discuss how the process might be measured at LHC or SSC energies.
Ultrastructure, Enzymatic, and Transport Properties of the PICM-19 Bipotent Liver Cell Line

Abstract The pig epiblast-derived PICM-19 cell line was previously shown to spontaneously differentiate into liver-like cells and structures and to secrete serum proteins. A study was undertaken to further define the liver-like characteristics of the PICM-19 cell line. PICM-19 cells displayedin vitroultrastructure, enzymatic, and transport characteristics similar to those of parenchymal hepatocytes and bile duct epithelium. The PICM-19 cells contained large oval nuclei, numerous oval to elongate mitochondria with flat cristae, extensive rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, lipid vacuoles, and glycogen granules. Biliary canaliculi with intraluminal projecting microvilli were delimited by the junctional apparatuses between adjacent PICM-19 cells. The PICM-19 cells rapidly transported fluorescein into their biliary canaliculi from the extracellular environment. PICM-19 cells that had differentiated into multicellular ductal structures had high γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity at their apical surfaces as shown by histochemical staining. PICM-19 total GGT activity was at least 19 times higher than that found in porcine hepatocytes. Metyrapone induced cytochrome P-450 content of PICM-19 cells was at least one-fourth of that found in porcine hepatocytes. PICM-19 P-450 activity induced by 7-ethoxycoumarin was nearly equivalent to that of primary cultures of pig hepatocytes. The data support the proposal that differentiated PICM-19 cells resembled hepatocytes or bile duct epithelium cells, and, therefore, the PICM-19 cell line behaved like early embryonic liver progenitor cells.
Inferring Process from Pattern: Trophic Level Abundances and Imbedded Interactions

Classical predator—prey models do not predict the positive relationships between the abundances of organisms on adjacent trophic levels seen in natural communities. Modifications that can relieve this disparity can be categorized as mechanisms of "predator damping," which can be expressed in a simple, analytical form as ratio dependence. It has been suggested that the strength of predator damping can be estimated from the shape of the relationship between prey and predator biomass using ratio—dependent models. I present a theoretical argument showing why this approach should only be applied when predator and prey are the top two trophic levels in an ecosystem. Using published data from temperate lakes that include large—scale fish manipulations, I also show that the relationship between phytoplankton biomass and Daphnia biomass suggests much weaker damping when higher trophic levels (fish) are absent than when fish are present. Thus, inferring the strength of predator damping using patterns of abundance in ecosystems is of dubious validity when interactions are imbedded within simple food chains.
Letter by Fearon Regarding Article, “Primary Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: Clinical Presentation, Pathophysiology, and Management”

To the Editor: I read with interest the excellent Contemporary Review in Cardiovascular Medicine on primary coronary microvascular dysfunction by Lanza and Crea.1 In their review, the authors discuss the diagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction and state that invasive assessment of the microvasculature at the time of coronary …
Two-Dimensional Regular Expressions for Compositional Bus Protocols

Bus and interconnect protocols contain a few core operations (such as read and write transfers) whose behaviors interleave to form complex executions. Specifications of the core operations should be flexible enough that simple composition operators suffice for capturing most interleavings, even in the presence of common hardware issues such as glitches. Oliveira and Hu proposed a form of pipelined regular expressions to specify atomic protocol compositions, but they abstracted away clocking and glitches. This paper uses the AMBA-2 specification to argue that a loosely-synchronized form of regular expressions handles such timing subtleties while retaining the simplicity of Oliveira and Hu's pipelined compositions.
Dynamic Remodeling of Transcription Complexes by Molecular Chaperones

The assembly and disassembly of macromolecular transcription complexes represents a key step in the regulation of gene expression. For inducible responses to hormones and stress, different combinations of molecular chaperones govern the activities of intracellular hormone receptors and heat shock transcription factor. Through their capacity to remodel the conformation of these activators, chaperones ensure tight control, dynamic range, and rapid reversible transcriptional response.
Quantitation of Acidothermus-Cellulolyticus E1 Endoglucanase and Thermomonospora-Fusca E(3) Exoglucanase Using Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent-Assay (ELISA)

Two distinct quantitative indirect ELISAs were developed to determine the concentration of recombinant cellulase enzymes in culture filtrates. A monoclonal antibody (E1P7) was used as the primary antibody in developing an ELISA specific forAcidothermus cellulolyticus E1 endoglucanase. Likewise, a polyclonal rabbit serum (Ab684) was used to develop an ELISA specific forThermomonospora fusca E3 exoglucanase. Dose-response curves indicated a dynamic range for both assays between 0.01 and 0.08 μg/mL (1–8 ng/assay) when purified enzymes were used as standards. These assays have been used to estimate concentrations of secreted recombinant E1 and/or E3 in culture supernatants ofStreptomyces lividans strain TK24 in which the corresponding genes have been cloned and expressed.
Breeding density, not life history, predicts interpopulation differences in territorial aggression in a passerine bird

Interpopulation variation in territorial aggression can reflect differences in life history or competitive environments. Life history theory predicts that males with more opportunities for future reproduction should avoid risk-taking behaviour to minimize the cost of current reproduction, whereas competitive environments should favour higher aggression to defend limited resources. Additionally, male aggression can be modulated by familiarity with competitors to be either lower (dear enemies) or higher (nasty neighbours) towards neighbours. We conducted a territory intrusion experiment using neighbour–stranger songs to examine how territorial aggression differed in two populations of orange-crowned warblers, Oreothlypis celata, breeding in California and Alaska. The California population breeds at very high densities and has a higher annual survival relative to the Alaska population, which breeds at significantly lower densities and has a lower annual survival rate. We found that California males showed higher amounts of territorial aggression in response to simulated territory intrusions than did Alaska males, supporting the hypothesis that competitive environments, as indicated by breeding density, rather than life history, shape geographical variation in levels of aggression. Both populations discriminated between song stimuli of neighbours and strangers, but California males responded more strongly towards neighbours, whereas Alaska males responded more strongly towards strangers. We discuss these results in light of the mechanisms for overall aggression and neighbour–stranger discrimination.
Motor stereotypies in children with autism and other developmental disorders

The purpose of the study was to count and characterize the range of stereotypies--repetitive rhythmical, apparently purposeless movements--in developmentally impaired children with and without autism, and to determine whether some types are more prevalent and diagnostically useful in children with autism. We described each motor stereotypy recorded during 15 minutes of archived videos of standardized play sessions in 277 children (209 males, 68 females; mean age 4y 6mo [SD 1y 5mo], range 2y 11mo-8y 1mo), 129 with autistic disorder (DSM-III-R), and 148 cognitively-matched non-autistic developmentally disordered (NADD) comparison children divided into developmental language disorder and non-autism, low IQ (NALIQ) sub-groups. The parts of the body involved and characteristics of all stereotypies were scored blind to diagnosis. More children with autism had stereotypies than the NADD comparison children. Autism and, to a lesser degree, nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) <80, especially in females contributed independently to the occurrence, number, and variety of stereotypies, with non-autistic children without cognitive impairment having the least number of stereotypies and children with autism and low NVIQ the most. Autism contributed independently to gait and hand/finger stereotypies and NVIQ <80 to head/trunk stereotypies. Atypical gazing at fingers and objects was rare but virtually limited to autism. Stereotypies are environmentally modulated movement disorders, some highly suggestive, but not pathognomonic, of autism. Their underlying brain basis and genetic correlates need investigation.
Looking Forward: New Challenges and Opportunities.

This chapter looks ahead to consider changes in higher education and other social arenas that might offer challenges and opportunities that can inform how student affairs practitioners and faculty colleagues assist students in preparing for after-college life.
A high-speed interface to Tektronix 401x series terminals

A high-speed interface to the Tektronix 401x series of storage tube terminals has been developed that allows communication with the terminal at rates up to 300 kbit/s. The interface occupies one slot within the terminal and can be reproduced in a short time for about $200-worth of readily available parts. Hardware First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffers solve problems with data overrun at high speeds, and allow us to realize sustained rates very near the maximum 300-kbit/s rate for our dominant type of image, which is characterized by very many short vectors. The interface will accept standard RS232 asynchronous serial data at any baud rate up to 300 kbit/s, or byte-parallel data with a slight modification.
Beneficence, scientific autonomy, and self-interest: ethical dilemmas in clinical research.

The ethics of clinical research may be viewed from three different perspectives: the process of acquiring new knowledge, the moral use of the knowledge acquired, and the ethics of the investigator seeking this knowledge.
Peripheral neuropathy from taxol and cisplatin combination chemotherapy: Clinical and electrophysiological studies

Taxol is a novel antineoplastic agent that has demonstrated impressive clinical activity in breast, ovarian, lung, and head and neck cancers. This broad antitumor activity of taxol in cisplatin-sensitive tumors suggests that the combination of taxol and cisplatin may become one of the most commonly used taxol-based chemotherapeutic regimen in the treatment of solid tumors. Both taxol and cisplatin, however, are neurotoxic. To study the neurotoxic effects of these two agents when used in combination, we prospectively evaluated neurological function at baseline, during, and following treatment, in 21 cancer patients treated with taxol (135–350 mg/m2), cisplatin (75–100 mg/m2), and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (5μ/kg). Twenty of the 21 patients (95%) developed a sensory–motor neuropathy 1 to 21 weeks after the initiation of therapy, that was progressive with each additional course of chemotherapy. The neuropathy was symmetrical, length dependent, axonal in nature by physiological studies, and more pronounced in those patients who received higher doses of taxol. The neuropathy appeared earlier and at lower taxol doses in those patients with preexisting neuropathies. We conclude that sensory–motor neuropathy is a frequent dose-dependent toxicity of combined cisplatin and taxol use. Peripheral neuropathy is likely to become the major dose-limiting toxicity of taxol–cisplatin combination chemotherapy when higher doses of these agents are administered with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor.
Diabetes: Treatment of gestational diabetes reduces obstetric morbidity.

Should women with gestational diabetes mellitus be treated to minimize both fetal and maternal complications? Although unanswered questions remain about the long-term benefits, the findings of a large, multicenter, randomized controlled trial suggest that treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus decreases perinatal complications.
Intercoil connections of the kidney of the brine shrimp, Artemia salina.

Maxillary glands (kidneys) of adult brine shrimp were examined by light and electron microscopy. Within a single maxillary gland there are numerous places where adjacent coils of the efferent tubule are linked by structures designated “intercoil connections”. At the site of such a connection the basal laminae of the two coils are continuous, and one or more cytoplasmic processes originating from a cell of one coil form a bridge to the adjacent coil. The connecting processes are branched and interdigitate complexly with complementary processes from cells of the neighboring coil. Speculations are made about the functional significance of intercoil connections in the maxillary gland of Artemia.
The relationship of perceived teacher caring with student learning and teacher evaluation

The research reported relates to the construct of “perceived caring” in the instructional context which is believed to be related to the classical construct of “good will” in Aristotelian rhetorical theory as well as to more contemporary social scientific views of “intent toward receiver” in conceptualizations of source credibility. Student perceptions of caring on the part of their teachers were found to be substantially associated with the students' evaluation of their teachers, their affective learning, and their perceptions of their cognitive learning. Research is called for which helps to identify the specific teacher behaviors which communicate caring to students.
Effect of in vitro exposure to styrene, styrene oxide, and other structurally related compounds on murine cell-mediated immunity.

Abstract Spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice were exposed to nontoxic doses of styrene, styrene oxide, styrene glycol, allylbenzene, ethylbenzene and toluene. None of these compounds except allylbenzene showed any great suppression or stimulation of the cytotoxic-T lymphocyte response. Allylbenzene was a strong suppressor of the cytotoxic-T lymphocyte response but, like the other compounds, had no effect on natural cytotoxicity. Styrene glycol, ethylbenzene and toluene also did not suppress natural killer cell activity. In contrast, styrene, styrene oxide and allylbenzene were strong suppressors of natural killer cell activity. The natural killer cell inhibition caused by styrene oxide did not occur if treatment was performed at 0°C instead of 37°C, and was reversed by the addition of 5 mM glutathione or a 30 min recovery period at 37°C. The natural killer cell suppression caused by allylbenzene was not reversed by these methods. These compounds may be causing natural killer cell suppression by different mechanisms, depending on the compound under study, and on whether these compounds contain a double bond or an epoxide moiety.
Guided delivery of polymer therapeutics using plasmonic photothermal therapy

In most drug delivery systems the clinician does not have control over the location of drug delivery after the therapeutic has been administered. As the location of the tumor mass is often known in many patients, a therapy system which enables the clinician to play an active role in nanomedicine localization would provide an advantage. Here, we show a new approach wherein a laser can be used to tag tumor tissue and enhance the delivery of targeted polymer therapeutics. Plasmonic gold nanorods are delivered to the cancerous tissue and heated by a laser to promote a targetable, hyperthermic response. Concurrent administration of a heat shock targeted polymer therapeutic thereby enhances site specific delivery.
Use of Multilocus Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Analysis Genotyping to Determine the Role of Asymptomatic Carriers in Clostridium difficile Transmission

(See the Editorial Commentary by McDonald on pages 1103–5.) Previous studies have established that asymptomatic carriers of Clostridium difficile outnumber symptomatic patients in medical wards [1–4]. Shim et al found that carriers, defined as a patient with at least 2 culture-positive specimens 7 days apart, were at a decreased risk of symptomatic C. difficile infection (CDI) [5]. In one study, C. difficile from carriers appeared subsequently in hospital-associated (HA) CDIs attributable to the same strain in 16 of 19 (84%) cases [1]. Active surveillance testing to identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) carriers coupled with isolation precautions has been effective in reducing infections with these organisms [6, 7]. A similar approach for prevention of CDI has not been practical until the recent development of molecular tests that allow detection of the C. difficile carrier state with a reasonable turnaround time [8]. Although previous studies of CDI transmission based on restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) as the primary molecular epidemiologic approach have shown that asymptomatic carriers have some role in CDI transmission, [1, 9] current infection control guidelines focus on isolation measures for symptomatic CDI patients. Multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) for C. difficile typing has more discriminatory power than REA and so better facilitates tracking of C. difficile transmission within hospitals [10]. We performed MLVA genotyping of C. difficile isolates from colonized and infected patients to assess potential of each to HA-CDI and to determine the potential role of active surveillance for C. difficile carriage in a hospital with an established infection control program that has been associated with successful control of HA-CDI [11].
Design of optimized diffusion-controlled transdermal drug delivery systems

Background: We describe a systematic approach to designing multilayer transdermal patches based on therapeutically relevant specifications of the drug. Method: Random search optimization techniques are used to optimize maximum drug release from the patch subject to the therapeutic specifications. Barrier layer thickness and relative concentrations of the drug in the drug-containing layers are used as key design parameters. Results: A patch made of two drug-containing layers of equal thicknesses and relative drug concentrations of 20% and 80%, and a barrier layer with thickness of 14% compared to the total thickness of drug-containing layers was found to be the most optimum design. Conclusion: The proposed design is almost universally applicable and satisfies therapeutically relevant specifications while maximizing drug utilization.
Large-baseline matching and reconstruction from symmetry cells

In this paper, we study how the presence of symmetry in man-made environments may significantly facilitate the task of automatic matching features and recovering 3-D camera pose and scene structure from multiple perspective images. While conventional methods typically rely on small-motion tracking or robust statistic techniques to resolve the coupling between feature matching and 3-D recovery, we here propose a new symmetry-based approach which allows automatic feature matching between images taken with arbitrary (both large and small) camera motions. To this end, we develop the multiple-view geometry of symmetry cells. To resolve possible ambiguities that may arise in matching symmetry cells and camera pose recovery, we find a consistent solution by finding the maximal complete subgraph of a matching graph; we also use a topological check to avoid mismatches. As our experiments shows, the resulting algorithms are simple, accurate and easy to implement.
Systems Genetics of Mineral Metabolism

Minerals are essential and toxic elements that have an impact on human health. Although we have learned a tremendous amount about the metabolism, biological roles, and health effects of minerals with the tools of biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular genetics, there are gaps in our knowledge of mineral biology that will benefit from new approaches. Forward genetics, whereby variations in phenotypes are mapped to natural genetic variation in the genome, has been successfully used to increase our understanding of many biologically important traits but has not yet been used extensively for mineral metabolism. In addition, the well-appreciated existence of interactions between minerals justifies a broader, systems approach to the study of mineral metabolism, i.e., ionomics. This short review will explain the value of forward genetics and ionomics as tools for exploring mammalian mineral metabolism.
Young adult male carriers of the fragile X premutation exhibit genetically modulated impairments in visuospatial tasks controlled for psychomotor speed

A previous study reported enhanced psychomotor speed, and subtle but significant cognitive impairments, modulated by age and by mutations in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene in adult female fragile X premutation carriers (fXPCs). Because male carriers, unlike females, do not have a second, unaffected FMR1 allele, male fXPCs should exhibit similar, if not worse, impairments. Understanding male fXPCs is of particular significance because of their increased risk of developing fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Male fXPCs (n = 18) and healthy control (HC) adults (n = 26) aged less than 45 years performed two psychomotor speed tasks (manual and oral) and two visuospatial tasks (magnitude comparison and enumeration). In the magnitude comparison task, participants were asked to compare and judge which of two bars was larger. In the enumeration task, participants were shown between one and eight green bars in the center of the screen, and asked to state the total number displayed. Enumeration typically proceeds in one of two modes: subitizing, a fast and accurate process that works only with a small set of items, and counting, which requires accurate serial-object detection and individuation during visual search. We examined the associations between the performance on all tasks and the age, full-scale intelligent quotient, and CGG repeat length of participants. We found that in the magnitude comparison and enumeration tasks, male fXPCs exhibited slower reaction times relative to HCs, even after controlling for simple reaction time. Our results indicate that male fXPCs as a group show impairments (slower reaction times) in numerical visuospatial tasks, which are consistent with previous findings. This adds to a growing body of literature characterizing the phenotype in fXPCs who are asymptomatic for FXTAS. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine how these impairments relate to risk of developing FXTAS.
Non-pipelined relay improves throughput performance of wireless ad-hoc networks

The communication model typically assumed in wireless ad-hoc networks is based on a traditional "pipelined relay" (PR} strategy. In PR, an end-to-end flow has multiple outstanding packets (or data units) along the path from the source to the destination. In this paper, we argue that due to several unique properties of wireless ad-hoc networks, PR can be fundamentally improved upon. We present a new non-pipelined relay (nPR) strategy, where end-to-end flows have exactly one outstanding packet (or data unit) along the end-to-end path. We show that nPR has the following properties: (i) under idealized network conditions, it provides performance improvement, in terms of end-to-end throughput capacity and network transport capacity over PR, and achieves proportional fairness; and (ii) under practical network conditions, it further increases the above performance improvements, both in terms of the throughput achieved, and in terms of the fairness between flows. Finally, we present a forwarding protocol that practically realizes nPR. Through analysis and ns2 based packet level simulations, we evaluate the performance of the proposed strategy, and that of the forwarding protocol.
Differential Effects of Nonreinforcement and Punishment in Humans.

In an associative learning preparation, the participants were given partial reinforcement (PRF) with two different cues. For one of the cues, the nonreinforced presentations consisted of pairings of the cue with a neutral outcome, whereas these presentations consisted of pairings with an aversive outcome for the other cue. The results showed that PRF training produced strong responding to the cue paired with the neutral outcome on the nonreinforced trials, whereas responding to the cue paired with the aversive outcome on the nonreinforced trials was strongly suppressed. The present results are problematic for current theories of learning (e.g., Rescorla & Wagner, 1972), but can be explained by classical theories involving motivational mechanisms (e.g., Konorski, 1967), as well as by a recently developed model, in which incompatible outcome expectations compete for their expression into behavior (i.e., Pineno & Matute, 2003).
Single nucleotide transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene polymorphisms in antiislet autoantibody-negative patients at onset of diabetes.

Context: There is controversy as to whether type 2 diabetes genetic susceptibility contributes to type 1 diabetes, and it is not known what proportion of islet autoantibody-negative new onset subjects have type 2 diabetes risk alleles. Objectives: We designed this study to evaluate whether two type 2 diabetes-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene are associated with the development of islet autoantibody-negative diabetes vs. islet autoantibody-positive diabetes in young patients and whether these SNPs are associated with specific clinical phenotypes. Design: Autoantibody against glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, islet cell antibody 512bdc (form of IA-2), insulin, ZnT8 transporter, and cytoplasmic islet cell antibody were assayed in patients with new onset diabetes seen at the Barbara Davis Center using sera obtained within 2 wk of diagnosis. We genotyped two noncoding variants in the TCF7L2 gene, rs12255372 and rs7903146, in diabetic subjects and normal controls. Results: A total of 140 patients (15.7%) were negative for all islet autoantibodies among 893 subjects less than age 25 at the onset of diabetes. The allele and genotype frequencies of two SNPs showed that these are associated (odds ratio up to 4) with the development of diabetes in the autoantibody-negative diabetic cohort, but not in the autoantibody-positive diabetic cohort. Conclusion: TCF7L2 type 2 diabetes susceptibility alleles are associated with islet autoantibody-negative but not autoantibody-positive new onset diabetes in young patients.
Kerteszmyia, a new genus of Pachygastrinae from the Neotropical Region (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

A new genus and species, Kerteszmyia ecuadora gen. nov., sp. nov., (Diptera: Stratiomyidae, Pachygastrinae) is described from material from Ecuador (type locality), Venezuela, and Costa Rica. A key to the known Neotropical genera of Pachygastrinae with two or more scutellar spines is presented.
Total electron scattering and electronic state excitations cross sections for O2, CO, and CH4

Available electron collision cross section data concerning total and elastic scattering, vibrational excitation, and ionization for O2, CO, and CH4 have been critically reviewed, and a set of cross sections for modeling of planetary atmospheric behavior is recommended. Utilizing these recommended cross sections, we derived total electronic state excitation cross sections and upper limits for dissociation cross sections, which in the case of CH4 should very closely equal the actual dissociation cross section.
Prevalence and mitigation of forum spamming

Forums on the Web are increasingly spammed by miscreants in order to attract visitors to their (often malicious) websites. In this paper, we study the prevalence of forum spamming and find that Internet users are at a high risk of encountering forums with spam links posted on them. To mitigate the problem, we examine the characteristics of 286 days of forum spam posted at a research blog and develop light-weight features based on spammers' IP, commenting activity and the anatomy of their posts. We find that an SVM classifier trained on these features can achieve a 99.81% precision and 92.82% recall in identifying forum spam.
Selective Authenticity: Civil War Reenactors and Credible Reenactments

This article addresses authenticity and how it is selectively used by Civil War reenactors to create credible reenactments. The Civil War provides a structured set of scenarios for reenactors to use as a backdrop for their participation. Some use this backdrop to bring objects to the forefront and others use this setting as a way to interact with an audience person to person. This research indicates that authenticity may come through on different levels for individuals participating in the same activity. An authentic experience or object is authentic because it has an important immediate meaning. The objects and narratives displayed by reenactors may be set in specific history but this does not mean that these same objects and narratives are part of that history. This paper contributes to the study of authenticity by examining groups of Civil War reenactors and where their focus of authenticity lies whether it is on authentic objects or interactions.
China's development priorities

Over the past two decades China's growth has been rapid, social indicators have improved, and poverty levels have inched downward. However, widening inequality, increasing resource and financial imbalances, and growing environmental concerns provide China with daunting challenges in improving the quality of growth. The rapid growth that will remain China's principal vehicle for raising standards of living and reducing poverty will derive from urbanization, increased market efficiency, and improvement in the technological capability of Chinese firms. But although growth will be critically important, balance among income groups and sectors is likely to be vital for social stability. The needed measures to enhance the quantity and quality of social services and a more effective safety net for the poor will require a number of institutional changes, including a reform of intergovernmental fiscal relations. This report highlights the significance of the challenges facing China and suggests policies for achieving rapid, balanced, and sustainable growth.
Xenorhabdus nematophilus as a Model for Host-Bacterium Interactions: rpoS Is Necessary for Mutualism with Nematodes

Xenorhabdus nematophilus , a gram-negative bacterium, is a mutualist of Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes and a pathogen of larval-stage insects. We use this organism as a model of host-microbe interactions to identify the functions bacteria require for mutualism, pathogenesis, or both. In many gram-negative bacteria, the transcription factor ς S controls regulons that can mediate stress resistance, survival, or host interactions. Therefore, we examined the role of ς S in the ability of X. nematophilus to interact with its hosts. We cloned, sequenced, and disrupted the X. nematophilus rpoS gene that encodes ς S . The X. nematophilus rpoS mutant pathogenized insects as well as its wild-type parent. However, the rpoS mutant could not mutualistically colonize nematode intestines. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a specific allele that affects the ability of X. nematophilus to exist within nematode intestines, an important step in understanding the molecular mechanisms of this association.
Increment-decrement tables for human reproduction.

An increment-decrement life table method has been applied to family building patterns among women. Age at the occurrence of a specified birth is considered the principal duration variable. The data base used to illustrate the table method was a sample of currently married women from the 1965 U.S. National Fertility Survey. It is possible to calculate the average number of births occurring to a woman of given parity during any specific age interval. The average number of births occurring before age 25 for women who are childless at age 20 can be obtained by completing the reproductive history for 100000 childless 20 year old women through age 25. In a sample of 86242 first births 51425 second births 17485 third births and 4755 fourth births for an average of 1.6 children before age 25. Summary measures such as average parity attained within a given age interval and the conditional probability of transition from one parity to the next in a given age interval can be calculated from a table providing the age intervals do not involve fractions of the age groups used in constructing the abridged table.
Extra-embryonic vasculature development is regulated by the transcription factor HAND1.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor HAND1 (also called eHAND) is expressed in numerous tissues during development including the heart, limbs, neural crest derivatives and extra-embryonic membranes. To investigate the role of Hand1 during development, we generated a Hand1 knockout mouse. Hand1 -null mice survived to the nine somite stage at which time they succumbed to numerous developmental defects. One striking defect in Hand1 -null embryos was the accumulation of hematopoietic cells between the yolk sac and the amnion because of defects in the yolk sac vasculature. In Hand1 -null yolk sacs, vasculogenesis occurs but vascular refinement was arrested. Analysis of angiogenic genes in extra-embryonic membranes showed that most are expressed at normal levels in Hand1 -null embryos but several, including Vegf , Ang1 and ephrin B2, and gene components of the Notch pathway are upregulated. In the absence of Hand1 the expression of the bHLH factor Hand2 is also enhanced. Although HAND1 and HAND2 share many structural features, and Hand2 is required for vasculature development in yolk sacs, enhanced expression of Hand2 is insufficient to compensate for the loss of Hand1 . The most striking aspect of the vascular defect in Hand1 mutant yolk sacs is the abnormal distribution of smooth muscle cells. During normal angiogenesis, vascular smooth muscle precursors are recruited to the peri-endothelial tissue before differentiation, however, in Hand1 null yolk sacs, smooth muscle cells are not recruited but differentiate in clusters distributed throughout the mesoderm. These data indicate that Hand1 is required for angiogenesis and vascular smooth muscle recruitment in the yolk sac.