cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cytomegalovirus Infection Incidence and Risk Factors Across Diverse Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Platforms Using a Standardized Monitoring and Treatment Approach: A Comprehensive Evaluation from a Single Institution.

Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. Disruption of or weak reconstitution of virus-specific cellular immune function, such as with certain HCT approaches, poses significant risk for CMV-related complications. The incidence of and risk factors for CMV infection and the nature of CMV disease were evaluated retrospectively among 356 consecutive HCT recipients transplanted at the National Institutes of Health using all graft sources, including bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC), and umbilical cord blood (UCB), and a range of in vivo and ex vivo approaches for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. The cumulative incidence of CMV infection was higher for CMV-seropositive recipients at 33%, regardless of donor CMV serostatus. Patients transplanted with CMV-seropositive donors had a significantly shorter duration of antiviral therapy. Among graft sources UCB was associated with the highest cumulative incidence of CMV infection at 65% and significantly longer treatment duration at a median of 36days, whereas PBSC HCT was associated with the lowest incidence at 26% and the shortest CMV treatment duration at a median of 21days. There were significant differences in the cumulative incidence of CMV infection by T cell manipulation strategy when systemic steroids were included as a risk-modifying event. Over one-third of CMV infections occurred in the setting of systemic steroid administration. CMV disease occurred in 5% of HCT recipients, with 70% of cases in the setting of treatment for GVHD. Although factors related to serostatus, graft source, and GVHD prophylaxis were associated with varied CMV infection incidence, unplanned post-HCT corticosteroid therapy contributed greatly to the incidence of both CMV infection and disease across HCT approaches, highlighting this post-HCT intervention as a key time to potentially tailor the approach to monitoring, preemptive therapy, and even prophylaxis.
Anti-corruption Institutions: Some History and Theory

Corruption is a multidimensional problem that has been pervasive through history. Attempts to fight corruption must likewise be multidirectional. The institutions that have been designed in different societies for this purpose include formal laws, special agencies, community organizations, and combinations; their record of success is varied. This paper examines some prominent examples of such effort, with special attention to campaigns like the ones led from the top that transformed Hong Kong and Singapore, and the bottom-up Addiopizzo movement that has for the last decade organized resistance against the Sicilian Mafia’s extortion. The paper suggests some requisites for success of anti-corruption institutions by analogy with the conditions for success of other self-governing institutions that address other issues like contract enforcement, and places these ideas within a general theoretical framework of collective action.
Resiliency Moderates the Influence of Somatization on Externalizing Problems

Adolescents who engage in aggression, hyperactivity, and delinquency experience a host of negative outcomes, including poor academic performance, peer rejection, and substance use. Previous researchers have linked somatization, such as pain, to behavioral problems. The purpose of this study was to examine whether resilience moderates the influence of somatization on externalizing problems by gender. We surveyed the parents of 195 adolescents, ages 14 to 17, while the adolescents were being treated in the pediatric emergency department of a large urban hospital. Parents answered questions about their adolescent’s somatic symptoms, resilience, and externalizing problems. Moderation models were conducted to test whether the influence of somatization on aggression, hyperactivity, conduct problems, and an externalizing behavior composite was dependent upon level of resilience, and whether these relationships differed by gender. Resilience lessened the impact of somatization on aggression and conduct problems, but these relationships did not differ by gender. The influence of somatization on hyperactivity as well as the externalizing composite index was buffered by high levels of resilience only for girls. These results are compatible with the Diathesis-Stress Model, suggesting that girls with low or average levels of resilience may engage in hyperactivity when they experience a level of somatic symptoms that exceeds the threshold within which they can manage stress. Future research should examine these constructs within longitudinal study designs in order to determine directionality of the relationships reported and advance the science of risk factors and potential intervention targets in the prevention of externalizing behaviors.
FISHES OF THE MAZON CREEK FAUNA

More than 25 kinds of fishes are known from the ironstone concretions which have yielded the Mazon Creek fauna. Included are unique soft bodied agnathans, several unusual chondrichthyans as well as acanthodians, crossopterygians, dipnoans and actinopterygii. A summary of the Mazon Creek fishes is presented with special emphasis on the paleoniscoids which are described and figured. Comparisons of Mazon Creek fishes with those of other Westphalian fish assemblages in Europe and North America show that the Illinois localities have produced the most diversified late Pennsylvanian fish fauna.
UMRR: towards an enterprise-wide web of models

Metadata that describes the structure and semantics of data sources takes a significant role in enterprise information integration. Enterprise information integration always involves an increasing set of types of metadata that are dispersed in various repositories, modeled by various tools, represented in various formats. There is a crucial requirement to break the "Tower of Babel" among different types of metadata to enable better understanding, more comprehensive governance and analysis. Towards the goal of a simplified framework for metadata representation, federation, search and analysis, in the UMRR (Unified Metadata Registry and Repository) project at IBM, we propose and implement an open Web architecture for universal metadata management, where the Resource Description Framework (RDF) is adopted to represent the underlying metadata that are in various formats and the "Linked Data" method is leveraged to build a web of models. Our demonstration illustrates the effectiveness of this architecture to enable the metadata federation such that the global query, search and analysis on the metadata are feasible. Additionally, we also demonstrate that the proposed architecture could easily leverage Web 2.0 technologies, such as social bookmaking, tagging and RSS feeds, etc. for collaborative metadata management.
Experiences Gained While Examining Thermophysical Properties of State-of-the-Art Materials

TPRL has investigated the thermophysical properties of a wide range of materials from various organizations, including industrial and governmental. Because of the diverse nature of these materials, it has been necessary to modify techniques and apparatuses. In many cases, it is desirable that the results be cross-checked either by using several different techniques or by varying the experimental conditions substantially. While the use of standard reference materials is valuable for checking apparatuses, it has been found that the use of these materials is no guarantee that accurate results are being obtained on other samples. The determination of several different properties, combined with theory and experience, permits cross-checking and helps establish the reliability of the results. A number of examples are given.
The Residential Summer Camp—A Vehicle for Promoting Daily Living Skills:

Mastering activities of daily living (ADL) is essential for all children, especially those who are visually handicapped. In an eight-week, residential summer camp program, ADL was offered as part o...
Myocardial viability of the peri-infarct region measured by T1 mapping post manganese-enhanced MRI correlates with LV dysfunction

Abstract Background Manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) detects viable cardiomyocytes based on the intracellular manganese uptake via L-type calcium-channels. This study aimed to quantify myocardial viability based on manganese uptake by viable myocardium in the infarct core (IC), peri-infarct region (PIR) and remote myocardium (RM) using T1 mapping before and after MEMRI and assess their association with cardiac function and arrhythmogenesis. Methods Fifteen female swine had a 60-minute balloon ischemia-reperfusion injury in the LAD. MRI (Signa 3T, GE Healthcare) and electrophysiological study (EPS) were performed 4 weeks later. MEMRI and delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI (DEMRI) were acquired on LV short axis. The DEMRI positive total infarct area was subdivided into the regions of MEMRI-negative non-viable IC and MEMRI-positive viable PIR. T1 mapping was performed to evaluate native T1, post-MEMRI T1, and delta R1 (R1post-R1pre, where R1 equals 1/T1) of each territory. Their correlation with LV function and EPS data was assessed. Results PIR was characterized by intermediate native T1 (1530.5 ± 75.2 ms) compared to IC (1634.7 ± 88.4 ms, p = 0.001) and RM (1406.4 ± 37.9 ms, p Conclusions PIR is characterized by higher manganese uptake compared to the infarct core. In the subacute phase post-IR, PIR viability measured by post-MEMRI T1 correlates with cardiac function.
A Review of Logit Models with Implications for Modeling Recreation Choices.

The use of logit models to predict recreation activity and site choice is increasing. This paper summarizes the properties of binomial and multinomial logit models, reviews applications of these mo...
Application of project management tools and techniques to support nursing intervention research

Nursing research involves much planning and attention to details, yet novice and seasoned nurse researchers often overlook the day-to-day operations required to conduct research studies. Project management is a set of iterative steps that can facilitate the process of conducting nursing research. In this paper we aim to provide an overview of project management and identify ways in which its specific principles and strategies may be applied to facilitate nursing research. Here we give an overview of our current longitudinal study using a Solomon four-group design and illustrate how we applied strategies and tools from the project management literature. In addition, we offer descriptions and illustrations of several other project management tools that could have been used in specific phases of this research project. We encourage nurse educators and researchers to familiarize themselves with the principles of project management and consider using them in future studies.
Multiplatform Stereoscopic 3D Terrain Mapping for UAV Localization

As part of an REU, it was given that the Department of Defense is interested in research on UAV homing in a GPS denied environment. This paper presents a study on a system of drones, in this case two, which are able to locate their absolute position when GPS becomes degraded or non-existent. The method to accomplish this starts when both robots capture the same ground image from different points of vantage. Since the distance between the UAVs (the baseline) is known and their altitude is known, computer vision is then used to generate a depth map. The results show that in general, an initial overlap of 78% was too little to generate disparity using the Semi-Global Block Matching algorithm, while an initial overlap of 92% was very usable. For analysis, 8 sets of 5 scenes were used to generate disparities. Using a Normalized Cross-Correlation Matching algorithm, the depth map was found on the global depth map and the location and orientation of the UAVs are calculated in every instance that a successful disparity map was generated.
Police Officer Training and Education

Regional police academy training, despite having variations in training standards, do in fact provide a substantive amount of education for new recruits and often have in-service training, although limited, for those who have been working as police officer. The average police academy training in the United States can last roughly 20 weeks, or 600–800 hours. Each state has its own minimum training regulations, and some states vary their training requirements further based on individual county standards.
Real-time reduced-order modeling of stochastic partial differential equations via time-dependent subspaces

Abstract We present a new methodology for the real-time reduced-order modeling of stochastic partial differential equations called the dynamically/bi-orthonormal (DBO) decomposition. In this method, the stochastic fields are approximated by a low-rank decomposition to spatial and stochastic subspaces. Each of these subspaces is represented by a set of orthonormal time-dependent modes. We derive exact evolution equations of these time-dependent modes and the evolution of the factorization of the reduced covariance matrix. We show that DBO is equivalent to the dynamically orthogonal (DO) [1] and bi-orthogonal (BO) [2] decompositions via linear and invertible transformation matrices that connect DBO to DO and BO. However, DBO shows several improvements compared to DO and BO: (i) DBO performs better than DO and BO for cases with ill-conditioned covariance matrix; (ii) In contrast to BO, the issue of eigenvalue crossing is not present in the DBO formulation; (iii) In contrast to DO, the stochastic modes are orthonormal, which leads to more accurate representation of the stochastic subspace. We study the convergence properties of the method and compare it to the DO and BO methods. For demonstration, we consider three cases: (i) stochastic linear advection equation, (ii) stochastic Burgers' equation, and (iii) stochastic incompressible flow over a bump in a channel. Overall we observe improvements in the numerical accuracy of DBO compared against DO and BO.
Implementation of Electronic Medical Record Template Improves Screening for Complications in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective Health professionals and patients should follow comprehensive screening guidelines to recognize early signs of long-term complications for insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The aim of this study is to demonstrate that utilization of electronic medical record (EMR) templates for diabetes management improves adherence to International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) screening guidelines. Methods All patients with T1DM who were seen in the outpatient pediatric endocrine clinic (age 0-22 years old) at an urban community-based community hospital during the 2014 calendar year were enrolled in the study (n=49). A retrospective chart review was performed and audited against ISPAD guidelines. An EMR template and order set was then created based on ISPAD screening guidelines with the aim of improving compliance. The templates were implemented in 2015 (initial phase) and 2016 (maintenance phase) and these data were compared to baseline data. A chi-squared test was performed to analyze the differences between the data using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc). A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results Significant improvements (p< 0.05) in screening guideline adherence from baseline to maintenance phase data were found for annual retinopathy (0% to 45%) and neuropathic foot (0% to 64%) exams, screening for microalbuminuria (49% to 79%), celiac disease (6% to 81%), lipids (63% to 86%), and basic metabolic panel (69% to 88%). Of note, thyroid function testing was also increased, but was not statistically significant between the years. Conclusion The utilization of EMR templates and order sets for T1DM are valuable tools to aid medical providers in adhering to ISPAD screening guideline.
The Business of Information

Civic information greases the economic machine, vital to corporations and customers. Yet, while commercial interests comprise the biggest users of government information, they also work hard to thwart transparency about themselves.
Modeling robust COVID-19 intensive care unit occupancy thresholds for imposing mitigation to prevent exceeding capacities

In managing COVID-19 with non-pharmaceutical interventions, occupancy of intensive care units (ICU) is often used as an indicator to inform when to intensify mitigation and thus reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, strain on ICUs, and deaths. However, ICU occupancy thresholds at which action should be taken are often selected arbitrarily. We propose a quantitative approach using mathematical modeling to identify ICU occupancy thresholds at which mitigation should be triggered to avoid exceeding the ICU capacity available for COVID-19 patients. We used a stochastic compartmental model to simulate SARS-CoV-2 transmission and disease progression, including critical cases that would require intensive care. We calibrated the model for the United States city of Chicago using daily COVID-19 ICU and hospital census data between March and August 2020. We projected ICU occupancies from September to May 2021 under two possible levels of transmission increase. The effect of combined mitigation measures was modeled as a decrease in the transmission rate that took effect when projected ICU occupancy reached a specified threshold. We found that mitigation did not immediately eliminate the risk of exceeding ICU capacity. Delaying action by 7 days increased the probability of exceeding ICU capacity by 10-60% and this increase could not be counteracted by stronger mitigation. Even under modest transmission increase, a threshold occupancy no higher than 60% was required when mitigation reduced the reproductive number Rt to just below 1. At higher transmission increase, a threshold of at most 40% was required with mitigation that reduced Rt below 0.75 within the first two weeks after mitigation. Our analysis demonstrates a quantitative approach for the selection of ICU occupancy thresholds that considers parameter uncertainty and compares relevant mitigation and transmission scenarios. An appropriate threshold will depend on the location, number of ICU beds available for COVID-19, available mitigation options, feasible mitigation strengths, and tolerated durations of intensified mitigation.
Systems Engineering Success Factors for Capturing Contracts

Mastering the proposal process to ensure that contracts will be awarded is key to survival for organizations that thrive on contract work. Organizations often use systems engineering on proposals when complex systems are being engineered. However, not much research has been performed related to the use of systems engineering on proposals. This paper presents an analysis of results of a survey related to the use of systems engineering on proposals and identifies systems engineering related success factors for capturing contracts. The presented results can be used by decision makers to potentially increase the likelihood that proposal efforts will lead to contract awards.
Electrochemistry in Micelles and Microemulsions

The sections in this article are Introduction Surfactant-Stabilized Microheterogeneous Fluids Structures of Micelles and Microemulsions Surfactants and Micellar Structure Microemulsion Structure Dynamics Surfactant Aggregates on Solid Surfaces Electrochemistry in Micellar and Microemulsion Systems Mass Transport—Diffusion Formal Potentials Electrode Kinetic Effects Pathway Control of Organic Reactions Direct Electrolyses Electrochemical Polymerization in Microemulsions Mediated Reactions in Micellar Solutions Mediated Reactions in Microemulsions Reductive Dehalogenations Bond Forming Reactions Summary Acknowledgments
Heavy industry applications of sensornets

Sensors are a cornerstone of heavy industrial operations. Manufacturing plants and general engineering facilities, such as power plants or shipboard engine rooms, require a high degree of sensing to ensure product quality and/or efficient and safe operation. Wireless sensor networks are a natural fit to meeting the demands of scale, data access and cost. However, the nature and environment of industrial applications presents unique requirements for sensornets. To better understand these challenges, we conducted deployments in two settings: a semiconductor fabrication plant and an oil tanker. The context for the deployments was a condition based maintenance application which monitors machinery vibration to detect/preempt failures.
Structure and Assembly of Turnip Crinkle Virus. I. X-Ray Crystallographic Structure Analysis at 3.2 A Resolution.

Abstract The structure of turnip crinkle virus has been determined at 3·2 A resolution, using the electron density of tomato bushy stunt virus as a starting point for phase refinement by non-crystallographic symmetry. The structures are very closely related, especially in the subunit arm and S domain, where only small insertions and deletions and small co-ordinate shifts relate one chain to another. The P domains, although quite similar in fold, are oriented somewhat differently with respect to the S domains. Understanding of the structure of turnip crinkle virus has been important for analyzing its assembly, as described in an accompanying paper.
Visualizing validation of protein surface classifiers

Many bioinformatics applications construct classifiers that are validated in experiments that compare their results to known ground truth over a corpus. In this paper, we introduce an approach for exploring the results of such classifier validation experiments, focusing on classifiers for regions of molecular surfaces. We provide a tool that allows for examining classification performance patterns over a test corpus. The approach combines a summary view that provides information about an entire corpus of molecules with a detail view that visualizes classifier results directly on protein surfaces. Rather than displaying miniature 3D views of each molecule, the summary provides 2D glyphs of each protein surface arranged in a reorderable, small-multiples grid. Each summary is specifically designed to support visual aggregation to allow the viewer to both get a sense of aggregate properties as well as the details that form them. The detail view provides a 3D visualization of each protein surface coupled with interaction techniques designed to support key tasks, including spatial aggregation and automated camera touring. A prototype implementation of our approach is demonstrated on protein surface classifier experiments.
Executive Summary: National Survey of Veterans Treatment Courts

This summary reports the major results from the author’s dissertation research using data collected from a national survey administered to 79 Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) in 2012. This research produced a comprehensive national overview of VTCs; the complete findings, additional analysis, and an in-depth case study of a VTC can be found in her dissertation titled “Veterans Treatment Courts: Studying Dissemination, Implementation, and Impact of Treatment-Oriented Criminal Courts” (University of Florida).
Notch Ligand Delta-Like 4 Regulates Development and Pathogenesis of Allergic Airway Responses by Modulating IL-2 Production and Th2 Immunity

Activation of the canonical Notch pathways has been implicated in Th cell differentiation, but the role of specific Notch ligands in Th2-mediated allergic airway responses has not been completely elucidated. In this study, we show that delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) was upregulated on dendritic cells in response to cockroach allergen. Blocking Dll4 in vivo during either the primary or secondary response enhanced allergen-induced pathogenic consequences including airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus production via increased Th2 cytokines. In vitro assays demonstrated that Dll4 regulates IL-2 in T cells from established Th2 responses as well as during primary stimulation. Notably, Dll4 blockade during the primary, but not the secondary, response increased IL-2 levels in lung and lymph node of allergic mice. The in vivo neutralization of Dll4 was associated with increased expansion and decreased apoptosis during the primary allergen sensitization. Moreover, Dll4-mediated Notch activation of T cells during primary stimulation in vitro increased apoptosis during the contraction/resting phase of the response, which could be rescued by exogenous IL-2. Consistent with the role for Dll4-mediated IL-2 regulation in overall T cell function, the frequency of IL-4-producing cells was also significantly altered by Dll4 both in vivo and in vitro. These data demonstrate a regulatory role of Dll4 both in initial Th2 differentiation and in Th2 cytokine production in established allergic responses.
Advancing HIV prevention demonstration projects: new strategies for a changing epidemic.

New approaches are needed to fight the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, now in its third decade in the United States. The epidemiology of HIV in the past decades illustrates these new challenges. Annual incident cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) declined 38% and deaths from AIDs declined 63% between 1995 and 1998, due primarily to the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART).1,2 However, the annual number of incident AIDS cases and deaths remained stable from 1999 through 2006, and the estimated number of new HIV infections occurring annually in the U.S. has remained stable since 2000.1,3 This article seeks to put the current emphasis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on HIV testing programs in the context of the epidemiology of the U.S. HIV epidemic; to describe major CDC prevention initiatives that involve HIV testing, focusing on the Advancing HIV Prevention (AHP) initiative;4 and to describe what has been learned in the first five years since new strategies for preventing HIV infection were outlined in the AHP initiative.
CCR 20th Anniversary Commentary: Expanding the Epigenetic Therapeutic Portfolio

Epigenetic targets have emerged as an exciting area for drug discovery. The discovery that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors had marked anticancer activity in T-cell lymphoma gave impetus to the field. In a phase I study published in Clinical Cancer Research in March 2002, romidepsin (depsipeptide), a potent HDAC inhibitor, was found to be tolerable, with a side effect profile that was later understood to be characteristic of this class of agents. Evidence of activity in this key phase I trial provided momentum for the further study of epigenetic agents. Clin Cancer Res; 21(10); 2195–7. ©2015 AACR . See related article by Sandor et al., Clin Cancer Res 2002;8(3) Mar 2002;718–28
Informal accounting information systems: Some tentative findings

Abstract This article reports research results regarding (1) the existence of informal information and (2) the relationships between formal and informal accounting information systems. The existence of informal accounting information systems was found to be widespread. The case for informal accounting information systems as a useful and necessary adjunct to formal systems is presented. Further, a factor analysis confirmed the belief that respondents viewed the formal and informal accounting information systems to be conceptually different. Contrary to our a priori beliefs the existence of these informal systems was not importantly correlated with formal accounting information system inadequacies.
Retinol inhibition of some proteolytic enzymes

Automated analyses were used to determine the effect of retinol on the activity of the following proteolytic enzymes: ficin (EC 3.4.4.12), bromelain (EC 3.4.4. 24), trypsin (EC 3.4.4.4.), chymotrypsin A (EC 3.4.4.5), papain (EC 3.4.4.10), clostridiopeptidase A (EC 3.4.4.19), pepsin (EC 3.4.4.1), cathepsin D (EC 3.4.4. 23) from rat-liver and rat-kidney lysosomes and the nonspecific proteolytic enzyme, pronase. Of these proteolytic enzymes only ficin, bromelain, and rat-kidney lysosomal cathepsin D were inhibited significantly by 1×10−4 M retinol.
Combined intraepidermal neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) and squamous cell carcinoma in situ with CM2B4 negativity and p53 overexpression(

Primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma, also known as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), usually presents as a dermal and/or subcutaneous tumor. Rarely, it is confined to the epidermis or adnexal epithelium [MCC in situ (MCCIS)]. Little is known about the spectrum of features and biology of MCCIS. Herein, we report a case of MCCIS arising on the cheek of a 77-year-old Caucasian male, which was associated with squamous cell carcinoma in situ. The tumor cells of both the neuroendocrine and squamous components prominently involved adnexal structures but did not invade the dermis. The tumor cells with neuroendocrine features were immunoreactive for cytokeratin-20, chromogranin and synaptophysin. They also expressed p53 but were non-reactive with the monoclonal antibody CM2B4. Lack of labeling for CM2B4 is in keeping with prior observations of combined squamous and MCC. Our findings support the concept of a distinct subtype of virus-independent cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that differs from conventional MCC. The observed overexpression of p53 suggests that the development of this tumor type may be related to chronic ultraviolet damage. Tan BH, Busam KJ, Pulitzer MP. Combined intraepidermal neuroendocrine (Merkel cell) and squamous cell carcinoma in situ with CM2B4 negativity and p53 overexpression.
Dielectrons in d + Au collisions measured by PHENIX and its implications on heavy flavor

Abstract The PHENIX experiment at RHIC collected a large data set of d + Au collisions in 2008, reaching to high mass ( m e + e − 14 GeV / c 2 ) and high transverse momentum ( p T 8 GeV / c ). The large range in mass and p T covers the phase space dominated by heavy flavor and so can be used to extract the heavy flavor cross-section. In this proceedings, we present the d + Au dielectron mass spectrum studied as a function of p T and also discuss the impact of using pythia or mc@nlo generators on the cross-section extraction of heavy flavor. The procedure utilizes a double differential fit done in m e + e − and p T space, thus providing sensitivity to the regions where either charm or bottom dominates.
Insulin secretion by the ovine fetus in utero.

Twenty-nine experiments were conducted on 11 fetuses to assess the ability of the fetal sheep pancreas to secrete insulin in response to intravenous glucose (1.0 and 0.5 g/kg fetal body wt) and fructose (1.0 g/kg fetal body wt) challenges in vivo. A chronic vascular cannulation procedure was developed to conduct these studies. Intravenous glucose challenges were also conducted on 6 pregnant ewes and 7 newborn lambs. Plasma insulin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay using 131I-labeled insulin. Data obtained indicated that the fetal ovine pancreas did not respond to the glucose or fructose challenges by secreting insulin until after birth. Newborn lambs and pregnant ewes showed a significant insulin secretion to glucose challenges. These data were discussed with respect to development of the fetal pancreas and the role other hormones may play in insulin secretion. (Endocrinology 84: 520, 1969)
Between Two Motherlands: Nationality and Emigration among the Greeks of Bulgaria, 1900–1949

Between two motherlands: nationality and emigration among the Greeks of Bulgaria, 1900–1949, by Theodora Dragostinova, Ithaca, NY, Cornell University Press, 2011, 304 pp., US$45.00 (hardcover), ISB...
Human Intervertebral Disc Cells from the Annulus: Three-Dimensional Culture in Agarose or Alginate and Responsiveness to TGF-β1

Cell culture procedures were developed for use with surgical and normal control specimens of the annulus of the human intervertebral disc. Cells were established in monolayer explant culture and seeded into three-dimensional growth environments of alginate or agarose; under these growth conditions cells assumed a rounded phenotype and formed colonies. A novel method of layering suspensions of cells onto cell well inserts proved technically much easier than the microbead culture method. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to demonstratein vitroproduction of the following extracellular matrix components: types I, II, III, and VI collagen, 4-S-chondroitin sulfate, and keratan sulfate. Young and old age- and gender-matched cells grown in the presence of TGF-β1 showed significant enhancement of proliferation after 4 days of exposure to TGF-β with a lessened mitogenic response present after 10 days. Molecular studies of proteoglycan gene expression showed that at 4 days young normal cells had increased biglycan, but not decorin, message levels. Decorin expression was unchanged at Day 4 and decreased or shut off by Day 10. Results support the use of three-dimensional culture systems forin vitroevaluation of human disc cell function and expand our understanding of thein vitrobehavior of these cells.
Temperature-induced alteration of cuticular lipids are not required for transition phenomenon in ticks

Abstract The linkage between a phase change in cuticular lipids and accelerated water loss is defined as critical transition temperature (CTT), a characteristic in ticks reputed for implying habitat preference and serving as a cue to regulate water levels during feeding. The CTT is based on activation energy (Ea ) describing the effect of temperature (T) change on the rate of water loss (k) by the Arrhenius equation, k = A exp — Ea/RT. Typical CTT expression in American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, and lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, occurs at 35–40 °C in the adult and 30–35°C in the larva (used for their lack of spiracles). Removing cuticular lipids from ticks produced higher evaporative losses, but this did not ablate or modify CTT or corresponding values of Ea . What changed was frequency (steric) factor A, simply as an integrated measure of increased water loss from the delipidizing treatment. This first analysis of the actual animal, rather than a cuticular lipid extract, demonstrates the ...
Sociodemographic and health-related risk factors among African-American, Caucasian and Hispanic homeless men: A comparative study

Data from a 1989–1990 cross-sectional survey of homeless adults in California were stratified by ethnicity to examine whether adverse childhood events and adult medical disorders preceding homelessness differed between 269 African-American, 599 Caucasian, 201 foreign-born Hispanic, and 136 native-born Hispanic men. Although African-Americans were overrepresented (21%) compared with their presence in local (3%) and state (7%) populations, within the homeless they were better educated and more likely to have held white collar jobs than Caucasians or Hispanics. In addition, despite being more likely to grow up in poverty, African-Americans reported lower prevalences of alcohol and drug abuse, overnight psychiatric hospitalizations, placement in foster care, and physical or sexual abuse than Caucasians. Foreign-born Hispanics were the most likely to have low levels of education and job skills, but were least impaired by adult medical disorders. Native-born Hispanics reported lower rates of adverse childhood events, illegal drug use, and psychiatric hospitalizations than Caucasians, but were most likely among the three ethnic groups to suffer from alcohol abuse. The lower prevalences of adverse childhood events, addictive disorders, and psychiatric hospitalizations among homeless African-Americans, despite their higher representation in absolute numbers, suggests that factors such as childhood poverty may play a disproportionate role in homelessness among this ethnic minority group.
Nuclear Transport: Target for Therapy

Drugs directed at plasma membrane receptors target environment-cell interactions and are the mainstay of clinical pharmacology. Decoding mechanisms that govern intracellular signaling has recently opened new therapeutic avenues for interventions at cytosol-organellar interfaces. The nuclear envelope and nuclear transport machinery have emerged central in the discovery and development of experimental therapeutics capable of modulating cellular genetic programs. Insight into nucleocytoplasmic exchange has unmasked promising anticancer, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory strategies.
The Importance of Birds in Ocean Bay Subsistence: Results from the Mink Island Site, Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Ocean Bay is the oldest archaeological culture (7500–2800 cal B.P.) documented on the Pacific coast of the Alaska Peninsula. Until now, research has primarily focused on the use of marine mammals and fish by Ocean Bay groups, but the role of birds in Ocean Bay subsistence has not been intensively investigated. This paper presents the results of analysis of the bird remains from the oldest components, or “Lower Midden” (7500–4100 cal B.P.), of the Mink Island archaeological site (49-XMK-030), located on an unnamed island along the coast of Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. The Lower Midden bird assemblage is well preserved, extensive, and the oldest known from the Pacific coast of the Alaska Peninsula. An estimated 40,000 bird bone fragments were recovered, of which 10% were identifiable to at least the family level, demonstrating that birds, particularly murres ( Uria spp.), cormorants ( Phalacrocorax spp.), and anatids, were an important seasonal resource in marine-based economies by the Middle Holocene. The Lower Midden bird remains and four other avifaunal assemblages from archaeological sites on the Katmai coast and Kodiak Island, including the Takli Island (49-XMK-012), Tiny Island Village (49-XMK-106), Tiny Island Passage I (49-XMK-109), and Rice Ridge (49-KOD-363) sites are found to share similarities.
Calcification of the intervertebral discs in children.

Summary Two cases of disc calcification in children are reported. Disc calcification in children, unlike that in adults, may be associated with symptoms and the calcification is usually absorbed. The possible aetiology is discussed.
Automatic defect classification: status and industry trends

As device geometries shrink to 0.25 micron and smaller, all facets of integrated circuit (IC) processing are being challenged. With device sizes shrinking, so too shrinks the size of a defect that can cause chip failure, and hence yield loss. Contamination free manufacturing practices are becoming critical for successful device fabrication. To accomplish this, elimination of defect sources has a high priority. A defect can be a particle, microcontamination, pattern anomaly, crystalline defect such as a stacking fault, and so on. Defects have become a main source of yield loss to the semiconductor industry. This comes at a time when 90% yield values on mature product cannot increase at the rate that has occurred in the past. The industry is now faced with finding methods of incremental yield increase, in-line, on production wafers. Automatic Defect Classification (ADC) is an important part of SEMATECH's strategy to meet these industry needs.
Localization of lactate dehydrogenase-X on the surfaces of mouse spermatozoa

Abstract Enzymatic assays and immunological studies indicate that a large proportion of lactate dehydrogenase X (LDH-X) is present in the fluid phase of spermatozoal preparations. However, immunofluorescence techniques demonstrate that LDH-X can be found on the surfaces of spermatozoa as well, and immunoelectronmicroscopic investigations afford good evidence that the antigen is specifically localized at the site of the plasma membrane overlying the postacrosomal dense lamina.
Plasmonic slot nano-waveguides with flattened Luneburg lens based optical couplers

Gradient index (GRIN) structures have attracted great interests since their invention. Especially, the recent advance in the fields of transformation optics, plasmonics, and nanofabrication techniques has opened new directions for the applications of GRIN structures in nano-photonic devices. In this paper, we apply Luneburg lens and its transformed counterpart to realize efficient coupling to plasmonic nano-waveguides. We first briefly present the general structures of Luneburg lens and generalized Luneburg lens, as well as the design process of flattened Luneburg lens applying quasiconformal mapping techniques. After that, we study the performance of these lenses for coupling electromagnetic signals to nano-waveguides (the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) nano-waveguide), and different schemes are investigated.
Social choice by majority rule with rational participation

This paper explores the social choice properties of majority rule when voters rationally participate in elections. Employing the basic model of voter behavior developed originally by Ledyard (1984) and Palfrey and Rosenthal (1985), we show that when the electorate is sufficiently large, a participation equilibrium exists and is unique. The main result of the paper shows that under these conditions the social preference ordering induced by majority rule is identical to that given by the expected utility of a randomly selected voter, implying the existence of a Condorcet point in the proposal space. A final section provides intuition for the main theorems and relates the equilibrium of this majority rule game to the median voter result.
The "drumhead" graft repair of deep nasal alar defects.

BACKGROUND Extirpation of tumors on the perialar region often results in deep surgical defects. The nares and internal nasal valves are supported not just by alar cartilage, but also by the suspension effect of the overlying skin and subcutaneous tissue. Surgical loss of tissue may result in inward collapse of the nasal vestibule with resultant difficulty in breathing. The use of full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) on deep alar defects commonly results in a sunken or depressed graft that is functionally and cosmetically unacceptable. OBJECTIVE We describe a novel technique that enables the use of FTSGs in the repair of deep nasal alar defects through the application of an overlying, rigid plastic suspension strut coupled with an undersized graft. RESULTS The drumhead FTSG is effective in preventing collapse of the nasal vestibule as well as undesirable contour irregularities due to a depressed or sunken graft. Patients were seen at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. At each time point, there was no nasal vestibular collapse and only very slight graft depression, which replicated the normal mild concavity of the alar crease region. All patients had excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes. No adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION The "drumhead" graft is a novel technique, which enables the use of FTSGs for deep alar defects by inhibiting undesirable depression of the graft and preventing collapse of the nasal vestibule.
Cross section measurements and thermonuclear reaction rates for 48 Ca(p, γ) 49 Sc and 48 Ca(p, n) 48 Sc

Absolute cross sections have been measured for the reaction ^(48)Ca(p, γ)^(49)Sc for 0.579 MeV ≦ Ep, lab ≦ 2.670 MeV and for the reaction ^(48)Ca(p, n)^(48)Sc for 0.956 MeV ≦ E_(p,lab) ≦ 2.670 MeV. Substantial competition effects in the cross section for ^(48)Ca(p, γ)^(49)Sc were observed at the thresholds for neutron emission to the 623 keV (3^+), 1143 keV (2^+) and 1402 keV (2^−) excited states of ^(48)Sc. Thermonuclear reaction rates were calculated from the measured cross sections for 0.1 ≦ T_9 ≦ 10.0. The new rates differ considerably from those used in earlier calculations of the production of the rare, neutron-rich intermediate mass nuclides during explosive carbon burning. In particular, the new rates may change the predicted abundances for ^(48)Ca, ^(49,50)Ti and ^(50)V substantially. The good agreement between current global Hauser-Feshbach models and the experimental data indicates that Hauser-Feshbach calculations can provide sufficiently reliable rates for astrophysical calculations in cases where experimental data are non-existent.
Effective Strategies for Preventing Substance Abuse among Children and Adolescents.

This paper provides an overview of substance abuse prevention strategies targeting children and adolescents in the United States. The effectiveness of several major prevention approaches and programs and their implications for service providers are also discussed.
Modeling inclusion approach to the steel/slag interface

Abstract The removal of non-metallic inclusions from a steel melt to the upper slag phase involves the movement of buoyant particles from a lower, less viscous phase (steel) to an upper, more viscous phase (slag). The film that forms ahead of the impinging inclusion must drain and rupture for particle capture by the slag. This deformation and drainage process has been modeled for a Newtonian fluid using no-slip boundary conditions at all surfaces and a pressure balance across the liquid–liquid interface for the given interfacial shape. Computer implementation of this model shows that particles of 5 μm in radius can be delayed up to two seconds by the resultant drag, with delays of a tenth of a second for 100 μm particles. Decreasing the interfacial tension between the lower and upper phases [corresponding to the presence of sulfur (of activity 0.7) at the steel–slag interface] can increase this time by 1 or 2%.
Sex coaching for physicians: combination treatment for patient and partner.

Physicians dealing with sexual dysfunction (SD) must consider the psychological and behavioral aspects of their patient's diagnosis and management, as well as organic causes and risk factors. Integrating sex therapy and other psychological techniques into their office practice will improve effectiveness in treating SD. This presentation provides information about the psychological forces of patient and partner resistance, which impact patient compliance and sex lives beyond organic illness and mere performance anxiety. Four key areas are reviewed: (1) 'Sex coaching for physicians' uses the 'Cornell Model' for conceptualizing and treating SD. A 5-min 'sex status,' manages 'time crunch' by rapidly identifying common causes of sexual dysfunction (insufficient stimulation, depression, etc). (2) Augmenting pharmacotherapy with sex therapy when treating erectile dysfunction (ED) specifically, or SD generally is stressed. Sex therapy is useful as a monotherapy or an adjunctive treatment and is often the 'combination therapy' of choice when treating SD. The following therapeutic integrations are highlighted: modifying patient's initial expectations; sexual pharmaceuticals use as a therapeutic probe; 'follow-up' to manage noncompliance and improve outcome; relapse prevention. (3) Issues specific to the role of the partner of the ED patient are described. The physician must appreciate the role of couple's issues in causing and/or exacerbating the ED and the impact of the ED on the patient/partner relationship. Successful treatment requires a supportive available sexual partner, yet partner cooperation may be independent of partner attendance during the office visit. Preliminary data from a survey of SMSNA members practice patterns, regarding partner issues, is presented and discussed. The importance of evoking partner support and cooperation independent of actual attendance during office visits is emphasized. (4) Finally, the need for more patient and partner educational materials to assist the physician in overcoming a patient/partner's emotional barriers to sexual success in a time efficient manner are discussed.
Peptidoglycan monomer release and Vibrio fischeri.

Peptidoglycan (PG) is the major component of the bacterial cell wall and is recognized by animals as a signaling molecule indicating the presence of bacteria. PG recycling during cell growth and division is well regulated, but a few gram-negative bacteria also release monomeric forms of PG ([2][1
A Task for Evaluation of Articulation Change: III. Imitative Task Scores Compared with Scores for More Spontaneous Tasks

Nineteen subjects with consistent misarticulations of at least one phoneme were provided with remedial speech instruction. Thirty-item imitative sound production tasks were administered on three oc...