cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the California Teachers Study.

Background Sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption has been associated with cardiometabolic risk. However, the association between total and type of SSB intake and incident cardiovascular diseas...
Evaluation on training the comprehensive ability of transferring newborns with severe diseases in nurses

Objective To explore the methods and effects of training the comprehensive ability of transferring newborns with severe diseases in nurses. Methods The simulation training including neonatal advanced life support (NALS), nursing skills, emergency treatment process and response ability was performed in NICU nurses. Results The transfer related knowledge and skills were significantly improved and emergency resuscitation workflow was more efficient than before. Conclusions The simulation training can improve comprehensive ability including emergency response capability and coordination ability for NICU nurses. Key words: Nurse; Simulation training; Comprehensive abilities; Team-coordination
Prone Versus Upright Digital Tomosynthesis-Guided Biopsy

OBJECTIVE. The objective of our study was to compare the performance of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)-guided prone and upright breast biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS. In this retrospective study, we reviewed all consecutive DBT-guided breast biopsies performed at our institution from May 1, 2018, to July 31, 2019. We recorded patient age, breast density, biopsy indications and technique, number of samples obtained, number of exposures performed, procedure times, percentage of calcifications removed, biopsy complications, histopathologic diagnosis, and radiology-pathology concordance. These characteristics were then compared between biopsy methods using the chi-square test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS. There were 282 patients in our study: 215 patients (76.2%) underwent prone DBT-guided biopsy, and 67 (23.8%) underwent upright DBT-guided biopsy. All patients (100%) had technically successfully biopsies. The mean number of exposures for upright biopsies was significantly lower than the mean number of exposures for prone biopsies (p < 0.001). Otherwise, there was no significant difference between the two biopsy methods in the mean number of samples acquired (p = 0.26), mean procedure time (p = 0.67), percentage of calcifications removed (p = 0.31), or biopsy complications (p = 0.56). CONCLUSION. Besides the mean number of exposures acquired, prone and upright DBT-guided biopsies have similar clinical performance. Other factors, such as room utilization and patient comfort, should be considered when deciding between prone and upright DBT-guided biopsies.
Transnational literacy autobiographies as translingual writing, S. Canagarajah, New York, NY: Routledge, 2019, Pp vii + 282, ISBN 9780367201821 (hbk): $155. ISBN 9780367201838(pbk): $49.95

In Transnational Literacy Autobiographies as Translingual Writing, Suresh Canagarajah presents the possibilities of literacy autobiographies as a pedagogy for preservice university writing teachers...
Fraction Magnitude: Mapping Between Symbolic and Spatial Representations of Proportion

Fraction notation conveys both part-whole (3/4 is 3 out of 4) and magnitude (3/4 = 0.75) information, yet evidence suggests that both children and adults find accessing magnitude information from fractions particularly difficult. Recent research suggests that using number lines to teach children about fractions can help emphasize fraction magnitude. In three experiments with adults and 9-12-year-old children, we compare the benefits of number lines and pie charts for thinking about rational numbers. In Experiment 1, we first investigate how adults spontaneously visualize symbolic fractions. Then, in two further experiments, we explore whether priming children to use pie charts vs. number lines impacts performance on a subsequent symbolic magnitude task and whether children differentially rely on a partitioning strategy to map rational numbers to number lines vs. pie charts. Our data reveal that adults very infrequently spontaneously visualize fractions along a number line and, contrary to other findings, that practice mapping rational numbers to number lines did not improve performance on a subsequent symbolic magnitude comparison task relative to practice mapping the same magnitudes to pie charts. However, children were more likely to use overt partitioning strategies when working with pie charts compared to number lines, suggesting these representations did lend themselves to different working strategies. We discuss the interpretations and implications of these findings for future research and education. All materials and data are provided as Supplementary Materials.
Biomass Production Varies Among Native Prairie- Grass Species

Native grasslands provide a multitude of benefits to society including forage production, wildlife habitat, and nutrient and CO2 sequestration. There has been increasing interest in using native perennial grassland plantings to produce cellulose-based biofuels. However, there is little information on how biomass production might vary among different native species in a comparable field setting in Western Iowa. Perennial warm-season grasses such as big bluestem, Indian grass, switchgrass, little bluestem or side-oats grama often dominate prairies. In Western Iowa, all five of these species dominate in at least some grassland plantings. In an ongoing study, we are studying how different warm-season grasses vary in their biomass production, weed suppression, and rare prairie species recruitment. Prairie species recruitment will be reported in more detail in future reports. Here, focus is on the differences in biomass production and weed suppression among grass species.
A role for the microbiota in complex regional pain syndrome

Abstract Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating neuroinflammatory condition of unknown etiology. Symptoms include excruciating pain and trophic changes in the limbs as defined by the Budapest criteria. The severity and functional recovery of CRPS, unlike most pain conditions, is quantifiable using a variation of the Budapest criteria known as the CRPS severity score. Like many chronic pain conditions, CRPS is difficult to treat once pain has been present for more than 12 months. However, previous work has demonstrated that a subset of patients with new-onset CRPS (~50%) improve if treated within one year, while the rest have minimal to no symptom improvement. Unfortunately, this leads to permanent disability and often requires invasive and costly treatments such as spinal cord stimulation or long-term opioid therapy. Because the etiology is unknown, treatment is multimodal, and often supportive. Biomarkers that predict severity or resolution of symptoms would significantly change treatment but have not yet been identified. Interestingly, there are case reports of remission or resolution of CRPS symptoms with the use of antibiotics known to affect the gut flora. Mouse studies have demonstrated that modulation of the gut microbiome is anti-nociceptive in visceral, inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. We hypothesize that the variable clinical potential for recovery and response to therapy in CRPS may be secondary to or reflected in changes in the gut microbiota. We suggest that the microbiota may mediate or reflect clinical status via the metabolome, activation of the immune system and/or microglial activation. We hypothesize that the gut microbiome is a potential mediator in development and persistence of CRPS symptoms and propose that the clinical condition of CRPS could provide a unique opportunity to identify biomarkers of the microbiota and potential therapies to prevent pain chronification.
Association of leisure-time physical activity with perceived general health status among hypertensive people: an analysis of NHANES 2015-18.

Although leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) improves general health, little is known about its impacts on the health of hypertensive people within the United States. We investigated the general health of hypertensive people and the relationship between LTPA and general health within this population. This cross-sectional study analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–18 data. None, some, and high LTPA were defined as ‘0’, ‘>0 but <150’, and ‘≥150’ minutes of LTPA in each week, respectively. Hypertension was defined as the systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg or taking BP-lowering drugs. General health status was dichotomized as whether participants reported ‘very good to excellent’ health status or not. After descriptive analysis, logistic regression was performed. Among 8504 participants (48.6% male and mean age: 48.2 years), about 47.9%, 41.4%, and 39.5% of people had hypertension, ‘very good to excellent’ health, and high LTPA, respectively. The odds of ‘very good to excellent’ health was lower among hypertensives than those without hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–0.8, p < 0.001). Among hypertensive individuals, about one-third reported ‘very good to excellent’ health (33.1%) and high LTPA (32.0%). Lastly, compared to people with no LTPA, those with some (AOR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0–2.0, p < 0.05) and high (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7–3.0, p < 0.001) LTPA had greater odds of ‘very good to excellent’ health. We found positive relationships between LTPA and ‘very good to excellent’ health of hypertensive people. Therefore, improving general health could be an added advantage of LTPA for hypertensive people.
Micro/nanostructure-based selective absorber and emitter surfaces for high-efficiency solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) applications

Thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is a versatile technology to generate high electrical power density utilizing multiple sources of heat, such as solar irradiation, radioisotope heaters, combustible materials, thermal storage systems, waste industrial heat etc., as input. TPV systems aim to surpass the efficiency beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit for photovoltaic conversion by tailoring the spectrum of the incident solar light to match the spectral response of a PV cell. Spectrally selective absorbers and emitters can greatly enhance the TPV conversion efficiency by maximizing the absorption of the incident sunlight and suppressing the emission of sub-bandgap and excessive energy photons. One approach of achieving spectral selectivity is through the use of micro and nanostructures to control light emission from surfaces. This presentation reviews optical modeling and characterization techniques of various types of novel nanostructures, including random textures, nanocones, nanoholes, and m ultilayer metal dielectric stack etc., for the design of high-performance selective surfaces needed for efficient TPV systems. In addition, the fabrication of a GaSb-based experimental TPV system comprising a multilayer metal-dielectric (Si3N4-W-Si3N4) coating-based selective emitter is also presented. The performance of the TPV system was evaluated using a high-power laser as a simulated input for concentrated solar power. The overall power conversion efficiency of 8.4% was measured at 1676 K.
Bimolecular chemistry in the ultracold regime

Advances in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics techniques allowed the cooling of simple molecules down to the ultracold regime ($\lesssim$ 1 mK), and opened the opportunities to study chemical reactions with unprecedented levels of control. This review covers recent developments in studying bimolecular chemistry at ultralow temperatures. We begin with a brief overview of methods for producing, manipulating, and detecting ultracold molecules. We then survey experimental works that exploit the controllability of ultracold molecules to probe and modify their long-range interactions. Further combining the use of physical chemistry techniques, such as mass spectrometry and ion imaging, significantly improved the detection of ultracold reactions and enabled explorations of their dynamics in the short-range. We discuss a series of studies on the reaction KRb + KRb $\rightarrow$ K$_2$ + Rb$_2$ initiated below 1 $\mu$K, including the direct observation of a long-lived complex, the demonstration of product rotational state control via conserved nuclear spins, and a test of the statistical model using the complete quantum state distribution of the products.
A Gig Surveillance Economy

Eighteen years ago, the New York Times Magazine reported on a proposed online project aimed at protecting the country’s 47,000 strategic facilities, including oil pipelines, power stations, and dams. How do you protect such a vast network of sites vulnerable to sabotage, with limited government resources and personnel? The answer: pay freelance “spotters” eight to ten dollars an hour to check pictures sent to their home computers in order to answer the question: “do you see a person or vehicle in this image?” A confirmed positive sighting would prompt a law enforcement response, “in less than 30 seconds.” This is an early version of a phenomenon identified and discussed in this essay: a gig surveillance economy.
Minimax randomized response methods for protecting respondent’s privacy

Randomized response (RR) is a common privacy protection tool. It perturbs each true response using a probabilistic mechanism. Local differential privacy (LDP) is a rigorous privacy protection crite...
New Options for State Indirect Purchaser Legislation: Protecting the Real Victims of Antitrust Violations

Illinois Brick held that only direct purchasers successfully can sue for damages under federal antitrust law. Since this left most true victims of antitrust violations without an effective remedy, most states enacted Illinois Brick Repealers (IBRs), to give indirect purchasers the right to sue for damages when firms violate analogous state laws.Although many benefits would arise if national legislation overturned Illinois Brick, to date every attempt to achieve a comprehensive federal solution has failed. Because this thirty year stalemate is almost certain to continue, this article instead focused on reform at the state level, where reform is much more achievable.This article presents a large number of IBR options that address the spectrum of a state's potential needs, together with commentary giving the major effects, advantages and disadvantages of each. As its Conclusion, this article suggests its own Model State Illinois Brick Repealer legislation.
Task Parallelism: What a Tool Can Provide and What Should Be Left to the User

This paper discusses some programming issues involved in the implementation of task parallelism on distributed-memory MIMD computers. In particular, we separate those issues that are application-independent and so can be part of a library from those that should be controlled by the user to maximize the performance.
Chance-Cleland Model for Enzyme-Substrate Interaction

Let us next develop a model of a chemical reaction in which an enzyme E behaves like a catalyst. There is an initial stock of this enzyme available, some of which will be temporarily tied up due to the production of an intermediate substance C. Ultimately, the enzyme is released again in unchanged form as some product P is formed from the substance C. An additional sub-stance active in this process is the substrate S, which is converted into the product P. Think of the substrate S as dextrose and the product P as fructose: the enzyme E mechanically locks onto the substrate molecule, breaks it into a new molecule, fructose, and is released again after the chemical reaction occurred (Spain 1982).
Primary Care: The Future for Pediatric Education

There is a continuing crisis in primary care, characterized by inadequate numbers of appropriately trained primary care physicians and the failure to mount an effective and consistent graduate educational program for primary care. This paper reviews the history of the primary care crisis; revisits the definition of primary care; and, through identification of critical issues, presents a primary care educational agenda for the 1990s. Pediatrics is at a crossroads regarding primary care, as powerful social and economic forces are impacting on today9s major pediatric care problems. Before the second World War there were more than 300 primary care physicians available for each 100 000 of our population. Today the ratio is 75 for 100 000. This is despite the fact that a shortage of 50 000 physicians 10 years ago no longer exists. The majority view is that a physician surplus of 70 000 will be present by the early 1990s.1 Whether there is a surplus is subject to interpretation and the surplus may end up as nonexistent. Moreover, the availability of primary care physicians varies with geographic location, and even a single figure for this nation provides a distorted picture. The shortage is especially serious in inner cities and in many rural areas. In addition, the use of overall numbers assumes that all primary care physicians are appropriately trained in the general disciplines. For the past century, physicians have cared for patients usually as family physicians. Today, however, the generalist has been replaced by the specialist. Is this a function of financial rewards and society9s needs and values or the educational experience?
Gamma-Irradiated Sterile Cornea for Use in Corneal Transplants in a Rabbit Model

Purpose: Gamma irradiated corneas in which the donor keratocytes and endothelial cells are eliminated are effective as corneal lamellar and glaucoma patch grafts. In addition, gamma irradiation causes collagen cross inking, which stiffens collagen fibrils. This study evaluated gamma irradiated corneas for use in corneal transplantations in a rabbit model comparing graft clarity, corneal neovascularization, and edema. Methods: Penetrating keratoplasty was performed on rabbits using four types of corneal grafts: Fresh cornea with endothelium, gamma irradiated cornea, cryopreserved cornea, and fresh cornea without endothelium. Slit lamp examination was performed at postoperative week (POW) one, two, and four. Corneal clarity, edema, and vascularization were graded. Confocal microscopy and histopathological evaluation were performed. A P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: For all postoperative examinations, the corneal clarity and edema were statistically significantly better in eyes that received fresh cornea with endothelium compared to the other three groups (P < 0.05). At POW 1, gamma irradiated cornea scored better than the cryopreserved and fresh cornea without endothelium groups in clarity (0.9 vs. 1.5 and 2.6, respectively), and edema (0.6 vs. 0.8 and 2.0, respectively). The gamma irradiated corneas, cryopreserved corneas and the fresh corneas without endothelium, developed haze and edema after POW 2. Gamma irradiated cornea remained statistically significantly clearer than cryopreserved and fresh cornea without endothelium during the observation period (P < 0.05). Histopathology indicated an absence of keratocytes in gamma irradiated cornea. Conclusion: Gamma irradiated corneas remained clearer and thinner than the cryopreserved cornea and fresh cornea without endothelium. However, this outcome is transient. Gamma irradiated corneas are useful for lamellar and patch grafts, but cannot be used for penetrating keratoplasty.
Variation in ruminants' preference for tall fescue hays cut either at sundown or at sunup.

Plants vary diurnally in concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates. If ruminants prefer forages with higher total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), then the preference for hays harvested within the same 24-h period may vary. An established field of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was harvested six times in the vegetative stage. Harvests were paired such that each cutting at sundown (PM) was followed by a cutting the next morning at sunup (AM). We harvested in this manner three times, resulting in six hays. The hays were field-dried, baled, and passed through a hydraulic bale processor prior to feeding. Experiments were conducted with sheep, goats, and cattle, using six animals in each case. During an adaptation phase, hays were offered alone as meals. In the experimental phase, every possible pair of hays (15 pairs) was presented for a meal. Data were analyzed by multidimensional scaling and by traditional analyses. Multidimensional scaling indicated that selection was based on a single criterion. Preference for PM hays was greater than for AM hays (P < .01) in all experiments. Increased preference was associated with increased TNC (P < .01) and in vitro true DM disappearance (P < .01) and decreased fiber concentration (P < .01; NDF, ADF, cellulose, and ADL). Mowing hay late in the day was effective in increasing forage preference.
Nano CNC milling technology for terahertz vacuum electronic devices

To satisfy the growing interest in high power (∼1–200 W) THz sources, our research group has been working on various technologies to miniaturize vacuum electronic devices while keeping the power levels high and offering wide instantaneous bandwidth operation. We are exploring several methods for manufacturing 0.22 THz circuits including LIGA, silicon DRIE, and nano machining. Manufacturing circuits using micro-processing techniques allows multiple circuits to be made at a time, but the process is complex and requires perfection. On the other hand, nano machining allows for rapid prototyping of any circuit or coupler design. We were able to directly machine and test 0.22 THz circuits in various materials with transmission losses around 5–15 dB and with wide bandwidth.
Gel injection adjustable keratoplasty (GIAK): keratometric evaluation on eye-bank eyes

To assess keratometric changes of a new refractive surgical technique (Gel Injection Adjustable Keratoplasty--GIAK) on Eye Bank eyes. The surgery consist of making an intrastromal annular delamination at 80% depth using customized delaminators. The tunnel is then filled with a crosslinked polyethylene oxide gel (PEO).
Picosecond X-ray absorption measurements of the ligand substitution dynamics of Fe(CO)5 in ethanol

Ultrafast X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy has been carried out for photo excited iron pentacarbonyl in ethanol with 2 picosecond resolution. A temporal resolution limited dissociation process was observed, followed by the formation of the mono-substituted complex Fe(CO)4EtOH within a few tens of picoseconds. The measurements have been carried out with a newly developed X-ray absorption instrument at station 7 ID-C of the Advanced Photon Source. The results show that single picosecond temporal resolution can be achieved at a synchrotron beam line.
Energy-efficient power/rate control and scheduling in hybrid TDMA/CDMA wireless sensor networks

We consider a hybrid TDMA/CDMA wireless sensor network (WSN) and quantitatively investigate the energy efficiency obtained by combining adaptive power/rate control with time-domain scheduling. The energy efficiency improvement is carried out with respect to interfering-cluster scheduling, intra-cluster node scheduling, and transmission powers and times (durations) control (PTC) for individual nodes. The interfering-cluster scheduling is formulated as a vertex-coloring problem, which can be solved efficiently using existing numerical algorithms in graph theory. For the node scheduling problem, we present a heuristic algorithm, which iteratively searches for the best schedule in such a way that the energy consumption keeps decreasing after every iteration. Compared with the exponentially complicated exhaustive search algorithm, this heuristic algorithm has polynomial computing complexity and can provide optimal solutions in the most simulated cases. For the transmission power/time control, two simplified PTC schemes, namely, PTC-UT and PTC-USG, are proposed and studied based on our previous optimization work PTC-IPT. We show that PTC-UT and PTC-USG provide comparable energy efficiency to PTC-IPT at only half of its complexity. Numerical examples are used to validate our findings.
Case report: Psychological response of a woman with schizo‐affective disorder on discovering she had ovarian cancer

Studies have shown that medical illness in those with psychiatric illness often exacerbates symptoms (Hall et al., 1981). This paper reports the case of a 53-year-old Chinese American woman with schizo-affective disorder who surprisingly had a remission in psychiatric symptoms on discovering she had ovarian cancer.
Inquiry-based computer science instruction: some initial experiences

In computer science, as well as in other disciplines, it is critical to the success of the educational process that students become actively engaged with the material, rather than passive recipients of it. Ideally, this interaction will begin before the class meets on a particular topic, in a process known as inquiry-based learning. This paper describes some initial experiments with using technology to implement an inquiry-based learning paradigm.
A feasibility study of using conventional jaws to deliver complex IMRT plans for head and neck cancer

Previous studies have demonstrated that simple intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans can be produced with a series of rectangular segments formed by conventional jaws. This study investigates whether complex IMRT plans for head and neck cancer can be delivered with the conventional jaws efficiently. Six nasopharyngeal cancer patients, previously treated with multi-leaf collimator (MLC)-IMRT plans, were re-planned using conventional jaw delivery options. All IMRT plans were subject to the plan acceptance criteria of the RTOG-0225 protocol. For a selected patient, the maximum number of segments varied from five to nine per beam, and was tested for both jaws-only IMRT (JO-IMRT) plans and MLC-IMRT plans. Subsequently, JO-IMRT plans and MLC-IMRT on the same treatment planning system were attempted for all patients with identical beams. The dose distribution, dose volume histograms (DVH), the conformal index (COIN), the uniformity index and delivery efficiency were compared between the MLC-IMRT and JO-IMRT plans. All JO-IMRT plans met the RTOG-0225 criteria for tumor coverage and sensitive structures sparing. The corresponding MLC-IMRT and JO-IMRT plans show comparable conformality and uniformity, with average COINs of the planning gross tumor volume(pGTV) 37.7% ± 18.7% versus 37.9% ± 18.1%, and the average uniformity index 82.8% ± 2.5% versus 83.6% ± 3.1%, respectively. The average monitor unit for JO-IMRT plans was about twice that of MLC-IMRT plans. In conclusion, conventional jaws can be used solely to deliver complex IMRT plans for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer yet still within a practical delivery time.
Amber Alert and Major Catastrophe Messages on Dynamic Message Signs: Focus Group Studies in Texas

The Texas Department of Transportation wanted to expand its dynamic message sign (DMS) design and display manual to include information related to Amber alerts and specific major catastrophes. Focus groups were conducted in six Texas cities to obtain initial responses from drivers concerning information needs and to help develop messages for further study. In Amber alert situations, there was no consensus as to which descriptor would best convey that a child had been abducted. The descriptors "Amber alert," "kidnapped," and "abducted" implied a sense of danger or urgency that would be appropriate to the situation. Additionally, participants were not able to recall license plate or phone numbers easily after having viewed a message for 8 s. Participants were split as to whether they would continue to drive if the message "flooded" were displayed on a DMS. The consensus of those who would continue driving was that the message should include information regarding the location of the flooding or an exit to ta...
A potential and novel therapy for obesity: "appendix" electrical stimulation in dogs.

Background Intestinal electrical stimulation (IES) has been introduced as a potential therapy for obesity. However, it is unknown whether the effects of IES on gastrointestinal motility and food intake are location-specific. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of “appendix” (cecum in dog) electrical stimulation (AES) on gastric tone, gastric emptying, and food intake in dogs.
Blue-Shifted Emission in CdTe/ZnSe Heterostructured Nanocrystals

Properties of colloidal heterostructured nanocrystals are largely determined by the spatial distribution of photogenerated carriers across the junction of semiconductor materials that form the heterostructure. The two known types of carrier distributions are identified based on whether both carriers reside within the same (type I) or opposite (type II) sides of the heterojunction. Here we demonstrate the existence of another type of spatial carrier distribution in heteronanocrystals, which corresponds to the localization of both charges along the material junction. Such localization pattern was realized in novel CdTe/ZnSe heteronanocrystals, where the expected type I infrared emission was dominated by more intense photoluminescence in the 570−600 nm range, corresponding to the recombination of carriers within an interfacial alloy layer, formed by the cation and anion exchange between CdTe and ZnSe phases. Fabricated heteronanocrystals exhibit excellent optical characteristics including near-single-exponen...
Modification of silica gel, cellulose, and polyurethane with a sterically hindered N‐halamine moiety to produce antimicrobial activity

The sterically hindered amine monomer 4-[3-triethoxysilylpropoxyl]-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine has been synthesized and covalently bonded to the surfaces of silica gel particles and cellulose (cotton) and copolymerized in a polyurethane coating formulation. Upon exposure to dilute sodium hypochlorite (household bleach), a very stable N-Cl bond is formed in situ at the hindered amine nitrogen site. This source of oxidative chlorine provides an antimicrobial function to the silica gel, cotton, and polyurethane. Stability, regenerability, and biocidal efficacy data are presented. The new N-halamine materials were remarkably effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in brief periods of contact. The materials should find application in water treatment and medical applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
Thrombolytic therapy and proteolysis of factor V

Abstract Objectives. We sought to determine the extent of Factor V proteolysis during thrombolytic therapy. Background. Thrombin- or Factor Xa–activated Factor V is an essential cofactor in the prothrombinase complex. In purified systems, plasmin, the major product of thrombolytic therapy, is known to first activate then inactivate Factor V. Methods. We used quantitative gel electrophoresis and Western blotting to analyze the cleavages in plasma Factor V after thrombolytic therapy. Results. The addition of streptokinase to plasma resulted in the activation then inactivation of Factor V, confirming previous results using purified reagents. We also identified the Factor V fragments resulting from the action of thrombin and plasmin. After thrombolytic therapy, there was considerable Factor V cleavage. The cleavage patterns were consistent with the action of plasmin, with little evidence for the action of thrombin. In the Global Utilization of Streptokinase and Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Occluded Coronary Arteries trial (n = 17), we observed an average 58% loss of intact Factor V at 6 h (range 1% to 91%). Samples from the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction trial, Phase II (n = 12), collected on a shorter time scale, showed a loss of up to 99% at 50 min, with the loss of intact Factor V associated with the plasma concentration of plasminogen activator. Samples from patients with bleeding (n = 12) showed extensive Factor V cleavage. Conclusions. Factor V cleavage in thrombolytic therapy is primarily plasmin mediated, rapid and often extensive. It is likely that transient increases, as well as longer term losses, of Factor V cofactor activity play a role in both ischemic and hemorrhagic events subsequent to thrombolytic therapy. The extensive loss of Factor V in some patients may affect the estimation of heparinization.
Cu-related complexes in silicon

Abstract Hartree–Fock calculations of Cu + in Si are performed in clusters containing 44–100 Si atoms. The configurations studied include interstitial and substitutional Cu + , copper–acceptor pairs, and copper–hexavacancy complexes. The preliminary results presented below include equilibrium configurations, electronic structures, and binding energies.
Fluctuations in the mean of Euler’s phi function

We consider the error term in the mean value estimate of Euler’s phi function ψ(n), and show that it is Ω+- (x(log log x)1/2). This improves on the earlier results of Pillai and Chowla, and of Erdos and Shapiro.
A useful quantity for studying jet structure in e+e− annihilation☆

Abstract We propose a new variable for studying the deviation from perfect two-jet structure in e + e − annihilation. This involves only charged particles in the final state. We calculate this in QCD. We also discover a strong-interaction independent prediction in e + e − annihilation.
A Domain Decomposition Method for the Exterior Helmholtz Problem

A new domain decomposition method is presented for the exterior Helmholtz problem. The nonlocal Dirichlet-to-Neumann (DtN) map is used as a nonreflecting condition on the outer computational boundary. The computational domain is divided into nonoverlapping subdomains with Sommerfeld-type conditions on the adjacent subdomain boundaries to ensure uniqueness. An iterative scheme is developed, where independent subdomain boundary-value problems are obtained by applying the DtN operator to values from the previous iteration. The independent problems are then discretized with finite elements and can be solved concurrently. Numerical results are presented for a two-dimensional model problem, and both the solution accuracy and convergence rate are investigated.
Dichotic listening in aphasics: response to Niccum and Speaks.

Abstract Since the dichotic listening technique was first described (Broadbent, 1954; Kimura, 1961), researchers have been interested in its ability to document hemispheric dominance for language and other functions in a noninvasive fashion. Numerous articles have been published using normal healthy subjects as well as others using patients who have suffered neurological disease or damage. Much controversy has been generated over the use of dichotic listening in the latter population, however, since unilateral brain lesions might be expected to alter normal perception. This paper responds to one recently published by Niccum and Speaks (1991) that attempted to explain why a lesion effect, and not hemispheric reorganization, is the best explanation for findings of left-ear advantage in recovering aphasics.
Transfer RNAs associated with the 70S RNA of AKR murine leukemia virus.

Summary The specificity of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNA interaction was used to identify the amino acid tRNAs most tenaciously bound to the 70S RNA of the AKR murine leukemia virus. Of the 17 amino acid tRNAs tested for, proline tRNA was the major one which was dissociated from the viral RNA at temperatures above 60°.
A meta-analysis of patellar tendon autograft versus patellar tendon allograft in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Purpose: Studies have suggested good long-term success rates with bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autograft and BPTB allograft in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, but the numbers reported in available prospective studies may be underpowered to elucidate significant differences between the two groups. Here, we present a meta-analysis to compare the results of BPTB autograft and BPTB allograft in primary ACL reconstruction. Methods: A systematic review of prospective trials using BPTB autograft and BPTB allograft tissue for ACL reconstruction with a minimum 2-year follow-up was performed. Summary odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals, and P values were calculated. Results: Of 548 studies, 6 fulfilled our inclusion criteria, with 256 patients in the autograft and 278 patients in the allograft group. Allograft patients were more likely to rupture their graft than autograft patients (OR, 5.03; P = .01) and more likely to have a hop test less than 90% of the nonoperative side (OR, 5.66; P Conclusions: In this meta-analysis, ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft was favored over BPTB allograft for graft rupture and hop test parameters. However, when irradiated and chemically processed grafts were excluded, results were not significantly different between the two graft types. Level of Evidence: Level III, systematic review of prospective nonrandomized cohort studies.
Nutrient Composition of Quail Meat from Three Sources

Samples of quail available to the public through specialty and/or supermarkets or by hunting were analyzed for selected nutrients in the meat. Classes of quail examined were (1) a strain of Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix, (2) pen-grown eastern Bob White, Colinus virginianus, and (3) wild Bob White, Colinus virginianus. Bob White quail were larger than the Japanese quail and yielded a higher percentage of deboned, deskinned meat (69% vs 61%) due mainly to a heavier, fatter skin on the Japanese quail. All the types examined were excellent sources of vitamin B6 (0.52–0.68 mg/100g raw meat) and niacin (6.0–10.3 mg/100g) and were good sources of thiamin (0.10–0.17 mg/100g) pantothenic acid (0.66–1.10 mg/100g) and riboflavin (0.16–0.50 mg/100g).
Actin binding domains direct actin-binding proteins to different cytoskeletal locations

Filamin (FLN) and non-muscle α-actinin are members of a family of F-actin cross-linking proteins that utilize Calponin Homology domains (CH-domain) for actin binding. Although these two proteins have been extensively characterized, little is known about what regulates their binding to F-actin filaments in the cell. We have constructed fusion proteins consisting of green fluorescent protein (GFP) with either the entire cross-linking protein or its actin-binding domain (ABD) and examined the localization of these fluorescent proteins in living cells under a variety of conditions. The full-length fusion proteins, but not the ABD's complemented the defects of cells lacking both endogenous proteins indicating that they are functional. The localization patterns of filamin (GFP-FLN) and α-actinin (GFP-αA) were overlapping but distinct. GFP-FLN localized to the peripheral cell cortex as well as to new pseudopods of unpolarized cells, but was observed to localize to the rear of polarized cells during cAMP and folate chemotaxis. GFP-αA was enriched in new pseudopods and at the front of polarized cells, but in all cases was absent from the peripheral cortex. Although both proteins appear to be involved in macropinocytosis, the association time of the GFP-probes with the internalized macropinosome differed. Surprisingly, the localization of the GFP-actin-binding domain fusion proteins precisely reflected that of their respective full length constructs, indicating that the localization of the protein was determined by the actin-binding domain alone. When expressed in a cell line lacking both filamin and α-actinin, the probes maintain their distinct localization patterns suggesting that they are not functionally redundant. These observations strongly suggest that the regulation of the binding of these proteins to actin filaments is built into the actin-binding domains. We suggest that different actin binding domains have different affinities for F-actin filaments in functionally distinct regions of the cytoskeleton.
Sub-Saharan Africa and the paperless society

This Opinion Paper considers the relevance for sub‐Saharan Africa of the Western world's electronic information supply systems. It summarizes F.W. Lancaster's forecast of a coming electronic paperless society. From the perspective of Africa'a economic and social difficulties it looks at Lancaster's recommendation that libraries in developing countries should attempt to bypass the book and leap from oral to electronic communication. It discusses who benefits from libraries at present and who would most likely benefit from electronic libraries. It cites examples of the “book famine” from which the existing libraries now suffer. It criticizes the view that supplying facts to important people via computer will help poor areas to develop. It outlines Africa's dependence and instances some of the inappropriate foreign advice and aid it receives. Most of the examples are taken from ex‐British Africa, the countries that in all but one or two cases have kept on English as their official language. The conclusion is that the electronic library and indeed information science in general distract from what African librarians ought to be doing: helping the illiterate majority of their people learn to read and write. © 1987 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Association between psychological stress and menstrual cycle characteristics in perimenopausal women

In previous studies of the relationship between stress and menstrual cycles, stress has been found to be associated with longer cycles, to be associated with shorter cycles, and to have no association with cycle length. Some of the menstrual cycle changes that have been attributed to stress are similar to those experienced by women during perimenopause. In an effort to see whether an association between psychological stress and menstrual cycle characteristics can be detected in women approaching menopause, this study examines this relationship in perimenopausal women who are participants in the Tremin Research Program on Women's Health. The analyses used prospectively recorded bleeding data and retrospectively captured life-event data. A single-year cross-sectional analysis of data from 206 women shows no correlation between stress level, as measured by total number and severity of stressful life events, and cycle characteristics, including interval length, duration of bleed, and variability in both of these factors, nor are there significant differences in cycle characteristics between subgroups of women with different overall levels of stress. In analyzing stress levels and cycle characteristics across 2 years, however, women with marked increases in their level of stress (n = 30) are shown to have decreased length (-0.2 days/cycle) of menstrual cycle intervals and decreased duration of bleed (-0.1 day/cycle) compared with increases in these measures (+2.9 days/cycle for cycle interval; +0.3 days/cycle for duration of bleed) among women with no marked change in stress level (n = 103); t-tests indicate that these differences are significant (p < .05).
Prejunctional effects of opioids in the perfused mesentery of the rat and rabbit: Interactions with α2-adrenoceptors

Prejunctional effects of opioids were examined in the perfused mesentery of two species: the rat and rabbit. Use of agonists selective for subtypes of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors produced no effect on contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation in the rat perfused mesentery, except for small effects of the kappa agonist EKC, which may be non specific. In contrast, mu, delta and kappa receptors appear to be present in the rabbit. The mu selective agonist, DAMGO, kappa agonist, ethylketocyclazocine, and delta agonists, DPDPE and [Leu5]-enkephalin, all produced significant inhibition of contractile responses to transmural nerve stimulation. The inhibitory effect was greatest for ethylketocyclazocine. To test the possibility that prejunctional activation of alpha 2 adrenoceptors with endogenous norepinephrine might decrease the activity of prejunctional opioid receptors in the rabbit, inhibitory effects of delta and kappa selective agonists were tested in the presence of 10(-7) M yohimbine. Inhibitory responses of the kappa selective agonist ethylketocyclazocine were enhanced, while that of delta selective agonists [Leu5]-enkephalin and DPDPE remained unchanged when yohimbine was present. Thus, the effects of opioids vary and depend on the tissue and receptor subtypes they act upon. Furthermore, the enhanced inhibitory effect of opioid receptor activation in the presence of yohimbine is not found for all opioid receptors.
A Century of Biometrical Genetics

We briefly review the major contribution of biometrics to genetics over the last century (population genetic models, familial correlations, segregation analysis, and gene mapping) and current areas of active research and then speculate about what problems will be tackled in the next century.
Demonstration of Field-Coupled Input Scheme on Line of Nanomagnets

We report an electric and on-chip field-coupled input scheme for nanomagnet logic (NML). Deterministic control over the switching of a nanomagnet is demonstrated by applying synchronous clock and bias fields to first place the device in 0°/metastable state, and then tilt its magnetization in the appropriate direction. The clock field is generated on-chip by a CMOS-compatible clock line, while the bias field is generated by an input structure integrated with the clock line. Successful propagation of input data through ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling was observed along an L shaped NML line. This scheme can serve as an electric-magneto interface between CMOS and an NML circuit for NML inputs.
Studies on the morphology of Uronema marinum Dujardin (Ciliatea: Uronematidae) with a description of the histopathology of the infection in marine fishes

Abstract. A normally free-living hymenostomatid ciliate was found to be the cause of heavy infections of gills, viscera and body muscle in Atlantic and Pacific marine fishes kept in the New York Aquarium. Of special interest is the fact that the parasites, usually with food vacuoles filled with blood cells and cellular debris, caused extensive damage to the body muscle; the other infected organs showed no characteristic tissue reactions. The immediate cause of death is attributed to the exceptional load of the parasite on the gills, thus interfering with normal respiratory function. The ciliate, isolated from a recent outbreak, is described in detail, and shows many characteristics of Uronema marinum Dujardin, a species that has been reported as free-living in salt water; the form reported here differs from the type and other members included in this species, by the presence of less than three rows of bipolar meridians. This facultative parasite is described in detail and compared with other genera.