cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Should Promethazine in Liquid Form Be Available Without Prescription

Promethazine, available by prescription only since its introduction in 1946, has been widely used for pediatric patients because of its antihistaminic, antiemetic, and sedative properties. Recently, it's makers have sought Federal Drug Administration approval to introduce two liquid over the counter allergy/cold/cough products containing promethazine as an active ingredient. Although millions of doses have been administered, promethazine use has not been free of risk. Promethazine has been reported to cause significant sedation, agitation, hallucinations, seizures, dystonic reactions, and possibly apparent life-threatening events or sudden infant death syndrome. The impact of these relatively uncommon adverse reactions on children would be minimal if parents would use over the counter promethazine only for appropriate indications and only in children greater than 2 years of age. However, according to results of research evaluating the use of various over the counter medications by families for their children, promethazine will be used inappropriately. Both its over the counter status, implying a certain margin of safety, and its formulation as a syrup, providing ease of administration, should increase its use in all age groups including that by children less than 2 years of age who may be most vulnerable to the adverse reactions associated with the drug's use.
Characterization of the Cell Surface Receptor for the Agaricus bisporus Hemagglutinin

Abstract Two phytohemagglutinins (PHA) with similar specificities for cell surface carbohydrate receptors were partially purified from the commercial mushroom Agaricus bisporus. One of the PHAs, which was greater than 90% pure, was iodinated and used in binding studies to determine the number of receptor sites on different cell types. Human erythrocytes contained 6.8 x 106 receptors per cell, whereas normal human lymphocytes contained 12.7 x 106 receptors and lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had 2.8 x 106 receptors. The ratio of A. bisporus PHA receptors to Phaseolus vulgaris E-PHA receptors was lower on lymphocytes than on erythrocytes, indicating a different surface structure of these two cell types. Although the A. bisporus PHA bound to lymphocytes, it did not act as a mitogen. Trypsin treatment of human erythrocytes resulted in a 50% decrease in the number of mushroom PHA molecules bound to the cells. The glycopeptide material released from the cells by trypsin was a potent haptene inhibitor of mushroom PHA, binding to cells. Removal of the terminal sialic acid residues from the glycopeptide increased its haptene inhibitory activity 8-fold. All of the haptene inhibitory activity of the glycopeptide was due to the O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides having the structure galactose (β1,3)/→ N-acetylgalactosamine → serine (or threonine). Removal of the galactose by either β-galactosidase or periodate oxidation destroyed all haptene inhibitory activity. The intact glycopeptide was 15,000 times more potent as a haptene inhibitor than the simple sugars galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine, and 65 times more potent than the disaccharide galactose (β1,3)/→ N-acetylgalactosamine. The N-linked oligosaccharide chain of the trypsin-released glycopeptide, which is the receptor for the PHAs of P. vulgaris and Lens culinaris, was devoid of haptene inhibitory activity toward A. bisporus PHA.
An evaluation of the research experiences for undergraduates program at the Georgia Institute of Technology

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the Georgia Tech Summer Undergraduate Program of Research in Electrical Engineering for Minorities (GT-SUPREEM), an REU program designed to attract qualified minority students into graduate school in electrical engineering and electronics packaging. In this eight-week program, students of at least junior-level standing are recruited on a nationwide basis and paired with faculty members and graduate student mentors to undertake research in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and NSF Research Center in Low-Cost Electronic Packaging. From 1992 to 1995, a total of 47 students participated in the program. Thirty-five of these participants were interviewed by phone to obtain information about their perceptions of the program's success and to determine how many of the participants have pursued higher degrees. Findings indicate that 89% of the participants are either enrolled in a graduate program, plan to attend graduate school in the next two years, or have completed a graduate degree. In comparison to a control group of Georgia Tech electrical engineering students, it is found that the REU participants are more likely to continue their studies in engineering. In addition, the participants report higher starting salaries than nonparticipants. This paper provides an overview of the GT-SUPREEM program, including student research activities, success stories, lessons learned, and overall program outlook.
Behavior of N-phenylmaleimide- and p-phenylenedimaleimide-reacted muscle crossbridge heads

The finding of Barnett et al. (Biophys. J. 61 (1992) 358) that NPM-reacted crossbridge heads do not bind strongly to actin in rigor solution is not easily interpreted in terms of the solution studies of Xie and Schoenberg (Biochemistry 37 (1998) 8048) who found strong binding of NPM-reacted myosin subfragment-1 to actin in solutions devoid of MgATP. For this reason, the current work uses stiffness measurement to re-investigate the binding of rabbit skeletal muscle crossbridges to actin in rigor solution. It is found that NPM-reacted crossbridge heads bind strongly to actin in rigor solution providing one is extremely careful to reduce MgATP contamination to levels well below those that would have a detectable effect on unmodified fibers. The reason for this is that NPM-reacted crossbridge heads, which hydrolyze MgATP extremely slowly, are especially susceptible to contaminant MgATP. The new fiber results show a strong correlation with the solution results. A further manifestation of this correlation is that pPDM-reacted crossbridge heads are different from NPM-reacted ones in that, like in solution, they remain weakly binding to actin even at extremely low MgATP levels. The findings suggest that the covalent crosslinking of SH1 and SH2 by pPDM is likely playing a significant role in locking pPDM-reacted crossbridge heads in a weakly binding conformation.
Binary star astronomy with optical interferometry

The Mark III Interferometer on Mt. Wilson, a long-baseline optical interferometer, was in daily operation for more that seven years. During that time it achieved milliarcsecond angular resolution for binary star astronomy, with submilliarcsecond accuracy. For the first time many spectroscopic binaries have been resolved, including binaries in which the companion cannot be detected with spectroscopy. The high angular resolution means that the traditional gap between visual and spectroscopic binaries has been decreased by more than an order of magnitude. In order to confirm the performance of the Mark III Interferometer, this paper uses the results of astronomical observations, and compares the Mark III Interferometer with other high-resolution techniques, including astrometry, lunar occultation, photometry, speckle, and spectroscopy. Comparisons for a variety of binary stars among these techniques indicate that long baseline optical interferometry proves a reliable, fully automatic, daily accessible astronomical capability for achieving high resolution, high accuracy, high dynamic range, and high photometric measurement precision for the study of binary stars.
Application of combined mass spectrometry and partial amino acid sequence to the identification of gel-separated proteins.

The combined use of peptide mass information with amino acid sequence information derived by chemical sequencing or mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches provides a powerful means of protein identification. We have used a two-part strategy to identify proteins from nerve growth factor (NGF)-stimulated rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line PC-12 cell lysates that associate with the adaptor protein Shc (Shc homologous and collagen protein). Initial experiments with metabolically radiolabeled cell extracts separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed a number of proteins that coimmunoprecipitated with anti-Shc antibody compared with control (unstimulated) cell extracts. The experiment was scaled up and cell lysate from NGF-stimulated PC-12 cells was applied to a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-Shc affinity column, eluted, separated by SDS-PAGE and blotted to Immobilon-CD. The blotted proteins were proteolytically digested in situ, and the masses obtained from the extracted peptides were used in a peptide-mass search program in an attempt to identify the protein. Even if a strong candidate was found using this search, an additional step was performed to confirm the identification. The mixtures were fractionated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and subjected to chemical sequencing to obtain (partial) sequence information, or post-source decay (PSD-) matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization (MALDI)-MS to obtain sequence-specific fragment ions. This data was used in a peptide-sequence tag search to confirm the identity of the proteins. This combined approach allowed identification of four proteins of Mr 43000 to 200000. In one case the identified protein clearly did not correspond to the radiolabeled band, but to a protein contaminant from the column. The advantages and pitfalls of the approach are discussed.
The influence of sampling protocol on nonmethane hydrocarbon mixing ratios

Abstract The effect of sampling protocol on ambient air hydrocarbon mixing ratios was examined on eight sampling days in Los Angeles during 2007 and 2008. Four protocols, which were based on previously published multi-city urban hydrocarbon studies in the United States, were compared and differences were quantified. Whole air canister samples were collected and analyzed for nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). Differing sampling protocols resulted in large differences in mixing ratios, up to an order of magnitude, for certain NMHCs on the same sampling day. However, the magnitude of the variability between NMHC levels obtained by the four protocols was not consistent throughout the eight sampling days. It was found that sampling time, followed by sampling location, had the greatest influence on the magnitude of the mixing ratio. Ratios between hydrocarbons, often used in urban studies to gain information on emission sources, also varied depending on the protocol used. Comparison of absolute NMHC mixing ratios collected in urban environments using differing sampling protocols should be made with care.
Running on the Web: Online Self-Presentation Strategies in Mixed-Gender Races

Online self-presentation strategies are critical for female candidates to develop and deliver effectively. This is because the media appear to cover male and female candidates differently in news coverage, and research-based evidence continues to suggest that voters hold male and female candidates to different standards in mixed-gender races. This study examines how women running in mixed-gender races during the 2012 general election cycle employed self-presentation strategies to present a viable image for election. Candidate websites from U.S. House races featuring a female and male candidate are analyzed for their overall use of feminine versus masculine styles, as well as style-based issue discussion and image presentation. The results are compared to past research to further highlight relevant changes over time as women continue to construct their candidacies and define their space-and voice-within the political environment.
TEST OF THE ROLE IN RETENTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT

Summary.-Illustrations in a text were hypothesized to enhance long-term memory of the text. The experiment varied the availability of illustrations (an illustrated prose passage versus a non-illustrated passage) and delay of retention (immediate posttests versus posttests given 2 wk. later). The passage was a short text on energy and the participants were high-school students. Illustrations did not enhance retention, which suggests the theory upon which the hypothesis was based needs to be refined. The functionally oriented theoretical framework was shown to be amenable to empirical test. A functional approach to the study of illustrations in text (Duchastel, 1778) has led to the derivation of three roles of illustrations in text: (i) an attentional role, whereby illustrations can enhance interest and motivation with the task; '( ii) an explicative role, whereby illustrations can assist understanding of the subject matter by clarifying certain complex relations; and (iii) another role, which may facilitate retrieval from memory and hence enhance delayed recall of the text. The present study was aimed at directly testing the role in retention of illustrations by comparing immediate and delayed retention of verbal material from illustrated and non-illustrated versions of an instructional passage. The hypothesis was: given that illustrations are more easily learned and remembered than prose (Paivio, 1775), an illustrated text will be better remembered than the same text unillustrated. .Essentially, the illustrated text is presumed to be encoded in both verbal and pictorial terms and later memory retrieval to be facilitated by recall of the illustrations: through recall of the illustrations, the verbal text is then itself recalled. METHOD Materials The learning passage employed in the study was a 750-word passage which dealt with various aspects of energy. It contained 10 paragraphs, each of which focused on one given topic of three ideas. Thus the text can be thought of as a set of 30 detailed ideas grouped into 10 topical paragraphs. One illustration was prepared for each of the 10 paragraphs. Each illustration, a photograph or line drawing measuring 2 X 2 in., was chosen for its representativeness of the topic presented in the paragraph. The illustrations, while not adding any new information to be tested for later, conveyed the topical ideas
Nanoparticle-based Photosensitizers Under CW Infrared Excitation.

By using photon upconverting nanoparticles, we show that singlet oxygen can be generated under continuous wave infrared excitation. We report the synthesis and characterization of one of such nanoparticles, which hold promise as a new type of versatile drugs for photodynamic therapy.
Pseudotumor of infancy and congenital muscular torticollis: 170 cases.

Objectives To review pseudotumor of infancy (POI) and congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) and to suggest an algorithm for treatment. Study Design Retrospective review of cases from 1962 to 1998 at a tertiary care center. Methods Patients included in this study were 81 boys and 89 girls who had a diagnosis of POI (n = 38) or CMT (n = 132) before 24 months of age. Results For all patients, the mean age at diagnosis was 4 months; 54.1% had the left side of the neck affected, over 90% had a head tilt, and 2.4% had feeding difficulty as a result of the disorder. Plagiocephaly was present in 39.5% of patients with POI and 63.6% of patients with CMT; a neck mass, in 63.2% and 18.2%, respectively; and facial asymmetry, in 7.9% and 15.9%, respectively. All patients had a complete physical examination; 54.1% had plain cervical radiography, 4.1%, computed tomography, and 2.9%, ultrasonography. Passive range of motion was the initial treatment recommended for 65.3% of patients. Conservative treatment failed for 16 patients; subsequently, they had surgical treatment. Follow-up data were available for 159 patients; 85.5% experienced total resolution and 14.5% experienced subtotal resolution or long-term abnormality. Conclusions Children diagnosed with POI or CMT should be treated and observed for at least 12 months or until symptoms resolve. If symptoms persist 1 year after diagnosis despite conservative therapy, surgical treatment should be considered. The majority of children with POI or CMT experience total resolution of symptoms.
Robust plan optimization for electromagnetic transponder guided hypo-fractionated prostate treatment using volumetric modulated arc therapy

To develop an optimization algorithm for volumetric modulated arc therapy which incorporates an electromagnetic tracking (EMT) guided gating strategy and is robust to residual intra-fractional motion uncertainties. In a computer simulation, intra-fractional motion traces from prior treatments with EMT were converted to a probability distribution function (PDF), truncated using a patient specific action volume that encloses allowed deviations from the planned position, and renormalized to yield a new PDF with EMT-gated interventions. In lieu of a conventional planning target volume (PTV), multiple instances of clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs) were replicated and displaced to extreme positions inside the action volume representing possible delivery scenarios. When optimizing the volumetric modulated arc therapy plan, doses to the CTV and OARs were calculated as a sum of doses to the replicas weighted by the PDF to account for motion. A treatment plan meeting the clinical constraints was produced and compared to the counterpart conventional margin (PTV) plan. EMT traces from a separate testing database served to simulate motion during gated delivery. Dosimetric end points extracted from dose accumulations for each motion trace were utilized to evaluate potential clinical benefit. Five prostate cases from a hypofractionated protocol (42.5 Gy in 5 fractions) were retrospectively investigated. The patient specific gating window resulted in tight anterior and inferior action levels (~1 mm) to protect rectal wall and bladder wall, and resulted in an average of four beam interruptions per fraction in the simulation. The robust-optimized plans achieved the same average CTV D95 coverage of 40.5 Gy as the PTV-optimized plans, but with reduced patient-averaged rectum wall D1cc by 2.2 Gy (range 0.7 to 4.7 Gy) and bladder wall mean dose by 2.9 Gy (range 2.0 to 3.4 Gy). Integration of an intra-fractional motion management strategy into the robust optimization process is feasible and may yield improved OAR sparing compared to the standard margin approach.
Influence of Nonuniform Geometry on Nanoindentation of Viral Capsids

A series of recent nanoindentation experiments on the protein shells (capsids) of viruses has established atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a useful framework for probing the mechanics of large protein assemblies. Specifically these experiments provide an opportunity to study the coupling of the global assembly response to local conformational changes. AFM experiments on cowpea chlorotic mottle virus, known to undergo a pH-controlled swelling conformational change, have revealed a pH-dependent mechanical response. Previous theoretical studies have shown that homogeneous changes in shell geometry can play a significant role in the mechanical response. This article develops a method for accurately capturing the heterogeneous geometry of a viral capsid and explores its effect on mechanical response with a nonlinear continuum elasticity model. Models of both native and swollen cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsids are generated from x-ray crystal structures, and are used in finite element simulations of AFM indentation along two-, three-, and fivefold icosahedral symmetry orientations. The force response of the swollen capsid model is observed to be softer by roughly a factor of two, significantly more nonlinear, and more orientation-dependent than that of a native capsid with equivalent elastic moduli, demonstrating that capsid geometric heterogeneity can have significant effects on the global structural response.
Fuzzy point estimation and its application on fuzzy supply chain analysis

This work describes fuzzy point estimation that reflects the subjective measurement of a real number or an interval of real numbers and a new set of definitions for arithmetic operations on fuzzy points. In today's changing business world, there is a growing need to manage the supply chains of products to allow businesses to offer competitive prices to their customers. Managing the supply chains is becoming more complex because of market uncertainties. This paper provides a new approach to model the uncertainties involved in the supply chain management using the fuzzy point estimation. This work provides a clearer description and analysis framework mathematically for supply chain management. Based on the stationary strategy established by the author, the order-up-to levels may be calculated by means of formulae directly under a certain stationary condition and then the optimal solution may be gotten for a stationary supply chain. This paper is intended to open a window toward the complete results for the analysis of non-stationary supply chains.
Transported Substrate Determines Exchange Rate in the Multidrug Resistance Transporter EmrE

EmrE, a small multidrug resistance transporter, serves as an ideal model to study coupling between multidrug recognition and protein function. EmrE has a single small binding pocket that must accommodate the full range of diverse substrates recognized by this transporter. We have studied a series of tetrahedral compounds, as well as several planar substrates, to examine multidrug recognition and transport by EmrE. Here we show that even within this limited series, the rate of interconversion between the inward- and outward-facing states of EmrE varies over 3 orders of magnitude. Thus, the identity of the bound substrate controls the rate of this critical step in the transport process. The binding affinity also varies over a similar range and is correlated with substrate hydrophobicity within the tetrahedral substrate series. Substrate identity influences both the ground-state and transition-state energies for the conformational exchange process, highlighting the coupling between substrate binding and transport required for alternating access antiport.
Structure and X-ray amino acid sequence of a bacteriochlorophyll a protein from Prosthecochloris aestuarii refined at 1.9 Å resolution

Abstract The structure of the water-soluble bacteriochlorophyll a protein (Bchl protein) from the green photosynthetic bacterium Prosthecochloris aestuarii has been refined at 1.9 A resolution to a crystallographic residual of 18.9%. The refinement was carried out without knowledge of the amino acid sequence and has led to an “X-ray sequence”. The structure consists of seven Bchl molecules enclosed within a protein “bag” and the refinement supports the general conformation of the molecule described previously. The refinement also supports the previous suggestion that the ligands to the seven Bchl magnesiums are, respectively, five histidines, a carbonyl oxygen from the polypeptide backbone of the protein, and a bound water molecule. The conformations of the seven Bchl head-groups are described in detail. In two cases the magnesium atoms are approximately 0.48 A “below” the plane of the conjugated macrocycle while in the other five cases the atoms are, on average, 0.48 A “above” the plane. The acetyl ring substituents are more-or-less coplanar with the dihydrophorbin macrocycle, consistent with a previous resonance Raman study. The conjugated atoms in each of the seven macrocycles have significant departures from strict planarity. These deviations are similar for Bchls 1, 2 and 3 (class I) and are also similar for Bchls 4, 5, 6 and 7 (class II). Ethylchlorophillide also belongs to class II. The out-of-plane deformations for the class I and class II bacteriochlorophylls appear to correspond to two distinct modes of bending or curvature of the dihydrophorbin macrocycle.
Shock-compression ultrapressure research

Shock compression is used to achieve dynamic ultrapressures over an extremely wide range. One of the principal advantages of the dynamic method is that the high pressures, densities, and internal energies achieved are determined simply by the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. Diagnostic techniques have been developed to measure the properties of materials at high dynamic pressure during the experimental lifetime, which is generally less than 1 ..mu..s. Shock compression is an irreversible process accompanied by heating, which must be taken into account in the analysis of experimental data and in relating shock-compression data to states achieved by static compression methods. The purpose of this paper is to describe briefly the phenomenology of shock compression, to discuss how shock data for metals have been used to generate the pressure scales for all static-compression experiments above -- 5 GPa, and to describe ways in which shock compression might potentially be used to synthesize andor process into useful form novel materials like the new high-T/sub c/ superconducting oxides.
The unfolded protein response in protein aggregating diseases.

For many genetic diseases, clinical phenotypes arise through the dysfunction of the gene products encoded by mutant genes. Effective treatment entails providing a source of the gene product in the diet or circulation, as has been achieved for type I diabetes and hemophilia, or in cases of enzyme deficiency by supplementation with metabolites synthesized by the defective protein, as in adrenoleukodystrophy. However, a growing list of diseases do not appear to be amenable to such treatment strategies. In these instances, defective gene products acquire novel properties that disrupt normal cell function, even in the presence of proteins encoded by the normal allele. One class of such diseases, collectively termed “conformational diseases,” is composed of clinically unrelated disorders that share a common pathophysiology because the mutant proteins cannot adopt stable three-dimensional conformations. These mutant proteins aggregate in various subcellular compartments and may even cause cell death. Some of these diseases are associated with inclusion bodies containing the aggregating proteins whereas others do not exhibit such pathology; however, all appear to activate cell stress signaling pathways. Herein, we highlight one such disorder, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, that disrupts formation of whiter matter in the brain. Accumulation of the mutant protein in oligodendrocytes activates the unfolded protein response. The well-characterized genetics and large number of animal models available for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease enables this disease to serve as an important model for conformational diseases, both in terms of defining molecular components of the unfolded protein response signaling pathway as well as testing therapeutic approaches to ameliorate disease.
Approximation algorithms for curvature-constrained shortest paths

Let B be a point robot in the plane, whose path is constrained to have curvature ofat most 1, and let Ω be a set ofpolygonal obstacles with n vertices. We study the collision-free, optimal path-planning problem for B. Given a parameter e, we present an O((n2/e4) log n)-time algorithm for computing a collision-free, curvature-constrained path between two given positions, whose length is at most (1+e) times the length ofan optimal path, provided it is robust. (Roughly speaking, a path is robust ifit remains collision-free even ifcertain positions on the path are perturbed). Our algorithm thus runs significantly faster than the previously best known algorithm by Jacobs and Canny whose running time is O(( n+L e2 ) 2 + n 2 ( n+L e2 ) log n), where L is the total edge length ofthe obstacles. More importantly, the running time ofour algorithm does not depend on the size ofobstacles. The path returned by this algorithm is not necessarily robust. We present an O((n 2.5 /e 4 ) log n)-time algorithm that returns a robust path whose length is at most (1 + e) times the length ofan optimal path, provided it is robust. We also give a stronger characterization ofcurvature-constrained shortest paths, which, apart from being crucial for our algorithm, is interesting in its own right. Roughly speaking, we prove that, except in some special cases, a shortest path touches obstacles at points that have a visible vertex nearby.
Relating AEROCam-derived NDVI to apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) for corn fields in Wyoming, USA

High-spatial-resolution aerial images are necessary to capture variations in crop growth in small fields. The objective of this study was to analyse the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), derived from Airborne Environmental Research and Observation Camera (AEROCam; 1 m colour infrared) images, and the apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) values measured in furrow- and sprinkler-irrigated fields planted with corn (Zea mays L.) in Lingle, Wyoming. NDVI, calculated using 2005, 2006 and 2007 AEROCam images, and ECa were selected, as both variables are used as a measure of potential crop yield. NDVI values exhibited statistically significant exponential relationships with the ECa values for both fields. For the furrow-irrigated field, the adjusted R 2 values ranged between 0.66 and 0.79, and for the sprinkler-irrigated field the adjusted R 2 values ranged between 0.64 and 0.91. Results obtained in this study indicate that AEROCam images can be used for monitoring cro...
Spherical Stellarator Configuration.

A novel ultralow aspect ratio stellarator system that can be called a spherical stellarator (SS), in analogy with the spherical tokamak concept, is considered. The coil configuration of a simplest SS differs from that of a spherical tokamak by inclination of the external parts of the toroidal field coils. This system possesses many attractive properties including compact design and coil simplicity, good access to the plasma, closed vacuum flux surfaces with large enclosed volume, significant external rotational transform, strong magnetic well, and simple divertor configuration. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Adolescent Male and Female Gang Members’ Experiences with Violent Victimization, Dating Violence, and Sexual Assault

A substantial amount of scholarship has been devoted to examining the relationship between gang membership and criminal offending. This research has produced a wealth of qualitative and quantitative studies indicating that gang membership increases the likelihood of criminal offending for both males and females. Less research, however, has examined the relationship between gang membership and violent victimization. The present study adds to the literature by examining the relationship between gender, gang membership, and three types of victimization. Specifically, this paper focuses on whether self-reported gang membership is uniquely related to victimization experiences for females compared to males. Results from a statewide survey of public high school students in South Carolina indicate that gang membership is significantly related to the risk of victimization for both males and females. The implications of these findings for research and policy are discussed.
Phase relation for a common doorway state in 47 V

The $^{46}\mathrm{Ti}$($p$,${p}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$),$^{46}\mathrm{Ti}$ reaction has been studied from ${E}_{p}=2.25 \mathrm{to} 3.10$ MeV with an overall energy resolution of about 350 eV. The magnitudes and relative signs of inelastic decay amplitudes were determined for the fine-structure resonances of a $\frac{3}{{2}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$ analog state in $^{47}\mathrm{V}$. The relative sign of the decay amplitudes is constant for the fine-structure states, in agreement with both the theoretical prediction and the one previous measurement.
The frequency of parafunctional occlusal habits compared with the incidence of mandibular displacement

Abstract A comparison was made in this study of the prevalence of mandibular displacement in varying degrees of complexity with the incidence of parafunctional occlusal habits and some sequelae. The prevalence of occlusal habits in all patients was high but became greater with the increased complexity of the mandibular displacement, especially an asymmetrical slide from RCP to IP. The multifactorial etiology of parafunctional occlusal habits and their sequelae tends to make the relationships more complex than a simple "cause and effect" and therefore must be considered.
Bacterial Community Structure in Relation to the Carbon Environments in Lettuce and Tomato Rhizospheres and in Bulk Soil

Crop roots provide dynamic nutrient environments within agroecosystems that can influence the relative abundance and activity of oligotrophic and copiotrophic microorganisms. Copiotrophic organisms grow in carbon (C)-rich environments and their distribution implies that C abundance favors their survival. Survival of oligotrophic organisms is dependent on their ability to multiply and maintain activity in habitats of low C flux. To determine if spatial variation in available C along the root coincides with different physiological groups of bacteria, we isolated bacteria from the rhizosphere at different locations along the tap root of lettuce and tomato plants grown under greenhouse and field conditions. In all five experiments, the overall numbers of both oligotrophs and copiotrophs were high at the upper portions of the root and lower at tip locations and in the bulk soil environment. Consistent patterns in the ratio of copiotrophic to oligotrophic (C:O) bacteria along the roots of lettuce and tomato were obtained and clearly showed that the C:O ratio was different for these two crop species. With lettuce, C:O ratios were high at the root tip (1.22 to 1.61) and upper mid-root locations (0.90 to 1.30), intermediate at the lower mid-root locations (0.73 to 0.95), and low at the root base (0.56 to 0.76). With tomato, C:O ratios were low at root tip locations (0.50 to 0.68) and high at mid and base locations along the root (1.20 to 1.28). These differences may reflect qualitative and quantitative differences in root exudates between these crop species. In our experiments, nitrogen (N) concentrations and lateral branch sites, providing C sources, were important factors influencing bacterial populations in the rhizosphere of lettuce and tomato. Competitive interactions between microorganisms and physiological constraints with respect to substrate affinity may be two important mechanisms influencing bacterial populations and structure of rhizosphere communities.
Electromyogram processing for sleep research

A computer method for quantifying the submental electromyographic surface interference pattern (EMG) during sleep and wakefulness by amplitude envelope measurement for consecutive 2-sec intervals is described. The method is largely insensitive to electrocardiogram (EKG) artifact. Though this algorithm was developed as part of a program to detect electroencephalographic (EEG), electrooculographic (EOG), tonic and phasic EMG changes during sleep, the method is applicable by itself wherever the envelope width of the EMG interference pattern is of interest. The results obtained correlate well with visual estimates of the amplitude envelope of the raw EMG. It offers increased speed, accuracy and reproducibility compared to visual EMG evaluation and enables a high degree of information extraction. The simplicity of the algorithm permits implementation and on-line processing on a small laboratory computer.
Inhibition of ovalbumin mRNA translation by 7-methylguanosine-5′-phosphate

Summary Translation of hen oviduct mRNA to ovalbumin in in vitro cell-free protein synthesizing systems, isolated from wheat germ and Ehrlich ascites cells, was inhibited by 7-methylguanosine-5′-phosphate. Treatment of hen oviduct mRNA with periodate followed by aniline, a process which removes 5′ terminal 7-methylguanosine, resulted in a marked reduction of ovalbumin mRNA activity. Similar treatment of encephalomyocarditis viral RNA did not significantly lower its activity. These results suggest the presence of a “capped 5′ terminus” in ovalbumin mRNA.
Photodynamic treatment of the RIF-1 tumor with verteporfin with online monitoring of tissue oxygen using electron paramagnetic resonance oximetry

In this study, treatment of the RIF-1 tumor was examined with photodynamic therapy using Verteprofin (formerly benzoporphyrin derivative, BPD). The effects of two different optical dose rates were examined, with no detectable difference in the tumor regrowth time. Oxygen consumption during PDT could reliably be monitored with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry using an implanted paramagnetic material within the tumor. A reduction of the tumor pO 2 was detected in the animals that were followed after treatment, suggesting that there was a compromise to the tumor vasculature that persisted throughout the measurements. At high total doses some of the tumors did not regrow. Altogether these results are indicative of the tumor destruction being caused by destruction of the blood vessels from the treatment.
Practical routes to (SiH3)3P: Applications in group IV semiconductor activation and in group III–V molecular synthesis

The (SiH₃)₃P hydride is introduced as a practical source for n-doping of group IV semiconductors and as a highly-reactive delivery agent of -(SiH₃)₂P functionalities in exploratory synthesis. In contrast to earlier methods, the compound is produced here in high purity quantitative yields via a new single-step method based on reactions of SiH₃Br and (Me₃Sn)₃P, circumventing the need for toxic and unstable starting materials. As an initial demonstration of its utility we synthesized monosubstituted Me₂M-P(SiH₃)₂ (M = Al, Ga, In) derivatives of Me₃M containing the (SiH₃)₂P ligand for the first time, in analogy to the known Me₂M-P(SiMe₃)₂ counterparts. A dimeric structure of Me₂M-P(SiH₃)₂ is proposed on the basis of spectroscopic characterizations and quantum chemical simulations. Next, in the context of materials synthesis, the (SiH₃)₃P compound was used to dope germanium for the first time by building a prototype p(++)Si(100)/i-Ge/n-Ge photodiode structure. The resultant n-type Ge layers contained active carrier concentrations of 3-4 × 10¹⁹ atoms cm⁻³ as determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry and confirmed by SIMS. Strain analysis using high resolution XRD yielded a Si content of 4 × 10²⁰ atoms cm⁻³ in agreement with SIMS and within the range expected for incorporating Si₃P type units into the diamond cubic Ge matrix. Extensive characterizations for structure, morphology and crystallinity indicate that the Si co-dopant plays essentially a passive role and does not compromise the device quality of the host material nor does it fundamentally alter its optical properties.
InkWell: A Creative Writer's Creative Assistant

InkWell is a writer's assistant---a natural language revision program designed to assist creative writers by producing stylistic variations on texts based on craft-based facets of creative writing and by mimicking aspects of specified writers and their personality traits. It is built on top of an optimization process that produces variations on a supplied text, evaluates those variations quantitatively, and selects variations that best satisfy the goals of writing craft and writer mimicry. We describe the design and capabilities of InkWell, and present an early evaluation of its effectiveness and uses with two established literary writers along with an experiment using InkWell to write haiku on its own.
Effectiveness of fluoxetine therapy in bulimia nervosa regardless of comorbid depression

Objective To evaluate fluoxetine efficacy in the treatment of bulimia nervosa patients with or without comorbid depression. Method Two parallel, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled fluoxetine clinical trials were retrospectively analyzed to determine the effect of comorbid depression on bulimia treatment response. Patients were stratified by their 21-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD21) scores at baseline and by the presence or absence of historical or current depression. Change from baseline to endpoint in the number of binge eating and vomiting episodes was used to assess efficacy. Results Fluoxetine 60 mg treatment statistically significantly reduced (p < .05) the median number of binge eating and vomiting episodes. These improvements were independent of baseline HAMD21 score and of historical or current comorbid depression diagnosis. Discussion Fluoxetine 60 mg was effective in treating bulimia nervosa, regardless of the presence or absence of comorbid depression. Fluoxetine's efficacy in treating bulimia nervosa is not simply a secondary effect of its antidepressant properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 25:19–27, 1999.
A new viscoelastic constitutive model for continuous media at finite thermomechanical changes

Abstract This paper is concerned with the continuum formulation of a fully coupled thermomechanical constitutive model for highly deformable bodies with viscous dissipation. The threedimensional material law is applicable to the thermomechanical characterization of elastomeric (high-polymeric) solids in the finite strain domain under varying temperature. The description is based on the concept of internal state variables and rational thermodynamics. The main goal of the presentation is to develop consistent constitutive equations for the stress, entropy and independent internal variables such that the second law of thermodynamics, in the form of the Clausius-Duhem inequality, issatisfied. Motivated by the significant difference in bulk and shear response of elastomers, the model employs a local decomposition of the deformation into a dilatational and an isochoric part. The framework of nonlinear thermoviscoelasticity presented herein is formulated entirely in the reference configuration and provides a sound continuum basis for approximation techniques such as the Finite-Element method.Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Feasibility of computer backplane clock distribution with glass lasers

Over half of backplane layers in computers are often required for clock distribution because of isolation and termination problems associated with high frequency signals on electrical wires. Glass and plexiglass sheets have been demonstrated for optical distribution of these signals. We present advantages and disadvantages of laser glasses allowing gain to compensate for output losses.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
RATE OF CONVERGENCE FOR LOGSPLINE SPECTRAL DENSITY ESTIMATION

. The logarithm of the spectral density function for a stationary process is approximated by polynomial splines. The approximation is chosen to maximize the expected log-likelihood based on the asymptotic properties of the periodogram. Estimates of this approximation are shown to possess the usual nonparametric rate of convergence when the number of knots suitably increases to infinity.
A manipulative experiment demonstrates that blooms of the macroalga Ulvaria obscura can reduce eelgrass shoot density

Abstract This study reports on a manipulative experiment demonstrating that natural blooms of Ulvaria obscura (Kutzing) Gayral, a relatively understudied and easily misidentified green alga, can cause the loss of eelgrass shoots in a subtidal meadow. A total of 20 1 m2 quadrats were set at the inshore edge of an eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) meadow near Blakely Island, Washington State, USA. Ulvoid algae were removed from experimental quadrats and left in control quadrats. Experimental quadrats lost 12% of their eelgrass shoots over 5 weeks, while control quadrats lost 54% of their eelgrass shoots. Thus, we conclude that natural blooms of U. obscura at the study site reduce eelgrass shoot density.
TREATMENT OF TOXIC ADENOMATOUS GOITER BY LARGE DOSES OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE

AT TIMES surgery is eliminated in the selection of a method of treatment for toxic adenomatous goiter, either because the patient refuses it or because his physical condition makes him a poor surgical risk. The therapy usually next considered is the administration of an antithyroid drug, such as propylthiouracil. This method is highly useful in preoperative preparation or as definitive treatment in selected cases of Graves' disease, but unfortunately has several drawbacks in the treatment of multinodular goiter. Many months of therapy may be necessary before the hyperthyroidism is controlled, the remission effected may be only temporary, and in a few patients the drug has to be discontinued because of toxic effects. Therefore, the administration of radioactive iodine, although not considered the treatment of first choice in most cases, may become first choice under certain circumstances. Previously, the dosage plan in the treatment of toxic adenomatous goiter has generally consisted of an initial dose of ...
Constructing parametric quadratic curves

Constructing a parametric spline curve to pass through a set of data points requires assigning a knot to each data point. In this paper we discuss the construction of parametric quadratic splines and present a method to assign knots to a set of planar data points. The assigned knots are invariant under affine transformations of the data points, and can be used to construct a parametric quadratic spline which reproduces parametric quadratic polynomials. Results of comparisons of the new method with several known methods are included.
Are patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving optimal care

Objectives Guidelines have been published as a framework for therapy of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients referred for a second opinion were receiving therapy in accordance with practice guidelines. Methods Patients with luminal IBD under the care of a gastroenterologist who sought a a second opinion at Brigham and Women's Hospital between January 2001 and April 2003 were enrolled in this study. Clinical information was obtained by direct patient interview at the time of initial patient visit and by a review of prior records. Data obtained included the diagnosis, clinical symptoms, prior medical therapy, preventive measures for metabolic bone disease, and colon-cancer screening. Results The study population consisted of 67 consecutive patients: 21 with ulcerative colitis, 44 with Crohn's disease and 2 in whom the diagnosis of IBD could not be confirmed. Of the 65 patients with confirmed IBD, 56 patients had symptoms of active disease and 9 were asymptomatic. All analyses were carried out on the 56 patients with active disease. Of the 33 patients treated with aminosalicylates, 21 (64%) were not receiving maximal doses. Nine of 12 (75%) patients with distal ulcerative colitis were not receiving rectal aminosalicylate therapy. Within 6 months of their clinic visit, 35 patients had received corticosteroid therapy, and 27 (77%) patients had been treated with corticosteroids for greater than 3 months. In 16 of 27 (59%) there was no attempt to start steroid sparing medications such as 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), azathioprine, or infliximab. Of the 11 patients treated with either 6MP or azathioprine, 9 (82%) were suboptimally dosed without an attempt to increase dosage. Of the 27 patients on prolonged corticosteroid therapy 21 (78%) received inadequate treatment to prevent metabolic bone disease. Three of 9 patients (33%) meeting indications for surveillance colonoscopy for dysplasia had not undergone colonoscopy at the appropriate interval. Conclusions Patients with IBD often do not receive optimal medical therapy. In particular, there is suboptimal dosing of 5-ASA and immunomodulatory medications, prolonged use of corticosteroids, failure to use steroid-sparing agents, inadequate measures to prevent metabolic bone disease, and inadequate screening for colorectal cancer.