cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin gene of isolates viruses from 3 novel influenza A ( H1N1 )deaths

Objective To understand the origin and variation of the hemagglutinin gene of isolates viruses from 3 novel influenza A( H1N1 ) deaths in Changsha ( A/Hunan Kaifu/SWL4142/2009 ( H1N1 ) , A/Hunan Changsha/SWL4346/2009 ( H1 N1 ) and A/Hunan Furong/SWL4224/2009( H1N1 )). Methods The nasopharyngeal swab specimens from the 3 novel influenza A( H1N1 ) deaths in Changsha were tested by RT-PCR and influenza viruses were isolated simultaneously. With the sequencing primers recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), the HA gene of sequences of 3 novel influenza A( H1N1 ) deaths were tested by CEQTM 8000 Genetic Analysis System, through dye terminator cycle sequencing. The sequencing results were submitted to GenBank, then the results were analyzed for amino acid alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis with ClustalX and Mega4.1 software. Results All the nucleotide homologies of HA gene sequences in A/Hunan Kaifu/SWL4142/2009 ( H1N1 ), A/Hunan Changsha/SWL4346/2009 ( H1N1 ) and A/Hunan Furong/SWL4224/2009( H1N1 ) are 99% as compared with the novel influenza A( H1N1 ) virus strains of A/NewYork/3502/2009 ( H1N1 ), A/Shanghai/71T/2009 ( H1N1 ) and A/Chita/01/2009 ( H1N1 )The nucleotide homology of the 3 HA gene sequences are more than 99. 5% the same compared with the novel influenza A( H1N1 ) virus strain ( A/Sichuan/1/2009( H1N1 ) ) in China. Phylogenetic tree analysis reveals that 2009 novel influenza A(H1N1 ) viruses including 3 HA gene sequences of A/Hunan Kaifu/SWL4142/2009 ( H1 N1 ), A/Hunan Changsha/SWL4346/2009 ( H1N1 ), A/Hunan Furong/SWL4224/2009( H1N1 ) had a close evolutionary relationship with the swine H1 virus isolates in North America ( A/Swine/Indiana/P12439/00), but a distant evolutionary relationship with those human seasonal A( H1 N1 ) influenza virus and avian. After comparing with genes of A/Swine/Indiana/P12439/00, we found that the HA gene sequences of the 3 viruses isolated had 28,30 and 27 amino acids with mutation respectively, but only one (R53K) amino acids mutation at 21 important antigenic sites in the 3 viruses isolated. Multiple alignment of 364 HA genes sequences of novel influenza A ( H1N1 ) viruses in the world showed they had 119 nonconserved amino acids, 5 non-conserved position at important antigenic sites. Conclusions The HA gene sequences from 3 viruses isolated in this study and other influenza A ( H1N1 ) viruses might originate from swine A( H1N1 ) in North America by variation. The 3 HA gene sequences of viruses isolated have high homology as compared with the novel influenza A ( H1N1 ) virus strains worldwide, and the 3 HA gene sequences of viruses isolated are in stable condition as the vast majority of novel influenza A( H1N1 ) virus strains in the world. Key words: Influenza A virus,H1N1 subtype; Hemagglutinins; Sequence analysis
An Analysis of Changes in Emergency Department Visits After a State Declaration During the Time of COVID-19.

Study objective In the initial period of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been a substantial decrease in the number of patients seeking care in the emergency department. A first step in estimating the impact of these changes is to characterize the patients, visits, and diagnoses for whom care is being delayed or deferred. Methods We conducted an observational study, examining demographics, visit characteristics, and diagnoses for all ED patient visits to an urban level 1 trauma center before and after a state emergency declaration and comparing them with a similar period in 2019. We estimated percent change on the basis of the ratios of before and after periods with respect to 2019 and the decline per week using Poisson regression. Finally, we evaluated whether each factor modified the change in overall ED visits. Results After the state declaration, there was a 49.3% decline in ED visits overall, 35.2% (95% confidence interval −38.4 to −31.9) as compared with 2019. Disproportionate declines were seen in visits by pediatric and older patients, women, and Medicare recipients, as well as for presentations of syncope, cerebrovascular accidents, urolithiasis, and abdominal and back pain. Significant proportional increases were seen in ED visits for upper respiratory infections, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Conclusion There have been significant changes in patterns of care seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Declines in ED visits, especially for certain demographic groups and disease processes, should prompt efforts to understand these phenomena, encourage appropriate care seeking, and monitor for the morbidity and mortality that may result from delayed or deferred care.
Nonlinear measurements of kinetics and generalized dynamical modes. I. Extracting the one-dimensional Green's function from a time series.

Often, a single correlation function is used to measure the kinetics of a complex system. In contrast, a large set of k-vector modes and their correlation functions are commonly defined for motion in free space. This set can be transformed to the van Hove correlation function, which is the Green’s function for molecular diffusion. Here, these ideas are generalized to other observables. A set of correlation functions of nonlinear functions of an observable is used to extract the corresponding Green’s function. Although this paper focuses on nonlinear correlation functions of an equilibrium time series, the results are directly connected to other types of nonlinear kinetics, including perturbation–response experiments with strong fields. Generalized modes are defined as the orthogonal polynomials associated with the equilibrium distribution. A matrix of mode-correlation functions can be transformed to the complete, single-time-interval (1D) Green’s function. Diagonalizing this matrix finds the eigendecays. To understand the advantages and limitation of this approach, Green’s functions are calculated for a number of models of complex dynamics within a Gaussian probability distribution. Examples of non-diffusive motion, rate heterogeneity, and range heterogeneity are examined. General arguments are made that a full set of nonlinear 1D measurements is necessary to extract all the information available in a time series. However, when a process is neither dynamically Gaussian nor Markovian, they are not sufficient. In those cases, additional multidimensional measurements are needed.
Recreational Motorized Vehicle Use Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Significantly Increases Odds of Craniofacial Injury

Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Objective:Concurrent substance-use, including alcohol and drugs, increases the risks of many recreational activities. Our purpose was to determine the relationshi...
Extreme Pulsus Alternans

Timing of events, as well as the pattern of occurrences, are important details to pay attention to. Occasionally, a discrepancy can be found between electrical and mechanical activity of the heart, and echocardiography can be a tool to identify such inconsistency. Moreover, there can be a discrepancy between the mechanical activation of the heart, and the efficiency of the heart (i.e., the production of cardiac output), and echocardiography can play a central role in diagnosing such a situation. Combining information from ECG tracing, 2D and tissue Doppler assessment of contractility, and spectral tracing across the LVOT can provide evaluation of the electrical activation of the heart, mechanical activation of the heart, and the ultimate “success” of these activation efforts in producing cardiac output.
Effect of VIP infusion on water and ion transport in the human jejunum

Abstract Infusion of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is known to cause intestinal secretion in animal models. The present study was designed to answer the question whether VIP has a similar effect on the human intestine. Pure porcine VIP was administered by constant i.v. infusion to healthy subjects while their jejunum was perfused with a plasma-like electrolyte solution. At the lowest VIP infusion rate (100 pmol/kg/hr), plasma VIP levels rose two- to fourfold, and there was an increase in the transmucosal potential difference but no change in sodium chloride absorption. At higher VIP infusion rates (200 and 400 pmol/kg/hr), VIP plasma concentrations rose to levels commonly observed in patients with pancreatic cholera syndrome. At these levels VIP caused a dose-dependent decrease of water and sodium absorption. Chloride absorption changed to secretion, while bicarbonate movement remained completely unaffected. Chloride secretion was active, since it occurred against an electrical and chemical gradient. All changes induced by VIP were reversible after discontinuance of VIP infusion. Our observations suggest that elevated levels of circulating VIP are capable of affecting water and ion movement in the human jejunum. They lend support to the hypothesis that high levels of circulating VIP may be a mediator of secretory diarrhea in some patients with pancreatic cholera syndrome.
Configurational Considerations in Relation to the Mechanisms of the Stereospecific Enzymatic Hydrations of Fumarate and cis-Aconitate

On the basis of physical and synthetic evidence, Gawron et al. (2, 3) have concluded that the P-carboxyl group in nn-isocitric lactone is cis to the cr-carboxyl group. Since the stereochemistry of the a-carbon of natural d-isocitrate had been previously elucidated by Greenstein et a2. (4, 5) and shown to correspond to the Lo configuration, Gawron et al. (2, 3), referring to the pcarboxyl group of d-isocitrate as a substituent similar to the P-hydroxyl group of threonine, assigned to D,' configuration to the P-carbon of d-isocitrate. The structure proposed by these authors has recently been confirmed by means of crystallographic studies on naturally occurring isocitrate (6). In discussing the biochemical implications of the absolute configuration of natural d-isocitrate, Gawron et al. (2, 3) have pointed out that such a structure is only compatible with a tram mechanism of addition of water across the double bond of cis-aconitate, and suggested a modification of the scheme proposed by Speyer and Dickman
Abstract P242: Abdominal Adipose Tissue Distribution and Metabolic Syndrome Burden in Adolescents - Penn State Child Cohort (PSCC) Study

Objectives: To investigate the association between abdominal adipose tissue distribution and metabolic syndrome burden in a population-based sample of adolescents. Methods: We used available data from 400 adolescents who completed the follow up examinations in the PSCC study. We used whole body low-dose dual energy absorptiometry (DXA) to assess and calculate the following abdominal and body fat distribution measures: Android/Gynoid Fat ratio, Android/whole body fat ratio, Gynoid/whole body fat ratio, visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area in the abdominal region. . Metabolic syndrome burden was assessed by using continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS) - the sum of the age and sex adjusted standardized residual (Z-score) of five established metabolic syndrome components: waist circumference, mean arterial pressure, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol. Linear regression models were used to data analysis. Results: The mean age was 16.9 y...
Design of controls using force as a criterion.

A force platform was used to study the effect of varying the height and handle orientation of a push-pull task. Each of the ten subjects performed the task at knee, hip, waist, chest, and eye heights and at each of the heights the handle was oriented in five different positions. Even though the force required for the task itself did not vary, changing the height of the handle forced each subject to exert a force to maintain his own body position. This force exerted by the subject was minimized when the handle was at chest height. The only previous studies on optimum work heights have concerned work surface location. Since their usual recommendations are to place a work surface below rather than above the elbow, it seems additional experimentation is desirable.
The Effect of Intake Valve Lift on Turbulence Intensity and Burnrate in S.I. Engines-Model Versus Experiment

An Engine Simulation Model was used to study the effect of changing the maximum intake valve lift to control in-cylinder turbulence intensity and burn rate. Experimental measurements of burn rate for two different valve lift profiles were obtained and compared with predictions. The standard K-epsilon turbulence model was found to be inadequate for predicting the proper behavior of turbulence level during compression and expansion. Further investigation showed that the dissipation of turbulence calculated by the standard k-epsilon model was inadequate, thus causing the turbulence levels and burn rates to be approximately independent of the intake valve lift. A new turbulent dissipation model is proposed which uses the eddy angular momentum to scale the dissipation constant. Turbulent intensity predictions from this model resulted in acceptable agreement between the measured and predicted burn rates as the intake valve lift was changed. The effect of throttling the engine using intake valve lift was investigated and predictions made of turbulence intensity, burn rate, combustion efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) as a function of air-fuel ratio and load. Results showed a significant reduction in BSFC at 13 BMEP, 1500 RPM when conventional throttling was compared with intake valve throttling at equal burn rates. In addition, the effect of B/S ratio on turbulence intensity, burn rate and ISFC was investigated and results showed the independent effects of engine geometry and turbulence on burn rate when the engine was stroked holding the cylinder bore constant.
Tithing in a Chapter 13 Plan: The Requirement of Reasonableness Under the Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act

A recurring dilemma faced by bankruptcy courts occurs when a debtor makes religious donations while in bankruptcy. In these instances, bankruptcy courts must determine the best allocation of the bankruptcy estate to address both the debtor's interest in making religious donations and creditors' interest in receiving payment. This conflict arises because of the Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act, which amends § 1325 of the Bankruptcy Code to permit a Chapter 13 debtor to include religious contributions not exceeding fifteen percent of gross annual income as a reasonable expense, thereby excluding such contributions from disposable income. Judicial interpretation of this provision is split as to whether a reasonableness inquiry must be undertaken in addition to consideration of the technical requirements of § 1325. This Note argues that courts must inquire into the reasonableness of any tithe, for doing so cotnports with Congressional intent and best serves the needs of creditors and debtors and the policies of the Bankruptcy Code.
Akt Is a Downstream Target of NF-κB

The ubiquitously expressed transcription factor NF-kappa B and the serine-threonine kinase Akt both are involved in the promotion of cell survival. Although initially believed to operate as components of distinct signaling pathways, several studies have demonstrated that the NF-kappa B and Akt signaling pathways can converge. Indeed, I kappa B kinase, the kinase involved in NF-kappa B activation, is a substrate of Akt, and activation of Akt therefore stimulates NF-kappa B activity. Although these results place Akt upstream of NF-kappa B activation in the sequence of signaling events, we report that this may not necessarily be the case and that Akt is a downstream target of NF-kappa B. Treatment of NIH3T3 cells with the NF-kappa B activators, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and lipopolysaccharide, results in the stimulation of Akt phosphorylation. The stimulation of Akt is, however, detected only after I kappa B-alpha degradation is induced by these agents. The nuclear translocation of p65 and increased DNA binding activity of NF-kappa B also precede Akt phosphorylation. Treatment with two pharmacological inhibitors of NF-kappa B, SN50 and N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), blocks TNF-induced Akt activation. On the other hand TNF-mediated NF-kappa B activation is not reduced by the phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002, although these inhibitors completely block the activation of Akt. These results suggest that NF-kappa B is required for TNF-mediated Akt activation and that it lies upstream of the stimulation of Akt. Consistent with this conclusion is the finding that overexpression of p65/RelA leads to Akt phosphorylation in the absence of extracellular stimulatory factors, whereas overexpression of I kappa B-alpha reduces Akt phosphorylation below basal levels. Interestingly, in addition to stimulating the phosphorylation of Akt, overexpression of p65 causes an increase in the expression of Akt mRNA and protein.
Recent Advances in Fingerprint Verification

More than a century has passed since Alphonse Bertillon first conceived and then industriously practiced the idea of using body measurements for solving crimes [18]. Just as his idea was gaining popularity, it faded into relative obscurity by a far more significant and practical discovery of the uniqueness of the human fingerprints1. Soon after this discovery, many major law enforcement departments embraced the idea of first “booking” the fingerprints of criminals, so that their records are readily available and later using leftover fingerprint smudges (latents), they could determine the identity of criminals. These agencies sponsored a rigorous study of fingerprints, developed scientific methods for visual matching of fingerprints and strong programs/cultures for training fingerprint experts, and applied the art of fingerprint identification for nailing down the perpetrators [6].
Occupant responsive optimal control of smart façade systems

Occupant responsive optimal control is developed for so called smart facade systems. The control optimizes the performance of the system by rotating a motorized louver slat in the cavity and ventilation dampers at the top and bottom of exterior and interior glazing. One prominent feature of the system is the capability of dynamically reacting to the environmental input data through real-time optimization in terms of energy, visual comfort and thermal comfort. Users interaction with the system is Web enabled. Current state variables, weather data and energy flows are posted on a web page and an occupant with given privileges can choose the preferred operation mode or override the devices (louvers, ventilation inlet/outlet).
Documenting Archaeological Mortuary Features using High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging

This technical note presents a refined technique for photo-documenting archaeological mortuary features using High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging. Mortuary features in archaeological context can be complex and delicate given the wide variability in grave constructions and preservation of human skeletal remains. It is therefore critical to obtain the greatest detail possible when photo-documenting these features. HDR techniques represent more contrast in photographs and provide greater detail across the DR of illumination within mortuary features—where complex arrangements of human remains can obscure or darken other elements or associated funerary objects, making them difficult to identify in traditional photographs. HDR can be employed with most standard digital single lens reflex cameras used for archaeological field projects, is easy to learn and employ (as described here), can be processed and produced with commonly used photo editing programs, and is ideal for use in unpredictable conditions that are often encountered with archaeological mortuary features and in field conditions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rings and Bent Chain Galaxies in the GEMS and GOODS Fields

Twenty-four galaxies with rings or partial rings were studied in the GEMS and GOODS fields out to z ~ 1.4. Most resemble local collisional ring galaxies in morphology, size, and clumpy star formation. Clump ages range from 108 to 109 yr, and clump masses go up to several ? 108 M?, based on color evolution models. The clump ages are consistent with the expected lifetimes of ring structures if they are formed by collisions. Fifteen other galaxies that resemble the arcs in partial ring galaxies but have no evident disk emission were also studied. Their clumps have bluer colors at all redshifts compared to the clumps in the ring and partial ring sample, and their clump ages are younger than in rings and partial rings by a factor of ~10. In most respects, they resemble chain galaxies except for their curvature; we refer to them as bent chains. Several rings are symmetric with centered nuclei and no obvious companions. They could be outer Lindblad resonance rings, although some have no obvious bars or spirals to drive them. If these symmetric cases are resonance rings, then they could be the precursors of modern resonance rings, which are only ~30% larger on average. This similarity in radius suggests that the driving pattern speed has not slowed by more by ~30% during the last ~7 Gyr. Those without bars could be examples of dissolved bars.
High frequency of chronic end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in a Hispanic population.

Background: Texas has the highest mortality from hepatocellular carcinoma in the USA. Because end-stage liver disease mortality is most marked in the Hispanic population in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the aim of the present paper was to estimate the prevalence of end-stage liver disease and associated factors in Brownsville. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, abstracting medical charts in a community-based clinic and a hospital. A matched case-control analysis was performed. Cases had an International Classification of Disease (9th revision; ICD9) code 155.0 or 571.0–9 (primary liver cancer or chronic liver disease) recorded; age- and sex-matched controls did not have these codes. A total of 176 cases and 352 controls was collected. The main outcome measure was the prevalence and risk factors for end-stage liver disease. Results: Conservative prevalence of end-stage liver disease: 126/100 000 (386/100 000, male). Eleven out of 176 had hepatocellular carcinoma. Median age was 57 years; 72% male, 94% Hispanic. Among significant risk factors were history of hepatitis (odds ratio (OR): 19.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.0–46.4), any history of alcohol use (OR: 6.6; 95%CI: 4–10.8) and history of illegal drug use (OR: 1.9; 95%CI: 1.2–2.9). Fifteen cases with no known risk factors were classified as cryptogenic cirrhosis. Only four cases out of 176 had been referred for liver transplant. Conclusions: The prevalence of end-stage liver disease in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is extremely high, with no single satisfactory explanation and with acute health disparities. Careful follow up of cryptogenic cirrhosis in this population may or may not lead to a new source of liver disease. © 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
RECENT ISOCYANATE-IN-AIR ANALYSIS STUDIES.

Abstract The reagent and sample volumes for the Marcali method for the determination of toluenediisocyanate (TDI) in air have been modified to accommodate the 1961 revision of the Threshold Limit Value (TLV = 0.02 ppm). A lightweight, easily portable assembly which includes the “Uni-Jet” Constant Rate Air Sampler, reagents, and a compact set of permanent liquid color standards for the range 0.01 to 0.08 ppm was developed for field surveys. A similar unit, modified to provide permanent liquid color standards in a visual comparator adapted to the required 10-cm light path, was completed for the Ranta determination of combined TDI and TDI urea. A satisfactory laboratory test, based on the Marcali method for TDI, has been developed for traces of MDI (methylene-bis-(4-phenylisocyanate)) in air. The method easily detects 0.01 ppm MDI in a one cubic foot air sample.
Management of mass casualty burn disasters

Mass casualty burn disasters are potentially challenging, in part because the majority of health care providers are inexperienced in the care of thermally injured patients and in part because of th...
Effects of beta thalassemia minor on results of six glycated hemoglobin methods.

Abstract Background Beta-thalassemia minor (BTM) is a common benign condition that can be present in patients with diabetes mellitus. There are conflicting reports about the effect of BTM on glycated hemoglobin (gHb) measurements. We evaluated 6 gHb methods using samples from non-diabetic subjects with BTM. Methods Samples submitted for hemoglobin phenotype analysis were evaluated. A total of 57 samples (30 controls and 27 with BTM) from non-diabetic subjects were selected. GHb analysis was performed by Tosoh A1c 2.2+, Primus CLC 330, Bayer DCA 2000, Beckman Coulter, Synchron CX7 and LX20, and Roche Tina-quant II assays. Results The A1c 2.2+, CLC 330, DCA 2000 and Tina-quant II assays showed no statistically significant difference between the control and BTM groups. In contrast, BTM results were significantly higher than controls on the Synchron CX7 analyzer and borderline significant on the Synchron LX20 (p=0.051). Further investigation demonstrated an increase in Synchron %HbA1c results with decreasing hemoglobin concentrations. Conclusions In this study using samples from subjects with normal or near-normal gHb, BTM does not affect gHb measurements per se. However, the Synchron methods yielded higher results for samples with lower hemoglobin concentrations, like those that can be seen in BTM. The Synchron method was improved at the end of 2003, which minimized this problem.
FREE GROUPOIDS, TREES, AND FREE GROUPS*

XEO~(UY?) of the equivalence. An immediate cor- ollary of this theorem is the precise form of the Nielsen-Schreier theorem [4,5] which gives a system of free generators for any subgroup of a free group. Another is Serre’s theorem [6,7] which characterizes free groups as those which can be made to operate freely on a graph which is a tree. Both are seen to follow from the essen- tial part of the theorem, Corollary 2.3: If (i? X [F is an essential equivalence of a group G with a free groupoid IF (so that G is isomorphic to the group of automor- phisms of some object of a connected non-empty free groupaid), then 65 is a free group. For readers familiar with graph theory, it is followed by an independent proof of this corollary which leads directly to the Nielsen-Schreier theorem (Theo- rem 4.1). The more general form of the Bass-Serre theorem is amenable to related methods and will be treated in a separate paper.
Juvenile competency to stand trial in criminal court and brain function

Current estimates indicate that approximately 200,000 juveniles are transferred to the (adult) criminal court system each year and it is often required that the juvenile's ability to function in adult criminal proceedings be assessed by a mental health professional. We review the literature on the assessment of juvenile competency to stand trial in criminal court, adolescent brain development, and related cognitive skills. We conclude that integrative developmental theories are needed to guide research and provide theoretical pathways to apply neuropsychological information to juvenile competency behaviors and the assessment of these behaviors.
Suppressing thyroid hormone signaling preserves cone photoreceptors in mouse models of retinal degeneration

Cone phototransduction and survival of cones in the human macula is essential for color vision and for visual acuity. Progressive cone degeneration in age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, and recessive cone dystrophies is a major cause of blindness. Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling, which regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, plays a central role in cone opsin expression and patterning in the retina. Here, we investigated whether TH signaling affects cone viability in inherited retinal degeneration mouse models. Retinol isomerase RPE65-deficient mice [a model of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) with rapid cone loss] and cone photoreceptor function loss type 1 mice (severe recessive achromatopsia) were used to determine whether suppressing TH signaling with antithyroid treatment reduces cone death. Further, cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel B subunit-deficient mice (moderate achromatopsia) and guanylate cyclase 2e-deficient mice (LCA with slower cone loss) were used to determine whether triiodothyronine (T3) treatment (stimulating TH signaling) causes deterioration of cones. We found that cone density in retinol isomerase RPE65-deficient and cone photoreceptor function loss type 1 mice increased about sixfold following antithyroid treatment. Cone density in cone cyclic nucleotide-gated channel B subunit-deficient and guanylate cyclase 2e-deficient mice decreased about 40% following T3 treatment. The effect of TH signaling on cone viability appears to be independent of its regulation on cone opsin expression. This work demonstrates that suppressing TH signaling in retina dystrophy mouse models is protective of cones, providing insights into cone preservation and therapeutic interventions.
Development of a Nuclear Morphometric Signature for Prostate Cancer Risk in Negative Biopsies

Background Our objective was to develop and validate a multi-feature nuclear score based on image analysis of direct DNA staining, and to test its association with field effects and subsequent detection of prostate cancer (PCa) in benign biopsies.
Examination of focused beam propagation through a finite non-reciprocal planar chiral slab using complex Fresnel coefficients and dual transforms

Recently, uniform plane wave propagation across a nonchiral-chiral interface was examined via the development of appropriate Fresnel coefficients. In this extension, propagation of focused uniform and profiled beams through a finite, planar nonreciprocal chiral slab is investigated using complex Fresnel coefficients via angular plane wave decomposition and dual transforms.
COMPARISON OF CHARACTERISTIC TIME DIAGNOSTICS FOR IGNITION AND OXIDATION OF FUEL/OXIDIZER MIXTURES BEHIND REFLECTED SHOCK WAVES

ABSTRACT Various methods for determining characteristic times of shock-tube ignition and oxidation are compared. Onset and peak times were obtained from time histories for four different species (CH, CH*, OH, OH*) as predicted by a modern detailed kinetics mechanism. Appropriate submechanisms for CH* and OH* formation and quenching were added to the existing mechanism to differentiate the excited-state species from the ground-state molecules. The modeling focused on mixtures of acetylene or ethane with oxygen highly diluted in argon at high temperatures (1200–2050 K) and nearly atmospheric pressures. Using a detailed mechanism known to accurately simulate the shock-tube chemistry, emphasis was placed on cohesion of characteristic times among the species and the extent to which one may be used to predict another. Generally, ignition onset times were found to be more consistent than peak times, with OH peaking at times least typical of the group. Onset time versus inverse temperature curves based on any one...
Distance to care and relative supply among pediatric surgical subspecialties

Abstract Background/Purpose The aim of this study is to describe geographic proximity to and quantify relative supply of 7 pediatric surgical specialties in the United States. Methods Data from the 2005 American Medical Association Physician Masterfile and the Claritas Pop-Facts Database were used to calculate subspecialty-specific, population-weighted, straight-line distances between each zip code centroid and the nearest provider. These same data sources were used to calculate the percentage of hospital referral regions with a provider, the percentage of the younger than 18 years population living within selected distances of providers, and provider-to-population ratios for each of the pediatric surgical subspecialties. Further, we calculated the correlation between practice locations and children's hospitals offering pediatric surgical services. Results Across pediatric surgical specialties, average distances to the nearest provider ranged from 27.1 miles for pediatric surgery to 100.9 miles for pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. The average population-weighted distance to a provider was less than 30 miles for pediatric surgery and pediatric ophthalmology only. For 5 of the 7 pediatric surgical specialties studied, approximately one quarter of the younger than 18 years population lives more than 1-hour drive from a provider. Provider–to–younger than 18 years population ratios range across hospital referral region from 0.04 per 100,000 for pediatric cardiothoracic surgery to 0.97 per 100,000 for pediatric surgery. The correlation between pediatric surgeons and children's hospitals offering services was 0.72. Conclusions Although the practice locations of pediatric surgical subspecialties parallel the geographic distribution of children in the United States, large percentages of the younger than 18 years population must travel long distance to receive care from these providers. Large coefficients of variation reveal substantial maldistribution. These findings lay the groundwork for workforce assessments of the pediatric surgical subspecialties and underscore the need for future studies that assess access barriers for children in need of surgical care.
Diffusion and consumption of methane in an unsaturated zone in north-central Illinois, U.S.A.

Abstract The distribution of CH 4 in unsaturated glacial and eolian deposits adjacent to buried low-level radioactive waste was measured, and movement of the gas from the waste source was simulated using a two-dimensional finite-difference model for gas diffusion in the unsaturated zone. Mean P CH 4 was greatest (1.56 Pa) in a pebbly-sand deposit 11.6 m below the land surface and 12 m from the waste, and generally decreased with increased horizontal distance from the waste. Mean P CH 4 was least (0.07 Pa) at depth of 1.8 m below land surface, regardless of distance from the waste. P CH 4 at the land surface averaged 0.17 Pa. Depth versus P CH 4 profiles suggest consumption of both waste-produced and atmospheric CH 4 in the upper unsaturated zone, presumably by methanotrophic microorganisms. Numerical simulations of methane movement support the consumption observation; inclusion of a term in the model for consumption of CH 4 in the upper 2 m of the unsaturated zone resulted in simulated P CH 4 within 30% of mean P CH 4 at eleven of thirteen sampling locations. A similar fit of the data was obtained for only four locations when consumption was not considered.
Optimizing practice standards to reduce interventional radiology physician radiation exposure

Learning Objectives To evaluate causes of and decrease level of physician exposure to excess radiation. Background Subjects included in the study were 6 attending physicians and 3 fellows at a single university hospital. Deep, eye and shallow exposure to radiation were measured. Baseline data was acquired retroactively for a period of one year. As an intervention starting 7/1/12 the IR division instituted required use of all leaded equipment, in-room shields, and reduction of fluoroscopy pulse rate. The goal is to reach an exposure average below ALARA I for each quarter. Resulting measurements were followed quarterly thereafter to determine differences in exposure. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details Baseline data showed that these physicians exceeded ALARA I levels 55.6% of quarters for deep exposure. Eye exposure exceeded ALARA I 58.3% of the quarters. Additionally, ALARA II was exceeded for deep and eye exposure 11.1% and 13.9% of quarters, respectively. The division averaged over ALARA I for both deep and eye exposure throughout the year. The first experimental quarter shows that there was a decrease in exposure when comparing the same quarter from 2011. The 2012 data for deep, eye and shallow exposure averaged 136.0, 475.6 and 484.2mRem per physician, respectively. Deep and eye exposure averaged below ALARA I for the department. The 2011 exposure rates for the analogous quarter for deep, eye and shallow exposure averaged 271.5, 906.0 and 889.4mRem, respectively. The difference between 2011 and 2012 showed a trend toward improvement but did not reach a level of statistical significance (p=0.076). Further, comparing this experimental quarter to the overall quarterly average from the baseline year, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.077). Conclusion and/or Teaching Points Exposure to interventional radiologists has been reduced since instituting the outlined interventions. However, the intervention has not yet reached a level of significance. The intervention will be continued to see if significance can be reached in the following quarters since a strong positive trend in radiation exposure reduction has been observed.
New Improved Generator Applied to Conformal Lagrangians

Using the calculus of variations, a general expression for a conserved generator is obtained which includes the usual Noether form but with additional freedom. This freedom allows one to write geometric generators which depend only on the coordinate variation and not on the total field variation. The resultant energy-momentum tensor is then the tensor proposed by Callan, Coleman, and Jackiw. Also, a general condition is derived under which a generator can be expressed in terms of the coordinate variation only.
A spectroscopic immersion ellipsometry study of SiO2-Si interface roughness for electron cyclotron resonance plasma and thermally oxidized Si surfaces

Abstract By immersing a film-covered substrate in a liquid whose refractive index matches that of the film, the sensitivity of ellipsometry to the film/substrate interface can be greatly enhanced. This spectroscopic immersion ellipsometry (SIE) technique was employed for the study of SiO 2 -Si interface roughness for electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma and thermally oxidized Si surfaces. The SIE results show that for an initially rough Si surface, oxidation reduces the interface roughness, while for an initially smooth Si surface, the interface roughens as the oxidation proceeds. These results were confirmed by atomic force microscopy measurements with fractal analysis. The results indicate that there are two competing mechanisms for the interface roughness evolution during oxidation. The smoothing is believed driven by the reduction of free energy dictated by the Kelvin equation, and enhanced by the external electric field during ECR oxidation. The roughening is possibly due to a chemical-reaction-enhanced roughening transition. The results also show that SIE emerges as a powerful technique to study interfaces non-destructively.
Job strain and autonomic indices of cardiovascular disease risk

Background Despite the epidemiological evidence linking job strain to cardiovascular disease, more insight is needed into the etiologic mechanisms. This, in turn, would help to more precisely identify risk. Methods We measured Job Strain using the Job Content Questionnaire, 8/day diary reports, and nationally standardized occupational code linkage, as well as autonomic regulation utilizing heart rate variability including spectral-derived components and QT interval variability in 36 healthy mid-aged males with varying strain jobs. The subjects wore Holter-monitors for 48 hr; this included a work and rest day. Results Job strain (P = 0.02) and low decision latitude (P = 0.004) were associated with a reduction in cardiac vagal control (HFP) persisting throughout the 48 hr. Job strain was also associated with elevations in sympathetic control during working hours (P = 0.003). Conclusions The disturbed cardiovascular regulatory pattern associated with job strain may help explain the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases linked with occupational exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:182–193, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Regional regression of flood characteristics employing historical information

Abstract Streamflow gauging networks provide hydrologic information for use in estimating the parameters of regional regression models. The regional regression models can be used to estimate flood statistics, such as the 100 yr peak, at ungauged sites as functions of drainage basin characteristics. A recent innovation in regional regression is the use of a generalized least squares (GLS) estimator that accounts for unequal station record lengths and sample cross correlation among the flows. However, this technique does not account for historical flood information. A method is proposed here to adjust this generalized least squares estimator to account for possible information about historical floods available at some stations in a region. The historical information is assumed to be in the form of observations of all peaks above a threshold during a long period outside the systematic record period. A Monte Carlo simulation experiment was performed to compare the GLS estimator adjusted for historical floods with the unadjusted GLS estimator and the ordinary least squares estimator. Results indicate that using the GLS estimator adjusted for historical information significantly improves the regression model.
Petri nets and speed independent design

Petri nets are investigated as one method of modeling speed independent asynchronous circuits. A study of circuit realizations of Petri nets leads to a demonstration of their usefulness in modeling speed independent operation. This usefulness is emphasized by the design of a speed independent processor from modules developed in the investigation of Petri net implementation.
Islam and the Blackamerican: looking towards the third Resurrection

by Sherman A. Jackson, New York, Oxford University Press, 2005, 256 pp, US$ 35, ISBN 978‐0‐19‐518081‐7 Islam in America is perhaps the greatest challenge for American culture, and the Muslim practi...
Opana-ER used the wrong way: intravenous abuse leading to microangiopathic hemolysis and a TTP-like syndrome.

![Figure][1] A 23-year-old white woman with a history of intravenous drug abuse presented to the emergency department with decreased level of consciousness, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath. Blood work showed anemia (hemoglobin, 7.6 g/dL), thrombocytopenia (platelet count, 69 000
Political Obligation and the Natural Duties of Justice

L'A. discute la theorie de Rawls selon laquelle l'individu a un devoir politique par sa simple vertu d'homme, un «devoir naturel de justice» le poussant an particulier a suivre les institutions justes. L'A. vise a montrer l'insuffisance de ses arguments et propose de combler ce manque par une nouvelle comprehension du principe de loyaute que Rawls rejetait explicitement dans sa «Theorie de la Justice»
Characterization of the Photoacid Diffusion Length and Reaction Kinetics in EUV Photoresists with IR Spectroscopy

A soft-contact film transfer method was developed to prepare multilayer photoresist thin films that enable high-resolution spectroscopic and reflectivity measurements for determining the reaction−diffusion kinetic parameters and photoacid diffusion length. Infrared reflectance absorption spectroscopy was applied to follow, quantitatively, the reaction−diffusion kinetics during the post-exposure bake (PEB) step; the time evolution of the average deprotection level across a bilayer film with model photoresists is described by a kinetics model with three parameters: a reaction rate constant (kP), the phenomenological photoacid trapping constant (kT), and the photoacid diffusion constant (DH). A polymeric and molecular resist for next-generation extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography with chemically analogous structure was studied with this methodology. The three kinetic parameters follow an Arrhenius dependence but show quantitative differences between these two photoresists at a given PEB temperature. Furthe...
SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in morbidly obese patients: image quality, hemodynamic response to pharmacologic stress, and diagnostic and prognostic value.

Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States, and little is known about the characteristics of the morbidly obese population (body mass index [BMI] <40 kg/m) undergoing stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive morbidly obese patients without known coronary artery disease presenting for a clinically indicated technetium 99m (Tc-99m) gated stress single photon emission computed tomography imaging study over a 42-month period. Studies were analyzed for image quality, for the contribution of attenuation correction to image interpretation, and for the hemodynamic response to pharmacologic stress. In patients who subsequently had cardiac catheterization, the results were compared with those from the initial MPI study, and the Social Security Death Index and hospital medical records were searched to the assess survival rate in the entire cohort. A total of 433 patients were identified with a mean BMI of 47.3 ± 8 kg/m2 and a mean Tc-99m stress dose of 35.6 ± 5.4 mCi. Image quality was good in 61% of the patients, adequate in 37%, and poor in 2%. It was found to be dependent on the Stressor used (better with exercise) but did not correlate with increasing weight or BMI. Attenuation correction was used in 95% of the studies reviewed and was helpful for image interpretation in 60%. The heart rate response to dipyridamole and adenosine was more pronounced and the blood pressure response to dipyridamole was less pronounced in morbidly obese patients compared with nonobese control patients. In the 43 patients who underwent catheterization, stress MPI had a sensitivity of 95% and negative predictive value of 80%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis at 1 year showed a significant difference in survival rate of 98.3% for normal MPI studies and 94.0% for abnormal MPI studies (P = .02). Diagnostic-quality single photon emission computed tomography imaging is feasible in the majority (98%) of morbidly obese patients with the use of a dual-head camera, attenuation correction, and high stress Tc-99m tracer doses. Exercise stress was associated with better image quality. The prognostic value of a normal MPI study in this population appears to be less favorable than in non-morbidly obese patients.
Effects of Findings of Scientific Misconduct on Postdoctoral Trainees

Background: In an earlier study, we described the impact of formal misconduct determinations on established scientists’ careers, showing that many retained scientific careers, and more than half (51%) continued to publish at least one paper per year after their cases were decided. Here, we extend our study to examine the ramifications of final misconduct findings by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) on the careers of postdoctoral fellows. Methods: We tracked publication histories and attempted to track down all postdoctoral trainees found by ORI to have committed misconduct, and attempted to interview them about their experiences. Results: Trainees found to have committed misconduct between 1993 and 2007 whom we could trace were less likely to continue to publish than more established scientists, with only 11% publishing more than one paper per year after their misconduct determinations. Our assessment is constrained by our inability to reliably trace postdoctoral fellows, reflecting the fact that a ...