cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The danger of premature graduation to seat belts for young children.

Objective. To determine the risk of significant injury associated with premature graduation of young (2- to 5-year-old) children to seat belts from child restraint systems (CRS). Background. Advocates recommend use of child safety seats for children younger than age 4 and booster seats for children age 4 and older. Despite these recommendations, many children are prematurely taken out of these child restraints and placed in seat belts. Although data exist to support the use of child restraints over nonrestraint, no real-world data exist to evaluate the risk of significant injury associated with premature use of seat belts. Design/Methods. Partners for Child Passenger Safety includes a child-focused crash surveillance system based on a representative sample of children ages 0 to 15 years in crashes involving 1990 and newer vehicles reported to State Farm Insurance Companies in 15 states and the District of Columbia. Driver reports of crash circumstances and parent reports of child occupant injury were collected via telephone interview using validated surveys. Results were weighted based on sampling frequencies to represent the entire population. Results. Between December 1, 1998, and November 30, 1999, 2077 children aged 2 to 5 years were included and were weighted to represent 13 853 children. Among these young children, 98% were restrained, but nearly 40% of these children were restrained in seat belts. Compared with children in CRS, children in seat belts were more likely to suffer a significant injury (relative risk: 3.5; 95% confidence interval: [2.4, 5.2]). Children in seat belts were at particular risk of significant head injuries (relative risk: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: [2.6, 6.7]) when compared with children in CRS. Conclusions. Premature graduation of young children from CRS to seat belts puts them at greatly increased risk of injury in crashes. A major benefit of CRS is a reduction in head injuries, potentially attributable to a reduction in the amount of head excursion in a crash.
Plant Cell-Based Intimin Vaccine Given Orally to Mice Primed with Intimin Reduces Time of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Shedding in Feces

Intimin is the primary adhesin of Escherichia coli O157:H7, the most common infectious cause of bloody diarrhea in the United States and the leading cause of acute kidney failure in children who develop hemolytic uremic syndrome. Cattle are the primary reservoir of E. coli O157:H7. Indeed, most cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in the United States occur after ingestion of contaminated undercooked hamburger or produce that had contact with bovine manure. Because intimin is required for persistent colonization of neonatal calves and adult cattle, we hypothesized that an intimin-based vaccination strategy in calves would reduce colonization of cattle with E. coli O157:H7. To test this concept in a small-animal model, we developed transgenic tobacco plant cells that express the carboxy-terminal host cell-binding domain of E. coli O157:H7 intimin. Mice were either immunized intraperitoneally with intimin expressed from the plant cells, fed transgenic plant cells, or both. Here we show that these mice generated an intimin-specific mucosal immune response when primed parenterally and then boosted orally and also exhibited a reduced duration of E. coli O157:H7 fecal shedding after challenge.
The natural history of the silent hip in bilateral atraumatic osteonecrosis

The natural history of presymptomatic ischemic necrosis of the femoral head was studied in the contralateral hip of 15 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis between 1979 and 1984. These 15 hips were retrieved from among 416 patients undergoing total arthroplasty during this time period. Presymptomatic avascular necrosis was defined according to three strict criteria that allowed the hips to be studied from an index entry point (no evidence of avascular necrosis). Follow-up examinations of each of these 15 hips from this entry point revealed that all hips eventually collapsed at a mean of 23 months after index entry point (range, 3-66 months). These data indicate that the "silent hip" is at significant risk of developing avascular necrosis and, if it becomes involved, it progresses to collapse in a high percentage of patients in a relatively short time. There was no correlation between underlying etiology and the time to collapse.
MSP domain protein-1 from Ascaris suum and its possible role in the regulation of major sperm protein-based crawling motility

Nematode sperm utilize a crawling motility based on a nematode sperm-specific cytoskeletal protein called the major sperm protein (MSP). Although MSP has no similarity to actin in sequence or structure, the motility mediated by these two proteins is nearly indistinguishable at a phenotypic level. As with the traditional actin cytoskeleton, the central component of MSP-based motility (MSP) interacts with accessory proteins that regulate polymerization and depolymerization and play a key role in cell motility. A bioinformatics approach has led to the identification of proteins with enhanced expression in the Ascaris suum male germ line, including five new proteins each containing an MSP domain. One of these MSP domain proteins (As-MDP-1) contains an MSP domain in the C-terminus and a N-terminal extension rich in prolines and alanines. The 15.6 kDa As-MDP-1 was shown to be >90% identical at the amino acid level to members of a small family of Ascaris proteins that have been shown to bind to the MSP cytoskeleton and to negatively regulate MSP fiber growth. Further, it was demonstrated that As-MDP-1 is the smallest member of the MFP1 triplet of negative regulators of MSP cytoskeleton formation. Antibodies were used to detect the presence of As-MDP-1 along the entire length of the MSP fibers suggesting that As-MDP-1 binds directly to the higher order forms of MSP. This protein has orthologues in other nematode species, is present in Ascaris in at least six allelic forms, and is likely to form multimers.
Scaling of island size distribution and island coalescence in monolayer epitaxial growth of 1 × 1 films

Abstract The first monolayer heteroepitaxial growth of Fe films on an Au(001) surface has been investigated using high-resolution low-energy electron diffraction (HRLEED). At the out-of-phase diffraction condition, we observed a clear Henzler ring of intensity around the (00) diffraction rod over a wide range of submonolayer coverages. An existing two-level model developed by Pimbley and Lu with gamma (Γ) island size and island spacing distributions was found to generate profiles which fit experimental profiles well. The extracted scaling function of island size distribution over submonolayer range (coverage
An Evaluation of the Importance of Surface Flux Variability on GCM-Scale Boundary-Layer Characteristics Using Realistic Meteorological and Surface Forcing

Abstract Modifications to the properties of the boundary layer arising from surface flux variations over an area of 105 km2 are simulated with a mesoscale model using realistic meteorology and distributions of surface fluxes. The surface fluxes are calculated with the SiB2 land parameterization scheme, which is driven by vegetation, soil, and meteorological data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Cloud and Radiation Testbed in Oklahoma and Kansas. Simulations were carried out for 15 case study days in July of 1995, during which synoptic conditions were relatively settled and significant flux contrasts existed over the site. Despite the prevalence of conditions apparently favorable to the development of thermally induced secondary circulations, the domain-averaged profiles of potential temperature and mixing ratios and the mean mixed-layer heights showed little differences when the spatially varying fluxes were replaced with uniform fluxes equal to the averages of the varying ones. The effects on simulat...
Fabrication and testing of a CoNiCu/Cu CPP-GMR nanowire-based microfluidic biosensor

Giant magneto resistance (GMR)-based microfluidic biosensors are used in applications involving the detection, analysis, enumeration and characterization of magnetic nano-particles attached to biological mediums such as antibodies and DNA. Here we introduce a novel multilayered CoNiCu/Cu nanowire GMR-based microfluidic biosensor. The current perpendicular to the plane of multilayers (CPP)-nanowires GMR was used as the core sensing material in the biosensor which responds to magnetic fields depending on the concentration and the flow velocity of bio-nano-magnetic fluids. The device was tested with different control solutions such as DI-water, mineral oil, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), ferrofluid, polystyrene superparamagnetic beads (PSB) and Dynabeads sheep anti-rabbit IgG. The nanowire array resistance decreased with an increase in the ferrofluid concentration, and a maximum 15.8% relative GMR was observed for the undiluted ferrofluid. The sensor was also responding differently to various ferrofluid flow rates. The GMR device showed variation in the output signal when the PSB and Dynabeads of different dilutions were pumped through it. When the tests were performed with pulsing potentials (150 mV and 200 mV), an increased GMR response was identified at higher voltages for PSB and Dynabeads sheep anti-rabbit IgG.
Ocular neovascularization : Basic mechanisms and therapeutic advances

The vast majority of diseases that cause catastrophic loss of vision do so as a result of ocular neovascularization. During normal retinal vascular development, vascular endothelial cells proliferate and migrate through the extracellular matrix in response to a variety of cytokines, leading to the formation of new blood vessels in a highly ordered fashion. During abnormal neovascularization of the iris, retina, or choroid, angiogenesis is unregulated and usually results in the formation of dysfunctional blood vessels. When these newly formed vessels leak fluid, hemorrhage, or are associated with fibrous proliferation, retinal edema, retinal/vitreous hemorrhage, or traction retinal detachments may occur resulting in potentially catastrophic loss of vision. In this review, we will briefly discuss the scope of the clinical problem and the general underlying principles of angiogenesis. We will focus on recent laboratory advances that have led to the development of therapeutics useful in the treatment of neovascular eye diseases. We will describe compounds currently in pre-clinical development stages as well as the results of clinical trials involving the use of these drugs as treatments for ocular neovascularization.
Hypoxia-induced amphiphiles inhibit renal Na+,K+-ATPase

Hypoxia-induced amphiphiles inhibit renal Na + ,K + -ATPase . We have characterized the effects of hypoxia on carnitine metabolism in proximal tubules. Hypoxia for 10minutes resulted in a significant increase in the mass of long chain acylcarnitines (LCAC) (control 53 ± 20 vs. hypoxia 118 ± 38 pmol · mg −1 protein). Since LCAC are proximal metabolites in the β -oxidation of fatty acids, these data suggest that inhibition of fatty acid oxidation occurs during hypoxia in the proximal tubule. In addition to LCAC accumulation, hypoxia resulted in a significant increase in the mass of lysoplasmenylcholine LPLasCho (control 62 ± 15 pmol/mg vs. 20min hypoxia 146 ± 21 pmol/mg protein, N = 4) and also in increases in the mass of monoacyl LPC (control 122 ± 24 pmol/mg protein vs. 283 ± 35 pmol/mg protein after 40min of hypoxia). We tested the possibility that these compounds that accumulate during hypoxia could inhibit proximal tubule Na + ,K + -ATPase. LPC, LPlasC, and LCAC inhibited proximal tubule nystatin-stimulated oxygen consumption (QO 2 ) and proximal tubule Na + ,K + -ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, LPC, LPlasC, and LCAC directly inhibited (65%, 80%, and 60%, respectively) Na + ,K + -ATPase activity purified from kidney cortex at similar concentrations at which they accumulate during hypoxia (above 25 µ M). The present data suggest that amphiphile accumulation may have a potential pathophysiologic role in the proximal tubule during renal ischemia.
A return mapping algorithm for cyclic viscoplastic constitutive models

Abstract This paper presents a return mapping algorithm for cyclic viscoplastic constitutive models that include material memory effects. The constitutive model is based on multi-component forms of kinematic and isotropic hardening variables in conjunction with von Mises yield criterion. Armstrong–Frederick (A–F) type rules are used to describe the nonlinear evolution of each of the multi-component kinematic hardening variables. A saturation type (exponential) rule is used to describe the nonlinear evolution of each of the isotropic hardening variables. The concept of memory surface is used to describe the strain range dependent material memory effects that are induced by the prior strain histories. In this paper, the above class of cyclic viscoplastic constitutive models is formulated within a consistent thermodynamic framework that encompasses the standard generalized materials framework. Furthermore, a complete algorithmic treatment of the above rate-dependent constitutive model is also presented for any desired stress or strain constrained configuration subspace. A generalized midpoint algorithm is used to integrate the rate constitutive equations. The consistent tangent operator is obtained by linearizing the return mapping algorithm, and is found to be unsymmetric due to the presence of nonlinear evolution rules for the kinematic hardening variables. Several numerical examples representing the cyclic hardening and softening behavior, transient and stabilized hysteresis behavior, and the non-fading memory effects of the material are presented. These examples demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the present algorithmic framework for modeling the cyclic viscoplastic behavior of the material.
Smad4 signalling in T cells is required for suppression of gastrointestinal cancer

SMAD4 (MAD homologue 4 (Drosophila)), also known as DPC4 (deleted in pancreatic cancer), is a tumour suppressor gene that encodes a central mediator of transforming growth factor-beta signalling. Germline mutations in SMAD4 are found in over 50% of patients with familial juvenile polyposis, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by predisposition to hamartomatous polyps and gastrointestinal cancer. Dense inflammatory cell infiltrates underlay grossly normal appearing, non-polypoid colonic and gastric mucosa of patients with familial juvenile polyposis. This prominent stromal component suggests that loss of SMAD4-dependent signalling in cells within the epithelial microenvironment has an important role in the evolution of intestinal tumorigenesis in this syndrome. Here we show that selective loss of Smad4-dependent signalling in T cells leads to spontaneous epithelial cancers throughout the gastrointestinal tract in mice, whereas epithelial-specific deletion of the Smad4 gene does not. Tumours arising within the colon, rectum, duodenum, stomach and oral cavity are stroma-rich with dense plasma cell infiltrates. Smad4(-/-) T cells produce abundant T(H)2-type cytokines including interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6 and IL-13, known mediators of plasma cell and stromal expansion. The results support the concept that cancer, as an outcome, reflects the loss of the normal communication between the cellular constituents of a given organ, and indicate that Smad4-deficient T cells ultimately send the wrong message to their stromal and epithelial neighbours.
Numerical, analytical, and experimental studies of scattering from very rough surfaces and backscattering enhancement

Abstract This paper Presents numerical simulations, theoretical analysis, and millimeter wave experiments for scattering from one-dimensional very rough surfaces. First, numerical simulations are used to investigate the effects of roughness spectrum, height variation, interface medium, polarization, and incident angle on the backscattering enhancement. The enhanced backscattering due to rough surface scattering is divided into two cases; the RMS height close to a wavelength and RMS slope close to unity, and RMS height much smaller than a wavelength with surface wave contributions. Results also show that the enhancement is sensitive to the roughness spectrum. Next, a theory based on the first- and second-order Kirchhoff approximation modified with angular and propagation shadowing is developed. The theoretical solutions provide a physical explanation of backscattering enhancement and agree well with the numerical results. In addition to the scattering of a monochromatic wave, the analytical results of the ...
Protective anti-lipopolysaccharide monoclonal antibodies inhibit tumor necrosis factor production

Elevated systemic levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) have been directly correlated with increased mortality during experimental gram-negative bacterial sepsis. Although monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin, LPS) decrease TNF production in vitro and enhance survival in vivo, the precise relationship between inhibition of TNF secretion and protective capacity has not been defined. We hypothesized that protective anti-LPS mAbs inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF production. To test this hypothesis, we first produced and characterized three anti-LPS mAbs. We then examined the ability of these mAbs to decrease TNF secretion in an in vitro assay using cells from the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Subsequently, we assessed the protective capacities of these anti-LPS mAbs in a murine mucin peritonitis model of sepsis using live Escherichia coli 0111:B4 bacterial challenge. Our results demonstrated that those anti-LPS mAbs that decreased LPS-stimulated TNF secretion in vitro were protective in vivo. We concluded that inhibition of TNF secretion in vitro reflected protective capacity and that anti-LPS mAbs may confer protection via abrogation of macrophage TNF secretion. Inhibition of TNF production in vitro may provide a valuable test that may facilitate the selection of protective anti-LPS mAbs.
Effects of Pyrolysis Heating Rate on Intrinsic Reactivities of Coal Chars

The main objective of this work was to determine the effects of pyrolysis heating rate on intrinsic O2 reactivity of coal chars. Relationships of intrinsic reactivity to other pyrolysis conditions and char physical and chemical structure were also investigated, and empirical correlations were obtained. Two different entrained flow reactors (a flat flame methane/air burner and a drop tube reactor) were used to prepare chars under a variety of different pyrolysis conditions at maximum particle temperatures and heating rates of 840−1627 K and 104 to 2 × 105 K/s, respectively. Intrinsic reactivities of a lignite and two bituminous coal chars decrease with increasing preparation heating rate. Maximum particle temperature and heating rate are difficult preparation parameters to separate and were closely coupled in this work, as in most entrained flow coal research. Indeed, much of the work described in the literature defining the effects of pyrolysis heating rate on coal char reactivity has utilized vast reside...
Distinguishing Alzheimer’s disease from other major forms of dementia

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common and most studied cause of dementia. Significant advances have been made since the first set of clinical criteria for AD were put forth in 1984 that are now captured in the new criteria for AD published in 2011. Key features include recognition of a broad AD spectrum (from preclinical to mild cognitive impairment to AD dementia) and requirement of AD biomarkers for diagnosis. Correctly diagnosing dementia type is increasingly important in an era when potential disease-modifying agents are soon to be marketed. The typical AD dementia syndrome has at its core, an amnestic syndrome of the hippocampal type, followed by associated deficits in word-finding, spatial cognition, executive functions and neuropsychiatric changes. Atypical presentations of AD have also been identified that are presumed to have a different disease course. It can be difficult to distinguish between the various dementia syndromes given the overlap in many common clinical features across the dem...
Project management and job satisfaction in the public sector

The article addresses the question of the impact of project management on employee job satisfaction. After noting that the literature generally does not provide much information on the subject, the results of a study conducted in Garland Texas are presented. The Garland data, based on an analysis of twenty-two matched-pairs of employees (a group who had served on project teams were matched with a similarly-situated group who had not), indicated that project management does change employee opinions about management practices. Indeed, in terms of decision-making processes, goal-setting, interaction and upward communication processes, there were significant differences between the two groups. The study concludes that part of this effect may be similar to a “Hawthorne Effect”.
2D transport at the surface of a 3D quantum Hall system

We have made electronic transport studies of the integer quantum Hall effect in a three-dimensional, layered semiconductor structure. When in-plane transport is quantized, the dependence of the vertical conductance Gzz on device size shows that current flows via extended surface states, which form from the coupled edge states in each layer. As the temperature rises, bulk transport begins to dominate Gzz, giving roughly activated behavior at high T. Data on in-plane transport demonstrate a very small energy scale for the rise in longitudinal resistance, RL.
Conservative treatment of uveal melanoma: probability of eye retention after proton treatment.

Abstract Enucleation was performed after proton treatment in 57 of 1006 (5.7%) uveal melanoma patients treated with proton beam therapy at the Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory between July 1975 and December 31, 1986. Only 2% of 99 patients with small tumors and 4% of 566 patients with intermediate size tumors underwent enucleation after treatment; 10% of 341 patients with large tumors lost the treated eye. No eyes were removed after 52 months, with 89% of enucleations performed during the first 36 months after treatment. Eye retention rates at 60 months were 89.1 ± 3.0% for the entire group, and 97 ± 3.7%, 92.7 ± 3.1%, and 78.3 ± 7.0% in patients with small, intermediate, and large tumors, respectively. Significantly greater enucleation rates were observed in patients with large tumors than in those with intermediate tumors ( p = 8 mm relative to those with tumors ≤ 8 mm, p = ( 16 mm compared to ⩽16 mm, ( p = p =
Validation of a new endoscopic technique to assess acid output in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Background & Aims: To safely manage the hypersecretory state in patients with Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, both upper endoscopy and gastric analysis are required to titrate optimal medical therapy. Conventional gastric analysis requires more than 1 hour to perform and results in significant patient dissatisfaction. In this study, we have validated endoscopic gastric analysis as a novel technique that can effectively replace conventional gastric analysis. Methods: In a prospective, cross-over study, 12 patients with Zollinger–Ellison syndrome underwent gastric analysis, first by the conventional method and then by an endoscopic technique performed on the same day. Acid concentration was determined by titration, volume output was recorded, and acid output was calculated using standard methodologies and formulas. Agreement was assessed following the Bland–Altman method. To assess repeatability, both techniques were repeated on the same day in a subset of patients. Results: Excellent agreement was reported between acid output (95% limits of agreement, −1.27 to 1.61 mEq/h) and acid concentration (95% limits of agreement, −0.01 to 0.01 mEq/mL), although poor agreement was observed between volume output measured. Endoscopic gastric analysis showed greater reproducibility regarding acid and volume output measured. Conclusions: We introduce a new, rapid, reproducible, and accurate endoscopic technique to measure acid output in patients with Zollinger–Ellison syndrome who require both annual endoscopy and gastric analysis. The data presented here suggest that endoscopic gastric analysis would be equally effective in determining acid output in other hypersecretory states. Additional analysis of cost effectiveness is needed to evaluate its use as a screening tool in select populations.
Development of the Multidimensional School Anger Inventory for males

Drawing upon research which conceptualizes anger as a multidimensional construct including three associated components—anger experience (affective anger), hostility (anger cognitions), and anger expression (aggression, assertion, and withdrawal)—the preliminary development of a Multidimensional School Anger Inventory (MSAI) for adolescents is described. This scale is a modification and extension of the School Anger Inventory and was developed to assess the affective, cognitive, and expressive aspects of anger using items having school-relevant content. Data were collected through personal interviews of 202 males from three different schools: School 1 included general education students in a parochial school in grades 6 through 12; School 2 included students attending general education or mainstreamed special education classes at a public intermediate school; and School 3 included students participating in a public day treatment program for youths with serious emotional disturbance. Scale development is discussed focusing on item development and scale refinement through item and factor analyses. Four factors were identified that accounted for 43.3% of the common variance. Anger Experience, Cynical Attitudes, and Anger Expression were identified as major clusters with the anger expression items bifurcating into Destructive Expression and Positive Coping components. The resulting 31-item scale has strong psychometric qualities and appears to have promise for use in research, treatment planning, and outcome evaluations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Constraints and opportunities to forest policy implementation in Albania

Abstract Although forest statutes are formulated with the intent of achieving selected goals and objectives, the gap between such intent and the actual implementation remains wide in Albania. Even though the current unstable political and economic situation has made forest policy implementation uncertain and disordered, it is still possible to fit the process into models and frameworks. In a ‘top-down’ approach, the constraints that lead to implementation failures are identified and assessed by analysing factors or variables thought to influence the process. An active involvement of the stakeholders in the formulation of forest policies will considerably facilitate the process of choosing effective policy tools according to criteria adopted. Policy makers in Albania should utilise more incentive-based approaches in addition to punitive measures that dominate the current forest legislation. Developing the evaluation capacity of forestry-related institutions will assist in the formulation of appropriate policies and increase the chances of successful implementation.
Acute postictal confusion and violence: Two cases with unfortunate outcomes

Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often have a brief postictal state characterized by confusion and disorientation. Less common postictal behaviors include wandering and violence - both reactive and spontaneous. We describe two male patients with left TLE and unusual postictal states that led to unfortunate outcomes. The first patient's postictal state included an intense urge to peregrinate, as well as reactive violence. When a frightened houseguest prevented the patient from exiting his bedroom during a postictal state, the patient climbed out the window and fell to his death. The second patient's postictal state included menacing posturing, loud exclamation of guttural sounds or profanities, clapping or smacking his hands together, and punching nearby objects. During a postictal state at home, he grabbed a bat and destroyed furnishings. After he had two seizures at work followed by his typical postictal state, he was dismissed because of his perceived threat to coworkers.
Mechanical turks, mammet tricks and messianic time

This essay considers the uncannily persistent figure of the Mechanical Turk, a spectre that haunts medieval theology, early modern theatre and modern philosophy alike. In all three cases, it functions as the mechanical, inhuman antitype of a futurity figured as meaningful and human. These attributes are materialized also in the Renaissance ‘mammet’ or mechanical puppet, an object whose name bears the trace of a supposedly lifeless and regressive Islam. Turning to Romeo and Juliet, the essay concludes with a consideration of how Shakespeare's play deploys the mammet to counter-intuitive, untimely ends: by figuring Juliet as a mammet whose mechanical compulsions enable a messianic refusal of the old patronymic law, Romeo and Juliet explodes the temporal as much as ontological distinctions between human and machine, Christian and non-Christian, pre and post.
Attenuation of the norepinephrine transporter activity and trafficking via interactions with α‐synuclein

Alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn) has been studied in the context of Parkinson's disease, but its normative role remains elusive. We have shown that alpha-Syn regulates the homeostasis of dopaminergic and serotonergic synapses, through trafficking of the dopamine and serotonin transporter, respectively. In the present study we sought to determine if alpha-Syn could also modulate noradrenergic signaling, by studying its interactions with the norepinephrine transporter (NET). We co-transfected Ltk- cells with increasing amounts of alpha-Syn DNA and a constant amount of NET DNA, and observed a progressive decrease (68%) in [3H]-NE uptake in cells co-transfected with a ratio of 3:1 alpha-Syn:NET DNA. The Kd of transport did not change, but increasing alpha-Syn caused a decrease in the Vmax of the transporter, from 2.27+/-0.14 to 0.89+/-0.15 pmol/min/10(5) cells, with NET expression alone or 4:1 ratio of alpha-Syn:NET transfection, respectively. Decreases in surface biotinylation and [3H]-nisoxetine binding kinetics in intact cells revealed that NET cell surface expression was attenuated in correlation to the amount of alpha-Syn co-transfected into cells. The interaction between NET and alpha-Syn occurred via the NAC domain of alpha-Syn, the region directly responsible for self-aggregation. These findings are the first to show that alpha-Syn has a central role in the homeostasis of noradrenergic neurons. Together with our previous studies on dopamine and serotonin transporters, we propose that a primary physiological role of alpha-Syn may be to regulate the homeostasis of monoamines in synapses, through modulatory interactions of the protein with monoaminergic transporters.
Binge Drinking among Youths and Young Adults in the United States: 1979-2006.

Abstract Objective To evaluate trends in the past 30–day prevalence of binge drinking by age, sex, and student status, among youths and young adults in the United States between 1979 and 2006, a period that encompasses the federally mandated transition to a uniform legal drinking age of 21 years, and other policy changes aimed at curbing underage drinking. Method Data were analyzed from 20 administrations of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, yielding a pooled sample of more than 500,000 subjects. Trends in relative risk for four different age groups, stratified by sex, relative to the 24- to 34-year-old reference group were calculated. We also examined trends in risk for binge drinking associated with student status (among college-age students) and race/ethnicity. Results Significant reductions in relative risk for binge drinking over time were observed for 12- to 20-year-old males, but no changes were observed for females in this age range, and binge drinking among minority females increased. Risk for binge drinking increased among 21- to 23-year-old women, with college women outpacing nonstudents in this age range. Trends also indicate that no reduction in binge drinking occurred for college men. Conclusions Although the overall trend is toward lower rates of binge drinking among youths, likely a result of a higher legal drinking age and other changes in alcohol policy, little improvement has occurred for college students, and increases in binge drinking among women has offset improvements among youths. Understanding these specific demographic trends will help inform prevention efforts.
Absolute quantum yields of Cr3+ 2E → 4A2 emission in solids

Abstract The absolute quantum yields of powders have been obtained. The correction factors involved in using this method are described. The room temperature yield of ruby, 0.63 (4T2←4A2 excitation), is in good agreement with the previously reported single crystal results. No change in ruby quantum yield accompanies temperature reduction to 80°K. The absolute quantum yields of dilute (1–2%) Cr3+ in NaMgAl (C2O4)3ṡ9H2O powders are 0.27 at 80°K. A small but measurable concentration dependence is observed with this system. Evidence to support an intramolecular intersystem crossing efficiency of unity is presented.
A method to identify cosmic-ray nuclei in the knee region using high-resolution Cerenkov cameras on the ground

A new method for making high-resolution ground-based measurements of the energy and charge of cosmic ray primaries in the region of the knee is presented. The method works by measuring the component of Cerenkov radiation (i.e., “Direct Cerenkov”) emitted directly by cosmic ray nuclei prior to their first hadronic interaction in the atmosphere. A dedicated ground-based Direct Cerenkov detector could achieve model-independent charge and energy resolution as good as 15%, on an event-by-event basis. This has potential applications in many fields in particle astrophysics.
Excitation of the 6− particle-hole state with the 40Ca(p,n)40Sc reaction at 133.5 MeV

Abstract A relatively broad (~2.5 MeV) state was observed in 40 Sc at E x = 7 MeV, which is interpreted as the T =1 6 − stretched state with the dominant configuration ( π f 7 2 , v d 5 2 −1 ). The strength observed is comparable to the (p, n) excitation of the T = 1, 6 − stretched in state 28 P, and the width is understood in terms of the spreading and decay widths of the 1 d 5 2 strength in 40 Sc.
Multiphoton ionization of Xe and several small molecules at 193 and 248 nm

Abstract Relative multiphoton ionization rates for Xe, NO, NO2, N2O, O2, N2, CO, CO2, H2O, SO2, CF3Cl, CF3I, and C2F5I have been measured as a function of laser power at 193 and 248 nm. A weakly focused rare-gas—halogen excimer laser beam passes in front of the exit aperture of an ion drift tube, and ions formed in the laser beam are extracted by the drift field into a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Relative ionization rates varied among these molecules by more than six orders of magnitude. In several cases the ionization mechanism could be inferred from the ion fragmentation pattern, a knowledge of the single-photon spectroscopy of the molecule, and the power dependence of the ionization rate.
Control design of concentric self-servo track writing systems for hard disk drives

Modern hard disk drives (HDDs) generate the head position error signal (PES) by reading special magnetic patterns called servo patterns, which are written in designated areas on the disk surface known as servo sectors, and measure the position of the head relative to the center of the data track. Servo sectors are typically created during the HDD manufacturing process and are not subsequently overwritten or erased. The process of writing servo sector patterns is known as servo track writing (STW). The accuracy and precision of the servo track writing process plays a crucial role in dictating the ultimate track density and areal storage density of the HDD. There are several mechanisms for performing servo track writing. Conventional servo track writing processes use additional sensing and positioning equipment external to the HDD. In contrast, self-servo track writing processes only use the HDD's reading and writing heads and servo system; thus avoiding many of the manufacturing cost increases and productivity losses associated with conventional servo track writing. This paper presents two novel controller synthesis methodologies for performing concentric self-servo track using a feedforward control structure. In the first methodology, it is assumed that a conventional track-following causal feedback compensator has been designed. A non-causal feedforward compensator, which utilizes the stored error signal that was created while writing the previous track, is subsequently designed using standard H8 control synthesis techniques, in order to achieve good disturbance attenuation while preventing the propagation of tracking errors from previous tracks. In the second methodology, both the track-following feedback compensator and the feedforward compensator are simultaneously designed via a mixed H 2 /H ∞ control scheme, which involves the solution of a set of linear matrix inequalities. Simulation results confirm that the two proposed control synthesis methodologies prevent error propagation from the previously written tracks and significantly improve self-servo track writing performance.
A generic DSP-based real-time simulator with application to hydrogenerator speed controller development

This paper presents the features and evaluation of a digital signal processor/personal computer-based simulator which allows the simultaneous simulation of two linear systems in real time. A desire to gain the ability to evaluate hydrogenerator governors (speed controllers) in forms completely equivalent to that which could be used to control actual hydrogenerators is the primary motivation for this work. The simulator is designed so that one linear system may be conceptualized as an error controller while the second system may be thought of as a plant under control. The simulator is specialized in that it allows direct entry of the hydrogenerator system parameter values of one of two linearized hydrogenerating system plant models. An option to enter the gains of a generic PID controller also exists. This PID controller may be utilized to simulate a governor for a hydrogenerator, thus allowing the real-time simulation of a closed-loop speed-controlled hydrogenerating system. Simulation accuracy is established by comparing computed results to those computed by an accepted "standard" software package. An IBM-compatible personal computer and a modified Texas Instruments TMS320C30 digital signal processor evaluation module are the primary hardware used. >
“La educación es importante”: Socio-educational experiences and gender dynamics among young mothers attending college

Resumen El cuidado de una criatura conlleva una gran responsabilidad, y la misma se torna aun mayor si se anaden otras tareas. El presente articulo describe las experiencias socio-educativas de un grupo de mujeres de bajos ingresos economicos, quienes son las primeras en sus nucleos familiares en seguir estudios universitarios, tanto en universidades privadas como publicas en Peru y Mexico. Estas mujeres no solo son responsables por el bienestar de sus hijos sino por mantenerse como estudiantes de tiempo completo en la universidad. Este estudio analiza cuatro temas principales: participacion del nucleo familiar en el cuidado infantil; presion academica y ayuda del sistema educativo; creencias socio-culturales acerca de roles femeninos y cuidado de menores; y vision de las participantes acerca de sus futuros sociales y profesionales. La autora sugiere que es importante otorgar mayor atencion a las necesidades socio-educativas de estas mujeres con el fin de ayudarlas a conseguir sus objetivos de vida en una sociedad enteramente patriarcal. Abstract Childcare is already a difficult job, which can become even more stressful if other responsibilities are added. This article describes educational and social experiences of low- income women who are mothers and first-generation college students in both private and public educational institutions in Peru and Mexico. These women are not only responsible for their children’s well-being, but also struggle to maintain their status as regular full-time students. Four main themes are analyzed in this study: Familiar participation in the childcare, school pressure and educational system support, socio-cultural beliefs about women’s roles and childcare, and participants’ views of their professional and social futures. The author suggests that more attention needs to be provide to these women´s socio-educational needs, for them to attain their goals in an already unfriendly patriarchal societal context.
The co-occurrence of gambling with substance use and conduct disorder among youth in the United States.

The co-occurrence of gambling with substance use and conduct disorder was examined in a representative U.S. household sample of 2,274 youth 14–21 years old. The findings show that problem gambling occurs within a problem-behavior syndrome with other substance-use behaviors and conduct disorder. Male gender, being black, and being Hispanic were found to be significant in predicting problem gambling over and above the effects of all four substance use and conduct disorder variables. Clinical interventions for one specific problem behavior in youth should consider assessing the other problem behaviors as well. (Am J Addict 2011;20: 1–8)
Transplanted skin-derived precursor stem cells generate enteric ganglion-like structures in vivo.

Introduction Hirschsprung’s disease is characterized by a developmental arrest of neural crest cell migration, causing distal aganglionosis. Transplanted cells derived from the neural crest may regenerate enteric ganglia in this condition. We investigated the potential of skin-derived precursor cells (SKPs) to engraft and to differentiate into enteric ganglia in aganglionic rat intestine in vivo.
Independent Living Oldest-Old and Their Primary Health Provider: A Mixed Method Examination of the Influence of Patient Personality Characteristics

This convergent mixed methods study examined 35 healthy, independent living individuals’ (above 85 years) perceptions of their relationship with their primary health provider (PHP) and health practices. The relationship between PHP relationship perceptions and locus of control (LOC), resilience, and self-efficacy was explored through surveys and interviews. The majority indicated they visited their PHP just for preventative care; the number of PHP visits per year was significantly lower than reported for individuals above 85 by the CDC, possible reasons for this finding are provided. A positive relationship between LOC, resiliency, and self-efficacy for the oldest old was found. Few participants indicated their PHP had discussed normal changes with aging. This study has deepened understanding of the complexity inherent to the healthy oldest olds’ relationship with their PHP. The findings suggest this relationship relates to the PHP’s personal characteristics, the older adult patients’ personality, and the...
Association mining of dependency between time series

Time series analysis is considered as a crucial component of strategic control over a broad variety of disciplines in business, science and engineering. Time series data is a sequence of observations collected over intervals of time. Each time series describes a phenomenon as a function of time. Analysis on time series data includes discovering trends (or patterns) in a time series sequence. In the last few years, data mining has emerged and been recognized as a new technology for data analysis. Data Mining is the process of discovering potentially valuable patterns, associations, trends, sequences and dependencies in data. Data mining techniques can discover information that many traditional business analysis and statistical techniques fail to deliver. In this paper, we adapt and innovate data mining techniques to analyze time series data. By using data mining techniques, maximal frequent patterns are discovered and used in predicting future sequences or trends, where trends describe the behavior of a sequence. In order to include different types of time series (e.g. irregular and non- systematic), we consider past frequent patterns of the same time sequences (local patterns) and of other dependent time sequences (global patterns). We use the word 'dependent' instead of the word 'similar' for emphasis on real life time series where two time series sequences could be completely different (in values, shapes, etc.), but they still react to the same conditions in a dependent way. In this paper, we propose the Dependence Mining Technique that could be used in predicting time series sequences. The proposed technique consists of three phases: (a) for all time series sequences, generate their trend sequences, (b) discover maximal frequent trend patterns, generate pattern vectors (to keep information of frequent trend patterns), use trend pattern vectors to predict future time series sequences.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Drug Refusal Behavior: The Relative Efficacy of Skills-Based and Information-Based Treatment

Examined the impact of two treatment strategies on children's drug refusal skills and drug-related information. Fifty-seven third graders were randomly assigned to one of three groups: rehearsal-plus, general information, and control. Children in the rehearsal-plus group were taught drug knowledge, assertiveness skills, decision-making skills, rationale and specific drug refusal skills in the context of a skills-based strategy. At a more global level, the general information group targeted all of the same components with the exception of rationale. Results indicated that children in the skills-based strategy (rehearsal-plus) showed significant improvement in behavioral skills, decision-making, and rationale, while children in the information/education-based strategy (general information) improved most on the measure of general knowledge. At follow-up, gains were generally maintained.