cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving influenza vaccination rates among adults in acute care using a standing order form by exception

ISSUE: Influenza is the sixth leading cause of death in adults, with approximately 36,000 deaths each year. Vaccinating adults at risk is the single most effective method of preventing the development and spread of influenza. Historically, in our acute care hospitals, the vaccination rates were low as a result of physicians not using the current influenza order form. To address the issue, infection control initiated a process of implementing a new influenza standing order form. PROJECT: In 2002, baseline data provided by the hospital pharmacy showed that influenza vaccination rates were suboptimal using the current order form that required a physician signature to initiate the process. As a result, infection control and several committees worked together to develop a new standing order form “by exception.” By using this form, all adult patients who met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria listed on the form automatically received the vaccine on the day of discharge unless a physician signed the form or wrote an order not to administer. This change in practice required specific education for both nurses and physicians. Education addressed patient assessment, patient education, and pertinent information regarding vaccine safety and use of the form. Periodic reminders were sent to the nurse managers during the flu season encouraging them to support the program. The program was evaluated at the end of the influenza season to assess the impact of the new form. RESULTS: The number of influenza vaccine doses administered during the baseline period 2002, prior to initiating the new standing order form, was 302. In October 2003, the new order form was initiated and 392 doses were administered. The second year of the program was most successful, with 990 doses administered in the first 3½ months of the annual program. LESSONS LEARNED: A coordinated systems approach that includes the pharmacy, physician committees, and administration is vital when initiating such a process change. Providing feedback and education to the users of the form will also enhance compliance. As with all medications, drug shortages affect the ability to provide medications as during the 2003 influenza season. We recognize that this new standing order form is just one part of an integrated process to improve influenza vaccination rates in our acute adult patients.
Role of experiments in the accurate numerical simulation of thermal processes

Purpose – Experimental results play a crucial role in the validation of mathematical and numerical models for a variety of basic and applied thermal transport problems. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the role played by experimentation in an accurate numerical simulation of thermal processes and systems.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a numerical simulation combined with experimentation. The paper presents various circumstances where the numerical simulation may be efficiently combined with experimentation, and indeed driven by experimental data, to obtain accurate, valid and realistic numerical predictions.Findings – The paper demonstrates validation and accuracy of numerical simulation.Originality/value – This paper is an important first step in combining experiments and simulation for complex thermal systems.
Coordinate Regulation of Basal and Cyclic 5′-Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP)-Activated Expression of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-α by Ets-2 and cAMP-Responsive Element Binding Protein

Ets-2 controls the activities of many genes characteristically up-regulated in trophoblast. One apparent exception has been the gene for the human chorionic gonadotropin subunit alpha (hCGalpha). Here, we show that the hCGalpha gene contains two overlapping Ets binding sites adjacent to an activator protein-1-like site in its proximal promoter. Transactivation by Ets-2 is susceptible to truncation and mutation of these sites, which bind Ets-2 during in vitro mobility shift assays, as well as in vivo as determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation in choriocarcinoma cells. Knockdown of Ets-2 with short interfering RNA decreases both promoter activity and synthesis of hCGalpha. Ets-2 acts in combination with the protein kinase A (PKA) signal transduction pathway to activate the hCGalpha promoter expression. Mutation of the Ets-2 binding sites dramatically reduces up-regulation by PKA, whereas mutations within the two cAMP-responsive elements abolish responsiveness of the promoter to Ets-2. cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) and Ets-2 form a complex that can be coimmunoprecipitated from choriocarcinoma cells, and association of CREB and Ets-2 is increased by activation of PKA. Regulation of hCGalpha subunit gene activity by cAMP involves the binding of CREB and Ets-2 to discrete elements in the promoter as well as a physical interaction between the two proteins. We propose that regulation of hCGalpha by Ets-2 and CREB enables coordinated expression of hCGalpha with its partner hCGbeta subunit.
Direct effects of fructose metabolism on fatty acid oxidation in a recombined rat liver mitochondria-high speed supernatant system

The effects of fructose on the oxidation of [1-(14)C]palmitate in a rat liver mitochondria-high speed supernatant system have been investigated. This model system permitted study of the direct effects of fructose and the metabolism of fructose on fatty acid oxidation in the near absence of fatty acid esterification. Fructose inhibited the utilization of albumin-bound [1-(14)C] palmitate in the mitochondria-supernatant system, but did not affect fatty acid utilization by isolated liver mitochondria. Although fructose decreased the ATP content in the mitochondrial-supernatant system, the level of ATP throughout the incubation period was sufficient for maximal fatty acid activation. Fructose decreased the conversion of [1-(14)C]palmitate to 14CO2 and depressed the formation of total labeled oxidation products (14CO2 + 14C-labeled ketone bodies) in this system. The results suggest that fructose metabolism inhibited fatty acid oxidation in the mitochondria-supernatant system by competitive substrate oxidation and thereby decreased utilization of the added [1-(14)C]palmitate. The ihibition of L-[L-(14)C]palmitoylcarnitine oxidation, fructose was in all respects similar to its inhibition of palmitate oxidation, indicating that the site of fructose interaction was within the beta-oxidation sequence. These observations support the concept (Ontko, J.A. [1972] J. Biol. Chem. 247, 1788-1800) that the reciprocal changes in esterification and oxidation of palmitate caused by fructose in liver cells are primarily mediated via inhibitory effects on long-chain fatty acid oxidation.
Canonical formalism for Lagrangians with nonlocality of finite extent

I consider Lagrangians which depend nonlocally in time but in such a way that there is no mixing between times differing by more than some finite value $\ensuremath{\Delta}t.$ By considering these systems as the limits of ever higher derivative theories, I obtain a canonical formalism in which the coordinates are the dynamical variable from t to $t+\ensuremath{\Delta}t.$ A simple formula for the conjugate momenta is derived in the same way. This formalism makes apparent the virulent instability of this entire class of nonlocal Lagrangians. As an example, the formalism is applied to a nonlocal analog of the harmonic oscillator.
The Capacity to Be Alone as a Stress Buffer

The hypothesis that the ability to comfortably spend and use time alone is a buffer against effects of stress, comparable to social support, was tested. A 20-item instrument was developed to evaluate the capacity to be alone (Winnicott, 1958) and was then administered by telephone survey to 500 U.S. adults. Findings differed for two dimensions of the capacity to be alone. Reported comfort in being alone was found to be related to lower depression, fewer physical symptoms, and greater satisfaction with life. Reported ability to use time alone to deal with stress was not related to well-being. Neither dimension showed the expected interaction with stress, and individuals with high stress who reported high solitary coping exhibited greater vulnerability on one dimension of well-being, suggesting that this coping style may reflect maladjustment.
Reactions of tin and lead cluster anions with oxygen

Rate constants at room temperature for the reactions of oxygen with Sn n − ( n = 1–9) and Pb n − ( n = 1–7) cluster anions are reported from flow-tube reactor kinetics measurements. A large variation in reactivity for different cluster sizes is observed, with reaction efficiencies ranging from 2% to 30% of the collision rate. The major primary anionic reaction products are small metal oxides containing one, two, or three metal atoms, indicating an etching type process. No oxide product anions are observed with more than three lead atoms or more than five tin atoms.
Influence of a volatile inhibitor in natural or limed soil on fungal spore and seed germination

Abstract Seed germination on sterilized moist filter or blotting papers resting on natural soils in stacked “Nalgene” plastic specimen dishes was inhibited particularly in alkaline soils in comparison with controls under similar conditions but without soil. The same response was observed when seeds were suspended on filter or blotting papers above the soils, suggesting the influence of an inhibitory volatile factor. Seed germination was not affected in Good's buffers over the pH range of the soil samples tested indicating that inhibition on filter or blotting papers in contact with soils was not due to the direct effect of pH. The observed inhibition of seed germination is similar to that found in the germination of conidia of common soil fungi; a volatile fungistatic factor was also detected in these soils. Liming of moderately acid soils increased conidial inhibition on indirect soil contact or from volatiles: germination of seeds, however, was not affected by liming in five of six soils tested. These results indicate that seeds of higher plants as well as fungal conidia are affected by some natural soils and volatiles are at least partially responsible for inhibition.
Mean Effective Optical Constants of Thirteen Kinds of Plant Leaves

Plant leaves mean effective optical constants from diffuse UV reflectance and transmittance measurements
Reverse transformation of multidrug-resistant cells

Spontaneously transformed Chinese hamster lung cells with high levels of resistance (≈ 100-fold to 70,000-fold) to actinomycin D, daunorubicin, or vincristine exhibit morphology and growth patterns characteristic of normal cellsin vitro and reduced tumorigenicityin vivo. These reverse transformed, multidrug-resistant cells amplify and highly overexpress one or more genes encoding P-glycoprotein. Similarly, hydrocarbon-induced mouse sarcoma cells selected with actinomycin D, vincristine, or ethidium bromide developed high levels of resistance associated with reduced drug accumulation and suppression of malignancy. To determine whether human tumor cells would undergo similar changes and whether reverse transformation reflected an altered state of differentiation, nine multidrug-resistant sublines were selected with four agents from human neuroblastoma cells with well defined pathways of differentiation. Those five with resistance levels above about 125-fold showed a reduced tumor frequency as compared to control cells. All resistant sublines showed altered differentiation. The changes in transformation phenotype appear to be intrinsic and not the result of altered immunogenicity. Two additional consequences of high level multidrug resistance have been observed: change in ganglioside composition in the Chinese hamster cells, manifested as a block in higher ganglioside biosynthesis and/or a relative increase in GM3, and increase in epidermal growth factor receptor in all three cell systems. A tentative hypothesis links ganglioside and growth factor receptor changes to the change in transformation phenotype. The basis of the reverse transformation phenomenon is not known, but the major alterations in expression of P-glycoprotein, gangliosides, and the epidermal growth factor receptor implicate, in some way, the plasma membrane.
Pediatric Congenital Cardiac becomes a Postoperative Adult The Changing Population of Congenital Heart Disease

The following commentary on the changing population of congenital heart disease will deal with: incidence and survival patterns—an overview; effects of diagnostic and surgical interventions on survival patterns—changing population; ultimate goals and aspirations—what are we trying to accomplish?; types of surgical intervention—desirability of primary anatomic repair in infancy; and the problem of residua—setting the stage for future research.
Thyroxine unmasks Addison's disease.

Patients with primary hypothyroidism may also have other underlying associated endocrinopathies, which are important to exclude. A 15-y-old girl presented with clinical and biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Thyroxine replacement unmasked Addison's disease and precipitated an acute adrenal crisis. On physiological steroid replacement therapy, her “hypothyroidism” resolved.
Respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults.

Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), an enveloped RNA virus in the Paramyxovirus family, is the most important cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children, accounting for ~100,000 pediatric hospitalizations and 250 deaths annually in the United States. Despite primarily being recognized as a pediatric pathogen, RSV reinfection causes substantial disease in all adult populations, including healthy young persons, old and frail individuals, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and immunocompromised patients. Most illnesses are mild in adults, but significant morbidity and mortality can develop. In contrast to infants, diagnosis of RSV infections is difficult due to low virus shedding, and optimal diagnosis requires molecular tests. Unfortunately, antiviral therapy is of limited benefit. Ribavirin and palivizumab are the only approved pharmacological agents for RSV treatment and prophylaxis, respectively, and are primarily used in infants; data regarding their usefulness in adults are limited. Currently, specific antiviral therapy is generally reserved for severely immunocompromised patients or severe respiratory failure. The greatest promise for reducing the impact of RSV in adults may be through immunization. However, an effective vaccine for RSV is not currently available.
β-actin mRNA-binding proteins associated with the cytoskeletal framework

Association of mRNA with the cytoskeletal framework (CSK) is thought to play a strategic role in the placement of mRNA in the cytoplasm. However, the molecular determinants underlying mRNA/CSK association are completely unknown. To begin addressing this issue, we have employed a binding assay to identify proteins of the CSK compartment of NIH 3T3 cells that bind in-vitro-transcribed 32P-labelled β-actin mRNA with high affinity. Three proteins, of approximate molecular masses 27, 50 and 97 kDa, were observed to exhibit strong binding. Binding to these proteins took place at physiological salt concentration and withstood washing in 0.5 M salt. Furthermore, binding was unaffected by heparin but was inhibited by unlabelled β-actin mRNA. Treatment of isolated CSKs with the microfilament-servering agent DNase I abolished all β-actin mRNA-binding activities, thus suggesting a possible association of β-actin mRNA with the micorfilament network in situ. Removal of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) significantly reduced β-actin mRNA binding to all three CSK proteins but removal of the 5′ UTR mainly affected binding to the 97-kDa species and that to a lesser extent. β-Tubulin mRNA bound to the same three CSK proteins as did β-actin mRNA, but with considerably less avidity. In contrast, vimentin mRNA strongly recognized these CSK proteins, and further bound to a group of smaller proteins (<29 kDa). As β-actin mRNA, β-tubulin mRNA and vimentin mRNA have been observed to occupy separate cytoplasmic locales, the proteins detected here may be operative both in binding mRNAs to the CSK in situ, as well as in localizing mRNA in the cytoplasm.
Ezetimibe Alone Reduces Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

In this crossover study of ezetimibe monotherapy in 48 antiretroviral-treated patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, the mean changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were -5.3% (-11 mg/dL) and +5.5% (+4 mg/ dL) with ezetimibe treatment and placebo, respectively (P = .04). Ezetimibe was safe and effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and is an option for patients who cannot tolerate treatment with a statin.
Cluster scheduling for real-time systems: utilization bounds and run-time overhead

Cluster scheduling, where processors are grouped into clusters and the tasks that are allocated to one cluster are scheduled by a global scheduler, has attracted attention in multiprocessor real-time systems research recently. In this paper, assuming that an optimal global scheduler is adopted within each cluster, we investigate the worst-case utilization bounds for cluster scheduling with different task allocation/partitioning heuristics. First, we develop a lower limit on the utilization bounds for cluster scheduling with any reasonable task allocation scheme. Then, the lower limit is shown to be the exact utilization bound for cluster scheduling with the worst-fit task allocation scheme. For other task allocation heuristics (such as first-fit, best-fit, first-fit decreasing, best-fit decreasing and worst-fit decreasing), higher utilization bounds are derived for systems with both homogeneous clusters (where each cluster has the same number of processors) and heterogeneous clusters (where clusters have different number of processors). In addition, focusing on an efficient optimal global scheduler, namely the boundary-fair (Bfair) algorithm, we propose a period-aware task allocation heuristic with the goal of reducing the scheduling overhead (e.g., the number of scheduling points, context switches and task migrations). Simulation results indicate that the percentage of task sets that can be scheduled is significantly improved under cluster scheduling even for small-size clusters, compared to that of the partitioned scheduling. Moreover, when comparing to the simple generic task allocation scheme (e.g., first-fit), the proposed period-aware task allocation heuristic markedly reduces the scheduling overhead of cluster scheduling with the Bfair scheduler.
Antheridiogen production and response in Polypodiaceae species.

Antheridiogen chemicals secreted by living fern gametophytes have been shown to influence production of male gametangia and thus mating systems in a large number of terrestrial fern species. Antheridiogens have not previously been thought to be prevalent in the Polypodiaceae, a large family composed mostly of tropical epiphytes. This study presents bioassay methods more sensitive than previously used to detect antheridiogen and demonstrates that antheridiogens are also operative in the Polypodiaceae and in epiphytic species. Seven species in six genera (Campyloneurum angustifolium, C. phyllitidis, Lepisorus thunbergianus, Microgramma heterophylla, Phlebodium aureum, Phymatosorus scolopendria, and Polypodium pellucidum) were tested for the presence of an antheridiogen system. All species tested except P. aureum were induced to produce antheridia precociously by their own antheridiogen and by that of Pteridium aquilinum (Apt). Phlebodium aureum responded to Apt and promoted antheridium formation in Onoclea sensibilis but did not respond to its own antheridiogen. Spores of all species except P. aureum were induced to germinate in darkness by antheridiogen of the same species and by Apt and to form antheridia in the dark, further enhancing the possibility of intergametophytic mating.
The diurnal variation of neutral hepatic fructose 1,6-diphosphatase in partially inbred populations of rats and in outbred populations of Microtus montanus.

Abstract 1. 1. Significant diurnal variations in hepatic fructose 1,6-diphosphatase were demonstrated in partially inbred populations of albino rats and in outbred populations of the vole, Microtus montanus fed ad lib. and maintained under 12 hr of alternating artificial illumination. 2. 2. Synchrony in the time of enzymic peaks and troughs was obtained for the partially inbred rats, but not for the outbred voles. It is suggested that preferred feeding patterns of the two differing populations are responsible for these results.
Fast-neutron scattering from vibrational palladium nuclei

Abstract Differential neutron elastic-scattering cross sections are measured from ≈ 1.5 to 10 MeV in sufficient energy and angle detail to define the energy-average behavior. Concurrently, neutron inelastic-scattering cross sections are measured from ≈ 1.5 to 8 MeV. Inelastically-scattered neutron groups are observed corresponding to excitations of: 306 ± 14, 411 ± 47, ≈ 494, 791 ± 20, 924 ± 20, 1156 ± 24, 1358 ± 35, 1554 ± 47 and 1706 ± 59 keV, with additional tentative groups at 1938 and 2059 keV. Particular attention is given to the inelastic excitation of the 2+ yrast states of the even isotopes. This broad data base is examined in the context of optical-statistical and coupled-channels models. The resulting model parameters are consistent with systematic trends in this vibrational mass region and provide a suitable vehicle for many applications.
Regulation of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic activity during the response of the rat to acute stress.

THE EXCITATORY effect of non-specific stress upon the secretory activity of the adrenal cortex is mediated through the anterior pituitary. The effect is manifested promptly, there being an appreciable reduction in the ascorbic acid concentration of the adrenal within an hour following the beginning of exposure of the organism to noxiousstimuli. The present paper2 is concerned with the mode of action of acute stress in modifying the rate of elaboration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (A.C.T.H.) by the anterior pituitary. Previous studies on the regulation of pituitary adrenocorticotrophic activity have been limited to periods of stress long enough to affect measurable change in adrenal size.
Excited-state symmetry breaking in cofacial and linear dimers of a green perylenediimide chlorophyll analogue leading to ultrafast charge separation

Photoexcitation of chromophoric dimers constrained to a symmetric π-stacked geometry by their molecular structure usually produces excimers independent of solvent polarity, while dimers with edge-to-edge perpendicular π systems undergo excited-state symmetry breaking in highly polar solvents leading to intradimer charge separation. We present direct evidence for symmetry breaking in the lowest excited singlet state of a symmetric cofacial dimer of 1,7-bis(pyrrolidin-1‘-yl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (5PDI) in the low polarity solvent toluene to produce a radical ion pair quantitatively. This dimer, cof-5PDI2, was synthesized by attaching two 5PDI chromophores via imide groups to a xanthene spacer. For comparison, a linear symmetric dimer, lin-5PDI2, was prepared in which the 5PDI chromophores are linked end-to-end via a N−N single bond between their imides. The edge-to-edge π systems of the 5PDI chromophores within lin-5PDI2 are perpendicular to one another. Ground-state absorption spectra of bo...
Use-dependent potentiation of the Nav1.6 sodium channel.

Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 are two voltage-gated sodium channel isoforms that are abundant in the adult central nervous system. These channels are expressed in different cells and localized in different neuronal regions, which may reflect functional specialization. To examine this possibility, we compared the properties of Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 in response to a rapid series of repetitive depolarizations. Currents through Nav1.6 coexpressed with β1 demonstrated use-dependent potentiation during a rapid train of depolarizations. This potentiation was in contrast to the use-dependent decrease in current for Nav1.2 with β1. The voltage dependence of potentiation correlated with the voltage dependence of activation, and it still occurred when fast inactivation was removed by mutation. Rapid stimulation accelerated a slow phase of activation in the Nav1.6 channel that had fast inactivation removed, resulting in faster channel activation. Although the Nav1.2 channel with fast inactivation removed also demonstrated slightly faster activation, that channel showed very pronounced slow inactivation compared to Nav1.6. These results indicate that potentiation of Nav1.6 sodium currents results from faster channel activation, and that this effect is masked by slow inactivation in Nav1.2. The data suggest that Nav1.6 might be more resistant to inactivation, which might be helpful for high-frequency firing at nodes of Ranvier compared to Nav1.2.
Hypersonic impaction with molecular mass standards

Abstract Impactors used in tandem with a DMA measure particle mass independently of density and shape. When operated hypersonically at pressure ratios of several thousands, they appear to be capable of analyzing unit density particles smaller than 2 nm . Because calibration techniques with oil drops below some 8 nm are difficult, the calibration particles used in this study are singly charged commercial mass standards of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules with diameters from 2.1 to 9.8 nm . They are formed from singly dissolved PEG molecules and their clusters (up to the hexamer) by electrospray followed by charge-reduction. Several impactors running at pressure ratios as high as 3600 are tested. Their capture efficiency curves show well defined steps in all cases, but with a tendency to become broader at the smallest particle sizes. The critical nozzle to plate distance L required for impaction becomes anomalously small at decreasing particle size. This trend is provisionally attributed to rarefaction effects in the post-shock region, due to internal relaxation. An impactor with a larger pressure ratio should hence be able to analyze unit density particles smaller than 2 nm prior to the onset of translational non-equilibrium.
Accommodating Counterfactual Attitudes: A Further Reply to Johansson

Here we respond to Johansson’s main worry, as laid out in his, “Actual and Counterfactual Attitudes: Reply to Fischer and Brueckner.” We show how our principle BF*(dd*) can be adjusted to address this concern compatibly with our fundamental approach to responding to Lucretius.
Identification of Novel Positive-Strand RNA Viruses by Metagenomic Analysis of Archaea-Dominated Yellowstone Hot Springs

There are no known RNA viruses that infect Archaea. Filling this gap in our knowledge of viruses will enhance our understanding of the relationships between RNA viruses from the three domains of cellular life and, in particular, could shed light on the origin of the enormous diversity of RNA viruses infecting eukaryotes. We describe here the identification of novel RNA viral genome segments from high-temperature acidic hot springs in Yellowstone National Park in the United States. These hot springs harbor low-complexity cellular communities dominated by several species of hyperthermophilic Archaea. A viral metagenomics approach was taken to assemble segments of these RNA virus genomes from viral populations isolated directly from hot spring samples. Analysis of these RNA metagenomes demonstrated unique gene content that is not generally related to known RNA viruses of Bacteria and Eukarya. However, genes for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a hallmark of positive-strand RNA viruses, were identified in two contigs. One of these contigs is approximately 5,600 nucleotides in length and encodes a polyprotein that also contains a region homologous to the capsid protein of nodaviruses, tetraviruses, and birnaviruses. Phylogenetic analyses of the RdRps encoded in these contigs indicate that the putative archaeal viruses form a unique group that is distinct from the RdRps of RNA viruses of Eukarya and Bacteria. Collectively, our findings suggest the existence of novel positive-strand RNA viruses that probably replicate in hyperthermophilic archaeal hosts and are highly divergent from RNA viruses that infect eukaryotes and even more distant from known bacterial RNA viruses. These positive-strand RNA viruses might be direct ancestors of RNA viruses of eukaryotes.
Effects of breastfeeding and low sugar-sweetened beverage intake on obesity prevalence in Hispanic toddlers

Background: Few studies have examined the independent and additive effects of breastfeeding (BF) and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake in early life on overweight and obesity prevalence. Objective: The objective was to assess the effects of BF and SSB intake on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Hispanic toddlers. Design: Nutrition data were collected via phone surveys with caregivers of 1483 Hispanic children (2–4 y of age) from the Los Angeles County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. BF history at 2–4 y of age was categorized as follows: no BF, . 1w k to , 6m o BF, 6t o,12 mo BF, and 12 mo BF. SSB intake at 2–4 y of age was categorized as follows: high SSB (2 SSBs/d), mid SSB (1 SSB/d), and no SSB. The height and weight of the children were measured by WIC staff and stored in the Integrated Statewide Information System. Binary logistic regressions assessed the effects of BF and SSB categories on overweight and obesity prevalence. Results: In comparison with the no-BF participants, the odds of obesity were lower in the 12-mo-BF participants (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.83; P = 0.004). In comparison with high-SSB participants, the odds of obesity were lower in the no-SSB participants (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.00; P = 0.047). In comparison with the combined no-BF/high-SSB participants, the odds of obesity were lower in the 12-mo BF/no-SSB participants (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.80; P =0 .01). Conclusion: The results suggest that BF for 1 y and low SSB intake during the toddler years can have profound effects on reducing the prevalence of obesity in Hispanic toddlers. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.019372.
Implementing QML for radiation hardness assurance

The US government has proposed a qualified manufacturers list (QML) methodology to qualify integrated circuits for high reliability and radiation hardness. An approach to implementing QML for single-event upset (SEU) immunity on 16k SRAMs that involves relating values of feedback resistance to system error rates is demonstrated. It is seen that the process capability indices, C/sub p/ and C/sub pk/, for the manufacture of 400-k Omega feedback resistors required to provide SEU tolerance do not conform to 6 sigma quality standards. For total-dose, interface trap charge, Delta V/sub it/, shifts measured on transistors are correlated with circuit response in the space environment. Statistical process control (SPC) is illustrated for Delta V/sub it/, and violations of SPC rules are interpreted in terms of continuous improvement. Design validation for SEU and quality conformance inspections for total-dose are identified as major obstacles to cost-effective QML implementation. Techniques and tools that will help QML provide real cost savings are identified as physical models, 3-D device-plus-circuit codes, and improved design simulators. >
O/sup 2/ABA: a novel high-performance predictable circuit architecture for the deep submicron era

Current VLSI design techniques focus on four major goals: higher integration, faster speed, lower power, and shorter time-to-market. These goals have been accomplished mainly by deep submicron (DSM) technology along with voltage scaling. However, scaling down of feature size causes larger interwire capacitance which results in large crosstalk between interconnects. In this paper, we propose a novel predictable circuit architecture, named "optimized overlaying array-based architecture" (O/sup 2/ABA), especially suited for the deep submicron regime. O/sup 2/ABA achieves reduction in crosstalk by considering the current directions and by reducing interwire capacitance. The introduction of "unit cell" leads to regularity, which makes the performance predictable even before layout, and shortens design time. O/sup 2/ABA is compared with other design styles, such as custom design and standard cell approach, in terms of coupling capacitance, area, and delay.
Breath: A game to motivate the compliance of postoperative breathing exercises

The use of breathing exercises post surgery can reduce pulmonary complications. Incentive spirometry is a widely used device that provides visual feedback for patients during breathing exercises. This paper describes the initial development of an interaction device, game design and initial playtesting and usability of a game to motivate patients to perform post operative breathing exercises.
A dual-armed robotic system for intraoperative ultrasound guided hepatic ablative therapy: a prospective study

There has been increased interest in minimally invasive ablative treatments that typically require precise placement of the ablator tool to meet the predefined planning and lead to efficient tumor destruction. Standard ablative procedures involve free hand transcutaneous ultrasonography (TCUS) in conjunction with manual tool positioning. Unfortunately, existing TCUS systems suffer from many limitations and result in failure to identify nearly half of all treatable liver lesions. Freehand manipulation of the ultrasound (US) probe and ablator tool lacks the critical level of control, accuracy, stability, and guaranteed performance required for these procedures. Freehand US results in undefined gap distribution, anatomic deformation due to variable pressure from the sonographer's hand, and severe difficulty in maintaining optimal scanning position. In response to these limitations, we propose the use of a dual robotic arm system that manages both ultrasound manipulation and needle guidance. We report a prototype of the dual arm system and a comparative performance analysis between robotic vs. freehand systems, for both US scanning and needle placement in mechanical and animal tissue phantoms.
A Unified Pseudospectral Framework for Nonlinear Controller and Observer Design

As a result of significant progress in pseudospectral methods for real-time dynamic optimization, it has become apparent in recent years that it is possible to present a unified framework for both controller and observer design. In this paper, we present such an approach for nonlinear systems. The method can be applied to a wide variety of nonlinear systems. The convergence of the proposed computational method is guaranteed under verifiable conditions. Several numerical examples are also presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed computational framework.
A compact Hilbert planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) for dual-band mobile phone applications

A miniature Hilbert planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) is proposed for dual-band mobile phone application. The antenna consists of a low and a high band radiating element making it operational in the 900 and 1800 MHz bands. An antenna of 33 mm by 15 mm by 10 mm offers an operating bandwidth of 9.7% and 4.4% in the low and high frequency bands respectively within a VSWR of 2.5:1.
Robust Joint Modeling of Longitudinal Measurements and Competing Risks Failure Time Data

Existing methods for joint modeling of longitudinal measurements and survival data can be highly influenced by outliers in the longitudinal outcome. We propose a joint model for analysis of longitudinal measurements and competing risks failure time data which is robust in the presence of outlying longitudinal observations during follow-up. Our model consists of a linear mixed effects sub-model for the longitudinal outcome and a proportional cause-specific hazards frailty sub-model for the competing risks data, linked together by latent random effects. Instead of the usual normality assumption for measurement errors in the linear mixed effects sub-model, we adopt a t-distribution which has a longer tail and thus is more robust to outliers. We derive an EM algorithm for the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters and estimate their standard errors using a profile likelihood method. The proposed method is evaluated by simulation studies and is applied to a scleroderma lung study.
Parent-Pediatrician Communication about Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use for Children:

Anonymous self-report surveys of a convenience sample of caregivers accompanying children to the pediatrician for acute or well visits at 4 pediatric practices in the Washington, DC area from July through November 1998 were evaluated. Three hundred seventy-eight (85%) of 443 caregivers approached participated. The 348 surveys completed by parents (92%) were analyzed. As previously reported, in this sample 21% of parents used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for their child. Overall, 53% of parents expressed the desire to discuss CAM with their pediatrician, increasing to 75% (p<0.001) among those who used CAM themselves and 81% (p<0.01) among those who used CAM for their child. Among parents who used CAM for their child, 36% had discussed it with their pediatrician. Factors associated with increased disclosure to the pediatrician were CAM use in children younger than 6 years (p<0.05), "bioenergetic" CAM use (p<0.02), and parent CAM non-use (p<0.05). Despite parents' significant interest in discussion about CAM, few factors were associated with adequate parent-pediatrician communication.
Voices of Employers: Overlapping and Disparate Views

This chapter focuses on employers and their experiences of emerging and young adults in the workplace. Although there was consensus between emerging and young adults and employers as they described the workplace environment—a highly competitive arena, devoid of loyalty—assessments regarding how to best navigate this challenging terrain diverged. Given a marketplace in flux, tensions, misunderstandings, and resentments were likely to occur. Employers tended to view emerging and young adults as nonconforming and not committed to corporate norms. On the other hand, they overwhelmingly noted the flexibility and comfort with diversity emerging and young adults brought to their work environments. Common themes among employers included the perception that emerging adults are self-absorbed. Employers also focused on the role of mentoring, the impact of technology, and issues related to work–life balance. Finally, consideration of how both employers and employees can maximize their workplace contributions and minimize the worst effects of intergenerational tensions is provided.
A field-work case in the teaching of clinical psychiatry.

This paper describes the teaching program developed at the University of Virginia in which observation and treatment of a hospitalized mental patient provide the focus for the learning experience of residents without previous training in psychiatry. The performance of each resident vis-a-vis a patient is reviewed by the group, which also engages in learning as a group through preceptorship and didactic techniques. The dynamics of the group itself are put to use in elucidating psychiatric principles. The case of a young schizophrenic with the delusion of “an influencing machine” is described to indicate the manner in which a patient under treatment may exemplify phenomena with which the learner must become acquainted, the meaning of which he is encouraged to weigh with increasing insight, so that he will be guided into good therapeutic practices.
Screening for Colorectal Cancer : A Targeted, Updated Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

To support the USPSTF recommendation in this issue, Whitlock and colleagues sought evidence on knowledge gaps from the 2002 recommendation and considered community performance of screening endoscop...
Transport Dynamics in Ordered Bilayer Assemblies of the n-Alkanes on Pt(111)

The energetics of self-diffusion within ordered bilayer assemblies of linear hydrocarbons on Pt(111) (layer-to-layer) have been characterized using isothermal molecular beam-surface scattering in conjunction with temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and reflection-absorption infrared (RAIR) spectroscopies. The bilayers are prepared by layering a perdeuterated n-alkane on top of a perprotio n-alkane (or vice versa). The exchange of molecules between the two layers is weakly activated, less so than is either desorption of the multilayer from the substrate (the monolayer is more strongly bound) or the various phase transitions which lead to the loss of two-dimensional order in a corresponding densely-packed monolayer of the n-alkanes. The exchange process is further characterized by substantial size-asymmetry and isotope substitution effects which result in a preference for the selective retention of the longer and (for identical chain lengths) the protio hydrocarbon at the surface regardless of the initi...
The pulse protocol: energy efficient infrastructure access

We present the pulse protocol which is designed for multi-hop wireless infrastructure access. While similar to the more traditional access point model, it is extended to operate across multiple hops. This is particularly useful for conference, airport, or large corporate deployments. In these types of environments where users are highly mobile, energy efficiency becomes of great importance. The pulse protocol utilizes a periodic flood initiated at the network gateways which provides both routing and synchronization to the network. This synchronization is used to allow idle nodes to power off their radios for a large percentage of the time when they are not needed for packet forwarding. This results in substantial energy savings. Through simulation we validate the performance of the routing protocol with respect to both packet delivery and energy savings.
On the Regularity of Solutions to the Navier-Stokes Equations

A directional modulus of continuity is used to evaluate the scaling of each term in the incompressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. This is done by expressing the equations in terms of continuous Her- mitian wavelets (derivatives of Gaussians), for which the exact scaling is easily derived. In the case of 3-D Euler with equal h's in all directions, runaway singularities are found for h < 1/3. In 2- and 3-D, it is found that the viscous term dominates for positive h's.
Evidence for nonmigrating thermal tides in the Mars upper atmosphere from the Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Experiment

[1] Mars Global Surveyor Accelerometer Experiment density measurements indicate the presence of planetary-scale wave structure in the Mars upper atmosphere (∼130 km). In particular, Phase 2 aerobraking observations reveal large amplitude zonal wave 2 and 3 variations in dayside density between ±60° latitude. These spatial variations (in a fixed local solar time reference) can be qualitatively reproduced by a Mars general circulation model and are identified as a manifestation of eastward propagating nonmigrating thermal tides with long vertical wavelengths. The simulated wave 2 variation is dominated by a diurnal period wave 1 Kelvin mode while the principal components of the simulated zonal wave 3 structure are a diurnal period wave 2 Kelvin mode and a wave 1 semidiurnal tide. The characterization of these waves is important for understanding the structure and variability of the martian atmosphere at aerobraking altitudes.
MERCURY BIOACCUMULATION, SPECIATION, AND INFLUENCE ON WEB STRUCTURE IN ORB-WEAVING SPIDERS FROM A FORESTED WATERSHED

Atmospheric deposition is an important source of Hg in remote terrestrial ecosystems of northeastern North America. As high-level invertebrate consumers, orb-weaving spiders (family Araneidae) are excellent subjects for studying the impact of sublethal levels of Hg on forest animals because their webs provide snapshots of behavior and neurological function. Spiders of the diadematus group of the genus Araneus were collected from the Jeffers Brook watershed in the White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire (USA), and analyzed for Hg content. Webs were photographed and measured to test for correlations between Hg body burden and web structure. Collected spiders contained concentrations of total Hg averaging 44.7 � 10.0 ng/g Hg (wet mass; meanstandard deviation), with 37 � 6% of the total Hg present in the methylmercury form. Mercury loads were likely accumulated through diet (potential prey items contained an average of 43% of the Hg load in collected spiders) and possibly web ingestion. The present study found no direct evidence that the web structure—and thus the prey-capture ability—of spiders in the study area was affected by their Hg body burden. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:1873-1878. # 2011 SETAC Keywords—Terrestrial invertebrate toxicology Mercury Bioaccumulation Metal speciation
Varroa destructor Infestation in Untreated Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies Selected for Hygienic Behavior

Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies bred for hygienic behavior were tested in a large field trial to determine if they were able to resist the parasitic mite Varroa destructor better than unselected colonies of "Starline" stock. Colonies bred for hygienic behavior are able to detect, uncap, and remove experimentally infested brood from the nest, although the extent to which the behavior actually reduces the overall mite-load in untreated, naturally infested colonies needed further verification. The results indicate that hygienic colonies with queens mated naturally to unselected drones had significantly fewer mites on adult bees and within worker brood cells than Starline colonies for up to 1 yr without treatment in a commercial, migratory beekeeping operation. Hygienic colonies actively defended themselves against the mites when mite levels were relatively low. At high mite infestations (.15% of worker brood and of adult bees), the majority of hygienic colonies required treatment to prevent collapse. Overall, the hygienic colonies had similar adult populations and brood areas, produced as much honey, and had less brood disease than the Starline colonies. Thus, honey bees bred for hygienic behavior performed as well if not better than other commercial lines of bees and maintained lower mite loads for up to one year without treatment.
Time-domain soil-structure interaction analysis of nuclear facilities

Abstract The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulation 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix S requires consideration of soil-structure interaction (SSI) in nuclear power plant (NPP) analysis and design. Soil-structure interaction analysis for NPPs is routinely carried out using guidance provided in the ASCE Standard 4-98 titled “Seismic Analysis of Safety-Related Nuclear Structures and Commentary”. This Standard, which is currently under revision, provides guidance on linear seismic soil-structure-interaction (SSI) analysis of nuclear facilities using deterministic and probabilistic methods. A new appendix has been added to the forthcoming edition of ASCE Standard 4 to provide guidance for time-domain, nonlinear SSI (NLSSI) analysis. Nonlinear SSI analysis will be needed to simulate material nonlinearity in soil and/or structure, static and dynamic soil pressure effects on deeply embedded structures, local soil failure at the foundation-soil interface, nonlinear coupling of soil and pore fluid, uplift or sliding of the foundation, nonlinear effects of gaps between the surrounding soil and the embedded structure and seismic isolation systems, none of which can be addressed explicitly at present. Appendix B of ASCE Standard 4 provides general guidance for NLSSI analysis but will not provide a methodology for performing the analysis. This paper provides a description of an NLSSI methodology developed for application to nuclear facilities, including NPPs. This methodology is described as series of sequential steps to produce reasonable results using any time-domain numerical code. These steps require some numerical capabilities, such as nonlinear soil constitutive models, which are also described in the paper.