cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cosmid-based system for inserting mutations and foreign genes into the simian varicella virus genome.

Abstract Simian varicella is a natural varicella-like disease of nonhuman primates. The etiologic agent, simian varicella virus (SVV), is genetically related to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and SVV infection of nonhuman primates is a useful model to investigate VZV pathogenesis and latency. In this study, we report development of a cosmid-based genetic system to generate SVV mutant viruses. SVV subgenomic DNA fragments (32–38 kb) that span the viral genome were cloned into cosmid vectors. Co-transfection of Vero cells with four overlapping cosmid clones representing the entire SVV genome resulted in recombination and generation of infectious virus. SVV mutants were produced by manipulation of one cosmid and substitution into the genetic system. This genetic approach was used to insert a site-specific mutation within the SVV open reading frame 14 which encodes the nonessential glycoprotein C gene. In a subsequent experiment, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was inserted into the SVV genome within ORF 14. These SVV mutants replicate as efficiently as wild-type SVV in cell culture. This cosmid-based genetic system will be useful to investigate the effect of viral mutations on SVV pathogenesis and latency and also to develop and evaluate recombinant varicella vaccines that express foreign antigens.
Assessing the Contribution of Heme-Iron Acquisition to Staphylococcus aureus Pneumonia Using Computed Tomography

Background S. aureus acquires heme-iron using the iron regulated surface determinant (Isd) system and the heme transport system (Hts) with both systems showing critical importance in systemic models of infection. The contribution of heme-iron acquisition to staphylococcal pneumonia has not yet been elucidated. In addition, the use of computed tomography (CT) for the evaluation of staphylococcal pneumonia and its correlation to pathologic examination of infected lung tissue has not been performed to date. We have applied CT-based imaging to a murine model of staphylococcal pneumonia to determine the virulence contribution of heme-iron acquisition through the Hts and Isd systems. Methodology/principal findings Mice were intranasally inoculated with approximately 1.0 x 10(8) colony forming units (CFU) of S. aureus. Lungs from mice infected with wild type S. aureus or strains deficient in isdB and isdH (DeltaisdBH) or htsA and isdE (DeltahtsADeltaisdE) were harvested at 24 hours. Histology, radiographic appearance by computed tomography (CT), percent mortality and bacterial burden were evaluated. Infection with S. aureus DeltaisdBH and DeltahtsADeltaisdE did not result in a statistically significant difference in mortality or bacterial burden as compared to controls. CT imaging of infected mice also did not reveal an appreciable difference between the various strains when compared to wild type, but did correlate with pathologic findings of pneumonia. However, a systemic model of infection using the DeltahtsADeltaisdE strain revealed a statistically significant decrease in bacterial burden in the lung, heart and kidneys. Conclusions/significance The development of staphylococcal pneumonia in this murine model is not dependent on hemoglobin binding or heme-iron uptake into S. aureus. However, this model does reveal that heme-iron acquisition contributes to the pathogenesis of systemic staphylococcal infections. In addition, CT imaging of murine lungs is an attractive adjunct to histologic analysis for the confirmation and staging of pneumonia.
Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable poly(L‐aspartic acid‐co‐PEG)

The melt polycondensation reaction of the prepolymer prepared from N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-aspartic acid anhydride (N-CBz-L-aspartic acid anhydride) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) using titanium isopropoxide (TIP) as a catalyst produced the new biodegradable poly(L-aspartic acid-co-PEG). This new copolymer had pendant amine functional groups along the polymer backbone chain. The optimal reaction conditions for the preparation of the prepolymer were obtained by using a 0.12 mol % of p-toluenesulfonic acid with PEG 200 for 48 h. The weight-average molecular weight of the prepolymer increased from 1,290 to 31,700 upon melt polycondensation for 6 h at 130°C under vacuum using 0.5 wt % TIP as a catalyst. The synthesized monomer, prepolymer, and copolymer were characterized by FTIR, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and UV spectrophotometers. Thermal properties of the prepolymer and the protected copolymer were measured by DSC. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the prepolymer shifted to a significantly higher temperature with increasing molecular weight via melt polycondensation reaction, and no melting temperature was observed. The in vitro hydrolytic degradation of these poly(L-aspartic acid-co-PEG) was measured in terms of molecular weight loss at different times and pHs at 37°C. This pH-dependent molecular weight loss was due to a simple hydrolysis of the backbone ester linkages and was characterized by more rapid rates of hydrolysis at an alkaline pH. These new biodegradable poly(L-aspartic acid-co-PEG)s may have potential applications in the biomedical field. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2949–2959, 1998
International Capital Mobility in the Presence of Unemployment Insurance

The paper develops a general-equilibrium model with layoff unemployment to examine the effect of different unemployment insurance policies on international capital mobility. Conditions are derived under which capital will flow to the high-benefit country. Incentives for international capital movements are unaffected by how the burden of financing unemployment benefits is distributed between workers and firms. It is shown that capital outflows might have positive welfare effects for workers. This contrasts with results from standard models of international factor movements.
Fetal alcohol effects: Evidence of developmental impairment in the absence of immunotoxicity

Abstract Pregnant CD-1 mice were intubated from Days 5–17 of gestation with an isocaloric solution of ethanol and/or maltose dextrins in 10% Bio-Serv liquid diet, at doses of 0, 6, and 9 g/kg/day. The control females were food-restricted so that their food consumption matched that of the high-dose females. At delivery, the pups were assigned surrogate mothers and litters were culled to a uniform litter size, when possible. Immediately following birth some pups were examined using a battery of behavioral/developmental tests to monitor postnatal development. At 6–8 weeks of age, other pups were evaluated for changes in immune function. Another group of pups was terminated at 12 weeks of age for hematology and clinical chemistry determinations and histological examination of selected organs. Postnatal developmental delays were seen in pinna detachment, surface righting reflex, eye opening, and incisor eruption. There was no characteristic pattern to immune alterations of the plaque forming cell response to a T-dependent antigen sheep red blood cells, delayed hypersensitivity, and T- and B-lymphocyte blastogenesis. Possible kidney pathology was indicated by a reduction in blood urea nitrogen in the offspring of females treated with 9 g/kg/day. No treatment-related effects were noted in those tissues which were examined histologically.
Isolation and sequence determination of the 3′-terminal regions of isotopically labelled RNA molecules

The method which was developed for the selective isolation of 3'-terminal polynucleotides from large RNA molecules on columns of cellulose derivatives containing covalently bound dihydroxyboryl groups has been modified and adapted for use on radioactively labelled RNAs. The 3'-terminal polynucleotide fragments which result from specific ribonuclease digestion of isotopically detectable quantities of RNA can be selectively obtained in both high yield and purity by the modified procedure and can be subsequently analyzed by standard electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques. In addition, when the extent of enzymatic fragmentation of the RNA is controlled, the procedure permits the selective isolation of discrete "sets" of fragments of variable chain length, all of which derive from the 3'-terminus of the RNA molecule. These overlapping polynucleotides can be used directly to obtain extensive sequence information regarding the primary structure in the 3'-region of the RNA.
A new look at economic causes of the constitution: Monetary and trade policy in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia

Abstract By contrast to Charles Beard's 1913 economic interpretation of the Constitution, this article maintains that the key is the economic policies of the various colonial (later state) legislatures. Prior to independence the colonies had strong and autonomous economic policies which they defended vigorously against the British government. Although they resented regulation from London, they also benefited because London kept their neighboring colonies in line. After independence, this restraint was gone. If they wanted the benefits of cooperation, they had to negotiate it themselves. Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia faced these problems and sought a solution in a strong Constitution.
ORDINAL NUMBERS IN ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

The class of all ordinal numbers can be partitioned into two subclasses in such a way that neither subclass contains an arithmetic progression of order type ω, where an arithmetic progression of order type τ means an increasing sequence of ordinal numbers (s + δγ)γ r, δ ≠ 0.
Commentary: Hormone Receptor Testing in Breast Cancer: A Distress Signal from Canada

Disclosure: Employment/leadership position: None; Intellectual property rights/inventor/patent holder: None; Consultant/advisory role: D. Craig Allred, Genomic Health Clinic, DAKO, Pfizer; Honoraria: None; Research funding/contracted research: D. Craig Allred, Pfizer; Ownership interest: D. Craig Allred, Scientific Advisory Board of Clarient, Inc.; Expert testimony: None; Other: None. The content of this article has been reviewed by independent peer reviewers to ensure that it is balanced, objective, and free from commercial bias. No financial relationships relevant to the content of this article have been disclosed by the authors, planners, independent peer reviewers, or staff managers.
Unidirectional error control codes

A new class of codes for unidirectional error control is presented. These codes are targeted towards unidirectional errors which affect at most t bits confined at most u bytes of a code word. Such errors are termed t/u-unidirectional errors. t/u-unidirectional error control, in general, requires lesser redundancy as compared to u unidirectional byte error control codes. Codes that are capable of detecting, locating and correcting t/1-unidirectional errors are presented. It is shown that unidirectional error location can be achieved with lesser redundancy as compared to unidirectional error correction. This result is interesting because symmetric error location with linear codes has been previously shown to require as much redundancy as symmetric error correction.
Enzymatic aspects of the phenol (aryl) sulfotransferases

The sulfotransferases that are active in the metabolism of xenobiotics represent a large family of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of the sulfuryl group from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate to phenols, to primary and secondary alcohols, to several additional oxygen-containing functional groups, and to amines. Restriction of this review to the catalytic processes of phenol or aryl sulfotransferases does not really narrow the field, because these enzymes have overlapping specificity, not only for specific compounds, but also for multiple functional groups. The presentation aims to provide an overview of the wealth of phenol sulfotransferases that are available for study but concentrates on the enzymology of rat and human enzymes, particularly on the predominant phenol sulfotransferase from rat liver. The kinetics and catalytic mechanism of the rat enzyme is extensively reviewed and is compared with observations from other sulfotransferases.
Noncontiguous I/O accesses through MPI-IO

I/O performance remains a weakness of parallel computing systems today. While this weakness is partly attributed to rapid advances in other system components, I/O interfaces available to programmers and the I/O methods supported by file systems have traditionally not matched efficiently with the types of I/O operations that scientific applications perform, particularly noncontiguous accesses. The MPI-IO interface allows for rich descriptions of the I/O patterns desired for scientific applications and implementations such as ROMIO have taken advantage of this ability while remaining limited by underlying file system methods. A method of noncontiguous data access, list I/O, was recently implemented in the Parallel Virtual File System (PVFS). We implement support for this interface in the ROMIO MPI-IO implementation. Through a suite of noncontiguous I/O tests we compared ROMIO list I/O to current methods of ROMIO noncontiguous access and found that the list I/O interface provides performance benefits in many noncontiguous cases.
Pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome as a manifestation of disseminated intravascular coagulation: analysis of ten cases

Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in seven patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and was produced in three monkeys when an experimental model for DIC was used. The syndrome was either the chief complaint for which patients entered the hospital, appeared with other coexisting complications of DIC, or occurred just prior to death. Because the onset of dyspnea, tachypnea, hemoptysis, rales, and a diffuse infiltrate on chest x-ray film were usually interpreted as infectious processes, therapy for DIC was withheld and the patients’ conditions worsened. Pulmonary hemorrhage was the immediate cause of death in almost all patients. It is suggested that the pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome has features in common with other respiratory distress syndromes such as hyaline membrane disease (HMD), pulmonary hypoperfusion, and shock lung.
Beyond Story Grammar: Looking at Stories Through Cultural Lenses

Literacy is a socially constructed ideology (Barton & Hamilton, 1998; Street, 1995). Current representations reduce literacy to standards, skill testing, and the five components of reading (NICHD, 2000). This view of literacy discounts the knowledge and skills of many students. This article examines the oral story of Aisha, an African American first grader, through traditional and nontraditional measures. The findings highlight two contrasting perspectives of Aisha’s story: One that views the story as weak and below grade level and another that highlights her rich literacy abilities. This study argues that it is important to consider the social and historical features that may influence children’s stories. A definition of literacy that recognizes and values the continuum of literacy experiences is advocated in this article.
Influence of Stresses on the Properties of Ferroelectric BaTiO3 Thin Films

Stresses in rf sputtered polycrystalline BaTiO[sub 3] thin films, deposited at 300--700 C and at pressures from 0.1 to 100 Pa, on both Si and sapphire single crystals, were investigated. From the measured total stress values at room temperature, both the intrinsic stresses in the film and biaxial modulus of the film, E[sub f]/(1[minus]v[sub f]), were calculated. At lower deposition temperatures and pressures compressive intrinsic stresses were obtained whereas, at high deposition temperatures and pressures intrinsic stresses were tensile in nature. The biaxial modulus value approached the single crystal value for films deposited at low pressures and decreased significantly with increasing deposition pressure. BaTiO[sub 3] films with high compressive stresses ([>=]400 MPa) showed higher refractive indexes, higher extinction coefficients and lower optical bandgaps compared to those for films with low compressive stresses ([approx equal]40 MPa). Furthermore, Curie point and coercive fields were increased while remanent polarization decreased with increasing compressive stress. In addition, films in a state of high compression showed a broad peak in dielectric constant vs. temperature curve which indicates a diffuse transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric state. By a judicious choice of deposition conditions, BaTiO[sub 3] films having low intrinsic stresses and properties close to those ofmore » single crystals were obtained. For example, some of the properties of BaTiO[sub 3] films deposited at 650 C and at 2 Pa pressure on silicon substrate are: n = 2.37 at 700 nm, E[sub g] = 3.13 eV, P[sub r] = 15.9 [mu]C/cm[sup 2], E[sub c] = 10.2 kV/cm, Curie point = 129 C and [sigma][sup i] = [minus]47 MPa.« less
Knowledge management and business intelligence: the importance of integration

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to provide a thorough analysis of the difference between business intelligence (BI) and knowledge management (KM) and to establish a framework for relating one field to the other.Design/methodology/approach – A review of the literature from approximately 1986 through 2004 served as the basis for analysis and comparison of BI and KM. The theoretical scope of the paper is to distinguish between BI and KM to clarify the role of each in a business environment.Findings – BI focuses on explicit knowledge, but KM encompasses both tacit and explicit knowledge. Both concepts promote learning, decision making, and understanding. Yet, KM can influence the very nature of BI itself. Hence, this paper explains the nature of the integration between BI and KM and makes it clear that BI should be viewed as a subset of KM.Originality/value – This paper establishes a clear distinction between two important fields of study, BI and KM, establishing an expanded role for BI. That is, the ro...
Wii remote as a web navigation device for people with cerebral palsy

This study evaluates the use of the Nintendo Wii remote relative to the standard wireless mouse as a web navigational device. Nine participants with cerebral palsy performed three typical web tasks. Six of them showed improved task times using the Wii remote. With suitable customization available from freely available software, the Wii remote shows promise to be a flexible and inexpensive alternative.
Satellite Imaging of Earthquake Geotechnical Highway Damage

Recent major earthquakes around the world have highlighted the complexity of assessing geotechnical damage and thus additional hazards immediately after the earthquake due to the scale of these events as well as factors such as the challenging topography in the earthquake region and the decrease in mobility due to impacted infrastructure. This is particularly important given that in many cases, even after the primary earthquake, significant new hazards are created due to secondary effects such as “quake lakes”, tsunami and seasonal rainfall and these can produce additional catastrophic events. This paper will use a number of cases to show how pre/post remotely sensed information from satellite imagery can be utilized and evaluated to provide rapid assessment of continuing hazard for highway infrastructure. A number of new GIS based analysis tools adapted or developed to facilitate these studies by allowing automated extraction of geometric information. In particular, delineation of two dimensional slope profiles from digital elevation models (DEM) along highways is presented.
An application of signal detection theory with finite mixture distributions to source discrimination.

A mixture extension of signal detection theory is applied to source discrimination. The basic idea of the approach is that only a portion of the sources (say A or B) of items to be discriminated is encoded or attended to during the study period. As a result, in addition to 2 underlying probability distributions associated with the 2 sources, there is a 3rd distribution that represents items for which sources were not attended to. Thus, over trials, the observed response results from a mixture of an attended (A or B) distribution and a nonattended distribution. The situation differs in an interesting way from detection in that, for detection, there is mixing only on signal trials and not on noise trials, whereas for discrimination, there is mixing on both A and B trials. Predictions of the mixture model are examined for data from several recent studies and in a new experiment.
snRNA 3′ End Formation Requires Heterodimeric Association of Integrator Subunits

The Integrator Complex is a group of proteins responsible for the endonucleolytic cleavage of primary small nuclear RNA (snRNA) transcripts within the nucleus. Integrator subunits 9 and 11 (IntS9/11) are thought to contain the catalytic activity based on their high sequence similarity to CPSF100 and CPSF73, which have been shown to be components of both the poly(A)(+) and histone pre-mRNA cleavage complex. Here we demonstrate that the specific heterodimeric interaction between IntS9 and IntS11 is mediated by a discrete domain present at the extreme C terminus of IntS9 and within the C terminus of IntS11, adjacent to the predicted active site of this endonuclease. This domain is highly conserved within IntS11 but conspicuously absent in CPSF73. Using a cell-based complementation assay that measures Integrator activity, we determined that the IntS9 interaction domain within IntS11 is required for its ability to restore snRNA 3' end processing after RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated depletion of IntS11. Moreover, overexpression of these interaction domains alone elicits snRNA misprocessing through a dominant-negative titration of endogenous Integrator subunits. These data collectively explain the mechanism by which the IntS11/9 and, by analogy, the CPSF73/100 heterodimeric cleavage factors distinguish themselves from each other and demonstrate that the heterodimeric interaction is functionally required for snRNA 3' end formation.
On the detection of vehicular crashes-system characteristics and architecture

Safety systems for ground vehicles are deployed in different phases according to the timing of activation relative to the occurrence instant of an accident. Collision warning or avoidance systems function prior to an accident, while occupant protection systems act during a collision to mitigate the damage or injuries caused by an accident. This paper deals with crash sensing systems that detect a collision and evaluate the severity of a crash. One major application of these sensing systems is their current use in occupant restraint systems. They may also be utilized in the future for advanced vehicle control and safety systems. With air bags becoming standard equipment in new passenger vehicles, crash sensing technologies have advanced considerably. Yet, existing challenges and new innovations continue to demand improvements in their functions. This paper focuses on the system performance of crash sensing systems. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework of addressing various design issues from both a component level and a system perspective. Through the discussions of crash data analysis, the design concepts of crash sensors are highlighted. The characteristics of representative mechanical and electronic sensors are analyzed and the guidelines of sensor selection to meet design requirements are discussed. Also, an assessment of sensor reliability is reviewed with various system architectures. Finally, suggestions are made to enhance system performance in areas that may benefit from the addition of sensing functionality. The public has become conscientiously aware of the importance of transportation safety. With more advanced technologies introduced into ground vehicles, the safety concerns will intensify. The demand for a friendly driving environment and vehicle interior will further promote the requirements of vehicular safety systems. Crash sensing will remain a challenging and active area for years to come.
Adsorptive stripping potentiometry of DNA at electrochemically pretreated carbon paste electrodes

Potentiometric stripping analysis is employed for highly sensitive measurements of single-stranded DNA at carbon paste electrodes. Electrochemical (oxidative) pretreatment is used to condition the carbon paste surface prior to the accumulation process. The low background response of the potentiometric stripping mode offers convenient quantitation of low nanogram quantities of DNA. Experimental variables of the pretreatment and measurement procedures are explored and optimized. Results are also reported for the quantitation of nanogram levels of the long terminal repeat (LTR) from the human leukemia virus and for the stripping operation of microfabricated screen-printed electrodes.
Voice Recognition - the Next Generation Man-Machine Input Device?

As the complexity of today's cockpit increases, so does the workload of the pilot. The common keyboard is no longer an acceptable stand-alone input device for today's high-performance aircraft. Instead, new man-machine interface technologies must be produced to alleviate the pilot from extreme workload conditions. Particularly in fighter aircraft, the pilot needs a method of hands-free and eyes-free communication. Voice technology offers potential for reducing the pilot's visual and manual workload. This paper describes advantages and disadvantages of voice recognition systems and takes a brief look at the state of development of voice technology.
Composition of Mammary Lymph in Lactating Goats

Summary Eleven supramammary lymph ducts in eight healthy, lactating, nonpregnant goats were cannulated under anesthesia. Lymph flowed externally from freely moving, unanesthetized animals for an average period of 14 days. Jugular blood and mammary lymph from the same goat were collected simultaneously and were analyzed for protein, nonprotein nitrogen, glucose, lactose, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, and pH. Results showed no change in lymph composition with variations in rate of milk secretion and, except for protein concentration, no change in composition during different rates of lymph flow. Higher lymph flows were associated with decreases in lymph protein concentrations. NPN and glucose levels in lymph were not significantly different from plasma levels. Lactose was not apparent in either fluid. The electrolyte composition of lymph was similar to that of plasma when allowance was made for Donnan membrane equilibrium adjustments. Composition of mammary lymph with regard to the substances investigated appears to result from diffusion of plasma from capillaries and with no back diffusion from mammary alveoli or ducts.
CD40-Induced Signaling in Human Endothelial Cells Results in mTORC2-and Akt-Dependent Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Vitro and In Vivo

We have examined CD40-dependent signals in endothelial cells (EC) mediating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-induced angiogenesis. We treated confluent cultures of EC with soluble CD40L (sCD40L), and by Western blot found a marked increase in the phosphorylation of Akt, 4EBP-1, and S6K1, compared with untreated cells. EC were transfected with a full-length VEGF promoter-luciferase construct and cultured in the absence or presence of rapamycin and sCD40L. We found that rapamycin, which blocks mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling, inhibited sCD40L-mediated transactivation of VEGF. In addition, by Western blot, we found that the transfection of EC with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to rictor (to inhibit mTORC2), and not raptor (to inhibit mTORC1), inhibited sCD40L-dependent protein expression of VEGF. In additions, we found that basal levels of phosphorylated Akt as well as VEGF were increased in EC transfected with the raptor siRNA. Also, rapamycin failed to inhibit VEGF promoter activation, as well as VEGF protein expression in EC transfected with a constitutively active construct of Akt, further demonstrating that mTORC1 is not necessary for CD40- and Akt-induced expression of VEGF. Finally, we injected human CD40L-transfected fibroblasts or mock transfectants into human skin on SCID mice. We found that the injection of CD40L transfectants, but not mock cells, resulted in VEGF expression and mediated a marked angiogenesis reaction, and this response was reduced in mice treated with rapamycin. Together, these observations indicate that mTORC2 and Akt facilitate CD40-inducible expression of VEGF in EC, which is of clinical importance in tumor growth and the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases.
CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

The description of organized thrombus in major pulmonary arteries can be found in autopsy reports dating back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Not until the 1950s was the antemortem diagnosis and clinical syndrome of chronic thrombotic obstruction of the major pulmonary arteries better characterized. The first surgical attempt to remove the adherent thrombus from the vessel wall occurred in 1958. This operation provided the conceptual foundation for the distinction between acute and chronic thromboembolic disease of the pulmonary vascular bed, and established that an endarterectomy, and not an embolectomy, would be necessary if a surgical remedy for this disease was to be successful.
Psychosocial factors of caregiver burden in child caregivers: results from the new national study of caregiving

Over 50 million informal caregivers in the United States provide care to an aging adult, saving the economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually from costly hospitalization or institutionalization. Despite the benefits associated with caregiving, caregiver stress can lead to negative physical and mental health consequences, or “caregiver burden”. Given these potential negative consequences of caregiver burden, it is important not only to understand the multidimensional components of burden but to also understand the experience from the perspective of the caregiver themselves. Therefore, the objectives of our study are to use exploratory factor analysis to obtain a set of latent factors among a subset of caregiver burden questions identified in previous studies and assess their reliability. All data was obtained from the 2011 National Study of Caregiving (NSOC). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to identify a set of latent factors assessing four domains of caregiver burden in “child caregivers”: those informal caregivers who provide care to a parent or stepparent. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted by repeating the EFA on demographic subsets of caregivers. After multiple factor analyses, four consistent caregiver burden factors emerged from the 23 questions analyzed: Negative emotional, positive emotional, social, and financial. Reliability of each factor varied, and was strongest for the positive emotional domain for caregiver burden. These domains were generally consistent across demographic subsets of informal caregivers. These results provide researchers a more comprehensive understanding of caregiver burden to target interventions to protect caregiver health and maintain this vital component of the US health care system.
The impact of body mass index on morbidity and short- and long-term mortality in cardiac valvular surgery

Objective Limited data exist on patients with cardiac cachexia or morbid obesity presenting for valvular heart surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index and morbidity and mortality after valvular surgery. Methods A retrospective review of 4247 patients undergoing valvular surgery from 1996 to 2008 at Emory University Healthcare Hospitals was performed. Patients were divided into 3 groups: body mass index 24 or less (group 1, n = 1527), body mass index 25 to 35 (group 2, n = 2284), and body mass index 36 or more (group 3, n = 436). Data were analyzed using multivariable regression analysis, adjusted for 10 preoperative covariates. A smooth kernel regression curve was generated using body mass index and in-hospital mortality as variables. Long-term survival comparisons were made using adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan–Meier product-limit estimates. Kaplan–Meier curves were generated that provide survival estimates for long-term mortality using the Social Security Death Index. Results Patients in group 3 were significantly younger (group 1, 61.7 ± 16.1 years; group 2, 61.9 ± 13.6; group 3, 57.5 ± 13.0; P 001) and more likely to be female (group 1, 778/1527 [51.0%]; group 2, 912/2284 [39.9%]; group 3, 240/436 [55.0%]; P 001). Mean ejection fractions were similar among groups ( P = . 51). Patients in group 2 had significantly shorter postoperative length of stay (group 1, 9.6 ± 10.3 days; group 2, 8.7 ± 8.2 days; group 3, 10.8 ± 11.0 days; P 001). In-hospital mortality for the entire cohort was 5.8% (245/4247), and by group was 111 of 1527 (7.3%) in group 1, 110 of 2284 (4.8%) in group 2, and 24 of 436 (5.5%) in group 3 ( P = . 006). Actual survival at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years was significantly lower in group 1 ( P 001). A lower body mass index was a significant independent predictor for both in-hospital and long-term mortality. Conclusions Patients with body mass index 24 or less are at significantly increased risk of in-hospital and long-term mortality after cardiac valvular surgery. This high-risk patient population warrants careful risk stratification and options for less-invasive valve therapies.
Analyzing radiation diffusion using time-dependent sensitivity-based techniques

In this paper, we discuss the computation and use of solution sensitivities for analyzing radiation diffusion problems and the dependence of solutions on input parameters. The derivation of the sensitivity equations is given, along with a description of the method for solving them in tandem with the simulation. The parameter values express material opacity as a power-law of material temperature and density. The computed sensitivities reveal important qualitative details about the temperature coupling and diffusion processes. It is also shown that these sensitivities are valuable for ranking the parameters from most to least influential, designing improved experiments, and quantifying uncertainty in the simulation results. Lastly, the numerical examples show that these various types of sensitivity analysis are only moderately expensive to perform relative to solving the simulation by itself.
Entry-level degrees for midwifery practice

The Governing Board of the ACNM Division of Accreditation (DOA) has been charged by the ACNM Board of Directors to consider requiring an entry-level degree for nurse-midwifery practice. This decision has far-reaching implications and must be considered with utmost care. The decision will not be based on the issue of clinical competence but rather, the political statement to be made through the imposition of a degree requirement. The author urges the DOA's Governing Board to consider the implications of its action on a variety of audiences, including potential students, potential consumers, other health professionals, current and future employers, our international colleagues, health insurers and managed care organizations, and policymakers and lawmakers.
A 42-year-old woman collapses in a park

A 42-year-old women with a history of mitral regurgitation was playing tennis when she suddenly collapsed. Bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An automated external defibrillator revealed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. The patient was shocked once with 200 J with return of spontaneous circulation. She was brought to the emergency department where her vitals revealed a heart rate of 133 beats/min, a respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min, an oxygen saturation of 89% and a blood pressure of 124/98 mm Hg. She was intubated. The chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly. An ECG revealed sinus tachycardia, left axis deviation, Q waves in V1–V3, lateral T-wave inversions, a non-specific …
Simultaneous determination of net uptake of 16 amino acids by a marine bivalve

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure the simultaneous transport of 16 amino acids from seawater into the mussel Mytilus edulis. All the substrates, including representative neutral, basic, and acidic amino acids, were accumulated from ambient concentrations as low as 5 nM. Influx of four radioactively labeled amino acids was compared with their net flux. In each case the influx of the 14C-labeled substrate, determined from the removal of isotope from test solutions, accurately represented the net flux of that substrate as measured by direct chemical analysis. Ammonia was the only compound observed to be routinely lost from these animals. Rates of uptake of individual amino acids, each at concentrations of 10 nM, ranged from 2.4 to 7.0 nmol . g dry flesh wt-1 . min-1. The studies show that M. edulis is capable of a net uptake of dissolved amino acid from the very low concentrations characteristic of seawater. Moreover, net accumulation can occur against chemical gradients calculated to be in excess of one million to one. The rates of amino acid uptake may contribute significantly to the animals' energy requirements.
Engraftment of Cultured Human Hematopoietic Cells in Sheep

In an effort to expand human hematopoietic progenitors and stem cells in vitro, we cultured human CD34+c-kitlow bone marrow cells in suspension in the presence of KIT ligand, FLK2/FLT3 ligand, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and erythropoietin with or without IL-3 and tested their engrafting capabilities by injecting them into sheep fetuses. As markers for engraftment, we analyzed CD45+ cells and karyotypes of the colonies grown in methylcellulose culture. In three separate experiments, day-60 engraftment in the bone marrow was seen with both fresh cells and cells cultured in the presence or absence of IL-3. When fetuses were allowed to be born and analyzed for CD45+cells, no long-term engraftment was seen with cultured cells. We then pooled the CD45+ cells of the fetal samples and transplanted them into secondary recipient fetuses. Day-60 engraftment in the secondary recipients was again noted when transplantation in the primary recipients was initiated with fresh cells. There were 3 cases in which cultured cells showed signs of engraftment in the secondary recipients, but the remaining 24 cases showed no signs of engraftment. These data documented that suspension culture for 2 weeks of enriched adult human bone marrow cells can maintain short-term (2 months) engrafting cells, but may not maintain longer term engrafting cells. This sheep/human xenograft model may serve as an excellent method for the evaluation of the engraftment potential of in vitro-expanded cells.
Na transport proteins are expressed by rat alveolar epithelial type I cells.

Despite a presumptive role for type I (AT1) cells in alveolar epithelial transport, specific Na transporters have not previously been localized to these cells. To evaluate expression of Na transpor...
Creating a Conducive Classroom Environment: Classroom Management Is the Key.

Creating a classroom environment which is conducive to learning is one of the most important things a teacher can do. This becomes even more crucial as students enter classrooms with their cell phones, pagers, and beepers. Additionally, many students are tardy for class, leave early, or may not appear in class on numerous occasions. Therefore, classroom management takes on greater significance at the university level. Effective classroom management starts at the first class meeting. Everything a teacher does on Day One will set the stage for the procedures, routines, and expectations throughout the course. Having a detailed syllabus, outlining requirements for the course, defining expectations for attendance and participation, and explaining the “rules of the road” are just the beginning of how a teacher models expected behavior of the students. This paper provides successful strategies used in university classrooms and presents a review of literature on effective university classroom management practices.
Possible Environmental Causes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Northern New England: A Preliminary Analysis (P4.142)

OBJECTIVE: To perform a retrospective case-control study to assess for associations between environmental and occupation exposures and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) within the states of New Hampshire (NH) and Vermont (VT). BACKGROUND: The etiology of sporadic ALS remains unclear. Occupational and environmental exposures including heavy metals and organic solvents continue to be of interest. The cyanobacteria neurotoxin, beta-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) occurs in water bodies, can accumulate in seafood, and is another postulated risk factor for ALS. A high incidence of sporadic ALS 25 times the expected rate has been previously described in Enfield, NH, raising concerns for a possible environmental exposure. DESIGN/METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to 140 NH and VT ALS patients, as well as 77 age-matched controls without history of neurodegenerative disease cared for in the same facility . The questionnaire consists of a residential calendar, condensed ALS Consortium of Epidemiologic Studies (ACES) validated questions, and questions assessing potential cyanobacteria toxin exposure. A logistic regression was performed with adjustment for age and gender. RESULTS: Compared to controls, preliminary data suggest ALS patients were more likely to report prior occupation as a factory worker (OR 5.47, 95[percnt] CI 1.21-24.6) and exposure to lead (OR 8.88, 95[percnt] CI 1.14-69.4), with exposure to solvents approaching statistical significance (OR 2.25, 95[percnt] CI 0.98-5.17). Observing blue-green algae in water bodies near residence was associated with a significant 3-fold increased risk of ALS; reported exposure to cyanobacteria toxins through fish consumption and recreational water exposure is pending further analysis with biomarker correlation. Limitations to our study include limited number of controls, potential selection bias and recall bias, and underreporting of exposures. CONCLUSIONS: Expansion of this ongoing study and further investigations are underway to determine whether environmental exposures might be linked to areas of high ALS incidence. Study Supported by: ALSA, CDC, & Dartmouth SYNERGY Disclosure: Dr. Caller has nothing to disclose. Dr. Henegan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Andrew has nothing to disclose. Dr. Stommel has received research support from Biogen Idec.
Research on series resonant DC/DC converter based on variable-frequency control

Series resonant DC/DC converter based on variable-frequency control has such advantages as simple topology structure,ZVS for switching MOSFETs in all input voltage and full load range,ZCS for output rectifier diodes and high efficiency,thus this converter is currently one of the research hotspots in switching power converters in the world.The principle of series resonant DC/DC converter is analyzed firstly,and the converter's characteristics under three kinds of working frequencies are also described in this paper,and the relationship between such parameters as input voltage,output voltage,switching frequency and resonant inductor of this converter under different conditions is also quantitatively provided.Experimental results on a 1.5KW prototype verified that a 96.3% conversion efficiency can be achieved,all switching MOSFETs realized ZVS,and the relationship between such parameters as input voltage and output voltage is consistent with theoretical analysis.In addition,the experimental waveforms are also consistent with simulation waveforms in this paper.
A rare presentation of a soft tissue sarcoma metastasized to the left ventricle

Primary cardiac tumors are a rare diagnosis with a reported incidence of 0.001%-0.1% in the general population. They provide adiagnostic challenge as the patients may be asymptomatic or have a wide variety of symptoms. Because of this, cardiac tumorsare often discovered incidentally by imaging modalities or during surgery. Secondary tumors that metastasize to the heart aremore common with an incidence of 0.7%-3.5% in the general population and up to 9.1% in patients with known malignancies. Metastatic tumors most frequently involve the pericardium followed by the epicardium and myocardium. Intracavitary andendocardial metastasis has been rarely described in the literature. We present a case of a patient who had a known soft tissuesarcoma with widespread metastases who presented because of dyspnea. In her workup, a transthoracic echocardiogram revealedan intracavitary mass attached to the left ventricular side of the interventricular septum presumed to be a sarcoma. In ourcomprehensive literature search, a sarcoma has rarely been reported in the left ventricle. We have found that sarcomas that dometastasize to the myocardium often are highly differentiated and carry a poor prognosis. A cardiac tumor may be detected bytransthoracic echocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) or PET scan. The transthoracic echocardiogram is the preferred modality given its availability, cost and portability. Additionalimaging modalities such as contrast echocardiography and MRI can help differentiate cardiac tumors from other cardiac massessuch as thombi or vegetations. Because of the inability to rely on physical signs and symptoms, there must be a high degree ofsuspicion when a patient with known metastatic disease presents with cardiac complaints. It is important for clinicians to beaware of how different imaging modalities can help guide their differential diagnosis of cardiac masses.
Russian-speaking children and material needs in the reformist context: an ecological study of curriculum development

This study examines the process for gaining Russian instructional materials at a dual language immersion program for school children in the Western USA. The ethnographic approach to the bilingual and multilingual setting draws on Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to explore how the context impedes or supports the instructional need for appropriate language materials in the reformist period: a period marked by standardized testing and managed schools under a business model. This transdisciplinary approach crossing linguistic, anthropological, and psychological fields was selected to explore the cultural–historical implications in the USA where bilingual education was aggressively dismantled with the onset of the World Wars. The findings demonstrate organizational leadership that was resistant to the needs of the Russian teachers and families, and is lacking in knowledge of languages, translation, and pedagogy. Findings also show how a community worked together for the benefit of young learner...
A Reprise and Synopsis: On the Advantages of Apparent Redundancy

One of the most remarkable properties of the circadian wake-sleep rhythm of a higher vertebrate is its temporal precision. The cycle-to-cycle variability in period is often far less than 1% of the total interval; a bird or a rodent, kept under constant conditions without external time cues, may awaken day after day at times which are predictable to within 2 to 3 min. Speculation about the physiological mechanism which underlies such astonishing precision has led to the research described in this treatise.
Kinetics of degradation in electrically stressed polyolefins

The need to better understand polyolefin dielectric materials has led to a long-range research project at Battelle's Columbus Laboratories sponsored by the Department of Energy, Electric Energy Systems Division.(1) As part of this project several chemical kinetic models have been hypothesized on degradation mechanistic pathways for polyolefin dielectrics under multiple stress environments. Experimental verification of these chemical kinetic mode~s by electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis techniques is underway. Some preliminary results of this research effort are discussed.