cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Stakeholder-Driven Qualitative Study to Define High Quality End-of-Life Care for Children With Cancer.

Abstract Context Among adults with cancer, measures for high quality end-of-life care (EOLC) include avoidance of hospitalizations near end of life. For children with cancer, no measures exist to evaluate or improve EOLC, and adult quality measures may not apply. Objective We engaged key stakeholders to explore EOLC priorities for children with cancer and their families, and to examine relevance of existing adult EOLC quality measures for children with cancer. Methods In a multicenter qualitative study, we conducted interviews and focus groups with: adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with advanced cancer, parents of children with advanced cancer, bereaved parents, and interdisciplinary healthcare professionals. We transcribed, coded, and employed thematic analysis to summarize findings. Results We enrolled 54 stakeholders (25 parents [including 12 bereaved parents], 10 AYAs, and 19 healthcare professionals). Participants uniformly prioritized direct communication with children about preferences and prognosis, interdisciplinary care, symptom management, and honoring family preference for location of death. Many participants valued access to the emergency department or hospital for symptom management or supportive care, which diverges from measures for high quality EOLC in adults. Most wished to avoid mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Notably, participants generally valued hospice; however, few understood hospice care or had utilized its services. Conclusion Childhood cancer stakeholders define high quality EOLC primarily through person-centered measures, characterizing half of existing adult-focused measures as limited in relevance to children. Future research should focus on developing techniques for person-centered quality measurement to capture attributes of greatest importance to children with cancer and their families.
A scoping review of racial/ethnic disparities in sleep.

Abstract Background Despite remarkable achievements in ensuring health equity, racial/ethnic disparities in sleep still persist and are emerging as a major area of concern. Accumulating evidence has not yet been well characterized from a broad perspective. We conducted a scoping review of studies on sleep disparities by race/ethnicity to summarize characteristics of existing studies and identify evidence gaps. Methods We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for studies of racial/ethnic disparities in sleep. Studies that met inclusion criteria were retrieved and organized in a data charting form by study design, sleep measuring methods, sleep features, and racial/ethnic comparisons. Results One hundred sixteen studies were included in this review. Most studies focused on disparities between Whites and Blacks. Disproportionately fewer studies examined disparities for Hispanic, Asian, and other racial/ethnic groups. Self-reported sleep was most frequently used. Sleep duration, overall sleep quality, and sleep disordered breathing were frequently studied, whereas other features including sleep efficiency, latency, continuity, and architecture were understudied, particularly in racial minority groups in the US. Current study findings on racial/ethnic disparities in most of sleep features is mixed and inconclusive. Conclusions This review identified significant evidence gaps in racial/ethnic disparities research on sleep. Our results suggest a need for more studies examining diverse sleep features using standardized and robust measuring methods for more valid comparisons of sleep health in diverse race/ethnicity groups.
Suicidal iron overdose: A case report and review of literature.

Acute iron toxicity in adults is rare, usually occurring due to intentional ingestion in suicide attempts. Few cases of the clinical and autopsy findings in acute iron toxicity have previously been reported in the literature. Ingestion of large amounts of iron salts can lead to hemorrhagic shock, multi-system organ failure, coagulopathy, and death. We present the case of a 25-year-old man who reportedly ingested a large quantity of iron tablets along with ethanol in a suicide attempt and subsequently died approximately 65.5 h later. His clinical course and laboratory findings demonstrated hepatic and renal compromise with markedly elevated serum iron levels. At autopsy, iron encrustations were present over the gastric rugae. Superficial deposits of stainable iron were present overlying areas of mucosal necrosis with underlying submucosal fibrin thrombi. No significant stainable iron was present in the liver. Literature review revealed that the clinical course and laboratory testing of severe acute iron overdose is fairly non-specific. The length and type of treatment may alter the clinical course and laboratory results. Peak serum iron levels may be helpful in differentiating acute toxicity from chronic iron overload states. Gross findings of gastric iron encrustation are specific for acute ingestion when present.
Child-resistant packaging

Child-resistant (CR) packaging, called Poison Prevention Packaging (PPP) in the USA, may be defined as a packaging that makes access to the contents by children under 5 years of age difficult, while permitting adults to have access to the contents. The contents in question are substances such as drugs, cleaning agents, pesticides and other poisonous materials. All medicines are potentially dangerous if children, who are naturally inquisitive, gain access to them. Consequently, steps have to be taken to prevent this. Obviously, all medication is best kept out of reach of children, preferably under lock and key, and to this end public education of parents and other adults has been attempted but it can never be completely effective. Nevertheless, proper labelling and information is important to the safe use of medicines. The Euro label for medicines (Figure 8.1) was devised for that purpose.
Is Institutional Ownership Related to Corporate Social Responsibility? The Nonlinear Relation and Its Implication for Stock Return Volatility

This study examines the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and institutional investor ownership, and the impact of this relation on stock return volatility. We find that institutional ownership does not strictly increase or decrease in CSR; rather, institutional ownership is a concave function of CSR. This evidence suggests that institutional investors do not see CSR as strictly value-enhancing activities. Institutional investors adjust their percentage of ownership when CSR activities go beyond the perceived optimal level. Employing the path analysis, we also examine the mediating effect of institutional ownership on the relation between CSR and stock return volatility. We find that CSR decreases stock return volatility at a decreasing rate through its effect on institutional ownership. Our results remain robust under several different CSR measures and estimation methods.
Predicting outcomes after intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxina for non-neurogenic urgency incontinence in women.

AIMS Develop models to predict outcomes after intradetrusor injection of 100 or 200 units of onabotulinumtoxinA in women with non-neurogenic urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). METHODS Models were developed using 307 women from two randomized trials assessing efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA for non-neurogenic UUI. Cox, linear and logistic regression models were fit using: (1) time to recurrence over 12 months, (2) change from baseline daily UUI episodes (UUIE) at 6 months, and (3) need for self-catheterization over 6 months. Model discrimination of Cox and logistic regression models was calculated using c-index. Mean absolute error determined accuracy of the linear model. Calibration was demonstrated using calibration curves. All models were internally validated using bootstrapping. RESULTS Median time to recurrence was 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2-12) months. Increasing age, 200 units of onabotulinumtoxinA, higher body mass index (BMI) and baseline UUIE were associated with decreased time to recurrence. The c-index was 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59, 0.67). Median change in daily UUIE from baseline at 6 months was -3.5 (IQR: -5.0, -2.3). Increasing age, lower baseline UUIE, 200 units of onabotulinumtoxinA, higher BMI and IIQ-SF were associated with less improvement in UUIE. The mean absolute error predicting change in UUIE was accurate to 1.6 (95% CI: 1.5, 1.7) UUI episodes. The overall rate of self-catheterization was 17.6% (95% CI: 13.6%-22.4%). Lower BMI, 200 units of onabotulinumtoxinA, increased baseline postvoid residual and maximum capacity were associated with higher risk of self-catheterization. The c-index was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.76). The three calculators are available at http://riskcalc.duke.edu. CONCLUSIONS After external validation, these models will assist clinicians in providing more accurate estimates of expected treatment outcomes after onabotulinumtoxinA for non-neurogenic UUI in women.
Incorporating the mutational landscape of SARS-COV-2 variants and case-dependent vaccination rates into epidemic models

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which began as a small outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, became a global pandemic within months due to its high transmissibility. In the absence of pharmaceutical treatment, various non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain the spread of COVID-19 brought the entire world to a halt. After almost a year of seemingly returning to normalcy with the worlds quickest vaccine development, the advent of more infectious and vaccine resistant coronavirus variants is bringing the situation back to where it was a year ago. In the light of this new situation, we conducted a study to portray the possible scenarios based on the three key factors : impact of interventions (pharmaceutical and NPIs), vaccination rate, and vaccine efficacy. In our study, we assessed two of the most crucial factors, transmissibility and vaccination rate, in order to reduce the spreading of COVID in a simple but effective manner. In order to incorporate the time-varying mutational landscape of COVID-19 variants, we estimated a weighted transmissibility composed of the proportion of existing strains that naturally vary over time. Additionally, we consider time varying vaccination rates based on the number of daily new cases. Our method for calculating the vaccination rate from past active cases is an effective approach in forecasting probable future scenarios as it actively tracks peoples attitudes toward immunization as active cases change. Our simulations show that if a large number of individuals cannot be vaccinated in a short period of time, adopting NPIs is the best approach to manage disease transmission with the emergence of new vaccine breakthrough variants and more infectious variants.
Power minimisation techniques at the RT-level and below

This chapter reviewed a number of RTL techniques for low power design of VLSI circuits targeting both dynamic and leakage components of power dissipation in CMOS VLSI circuits. A more detailed review of techniques for low power design of VLSI circuits and systems can be found in many references, including Reference 1.
Keto acid dehydrogenase complexes. XVII. Kinetic and regulatory properties of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase from bovine kidney and heart

Abstract Both pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) kinase and PDH phosphatase require a divalent cation for activity. Either Mg2+ or Mn2+, but not Ca2+, can satisfy this requirement. The apparent Km of the kinase for MgATP2− is about 0.02 m m , whereas the apparent Km of the phosphatase for Mg2+ is about 2 m m . The apparent Km of the phosphatase for Mn2+ is about 0.5 m m . The bovine kidney and heart PDH kinases exhibit pH optima about 7.0–7.2 in the presence of either Mg2+ or Mn2+. The pH optima of the corresponding PDH phosphatases are about 6.7–7.1 in the presence of Mg2+ and 7.5–7.6 in the presence of Mn2+. ADP is a competitive inhibitor of ATP. The apparent Ki for ADP is about 0.1 m m . No effect of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) on either the kinase or the phosphatase was observed in these studies. Inhibition of PDH phosphatase by fluoride ion, inorganic orthophosphate, EDTA and EGTA is described. Pyruvate protects the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex against inactivation by ATP, and this effect appears to be more pronounced with the bovine heart complex than with the bovine kidney complex. It appears that pyruvate exerts its inhibitory effect primarily on the PDH kinase. We have observed that the kidney kinase catalyzes a phosphorylation of casein. This reaction is insensitive to cyclic AMP, and it is inhibited by pyruvate and α-ketobutyrate, but not by α-ketoglutarate. Dihydrolipoyl transacetylase markedly stimulates the rate of phosphorylation of PDH by PDH kinase. We have found that the transacetylase lowers the apparent Km of the kinase for PDH from about 20 μ m to about 0.6 μ m .
The Wheat Puroindoline Genes Confer Fungal Resistance in Transgenic Corn

Puroindoline a and b (Pina and Pinb), together make up the functional components of the wheat grain hardness locus (Ha) and have antimicrobial properties. The antifungal activity of puroindoline proteins, PINA and PINB, has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo .I n this study, Pina and Pinb were introduced into corn under the control of a corn Ubiquitin promoter. Two Pina⁄Pinb expression–positive transgenic events were evaluated for resistance to Cochliobolus heterostrophus, the corn southern leaf blight (SLB) pathogen. Transgenic corn expressing Pins showed significantly increased tolerance to C. heterostrophus, averaging 42.1% reduction in symptoms. Pins are effective in vivo as antifungal proteins and could be valuable tools in corn SLB control.
Abstract P232: The Relationship Between Lifestyle Factors and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Hiv+ Adults

Introduction: HIV+ adults used to have markedly decreased life expectancy. Now, HIV is a manageable chronic disease and HIV+ adults are at risk for clinical CVD due to multiple physiological risk factors. Lifestyle factors may contribute to this risk and yet little is known about the influence of exercise, stress, and medication adherence on the CVD risk in HIV+ adults. Therefore, we sought to examine the associations over time among exercise, stress, medication adherence and CVD risk and hypothesized that they would be associated with the 30-year predicted risk of developing CVD in HIV+ adults. Methods: Seventy HIV+ adults taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) were enrolled. Participants completed anthropomorphic measures, one-week exercise diary, Perceived Stress Scale, and consented to medical chart abstraction. Participants returned in one year and completed the same assessments. Cardiovascular risk was calculated using the Framingham 30-year risk models. We used generalized estimating equations to evaluate the association between lifestyle factors and CVD risk. Results: Participant’s average age at baseline was 48.6 ± 8.4 years, 35 (50%) were male, 58 (83%) were African-American. At baseline, participants exercised 5.0 ± 5.7 hours per week, had a perceived stress scale score of 17.8, and were adherent to ART. One year later they exercised 7.3 ± 6.4 hours per week, had an average perceived stress scale score of 17.3, and were adherent to ART. Using data from two time points exercise, stress, and medication adherence were associated with 30-year lipid-based (Wald χ 2 =9.5, p=0.02) and 30-year BMI-based (Wald χ 2 =14.2, p Conclusion: Lifestyle factors are significantly associated with CVD risk in HIV+ adults. Perceived stress was negatively associated with CVD risk with indicating that as stress increased, CVD risk decreased. This surprising finding indicates that more work is necessary to better understand the relationship between lifestyle factors and cardiovascular disease risk in HIV+ adults.
Studies on the mechanism of action of D-amino acid oxidase. Evidence for removal of substrate -hydrogen as a proton.

Abstract d-Amino acid oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of β-chloroalanine to chloropyruvate as well as its conversion to pyruvate, a nonoxidative reaction. The product composition depends on oxygen: only pyruvate is produced in 100% N2, chloropyruvate is formed almost exclusively in 100% O2, and mixtures result at intermediate levels. The rate of total keto acid production (pyruvate + chloropyruvate) is independent of oxygen, indicating the rate-determining formation of a common precursor of the two keto acids. Substitution of the α-hydrogen of β-chloroalanine by deuterium and tritium results in kinetic isotope effects which slow down chloroalanine conversion but do not differentially affect product distribution. A similar relationship holds for the deuterium solvent isotope effect with incubations conducted in 2H2O. The substrate kinetic isotope effects indicate that the dissociation of the α-C—H bond of the substrate is rate-determining or at least partially rate-determining in the formation of the common intermediate. Preliminary experiments indicate that l-amino acid oxidase also produces both pyruvate and chloropyruvate from l-chloroalanine. These results suggest that the conversion of chloroalanine to pyruvate and chloropyruvate by d-amino acid oxidase involves a common intermediate in which the α-hydrogen of the substrate has been removed as a proton. It is very probable that the oxidation of other amino acid substrates involves similar intermediates. The intermediate could be a carbanion or an adduct derived from a substrate carbanion and the flavin coenzyme. d-Amino acid oxidase does not catalyze the exchange of the α-hydrogen of chloroalanine and serine with solvent protons under anaerobic conditions. When [α-3H]proline, pyruvate, and NH4+ were incubated anaerobically with the enzyme, no 3H was observed in the alanine formed in such incubations. This indicates that the proton released from the substrate is rapidly released from E·FADII2.
Pseudomonas mevalonii 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. Characterization and chemical modification.

Pseudomonas mevalonii (formerly designated Pseudomonas sp. M (Beach, M. J., and Rodwell, V. W. (1989) J. Bacteriol. 171, 2994-3001; Gill, J. F., Jr., Beach, M.J., and Rodwell, V. W. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 9393-9398] 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (EC 1.1.1.88), overexpressed in Escherichia coli (1), has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity in 75% yield (final specific activity 48 µmols of NAD+ reduced per min/mg protein). The enzyme catalyzes its normal catabolic reaction (mevalonate + 2 NAD+ + CoASH→HMG-CoA + 2NADH + 2H+), the reverse reaction (HMG-CoA + ZNADH + 2H+ → mevalonate + 2NAD+ + CoASH), and two half-reactions which involve mevaldehyde, the postulated intermediate in the aforementioned reactions (mevaldehyde + NAD+ + CoASH → HMG-CoA + NADH + H+, and mevaldehyde + NADH + H+ → mevalonate + NAD+). The rates of all four reactions and the Michaelis constants for all substrates were measured. Coenzyme A decreased the KM for mevaldehyde reduction 12-fold and stimulated Vmax 2-3 fold. CoASH thus may remain bound throughout the catalytic cycle. Dithiothreitol and analogs of CoASH were tested for their ability to reproduce the CoASH stimulation. Pantetheine, but not dithiothreitol, pantothenate, or desulfo-CoA mimicked CoASH stimulation. Titration with 5,5‵-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) indicated two sulfhydryl groups per subunit. Both groups remained accessible to 5,5‵-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in the presence of mevalonate and/or NAD+ but only one group in the presence of HMG-CoA. N-Ethylmaleimide inhibited all the aforementioned reactions. HMG-CoA, but not mevalonate, afforded protection from N-ethylmaleimide inactivation. Methyl methanethiosulfonate completely and irreversibly inactivated the enzyme. The reactive sulfhydryl group thus may not be a catalytic residue, butm ay be involved in a conformational change.
Agile Systems Architectural Analysis and Trade Studies

A key systems engineering activity is to examine different architectural and technical solutions—especially ones that cross engineering disciplines—to identify the best approach for the system design. This can be done in a relatively simple, but low-fidelity way using spreadsheets and estimated advantages and disadvantages of various candidate solutions. It can also be done using a more formal means using mathematical and constraint analysis. The SysML provides a means for evaluation of parametric constraints to rigorously evaluate architectural solutions and select the best design alternative from a host of choices. The parametric diagram is key here, and constraint properties, values and instance slots are used to perform this analysis. This chapter presents the Harmony aMBSE workflow for architectural trade study analysis and demonstrates how to use this powerful approach to evaluate alternatives.
Decay of C / Z(n): Exact supergravity solutions

We present a simple method to derive the general exact solution describing monopole scalar radiation coupled to gravity in 2+1 dimensions. The solution confirms the conjecture of Adams, Polchinski, and Silverstein regarding the late time behavior of the decay of the C/Zn orbifold in type-II string theory.
Facilitating systematic reviews, data extraction and meta‐analysis with the metagear package for r

Summary The r package ecosystem is rich in tools for the statistics of meta-analysis. However, there are few resources available to facilitate research synthesis as a whole. Here, I present the metagear package for r. It is a comprehensive, multifunctional toolbox with capabilities aimed to cover much of the research synthesis taxonomy: from applying a systematic review approach to objectively assemble and screen the literature, to extracting data from studies, and to finally summarize and analyse these data with the statistics of meta-analysis. Current functionalities of metagear include the following: an abstract screener GUI to efficiently sieve bibliographic information from large numbers of candidate studies; tools to assign screening effort across multiple collaborators/reviewers and to assess inter-reviewer reliability using kappa statistics; PDF downloader to automate the retrieval of journal articles from online data bases; automated data extractions from scatter-plots, box-plots and bar-plots; PRISMA flow diagrams; simple imputation tools to fill gaps in incomplete or missing study parameters; generation of random-effects sizes for Hedges' d, log response ratio, odds ratio and correlation coefficients for Monte Carlo experiments; covariance equations for modelling dependencies among multiple effect sizes (e.g. with a common control, phylogenetic correlations); and finally, summaries that replicate analyses and outputs from widely used but no longer updated meta-analysis software. Research synthesis practices are vital to many disciplines in the sciences, including ecology and evolutionary biology, and metagear aims to enrich the scope, quality and reproducibility of what can be achieved with the systematic review and meta-analysis of research outcomes.
Susceptibility to diabetes is widely distributed in normal class IIu haplotype rats.

Aims/hypothesis. We did experiments to explore the pathways putatively leading to Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, and their association with the MHC locus, the major genetic determinant of disease susceptibility.¶Methods. Normal MHC congenic rat strains that do not spontaneously develop diabetes or any other autoimmune syndrome were injected with the interferon-alpha inducer polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly IC).¶Results. Insulitis and diabetes developed only in strains expressing Class IIu genes and was independent of the Class I haplotype. Poly IC induced islet cell Class I hyperexpression, up regulation of pancreatic endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular adhesion molecule-1 and a T-cell and macrophage infiltration of the pancreatic interstitium in all rat strains studied, including diabetes-resistant strains. Poly IC also induced the generation of diabetes-transferring spleen cells in most Class IIu haplotype rats, including the diabetes-resistant WF rat.¶Conclusion/Interpretation. The minimum requirements for autoimmune diabetes development in the rat include: RT1 Class IIu genes, a T-cell repertoire containing beta-cell autoreactive T cells and a triggering event which breaks tolerance by the local up regulation of pancreatic endothelial adhesion receptors. Even when all of the minimum requirements have, however, been met, most Class IIu rats do not develop diabetes in response to autoimmune stimuli. It is clear, nonetheless, that susceptibility to diabetes is widely distributed in the RT1 u rat. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 890–898]
Nanomanufacturing and sustainability: opportunities and challenges

New nanomanufacturing technologies, although still in research labs, present a great opportunity to drastically reduce the cost of making nanostructures on a large scale and at high-rates. Such new bottom-up directed assembly-based approaches involve adding materials selectively thereby both reducing waste and the number of required processes. Directed assembly-based processes are conducted at room pressure and temperatures which significantly reduces the cost of nanomanufacturing equipment and tools, ensuring long-term sustainability by reducing energy, consumables, and waste costs. This paradigm shift in nanomanufacturing will unleash not only a wave of creativity in sustainable nanomanufacturing but lessons learnt along the way can be used in various other sectors. Along with the exquisite technological promise that nanotechnology holds, nano-enabled products are heralded as a means for energy and resource reduction, resulting in potential manufacturing cost reductions and further, for potential improvements to environmental remediation. Sustainable nanomanufacturing will, by dramatically lowering current nanomanufacturing barriers, spur innovation, and the creation of entirely new industries by leveling the playing and ultimately leading to the democratization of nanomanufacturing.
The Youth Work Learning Center: Successes and Lessons Learned

In 1979 the Wisconsin Association of Child Care Workers’ dream to create a center where workers and professors could work together on education programs, certification, and research became a reality when the Child Care Learning Center, now called the Youth Work Learning Center (YWLC), was founded at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Twenty-five years later the center is a primary source of education, training, and research for child and youth care workers in Wisconsin. The author describes the approach developed and the lessons learned.
(Y0.5In0.5)Ba(Co,Zn)4O7 cathodes with superior high-temperature phase stability for solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract (Y0.5In0.5)BaCo4−xZnxO7 (1.0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) oxides crystallizing in a trigonal P31c structure have been explored as alternative cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). At a given Zn content, the (Y0.5In0.5)BaCo4−xZnxO7 compositions exhibit superior phase stability compared to YBaCo4−xZnxO7 and InBaCo4−xZnxO7 at the operating temperatures of SOFC (600–800 °C). In the (Y0.5In0.5)Ba(Co4−xZnx)O7 system, the x = 1 sample offers a combination of good electrochemical performance, low thermal expansion coefficient (TEC), and enhanced chemical stability against Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9 (GDC) electrolyte while demonstrating good phase stability at 600–800 °C for 100 h. Optimum cathode performance could be obtained by employing (Y0.5In0.5)BaCo3ZnO7 + GDC (50:50 wt.%) composite cathodes attached at 850 °C for 3 h as evidenced by ac-impedance spectroscopy, and the fuel cell performance of this composite cathode was evaluated using anode-supported single cells. With a combination of excellent high-temperature phase stability, low TEC, and good electrochemical performances, the trigonal (Y0.5In0.5)BaCo3ZnO7 composition is an attractive cathode candidate for intermediate temperature SOFC.
Electron emission from surfaces by impact of polyatomic ions and cosmic dust

Abstract This article discusses the effect of atomic aggregation (or molecular effect) in the electron emission of solids by the impact of particles at low velocities (
Targeting Oral Language Development in High-Risk Preschoolers

Among risk factors associated with reading difficulties, poverty and underdeveloped oral language skills can be particularly detrimental to reading success. The City Early Reading First (CERF) project implemented a comprehensive curriculum, professional development, intensive mentoring, and home supports to enhance children's language, literacy, and cognitive skills. Participants (N = 75) were 4-year-old children and teaching staff from 8 Head Start classrooms in a large urban city in the Midwest. Within the larger project, CERF undertook an intervention—Language Enrichment Group (LEG)—that targeted at-risk preschoolers' oral language development, including vocabulary, discourse skills, and content knowledge. LEGs focused on deepening content knowledge, providing opportunities for language development, and fostering social skills. Whereas nearly half of all 4-year-olds were at risk for later reading difficulty according to fall Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test–III (PPVT) scores, only one fifth remained at ...
Combinatorial Control of Human RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II) Pausing and Transcript Cleavage by Transcription Factor IIF, Hepatitis δ Antigen, and Stimulatory Factor II

Abstract When RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) is forced to stall, elongation complexes (ECs) are observed to leave the active pathway and enter a paused state. Initially, ECs equilibrate between active and paused conformations, but with stalls of a long duration, ECs backtrack and become sensitive to transcript cleavage, which is stimulated by the EC rescue factor stimulatory factor II (TFIIS/SII). In this work, the rates for equilibration between the active and pausing pathways were estimated in the absence of an elongation factor, in the presence of hepatitis δ antigen (HDAg), and in the presence of transcription factor IIF (TFIIF), with or without addition of SII. Rates of equilibration between the active and paused states are not very different in the presence or absence of elongation factors HDAg and TFIIF. SII facilitates escape from stalled ECs by stimulating RNAP II backtracking and transcript cleavage and by increasing rates into and out of the paused EC. TFIIF and SII cooperate to merge the pausing and active pathways, a combinatorial effect not observed with HDAg and SII. In the presence of HDAg and SII, pausing is observed without stimulation of transcript cleavage, indicating that the EC can pause without backtracking beyond the pre-translocated state.
Imaging of Primary Malignant Bone Tumors (Nonhematological)

Primary malignant bone tumors are uncommon and are diagnosed typically based on radiographic and microscopic findings combined with clinical and demographic features. CT and MR imaging scans are useful in further staging the tumors by determining intraosseous and extraosseous spread.
Wireless medical telemetry: Current status and future directions

Wireless telemetry is the remote monitoring of patients' physiological parameters (e.g., cardiac signals, blood glucose, body temperature) over a distance via radiofrequency (RF) communications between a transmitter worn by the patient and a central monitoring station. Undoubtedly, this technology delivers mobility, comfort, and higher levels of patient care. As designers develop new implanted medical devices taking advantage of RF technology to improve the quality of care for patients, antennas are key to these new systems. Although the antennas and RF system design is well understood for today's telecommunication systems, their application in medical systems offer unique challenges. One of the main issues is power consumption, for the in-body monitoring systems for instance, the antenna used for the implantable device should be able to radiate outside the body and yet the power associated with the device must comply with the radiation requirements. Increased power levels might cause heating of the tissue and consequently a permanent tissue damage. Moreover, it is important to design the antenna with a minimum interference with other electronic devices inside or outside the body and must be composed of biocompatible materials and must be very small to minimize the reaction of the surrounding tissues to the implant. Such restrictions demand for implantable antennas that are small in size. There are several ways to miniaturize implantable antennas. One way is to optimize the topology of the antenna and the other way is to optimize the dielectric materials used in the design. Recently, topology optimization has been carried out combining Finite- Element Boundary-Integral algorithm with particle swarm optimization for designing a dual band implantable antenna. This study has led to the design of a small antennas operating at medical implant communications services (MICS) (402 MHz–405 MHz) / MedRadio (401 MHz–406 MHz) and industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) 433 MHz and (2.4 GHz–2.48 GHz) bands. We have designed several miniature implantable antennas for these frequencies.
Structural Definition of Chemical Templates and the Prediction of New and Unusual Materials

Synthetic applications of chemical templates have yielded, in succession, macrocycles, cage compounds, interlocking rings and a trefoil knot. The known kinds of templates are analyzed and used to provide a broad definition of a chemical template, which, in turn, leads to the prediction of exciting new forms of matter based on orderly molecular entanglements.
FALL-BACK DISKS IN LONG AND SHORT GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

We present numerical time-dependent calculations for fall-back disks relevant for GRBs in which the disk of material surrounding the black hole (BH) powering the GRB jet modulates the mass flow, and hence the strength of the jet. Given the initial existence of a small mass appr oximately less than 10(exp -4) M(solar) near the progenitor with a circularization radius approximately 10(exp 10) - 10(exp 11) cm, an una voidable consequence will be the formation of an "external disk" whose outer edge continually moves to larger radii due to angular momentum transport and lack of a confining torque. For long GRBs, if the mass distribution in the initial fall-back disk traces the progenitor envelope, then a radius approximates 10(exp 11) cm gives a time scale app roximately 10(exp 4) s for the X-ray plateau. For late times t > 10(exp 7) s a steepening due to a cooling front in the disk may have obser vational support in GRB 060729. For short GRBs, one expects most of t he mass initially to lie at small radii < 10(exp 8) cm; however the presence of even a trace amount approximately 10(exp -9) M(solar) of hi gh angular material can give a brief plateau in the light curve.
EFFECTS OF COMBUSTIBLE DUST CLOUDS ON THE EXTINCTION BEHAVIOR OF STRAINED, LAMINAR PREMIXED FLAMES IN NORMAL GRAVITY

An experimental and numerical study was performed on the interaction of combustible solid particleswith atmospheric, strained, laminar premixed methane/air and propane/air flames in normal gravity. The study was conducted in the opposed-jet configuration in which a single flame was stabilized below the gas stagnation plane by counterflowing a mixture against an air jet. Into the flame were seeded spherical 50 μm, combustible glassy-carbon particles. Flame extinction data were analyzed to provide insight into the effects of fuel type, gas-phase composition and temperature, flame thickness, strain rate, and particle number density. It was found that at low strain rates, the particles could effectively burn within the gaseous flame zone and thus enhance the overall reactivity of the system and resistance to extinction. At high strain rates, however, the particles are rapidly transported through the flame and their ignition is delayed until they are well downstream of the flame and so have no effect or at best a minor one on the gaseous flame. If no ignition occurs, the combustible particles act simply as heat sinks, promoting extinction. The effects of Lewis number and flame thickness were also studied. It was found that the enhancement of the gas-phase reactivity by the particles is more profound for Le
RAT OVARIAN INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR I (IGF-I) GENE EXPRESSION IS GRANULOSA CELL-SELECTIVE: 5'-UNTRANSLATED mRNA VARIANT REPRESENTATION AND HORMONAL REGULATION

Abstract We, and others, have recently reported that the ovary is a site of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I gene expression. It was the objective of the present studies to assess the relative ovarian abundance of IGF-I transcripts with alternative 5′-untranslated (UT) regions, their cellular localization, and hormonal regulation. To this end, a solution hybrklization/RNase protection assay was employed wherein total rat ovarian RNA was hybridized with a 404-base P-labelled rat IGF-I riboprobe corresponding to the Class A 5′UT variant. As in liver, three protected bands [322 (Class A), 297 (Class B), and 242 (Class C) bases long] were noted, in keeping with established alternative 5′ UT transcripts. The ovarian (as the hepatic) Class C variant proved the most abundant. The ovarian Class B variant was barely detectable-Cellular localization studies revealed these ovarian IGF-I transcripts to be primarily, if not exclusively, of granulosa but not theca-interstitial cell origin. Treatment of immature (21–2...
Modeling frequency-dependent selection with an application to cichlid fish

Negative frequency-dependent selection is a well known microevolutionary process that has been documented in a population of Perissodus microlepis, a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika (Africa). Adult P. microlepis are lepidophages, feeding on the scales of other living fish. As an adaptation for this feeding behavior P. microlepis exhibit lateral asymmetry with respect to jaw morphology: the mouth either opens to the right or left side of the body. Field data illustrate a temporal phenotypic oscillation in the mouth-handedness, and this oscillation is maintained by frequency-dependent selection. Since both genetic and population dynamics occur on the same time scale in this case, we develop a (discrete time) model for P. microlepis populations that accounts for both dynamic processes. We establish conditions on model parameters under which the model predicts extinction and conditions under which there exists a unique positive (survival) equilibrium. We show that at the positive equilibrium there is a 1:1 phenotypic ratio. Using a local stability and bifurcation analysis, we give further conditions under which the positive equilibrium is stable and conditions under which it is unstable. Destabilization results in a bifurcation to a periodic oscillation and occurs when frequency-dependent selection is sufficiently strong. This bifurcation is offered as an explanation of the phenotypic frequency oscillations observed in P. microlepis. An analysis of the bifurcating periodic cycle results in some interesting and unexpected predictions.
SULFONYLUREA KATP BLOCKADE IN TYPE II DIABETES AND PRECONDITIONING IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

I n the early 1970s, the UGDP assessed the efficacy of oral hypoglycemic treatment in comparison with insulin and diet alone in the prevention of vascular complications. The surprising finding was the appearance of a significantly higher cardiovascular mortality in patients on oral hypoglycemic agents (sulfonylureas) compared with those on diet alone. Nonetheless, these agents are used extensively because, one suspects, of a lack of a plausible mechanism for the UGDP study results. In 1983, the KATP was discovered and was demonstrated to be sensitive to the sulfonylurea class of drugs; ie, these agents block the opening of this channel. In 1986, the phenomenon of ischemic preconditioning was discovered, which demonstrated the unique ability of a sublethal period of ischemia (angina) to protect the heart from a subsequent lethal ischemic insult. In the 1990s, it became clear that one of the probable mechanisms through which this preconditioning phenomenon worked was via the opening of the KATP. New discoveries often shed light on old mysteries, and this may be the case with the sulfonylurea class of oral hypoglycemic agents. Therefore, it is timely to rethink the seemingly paradoxical result of the UGDP study. In 1942, Janbon et al1 found that sulfonamide derivatives used to treat typhoid fever caused hypoglycemia, which led to the development of a new treatment for NIDDM. Diabetes is a significant problem worldwide. For example, six million people in the United States have NIDDM (85% of all diabetics) and are eligible for treatment with these drugs. The National Disease and Therapeutic Index estimates that 54% of physician visits by these patients included a prescription for oral hypoglycemic agents and that in 1994 there were 2.5 million patient-years of treatment, accounting for $500 million in sales in the United States alone. Recent insight into the …
Leonardo da Vinci's solution to the problem of the pinhole camera

The longstanding challenge of the pinhole camera for medieval theorists was explaining why luminous bodies cast onto a screen different images at different distances from the screen.
Long-run performance of global versus domestic initial public offerings

This paper investigates the long-run performance of global IPOs as compared to purely domestic ones made by US industrial companies. We find that global IPOs not only underperform the market but also underperform their domestic counterparts in the three years after issuance. Moreover, global issues with a larger global tranche are more prone to long-run underperformance. The results are consistent with the window of opportunity hypothesis that investors are overly optimistic about the future prospects of firms engaging in global offerings, and underperformance occurs as unduly high expectations are corrected over time.
Freeze injury to roots of southern pine seedlings in the USA

Roots of pine seedlings can be injured by freezing temperatures and the degree of injury is affected by genotype and stage of acclimation. Local sources of Pinus echinata and P. virginiana that were acclimated by cold temperatures were relatively freeze tolerant when grown in nurseries located where average minimum temperatures ranged from –18 to –23°C. However, seedlings of P. taeda, P. elliottii and P. palustris that were grown in warmer climates were injured by less severe freezes (i.e. –4 to –18°C). Some fast-growing half-sib families from moderate Coastal Plain regions were more susceptible to freezing than Piedmont genotypes located in cooler climates. When seedlings are acclimated to cold weather, the temperature required to cause injury is lower than when seedlings have been deacclimated due to warm weather. For example, in 2004, unusually high temperatures in the month following the winter solstice deacclimated pine seedlings and this resulted in root injury from a –8°C freeze. Shoots did not sho...
Late Miocene Nannippus (Mammalia: Perissodactyla) from Florida, with a description of the smallest hipparionine horse

ABSTRACT Late Clarendonian and very early Hemphillian horse teeth from Florida previously identified as early members of Nannippus aztecus (=N. minor) are referred instead to N. westoni (Simpson). N. westoni was originally assigned to Merychippus and thought to date from the early Miocene. The very low crown height in the teeth of the type specimen is the result of heavy attritional wear and is not of phylogenetic significance. N. westoni displays a mixture of derived Nannippus and primitive hipparionine character states, both in its cheekteeth and metapodials. N. morgani, sp.nov. is described from a small sample of diminutive, isolated teeth and a medial metatarsal that occur in late early Hemphillian faunas together with N. aztecus. N. morgani is 15 to 20% smaller in dental parameters than mean values for N. aztecus, making it one of the smallest known hipparionines, with an estimated body mass of about 40 kg. Three similar-sized, diminutive equids, N. morgani, Pseudhipparion skinneri, and Calippus elac...
Bubble Functions Prompt Unusual Stabilized Finite Element Methods

A second order linear scalar differential equation including a zero-th order term is approximated using first the standard Galerkin method enriched with bubble functions. Static condensation of the bubbles suggest an unusual stabilized finite element method for which we establish a convergence study and obtain successful numerical simulations. The method is generalized to allow for a convection operator in the equation. This work may be employed as a starting point for simulation of nonlinear equations governing turbulence phenomena, flows with chemical reactions, and other important problems.
Fetal Treatment with Interleukin-1α Improves Postnatal Lung Function in Premature Lambs. ♦ 1494

Background: Interleukin-1 (IL-1) denotes two proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1α and IL-1β. Levels of IL-1 are increased in intra-amniotic infections and in other inflammatory conditions. IL-1 may affect the defence functions of the lung. Intraamniotic IL-1α was shown to up regulate the expression of surfactant proteins A and B in preterm rabbits (K. Bry, et al AJ Resp Crit Care Med, Vol. 151, A23). Objective: We measured the physiological and biochemical lung responses in preterm lambs to intra-amniotic injection of IL-1α. Methods: Ewes carrying singleton 126±1 day gestational age fetuses were randomize to receive 125 μg IL-1α (n=8) or placebo (n=9) via ultrasound guided intra-amniotic injection. Each lamb was delivered 48 h after treatment by cesarian section and mechanically ventilated for 2 h. Results: Over the 2 h ventilation period the dynamic compliance of IL-1α treated lambs was higher than controls (0.36±0.02 vs 0.28±.02 (mean ± S.E.) ml/kg/cm H2O, P<0.05). Lung volumes measured from post mortem pressure volume curves trended higher for IL-1atreated lambs than for controls (36±6 vs 24±5 ml/kg at 40 cm H2O pressure and 28±6 vs 18±4 ml/kg at 10 cm H2O). Saturated phosphatidylcholine in the lung, a measure of surfactant pool size, was higher for IL-1α treated animals than for controls (77±7 vs 54±3 μmol/kg, P<0.005). As a measure of pulmonary edema, total lung recovery of I125 albumin injected at 1.5 h of life tended to be less in IL-1α treated animals than in controls(5.2±0.8 vs 7.3±1.2%). Plasma cortisol at 2 h of age was higher in IL-1α treated lambs than in controls (3.4±0.7 vs 1.5±0.2, P<0.02), although cord blood cortisol and catecholamine levels were similar between the groups. Comparisons of IL-1α treated animals versus controls showed no differences in total white blood cells, differential percentages, or absolute neutrophils. Cardiac output and regional blood flow also were similar between the groups. Conclusion: Fetal treatment with IL-1α increased surfactant pool size, improved dynamic compliance, and was not associated with an inflammatory response, in utero cortisol response, or differences in other indicators of fetal or newborn well being.