cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Informal Support Patterns of Older African-American and White Women: Examining Effects of Family, Paid Work and Religious Participation

In this study of informal support patterns of older African-American and White women, a particular focus is the examination of potential interaction effects between race and variables representing three major areas of life experience: family, paid work, and religious participation. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Household, results from regression analyses show statistically significant interaction effects between race and religious participation. Specifically, for four dependent variables measuring dimensions of giving and receiving help, attendance at religious social events was more important in predicting the informal support patterns of older African-American women than those of older White women. These results provide support for Taylor's recommendation that formal service providers use the organizational structure of churches to more effectively provide services to African-American elderly. Results from this study also raise questions concerning whether the hierarchy of primary ...
Effects of large-scale magnetic fields in the Venus ionosphere

Theoretical models of the ionosphere of Venus have been constructed in the past without due consideration of the fact that the ionosphere is sometimes magnetized. This paper examines some differences between the magnetized and unmagnetized dayside Venus ionosphere using the Pioneer Venus Orbiter Langmuir probe and magnetometer data. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of the altitude profiles of the thermal electron heating and comparison of the magnitude of the magnetic force with other forces in the ionosphere. Several examples illustrate how heating profiles are different in the magnetized ionosphere with effective heating below 200 km altitude reduced by orders of magnitude compared to the field-free ionosphere. The force associated with the magnetic field is comparable to other forces in the magnetized ionosphere. The measured plasma density, electron temperature and magnetic field thus suggest that large-scale magnetic fields should be included in future ionosphere models.
Management of Comminuted Fractures of the Mandible

Comminuted fractures of the mandible are unusual but not rare. They are complex injuries with a high complication rate. Gunshot wounds are a frequent cause. Traditional management with closed techniques is noted for good long-term results, but may involve an extended period of treatment. Treatment with open reduction and rigid internal fixation significantly shortens the course of treatment and simplifies the convalescence.
Loadability of power systems with steady-state and dynamic security constraints

Estimating loadability of a generation and transmission system is of practical importance in power system operations and planning. This paper presents a new formulation for the problem using mathematical programming theory. Both steady-state and dynamic security are taken into account in the proposed formulation. The difference between the proposed formulation and existing ones is that dynamic security is handled by an integration method. Using the new formulation, an iterative solution procedure is developed to solve the corresponding mathematical programming problem numerically. The method normally yields a slightly conservative estimate on the loadability of a generation/transmission system. Simulation results of a test power system are provided.
The 1H-nmr spectra of mixed valence complexes of copper with derivatives of 1-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2-mercaptoethane.

Abstract Paramagnetic cluster ions of the type Cu(II) 6 Cu(I) 8 L 12 Cl z , where z is charge and L a derivative of 1-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2-mercaptoethane, have been shown to produce detectable 1 H-nmr absorptions. Linewidths are narrow enough to permit the use of high resolution instruments. Downfield shifting of all detectable resonances is indicative of S → Cu 2+ charge transfer, which results in a positive spin density at sulfur. Exchange measurements with 67 Cu indicate relatively static structures.
Abstract PL01-02: The mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus persistent infection and the origins of associated lymphomas

Epstein-Barr virus is a human herpesvirus that is a paradigm for understanding persistent infection. It infects >90% of the human population usually early in life and then remains for the life of the human host. This persistent infection is almost always benign but occasionally is associated with the development of cancers several of which constitute significant health problems. These include immunoblastic, Hodgkin9s and Burkitt9s lymphomas. We have presented a large body of evidence in support of a model, which is now generally accepted, of how EBV establishes and maintains this infection. The essence of this model is that EBV usurps the normal biology of the B lymphocyte. Specifically EBV uses a series of B cell stage specific transcription programs to first activate the newly infected B cell then drive it through a germinal center reaction (the site where B cells usually undergo affinity maturation of their immunoglobulin genes) to emerge as a latently infected resting memory B cell – the site of long term persistence. Ultimately reactivation of the virus from these cells occurs when they are triggered into terminal differentiation to become plasma cells. This infectious virus then becomes amplified through lytic infection of the epithelium at the mucosal surface prior to release into saliva – the vehicle via which the infection is spread. When the progression of newly infected cells into the memory compartment is compromised at any given stage this can give rise to EBV associated lymphoma. In this presentation I will review the model of EBV persistence, where and how it becomes dysregulated leading to lymphoma with especial focus on Burkitt9s lymphoma This will include new evidence implicating viral miRNAs in the development of these tumors. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):PL01-02.
Peripheral immunophenotype and viral promoter variants during the asymptomatic phase of feline immunodeficiency virus infection

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats enter a clinically asymptomatic phase during chronic infection. Despite the lack of overt clinical disease, the asymptomatic phase is characterized by persistent immunologic impairment. In the peripheral blood obtained from cats experimentally infected with FIV-C for approximately 5 years, we identified a persistent inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio. We cloned and sequenced the FIV-C long terminal repeat containing the viral promoter from cells infected with the inoculating virus and from in vivo-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD4 T cells isolated at multiple time points throughout the asymptomatic phase. Relative to the inoculating virus, viral sequences amplified from cells isolated from all of the infected animals demonstrated multiple single nucleotide mutations and a short deletion within the viral U3, R and U5 regions. A transcriptionally inactivating proviral mutation in the U3 promoter AP-1 site was identified at multiple time points from all of the infected animals but not within cell-associated viral RNA. In contrast, no mutations were identified within the sequence of the viral dUTPase gene amplified from PBMC isolated at approximately 5 years post-infection relative to the inoculating sequence. The possible implications of these mutations to viral pathogenesis are discussed.
Atomistic simulations of surface segregation of defects in solid oxide electrolytes

Abstract We performed atomistic simulations of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) to study the segregation of point defects near (1 0 0) surfaces. A hybrid Monte Carlo–molecular dynamics algorithm was developed to sample the equilibrium distributions of dopant cations and oxygen vacancies. The simulations predict an increase of dopant concentration near the surface, which is consistent with experimental observations. Oxygen vacancies are also found to segregate in the first anion layer beneath the surface and to be depleted in the subsequent anion layers. While the ionic size mismatch between dopant and host cations has been considered as a driving force for dopant segregation to the surface, our simulations show that the correlation between individual point defects plays a dominant role in determining their equilibrium distributions. This correlation effect leads to more pronounced dopant segregation in GDC than in YSZ, even though the size mismatch between dopant and host cations is much greater in YSZ than in GDC.
Synthesis of monodisperse biodegradable microgels in microfluidic devices

Microgels are promising materials in drug delivery and biomedicine. Although monodisperse microgels would offer considerable advantages, most microgels investigated and used today are polydisperse in size. We report on the fabrication of 10 mum sized monodisperse microgels by emulsifying an aqueous dextran-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (dex-HEMA) phase within an oil phase at the junction of microfluidic channels. Dex-HEMA microgels are biodegradable and are ideally suited for the controlled delivery of proteins.
Providing developmentally based care for school-aged and adolescent patients.

AUGUST 2009, VOL 90, NO 2 • AORN JOURNAL • 261 chool-aged and adolescent patients are at the age when one may think that because of their increased cognitive ability and vocabulary, developmental care is not as important. Regardless of the patient’s age, however, a developmentally based approach to care is essential to ease the stress and fears of the perioperative experience. Pediatric patients at any age are not small adults; rather, each child is a unique individual who is actively engaged in gaining control over and learning about his or her world. Similarities in children do exist based on developmental levels, however. The theories of Sigmund Freud, Jean Piaget, and Erik Erikson provide a theoretical foundation for understanding children at each psychosocial and cognitive level (Table 1) and offer guide lines in the best approach for providing holistic, familycentered care. All humans have the potential to developmentally regress when under stress. If a school-aged child or adolescent regresses, the developmental interventions that are appropriate for the previous stage should be considered. Hallmarks of the school-age period are • the transition from the home to the school environment as a major social influence, • the resolution of separation anxiety with a shift to peers as important relationships, and • shedding of deciduous teeth along with eruption of permanent teeth. The school-aged stage from a chronological perspective is from the sixth birthday until about age 12. Adolescence begins at the onset of puberty (ie, between 11 and 12 years of age) and ends when the child assumes the responsibilities and sexual and physical characteristics of an adult (ie, usually between 18 and 20 years of age). Adolescence has three subgroups: • early (ie, ages 11 to 14 years); • middle (ie, ages 15 to 17 years); and • late (ie, ages 18 to 20 years). The hallmark of adolescence is puberty, which includes profound changes in body mass, sexual characteristics, and psychosocial status that accompany the transition from child to adult. The major fear of the school-aged child revolves around loss of control, whereas the adolescent fears disfigurement. If at any point during the perioperative process there is a possibility that the school-aged child might lose control of body functions (eg, cry, soil the bed, pass gas), the nurse needs to ensure that the child’s peers are not present to witness the event. The same applies to the adolescent’s peer group being allowed to see the patient when the patient may not think he or she is looking good enough for visitors. The information presented in this column is designed to provide a developmental theory foundation to augment the psychosocial competency as outlined in the Age-Specific Care Competency Assessment Module from the Competency & Credentialing Institute. School-aged and adolescent patients have specific physiological needs based on their size and the maturity of their body systems that are also addressed in the module. The major fear of
Transition to home care after stroke: Depression, physical health, and adaptive processes in support persons

A longitudinal design was used to examine adaptation in primary support persons (PSP) of stroke survivors during the transition from hospitalization (T1) to home care (T2). The major purposes of the study were (a) to examine changes in depression, physical health, and contextual and coping factors from hospitalization of the stroke survivor through the first 6-10 weeks of home care; and (b) to identify predictors of depression. Data (N = 136) were collected on depression, physical health, background, survivor illness, and social environmental variables; appraisal of impact; social support resources; and coping skills. Reduction in mean PSP depression was significant at T2, but the change in physical health was not significant. Significant changes occurred in survivor function, family functioning, and three of six coping skills. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to predict depression. T1 variables accounted for 29% of the variance in T1 PSP depression, with gender and appraisal of impact the strongest of seven predictors. T1 depression, T2 health, family functioning, and avoidance coping were the strongest of seven predictors, explaining 50% of the variance in T2 depression. Findings highlight the importance of maintaining caregiver health and preventing depression and identify variables to target for the reduction of PSP depression.
Stable adaptive controller design, part II: Proof of stability

The paper presents a proof of stability of model reference adaptive control systems using direct control. The structure of the adaptive system is similar to that considered by Monopoli [1] and Narendra and Valavani [2] but contains an additional feedback term which ensures that the time derivative of the parameter error vector belongs to the L2space. The output of the plant is shown to be bounded by expressing the plant feedback loop as an exponentially stable system with a time-varying gain \dot{\phi}(\cdot)\in L^{2} in the feedback path.
Human polyomavirus receptor distribution in brain parenchyma contrasts with receptor distribution in kidney and choroid plexus.

The human polyomavirus, JCPyV, is the causative agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a rare demyelinating disease that occurs in the setting of prolonged immunosuppression. After initial asymptomatic infection, the virus establishes lifelong persistence in the kidney and possibly other extraneural sites. In rare instances, the virus traffics to the central nervous system, where oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, and glial precursors are susceptible to lytic infection, resulting in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The mechanisms by which the virus traffics to the central nervous system from peripheral sites remain unknown. Lactoseries tetrasaccharide c (LSTc), a pentasaccharide containing a terminal α2,6–linked sialic acid, is the major attachment receptor for polyomavirus. In addition to LSTc, type 2 serotonin receptors are required for facilitating virus entry into susceptible cells. We studied the distribution of virus receptors in kidney and brain using lectins, antibodies, and labeled virus. The distribution of LSTc, serotonin receptors, and virus binding sites overlapped in kidney and in the choroid plexus. In brain parenchyma, serotonin receptors were expressed on oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, but these cells were negative for LSTc and did not bind virus. LSTc was instead found on microglia and vascular endothelium, to which virus bound abundantly. Receptor distribution was not changed in the brains of patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Virus infection of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes during disease progression is LSTc independent.
THE SPECTRAL DECOMPOSITION OF THE OPTION VALUE

This paper develops a spectral expansion approach to the valuation of contingent claims when the underlying state variable follows a one-dimensional diffusion with the infinitesimal variance a2(x), drift b(x) and instantaneous discount (killing) rate r(x). The Spectral Theorem for self-adjoint operators in Hilbert space yields the spectral decomposition of the contingent claim value function. Based on the Sturm–Liouville (SL) theory, we classify Feller's natural boundaries into two further subcategories: non-oscillatory and oscillatory/non-oscillatory with cutoff Λ≥0 (this classification is based on the oscillation of solutions of the associated SL equation) and establish additional assumptions (satisfied in nearly all financial applications) that allow us to completely characterize the qualitative nature of the spectrum from the behavior of a, b and r near the boundaries, classify all diffusions satisfying these assumptions into the three spectral categories, and present simplified forms of the spectral ...
The influence of landscape position on lake chemical responses to drought in northern Wisconsin

Climatic shifts to drier conditions during drought alter the hydrologic pathways of water and solute flow to aquatic ecosystems. We examined differences in drought-induced trends in the semiconservative cations, Ca+Mg, in seven northern Wisconsin lakes. These spanned the range of hydrologic settings in the region, including hydraulically mounded, groundwater flowthrough, and groundwater-discharge lakes. Parallel increases in concentration across the seven lakes during drought were attributable to evapoconcentration. However, we observed divergent trends for mass, which better reflects altered solute flux by accounting for changes in lake volume. Ca + Mg mass increased in three groundwater-dominated lakes as precipitation inputs were low and groundwater discharging from longer flowpaths became proportionately more important. In contrast, decreases in Ca+Mg mass for two precipitation-dominated lakes reflected diminished inputs of solute-rich groundwater. Landscape position, defined by the spatial position of a lake within a hydrologic flow system, accounted for the divergence in chemical responses to drought.
Mitochondrial disorders: analysis of their clinical and imaging characteristics.

PURPOSE Investigation of the clinical, imaging, and in vivo MR spectroscopy (MRS) characteristics of disorders of mitochondrial function. METHODS Clinical, imaging (five CT and 20 MR examinations), and MRS (six studies in five patients) findings in 19 patients with mitochondrial disorders were retrospectively reviewed. Results were critically analyzed and, when applicable, compared with results in the literature. RESULTS Patients included four with mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), two with myoclonus, epilepsy, and ragged red fibers (MERRF), two with Kearns-Sayre syndrome, seven with Leigh syndrome, one with progressive cerebral poliodystrophy (Alpers syndrome), and three with trichopoliodystrophy (Menkes disease). MELAS, MERRF, and Kearns-Sayre tended to occur in older children and adults, whereas Leigh syndrome, Alpers syndrome, and Menkes disease occurred in infants and young children. All diseases involved gray matter early in their course, manifest primarily as T2 prolongation, with the deep cerebral nuclei being involved more often than the cerebral cortex. When T2 prolongation was seen in the white matter (MELAS, MERRF, Kearns-Sayre, Leigh), the peripheral and retrotrigonal white matter showed early involvement. Patients with Menkes disease showed rapidly progressive atrophy accompanied by large subdural hematomas. Proton MRS showed an elevated lactate level in involved regions of the brain; the lactate peak disappeared in old areas of T2 prolongation. CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial disorders have a wide range of both clinical and imaging findings. Although no one set of findings is diagnostic of these disorders, the combination of deep gray matter involvement and peripheral white matter involvement in young adults or children should suggest the diagnosis, especially when associated with an elevated lactate level on proton MRS.
In vitro letrozole N‐dealkylation is mainly catalyzed by human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A

Background/Aims We used human liver microsomes (HLMs) to identify the CYP isoforms involved in letrozole metabolism. Letrozole, a potent inhibitor of aromatase (a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of estrogens) is increasingly used to treat women with breast cancer. Although letrozole is cleared by metabolism via human hepatic CYPs, the specific enzymes involved have not been fully clarified, and as a result factors that influence it disposition and response are not known. Methods Letrozole was incubated for 30 min at 37°C in human liver microsomes (HLMs, 0.5 mg protein/ml) and NADP-generating system with or without isoform specific inhibitors. Results HPLC chromatograms of microsomal incubates of letrozole showed one major metabolite that was consistent with 4,4'-methanol-bisbenzonitrile (MI). The formation of MI in two HLMs (HG43 and HL091499) showed sigmoidal kinetics (apparent Km, 38.3 and 38.4 μM; Vmax, 8.8 and 20.0 pmol/min/mg protein; and Hill coefficients, 1.5 and 2.0 respectively). MI formation from letrozole (10 μM) correlated significantly with the activity of CYP3A. The IC50s for the inhibition of MI from letrozole (10μM) by ritonavir, troleandomycin, ketoconazole and pilocarpine were 0.3, 0.5, 0.4 and 25μM respectively. Conclusion Our data implicate CYP3A as a major catalyst of letrozole metabolism. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P79–P79; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.193
Mu-Class GSTs Are Responsible for Aflatoxin B1-8,9-Epoxide-Conjugating Activity in the Nonhuman Primate Macaca fascicularis Liver

Mice are resistant to the carcinogenic effects of the mycotoxin aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) because they constitutively express an alpha-class glutathione S-transferase (mGSTA3-3) that has high (approximately 200,000 pmol/min/mg) activity toward aflatoxin B(1)-8, 9-epoxide (AFBO). Rats do not constitutively express a GST with high AFBO-conjugating activity and are sensitive to AFB(1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Constitutively expressed human hepatic alpha-class GSTs (hGSTA1-1 and hGSTA2-2) possess little or no AFBO-detoxifying activity (<2 pmol/min/mg). Recently, we found that the nonhuman primate, Macaca fascicularis (Mf), exhibits significant (approximately 300 pmol/min/mg) constitutive hepatic GST activity towards AFBO. To determine which specific GST isoenzyme(s) is (are) responsible for this activity, MF: GSTs were purified from liver tissue and characterized and, Mf mu-class GST cDNAs were cloned by reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Purification by glutathione agarose (GSHA) affinity chromatography yielded a protein, GSHA-GST, that exhibited relatively high AFBO-conjugating activity (239 pmol/min/mg) compared to other GST-containing peaks. Western blotting and enzymatic activity analyses revealed that GSHA-GST belongs to the mu class. Two distinct mu-class GST cDNAs, mfaGSTM1 (GenBank accession # AF200709) and mfaGSTM2 (GenBank accession # AF200710), were generated by RT-PCR. CDNA-derived amino acid sequence analysis revealed that mfaGSTM1 and mfaGSTM2 share 97% and 96% homology with the human mu-class GSTs hGSTM4 and hGSTM2, respectively. In contrast to recombinant mfaGSTM1-1, which had no detectable AFBO-conjugating activity, mfaGSTM2-2 exhibited this activity at 333 pmol/min/mg. Activity profiles for the stereoisomers exo- and endo-AFBO, and of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene of the purified protein GSHA-GST and recombinant mfaGSTM2-2, suggested that they are two distinct enzymes. Our results indicate that, in contrast to rodents, mu-class GSTs are responsible for the majority of AFBO-conjugating activity in the liver of Macaca fascicularis.
Signaling Modules in Glial Tumors and Implications for Molecular Therapy

Gliomas (ependymomas are also considered gliomas) are the most common primary central nervous system tumors. They are graded on a scale of I-IV, based on their degree of malignancy as judged by variable histological features. Genetic and biochemical evidence have proven that gliomagenesis involves a stepwise accumulation of genetic lesions affecting either signal transduction pathways activated by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) or cell cycle growth arrest pathways. Many of these observed molecular alterations are now being used to compliment clinical diagnosis. Genetic alterations affecting RTK signaling results in the activation of several downstream pathways, such as the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt and Ras/Raf/MEK/MAPK pathways, which provide a number of novel targets for glioma therapy. This chapter aims to present a broad understanding of the RTK signaling networks involved in gliomagenesis. Molecular classification of primary glial tumors and elucidation of cooperative interactions between different genetic lesions will eventually allow us to target distinct glioma subsets and will provide a more rational approach to adjuvant therapies.
Performance of DNS as location manager for wireless systems in IP networks

Domain name system (DNS) can be deployed in the network as a location manager (LM) for mobility management. The suitability of domain name system (DNS) as an LM can be measured by how successfully it can serve to locate a mobile host. In this paper, we developed an analytical model to measure the performance of DNS as LM for mobility management techniques with IP diversity support based on success rate which takes into account the radius of the subnet, the residence time of MH in that subnet, latency in the network and the overlapping distance of two neighboring subnets. Our analysis shows that for a reasonable overlapping distance, DNS can serve as an LM with very high success rate even under some high network latency.
Chemical composition and biodegradability of crop residues colonized by white-rot fungi

Two experiments were conducted to study the degradation of rice (Oriza sativa L) straw and maize (Zea maize L) stover by selected white-rot fungi, using loss of organic matter, disappearance of cell wall constituents, and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) as indices of rumen microbial degradation. Four white-rot fungi—Cyrathus stercoreus, Dichomitus squalens and two strains (cellulase-less mutant and a wild type) of Phanerochaete chrysosporium—were selected for the first experiment. After 30 days of solid state fermentation. C stercoreus increased IVDMD of both substrates from 373 g kg−1 (rice) and 393 g kg−1 (corn) to approximately 540 g kg−1 by selectively degrading hemicellulose as opposed to cellulose. The highest IVDMD was obtained with a minimal loss of dry matter (33 g kg−1). In contrast, both strains (wild and mutant) of P chrysosporium degraded cellulose and hemicellulose indiscriminately, and thus lowered the IVDMD to 276. 257 as opposed to 373 for rice straw and 301. 307 as opposed to 393 g kg−1 for maize stover. All the fungi showed a preference for degrading maize stover compared with rice straw, although the materials were similar in cellulose and lignin concentration. No direct correlation was found between lignin degradation and the improvement of substrate IVDMD of either substrate. The objective of the second experiment was to determine the rate and extent of digestibility of rice straw colonized by C stercoreus during two incubation periods (15 and 30 days). Dry matter disappearance (DMD) was determined by ruminal incubation of the substrate contained in nylon bags. The 30-day incubation period was superior (1.3 ×) to that of the 15-day period in improving in-situ DMD. Treatment of rice straw for 30 days not only improved the extent of dry matter digestibility (616 as opposed to 389 g kg−1), but also increased (1.5 ×) the rate of disappearance of substrate.
Laryngeal Tuberculosis in HIV‐Infected Patients: A Difficult Diagnosis

Unrecognized laryngeal tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant hazard to otolaryngologists. However, the changing manifestations of TB in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can make its diagnosis difficult. In our population of 146 patients with TB involving the head and neck, HIV infection was present in 70 cases (48%). The prevalence of laryngeal TB in this population was 5.5% (8 patients). Concomitant HIV infection was present in 2 (25%) of 8 patients with laryngeal TB. A delay in the diagnosis of laryngeal TB occurred in 100% of patients with HIV infection, compared with 17% of non-HIV-infected patients (P =.055). The cause of the delayed diagnosis was multifactorial, mainly the presence of multiple confounding variables and the carcinoma-like appearance of the laryngeal TB lesions in HIV-infected patients. To reduce risk for transmission of TB to health care providers, a high level of suspicion must be present for all patients with laryngeal lesions, especially those with HIV infection.
A Comprehensive Statewide Analysis of Seatbelt Non-use with Injury and Hospital Admissions: New Data, Old Problem

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of seatbelt nonuse with injury patterns, injury severity, and in-patient hospital admission among adults presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in a statewide, population-based, sample of motor vehicle crashes. METHODS: Using data from the 2002 Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) for Wisconsin, 23,920 occupants of motor vehicle crashes, aged 16 years or older, who were treated in an ED, were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to compare the odds ratio of having sustained an injury to specific body regions and of being admitted to an inpatient unit in unbelted individuals compared with those who were belted. RESULTS: Compared with belted occupants presenting to an ED, their unbelted counterparts were more likely to be male (56% vs. 40%) and to have used alcohol (17% vs. 4%). Unbelted occupants were younger (31 years vs. 38 years) and incurred higher ED charges ($681 vs. $509) than belted occupants. Additionally, unbelted occupants have a higher proportion of single-vehicle crashes, such as rollovers (44% vs. 22%), and rural crashes (56% vs. 44%). Unbelted occupants comprised 20% of study patients treated in the ED and discharged, 44% of patients treated in the ED and admitted, and 68% of patients dying in the ED. Unbelted occupants were more likely to be admitted (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6) than belted individuals and were more likely to suffer severe injuries to the head, face, thorax, abdomen, spine, upper and lower extremities (OR ranging from 1.6 to 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients presenting to an ED after a motor vehicle crash, unbelted occupants are more likely to require inpatient admission and to have sustained a severe injury to numerous body regions than are belted occupants.
16 QAM modulation with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing in a Rayleigh-fading environment

We introduce a method for tracking a Rayleigh-fading channel with Orthogonal Frequency Division multiplexing (OFDM) so that multi-amplitude bit rate schemes such as 16 QAM may be used in a wireless channel. In addition, we derive a distribution to predict the symbol error rate of the modulation scheme. The modulation scheme is applied to an indoor wireless system operating at a rate of 25 Mb/s. The probability of error derived from simulation shows good agreement with the theoretically predicted probability of error. We keep a fairly large bit rate by using few training symbols; in simulation, the error propagation accounts for a slight increase in symbol error rate, but is not catastrophic due to the use of rotationally-invariant 16 QAM constellations. >
Thermodynamics of Radiation-Balanced Lasing

Athermal lasers dispose of their waste heat in the form of spontaneous fluorescence (i.e., by laser cooling) to avoid warming the medium. The thermodynamics of this process is discussed both qualitatively and quantitatively from the point of view of the first and second laws. The steady-state optical dynamics of an ytterbium-doped KGd(WO4)2 fiber is analyzed as a model radiation-balanced solid-state laser. A Carnot efficiency for all-optical amplification is derived in terms of the energy and entropy transported by the pump, fluorescence, and laser beams. This efficiency is compared with the performance of the model system.
The use of TCAD in semiconductor technology development

Technology computer aided design (TCAD) comprises a broad range of modeling and analysis activities that consist of detailed simulation of IC lithographic and fabrication processes, single- or multiple-device electrical performances and extraction of discrete parameters for equivalent circuit models. In this tutorial presentation, the author discusses some underlying physical models and their numerical implementation into TCAD software. The TCAD applications utilized in the development of DRAMs in the IBM General Technology Division laboratory over the past 15 years are reviewed. The present development activities, so that the TCAD suite of tools can continue to provide high leverage capabilities to device and process engineers, are also discussed. The author highlights the need for three-dimensional modeling of these structures, the need for accurate physical models for these tools, and the computational and visualization aspects that need to be overcome to provide effective TCAD tools for process and device engineers. >
Stability analysis and robust stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems based on stability radii

The concept of Stability Radii, first proposed by Charles Van Loan (1985), is a measure of robust stability for linear systems. In this paper, the exponential stability and robust stabilization of a class of nonlinear systems are discussed. The class of nonlinear systems under consideration are the ones that can be separated into a nominal linear part plus a nonlinear perturbation with the linear part in Metzlerian form. It has been shown that if the norm of the nonlinear perturbations is bounded by the complex stability radius of the nominal system, then the entire system is stable. Here, an output feedback gain is applied to the linear part of the system to increase its stability radius to be equal or greater than a given desired value.
Fiber-optic delay lines for broad-band signal processing

The use of optical fibers as tapped delay lines, in particular, transversal filters, for broadband microwave signal processing applications is discussed. Since optical fibers, especially single-mode fibers, have very low attenuation and near zero dispersion, which allows much larger time-bandwidth products than have been achieved with conventional techniques, they can be implemented in many configurations that can perform signal processing with bandwidths of many gigahertz. The design of single-mode optical fiber transversal filters and their construction using a cascade synthesis technique is discussed. Since only very few bidirectional couplers are needed to achieve a large number of taps, and therefore a high quality factor, this synthesis technique is very simple and cost effective, especially when multiport star couplers are used. However, since single-mode stars are not yet commercially available, the devices presented were fabricated using 2*2 bidirectional couplers. Theoretical analysis of the transfer functions of the filters and experimental results are presented. The cascade technique is extended to build more complex filter structures: many cascade filters are cascaded to form multicascade filters. The improved characteristics attained by such filters are discussed. >
40-Gb/s optical clock recovery using a compact traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator-based ring oscillator

Compact optical clock recovery is demonstrated by utilizing filtered and amplified photocurrent in a traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator. The 40-GHz optical clock was recovered from a 40-Gb/s optical time-division multiplexed signal and transferred to a new clock wavelength. The recovered optical clock has 500-fs timing jitter and 8-ps pulsewidth.
Wavelet localization of the Radon transform in even dimensions

One of the phenomena associated with the Radon transform is the following: in odd dimensions, local values of a function f:R/sup n/ to R can be determined by local measurements of the integrals of f over (n-1)-dimensional hyperplanes; in even dimensions, local values are globally dependent on the integrals over hyperplanes. The wavelet transform is used to essentially localize the Radon transform in even dimensions. It is believed that this will be significant in the field of medical imaging. >
Cloud Paradigms and Practices for Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering

Clouds are rapidly joining high-performance computing (HPC) systems, clusters, and grids as viable platforms for scientific exploration and discovery. As a result, understanding application formulations and usage modes that are meaningful in such a hybrid infrastructure, and how application workflows can effectively utilize it, is critical. Here, three hybrid HPC/grid and cloud cyber infrastructure usage modes are explored: HPC in the Cloud, HPC plus Cloud, and HPC as a Service, presenting illustrative scenarios in each case and outlining benefits, limitations, and research challenges.
A flexible and scalable methodology for GHz-speed structural test

At-speed test of integrated circuits is becoming critical to detect subtle delay defects. Simulation-based functional test is difficult because low-cost testers are unable to supply multiple asynchronous clocks to the IC. Moreover, low-cost testers simply cannot operate at chip speed. Existing structural at-speed test methods are inadequate because they are unable to supply sufficiently-varied functional clock sequences to test complex sequential logic. Moreover, they require tight restrictions on the circuit design. In this paper, we present a new method for GHz-speed structural test of ASICs having no tight restrictions on the circuit design. In the present implementation, any complex at-speed functional clock waveform for 16 cycles can be applied. We also describe a method to test asynchronous clock domains simultaneously. Experimental results for two multi-million gate ASICs demonstrate high at-speed coverage.
The Anabaptists and the Civil Authorities of Strasbourg, 1525–1555

Since the dawn of the Christian era the relationship between church and state has been one of the pivotal issues of western civilization. Men have offered a variety of answers to this problem. The much- persecuted Anabaptists of the 16th century presented one set of answers, radical for their age, which called for a decisive separation of the church from the state and complete freedom for the church to pursue its vocation in the world. The Anabaptists were a distressing annoyance to the civil authorities. This movement posed for the 16th century the acute problem: how should religious dissent be handled?
Emphasizing Sustainable Health and Wellness in a Health Education Curriculum

Environmental sustainability is the most visible recent global movement addressing the effect of human activities on the environment. Because of its effect on human health and well-being, it is imperative that the health education discipline begin to consider this topic as one of the important content areas. This paper provides a model for the integration of environmental sustainability concept into a traditional health education course that equips students with the basic competencies of planning, implementing, and coordinating health education programs. The main purpose is to describe how to reach a maximum number of people and educate them regarding this important issue by using service-learning and advocating for sustainable health and wellness through a health education course.
TCP performance under aggregate fair queueing

In this paper, we studied TCP performance under aggregate fair queueing (FQ). We first showed the livelock problem of FQ under the DropFront scheme, and proposed a simple solution to the problem. Then, to improve the fairness of aggregate FQ, we proposed a new active buffer-management scheme called ALQD+ (approximated longest queue drop), which is fairer than ALQD. Based on these two enhancements, via simulation, we showed that aggregate FQ provides not only excellent scalability (small scheduling and state-maintenance overheads) but also good performance, especially throughput. In addition to the simulation-based evaluation, we provided a simple performance analysis.
Rearrangement of a Large Novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa Gene Island in Strains Isolated from a Patient Developing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Bacterial gene islands add to the genetic repertoire of opportunistic pathogens. Here, we perform comparative analyses of three Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated sequentially over a 3-week period from a patient with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) who received clindamycin and piperacillin-tazobactam as part of their treatment regime. While all three strains appeared to be clonal by standard pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, whole-genome sequencing revealed subtle alterations in the chromosomal organization of the last two strains; specifically, an inversion event within a novel 124-kb gene island (PAGI 12) composed of 137 open reading frames [ORFs]. Predicted ORFs in the island included metabolism and virulence genes. Overexpression of a gene island-borne putative β-lactamase gene was observed following piperacillin-tazobactam exposure and only in those strains that had undergone the inversion event, indicating altered gene regulation following genomic remodeling. Examination of a separate cohort of 76 patients with VAP for integration at this tRNA(lys) recombination site demonstrated that patients exhibiting evidence of integration at this site had significantly higher 28-day mortality. These findings provide evidence that P. aeruginosa can integrate, rapidly remodel, and express exogenous genes, which likely contributes to its fitness in a clinical setting.
Citizens United, Austin, and the Unconstitutionality of MCL Section 169.254(1)

The United States Supreme Court case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, invalidated on First Amendment grounds provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA, also known as McCain-Feingold Act) which prohibited indirect or independent political expenditures by corporations and unions. In doing so, the Court reversed its earlier decisions in Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce and, in part, McConnell v. Federal Election Committee.This Article reviews the Citizens United decision and provides a historical perspective of Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, including both the U.S. Supreme Court decision and the earlier U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals decision which had declared MCL section 169.254(1) unconstitutional on First and Fourteenth Amendment grounds, an outcome similar to the holding in Citizens United. The article concludes, asserting that section 169.254(1) of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act (MCFA) is unconstitutional in light of the Court's decision in Citizens United.
LP15 : Separate and combined effects of obeticholic acid and weight loss in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

LP15 SEPARATE AND COMBINED EFFECTS OF OBETICHOLIC ACID AND WEIGHT LOSS IN NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS (NASH) B. Hameed, N. Terrault, R. Gill, R. Loomba, N. Chalasani, J.H. Hoofnagle, M.L. Van Natta, and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network (NASH CRN). University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States E-mail: lwilson9@jhu.edu
Mean-field modeling of the encapsulation of weakly acidic molecules in polyelectrolyte dendrimers.

The unique architecture of dendrimers has attracted interest in a wide variety of biomedical applications such as drug delivery. In order to gain insight into the solubilization of drugs inside den...
Interaction of Dietary Protein Level on Dose Response Relationships During Aflatoxicosis in Young Chickens

Abstract It is well known that the effect of aflatoxin is enhanced by a low protein diet, but whether this is associated with a lower apparent minimum effective dose, increased slope of response curves, or both has not been investigated previously. Aflatoxin at 12 dosages ranging from 0 to 2.34 μg/g of feed was fed to eight groups of 10 young chickens per treatment consuming a 10.00 or 12.75% protein diet for 3 weeks. The body weights, liver weights relative to body weights, and total lipid content of the livers were determined. Mathematical models were fitted to the data and from the appropriate equations the dose-response curves were predicted as continuous functions of aflatoxin concentration. A quadratic polynomial fit body weight data on the 12.75% protein diet whereas a plateau-linear model fit body weight data on the 10.00% protein diet. This implies that in a low protein diet aflatoxin affects only one of the factors controlling growth. Plateau-linear models fit liver relative weight and liver lipid content data on both 10.00 and 12.75% diets. For both variables the lower protein diet decreased the apparent minimum effective dose and increased the positive slope of the linear response. The apparent minimum effective doses (micrograms of aflatoxin per gram of feed) in this experimental system were calculated from the modeling approach to be 1.21 and 2.00 for body weight, 1.08 and 1.65 for liver lipids, and 1.45 and 2.34 for liver relative weight in 10.00 and 12.75% protein diets, respectively. Thus, a biological factor, level of dietary protein, can be added to statistical factors such as number of animals, dosage increments, and variable measured as factors controlling the apparent miniumum effective dose of aflatoxin.
The Power of an Hour: Effects of Candidate Time Expenditure in State Legislative Elections

Using survey data from more than 500 legislative candidates in 17 states during the 2008 election, I examine whether state house candidates who devote more time to their campaign win a larger share of the major-party vote. Consistent with previous work studying campaign spending in state legislative elections, I find a positive and significant association between campaign time and vote percentage for challengers—but not incumbents—in incumbent-contested elections.
Urticaria in childhood: pathogenesis and management.

Urticaria is one of the more common skin disorders affecting children. It has become evident that multiple etiologies other than IgE-mediated allergy are involved in release of the vasoactive mediators responsible for the lesions. More often than not, the “cause” of an episode of urticaria cannot be determined. A careful history remains the most important diagnostic tool. Fortunately, in children, most cases of urticaria, including the chronic variety, are self-limited, and parents may be reassured of a favorable prognosis while medication is being used to control the skin lesions.
Improved Tests for an Ordered Hypothesis in one Parameter Exponential Families

We consider m independent one parameter exponential families with parameters (θ1, θ2, , θm), and the alternative hypothesis H1:θ4>θi0,i=1,2,…,m, where θi0's are specified. The null hypothesis Ho is the complement of H1. A class of tests more powerful than the likelihood ratio test (LRT) is derived. Applications to two special cases, Binomial and Poisson, are indicated.AMS 1980 Subject Classification: Primary 62F03