cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical or sexual violence against women of childbearing age within marriage in Nepal: Prevalence, causes, and prevention strategies:

This study examined prevalence and correlates of spousal physical or sexual violence against married women in Nepal using a nationally representative sample of 3,373 women. About 23 percent had exp...
Analysis of the influences of the E5 transforming protein on kinetic parameters of epidermal growth factor binding and metabolism.

The E5 protein of the bovine papillomavirus induces cellular transformation when transfected into NIH 3T3 cells, and the extent of focal transformation is enhanced by cotransfection with the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (Martin et al., Cell 59:21–32, 1989). To determine whether E5 affects EGF:receptor interactions, we analyzed the kinetics of 125I-EGF processing using a mathematical model that enabled us to evaluate rate constants for ligand association (ka), dissociation (kd), internalization (ke), recycling (kr), and degradation (kh). These rate constants were measured in NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the human EGF receptor (ER cells) and in cells transfected with both the EGF receptor and E5 (E5/ER cells). We found that the rate constant for 125I-EGF association ka was significantly decreased in E5/ER cells, but was apparently occupancy-independent in both cell lines. The 125I-EGF dissociation rate constant kd was significantly lower in E5 transformed cells, and increased with occupancy in both cell lines. This suggests that E5 alters the receptor before or during EGF binding so that ligand association is slower; however, once complexes are formed, EGF is bound more tightly to the receptor. Rate constants for internalization ke were also found to be occupancy-dependent, although at a given level of occupancy ke was similar for both cell lines. Also, there was no apparent effect of E5 on the recycling rate constant kr. The 125I-EGF degradation rate constant kh was 30% lower in E5 transformed cells, and was occupancy-independent. The overall effect of E5 is to stabilize intact EGF:receptor complexes which may alter mitogenic signaling of the receptor. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Post-Pleistocene history of the United States inner continental shelf: Significance to origin of barrier islands

Segments of the U.S. Atlantic coast differ markedly in shoreline and shelf configuration because of both geologic setting and Quaternary geologic history. Regional trends in shelf structure, sediment sources, and history correlate with regional trends in adjacent shoreline configuration, and the Holocene transgressive history of the shelf has a direct bearing on the evolution of the present coastline. The shelf sedimentary record, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region, contains substantive evidence that precursors to existing barrier islands were common in Holocene time. Nearshore linear shoals are associated with barrier-island coastlines, and their continuity in position on the shelf, coupled with the presence of an underlying lagoonal substrate, implies persistent retreat of a barrier coastline during sea-level rise. Retreat paths of shoals off large capes and estuaries similarly indicate a consistency in shoreline type and orientation through time. Collectively, this information strongly suggests that barrier islands of the U.S. Atlantic coast originated far out on the shelf, and it invalidates certain criteria (coastal linearity, lithology of sediments beneath the modern lagoon) formerly cited as evidence for mode of formation. Understanding how and the processes by which barriers evolved relate directly to present and future behavior of barriers. Sediments eroded from the foreshore and shoreface are transported both along the coast and landward, aggrading as nearshore shoals, spits, tidal deltas, dunes, and overwash fans. Barrier islands lengthen both by sand accumulation (spit extension) and by submergence (deepening and headward extension of the lagoon). Development of barrier islands is influenced by rate of sea-level advance and sediment supply. Once initiated, barrier islands lengthen and retrograde through a combination of processes, including spit elongation, overwash, and flooding of back barrier lagoons.
Neural mechanisms underlying the pubertal increase in LHRH release in the rhesus monkey

Puberty is triggered by an increase in pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) from the hypothalamus. Although the LHRH neurosecretory system is mature well before the onset of puberty, a central inhibitory mechanism restrains LHRH release in juvenile primates. Recent studies suggest that this central inhibition is primarily because of GABAergic neurotransmission. A reduction of GABAergic restraint appears to be essential for the initiation of puberty, but the mechanism that underlies the disinhibition process remains to be elucidated. Future research into the regulation of central inhibition should provide more effective treatments for the prevention of disease associated with abnormal pubertal development.
Use of recombinant human erythropoietin in a Jehovah's Witness

We report the case of a Jehovah's Witness who bled massively, refused blood transfusion, and survived profound anemia (hematocrit = 5.6%) intact. The patient was treated with recombinant human erythropoietin, parenteral iron, and oxygen. The pharmacology and hematopoietic response to erythropoietin are discussed. We suggest considering this therapy for acutely anemic patients who refuse transfusion to decrease the duration of the most severe anemia.
Observations on strategies for Goofspiel

Goofspiel is a zero-sum two player card game in which all information is known by both players. Many strategies exist that leverage random, deterministic, and learning approaches to play, however, no strategy dominates all others. It has been suggested that a hybrid strategy combining two or more of these approaches may provide better results than any of these alone. In this note, we review the strengths and weaknesses of each traditional strategy and make a cursory evaluation of a hybrid `Good' strategy.
Privatization: Infrastructure on the Urban Edge

: In 1989 two public-private coalitions were formed to help plan and develop physical and social infrastructure in Rouse Hill, a minicity of a quarter of a million people for the northwest fringe of Sydney, Australia. Brought together at the instigation of state government bureaucrats, the coalitions were lobby groups and alternative providers of services. The groups drew on unequal resources and had different impacts on the development. Although subject to an increasingly expensive set of environmental requirements, the physical infrastructure providers seized the initiative in privatizing, gaining a large amount of control over the form and timing of development. In contrast, the social service coalition was a reluctant heir of privatization.
Dark-hollow-beam guiding and splitting of a low-velocity atomic beam

We observed guiding, collimating, focusing, and splitting of a continuous, low-velocity rubidium atomic beam with a blue-detuned dark-hollow laser beam. The low-velocity atomic beam was produced in a magneto-optical trap and was loaded into the dark center of the hollow beam. By overlapping the dark-hollow beam with the atomic beam, the rubidium atoms could be collimated or focused. When the dark-hollow beam intercepted the atomic beam at an angle, two spatially separated rubidium atomic beams were produced, one of which was extracted and guided by the dark-hollow beam.
A model of anisotropic anhysteretic magnetization

A model of hysteresis has been developed earlier in which the susceptibility depends on the displacement of the prevailing magnetization from the anhysteretic. This model does not take into account the effect of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in a material. In the current work, it has been shown that the effect of anisotropy can be incorporated into this model through its effect on the anhysteretic magnetization.
Crystallographic Analyses of Ion Channels: Lessons and Challenges

Membrane proteins fascinate at many levels, from their central functional roles in transport, energy transduction, and signal transduction processes to structural questions concerning how they fold and operate in the exotic environments of the membrane bilayer and the water-bilayer interface and to methodological issues associated with studying membrane proteins either in situ or extracted from the membrane. This interplay is beautifully exemplified by ion channels, a collection of integral membrane proteins that mediate the transmembrane passage of ions down their electrochemical potential gradient (for general reviews, see Refs. 1 and 2). Ion channels are key elements of signaling and sensing pathways, including nerve cell conduction, hormone response, and mechanosensation. The characteristic properties of ion channels reflect their conductance, ion selectivity, and gating. Ion channels are often specific for a particular type of ion (such as potassium or chloride) or a class of ions (such as anions) and are typically regulated by conformational switching of the protein structure between "open" and "closed" states. This conformational switching may be gated in response to changes in membrane potential, ligand binding, or application of mechanical forces. Detailed functional characterizations of channels and their gating mechanisms have been achieved, reflecting exquisite methodological advances such as patch clamp methods that can monitor the activities of individual channels (3). Until recently, corresponding information about the three-dimensional structures of channels was not available, reflecting difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities of membrane proteins for crystallization trials. Happily, this situation has started to change with the structure determinations of the Streptomyces lividans K+ channel (KcsA (4)) and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis mechanosensitive channel (MscL (5)). A variety of reviews (6-12) have appeared recently that discuss functional implications of these channel structures. This review discusses these developments from a complementary perspective, by considering the implications of these structures from within the larger framework of membrane protein structure and function. Because of space restrictions, this review necessarily emphasizes membrane proteins that are composed primarily of alpha-helical bundles, such as KcsA and MscL, rather than beta-barrel proteins, such as porins, typically found in bacterial outer membranes.
Implementation evaluation: A future direction in project evaluation

Abstract The problem of implementation failure is an important component in the evaluation of criminal justice projects. In general, the issue of project implementation has been neglected by organizational researchers and evaluation specialists as well as by policymakers and program developers. In direct contrast to the existing pattern, we stress the importance of organizational factors and the relationships between individuals and organizations for the successful implementation and institutionalization of criminal justice projects.
Aesthetics and Baseball

Can a game of baseball appropriately be regarded as an “aesthetic object”? I have large scare quotes around “aesthetic object”, partly because I am a little scared by the word “aesthetic” and partly because it is probably not the perfect phrase for the question I want to raise. Perhaps there is no perfect phrase. Still, there is a question I want to ask.
Sensory processing in children with and without autism: a comparative study using the short sensory profile.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in sensory processing among age-matched children between ages 3 and 6 years with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and those who are typically developing. METHOD. Reported sensory processing abilities of 281 children with ASD were compared to age-matched peers who were typically developing, using the Short Sensory Profile (SSP). RESULTS. Ninety-five percent of the sample of children with ASD demonstrated some degree of sensory processing dysfunction on the SSP Total Score, with the greatest differences reported on the Underresponsive/ Seeks Sensation, Auditory Filtering, and Tactile Sensitivity sections. The ASD group also performed significantly differently (p < .001) on 92% of the items, total score, and all sections of the SSP. CONCLUSION. These findings, considered with similar published studies, begin to confirm the prevalence and types of sensory processing impairments in autism. Further research is needed to more clearly define patterns of sensory processing in people with ASD
Carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

This study is based on a review of the records of 107 patients with primary carcinoids of the gastrointestinal tract diagnosed at the Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases during the 20 years from 1948 to 1968. The tumors were classified into two major groups according to their gross and pathologic presentation, and were correlated with clinical behavior and treatment. Carcinoids which were still intramural in location were usually asymptomatic, and yielded successfully to local excision (85% 5-year overall survival); carcinoids which had invaded into the serosa and/or beyond were usually symptomatic, and had much poorer results (5% overall 5-year result), despite radical surgery with or without palliative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.
Invasive bedside hemodynamic monitoring

NVASIVE BEDSIDE hemodynamic monitoring has been a clinical tool for 15 years. The validity of specific measurements has been debated, but there are few adequate alternatives to rapid onsite assessment of physiologic parameters. Cognizance of usual and less traditional morbidities is important. Justification for pulmonary artery catheter use is provided only by evidences of changes in decisions with respect to the course of therapy. Invasive bedside hemodynamic monitoring might be used to more accurately subset patients in critical care units so that better projections about outcome and therapies can be made. In addition, hemodynamic data could be used for surveillance and to monitor intervention titrations. Appreciation for these details of catheter use should precede participation in invasive hemodynamic monitoring, while future controlled studies in selected patient subsets will make cost benefit analyses more meaningful. Intravascular pressure monitoring has its origin in the early 18th Century when Rev Stephen Hale placed a brass pipe into the crural artery of a horse.’ Central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring
DYNAMIC MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PASSIVE SINGLE CARDIAC FIBERS FROM THE CRAB CANCER MAGISTER

I determined the dynamic mechanical properties of single relaxed cardiac fibers from the Dungeness crab Cancer magister. Single fibers were mechanically isolated, chemically skinned and subjected to small-amplitude sinusoidal length perturbations over a wide range of strain rates and sarcomere lengths to characterize their viscoelastic behavior. The observed mechanical properties, together with transcardiac pressure recordings and ultrastructural measurements, were related to the overall function of the heart. Single fibers, often longer than 1 mm, could be mechanically dissected from the heart of Cancer magister. They typically ranged from 20 to 100 micrometre in diameter and were surrounded by a 100- 400 nm thick extracellular matrix. In situ, under normal physiological loads, the heart of Cancer magister generated transcardiac pressures of about 1000 Pa and beat at 1 Hz, while the sarcomere lengths of fibers changed by 10 % from about 4.0 to 4.4 micrometre during contractions. The total stiffness of all fibers increased from approximately 0.01 MPa to 1 MPa in the sarcomere length range from 3.8 to 6.0 micrometre and increased two- to threefold with a rise in strain rate from 0.01 to 5 rad s-1. In the physiological range of sarcomere length (4.0-4.4 micrometre) and strain rate (0.5-1.2 rad s- 1), single cardiac fibers behaved viscoelastically, with average values for the relative energy dissipation ranging from 0.5 to 0.7. The volume fraction of the extracellular matrix correlated positively with the stiffness of single cardiac fibers. On the basis of these results, I propose a dual role for the viscoelastic behavior of Cancer magister cardiac fibers: (1) the viscous energy dissipation confers dynamic mechanical stability at the level of the single fiber, and (2) the storage and return of elastic strain energy saves energy at the level of the whole heart.
Limitations of Self-Care in Reducing the Risk of Lymphedema Supportive-Educative Systems

The purpose of this study was to examine patient perceptions of limitations related to self-care measures to reduce lymphedema risk following breast cancer surgery. Secondary analysis of survey data from a companion study to a study piloting a behavioral-educational intervention was conducted to examine the specific limitations in performing lymphedema risk-reduction self-care measures. Findings suggest a more comprehensive approach is needed if patients are to engage in self-care actions to reduce lymphedema risk. Understanding the concepts of self-care and personal support interventions that include motivational interviewing can help nurses design supportive-educative care systems that assist patients in overcoming limitations in the estimative, transitional, and productive phases of self-care necessary to reduce lymphedema risk.
The Solitary Kidney: A Model of Chronic Hyperfiltration in Humans

Reduction of renal mass (11/12) in rats leads to progressive azotemia, proteinuria, and hypertension. Less extensive renal ablation resulting from uninephrectomy also accelerates the progression of focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) induced by experimental diabetes, renal irradiation, aminonucleoside nephrosis, or aging. The consequence of the absence of one kidney in man are examined in three different clinical situations. Unilateral renal agenesis seems to predispose to the development of FGS, but most reports include isolated cases and the true incidence of FGS is not known. The solitary kidney following uninephrectomy for acquired unilateral disease undergoes a compensatory rise in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) that remains stable for several decades. Finally, kidney donors followed for over 2 decades show unimpaired GFR, elevated at 70% to 80% of the normal (two-kidney) GFR. Some donors develop mild, nonprogressive proteinuria. Their incidence of hypertension matches that in the control population. Thus, hyperfiltration secondary to 50% reduction of renal mass in humans does not lead to loss of function of the remaining parenchyma.
Drug problem recognition, desire for help, and treatment readiness in a soup kitchen population.

This study determined hypothesized predictors of three components of motivation for change—drug problem recognition, desire for help, and treatment readiness—in a high-risk, drug-using population. The sample consisted of 190 guests at two inner-city soup kitchens in Brooklyn, NY who reported drug/alcohol use and were not participating in substance dependency treatment. Ever receiving addiction treatment, having no trade/job skills, and more severe symptoms of depression were associated with greater drug problem recognition. More recent days of drug/alcohol use, intensive pattern of drug use, and greater problem recognition were associated with greater desire for help. Caring for children, more recent days of drug/alcohol use, physical health problems, and desire for help were the direct predictors of treatment readiness. Problem recognition had a strong indirect effect on readiness mediated through desire for help. Knowledge of a drug user's motivational state and the factors leading to it can help guide ...
Novel APC promoter and exon 1B deletion and allelic silencing in three mutation-negative classic familial adenomatous polyposis families

The overwhelming majority (approximately 80%) of individuals with classic familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) exhibit mutations in the coding sequence of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene. Families without detectable APC mutations are unable to benefit from the use of genetic testing for clinical management of this autosomal dominant syndrome. We used exome sequencing and linkage analysis, coupled with second-generation sequencing of the APC locus including non-coding regions to investigate three APC mutation-negative classical FAP families. We identified a novel ~11 kb deletion localized 44 kb upstream of the transcription start site of APC that encompasses the APC 1B promoter and exon. This deletion was present only in affected family members of one kindred with classical FAP. Furthermore, this same deletion with identical breakpoints was found in the probands of two additional APC mutation-negative classical FAP kindreds. Phasing analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) around the deletion site in the three probands showed evidence of a shared haplotype, suggesting a common founder deletion in the three kindreds. SNP analysis within the coding sequence of APC, revealed that this ~11 kb deletion was accompanied by silencing of one of the APC alleles in blood-derived RNA of affected individuals. These results support the causal role of a novel promoter deletion in FAP and suggest that non-coding deletions, identifiable using second-generation sequencing methods, may account for a significant fraction of APC mutation-negative classical FAP families.
Quantitative density measurements in a Mach 6 flow field using the Rayleigh scattering technique

Using a narrow-band, pulsed, ArF excimer laser and a single-intensified CCD camera, planar laser Rayleigh scattering measurements were performed to obtain quantitative density measurements both in the free stream and in a model flow field. These measurements were conducted in the 15-inch, Mach 6 high temperature facility at NASA Langley Research Center. This facility is capable of achieving stagnation temperatures up to 700 K (800/spl deg/F) over a range of stagnation pressures from 0.35 to 2.07 MPa (50 to 300 psia). The high temperature capability of this facility eliminates the clustering effect observed in earlier Mach 6 studies, and allows quantitative density measurements in the free stream over a range of stagnation pressures from 0.35 to 1.75 MPa (50 to 250 psia). Model flow field measurements were obtained on 38.1 mm diameter cylinder. Measurement locations include the free stream, the region behind the bow shock in front of the model, and the region behind the model including the wake. The densities deduced from the Rayleigh scattering measurements in the model flow field are compared with CFD computations. Measurement uncertainties and the detection limit are discussed.
Minocycline-Induced Drug Reaction With Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome Myocarditis and Multiple Organ Failure

This article reports a case of minocycline- induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symp- toms syndrome in a 16-year-old female who presented with acute myocarditis and severe heart failure. Drug reac- tion with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome is a severe, multisystem reaction. It is usually manifested by cutaneous, lymphatic, and solid organ involvement with progression to multisystem organ failure, following the use of several medications. There are 3 previous docu- mented reports of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome - induced myo- carditis. This is a case report and a review of the literature.
Enlightening Molecular Mechanisms through Study of Protein Interactions

The investigation of molecular mechanisms is a fascinating area of current biological research that unites efforts from scientists with very diverse expertise. This review provides a perspective on the characterization of protein interactions as a central aspect of this research. We discuss case studies on the neurotransmitter release machinery that illustrate a variety of principles and emphasize the power of combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with other biophysical techniques, particularly X-ray crystallography. These studies have shown that: (i) the soluble SNAP receptor (SNARE) proteins form a tight complex that brings the synaptic vesicle and plasma membranes together, which is key for membrane fusion; (ii) the SNARE syntaxin-1 adopts an autoinhibitory closed conformation; (iii) Munc18-1 plays crucial functions through interactions with closed syntaxin-1 and with the SNARE complex; (iv) Munc13s mediate the opening of syntaxin-1; (v) complexins play dual roles through distinct interactions with the SNARE complex; (vi) synaptotagmin-1 acts a Ca2+ sensor, interacting simultaneously with the membranes and the SNAREs; and (vii) a Munc13 homodimer to Munc13-RIM heterodimer switch modulates neurotransmitter release. Overall, this research underlines the complexities involved in elucidating molecular mechanisms and how these mechanisms can depend critically on an interplay between strong and weak protein interactions.
Respiratory support in children

Abstract Respiratory failure is defined by the inability of the respiratory system to adequately deliver oxygen or remove carbon dioxide from the pulmonary circulation resulting in hypoxemia, hypercapnia or both. A wide variety of disease processes can lead to respiratory failure in children. Multiple interventions can support the pediatric patient with respiratory failure, from simple oxygen delivery devices to high frequency oscillatory ventilation and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation. This article will review available devices to improve oxygenation and ventilation, their advantages and disadvantages, and help guide physicians in the management of children with respiratory failure.
Pathogenic Mechanisms of HIV Disease

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is generally characterized by inefficient viral transmission; an acute phase of intense viral replication and dissemination to lymphoid tissues; a chronic, often asymptomatic phase of sustained immune activation and viral replication; and an advanced phase of marked depletion of CD4(+) T cells that leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Major insight into HIV transmission and each phase of infection has been gained from studies on blood and tissue specimens obtained from HIV-infected individuals, as well as from animal and ex vivo models. Not only has the introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy greatly diminished the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV disease progression, it has also provided new avenues of research toward delineating the mechanisms of HIV-induced pathogenesis. Further advances in therapeutics and informative technologies, combined with a better understanding of the immunologic and virologic components of HIV disease, hold promise for new preventative and even curative strategies.
Capacity per unit cost of a discrete memoryless channel

A necessary and sufficient condition for an input probability distribution to achieve the capacity per unit cost of a discrete memoryless channel is derived. This condition can be used to compute the capacity per unit cost as illustrated by examples.
Removal of black palm (Astrocaryum standleyanum) seeds by spiny rats (Proechimys semispinosus)

A seed-removal experiment was conducted to assess the role of Proechimys semispinosus (Central American spiny rat) as potential predator and disperser of Astrocaryum standleyanum (black palm) seeds. One hundred fresh ripe A. standleyanum fruits were placed in semipermeable cages on each of 14 small islands in Panama, and seed disappearance rates were calculated for each island. Spiny rat density and biomass were determined by live-trapping on each island for 5 consecutive days and 4 nights. Censuses of fruiting trees were conducted on each island to control for effects of food availability on removal of palm fruits. Disappearance rates were related positively to total spiny rat density, density of adult and subadult spiny rats, and spiny rat biomass, but the density of fruiting trees accounted for very little variation. Spiny rats evidently prey heavily on A. standleyanum seeds, based on the high removal rates and on feeding observations of captive individuals. Since spiny rats may scatterhoard A. standleyanum seeds, they may also function as effective seed dispersers if seeds are removed to favourable germination sites unavailable to other seed predators. Results indicate that spiny rats, because of their abundance and wide distribution, may be important but overlooked predators and dispersers of A. standleyanum seeds and of other large-seeded tree species.
Laryngeal mask airway placement in children prior to an intravenous line utilizing heart rate as an indicator of anesthetic depth

Summary Introduction The usual practice in pediatric anesthesia cases requiring a laryngeal mask airway is to place an intravenous line (IV) prior to laryngeal mask airway placement. A different approach that has several clinical advantages is to place the laryngeal mask airway prior to the IV. We describe our experience with this technique, using heart rate as an indicator of adequate anesthetic depth. In addition, we analyzed heart rate data in children undergoing sevoflurane inductions, looking for age-related differences. Methods Following a sevoflurane induction, heart rates were recorded every 12 s for 3 min in 127 ASA I-II children under age 7. Laryngeal mask airway placement occurred when the heart rate dropped at least 10% from its maximum level or at 3 min. Ease of laryngeal mask airway placement was graded using a scale from 0 to 3. Endtidal sevoflurane concentration, occurrence of laryngospasm and blood pressure at laryngeal mask airway placement were also recorded. Results The laryngeal mask airway was successfully placed on the first attempt in all 127 children. Easy placement was noted in 98.4%. The youngest children's heart rates peaked earlier than the oldest (P < 0.001), while time to laryngeal mask airway placement increased with increasing age (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Laryngeal mask airway placement before an IV is a safe alternative to the usual mask–IV–laryngeal mask airway sequence. Our data compare favorably to other studies where ease of laryngeal mask airway placement was reported. This technique has several advantages including securing the airway first for an anticipated difficult IV placement. Heart rate changes during a sevoflurane induction appear to be age-dependent.
System unfairness of DQDB in supporting multiple communities of interest

The DQDB (distributed queue dual bus) architecture has been adopted as the IEEE 802.6 Metropolitan Area Network standard. It is shown that the standard in its present form is still inadequate in dividing its available bandwidth between stations while supporting multiple communities of interest. In fact, the bandwidth balancing mechanism (BWB) introduced to overcome the unfairness of DQDB may actually worsen the fairness of the protocol. A modified version of the BWB mechanism called variable bandwidth balancing (V-BWB) which overcomes the inadequacies of DQDB during periods of heavy utilization is introduced. >
DNA damage, DNA repair, cell proliferation, and DNA replication: How do gene mutations result?

My son enjoys visiting my lab on weekends because the university internet connection is much faster than our home modem connection. He also likes to read DNA sequences to find that single base change that often spells the cause of human genetic disease. And, when he finds a change, he asks me how it occurred. We discuss DNA damage, repair, and replication, but I can never exactly answer that “how” question for him. It takes me back to the 1970s! I vividly remember the end of a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enjoying our first non-freeze-dried meal in 10 days and reading the newspaper article about the discovery of a mouse germ cell “supermutagen.” It was N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) inducing specific-locus mutations in mouse spermatogonia cells. Russell et al. (1) concluded that “ENU can serve as a model compound in exploring the effect of such factors as dose-response, dose fractionation, sex and cell stage on the mutagenic action of a chemical.” Subsequent studies showed that ENU is also a powerful rodent carcinogen, inducing mutations in oncogenes (2, 3). But, the question still hangs in the air: Why is ENU such a potent mutagen? It damages DNA, but what happens to yield that gene mutation? Twenty years of research have brought us to the brink of understanding the molecular “how” for ENU and many other mutagens. And now we have a new aid for this quest. In a paper in this issue of PNAS, Bielas and Heddle (4) use ENU as the mutagenic agent in an elegant study of in vitro mutation induction in transgenic mouse cells that carry the bacterial lacI gene. What I find so novel is that the method allows them to determine when the DNA damage is converted or fixed into a heritable mutation, and how much damage is repaired.
The Lord Wardens and Elections, 1604-1628

Various scholars have discussed, for particular elections, the court's role as an electoral patron.1 However, their work has, of necessity, left unanswered several significant questions about such patronage. It is clear that, by the elections of 1640, issues of a more "national" importance had a strong impact on the success or failure of the court's electioneering.2 But the questions remain. Were the elections of 1640 unique or can traces of such agitation over matters of more than local concern be found in earlier elec-
Development of a Scale to Assess Avoidance Behavior Due to a Fear of Falling: The Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire

). ( Background. A history of falls or imbalance may lead to a fear of falling, which may lead to self-imposed avoidance of activity; this avoidance may stimulate a vicious cycle of deconditioning and subsequent falls. Objective. The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire that would quantify avoidance behavior due to a fear of falling. Design. This study consisted of 2 parts: questionnaire development and psychometric testing. Questionnaire development involved an expert panel and 39 residents of an assisted living facility. Sixty-three community-dwelling individuals with various health conditions participated in psychometric testing. Method. Questionnaire development included the evaluation of face and content validity and factor analysis of the initial questionnaire. The final result of questionnaire development was the Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FFABQ). In order to determine its psychometric properties, reliability and construct validity were assessed through administration of the FFABQ to participants twice, 1 week apart, and comparison of the FFABQ with other questionnaires related to fear of falling, functional measures of balance and mobility, and daily activity levels using an activity monitor. Results. The FFABQ had good overall test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient.812) and was found to differentiate between participants who were considered “fallers” (ie, at least one fall in the previous year) and those who were considered “nonfallers.” The FFABQ predicted time spent sitting or lying and endurance. Limitations. A relatively small number of people with a fear of falling were willing to participate. Conclusion. Results from this study offer evidence for the reliability and validity of the FFABQ and support the notion that the FFABQ measures avoidance behavior rather than balance confidence, self-efficacy, or fear.
Bleeding symptom assessment and hemostasis evaluation of menorrhagia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Because menorrhagia is a very common clinical condition reported by 5-10% of women of reproductive age, and in turn, because up to half of women with a normal gynecological evaluation will have laboratory abnormalities of hemostasis, it is incumbent on the part of the hematologist to be able to carry out a logical clinical and laboratory assessment for an underlying bleeding disorder after gynecological causes are ruled out. RECENT FINDINGS Historically, the bleeding assessment of patients with bleeding symptoms in general, has been inaccurate due to the poor specificity of these symptoms. Recently, these symptoms have been refined and incorporated into a scoring system. Studies on applying this scoring system and on the specific assessment of women with menorrhagia are ongoing. Hemostasis testing is justified in women with menorrhagia and a normal gynecological evaluation, as 11-16% of them will meet the laboratory diagnosis of von Willebrand disease. An additional proportion of patients may have a decrease in platelet aggregation or release or both. A smaller proportion may have a coagulation deficiency or a defect in fibrinolysis. SUMMARY Given the relatively high proportion of defects noted, after an initial assessment by the bleeding score, testing up-front should include von Willebrand factor analysis, and if normal, platelet aggregation and release studies should follow.
Understanding technological innovation: a socio-technical approach

Understanding technological innovation: a socio-technical approach, by Patrice Flichy (translated by Liz Carey-Libbrecht), Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007, ix + 195 pp., £56.99 (hardb...
Educational, personal, and cultural attributes of dental students' humanitarian trips to Latin America.

This article evaluates the educational, personal, and cultural attributes that motivate or inhibit dental students’ participation in humanitarian and educational trips to underserved communities in Latin America. Interviews, concentrating on students’ expectations and experiences, were conducted with students who participated in the trips and with those who did not. A survey of a larger group of students (including those interviewed) was also conducted; the survey included demographic data, ethnic affiliation, cultural competence, motivators and inhibitors to attend trips, and trip attributes. One hundred and seventy-four students at one dental school completed the survey; the group interviews were conducted with twenty-three students who attended humanitarian and educational trips and nine students who did not. This research found that skill development, educational opportunity, and philanthropy were the most important motivators for trip participation. Cost and time commitments were the strongest inhibitors to participate. Exposure to infectious diseases, substandard working and living conditions, threat of crime, and language barriers were mostly considered as “not important.” However, female dental students were more concerned than males about crime, living conditions, and infectious diseases during the trips. Cultural education, increased knowledge, cross-cultural professional relationships, increased self-confidence, and public health awareness were the most important attributes of the trips. This study indicates that the undergraduate humanitarian educational trips to underserved Latin American communities have a most significant personal, professional, and social impact on dental students.
Microsurgical Anastomosis of the Rabbit Oviduct Using 9-0 Monofilament Polyglycolic Acid Suture

As part of a larger study to determine which factors are important in fallopian tube reconstruction, 9-0 monofilament polyglycolic acid suture on a 145-μm needle was used for rabbit oviduct microsurgical anastomosis. A 100% pregnancy rate in five rabbits with no disruption of the endosalpingial or muscular layers was noted. Of special note, the suture was totally resorbed, and no suture residuum or surrounding reaction was noted. The suture material appears to fulfill the criteria for an ideal suture described at the beginning of the paper. This is the first report of the use of a 9-0 monofilament polyglycolic acid suture.
ab initio electronic transport model for photovoltaics

Accurate ab initio electronic transport models facilitate the rapid development in design of new photovoltaic (PV) materials. In order to correctly predict low-field electronic drift mobility and conductivity of semiconductors, we present here an ab initio transport Model in the Boltzmann Transport (aMoBT) framework. Using the relevant inputs from ab initio band structure and density of states of the semiconductor, we calculate electron group velocity, effective mass, orbital hybridization, and phonon frequencies. We then explicitly solve the linearized Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) via Rode's iterative method, to calculate the perturbation to a small electric field and, thus, drift mobility, without the need for experimental data and fitting. We have validated the calculated mobility of GaAs and InN against experimental data and find that the agreement is satisfactory in both the qualitative prediction of changes of mobility with temperature and carrier concentration, as well as the quantitatively predicted values. We believe that this tool facilitates high- throughput density functional theory calculations in search of new PV materials. Furthermore, it offers insight on physical limitations to mobility, including elastic and inelastic scattering mechanisms inside these materials.
Biocomplexity in the Cosmos

Our survey of the possibilities for life in our Solar System has left us with the strong likelihood that ours is the only world with intelligent species, the only one on which at least one species has acquired technology, and quite possibly the only planet orbiting our Sun that hosts organisms of great size, complexity, and diversity. We will now turn to the question of why life with those characteristics arose on Earth, and what the explanation portends for the possibility that complex, intelligent, technologically competent life will be found on any given world.
DE UNA SUJETO FEMENINA A UNA SUJETO MUJER-CRÍTICA. PEDAGOGÍAS DEL CUERPO EN LANGUIDEZ Y OCRE DE ALFONSINA STORNI

En este articulo proponemos una lectura de la poesia de Alfonsina Storni considerando el eje articulador escritura/biografia como la via que pone en dialogo su experiencia y un escenario politico, social y economico atravesado por las dinamicas propias del discurso patriarcal. En esa encrucijada la autora despliega una practica escritural donde el cuerpo genera su propia pedagogia, con el fin de revelar las herramientas necesarias para, segun Alicia Salomone, “con mascaras o sin ellas”, constituirse en una sujeto femenina “dominantemente sujetomujer critica”
Civil Law: Structures and Procedures

This chapter introduces psychiatrists, psychologists and other non-law trained readers to law and law making in the United States using examples that demonstrate how various legal principles are applied to issues involving persons with psychopathic disorders. The chapter begins with a discussion of government in the United States as established by the federal Constitution. The roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government are presented as is the concept of federalism and the role of state governments. The Americans with Disabilities Act and its application to persons with psychopathic disorders is presented to illustrate the roles of the various branches of government in enacting, administering, and interpreting legislation. Important provisions of the United States Constitution are discussed, including the Due Process clause, the Equal Protection Clause, and the Bill of Rights. In discussing the Due Process Clause, the chapter contrasts the burden of proof used in civil cases with the burden of proof in criminal cases, using the following examples: involuntary civil commitment of mentally disordered persons, civil commitment of sexual predators, and the establishment of mental health conservatorships. In discussing the Equal Protection Clause, the chapter uses the following examples: civil commitment of mentally ill convicts at the expiration of their term of imprisonment, commitment of criminal defendants who are mentally incompetent to stand trial, and the applicability of the informed consent doctrine to the treatment of involuntarily committed mental patients. The role of courts in making law in the United States is discussed. Subtopics include the concept of the common law, precedent, stare decisis, holding and dictum, and judicial supremacy in interpreting the Constitution and statutes. The chapter concludes by comparing the common law system used in the United States with the civil code system used in continental European countries.
Investigation of the Wake Vortex Pattern of Rigid and Flexible Airfoils Undergoing Harmonic Pitch Oscillation

Reported herein is an investigation of the influence of the structural flexibility of sinusoidally pitching airfoils on the pattern of vorticity shed into the wake. For rigid airfoils, it is well known that, depending on the frequency of oscillation, this pattern takes the form of the classical or reverse von Karman vortex street. The latter may be characterized by the vortex circulation () and vortex-to-vortex streamwise and cross-stream spacing (a and b respectively). In the present work, these three parameters are obtained from particle image velocimetry measurements in the wake of airfoils consisting of a rigid ‘head’ and flexible ‘tail’, fabricated using 3D printing methods. Data are obtained at chord Reynolds number Rec = 1950 for different tail flexibilities (obtained by varying the thickness of the tail) as well as for a fully rigid airfoil. The results show that using the Strouhal number based on the actual trailing edge oscillation amplitude yields a common description of the dependence of a and b on the motion parameters for all airfoils. These results are complemented with analyses using a vortex array model to clarify the relationship between variation in the three wake-vortex pattern parameters and the net mean thrust acting on the airfoil.
Potential SSME modifications to provide extended capabilities for future applications

Expendable launch vehicles will be phased out during the first years of shuttle operation and the payloads currently carried to orbit by these vehicles will be placed in low earth orbit by the reusable shuttle. In connection with limitations regarding the weight of the payload which can be launched by the Space Shuttle in its present form, approaches have been considered for increasing the payload capability of the Shuttle. Propulsion systems for Shuttle derived vehicles with larger payload capabilities have been studied. Such systems can potentially be obtained from modifications of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME). Concepts based on modifications to the basic engine include an SSME-35 for low altitude operation with liquid rocket boosters and an SSME-150 for operation over the complete altitude range as might be required in a single-stage-to-orbit vehicle application. Another modification would provide operation with a hydrocarbon fuel instead of hydrogen.
Investigation of colloidal Si prepared from porous silicon

Si nanocrystallites have been prepared by ultrasonicating thin sections of porous silicon. The materials produced from 20 and 49 wt % HF are characterized and compared. Samples were characterized by optical absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, and HRTEM.
Single Variant Orientational Growth of Yba2Cu3O7-x on Vicinal (011) SrTiO3 Substrates.

The results of a transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and X-ray microanalysis (EDS) study of Yba2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) films grown on vicinal (011) SrTiO3 substrates are presented. The YBCO films tend to be single crystalline grown in single variant orientation with c-axis =;45° from the surface. Cracks, second phase precipitates (CuO and Y2O3), and a few small YBCO grains in other orientations were revealed in the films.