cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gatekeeping practices of music therapy academic programs and internships: a national survey.

Background Gatekeeping safeguards access to the practice of a profession to ensure the quality of clinical services. It involves selective admission, continuous evaluation, and timely and ethical decisions in response to trainees with severe professional competency problems (SPCP). To date, little information is available concerning gatekeeping practices in the field of music therapy. Objective This study investigated the extent and outcomes of gatekeeping practices across academic programs and National Roster internship sites approved by the American Music Therapy Association. Specifically, it examined the prevalence of trainees with SPCP, program-wide precautionary measures, common indicators of trainees with SPCP, remedial strategies, and supports and barriers to effective management. Methods Thirty-two academic program directors and 77 internship directors completed an online survey. Responses were compiled into aggregate form (frequencies & percentages) for analysis. Chi-square tests with Yates' correction were applied to compare the differences between academic programs and internships. Results A significantly higher percentage of academic programs (93.8%) reported having at least one trainee with SPCP over the past 5 years than did internships (66.2%). The most common indicators of competency problems included inadequate music skill development, emotional instability, limited communication skills, deficient interpersonal skills, defensiveness in supervision, and lack of insight. Typical remedial methods included referral to personal therapy, increased supervision, and repetition of practicum or extension of internship. Conclusions Issues regarding trainees with SPCP are frequently addressed by academic and internship program directors. Improving clarity within professional guidelines and establishing more rigorous and consistent standards across training programs are recommended.
Nitrate reductase in E. coli: properties of the enzyme and in vitro reconstitution from enzyme-deficient mutants.

The nitrate reductase of E. coli is an inducible membrane protein with a molecular weight of about 800,000. The enzyme consists of four subunits of 60,000 molecular weight, four subunits of 142,000 molecular weight, four molecules of molybdenum, and nonheme iron. The enzyme may be solubilized by heat extraction, which results from limited digestion by a membrane-bound protease, or by Triton X-1 00. When the enzyme is isolated from Triton-solubilized cytoplasmic membrane by immune precipitation, it contains a third protein of 20,000 molecular weight which may be a cytochrome. Chlorate resistant (chl) mutants of E. coli lack functional nitrate reductase. Mutants of the classes (chl)and chlB have all of the enzyme polypeptides present in the membrane JI intact form, while in classes chlC and chlE the membrane contains degraded fragments of the polypeptides, suggesting proteolysis of a defective enzyme. Reconstitution of nitrate reductase activity occurs when soluble extracts of various classes of mutants are mixed and incubated at 32°C. This reconstitution requires three things: (a) intact enzyme polypeptides in the form of small soluble lipoprotein fragments resulting from fragmentation of the cytoplasmic membrane during cell breakage; (b) a molybdenum factor which is present in the wild-type membrane and which accumulates in the cytoplasm of chlB mutants in soluble form; and (c) a soluble factor or enzyme, presumably the chlB gene product, which adds the molybdenum factor to the enzyme Two conclusions may be drawn from these observations. First, the enzyme is bound t o the membrane by small, hydrophobic regions on one or more of the subunits. Second, the process of reconstitution from mutant extracts is different from the process involved in de novo synthesis of the enzyme in wild-type E. coli.
Transcriptional activity by cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript.

Cocaine–amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) gene was identified in 1995 in a search for mRNAs in the striatum acutely upregulated by psychostimulants.1 CART is highest expressed in the hypothalamus and widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as in endocrine cells.1, 2 CART peptides have received much attention as mediators of stress, reward and reinforcement, appetite control, addiction and neuroendocrine regulation.2 Recent studies link a mutation in the CART gene to obesity, type-II diabetes, anxiety and depression, and the mutation leads to CART deficiency or altered CART peptide levels, indicating a genetic cause for these human diseases or disorders.3, 4, 5, 6
Neck Motion Due to the Halo-Vest in Prone and Supine Positions

Snaking motion of the neck is defined as rotation in opposing directions throughout the cervical spine. Previous clinical studies have suggested snaking neck motion due to the halo-vest may lead to inadequate healing or nonunion. The objectives of this study were to evaluate motion of the injured cervical spine with normal halo-vest application and vest loose in the prone and supine positions. The halo-vest was applied to a Human Model of the Neck, which consisted of a cervical spine specimen mounted to the torso of an anthropometric test dummy and carrying a surrogate head. The model was transitioned from prone, to upright, to supine with the halo-vest applied normally and with the vest loose. Average peak spinal motions were computed in the prone and supine positions and contrasted with the physiologic rotation range, obtained from the intact flexibility test, and statistically compared (P<0.05) between normal halo-vest application and vest loose. Snaking motion of the neck was observed in the prone and supine positions, consisting of extension at head/C1 and C1/2 and flexion at the inferior spinal levels. The intervertebral rotation peaks generally exceeded the physiologic range throughout the cervical spine due to the loose vest in the prone position. Significant increases in the extension peaks at head/C1 (16.9° vs. 5.7°) and flexion peaks at C4/5 (6.9° vs. 3.6°) and C7/T1 (5.2° vs. 0.7°) were observed in the prone position due to the loose vest, as compared to normal halo-vest application. Axial neck separation was consistently observed in the prone and supine positions. The present results, which document snaking motion of the cervical spine due to the halo-vest, indicate that an inadequately fitting or loose vest may significantly diminish its immobilization capacity leading to delayed healing or nonunion.
Variable Coordination of Phosphorus within Calixarenes and Complexing Abilities of Phosphorus-Based Calixarenes

Solvent-dependent coordination of phosphorus within a calix[4]arene cavity is shown and the differences in the abilities of a ligand to bind to a metal within calix[4]arenes and calix[5]arenes is demonstrated.
2007 AESA Presidential Address Conflict of the Faculties: Democratic Progressivism in the Age of "No Child Left Behind".

Where are we? Who are we in the university where apparently we are? What do we represent? Whom do we represent? Are we responsible? For what and to whom? (Derrida 2004, 83) The university is a geog...
Temperature dependent preferential sputtering in CoSi2 and NbSi2

Sputtering of CoSi2 and NbSi2 has been carried out by Xe ion bombardment at room temperature, as well as at elevated temperatures putting these systems in their radiation-enhanced diffusion regimes. The range of the Xe ions (at 200–260 keV) was appreciably less than the thickness of the silicides. The samples were analyzed by 2 MeV He+ backscattering spectrometry, x-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. The ratio of the sputtering yield of Si to that of the metal (i.e., Co or Nb) always exceeds the stoichiometric ratio 2∶1, leading to Si depleted surface layers. The amount of the sputtered species increases almost linearly with dose until intermixing of the silicide with the underlying Si becomes appreciable. This happens at lower doses in the radiation-enhanced diffusion regime than at room temperature. Irradiation of CoSi2 samples at high temperature leads to a broadening of the implanted Xe profile compared to the room temperature profile. No such phenomenon has been found in NbSi2. The effect of Xe broadening on the sputtering yields is discussed.
When does testing for GERD become cost effective in an integrated health network

Background Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is the most common gastrointestinal disorder, affecting as many as 14% of the US population. Rising rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma are seen in this population, and chronic proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use does not normalize cancer risk. It has also been demonstrated that up to one-third of patients on PPI therapy did not actually have GERD and could be taken off the medication. These facts form the basis for a quality-assurance study of care provided to patients in an integrated health care network who were on high-dose, long-term PPI therapy.
Evaluation of soil pH manipulation on crop production in northern idaho

Abstract Heavy applications of ammonium‐based N fertilizers on cereal crops have resulted in rapid acidification of once neutral soils in northern Idaho. Lime and elemental S applications were used to manipulate soil pH and evaluate consequent effects on the growth of lentils (Lens culinarius) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Lime applications of 2,200 and 4,400 kg/ha resulted in 22 to 23% and 10 to 28% yield increases of lentils and winter wheat, respectively. Elemental S application rates of 2,200 and 4,400 kg/ha reduced: (1) soil pH in the surface 30 cm of the soil profile, (2) lentil and winter wheat yields, (3) populations of Rhizobium leguminosarum in the soil, and (4) N mineralization rates. Soil pH should be maintained at or above 5.6 for lentils and 5.2 for winter wheat production.
Effect of letter spacing on eye movements and reading performance

Previous studies have shown that, when presented in rapid stream (i.e., RSVP paradigm), word recognition speed for strings of three-letter words increases approximately 10% with large letter spacing, both in the fovea and the periphery (up to 10° eccentricity). A possible explanation is that small spacing may cause features of individual characters to overlap with one another, thus reducing text legibility, impeding letter and word recognition, and slowing down the reading process. In contrast, increasing letter spacing reduced the crowding effect until it was so wide that the word shape information is disrupted, or extends beyond the visual span, and thus slows down the reading.
Toeplitz operators and quantum mechanics

Abstract Toeplitz operators on the Segal-Bargmann spaces of Gaussian measure square-integrable entire functions on complex n-space C n are studied. The C∗-algebra generated by the Weyl form of the canonical commutation relations consists precisely of the uniform limits of almost-periodic Toeplitz operators. The question of “which Toeplitz operators admit a symbol calculus modulo the compact operators” is raised and sufficient conditions are given for such a calculus. These conditions involve a notion of “slow oscillation at infinity.”
Molecular-dynamics simulations of epitaxial crystal growth from the melt. II. Si(111).

Liquid-phase epitaxial growth onto a Si(100) substrate is studied using molecular-dynamics simulations. The material is described using two- and three-body interaction potentials which provide a realistic description of crystalline silicon and of the crystal-melt interface. After preparation at solid-melt coexistence, the system is driven out of equilibrium by allowing the conduction of heat to the underlying substrate. Under these conditions the system initially undercools, and subsequently crystallization and growth occur at an overall rate of 18 m/sec, resulting in a perfect crystal. The faceted morphology of the solid-melt interface, characterized by a predominance of (111) microfacets, is maintained throughout the fast-crystallization stage. The dynamics of the crystal-growth process is investigated with refined spatial and temporal resolution via monitoring of real-space particle trajectories and of the evolution of system characteristics such as temperature, potential-energy, and density profiles.
Teachers' Perceptions of Moral Guidance

Abstract In addition to teaching subject matter, I feel students need to learn from someone they can perhaps look up to. They must learn that certain things are valued and important in society. These things are simple manners; compassion for others; how to make moral and responsible choices; and to take responsibility. At this level they need guidance. Maybe someone at home is not demanding civility; maybe they are and are just as frustrated as we. But it must be clear that certain standards must be adhered to. Certain types of behavior are requisite!.
Cholesterol does not cause coronary heart disease in contrast to stress

The belief that coronary atherosclerosis is due to high cholesterol from increased saturated fat intake originated from experiments in herbivorous animals. It was reinforced by reports allegedly demonstrating this sequence of events in various populations but ignoring contradictory data. The idea has been perpetuated by powerful forces using similar tactics to preserve the profit and the reputations of those who promote this doctrine. Opponents find it difficult to publish their scientifically supported opinions. The advent of statins has further fuelled this fallacious lipid hypothesis, despite compelling evidence that their effect is not due to cholesterol lowering and that serious side effects have been suppressed and alleged benefits have been hyped. The adverse effects of the cholesterol campaign on health, quality of life, the economy and medical research are inestimable. It is imperative that public health officials, physicians and patients are apprised of proof that it is misguided, malicious and malignant.
Reproductive investment of female brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in a stream and reservoir system in northern England

Within the basin of Cow Green reservoir, upper Teesdale, the brown trout, Salmo trutta L., spend their first two seasons in running water. After this some females remain resident and others migrate to Cow Green reservoir. A cohort of 1000 females at age 2 that remains resident in tributary streams will, during the lifetime of the cohort, lay, on average, 3·0 times as many eggs as a cohort which resides in the reservoir. This conclusion is apparently not consistent with the observation that most females take up reservoir residence. Reservoir females have a higher growth rate (Walford constant k=0·61, c.f. 0·86 for stream residents) and shorter life expectancy (M year−1= 1·19, c.f. 0·56) than the stream residents. However, they are of larger average size than the stream residents, lay larger eggs (mean 0·074 g, c.f. 0·066 g) and bury them more deeply (mean depth 11·0 cm, c.f. 8·5 cm).
Identification of adduct radiolysis products from pork fat

Mass spectrometric evidence is given to show the formation of adduct radiolysis products in pork fat. A variety of adduct radiolysis products were identified. Only the major recombination products are considered and discussed herein. These compounds consist of triglyceride dimers, propanedioldiester-triglyceride adducts, propanedioldiester dimers and branched alkyl substituted triglycerides.
Distorted-wave electron-impact ionization cross sections for the argon isoelectronic sequence

Electron-impact ionization cross sections have been calculated in a distorted-wave exchange approximation for seven ions in the argon isoelectronic sequence. For neutral argon, target configuration interaction and term dependence in the ejected-electron continuum were found to be significant influences on the cross section. Similarities of electron ionization and photoionization are discussed. An analytic fit is given which accurately reproduces the distorted-wave cross sections and rate coefficients of argonlike ions with $Z\ensuremath{\ge}20$.
Biochemical markers of aging

It is the purpose of this report to identity possible metabolic deficiences that might served as biochemical markers of aging. It is proposed that the multiplicity of physical and physiological changes associated with aging could be most readily explained by alterations in the regulation and/or the activities of enzymes that occupy central position in metabolism. Specifically, a search for metabolic markers of aging might include efforts to determined if there are age-related changes in the following enzymes or enzyme system: (a) allosteric enzymes that catalyze reaction reactions in highly branched metabolic pathways; (b) enzymes that catalyze opposing reactions between metabolites that are common intermediates in biosynthetic and biodegradative pathways (reactions wich in the absence of final control would lead to futile substrate cycling); (c) enzymes that catalyze bimolecular reactions in which one member of a coenzyme pair is a cosubstrate (e.g., reactions involving NAD+ or NADH); (d) enzymes that are regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycles; and (e) G-protein-dependent enzyme systems. It is also emphasized that changes in the concentrations and ratios of coenzyme substrate pairs (e.g., [NAD]/[NADH], [CoA]/[acyl CoA]) and the energy ratio [ATP] + 0.5 [ADP]/[ATP] + [ADP] + [AMP] may signal deviations from normal metabolism and therefore might be reliable markers of aging. In addition, becuase of their critical roles in metabolism, changes in the correction of GTP, GDP and the second messenger, c-AMP, c-GMP should be monitored. Finally, it is noted that the accumulation of the altered forms of some enzymes which occurs during aging reflects imbalance between posttranslational modification of the enzymes and the degradation of the altered enzyme forms. The biological mechanisms involved and the geentic implications are discussed.
The excess enthalpies of (carbon dioxide+hexane) at 308.15, 358.15, and 413.15 K from 7.50 to 12.50 MPa

Abstract The excess molar enthalpies HmE for (carbon dioxide + cyclohexane) were measured in the vicinity of their critical locus and in the supercritical region. Mixtures at 308.15 K and at 7.50 MPa show very exothermic mixing and a region where HmE varies linearly with mole fraction x while at 10.50 and 12.50 MPa they show only moderately endothermic mixing. Mixtures at 358.15 and 413.15 K and at all pressures studied except for 358.15 K and 12.50 MPa have an exothermic section in the cyclohexane-rich region, a linear section which starts at a mole fraction x corresponding very closely to that of the minimum value of HmE, and an endothermic section in the carbon-dioxide-rich region. The HmE results exhibiting a linear section allow the determination of values for the vapor and liquid equilibrium-phase compositions. The changes observed in the excess enthalpy with both pressure and temperature are discussed in terms of liquid-vapor equilibrium and critical constants for (carbon dioxide + cyclohexane).
A Novel Vascular Coupling System for End-to-End Anastomosis

Vascular anastomosis is common during reconstructive surgeries. Traditional hand-suturing techniques are time consuming, subject to human error, and require high technical expertise and complex instruments. Prior attempts to replace hand-suturing technique, including staples, ring-pin devices, cuffing devices, and clips, are either more cumbersome, are unable to maintain a tight seal, or do not work for both arteries and veins. To provide a more efficient and reliable vessel anastomosis, a metal-free vascular coupling system that can be used for both arteries and veins was designed, fabricated and tested. A set of corresponding instruments were developed to facilitate the anastomosis process. Evaluation of the anastomosis by scanning electron microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging, demonstrated that the installation process does not cause damage to the vessel intima and the vascular coupling system is not exposed to the vessel lumen. Mechanical testing results showed that vessels reconnected with the vascular coupling system could withstand 12.7 ± 2.2 N tensile force and have superior leak profiles (0.049 ± 0.015, 0.078 ± 0.016, 0.089 ± 0.008 mL/s at 160, 260, 360 mmHg, respectively) compared to hand sutured vessels (0.310 ± 0.014, 1.123 ± 0.033, 2.092 ± 0.072 mL/s at 160, 260, 360 mmHg, respectively). The anastomotic process was successfully demonstrated on both arteries and veins in cadaver pigs.
ORIENTATION IN COMPOUND FIELDS OF EXCITATION; PHOTIC ADAPTATION IN PHOTOTROPISM.

During upward geotropic orientation upon a vertical plate the slug Agriolimax creeps vertically, in darkness. Horizontal light from one side produces orientation of dark-adapted slugs away from the vertical path, through an angle (s). The magnitude of this angle is a function of the light intensity and of time. The moderately rapid course of light adaptation is followed by measurements of s at fixed intervals. Simple assumptions as to the nature of the orienting forces lead to the conclusion that the logarithm of the tangent of s should decrease linearly with time, and that the rate of the decrease should vary directly with the logarithm of the light intensity. Both expectations are adequately realized. Certain implications of these results for behavior analysis are pointed out.
Study of the compaction and sintering of two high-performance thermoplastic polyimides†

Compression and sintering studies on powders of two thermoplastic high-performance polyimides—Amoco Torlon polyamide-imide and Mitsui Toatsu LaRC TPI polyimide—show that the partially crystalline polyimide, LaRC TPI, exhibits substantial pressure-dependent cold flow, below its traditional melting point. Torlon PAI, a completely amorphous polymer, exhibits a more traditional pressure-dependent compaction density.
Analytic Determination of the Buckling Speed of Towed Slender Cylindrical Beams

The buckling of submerged, towed slender cylindrical beams is investigated using analytic methods. The problem is formulated using the ''slender body'' approximation and conditions are sought for which the beam may be in equilibrium at a deflected position. The buckling modes are expressed in terms of generalized airy functions, and determination of the critical towing speed for buckling is made by solving the resulting eigenvalue problem. The critical towing speed is obtained as a function of the bending stiffness, length-to-diameter ratio and hydrodynamic characteristics of the beam. It is concluded that a blunt tail-end with an increase in length-to-diameter ratio of the beam and externally imposed tension have a favorable effect on the buckling stability of the beam.
Analysis of an Oral Paradigm for the Trail Making Test

Performance on the Trail Making Test is dependent upon multiple factors (e.g., motor speed, visual search, symbolic set shifting, capacity to sustain effort), many of which are difficult to assess differentially using the test's traditional administration, or with certain clinical populations (e.g., blind or grossly motor-impaired individuals). The present study investigated a motor-free, vision-free, oral version of the Trail Making Test in two groups of younger adults and one group of elderly adults. The results demonstrated that although there were age-associated differences in raw performance times, the comparability of oral and written performances, as assessed by oral-to-written ratios, was consistent across age groups. These results suggest that the oral version of the Trail Making Test yields results consistent with an individual's written performance in normal subjects, regardless of age. Findings are discussed with regard to the potential clinical application of this measure as an alternative for specific populations, and as a useful way of interpreting written Trail Making performances.
Artificial intelligence in the development and design of biochemical processes

Abstract This article outlines the use of artificial intelligence in three areas of biotechnology: (a) exploration of new production routes for various bioproducts; (b) design of mammalian cell biofermentors; and (c) synthesis of downstream processing schemes for the separation and purification of proteins. Until recently, all of these areas have been ‘knowledge intensive', driven by the incisive expertise of scientists and engineers, and quite resistant to analytic and rigorous mathematical formulations and solutions. Here we describe the ‘prototype intelligent system' used in the above three areas, and attempt simple projections on the use of artificial intelligence in biotechnology.
Comments on the NIGMS PSI.

(1)The means are not at hand to achieve the ends of PSI, however desirable those ends might be in principle.(2)A technology-oriented initiative in structural biology is nonetheless a useful idea.(3)Such an initiative should be designed to facilitate some fundamental methodological breakthroughs, of which I give a partial (and necessarily opinionated) list.(4)As breakthroughs like these require innovation and imagination, the funding mechanism should be a mix of R01 and P01 grants, possibly supported by a small number of national facilities.
The tree lattice existence theorems

Abstract Let X be a locally finite tree, and let G=Aut(X). Then G is a locally compact group. In analogy with Lie groups, Bass and Lubotzky conjectured that G contains lattices, that is, discrete subgroups whose quotient carries a finite invariant measure. Bass and Kulkarni showed that G contains uniform lattices if and only if G is unimodular and G⧹X is finite. We describe the necessary and sufficient conditions for G to contain lattices, both uniform and non-uniform, answering the Bass–Lubotzky conjectures in full. To cite this article: L. Carbone, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 335 (2002) 223–228.
Relations between distinct aspects of self-regulation to symptoms of impulsivity and compulsivity

Little attention has been paid to different aspects of self-regulation in relation to symptoms of psychopathology, specifically to disorders characterized by impulsive and compulsive features. By dividing self-regulation into assessment (i.e., the tendency to judge the quality of something by considering both its merits and demerits in comparison with an alternative) and locomotion (i.e., the tendency to move from state to state, with committing the psychological resources to pursue goals), this study compared these different aspects of self-regulation with symptoms of impulsivity, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) in a non-clinical sample of 330 participants. Results indicate a positive relationship between assessment scores and impulsivity and a negative association between locomotion and impulsivity. Results also indicate that assessment is positively associated with anxiety and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Collectively, these results suggest that poor self-regulation in the form of high assessment scores may play a role in a range of impulsive and compulsive related disorders.
Magneto-optic determination of the light-hole effective masses in InGaAs/GaAs strained-layer superlattices

Abstract Low-temperature magneto-luminescence studies on strained layer superlattices are used to determine in-plane light-hole band effective masses in both n- and p-type InGaAs/GaAs structures.
Effects of hull-ice friction coefficient on predictions of pack ice forces for moored offshore vessels

Abstract Designers and offshore operators frequently predict pack ice loading on offshore vessels by conducting scale model tests. One factor that can affect pack ice loading is the hull–ice friction coefficient. This research investigates the effect of hull–ice friction coefficients for a moored offshore vessel model and includes ice floe size and ice concentration as additional variables. A method of non-dimensional analysis is modified in order to deal with the multivariate nature of the new data. The resulting non-dimensional equation provides insight on relationships between the predicted pack ice force and the variables under investigation. The relationship between pack ice force and hull–ice friction coefficient is shown to be approximately a fourth root function, while the relationship for ice floe size, non-dimensionalised by the vessel beam, is approximately linear. The relationship between predicted pack ice force and ice concentration exists in a band bounded by cubic and sixth power curves. Applying the modified equation to the previous data sets shows the current analysis slightly improves the normalization of pack ice forces.
Headaches and psychoactive substance use.

SYNOPSIS A number of clinical reports have revealed an association between the use of alcohol and drugs and theonset or exacerbation of headaches. In order to investigate this association systematically and to examinethe temporal relationship between onset of headaches and psychoactive substance use, we analyzedresponses to e self-report questionnaire from 267 consecutive admissions to a three-week inpatientsubstance abuse treatment program. The response rate was 89.7%. The following characteristics werenoted in the 236 respondents: 1) Over 89% reported having experienced some type of headache. 2)Headache-free individuals were significantly older than headache sufferers. 3) Women were much morelikely to have migraine headaches than men. 4) Onset of migraines occurred prior to onset of substanceuse, while onset of tension headaches occurred after onset of substance use. Although associational datamust be interpreted with caution, an intriguing hypothesis compatible with the finding is that migrainesmay play a role in the genesis of substance use, while substance use may play a role in the genesis oftension headaches.
Effect of Transfusion on Hemoglobin Variants in Preterm Infants

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of transfusion on hemoglobin (Hb) variants in very low birth weight infants and to correlate these changes with parameters measured in routine complete blood counts. METHODS: Hb variants were measured by capillary isoelectric focusing on 126 specimens from 25 very low birth weight infants during their hospital course. These results were compared with transfusion frequency, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red cell distribution width. RESULTS: Mean initial Hb F level before transfusion was 87.1 ± 5.1%, and a single 15 ml/kg packed red blood cell transfusion decreased the mean Hb F level to 54.0 ± 4.7%. With frequent transfusions in the first month of life, there was progressive decline in Hb F content such that Hb F made up <15% of the total Hb after five transfusions. There was a linear correlation between Hb F content and MCV, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.77 and a p value of <0.0001. In most instances, when the MCV fell below 100 fl, the Hb F content was <50%; when the MCV fell below 95 fl, the Hb F content was <25%. There was a nonlinear correlation between Hb F content and red cell distribution width. CONCLUSION: Transfusion in very low birth weight infants results in a rapid transition from Hb F to Hb A predominance. This transition is marked by a reduction in MCV that allows for prediction of the Hb F content.
Impact of Adolescent Pregnancy as We Approach the New Millennium

Between 1990 and 1997 teen pregnancy and birth rates have fallen dramatically, especially in black teens. However, the teen birth rate in the United States remains the highest of any industrialized nation: four times higher than Germany, six times higher than France. Contraception use has also increased. Condoms were used during last intercourse approximately 55% of the time in 1997 vs. only approximately 38% in 1991. Likewise, the percentage of teens having intercourse has dropped, and the number of abortions is down. The negative social and economic impact of early teenage pregnancy is tremendous. It is estimated to cost the nation about $21 billion annually (in 1993 dollars). The long-term productive life prospects are also lower for teenage mothers and their offspring. Many programs have been utilized to reduce the incidence of teen pregnancy. While some have had modest success, no single or simple solution is on the horizon.
Decomposing airline alliances: A bid-price approach to revenue management with incomplete information sharing

Although alliances seek to coordinate airlines’ decisions in order to increase total revenues, practical limitations mean that the partners are often unwilling or unable to share, or even incorporate, complete information about their partners’ operations. In this article, we present a method for managing revenues effectively when facing such limitations. We show that the alliance decomposes to single airlines when utilizing bid-price sharing under limited information, and then use the (approximately) martingale property of optimal bid prices to create an easily implementable heuristic. We discuss the practical benefits of this method and compare its performance with a centralized controller in sample alliances. We also prove asymptotic optimality of one particular implementation.
Cross-Regulation of Protein Stability by p53 and Nuclear Receptor SHP

We report here a novel interplay between tumor suppressor p53 and nuclear receptor SHP that controls p53 and SHP stability. Overexpression of p53 causes rapid SHP protein degradation, which does not require the presence of Mdm2 and is mediated by the proteosome pathway. Overexpressing SHP alone does not affect p53 stability. However, SHP destabilizes p53 by augmentation of Mdm2 ubiquitin ligase activity toward p53. The single amino acid substitution in the SHP protein SHPK170R increases SHP binding to p53 relative to SHP wild-type, whereas SHPG171A variant shows a diminished p53 binding. As a result of the cross-regulation, the tumor suppressor function of p53 and SHP in inhibition of colon cancer growth is compromised. Our findings reveal a unique scenario for a cross-inhibition between two tumor suppressors to keep their expression and function in check.
How «natural» are inland wetlands? An example from the trail wood audubon sanctuary in Connecticut, USA

We examined the geology of a small inland wetland in Hampton, Connecticut to determine its postglacial history and to assess the severity of human impact at this remote wooded site. Using stratigraphic evidence, we dernonstrate that the present wetland was created when sediment pollution from a 19th-century railroad filled a preexisting artificial reservoir, and that the prehistoric wetland was a narrow drainage swale along Hampton Brook. This same, severely impacted wetland was interpreted by the Pulitzer Prize-winning naturalist Edwin Way Teale as a beautiful wilderness area of particular interest. These conflicting perceptions indicate that artificial wetlands can be naturally mitigated in less than a century of healing, even in the absence of deliberate management. We also point out that the “wilderness” value of the Teale wetland was in the eye of the beholder and that unseen human impacts may have improved the aesthetic experience.
Quantitative protein sequencing using mass spectrometry: computer-aided assembly of protein sequences from N-terminal peptide sequences.

Abstract A computer program has been developed that reconstructs partial or total amino acid sequences of proteins from the partial N -terminal sequences of selected peptides derived from specific cleavage of the protein by proteolytic and/or chemical methods.
History of Two Local Outbreaks of Feral House Mice

Hefley, H. M. 1928. Differential effects of constant humidities on Pro toparce quinquernaculatits Haworth, and its parasite, Wiintheniia quadripustulata Fabricius. Jour. Econ. Entomol. 21:213-221. Messenger, P. S. 1959. Bioclimatic studies with insects. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 4:183-206. , and N. E. Flitters. 1954. Bioclimatic studies of three species of fruit flies in Hawaii. Jour. Econ. Entomol. 47:756-765. . 1959. Effect of variable temperature environments on egg development of three species of fruit flies. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 52:191-204. Payne, N. M. 1933. The differential effect of environmental factors upon Microbracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its host Ephestia kiihnliella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). I. Biol. Bull. 65:187205. . 1934. The differential effect of environmental factors upon Microbracow hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its host Ephestia kiihniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). II. Ecol. Monogr. 4:1-46. Schlinger, E. I., and J. C. Hall. 1960. The biology, behavior, and morphology of Praon palitans Muesebeck, an internal parasite of the spotted alfalfa aphid, Therioaphis maczulata (Buckton) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae). Ann Entomol. Soc. Amer. 53: 144-160. Sekhar, P. S. 1957. Mating, oviposition, and discrimination of hosts by Aphidius testaceipes (Cresson) and Praon aguti Smith, primary parasites of aphids. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Amer. 50:370-375.
Localization of the gene for familial primary pulmonary hypertension to chromosome 2q31–32

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH)f an often fatal disease, is characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressures in the absence of a secondary cause1. Endovascular occlusion in the smallest pulmonary arteries occurs by proliferation of cells and matrix, with thrombus and vasospasm2. Diagnosis is often delayed because the initial symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea on exertion are nonspecific and definitive diagnosis requires invasive procedures. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is two to three years with death usually due to progressive right heart failure3. The aetiology of the disease is unknown. Although most cases appear to be sporadic, ∼6% of cases recorded in the NIH Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Registry are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with reduced penetrance4–6. Following a genome-wide search using a set of highly polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers and 19 affected individuals from six families, initial evidence for linkage was obtained with two chromosome 2q markers. We subsequently genotyped patients and all available family members for 19 additional markers spanning ∼40 centiMorgans (cM) on the long arm of chromosome 2. We obtained a maximum two-point lod score of 6.97 at θ=0 with the marker D2S389; multipoint linkage analysis yielded a maximum lod score of 7.86 with the marker D2S311. Haplotype analysis established a minimum candidate interval of ∼25 cM.
Magneto-optical trapping of chromium atoms

We have constructed a magneto-optical trap for chromium atoms. Using trapping light at 425 nm and two repumping lasers tuned to intercombination transitions, over ${10}^{6}$ atoms were trapped and average densities of over ${10}^{16}{\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ were obtained. Nonexponential loss of atoms is observed at high densities indicating inelastic collisions between trapped atoms. Over a range of trapping conditions, the density-dependent trap loss rate constant \ensuremath{\beta} is extracted from fluorescence decay curves and found to have values in the range of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}{\mathrm{m}}^{3}{\mathrm{}\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1},$ much larger than is observed in alkali-metal traps.
Dual Role of the Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Intergenic Region in Transcription Termination and Virus Propagation

Each genome segment of the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), encodes two genes in ambisense orientation, separated by an intergenic region (IGR). The 3' ends of subgenomic viral mRNAs have been mapped to a stem-loop structure within the IGR, suggesting structure-dependent transcription termination. We have studied the role of the LCMV IGR by using a minigenome (MG) rescue system based on RNA analogues of the short genome segment. An ambisense MG coding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and green fluorescent protein reporter genes instead of the nucleoprotein and glycoprotein open reading frames, respectively, served as a template for synthesis of full-length anti-MG (aMG) replicate and subgenomic size mRNA for reporter gene expression. An analogous MG without IGR was amplified by the virus polymerase with equal efficiency, but subgenomic mRNA was undetectable. Reporter gene expression from IGR-deficient aMG CAT-sense RNA of genomic length was approximately 5-fold less efficient than that from subgenomic CAT mRNA derived from an IGR-containing MG, but at least 100-fold more efficient than that from a T7 RNA polymerase transcript with the same sequence. Therefore, in the absence of IGR-mediated transcription termination, a fraction of full-length aMG RNA appears to behave as bona fide mRNA. Unexpectedly, MGs without IGR were dramatically impaired in their ability to passage reporter gene activity via infectious virus-like particles. These data suggest that the LCMV IGR serves individual functions in transcription termination for enhanced gene expression and in the virus assembly and/or budding, which are required for the efficient propagation of LCMV infectivity.
A prospective study of single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in live donor nephrectomy.

derwent LDN at our medical institution, and 280 of these patients were injected with 1 g cephalosporin 30 minutes before the operation. The group receiving prophylactic antibiotics was compared with a control group composed of 190 patients who received injections of 2 g cephalosporin per day for 5 days after the operation. The presence of fever, incidence of blood transfusion, and period of drainage use were compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in gender, age, body mass index, incidence of blood transfusion after the operation, fever over 38 o C 3 days after the operation, or period of drain insertion between the single-dose group and the control group. The follow-up was conducted for 1 month after the operation, and 1 case of surgical site infection (SSI) was observed in each group (p=0.783). Conclusions: Of 280 patients in the single-dose group, 1 contracted SSI. In comparison with the control group, which was dosed with prophylactic antibiotics for 5 days after the operation, the single-dose group did not have a significantly different occurrence of SSI. We found that the incidence rate of SSI did not increase, even though prophylactic antibiotics were not used after standard and conventional open surgeries, such as video-assisted minilaparotomy surgery.
Self–Forgiveness: The Stepchild of Forgiveness Research

Although research on interpersonal forgiveness is burgeoning, there is little conceptual or empirical scholarship on self–forgiveness. To stimulate research on this topic, a conceptual analysis of self–forgiveness is offered in which self–forgiveness is defined and distinguished from interpersonal forgiveness and pseudo self–forgiveness. The conditions under which self–forgiveness is appropriate also are identified. A theoretical model describing the processes involved in self–forgiveness following the perpetration of an interpersonal transgression is outlined and the proposed emotional, social–cognitive, and offense–related determinants of self–forgiveness are described. The limitations of the model and its implications for future research are explored.
Acute thrombosis of a mesenteric artery drug-eluting stent following clopidogrel cessation.

Learning objective To describe thrombosis of sirolimus-coated mesenteric arterial stents following cessation of clopidogrel therapy. Background Cardiac drug-eluting stent thrombosis following cessation of antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel has been associated with increased mortality. The application of such stents in the mesenteric arterial system and the subsequent need for clopidogrel therapy has not been studied. This is the first case report of acute thrombosis of a drug-coated stent in the mesenteric circulation. Clinical findings Acute mesenteric ischemia secondary to thrombosis of a mesenteric arterial stent following clopidogrel cessation is described. Conclusion Drug-eluting stents represent an option for mesenteric revascularization in the surgically complicated abdomen. As in the setting of cardiac stenting, acute thrombosis of these devices following cessation of clopidogrel therapy is a concern. Indefinite clopidogrel therapy following deployment of drug-coated stents should be considered.
The Economic Context of Labor Allocation Implications for Gender Stratification

This study investigates the process by which married women and men allocate their labor between employment and housework. The two forms of labor are conceptualized as economically productive and subject to economic determinants at three levels: the macroeconomic structure, the family economy, and individual human capital characteristics. Data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics indicate that both women's market and domestic labor are highly sensitive to the family economy, whereas men's market labor is subject to the macroeconomic structure and men's domestic labor is little affected by its economic context. Implications of these patterns for the process of gender stratification are described.
Work in progress: A STEM educational outreach day for young females

The existing gender disparities in the sciences, especially in the field of engineering, underscore the need for outreach programs to engage young women in such areas. Many programs exist for high school students, but girls may be turned away from engineering at an earlier age. FEMMES (females excelling more in math, engineering, and science) is an annual free, one-day event, which provides an exciting, hands-on experience for 4th-6th grade girls from Durham, North Carolina, to encourage them to further explore their potential in these fields. Over 150 participants come to Duke to attend interactive activities designed and led by female faculty. To assess the programpsilas effectiveness, surveys were completed by participants before and after the event. Each participant assessed her own interest, knowledge, and confidence in math, science, and engineering on a scale of 1 to 10. With respect to engineering, the mean post-event values were significantly higher than pre-event values in all three categories (p < .001). The increase value (plusmn 95% confidence interval) for each category was the following: interest 1.32 (plusmn 0.57); knowledge 1.94 (plusmn 0.58); confidence 1.66 (plusmn 0.63). The increases for engineering were also notably larger than the math and science values, indicating that this type of event especially influences attitudes toward engineering.
Autosomal recessive duchenne like muscular dystrophy: Molecular and histochemical results

An autosomal recessive disorder which mimics Duchenne muscular dystrophy has long been suspected as a cause of muscular dystrophy in karyotypically normal girls and in both boys and girls with consanguineous parents. Analysis of dystrophin now allows confirmation of the existence of this disorder. We report the results of this analysis in a brother and sister who have the typical clinical features of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but no demonstrable abnormality in dystrophin or its gene.