cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lessons Learned From Australia: Social Disadvantage and Pubertal Timing.

* Abbreviations: PROS — : Pediatric Research in Office Settings SEP — : socioeconomic position In the past 70 or so years, the tempo and substance of cultural and environmental changes influencing the health and development of children have increased. In many parts of the world, children are entering puberty earlier than ever before. This is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes later in life. To that end, and in an effort toward determining public health interventions to reverse this phenomenon, Sun et al1 in this issue of Pediatrics prospectively examined the cumulative effects of family and neighborhood domains among a birth cohort of 5107 Australian infants followed until they were 10 to 11 years old. Cumulative exposure to extremely unfavorable socioeconomic position (SEP) was associated with 4 times the risk of early puberty in boys and 2 times the risk in girls. A brief historical perspective may help inform the results. When this journal published the study by Pediatric Research in Office Settings (PROS) on the age of onset of puberty in US girls in 1997,2 a firestorm ensued. In contrast to the widely used norms published by Marshall and Tanner in the … Address correspondence to Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, PA, MPH, DrPH, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, CB #7445, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445. E-mail: mherman-giddens{at}unc.edu
Nucleic Acids and Related Compounds

Nucleic acids are an important class of compounds, which have been studied in great detail. Pauling and Corey (1953) proposed a helical model composed of three chains, each having ribofuranose, phosphate ion, and pyrimidine or purine moieties. The chains wound around the axis to form a rope-like molecule, the core of which was formed by the phosphates with hydrogen bonds and ribose rings connecting them. The pyrimidine and purine rings were connected to the sugars along the outer periphery of the polymer. The Watson-Crick (1953) model for DNA was a hydrogen-bonded one which involved two chains. Each chain had a backbone of sugar-phosphate-sugar-phosphate-sugar, etc. In this model the pyrimidine and purine rings were attached to the sugar molecules in such a way that the bases projected inward toward the core of the polymer. The hydrogen bonds formed in such a manner that two hydrogen bonds linked each purine to a pyrimidine on the opposite chain, and vice versa. Pauling and Corey (1956) then proposed a model in which instead of two hydrogen bonds between guanine and cytosine there were three (Fig. 12.1). The original Watson-Crick model has since been revised by Wilkins and his co-workers (see Mahler and Cordes, 1966).
Grit is associated with food security among US parents and adolescents

Objectives: We investigated whether the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) predicted odds of food insecurity (FI) among adults and their children. Methods: A cross-sectional panel of parent-child dyads completed an online questionnaire. Eligible dyads included parents with household income below the 2015 median ($52,250 USD/year) and their self-selected household child between the ages of 13 to 17 years. An online questionnaire assessed: (1) FI using the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module and the Food Security Survey Module for Youth; (2) perseverance and determination using the validated 8-item Grit-S; and (3) sociodemographic FI predictors. Logit regression models estimated the relationship between odds of FI and predictors among parents and children, separately. Results: Among 252 parents, 61.1% reported household FI. Parents' Grit-S score (N = 179) was associated with a significantly lower odds of household FI (OR= 0.4; 95%CI= 0.2, 0.8; p < .01) while adjusting for established predictors. Mean (±SD) Grit-S was 3.1 (±0.7). Children's Grit-S score (N = 178) was associated with a significantly lower odds of child FI (OR= 0.6; 95%CI= 0.4, 0.9; p < .05) while adjusting for established predictors. Conclusions: Perseverance and determination, also known as "grit," may be one further explanation for why some poor households are food secure.
Modification of Ponderosa Pine Root Systems in Containers

Coating the inside surfaces of containers with cupric carbonate (CuCO3) caused roots of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) to stop growth when they contacted the container wall. Higher order laterals then proliferated and were arrested when they, in turn, encountered the container wall. These roots resumed growth radially when the container was removed. Indolebutryic acid (IBA) caused a similar, but not as dramatic effect as CuCO3.
Adaptive Neural Network Fast Fractional Sliding Mode Control of a 7-DOF Exoskeleton Robot

To rehabilitate individuals with impaired upper limb (UL) functions due to neurological disorders, this research focuses on trajectory tracking control (representing passive rehabilitation exercise) of a 7 DOFs exoskeleton robot named ETS-MARSE. It is a redundant type of robotic manipulator having a very complex structure which is designed based on human UL joint articulations. The exoskeleton is constantly encountered with external disturbances and unknown dynamics such as friction forces, and backlash which is hard to model. Moreover, this type of robot needs to deal with the unknown dynamics of a wide range of subjects with different degrees of UL impairments. Therefore, to deal with this modeling uncertainty, in this paper we propose a novel adaptive neural network fast fractional integral terminal sliding mode control (ANFFITSMC) approach to maneuver the ETS-MARSE to provide passive arm movement therapy. To address the chattering phenomena which are observed in the fast fractional integral terminal sliding mode control (FFITSMC), a new adaptive radial basis function neural network (ARBFN) is incorporated with the FFITSMC. The Lyapunov theory is used in order to prove the stability of the proposed controller. Simulation results validated the efficient performance of the ANFFITSMC in terms of chattering reduction and trajectory tracking.
Determinants of Electricity Bill Savings for Residential Solar Panel Adopters in the U.S.: A Multilevel Modeling Approach

Abstract This study provides a comprehensive examination of factors that affect the electricity bill savings of a sample of solar adopters in four U.S. states. A multilevel model is used to capture the role of variations across state policies and local regulations, and examine their effect on savings after controlling for household characteristics. We find that solar adopters located in zip codes with higher photovoltaics penetration have significantly higher summer savings. This suggests that local policies that remove barriers for the wide adoption of solar panels across multiple households would be in alignment with increasing the private value of solar panels. Furthermore, we find that solar adopters in zip codes with smaller installed capacity have higher summer savings. The analysis in this study suggests that, to achieve higher savings, local policies that regulate size are less effective compared to policies that remove barriers to a wider photovoltaics adoption. Finally, this study finds evidence for the role of certain household-level variables in explaining the electricity bill savings of solar adopters. Solar-savings-calculators can be customized to include some of these house and resident characteristics.
Dasatinib-induced myalgia, ostealgia, lip edema and rash in a child

An 11-year-old boy with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia received dasatinib 60 mg once daily because of the resistance to imatinib. About five hours after drug administration, he developed generalized myalgia and ostealgia, lip edema and rash in the hands. An IV infusion of dexamethasone 3 mg and oral ibuprofen 200 mg were given, then the symptoms were mitigated. The above mentioned symptoms reappeared after the use of dasatinib the next day. The patient received dexamethasone and ibuprofen, the symptoms were relieved. Adverse reactions induced by dasatinib was considered. The dasatinib was stopped. Two days later, the patient received dasatinib at the same dosage as before and intensive treatment with vindesine, idarubicin, pegaspargase and dexamethasone, no symptoms recurred. Key words: Dasatinib; Drug toxicity
Breathing Life Into Calculus: Using Simulation to Enhance Students' Understanding of the Relevance of Calculus to Physiology

Relating mathematics learned in the classroom to real situations increases student motivation and enhances learning. In this paper, we provide an example of a classroom application of calculus to p...
New York's Ill-Advised Taxation of Nonresidents During COVID-19

For 2020, New York should tax neither the incomes of nonresident telecommuters nor the incomes of the volunteers who came from across the country to help New York confront the COVID-19 emergency.If New York will not act in this sensible fashion, Congress should. In the next round of coronavirus legislation, Congress can prohibit the states from taxing, for the duration of the coronavirus emergency, the incomes of nonresident telecommuters and out-of-state medical volunteers.
A Unifying Framework to Identify Dense Subgraphs on Streams: Graph Nuclei to Hypergraph Cores

Finding dense regions of graphs is fundamental in graph mining. We focus on the computation of dense hierarchies and regions with graph nuclei---a generalization of k-cores and trusses. Static computation of nuclei, namely through variants of 'peeling', are easy to understand and implement. However, many practically important graphs undergo continuous change. Dynamic algorithms, maintaining nucleus computations on dynamic graph streams, are nuanced and require significant effort to port between nuclei, e.g., from k-cores to trusses. We propose a unifying framework to maintain nuclei in dynamic graph streams. First, we show no dynamic algorithm can asymptotically beat re-computation, highlighting the need to experimentally understand variability. Next, we prove equivalence between k-cores on a special hypergraph and nuclei. Our algorithm splits the problem into maintaining the special hypergraph and maintaining k-cores on it. We implement our algorithm and experimentally demonstrate improvements up to 108 x over re-computation. We show algorithmic improvements on k-cores apply to trusses and outperform truss-specific implementations.
Expanding a Large Inclusive Study of Human Listening Rates

As conversational agents and digital assistants become increasingly pervasive, understanding their synthetic speech becomes increasingly important. Simultaneously, speech synthesis is becoming more sophisticated and manipulable, providing the opportunity to optimize speech rate to save users time. However, little is known about people’s abilities to understand fast speech. In this work, we provide an extension of the first large-scale study on human listening rates, enlarging the prior study run with 453 participants to 1,409 participants and adding new analyses on this larger group. Run on LabintheWild, it used volunteer participants, was screen reader accessible, and measured listening rate by accuracy at answering questions spoken by a screen reader at various rates. Our results show that people who are visually impaired, who often rely on audio cues and access text aurally, generally have higher listening rates than sighted people. The findings also suggest a need to expand the range of rates available on personal devices. These results demonstrate the potential for users to learn to listen to faster rates, expanding the possibilities for human-conversational agent interaction.
Durable robotic mitral repair of degenerative primary regurgitation with long-term follow-up.

Abstract Background Variation in degenerative mitral morphology may contribute to suboptimal repair rates. This study evaluates outcomes of a standardized mitral repair technique. Methods An institutional clinical registry was used to identify 1036 consecutive patients undergoing robotic mitral surgery between 2005-2020: 87% (n=902) had degenerative disease. Calcification, failed transcatheter repair, and endocarditis were excluded, leaving 582 (68%) patients with isolated posterior leaflet and 268 (32%) with anterior/bileaflet prolapse. Standardized repair comprised triangular resection and true-sized flexible band in posterior leaflet prolapse. Freedom from >2+ moderate mitral regurgitation stratified by prolapse location was assessed using competing risk analysis with death as a competing event. Median follow-up was 5.5 (range 0-15) years. Results Of patients with isolated posterior leaflet prolapse, 87% (n=506) had standardized repairs, and 13% (n=76) had additional or non-resectional techniques, versus 24% (n=65) and 76% (n=203) respectively for anterior/bileaflet prolapse (P 2+ regurgitation or reintervention at 10 years was 92% for posterior prolapse (versus 83% for anterior/bileaflet prolapse). Anterior/bileaflet prolapse was associated with late >2+ regurgitation (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3-7.0). Conclusions Posterior leaflet prolapse may be repaired in > 99% of patients using triangular resection and band annuloplasty, with satisfactory long-term durability. Increased risk of complex repairs and inferior durability highlights the value of identifying anterior and bileaflet prolapse pre-operatively.
Growth of Pediatric Refugees after Resettlement to the Southeastern United States.

OBJECTIVE To compare weight status and body mass index z-scores (BMIz) of refugee children upon arrival to the Southeastern US and after resettlement with age- and sex-matched controls of nonrefugee children. METHODS We identified refugee children resettled between July 2014 and June 2018 to Forsyth County, NC. Refugees were assigned age- and sex-matched controls (3 controls:1 refugee) who received care at the same health care site, were Medicaid insured, and had height and weight recorded at time of their matched refugee's resettlement plus at least 2 additional visits. BMI and BMIz were calculated. Pearson chi-square test assessed differences in weight status at the time of refugee resettlement and at the last measured time point. Multilevel linear mixed-effects regression models assessed change in BMIz by refugee status, adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, and time since resettlement. RESULTS This study examined 139 pediatric refugees and 417 nonrefugee controls; 46% were female. At the time of resettlement, refugees had a higher rate of underweight (3.3% vs 1.9%), higher rate of healthy weight (68.9% vs 48.2%), and lower rate of overweight/obesity (27.8% vs 50%), compared to controls P < .001. At the last available time point, compared to controls, refugees had higher rates of underweight (3.3% vs 3.0%) and healthy weight (69.5% vs 54.2%) and lower rates of overweight/obesity (27.2% vs 42.7%), P = .005. Refugees had a lower predicted BMIz compared with controls (adjusted β: -0.78; 95% confidence interval -0.91, -0.66). CONCLUSIONS Resettled pediatric refugees were found to have significantly lower predicted BMIz than their age- and sex-matched nonrefugee controls.
Cytochrome c adducts with PCB quinoid metabolites.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of 209 individual congeners widely used as industrial chemicals. PCBs are found as by-products in dye and paint manufacture and are legacy, ubiquitous, and persistent as human and environmental contaminants. PCBs with fewer chlorine atoms may be metabolized to hydroxy- and dihydroxy-metabolites and further oxidized to quinoid metabolites both in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, quinoid metabolites may form adducts on nucleophilic sites within cells. We hypothesized that the PCB-quinones covalently bind to cytochrome c and, thereby, cause defects in the function of cytochrome c. In this study, synthetic PCB quinones, 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (PCB3-pQ), 4-4'-chlorophenyl)-1,2-benzoquinone (PCB3-oQ), 2-(3′, 5′-dichlorophenyl)-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-(3′,4′, 5′-trichlorophenyl)-1,4-benzoquinone, and 2-(4′-chlorophenyl)-3,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, were incubated with cytochrome c, and adducts were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF). Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was employed to separate the adducted proteins, while trypsin digestion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were applied to identify the amino acid binding sites on cytochrome c. Conformation change of cytochrome c after binding with PCB3-pQ was investigated by SYBYL-X simulation and cytochrome c function was examined. We found that more than one molecule of PCB-quinone may bind to one molecule of cytochrome c. Lysine and glutamic acid were identified as the predominant binding sites. Software simulation showed conformation changes of adducted cytochrome c. Additionally, cross-linking of cytochrome c was observed on the SDS-PAGE gel. Cytochrome c was found to lose its function as electron acceptor after incubation with PCB quinones. These data provide evidence that the covalent binding of PCB quinone metabolites to cytochrome c may be included among the toxic effects of PCBs.
What Is New in Our City? A Framework for Event Extraction Using Social Media Posts

Post streams from public social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter have become precious but noisy data sources to discover what is happening around us. In this paper, we focus on the problem of detecting and presenting local events in real time using social media content. We propose a novel framework for real-time city event detection and extraction. The proposed framework first applies bursty detection to discover candidate event signals from Instagram and Twitter post streams. Then it integrates the two posts streams to extract features for candidate event signals and classifies them into true events or noise. For the true events, the framework extracts various information to summarize and present them. We also propose a novel method that combines text, image and geolocation information to retrieve relevant photos for detected events. Through the experiments on a large dataset, we show that integrating Instagram and Twitter post streams can improve event detection accuracy, and properly combining text, image and geolocation information is able to retrieve more relevant photos for events. Through case studies, we also show that the framework is able to report detected events with low spatial and temporal deviation.
Functions and realizations of value-added networks

EDUNET is an international facilitating network for computing in higher education and research. The communications technology underlying Edunet is TELENET and TYMNET. The different ways in which a customer host may be interconnected with the networks are explained. The costs involved in using telecommunications facilities in the United States are discussed. Finally the user support of EDUNET is described.
A Critical Analysis of Grain-Size and Yield-Strength Dependence of Near-Threshold Fatigue-Crack Growth in Steels.

Abstract : Though a number of investigators have examined the influence of microstructural variables on near-threshold fatigue-crack growth rates in steels, a comprehensive understanding of the dependence of near-threshold growth rates on grain size, yield strength and microstructural morphology in steels has yet to emerge -- as noted in an excellent review by Ritchie. Recently, however, from our own extensive studies with alpha/beta titanium alloys, the basis for microstructural dependence of widely different fatigue crack growth rates was established for titanium alloys. Inasmuch as the micromechanistic model from that work does not depend uniquely on alloy family, it is of great interest to explore its applicability to steels -- especially since it predicts quantitatively the influence of yield strength and grain size in the near-threshold region for steels. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the near-threshold fatigue crack growth behavior, as reported in the literature, for steels of widely different strength level, grain size and microstructural morphology -- in the search for a systematic ordering of near-threshold fatigue crack growth rates that pertains to the whole gamut of steels. (Author)
Obstructive Jaundice as Initial Presentation of Multiple Myeloma: Case Presentation and Literature Review.

Multiple myeloma is a malignant plasma-cell disorder that primarily involves the bone marrow, but extramedullary involvement is becoming increasingly common (Blade et al., 2012) both at initial presentation and follow-up. Most common initial presentations for multiple myeloma include generalized fatigue, renal insufficiency, bone pain, and recurrent bacterial infections. We present a case of a healthy 55-year-old man that presented to the emergency department with a three-week history of anorexia and jaundice without any past medical history. Patient's initial labs were significant for hyperbilirubinemia and elevated liver function enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT). Additional laboratory workup was significant for mild hypercalcemia and increased protein gap. MRI and ERCP suggested primary sclerosing cholangitis but were not diagnostic. Liver biopsy illustrated plasma-cell infiltration and bone marrow biopsy diagnosed multiple myeloma with extramedullary disease. Patient was started on dexamethasone, bortezomib, and cyclophosphamide, but, despite this aggressive regimen, the patient continued to decline. We take this opportunity to present this atypical presentation of a common hematological malignancy and review the associated literature.
HPV-Associated Head and Neck Cancer: Unique Features of Epidemiology and Clinical Management

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a recently identified causative agent for a subset of head and neck cancers, primarily in the oropharynx, and is largely responsible for the rising worldwide incidence of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Patients with HPV-positive OPC have distinct risk factor profiles and generally have a better prognosis than patients with traditional, HPV-negative, head and neck cancer. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation is a widely accepted primary treatment modality for many patients with HPV-positive OPC. However, recent advances in surgical modalities, including transoral laser and robotic surgery, have led to the reemergence of primary surgical treatment for HPV-positive patients. Clinical trials are under way to determine optimal treatment strategies for the growing subset of patients with HPV-positive OPC. Similarly, identifying those patients with HPV-positive cancer who are at risk for recurrence and poor survival is critical in order to tailor individual treatment regimens and avoid potential undertreatment.
Standing for healthier lives--literally.

This editorial refers to ‘Replacing sitting time with standing or stepping: associations with cardio-metabolic risk biomarkers’[†][1], by G.N. Healy et al ., on page 2643. Since the original study by Morris in 19531 showing that bus conductors in London experienced less coronary heart disease and mortality than bus drivers who would be sitting most of the time, there has been a large body of evidence proving the health benefits of physical activity.2 Numerous studies have shown that physical activity reduces total mortality, cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and several types of cancer. Over time, most of the research in the field focused on the health benefits of moderate to vigorous physical activity and, specifically, on the role of aerobic exercise in preventing cardiovascular events and death. All this has resulted in guidelines from federal agencies and scientific organizations recommending frequent moderate to vigorous physical activity.3 More recently, research studies have tested the role of sedentary behaviour, the counterpart of physical activity, as a major cardiovascular risk factor. Sedentary behaviour includes activities that require <1.5 METs (metabolic equivalents) of physical effort such as sitting, using a computer, watching television, driving, etc. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that sedentary behaviour, particularly prolonged sitting, increases total and cardiovascular mortality even in individuals who meet the recommended goals of weekly physical activity.4,5 More recent studies, assessing the association between sedentary lifestyle and health, highlight the possible role of standing (vs. sitting) to prevent obesity and metabolic dysregulation.6 Research studies showing the harmful effects of sedentary behaviour beyond regular physical activity and exercise have carefully followed statistical procedures to reach those … [1]: #fn-2
Small rainfall events: An ecological role in semiarid regions

Small precipitation events account for a large proportion of the precipitation received in semiarid regions, and their potential ecological importance has previously been ignored. We investigated the effect of a small rainfall event (5 mm) upon Bouteloua gracilis, the dominant grass species of the central and southern Great Plains of North America. An effect of a small event on leaf water potential and leaf conductance to water vapor was observed in less than 12 h and lasted for up to two days.
Verapamil treatment of canine hemorrhagic shock

The entry of calcium (Ca++) into ischemic cells is the first of a series of steps leading to irreversible cellular damage. This study examined the ability of verapamil, which may delay or diminish the injury-induced influx of Ca++, to prolong survival in three groups of chronically instrumented dogs subjected to a single, rapid hemorrhage. In untreated animals (group 1, N = 6), hemorrhage decreased mean arterial blood pressure from 101 +/- 3 mm Hg to 23 +/- 2 mm Hg. Following hemorrhage, arterial pressure recovered to 61 +/- 5 mm Hg before the secondary fall (decompensation) occurred. As decompensation progressed, arterial pressure fell to 25 mm Hg, and the animals were euthanized. In group 2 (N = 6), verapamil treatment (2 mg bolus, 1 mg/hr infusion) was initiated 30 minutes before the hemorrhage. This treatment significantly increased both the time to decompensation (184 +/- 15 minutes vs 72 +/- 9 minutes) and survival time (262 +/- 20 minutes vs 128 +/- 8 minutes). Arterial pressure recovery during the first 60 minutes following hemorrhage, however, was not affected by the verapamil pretreatment. Verapamil treatment immediately after the hemorrhage (group 3, N = 4) increased the survival rate to 75% (three of four animals). These results indicate that calcium channel blockade may be a useful initial intervention in the treatment of hemorrhagic shock.
The Fracture of Ordered (Fe, Co)3V

Observations have been made of the fracture surfaces of ordered (Fe22Co78)3V deformed at low strain rates (3.3 and 42 x 10-3 s-1) in tension at temperatures from 20 to 1000 °C, that is, above and below the order/disorder transformation temperature of 950 ± 10 °C. From 20 to 700 °C, transgranular fracture occursvia the nucleation, growth, and coalescence of micro voids; correspondingly, high ductilities are obtained (34 to 44 pct). From 700 to 960 °C, the fracture mode changes from transgranular to intergranular and the ductility falls to a minimum of 4 pct. At 1000 °C a third mode operates, consisting of localized dynamic recrystallization followed by boundary sliding of recrystallized grains; ductility now rises sharply. The underlying mechanisms are considered and are supported through the results of additional experiments performed at distinctly higher strain rates.
Cloning and characterization of an abundant Plasmodium knowlesi antigen which cross reacts with Gambian sera.

A 110 kDa Plasmodium knowlesi antigen, termed PK110, has been identified on the basis of messenger RNA abundance in late schizonts. Most Plasmodium genes previously cloned have been identified by immune sera, which have selected immunodominant antigens composed of repeating epitopes. Although PK110 was not selected by immune sera, it also contains amino acid repeats, indicating that this structure may be a common feature of malarial proteins. Determination of 296 codons in the PK110 gene revealed the presence of thirteen tandem repeats of twelve amino acids whose consensus sequence is E E T Q K T V E P E Q T. A termination codon interrupts the fourteenth repeat, indicating that these repeats are at the C-terminus of the protein. Indirect immunofluorescence experiments with sera raised against the λgt11 fusion protein indicate that PK110 is present in intra-erythrocytic late schizonts. Cloned PK110 is recognized by Gambian sera, and shares epitopes with Plasmodium ovale. PK110 does not cross react immunologically or by DNA hybridization with Plasmodium falciparum.
Biomarkers for the Clinical Differential Diagnosis in Traumatic Brain Injury—A Systematic Review

Rapid triage and decision-making in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) present challenging dilemma in "resource poor" environments such as the battlefield and developing areas of the world. There is an urgent need for additional tools to guide treatment of TBI. The aim of this review is to establish the possible use of diagnostic TBI biomarkers in (1) identifying diffuse and focal brain injury and (2) assess their potential for determining outcome, intracranial pressure (ICP), and responses to therapy. At present, there is insufficient literature to support a role for diagnostic biomarkers in distinguishing focal and diffuse injury or for accurate determination of raised ICP. Presently, neurofilament (NF), S100β, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) seemed to have the best potential as diagnostic biomarkers for distinguishing focal and diffuse injury, whereas C-tau, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100β, GFAP, and spectrin breakdown products (SBDPs) appear to be candidates for ICP reflective biomarkers. With the combinations of different pathophysiology related to each biomarker, a multibiomarker analysis seems to be effective and would likely increase diagnostic accuracy. There is limited research focusing on the differential diagnostic properties of biomarkers in TBI. This fact warrants the need for greater efforts to innovate sensitive and reliable biomarkers. We advocate awareness and inclusion of the differentiation of injury type and ICP elevation in further studies with brain injury biomarkers.
Elimination of heterologous proteins from blood of normal, x-radiated and tolerant rabbits.

SummaryRates of elimination of heterologous serum proteins during the exponential phase are similar in normal, x-radiated and immunologically tolerant rabbits and do not appear to be immunologically determined.
Physical Experimental Design in Support of Computer Model Development

Computer models of physical systems are often written based on known theory or “first principles” of a system, reflecting substantial knowledge of each component or subsystem, but also the need to use a numerical approach to mimic the more complex behavior of the entire system of interest. However, in some cases, there is insufficient known theory to encode all necessary aspects of the system, and empirical studies are required to generate approximate functional forms. We consider the question of how a physical experiment might be designed to approximate one module or subroutine of a computer model that can otherwise be written from first principles. The concept of preposterior analysis is used to suggest an approach to generating a kind of I-optimal design for this purpose, when the remainder of the computer model is a composition of nonlinear functions that can be directly evaluated as part of the design process. Extensions are then described for situations in which one or more known components must the...
Parameters affecting ultrafast laser microsurgery for scar treatment in vocal folds

We study ultrafast laser surgery parameters for scar treatment in vocal folds. Scarred pouches exhibited 30% lower threshold than healthy pouches. Overall, this study illustrates successful implementation of ultrafast-laser ablation for phonosurgery.
Accumulation of oxidized diphosphopyridine nucleotide in mouse liver after administration of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide.

Abstract The intraperitoneal injection of large amounts of pyridine nucleotide coenzymes into mice results in an elevated level of liver pyridine nucleotides. These pyridine nucleotides are mainly present in the oxidized form. The highest levels of liver coenzymes are observed after the administration of DPNH. Administration of the coenzymes per os also resulted in an increase in liver DPN + . Studies with radioactive coenzymes indicate that the pyridine nucleotides may enter the liver without cleavage.
A New Look At Infection Control in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

parent surveys, and a special parent journaling technique. Results will be shared regarding the most effective components of Close to Me and the changes in parent and staff perceptions from preintervention to postintervention. We worked closely with a large team of NICU staff on adapting our materials for the full-term NICU infants and the full-term, well-baby audiences of professionals and parents. Key findings from this work also will be discussed.
Myocardium at risk and infarct size after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: Implications for the design of randomized trials of acute intervention

Objective. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of an improved reperfusion therapy for acute myocardial infarction on myocardial salvage find ventricular function for anterior and inferior infarctions and to ascertain the sample size required to detect such an effect. Background. There are significant differences in myocardium at risk between anterior and inferior infarctions that affect the benefit of reperfusion therapy. Methods. We studied 58 patients with acute myocardial infarction (24 anterior, 34 inferior) treated with intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator and angioplasty when necessary. Tomographic imaging with technetium-99m sestamibi was performed to measure myocardium at risk, final infarct size and myocardial salvage and to estimate the beneficial effects of an improved therapy. Results. A new therapy that was 30% more effective than existing therapy (with respect to salvage) would increase salvage (and reduce mean infarct size) by 5.2% of the left ventricle and increase late ejection fraction by only 0.012 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.009 to 0.015) in inferior infarction and by 0.038 (95% CI 0.027 to 0.047) in anterior infarction, if anterior and inferior infarctions occurred with equal frequency, a sample size of 140 patients in each treatment group would be required to detect such a change with 80% power. In a trial of inferior infarctions alone, a sample size of 236 patients in each treatment group would be required compared with only 98 patients in a trial of anterior infarctions alone. Conclusions. The anticipated mean benefit from an improved reperfusion therapy in individual patients with inferior infarction is very small and of questionable clinical significance. The anticipated benefit in anterior infarction is greater and easier to detect. Future randomized trials should be stratified for infarct location and should consider the greater absolute benefit of treatment in anterior infarction.
Viral Infections in Childhood Leukemia

The importance of viral infections in 150 children receiving therapy for leukemia was studied prospectively by application of comprehensive viral diagnostic procedures. One hundred five viral infections were identified, with herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus being the most common agents. The spectrum of viruses associated with serious illness was wider than that in previous studies, and adenoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, rhinoviruses, and enteroviruses were important causes of morbidity. Viral isolation was the most sensitive diagnostic procedure used because complement fixation serology was falsely negative in two-thirds of cases. The occurrence of viral infection may be a previously overlooked important cause of respiratory tract infection and acute pyrexia of unknown origin. Viral infection rates were highest in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia, in induction and relapse, and in patients treated with newer chemotherapeutic schedules. Thus, viruses are important pathogens in children with leukemia.
Functional Properties of Hydrolyzed Whey Permeate Syrups in Bread Formulations

Hydrolyzed whey permeate syrups (HWPS) prepared by various treatments were incorporated at 6% flour basis as a substitute for sucrose in a typical white pan bread formulation. Results indicated that there were little significant differences in the yeast fermentation rate, proof time, and bread quality among doughs formulated with sucrose (control) and HWPS. Demineralized 75% HWPS produced good functional qualities of dough and yielded bread equal to or better than the control. The 50% and 95% HWPS had some adverse effects on the handling characteristics of the doughs. Breads made with demineralized 50% and 95% HWPS were firmer than the control. The 50% HWPS breads showed darker crust colors, whether HWPS was or was not demineralized.
Separation of inherent diastolic myocardial fiber tension and coronary vascular erectile contributions to wall stiffness of rabbit hearts damaged by ischemia, hypoxia, calcium paradox and reperfusion

Ischemic myocardial contracture is exacerbated by reperfusion. This study examines the extent to which intensification ofcontracture by reperfusion is due to metabolic reoxygenation phenomena or hydraulic erectile contributions of coronary perfusion to left ventricular (LV) stiffness. Isolated rabbit hearts, with fluid-filled LV intraventricular baloons, were subjected either to: 1) control aerobic perfusion; 2) 30 or 60 min of global ischemia; 3) 60 min of hypoxia with constant coronary flow; or 4) 10 min of calcium-free perfusion to cause calcium paradox injury. During reperfusion with control perfusate isovolumic LV end diastolic pressure (LVDDP) was measured with constant coronary flow and during transient, 1 min, total global ischemia to measure the contribution of the coronary perfusion to LVEDP. In all injured groups LVEDP was increased compared to control hearts. The decrease in LVEDP during transient ischemia was greater in damaged hearts than in controls, demonstrating a greater contribution of coronary perfusion to LVEDP after injury. Only in the hypoxic hearts did diastolic fiber tension increase upon reperfusion. Inherent diastolic fiber tension decreased during 15 to 60 min of reperfusion in the ischemic and hypoxic injury groups, a trend which was masked by an increasing effect of coronary perfusion on LV chamber stiffness. During the reperfusion period enhancement of the erectile effect was more pronounced at higher preloads. Thus, reperfusion contracture was maintained both by changes in inherent fiber stiffness and by changes in the erectile effect. These contributions changed over time and varied with, the type and severity of injury, but after all types of injury the erectile vascular effect made a greater contribution to diastolic chamber stiffness than inherent fiber tension.
The Least Bad Option? Extending the Nuclear Umbrella to the Middle East

This article examines the merits of extending the U.S. nuclear deterrent to the Middle East. It begins by looking at past practices of such an extension before delving into the overall issues presented by providing such a security guarantee. This article then looks at a brief survey of some of the regional issues facing a nuclear extension before considering the P-5 states and their concerns.
An Analysis of the Synchrotron Spectrum in the Fanaroff-Riley Type I Galaxy 3C 449

We studied the evolution of relativistic electrons in the Fanaroff-Riley type I (FR I) galaxy 3C 449, by observing with the VLA at three frequencies (330, 1445, and 4835 MHz) and in all four configurations for a primary resolution of 36. The conventional model for this type of source is that the relativistic electrons are accelerated in the core and subsequently lose energy as the jet flows outward, expands, and bends downstream. We find that 3C 449 is more complicated than that, with evidence for a different type of structure, more reminiscent of higher luminosity FR II galaxies. We introduce a new analysis tool—the spectral tomography gallery—and find evidence for two spectral components that we label the "flat jet" and the "sheath." The flat jet remains fairly well collimated throughout the inner 5', with the sheath accounting for most of the observed widening. The flat jet shows little steepening with distance from the core. However, the sheath has a steeper spectral index than the jet. If the same spectral shape is appropriate for both components, there may be an evolutionary connection between the particles in the flat jet and those in the sheath. Another possibility is that the sheath has a steeper injection index than the flat jet. This may mean that the sheath and flat jet are separate electron populations. In either case, the standard aging analyses would give incorrect answers because of confusion between the separate spectral components.
Microwave Dielectric Measurements on Anomalous Water

WHEN water condenses in glass capillaries in conditions of relative humidity less than 1.0, it has been reported to have properties different from those established for bulk water1. Properties investigated have included density2, coefficient of thermal expansion2,3, freezing point depression2, boiling point elevation2 and the infrared, Raman and nuclear magnetium spectra resonance5,6. As part of a continuing investigation of the properties of water adsorbed on silicate surfaces7, an analysis of the dielectric and thermochemical properties of the anomalous water substance formed in glass capillaries in such conditions was initiated. In situ measurements of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss were made at the K band frequency of 2.3 × 1010 Hz.
Low Temperature Infrared Cell

Several low temperature infrared absorption cells have been described in the literature (1-4). The simplest one of these, by Janz and Fitzgerald (3), employs a sandwich cell surrounded with an aluminum foil housing and cooled with a liquid nitrogen reservoir. This cell, though well suited for obtaining spectra of non-volatile liquids at low temperatures, is not applicable for low boiling liquids. Two others (1,2), though suitable for low boiling liquids, are of complicated design requiring precision workmanship. The low temperature infrared cell to be described is unique in that any of the commercial infrared liquid cell may be used as the base component. The cell is especially suited for the study of materials which are unstable at room temperature. Also it affords a means of obtaining the spectra of low boiling liquids without resorting to the comparatively expensive pressure cells.
Using Marine Snails to Teach Biogeography and Macroevolution: The Role of Larvae and Dispersal Ability in the Evolution and Persistence of Species

While some marine animals are capable of traveling great distances, many have limited mobility as adults and spend the majority of their lifetimes in a small geographical area or may even be cemented to a single place. While it might be expected that species with limited mobility would have small geographic distributions, some nevertheless occur over very large areas. This is the case for some marine snails (gastropods). A key factor that impacts the geographic distribution of marine snails is the type of larvae they have during the phase of their life history that follows hatching from an egg. Because adult snails do not typically travel vast distances, the mobility of the larval stage determines the species’ ability to reach new territories. Some larvae are capable of long-distance travel, while others are not. An important component of the process of speciation involves geographic isolation, so the type of larvae a snail species possesses impacts the likelihood that it will become geographically isolated and give rise to a new species. Larval form also affects how long snail species will persist on geological timescales before going extinct, as well as rates of speciation. This paper briefly reviews the evolutionary consequences of different types of larval development in marine gastropods (especially cone snails, which are one of the most diverse groups of marine animals), particularly in determining the dispersal ability and geographic ranges of individual species, the amount of genetic exchange among populations within species, and the duration of species through time. The goal of this short review is to provide context and examples for classroom discussions of the connections between biogeography and macroevolution. Furthermore, a classroom activity is presented that involves students’ using information about snail life history and biogeography to develop research plans (and predicted results) that could be utilized to test (i.e., support or reject) several macroevolutionary hypotheses.
Problem drinking among college freshmen.

Abstract Entering college freshmen ( n = 308) completed a questionnaire which assessed drinking behaviors and identified students at risk for problem drinking as defined by the CAGE (focuses on Cutting down on drinking, Annoyance by criticism by others about drinking, Guilty feelings about drinking, and the use of an E ye opener) questionnaire and Perceived-Benefit-of-Drinking Scale (PBDS). Students were 50% male with a mean age of 17.9 years. In the past month, 17% had drunk on 10 or more occasions, and 18% had binged on 6 or more occasions. CAGE scores of 2 or greater were obtained by 21% and PBDS scores of 3 or greater by 29%, reflecting high risk for problem drinking. High-risk CAGE and PBDS scores were associated with frequent drinking and binging. Student reports of parental problem drinking were not associated with high risk for problem drinking. Intent to pin a fraternity or sorority (the Greek system) was associated with frequent drinking, binging, and high-risk CAGE and PBDS scores. Approaches to screening for problem drinking which emphasize attitudes and beliefs may be useful. The Greek system appears to be attractive to high-risk students and should be a focus of prevention programming.
Dynamics of biparental care in a burying beetle: experimental handicapping results in partner compensation

Negotiation models of biparental care predict that parents should partially compensate for a reduction in the level of care that their partner provides. A number of studies, mostly with monogamous birds, have tested this prediction by removing or manipulating the level of effort of one parent and then measuring the response of the other parent. In this study, we test this prediction with the burying beetle Nicrophorus orbicollis, which breeds on small vertebrate carcasses and provides biparental care to their young. We reduced the effort of either the male or female parent by attaching a weight to their elytron and evaluated the effect that their reduction in time spent providing care had on their partner’s level of effort during the carcass preparation stage of reproduction. After their partner was weighted, males increased the time spent preparing the carcass by 28 %. Females were already spending nearly 100 % of their time working and observed changes in effort were negligible. Our results show that parents directly monitor their partner’s level of effort in the carcass preparation stage of reproduction. This is the first handicapping study in an invertebrate species to provide support for the negotiation model of intersexual conflict over parental investment.