[Willingness to accept an Internet-based mobility platform in different age cohorts. Empiric results of the project S-Mobil 100]. / Bereitschaft zur Akzeptanz einer internetbasierten Mobilitätsplattform bei verschiedenen Alterskohorten. Empirische Befunde des Projekts S-Mobil 100.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the project S-Mobil 100 is to develop and implement a prototype of an internet-based, generation-appropriate mobility platform in the model region Siegen-Wittgenstein. In the context of an empirical preliminary study, use of technology, experience with technology, general attitudes towards technology, general technology commitment, and the willingness to accept the mobility platform were investigated in different age cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The investigation was carried out using a written survey based on a standardized questionnaire. The sample of 358 persons aged 40-90 years was divided in four age cohorts (40-54, 55-64, 65-74, and 75 + years). RESULTS: Our results show a high willingness to accept the mobility platform in the overall sample. Age, residence, income, and general technology commitment were significant predictors for the judgment of the platform. CONCLUSION: Although there were group differences in accepting the mobility platform, the older cohorts are also open-minded towards this new technology.

Quantum-dot-based resonant exchange qubit.

We introduce a solid-state qubit in which exchange interactions among confined electrons provide both the static longitudinal field and the oscillatory transverse field, allowing rapid and full qubit control via rf gate-voltage pulses. We demonstrate two-axis control at a detuning sweet spot, where leakage due to hyperfine coupling is suppressed by the large exchange gap. A π/2-gate time of 2.5 ns and a coherence time of 19 µs, using multipulse echo, are also demonstrated. Model calculations that include effects of hyperfine noise are in excellent quantitative agreement with experiment.

Is BAC transgenesis obsolete? State of the art in the era of designer nucleases.

DNA constructs based on bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) are frequently used to generate transgenic animals as they reduce the influence of position effects and allow predictable expression patterns for genes whose regulatory sequences are not fully identified. Despite these advantages BAC transgenics suffer from drawbacks such as complicated vector construction, low efficiency of transgenesis, and some remaining expression variegation. The recent development of transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) has resulted in new transgenic techniques which do not have the drawbacks associated with BAC transgenesis. Initial reports indicate that such designer nucleases (DNs) allow the targeted insertion of transgenes into endogenous loci by direct injection of the targeting vector and mRNA/DNA encoding the predesigned nucleases into oocytes. This results in the transgene being inserted at a specific locus in the mouse genome, thus circumventing the drawbacks associated with BAC transgenesis.

HIV-related deaths from selected infectious diseases among persons without AIDS in New Jersey.

This study sought to quantify HIV-related deaths among persons not classified as having AIDS, in an area where AIDS incidence among injecting drug users (IDUs) is high. Death certificates of persons who were aged 25-44 years at death, died in 1987 in two New Jersey counties, and had certain infectious conditions were compared with names in the AIDS Registry. Hospital and/or Medical Examiner records were reviewed for nonmatching cases. Cases were considered as confirmed HIV infection if there was laboratory evidence of such infection and as suggestive HIV infection if the decedent had oral thrush or a combination of certain other clinical findings were present. Of 412 deaths meeting the above criteria, 165 (40.0%) were in the AIDS Registry. We investigated 205 of the remainder; of these, 7.3% were found to have AIDS, 21.5% had confirmed HIV infection without AIDS, and 15.1% had suggestive HIV infection. This increased the HIV-related mortality in excess of deaths due to AIDS in this age group by 9.2% for confirmed HIV infections and 15.6% for both confirmed and suggestive HIV infections, with deaths among IDUs increasing 12.3% for confirmed HIV infections and 18.9% for both confirmed and suggestive HIV infections. Thus, in addition to AIDS indicator diseases, a variety of other infectious conditions can lead to death in HIV-infected persons, particularly in IDUs; however, the extent of such deaths may be less than previously described.

Preventing teen smoking with virtual reality.

Smoking incidence is rising among adolescents but not adults. Although many prevention programs are effective, there is room for improvement. This pilot project combined the welldocumented benefits of Life Skills Training (LST) with the unique multisensory, 3D qualities of virtual environment (VE) technology to address some of the disadvantages of traditional prevention programs. In an 8-week pilot study, 72 seventh-grade students were randomly assigned to either LST, VE, or nonintervention control groups. The VE system included goggles, synthesized speech, spatial trackers on head and hand, a hand-held controller, and a speech recognition system. Questionnaires measured participants' smoking knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. A bogus pipeline procedure was used to increase reliability of the self-report measures. Pre-exposure data showed no significant differences between groups on the questionnaire. Post-exposure data indicated improvements in attitudes in the LST and VE groups. In addition, the VE group showed more accurate information concerning peer and adult cigarette use and more likelihood of using coping and refusal skills. Usability and acceptability questionnaire data showed ease of use and learning and that participants would use VE technology frequently if it were available to them at school. These data indicated that this VE application is a promising tool for keeping teens healthy.

Self-consistent measurement and state tomography of an exchange-only spin qubit.

Quantum-dot spin qubits characteristically use oscillating magnetic or electric fields, or quasi-static Zeeman field gradients, to realize full qubit control. For the case of three confined electrons, exchange interaction between two pairs allows qubit rotation around two axes, hence full control, using only electrostatic gates. Here, we report initialization, full control, and single-shot readout of a three-electron exchange-driven spin qubit. Control via the exchange interaction is fast, yielding a demonstrated 75 qubit rotations in less than 2 ns. Measurement and state tomography are performed using a maximum-likelihood estimator method, allowing decoherence, leakage out of the qubit state space, and measurement fidelity to be quantified. The methods developed here are generally applicable to systems with state leakage, noisy measurements and non-orthogonal control axes.

Sexual abuse of children: intersection with the HIV epidemic.

OBJECTIVE: Sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the predominant risk exposure among adolescents and adults reported with HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although perinatal transmission accounts for the majority of HIV infection in children, there have been reports of HIV transmission through sexual abuse of children. We characterized children <13 years of age who may have acquired HIV infection through sexual abuse. METHODS: All reports by state and local health departments to the national HIV/AIDS surveillance system of children with HIV infection not AIDS (n = 1507) and AIDS (n = 7629) through December 1996 were reviewed for history of sexual abuse. Information was ascertained from data recorded on the case report form as well as investigations of children with no risk for HIV infection reported or identified on initial investigation. For children with a possible history of sexual abuse, additional data were collected, including how sexual abuse was diagnosed; characteristics of the perpetrator(s) (ie, HIV status and HIV risks); and other possible risk factors for the child's HIV infection. RESULTS: Of 9136 children reported with HIV or AIDS, 26 were sexually abused with confirmed (n = 17) or suspected (n = 9) exposure to HIV infection; mean age of these children at diagnosis of HIV infection was 8.8 years (range, 3 to 12 years). There were 14 females and 3 males who had confirmed sexual exposure to an adult male perpetrator at risk for or infected with HIV; of these, 14 had no other risk for HIV infection, and 3 had multiple risks for HIV infection (ie, through sexual abuse, perinatal exposure, and physical abuse through drug injection). The other 9 children (8 females, 1 male) had no other risk factors for HIV infection and were suspected to have been infected through sexual abuse, but the identity, HIV risk, or HIV status of all the perpetrator(s) was not known. All cases of sexual abuse had been reported to local children's protective agencies. Sexual abuse was established on the basis of physician diagnosis or physical examination (n = 20), child disclosure (n = 15), previous or concurrent noncongenital sexually transmitted disease (n = 9), and for confirmed cases, criminal prosecution of the HIV-infected or at-risk perpetrator (n = 8). For the 17 children with confirmed sexual exposure to HIV infection, 19 male perpetrators were identified who were either known to be HIV infected (n = 18) or had risk factors for HIV infection (n = 17), most of whom were a parent or relative. CONCLUSIONS: These 26 cases highlight the tragic intersection of child sexual abuse and the HIV epidemic. Although the number of reported cases of sexual transmission of HIV infection among children is small, it is a minimum estimate based on population-based surveillance and is an important and likely underrecognized public health problem. Health care providers should consider sexual abuse as a possible means of HIV transmission, particularly among children whose mothers are HIV-antibody negative and also among older HIV-infected children. The intersection of child abuse with the HIV epidemic highlights the critical need for clinicians and public health professionals to be aware of the risk for HIV transmission among children who have been sexually abused, and of guidelines for HIV testing among sexually abused children, and to evaluate and report such cases.