Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling flow and sediment transport dynamics in the lowermost Mississippi River, Louisiana, USA, with an upstream alluvial‐bedrock transition and a downstream bedrock‐alluvial transition: Implications for land building using engineered diversions

The lowermost Mississippi River, defined herein as the river segment downstream of the Old River Control Structure and hydrodynamically influenced by the Gulf of Mexico, extends for approximately 500 km. This segment includes a bedrock (or more precisely, mixed bedrock‐alluvial) reach that is bounded by an upstream alluvial‐bedrock transition and a downstream bedrock‐alluvial transition. Here we present a one‐dimensional mathematical formulation for the long‐term evolution of lowland rivers that is able to reproduce the morphodynamics of both the alluvial‐bedrock and the bedrock‐alluvial transitions. Model results show that the magnitude of the alluvial equilibrium bed slope relative to the bedrock surface slope and the depth of bedrock surface relative to the water surface base level strongly influence the mobile bed equilibrium of low‐sloping river channels. Using data from the lowermost Mississippi River, the model is zeroed and validated at field scale by comparing the numerical results with field measurements. The model is then applied to predict the influence on the stability of channel bed elevation in response to delta restoration projects. In particular, the response of the river bed to the implementation of two examples of land‐building diversions to extract water and sediment from the main channel is studied. In this regard, our model results show that engineered land‐building diversions along the lowermost Mississippi River are capable of producing equilibrated bed profiles with only modest shoaling or erosion, and therefore, such diversions are a sustainable strategy for mitigating land loss within the Mississippi River Delta.
Digital and screen-film mammography: comparison of image acquisition and interpretation times.

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to compare acquisition times and interpretation times of screening examinations using screen-film mammography and soft-copy digital mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS Technologist study acquisition time from examination initiation to release of the screenee was measured for both screen-film and digital mammography (100 cases each) in routine clinical practice. The total interpretation time for screening mammography was also measured for 183 hard-copy screen-film cases and 181 soft-copy digital cases interpreted by a total of seven breast imaging radiologists, four experienced breast imagers, and three breast imaging fellows. RESULTS Screening mammography acquisition time averaged 21.6 minutes for screen-film and 14.1 minutes for digital, a highly significant 35% shorter time for digital than screen-film (p < 10(-17)). The average number of images per case acquired with digital mammography was higher than that for screen-film mammography (4.23 for screen-film, 4.50 for digital; p = 0.047). The total interpretation time averaged 1.4 minutes for screen-film mammography and 2.3 minutes for digital mammography, a highly significant 57% longer interpretation time for digital (p < 10(-11)). In addition, technical problems delaying interpretation were encountered in none of the 183 screen-film cases but occurred in nine (5%) of the 181 digital cases. CONCLUSION Compared with screen-film mammography, the use of digital mammography for screening examinations significantly shortened acquisition time but significantly increased interpretation time. In addition, more technical problems were encountered that delayed the interpretation of digital cases.
A Predominate Role of CYP1A2 for the Metabolism of Nabumetone to the Active Metabolite, 6-Methoxy-2-naphthylacetic Acid, in Human Liver Microsomes

Nabumetone, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, requires biotransformation into 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA), a close structural analog to naproxen, to achieve its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite its wide use, the enzymes involved in metabolism have not been identified. In the present study, several in vitro approaches were used to identify the cytochrome P450 (P450) enzyme(s) responsible for 6-MNA formation. In human liver microsomes (HLMs) 6-MNA formation displayed monophasic Michaelis-Menten kinetics with apparent Km and Vmax values (mean ± S.D.) of 75.1 ± 15.3 μM and 1304 ± 226 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively, and formation rate of 6-MNA varied approximately 5.5-fold (179–983 pmol/min/mg protein). 6-MNA activity correlated strongly with both CYP1A2-mediated phenacetin O-deethylation activity and CYP1A2 protein content (r = 0.85 and 0.74, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both). Additional correlations were found with model activities of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. Of 11 cDNA-expressed recombinant P450s used, recombinant CYP1A2 was the major form catalyzing the 6-MNA formation with an apparent Km of 45 μM and Vmax of 8.7 pmol/min/pmol P450. Minor fractions were catalyzed by recombinant P450s CYP1A1, CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP2E1. Experiments with P450-selective chemical inhibitors and monoclonal anti-P450 antibodies showed that furafylline, a mechanism-based inhibitor CYP1A2, and anti-CYP1A2 antibody markedly inhibited 6-MNA formation, whereas inhibitors for other P450s did not show significant inhibitory effects. Taken together, these studies indicate that the formation of the active metabolite of nabumetone, 6-MNA, is predominantly catalyzed by CYP1A2 in HLMs with only minor contribution of other P450s.
Association between birth weight and DNA methylation of IGF2, glucocorticoid receptor and repetitive elements LINE-1 and Alu.

AIM We examined the association between birth weight and methylation in the imprinted IGF/H19 loci, the nonimprinted gene NR3C1 and repetitive element DNA (LINE-1 and Alu). MATERIALS & METHODS We collected umbilical cord venous blood from 219 infants born in Mexico City (Mexico) as part of a prospective birth cohort study and analyzed DNA methylation using pyrosequencing. RESULTS Birth weight was not associated with DNA methylation of the regions studied. One of the CpG dinucleotides in the IGF2 imprinting control region (ICR)1 includes a potential C-T SNP. Among individuals with an absence of methylation at this site, probably due to a paternally inherited T allele, birth weight was associated with mean methylation status of both IGF2 ICR1 and ICR2. However, this association would not have survived adjustment for multiple testing. CONCLUSION While we did not detect an association between DNA methylation and birth weight, our study suggests a potential gene-epigene interaction between a T allele in the IGF2 ICR1 and methylation of ICRs of IGF2, and fetal growth.
Neuroendocrine and hormonal perturbations and relations to the serotonergic system in fibromyalgia patients

The symptomatology of the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) often resembles an alteration in central nervous set points at least in three systems. The patiens suffer under chronic pain in the region of the locomotor system, presumably reflecting a disturbed central processing of pain. Anxiety and depression often characterizes the clinical picture. Almost all of the hormonal feedback mechanisms controlled by the hypothalamus are altered. Characteristic for FMS patients are the elevated basal values of ACTH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and cortisol as well as lowered basal values of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, somatomedin C), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and oestrogen. In FMS patients, the systemic administration of the relevant releasing hormones of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), thyreotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) leads to increased secretion of ACTH and prolactin, whereas the degree to which TSH can be stimulated is reduced. The stimulation of the hypophysis with LHRH in female FMS patients during their follicular phase results in a significantly reduced LH response. All in all, the typical alterations in set points of hormonal regulation that are typical for FMS patients can be explained as a primary stress activation of hypothalamic CRH neurons caused by the chronic pain. In addition to the stimulation of pituitary ACTH secretion, CRH activates somatostatin on the hypothalamic level, which in turn inhibits the release of GH and TSH on the hypophyseal level. The lowered oestrogen levels could be accounted for both via an inhibitory effect of the CRH on the hypothalamic release of LHRH or via a direct CRH-mediated inhibition of the FSH-stimulated oestrogen production in the ovary. Serotonin (5HT), precursors like tryptophan (5HTP), drugs which release 5HT or act directly on 5HT receptors stimulate HPA axis, indicating a stimulatory serotonergic influence on HPA axis function. Therefore activation of the HPA axis may reflect an elevated serotonergic tonus in the central nervous system of FMS patients.
Evidence of Soil-Pica Behaviour and Quantification of Soil Ingested

A previously published report1 on soil ingestion in children, revealed evidence that one of the subjects, a 3.5-year-old female, displayed soil-pica behaviour. Soil ingestion estimates for this child ranged from approximately 5 to 7 g d -1 for seven of eight soil tracers employed. The present paper revealed that the soil-pica behaviour occurred only in the second of the two weeks of observation, during which daily soil ingestion rates ranged from 10 to 13 g d-1. Tracer recovery studies displayed acceptable precision (i.e. 100% < ± 30%) for six of the eight tracers during the soil-pica episode (week 2). Evaluation of the weekly soil ingestion values of the remaining 63 subjects indicated no convincing evidence of soil-pica behaviour in this group of children aged 1-4.
Multiple domains of occludin are involved in the regulation of paracellular permeability

Tight junctions form selective paracellular diffusion barriers that regulate the diffusion of solutes across epithelia and constitute intramembrane diffusion barriers that prevent the intermixing of apical and basolateral lipids in the extracytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane. In MDCK cells, previous expression experiments demonstrated that occludin, a tight junction protein with four transmembrane domains, is critically involved in both of these tight junction functions and that its COOH‐terminal cytoplasmic domain is of functional importance. By expressing mutant and chimeric occludin that exert a dominant negative effect on selective paracellular diffusion, we now demonstrate that the extracytoplasmic domains and at least one of the transmembrane domains are also critically involved in selective paracellular permeability. Multiple domains of occludin are thus important for the regulation of paracellular permeability. Expression of chimeras containing at least one transmembrane domain of occludin also resulted in an enhanced intracellular accumulation of claudin‐4, another transmembrane protein of tight junctions, suggesting that the two proteins may cooperate in the regulation of paracellular permeability. J. Cell. Biochem. 78:85–96, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Attention and Handedness in Bimanual Coordination Dynamics

Predictions concerning the effects of handedness and attention on bimanual coordination were made from a dynamical model that incorporates the body's lateral asymmetry. Both handedness and the direction of attention (to the left or right) were manipulated in an inphase 1:1 frequency locking task. Left-handed and right-handed participants had to coordinate the planar oscillations of 2 handheld pendulums while 1 pendulum oscillated between spatial targets positioned over either the left or right hand. Predictions from the model were that participants would show a phase lead with the preferred hand, and that, although the phase lead would be greater when attention was directed to the preferred hand, the variability of relative phase would be lower. Confirmation of these predictions suggests that the dynamical perspective offers the possibility of studying handedness and attention without compromising theoretical precision or experimental control.
Blockade of PARP activity attenuates poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation but offers only partial neuroprotection against NMDA‐induced cell death in the rat retina

Recent reports have linked neuronal cell death by necrosis to poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase‐1 (PARP‐1) hyperactivation. It is believed that under stress, the activity of this enzyme is up‐regulated, resulting in extensive poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation of nuclear proteins, using NAD+ as its substrate, which, in turn, leads to the depletion of NAD+. In efforts to restore the level of NAD+, depletion of ATP occurs, resulting in the shutdown of ATP‐dependent ionic pumps. This results in cell swelling and eventual loss of membrane selectivity, hallmarks of necrosis. Reports from in vitro and in vivo studies in the brain have shown that NMDA receptor activation stimulates PARP activity and that blockade of the enzyme provides substantial neuroprotection. The present study was undertaken to determine whether PARP activity is regulated by NMDA in the rat retina, and whether blockade of PARP activity provides protection against toxic effects of NMDA. Rat retinas exposed to intravitreal injections containing NMDA, with or without the PARP inhibitor N‐(6‐oxo‐5, 6‐dihydrophenanthridin‐2‐yl)‐(N,‐dimethylamino) acetamide hydrochloride (PJ‐34), were assessed for changes in PARP‐1 activity as evidenced by poly(ADP‐ribosyl)ation (PAR), loss of membrane integrity, morphological indicators of apoptosis and necrosis, and ganglion cell loss. Results showed that: NMDA increased PAR formation in a concentration‐dependent manner and caused a decline in retinal ATP levels; PJ‐34 blockade attenuated the NMDA‐induced formation of PAR and decline in ATP; NMDA induced the loss of membrane selectivity to ethidium bromide (EtBr) in inner retinal neurons, but loss of membrane selectivity was not prevented by blocking PARP activity; cells stained with EtBr, or reacted for TUNEL‐labeling, displayed features characteristic of both apoptosis and necrosis. In the presence of PJ‐34, greater numbers of cells exhibited apoptotic features; PJ‐34 provided partial neuroprotection against NMDA‐induced ganglion cell loss. These findings suggest that although blockade of PARP activity fully attenuates NMDA‐induced PAR formation and loss of retinal ATP content, and improves the survival of select populations of ganglion cells, this approach does not provide full neuroprotection. In contrast, blockade of PARP activity promotes apoptotic‐like cell death in the majority of cells undergoing cell death. Furthermore, these studies show that the loss of membrane selectivity is not dependent upon PAR formation or the resulting decline of ATP, and suggests that an alternative pathway, other than PARP activation, exists to mediate this event.
Attitudes toward lesbians, gay men, bisexual women, and bisexual men in Germany

Attitudes toward lesbians, gay men, bisexual women, and bisexual men were assessed in a national representative sample of 2,006 self‐identified heterosexual women and men living in Germany. Replicating previous findings, younger people held more favorable attitudes than older people; women held more favorable attitudes than men; and men held more favorable attitudes toward female than male homosexuality, whereas women did not differentiate. However, women held more favorable attitudes toward homosexuals than toward bisexuals, whereas men did not differentiate. Knowing a homosexual person was an important predictor of attitudes, as was political party preference. Both same‐sex and opposite‐sex sexual attraction were substantially related with attitudes. Our findings support the notion that attitudes toward lesbians, gay men, bisexual women, and bisexual men are related but distinct constructs.
Symbol Use by Developmentally Disabled Children

13 children with a diagnosis of autism and 20 children with a diagnosis of childhood schizophrenia or a variant thereof were compared for skill in symbol use across modalities of expressive language, drawing, gesture, and play. The children were also given the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test—Revised as a measure of receptive comprehension. Analysis showed that the autistic children had poorer receptive language than the schizophrenic children. The autisic children were poorer in symbol use, as predicted, across all expressive modalities except play, when receptive language was treated as a covariate. Implications of these results for differential identification of children with severe developmental disturbance are discussed.
Explaining Physical Activity in Individuals with Mental Retardation: An Exploratory Study.

Indiana University Abstract: This study investigated physical activity patterns of seven adolescents with mental retardation over a seven day period. Further, motivation, fitness levels, physical activity of one caregiver, and parent interview responses were triangulated to study this select group. Results indicated that two main factors explained physical activity in participants. A very large relationship existed between age and minutes of moderate physical activity and social reasons emerged as a key theme during caregiver interviews. Intrinsic motivation scores were high and amotivation scores were relatively low in the sample. Physical activity data resulted in 6 to 14 bouts of moderate physical activity per day lasting from 2 to 4 min depending on the case. This pattern of short periods of moderate physical activity is consistent with results from similar studies on children without disabilities.
Delivery of the Cre recombinase by a self-deleting lentiviral vector: Efficient gene targeting in vivo

The Cre recombinase (Cre) from bacteriophage P1 is an important tool for genetic engineering in mammalian cells. We constructed lentiviral vectors that efficiently deliver Cre in vitro and in vivo. Surprisingly, we found a significant reduction in proliferation and an accumulation in the G2/M phase of Cre-expressing cells. To minimize the toxic effect of Cre, we designed a lentiviral vector that integrates into the host genome, expresses Cre in the target cell, and is subsequently deleted from the genome in a Cre-dependent manner. Thus, the activity of Cre terminates its own expression (self-deleting). We showed efficient modification of target genes in vitro and in the brain after transduction with the self-deleting vectors. In contrast to sustained Cre expression, transient expression of Cre from the self-deleting vector induced significantly less cytotoxicity. Such a self-deleting Cre vector is a promising tool for the induction of conditional gene modifications with minimal Cre toxicity in vivo.
ACTN3 genotype in professional soccer players

The authors studied the frequency distribution of α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) R577X genotypes in 60 top-level professional soccer players. The results were compared with those of 52 elite endurance athletes and 123 sedentary controls. The per cent distribution of RR and RX genotypes in soccer players (48.3% and 36.7%) was significantly higher and lower, respectively, than controls (28.5% and 53.7%) and endurance athletes (26.5% and 52%) (p = 0.041). Although there are notable exceptions, elite soccer players tend to have the sprint/power ACTN3 genotype.
Enhancing the Clinical Experience for Undergraduate Nursing Students: Revisiting the Clinical Associate Model

The clinical teaching associate (CTA) model in which a staff nurse worked with a faculty member in the teaching of undergraduate nursing students was implemented in an acute care pediatric setting. The CTA model fostered learning outcomes by increasing opportunities for students to practice skills and by fostering positive relationships between the students and the nursing staff. Implications for staff nurse educators in the preparation of staff for the CTA role are discussed.
Effects of restriction of range and test unreliability on correlation between measures of intelligence and creative thinking.

Summary. The Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test, Level 3, Form A, and the Minnesota Tests of Creative Thinking (Torrance, 1962) were given to groups of 461 and 827 fifth-grade American children. Subjects were divided into four groups, according to I.Q. range: below 90, 91 to 110, 111 to 130, and above 130. Linear correlations between I.Q. and creativity score for the whole population and for the sub-groups gave few significant coefficients. Corrections for explicit selection and for unreliability of the creativity measures indicated that the ‘true’ correlation might be as high as 88. There was consistent decrease in size of the correlation as the level of I.Q. of the sub-groups became higher, this lending support to the idea that, beyond a certain minimum level of intelligence, being more intelligent, does not guarantee a corresponding increase in the creativity. The results do not, however, support the view that creativity is an entity independent of other facets of human intellect.
How System Designers Think about Design and Methods: Some Reflections Based on an Interview Study

Today system design methods seem to presuppose the system design process as problem solving, i.e. as repair of a malfunctioning reality. Another assumption underlying these methods is the irrationality of system designers practice. This paper challenges this, often naive, view of rationality underlying system design methods by searching for the hidden rationality of practice. Twenty system designers were interviewed about their view on design skill, design methods, quality and the ‘nature’ of system design. The answers of the designers in many cases contradicts basic assumptions underlying many of today’s design methods, especially assumptions about the nature and rationality of the design process. One conclusion of the study is that a general understanding of the existing design practice is of crucial importance to all method development, at least if the purpose is to create methods that will be accepted and understood by practitioners.