cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compton suppression system at Penn State Radiation Science and Engineering Center

A Compton suppression system is used to reduce the contribution of scattered gamma-rays that originate within the HPGe detector to the gamma-ray spectrum. The HPGe detector is surrounded by an assembly of guard detectors, usually NaI(T1). The HPGe and NaI(T1) detectors are operated in anti-coincidence mode. The NaI(T1) guard detector detects the photons that Compton scatter within, and subsequently escape from the HPGe detector. Since these photons are correlated with the partial energy deposition within the detector, much of the resulting Compton continuum can be subtracted from the spectrum reducing the unwanted background in gamma-ray spectra. A commercially available Compton suppression spectrometer (CSS) was purchased from Canberra Industries and tested at the Radiation Science and Engineering Center at Penn State University. The PSU-CSS includes a reverse bias HPGe detector, four annulus NaI(T1) detectors, a NaI(T1) plug detector, detector shields, data acquisition electronics, and a data processing computer. The HPGe detector is n-type with 54% relative efficiency. The guard detectors form an annulus with 9-inch diameter and 9-inch height, and have a plug detector that goes into/out of the annulus with the help of a special lift apparatus to raise/lower. The detector assembly is placed in a shielding cave. State-of-the-art electronics and software are used. The system was tested using standard sources, neutron activated NIST SRM sample and Dendrochronologically Dated Tree Ring samples. The PSU-CSS dramatically improved the peak-to-Compton ratio, up to 1000:1 for the 137Cs source.
Meteorology and oceanography of the northern Gulf of Alaska

The Gulf of Alaska shelf is dominated by the Alaska Coastal current (ACC), which is forced by along-shore winds and large freshwater runoff. Strong cyclonic winds dominate from fall through spring, and substantial runoff occurs from late spring through fall with annual distributed freshwater discharge greater than that of the Mississippi River. We examine the ACC from Icy Bay to Unimak Pass, a distance of over 1500 km. Over this distance, the ACC is a nearly continuous feature with a marked freshwater core. The annual mean transport, as measured from current meters, is approximately 1.0 � 10 6 m 3 s � 1 along the Kenai Peninsula, with transport decreasing as the ACC travels westward. Even though the coastal GOA is a predominately downwelling system, it supports a productive ecosystem. Macro nutrients from the basin are provided to the coastal system through a number of processes including topographic steering, eddies, upwelling in response to horizontal shear in the barrier jets, and during winter the on-shelf flux in the surface Ekman layer. Micronutrients (e.g., iron) are supplied from mechanisms such as resuspension of shelf sediments and river discharge. While strong seasonal cycles and interannual variability are dominant scales in atmospheric forcing and the oceanic response, there is also forcing on ENSO and decadal time scales. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Primate phencyclidine model of schizophrenia: sex-specific effects on cognition, brain derived neurotrophic factor, spine synapses, and dopamine turnover in prefrontal cortex.

Background: Cognitive deficits are a core symptom of schizophrenia, yet they remain particularly resistant to treatment. The model provided by repeatedly exposing adult nonhuman primates to phencyclidine has generated important insights into the neurobiology of these deficits, but it remains possible that administration of this psychotomimetic agent during the pre-adult period, when the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in human and nonhuman primates is still undergoing significant maturation, may provide a greater understanding of schizophrenia-related cognitive deficits. Methods: The effects of repeated phencyclidine treatment on spine synapse number, dopamine turnover and BDNF expression in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and working memory accuracy were examined in pre-adult monkeys. Results: One week following phencyclidine treatment, juvenile and adolescent male monkeys demonstrated a greater loss of spine synapses in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex than adult male monkeys. Further studies indicated that in juvenile males, a cognitive deficit existed at 4 weeks following phencyclidine treatment, and this impairment was associated with decreased dopamine turnover, decreased brain derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA, and a loss of dendritic spine synapses in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In contrast, female juvenile monkeys displayed no cognitive deficit at 4 weeks after phencyclidine treatment and no alteration in dopamine turnover or brain derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA or spine synapse number in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In the combined group of male and female juvenile monkeys, significant linear correlations were detected between dopamine turnover, spine synapse number, and cognitive performance. Conclusions: As the incidence of schizophrenia is greater in males than females, these findings support the validity of the juvenile primate phencyclidine model and highlight its potential usefulness in understanding the deficits in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and developing novel treatments for the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.
Integrated Faceted Browser and Direct Search to Enhance Information Retrieval in Text-Based Digital Libraries

Browsing and searching are two prominent paradigms in information retrieval. In the current digital library implementations, exploratory browsing is either not available as an option or commonly presented as an alphabetical listing of chosen categories depending on the scope of the digital collections. In addition, users have to switch between different information spaces for browsing and searching. This research proposes an information retrieval paradigm of integrated faceted browser and direct search interfaces for text-based digital libraries. Experimental results show that compared to a conventional alphabetical browser, the faceted browser can significantly improve the effectiveness (by 30.8%, p = .015) and efficiency (by 11.3%, p = .001) of information retrieval. Also, compared to un-integrated alphabetical browser with direct search interfaces, the integrated faceted browser with direct search interfaces can significantly improve the effectiveness of information retrieval (by 35.7%, p = .03) and br...
Teaching executives to see social capital: Results from a field experiment ☆

This paper is about the beneWts of teaching executives to understand the network structure of social capital. There is abundant cross-sectional evidence of performance correlated with network structure. Corroborating that evidence, we run a Weld experiment in which executives educated in the network structure of social capital show performance improvement relative to a control group of untrained, but otherwise equally able peers: program graduates are 36–42% more likely to receive top performance evaluations, 43–72% more likely to be promoted (an eVect that builds in the 2 years following the program), and 42–74% more likely to be retained by the company. Active participation matters. The subsequent careers of executives who were quiet spectators in the program cannot be distinguished from the careers of people in the control group, peers who never attended the program.
Territorial male bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) do not assess fighting ability based on size- related variation in acoustic signals

Some animals use communication signals to assess their opponent’s size and fighting ability during aggressive conflicts. Male frogs assess their opponent’s size based on the fundamental frequency (pitch) of advertisement calls, which is negatively correlated with body size, an important determinant of fighting ability in frogs. I conducted a field playback experiment to investigate whether territorial male bullfrogs assess the size of opponents based solely on size-related variation in fundamental frequency. I repeatedly broadcast synthetic bullfrog advertisement calls to three groups of males. Playback stimuli simulated a large male (n 24), a small male (n 24), or an acoustically size-matched male (n 34). Neither the simulated size of the opponent, the subject’s own size, nor the degree of size asymmetry between the subject and simulated intruder had significant effects on the magnitude of responses during the playback test or on the rate of habituation that occurred with repeated stimulation. Post-hoc analyses of effect sizes and statistical power indicated that the effects in this study were quite small compared to previous studies in other frogs. More important, power analyses indicated that this study had high power (1 0.90) to detect the magnitude of effect sizes observed in previous studies. Thus, territorial male bullfrogs do not appear to assess an opponent’s fighting ability based solely on the fundamental frequency of acoustic signals. These results contrast starkly with theoretical predictions and previous empirical work with frogs. Key words: bullfrogs, communication, fighting ability, Rana catesbeiana, size assessment, territoriality. [Behav Ecol 13:109–124 (2002)]
Genomic analysis of the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to trinitrotoluene as revealed by cDNA microarrays

Abstract 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a nitro-substituted xenobiotic explosive that is toxic to plants and animals. Plants absorb and metabolize TNT, but the pathways are uncertain and plant responses at the molecular level have not been adequately characterized. We analyzed gene expression in response to relatively long-term exposure to TNT at low and high concentration in Arabidopsis through the use of cDNA microarrays. Arabidopsis seedlings were grown on media containing 1 and 10 μM TNT, concentrations that were empirically determined by plant growth analysis. Microarray analysis revealed that a total of 52 genes were significantly upregulated, and 47 genes were downregulated in response to TNT at a 1.7-fold cut-off for differential gene expression. A substantial number of these genes have predicted functions in cell defense and detoxification. Conserved motifs were discovered in the promoter region of co-regulated genes, some of which are potentially novel cis-regulatory elements. With follow-up real time RT-PCR, we confirmed findings from the microarray experiments and examined the regulation of selected genes to two other xenobiotic substances: the explosive RDX and thiodiglycol. Results showed that increased transcription of At5g61600 encoding for a DNA-binding protein in shoots is specific to TNT and increased transcription of At5g42530 encoding for an unknown protein in shoots is specific to both TNT and RDX.
Antimicrobial Agents and Dental Caries in the Rat

Two rat plaque-caries studies indicated that a 0.2% chlorhexidine solution topically applied to rat teeth was effective in reducing dental plaque. This reduction in plaque was accompanied by marked reductions in smooth surface caries, but not in sulcal lesions.
Cognitive process during program debugging

Program debugging is a critical and complex activity in software engineering. Accurate and fast debugging leads to high quality software and a short time-to-market. Debugging involves a very demanding cognitive process. In a case study, we found all six levels of Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive learning, from "knowledge" through "comprehension", "application", "analysis", "synthesis", and "evaluation". The involvement of the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy, such as synthesis and evaluation, indicates that program debugging is a difficult cognitive task. This fact may explain the difference between novices and experts in debugging effectiveness.
Effect of dietary fat on chronic ethanol-induced oxidative stress in hepatocytes.

Background: Although oxidative stress and deficits in hepatic energy metabolism have been implicated as important factors in the initiation of alcoholic liver disease, their relative contribution to ethanol-induced cell death is not known. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of chronic ethanol administration on hepatocyte reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, energy state, and viability, as well as the effect of dietary fat on these parameters. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed liquid diets that provided 36% total calories as ethanol, with fat as either 12% (low fat) or 35% (high fat) of total calories. Pair-fed controls received liquid diets in which maltose-dextrin was substituted for ethanol calories. The fluorescent probe 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate was used to detect ROS, lactate dehydrogenase leakage was used to assess viability, and ATP levels were used as a measure of the energy state. The effect of chronic ethanol feeding on these parameters was determined by incubating hepatocytes under a 5% oxygen-containing atmosphere or an atmosphere ≤ 1% oxygen for 60 min. Results: In general, chronic ethanol feeding stimulated ROS production and decreased ATP concentrations, which were associated with decreased viability in hepatocytes isolated from rats fed either high- or low-fat, ethanol-containing diets, compared to the corresponding controls. Incubation under an atmosphere ≤ 1% oxygen and/or ethanol (10 mM) augmented these effects in both high- and low-fat control and ethanol-fed hepatocytes. The addition of antimycin to the incubations increased ROS production, decreased ATP concentrations, and accelerated loss of hepatocyte viability. Viability loss under all conditions used in this study was correlated with decreases in cellular ATP. Conclusions: Comparisons of incubations performed under the two oxygenation conditions revealed that viability loss was inversely associated with ROS production, which indicates that ATP loss and not ROS production was a better predictor of loss in cell integrity. This study also demonstrates that the level of dietary fat has only minor effects on generation of ROS and the cellular energy state. In contrast, ethanol consumption had significant effects on generation of ROS, energy state, and hepatocyte viability.
Treatment of Supraventricular Tachycardias with Catheter and Permanent Pacemakers

Abstract Temporary catheter and then permanent cardiac pacing were successfully used to treat supraventricular tachycardias in a patient with chronic sinus and nodal bradycardia complicated by paroxysmal nodal tachycardia and atrial flutter. Ventricular pacing with retrograde conduction abolished the nodal tachycardia and facilitated the treatment of the atrial flutter.
TfoX-Based Genetic Mapping Identifies Vibrio fischeri Strain-Level Differences and Reveals a Common Lineage of Laboratory Strains

Bacterial strain variation exists in natural populations of bacteria and can be generated experimentally through directed or random mutation. The advent of rapid and cost-efficient whole-genome sequencing has facilitated strain-level genotyping. Even with modern tools, however, it often remains a challenge to map specific traits to individual genetic loci, especially for traits that cannot be selected under culture conditions (e.g., colonization level or pathogenicity). Using a combination of classical and modern approaches, we analyzed strain-level variation in Vibrio fischeri and identified the basis by which some strains lack the ability to utilize glycerol as a carbon source. We proceeded to reconstruct the lineage of the commonly used V. fischeri laboratory strains. Compared to the wild-type ES114 strain, we identify in ES114-L a 9.9-kb deletion with endpoints in tadB2 and glpF; restoration of the missing portion of glpF restores the wild-type phenotype. The widely used strains ESR1, JRM100, and JRM200 contain the same deletion, and ES114-L is likely a previously unrecognized intermediate strain in the construction of many ES114 derivatives. ES114-L does not exhibit a defect in competitive squid colonization but ESR1 does, demonstrating that glycerol utilization is not required for early squid colonization. Our genetic mapping approach capitalizes on the recently discovered chitin-based transformation pathway, which is conserved in the Vibrionaceae; therefore, the specific approach used is likely to be useful for mapping genetic traits in other Vibrio species.
Delineation of pancreas with MR imaging: multiobserver comparison of five pulse sequences.

The authors compared five magnetic resonance (MR) imaging pulse sequences for their ability to depict the pancreas in 59 patients, each evaluated with at least two of the five sequences. Focal pancreatic carcinomas were present in eight patients. The five sequences were T1-weighted spin echo (T1-SE), fat-suppressed T1-SE (T1-FS), T1-weighted gradient echo (T1-GRE), T2-weighted SE (T2-SE), and T2-weighted fast spin echo (T2-FSE). Using repeated-measures analysis, three blinded observers independently reviewed 198 separate MR imaging series and rated them on a 5-point scale with regard to image quality and depiction of pancreatic borders and the number of sections containing pancreatic and common bile ducts. The most superior and most inferior sections containing pancreas were recorded for each sequence in each patient. The results were compared with analysis of variance, and interobserver agreement was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For image quality, all sequences were rated good to excellent, with the T1-SE sequence having the highest rating. For clarity of pancreatic borders, however, the T1-FS sequence was rated significantly higher (P < .006) than the other sequences; the T2-SE sequence was least satisfactory. Common bile and pancreatic ducts were seen in the most sections with the T2-FSE sequence. There were no significant differences regarding identification of the most superior and inferior sections containing pancreas, and the ICC was high (.91-.97) for all sequences. For detecting focal carcinomas, no single pulse sequence was sufficient.
Evapotranspiration rates and crop coefficients for a restored marsh in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, USA

The surface renewal method was used to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) for a restored marsh on Twitchell Island in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California, USA. ET estimates for the marsh, together with reference ET measurements from a nearby climate station, were used to determine crop coefficients over a 3-year period during the growing season. The mean ET rate for the study period was 6 mm day−1, which is high compared with other marshes with similar vegetation. High ET rates at the marsh may be due to the windy, semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the region, and the permanently flooded nature of the marsh, which results in very low surface resistance of the vegetation. Crop coefficient (Kc) values for the marsh ranged from 0·73 to 1·18. The mean Kc value over the entire study period was 0·95. The daily Kc values for any given month varied from year to year, and the standard deviation of daily Kc values varied between months. Although several climate variables were undoubtedly responsible for this variation, our analysis revealed that wind direction and the temperature of standing water in the wetland were of particular importance in determining ET rates and Kc values. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential expression of LacdiNAc sequences (GalNAcβ1-4GlcNAc-R) in glycoproteins synthesized by Chinese hamster ovary and human 293 cells

The lacdiNAc sequence GalNAc beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-R occurs in the N- and O-glycans of many glycoproteins in vertebrate and invertebrates. We now report that both human 293 cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells contain a UDPGalNAc:GlcNAc beta 1,4 N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (beta 1,4GalNAcT) that forms the lacdiNAc sequence. The beta 1,4GalNAcT in CHO cells is distinct from beta 1,4 galactosyltransferase in that the latter enzyme, but not the former, binds to a column of immobilized bovine alpha-lactalbumin. To determine whether endogenous glycoproteins in these cells contain lacdiNAc sequences, glycoproteins from 293 cells, CHO and Lec8 CHO cells were desialylated and passed over immobilized Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), a plant lectin with affinity for terminal GalNAc residues. WFA bound to approximately 120 and approximately 80 kDa glycoproteins in 293 cells and glycans from these glycoproteins contained lacdiNAc sequences. The approximately 120 kDa glycoproteins in 293 cells bound by WFA is a mixture of both the lysosome-associated membrane glycoproteins LAMPs-1 and -2. WFA bound to two glycoproteins of approximately 47 and approximately 78 kDa in Lec8 CHO cells, but these glycoproteins are not LAMPs and they do not contain the lacdiNAc sequence. Instead, they contain multiple GalNAc alpha-Ser/Thr O-glycans that promote binding to WFA. Thus, the beta 1,4GalNAcT in 293 cells displays a limited specificity in its recognition of acceptors, whereas the beta 1,4GalNAcT in CHO cells fails to promote synthesis of the cognate lacdiNAc sequence. The presence of the beta 1,4GalNAcT may not be sufficient for synthesis of lacdiNAc sequences and other factors may contribute to regulate the functionality of the enzyme.
Longitudinal diagnostic efficiency of DSM-IV criteria for borderline personality disorder: a 2-year prospective study.

Objective:To examine the longitudinal diagnostic efficiency of the DSM-IV criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD).Methods:At baseline, we used semistructured diagnostic interviews to determine criteria and diagnoses; blinded assessments were performed 24 months later with 550 participants. Diagnostic efficiency indices (specifically, conditional probabilities, total predictive power, and kappa) were calculated for each criterion determined at baseline, with the independent BPD diagnosis at follow-up used as the standard.Results:Longitudinal diagnostic efficiencies for the BPD criteria varied, with the criteria of suicidality or self-injury and unstable relationships demonstrating the most predictive utility.Conclusions:BPD criteria differ in their predictive utility for the diagnosis of BPD when considered longitudinally. These findings have implications both for clinicians who are considering diagnoses and for researchers concerned with forthcoming revisions of our nosological system.
Molecular and pathogenic variation within Melampsora on Salix in western North America reveals numerous cryptic species

In North America Melampsora rusts that parasitize willows (Salix species) have never been adequately studied and mostly have been referred to a collective species, Melampsora epitea (Kunze & Schm.) Thum, of European origin. Even taxa that are nominally distinct from M. epitea, such as M. abieti-caprearum and M. paradoxa, currently are considered to be “races” of M. epitea. Within the range of our field surveys and collections in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest only two species of Melampsora thus were expected: M. epitea (including its races) and M. ribesii-purpureae. In this study of Melampsora on 19 species of Salix in the western United States 14 phylogenetic species, or phylotypes, were apparent from nuclear rDNA sequencing of 140 collections or isolates. Our collections of the races of M. epitea, M. abieti-caprearum and M. epitea f. sp. tsugae belonged to one phylotype, termed lineage ‘N’. Assuming that M. ribesii-purpureae represents one other phylotype, 12 phylotypes still are unaccounted fo...
Tidal Influence on the Haul-Out Behavior of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) at a Site Available at All Tide Levels

Abstract Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most abundant and widespread seal species in Washington State. Most seal haul-out sites are unavailable at high tide, hence abundance estimates are conducted at low tide when it is commonly accepted that most seals are hauled-out. On sites unaffected by tides, however, it is less clear whether tide level has an effect on seal abundance. We counted hauled-out Harbor Seals from sunrise to sunset on floating water-breakers at Semiahmoo Marina, Washington, to examine the effect of tides on haul-out behavior. Because haul-out behavior is affected by several factors, we conducted mixed-factor analyses that included tide level, tidal current, time of season, and time of day as fixed factors, and several meteorological variables as random factors. The number of hauled-out Harbor Seals was significantly associated with tide level, time of season, and time of day. Results suggest that seal counts in Semiahmoo Marina should be made late in the pupping season and early i...
Dragonfly Wings: Special Structures for Aerial Acrobatics

Over history, dragonflies have been found across the globe, allowing a rich multitude of culture and symbolism to be developed around these four-winged creatures. For example, in Native American history, dragonflies were symbols of activity and swiftness and were often associated with horses. In Japanese history, these insects were considered to serve as winged mounts for the Hotoke-Sama, or August Spirits of the Ancestors. Among Buddhists, the Hotoke-Sama were thought to return on August 15th, riding dragonflies into their old homes to be reunited with their families (Mitchell and Lasswell, A dazzle of dragonflies. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, 2005). Though such folklore may have diffused over time as scientific research dedicated to dragonflies began, fascination with their flying and maneuvering capabilities has not, perhaps even increasing in recent years. One look at the dragonfly’s impressive flying abilities can convince that this attention is well afforded: they can fly sideways, forwards and backwards, hover in midair and reverse directions instantaneously, accelerate rapidly, and fly as fast as 50 km/h (Rajabi et al., J Bionic Eng 8:165–173, 2011). Although dragonfly wings account for less than 2 % of the total body mass, they are the main enablers of such diverse flight behavior. The membrane of dragonfly wings is thin, transparent, and film-like, supported by a framework of veins (Sun and Bhushan, CR Mecanique 340:3–17, 2012). It is also layered and superhydrophobic (Song et al., Mat Sci Eng A 457(1–2):254–260, 2007). Wing corrugation increases strength and stiffness and its ability to absorb stress against bending in the spanwise direction (Sun and Bhushan, CR Mecanique 340:3–17, 2012). Wing vein structure is hierarchical, consisting of a sandwich structure on the primary level and a multilayered chitinous shell and protein fibril structure on the secondary level (Chen et al., J Bionic Eng 9:185–191, 2012). Finally, micro- and nano-scale ripple morphologies reduce pressure drag during flight (Shelton, Probing question: how do dimples make golf balls travel farther? http://news.psu.edu/story/141235/2007/06/18/research/probing-question-how-do-dimples-make-golf-balls-travel-farther, 2007), while vein-joints contribute to wing flexibility (Donoughe et al., J Morphol 272(12):1409–1421, 2011). All of these properties make dragonfly wings an optimal source of bioinspiration for micro-air-vehicles (MAVs) compared to other animals such as hummingbirds and butterflies. Novel designs of MAVs have already been developed based on research of the dragonfly (Ratti and Vachtsevanos, J Intell Robot Syst 65:437–455, 2012).
Lawyering at the Extremes: The Representation of Tom Mooney, 1916-1939

This article explores the complex and often strained relationship between Tom Mooney, the famous labor radical who was framed for a bombing murder, and his lawyers over the course of the 23-year long battle to gain his freedom. The author uses the lawyers’ archives to explore the intense difficulties that arise between a client who believes the legal system is hopelessly corrupt and his lawyers who hope to free their client and redeem the justice system at the same time. While sympathetic to Tom Mooney and the lawyers, Roiphe concludes that an independent legal profession struggling to negotiate its obligation to the client and the system is a fundamental aspect of the American democratic system.
This study conducted with the support of ABC News PrimeTime Live, found four clinically significant dispensing errors in 100 prescriptions processed

Abstract A disguised-patient technique was used to study the nature and frec^jency of dispensing errors and quality of patient medication counseling in 100 randomly selected community pharmacies. Analysis of 100 prescription orders dispensed detected 24 dispensing errors, of which 4 were clinically significant. Oral counseling was provided to 64 of the patients, covering an average of 3 of the 14 categories of drug information that the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA 90׳) requires pharmacists to consider when counseling Medicaid patients. In addition to pre- scriber׳s label instructions, pharmacists provided written counseling information, including auxiliary labels and receipts, to 98% of the patients, but it covered only an average of six OBRA 90׳ categories. The results suggest that problems with the quality of community pharmacy medication counseling and dispensing accuracy require immediate attention.
Recurrent Crohn’s Disease: Surgical Treatment

The nature of Crohn’s disease is such that it is a recurring disorder for which there is no cure. After effective surgical resection, long-term recurrence is the typical clinical course. Between 50 and 70 % of patients undergoing surgical treatment of their disease will ultimately require further surgical intervention [1–3]. As such, many of the surgical procedures undertaken for the management of Crohn’s disease are performed in patients who have already had prior surgical treatment. Surgical strategies and approaches for recurrent Crohn’s disease for the most part mirror the surgical treatment of primary Crohn’s disease. There are, however, nuances that the surgeon should consider when re-operating on patients with Crohn’s disease. The purpose of this section is to review these issues.
Temporal expression of pecan allergens during nut development

SummaryPecan nuts are rich in healthy oils, proteins, carbohydrates, and essential nutrients, but can cause food allergies that are rarely outgrown in susceptible individuals. Three conserved seed-storage proteins from the prolamin and cupin superfamilies, including 2S albumin, 7S vicillin, and 11S legumin are commonly identified as allergens in nuts. We have characterised the temporal expression of the genes encoding these proteins during nut development in pecan. Transcript levels from the Car i 1, Car i 4, and the pecan 7S vicillin homologue (Car i 7S) genes were investigated in the cultivars ‘Desirable’ and ‘Sumner’ using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR).Values for Car i 1 and Car i 4 gene expression generally peaked in September, during the dough stage, with lower values at other times. There was a less distinct pattern of expression for Car i 7S, with lower values in August than in mid-September in ‘Sumner’, and lower values in August than in September and October in ‘Desirable’. Both cultivars ...
Degradation Studies Of Polypyrrole Coated Fibers For Microwave And Millimeterwave Obscurants

Microwave and millimeterwave obscurants based on typical millimeterwave materials do not environmentally degrade with respect to their physical and electrical properties. The use of conductive polymer coated films and fibers with inherent environmental instabilities are being investigated as possible alternatives, Achieving the optimum electrical performance is highly dependent upon the polymer/dopant combination, deposition conditions, morphology, and volume of the coating that is used. Several conductive polymer coated fiber systems were investigated via thermal analysis. The effects of processing conditions on performance and stability were studied.
The Limits of Antitrust

The author argues that that the inhospitality tradition in antitrust has serious costs and causes judges to reject economically beneficial business practices. He also contends that the main alternative to the inhospitality tradition, the rule of reason enunciated by the Supreme Court, does not provide useful guidance to judges in antitrust, because it is completely open-ended and provides no assistance in determining how to weigh the relevant factors. He then proposes his own alternative approach to deciding anti-trust cases. Specifically, he suggests that judges should mimic the approach taken by economists and deploy a series of presumptions — or «filters» — to guide their inquiry. The author believes this would make it easier for businesses to plan their affairs, and also reduce litigation costs.
Teaching self-management skills to cystic fibrosis patients and its effect on their caloric intake.

This study was undertaken to examine whether cystic fibrosis patients who received nutrition counseling based on self-management skills had an increased caloric intake and enhanced body mass index (kg/m2) values. Thirty-seven patients, aged 4 to 29 years, were placed on a nonrestricted nutrition program for a study period of 4 years. Bandura’s self-management principles were applied in counseling patients to meet their nutrition needs. The results showed significant increases in energy intake and body mass index values (p
New areas of research in male infertility.

SUMMARY Recent research in male reproduction holds much promise for future clinical application. Research on the relationship between sperm, semen, and the immune system may provide novel approaches to treating immune-related infertility. Investigations of sperm motility have shed new light on these complex mechanisms and may lead to rational approaches to the improvement of sperm function. New assays for secretory products unique to the testis show potential as markers for specific testicular cellular functions. In-vitro fertilization promises to become a viable treatment option for couples with male-factor infertility. Research on male contraception may lead to the development of safe and reversible male contraceptives.
Retroviruses as etiologic agents of some animal and human leukemias and lymphomas and as tools for elucidating the molecular mechanism of leukemogenesis.

IT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN that retroviruses (RNA tumor viruses, type-C viruses, oncornaviruses, leukemia viruses) can induce a variety of neoplasias (leukemias and lymphomas, sarcomas, and occasionally carcinomas) in animals, and they have been identified as the prime factor in the pathogenesis of many naturally occurring leukemias and lymphomas in several animal species. Although there are recent reviews on retroviruses, they focus chiefly on the molecular biology of viral replication and in vitro cellular transformation. In our view, several advances in retroviral oncology have merged within the past few years, resulting in a heightened appreciation of the role of retroviruses in naturally occurring leukemias and a rapid expansion in our understanding, although still fragmentary, of the mechanisms by which they transform cells. Simultaneously, the search for a possible viral etiology of some human leukemias and lymphomas has led to the isolation of a novel retrovirus, HTLV, from cultured human neoplastic T cells. Recent epidemiologic and biochemical evidence has associated HTLV with a specific type of adult T-cell leukemia and lymphoma. The purposes of this review are: (1) to summarize briefly the role of retroviruses in naturally occurring leukemias and lymphomas of animals, drawing specifically on features that are instructive in considering a viral etiology of certain human leukemias and lymphomas; (2) to describe our current concepts of the molecular mechanisms of retroviral transformation and how they may be applicable to human leukemias; and (3) to summarize the recent results dealing with the isolation of HTLV and its characterization as a possible etiologic agent of certain T-cell leukemias and lymphomas in man.
A Seedling Bioassay to Detect the Presence of Plasmopara Halstedii in Soil

Plasmopara halstedii (Farl.) Berl. & de Toni, the causal agent of sunflower downy mildew (SDM), is a soil-borne fungus found on all continents except Australia (Gulya et al., 1997). Unlike many other downy mildew diseases, which are foliar infections, the primary mode of infection in SDM is a root infection of young seedlings, which results in a systemic infection, culminating in either seedling death or an extremely stunted plant with minimal seed yield. Although foliar infections due to airborne sporangia are observed, these local lesions do not develop into systemic infections, and thus are of minimal significance.
Growth and lasing of single crystal YAG fibers with different Ho 3+ concentrations

Abstract A method to grow single crystal (SC) yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) fibers with varied rare-earth ion dopant concentration has been proposed. Crystalline holmium aluminum garnet (HoAG), prepared via sol-gel process, was dip-coated on to previously grown SC YAG fibers. The HoAG coated SC YAG fiber preforms were re-grown to a smaller diameter using the laser heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. The final dopant concentration of the re-grown SC fiber was varied by changing the number of HoAG coatings on the preform. 120 μm diameter SC Ho:YAG fibers with four different dopant concentrations were grown. Lasing was demonstrated at 2.09 μm for these fibers. A maximum of 58.5% optical-to-optical slope efficiency was obtained.
Application of Chloride Adduct Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Characterizing and Sequencing Synthetic Lignin Model Compounds

The need for renewable bioenergy sources has renewed interest in lignin chemistry; however, structural elucidation and characterization of lignin degradation products remain a challenge because of lack of effective analytical methods. The analysis of lignin oligomers has been accomplished by simple deprotonation of weakly acidic phenolic moieties using NaOH and analyzed in a negative ESI mass spectrometry. Although simple deprotonation works to produce excellent results for many types of lignin compounds, others can undergo extensive in-source fragmentation for certain bond types making structural elucidation more complicated. Herein, we present an alternative method for analyzing lignin model compounds using chloride adduct chemistry. In this study, nine β-O-4 dimers, an (4-Ο-α)(β-Ο-4) trimer, and a (β-O-4)(β-O-4) trimer were synthesized and analyzed using chloride adduct mass spectrometry in the negative mode using NH4Cl as the chloride source. Stable chloride adducted molecular ions were observed for a...
Fluctuations in annual climatic extremes are associated with reproductive variation in resident mountain chickadees

Mounting evidence suggests that we are experiencing rapidly accelerating global climate change. Understanding how climate change may affect life is critical to identifying species and populations that are vulnerable. Most current research focuses on investigating how organisms may respond to gradual warming, but another effect of climate change is extreme annual variation in precipitation associated with alternations between drought and unusually heavy precipitation, like that exhibited in the western regions of North America. Understanding climate change effects on animal reproductive behaviour is especially important, because it directly impacts population persistence. Here, we present data on reproduction in nest-box breeding, resident mountain chickadees inhabiting high and low elevations in the Sierra Nevada across 5 years. These 5 years of data represent the full range of climatic variation from the largest drought in five centuries to one of the heaviest snow years on record. There were significant differences in most reproductive characteristics associated with variation in climate. Both climate extremes were negatively associated with reproductive success at high and low elevations, but low-elevation chickadees had worse reproductive success in the largest drought year while high-elevation chickadees had worse reproductive success in the heaviest snow year. Considering that the frequency of extreme climate swings between drought and snow is predicted to increase, such swings may have negative effects on chickadee populations across the entire elevation gradient, as climatic extremes should favour different adaptations. Alternatively, it is possible that climate fluctuations might favour preserving genetic variation allowing for higher resilience. It is too early to make specific predictions regarding how increased frequency of extreme climate fluctuation may impact chickadees; however, our data suggest that even the most common species may be susceptible.
Correlations Between UBV Colors and Fine Structure in E + SO Galaxies

A study of 67 E and SO galaxies located mostly in the field and in groups reveals that at any given luminosity the UBV colors become systematically bluer as the amount of fine structure (ripples, jets of luminous matter, X-structure, and boxy isophotes) increases. Figure 1 shows the resulting correlations between the color residuals △(U-B)e,o, △(B-V)e, o (calculated as deviations from the mean colorluminosity relations) and the fine structure parameter Σ. These correlations closely resemble correlations found earlier between CN, Mg2, and Hβ line strengths and the same parameter Σ in 36 ellipticals (Schweizer et al., Ap.J. Letters 364, L33, 1990). Both sets of correlations are most likely due to systematic variations in mean age, rather than mean metallicity, of the stellar populations in these earlytype galaxies. We model the evolution of galaxies undergoing a major merger by convolving a single-burst model (Chariot & Bruzual, Ap.J. 367, 126, 1991) with a star formation rate that declines exponentially with a long time constant (6–10 Gyr) before the merger and with a short time constant (0.1–0.5 Gyr) afterwards. Some of the model parameters are determined from observations of two 1–2 Gyr old merger remnants. Comparisons between the observed UBV colors and the models suggest that the bluest E + SO galaxies in our sample formed through mergers only a few billion years ago, which also explains their high amount of fine structure.
The Immunogenicity of Embryonic Stem Cells and Their Differentiated Progeny

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are an attractive source for tissue regeneration and repair therapies. This is because in contrast to adult stem cells, ES cells possess unlimited self-renewal and pluripotent capacity. However, for the therapeutic application of ES cells to succeed, the transplanted ES cells must engraft successfully and survive long enough to exert a therapeutic effect. An important obstacle facing the in vivo engraftment and function of ES cells is the immunogenic barrier. In this chapter, we will begin by briefly discussing the safety concerns regarding the transplantation of ES cells and the factors that influence the behavior or misbehavior of transplanted ES cells. We will then discuss the in vitro immunogenic properties of ES cells, including the expression of major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens and minor histocompatibility (mH) antigens and how these properties evolve as undifferentiated cells mature towards more differentiated derivatives. We will also highlight the various (and in some instances conflicting) conclusions regarding the immunogenic properties of ES cells which have been drawn from prior in vitro studies and will conclude with a more extensive discussion of the immunogenic properties of ES cells when transplanted across allogeneic as well as xenogeneic immune barriers.
Smoking Cessation and Adherence

This chapter addresses the problem of adherence to smoking cessation. Several types of interventions targeting smokers have been successful at promoting cessation. In this review, we will provide examples of successful interventions for primary and secondary prevention and provide recommendations to improve adherence to smoking cessation among patients in their clinical practice.
Morphological Evaluation of the Heart and Blood Vessels

Methods essential for the morphological evaluation of the heart and blood vessels in toxicological studies are reviewed in this chapter. Focus is on tissue analysis rather than isolated cell studies. The elements of an accurate and thorough morphologic examination are defined. Concepts of gross examination and proper tissue fixation for microscopic and other studies are presented. The general methods of microscopic study including routine histology and special histologic and histochemical preparations are reviewed. Immunohistochemical, electron microscopic, and specialized ultrastructural studies are addressed. Throughout the chapter, basic concepts, the importance of careful sample preparation, and inclusion of proper controls are emphasized.
Fractures and Dislocations

The thumb has the most important role in terms of hand function because of the thumb’s unique orientation. Among the three joints in the thumb, the trapeziometacarpal joint, the key joint of the thumb, gives movements in three planes with the unique anatomy. Some residual deformities from extra-articular thumb fractures are more acceptable than the deformity of the other fingers. Rotational deformity rarely induces a disability. Less than 15–20° of angular deformities in the coronal plane or less than 20–30° in the sagittal plane usually are acceptable and cause no functional deficit. However, intra-articular fractures should be critically treated with the goal of anatomic joint reduction to avoid stiffness and pain with post-traumatic arthritis. In cases with intra-articular fractures of the thumb metacarpal base, surgical fixation is needed because poor outcomes have been reported with casting alone even after good initial reduction. Most traumatic dislocations of the thumb can be treated nonoperatively via closed reduction and immobilization. However, surgical treatment is necessary if the joint is not concentrically reduced or unstable after reduction.
Role of Platelets in Homing of Endothelial Progenitor Cells to the Site of Vascular Injury.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) are undifferentiated bone marrow cells that are rapidly mobilized upon vascular or tissue injury. The circulating EPCs home to and differentiate at the site of vessel injury to enhance repair of damaged endothelium. Much has been learnt of how EPCs adhere to and transmigrate on endothelial cells during angiogenesis, but little is know about how EPCs home to the site where endothelial cells are denuded and subendothelium is exposed following vascular injury. We hypothesized that platelets mediate EPC homing because they are the first cells that tether and adhere to subendothelium exposed by vascular injury. To test this hypothesis, we examined the platelet-EPC interaction under static and flow conditions. Human EPCs were purified from buffy coats by cell sorting using CD133 and VEGFR-2 as the cell markers. The EPCs were then incubated with washed platelets that were either at resting state or activated by 5 mg/ml of collagen. EPC-platelet interaction was measured in the form of heterotypic aggregation between two types of cells by flow cytometry (dual labeled with FITC-CD42a and PE-CD133). We found the EPCs attached to resting platelets, however, the percentage of platelets binding to EPCs significantly increased when platelets were activated by collagen (1.02% vs. 2.76%, p 2 , the CD133 positive EPCs tethered to the platelet monolayer. The tethered EPCs either firmly adhered immediately or rolled a short distance before becoming adherent. This EPC-platelet interaction was calcium-dependent and inhibited by up to 60±11.5% by a polyclonal P-selectin antibody. In comparison, the monoclonal GP Iba antibody AK2, which blocks GP Ib-VWF interaction, had no effect. These results demonstrate for the first time a significant interaction between EPCs and activated platelets both at static and flow conditions. Our findings suggest that platelets may function as carrier cells that direct EPCs to the site of vascular injury. In addition to homing, platelets, which release several growth factors known to affect EPCs, may provide a supporting matrix on which adherent EPCs proliferate and differentiate.