cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Factors Associated with Anesthesia Failure for Patients Undergoing Nonsurgical Root Canal Therapy: A National Dental Practice-Based Research Network Study.

Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to identify preoperative factors associated with local anesthesia failure. Methods The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network ( www.NationalDentalPBRN.org ) data from 534 patients who received a nonsurgical root canal treatment completed in a single appointment were included in this analysis. Three methods for defining anesthesia failure were used: definition 1, patient-reported level of numbness; definition 2, provider-reported quality of anesthesia; and definition 3, provider-reported use of supplemental anesthesia. Fifty-one preoperative factors were investigated and analyzed individually against the overall failure rate for each method, and multivariate generalized estimating equation logistic models were fit with predictors chosen using stepwise model selection to evaluate factors that may interact with each other. Results The overall anesthesia failure rates were 5%, 15%, and 30% for definitions 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Provider experience, diabetes, absence of sharp or aching pain, absence of smoking, and a fair expected outcome were associated with anesthesia failure (definition 1). Provider level of training, absence of a sinus tract, bite sensitivity, and stress making the pain worse were associated with anesthesia failure (definition 2). Provider level of training, pain provoked by stimulus, mandibular teeth, teeth with vital pulps, and pain interfering with daily activities were associated with the use of supplemental anesthesia (definition 3). Conclusions With the range of 5%–30% of anesthesia failures, a few common factors across the models assessed were elucidated. Providers with higher levels of training had significantly fewer anesthesia failures. Patient self-reported history of diabetes and preoperative pain-related interference with daily activities were associated with more anesthesia failures. Greater severity of various tooth-related pain characteristics, as a group but not individually, accounted for more anesthesia failures.
Integrating Media Selection and Media Effects Using Decision Theory

Abstract. Media psychology researchers seek to understand both why people choose certain media over others and how media influence cognitive, emotional, social, and psychological processes. A burge...
Diagnosis and management of dysautonomia.

The variability of severity and of presenting complaint in both classical and variant forms of dysautonomia is stressed. Psychological evaluation of these children has not borne out the initial clinical impression of mental retardation. Drug treatment of the vomiting crises and preventive psychological management of the emotional instability is discussed. Awareness of the widespread evidences of autonomic and central nervous system dysfunction will eliminate unnecessary diagnostic procedures and delayed diagnosis of dysautonomia.
Abstract 17930: Indices of Adiposity and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease: the Jackson Heart Study(JHS)

Background: Evidence that indices of adiposity, which better account for central obesity, outperform body mass index (BMI) in discriminating presence versus absence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are largely derived from Caucasian populations with limited and inconsistent findings in African Americans (AA). Characterization of the optimal measure of adiposity for improving CVD risk prediction and stratification in AAs is needed. Aim: We cross-sectionally evaluated the performance of BMI, waist circumference (WC), % body fat (%BF), waist to height ratio (WHtR), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in predicting the presence of subclinical CVD as defined by coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aorta calcification (AAC) in the JHS, a cohort of AAs. Methods: 2,253 participants (66% female, mean age: 55 years) with no prior CVD were studied. VAT, SAT, CAC and AAC were determined using CT scan, %BF was assessed with bioelectric impedance and other adiposity indices ...
Studies on the deoxyribonucleic acid of vaccinia virus: III. Characterization of DNA isolated by different methods and its relation to virus structure☆☆☆

Abstract Treatment of purified vaccinia virus with 2-mercaptoethanol and pronase releases DNA in an undenatured form as judged by its extremely sharp thermal transition. Density-gradient centrifugation on CsCl shows that this DNA is predominantly double-stranded, but that it contains also a small (5–10%) single-stranded component. This component may be similar to that released from vaccinia by phenol. Densitygradient centrifugation of vaccinia on potassium tartrate resolves the virus into two bands which both contain infectious units. DNA was extracted from each virus band by 2-mercaptoethanol-pronase, and then centrifuged in CsCl. The less dense virus band contained approximately 20% of the total DNA (40% single-stranded and 60% double-stranded), whereas the denser virus contained double-stranded DNA only. The origin of the single-stranded DNA is discussed.
The future of epidemiology

A decade ago there was considerable debate about the appropriate objectives and paradigms of modern epidemiologic research. One concern put forth in these debates was that “risk factor epidemiology” might be forcing our field to focus more on individuals and less on populations and public health. Today, most epidemiologists acknowledge that public health is influenced by both population-level and individual-level determinants. Ecologic studies are valuable tools for generating hypotheses and addressing group-level determinants of disease risk. Traditional risk factor studies and genomic studies have helped establish the multifactorial concept of disease causation. Individual-level studies also have provided the biomedical community with hypotheses that have stimulated research into disease mechanisms that have led to reductions in morbidity and mortality for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Current debates about the role of genomic data in epidemiology and public health mirror the debates about risk factor epidemiology one decade ago. Genomic variation is measured at the individual level, but how this variation is maintained in human populations is a group-level (population) phenomenon that is worthy of epidemiologic investigation in its own right. Multilevel epidemiology seeks to understand multiple levels of inference, from genes to individuals to populations and could combine hypothesis-driven research with aspects of data mining. Multilevel epidemiology calls for the study of health and disease determinants defined at the population level and individual level for a more comprehensive strategy to understanding human disease etiology. With the continued development of multilevel statistical methods and the advent of data mining, the technical constraints of the past will become less relevant to the next generation of epidemiologists who wish to embrace a more multilevel epidemiology.
Si through-hole interconnections filled with Au-Sn solder by molten metal suction method

This paper deals with a fabrication method of conductive through-holes in a silicon substrate, which can be applied for micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices or high-density packaging. The through-holes are formed by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) and filled with Au-Sn solder by molten metal suction method (MMSM). The MMSM we have proposed is capable of filling high aspect ratio thorough-holes with conductive metal. We could make more than 18,000 conductive through-holes, 30 /spl mu/m in diameter and 300 /spl mu/m in depth, in a 4 inches sized silicon (Si) wafer. We report the principle of the filling, the fabrication processes and the structure of the through-hole interconnections.
The formation and morphology of ice stalactites observed under deforming lead ice

During the LeadEx main field experiment, held in April 1992 in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, a number of large ice stalactites were observed growing under young lead ice. Formation of the stalactites was associated with rafting of the thin, highly saline ice. The rafting caused the brine to drain rapidly from the ice at a temperature well below the freezing point of the surrounding water, which in turn caused ice to form in a hollow cylinder around the brine plume. Within a 15 h period after the rafting event, the stalactites, which were located approximately 10 m apart in a line along the up-wind edge of a 150 m wide lead, had grown to a length of 2 m. A detailed structural analysis of the upper part of one of these stalactites revealed that the interior channel, down which the brine flowed, was bounded by a zone of frazil ice that developed into a shell of columnar ice. The growth of the columnar ice was directed radially outward and the c axes of these crystals were oriented perpendicular to their growth direction. Development of the stalactites illustrates the impact ice deformation can have on the process of brine rejection in freezing leads and potentially on the thermohaline structure of the upper ocean in ther immediate vicinity of the lead.
Awareness Services for Digital Libraries

We propose an architecture for Digital Library repositories where one or more data stores persistently hold the digital objects (e.g., documents), and interact with clients that perform indexing, replication, intellectual property management, revenue management, and other functions. One of the most critical components in such stores is the awareness mechanism, used to notify clients of inserted, deleted or changed objects. In this paper we survey the various awareness schemes (including snapshot, timestamp and log based), describing them all as variations of a single unified scheme. This makes it possible to understand their relative differences and strengths. In particular we focus on a signature-based awareness scheme that we believe is especially well suited for digital libraries, and show enhancements to improve its performance.
Hunger and Undernutrition in the United States

In the United States, where food is plentiful nationwide, detection of populations at risk of hunger and malnutrition must rely more on social and economic indicators than on physiological indices, important as these are. Large federal programs expanded or created after the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health were shown to be successful during the 1970s in reducing hunger and malnutrition as a massive social phenomenon, even though poverty conditions remained the same. Studies that apply our knowledge of nutritional and dietary requirements to construct a "market basket" of inexpensive, commonly used foods that meet the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and that set estimated minimum incomes as a multiple of the cost of such an "RDA-based market basket" plus the costs of other necessities would identify populations and families at risk and permit better targeting of food programs.
Intelligent peripheral modules for microcontrollers

The modular concept of microcontroller design provides the means whereby each module can have it's own local microengine or state machine. The main CPU communicates with the modules through dual access memory, issuing commands to semi-intelligent state machines or writing directly to registers in the module. Once a module has been given a command sequence, the peripheral can act autonomously from the CPU. With several modules working at the same time, the effect of running multiple instructions per clock cycle can be obtained. In other words, a timer module can be performing some task while the CPU is executing an unrelated algorithm.
Authenticity: Attribution, Value, and Meaning

Consumers and scholars show increasing interest in authenticity in products, services, performances, and places. As typically used, authenticity is an attribution that is socially constructed and appears in many domains of social life. The interest in authenticity presumes that its attribution conveys value and emerging evidence agrees. Authenticity, however, carries some very different meanings, including those about classification, morality, craftsmanship, and idiosyncrasy. Parsing these various interpretations requires attention to cultural and historical context. Keywords: authenticity; authentic; attribution; social construction; classification; moral reasoning
Ion isolation and sequential stages of mass spectrometry in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer

Sequential reactions with as many as eleven steps (MS12) are accomplished with a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Both collision induced dissociation and ion/molecule reactions can be utilized in these reaction sequences. The isolation of intermediate products is performed extremely rapidly through the application of a combination of d.c. and r.f. potentials to give, to the ions of interest, coordinates near a cusp of the stability diagram (az = 0.150, qz = 0.781). The ion yields and signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios can be quite high for each individual step, resulting in good ultimate yields and S/N ratios even after multiple reaction steps. The scan functions used are investigated in detail by exploring the ejection of xenon isotopes in experiments which reveal the shape of the stability diagram in the cusp region. The resolution of the isolation procedure is investigated. These ion isolation capabilities are applied in a series of steps to cause extensive dissociation of the saturated sterane, cholestane, to yield a stable aromatic ion, C6H+5, and to demonstrate that the m/z 79 fragment of dimethylpyrrole is protonated benzene. They also allow multiple charge exchange and dissociation reactions to be performed in sequence on a single population of molecular ions.
Transformative moral education: challenging an ecology of violence

From the perspective that we live amidst an ecology of violence, we contend that educators should not circumscribe their ethical roles by endorsing the dominant individualistic goals and practices of moral education. To counter a pervading worldview of violence and tolerance for violence, we propose instead that teachers embrace the multifaceted concept of transformative moral education as informed by the beliefs and aims of peace and ecojustice education. We explore the curricular aims and the ethical foundations of transformative moral education as well as the change of consciousness and development of agency for moral educators who challenge violence within human interactions and toward other living beings and the Earth.
Diversity and specificity: auxin perception and signaling through the TIR1/AFB pathway.

Auxin is a versatile plant hormone that plays an essential role in most aspects of plant growth and development. Auxin regulates various growth processes by modulating gene transcription through a SCFTIR1/AFB-Aux/IAA-ARF nuclear signaling module. Recent work has generated clues as to how multiple layers of regulation of the auxin signaling components may result in diverse and specific response outputs. In particular, interaction and structural studies of key auxin signaling proteins have produced novel insights into the molecular basis of auxin-regulated transcription and may lead to a refined auxin signaling model.
Materials Science A Simulation Model for Quantitation of Microleakage in vitro

A microleakage model based on the diffusion phenomenon of a radio tracer from the cavity floor of a restoration to the outside medium was discussed and was solved numerically by the finite element method. The simulation results and laboratory data showed that quantitation of microleakage could be achieved and expressed by a new term named Microleakage Coefficient, which reflected the changes of micro gaps by time.
Evidence for functional interaction between elongation factor Tu and 16S ribosomal RNA.

Abstract Translation of the genetic code requires the accurate selection of elongation factor (EF)-Tu.GTP.tRNA ternary complexes at the ribosomal acceptor site, or A site. Several independent lines of evidence have implicated the universally conserved 530 loop of 16S rRNA in this process; yet its precise role has not been identified. Using an allele-specific chemical probing strategy, we have examined the functional defect caused by a dominant lethal G-->A substitution at position 530. We find that mutant ribosomes are impaired in EF-Tu-dependent binding of aminoacyl-tRNA in vitro; in contrast, nonenzymatic binding of tRNA to the A and P sites is unaffected, indicating that the defect involves an EF-Tu-related function rather than tRNA-ribosome interactions per se. In vivo, the mutant ribosomes are found in polysomes at low levels and contain reduced amounts of A-site-bound tRNA, but normal levels of P-site tRNA, in agreement with the in vitro results; thus the dominant lethal phenotype of mutations at G530 can be explained by impaired interaction of mutant ribosomes with ternary complex. These results provide evidence for a newly defined function of 16S rRNA--namely, modulation of EF-Tu activity during translation.
Diminutive somatic deletions in the 5q region lead to a phenotype atypical of classical 5q- syndrome

Classical 5q− syndrome is an acquired macrocytic anemia of the elderly. Similar to Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), an inherited red cell aplasia, the bone marrow is characterized by a paucity of erythroid precursors. RPS14 deletions in combination with other deletions in the region have been implicated as causative of the 5q− syndrome phenotype. We asked whether smaller, less easily detectable deletions could account for a syndrome with a modified phenotype. We employed single-nucleotide polymorphism array genotyping to identify small deletions in patients diagnosed with DBA and other anemias lacking molecular diagnoses. Diminutive mosaic deletions involving RPS14 were identified in a 5-year-old patient with nonclassical DBA and in a 17-year-old patient with myelodysplastic syndrome. Patients with nonclassical DBA and other hypoproliferative anemias may have somatically acquired 5q deletions with RPS14 haploinsufficiency not identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization or cytogenetic testing, thus refining the spectrum of disorders with 5q− deletions.
On the Forecasting of Lathe Cutting Dynamics(1)

The metal cutting operation has been affected very heavily by the ongoing development of the computing power of the microprocessors. This report addresses to one such application in "semiautonomous machining". The prime interest of this study is to obtain maximum metal removal rate while maintaining the surface finish of the workpieces at the desirable level. Characteristically these two targets introduce a trade-off and as a result an optimal operating condition. At an experimental sight a lathe is retrofitted with 3 actuators to control the spindle speed, the depth of cut and the feed rate of the turning process. A sensory device, dynamometer, is used to monitor the cutting forces in 3-D at the tip of the tool. These force readings are processed via a computer, in-situ, to update the operating conditions, i.e. cutting speed, chip thickness and feed rate. There is a complex statistical analysis to forecast the trend of the dynamic characteristics which inturn yields an "anticipatory control" action. Fundamental principles of DDS (Dynamic Data Systems) and Corresponding Time Series Analysis are used off-line to describe the nature of the dynamics. Once the discrete dynamics is obtained off-line, the real time optimal control becomes one of lesser complexity but is not treated in this text. Two different packages are used to compare the convergence in the statistical part of the study. A table of comparison is prepared. An analytical model is developed to configure the effects of various parameters in the cutting mechanism. The actual data registries of force vs. the analytical model comparison is made. The future development points are discussed in the direction of introducing autonomous machining capabilities to the tools.
Comparison of techniques for measurement of gelatinases/type IV collagenases: enzyme-linked immunoassays versus substrate degradation assays.

Radiolabeled substrate degradation assays and gelatin zymography are routinely employed to assay 72 kDa gelatinase A (MMP-2) and 92 kDa gelatinase B (MMP-9) in biological fluids. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) have recently been developed for the quantitation of these matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). In this study, we have compared ELISA to standard substrate degradation assays for measurement of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human plasma and tumor-conditioned media. Gelatin Sepharose chromatography and gel filtration chromatography were employed as partial purification procedures for MMP-2 and MMP-9. The ELISA data for MMP-2 and MMP-9 are linear on a log:log regression curve over a wide range of MMP concentrations and are specific for the designated gelatinase, with no overlap detected with related metalloproteinases. The minimum detectable concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were approximately 0.5 ng/ml and 0.2 ng/ml, respectively, in the ELISA as compared to 4 ng/ml and 3 ng/ml, respectively, in gelatin zymography. The [3H]gelatin degradation assay required a combination of >50 ng/ml of MMP-2 and MMP-9 for detection. Although gelatin zymography was less sensitive than ELISA (primarily due to the smaller sample volume employed) and was more difficult to quantitate, this procedure offers the important advantage of being able to distinguish between latent and activated gelatinases.
Sodium appetite in rats after neocortical ablation.

Abstract Rats with ablations of either the entire neocortex or just the sensory cortex including the taste projection area responded to sodium depletion or mineralocorticoid treatment by increasing their intake of sodium chloride solution. The natrorectic response of the decorticate rats to sodium depletion was somewhat attentuated or delayed in comparison to intact controls but their response to mineralocorticoid treatment was normal.
Flow Induced Cylinder Oscillation and Its Control With High Order Spectral Difference Method on Deformable Mesh

In the recent work by the authors, high order spectral difference (SD) method has been formulated in a framework with dynamic deformable meshes, and been demonstrated to preserve the design accuracy of the underlying high order temporal and spatial discretization methods. In this study, the current SD method has been extended to solve fluid structure interaction problems on deforming meshes. The SD method with collocated solution and flux points is used as the spatial discretization method, while the explicit fourth order five-stage Runge-Kutta is used to advance the flow in time. The solid structure, which is the cylinder, is modelled as a spring-mass system. The movement of the solid cylinder is handled with a dynamic deforming mesh using an algebraic high order blending polynomial. The present work has focused on flow induced cylinder oscillation, bluff body wake and cylinder interaction, and control of flow induced oscillation through mechanism of counter-rotating cylinders. Numerical experiment for flow over counter-rotating cylinder pair shows that significant drag reduction and wake suppression can be obtained. Numerical calculation for a free-stream flow over a free-floating cylinder shows that the wake symmetry of a cylinder can not be maintained. The resultant wake instability propels the cylinder in the cross-flow direction, but the cylinder was found to eventually locked in a flow induced self-oscillation at an equilibrium position. Active control of the cylinder vibration through the mechanism of counter-rotation of solid bodies is finally investigated.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Aneurysm of ventricular septum with outflow obstruction of the venous ventricle in corrected transposition of great vessels

Abstract This report describes a patient with corrected transposition of the great vessels and with an aneurysm of the membranous portion of the ventricular septum, which was surgically repaired. The aneurysm caused obstruction of the outflow tract of the venous ventricle, a hemodynamic complication that is essentially inevitable when an aneurysm of significant size develops in the presence of ventricular inversion. Subvalvular pulmonic stenosis was also present.
Physiological stress and culture change in a group of Filipino-Americans: a preliminary investigation.

SummaryThis preliminary survey evaluates the utility of physiological measures of general stress in anthropological fieldwork. The survey was conducted in a community of Filipino-Americans whose residents share similar housing conditions and low income levels but vary in ethnicity, migration status and degree of contact with Hawaii's urban culture. General stress levels are evaluated both by a subjective stress measure—the Cornell Medical Index (CMI)—and by physiological measures—twenty-four-hour excretion rates of norepinephrine, epinephrine and VMA. In addition, sociocultural data have been collected, and a culture contact index has been constructed. Preliminary results indicate that immigrants who have either low or high levels of contact with Honolulu's urban culture have lower stress levels, as measured by catecholamine excretion, than individuals with intermediate levels of contact. These differences may be due to the presence of two strategies of urban adaptation, one emphasizing isolation from the...
Late Pleistocene fauna from Zesch Cave, Mason County, Texas

The Zesch Cave local fauna is one of the most diverse fossil vertebrate localities from central Texas, and one of the only three sites on the Edwards Plateau juxtaposed to the Llano Uplift. At least 70 vertebrate taxa are identified in this local fauna including fish, four lissamphibians, six sauropsids, eight birds, and fifty-one mammal species. A largely granitic structural dome, the Llano uplift differs from the rest of the predominantly carbonate Edwards Plateau in geology, soils and ecology. This is reflected in the Zesch Cave local fauna as well, which has greater similarity to high plains faunas than those recorded 80 km or more to the south. Notably, this local fauna contains the first record of Sorex hoyi (pygmy shrew) and Pica pica (magpie) from central Texas, which indicates similarity or connection with a Rocky Mountain fauna. The Zesch Cave vertebrates provide a more complete picture of faunal zones as they existed in the Rancholabrean.
Lewis-Randall to McMillan-Mayer conversion for the thermodynamic excess functions of solutions. Part II. Excess energy and volume

Derivations are given for the equations expressing the McMillan-Mayer functions in terms of Lewis-Randall functions.
A technique for maintaining explants in contact with solid medium in petri dishes

The objective of this study was to develop a system to maintain orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) leaf segments in contact with solid medium in petri dishes during different orientation of the dishes. To ensure contact with the medium, leaf segments were overlaid with 1800 μm Teflon™ mesh. This was secured with a polypropylene ring which fitted between the petri dish lid and the mesh. This procedure did not affect the somatic embryogenesis response. A significant difference (P=0.05) in increased ethylene accumulation from overlaid segments was recorded on day 5.
AGU Member receives Nobel Prize for “Path-breaking Work”

Raymond Davis, Jr. was awarded the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences “for pioneering contributions to astrophysics; in particular, for the detection of cosmic neutrinos.” He is the first scientist to have detected solar neutrinos, the signature of nuclear fusion reactions occurring in the core of the Sun. Davis is a retired chemist of the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. He has been a member of AGU (SPA) since 1961.
N-Acetylcysteine–Enhanced Contrast Provides Cardiorenal Protection

Objectives We sought to evaluate the cardiac and renal effects of an N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-enhanced intracoronary radiographic contrast agent. Background Recent studies suggest that high-dose NAC provides better protection from contrast-induced nephropathy, and the antioxidant properties of NAC may also provide cardiac protection. The use of angiographic contrast agents as a drug delivery vehicle for cardiorenal protection effects has not been investigated. Methods In a pig model of prolonged cardiac ischemia-reperfusion, NAC-enhanced contrast medium was tested and compared with iopamidol contrast only. Myocardium and renal function were assessed after 24 h. Results There was no significant difference in the area-at-risk for myocardial infarction (MI) between contrast only and NAC-enhanced contrast medium. In contrast, MI size was about 40% smaller in NAC-enhanced contrast medium–treated animals. These findings were associated with a significant difference in MI morphology. MIs in the NAC-enhanced contrast medium group had a mottled appearance, whereas in the contrast only group they were homogeneous and had a discrete border zone. These differences could explain a higher incidence of periprocedural ventricular arrhythmias in the NAC-enhanced contrast medium group. Histopathological analysis of the myocardium revealed a reduction in programmed cell death by NAC-enhanced contrast medium that may explain the increase in ischemia tolerance. Last, NAC-enhanced contrast medium administration blunted the rise in serum creatinine levels by about 60% and protected from renotubular apotosis. Conclusions NAC-enhanced contrast medium reduces MI size and protects renal function in a pig model of ischemia and reperfusion.
A comparison of subject room dust with home vacuum dust for evaluation of dust-borne aeroallergens

Abstract Background Assessment of indoor allergen is valuable in exposure research and evaluation of allergic individuals. Collection methods range from grab vacuum samples to filtration devices located in the breathing range of an individual. For practical purposes, many research studies use analysis of collected house dust to evaluate allergen reservoirs. Objective To test the hypothesis that house dust collected from the family vacuum is equivalent to house dust collected by a technician following standard protocol. Methods Homes from a healthy homes demonstration project ( n = 41) were sampled using a specific Department of Housing and Urban Development–suggested protocol in the bedroom of the child with asthma and a simple grab procedure from the family vacuum. Samples were evaluated for the presence of 5 allergens, Bla g2, Can f1, Der f1, and Der p1 combined as total mite, Fel d1, and Mus m1. Samples were also evaluated for total antigenic protein from 4 fungal taxa, including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium . Results All of the allergens and antigens tested showed good correlation between the 2 collection methods. Fungal antigens ranged up to 92,651 nanograms per gram of dust for Aspergillus, and allergens ranged up to 17,928 nanograms per gram of dust for Can f1. The best correlation was for Cladosporium ( r = 0.91), and the weakest was for dust mite ( r = 0.34). Conclusion Allergens and antigens tested from samples collected by protocol and by grab sampling from the home vacuum were highly positively correlated. Grab samples taken from the family vacuum may be a good surrogate for evaluating home allergen exposure.
The interactive effects of emotional clarity and cognitive reappraisal in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

a b s t r a c t The goal of this investigation was to examine how emotional clarity and a specific emotion regulation strategy, cognitive reappraisal, interact to predict Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and positive affect among treatment seeking military Veterans (N = 75, 93% male) diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD is a highly relevant context because PTSD features include heightened stress reactivity, diminished ability to differentiate and understand emotions, and reliance on maladaptive forms of emotion regu- lation. We found that the combination of high levels of emotional clarity and frequent use of cognitive reappraisal were associated with (a) lesser total PTSD severity after accounting for shared variance with positive affect and the extent to which emotions are attended to (attention to emotions), and (b) greater positive affect after accounting for shared variance with total PTSD severity and attention to emotions. This is the first study to demonstrate interactive effects of emotional clarity and cognitive reappraisal. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Attrition modeling in the presence of decoys: An operations‐other‐than‐war motivation

Abstract : Under various operational conditions, in particular in operations other than war (OOTW) or peacekeeping, an intervening force, here Blue, must occasionally engage in attrition warfare with an opposing force, here Red, that is intermingled with non-combatants. Desirably, Red armed actives are targeted and not the unarmed non-combatants. This paper describes some simple Lanchesterian attrition models that reflect a certain capacity of Blue to discriminate non-combatants from armed and active Red opponents. An explicit extension of the 'Manchester square law' results: Blue's abstinence concerning the indiscriminate shooting of civilians mixed with Reds is essentially reflected in a lower Blue rate of fire and less advantageous exchange rate. The model applies to other situations involving decoys, and reflects the value of a discrimination capability.
An Extension of Wollenberg's Redundancy Analysis.

An extension of Wollenberg's redundancy analysis is proposed to deriveY-variates corresponding to the optimalX-variates. These variates are maximally correlated with the givenX-variates, and depending upon the standardization chosen they also have certain properties of orthogonality.
Relationship of adiponectin to endogenous GH pulse secretion parameters in response to stimulation with a growth hormone releasing factor.

Abstract Objective Obesity is associated with both reduced growth hormone (GH) and adiponectin. However, the relationship between adiponectin and parameters of endogenous GH secretion remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin and parameters of endogenous pulsatile GH secretion and the effects of tesamorelin, a synthetic GH releasing hormone (GHRH 1–44 ), on total and HMW adiponectin. Design A 2-week interventional study with tesamorelin was conducted at an academic medical center in 13 men with BMI 20–35kg/m 2 . Overnight frequent blood sampling and measurement of total and HMW adiponectin at baseline and after treatment were performed to assess the effects of augmenting endogenous pulsatile GH secretion. Results Total, but not HMW, adiponectin was positively associated with log 10 Peak GH area (r=+0.73; P=0.005), basal GH secretion (r=+0.67; P=0.01), and total GH production (r=+0.57; P=0.04), but was not associated with the number of secretion events (P=0.85). Two-week treatment with tesamorelin increased endogenous GH release and IGF-1, but neither total (change −0.16±0.64; P=0.40), nor HMW (change +0.03±0.70; P=0.87) adiponectin changed significantly with treatment. Sub-analyses in overweight and obese men yielded similar results. Conclusions Our study demonstrates a strong relationship between specific parameters of endogenous GH pulsatility and adiponectin. However, short-term augmentation of GH pulsatility over 2-weeks does not change adiponectin. Therefore, the relationship between GH and adiponectin is most likely mediated by specific covariates related to adiposity or other factors.
Changes in esophageal motility after porfimer sodium photodynamic therapy for Barrett's dysplasia and mucosal carcinoma

SUMMARY. Esophageal dysmotility is common in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Previously we have reported deterioration of esophageal motility after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a heterogeneous group of patients with esophageal carcinoma. This prospective study in consecutive patients describes changes in motility noted after endoscopic ablation. Forty-seven patients referred to our institution for endoscopic ablation for Barrett's high grade dysplasia or mucosal carcinoma between August 2001 and May 2003 were prospectively evaluated with esophageal manometry before and after porfimer sodium PDT. Six patients did not complete the study. Manometry results were classified as normal, diffuse esophageal spasm, ineffective esophageal motility, or aperistalsis. Abnormal esophageal motility was found in 14 of 47 (30%) patients at study entry ([diffuse esophageal spasm] DES-3, [ineffective esophageal motility] IEM-7, Aperistalsis-4). After PDT, 11 of 41 patients with paired studies experienced a change in manometric diagnosis. Three patients had an improvement in motility, seven a worsening and one changed diagnosis, but did not particularly worsen or improve. No patient developed new aperistalsis. Therefore, abnormal motility was present in 19 of 41 (46%) patients after PDT (DES-2, IEM-14, Aperistalsis-3). There was a statistically significant (P = 0.016) relationship with longer segment Barrett's esophagus and deterioration of function. Baseline abnormalities in motility can occur in patients with Barrett's high-grade dysplasia or mucosal carcinoma. Changes in esophageal function also may occur following photodynamic therapy, but usually are not clinically significant. Worsening in function was more likely to occur in patients with longer segment Barrett's esophagus.
Children with high and intermediate imperforate anus: their experiences of hospital care.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of children with high and intermediate imperforate anus (IA), and specifically their experiences of hospital care.
Quantitative trait loci analysis of fiber quality traits using a random-mated recombinant inbred population in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) accounts for about 95% of world cotton production. Improving Upland cotton cultivars has been the focus of world-wide cotton breeding programs. Negative correlation between yield and fiber quality is an obstacle for cotton improvement. Random-mating provides a potential methodology to break this correlation. The suite of fiber quality traits that affect the yarn quality includes the length, strength, maturity, fineness, elongation, uniformity and color. Identification of stable fiber quantitative trait loci (QTL) in Upland cotton is essential in order to improve cotton cultivars with superior quality using marker-assisted selection (MAS) strategy. Using 11 diverse Upland cotton cultivars as parents, a random-mated recombinant inbred (RI) population consisting of 550 RI lines was developed after 6 cycles of random-mating and 6 generations of self-pollination. The 550 RILs were planted in triplicates for two years in Mississippi State, MS, USA to obtain fiber quality data. After screening 15538 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, 2132 were polymorphic among the 11 parents. One thousand five hundred eighty-two markers covering 83% of cotton genome were used to genotype 275 RILs (Set 1). The marker-trait associations were analyzed using the software program TASSEL. At p < 0.01, 131 fiber QTLs and 37 QTL clusters were identified. These QTLs were responsible for the combined phenotypic variance ranging from 62.3% for short fiber content to 82.8% for elongation. The other 275 RILs (Set 2) were analyzed using a subset of 270 SSR markers, and the QTLs were confirmed. Two major QTL clusters were observed on chromosomes 7 and 16. Comparison of these 131 QTLs with the previously published QTLs indicated that 77 were identified before, and 54 appeared novel. The 11 parents used in this study represent a diverse genetic pool of the US cultivated cotton, and 10 of them were elite commercial cultivars. The fiber QTLs, especially QTL clusters reported herein can be readily implemented in a cotton breeding program to improve fiber quality via MAS strategy. The consensus QTL regions warrant further investigation to better understand the genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying fiber development.
The stability of allyl radicals following the photodissociation of allyl iodide at 193 nm.

The photodissociation of allyl iodide (C3H5I) at 193nm was investigated by using a combination of vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization of the allyl radical, resonant multiphoton ionization of the iodine atoms, and velocity map imaging. The data provide insight into the primary C–I bond fission process and into the dissociative ionization of the allyl radical to produce C3H3+. The experimental results are consistent with the earlier results of Szpunar et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 119, 5078 (2003)], in that some allyl radicals with internal energies higher than the secondary dissociation barrier are found to be stable. This stability results from the partitioning of available energy between the rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom of the radical, the effects of a centrifugal barrier along the reaction coordinate, and the effects of the kinetic shift in the secondary dissociation of the allyl radical. The present results suggest that the primary dissociation of allyl iodide to allyl radicals plus I*(P1∕22) ...
A simple diagnostic tool for the investigation of persistent phenomena with application to the summer 1980 U.S. heat wave

A simple and readily-computed index for diagnostic and numerical weather prediction studies of heat waves and other persistent anomalies has been developed. The index takes into account the two important factors of intensity and persistence and it is highly correlated to the surface air temperature on a variety of time-scales. The utilization of this index for investigating the severe, summer 1980 U.S. heat wave and drought results in an instructive description of the spatial and temporal development of the phenomenon. An assessment of the skill of the Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres (GLA) model in forecasting the initiation and breakdown of the heat wave in terms of the index is also illustrated.
Distinct roles of receptor phosphorylation, G protein usage, and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation on platelet activating factor-induced leukotriene C4 generation and chemokine production

Abstract Platelet activating factor (PAF) interacts with cell surface G protein-coupled receptors on leukocytes to induce degranulation, leukotriene C4(LTC4) generation, and chemokine CCL2 production. Using a basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cell line expressing wild-type PAF receptor (PAFR) and a phosphorylation-deficient mutant (mPAFR), we have previously demonstrated that receptor phosphorylation mediates desensitization of PAF-induced degranulation. Here, we sought to determine the role of receptor phosphorylation on PAF-induced LTC4 generation and CCL2 production. We found that PAF caused a significantly enhanced LTC4 generation in cells expressing mPAFR when compared with PAFR cells. In contrast, PAF-induced CCL2 production was greatly reduced in mPAFR cells. Pertussis toxin and U0126, which inhibit Gi and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK) activation, respectively, caused very little inhibition of PAF-induced CCL2 production (∼20% inhibition). In contrast, these inhibitors almost completely blocked both PAF-induced ERK phosphorylation and LTC4 generation in PAFR cells. However, in mPAFR cells pertussis toxin only partially inhibited PAF-induced ERK phosphorylation. A Ca2+/calmodulin inhibitor had no effect on PAF-induced ERK phosphorylation in PAFR cells but completely blocked the response in mPAFR cells. These data demonstrate that receptor phosphorylation, which serves to desensitize PAF-induced LTC4 generation, is required for chemokine CCL2 production. They also indicate a previously unrecognized selectivity in G protein usage and ERK activation for PAF-induced responses. Whereas PAF-induced CCL2 production is, in large part, mediated independently of Gi activation or ERK phosphorylation, LTC4 generation requires ERK phosphorylation, which is mediated by different G proteins depending on the phosphorylation status of the receptor.
Effects of hypoxia and toxicant exposure on phosphoarginine, intracellular pH, and free Mg2+ in abalone as measured by 31P-NMR

The effects of hypoxia, sodium azide and pentachlorophenol (PCP) exposure on high-energy phosphorylated compounds, intracellular pH (pHi) and intracellular free Mg2+ (Mgf) in intact red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) were determined using 31P-NMR. Abalone made hypoxic by bubbling sea water with N2 showed modest changes in phosphoarginine (PA) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentrations, no significant changes in pHi and a moderate decrease in Mgf that was not statistically significant. Azide (50 mg/l) exposed animals displayed severe declines in PA dropping to 0.53 of reference values, coupled with large increases in Pi to 10.66 times resting concentrations that occurred just after the 2-hr exposure period. pHi also showed significant declines from a resting value of 7.17-7.06 (P < 0.05) but fully recovered by the end of the 6-hr clean seawater recovery period, whereas Mgf concentrations declined slightly during the exposure period but increased by 18% at the end of the recovery period relative to reference Mgf. PCP (1.2 mg/l) exposed animals displayed similar increases and declines in Pi and PA, respectively, as did azide-exposed animals by the end of the exposure period, but recovery was much slower and occurred in a bimodal fashion with some animals completely recovering at the end of 6 hr and others essentially stabilized at the end of the exposure period and did not show any significant changes during the recovery period.
An investigation of system design considerations for emergency management decision support

Simulation tests that were carried out to evaluate decision support system design factors in the context of emergency management decision-making are reported. In particular, two basic issues have been examined: the availability of a microcomputer for enhancing data display during an emergency: and the stage or severity of the emergency. The exercise involved the response to a nuclear generating facility accident, a situation that typically would require various inputs from public officials to protect the local community from potential radiation exposure. The results of the experiment indicate: clear support for computerization of emergency management decision support systems; and an apparent need to focus attention on further development of these systems to improve the decision-making capabilities of public managers during the later, less-structured stages of an emergency.
Transport Theory for HIV Diffusion through In Vivo Distributions of Topical Microbicide Gels

Topical microbicide products are being developed for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. These include vaginally-applied gels that deliver anti-HIV molecules. Gels may also provide partial barriers that slow virion diffusion from semen to vulnerable epithelium, increasing the time during which anti-HIV molecules can act. To explore the barrier function of microbicide gels, we developed a deterministic mathematical model for HIV diffusion through realistic gel distributions. We applied the model to experimental data for in vivo coating distributions of two vaginal gels in women. Time required for a threshold number of virions to reach the tissue surface was used as a metric for comparing different scenarios. Results delineated how time to threshold increased with increasing gel layer thickness and with decreasing diffusion coefficient. We note that for gel layers with average thickness >∼100 μm, the fractional area coated, rather than the gel layer thickness, was the primary determinant of time to threshold. For gel layers 100 μm and fractional area coated >0.8 is critical in determining the ability of the gel to serve as a barrier to HIV diffusion.
Probing sub-cycle dynamics of virtual states with attosecond transient absorption

Isolated attosecond pulses with continuum spectra extending below 15 eV are used to probe the sub-cycle energy shifts and splitting of helium excited states. Additionally, new absorption features appear far from the 1snp absorption lines.