cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ecological periodic tables: in principle and practice

Ecological periodic tables are an information organizing system with categorical habitat types as elements and predictably recurring (periodic) properties of a target biotic community, such as its relative species richness, abundance and biomass, as attributes. Ecological periodic tables are founded on the ecological tenet that habitats structure biotic communities and its corollary that habitats are templets for ecological strategies. They are a durable, open and flexible system that accommodates all operationally defined habitat types and biotic communities for which the periodicity of habitat usage patterns by a biotic community have been empirically substantiated. Discovering quantitative, periodic habitat usage patterns requires quantitative, representative, unbiased sampling of a biotic community across habitat types at ecologically relevant temporal and spatial scales. Like chemical periodic tables, the Linnaean system of classification and the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram in chemistry, biology and astronomy, respectively, ecological periodic tables are simple, easy to understand, exceptionally useful and they foster the expansion of scientific understanding, inquiry and theory.
Survey of Community Engagement in NIH-Funded Research

Community engagement is an innovative and required component for Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, the extent of community engagement in NIH-funded research has not been previously examined. This study assessed baseline prevalence of community engagement activities among NIH-funded studies at a large Midwestern university with a CTSA. An online survey was e-mailed to principal investigators of recent NIH-funded studies (N = 480). Investigators were asked to identify what types of community engagement activities had occurred for each study. Responses were received for 40.4% (194/480) of studies. Overall, 42.6% reported any community engagement activities. More collaborative types of engagement (e.g., community advisory board) were less common than activities requiring less engagement (e.g., sharing study results with community members). Studies with more collaborative community engagement were less likely to be described as basic or preclinical research compared to all other studies. Given NIH’s inclusive call for community engagement in research, relatively few NIH-funded studies reported community engagement activities, although this study used a broad definition of community and a wide range of types of engagement. These findings may be used to inform the goals of CTSA community engagement programs.
Ground‐Water Management in Basaltsa

Basalts are a major source of ground water throughout the Columbia River Plateau region of the Pacific Northwest. Development and management of ground water in these basalts are complicated by the spatial variability of the hydrologic characteristics of the deep, stratified lava flows, but new irrigation developments and municipal and industrial water needs are placing increasingly larger demands on the ground-water resource. Water management decisions are aided by individual basin studies that contribute to greater understanding of the regional ground-water system. A distributed-system multiple-storage model for the Deschutes River Basin, Oregon, reveals the magnitude of spatial differences in ground-water recharge, storage, and discharge for this watershed. Input-output analysis elucidates the functional characteristics of the basin groundwater system, and it identifies the presence and magnitude of interbasin linkages in the ground-water system. Implementation of ground-water development strategies based on storage and transmission characteristics simulated by the model demonstrates that basin or regional perspectives are necessary to fully utilize ground-water storage in basalts.
The effect of computer-assisted instruction and field independence on the development of rhythm sight-reading skills of middle school instrumental students

This study investigated how the effectiveness of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to teach rhythm reading skills may be influenced by subjects' level of field dependence/independence. The subjec...
Long term culture of bovine oligodendroglia isolated with a percoll gradient

Abstract Oligodendroglia were isolated from calf central nervous system (CNS) white matter by trypsinization in phosphate buffered saline and separation by centrifugation through Percoll. Using antisera to phenotypic markers and double labelling experiments we were able to identify essentially all cells in the cultures. The cells obtained were: (1) viable; (2) had intact plasma membranes and well preserved organelles, ribosomes and mitochondria; and (3) were ≥95% oligodendroglia 16–20 h after isolation as determined by ability to bind antigalactocerebroside antibodies (anti-GalC). Oligodendroglia could be cultured for several weeks to months. Oligodendroglia established and maintained processes which bound anti-GalC. Myelin basic protein could be demonstrated in the cytoplasm of 40–60% of oligodendroglia cell bodies but not in the processes.
Afrocentric Approaches to Working with African American Families

Developing interventions that produce positive results for African American individuals and families continues to be a priority in the field of human services. This article begins with a review of ...
Practicing What We Teach: Using Case Studies from 9/11 to Teach Crisis Intervention from a Generalist Perspective

Populations traditionally served by social workers are experiencing increasingly severe psychosocial stressors, necessitating that students be trained in crisis intervention. This paper provides educators with a theoretical framework integrating generalist practice and crisis intervention, which is applied to compelling case studies from September 11 with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The authors provide guidelines for discussion and teaching points to structure didactic and collaborative problem-based learning and encourage instructors to use examples from their own and their students' practice. Students learn to intervene with their clients and to appreciate the vital role that social workers assume in responding to disasters.
The Financial Burden of Stress Urinary Incontinence Among Women in the United States

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common medical problem affecting 25% to 50% of women in the United States. This article reviews the literature on the current systems- and population-based costs of management of SUI in women. A PubMed search was conducted to seek studies examining the cost of various management options. Both nonsurgical and surgical management can effectively improve symptoms of SUI at a wide spectrum of costs. Over $12 billion are spent annually, an amount that continues to grow. Patients pay out-of-pocket for 70% of conservative management, amounting to a significant individual financial burden. Systems-based cost of SUI management continues to rise with the aging population. Costs to both individuals and systems may be mitigated if more patients are treated with intent to cure and as surgical management transitions from inpatient to outpatient procedures.
Depression and anxiety diagnoses are not associated with delayed resolution of abnormal mammograms and pap tests among vulnerable women.

Background Delays in care after abnormal cancer screening contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes. Women with psychiatric disorders are less likely to receive cancer screening and may also have delays in diagnostic resolution after an abnormal screening test.
Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection. A Growing Health Risk

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections of the genital tract are among the most common sexually transmitted viral infections in the United States. Recently, data have accumulated linking HPV with later development of genital neoplasia, particularly cervical neoplasia, causing growing concern among health-care professionals. Genital warts, or condyloma acuminata, are one of the manifestations of genital HPV infections. The clinical spectrum associated with genital HPV infections, however, is much broader than previously recognized and includes a multiplicity of disease entities in both sexes. This article summarizes the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment modalities for genital HPV infections. Nursing implications also are discussed. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that has been linked to in-traepithelial neoplasia and genital cancer. The incidence and prevalence of HPV has reached epidemic proportions, particularly among the young, reproductive-aged population. The clinical presentation of this disease in both men and women is extremely varied, and many of these infections are not readily recognized. The cervix, particularly the transformation zone, appears to be especially vulnerable to HPV infections and subsequent dysplastic changes.
Hall resistivity in pure cadmium and dilute crystals of Cd -Ag and Cd -In

The Hall resistivity ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{21}(H,T)$ ($\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{H}\ensuremath{\parallel}[0001], \stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{J}}[11\overline{2}0]$) has been measured on pure cadmium single crystals and crystals alloyed with In and Ag in the temperature range 1.4-30 K and for field strengths from 1.7 to 24 kG. The residual resistance ratios of the pure samples varied from 16 000 to greater than 30 000; those of the alloys from 62 to approximately 20 000 [corresponding to controlled impurity concentrations from 500 to 1 part per million by weight (ppmw)]. In the pure samples, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{21}(H,T)$ reversed sign for $Tl5$ K, in agreement with previously published results on pure cadmium and a number of Cd-Zn crystal alloys, in which the behavior of ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{21}(H,T)$ for $1.4 \mathrm{K}\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\le}10 \mathrm{K}$ was semiquantitatively described in terms of intersheet scattering. In the present alloys, at the lowest temperatures and highest fields, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{21}$ approaches a positive, constant value even for concentrations of Ag or In as low as 1 ppmw. It is shown that intersheet scattering cannot consistently account for this new behavior. A two-band model, based on published measurements of the temperature dependences of hole and electron mean free paths in cadmium, is found to be only qualitatively successful in describing ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{21}(H,T\ensuremath{\le}10 \mathrm{K})$ in the alloys for which ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{21}$ remains positive. It is suggested that combinations of orbital scattering times $\ensuremath{\tau}(T)$, with various temperature ranges of dominance must be considered for an accurate description of the Hall resistivity in these alloys.
Research Spotlight: What controls bedrock channel geometry?

[1] As rivers cut a path through bedrock, what influences the relationship between channel width, slope, and erosion rate? Data from naturally incising bedrock rivers show differing relationships among these parameters. For instance, while some studies show a strong inverse relationship between erosion rate and channel width, others show no such correlation. To explain the field data, Yanites and Tucker created a model of optimized channel geometry that accounts for water discharge, sediment supply, and base-level fall. They found that including the erosion-inhibiting effects of immobile sediment is necessary to explain the observed disparate relationships. Essentially, as more sediment is added to a river, the channel geometry must widen and steepen to transport the supplied sediment and continue eroding bedrock at the rate of base-level fall. For channels carrying significant bed load, they found that channel width can be the primary morphological control on the erosive potential of the river, a prediction matched by field data. Further, trade-offs between increasing sediment supply (which widens the channel) and erosion rate (which narrows the channel) can generate rivers with no relationship between channel width and erosion rate. The model helps explain the conflicting field observations of controls of channel geometry and could contribute to improved understanding of landscape evolution. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, doi:10.1029/2009JF001601, 2010)
Fourier acceleration of relaxation processes in disordered systems

Critical slowing down poses a major obstacle to reaching the steady-state distribution in large-scale numerical simulations. We demonstrate how to alleviate this problem by means of Fourier acceleration, a method consisting of updating in $k$ space with a $k$-dependent time step. The method is general and applicable to a wide range of problems. We demonstrate its use by numerical experiments on random resistor networks at the percolation threshold.
Clinical study of an amine fluoride gel and acidulated phosphate fluoride gel.

This study compared caries inhibition in children by an amine fluoride and an acidulated phosphate fluoride when administered in a topically applied gel. In addition, the effects of applying amine fluoride daily and weekly were compared. Four hundred and sixty-eight children, ages 6 to 13, were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups and received a total of five, 5-minute treatments. The treatment and interval between each of the five treatments were as follows: (A) acidulated phosphate fluoride daily, (B) amine fluoride daily, (C) amine fluoride weekly, (D) placebo daily, and (E) placebo weekly. When the children were examined for total Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) increments 2 years later, no significant differences were observed. However, when the data were examined for effects on DMFS for a specific tooth surface, significant restriction (61 %) of occlusal increment was shown in the group which was treated with amine fluoride daily for 5 consecutive days as compared with the control group.
Isotopic and chemical investigations on Angra dos Reis

We report on extensive isotopic studies of Pb, Sr and Xe and on chemical abundance measurements of K, Rb, Sr, Ba, Nd, Sm, U and Th for total meteorite and mineral separates of the Angra dos Reis achondrite. U-Pb, Th-Pb and Pb-Pb ages are concordant at 4.54 AE for the total meteorite and for high-purity whitlockite in Angra dos Reis. This establishes Angra dos Reis as an early planetary differentiate which has not been disturbed for these systems since 4.54 AE ago. Measured ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr in pyroxene and whitlockite for Angra dos Reis (ADOR) are distinctly below BABI by two parts in 10^4 and only one part in 10^4 above the lowest ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr (ALL) measured in an Allende inclusion. The difference in ADOR-ALL corresponds to an interval of condensation in the solar nebula of ∼3 m.y. If ^(26)Al was the heat source for the magmatism on the parent planets of Angra dos Reis and the basaltic achondrites (BABI) then the relatively large difference in ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr, BABI - ALL, must be the result of planetary evolution rather than condensation over ∼10 m.y. Xe isotopic measurements confirm the presence of large amounts of ^(244)Pu-produced fission Xe and show that ^(244)Pu was enriched in the whitlockite relative to the pyroxene by a factor of ∼18. We present chemical element enrichment factors between the whitlockite and the fassaitic pyroxene in Angra dos Reis. The enrichment factors demonstrate close analogy between the rare earth elements and their actinide analogs. The enrichment factor for Pu is intermediate to the enrichment factors of Nd and Sm.
Smooth reactive ion etching of GaAs using a hydrogen plasma pretreatment

Extremely smooth GaAs surfaces are attained after SiCl4 reactive ion etching by preparing the surface before etching with hydrogen plasma exposure to selectively remove the native surface oxides. Using this hydrogen plasma pretreatment, the surface morphology after etching is equivalent to that of the original surface since the etching proceeds uniformly through the GaAs without micromasking effects from a nonuniform surface oxide. The beneficial effects of the hydrogen plasma processing are observed in two different reactors and are found to be independent of the platen temperature during etching. Using atomic force microscopy we find an optimized hydrogen plasma process produces an etched surface morphology with an average surface roughness of 0.9–1.5 nm, as compared to the surface roughness of 0.6 nm before etching or as great as 11.8 nm after etching without the hydrogen plasma pretreatment.
A supervised hidden markov model framework for efficiently segmenting tiling array data in transcriptional and chIP-chip experiments: systematically incorporating validated biological knowledge

Motivation: Large-scale tiling array experiments are becoming increasingly common in genomics. In particular, the ENCODE project requires the consistent segmentation of many different tiling array datasets into 'active regions' (e.g. finding transfrags from transcriptional data and putative binding sites from ChIP-chip experiments). Previously, such segmentation was done in an unsupervised fashion mainly based on characteristics of the signal distribution in the tiling array data itself. Here we propose a supervised framework for doing this. It has the advantage of explicitly incorporating validated biological knowledge into the model and allowing for formal training and testing. Methodology: In particular, we use a hidden Markov model (HMM) framework, which is capable of explicitly modeling the dependency between neighboring probes and whose extended version (the generalized HMM) also allows explicit description of state duration density. We introduce a formal definition of the tiling-array analysis problem, and explain how we can use this to describe sampling small genomic regions for experimental validation to build up a gold-standard set for training and testing. We then describe various ideal and practical sampling strategies (e.g. maximizing signal entropy within a selected region versus using gene annotation or known promoters as positives for transcription or ChIP-chip data, respectively). Results: For the practical sampling and training strategies, we show how the size and noise in the validated training data affects the performance of an HMM applied to the ENCODE transcriptional and ChIP-chip experiments. In particular, we show that the HMM framework is able to efficiently process tiling array data as well as or better than previous approaches. For the idealized sampling strategies, we show how we can assess their performance in a simulation framework and how a maximum entropy approach, which samples sub-regions with very different signal intensities, gives the maximally performing gold-standard. This latter result has strong implications for the optimum way medium-scale validation experiments should be carried out to verify the results of the genome-scale tiling array experiments. Supplementary information: The supplementary data are available at http://tiling.gersteinlab.org/hmm/ Contact: mark.gerstein@yale.edu
ASMBS position statement on prevention, detection, and treatment of gastrointestinal leak after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, including the roles of imaging, surgical exploration, and nonoperative management.

ASMBS position statement ASMBS position statement on prevention, detection, and treatment of gastrointestinal leak after gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, including the roles of imaging, surgical exploration, and nonoperative management Julie Kim, M.D.*, Dan Azagury, M.D., Dan Eisenberg, M.D., Eric DeMaria, M.D., Guilherme M. Campos, M.D., on behalf of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Clinical Issues Committee Department of Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California Department of Surgery, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk, Virginia Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia
Optimization techniques for antenna arrays

Various techniques for optimizing the performance indices of antenna arrays are discussed. In particular, methods for maximizing array directivity and signal-to-noise power ratio are reviewed. These performance indices are expressible as a ratio of two Hermitian forms, which has a certain special property to enable the facile determination of both its maximum value and the conditions under which this maximum is attained. Special maximization procedures by excitation amplitude and phase adjustments, by spacing perturbation, by phase adjustments only, and by a coordinate transformation with constraints on the array pattern are examined. For wire antennas the method of moments using a subsectioning technique can be applied to obtain numerical answers which include mutual-coupling effects. Methods for considering large arrays and for the maximization of power gain are indicated.
Parenting goals: Predictors of parent involvement in disease management of children with type 1 diabetes

The purpose of this study was to develop a measure of diabetes-specific parenting goals for parents of children with type 1 diabetes and to examine whether parenting goals predict a change in parenting involvement in disease management. An independent sample of primary caretakers of 87 children aged 10 to 16 years with type 1 diabetes completed the measure of parenting goals (diabetes-specific and general goals); both parent and child completed measures of parent responsibility for diabetes management at baseline and 6 months. Parents ranked diabetes-specific parenting goals as more important than general parenting goals, and rankings were moderately stable over time. Parenting goals were related to parent responsibility for diabetes management. The relative ranking of diabetes-specific parenting goals predicted changes in parent involvement over 6 months, with baseline ranking of goals predicting more parental involvement at follow-up. Parenting goals may play an important role in family management of type 1 diabetes.
Enhanced tumor immunogenicity through coupling cytokine expression with antigen presentation

The density of tumor antigen in conjunction with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on the cell surface affects cytotoxic T cell (CTL) function in an active antitumor immune response. Thus, methods to enhance antigen expression/presentation could augment the effect of cancer immune therapy. In the present study, we investigated the feasibility of modifying a cytokine signal peptide with a tumor antigenic epitope. We inserted the genes encoding the MHC class I-restricted antigenic epitope of chicken ovalbumin and tyrosinase-related protein 2 into the signal sequence of the interleukin-2 gene, replacing part of the signal sequence at different positions. Our results showed that these modified signal peptides still functioned, as indicated by cytokine secretion. The antigenic epitope within the modified signal peptide could be processed properly and presented on tumor cell surface. Tumor cells demonstrated enhanced immunogenicity as indicated by increased susceptibility to CTL lysis in vitro and decreased tumor grow in vivo after gene modification. These data provide potential perspectives in designing therapeutic or vaccine strategies in immuno-gene therapy of cancer.
Enantiomerically pure ketals in synthesis. Diastereoselective formation of β-keto and β-hydroxy ketals

Abstract Enantiomerically pure acylketene acetals were employed to generate a homochiral β-keto ketal through a highly diastereoselective lithium enolate quench. The β-keto ketal, which was also prepared through a desymmetrization ketalization reaction on a meso dione, was employed in the synthesis of the isomers of the insect pheromone sitophilure.
Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa protoxin and protease inhibitors against coleopteran storage pests.

BACKGROUND: Environmental impacts and resistance to insecticides pose serious challenges to stored-product insect and other types of pest control. Insect-resistant transgenic grain is a potential alternative to fumigants, but candidate control proteins are needed, especially for coleopterans. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of a coleopteran-active toxin, Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Aa, with or without protease inhibitors, in laboratory feeding assays against coleopteran storage pests. RESULTS: In a comparison of the toxicity of Cry3Aa protoxin towards three species of coleopteran storage pests, Tenebrio molitor L. was found to be most sensitive, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) was most refractory and Rhyzopertha dominica F. displayed an intermediate response. For R. dominica, Cry3Aa combined with 3500 mg potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor or 5000 mg aprotinin kg−1 diet resulted in both delayed development and increased mortality. Potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor and bovine aprotinin reduced the LC50 of Cry3Aa for R. dominica two- and threefold respectively. Cry3Aa treatment resulted in fewer progeny from R. dominica, and progeny was further reduced when the protoxin was combined with potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that a combination of Cry3Aa protoxin and protease inhibitors, particularly a potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor, may have applications in control strategies for preventing damage to stored products and grains by coleopteran pests. Published 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dispelling desperation in prelicensure nursing education

Traditional nursing education that is perceived as autocratic and conformist produces feelings of isolation and desperation in many prelicensure nursing students. This article illustrates, through the voices of two nursing students, how prelicensure students can dispel their isolation and desperation. Implications for nurse educators are discussed.
Comparison of Brief Group Interventions to Promote Forgiveness: A Pilot Outcome Study

Helping clients come to terms with past hurts such as sexual, physical, or verbal abuse is often an important goal of therapy. Research suggests that specific treatments to help people forgive their offenders can be effective. However, these treatments have not been systematically compared with other treatments that are typically offered in real-world settings. The aim of this study was to compare a group-based explicit forgiveness intervention with process-oriented group therapy. Analyses indicated that both group formats were more effective than no treatment, resulting in less revenge, less negative reactions toward the offender, and fewer psychological symptoms. The two treatments did not differ from each other on any of the outcome variables.
DEXTRALITY AND EYE POSITION IN PUTTING PERFORMANCE

The relationship between eye and hand dominance and the relative positioning of the ball with respect to the subjects' eyes on putting performance was investigated. Twenty-four pure dextral (right-eyed and right-handed) and 24 cross-dextral (left-eyed and right-handed) novice golfers were randomly assigned to putt at a target 3.66 m away in two conditions, eyes focused directly over the ball and eyes positioned midway between their feet and the ball, i.e., eyes positioned 5 cm closer to their feet. The analysis indicated a significant interaction for dextrality and the relative position of the eyes during putting. Pure dextral golfers demonstrated less absolute error and less variable error in their putting performance when they focused their eyes midway between the ball and their feet than when they positioned their eyes directly over the ball. No differences in error scores were found for cross-dextrals across the two putting conditions.
GFR, proteinuria and circadian blood pressure

Background. Hypertension is common, and arterial pressure rhythms are impaired in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Emerging evidence suggests that consideration of excretory function together with proteinuria may provideamoreholisticassessmentoftheextentofderangement in renal function. Methods. To evaluate the independent relationships of estimated GFR and proteinuria with the mean level of and the circadian variation in blood pressure, we evaluated 336 patients,184(55%)patientswithCKD(eGFR 0.22) and 152 (45%) without CKD. Results. The mean level of systolic and diastolic BP increased with increasing severity of proteinuria as well as with increasing impairment in GFR. When proteinuria and eGFR were considered together in the same regression model, proteinuria—not eGFR—was related to the severity of hypertension. Non-dipping was present in 52% of those with eGFR >60 and 55% in those with no proteinuria. Non-dipping was seen early in the course of impaired GFR or proteinuria. Adjusted for proteinuria, the odds ratio for non-dipping in those with CKD was 1.71 (95% CI 1.03– 2.84, P = 0.036). The odds ratio for non-dipping in those with proteinuria was 1.75 (95% CI 1.00–3.08, P = 0.049) when adjusted for CKD. A cosinor model that evaluates the midline estimating statistic of rhythm (MESOR) and circadian variation revealed that proteinuria was a stronger determinant of MESOR compared to the CKD stage; the CKD stage in addition to proteinuria did not further add to the determination of MESOR. The amplitude of variation was markedly blunted in patients with the earliest stages of derangement in kidney function whether it was assessed by proteinuria or eGFR. Conclusions. These results demonstrate a graded relationship of proteinuria and eGFR with the mean level of BP and a non-graded relationship with circadian variation. Consideration of these two simple tests of renal function may better assist in gauging the severity of hypertension in patients with CKD.
Neutrophil Migration Mechanisms, with an Emphasis on the Pulmonary Vasculature

Leukocyte trafficking into pulmonary tissue and airspaces is a critical component of the host defense response. Activation and migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into lungs also contribute to inflammatory tissue injury and remodeling of tissue architecture. There have been considerable advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that control PMN adhesion and transendothelial migration (TEM). Mechanisms of migration unique to the lungs have been described with regard to the profile of adhesion molecules, cytokines, and chemokines elicited during PMN emigration from blood vessels. This work reviews general mechanisms of TEM of PMNs and discusses the nature of PMN recruitment in several models of airway inflammation that illustrate how various stimuli elicit different responses. Pharmacologic manipulation of adhesive interactions between PMNs and endothelial cells is a current area of research aimed at developing pharmacologic agents to control inflammation during pulmonary and other inflammatory diseases. A summary of some of these agents and their actions is presented.
A Simple Model of Climatological Rainfall and Vertical Motion Patterns over the Tropical Oceans

Abstract A simple model is developed that predicts climatological rainfall, vertical motion, and diabatic heating profiles over the tropical oceans given the sea surface temperature (SST), using statistical relationships deduced from the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40). The model allows for two modes of variability in the vertical motion profiles: a shallow mode responsible for all “boundary layer” convergence between 850 hPa and the surface, and a deep mode with no boundary layer convergence. The model is based on the argument expressed in the authors’ companion paper that boundary layer convergence can be usefully viewed as a forcing on deep convection, not just a result thereof. The shallow mode is either specified from satellite observations or modeled using a simple mixed-layer model that has SST as well as 850-hPa geopotential height, winds, and temperature as boundary conditions. The deep-mode amplitude is empirically shown to be proportional to a simple measure of conditional instability in conve...
Differential Effects of Haloperidol and Clozapine on Motor Recovery after Sensorimotor Cortex Injury in Rats

Background. A variety of drugs impair motor recovery after sensorimotor cortex (SMCTX) injury in laboratory animals and may have similar effects in humans. Methods. Rats (n = 142) underwent unilate...
Mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser with carbon nanotube saturable absorber

We report mode-locking of an all-fiber thulium/holmium (Tm/Ho) co-doped laser with a saturable absorber based on a fiber taper embedded in carbon nanotube/polymer composite (FTCNTPC). 750fs soliton pulses are generated at wavelength around 1890nm.
Just Looking Around

Information Manipulation Theory 2 (IMT2) is an example of the broad class of cognitive functionalist theories of message production. That is, IMT2 seeks to explicate message production (and in particular, deceptive message production) by recourse to the functional (rather than material) architecture of the system(s) that give rise to such messages. IMT2 is a welcome addition to theorizing in this area and certainly merits careful consideration and discussion. This essay examines the theory’s underlying architecture (particularly with respect to functionalist concerns of parsimony/elegance), formalisms that may not be sufficiently explicated, and aspects of deceptive-message production not explicitly addressed in the current version of IMT2. A final section of this essay invites a contrast between IMT2 and second-generation Action Assembly Theory.
Minimum sidelobe weights for wideband planar arrays

This paper presented the wideband method that can efficiently compute weights that minimize the SLL over a wide frequency band. This method is valid for an arbitrary broadside planar array and for an arbitrary beamwidth. There may be a significant rise in the overall SLL when extending the array to the wideband case.
Valuation and Objectivity in Science

The role of valuation in scientific research has been widely discussed in the methodological and philosophical literature. The interest in the problem stems to a large extent from the concern that value-dependence would jeopardize the objectivity of science. This concern is clearly reflected, for example, in Max Weber’s influential writings on the subject.1
Improving amino-acid identification, fit and Cα prediction using the Simplex method in automated model building

Automated methods for protein model building in X-ray crystallography typically use a two-phased approach that involves first modeling the protein backbone followed by building in the side chains. The latter phase requires the identification of the amino-acid side-chain type as well as fitting of the side-chain model into the observed electron density. While mistakes in identification of individual side chains are common for a number of reasons, sequence alignment can sometimes be used to correct errors by mapping fragments into the true (expected) amino-acid sequence and exploiting contiguity constraints among neighbors. However, side chains cannot always be confidently aligned; this depends on having sufficient accuracy in the initial calls. The recognition of amino-acid side-chains based on the surrounding pattern of electron density, whether by features, density correlation or free atoms, can be sensitive to inaccuracies in the coordinates of the predicted backbone Cα atoms to which they are anchored. By incorporating a Nelder–Mead Simplex search into the side-chain identification and model-building routines of TEXTAL, it is demonstrated that this form of residue-by-residue rigid-body real-space refinement (in which the Cα itself is allowed to shift) can improve the initial accuracy of side-chain selection by over 25% on average (from 25% average identity to 32% on a test set of five representative proteins, without corrections by sequence alignment). This improvement in amino-acid selection accuracy in TEXTAL is often sufficient to bring the pairwise amino-acid identity of chains in the model out of the so-called `twilight zone' for sequence-alignment methods. When coupled with sequence alignment, use of the Simplex search yielded improvements in side-chain accuracy on average by over 13 percentage points (from 64 to 77%) and up to 38 percentage points (from 40 to 78%) in one case compared with using sequence alignment alone.
Virtual damping in oscillators

This paper presents a new point of view of oscillator noise, bringing transparent insight into phase noise. This work bridges the fundamental physics of noise and existing oscillator phase noise theories and reveals the direct correspondence of phase noise and the Einstein relation. The concept of virtual damping is presented utilizing an ensemble of oscillators as a measure of phase noise. The explanation of the linewidth narrowing through virtual damping results in a clear definition of loaded and unloaded quality factors of an oscillator. The validity of this new approach is verified by excellent experimental agreement.
Habitat requirements of the pulmonate land snails Trochulus oreinos oreinos and Cylindrus obtusus endemic to the Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria.

The habitat needs and potential threats to Trochulus oreinos oreinos (Wagner 1915) and Cylindrus obtusus (Draparnaud 1805) were assessed by comparing vegetation maps and our own records. We selected four sites from which we had adequate samples and for which exact vegetation maps were available: the mountains Hochschwab, Schneealpe, Rax and Schneeberg. Both taxa prefer open dry alpine grassland with diggable soil and/or stones. T. oreinos oreinos is restricted to subalpine and alpine boulder societies and Caricetum firmae. While C. obtusus dwells on several communities of plants, it seems to be bound to unconsolidated stony ground. As both taxa prefer naturally forest-free areas, they are not affected by structural changes of the habitat, such as reforestation caused by the abandonment of grazing and the shift of vegetation zones. But it has to be considered that T. oreinos oreinos and C. obtusus are limited by microclimatic factors, as they prefer cooler habitats. The mountains Schneealpe, Rax and Schneeberg, reaching barely 2 000 m in height, are on the climatic limit of the species distribution. Therefore, the investigated taxa are vulnerable to the upward shift of climate zones. T. oreinos oreinos shows striking similarities in its habitat preference to the Swiss endemic T. biconicus, as both taxa prefer the same dry alpine habitats which are quite different to those of other representatives of the genus, which prefer damp habitats.
The Estimated Risk of Atrial Fibrillation Related to Alcohol Consumption

The risk of acute heavy alcohol intake on the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), aka ?holiday heart syndrome?, has been well-described. However, whether chronic alcohol intake is also associated with increased risk of AF, or might even be protective as has been observed with other cardiac conditions, is more uncertain. A number of studies, from basic science to large cohort studies have been performed to analyze the association between alcohol and AF. Basic-level studies have found that alcohol causes changes in tissue electrophysiology, ion channels, and circulating hormones, which might promote development and maintenance of AF. Clinical studies have generally shown groups with the highest regular intake of alcohol to be at increased risk, with no association with more moderate use. However, these studies have not always accounted for other AF risk factors, been inconsistent in the assessment and validation of the quantity of alcohol consumed across populations, and been unable to completely separate drinking patterns from overall health of participants. As a result, solid conclusions about a threshold level for ?safe? chronic alcohol intake cannot be made with regard to AF risk, but it appears to be safe within currently recommended limits of 1 drink daily for women and 2 for men. In this review, we discuss these findings, limitations, and conclusions.
Communication: Local energetic analysis of the interfacial and surface energies of graphene from the single layer to graphite

Recent advances in scanning probe methods that provide direct access to the surface free energy of inorganic layered materials in terms of the Hamaker constant yield energetic values for monolayer graphene that differ substantially, by a factor of around 0.4, from bulk graphite. The onset of bulk deviating energy values was observed at a multilayer slab thickness of ∼3 nm, corresponding to a layer number of 10. The findings, complemented with extractions from water contact angle measurements and calculated interlayer binding energies, find short-range ordinary van der Waals interactions to be most prominently affected by dimensional constraints and many-body interactions.
Cross-Sectional Association Between Normal-Range Lactate Dehydrogenase, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score.

Introduction Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has historically been used as an indicator of negative health outcomes, such as myocardial ischaemia and lung disease; however, recent evidence has suggested that LDH levels within normal limits may be inversely related to coronary heart disease. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the association between physical activity and normal-range LDH levels, and how LDH levels, in turn, are associated with the predicted risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
ED-31RECURRENT PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA OF THE CORPUS CALLOSUM IN A PATIENT WITH NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE 1.

CASE REPORT: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) associated pilocytic astrocytomas occur most frequently in the optic pathway, hypothalamus and brainstem. Astrocytomas of the corpus callosum are relatively rare in this population (about 15% of NF1 associated intracranial tumors) and have not been well characterized. We report a 12 year old boy with a recurrent NF1 associated pilocytic astrocytoma of the corpus callosum. Our patient has ADHD, Tourette's syndrome and hyperplasia of the left optic nerve and orbit. He has no history of seizures or any focal neurological deficits. MRI done to investigate new onset headaches showed interval development of a 1.8 X1.2 cm T2 hyperintense mass in the central corpus callosum. There was no surrounding vasogenic edema. No other enhancing lesions were seen in the corpus callosum. Pathological examination after sub-total resection showed the tumor to be well circumscribed with cells having long cytoplasmic processes and eosinophilic granular bodies consistent with a WHO grade 1 pilocytic astrocytoma but with infiltrative edges suggestive of WHO grade 2 diffuse astrocytoma. The tumor was GFAP(+), Neu-N(-) and Ki-67= 1%-7%. A few cells were p53(+), CD45(+) and CD68(+). Post-operative MRI showed enhancement along the surgical bed and follow up MRI done 8 months later showed progression of residual tumor. At repeat surgery all grossly apparent tumor was resected. Pathological examination showed moderate cellularity, nuclear pleomorphism, no mitotic activity, no necrosis, GFAP (+), S-100(+), Neu-N (-) and Synaptophysin(-). Ki-67 positivity was minimal. MRI 3 months later showed a 7 mm enhanced focus in the left paramedian posterior body of the corpus callosum which has remained stable over 6 months. The child is being closely monitored. The tumor grade/proliferative potential of corpus callosal pilocytic astrocytomas in NF1 patients may be different from astrocytomas in other locations and merit close monitoring and further study.
Comparison of Diapause Development in Heliothis zea and H. virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Diapause development in the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and the tobacco bud worm, H. virescens (F.), was compared in central Texas during 1980–1981 by collecting overwintering pupae from a field of pigeon peas, Cajanus cajun L., throughout the overwintering period and determining their diapause condition and the number of days to adult emergence at different temperatures. The pattern of diapause development in central Texas is similar in both species and apparently consists of two distinct developmental phases. Phase one occurs at low temperatures during the fall and early winter and leads to the attainment of a physiological state beyond which the overwintering pupae will not develop under the prevailing low temperature conditions. Phase two occurs at higher temperatures and leads to diapause termination. That H. zea overwintering pupae in phase two development consistently required significantly longer exposures to the study temperatures for diapause termination and for adult emergence, explains why H. virescens has been reported to emerge from overwintering before H. zea . Males of both species also required significantly longer exposures than the females. The temperature threshold for reactivation leading to diapause termination is apparently similar for both species.
Orally active fumagillin analogues: transformations of a reactive warhead in the gastric environment.

Semisynthetic analogues of fumagillin, 1, inhibit methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP2) and have entered the clinic for the treatment of cancer. An optimized fumagillin analogue, 3 (PPI-2458), was found to be orally active, despite containing a spiroepoxide function that formed a covalent linkage to the target protein. In aqueous acid, 3 underwent ring-opening addition of water and HCl, leading to four products, 4–7, which were characterized in detail. The chlorohydrin, but not the diol, products inhibited MetAP2 under weakly basic conditions, suggesting reversion to epoxide as a step in the mechanism. In agreement, chlorohydrin 6 was shown to revert rapidly to 3 in rat plasma. In an ex vivo assay, rats treated with purified acid degradants demonstrated inhibition of MetAP2 that correlated with the biochemical activity of the compounds. Taken together, the results indicate that degradation of the parent compound was compensated by the formation of active equivalents leading to a pharmacologically useful le...
50 SPHINGOSINE 1-PHOSPHATE DRAMATICALLY ALTERS THE HUMAN PULMONARY ARTERY ENDOTHELIAL CELLS' LIPID RAFT PROTEOME.

Rationale Lipid rafts are plasma membrane microdomains involved in dynamic membrane signaling and trafficking. Our previous studies (Singleton et al, FASEB J, 2005) have demonstrated that the platelet-derived lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) plays a critical regulatory role in maintenance and enhancement of pulmonary vascular barrier function. S1P ligates the S1P receptor 1, which we have previously localized to lipid rafts of human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs). Here we use 2-D electrophoresis analysis to characterize changes in tyrosine phosphoprotein content in lipid rafts of HPAECs challenged with S1P. Methods and Results HPAECs were challenged with 1 μM of S1P for 5 minutes, washed with cold PBS twice, and solublized with 1% Triton X-100 at 4°C. The Triton X-100 insoluble material was subjected to discontinuous Optiprep TM gradient centrigugation and the light density (lipid raft) fractions were collected. Isolated lipid rafts were resolubilized in 50 μL of 7 M urea/2 M thiourea and 50 mM DTT. Isoelectric focusing was carried out on a nonlinear electrophoresis gel strip (pH3-10, 7 cm) with the second dimension carried out on 4-20% SDS-PAGE gel. Analytical gels were stained using Imperial blue (Pierce) and Western blotting was performed using antiphosphotyrosine antibody. Protein levels were not significantly altered in lipid rafts isolated from control vs S1P-treated cells (1 μM, 5 minutes). The 2-D gel images revealed over 30 proteins recruited to lipid rafts after S1P treatment (5 minutes) with antiphosphotyrosine blots showing S1P to increase tyrosine phosphorylation of over 20 proteins, including the src kinase family and cortactin. Conclusions These results suggest that tyrosine kinases participate in S1P-induced signaling in lipid rafts and that 2-D proteomic analysis is a powerful tool for studying regulation of pulmonary endothelial cells barrier function. Supported by NIH grant HL58064.