cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Obesity may enhance the adverse effects of NO2 exposure in urban schools on asthma symptoms in children.

Background Sparse data address the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure in inner-city schools on obese students with asthma. Objective We sought to evaluate relationships between classroom NO2 exposure and asthma symptoms and morbidity by body mass index (BMI) category. Methods The School Inner-City Asthma Study enrolled students aged 4 to 13 years with asthma from 37 inner-city schools. Students had baseline determination of BMI percentile. Asthma symptoms, morbidity, pulmonary inflammation, and lung function were monitored throughout the subsequent academic year. Classroom NO2 data, linked to enrolled students, were collected twice per year. We determined the relationship between classroom NO2 levels and asthma outcomes by BMI stratification. Results A total of 271 predominantly black (35%) or Hispanic students (35%) were included in analyses. Fifty percent were normal weight (5-84th BMI percentile), 15% overweight (≥85-94th BMI percentile), and 35% obese (≥95th BMI percentile). For each 10-parts per billion increase in NO2, obese students had a significant increase in the odds of having an asthma symptom day (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.15-3.02) and in days caregiver changed plans (OR, 4.24; 95% CI, 2.33-7.70), which was significantly different than normal weight students who exhibited no relationship between NO2 exposure and symptom days (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.57-1.42; pairwise interaction P = .03) and change in caregiver plans (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.67-2.82; pairwise interaction P = .02). Relationships between NO2 levels and lung function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide did not differ by BMI category. If we applied a conservative Holm-Bonferroni correction for 16 comparisons (obese vs normal weight and overweight vs normal weight for 8 outcomes), these findings would not meet statistical significance (all P > .003). Conclusions Obese BMI status appears to increase susceptibility to classroom NO2 exposure effects on asthma symptoms in inner-city children. Environmental interventions targeting indoor school NO2 levels may improve asthma health for obese children. Although our findings would not remain statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons, the large effect sizes warrant future study of the interaction of obesity and pollution in pediatric asthma.
Complete mitochondrial genome of the whitetip reef shark Triaenodon obesus from the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area.

We present the first mitochondrial genome of Trianenodon obesus from the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Marine Protected Area. The mitogenome was 16,702 bp in lengt...
Comparison of Nonoperative and Operative Management of Traumatic Penetrating Internal Jugular Vein Injury.

Background Small case series have suggested that selective nonoperative management (NOM) of penetrating internal jugular vein (IJV) injuries is safe and feasible in select patients lacking “hard signs” mandating exploration. Therefore, we sought to compare NOM to operative management (OM) of penetrating IJV injury, hypothesizing that both strategies have similar patient outcomes and mortality when patients are appropriately selected. Methods The Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2013–2016) was queried for patients with penetrating IJV injury with an abbreviated injury scale score of the neck ≥3. Demographics and patient outcomes were compared between patients undergoing NOM and patients undergoing OM, followed by a multivariable logistic regression model to analyze the risk of mortality. Results A penetrating IJV injury was identified in 188 (0.01%) patients meeting inclusion criteria, and OM was performed in 124 (66.0%) patients, whereas 64 (34.0%) patients underwent NOM. Although the OM group had a higher rate of pneumothorax (8.9% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.01), there was no difference in any other concomitant injuries or demographic data (all P > 0.05). The OM group had a higher rate of ventilator days (3 vs. 2 days, P = 0.01) but no other significant differences in morbidity or mortality (P > 0.05). After controlling for covariates, OM was associated with similar risk of mortality compared with NOM of patients with penetrating IJV injury (odds ratio 1.05, confidence interval 0.23–4.83, P = 0.95). Conclusions The NOM of penetrating IJV injuries is associated with similar risk of morbidity and mortality compared with OM, suggesting that NOM may be used in appropriately selected patients. Future research is needed to determine the ideal patients suited for NOM and to identify risk factors and outcomes associated with failure of NOM.
Tetralogy of Fallot correction with transannular patch reconstruction in a patient with an anomalous right coronary artery and an unusual course of the right ventricular branch

Anomalous coronary arteries occur in as many as 12% of patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). In patients with this condition, pulmonary hypoplasia can be prohibitive in performing a valve-sparing repair, subsequently resulting in various techniques to preserve the anomalous coronary artery. The management strategy is often complex in such a situation. We report on a case of TOF with an anomalous right coronary artery crossing the right ventricular outflow tract, with an unusual course of the right ventricular (RV) branch, which precluded placement of a valved conduit. In this case, we performed a successful repair with mobilization of the anomalous coronary artery and reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract with a limited transannular patch.
Neutrino Fluence after r-Process Freezeout and Abundances of TE Isotopes in Presolar Diamonds

Using the data of Richter, Ott, & Begemann on Te isotopes in diamond grains from a meteorite, we derive bounds on the neutrino fluence and the decay timescale of the neutrino flux relevant for the supernova r-process. Our new bound on the neutrino fluence ℱ after freezeout of the r-process peak at mass number A~130 is more stringent than the previous bound ℱ≾0.045 (in units of 10^(37) ergs cm^(-2)) of Qian et al. and Haxton et al., if the neutrino flux decays on a timescale hat τ≾0.65 s. In particular, it requires that a fluence of ℱ=0.031 be provided by a neutrino flux with hat τ≾0.84 s. Such a fluence may be responsible for the production of the solar r-process abundances at A=124-126. Our results are based on the assumption of Ott that only the stable nuclei implanted into the diamonds are retained, while the radioactive nuclei are lost from the diamonds upon decay after implantation. We consider that the nanodiamonds are condensed in an environment with C/O>1 in the expanding supernova debris or from the exterior H envelope. This environment need not have the ^(13)C/^(12)C ratio of the bulk diamonds, since the Te- and Xe-containing nanodiamond grains are too rare to affect that ratio. The implantation of nuclei would have occurred ~10^4-10^6 s after r-process freezeout. This time interval may be marginally sufficient to permit adequate cooling upon expansion for the formation of diamond grains. The mechanisms of preferential retention/loss of the implanted nuclei are not well understood.
Auto regression Integrated moving average (ARIMA) to estimate temporal series of global solar radiation from measured data: Adrar region study

The Measurements of the solar radiation is important in choosing sites to install projects with solar systems. Adrar region is classified from the high potential solar areas in the world. In this study, we using the measurements of global solar radiation on horizontal surface in Adrar region and Auto regression Integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to estimate temporal series of global solar radiation. The results of estimation were validated with observed data of Adrar station (latitude=27.88 North, longitude = -0.28 EST). The correlation between predicted and expected values of global solar radiation is generally significant. But the comparisons with other model demonstrate less efficiently of the model.
Recruiting Persons with Dementia and Caregivers in a Clinical Trial: Dyads Perceptions

Recruitment for dementia research is challenging and costly. Using Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior we explored attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control of persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers who participated in one clinical trial to better understand factors that influence dyads' decisions to enroll. We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 12 PLWD and 9 caregivers and utilized directed content analysis. Categories connected with positive attitudes about study enrollment were personal desires of wanting to learn and in-person meetings with knowledgeable staff. Additionally, participants said the money always helps in terms of the financial incentive. Participants reported enrolling to support another person (perceived norm). Study requirements were thought to be easy (perceived behavioral control). Participants highlighted the importance of flexible scheduling and study tasks being completed at their home. Findings can inform future recruitment efforts and should be investigated as effective recruitment methods in other clinical trials.
A Bayesian Approach to Restoring the Duality Between Principal Components of a Distance Matrix and Operational Taxonomic Units in Microbiome Analyses

For high-dimensional microbiome data, it is important to develop analytical techniques for analyzing the complex relationships between OTUs and sample units. Ecological studies utilize abundance matrix X and phylogenetic information to compute pairwise “distances” between the sample units or observations. Singular value decomposition (SVD) of X is often utilized to identify OTUs that strongly influence the groupings of observations into meaningful clusters. However, since it implicitly relies on XXT as a measure of similarity, the SVD approach may be suboptimal when the appropriate distances are complex stochastic functions of X and complementary information; examples include the commonly used UniFrac distances. For arbitrary distance matrices, we formulate an approximate SVD-type decomposition to restore, via the Bayesian paradigm, the duality between orthonormal vectors associated with the distance and orthonormal vectors of the OTUs. Unlike existing SVD-type techniques, our approach can provide inferences beyond point estimates, such as standard errors and credible intervals, and for all functionals of interest such as the contributions of individual OTUs. A cost-effective version of the basic Bayesian procedure is devised to quickly analyze the large number of OTUs with high accuracy. The reliability of the approach is established through simulation studies. Two microbiome datasets are analyzed, where alternative distances such as Gower and UniFrac are found to have lower classification test set errors than distances implicitly assumed by traditional SVD analyses.
Producing “Cultural Heritage” and Framing “Expertise”: Berlin’s Pergamon Museum

Taking Berlin’s Pergamon Museum as a case study, the article explores how the museum has appropriated cultural heritage from the (so-called) Ancient Near East and produced what has become known as the Pergamon Altar or Ishtar Gate, for example. Apart from the acquisition, the article addresses the reproduction of the ancient monuments in Berlin in the early twentieth century, and the museum’s historical as well as current curatorial approaches to present the reproduced monuments. By exploring the strategies that museum professionals have developed to transform ancient remains from the Near East into iconic museum exhibits on display in Berlin’s Museum of the Ancient Near East (Vorderasiatisches Museum) in the Pergamon Museum, the article discusses how the various ways, the fragments-turned-exhibits have crossed borders, have contributed to the production of cultural heritage. By examining the practices of presenting objects and setting up displays through a multimodal analysis of the architectural reproductions, modern reconstructions, wall paintings, decorations, wall panels, labels, photographic images and printed information, the article explores how museum professionals have framed the museum’s role in the production of “cultural heritage” and addressed these transformational practices of appropriation and re-interpretation.
The effect of age on outcomes of sling surgery for urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the effect of patient age on outcomes of sling surgery for stress urinary incontinence. DESIGN: Analysis of Medicare claims data. SETTING: Analysis of the 1999 to 2001 Medicare Public Use Files provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on a 5% national random sample of beneficiaries. PARTICIPANTS: Women who underwent sling procedures between July 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, were identified according to Common Procedural Terminology, Fourth Edition, code 57288 (sling operation for stress incontinence). Subjects were tracked for 6 months before surgery to identify preoperative comorbidities and for 12 months after surgery to assess short-term complications. Subjects were stratified for analysis at age 75. MEASUREMENTS: Bivariate analyses were conducted with patients stratified at age 75, and multivariate analyses were also conducted to identify the independent effects of patient age and comorbidities on outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1,356 procedures were performed during the 18-month index period. This extrapolates to 27,120 procedures in all Medicare beneficiaries. At 1 year after surgery, overall outcomes in younger women (aged 65–74) were significantly better than in older women with respect to postoperative urge incontinence (20.0% vs 12.6%), treatment failure (10.5% vs 7.2%), and outlet obstruction (10.5% vs 6.6%). Older age and greater comorbidity were associated with greater risk of nonurological events (e.g., pulmonary embolism and cardiac events). CONCLUSION: Women aged 75 and older are more likely to experience postoperative urge incontinence, treatment failure, and outlet obstruction after sling surgery. Older age and comorbidities were associated with higher rates of nonurological complications.
Memory Performance as a Function of Age, Reattribution Training and Type of Mnemonic Strategy Training

This experiment investigated whether mnemonic strategy training, occurring over a two-month period, would result in improved memory performance when combined with reattribution training. It was also hypothesized that the old and young may differ in their ability to perform nonverbal and verbal mnemonics. Therefore, age-related differences in memory performance were investigated as a function of whether the mnemonic was verbal (Alphabet Search Method) or non-verbal (Method of Loci), and whether or not reattribution training was combined with mnemonic training. Subjects were 34 old (Mean age = 69.5) and 34 young (Mean age = 22.8) adults. Memory performance was measured on the California Verbal Learning Test, the Nelson-Denny Vocabulary Test, the Beck Depression Inventory and four memory span tasks, prior and following a two-month period of weekly mnemonic strategy training sessions. A third of the subjects were trained with the Method of Loci, a third with Alphabet Search, and the remaining third served as ...
Coherent Doppler wind lidar technology for space-based wind measurements including SPARCLE

Summary form only given. A NASA program to develop laser and optical technology to enable space-based global wind profiling has led to the 1997 approval of the SPARCLE shuttle mission, the mission and the technology development program will be discussed.
Political Culture and Institutional Development in Costa Rica and Nicaragua: World Making in the Tropics

1. Theoretical overview 2. Manichean identities and normative scheming: origins 3. Orphans of Empire: constructing national identities 4. Post-colonial paths: rhetorical strategies and frames 5. Costa Rica: possibility mongers 6. Nicaragua: hybrid arbitration 7. Tropical histories: paradise and Hell on Earth 8. Transition: familiar novelties.
Divergent signaling pathways downstream of TLR7 regulate TNFα production by bone marrow polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes in experimental lupus (IRM5P.700)

Pristane-treated mice develop TLR7/IFNα dependent lupus autoantibodies and nephritis. In contrast, anemia results from TLR7-driven TNFα production by bone marrow (BM) polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Little TNFα is produced by BM monocytes. We examined the regulation of TNFα in BM of mice with pristane-lupus, emphasizing the role of IL-10, whose over-productionis implicated in SLE pathogenesis. Intracellular TNFα and IL-10, surface IL-10Rα, and p38MAPK activation were assessed by flow cytometry. In response to TLR7 ligand R848, BM PMN and monocytes both produced TNFα and IL-10. Inhibiting p38MAPK suppressed both PMN and monocyte TNFα production. In contrast, blocking NFκB had opposite effects on TNFα production in PMN (inhibition) vs. monocytes (enhancement). The differential effects were a consequence of NFκB mediated IL-10 production and the higher IL-10 responsiveness of monocytes vs. PMN. IL-10 suppressed TNFα in monocytes to a far greater degree than in PMN, consistent with levels of IL-10Rα expression by the different cell types.In contrast, PMN were more sensitive than monocytes to dexamethasone (which acts in part via NFκB) suppression of TLR7-driven TNFα production. Cell-type-specific regulation of NFκB and p38MAPK downstream of TLR7 leads to production of a complex array of cytokines (IFNα, TNFα, IL-10).Patients with disease mediated by IFNα and monocytes may respond differently to certain therapies than those with PMN-mediated clinical manifestations.
Children's Literature as Tools of and for Activism: Reflections of JoLLE's inaugural Activist Literacies Conference.

Inspired by her attendance at the inaugural JoLLE Activist Literacies conference, the author ruminates on the ways in which children’s literature and activitist literacies are inextricably wed and manifested in myriad ways. References to a sampling of children’s literature spanning genres and grade levels, websites, and affiliated articles provide opportunities for readers to further recognize how children’s literature can be both tools of and for activist thought and action.
Application of feed-forward and feedback control to a photolithography sequence

Describe the implementation of supervisory control of three photolithography machines: a spincoat and bake track, a stepper and a developer. The objective of the experiment was to improve the reproducibility of critical dimensions of photoresist patterns. The results showed that the supervisory controller is capable of bringing the lithography process back to its previous specifications, even after all three machines have been taken down for maintenance and repairs. >
Association between actigraphic sleep metrics and body composition.

Abstract Purpose Determine if individuals with poor sleep characteristics (i.e., late sleep onset or wake times, short sleep duration, long sleep latency, low sleep efficiency, high wake after sleep onset) have greater body mass index (BMI = kg/m 2 ) or body fat. Methods Data for these cross-sectional analyses were from the Energy Balance Study (University of South Carolina). Participants were between 21 and 35 years of age and had a BMI of 20 to 35 kg/m 2 . Body fat percent was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Sleep and physical activity were measured by actigraphy (BodyMedia's SenseWear physical activity armband). General linear models were used to estimate mean BMI and body fat percent by sleep metric categories. Results Greater BMI and body fat percent were associated with low sleep efficiency (BMI = 25.5 vs. 24.8 kg/m 2 , P P = .04) and high wake after sleep onset (BMI = 25.6 vs. 25.0 kg/m 2 , P = .02; body fat = 28.0% vs. 26.7%, P = .03). Elevated BMI or body fat percent also were observed for later wake times, shorter sleep duration, and longer sleep latency. Sex modified the association between wake times and body composition. Conclusions Understanding the complex relationships between sleep and health outcomes could help reduce chronic disease burden by incorporating sleep components, measured through novel noninvasive techniques (SenseWear armband), into weight loss interventions.
Psychosocial adjustment of adult children of alcoholics: A review of the recent empirical literature

Abstract This review examines controlled studies of the psychosocial adjustment of adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) published since 1988. ACOAs appear at increased risk for a variety of negative outcomes, including substance abuse, antisocial or undercontrolled behaviors, depressive symptoms, anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, difficulties in family relationships, and generalized distress and maladjustment. However, none of these outcomes are uniformly observed in ACOAs and none are specific to ACOAs. Comorbid parental pathology, childhood abuse, family dysfunction, and other childhood stressors may contribute to or produce similar outcomes. There is little empirical support for “ACOA syndromes” described in the clinical literature.
Relational Equity as a Design Tool Within Making and Tinkering Activities

ABSTRACTThis article focuses on the partner-like relations that emerge between undergraduates and youth as they engage in “Making and Tinkering” activities in an afterschool learning ecology, and illustrates the potential for designed tinkering activity to produce relational equity among participants. Grounded in sociocultural theory, but leveraging theoretical contributions from learning sciences and tinkering research, we draw on ethnographic data across one year to examine how the social organization of Making & Tinkering activities provides necessary social conditions for “feedback-in-practice” and consequential learning. Analyses of interactions reveal how more symmetrical intergenerational relationships serve in the design of equitable learning spaces.
Definitive radiation therapy for stage I non-small-cell lung carcinoma: institutional experience with contemporary conformal planning.

Abstract Purpose Surgical resection for stage I Non–Small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not always feasible because of the high likelihood of medical comorbidity in this patient population. We report our experience using conventional and hypofractionated radiation therapy schedules with a conformal approach. Patients and Methods Between 1991 and 2006, 102 patients with medically or otherwise inoperable stage T1/T2 N0 NSCLC were treated with curative radiation therapy alone at our institution. Patients received a median total dose of 6600 cGy, with median daily dose fractions of 250 cGy. The following outcomes were analyzed: local failure-free survival (LFFS; time to local failure or death from any cause), time to local or distal failure or death as first event, and overall survival (OS). Local failure was defined as an increase in size on imaging studies. Toxicities were evaluated using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 3.0. Results Median follow-up was 20.9 months (range, 4.0–138.9 months). Median LFFS was 21.2 months (95% CI, 17.3–27.2 months), and median OS was 21.3 months (95% CI, 17.9–28.8 months). Analysis of competing risks showed that at 5 years, the probability of local failure as the first detected event was 15.1% (95% CI, 8.5%–23.4%), the probability of distal failure as the first detected event was 18% (95% CI, 10.9%–26.5%), and the probability of death without recording a failure was 51.6% (95% CI, 40.6%–61.5%). No patients experienced grade ≥ 4 toxicity, and only 4 patients experienced grade 3 toxicity. Conclusion Conformal radiation therapy is an effective and safe alternative to surgery for selected patients with stage I NSCLC.
Laterally Forced Equatorial Perturbations in a Linear Model. Part I: Stationary Transient Forcing

Abstract Atmospheric equatorial perturbations generated by extratropical transient forcing are simulated numerically in a linear model. Impacts of mean zonal wind on such lateral forcing processes are emphasized. The extratropical forcing source is stationary and localized, with its amplitude varying with time. This forcing configuration simulates atmospheric events that may intrude into the tropics from the extratropics, such as the cold surges during the Asian winter monsoons and the deep midocean troughs. For forcing of large time scales (≥4 day), the equatorial responses are completely dominated by the Rossby mode component. When the forcing time wale is one day or smaller, the major components in the equatorial perturbations are the Rossby, westward mixed Rossby-gravity, and Kelvin modes. The amplitudes of these modes are discriminatingly modulated by the mean zonal wind. Whereas both the Rossby and mixed Rossby-gravity modes exhibit larger amplitudes in mean westerlies than in mean easterlies, the l...
Microbiological treatment of fertilizer solid waste material containing phenoxyalkanoic herbicides 2,4‐D and MCPP

The purpose of the work was to evaluate the feasibility of a biological treatment process for herbicide-containing solid waste material from a fertilizer-manufacturing plant. The waste contained approximately 1·5% (w/w) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) and 1·4% (w/w) 2-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)propionate (MCPP, mecoprop). Both herbicides could be dissolved from the bulk matrix (vermiculite) within 3 days of chemical leaching in aqueous solution. Upon subsequent inoculation of herbicide-degrading bacterial consortia derived from soil samples adjacent to the plant, 2,4-D was completely degraded in the presence of up to 5% (w/v) pulp densities. The biodegradation of MCPP was concurrent but incomplete. The degradation process was acid-producing, and pH control enhanced the rates of herbicide degradation.
Impact of exposure to pro‐eating disorder websites on eating behaviour in college women

Objective To assess whether exposure to pro-eating disorder (pro-ED) websites influences college women's eating behaviours. Method Female college students with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 18 and no history of an ED were exposed to either pro-ED websites, healthy/exercise websites or tourist websites for 1.5 hours and were given quantitative and qualitative measures designed to assess changes in eating behaviour. Results The pro-ED website group experienced a significant one-week decrease in caloric intake from pre- to post-exposure (12 167 calories vs. 9697 calories). Following exposure, participants reported using techniques on the websites to aid with food reduction and had strong emotional reactions to the websites. These changes persisted for 3 weeks following the study's end. Discussion Even modest exposure to pro-ED websites may encourage significant changes in caloric intake and increased disordered eating behaviours. By extension, even greater exposures to these websites by at-risk females may contribute to the development of EDs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Asian Female and Caucasian Male Couples: Exploring the Attraction

This essay examines the dynamics that trigger attraction between Asian females and Caucasian males. The author conducted ten interviews with Caucasian males who are interested in having a relationship with an Asian female; these men discussed their assumptions about Asian females. This essay then explores these dynamics in light of two books on East-West relations: Orientalism by Edward W. Said (1979) and The Asian Mystique by Sheridan Prasso (2005). Next this essay explores the psychological aspects of finding partners by drawing on the thought of John A. Sanford and C. G. Jung. And, finally, this essay concludes by addressing the need for pastoral care professionals to attend to interracial—in this case, Asian female and Caucasian male—couples.
Effect of uniaxial-strain on Ge p-i-n photodiodes integrated on Si

We demonstrate the effect of uniaxial tensile and compressive strain in Ge p-i-n photodiode integrated on Si using four-point bending structures. Responsivity at 1550 nm is increased from 0.67 to 0.75 A/W by tensile strain in the ⟨110⟩ direction while for compressive strain it decreases from 0.67 to 0.477 A/W. These uniaxial tensile and compressive strains also effectively result in shifts of the absorption spectra toward longer and shorter wavelength as they reduce or increase the direct bandgap energy of the Ge layer, respectively.
3-D Object Reconstruction in Emission and Transmission Tomography with Limited Angular Input

The effects of the angular range of data taking in reconstructions in planar positron cameras using the deconvolution method is investigated. It is found that in the absence of any a priori information there are undetermined components in the reconstruction if the field of view of the positron camera is limited. However, all of the undetermined components are recovered if the fact that the object extent is finite is utilized. The results obtained can be applied to other transmission and emission imaging devices.
Bradykinin stimulated PGE2 production is independent of changes in intracellular calcium in MDCK cells

In order to assess whether changes in intracellular Ca2+ are necessary for bradykinin stimulated activation of phospholipase A2 and PGE2 production, MDCK cells were treated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and Lanthanum (La3+). 100nM PMA reduced peak BK (1uM) stimulated Ca2+ to 44.0 ± 11.4% of control, while 1mM LaCl3 reduced peak Ca2+ to 43.5 ± 12.2% of control. Addition of both PMA and LaCl3 reduced the BK stimulated change in intracellular Ca2+ to 8.3 ± 1.0% of control. In contrast, La3+ did not reduce PGE2 production in response to 10−7M to 10−5M BK. PMA stimulated PGE2 production, as shown previously. Addition of both PMA and La3+ at doses capable of reducing Ca2+ changes to less than 10% of normal, failed to block BK induced PGE2 production. Therefore, BK stimulated PLA2 activation and PGE2 production can be dissociated from changes in intracellular Ca2+ and suggest that BK activates PLA2 through a mechanism other than by increases in intracellular Ca2+.
Electron spin resonance studies on tooth phosphoproteins using manganese ions as probes

Abstract The binding of manganese ion to tooth phosphoproteins and to model compounds containing carboxyl and phosphate groups was analyzed with the Langmuir equation applied to data obtained from esr spectra. The Langmuir isotherms suggested that both bovine molar and rat incisor phosphoprotein preparations bound manganese primarily to phosphate groups. A purified sample of the bovine dentin protein showed a greatly increased number of binding sites for manganese as well as an increased affinity.
Preparation and solution behavior of diphosphinepalladium nitrite complexes

Abstract Diphosphinepalladium nitrite complexes of the type [Pd(NO 2 ) 2 L 2 ] (L 2 =dppm, dppe, dppp) have been prepared by treatment of [PdCl 2 (CH 3 CN) 2 ] with silver nitrite, followed by addition of the appropriate diphosphine. The nitrite complexes are fluxional in solution at 298 K, but on cooling to 220 K signals due to three species could be detected. These have been assigned to the N-bonded, the O-bonded, and the mixed coordination compounds. Treatment of [PdCl 2 (dppe)] with two equivalents of TlPF 6 , followed by addition of Na 15 NO 2 , produced [Pd( 15 NO 2 ) 2 (dppe)], whose 31 P NMR spectrum allowed identification of the three isomers. The analogous platinum complex [Pt(NO 2 ) 2 (dppe)] exists as a single isomer, which is static at 298 K, and a 15 NO 2 -labeling experiment indicated that it contains N-bonded nitrite ligands.
IκB Kinase α Regulates Subcellular Distribution and Turnover of Cyclin D1 by Phosphorylation

IκB kinases (IKKs), IKKα and IKKβ, with a regulatory subunit IKKγ/NEMO constitute a high molecular weight IKK complex that regulates NF-κB activity. Although IKKα and IKKβ share structural and biochemical similarities, IKKα has been shown to have distinct biological roles. Here we show that IKKα plays a critical role in regulating cyclin D1 during the cell cycle. Analysis of IKKα-/- mouse embryo fibroblast cells showed that cyclin D1 is overexpressed and localized in the nucleus compared with parental mouse embryo fibroblasts. IKKα associates with and phosphorylates cyclin D1. Analysis on cyclin D1 mutants demonstrated that IKKα phosphorylates cyclin D1 at Thr286. Reconstitution of IKKα in knockout cells leads to nuclear export and increased degradation of cyclin D1. Further, RNAi-mediated knockdown of IKKα results in similar changes as observed in IKKα-/- cells. These results suggest a novel role of IKKα in regulating subcellular localization and proteolysis of cyclin D1 by phosphorylation of cyclin D1 at Thr286, the same residue earlier found to be a target for glycogen synthase kinase-3β-induced phosphorylation.
Is the risk of concomitant invasive esophageal cancer in high-grade dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus overestimated?

Background & Aims: Recent studies have claimed long neoplasia-free survival rates with endoscopic mucosal resection of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in Barrett's esophagus (BE). However, reports have contended that approximately 40% of patients who have esophagectomy for HGD have occult invasive cancer. The aim of this study was to use explicit criteria to determine the true prevalence of invasive adenocarcinoma in reports of patients who had esophagectomy for HGD in BE. Methods: Studies reporting rates of esophageal cancer in patients who underwent esophagectomy for HGD in BE were gathered using MEDLINE and PUBMED. We defined invasive esophageal adenocarcinoma (IEAC) as tumor with submucosal invasion or beyond. Intramucosal carcinoma (IMC) was not considered IEAC. Results: Twenty-three articles were selected for analysis. Most investigators reported rates of invasive cancer in the esophagectomy specimen, and the pooled average was 39.9% among the 441 patients who underwent an esophagectomy for HGD. Reported rates varied from 0% to 73%. A total of 267 patients had American Joint Committee on Cancer stage 0 postoperatively, 132 patients had stage I, 23 patients had stage IIa, 10 patients had stage IIb, and 9 patients had stage III. Fourteen studies provided differentiation between intramucosal and submucosal invasion. Among 213 patients, only 12.7% had IEAC, whereas 87.3% had HGD or IMC. The IEAC rate of 11% among patients with visible lesions is greater than the rate of 3% among patients with no visible lesion. Conclusions: By using strict pathologic definitions of invasive disease, the present study indicates the true prevalence of IEAC in BE and HGD may have been overestimated significantly. Separating IMC from IEAC is clinically relevant because endoscopic techniques potentially may treat IMC.
Sensory Preference and Discrimination of Wild-caught and Cultured Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens)

: Wild-caught and cultured yellow perch (Perca flavescens) were compared for overall difference and preference. Judges (n= 52) completed 2 replications each of both a paired preference and a triangle test. Results were analyzed using the p-binomial model. Findings indicate that samples were significantly different from each other (P= 0.0001) but there was no significant preference for either sample (P= 0.1167). For both tests, overdispersion, or panelist variability was very low, indicating judges were acting similarly and the binomial model better fit the data. Judges' comments were contradictory and inconsistent, making it impossible to determine the exact nature of the difference.
Semi-claustral founding and worker behaviour in gynes of Messor andrei

Claustral founding is the common mode of colony foundation in ant species outside the Ponerinae. I report the existence of both semi-claustral founding and worker-type behaviour in new gynes of the myrmicine ant Messor andrei. Worker-type behaviour may be a non-adaptive corollary of semi-claustral colony founding, and represents little cost to colony reproduction. In contrast, semi-claustral founding is a high risk activity; numerous attacks on foraging queens were observed. Why non-ponerine ants exhibit semi-claustral founding behaviour remains unknown, and deserves further study.
Investigation of Defects and Errors in Nanomagnetic Logic Circuits

Nanomagnetic logic circuits have recently gained interest as a possible post CMOS ultralow-power computing platform. In these circuits, single-domain nanomagnets communicate and perform logical computations through nearest neighbor dipole interactions. The state variable is magnetization direction and computations can take place without passing an electric current. Both experiment and theory have shown, however, that errors in circuit operation can sometimes occur. In this paper, we investigate the reasons for this, develop a simple model to explain imperfections in 1-D chains of nanomagnets, and show that it agrees with experiment. Finally, we discuss possible improvements in nanomagnet design suggested by the model to improve error rates.
The nucleotide sequences of the RNA 1 and RNA 2 of asparagus virus 2 show a close relationship to citrus variegation virus.

Asparagus virus-2 (AV-2) is a member of the genus Ilarvirus and infects the vegetable Asparagus officinalis L. The virus is transmitted through seed. Even though the presence of AV-2 causes reductions in vigor and productivity, plants grown from infected seed show no obvious symptoms. The virus has been reported from Europe, North America, and Japan. However, because of the ease with which the virus is seed borne, it has probably been moved to wherever seed lots of asparagus have been distributed [20]. Other ilarviruses are also seed borne and, in addition, have been shown to be transmitted naturally through pollen and the feeding activity of thrips [11]. Ilarviruses are members of the family Bromoviridae. They share traits at the molecular level with the extensively studied cucumoviruses and bromoviruses and have a particularly close relationship to the alfamovirus alfalfa mosaic virus [1]. Ilarviruses possess a tripartite genome of positive-sense ssRNAs. The RNA 1 is monocistronic, coding for a viral replicase. The RNA 2 is bicistronic in some members of the genus but monocistronic in others. The open reading frame (ORF) proximal to the 5 0 UTR codes for the viral polymerase. The second, smaller ORF found in some members of the genus is located toward the 3 0 terminus of the molecule and expressed through a subgenomic RNA that codes for a 2b protein. The initial ORF of RNA 3 codes for the movement protein (MP), and the second ORF of RNA 3 codes for the coat protein (CP). The CP gene is expressed via a subgenomic RNA 4 [7]. AV-2 is a member of subgroup 2 of the ilarviruses, having been shown to be related to the other members of this subgroup: citrus leaf rugose virus (CiLRV), citrus variegation virus (CVV), elm mottle virus (EMoV), spinach latent virus (SpLV), and tulare apple mosaic virus (TAMV), both serologically and at the molecular level [19]. The complete sequence for the RNA 3 of AV-2 has been described [17], as have fragments of sequence for the RNA 1 and RNA 2 [GenBank accessions U93601, U93602, U93603]. Here, we present the complete sequences for the RNA 1 and RNA 2 of AV-2 and discuss the close relationship between this virus and another member of subgroup 2, citrus variegation virus.
Comprehensive Developmental Glaucoma Classification

A comprehensive classification of developmental glaucoma is presented. The term developmental glaucoma is preferable to congenital glaucoma. Glaucoma may be predetermined from birth as autosomal-dominant. This list is a comprehensive classification of developmental glaucoma that is predetermined from birth to occur.
Von Willebrand's disease, hemophilia A, and factor VIII.

Abstract Von Willebrand's disease is a bleeding disorder due to the combination of both a missing plasma factor and a deficiency of antihemophilic factor. The low levels of antihemophilic factor in von willebrand's disease have led many investigators to confuse it with or compare it to hemophilia A. It will become clear in this discussion that these two diseases differ clinically, genetically, and immunologically. Comparative studies of these diseases have helped elucidate the mechanisms of factor VIII biosynthesis in normal and abnormal states. A comprehensive model is presented.
Differences in human ability to judge veracity from the audio medium

Abstract The few past studies in this topic area have consistently found that human subjects, as a group, are able to judge veracity better than chance; but no findings have been published relating individual differences to judgmental accuracy. Thus the present study was designed as a first step in filling this knowledge gap. To create a stimulus set of lies and truths, which listeners would later judge for veracity, a method was employed that generated 10 audio-tape recorded lies and 10 audio-tape recorded truths. Each of 100 subject-listeners judged each audio-tape for veracity, and also provided information on a set of personological variables. Listener, as a group, were significantly better than chance in accurately judging veracity ( p p
Effects of anti-thymocyte serum on 17-D yellow fever infection in adult Mice

MANY neurotropic viral infections are accompanied by inflammatory cellular infiltrates of the central nervous system. With some of these viruses, notably lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), the cellular response is believed to be responsible for the morbidity and mortality associated with infection1, and suppression of the lymphocytic response by treatment with anti-thymocyte serum prevents clinical signs of disease2,3. Yellow fever infection caused by the 17-D virus in mice is characterized by a diffuse encephalomyelitis consisting of mononuclear cell infiltration of leptomeninges and perivascular areas, as well as neuronal degeneration and glial proliferation4. We have used rabbit anti-mouse thymocyte (RAMT) serum to prevent cellular responsiveness to 11-D virus, in order to evaluate the role of delayed hypersensitivity in the pathogenesis of experimental yellow fever.
Generalized Model for IGC Growth in Aluminum Alloys

A generalized brick wall model is developed to describe intergranular corrosion in Equi-axed AA7178-T6 and Wingskin AA7178-T6 aluminum alloys. The intergranular corrosion rate is highly related to grain size and shape. High strength aluminum alloys are often elongated and anisotropic, with the fastest nominal IGC growth rate in the longitudinal direction (L) or long transverse direction (T) and the slowest in the short transverse direction (S). We propose a three-way intersection model and use it to simulate the corrosion kinetics for each direction. With a proper combination of model parameters, the generalized IGC model provides a good fit to experimental data developed by the foil penetration technique.
When brain clocks lose track of time: Cause or Consequence of neuropsychiatric disorders

Patients suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders often exhibit a loss of regulation of their biological rhythms which leads to altered sleep/wake cycle, body temperature rhythm and hormonal rhythms. Whereas these symptoms have long been considered to result from the pathology of the underlying disease, increasing evidence now indicates that the circadian system may be more directly involved in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. This emerging view originated with the discovery that the genes involved in the generation of biological rhythms are expressed in many brain structures where clocks function-and perhaps malfunction. It is also due to the interesting phenotypes of clock mutant mice. Here we summarize recent reports showing that alteration of circadian clocks within key brain regions associated with neuropsychiatric disorders may be an underlying cause of the development of mental illness. We discuss how these alterations take place at both systems and molecular levels.
Photopic and scotopic contributions to the human visually evoked cortical potential.

Abstract The spectral sensitivity of the human visually evoked cortical potential (VECP) was determined using implicit time as a criterion measure. The results obtained with relatively bright stimuli at a moderate level of light adaptation were in excellent agreement with psychophysically-determined photopic spectral sensitivity functions reported in the literature. The results obtained with stimuli of low intensity after dark adaptation corresponded well with the C.I.E. scotopic luminosity function except for a higher sensitivity in the wavelength region above 600 nm, where photopic contributions intruded. A completely scotopic VECP spectral sensitivity was achieved by utilizing the Stiles-Crawford effect to avoid stimulating the photopic system. Thus the VECP, like psychophysically-determined visual functions, is duplex: the photopic system is the major contributor when the stimuli are relatively bright; the scotopic system is the major contributor when the stimuli are relatively dim and the subject is dark adapted.
Plastic Flow and Dislocation Compensation in ZnS y Se 1− y /GaAs (001) Heterostructures

An important goal of lattice-mismatched semiconductor device design is control of threading dislocation densities, which are of particular importance for optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors and light-emitting diodes. The basis for this field of research is an understanding of the dislocation dynamics in mismatched heteroepitaxial structures. We have developed a dislocation dynamics model including dislocation multiplication, misfit–threading dislocation interactions, annihilation and coalescence, and thermal strain, which can be used to understand the strain relaxation and threading dislocation densities in arbitrarily graded ZnS y Se1−y /GaAs (001) structures. On the basis of this model, we demonstrate that the dislocation compensation mechanism, whereby mobile threading dislocations can be removed by insertion of a mismatched interface in a graded structure, can be explained by the bending over of threading dislocations associated with misfit segments of one sense by misfit dislocations having the opposite sense. Dislocation compensation, if utilized in device structures, can provide a pathway for the attainment of devices with low threading dislocation densities (D < 106 cm−2) while using the minimum total thickness of epitaxial material, with a reduction in deposition time and source chemicals.
Recurrence of clonal hematopoiesis after discontinuing pegylated recombinant interferon-α 2a in a patient with polycythemia vera [11]

Recurrence of clonal hematopoiesis after discontinuing pegylated recombinant interferon- α 2a in a patient with polycythemia vera
Specificity of attitude hypothesis in psychosomatic medicine: A re-examination

Abstract The present investigation was a replication and extension of the work done by Graham et al. [2]. 20 male subjects, screened for hypnotic susceptibility, participated in two experimental sessions. Each subjects was hypnotized in one session and not hypnotized in the other and received hives suggestion in one session and Raynaud's disease suggestion in the other. Skin temperature, peripheral blood volume and heart rate were continuously monitored throughout each session. The resulting data were analysed to determine the effects of hypnosis and experimental suggestions. In contradiction to previous findings, significant suggestion effects were not found. However, significant hypnosis effects were found for each of the physiological measures.