cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on gene expression in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of the rat.

This study has examined the effects of insulin-induced hypoglycemia on expression of the CRH, arginine vasopressin, and POMC genes and corresponding peptides in freely moving, unanesthetized, male Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were infused with 150 mM NaCl for 3 days before the experimental day and were then administered insulin (4 U/kg) or saline iv. In one experiment animals were killed 0, 30, 60, or 90 min after insulin or saline, and RNA was isolated from anterior pituitary, cerebral cortex, and punches of the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. In a second experiment, animals were killed 90 min after insulin or saline treatment, and RNA was isolated from whole hypothalami. RNA was analyzed by Northern blot. Plasma glucose fell from 106 +/- 5 to 38 +/- 2 mg/dl after insulin administration and remained low for the duration of the experiment. Plasma levels of ACTH, corticosterone, and vasopressin were 10-, 6-, and 4-fold higher, respectively, in the insulin-treated vs. control animals (by...
On the nonexistence of positive solutions to nonlinear degenerate parabolic equations with singular coefficients

In this paper, we shall investigate the nonexistence of positive solutions for the following nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations: Here, Ω is a Carnot–Caratheodory metric ball in and . The critical exponent m∗ is found, and the nonexistence results are proved for m∗≤ m<1.
A fourteen-symptom behavior and mood rating scale for longitudinal patient evaluation by nurses.

A 14-symptom mood and behavior rating scale was developed for use twice daily by nurses and nursing assistants on an inpatient service. Inter-rater reliability studies indicate that raters can be easily substituted for one another. Scores for specific symptoms correlate well with those for similar symptoms on several commonly used scales.
Depolarization regulates expression of a synaptic vesicle protein in rat superior cervical ganglia in vitro

The role of membrane depolarization in the regulation of expression of a neuron specific protein was evaluated by culturing superior cervical ganglia from neonatal rats in defined medium and manipulating neuronal activity by depolarizing agents. P65 is an integral membrane protein of synaptic vesicles and can be used as a marker for general neuronal maturation. P65 antigen levels were quantified by indirect radioimmunoassay, using monoclonal antibodies. The expression of p65 in ganglion explants increased by 40-100% when the cultures were treated with the depolarizing agents, veratridine or high potassium. The veratridine effect could be blocked by simultaneous treatment with the sodium channel blocker, tetrodotoxin (TTX). The rise in p65 was not evident until 36 h after depolarizing treatment had begun and reached peak levels after 48 h, with no further increases observed with sustained treatment. After removal of the depolarizing treatment, p65 levels returned to control values after 24 h. P65 joins a growing number of molecules whose expression is regulated by membrane depolarization.
Public beliefs about the amount of fiber in foods.

Abstract Despite the current interest in fiber in foods and dietary recommendations to increase fiber consumption, relatively little attention has been paid to public beliefs about fiber in foods. We used a mail questionnaire in a sample of 478 adults to assess public beliefs about the amount of fiber in 40 different foods and compared these beliefs with laboratory data about fiber content. Almost all respondents had heard of both fiber and roughage, and many (40%) believed that fiber and roughage were different concepts. Most respondents rated the amount of fiber in the 40 foods similarly to actual fiber content. Few differences in beliefs about fiber in foods existed among demographic groups. Factory analysis of the ratings of the 40 foods revealed three underlying dimensions: 1) fruits and vegetables, 2) animal products, including meat and dairy foods, and 3) grains, including breads and cereals. These findings reveal that some people believe that fiber differs from roughage, but their beliefs about the amount of fiber in foods matches fairly well with scientific data about fiber content. Nutritionists may benefit from assessing beliefs about concepts such as fiber and roughage before attempting to change food consumption behaviors.
Stages of preservice development for teachers of students with emotional disabilities

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine how preservice teachers of students with emotional disturbance (ED) experience their learning development as they progress through an intensive, 1‐year internship within a professional development school (PDS). This study is distinctive in its systematic examination of learning to teach from the perspectives of interns in a nontraditional context of a special education PDS setting. A variety of data were collected from preservice teachers over a 9‐month period, including videotaped teaching episodes, informal and formal interviews, and conversations in weekly seminars, journals, and statements of teaching philosophy. From this information, a model was constructed outlining four stages of learning development in preservice teachers: (a) naive confidence, (b) uncertainty and doubt, (c) cautious risk taking, and (d) role maturity. This research confirms the stage model Fuller and Bown (1975) postulated and extends it to include the experiences of special ed...
Structure and performance of LiFePO4 cathode materials: A review

Abstract LiFePO 4 has been considered a promising battery material in electric vehicles. However, there are still a number of technical challenges to overcome before its wide-spread applications. In this article, the structure and electrochemical performance of LiFePO 4 are reviewed in light of the major technical requirements for EV batteries. The rate capability, capacity density, cyclic life and low-temperature performance of various LiFePO 4 materials are described. The major factors affecting these properties are discussed, which include particle size, doping, carbon coating, conductive carbon loading and synthesis techniques. Important future research for science and engineering is suggested.
Single-Virtual-Boson-Exchange Interaction in High-Energy Collisions

The model in which two incident particles collide by exchanging a single virtual boson was investigated. It is shown that if long-range interactions dominate in collisions in which the square of the pi meson's fourmomentum is very small, then a simple fieldtheoretical model of such collisions results. The main field-theoretical simplification results from the fact that under these conditions the virtual boson behaves as an incoming, almost real, particle. (M.C.G.)
Microenvironmental exposure to mercury vapor

Work area and breathing zone samples were collected in a factory utilizing metallic mercury and analyzed for mercury vapor content. Breathing zone samples averaged several fold higher in concentration than concurrent area samples, reflecting a “microenvironmental” exposure to mercury vapor, presumably from contaminated clothing and hands. Blood and corrected total urine mercury values correlated well with the average microenvironmental exposure level for each worker. Measurements of unbound mercury in urine samples were sensitive at picking up minimal exposures. Excessive amounts of unbound mercury were not found in the urine, even with wide day-to-day swings in microenvironmental mercury vapor levels, suggesting that the human body can adapt to a chronic, moderate exposure to mercury vapor.
Locus of Control and the Prediction of Voting Behavior in College Students.

Summary In predicting the voting behavior of 18- or 19-year-old college students voting for the first time and of older college students who had been eligible to vote in a previous election, Rotter's (6) I-E Scale and Mirel's (3) Political Activity Factor derived from that scale were both shown to be of some value but in an inconsistent fashion. The Political Activity Factor was significantly related to whether female voters, both those voting for the first time and those previously eligible to vote, did, in fact, vote, but was not related to the voting behavior of males. For male first-time voters there was a significant correlation between whether Ss voted and total I-E score. This relation was not significant for older male voters or for female voters, however. Stronger, more consistent predictions were obtained from self-prediction and previous behavior for all Ss, regardless of age or sex. Parental voting behavior was not related to the voting of the student subjects.
Naming subprograms with clarity

This paper presents a language construct for subprogram specification. This construct offers increased clarity with an insignificant overhead in compilation time.
Oral psoriasiform lesions: a possible prosthodontic complication.

Abstract Oral psoriasiform lesions can be mistaken for denture irritations and for papillary hyperplasia. Suggestions are made to facilitate its diagnosis and treatment.
The Zeeman Effect in the Spectrum of Argon

New measurements on the Zeeman effect of about 140 lines of the spectrum of argon have been completed, yielding $g$ values for several complete configurations, in particular the $3{p}^{5}6s$, $3{p}^{5}7s$, $3{p}^{5}4d$, and $3{p}^{5}5d$, and several levels of the $3{p}^{5}6d$. These have been compared with the $g$ values calculated by means of the quantum mechanics. In some cases the agreement is good, but $g$ sums show discrepancies. These are discussed in detail. The measurements differ in several cases from those of other observers. Concrete evidence of the $\mathrm{jj}$ parentage of some of the levels is presented.
Amphibian and reptile responses to thinning and prescribed burning in mixed pine-hardwood forests of northwestern Alabama, USA

We evaluated the response of amphibians and reptiles to two levels of prescribed burning and three levels of thinning using a field experiment consisting of a before–after, control-impact, and factorial complete block design over a four year period in the William B. Bankhead National Forest located in northwestern Alabama. We captured 2643 individuals representing 47 species (20 amphibians and 27 reptiles) during 3132 trap nights. Pre-treatment captures varied widely for both amphibians and reptiles among the stands designated for management, which was likely due to forest structural changes caused by tree mortality resulting from Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) infestations. Within each amphibian and reptile species assemblage, we observed species-specific associations with specific treatments and environmental characteristics. In regards to individual species responses, Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) increased in thin-with-burn treatments and Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis) tended to increase in all thinned stands. North American Racers (Coluber constrictor) increased in thin-only plots primarily during the second post-treatment year. Mississippi Slimy Salamander (Plethodon mississippi) captures tended to decrease in all treatment stands throughout the study period, which may been due to either drier environmental conditions during post-treatment sampling or natural population cycling. Pool-breeding amphibian captures were more likely related to the hydroperiod of aquatic breeding environments within 290 m of survey locations rather than forest treatments. Our results illustrate that forest restoration through tree thinning can positively influence certain reptile species with limited impacts on amphibians in upland, pine-dominated forests of northern Alabama. However, as our forest stands are scheduled to be burned every 3–5 years, continued monitoring is necessary to understand the impacts of repeated disturbances.
STUDIES ON X-RAY EFFECTS : I. DESTRUCTIVE ACTION ON BLOOD CELLS.

1. X-rays in large doses affect the lymphocytes before any of the other circulating cells. 2. There is a sharp fall in the total number of circulating lymphocytes, which is complete 48 hours after x-ray treatment. 3. Following the immediate decrease in the circulating lymphocytes there is a primary rise, followed by another fall, which in turn is followed by a permanent rise of these cells to normal. 4. The effect of the x-rays on different species of animals varies considerably, but in those studied, cat, monkey, guinea pig, rabbit, rat, mouse, and pony, the selective action on the lymphocytes was in all instances apparent. 5. When several animals of the same species are given the same dose of x-rays, the effect on the circulating lymphocytes seems to be quantitatively parallel, when determined by blood counts. 6. The polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leucocytes, when affected at all, increase in number immediately after the administration of the x-rays and then tend to decrease below their normal level. This decrease is followed by a return to normal many days before the lymphocytes reach their original level. 7. The other cells of the blood follow the neutrophilic curve. 8. Percentage figures, as determined by differential blood counts, do not give an accurate indication of the effect of the x-rays. It is only when these are multiplied by the total white blood count that a figure, representing the total number of cells of the series per c. mm. of blood, is obtained, which varies to the stimulus in a constant manner, the variations being practically quantitative.
An interaction chart design method for Eurocode compliant railway electrification mast foundations

Abstract The UK Department for Transport plans to install 25 kV overhead electrification on existing major routes in Great Britain as part of route modernisation and operational carbon reduction strategies. The design of foundations for railway electrification masts is a particular challenge for geotechnical engineers. Foundations may be required for hundreds or thousands of structures, each with different load and ground conditions. The large number of structures and tight programme timescales mean that site-specific ground investigation and design is not feasible or economic and a set of generic designs must be developed to encompass as much of the inherent variation as possible. This paper proposes a new method for designing laterally loaded piles – which avoids the large number of calculations for specific load cases and focuses instead on underlying system dynamics of vertical and lateral pile resistances and deflections to derive interaction relationships. The methods proposed in this paper can be adapted for use with various formulae and codes of practice to suit the designer’s preference, although the focus of this paper is on the use of Eurocode 7. This paper does not propose modification to design formulae but provides a more effective use of these formulae to develop designs. The results are ultimately presented in a series of design charts upon which the allocation engineer can plot applied structural loads to determine a pile’s design length for given design criteria. This method yields many benefits: the end product is simple to use, it is able to cope with the large variations in applied loads inherent in electrification schemes, it provides a Eurocode compliant design and the time required to produce these designs is significantly reduced when compared to calculation based on site-specific loads. A particular benefit is that the method can cope more easily with iterations and variations in the assumed loads and system layout that arise during the design process.
Processing Retort Pouches in Conventional Sterilizers

A cylindrical rack was designed to hold four 130 mm × 178 mm retortable pouches. The outer dimensions of the cylinder were 157 mm × 178 mm, identical to a No. 10 can. These dimensions permitted pouch processing in traditional sterilizers that accept cans of this size. Dimensional considerations, pouch orientation, and heat distribution were tested in 100% steam. This racking method was found to provide equal heat treatments to all pouches regardless of horizontal, vertical or rolling orientations. These results suggest the use of various conventional sterilizers for pouch processing with little or no modification.
Do Follow-Up Imaging Examinations Provide Useful Prognostic Information in Patients with Spine Infection?

Background. The ability of follow-up imaging examinations to predict treatment failure in patients with spine infections has not been well studied. Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with spine infection who had both baseline and 4–8-week follow-up imaging results available at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) during the period of 1994– 2002. Follow-up imaging findings were categorized as improved, equivocal, or worse, compared with the baseline findings, on the basis of a simple grading system that focused on associated soft-tissue findings. Results. Baseline and 4–8-week follow-up imaging findings were available for 79 patients with spine infection who presented to the Mayo Clinic during 1994–2002. Thirty-five infections (44%) were due to Staphylococcus aureus, 9 (11%) were due to coagulase-negative staphylococci, and 16 (20%) were culture negative. Twenty-seven (34%), 38 (48%), and 14 (18%) follow-up images were graded improved, equivocal, or worse, respectively. The cumulative rates of 1-year survival free of microbiologically confirmed treatment failure were 100%, 89% (95% CI, 74%–96%), and 56% (95% CI, 24%–83%) for patients with improved, equivocal, and worse follow-up imaging findings, respectively ( ). Only 3 (6%) of 52 patients deemed to have had clinical improvement at the P p .004 time of the follow-up imaging study experienced treatment failure. Elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers identified 2 of these patients as high risk for treatment failure, and the levels were not performed for the third patient. Conclusions. Applying a simple grading scale to assess follow-up imaging examinations for patients with spinal infection stratifies their risk of treatment failure. Patients’ clinical statuses and inflammatory biomarker responses may be helpful for selecting patients at high risk for treatment failure who should undergo follow-up magnetic resonance imaging.
Clear Cell Carcinomas of the Mullerian System: Does the Pathogenesis Vary Depending on Their Nuclear Grade and Their Association with Endometriosis? An Immunohistochemical Analysis

Clear cell carcinomas (CCC) of the mullerian system are considered high grade tumors, but morphologically, the cells of CCC show both low and high grade features. The aims of the current study were to categorize CCC into low and high nuclear grade types, correlate their association with endometriosis, and then observe possible variations in pathogenesis based on their expression of p53 and Ki-67. We studied 41 pure mullerian CCCs and designated each as either a high (HNG) or low (LNG) nuclear grade tumor. Morphologically, 17 (41%) CCCs were LNG and 24 (59%) were HNG. Nine (38%) HNG and 2 (12%) LNG tumors showed positive immunostaining with p53. Endometriosis was associated with 8 (47%) LNG tumors and 8 (33%) HNG CCCs. Of the 11 cases with p53 alteration, 4 (1 LNG and 3 HNG) were associated with endometriosis. Conclusions: HNG CCCs, irrespective of their association with endometriosis, have alterations of p53. In general, LNG ovarian and endometrial CCCs, irrespective of their association with endometriosis/adenomyosis, are less likely to show p53 alteration. It appears that mullerian CCCs may have variable pathogenesis depending on their nuclear grade and association with endometriosis. A larger study is needed to validate these findings.
Allometry of primate hair density and the evolution of human hairlessness.

Allometric analyses of hair densities in 23 anthropoid primate taxa reveal that increasingly massive primates have systematically fewer hairs per equal unit of body surface. Considering the absence of effective sweating in monkeys and apes, the negative allometry of relative hair density may represent an architectural adaptation to thermal constraints imposed by the decreasing ratios of surface area to volume in progressively massive primates. Judging by estimates of body volume, denudation of the earliest hominids should have progressed to a considerable extent prior to their shift from a forest to a grassland habitat during the Pliocene. We propose that, lacking a reflective coat of hair, the exploitation of eccrine sweating emerged as the primary mechanism for adaptation to the increased heat loads of man's new environment and permitted further reduction of the remnant coat to its present vestigial condition.
Balance of S1P1 and S1P2 signaling regulates peripheral microvascular permeability in rat cremaster muscle vasculature

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates various molecular and cellular events in cultured endothelial cells, such as cytoskeletal restructuring, cell-extracellular matrix interactions, and intercellular junction interactions. We utilized the venular leakage model of the cremaster muscle vascular bed in Sprague-Dawley rats to investigate the role of S1P signaling in regulation of microvascular permeability. S1P signaling is mediated by the S1P family of G protein-coupled receptors (S1P1-5 receptors). S1P1 and S1P2 receptors, which transduce stimulatory and inhibitory signaling, respectively, are expressed in the endothelium of the cremaster muscle vasculature. S1P administration alone via the carotid artery was unable to protect against histamine-induced venular leakage of the cremaster muscle vascular bed in Sprague-Dawley rats. However, activation of S1P1-mediated signaling by SEW2871 and FTY720, two agonists of S1P1, significantly inhibited histamine-induced microvascular leakage. Treatment with VPC 23019 to antagonize S1P1-regulated signaling greatly potentiated histamine-induced venular leakage. After inhibition of S1P2 signaling by JTE-013, a specific antagonist of S1P2, S1P was able to protect microvascular permeability in vivo. Moreover, endothelial tight junctions and barrier function were regulated by S1P1- and S1P2-mediated signaling in a concerted manner in cultured endothelial cells. These data suggest that the balance between S1P1 and S1P2 signaling regulates the homeostasis of microvascular permeability in the peripheral circulation and, thus, may affect total peripheral vascular resistance.
Fatality secondary to massive overdose of dimenhydrinate

A 19-year-old woman presented with status epilepticus and ventricular dysrhythmias less than one hour after ingesting 5,000 mg dimenhydrinate (Dramamine ® ). Aggressive resuscitation including the use of physostigmine stabilized the cardiac rhythm; however, she suffered a severe neurologic deficit. Development of ischemic and infarcted bowel necessitated colonic resection. After surgery, her condition worsened, and after demonstration of minimal cerebral activity, supportive measures were withdrawn, and she died. Overdose with dimenhydrinate and diphenhydramine, both of which are over-the-counter drugs, can result in rapid central nervous system stimulation, including status epilepticus. Death can occur within two hours. To our knowledge, this is the first reported fatality resulting from ingestion of dimenhydrinate.
Reduced Switching Frequency Computed PWM Method for Multilevel Converter Control

This paper presents two computed PWM methods for 11-level multilevel converters to eliminate the specified harmonics in the output voltage to decrease total harmonic distortion (THD). The first method uses the fundamental switching scheme to eliminate low order harmonics, and uses the active harmonic elimination method to eliminate higher order harmonics. The second method uses these schemes in the reverse order, the fundamental switching scheme to eliminate higher order harmonics, and the active harmonic elimination method to eliminate low order harmonics. The computational results show that the difference between the THD of the two methods is small, but the second method has lower switching frequency. An experimental 11-level H-bridge multilevel converter was used to implement the algorithm and to validate the two computed PWM methods. The experimental results show that the two methods can effectively eliminate the specific harmonics as expected, while the second method results in a significantly lower switching frequency
Micellar-Enhanced Ultrafiltration of Heavy Metals Using Lecithin

Abstract Conventional treatment methods for removal of heavy metals from metal finishing operations are usually energy-intensive and costly. Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) with synthetic surfactants is a recently developed technique which can remove heavy metals and other small molecular weight ions from wastestreams at relatively lower costs and without a phase change. Lecithin, a natural, inexpensive, nontoxic, and biodegradable surfactant exhibits emulsifying characteristics which can be used in a MEUF. The binding of various lecithins to cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc—in a mixture and individually—was studied using a continuous diafiltration method. This technique uses small volumes of toxic waters and produces an entire isotherm with just one experiment. In the presence of all five heavy metals, the lecithin in this study showed the following affinity: Cu > Cd ∼ Zn > Ni. In experiments when only one metal was present, lecithin exhibited the following affinity: Ni > Cu ∼ Zn > Cd. Le...
DC-free coset codes

A class of block coset codes with disparity and run-length constraints are studied. They are particularly well suited for high-speed optical fiber links and similar channels, where DC-free pulse formats, channel error control, and low-complexity encoder-decoder implementations are required. The codes are derived by partitioning linear block codes. The encoder and decoder structures are the same as those of linear block codes with only slight modifications. A special class of DC-free coset block codes are derived from BCH codes with specified bounds on minimum distance, disparity, and run length. The codes have low disparity levels (a small running digital sum) and good error-correcting capabilities. >
Modeling the phase behavior, excess enthalpies and Henry's constants of the H2O + H2S binary mixture using the SAFT-VR+D approach

Abstract The high-pressure phase diagram and other thermodynamic properties of the binary systems of water + hydrogen sulphide have been examined using the SAFT-VR+D equation of state [Zhao and McCabe, J. Chem. Phys. 125 (2006) 104504]. The SAFT-VR+D approach is based on a version of the statistical associating fluid theory that was developed to model dipolar fluids by explicitly accounting for dipolar interactions and their effect on the thermodynamics and structure of a fluid. In the SAFT-VR+D equation this is achieved through the use of the generalized mean spherical approximation (GSMA) to describe a monomer fluid of dipolar square-well segments. In the present work, we further develop the SAFT-VR+D equation to study mixtures of dipolar associating fluids of arbitrary size using the analytical solution of the Ornstein–Zernike equation due to Cummings and Blum [J. Chem. Phys. 84, 1833 (1986)]. The high-pressure phase diagram and other thermodynamic properties of the water + hydrogen sulphide binary mixture are then examined. Both components, hydrogen sulphide and water, are naturally modeled as associating spherical molecules with four off-centre sites to mimic hydrogen bonding and an embedded dipole moment ( μ ) to describe their polarity. Using simple Lorentz–Berthelot combining rules, the theory is able to predict the phase behavior of the H 2 O + H 2 S system from pure component parameters. Specifically, type III phase behavior according to the classification of Scott and van Konynenburg is observed, with a three-phase line at low temperatures that terminates at an upper critical end point and two separate critical lines, one at high temperatures that runs continuously from a gas–liquid critical line to a liquid–liquid critical line at high pressures and a second gas–liquid critical line located at low temperatures. The phase behavior predicted by the SAFT-VR+D approach is in excellent agreement with the experimental data, without requiring any fitted binary interaction parameters. In addition, the theory is also able to describe the excess molar enthalpies and the most important features of the Henry's constants as a function of temperature.
Electron Microscopy and Autoradiography

The combined techniques of electron microscopy and autoradiography were used for the purpose of differentiating radioactive from nonradioactive particles collected on membrane filters. Newer methods of processing the membrane filters and applying the nuclear emulsion have resulted in an improvement in the qualitative nature of the procedure.
Temperature regulation by respiratory evaporation in grasshoppers.

Grasshoppers of the species Schistocerca nitens (Thunberg), Locusta migratoria (L.) and Tmethis pulchripennis (Bolivar) are able to withstand air temperatures higher than lethal internal temperature (48 °C) for more than an hour, during which time they maintain an internal temperature as much as 8°C below air temperature. Rates of evaporation at high air temperatures are much greater than those observed for cuticular transpiration alone. The rate of evaporation and the ventilation frequency remain relatively constant at temperatures of up to about 45°C, above which they both increase markedly. The depression of internal temperature thus appears to be caused by increased tracheal ventilation for evaporative cooling. This finding contradicts the common assumption that evaporative cooling is of little adaptive advantage for thermoregulation in insects. In L. migratoria , the increase in ventilation appears to be achieved almost entirely by an increase in frequency of ventilation, although other species may alter tidal volume as well.
A Comparison of the Effects of DNA-Damaging Agents and Biotic Elicitors on the Induction of Plant Defense Genes, Nuclear Distortion, and Cell Death

Pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Alcan) endocarp tissue challenged with an incompatible fungal pathogen, Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli or fungal elicitors results in the induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and the accumulation of pisatin, a phytoalexin. Essentially the same response occurs in pea tissue exposed to DNA-specific agents that crosslink or intercalate DNA. In this study, the effects of DNA-damaging agents were assessed relative to the inducible expression of several pea PR genes: phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chalcone synthase, and DRR206. Mitomycin C and actinomycin D mimicked the biotic elicitors in enhancing the expression of all three PR genes. The activities of these PR gene promoters, isolated from different plants, were evaluated heterologously in transgenic tobacco. It is remarkable that β-glucuronidase expression was induced when plants containing the heterologous phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chalcone synthase, and DRR206 promoter-β-glucuronidase chimeric reporter genes were treated by DNA-damaging agents. Finally, cytological analyses indicated that many of these agents caused nuclear distortion and collapse of the treated pea cells. Yet we observed that cell death is not necessary for the induction of the PR gene promoters assessed in this study. Based on these observations and previously published results, we propose that DNA damage or the associated alteration of chromatin can signal the transcriptional activation of plant defense genes.
COMPARISON OF INSECT FAUNA CAPTURED IN SIX DIFFERENT TRAP TYPES IN A DOUGLAS-FIR FOREST

Insects were sampled in a Douglas-fir forest in California to evaluate differences among inexpensive survey methods. Sampling was done with sweep nets and with window, sticky, light, suspended cone, and two kinds of yellow pan traps. Also examined were effects of trap location in the given tree and the following tree species: Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco), canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis Liebm.), tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus Rehd.), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii Pursh.), and big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh.). Relative abundance and faunistic similarity of the 9662 insects caught varied greatly by trap type and little by tree species or trap location. Family-level taxonomic richness differed among the diverse trap types, tree species, and trap locations.
FLOQUET SOLUTION FOR A SPINNING SYMMETRIC RIGID BODY WITH CONSTANT TRANSVERSE TORQUES

In this paper we analyze the problem of large angular excursions of the spin axis of a rigid body using Floquet theory. This approach involves transforming the nonlinear equations into a linear periodic system and then computing solutions using Fourier series expansions. Numerical simulations confirm that the solutions are highly accurate when applied to typical spacecraft maneuvers.
Rice field surface microlayers: Collection, composition and pesticide enrichment

The thin organic film (surface microlayer) found on natural waters can concentrate hydrophobic pollutants. Enrichment factors (EFs), the ratio of pollutant concentration in microlayer to that in subsurface water, previously have been measured in relatively thick (˜50–150 μm) aqueous sections of surface. A modified sampling method, using glass plates silanized with dichlorodimethylsilane, allowed the collection of samples with virtually no dilution by subsurface water. Surface microlayers from a flooded rice field, collected onto silanized plates and analyzed by GC-MS, showed 26 fatty acids and esters of 8 to 24 C atoms, saturated and unsaturated, and methyl esters of nonanoic, hexacosanoic, and octacosanoic acids as well as cholesterol. Microlayers were collected with both silanized and unsilanized glass plates after application of carbofuran (3.27 kg/ha) and a mixture of carbofuran (3.12 kg/ha) and thiobencarb (3.04 kg/ha) to 9.8-m2 field plots. Log EF was 0.14 to 1.43 for carbofuran and 0.04 to 2.30 for thiobencarb in samples collected with unsilanized plates; log EF from silanized plates was 3.88 to 7.55 and 4.04 to 5.74 for carbofuran and thiobencarb, respectively. Log EFs in samples collected from a commercial rice field with silanized plates were 3.88 and 4.18 for carbofuran and 4.77 and 5.15 for thiobencarb, greater than predicted from their Kow. Thiobencarb irradiated (285–340 nm) in isolated microlayers was photodegraded more rapidly than by itself. The only identified photoproduct was 4-chlorobenzyl mercaptan. These observations have significance for pesticide fate, analysis, and ecotoxicology.
The risky business of insurance pricing

The factors influencing insurance pricing decisions are assessed using the ISO product liability ratemaking files for 1980–1984. The mean loss level has a strong positive effect on manual rates and premium rates/exposure. Evidence on a variety of ambiguity measures is more mixed. As a broad generalization, risk ambiguity lowers manual rates, which may reflect exclusion of large loss outliers as being unrepresentative. Risk ambiguity tends to have a positive effect on actual pricing decisions for particular policies, especially bodily injury lines and the interactive risk-ambiguity model.
Aerodynamic Shape Sensitivity Analysis and Design Optimization of Complex Configurations Using Unstructured Grids

A three-dimensional unstructured grid approach to aerodynamic shape sensitivity analysis and design optimization has been developed and is extended to model geometrically complex configurations. The advantage of unstructured grids (when compared with a structured-grid approach) is their inherent ability to discretize irregularly shaped domains with greater efficiency and less effort. Hence, this approach is ideally suited for geometrically complex configurations of practical interest. In this work the nonlinear Euler equations are solved using an upwind, cell-centered, finite-volume scheme. The discrete, linearized systems which result from this scheme are solved iteratively by a preconditioned conjugate-gradient-like algorithm known as GMRES for the two-dimensional geometry and a Gauss-Seidel algorithm for the three-dimensional; similar procedures are used to solve the accompanying linear aerodynamic sensitivity equations in incremental iterative form. As shown, this particular form of the sensitivity equation makes large-scale gradient-based aerodynamic optimization possible by taking advantage of memory efficient methods to construct exact Jacobian matrix-vector products. Simple parameterization techniques are utilized for demonstrative purposes. Once the surface has been deformed, the unstructured grid is adapted by considering the mesh as a system of interconnected springs. Grid sensitivities are obtained by differentiating the surface parameterization and the grid adaptation algorithms with ADIFOR (which is an advanced automatic-differentiation software tool). To demonstrate the ability of this procedure to analyze and design complex configurations of practical interest, the sensitivity analysis and shape optimization has been performed for a two-dimensional high-lift multielement airfoil and for a three-dimensional Boeing 747-200 aircraft.
Myomectomy fever: testing the dogma

Abstract Objective: To test the hypothesis that elevated temperature is more common after abdominal myomectomy than after hysterectomy. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): One hundred one women who underwent abdominal myomectomy and 160 women who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy for benign disease from 1988–1993. Intervention(s): Abdominal myomectomy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Temperature of ≥38.5°C within 48 hours after operation. Result(s): Although univariate analysis showed that the incidence of elevated temperature was slightly greater among patients who underwent myomectomy (33% versus 26%, relative risk 1.29, 95% confidence interval 0.88–1.90), multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a 3.29 relative risk of elevated temperature (95% confidence interval 1.56–6.96) with myomectomy after controlling for age, parity, estimated blood loss, and treatment by the general gynecology service. Conclusion(s): After controlling for confounders, myomectomy was found to be an independent predictor for fever in the first 48 hours after operation.
Editorial: Control issues in sepsis: what modulates apoptosis?

Vaki et al. propose that there may be factor(s) in the serum of patients with severe sepsis that modulate apoptosis of lymphocytes and monocytes.
Solid Waste Sites and the Black Houston Community

This paper presents data on the siting of solid waste facilities in one of the nation's fastest growing cities, Houston, Texas. The findings reveal that solid waste sites were not randomly scattered over the Houston landscape but were likely to be found in predominantly black neighborhoods and near black schools. Institutionalized discrimination in the housing market, lack of zoning, and decisions by public officials over the past fifty years are major factors that have contributed to Houston's black neighborhoods becoming the “dumping ground” for the area's solid waste.
Scaling relations for a functionally two‐dimensional plant: Chamaesyce setiloba (Euphorbiaceae)

Many characteristics of plants and animals scale with body size as described by allometric equations of the form Y = β M α , where Y is an attribute of the organism, β is a coeffi cient that varies with attribute, M is a measure of organism size, and α is another constant, the scaling exponent. In current models, the frequently observed quarter-power scaling exponents are hypothesized to be due to fractal-like structures. However, not all plants or animals conform to the assumptions of these models. Therefore, they might be expected to have different scaling relations. We studied one such plant, Chamaesyce setiloba , a prostrate annual herb that grows to functionally fi ll a two-dimensional space. Number of leaves scaled slightly less than isometrically with total aboveground plant mass ( α ≈ 0.9) and substantially less than isometrically with dry total stem mass ( α = 0.82), showing reduced allocation to leaf as opposed to stem tissue with increasing plant size. Additionally, scalings of the lengths and radii of parent and daughter branches differed from those predicted for three-dimensional trees and shrubs. Unlike plants with typical three-dimensional architectures, C. setiloba has distinctive scaling relations associated with its particular prostrate herbaceous growth form.
From the horse worker's mouth: a detailed account of injuries experienced by Latino horse workers

Horse breeding farms are hazardous. Yet, little is known about the injuries of Latino horse workers. This study assesses Latino horse workers’ injury prevalence, describes their injuries, and analyzes differences between injuries receiving medical versus those receiving first aid care. Data were gathered from 225 Latino thoroughbred workers via a community-based purposive sampling strategy. Questions included injury experiences in the past year and details about each person’s two most severe injuries. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted. Nearly half of workers experienced an injury in the past year, often involving a horse. Bruises and sprains/strains were most common, as were injuries to upper/lower appendages. Head/face injuries more often resulted in medical care. The injury burden in this Latino worker population is high. Personal protective equipment (PPE) and training is advised due to the high prevalence of horse-related injuries. Future research should investigate aspects of the work environment that may influence injury risk.
Patterns of Hospital Use and Regionalization of Inpatient Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy

Importance Pediatric adenotonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed procedures in the United States. Whereas several studies have focused on tonsillectomy techniques and outcomes, little is known about the overall changes in the distribution of care. Variations in care patterns between academic and nonacademic settings may have important financial and educational effects. Objective To determine whether regionalization of inpatient pediatric adenotonsillectomy has occurred over the past decade with respect to hospital teaching status and primary expected payer. Design, Setting, and Participants Secondary analysis of all inpatient admissions following pediatric adenotonsillectomy (age Exposure Inpatient pediatric tonsillectomy. Main Outcomes and Measures The percentage distributions of pediatric adenotonsillectomies with respect to hospital teaching status and primary payer were compared according to calendar year to determine temporal changes. Multivariate analysis was conducted with logistic regression to determine year-to-year changes in the proportion of pediatric adenotonsillectomy admissions, controlling for hospital teaching status and expected source of payment. Results The estimated numbers of inpatient hospital pediatric adenotonsillectomy stays in the United States in 2000, 2005, and 2010 were 12 879 (SE, 1695), 17 245 (SE, 2276), and 13 732 (SE, 2082), respectively. There was a significant increase in the proportion of children admitted to academic hospitals from 60.1% to 69.8% to 78.6%, respectively ( P = .045). With respect to teaching hospitals, the primary expected payer distribution shifted significantly, with an increase in Medicaid recipients from 38.4% to 38.9% to 50.5%, and a decline in private insurance from 57.7% to 51.5% to 43.9% ( P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Inpatient pediatric adenotonsillectomies are increasingly being regionalized to academic/teaching hospitals. Concurrently, the proportion of patients using Medicaid as the primary payer has increased for inpatient tonsillectomies in teaching hospitals. Such regionalization has important implications for health care reimbursement and distribution of care.
Adult Learning Theory

This note summarizes several modern theories of adult learning, including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, neurolinguistic programming, and the theories of Malcolm Knowles, David Kolb, and Gib Akin. The note can be used as an introduction to adult learning in a doctoral seminar on pedagogy, and invites readers to be aware of adult learning styles in preparing for and teaching their classes.
Use of Isotopically Modified Erbium in Advanced LWR Fuel

IRIS is a 335-MW(electric) pressurized water reactor (PWR) with integral primary system. Its design and optimized maintenance are compatible with long cycles, up to 4 yr. Advanced fuel management techniques are employed to support this objective; among others, novel use of burnable absorbers is considered. Erbium is one absorber that is currently utilized in PWRs. It has many desirable properties that ideally suit the extended cycle and low soluble boron concentration targeted by IRIS. However, erbium also leads to a cycle length penalty due to incomplete depletion and residual absorber isotopes, plus uranium displacement following erbium incorporation in the fuel matrix. This paper proposes to consider modifying the isotopic composition of erbium, evaluates its impact, and demonstrates that it is possible to obtain a considerable reduction of the penalty while retaining the positive features of natural erbium fuel. The economic benefit of the reduced penalty is appealing for the industrial production of isotopically modified erbium fuel.
You have to crawl before you walk: commentary on an article by Bernhard Kessler, MD, et al.: "risk factors for periprosthetic ankle joint infection: a case-control study".

The early results of total ankle arthroplasty were marred by inferior implant designs and uncertain surgical techniques1. These are the major reasons why so many foot and ankle surgeons were, and are today, reluctant to select arthroplasty over ankle arthrodesis. Today, proponents of total ankle arthroplasty have refined their surgical techniques, and improved implant designs have reduced formerly catastrophic failure rates. As the practice of total ankle arthroplasty matures, however, it faces the same hurdles seen during the development of other total joint arthroplasties: an increasing attention to epidemiological and risk factors associated with the surgery. Of particular concern among the complications of any joint replacement procedure such as total ankle arthroplasty is the risk of infection, which inevitably leads to implant failure and poor patient outcomes. While we know that implant-associated infections are a major concern in total ankle arthroplasty, as the authors of the present study explain, we do not know as much about the risk factors in total ankle arthroplasty as we do about those in other implant procedures. We do not really have …
Advances in denoising by multiple copies

Conventional image restoration algorithms use transform-domain filters, which separate noise from the sparse signal among the transform components or apply spatial smoothing filters in real space whose design relies on prior assumptions about the noise statistics. These filters also reduce the information content of the image by suppressing spatial frequencies or by recognizing only a limited set of shapes. We have previously proposed a new method called MC-MLP1 (multiple copies, multiple layer perceptrons), where we have shown that denoising can be efficiently done with a nonlinear filter that operates along patch neighborhoods and multiple copies of the original image. The use of patches enables the algorithm to account for spatial correlations in the random field whereas the multiple copies are used to recognize the noise statistics. The nonlinear filter, which is implemented by a hierarchical multistage system of multilayer perceptrons (MLP), outperformed state-of-the-art denoising algorithms such as those based on collaborative filtering and total variation. Compared to conventional denoising algorithms, our method can restore images without blurring them, making it attractive for use in applications such as medical imaging where, the preservation of anatomical details is critical.