cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The idiographic study of inconsistent condom use behavior of persons living with HIV.

Abstract A pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using, in a multiply disadvantaged population, an electronic daily diary to test hypotheses linking affective states to variability in psychosocial determinants of condom use. Twenty-one mostly non-Caucasian individuals reporting profound economic disadvantage, heavy alcohol use and HIV infection completed a 5–7 minute interactive voice response (IVR) telephone-based survey daily for three weeks. Potentially affect-related within-person variability was observed in HIV-preventive attitudes, intentions and self-efficacy. Surprisingly, in this sample, HIV-preventive attitudes, intentions and self-efficacy exhibited as much, or greater, variability within persons as compared to between persons. Positive affect was found to significantly co-vary with self-efficacy to practice safer sex B=0.20, t (199)=2.14, p=0.03. For each unit increase in daily positive affect, daily self-efficacy increased by 0.20. Results suggest that a daily diary methodolo...
Effects of Three Concept Mapping Strategies and Prior Knowledge in a Web-Based Learning Environment

This study examined instructional effects of three concept mapping strategies and prior knowledge in facilitating student achievement in Web-based learning environment. The three concept mapping strategies were concept matching, proposition identifying, and student generated concept mapping. The prior knowledge levels of the subjects were identified through a general physiology test. The instructional material was a 2000-word expository text about the human heart. Achievement was measured by the identification, terminology, comprehension tests, and the total test. The criterion tests measured achievement of different educational objectives at factual, conceptual, and rules and principles levels and general academic performance of university undergraduate students. The subjects were 290 undergraduate students from a large state university. The subjects completed the prior knowledge test, and participated in a 50-minute workshop on concept mapping one week prior to the experimental treatment. The subjects w...
Age of the basement rocks of southwest Montana

Rb-Sr analyses of a suite of quartzo-feldspathic gneisses that are interlayered with beds of marble, quartzite, and amphibolite in the Ruby and Tobacco Root Ranges and the Gallatin River canyon of southwest Montana show that the age of metamorphism of these strata occurred about 2,750 m.y. ago. The 13 samples analyzed are from rock units that have in the past been assigned stratigraphically to the Pony Group, Cherry Creek Group, and Dillon Granite Gneiss. Except for two samples of anomalous composition, the data define a linear array on an isochron diagram that has a best-fit value of 2,762 ± 113 m.y. Inclusion of other published data for the Tobacco Root Range yields a best-fit value of 2,730 ± 85 m.y. This age corresponds closely to that of the principal metamorphic-plutonic epoch of the Bear-tooth Mountains, to which the term “Bear-tooth orogeny” has been applied. It also demonstrates that the major Precambrian metasedimentary sequences of the region are of Archean age.
Dream recall and individual differences.

Self-reported dream recall for 3 hypothetical recall periods was studied as a function of individual differences in extraversion-introversion and neuroticism. University students (60 female, 60 male) served as Ss in a replicated design. No functional relationship of individual differences to dream recall was found, though mean recall based on S's estimates for the 3 recall periods was significantly greater in females than males. The potentially important study of dream recall as a function of motivational variables, particularly physiological arousal during dreaming experiences, was hypothesized and some theoretical possibilities were advanced.
Twelve tips for giving feedback effectively in the clinical environment

Background: Feedback is an essential element of the educational process for clinical trainees. Performance-based feedback enables good habits to be reinforced and faulty ones to be corrected. Despite its importance, most trainees feel that they do not receive adequate feedback and if they do, the process is not effective. Aims and methods: The authors reviewed the literature on feedback and present the following 12 tips for clinical teachers to provide effective feedback to undergraduate and graduate medical trainees. In most of the tips, the focus is the individual teacher in clinical settings, although some of the suggestions are best adopted at the institutional level. Results: Clinical educators will find the tips practical and easy to implement in their day-to-day interactions with learners. The techniques can be applied in settings whether the time for feedback is 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Conclusions: Clinical teachers can improve their skills for giving feedback to learners by using the straightforward and practical tools described in the subsequent sections. Institutions should emphasise the importance of feedback to their clinical educators, provide staff development and implement a mechanism by which the quantity and quality of feedback is monitored. Background In medicine, the educational focus has shifted away from knowledge acquisition and duration of training towards the achievement of learning outcomes and preparation of physicians for meeting individual and population healthcare needs (Krackov & Pohl 2011). In this outcome, or competency-based approach to education, learners are expected to reach specific milestones, as they develop the competencies expected of a physician. Detailed and prompt feedback on performance, coupled with opportunities to improve, helps them achieve these milestones (Krackov 2011; Krackov & Pohl 2011). Ende (1983) defines feedback as, ‘information describing students’ or house officers’ performance in a given activity that is intended to guide their future performance in that same or a related activity’. Hesketh and Laidlaw (2002) describe feedback as an essential element of the educational process that can help trainees reach their maximum potential. It enables learners to achieve the course or program goals by reinforcing good performance and providing the basis for remediation
Sensing With Slow Light in Fiber Bragg Gratings

On the edge of the bandgap in a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) narrow peaks of high transmission exist at frequencies where light interferes constructively in the forward direction. In the vicinity of these transmission peaks, light reflects back and forth numerous times across the periodic structure and experiences a large group delay. Since the sensitivity of a phase sensor to most external perturbations is proportional to the reciprocal of group velocity, in these slow-light regions the sensitivity of an FBG is expected to be significantly enhanced over traditional FBG sensors operated around the Bragg wavelength. In this paper, we describe means of producing and operating FBGs that support structural slow light with a group index that can be in principle as high as several thousand. We present simulations elucidating how to select the FBG parameters, in particular index modulation, length, and apodization, to generate such low group velocities, and quantify the very large improvement in strain and temperature sensitivities resulting from these new slow-light configurations. As a proof of concept, we report an FBG with a group index of 127, or a group velocity of ~2,360 km/s. This is by far the lowest group velocity reported to date in an FBG. Used as a strain sensor, this slow-light FBG is shown to be able to detect a strain as small as 880 fe/ √Hz , the lowest value reported for a passive FBG sensor.
The effect of maternal progesterone injections on fetal development of brain monoamine oxidase of rats.

The activity of mitochondrial type A and B monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the brain of rats has been shown to increase during the first 3 weeks of lifeL The type A form of MAO develops more rapidly with adult levels being reached by 14 days of age 3 while the activity of the B-type continues to rise through the third week after birth 7. Few studies have been undertaken to assay MAO activity in rat fetal brain. Using histochemical methods, Shimizu and Morikawa s detected low levels of MAO activity in certain brain areas at 15 days of gestation. Bennett and Giarman I assayed MAO activity towards 5-hydroxytryptamine at 20 days of gestation, and found it to be already at 30 ~ of adult levels. Recently, we have demonstrated an increase in both A and B MAO activity in the brains of 7-day-old rats whose mothers were treated with progesterone before and after parturition 8. Prenatal progesterone alone had no effect on MAO activity in newborn (1-day-old) rats; however, progesterone was not administered for 5 days prior to birth, so as not to interfere with parturition. Since the newborn rat pups were not exposed to progesterone for 5 days, it cannot be determined what influence progesterone had on brain MAO activity prenatally. Accordingly, the present study was undertaken to determine whether progesterone stimulates one or both types of MAO activity in the brains of fetuses exposed to progesterone via the mother. Thirty-six female rats of the Long-Evans strain (obtained from Charles River Laboratories) were time-mated and housed in individual plastic cages with ad libitum food pellets and water. Animals were injected daily with either progesterone (3.3 mg/kg) or the olive oil vehicle alone starting day 7 of gestation and continuing until the day of sacrifice. Fetuses were removed on days 14, 17, 20 and 22 of gestation, following decapitation of the mother. Their brains were rapidly removed, weighed and placed in small vials which were kept on ice for periods of up to 2 h prior to homogenization. The procedure used was a radioisotope assay using 0.1 mM [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as the substrate for type A and 0.26 mM [14C]phenylethylamine (PEA) for type B MAO, essentially as described previously z. Brains of 14-20-day-old
Relations between captive and noncaptive weights in anthropoid primates

This study explores the relations between captive and noncaptive (literature-reported wild) adult weights in 53 anthropoid primate species. Based on recent studies of variation in growth among wild populations, it is expected that captive and wild weights are highly correlated. In addition, the lack of a relation between species size and captive and wild weights is anticipated. Differences between wild and captive weights are investigated. Correlations between captive and wild weights are high. Within groups of closely related species, correlations can be expected to average r = .95 for both males and females. At low taxonomic levels (within genera), correlations are not generally as high. However, captive and noncaptive intrageneric correlations are comparable to intrageneric correlations based solely on wild weights reported by different literature sources. Size appears to be unrelated to differences in captive and wild weights. Species that appear to be at elevated risk of obesity are identified. This analysis finds that deviations between captive and wild weights are positively related to growth duration (measured for captive primates). This finding implies that, in long-growing species, wild weights may underestimate asymptotic size. Hypotheses explaining this phenomenon are developed. In general, extensive overlap in weight between samples of captive and wild primates is documented. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Performance evaluation of a centralised web-based integrated information system across the supply chain

In this paper, we re-examine a previous theoretical model of information success to assess the performance of centralised web-based information system (IS) that is integrated into the service operations of the supply chain. The field research is carried out using survey data collected from the different users of centralised student loan IS across the supply chain of the student loan industry. We use DeLone and McLean’s (2003, 2004) well-recognised e-commerce success framework that has gained theoretical acceptance among researchers. In the current study, we provide a detailed empirical analysis of the industry by segmenting our data into B2B and B2C categories. Discussion of our empirical results, implications to practitioners and researchers, limitations of the current study and directions for future research are also provided.
The Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome Cognitive Outcomes Study: long-term neuropsychological function in survivors of acute lung injury

Citation Mikkelsen ME, Christie JD, Lanken PN, Biester RC, Thompson BT, Bellamy SL, Localio AR, Demissie E, Hopkins RO, Angus DC: The adult respiratory distress syndrome cognitive outcomes study: long-term neuropsychological function in survivors of acute lung injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012, 185: 1307-1315.
The Challenges of Pluralism: Locating Religion in a World of Diversity:

This is a postprint (author's final draft) version of an article published in the journal Social Compass in 2010. The final version of this article may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0037768610362406 (login may be required). The version made available in OpenBU was supplied by the author.
Ultrasonographic and clinicopathological features of feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia in four cats

Four cats with feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) are described. Clinical signs included decreased appetite, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. Bloodwork abnormalities included mild neutrophilia (n = 2) and hyperglobulinemia with concurrent hyperproteinemia (n = 2). Ultrasonographically, a total of five solitary masses with mural thickening and loss of layering were identified in the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and colon. In one cat a second, separate lesion was diagnosed 3 weeks following surgical resection of one mass. Histopathologically, lesions were characterized by collagen trabeculae and mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates, predominantly eosinophils. Multiple areas of necrosis were also noted, which contained bacteria in 2/4 cats. In two cats, changes consistent with FGESF were also noted in the liver. All cats had surgical resection of their lesions. Two cats are still living at time of publication (43 and 24 months post-surgery). FGESF should be considered as a differential for intestinal masses in cats.
A New Algorithm for Autoregression Moving Average Model Parameter Estimation Using Group Method of Data Handling

A new algorithm for autoregresive moving average (ARMA) parameter estimation is introduced. The algorithm is based on the group method of data handling (GMDH) first introduced by the Russian cyberneticist, A. G. Ivakhnenko, for solving high-order regression polynomials. The GMDH is heuristic in nature and self-organizes into a model of optimal complexity without any a priori knowledge about the system's inner workings. We modified the GMDH algorithm to solve for ARMA model parameters. Computer simulations have been performed to examine the efficacy of the GMDH and comparison of the GMDH is made to one of the most accurate and one of the most widely used algorithms, the fast orthogonal search (FOS) and the least-squares methods, respectively. The results show that in some cases with noise contamination and incorrect model order assumptions, the GMDH performs better than either the FOS or the least-squares methods in providing only the parameters that are associated with the true model terms. © 2001 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC01: 8710+e
A Method for Estimating Potential Seasonal Predictability: Analysis of Covariance

This paper proposes a new method for assessing potential predictability of seasonal means using a single realization of daily time series. Potential predictability is defined as variability in seasonal means that exceeds the variability due to weather stochastic processes. The proposed method is based on analysis of covariance and accounts for autocorrelation in daily time series and uncertainties in statistical parameters. The method is applied to reanalyzed daily surface air temperature and detects significant potential predictability over the oceans and equatorial land areas. Potential predictability is weaker and varies significantly with season over extratropical land areas, with the fraction of potentially predictable variance rarely exceeding 60%. The proposed method also produces an estimate of the potentially predictable component of seasonal means, which can be used to investigate the relation between potential predictability and possible boundary forcings. The results are generally consistent with previous studies, although a more detailed study will be made in a future paper.
Automated protein classification using consensus decision

We propose a novel technique for automatically generating the SCOP classification of a protein structure with high accuracy. High accuracy is achieved by combining the decisions of multiple methods using the consensus of a committee (or an ensemble) classifier. Our technique is rooted in machine learning which shows that by judicially employing component classifiers, an ensemble classifier can be constructed to outperform its components. We use two sequence- and three structure-comparison tools as component classifiers. Given a protein structure, using the joint hypothesis, we first determine if the protein belongs to an existing category (family, superfamily, fold) in the SCOP hierarchy. For the proteins that are predicted as members of the existing categories, we compute their family-, superfamily-, and fold-level classifications using the consensus classifier. We show that we can significantly improve the classification accuracy compared to the individual component classifiers. In particular, we achieve error rates that are 3-12 times less than the individual classifiers' error rates at the family level, 1.5-4.5 times less at the superfamily level, and 1.1-2.4 times less at the fold level.
The Study of Interdependence and Conflict Recent Advances, Open Questions, and Directions for Future Research

A burgeoning literature has emerged on the relationship between economic interdependence and political conflict. This literature is evaluated, and three issues are raised for future research. First, there is a need to improve the theoretical basis of claims about the influence of interdependence on conflict and to specify more clearly the causal mechanisms underlying any such relationship. Second, future research should identify the boundary conditions of the effects of interdependence on conflict. Third, much more attention must be paid to the definition and measurement of interdependence and conflict.
Wire-textured silicon solar cells

Wire array or nanowire based silicon solar cells based upon radial p-n junctions have been investigated over the past few years for enhanced light trapping, as well as for being able to offer radial junctions that are in close proximity to photogenerated carriers. To date, however, silicon wire array cells have not been able to demonstrate efficiencies higher than their planar controls. We have studied of wire textured solar cells using two approaches. The first experiment focuses on single crystal Si substrate. We use thin (2.3 µm) p- (∼5°1015 /cm3) epitaxial Si/p+(∼5°1019 /cm3) Si(100) substrates to fabricate wire arrays using a simple, top down process employing a self assembled mask of close packed polystyrene micro-spheres. The effective absorber depth is confined to the thin p- layer since the photocurrent generation in the p+ layer is negligible due to low minority carrier lifetimes. The thin layer accentuates the effect of the wire structures. Through a detailed study of wire diameter and conformality, we demonstrate wire array devices that outperform the planar controls in terms of efficiency and photocurrent. The second experiment focuses on multicrystalline Si. We show that the self assembled monolayer mask process can be adapted for wire texturing multicrystalline Si solar cells successfully in a low cost, scalable process using chemical functionalization as a result of which a simple dispensing technique can be used without the need for spinning or squeegee based approaches. We demonstrate cells with 20% higher short circuit current than the planar control, and show that the wire textured samples have a higher “pseudo”-efficiency when the series resistance effects are excluded. Finally, through an extensive examination of the electrical performance of the cells using both thin single crystal, as well as multi-crystalline bulk Si absorber layers, we have identified the key issues of light trapping, internal quantum efficiencies and series resistance as a function of wire diameter.
EMI modeling of half-bridge inverter using a generalized terminal model

A generalized terminal model has been proposed to predict the conducted electromagnetic interference (EMI) from a boost converter. The results of conducted emissions have shown a good agreement up to 50 MHz. The same technique was also successfully applied to extract a terminal model of buck converter. This paper extends the generalized terminal modeling approach to a larger class of power converters by attempting to model a dc-ac converter from the dc terminal side. Modeling the terminal behavior of an ac system is more challenging than it is for dc-dc converters because of the time-varying converter operating point. The proposed technique is applied to a single-phase half-bridge inverter to show its versatility in modeling conducted emissions from ac systems. Measured and predicted conducted emissions from a half-bridge inverter are in a good agreement within 6 dB up to 30 MHz.
Salt after Adrenalectomy. III. Carbohydrate Stores in Adrenal-ectomized Rats Given Various Levels of Sodium Chloride.

SummaryThe adrenalectomized rat given 650-940 mg NaCl daily stores fed glucose as liver glycogen almost as well as does an intact animal. A NaCl intake of 1200 mg seems to interfere with glycogen storage in both adrenalectomized and intact animals.
Compiler-directed early load-address generation

Two orthogonal hardware techniques, table-based address prediction and early address calculation, for reducing the latency of load instructions have been recently proposed. The key idea behind both of these techniques is to speculatively perform loads early in the processor pipeline using predicted values for the loads' addresses. These techniques have required either a large hardware table or complex register bypass logic to be implemented in order to accurately predict the important loads in the presence of a large number of less-important loads. This paper proposes a compiler directed approach that allows a streamlined version of both of these techniques to be effectively used together. The compiler provides directives to indicate which prediction mechanism to use or, when appropriate, that a prediction should not be made. The hardware therefore can be focused on their target cases so that a smaller prediction table and simpler bypass logic suffice. Our results show that through straightforward compiler heuristics, we obtain an average speedup of 34% with a 256-entry direct-mapped address table and only one cached register. And with the help of address profiling, an extra 4% of speedup can be obtained.
Surgical treatment of rathke cleft cysts in children.

Objective Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) are cystic epithelial lesions in the sellar and suprasellar regions that are often discovered incidentally. They require surgical fenestration and drainage in a small proportion of patients who develop symptoms or demonstrate progressive enlargement. Our aim was to review our experience with pediatric patients treated surgically for RCCs. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients treated surgically for RCCs at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles between 1999 and 2007 after approval by the institutional review board. Clinical notes, operative reports, radiological studies, and pathology reports were reviewed. The median follow-up period was 34 months. Results Ten patients undergoing surgical treatment of an RCC were identified, making up 20% of the 51 patients with RCCs followed clinically over the same time period. The mean age was 13 years (age range, 2-17 years). There were 6 females and 4 males. Patients requiring surgery presented with the following clinical symptoms: headache (8 patients, 80%), endocrine insufficiency (6 patients, 60%), meningitis followed by visual loss (1 patient, 10%), and incidental finding (1 patient, 10%). The mean cyst diameter was 13.6 mm (range, 8-18 mm). Four patients had strictly sellar lesions, 4 patients had suprasellar extension of an RCC, and 2 patients had primarily suprasellar RCCs. Nine of 10 patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery, and 1 patient underwent a pterional craniotomy. Complete cyst drainage on radiography was noted in 9 of 10 patients (90%), all of whom underwent transsphenoidal surgery. One patient experienced a symptomatic recurrence 6 years after complete surgical drainage. Headaches improved in 7 of 8 patients after surgery. Two patients had complete resolution of a hormonal axis deficit, whereas 3 patients developed new anterior pituitary axis deficits. Two patients developed persistent diabetes insipidus after surgery. Conclusion RCCs are an infrequent cause of symptoms in pediatric patients. The transsphenoidal approach offers an effective means of achieving complete cyst drainage for lesions requiring surgery. Fenestration and aspiration of the cyst are usually sufficient to achieve total resolution of symptoms and signs caused by RCCs. Clinical symptoms such as headaches improved in the majority of patients, whereas hormonal disturbances typically persisted. Patient selection remains of paramount importance when considering surgery for pediatric patients with RCCs.
Lifestyle Intervention for Weight Loss and Cardiometabolic Changes in the Setting of Glucokinase Regulatory Protein Inhibition Glucokinase Regulatory Protein-Leu446Pro Variant in Look AHEAD

Background— Glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) inhibitors offer a novel treatment approach for glucose control in diabetes mellitus; however, their cardiometabolic effects, particularly in relation to increased triglycerides and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, are of concern. GCKR Leu446Pro is a common variant associated with reduced GCKR function, increased triglycerides, and CRP. Methods and Results— We investigated whether a 1-year intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) for weight loss would avert the unfavorable cardiometabolic effects associated with GCKR Leu446Pro when compared with a diabetes mellitus support and education arm in overweight/obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus with triglyceride (n=3214) and CRP (n=1411) data participating in a randomized lifestyle intervention study for weight loss, Action for Health in Diabetes Mellitus (Look AHEAD). Once demographics, medication use and baseline adiposity, and fitness were accounted for, ILI did not modify the baseline association of GCKR-Leu446Pro with elevated triglycerides (β±SE=0.067±0.013, P =1.5×10 −7 and β±SE=0.052±0.015, P =5×10 −4 ) or with elevated CRP (β±SE=0.136±0.034, P =5.1×10 −5 and β±SE=0.903±0.038, P =0.015) in the overall sample and Non-Hispanic Whites, respectively. The lack of a protective effect from ILI at 1 year when compared with diabetes mellitus support and education (ILI versus diabetes mellitus support and education interaction for triglyceride and CRP change, respectively: P =0.64 and 0.37 in the overall sample; P =0.27 and 0.05 in Non-Hispanic Whites) persisted after additional adjustment for changes in adiposity and fitness. Conclusions— Moderate improvements in adiposity and fitness with ILI did not mitigate the adverse cardiometabolic effects of GCKR inhibition in overweight/obese individuals with diabetes mellitus.
Some Variables Influencing Vernier AcuityI. Illumination and Exposure TimeII. Wave-Length of Illumination*

Since there is little experimental evidence on the influence of various stimulus factors on vernier acuity, functions relating vernier acuity to illumination have been obtained for two different exposure times and at three regions of the visible spectrum. An apparatus providing the necessary stimulus controls has been described in detail and the procedure is fully explained.Vernier acuity, as measured by the reciprocal of the standard deviation of “alignment” settings, varies with illumination for both indefinitely long and for short exposures. At low brightness vernier acuity is low, rises rapidly with increase in illumination, and finally levels off at a constant level at high brightnesses.Vernier acuity functions for short exposures are displaced downward and along the illumination axis relative to the function for long exposures. Thus maximum vernier acuity is never so high for short exposures and the maximum is reached at higher illuminations than with long exposures.The relationship between vernier acuity and illumination for both long and short exposures is fitted by Hecht and Mintz’s theoretical equation for visual acuity based on the brightness discrimination of the eye.Variations in the functions with duration of exposure of the acuity object are interpreted in the light of the intensity-time relationship and the findings of Graham and Kemp on the effect of exposure time on brightness discrimination.To investigate the influence of wave-length on vernier acuity, acuity vs. illumination functions have been found for red, yellow, blue, and white light. The experiments were carried out on two different apparatus.The two sets of data obtained on the two apparatus show that all the functions are of the same shape, but that slightly different maximum acuities are reached with the different colored illuminations. Red gives the highest acuity, yellow next, white next, and blue least. When refractive correction is made to allow for sharp focusing in blue illumination, the highest acuities are found with this color.It was concluded that wave-length of illumination is of some significance in vernier acuity, since higher acuities are found with nearly monochromatic light than with white. This improvement is perhaps caused by reduction of blurring of retinal images by restriction of the range of wave-lengths.
Love in the analytic setting

The phenomenon of love and the various forms it takes can be illustrated by looking at the specific forms manifesting themselves in the transference situation. The author sets out these various forms of "transference love", classifying them not only in terms of different diagnostic types of patient but also in terms of sex-specific features. He describes how, over time, transference love seeks a love object outside the psychoanalytic setting for the fulfillment of the desires awakened in the course of the therapeutic relationship. In addition, Kernberg illuminates the way in which the analyst and his/her counter-transference is involved in this process. The dynamics of the interplay between transference love and the counter-transference process is then discussed with reference to a specific case.
Scent-Station Visits as an Index to Abundance of Raccoons: An Experimental Manipulation

We tested the premise that rates of visitation by raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) to scent stations vary directly with population density by manipulating the density of an island population of this carnivore in middle Tennessee. Despite its widespread use, the scent-station index to population size has not been validated. General protocol for scent stations followed previous investigators; radiotelemetry was used to monitor individual behavior of raccoons. We determined minimum population size from the records of known captures and compared them with visits to scent stations recorded twice monthly during an initial period with no manipulation (May 1987–August 1988); similar procedures were used during an experimental period (September 1988–August 1989) when raccoons were removed and held on the mainland for ca. 1 month during each season and then returned to the island. Abundance of raccoons on the island ranged from 32 to 42 when estimated twice each month; computed indices of relative abundance varied from zero to 286. Rates of visitation by raccoons were highest in spring and summer during both the baseline and experimental period. Visits to scent stations were independent of density throughout the study. During the experimental period, both the largest and smallest observed indices of relative abundance occurred when an estimated 25% of the population had been removed and when all known animals ( n = 40) occurred on the island. Local fluctuations of populations may precipitate changes in behavior of raccoons that preclude the use of scent stations to index abundance, particularly in heterogeneous habitats.
Factors influencing crystal growth rates from undercooled liquids of pharmaceutical compounds.

Amorphous forms of drugs are increasingly being used to deliver poorly water-soluble compounds. Therefore, understanding the magnitude and origin of differences in crystallization kinetics is highly important. The goal of this study was to better understand the factors that influence crystal growth rates from pharmaceutically relevant undercooled liquids and to evaluate the range of growth rates observed. The crystal growth rates of 31 drugs were determined using an optical microscope in the temperature region between the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the melting temperature (Tm). Thermodynamic parameters such as Tm, melting enthalpy, and Tg were determined using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Selected viscosity values for the undercooled liquid were taken from the literature. The growth rates of the different compounds were found to be very different from each other with a variation of about 5 orders of magnitude between the fastest growing compounds and the slowest growing compounds....
The Promise of Process Tracing: Case selection in a World of Causal Complexity

Case studies are widely used in political science, providing a richness of detail that standard quantitative studies often lack. Process-tracing case studies have gained significant prominence recently for their promise to use this strength to explicate causal mechanisms behind robust empirical correlations. Effective case selection is obviously central for process tracing to deliver on this promise, but there are no generally applicable methods for case selection when exploring complex relationships that are non-linear and feature multiple causal mechanisms. To fill this gap, we develop guidelines for selecting process-tracing cases that focus on the functional form of the relationship between relevant variables and the distribution of possible causal mechanisms. Through general examples and specific applications, we show how this approach can reveal opportunities for researchers, while failing to account for these factors can result in poor case selection, mistaken inferences, and an inability to generalize.
Abstract 17784: The Genesips Project: an NHLBI-Sponsored induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Resource for the Study of Cardiovascular Diseases

The study of complex cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been hampered by the lack of appropriate human cellular model systems. In response, the NHBLI sponsored the NextGen Consortium, which encompasses 9 independent efforts spanning the portfolio of NHLBI related phenotypes. The goals of the consortium include: 1. To develop and improve methods for large-scale production and characterization of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models for CVD; 2. To create a resource of iPSC lines from a large number of phenotypically and genotypically characterized individuals. Our GENESiPS project is focused on insulin resistance (IR), a condition that affects 25-33% of the US population with serious health consequences including risk of type II diabetes and CVD. Although much is known about the physiological changes occurring during IR, little is known about the molecular pathways that drive the appearance of IR. Certain mature cell types as adipocytes, endothelial cells and skeletal muscle cells have been associated ...
Diastolic Hypotension, Troponin Elevation, and Electrocardiographic Changes Associated With the Management of Moderate to Severe Asthma in Children.

Objective The objective was to determine the occurrence of, and the factors associated with, diastolic hypotension and troponin elevation or electrocardiogram (ECG) ST-segment changes in a convenience sample of children with moderate to severe asthma receiving continuous albuterol nebulization. Methods This was a prospective, descriptive study in a pediatric emergency department and an intensive care unit of a tertiary academic center. Fifty children with moderate to severe asthma (clinical asthma score > 8) who received 10 to 15 mg/hour continuous albuterol for >2 hours between June 5, 2007, and February 4, 2008, were approached. Hourly diastolic blood pressures were recorded. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and ECG tracings were obtained following the first 2 hours of albuterol and then subsequently every 12 hours while receiving continuous albuterol. Main outcome measures were: 1) incidence of diastolic hypotension, 2) incidence of troponin elevation, and 3) incidence of ECG ST-depression. Results Fifty patients were enrolled. Thirty-three (66%) patients developed diastolic hypotension during the first 6 hours of continuous albuterol. Diastolic blood pressure declined from baseline at 1–6 hours (p < 0.01 vs. baseline). Twelve patients (24%) had elevated cTnI, 15 patients (30%) had ST-segment change, four patients (8%) had both, and 23 patients (46%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 32 to 60) had either a cTnI elevation or an ECG ST-segment change. Troponin elevation and diastolic hypotension were not associated (RR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.6 to 2.3). Conclusions In a subset of children with moderate to severe asthma, diastolic hypotension, troponin elevation, and ECG ST-segment change occur during administration of continuous albuterol. Future studies are necessary to determine the clinical significance of these findings.
Extreme elevation of transcobalamin II levels in multiple myeloma and other disorders.

The source of transcobalamin (TC) II in man and the factors controlling its serum level are unknown. We studied 98 patients with extreme elevation of this protein (>2000 ng/liter, a level approximately twice normal mean), grouped by predominant diagnosis in the categories of liver disease (primarily alcoholic cirrhosis) (17 patients), infection and other inflammatory disorders (21), cancer (17), lymphoproliferative disorders (9), and, most interestingly, multiple myeloma and related disorders (25); the remaining patients had miscellaneous disorders. Although many patients had persistent TC II elevation, in seven instances transitions between high and normal TC II levels were identified. These transitions most often appeared to parallel changes in acute inflammatory processes. Thus TC II had many of the characteristics of an acute-phase reactant. Of the possible cellular sources for TC II previously suggested, a myeloid origin was not supported by our data, and other evidence may be marshalled against a reticuloendothelial source; a hepatic source remains possible. However, our striking finding of TC II elevation in multiple myeloma and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and the frequent coexistence of hyperglobulinemia in the other patients suggests that plasma cells and B lymphocytes also merit consideration as sources.
Xenoestrogens: do they lower survival after thermal injury?

The effect of hormone disruptors on human health is an area of recent concern. The authors measured heptachlor epoxide and oxychlordane--the body storage forms of estrogenic insecticides-in the sera of patients with major burns (i.e., 7 survivors and 10 age- and burn-size-matched nonsurvivors) on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11 after they had been burned, as well as in 12 age-matched normal controls. During the hypermetabolic phase, serum concentrations of heptachlor epoxide and oxychlordane were greater in nonsurvivors than in controls, and heptachlor epoxide concentrations in nonsurvivors exceeded those in survivors on postburn day 5. The postburn alterations in heptachlor epoxide and oxychlordane concentrations could not be accounted for by changes in concentrations of circulating lipid. These findings, which indicate that xenoestrogens are released from fat depots after thermal injury, suggest a possible contribution to mortality, especially in older patients.
High-Throughput Screening Across Quaternary Alloy Composition Space: Oxidation of (AlxFeyNi1-x-y)∼0.8Cr∼0.2.

Composition spread alloy films (CSAFs) are commonly used as libraries for high-throughput screening of composition-property relationships in multicomponent materials science. Because lateral gradients afford two degrees of freedom, an n-component CSAF can, in principle, contain any composition range falling on a continuous two-dimensional surface through an (n – 1)-dimensional composition space. However, depending on the complexity of the CSAF gradients, characterizing and graphically representing this composition range may not be straightforward when n ≥ 4. The standard approach for combinatorial studies performed using quaternary or higher-order CSAFs has been to use fixed stoichiometric ratios of one or more components to force the composition range to fall on some well-defined plane in the composition space. In this work, we explore the synthesis of quaternary Al–Fe–Ni–Cr CSAFs with a rotatable shadow mask CSAF deposition tool, in which none of the component ratios are fixed. On the basis of the uniqu...
Development of Optical Fiber Probes for Biological Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy has great potential for in vivo disease diagnosis. However, due to large optical fiber background, the diffusive nature of tissue and weak Raman cross-sections, careful optical design methods, including modeling, must be used to obtain useful information. We will discuss our methods and show preliminary results from this approach.
The Role of Nonneuronal Nrf2 Pathway in Ischemic Stroke: Damage Control and Potential Tissue Repair

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that controls the expression of predominant antioxidant system in the central nervous system (CNS). Under normal conditions, Nrf2 is sequestered by Keap1 and degenerated by the ubiquitin system. Oxidative stress initiates Nrf2 nuclear translocation, leading to expression of antioxidant molecules and enzymes. In stroke, oxidative stress is one of the major causes of neuronal death, and Nrf2 pathway is activated in both in vitro and in vivo ischemic models. In addition to mediate self-defense in neurons, Nrf2 also actively regulates the expression of cytoprotective enzymes in other cell types within the neurovascular unit (NVU), including astrocytes and endothelial cells, and thus supports neuronal function and survival through cell–cell interaction. The roles of microglias in stroke are still controversial, but close to be clarified. In this chapter, we will briefly introduce Nrf2 pathway, followed by its key roles of nonneuronal Nrf2 in limiting ischemic injury and emerging roles in brain tissue repair after stroke.
Abstract 521: Connexin 43 and E-cadherin modulate prostate cancer cell migration

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Connexins play a major role in cell-cell communication and form a bidirectional signaling pathway to assemble gap junctions and, along with cadherins, alter cell behaviors, such as motility. To assess the effect of Connexin 43 (Cx43) on migration of prostate cancer cells we performed two types of migration assays using shRNA Cx43 transfected PC3 cells with suppressed Cx 43. Wound healing and transwell chamber assays were used to assess the migratory potential of stably transfected shCx43-PC3 cells. When we reduced Cx 43 we saw approximately a two-fold reduction in migration of shCx43 transfected PC3 cells compared to those transfected with scramble controls. Since suppression of Cx43 reduced migration of the highly migratory PC3 cells, we wondered whether this reflected a partial loss of mesenchymal traits (e.g., motility) and acquisition of epithelial markers, (e.g.,E-cadherin expression). Using quantitative RT-PCR, E-cadherin expression was assessed in shCx43-PC3 and scramble control cells. Suppression of Cx43 increased E-cadherin mRNA levels 5-fold or greater in shCx43-PC3 cells than in scramble control cells. An alternative approach used to transcriptionally up-regulate E-cadherin mRNA in PC3 cells (via suppression of a transcriptional repressor) resulted in a similar approximately 2.5-fold suppression of migration as measured by wound healing and transwell chamber assays. Thus, an inverse relation of Cx 43 and E-cadherin was observed in prostate cancer cells and alterations in either led to aberrant migration. These results were consistent with our hypothesis that differential connexin expression in prostate cancer cells contributes to different metastatic potential. To correlate differential connexin subunit expression with migratory potential, we quantified gene expression of 13 different Connexin subunits in non-invasive LNCaP and in invasive PC3 cells using qRTPCR. In LNCaP cells we observed low levels of Cx43 along with high levels of Cx32 and E-cadherin expression and the converse in PC3 cells. Overall, these results suggest that reducing high levels of Cx43, associated with enhanced E-cadherin expression and reduced migratory behavior could potentially block lethal metastatic tumor progression of prostate cancer cells. Citation Format: Abdulaziz Aloliqi, Ao Zhang, Adina Brett-Morris, Justin Lathia, Gail C. Fraizer. Connexin 43 and E-cadherin modulate prostate cancer cell migration. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 521. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-521
Characteristics of socially successful elementary school-aged children with autism

Background The extant literature demonstrates that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulty interacting and socially connecting with typically developing classmates. However, some children with ASD have social outcomes that are consistent with their typically developing counterparts. Little is known about this subgroup of children with ASD. This study examined the stable (unlikely to change) and malleable (changeable) characteristics of socially successful children with ASD. Methods This study used baseline data from three intervention studies performed in public schools in the Southwestern United States. A total of 148 elementary-aged children with ASD in 130 classrooms in 47 public schools participated. Measures of playground peer engagement and social network salience (inclusion in informal peer groups) were obtained. Results The results demonstrated that a number of malleable factors significantly predicted playground peer engagement (class size, autism symptom severity, peer connections) and social network salience (autism symptom severity, peer connections, received friendships). In addition, age was the only stable factor that significantly predicted social network salience. Interestingly, two malleable (i.e., peer connections and received friendships) and no stable factors (i.e., age, IQ, sex) predicted overall social success (e.g., high playground peer engagement and social network salience) in children with ASD. Conclusions School-based interventions should address malleable factors such as the number of peer connections and received friendships that predict the best social outcomes for children with ASD.