cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Associations Between Changes in Physical Function and Driving Mobility Behaviors of Older Adults

The objective of this longitudinal study was to examine time-varying correlations between multiple indexes of physical function and driving mobility in older adults across 5 years. The participants were older drivers aged 65 to 91 (M = 73.6 ± 5.78) who were randomly assigned to the no-contact control arm of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly Study (N = 598). The driving mobility outcomes were self-reported driving space, driving exposure, driving frequency, and weekly mileage assessed at baseline and first, second, third, and fifth follow-up visits. Physical functioning measures included grip strength, the turn 360 test, and self-reported physical function. Multilevel models examined relationships between changes in physical functioning and driving mobility outcomes over 5 years. The results indicated that driving space and driving frequency decreased over time, especially for older individuals. Changes in physical function were positively related to changes in driving mobil...
A Closer Look at Health Care Providers' Moral Distress Regarding the Withdrawal of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration

In my dual roles as a palliative care physician and philosopher-bioethicist, I am often struck by the seeming “disconnect” between largely agreed-upon moral norms—as espoused in the bioethics liter...
Numerical modeling and optimal designing of flow field for a 300 MW coal-fired boiler SCR deNOxsystem

The structure and arrangement of flue gas conduct and baffle have a significant effect on distribution of flue gas flow field and NH3 concentration for a SCR deNOx reactor.In order to optimize distribution of the flow field and NH3 concentration of a PC-fired 300 MW boiler,four schemes of baffle conducting flue gas are proposed.Numerical modeling of the flow field and NH3 concentration under typical boiler loads is carried out and thereby the optimal scheme of the flue gas baffle is determined.Simulation results show that,with the baffle,the standard deviation of the flue gas velocity and NH3 concentration on the inlet section of the SCR catalyst are respectively controlled within the standard deviation designed,which meet the design requirements.
Invited Editorial on “Measurement of intraindividual airway tone heterogeneity and its importance in asthma”: How does an airway and subsequently the lung become hyperresponsive?

the answer to this question is fundamental to understanding the root cause of asthma. The question can be expanded as follows: What must change within an otherwise healthy airway and/or the airway tree, so as to cause elevated constriction and/or a constriction pattern at a lower dose of airway
The Ethics of Promoting Living Kidney Donation Using Nonargumentative Influence: Applications, Concerns, and Future Directions

Recommendations from the 2014 Consensus Conference on Best Practices in Living Kidney Donation reflect increasing attention to overcoming barriers to donation as a means of expanding access to living donor kidney transplantation. "High priority" initiatives include empowering transplant candidates and their loved ones in their search for a living kidney donor. Transplant programs are assuming an unprecedented role as facilitators of patients' solicitation for donors, and nonprofits are promoting living kidney donation (LKD) in the community. New strategies to promote LKD incorporate "nonargumentative" forms of influence (i.e. approaches to shaping behavior that do not attempt to persuade through reason) such as appeals to emotion, messenger effects and social norms. These approaches have raised ethical concerns in other settings but have received little attention in the transplantation literature despite their increasing relevance. Previous work on using nonargumentative influence to shape patient behavior has highlighted implications for (1) the relationship between influencer and influenced and (2) patient autonomy. We argue that using nonargumentative influence to promote LKD is a promising strategy that can be compatible with ethical standards. We also outline potential concerns and solutions to be implemented in practice.
Hagfish pump some iron

![Graphic][1] Along with other nutrients, animals need trace metals to function. Iron, the oxygen-binding component in the blood pigment hemoglobin, is a critical trace metal and is usually absorbed through the gut. Mammals can alter iron metabolism in order to meet oxygen demand during
Assessing releases of mercury from small-scale gold mining sites in Ghana

Abstract The small-scale gold mining sector has been and continues to be identified as a major source of mercury contamination. Although many studies have assessed the human and ecological health impacts of mercury emissions in the vicinity of small-scale mining operations, only a handful have surveyed the source of the contamination: the sites themselves. This paper reports findings from an environmental analysis undertaken directly within three small-scale gold mining sites in Ghana. Using targeted soil and water sampling analysed through mass spectrometry, the findings are compared with findings in the literature and safety guidelines to gauge the scale of contamination at surveyed sites. The analysis reveals that there is widespread pollution, often several orders higher than background levels. Expanding upon this, the results are extrapolated to provide estimates for mercury emissions accountable to the artisanal mining sector for Ghana as a whole.
Molten Organic Salts—Physical Properties

The following discussion will concern itself with the thermodynamic and transport properties of molten organic salts in so far as they shed light on the structure of simple ionic fluids. As a result several detailed studies of complex organic mixtures have been omitted and the interested reader should consult the comprehensive review articles by Gordon(1) and Reinsborough.(2)
Developing the methodology of colour gamut analysis and print quality evaluation for textile ink‐jet printing: Delphi method

This research used the Delphi method to investigate current colour gamut analysis methods, which is a critical component of colour management systems (CMS). Thirteen ink-jet printing experts were interviewed to understand how they manage colour and their process for analysing and comparing colour gamut. A significant result of this study was the development of a four-stage process model for colour gamut analysis and print quality evaluation for textile ink-jet printing. The optimal process model was verified and approved by experts. This study uncovered an industry initiative toward the improvement of CMS for more accurate colour matching, a need to stabilise variables in the manufacturing process, and a need to standardise related tests and evaluations. The study also revealed new CMS software and technologies developed for ink formulation and pre-/post-treatment methods to facilitate high quality production in textile ink-jet printing.
Building a Virtual Challenge-Based Learning Environment: (Abstract Only)

Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) is an active learning approach using just-in-time instruction where students are introduced to instructional material in the context of solving a particular challenge. The CBL approach has proven very effective as an introductory instructional strategy, especially when working with K-12 outreach. For example, in Cybersecurity, many universities are reaching out to high school and community college students using the Capture the Flag contests with learning materials built in for each challenge. In this workshop, we will explore building just such a virtual, challenge-based, contest environment. Workshhop participants will walk through the process of setting up the Mellivora contest environment, be given the opportunity to create challenges on their own, and be provided with a tutorial on the administrative tools available. Similarly, participants will be provided an introduction to the installation and management of a virtual environment that will provide virtual machines of various platforms (Windows, Linux, etc.) for the challenges. Participants will also be provided a brief overview of the creation of short, high-impact instructional materials to accompany challenges. Finally, participants will compete in a short Capture the Flag contest to demonstrate the efficacy of the CBL approach.
On the Utility of Lay Summaries and AI Safety Disclosures: Toward Robust, Open Research Oversight

In this position paper, we propose that the community consider encouraging researchers to include two riders, a “Lay Summary” and an “AI Safety Disclosure”, as part of future NLP papers published in ACL forums that present user-facing systems. The goal is to encourage researchers–via a relatively non-intrusive mechanism–to consider the societal implications of technologies carrying (un)known and/or (un)knowable long-term risks, to highlight failure cases, and to provide a mechanism by which the general public (and scientists in other disciplines) can more readily engage in the discussion in an informed manner. This simple proposal requires minimal additional up-front costs for researchers; the lay summary, at least, has significant precedence in the medical literature and other areas of science; and the proposal is aimed to supplement, rather than replace, existing approaches for encouraging researchers to consider the ethical implications of their work, such as those of the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program and institutional review boards (IRBs).
DIPG-21. EVALUATING THERAPEUTIC VULNERABILITIES IN DIPG USING AURORA KINASE INHIBITOR AS A NOVEL THERAPY

AbstractDIPG is one of the most aggressive pediatric brain tumors with no effective therapies. Majority of the midline high-grade pediatric gliomas carry somatic mutations of histone H3 resulting in the replacement of lysine 27 by methionine (K27M) and global loss of trimethylation on H3K27. In an effort to identify drugs for rapid clinical translation, we performed a rigorous high-throughput in vitro drug screen of FDA approved chemotherapeutics and epigenetic regulators. We have identified several major classes of drugs that potently reduce cell viability and proliferation of H3K37M tumors including the aurora kinase inhibitors (AKI). Using large cohorts from published data sets, we also confirmed a very distinct differential expression of Aurora Kinase (AK)-related genes in DIPG patients compared to normal brain and these results extended to our patient-derived H3K27M cell lines. Alisertib is a brain penetrant AKI that is orally available, with good safety and tolerability profile in children which will allow for rapid translation to the clinic. Importantly, gene expression of twelve AK related genes that we identified in our H3K27M cell lines correlated directly with sensitivity of that cell line to alisertib. We also identified an epigenetic mechanism of H3K27M trimethylation reprogramming with AKI treatment in H3K27M tumors. Finally we validated alisertib as a therapeutic target in animal models. The summation of these results supports the hypothesis that Aurora Kinases are critical for epigenetic reprogramming in H3K27M tumor cells and represents a targeted approach for treating tumors with this mutation.
Exact Computation of the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Distribution with Zeros and Ties

An extension of the recursion equation for the Wilcoxon signed rank distribution is given that covers the case of zeros and ties. A program is included that will calculate exact probabilities for sample sizes up to 100.
2,4-Diamino-6-(bis-2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl pteridine. A new potent anticancer drug.

2,4-Diamino-6-(bis-2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl pteridine has been synthesized and found to be highly potent against L-1210 mouse leukemia lymphoblasts. A single dose of 5 mg/kg injected 24 h after the tumor inoculation increased the life-span of 50% of mice to more than 200%, while the other 505 of animals were cured.
Local angiotensin-(1-7) administration improves microvascular endothelial function in women who have had preeclampsia.

Despite remission of clinical symptoms postpartum, women who have had preeclampsia demonstrate microvascular endothelial dysfunction, mediated in part by increased sensitivity to angiotensin II (AN...
Assessing the Relative Importance of Factors at Multiple Spatial Scales Affecting Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife

We reviewed recent studies focused on assessing the relative roles of factors operating at different scales in shaping animal populations, species, communities, and individual behaviors. Our goal was to summarize the current state of the science by documenting trends and advances in approaches used to weigh the relative impact of drivers at different scales. We identify several recent advances in remote sensing–based data collection, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and terrestrial laser scanning, that have the potential to increase the range of scales over which more detailed measurements of the composition and structure of environments can be made. We also highlight the promise of experimental studies and specific statistical approaches for providing a more solid understanding of the relative importance of factors operating at different spatial scales. We found that after nearly three decades of studies focused on the relative importance of factors operating at different scales, no general pattern has emerged. There is no clear evidence that one scale or one set of scales consistently plays a larger role than others. Nonetheless, it is clear from this research that ecological processes are indeed affected by processes operating at multiple spatial scales. We conclude that a more productive line of questioning might focus not on the relative importance of factors operating at different scales, but on understanding which factors affect a given process, at what scales they operate, and how they interact.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in a Regulated Design Environment – A Beam Design Example

The development of computer design tools in relation to construction management is perceived as a mainstream to automate several construction processes. Automation is not necessarily based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). But if we power it up with data, we can make a machine to automatically mimic and eventually supersede human intelligence. However, until now, not much evident research has been conducted to pursue successful applications of AI in the design. In using AI for design decision making, the intelligent agent should first gather information from the environment and then transform them into internal context. Last, the agent acts on its perceived environment in a way that maximizes its chances of success. To better assess the applicability of AI to the construction management, we classify the design environment into two categories; in a regulated design environment, a collection of written regulations governs the design process. In contrast, the needs and expectations of people are the basis for the input data in a human-controlled design environment. Text analysis is probably the most common way of interpreting design and construction related data. Choosing an appropriate AI technique depends largely on how much we know about the environment and the problem at hand. Search methods and optimization theories seem more suited to solve regulated design problems compared to learning methods. An example of the selection of correct beam size is used to describe the methods for choosing an alternative from a set of acceptable choices (those satisfy the regulations) with the highest possible reward.
Acute Onset Bilateral Blurry Vision as Sole Presenting Complaint for Underlying Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Introduction: When we think about the initial symptoms of malignancy the symptoms that typically come to mind are those such as fatigue, unintentional weight loss, lymphadenopathy, or bone pain; though sometimes oncologic emergencies may not present in textbook ways and so it is important to always keep a broad differential when initially evaluating patients and gathering data. Case Description: A 12 year-old female with no medical history presented to the emergency department with 1 day of bilateral blurry vision. She was in her usual …
Real-Time Twitter Data Mining Approach to Infer User Perception Toward Active Mobility:

This study evaluates the level of service of shared transportation facilities through mining geotagged data from social media and analyzing the perceptions of road users. An algorithm is developed ...
Beyond Diet: Veganism as Liberatory Praxis

“Beyond Diet: Veganism as Liberatory Praxis” posits veganism as part of a comprehensive social justice praxis that includes non-human animals alongside human beings. The chapter explores some of the ways in which the animal agriculture industry routinely harms humans and the environments in which they live as it confines, tortures, kills, and dismembers billions of non-human animals a year. It explores the work of vegans who challenge “single issue” approaches to animal rights and instead make connections among human and non-human liberation projects. Rather than configuring veganism as an individualist, consumerist dietary choice, it advocates for a radical and inclusive approach to dismantling the systems that underlie speciesism.
Constituency building: Determining consumers’ willingness to participate in corporate political activities

Abstract Recently, firms have increasingly approached their own customers for assistance with corporate political activities—a strategy known as constituency building. While constituency building efforts targeting shareholders and employees have been well-studied, relatively little is known about the impact of approaching consumers. Hence, this paper examines why consumers participate in corporate political activities on behalf of a brand, and we present three studies to explore this increasingly popular practice. First, Study 1 utilizes qualitative interviews with actual campaign participants to provide initial insights to develop our theoretical model, which we subsequently test in two experiments. Study 2 finds that brand loyalty is a key driver of consumer activism, with both direct and indirect effects through its impact on issue salience, information seeking behavior, and its interaction with the issue type. Finally, Study 3 finds that consumer activism is associated with increased brand loyalty, indicating that this may be a relationship building activity and an important dimension of the longer process of social exchange between the brand and consumer.
Exposure to Air Pollution in Relation to Risk of Dementia and Related Outcomes: An Updated Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Literature.

Background: Dementia is a devastating neurologic condition that is common in older adults. We previously reviewed the epidemiological evidence examining the hypothesis that long-term exposure to ai...
Bacterial cooperation through horizontal gene transfer

Cooperation exists across all scales of biological organization, from genetic elements to complex human societies. Bacteria cooperate by secreting molecules that benefit all individuals in the population (i.e., public goods). Genes associated with cooperation can spread among strains through horizontal gene transfer (HGT). We discuss recent findings on how HGT mediated by mobile genetic elements promotes bacterial cooperation, how cooperation in turn can facilitate more frequent HGT, and how the act of HGT itself may be considered as a form of cooperation. We propose that HGT is an important enforcement mechanism in bacterial populations, thus creating a positive feedback loop that further maintains cooperation. To enforce cooperation, HGT serves as a homogenizing force by transferring the cooperative trait, effectively eliminating cheaters.
CHAPTER 8 – Influence of Nonspecific Binding on the Rate and Amount of Specific Binding: A Classical Analysis

The inclusion of nonspecific binding in the analysis of specific binding of the antigen in solution to the antibody immobilized on the surface provides a more realistic picture of what is happening on the surface, besides leading to temporal binding-rate coefficients. Nonspecific binding may be present because of: the direct binding of the analyte to the sensor surface; the nonspecific of the antibody on the surface; and/or the binding of other molecules to the sensing surface in multicomponent environments. A fractal analysis of the antigen–antibody binding reaction for the different reaction orders provides estimates of the changes in the rate and the amount of antigen in solution specifically bound to the antibody immobilized on the biosensor surface in the presence of nonspecific binding. This chapter suggests a method for determining the fractal parameter from experimental antigen–antibody binding kinetics data including nonspecific binding using regression analysis. This demonstrates the applicability of the approach to real antibody surfaces.
Henle, Friedrich Gustav Jakob (1809–1885)

This article has no abstract. Keywords: Henle, Friedrich Gustav Jakob (germ theory); empirical tests for diseases
Systems of Differential Equations

In many (in fact, most) cases, differential equations of the form \(x' = f\left( {t,\left. x \right)} \right.\) are inadequate for the description of a physical system; more variables are needed to specify its state at any time t. Usually a state of the physical system will be specified by the values of several functions, \({x_i}\left( t \right)\), for i 1,2…,n. If we know “forces” giving for each of them the derivative \({{x'}_i}\left( t \right)\) with respect to time, in terms of the values of all the variables (at that particular time) and perhaps also of time, then the evolution of the physical system can be described by a system of n first order differential equations, $${{x'}_i} = f\left( {t,{x_1}} \right.,{x_2},...,\left. {{x_n}} \right)$$ (1) for i= 1, 2,…, n, or as a single first order differential equation in ℝn, where the vectors arc- usually written in print as boldface, or by hand with arrows; i.e., $$x'\left( t \right) = f\left( {t,\left. x \right)} \right. or \vec x' = \vec f\left( {t,} \right.\left. {\vec x} \right)$$ (2)
Incorporation of water oxygens into intracellular nucleotides and RNA. I. Predominantly non-hydrolytic RNA turnover in Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract Considerations are presented indicative that 18O labeling patterns will allow distinction between principally hydrolytic or phosphorolytic cleavage of unstable RNA in Bacillus subtilis. With hydrolytic cleavage, upon addition of H18OH to an exponentially growing culture of bacteria, a “burst” of 18O incorporation into RNA should be observed; and, after many generations of steady-state growth in H18OH, the 18O content of the phosphodiester branch oxygens of the RNA should be measurably greater than the 18O content of the γ-phosphoryl groups of ATP. The results presented in this paper give evidence that RNA turnover occurs by a predominantly non-hydrolytic mechanism in exponentially growing Bacillus subtilis. This suggests that polynucleotide phosphorylase or another undetected phosphorolytic nuclease is primarily responsible for intracellular degradation of unstable RNA.
Duplicate analysis of blood ethanol by injection onto two parallel gas chromatographic columns in rapid succession.

Methods for analyzing blood ethanol prior to 1967 have been reviewed by Anders and Mannering [1]. Gas chromatographic approaches involving injection of vapors trapped above blood samples in sealed bottles have been presented recently by Biasotti and Bradford [2], Glendening and Harvey [3], and by Van Stekelenburg and De Bruyn [4]. More recently, the Perkin-Elmer Company marketed an automated vapor phase injector to chromatograph large numbers of samples daily.
A 64 GHz 5 mW low phase noise Gm-boosted colpitts CMOS VCO with self-switched biasing technique

A g m -boosted Colpitts voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) for millimeter wave application is presented in this paper. By employing a new self-switched biasing technique, the flicker noise corner of the circuit is reduced, leading to improved phase noise performance. Furthermore, trans-conductance is boosted by using a modified cross-coupled pair with parallel capacitance networks. The novel VCO is demonstrated in 65nm CMOS with 7% frequency tuning range from 62–66.5 GHz. With 1 V supply and 5 mA current, phase noise of −113.7 dBc/Hz at 10 MHz offset is measured.
Creation of a Prognostic Index for Spine Metastasis to Stratify Survival in Patients Treated With Spinal Stereotactic Radiosurgery: Secondary Analysis of Mature Prospective Trials

Purpose There exists uncertainty in the prognosis of patients following spinal metastasis treatment. We sought to create a scoring system that stratifies patients based on overall survival. Methods and Materials Patients enrolled in 2 prospective trials investigating stereotactic spine radiation surgery (SSRS) for spinal metastasis with ≥3-year follow-up were analyzed. A multivariate Cox regression model was used to create a survival model. Pretreatment variables included were race, sex, age, performance status, tumor histology, extent of vertebrae involvement, previous therapy at the SSRS site, disease burden, and timing of diagnosis and metastasis. Four survival groups were generated based on the model-derived survival score. Results Median follow-up in the 206 patients included in this analysis was 70 months (range: 37-133 months). Seven variables were selected: female sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.7, P =.02), Karnofsky performance score (HR = 0.8 per 10-point increase above 60, P =.007), previous surgery at the SSRS site (HR = 0.7, P =.02), previous radiation at the SSRS site (HR = 1.8, P =.001), the SSRS site as the only site of metastatic disease (HR = 0.5, P =.01), number of organ systems involved outside of bone (HR = 1.4 per involved system, P 5 year interval from initial diagnosis to detection of spine metastasis (HR = 0.5, P P P Conclusions We developed the prognostic index for spinal metastases (PRISM) model, a new model that identified patient subgroups with poor and excellent prognoses.
Modeling the spread of plant disease using a sequence of binary random fields with absorbing states

Abstract The presence or absence of some event at locations on a spatial lattice can often be modeled using a binary Markov random field model. If observations are repeated over time at the same locations this model structure can be extended to include neighbors in both space and time, as long as conditions sufficient to allow the construction of a joint distribution from the set of specified conditionals are satisfied. One of those conditions involves the relation between the support of the joint distribution and the individual supports of marginal distributions at each location. When a sequence of binary random fields involves an absorbing state and more than two points in time, the support conditions needed to construct a model for the entire sequence as a Markov random field are not satisfied. An application involving the spread of a soybean disease across a field motivates development of a model that avoids the difficulties caused by absorbing states over time, by formulating the overall model as a sequence of conditional Markov random fields which themselves follow a Markov property in time.
Tetramethylpyrazine elicits disparate responses in cardiac contraction and intracellular Ca2+ transients in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is the biologically active ingredient isolated from a popular Chinese medicinal plant, Ligusticum wallichil franchat, which has been used effectively since the 1970s to treat ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular and thrombotic vascular diseases. The direct action of TMP on cardiac contractile function, however, is largely unclear. This study was designed to examine the effect of TMP on ventricular contractile function at the single cardiac myocyte level. Adult rat ventricular myocytes were isolated and stimulated to contract at 0.5 Hz, and mechanical and intracellular Ca(2+) properties were evaluated using an IonOptix Myocam system. Contractile properties analyzed included peak shortening (PS), time-to-peak shortening (TPS), time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90)), maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/-dl/dt), resting intracellular Ca(2+) level, Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR) and decay. TMP (10(-10)-10(-5) M) exhibited an increase in PS with a maximal increase of 30.9%. TMP had no effect on +/-dl/dt, TPS/TR(90) or CICR but lowered resting intracellular Ca(2+) level and slowed intracellular Ca(2+) decay. Pretreatment with either the nonspecific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 microM) or inducible NOS inhibitor W1400 effectively abolished the positive effect of TMP on myocyte shortening. Our data demonstrate a direct positive inotropic effect of TMP in cardiac myocytes, which may be related, at least in part, to NO production.
Dynamic Target Match Signals in Perirhinal Cortex Can Be Explained by Instantaneous Computations That Act on Dynamic Input from Inferotemporal Cortex

Finding sought objects requires the brain to combine visual and target signals to determine when a target is in view. To investigate how the brain implements these computations, we recorded neural responses in inferotemporal cortex (IT) and perirhinal cortex (PRH) as macaque monkeys performed a delayed-match-to-sample target search task. Our data suggest that visual and target signals were combined within or before IT in the ventral visual pathway and then passed onto PRH, where they were reformatted into a more explicit target match signal over ∼10–15 ms. Accounting for these dynamics in PRH did not require proposing dynamic computations within PRH itself but, rather, could be attributed to instantaneous PRH computations performed upon an input representation from IT that changed with time. We found that the dynamics of the IT representation arose from two commonly observed features: individual IT neurons whose response preferences were not simply rescaled with time and variable response latencies across the population. Our results demonstrate that these types of time-varying responses have important consequences for downstream computation and suggest that dynamic representations can arise within a feedforward framework as a consequence of instantaneous computations performed upon time-varying inputs.
Trustworthiness Processing and Psychobiological Responses to Natural Disaster-Induced Distress in Adolescents

In this study, we examine the role of trust perceptions on psychological well-being and salivary cortisol levels of adolescents who were exposed to pervasive, noninterpersonal trauma, displacement, and relocation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Compared to demographically matched controls, affected adolescents reported higher perceptions of other people's trustworthiness, decreased externalizing behaviors, increased internalizing behaviors, greater desire for consolation from others, and lower cortisol activity. Follow-up analyses suggested that the relation between hurricane exposure and lower self-esteem might be mediated partly by increased trustworthiness perceptions. These results suggest that adolescents might respond to different types of stressors with varying patterns of distress and the manner in which the stressors alter trust processing might predict the development of internalizing or externalizing behaviors.
Redefining the Human Development Index to Account for Sustainability

Earlier measures of growth like Gross Domestic Product per capita, or even more recent measures like the Human Development Index (HDI), failed to consider the ‘environmental’ aspect of development. Currently, countries that have accepted the sustainability challenge are finding ways to determine if they are making progress in a sustainable way by addressing the environmental aspect of development. This paper attempts to improve the HDI by adding an ‘ecological footprint to total bio-capacity ratio’ as an indicator of environmental resource use. This new index, the Environmentally Stressed Human Development Index (ESHDI) while trying to account for sustainable development, dramatically alters the original HDI rankings of countries. Some ‘high’ and ‘medium’ income countries are enduring excessive environmental stress to sustain economic development.
Dipyridamole inhibition of adenosine metabolism in human blood.

Abstract The effects of dipyridamole on the metabolism of adenosine were studied in human whole blood. The half-life for adenosine disappearance and the formation of deamination and phosphorylation products were determined by adding [3H]adenosine to blood incubating at 37°C. The initial adenosine concentration was 10 nmol/ml blood. Aliquots of blood were removed at specific times following the addition of labelled adenosine. The aliquots were later assayed for adenosine and its products by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The half-life for adenosine in undiluted blood was 10 nmol/ml blood. Since these inhibitory concentrations of dipyridamole are on the same order as those achieved therapeutically in man, these data indicate that dipyridamole at therapeutic concentrations causes significant inhibition of adenosine metabolism in whole blood.
Leadership style, anonymity, and creativity in group decision support systems: The mediating role of optimal flow

ABSTRACT Prior research indicates that flow, a psychological state characterized by concentration, enjoyment, and intrinsic motivation, may be linked to creativity of individuals participating in computer-mediated meetings. A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of leadership style (transactional contingent reward and transformational) and anonymity level (identified and anonymous) on flow and creativity of 159 undergraduate students working in groups performing a creativity task using a Group Decision Support System (GDSS). Results demonstrated that flow mediated effects of leadership on creativity in a GDSS context, and its role may be moderated by anonymity. Results also indicated that both flow and anonymity were required for enhancing creativity in a GDSS context. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Normal Vaginal Microflora During Use of Various Forms of Catamenial Protection

Although the effect of vaginal tampons on microbial flora during menstruation has been studied, the effects attributable to particular tampon fibers have received inadequate attention. The purpose of this report is to review previous studies and describe the results of laboratory tests that compare the effects of use of various tampons on the normal changes that occur in vaginal microflora during menstruation. Tampon and swab samples were obtained from volunteers on days 2, 4, and 21 after the start of menses. Statistical evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative data revealed that the same numerically dominant phenotypes were present regardless of sample type, sample time, or catamenial product. In general, total bacterial counts decreased during menstruation, and the total bacterial counts from tampon samples tended to be lower than those in concomitant swab samples. Predictable changes in total numbers of the dominant species were noted when the data were evaluated by day of menstrual cycle. Results indicate that the tampon type had little effect on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the vaginal microflora during the menstrual cycle.
Antiestrogens are partial estrogen agonists for prolactin production in primary pituitary cultures.

Abstract The antiestrogens Ly-117018 and tamoxifen increased prolactin production about 2-fold in primary cultures of male rat anterior pituitary cells. The dose-response relationship was biphasic; 10−10 M Ly-117018 and 10−7 M tamoxifen caused maximal stimulation, but higher concentrations caused no stimulation and completely antagonized the 5-fold stimulation caused by estrogen. The calmodulin antagonists, trifluoperazine, pimozide and W7 also prevented estrogen induction of prolactin production. Increasing concentrations of estradiol reversed inhibition by tamoxifen but not by pimozide. These results indicate that, in normal pituitary cells, estrogen antagonists may behave as partial agonists at low concentrations and as full antagonists at higher concentrations (tamoxifen, prolactin, calmodulin, 17βestradiol).
Use of fractals and kinetic equations to model thermally induced hillock formation and growth in thin metal films

We investigated the applicability of a model based on fractals and the Smoluchowski kinetic equations to describe hillock formation in thin metal films. We have previously used this model to analyze cluster and ultrafine particle production. We show how to extract two parameters from measured hillock size distributions which may reveal the scaling of the mobility of clusters and vacancies in films with varying hillock size. On the basis of our application of this model to certain data taken from the literature, the model shows considerable potential for being able to provide an internally consistent quantitative basis for monitoring thermally driven mass redistribution processes in metal films.
Plant proteinase inhibitors: Mechanism of action and effect on the growth and digestive physiology of larval Heliothis zea and Spodoptera exiqua

Abstract We compared soybean trypsin inhibitor and potato proteinase inhibitor II in relation to their effects on the growth and digestive physiology of larval H. zea (Boddie) and S. exiqua (Hubner). When incorporated into an artificial diet, both proteinase inhibitors significantly reduced the growth and development of the larvae. However, when the artificial diet containing the proteinase inhibitor was supplemented with methionine, the reduction of growth did not occur. The proteinase inhibitors had no effect on the in vivo digestion of protein, indicating that they do not reduce the level of digested protein. However, when the larvae chronically ingest the proteinase inhibitors, there was significant elevation of the level of tryptic activity (the primary alimentary protease for both species of insect). Thus, we conclude that the mode of action of proteinase inhibitors is to cause the pernicious hyperproduction of trypsin. This, coupled with insufficient dietary availability of sulphur-containing amino acids (i.e. methionine) needed for enzyme synthesis, results in inhibition of growth. Thus, protein quantity/quality is very important in dictating the anti-nutritional effects of plant proteinase inhibitors on herbivorous insects.
Clinical and Radiologic Correlations of Central Pontine Myelinolysis Syndrome

OBJECTIVE To characterize clinical and radiologic features of patients with central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) and identify variables that predict outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively studied patients diagnosed as having CPM identified by a search of Mayo Clinic medical records from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2010. Diagnosis was made by clinical and radiologic features. Favorable outcome was defined by a modified Rankin Scale score of 2 or lower. Volume of signal abnormality on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was quantified by a neuroradiologist blinded to outcomes. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to assess association between volume of signal abnormality and outcomes at discharge and last follow-up. RESULTS Of 24 patients, 14 (58%) had only CPM, and 10 (42%) had extrapontine involvement. Hyponatremia was documented in 18 patients (75%), with median sodium nadir of 114 mmol/L. Eighteen patients (75%) had alcoholism, and malnutrition was documented in 12 (50%). Presenting symptoms included encephalopathy (n=18 [75%]), ataxia (n=11 [46%]), dysarthria (n=7 [29%]), eye movement abnormalities (n=6 [25%]), and seizures (n=5 [21%]). Favorable outcome was seen in 15 patients (63%) at last follow-up. Findings on initial brain MRI were normal in 5 patients, but all MRI scans were abnormal with serial imaging. The volume of radiologic signal abnormality was not associated with outcome at discharge or last follow-up ( P =.67 and P=.37, respectively). CONCLUSION Clinical outcome in patients with CPM is not predicted by the volume of radiologic T2 signal abnormality on MRI or the severity of hyponatremia. Serial brain imaging is of value because a substantial proportion of patients have normal findings on initial MRI.
Estimating Uncertainty of Economically Optimum Fertilizer Rates

Optimal N fertilization in agricultural production is necessary to achieve both economical success and to minimize nitrate transport to surface and subsurface waters. The degree of uncertainty associated with economically optimum fertilizer rate (EOR) estimation is generally overlooked, and there are no standard procedures to calculate confidence intervals (CIs) ofEORs. In this paper, we present methodologies for the estimation of CIs around ex post EORs. We review four CI methods and illustrate the procedures with a sample dataset consisting of five sites, showing computations involved. Ranges in CIs about the EOR values for sites 1 through 5 (averaged across CI methods) were 15.8, 59.9, 41.7, 62.1, and 203.6 kg N ha -1 , respectively. Ranges in the 90% CI of EOR values at sites 2 to 5 were quite large relative to EOR values themselves, ranging from 29 to 106% of EOR values. Classical symmetrical CIs were not adequate for economical optima of fertilizer response curves. Wald CIs as compared with profile-likelihood based CIs tended to overestimate the lower bound and underestimate the upper bound of the EOR CI. Profile-likelihood based CIs provide a superior, computationally viable methodology for EOR uncertainty estimation in nonlinear fertilizer response models. The bootstrap CI methodologies showed great potential to evaluate the uncertainty ofEORs. When compared with the profile-likelihood based CIs in our experimental areas, both bootstrapped CIs were likely to give comparable estimates for the lower bound of the CIs. The upper bounds were similar to or lower than the likelihood-based CIs. In all locations these distribution-free CIs performed better than the classical symmetrical Wald CI.
Sudden cardiac death in young athletes and nonathletes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article will review the incidence and most common causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in healthy young adults, including competitive athletes, as well as members of the general population. RECENT FINDINGS SCD is rare but devastating in a young individual. The incidence of SCD in the young ranges from as low as 0.4 per 100,000 patient-years to as high as 13.4 per 100,000 patient-years. SCD occurs in all populations, not only in athletes. SUMMARY Whether SCD is more common in athletes is the cause of continued debate stemming from conflicting data. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common underlying cause of SCD in young athletes in most series; however, in nonathletic populations, the underlying causes of SCD are more varied.
Regional patterns in the invasion success of Cheiracanthium spiders (Miturgidae) in vineyard ecosystems

Invasions have often been linked to reduced biodiversity, but the role of non-native species in the decline of native species is ambiguous. In a 2003 survey of four California vineyard regions, exotic spiders (Cheiracanthium spp.) were more dominant in vineyards with lower spider species diversity and reduced spider abundance. There was no evidence for the role of species interactions in the invasion of Cheiracanthium spiders, however, as native spiders from the same feeding guild were most abundant in regions with high Cheiracanthium levels. Comparison with a survey conducted 10 years earlier indicated that the recent invader C. mildei simply represented an addition to the spider community, with no apparent change in proportions of the congener C. inclusum. Invasion success is discussed with respect to agricultural habitat, as results suggest that disturbed conditions in many vineyards may favor Cheiracanthium spp. and native wandering spiders while decreasing overall spider diversity.
Images of God in the Letters of Paul

Using categories from cross-cultural analysis, this study identifies how Paul portrays God metaphorically as a patriarchal figure who relates to Israel as a father to his family. In so imaging God, Paul continues a Pharisaic concept of Judaism as a religion of the home and family, distinguished from a state religion whose centralizing strategies differed notably in doctrine and practice. Paul's adoptive filiation of gentiles into Christ as God's Son suggests how his missionary theology accorded with the familial metaphor for God, and represented an early level of Christian religious identification. Christians today can benefit from an awareness of what role the father played in first century Mediterranean cultures, and how such a role may differ markedly from contemporary American experience.
Isolation and culture of adult hepatocytes from liver biopsies

Hepatocytes were isolated from liver biopsies of rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, and humans. The procedure is based on cannulation of large veins in the cut face of the biopsy, followed by collagenase perfusion. Yields averaged 19 x 10(6) viable hepatocytes/g liver. Viability averaged 84%, as determined by trypan blue dye exclusion. Cultures were prepared from the isolated hepatocytes and were found to be comparable in morphology and N-demethylase activity to hepatocyte cultures prepared by the in situ perfusion of the liver. The development of this method should facilitate comparative studies of the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and metabolism of foreign chemicals in primary hepatocyte cultures.
Lactational alcohol exposure elicits long-term immune deficits and increased noradrenergic synaptic transmission in lymphoid organs

Abstract Increasing evidence suggests that the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in immunomodulation. While chronic alcohol consumption has been associated with immune deficits, the effects of exposure to alcohol during early postnatal life on subsequent immunocompetence and activity of sympathetic neurons in lymphoid organs are not known. This study examined the long-term effects of lactational alcohol consumption on cellular immune responses and noradrenergic synaptic transmission in lymphoid and other organs of the young adult C57BL/6 mouse. The data show that exposure to alcohol via the mother's milk was associated with long-term deficits in cellular immunity, including suppression of the local graft vs host and contact hypersensitivity responses. The animals also displayed enhanced noradrenergic synaptic transmission and decreased β-adrenoceptor density selectively in lymphoid organs. These neuroimmune changes are particularly striking since body weight-gain of the suckling pups was normal and their blood alcohol concentration was considerably lower than that of the alcohol-consuming dam. This suggests an increased sensitivity of the nascent immune and nervous systems during the critical period of early postnatal development.
Long range planning in under-developed countries —A case history

Abstract Planning in under-developed countries requires close co-operation between Government and private enterprise. This article illustrates the vast scope of planning in this environment. The Sabi Limpopo Authority is the regional planning and development body for an area of 26,000 square miles, responsible for exploiting a river catchment of nearly twice this size, guiding the investment of nearly £300 million, and creating a livelihood for 2 million people in a previously almost uninhabited corner of Rhodesia. The scheme involves building a dozen major dams, eight new towns, new roads, railways, canals, and developing a complex of farms, industrial estates and marketing outlets.