cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognition in practice : mind, mathematics, and culture in everyday life

Most previous research on human cognition has focused on problem-solving, and has confined its investigations to the laboratory. As a result, it has been difficult to account for complex mental processes and their place in culture and history. In this startling - indeed, disco in forting - study, Jean Lave moves the analysis of one particular form of cognitive activity, - arithmetic problem-solving - out of the laboratory into the domain of everyday life. In so doing, she shows how mathematics in the 'real world', like all thinking, is shaped by the dynamic encounter between the culturally endowed mind and its total context, a subtle interaction that shapes 1) Both tile human subject and the world within which it acts. The study is focused on mundane daily, activities, such as grocery shopping for 'best buys' in the supermarket, dieting, and so on. Innovative in its method, fascinating in its findings, the research is above all significant in its theoretical contributions. Have offers a cogent critique of conventional cognitive theory, turning for an alternative to recent social theory, and weaving a compelling synthesis from elements of culture theory, theories of practice, and Marxist discourse. The result is a new way of understanding human thought processes, a vision of cognition as the dialectic between persons-acting, and the settings in which their activity is constituted. The book will appeal to anthropologists, for its novel theory of the relation of cognition to culture and context; to cognitive scientists and educational theorists; and to the 'plain folks' who form its subject, and who will recognize themselves in it, a rare accomplishment in the modern social sciences.
Self-Serving Interpretations of Motives

Actor-subjects performed a helpful act and later received an interpersonal evaluation that attributed either more positive motives than they originally attributed to themselves, less positive motives, or the same balance of positive and negative motives. As predicted, actors initially attributed their helpfulness primarily to positive motives (e.g., to aid the other) rather than nonpositive motives (e.g., to create a good impression), whereas observer-subjects believed positive and nonpositive motives were equally likely reasons for the conduct. Subsequent reassessments of motives were not influenced b the evaluator's feedback. However, actors sharply denigrated the validity of an evaluation that assigned them less positive motives whereas they regarded more positive and same evaluations as highly valid. Observers, in contrast, regarded all evaluations as valid to an intermediate degree. The results support the view that actors will attempt to construct and protect desired images of self through their int...
Use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Adolescent Smokers and Nonsmokers

Background Assessing whether and how adolescents use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) will be important given recent recommendations to make NRT more accessible by lowering its price, increasing its distribution, and advising health care professionals to suggest its use for smoking cessation. Objectives To report the prevalence, ease of access, and reasons for NRT use and describe inappropriate use in adolescent smokers and nonsmokers. Design Cross-sectional survey of 4078 high school students during the school term of 1998. Setting City schools in Memphis, Tenn. Main Outcome Measures Community-based self-reported prevalence of NRT use and characteristics of those using NRT. Results Approximately 5% of adolescents reported trying or using nicotine gum or patches. Females were less likely than males and African Americans were less likely than others to use NRT. For African American smokers, NRT use was highest at lower smoking levels, while other smokers showed the opposite pattern. Almost 40% of former smokers reported using NRT to try to quit smoking; however, 75% of current smokers endorsed using NRT for reasons other than trying to quit smoking. Other inappropriate use of NRT was reported; 18% of NRT users reported themselves as never smokers. More than 50% of students reported that it would be easy for them to get NRT. Conclusions Nicotine replacement therapy is used by adolescent smokers and nonsmokers, is easily accessible, and is used for reasons other than trying to quit smoking. Efforts are needed to discourage NRT use in nonsmoking youth and to encourage appropriate use of NRT in young smokers to maximize its potential for successful cessation.
Moral trust & scientific collaboration

Abstract Modern scientific knowledge is increasingly collaborative. Much analysis in social epistemology models scientists as self-interested agents motivated by external inducements and sanctions. However, less research exists on the epistemic import of scientists’ moral concern for their colleagues. I argue that scientists’ trust in their colleagues’ moral motivations is a key component of the rationality of collaboration. On the prevailing account, trust is a matter of mere reliance on the self-interest of one’s colleagues. That is, scientists merely rely on external compulsion to motivate self-interested colleagues to be trustworthy collaborators. I show that this self-interest account has significant limitations. First, it cannot fully account for trust by relatively powerless scientists. Second, reliance on self-interest can be self-defeating. For each limitation, I show that moral trust can bridge the gap—when members of the scientific community cannot rely on the self-interest of their colleagues, they rationally place trust in the moral motivations of their colleagues. Case studies of mid-twentieth-century industrial laboratories and exploitation of junior scientists show that such moral trust justifies collaboration when mere reliance on the self-interest of colleagues would be irrational. Thus, this paper provides a more complete and realistic account of the rationality of scientific collaboration.
Containing data noise in unconventional-reservoir-performance forecasting

Abstract Many decline-curve analysis methods have emerged for forecasting the future performance of unconventional reservoirs. However, severe noise in field data, coupled with the low-frequency rate in monitoring/reporting and the unknown behavior of many completion and reservoir parameters, collectively present serious challenges in obtaining correct model parameters in many settings. To address the complexity of this multitude of issues, performance forecasting is approached in two steps. First, we attempt to circumvent the data noise and frequency issues with a global cumulative production profile for a group of wells exhibiting similar performance characters, leading to the estimation of global model parameters. Second, we compare error trends amongst all methods for a basis of selecting well groups. Finally, a simple rule-of-thumb is developed to get an estimate of the allowable time for extrapolating performance prediction within 10% error.
Minerals in the Air: An Environmental Perspective

The troposphere comprises roughly the lowest 10 km of the atmosphere, the part we inhabit, that envelops us, and that we inhale and look through every day of our lives. Clouds, rain, all manner of storms, and other aspects of weather originate within it, and it contains 85% of the mass of the atmosphere, including aerosol particles. These particles, like greenhouse gases, can influence climate. Mineral particles ale major constituents of this aerosol. Their sizes, shapes, compositions, and degrees of agglomeration can all be determined using transmission electron microscopy. These variables have, to a considerable extent, been overlooked in studies of atmospheric chemistry and provide an important potential area of research for geoscientists.
Modeling, Control, and Experimental Validation of a High-Speed Supercavitating Vehicle

Underwater vehicles that travel inside a bubble or supercavity offer possibilities for high-speed and energy-efficient transportation of cargo and personnel. Validation and testing of mathematical models and control systems for these vehicles is a challenge due to the cost and complexity of experimental facilities and testing procedures. A cost-efficient and low-complexity approach to the experimental validation of mathematical models and control systems for a supercavitating test vehicle is presented in this paper. The proposed method enables the testing of control algorithms subject to steady and unsteady flows in a high-speed water tunnel. The method combines a real-time simulation of the vehicle dynamics, force measurements from an experimental scale vehicle, and flight control computer to reproduce the vehicle motion subject to realistic flow conditions and hardware constraints as actuator saturation and time delay. The model of the vehicle dynamics, used for the validation infrastructure and control design, is derived using experimental data. A controller designed to track pitch angle reference commands was tested on the experimental platform. The test cases validated the operation of the vehicle and controller subject to steady and unsteady flows.
Impact Erosion of Planetary Atmospheres

The impact of a large extraterrestrial body onto a planet deposits considerable energy in the atmosphere. If the radius of the impactor is much larger than an atmospheric scale height and its velocity much larger than the planetary escape velocity, some of the planetary atmosphere may be driven off into space. The process is analyzed theoretically in this paper. The amount of gas that escapes is equal to the amount of gas intercepted by the impacting body multiplied by a factor not very different from unity. Escape occurs only if the velocity of the impacting body exceeds the planetary escape velocity. At large impact velocities the enhancement factor, which is the factor multiplying the amount of atmosphere intercepted by the impacting body, approaches a constant value approximately equal to I01UV~, where Ve is the escape velocity (in cm/sec). The enhancement factor is independent of atmospheric mass or surface pressure. Ablation of the impacting body and the planetary surface adds to the mass of gas that must be accelerated into space if escape is to occur. As a result, impact erosion of the atmosphere does not occur from a planet with an escape velocity in excess of 10 km/sec. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Assembly and Function of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Yeast: Relationships between Cables and Patches

Actin in eukaryotic cells is found in different pools, with filaments being organized into a variety of supramolecular assemblies. To investigate the assembly and functional relationships between different parts of the actin cytoskeleton in one cell, we studied the morphology and dynamics of cables and patches in yeast. The fine structure of actin cables and the manner in which cables disassemble support a model in which cables are composed of a number of overlapping actin filaments. No evidence for intrinsic polarity of cables was found. To investigate to what extent different parts of the actin cytoskeleton depend on each other, we looked for relationships between cables and patches. Patches and cables were often associated, and their polarized distributions were highly correlated. Therefore, patches and cables do appear to depend on each other for assembly and function. Many cell types show rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton, which can occur via assembly or movement of actin filaments. In our studies, dramatic changes in actin polarization did not include changes in filamentous actin. In addition, the concentration of actin patches was relatively constant as cells grew. Therefore, cells do not have bursts of activity in which new parts of the actin cytoskeleton are created.
Dimensionality reduction of flow cytometric data through information preservation

Like many biomedical applications, flow cytometry is a field in which dimensionality reduction is important for analysis and diagnosis. Through expression patterns of various fluorescent biomarkers, flow cytometry is often used to characterize the malignant cells in cancer patients, traced to the level of the individual cell. Typically, diagnosticians analyze cytometric data through a series of 2-dimensional histograms of the expression of various marker combinations, which does not exploit the high-dimensional nature of the data. In this paper we utilize a form of dimensionality reduction - which we refer to as Information Preserving Component Analysis (IPCA) - that preserves the information distance between multi-dimensional data sets. As such, we offer a method for clinicians to visualize patient data in a low-dimensional projection space defined by a linear combination of all available markers. We illustrate these results on actual patient data.
Scientific Authority in the Creation-Evolution Debates

At the heart of debates among creationists and evolutionists are questions about scientific integrity and rigor. Creationists often justify their rejection of biological evolution by claiming that the methodologies and interpretations of evolutionary scientists are flawed. A consideration of creationists’ critiques of the scientific data, however, reveals a deficient understanding and appreciation of the nature of the scientific process. It is essential that our schools educate students about the character of scientific inquiry. Clarifying the nature and limitation of scientific knowledge for our students will equip our students to evaluate evolutionary or creationist arguments critically. Recognizing and teaching both the strengths and limitations of the scientific process will do much to further the ongoing dialogue between science and religion.
Physiological and biochemical responses of tomato microshoots to induced salinity stress with associated ethylene accumulation

Physiological and biochemical responses of open-pollinated ‘Roma’ and dwarf F1 hybrid ‘Patio’ tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivars to in vitro induced salinity were examined in light of the possible contribution of ethylene to these symptoms. Salinity was induced by incorporating 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, or 200 mM NaCl into shoot culture media. Elevated salinity treatments significantly enhanced ethylene accumulation in the headspace and were accompanied by increased leaf epinasty in both cultivars. Growth, leaf cell sap osmolarity, leaf tissue viability and shoot soluble protein content were generally depressed with elevated salinity treatments, whereas electrolyte leakage, membrane injury, raffinose, and total sugars were concomitantly increased. Macronutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S decreased with elevated salinity in both cultivars and were accompanied by a significant increase in Na content and a sharp decrease in K/Na ratio. Tissue micronutrients, Fe, B, Zn, Mn, and Cu were generally decreased with elevated salinity especially at 100 mM or more. Incorporating ethylene inhibitors CoCl2 or NiCl2 at 5.0 or 10.0 mg/l into media supplemented with 100 mM NaCl significantly reduced ethylene accumulation in the headspace and prevented epinasty, but did not eliminate the negative impacts on growth and other physiological parameters caused by salinity treatment in either cultivar. Our results indicate that the increase in ethylene under salinity stress is not the primary factor contributing to salinity’s deleterious effect on tomato plant growth and physiology.
Designing software for provable correctness

Abstract Formal software design methods significantly improve the quality of software designs and products. They introduce new levels of defect prevention with a rigorous design process for decomposing product requirements, systematically verifying the correctness of each decomposition and maintaining requirements integrity throughout the process. The process has been effectively applied to software of significant size and complexity and has the potential for software development without the traditional debugging step. Methodology for software design is important since the majority of software defects (40%–60%) are introduced during the design step and the cost of their removal can be 100 times more expensive than defects introduced at later steps in the development process. The formal methods result in significantly fewer total defects than is currently realized (in the 0–20 defect range) and in their earlier detection and removal (90% prior to code execution).
Observer performance methodologies for evaluating blood vessel visibility in MR angiograms using accurate geometric registration to high resolution x‐ray angiograms

Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) and two alternative forced choice (2AFC) methodologies for quantitatively assessing vessel visibility in MR angiography (MRA) were examined using x-ray angiography images as truth. The methodologies required MRA projection images with the same orientation and magnification as the x-ray images. Geometric distortions limited the quality of the registration. The observer performance measurements were compared to vessel contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements. Receiver bandwidth (RBW) and magnetization transfer (MT) effects in 3D time-of-flight MRA were evaluated. Overall, applying MT significantly increased all three measurements while decreasing the RBW significantly improved the 2AFC and CNR measurements. The relative importance of both effects on the 2AFC measure increased as vessel diameter decreased, although statistical significance was limited by small samples for diameters less than approximately 0.7 mm. These results demonstrate the usefulness of these observer performance methodologies for MRA technique assessment.
Polar behavior of the platinum/zirconia interface

Abstract Oxygen sensors using yttria-doped zirconia in combination with platinum electrodes can store relatively large amounts of charge if cooled from high temperatures with a potential difference of 1.0 V applied to the terminals. On reheating the sensors, peak discharge currents are obtained at 350°C.
An α-glucosidase in the salivary glands of the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti

An α-glucosidase from the adult salivary glands of the vector mosquito, Aedes aegypti, was characterized. The α-glucosidase is a soluble glycoprotein with Mr 68,000 that is secreted when mosquitoes take a sugar meal. Total activity in the salivary glands is equal between males and females with 82% of the activity in female glands being present in the proximal-lateral lobes. The characteristics of the α-glucosidase correlate well with the putative protein encoded by the Maltase-like I gene. The α-glucosidase is most likely involved in sugar digestion.
The influence of ammonia on the oxygen delivery system of coho salmon hemoglobin

Abstract 1. 1. The influence of ammonia on respiration has long been recognized, yet no definitive conclusions have been reached. 2. 2. The information provided suggests a mechanism brought about by prolonged exposure to elevated external levels of ammonia in an aqueous environment. 3. 3. Initial stimulation of glycolysis causes a progressive acidemia which, sequentially, has a negative effect on the oxygen transport function of hemoglobin. 4. 4. Spectrophotometric data of hemoglobin solutions from coho salmon yearlings subjected to increased environmental ammonia concentrations revealed a progressive transformation of the characteistic absorption configuration of oxygenated hemoglobin toward that indicative of the deoxygenated molecule.
The influence of instructor social presence and student academic entitlement on teacher misbehaviors in online courses

This study investigated how student perceptions of prosocial instructor variables (immediacy, communication satisfaction, interpersonal attraction) and student academic entitlement predict graduate student reports of three dimensions (incompetent, indolent, and offensive) of teacher misbehaviors in online communication courses. Results revealed that communication satisfaction, immediacy, and task-related interpersonal attraction significantly predict student reports of incompetent and indolent teacher misbehaviors, while communication satisfaction and task- and social-related interpersonal attraction significantly predict perceptions of offensive teacher misbehaviors. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the teacher-student relationship and instructor approaches in the computer-mediated classroom context.
Gene and cell therapy for chronic ischaemic heart disease.

Viable treatment options are becoming available for the ‘no-option’ patient with chronic ischaemic heart disease. Instead of revascularising the highly diseased epicardial coronary arteries, scientists and clinicians have been looking at augmenting mother nature’s way of providing biological bypass in an attempt to provide symptomatic relief in these patients. The novel use of gene and cell therapies for myocardial neovascularisation has exploded into a flurry of early clinical trials. This translational research has been motivated by an improved understanding of the biological mechanisms involved in tissue repair after ischaemic injury. While safety concerns will be top in priority in these trials, different types or combination of therapies, dose and route of delivery are being tested before further optimisation and establishment. With cautious optimism, a new era in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease is being entered. This article reviews the present state in gene and cell therapies for ischaemic...
Reduced global genomic repair of ultraviolet light-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in simian virus 40-transformed human cells.

The p53 tumor-suppressor gene has been implicated in the inducible activation of excision repair of ultraviolet (UV)-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in human cells. Because the large T antigen (LTAg) of the simian virus 40 (SV40) binds p53 protein and can interfere with its function, it was of interest to study DNA repair in normal human fibroblasts that had been transformed by SV40 compared with that in their nontransformed parental counterparts and to determine whether such transformation attenuated global genomic repair (GGR) of CPDs. Three methods were used to measure GGR in UV-irradiated cells: (i) an immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies specific for CPDs or 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs), (ii) zone sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients to measure the average DNA strand size after specific nicking at CPD sites in duplex DNA with T4 endonuclease V (TEV), and (iii) Southern hybridization of TEV-treated DNA with strand-specific mRNA probes to assess removal of CPDs from either strand of a defined genetic sequence in an expressed gene. Whereas repair of 6-4PPs was very similar in paired SV40-transformed and primary fibroblasts, GGR of CPDs was significantly reduced in the SV40-transformed cells. In contrast, SV40 transformation did not appreciably affect the efficiency of transcription-coupled repair. These data support the hypothesis that SV40 transformation can result in reduced levels of GGR, most likely because of the inhibition of normal p53 function by LTAg. Mol. Carcinog. 29:17–24, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Tachyphylaxis to the inhibitory effect of L-type channel blockers on ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in porcine tracheal myocytes.

Discrepancies about the role of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) in acetylcholine (ACh)-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs) have been seen in recent reports. We demonstrate here that ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in TMCS were reversibly inhibited by three VGCC blockers, nicardipine, nifedipine and verapamil. Prolonged (several minutes) application of VGCC blockers, led to tachyphylaxis; that is, [Ca2+]i oscillations resumed, but at a lower frequency. Brief (15–30 s) removal of VGCC blockers re-sensitized [Ca2+]i oscillations to inhibition by the agents. Calcium oscillations tolerant to VGCC blockers were abolished by KB-R7943, an inhibitor of the reverse mode of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). KB-R7943 alone also abolished ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations. Enhancement of the reverse mode of NCX via removing extracellular Na+ reversed inhibition of ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations by VGCC blockers. Inhibition of non-selective cation channels using Gd3+ slightly reduced the frequency of ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations, but did not prevent the occurrence of tachyphylaxis. Altogether, these results suggest that VGCC and the reverse mode of NCX are two primary Ca2+ entry pathways for maintaining ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations in TSMCs. The two pathways complement each other, and may account for tachyphylaxis of ACh-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations to VGCC blockers.
A comparison of the protein composition of the brains of four rodents.

Abstract The proteins from the brain, kidney and liver of the 4 rodents, mouse, rat, hamster and guinea pig, were quantitatively solubilized by homogenization and subsequent sequential extraction with Tris buffer, Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Brain had the highest content of membrane proteins, particularly those extractable with Triton X-100, and conversely, about two-thirds of the proteins of kidney and liver were water-soluble. The water-soluble proteins were analyzed by discontinuous electrophoresis in gradient acrylamide gels and the detergent-soluble proteins by discontinuous electrophoresis in SDS-containing gels. Both water- and SDS-soluble brain proteins showed a characteristic profile for each of the rodent species in contrast to the Triton-soluble fractions which displayed an essentially identical range of relatively high molecular weight species. The water-soluble proteins from kidney and liver also showed considerable variation between the 4 species as did the SDS-soluble proteins from kidney. The variability in the SDS-soluble proteins from liver and in the Triton-soluble proteins from both kidney and liver was much less. The brains of the 4 rodents were similar in that they all contained a greater proportion of high molecular weight membrane proteins than did kidney or liver.
Effect of the calcimimetic NPS R-467 on furosemide-induced nephrocalcinosis in the young rat

Effect of the calcimimetic NPS R-467 on furosemide-induced nephrocalcinosis in the young rat. Background Furosemide induces nephrocalcinosis in both humans and animals. We showed previously that parathyroidectomy protected against the development of furosemide-induced nephrocalcinosis in young rats, indicating a possible role for parathyroid hormone (PTH) in its pathogenesis. Calcimimetic agents such as NPS R-467 are potent and selective agonists at the calcium-sensing receptor in parathyroid glands and inhibit PTH secretion. Methods To determine whether NPS R-467 could, like parathyroidectomy, prevent furosemide-induced nephrocalcinosis, we studied 35 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into five groups. Group A served as control, group B received intraperitoneally furosemide (40mg/kg), groups C, D, and E received furosemide and NPS R-467 intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 20, and 40 μmol/kg, respectively, daily for 8days. During the last 3days, animals were placed in metabolic cages for measurement of urine output, food, and water intake. Blood and kidneys were collected on day 8, 60 to 90 minutes after the last doses. Kidney calcium content was measured and nephrocalcinosis scoring (0 to 5) was assessed histologically. Results Furosemide increased urine output and fluid intake, and decreased body weight gain similarly in all groups. Serum PTH levels (mean ± SD) were significantly higher in furosemide-treated control animals (276 ± 226pg/mL vs. 64 ± 21pg/mL); NPS R-467 induced a dose-dependent decrease in PTH levels (52 ± 51pg/mL, 18 ± 7pg/mL, and 13 ± 3pg/mL in groups C, D, and E, respectively). Plasma Ca 2+ was slightly, but significantly lower in all three NPS R-467 treated groups (5.1 ± 0.4mg/dL, 4.8 ± 0.3mg/dL, and 4.5 ± 0.3mg/dL in groups C, D, and E, respectively) compared to 5.7 ± 0.1mg/dL and 5.5 ± 0.2mg/dL in groups A and B, respectively. Furosemide treatment induced a substantial increase in kidney calcium content (1819 ± 664 μg/g dry weight vs. 126 ± 26 μg/g dry weight) and nephrocalcinosis scoring (5.0 ± 0.0 vs. 0.0 ± 0.0). Treatment with NPS R-467 ameliorated the furosemide-induced increase in kidney calcium content (673 ± 312 μg/g, 361 ± 188 μg/g, and 563 ± 291 μg/g) and nephrocalcinosis scoring (2.2 ± 1.2, 0.7 ± 0.8, and 1.0 ± 1.2) in groups C, D, and E, respectively. Conclusion The calcimimetic agent NPS R-467 prevents the development of hyperparathyroidism and attenuates nephrocalcinosis in the furosemide-treated young rat.
Insulin reserves in children with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT) and subsequent development of diabetes mellitus (DM)

The validity of the maximum stimulation test (MIST) and oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) as screening procedures for the development of DM was studied in 33 children with IGT. They were administered MIST(p.o.glucose;i.v.tolbutamide and glucagon) and OGTT on 2 consecutive days.Insulin response was compared with the development of DM for up to 5½yrs.MIST was a better indicator of the chance to develop DM:3 non-obese subjects with poor MIST insulin response (glucose/insulin ratio> 4)developed DM. One child who was on Orinase at the time of studies,progressed to DM despite a good MIST insulin release.All others had a good MIST insulin response and did not develop DM.The predictive value for the development of DMwith a poor MIST insulin response was 75%.The predictive value for non-development of DM with a good MIST insulin response was 96.2%.In contrast,OGTT elicited poor insulin responses in 9 of 30 children;only 3 of them progressed to DM.The predictive value for development of DM with a poor OGTT insulin response at 1 hr was 33.3% and the predictive value for non-development of DM with a good OGTT insulin release was 100%.Thus, the ability to release insulin during MIST may be a better prognostic indicator of the chance to develop DM in children with IGT,whereas OGTT may help in assessing the decreased risk of DM.
Renal oxygenation changes during water loading as evaluated by BOLD MRI: effect of NOS inhibition.

Purpose: To demonstrate a possible role for endogenous release of nitric oxide in determining the response of water loading on intrarenal oxygenation as evaluated by blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: Twelve Sprague Dawley rats (weight 344.9 ± 40.6 g) were equally divided into two groups, A and B. Water loading was implemented by continuous infusion of hypotonic saline containing glucose (0.25% NaCl, 0.5% glucose). Rats in group A were subject to water loading alone, while group B rats were dosed with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, (L-NAME) (10.0 mg/kg) prior to water loading. T2*-weighted images of the kidneys were obtained on a Siemens 3T Verio MRI scanner using a multiple gradient recalled echo (mGRE) sequence. Results: Consistent with previous reports, group A exhibited a significant decrease in medullary R2* during water loading (40.64 ± 1.10 s−1 to 34.68 ± 1.49 s−1, P < 0.05). On the other hand, in group B there was no decrease in R2* during water loading (48.11 ± 2.38 s−1 to 51.06 ± 2.18 s−1). The increased prewater loading R2* is due to the pretreatment with L-NAME (40.82 ± 3.23 s−1 to 48.11 ± 2.38 s−1, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggest for the first time a role for endogenous nitric oxide in determining the response of renal medullary oxygenation to water loading. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:898–901. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Methods for combining experts' probability assessments

This article reviews statistical techniques for combining multiple probability distributions. The framework is that of a decision maker who consults several experts regarding some events. The exper...
College students tattooing and the Health Belief Model: extending social psychological perspectives on youth culture and deviance.

ABSTRACT This research extends social psychological models which have previously been used to explain tattooing behavior. We apply the Health Belief Model to the decision-making process by which young adults express interest in or obtain a tattoo. We examine the five components of the Health Belief Model with regard to the likelihood of being tattooed, being interested in tattoos, or obtaining a (or another) tattoo. Survey data were gathered from 520 undergraduate students at a large, public university in the southwest. Their responses show the Health Belief Model to be a significant predictor of this behavior among the students in our sample.
E-business differentiation through value-based trust

For e-business, location is irrelevant and competition is intense. To succeed in this environment, organizations must find new ways to differentiate themselves from their competition. One way to achieve e-business differentiation is to foster trust by building a perception of value congruence and avoiding a perception of value conflict. We explore how value congruence contributes to and how value conflict decreases trust in e-businesses. An experiment was conducted to examine the respective impacts of value congruence and value conflict on trust in an e-commerce setting. Our results show that, for e-businesses, value congruence has an enabling effect on trust while value conflict reduces trust. Such effects are strong enough to suggest that value congruence can be employed as an effective way for e-businesses to differentiate themselves while creating and sustaining competitive advantage. Managerial implications are drawn from our results.
BAY 63–2521, an oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, has a favourable safety profile and decreases peripheral vascular resistance in healthy male volunteers

Background BAY 63–2521 is an oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator that acts independently of nitric oxide (NO). It targets the reduced form of sGC, and enhances the sensitivity of the enzyme to low levels of bioavailable NO. Preclinical data suggest that BAY 63–2521 has the potential to be effective in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, with the advantage of having a different mode of action from currently available agents.
Nonconcordance of drift and benthic activity in baetis

Simultaneous collection of stream drift and observations of epibenthic activity of Baetis nymphs (Baetidae: Ephemeroptera) from within a field enclosure were made over 24-h periods. A fiber-optic observation system that enabled night viewing of animals in unexposed locations supplemented observations. Drift was out of phase with epibenthic density and total number of movements of Baetis, which were greater during the day. Numbers of individuals on tops of stones were often insufficient to account for numbers in the drift. Individuals from exposed and unexposed locations fed continuously, and little difference existed in gut fullness between drifting and benthic animals. Observations do not support a hypothesis that Baetis drifts at night because it is hungry and in search of food.
Effect of Cold Air Exposure and Exercise on Nonspecific Bronchial Reactivity

Exercise and eucapnic hyperventilation with cold air can produce bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects, but their enhancement of nonspecific bronchial reactivity remains unclear. We studied the effect of submaximal exercise and cold air exposure on bronchial reactivity to methacholine in a normal control group (n = 10) and in subjects with bronchial asthma (n = 17). Bronchial provocation testing was performed to determine the provoking dose (PD35) of methacholine that caused a 35 percent decrease in specific airway conductance (Gaw/VL) in the two groups. Each subject was studied on three different occasions to determine the PD35 to methacholine on a control day, after ten minutes of submaximal exercise, and after a 30-minute exposure to cold air. Methacholine challenge was performed after the Gaw/VL had returned to the baseline values. In the normal group, neither cold air exposure nor exercise challenge had any significant effect on baseline Gaw/VL, whereas in the asthmatic group, both stimuli caused 20 percent and 15 percent decreases in Gaw/VL, respectively (p less than .05). Mean +/- SD control PD35 was 6.1 +/- 11.6 breath units in the asthmatic group, which decreased to 2.2 +/- 2.8 after exercise and 3.0 +/- 5.0 breath units after cold air exposure (p less than .05). In the normal group, control PD35 was 73 +/- 32 breath units, which was not different from PD35 values of 64 +/- 75 and 52 +/- 64 breath units after exercise and cold air exposure, respectively (p = NS). These data suggest that submaximal exercise and cold air exposure enhance nonspecific bronchial reactivity in asthmatic but not in normal subjects.
Minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Construction Activities and Processes

The construction industry has a significant environmental footprint, especially in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Substantial amounts of greenhouse gasses and non-greenhouse gasses that have an indirect radiative effect are emitted from construction activities and processes and during production, installation, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal of construction materials. These emissions can be controlled and minimized by optimizing the utilization of construction resources. This includes the optimal utilization of the available construction crews and materials in such a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while minimizing construction cost and duration. Therefore, this paper presents the development of a building construction planning model that is capable of minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, construction cost, and construction duration, simultaneously. The model is implemented in three main steps: (1) analyzing the impact of construction activities and processes on global warming potential (GWP); (2) evaluating the impact of these activities and processes on construction cost and duration; and (3) optimizing the utilization of construction resources in order to facilitate the selection and implementation of the construction methods that reduces the GWP while keeping construction cost and duration to a minimum. An application example is analyzed to illustrate the use of the developed model and examine the relationships between all three planning objectives. The analysis of the application example demonstrated the capabilities of the developed model in controlling the global warming impacts from construction activities and processes. Furthermore, the examination of the relationships between GWP and construction duration and cost can help designers and construction professionals in making environmentallyconscious yet cost-effective decisions during building design and construction phases.
Nickel sulfide formation at low temperature: initial precipitates, solubility and transformation products

Environmental context Remediation technologies often rely on manipulation of redox conditions or natural redox processes to favour microbial sulfate-reduction and mineral sulfide formation for treatment of inorganic contaminants in groundwater, including nickel. However, few data are available on the structural properties, solubility and mineral transformation processes involving nickel sulfides. These data are needed in order to constrain the long term performance of groundwater remediation efforts. Abstract The formation of nickel sulfides has been examined experimentally over the temperature range from 25 to 60°C. At all conditions studied, hexagonal (α-NiS) was the initial precipitate from solution containing Ni2+ and dissolved sulfide. Freshly precipitated nickel sulfide possesses significant residual Ni–O coordination as revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. With progressive aging, residual Ni–O coordination is replaced by Ni–S coordination. The formation of millerite (β-NiS, rhombohedral) was not detected in any of the synthesis experiments. In the presence of elemental sulfur, hexagonal NiS converted to polydymite (Ni3S4) and vaesite (NiS2). Thus, conversion of nickel monosulfide to thiospinel and disulfide structures appears to be redox dependent, analogous to aging and transformation processes of iron sulfides. In the absence of elemental sulfur or with only hydrogen sulfide or bisulfide present, transformation of hexagonal NiS was not observed after 1680 h at 60°C. Low-pH solubility experiments yielded a solubility product for hexagonal NiS of log Ks0 = –2.69 ± 0.26. Solubility data at pH > 3 suggest that Ni–bisulfide complexation is important in controlling the solubility of Ni in sulfidic solutions.
Neuroimaging studies give new insight to mental rotation

Summarizes the recent findings of mental rotation studies which use neuroimaging techniques. Though many results differed, almost all the reviewed studies concurred that the superior parietal lobe plays a major role in the process of mental rotation. The possible confounds (including gender differences, analysis methods, experimental paradigms and controls, etc.) for the different results are discussed. Varied results included lateralization effects, motor component involvement, as well as the activation of the V5/human MT (visual/mid-temporal) area of the brain, which implies that imagined motion may have occurred. Neuroimaging can be a powerful tool for understanding cognitive abilities and limitations. Neuroimaging aids researchers to gain insight into how mechanisms in the human brain function. In combination with other technologies, e.g. eye tracking, this will greatly enhance our ability to comprehend human cognition. This approach to analyzing can provide an important objective measure which could play a significant role in the design of computer systems.
The Effect of Substance Abuse Treatment on Medicaid Expenditures among General Assistance Welfare Clients in Washington State

Little is currently known about the effect of substance abuse treatment on Medicaid expenses and other health care costs for welfare clients. This study examined the association between substance abuse treatment and reductions in medical care expenditures (primarily Medicaid expenses) for General Assistance (GA) welfare clients in Washington State. The treatment group included 3,235 GA clients who received treatment during 2000 or 2001. The comparison group included 4,863 GA clients who needed substance abuse treatment but did not receive it. Substance abuse treatment was associated with a reduction (p < .01) in medical expenses of approximately $2,500 annually. This estimated savings equaled the cost of treatment and represented approximately 35 percent of the annual Medicaid expenses incurred by GA clients with substance abuse problems.
Crystal Structure of the Ectodomain Complex of the CGRP Receptor, a Class-B GPCR, Reveals the Site of Drug Antagonism

Dysregulation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent vasodilator, is directly implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine. CGRP binds to and signals through the CGRP receptor (CGRP-R), a heterodimer containing the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), a class B GPCR, and RAMP1, a receptor activity-modifying protein. We have solved the crystal structure of the CLR/RAMP1 N-terminal ectodomain heterodimer, revealing how RAMPs bind to and potentially modulate the activities of the CLR GPCR subfamily. We also report the structures of CLR/RAMP1 in complex with the clinical receptor antagonists olcegepant (BIBN4096BS) and telcagepant (MK0974). Both drugs act by blocking access to the peptide-binding cleft at the interface of CLR and RAMP1. These structures illustrate, for the first time, how small molecules bind to and modulate the activity of a class B GPCR, and highlight the challenges of designing potent receptor antagonists for the treatment of migraine and other class B GPCR-related diseases.
Understanding Perceived Benefit of Early Cancer Detection: Community-Partnered Research with African American Women in South Los Angeles

Abstract Background: African American women have lower 5-year cancer survival rates than non-Latino White women. Differences in perceived benefits of early cancer detection among racial/ethnic groups may affect cancer-screening behaviors. This study assessed correlates of perceived benefits of early breast, cervical and colorectal cancer detection among 513 African American women. Methods: Using a community-partnered participatory research approach, we conducted a survey on cancer screening, risk behaviors, and related knowledge and attitudes among African American parishioners at 11 churches in South Los Angeles, a neighborhood that experiences one of the highest cancer mortality rates in California. Results: African American women who participated in this study were more likely to believe that chances for survival are very good or good after early detection of breast cancer (74%) than after early detection of colorectal (51%) and cervical cancer (52%). Multivariate analyses show that perceived benefit o...
Effects of domestic violence on preterm birth and low birth weight

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence is increasingly recognized as a potentially modifiable risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between abuse during pregnancy or within the last year and low birth weight and preterm birth. METHODS: From 1997 to 2001, 3149 low income, relatively low-risk pregnant women (82% African-American) participated in this prospective study. The Abuse Assessment Screen, a validated screening tool, which assesses emotional, physical or sexual abuse, injuries due to physical abuse and physical abuse in the index pregnancy, was filled out by 3103 women. RESULTS: Of the women screened, 26.6% reported emotional abuse, 18.7% reported physical abuse in the past year and 10.3% women reported being beaten, bruised, threatened with a weapon or being permanently injured. Abuse during pregnancy was reported by 5.9% of the women. Low birth weight and preterm birth occurred in 10.9% and 10.2% of the pregnant women, respectively. Logistic regression analyzes indicated that injury due to physical abuse within the past year was significantly associated with both preterm birth adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-2.. and low birth weight (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.3-2.5) after adjusting for other covariates. The mean birth weight of infants born to women who were injured due to physical abuse was significantly lower (-75.2 g, p = 0.04) than the mean birth weight of infants of women who were not injured. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that in our population, injuries resulting from physical abuse are associated with both low birth weight and preterm birth. Language: en
Stimulation of border cell production in response to increased carbon dioxide levels

Field soil atmospheres have higher CO2 and lower O2 concentrations compared with ambient atmosphere, but little is known about the impact of such conditions on root exudation patterns. We used altered levels of CO2 and O2 relative to ambient conditions to examine the influence of the atmosphere on the production of root border cells by pea (Pisum sativum) root tips. During germination, atmospheres with high CO2 and low O2 inhibited root development and border cell separation in pea seedlings. Later in development, the same atmospheric composition stimulated border cell separation without significantly influencing root growth. Increased CO2, not low O2, was responsible for the observed stimulation of border cell number. High CO2 apparently can override endogenous signals that regulate the number of border cells released from pea roots into the rhizosphere. The same conditions that stimulated border cell production in pea had no such effect in alfalfa (Medicago sativa).