cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corticosteroids in Cancer: Neuropsychiatric Complications

The addition of corticosteroids in the early 1950s to the treatment armamentarium provided cure of some diseases and control of many. They have become an integral part of many cancer treatment regimens. Early reports of severe affective disorders appear less frequent today in patients receiving steroids, though controlled studies are rare. Minor mood changes are common, ranging from the euphoria of initial treatment to depressive symptoms on withdrawal. The most common severe disturbances seen clinically in cancer patients are the organic mood disorders and delirium. Studies are needed, especially in cancer, which control for prior psychiatric history, cancer site, cancer treatment, pain regimen, coexisting cancer complications, especially central nervous system complications, and physical performance status. DSM-III-R terminology must be used as the diagnostic classification for reliable investigation. A more careful clinical delineation of the mental changes with steroids is desirable not only for the clinical relevance, but for the potential understanding of the etiology of mood disorders and mental changes seen in delirium.
Nonresonant and resonant electron distributions from fast particle collisions: Application to sodium

I present a general treatment for evaluating the angular distribution of ejected electrons from doublet resonant states and their interference with direct ionization. The formulation is applied to sodium, and the results are found to agree very well with two sets of experimental data. It is also found that the direct ionization cross section for sodium is unusually low for secondaries of \ensuremath{\sim}25 eV, with a sharp peak at the angle predicted by the binary encounter approximation. The dependence of the incident and the secondary energies and other features of the process are discussed in detail.
Psychological assessment of postdisaster class action and personal injury litigants: A case study

The case study method is used to describe psychological assessments undertaken with victims of a combined natural/technological disaster for litigation purposes. A class action suit was filed in which the authors determined levels of traumatic stress in 27 plaintiffs as a group and relative to each other. The process was effective—the case was settled out of court in favor of the litigants. Individual litigants were satisfied with monetary awards received.
Learning histology - dental and medical students' study strategies.

Purpose Histology, the science of cells and tissues at the microscopic level, is an integral component of most dental and medical curricula and is often taught using both traditional and novel computer-based didactic approaches. The purpose of this study was to analyse the strategies used by dental and medical students when studying this very visual and challenging subject. Methods Data were collected from 75 dental and 143 medical students, who had almost identical histology learning resources at their disposal. Results When compared with their medical counterparts, dental students view histology as a more difficult subject and as less relevant for their future career. Whereas dental students, who are required to attend class unlike medical students, made more use of in-classroom learning opportunities, they did not take as much advantage of out-of-classroom resources. In addition, dental students reported a significantly higher tendency than medical students to work together, rather than to study alone. Discussion Small differences in the dental versus the medical learning environment associate with several observed differences in learning strategies that are adopted by dental and medical students. Conclusions These differences should be considered when teaching the subject of histology to dental or to medical students.
Isotopic tracers of lead contamination in the Great Lakes

FLUXES of lead to the Great Lakes are dominated by atmospheric depositions of industrial lead, which account for ∼ 64% of the lead inputs to Lake Ontario and >90% of the inputs to Lake Superior1. It has recently been demonstrated that lead aerosols in the Great Lakes region may be identified by the contrasting 206Pb/207Pb ratios of industrial leads from the United States (1.221 ±0.009) and Canada (1.151 ±0.010)2. Here we show that those ratios may also be used to identify and trace industrial lead inputs to the Great Lakes. These corroborate spatial gradients in lead concentrations in surface waters, which range from 290 pmol kg−1 in Hamilton Harbour to <10 pmol kg−1 in the central waters of Lake Ontario. The latter concentrations and corresponding residence-time estimates, which are both an order of magnitude lower than previously reported, indicate that lead is rapidly scavenged in the epilimnion during periods of high primary productivity. We find that industrial lead from Canada and the United States are the two principal sources of lead contamination in the Great Lakes.
Methods for special applications: incorporating biology into discrete event simulation models of organ allocation

We describe a discrete event simulation model of the national liver allocation system. This model differs from previous modeling efforts in that it considers the natural history of the disease independently of any particular patient priority scheme, thus allowing an unbiased appraisal of various allocation schemes. We provide the basic structure of the model, which consists of patient and organ generators, a survival module, and a disease progression module. The model provides various outputs such as patient survival, financial cost, and the number of wasted organs. We describe our model of patient survival with and without a transplant. We discuss some difficulties estimating model parameters due to a lack of appropriate medical data, and how these difficulties were overcome. We close with conclusions and directions for further research.
Metabolic characteristics of hypertension: Importance of positive family history

Abstract This study was performed to compare metabolic and endocrine characteristics of untreated hypertensive patients and normal controls. Measurements were made in age-matched, body mass index (BMI) matched, normotensive patients with (n = 40; age = 53; BMI = 28) and without (n = 39; age = 54; BMI = 27) a family history of hypertension and hypertensive patients with (n = 38; age = 53; BMI = 28) and without (n = 25; age = 54; BMI = 29) a family history of hypertension. Norepinephrine, renin activity, and total cholesterol blood concentrations were similar in normotensive patients with a positive family history of hypertension and in hypertensive patients with or without a family history. Similarly, there were no differences in plasma insulin concentrations or insulin/glucose ratios between the normotensive patients with a family history of hypertension and hypertensive patients with or without a family history. But in all three groups the values were significantly greater (at least p
Exciton energies in shallow quantum wells and spin superlattices.

We describe a general method of calculating exciton energies in shallow quantum wells. This technique is applicable to both single- and multiple-quantum-well systems, and is valid for both type-I and type-II systems, even under circumstances where the valence- and/or conduction-band offsets may be small compared to the exciton binding energy. Quantitative predictions of excitonic energies and relative intensities are made and compared with experimental data on a number of different shallow-well diluted magnetic semiconductor quantum well and superlattice systems. Based on these comparisons, it is shown that the model indeed provides a detailed description and analysis of the type-I--type-II transition and the behavior of excitons in a spin superlattice. In addition, the model also predicts and describes certain additional phenomena, such as metastable ``above-gap'' excitons which should exist in certain type-II systems. Also, reentrant type-I--type-II--type-I transitions are predicted under some circumstances.
Memory and Emotion Processing in Cortical and Subcortical Dementia

Abstract Findings from studies of implicit-memory dissociations, emotion processing, and emotion-memory phenomena were integrated with reference to distinctions between so-called cortical and subcortical dementia. Hemispheric distinctions and implications for normal psychological processes are discussed.
Nanotechnology—Life-Cycle Risk Management

ABSTRACT Scientists, risk practitioners, and regulators have debated the need to be proactive in assessing the potential health and environmental risks and benefits of unregulated nano-scale technologies. Many nanotech-based products and applications are already in use or development. Application of a proactive risk-based approach that considers the life cycle of the product, rather than a precautionary principle approach that would likely restrict the progress and advance of nanoscience, will be useful in helping to assess the unknown and unpredictable risks associated with nano-products, nanotoxicity, and nanopollution. This article summarizes what is currently known regarding the potential toxicity and hazards of nanomaterials. A life-cycle perspective is used to identify important areas for further consideration and research. A conceptual framework is proposed for linking the strategies of life cycle and risk analysis within the same toolbox. This approach allows for prevention and treatment of a mate...
Ultrasonographic detection of ureteral jets in normal pregnancy

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine the impact of normal physiologic urodynamic alterations of pregnancy on the detection of ureteral jets into the bladder with use of transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography. Study Design: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 125 healthy asymptomatic gravid women without any history of past or current renal disease, all with singleton pregnancies between 13.4 and 37.7 weeks' gestation. Right and left ureteral jets were recorded over a 5-minute period with use of color Doppler transabdominal ultrasonography and a full bladder. Each kidney was graded by the severity of the hydronephrosis. No hydronephrosis was grade 0, mild hydronephrosis was grade 1, and moderate hydronephrosis was grade 2. There were no cases of severe hydronephrosis. Results: There were 56 grade 0 cases on the right versus 93 grade 0 cases on the left ( p p p p = 0.73). In the grade 1 subgroup mean right versus left ureteral jets was 15.4 versus 16.6 ( p = 0.65). For the grade 2 subgroup mean right versus left ureteral jets was 15.5 versus 21.0 ( p = 0.32). There were 4 of 125 unilateral absent ureteral jets on the right versus 0 of 125 on the left ( p = 0.122). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that ureteral jets can be readily detected during pregnancy independent of the gestational age. In addition, it does not appear that the physiologic urodynamic alterations of pregnancy affect the frequency or symmetry of ureteral jets. Thus identification of ureteral jets can be used in the workup of suspected urolithiasis in pregnant patients. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;178:1194-8.)
What Does Team Teaching Mean? A Case Study of Interdisciplinary Teaming

Team teaching, a strategy that has been used to a greater or lesser extent across U.S. high schools since the 1960s, still represents a methodology often beyond the pale of standard practice in most high schools despite being considered a best practice (S. Tchudi & D. Mitchell, 1999) for school improvement (H. H. Jacobs, 1999). This study presents research that the author conducted on teaming in a multilevel humanities program in her own high school. As teacher and researcher, she used qualitative methodologies, primarily interviews, observations, and student evaluations, to study 4 interdisciplinary teams to discover how teaming informed their practice. The data affirmed teaming as a best practice and suggest that to begin and sustain successful teaming, high schools need to rethink standard practices. The data also confirmed that for teaming to be effective, teacher choice, curriculum-driven design, and administrative support are necessary.
An Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between Dispositional Aggression and Judgments About Batterers Among African American Adults: Does More of the Former Influence the Latter?

As one way of examining the role of personality in reactions to domestic violence, this study investigated the relationship between dispositional aggression and attitudes toward domestic violence in one sample of African American young adults. Dispositional aggression was assessed using the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). The AQ purports to measure four distinctive components of the construct. The physical aggression component was expected to correlate the most positively with expressed beliefs about wife battering. Results revealed that individuals who reported high levels of physical aggression were more positive about wife beating and were less punitive in their judgments of batterers. In addition, analysis of scores on the AQ and the Inventory of Beliefs about Wife Beating (IBWB) also demonstrated important gender differences on both scales. Implications of these findings for victims of domestic violence and their sympathizers are discussed.
Gray-scale morphological granulometric texture classification

Binary morphological granulometric size distributions were conceived by Matheron as a way of describing image granularity (or texture). Since each normalized size distribution is a probability density, feature vectors of granulometric moments result. Recent application has focused on taking local size distributions around individual pixels so that the latter can be classified by surrounding texture. The extension of the local-classification technique to gray-scale textures is investigated. It does so by using 42 granulometric features, half generated by opening granulometries and a dual half generated by closing granulometries. After training and classification of both dependent and independent data, feature extraction (compression) is accomplished by means of the Karhunen-Loeve transform. Sequential feature selection is also applied. The effect of randomly placed uniform noise is investigated. In particular, the degree to which training in noise increases robustness across noise levels is studied, and feature selection is employed to arrive at a noise-insensitive set of granulometric classifiers.
Jump-starting natural resilience reverses stress susceptibility

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mental disorder that affects more than 121 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization ( 1 , 2 ). Despite the prevalence of this pathological syndrome, the most effective treatment currently for MDD is a combination of a limited variety of monoamine-based antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. Twenty percent of people with MDD are not helped by existing therapies ( 3 – 5 ), which have been targeting the same serotonin and norepinephrine systems for over 60 years ( 6 ). Most antidepressant treatments have multiple side effects and require weeks to take effect ( 7 ). Unfortunately, during this lag period, up to the onset of activation, there is considerable morbidity and a high risk of suicide ( 8 , 9 ). Thus there is an imperative need for the development of naturally acting antidepressants. A possible reason for the ineffectual treatment of MDD so far has been the incomplete understanding of the nature of depression. Most work in the field, to date, has focused on the passive pathological mechanisms that contribute to the pathogenesis of depression. In contrast, my work focuses on understanding why some individuals are psychophysiologically normal in response to stress (i.e., resilient to depression), while others succumb to depression ( 10 – 14 ). The majority of the population successfully employs active coping skills in response to stress, such as optimism, rationalization, wishful thinking, relaxation, and humor, which are linked to the function of the mesolimbic reward neural circuitry ( 15 ). Thus, current work has only recently begun to understand the neurobiological basis for these psychosocial coping skills ( 10 , 14 , 15 ).
Differing Sensitivity of Photosynthesis to Low Leaf Water Potentials in Corn and Soybean

Rates of net photosynthesis were studied in soil-grown corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) plants having various leaf water potentials. Soybean was unaffected by desiccation until leaf water potentials were below -11 bars. Rates of photosynthesis in corn were inhibited whenever leaf water potentials dropped below -3.5 bars.The differences in photosynthetic behavior could be attributed solely to differences in stomatal behavior down to leaf water potentials of -16 bars in soybean and -10 bars in corn. Below these potentials, other factors in addition to stomatal closure caused inhibition, although their effect was relatively small.Corn, which has the C(4)-dicarboxylic acid pathway for carbon fixation, generally had a higher rate of photosynthesis than soybean during desiccation. Nevertheless, since inhibition of photosynthesis began at higher potentials than in soybean, and since corn was less able to withstand severe desiccation without tissue death, it was concluded that the C(4) pathway confers no particular ability to withstand low leaf water potentials.
Induction of chondrogenesis from human embryonic stem cells without embryoid body formation by bone morphogenetic protein 7 and transforming growth factor β1

Objective Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) provide an unlimited supply of pluripotent cells for articular cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Articular cartilage is an avascular tissue with precise polarity and organization comprising 3 distinct functional zones: surface, middle, and deep. To date, attempts at differentiating human ESCs into articular chondrocytes have been unsuccessful. The majority of studies have focused on chondrogenic (but not specifically articular cartilage) differentiation. Furthermore, previous investigations of induction of chondrogenesis by human ESCs required embryoid body formation; however, embryoid body formation often results in heterogeneous differentiation. The present study was undertaken to determine the in vitro chondrogenic potential of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)–induced human ESC differentiation toward the articular cartilage phenotype. Methods Dissociated single human ESCs were cultured and passaged on a gelatin-coated flask. The human ESCs were cultured as an aggregate in a pellet culture system for 14 days in basal chondrogenic medium (CM), CM with TGFβ1, CM with BMP-7, or CM with both TGFβ1 and BMP-7. Results The size and wet weight of the cartilage pellets and glycosaminoglycan levels increased, with the smallest, intermediate, and greatest increases, respectively, observed with CM plus TGFβ1 treatment, CM plus BMP-7 treatment, and CM plus TGFβ1 and BMP-7 treatment (compared with CM treatment alone). The largest size and highest weight of the pellet was in the group in which TGFβ1 and BMP-7 were added to the medium. However, expression of the genes for cartilage-specific aggrecan and type II collagen II, as assessed by determination of messenger RNA levels, was highest in the BMP-7–treated group. Superficial zone protein (SZP)/lubricin, a marker of the superficial zone articular chondrocyte, was not detectable under identical culture conditions. Conclusion These results demonstrate an efficient and reproducible model system of human ESC-induced chondrogenesis, using a novel direct plating method in which intervening embryoid body formation does not occur. Further work is needed for optimization of conditions to obtain the articular cartilage phenotype that includes the superficial zone marker as demonstrated by SZP/lubricin synthesis.
Lipid composition of photoreceptor membranes from goldfish retinas

Abstract Isolation and biochemical characterization of goldfish retinal photoreceptor outer segment membranes are described. The lipid fraction is composed primarily of phospholipids (68 mol%) with substantial amounts of neutral lipids (32 mol%). Sterols account for only about 2 wt% of the membranes (about 9 mol% of the total lipids). The phospholipid class composition and fatty acid composition are similar to those of other vertebrate photoreceptor membranes. Two novel findings were the high levels of free fatty acids (21 mol% of the total lipids, primarily palmitic and docosahexaenoic acids) and the presence of relatively significant amounts of a C-32 diacylglycerol molecular species.
Brain lipid composition of immature thiamine-deficient and undernourished rats.

— The brain lipid composition of 25-day-old offspring of rats exposed to dietary thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency from the 14th day of gestation was examined and compared to normal and pair-fed (undernourished) controls. Thiamine-deprived rats displayed neurological signs and a marked diminution of growth at 25 days of age. No changes in brain lipids of either whole brain or selected brain areas (brain stem, cerebellum, diencephalon) which were distinct from the effects of undernutrition (pair-fed controls) were observed in the thiamine-deficient group. Undernutrition, as exemplified by the pair-fed control group produced a highly significant depression of all lipids expressed per total brain and a significant deficit of whole brain and regional lipid, cerebroside and cholesterol concentrations indicating a deficiency in myelinogenesis. Ganglioside NeuNAc concentration was shown to be significantly greater in whole brain and certain brain areas of the same group while no changes were evident in total phospholipid concentration and the distribution of individual phospholipids. The implications of these findings in terms of the pathophysiology of thiamine-deficiency encephalopathy and undernutrition in early life are discussed.
On the temporal dimension of Mandarin

Abstract This paper provides some experimental evidence of the temporal dimension of Mandarin.
Sodium metasilicate hypersensitivity in BALB/c mice.

Abstract Background: Sodium metasilicate (SMS) is a key ingredient for a number of industrial and consumer products. Although little is known about potential for this chemical to cause allergic reactions, a similar silicate compound, sodium silicate, was reported to elicit IgE-mediated contact urticaria. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for sodium metasilicate to elicit an allergic response in female BALB/c mice after dermal exposure. Methods: The primary irritancy assay (IA), local lymph node assay (LLNA), and a mouse ear swelling test (MEST) were used to evaluate the hypersensitivity response elicited by SMS exposure. An evaluation of lymph node subpopulations, cytokine mRNA expression, and serum IgE levels was also conducted. Results: SMS caused significant dermal irritation at concentrations [ge ]6% and an allergic response after mice were sensitized with 4% SMS then challenged with 6% SMS in the MEST. Lymph node cell proliferation was not observed in the LLNA after treatment with SMS (2% to 6% SMS). Increases in lymph node cellularity, the percentage of B cells, and the expression of certain cytokine mRNAs were observed in mice treated with SMS. Changes in the concentration of serum IgE after SMS treatment, however, were not observed. Conclusions: SMS appears to elicit a chemical hypersensitivity response in mice, as indicated by the MEST, but not by the LLNA. Increases in auricular lymph node cellularity, the percentage of B cells, and certain cytokine mRNAs support classifying SMS as a weak chemical allergen.
Maximum-Likelihood Estimation, from Censored Samples, of the Parameters of a Logistic Distribution

Abstract Consider an ordered random sample of size n from a logistic distribution with location parameter μ and scale parameter σ. Let the r 1 smallest and the r 2 largest sample values be censored, where r 1 ≥0,r 2 ≥0, and r 1 +r 2 ≤n −2. An iterative procedure for solution (on a computer) of the likelihood equations is outlined and illustrated by a numerical example involving Strontium-90 concentrations in milk. The information matrix is inverted numerically to obtain the asymptotic variances and covariances of the maximum-likelihood estimators of the parameters for censoring proportions, q 1 = r 1/n and q 2 = r 2 /n, at intervals of one-tenth. The means and variances of , and , together with the covariances of and , are reported for a Monte Carlo study of 1000 samples each of size n = 10. The mean square errors of the estimates are compared with the variances of the best linear unbiased estimators and with the variances of the maximum-likelihood estimators as given by the asymptotic formulas.
Stages of change for reducing dietary fat to 30% of energy or less.

Abstract Objective To develop an algorithm that defines a person's stage of change for fat intake ≤30% of energy. The Stages of Change Model describes when and how people change problem behaviors; change is defined as a dynamic variable with five discrete stages. Design A stage of change algorithm for determining dietary fat intake ≤30% of energy was developed using one sample and was validated using a second sample. Subjects Sample 1 was a random sample of 614 adults who responded to mailed questionnaires. Sample 2 was a convenience sample of 130 faculty, staff, and graduate students. Statistics Subjects in sample 1 were initially classified in a stage of change using an algorithm based on their behavior related to avoiding high-fat foods. Dietary markers were selected for a Behavioral algorithm using logistic regression analyses. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the Behavioral algorithm were determined, then compared between samples using the Z test. Results The following dietary markers predicted intake ≤30% of fat ( Ξ 2 = 131; P 30% of energy from fat with 93% specificity in sample 1 and 87% in sample 2 ( Z = 1.36; P > .05). Predictive value was also validated; 64% and 58% of subjects meeting the behavioral criteria had fat intakes ≤30% of energy ( Z = 1.1; P > .05). The algorithm was not sensitive, however; most subjects with fat intakes ≤30% of energy from fat failed to meet the behavioral criteria. The sensitivity differed between samples 1 and 2 (44% and 27%, respectively; Z = 3.84; P Applications The Behavioral algorithm determines stage of change for fat reduction to ≤30% of energy in populations with high fat intakes. The algorithm could be used in dietary counseling to tailor interventions to a patient's stage of change.
Group b streptococcus endogenous endophthalmitis presenting as septic arthritis and a homonymous hemianopsia due to embolic stroke

Abstract Purpose To report a case of group B streptococcus (GBS) endogenous endophthalmitis in a patient presenting with septic arthritis and a homonymous hemianopsia due to embolic stroke. Design Observational case report. Methods A 75-year-old woman with septic arthritis and a homonymous hemianopsia due to embolic stroke was examined and found to have endogenous GBS endophthalmitis due to bacterial endocarditis. Results Magnetic resonance imaging showed many septic emboli to the brain, including the left occipital lobe. Fundus examination showed evidence for endogenous endophthalmitis. Blood and urine cultures were positive for GBS. A mitral valve vegetation was presumed to be the cause of the intracranial septic emboli and was demonstrated on transesophageal echocardiography. Conclusions Septic arthritis and embolic stroke are suggestive of endocarditis and sepsis. Endogenous endophthalmitis in this case led to transesophageal echocardiography, which was diagnostic for endocarditis.
Soot Load Sensing in a Diesel Particulate Filter via Electrical Capacitance Tomography

This work presents a novel approach to particulate material (soot) measurement in a diesel particulate filter (DPF) using electrical capacitance tomography (ECT). Modern diesel engines are equipped with DPFs, as well as onboard technologies to evaluate the status of DPF because complete knowledge of DPF soot loading is very critical for robust and efficient operation of the engine exhaust after treatment system. Emission regulations imposed upon all internal combustion engines including diesel engines on gaseous as well as particulate (soot) emissions by environment regulatory agencies. In course of time, soot will be deposited inside the DPFs which tend to clog the filter and hence generate a back pressure in the exhaust system, negatively impacting the fuel efficiency. To remove the soot buildup, regeneration of the DPF must be done as an engine exhaust after treatment process at predetermined time intervals. Passive regeneration increases the exhaust heat to burn the deposited soot while active regeneration injects external energy in, such as injection of diesel into an upstream diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), to burn the soot. Since the regeneration process consumes fuel, a robust and efficient operation based on accurate knowledge of the particulate matter deposit (or soot load) becomes essential in order to keep the fuel consumption at a minimum. Here we propose a sensing method for a DPF that can accurately measure in-situ soot load using ECT. Lab experimental results show that the proposed method offers an effective way to accurately estimate the soot load in DPF. The proposed method is expected to have a profound impact in improving overall DPF efficiency (and thereby fuel efficiency), and durability of a DPF through appropriate closed loop regeneration operation.
Orientation of the OH Dipole of Tyrosine (M)210 and Its Effect on Electrostatic Energies in Photosynthetic Bacterial Reaction Centers

The side chain of tyrosine (M)210 is located close to the bacteriochlorophyll dimer (P) that serves as the electron donor in the photochemical charge-separation reaction of photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers; it also is close to the monomeric bacteriochlorophyll (BL) that probably accepts an electron in this reaction. Electrostatics calculations and molecular-dynamics simulations were performed to explore the preferred orientation and the time-dependent fluctuations of the phenolic OH dipole of the tyrosine and to examine the effects of replacing the tyrosine residue by other amino acids. In resting reaction centers, the OH dipole was found to point toward BL in a way that would favor formation of the P+BL- ion pair. The molecular-dynamics simulations indicated that the most probable orientation of the OH dipole does not change significantly upon charge separation but that the potential well constraining the dipole deepens and the frequency of oscillations about the minimum increases. Replacing Tyr...
Cyanolichens: a link between the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles in a Hawaiian montane forest

Low phosphorus (P) supply frequently has been shown to limit the abundance and activity of nitrogen (N)-fixing organisms, potentially constraining N inputs to ecosystems. Previous research in a montane Hawaiian forest has shown that ground-level P-fertilization led to significant increases in the population size of epiphytic N-fixing lichens (cyanolichens), as well as a shift in community composition from crustose to leafy species. In this study, we ask whether these changes in the cyanolichen community have resulted in increased N inputs to the forest, and also whether the very high levels of P in the canopy of P-fertilized forest stimulate individual lichen fixation rates over those of lichens from a nearby unfertilized reference forest. We used acetylene reduction (AR) assays to measure the fixation rates of 14 cyanolichen species from P-fertilized forest, and calibrated these rates by measuring 15N2 fixation incorporation in four species. We found that the ratio of acetylene reduced to N fixed ranged from 2.4 ± 0.4 in Pseudocyphellaria crocata to 9.3 ± 2.4 in Leptogium denticulatum. Nitrogen fixation rates in the P-fertilized forest ranged from 0.64 ± 0.05 nmol N cm−2 h−1 in Nephroma helveticum to 3.97 ± 1.48 nmol N cm−2 h−1 in Parmeliella nigrocincta. Fixation rates did not vary greatly among species from P-fertilized forest. We compared these P-fertilized rates to those of 10 species from the reference forest, and found that mass-based fixation rates of P-fertilized lichens were not greater than those of lichens from the unfertilized forest. Using the measured AR rates, we estimate that the P additions increase cyanolichen N inputs to the forest 30-fold, from ~0.3 kg N ha−1 y−1 to ~9 kg N ha−1 y−1. These results suggest that P additions to this ecosystem increase N inputs primarily by increasing the abundance of cyanolichens, and that shifts in cyanolichen community composition and changes in individual fixation rate were of lesser importance in determining ecosystem N inputs.
Mesenchymal CD44 Expression Contributes to the Acquisition of an Activated Fibroblast Phenotype via TWIST Activation in the Tumor Microenvironment

Tumor-stroma interactions play a crucial role in cancer progression by eliciting factors that promote proliferative, angiogenic, and invasive supports to the tumor microenvironment. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) contribute to stroma in part as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), but a complete understanding of how MSC contribute to the tumor stroma is lacking. In this study, we show how CAF phenotypes rely upon MSC expression of the multifunctional cell surface glycoprotein CD44, a putative stem cell marker. Through bone marrow transplantation experiments in a transgenic mouse model of cancer, we determined that CD44 deficiency leads to a relative reduction in the contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to tumor stroma. CD44 attenuation in MSC limited their expression of CAF markers induced by tumor conditioning, and these MSC migrated poorly and provided weak angiogenic support compared with wild-type MSC. These defects were linked to deficiencies in the ability of CD44-attenuated MSC to transcriptionally upregulate Twist expression. Together, our results establish that CD44 expression contributes to critical functions in the tumor stroma.
The Grammar of Life: The Areopagus Speech and Pagan Tradition

This article explores the interconnection between intellection and life in ancient theology and philosophy by means of a reexamination of Paul's famous Areopagus discourse. Instead of reading the speech as an attempt at theological rapprochement, this essay interprets the speech as a place where fundamentally different grammars for the whole of life come into conflict.
Combinatorial Search for High‐Activity Hydrogen Catalysts Based on Transition‐Metal‐Embedded Graphitic Carbons

Transition metal (TM) atoms in porphyrin-like complexes play important roles in many protein and enzymetic systems, where crystal-field effects are used to modify d-orbital levels. Inspired by the tunable electronic structure of these motifs, a high-throughput computational search for synthetic hydrogen catalysts is performed based on a similar motif of TM atoms embedded into the lattice of graphene. Based on an initial list of 300 possible embedding geometries, binders, and host atoms, descriptors for stability and catalytic activity are applied to extract ten promising candidates for hydrogen evolution, two of which are expected to exhibit high activity for hydrogen oxidation. In several instances, the active TM atoms are earth-abundant elements that show no activity in the bulk phase, highlighting the importance of the coordination environment in tuning the d-orbitals. In addition, it is found that the most active candidates involve a hitherto unreported surface reaction pathway that involves a Kubas-complex intermediate, which significantly lowers the kinetic barrier associated with hydrogen dissociation and association
Plumbagin, a medicinal plant (Plumbago zeylanica)-derived 1,4-naphthoquinone, inhibits growth and metastasis of human prostate cancer PC-3M-luciferase cells in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model

We present here first time that Plumbagin (PL), a medicinal plant-derived 1,4naphthoquinone, inhibits the growth and metastasis of human prostate cancer (PCa) cells in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. In this study, human PCa PC-3M-luciferase cells
The Value of a Multicultural and Critical Pedagogy: Learning Democracy Through Diversity and Dissent

… Prevents public schools in Arizona from including any courses, classes, or school sponsored activities within the program of instruction that feature or promote as truth any political, religious,...
Nutritional Risk among Elderly Rural Midwestern Women

Nutritional risk in relation to depression and eating disorder symptoms was assessed among a sample of rural, elderly Midwestern women. Thirty-seven community-dwelling women (M age = 72.37, SD = 16.66) were recruited from senior center nutrition sites and other venues. Body mass index (BMI) was derived from bioelectric impedance measurements, and participants completed several questionnaires including the Level I Nutrition Screen, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT). Results indicated that 72% of participants had BMI scores outside the healthy range for older adults, but they were more likely to be overweight than underweight. Other areas of nutritional concern were identified. Several nutritional risk items were associated with eating disorder symptoms and with higher depression scores. However, in an elderly population, EAT items may reflect health-related as well as eating disorder symptoms. The need for comprehensive nutritional evaluations involving psychosocial and environmental factors is discussed.
Spectral response nonuniformity analysis of charge-coupled imagers

A single pixel spectral response model for front-side illuminated visible imaging charge-coupled devices was used to interpret measurements of pixel-to-pixel spectral response variations in an area and a linear charge-coupled imager. Destructive analysis was performed on both devices from which the polysilicon (gate) and oxide layer thicknesses were inferred. The pertinent layer thicknesses in the spectral response models were systematically varied until the best agreement between the modeled response and experimental data were obtained. This matching procedure was quite successful for the interference fringe maxima and minima locations but less successful in matching the overall spectral envelope. Reasonable agreement between the measured (destructive analysis) and model-inferred layer thicknesses was obtained. The model was also useful in interpreting some unusual global characteristics found in the area imager.
SINGULARITY, SWITCHABILITY AND BIFURCATIONS IN A 2-DOF, PERIODICALLY FORCED, FRICTIONAL OSCILLATOR

In this paper, the analytical dynamics for singularity, switchability, and bifurcations of a 2-DOF friction-induced oscillator is investigated. The analytical conditions of the domain flow switchab...
Wine, Ethnography, and French History

Vintages and Traditions: An Ethnohistory of Southwest French Wine Cooperatives. Robert C. Ulin. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996. Cultivating Dissent: Work, Identity, and Praxis in Rural Languedoc. Winnie Lem. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999.
Isolation of Streptomycin-Resistant Isolates of Erwinia amylovora in New York

Streptomycin is currently the only antibiotic registered for the control of fire blight, a devastating disease of apple (Malus), pear (Pyrus), and other rosaceous plants caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. Resistance of E. amylovora to streptomycin was first identified in California pear orchards in 1971 and is currently endemic in many parts of the United States. The Northeast remains the only major U.S. apple-growing region without streptomycin-resistant isolates of E. amylovora. In 2002, during a routine survey for streptomycin resistance, isolates from two neighboring orchards in Wayne County, NY were found to be highly resistant to streptomycin at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. This constitutes the first authenticated report of streptomycin resistance in New York State. Infected trees were shipped at the same time from a single nursery in Michigan. Resistance was caused by the acquisition of the strA-strB gene pair, inserted into the ubiquitous nontransmissible E. amylovora plasmid pEA29. Previously, streptomycin-resistant E. amylovora populations from Michigan were described with a similar mechanism of resistance, although the strA-strB genes are not unique to Michigan. These findings illustrate how unintentional movement of nursery material could undermine efforts to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant E. amylovora.
Perceived fairness of web-based applicant screening procedures : weighing the rules of justice and the role of individual differences

Four previously established characteristics of procedural justice (consistency, opportunity to perform, reconsideration opportunity, and feedback timeliness) and one additional characteristic (automated versus human decision agent) were manipulated in a policy-capturing design to examine their relative importance in predicting fairness perceptions in a Web-based applicant-screening context. Results showed that all five justice characteristics influenced fairness perceptions and that a hierarchy of importance among the characteristics existed, with consistency weighted most heavily, followed by opportunity to perform. Gender, conscientiousness, and job application experience moderated the effects of several of these characteristics in predicting fairness perceptions. Implications and future research directions are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A class of authentication digital watermarks for secure multimedia communication

A new approach to digital signatures for imaging, which adapts well to multimedia communications in lossy channels is introduced. Rather than attaching the signature's bit-string as a file-header, it is invisibly etched into the image using a new watermarking algorithm. The watermark is "nonfragile," tolerating small distortions but not malicious tampering aimed at modifying the image's content. In particular, the rank-order relationship in local areas throughout the lowest level of the DWT is exploited to encode the watermark. An edge-based message digest is used. The signature is in the form of binary data and the wavelet decomposition coefficients are modified according to this binary sequence. The signature is also embedded and tested within the SPIHT compression algorithm. The information capacity is studied and the experimental results confirm a logarithm relation between the bit rate and the quantization level, which is similar to the Shannon's capacity theorem. Experiments are performed to examine the signature's transparency and robustness.
Role of macrophage-expressed adipocyte fatty acid binding protein in the development of accelerated atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease process associated with elevated levels of plasma cholesterol, especially low-density lipoproteins. The latter become trapped within the arterial wall and are oxidized and taken up by macrophages to form foam cells. This process is an initiating event for atherosclerosis. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABP) are involved in fatty acid metabolism and cellular lipid transport, and adipocyte FABP (aP2) is also expressed in macrophages. We recently generated mice lacking both apolipoprotein (Apo)E and aP2 (ApoE –/– aP2 –/– ) and found that these mice, compared with ApoE –/– mice, developed markedly smaller atherosclerotic lesions that contained fewer macrophages. Here we investigated the mechanism(s) responsible for this prevention of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Bone marrow transplantations were performed in ApoE –/– mice, receiving cells from either ApoE –/– or ApoE –/– aP2 –/– mice. The lack of aP2 in donor marrow cells led to the development of smaller (5.5-fold) atherosclerotic lesions in the recipient mice. No differences were found in plasma cholesterol, glucose, or insulin levels between recipients of bone marrow cells from ApoE –/– or ApoE –/– aP2 –/– mice. However, the expression of chemoattractant and inflammatory cytokines was decreased in macrophages from ApoE –/– aP2 –/– mice compared with ApoE –/– mice, which may contribute to the decrease in atherosclerotic lesion formation. Taken together, we demonstrate the importance of macrophage aP2 in the development of atherosclerotic lesions.
Effect of alloxan on feed consumption in rats.

SummaryA group of 25 mature female Sprague-Dawley-Rolfsmeyer rats weighing a mean of 223 g consumed a mean of 5.88 g/100 g bw of Purina Lab Chow daily during a 2-week control period. When alloxan was injected intraperitoneally at a level of 15 mg/100 g bw to induce chronic diabetes, feed consumption declined to a level 67% below the control period, then began to increase. Eight rats died during the first week following treatment. The 17 surviving rats increased feed consumption 36% during the 7th to 12th days and 56% during the 13th to 18th days. These data show that induction of chronic diabetes by alloxan increases feed consumption by over 50%.
Exploring academic e-book use: part I through text analysis

Purpose – Over the past decade, as the electronic book (e-book) collection continues to grow, Columbia University Libraries has been gathering information to develop policies related to e-book acquisition, discovery, and access. The purpose of this paper is to investigate users’ e-book search behavior and information needs across different disciplines. Design/methodology/approach – The research method utilizes text data from two sources: users’ e-book search queries that were entered into the libraries discovery tool called CLIO and e-book title words provided by the Counting Online Usage of Networked Electronic Resources (COUNTER) usage reports. The analysis involves identifying and quantifying certain words from users’ search queries with the purpose of examining the contexts within which these words were used. Findings – The prominence of topical words such as “history,” “social,” and “politics” in the list was an interesting reflection on the kinds of works users were looking for, as were the terms “h...
The role of skull fractures in short duration head impacts

Etude des fractures du crâne provoquees par un choc de la tete de courte duree lors d'un accident de circulation
Pulsatility of Hypothalamo-Pituitary Hormones: A Challenge in Quantification

Neuroendocrine systems control many of the most fundamental physiological processes, e.g., reproduction, growth, adaptations to stress, and metabolism. Each such system involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary, and a specific target gland or organ. In the quantification of the interactions among these components, biostatistical modeling has played an important role. In the present article, five key challenges to an understanding of the interactions of these systems are illustrated and discussed critically.
Hostility during Late Adolescence Predicts Coronary Risk Factors at Mid-Life

Hostility, as measured by the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, has been found to predict higher rates of both coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. To evaluate one mechanism whereby hostility might contribute to health problems, the authors used regression models to determine whether hostility measured in college (1964-1966) predicted coronary risk factors assessed 21-23 years later (1987-1990) in 4,710 men and women. Of this group, 828 had lipids measured (1988-1991). Persons with higher hostility scores in college were significantly more likely at follow-up to consume more caffeine (r = 0.043), to have a larger body mass index (r = 0.055), to have higher lipid ratios (r = 0.092), and to be current smokers (r = 0.069) than those with lower hostility scores during college. Cross-sectional analyses found significant associations of contemporaneous hostility scores with the same four risk factors, as well as with alcohol consumption and hypertension (rs ranging from 0.043 to 0.117). These associations are large enough to have possible public health significance. We conclude that hostility may contribute to health problems through its influences on several coronary risk factors across the adult life span.