cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal decomposition of phosphorylated peptides in the condensed phase as studied by mass spectrometry

Abstract In this study, we expand the knowledge of the thermal decomposition (TD) of biological samples through the investigation of their non-volatile products by mass spectrometry. Specifically, we characterize the temperature dependence of the TD process and the non-volatile TD products of phosphorylated peptides under atmospheric conditions. Peptides with phosphorylated tyrosine, threonine or serine residues were investigated in this study. Results showed that all three tested phosphorylated peptides undergo a dephosphorylation step at temperatures between 200 and 220 °C. In addition, we report on a sequence-specific cleavage in peptides containing a phosphorylated serine amino acid, with the cleavage taking place at the backbone of the nitrogen–alpha carbon (N C α ) bond of the phosphorylated serine during the TD process. A mechanistic rationale is presented that accounts for the observation that this cleavage only occurred in phosphorylated serine-containing peptides. Results presented in this study further point to the potential utility of the robust and simple TD process for the rapid preparation of biological samples prior to MS analysis.
Dual Use of Smokeless Tobacco or E-cigarettes with Cigarettes and Cessation

Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is increasing,1,2 and use of smokeless tobacco products has failed to decline in the United States. Dual use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes is prevalent in many states,3 and is more common among younger males.5 E-cigarette use is higher in current smokers than former smokers or nonsmokers.6 Potential reasons for dual use include: (1) promotion of smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes where smoke-free air policies prevent cigarette smoking;7 (2) consumer beliefs that these products are safer than cigarettes;8 or (3) perceptions that these products aid smoking cessation.9 Some smokeless tobacco use has been associated with malignancies10 and cardiovascular disease.11,12 Higher risk of myocardial infarction is seen in dual users of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes compared to cigarette users alone.13 Whereas some support promoting smokeless tobacco products as safer alternatives to cigarettes, others suggest that this is unlikely to result in population-level reductions in health risks.14 Furthermore, dual use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes may encourage some to defer cessation, and dual users are less likely to intend to quit than those who smoke cigarettes only.15,16 E-cigarette use is most common among current smokers, males, and young adults.6,17,18 Whereas users perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes, useful for reducing cigarette consumption, and beneficial for smoking cessation,8,9,19 multiple longitudinal studies have not shown use to contribute to smoking cessation.20-22 E-cigarettes may be legally classified as tobacco products in the US unless marketed with therapeutic claims23 and all major US cigarette companies have e-cigarette subsidiaries or have developed their own e-cigarette brands.24 The widespread marketing of e-cigarettes by tobacco companies may threaten tobacco industry denormalization campaigns, which are initiatives that inform the public about the role of the tobacco industry in the spread of tobacco-related diseases. Examples of tobacco industry denormalization efforts include education about the tobacco industry’s use of deceptive marketing or predatory targeting. Tobacco industry denormalization has been an effective tobacco control strategy, helping to prevent youth smoking and encourage smoking cessation.25,26 To educate and counsel individuals using multiple tobacco products effectively, identification of factors associated with concurrent use is important, as motivations for use also may influence smoking cessation behavior. We aimed to examine associations among perceived harm of tobacco products, willingness to try smokeless tobacco, past quitting behaviors, and anti-tobacco industry attitudes and (1) dual use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, or (2) dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Secondary analyses evaluated predictors of past year quit attempts among dual users.
The Effects of Anisotropy on the Stress Analyses of Patient-Specific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

The local dilation of the infrarenal abdominal aorta, termed an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), is often times asymptomatic and may eventually result in rupture—an event associated with a significant mortality rate. The estimation of in-vivo stresses within AAAs has been proposed as a useful tool to predict the likelihood of rupture. For the current work, a previously-derived anisotropic relation for the AAA wall was implemented into patient-specific finite element simulations of AAA. There were 35 AAAs simulated in the current work which were broken up into three groups: elective repairs (n = 21), non-ruptured repairs (n = 5), and ruptured repairs (n = 9). Peak stresses and strains were compared using the anisotropic and isotropic constitutive relations. There were significant increases in peak stress when using the anisotropic relationship (p < 0.001), even in the absence of the ILT (p = 0.014). Rutpured AAAs resulted in elevated peak stresses as compared to non-ruptured AAAs when using both the isotropic and anisotropic simulations, however these comparisons did not reach significance (pani = 0.55, piso = 0.73). While neither the isotropic or anisotropic simulations were able to significantly discriminate ruptured vs. non-ruptured AAAs, the lower p-value when using the anisotropic model suggests including it into patient-specific AAAs may help better identify AAAs at high risk.
Spatial variations in the Jovian 20-micrometer flux

The 17-28 micron brightness temperature of the center of the disk of Jupiter is 136 plus or minus 4 K. Model calculations yield an effective temperature of 142 plus or minus 4 K at the center of the disk for a helium to hydrogen ratio He/H2 of 0. This corresponds to an effective temperature of the entire disk of 136 plus or minus 5 K. The NEB, SEB, and STeB are shown to emit an excess flux at 20 microns when compared to the neighboring zones. The hot belts were grey in color at the time of the observations and were the source of excess 5-micron flux as well (Keay et al. 1973). The relationships between 5- and 20-micron flux excesses and the cloud structures are discussed.
Assessment of launch vehicle debris risk during ascent aborts

In the event of a space launch vehicle explosion during ascent, the debris field generated by the explosion poses a risk to the crew. To evaluate this risk, a model of the debris environment was created and used to determine the probability of a debris strike on the crew module. The model uses experimental data to determine the initial debris field due to a launch vehicle explosion and computes the trajectory of each piece of debris. The trajectory of the crew module after the abort is also computed. The relative position of the debris field and the crew module is determined as a function of time after abort and explosion. A debris flux about the crew module is computed based on this information. The debris flux is used to compute the probability of a debris strike on the crew module using the Poisson distribution. The effect of system and model parameters - such as warning time, the number of debris pieces and abort system thrust- on the debris strike probability is assessed.
Use of hypnosis before and during angioplasty.

Abstract In this study, 16 patients matched with 16 controls were hypnotized prior to angioplasty. The hypnotized patients had a 25% increase in the time the cardiologist was able to keep the balloon inflated compared to the controls. Of the hypnotized patients, 13% required additional narcotic pain medication during the procedure as compared to 44% for the controls. Although we found no differences in rhythm, ischemia, blood pressure, or pulse between the two groups, the results of arterial catecholamine levels drawn at the start and at the end of the procedure were unexpected and seemed paradoxical. Norepinephrine levels were significantly higher in the hypnotized group (432 pg/ml, SE 51) than in the control group (281pg/ml, SE 23) at the start of the procedure and fell more during the procedure than in control patients. Because catecholamines reportedly act as a barometer of neuroanxiety, further studies defining their role are needed.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Seeded Dispersion Polymerization

The kinetics and mechanism of seeded dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was studied by applying both micron and submicron PMMA seeds. Using a 1.7 μm PMMA seed (Np = 1 × 1012/L) and a monomer polymer ratio (M/P) of 28/1, secondary nucleation was found to occur and the number of new particles exceeded that produced in a parallel ab initio dispersion polymerization. This was explained by the paradoxical initiator concentration effect seen in dispersion polymerizations where the number of particles decreases with increasing initiator concentration. In contrast, using 194 nm (Np = 26 × 1012/L; M/P = 833/1) and 317 nm (Np = 5.6 × 1012/L; M/P = 714/1) submicron seeds, it was found that the final particle number was similar to (or less in a few cases) the initial seed number over a relatively wide range of initiator concentrations. With increasing initiator concentration, the initial reaction rate increased but the maximum reaction rate decreased slightly. This was explained by increased radical termination particularly in unstable nuclei, leading to a reduced radical entry rate. The reaction rate was found to be moderately dependent on the number of seed particles, but was independent of the seed surface area. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Expression of Liver X Receptor Target Genes Decreases Cellular Amyloid β Peptide Secretion

A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the deposition of plaques of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) in the brain. Abeta is thought to be formed from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in cholesterol-enriched membrane rafts, and cellular cholesterol depletion decreases Abeta formation. The liver X receptors (LXR) play a key role in regulating genes that control cellular cholesterol efflux and membrane composition and are widely expressed in cells of the central nervous system. We show that treatment of APP-expressing cells with LXR activators reduces the formation of Abeta. LXR activation resulted in increased levels of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and stearoyl CoA desaturase, and expression of these genes individually decreased formation of Abeta. Expression of ABCA1 led to both decreased beta-cleavage product of APPSw (i.e. C99 peptide) and reduced gamma-secretase-cleavage of C99 peptide. Remarkably, these effects of ABCA1 on APP processing were independent of cellular lipid efflux. LXR and ABCA1-induced changes in membrane lipid organization had favorable effects on processing of APP, suggesting a new approach to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
A Review of Peer Relationships and Friendships in Youth With ADHD

Objective: The purpose of this essay is to examine peer relationships in youth with ADHD and to review current peer functioning interventions. Method: The studies included in this review were identified using the following search terms: “attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,” “ADHD,” “peer relationships,” “friendships,” “social skills,” “intervention,” and “treatment.” Other than a few seminal studies published prior to 2000, studies included were published between 2000 and 2012. Results/Discussion: Background information regarding peer relationship difficulties and specific social skills deficits of youth with ADHD is reviewed and current social skills and friendship intervention programs are examined. Future directions also are provided.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Amoxicillin in Pediatric Patients

Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from 14 infants and children receiving intravenous amoxicillin. Peak serum values increased proportionally to the increase in dose; the serum half-life was similar in the three dose groups studied.
Deep Space Network Revitalization - Operations For the 21st Century

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supports unmanned space missions through a Deep Space Network (DSN) that is developed and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and its subcontractors. The DSN capabilities have been incrementally upgraded since its establishment in the late ’50s and are delivered from three Deep Space Communications Complexes (DSCC’s) near Goldstone, California, Madrid, Spain, and Canberra, Australia. At present each DSCC includes large antennas with diameters from 11 meters to 70 meters, that operate largely in S-band and X-band frequencies. In addition each DSCC includes all the associated electronics to receive and process the low-level telemetry signals, and radiate the necessary command with high-power transmitters. To accommodate support of the rapidly increasing number of missions by NASA and other space agencies, and to facilitate maintaining and increasing the level of service in a shrinking budget environment, JPL has initiated a bold road map with three key components: 1. A Network Simplification Project (NSP) to upgrade aging electronics, replacing them with modern commercially based components. NSP and related replacement tasks are projected to reduce the cost of operating the DSN by 50% relative to the 1997 levels. 2. Upgrade of all 34-m and 70-m antennas to provision of Ka-Band telemetry downlink capability, complemented by an existing X-band uplink capability. This will increase the effective telemetry downlink capacity by a factor of 4, without building any new antennas. 3. Establishment of an optical communications network to support for high-data-rate unmanned missions that cannot be accommodated with radio-frequency (RF) communications, as well as establish a path toward support of manned missions at Mars.
Comparative toxicity of chlorothalonil: Ceriodaphnia dubia and Pimephales promelas.

Abstract Chlorothalonil is a commonly used fungicide in rural and urban environments and can be incidentally introduced into aquatic systems through rainfall runoff or direct overspray and drift from aerial applications. Few studies have been published regarding risks to aquatic organisms exposed to chlorothalonil, so this study was performed to provide a first-order risk characterization for receiving system biota. Definitive laboratory toxicity tests were conducted with aqueous solutions of chlorothalonil and sentinel aquatic organisms ( Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard and Pimephales promelas Rafinesque). P. promelas was more sensitive (7-day potency=6.1% mortality/μg/L) than C. dubia (7-day potency=0.94% mortality/μg/L) to chlorothalonil exposures. All mortality of P. promelas and C. dubia resulting from these chlorothalonil exposures occurred within the first 96 h and no sublethal effects (i.e., growth or reproduction) were detected under these experimental conditions following 7-day exposures.
Workplace violence in healthcare environments

Violence in the workplace is making headlines across the United States. Healthcare workers are not immune to violent encounters. Many healthcare workers will experience workplace violence at least once during their professional careers. Nurses are in a unique position to develop and provide assistance to implement prevention programs that can decrease the incidence and prevalence of violence in healthcare environments. This article reviews the definition of violence and its elements, and outlines a plan to reduce violence in healthcare environments.
Electroweak matrix elements: 1990 update

Abstract I review some of the past year's activity in the application of lattice QCD to hadronic matrix elements.
Kiglapait geochemistry VII: Yttrium and the rare earth elements

Abstract Based on 51 wholerock analyses by XRF and summation over the layered group, the Kiglapait Intrusion contains 4.7−1.6+1.2 ppm Y, which resides principally in augite and apatite. Using liquid compositions calculated by summation, the partition coefficient DAUG/LY is 0.95 ± 0.12 from 84 to 97 PCS (percent solidified) and 1.5 ± 0.4 above 97 PCS. For feldspar, the most likely value for D is 0.028 ± 0.02 (N = 6). REE analyses for 13 whole rocks were interpreted with the aid of yttrium models to yield trends for wholerocks and liquids vs PCS. Summations over the rocks of the layered group gave La = 2.5, Ce = 5.8, Nd = 3.9, Sm = 1.0, Eu = 0.8, Tb = 0.17, Yb = 0.37, and Lu = 0.06 ppm, with 2 s.d. errors near ± 30%. All these elements are highly incompatible until the arrival of augite, which affects chiefly the HREE, and apatite, which affects all (but more strongly, the LREE). The net result is that after apatite arrival at 94 PCS, the liquid compositions are nearly constant, hence DWR/LREE ≈ 1.0. These results are compatible with the mineralogy of the intrusion and the estimated partition coefficients for feldspar, olivine, augite, apatite, and Fe-Ti oxide minerals. For pre-apatite liquids, DFSP/LREE vary regularly with the normative di content of the liquid and change by an order of magnitude, hence the bulk liquid composition must be considered in any attempt to invert the compositions of feldspars to parent liquids. The Eu anomaly at first decreases in Kiglapait liquids due to plagioclase fractionation, but then increases due to removal of augite and apatite with negative Eu anomalies. The features dominantly responsible for Eu partitioning are liquid structure and, for monoclinic ternary feldspars, crystal structure. The former is best monitored by the augite or diopside content of the liquid and the latter, by the K content of the feldspar. The chondrite-normalized REE pattern for the intrusion has LaN = 7.4, LuN = 1.6, (Ce/Yb)N = 3.6, and Eu/Eu* = 2.4, indicating its feldspar-rich nature. The chilled margin of the nearby Hettasch Intrusion has a similar but more evolved pattern, corresponding roughly to the Kiglapait liquid at 70 PCS. As with other data, those for the REE suggest source differences for the two intrusions rather than a relationship due to fractionation.
Effects of Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury on Lung Water Balance: Nephrogenic Pulmonary Edema?

Pulmonary edema worsens the morbidity and increases the mortality of critically ill patients. Mechanistically, edema formation in the lung is a result of net flow across the alveolar capillary membrane, dependent on the relationship of hydrostatic and oncotic pressures. Traditionally, the contribution of acute kidney injury (AKI) to the formation of pulmonary edema has been attributed to bulk fluid accumulation, increasing capillary hydrostatic pressure and the gradient favoring net flow into the alveolar spaces. Recent research has revealed more subtle, and distant, effects of AKI. In this review we discuss the concept of nephrogenic pulmonary edema. Pro-inflammatory gene upregulation, chemokine over-expression, altered biochemical channel function, and apoptotic dysregulation manifest in the lung are now understood as “extra-renal” and pulmonary effects of AKI. AKI should be counted as a disease process that alters the endothelial integrity of the alveolar capillary barrier and has the potential to overpower the ability of the lung to regulate fluid balance. Nephrogenic pulmonary edema, therefore, is the net effect of fluid accumulation in the lung as a result of both the macroscopic and microscopic effects of AKI.
Sildenafil preserves intracorporeal smooth muscle after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Early use of vasoactive agents has been shown to rehabilitate erectile function after nerve sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). The loss of intracorporeal smooth muscle (SM) and an increase in intracorporeal fibrosis have been demonstrated in vasculogenic impotence and implicated in permanent post-RRP erectile dysfunction. We assessed the effect of sildenafil on SM content after RRP.Materials and Methods: A total of 40 potent volunteers with prostate cancer underwent RRP and were divided into 2 treatment groups, namely 1—50 mg sildenafil and 2—100 mg sildenafil every other night for 6 months beginning the day of catheter removal. Percutaneous biopsy was performed using general anesthesia prior to incision for RRP. Another biopsy was performed using local anesthesia 6 months later. Volunteers were excluded prior to the second biopsy if they discontinued sildenafil. Biopsies were stained for SM and connective tissue, and analyzed by computer in at least 15 different fields. The ...
A novel piezoelectric device with dual functions of studying biological soft tissues

This paper presents a novel piezoelectric device with dual functions of studying soft biological tissues. The device consists of a central circular plate and a set of flexural beams. The flexural beams are partially covered with piezoelectric layer for integrated transduction. It can function as a force sensor for measuring the mechanical behavior of a tissue sample and a load applier for mimicking physiological loads experienced by the tissue sample in vivo, while the mechanical behavior can be visually observed under a microscope simultaneously. By combining the classic theories in solid mechanics and piezoelectricity, the performance of the piezoelectric device is analyzed. Based on the mechanical behavior obtained from traditional experimental studies on cartilage, the piezoelectric device is designed and optimized for studying cartilage at the micro/nano-scale. The fabrication process for the piezoelectric device is also discussed.
Is universal access to antiretroviral drugs an emerging international norm

The international community appears to have embraced a new norm - that of universal access to antiretroviral drugs. The process by which this norm has found acceptance raises interesting questions about how norm entrepreneurs frame their arguments, the role of non-state actors in realizing a norm, and the importance of existent complementary norms. To understand the success of the norm of universal antiretroviral access, I examine the failure of an earlier health-related norm - that of universal primary health care. The campaign for universal antiretroviral access points to a need for a more nuanced understanding of norm evolution within the international community and a more holistic vision of which actors can facilitate the realization of a norm.
Quality in obstetrics: the search continues.

s an active clinician, administrator, and researcher in A health care quality, I am often amusingly reminded of Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) as I search for what defines quality in medicine and obstetrics. In this book, the protagonist takes a 17-day adventure across the country on a motorbike, consumed with a spiritual inquiry into the metaphysics of quality. In harmony with the atmosphere of the early 1970s, one realizes there is probably no objective definition of quality, but rather quality is a concept that folds spiritual experience into rational thought. Appreciating the book requires one to suspend linear approaches to solving problems, metaphorically gripping the handlebars on a wild intellectual ride, exploring uncertainties with inconclusive conclusions. If you are confused as to the point, it is intended. Quality is hard to define and the quest itself probably means more than finding the answer. At its simplest level, quality from a medical perspective is an assessment of how close care is to the optimal state. Yet, one discovers this is probably an insufficient definition when it comes to the practical efforts of measuring and improving it. What is the optimal state, how do we quantify it, and how do we weight quality measurements against each other and in diverse settings? Thus, in medicine we find ourselves on a journey much like Pirsig’s protagonist, and nowhere is this path more tortuous than in obstetrics. Measuring quality in medicine is a challenge, but measuring it in obstetrics is made difficult by the fact that most childbirth is physiologic and normal, and so often our patients are unharmed as they pass through the medical system. Even when things go wrong, for instance during an error or mishap, the resilient physiology of a healthy woman or fetus can often deflect the potential injury into a near-miss. For the most part we do well to achieve the optimal in obstetrics, despite ourselves. This scenario makes it all the more surprising and devastating to us and our patients when error does lead to harm. In contrast to Pirsig’s metaphysical adventure, our path to define quality must actually realize conclusive ends. Quality plays a critical role in justifying costs as we search for value in
Autoregulation in rats with transplanted supernumerary kidneys

Autoregulation of mammalian renal function is implicit in the fact that a few hours after removal of one kidney the activity of the intact nephrons in the other kidney suddenly increases, both in glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption. There follows a slower but easily measured increase in renal mass–compensatory hypertrophy in each residual nephron. That response to a reduction of nephrons has been well studied1, but the adaptation of normal renal function to additional nephrons could not be tested until microsurgical techniques made it possible to transplant one or two additional kidneys into normal rats2. We report here sequential measurements of the total renal function of rats with three and four kidneys. Our results indicate that autoregulation maintains total renal function at normal levels in spite of a doubling in the number of nephrons and apparent renal mass.
Hyperalgesia induced by peripheral inflammation is mediated by protein kinase C βII isozyme in the rat spinal cord

Abstract We have addressed the molecular mechanism(s) of hyperalgesia, which depends on increased excitability of dorsal horn neurons and on sensitization of primary afferent nociceptors, during peripheral inflammation. Following unilateral adjuvant-induced inflammation in the rat hind paw, time-course changes in behavioral hyperalgesia and functional activities of Ca 2+ /phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C isozymes were examined. Inflammation was characterized by increase in paw diameter, and behavioral hyperalgesia was quantified as paw withdrawal latency from a radiant heat source. Behavioral hyperalgesia on the injected paw was significantly increased. This was accompanied by a significant increase in total functional membrane-associated protein kinase C activity, whereas total cytosolic protein kinase C activity was unchanged on the sides of the lumbar spinal cord both contralateral and ipsilateral to the inflammation. Importantly, on the side of lumbar cord ipsilateral to the inflamed paw, the activity of membrane-associated protein kinase CβII was increased following the same time-course as the paw withdrawal latency decrease, suggesting an increased translocation of protein kinase Cβll to the membrane related to behavioral hyperalgesia. A defined mixture of purified gangliosides, which inhibits intracellular protein kinase C translocation and activation, decreased inflammation-induced paw withdrawal latency, and specifically decreased the activity of membrane-associated protein kinase Cβll on the side of the spinal cord ipsilateral to the inflammation. Quantitative immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated intensified protein kinase CβII-like immunoreactivity on the side of the spinal cord ipsilateral to the inflammation. Time-course for increases in the activity of membrane-associated protein kinase CβII, and in intensity of protein kinase CβII-immunoreactivity, paralleled inflammation-mediated changes in paw withdrawal latency and paw diameter. Our findings indicate an apparent involvement of protein kinase CβII isozyme specifically in the molecular mechanism(s) of thermal hyperalgesia.
Catalytic hydrogen transfer due to FeSO4 and CozMo in coal liquefaction

The liquefaction behaviour of a Kentucky coal was studied in batch autoclave experiments at 410 °C under either a H2 or a N2 atmosphere (≈ 13.8 MPa) for reaction times of up to 2 h. To understand the catalytic roles of FeSO4 and a CozMo catalyst in coal liquefaction and to assess the feasibility of using FeSO4 as a model for coal pyrites, effects of impregnation of the coal with FeSO4 and direct charges of a CozMo catalyst on coal liquefaction and tetralin dehydrogenation were examined. Both catalysts increase the conversion to benzene-soluble material by 7–10%, and improve the selectivity values for conversion to oil and gas. In addition they are also active in the dehydrogenation of tetralin. The dehydrogenation activities of these catalysts correlate with their catalytic activities during coal liquefaction. Analyses of the mean chemical structures and the product distributions of the coal-derived liquid from liquefaction in H2 and in N2 atmospheres indicate that: 1. (1) H-transfer from tetralin is the only major mechanism of coal liquefaction; and 2. (2) both pyrrhotite, generated in-situ from FeSO4, and Coz Mo catalyst can provide a major liquefaction mechanism by catalysing the H-transfer from the donor solvent to the coal or the coal-derived liquid.
Disasters and the health of urban populations

The average number of reported disasters worldwide, based on International Federation of the Red Cross criteria, increased from an average of 428 per year between 1994 and 1998 to 707 per year between 1999 and 2003.1 Although definitions of disasters vary, most definitions concur that disasters may be attributed to natural, technological, or human causes. During the past decade, several high profile disasters have sharpened the media and scientific focus on disasters. In terms of natural disasters, the horrific Southeast Asian tsunami at the end of 2004, claiming more than 200,000 lives worldwide, highlighted both the devastation that natural disasters can wreak and their unpredictability. Our increasing reliance on technology comes hand in hand with a greater risk of the possible consequences of this reliance. The dam collapse at Buffalo Creek and the threatened nuclear power plant failure at Three Mile Island were two of the sentinel events of the past decades that increased our awareness of the threat of technological disasters. With respect to human-made disasters, two unprecedented terrorist attacks, the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 and the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City in 2001, brought home the notion that human-made mass traumatic events are a source of concern in the United States. Two-and-a-half years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, on March 11, 2004, the Madrid train bombings were the largest single terrorist attack in Europe. In addition, other mass traumatic events continue to threaten the health of populations worldwide. There are approximately 16 wars being fought today.2 In 2004, there were 17,084,100 refugees around the world,3 ensuring that the consequences of these wars would continue for years to come.
Linking biomechanics and ecology through predator–prey interactions: flight performance of dragonflies and their prey

SUMMARY Aerial predation is a highly complex, three-dimensional flight behavior that affects the individual fitness and population dynamics of both predator and prey. Most studies of predation adopt either an ecological approach in which capture or survival rates are quantified, or a biomechanical approach in which the physical interaction is studied in detail. In the present study, we show that combining these two approaches provides insight into the interaction between hunting dragonflies ( Libellula cyanea ) and their prey ( Drosophila melanogaster ) that neither type of study can provide on its own. We performed >2500 predation trials on nine dragonflies housed in an outdoor artificial habitat to identify sources of variability in capture success, and analyzed simultaneous predator–prey flight kinematics from 50 high-speed videos. The ecological approach revealed that capture success is affected by light intensity in some individuals but that prey density explains most of the variability in success rate. The biomechanical approach revealed that fruit flies rarely respond to approaching dragonflies with evasive maneuvers, and are rarely successful when they do. However, flies perform random turns during flight, whose characteristics differ between individuals, and these routine, erratic turns are responsible for more failed predation attempts than evasive maneuvers. By combining the two approaches, we were able to determine that the flies pursued by dragonflies when prey density is low fly more erratically, and that dragonflies are less successful at capturing them. This highlights the importance of considering the behavior of both participants, as well as their biomechanics and ecology, in developing a more integrative understanding of organismal interactions.
Dual dynamics: Designing behavior systems for autonomous robots

This paper describes the “dual dynamics” (DD) design scheme for robotic behavior control systems. Behaviors are formally specified as dynamical systems using differential equations. A key idea for the DD scheme is that a robotic agent can work in different “modes,” which lead to qualitatively different behavioral patterns. Mathematically, transitions between modes are bifurcations in the control system.
Transparency in Hungarian vowel harmony

Phonologists have known for some time that the so-called ‘standard’ theory of generative phonology is not adequate for the analysis of vowel harmony. Ringen (1975, 1977, 1980) suggests that some of the problems can be solved by abandoning the assumption that phonological representations are fully specified. Clements (1977b, 1980) suggests that vowel harmony should be analysed autosegmentally. Underspecification theory, developed in the recent work of Kiparsky, Archangeli and Pulleyblank, incorporates both of these proposals. This paper considers how Hungarian can be analysed within this theory. It is shown that by adopting Goldsmith's (1985) proposal that vowel harmony in Hungarian involves the spreading of the feature [−back], the transparent (neutral) vowels in Hungarian are derived because the redundancy rule assigning [−back] to these vowels, although available, does not apply early in the derivation because its structural description is not met.
Cardiac biomarkers: a contemporary status report

The field of cardiac biomarkers has grown by leaps and bounds in the past two decades. In this review we try to summarize the explosion of emerging knowledge and address the roles of some of the biomarkers that have either proven or potential utility. We detail some of the markers of ischemia, hemodynamic markers of heart failure, inflammatory markers, and the novel and innovative approach of combining these for a multimarker strategy. At the end of this review we highlight some of the biomarker-guided approaches and strategies that might lead to better and more-effective care of patients.
On using compressed sensing for efficient transmission & storage of electric organ discharge

In this paper, we present a compressed sensing based framework for a wireless sensor based biological sensing system for recording the frequency of fish electric organ discharge. We investigate the trade-offs between the parameters of compressed sensing, such as sampling matrix, reconstructed signal's signal to noise ratio, and compression ratio. The measured results show that our framework can be used to reduce the transmitted data size by 70% (3×) while maintaining at least 10 dB signal to noise ratio for the reconstructed time domain frequency data. This size reduction with acceptable reconstructed signal quality will help reduce transmission energy and storage requirements for long-term sensing experiments, thus enabling the use of small and low power wireless sensors.
A Dual Wavelength Ti:sapphire Laser Using A Ramp-Hold-Fire Seeding Technique for Resonance Ionization of Rb87

We present a novel dual wavelength ring laser for selective ionization of Rb87 atoms. The design incorporates a Ramp-Hold-Fire technique for generating 15ns Fourier transform limited pulses immune to noise within the acoustic range.
Quantitative Mapping of Ocular Oxygenation Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Retinal hypoxia is hypothesized to initiate angiogenesis, a leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Attempts to test this hypothesis suffer from the need to use highly invasive oxygen electrodes. In this communication, noninvasive and quantitative mapping of ocular oxygenation using magnetic resonance imaging is demonstrated for the first time.
Monotonicity in the stock competition game with consumer search

Anupindi and Bassok investigate the impact of centralizing the stocks in a one-manufacturer-two-retailer supply chain with consumer search. They observed through numerical studies that in the decentralized scenario, the retailers' order quantities are monotonic in the consumer search probability. This paper provides an analytical justification of this monotonicity.
Alcohol is not Safe even at Light Amounts.

There is undeniable evidence that alcohol is harmful to health. An increasing concern for alcohol users is underestimating or ignoring its health effects. Some justify their alcohol use by stating that a few drinks may even be good for the health by disregarding a possible future alcohol addiction and dependence problems, while for others it serves as a social gathering necessity. Is alcohol good, bad or ugly? Many studies have shown that moderate to high alcohol intake significantly increases the risk of developing cancers. The National Institute of Health released a warning about the increased risk of cancer for heavy drinkers. Alcohol can have a direct carcinogenic effect in gastrointestinal cancers and can also have indirect effects via the overexpression of oncogenes in cells, thus triggering the development of cancer. In addition, a co-carcinogenic effect is seen by boosting the carcinogenic properties of other chemicals. Alcohol reduces blood levels of vitamins A and E, zinc, iron and some B vitamins, including folate and thiamin, accounting for the increased risk of cancer. Alcohol suppresses the immune system and makes alcoholics more susceptible to developing cancer. Most of the clinical data examined moderate to high alcohol intake studies. Therefore, there is no consensus on a safe level of alcohol use (1,2). The risks associated with alcohol use cannot be limited to only cancer. However, it is important to note that the alcohol industry lost a competition recently. Bagnardi et al. (3) recently stayed away from all negative impulses and reported a meta-analysis about light alcohol drinking and cancer. Alcohol consumption increases the risk of oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, larynx, liver, breast, and colorectal cancer. The level of alcohol consumption was shown to increase the risk of alcohol-related cancer. Prior to this study, most of the data were derived from studies of moderate to high alcohol intake. For the first time, the researchers evaluated the association between light alcohol drinking (up to 1 drink daily) and cancers by evaluating 13,814 non-unique papers identified through a literature search; in total, 222 unique papers were included in the meta-analysis, comprising 92,000 light drinkers and 60,000 non-drinkers with cancer. Even light drinking was associated with the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, esophageal squamous cell cancer and female breast cancer. No absolute safe level of alcohol intake can be endorsed. This study is important because it was published against the alcohol industry and their enormous power against public health (3). Can these study results break the alcohol industry’s defense and its social place to develop a fear of cancer or other alcohol-related diseases, which may also prevent the majority of people from enjoying even an occasional drink? We are not sure, but hopefully it will be beneficial to have people rethink this toxin and fight against alcohol abuse and dependence.
Analysis of waste vitrification product-process systems

Abstract Integrated product and process design has been approached by representing product specifications and process operations in a common space of mixture compositions. Interval reasoning can be a useful preprocessing step prior to detailed design in situations where there is uncertainty in feed composition, or it is sufficient to be within a given range of values for product properties. This paper presents new interval reasoning algorithms for abstract representations of unit operations such as reactors and separators. These methods enable the propagation of product specifications, given as ranges on properties and compositions, to ranges on feed conditions, and vice versa. Comparisons of different processes may also reveal relative preferences between systems. In this paper, we demonstrate these concepts and illustrate their application through a waste vitrification system example in which feed stream composition, product composition, viscosity and durability are all constrained. Two different vitrification systems are compared in terms of their ranges of acceptable feed compositions and the range of possible product mass. The determined ranges on variables provide a superset of system capabilities; points outside this space are proven infeasible, while points inside the space are possibly feasible. This paper demonstrates that interval propagation schemes that make specific use of the structure inherent in chemical engineering processes, such as conservation of mass, can be very effective in limiting the spurious inclusion of infeasible points. In addition, redundant equations are valuable in reducing spurious solutions as has been shown elsewhere for other qualitative and semi-qualitative reasoning schemes.
Controversy: the role of renal biopsy in modern medicine.

I N THIS ERA of shrinking budgets, rising health care costs, and emphasis on preventive medicine it is appropriate to question any diagnostic or therapeutic maneuver in the field of medicine. The issue addressed by Drs. MorelMaroger and Donadio concerns the role of renal biopsy in modern medicine. Simply stated, the questions are: is there information gained on which to base decisions on management, can it be obtained at a reasonable individual and societal cost, and are data obtained with which preventive measures can be developed.
Chronic effects of lead on schedule-controlled pigeon behavior.

Abstract Pigeons were trained to peck a response key under a multiple fixed ratio 30 response (FR 30) fixed-interval 5-min (FI 5) schedule of food presentation. When rates of responding stabilized, lead acetate (6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg body weight) or sodium acetate solutions were given daily by gastric intubation. Blood-lead concentrations were measured weekly by atomic absorption spectrometry, and responding under the multiple schedule was measured Monday through Friday. Control intubations of sodium acetate did not affect responding under either component of the schedule. The 25-mg/kg dose of lead decreased rates of responding after 3 to 10 days of administration and usually was lethal between 18 and 35 days. Post mortem examination of the birds showed obvious esophageal dilatation, damage to the crop, weight loss, and subarachnoid hemorrhages. Administration of the 25-mg/kg dose was discontinued in some birds after responding had ceased. Responding gradually began to recover, but rates of responding remained low and variable under both components of the schedule for many days. Daily administration of the 12.5-mg/kg dose of lead caused one death, but no obvious signs of intoxication occurred in the other birds. However, three of the four birds surviving daily 12.5-mg/kg doses of lead showed decreased rates of responding under both schedule components within 30 days of the initial intubation. The fourth bird showed a highly variable rate under the FI component of the schedule during lead administration; however, when lead administration was discontinued, dramatic increases in rates of responding above lead pretreatment levels occurred, particularly under the FI component. These rate increases persisted for 75 days thereafter. The 6.25-mg/kg dose of lead produced only small changes in rates of responding during 70 days of intubation. Blood-lead concentrations were very high (150–3470 μg/dl) during treatment with all doses of lead. Increasing doses produced increasing blood concentrations which were correlated with increasing behavioral effects, although correlations between blood-lead concentrations and behavioral changes were low within individual birds.
Prolonged preservation increases surgical complications after pancreas transplants.

Abstract Background. Prolonged preservation of the donor organ may result in delayed graft function or non-function after most organ transplants. We studied whether or not prolonged preservation increases surgical complications after pancreas transplants. Methods. Between January 1, 1994, and September 30, 1998, a total of 294 recipients underwent cadaver pancreas transplants at our institution. Recipients were analyzed in 2 groups: those with pancreas preservation time ≤ 20 hours (n = 211) versus > 20 hours (n = 83). Results. Demographic data were similar between the 2 groups, except that mean donor age in the prolonged preservation group was significantly lower. Despite use of younger donors, prolonged preservation was associated with an increased incidence of surgical complications, most notably leaks, thrombosis, and wound infections. Grafts with prolonged preservation were more often noted by the transplant surgeon to be edematous after reperfusion, although the incidence of hyperamylasemia posttransplant did not differ between the 2 groups. Graft and patient survival rates also did not differ between the 2 groups. The incidence of early graft loss (
Tests for a trend in proportion based on mixtures of beta distributions incorporating historical controls

Carcinogen bioassay involves the exposure of laboratory animals to one or more levels of the test substance and an evaluation of the tumor occurrence rates in the treated groups relative to those in the unexposed controls. The historical control groups obtained from other similar studies also provide information concerning the rate of spontaneous tumor occurrence and may be useful in analyzing the results of the current experiment. This is especially relevant when the tumor is of rare type where the toxicologist places great significance on its occurrence in a treatment group. Under the assumption that historical control and concurrent control tumor rates are identically distributed, several authors have investigated the problem of statistical incorporation of the historical data into the current control group while testing for an increasing trend in the proportions across the treatment groups. Often this is not the case, as the historical data are gathered from studies subject to profound sources of variation, such as animal age, animal body weight, and pathologists which occur even under the same protocol. In this article we relax this assumption and develop locally most powerful tests for a trend in binomial response data by using the mixtures of beta distributions as models to accommodate the extra-binomial variation in the historical controls. The asymptotic distributions of the test statistics are obtained under the null hypothesis of no trend in proportions and also for a sequence of Pitman alternatives converging to the null hypothesis. Using these results, the application of the tests with the experimental as well as hypothetical data sets is demonstrated. The robustness of these tests under small perturbations in the historical control data is studied. The study shows that the tests based on the mixtures of beta distributions are robust in the sense that their p-values do not fluctuate under small perturbations in the historical data, unlike some of the existing test procedures. Thus while incorporating the historical data, the mixture distributions are more appropriate than the existing procedures for modelling the variation in the historical controls. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.