cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of stress and chronic propranolol infusion on cardiac beta-receptor function in the maudsley reactive and non-reactive rat strains

Abstract The effects of β-adrenoceptor blockade on left ventricular β-receptor characteristics were evaluated in the Maudsley Reactive (MR/Har) and Non-Reactive (MNRA/Har) rat strains. After propranolol infusion for one week administered by subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps, differences in β-adrenoceptor-agonist interactions between strains were assessed by comparison of isoproterenol competition for [125I]iodocyanopindolol (ICYP) binding sites in crude left ventricular homogenate preparations from both strains. Propranolol exposure had no significant effect on the binding parameters investigated (Bmax, Kd, % receptors in high affinity state, IC50). In contrast to previous observations in naive animals, these experiments revealed no strain differences in the sham-implanted Maudsleys in any of the left ventricular β-adrenoceptor parameters investigated. We hypothesize that the surgical procedures and/or presence of the plastic inserts acted as stressors in the Maudsley strains and thus altered β-adrenoceptor function. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that exposure to another stress (footshock) also eliminated strain differences in ventricular β-receptor binding variables.
Sensitivity Analysis for Rapid Prototyping of Entry Vehicles

A procedure is presented for the application of parameter value-function analysis to the problem of rapid prototyping of entry vehicles. The trajectory optimization problem is imbedded in a family of canonically parameterized optimal control problems. Rather than repeatedly solving an ensemble of trajectory optimization problems, it is shown that a combination of sensitivity- and covector mapping theorems can be easily exploited to gauge quickly the effect of a parameter on the performance of the entry vehicle. Although the theory is not limited to the type or number of parameters, the ideas are demonstrated with three design variables: the maximum heating rate on the vehicle, the parasitic drag coefficient, and the vehicle mass. No change in the proposed method is necessary to carry out a similar analysis for other plant parameters for additional purposes such as the design of robust guidance algorithms. With use of the Legendre pseudospectral method and results from nonsmooth analysis, it is shown how to validate the sensitivity results.
Eddies in a bottleneck: An arbitrary Debye length theory for capillary electroosmosis

Using an applied electrical field to drive fluid flows becomes desirable as channels become smaller. Although most discussions of electroosmosis treat the case of thin Debye layers, here electroosmotic flow (EOF) through a constricted cylinder is presented for arbitrary Debye lengths (κ−1) using a long wavelength perturbation of the cylinder radius. The analysis uses the approximation of small potentials. The varying diameter of the cylinder produces radially and axially varying effective electric fields, as well as an induced pressure gradient. We predict the existence of eddies for certain constricted geometries and propose the possibility of electrokinetic trapping in these regions. We also present a leading-order criterion which predicts central eddies in very narrow constrictions at the scale of the Debye length. Eddies can be found both in the center of the channel and along the perimeter, and the presence of the eddies is a consequence of the induced pressure gradient that accompanies electrically driven flow into a narrow constriction.
Information processing of motion in facial expression and the geometry of dynamical systems

An interesting problem in analysis of video data concerns design of algorithms that detect perceptually significant features in an unsupervised manner, for instance methods of machine learning for automatic classification of human expression. A geometric formulation of this genre of problems could be modeled with help of perceptual psychology. In this article, we outline one approach for a special case where video segments are to be classified according to expression of emotion or other similar facial motions. The encoding of realistic facial motions that convey expression of emotions for a particular person P forms a parameter space XP whose study reveals the "objective geometry " for the problem of unsupervised feature detection from video. The geometric features and discrete representation of the space XP are independent of subjective evaluations by observers. While the "subjective geometry " of XP varies from observer to observer, levels of sensitivity and variation in perception of facial expressions appear to share a certain level of universality among members of similar cultures. Therefore, statistical geometry of invariants of XP for a sample of population could provide effective algorithms for extraction of such features. In cases where frequency of events is sufficiently large in the sample data, a suitable framework could be provided to facilitate the information-theoretic organization and study of statistical invariants of such features. This article provides a general approach to encode motion in terms of a particular genre of dynamical systems and the geometry of their flow. An example is provided to illustrate the general theory.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Top-Down Influences of Spatial Attention in Visual Cortex

It has been known for decades that neurons in visual cortex respond more vigorously when attention is directed to their receptive field. In recent years, substantial progress has been made toward understanding the neural mechanisms involved in controlling spatial attention. Many studies have shown
Biodegradation of cobalt–citrate complexes: Implications for cobalt mobility in groundwater

Abstract The bacterial consumption of chelating agents that are present in low-level radioactive and mixed wastes may help to immobilize chelated metals and radionuclides accidentally released to groundwater. We investigated the influence of the bacterial consumption of citrate complexed with cobalt on cobalt transport through packed sand columns. Experiments were conducted using each of three types of column packing material using minerals common to subsurface environments: clean quartz sand; ferric oxide (Fe(OH) 3 )-coated sand; hausmannite (Mn 3 O 4 )-coated sand. Separate control column experiments were conducted to examine citrate's influence on cobalt transport without the bacterial consumption of citrate. The bacterial community consumed all the citrate; the pore water pH decreased by up to one unit before reaching a steady-state value of 6.9–7.1, which was lower than the influent pH (7.4). These results were in contrast to open batch experiments conducted with the same culture, where the pH increased by more than one unit. The dissolved oxygen exhibited similar dynamics, reaching a steady-state value of 3–4 mg/l, well below the influent value of 7.5 mg/l. The dynamics in pore water pH and dissolved oxygen were associated with the presence of the bacterial community because these parameters remained steady in control experiments in which the bacteria were not included. Cobalt transport was most rapid for the columns packed with quartz sand followed by the Fe-coated sand and finally the Mn-coated sand. Most of the cobalt retained by the quartz sand and Fe-coated sand was easily exchanged with Mg 2+ whereas most of the cobalt retained by the Mn-coated sand required an acetic acid solution for its removal. The bacterially mediated pH decrease, driven by the consumption of citrate, decreased cobalt sorption to the solid phase resulting in enhanced cobalt transport. The results of these experiments suggest that geochemical changes, driven by the bacterial consumption of citrate, enhanced cobalt transport although the complexing ligand had been removed from the system.
Glycogen synthase in rat adipocytes and skeletal muscle is phosphorylated on both serine and threonine.

Glycogen synthase is phosphorylated both in vivo and in vitro on multiple sites per subunit. All phosphorylations of the enzyme thus far identified occur on serines which are found in two cyanogen bromide fragments, denoted CB-1 and CB-2. We have immunoprecipitated [32P]glycogen synthase from rat adipocytes and epitrochlearis muscles incubated with [32P]phosphate. Phosphoamino acid analyses by two-dimensional electrophoresis after acid hydrolysis revealed no [32P]phosphotyrosine, but significant levels of [32P]phosphothreonine (6–14% of the [32P](phosphoserine). The [32P]phosphothreonine was recovered in the large CNBr-fragment (CB-2), indicative of a hitherto unknown phosphorylation site(s)
Computer solution of three-dimensional mine ventilation networks with multiple fans and natural ventilation

Abstract This paper discusses the computer solution of mine ventilation networks employing natural splitting and having either fans or natural ventilation or both. The program which is developed is coded to select a set of independent meshes according to the ‘tree procedure’, so that high-resistance branches are not repeated and faster convergence of the solution is obtained. In addition, convergence is improved by applying the Gauss-Seidel iterative technique with the Hardy Cross method. Natural ventilation pressure which may exist in any airway is treated as a constant pressure source, whereas the fan pressure is considered to be a function of the airflow as defined by the fan characteristic curve. The program, written in Fortran for an IBM 7074 computer, is applicable to networks containing up to 550 branches, 350 meshes, 550 constant pressure sources and 40 fans. The application of this programme is demonstrated through an example network which contains 203 branches, 3 constant pressure sources and 3 fans.
Universal properties of classical surface diffusion.

We examine the classical diffusion of independent adatoms on periodic substrates using a recently developed microscopic theory. We show how the universal properties of surface diffusion arise from this theory in the high-friction limit at low temperatures. At high temperatures, the theory crosses over correctly to that of a Brownian particle in a viscous medium.
Science Teaching Orientations and Technology-Enhanced Tools for Student Learning

This qualitative study examines teacher orientations and technology-enhanced tools for student learning within a science literacy framework. Data for this study came from a group of 10 eighth grade science teachers. Each of these teachers was a participant in a professional development (PD) project focused on reformed and technology-enhanced science instruction shaped by national standards documents. The research is focused on identifying teacher orientations and use of technology-enhanced tools prior to or unaffected by PD. The primary data sources for this study are drawn from learning journals and classroom observations. Qualitative methods were used to analyze learning journals, while descriptive statistics were used from classroom observations to further explore and triangulate the emergent qualitative findings. Two teacher orientation teacher profiles were developed to reveal the emergent teacher orientation dimensions and technology-enhanced tool categories found: “more traditional teacher orientation profile” and “toward a reformed-based teacher orientation profile.” Both profiles were founded on “knowledge of” beliefs about the goals and purposes for science education, while neither profile revealed sophisticated beliefs about the nature of science. The “traditional” profile revealed more teacher-centered beliefs about science teaching and learning, and the “towards reformed-based” profile revealed student-centered beliefs. Finally, only technology-enhanced tools supportive of collaborative construction of science knowledge were found connected to the “towards reformed-based” profile. This research is concluded with a proposed “reformed-based teacher orientation profile” as a future target for science teaching and learning with technology-enhanced tools in a science literacy framework.
Our Bariatric Surgery History: Where We Came From

This coming August, we will gather in Montreal to participate (and celebrate) the XIX World Congress of IFSO. This is no small event. There will be thousands of participants, industry partners, and the media. The IFSO World Congress and the ASMBSAnnualMeeting (now known as ObesityWeek) have become significant medical conferences worthy of the respect of our non-bariatric colleagues. Like many of the more senior bariatric surgeons and clinicians, I remember a different situation. I remember very small yearly meetings with only a handful of participants and little, if any, media attention. I recall a time when we did not proudly proclaim that we were bariatric surgeons, as many nonbariatric surgeons did not respect our discipline or our work. We were considered a fringe specialty based on little science and much experimentation. We had no voice in large surgical societies such as the American College of Surgeons. We also faced discrimination from the stable of surgical journals, which rarely published our work. So what has changed? What has changed is that our leaders had the courage to prevail. They continued to do the research and to publish the results. Fortunately, we had our own journals to publish our work. We demonstrated that our operative procedures were so much more than just weight reducing. We opened many eyes by showing that our procedures were truly metabolic. Lastly, we had the perseverance to continually refine our procedures, making them more efficacious, safe, and less invasive. We continued to think out of the box and create newer procedures based on our 60-year experience. It has been said that, “Those who forget the past, are doomed to repeat it.” This pertains to bariatric surgery, as well. We all need to know where we came from and how we got here. It is mandatory so that we do not repeat past mistakes and do not forget past advances. Bariatric surgery has a rich history that we all should know. We need to also remember and celebrate the leaders who got us here. I have long thought that we needed to publish in Obesity Surgery a historical account of bariatric surgery. Who better than Henry Buchwald, MD, Ph.D., one of our true leaders and one of the many who is responsible for our success. He has participated as a surgeon and scientist since the early days. He also personally knew all who came before us. His insight and recollections are both historical and personal. In this issue of Obesity Surgery is a thorough and thoughtful recount of the almost 60 years of bariatric surgery. I hope you find it as valuable as I have.
Measurements of symmetric vortex merger.

Magnetically confined columns of electrons are excellent experimental realizations of extended two-dimensional vortices in an inviscid fluid. Here, we consider two nearly identical vortices orbiting around one another inside a cylindrical wall. The vortices merge symmetrically, in a time which varies from less than 1 to about ${10}^{4}$ orbit periods as the vortex separation is increased by 30%. We have obtained images of the vorticity distribution during this merger process, and observe filamentary tails and mixing. These experimental results are consistent with analytic models and numerical simulations.
Infrared sensor modeling for improved system design

The Aerospace COrporation has developed a general purpose simulation tool for modeling visible and infrared surveillance and imaging systems. VISTAS (visible and infrared sensor trades, analysis and simulations) has been used to model both scanning and staring systems, and to compare their performance against identical scenarios. The simulations begin with a high resolution background scene, which may be either real data or a synthetic construct. If desired, targets may be embedded in the scene. The next steps in the simulation include degrading and reformatting the scene according to the specifics of the sensor system transfer function, which includes the optical point-spread-function, detector aperture, temporal aperture and filter response. The process continues with the addition of noise and the scene is resampled to the sensor resolution, including the effects of multiple samples per dwell and cross-scan oversampling. FOr time-dependent simulations, jitter and platform drift are included to produce a sequence of output images which represent the sensor response. In this paper we will show how the modeling of systems can be used to provide feedback to the design stage through tradeoff analyses. For example, scanning systems can improve their performance by oversampling, but pay a penalty in higher data rates and potentially noisier output if the integration time must be lowered. Staring systems that utilize a frame different algorithm to detect moving targets can benefit by reducing jitter, but the increased costs associated with providing low jitter must be weighted against the potential benefits. Showing the system designer the results of tradeoff analyses has proven to be a substantial aid in the design of a sensor for a given mission.
An hypothesis on the causation of laryngeal hemiplegia in horses.

Summary Left-side laryngeal hemiplegia is considered to be the result of damage to the middle third of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. There is greater tension in the left recurrent nerve and, particularly, in the left recurrent nerve of long neck and/or large bodied horses. The tensile force may cause “necking” and compression of the blood vessels, resulting in vascular insufficiency and nerve damage. Resume L'hemiplegie laryngee du cote gauche est consideree comme resultant d'une lesion du tiers moyen du nerf recurrent gauche. Il y aurait une plus grande tension du nerf recurrent gauche et notamment du nerf recurrent gauche des chevaux de grande taille ou ayant une grande encolure. Sous l'effet de cette tension les vaisseaux sanguins seraient comprimes, et il en resulterait une insuffisance vasculaire donc une lesion des nerfs. Zusammenfassung Linksseitige Hemiplegia laryngis wird als Ergebnis eines Schadens im mittleren Drittel des linken Recurrens betrachtet. Im linken Recurrens besteht eine ausgepragtere Spannung, besonders bei langhalsigen und/oder grossen Pferden. Die Spannung mag zu einer Kompression von Blutgefassen fuhren, die ihrerseits in einer Gefassinsuffizienz und Nervenschaden enden konnen.
The Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Effects of Crucial Experiences

This research explores the intrapersonal and interpersonal effects of a special kind of life experience called a crucial experience. The present study suggests that the construct of the personal crucial experience is analogous with that of the crucial experiment, in that both have a refutation (disconfirming) function in relation to one's basic personal values, relational patterns, beliefs, and assumptions, yet also offer the promise of growth and development. It examines if “crucial experiences” are associated with changes in the quality of interpersonal motivation and in the degree of reflectivity on one's own and others’ interpersonal motivation. As well, it shows that events of loss and trauma are reported by a large percentage of individuals as crucial experiences. The analysis is based on series of studies including personal documents (diaries, autobiographies), a field study on 304 respondents from four Romanian cities, and a field study on 264 American participants from the Midwest.
Electrical capacitance of ion-exchanger membranes

Abstract The electrical impedance of ion-exchanger membranes between identical solutions of uni-univalent electrolyte was studied. At subaudio frequencies there was a large capacitance (Farads/cm 2 ) which varied with frequency, electrolyte concentration, individual diffusion constant of membrane co- and counter-ion, and sign of membrane charge. The capacitance was eliminated by vigorously stirring the solution phases—a fact which indicates that the origin of the capacitance is non-dielectric. A satisfactory theoretical explanation of the experiments was obtained by solving the time-dependent Nernst-Planck equation subject to the boundary condition of abrupt changes in electrical transport numbers at the membrane-solution interfaces. The possibility that the physical basis of the electrical capacitance of biological membranes and ion-exchanger membranes is identical is examined and concluded to be unlikely. However, the results are of electrophysiological interest in that they can be the basis for a method of determining intramembrane transport numbers which does not require knowledge of the transport mechanism. In addition, if the phenomena found here with inert membranes are obtained with biological membranes it would be additional evidence for the presence of fixed charges within the excitable membrane.
A Comparison of Epiphytes On Bangia Atropurpurea (Rhodophyta) and Cladophora Glomerata (Chlorophyta) from Northern Lake Michigan

SEM studies have demonstrated the three-dimensional structure of the epiphyte community on Cladophora and mechanisms of epiphyte attachment. Common epiphytes on Cladophora in Grand Traverse Bay include the green alga Ulothrix sp. and the diatom species Cocconeis pediculus Ehr., Diatoma vulgare Bory, Gomphonema olivaceum (Lyngb.) Kutz., and Rhoicosphenia curvata (Kutz.) Grun. Thus, the tremendous area of substrate provided by Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kutz. may provide habitat for a community potentially important to the littoral area. In contrast, Bangia supported numerous bacteria, but 103 fewer algal epiphytes were noted than occurred on Cladophora. Due to sloughing of the cell wall, Bangia does not provide a suitable attachment site for epiphytic algae which may be important in the food chain. This is of concern as Bangia continues to invade nearshore habitats.
Work in progress — Reporting S-STEM retention: New diversity vs. Supporting existing diversity

The Scientific Leadership Scholars (SLS) Program is an NSF S-STEM sponsored scholarship for financially and academically eligible students in Computer Science, Environmental Resources Engineering and Mathematics at Humboldt State University. The scholarship has sponsored 57 students in these majors over the past 4 years. Of these students, 54% were underrepresented minorities and 70% were underrepresented in STEM. The first group (Group 1) of students recruited to the program brought additional diversity to the three academic programs. To fill the spots vacated by SLS students who no longer met the requirements of the SLS program after their first or second years, additional SLS students were recruited from existing CS, ERE and Math majors. This second group (Group 2) drew from existing diversity in the three SLS programs. The retention outcomes of these two groups are quite different due to the nature of the populations. As far as the authors know, no other work has operationalized the concept of supporting existing diversity in this way.
Ionization Potential of the OH Free Radical by Mass Spectrometry

Mass‐spectrometric studies of the methylene free radical, produced by short‐duration pulsed electrical discharges in methane, give for the ionization potential the value I (CH2) = 10.33±0.1 eV, in good agreement with the spectroscopically determined value I (CH2) = 10.396 eV, thereby removing the large discrepancy that had previously existed between electron‐impact and the optical spectroscopic measurements of the ionization potential. The absence of resolved structure in the CH2 ionization curve indicates that the energy separation between the ground states of the two known modifications of CH2, the linear form in the 3Σg− state and the bent form in the 1A1 state, is small but the information is insufficient to establish which is the true ground state of the molecule. In the course of the work, the ionization potential of the methyl radical was remeasured with the result I (CH3) = 9.86 eV, in excellent agreement with the spectroscopically known value I (CH3) = 9.843 eV.
Observations on the amphibian "diaphragm".

Abstract 1. 1. The musculus pulmonum proprius and ventral diaphragm of frogs from the family, Pipidae, Xenopus laevis and Pipa pipa , are muscles of an uncertain function, but a respiratory role has been suggested. 2. 2. They have unusual anatomical connections between either the ilium or femur, and the lungs and other abdominal organs. 3. 3. In this study anatomical and physiological evidence is presented that establishes a respiratory function for these muscles. 4. 4. The evolutionary implications of these specialized muscles are discussed with reference to respiratory mechanisms in other salientia as well as to the mammalian diaphragm.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: The Clinical Spectrum of Thrombocytosis and Thrombocythemia

Platelet production is the result of a highly ordered maturation of a developmental hierarchy of megakaryocytic progenitor cells regulated by a variety of cytokines. GM-CSF, II-3 and II-6 have a stimulatory effect and several cytokines (TGF-beta, platelet released glycoprotein, platelet factor 4 and interferons) have inhibitory effects down regulating platelet production perhaps as part of an autocrine control loop. Excess platelet production can be clinically characterized as pseudothrombocytosis, thrombocytosis or thrombocythemia; the clinical features and criteria for each are defined. The term thrombocytosis infers its reactive nature and, in the absence of arterial disease or prolonged immobility, it poses little risk regardless of platelet numbers. By contrast, in thrombocythemia, whether primary or associated with other myeloproliferative lesions, significant thrombohemorrhagic events occur. The natural history, rationale, and approach to platelet reduction and control of clinical sequela are reviewed. Clinical therapeutic options include a new agent, Anagrelide.
About strongly polynomial time algorithms for quadratic optimization over submodular constraints

We present new strongly polynomial algorithms for special cases of convex separable quadratic minimization over submodular constraints. The main results are: an O(NM log(N 2/M)) algorithm for the problemNetwork defined on a network onM arcs andN nodes; an O(n logn) algorithm for thetree problem onn variables; an O(n logn) algorithm for theNested problem, and a linear time algorithm for theGeneralized Upper Bound problem. These algorithms are the best known so far for these problems. The status of the general problem and open questions are presented as well.
Memory for Verbal Material: Effects of Sensory Deprivation

Memory retention of a short verbal passage did not change significantly in subjects who were isolated in a dark and soundproof room for 24 hours between the immediate recall test and the terminal recall test. A significant decrease in performance was noted in the control subjects who went about their everyday activities during the 24-hour period after acquisition.
Selenium content of selected foods important for improved assessment of dietary intake

Interest in dietary selenium intake has increased due to selenium’s significance in health as evidenced by the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowance for selenium (National Research Council, 1989). This interest has generated a need for the assessment and improvement of selenium food composition data. In 1986 the authors developed a system of criteria to evaluate the quality and quantity of previously published nutrient composition data (Holden et al., 1987). These criteria have been utilized to carry out a systematic evaluation of the selenium composition data that were reported in the literature between 1960 and 1985 (Schubert et al., 1987). Mean selenium values calculated from acceptable data (Schubert et al., 1987) were combined with consumption data obtained from the 1977-1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (HNIS, 1983) to compile a core foods list with a level of confidence assigned to each mean value. These core foods supply the great majority of selenium in U.S. diets. On the basis of this list, a number of foods were selected for additional selenium analyses to improve the scope and confidence levels of the data. A main purpose of the study reported in this paper was to obtain preliminary analytical estimates of the nationwide variability of the selenium content of foods in preparation for a large-scale nationwide study of selenium content in foods which was collaboratively conducted by the Human Nutrition Information and the Agricultural Research Services of the USDA. An additional purpose of this study was to determine selenium content in a number of low-selenium foods obtained from the Food and Drug Administration’s Total Diet Study (FDA-TDS), a project of broad scope and considerable importance to nationwide nutrition monitoring efforts (Pennington, 1983). The FDA-TDS collects 234 individual foods on a regional basis, four or five times annually, and analyzes them, within a monitoring program, for a number of constituents of health or toxic concern. Although selenium levels have been determined in these foods, a number of them have selenium levels below or marginally close to quantitation levels of the analytical methodology used in the FDA-TDS. The objective
Entrance effects on diffused film-cooling holes

Film-cooling is a widely used method of prolonging blade life in high performance gas turbines and is implemented by injecting cold air through discrete holes on the blade surface. Most experimental research on film-cooling has been performed using round holes supplied by a stagnant plenum. This can be quite different from the actual turbine blade conditions in that a crossflow may be present whereby the internal channel Reynolds number could be as high as 90,000. This computational study uses a film-cooling hole that is inclined at 35° with respect to the mainstream and is diffused at the hole exit by 15°. An engine representative jet-to-mainstream density ratio of two was simulated. The test matrix consisted of fourteen different cases that were simulated for the two different blowing ratios in which the following effects were investigated: a) the effect of the orientation of the coolant supply channel relative to the cooling hole, b) the effect of the channel Reynolds number, and c) the effect of the metering length of the cooling hole. Results showed that the orientation of the coolant supply had a large effect whereby the worst orientation, in terms of a reduced adiabatic effectiveness, was predicted when the channel supplying the cooling hole was perpendicular to the mainstream. For this particular orientation, higher laterally averaged effectiveness occurred at lower channel Reynolds numbers and with the hole having a short metering length.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
Use of geographic information systems for assessing groundwater pollution potential by pesticides in Central Thailand

This study employed geographic information systems (GIS) technology to evaluate the vulnerability of groundwater to pesticide pollution in Thailand. The study area included three provinces, Kanchana Buri, Ratcha Buri, and Suphan Buri, located in west-central Thailand. Factors used for the vulnerability assessment included soil texture, slope, land use, well depth, and rainfall. These vulnerability factors were reclassified to a common scale, and a weighted average was computed to yield a vulnerability score. Vulnerability factors and weights were assigned considering pesticide concentrations in 90 wells throughout the study area. Well depth was the most significant vulnerability factor. Groundwater vulnerability maps were generated for several pesticides. The eastern, agricultural part of the study area has relatively deep wells and fine soils. Shallow wells are present in the mountainous west; however, fewer pesticides are applied in that region. Consequently, much of the study area had a medium groundwater vulnerability rating, although there were pockets of high vulnerability, for example, in agricultural areas with shallow wells. The groundwater vulnerability maps are effective for identifying locations warranting more detailed groundwater pollution and vulnerability investigations.
Some problems in infrared spectrophotometry

Abstract : It is well known that infrared intensity measurements are not very accurate. Nevertheless modern infrared spectrophotometers do exhibit good reproducibility, at least over small time intervals. Failure to obtain closer inter-laboratory agreement must result from systematic instrumental errors and faulty experimental technique. This review considers several aspects of the problem.
The production of metallocarbohedrenes by the direct laser vaporization of the carbides of titanium and zirconium

Abstract Metallocarbohedrenes (Met-Cars) of titanium and zirconium have been produced by the direct laser vaporization of their respective pure carbides. Time-of-flight mass spectra of both ionic and neutral metallocarbohedrenes formed in the laser-induced plasma are presented and compared to spectra of the same systems generated under laser vaporization/molecular beam conditions. Potential mechanisms of formation of these clusters are presented and discussed.
Technology Interventions to Curb Obesity: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature

Obesity is a public health crisis that has reached epidemic proportions. Although intensive behavioral interventions can produce clinically significant weight loss, their cost to implement, coupled with resource limitations, pose significant barriers to scalability. To overcome these challenges, researchers have made attempts to shift intervention content to the Internet and other mobile devices. This article systematically reviews the recent literature examining technology-supported interventions for weight loss and maintenance among overweight and obese adults. Thirteen studies were identified that satisfied our inclusion criteria (12 weight loss trials, 1 weight maintenance trial). Our findings suggest that technology interventions may be efficacious at producing weight loss. However, several studies are limited by methodologic shortcomings. There are insufficient data to evaluate their efficacy for weight maintenance. Further research is needed that employs state-of-the-art methodology, with careful attention being paid to adherence and fidelity to intervention protocols.
Adaptive significance of small body size under poor socio‐economic conditions in southern Peru

The relationship of variations in parental body size to offspring survival has been studied in a population of poor socio-economic conditions (“Barriada”) in the southern highland of Peru. Parents of small body size, especially mothers, had significantly greater per cent offspring survival than parents with larger body size. In other words, the offspring survival effectiveness of subjects of small body size was greater than that of subjects of large body size. It is postulated that the greater offspring survival effectiveness associated with small parental body size may reflect possible adaptive responses to poor socio-economic conditions.
Elders with Serious Mental Illness: Lost Opportunities and New Policy Options

This article reviews key federal Medicaid policies affecting older adults with serious, long-term mental illness: (a) the Medicaid exclusion of coverage for Institutions for Mental Diseases, (b) the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review Process, and (c) the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services waiver policy. Documenting the incentives and restrictions in these policies provides an historical context for understanding the current gaps in treatment for elders with mental illness. New federal options under the Deficit Reduction Act may provide opportunities for reducing the institutional bias for older adults with mental illness and for improving mental health services for elders under Medicaid.
Effect of Dietary Nonstructural Carbohydrate Content on Activation of 5′‐Adenosine Monophosphate‐Activated Protein Kinase in Liver, Skeletal Muscle, and Digital Laminae of Lean and Obese Ponies

Background In EMS-associated laminitis, laminar failure may occur in response to energy failure related to insulin resistance (IR) or to the effect of hyperinsulinemia on laminar tissue. 5′-Adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a marker of tissue energy deprivation, which may occur in IR. Hypothesis/Objectives To characterize tissue AMPK regulation in ponies subjected to a dietary carbohydrate (CHO) challenge. Animals Twenty-two mixed-breed ponies. Methods Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting for total AMPK and phospho(P)-AMPK and RT-qPCR for AMPK-responsive genes were performed on laminar, liver, and skeletal muscle samples collected after a 7-day feeding protocol in which ponies stratified on body condition score (BCS; obese or lean) were fed either a low-CHO diet (ESC + starch, approximately 7% DM; n = 5 obese, 5 lean) or a high-CHO diet (ESC + starch, approximately 42% DM; n = 6 obese, 6 lean). Results 5′-Adenosine-monophosphate-activated protein kinase was immunolocalized to laminar keratinocytes, dermal constituents, and hepatocytes. A high-CHO diet resulted in significantly decreased laminar [P-AMPK] in lean ponies (P = .03), but no changes in skeletal muscle (lean, P = .33; obese, P = .43) or liver (lean, P = .84; obese, P = .13) [P-AMPK]. An inverse correlation existed between [blood glucose] and laminar [P-AMPK] in obese ponies on a high-CHO diet. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Laminar tissue exhibited a normal response to a high-CHO diet (decreased [P-AMPK]), whereas this response was not observed in liver and skeletal muscle in both lean (skeletal muscle, P = .33; liver, P = .84) and obese (skeletal muscle, P = .43; liver, P = .13) ponies.
A BEHAVIORAL STUDY OF NURSES, SUPERVISORS, AND DIAGNOSTICIANS IN A HOSPITAL SETTING

A hospital is a highly complex organization that is based on the mutual cooperation of a large and heterogeneous mix of interdependent professionals, semiprofessionals, and nonprofessionals. The present study focuses upon role clarity, need for clarity, job satisfaction, and anxiety-stress perceptions among administrators, nurses, and diagnosticians in a large and complex 450-bed teaching-referral hospital.
The Mechanism of Tail-Anchored Protein Insertion into the ER Membrane

Tail-anchored (TA) proteins access the secretory pathway via posttranslational insertion of their C-terminal transmembrane domain into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Get3 is an ATPase that delivers TA proteins to the ER by interacting with the Get1-Get2 transmembrane complex, but how Get3's nucleotide cycle drives TA protein insertion remains unclear. Here, we establish that nucleotide binding to Get3 promotes Get3-TA protein complex formation by recruiting Get3 to a chaperone that hands over TA proteins to Get3. Biochemical reconstitution and mutagenesis reveal that the Get1-Get2 complex comprises the minimal TA protein insertion machinery with functionally critical cytosolic regions. By engineering a soluble heterodimer of Get1-Get2 cytosolic domains, we uncover the mechanism of TA protein release from Get3: Get2 tethers Get3-TA protein complexes into proximity with the ATPase-dependent, substrate-releasing activity of Get1. Lastly, we show that ATP enhances Get3 dissociation from the membrane, thus freeing Get1-Get2 for new rounds of substrate insertion.
Arterial Baroreceptor Fibers from the Aortic Region of the Dog in the Cervical Vagus Nerve

The neural pathways followed by sensory fibers from arterial baroreceptors in the aortic region of the dog were investigated with neurophysiological recording. Systemic arterial baroreceptor fibers separate from the depressor nerve were found in the left cervical vagus in each of five dogs investigated; at most two fibers were isolated from each dog due to the difficulty of the dissection. These fibers originated from or above the aortic arch region. One baroreceptor fiber had its arterial sensory ending below the fifth rib. In the right cervical vagus in six dogs, visual evidence of fiber activity from systemic arterial baroreceptors could not be produced; only subjective (auditory) evidence for the presence of systemic arterial baroreceptor fibers was obtained. The number of these arterial baroreceptor fibers, which run in the vagus nerve but are not part of the depressor nerve, appeared to be smaller than the number of arterial baroreceptor fibers in the depressor nerve.
Post-traumatic stress disorder screening test performance in civilian primary care.

Methods. This was a cross-sectional cohort study of adults attending a family medicine residency training clinic in the southeastern USA. Four hundred and eleven participants completed a structured telephone interview that followed an index clinic visit. Screening tests included: PTSD Symptom Checklist-Civilian Version (17 items), SPAN (four items), Breslau’s scale (seven items) and Primary Care PTSD screen (PC-PTSD) (four items). A modified Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale was used to determine past month PTSD for comparison. Receiver operating characteristic analysis based on area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess diagnostic efficiency (>0.80 desired). Cut-off scores were selected to yield optimal sensitivity and specificity (>80%). Results. Past month PTSD was substantial (women = 35.8% and men = 20.0%; P 80%) and (iv) The PC-PTSD screening test (four items) appeared to be the best single screening test. There are few studies to establish the utility of PTSD screening tests within civilian primary care.
The U.S. Nonprofit Human Service Sector: A Creeping Revolution

In this article, the author examines a slow but profound revolution in U.S. human services over the past 50 years. The author provides a general overview of the human service field, its current size and composition, and the role of nonprofit organizations; examines broad trends in these dimensions and the role of government policies; and reviews why and how these developments constitute significant changes in human services and how they compare with those in other fields. The article concludes with a look at the future role of nonprofit organizations in human services and at major developments in the funding and management of nonprofit human service organizations.
1, 4 DEHYDROBENZENE: A STABLE SPECIES.

Abstract : The mass spectrum and the optical spectrum as functions of time were studied for the process and products of flashinitiated decomposition of benzenediazonium-4-carboxylate. The products of decomposition include a relatively stable C6H4 species, mass 76. The most likely assignment of the species is 1, 4-dehydrobenzene, probably in a singlet state. Two structural representations are proposed. (Author)
Criteria for assessing high-priority drug-drug interactions for clinical decision support in electronic health records.

High override rates for drug-drug interaction (DDI) alerts in electronic health records (EHRs) result in the potentially dangerous consequence of providers ignoring clinically significant alerts. Lack of uniformity of criteria for determining the severity or validity of these interactions often results in discrepancies in how these are evaluated. The purpose of this study was to identify a set of criteria for assessing DDIs that should be used for the generation of clinical decision support (CDS) alerts in EHRs. We conducted a 20-year systematic literature review of MEDLINE and EMBASE to identify characteristics of high-priority DDIs. These criteria were validated by an expert panel consisting of medication knowledge base vendors, EHR vendors, in-house knowledge base developers from academic medical centers, and both federal and private agencies involved in the regulation of medication use. Forty-four articles met the inclusion criteria for assessing characteristics of high-priority DDIs. The panel considered five criteria to be most important when assessing an interaction- Severity, Probability, Clinical Implications of the interaction, Patient characteristics, and the Evidence supporting the interaction. In addition, the panel identified barriers and considerations for being able to utilize these criteria in medication knowledge bases used by EHRs. A multi-dimensional approach is needed to understanding the importance of an interaction for inclusion in medication knowledge bases for the purpose of CDS alerting. The criteria identified in this study can serve as a first step towards a uniform approach in assessing which interactions are critical and warrant interruption of a provider’s workflow.
Investigation of the substrate specificity of lacticin 481 synthetase by using nonproteinogenic amino acids

Lantibiotics are peptide antimicrobial compounds that are characterized by the thioether-bridged amino acids lanthionine and methyllanthionine. For lacticin 481, these structures are installed in a two-step post-translational modification process by a bifunctional enzyme, lacticin 481 synthetase (LctM). LctM catalyzes the dehydration of Ser and Thr residues to generate dehydroalanine or dehydrobutyrine, respectively, and the subsequent intramolecular regio- and stereospecific Michael-type addition of cysteines onto the dehydroamino acids. In this study, semi-synthetic substrates containing nonproteinogenic amino acids were prepared by expressed protein ligation and [3+2]-cycloaddition of azide and alkyne functionalized peptides. LctM demonstrated broad substrate specificity toward substrates containing β-amino acids, D-amino acids, and N-alkyl amino acids (peptoids) in certain regions of its peptide substrate. These findings showcase its promise for use in lantibiotic and peptide engineering applications, whereby nonproteinogenic amino acids may impart improved stability or modulated biological activities. Furthermore, LctM permitted the incorporation of an alkyne-containing amino acid that can be utilized for the site-selective modification of mature lantibiotics and used in target identification.
Numerical Simulations of a Gravity Wave Event over CCOPE. Part III: The Role of a Mountain–Plains Solenoid in the Generation of the Second Wave Episode

Abstract Mesoscale model simulations have been performed of the second episode of gravity waves observed in great detail in previous studies on 11–12 July 1981 during the Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment. The dominant wave simulated by the model was mechanically forced by the strong updraft associated with a mountain–plains solenoid (MPS). As this updraft impinged upon a stratified shear layer above the deep, well-mixed boundary layer that developed due to strong sensible heating over the Absaroka Mountains, the gravity wave was created. This wave rapidly weakened as it propagated eastward. However, explosive convection developed directly over the remnant gravity wave as an eastward-propagating density current produced by a rainband generated within the MPS leeside convergence zone merged with a westward-propagating density current in eastern Montana. The greatly strengthened cool pool resulting from this new convection then generated a bore wave that appeared to be continuous with the move...