cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bound water and the effects on tissue dielectric properties for imaging purposes

We have collected previously published tissue dielectric property data along with water content data to assess correlation between the two. Earlier tissue and protein solution studies have demonstrated at low frequencies that the deviation of the conductivity from standard mixture laws is most likely due to the presence of bound water in solution. This retrospective study examines how well the tissue permittivity and conductivity at microwave frequencies fit the Maxwell-Fricke mixture laws and whether the results are consistent with earlier studies. Differences between the fitting characteristics of the two properties may allow for development of a microwave based bound water index as is currently used in near infrared spectroscopy.
A Measure of Reliability Using Qualitative Data

In many research activities, the data is unordered or qualitative. In such circumstances, inter-rater reliability is usually measured by calculating a percentage of agreement score between judges. The present paper expands on an equation first introduced by Goodman and Kruskal for obtaining a reliability measure of one item. This formula determines inter-rater reliability for a series of items across many subjects. The statistic that results is easily interpreted and in many ways is analogous to the conventional reliability for quantitative data.
Behavioral effects of progesterone associated with rapid modulation of oxytocin receptors

The ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus (VMN) are important for the control of feminine mating behavior, and hormone action within these nuclei has been causally related to behavior. Estradiol induces receptors for oxytocin in the VMN and in the area lateral to these nuclei over the course of 1 to 2 days, and progesterone causes, within 30 minutes of its application, a further increase in receptor binding and an expansion of the area covered by these receptors lateral to the VMN. The rapid progesterone effect appears to be a direct and specific effect of this steroid on the receptor or membrane, because it was produced in vitro as well as in vivo and was not mimicked by a variety of other steroids. The effect of progesterone occurred in the posterior part of the VMN, where oxytocin infusion facilitated feminine mating behavior; it did not take place in the anterior part of the VMN, where oxytocin infusion had no effect on mating behavior.
Cardiac tissue structure, properties, and performance: a materials science perspective

From an engineering perspective, many forms of heart disease can be thought of as a reduction in biomaterial performance, in which the biomaterial is the tissue comprising the ventricular wall. In materials science, the structure and properties of a material are recognized to be interconnected with performance. In addition, for most measurements of structure, properties, and performance, some processing is required. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding cardiac tissue structure, properties, and performance as well as the processing steps taken to acquire those measurements. Understanding the impact of these factors and their interactions may enhance our understanding of heart function and heart failure. We also review design considerations for cardiac tissue property and performance measurements because, to date, most data on cardiac tissue has been obtained under non-physiological loading conditions. Novel measurement systems that account for these design considerations may improve future experiments and lead to greater insight into cardiac tissue structure, properties, and ultimately performance.
Use of perdeuterated peptides in NMR studies of neurophysin-hormone interaction: demonstration of peptide-specific changes in neurophysin resonances.

The effects on bovine neurophysin-I of binding the perdeuterated peptides Phe-PheNH2 and Leu-PheNH2 were compared by proton NMR. A unique difference between the two peptides in their effects on Tyr-49 ring protons indicated proximity of the Tyr-49 ring to the side-chain of position 1 of bound peptide. Non-deuterated oligopeptides containing Phe in position 3 and no methyl groups induced different changes in neurophysin methyl resonances than dipeptides, suggesting shielding of one or more protein methyl groups by Phe-3. The results demonstrate that the identity of neurophysin residues at the hormone-binding site can be probed by analysis of changes induced in the protein spectrum by system-atically related NMR-transparent peptides.
Surgeon and Staff Radiation Exposure During Radioguided Parathyroidectomy at a High-Volume Institution

Radioguided parathyroidectomy (RGP) uses technetium-99 m sestamibi causing gamma ray emission during RGP to aid dissection and confirm parathyroid excision. Source (the patient) proximity and exposure duration determine degree of exposure. The purpose of this study was to quantify surgeon and staff radiation exposure during RGP. Surgeons and assistants wore radiation dosimeters during RGP procedures at a high-volume endocrine surgery practice. Area dosimeters measured personnel potential exposure. Data were prospectively collected. Provider exposures were corrected for both duration of exposure and case volume. Institutional safety requirements uses 100 mrem/year as an indicator for radiation safety training, 500 mrem/year for personal monitoring, and a maximum allowed exposure of 4,500 mrem/year. A total of 120 RGP were performed over 6 months. Badges were worn in 82 cases (68 %). Three faculty and four assistants were included. Primary hyperparathyroidism was the diagnosis for 95 %. Median case volume per provider was 13 cases (range 6–45), with median exposure of 18 h (range 9–70). Mean provider deep dose exposure (DDE) was 22 ± 10 mrem. Corrected for exposure duration, mean DDE was 0.6 ± 0.2 mrem/h. Corrected for case volume, mean DDE was 0.8 ± 0.2 mrem/case. Anesthesia exposure was minimal, while mayo stand exposure was half to two thirds that of the surgeon and assistant. Based on institutional guidelines and above data, 125 RGP/year warrants safety training, 625 RGP/year warrants monitoring, whereas >5,600 RGP/year may result in maximum allowed radiation exposure to the surgeon. Surgeon and staff radiation exposure during RGP is minimal. However, high-volume centers warrant safety training.
Origin of the preganglionic visceral efferent fibers to the glands in the rat tongue as demonstrated by the horseradish peroxidase method

Abstract A study was made to identify the cells which give origin to the preganglionic visceral efferent fibers to the ‘intralingual’ glands in the tongue of the albino rat by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. The medium-sized multipolar neurons whose cell bodies were filled with HRP were located in the lateral reticular formation at the level between the facial motor nucleus and the superior olivary nucleus. These HRP-labeled neurons were identified as belonging to the superior salivatory nuclear complex. There was no discernible topographical separation within the superior salivatory nucleus for the submandibular glands and ‘intralingual’ glands.
Reinforcing effects of smoked methamphetamine in rhesus monkeys

The occurrence of methamphetamine (METH) use by the smoking route is increasing. A nonhuman primate model for examining the reinforcing effects of smoked METH would be valuable for testing potential interventions for treating METH abuse disorders. The purpose of the present study was to examine the reinforcing effects of smoked METH in monkeys. Four rhesus monkeys were trained to smoke cocaine (COC) under a chain fixed-ratio (FR) 64 lever press, FR 5 inhalation schedule of reinforcement. Upon observing stable levels of self-administration, METH was substituted for COC and a dose-response function for METH (0.08–0.8 mg/kg) was determined. Subsequently, the number of deliveries of COC (1 mg/kg), and 0.2 and 0.8 mg/kg METH were examined across increasing response requirements. METH was dose-dependently self-administered. Higher doses of METH (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg) produced asymptotic levels of responding that were slightly lower than those obtained with 1 mg/kg COC. Numbers of deliveries of COC and METH decreased as response requirement increased. METH, however, maintained fewer deliveries than 1 mg/kg COC at most response requirements. METH is readily self-administered by smoking in rhesus monkeys when substituted for COC. METH may have a lower reinforcing strength than COC, but further research is needed to fully characterize its relative reinforcing strength.
Complete duplication of the bladder and urethra in the coronal plane: case report.

KEY Worn: bladder; urethra; abnormalities, multiple Complete duplication of the bladder and urethra is an unusual congenital anomaly. We report a rare variant of this condition with complete duplication of the bladder in the anteropterior (coronal) plane. There were no other associated congenital anomalies. CASE REPORT A 6-year-old healthy white boy presented for evaluation of recurrent urinary tract infections. Physical examination revealed a normal urethral meatus, an accessory epispadiac meatal fossa and an additional opening on the dorsum of the midshaft of the penis consistent with an accessory urethra. The remainder of the physical examination was normal. An excretory urogram, voiding cystourethrogram and retrograde urethrogram through the normal meatus demonstrated no radiographic abnormalities. Cystoscopy cod%med these findings. A retrograde sinogram through the accessory meatus showed a blind ending channel up to the level of the symphysie pubis. At exploration the accessory urethra was excised up to the level of the pubis, where it appeared to end blindly. The epispadiac meatal fossa was also excised and the glans was reconstructed. Postoperatively the patient was well until 3 months later when he had irritative voiding symptoms associated with induration of the midshaft of the penis. Oral antimicrobials resolved the voiding symptom but not the penile induration. Reexploration was performed at the previous operative site at the area of induration. A residual tubular structure was identitied and incised with subsequent drainage of a small amount of mucopdent material. This apparent tract was cannulated and a sinogram demonstrated connection with an anterior duplication of the bladder in the coronal plane. Subsequently the retropubic space was explored through a Pfannenstiel incision. A thin fibrous septum completely separated the accessory bladder from the native bladder. In addition, the accessory bladder contained a separate urachal ligament. No connection to the native urinary tract was identified. The accessory structures were excised completely and sent for histological evaluation (fig. 1). The child has had no further problems.
Estimating vegetation amount from visible and near infrared reflectances

Abstract We consider the inference of vegetation status from measurements in the visible and near infrared, in the presence of variable soil reflectance. There are two cases, depending on spatial variability within the instrumental field of view. The first, or “field” case, assumes a spatially uniform vegetation canopy, which is treated in a simple two-stream approximation. In this case, appropriate to Landsat or SPOT data, a value for leaf area index (LAI) may be obtained from reflectance measurements in the visible and near infrared. The second, or “mixed pixel” case, applies for spatial inhomogeneity on a scale larger than individual plant groupings, that is, surface types with varying amounts of vegetation and bare soil. In this case, appropriate to AVHRR observations of agricultural areas, a fractional cover f, corresponding to dense vegetation, may be obtained from the two measurements. A leaf vegetation index VL, having limits 0 nd 1, is introduced for the field case. For a thin canopy ifLAI ⪢ 1 the leaf vegetation index is shown to equal the vegetation fraction f. Analysis results are compared to commonly used vegetation indices.
Allison 501-K17 SSGTGS Technical Directive Experience

The Allison 501-K17 Ship Service Gas Turbine Generator Set (SSGTGS) is used is provide ship board electrical power on several U.S. Navy Class ships, including the DD-963 Spruance Destroyer, the DDG-993 Kidd Guided Missile Destroyer and CG-47 Ticonderoga Guided Missile Cruiser Classes. The first of these units were placed in service during the mid 1970s. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in conjunction with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Ship Systems Engineering Station (NSWCCD-SSES) have undertaken a major upgrade effort to improve the reliability, operation, serviceability and maintainability of the unit. This paper examines the process of this program and details the specific improvements made to the unit as a result of this effort. In addition, this paper outlines the experience gained as a result of installing these upgrades in the Fleet.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Consultation with the specialist: prenatal growth: the sum of maternal, placental, and fetal contributions.

1. David G. Oelberg, MD* 1. *Professor of Pediatrics, Division Head, Neonatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Differentiate the features of intrauterine growth restriction from those of small-for-gestational age and low-birthweight newborns. 2. Discuss patterns of abnormal fetal growth according to maternal, placental, and fetal causes. 3. Detect and diagnose abnormal prenatal growth. 4. Anticipate the short- and long-term consequences of abnormal prenatal growth. You are examining a term newborn of Filipino descent whose weight, length, and head circumference measurements are at the 3rd percentile for gestational age. Findings on his physical examination are normal. The pregnancy was monitored closely because of prior spontaneous miscarriages. Crown-rump length was restricted from the first trimester, and fetal head circumference, femur length, and abdominal circumference (as monitored sonographically every 2 to 4 weeks) remained less than the 10th percentile for gestational age throughout pregnancy. Normal amniotic fluid volume was noted, as well as normal Doppler studies of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries. What is the most likely cause of the infant’s fetal growth restriction? What neonatal diagnostic tests are indicated? What are the infant’s long-term prognoses for growth and development? In the course of intrauterine development, the human embryo grows by increasing its length 5,000-fold, increasing its surface area 60 million-fold, and increasing its weight 6 billion-fold. Following birth, measurements of weight, length, and head circumference provide the best “screens” for appropriateness of prenatal growth. By definition, 95% (mean±2SD) of newborns have normal rates of prenatal growth that are based on normative data exhibiting bell-shaped distributions for the three markers. Restricted prenatal growth is defined by the 2.5% of small but normal newborns at the left ends of the distributions. Excessive prenatal growth is defined by the 2.5% of large, normal newborns at the right ends of the distributions. Although only 2.5% of American newborns would be expected to be born underweight based …
Embedded foreign body presenting as an umbilicated dermal nodule.

A 71-year-old woman who lived alone was seen for a nodule on her right volar wrist. She was brought in by her son, who stated he had noted the lesion a week ago. The last time he had seen his mother was 4 months ago, and she did not have a lesion at that time. The patient did not remember how long the lesion had been present and stated that it was not associated with any symptoms. She repeatedly denied any history of trauma. Her medical records did show that she had a diagnosis of dementia, probably Alzheimer's disease, and suffered from memory loss, both short- and long-term, fearfulness, poor judgment, inability to learn necessary skills, and difficulty in solving simple problems. On examination, the lesion was 5–6 mm in size and slightly hyperpigmented with a 5–6 mm border of erythema (Fig. 1). There was a central umbilication measuring about 0.5 mm. The overall configuration of the lesion was volcano-shaped. There was no tenderness. There was no exudation on palpation, neither was there any palpable evidence of a foreign body. There was no epitrochlear or axillary lymphadenopathy. Since the diagnosis was uncertain, it was recommended that the lesion be totally excised. An elliptic excision was performed, and a small spicule representing a tooth of a comb was discovered (Fig. 2). The lesion was repaired, and the defect healed without any complications. Histologic examination of the excised specimen revealed a mildly acanthotic epidermis with a localized area of dermal inflammation and scarring that surrounded a nidus of keratinizing epithelium. The findings were consistent with an inflamed epidermoid cyst. Foreign material was not identified.
Genetic and Environmental Overlap between Low Self-Control and Delinquency

Low self-control has emerged as a consistent and strong predictor of antisocial and delinquent behaviors. Using the twin subsample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), genetic analyses were conducted to examine the genetic and environmental contributions to low self-control and offending as well as to their relationship with one another. The results revealed that low self-control and criminal behaviors are influenced by genetic and nonshared environmental factors with the effects of shared environmental factors being negligible. In addition, the co-variation between low self-control and criminal behaviors appears to be largely due to common genetic and nonshared environmental factors operating on both phenotypes. The implications of these findings on the current understanding of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime are discussed.
Nucleon decay with domain-wall fermions

Abstract We report on our on-going project to calculate the nucleon decay matrix elements with domain-wall fermions. Operator mixing is discussed employing a non-perturbatioe renormalization. Bare matrix elements of all the possible decay modes induced by the dimension-six operators are calculated with the direct method, which are compared with the indirect calculation using chiral perturbation theory.
99mTc sulfur colloid absorbed on ferric hydroxide macroaggregates for lung perfusion imaging

Abstract A simple 10-min technique is described for the preparation of technetium-sulfur colloid labeled macroaggregates for imaging in lung perfusion studies. These highly reproducible particles are characterized by a 90 per cent particle distribution within the 20–90 micron range. Less than 0·5 per cent TcO 4 − or technetium-sulfur colloid remains in the product, and localization in the lungs of white mice is 97 per cent ±0·8 30 min after injection.
The Importance of Leadership in Effecting Change: A Tale of 2 ICUs

ISSUE: A 2005 performance improvement goal for our Epidemiology Department (ED) was to decrease the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs). The leadership of 2 targeted, high-risk adult ICUs was presented with an initiative, which was met with enthusiasm in one and reservation in the other. PROJECT: A recommendation was made to the 2 ICUs to implement a central line bundle based on a peer reviewed, published study that demonstrated a decrease in CR-BSIs. The bundle consisted of 5 interventions: education on proper technique for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion, use of a CVC supply cart, daily questioning of the need for CVCs, a checklist to be completed by nurses to ensure sterility of CVC insertion, and empowering nurses to stop the procedure if breaches in sterility were identified. The ED brought the lead investigator of the study to our hospital as a consultant to kick off the implementation of the bundle; served as a resource for computer based education on CVC insertion; offered education to nursing and resourced the bundle policy development. Leadership in “ICU-A” was well informed of the initiative, obtained a CVC cart and completed education in March 2005. The unit educator wrote the policy and adapted a CVC insertion checklist, which was implemented July 1, 2005. Conversely, the leadership of “ICU-B” resisted adaptation of the bundle policy. It cited additional work for nurses, not wanting to “police” housestaff, and not wanting to utilize a bundle policy that was not designed specifically for ICU-B. Implementation was delayed until coaxed by hospital administration in October 2005. RESULTS: ICU-A maintains use of the femoral site for CVC below the CDC 10 th percentile. For the 6 months before and after the intervention, its CVC utilization decreased 24%, maintaining in the CDC 10 th -24 th percentile for the last 2 quarters of 2005. In ICU-B, the use of the femoral site for CVC increased 33% in the 3rd quarter of 2005, maintaining in the CDC 11 th -25 th percentile for the last 2 quarters of 2005. CVC utilization continued at the CDC 75 th -90 th percentile for 2005. LESSONS LEARNED: The same education produced 2 different outcomes. ICU-A has had 6 months of success with the bundle, and is now re-evaluating nursing processes to further decrease CR-BSIs. ICU-B strives to achieve compliance. Despite documented, evidence-based practice, it is imperative to achieve unit leadership “buy-in” in order to effect a practice change.
Genetic variation for in vitro sesame pollen germination and tube growth

In vitro pollen germination and tube length studies are valuable in elucidating mechanisms (germination capacity and rate, tube growth rate) possibly associated with genetic differences in male transmission. On each of two collection dates, the percentage germination and tube length of the binucleate pollen grains from five diverse sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes were determined at eight times (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 240, 300 min) after inoculation on a semisolid medium containing 10% (100 g l-1) sucrose (C12H22O11), 0.4% (4 g l-1) purified agar (Fisher Lot 914409), 0.1% (1 g l-1) calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2 ⋅ 4H2O] and 0.01% (100 mg l-1) boric acid (H3BO3). Before heating, the pH of the medium was adjusted to 7.0 with a 0.1 N potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution. Over the five genotypes, 5% germination was found 30 min after inoculation and a maximum of 37% germination 120 min after inoculation with no significant changes thereafter. As indicated by the highly significant genotype×time after inoculation interaction, the genotypes differed in the time at which germination was initiated and maximum germination attained. Over all five genotypes, the tube length was 91 μm 30 min after inoculation, reaching a maximum of 1000 μm 300 min after inoculation. As shown by the highly significant genotype×time after inoculation interaction, the genotypes differed in the time at which tube length was observed and the maximum tube length was attained. Little or no relationship between percent germination and tube length was observed among the genotypes. For both percent germination and tube length, the statistical significance of collection date and its interactions with genotype and time after inoculation indicated that environment in the form of collection date was also an influencing factor. These results indicated that genetic differences among genotypes were present for in vitro germination capacity, germination rate and tube growth rate and that these factors singly or in combination could alter male transmission of genetic elements.
The Deleterious Effect of FPL 55712 on Gas Exchange in the Basenji-Greyhound Dog Model of Asthma

We studied the effect of nebulized FPL 55712, a competitive leukotriene antagonist, on gas exchange in four anesthetized and mechanically ventilated basenji-greyhound dogs previously sensitized to Ascaris antigen. After control measurements, each dog received nebulized FPL 55712 followed by nebulized antigen, and the multiple inert gas elimination technique was used to recover VA/Q distributions at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. The protocol was repeated in two additional experiments in the same animals using either saline + antigen or FPL 55712 alone. Measurements after treatment with FPL 55712 alone did not differ from control values. Both Ascaris antigen and FPL 55712 plus antigen decreased dynamic compliance below control values, but there was no difference in dynamic compliance between the two treatments. Mean systemic arterial pressure was not changed by any treatment. FPL 55712 plus antigen, unlike antigen alone, decreased cardiac output (1.7 v 3.5 L/min, P < .05) and caused an extremely broad and bimodal distribution of perfusion with increased bloodflow (31.0 v 1.6%, P < .05) to lung units with VA/Q ratios <.1. These differences were greatest at 15 minutes and decreased over the next 45 minutes. We conclude that the combination of FPL 55712 and Ascaris antigen impairs regulation of pulmonary bloodflow in the basenji-greyhound dog model of extrinsic asthma.
Increased nitric oxide concentrations in posterior hypothalamus and central sympathetic function on nitrate tolerance following subcutaneous nitroglycerin.

Abstract The present study was to examine the distributions of nitric oxide (NO) in the brain regions and peripheral vessels following subcutaneously administered nitroglycerin (NTG) and determine the noradrenergic activity and the role of central sympathetic function in acute nitrate tolerance. Tolerance to NTG was produced by subcutaneous (sc) administration of 4.0 mg NTG as four separate hourly pulse injections of 1.0 mg each in male (5–8 months) Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats in sham-treated group received sc injections of saline. Rats were killed by sodium pentobarbital (150 mg/kg, ip) at 10 min after last sc injection. The brain, gracilis muscle, aorta, superior mesenteric artery, coronary artery, and pulmonary vessels were quickly removed. Concentrations of nitrite (NO−2), nitrate (NO−3), and total NO−2plus NO−3(NO−x) were quantified in the micropunches of the anterior hypothalamus, the posterior hypothalamus (PH), the nucleus tractus solitarius, the lateral reticular nucleus, and the vessels in a blinded fashion. The central actions of acute tolerance to NTG were also determined using blockades of sympathetic functions in conscious rats. Four separate hourly pulse sc injections of 1.0 mg NTG produced a marked shift of the dose–response curve for arterial pressure depression induced by intravenous injection of the challenge doses of NTG. The same doses of sc NTG caused increases in NO−x[92 ± 16% (mean ± SE)] and NO−3productions (77 ± 15%) in the PH, but did not significantly change in other brain regions (n= 6). NO−xand NO−3productions were significantly enhanced in the superior mesenteric artery, aorta, coronary artery, and pulmonary vessels following sc NTG, but were not altered in gracilis muscle by the treatment. The tolerance responses to arterial pressure depression were attenuated by intravenous administration of either prazosin (300 μg/kg), an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist, or chlorisondamine (10 mg/kg), a sympathetic ganglion blockading agent (n= 5–6). The results suggest that acute NTG tolerance predominately increases NO production in the PH. NO production was also markedly enhanced in the large and middle vessels but not in small vessels during acute NTG tolerance. The arterial pressure tolerance to NTG was reversed by blockade of central sympathetic function. We conclude that NO formation is increased in the PH following systemically administered NTG and NO in the PH may facilitate central sympathetic functions which contribute to nitrate tolerance.
Nicotine increases oxidative stress, activates NF-κB and GRP78, induces apoptosis and sensitizes cells to genotoxic/xenobiotic stresses by a multiple stress inducer, deoxycholate: relevance to colon carcinogenesis

Abstract Epidemiologic studies indicate that environmental (smoking) and dietary factors (high fat) contribute to carcinogenesis in many organ systems. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that nicotine, a component of cigarette smoke, and sodium deoxycholate (NaDOC), a cytotoxic bile salt that increases in concentration in the gastrointestinal tract after a high fat meal, induce similar cellular stresses and that nicotine may enhance some of the NaDOC-induced stresses. We found that nicotine, at 0.8 μM, the very low sub-micromolar level occurring in the tissues of smokers: (1) increases oxidative stress; (2) activates NF-κB, a redox-sensitive transcription factor; (3) activates the 78 kD glucose regulated protein promoter, an indication of endoplasmic reticulum stress; (4) induces apoptosis; (5) enhances the ability of NaDOC to activate the 153 kD growth arrest and DNA damage promoter, an indication of increased genotoxic stress; and (6) enhances the ability of NaDOC to activate the xenobiotic response element. Our findings have applicability to G.I. cancer, in general, since smoking is a risk factor in the development of esophageal, pancreatic, gastric and colon cancer, and these cancers are also promoted by bile acids.
Bending towards justice: service‐learning and social capital as means to the tipping point

This article examines the persistent gaps in academic achievement among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. The magnitude of the gaps is documented and potential causes summarized. One of the causes, and potential solution, is social capital. Research documenting the strong correlations between social capital and academic achievement is examined. Finally, the paper reports on a service‐learning project in an urban middle school that sought to increase social capital. Pre/post data indicate that the number of service learning projects in which a student participated was significantly correlated with a decline in the number of hours spent watching television, the biggest contributor to a decades‐long decline in social capital.
Effects of salinity and water level on coastal marshes: an experimental test of disturbance as a catalyst for vegetation change

Abstract Wetlands in many coastal areas are threatened by sea level rise. Higher sea level will increase the frequency and duration of inundation in coastal areas and, in some systems, result in higher salinity as well. While the effects of salinity and water level on coastal marsh vegetation have been widely investigated, the role of disturbance in causing shifts in vegetation due to changes in salinity or water level has received little attention. We examined interactions of disturbance (clipping of aboveground vegetation) with salinity and water level treatments in a factorial arrangement using oligohaline marsh mesocosms. The mesocosms all contained soil and vegetation from two adjoining plant communities, one dominated by Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. and the other by Sagittaria lancifolia L. We assessed vegetation responses quarterly for 1 year and related responses to soil redox potential (Eh), sulfide concentration, salinity, and pH. We found that salinity and water level had significant effects on species richness only following disturbance and that similar patterns occurred for aboveground biomass of dominant and subdominant species. Following disturbance, aboveground biomass of Sagittaria lancifolia was significantly reduced by salinity but not by flooding (due to a capacity for seed germination under flooded conditions and rapid vegetative growth following disturbance), while the more salt-tolerant Spartina patens was eliminated by flooding but not affected by salinity. Disturbance led to almost complete eradication of vegetation under flooded, saline conditions. In the absence of disturbance, Sagittaria lancifolia biomass increased while Spartina patens was not affected in response to flooding, and neither species was significantly affected by salinity. Responses of vegetation corresponded with lower Eh in flooded and saline treatments and higher sulfide concentration in saline treatments. Our results suggest that disturbance is an important component of vegetation change in response to rising sea level, catalyzing rapid shifts in vegetation structure or accelerating wetland loss.
Technology Roadmap Comparisons for TAPE, HDD, and NAND Flash: Implications for Data Storage Applications

This paper describes the roadmap goals for tape based magnetic recording (TAPE) and uses these goals as counterpoints for the roadmap strategies for hard disk drive (HDD) and NAND flash. Technology comparisons described in this paper will show that presently volumetric efficiencies for TAPE, HDD, and NAND are similar, that lithographic requirements for TAPE are less challenging than those for NAND and HDD, and that mechanical challenges (moving media and transducer to media separation) for TAPE and HDD are potential limiters for roadmap progress and are non-existent for NAND. One result of the technology comparison discussion will be that the potential for sustained annual areal density increase rates, i.e. extendibility, for TAPE, is significantly greater than that for NAND and HDD due to the present TAPE bit cell area being a factor of 200-300 larger than the NAND and HDD bit cell area. More critically, the roadmap landscape for TAPE is limited by neither thin film processing (i.e., nanoscale dimensions) nor bit cell thermal stability. In contrast, NAND volumetric density faces limitations in extending critical feature processing, now at 25 nm, and HDD volumetric density faces challenges in transitioning either to patterned media with critical feature processing well below 15 nm or to heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) with the introduction of laser components to the data write process.
A restriction endonuclease map of the chloroplast genome of pearl millet.

Chloroplast DNA from pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) was used to construct recombinant plasmids. These plasmids contained 97 kilobase pairs of unique DNA sequences. The chloroplast DNA fragments in these plasmids were mapped with the restriction endonucleases SalI, SphI, XhoI, BglI and HpaI. The technique of overlapping hybridization or chromosome walking was used to orient these DNA fragments on a restriction endonuclease map of the chloroplast genome. The size of the chloroplast DNA from pearl millet was estimated in this fashion to be 127–138 kilobase pairs. Twenty one kilobase pairs of the cloned DNA fragments were represented twice on the genome as inverted repeats. Thus, the recombinant plasmids which were isolated contained approximately 86–93% of the nucleotide sequences in the chloroplast genome of pearl millet. Previously characterized cloned chloroplast DNA sequences from other plants were used as hybridization probes to locate the genes for the large subunit of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, the β-coupling factor of ATPase and the 32 kilodalton polypeptide of photo system 11 on the restriction endonuclease map of the pearl millet chloroplast genome.
Advances in HgCdTe-based infrared detector materials: the role of molecular-beam epitaxy

Since its initial synthesis and investigation more than 40 years ago, the HgCdTe alloy semiconductor system has evolved into one of the primary infrared detector materials for high-performance infrared focal-plane arrays (FPA) designed to operate in the 3-5 mm and 8-12 mm spectral ranges of importance for thermal imaging systems. Over the course of the past decade, significant advances have been made in the development of thin-film epitaxial growth techniques, such as molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), which have enabled the synthesis of IR detector device structures with complex doping and composition profiles. The central role played by in situ sensors for monitoring and control of the MBE growth process are reviewed. The development of MBE HgCdTe growth technology is discussed in three particular device applications: avalanche photodiodes for 1.55 +m photodetection, megapixel FPAs on Si substrates, and multispectral IR detectors.
Preservation of the Inner Retina in Retinitis Pigmentosa: A Morphometric Analysis

Objective: To determine the extent of preservation in the inner retina in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Methods: We analyzed sectioned maculae of 21 postmortem eyes with RP and 19 age-matched, normal, postmortem eyes. Eyes were divided into 2 groups: severe and moderate RP. Cell nuclei were counted in the outer nuclear, inner nuclear, and ganglion cell layers within thirty 100-μm intervals from the foveola to 1500-μm eccentricity. Results: Statistically significant (P≤.05) loss of both the outer nuclear and ganglion cell layers was present in the groups with moderate and severe RP when compared with the control groups. However, even in the group with severe RP, 30% of the ganglion cells were histologically intact. Similarly, 78% and 88% of the inner nuclear layer cells were preserved in the groups with severe and moderate RP, respectively. Different inheritance modes showed no statistically significant differences in any of the retinal layers. Conclusions: Despite a statistically significant (P≤.05) loss of cells found in all retinal layers, a large percentage of the inner retinal neurons remained histologically intact. Current experimental therapies, such as photoreceptor transplantation and implantation of a visual prosthesis, are based on the premise that some inner retinal neurons are preserved after death of photoreceptors in RP. Our observations support this assumption.
Adsorption of Crude Oil on Surfaces Using Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) under Flow Conditions†

Adsorption of crude oil on surfaces is successfully measured with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) under flow conditions. The amounts and thicknesses of adsorbed films are det...
Detection of intact prostate cancer cells in the blood of men with prostate cancer

Abstract Objectives. To develop a procedure to be used to find, identify, and characterize the living prostate cancer cells in the blood of patients with prostate cancer. Methods. The procedure is based on a negative selection approach that removes most of the blood cells and collects the remaining prostate cancer cells, which are identified and characterized by fluorescent in situ hybridization with deoxyribonucleic acid probes and by indirect fluorescent immunocytochemical staining. The blood cells are removed via density gradient centrifugation. Results. Using the prostate cancer LNCaP cells as a model, the recovery rate of the added prostate cancer cells to 10 mL of blood was about 85%, with a dilution of 1 LNCaP cell to 10,000 white blood cells or more. Blood samples varying from 9 to 27 mL were collected and analyzed from 8 men aged 54 to 79 years who had varying levels of PSA in serum. In one blood sample, prostate cancer cells were not found; in the seven other samples, the number of prostate cancer cells found per milliliter of blood varied from 1 to 20. Prostate cancer cells were not found in 7.5 to 15-mL blood samples from 3 healthy younger men. The prostate cells were found to be aneuploid for chromosomes 7 and 8, highly suggestive that these cells were cancerous. Conclusions. Using a negative selection approach, prostate cells can be found in the blood of patients with prostate cancer, as identified by prostate cell-specific probes and antibodies. These cells were found to be aneuploid
Human Motion Perception and Smooth Eye Movements Show Similar Directional Biases for Elongated Apertures

Although numerous studies have examined the relationship between smooth-pursuit eye movements and motion perception, it remains unresolved whether a common motion-processing system subserves both perception and pursuit. To address this question, we simultaneously recorded perceptual direction judgments and the concomitant smooth eye-movement response to a plaid stimulus that we have previously shown generates systematic perceptual errors. We measured the perceptual direction biases psychophysically and the smooth eye-movement direction biases using two methods (standard averaging and oculometric analysis). We found that the perceptual and oculomotor biases were nearly identical, suggesting that pursuit and perception share a critical motion processing stage, perhaps in area MT or MST of extrastriate visual cortex.
Characterization and cilofungin inhibition of solubilized Aspergillus fumigatus (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase.

(1,3)-beta-D-Glucan synthase, a major cell wall synthesis enzyme, is the target of antifungal drugs of the lipopeptide class. Aspergillus fumigatus (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase was prepared and its activity was measured by incorporation of [14C]glucose from UDP-[U-14C]glucose into an insoluble polymer in the presence of alpha-amylase. Solubilization of the (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase was attempted with several detergents, and the maximum percent solubilization was obtained with a polyoxyethylene ether detergent, W-1. Up to 70% of enzyme activity and 50% of total protein were recovered when 1-mg/ml membrane preparations were extracted with 0.045% W-1 at 4 degrees C overnight. Confirmation of the presence of a (1,3)-beta-D-glucose polymer synthesized by this glucan synthase was done by three methods. The first was enzymatic end product degradation by alpha-amylase (no degradation) and beta-glucanase (85 to 95% degradation). The second was gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the partially methylated alditol acetate derivatives prepared from total carbohydrate polymers present in the sample. This method identified the presence of (1,3)- and (1,2)-glucosidic linkages. The third was high-performance anion exchange chromatography of radioactive oligosaccharides. This method allowed differentiation of the newly synthesized, radioactive polymers from the contaminating carbohydrates already present in the preparation. The results showed that the polymer synthesized comprised oligosaccharides consistent with beta-(1,3)-linked sugars. Maximal inhibition of the (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase by the lipopeptide antifungal agent cilofungin was 80%. Dose-response experiments with this inhibitor showed that the solubilized enzyme was maximally inhibited at a cilofungin concentration of 1.25 microgram/ml and showed <5% inhibition at 0.02 microgram/ml. The apparent K(m) (K(m app)) for the solubilized glucan synthase was 400 +/- 80 microM, and the apparent K(i) (K(i app)) for cilofungin was 0.19 +/- 0.03 microM. Inhibition of A.fumigatus (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase with cilofungin was noncompetitive, as it was for the Candida albicans (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase.
Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Acts as a Mitochondrial Trans-S-Nitrosylase in the Heart

Mitochondrial proteins have been shown to be common targets of S-nitrosylation (SNO), but the existence of a mitochondrial source of nitric oxide remains controversial. SNO is a nitric oxide-dependent thiol modification that can regulate protein function. Interestingly, trans-S-nitrosylation represents a potential pathway for the import of SNO into the mitochondria. The glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which has been shown to act as a nuclear trans-S-nitrosylase, has also been shown to enter mitochondria. However, the function of GAPDH in the mitochondria remains unknown. Therefore, we propose the hypothesis that S-nitrosylated GAPDH (SNO-GAPDH) interacts with mitochondrial proteins as a trans-S-nitrosylase. In accordance with this hypothesis, SNO-GAPDH should be detected in mitochondrial fractions, interact with mitochondrial proteins, and increase mitochondrial SNO levels. Our results demonstrate a four-fold increase in GAPDH levels in the mitochondrial fraction of mouse hearts subjected to ischemic preconditioning, which increases SNO-GAPDH levels. Co-immunoprecipitation studies performed in mouse hearts perfused with the S-nitrosylating agent S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), suggest that SNO promotes the interaction of GAPDH with mitochondrial protein targets. The addition of purified SNO-GAPDH to isolated mouse heart mitochondria demonstrated the ability of SNO-GAPDH to enter the mitochondrial matrix, and to increase SNO for many mitochondrial proteins. Further, the overexpression of GAPDH in HepG2 cells increased SNO for a number of different mitochondrial proteins, including heat shock protein 60, voltage-dependent anion channel 1, and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase, thus supporting the role of GAPDH as a potential mitochondrial trans-S-nitrosylase. In further support of this hypothesis, many of the mitochondrial SNO proteins identified with GAPDH overexpression were no longer detected with GAPDH knock-down or mutation. Therefore, our results suggest that SNO-GAPDH can act as a mitochondrial trans-S-nitrosylase, thereby conferring the transfer of SNO from the cytosol to the mitochondria.
Wave focusing on the line

Focusing of waves in one dimension is analyzed for the plasma-wave equation and the wave equation with variable speed. The existence of focusing causal solutions to these equations is established, and such wave solutions are constructed explicitly by deriving an orthogonality relation for the time-independent Schrodinger equation. The connection between wave focusing and inverse scattering is studied. The potential at any point is recovered from the incident wave that leads to focusing to that point. It is shown that focusing waves satisfy certain temporal-antisymmetry and support properties. Discontinuities in the spatial and temporal derivatives of the focusing waves are examined and related to the discontinuities in the potential of the Schrodinger equation. The theory is illustrated with some explicit examples.
Frequent tanning bed use, weight concerns, and other health risk behaviors in adolescent females (United States).

To examine the association between tanning bed use and weight concerns, health risk behaviors, and peer influence. The Growing Up Today Study (GUTS) is an ongoing prospective cohort study of adolescents established in 1996. In 1999, a total of 6,373 adolescent females ages 12–18 (offspring of participants in the Nurses Health Study 2) completed the survey. Almost nine percent (8.6%) of the adolescent girls had used a tanning bed 1–9 times and an additional 5.4% had used tanning beds at least 10 times in the past year (frequent users). Logistic regression models revealed that frequent tanning bed use was associated with being highly concerned about weight (OR = 1.5, 95%CI = 1.1, 2.0), frequently dieting to lose weight (OR = 1.5, 95%CI = 1.1, 2.0), using laxatives or vomiting to control weight (OR = 3.6; 95%CI = 2.2–5.8), having friends who placed a lot of importance on being thin (OR = 2.6; 95%CI = 1.3–5.1), smoking cigarettes (OR=1.7, 95%CI = 1.1, 2.6), binge drinking (OR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.3, 3.1), using recreational drugs (OR = 3.0; 95%CI = 2.4, 3.8), and trying to look like females in the media (sometimes/pretty much: OR = 1.3, 95%CI = 1.0, 1.8). Frequent tanning bed use among adolescent females is associated with a range of health risk behaviors. This effect may be mediated by peer influence and a desire to look like other females in the media. Multi-pronged approaches, particularly those that target attitudes of young females, are needed to combat increased use of tanning beds.
Phenytoin, hemorrhage, skeletal defects and vitamin K in the newborn

The vitamin K-dependent hemostatic factors are present in reduced quantities at birth and may decrease further in the first few days of life. Administration of vitamin K1 on day 1 prevents hemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Maternal ingestion of anticonvulsants puts the newborn at greater risk from hemorrhage, possibly as a result of induction of fetal microsomal enzymes with a resultant increased oxidative degradation of vitamin K which gives rise to a vitamin K deficiency and other concomitant clinical results, for example skeletal defects. Evidence for this sequence of events is presented and the widespread effect of vitamin K deficiency on the fetus is discussed.
Alimentary responses to forebrain stimulation in monkeys.

Alimentary responses to forebrain loci electrical stimulation in rhesus monkeys, discussing food intake, water intake and vomiting