cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epigenome-wide analysis uncovers a blood-based DNA methylation biomarker of lifetime cannabis use

Cannabis use is highly prevalent and is associated with adverse and beneficial effects. To better understand the full spectrum of health consequences, biomarkers that accurately classify cannabis use are needed. DNA methylation (DNAm) is an excellent candidate, yet no blood-based epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) in humans exist. We conducted an EWAS of lifetime cannabis use (ever vs. never) using blood-based DNAm data from a case-cohort study within Sister Study, a prospective cohort of women at risk of developing breast cancer (Discovery N = 1,730 [855 ever users]; Replication N = 853 [392 ever users]). We identified and replicated an association with lifetime cannabis use at cg15973234 (CEMIP): combined p = 3.3 × 10-8 . We found no overlap between published blood-based cis-meQTLs of cg15973234 and reported lifetime cannabis use-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs; p < .05), suggesting that the observed DNAm difference was driven by cannabis exposure. We also developed a multi-CpG classifier of lifetime cannabis use using penalized regression of top EWAS CpGs. The resulting 50-CpG classifier produced an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.74 (95% CI [0.72, 0.76], p = 2.00 × 10-5 ) in the discovery sample and AUC = 0.54 ([0.51, 0.57], p = 2.87 × 10-2 ) in the replication sample. Our EWAS findings provide evidence that blood-based DNAm is associated with lifetime cannabis use.
Motion of phase boundary during antiferroelectric–ferroelectric transition in a PbZrO 3 -based ceramic

The in situ biasing transmission electron microscopy technique is employed to investigate the nucleation and growth of the ferroelectric phase during the electric field-induced phase transition in ${\mathrm{Pb}}_{0.99}{{\mathrm{Nb}}_{0.02}{[{({\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.57}{\mathrm{Sn}}_{0.43})}_{0.94}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.06}]}_{0.98}}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, a ${\mathrm{PbZrO}}_{3}$-based antiferroelectric ceramic. The first-order displacive phase transition is found to be highly reversible with the initial antiferroelectric domain configuration almost completely recovered upon removal of the applied field. In the forward transition from the antiferroelectric to ferroelectric phase, ${{100}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ facets are dominant on the phase boundary; while in the reverse transition from the ferroelectric to antiferroelectric phase during bias unloading, the phase boundary is segmented into ${{101}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ and ${{121}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ facets. The motion of the phase boundary is nonuniform, taking the form of sequential sweeping of facet segments. The elastic distortion energy and the depolarization energy at the antiferroelectric/ferroelectric phase boundary is suggested to dictate the facet motion.
A Discussion of 'What Do Management Earnings Forecasts Convey about the Macroeconomy?'

While numerous studies in accounting and finance are devoted to predicting firm-specific earnings and understanding the forecasting behavior of analysts and management, it is unclear whether or how accounting information at the micro level can be applied to the macroeconomy. Bonsall, Bozanic, and Fischer [2012], henceforth BBF, are part of a growing literature that seeks to address this question. BBF document that firm-specific management forecast releases are significantly positively associated with announcement-window aggregate stock market returns and further show that this significant market reaction is concentrated among “bellwether” firms. In this discussion, I argue that although BBF provide convincing evidence on the presence of timely macroeconomic information in management earnings forecasts, the exact nature of this information is somewhat of a black box. BBF’s results also raise the question of how the macroeconomic information content of management earnings forecasts differs from that of realized earnings. The answers to these questions can help reconcile the significantly positive association between management forecast surprises and aggregate stock returns with the previously documented negative relation between realized earnings surprises and aggregate stock returns.
Assessing in-hospital cardiovascular, thrombotic and bleeding outcomes in patients with chronic liver disease undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation.

Abstract Introduction Chronic liver disease (CLD) and advanced heart failure (HF) often co-exist with coagulopathy and hematologic abnormalities being major concerns in this cohort. Perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing LVAD implantation can be affected by coagulopathy, associated with a higher International Normalized Ratio (INR) and cytopenias, as well as pre-operative use of antiplatelet therapy and systemic anticoagulation. Our study is aimed at evaluating the in-hospital mortality and clinical outcomes of patients with CLD who underwent LVAD implantation compared to patients who underwent LVAD implantation without CLD. Methods The National Inpatient Sample Database was queried from 2012 to 2017 for relevant International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 and ICD-10 procedural and diagnostic codes. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared in patients with chronic liver disease and those without, who underwent LVAD implantation. Results A total of 22,955 patients underwent LVAD implantation, 2200 of which had CLD. There was no difference in mean age between those with and without CLD (52.8 ± 14.2 vs. 55.7 ± 15.4 years old, p 0.05 for all). Using a multivariate logistic regression model to adjust for confounding factors, CLD was predictive of increased in-hospital all-cause mortality in patients undergoing LVAD implantation (adjusted odds ratio: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.06 to 1.56, p = 0.010). Conclusion LVAD implantation in patients with chronic liver disease was associated with increased mortality and post-LVAD major bleeding with increased utilization of platelet products yet comparable thrombotic complications. Further studies are needed to evaluate the balance and pathophysiology of bleeding risks when compared to thrombosis, as well as predictors in patients with chronic liver disease.
Determining Electronic, Structural, Dielectric, Magnetic, and Transport Properties in Novel Electronic Materials: Using first-principles techniques

Nanotechnology enables the use of rare elements in commercial electronic applications, vastly increasing the number of possibly useful materials. To focus experimental efforts onto a selected set of the most promising materials, theoretical guidance starting from first principles is indispensable. We present an overview of how the electronic, structural, dielectric, magnetic, and transport properties of novel electronic materials can be predicted from first principles. We give a basic overview of the computational process and the computational expense to predict each of the aforementioned properties. We illustrate the application of the different techniques using various 2D materials.
Disruption of pre-B-cell receptor signaling jams the WNT/β-catenin pathway and induces cell death in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines

Abstract Targeting components of the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway have dramatically improved clinical outcomes in a variety of B-cell malignancies. Despite the well-documented pathogenic role of BCR precursor (pre-BCR) pathway in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), there is limited available data of therapies that aim to disrupt this pathway. To investigate the role of protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ), a crucial mediator of BCR and pre-BCR signaling, in B-ALL survival, we studied the activity of the PKCβ selective inhibitor enzastaurin (ENZ) in seven B-ALL cell lines. Treatment with ENZ resulted in a dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition in all cell lines with a relatively higher efficacy in pro-B ALL with translocation t(4;11)(q21;q23). The mechanism of growth inhibition was by apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest. A rapid reduction in phosphorylation of AKT and its downstream target glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) were observed at 30 min after treatment and remaining for 48 h. The reduction in GSK3β phosphorylation was associated with a paradoxical accumulation of β-catenin, which was due to a transient loss of β-catenin phosphorylation at ser33-37. In addition, accumulation of β-catenin was associated with downregulation of c-Myc, upregulatiuon of c-Jun, and a subsequent protective effect on the tumor suppressor p73. Data in this paper were presented in part at 2012 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, abstract 1350.
Modulation of Olfactory Bulb Neuron Potassium Current by Tyrosine Phosphorylation

Insulin causes a suppression of whole-cell voltage-dependent outward current in cultured neurons from the rat olfactory bulb. This suppression is time-dependent; it is mimicked by application of Src tyrosine kinase inside the cell via the whole-cell patch electrode or by treatment of the olfactory bulb neurons with the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate. The C-type inactivation properties of the outward current in olfactory bulb neurons resemble those of the cloned Kv1.3 potassium channel. In addition, at picomolar concentrations at which it is specific for Kv1.3, the scorpion toxin margatoxin blocks most of the olfactory bulb neuron outward current. Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrates that Kv1.3 is prominent in the cultured olfactory bulb neurons. To identify specific amino acid residues that might be important for potassium current modulation, we examined the effects of pervanadate and insulin on wild-type and mutant Kv1.3 channels expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. As shown previously, treatment with either pervanadate or insulin suppresses Kv1.3 current in these cells. Mutational analysis demonstrates that at least two distinct tyrosine residues are required for current suppression by pervanadate. Insulin treatment stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of Kv1.3 in HEK 293 cells, and a different combination of tyrosine residues is required for the current suppression by insulin. The results suggest that complex patterns of phosphorylation may be involved in the modulation of neuronal potassium current by receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases.
The Outer Limits of Belief

Abducted. How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens. By Susan A. Clancy. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2005. 191 pp. $22.95, £14.95, €21.20. ISBN 0-674-01879-6. The author9s consideration of people who believe they have been abducted by aliens illuminates the ease with which people can remember events that never happened.
Opportunities for subdivision-based multiresolution modeling

Applications in computer graphics, geometric modeling, and simulation based engineering design demand highly flexible and efficient algorithms for the manipulation of large scale, complex geometry. Examples include the acquisition, processing, and transmission of finely tessellated models of real world geometry. These geometries are typically represented as very large meshes ranging into hundreds of thousands if not millions of triangles per object. Since the use of such geometries occurs typically in interactive applications, highly scalable algorithms, which are capable of allocating resources in very flexible ways, are required. Examples include the generation of level-of-detail (LOD) representations with well controlled error or compression of geometry for progressive transmission purposes. These needs have fuelled an active and vibrant research area concerned with the construction and efficient manipulation of multiresolution representations, i.e., data structures and algorithms exhibiting low time and space complexity, capable of providing fluid speed/accuracy trade-offs. There are two distinct approaches in this area, those based on classical subdivision and those based on more recent mesh simplification techniques. We briefly review developments in the area of subdivision modeling and outline some research challenges for the future.
Selfies| Selfies and Photo Messaging as Visual Conversation: Reports from the United States, United Kingdom and China

Though mindful of how media often equates selfie production with narcissistic “me generation” behavior, we are interested in exploring the extent to which selfies enable new modalities of visual conversation among those who exchange them. Approaching the topic from our respective backgrounds— one of us is a communication scholar and one an anthropologist—we were particularly interested in the degree to which selfie exchange echoes Richard Harper’s descriptions of mobile and online texting and other conversation forms. In particular, in his book Texture (Harper, 2010) and in other work, he argues that these forms are not calculated processes or strategic games but rather authentic expressions of the true self. For example, he writes,
Purification of thermotropic liquid‐crystalline siloxane oligomer with supercritical carbon dioxide

The effects of the purification of thermotropic liquid-crystalline siloxane oligomer with supercritical carbon dioxide were investigated. It was found that low-molar-mass contaminants, presumably the two alkene precursors, can be effectively removed at 80°C and carbon dioxide pressures up to 31,0 MPa. In support of this observation is the fact that glass transition temperature goes up as a result of purification. In addition, the selective reflection wavelength was found to increase at increasing purity level, as achieved by extraction at increasing carbon dioxide pressure.
Broadband N 2 and N 2 O cars spectra from a CH 4 /N 2 O flame

Abstract Broadband CARS spectra of N 2 and N 2 O have been obtained from the reaction zone and the post-flame gases of a lean CH 4 /N 2 O flame using the non-planar BOXCARS technique. The temperature and concentration of N 2 and the concentration of N 2 O were estimated from the CARS spectra with the aid of model calculations. The temperature and concentration profiles obtained allow insight into the elementary processes occuring in the flame.
Pharmaceutical Supply Chains in Africa – Overcoming Unique Transport Security Challenges

According to the World Health Organization, Sub-Saharan Africa still has the worst health conditions of anywhere in the world. Stated in their World Health Statistics 2014, a major shift has occurred elsewhere around the globe, where fewer and fewer deaths are caused by infectious diseases. In many African nations, however, 70% of premature deaths are still caused by infectious diseases and related conditions, and the life expectancy for both men and women is still less than 55 years. Diseases like Ebola, malaria, cholera, tuberculosis and AIDS, as well as violence, widespread poverty and drought have strained an already inadequate and overburdened healthcare delivery system to the breaking point. As a result, a significant number of poor and disadvantaged Africans are not getting the medicine they need. While pharmaceutical distribution is not the only sector impacted by these challenges, the consequence of these late or missing deliveries can impact lives. Part of this is a function of constraints caused by internal and external politics, economics, climate, religion and infrastructure that will need concerted global effort and investment and many years to address. But much of it can be improved simply by determining that the right medicines and medical supplies reach the right people in the right ways. Much of it is a matter of basic transport and supply chain management. Africa is experiencing the highest freight movement volumes ever seen on the continent. The supply of resources has not kept pace with the ever-changing demand, and much of the freight movement efficiency is hampered by inadequate planning. When outside organizations design transport security plans on the African continent, they tend to leverage the same global leading practices that have worked so well in other contexts. But, because Africa is such a unique continent demographically, medically, and economically, employing these same practices in Africa without significant modification can lead to regrettable and substantial gaps in execution. These execution gaps can be minimized by intimately knowing and adjusting to the African environment. For example, it is difficult to design an effective medical supply chain in Africa without understanding that pharmaceutical shipments represent high value goods. This makes their supply chains more risk-prone than in other places, and is why it is crucial that the precautions taken to secure transport are not compromised. Special care must be taken to counter the high risk of external threats like hijacking, load diversion, pilfering and occasionally even terrorism, by closing the gaps that are evident in standard security systems.
Effects of estrogens and progestins on high density lipoproteins.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are known to be higher in women than in men, and to increase with estrogen use. To assess the effects of estrogens on HDL subspecies, analytic ultracentrifuge measurements of HDL were compared in 11 menopausal estrogen users and 16 controls. The difference in mean schlieren patterns between the groups showed a significantly higher level of HDL with flotation rate (F 1.20 o )>1.5 (predominantly HDL2) in the users. This was similar to the difference in HDL seen between nonusers of hormones and age-matched males. A previous study had shown that users of combination oral contraceptives had increased levels of HDL with F 1.20 o ≤3.5 (primarily HDL3) suggesting that the estrogen effect on HDL is altered by the presence of added progestin. The progrestin effect was studied here in more detail in two women with type V hyperlipoproteinemia treated with norethindrone acetate. Reduction in serum triglyceride was accompanied by a reduction in HDL, predominantly in the less dense species (HDL2). Among groups of oral contraceptive and noncontraceptive estrogen and progestin users whose HDL-cholesterol levels have been reported recently, there was a direct correlation (r=0.86, p<.001) between mean HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Endogenous hormonal influences on HDL were assessed by serum hormone and lipoprotein measurements at weekly intervals during two consecutive menstrual cycles in four healthy females. An increase in HDL of highest flotation rate (F 1.20 o 5–9) was seen, which corresponded with the time of ovulation raising the possibility of pituitary as well as gonadal hormone effects on HDL.
Family Involvement and Satisfaction with Community Mental Health Care of Individuals with Schizophrenia

This longitudinal study of 246 individuals with schizophrenia examined family involvement and satisfaction with outpatient care after three months of psychiatric hospital discharge. Almost 10% of the individuals reported being dissatisfied with care. Controlling for demographic variables, individuals whose family members were not helped to cope with the mental illness had almost seven times the odds of being dissatisfied. Because care disapproval increases re-hospitalization risk (Druss, Rosenheek, & Stolar, 1999), suggestions are offered for how to facilitate kin coping.
The Relationship of Depressive Symptoms, Self-Esteem, and Sexual Behaviors in a Predominantly Hispanic Sample of Men Who Have Sex With Men

Despite public health campaigns and safer sex messages, many men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to participate in high-risk sexual behaviors, which may make them vulnerable to HIV infection a...
Photoionization of Sodium Salt Solutions in a Liquid Jet

A liquid microjet was employed to examine the gas/liquid interface of aqueous sodium halide (Na+X−, X = Cl, Br, I) salt solutions. Laser excitation at 193 nm produced and removed cations of the form H+(H2O)n and Na+(H2O)m from liquid jet surfaces containing either NaCl, NaBr or NaI. The protonated water cluster yield varied inversely with increasing salt concentration, while the solvated sodium ion cluster yield varied by anion type. The distribution of H+(H2O)n at low salt concentration is identical to that observed from low-energy electron irradiated amorphous ice, and the production of these clusters can be accounted for using a localized ionization/Coulomb expulsion model. Production of Na+(H2O)m is not quantitatively accounted for by this model but requires ionization of solvation shell waters and a contact ion/Coulomb expulsion mechanism. The reduced yields of Na+(H2O)m from high concentration (10−2 and 10−1 M) NaBr and NaI solutions indicate a propensity for Br− and I− at the solution surfaces and ...
Reductive metabolism of 5α-dihydrotestosterone by rat ventral and dorsolateral prostate: Kinetic parameters of the enzymes

In male sex accessory organs the active androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is metabolized to 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-diol) and 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol (3β-diol) by the reductase activities of 3α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase(3α-HSOR; EC 1.1.1.50) and 3β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3β-HSOR; EC 1.1.1.51). After separation of radiosubstrate and products by HPLC, these enzyme activities in subcellular preparations of rat ventral and dorsolateral prostate were determined from the conversion of [3H]DHT to the radiometabolites 3α-diol and 3β-diol and 3β-triols (5α-androstane-3β,6α,17β-triol plus 5α-androstane-3β,7α,17β-triol). Whereas both enzymes were found in the dorsolateral prostate, 3β-HSOR reductase activity was near the limit of detection in ventral prostate. Unlike the equal distribution of 3α-HSOR reductase between the microsomal and cytosol fractions of the ventral prostate, both 3α- and 3β-HSOR reductase activities of the dorsolateral prostate are mainly confined to its cytosol fraction. Km, and Vmax of the 3α- and 3β-HSOR reductases in dorsolateral prostate cytosol were 1.8μM, 24.6 pmol·mg−1min−1 and 25.4 μM, 45.7 pmol·mg−1 min−1, respectively. We surmise from these and earlier studies that 3β-HSOR reductase is the rate-limiting prostatic enzyme in the catabolic disposition of intracellular DHT.
Topical Cycloheximide in Psoriasis

Cycloheximide is an antimitotic and an inhibitor of the synthesis of both DNA and protein. Topical application in low concentrations (0.1%-0.2%) resulted in definite involution of psoriatic plaques. Because of its potency this experimental drug - not yet available for clinical use - was employed on small areas only and with extreme caution. Results of a full evaluation for safety, currently in progress, are being awaited with interest.
Enhanced ionization of organic salts in secondary-ion mass spectrometry

Abstract Ammonium chloride increases the absolute signal intensity for the intact cations of organic ammonium, pyrylium and phosphonium salts when admixed in 10−10 3 -fold excess. This signal enhancement results in improved signal-to-noise ratios and is achieved without addition of extraneous ions to the spectrum. The ionization efficiency (secondary ions produced per incident primary ion) is similar for neat and ammonium chloride diluted samples. However, the ionization yield (secondary ions produced per sample molecule) is enhanced by the matrix by four orders of magnitude. Sensitivity, calculated here for a desorption ionization method, is 0.5−1 × 10 −10 C μg −1 , and is less than that of electron ionization and chemical ionization sources. Spectra of submicrogram amounts of organic species in ammonium chloride are stable and can be recorded continuously for many hours, as compared to less than an hour for the neat compounds. Even subnanogram amounts of sample diluted in ammonium chloride give spectra which last a number of minutes. Matrix-diluted samples may be withdrawn from the spectrometer and stored for days before being reanalyzed without incident. With this matrix, the technique is essentially nondestructive. Total ionization yields for matrix-diluted samples are estimated at 0.01-0.1%. Primary-ion fluxes impinging on matrix-diluted samples exceed static SIMS limits without evidence of beam damage.
MEMS-based endoscopic optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging imaging technique that can provide high-resolution cross-sectional images of biological tissues. OCT has been used to detect various cancers including those in gastrointestinal tracts, bladder, and respiratory pathways. For in vivo imaging in visceral organs, small size and fast speed are essential, which can be achieved by using MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) technology. In this paper, design and experimental results of a miniature endoscopic OCT imaging probe based on unique single-crystal silicon (SCS) MEMS micromirrors are reported. Several generations of one-dimensional (1D) micromirrors with a size of 1 mm by 1 mm have been fabricated. The resonant frequencies and radii of curvature of the micromirrors are about 0.5 kHz and 0.25 m, respectively. The packaged MEMS-OCT probe is 5 mm in diameter. About 15-μm axial resolutions, 20-μm transverse resolutions and 5-frames/s image rates are obtained.
Professional and Educational Initiatives, Supports, and Opportunities for Advanced Training in Public Health

The United States is facing a public health workforce shortage and pharmacists have the opportunity and obligation to address this challenge in health care. There have been initiatives and supports from within and beyond the profession for the pharmacist's role in public health. This article identifies existing professional and educational initiatives for the pharmacist's expanded role in public health, as well as postgraduate and other advanced educational opportunities in public health. Recommendations also are provided on how to further engage pharmacists in public health activities to alleviate the public health workforce challenge.
‘Oh you’re Black but not British?’ The dilemma of Black British intellectuals and new directions in critical race analysis in the UK

I want to start my review of Paul Warmington’s important new book with a critical race moment counter-story about assumptions and perceptions of racial identity and blackness that I experienced in ...
Mapping Earth Science Week 2013

What do geoscience students see in maps? Land formations. Bodies of water. Deposits of natural resources. Faults and fissures in the Earth. Quake zones and volcanoes. Weather patterns. Population centers, territorial boundaries, travel routes, and more. Maybe most important, maps can help show how major Earth systems—geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere—interact.
Constantinople and the End Time: The Ottoman Conquest as a Portent of the Last Hour

The Muslim conquest of Constantinople was seen in various apocalyptic traditions as one of the portents of the end. An Ottoman mystic, Ahmed Bi-cân, gave voice to these apocalyptic fears and expectations soon after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 CE. His apocalyptic narrative, expressed in the Turkish vernacular, placed the Ottoman enterprise within the final tribulations and hailed the sultan, Mehmed II, as an apocalyptic warrior. This endorsement heralded the emergence of a new imperial ideology in the sixteenth century: Ottoman history became an important component of universal history, while Ottoman sultans were attributed cosmic responsibilities and messianic abilities.
A generalized Zel'dovich approximation to gravitational instability

The orbits of particles undergoing gravitational instability are parameterized by generalizing the Zel'dovich approximation to a series expansion of arbitrary accuracy in the nonlinear regime. The coefficients of this series are determined from an action principle, or, more generally, from moments of the equation of motion. It is shown that the series is more rapidly convergent than previous nonlinear approximations. The method therefore provides a practical means of determining particle orbits, even for highly nonlinear perturbations. As an alternative, we also outline how the nonlinear dynamics may be computed as a field theory in which the evolution of the density and the velocity is determined in fixed comoving Eulerian coordinates.
Fluorescent Lipid Oxidation Products and Heme Spectra Index Antioxidant Efficacy in Kidney Tissue of Hamsters

Abstract Studies ranging from epidemiological to molecular suggest that dietary antioxidants protect against chronic diseases. The hypothesis was investigated that hamster kidney homogenates are better protected against induced oxidative damage after animals were fed a purified vitamin E deficient diet supplemented with 30 international units (IU) vitamin E/kg (30 IU diet) than fed the minimum required 3 IU vitamin E/kg (3 IU diet). The addition of 200 mg (+)-catechin to the 3 IU diet may offer protection. The effects of dietary (+)-catechin and α-tocopherol on tissue oxidizability were investigated by measuring (i) fluorescent products in lipid extracts, (ii) heme protein oxidation and (iii) heme destruction. A rapid initial increase of oxidation markers was measured over the 4 h incubation period for iron + ascorbate induced oxidation and a constant increase for lipoxygenase catalyzed products. Analysis of covariance over time and comparison at specific incubation times showed that iron + ascorbate induced homogenates from hamsters fed the 30 IU diet generated less fluorescent products and oxidized heme proteins than homogenates from the 3 IU or the 3 IU plus (+)-catechin fed animals. Incubation with lipoxygenase produced more lipid fluorescent products and heme protein oxidation in the 3 IU than in the 30 IU vitamin E group. In conclusion, supplementary dietary vitamin E but not supplementary (+)-catechin in a diet containing the minimum requirement of vitamin E for the species enhances oxidative resistance of kidney tissue.
Pedestrian Detection with Night Vision Systems Enhanced by Automatic Warnings

This experiment compared pedestrian detection using far-infrared (FIR) and near-infrared (NIR) night vision systems, combined with automatic warnings at one of two distances or no warning at all. Sixteen subjects (eight younger than 30 years and eight older than 60 years) pressed a button as soon as they saw a pedestrian on a night vision system in the center console of a vehicle simulator. In addition, they performed a concurrent simulated steering task that required almost continuous viewing of the forward scene, similar to real driving. As in a previous experiment (Tsimhoni, Bargman, Minoda, and Flannagan, 2004), detection distances with FIR systems were substantially greater than with NIR systems. Detection distances with both systems were shorter than in the previous experiment by about 20 m, probably because of the addition of simulated steering in the present experiment. The automatic visual warning was a blue rectangle that zoomed in on the pedestrian in the video display. In the long-distance condition, it was presented when the pedestrian was 150 m away. Detection distance and accuracy for both night vision systems increased, but the effects were more prominent for the NIR system. Automatic warnings at 75 m improved performance with NIR but worsened performance with FIR, perhaps because in some trials subjects waited for the automatic warning before responding. Subjective ratings of mental workload and of effort were higher for NIR than for FIR, but the addition of automatic warnings did not decrease perceived workload significantly. Overall, automatic visual warnings based on image processing were effective in increasing accuracy and detection distance for pedestrians except when short-distance warnings were used with the FIR system.
Crowdsourcing a Reverberation Descriptor Map

Audio production is central to every kind of media that involves sound, such as film, television, and music and involves transforming audio into a state ready for consumption by the public. One of the most commonly-used audio production tools is the reverberator. Current interfaces are often complex and hard-to-understand. We seek to simplify these interfaces by letting users communicate their audio production objective with descriptive language (e.g. "Make the drums sound bigger."). To achieve this goal, a system must be able to tell whether the stated goal is appropriate for the selected tool (e.g. making the violin warmer using a panning tool does not make sense). If the goal is appropriate for the tool, it must know what actions lead to the goal. Further, the tool should not impose a vocabulary on users, but rather understand the vocabulary users prefer. In this work, we describe SocialReverb, a project to crowdsource a vocabulary of audio descriptors that can be mapped onto concrete actions using a parametric reverberator. We deployed SocialReverb, on Mechanical Turk, where 513 unique users described 256 instances of reverberation using 2861 unique words. We used this data to build a concept map showing which words are popular descriptors, which ones map consistently to specific reverberation types, and which ones are synonyms. This promises to enable future interfaces that let the user communicate their production needs using natural language.
The preparation and reactions of pentafluorosulfanyl isocyanate and N,N1-bis (pentafluorosulfanyl)urea

Abstract Pentafluorosulfanyl isocyanate was prepared by the addition of carbonyl fluoride to thiazyl trifluoride in the presence of anhydrous HF or HCl. Increasing the ratio of anhydrous hydrogen flouride to the other reactants resulted in decreased yield of the isocyanate, although without the acid no isocyanate was formed. Pentafluorosulfanyl isocyanate in an excess of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride yielded the starting materials. Isolated from anhydrous hydrogen chloride-catalyzed reaction was pentafluorosulfanylcarbamyl chloride. N,N′-bis(pentafluorosulfanyl)urea was synthesized from pentafluorosulfanyl isocyanate and pentafluorosulfanylamine or from thiazyl trifluoride, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and carbonyl fluoride. The reaction was reversed in excess anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or when the urea heated under vacuum to over 90°C. With triethylamine the urea decomposed.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting in Children on Renal Dialysis

The concurrent need for both cerebrospinal fluid shunting for hydrocephalus and dialysis for end-stage renal disease is rare. No large case series are found in the literature. Because dialysis involves frequent access to either the peritoneal cavity or the venous system, concern over potential cerebrospinal shunt infection represents a point of concern. We present 2 cases in which patients underwent both dialysis and cerebrospinal fluid shunting. In one case, a child underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting, while in the second case ventriculoatrial shunting was performed as the initial procedure. Management strategies and potential complications are discussed.
The effects of conditioning and novelty on the rat's analgesic and pyretic responses to morphine

Abstract Six experiments with rat subjects investigated the role of conditioning in morphine tolerance. Concurrent assessments of body temperature and pain sensitivity were conducted. Experience with morphine produced tolerance to its analgesic effects but enhancement of its hyperthermic effects. Environmental novelty enhanced analgesia but not body temperature (Experiments 1 and 4). Under conditions in which a discriminated hyperthermic CR provided clear evidence that morphine-environment learning had developed, discriminated analgesic tolerance was not obtained (Experiments 2 and 3). Similarly, whereas placebo administrations extinguished the hyperthermic CR (Experiments 4 and 6), analgesic tolerance remained unaffected (Experiments 4, 5, and 6). These experiments suggest that the pyretic and analgesic systems are differentially sensitive to conditioning and the effects of novelty.
A low noise 2 × 16 Ge:Sb focal-plane array: Paving the way for large format FPAs for far IR astronomy

Abstract Future astronomical instruments call for large format and high sensitivity far infrared focal-plane arrays to meet their science objectives. Arrays as large as 128 × 128 with sensitivities equal to or better than 10−18 W/√Hz are set as targets for the far IR instruments to be developed within the next 10 years. These seemingly modest goals present a not-so-modest quantum leap for far IR detector technology whose progress is hampered by a number of complexities; chief among them the development of low noise readouts operating at deep cryogenic temperatures and a viable hybridization scheme suitable for far IR detectors. In an effort to incrementally develop large-format photoconductor arrays, we have fabricated a 2 × 16 Ge:Sb array using the SBRC190 readout – a cryogenic 1 × 32 CTIA readout multiplexer initially developed for SOFIA’s AIRES instrument. In this paper we report the results of the extensive parametric tests performed on this array showing an impressive noise performance of 2.2 × 10−18 W/√Hz and a DQE of 0.41 despite some design limitations. With such an encouraging performance, this prototype array will serve as a platform for our future developmental effort.
Comparison of surveillance colonoscopy in patients with and without a family history of colon cancer or polyps

Comparison of surveillance colonoscopy in patients with and without a family history of colon cancer or polyps
Large cystic/solid thyroid nodules: A potential false-negative fine-needle aspiration

Background. False-negative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy results of thyroid nodules are of particular concern because they imply missed malignant lesions. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of thyroid nodules that may lead to false-negative cytologic interpretation after FNA. Methods. We reviewed 90 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative FNA of thyroid nodules followed by thyroid surgery during a period of 27 months, including their clinical data, type and size of thyroid nodule, FNA cytology results, and final pathology report of the surgical specimen. Results. Thyroid nodules that had the highest probability of malignancy were those that were large (3 cm or larger) cystic/solid, or large and cystic/solid. The overall false-negative rate for preoperative FNA was 11%. Large, cystic/solid and thyroid nodules with both characteristics had false-negative rates of 17%, 25%, and 30% respectively, compared with 0%, 9%, and 17% for small (less than 3 cm), solid, and solid nodules 3 cm or larger, respectively. Conclusions. Because of the high prevalence of malignancy in thyroid nodules that are large (3 cm or larger), cystic/solid, or large and cystic/solid and the high false-negative rate of FNA in diagnosing these lesions, thyroid lobectomy for diagnosis should be strongly considered in these patients even when FNA cytologic finding is interpreted as benign.
Cardiovascular risk factors, premature heart disease, and all-cause mortality in a cohort of Northern California women

Large prospective studies and intervention trials have identified major risk factors for premature heart disease in men, while the Framingham Heart Disease Study has provided the leading evidence of predictors of cardiovascular disease in women. We evaluated the role of these risk factors in a 13-year follow-up study of 8935 premenopausal and 2716 postmenopausal women in the Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study cohort in Northern California. Elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, family history of heart disease, and diabetes were investigated for their contribution to premature death due to all causes and due to cardiovascular disease. In addition, risk factor profiles were developed separately for users and nonusers of Premarin (conjugated estrogen) in the postmenopausal cohort. The results show that the strongest predictors of cardiovascular mortality among premenopausal women were smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes, with relative risks of 2.8, 10.5, and 11.6, respectively. A disparity between high cardiovascular risk factor prevalence and low rates of premature heart disease indicates that the high relative risks will not be accompanied by large attributable risks. Nevertheless, the study reconfirms the need for screening women for heart disease risk because life-style changes can improve cardiovascular risk factors and can potentially reduce the chance of premature death even further.
Predictors of Morphosyntactic Growth in Typically Developing Toddlers: Contributions of Parent Input and Child Sex

Purpose Theories of morphosyntactic development must account for between-child differences in morphosyntactic growth rates. This study extends Legate and Yang’s (2007) theoretically motivated cross...
Pursuing robust agroecosystem functioning through effective soil organic carbon management

Soil organic matter is a key indicator of many ecosystem functions, particularly in agricultural systems. With carbon as its majority constituent (∼58%), soil organic matter is a key variable relating production and environmental responses. However, it is argued that depth distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) may be more important in understanding how agriculture affects ecosystem services derived from soil than the total quantity of SOC. Conservation agricultural systems lead to highly stratified SOC, which helps to protect soil from erosion and prevent runoff loss of nutrients (i.e., water quality improvement), creates a concentrated organic habitat for nutrient storage and soil biological diversity (i.e., soil quality improvement) and promotes a structurally stable pore network connecting surface and subsurface to avoid negative impacts on soil aeration and GHG emissions (i.e., air quality improvement). A protocol is described to calculate the stratification ratio of soil organic matter fractions ...
Tubular hypermetabolism as a factor in the progression of chronic renal failure

Thus, in summary, we hypothesize that nephron loss by a time-limited insult (eg, an acute immunological insult, surgical removal of five sixths of normal nephrons) may cause events in the tubules of the remaining nephrons that contribute substantially, though not exclusively, to the inexorable progression to ESRD. Specifically, hypermetabolism in the remaining tubules as assessed by oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis rates has been found to occur. This hypermetabolism in residual nephrons appears to be due to the known increased sodium transport per nephron, but nonsodium transport events also appear to be involved. With respect to the latter phenomenon, we propose that an increase in growth factor response per tubule, as a mechanism of renal hypertrophy, activates the DAG----protein kinase C----Na/H antiporter system. We have evidence in support of this sequence of events by the demonstration of a two-fold increase in membrane (particulate) protein kinase C within 24 hours after removal of the contralateral kidney and an increase in intracellular pH as assessed by NMR spectroscopy. Activation of the Na/H antiporter not only leads to proton extrusion and cellular alkalinization, which may activate cellular alkalinization, which may activate cellular enzymes such as phospholipases, but also increases intracellular Na concentration, thereby further increasing Na/K-ATPase, ATP use, and enhancing ATP synthesis. The increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, which accompanies the enhanced ATP synthesis, would be expected to be associated with increased oxygen radicle generation. If the tissue scavengers of oxygen radicles are not sufficient to scavenge the increase in oxygen radicles, then lipid peroxidation and tissue damage will occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
RAPID PROCEDURE FOR DETECTING CIGUATOXINS IN FISH

Flesh and viscera/gill tissues of six amberjacks (Seriola dumerilii), suspected positive for ciguatoxins, were each extracted and the toxins partially purified. Both flesh and viscera/gill of only five fish were toxic to mice exhibiting ciguatoxins (CTX) symptoms. The methanol extracts of the five fish were pooled and concentrated, the volume of flesh extract was 50.0 mL (129.4 mg toxins/mL) and viscera/gill had 25.0 mL (25.5 mg toxins/mL). Pooled extracts exhibited CTX symptoms in mice but only flesh killed mice in 6 h and the LD50 was 1.72 mg toxins. The lethal potencies of the pooled flesh killed mice in 6 h and the LD50 was 1.72 mg toxins. The lethal potencies of the pooled flesh was 198.17 g fish, equivalent to 58.3 mouse unit. An efficient fractionation and purification procedure was developed for the extracts using an HPTLC and silica gel 60 plate with a chromatographic solvent mixture of chloroform:methanol:water (60:35:8, v/v). The system yielded 10 fractions for flesh and 9 for viscera/gill. Scanned plates were subdivided into three equal zones, each scraped, methanol extracted and tested in mice. The 2nd zone (Rf fractions between 0.40 and 0.66) was very toxic to mice compared to 1st or 3rd zones and the mice had CTX symptoms. The scanner for this 2nd zone had a cluster of minor peaks on both sides of the major one with a sum total area of 62.47% indicating multiplicity of CTX in amber-jack fish. The major peak, at retention time of 1.48 s and a single area of 43.28%, is believed to be the main ciguatoxins present. The HPTLC is a rapid and sensitive procedure for ciguatoxins in fish flesh extracts with a detection limit of 40.0 ± 1.9 picogram toxins.
The Power of Implicit Teaching Practices: Continuities and Discontinuities in Pedagogical Approaches of Deaf and Hearing Preschools in Japan

Meisei Gakuen, a private school for the deaf in Tokyo, is the only school for the deaf in Japan that uses Japanese Sign Language (JSL) as the primary language of instruction and social interaction. We see Meisei as a useful case for bringing out core issues in Japanese deaf and early childhood education, as well as for making larger arguments about the contribution of what we call “implicit pedagogical practices.” In this article, we make Meisei the pivot point for two comparisons: (a) between the Meisei deaf preschool program and the programs of “regular” (nondeaf) preschools and (b) between Meisei’s JSL approach and the “total communication” approach used by the public deaf preschools. The implicit pedagogical practice we track across the three types of Japanese preschool settings is mimamoru, a hesitancy of teachers to intervene in children’s disputes and other social interactions.
Evolution of Catalytic Activity throughout a Polyclonal Immune Response Elicited by a Transition‐State‐Analog Hapten

We have carried out a comprehensive study that analyzes the evolution of catalytic activity in the polyclonal antibodies elicited by a phosphate hapten over the course of an immunization regimen. We have found that catalytic activity elicited by the phosphate hapten 1, measured as apparent kcat for the hapten-specific fraction of polyclonal antibodies, increased through the first four or five immunizations, then decreased to differing extents in both of the rabbits studied. The initial increase in catalytic activity was correlated with increasing hapten affinity, but then hapten affinity remained high while catalytic activity decreased later in the response. These results indicate that consideration must be given to the temporal aspects of the catalytic immune response before any global conclusions are reached, e.g., a simple correlation of catalytic activity with hapten affinity. In addition, it is clear that the number of immunizations is an important parameter that must be considered when attempting to optimize antibody catalytic activity, and that more immunizations are not necessarily better.
Study of squeezed state on free electron lasers

Abstract Preliminary investigations on squeezed state of FEL have been undertaken at the Duke FEL lab by means of photon counting experiments. We report photon statistics for spontaneous undulator radiation from Duke Storage Ring. Photon counting measurements have also been constructed on the Mark III FEL to obtain the statistical behavior of the visible harmonics of the infrared radiation. The initial experimental data demonstrate that the squeezing of optical phase fluctuations in an FEL is directly associated with the phase regulation of the electron beam as a result of FEL bunching. Simulation results on phase fluctuations in FEL radiation are also presented which support the above viewpoint. Further measurements are in process in an attempt to obtain better understanding on the effect of quantum fluctuations on the FEL interaction.