cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crohn's Disease Fibroblasts Overproduce the Novel Protein KIAA1199 to Create Proinflammatory Hyaluronan Fragments.

Background & Aims Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Fibrosis, a serious complication of CD, occurs when activated intestinal fibroblasts deposit excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) in affected areas. A major component of the ECM is high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HA) that, when depolymerized to low-molecular-weight fragments, becomes proinflammatory and profibrotic. Mechanisms for HA degradation are incompletely understood, but the novel protein KIAA1199 recently was discovered to degrade HA. We hypothesized that KIAA1199 protein is increased in CD colon fibroblasts and generates HA fragments that foster inflammation and fibrosis. Methods Fibroblasts were isolated from explants of surgically resected colon tissue from CD and non–inflammatory bowel disease control (ND) patients. Protein levels and tissue distribution of KIAA1199 were assessed by immunoblot and immunostaining, and functional HA degradation was measured biochemically. Results Increased levels of KIAA1199 protein were produced and deposited in the ECM by cultured CD fibroblasts compared with controls. Treatment of fibroblasts with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL) 6 increased deposition of KIAA1199 in the ECM. CD fibroblasts also produce significantly higher levels of IL6 compared with controls, and antibody blockade of IL6 receptors in CD colon fibroblasts decreased the level of KIAA1199 protein in the ECM. Colon fibroblasts degrade HA, however, small interfering RNA silencing of KIAA1199 abrogated that ability. Conclusions CD fibroblasts produce increased levels of KIAA1199 primarily through an IL6-driven autocrine mechanism. This leads to excessive degradation of HA and the generation of proinflammatory HA fragments, which contributes to maintenance of gut inflammation and fibrosis.
Effect of Meso- and Micro-Porosity in Carbon Electrodes on Atomic Layer Deposition of Pseudocapacitive V2O5 for High Performance Supercapacitors

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of vanadium oxide is a viable means to add pseudocapacitive layers to porous carbon electrodes. Two commercial activated carbon materials with different surface areas and pore structures were acid treated and coated by V2O5 ALD using vanadium triisopropoxide and water at 150 °C. The V2O5 ALD process was characterized at various temperatures to confirm saturated ALD growth conditions. Capacitance and electrochemical impedance analysis of subsequently constructed electrochemical capacitors (ECs) showed improved charge storage for the ALD coated electrodes, but the extent of improvement depended on initial pore structure. The ALD of V2O5 onto mesoporous carbon increased the capacitance by up to 46% after 75 ALD cycles and obtained a maximum pseudocapacitance of 540 F/g(V2O5) after 25 ALD cycles, while maintaining low electrical resistance, high columbic efficiency, and a high cycle life. However, adding V2O5 ALD to microporous carbons with pore diameters of <11 A showed far less...
Uncertainty Management Theory

Uncertainty management theory provides principles to understand the role of information-seeking and information-avoiding in a variety of interpersonal communication contexts. Research framed with uncertainty management theory seeks to understand how individuals use communication to cope with the various questions encountered on a daily basis. Scholars using uncertainty management theory focus on how people appraise uncertainty and the impact that appraisal has on communication strategies. Keywords: applied communication; communication theory; relational communication; uncertainty
Higher order modes in anti-resonant hollow core fibers

Using spatially and spectrally resolved imaging, the higher order mode content in two designs of anti-resonant hollow core fiber is investigated. The length and bending dependence of the mode content is measured for both fibers.
Measuring Regressivity of Excise Taxes: A Buyers Index

A variant of the Suits index is developed for measuring the progressivity of an excise tax distribution among buyers rather than the population (buyers and nonbuyers) as a whole. This new index is more useful for evaluating progressivity of selective excise taxes on products for which the proportion of each income class consisting of buyers varies with income level. In the process of developing the relationship between the buyers index and the Suits index, the links between consumer expenditure patterns and the values of both the Suits index and the buyers index are derived. The article concludes with a comparison of the new buyers index and the Suits index for five products studied for possible excise taxation under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980.
Relative contributions of semantic and phonological associates to over-additive false recall in hybrid DRM lists

Abstract Two experiments explored false recall of unstudied critical items (e.g., chair ) following the presentation of 16 semantic associates to the critical word (e.g., sit , desk ), 16 phonological associates to the critical word (e.g., cheer , hair ), and every composition of hybrid list in between (e.g., 14 semantic and 2 phonological associates). Results replicated the over-additive pattern of critical false recall from hybrid lists relative to pure lists found by Watson, Balota, and Roediger (2003) and clarified the form of the false recall function across varying degrees of hybridization. Both experiments showed that including just one or two of the other type of associate in an otherwise pure list led to a considerable increase in false recall. A within-subjects design (Experiment 1) suggested that after this initial rapid increase, false recall continued to increase gradually to an apex at the balanced hybrid list composition, whereas a between-subjects design (Experiment 2) showed that false recall plateaued after the initial rapid increase and that the overall shape of the function is a ziggurat. Furthermore, the function is roughly symmetrical; semantic and phonological associates appear to make equivalent contributions to over-additive false recall from hybrid lists. The results provide constraints on theoretical accounts of DRM false memories, and can be accommodated by a modified activation/monitoring framework.
Increased serum levels of anti-elastin antibodies in patients with Peyronie's disease.

AbstractThe cause of Peyronie’s disease is unknown. Immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis have been previously suggested. Antibodies to elastin are present in all individuals. However, abnormal serum levels of anti-tropoelastin (reflecting elastin synthesis) and anti-a-elastin (reflecting elastin destruction) are seen in a variety of autoimmune diseases. We show that patients with Peyronie’s disease have higher levels of antibodies to tropoelastin (p <0.047) and a-elastin (p <0.012) than age-matched controls, suggesting an increase in elastin synthesis and breakdown, respectively. These findings suggest the presence of autoimmune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Peyronie’s disease, which may have future diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
The Role of Sexual, Sadistic, and Misogynistic Fantasy in Mass and Serial Killing

ABSTRACTA subset of violent criminals fixates on deviant (and often grossly misogynistic) sexual fantasies, or engages in sexually sadistic behavior toward victims. Although the role of psychosexual deviancy is quite common among many notorious serial killers (e.g., Ted Bundy, Gary Ridgway, Dennis Rader), it appears to be a motivating factor for some recent mass killers as well. Evidence indicates that the killer’s psychosexual issues were a motivating factor for mass killers (e.g., George Sodini, Jared Lee Loughner, and Elliot Rodger) in their assault. This article will compare and contrast the role and influence of a deviant sexual/misogynistic fantasy formation process for mass and serial killers.
Estimates of available iron in diets of individuals 1 year old and older in the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey.

Levels of total iron and available iron were estimated in the diets of individuals 1 year and older. The source of data was 1-day dietary recall records from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 1977-78 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. Total iron intakes of 1- to 2- and 3- to 5-year-old children were 51% and 77% of their respective RDAs. Total iron intakes of 12- to 50-year-old girls and women averaged only 55% to 61% of their RDA. Total iron intakes of other groups came close to or exceeded their respective RDAs. The proportion of total iron calculated to be available ranged from 6.5% to 8.7%, which is less than the 10% assumption of availability used as a basis for setting the iron RDA. When compared with the RDAs, total iron presented a more favorable picture of dietary iron intake than available iron. In relation to the RDAs, proportions of available iron were consistently lower than proportions of total iron. Available iron was lower than total iron in relation to recommended allowances because less than 10% of total dietary iron was available.
Commentary: Risk Assessment in the Age of Evidence-Based Practice and Policy.

ABSTRACTRisk assessment has come to be recognized as a key component of evidence-based practice and policy in psychiatric and correctional agencies. At the same time, however, there is significant debate in scientific, policy, and public arenas regarding the role of risk assessment instruments in mental health and criminal justice decision-making, and questions regarding the level of evidence supporting their usefulness. It is in light of these conflicting realities that the current commentary considers Williams, Wormith, Bonta, and Sitarenios' (2017) re-examination of the Singh, Grann, and Fazel (2011) meta-analysis and recommendations made in “The Use of Meta-Analysis to Compare and Select Offender Risk Instruments.” Additional limitations in the extant risk assessment research are identified and their implications for evidence-based practice and policy are discussed.
An Investigation of Compliance-Gaining Techniques Applied to a Gasoline Conservation Device:

This study examines the use of communications appeals to influence consumers to comply with conservation requests. Four compliance-gaining techniques from the social psychology literature are inves...
Mechanisms Of Altered Growth Regulation In Human Leukemia

The process of normal growth requires the orderly occurrence of many events such as interaction of (a) stimulatory growth factor(s) with its (their) own receptors(s), signals transmission throughout the cytoplasm and into the nucleus and finally DNA synthesis and cell division. In the hemopoietic system cell growth is tightly linked to terminal cell differentiation? as soon as the choice between self renewal and lineage commitment is made, terminally differentiated cells are generated throughout a limited number of cells divisions.
Shrimp farming at the interface of land use change and marginalization of local farmers: critical insights from southwest coastal Bangladesh

Coastal Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable regions in the world. In addition to its physical vulnerability, drastic changes in land use due to unplanned shrimp farming, particularly i...
Midmorning Point Sampling May Not Accurately Represent Nitrous Oxide Emissions Following Fertilizer Applications

A common approach for measuring N₂O emissions is to collect midmorning or early evening gas samples from experiments utilizing the chamber-based flux methodology. However, due to high spatial and temporal variability, N₂O estimates based on midmorning or early evening sampling may not provide accurate estimates of total emissions. This study determined the impact of sampling collection timing on the precision and accuracy of N₂O emissions estimates. Nitrous oxide emissions, air and soil temperatures, and soil moisture were measured for 21 d following the application of 224 kg urea-N ha–¹ on 20 Sept. 2017, 11 Oct. 2017, and 1 May 2018, at six time intervals (0130–0230, 0530–0630, 0930–1030, 1330–1430, 1730–1830, and 2130–2230 h) over a 24-h period. Based on multiple daily measurements, point samples collected between 0930 and 1030 h (midmorning) were inconsistent in their ability to predict N₂O emissions. However, samples collected between 2130 and 2230 h (early evening) were similar to average emissions. The number of randomly collected point samples to be within 20% of the mean 80% of the time over a 21-d period ranged from 13 samples for fertilizer applied on 20 Sept. 2017 to 48 samples for fertilizer applied on 11 Oct. 2017. This research indicates that management and climatic variability affect N₂O emissions, and that accurate sampling protocols vary across management and climates. To reduce uncertainty, N₂O sampling protocol should be tested under conditions likely to occur and where possible, near-continuous measurement systems should be adopted.
AJILE Movement Prediction: Multimodal Deep Learning for Natural Human Neural Recordings and Video.

Developing useful interfaces between brains and machines is a grand challenge of neuroengineering. An effective interface has the capacity to not only interpret neural signals, but predict the intentions of the human to perform an action in the near future; prediction is made even more challenging outside well-controlled laboratory experiments. This paper describes our approach to detect and to predict natural human arm movements in the future, a key challenge in brain computer interfacing that has never before been attempted. We introduce the novel Annotated Joints in Long-term ECoG (AJILE) dataset; AJILE includes automatically annotated poses of 7 upper body joints for four human subjects over 670 total hours (more than 72 million frames), along with the corresponding simultaneously acquired intracranial neural recordings. The size and scope of AJILE greatly exceeds all previous datasets with movements and electrocorticography (ECoG), making it possible to take a deep learning approach to movement prediction. We propose a multimodal model that combines deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) with long short-term memory (LSTM) blocks, leveraging both ECoG and video modalities. We demonstrate that our models are able to detect movements and predict future movements up to 800 msec before movement initiation. Further, our multimodal movement prediction models exhibit resilience to simulated ablation of input neural signals. We believe a multimodal approach to natural neural decoding that takes context into account is critical in advancing bioelectronic technologies and human neuroscience.
Feeding the other: whiteness, privilege, and neoliberal stigma in food pantries

An old proverb states, “tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” Given how integral food is within human culture and society, this proverb rings true in a multitude of situations. As...
Selenized-yeast supplementation alters pre-serum amyloid P component and alpha-1-antitrypsin in healthy individuals

1701 Epidemiological and clinical intervention studies support the protective role of selenium against development of prostate cancer. However, the mechanisms by which selenium inhibits prostate cancer remain unclear. In a clinical pilot study, the serum proteomic profiles of eight individuals from selenized-yeast (240 μg/day) supplemented group and equal number from the placebo group receiving regular yeast were compared. Serum samples were depleted of the six most abundant proteins (including albumin and IgG) and labeled with Cy5 or Cy3. Equal aliquots of each sample were also pooled and labeled with Cy2 and used as internal standard. Cy5 and Cy3-labeled samples were separated by two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and the differences in levels of candidate protein spot features were determined by DeCyder software analysis. Several of the differentially expressed spots were excised, trypsin digested and analyzed by MALDI/TOF/TOF. Thirteen differentially expressed proteins were identified including pre-serum amyloid P component (PSAPC) and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT). These proteins were further analyzed by 2D-western blot analysis. PSAPC protein level was increased and AAT protein expression was decreased in serum of individuals supplemented with selenized-yeast for nine-months when compared to the placebo group. Levels of AAT have recently been shown to correlate with PSA levels in sera of prostate cancer patients. Previously we have reported down regulation of PSA in selenized-yeast supplemented individuals. Our results suggest that in addition to PSA, AAT may be used as a biomarker for selenium response. Support for the current studies provided by CA 29502 (RS) and Penn State Cancer Institute Funds.
Association of Sedentary Behavior With Cancer Mortality in Middle-aged and Older US Adults

Importance Sedentary behavior is associated with several health outcomes, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. Less is known about the association between objectively measured sedentary behavior and cancer mortality, as well as the association with physical activity. Objective To examine the association between accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior (total volume and accrual in prolonged, uninterrupted bouts) and cancer mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants A prospective cohort study conducted in the contiguous US included 8002 black and white adults aged 45 years or older enrolled in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. The present analysis was performed from April 18, 2019, to April 21, 2020. Exposures Sedentary time, light-intensity physical activity (LIPA), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) were measured using a hip-mounted accelerometer worn for 7 consecutive days. Main Outcomes and Measures Cancer mortality. Results Of the 8002 study participants, 3668 were men (45.8%); mean (SD) age was 69.8 (8.5) years. Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 5.3 (1.5) years, 268 participants (3.3%) died of cancer. In multivariable-adjusted models, including MVPA, greater total sedentary time was associated with a greater risk of cancer mortality (tertile 2 vs tertile 1: hazard ratio [HR], 1.45; 95% CI, 1.00-2.11; tertile 3 vs tertile 1: HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.01-2.27). Longer sedentary bout duration was not significantly associated with greater cancer mortality risk: after adjustment for MVPA (tertile 2 vs tertile 1: HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.90-1.78; tertile 3 vs tertile 1: HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.96-1.93). Replacing 30 minutes of sedentary time with LIPA was significantly associated with an 8% (per 30 minutes: HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.97) lower risk of cancer mortality; MVPA was significantly associated with a 31% (per 30 minutes: HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.48-0.97) lower risk of cancer mortality. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, greater sedentary time, as measured with accelerometry, appeared to be independently associated with cancer mortality risk. Replacing sedentary time with either LIPA or MVPA may be associated with a lower risk of cancer mortality. These findings suggest that the total volume of sedentary behavior is a potential cancer mortality risk factor and support the public health message that adults should sit less and move more to promote longevity.
Factors Affecting Buprenorphine Utilization and Spending in Medicaid, 2002-2018.

Abstract Objective Buprenorphine is an essential medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), but studies show it has been underused over the last 2 decades. We sought to evaluate utilization of and spending on buprenorphine formulations in Medicaid and to evaluate the impact of key market and regulatory factors affecting availability of different formulations and generic versions. Methods We first identified all buprenorphine formulations approved by the Food and Drug Administration for OUD using Drugs@FDA. We then used National Drug Codes to identify each drug in the Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data and extracted annual utilization rates and spending between 2002 and 2018 by drug and according to whether a brand-name or generic version was dispensed. We compared these trends to market and regulatory factors that affected competition, which we identified through searching the Federal Register, Westlaw, PubMed, and Google News. Results Brand-name buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual tablet and film formulations (Suboxone) were dispensed 2.7 times more (n = 634 213 140) and reimbursed 4.4 times more (n = $4 440 556 473) than all other formulations combined (n = 237 769 689; $1 018 988 133). We identified numerous market and regulatory factors that contributed to an estimated 9-year delay in generic versions of the tablet formulation and 6-year delay for generic versions of the film formulation. Conclusions Brand-name buprenorphine formulations have been widely used in Medicaid, leading to substantial costs, in part because generic versions were delayed by multiple years owing to market and regulatory factors. Timely availability of low-cost generics could have helped encourage OUD treatment with buprenorphine during the height of the opioid crisis.
Ketamine and Serotonergic Psychedelics: Common Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Rapid-Acting Antidepressants.

Background The glutamatergic modulator ketamine has created a blueprint for studying novel pharmaceuticals in the field. Recent studies suggest that "classic" serotonergic psychedelics (SPs) may also have antidepressant efficacy. Both ketamine and SPs appear to produce rapid, sustained antidepressant effects after a transient psychoactive period. Methods This review summarizes areas of overlap between SP and ketamine research and considers the possibility of a common, downstream mechanism of action. The therapeutic relevance of the psychoactive state, overlapping cellular and molecular effects, and overlapping electrophysiological and neuroimaging observations are all reviewed. Results Taken together, the evidence suggests a potentially shared mechanism wherein both ketamine and SPs may engender rapid neuroplastic effects in a glutamatergic activity-dependent manner. It is postulated that, though distinct, both ketamine and SPs appear to produce acute alterations in cortical network activity that may initially produce psychoactive effects and later produce milder, sustained changes in network efficiency associated with therapeutic response. However, despite some commonalities between the psychoactive component of these pharmacologically distinct therapies-such as engagement of the downstream glutamatergic pathway-the connection between psychoactive impact and antidepressant efficacy remains unclear and requires more rigorous research. Conclusions Rapid-acting antidepressants currently under investigation may share some downstream pharmacological effects, suggesting that their antidepressant effects may come about via related mechanisms. Given the prototypic nature of ketamine research and recent progress in this area, this platform could be used to investigate entirely new classes of antidepressants with rapid and robust actions.
Clinical Implications of the Association of Race With Body Satisfaction and Perceived Control Over Eating in Women Initiating a Behavioral Obesity Treatment.

OBJECTIVE An improved understanding of the implications of race on body satisfaction might optimize the weight loss process and quality of life in women with obesity. METHODS Women with obesity (mean [standard deviation] age, 33.0 [13.8] years) of black (n = 32) and white (n = 38) racial groups volunteered for a cognitive-behavioral weight management program. RESULTS Body satisfaction scores at baseline and month 3 were significantly higher in the black group; however, the significant within-group improvements in that variable and on weight, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, sweets intake, perceived ability to control eating, and emotional eating did not significantly differ by racial group. Neither weight nor age significantly added to the strength of the association between race and body satisfaction. Perceived ability to control eating mediated the associations between race and body satisfaction as well as change in weight and change in body satisfaction. In post hoc analyses, inverse associations between body satisfaction and emotional eating were detected regardless of race. CONCLUSION The findings of this study increased understanding of body satisfaction in women with obesity and have implications for addressing psychosocial factors within weight loss treatments across racial and at-risk groups.
1016 – REGULATION OF RIBOSOME BIOGENESIS IN HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS

Dysregulation of ribosome biogenesis is the underlying etiology in a group of bone marrow failure syndromes called ribosomopathies. As prominently illustrated by one type of ribosomopathies, Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS), germline biallelic mutations in three assembly factors essential for the maturation of the 60S ribosome subunit result in progressive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) failure, suggesting that HSPCs are sensitive to perturbations in ribosome assembly. However, how ribosome assembly is regulated in HSPCs remains poorly understood, as are approaches to restore in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function in the context of defective ribosome biogenesis. Here we uncover a novel role for the E3 ubiquitin ligase, HectD1, in regulating HSC function via ribosome biogenesis. HSCs from hematopoietic-specific Hectd1 knockout mice exhibit a striking defect in transplantation ability and self-renewal. Hectd1-deficient HSCs fail to be maintained ex vivo, concomitant with a reduction in global protein synthesis and growth rate. The mechanism underlying HSC dysfunction upon Hectd1 deficiency is directly linked to aberrant ribosome assembly. We demonstrate that HectD1 ubiquitinates and degrades an assembly factor for the polypeptide exit tunnel of the 60S ribosome in the cytoplasm. Depletion of HectD1 led to an accumulation of the anti-association factor eIF6 on the 60S and decreased 80S to 60S ratio, consistent with a subunit joining defect associated with SDS-like diseases. Importantly, we found that restoration of ribosome assembly in HectD1-deficient cells promoted protein synthesis and enhanced HSC reconstitution capacity. These findings highlight the importance of ribosome assembly in HSC regeneration and represent a rare in vivo example of genetic suppression of HSC defects associated with dysfunctional ribosome biogenesis.
Transformative Practices to Support First-Generation College Students as Academic Learners: Findings From a Systematic Literature Review

Literature on first-generation college students contains a range of practices that can support first-generation college students as academic learners. To synthesize these practices for higher educa...
Humanism in medicine

The piece is an essay or reflection on the importance of humanism in medicine. The author encourages clinicians, first and foremost, to consider their relationship with patients from the vantage point of a shared humanity. This view allows for a better understanding of patients' needs and ensures patient-centered care.
European and Global Harmonization of the Law of Banking Transactions

A greater problem is that, despite intensive research, it is scarcely possible to determine the rules of a transnational law of banking transactions. One reason is that it is scarcely possible to determine the rules that could be attributed to a transnational law of banking transactions. Before turning to legal harmonisation within the European Community, we should first be aware that these efforts must be viewed within the context of the international and global harmonisation process. When we attempt to analyse the place of the European Community in this international legal harmonisation process, we must first realise that the European Community is affecting private law in many differing ways. Here it becomes clear that a harmonisation of banking supervision law at a European Community level affects banking transactions law and, conversely, a harmonisation of contract law affects banking supervision law.
Effects of d-amphetamine sulfate, caffeine, and high temperature on human performance.

Abstract Amphetamine, caffeine, and high ambient temperature (125.6 F) were compared with placebo to determine their effects on a variety of strength, psychomotor, and mental performance tasks and certain physiological measures of 24 young men who were students at the University of North Carolina. Performance was measured objectively only after each subject had been given standard extensive practice and acclimatization. The study permitted the conclusions that (a) 15 mg. of d-amphetamine sulfate significantly improved performance but caused a significant increase in heart rate, (b) 500 mg. of citrated caffeine did not produce a significant change in either the performance tasks or the physiological parameters measured, and (c) high ambient temperature (125.6 F) produced a significant improvement in performance.
The Atmosphere of Io: Abundances and Sources of Sulfur Dioxide and Atomic Hydrogen

An analysis and interpretation of reflected solar Lyman α intensity data acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) implies an equatorially confined atmosphere with SO2 column densities ∼ 1−2 × 1016 cm−2. Poleward of 30° the SO2 density must decrease sharply reaching an asymptotic polar value of < 1015 cm−2 at 45° to achieve the observed 2 kR intensity peaks. The corresponding surface reflectivities must be either a constant 0.047 for higher equatorial SO2 or a variable reflectivity of 0.027 with lower SO2 densities at the equator increasing to a polar value of ∼ 0.05. The average residence time for an atmospheric SO2 molecule is ∼ 2–3 days for the canonical mass loading rate of the Io plasma torus = 1030 amu s−l. With atomic hydrogen in the atmosphere and corona constrained by the HST observations, it is estimated that a pickup proton density ratio of 0.25–0.4% can be sustained by a supply of Io plasma torus protons neutralized in Io’s atmosphere/exosphere, if protons constitute 7% of the total torus ion density, which is close to the Chust et al. (1999) pickup proton density ratio and under the widely quoted 10% proton content of the torus.
The Relationship Between Maximum Strength and Endurance of Individuals With Different Levels of Strength.

Abstract The problem of the study was to investigate the relationship between maximum strength and muscular endurance; also the relationship between maximum strength and percentage of maximum strength held before and after an extended period of isometric training. The subjects (N = 60) were divided into two equal groups, control and experimental. The experimental group was further divided into two subgroups of high and low strength. The control group was tested for maximum strength and endurance once at the beginning of the experiment and once after 20 days. The subjects in the experimental group were tested for maximum strength and endurance before they embarked on a 20-day period of isometric training. They held tension for 100 sec. in the morning and again in the afternoon. Periodic tests were on the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th day. There was a significant relationship between maximum strength and endurance and a negative and generally significant relationship between maximum strength and percentage of m...
On the Isotopic Composition of Primordial Xenon in Terrestrial Planet Atmospheres

Xenon plays a crucial role in models of atmospheric evolution in which noble gases are fractionated from their initial compositions to isotopically heavier distributions by early hydro-dynamic escape of primordial planetary atmospheres. With the assumption that nonradiogenic Xe isotope ratios in present-day atmospheres were generated in this way, backward modeling from these ratios through the fractionating process can in principle identify likely parental Xe compositions and thus the probable sources of noble gases in pre-escape atmospheres. Applied to Earth, this approach simultaneously establishes the presence of an atmospheric Xe component due principally to fission of extinct 244Pu and identifies a composition called U-Xe as primordial Xe. Pu-Xe comprises 4.65±0.30% of atmospheric 136Xe, and 6.8±0.5% of the present abundance of 129Xe derives from decay of extinct 129I. U-Xe is identical to the measured composition of solar-wind Xe except for deficits of the two heaviest isotopes — an unexpected difference since the modeling otherwise points to solar wind compositions for the lighter noble gases in the primordial terrestrial atmosphere. Evidence for the presence of U-Xe is not restricted to the early Earth; modeling based on a purely meteoritic data set defines a parental component in chondrites and achondrites with the same isotopic distribution. Results of experimental efforts to measure this composition directly in meteorites are promising but not yet conclusive. U-Xe also appears as a possible base component in interstellar silicon carbide, here with superimposed excesses of 134Xe and 136Xe six-fold larger than those in the solar wind. These compositional differences imply mixing of U-Xe with a nucleogenetic heavy-isotope component whose relative abundance in the solar accretion disk and in pre-solar environments varied both spatially and temporally.
Simulation of an Attic Fire in a Wood Frame Residential Structure, Chicago, IL

The fire dynamics simulator (FDS) fire model, which is developed and maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was used to provide insight into the dynamics of a fire that occurred on November 2, 2012, within a 2 ½ story, single family structure in Chicago, IL, that resulted in the death of the captain of a fire department. The inputs for the FDS simulations are documented in this report and are based on the fire scenario, including the building geometry, interior furnishings, and ventilation conditions. The fire started in the attic and spread down through an opening into the enclosed porch on the rear of the structure. This resulted in ventilation limited (fuel rich) fire conditions in the attic and rear porch areas. Further spread of fire and hot gases from the attic downward into the second floor of the structure was limited by a closed steel-faced, wood-framed door. Note that there was no evidence of fire damage on the first floor of the structure. After exposure to the elevated temperatures and pressure from the fire in the porch area, the wood frame of the door decomposed, the steel faces of the door failed, and the door collapsed inward. The door failure resulted in the establishment of a flow path between the higher pressure and higher temperature conditions in the enclosed porch and the lower pressure and lower temperature conditions in the hallway and kitchen areas of the second floor. The temperature of the gases that flowed into the hallway exceeded 260°C (500°F) at a height of 1.86 m (6 ft). Unfortunately, a captain and firefighter were advancing a hose line in the hallway near the door at the time of the door failure. It appears that the captain was likely overcome by the rapid change in conditions before he could exit to the safety of the kitchen area. After a Mayday call, the captain was rescued from the structure, but later succumbed to his injuries.
Digital modulation classification: the BPSK versus QPSK case

The authors report on a novel BPSK/QPSK classifier and compare it to the more traditional, ad-hoc techniques of-a-square-law classifier and phase-based classifiers (weighting on the phase histogram). The proposed classifier is derived by an approximation of the likelihood-ratio functionals of phase modulated digital signals in white Gaussian noise, called a quasi-log-likelihood-ratio (qLLR) rule. It is shown analytically that its performance is significantly better than that of intuitively designed phased-based rules or the conventional square-law classifier. >
Wrongful life and wrongful birth: implications for diagnostic sonography

We trust that this communication will further the understanding of the concepts involved in wrongful life and wrongful birth and will assist the conduct of medical practice in such a way to minimize risks to patients and ultrasound physicians with regard to their liability. When these physicians are involved in wrongful life cases, we believe that the concepts presented will assist them in understanding the legal and societal environment in which they find themselves. We hope also that this communication may assist the defense attorney to more effectively prepare a response to the plaintiff's legal theory. Knowledge should provide understanding, if not relief.
Oral Communication Apprehension

Communication apprehension (CA) is a broadly based anxiety related to oral communication (McCroskey, 1970). More specifically, CA is “an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with another person or persons” (McCroskey, 1982b; 1984).
How fast are hospital prices really rising

The hospital services component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the cost of hospital services to private patients paying list prices. It is, however, widely used as an estimate of the overall rate of inflation in hospital prices in spite of the fact that there are strong reasons to believe that it is inappropriate to use the CPI for this purpose. This is because: 1) A growing number of patients are enrolled in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs), which negotiate discounts from list prices; and 2) the size of the discounts may have been increasing. The potential result is a gap between the rate of inflation of list prices and the rate of inflation of actual prices paid in transactions. This study explores whether such a gap exists and determines its possible magnitude. In addition, parallel indices for list and actual prices are computed on the basis of data from California hospitals for fiscal years 1983-1988. The analysis suggests that list price inflation has greatly exceeded actual inflation--by a factor of two for recent years. These findings have broad implications for evaluating not only inflation but also the impact of cost containment strategies.
Continued copulation in ovariectomized adrenal-suppressed stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides)

Abstract Female stumptail macaques continue to copulate at moderate to high levels for years after gonadectomy. This study examined the extent to which sexual behavior of ovariectomized stumptail females was maintained by steroids of adrenal origin, and second, considered the possibility that ovarian fragments might have been left in situ following surgery. Daily injections of 0.1 mg of dexamethasone sodium phosphate suppressed serum cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone by at least 85% in three of four ovariectomized females, but dihydrotestosterone was suppressed by only 50 to 70%. The fourth female showed maximal suppression of cortisol but maintained much higher levels of the other steroids, in particular estradiol, and therefore it was strongly suspected that this animal had an ovarian fragment. Within the limits to which sex steroids were depressed with dexamethasone, no correlation was found between steroid levels and sexual performance. Ejaculatory frequencies and measures of attractivity, proceptivity, and receptivity collected during heterosexual pair tests remained unaffected in all four females during 4 weeks of dexamethasone treatment. Thus it was concluded that the maintenance of copulatory activity after ovariectomy in this species was largely due to nonsteroidal mechanisms.
Doing without representing

Connectionism and classicism, it generally appears, have at least this much in common: both place some notion of internal representation at the heart of a scientific study of mind. In recent years, however, a much more radical view has gained increasing popularity. This view calls into question the commitment to internal representation itself. More strikingly still, this new wave of anti-representationalism is rooted not in ‘armchair’ theorizing but in practical attempts to model and understand intelligent, adaptive behavior. In this paper we first present, and then critically assess, a variety of recent anti-representationalist treatments. We suggest that so far, at least, the sceptical rhetoric outpaces both evidence and argument. Some probable causes of this premature scepticism are isolated. Nonetheless, the anti-representationalist challenge is shown to be both important and progressive insofar as it forces us to see beyond the bare representational/non-representational dichotomy and to recognize instead a rich continuum of degrees and types of representationality.
Street construction for environmental processes

In urban areas where natural environmental processes are allowed to occur, they contribute to air and water quality, stable water supply, flood moderation, biodiversity, and reduced demand on energy producers and sewer collection systems. Urban landscape technologies developed in recent years make a radical combination of environmental and human functions possible in the streets of dense urban districts. This paper reviews their construction, roles, and performance, and illustrates their application in urban design. Beneath trafficked surfaces, structural soils or deck-like bridging structures maintain viable tree rooting space, enabling street trees to grow to the size necessary to provide effective shade, cooling, biodiversity, and air quality. Permeable pavements of concrete, open-jointed blocks, and other materials open vehicular and pedestrian surfaces to air and water, allowing urban soils to absorb rainwater, reduce runoff, restore water quality, recharge regional aquifers, and activate tree rooting zones. Where urban space permits, open rain gardens use soil to combine water restoration and growth of living things. Contemporary urban design analyses complete the realization of a street’s multiple roles by identifying and integrating spaces for these technologies in the midst of dense urban construction. Monitoring has confirmed environmental performance, while industry innovations and standards continue to evolve. Participation in natural processes is a relatively new concept for cities, which in the past have been considered sacrifices of local environment for human welfare. In the kind of street that can be constructed today, there need not be antagonism between environmental processes and human welfare.
The Organization of Gangliosides and Other Lipid Components in Synaptosomal Plasma Membranes and Modifying Effects of Calcium Ion

Synaptosomes were prepared from bovine brain by zonal rotor sucrose density centrifugation. While a major fraction of lipid-bound sialic acid is included uniformly within the synaptosomal distribution profile, the sialoglycoproteins and some gangliosides do not follow this pattern, Exposure to extrasynaptosomal calcium results in alterations in the surface labeling properties of some gangliosides and membrane plasmalogens, suggesting that extrasynaptic Ca2+ may influence the conformation of complex lipids in synaptic plasma membranes. The level of intrinsic membrane-associated sialidase activity that liberates sialic acid from these sialoglycoconjugates parallels the synaptosomal buoyant density distribution profile, supporting a view that this enzyme resides in synaptosomal membranes in close association with a sialolipid substrate.
Relationship of aging and tobacco use with the development of aberrant crypt foci in a predominantly African-American population.

Background & Aims: In clinical studies, diminished folate availability appears to increase the risk for colorectal neoplasms. Additionally, alcohol and tobacco use are associated with an increased risk for colon cancer, but the early pathologic events by which these agents promote neoplastic transformation are not well understood. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are potential precursors of adenoma and cancer, and can be visualized by magnification endoscopy. We hypothesized that folate depletion is linked to ACF formation and therefore studied the association between tissue folate, dietary habits, and ACF number in patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. Methods: Eighty-three patients, undergoing screening colonoscopy at an urban Veterans Affairs and university hospital, completed a questionnaire concerning alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and tobacco use. Folate intake was calculated from food frequency questionnaires. Rectal ACFs were scored using magnification chromoendoscopy (magnification, 35×) by methylene blue staining. Folate concentrations in rectal biopsy specimens were determined by microtiter bioassay. Results: ACF number increased with age and with increasing tobacco intake. Decreased colonic folate level was associated with increased homocysteine levels and lower dietary folate intake but did not correlate with ACF number. Conclusions: Increasing age and tobacco use were linked independently to the presence of colonic ACF in this predominantly African-American population. Folate, alcohol, and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) use did not influence the prevalence of these lesions.
NASA VCE test bed engine aerodynamic performance characteristics and test results

The Core Driven Fan Stage (CDFS) Variable Cycle Engine (VCE) has been identified as a leading candidate for advanced supersonic cruise aircraft. A scale demonstrator version of this engine has been designed and tested. This testbed engine features a split fan with double bypass capability, variable forward and aft mixers, and a variable area low pressure turbine nozzle to permit exploration and optimization of the cycle in both single and double bypass modes. This paper presents the aerodynamic performance characteristics and experimental results obtained from both the core engine and full engine tests.
Topical morphine in a canine model : A pilot study

Abstract Objective: To determine if topical morphine can enter the synovial cavity and the effect of ultrasound on this process. Design: A randomized control trial to investigate which body fluids morphine enters after topical application. Setting: A university animal laboratory. Subjects: Ten mongrol dogs raised by the Comparative Medicine Department. All animals were certified to be free of disease, all had received standard scheduled immunizations, and none had been used for any other research. Intervention: Topical morphine and ultrasound or topical morphine and sham ultrasound was applied to the knees of the dogs. Samples were obtained afterward from synovial fluid, serum, and urine, and were analyzed for the presence of morphine. Main Outcome Measures: Blood samples were collected every 60 minutes for 240 minutes, urine samples were collected at 120 minutes and 240 minutes, and synovial joint fluid was collected at 120 minutes and 240 minutes. The process of collection and analysis was the same for dogs treated with topical morphine and ultrasound and those treated with topical morphine and sham ultrasound. Fisher's exact test was used to test for an association between the use of ultrasound and the presence of morphine in the synovial fluid, serum, or urine. Two-sample t tests were used to test for group differences in mean body weight. Results: All samples (synovial fluid, serum, and urine) were negative at time zero. All of the subsequent serum samples were negative for morphine. Two or three of the dogs in each group of five (ultrasound or sham ultrasound) had positive urine and synovial fluid samples at 120 and 240 minutes. Ultrasound did not affect the results. Body weight of the dogs influenced the results, with lighter animals having a significantly larger percentage ( p = .03) of synovial fluid samples positive for morphine. Conclusion: Ultrasound did not affect the absorption of topical morphine in this canine model. Body weight may have influenced the results. Dogs that tested positive for morphine in synovial fluid had a lower mean body weight than dogs that did not test positive ( p = .03).