cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of morphine on uptake of immunoglobulin G complexes by mesangial cells and macrophages

Focal glomerular sclerosis is the predominant renal lesion in heroin addicts. We studied whether morphine, a metabolite of heroin, could directly affect the uptake of immunoglobulin G (IgG) complexes by cultured mesangial cells (MC) and macrophages (MP). Pre-incubation of morphine (10(-6) M) decreased uptake of IgG complexes [morphine, 66,577 +/- 6,248 vs. control, 95,735 +/- 5,227 counts.min-1 (cpm).mg protein-1; P < 0.02] by MC. Morphine (10(-4)-10(-6) M) also inhibited (P < 0.01) uptake of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-indocarbocyanine perchlorate-labeled low-density lipoprotein by MC. MP pretreated with morphine (10(-6) M) also showed significantly (P < 0.02) lower uptake of IgG complexes (control 94,959 +/- 4,980 vs. morphine, 58,360 +/- 11,608 cpm/mg protein). Binding studies carried out at 4 degrees C on MC and MP indicated that morphine did not modulate surface binding of IgG complexes. Naloxone, a morphine antagonist, also produced a rather decreased (P < 0.05) uptake of IgG complexes by both MP and MC and did not inhibit the effect of morphine on the uptake of IgG complexes. In vivo studies indicated that morphine-treated rats had a higher (P < 0.05) accumulation of aggregated human IgG complexes (125I-labeled ahIgG) in their glomeruli when compared with untreated rats (control rats, 256,929 +/- 40,008 cpm/g protein vs. experimental rats, 398,317 + 51,512 cpm/g). Increased accumulation of 125I-ahIgG in the glomeruli from morphine-treated rats may either be related to increased delivery of 125I-ahIgG into the mesangium or be a result of decreased drainage of 125I-ahIgG from the mesangium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The realistic significance of the adoption of the brand differentiation strategy by fashion enterprises

By analyzing the current predicaments faced by fashion enterprises in our country, we pointed out two critical problems encountered by them in their development of the fashion brand, that is, the lack of an overall understanding of the orientation of the fashion market and the low competitive ability of the brand itself. To solve these two essential problems, we proposed a brand differentiation strategy idea and a series of brand differentiation strategy based solutions to the two problems. Moreover, we pointed out that the adoption of the brand differentiation strategy is to overcome the disadvantages of product cost and therefore, enhance fashion enterprises' core competitive power and hence develop a new route to the mutual benefit of cost and differentiation.
Anergy and Tryptophan Metabolism in Bladder Cancer

AbstractThe tryptophan loading test and cutaneous antigen test were done on 55 patients with various stages of bladder cancer. Patients with an abnormality of tryptophan metabolism showed a greater degree of unreactivity to cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity testing. Of the 23 patients with normal tryptophan metabolism 47 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 skin antigens. Of 13 patients with 1 abnormal tryptophan metabolite 62 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 skin antigens. Of 19 patients with 2 or more abnormal tryptophan metabolites 68 per cent were unreactive to 2 or 3 antigens.
Award-Cultures in the Era of Post-Globalization: Prize-Winning in a ‘Flat’-World

In an account of the paucity of studies focused on the workings of multilingualism in written as opposed to oral encounters, Sebba (2012) makes the case for analytical accounts of multilingual use which are macroscopic in focus. Thus, any account of language use in literary creation has to be based on emerging literacy frameworks which view “literacy as a social practice” (Sebba 2012: 8)inclusive of the twin acts of reading and writing. In line with this, Sebba (2012) reiterates a key point namely, “As part of this, to fully understand language mixing in written texts we need to know not only by whom and for whom they are produced, but how they are produced and how they will be read”(8). By understanding the macro-economics underpinning 21st century literary production, we can more accurately comprehend how multilingualism is made to work in and for creative commerce. In a departure from sociolinguistic work primarily focused on oracybased data, the current study focuses on written texts. After all, “written texts, particularly published ones, are widely perceived to have legitimacy beyond that of the spoken word in literate societies”(Mahootian 2012: 192). In precise terms, they have “more staying power”(Ibid.).
The heated condensation framework as a convective trigger in the NCEP Climate Forecast System version 2

An updated version of the Heated Condensation Framework (HCF) is implemented as a convective triggering criterion into the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2). The new trigger replaces the original criteria in both the deep (Simplified Arakawa-Schubert – SAS) and shallow (SAS based) convective schemes. The performance of the original and new triggering criteria is first compared against radiosonde observations. Then, a series of hindcasts are performed to evaluate the influence of the triggering criterion in the CFSv2 representation of summer precipitation, the diurnal cycle of precipitation, and hurricanes that made landfall. The observational analysis shows that the HCF trigger better captures the frequency of convection, where the original SAS trigger initiates convection too often. When implemented in CFSv2, the HCF trigger improves the seasonal forecast of the Indian summer monsoon rainfall, including the representation of the onset dates of the rainy season over India. On the other hand, the HCF trigger increases error in the seasonal forecast of precipitation over the eastern United States. The HCF trigger also improves the representation of the intensity of hurricanes. Moreover, the simulation of hurricanes provides insights on the mechanism whereby the HCF trigger impacts the representation of convection.
Mean Direct-Transit and Looping Times as Functions of the Potential Shape.

Any trajectory of a diffusing particle making a transition between two end points of an interval can be divided into two segments, which we call direct-transit and looping parts. The former is the final segment of the trajectory, when the particle goes from one end point of the interval to the opposite end point, without retouching the starting point. The rest of the trajectory is the looping part. We study mean durations of the two parts in the presence of a symmetric linear cusp potential which, depending on the parameter values, forms either a barrier or a well between the end points. For the cusp barrier, we find that the mean direct-transit time decreases as the barrier height increases at a fixed interval length. This happens because the increase in the barrier height results in the increase of the magnitude of the force acting on the particle on both sides of the barrier. Interestingly, though the mean looping and direct-transit times are different in the case of the barrier and well potentials wit...
The Effects of Learning Styles on Learning Reading Vocabulary Words in Context

This study examined the impact of learning styles on the performance of students taught 100 vocabulary words in context.Â The students were placed in the learning styles group was known as the Learning Styles Preference (LSP) Group.Â The memebers of the LSP group were tested for their learning styles through the Carbo Reading Styles Inventory.Â The students in the other group, the Control Group, were taught through the traditional methods.Â Both groups took a 100 word vocabulary pre-test and post-test devoloped by the researcher.
Analysis of the external radiation from circular cylindrical shells

Abstract Structurally radiated sound power is a critical design parameter. The acoustic radiation mode approach for computing sound power was developed in the early 1990s and has since been widely used. It has been shown to be a rather efficient approach for determining the radiated sound power. In previous research, radiation mode expressions have been developed for planar and spherical structures, as well as axisymmetric modes of internal and external radiation from cylinders. In this work, the radiation modes for external radiating cylinders which account for both axial and circumferential dependence are presented. The expressions are uniquely developed using cylindrical basis functions which are a more natural match to the geometry than past developments, which have been based on spherical harmonics. Higher order radiation modes than have been previously presented are shown. The “leapfrog effect”, whereby higher order modes leapfrog over lower modes in terms of their radiation efficiencies as the frequency goes above the cut-on frequency for those modes, is discussed in detail. The relationships between the mode efficiency and the coincidence effect associated with the cut-on frequencies of the vibration modes are described.
Manganese-induced trafficking and turnover of GPP130 is mediated by sortilin.

By binding and directing the cycling Golgi protein GPP130 to lysosomes, the sorting receptor sortilin mediates the manganese-induced GPP130 down-regulation that protects against Shiga toxicosis.
Photochemical Identification of Molecular Binding Sites on the Surface of Amyloid-β Fibrillar Aggregates

Summary The aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) into insoluble fibrils has been associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease. The study of Aβ aggregation with [Re(CO) 3 (dppz)(Py)] + (dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine; Py = pyridine) has led to the observation of an irradiation-induced light-switching response accompanied by the oxidation of the Aβ fibril. Here, we used the photophysical and photochemical properties of this complex, as well as spectroscopic and computational methods, to elucidate molecular binding sites on Aβ fibrils. [Re(CO) 3 (dppz)(Py)] + binds to Aβ fibrils with a dissociation constant of 4.2 μM and a binding stoichiometry 2.8:1 (Aβ/complex). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations predicted binding of [Re(CO) 3 (dppz)(Py)] + through a hydrophobic cleft on the fibril axis between Val18 and Phe20. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis indicated that oxidation occurred at Met35, footprinting the place of binding, which is close to the site predicted by the MD simulations. Finding binding sites in Aβ is of great importance for the design of Aβ-binding drugs.
Chile: Language Situation

This article presents a brief summary of the language situation in Chile, including a short characterization of the Spanish spoken in Chile with some phonological, morphological, syntactical, and lexical characteristics and some examples of their use, as well as a brief description of the autochthonous languages of Chile.
Time-Domain Identification of Structural Systems from Input-Output Measurements

This paper presents a methodology that can be used for the identification of second-order models of structural systems using dynamic measurements of the input and of the structural response. This approach (and its variations) starts from an identified first order model of a structural system and obtain estimation of the structure’s mass, damping and stiffness matrices. For these approaches, both the full instrumentation option and the partial instrumentation option are presented. For the case of partial/limited instrumentation, five different model types have been considered showing, for each models, the limitations imposed on the identification by the lack of available data. Once these dynamic characteristics have been determined, structural damage can be assessed by comparing the undamaged and damaged estimation of such parameters. A damage representative parameter is introduced: this parameter uses the identified models to detect the location and amount of structural damage. This methodology has been tested on simulated numerical results and its effectiveness in determining structural damage is evaluated.
Practical Synthesis of Functional Metathesis Initiators Using Enynes

Grubbs-type ruthenium initiators have found extensive use in complex polymer synthesis but are greatly limited to the nonfunctional derivatives that are commercially available. This report describes the design of functional enyne molecules that rapidly and efficiently convert the third-generation Grubbs catalyst (G3) into a variety of custom initiators for use in polymer synthesis. The identification of electron-deficient sulfonamide derivatives enables high conversion efficiency (>98%) to functional initiator structures with a minimal number of enyne equivalents (2.5–3 equiv). The catalyst transformations are complete in minutes at room temperature and can be directly used in polymerization without intermediate purification. Through combination with existing termination methods, this technology gives practical entry into well-defined heterotelechelic polymers using metathesis polymerization.
Examining and Understanding Value: The Cost of Preoperative Characteristics, Intraoperative Variables and Postoperative Complications of Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy

AbstractIntroduction:As value based health care gains favor and reimbursement models move toward quality rather than quantity of care, a better understanding of cost and its predictors becomes incr...
Latin America and Lebanon: A Comparative Study of Fragility

This chapter underscores the importance of institutions, specifically the constitution, on certain fragile Latin America countries and Lebanon. The political culture in these areas encourage constitutional ineffectiveness, whether the executive branch of government manipulates it to protect itself like in Latin America, or, a static, unwritten agreement that solidifies the power of patronage and clientelism as in Lebanon. The end result is the same in these cases: the inability of the state to encourage economic development and progress.
Verhaltensökonomik als Gegenprogramm zur Standardökonomik

Die Moderne Verhaltensokonomik ist die naturliche Weiterentwicklung der neoklassischen Standardokonomik der 1980er Jahre. Sie nutzt Erkenntnisse aus benachbarten Sozial- und Verhaltenswissenschaften, um bessere Prognosen zu den Verhaltensanderungen zu erzielen und identifiziert vermeintlich irrelevante Faktoren, deren Berucksichtigung zu besseren Politikmasnahmen fuhrt. Sie wird in der gesamten Breite der okonomischen Forschung, in der Wissenschaft und Praxis angewandt. Ihr Erfolg spricht fur eine Konvergenz von Verhaltensokonomik und derzeitige Standardokonomik.
Case Studies Evidence-Based Treatment Planning

In Chap. 1, the approach to evidence-based patient care was defined as looking at the three areas—the patient, the dentist, and current knowledge. That major portion of the chapter provided suggestions on how to access the most current literature, as well as a systematic method to critically evaluate that literature using the Paul-Elder Critical Thinking Model™. The following case studies will provide a framework to ensure that the “patient” portion section is reasonably complete.
Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in a Polycystic Kidney with Duplicated System: Successful Outcome with Endoscopic Management.

Abstract Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most prevalent hereditary renal disease, associated with progressive renal insufficiency, usually leading to dialysis. It is...
Classification accuracy rates of four TOMM validity indices when examined independently and jointly.

AbstractObjective: This study investigated sensitivity and specificity rates of four Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) indices (Trial 1, Trial 2, Retention, and Albany Consistency Index (ACI)) and ...
Evaluation and Management of the Sleepless Child

There are many reasons a child may be considered to be sleepless. Fortunately, the vast majority of these children can receive effective treatment after a careful initial evaluation is performed. Behavioral treatments should be the principal therapeutic approach. Medications can be carefully considered as adjunctive treatment options in selected clinical situations.
Laminar Burning Speed Study of Alternative Fuel Air Diluent Mixtures at High Pressures and Temperatures

Alternative fuel has attracted large focus because of environmental issues. Laminar burning speed results of syngas/air/diluent, syngas/O2/He and GTL/air/diluent premixed flames have been reviewed. In this paper, syngas consists of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and GTL (gas to liquid) is a blend of 43% n-dodecane, 25% n-decane, and 32% iso-octane. The diluent with the same specific heat as the burned gases consists of 14% carbon dioxide and 86% nitrogen. Experiments were carried out using a cylindrical chamber to observe the flame images and to measure pressure rise. The pressure rise data have been used to calculate the laminar burning speed by an integral-based multi-shell thermodynamic model for the low stretch and smooth flames. Power-law correlations were developed for experimental burning speed results of syngas/air/diluent, syngas/O2/He and GTL/air/diluent mixtures over a wide range of equivalence ratios, temperatures, pressures, and diluent concentrations. Kinetics simulations calculated by 1-D steady-state flame code from CANTERA were compared with various experimental burning speed results. The measured burning speed values are very close to the simulation calculations.
Modeling the effect of a freeway road construction project on link-level travel times

Abstract Drivers experience variations in travel time due to congestion and delays associated with road construction projects on existing transportation facilities. The effect on the travel time of a link decreases as its distance from the road construction project increases. In addition, the effect could extend to the connecting arterial street links within the vicinity of the road construction project. Therefore, the focus of this research is to model the effect of a road construction project on the freeway and connecting arterial street link-level travel times. Data pertaining to a resurfacing construction project, which lasted for six months, was gathered from the traffic incident management systems (TIMS). The travel time data was collected and processed, for each selected freeway and connecting arterial street link, for six months before the start of the resurfacing construction project and six months during the construction of the resurfacing project. Generalized linear models (GLM) were developed and validated for before and during the construction project periods with the average travel time on a link as the dependent variable. Data such as time-of-the-day, day-of-the-week, the distance of a link from the work zone, subject link characteristics, and upstream and downstream link characteristics were collected and used as the predictor variables. The results indicate that the subject link, upstream link and downstream link characteristics have a significant effect on the freeway and connecting arterial street link-level travel times due to the resurfacing construction project.
Transcriptional activation of macropinocytosis by the Hippo pathway following nutrient limitation

Cancer cells must adapt metabolism to thrive despite nutrient limitations in the tumor microenvironment. In this issue of Genes & Development, King and colleagues (pp. 1345-1358) report a role for transcriptional regulators of the Hippo pathway to facilitate protein scavenging and support proliferation under some nutrient-deprived conditions.
Spatiotemporal evaluation of the mouse embryonic redox environment and histiotrophic nutrition following treatment with valproic acid and 1,2-dithiole-3-thione during early organogenesis.

Abstract Redox regulation during metazoan development ensures that coordinated metabolic reprogramming and developmental signaling are orchestrated with high fidelity in the hypoxic embryonic environment. Valproic acid (VPA), an anti-seizure medication, is known to increase markers of oxidation and also increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) when taken during pregnancy. It is unknown, however, whether oxidation plays a direct role in failed neural tube closure (NTC). Spatial and temporal fluctuations in total glutathione (GSH) and total cysteine (Cys) redox steady states were seen during a 24 h period of CD-1 mouse organogenesis in untreated conceptuses and following exposure to VPA and the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway inducer, 1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T). Glutathione, glutathione disulfide (GSSG), and Cys, cystine (CySS) concentrations, measured in conceptal tissues (embryo/visceral yolk sac) and fluids (yolk sac fluid/amniotic fluid) showed that VPA did not cause extensive and prolonged oxidation during the period of NTC, but instead produced transient periods of oxidation, as assessed by GSH:GSSG redox potentials, which revealed oxidation in all four conceptal compartments at 4, 10, and 14 h, corresponding to the period of heartbeat activation and NTC. Other changes were tissue and time specific. VPA treatment also reduced total FITC-Ab clearance from the medium over 3 h, indicating potential disruption of nutritive amino acid supply. Overall, these results indicated that VPA’s ability to affect cellular redox status may be limited to tissue-specific windows of sensitivity during the period of NTC. The safety evaluation of drugs used during pregnancy should consider time and tissue specific redox factors.
Programming inflammatory cell death for therapy.

Abstract Programmed cell death (PCD) is an essential part of organismal development and plays fundamental roles in host defense against pathogens and the maintenance of homeostasis. However, excess activation of PCD pathways has proven to be detrimental and can drive disease. Additionally, resistance to PCD can also contribute to disease development. Modulation of PCD, therefore, has great therapeutic potential in a wide range of diseases, including infectious, neurodegenerative, autoinflammatory, and metabolic diseases and cancer. Nevertheless, manipulation of cell death and inflammation for therapeutic intervention is a delicate process, highly specific to the context of the disease of interest, making the selection of the appropriate target molecule crucially important. Several PCD pathways are associated with innate immunity, including pyroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis, which is defined as an inflammatory PCD pathway with key features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and/or necroptosis that cannot be accounted for by any of these three PCD pathways alone. All of these PCD pathways are regulated by upstream sensors and signaling cascades that assemble multimeric complexes to serve as activation platforms for downstream molecules; these sensors and signaling molecules provide attractive target points for therapeutic intervention. Here, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of innate immune-mediated cell death in health and disease, with a particular focus on the molecules putatively involved in the formation of the PANoptosome and the induction of inflammatory cell death. Further, we discuss the implications and feasibility of targeting these molecules to improve disease outcomes, as well as current clinical approaches.
Saturday, September 4, 2010, BAT DAY—Chicago, IL

Delta arrived at the stadium parking lot in the yellow Hummer. Caleb was waiting for her. He shook his head at the sight of the mammoth yellow machine.
Two-component wind fields from single scanning aerosol lidar

An overview of recent research results on the performance of two motion estimation algorithms used to deduce two-component horizontal wind fields from ground-based scanning elastic backscatter lidar is presented. One motion estimation algorithm is a traditional cross-correlation method optimized for atmospheric lidar data. The second algorithm is a recently-developed wavelet-based optical flow. An intercomparison of experimental results with measurements from an independent Doppler lidar over an agricultural area in Chico, California, during daytime convective conditions in 2013-14 are presented. Finally, early results from application of the algorithms to data collected over the ocean from a compact and portable aerosol lidar that was deployed on the northern California coast in March of 2015 are presented.
Numerical simulations of the influence of solar zenith angle on properties of the M1 layer of the Mars ionosphere

The M1 layer of the Mars ionosphere is one of its most significant features, second only to the M2 layer. Observations have shown how the physical properties of this layer depend on solar zenith angle (SZA) and solar irradiance, but these trends have not yet been explored in detail by numerical simulations. Hence, the full implications of the observational findings for the M1 layer's behavior have not been established. Here we use the Boston University Mars Ionosphere Model to simulate the M1 layer over a period of 6 months. In order to adequately reproduce the SZA dependence of the observed M2 peak density, an ad hoc isothermal electron temperature profile was required. This representation was motivated by detailed energy balance calculations that predict relatively small variations in electron temperature at the M2 peak. We find several model results consistent with observations: the simulated M1 peak density is effectively proportional to Ch(SZA)−0.5, where Ch is the Chapman function; the ratio of M1 to M2 peak electron densities is independent of SZA; the simulated M1 peak altitude decreases with increasing solar irradiance; and the simulated difference in altitude between the M1 and M2 layers increases with SZA at the observed rate. Due to limitations in the assumed neutral atmosphere, the simulated increase in M1 peak altitude with increasing solar zenith angle is significantly greater than observed. In both simulations and observations, limitations in representing the width of the M1 layer prevent meaningful comparisons and connections to the neutral scale height.
Low-dose ultrasound effects on wound healing: a controlled study with Yucatan pigs

This study reports on the effect of low-dose ultrasound in accelerating wound healing in matched pairs of surgically induced incisions and full-thickness and partial-thickness lesions in 11 Yucatan mini-pigs after 7 days of healing and 5 days of sonation. Tensile strength, collagen deposition (hydroxyproline), reduction in wound size (full-thickness lesion), and mast-cell degranulation were significantly greater in the sonated lesions than in the sham-treated controls (p = 0.01). Sonation enhanced strength by 24% and collagen deposition by 29%, when compared with controls. There were no significant differences in the quality of healing as measured by an ordinal scale. The results suggest that within the first week of healing, low-dose ultrasound facilitates wound healing. More research is needed to confirm the most effective dose, frequency, and treatment duration and intervention time for maximum healing.
Safety and efficacy of a 100 % dimethicone pediculocide in school-age children

Head lice most commonly affect children, ages 3 to 11. Concerns exist about the safety and efficacy of pesticide-based treatments. Published studies suggest dimethicone is a potentially safe and effective non-toxic treatment, but have not evaluated 100 % dimethicone in a pediatric population. The objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 100 % dimethicone for the treatment of head lice in children, monitored by school nurses. This was a multi-site, open-label study of a 100 % dimethicone gel for the treatment of head lice in a pediatric population. Children (ages 3–12) suspected of infestation with head lice were evaluated by school nurses at six schools and daycare programs in New York and New Jersey. Inclusion criteria were presence of at least three live lice, or one live louse and 10 viable eggs (eggs found within 1.27 cm of the scalp) and no use of any head lice treatment within four weeks of enrollment. Counts of live lice and viable eggs found in 58 subjects were tracked at baseline (Day 0) and on Day 1, Day 7, and Day 14 after treatment. After 1 day of treatment with 100 % dimethicone, 98.30 % of subjects were free of live lice and 55.20 % were free of viable eggs. On day 14, 96.50 % were still free of live lice, and 80.70 % were free of viable eggs. All subjects were monitored by the school nurse at baseline and throughout the study period for adverse effects, including scalp erythema, excoriation, flaking and edema. There was one adverse event of skin irritation lasting 10 min, and no serious adverse events reported. Overall, scalp conditions improved from the baseline: 10 subjects (17.5 %) reported mild to moderate scalp erythema on day 1, compared with only one subject (1.7 %) on day 14; 8 subjects (14.3 %) reported mild scalp excoriation on day 1, with none reporting on day 14. 100 % dimethicone was found to be a safe and highly effective treatment for pediatric head lice. Because dimethicone avoids pesticide exposure and resistance issues, dimethicone should be considered as a first-line treatment for head lice. NCT02213055 Date of registration: August 8, 2014 The CONSORT 2010 Checklist was consulted during the review of this manuscript. Please note that sections pertaining specifically to randomized controlled trials (RCT’s) were not applicable.
Substantial Upgrades to Tevatron Luminosity

Over the next 6 years the CDF and D0 collaborations have the goal of collecting 15 fb-1 of data in collider Run II. This will require a number of ambitious upgrades to the Fermilab accelerator complex, some of which have been completed, some of which are currently being commissioned, and some of which are under development but have not yet been installed. This paper describes the major accelerator upgrades required to reach this Run II luminosity goal.
A Diet History Questionnaire Ranks Nutrient Intakes in Middle-Aged and Older Men and Women Similarly to Multiple Food Records

We evaluated the reproducibility of a modified version of the National Cancer Institute diet history questionnaire and also studied comparability of nutrient estimates from this questionnaire to those from four 2-d food records. Subjects (n = 211) were from a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults participating in the Beaver Dam Eye Study in south-central Wisconsin. Median age-specific correlation coefficients between the questionnaire, administered twice at a 3-mo interval, were 0.8 in men and 0.7 in women (range = 0.5 to 0.9). Questionnaire estimates of protein, cholesterol, thiamin, niacin, iron and zinc were consistently lower than food record estimates whereas estimates of fat were higher. Correlation coefficients between estimates from the questionnaire and records were generally > 0.5, indicating overall good agreement in ranking. However, the range in correlation coefficients was wide [ranging from 0.06 for iron (without supplements) in middle-aged women to 0.8 for alcohol in middle-aged men and women]. Questionnaire estimates similarly classified persons into the lowest two food record quintiles of intake 50 to 93% of the time depending on nutrient. These results suggest that the questionnaire produces nutrient estimates that rank individuals on the basis of intake of most nutrients similarly to estimates from multiple food records.
Morera Theorems for Complex Manifolds

Abstract We prove Morera theorems for the Radon transform integrating on geodesic spheres on complex analytic manifolds of arbitrary dimension. To avoid pathologies, we assume that the radius of each sphere of integration is less than the injectivity radius at its center. The proofs of the main results are local, and they involve the microlocal properties of associated Radon transforms and a theorem of Hormander, Kawai, and Kashiwara on microlocal singularities. We consider Morera theorems for spheres of fixed radius and spheres of arbitrary radius.
The use of L1 in an L2 on-line chat activity

This study focuses on the use of the native language (L1) by second language (L2) learners when carrying out a collaborative jigsaw task in a computer chat environment. It investigates the extent and function of L1 use by means of a sociocultural theoretical framework. The research project was carried out in three languages: Chinese, German, and Spanish. Students were assigned to dyads at random and were asked to perform a jigsaw task activity. The chat logs were collected and analyzed via descriptive statistics and discourse analysis. The findings suggest that across all three languages, the students used their L1 (English) to varying degrees and for a variety of functions. ‘Moving the task along’ (Swain & Lapkin, 2000a) was the primary function of the L1. Further examination of the chat logs indicates that several factors affected the use of L1, such as participants' task management strategies and the use of symbols.
Specific adsorption of cations on hydrous γ-Al2O3

The amphoteric properties of hydrous γ-Al2O3 and the distribution of earth alkaline cations in the oxide-electrolyte interface was evaluated from alkalimetric and acidimetric titration curves of aqueous dispersions. In NaCl electrolytes (25°C), pH of zero point of charge is pHzpc = 8.5; acid-base properties can be characterized in terms of a heterogeneous two-protic acid with intrinsic acidity constants pKint1 = 7.9 and pKint2 = 9.1. The extent of adsorption of Ca2+ and other earth alkaline cations on hydrous γ-Al2O3 increases with increasing pH; finite adsorption is observed at pHzpc and at pH values slightly lower than pHzpc. Evaluation of adsorption measurements and alkalimetric titration curves indicates that the adsorption of M2+ can be described by: AlOH + M2+ ⇄ AlOM+ + H+. Operational association constants for this equilibrium were determined; the extent of adsorption increases in the series Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Sr2+ > Ba2+. In the pH-range above pHzpc, these ions, upon being adsorbed may reverse the surface charge of the oxide suspension.
DNA bending induced by carbocyclic sugar analogs constrained to the north conformation

DNA bending caused by introduction of carbocyclic sugars constrained to the north conformation was studied using explicit solvent molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The native Drew-Dickerson (DD) dodecamer and its three modifications containing north carbocyclic sugars in the 7th (T7*), 8th (T8*) or both 7th and 8th (T7T8*) nucleotide positions were examined. Introduction of the carbocyclic sugar results in A-form conformations for the α, β, χ, ζ, and sugar pucker backbone parameters in the modified nucleotides. Increased steric repulsion between the sugar and its parent base in the modified oligonucleotides impacts the roll and cup dinucleotide step parameters, increasing the bending of the oligomer axis. Increased buckling of the substituted nucleotides disrupts the usual stabilizing base stacking interactions. The level of overall bending depends on the number and position of carbocyclic sugars introduced in the DNA sequence. Single sugar substitutions are unable to induce substantial bending due to the neighboring unmodified nucleotides counterbalancing the distortion. Significant bending can, however, be induced by two consecutive north sugars (T7T8*), which is in agreement with experimental results. The modified oligomers populate a wide range of bend angles, indicating that they maintain flexibility in the bent state. The present results suggest that insertion of carbocyclic sugars into DNA or RNA duplexes can be used to engineer bending of the duplexes without impacting the electrostatic or chemical properties of the phosphodiester backbone, thereby serving as excellent tools for experimental elucidation of nucleic acid structure-function relationships.
Experimental study of hybrid composite beams

Abstract In this study, a new type of hybrid confining device, a perforated steel tube that is externally protected by a thin fiber reinforced polymer skin is proposed and experimentally investigated. Hybrid composite beams were fabricated by filling fresh concrete into the hybrid composite tube. Fifteen scaled-down square beams, which had varying numbers of perforated steel faces or ‘steel grids’ and a dimension of length 55.9 cm, height 10.1 cm, and width 10.1 cm, were prepared. Four-point bending tests were conducted on all the specimens. In addition to the load–displacement curves obtained from the tests, strain gages were installed to monitor the local strain distributions. Test results show that the grid tube encased specimens lead to higher specific strength and ductility than the solid steel tube encased counterparts. Compared to other configurations, the specific strength and ductility are the highest when all the four faces are made of steel grids.
A Study on the lack of [methyl-3H] thymidine uptake and incorporation by chemolithotrophic bacteria

Five chemolithotrophic bacteria were tested for their ability to incorporate [methyl-(3)H] thymidine. None of the bacteria incorporated the label, even after incubation for 24 hours. The inability of these bacteria to incorporate thymidine appears to be due to an absence of transport mechanisms for exogenous nucleosides. As a result of these findings, it is concluded that activities deduced from labeled thymidine incorporation measurements probably do not include the activity of chemolithotrophic bacteria.
Comprehensive Airway Management of Patients with Maxillofacial Trauma

Airway management in patients with maxillofacial trauma is complicated by injuries to routes of intubation, and the surgeon is frequently asked to secure the airway. Airway obstruction from hemorrhage, tissue prolapse, or edema may require emergent intervention for which multiple intubation techniques exist. Competing needs for both airway and surgical access create intraoperative conflicts during repair of maxillofacial fractures. Postoperatively, edema and maxillomandibular fixation place the patient at risk for further airway compromise.
On strong ellipticity for isotropic hyperelastic materials based upon logarithmic strain

Abstract This paper discusses various constitutive restrictions on the strain energy function for an isotropic hyperelastic material derived from the condition of strong ellipticity. The strain energy function is assumed to be a function of a novel set of invariants of the Hencky (logarithmic or natural) strain tensor introduced by Criscione et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 48 (2000) 2445). A key step in the analysis is the derivation of an expression for the Frechet derivative of the Hencky strain with respect to the deformation gradient that is convenient for analyzing the quadratic form over the space of second order tensors central to establishing strong ellipticity. The theory is illustrated by applying the restrictions to a model for rubber proposed by Criscione et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 48 (2000) 2445) It is shown that while that model can be made to violate strong ellipticity, it does so only for very large strains.
Echinocandin Resistance, Susceptibility Testing and Prophylaxis: Implications for Patient Management

This article addresses the emergence of echinocandin resistance among Candida species, mechanisms of resistance, factors that promote resistance and confounding issues surrounding standard susceptibility testing. Fungal infections remain a significant cause of global morbidity and mortality, especially among patients with underlying immunosupression. Antifungal therapy is a critical component of patient management for acute and chronic diseases. Yet, therapeutic choices are limited due to only a few drug classes available to treat systemic disease. Moreover, the problem is exacerbated by the emergence of antifungal resistance, which has resulted in difficult to manage multidrug resistant strains. Echinocandin drugs are now the preferred choice to treat a range of candidiasis. These drugs target and inhibit the fungal-specific enzyme glucan synthase, which is responsible for the biosynthesis of a key cell wall polymer. Therapeutic failures involving acquisition of resistance among susceptible organisms like Candida albicans is largely a rare event. However, in recent years, there is an alarming trend of increased resistance among strains of Candida glabrata, which in many cases are also resistant to azole drugs. Echinocandin resistance is always acquired during therapy and the mechanism of resistance is well established to involve amino acid changes in “hot-spot” regions of the Fks subunits carrying the catalytic portion of glucan synthase. These changes significantly decrease the sensitivity of the enzyme to drug resulting in higher MIC values. A range of drug responses, from complete to partial refractory response, is observed depending on the nature of the amino acid substitution, and clinical responses are recapitulated in pharmacodynamic models of infection. The cellular processes promoting the formation of resistant Fks strains involve complex stress response pathways, which yield a variety of adaptive compensatory genetic responses. Stress-adapted cells become drug tolerant and can form stable drug resistant FKS mutations with continued drug exposure. A major concern for resistance detection is that classical broth microdilution techniques show significant variability among clinical microbiology laboratories for certain echinocandin drugs and Candida species. The consequence is that susceptible strains are misclassified according to established clinical breakpoints, and this has led to confusion in the field. Clinical factors that appear to promote echinocandin resistance include the expanding use of antifungal agents for empiric therapy and prophylaxis. Furthermore, host reservoirs such as biofilms in the gastrointestinal tract or intra-abdominal infections can seed development of resistant organisms during therapy. A fundamental understanding of the primary molecular resistance mechanism, along with cellular and clinical factors that promote resistance emergence, is critical to develop better diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies to overcome and prevent echinocandin resistance.
Bias reduction for nonparametric correlation coefficients under the bivariate normal copula assumption with known detection limits

The authors derive the asymptotic mean and bias of Kendall's tau and Spearman's rho in the presence of left censoring in the bivariate Gaussian copula model. They show that tie corrections for left-censoring brings the value of these coefficients closer to zero. They also present a bias reduction method and illustrate it through two applications. Reduction du biais d'estimation de coefficients de correlation non parametriques en presence de limites de detection connues dans le modele de copule gaussien bivarie Les auteurs calculent l'esperance et le biais asymptotiques du tau de Kendall et du rho de Spearman en presence de censure a gauche dans le modele de copule gaussien bivarie. Ils montrent que la prise en compte des egalites dues a la censure rapproche la valeur de ces coefficients de zero. Ils presentent aussi une methode de reduction du biais et en illustrent l'utilisation a l'aide de deux exemples.
Accuracy and reliability of transanal ultrasound for anterior anal sphincter injury.

INTRODUCTION: Although transanal ultrasound has rapidly become the test of choice for the diagnosis of anal sphincter injury, the accuracy and reliability of this technique are unknown. This study evaluates the accuracy and reliability of transanal ultrasound for anterior (obstetric-related) anal sphincter injury. METHODS: Sixty-two women underwent transanal ultrasound with hard-copy images obtained at 0.5-cm intervals from the anal verge to 2.5 cm into the anal canal. All transanal ultrasound procedures were also recorded on videotape. Two experienced ultrasonographers blinded as to the patients' clinical history and examination independently reviewed the images and videotape recordings for the presence or absence of anal sphincter injury. RESULTS: The accuracy of transanal ultrasound in 22 incontinent women with known anal sphincter injury was 100 percent. The accuracy of transanal ultrasound in 20 nulliparous women with intact anal sphincters was only 35 percent but improved to 50 percent after the “real time” videotape was reviewed (P=0.16) and further improved to 85 percent when interpretation was limited to the distal 1.5 cm of the anal canal (P=0.004). In these nulliparous women, intact internal sphincters were more accurately predicted than intact external sphincters (95vs. 85 percent;P=0.24). Measurement agreement between the two ultrasonographers was 68 percent (fair; kappa, 0.26) but significantly improved to 78 percent (moderate; kappa, 0.48;P=0.0001) when interpretation was limited to the distal 1.5 cm of the anal canal. Overall clinical agreement (final scan interpretation) was good (81 percent agreement; kappa, 0.61). Agreement was better for the internal sphincter (74 percent; fair; kappa, 0.36) than the external sphincter (61 percent; poor; kappa, 0.17;P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Although transanal ultrasound can accurately identify anterior anal sphincter injury when present, transanal ultrasound falsely identifies sphincter injury in at least 5 to 25 percent of normal anal sphincters. Only fair agreement in the interpretation of transanal ultrasound exists between experienced ultrasonographers. Both the accuracy and reliability of transanal ultrasound are significantly improved by limiting transanal ultrasound to the distal 1.5 cm of the anal canal.
Quantum tunneling using discrete-time operator difference equations.

Canonical discrete-time operator difference equations are introduced as an alternative approach to the numerical solution of a quantum field theory. We apply these techniques to the solution of the operator Heisenberg equations of motion describing the problem of quantum-mechanical tunneling. Our numerical solutions accurately depict the time evolution of and of a local probability measure.
SUDDEN DEATH AND THE DECLINE IN CORONARY HEART DISEASE MORTALITY

INTRODUCTlON THE DECLINE in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in the United States has been extensively described [l-4]. The decline probably began around 1963-1964. It has been noted in all four race-sex groups in most states and in other countries [ 1, 5,6]. The greatest decrease in CHD mortality has occurred in the young age groups, 35-44. Between 1968 and 1978, coronary heart disease death rates declined 31.7% for white women, 31.9% for white men, 32.2% for black men, and 46.6% for black women aged 3544 [7]. There have been relatively few studies that have evaluated the accuracy of death certificate classification of the cause of death due to heart diseases during this time period [8,9]. Especially missing are studies of the circumstances of the death, such as the place of death, hospital vs non-hospital, suddenness of the death, length of survival and history of prior cardiovascular disease. In previous studies of coronary heart disease mortality in the community, we demonstrated that 6&70% of coronary heart disease deaths occur outside of a hospital [lo], two-thirds are classified as sudden, having occurred within 24 hours of onset among individuals not restricted to their home or hospital or having major disabilities prior to death. About 60% of all sudden non-traumatic deaths in a community were due to coronary heart disease [ll]. Approximately half of the coronary heart disease deaths, especially those under the age of 65, had a prior history of heart disease [lo]. The decline in CHD mortality could be limited to sudden CHD deaths only, possibly only deaths without a prior history of heart disease, incident events. The decline in these incident sudden CHD deaths would most likely be due to a reduction in risk factors rather