cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sources, interactions, and ecological impacts of organic contaminants in water, soil, and sediment: An introduction to the special series

Agricultural and urban activities result in the release of a large number of organic compounds that are suspected of impacting human health and ecosystems: herbicides, insecticides, human and veterinary pharmaceuticals, natural and synthetic hormones, personal care products, surfactants, plasticizers, fire retardants, and others. Sorbed reservoirs of these compounds in soil represent a potentially chronic source of water contamination. This article is an introduction to a series of technical papers stemming from a symposium at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 2008 Annual Meeting, which was held jointly with The Geological Society of America, The Gulf Coast Association of Geological Scientists, and the Houston Geological Society, under one of the Joint Meeting's overarching themes: Emerging Trace Contaminants in Surface and Ground Water Generated from Waste Water and Solid Waste Application. The symposium emphasized the role of soils as sources, sinks, and reaction catalysts for these contaminants and the occurrence and fate of these contaminants in surface and underground water supplies. Topics covered included novel advances in analytical techniques, transport of infectious agents, occurrence and fate of veterinary pharmaceuticals, characterization of sorption mechanism, biotic and abiotic transformation reactions, the role of soil components, occurrence and fate in wastewater treatment systems, transport of engineered nanoparticles, groundwater contamination resulting from urban runoff, and issues in water reuse. Overviews of the reports, trends, gaps in our knowledge, and topics for further research are presented in this special series of papers. The technical papers in this special series reflect current gains in knowledge and simultaneously underscore how poorly we are able to predict the fate and, hence, the associated risk to ecological and human receptors of these contaminants.
Mad Cows Meet Psi-chotic Yeast: The Expansion of the Prion Hypothesis

[PSI+] and [URE3] provide a convincing case that the inheritance of phenotype can sometimes be based upon the inheritance of different protein conformations rather than upon the inheritance of different nucleic acids. In this light, the prion hypothesis for “mad cow” disease no longer seems so mad. In fact, yeast prions even provide a corollary for what is currently the most contentious issue in the prion field, the existence of strains. (See Horwich and Weissman, 1997, for a description of mammalian strains, and Derkatch et al., 1996, for the discovery of yeast strains.) Of course, the oft touted “awesome power of yeast genetics” will provide important new tools for the study of prion-like processes. But far more importantly, yeast prions instruct us to broaden greatly the context in which such processes might be sought. My parting words, therefore, are meant to be provocative.As discussed above, prions need not be pathogenic. Indeed, I would suggest that self-promoted structural changes in macromolecules lie at the heart of a wide variety of normal biological processes, not only epigenetic phenomena, such as those associated with altered chromatin structures, but also some normal, developmentally regulated events. Developmental switches are often initiated by high-level expression of a key regulator. Once determination is achieved, high level expression is no longer required. Of course, there may be many reasons for such a pattern, but among them, in some cases, may be the need to nucleate an altered protein structure that, once initiated, is self-promoted and heritable in the determined lineage. (In this regard, it is intriguing that many important regulators contain large glutamine- and asparagine-rich domains that look rather like those of Sup35 and Ure2.) Finally, such processes needn't be restricted to proteins. RNAs can assume alternative structures, and it is easy to imagine how such structures might become self-perpetuating. (A case worth investigating is Xist RNA, the determining factor in X-chromosome inactivation that forms an as yet undetermined structure surrounding the inactive chromosomeWillard 1996xWillard, H.F. Cell. 1996; 86: 5–7Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (47)See all ReferencesWillard 1996.) My contention is that yeast and mammalian prions are not oddities in a biological freak show, but actors in a larger production now playing in a theater near you.
In utero injection of rat fetuses.

Abstract Methods of injecting various substances directly into rat fetuses are reported. Surgery and injections were done on days 17 to 20 of gestation. Using these techniques the development of the fetus can be altered before or during critical differentiation periods.
Mixed Convection Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Correlations for Tube-ln-Shell Thermosyphon Heat Exchangers With Uniform Heat Flux

An important issue arising from prior studies of thermosyphon heat exchangers for use in solar water heaters is the need for heat transfer and pressure drop correlations for the laminar, mixed-convection regime in which these many of these heat exchangers operate. In this paper, the authors present empirical correlations for tube-in-shell heat exchangers with the thermosyphon flow on the shell side. The correlations are determined for uniform heat flux on the tube walls. Ranges of Reynolds and Grashof numbers are 130 to 2,000 and 4 {times} 10{sup 5} to 8 {times} 10{sup 7}, respectively. Nusselt number correlations are presented in a form that combines the contributions of forced and natural convection. Mixed convection dominates forced convection heat transfer in these geometries. Pressure drop is not significantly affected by mixed convection.
Voltammetry of [Re(DMPE)3]+ at Ionomer-Entrapped Composite-Modified Electrodes

Nafion or sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (NaPSS) entrapped in either sol−gel-derived silica or cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite coatings on spectroscopic graphite electrodes were investigated electrochemically with [ReI(DMPE)3]+, where DMPE = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane. Among these composite coatings, Nafion-entrapped sol−gel-derived silica (Nafion-silica) exhibited a sensitivity for [ReI(DMPE)3]+ ∼4 times higher than that of NaPSS-entrapped sol−gel-derived silica or NaPSS-entrapped PVA. When Nafion was entrapped in cross-linked PVA matrix, however, the voltammetric response was found to be only ∼14% of that of Nafion and Nafion-silica composite coatings. Dispersing Nafion in sol−gel-derived silica matrix improves the slow diffusion of [ReI(DMPE)3]+ in Nafion, thus leading to a higher sensitivity than Nafion in a shorter preconcentration time. Such a Nafion-silica composite is promising for both electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical sensing of [ReI(DMPE)3]+. It was also found tha...
Non-pharmacologic interventions for CFS: A randomized trial

Non-pharmacological behavioral treatments for CFS have been suggested as promising. These trials have tested protocols composed of behavioral, cognitive and cognitive–behavioral interventions but there have been few efforts to differentially evaluate their outcomes. The primary purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse delivered non-pharmacologic interventions. In the present study, 114 participants diagnosed with CFS were randomly assigned to four 6-month interventions. The interventions were: cognitive–behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, anaerobic activity, and a relaxation control group. The study found that these interventions led to increases in several areas of functioning, with more consistent changes occurring among those participants in the cognitive condition. For the 25 variables in this study, significant change occurred for 28%, 20%, 16%, and 12% of the variables for the cognitive, cognitive behavior therapy, anaerobic activity, and relaxation conditions, respectively. However, the majority of participants continued to be diagnosed with CFS following the treatment trial. Implications of these findings are discussed.
How do women who plan home birth prepare for childbirth

In this column, the findings of a secondary analysis of data from a larger qualitative study of the experience of home birth are discussed. The aim was to describe the ways in which women who plan home birth prepare for their births. The findings provide support for the idea of birth preparation and education occurring throughout pregnancy and describe the ways in which women planning to give birth at home develop confidence, plan for support, and make decisions related to the particulars of the labor and birth. Implications of these findings for childbirth education are explored.
Segmental release of amino acid neurotransmitters from transcranial stimulation

The present study used microdialysis techniques in an intact rabbit model to measure the release of amino acids within the lumbar spinal cord in response to transcranial electrical stimulation. Dialysis samples from the extracellular space were obtained over a stimulation period of 90 minutes and were examined using high pressure liquid chromatography. Neuronal excitation was verified by recerding corticomotor evoked potentials (CMEPs) from the spinal cord. A significant increase in the release of glycine and taurine compared to sham animals was measured after 90 minutes of transcranial stimulation. Glutamate and aspartate release was not significantly elevated. GABA concentrations were consistently low. CMEP components repeatedly showed adequate activation of descending fiber pathways and segmental interneuron pools during dialysis sampling. Since glycine, and to a lesser extent taurine, have been shown to inhibit motor neuron activity and are closely associated with segmental interneuron pools, suprasegmental modulation of motor activity may be, in part, through these inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters in the rabbit lumbar spinal cord.
Has there been a delay in the age of regular smoking onset among African Americans

Background: It is not clear whether the decline in African American adolescent smoking in the 1980s reflected a delay in age of onset of regular smoking initiation rather than success in preventing initiation completely.Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify whether the marked reductions in African American adolescent smoking in the 1980s were offset by increased initiation in young adults.Methods: We combined data from the Tobacco Use Supplements of the 1992–1993, 1995–1996, and 1998–1999 Current Population Surveys (n = 512,258), and reconstructed year of smoking initiation and calculated age-specific incidence of initiation from 1970 to 1992. We then compared detailed age-specific rates of initiation for two 5-year periods selected to be before and after the documented large declines in African American adolescent smoking.Results: In the time period after marked declines in African American adolescent smoking (1987–1991), the incidence of initiation of regular smoking decreased for African Americans ages 14 to 16 and increased for ages 18 to 20. Such a delay was not as evident among non-Hispanic Whites. The delay that was slight in regular smoking initiation among African Americans relative to non-Hispanic Whites in 1975–79 had increased substantially by 1987–91.Conclusions: Reductions in African American adolescent smoking in the 1980s were offset by increased initiation among young adults ages 18 to 20 during this time period and suggest that the window for uptake of regular smoking shifted to older ages for African Americans more so than non-Hispanic Whites. Efforts to combat smoking should remain aggressive into young adulthood, when the tobacco industry’s efforts to gain new smokers intensify.
Effect of obesity on the relationship between very low density lipoprotein production rate and plasma triglyceride concentration in normal and hypertriglyceridemic subjects.

Abstract The effect of obesity on the relationship between very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triglyceride (TG) production rate and concentration was studied in 80 subjects whose TG concentrations ranged from 41–1315 mg 100 ml and whose relative weight varied from 0.74–1.46. There was a positive correlation between VLDL-TG production rate and plasma TG concentration in all 80 patients (r = 0.78), which was highly statistically significant (p
Differentiation of Varroa jacobsoni Oud populations by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Differenciation des populations de Varroa jacobsoni Oud au moyen de la technique des RAPD. L'acarien Varroa jacobsoni Oud est actuellement le parasite le plus dangereux pour l'abeille. En utilisant une technique d'analyse enzymatique, il a ete possible de differencier des acariens originaires d'Asie de ceux provenant d'Europe (Biasolo, 1992). En revanche, en analysant la composition en hydrocarbures cuticulaires, il n'a pas ete possible de distinguer les acariens europeens de ceux d'Amerique du Nord (Nation et al, 1992). Dans le but, d'une part, de proposer un modele de coevolution de l'abeille Apis mellifera et de V jacobsoni et, d'autre part, de comparer les resultats des differents travaux portant sur la recherche d'abeilles resistant aux acariens, il est necessaire de mettre au point une methode permettant la caracterisation d'acariens d'origines differentes. Ce travail presente les resultats d'une etude realisee au moyen de la technique des RAPD; il porte sur 14 colonies d'abeilles sauvages et 11 colonies commerciales traitees par un acaricide de Californie (5 acariens dans chaque colonie), 1 colonie d'Allemagne (9 acariens), 3 colonies d'A cerana de Malaisie (24 acariens). La variabilite genetique de l'acarien est tres faible. Pour les acariens de Californie, seulement 7% des 143 bandes observees etaient polymorphiques. De meme chez les acariens d'A cerana, seulement 9% des 102 bandes etaient polymorphiques. On a trouve 3 marqueurs specifiques qui permettent de distinguer les varroas provenant des Etats-Unis de ceux provenant d'Allemagne. Les varroas provenant d'Apis mellifera ont ete dinstingues de ceux provenant d'A cerana par 27 (Malaisie/Etats)Unis) et 24 (Malaisie/Allemagne) marqueurs. Aucune difference n'a ete trouvee entre les varroas collectes au Texas et ceux collectes en Californie. La methode des RAPD represente donc un outil performant en particulier pour les etudes interpopulations chez Vjacobsoni.
Injury and Treatment Characteristics of Sport-Specific Injuries Sustained in Interscholastic Athletics: A Report From the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network

BACKGROUND: The inclusion of clinical practice factors, beyond epidemiologic data, may help guide medical coverage and care decisions. HYPOTHESIS: Trends in injury and treatment characteristics of sport-specific injuries sustained by secondary school athletes will differ based on sport. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of electronic patient records. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: Participants consisted of 3302 boys and 2293 girls who were diagnosed with a sport-related injury or condition during the study years. Injury (sport, body part, diagnosis via ICD-9 codes) and treatment (type, amount, and duration of care) characteristics were grouped by sport and reported using summary statistics. RESULTS: Most injuries and treatments occurred in football, girls' soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Sprain or strain of the ankle, knee, and thigh/hip/groin and concussion were the most commonly documented injuries across sports. The injury pattern for boys' wrestling differed from other sports and included sprain or strain of the elbow and neck and general medical skin conditions. The most frequently reported service was athletic training evaluation/reevaluation treatment, followed by hot/cold pack, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy techniques, electrical stimulation, and strapping of lower extremity joints. Most sports required 4 to 5 services per injury. With the exception of boys' soccer and girls' softball, duration of care ranged from 10 to 14 days. Girls' soccer and girls' and boys' track and field reported the longest durations of care. CONCLUSION: Injury and treatment characteristics are generally comparable across sports, suggesting that secondary school athletic trainers may diagnose and treat similar injuries regardless of sport. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Subtle sport trends, including skin conditions associated with boys' wrestling and longer duration of care for girls' soccer, are important to note when discussing appropriate medical coverage and care. Language: en
A continental scale trophic cascade from wolves through coyotes to foxes

Summary 1. Top-down processes, via the direct and indirect effects of interspecific competitive killing (no consumption of the kill) or intraguild predation (consumption of the kill), can potentially influence the spatial distribution of terrestrial predators, but few studies have demonstrated the phenomenon at a continental scale. 2. For example, in North America, grey wolves Canis lupus are known to kill coyotes Canis latrans, and coyotes, in turn, may kill foxes Vulpes spp., but the spatial effects of these competitive interactions at large scales are unknown. 3. Here, we analyse fur return data across eight jurisdictions in North America to test whether the presence or absence of wolves has caused a continent-wide shift in coyote and red fox Vulpes vulpes density. 4. Our results support the existence of a continental scale cascade whereby coyotes outnumber red foxes in areas where wolves have been extirpated by humans, whereas red foxes outnumber coyotes in areas where wolves are present. However, for a distance of up to 200 km on the edge of wolf distribution, there is a transition zone where the effects of top-down control are weakened, possibly due to the rapid dispersal and reinvasion capabilities of coyotes into areas where wolves are sporadically distributed or at low densities. 5. Our results have implications for understanding how the restoration of wolf populations across North America could potentially affect co-occurring predators and prey. We conclude that large carnivores may need to occupy large continuous areas to facilitate among-carnivore cascades and that studies of small areas may not be indicative of the effects of top-down mesopredator control.
Fracture-Based Method to Determine Flexural Capacity of Concrete Beams on Soil

ABSTRACT A method to predict the fracture response of concrete beams utilizing cohesive crack elements was expanded from a three-point bending beam to a beam on soil boundary condition. The simulations were compared with monotonic three-point bending beam and beam on soil tests, verifying the cohesive elements with a bilinear softening curve defined by the concrete's fracture and tensile strength properties can effectively predict the flexural capacity and post-peak behavior of both specimen configurations. Vertical and horizontal springs idealized the soil support to the beams. Whether the springs were linear or nonlinear elastic had a limited effect on the peak load capacity of the concrete beams on soil. At pre-peak and peak load levels, the two concrete beam configurations had similar stress patterns and crack propagation levels in spite of the different boundary conditions. The method simplicity and accuracy under different boundary conditions offers a promising approach that can be extended to predi...
Process and Change — A Markov Model for Interaction

The finite Markov chain suggests a relatively atheoretical model of analyzing and evaluating a complex multi-determined relation as it evolves through time. The model encompasses both stability and change, and it yields implications for personal, interpersonal, and environmental modifications. The approach suggests five forms of change. Three of these derive from the spinning out of inherent forces represented in the structures of systems; the other two forms are more fundamental. Some hypothetical and empirical examples illustrate these process considerations in dyadic and group relationships, and some limitations of the model are noted.
The Race and Drugs Project

The Race and Drugs Project exists to provide research, consultancy, development, evaluation, training and general technical support for public and private sector agencies, community based organisations and individuals on issues of drug use and abuse affecting black and other visible non-European minority populations. The Race and Drugs Project offers a distinctive approach on issues of race and culture in comparison/contrast with most approaches on offer in the UK or elsewhere. This approach is based upon the rigorous and pioneering theoretical work carried out by what was the City University’s ‘‘Race and Culture Policy Research Unit’’ (RCPRU) during the 1980s, culminating with the publication of two key texts: ‘‘Anti-Racist Strategies’’ (1990), and ‘‘Where You Belong’’ (1992). The thinking of the Race and Drugs Project has developed since to carry theory and practice further, especially on the research and policy front. To put it succinctly, the view of the Project is that for race equality in policy and practice to be effective, the issues it seeks to raise need to become an integral part of the work of researchers, policy makers and government. Race equality has been perceived and presented for far too long as a militancy, forever standing outside mainstream discussion. For the Race and Drugs Project, race equality is simply good organisational management and practice reflecting the ongoing demographic changes due to the migration and settlement of populations into Europe. These shifts designate a necessary and commensurate modification in the focus of research, planning, funding and management of ‘traditional approaches’, in order for the latter to come into alignment with a changed and changing reality. The Project was established in 1995 in response to the fact that the provision of prevention, care and treatment services for black and other non-European visible minorities had been a very under-investigated area, a As from 1 March, 1999, the Race and Drugs Project expects to move to the University of Middlesex, Queensway, Enfield, Middlesex, EN3 4SF. New telephone, fax and e-mail co-ordinates will be made available in due course. * Tel: +44-171-477-8537/8539; fax: +44-171-477-8536; email: k.khan@city.ac.uk.
GATA3 up-regulation associated with surface expression of CD294/CRTH2: a unique feature of human Th cells.

GATA-3 and T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) play central roles in Th-cell development and function. Consistently, studies in mice document their selective expression in Th1 and Th2 cells, respectively. In contrast, it is not clear whether these genes are regulated in human Th cells. Here we show that T-bet expression is polarized to a comparable degree in human and mouse Th-cell cultures, while only mouse GATA3 is subject to substantial regulation. This did not reflect differential skewing efficiency in human versus mouse cultures, as these contained similar frequencies of IFN-γ– and IL-4–producing cells. However, GATA-3 was expressed at significantly higher levels in human IL-4–producing cells enriched via capture with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the PGD2 receptor, CRTH2, the best selective Th2-cell surface marker to date. Along with increased IL-4 and GATA-3, CRTH2+ Th cells isolated from Th2-skewed cultures or the circulating memory pool exhibited markedly decreased IFN-γ and T-bet expression. Thus, the human GATA-3 gene is not regulated in response to polarizing signals that are sufficient to direct Th2-specific expression in mouse cells. This postulates the involvement of an additional level of complexity in the regulation of human GATA-3 expression and stresses the existence of nontrivial differences in the regulation of human versus mouse T-cell function.
Testing the effects of an introduced palm on a riparian invertebrate community in southern California.

Despite the iconic association of palms with semi-arid regions, most are introduced and can invade natural areas. Along the San Diego River (San Diego, California, USA), the introduced Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) forms dense patches among native riparian shrubs like arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis). The structural differences between the palm and native shrubs are visually obvious, but little is known about palm’s effects on the ecosystem. We tested for the effects of the palm on a riparian invertebrate community in June 2011 by comparing the faunal and environmental variables associated with palm and willow canopies, trunks and ground beneath each species. The palm invertebrate community had lower abundance and diversity, fewer taxa feeding on the host (e.g., specialized hemipterans), and more taxa likely using only the plant’s physical structure (e.g., web-builders, oak moths, willow hemipterans). There were no observed effects on the ground-dwelling fauna. Faunal differences were due to the physical and trophic changes associated with palm presence, namely increased canopy density, unpalatable leaves, trunk rugosity, and litter accumulations. Palm presence and resulting community shifts may have further ecosystem-level effects through alteration of physical properties, food, and structural resources. These results were consistent with a recent study of invasive palm effects on desert spring arthropods, illustrating that effects may be relatively generalizable. Since spread of the palm is largely localized, but effects are dramatic where it does occur, we recommend combining our results with several further investigations in order to prioritize management decisions.
CDP-DIACYLGLYCEROL SYNTHASE OF MICROORGANISMS

The synthesis and utilization of CDP-diacylglycerol in mammalian cells was demonstrated over 35 years ago when initial studies were carried out. However, CDP-diacylglycerol synthases and the genes encoding these enzymes have been studied in the greatest detail in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The involvement of CDP-diacylglycerol in regulation of phospholipid metabolism has recently been demonstrated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and evidence now exists from studies in Drosophila that this liponucleotide may be important in regulation of lipid-dependent signal transduction processes. The vast amount of biochemical and genetic information on the synthases from microorganisms has led to the cloning of genes that encode CDP-diacylglycerol synthases from somatic cells. The combination of information on these synthases from all organisms will lead to a clearer understanding of the role CDP-diacylglycerol plays in cellular processes.
Facial features of infants exposed prenatally to cocaine

Thirty two infants referred for in-patient genetics evaluation at the University of California at San Francisco, 1987-1992, were found to have a history of maternal cocaine use. Genetics reports and medical records were reviewed on all these infants to identify features distinctive for cocaine exposure. Among these 32 cases, 14 infants were exposed only to cocaine; 18 were exposed to alcohol and cocaine. The infants evaluated displayed a distinctive phenotype, consisting of neurologic irritability, large fontanels, prominent glabella, marked periorbital and eyelid edema, low nasal bridge with transverse crease, short nose, lateral soft tissue nasal buildup, and small toenails. Features consistent with the fetal alcohol syndrome appeared distinct and coexistent with the other described facial findings. Other severe abnormalities included cleft lip/palate, atypical facial cleft, abnormal BSER, intraventricular hemorrhages, arthrogryposes, and genitourinary abnormalities. Forty percent of the infants were born prematurely; 28% were small for gestational age; 43% showed head circumference values less than the 10th percentile. We conclude that these findings may be distinctive for a diagnosis of fetal cocaine syndrome; such findings should be further established by a future blinded prospective study of mothers and neonates.
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after lung transplantation: a review of 35 cases.

Background Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a complication of organ transplantation. The risk of developing PTLD varies depending on a number of factors, including the organ transplanted and the degree of immunosuppression used. Methods We report a retrospective analysis of 35 patients with PTLD treated at our center after lung transplantation. Of 705 patients who received allografts, 34 (4.8%) developed PTLD. One patient underwent transplantation elsewhere and was treated at our center. Results PTLD involved the allograft in 49% of our patients and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lumen in 23%. Histologically, 39% of tumors were monomorphic and 48% polymorphic. The time to presentation defined the location and histology of disease. Of 17 patients diagnosed within 11 months of transplantation, PTLD involved the allograft in 12 (71%) and the GI tract in 1 ( p = 0.01). This "early" PTLD was 85% polymorphic ( p = 0.006). Conversely, of the 18 patients diagnosed more than 11 months after transplant, the lung was involved in 5 (28%) and the GI tract in 7 (39%; p = 0.01). "Late" PTLD was 71% monomorphic ( p = 0.006). Median overall survival after diagnosis was 18.57 months. Overall survival did not differ between all lung transplant recipients and those who developed PTLD. Conclusions PTLD is an uncommon complication after lung transplantation, and its incidence declined remarkably in the era of modern immunosuppression. We report several factors that are important for predisposition toward, progression of, and treatment of PTLD after lung transplantation.
Pair approximation of the stochastic susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible epidemic model on the hypercubic lattice

We investigate the time evolution and steady states of the stochastic susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible (SIRS) epidemic model on one- and two-dimensional lattices. We compare the behavior of this system, obtained from computer simulations, with those obtained from the mean-field approximation (MFA) and pair approximation (PA). The former (latter) approximates higher-order moments in terms of first- (second-) order ones. We find that the PA gives consistently better results than the MFA. In one dimension, the improvement is even qualitative.
Fast Fourier transform method for partial differential equations, case study: the 2-D diffusion equation

Abstract The solution of time-dependent partial differential equations using discrete (i.e. finite difference) versions of those equations traditionally has been done by marching forward in time, one time unit per step. The authors here extend earlier results to higher dimensions, focusing on the solution of the discrete diffusion or “heat” equation in 2-D, and show that the solution may be found using fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques that treat the solution as the output of a linear filter. This technique is analogous to an integral method for the differential equation, and is related to the Green's function of the difference equation. It allows the solution to be determined with a “single-step” computation that does not require the solution at intermediate time levels. The number of numerical operations is essentially independent of the time level at which the solution is desired. The results of numerical examples are given and computation times are shown to be much faster than those of the traditional method for all but small time levels.
Control of wettability of polymers using organic surface chemistry

The analytical technique of contact angle analysis has been used both to monitor organic transformations on the surfaces of fluoropolymer films and also to help correlate surface structure with wettability. This paper describes the preparation and characterization, particularly with regard to wettability, of several series of surface-modified derivatives of chemically resistant polymers. A series of esters prepared with acid chlorides and alcohol-functionalized poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) (PCTFE-OH) displays expected water contact angle trends and indicates that wettability can be controlled using organic surface chemistry. The identification of carboxylic acids on the surface of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2-CO2H) by the pH dependence of the water contact angle is discussed. Also described and compared with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is the use of contact angle for observing polymer surface reconstruction.
Mick or Keith: blended identity of online rock fans

This paper discusses the “blended identity” of online rock fans to show that the standard dichotomy between anonymous and real life personas is an inadequate description of self-presentation in online communities. Using data from an ethnographic, exploratory study of an online community and comparison groups including interviews, an online questionnaire, fan discussion boards, and participant/observation, the research analyzes fan identity online and then offline. Rolling Stones fans often adopt names that illustrate their allegiance to the band, along with avatars. Issues of gender and the technological change of software platform also affect types of online self-presentations and their construction. Fans engage in “role embracement”, merging their individual selves with the role of Stones fans, demonstrated by reactions of friends and family. Connections between offline and online settings occur, with band affiliation of fans expressed through choice of apparel offline, and usernames from online filtering into the offline interactions among fans.
Desktop Material Requirements Planning

This article discusses the application of MRP on a microcomputer using the very popular electronic spreadsheet software. The illustration may be more of a managerial exercise than a true real world application, but illustrates the potential of this type of analysis. In fact, in smaller business organisations, on‐going practical planning using MRP could very well be accomplished using these techniques.
Surface states on d -band metals

Fully self-consistent surface electronic-structure calculations predict unexpectedly high densities of surface states on the (100) surfaces of Cu, Ni, Ag, Pd, and Rh. The number of surface states correlates with the upward shift of certain surface core levels from their bulk values.
Robot responsiveness to human disclosure affects social impression and appeal

In human relationships, responsiveness—behaving in a sensitive manner that is supportive of another person’s needs— plays a major role in any interaction that involves effective communication, caregiving, and social support. Perceiving one’s partner as responsive has been tied to both personal and relationship well-being. In this work, we examine whether and how a robot’s behavior can instill a sense of responsiveness, and the effects of a robot’s perceived responsiveness on the human’s perception of the robot. In an experimental between-subject study (n =34), a desktop nonanthropomorphic robot performed either positive or negative responsiveness behaviors across two modalities (simple gestures and written text) in response to participants’ negative event disclosure. We found that perceived partner responsiveness, positive human-like traits, and robot attractiveness were higher in the positively responsive condition. This has design implications for interactive robots, in particular for robots in caregiving roles. Categories and Subject DescriptorsH.1.2 [Models and Principles]: User/Machine Systems; J.4 [Computer Applications]: Social and Behavioral Sciences— psychologyGeneral TermsHuman-robot interaction; responsiveness; agent impression; affective & emotional responses; Wizard-of-Oz; care robots; socially assistive robotics; modeling social situations.
Methane release from actively yielding coal and its implications for yield zone determination

Abstract One measure of the capacity of coal pillars to support load is the proportion of material in them which can be classified as “yielded”. As a means of determining the extent of yielded material in a pillar, the relation between methane emission and yielding has been investigated through laboratory testing at the Denver Research Center, U.S. Bureau of Mines. Sample yielding, as defined by drops in axial load during uniaxial compression, was monitored coincident with methane concentration, axial deformation, acoustic emission, temperature and gas pressure. While acoustic emission gave an ambiguous measure of yielding, methane release correlated with significant drops in load. No increases in methane concentration were observed before yielding, so increases in methane emission may be correlated with structural yielding of the sample. A large permanent increase in concentration observed at final yielding indicates that a major proportion of gas is in the micropore and unconnected crack system of the coal. Thus, the release of this bound-up portion of gas provides a proportional measure of the degree of structural damage experienced by the coal.
A Cognitive Model of Planning

This paper presents a cognitive model of the planning process. The model generalizes the theoretical architecture of the Hearsay-II system. Thus, it assumes that planning comprises the activities of a variety of cognitive “specialists.” Each specialist can suggest certain kinds of decisions for incorporation into the plan in progress. These include decisions about: (a) how to approach the planning problem; (b) what knowledge bears on the problem; (c) what kinds of actions to try to plan; (d) what specific actions to plan; and (e) how to allocate cognitive resources during planning. Within each of these categories, different specialists suggest decisions at different levels of abstraction. The activities of the various specialists are not coordinated in any systematic way. Instead, the specialists operate opportunistically, suggesting decisions whenever promising opportunities arise. The paper presents a detailed account of the model and illustrates its assumptions with a “thinking aloud” protocol. It also describes the performance of a computer simulation of the model. The paper contrasts the proposed model with successive refinement models and attempts to resolve apparent differences between the two points of view.
Tumor necrosis factor inhibits growth hormone-mediated gene expression in hepatocytes

Growth hormone (GH) stimulates STAT5 phosphorylation by JAK2, which activates IGF-I and serine protease inhibitor 2.1 (Spi 2.1) transcription, whereas STAT5 dephosphorylation by protein tyrosine ph...
A New Platform for Quantitative CT Imaging Dose Optimization

We propose a new set of calibration tools for achieving personalized CT dose optimization in quantitative imaging studies. Small dosimeters placed with a compact CT phantom offers insight into dose and image quality tradeoffs.
2-Hexyl cyanoacrylate (neuracryl M) embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECTIVE Neuracryl M is a newly designed liquid embolic agent. In an attempt to verify the safety and efficacy of neuracryl M, we participated in the PROVASIS Trial, a pilot study using this agent in the preoperative treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Because the trial was prematurely terminated by the sponsoring company because of financial considerations, we now present our data as a single center series. METHODS Between November 2002 and December 2003, six patients were enrolled in the PROVASIS trial at our institution, and four of these patients were randomized to treatment with neuracryl M. The patients were a 30-year-old man with a right frontal lobe AVM, a 20-year-old man with a right cerebellar AVM, a 26-year-old woman with a midline cerebellar AVM, and a 47-year-old man with a left parietotemporal lobe AVM. All patients underwent AVM embolization with neuracryl M, followed by definitive treatment, either open surgery or radiosurgery. RESULTS In each case, there were no permanent complications, and blood loss was minimal. Follow-up imaging demonstrated either complete AVM obliteration (open surgery) or substantial diminution in AVM size (radiosurgery). CONCLUSION Our data provide preliminary evidence supporting the thesis that neuracryl M is a safe and effective liquid embolic agent for the preoperative embolization of cerebral AVMs. Larger trials and continued experience using this novel liquid embolic agent are warranted.
The analysis of mixed and random effects models for equireplicate variance-balanced block designs

Equirephcate variance-balanced block designs possess many desirable properties and include several important subclasses of designs, such as balanced incomplete block designs. However, while attention has been paid to the derivation of properties and the construction of these designs, methods of analyzing experiments using these designs have not been developed completely. Thus, we consider models appropriate to these designs, construct test statistics for basic hypotheses and derive the distributions for these statistics. Four additive models that include all of the possible combinations of fixed and random effects are examined. The analyses are generalizations of the analyses for balanced incomplete block designs, and include the intra-block, intra-treatment and inter-block analyses, Estimators of fixed treatment effects and their distributions also are given.
Cytokine profiles of stimulated blood lymphocytes in asthmatic and healthy adolescents across the school year

T cell cytokines play an important role in mediating airway inflammation in asthma. The predominance of a Th2 cytokine profile, particularly interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, is associated with the pathogenesis and course of asthma. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a stressful life event alters the pattern of cytokine release in asthmatic individuals. Thirteen healthy controls and 21 asthmatic adolescents gave blood samples three times over a semester: midsemester, during the week of final examinations, and 2-3 weeks after examinations. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-2, IL-4, and IL-5 were measured from supernatants of cells stimulated with PHA/PMA for 24 h. Cells from asthmatic subjects released significantly more IL-5 during the examination and postexamination periods, whereas cells from healthy controls released significantly more IL-2 during the midsemester and examination periods, thereby indicating a bias for a Th2-like pattern in asthmatics and a Th 1-like pattern in healthy controls. IL-...
Complications After Radical and Partial Nephrectomy as a Function of Age

Purpose: Partial nephrectomy may be underused compared with radical nephrectomy in elderly patients due to concerns about higher complication rates. We determined if the association of age and perioperative outcomes differed between nephrectomy types.Materials and Methods: We identified patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy between January 2000 and October 2008. Using multivariable methods we determined whether the relationship between age and risk of postoperative complications, estimated blood loss or operative time differed by nephrectomy type.Results: Of 1,712 patients 651 (38%) underwent radical nephrectomy and 1,061 (62%) underwent partial nephrectomy. Patients treated with partial nephrectomy had higher complication rates than those who underwent radical nephrectomy (20% vs 14%). In a multivariable model age was significantly associated with a small increase in risk of complications (OR for 10-year age increase 1.17, 95% CI 1.04–1.32, p = 0.009). When including an interaction term b...
El libro como performance

The poetry community Estacion Pringles carries out an intriguing dialogue with the book format. On the one hand, its performative approach to poetry would seem to exclude the possibility of seeing this medium as a model for the project. Nevertheless, in its dialogue with the poetic lineage begun by Stephane Mallarme, this artistic initiative proposes a concept of the book as performance. This orientation is evident, besides, in the print products of Estacion Pringles.
Layered space-time coding for high data rate transmissions

In the spirit of BLAST systems, this paper proposes a novel layered space-time (ST) coding scheme. By slicing the two-dimensional ST code into a stack of one-dimensional so-called layer codes, ST coding and decoding are performed in a layer by layer fashion. Because different layers are transmitted independently, the proposed scheme is capable of supporting considerably higher transmission rates than (non-layered) ST coding. In addition to retaining most advantages of BLAST systems, the proposed scheme offers additional flexibility and superior performance that is confirmed by simulations.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel HIF1α Inhibitors

Abstract Elevated levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF1) are linked to tumor metastasis, angiogenesis, poor patient prognosis and response to chemotherapy. HIF1α is a master regulator of the hypoxic response, including in cancer cells, through transcriptional activation of several target genes. Previously, we identified compound CJ-3k with high anti-HIF1α activity based on the structure of a well-known HIF1α inhibitor, YC-1. In this study, the CJ-3k scaffold was systematically modified to explore the structure-activity relationships. Fifty-three new CJ-3k analogs were synthesized and screened for their anti-HIF-1α activity in a luciferase-transfected human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Some of these new analogs have a significantly greater activity than that of CJ-3k and hold potential for development as new therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer.
Nursing practice environments and job outcomes in ambulatory oncology settings.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (1) provides an evidence-based imperative to transform existing health care delivery systems to improve patient outcomes. Key to this transformation is leadership from nurses to redesign health care delivery. The care delivery system for patients with cancer is a high-priority area for redesign, given the increasing numbers of cases, the complexity of the disease state, and the toxicity of prescribed treatments. And while the majority of chemotherapy care is delivered in ambulatory settings, little is known about the quality of care delivered (2). The importance of favorable nursing practice environments (PEs) on outcomes for hospitalized patients has been well documented (3–7). Evidence focused on the PEs of ambulatory settings is almost non-existent. Nurses are the single largest group of providers in oncology settings (8). They serve as a focal point for toxicity prevention and management, crucial components to high-quality cancer care. Despite the desire to deliver optimal care, ambulatory settings face many barriers to implement evidence-based practices. Barriers include the professional environment for nursing practice, defined as, the elements of the workplace that promote safe, effective nursing care and nursing workloads, which reflect the number of patients nurses care for on a daily basis. A 2011 report identified significantly increased occupational exposure to chemotherapy when nurses practiced in unfavorable environments, had higher daily workloads, and reported lower guideline adherence. (9). The IOM committee on the work environment for nurses and patient safety summarized in their volume following Keeping Patients Safe that “it is not just necessary, but also possible, to transform the work environment of today’s nurses.” (6;p.49). The context in which providers deliver care is as crucial to patient outcomes in ambulatory oncology settings, yet has not received systematic study.