cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Southern Labor Studies Conference

The Southern Labor Studies Conference, which took place October 2-4, 1986, at Georgia State University in Atlanta, encompassed academic, popular, and political themes. The academic sessions revealed the breadth of current re search on both southern and non-southern labor topics. Papers presented in cluded case studies relating to the coal industry (Harold W. Aurand of Penn sylvania State University on work training in the anthracite industry between 1900 and 1930, and Karin A. Shapiro of Yale University on the east Tennessee coal miners' rebellion of 1891-92); "common and uncommon laborers" (John P. Beck of the United Paperworkers' Union on the iron ore trimmers of the upper Great Lakes, 1880-1900, and Colin Davis of the State University of New York at Binghamton on the 1922 railroad shopmen's strike); urban Afro American history (Earl Lewis of the University of California at Berkeley on the need for a new model of urban black history for the southern context, and Eric Arnesen of Yale University on work rules and race relations on the New Orleans waterfront, 1880-1902); the modern textile industry of South Carolina (Linda Frankel of the University of Michigan on the 1958 Harriet-Henderson textile strike, and James A. Dunlap III of the University of South Carolina on South Carolina management in the 1980s); and free labor and industrial labor before the Civil War (Lawrence McDonnell of Johns Hopkins University on the Charleston Typographical Union on the eve of Secession, and Paul Finkel man of the State University of New York at Binghamton on industrial law and slavery). While these case studies add important dimensions to the growing body of literature on southern workers, there was little thematic or theoretical unity to bind the papers together or to provide a focus to commentaries and discussion. While such unity is not absolutely necessary, future conferences might be strengthened by efforts to place case studies into a larger framework. What pre cisely defines the field of southern labor history? How does it reflect or differ from the historiographical perspectives of the new labor and social history? What issues and perspectives define the field of southern labor studies that has emerged over the past decade? The keynote address by Melvin Dubofsky (SUNY-Binghamton) on the sweeping themes of solidarity and fragmentation
Intramolecular arrangement of sensor and regulator overcomes relaxed specificity in hybrid two-component systems

Cellular processes require specific interactions between cognate protein partners and concomitant discrimination against noncognate partners. Signal transduction by classical two-component regulatory systems typically entails an intermolecular phosphoryl transfer between a sensor kinase (SK) and a cognate response regulator (RR). Interactions between noncognate partners are rare because SK/RR pairs coevolve unique interfaces that dictate phosphotransfer specificity. Here we report that the in vitro phosphotransfer specificity is relaxed in hybrid two-component systems (HTCSs) from the human gut symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, which harbor both the SK and RR in a single polypeptide. In contrast, phosphotransfer specificity is retained in classical two-component regulatory systems from this organism. This relaxed specificity enabled us to rewire a HTCS successfully to transduce signals between noncognate SK/RR pairs. Despite the relaxed specificity between SK and RRs, HTCSs remained insulated from cross-talk with noncognate proteins in vivo. Our data suggest that the high local concentration of the SK and RR present in the same polypeptide maintains specificity while relaxing the constraints on coevolving unique contact interfaces.
Molecular precursor species and their effects on the energy band-gap of hydrazine solution processed CuIn(S,Se) 2 films

We investigate the molecular species present in hydrazine CuIn(Se,S) 2 precursor solutions and their effects on the band-gap of final CuIn(Se,S) 2 films. [Cu6S4]2- ions and [In2(Se,S]4]2- ions are present. Sulfur from [In 2 (Se,S) 4 ]2− is more effectively incorporated into the final material. This finding makes it possible to precisely control the band gap of CuIn(Se,S) 2 films by adjusting the S/Se ratio of the [In 2 (Se,S) 4 ]2− ions in the final precursor solution. These results will enable the precise adjustment and optimization of the energy band-gap in solution-processed CuIn(Se,S) 2 absorber layers for the future fabrication of improved photovoltaic devices.
Arteriographic manifestations of ganglioneuromas

The angiographic findings in four cases of ganglioneuroma are described. In all four cases a large vascular mass was demonstrated angiographically. The vessels supplying the tumors varied, depending on the location of the mass. Stretching and displacement of adjacent opacified vessels helped define the extent of the tumor. Abundant neovascularity was present with serpiginous vessels tending to cluster in nodular areas, with adjacent avascular areas.
Skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a survey of dental practitioners

Emergency preparedness questionnaires were mailed to 4,905 dentists in Florida and 1,600 dentists in Kentucky. A total of 1,605 questionnaires were returned. Of the respondents, 52% reported being certified currently as providers of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Dentists reported that they used their skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation more than 900 times during a 10-year period. More than a third of the life-threatening situations occurred in dental offices.
Demographic and Prescription Patronage Motive Differences Among Segments in the Community Pharmacy Market

Success in the community pharmacy market requires an understanding of the unique needs of market segments. This study examined the patronage motives and demographics of three segments - independent pharmacy patrons, chain pharmacy patrons, and consumers having no usual pharmacy. Results indicated independent patrons were older and more likely to have insurance coverage for prescriptions while consumers with no usual harmacy were younger and purchased fewer prescriptions. Independent patrons attributed most importance to friendly pharmacists. Chain patrons and consumers with no usual pharmacy attributed most importance to prescription prices. Patrons of both chain and independent pharmacies attributed more im onance to professional sewices than did consumers with no usual pharmacy.
Evolution of Drugs That Preserve Renal Function

Over the past 50 years, many advances have been made in slowing the progression of renal disease from various causes. These advances have been primarily linked to defining new lower levels for blood pressure goals as well as understanding the importance of proteinuria reduction. To achieve these goals, it is also appreciated that agents that lower blood pressure must also lower proteinuria. This is not true for all antihypertensive drug classes--notably, direct-acting vasodilators, alpha-blockers, and dihydropyridine calcium antagonists. Interestingly, antihypertensive agents that also reduce proteinuria have been associated with cardiovascular risk reduction. Moreover, an understanding of combinations of antihypertensive medications that provide additive reductions in proteinuria may be even more efficacious for slowing renal disease progression. It is hoped that these advances and the projected advances in pharmacogenetics will reduce the current increasing incidence of people going on dialysis.
Manipulation of the molecular weight and branching structure of hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s prepared via an A2 + B3 approach

A series of hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s (HB PAEPOs) were prepared via an A2 + B3 polymerization scheme with tris(4-fluorophenyl)phosphine oxide as B3, and a variety of bisphenols as A2. The effects of the reactivity of the A2 monomer, the A:B ratio, the addition mode, the solvent, and the concentration on the final molecular weight, polydispersity index (PDI), and degree of branching (DB) were studied. Soluble HB PAEPOs with weight-average molecular weights of up to 299,000 Da were achieved. Reactions in which the A2 component was added slowly resulted in lower DBs (0.2–0.5), whereas the slow addition of the B3 component provided samples with DBs of approximately 0.75. Reactions performed under high-dilution conditions afforded completely soluble materials with weight-average molecular weights of 9000–12,100 Da and PDI values as low as 2.20. The molecular weights achieved under high-dilution conditions were independent of the mode of monomer addition. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3871–3881, 2003
Determination of biological removal of organic constituents in quench waters from high-BTU coal-gasification pilot plants

Abstract Studies were initiated to assess the efficiency of bench scale, activated-sludge treatment for removal of organic constituents from coal-gasification process effluents. Samples of pilot plant, raw-gas quench waters were obtained from the HYGAS process of the Institute of Gas Technology and from the slagging, fixed-bed (SFB) process of the Grand Forks Energy Technology Center. The types of coal employed were Bituminous Illinois No. 6 for HYGAS and Indian Head lignite for SFB process. These pilot plant quench waters, while not strictly representative of commercial condensates, were considered useful to evaluate the efficiency of biological oxidation for the removal of organics. Biological reactors influent and effluent samples were extracted using a methylene chloride pH-fractionation method into acid, base, and neutral fractions, which were analyzed by capillary-column gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Influent acid fractions of both HYGAS and SFB condensates showed that nearly 99% of extractable and chromatographable organic material comprised phenol and alkylated phenols. Activated sludge treatment removed these compounds almost completely. Removal efficiency of base-reaction organics was generally good, except for certain alkylated pyridines. Removal of neutral-fraction organics was also good, except for certain alkylated benzenes, certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and certain cycloalkanes and cycloalkenes, especially, at low influent concentrations.
Evaluation of cathepsin D immunostaining in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Cathepsin D (CD), an estrogen-regulated lysosomal protease, has been detected in a variety of tissues. CD expression has been correlated with the invasive potential of breast cancer, acting as an autocrine mitogen or as a protease that degrades the extracellular matrix. The role of CD expression in predicting prognosis or invasive potential in colorectal carcinomas is mostly unknown. METHODS CD immunohistochemical expression was studied in 60 surgical specimens of colon adenocarcinomas. A three-step avidin biotinylated, horseradish immuno-peroxidase (ABC-HRP) staining technique was performed on 4 microm paraffin-embedded tissue sections with a polyclonal antibody to CD. RESULTS Carcinoma cells showed positive CD immunostaining in 41.6% of adenocarcinomas (50%, 43.7%, 37.5%, and 25% of Dukes' Stage A, B, C, and D, respectively). Nonneoplastic stromal cells demonstrated positive staining in 68.3% of the adenocarcinoma specimens (37.5%, 62.5%, 91.6%, and 75% of Stage A, B, C, and D, respectively). Patients with colorectal carcinomas exhibiting simultaneously negative and positive CD expression in malignant and stromal cells, respectively, had a worse 5-year overall survival (P 15% of stromal cells positive for CD) was significantly worse in comparison with the rest of the adenocarcinomas (n = 44) (27.6 +/- 4.6 vs. 46 +/- 2.7 months, respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Expression of CD immunoreactivity by the stromal cells may be associated with a more invasive phenotype. Therefore, CD expression in tumor and stromal cells may serve as an important indicator of progression and guide postoperative treatment.
Tone production deficits in nonfluent aphasic Chinese speech

Previous studies demonstrating a right hemisphere lateralization of musical, tonal, and intonational stimuli had suggested that in aphasic tone language speakers, the tonal phonemes might be subject to a lesser degree of deficit than consonantal phonemes. Using a word repetition task, this research demonstrates that left-damaged nonfluent aphasic speakers of Chinese experience a tonal production deficit which is both quantitatively and qualitatively equivalent to the deficit experienced by these speakers in the production of consonants. It is suggested that in tone languages, lexical specification of tone contour information results in left hemisphere lateralization of that information, thus making the tonal phonemes vulnerable to left hemisphere damage.
Troubled Talk and Talking Cures: From “Smart Talk” to Wise Conversations

Interpersonal communications is widely viewed as both a source of conflict in many social relationships and a cure-all for resolving such conflict. Some theorists assert that we simply do not interact, or talk, enough in modern society; others point out that our communication styles seem increasingly argumentative, exclude important potential contributors, or are strategically facile but shallow. The author discusses the various forms of dysfunctional “talk” in which people engage, then reviews four recent books, all of which focus (at least in part) on how we might talk (and negotiate) with one another more constructively: Bargaining for Advantage, by G. Richard Shell; Winning ‘Em Over, by Jay C. Conger; Difficult Conversations, by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton and Sheila Heen; and The Magic of Dialogue by Daniel Yankelovich.
Pediatric Fellowships in Child Abuse and Neglect: The Development of a New Subspecialty

Medical care for children and adolescents where abuse or neglect is suspected has become complex and technical. Many general pediatricians and family practitioners are hesitant to care for these children because of the expertise and time required for court hearings. A new group of physicians has developed, who are specialists in child abuse and neglect. If specialized services is to become generally available, fellowship training programs in child abuse and neglect will have to be institutionalized and funded. A new cadre of child abuse physician specialists will serve the needs for future teaching and research in medical schools.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Ageist and Sexist Double Jeopardy Portrayals in Children's Picture Books.

Bandura's Social Learning Theory purports that early exposure to this social information may have an impact on children's schema development (e.g., Bandura, 2001), which may influence how children and later adults think about what it means to age and get older (e.g., what it means to be an aging woman in society). By extension, if the portrayal of aging women characters in picture books contains both ageist and sexist attitudes, then the concern is that learned double jeopardy social schemas may influence both children's and the broader society's reactions to this aging sub-population (Chappell & Havens, 1980) and personal self-efficacy toward aging (Bandura, 2011). For the purpose of the current research, a possible double jeopardy portrayal was examined for older women characters in children's picture books. Using a stratified random sampling of 90 children's picture books, results found that older book characters were depicted in only about one-third of the sampled books, and older women portrayals wer...
Proton-Recoil Proportional Counter Tests at Treat

A methane filled proton-recoil proportional counter will be used as a fission neutron detector in the fastneutron hodoscope. To provide meaningful fuel-motion information the proportional counter should have: a linear response over a wide range of reactor powers (space charge effects are minimized); a good signal-to-background ratio (the number of high energy neutrons detected must be maximized relative to low energy neutrons, and the gamma ray sensitivity must be kept small); and a detector efficiency for fission neutrons above 1 MeV of approximately 1%. In addition, it is desirable that the detector and the associated amplifier/discriminator be capable of operating at counting rates in excess of 500 kHz. This paper reports on tests that were conducted on several proportional counters at the TREAT reactor. The goal of these tests was the determination of a set of counter parameters that would optimize fuel motion detection. The results show that a proton-recoil proportional counter with a methane gas pressure of 0.5 MPa, a counter diameter of 25.4 mm, an anode wire diameter of 0.0504 mm, and a length of 200 mm will be able to meet most of the hodoscope detector requirements.
Coastal paleogeography of the California-Oregon-Washington and Bering Sea continental shelves during the latest Pleistocene and Holocene: implications for the archaeological record

Sea-level rise during the last deglaciation and through the Holocene was influenced by deformational, gravitational, and rotational effects (henceforth glacial isostatic adjustment, GIA) that led to regional departures from eustasy. Deglacial sea-level rise was particularly variable spatially in areas adjacent to the Cordilleran and Laurentide Ice Sheets. Such regional variability in sea level due to GIA is important to identify when investigating potential coastal migration pathways used by early Americans. An improved understanding of regional sea-level rise may also be used for predictive modeling of potential archaeological sites that are now submerged. Here we compute relative sea-level change across the California–Oregon–Washington and Bering Sea continental shelves since the Last Glacial Maximum using an ice-age sea-level theory that accurately incorporates time-varying shoreline geometry. The corresponding non-uniform sea-level rise across these continental shelves reveals significant departures from eustasy, which has important implications for improved understanding of potential coastal migration routes and predictive modeling of the location of now-submerged archaeological sites.
Spin effects in the inspiral of coalescing compact binaries.

We derive the contributions of spin-orbit and spin-spin coupling to the gravitational radiation from coalescing binary systems of spinning compact objects. We calculate spin effects in the symmetric, trace-free radiative multipoles that determine the gravitational wave form, and the rate of energy loss. Assuming a balance between energy radiated and orbital energy lost, we determine the spin effects in the evolution of the orbital frequency and orbital radius. Assuming that a laser interferometric gravitational observatory can track the gravitational-wave frequency (twice the orbital frequency) as it sweeps through its sensitive bandwidth between about 10 Hz and 1 kHz, we estimate the accuracy with which the spins of the component bodies can be determined from the gravitational-wave signal.
The Imaging of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the remarkable hemodynamic consequence of widespread structural and functional changes within the pulmonary circulation. Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance leads to increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure and, ultimately, right ventricular dysfunction. PH carries a poor prognosis and warrants timely and accurate diagnosis for appropriate intervention. The 2008 Dana Point classification system provides the categorical framework currently guiding therapy and surveillance. Radiologic imaging is an essential tool in the detection and diagnostic evaluation of patients with PH. Echocardiography, ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy, multidetector computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging provide insights into vascular morphology, pulmonary parenchymal status, cardiac function, and underlying etiology of the disorder. Emerging techniques of functional pulmonary and cardiac imaging hold great promise for the assessment and monitoring of these patients in the future.
The social worker's style

The style of the social work practitioner is a very influential factor for therapeutic effectiveness and is a way of expressing the practitioner's creative artistry. The meanings and functions of style are clarified. The practitioner's general style is analyzed as a combination of personal and professional style elements, responsive to artistic role-task performances in helping clients. A case presentation illustrates a social worker's particular style. Wider cultural influences of a practitioner's style also merit recognition.
Feasibility of High Voltage Solar Arrays

High voltage solar arrays, considering plasma power losses dielectric stresses design, fabrication and testing
US Hegemony and International Organizations: The United States and Multilateral Institutions

US Hegemony and International Organizations: The United States and Multilateral Institutions. Edited by Rosemary Foot, S. Neil MacFarlane, and Michael Mastanduno. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. 312p. 24.95 paper.This important and timely work has the potential to disturb those who feel they already understand the conditions, character, and consequences of U.S. hegemony with respect to the way in which this position of power shapes U.S. efforts at establishing, maintaining, transforming, and terminating multilateral institutions. For people who view the United States as a champion or villain in its relations with international organizations, this work is likely to be irritating and upsetting; and for those who are less certain or dogmatic, this collection of studies is an excellent introduction to the subject because the work includes detailed, empirical case studies on a wide range of issues. Regardless of one's alignment or identification with these groups, this finely edited volume is illuminating, and its high quality makes it relevant to scholars, decision makers, and interested members of the public. Support for this recommendation is found in the careful scholarship that runs throughout and in the firsthand experience of many of the authors with the topics and controversies they analyze and present. Given the international audience to which this study is directed, the work's overall credibility is probably enhanced by the fact that many of the authors are not Americans.
Abnormal serum factors in Guillain-Barré syndrome

The Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is generally considered to be a cell-mediated immunopathologic disease of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), although the evidence for this is indirect. Both in vitro and in vivo studies of sera from experimental animals with autoimmune demyelinating neuropathies suggest that serum factors, including antibodies to PNS myelin and/or Schwann cells, may be important in the pathogenesis of some of these disorders. More recently, similar in vitro and in vivo techniques, including the production of demyelination following intraneural injection in the rat have been employed to study sera from patients with GBS. The results of these studies demonstrate the presence of factor(s), as yet not fully characterized, that may be important in mediating demyelination. Moreover, in some patients with chronic or relapsing demyelinative inflammatory neuropathies and monoclonal gammopathy, there is evidence of antimyelin antibodies to PNS myelin. Further studies of serum from patients with acute GBS and these other neuropathies may clarify the role of serum factors in acquired inflammatory diseases of the PNS.
On the direct numerical simulation of plane-strain fracture in a class of strain-limiting anisotropic elastic bodies

In this paper, using a special class of nonlinear response relations between linearized strain and Cauchy stress tensors, we study a quasi-static mixed-mode (combination of mode-I and mode-II) fracture boundary value problem. A special subclass of such relations are strain-limiting in which the strains are guaranteed to be uniformly bounded in the neighborhood of crack-tip. In this article, we consider a finite element method based direct numerical simulation (DNS) of plane-strain mixed-mode fracture in a class of strain-limiting, transversely isotropic elastic bodies. We study the numerical solution of a nonlinear fracture boundary value problem with displacement as the primary unknown. The linearized version of the strong form was derived using damped Newton’s method and the corresponding weak formulation was solved using a conforming finite element method. The results of this DNS indicate that even very near the crack tip, both stress and strain remain much smaller in magnitude than the corresponding predictions from the linearized elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). While away from strain concentrating crack-tip region, the solution to the nonlinear, strain-limiting model agrees closely with the LEFM solution. This supports recent asymptotic theoretical studies of anti-plane and plane-strain fracture boundary value problems. Further, we also study the behavior of cleavage stress in the neighborhood of crack-tip. The numerical results indicate that the cleavage stress is largest along a line directly ahead of the crack-tip in agreement with the classical LEFM solution for pure mode I loading.
Saturnian kilometric radiation: Source locations

Using Voyager 1 and 2 Planetary Radio Astronomy data and reasonable assumptions about radiation beam geometry, we deduce the source locations of both polarization components of the Saturn kilometer-wavelength radiation. The resulting radio source footprints are at high latitudes north and south, and near the noon meridian. These footprints are compared with the surface locations of Saturn's UV aurorae, polar cap boundary, and polar cusp.
Cyclic nucleotide metabolism in rat colonic epithelial cells with different proliferative activities

Cyclic nucleotide metabolism was examined in rat distal colonic epithelial cells with different proliferative activities. Lower crypt cells had DNA synthetic rates 7-10-fold higher than surface cells. Without a phosphodiesterase inhibitor proliferative cells had reduced basal cyclic AMP-, cyclic GMP-, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratios, as well as blunted cyclic AMP responses to prostaglandin E2 and vasoactive intestinal peptide compared to superficial cells. In the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, basal cyclic AMP and responses to prostaglandin E2 and vasoactive intestinal peptide of proliferative cells exceeded values in superficial cells. This correlated with higher membrane adenylate cyclase activity in the proliferative cells. By contrast, particulate and soluble guanylate cyclase activities of superficial cells were higher than in proliferative cells. The apparent high Km soluble and particulate cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase activities of proliferative cells were 4-7-fold higher than those in superficial cells. Moreover, the apparent low Km soluble activity was absent in superficial cells. Thus, an altered rate of nucleotide degradation may mediate reduced cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in proliferative versus superficial cells. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP, prostaglandin E2 or vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of colonic segments. Thus, reduced cyclic AMP in lower crypt cells may be a determinant of their greater proliferative activity.
Sedimentation equilibrium studies of a complex association reaction.

Abstract We have investigated the association of 17 S (monomer) particles of Callianassa hemocyanin by sedimentation equilibrium. The association proceeds in two steps: (1) a monomer-dimer association which is sensitive to Mg 2+ concentration and insensitive to temperature, and (2) a dimer-tetramer association which is highly temperature dependent but insensitive to Mg 2+ .
Intestinal bypass. A modification

Six hundred sixty-four patients who have had metabolic intestinal surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity are reviewed. Particular attention is directed to difference in weight loss, morbidity and mortality in end-to-side and end-to-end shunts, the former performed in 300 patients and the latter in 262 patients. Unsatisfactory weight loss was observed in 20% of patients with end-to-side shunts, while only 8% of patients with end-to-end shunts failed to lose a sufficient amount of weight. Morbidity and mortality were significantly increased in this latter group. This led to adoption of a modification of the end-to-side operation by developing a plication ?REVENT REFLUX. Our preliminary observation indicates that in 102 patients who have had this operation, similar weight loss is attained to that of end-to-end shunts with no greater morbidity or mortality than the end-to-side type.
Glycine Loss and Maillard Browning as Related to the Glass Transition in a Model Food System

The effects of water activity and the glass transition on the rate constants for glycine loss and brown pigment formation due to the Maillard reaction were evaluated in a model food system. Equimolar glucose and glycine were incorporated into amorphous polyvinylpyrrolidones of various molecular weights and moisture contents. Glycine loss and brown pigment formation were quantified during storage at 25°C. At constant water activity, rate constants were higher in systems with lower glass transition temperatures. Glycine rate constants decreased upon matrix collapse, but browning rate constants were not affected by collapse. Changes associated with the glass transition influence bimolecular reactions and should be considered during product formulation and shelf-life testing.
A note on the temperature for maximum net gas production in an anaerobic digester system.

Abstract The net gas production of an anaerobic digester system, in which digester heating is derived from combustion of biogas in a boiler, is analysed. It is shown that there is a critical feed-solids content below which it is optimal to operate at 25–30°C and above which it is optimal to operate at 40–44°C. For pig slurry this critical feed-solids content is about 3·5% in a system with no feed/effluent heat exchange. In principle, there is a second, higher, critical feed-solids content, above which it is optimal to operate in the thermophilic region. For cattle slurry, this may be in the region of 7·5% solids.
β-Amyloid protein promotes neuritic branching in hippocampal cultures

Abstract In the neuritic plaques of Alzheimer's disease, abnormal neuritic processes cluster around a core of β-amyloid protein. Previous data have shown that β1–28, a peptide homologous to the first 28 amino acid residues of β-amyloid protein, enhanced survival without affecting neuritic extension or branching in cultures of hippocampal neurons. In this paper we show that β1–42, a synthetic peptide which corresponds to the full 42 amino acid sequence of β-amyloid protein, increased cell survival and also promoted the elongation of axon-like processes, raised the number of dendrite-like processes, and increased their arborization.
CAVIAR: a vibrotactile device for accessible reaching

CAVIAR is designed to aid people with vision impairment in locating, identifying, and acquiring objects in their peripersonal space. A mobile phone, worn on the chest, captures video in front of the user; the computer vision component locates the user's hand and objects in the video stream. The auditory component informs the user about the presence of objects. On user confirmation, the reaching component sends signals to vibrotactile actuators on the user's wristband, guiding the hand to a specific object. This paper describes an end-to-end prototype of CAVIAR and its formative evaluation.
Use of MyPyramid Menu Planner for Moms in a weight-loss intervention during lactation.

Abstract The Internet offers a valuable resource for promotion of healthy eating and Web-based communication between the dietetics practitioner and client. In a 16-week intervention examining the effects of energy restriction (500 kcal/day) and exercise on body composition in overweight/obese lactating women, MyPyramid Menu Planner for Moms was used to support dietary counseling. Random assignment occurred at 4 weeks postpartum to either an Intervention group (n=14) or Minimal Care group (n=13) from 2008 through 2010. Three 24-hour dietary recalls were obtained using the Nutrition Data System at 4 and 20 weeks postpartum. Individual MyPyramid Menu Planner accounts were created for the Intervention group and used in face-to-face dietary counseling. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to test for differences between groups for change in dietary intake and weight. Changes in energy, saturated fat, and percent of energy from added sugars were significantly different between Intervention group and Minimal Care group (−613 [521] kcal vs −171 [435] kcal; P =0.03; −14.9 [14.0] g vs +0.9 [13.4] g; P P P P =0.03). Although participants must have access to an Internet-based computer and possess basic food knowledge, these results suggest MyPyramid Menu Planner might prove to be an effective dietary counseling support tool for improving dietary intake and promoting weight loss during lactation.
MCNP simulation of absorbed energy and dose by iodinated contrast agent

The purpose of this study is to investigate the absorbed dose and energy by iodinated contrast medium in diagnostic radiology. A simulation geometry in which an inner sphere (d = 0.2cm, 1cm, 5cm) filled with iodinated contrast medium (or water) is located at the center of a 20cm diameter water sphere was used in simulations performed with MCNP5 codes. Monoenergetic x-rays with energies ranging from 40 to 80keV from a cone beam source were utilized and contrast medium concentration ranged from 100 to 1mg/ml. Absorbed dose ratio (R D ) to inner sphere and total absorbed energies ratio (R E ) to the whole phantom with and without iodinated contrast medium were investigated. The maximum R D was ~13 for the 0.2cm diameter sphere with 100mg/ml contrast medium. The maximum R E was ~1.05 for the 5cm diameter contrast sphere at 80keV with 100mg/ml contrast medium. Under the same incident photon energy, increasing the inner sphere size from 0.2cm to 5cm caused a ~63% increase in the R D on average. Decreasing the contrast medium concentration from 100 to 10 mg/ml caused a decrease of R D of ~ 76%. A conclusion was reached that although local absorbed dose increase caused by iodinated contrast agent could be high; the increase in total absorbed energy is negligible.
Neuroactive steroids modulate crustacean locomotor activity.

Abstract We examined the effects of neuroactive steroids known to modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA) A receptor activity, on locomotor activity in a submerged circular open-field apparatus. Juvenile male lobsters, Homarus americanus , were treated with a single administration of an agonist, 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone, 3α,5α-TH PROG), an antagonist, pregnenolone sulfate (PREGS), or vehicle alone. 3α,5α-TH PROG treatment (125 and 250 μg) significantly reduced while PREGS significantly elevated locomotor activity in a dose-dependent manner similar to diazepam. PREGS increased locomotor activity at 30 and 60 μg, while diminishing such activity and altering locomotor patterns at 120 μg. These results suggest that neuroactive steroids may affect crustacean GABA receptors in a fashion similar to the GABA A type found in the vertebrates, and that they may be involved in the regulation of locomotor behavior.
Impact of mobile sink for wireless sensor network

Prolonged network lifetime is important objective in wireless sensor networks. Employing a mobile sink is ultimately the most effective approach to achieve this goal. With a mobile sink, the relay nodes around the sink can always be changed over time, which allows a balanced workload and reduced transmission distance among the sensor nodes. In this paper we evaluate the effect of a mobile sink having different mobility patterns.
Genetic Analysis of 16 NMR-Lipoprotein Fractions in Humans, the GOLDN Study

Sixteen nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy lipoprotein measurements of more than 1,000 subjects of GOLDN study, at fasting and at 3.5 and 6 h after a postprandial fat (PPL) challenge at visits 2 and 4, before and after a 3 weeks Fenofibrate (FF) treatment, were included in 6 time-independent multivariate factor analyses. Their top 1,541 unique SNPs were assessed for association with GOLDN NMR-particles and classical lipids. Several SNPs with −log10p > 7.3 and MAF ≥ 0.10, mostly intergenic associated with NMR-single traits near genes FAM84B (8q24.21), CRIPT (2p21), ACOXL (2q13), BCL2L11 (2q13), PCDH10 (4q28.3), NXPH1 (7p22), and SLC24A4 (14q32.12) in association with NMR-LDLs; HOMER1 (5q14.2), KIT (4q11–q12), VSNL1 (2p24.3), QPRT (16p11.2), SYNPR (3p14.2), NXPH1 (7p22), NELL1 (11p15.1), and RUNX3 (1p36) with NMR-HDLs; and DOK5-CBLN4-MC3R (20q13), NELL1 (11p15.1), STXBP6 (14q12), APOB (2p24-p23), GPR133 (12q24.33), FAM84B (8q24.21) and NR5A2 (1q32.1) in association with NMR-VLDLs particles. NMR single traits associations produced 75 % of 114 significant candidates, 7 % belonged to classical lipids and 18 % overlapped, and 16 % matched for time of discovery between NMR- and classical traits. Five proxy genes, (ACOXL, FAM84B, NXPH1, STK40 and VAPA) showed pleiotropic effects. While tagged for significant associations in our study and with some extra evidence from the literature, candidates as CBNL4, FAM84B, NXPH1, SLC24A4 remain unclear for their functional relation to lipid metabolism. Although GOLDN study is one of the largest in studying PPL and FF treatment effects, the relatively small samples (over 700–1,000 subjects) in association tests appeals for a replication of such a study. Thus, further investigation is needed.
A New Framework for Automatic Feature Selection for Tracking

A new framework of recurrent neural network is proposed in this paper for automatic feature selection for tracking. The network is not designed particularly for conventional applications such as pattern classification, association, and recognition; instead, it captures parts of those ingredients for identification of unique features from given sets of data. The architecture extracts different types of textures defined by natural importance to the datasets. These textural layers are then fused into single layer feature where the neurons compete and converge with few iterations based on the criteria of uniqueness of the textually maximized features. The automatically selected features by winning neurons, if any, are determined once and applied for subsequent feature tracking within the same architecture. Experiments performed on video sequence showed that the framework for feature selection and tracking is acceptable to gradual in-plane rotation and some degree of scale and out-of-plane rotation.
A novel source of atmospheric H 2 : abiotic degradation of organic material

Abstract. Molecular hydrogen (H2) plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry by competing for reactions with the hydroxyl radical (OH·) and contributing to the production of H2O in the stratosphere, indirectly influencing stratospheric ozone concentrations. The dominant pathway for loss of H2 from the atmosphere is via microbially-mediated soil uptake, although the magnitude of this loss is still regarded as highly uncertain. Recent studies have shown that abiotic processes such as photochemically mediated degradation (photodegradation) of organic material result in direct emissions of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)-based trace gases as well as H2. This H2 production has important implications on source-sink dynamics of H2 at the soil-atmosphere interface and thus it is important to quantify its variability over a range of plant types and materials. Here, we show laboratory observations of H2 production and its temperature dependence during abiotic degradation of four plant litter types as well as pure cellulose and high lignin content woody material. A greater amount of H2 was produced in the absence of solar radiation than from photodegradation alone, verifying that low temperature thermal degradation of plant litter is a source of H2. In addition, we measured a significant release of H2 both in the presence and absence of O2. Our results suggest that abiotic release of H2 during organic matter degradation is ubiquitous in arid ecosystems and may also occur in other terrestrial ecosystems. We propose that because these processes occur at the soil-atmosphere interface, they provide a previously unrecognized proximal source of H2 for microbial uptake and confound interpretation of direct measurements of atmospheric uptake that are important for constraining the global H2 budget.
Research Note: Analyzing MPI performance over 10-Gigabit ethernet

Recent work with 10-Gigabit (10GbE) network adapters has demonstrated good performance in TCP/IP-based local- and wide-area networks (LANs and WANs). In the present work we present an evaluation of host-based 10GbE adapters in a system-area network (SAN) in support of a cluster. This evaluation focuses on the performance of the message-passing interface (MPI) when running over a 10GbE interconnect. We find that MPI over 10GbE provides communications performance comparable to that of TCP alone and fairly competitive with more exotic technologies such as MPI over Quadrics. The optimization of MPI and MPI-based applications to make use of this performance, however, is a non-trivial task. Consequently, it is difficult for MPI-based applications to realize this performance when running current-generation 10GbE hardware.
Evaluation of baseline corrected QT interval and azithromycin prescriptions in an academic medical center.

BACKGROUND Azithromycin is used in the inpatient setting for a variety of conditions. In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration released a warning regarding risk for corrected QT (QTc) prolongation and subsequent arrhythmias. Knowledge of inpatient prescribing patterns of QTc prolonging medications with respect to patient risk factors for adverse cardiovascular events can help recognize safe use in light of these new warnings. OBJECTIVE To assess inpatient prescribing patterns, risk factors for QTc prolongation, and relationship between drug-drug interactions and cardiac monitoring in patients receiving azithromycin. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS One hundred inpatients ≥ 19 years of age were randomly selected from 1610 patient encounters between October 2012 and April 2013 who were administered at least 1 dose of azithromycin. MEASUREMENTS Length of stay, reason for use, therapy duration, and concomitant medications were recorded. Telemetry charges and baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) prior to administration were assessed. RESULTS Seventy-nine percent of azithromycin use was empiric. Sixty-five percent of patients received a baseline ECG prior to prescribing azithromycin, of which 60% had borderline or abnormal QTc prolongation. Seventy-six percent of patients were prescribed 2 or more QTc prolonging medications, of which there were more abnormal ECGs at baseline (P = 0.03) despite having telemetry ordered less than half of the time. CONCLUSIONS In a cohort of hospitalized patients, azithromycin was prescribed despite risk factors for QTc prolongation and administration of interacting medications. Selection of azithromycin by providers appears to be independent from these risk factors, and education and vigilance to drug-drug interactions may be useful in limiting cardiac events with prescribing azithromycin. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:15–20. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Mediated semantic compatibility in associative learning

This experiment investigated how association formation varies with the semantic compatibility of the verbal units to be associated. Sixteen Ss first associated meanings with nonsensical disyllables. The disyllables were then presented in sentence frames, which were either semantically compatible or incompatible with their acquired meaning. Later associative recall of sentence nouns to the disyllable cue was 3.5 times higher when the disyllable had been presented in a compatible than in an incompatible sentence frame. This finding supports the role of comprehensibility in promoting association formation.
The power of the pink ribbon: Raising awareness of the mental health implications of terrorism.

The power of the pink ribbon, a symbol of breast cancer awareness, to galvanize women of all ages to pay attention to a dreaded and terrifying female health issue is rooted in a public education phenomenon: a day or period of time that celebrates an anxiety-provoking health issue or disorder to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and foster early identification and help-seeking. The pink ribbon, invented in 1991 by cosmetic heiress and philanthropist, Evelyn H. Lauder and Alexandra Penney (Breast Cancer Resource Center 2004), evolved from the National Breast Awareness Campaign that began in 1985. Between 1989 and 1995, death rates from breast cancer showed their first significant decline, dropping 1.4 percent each year. Between 1995 and 1998, the decrease accelerated to a decline of 3.2 percent annually. The largest decreases occurred in younger women, both African American and Caucasian (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2004). To what extent one can ascribe a causal relationship between public education efforts and outcomes is never clear; nevertheless, these statistics are impressive. However, these numbers are not the whole story. Breast cancer awareness has brought women together as a compassionate, supportive community, helping one another through emotional and charitable support. Women—and men—walk for breast cancer, run for breast cancer, and raise millions of dollars for research. Cosmetic industry charitable foundations, whose philanthropy also provides marketing visibility, have embraced “the cause” furthering global awareness, and penetrating difficult-to-reach communities in rural and medically underserved areas. Research has grown as a result of this collective community of survivors, as well as the deceased and those dedicated to their memory. The campaign is now branded, and the proceeds from silver, gold, and gem-studded pink ribbons contribute to research for improved treatments. The pink ribbon is a public education vehicle that lends instant recognition and a posit ive tone to an otherwise anxiety-provoking health issue. Psychiatry 67(2) Summer 2004 137
Out of Step, Out of Office: Electoral Accountability and House Members' Voting

Does a typical House member need to worry about the electoral ramifications of his roll-call decisions? We investigate the relationship between incumbents’ electoral performance and roll-call support for their party—controlling for district ideology, challenger quality, and campaign spending, among other factors—through a series of tests of the 1956–1996 elections. The tests produce three key findings indicating that members are indeed accountable for their legislative voting. First, in each election, an incumbent receives a lower vote share the more he supports his party. Second, this effect is comparable in size to that of other widely recognized electoral determinants. Third, a member’s probability of retaining office decreases as he offers increased support for his party, and this relationship holds for not only marginal, but also safe members.