cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pilot study comparing hematologic and serum biochemical parameters in healthy horses (Equus caballus) and mules

Values are known for horses and most donkey breeds but not mules. The current study was designed to establish reference ranges for hematological and biochemical parameters for clinically normal mules compared to horses. A mule is a cross between a mare and a jack (a male donkey, Equus asinus). A single sample was collected from nine mature mules and four-quarter horses owned by the U.S. Forest Service Pack String (Shawnee, CO). Rectal temperature (mule 37.3 C, horse 37.5), body condition (1 to 9), weight (mules 589.6 kg, horses 496.6), age (mules 10.3 yrs, horses 9.2), and sex (mules 5 geldings, 4 mares, horses 4 geldings, 1 mare) were recorded for each animal. All animals were on the same diet (grass and alfalfa mixed hay, no concentrate). A single 10 mL blood sample was collected from venipuncture of the jugular vein with an EDTA tube. Samples were analyzed for total erythrocyte, total red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), platelet, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red cell distribution width (RDW). A statistical difference using the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test was found when comparing weight, WBC, lymphocytes (Ly), monocytes (Mo) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCV) (P < .05) (Table 1). Differences were not seen in temperature, NE, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH, platelet count, MPV, fibrinogen, plasma protein, TSP, albumin, globulins, A/G ratio, calcium and creatine-phosphokinase. Parameters for mules compared to horse values were similar with the exception of WBC, Ly, Mo, and MCV, which were similar to values previously reported in donkeys [1]. Baseline hematologic and serum chemistry values for mules is invaluable information for those involved in management and disease investigation in the equid species. Future research will compare hematological and serum biochemical parameters in mature mules and hinnies with horses and donkeys.
Family-role salience and environmental cognition

Abstract Two studies were conducted to test the notion that enhanced role-salience will tend to influence evaluations of environments which are normatively tied to the role. In study one, spouses evaluated house floor plans both with and without enhanced marital role salience. A marginally significant ( P > 0·10) interaction effect was observed such that ratings given by women in the role-salient condition were lower than those of women in a neutral condition; and lower than those of men in either condition. Males' evaluations were not affected by salience condition. Spouses' ratings were also marginally significantly correlated (r = 0·49) in the neutral condition, but were not significantly related (r = 0·26) in the role-salience condition. In the second study, married male and female subjects evaluated slides of both houses and office buildings. Half of the subjects did these evaluations with enhanced awareness of marital role; and half did them with enhanced awareness of individuality. Women in the role-salient condition gave significantly (0·05) lower ratings to the house, but not to the office-building slides than women in the individual-condition; and lower ratings than those by men in either condition. Evaluations of both types of slides by men were unaffected by the awareness manipulation. The results are interpreted relative to a role/environmental-domain theory of cognitive organization.
The Identity Transformation of Biological Parents in Lesbian/Gay Stepfamilies

This paper investigates the identity transformation of lesbian and gay biological parents in homosexual stepfamilies. I explore previous models typically used to describe gay and lesbian identity formation, arguing that these models provide little understanding of the experiences of those who have been previously married and have children. Lesbians and gays who leave heterosexual unions and form homosexual stepfamily units undergo a series of transformations. The results show that the transition is relatively positive and less internally stigmatizing and stressful than that experienced by younger, childless lesbians and gays.
Changes in occurrence, richness, and biological traits of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) in California and Nevada over the past century

Increases in water demand, urbanization, and severity of drought threaten freshwater ecosystems of the arid western United States. Historical assessments of change in assemblages over time can help determine the effects of these stressors but, to date, are rare. In the present study, we resurveyed 45 sites originally sampled in 1914–1915 for Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) adults throughout central California and northwestern Nevada, USA. We examined changes in species occurrence rates, taxonomic richness, and biological trait composition in relation to climate changes and human population increases. While species richness at individual sites did not change significantly, we found that odonate assemblages have become more similar across sites. Homogenization is a result of the expansion of highly mobile habitat generalists, and the decline of both habitat specialists and species with an overwintering diapause stage. Using a multi-species mixed-effects model, we found that overall occurrences of Odonata increased with higher minimum temperatures. Habitat specialists and species with a diapause stage, however, occurred less often in warmer regions and more often in areas with higher precipitation. Habitat specialists occurred less often in highly populated sites. Life history traits of Odonata, such as dispersal ability, habitat specialization, and diapause, are useful predictors of species-specific responses to urbanization and climate change in this region.
THE PHASE TRANSITION IN HUMAN COGNITION

This article attempts to build a bridge between cognitive psychology and computational neuroscience, perhaps allowing each group to understand the other's theoretical insights and sympathize with the other's methodological challenges. In briefly discussing a collection of conceptual demonstrations, neural network and dynamical system simulations, and human experimental results, we highlight the importance of the concept of phase transition to understand cognitive function. Our goal is to show that viewing cognition as a self-organizing process (involving phase transitions, criticality, and autocatalysis) affords a more natural explanation of these data over traditional approaches inspired by a sequence of linear filters (involving detection, recognition, and then response selection).
Estimate of Truncation Error in Transformed Coordinate, Primitive Equation Atmospheric Models

Abstract A comparison of truncation error for second-order difference schemes based on the σ and z coordinate systems is given. We also test a transformed z system based on s = (z − H)/(zT − H), where H ≤ z ≤ zT and H is surface elevation. The error is estimated by substitution of a known pressure function into the pressure gradient term. The σ and z systems show comparable error in the case of a level surface. The presence of a mountain greatly increases the error in the σ and z system calculations. A modification of the σ and s systems is developed to reduce this error.
The influence of molecular-scale roughness on the surface spreading of an aqueous nanodrop

We examine the effect of nanoscale roughness on spreading and surface mobility of water nanodroplets. Using molecular dynamics, we consider model surfaces with sub-nanoscale asperities at varied surface coverage and with different distribution patterns. We test materials that are hydrophobic, and those that are hydrophilic in the absence of surface corrugations. Interestingly, on both types of surfaces, the introduction of surface asperities gives rise to a sharp increase in the apparent contact angle. The Cassie–Baxter equation is obeyed approximately on hydrophobic substrates, however, the increase in the contact angle on a hydrophilic surface differs qualitatively from the behavior on macroscopically rough surfaces described by the Wenzel equation. On the hydrophobic substrate, the superhydrophobic state with the maximal contact angle of 180 degrees is reached when the asperity coverage falls below 25%, suggesting that superhydrophobicity can also be achieved by the nanoscale roughness of a macroscopically smooth material. We further examine the effect of surface roughness on droplet mobility on the substrate. The apparent diffusion constant shows a dramatic slow down of the nanodroplet translation even for asperity coverage in the range of 1% for a hydrophilic surface, while droplets on corrugated hydrophobic surfaces retain the ability to flow around the asperities. In contrast, for smooth surfaces we find that the drop mobility on the hydrophilic surface exceeds that on the hydrophobic one.
In Pursuit of an Expert Identity: A Case Study of Experts in the Historical Courtroom

There are certain areas of study where present-day semiotics of law can learn from history. This study examines the discursive history and historical courtroom discourse of expert witnesses in eighteenth-century American court. The aim of the study is to explore the use of linguistic strategies and resources in constructing an expert identity in relation to the factors which influence those choices. Instead of taking expertise as being lodged in the pre-given label, such as a doctor, this article argues that such an identity has to be constructed and negotiated, and reveals how such an identity is constructed and negotiated through trial talk during a hostile discursive environment. The historical courtroom is an interesting site in this regard, as it was the period when expert witnesses did not enjoy the same social status as their present-day peers, which came with the absence of discursive privileges as well. It is found that experts mainly relied on expansions of response as the resources to counterbalance skeptical attitudes and hostile attempts aimed to undermine their testimony that accompanied their vulnerable status and image and to gain discursive control during the interaction.
Selective release of excreted DNA sequences from phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Effects of trypsin and divalent cations.

Abstract We studied the synthesis of excreted DNA sequences and their release from phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes under conditions permitting optimal cell growth. Cells were labeled by constant exposure to low specific activity [3H]thymidine. Excreted DNA sequences were synthesized during the period of logarithmic cell growth and moved slowly from the high molecular weight chromosomal DNA fraction into the low molecular weight cell DNA fraction (Hirt supernate) from which they could be specifically released by treating the cells briefly with small amounts of various proteases; 1 microgram/ml trypsin for 5 min was optimal. On day 5 of culture, 13.3 +/- 6.9% of the total cellular acid-precipitable [3H]thymidine was released by this treatment. Trypsin-induced release was partially and reversibly inhibited by incubating the cells for 16 h with 5 mM dibutyryl-cyclic AMP. Cells incubated in the absence of divalent cations spontaneously released this Hirt supernatant DNA; after maximal release had occurred under these circumstances, additional trypsin treatment caused no further release of DNA. Trypsin-induced DNA release could be completely and reversibly inhibited by incubating the cells in the presence of 10 mM calcium. Trypsin-released DNA was isolated and analyzed by reassociation kinetics. A major component, representing 54% of the DNA, reassociated with a C0t1/2 of 68 mol.s/liter (the value at which DNA association is 50% complete). The reassociation of this DNA was studied in the presence of an excess of DNA isolated from stimulated lymphocytes on day 3 in culture, and in the presence of an excess of resting lymphocyte DNA. The high molecular weight fraction of day-3 cell DNA contained three times more copies of the trypsin-released DNA major component as compared to resting lymphocyte DNA. Hirt supernatant DNA isolated from day-5 stimulated lymphocytes reassociated in an intermediate component representing 34% of the DNA with a Cot1/2 of mol.s/liter; after cells were treated with trypsin, this component could no longer be identified in the Hirt supernatant fraction, presumably because it had been released into the incubation medium. These data describe a quantitatively reproducible system with which synthesis and release of excreted DNA sequences can be studied.
Clinical practice and the social issues of foster care

Issues of values and commitment to children affect social provisions. A brief review of the historical background of the placement of children suggests that many of the current problems of staffing, funding and legal provisions are perpetuation of neglect of the basic needs of children. this neglect often results in a need for placement that might have been prevented by appropriate preventive supports. Lack of money is not considered the problem. Rather, political issues, values, and little commitment to children determine how the nation allocates its money.
Effect of Acclimation on the Homing and Survival of Hatchery Winter Steelhead

Abstract We evaluated prerelease acclimation of hatchery winter steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in Whittaker Creek, a tributary of the Siuslaw River, Oregon, as a management strategy to attract returning adults to a release site where they could be removed. The objective was to reduce the number of hatchery fish in wild steelhead spawning areas while providing hatchery steelhead for recreational fisheries. We found no significant difference in homing rate or survival between hatchery steelhead acclimated for 30 d and those trucked from the hatchery and directly released. For the 1991–1993 broods, a mean of 92% of directly released fish and 97% of acclimated fish were accounted for in Whittaker Creek. In contrast, 15% of adults from hatchery smolts released at four traditional sites in the main-stem Siuslaw River were accounted for in Whittaker Creek. The spatial distribution of the catch in recreational fisheries was similar for the direct and acclimated groups; that catch, however, was nearer Whittaker Cre...
Resignations by the Big 4 and the Market for Audit Services

Following enactment of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002, Big 4 auditors claimed to have a more conservative policy regarding client retention and acceptance decisions. In this paper, we examine the resignations of Big 4 audit firms in periods before and after SOX. We find that Big 4 audit firms resigned from more audit clients in 2003 than in 2001, and that the 2003 group of clients had significantly lower measures of financial stress. Our results are robust to adjustments for differences in bankruptcy probability between 2003 and 2001. We also find that the relative increases in fees charged by the Big 4 successor following the resignation of a Big 4 predecessor are higher in 2003 than in 2001; for clients with a non‐Big 4 successor firm following a Big 4 resignation, we find a significant fee discount in 2001 but not in 2003. Overall, the results support the view that auditors are much more conservative in the post‐Enron/SOX period than in the immediately preceding period.
Suppression of Heavy Quarks in Heavy-ion Collisions

Abstract Heavy quark drag coefficients in a quark-gluon plasma due to three-body elastic scattering have recently been approximately evaluated in the lowest order in QCD. For both charm and bottom quarks, their values are found to be comparable to those from two-body elastic scattering. In the Fokker-Planck approach based on a schematic expanding fireball model, its effect on the transverse momentum spectra of heavy quarks produced from Au+Au collisions at center of mass energy s NN = 200 has been studied, and the results show that adding contributions from heavy quark three-body scattering to those due to two-body elastic and radiative scattering brings the nuclear modification factor for electrons from heavy meson decays closer to available experimental data.
Application of IPsec to teleradiology

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the application of the latest internet security technology to tele-radiology/PACS design. The internet has been growing at an explosive rate and tele-radiology is riding thewave of internet growth. However, since the internet is made up of an open set of protocols, secur-ing confidential information has been a top priority of recent research. This paper discusses thesecurity issues of building internet-based tele-radiology system and how to apply a new securitytechnology to fill the security needs of such systems. Keywords: Tele-radiology, Security, IPsec, TCPIIP, Authentication, Integrity, Confidentiality1. Th4TRODUCTION With the ubiquitous deployment and fast growth of the internet, tele-radiology systems using theIP-based internet will provide effective and efficient diagnostic coverage for remote or ruralareas151. Public internet-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology16'7' can provide anaffordable, reliable service for such tele-radiology systems, rather than relying on using expensiveprivate leased lines to send medical data. However, the internet-based VPN solution must providesecurity protection as well as bandwidth guarantee for the services it carries, such as the digitizedmedical images.IP security[8,9. 10] has been developed as a new internet technology which provides authentica-tion, integrity, and confidentiality to internet data. It is the intent of this paper to analyze and dis-cuss of applying the IP security technology to tele-radiology and PACS system. By using IPsecurity, sensitive medical information will be protected from careless disclosure to unwantedparties. In addition, IP security can drastically reduce attacker's opportunities to tamper with orcompromise sensitive medical data. Another feature of data security service is that it can providenon-repudiation such that the recipient of the medical information cannot deny the receipts of thedata.
Rheological signatures in limit cycle behaviour of dilute, active, polar liquid crystalline polymers in steady shear

We consider the dilute regime of active suspensions of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs), addressing issues motivated by our kinetic model and simulations in Forest et al. (Forest et al. 2013 Soft...
Strong-cation-exchange sulfoethyl aspartamide chromatography for peptide mapping of Staphylococcus aureus V8 protein digests

In two recent reports (D. L. Crimmins, J. Gorka, R. S. Thoma, and B. D. Schwartz (1988) J. Chromatogr. 443, 63-71; A. J. Alpert and P. C. Andrews (1988) J. Chromatogr. 443, 85-96) a sulfoethyl aspartamide column was shown to efficiently analyze peptides less than 25 residues in length which differ in the number of nominal positive charges at pH 3.0. In particular, the elution order for a series of distinct peptides ranging in nominal charge from +1 to +7 was found to be monotonic in nature indicating that separation was primarily via a cation-exchange mechanism. The present study employs this chromatographic system to isolate and characterize major fragments of proteolytic digests. Six commercially available proteins of known sequence (myoglobin, beta-casein, concanavalin A, carbonic anhydrase, lentil lectin, and enolase) were digested with Staphylococcus aureus V8 to generate peptide fragments. The resulting mixture was chromatographed on a sulfoethyl aspartamide column to isolate major fragments which were then subjected to amino acid analysis and N-terminal sequencing. With complete proteolysis (i.e., peptide fragments terminating in either an aspartic or a glutamic acid) separation of the fragments should result from the sum of histidine, lysine, and arginine residues contained in each fragment. Most of the peptide fragments eluted at the expected time on the sulfoethyl aspartamide column. Those fragments with anomalous behavior resulted from incomplete cleavage or cleavage at nonacidic residues or were greater than 35 residues in length. Each proteolytic digest was also analyzed by standard reverse-phase C4 chromatography to compare the peptide maps for these two distinct chromatographic modes.
Effects of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibition on blood pressure, renal hemodynamics, and renal vascular reactivity in normal and diabetic rats.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) has been implicated in mediating vascular smooth muscle and mesangial cell contraction in response to several vasoactive factors, including angiotensin II. Early stages of diabetic nephropathy are associated with renal hemodynamic changes that are, at least in part, attributable to the dysbalance of vasoactive factors that control afferent and efferent arteriolar tone resulting in increased glomerular capillary pressure. Vascular and renal p38 have been found to be activated in diabetes. Therefore, p38 may be involved in the control of systemic and renal hemodynamics in diabetes. To address this issue, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR, inulin clearance), renal plasma flow (RPF, PAH clearance), metabolic parameters, and plasma renin concentrations (PRC) were determined in streptozotocin-diabetic rats (DM), and in age-matched non-diabetic controls (C), administered with the p38 inhibitor SB 239063 (SB, 50 mg/bwt, p.o.) or with vehicle. Furthermore, renal vascular responses to p38 inhibition (SB 202190, 25μM) before and after stimulation with the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh) were studied in vitro in tertiary branches of the renal artery from separate groups of DM and C rats, using a fixed support and a force transducer in a myograph system. SB treatment was associated with marked reductions in MAP and GFR in both C and DM rats, whereas RPF remained unchanged, as compared with vehicle-treated animals. Observed differences in MAP and renal hemodynamics were not associated with changes in urinary sodium excretion or PRC. Incubation of KCl-contracted renal arteries from both C and DM rats with the p38 inhibitor resulted in progressive and significant vasorelaxation. Also, vessels from control and diabetic rats treated with the p38 inhibitor exhibited enhancement of ACh-induced vasorelaxation. These data indicate the role of p38 in the control of systemic and renal hemodynamics both in normal and in diabetic rats. The observed effects of p38 inhibition could be mediated at least in part by enhancement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
Such Low Temperatures in the Arctic Region: How Can the Polar Bears Call It Home?.

cience requires active learning-it is something that children do, rather than something that is done to S them. The learning process involves students’ thinking and doing to develop higher-order thinking skills, strengthen their reading and mathematical skills, and attain scientific knowledge. In the elementary grades, children learn biological concepts through direct experiences with living organisms and those organisms’ life cycles and habitats. Students come to understand that the survival of organisms depends on their physical environment and how well they adapt to living in it. Direct experiences are easy if habitats are within children’s immediate environment. However, some habitats are not easily accessible for such hands-on, minds-on explorations; hence simulations and models are important teaching strategies. The lesson topic “How do polar bears keep warm in their homes?’ is part of a teaching unit that explores animals and their adaptations to habitat. The unit features a variety of animals and the structural adaptations that they have that allow them to live in their habitats. For example, a streamlined body and the presence of scales and gills allow a fish to breathe in water. In the following polar bear adaptation activity, students learn what physical features of polar bears allow them to call the arctic regions home. I have done the activity successfully with second through fourth graders. You can usually conduct the hands-on portion of this activity in one class period (45 minutes).
Lsh Mediated RNA Polymerase II Stalling at HoxC6 and HoxC8 Involves DNA Methylation

DNA cytosine methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism that is involved in transcriptional silencing of developmental genes. Several molecular pathways have been described that interfere with Pol II initiation, but at individual genes the molecular mechanism of repression remains uncertain. Here, we study the molecular mechanism of transcriptional regulation at Hox genes in dependence of the epigenetic regulator Lsh that controls CpG methylation at selected Hox genes. Wild type cells show a nucleosomal deprived region around the transcriptional start site at methylated Hox genes and mediate gene silencing via Pol II stalling. Hypomethylation in Lsh−/− cells is associated with efficient transcriptional elongation and splicing, in part mediated by the chromodomain protein Chd1. Dynamic modulation of DNA methylation in Lsh−/− and wild type cells demonstrates that catalytically active DNA methyltransferase activity is required for Pol II stalling. Taken together, the data suggests that DNA methylation can be compatible with Pol II binding at selected genes and Pol II stalling can act as alternate mechanism to explain transcriptional silencing associated with DNA methylation.
A Possible Role for Statin Therapy in Solitary Pancreas Transplantation

Abstract Introduction Statin use after renal transplantation improves long-term outcome and reduces the incidence of glomerulonephritis. With both anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects, statins may also improve outcomes in pancreas transplantation. Methods A retrospective review at a single institution was undertaken. Patients who underwent solitary pancreas transplantation between 2001 and 2010 were identified. Multiple data points including recipient and donor demographics, patient and graft outcomes, and early use of statins were collected. Results Sixty-eight patients underwent solitary pancreas transplantation within the study period. Eighteen patients (26%) were already on, or were prescribed, a statin at the time of hospital discharge; the 1-year death-censored graft survival was 81.25% for those that were on statins versus 72.9% for those without (P = NS). Excluding patients with early graft loss ( Conclusions The use of statins in the solitary pancreas transplant patient may lead to improved outcomes. Whether this is owing to cardiovascular protection or to other factors not associated with lipid lowering remains unclear.
Misconceptions About Antimalarials

Article evoquant succintement les conceptions erronees concernant la toxicite oculaire des antimalariques
No association between leptin levels and sleep duration or quality in obese adults.

Previous research in lean subjects has found lower leptin levels associated with shorter sleep duration. Since leptin levels are higher and some of the actions of leptin are impaired in obese individuals, one cannot assume that sleep will be similarly associated with leptin in obese individuals. The aim of this paper was to examine the cross-sectional association between habitual sleep duration and quality and plasma leptin levels in a sample of 80 obese men and premenopausal women aged 18–50 years. Leptin levels (ng/ml) were assayed on a fasting blood sample taken in the morning. We calculated a relative leptin level by dividing leptin by body fat percentage. Sleep duration and sleep efficiency were measured by 2 weeks of wrist actigraphy and respiratory disturbance index (RDI), a measure of sleep disordered breathing, was assessed by a portable screening device on a single night. Mean leptin levels and body fat percentage were higher in women than men (P < 0.001), however, mean RDI was higher in men (P = 0.01). There were no significant associations between relative leptin level and any of the sleep measures, including sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and sleep disordered breathing. There was also no difference between men and women in the association between sleep and leptin. In conclusion, contrary to what has been reported in other studies, measures of sleep duration and quality were not associated with leptin levels in our sample of obese adults.
Eruption of el chichon volcano, chiapas, Mexico, 28 march to 7 april 1982.

El Chichon volcano erupted at 2322 hours on 28 March 1982 after being dormant during historic times. Three major eruptions of tephra occurred between that date and 7 April, discharging approximately 0.3 cubic kilometer of andesitic pyroclastic material. The initial eruption produced crystal-rich tephra of higher silica and alkali content than the lithic pyroclastic materials of the second and third eruptions. The initial tephra consists of primarily juvenile materials, whereas the later eruptions produced both lithic and juvenile fractions.
Consensus forests of corporate earnings: analysts' forecasts and time series methods

An alternative to using a single forecasting method is to average the forecasts made by various methods. In this paper we examine empirically combinations of financial analysts' forecasts and forecasts from time series methods in order to predict corporate earnings per share. We conclude that, on average, the primary forecasting advantages of analysts over time series methods based on annual data appear to occur over short forecast horizons (less than a year). Neither analysts nor other time series methods substantially outperform a random walk prediction of no change when forecasts are made near the beginning of the fiscal year. For predictions in the first half of the fiscal year, there is evidence of forecasting benefits from combining time series and analysts' forecasts, especially if there are few analysts' forecasts.
Developing a scale for assessing risk attitudes of agricultural decision makers

Abstract This study adapts a methodology formulated in the social sciences to develop a scale for measuring an economic agent’s attitude toward risk. The scale assesses risk attitudes by eliciting farmers’ opinions towards risk management tools using a Likert procedure. The methodology validates the scale with a scientific risk attitude measure and compares the scale to the farmers’ self-assessment of their risk attitudes. The resulting scale methodology could be administered to people without the need for personal interviews. The subjects for this study were Midwestern farmers, but the methodology can be applied to any sector of the agricultural industry.
Reduced photoinhibition with stem curling in the resurrection plant Selaginella lepidophylla.

Selaginella lepidophylla, the resurrection plant, curls dramatically during desiccation and the hypothesis that curling may help limit bright light-induced damage during desiccation and rehydration was tested under laboratory conditions. Restraint of curling during desiccation at 25° C and a constant irradiance of 2000 μmol m−2 s]t-1 significantly decreased PSII and whole-chain electron transport and the Fv/Fm fluorescence yield ratio following rehydration relative to unrestrained plants. Normal curling during desiccation at 37.5°C and 200 μmol m−2 s−1 irradiance did not fully protect against photoinhibition or chlorophyll photooxidation indicating that some light-induced damage occurred early in the desiccation process before substantial curling. Photosystem I electron transport was less inhibited by high-temperature, high-irradiance desiccation than either PSII or whole-chain electron transport and PSI was not significantly affected by restraint of curling during desiccation at 25°C and high irradiance. Previous curling also helped prevent photoinhibition of PSII electron transport and loss of whole-plant photosynthetic capacity as the plants uncurled during rehydration at high light. These results demonstrate that high-temperature desiccation exacerbated photoinhibition, PSI was less photoinhibited than PSII or whole-chain electron transport, and stem curling ameliorated bright light-induced damage helping to make rapid recovery of photosynthetic competence possible when the plants are next wetted.
Mechanics of wrinkled surface adhesion

Surface buckling instabilities, particularly wrinkles, are spontaneously occurring surface patterns that can cover large areas and have the potential to modify the adhesion of surfaces in a systematic manner; however, the impact of these wrinkled features is not understood quantitatively. We utilize a novel fabrication process to form aligned wrinkles from polystyrene and polydimethylsiloxane and quantify their adhesion using contact adhesion tests. Wrinkle amplitudes range from 0.3 μm to 11.4 μm and wavelengths range from 6.2 μm to 74.0 μm, and these two parameters are tuned independently. The maximum separation force of a flat cylindrical probe from a wrinkled surface depends nonlinearly on the wrinkle geometry, as described by both amplitude and wavelength. Additionally, results are presented for a set of adhesion experiments conducted on single, macroscopic cylinders using small circular flat probes to mimic the contact of individual wrinkles. A simple scaling is presented that incorporates geometric parameters, testing geometry and materials properties to predict the separation force. This relationship is shown to be in good agreement with the experimental data.
Assessment of "gene-environment" interaction in cases of familial and sporadic pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This study characterizes one of the largest national registries of familial PC (FPC) and sporadic PC (SPC), focusing on demographics, clinical factors, self-reported environmental and occupational lifetime exposures, and survival status. Reported risk factors for PC include advancing age, a family history of PC, high-risk inherited syndromes, cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoking, exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogens, African-American race, high fat/high cholesterol diet, obesity, chronic pancreatitis, and diabetes mellitus. This retrospective cross-sectional, case-only analysis includes cases of FPC (n = 569) and SPC (n = 689) from the Johns Hopkins National Familial Pancreas Tumor Registry (NFPTR) enrolled between 1994 and 2005. FPC smokers with environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure were diagnosed at a significantly younger mean age (63.7 years) as compared to FPC non-smokers without ETS exposure (66.6 years; p = 0.05). Non-smoker ETS-exposed cases were diagnosed with PC at a significantly younger mean age (64.0 years) compared to non-smoker non-ETS-exposed cases (66.5 years) (p 1.0. These are the first data to show that occupational and environmental exposures may act synergistically with inherited or acquired genetic polymorphisms, resulting in earlier occurrence of PC. Exposure to cigarette smoking and ETS exposure in non-smokers when younger than 21 years of age are associated with a younger mean age of diagnosis in FPC and SPC cases and Ashkenazi Jewish smokers, when compared to non-exposed cases. Risk prediction models which take into account environmental exposures as well as family history may more accurately predict the risk of PC. High-risk individuals will likely benefit from early identification of pre-malignant lesions and molecular profiling, as methods of early detection, prevention, and personalized therapy.
fMRI activation in late-life anxious depression: a potential biomarker.

Objective and Methods The neurobiology of late-life anxious depression (LLAD) is poorly characterized despite evidence that this is a common and severe subtype of late-life depression. To identify the neuroanatomical substrate of LLAD, we examined event-related fMRI data collected in eight subjects with late-life depression, half of whom had high levels of comorbid anxiety. Subjects were trained on the Preparing to Overcome Prepotency (POP) task, which is an executive control task that reliably activates the lateral prefrontal cortex–anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) cognitive control circuit. Results Time series analysis showed that, when compared with elderly depressed subjects, elderly subjects with anxious depression performing the POP task produced a significantly greater and more sustained signal in three regions: BA24 (dorsal anterior cingulate), BA31 (posterior cingulate), and BA6 (prefrontal cortex). While elderly subjects with pure depression presented a bimodal activation curve in the dorsal anterior cingulate and the posterior cingulate, elderly subjects with anxious depression presented a sustained unimodal activation pattern. Conclusions Our preliminary results suggest specific activation patterns unique to anxious depression that may suggest greater and more sustained efforts of the ACC to carry out cognitive control tasks. Further research is needed to clarify the neuroanatomical basis of LLAD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the method of pseudo compressibility for numerically solving incompressible flows

Pseudo compressibility is used for numerically solving incompressible flows to achieve computational efficiency. The use of pseudo compressibility results in a system of hyperbolic-type equations of motion that introduce waves of finite speed. The interactions of the wave propagation and the vorticity spreading are analyzed. A criterion governing the dependence of the pseudo compressiblity on the Reynolds number and the characteristic length of the flow geometry is obtained that allows for a proper convergence. It is demonstrated that the solution does tend to the incompressible limit. External and internal viscous flow test problems are presented to verify the theory.
Balancing in Moments of Vulnerability While Dancing the Dialectic

Questions about the existence of horizontal violence and the forms it takes dominate the literature. To move the dialogue forward, this article proffers the thesis that it is through a deeper understanding of moments of vulnerability and adult epistemological development that we may best alter the occurrence and continuance of horizontal violence in the nursing profession. The constructive development tradition has laid important groundwork for considering moments of vulnerability wherein which horizontal violence may begin and be perpetuated and explains how it has become so pervasive in the nursing field. New solutions are proposed and directions for further inquiry suggested.
Predictors of weight change in juvenile anorexia nervosa

A multiple-regression format was used to examine the power of clinical, familial, and premorbid variables in predicting weight change in 65 adolescent females with anorexia nervosa. Four variables—premorbid obesity, family disruption, body image distortion, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies—were shown to have independent predictive significance, each associated with a lesser degree of weight gain. Results suggest that restoration of body weight in the anorectic is impeded by rigidity of basic defenses, deficits in the regulatory control of drive and affect states, and intrafamilial tensions. Implications for treatment and theoretical conceptualization of etiological mechanisms of this disorder are discussed.
Are there pleiotropic effects of antihypertensive medications or is it all about the blood pressure in the patient with diabetes and hypertension

Many small studies with varied surrogate end points and numerous preclinical data have suggested the likelihood of there being specific benefits that exceed simple blood pressure control with drug classes such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers, which may be particularly relevant to the patient with diabetes and hypertension. Large clinical trials, however, have provided only token support for this idea. Likewise, meta-analyses that have incorporated varied clinical trials, albeit with somewhat heterogeneous data, have not been particularly forthcoming in their support of this concept. In the patient with diabetes and hypertension, tight blood pressure control, more so than using a specific drug class, is the most important aspect of therapy. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2011;13:301–304. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Estimation of a quantile in some nonstandard cases

A necessary condition for the asymptotic normality of the sample quantile estimator isf(Q(p))=F′(Q(p))>0, whereQ(p) is thep-th quantile of the distribution functionF(x). In this paper, we estimate a quantile by a kernel quantile estimator when this condition is violated. We have shown that the kernel quantile estimator is asymptotically normal in some nonstandard cases. The optimal convergence rate of the mean squared error for the kernel estimator is obtained with respect to the asymptotically optimal bandwidth. A law of the iterated logarithm is also established.
Crystallinity from thermal measurements

The problems involved in the determination of the fraction of crystallinity by thermal measurements are discussed. It is shown that in certain cases specific heat measurements themselves can be used to estimate the fraction of crystallinity. In the case of specific heat data on single crystals of polyethylene obtained by Karasz and Hamblin the specific heats are a linear function of the reciprocal fold length and can be extrapolated to infinite fold length to obtain the specific heat of 100% crystalline polyethylene. This extrapolated value is compared with other estimates and is used to calculate the fraction of crystallinity of polyethylene of different forms. Within the experimental uncertainties it would appear that estimates of the crystallinity from calorimetric, x-ray, dilatometric, and infrared measurements are all in substantial agreement.
Effects of barbital on deprivation-induced water consumption by rats.

Abstract Treatment of water-deprived rats with barbital in doses of 20–160 mg/kg, I.P., evoked an increase in water consumption. The pretreatment time, especially with the largest dose, was critical. Pretreatment of 15 minutes or less caused an increase in water consumption despite a decreased motor activity; a 45 min pretreatment time decreased water consumption, while increased drinking was observed with 8 or 20 hr pretreatments. The content of sodium in sodium barbital had a significant stimulatory effect on drinking at the 5 min pretreatment time.
Generalized Assignment with Nonlinear Capacity Interaction

The utility of the generalized assignment problem GAP is well known in regard to resource allocation problems arising in the areas of production planning, scheduling, and facility location. This paper introduces an important generalization of the GAP, which is called the 0-1 generalized assignment problem with nonlinear capacity constraints NLGAP and which allows for capacity interaction among tasks assigned to the same agent. For example, NLGAP can be used to model the hierarchical production planning problem involving the assignment of product families to production facilities in the case where process changeover gives rise to nonlinear capacity interaction among product families assigned to be produced at the same facility. Other applications of NLGAP occur readily throughout the areas of production planning and scheduling. We define a branch-and-bound algorithm for the NLGAP. This algorithm draws upon the underlying structure of the problem by combining in a novel manner recent advances in both nonlinear 0-1 programming and bounding techniques for the GAP. A heuristic for obtaining approximate solutions to NLGAP is also defined. We discuss computational experience with both the exact algorithm and the heuristic. The computational results demonstrate that the heuristic is extremely effective in obtaining near-optimal solutions and that the branch-and-bound algorithm can solve to optimality NLGAPs with 5 agents, 20 tasks, and over 1000 nonlinear terms per constraint.
The Role of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Literature Review

The growing population of heart failure patients and the corresponding increase in demand for donor hearts has led to the need of alternate medical therapies. The availability of donor hearts is scarce, transplant is expensive, and many patients are too ill to withstand the transplant operation. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have aided in the treatment leading up to heart transplantation and the recovery of reversible myocardial damage. With the increasing use of LVADs, echocardiography has become an extensive diagnostic aid in the evaluation of patients with LVADs. Because of this growing use of LVADs, it is necessary for sonographers to have a complete and current awareness of these devices. This literature review aims to expand the echocardiographer's knowledge of LVADs and to offer suggestions and techniques that may help in the evaluation of a patient with an LVAD.
Impacts of Organizational Evolution on Leadership Roles and Behaviors

This paper explicates a link between the concepts of leadership, followership, and environment. In particular, the paper develops a conceptual scheme to facilitate the identification of leader-follower relationships which are best suited to specific environmental contingencies. This typlogy is then used as a basis to identify some of the specific interventions that would be appropriate in moving from one environmental situation to another.
Computer Tracking of Objects Moving in Space

A method is developed to represent movement of convex blocks in three-dimensional space from a sequence of two-dimensional camera images. The goals are to determine the objects' movement toward or away from the camera as well as left/right and up/down movement in the image plane and to build models of the blocks. The movement information is used as part of a hierarchical matching process that determines the correspondence of blocks between scenes.
Current analysis of tibial coverage in total knee arthroplasty

Abstract Theoretically, the ability of a knee arthroplasty system to maximize tibial coverage is essential for long-term success of the procedure. Two sets of tibial resection specimens consisting of 42 and 46 specimens, respectively, were used to analyze the tibial coverage provided by the following total knee arthroplasty systems: the Genesis, Genesis II, Insall-Burstein II, and the Press Fit Condylar system. When the two sets of data were combined, the Genesis II system showed an average tibial coverage of 90.85 ± 3.08%, while the greatest average tibial coverage shown by the other systems was 86.57 ± 6.22%. The average coverage provided by the newer asymmetrical total knee arthroplasty system appeared to be significantly greater ( P
Regulation of cessation of early enzyme synthesis in bacteriophage T4 infected Escherichia coli: Separate mechanisms for different enzymes☆

Abstract The kinetics of synthesis of four early enzymes (deoxycytidine triphosphatase, deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase, deoxynucleotide kinase and thymidylate synthetase) were studied in bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli B207. E. coli B207 is a mutant of E. coli B which is defective in the accumulation and retention of K+ from the growth medium. In mutant cells depleted of K+, the rate of protein synthesis can be regulated by the level of this cation in the growth medium. When bacteriophage T4 infected E. coli B207 cells were incubated in normal growth medium (i.e., containing 33 mM K+), the kinetics of synthesis of the four enzymes studied were identical. However, when infected B207 cells were allowed to synthesize protein at 50% the normal rate (in medium containing 1 mM K+) it was possible to subdivide the four early enzymes into three separate classes based on their kinetics of synthesis. Deoxycytidine triphosphatase and deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase proved to be members of the same class of early enzyme, while deoxynucleotide kinase and thymidylate synthetase were found to be members of a second and third class, respectively.