cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smoke-Free Air: An Important Strategy to Reduce Heart Attacks

In September 2011, the United Nations held a high level meeting (heads of state) that concluded that the global burden of noncommunicable diseases posed a threat to development and that identified reducing tobacco use (together with unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol) as key to reducing the growing global burden of heart and other noncommunicable diseases.[1] While it is widely accepted that tobacco is responsible for a significant disease burden and that reducing tobacco use will reduce these diseases,[2] it is less well-appreciated that reducing exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke produces large and rapid reductions in heart disease-related events, including hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).[3] Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a combination of the sidestream smoke from the lit end of a burning cigarette and smoke exhaled by smokers. It is a complex mixture particles and gases, many of which are cardiac toxicants or irritants. SHS is rich in very fine respiratory suspended particulates (RSP) that promote atherosclerosis and trigger heart attacks,[4] so it is not surprising that in 2005 the California Environmental Protection Agency[5] and in 2006 the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that SHS causes coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality,[6] with exposure being associated with a 25–30% increased risk. This finding is consistent with the fact that involuntary smokers experience oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, abnormal platelet activation and thrombosis, vascular endothelial dysfunction, and a lowered HDL/LDL ratio and hyperlipidemia, all of which contribute to atherosclerosis, as well as autonomic abnormalities of the heart and vasculature that may trigger a cardiac event.[7, 8] While secondhand smoke is richer in many toxins than mainstream smoke (which is inhaled by smokers),[9] it is more diluted, so involuntary smokers are exposed to substantially smaller doses of these toxins than active smokers. As a result, the 25–30% increase in risk of a cardiac event in involuntary smokers may seem large (compared to the risk of active smoking of 39% for 1 cigarette/day and 78% for 20 cigarettes/day[10]). The explanation for these findings is that the response of the cardiovascular system to the toxins in tobacco smoke is highly nonlinear, with large incremental effects at low doses that tend to saturate at higher levels of exposure.[4, 7, 8, 11]
Cryoablation for the Treatment of Drug Refractory Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: A Regional Medical Center Experience.

Introduction: PVI is an effective, guideline-based treatment for drug refractory symptomatic AF. Balloon cryoablation has been shown to be a safe and effective method for PVI. In the STOP-AF trial, data was produced from practitioners performing PVI with significant experience at high volume centers. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of treating symptomatic, drug refractory AF with PVI via cryoablation after implementation in a regional medical center. Method: This represents a retrospective analysis of outcomes after cryoablation treatment for AF in 71 patients over 354.7 +/- 164.4 days. Reported and recorded episodes of AF were categorized into a representative percent of AF “burden” for each 90 day period. Primary effectiveness and safety end points paralleled those of the STOP-AF trial. Results: Patients undergoing cryoablation had a 91% reduction of AF burden at 6 months following the procedure with an event-free survival rate of 45.5 % at a mean follow up of 12 months. The mean burden reduction was 3.21% per quarter. Anti-arrhythmic and anticoagulant medication use was reduced by 14.3% and 26.8% respectively. Significant complications included one report of pulmonary vein stenosis, one report of pseudoaneurysm and 5.5% of patients had transient pericarditis or pericardial effusion following the procedure. Conclusion: The results of this study were comparable to those of the high volume multi-center STOP-AF trial. PVI via cryoablation is a safe and effective alternative treatment of drug refractory symptomatic AF in the setting of a regional medical center. Abbreviations: Atrial fibrillation (AF), pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)
Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment

Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema) is a chronic relapsing and remitting inflammatory skin disease affecting one in 10 people in their lifetime. Atopic dermatitis is caused by a complex interaction of immune dysregulation, epidermal gene mutations, and environmental factors that disrupts the epidermis causing intensely pruritic skin lesions. Repeated scratching triggers a self-perpetuating itch-scratch cycle, which can have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. The American Academy of Dermatology has created simple diagnostic criteria based on symptoms and physical examination findings. Maintenance therapy consists of liberal use of emollients and daily bathing with soap-free cleansers. Use of topical corticosteroids is the first-line treatment for atopic dermatitis flare-ups. Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus are topical calcineurin inhibitors that can be used in conjunction with topical corticosteroids as first-line treatment. Ultraviolet phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis when first-line treatments are not adequate. Antistaphylococcal antibiotics are effective in treating secondary skin infections. Oral antihistamines are not recommended because they do not reduce pruritus. Evidence is lacking to support the use of integrative medicine in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Newer medications approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration, such as crisaborole and dupilumab, are effective in treating atopic dermatitis but are currently cost prohibitive for most patients.
Exploiting Simultaneous Multithreading in Priority-Driven Hard Real-Time Systems

Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) has the ability to dramatically improve real-time scheduling, but existing methods are cumbersome, frequently need specialized hardware, or are limited to producing table-based schedules. Here, an easily portable method for quickly applying SMT to priority-driven hard real-time systems is given. Using a combination of integer linear programming and heuristic bin-packing, a partitioned earliest-deadline-first (EDF) scheduler that takes advantage of SMT is produced. The integer linear programming and partitioning are done offline, but generally require only a few seconds, even given over a hundred tasks. A large-scale schedulability study is conducted, showing that compared to partitioned scheduling without SMT, the schedulable utilization for the considered hardware platform is nearly doubled in the best cases.
UAV-Based Antenna Measurements for Polarimetric Weather Radars: Probe Analysis

One of the principal challenges in the calibration of polarimetric weather radars is achieving the strict requirements in the measurement of the antenna radiation pattern of the system; e.g., a co-polarization mismatch of at most 0.1 dB, and cross-polarization levels less than approximately −40 dB are highly desirable. In a UAV-based antenna pattern measurement system, the radiation characteristics of the probe antenna can be adversely affected by scattering off of the UAV platform itself, and by the relative orientation of the probe antenna with respect to the UAV frame. It is hypothesized that such extraneous reflections depend on the type of antenna used as a probe, and in this context, a more directive probe antenna (i.e., with low back lobe radiation) would be necessary to achieve the required measurement accuracy for weather radar applications. This work studies the effect of UAV and probe antenna interaction for different types of antennas through EM simulations, and this is validated with chamber measurements. For the patch array antenna under study, co-polarization mismatch levels of approximately 0.13 and 0.05 dB, and maximum cross-polarization levels of −37 and −34 dB, are achieved at boresight in measurements and simulations, respectively, which can be improved to meet the requirements with a careful selection of the gimbal operating angle range.
Montology manifesto: echoes towards a transdisciplinary science of mountains

Mountains as archetype frame some meta-geographies of the vertical dimension. Mountain metaphors, thus, have remained as key guidance in developing not only animistic belief systems and religious cults, but also military strategies, economic potential, and scientific innovation. This paper seeks to explain the need to integrate western knowledge, where mountains became known via natural history’s mechanistic explanations, with other epistemologies. Mountain scientists therein developed linear approaches that required exploration, experimentation, and pragmatic interpretation of generalizable mountain phenomena. Little is known, however, about other civilizations’ more encompassing cognition due to heuristic explanations of mountain myths. Local knowledge holders therein developed approaches that required familiarization, observation, and romantic meditation about situated mountain phenomena. Using a multimethod approach of human geography that includes onomastics, geocritical discourse analysis, political ecology, and critical biogeography, the author posits that there is a paradigmatic shift of geographic fad, when even “nature” is thought of as a “social construct” in the socioecological mountainscapes. Between these tendencies of either Cartesian or Spinozan dogmas about scientific objectives, methods and implications, mountains continue to elicit geographical research. The author thus concludes that integrating narratives of mountain studies with geocritical analyses of political ecology that allow for transgressivity and referentialilty of mountain cognition can be done with transdisciplinary science. Montology, henceforth, couples dialectic thinking with the trifecta of spatiality, complexity and historicity in highlighting mountain microrefugia for biocultural conservation. Use of montological approaches will bring mountain scientists to a new level, where the application of local ecological knowledge and cutting-edge technological instrumentation could render sustainable mountain communities, in dynamic biocultural heritage scenarios of convergent mountain science.
Effect of increasing levels of pressure support (PS) with NIV on diaphragmatic function asessed using ultrasound and to identify indicators of NIV failure in patients of AECOPD with type 2 respiratory failure - Pilot study

Introduction: US(Ultrasonography) of Diaphragm may be considered as a poor-man9s esophageal catheter. There is a good corelation between diaphragm function assessed by esophageal catheter and US indices. Diaphragm function assessment via US may help predict response of patients to PS via NIV. We aim to study the effect of increasing PS via NIV on US indices, and to identify indicators of NIV failure. Methods: Prospective, observational study. Patients of AECOPD presenting to emergency room with acute dyspnea were screened and 12 patients with type 2 respiratory failure were included in study. Patients were evaluated and managed according to GOLD guidelines. US Diaphragm done on right side using Liver as acoustic window according to standard protocol. Excursion and thickening fraction noted at baseline and following increasing levels of PS. Differences in US indices compared between those who improved on NIV to those who failed NIV. Results: A marked reduction in the diaphragmatic thickening fraction was noted with increasing levels of PS in ten patients who improved on NIV. There was minimal/no reduction in thickening fraction in two patients who failed NIV. There was no corelation between increasing levels of PS via NIV on diaphragmatic excursion. There was no effect of CPAP on either diaphragmatic excursion or thickening fraction. These changes in US findings preceded evaluation by ABG parameters. Conclusion: US diaphragm is a rapid, repeatable, painless, non-invasive bedside tool which may be useful in predicting NIV failure early compared to ABG parameters in AECOPD with type 2 respiratory failure.
Influence of Thiolate versus Alkoxide Ligands on the Stability of Crystallographically Characterized Mn(III)-Alkylperoxo Complexes.

The work described herein demonstrates the exquisite control that the inner coordination sphere of metalloenzymes and transition-metal complexes can have on reactivity. We report one of few crystallographically characterized Mn-peroxo complexes and show that the tight correlations between metrical and spectroscopic parameters, established previously by our group for thiolate-ligated RS-Mn(III)-OOR complexes, can be extended to include an alkoxide-ligated RO-Mn(III)-OOR complex. We show that the alkoxide-ligated RO-Mn(III)-OOR complex is an order of magnitude more stable (t1/2298 K = 6730 s, kobs298 K = 1.03 × 10-4 s-1) than its thiolate-ligated RS-Mn(III)-OOR derivative (t1/2293 K = 249 s, k1293 K = 2.78 × 10-3 s-1). Electronic structure calculations provide insight regarding these differences in stability. The highest occupied orbital of the thiolate-ligated derivative possesses significant sulfur character and π-backdonation from the thiolate competes with π-backdonation from the peroxo π*(O-O). DFT-calculated Mulliken charges show that the Mn ion Lewis acidity of alkoxide-ligated RO-Mn(III)-OOR (+0.451) is greater than that of thiolate-ligated RS-Mn(III)-OOR (+0.306), thereby facilitating π-backdonation from the antibonding peroxo π*(O-O) orbital and increasing its stability. This helps to explain why the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving Mn complex, which catalyzes O-O bond formation as opposed to cleavage, incorporates O- and/or N-ligands as opposed to cysS-ligands.
Extramicrosomal Metabolism of Insecticides

This chapter will be restricted to a discussion of the metabolic reactions of insecticides which are not mediated by either the mixed-function oxidases (Chapter 2) or the conjugation enzymes (Chapter 5). Emphasis will be placed on in vitro systems, particularly those in which the enzymes have been purified. The enzymes that catalyze the extramicrosomal metabolism of insecticides may be associated with specific subcellular fractions or may be more broadly distributed among several; in general, their natural biological functions are not well understood.
RNO Advocacy: Tips for Calling an Elected Official at Local, State or Federal Levels

Members of the Rural Nurses Organization (RN) are concerned about moving rural health care forward by advocating for our clients and relevant policies. Advocating for clients varies depending on individual needs and cultural preferences. Advocating politically at the local, state and federal level for most nurses is seemingly more complicated. When a nurse is put on the spot to respond to an issue that one knows only peripherally can be especially frightening. Without having the time to seek out the best answer one can easily be tripped up and not give the most appropriate response –especially when responding to a representative or senator at the state or federal level. Yet, these elected officials need and are seeking input from nurses, in particular those in rural practice. Along with face-to-face meetings, nurses can interact with local officials, state legislators and congressional members by writing a letter sent by snail mail, using electronic mail (e-mail) or calling by telephone. Picking up the phone and calling an elected official is quick and relatively easy. However, for most people the idea of making a phone call is more intimidating than writing a letter or sending an e-mail to your congress person. A short focused phone conversation can have a significant and timely impact in getting the attention of a staff member in the congressional office. In turn, that staff member often recalls a constituent’s verbal pitch from phone call or face-to-face conversations when reporting to the elected official. A phone call also presents an immediate opportunity for staff members to ask follow-up questions about the issue and its direct impact at the local level that is useful to policy makers.
Tag-Based Metonymic Search in an Activity-Centric Aggregation Service

Knowledge workers often need to find, organize, and work with heterogeneous resources from diverse services, information stores, and repositories. This paper analyzes two problems that knowledge workers frequently encounter: difficulty in finding all relevant resources across diverse services, and difficulty in formulating and executing searches for resources related to their current activity-of-interest. The Malibu project explores solutions to these problems through a dynamic peripheral display that aggregates knowledge resources from multiple services to support activity-centric work. Of particular interest is the ability to select a knowledge resource and use it as a metonym (a proxy) for its social-tagging metadata in a tag-based search for related resources among heterogeneous services. We evaluated our solutions to these two problems through convergent analyses of quantitative (data log) and qualitative (interview and discussion data) data. Our partial successes show the strength of these new ideas, and indicate areas for future research.
Multiplexed microsphere assays for protein and DNA binding reactions.

Publisher Summary The capacity for multiplexing the detection of molecules within one small sample has significantly broadened the range of flow cytometric applications and has fostered the development of new instruments and computer software to automate the procedures. Multiplexed microsphere assays (MMAs) require (1) an array of microspheres large enough to account for the analytes to be multiplexed, (2) capture ligands/molecules that can bind to the surface of the microspheres covalently, (3) quantifiable standards for quantitative assays, (4) directly or indirectly fluorochrome-conjugated detection ligands, and (5) any intermediate reagents between the captured ligand and final binding/detection step. Various flow instruments are compatible with MMAs. Thus, any flow cytometer equipped with appropriate excitation sources is applicable for performing multiplexed assays. However, the fluorochromes best suited for MMAs are dependent on the excitation and emission wavelengths available with the cytometer. The chapter describes methods for performing a capture-sandwich immunoassay, a competitive immunoassay, and a direct hybridization nucleic acid detection assay, which are the most common formats being developed for MMAs. In addition, the chapter presents the results of the studies on the multiplexed immunoassays. For data analysis of quantitative multiplex immunoassays, the choice of software is critical. The chapter outlines the software packages available for postacquisition analysis of multiplexed assay results and those that can be used to import data for analysis; gives an account of the critical aspects of the methodology; and gives a comparison of MMAs with other methods. Future practical and technological advancements will greatly enhance the adoption of MMA technology. Within clinical diagnostics, interfering factors in body fluids and their blocking; and improvements in sample preparation, will greatly increase the robustness, accuracy, and precision of MMAs.
Calcium/calmodulin inhibits direct binding of spectrin to synaptosomal membranes

Brain spectrin, through its beta subunit, binds with high affinity to protein-binding sites on brain membranes quantitatively depleted of ankyrin (Steiner, J., and Bennett, V. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14417-14425). In this study, calmodulin is demonstrated to inhibit binding of brain spectrin to synaptosomal membranes. Submicromolar concentrations of calcium are required for inhibition of binding, with half-maximal effects at pCa = 6.5. Calmodulin competitively inhibits binding of spectrin to protein(s) in stripped synaptosomal membranes, with Ki = 1.3 microM in the presence of 10 microM calcium. A reversible receptor-mediated process, and not proteolysis, is responsible for inhibition since the effect of calcium/calmodulin is reversed by the calmodulin antagonist trifluoperazine and by chelation of calcium with sodium [ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)]tetraacetic acid. The target of calmodulin is most likely the spectrin attachment protein(s) rather than spectrin itself since: (a) membrane binding of the brain spectrin beta subunit, which does not associate with calmodulin, is inhibited by calcium/calmodulin, and (b) red cell spectrin which binds calmodulin very weakly, is inhibited from interacting with membrane receptors in the presence of calcium/calmodulin. Ca2+/calmodulin inhibited association of erythrocyte spectrin with synaptosomal membranes but had no effect on binding of erythrocyte or brain spectrin to ankyrin in erythrocyte membranes. These experiments demonstrate the potential for differential regulation of spectrin-membrane protein interactions, with the consequence that Ca2+/calmodulin can dissociate direct spectrin-membrane interactions locally or regionally without disassembly of the areas of the membrane skeleton stabilized by linkage of spectrin to ankyrin. A membrane protein of Mr = 88,000 has been identified that is dissociated from spectrin affinity columns by calcium/calmodulin and is a candidate for the calmodulin-sensitive spectrin-binding site in brain.
Purification of Staphylocidal β-Lysin from Rabbit Serum

A cationic protein of rabbit serum bactericidal for Staphylococcus aureus was purified. The specific activity per unit of protein of the purified staphylocidal preparation was approximately 37,000 times greater than that of the serum from which it was isolated. Similar techniques were used to purify serum β-lysin active against Bacillus subtilis approximately 24,000 times. The staphylocidal activity cannot be attributed to the same β-lysin active against B. subtilis, lysozyme, or antibody-complement systems. The concentrations of staphylocidal β-lysin in the sera of the five mammalian species studied did not correlate with their β-lysin activities against B. subtilis. The two β-lysins are similar in that both were heat-stable, sensitive to trypsin digestion, had molecular weights near 6,000, and were found in higher concentrations in serum than in plasma. Furthermore, similar techniques can be used to absorb and elute both substances in highly purified forms using cellulose asbestos filter pads and ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose. In contrast to the β-lysin against B. subtilis, the staphylocidal β-lysin was not released from blood platelets, and it was inactive in the presence of heparin, sodium citrate, sodium oxalate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, acidic phospholipids, and acid pH values. A variety of proteins, including those of normal serum, preferentially inhibited the bactericidal activity of staphylocidal β-lysin but not the β-lysin against B. subtilis.
Self-Assembled Monolayers as Templates for Inorganic Crystallization: a Bio-Inspired Approach

Nature produces a wide variety of exquisite mineralized tissues fulfilling diverse functions, and often from simple inorganic salts. Organisms exercise a level of molecular control over the physico-chemical properties of inorganic crystals that is unparalleled in today's technology. This reflects directly or indirectly the controlling activity of biological organic surfaces that are involved in the formation of these materials. Biological materials are intrinsically nano-scale. Biomineralization occurs within specific nanoenvironments, which implies stimulation of crystal formation at certain interfacial sites and relative inhibition of the process at all other sites. Our approach to artificial crystallization is based on the combination of the two latter concepts: that is, the use of organized organic surfaces patterned with specific initiation domains on a nano-scale to study and orchestrate the crystallization process. This bio-inspired engineering effort made it possible to achieve a remarkable level of control over various aspects of the crystal nucleation and growth, including the precise localization of particles, nucleation density, crystal sizes, morphology, crystallographic orientation, arbitrary shapes, nanostructure, stability and architecture. The ability to construct large, defect-free, patterned single crystals with controlled nanoporosity; periodic arrays of uniform, oriented nanocrystals or films presenting patterns of nanocrystals offers a new, bio- inspired nanotechnology route to materials engineering.
Identification and characterization of the fibrinogen-like domain of fibrinogen-related proteins in the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, genomes.

The fibrinogen-like (FBG) domain, which consists of approximately 200 amino acid residues, has high sequence similarity to the C-terminal halves of fibrinogen β and γ chains. Fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs), which contain FBG domains in their C-terminal region, are found universally in vertebrates and invertebrates. In invertebrates, FREPs are involved in immune responses and other aspects of physiology. To understand the complexity of this family in insects, we analyzed FREPs in the mosquito genome and made comparisons to FREPs in the fruitfly genome. By using the genome data of the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, 53 FREPs were identified, whereas only 20 members were found in the Drosophila melanogaster genome. Using sequence profile analysis, we found that FBG domains have high sequence similarity and are highly conserved throughout the FBG domain region. By secondary structure analysis and comparison, the FBG domains of FREPs are predicted to function in recognition of carbohydrates and their derivatives on the surface of microorganisms in innate immunity. Detailed sequence and structural analysis discloses that the FREP family contains FBG domains that have high sequence similarity in the A. gambiae genome. Expansion of the FREP family in mosquitoes during evolutionary history is mainly accounted for by a major expansion of the FBG domain architecture. The characterization of the FBG domains in the FREP family is likely to aid in the experimental analysis of the ability of mosquitoes to recognize parasites in innate immunity and physiologies associated with blood feeding.
Sample size and validation issues on the development of CAD systems

Abstract Classifier design and performance validation are important steps in the development of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems. Within a CAD system, one or more classifiers may be used at various stages to differentiate malignant and benign lesions, or to differentiate true lesions from false positives. A classifier is trained with case samples drawn from the patient population. The performance of the trained classifier on unknown samples depends on the quality (whether the training samples are statistically representative of the patient population) and the quantity (sample size) of the training samples. To evaluate the performance of the classifier (or the CAD system), an independent set of test samples that have not been seen by the classifier (unknown samples) should be used. Because the available samples with ground truth are often limited in medical imaging research, the finite sample size is a limiting factor in the development of CAD systems. In this talk, we will review some of the issues associated with classifier design and validation under the constraint of finite sample size.
Use of a physiologically based model to predict systemic uptake and respiratory elimination of perchloroethylene.

Abstract The pharmacokinetics of inhaled perchloroethylene (PCE) were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats to characterize the pulmonary absorption and elimination of the volatile organic chemical (VOC). The direct measurements of the time course of PCE in the blood and breath were used to evaluate the ability of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict systemic uptake and elimination of PCE. Fifty or 500 ppm PCE was inhaled for 2 hr through a miniaturized one-way breathing valve by unanesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats of 325-375 g. Serial samples of the inhaled and exhaled breath streams, as well as arterial blood, were collected during and following PCE inhalation and analyzed by headspace gas chromatography. PCE-exhaled breath concentrations increased rapidly to near steady state (i.e., within 20 min) and were directly proportional to the inhaled concentration. Uptake of PCE into the blood was also rapid, but blood levels continued to increase progressively over the course of the 2-hr exposure at both exposure levels. Cumulative uptake, or total absorbed dose, was not proportional to the exposure level. A PBPK model was developed from in vivo parameters determined from tissue concentration-time data in a companion ia study (Dallas et al. , 1994, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 128 , 50-59). PCE concentrations in the blood and exhaled breath during and following PCE inhalation were well predicted by the PBPK; model. Despite species differences in blood:air and lung:air partition coefficients, the model was used to account for similar levels of PCE and other VOCs in the expired air of rats and humans. The model also accurately simulated percentage uptake and cumulative uptake of PCE over time. The model′s ability to predict systemically absorbed doses of PCE under a variety of exposure scenarios should be useful in assessment of risks in occupational and environmental settings.
A proposal to facilitate weight-of-evidence assessments: Harmonization of Neurodevelopmental Environmental Epidemiology Studies (HONEES)

The ability to conduct weight-of-evidence assessments to inform the evaluation of potential environmental neurotoxicants is limited by lack of comparability of study methods, data analysis, and reporting. There is a need to establish consensus guidelines for conducting, analyzing, and reporting neurodevelopmental environmental epidemiologic studies, while recognizing that consistency is likewise needed for epidemiology studies examining other health outcomes. This paper proposes a set of considerations to be used by the scientific community at-large as a tool for systematically evaluating the quality of proposed and/or published studies in terms of their value for weight-of-evidence assessments. Particular emphasis is placed on evaluating factors influencing the risk of incorrect conclusions at the level of study findings. The proposed considerations are the first step in what must be a larger consensus-based process and can serve to catalyze such a discussion. Achieving consensus in these types of endeavors is difficult; however, opportunities exist for further interdisciplinary discussion, collaboration, and research that will help realize this goal. Broad acceptance and application of such an approach can facilitate the expanded use of environmental epidemiology studies of potential neurodevelopmental toxicants in the protection of public health, and specifically children's health.
Cold compaction and sintering of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene containing a segregated iron network

To improve the powder processing behavior of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, a conductive iron filler was distributed within the polymer in a segregated network. The filler level was kept at a minimum of 10 volume percent, which was sufficient to coat completely all the polymer particle surfaces. This filler level was low enough to avoid modifying the resin properties to a significant extent. Compaction of these filled samples showed a slower densification, under pressure, similar level of final densification at 80% densification parameter, and a doubling of plateau pressure value to 200 MPa in comparison with the unfilled polymer. The filler was found to reduce drastically the postcompaction relaxation time from 24 h to 6 h. The magnitude of the axial (compaction direction) relaxation was unchanged, but the radial relaxation was one quarter of that for the unfilled polymer. Sintering behavior showed improved densification because of lower dimensional changes during sintering resulting in 80% relative sintered density, higher than the 75% percent value for the unfilled polymer, but yielded a 20% lower sintered strength, An alternative process of rapid sintering by induction heating was explored, its feasibility demonstrated, and a recommendation is made to make powder processing of this polymer commercially attractive.
On adaptive estimation

Abstract Point estimates that are weighted averages of other estimates are considered. They are adaptive because the weights are also functions of the sample observations.In particular, the weights are functions of new measures of peakedness and skewness. Five adaptive estimators are compared (in a Monte Carlo study using the swindle) to some of the usual estimators, including those robust ones of Huber and Tukey. In addition, the swindle constant is considered in some detail. All of the adaptive estimators do extremely well with an adaptive biweight statistic being the best one in this study. Suggestions are made about future directions in this area.
Far from equilibrium vapour phase growth of lattice matched III-V compound semiconductor interfaces: some basic concepts and Monte-Carlo computer simulations

Abstract This paper presents an exposition of some basic concepts relating to the thermodynamics and kinetics of semiconductor interface formation in vapour phase epitaxial growth under far from equilibrium conditions. Though many of the concepts discussed are of general validity, the discussion is motivated particularly by the special conditions and considerations of importance to molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth of interfaces between tetrahedrally bonded semiconductors. A brief overview of the existing basis for understanding near equilibrium growth from the vapour phase is followed by presentation of a conceptual framework for MBE growth. This coherent presentation unfolds several kinetic aspects and their finer considerations which may be expected to be of significance and require greater systematic attention. Based upon this conceptual picture, a simple model problem of the growth of an AxB1−xC alloy (representing a pseudobinary III–V compound semiconductor such as AlxGa1−xAs) on a lattice matched and C-terminated ideal (100) surface of BC is formulated and investigated via Monte-Carlo computer simulations. These idealized studies reveal considerable richness of the phenomena and set the stage for ongoing systematic Monte-Carlo computer simulations of the role of such parameters as substrate orientation and surface geometry, point defects and impurities, the surface migration kinetics, etc. in MBE growth.
Lack of Ethics for eLearning: Two Sides of the Ethical Coin

Among the many concerns an eLearning program administrator faces, ethics for eLearning is among the top. Ethical concerns come from within the program and external to it. This article is a review of some of the ethical concerns facing eLearning administrators; looking at two sides of the ethical coin. The first side of the coin looks at internal ethical issues which has brought about concern for the quality of eLearning programs and has led to five new federal regulations facing IHE. The flip side of the coin looks at ethical concerns coming from outside the program by way of unethical behaviors from students and how eLearning program administrators can deal with these unethical practices.
Energy cost and cardiopulmonary responses for wheelchair locomotion and walking on tile and on carpet

The purpose of this study was to compare energy cost and cardiopulmonary responses to wheelchair locomotion and walking on tile and on carpet at 3.0 km . h-1. Nine wheelchair-dependent (WD) and ten able-bodied (AB) individuals served as test subjects. WD subjects were tested for wheelchair locomotion on tile and on carpet, and AB subjects were tested for walking over both floor surfaces. Studied variables included gross energy cost (GEC), net locomotive energy cost (NLEC), pulmonary ventilation (VE) and heart rate (HR) during all test conditions. On tile, GEC and NLEC were found to be lower, whereas VE and HR were higher for wheelchair locomotion than for walking. On carpet, wheelchair locomotion elicited higher values for all variables than walking. In going from tile to carpet, significant increases in these variables were found for wheelchair locomotion, whereas walking elicited similar response magnitudes on both floor surfaces. These results suggest that cardiopulmonary stresses for wheelchair locomotion are higher than for walking, and that a carpet can present an obstacle to wheelchair locomotion which may not be recognised by those who walk.
Can the Change in Center-edge Angle During Pincer Trimming Be Reliably Predicted?

Background Femoroacetabular impingement is recognized as a cause of hip pain in young adults and as a precursor to osteoarthritis although many questions persist regarding its management. One in particular is when to resect a pincer lesion and how much to resect. Instability can result from overresection and persistent impingement can result from underresection.
Humorous Coping and Serious Reappraisal: Short-Term and Longer-Term Effects

The management of unhelpful negative emotions has been addressed by two literatures, one focused on coping via humor, and the other focused on emotion regulation. In the present study, we directly compared humorous coping with conventional (serious) reappraisal. We expected humorous coping to be more effective than serious reappraisal in the short and longer term. Fifty-seven participants used either humorous coping, serious reappraisal, or attended naturally while viewing negative pictures and then rated their positive and negative emotional responses. One week later, participants viewed and rated the pictures again. In the short-term, while humorous coping was more difficult than serious reappraisal, it was more effective in down-regulating negative and up-regulating positive emotions. In the longer-term, both strategies had beneficial effects on positive emotions while humorous coping was more beneficial than serious reappraisal in down-regulating negative emotions. This is the first study that empirically shows short and longer-term beneficial effects of humorous coping versus serious reappraisal in the context of emotions elicited by negative stimuli.
Meconium Stimulates Production of Thromboxanes From Human Alveolar Epithelial Cell A549 ♦ 1687

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the perinatal period. Despite the clinical relevance of MAS, its pathogenesis is poorly understood. In addition, cells and cell products involved in meconium-induced alterations of lung functions are not well defined. We have recently shown that meconium increases the release of cyclo-oxigenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism from murine alveolar macrophages in a cell culture system (Ped Res 39:349A, 1996). These findings assume significant importance since prostanoids appear to be involved in the regulation of several cellular functions: constriction of airway smooth muscle, control of vascular smooth muscle tone and reactivity, modulation of inflammatory/immune cell responses. As a result, they have been invoked in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory lung diseases. To extend our in vitro observations, we investigated whether exposure to meconium leads to changes in thromboxane release from airway epithelial cells in culture. A549 cells were incubated at 37°C in 5% CO2. Under these conditions, cells were approximately 90% confluent on the day after seeding. After preliminary concentration- and time-response experiments, monolayers of A549 cells were incubated with either 1% meconium or serum free medium alone for 6 hours and then washed. After incubation for 24 hours, samples were removed and assayed. Cell viability was determined by the trypan blue exclusion method. The production of a putative mediator of airway dysfunction, thromboxane A2(TXA2), was determined by measuring its immediate and stable metabolite TXB2. This was accomplished by determining the release of TXB2 in the supernatant fluids by enzyme immunoassay. Results were expressed in terms of pg/mg protein (mean±SE). We found meconium produced a significant increase in TXB2 release as demonstrated by the following values: 238.3±37.2 vs 1142.3±218.2 (p=0.0005, paired t-test) for control and meconium-stimulated cells respectively. These findings suggest that exposure to meconium may disrupt the cyclo-oxigenase pathway within airway epithelial cells thus leading to production of substances capable of altering airway function. Further studies are needed to define the role played by epithelial derived prostanoids in the pathogenesis of MAS-induced lung injury.
Truck Models for Improved Fatigue Life Predictions of Steel Bridges

A new fatigue load model has been developed based on weigh-in-motion (WIM) data collected from three different sites in Indiana. The recorded truck traffic was simulated over analytical bridge models to investigate moment range responses of bridge structures under truck traffic loadings. The bridge models included simple and two equally continuous spans. Based on Miner’s hypothesis, fatigue damage accumulations were computed for details at various locations on the bridge models and compared with the damage predicted for the 240-kN (54-kip) American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) fatigue truck, a modified AASHTO fatigue truck with an equivalent effective gross weight, and other fatigue truck models. The results indicate that fatigue damage can be notably overestimated in short-span girders. Accordingly, two new fatigue trucks are developed in the present study. A new three-axle fatigue truck can be used to represent truck traffic on typical highways, while a four-axle fa...
Simulating structural and thermodynamic properties of carcinogen-damaged DNA.

A pair of stereoisomeric covalent adducts to guanine in double-stranded DNA, derived from the reaction of mutagenic and tumorigenic metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene, have been well characterized structurally and thermodynamically. Both high-resolution NMR solution structures and an array of thermodynamic data are available for these 10S (+)- and 10R (−)-trans-anti -[BP]-N2-dG adducts in double-stranded deoxyoligonucleotides. The availability of experimentally well-characterized duplexes containing these two stereoisomeric guanine adducts provides an opportunity for evaluating the molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) method for computing thermodynamic properties from molecular dynamics ensembles. We have carried out 3-ns molecular dynamics simulations, using NMR solution structures as the starting models for the 10S (+)- and 10R (−)-trans-anti-dG adducts in a DNA duplex 11-mer using AMBER 6.0. We employed the MM-PBSA method to compute the free energies, enthalpies, and entropies of the two adducts. Our complete thermodynamic analysis agrees quite well with the full experimental thermodynamic characterization of these adducts, showing essentially equal stabilities of the two adducts. We also calculated the nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) distances from the molecular dynamics trajectories, and compared them against the experimental NMR-derived NOE distances. Our results showed that the simulated structures are in good agreement with the NMR experimental NOE data. Furthermore, the molecular dynamics simulations provided new structural and biological insights. Specifically, the puzzling observation that the BP aromatic ring system in the 10S (+)-trans-anti-dG adduct is more exposed to the aqueous solvent than the 10R (−)-trans-anti-dG adduct, is rationalized in terms of the adduct structures. The structural and thermodynamic features of these stereoisomeric adducts are also discussed in relation to their reported low susceptibilities to nucleotide excision repair.
Computation of Correlated Color Temperature and Distribution Temperature

Methods by which the correlated color temperature and the distribution temperature of a light source may be calculated from a knowledge of the spectral power distribution of the source are described. Digital-computer programs have been written to perform the calculations; these programs are described, with the results of some tests for a number of sources. The two temperatures are significantly different for some sources. A new concept, “daylight distribution temperature” is also introduced and some examples are given.
What was Fisher's fundamental theorem of natural selection and what was it for?

Abstract Fisher’s ‘fundamental theorem of natural selection’ is notoriously abstract, and, no less notoriously, many take it to be false. In this paper, I explicate the theorem, examine the role that it played in Fisher’s general project for biology, and analyze why it was so very fundamental for Fisher. I defend Ewens (1989) and Lessard (1997) in the view that the theorem is in fact a true theorem if, as Fisher claimed, ‘the terms employed’ are ‘used strictly as defined’ (1930, p. 38). Finally, I explain the role that projects such as Fisher’s play in the progress of scientific inquiry.
Brain blood flow alterations induced by therapeutic vagus nerve stimulation in partial epilepsy: I. Acute effects at high and low levels of stimulation.

Summary: Purpose: To measure vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)-induced cerebral blood flow (CBF) effects after prolonged VNS and to compare these effects with immediate VNS effects on CBF. Methods: Ten consenting partial epilepsy patients had positron emission tomography (PET) with intravenous [15O]H2O. Each had three control scans without VNS and three scans during 30 s of VNS, within 20 h after VNS began (immediate-effect study), and repeated after 3 months of VNS (prolonged study). After intrasubject subtraction of control from stimulation scans, images were anatomically transformed for intersubject averaging and superimposed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for anatomic localization. Changes on t-statistical maps were considered significant at p < 0.05 (corrected for multiple comparisons). Results: During prolonged studies, CBF changes were not observed in any regions that did not have CBF changes during immediate-effect studies. During both types of studies, VNS-induced CBF increases were similarly located in the bilateral thalami, hypothalami, inferior cerebellar hemispheres, and right postcentral gyrus. During immediate-effect studies, VNS decreased bilateral hippocampal, amygdalar, and cingulate CBF and increased bilateral insular CBF; no significant CBF changes were observed in these regions during prolonged studies. Mean seizure frequency decreased by 25% over a 3-month period between immediate and prolonged PET studies, compared with 3 months before VNS began. Conclusions: Seizure control improved during a period over which some immediate VNS-induced CBF changes declined (mainly over cortical regions), whereas other VNS-induced CBF changes persisted (mainly over subcortical regions). Altered synaptic activities at sites of persisting VNS-induced CBF changes may reflect antiseizure actions.
Distribution of Na+ K(+)-ATPase in regenerating retinal pigment epithelium in the rabbit. A study by electron microscopic cytochemistry.

Abstract Electron microscopic cytochemistry was used to examine the distribution of the enzyme sodium potassium ATPase (Na+ K+-ATPase) on the plasma membrane of regenerating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Observations were made in rabbits that received intravenous sodium iodate, which elicits RPE degeneration followed by regeneration. A gradient in intensity and polarization of enzyme activity was observed from the least mature cells in the distal part of the regenerating epithelial sheet to more mature cells proximally. The least mature cells exhibited faint Na+ K+-ATPase activity over their entire plasma membrane except where it faced the basement membrane. As cells matured and re-expressed the cytologic characteristics of mature RPE, activity intensified and became localized to the apical plasma membrane, as in normal RPE. The observations show the ability of damaged RPE to recover its normal structural and functional polarity.