cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Patients with Pulmonary Vascular and Restrictive Lung Disease Suffer Disproportionately High Waitlist Mortality

Purpose Survival after pediatric lung transplantation is the same for major diagnostic groups; however, waitlist outcomes by diagnosis have not been analyzed since the major changes to lung allocation in 2005. Methods The UNOS database was reviewed for pediatric patients ( Results 1,054 patients were listed for pediatric lung transplantation within the diagnostic categories of Cystic Fibrosis (Group A; n=480), Pulmonary Vascular Disease (Group B; n=246), Obstructive Lung Disease (Group C; n=43), and Restrictive Lung Disease (Group D; n=285). Groups A and C had similar 1-year waitlist survival (Log-rank p-value=0.987) while Groups B and D did the worst (Figure 1). There was increased hazard of mortality at one year on the waitlist for Groups B (1.594; p-value=0.023) and D (1.747; p-value=0.006) compared to Group A when adjusting for extracorporeal oxygenation, ventilator support, pan-resistant bacterial infection, and glomerular filtration rate Conclusion Waitlist outcomes in pediatric lung transplant vary greatly by diagnostic category. Since they have similar post-transplant outcomes, all candidates with restrictive lung disease and vascular disease would benefit from prioritization for donor lungs in hopes of earlier transplantation.
In Vivo Models for the Study of Fibrosis.

Significance: Fibrosis and scar formation pose a substantial physiological and psychological burden on patients and a significant public health burden on the economy, estimated to be up to $12 bill...
Using the OSU TBI-ID method for screening rural, older adults: a mixed methods feasibility study.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of: (1) a brain injury and screening tool (Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method; OSU TBI-ID) training for rural Area Agency on Ag...
Die in pieces: How Drosophila sheds light on neurite degeneration and clearance.

Dendrites and axons are delicate neuronal membrane extensions that undergo degeneration after physical injuries. In neurodegenerative diseases, they often degenerate prior to neuronal death. Understanding the mechanisms of neurite degeneration has been an intense focus of neurobiology research in the last two decades. As a result, many discoveries have been made in the molecular pathways that lead to neurite degeneration and the cell-cell interactions responsible for the subsequent clearance of neuronal debris. Drosophila melanogaster has served as a prime in vivo model system for identifying and characterizing the key molecular players in neurite degeneration, thanks to its genetic tractability and easy access to its nervous system. The knowledge learned in the fly provided targets and fuel for studies in other model systems that have further enhanced our understanding of neurodegeneration. In this review, we will introduce the experimental systems developed in Drosophila to investigate injury-induced neurite degeneration, and then discuss the biological pathways that drive degeneration. We will also cover what is known about the mechanisms of how phagocytes recognize and clear degenerating neurites, and how recent findings in this area enhance our understanding of neurodegenerative disease pathology.
Changes in factors influencing fellowship choices among radiology residents from 2008 to 2018 and methods that may increase interest in the pediatric radiology subspecialty

Fewer residents are choosing a career in pediatric radiology, which is contributing to an ongoing shortage of pediatric radiologists. To identify potential causes of reduced interest in pediatric radiology as a career given a projected worsening of a nationwide shortage of pediatric radiologists. An online questionnaire using previously published questions was approved and distributed by the Program Directors in Diagnostic Radiology to diagnostic radiology residents on behalf of the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR). Descriptive statistics including means with standard error and independent t-tests were used to compare mean scores between survey years. Nearly all of the 353 respondents (90.9%) planned on pursuing a fellowship. The majority (57.7%) identified their fellowship subspecialty before the 3rd year of residency with only 5.7% selecting pediatric radiology. Overall, 18.2% of survey respondents favored academic practice compared to 40% in the pediatric radiology subgroup. Fellowship choices were most strongly based on area of strong personal interest, marketability and area of strong personal knowledge, while the pediatric radiology subgroup emphasized area of strong personal interest, increased interaction with other physicians and enjoyable residency rotations. The pediatric radiology subgroup believed their impact on patient care was more significant than other subspecialties. Pediatric radiology job opportunities were thought to be more limited, geographically confining, and to have lower salaries than other subspecialties. More flexible job opportunities and higher demand were identified as factors needing to change before a resident would consider a pediatric radiology career. The influence on fellowship selection is multifactorial. By emphasizing the favorable job market and marketability of pediatric radiology in all practice types/geographic locations, correcting perceived salary gaps and stressing the impact on patient care as early as medical school, the number of residents choosing a career in pediatric radiology may grow.
An Ontology for Exploring Urban Public Life Today

Michael Brill An O n t o l o g y for E x p l o r i n g Urban Public Life Today There is a common and historic assumption that open space is where public life occurs. But this historic relationship between open space and public life may no longer be so true, and may now be too constraining an assumption to be very useful in thinking fully about public life. Public life has had a 300-year transformation, seen by most social critics as a decline, or worse, a fall. I don't really agree. Rather, I believe we tend not to recognize some of the public life we do have or many emerging forms of public life. Nor do we honor those forms we do recognize, because they are not for purposes that we esteem or not for everybody. In fact, there is a rich component of public life that occurs in spaces that are not pub­ licly owned and are not the classical urban open space of the dense street, the enclosed square, or the park. Examples include the strip, the indoor and outdoor mall, the atrium, the skyway system connecting a second level public world, the vacant lot, the abandoned highway fragment used by skateboarders and sunbathers, community gardens, the board­ walk and the beach. Moreover, there is still a vigorous public life in the discourse about politics, morality, and religion, but in space that isn't a physical place at all: the virtual space of the inter­ active media, of text, image, and voice communications. Nevertheless, the literature generally accepts the idea that there has been substantial loss of public life. This supposed loss generates strong nostalgia for an image of a dense, diverse, classless, and democratic public life lived in our streets, squares and parks, an image diat was probably never true for us here in America. The literature that couples public life with public space often contains a conde­ scending attitude: if we Americans want to see how public life and public place is done really well, we must go to Europe's historic urban centers (always, i t seems, to the Piazza D i San Marco, the Piazza Navona, or Milan's Galleria) and, i f we would only P L A C E S
Building Risk Prediction Models for Type 2 Diabetes Using Machine Learning Techniques.

Introduction As one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States, diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, affects the health of millions of people and puts an enormous financial burden on the US economy. We aimed to develop predictive models to identify risk factors for type 2 diabetes, which could help facilitate early diagnosis and intervention and also reduce medical costs. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data on 138,146 participants, including 20,467 with type 2 diabetes, from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We built several machine learning models for predicting type 2 diabetes, including support vector machine, decision tree, logistic regression, random forest, neural network, and Gaussian Naive Bayes classifiers. We used univariable and multivariable weighted logistic regression models to investigate the associations of potential risk factors with type 2 diabetes. Results All predictive models for type 2 diabetes achieved a high area under the curve (AUC), ranging from 0.7182 to 0.7949. Although the neural network model had the highest accuracy (82.4%), specificity (90.2%), and AUC (0.7949), the decision tree model had the highest sensitivity (51.6%) for type 2 diabetes. We found that people who slept 9 or more hours per day (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.25) or had checkup frequency of less than 1 year (aOR = 2.31, 95% CI, 1.86-2.85) had higher risk for type 2 diabetes. Conclusion Of the 8 predictive models, the neural network model gave the best model performance with the highest AUC value; however, the decision tree model is preferred for initial screening for type 2 diabetes because it had the highest sensitivity and, therefore, detection rate. We confirmed previously reported risk factors and also identified sleeping time and frequency of checkup as 2 new potential risk factors related to type 2 diabetes.
Functional Neuroimaging in the New Era of Big Data

Abstract The field of functional neuroimaging has substantially advanced as a big data science in the past decade, thanks to international collaborative projects and community efforts. Here we conducted a literature review on functional neuroimaging, with focus on three general challenges in big data tasks: data collection and sharing, data infrastructure construction, and data analysis methods. The review covers a wide range of literature types including perspectives, database descriptions, methodology developments, and technical details. We show how each of the challenges was proposed and addressed, and how these solutions formed the three core foundations for the functional neuroimaging as a big data science and helped to build the current data-rich and data-driven community. Furthermore, based on our review of recent literature on the upcoming challenges and opportunities toward future scientific discoveries, we envisioned that the functional neuroimaging community needs to advance from the current foundations to better data integration infrastructure, methodology development toward improved learning capability, and multi-discipline translational research framework for this new era of big data.
A User-Informed, Theory-Based Pregnancy Prevention Intervention for Adolescents in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Purpose Female adolescents seeking emergency department (ED) care are at high risk of unintended pregnancy, primarily because of contraceptive nonuse; yet, few ED patients follow up for reproductive care when referred. The objective of this cohort study was to determine the feasibility, acceptability, adoption, fidelity, and potential efficacy of a personalized and interactive ED-based pregnancy prevention mobile health intervention (Emergency Room Interventions to improve the Care of Adolescents [Dr. Erica]). Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study with sexually active female ED patients aged 14–19 years who were not using highly effective contraceptives. Dr. Erica consists of a 10-week, automated, two-way texting intervention based on an evidence-based sexual health curriculum, the Social Cognitive Theory, and motivational interviewing techniques. At 12 weeks, we conducted follow-up via online survey and phone call to measure feasibility, acceptability, adoption, fidelity, and preliminary efficacy data (contraception initiation). Results We screened 209 female ED patients to enroll 42. The average age was 17.5 years (standard deviation ± 1.4); the majority were Hispanic (n = 37, 88%) and had a primary provider (n = 40, 95%). One participant opted out (1/42, 2%), and a total of 35 participants (83%) completed follow-up. Although interactivity diminished with time, 83% of participants (35/42) replied to one or more text. Ninety-four percent of participants (29/31) liked the messages, and 83% (25/30) would recommend the program. Hormonal contraceptives were initiated by 46% of participants (16/35). Conclusions Dr. Erica was feasible and acceptable among female adolescent ED patients and demonstrated high fidelity and adoption. The intervention also showed potential to increase highly effective contraceptive use among high-risk females.
Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Atopic Dermatitis: Critical Appraisal of a Mendelian Randomization Approach in Exploring Causality

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex etiology including genetic and environmental risk factors.1 Obesity has been associated with increased AD risk and severity,2 but a causal relationship has not been established. In the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Budu-Aggrey et al.3 assessed the causality between elevated body mass index (BMI) and AD using a Mendelian randomization (MR)approach1 .
A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Homogeneous and Functionally Graded Thermoelectric Cylinders

This paper analyzes a homogeneous thermoelectric (TE) circular cylinder as well as an exponentially graded TE cylinder under three-dimensional (3D) conditions. Analytical solutions of the temperature fields are obtained using an eigenfunction expansion method. The energy conversion efficiencies are determined and the material property gradation and leg geometry effects are examined. For the homogeneous TE material, it is found that the efficiency of the TE cylinder is almost the same as that of the cuboid TE leg with the side 2 W equal to the diameter 2R of the cylindrical leg. The efficiency of the cylindrical leg, however, is slightly higher than that of the cuboid leg if the two legs have the same length and cross-sectional area. In this case, the difference in energy efficiency between the two leg geometries depends on the ratio of the lateral dimension to the leg length and vanishes when the lateral dimension goes to infinity. For the exponentially graded TE cylinder, the numerical examples show that the efficiency is increased by appropriate material property gradations but is decreased by the 3D effects. Finally, the analytical solution indicates that besides the figure of merit, the two dimensionless parameters R/L and hL/k, where L is the leg length, h is the surface heat transfer coefficient, and k is the thermal conductivity, are also important factors that influence the energy efficiency of TE cylinders in 3D.
Burosumab treatment for fibrous dysplasia.

Abstract Background Fibrous dysplasia/McCune-Albright syndrome (FD/MAS) is a rare mosaic disorder of Gαs activation. Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23)-mediated hypophosphatemia is a feature of FD/MAS that has been associated with poor skeletal outcomes. Standard therapy includes oral phosphorus and vitamin D analogs; however, treatment is limited by potential adverse renal and gastrointestinal effects. Burosumab is a monoclonal antibody to FGF23 approved to treat patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia and tumor-induced osteomalacia. There is currently no safety or efficacy data to support burosumab use in patients with FD/MAS. Case description A 7-year-old boy with severe FD/MAS presented with persistent hypophosphatemia and skeletal complications despite conventional treatment with oral phosphate and calcitriol. He was started on burosumab and achieved sustained normalization of serum phosphorus and marked improvement in alkaline phosphatase levels. This was accompanied by an encouraging clinical response, including decreased bone pain, improved muscle strength, and improved ambulation. No adverse effects of burosumab therapy were observed. Conclusions This is the first reported case of burosumab treatment in a patient with FD/MAS. The encouraging biochemical and clinical response in this patient highlights the need for future studies to explore the safety and efficacy of burosumab in the FD/MAS pediatric population.
Practical Approach to Refractory GERD: GI Perspective over the Last 40 Years:

Refractory GERD patients not responding to BID proton pump inhibitors are often referred for anti-reflux surgery. Over the last 40 years, I have learned the importance of a team approach with compr...
Evaluation of the antitumor efficacy and pharmacodynamics of the histone deacetylase inhibitor depsipeptide on childhood cancer models in vivo

4119 Histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs) control the acetylation state of histones and other proteins regulating transcription and protein function. A number of structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors have been developed as cancer therapeutic agents and have been shown to cause differentiation, cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Depsipeptide is a natural tetrapeptide that was isolated from Chromobacterium violaceum No. 968. We have evaluated depsipeptide against 39 independently derived childhood tumors (9 brain tumors, 11 kidney cancers, 9 rhabdomyosarcomas, 3 neuroblastomas, and 7 osteosarcomas) growing in scid mice as xenografts. Western Blot analysis was performed to determine the acetylation state of histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4), protein levels of p53, pp53 (ser15), p21cip1 and cleaved PARP following administration of depsipeptide. The MTD was 4.4 mg/kg administered q7dx3iv (repeated q21dx2). Of 39 tumors evaluated, three were considered sensitive (2 stable disease, IRS56 and BT35, and 1 complete response, BT27). We have compared pharmacodynamic changes in these sensitive tumors and contrasted the pattern of histone acetylation (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) with that in three resistant tumors (GBM2, SKNEP and WT10). Sensitive and resistant tumors followed a similar pattern of histone acetylation; maximal increases in histone acetylation occurred at 8hr and were elevated for 96hr. BT35 tumors showed the highest levels of histone acetylation and therefore more genes involved in growth arrest may be transcribed. To investigate the putative role of p53 in sensitivity to depsipeptide, total p53 and phospho-p53 (Ser15) were determined in control and treated tumors. In two sensitive tumor lines, IRS56 and BT27, there was no detectable p53 in the controls but an increase was observed maximal at 8 hr associated with induction of p21cip1 after treatment; no pp53 (Ser15) was detected. BT35, GBM2, SKNEP and WT10 tumors had stable p53, GBM2 and SKNEP tumors also had pp53, throughout the time course studied suggesting that these tumors have mutant p53. Cleaved PARP was detected in all of the tumors; the highest levels were detected 24 hours after treatment. Our results demonstrate that depsipeptide does inhibit its target in vivo i.e. causes increased histone acetylation, however this does not correlate with drug sensitivity. The magnitude and duration of acetylation may be an important factor in whether a tumor responds, as may be the p53 status of the tumor. Altogether, determining whether depsipeptide would work on a given tumor seems to be multifactorial, which is understandable as depsipeptide can have multiple effects in a cell. Supported by CA23099 and ALSAC.
Reduction in plasma transfusion after enforcement of transfusion guidelines.

BACKGROUND: The majority of fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) is transfused in the United States in the management of acquired bleeding disorders. The prothrombin time (PT), and its derivative the international normalized ratio (INR), is the most common test used to detect the presence and gauge the severity of these disorders. Observation studies have shown that the PT correlates poorly with clinical bleeding and that transfusion of plasma often achieves no measurable change in the INR nor is of any known clinical benefit. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data on FFP and red blood cell transfusions and measures of hospital activity and mortality were collected over a 12-year period. The first 3 years were baseline years, the next 3 years were physician education years, and in the last 6 years all requests for FFP were screened. Orders were discouraged if the INR was less than 2.0 in the absence of active bleeding and the use of vitamin K was encouraged if the patient was taking warfarin. RESULTS: This program ultimately resulted in an approximate 80% reduction in transfused FFP using the average of the baseline years compared to the average of the last 3 years (157 ± 19 units FFP/1000 discharges vs. 30 ± 15, p < 0.01, respectively). Overall, hospital activity remained largely unchanged or increased. No unexpected bleeding was reported, which was attributed to a failure to transfuse FFP, and inpatient mortality rate decreased during these 12 years. CONCLUSIONS: A program of engagement and interdiction using evidence-based guidelines can successfully decrease the use of FFP without any observable increase in unexpected bleeding.
Setting Up and Managing ICT Laboratory in a Nigerian Library School: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Experience

This paper discusses the setting up of an ICT laboratory in a Nigerian Library School with special reference to the Department of Library and Information Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The ICT laboratory was set up by the Emporia-Nigeria Project, an educational partnership between Emporia State University School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) in Emporia, Kansas, USA and three peer institutions in Nigeria: Bayero University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Maiduguri. The four-year project was sponsored by the Bureau for Cultural and Educational Affairs, College and University Affiliation Program of the U.S. State Department. The School of Library and Information Management of Emporia State University on its own donated computers, networking kits and provided the training for the project and training for the laboratory supervisors in the library schools both in Nigeria and at Emporia State University, USA. The paper highlights how the computers donated by the Emporia-Nigeria Project and those of the Management of Ahmadu Bello University were networked by the trained laboratory supervisor and connected to the Internet free for use by the students and staff of the Department. Afr. J. Lib. Arch. & Inf. Sc. Vol.15(1) 2005: 51-58
Invisible institutional repositories: Addressing the low indexing ratios of IRs in Google Scholar

Purpose – Google Scholar has difficulty indexing the contents of institutional repositories, and the authors hypothesize the reason is that most repositories use Dublin Core, which cannot express bibliographic citation information adequately for academic papers. Google Scholar makes specific recommendations for repositories, including the use of publishing industry metadata schemas over Dublin Core. This paper aims to test a theory that transforming metadata schemas in institutional repositories will lead to increased indexing by Google Scholar.Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted two surveys of institutional and disciplinary repositories across the USA, using different methodologies. They also conducted three pilot projects that transformed the metadata of a subset of papers from USpace, the University of Utah's institutional repository, and examined the results of Google Scholar's explicit harvests.Findings – Repositories that use GS recommended metadata schemas and express them in HTML m...
Variations in tropical cyclone precipitation in Texas (1950 to 2009)

[1] Spatial and temporal variations of tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) in Texas are examined using 60 years of precipitation data from Cooperative Observing Network gages (1950 to 2009). An automated extraction method is used to identify TCP. Texas receives an average of 123.5 mm of TCP/year, which is ~13% of the state's mean annual precipitation. September is the month with the most TCP with an average of 18.5 mm. As expected, TCP generally deceases as you move inland. Long-term trends (>50 years) in TCP are evident at some locations, but there are no statistically significant long-term trends in aggregated annual TCP metrics for Texas. Despite the lack of long-term trends, TCP metrics show some spectral power at periodicities of ~2-3 years, ~5-8 years, and >10 years. Areas within 400 km of the coast have higher risk of extreme daily TCP (>100 mm), but inland Texas can also occasionally experience extreme TCP. In some areas in southeastern Texas the probability of receiving >100 mm of daily TCP in any given year is ~0.30 (i.e., daily TCP exceeds 100 mm, on average, 1 out every 3 years).
Cell-Culture Response to Fibroma Virus

Verna, John E. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). Cell-culture response to fibroma virus. J. Bacteriol. 89:524–528. 1965.—Three established rabbit cell lines (Minnesota CRP, RbK, and RbH) were infected with Shope9s rabbit fibroma virus (Patuxent strain). The responses of the cell lines to virus infection differed from one another. Minn. CRP cells produced plaques (1 to 2 mm) on the 4th or 5th day which possessed characteristic cellular aggregates at the periphery of the plaque. Minn. RbH cells underwent degeneration with the elongation of cells and no aggregation formation. Minn. RbK cells responded with foci of cellular aggregates and no plaque formation. The resulting number of characteristic lesions in each cell line was related to virus dilution. The history of virus passage had no effect on the resulting lesion. All cells appeared to be equally sensitive to fibroma virus infection. Conclusive evidence for a viral-induced proliferative effect in RbK cells has not been found. Images
An Introduction to Plant Structure and Development: Sympodial systems and patterns of nodal anatomy

Perspective: leaf traces Vegetative shoots consist of stems bearing leaves. In order to develop, and to synthesize various necessary compounds required by the plant, leaves must have access to a source of water and essential minerals which are transported into them from the stem through the primary xylem. Photosynthate and other compounds synthesized in the leaves are, in turn, transported through the primary phloem into the stem and root system for storage and/or use. This transport of substances takes place in primary vascular connections between the stem vascular system and the base of leaves called leaf traces . Traces may diverge from the stem vascular system some distance below, or very near, the nodes (sites of attachment of leaves to stems) at which they enter the leaves. Leaf traces are composed of protoxylem, metaxylem, protophloem, and metaphloem, and typically contain transfer cells in both primary xylem and primary phloem. In seed plants, leaf traces are often larger and contain more tracheary cells than the vascular bundles from which they diverge, and they may increase in size distally. A leaf may be vascularized by only one or by several to many leaf traces. In order to understand the morphology of nodal regions of shoots we must observe both transverse and median longitudinal sections through these regions. Remember that stems bear many leaves in various spatial distributions.
Anthranilate Synthetase from Serratia marcescens ON THE PROPERTIES AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE ENZYME FROM SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM

Abstract Anthranilate synthetase was purified from Serratia marcescens. The enzyme was homogeneous by the criterion of disc gel electrophoresis. Glutamine- and NH3-dependent anthranilate synthetase activities were subject to end product inhibition by tryptophan. Inhibition by tryptophan exhibited positive cooperativity. In the absence of tryptophan, Michaelis-Menten kinetics were obtained for saturation by the two substrates, chorismate and glutamine. Positive cooperativity for chorismate was detected in the presence of tryptophan. These kinetic properties of anthranilate synthetase from S. marcescens were similar to those of the multifunctional anthranilate synthetase-anthranilate 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (PR transferase) aggregate from Salmonella typhimurium. A molecular weight of approximately 141,000 was estimated for the oligomeric anthranilate synthetase from S. marcescens. Nonidentical subunits of molecular weights approximately 60,000 and 21,000 were detected by disc gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The glutamine analogue, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), and sulfhydryl reagents selectively inactivated glutamine-dependent anthranilate synthetase activity; NH3-dependent activity was largely retained. 14C-Labeled DON and iodo[14C]acetamide were incorporated into the small subunit thus establishing the relationship of this subunit to anthranilate synthetase Component II from anthranilate synthetase-PR transferase of S. typhimurium. Approximately 2 moles of DON or iodoacetamide were incorporated per mole of anthranilate synthetase, suggesting that the oligomeric enzyme contains two glutamine-binding subunits (anthranilate synthetase Component II). From a consideration of the approximate size of the native enzyme and its subunits a composition of two chains each of anthranilate synthetase Components I and II is suggested. A glutaminase activity was detected. This activity may serve to transfer the amide of glutamine from anthranilate synthetase Component II to the catalytic site on Component I. Catalytic properties and structural features of anthranilate synthetase from S. marcescens were compared to those of trypsin-treated anthranilate synthetase-PR transferase from S. typhimurium (Hwang, L. H., and Zalkin, H., J. Biol. Chem., 246, 2338 (1971)). On the basis of similarities between the two enzymes it is suggested that gene fusion could account for the two types of anthranilate synthetase.
Improved understanding and prediction of the hydrologic response of highly urbanized catchments through development of the Illinois Urban Hydrologic Model

[1] What happens to the rain in highly urbanized catchments? That is the question that urban hydrologists must ask themselves when trying to integrate the hydrologic and hydraulic processes that affect the hydrologic response of urban catchments. The Illinois Urban Hydrologic Model (IUHM) has been developed to help answer this question and improve understanding and prediction of hydrologic response in highly urbanized catchments. Urban catchments are significantly different than natural watersheds, but there are similarities that allow features of the pioneering geomorphologic instantaneous unit hydrograph concept developed for natural watersheds to be adapted to the urban setting. This probabilistically based approach is a marked departure from the traditional deterministic models used to design and simulate urban sewer systems and does not have the burdensome input data requirements that detailed deterministic models possess. Application of IUHM to the CDS-51 catchment located in the village of Dolton, Illinois, highlights the model's ability to predict the hydrologic response of the catchment as well as the widely accepted SWMM model and is in accordance with observed data recorded by the United States Geological Survey. In addition, the unique structure and organization of urban sewer networks make it possible to characterize a set of ratios for urban catchments that allow IUHM to be applied when detailed input data are not available.
Variability in Response of Laboratory-Reared and Field-Collected Populations of Tetranychus spp. (Acari: Tetranychidae) to Hexythiazox

Variability in hexythiazox (Savey) toxicity to the eggs of spider mites (Tetranychus spp.) from six laboratory colonies and 26 field collections (5-6 each from cotton, almonds, pears, roses, and strawberries) was determined using a leaf disk bioassay method. The difference in the response of T. urticae Koch and T. pacificus McGregor to hexythiazox was 10-fold when contact and residual methods were compared. Intraspecies differences in susceptibility were found with laboratory colonies of both T. urticae and T. pacificus , indicating that a low level of cross-resistance to other compounds may exist. Variation in susceptibility of fjeld-collected spider mites to hexythiazox within and between crops was also found for both species. Field collected T. urticae were significantly more susceptible to hexythiazox than were field-collected T. pacificus . Few significant differences were found when responses of field-collected spider mites tested on their original host plant leaves were compared with responseson cotton cotyledons in the laboratory. The use of laboratory-reared cotton had far more advantages than the use of host leaves. These results suggest that continued monitoring of hexythiazox susceptibility, determination of cross-resistance patterns, and the implementation of resistance management tactics are warranted before and after this compound is registered for use.
An analysis of smoking patterns among older adults.

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND, SUBJECTS, AND METHODS: The 1990 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement to The National Health Interview Survey was used to develop point-prevalence data about smoking for four age groups, 55 to 64, 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and over 84 and to assess the association of sociodemographics, health status, and health beliefs with a respondent's smoking profile. RESEARCH DESIGN Chi-square and Cohran-Mantel-Haenszel tests were used to investigate prevalence patterns. Odds ratios generated from logistic regressions were used to indicate degree of association. RESULTS Fifty-three percent of individuals above the age of 54 smoked in the past and 17% smoked in 1990. Among these smokers, 61% tried to quit and 36% noted that their physicians never advised them to quit. Significant age group differences were noted on the various measures of smoking prevalence. Beliefs about the adverse health effects of smoking were associated with a greater likelihood of never smoking, and among smokers, a greater likelihood of being a former smoker. CONCLUSIONS Analyses of health behaviors among older adults must recognize the diversity within this age group, and measures of health beliefs should be included in subsequent studies of health behaviors among older adults. Physicians must also play a greater role in discussing smoking with their patients and advocating smoking cessation.
A methodology for the assessment of manned flight simulator fidelity

A relatively simple analytical methodology for assessing the fidelity of manned flight simulators for specific vehicles and tasks is offered. The methodology is based upon an application of a structural model of the human pilot, including motion cue effects. In particular, predicted pilot/vehicle dynamic characteristics are obtained with and without simulator limitations. A procedure for selecting model parameters can be implemented, given a probable pilot control strategy. In analyzing a pair of piloting tasks for which flight and simulation data are available, the methodology correctly predicted the existence of simulator fidelity problems. The methodology permitted the analytical evaluation of a change in simulator characteristics and indicated that a major source of the fidelity problems was a visual time delay in the simulation.
Automated measurement of heterogeneity in CT images of healthy and diseased rat lungs using variogram analysis of an octree decomposition

Assessing heterogeneity in lung images can be an important diagnosis tool. We present a novel and objective method for assessing lung damage in a rat model of emphysema. We combined a three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics method–octree decomposition–with a geostatistics-based approach for assessing spatial relationships–the variogram–to evaluate disease in 3D computed tomography (CT) image volumes. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed intratracheally with saline (control), or with elastase dissolved in saline to either the whole lung (for mild, global disease) or a single lobe (for severe, local disease). Gated 3D micro-CT images were acquired on the lungs of all rats at end expiration. Images were masked, and octree decomposition was performed on the images to reduce the lungs to homogeneous blocks of 2 × 2 × 2, 4 × 4 × 4, and 8 × 8 × 8 voxels. To focus on lung parenchyma, small blocks were ignored because they primarily defined boundaries and vascular features, and the spatial variance between all pairs of the 8 × 8 × 8 blocks was calculated as the square of the difference of signal intensity. Variograms–graphs of distance vs. variance–were constructed, and results of a least-squares-fit were compared. The robustness of the approach was tested on images prepared with various filtering protocols. Statistical assessment of the similarity of the three control rats was made with a Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. A Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to measure statistical distinction between individuals. For comparison with the variogram results, the coefficient of variation and the emphysema index were also calculated for all rats. Variogram analysis showed that the control rats were statistically indistinct (p = 0.12), but there were significant differences between control, mild global disease, and severe local disease groups (p < 0.0001). A heterogeneity index was calculated to describe the difference of an individual variogram from the control average. This metric also showed clear separation between dose groups. The coefficient of variation and the emphysema index, on the other hand, did not separate groups. These results suggest the octree decomposition and variogram analysis approach may be a rapid, non-subjective, and sensitive imaging-based biomarker for characterizing lung disease.
Modeling coupling between eelgrass Zostera marina and water flow

Ecological effects caused by submerged aquatic vegetation not only depend on the plants and their morphology but also on the flow and transport patterns of dissolved and suspended constituents near the canopy. Canopy height is a major variable in any quantitative analysis of plant biomass and constituent transport in its vicinity. Height of eelgrass Zostera marina canopies changes due to bending of the blades under varying current regimes. In this paper, I mathematically modeled the coupling between eelgrass blade bending and water flow. Based on the balance of forces of drag, lift, friction, weight and buoyancy on a single blade, the model defined the bending of blades (i.e. height of canopy) and the flow response within and above the canopy. This coupling was tested using laboratory data and indicated that the model performed adequately. Both model results and laboratory data confirmed that the bending of blades, and hence canopy height, was very sensitive to current magnitude and directly influenced current profile. Identifying canopy height is a major factor in defining spatial distribution of grass biomass from optical or acoustic remote sensing devices. The model has direct implications for biological issues related to the plants themselves and to their associated organisms, such as the vertical distribution of photosynthesis within the canopy and the effect of current shear on recruitment of organisms on the blades. It can also be used to study how eelgrass canopies affect horizontal transport of constituents, such as dissolved oxygen, nutrients and organic carbon, and particulate material such as pollen, larvae, plankton and detritus.
Skeptical theism is incompatible with theodicy

Inductive arguments from evil claim that evil presents evidence against the existence of God. Skeptical theists hold that some such arguments from evil evince undue confidence in our familiarity with the sphere of possible goods and the entailments that obtain between that sphere and God’s permission of evil(s). I argue that the skeptical theist’s skepticism on this point is inconsistent with affirming the truth of a given theodicy. Since the skeptical theist’s skepticism is best understood dialogically, I’ll begin by sketching the kind of argument against which the skeptical theist’s skepticism is pitched. I will then define ‘skeptical theistic skepticism’, offer a precise definition of ‘theodicy’, and proceed with my argument.
The challenge of adaptation: shaping service delivery to meet changing needs.

The complexion of service delivery in psychiatry, particularly the roles and functions of allied health professionals, is evolving in response to economic, political, legal, and social changes. Understanding that change is inevitable, knowing that services shift to meet changing consumer needs, and effectively designing and developing suitable programs that address social changes are skills that have enabled occupational therapists to become change agents. Occupational therapists are able and willing to cooperate in a dedicated effort to improve the functional abilities of those with psychiatric illnesses. Engaging in a collaborative effort to refine mental health services to meet consumer needs while respecting system constraints is a joint effort. Efficient use of experienced personnel to develop the optimal solution to the effects of shrinking resources, staff shortages, and the demands of more educated consumers will result in the best the system has to offer.
Diversity in publications [From the Editor's Desk]

It is common wisdom that diversity can make a group strong. Approaching a problem or situation from multiple perspectives increases the chances of finding longterm, effective solutions. Several years ago at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), during one of our diversity training sessions, we learned that the ancient Incas were able to survive for centuries on a diet rich in potatoes because they grew a diverse variety of the tubers. As growing conditions changed year to year (drought, wet, or short growing seasons), there was generally one or another type of potato that would survive. We were told that the Irish, on the other hand, focused exclusively on one type of potato that appeared to be well suited to their environment, but when that one variety became susceptible to disease, the terrible Irish potato famine occurred.
The U.S. lodging industry and the environment: An historical view

The historical record indicates that, from at least the early part of the twentieth century, the hotel industry has been involved in and concerned with environmental-management initiatives, if for ...
Rapid development of parallel blocked all-pairs shortest paths code for multi-core computers

In this paper, we present the rapid development of efficient multi-core parallel code for the blocked Floyd-Warshall algorithm, using the C++ library gae.h [4], on top of the Intel C++ Threading Building Blocks (TBB) library. We demonstrate that developing parallel multi-core code using gae.h is easy and fast. The parallel code developed with gae.h is also efficient. The efficiency of the parallel code developed for the blocked Floyd-Warshall algorithm on an 80-core HP ProLiant DL980 G7 multi-core machine is above 70% if less than 70 cores are used and above 90% if less than 20 cores are used.
Edge-to-edge repair for prevention and treatment of mitral valve systolic anterior motion

Background The edge-to-edge technique has been proposed to prevent systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve. There is limited clinical data available on outcomes of this technique for this indication. We reviewed the midterm results of this technique for SAM prevention and treatment. Methods A total of 2226 patients had mitral valve repair between 2000 and 2011, 1148 of which were for myxomatous mitral regurgitation. Beginning in 2000, predictability of postrepair SAM based on the prebypass, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram arose in our program. The edge-to-edge technique was used in 65 patients (5.7%) for SAM management, in 53 patients preemptively for transesophageal echocardiogram-based SAM prediction, and in 12 patients for postrepair SAM treatment. Results There was no operative mortality. Postoperative mitral regurgitation was significantly improved in all patients compared with the preoperative grade ( P P = .12). Without SAM prediction and preemptive edge-to-edge technique, the expected rate of SAM would have been 5.7%; however, the observed rate was 1% (12 of 1148 patients). Conclusions Initiating an expectation for prebypass SAM prediction, combined with a surgical SAM prevention strategy, resulted in a reduced prevalence of SAM compared with our model of observed to-expected-ratios and to published norms.
Preparation of Zinc Oxide Thin Films by Reactive Pulsed Arc Molecular Beam Deposition

The structures and properties of ZnO thin films deposited on Si (111), Corning 2947 glass and polyimide substrates by pulsed arc molecular beam deposition (PAMBD) have been studied. PAMBD is an ablation technique that utilizes a high-voltage pulsed electrical arc discharge to provide a plasma source for oxide generation and subsequent material deposition. Metal oxide generation is accomplished by pulsing oxygen gas and using the arc discharge to create a high-temperature plasma. The resulting metal oxide product is expanded and deposited onto a room-temperature substrate situated within a vacuum chamber. In this work, ZnO thin films were grown by the PAMBD method and then characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction, and ellipsometry measurements to determine the film composition, structure, growth rate, and optical properties. SEM studies of ZnO films on different substrates all demonstrated that the PAMBD ZnO films were dense and have col...
X-ray spectrometry for remote exploration of Mercury and the Moon

Abstract Any future mission to Mercury or the Moon should include an X-ray spectrometer in order to address fundamental questions of planetary origin. In the case of Mercury, where no direct geochemical measurements exist, such measurements are crucial in the understanding of the origin of Mercury and the early solar system. For the Moon, where actual surface samples are available, more complete geochemical mapping is crucial in the assessment of the potential for future development of resources and permanent bases. Orbital X-ray detectors measure emission induced by the solar high energy flux incident on planetary surfaces. Characteristic lines generated for a number of elements are of sufficient intensity to allow measurement by orbital detectors. The X-ray instrumentation we propose for these experiments, which is being flown or developed for current space missions, would consist of an array of solid state Si PIN detectors in the case of a lunar mission, and a multi-wire divided chamber proportional counter in the case of a Mercury mission. In both cases, one pinhole size Si PIN detector would act as a solar monitor. The spin-stabilized orbiter proposed for launch in the first or second decade of the twenty first century as part of the ESA's Horizon 2000-plus plan is considered the nominal mission design for the target Mercury. In the case of the Moon, we consider a generic three-axis stabilized polar orbiter at 100 km. Model spectra have been generated and integration times and spatial resolutions estimated for a variety of rock types which could be found on Mercury or the Moon, including ANT Suite materials (anorthosite, anorthositic gabbro, and troctolite), a variety of basalts, and enstatite chondrites in the case of Mercury. Calculation indicate that Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Fe maps could be generated by nominal one to two year missions in polar orbit, and could determine the overall distribution of major rock types observed or proposed on either body early in such a mission.