cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reservoir ranching of paddlefish, Polyodon spathula: results of a public opinion survey in Kentucky.

Reservoir ranching is an extensive aquaculture practice which stocks young fish that feed on naturally available foods, and are harvested after a period of time. Paddlefish, Polyodon spathulaare filter feeders on zooplankton and are valued for their boneless meat and roe that can be processed into caviar. The goal of this study was to report the perceptions that Kentuckians have of paddlefish reservoir ranching in public waters. Our results show that over 80% of surveyed respondents (N = 478) were in favor of this practice. However, almost 20% of respondents indicated that reservoir ranching of paddlefish might be deleterious for sport fishing in the reservoirs selected for this aquaculture method. A similar proportion of the surveyed sample was against instituting reservoir ranching of paddlefish in public waters. Other results showed that respondent characteristics, such as fishing license ownership and education level, systematically affected their opinion of reservoir ranching. Individuals wi...
Potential Impacts of Routing Milk to Dairy Processing Plants on the Basis of Assembly Cost and Protein Content

Abstract Cheese yields are directly related to the amount of protein in raw milk. Multiple goal programming and heuristic vehicle routing techniques are used to evaluate the trade-offs between revenues and costs of hauling from farm to plant resulting from protein-based assignments of milk producers to cheese and fluid processing plants. Increased assembly costs are minor in comparison with the revenue gains from increased cheese yields.
Enzyme replacement treatment for Tay-Sachs disease brain cells in culture utilizing Concanavalin A-mediated hexosaminidase A uptake: Biochemical and morphological evidence of GM2 mobilization

When Concanavalin A (Con A) is bound to the cell membrane, it functions as an artificial enzyme receptor, mediating the binding and intracellular incorporation of significant amounts of exogenous hexosaminidase A (Hex A) into Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) glial cells. The treated cells retained almost 50% of incorporated Hex A activity after 3 days incubation in Hex A free medium. Hex A was released from Con A within the cell and was available as free enzyme. Biochemical analysis of gangliosides in Con A and Hex A treated cells depicted a greater than 50% reduction in stored GM2 ganglioside and a fourfold reduction in GM2label (14C) when compared to controls. Ultrastructural evidence of GM2 breakdown is presented which supports the biochemical and labeling studies.
Opposing Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species and Cholesterol on Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase and Endothelial Cell Caveolae

Synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is critical for normal vascular homeostasis. eNOS function is rapidly regulated by agonists and blood flow and chronically by factors that regulate mRNA stability and gene transcription. Recently, localization of eNOS to specialized plasma membrane invaginations termed caveolae has been proposed to be required for maximal eNOS activity. Because caveolae are highly enriched in cholesterol, and hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased NO production, we first studied the effects of cholesterol loading on eNOS localization and NO production in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). Caveolae-enriched fractions were prepared by OptiPrep gradient density centrifugation. Treatment of BAECs with 30 microgram/mL cholesterol for 24 hours stimulated significant increases in total eNOS protein expression (1.50-fold), eNOS associated with caveolae-enriched membranes (2.23-fold), and calcium ionophore-stimulated NO production (1.56-fold). Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia, we next studied the effects of ROS on eNOS localization and caveolae number. Treatment of BAECs for 24 hours with 1 micromol/L LY83583, a superoxide-generating napthoquinolinedione, decreased caveolae number measured by electron microscopy and prevented the cholesterol-mediated increases in eNOS expression. In vitro exposure of caveolae-enriched membranes to ROS (xanthine plus xanthine oxidase) dissociated caveolin more readily than eNOS from the membranes. These results show that cholesterol treatment increases eNOS expression, whereas ROS treatment decreases eNOS expression and the association of eNOS with caveolin in caveolae-enriched membranes. Our data suggest that oxidative stress modulates endothelial function by regulating caveolae formation, eNOS expression, and eNOS-caveolin interactions.
Molecular imaging of lung glucose uptake after endotoxin in mice.

Positron emission tomographic imaging after administration of the glucose analog fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) may be useful to study neutrophilic inflammation of the lungs. In this stu...
Malignant tumors with clear cell morphology: a comparative immunohistochemical study with renal cell carcinoma antibody, Pax8, steroidogenic factor 1, and brachyury

This study aimed to identify an immunohistochemical panel to aid in the differential diagnosis for tumors with clear cell morphology. Twenty-five clear cell renal cell carcinomas (CCRCCs), 19 clear cell ovarian carcinoma (CCOCs), 20 cases of adrenal cortical carcinomas(ACCs), and 10 chordomas were stained for renal cell carcinoma marker (RCC Ma), Pax8, brachyury, and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). The extent of stains was scored as focal ( 50%). The intensity was scored as weak, moderate, and strong. Twenty-two CCRCCs were positive for RCC Ma (88%) and Pax8 (88%), respectively. The RCC Ma cytoplasmic staining was largely diffuse (76%) and strong (76%). The nuclear Pax8 staining was usually diffuse (76%) and moderate (64%) to strong (8%). All of CCRCCs were negative for brachyury and SF-1. All of 19 CCOCs were positive for Pax8 nuclear staining. The staining was diffuse, moderate (21%) to strong (79%). All of CCOCs were negative for RCC Ma, brachyury, and SF-1. All of 20 ACCs were positive for SF-1 nuclear staining. The staining was largely diffuse (95%), moderate (55%) to strong (15%). All of ACC were negative for RCC Ma, Pax8, and brachyury. All of 10 chordomas were positive for brachyury nuclear staining. The staining was diffuse and strong. All of chordomas were negative for RCC Ma, Pax8, and SF-1. In summary, the panel of RCC Ma, Pax8, brachyury, and SF-1 is useful in the differential diagnosis of tumors with clear morphology.
Evidence for recovery of spatial pattern vision by cats with visual cortex damage

Abstract Cats lacking visual cortical areas 17, 18 and 19 can recover the ability to discriminate between horizontal and vertical striped patterns which have been equated for total luminous flux and total contour length, and in which local flux cues have been eliminated. The present experiment investigated whether this ability depends upon stimulus flicker cues produced by behavioral strategies such as scanning the head or eyes across the striped stimuli. To test this, the stimuli themselves were made to flicker in ways which should disrupt any flicker cues the animals was generating. Both stimuli were made to flicker on some trials, only the horizontal stimulus flickered on some trials, or only the vertical stimulus flickered on some trials. In addition, several different rates of flicker were tested, spanning the range which cats with visual cortex lesion can discriminate. None of these procedures significantly disrupted performance of the horizontal-vertical stripes discrimination by cats with damage to areas 17, 18 and 19. The results suggest that temporal stimulus flicker is not an important cue used in this discrimination. They provide evidence that some form of true spatial pattern vision is recovered by these animals.
Small Round Structured Viruses: An Important Infection Control Problem?

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis and endemic cases of gastrointestinal infection are common important health problems among adults and children in the United States. Mortality is rare, but morbidity and economic losses are frequent. Much has been written about these infections in children and populations at risk, including daycare center attendees and their parents, sexually active gay men and institutionalized individuals in hospitals and chronic-care facilities. Nevertheless, the majority of cases of gastroenteritis in the United States are undiagnosed when careful evaluation is performed in research laboratories. Less than 20% of persons affected seek medical care, although it is known that over half alter their daily activities.1 The impact of acute gastroenteritis on patients, employees and their relatives and friends is tremendous. The outbreak of gastroenteritis described by Gellert and colleagues in this issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology2 illustrates many of the problems we face as healthcare professionals in defining, controlling and preventing these dis-
Hyperfine Splitting Effects in the Capture of Polarized μ − Mesons

We investigate the effect of the hyperfine splitting of $\ensuremath{\mu}$-mesic atom ground states on the neutron asymmetry from muon capture in hydrogen, in deuterium, and in complex nuclei with spin which are treated by a one-particle model. It is shown that this can provide more information on the capture interaction than the neutron asymmetry from spinless nuclei. Muon polarizations and gyromagnetic ratios in the hyperfine states are also discussed.
An 18.2%-efficient black-silicon solar cell achieved through control of carrier recombination in nanostructures

The efficiency of solar cells with high-area, nanostructured surfaces is limited by surface and Auger charge-recombination processes, which can be slowed through appropriate levels of junction doping.
What is “appropriate practice” at home and in child care?: Low-income mothers' views on preparing their children for school☆

Abstract In this qualitative, longitudinal study, multiple interviews were conducted over 3 years with 14 low-income single mothers (4 White, 6 Black, and 4 Latino). The women talked about socialization goals for their preschoolaged children as well as their views concerning the role of mother and the role of child care providers in attaining those goals. A central objective for all mothers was preparing their children to succeed in school. Most of the women expected their child's provider to engage in didactic lessons aimed at teaching basic literacy and numeracy skills. However, they all viewed other teacher-structured activities as important (e.g., art, music, cooking, field trips, and book reading). Most did not see play as being related to learning, although they acknowledged the emotional and physical benefits of play. These women's views of learning were not entirely congruent with the constructivist position of many early childhood educators, nor were they narrowly defined solely in terms of academic skills. They were receptive to information from child care professionals and other “experts” when these perspectives furthered their own goals for their children. Their views about preschool learning were linked to other cultural models of childrearing including respecting authority, contributing to one's family or community, and differentially allocating responsibility for teaching to parents or to teachers.
Econometric model-building at regional level

Abstract The increasing importance of macroeconometric models in regional economic analysis is discussed. Conceptual and estimation problems are outlined and a prototype regional model is summarized. After a short history of such models, the specification of typical models and their testing is presented and the structure of an estimated model for Philadelphia is given. Applications of regional econometric models to forecasting, impact analysis and policy study are presented. The prospects for regional model building are contained in the final part of the paper.
Piezoelectric Inchworm Operation in a Vacuum

An "inchworm"-type piezoelectric displacement device has been tested for operation in a vacuum. Comparative data are given for its operation at two pressures (1 atmosphere and 10-6 to 1O-7 torr), three loads (0, 8, 15 N), and four speeds in the range 0.5 to 50 micrometers per second. The results are such that the device is now being applied successfully to drive an X-Y stage in a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Hemoglobin stability and patient compliance with darbepoetin alfa in peritoneal dialysis patients after the implementation of the prospective payment system.

Abstract Purpose Since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, dialysis providers have increasingly focused on balancing resource utilization and quality outcomes for the treatment of anemia in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Limited data exist regarding anemia management outcomes for these patients in US-based dialysis centers after the implementation of the new payment system. Methods This was a retrospective, observational, cohort study of stable PD patients with end-stage renal disease who received darbepoetin alfa for anemia management over a 15-month period (April 1, 2011–June 29, 2012). The medication was administered by staff in the home-training unit instead of being self-administered at home. The primary end point was mean quarterly hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Variability in Hb levels was assessed over the 5 quarters by using repeated measures ANOVA to test for differences in the observed mean SDs. Findings In the 139 adult patients on stable peritoneal dialysis and meeting the eligibility criteria, mean (SD) Hb level by quarter was 10.8 (1.2) g/dL in quarters 2 and 3 of 2011, 10.5 (1.1) g/dL in quarter 4 of 2011, and 10.4 (1.1) g/dL in quarters 1 and 2 of 2012. Hb levels were stable (mean SDs, 0.58–0.72) over the 5 quarters of the study. Patient compliance with attendance for all scheduled home training unit visits was 84%. Implications PD patients who underwent darbepoetin alfa administration and twice-monthly laboratory testing in the home-training unit had stable Hb levels. Despite more frequent center visits compared with a home-administered approach, patient compliance was high.
Isolation and characterization of dam+ revertants and suppressor mutations that modify secondary phenotypes of dam-3 strains of Escherichia coli K-12

Bacteria mutant in the dam (DNA adenine methylation) gene and in either recA or recB or recC genes are inviable (Virm- phenotype). From crosses between dam-3 bacteria and recA1 or recB21 recC22 strains, Vrm+ recombinants were recovered. Among these recombinants, Dam+ revertants were present which did not show the phenotypes normally associated with dam-3 bacteria. Three classes of indirectly suppressed strains (dam-3 genotype) were also recovered which showed alterations in the secondary phenotypes normally associated with dam-3 bacteria. These strains contained a second unlinked mutation in either mutL or mutS or sin. In addition, mutation in either sbcA or sbcB suppresses the Vrm- phenotype of dam-3 recB21 recC22 strains.
The effects of saccadic eye movements on the activity of geniculate relay neurons in the monkey.

Saccadic suppression is the reduced visibility that occurs during saccadic eye movements. Recent psychophysical studies have suggested that this is due to a reduction in responsiveness of magnocellular (M), but not parvocellular (P), cells of the lateral geniculate nucleus. To address this and other phenomena of responsiveness during saccades, we recorded from geniculate neurons in the behaving monkey before, during, and after saccades. Specifically, we measured neuronal responses to a flashing, whole-field illumination. Contrary to the prediction, most M neurons showed pronounced enhancement of visual activity during saccades, whereas such responsiveness of parvocellular (P) neurons was not significantly affected by saccades. We also analyzed the extent to which saccades affected burst firing, which results from activation of a voltage-dependent Ca 21 conductance. We found that both M and P cells displayed a significant suppression of burst firing during saccades. These results do not support the idea that saccadic suppression has an obvious substrate in reduced responsiveness of geniculate cells, but this suppression may be related to an increased visual threshold for detection associated with reduced burst firing.
The pluricomplex Green function with two poles of the unit ball of ℂn

In this paper we find the formula for the pluricomplex Green function of the unit ball of C n with two poles ofequal weights. The strategy will be to show the existence ofa f tion ofthe ball (singular at the poles) by proper smooth analytic discs passing through one or through both ofthe poles, such that the restriction ofthe pluricomplex Green f unction to these discs is harmonic away from the poles. This foliation is obtained by solving a suitable extremal problem, in analogy to the results ofLempert in the case ofone pole f or convex domains. Using the expression ofthe Green f unction along each leafofthe f oliation, we construct its f ormula on the whole ball. We then show that this function is of class C 1,1 but not C 2 .
Synthesis of Appropriate Patient Behavior in an Aversive Dental Environment

Following earlier failures to treat a case of dental phobia with drug therapy, 12 30-min. sessions of in vivo desensitization over a period of 6 wk. culminated in the patient's undergoing local anesthesia by hypodermic injection (the most-feared aspect of the dental situation) and having a tooth cavity filled.
Manufacturing overhead cost driver analysis

Abstract This paper empirically examines hypothesis from the accounting, manufacturing, and strategy literatures about volume-based, complexity-based, and efficiency-based drivers of manufacturing overhead costs. Cross-sectional data from a questionnaire of thirty-seven facilities of an electronics company are examined. Subject to caveats regarding the cross-sectional tests, strongest empirical association is found for volume-related cost drivers. There is not consistently strong empirical association for complexity- or efficiency-related drivers. Explanations for the limited association for the complexity- and efficiency-related drivers include proxy problems with the complexity and efficiency concepts and problems in developing uniform measures of variables across a broad cross-section of facilities.
Quantitative assessment of phototoxicity in the skin of hairless mice

For determining threshold levels of inflammation resulting from a phototoxic regimen, measurement of ear thickness with a hand-held micrometer was compared with assessment by eye of the reaction on the dorsa of hairless mice. The ear-measurement technique was less sensitive with respect to the minimum concentration of 8-methoxypsoralen at which phototoxicity could be detected. However this technique was more quantifiable and more objective than detection of threshold responses by eye. Changes in ear thickness were detectable over an extended period of time with a maximum increase at 16 days; return to normal thickness occurred by 35 days. Compressibility of affected ears changed during the course of measurement, but repetitive measurement of the ears did not alter the development or resolution of the inflammatory response.
Hardware-managed register allocation for embedded processors

Most modern processors (either embedded or general purpose) contain higher number of physical registers than those exposed in the ISA. Due to a variety of reasons, this phenomenon is likely to continue especially on embedded systems where encoding space is very limited. Saving the encoding space leads to lower power consumption in the I-cache; on the other hand, harnessing more physical registers saves power in the memory subsystem and reduces latency as well. These design decisions however result in the difficulty of register allocation for a compiler due to limited number of exposed registers at ISA level.In this paper, we therefore propose a hardware managed register allocation scheme to allocate more physical registers at runtime and to utilize them. As a byproduct, we also show that hardware managed register allocation has other merits such as better exploitation of low register pressure regions, more flexible management of caller-save/callee-save registers, etc.Our approach consists of both compiler and hardware enhancements. On the compiler side we assign variables at various stack offsets such that the offsets indicate the relative allocation priorities at runtime. The hardware is modified to identify such spills and make decisions whether they should be put in the (invisible) physical registers based on their relative priorities. Finally, our results show slight improvement in the instructions per cycle counts (IPC) but significant power consumption reduction in the cache.
Postcolonoscopy Followup Recommendations: Comparison with and without Use of Polyp Pathology

Background. Appropriate recommendations for a followup exam after an index colonoscopy are an important quality indicator. Lack of knowledge of polyp pathology at the time of colonoscopy may be one reason that followup recommendations are not made. Aim. To describe and compare the accuracy of followup recommendations made at colonoscopy based on the size and number of polyps with recommendations made at a later date based on actual polyp pathology. Methods. All patients who underwent screening and surveillance colonoscopy from March, 2012, to August, 2012, were included. Surveillance recommendations from the endoscopy reports were graded as “accurate” or “not accurate” based on the postpolypectomy surveillance guidelines established by US Multisociety Task Force on Colon Cancer. Polyp pathology was then used to regrade the surveillance recommendations. Results. Followup recommendations were accurate in 759/884 (86%) of the study colonoscopies, based upon size and number of polyps with the assumption that all polyps were adenomatous. After incorporating actual polyp pathology, 717/884 (81%) colonoscopies had accurate recommendations. Conclusion. In our practice, the knowledge of actual polyp pathology does not change the surveillance recommendations made at the time of colonoscopy in the majority of patients.
Tumor necrosis and cell detachment

Cell detachment from and around Walker 256 tumors grown in rats is quantitated by a standardized in vitro shaking procedure. The volume of cells detached from cancers of similar size is virtually the same in tumors growing in the liver, the spleen, in intramuscular and in subcutaneous sites. In cystic tumors, greater volumes are detached from the innermost regions of the walls adjacent to necrotic material than from the outermost parts. More liver perenchymal cells are shaken free of liver adjacent to a tumor interface than from regions 0.5 and 1.0 cm distant from it. Detachment of tumor and liver cells is also enhanced by prior incubation of tissue samples with necrotic extracts. It is suggested that the necrotic regions of tumors, and products derived from them, facilitate the detachment of tumor cells and cells composing the normal tissues surrounding them, thereby potentially promoting metastasis and invasion.
Examining the Context of Strategy Instruction

The goal of literacy instruction is to teach reading and writing as tools to facilitate thinking and reasoning in a broad array of literacy events. An important difference in the disposition of children to participate in literacy experiences is the extent to which they engage in intentional self-regulated learning. The contexts attending six traditional models of strategy instruction are examined. An exploratory study, conducted with heterogeneous third graders, is reported, examining the implementation and outcomes of three models of strategy instruction—Direct Instruction, Reciprocal Teaching, and Collaborative Problem Solving—which manipulated teacher and student control of activity, as well as the instructional context.
Ozone co-exposure modifies cardiac responses to fine and ultrafine ambient particulate matter in mice: concordance of electrocardiogram and mechanical responses

Studies have shown a relationship between air pollution and increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Due to the complexity of ambient air pollution composition, recent studies have examined the effects of co-exposure, particularly particulate matter (PM) and gas, to determine whether pollutant interactions alter (e.g. synergistically, antagonistically) the health response. This study examines the independent effects of fine (FCAPs) and ultrafine (UFCAPs) concentrated ambient particles on cardiac function, and determine the impact of ozone (O3) co-exposure on the response. We hypothesized that UFCAPs would cause greater decrement in mechanical function and electrical dysfunction than FCAPs, and that O3 co-exposure would enhance the effects of both particle-types. Conscious/unrestrained radiotelemetered mice were exposed once whole-body to either 190 μg/m3 FCAPs or 140 μg/m3 UFCAPs with/without 0.3 ppm O3; separate groups were exposed to either filtered air (FA) or O3 alone. Heart rate (HR) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded continuously before, during and after exposure, and cardiac mechanical function was assessed using a Langendorff perfusion preparation 24 hrs post-exposure. FCAPs alone caused a significant decrease in baseline left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and contractility, whereas UFCAPs did not; neither FCAPs nor UFCAPs alone caused any ECG changes. O3 co-exposure with FCAPs caused a significant decrease in heart rate variability when compared to FA but also blocked the decrement in cardiac function. On the other hand, O3 co-exposure with UFCAPs significantly increased QRS-interval, QTc and non-conducted P-wave arrhythmias, and decreased LVDP, rate of contractility and relaxation when compared to controls. These data suggest that particle size and gaseous interactions may play a role in cardiac function decrements one day after exposure. Although FCAPs + O3 only altered autonomic balance, UFCAPs + O3 appeared to be more serious by increasing cardiac arrhythmias and causing mechanical decrements. As such, O3 appears to interact differently with FCAPs and UFCAPs, resulting in varied cardiac changes, which suggests that the cardiovascular effects of particle-gas co-exposures are not simply additive or even generalizable. Additionally, the mode of toxicity underlying this effect may be subtle given none of the exposures described here impaired post-ischemia recovery.
Anandamide-CB1 Receptor Signaling Contributes to Postnatal Ethanol-Induced Neonatal Neurodegeneration, Adult Synaptic and Memory Deficits

The transient exposure of immature rodents to ethanol during postnatal day 7 (P7), which is comparable with the third trimester in human pregnancy, induces synaptic dysfunctions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these dysfunctions are still poorly understood. Although the endocannabinoid system has been shown to be an important modulator of ethanol sensitivity in adult mice, its potential role in synaptic dysfunctions in mice exposed to ethanol during early brain development is not examined. In this study, we investigated the potential role of endocannabinoids and the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) in neonatal neurodegeneration and adult synaptic dysfunctions in mice exposed to ethanol at P7. Ethanol treatment at P7, which induces neurodegeneration, increased anandamide (AEA) but not 2-arachidonylglycerol biosynthesis and CB1R protein expression in the hippocampus and cortex, two brain areas that are important for memory formation and storage, respectively. N-Arachidonoyl phosphatidylethanolamine–phospholipase D (NAPE–PLD), glycerophosphodiesterase (GDE1), and CB1R protein expression were enhanced by transcriptional activation of the genes encoding NAPE–PLD, GDE1, and CB1R proteins, respectively. In addition, ethanol inhibited ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. The blockade of CB1Rs before ethanol treatment at P7 relieved ERK1/2 but not AKT phosphorylation and prevented neurodegeneration. CB1R knock-out mice exhibited no ethanol-induced neurodegeneration and inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. The protective effects of CB1R blockade through pharmacological or genetic deletion resulted in normal adult synaptic plasticity and novel object recognition memory in mice exposed to ethanol at P7. The AEA/CB1R/pERK1/2 signaling pathway may be directly responsible for the synaptic and memory deficits associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Ringdown reduction for an intraluminal ultrasound array using depth-dependent azimuthal filters

Vibration of piezoelectric elements after electrical excitation creates ringdown artifacts in ultrasound images close to the transducer surface. For intraluminal applications, high quality images are often needed at depths close to the catheter surface. Consequently, ringdown artifacts pose a serious problem for intraluminal circumferential arrays. A current method to reduce these artificial echoes subtracts a precalibrated ringdown signal from each frame in a data set. The dynamic nature of the ringdown artifact, however, reduces the effectiveness of this subtraction algorithm with time following data collection. The ringdown signal has very distinctive characteristics, especially in the near field azimuthal spectrum. An in-depth study of those characteristics presents new alternatives to minimize ringdown artifacts. Using a set of depth-dependent azimuthal filters, we present a method to significantly reduce ringdown artifacts while minimally affecting the real signal. Rubber phantoms with embedded graphite particles were imaged close to the transducer surface to study potential improvements obtained with the azimuthal filters. Results show a reduction of the ringdown signal by at least 10 dB, while increasing the dynamic range between the real signal and the ringdown from 2 dB to 15 dB. The combination of azimuthal filtering with ringdown subtraction can greatly enhance contrast at ranges close to the transducer surface.
Soft drink availability, contracts, and revenues in American secondary schools.

Background Soft drinks have been widely available in the nation's schools for some years, but recently, in response to rising concern about the epidemic of obesity among youth, concerns have been raised as to whether they should be available, and if so, under what circumstances. This paper looks at how widespread soft drink availability is at present in schools, as well as the availability of other classes of beverages. Because overweight occurs disproportionately among minorities and those of lower socioeconomic status (SES), this paper also seeks to determine to what extent environmental conditions differ for these students. Differences between middle and high schools are also examined. Methods Data for 2004 and 2005 were used from two ongoing United States national surveys: the Youth, Education, and Society (YES) study of school administrators (N=345), and the Monitoring the Future (MTF) study of secondary school students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades surveyed in those same schools (N=37,543). Data were gathered in YES on the availability of various beverages in schools from vending machines and other venues, as well as about the presence and nature of pouring rights contracts with soft drink bottlers. Data were analyzed in 2006. Results The vast majority of high school students today have soft drinks available to them in the school environment both through vending machines (88%) and in the cafeteria at lunch (59%), with middle schools providing somewhat less access. Diet soft drinks are less available, particularly at lunch. Most students (67% in middle and 83% in high school) are in schools that have a contract with a bottler. Revenues to schools generated by soft drink sales are quite modest. Hispanics are most likely to have soft drinks available throughout the school day. The SES of the students correlates negatively with whether the school allows advertising and promotion of soft drinks. Conclusions Current school practices regarding soft drink availability, advertising, and sales would seem likely to be contributing to the extent of overweight among American young people, and to some extent to the higher risk faced by Hispanic and lower SES youth.
On-line optimization of stop-etch time

Two separate modeling approaches are shown to be able to estimate the spatially local end point time distribution of a plasma etch, from nonochromatic emission data, before the etch is complete. The distribution can be used to determine optimum stop-etch time.
Modeling of Solute Transport and Macrodispersion by Unsteady Stream Flow under Uncertain Conditions

A numerical simulation for a longitudinally one-dimensional upscaled solute transport model is developed in order to predict the mean solute concentration in natural streams subject to irregular variations in various flow and transport parameters and forcing conditions. A solute transport equation at the local scale of a river cross section is deterministic, but the equation at the river reach scale is stochastic due to various uncertainties in flow and transport parameters in every reach. The upscaling transformation makes a transport equation at the river reach scale deterministic. Compared with the transport equation at local scale, the upscaled equation at the river reach scale has seven covariance integrals, which incorporate the influence of the stream variabilities on the mean value of solute concentration. One of these integrals provides the explicit model of the macrodispersion coefficient as it varies in time and space under varying flow conditions. Lagrangian trajectories of flow are simulated ...
Longitudinal Differences in Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults With and Without Heart Failure

Objective: Secondary data analyses were conducted to examine cognitive function and longitudinal cognitive decline among older adults with and without heart failure (HF). Method: Data from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study were used to compare baseline (N = 2,790) and longitudinal (n = 692) changes in memory, reasoning, and speed of processing performance among participants (M age = 73.61, SD = 5.89) who self-reported HF at baseline, developed HF over time, or never reported HF. Results: At baseline, there were differences in memory and speed of processing with participants who never reported HF performing better than those who reported developing HF over time, and those who reported HF at baseline performing the worst (ps < .05). Longitudinally, participants with self-reported HF at baseline showed declines in reasoning over time. Discussion: The results indicate that cognitive difficulties in memory and speed may occur prior to a HF diagnosis, while those with HF ma...
Nicotine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone binding and access channel in human cytochrome P450 2A6 and 2A13 enzymes.

Cytochromes P450 (CYP) from the 2A subfamily are known for their roles in the metabolism of nicotine, the addictive agent in tobacco, and activation of the tobacco procarcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). Although both the hepatic CYP2A6 and respiratory CYP2A13 enzymes metabolize these compounds, CYP2A13 does so with much higher catalytic efficiency, but the structural basis for this has been unclear. X-ray structures of nicotine complexes with CYP2A13 (2.5 Å) and CYP2A6 (2.3 Å) yield a structural rationale for the preferential binding of nicotine to CYP2A13. Additional structures of CYP2A13 with NNK reveal either a single NNK molecule in the active site with orientations corresponding to metabolites known to form DNA adducts and initiate lung cancer (2.35 Å) or with two molecules of NNK bound (2.1 Å): one in the active site and one in a more distal staging site. Finally, in contrast to prior CYP2A structures with enclosed active sites, CYP2A13 conformations were solved that adopt both open and intermediate conformations resulting from an ∼2.5 Å movement of the F to G helices. This channel occurs in the same region where the second, distal NNK molecule is bound, suggesting that the channel may be used for ligand entry and/or exit from the active site. Altogether these structures provide multiple new snapshots of CYP2A13 conformations that assist in understanding the binding and activation of an important human carcinogen, as well as critical comparisons in the binding of nicotine, one of the most widely used and highly addictive drugs in human use.
Hemodynamic Control of End-Diastolic Velocity: An in Vitro Study

In recent years, analysis of Doppler Frequency Shift Waveform has been used extensively in assessing peripheral hemodynamics (Woodcock, 1972; Pourcelot, 1974; Gosling and King, 1975; Blackshear et al., 1980). In the perinatal area, the use of normalized End-Diastolic Velocity (EDV) has been proposed as an index of adequacy of placental circulation (Maulik, 1982). In pediatric practice, neonatal cerebral perfusion has been assessed using the various Doppler indices including the EDV, and the efficacy of the technique has been compared against the 133Xenon clearance method for measuring perfusion (Greisen, 1984). More recently, the absence of EDV in the umbilical artery has been shown to be an important predictor of fetal compromise (Rochelson et al., in press). The assumption underlying the use of these analytic techniques proposes that they can unravel the hemodynamic factors in the target circulation that control the shape of the Doppler waveform. This assumption, which is supported by empiric data, has not been subjected to in depth hemodynamic validation. Obviously, providing evidence of a reasonable hypothesis cannot act as a substitute for experimental verification. This ongoing project has been undertaken in order to address the above issue and to clarify the fundamental hemodynamic concepts which form the basis for using the Doppler waveform analysis to assess circulatory adequacy. Specifically, this paper presents the results from a preliminary study in which the effects of up and downstream hemodynamic alterations on the Doppler derived EDV were investigated in an in vitro circulatory system.
Pervasive Computing and Autism: Assisting Caregivers of Children with Special Needs

Pervasive computing technologies can support children with autism and their caregivers. Work continues on systems that aid record collection and analysis, decision making, communication, and assessment of children's internal states
Effectiveness of visual inspection compared with non-microbiologic methods to determine the thoroughness of post-discharge cleaning

Published data to date have provided a limited comparison between non-microbiologic methods—particularly visual inspection—and a microbiologic comparator to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental cleaning of patient rooms. We sought to compare the accuracy of visual inspection with other non-microbiologic methods of assessing the effectiveness of post-discharge cleaning (PDC). Prospective evaluation to determine the effectiveness of PDC in comparison to a microbiologic comparator. Using a highly standardized methodology examining 15 high-touch surfaces, the effectiveness of PDC was evaluated by visual inspection, the removal of fluorescent marker (FM) placed prior to room occupancy, quantification of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, and culture for aerobic colony counts (ACC). Twenty rooms including 293 surfaces were sampled in the study, including 290 surfaces sampled by all four methods. ACC demonstrated 72% of surfaces to be microbiologically clean. Visual inspection, FM, ATP demonstrated 57%, 49%, and 66% of surfaces to be clean. Using ACC as a microbiologic comparator, the sensitivity of visual inspection, FM, and ATP to detect a clean surface were 60%, 51%, and 70%, respectively; the specificity of visual inspection, FM, and ATP were 52%, 56%, and 44%. In assessing the effectiveness of PDC, there was poor correlation between the two most frequently studied commercial methods and a microbiologic comparator. Visual inspection performed at least as well as commercial methods, directly addresses patient perception of cleanliness, and is economical to implement.
Directive and Nondirective E-Coach Support for Weight Loss in Overweight Adults

Background Although e-coach support increases the effectiveness of Internet weight loss interventions, no studies have assessed influence of type of e-coach support.
Differences in cardiovascular event rates between atorvastatin and simvastatin among new users: managed-care experience.

ABSTRACTObjective: Recent clinical trials and observational studies have suggested that reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) does not account for all differences among statins’ effects on cardiovascular (CV) events, but that these effects may vary with time. Using a large US managed-care claims data set for 2002–2005, we assessed whether a difference in the rate of inpatient CV event rates could be observed between new atorvastatin and simvastatin users taking doses with comparable LDL-C-lowering potency, when prior risk factors are controlled and varying observation periods are employed.Research design and methods: Eligible patients had a 6-month period of no statin use prior to the initial statin prescription, an initial statin dosage of either 20 or 40 mg of simvastatin or 10 or 20 mg of atorvastatin (the most commonly used doses of both drugs), a 0 to 3-month ‘qualifying period’ after the first prescription to allow for varying minimum lengths of statin use, and no statin switches....
Pasting and crystalline property differences of commercial and isolated rice starch with added amino acids

This study compared effects amino acid structure and type on the pasting properties and crystallinity of rice starch isolated from flour. Amino acids were added at 2 and 6% of the starch (dry basis) for RVA analyses. Charged amino acids had more of an influence on pasting properties than neutral amino acids. Our results indicated that the negatively charged amino acids had a similar effect as that of the positive charged amino acids for decreasing cooking stability of the starch, but opposite effects on retrogradation tendency. Charged amino acids increased the crystallinity of the starch, potentially enhancing resistant starch nature.
MEMORY FOR PROSE: RELATIONAL AND LEXICAL ITEM-SPECIFIC PROCESSING FOR INTENTIONAL RECALL

Two experiments contrasted processing manipulations designed to focus readers' attention on sequential and relational aspects of passages with processing activities presumed to focus readers' attention on individual lexical items and the propositions in which they were embedded. Employing an intentional recall paradigm, both experiments found recall to be superior when the readers engaged in sequential and relational processing to recall when they performed individual item-specific lexical processing. These results disagree with those of previous work on individual item-specific lexical processing conducted with an incidental paradigm but agree closely with a broad range of studies that have focused on relational and sequential processing. The results are discussed in terms of differences between intentional and incidental learning paradigms. In recent years, considerable work has indicated the importance of understanding the relational and sequential aspects of texts in memory for prose. Typically, processing activities, such as listing key terms, answering lower level factual questions, and copying parts of the text—activities that focus readers' attention on superficial or highly specific elements of text—have not been effective in enhancing readers' memory for prose (e.g., Andre & Womack, 1978; Glover, Plake, Roberts, Zimmer, & Palmere, 1981). For example, Glover et al. (1981) contrasted readers' memory for text in several conditions including a key word condition, in which subjects listed "key words" found in paragraphs; a model statements condition, in which subjects identified statements in each paragraph as fitting a model; and a logical inference condition, in which readers focused on the relational aspects of paragraphs in order to draw logical inferences. The results indicated that the key words and model statements conditions obtained recall scores highly similar to those of a control group, while subjects in the logical inferences condition recalled significantly greater amounts of text. Similarly, Andre and Womack (1978) found that highly specific, lower level questions
Viral Interferon Regulatory Factors Decrease the Induction of Type I and Type II Interferon during Rhesus Macaque Rhadinovirus Infection

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and rhesus macaque rhadinovirus (RRV), two closely related gammaherpesviruses, are unique in their expression of viral homologs of cellular interferon regulatory factors (IRFs), termed viral IRFs (vIRFs). To assess the role of vIRFs during de novo infection, we have utilized the bacterial artificial chromosome clone of wild-type RRV(17577) (WT(BAC) RRV) to generate a recombinant virus with all 8 of the vIRFs deleted (vIRF-ko RRV). The infection of primary rhesus fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with vIRF-ko RRV resulted in earlier and increased induction of type I interferon (IFN) (IFN-α/β) and type II IFN (IFN-γ). Additionally, plasmacytoid dendritic cells maintained higher levels of IFN-α production in PBMC cultures infected with vIRF-ko RRV than in cultures infected with WT(BAC) RRV. Moreover, the nuclear accumulation of phosphorylated IRF-3, which is necessary for the induction of type I IFN, was also inhibited following WT(BAC) RRV infection. These findings demonstrate that during de novo RRV infection, vIRFs are inhibiting the induction of IFN at the transcriptional level, and one potential mechanism for this is the disruption of the activation and localization of IRF-3.
TALES FROM ALBARADO: The Materiality of Pyramid Schemes in Postsocialist Albania

The Albanian pyramid schemes (1992–97) drew in almost two thirds of the country's population with the promise of sure financial returns. When the schemes collapsed, many thousands in Albania lost their savings, remittances from immigrant relatives, even their recently privatized apartments. How might we understand such widespread involvement in this high-risk economic activity? Moving beyond explanations that stop at “mania” or “ignorance of market logic,” this article looks to accounts from former participants (kreditors) that emphasize the materiality of the schemes—especially the presence of stacks of cash and the circulation of immigrant remittances in multiple currencies—for a more grounded understanding of how the pyramid schemes actually took hold. The central argument of the article is that the schemes came to fill the gaps between the liberalization of financial markets after socialism and the coeval flows of cash coming into the country beneath the regulatory frameworks of formal financial institutions. The rise and collapse of the Albanian pyramid schemes may then be viewed not as an abstract financial “bubble” but as the result of historically specific “translations” of the wider neoliberal push for rapid and unregulated privatization. As such, these schemes, which were embedded in the particularities of postsocialist transformations, were also active forces that contributed to processes of wealth and value transformations and to the formation of a specific kind of business culture that combines conspicuous consumption with networking and entrepreneurial skills established during the socialist years.