cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immigration and Acculturation Factors Related to Weight Perceptions and BMI in California Hired Farm Workers

Purpose Overweight and obesity increase risks of insulin resistance and diabetes, major health concerns among U.S. Hispanics. While overweight and obesity prevalences are on the rise overall, this increase is particularly high among non-U.S. born Hispanics. We have begun to identify factors associated with overweight and obesity in this farm worker population. Methods MICASA is a population-based study examining occupational exposures, lifestyle and acculturation factors, and health risks in 400 hired farm worker families. Participants include men and women, 18–55 years, Mexican or Central American descent, engaged in farm work at least 45 days in the last year, and residing in Mendota, CA. In this ongoing study, we have preliminary interview data on 579 participants. A subset of 177 participants has completed spirometry and anthropometry, including BMI and waist circumference. Results Men were older (mean age 39 years) than women (36 years) (p=0.002), and had lived longer in the U.S. (17 vs. 14 years) (p=0.0001). Overall, 66% were from Mexico, 30% from Central America and 3% U.S.-born. Immigrants from Mexico had lived in the U.S. an average of three years longer, compared to immigrants from Central America (p=0.0003). 38% of men and 42% of women were considered overweight (BMIs 25-29.9), while 47% of men and 44% of women were considered obese (BMIs ≥ 30). 42% of men and 59% of women self-reported current weight status as overweight (p=0.0002). Among men, factors associated with overweight status were increasing age, Mexican-born, longer time living in the U.S., more years working in agriculture, never/ex-smoker status, and higher income. Among women, increasing age, years living in the U.S., higher acculturation, and higher income were associated with self-reported overweight status. Conclusion Understanding relationships between immigration, acculturation, overweight and obesity is important for designing health prevention efforts to best target this at-risk population.
Computed tomography of an optic chiasm glioma in an elderly patient

A 75-year-old white woman, otherwise healthy, developed progressively reduced visual acuity primarily in her left eye over 2 months. A computed tomography scan of the head demonstrated a moderately large, round, circumscribed, benign-appearing suprasellar mass that was enhanced with infusion of contrast medium. At craniotomy, a glioma of the optic chiasm that extended into the left optic nerve was observed.
A pilot clinical trial of a recombinant ricin vaccine in normal humans.

Ricin, a highly potent toxin produced by castor beans, is classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a level B biothreat because it is easily produced, readily available, and highly stable. There have been >750 cases of documented ricin intoxication in humans. There is no approved vaccine for ricin. Ricin contains a lectin-binding B chain and a ribotoxic A chain (RTA). In addition to its ribotoxic site, we have identified a separate site on RTA that is responsible for inducing vascular leak syndrome (VLS) in humans. We have generated a recombinant RTA with two amino acid substitutions that disrupt its ribotoxic site (Y80A) and its VLS-inducing site (V76M). This mutant recombinant RTA (named RiVax) was expressed and produced in Escherichia coli and purified. When RiVax was injected i.m. into mice it protected them against a ricin challenge of 10 LD50s. Preclinical studies in both mice and rabbits demonstrated that RiVax was safe. Based on these results, we have now conducted a pilot clinical trial in humans under an investigational new drug application submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. In this study, three groups of five normal volunteers were injected three times at monthly intervals with 10, 33, or 100 μg of RiVax. The vaccine was safe and elicited ricin-neutralizing Abs in one of five individuals in the low-dose group, four of five in the intermediate-dose group, and five of five in the high-dose group. These results justify further development of the vaccine.
Aqueous-phase hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived oxygenates with bimetallic catalysts

The reaction rate on a per site basis for aqueous-phase hydrogenation (APH) of propanal, xylose, and furfural was measured over various alumina-supported bimetallic catalysts (Pd–Ni, Pd–Co, Pd–Fe, Ru–Ni, Ru–Co, Ru–Fe, Pt–Ni, Pt–Co, and Pt–Fe) using a high-throughput reactor (HTR). The results in this paper demonstrate that the activity of bimetallic catalysts for hydrogenation of a carbonyl group can be 110 times higher than monometallic catalysts. The addition of Fe to a Pd catalyst increased the activity for hydrogenation of propanal, xylose, and furfural. The Pd1Fe3 catalyst had the highest reaction rate for APH of propanal among all catalysts tested in the HTR. The addition of Fe to the Pd catalyst increased the reaction rate for xylose hydrogenation by a factor of 51, compared to the monometallic Pd catalyst. However, no bimetallic catalyst tested in this study was more active than the monometallic Ru catalyst for hydrogenation of xylose. The Pd1Fe3 catalyst had the highest reaction rate for APH of furfural, which was 9 times higher than the rate of the Pd catalyst. The Pd1Fe3/Zr–P, a bimetallic bifunctional catalyst, was 14 times more active on a per site basis than a Pd/Zr–P catalyst for aqueous-phase hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of sorbitol in a continuous flow reactor. The addition of Fe to the Pd catalyst increased the rate of C–C cleavage reactions and promoted the conversion of sorbitan and isosorbide in HDO of sorbitol. Pd1Fe3/Zr–P also had a higher yield of gasoline-range products than the Pd/Zr–P catalyst.
Limited application of fluticasone propionate ointment, 0.005% in patients with psoriasis of the face and intertriginous areas

Abstract Background: Facial and intertriginous skin is more susceptible to corticosteroid-induced atrophy. Dosing regimens are needed for long-term management of corticosteroid-sensitive sites. Objective: The safety and efficacy of 0.005% fluticasone propionate ointment were assessed in the short-and long-term management of moderate to severe psoriasis of facial and intertriginous areas compared with nonfacial, nonintertriginous areas. Methods: Affected areas in 20 patients with psoriasis were treated twice daily for 2 weeks, then once daily for 2 consecutive days every week for 8 more weeks. Results: More than 50% improvement occurred after 2 weeks (day 15) in 100% of facial and intertriginous lesions and was maintained during long-term therapy in more than 85% of facial and intertriginous lesions. More than 50% improvement for nonfacial, nonintertriginous areas reached only 80% by day 15. Recurrence rates for facial and intertriginous areas were lower than in the nonfacial, nonintertriginous areas. Skin atrophy and telangiectasia did not occur. Facial and intertriginous sites responded more quickly to topical fluticasone propionate ointment than nonfacial, nonintertriginous skin. Conclusion: Limited application of fluticasone propionate ointment over a period of 10 weeks is effective and delays lesion recurrence without causing skin atrophy in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis in areas at risk for corticosteroid application, such as facial and intertriginous areas. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:77-82.)
Peer health coaching for overweight and obese individuals with serious mental illness: intervention development and initial feasibility study

Effective and scalable interventions are needed to reach a greater proportion of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who experience alarmingly high rates of obesity. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of translating an evidenced-based professional health coach model (In SHAPE) to peer health coaching for overweight and obese individuals with SMI. Key stakeholders collaborated to modify In SHAPE to include a transition from professional health coaching to individual and group-based peer health coaching enhanced by mobile health technology. Ten individuals with SMI were recruited from a public mental health agency to participate in a 6-month feasibility pilot study of the new model. There was no overall significant change in mean weight; however, over half (56 %) of participants lost weight by the end of the intervention with mean weight loss 2.7 ± 2.1 kg. Participants reported high satisfaction and perceived benefits from the program. Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders indicated that the intervention was implemented as planned. This formative research showed that peer health coaching for individuals with SMI is feasible. Further research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness.
Dielectric Properties of Pumpable Food Materials at 915 MHz

Dielectric properties of pumpable food materials having a potential to be processed using a continuous flow microwave heating system were measured at 915 MHz and in the temperature range of 10–90°C. The products considered in this study were milk and dairy products (e′: 70.0 to 50.8 and e″: 14.7 to 41.3), ready to eat puddings (e′: 69.4 to 52.1 and e″: 17.2 to 23.8), soy beverages (e′: 75.4 to 60.8 and e″: 9.0 to 19.8), and avocado products (e′: 51.6 to 39.0 and e″: 17.7 to 67.5). The results showed that the dielectric constant decreased with an increase in temperature and the dielectric loss factor increased with an increase in temperature. Polynomial correlations for the dependence of dielectric properties on temperature were developed. The dielectric properties measured in this study are important parameters for designing a continuous flow microwave heating system for processing pumpable food materials.
Locus of control and self-reported depression among college students.

The Internal-External Control, Guilford Depression, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scales were administered to 69 university undergraduates to test the hypothesis that depression is associa...
Moth ocellar interneurons show abnormal development in the absence of receptor innervation

Unilaterally ocellate adult moths were produced by cauterization of one of the pair of ocellar primordia in fifth instar larvae. The remaining ocellar nerves and associated interneurons of the adult moths were subjected to cobalt infiltration and Timm's intensification. Two interneurons from the ablated ocellus were observed to grow into the synaptic region of the remaining ocellus and presumably made functional connections with ocellar receptor cell axons.
Use of infection control guidelines by workers in healthcare facilities to prevent occupational transmission of HBV and HIV: results from a national survey.

Objective:Develop national estimates of compliance with infection control guidelines by workers in healthcare facilities to prevent occupational transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus.Design:A national survey of 3,094 workers in hospitals.Settings:United States ambulatory care hospitals with emergency rooms.Results:While the sampled hospitals had policies that incorporated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) infection control guidelines, only 55% of patient care staff, 56% of physicians, and 30% of housekeeping staffreported receiving at least one of the shots recommended in the HBV vaccination series. About one half of patient care staff reported that they recapped used needles at least sometimes after giving injections and after drawing blood. Only 43% of patient care staff “always” wore gloves to draw blood. While most patient care staff “always” changed gloves between patients, only 61% reported that they “always” washed their hands after taking off their gloves. One half of patient care staff reported a percutaneous exposure to a patient's blood, and one quarter reported a percutaneous exposure in the past year The most common cause of these exposures was recapping used needles.Conclusions:Efforts to reduce exposures to bloodborne pathogens will involve compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration bloodborne pathogens standard and the CDC's infection control guidelines, continued education and training, and emphasis on engineering controls where applicable.
Cleavage of Type I Procollagen by C- and N-Proteinases Is More Rapid If the Substrate Is Aggregated with Dextran Sulfate or Polyethylene Glycol

Abstract The enzymes procollagen C- and N-proteinases specifically cleave carboxyl- and amino-terminal propeptides of procollagens. After cleavage of the propeptides, the resulting collagens self-assemble into fibrils. In most previous experiments with the enzymes, the substrate was monomeric type I procollagen. Here we have prepared aggregates of type I procollagen from chick embryo tendons by using 1 to 100 μg/ml of 500-kDa dextran sulfate or 3 to 5% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (Mr 3350). Aggregation of the substrate with dextran sulfate increased its rate of cleavage by purified or crude C-proteinase from chick embryo tendons 10- to 15- fold. Aggregation of the substrate with 25 to 100 μg/ml of dextran sulfate increased the rate of cleavage by purified N-proteinase about 4-fold. The rate of cleavage by crude N-proteinase was enhanced only about 2-fold, apparently because of partial precipitation of the enzyme by dextran sulfate. Using polyethylene glycol to aggregate the substrate increased the rate of cleavage by procollagen C-proteinases 5- to 20-fold. Aggregation with polyethylene glycol also increased the rate of cleavage by purified procollagen N-proteinases 2- to 5-fold. With crude N-proteinase, the rate of cleavage was increased only 1.5-fold. The results suggest that the rate of cleavage of the substrate by both enzymes is increased by the aggregation of the substrate itself by dextran sulfate or polyethylene glycol. The increased rates of cleavage seen after aggregation of substrate can be used to develop more sensitive assays for the enzymic activities.
In-Situ Agglomeration and De-agglomeration by Milling of Nano-Engineered Lubricant Particulate Composites for Cold Spray Deposition

Nano-engineered self-lubricating particles comprised of hexagonal-boron-nitride powder (hBN) encapsulated in nickel have been developed for cold spray coating of aluminum components. The nickel encapsulant consists of several nano-sized layers, which are deposited on the hBN particles by electroless plating. In the cold spray deposition, the nickel becomes the matrix in which hBN acts as the lubricant. The coating demonstrated a very promising performance by reducing the coefficient of friction by almost 50% and increasing the wear resistance more than tenfold. The coatings also exhibited higher bond strength, which was directly related to the hardenability of the particles. During the encapsulation process, the hBN particles agglomerate and form large clusters. De-agglomeration has been studied through low- and high-energy ball milling to create more uniform and consistent particle sizes and to improve the cold spray deposition efficiency. The unmilled and milled particles were characterized with Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy, BET, and hardness tests. It was found that in low-energy ball milling, the clusters were compacted to a noticeable extent. However, the high-energy ball milling resulted in breakup of agglomerations and destroyed the nickel encapsulant.
Simple index to predict likelihood of skilled nursing facility admission after coronary artery bypass grafting among older patients.

Background Acceptable short-term mortality rates for elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are reported in the literature. However, rather than death, older patients considering CABG are generally most concerned about a postoperative loss of functional independence. To address this concern, we describe an index that predicts a patient's likelihood of admission to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after CABG. Methods Logistic regression analysis of the California hospital discharge database during a 5-year period was performed to identify the most prevalent preoperative International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnoses associated with SNF admission after primary CABG in patients aged 65 years or older. Each diagnosis was weighted according to odds ratios to develop an index that predicts the likelihood of discharge to a SNF. The index was validated using our institutional database. Results A total of 26,040 patients (mean age, 74.2 years; 67.2% men) fit our criteria. They had an in-hospital mortality rate of 3.09% and a 17.3% SNF discharge rate. Our index was a summation of nine selected preoperative ICD-9-CM diagnoses, which were assigned a value of 1 point (osteoarthritis, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, anemia, obesity) or 2 points (female, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure). Validation analysis produced a C statistic and pseudo r 2 value of 0.6435 and 0.0408, respectively. Cut-point analysis suggests that patients with scores of 3 or higher can be considered "high-risk." Conclusions We describe a simple index to identify older patients at low-risk and high-risk for SNF admission after CABG. Such tools may be useful in counseling older patients considering CABG.
Honduras: Studying the Economic and Political Geography of a Banana Republic

Abstract Economic and political geography can and should be used to develop higher-level, complex, sophisticated geographic dialogue with students in our high schools (Taylor 1989,103–105). The purpose of this study is to use economic and political aspects of geography along with physical and cultural aspects to help students understand the relevance of geography in contemporary world situations. The background information and following activities guide students into a study of the real world situations of a developing country—Honduras. Although this specific study focuses on Honduras, this type of investigation is easily transferable to other developing countries.
Temperature dependence of the magnetic excitations in gadolinium

The magnetic excitation spectra of Gd were measured out to the zone boundaries in the and directions over the temperature range from 9 to 320 K. The data were not analyzed because of technical complications, but the data are described remarkably well over the entire q and T range of the experiments by a damped-harmonic-oscillator form for the spectral weight function. The data were parametrized and placed on an absolute basis by an internal calibration using the energy-integrated intensities of the low-temperature spin waves. This parametrization and calibration of the data provide a description of both the static and dynamic spin correlations over this temperature range. Spin-wave peaks are not observed above T/sub c/ in the direction. We attribute this result to the low spin-excitation energies relative to k/sub B/T/sub c/ in this direction.
Ultrasonic Sludge Pretreatment for Enhanced Sludge Digestion

During recent decades, the anaerobic digestion process has been extensively studied and various methods for process enhancement have been explored. These methods include heat treatment, alkali addition, phase separation and membrane enhancement. In general, whilst technically feasible, the methods have not proved to be economically competitive. The pretreatment of sludges with high-power ultrasound has been investigated as part of a twelve-month research project funded by six UK water utilities. Cell lysis and particle-size reduction (caused by ultrasonic cavitation) are thought to be the key parameters through which the digestion process is enhanced. A series of laboratory-scale anaerobic digesters has been operated and significant increases in biogas yield have been noted following ultrasonication. Experiments have been completed with a variety of ultrasonic devices (of different geometries and construction materials) and sludge types (e.g. primary, secondary and co-settled). Current experiments are investigating methods through which the technology can be successfully scaled-up and applied on a full-scale plant.
The Processing of Adverse Reaction Reports at FDA

A new regulation for reporting adverse drug reaction (ADR) information was published by the Federal Government on February 22, 1985. The regulation changes the procedures used by pharmaceutical manufacturers to update safety information in their New Drug Applications. The regulation also forced a change in the procedures used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to receive, process, evaluate, and communicate adverse reaction information. This article explains the procedures now used by FDA to process the ADR information received.
The horizontal effect in suppression: Anisotropic overlay and surround suppression at high and low speeds.

When a pattern of broad spatial content is viewed by an observer, the multiple spatial components in the pattern stimulate detecting-mechanisms that suppress each other. This suppression is anisotropic, being relatively greater at horizontal, and least at obliques (the ‘‘horizontal effect”). Here, suppression of a grating by a naturalistic (1/f) broadband mask is shown to be larger when the broadband masks are temporally similar to the target’s temporal properties, and generally anisotropic, with the anisotropy present across all spatio-temporal parings tested. We also show that both suppression from within the region of the test pattern (overlay suppression) and from outside of this region (surround suppression) show the horizontal-effect anisotropy. We conclude that these suppression effects stem from locally-tuned and anisotropically-weighted gain-control pools.
Brown-colored deposits on hair of female rats chronically exposed to 60-Hz electric fields

An increased incidence and severity of a brownish coloration of hair has been observed around the nose and on the ears of female rats that were chronically exposed to 60-Hz electric fields. Microscopic examination of the colored areas revealed a red-brown globular deposit on hair shafts in affected areas without signs of physical injury.
USP15 negatively regulates Nrf2 through deubiquitination of Keap1

Nrf2 is a master regulator of the antioxidant response. Under basal conditions, Nrf2 is polyubiquitinated by the Keap1-Cul3 E3 ligase and degraded by the 26S proteasome. In response to Nrf2 inducers there is a switch in polyubiquitination from Nrf2 to Keap1. Currently, regulation of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway by ubiquitination is largely understood. However, the mechanism responsible for removal of ubiquitin conjugated to Nrf2 or Keap1 remains unknown. Here we report that the deubiquitinating enzyme, USP15, specifically deubiquitinates Keap1, which suppresses the Nrf2 pathway. We demonstrated that deubiquitinated Keap1 incorporates into the Keap1-Cul3-E3 ligase complex more efficiently, enhancing the complex stability and enzymatic activity. Consequently, there is an increase in Nrf2 protein degradation and a reduction in Nrf2 target gene expression. Furthermore, USP15-siRNA enhances chemoresistance of cells through upregulation of Nrf2. These findings further our understanding of how the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway is regulated, which is imperative in targeting this pathway for chemoprevention or chemotherapy.
The application of triazine dye affinity chromatography to the large-scale purification of glycerokinase from Bacillus stearothermophilus

Gram quantities of homogeneous glycerokinase have been prepared from the thermophilic bacterium, Bacillus stearothermophilus, using three major steps: precipitation of debris at pH 5.1, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, and affinity chromatography on Procion Blue MX-3G-Sepharose. This method is a considerable improvement over conventional techniques; the purified enzyme was obtained with a 40% recovery and a specific activity of 120 units (mumol/min)/mg protein. A modified culture medium enabled yields of 3.4 X 10(6) units of enzyme to be obtained from 400-liter production cultures.
Relationship of prolactin response to d-fenfluramine to behavioral and questionnaire assessments of aggression in personality-disordered men.

Prolactin (PRL) responses to acute challenge with the serotonin (5-HT) releaser/uptake inhibitor, d-fenfluramine (PRL[d-FEN]), were correlated with three different measures of aggression in 14 male personality-disordered subjects. Consistent with previous work, PRL[d-FEN] responses were inversely correlated with scores on the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory—Assault scale (BDHI-Assault) and with the Brown—Goodwin Aggression—Revised (BGA-R) Aggression scale. In addition, PRL[d-FEN] responses were inversely correlated with a direct laboratory measure of aggressive behavior (Point-Subtraction Aggression Paradigm: PSAP). Although all measures of aggression correlated with PRL[d-FEN] response, differences among the intercorrelations of these measures were found. Specifically, BGA-R Aggression scores correlated with both BDHI-Assault and PSAP scores, but no relation was found between BDHI-Assault and PSAP scores. The results suggest that central 5-HT function may be associated with both self-report and behavioral measures of aggressive behavior, which may represent somewhat separate aspects of aggressive behavior.
Snow static on aircraft

Dependence of airplanes on static-free radio reception gives critical importance to the process of electrostatic charging by friction with ice crystals and snow particles, which produces corona discharge and resulting radio interference. Several methods have been proposed for the elimination of static with varying results. One, described here, is neutralization of the charge by artificially activating negative corona discharges of a type that does not interfere with radio reception.
Polyoxometalates on Cationic Silica Nanoparticles. Physicochemical Properties of an Electrostatically Bound Multi-Iron Catalyst

Reaction of a solution of the multi-iron polyoxometalate (POM) K9[(FeIII(OH2)2)3(A-α-PW9O34)2] (K91) with a colloidal suspension of cationic silica nanoparticles ((Si/AlO2)Cl) results in the production of a new heterogeneous oxidation catalyst (K81/(Si/AlO2)). Dynamic light scattering data, coupled with elemental analysis and streaming potential measurements suggests that there are 58 molecules of POM electrostatically bound to the surface of each silica particle on average. Transmission electron microscopy confirms the presence of the POM on the surface of the cationic silica and shows the diameter of the (Si/AlO2)Cl and of the K81/(Si/AlO2) nanoparticles to be ∼12 and ∼17 nm, respectively. Significantly, cryo-high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (cryo-HRSEM) shows that the POM retards the natural gelation process that colloidal silica is known to undergo upon aging. EPR and catalytic data collectively suggest that the exchange of the cationic silica for one of the nine K+ cations associated with...
Layer-by-layer etching of Si(111) surface by oxygen at elevated temperature

The kinetics of Si surface etching with gas-phase O 2 was examined using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), which was intended for the application of gas-phase etching by O 2 for Si surface flattening. High-temperature STM observation showed the recession of the step edges with the O 2 flux of 5x10 -8 Torr on Si(111) at an elevated temperature of ∼800°C in real time. The high-resolution image clearly showed that the terrace was disordered during the exposure to O 2 gas. The recession of step edges is considered to be the result of the detachment of Si atoms from the step edges to fill the defects created by the desorption of SiO.
Optical and microwave performance of GaAs-AlGaAs and strained layer InGaAs-GaAs-AlGaAs graded index separate confinement heterostructure single quantum well lasers

GaAs-AlGaAs and strained layer In/sub 0.3/Ga/sub 0.7/As-GaAs-AlGaAs GRINSCH SQW lasers grown by molecular beam epitaxy are discussed. The strained-layers have threshold currents of 12 mA for 30- mu m*400- mu m devices (1000 A/cm/sup 2/) and threshold current densities of 167 A/cm/sup 2/ for 150- mu m*800- mu m devices. The threshold currents of strained-layer InGaAs lasers are lower than those of GaAs for all dimensions tested with 20- mu m-wide GaAs devices exhibiting threshold currents three times those of In/sub 0.3/Ga/sub 0.7/As devices. Microwave modulation of 10- mu m*500- mu m strained-layer lasers with simple mesa structures yields bandwidths of 6 GHz. For all dimensions tested, strained-layer InGaAs devices have greater bandwidths than GaAs devices. These measurements confirm theoretical predictions of the effects of valence band modification due to biaxially compressive strain. >
Perceived Benefits and Concerns of Older Adults in a Community Intergenerational Program: Does Race Matter?

To maximize the success of intergenerational programs (IGPs), it is necessary to understand older adults’ concerns related to these programs and the benefits they perceive from their involvement. However, there is a lack of research that examines the perceptions of racial minority older adults’ involved in IGPs and sociodemographic predictors of IGPs outcomes. This study examined older adults’ (n = 195) perceptions of the Linking Intergenerational Networks in Communities (LINC) Project, an intergenerational program, in South Carolina, and explored whether outcomes varied by race. Findings suggest that older adults’ race and ethnicity were associated with a variety of perceived benefits and concerns in LINC. The Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University collected this data. A special thanks goes to the communities, participants, organizations and staff who made LINC possible. The University of South Florida Institutional Review Board has approved this study. The protocol number for this study is 00005...
Women's Struggles within the American Radical Pacifist Movement

Pacifism and peace activism are often stereotyped as the domains of nurturing women acting upon their maternal instincts to end war and thus protect the children of the world. Exploring the history of female radical pacifists with a focus on gender, however, reveals a much more complex set of dynamics that mirrored cultural forces pervading society at large. Their language was not always that of motherhood. From the 1940s through the 1970s, women also used the rhetoric and symbols of ‘brotherhood’ and ‘sisterhood’ to frame and justify their pacifist protests. Nor was their activism always celebrated. Instead, whether as ‘brothers’, ‘mothers’, or ‘sisters’, women who acted on the front lines of struggle repeatedly confronted a political culture that celebrated male heroism and masculine militancy, and cast women in secondary supporting roles. In critical ways, the culture of the peace movement thus mirrored the gender dynamics of the very culture of militarism it sought to undermine.
Studies of the 12C(3He, 3He)12C and 12C(3He, α0)11C reactions

Abstract Angular distributions of emergent 3He and 4He particles from the 12 C ( 3 He , 3 He ) 12 C and 12 C ( 3 He , α 0 ) 11 C reactions have been measured at several energies from 8.5 to 10.0 MeV. Excitation functions for these reactions have been measured at laboratory angles of 15°, 45° and 75°. Distorted wave calculations have been performed, with the optical model parameters for the entrance channel being obtained from the elastic scattering results and those for the exit channel being varied to obtain the best fit. The calculations provide satisfactory fits to the observed shape of the elastic and reaction angular distributions. The magnitude of the cross section is substanially greater than predictions, however.
Comparison of shielded uranium passive gamma-ray detection methods

The detection of shielded special nuclear materials is of great concern to the homeland security community. It is a challenging task that typically requires large detectors arrays to achieve the required sensitivity to detect shielded enriched uranium. We simulated the performance of three different configurations of scintillation detectors in a realistic gamma ray background. The simulations were performed using the GEANT4 simulation package fine tuned for low energy photon transport. The background spectrum was obtained by modeling high-resolution background spectra obtained by various groups in various locations. The performance of a non-imaging scintillating array was compared to the performance of two imaging arrays: a coded aperture imager and a Compton imager. The sensitivity was modeled at three energies for the emission from a 1 kg sphere of uranium enriched to 95% U-235: the 185 keV emission from U-235, the 1001 keV emission from U-238, and the 2614 keV emission from U-232. The instruments were modeled with and without passive shielding. The most detectable signal is the 2.614 MeV emission from U-232 contamination if present at a level greater than tens of parts per trillion. While the non-imaging array has the highest efficiency, it also has the highest background rate and is therefore not the most sensitive instrument. We present the expected performance for the three different configurations.
On the radical mechanism for photoinduced nucleation of alkane vapors

Abstract The addition of 10 −5 — 2 Torr of NO, a radical scavenger, is found to significantly quench the rate of photonucleation of nonane by NO 2 or CH 3 I in a diffusion cloud chamber. This confirms a recently proposed radical mechanism for the photoinduced nucleation of these systems. The photonucleation rate of nonane induced by o -tolualdehyde (a system whose mechanism is not known) is similarly quenched by the addition of small amounts of NO, suggesting a radical mechanism. A mechanism for this system, based upon the formation of nonane radicals (resulting from hydrogen abstraction from nonane by the carbonyl molecules in the n,π* singlet or triplet state) followed by further reaction of the radicals to form low vapor pressure species, is discussed. Acetone, a system known to dissociate into radicals, is found to photoinduce nucleation of nonane when excited to the lowest singlet or triplet excited states. This adds further support to the proposed radical mechanism and suggests that acetone dissociates in its lowest singlet as well as its lowest triplet state. A theoretical model is outlined in which the production of large involatile alkanes (dimers and higher polymers) are formed from an initially produced nonane radical. These results are combined with binary nucleation theory in order to calculate the effect of these species on the rate of nucleation. These calculations indicate that low concentrations of these involatile species can indeed induce nucleation. The ability of small, photochemically produced polymers to induce nucleation is also examined and the time dependent space distribution of polymers (e.g., vinyl polymers) generated by chain transfer from a single free radical is derived. The small polymers formed in this process are analogous to the species formed in the photoinduced nucleation of alkane vapors.
Comparison of fish assemblages associated with native and exotic submerged macrophytes in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary, USA

Since the exotic Eurasian milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum (L.) was first reported in the Lake Pontchartrain estuary in 1978, it has become established as a dominant species of submerged macrophyte, but its distribution and abundance have varied considerably. We compared fish assemblages among two native macrophytes, Vallisneria americana (Michx) and Ruppia maritima (L.), the exotic M. spicatum, and unvegetated substratum to determine if milfoil influenced assemblage structure and microhabitat use by common littoral fishes. We used a modified Wegener ring to quantitatively assess fish densities. In monthly sampling from March 1991 to January 1993, we collected 3564 fishes of 29 species, but four dominant species, rainwater killifish Lucania parva (Baird), naked goby Gobiosoma bosc (Lacepede), gulf pipefish Syngnathus scovelli (Evermann and Kendall), and clown goby Microgobius gulosus (Girard) accounted for over 87% of the fishes. Community diversity was highest in V. americana, intermediate in unvegetated areas, and lowest in R. maritima and M. spicatum. The patterns for evenness and richness differed from that of diversity among the four habitat types. Analyses of percent similarity and rank correlation of community structure showed no significant differences between M. spicatum and native macrophytes. The common fishes were significantly more abundant in vegetated areas than on adjacent unvegetated substratum, and total abundances were higher in M. spicatum and R. maritima than in V. americana. Only three fishes showed significant differences among macrophyte species: rainwater killifish and clown goby were more abundant in M. spicatum and R. maritima, and bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli (Valenciennes) was more abundant in M. spicatum than in V. americana. Additionally, fish abundances were related to environmental variables in a factor analysis that resolved nine variables into four axes, characterized in order of importance as: a large-scale spatial (salinity) axis, a seasonal axis, a turbidity axis, and a plant surface area axis. The different patterns of fish species in environmental space revealed spatial and temporal differences in resource utilization. The exotic macrophyte M. spicatum may not have had a detectable influence on fish assemblages or abundances relative to the native macrophytes because high wave energy in the open system may prevent it from growing densely enough to strongly alter microhabitat characteristics.
Evaluation of Solar Irradiance Models with a Special Referenceto Globally-Parameterized and Land Cover-Sensitive Solar123

Numerical models are often the only means available to generate solar irradiance (SR) information, for historical or future SR specifications as well as due to inadequacies of contemporary SR measurements. This paper evaluates five such models that have been proposed as generic and applied as such. Special emphasis is given to Solar123, an integrative model rooted in Lambert’s Cosine Law and Bouguer’s Law with globally-parameterized atmospheric property functions and with input limited to precipitation, air temperature, geographic location, topography and rudimentary land cover information. The selected SR models in general perform well in reproducing the SR data for the USA, with a root mean square error-to-data mean ratio (RMSE/SRmean ratio) of 9.8–11.4%. A possible exception is the Bristow-Campbell logic as implemented by the Vegetation/Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Project. Beyond the USA, Solar123 yields an RMSE/SRmean ratio of 8–17% by region (196 stations in total), generally outperforming the other SR models. Compared to time-sequential monthly SR data, projections by Solar123 have an RMSE/SRmean ratio of 8.6–14.1% for six weather stations representative of major climate regimes in Canada, or an RMSE/SRmean ratio of 13–24% for three forest sites in the USA, Germany and Japan. Solar123 projections also compare favorably against the output from the General Circulation Models in terms of ratio change in SR with the doubling of the atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration: the two fall within ±10% of each other for 85% of a total 264 cases, and within ±20% for all but 3 of the cases. The above statistics suggest that Solar123 represents an improvement over other SR models not only in configuration but also in projection accuracy, and that Solar123 is useful for projecting spatial variation in SR across weather stations around the world and over different land covers, and for projecting temporal variation in SR under the present climate regimes and likely for regimes changed beyond the present fluctuation range. The work further calls into question the common practice of applying SR data irrespective of local land cover.
Suspected cancer-causing agents in the hospital environment.

Abstract Samples of articles, such as cleaning agents and personal hygiene products, found in patient hospital rooms or used in these areas were tested for their cancer-producing potential in a short-term, in vitro assay. The DNA cell-binding (DCB) test used to screen these articles was previously found accurate in indicating a chemical's potential to induce tumors in more than 95% of cases. Seventeen out of fifty-one articles tested in the present study were found to be positive; i.e., they should be considered potentially dangerous to humans. We believe that efforts should be made to eliminate, to the extent possible, such potential carcinogens from the hospital environment. Simple steps to accomplish this goal are suggested.
Consumers’ Ability to Perform Tasks Using Nutrition Labels

Abstract Consumers’ ability to perform common nutrition label use tasks and specific task components, which revealed the effect of prior knowledge, were analyzed for relationships with demographic characteristics, label reading, and health status. Data were from a mall intercept experimental study. Most consumers (78%) accurately compared two products, 58% accurately evaluated nutrient level claims, 45% comprehensively balanced nutrients over a daily diet, and 20% accurately calculated the contribution of a single food to a daily diet, a task that required complex math. The subjects who performed significantly poorer were over 55 years of age, nonwhite, and less educated than those who performed best. Not reading food labels and having a diet-related health condition were also related to poorer performance. Task component analysis showed that all types of subjects shared the same response tendencies when making nutrition judgments. The findings suggest that dietary guidance for consumers will be more effective if it does not require quantitative tasks but relies instead on tasks that are easier for consumers.
Urinary progesterone as an index of ovulation and corpus luteal function.

Urinary excretions of progesterone (P) during normal menstrual cycles have been measured by radioimmunoassay. The excretion pattern mimics that of plasma P. Measurements of P in a single voided urine may be a reliable substitute for plasma analyses in the evaluation of ovulation and corpus luteal function.
Effects of Aquifer Interconnection Resulting from Underground Coal Gasification

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory evaluated the effects of aquifer interconnection caused by the collapse of cavities formed in coal seams by two small underground coal gasification experiments in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Flow models and field measurements were used to show that the water from one or both of the upper aquifers enters the collapse, rubble and flows down to the lowest aquifer (the gasified coal seam) where it flows away from the collapse zones. The investigations showed that the hydraulic conductivity of the collapse rubble is less than that of the aquifers and provides only a moderately permeable interconnection between them, a marked reduction in hydraulic conductivity of the gasified coal seam near the collapse zones restricts the flow in the seam, away from them; changes in the hydraulic head and flow patterns caused by aquifer interconnection extend generally only 60-90 m away from the experiment sites, whereas flow in the uppermost aquifer at one of the sites may be influenced as far away as 122 m. At both sites, the aquifer interconnection allows water from the uppermost (sand) aquifer, which contains the poorest quality water of the 3 aquifers, to enter one or both of the underlyingmore » aquifers.« less
Sexual practices, attitudes, and knowledge related to HIV transmission in low income Los Angeles Hispanic women

The sexual practices, attitudes, and knowledge related to HIV transmission were investigated in low income Hispanic women in Los Angeles. Data were collected by both quantitative and qualitative me...
Science of bariatric surgery in focus

9 ISSN 1758-1907 10.2217/DMT.11.72 © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd Diabetes Manage. (2012) 2(1), 9–12 There are relatively few examples of com‐ plex metabolic conditions that have been cured by modern medicine. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are related and complex conditions that have been the subject of intensive research and clinical progress in recent decades, but for which no cure has yet been achieved. There is hope that through advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of dis‐ ease development, advances in treatment will emerge. Our understanding of the pathophysiological consequences of obesity associated with the progression to diabetes has certainly improved in recent decades. The steps in the pathway toward T2DM in obese individuals include reduction of insu‐ lin sensitivity and compensatory hyperin‐ sulinemia, and progressive decline of b‐cell secretion of insulin to a point where insulin resistance can no longer be overcome and hyperglycemia ensues. It was speculated long ago that the elevated serum concentra‐ tion of amino acids in obese, insulin‐resist‐ ant individuals acted as stimuli for b‐cells to increase insulin in response to insulin resistance [1]. More recently, studies have provided hope that one day a molecular signature may be deduced that accurately predicts the development of T2DM, thus emphasizing the importance of certain metabolites as key players in the pathway between o vernutrition and overt e xpression of T2DM [2,3]. In addition to these advances in under‐ standing disease progression, there has been progress in our understanding of surgical interventions that were originally devel‐ oped to treat overnutrition. Surgical pro‐ cedures that had long been thought to cause weight loss by restricting calorie intake have increasingly been recognized and accepted as valid interventions for T2DM [4], even in those who are not morbidly obese [5], despite a poor understanding of the mechanisms by which the operations affect metabolism. Following bariatric operations, investiga‐ tors have documented a sustained and dura‐ ble effect on weight loss, and also improve‐ ment of insulin sensitivity, reduced risk of progression to T2DM, and indeed reversal of established T2DM with long periods of remission requiring no antidiabetic treat‐ ment. The reversal seems to occur most reliably when T2DM is caught early in the disease process [6].
Theoretical models for polarimetric radar clutter

The Mueller matrix and polarization covariance matrix are described for polarimetric radar systems. The clutter is modeled by a layer of random permittivity, described by a three-dimensional correlation function, with variance, and horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. This model is applied, using the wave theory with Born approximations carried to the second order, to find the backscattering elements of the polarimetric matrices. It is found that 8 out of 16 elements of the Mueller matrix are identically zero, corresponding to a covariance matrix with four zero elements. Theoretical predictions are matched with experimental data for vegetation fields.
Interaction of rapid signal transduction cascades and gene expression in mediating estrogen effects on memory over the life span

Estrogen treatment during middle-age postpones memory impairments, which depend on the hippocampus. However, estrogen responsiveness diminishes with advanced age. The challenge remains to determine, which processes are important for delaying brain aging and the mechanisms for decreased sensitivity. Estrogen can influence transcription through estrogen receptors (e.g., ERalpha and ERbeta) and membrane effects on rapid signal transduction cascades ultimately influencing the phosphorylation state of transcription factors. In middle-aged animals, the membrane effects involve Ca2+ and G-protein cascades, which rapidly counteract senescent physiology. Moreover, estrogen induces transcription for elements of signal transduction cascades that decline with age. Together, the rapid and genomic influences promote synaptic transmission and cell growth. Thus, interruption of genomic/membrane interactions due to loss of ERs, disruption of the hormone cycle, or uncoupling of the hormone/receptor system associated with extended exposure to estrogen could contribute to a decline in these biological pathways during aging.