cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Labeled plasma metabolites of L-methyl-hydrogen-3-methionine and L-methyl-carbon 14-methionine in the dog

The validity of the mathematical models that attempt to describe positron emission tomography (PET) images produced with [11CH3] methionine in terms of rates of local cerebral protein synthesis has yet to be established. A major objection to current models is that the use of methionine labeled at the methyl position results in the dispersal of the label among various methyl-accepting compounds that appear in the plasma and may then enter the brain. One approach to overcoming this problem has been the use of "standard" corrections for the activity contributed to plasma by labeled plasma protein and labeled serine. In order to determine the validity of this approach, the metabolic fate of labeled methionine was studied in six dogs. After injection with either [C3H3] methionine or [14CH3] methionine arterial blood was sampled. Plasma fractions containing protein were separated by fast gel filtration, counted with standard scintillation techniques, and their radioactivity was compared with total plasma radioactivity. Plasma was also separated by high-pressure liquid chromatography into methionine, serine, and nonmethionine or serine-containing fractions. These fractions were counted, and their radioactivity was compared with total plasma radioactivity. Labeled protein appeared in plasma about 20 minutes postinjection and then increased steadily. Labeled serine also appeared and reached a peak value of 9.4 +/- 2.1% of plasma activity at 40 minutes. Of greatest interest was the appearance in later plasma samples of increasing amounts of activity contained in nonserine low molecular weight metabolites of methionine. At 40 minutes, those metabolites made up 27 +/- 6.9% of total plasma activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Antitumor effect of the combination of proteasome inhibitor (Pi) and histone deacytelase inhibitor (HDACi) in breast cancer (BC).

e23156Background: Previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of HDACi and Pi as single agents in BC. The synergistic combination of HDACi and Pi has been shown to be effective in clinical studies i...
Young Adolescent EFL Students' Writing Skill Development: Insights from Assessment Data.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the developmental writing patterns of English as a foreign language (EFL) students across different score levels through a TOEFL Junior® writing task. Th...
We virtually brought our colleague to a library conference: Expanding education and networking opportunities

The benefits of attending a library conference lead to advantageous opportunities for career advancement, learning through shared knowledge, relationship-building through networking, and scholarship through presenting papers or posters. Unfortunately, it is not always possible for every librarian to make it to every conference to reap these benefits, whether it is due to lack of funding or conflicting schedules. ALA’s list of reasons to attend its most recent Annual Conference includes becoming a better advocate, relationship-building and networking, and being exposed to new ideas that bring a fresh energy to libraries.
Patient Barriers and Facilitators to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care.

Introduction: This study explored factors influencing patient access to medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), particularly for individuals eligible but historically suboptimal follow-up with i...
Inflammatory bowel disease–associated neoplasia

Abstract Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) carry a higher risk for the development of colorectal adenocarcinoma than the general population. Colitis-associated neoplasia results from long-standing epithelial inflammation. Common forms of neoplasia are adenocarcinoma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the small or large bowel, and squamous cell cancers (SCCs) in the anorectal and perianal areas. Neoplasia can also occur in the cuff or ileal pouch in patients with restorative proctocolectomy. In addition to chronic inflammation, contributing factors to the carcinogenesis include the presence of concurrent primary sclerosing cholangitis, long-term use of immunosuppressive medications, and family history of colorectal cancer. The natural history of IBD-associated colorectal adenocarcinoma has gradually been elucidated, resulting in the standardization of colonoscopy-based surveillance programs. We hope that we can detect the colitis-associated neoplasia at precancerous or dysplasia stages. Overt cancerous lesions from adenocarcinoma can have various endoscopic presentations. The disease course of SCC and lymphoma has been poorly defined. The index suspicion for the latter conditionsshould be raised for lesions refractory to current medical therapy.
Reference and incomplete descriptions

In “On Referring” Peter Strawson pointed out that incomplete descriptions pose a problem for Russell’s analysis of definite descriptions. Howard Wettstein and Michael Devitt appealed to incomplete descriptions to argue, first, that Russell’s analysis of definite descriptions fails, and second, that Donnellan’s referential/attributive distinction has semantic bite. Stephen Neale has defended Russell’s analysis of definite descriptions against Wettstein’s and Devitt’s objections. In this paper, my aim is twofold. First, I rebut Neale’s objections to Wettstein’s and Devitt’s argument and argue that Neale’s attempt to provide an account of referential descriptions within a Russellian framework fails. Second, contra Devitt and Wettstein, I argue that the problem posed by incomplete descriptions shows that Donnellan was right in believing that referential descriptions refer even if the definite description fits nothing.
Channel cross-section analysis for automated stream head identification

Abstract Headwater streams account for more than half of the streams in the United States by length. The substantial occurrence and susceptibility to change of headwater streams makes regular updating of related maps vital to the accuracy of associated analysis and display. Here we present work testing new methods of completely automated remote headwater stream identification using metrics derived from channel Digital Elevation Model (DEM) cross-sections. A jump in standard deviation of curvature (sK) is found to correlate with the presence of stream heads. Field and remotely validated stream and channel initiation points from 4 diverse study areas in North Carolina as well as a simulated surface are used to test the sK findings. The sK value within individual catchments equal to 0.5*Tukey's upper inner fence is found to be a reliable threshold for identifying the upslope extent of channels in varied landscapes.
Managing Nocturia in Frail Older Adults

This review discusses the available evidence in the current evaluation and treatment of nocturia in frail older adults. No evidence specifically evaluates the use of behavioral interventions in the treatment of the frail older adult with nocturia, but their use is supported in other cohorts. Behavioral modifications and optimal management of comorbidities remain the first-line treatment for all age groups and should be emphasized in the frail due to their favorable safety profile. No studies specific to the frail older adult support the use of pharmacotherapy. Some evidence exists for the efficacy of several agents in the older adult; however, this is difficult to extrapolate to the frail, and safety concerns abound. Desmopressin may be effective in the older adult, but a high risk of hyponatremia raises concerns for its safety, and therefore it is not recommended in the frail. α-Antagonists may have limited efficacy in men with known benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); they are relatively well tolerated, although the risk of orthostatic hypotension in the frail should be considered. β3-agonist trials suggest limited clinical utility. Antimuscarinics are not found to be useful in this cohort and are contraindicated in the frail older adult given the ability of antimuscarinics to cause cognitive impairment, delirium, and falls. No data examine the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the frail older adult. Additionally, the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria recommends against the use of muscarinics in those over the age of 75 years and therefore their use is not supported.
When Failure Is an Option: a Scoping Review of Failure States in Game-Based Learning

As interest in the use of games and gaming elements within learning environments grows, educators and designers may find it easier to account for winning than for losing and failure. This scoping review examines the role of failure and loss within game-based instructional interventions. Because of the varied methods and relatively small number of articles directly addressing the intersection between failure and loss within game-based instructional interventions, a scoping review was undertaken. This review included 14 peer-reviewed articles which explored a range of instructional contexts implementing failure state game mechanics. We identify several key takeaways that indicate how failure state mechanics may have considerable promise in meeting specific instructional goals during game-based instructional interventions. Perhaps most notable in the findings is the delicate relationship between perceived risk of failure relative to instructional utility. We define this relationship with a new term, unit of failure, which aims to assist practitioners in operationalizing failure and loss in game-based instructional interventions.
Usability of a Digital Elder Mistreatment Screening Tool for Older Adults with Visual and Hearing Disabilities

Elder mistreatment (EM) is a public health problem that affects 10% of Americans aged 60 or older. As the number of older adults increases due to national demographics, instances of elder mistreatment are also likely to increase without services in place to prevent it. The goal of our study was to evaluate the usability and feasibility of the VOICES tablet-based elder mistreatment screening tool with older adults who have visual and hearing disabilities. VOICES is a tablet-based self-administrated digital health tool that screens, educates, and motivates older adults to self-report elder mistreatment. Study participants included older adults who were blind, had low vision, were deaf, or were hard of hearing. Findings from this study will inform geriatricians, user interface designers, digital health professionals, and the general public on the specific needs of older adults with disabilities and universal design considerations for digital health applications intended to be used by older adults with visual or hearing disabilities.
Ronald Reagan and the House Democrats: Gridlock, Partisanship, and the Fiscal Crisis – By Karl Gerard Brandt

The 2008 election reminded us forcefully that Ronald Reagan and the era he inaugurated belong to a past generation and that it is time for American historians, endowed with thirty years' perspectiv...
Penicillin-Lysozyme Conversion of Clostridium botulinum Types A and E into Protoplasts and Their Stabilization as L-Form Cultures

When logarithmically growing cultures of Clostridium botulinum types A and E are treated with penicillin in a liquid medium containing 8% polyethylene glycol, protoplast-like spherical bodies are formed. The penicillin effect shows a dose-response relationship; the largest yield of converted forms is obtained with 10,000 units/ml, but the treatment leaves many intact bacilli. Lower antibiotic concentrations produce smaller numbers of spherical bodies, but lysis of bacilli results in suspensions that are relatively free of rods. Cells grown under the same conditions and treated with 250 μg of lysozyme/ml do not form spherical bodies. However, a combination of 1,250 to 2,500 units of penicillin and 100 μg of lysozyme/ml yields suspensions which have sphere counts in excess of 1.0 × 108/ml and only a few intact rods. The state of the culture at the time of addition of the antibiotic and enzyme is critical. Suspensions of these protoplasts can be adapted to grow as stable L-form cultures producing the same toxin type as the parent cultures.
Comparative metacarpal volume and relative thumb muscle mass in humans and non-human primates (LB35)

Fine precision (pad-to-pad) grasping is facilitated by having a relative long thumb and short fingers. Power grasping is aided by having large thumb muscle forces generated by large thumb muscles (e.g., adductor pollicis). Reconstructing precision grasping in fossils is easily done by examining bone lengths. Reconstructing muscle force is more difficult because soft tissue seldom preserves in fossils. The goal of this study was to find a metric that can estimate thumb muscle mass from skeletal elements. Accordingly, we examined the relationship between thumb muscle mass and metacarpal 1 (Mc1) volume in a sample (>220) of human and non-human primates (>20 species). Relative thumb muscle masses (all thumb muscles, thenar muscles only, adductor pollicis only) were calculated as a percentage of total hand muscles mass. Relative Mc1 volume was calculated as a percentage of Mc2-5 volume. Metacarpal volumes were obtain from 3D surfaces models derived from CT scanning. Regression analyses demonstrated a significa...
New light on the prehistoric Purrón Dam Complex: Small corporate group collaboration in the Tehuacán Valley, Puebla, México

AbstractThe 2003 and 2004 surveys at the Purron Dam Complex (PDC) demonstrate the value of resurveying previously studied areas. Additional habitation sites, water management features, a cave with pictographs, and a major canal were discovered, increasing the number of recorded sites from eight to 57. From this survey, the collected ceramics and a synthesis of 12 chronometric dates suggest that water management was initiated in the complex by Early Formative times at ca. 1050–1100 b.c., and that the Purron Dam was completed by the Middle Formative Period (ca. 650–450 b.c.), when settlements were small and decentralized. This challenges previous interpretations that place the PDC florescence during the Early Classic Period (ca. 150 b.c.–a.d.250), a period with larger aggregated communities displaying social ranking. The results of our survey have implications for understanding the links between political complexity and agricultural intensification, and support recent ethnographic and archaeological researc...
Historical perspective and future direction of thrombolysis research: the re-discovery of plasmin.

Summary. Two issues have held the focus of thrombolysis research for over 50 years, namely, choosing between a plasminogen activator (PA) or plasmin as the best therapeutic agent and choosing between systemic or local administration. The original plasmin product of the 1950s was both ineffective and contaminated with PA, and catheter technology was not yet developed for routine clinical use. For decades, clinical practice has focused on PA and systemic administration, but today, PAs are often administered by catheter into thrombosed vessels, notably for peripheral arterial and graft occlusion and deep vein thrombosis, and increasingly for acute ischaemic stroke. Despite using catheter-delivered therapy, bleeding complications still occur, most severely expressed as symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. New experimental data indicate that we should now reconsider plasmin as a viable, even preferable, thrombolytic agent. Plasmin requires catheter delivery to achieve thrombolysis, but this technical issue has been solved with modern technology and widespread presence of interventional suites. After local administration, plasmin will lyse thrombi; thereafter, any plasmin in the circulation will be rapidly neutralised. Pre-clinical studies confirm that plasmin has marked haemostatic safety advantage over t-PA. After more than 50 years, the field has come full circle, and plasmin as the thrombolytic agent and catheter use for local delivery of agent may represent a step forward in thrombolytic therapy.
Enhanced phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of a histone-like protein in response to hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic conditions

Placement of endothelial cells under hypoosmotic or hyperosmotic conditions results in the reduction and increase, respectively, in the phosphorylation of a M(r) = 16,500 protein (P17). The changes were dose-dependent with a 3.3 +/- 0.3-fold increase occurring at 485 mosm/kg H2O and negligible phosphorylation observed at 202 mosm/kg H2O. The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation were rapid and prolonged; modified phosphorylation levels were maintained as long as the anisotonic conditions were present. However, return to isotonic medium reversed the phosphorylation back to normal within 1 h. Cellular fractionation studies showed that P17 was associated only with the nuclear compartment under isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic conditions. Two forms of P17 with pI values of 9.2 and 9.6 were resolved by isoelectric focusing; both forms showed enhanced phosphorylation by hyperosmotic treatment. Phosphorylation occurred on serines exclusively. These studies demonstrate that a nuclear protein with characteristics similar to histones is affected by cell shrinkage or swelling through changes in its phosphorylation state.
Tattooing and Tattooed Criminals

This paper reviews the history of tattooing and the role of the skin as a locus of interpersonal communication. It considers the psychodynamic dimensions of tattooing, and reports psychological and criminological tattoo studies. It assesses gang tattoos and tattooed criminals in relation to the criminal justice system. Practical suggestions are given regarding the importance of tattoos for criminal justice personnel, court players and rehabilitation therapists in correctional institutions. It points out that mental health professionals, especially those in forensics and corrections, should recognize the possible significance of tattoos in offenders. The inclusion of their interpretation of offender tattoos in their reports would assist the court players in the assessment of possible future dangerousness and recidivism.
Competition for survival among developing ciliary ganglion cells

1. Functionally different subgroups, each innervating a different part of the peripheral target, were defined within the ciliary population of the avian ciliary ganglion by electrical stimulation of the various ciliary nerve branches. 2. Although neurons innervating defined parts of the peripheral target consistently sent their axons through certain nerves, the technique of retrograde horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport showed that the ganglion cell bodies were not spatially grouped but distributed throughout the ganglion, both before and after the period of naturally occurring cell death. However, such neurons tended to be clustered into groups of two or greater. 3. Ciliary and choroid populations, however, were found to be for the most spatially separate and recognizable by location and soma size before the period of cell death. Choroid cells did not project out the ciliary nerves even prior to the cell death period, confirming previous observations of selective axon outgrowth in the two populations. 4. Competition for survival was demonstrated within the ciliary population by experimentally removing approximately two-thirds of the neurons by axotomy-induced cell death at stage 32-34 just prior to the normal cell death period. This reduction in the number of competing neurons resulted in rescue of approximately 40% of the neurons that would have died, as assessed both by the number of axon profiles in the remaining intact nerve branch, as well as the number of somata that could be retrogradely labeled from this nerve. 5. It was concluded that many of the neurons that are normally removed during the cell death period are not destined to die, but can be rescued by reducing the number of neurons competing for a limited supply of some aspect of the peripheral target. Further, the postulated interaction with the target was shown to occur relatively late, just prior to the onset of cell death. 6. At the time of the peripheral interaction, the target was found to consist primarily of myoepithelial cells, which had migrated into the target region following the arrival of the ciliary axons. The target per se, therefore, cannot be involved in the selective growth of ciliary axons to the appropriate region. Well-defined synapses were rare, although many axonal endings were observed in close contact with both myoepithelial cells and the sparser differentiated muscle fibers, which increased to account for 60% of the target by the end of the cell death period. 7. Competition was also found to retard the rate of neuronal maturation because intact axons in the partially axotomized ganglion developed more rapidly than control axons, as assessed by axon diameter, conduction velocity, and degree of glial ensheathment. 8. Finally, at least some of the neurons in the partially axotomized ganglion expanded to innervate the peripheral territory of the axotomized branches, suggesting that competition between neurons is involved in the establishment of the observed peripheral innervation pattern.
Regulation of extracellular copper-binding proteins in copper-resistant and copper-sensitive mutants of Vibrio alginolyticus

Extracellular proteins of wild-type Vibrio alginolyticus were compared with those of copper-resistant and copper-sensitive mutants. One copper-resistant mutant (Cu40B3) constitutively produced an extracellular protein with the same apparent molecular mass (21 kDa) and chromatographic behavior as copper-binding protein (CuBP), a copper-induced supernatant protein which has been implicated in copper detoxification in wild-type V. alginolyticus. Copper-sensitive V. alginolyticus mutants displayed a range of alterations in supernatant protein profiles. CuBP was not detected in supernatants of one copper-sensitive mutant after cultures had been stressed with 50 microM copper. Increased resistance to copper was not induced by preincubation with subinhibitory levels of copper in the wild type or in the copper-resistant mutant Cu40B3. Copper-resistant mutants maintained the ability to grow on copper-amended agar after 10 or more subcultures on nonselective agar, demonstrating the stability of the phenotype. A derivative of Cu40B3 with wild-type sensitivity to copper which no longer constitutively expressed CuBP was isolated. The simultaneous loss of both constitutive CuBP production and copper resistance in Cu40B3 indicates that constitutive CuBP production is necessary for copper resistance in this mutant. These data support the hypothesis that the extracellular, ca. 20-kDa protein(s) of V. alginolyticus is an important factor in survival and growth of the organism at elevated copper concentrations. The range of phenotypes observed in copper-resistant and copper-sensitive V. alginolyticus indicate that altered sensitivity to copper was mediated by a variety of physiological changes.
Does Variation in Public Housing Waiting Lists Induce Intra-Urban Mobility?

Abstract Rental assistance is a major part of the welfare package offered to low-income households. Unlike entitlement programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), households must wait to receive housing benefits. Researchers have overlooked the potential effect that variance in the length of public housing waiting lists may have on intra-urban mobility rates. While households are typically eligible for the same housing benefit within a metropolitan area, the difference in the discounted stream of housing benefits that a household can expect to receive may be substantial. Evidence in this paper suggests that intra-urban mobility is reduced by a small amount in metropolitan areas which have higher median waiting times and which have less variation across waiting lists.
In vivo veritas: pathogenesis of infection as it actually happens

Host-microbe interactions define the life histories of all organisms. We live and die surrounded by harmless and harmful organisms that affect us in a multitude of ways and are themselves affected by our responses. Generations of such reciprocal interactions have produced homeostasis between us and some microbes (commensals), but not between us and others (pathogens), whereas still other microbes (opportunists) change status depending on the host. The study of pathogenesis seeks to define in molecular and genetic terms the difference between these outcomes with the hope of finding ways to prevent disease without losing the symbiotic benefits of microbial colonization.
Attention, the presolution period, and choice accuracy in pigeons.

Abstract Six pigeons were trained first on a color then on a form discrimination; four other pigeons were trained first on form and then on color. One of two colors or one of two forms (sample stimuli) appeared in the center of a touch sensitive monitor for 5 pigeons and in the center and in 16 other locations for 5 other pigeons. A peck anywhere within the region in which the sample stimuli appeared produced two white disks (comparison stimuli), one on the left and one on the lower right corners of the screen. Correct left–right choices provided food. Although of no consequence, the location of pecks in presence of the sample was predictive of the pigeon's subsequent choice. Accuracy, choice of the correct comparison stimulus, was greater when the sample stimuli appeared in the center as well as 16 other locations than when it appeared only in the center. The presolution period, the period of chance accuracy prior to evidence of discrimination learning, was decreased on each task following training on the other task. This evidence of facilitation following an extra-dimensional shift was attributed to continued relevance of the conditions under which the first task was learned. The duration of the presolution period was inversely related to asymptotic accuracy—data accounted for by Heinemann's (1983) theory of information processing during the presolution period.
Inflammatory mechanisms in diabetes: lessons from the beta-cell.

Inflammation plays an important role in the destruction of pancreatic islet β-cells that leads to type I diabetes. This involves infiltration of T-cells and macrophages into the islets and local production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ. Our laboratory has developed several strategies for protecting β-cells against oxidative stress and cytokine-induced cytotoxicity. These include a cytokine selection strategy that results in cell lines that are resistant to the combined effects of IL-1β+IFN-γ. More recently, we have combined the cytokine selection procedure with overexpression of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2, resulting in cell lines with greater resistance to oxidative stress and cytokine-induced damage than achieved with either procedure alone. This article summarizes this work and the remarkably divergent mechanisms by which protection is achieved in the different model systems. We also discuss the potential relevance of insights gained from these approaches for enhancing islet cell survival and function in both major forms of diabetes.
Subacute Stent Thrombosis and the Anticoagulation Controversy: Changes in Drug Therapy, Operator Technique, and the Impact of Intravascular Ultrasound

Clinical trials have shown that stents are superior to other catheter-based coronary interventions in terms of reduced complications and improved long-term efficacy. With utilization of high-pressure balloon inflation and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance, stent implantation can now be performed safely without anticoagulation (i.e., with lower rates of stent thrombosis and vascular complications). In 2 recent prospective clinical trials, stent thrombosis occurred in 3.5% of cases despite anticoagulant therapy, which resulted in an average of 7% vascular and bleeding complications. Initial use of IVUS during traditional stent deployment showed that 80% of stents were underexpanded and led to the hypothesis that stent thrombosis might be decreased as a result of optimal stent placement under IVUS guidance without the need for anticoagulation. In a prospective clinical trial to test this hypothesis, three factors were found to reduce stent thrombosis: full stent expansion, complete apposition to the vessel wall, and full lesion coverage. Predictors of thrombotic risk in this era of high-pressure stent deployment without anticoagulation include low ejection fraction, residual dissections, slow flow, multiple stents per lesion, and smaller postprocedure stent luminal diameter. To optimize stent expansion, stent dilation should be performed using a mean inflation pressure of 18 atm with a noncompliant or minimally compliant balloon sized to the vessel being treated (B/V ratio = 1.1). Controversy still remains about the best poststent antiplatelet regimen, and results of a recent trial should indicate whether heparin coating provides additional protection from stent thrombosis.
Effective local control and long-term survival in patients with T4 locally advanced breast cancer treated with breast conservation therapy.

Background: The presence of skin involvement has been accepted as a relative contraindication to breast preservation because it is believed to be associated with an increased local failure rate. This study was conducted to assess the outcome of a carefully selected group of patients who presented with breast cancer involving the skin and who had breast conservation therapy (BCT) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
How Access to Credit Affects Self-employment: Differences by Gender during India's Rural Banking Reform

Abstract Household survey data for 1983–2000 from India's National Sample Survey Organisation are used to examine the impact of credit on self-employment among men and women in rural labour households. Results indicate that credit access encourages women's self-employment as own-account workers and employers, while it discourages men's self-employment as unpaid family workers. Ownership of land, a key form of collateral, also serves as a strong predictor of self-employment. Among the lower castes in India, self-employment is less likely for scheduled castes prone to wage activity, but more likely for scheduled tribes prone to entrepreneurial work.
Neuropsychological Testing as It Relates to Recovery From Sports-related Concussion

Concussion is a challenging injury for the sports medicine team, and neuropsychological testing has been used as an adjunct to other clinical measures for assessment and management, and to guide return-to-play decisions. Understanding the limitations as well as the role of neuropsychological testing in the evaluation and management of sports-related concussion is important for the sports medicine team. This article will review the evidence regarding the utility of neuropsychological testing as it relates to concussion in sports.
Photothermal Measurement Of The Absorption Coefficient Of Water At 590 nm.

The optical absorption coefficient of a sea water sample was measured at 590 nm by the pulsed photothermal deflection technique. The absorption of the sea water sample was 1.22 x 10 -3 cm -1 . Corresponding measurements on samples from a standard source of distilled water give an absorption coefficient of 6.44 x 10 -4 cm -1 . Simple calculations are shown for the thermal gradients and probe beam deflections seen in these types of studies.
A cross-sectional study of the perceived stressfulness of several life events.

Adults from different age groups (18–24, 30–40, and 65–86) were tested to determine if they differ in their perception of certain stressful life events. Twenty adults from each age group were asked to rate a series of events according to their perceived relative stressfulness; included were events thought to be particularly salient for elderly adults. Amster and Krauss' list of events and Holmes and Rahe's procedure for quantifying stress were used. Group differences were not found for the elderly salient events; however it was found that elderly adults perceive death-related events as less stressful than do younger adults.
Fluorescence Imaging of Underexpanded Jets and Comparison with CFD

An experimental study of underexpanded and highly underexpanded axisymmetric nitrogen free jets seeded with 0.5% nitric oxide (NO) and issuing from a sonic orifice was conducted at NASA Langley Research Center. Reynolds numbers based on nozzle exit conditions ranged from 770 to 35,700, and nozzle exit-to-ambient jet pressure ratios ranged from 2 to 35. These flows were non-intrusively visualized with a spatial resolution of approximately 0.14 mm x 0.14 mm x 1 mm thick and a temporal resolution of 1 s using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of NO, with the laser tuned to the strongly-fluorescing UV absorption bands of the Q1 band head near 226.256 nm. Three laminar cases were selected for comparison with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The cases were run using GASP (General Aerodynamic Simulation Program) Version 4. Comparisons of the fundamental wavelength of the jet flow showed good agreement between CFD and experiment for all three test cases, while comparisons of Mach disk location and Mach disk diameter showed good agreement at lower jet pressure ratios, with a tendency to slightly underpredict these parameters with increasing jet pressure ratio.
Hatha yoga and vascular function: Results from cross-sectional and interventional studies

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of hatha yoga on arterial elasticity and endothelial function. First, a cross-sectional study was performed to determine whether yoga practitioners would demonstrate greater arterial compliance and endothelium-dependent vasodilation than their sedentary peers. Second, an intervention study involving 13 sedentary middle-aged and older adults (51 ± 7 years) was performed to determine whether 12 weeks of hatha yoga would elicit increases in arterial compliance and endothelial function. In the cross-sectional study involving a total of 34 subjects, there were no group differences in body fatness, blood lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, carotid artery compliance or brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Hemoglobin A1c was lower in yoga practitioners than in sedentary adults (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol and hemoglobin A1c decreased after the intervention (P < 0.05) while carotid artery compliance and brachial artery FMD did not change. The results of both cross-sectional and interventional studies indicate that regular practice of hatha yoga is not associated with improvements in vascular functions.
Legalization of Marijuana: Unraveling Quandaries for the Addiction Professional

For more than four decades, a movement to shift cannabis control policy away from prohibition has gained momentum in such countries as Australia, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States (Caulkins et al., 2012, pp. 207–224). When the issue is debated, researchers, and clinicians in the addictive behaviors field may face a difficult choice when asked where they stand with reference to making legal the retail sale of marijuana to adults. It is clear that there are health and behavioral risks to marijuana use. But, do those risks in and of themselves close the door to considering alternative policies? Or, to frame the issue somewhat differently, does prohibition's track record in protecting public health and safety justify its continuance when considered alongside one or another non-prohibition policy?
Littoral flow rates within and around submersed macrophyte communities

SUMMARY 1 The magnitude and range of water flow rates were measured within and adjacent to plant beds at different depths and among different dominant submersed plant species in the littoral zones of two lakes with contrasting morphometry. 2 There was very little variability in within-bed flow rates, either for locations within or among beds. However, when significant differences occurred in within-bed flow rates, the higher rates occurred predominately near the bottom of the Scirpus subterminalis bed where the plant surface area to water volume ratio was lowest. 3 Factors such as bed depth and dominant species had little effect on within-bed flow rate variance. Flows external to the plant beds were dissipated within 10–15 cm of the outer plant-bed boundary even under severe external flow-rate conditions (flow rate ∼ 30cms−1). 4 The mean within-bed flow rate was 0.07cms−1 and individual experiment means ranged from 0.03 to 0.46cms−1. These flow rates resulted in estimates of laminar flow boundary layer thickness, 1 mm from the leading edge of the leaf, ranging from 9.1 to 2.3mm. These estimates are much larger than submersed macrophyte leaf thicknesses themselves (<1 mm).
Cosmological versus Intrinsic: The Correlation between Intensity and the Peak of the nu F_nu Spectrum of Gamma Ray Bursts

We present results of correlation studies, examining the association between the peak of the nu F_nu spectrum of gamma ray bursts, E_p, with the burst's energy fluence and photon peak flux. We discuss methods to account for data truncation in E_p and fluence or flux when performing the correlation analyses. However, because bursts near the detector threshold are not usually able to provide reliable spectral parameters, we focus on results for the brightest bursts in which we can better understand the selection effects relevant to E_p and burst strength. We find that there is a strong correlation between total fluence and E_p. We discuss these results in terms of both cosmological and intrinsic effects. In particular, we show that for realistic distributions of the burst parameters, cosmological expansion alone cannot account for the correlation between E_p and total fluence; the observed correlation is likely a result of an intrinsic relation between the burst rest-frame peak energy and the total radiated energy. We investigate this latter scenario in the context of synchrotron radiation from external and internal shock models of GRBs. We find that the internal shock model is consistent with our interpretation of the correlation, while the external shock model cannot easily explain this intrinsic relation between peak energy and burst radiated energy.
Entomological Contributions to Human Welfare: Through Extension

I would like to begin this paper by congratulating the Program Committee for selecting such a timely and informative theme for the 1960 Entomological Society Annual Meeting. The science of entomology and the entomological profession have contributed much to the welfare of mankind, not only in the United States but also throughout the world. It is proper that the many ways in which entomology has benefited the people of our nation should be set forth and called to the attention of the general public through the occasion of this Conference.
An analytical solution for transient flow of Bingham viscoplastic materials in rock fractures

We present below an analytical solution to model the one-dimensional transient flow of a Bingham viscoplastic material in a fracture with parallel walls (smooth or rough) that is subjected to an applied pressure gradient. The solution models the acceleration and the deceleration of the material as the pressure gradient changes with time. Two cases are considered: a pressure gradient applied over a finite time interval and an applied pressure gradient that is constant over time. The solution is expressed in dimensionless form and can therefore be used for a wide range of Bingham viscoplastic materials. The solution is also capable of capturing the transition that takes place in a fracture between viscoplastic flow and rigid plug flow. Also, it shows the development of a rigid central layer in fractures, the extent of which depends on the fluid properties (viscosity and yield stress), the magnitude of the pressure gradient, and the fracture aperture and surface roughness. Finally, it is shown that when a pressure gradient is applied and kept constant, the solution for the fracture flow rate converges over time to a steady-state solution that can be defined as a modified cubic law. In this case, the fracture transmissivity is found to be a non-linear function of the head gradient. This solution provides a tool for a better understanding of the flow of Bingham materials in rock fractures, interfaces, and cracks.
Tumor detection using digital mammography

Algorithms for tumor detection in digital mammography are developed and tested using a large database of normal and abnormal images. These algorithms build on previous work ion digital mammography and involve using two basic schemes. Feature extraction using image re-mapping for histogram modification, wavelet decomposition, and estimating of pertinent statistical parameters. These features are then presented in different formats to a neural net-based detection system.
Economic analysis of a modified dry grind ethanol process with recycle of pretreated and enzymatically hydrolyzed distillers’ grains

A modification of the conventional dry grind process for producing ethanol from yellow dent corn is considered with respect to its economic value. Process modifications include recycling distillers' grains, after being pretreated and hydrolyzed, with the ground corn and water to go through fermentation again and increase ethanol yields from the corn starch. A dry grind financial model, which has been validated against other financial models in the industry, is utilized to determine the financial impact of the process changes. The hypothesis was that the enhanced process would yield higher revenues through additional ethanol sales, and higher valued dried distillers' grains (DDGS), due to its higher protein content, to mitigate the drop in DDGS yields. A 32% increase in net present value (NPV) for the overall operation is expected when applying the process modifications to a 100million gallon ethanol plant, and an enzyme cost of $0.20 for each additional gallon of ethanol produced. However, there may be no value added to the enhanced dried distillers' grains (eDDGS), even in light of its higher protein levels, as current pricing is expected to be more sensitive to the amino acid profile than the total protein level, and the eDDGS has lower lysine levels, a key amino acid. Thus, there is a decrease in revenue from eDDGS due to the combination of no price change and loss of DDGS yield to ethanol. The financial improvements are a result of the increased revenue from higher ethanol yields outpacing the sum of all added costs, which include higher capital costs, larger loan payments, increased operating costs, and decreased revenues from dried distillers' grains.
Effect of Certain Drugs on Perfused Human Placenta VI: Serotonin Antagonists

The antiserotonin action of several compounds was investigated in the vasculature of the isolated perfused human placenta. Average onset, duration of action, and per cent decrease at maximal antagonism were used to discern the antiserotonin capability of the smallest effective dose of each compound necessary to antagonize the pressor action of serotonin. Their ability to antagonize the vasoconstrictor effect of serotonin, in decreasing order of effectiveness, was: cyproheptadine, LSD, diphenhydrarnine, chlorpromatine, prornethazine, promatine, and dibenamine. Cyproheptadine, which had a relatively short duration of action, caused the greatest decrease to the pressor action of serotonin, while chlorpromazine and diphenhydramine exhibited the longest duration of action. The mechanisms by which these agents antagonized the vasopressor effect of serotonin are attributed to a blockade of α-adrenergic receptors, competition for specific receptor sites, and/or direct negative musculotropic action. It is suggested that the human placenta, rather than tissues of other species, may serve as the organ of choice to evaluate the potential effectiveness of serotonin antagonists useful in therapeutics.
Analysis of nucleic acids by FTICR MS

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry represents a unique platform with which to study nucleic acids and non-covalent complexes containing nucleic acids moieties. In particular, systems in which very high mass measurement accuracy is required, very complex mixtures are to be analyzed, or very limited amounts of sample are available may be uniquely suited to interrogation by FTICR mass spectrometry. Although the FTICR platform is now broadly deployed as an integral component of many high-end proteomics-based research efforts, momentum is still building for the application of the platform towards nucleic acid-based analyses. In this work, we review fundamental aspects of nucleic acid analysis by FTICR, focusing primarily on the analysis of DNA oligonucleotides but also describing applications related to the characterization of RNA constructs. The goal of this review article is to give the reader a sense of the breadth and scope of the status quo of FTICR analysis of nucleic acids and to summarize a few recently published reports in which researchers have exploited the performance attributes of FTICR to characterize nucleic acids in support of basic and applied research disciplines including genotyping, drug discovery, and forensic analyses. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 24:265–285, 2005
Requirement of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 (MKK3) for Activation of p38α and p38δ MAPK Isoforms by TGF-β1 in Murine Mesangial Cells

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent inducer of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis that leads to renal fibrosis. Intracellular signaling mechanisms involved in this process remain incompletely understood. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a major stress signal-transducing pathway, and we have previously reported activation of p38 MAPK by TGF-beta1 in rat mesangial cells and its role in the stimulation of pro-alpha1(I) collagen. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism of p38 MAPK activation by TGF-beta1 and the role of MKK3, an upstream MAPK kinase of p38 MAPK, by examining the effect of targeted disruption of the Mkk3 gene. We first isolated glomerular mesangial cells from MKK3-null (Mkk3-/-) and wild-type (Mkk3+/+) control mice. Treatment with TGF-beta1 induced rapid phosphorylation of MKK3 as well as p38 MAPK within 15 min in cultured wild-type (Mkk3+/+) mouse mesangial cells. In contrast, TGF-beta1 failed to induce phosphorylation of either MKK3 or p38 MAPK in MKK3-deficient (Mkk3-/-) mouse mesangial cells, indicating that MKK3 is required for TGF-beta1-induced p38 MAPK activation. TGF-beta1 selectively activated the p38 MAPK isoforms p38alpha and p38delta in wild-type (Mkk3+/+) mesangial cells, but not in MKK3-deficient (Mkk3-/-) mesangial cells. Thus, activation of p38alpha and p38delta is dependent on the activation of upstream MKK3 by TGF-beta1. Furthermore, MKK3 deficiency resulted in a selective disruption of TGF-beta1-stimulated up-regulation of pro-alpha1(I) collagen expression but not TGF-beta1 induction of fibronectin and PAI-1. These data demonstrate that the MKK3 is a critical component of the TGF-beta1 signaling pathway, and its activation is required for subsequent p38alpha and p38delta MAPK activation and collagen stimulation by TGF-beta1.
Diagnosis and management of testicular torsion: Pitfalls and perils

When a patient presents with acute scrotal pain and physical findings do not permit confident exclusion of testicular torsion, the initial step in management is immediate consultation with a urologist, pediatric surgeon, or general surgeon. Scrotal imaging is fallible and takes time that may be critical to salvage of the testis. Manual detorsion may be indicated when specialty support is not immediately available, but even if this technique is apparently successful, the patient should be transferred to specialty care without delay.