cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Center Donor Refusal Rate is Associated With Worse Outcomes After Listing in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

BACKGROUND Pediatric donor heart acceptability differs among transplant centers. However, the impact of center donor acceptance on waitlist and posttransplant outcomes has not been investigated. The aim of our study was to investigate associations between transplant center refusal rate (RR) and outcomes after listing. METHODS Retrospective analysis was performed using United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplant Network pediatric (<18 y) heart transplant data from 2007 to 2017. Center RR was defined as the median number of refusals per listed patient. Associations between RR center quartile and waitlist time, waitlist removal for death or clinical deterioration, posttransplant survival, and survival after listing were investigated. RESULTS There were 5552 listed patients in 59 centers who met inclusion criteria. The lowest quartile RR centers had a median RR of ≤1 per listed patient, and highest RR centers percentile had a median RR of ≥4. Highest RR centers had shorter time to first offer (19 versus 38 d; P < 0.001), with longer waitlist times (203 versus 145 d; P < 0.001), were more likely to remove patients from the waitlist due to death or deterioration (24.1% versus 14.6%; P < 0.001), less likely to transplant listed patients (63.1% versus 77.6%; P < 0.001), and had a lower likelihood of survival 1 year after listing (79.2% versus 91.6%; odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.0; P < 0.001) compared with low RR centers. CONCLUSIONS Patients listed at high RR centers had worse survival from listing despite having shorter times to first offer.
Electrocatalytic reduction of furfural with high selectivity to furfuryl alcohol using AgPd alloy nanoparticles

AgPd alloy nanoparticles were applied for the electrocatalytic reduction of furfural (2-furfuraldehyde). Constant potential electrolysis experiments were carried out and furfural conversions and product selectivities to furfuryl alcohol were systematically investigated to elucidate the alloy composition–catalytic property relationship. AgPd catalysts exhibited faradaic efficiencies to furfuryl alcohol over 95% for Ag60Pd40 at low overpotentials in neutral, aqueous electrolyte.
Genome Analysis for Sequence Variants in SARS-CoV-2 Among Asymptomatic Individuals in a Long-term Care Facility.

Studies have suggested that sequence variants in the genome of SARS-CoV-2 may affect infectivity, transmission, and pathogenicity of the virus.1,2,3 In this study, genome analysis was performed on SARS-CoV-2 RNA recovered from 7 individuals in a long-term care facility who were asymptomatic at time of screening.
The influence of changes in water availability on seedling mortality of a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest on Ailao Mountain

In order to understand the influence of changes in water availability on the seedling dynamics of subtropical forests and the relationship between wood density and seedling mortality during a prolonged drought period,we studied seedling mortality patterns across all species and of 5 common tree species from an evergreen broadleaf forest on Ailao Mountain,southwest( SW) China from 2005 to 2011. The five tree species studied were Machilus bombycina,Neolitsea polycarpa,Symplocos ramosissima,Neolitsea chuii,and Illicium macranthum. The relationships between seedling mortality and rainy days,rainfall,soil water mass content(0—20 cm) during the dry season,and wood density were also analyzed.Our results showed that 1) Seedling mortality was negatively correlated with number of rainy days in the dry season and dryseason soil water mass content,but not with total dry season rainfall; 2) The seedling mortalities of all species as a whole and of each of the 5 species studied reached a historical maximum in the 2010 SW China extreme drought,which were 2 to10 times more intense than for 2009( Machilus bombycina and Symplocos ramosissima had the highest seedling mortalities while Illicium macranthum had the lowest in 2010); 3) Across species,the seedling mortality in the 2010 drought was positively correlated with species-specific wood densities; species with higher wood densities had higher seedling mortalities. Previous studies have shown that trees in this forest did not experience severe drought stress during the 2010 SW China drought. However,the present study suggests that the seedlings were severely influenced by the rainfall anomaly during the 2010 dry season,probably owing to their shallow rooting depths and consequently high sensitivities to changes in rainfall. Additionally,because of the lower seedling mortalities in lower wood density species,the potential increase in drought frequency and severity in the future may increase the relative abundance of low wood density species,which may potentially lead to changes in forest species composition.
The relationship between suicide-specific rumination and suicidal intent above and beyond suicidal ideation and other suicide risk factors: A multilevel modeling approach.

Abstract Suicide-specific rumination, characterized by perseveration on and difficulties disengaging from suicidal thoughts and ideas, has been linked to increased suicide risk; however, previous studies were limited by the use of a cross-sectional design and relatively lower risk samples. This study aimed to replicate and extend previous findings by examining the short-term longitudinal association between suicide-specific rumination and suicidal intent, controlling for numerous robust covariates, in a sample of community-based adults at high risk for suicide, who were recruited from suicide-related forums online. Ninety-one adults with significant suicidal ideation (Mage = 27.03, SD = 8.64; 53.8% female, 44.0% male, 1.1% non-binary, 1.1% transgender female) completed brief online self-report measures at six time-points, each three days apart. Multilevel modeling analyses indicated that suicide-specific rumination was associated with suicidal intent, above and beyond suicidal ideation, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, agitation, insomnia, nightmares, and sociodemographic characteristics. Further, a lagged model demonstrated that suicide-specific rumination predicted subsequent time-point suicidal intent, controlling for current suicidal intent and all other covariates. Overall, these findings suggest that perseverating on one's suicidal thoughts may serve as a proximal factor that increases suicide risk. Future investigations should explore potential mechanisms of this association, as well as interventions that may reduce suicide-specific rumination.
An integrated E-Tube cap for sample preparation, isothermal amplification and label-free electrochemical detection of DNA.

Abstract A simple, disposable, and integrated electronic-tube cap (E-tube cap) for DNA detection at the point-of-care was designed, fabricated, and tested. The E-tube cap contains a 3D printed electrode substrate for DNA extraction and label-free pH sensing detection. One Flinders Technology Associates (Whatman FTA) membrane was incorporated into the 3D printed electrode substrate for the isolation, concentration, and purification of DNA. The E-tube cap with captured DNA by the membrane was inserted directly into a reaction tube for loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The isothermal amplification process was monitored in real-time by a 3D printed electrochemical electrode coated with pH-sensitive material (carbon/iridium oxide layer). The pH sensing electrode showed an excellent linear response within the pH range of 6–9 with a slope of −31.32 ± 0.5 mV/pH at room temperature. The utility of the integrated E-tube cap was demonstrated by detecting the presence of lambda DNA spiked in saliva samples with a sensitivity of 100 copies per mL sample within 30 min. Such a simple, rapid, and affordable diagnostic device is particularly suitable for point-of-care molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases.
Synthesis and crystal structures of 3,6-di­hydroxy­picolinic acid and its labile inter­mediate dipotassium 3-hy­droxy-6-(sulfonato­oxy)pyridine-2-carboxyl­ate monohydrate

A simplified two-step synthesis of 3,6-di­hydroxy­picolinic acid (3-hy­droxy-6-oxo-1,6-di­hydro­pyridine-2-carb­oxy­lic acid), C6H5NO4 (II), an inter­mediate in the metabolism of picolinic acid, is described. The crystal structure of II, along with that of a labile inter­mediate, dipotassium 3-hy­droxy-6-(sulfonato­oxy)pyridine-2-carboxyl­ate monohydrate, 2K+·C6H3NO7S2−·H2O (I), is also described. Compound I comprises a pyridine ring with carboxyl­ate, hydroxyl (connected by an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond), and sulfate groups at the 2-, 3-, and 6-positions, respectively, along with two potassium cations for charge balance and one water mol­ecule of crystallization. These components are connected into a three-dimensional network by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds arising from the water mol­ecule, C—H⋯O inter­actions and π–π stacking of pyridine rings. In II, the ring nitro­gen atom is protonated, with charge balance provided by the carboxyl­ate group (i.e., a zwitterion). The intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond observed in I is preserved in II. Crystals of II have unusual space-group symmetry of type Abm2 in which extended planar networks of O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O hydrogen-bonded mol­ecules form sheets lying parallel to the ac plane, constrained to b = 0.25 (and 0.75). The structure was refined as a 50:50 inversion twin. A minor disorder component was modeled by reflection of the major component across a mirror plane perpendicular to c.
Optimizing Treatment of Hand Infections: Is MRSA Coverage Always Necessary?

Multiple publications have highlighted the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a cause of hand infections. We hypothesized that these publications have shifted the empiric treatment of hand infections. The aim of this study was to identify the current standard of care, the most common causative bacteria, and factors leading to extended length of stay for hand infection patients at a suburban hospital to improve treatment and establish an optimized care protocol. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis was conducted to identify all patients admitted for hand infections over an 8-year period. A comprehensive chart review of each patient's hospital course was completed. Results A total of 70 patients were included. Maximum white blood cell count ≥ 12 was associated with a significantly longer hospital length of stay (9.1 days versus 5.4 days) compared to WBC values 20. Conclusions This analysis of hand infection treatment in a suburban hospital demonstrates the incidence of MRSA hand infections may not be universally high across institutions. Each hospital should review its own data to optimize hand infection treatment and its associated costs.
Proximity-based labeling reveals DNA damage-induced N-terminal phosphorylation of fused in sarcoma (FUS) leads to distinct changes in the FUS protein interactome.

Abstract Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is an RNA/DNA binding protein that normally resides in the nucleus. However, FUS forms pathologic cytoplasmic inclusions in two neurodegenerative disorders, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While a majority of ALS cases with FUS pathology can be explained by pathogenic mutations in the FUS gene, the vast majority of FTLD-FUS cases are not caused by FUS mutations and the reason why FUS forms inclusions is unknown. Therefore, identification of other non-genetic mechanisms that cause FUS to accumulate in the cytoplasm is crucial to understanding FTLD and ALS pathogenesis. To this end, DNA damage is known to trigger DNA-PK to phosphorylate FUS at N-terminal residues leading to FUS accumulation in the cytoplasm. However, the functional consequences of FUS phosphorylation are unknown. In this study, we performed proximity-dependent biotin labeling via ascorbate peroxidase 2 (APEX2) paired with mass spectrometry to investigate whether phosphorylation shifts the FUS interactome and protein function. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD026578. We identified a highly interrelated interactome between wild-type, phosphomimetic FUS (a proxy for phosphorylated FUS), and the pathogenic ALS-linked mutant P525L FUS. We demonstrate that expression of phosphomimetic FUS shifts the FUS interactome toward more cytoplasmic functions including mediation of mRNA metabolism and translation. Our findings reveal that phosphorylation of FUS may disrupt homeostatic translation and mRNA metabolism. These results highlight the importance of phosphorylation as a modulator of FUS interactions and functions with a potential link to disease pathogenesis.
Shaky Handwriting: What is the Rate of Decline During Prospective Follow-up of Essential Tremor? (P4.073)

Background: Essential tremor (ET), one of the most common neurological diseases, is generally progressive. Yet, few studies have attempted to estimate the rate of decline over time, and only one study used unselected cases (i.e., cases not self-selected for follow-up based on their need for clinical care). Methods: We prospectively collected longitudinal data on 116 unselected ET cases. Each underwent the same evaluation at baseline and during one follow-up visit (mean follow-up interval [range] = 5.8 [1.4 - 12.4] years). To maximize the clinical-functional applicability of our data, we assessed tremor during a commonly affected daily activity - writing (i.e., spirography), quantifying tremor using a simple, standardized, ten-point rating scale developed by Bain and Findley. Results: The Bain and Findley spiral score increased at an average rate of 0.12 ± 0.23 points per year (maximum = 1 point/year). In cases who had been followed for 5 or more years, the change was obvious - a blinded neurologist was able to correctly order their spirals (baseline vs. follow-up) in ¾ of cases. The rate of change was higher in cases with vs. without familial ET (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Tremor in ET is slowly progressive; yet in the majority of cases, a clear difference in handwriting was visible with a follow-up interval of 5 or more years. There may be differences between familial and non-familial ET in rate of progression. These clinical data are intended to aid in the prognostic discussions that treating physicians have with their ET patients. Disclosure: Dr. Louis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Michalec has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gillman has nothing to disclose.
A Partnership for the Future: The Mutual Benefits of Undergraduate Research for Students and Administrators

As calls for accountability in higher education continue to grow, it is increasingly important that administrators promote academic assessment programs that capture student development. At the same time, there are inherent limitations on university resources that tend to prevent expansive assessment regimes. As a means of reconciling these two realities, I propose the integration of undergraduate research into program curricula as an assessment metric. Research has consistently showed the benefits of undergraduate research on student development, and multiple national disciplinary associations now suggest undergraduate research projects as an assessment tool. In addition, assessment experts still regard faculty involvement as one of the keys to successful assessment programs. By integrating undergraduate research as an assessment tool, programs will enhance their educational impact on students; receive meaningful feedback on student mastery of methodologies and research skills; and engage faculty in the process of assessment within the confines of standard teaching responsibilities. In addition to this proposal, I present a new small-scale finding in support of the benefits of undergraduate research based on assessment data from Truman State University.
Transgenic mice and cytokine actions in the brain: bridging the gap between structural and functional neuropathology.

Deciphering the neurobiological consequences of cerebral cytokine expression in vivo represents an important research objective which has implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of many significant neurological disorders. In our own pursuit of this objective, studies by us have utilized a transgenic strategy employing the GFAP promoter to direct the chronic expression of the cytokines IL-3, IL-6, IFN-alpha or TNF-alpha to astrocytes in mice. Transgenic expression of each cytokine produces a unique spectrum of neuropathological and functional alterations, thereby directly implicating these mediators in the pathogenesis of CNS disease. Moreover, as exemplified here with the GFAP-IL6 transgenic mice, these models are valuable tools in which to perform multi-level analysis to link molecular and cellular alterations to specific electrophysiological, neuroendocrine and behavioral outcomes. Integrative studies such as described here in the GFAP-cytokine transgenic mice, are providing a more thorough understanding of the actions of cytokines in the CNS and bridge the gap between structural and functional neuropathology.
Eighteenth-Century Military Treatises and Challenges for Collocation in Library Catalogs

ABSTRACT Two eighteenth-century British military treatises, Humphrey Bland's Treatise of Military Discipline, and the British Army's 1728 Regulations remind catalogers that the bibliographic relationships among items that warrant their collocation in library catalogs are not always clear. The historical circumstance of the two treatises' publication requires catalogers to recall definitions of a “work,” and establish which relationships between bibliographic entities warrant collocation in library catalogs. Both treatises seem to embody the same work, though according to conventional cataloging practice they do not share the same author. The items nevertheless retain a bibliographic relationship warranting collocation. Finally, the concepts of the “superwork” and “super record” might also assist catalogers in developing collocating mechanisms to bring together records of related bibliographic entities.
Price discriminating monetary policy: A nonuniform pricing approach

Abstract This paper establishes that a version of the Bryant and Wallace (1984) price discrimination analysis of monetary policy can be viewed as a special case of the Spence (1977) nonuniform pricing model. To this end, a general equilibrium model is constructed with heterogeneous agents and a government that faces an informational restriction. The government must finance an exogenously determined, stationary deficit by issuing bonds or currency with quantity-dependent prices. In addition to generalizing the Bryant and Wallace model, the analysis accomplishes the following: (i) the informational restriction helps justify the ruling out of lumpsum taxation (a crucial assumption of the Bryant and Wallace model); and (ii) the analysis provides insight into nonuniform pricing in a simple general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents.
The Role of Reasoning in Knowledge-Based Systems

Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) are based on the interaction between two major components: the inference engine and the knowledge base. The inference engine implements a reasoning model and makes use of the knowldge base to explicit solutions to problems. The knowledge base includes relevant pieces of information (e.g.: rules, object descriptions) in an application domain. During the past five years most of the attention has been directed toward the importance of knowledge in KBS, from both a representation point of view (knowledge representation language) and a methodological point of view (e.g.: knowledge elicitation, man-machine interfaces). Relatively little attention has been paid to the inference engine. Reasoning models underlying most operational KBS are quite limited. This paper is an essay to emphasize the role of reasoning in KBS.
The Education of Alice and Dorothy: Helping Girls to Thrive in School

Alice and Dorothy, two schoolgirls, had extraordinary adventures on the way to growing up. Wonderland and Oz were fictional settings for the education of two quite different girls, but what an education these youngsters received! Lewis Carroll and Frank Baum used their fictional worlds to satirize life in their respective societies in the way only good fiction can, and in the process they left enduring lessons. Alice in Wonderland and Dorothy in Oz raise questions about contemporary American education-especially the education of girls. First, consider poor Alice. Her English world is nicely ordered-with matters of class, values, and proper roles for girls all settled. And then, alas, she falls down the rabbit hole into a place where the world is topsy-turvy. Her order is disrupted, and her notions of the true and proper are called into question. Bizarre charactersfrom grinning cats to croquet-playing cards-make her rethink her basic values as she seeks her way back home. Recall her encounter with a mischievous, disappearing Cheshire cat:
RTD/HFET low standby power SRAM gain cell

A record low 50 nW III/V Tunneling-based SRAM (TSRAM) cell has been demonstrated by combining ultra-low current density resonant-tunneling diodes (RTDs) and heterostructure field effect transistors (HFETs) in one integrated process on an InP substrate. This represents well over two orders of magnitude improvement over previous III/V static memory cells. By increasing the number of vertically integrated RTDs, we have also obtained a 100 nW multi-valued memory cell with three stable states. The cell concept applies to any material system in which low current density negative differential resistance devices are available. An ultralow power one-transistor Si TSRAM cell based on DRAM is also described in anticipation of Si-based RTDs.
Learning text patterns for web information extraction and assessment

Learning text patterns that suggest a desired type of information is a common strategy for extracting information from unstructured text on the Web. In this paper, we introduce the idea that learned patterns can be used as both extractors (to generate new information) and discriminators (to assess the truth of extracted information). We demonstrate experimentally that a Web information extraction system (KnowItAll) can be improved (in terms of coverage and accuracy) through the addition of a simple pattern-learning algorithm. By using learned patterns as extractors, we are able to boost recall by 50% to 80%; and by using such patterns as discriminators we are able to reduce classification errors by 28% to 35%. In addition, the paper reports theoretical results on optimally selecting and ordering discriminators, and shows that this theory yields a heuristic that further reduces classification errors by an additional 19% to 35% – giving an overall error reduction of 47% to 53%.
Cannabidiol-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells: A novel role of cannabidiol in the regulation of p22phox and Nox4 expression

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4617 In the current study, we examined the effect of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol, on the induction of apoptosis in leukemia cells. Exposure of EL-4, Jurkat or Molt-4 cells to cannabidiol in vitro led to a significant reduction in cell viability and the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo cannabidiol treatment of EL-4-bearing mice led to a significant decrease in tumor burden and an increase in apoptotic tumors. Cannabidiol-induced apoptosis was inhibited by the CB2-selective antagonist and not by CB1-selective or VR1-selective antagonists. Exposure to cannabidiol led to the activation of a number of caspases, including caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, and to cleavage of PARP. In addition, the level of full-length Bid was decreased following exposure to cannabidiol, suggesting possible cross-talk between the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. The role of the mitochondria was further suggested as exposure to cannabidiol led to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome C. Interestingly, cannabidiol exposure led to an increase in ROS production and cannabidiol-induced apoptosis could be blocked by treatment with the ROS scavenger, α-tocopherol and the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, DPI. Examination of the expression of NADPH oxidases revealed that cannabidiol exposure led to the upregulation of p22 phox and NOX4. In addition, cannabidiol exposure led to a decrease in the levels of p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 MAPK, which could be blocked by treatment with a CB2-selective antagonist or α-tocopherol. Together, the results from this study demonstrate that cannabidiol is a potent inducer of apoptosis in leukemia and that this mechanism may be related to the regulation of NAPDH oxidases and the production of reactive oxygen species.
Training and Research in Oceanic and Atmospheric Processes in Tropical Cyclones (TROPIC)

Abstract : The overarching goal of this research is to improve tropical cyclone (TC) forecast accuracy. Three principle objectives ar designed to achieve the long-term goal: 1. Improve observational data quality, 2. Analyze variations between model and observed values of ocean heat content, and 3. Evaluate sensitivity of statistical-dynamical model TC intensity forecasts to observed values of ocean heat content.
History of US public administration in the Progressive era

Purpose – Histories of American public administration during the Progressive era (1890‐1920) tend to highlight the positive contributions of its major founders, skimming lightly over nativist, anti‐democratic and racial writings. The purpose of this paper is to broaden the given narrative by setting the record straight regarding the latter writings of three major figures: Frederick Cleveland, Frank Goodnow and W.F. Willoughby. Not intended as an exercise in presentism, the goal is a more nuanced understanding of public administration history. This research approach can be used internationally by other management historians to examine cultural biases by other management theorists.Design/methodology/approach – Mainstream qualitative research techniques in management history and a close literary examination of lesser known and out‐of‐print writings.Findings – The three major public administration figures on President Taft's Commission on Economy and Efficiency (1910‐1913) expressed nativist, racial and anti‐...
Fast algorithms for computing full and reduced rank Wiener filters

Wiener filter is an important tool in many signal processing applications. This paper proposes a fast inverse free method based on mean-square-error (MSE) criterion for the design of Wiener filters when both the given signal and the desired signal are wide-sense stationary random processes. Specifically, we present several approaches for tracking Wiener filter using gradient descent, line search, and adaptive methods. A new framework for computing the full rank Wiener filter and order update for reduced rank Wiener filter serially is presented. Emphasis is placed on methods that require least amount of matrix inversion including Rayleigh Quotient like methods. Simulations are also presented to examine the performance of the proposed methods.
Mitigation of torsional vibrations in the drivetrain of DFIG-based grid-connected wind turbine

This paper presents a nonlinear technique based on the sliding mode control theory for mitigation of torsional vibrations in grid-connected doubly fed induction generator based wind turbines. The proposed method increases the lifespan of wind turbines by reducing torsional vibrations caused by mechanical or electrical events. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme are demonstrated through simulation results of two case studies that evaluate impacts of (i) a voltage sag and (ii) a series capacitor switching in the transmission line on the drivetrain of a 750 kW wind turbine. The simulated model contains wind turbine aerodynamics, as well as dynamics of generator, multi-mass drivetrain, rotor- and grid-side converters, and transmission line with a series compensation capacitor.
O Poder Judicial na sociedade livre

Nos dias atuais multiplicam-se as discussoes em torno da "crise da justica". Porem, nas sociedades modernas esta expressao (independentemente do seu conteudo concreto) designa especificamente a crise da justica democratica e liberal ou, pode-se ainda dizer, a crise do poder judicial na sociedade democratica e liberal. Assim, qualquer discussao acerca da "crise da justica" parece exigir um enquadramento contextual que ajude a clarificar o lugar ocupado pelo poder judicial em sociedades como as nossas. O proposito deste artigo consiste em contribuir para elucidar qual e, do ponto de vista politico e constitucional, esse contexto. A perspectiva da Historia do Pensamento Politico e considerada como a mais util, na medida em que permite aceder a origem dos fundamentos intelectuais que estruturam nao so o poder judicial moderno, mas a sociedade moderna como um todo. Neste artigo, John Locke e Montesquieu aparecem como dois autores incontornaveis por terem dado um contributo indelevel para essa dupla estruturacao.
Cognition and Learning in Industrial Accident Injury Prevention

An industrial accident/injury primary prevention program similar to traditional "back school" training, but based upon educational psychology principles such as "transfer appropriate processing" and the use of "critical tasks," was conducted for a group of 110 workcrs at a major grocery distribution center. Occupational therapy prevention principles of environmental modification, work simplification, and proper body mechanics were emphasized. Workers and supervisors were trained in very small groups (4-6 persons) at their actual work stations. Results of the program were positive, and the program has continued to expand into a comprchensive accidentlinjury prevention project within the company.
Sunlight exposure, vitamin D, and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the Nurses’ Health Study

Case–control studies suggest increased sun exposure reduces non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) risk. Evidence from prospective cohort studies, however, is limited and inconsistent. We evaluated the association between ambient ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure and NHL in a nationwide cohort of women, the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS). Between 1976 and 2006, we identified 1064 incident NHL cases among 115,482 women in the prospective NHS. Exposures assessed included average annual UV-B flux based on residence at various times during life, vitamin D intake, and predicted plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. We estimated incidence rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of all NHL and histologic subtypes using Cox proportional hazards models. NHL risk was increased for women residing in areas of high ambient UV radiation (UV-B flux >113 R–B count × 10−4) compared to those with lower exposure (<113), with positive linear trends at all time points. The multivariable-adjusted RR for high UV area at age 15 was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.47; p-trend < 0.01). There was no evidence of statistical heterogeneity by subtype, although power was limited for subtype analyses. We observed no association between vitamin D measures and risk of NHL overall or by subtype. Our findings do not support the hypothesis of a protective effect of UV radiation exposure on NHL risk. We found no association between vitamin D and NHL risk.
Effects of age sex and psychological disturbance on immunoglobulin levels in the squirrel monkey

The following research assessed the influence of developmental, hormonal, and psychological factors on immunoglobulin and complement protein levels in the squirrel monkey. A cross-sectional life span study established that the developmental pattern of immunoglobulins and complement proteins was similar to that observed in humans. IgG and IgM levels rose progressively with age, while the complement system was mature at birth. In contrast to humans, this species showed a significant sex difference in IgG levels, with higher levels in males during both infancy and adulthood. Males also showed a greater antibody response to viral challenge than did females, and evaluation of gonadectomized subjects suggested that the sex difference in antibody production was testosterone-dependent. The effect of acute and sustained psychological disturbance on IgG levels was also evaluated in infant monkeys. Repeated, brief separations from the mother did not alter IgG levels, but IgG levels were suppressed after a 7-day removal from the mother. Therefore, despite the general view that immunoglobulin levels are relatively stable, these studies have established that immunoglobulin levels can be strongly influenced by hormonal and experiential factors in the squirrel monkey.
Neonatal orbitofrontal lobectomies and delayed response behavior in cats

Abstract After orbitofrontal lobectomy in infancy or adulthood, cats and kittens were trained on an indirect, three-choice delayed-response problem. The data indicated that after orbitofrontal lobectomy in infancy, the kittens exhibited the same patterning of error responses as did animals operated later in life. The lesioned animals made more perseverative and preference-omission errors and fewer antiperseverative errors than did the normal animal. As expected, there were no differences found between any of the groups with respect to trials and errors to criterion performance.
Function-Based Design of a Spacecraft Power System Diagnostics Testbed

NASA’s Ames Research center is currently designing a testbed to validate and compare potential Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) technologies. The proposed testbed represents a typical power system for a spacecraft and includes components such as a fuel cell, solar cells and redundant batteries. To fulfill design requirements, the testbed must be capable of hosting a wide variety of ISHM technologies including those developed by NASA as well as those developed in the aerospace industry abroad. An internal fault injection subsystem must be built into the system to provide a common interface for evaluating these different ISHM technologies. Additionally, to ensure robust operation of the testbed, the capability to detect and manage external faults must also be present. In order to develop a set of requirements for the internal fault injection subsystems as well as predict external faults, a comprehensive set of potential failures must be identified for all of the components of the testbed. To best aid the development of the testbed, these failures needed to be identified as early as the conceptual design phase, where little is known about the actual components that would comprise the finished system. This paper demonstrates the use a function-based failure mode identification method to identify the potential failures of the testbed during the conceptual design phase. Using this approach, designers can explore the potential failure modes at the functional design stage, before a form or solution has been determined. A function-failure database is used to associate the failures of components from previous design efforts to the testbed based on common functionality. The result is a list of potential failure modes and associated failure rates, which are used to improve the design of the testbed as well as provide a framework for the fault injection subsystem.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The prediction of isobaric phase equilibria for non-ideal multicomponent mixtures from heat of mixing data☆

Abstract A method for predicting isobaric binary and ternary vapor—liquid equilibrium data using only isothermal binary heat of mixing data and pure component vapor pressure data is presented. Three binary and two ternary hydrocarbon liquid mixtures were studied. The method consists of evaluating the parameters of the NRTL equation from isothermal heat of mixing data for the constituent binary pairs. These parameters are then used in the multicomponent NRTL equation to compute isobaric vapor—liquid equilibrium data for the ternary mixture. No ternary or higher order interaction terms are needed in the ternary calculations because of the nature of the NRTL equation. NRTL parameters derived from heat of mixing data at one temperature can be used to predict vapor—liquid equilibrium data at other temperatures up to the boiling temperature of the liquid mixture. For the systems studied this method predicted the composition of the vapor phase with a standard deviation ranging from 1–8% for the binary systems and from 4–12% for the ternary systems.
Role of serotonin and/or norepinephrine in the MDMA-induced increase in extracellular glucose and glycogenolysis in the rat brain

The acute administration of MDMA has been shown to promote glycogenolysis and increase the extracellular concentration of glucose in the striatum. In the present study the role of serotonergic and/or noradrenergic mechanisms in the MDMA-induced increase in extracellular glucose and glycogenolysis was assessed. The relationship of these responses to the hyperthermia produced by MDMA also was examined. The administration of MDMA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in a significant and sustained increase of 65-100% in the extracellular concentration of glucose in the striatum, as well as in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and a 35% decrease in brain glycogen content. Peripheral blood glucose was modestly increased by 32% after MDMA treatment. Treatment of rats with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated the MDMA-induced increase in extracellular glucose in the striatum but had no effect on MDMA-induced glycogenolysis or hyperthermia. Treatment with prazosin (1 mg/kg, i.p.) did not alter the glucose or glycogen responses to MDMA but completely suppressed MDMA-induced hyperthermia. Finally, propranolol (3 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly attenuated the MDMA-induced increase in extracellular glucose and glycogenolysis but did not alter MDMA-induced hyperthermia. The present results suggest that MDMA increases extracellular glucose in multiple brain regions, and that this response involves both serotonergic and noradrenergic mechanisms. Furthermore, β-adrenergic and α-adrenergic receptors appear to contribute to MDMA-induced glycogenolysis and hyperthermia, respectively. Finally, hyperthermia, glycogenolysis and elevated extracellular glucose appear to be independent, unrelated responses to acute MDMA administration.
Vaccinia-mediated rescue of encephalomyocarditis virus from the inhibitory effects of interferon

Abstract Coinfection of mouse L cells with vaccinia virus rescues encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC) from the inhibitory effect of interferon (IFN). The vaccinia-mediated rescue of EMC growth increases the yield of EMC as much as 1000-fold and is optimum when vaccinia is used at a multiplicity of infection of 1. This rescue correlates with a vaccinia-dependent stimulation of EMC gene expression. Evidence is presented to indicate that the rescue by vaccinia does not involve a block of the 2′-5′ A synthetase pathway. However, the vaccinia rescue function is correlated with a vaccinia-mediated inhibition of the IFN-induced protein kinase.
The relationship of incubational egg weight loss with parthenogenesis in Chinese Painted quail (Coturnix chinensis)

Parthenogenesis, embryonic development of an unfertilized egg, has been studied extensively in turkeys. Recently it has been revealed that parthenogenesis also occurs in Chinese Painted quail, and the percentage of eggs exhibiting parthenogenesis is negatively correlated with clutch sequence position. In broiler breeders, it has been reported that the first egg of a clutch sequence loses less egg weight during incubation than subsequent eggs. Because the incidence of parthenogenesis is greater and egg weight loss is less in the first egg of a clutch sequence, it is possible that egg weight loss is less in parthenogenetic eggs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between egg weight loss (a measure of eggshell quality) and parthenogenesis. Daily, individual eggs were collected and labeled. To determine egg weight loss, eggs were weighed before setting and then again after 10 d of incubation. Eggs were stored for 0 to 3 d at 20°C and incubated at 37.5°C. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine if relationships existed between egg weight loss and average incidence of parthenogenesis, parthenogen size, egg storage, and average clutch sequence position for all hens examined (157) as well as only for hens that exhibited parthenogenesis (102). The percentage of egg weight loss was negatively correlated with the incidence of parthenogenetic eggs and parthenogen size. However, the percentage of egg weight loss was positively correlated with average clutch position. In conclusion, it appears that eggshell quality possibly influences the incidence of parthenogenesis in Chinese Painted quail eggs because as the percentage of egg weight loss decreases, the incidence of parthenogenesis increases.
Competition: A Model for Conception

Competition is a very different proposition from one person to another. Debates surrounding the effects of competition on culture and on the individual often lack specific reference; such debates are necessarily problematic. A literature review of definitions of competition revealed great diversity among writers. A model for the conception of competition was offered as a possible solution to some of the confusion and differences surrounding the nature of competition. When examined metaphorically, the constituents of competition take on increased significance. Positive and negative analogies of definitions serve to reaffirm or reconstruct one's understanding of the construct. Congruent articulations between the theoretical framework, the antecedent belief structures, and workable definitions of competition provide the basis of the Model for the Conception of Competition.
Tamarisk and River-Channel Management

Tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis, Lour.) an artificially introduced tree, has become a most common species in many riparian vegetation communities along the rivers of the western United States. On the Salt and Gila rivers of central Arizona, the plant first appeared in the early 1890s, and by 1940 it grew in dense thickets that posed serious flood-control problems by substantially reducing the capacities of major channels. Since 1940 its distribution and density in central Arizona have fluctuated in response to combined natural processes and human management. Groundwater levels, channel waters, floods, irrigation return waters, sewage effluent, and sedimentation behind retention and diversion works are major control mechanisms on the growth of tamarisk; on a regional scale of analysis, groundwater levels are the most significant under present conditions.
When money doesn't change everything.

In this issue, McDonald and colleagues demonstrate the relationship between student debt and plans for specialization among internal medicine residents. We may need to look beyond financial issues ...
From co-crystals to functional thin films: photolithography using [2+2] photodimerization

An approach to form organic thin films that employs multicomponent solids in the form of co-crystals has been developed. The components direct an intermolecular [2+2] photodimerization that we demonstrate exhibits a change in solubility that can be exploited as a negative photoresist for use in photolithography.
Gender differences in reasoning ability measured by letter series items

Letter series and number series tests, consisting of items based on identical rules, were administered in a counterbalanced design to 320 (160 female and 160 male) undergraduates in order to investigate the gender differences in inductive reasoning ability measured by letter and number series tests. Results indicated that female college students obtained significantly higher (p<.05) means on letter series tests, but showed no such superiority on number series.
Herpesvirus in Marek's Disease Tumors

Intranuclear and cytoplasmic virus particles of the herpes type were located in epithelial cells that line the kidney collecting tubules obtained from a chick with Marek's disease. The chick had contracted the disease by direct contact transmission. The virus was not observed in any of the invading tumor cells in the same kidney.
Comparison of impregnation and deposition precipitation for the synthesis of hydrothermally stable niobia/carbon

Abstract In this study, nanostructured niobia particles supported on carbon supports (carbon black and carbon nanotubes) were prepared by two strategies: impregnation and deposition precipitation (DP). We compared the hydrothermal stability of these solid acid catalysts in the aqueous phase. At 15 bar and 200 °C, large niobia particles were formed due to crystallization on niobia/carbon composites prepared by impregnation (Nb/CB-I and Nb/CNT-I). In contrast, no large particles were formed on niobia/carbon composites prepared by DP (Nb/CB-DP and Nb/CNT-DP). For the aqueous phase dehydration of 2-butanol at 52 bar and 240 °C, deactivation was observed on the Nb/CB-I catalyst due to the formation of large niobia particles. The niobia/carbon catalyst prepared by DP (Nb/CB-DP) exhibited high catalytic activity, which was stable for over 40 h. The conversion of γ-valerolactone to pentanoic acid in the aqueous phase was carried out at 35 bar and 300 °C to investigate the stability of Pd nanoparticles on Pd/Nb/carbon bifunctional catalysts. The Pd nanoparticles were hydrothermally stable on the niobia/carbon composite prepared by DP, whereas the Pd nanoparticles sintered and were encapsulated by the niobia on the Pd/Nb2O5/CB-I. We conclude that the niobia/carbon composites prepared by DP method are much more hydrothermally stable due to the formation of nanosized niobia particles and a strong interaction between niobia and carbon. We present a roadmap for retaining oxide functionality and acidic properties under aqueous phase conditions which will be useful for future work in biomass-related aqueous reactions.
Thioredoxin reductase system mediates iron binding in IscA and iron delivery for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in IscU.

Abstract IscA is a key member of the iron-sulfur cluster assembly machinery found in bacteria and eukaryotes. Previously, IscA was characterized as an alternative iron-sulfur cluster assembly scaffold, as purified IscA can host transient iron-sulfur clusters. However, recent studies indicated that IscA is an iron-binding protein that can provide iron for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in a proposed scaffold IscU (Ding H., Clark, R. J., and Ding, B. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 37499-37504). To further elucidate the roles of IscA in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters, we reevaluate the iron binding activity of IscA under physiologically relevant conditions. The results indicate that in the presence of the thioredoxin reductase system, Escherichia coli IscA binds iron with an iron association constant of 2.0 × 1019 m-1 in vitro. Whereas all three components (thioredoxin 1, thioredoxin reductase and NADPH) in the thioredoxin reductase system are essential for mediating the iron binding in IscA, only catalytic amounts of thioredoxin 1 and thioredoxin reductase are required. In contrast, IscU fails to bind iron in the presence of the thioredoxin reductase system, suggesting that the iron binding in IscA is specific. Nevertheless, the thioredoxin reductase system can promote the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in IscU in the presence of the iron-loaded IscA, cysteine desulfurase (IscS), and l-cysteine, demonstrating a physiologically relevant system for the biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters. The results provide additional evidence for the hypothesis that IscA is capable of recruiting intracellular “free” iron and delivering the iron for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in IscU.
Asymptotic distribution of the increase of the largest canonical correlation when one of the vectors is augmented

Abstract Let r1 > r2 > … be the sample canonical correlations in a sample of size n from a multivariate normal population partitioned into two subvectors with population canonical correlations ϱ1 > ϱ2 > …. Let one of the subvectors be augmented by adding one or more variables to it. For the increase in the largest canonical correlation, Δr in the sample and Δϱ in the population, it is shown that √n(Δr − Δϱ) → D N(0, σ 2 ) and a formula for σ2 is derived.