cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electronic cigarette use among adults with asthma: 2014-2017 National Health Interview Survey

Abstract Background Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased dramatically in the United States among adults and adolescents. Patients with asthma may be most vulnerable to the chemical components of e-cigarettes as they may be a potential asthma trigger. Objective To assess the prevalence of e-cigarette use among adult asthmatics and to evaluate the factors associated with e-cigarette use. Methods This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study that used data from the 2014–2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) database. The study sample included current asthmatics who were 18–85 years old. The outcome variable was ever use of an e-cigarette (Yes/No). The Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Utilization was used to identify independent variables with the potential to influence the patient's decision to try e-cigarettes. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Factors associated with e-cigarette use were assessed using logistic regression. All analyses were stratified by age group. Appropriate survey weights were used to account for the complex survey design. Results The study sample included 10,578 adults with current asthma and about 18% of the sample had ever tried an e-cigarette. About 20% of males and 20% of non-Hispanic Whites reported ever trying an e-cigarette. From 2014 to 2017, the e-cigarette use among the 18–24 year old age group increased the most from 20.3% to 29.1%. Current smokers were more likely to have tried e-cigarettes than former/never smokers (18–24 years OR: 11.5 CI: 7.4–18.0). This trend was significant among all age groups. Non-Hispanic Blacks were less likely to have tried e-cigarettes than non-Hispanic Whites (50–64 years OR: 0.34 CI: 0.22–0.52). Conclusion The prevalence of e-cigarette use among adult asthmatics has continued to increase over time. Smoking status was the most consistent predictor of e-cigarette use among all age groups in this asthmatic population.
Tb3+ Luminescence in Tb-Doped and Tb/Gd-Doped CsCdBr3 Crystals: 5D4→5D3 Cross-Relaxation Rates in Tb3+ Pairs

The luminescence properties of Tb3+ in Tb3+−Tb3+ and Tb3+−Gd3+ majority-type pairs in CsCdBr3 are investigated at 77 K and room temperature. 5D3→5D4 cross-relaxation rates for Tb3+ in Tb3+−Tb3+ pai...
Precise semidefinite programming formulation of atomic norm minimization for recovering d-dimensional (D ≥ 2) off-the-grid frequencies

Recent research in off-the-grid compressed sensing (CS) has demonstrated that, under certain conditions, one can successfully recover a spectrally sparse signal from a few time-domain samples even though the dictionary is continuous. In particular, atomic norm minimization was proposed in [1] to recover 1-dimensional spectrally sparse signal. However, in spite of existing research efforts [2], it was still an open problem how to formulate an equivalent positive semidefinite program for atomic norm minimization in recovering signals with d-dimensional (d ≥ 2) off-the-grid frequencies. In this paper, we settle this problem by proposing equivalent semidefinite programming formulations of atomic norm minimization to recover signals with d-dimensional (d ≥ 2) off-the-grid frequencies.
Towards a Greater Professional Standing: Evolution of Pharmacy Practice and Education, 1920-2020.

The history of community pharmacy in America since the 1920s is one of slow progress towards greater professional standing through changes in pharmacy education and practice. The history of American community pharmacy in the modern era can be divided into four periods: 1920–1949 (Soda Fountain Era), 1950–1979 (Lick, Stick, Pour and More Era), 1980–2009 (Pharmaceutical Care Era), and 2010–present (Post-Pharmaceutical Care Era). As traditional compounding has waned, leaders within community pharmacy have sought to shift focus from product to patient. Increasing degree requirements and postgraduate training have enhanced pharmacists’ ability to provide patient care services not directly associated with medication dispensing. However, the realities of practice have often fallen short of ideal visions of patient-focused community pharmacy practice. Positive trends in the recognition of the impact of community pharmacists on healthcare value and the need for more optimal medication management suggest that opportunities for community pharmacists to provide patient care may expand through the 21st century.
Hypoglycemia in mitochondrial disorders.

Abstract Diabetes and hyperglycemia are common features of mitochondrial disorders. This study investigates the frequency of non-iatrogenic hypoglycemia in individuals with these disorders. Of 116 patients, 22 (18.97%) experienced at least two episodes of hypoglycemia. This rate is significantly higher (p
POLITICAL STRATEGIES AND THE URBAN SPACES THAT REFLECT THEM IN FORMATIVE-PERIOD CERRO JAZMÍN, OAXACA

Based on stratigraphic excavation data and associated radiocarbon dates we argue that the pre-Hispanic city of Cerro Jazmin, in the Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca, underwent a period of political change between the Late Formative (300 b.c.–a.d. 50) and the Terminal Formative periods (a.d. 50–300). This shift is reflected in the city's layout and in the timing of construction and use of two different monumental sectors. During the city's Late Formative occupation, we found evidence of more exclusionary feasting activity taking place in a secluded monumental sector called the Sunken Courtyards near the hilltop. In the Terminal Formative, however, monumental construction expanded in the more accessible Tres Cerritos sector where larger and accessible public areas were the focus of activity. We argue that changes in the city's layout, along with the differing patterns of feasting, suggest that the city's leaders went from a more exclusionary form of government to a more collective political strategy during the Terminal Formative period. Despite of these efforts monumental construction largely stopped and the city's population declined by the start of the Classic period (a.d. 300).
Floating Capacitor Suspension Inverter for Parallel Combined Winding Bearingless Motors

Recent efforts to improve the performance of bearingless motors have focused on “combined winding” machine designs that use the same coils for torque and suspension force production. While combined winding designs have been successful in increasing the machine performance, they add substantial cost and complexity to the power electronics required for the bearingless drive system. This article presents a bearingless drive concept, which eliminates the additional power electronic hardware requirements for a parallel combined winding design. The resulting drive requires the same hardware components as a traditional, separated winding bearingless motor. The article proposes and explains the design and theory of operation, proposes a simple control implementation, and presents initial validation via simulation results. The theory and design presented are valid for both conventional $p\pm 1$ bearingless motor designs (i.e., bearingless permanent magnet designs) as well as $p_s=1$ bearingless motor designs (i.e., bearingless ac homopolar designs). Experimental results are provided that validate the proposed concept and demonstrate stable levitation of a bearingless motor.
Perceived similarity in third places: Understanding the effect of place attachment

Abstract Based on the sociological notion of homophily, this research explores the extent to which similarity in the social servicescape is a significant predictor of attitudes and repurchase intention under varying levels of attachment in the restaurant industry. Results indicate that the effects of perceived similarity in the social servicescape on both attitudes and behavior are affected by the level of attachment to restaurant; however, the effects are not the same when perceptions of the other customer are distinguished from perceptions of the employees. The results of these findings are considered in terms of their implications for both theory and practice.
Microorganisms and microbiome

Abstract Precise classification of many soil microorganisms has not yet been achieved; however, there are ongoing efforts to improve knowledge in this area and to gain deeper knowledge of the rhizosphere, the ecology of plant root systems, and understanding of agroecosystems given the critical importance of both for nutrient production. Soil organisms have played and continue to play important sources of antibiotics. New antibiotics are urgently required given the growing frequency of pathological organisms that have become resistant to currently available antibiotics New innovative techniques for isolating antibiotics have been developed, searches for antibiotic activity in plants are also underway. Bacteriophage therapy of antibiotic resistant infections is being explored. Much attention is now being focused on the Human Microbiome in different body regions the ecosystem functions it provides from early post-natal life on, and microbiome dysbiosis. Important interactions of the microbiota and immune system development and function continue to be revealed.
Relationship between Growth Faults, Subsidence, and Land Loss: An Example from Cameron Parish, Southwestern Louisiana, USA

O'Leary, M. and Gottardi, R., 2020. Relationship between growth faults, subsidence, and land loss: An example from Cameron Parish, Southwestern Louisiana, USA. Journal of Coastal Research, 36(4), 812–827. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.This study investigates the relationship between faulting, subsidence, and land loss in coastal Louisiana. A methodology that integrates three-dimensional (3D) seismic data, well logs, high-resolution topographic mapping (LIDAR), and historical aerial photography is successfully developed to identify fault-related geomorphic changes in southwestern Louisiana's Chenier Plain. Analysis of a 3D seismic survey and well logs reveals the presence of 10 normal faults that form an east-west graben in the middle of the study area. Well logs were used to further constrain the geometry of the faults. Shallow water well logs were used to map the faults at shallow depth, below the resolution of the seismic survey. Fault traces were extrapolated to the surface by maintaining constant dip and projected on LIDAR data. Elevation profiles derived from the LIDAR were conducted across the different faults, and results show that a distinct difference between the upthrown and downthrown sides of the faults occurs. Historical aerial photographs were used to investigate any change in geomorphology from 1953 to 2017 within the study area. Results reveal the occurrence of water bodies on the immediate downthrown sides of suspected fault traces. These findings suggest that faulting influences and focuses areas where subsidence is happening and subsequent land loss may occur, and detailed understanding of active shallow faulting in coastal areas can be used to identify regions that are at risk of land loss.
The CDK inhibitor SIAMESE targets both CDKA;1 and CDKB1 complexes to establish endoreplication in trichomes

Abstract Endoreplication, also known as endoreduplication, is a modified cell cycle in which DNA is replicated without subsequent cell division. Endoreplication plays important roles in both normal plant development and in stress responses. The SIAMESE (SIM) gene of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that plays an central role in establishing endoreplication, and is the founding member of the SIAMESE-RELATED (SMR) family of plant-specific cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors genes. However, there has been conflicting evidence regarding which specific cyclin/CDK complexes are inhibited by SIM in vivo. In this work, we use genetic evidence to show that SIM likely inhibits both CDKA;1- and CDKB1-containing CDK complexes in vivo to promote endoreplication in developing Arabidopsis trichomes. We also show that SIM interacts with CYCA2;3, a binding partner of CDKB1;1, via SIM Motif A, which we previously identified as a CDK-binding motif. In contrast, SIM Motif C, which has been indicated as a cyclin binding motif in other contexts, appears to be relatively unimportant for interaction between SIM and CYCA2;3. Together with earlier results, our work suggests that SIM and other SMRs likely have a multivalent interaction with CYC/CDK complexes. One sentence summary The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor SIAMESE (SIM) targets both CDKA;1 and CDKB1 complexes to establish endoreplication, and that SIM interacts with the cyclin CYCA2;3 via SIM Motif A.
Mutual othering: Islam, modernity, and the politics of cross-cultural encounters in pre-colonial Moroccan and European travel writing

Interaction Zone: Travel Writing, Exchange of Dialogue, and the Question of Modernity.Ahmed Idrissi Alami’s Mutual Othering: Islam, Modernity, and the Politics of Cross-Cultural Encounters in Pre-C...
Soft Tissue Tumors of the Extremity

Although the vast majority of soft tissue extremity masses are benign, approximately 13,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in 2019. This article focuses on the optimal workup of soft tissue masses including the indications for ultrasound and MRI, as well as use of preoperative core needle biopsy. Current AJCC staging, surgical principles of soft tissue sarcoma management, and data regarding indications for radiation therapy and chemotherapy are reviewed. As up to 50% of patients with soft tissue sarcoma will develop recurrent disease, surgical management of locally recurrent and distant metastatic disease is discussed.
The gut microbiome in neurodegenerative disorders

Abstract A bi-directional channel of communication, referred to as the gut-brain axis, has been recognized for decades based, first, on the many parallels in morphology and function that exist between the central and enteric nervous systems and, second, on the extensive interconnections that exist between them. Now another dimension is added to this axis: the gut microbiome. Facilitated by ever-advancing techniques that permit the enumeration of the microbial populations that normally inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and their various functions, the critical role of gut microbiota in health has now been amply demonstrated. Evidence indicates a critical role for gut microbes in brain development and function; findings that have spurred a plethora of studies into relationships between gut microbiota profiles and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. While findings in animal models, as well as some data from human studies, suggest that a disturbed gut microbiome might contribute to the pathophysiology of these and other neurological disorders, a causative relationship has yet to be defined and effective therapeutic strategies based on the modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis have not, as yet, emerged.
The Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Suturing (FLS) “Illusion of Validity” in Laparoscopic Vaginal Cuff Suturing. Is There Anything Better?

Study Objective The “illusion of validity” is a cognitive bias in which the ability to interpret and predict surgical performance accurately is overestimated. To address this cognitive bias, and to determine the most representative task for laparoscopic cuff suturing, we assessed participants on simulation tasks and in placement of the first suture in the vaginal cuff of a cadaver. Design Validity (Messick Framework) study comparing FLS and non-FLS tasks to cadaveric vaginal cuff suturing. Setting Simulation center cadaver lab. Patients or Participants Obstetrics and gynecology residents (n=21), fellows (n=3), gynecologic surgical subspecialists (n=4), general obstetrician/gynecologists (n=10). Interventions Tasks included a simulated vaginal cuff (ipsilateral port placement), needle passage through a metal eyelet loop (contralateral and ipsilateral), and intracorporeal knot tying (contralateral and ipsilateral). Times on these tasks were compared to the placement of the first cadaveric vaginal cuff suture time, as well as the in-person and blinded Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) score (validity evidence). Statistical analyses included Spearman's test of correlation (continuous and ordinal variables) or Wilcoxon rank sum test (categorical variables). Measurements and Main Results A strong agreement between the in-person and blinded GOALS (ICC=0.80), and strong correlations of cadaver cuff time with in-person (Spearman's r:-0.84,P Conclusion Laparoscopic cadaveric vaginal cuff suturing performance was generally poor among residents and non-subspecialist gynecologists suggesting an “illusion of validity” in current surgical assessments. Since gynecology specific validity evidence has not been established for the FLS intracorporeal suturing task, we recommend prioritizing the use of a simulated-vaginal cuff suturing assessment instead of FLS.
Subunit Vaccine-Elicited Effector-Like Memory CD8 T Cells Protect Against Listeriosis

Development of T-cell-based subunit protein vaccines against diseases, such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria remains a challenge for immunologists. Here, we have evaluated whether cross-presentation induced by nanoemulsion adjuvant Adjuplex (ADJ), can be combined with the immunomodulatory effects of TLR agonists (CpG or glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant [GLA]) to evoke protective systemic CD8 T cell-based immunity to Listeria monocytogenes (LM). Vaccination with ADJ, alone or in combination with CpG or GLA augmented activation and antigen uptake by migratory and resident dendritic cells and up-regulated CD69 expression on B and T lymphocytes in draining lymph nodes. By virtue of its ability to engage BATF3-dependent cross-presenting DCs, ADJ potently elicited effector CD8 T cells that differentiated into a distinct subset of granzyme B-expressing CD27LO effector-like memory CD8 T cells, which provided highly effective immunity to LM in spleen and liver. CpG or GLA alone did not elicit effector-like memory CD8 T cells and induced moderate protection in spleen, but not in the liver. Surprisingly, combining CpG or GLA with ADJ limited the magnitude of ADJ-induced CD8 T cell memory and compromised protective immunity to LM, especially in the liver. Taken together, data presented in this manuscript provides a glimpse of protective CD8 T cell memory differentiation induced by a nano-emulsion adjuvant and demonstrates the unexpected negative effects of TLR signaling on the magnitude of CD8 T cell memory and protective immunity to listeriosis.
Forecasting Cardiology Admissions from Catheterization Laboratory

Emergent and unscheduled cardiology admissions from cardiac catheterization laboratory add complexity to the management of Cardiology and in-patient department. In this article, we sought to study the behavior of cardiology admissions from Catheterization laboratory using time series models. Our research involves retrospective cardiology admission data from March 1, 2012, to November 3, 2016, retrieved from a hospital in Iowa. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), Holt’s method, mean method, naive method, seasonal naive, exponential smoothing, and drift method were implemented to forecast weekly cardiology admissions from Catheterization laboratory. ARIMA (2,0,2) (1,1,1) was selected as the best fit model with the minimum sum of error, Akaike information criterion, and Schwartz Bayesian criterion. The model failed to reject the null hypothesis of stationarity, it lacked the evidence of independence and rejected the null hypothesis of normality. The implication of this study will not only improve catheterization laboratory staff schedule, advocate efficient use of imaging equipment and inpatient telemetry beds but also equip management to proactively tackle inpatient overcrowding, plan for physical capacity expansion and so forth.
SERIAL INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND EVIDENCE FOR ARTERIAL REMODELING AS A MECHANISM OF RESTENOSIS FOLLOWING INTERVENTIONAL CORONARY PROCEDURES

Restenosis occurs within the first 6 months after 30% to 50% of transcatheter procedures; it remains the major limitation to percutaneous coronary revascularization (1, 2). The restenotic lesion has been thought to be a proliferative lesion in which an exaggeration of the normal reparative processes following angioplasty-induced local vessel trauma leads to proliferation of both cellular and matrix components causing an increased tissue mass and restenosis (3–7). As the understanding of this process has advanced, attempts have been made to attack restenosis by interfering with this cascade. Although the results in animal models have been impressive, pharmacologic trials using anti-proliferative agents in humans have been strikingly ineffective in humans (8).
Optimization-based predictive models in medicine and biology

We present novel optimization-based classification models that are general purpose and suitable for developing predictive rules for large heterogeneous biological and medical data sets. Our predictive model simultaneously incorporates (1) the ability to classify any number of distinct groups; (2) the ability to incorporate heterogeneous types of attributes as input; (3) a high-dimensional data transformation that eliminates noise and errors in biological data; (4) the ability to incorporate constraints to limit the rate of misclassification, and a reserved-judgment region that provides a safeguard against over-training (which tends to lead to high misclassification rates from the resulting predictive rule); and (5) successive multi-stage classification capability to handle data points placed in the reserved judgment region. Application of the predictive model to a broad class of biological and medical problems is described. Applications include: the differential diagnosis of the type of erythemato-squamous diseases; genomic analysis and prediction of aberrant CpG island meythlation in human cancer; discriminant analysis of motility and morphology data in human lung carcinoma; prediction of ultrasonic cell disruption for drug delivery; identification of tumor shape and volume in treatment of sarcoma; multistage discriminant analysis of biomarkers for prediction of early atherosclerosis; fingerprinting of native and angiogenic microvascular networks for early diagnosis of diabetes, aging, macular degeneracy and tumor metastasis, and prediction of protein localization sites. In all these applications, the predictive model yields correct classification rates ranging from 80% to 100%. This provides motivation for pursuing its use as a medical diagnostic, monitoring and decision-making tool.
A Review of How to Set Your Fees and Get Them

This is a brief book on a topic that should be dear to the hearts of free lance forensic consultants: How to set up a fee schedule and how to collect one's fees once the job's done. Its chapters discuss such matters as how to determine what your time and knowledge are worth, how to choose an appropriate fee structure (per hour, per day, fiat rate and the like), how to go about quoting the fee to the potential client, how to close the consulting agreement with a letter of agreement (examples of which are provided in an appendix) and what to do if problems arise.
Load Balancing Prioritized Tasks via Work-Stealing

Work-stealing schedulers focus on minimizing overhead in task scheduling. Consequently, they avoid features, such as task priorities, which can add overhead to the implementation. Thus in such schedulers, low priority tasks may be scheduled earlier, delaying the execution of higher priority tasks and possibly increasing overall execution time.
Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Conversion of Carbondioxide to Alcohols

Energy storage for intermittent alternative energy sources such as wind and solar could take the form of CO2 reduction to liquid fuels, such as methanol. Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical methods are discussed. Keywords: energy storage; methanol; carbon dioxide; electroreduction; electrochemistry; photochemistry
PROTEIN-BOUND IODINE IN INFANTS FROM BIRTH TO ONE YEAR OF AGE

Statistical comparisons indicate that within 12 hours of birth the serum protein-bound iodine of the infant is of the same order of magnitude, on the average, as that present in maternal blood during pregnancy or within a few hours of delivery. During the remainder of the first week of life there occurs a transient statistically significant increase in the mean value of this iodine fraction. During the sixth to twelfth week the concentrations fall below those present neonatally, but at this time or at any subsequent age up to 1 year, they are still on the average above those encountered in euthyroid nonpregnant adults or in older children. The possible relationship of these higher mean values in infancy to increased thyroid function in the rapidly growing infant have been mentioned with emphasis on the elevated concentration of circulating thyroxin.
Pushing with the pigtail: a novel approach to placing the MitraClip in a patient with a severely restricted posterior mitral leaflet

The MitraClip is an US Food and Drug Administration-approved device for inoperable patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) and is under investigation for use in patients with severe functional MR. Simultaneously grasping both leaflets of the mitral valve can be technically challenging, however, in patients with a restricted posterior leaflet. We present one such case in which a pigtail catheter, placed retrograde into the left ventricle, was able to push the ventricular surface of the posterior leaflet into closer approximation with the anterior leaflet, and facilitate successful clip placement. We provide this report in hopes that it will provide a useful strategy for interventionalists faced with this challenging situation.
Sildenafil increases ocular perfusion

Purpose: Our goal was to determine whether visual system responses to sildenafil accompany shifts in ocular perfusion. The human choroid, which supports the metabolic function of the outer retina, is an erectile tissue, analogous in many respects to the corpus cavenosum. Methods: Right eyes of 12 normal adults were evaluated before and 2 h after 50 mg oral dose of sildenafil. Pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF), intraocular pressure (IOP), Heidelberg retinal flowmetry (HRT), 4.26 cpd, 7.5 Hz temporally-modulated contrast sensitivity (CS), full-threshold C-20 frequency doubling technology (FDT) perimetry, and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Results: POBF (+29.4%; p > 0.016) and CS (+33.6%; p > 0.014%) increased within 110 (±7.7) minutes after sildenafil administration. No subject demonstrated decreases in either variable. HRF flow values increase among 7 of the 9 eyes producing stable scans (+8.2%; p > 0.1). FDT values did not change significantly, nor did systemic pulse amplitude or mean IOP. Conclusions: Since IOP and systemic pulse amplitude both remained stable after sildenafil administration, while POBF values increased to a level nearly one third greater than baseline. It appears sildenafil can induce intrinsic change in the choroidal vasculature, with an apparently positive impact on pericentral contrast sensitivity. This effect may be of clinical utility.
Analysis of cytomegalovirus infection and replication in acinar epithelial cells of the rat lacrimal gland.

Purpose. The objectives of this investigation were threefold: to advance understanding of the nature and impact of herpesvirus infection in the lacrimal gland; to determine the influence of gender and sex hormones on viral infectivity and replication capacity in lacrimal tissue; and to compare the susceptibilities of lacrimal, submandibular, and parotid cells to viral invasion. Methods. Acinar epithelial cells were isolated from lacrimal or salivary glands from intact, orchiectomized, ovariectomized, or sham-operated rats, cultured on Matrigel in serum-free media, and briefly exposed to rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV). Cells were then incubated for varying time intervals, and RCMV titers and secretory component (SC) levels in media or cell extracts were measured by plaque assay or radioimmunoassay. Exocrine glands also were obtained from rats after RCMV inoculation in vivo and were analyzed for viral infection. Results. These findings demonstrated that RCMV invades the rat lacrimal gland after intravenous or intraperitoneal viral inoculation; RCMV infects and undergoes a time-, dose-, strainand gender-dependent replication in acinar epithelial cells from rat lacrimal tissue; the magnitude of RCMV replication in acinar epithelial cells in vitro may be altered by prior changes in the endocrine environment in vivo; viral challenge to acinar epithelial cells does not necessarily impair their functional ability or viability and may, in fact, induce an acute increase in the cellular production of SC; and the extent of viral replication in lacrimal and salivary gland epithelial cells displays distinct, tissue-specific variations. Conclusions. The herpesvirus RCMV invades and replicates in acinar epithelial cells from the rat lacrimal gland. The magnitude of this viral infection may be significantly influenced by gender and alterations in the hormonal environment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1996;37:1174-1186.
Spatial and Temporal Variations in Pyrodinium bahamense Cyst Concentrations in the Sediments of Bioluminescent Mangrove Lagoon, St. Croix, USVI

Mangrove Lagoon, located on the island of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI), is one of few actively bioluminescent lagoons in a location experiencing significant anthropogenic impacts. The bioluminescence is due to an abundance of the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense in the water column. We recovered surface sediments and sediment cores from Mangrove Lagoon to analyze the spatial distribution and temporal variability of P. bahamense cysts in this system. Surface sediment P. bahamense cyst concentrations ranged from 0 to 466 cysts g−1 dry sediment, with higher abundances associated with elevated surface water nutrient concentrations and a mixed terrestrial–marine organic matter source regime. In combination with available bioassay data, we hypothesize that phytoplankton utilize nutrients rapidly and subsequent decay of organic matter makes nutrients available for dinoflagellates at the sediment–water interface in the eastern and northern quadrants of the lagoon. However, the nutrients are rapidly exhausted during counterclockwise lagoon circulation resulting in the decline of primary productivity and dinoflagellate abundance in the western quadrants. Downcore profiles suggest that P. bahamense blooms have been occurring for decades, declining in recent years. No cysts were present in sediments predating dredging activities of the 1960s that created Mangrove Lagoon. Recent reductions in cyst abundance may be the result of limited primary productivity caused by restricted water exchange with Salt River Bay due to shallowing of a sill at the mouth of the lagoon. This research highlights the need for more comprehensive geochemical and fossil analyses to better understand long-term ecological variability and inform conservation efforts of these unique habitats.
Turbulence, Heterogeneity, and Earnings Inequality

This paper argues that there is a close connection between the increase in earnings losses following separations that occurred in the United States from the 1970s to the 1980s and the increase in earnings dispersion that occurred during the same time both between, as well as within, educational groups. A dynamic human capital accumulation model parameterized to match some selected moments of the U.S. labor market, as well as the observed increase in earnings losses following separations, can account for the increase in the college premium, as well as for the bulk of the increases in the variances of both permanent and transitory earnings of the different educational groups.
Hyper-Segmentation and Exclusion in Financial Services in the U.S.

Abstract The last twenty years has been a period of major structural change for the financial services sector in the United States. Some of this restructuring has been prompted by technological change, but public policy has actively facilitated the increased mobility of capital to places where it brings the highest short-term private return but not necessarily the greatest long-term social return. While deregulation and technology have combined to provide a wider choice of services and increased price pressure in the lucrative segments of different financial markets, the pursuit of affluent customers has left lower-income consumers and very small firms at a disadvantage. The sector overall has moved toward a hyper-segmentation of customer bases by income and race, leaving many communities served primarily by higher-cost and sometimes abusive financial services firms.
Studies on transport of macromolecules and small particles across mesothelial cells of the mouse omentum. II. Kinetic features and metabolic requirements.

Abstract A method has been devised for maintaining mouse omentum in vitro for several hours with preservation of its transport function and retention of the transported macromolecular material. The uptake of ferritin- 55 Fe was essentially linear during the first 2–3 h, at a rate proportional to the concentration in the medium. Transport of the ferritin- 55 Fe was moderately suppressed by the presence of an excess of unlabelled ferritin, by reduction of the temperature to 15 °C, by 8 × 10 −4 M fluoride, and by 1 × 10 −3 M 2, 4-dinitrophenol. Transport was somewhat inhibited by 60 μg/ml cycloheximide and by 1–10 μg/ml puromycin. Sodium azide at 5 × 10 −4 M did not significantly alter transport. These findings suggest that transport of ferritin across mesothelial cells is an active process, perhaps accompanied by a minor element of diffusion.
Green functions in a super self-dual Yang-Mills background

Abstract In euclidean supersymmetric theories of chiral superfields and vector superfields coupled to a super-self-dual Yang-Mills background, we define Green functions for the Laplace-type differential operators which are obtained from the quadratic part of the action. These Green functions are expressed in terms of the Green function on the space of right chiral superfields, and an explicit expression for the right chiral Green function in the fundamental representation of an SU( n ) gauge group is presented using the supersymmetric version of the ADHM formalism. The superfield kernels associated with the Laplace-type operators are used to obtain the one-loop quantum corrections to the super-self-dual Yang-Mills action, and also to provide a superfield version of the super-index theorems for the components of chiral superfields in a self-dual background.
Programming language selector (abstract only)

A knowledge-based system has been designed and developed to select a list of possible programming languages for a given project. The rule-based development tool INSIGHT 2+ was used to implement this expert system on an AT-compatible microcomputer. User-specific information, such as graphics, mathematics, and report generation requirements, is gathered through a series of questions. Then rules are used to evaluate the appropriateness of each language. Upon completion of evaluation, the user may expand on any of the selected languages. We will discuss design and development ideas, as well as important capabilities of INSIGHT 2+ that were identified during this project.
The Use Of A Multi-Image Plane Merit Function In Automatic Lens Design

A multi-image plane merit function is used for improved aberration control and depth of focus in automatic lens design. The effectiveness of the optimization technique is demonstrated with two examples.
Lattice-Boltzmann simulations of fluidization of rectangular particles

Lattice-Boltzmann simulations on fluidization of two-dimensional rectangular multi-particles falling against gravity are performed. The particle behavior is dominated by inertia effects associated with wakes. The long bodies of the rectangular particles turn horizontal dominantly. Relative stable particle clusters and inverted T clusters are found. Drafting, kissing and melting can be used to characterize the behavior of multi-rectangular particles. Simulation results are well consistent with the experimental results of three-dimensional cylindric and disk particles.
Function of the Thyroid and the Host-Parasite Relation in Murine Schistosomiasis Mansoni

The effect of altered thyroid function on the host-parasite relation in murine hepatosplenic schistosomiasis was investigated. Young Swiss mice were injected with 131I-labelled iodide; three weeks later they were subdivided randomly: one group received no further treatment, another received 2 [tg of L-thyroxine, and the third received 15 [tg of L-thyroxine twice weekly. Cercarial penetration was lower in the hypothyroid animals. The schistosomes in the hypothyroid animals were small, while those in the hyperthyroid animals were large, matured earlier, and produced more eggs. The granulomas developing around eggs injected into uninfected mice were small in the hypothyroid and large in the hyperthyroid animals. The inflammatory process was accelerated in the hyperthyroid and slowed in hypothyroid mice. With respect to hepatosplenic disease, the hypothyroid animals had the least change during the acute stages, but underwent an exacerbation in the chronic stages, while the disease in the hyperthyroid mice was ameliorating. None of the hypothyroid animals died in the first 16 weeks after infection, while the mortality in the other three groups varied from 25% to 40%. Alterations in thyroid state had profound effects on both the worms and the host's reaction to them.
Improved Psychological Well‐Being, Quality of Life, and Health Practices in Moderately Overweight Women Participating in a 12‐Week Structured Weight Loss Program

Objective: To study the effects of a 12-week weight loss strategy involving increased physical activity, self-selected hypocaloric diet, and group support on psychological well-being, quality of life, and health practices in moderately obese women. Methods; Eighty women aged 20–49 years weighing between 20–50% above 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance Tables were randomly assigned to a weight loss intervention (6279 kJ/week of physical activity, 33,258-41,462 kJ/week diet and weekly meetings) or served as controls. Subjects were tested pre and post 12-weeks. Results: The intervention group lost significant (p<0.001) body weight (kg) and body fat (%) compared to controls (-6.07 ± 4.01 kg vs. 1.31 ± 1.28 kg; 36.8%-32.5% vs. 36.2%-36.0%). Intervention subjects vs. controls achieved significant improvements (p<0.001) in body cathexis (X Change 18.6 ± 16.7 vs. 0.7 ± 8.6) and estimation of ability to achieve physical fitness (X Change 8.1 ± 7.1 vs. 0.9 ± 5.9). Various quality of life indices also improved (p<0.01) in the intervention group compared to controls (physical function: X Change 13.5.2 ± 16.7 vs. 1.4 ± 9.5; vitality: X change 21.7 ± 17.9 vs. 2.9 20.8; mental health: X change 10.4 ± 16.0 vs. 2.3 ± 10.1). Similarly, physical activity levels also improved significantly (p<0.0001) in the intervention group (4.4 ± 2.3 vs. 0.6 ± 1.3; on NASA 0–7 scale). Conclusions: Practical weight loss practices such as increased activity, self-selected hypocaloric diet, and group support are effective for weight loss and yield significant health and psychological benefits in moderately obese females.
Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of vascular, membrane-bound angiotensin I converting enzyme, aminopeptidase M, and dipeptidyL(AMINO)peptidase IV

Antisera raised against specific renal brush border peptidases have been used to characterize vascular surface membrane angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1), aminopeptidase M (AmM; EC 3.4.11.2), and dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV (DAP IV; EC 3.4.14.5) by techniques of differential solubilization, fused-rocket immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The vascular membrane-bound enzymes are immunologically indistinguishable from their brush border counterparts and can be solubilized by treatment with detergent and/or papain. The electrophoretic mobilities of the papain-treated forms of each enzyme were greater than those of the detergent-treated forms. This increased mobility is associated with the removal of small, hydrophobic, non-antigenic components of the enzymes. Regardless of the method of solubilization, the electrophoretic mobilities of the vascular enzymes were greater than those of the brush border enzymes. However, after treatment with neuraminidase to remove sialic acid, their respective mobilities were similar. The mobilities of serum AmM and DAP IV were identical to the respective papain-solubilized vascular enzymes both before and after neuraminidase. Thus, like the brush border enzymes, the data presented are consistent with the model that vascular ACE, AmM and DAP IV are intrinsic membrane peptidases bound to their surface membranes by small, non-antigenic, hydrophobic anchors associated with the lipid bilayer. In addition, these vascular surface membrane peptidases are similar to and may be a source of the circulating enzymes.
Stem cells--scientific, medical, and political issues.

It is rare that a scientific subject causes controversy not only among scientists but also among politicians and the public. Stem-cell biology is such a subject. The media reports new claims as soon as (or before) they appear in the scientific literature or are presented at scientific meetings. Talk-show hosts present their views, and both Congress and the executive branch follow with policy initiatives. But in its present state, there is little certitude in the science of stem cells, and the hard facts are emerging slowly. It is important for the public and policy makers to understand the fundamentals of . . .
Rotor Transverse Crack Detection and Diagnosis Using Embedded Modeling

This study proposes an embedded modeling methodology for identifying the crack-induced local stiffness reduction in a shaft from its horizontal and vertical vibrations. An embedded model integrating a dynamic model of the rotor system, and the unknown local stiffness reduction in the form of a universal function approximator i.e., neural network, is established. As a FEM model, it can describe rotors of complex geometry. A solution method is then established to identify the local stiffness reduction of the shaft due to a crack. Subsequently, a method is then used to find the location and size of the crack along the shaft. Simulated studies were conducted to demonstrate that the crack induced stiffness reduction of a Jeffcott rotor system can be identified, and the location, size and shape of the crack can be estimated by the proposed method with high level of accuracy.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
HMG-domain protein recognition of cisplatin 1,2-intrastrand d(GpG) cross-links in purine-rich sequence contexts.

HMG-domain proteins bind strongly to bent DNA structures, including cruciform and cisplatin-modified duplexes. Such protein-platinated DNA complexes, formed where the DNA is modified by the active ...
Abstract 2149: Novel compound 1, 3-bis (3, 5-dichlorophenyl) urea inhibits lung cancer progression

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The successful clinical management of lung cancer is limited by frequent loss-of-function mutations in p53 which cooperates with chronic oxidant-stress induced adaptations in mercapturic acid pathway (MAP) which in turn regulates critical intracellular signaling cascades that determine therapeutic refractoriness. Hence, we investigated the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of action of a novel compound called 1, 3 bis (3, 5-dichlorophenyl) urea (COH-SR4) in lung cancer. Treatment with COH-SR4 effectively inhibited the survival and clonogenic potential along with inducing apoptosis in lung cancer cells. COH-SR4 treatment caused the inhibition of GST activity and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibited the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins CDK2, CDK4, cyclin A, cyclin B1, cyclin E1, and p27. The COH-SR4 activated AMPK pathway and knock-down of AMPK partially reversed the cytotoxic effects of COH-SR4 in lung cancer. COH-SR4 treatment lead to regression of established xenografts of H358 lung cancer cells without any overt toxicity. The histopathology of resected tumor sections revealed an increase in pAMPK, a decrease in the nuclear proliferative marker Ki67 and angiogenesis marker CD31. Western-blot analyses of resected tumor lysates revealed a decrease in pAkt and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 along with an increase in pAMPK, pro-apoptotic protein Bax and cleaved PARP levels. Importantly, COH-SR4 lead to decrease in the mesenchymal marker vimentin and increase in the normal epithelial marker E-cadherin. The results from our in-vitro and in-vivo studies reveal that COH-SR4 represents a novel candidate with strong mechanistic relevance to target aggressive and drug-resistant lung tumors (Supported by NIH grant CA 77495 and Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope). Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Sharad S. Singhal, James Figarola, Jyotsana Singhal, Lokesh Nagaprashantha, David Berz, Samuel Rahbar, Sanjay Awasthi. Novel compound 1, 3-bis (3, 5-dichlorophenyl) urea inhibits lung cancer progression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2149. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2149
The Effect of the Rate of Muscle Contraction on the Force-Time Curve Parameters of Male and Female Subjects

(1990). The Effect of the Rate of Muscle Contraction on the Force-Time Curve Parameters of Male and Female Subjects. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 61, No. 1, pp. 96-99.
X-Ray Microscopy Of Laser Fusion Plasmas Using Coded Imaging Techniques

A brief discussion of the potential of the Zone Plate Coded Imaging (ZPCI) technique for x-ray and par-ticle microscopy of laser fusion plasmas is provided. In addition, the first successful application of ZPCI to high resolution (≤ 10 μm), tomographic imaging of the x-ray and alpha particle emission from a laser fusion plasma is reported.
ELECTRONIC STATES OF QUASIPERIODIC SYSTEMS: FIBONACCI AND PENROSE LATTICES

Since the experiment of Shechtman et al. which suggests the crystal with the pentagonal symmetry (quasicrystal), there has been a lot of interest in the quasiperiodic systems. These can be regarded as being intermediate between ordered and disordered systems, and novel physical properties are expected. In fact, the quasicrystal in one-dimension is known to have exotic electronic properties: Cantor set energy spectrum, existence of self-similar and fractal wavefunctions and so on. These properties have intrinsically related to the renormalization-group theory and the nonlinear dynamical systems which could lead to chaos. The electronic properties of the Fibonacci lattice (1-D quasicrystal) and the Penrose lattice (2-D quasicrystal) are discussed.
The role of porosity in char combustion

Abstract A detailed study has been conducted on the nature of porosity developed during the combustion of chars prepared from different coals, and how this relates to the apparent reactivity of the char towards oxygen. An Illinois No. 6 coal char and a Wyodak coal char have been examined in both Zone I and Zone II conditions (intrinsic rate control and diffusional mass transfer zones, respectively). These results strongly suggest that there exists some amount of free volume in a char that has not been burned off. Such an unburned char does not reveal much porosity when standard nitrogen adsorption is applied, but rapidly develops such porosity upon burnoff. The free volume opens, but is not truly accessible to reactant gases. It appears likely, based upon the present results, that the only truly available surface for reaction exists in pores larger than 10–15 A.