cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards Excellence in Environmental Education A View from the United States

Within the United States, a nationwide debate has been raging over how to best provide quality education for all learners. Much of this debate, spurred by poor test scores and other measures of achievement, has centered on the development of national, state and local standards and assessments for the core disciplines (e.g., mathematics, science, geography). For the most part, environmental education has been left out of this debate and out of the various standards development initiatives. Whether one agrees philosophically with academic standards or not, these standards are determining what is being taught in the classroom. By 1993, environmental education in the United States found itself in a conundrum. It has always been argued that environmental education should be interdisciplinary, infused throughout the curriculum. However, with the new standards, environmental education was in real danger of becoming marginalized. To address this situation, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) initiated the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education.
MiR-888: A newly identified miRNA significantly over-expressed in endometrial cancers

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy and the fourth most common cancer in women. With accumulating evidence, microRNAs have emerged as significant players in the development and progression of cancers. The data points to miR-888 playing an important functional role in the development of aggressive endometrial tumors. Future research will focus on identifying and validating the targets of miR-888 to elucidate its mechanism of action and support this hypothesis
Is Porphyromonas gingivalis Cell Invasion Required for Atherogenesis? Pharmacotherapeutic Implications

Various studies have demonstrated an association between chronic bacterial infections and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis, which can invade endothelial cells, is one pathogen that may link these disorders. If so, antibiotics that block its invasiveness may ameliorate atherosclerotic plaque progression. To explore the role of invasion of P. gingivalis in inflammation- and infection-associated atherosclerosis, 10-wk-old ApoE(+/-) mice were fed either a high fat diet or a regular chow diet. All mice were inoculated i.v., once per week for 24 consecutive wk, with either 50 microl of live P. gingivalis (strain 381) (10(7) CFU); a fimbria-deficient P. gingivalis; or metronidazole before P. gingivalis. Mice were euthanized and evaluated 24 wk after the first inoculation. ApoE(+/-) mice injected with DPG3 or metronidazole showed significantly fewer atheromatous lesions in the proximal aorta and the aortic tree compared with ApoE(+/-) mice injected with wild-type P. gingivalis for either diet condition. Serum amyloid A levels were significantly lower in ApoE(+/-) mice that received either DPG3 or metronidazole before P. gingivalis than from ApoE(+/-) mice that received P. gingivalis alone. Serum cytokine analysis revealed decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines in both DPG3-injected and metronidazole/P. gingivalis-treated ApoE(+/-) mice compared with mice receiving only P. gingivalis, irrespective of diet. P. gingivalis invasion is a critical phenomenon in the progression of atherosclerosis. The present data offer new insights into the pathophysiological pathways involved in atherosclerosis and pave the way for new pharmacological interventions aimed at reducing atherosclerosis.
Assessing sheriff’s office emergency and disaster website communications

Sheriff’s offices are an integral component of the public health emergency preparedness and response system in the USA. During a public health emergency or disaster, sheriff’s offices need to communicate with people affected by the event. Sheriff’s office websites are logical sources for information about disaster preparedness and response efforts. No prior research evaluates emergency preparedness and response resources available through sheriff’s office websites. The current research is a national study of sheriff’s office websites to assess the availability of information relating to emergency preparedness and response. A content analysis of 2590 sheriff’s office website homepages was conducted to determine the presence or absence of nine communications elements important to people seeking information during an emergency or disaster. We found that 71.9% of sheriff’s office website homepages include links to agency services and programs, but only 6.5% provide links to emergency preparedness information....
Diffusion in fluids between Knudsen and Fickian limits: Departure from classical behavior

The finite-difference equation of diffusion (consistent with Einstein's evolution equation of diffusion) without the assumption of small mean free path is discussed. This equation predicts significant deviations from classical behavior for the simplest geometry: fluid in a pipe with a large density gradient, such that one end is at the Fickian limit, the other end is at Knudsen limit and there can be a transition zone between them. This has not been considered in previous studies. The analysis indicates that significant deviations from classical (Fickian) behavior arise due to the large change in mean free path which is important in numerous situations, including vacuum technology and propulsion in space. Other examples of deviations from Fick's law include cases where the mean free path is not small compared to system size (nanoscale systems and low density systems) and cases where there are large gradients. These are important in a variety of practical applications, including vacuum distillation, vacuum pumps, and adsorption measurements. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 3138–3143, 2015
Future trends in dental benefits.

Dentistry and dental payment systems as we know them today will continue to evolve. Dentistry as practiced today and the prepayment systems of dentistry are substantially different than they were fifty years ago when dental insurance as we know it was first developed. Dentistry has always changed with the development of our science and the expression of dentistry’s diseases in the populations we serve. The changes that are likely to occur in the future will be focused on improving health outcomes across risk-analyzed populations with the goals of providing optimal health outcomes at reasonable costs. Dentists will increasingly become engaged in the whole health of their patients. Where sufficient correlations can be leveraged between dentistry and overall health, medical plans will play an increasing role in dentistry’s future for two reasons. Given favorably altered therapeutic outcomes for medical systems that preserve scarce resources, it will be an economic imperative to engage the dental system. It will also be the right thing to do from a total health perspective. In the final analysis, this elevates the role of dentistry and empowers the dentist to participate in the total health of their patients.
Palladium nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) using formic acid

Abstract Cr(VI), a leading contaminant in most hazardous waste sites, is acutely toxic, a proven mutagen and a carcinogen whereas Cr(III) is believed to be an essential element. We describe a one-pot synthesis and characterization of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The resulting PdNPs were used as catalyst to demonstrate a new concept for the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) using formic acid as a reducing agent. Percentage decrease in the concentration of Cr(VI) as a function of time was monitored using UV/vis spectroscopy at a fixed wavelength of 350 nm. Results showed that the reduction follows first-order reaction kinetics with respect to initial concentrations of Cr(VI) and HCOOH. The leveling off in reaction rate with respect to PdNPs loading confirms the importance of surface reaction as the rate-controlling step. The rate of Cr(VI) reduction was found to be dependent on temperature, pH, amount of PdNPs and formic acid concentrations, with the optimum at 45 °C under acidic conditions. For every 0.1 M increment in formic acid concentration, there was a corresponding 18.4% enhancement in the reduction rate. Consequently, it took 5 min for the PdNPs to catalyze the reduction of a 7.14 mM concentration of Cr(VI) at 99.8% efficiency. Subsequent practical application in environmental samples indicates a complete elimination of Cr(VI) from the tested soil and aqueous media.
Congenital cystic dilatation of the submandibular duct

A lesion which appeared clinically consistent with a ranula was explored surgically and found to represent a dilated submandibular duct. The differential diagnosis of cystlike swelling in the floor of the mouth should include sialolithiasis, mucous retention phenomenon (mucocele, ranula), dermoid and epidermal inclusion cyst, thyroglossal duct cyst, branchial cleft cyst, hemangioma, lymphangioma, cystic hygroma, lipoma, and occasionally pleomorphic adenoma. The case presented here demonstrates, both clinically and histologically, the cystic appendix-like appearance of a dilated submandibular duct manifest at birth. Reference is made to the limited number of similar cases noted in the relevant literature.
Synthesizing Nanoscale Iron Particles for Rapid and Complete Dechlorination of TCE and PCBs

Transformation of halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) by zero-valent iron represents one of the latest innovative technologies for environmental remediation. For example, iron can be used to construct a reactive wall in the path of a contaminated groundwater plume to degrade HOCs. In this paper, an efficient method of synthesizing nanoscale (1−100 nm) iron and palladized iron particles is presented. Nanoscale particles are characterized by high surface area to volume ratios and high reactivities. BET specific surface area of the synthesized metal particles is 33.5 m2/g. In comparison, a commercially available Fe powder (<10 μm) has a specific surface area of just 0.9 m2/g. Batch studies demonstrated that these nanoscale particles can quickly and completely dechlorinate several chlorinated aliphatic compounds and a mixture of PCBs at relatively low metal to solution ratio (2−5 g/100 mL). Surface-area-normalized rate constants (KSA) are calculated to be 10−100 times higher than those of commercially availa...
Enhanced stereotyped response to amphetamine after pretreatment with small doses of molindone.

Abstract Pretreatment of rats with small doses of the antipsychotic drug, molindone. enhanced the stereotyped behavioral response to amphetamine. In order to determine whether molindone enhanced amphetamine-induced stereotypy by the same mechanism as chronic administration of amphetamine or drugs that inhibit central noradrenergic transmission, the effect of these drugs on the stereotyped behavior produced by β-phenethylamine (PEA) was compared. Following the administration of phenoxybenzamine, reserpine and diethyldithiocarbamate, the stereotyped response produced by β-phenethylamine was intensified. In contrast, neither molindone nor chronic pretreatment with amphetamine altered β-phenethylamine-induced stereotypy. As shown previously with chronic amphetamine pretreatment, molindone also failed to enhance the stereotyped response produced by apomorphine. However, in contrast to the effects of chronic administration of amphetamine, molindone both increased the striatal concentration of dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and blocked the ability of small doses of apomorphine to decrease this dopamine (DA) metabolite. The doses of molindone that blocked the apomorphine-induced reduction in the concentration of DOPAC in the striatum correlated with the doses that enhanced amphetamine-induced stereotypy. Since the decrease in DOPAC in the striatum produced by apomorphine is thought to be mediated through the stimulation of striatal DA autoreceptors, these results suggest that molindone enhances amphetamine-induced stereotypy by selectively inhibiting DA autoreceptors.
The detection and mapping of water vapor in the Martian atmosphere

The objectives of the water vapor investigations, to be carried out during the Viking missions, are described in the light of our current knowledge of Martian atmospheric conditions and the diurnal and seasonal variations of the water abundance. A discussion is given of the relative merits of the different experimental approaches which can be adopted for this purpose, followed by a summary of the detection limits achievable in the available spectral regions. These considerations led to the choice of a spectrometer operating in the 1.4-micron region, with a spectral resolution of approximately one wavenumber and a surface spatial resolution at periapsis of 3 by 24 km. The design of the spectrometer and the results of laboratory simulation tests which have been carried out to verify the expected instrumental performance are described.
Tissue engineering of perfused microvessels.

One major obstacle toward the creation and survival of larger, three-dimensional tissues is the lack of a vascular network that provides transport of oxygen, nutrients, and metabolic byproducts. Although attempts to create microvasculature in vitro have been described previously (Microcirculation 2 (1995), 377; Tissue Eng. 6 (2000), 105; Ann. NY Accd. Sci. 944 (2001), 443), these methods depend on vascularization of void spaces within the tissue-construct or on the utilization of empty capillary networks by host vessels. In the present study, we examined the possibility of creating perfused microvessels in vitro that can be included in an artificial tissue. First, strands of nylon line with their ends fit into microtubing were positioned within small perfusion chambers. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were then seeded onto the nylon strands and tubing. The cells multiplied to form concentric layers. Layer thickness was approximately 100 μm after 21 days and 150 μm after 28 days of culture. The lines were then extracted and the chambers connected to a perfusion system. The vessels were continuously perfused with culture medium over 7 days without failure. Artificial microvessels may prove useful in tissue engineering and as models for vascular research.
Some Factors Affecting Reports of Visual Fatigue Resulting from Use of a VDU.

This paper surveys the human factors literature that focuses upon self-report evaluations of visual fatigue resulting from use of a visual display unit. The range of factors impacting upon such self-report data is considered along with the validity of questionnaire results as they may relate to objective physiological indices of visual fatigue.
Greasy Spot, a Serious Endemic Problem for Citrus Production in the Caribbean Basin

siderable defoliation and is responsible for reduced yields and fruit size, but those losses have been quantified in only one case. Whiteside (55) found that fungicide applications increased the yield of Pineapple oranges (Citrus sinensis) by 25%. In addition to losses incurred as a result of greasy spot–induced defoliation, M. citri is known to cause a rind blemish on citrus fruit (46,49). Fruit infection by M. citri produces a symptom originally referred to as pink pitting. This disease was thought to be caused by a Cercospora sp. (31). Whiteside (47,49) demonstrated that M. citri infected through the stomata and killed the guard cells and a few cells surrounding the stomata, producing a tiny lesion. However, when high numbers of infections occurred, a significant blemish developed which he termed greasy spot rind blotch. Greasy spot rind blotch significantly reduces the external quality of fruit for the fresh market. It is a serious problem on grapefruit (C. paradisi), but can also occur on oranges and other citrus. Rind blotch reduces percentage of grapefruit acceptable for the fresh market by 5 to 10% annually.
Temporal variations of sedimentary sulfur in a Delaware salt marsh

Abstract The cycling of sedimentary sulfur was examined over a one year period in the Great Marsh, Delaware (U.S.A.) using newly developed analytical procedures. Iron monosulfide (FeS) and elemental sulfur both display large seasonal changes in concentration and distribution with depth, indicating a coupling with marsh redox conditions. In contrast, the depth distribution and concentration of greigite (Fe3S4) did not show appreciable changes with season. Pyrite (FeS2) underwent large concentration changes in the upper 15 cm of sediment during the spring, but remained relatively constant with respect to concentration and distribution below this zone. Using a mass balance approach in the upper marsh sediment, sulfur needed for rapid pyritization is found to be derived from elemental sulfur, iron monosulfide and sulfate reduction. In the deeper sediments, pyritization occurs through a greigite intermediate, and diagenetic modeling indicates that pyrite formation is limited by the synthesis of greigite, and not by the conversion of greigite to pyrite.
A note on concave utility functions

The classical theory of preference among monetary bets represents people as expected utility maximizers with concave utility functions. Critics of this account often rely on assumptions about preferences over wide ranges of total wealth. We derive a prediction of the theory that bears on bets at any fixed level of wealth, and test the prediction behaviorally. Our results are discrepant with the classical account. Competing theories are also examined in light of our data.
AVAILABLE TESTS IN MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Author's Summary.— Discussion of methods and equipment now available with price list and full information concerning individual tests for French, Spanish, and German.)
Annual Summary of Vital Statistics—1985

This is an annual review of the vital statistics of the United States based on official data from the Monthly Vital Statistics Reports of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Global trends are also examined using U.N. published data. Separate consideration is given to births marriages and divorces deaths and infant mortality. (ANNOTATION)
The Outer-Coordination Sphere: Incorporating Amino Acids and Peptides as Ligands for Homogeneous Catalysts to Mimic Enzyme Function

Great progress has been achieved in the field of homogeneous transition metal-based catalysis; however, as a general rule these solution-based catalysts are still easily outperformed by their analogous enzyme counterparts, in terms of both rates and selectivity. This includes structural mimics of enzymatic active sites. This observation suggests that the features of the enzyme beyond the active site, i.e., the outer-coordination sphere, are important for enzymes' exceptional function. Directly mimicking the outer-coordination sphere requires the incorporation of amino acids and peptides as ligands for homogeneous catalysts. This effort has been attempted for many homogeneous catalysts which span the manifold of catalytic reactions including hydrogenation, hydroformylation, hydrogen production, oxygen activation, dioxygen transport, electron transfer, disproportionation of the superoxide anion radical, acylation, phosphorylation, esterification, ester hydrolysis, and hydrogen peroxide disproportionation. H...
Reducing the mean size of API crystals by continuous manufacturing with product classification and recycle

A continuous crystallization process is proposed that can produce active pharmaceutical ingredients with a small mean size and narrow distribution. The process flowsheet consists of a new product classifier configuration where the large crystals from the classifier are recycled to a dissolver along with the mother liquor from the filter. Crystallizer stability is explored and regions of sustained limit cycles are identified for the proposed kinetic models. Most industrial crystallizers are operated at low supersaturation; however, with this methodology the continuous crystallizer must be operated at high levels of supersaturation to promote nucleation and increase the number of small crystals in order to maintain a fixed desired production rate. The design and operating strategies presented can be implemented by simple modifications to most conventional continuous crystallization processes. This particle micronization technique may offer significant cost savings over other size reduction methods that utilize mechanical means.
Regulated and unregulated mitochondrial permeability transition pores: a new paradigm of pore structure and function?

Cyclosporin A (CsA) inhibits the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), but not always. To characterize the CsA-sensitive and -insensitive MPT, rat liver mitochondria were exposed to low and high doses of various MPT inducers. Mitochondrial swelling, cyclophilin D membrane binding and permeability transition (PT) pore diameter were measured. The results indicate two conductance modes for the PT pore: one activated by Ca2+ and inhibited by CsA and Mg2+ and the other unregulated. We propose a new model of pore formation and gating in which PT pores form by aggregation of misfolded integral membrane proteins damaged by oxidant and other stresses. Chaperone-like proteins initially block conductance through these misfolded protein clusters; however, increased Ca2+ opens these regulated PT pores, an effect blocked by CsA. When protein clusters exceed chaperones available to block conductance, unregulated pore opening occurs.
Sieve mechanism estimations for microfiltration membranes with elliptical pores

An established sieve mechanism model for microfiltration was modified to incorporate elliptical pore shapes that arise from uni-axial elongation of track-etch (TE) membranes. The particular membranes investigated were poly(ethylene teraphthalate) TE membranes with an average pore size of 0.6 μm and elongations up to 35.6%. The modified sieve theory predicts that a membrane that has undergone a 35.6% elongation allows for twice the throughput compared to the original membrane with circular pores, while maintaining the same removal ability for a solution containing 1 μm particles.
EVIDENCE FOR TWO SEPARATE HELIOSPHERIC CURRENT SHEETS OF CYLINDRICAL SHAPE DURING MID-2012

During the reversal of the Sun's polar fields at sunspot maximum, outward extrapolations of magnetograph measurements often predict the presence of two or more current sheets extending into the interplanetary medium, instead of the single heliospheric current sheet (HCS) that forms the basis of the standard 'ballerina skirt' picture. By comparing potential-field source-surface models of the coronal streamer belt with white-light coronagraph observations, we deduce that the HCS was split into two distinct structures with circular cross sections during mid-2012. These cylindrical current sheets were centered near the heliographic equator and separated in longitude by roughly 180 deg; a corresponding four-sector polarity pattern was observed at Earth. Each cylinder enclosed a negative-polarity coronal hole that was identifiable in extreme ultraviolet images and gave rise to a high-speed stream. The two current sheet systems are shown to be a result of the dominance of the Sun's nonaxisymmetric quadrupole component, as the axial dipole field was undergoing its reversal during solar cycle 24.
On-off keyed microwave signal optically generated using an optically-injected Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser

Large-signal direct-modulation of a diode laser optically-injected into period-one operation is shown to produce an on-off keyed microwave signal. The signal is highly tunable and transmitted over 50 km, suitable for radio-over-fiber applications.
Communicating states model for intersystems crossing of isolated molecules

Abstract The excess energy dependence of the intersystems crossing rate constant for large isolated molecules is studied assuming rapid redistribution of vibrational energy after excitation. Exponential increase of the rate constant is predicted for large separation between the initial singlet and the final triplet states. For small energy separation the rate stays almost constant provided the transition goes directly via spin-orbit coupling. It increases linearly if spin-orbit vibronic coupling is involved.
Perceived Believability Among Adolescents of Health Warning Labels on Cigarette Packs1

This study investigated the extent to which adolescents believe the health warning labels on cigarette packs, and the relationship of current smoking status and gender to the believability ratings. Subjects were 691 students in grades 5 through 12. MANOVAs revealed that, smokers, both male and female, reported significantly less belief in the validity of 3 of the health warning labels than nonsmokers. These findings support prior investigations which indicate that adolescent smokers are less likely to accept the specific health risks associated with smoking than nonsmokers. The results, however, also raise the question as to what value such health warning labels have as a deterrent to cigarette smoking.
Vulnerable Technologies: Accident, Crime and Terrorism

AbstractWhile high technology confers many social benefits, it also has important drawbacks. Among these are its vulnerability to certain kinds of accidents, crimes and terrorist attacks. The article examines this vulnerability in some detail and demonstrates the differences in vulnerability of low- and high-tech systems. High-tech systems are vulnerable because they are very sensitive to human error and may depend on the functioning of minuscule parts. The tendency to build larger, highly centralized systems, while producing economies of scale, often compounds these problems. With national and worldwide communication networks, the possibilities for technological crime increase. Technology often provides a distancing between perpetrators and victims which lowers psychological responsibility while it increases the vulnerability of others. Computer hacking and the manufacture of dangerous consumer products are used as illustrations of this distancing. Also, it is shown how the same vulnerabilities that are ...
The pathological effects of limited feeding in vasopressin-deficient animals

Vasopressin-deficient rats and Long-Evans rats were subjected to one of the following treatments: (1) ad-lib access to food each day, (2) 23 h of food deprivation each day, or (3) 22 h of food deprivation each day. Vasopressin-deficient animals with 23 or 22 h of food deprivation survived for a significantly shorter period of time, had a greater decrease in body weight, and developed significantly more ulcers than the other subjects. Although vasopressin-deficient animals with 22 h of food deprivation consumed a higher percentage of food than vasopressin-deficient animals with 23 h of food deprivation, survival was not enhanced, body weight was not elevated, and ulceration was not ameliorated in these animals.
Space Station Options For Electro-Optical Payloads

By the year 1992, the first permanently-manned U.S. Space Station will be entering its operational phase. The development of this Space Station is the next step in the evolutionary Space Transportation System concept. Initially, it will be composed of an 8-man Space Station in low inclination and low earth orbit. By the mid-1990's, the Space Station will have grown to a 12- to 16-man on-orbit facility with Station-tended platforms at low and high inclinations, and Station-based upper stage capability. This system will offer a unique capability for research and development through extensive, long-duration observations and experimentation. In addition, individual users can take advantage of the myriad of technological breakthroughs achieved in other user areas (e.g., upper stage placement techniques, data handling routines, satellite servicing methodologies, etc.). Payloads delivered to the Space Station have their own specific requirements, capabilities and limitations. Electro-optical payloads are no exception. This paper discusses the Space Station and its potential benefits to electro-optical payloads. Prospective outlooks for research and development projects on the Space Station are made for two electro-optical payload categories; i.e., astrophysical and geophysical. Examples of how the Space Station facilitates research and development for electro-optical payloads located both at the Space Station and as free-flyers are given. In conclusion, cost summaries are established for utilizing the Space Station. This includes a) analysis of the Space Station as a transportation node, b) user servicing and reconfiguration costs, and c) trade-offs between Space Station attached versus free-flying payloads.
Heuristic parallelizable algorithm for similarity based biosystems comparison

Biosystem comparison plays a major role in system biology. Similar biosystems are identified based on the similarity of species naming. Since the species naming does not follow a standard nomenclature, similarity is not easy to formalize. A single metabolite can have different name strings that vary slightly in pattern. Several algorithms have been designed to find similarity between two species using different measures. However, these algorithms failed to achieve good performance in biological species similarity checking due to failure to account for important facts about biological name analysis. We developed ParaABioS, a heuristic, intuitive algorithm for biosystem similarity evaluation. This algorithm integrates sub-name analysis and a symbol management strategy that conserves species name specifications. ParaABioS provides similarity checking between two names that consumes the time O(k!) where k is the number of sub names in worst case. It is implemented in Java and parallelized on a Texas Advanced Computing Center TACC high performance computing (HPC) server and accessed through the iPlant Collaborative Foundation API in order to compare large models. It is available online and also through the BioExtract Server workflow management system (WMS).
Existence and Stability of Traveling Fronts in a Lateral Inhibition Neural Network

We consider the existence and stability of traveling front solutions of a neural network consisting of a single layer of neurons synaptically connected by lateral inhibition. For a specific “Mexican Hat” coupling function, the existence condition for traveling fronts can be reduced to the solution of an algebraic system. Our work extends the existence of traveling fronts of the classic Amari model by considering a nonsaturating piecewise linear gain function. We further establish an analytic method to investigate the linear stability of traveling front solutions in the Heaviside gain case.
Overlap of Voiding Symptoms Among Common Urologic Conditions

In urologic practice, it is common to assign a specific diagnosis based on the presence of a set of characteristic symptoms. Examples of such symptom-based conditions include overactive bladder, lower urinary tract symptoms, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. No objective diagnostic tests clearly differentiate between these conditions, and all are diagnoses of exclusion that are assigned after ruling out other identifiable etiologies for the symptoms (eg, urinary tract infection, bladder cancer). This article reviews the characteristic symptoms that define each condition and highlights the significant degree of overlap that exists between them.
Pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain: where is the tipping point for preterm birth?

Obesity in pregnant women is a major problem affecting both the mother and her offspring. Literature on the effect of obesity on preterm birth is inconsistent and few studies have investigated the influence of weight gain during pregnancy. This study examined the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain during pregnancy on preterm birth. Data from the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP) on 45,824 pregnant women with singleton, live-born infants with no sever congenital anomalies was analyzed. Primary outcome variables included preterm (< 37 weeks of gestation), categorized into spontaneous preterm with and without premature rupture of membrane (PROM) and indicated preterm. Maternal BMI was categorized into underweight (BMI < 18.50), normal weight (BMI =1 8.50 – 24.99), overweight (BMI = 25.00 – 29.99), and obese (BMI ≥ 30.00). Multinomial regression analysis was conducted and OR and 95% CI were calculated. The rate of spontaneous preterm birth with PROM among overweight women decreased with increasing weight gain but increased among women who had excessive weight gain. Similarly, a U-shaped rate of spontaneous preterm birth with and without PROM was observed in obese women. Gaining less weight was protective of spontaneous preterm with and without PROM among overweight and obese women compared to normal weight women. Among underweight women, gaining < 7 kg or 9.5-12.7 kg was associated with increased odds of indicated preterm birth. Appreciable differences were also observed in the association between pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain and the subtypes of preterm births among African Americans and Caucasian Americans. Reduced weight gain during pregnancy among overweight and obese women is associated with reduced spontaneous preterm birth with and without PROM. Health care professionals and public health workers should be aware of this risk and adhere to the 2009 IOM guideline that recommended reduced weight gain during pregnancy for obese and overweight women.
Within-subject comparison of the psychopharmacological profiles of oral oxycodone and oral morphine in non-drug-abusing volunteers

Rationale Nonmedical use and abuse of prescription opioids is a significant problem in the USA. Little attention has been paid to assessing the relative psychopharmacological profile (including abuse liability-related effects) of specific prescription opioids.
Two-stage Sequential Electrochemical Treatment of Nitrate Brine Wastes

Nitrates in concentrated brines can be electrochemically reduced in the cathodic chamber of a split-cell electrochemical reactor with formation of ammonium (and small amounts of nitrite). Fortunately, ammonium may be electrochemically oxidized to nitrogen gas in the anodic reaction chamber if a coupled sequential process is used. The presence of chloride in the brine waste is an important consideration in oxidative electrochemical processes, however, because it cycles through oxidized and reduced states at the electrode surfaces and in the bulk solution. Electrochemical oxidation converts chloride ions to “active chlorine” species with additional oxidizing capability (chlorine, hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite – essentially bleach), as well as to chlorates, depending on the reaction conditions. The production of these active species improves treatment performance in the ammonium oxidation phase since oxidation is no longer limited to the electrode surface. However, the process must be engineered to minimize loss of process efficiency due to parasitic side reactions (chloramines and chlorate). In this study, two-stage batch electrolysis was conducted using a three-electrode (copper anode, platinum-coated titanium cathode, silver/silver chloride reference) electrochemical cell, with the anodic and cathodic chambers separated by a Nafion 117 membrane. Treatment of nitrate and ammonium was tested with and without the presence of chloride in the waste. No significant difference was observed in cathodic nitrate reduction with chloride present or absent. However, the presence of chloride in the solution favored overall soluble nitrogen elimination upon oxidation. Increasing applied current increased production of undesirable byproducts (especially chlorate).
Exploring caching for efficient collection operations

Many useful programs operate on collection types. Extensive libraries are available in many programming languages, such as the C++ Standard Template Library, which make programming with collections convenient. Extending programming languages to provide collection queries as first class constructs in the language would not only allow programmers to write queries explicitly in their programs but it would also allow compilers to leverage the wealth of experience available from the database domain to optimize such queries. This paper describes an approach to reducing the run time of programs involving explicit collection queries by leveraging a cache to store previously computed results. We propose caching the results of join (sub)queries which allows queries that miss the cache entirely to be answered partially from the cache thereby improving the query execution time. We also describe an effective cache policy to determine which join (sub)queries to cache. The cache is maintained incrementally, when the underlying collections change, and use of the cache space is optimized by a cache replacement policy.
Characterization of the immune response to DNA vaccination strategies for schistosomiasis candidate antigen, Sm-p80 in the baboon.

Abstract Even though schistosomicidal agents and other control measures, including public hygiene and snail control exist, development of an efficacious vaccine still remains the most potentially powerful method for control of schistosomiasis. In our continuing efforts to develop a vaccine against schistosomiasis, we have selected a vaccine candidate (Sm-p80), which plays an important role in the immune evasion process of the parasite. Sm-p80 has been shown to confer up to 60% protection in mice following experimental infection. In this initial study, we have used Sm-p80 plus the Th1 response promoting cytokine, interleukin-2 (IL-2), in a DNA immunogen formulation. The vaccine was tested for its safety and immunogenicity in a baboon model of schistosomiasis. The vaccine generated a Th1 type Sm-p80-specific response in baboons with IgG 1 /IgG 2 ratios of less than 1.0. No detectable IgG 3 or IgG 4 anti-Sm-p80 responses were present in the immunized baboons. The antibodies to Sm-p80 were able to kill up to 35% schistosomula in vitro in the presence of complement. These results although preliminary suggest the potential of Sm-p80 as a viable vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis.
The effect of inventory and production costs on the optimal planning horizon

Production planning mid smoothing models have been analysed in the operational research literature for some time. Application of these models in industry is growing, mid they have proved to be economically beneficial. Still, we find there exist many questions concerning the length of time over which production should lx) planned: (1) Does an optimal planning horizon exist? (2) If it does, is it of reasonable length as to be useful to the practitioner? (3) What factors affect the length of the planning horizon? In this paper, we show that an optimal planning horizon does exist and that it can easily be found in any application. Furthermore, the length of time over which production should be planned is acceptable for reasonable values of production costs, inventory costs and fluctuations in demand.
Purification method development for chiral separation in supercritical fluid chromatography with the solubilities in supercritical fluid chromatographic mobile phases

A comprehensive approach was applied to develop a chiral purification method for an analyte that was found to be unusually difficult to scale-up in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). This was performed by studying major factors such as the solubility of an analyte in SFC mobile phases, impurity profiles, and cycle time. For this case study, the solubility in SFC mobile phase was measured by a packed column technique, coupled with a novel trapping mechanism to enhance measurement precision in SFC conditions. The solubility studies in SFC mobile phases suggested a couple of possible SFC mobile phases, in which the analyte would potentially be most soluble. The SFC methods were developed to purify a sample containing 15% of an impurity, after considering impurity profiles and cycle times of several potential methods in addition to SFC mobile phase solubility. An equal volume mixture of acetonitrile and ethanol was chosen for the final purification method, since this mixture demonstrated the relatively high SFC solubility among all solvent combinations with enhanced resolution between the analyte and the impurity as well as the shortest run time. The solubility of the compound was also determined in various organic solvents using a high throughput solubility screening system to better understand relative change of solubility from neat solution to SFC mobile phases.
Effects of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Background & Aims Infection increases mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (AH). Little is known about the association between Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and AH. We examined the prevalence and effects of CDI in patients with AH, compared with those of other infections. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis using data collected from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, from 2008 through 2011. International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify patients with AH. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine risk factors that affect mortality, negative binomial regression to evaluate the effects of CDI on predicted length of stay (LOS), and Poisson regression to determine the effects of CDI on predicted hospital charges. Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum analyses were used to compare mortality, LOS, and hospital charges associated with CDI with those associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Results Of 10,939 patients with AH, 177 had CDI (1.62%). Patients with AH and CDI had increased odds of inpatient mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.75; P = .04), a longer predicted LOS (10.63 vs 5.75 d; P Conclusions In patients with AH, CDI is associated with greater mortality and health care use. These effects appear similar to those for UTI and SBP. We propose further studies to determine the cost effectiveness of screening for CDI among patients with AH.
Parallel Edge Detection

Parallel edges often provide a unique local feature for part recognition in manufacturing automation or robotic guidance applications. This paper discusses a simple parallel edge detection algorithm which takes the parallel edge as one entity instead of two separate edges. A special edge detection algorithm, step-state reasoning, is also discussed in this paper. The application of the algorithm and its accuracy and repeatability are discussed in the paper.
Assessing the Value of Regional Innovation Networks

This paper investigates how regional innovation networks can assist the development of innovations to commercialization. We argue that the inventors and innovating firms who engage in these regional innovation networks are more likely to have advanced toward a commercialized product than if they did not engage with the network. Building upon regional cluster and innovation network theories, we plan to develop an evaluative model in order to examine how the dynamics among factors have punctuated innovation and regional economic growth. The benefits to be gained from this project are insights into innovation investment, policy, and business strategies. We will focus on the innovation network in the State of Maryland as it exhibits a combination of academia, government, and industry factors in a regional cluster. The key research questions to be addressed are: what regional innovation networks factors contribute to sector innovation and commercialization, defined as the first stage of diffusion, which regional factors are the best predictors of innovation success, and what is the definition of success.
Comparison of Regional Myocardial Perfusion Determined by Ionic Potassium-43 to That Determined by Microspheres

The ability of ionic potassium-43 (43K) to reflect alterations in regional myocardial perfusion was determined by comparing the distribution of this tracer to that of labeled microspheres and flowmeter measurements under several conditions of coronary blood flow. When flow was normal, the regional distribution of ionic 43K and labeled microspheres were similar. In ischemia induced by partial occlusion and pacing, both 43K and microspheres showed the same decrease in activity (0.7 of control). When a coronary artery was completely occluded, both tracers were decreased to 0.3 of control. In other experiments, resting coronary blood flow was decreased by 25%, 50% and 75% as determined by flowmeter measurements. When this was done, regional distribution of ionic 43K and microspheres both decreased in parallel but to a lesser degree than flowmeter data suggesting a contribution from collateral vessels. The endocardial/epicardial activity in the ischemic region also decreased proportionally. However, under cond...
Preference for ethanol in Drosophila melanogaster associated with the alcohol dehydrogenase polymorphism.

Two alcohol dehydrogenase genotypes (Adh F /Adh F andAdh S /Adh S ) exhibit different behavioral responses when presented with a choice between ethanol and nonethanol environments at the larval stage but not at the adult stage. The larval preferences are correlated with alcohol dehydrogenase activity, which also differs between genotypes. Since ethanol is important in the ecology of this species, the preference may be related to microhabitat selection in nature.
Effect of Soybean Varieties and Growing Locations on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Soymilk and Tofu

: Soybean varieties and growing location greatly affected the protein content and color of soymilk and the protein content and yield of tofu (P < 0.05). Protein content of soybeans was the most important affecting factor for the qualities of soymilk and tofu. There were significant correlations between the protein contents of soybeans and soymilks (P < 0.05). There were also significant correlation between the soybean protein and the total solid content of soymilk (P < 0.05). Tofu moisture content had significant effect on the hardness and yield of tofu (P < 0.05). The correlation between soybean protein and tofu yield was significant at P < 0.05. The protein content and yield of tofu can be predicted by analyzing soybean protein.
Malignant mixed Müllerian tumor with rhabdoid features: a report of two cases and a review of the literature.

Rhabdoid tumors were originally described as a type of pediatric renal neoplasm that contains cells resembling rhabdomyoblasts but lacking muscle differentiation. Extrarenal rhabdoid tumors have since been reported in multiple anatomic sites in the pediatric and adult population. These tumors are characterized by an aggressive clinical course, resistance to treatment, and a rapidly fatal outcome. Eight cases of uterine neoplasms with rhabdoid differentiation have been previously reported. In the three cases where clinical follow-up was available, the patients died of disease within 3 to 17 months after the diagnosis was established. We report two cases of uterine malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (carcinosarcoma) with rhabdoid differentiation. The findings and clinical outcome confirm the aggressive nature of uterine tumors with rhabdoid differentiation. One of the patients died of disease 3 months after initial operative treatment while the other patient's tumor recurred in 1 month and she died within 10 weeks. The poor prognosis of these neoplasms makes their histopathologic recognition important.
Comparison of Cotton/Polyester Core and Staple Blend Yarns and Fabrics

Cotton wrapped polyester core yams produced on a modified ring spinning frame were compared with yams spun from staple fiber blends. The yams contained ap proximately 70% cotton and 30% polyester. Yarns and fabrics made from both regular and high tenaeity polyesters were evaluated. Fabrics produced from the core yams were stronger and more durable than those of the staple blends, and they maintained their superiority in these properties through wet processing and resin .finishing. Other advantages of the core-yam fabrics included better cover and abrasion resistance.