cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pericardial Constriction and Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Despite being different disease processes, pericardial constriction and restrictive cardiomyopathy are often discussed together due to their similar clinical and hemodynamic features. Physiologically, both processes lead to impaired diastolic filling via different mechanisms; a rigid, adherent pericardium is noted in constriction while abnormal myocardium is the culprit in restriction. Pericardial constriction (or constrictive pericarditis) usually is a chronic process, and variant forms do exist (effusive-constrictive, subacute, transient, occult) which share many of the clinical findings, but have subtle clinical nuances that distinguish each type. Restrictive cardiomyopathy is associated with a normal pericardium, but is often associated with infiltrative diseases such as amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, and sarcoidosis. Given the spectrum of disease and the various clinical manifestations of pericardial constriction and cardiac restriction, initial history and physical findings along with hemodynamic considerations and newer non-invasive imaging criteria now lead the way in making the diagnosis. However, using all available data in distinguishing between the two processes becomes important, as the treatment for each is very different.
Abstract 20876: Genomewide Analysis Finds a Variant in the KCNC2 Gene Associated With Sex-Dependent Differences in HDL Cholesterol Levels

Background: HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels differ between men and women suggesting sex-specific differences in lipoprotein metabolism. We tested for sex-specific effects of genetic variants with HDL-C in a genomewide association approach. Methods: We studied 1780 healthy European American individuals (18-84 years, 52% women) from 466 families ascertained from a proband with premature coronary artery disease ( −6 ); (2) a second stage testing for heterogeneity by sex correcting for the significance of the screening test (Bonferroni threshold: 0.05/n where n = number of SNPs passing the screening test). Results: 12 SNPs passed the screening threshold, of which one passed the second stage (p −4 , original interaction p = 9.2×10 −8 ) in the KCNC2 gene, which is involved in the reactivity of islet cells in the pancreas. Table 1 presents genotypic distributions for HDL-C by sex for rs7304239. Conclusion: The minor allele [A] of rs7304239 in intron 2 the KCNC2 gene is associated with low HDL-C in women, but the opposite trend in men. This finding strongly suggests sex specific regulation of lipoprotein pathways involving pancreatic beta cell function.
Increased bacterial degradation of bile acids in cholecystectomized patients.

Bile acid metabolism was studied in 10 patients previously cholecystectomized for cholesterol cholelithiasis, in 12 healthy subjects, and in 13 patients with cholesterol cholelithiasis (disease control subjects). The rate of bacterial deconjugation and 7-dehydroxylation was measured by using [2, 4-3H ]cholyl- [1-14C]glycine; measurements of synthesis and pool size were made simultaneously. Total bile acid pool size and biliary bile acid composition were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Compared with healthy subjects, patients with cholecystectomy showed significantly increased deconjugation and dehydroxylation of the labeled cholylglycine. However, the pool of cholylglycine was considerably smaller, so that the absolute rate of deconjugation was similar. The pool of deoxycholylglycine was twice as large as that in the healthy control and the disease control subjects. In addition, ketohydroxy bile acids (resulting from bacterial dehydrogenation) composed 7 to 15% of the bile acid pool. The 7-keto and 12-keto derivatives of cholic acid were identified by mass spectrometry. The total bile acid pool in cholecystectomized patients did not differ from that in healthy control subjects but was larger than that in the disease control subjects. The size of the total bile acid pool in cholecystectomized patients correlated highly with the size of the pool of secondary bile acids, suggesting that its apparent return to a normal size in these patients after cholecystectomy could be explained in part by the increased input of secondary bile acids from the intestine.
Determinants of puberty in a seasonal breeder.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the determinants of puberty in a seasonal breeder. The evolution of seasonal breeding, nature's contraceptive influences the time when fertility is first attained in the young female. Puberty occurs only during the breeding season. Thus, not only must the developing seasonal breeder be able to determine when she is sufficiently mature to begin reproductive cycles, she must also be able to determine when during the year onset of fertility will produce young during the spring and summer. The production of high-frequency luteinizing hormone (LH) pulses is clearly the pivotal force driving the transition into adulthood in the lamb. Therefore, further understanding of the timing of sexual maturation in this seasonal breeder depends upon one's ability to unravel how developmental and environmental signals modify the activity of the system generating pulsatile LH secretion by the pituitary. Based upon the work conducted in the adult and the patterns of LH observed in the lamb, there is little reason to suspect that the pubertal increase in LH pulse frequency in the young female sheep reflects anything other than an increase in frequency of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. The pubertal increase in LH pulses is occasioned by a lessening of negative feedback control of the GnRH pulse generator. The common neuroendocrine feature underlying the onset of puberty and the onset of the breeding season is the increase in GnRH pulse generator activity.
Zoonotic microsporidia from animals and arthropods with a discussion of human infections

Members of the phylum Microspora are intracellular spore-forming eukaryotic organisms that have recently been recognized as opportunistic pathogens, especially in immunocompromised humans. Several new species have been described in human and animal hosts, but the biology and transmission of these organisms are not well known. Morphologic and molecular methods have been developed to clarify the species identity of these parasites and to understand the epidemiologic patterns of infection. The zoonotic potential of various microsporidia species and the role of animals as reservoirs for potential human exposure are topics of current research.
Limited success with clostridium collagenase histolyticum following FDA approval for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease

Collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) was approved for the treatment of Peyronie’s disease (PD) in December of 2013. Recently, further research has supported its use. The aim of this study was to objectively evaluate the effects of CCH on penile curvature associated with Peyronie’s disease at our high volume institution. Since the approval of CCH for PD, 45 men have undergone between 1 and 4 treatment cycles (mean 3.13, standard deviation (SD) = 0.87) at our institution. Primary as well as secondary curvature, if any, was measured before beginning therapy and after each cycle of therapy. The degree of curvature was compared. We also questioned these men about their subjective experience with CCH. The mean age of this cohort was 55.7 years (range 35–70). The mean primary curvature was 53.6° (SD = 16.5). Post-treatment mean primary curvature was 48.2° (SD = 19.5), p = 0.10. Secondary curvature was reduced from 24.1° (SD = 11.3) to 20.4° (SD = 11.5) before and after treatment with CCH, respectively, p = 0.27. There were two tunical ruptures in this series after which both ceased therapy with CCH. Additionally, 37/45 patients in this series expressed some degree of dissatisfaction in their post-therapy visits with most of these men stating that they did not notice a change in their curvature. CCH remains an option for the treatment of PD. Predictors of success, however, are lacking. Our experience showed a less-robust response to CCH than previous studies and underscores the need for effective and clear patient counseling prior to the initiation of therapy with CCH for PD in the post-FDA-approval setting.
Extreme circumgalactic HI and CIII absorption around the most massive, quenched galaxies

Luminous red galaxies (LRGs) are the most massive galaxies at $z\sim 0.5$ and, by selection, have negligible star formation. These objects have halo masses between those of $L_{*}$ galaxies, whose circumgalactic media (CGM) are observed to have large masses of cold gas, and clusters of galaxies, which primarily contain hot gas. Here we report detections of strong and extended metal (CIII 977) and HI lines in the CGM of two LRGs. The CIII lines have equivalent widths of $\sim 1.8$ \r{A} and $\sim 1.2$ \r{A} , and velocity spreads of $\sim 796$ km s$^{-1}$ and $\sim 1245$ km s$^{-1}$, exceeding all such measurements from local $\sim L_{*}$ galaxies (maximal CIII equivalent widths $\sim 1$ \r{A}). The data demonstrate that a subset of halos hosting very massive, quenched galaxies contain significant complexes of cold gas. Possible scenarios to explain our observations include that the LRGs' CGM originate from past activity (e.g., star formation or active galactic nuclei driven outflows) or from the CGM of galaxies in overlapping subhalos. We favor the latter scenario, in which the properties of the CGM are more tightly linked to the underlying dark matter halo than properties of the targeted galaxies (e.g., star formation).
Is age just a number? Differences in exercise participatory motives across adult cohorts and the relationships with exercise behaviour

There is a lack of understanding as to how exercise motives differ across age cohorts. Over the last decade, CrossFit training (CFT) has emerged as a forerunner in the fitness industry, which seems...
Positive Behavioral Support: New Foci in the Management of Challenging Behaviors.

Individuals with visual impairments and multiple disabilities often exhibit severe problem behaviors that interfere with their acquisition of skills, limit access to integrated community settings, ...
Field calibration techniques used to characterize the radiometric stability of the GEO-CAPE Airborne Simulator (GCAS)

The GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) was developed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and has flown in multiple field campaigns to perform mapping of the regional-scale EPA criteria pollutants nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and formaldehyde. GCAS will also participate in validation campaigns for NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring POllution (TEMPO) mission and the Korean Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) mission, both scheduled to launch in the early 2020s. GCAS houses two commercial Offner-type grating spectrometers that measure backscattered solar spectral radiance from the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared at high spatial resolution (typically 250 meters at 8.5 kilometer altitude). These radiances are used to retrieve spatial and temporal distributions of trace gases relevant to the boundary layer and free tropospheric atmospheric chemistry cycles. In this paper, we describe the field calibration techniques employed to characterize the spectral and temporal radiometric stability of the system during its most recent deployment in the 2018 Long Island Sound Trace Ozone Study (LISTOS) field campaign. Overall measurement uncertainty, retrieval impacts, and lessons learned for future deployments will also be described.
Renegotiating gender roles and cultivation practices in the Nepali mid-hills: unpacking the feminization of agriculture

The feminization of agriculture narrative has been reproduced in development literature as an oversimplified metric of empowerment through changes in women’s labor and managerial roles with little attention to individuals’ heterogeneous livelihoods. Grounded in feminist political ecology (FPE), we sought to critically understand how labor and managerial feminization interact with changing agricultural practices. Working with a local NGO as part of an international, donor-funded research-for-development project, we conducted semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation with over 100 farmers in Mid-Western Nepal in 2017. Household structure and headship are dynamic in the context of male out-migration, pushing women to take on new agricultural duties and increasing household labor responsibilities. In this context, decision-making processes related to agricultural management and new cultivation practices illustrate ongoing renegotiations of gender and cultivation practices within and beyond the household. We contend that the heterogeneity of household power dynamics muddies the empowering impacts of migration and emphasize the importance of community spaces as a locus of subjectivity formation and social value. We conclude that FPE can illuminate complexities of power, space, and individual responses to socio-ecological conditions that challenge the current feminization of agriculture framework.
Rapid Identification of Fermentation Spoilage Microbes Using Molecular Beacons and a Two-Step Direct DNA Amplification Protocol

Bacterial contamination is a long-standing problem in the brewing and distilling industry. Extant approaches in measuring contamination levels, or for measuring specific microbes, is either slow or...
Brain‐Derived Neurotrophic Factor Polymorphism Influences Response to Single‐Pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation at Rest

Objectives The ability of noninvasive brain stimulation to modulate corticospinal excitability and plasticity is influenced by genetic predilections such as the coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Otherwise healthy individuals presenting with BDNF Val66Met (Val/Met) polymorphism are less susceptible to changes in excitability in response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and paired associative stimulation paradigms, reflecting reduced neuroplasticity, compared to Val homozygotes (Val/Val). In the current study, we investigated whether BDNF polymorphism influences "baseline" excitability under TMS conditions that are not repetitive or plasticity-inducing. Cross-sectional BDNF levels could predict TMS response more generally because of the ongoing plasticity processes. Materials and methods Forty-five healthy individuals (23 females; age: 25.3 ± 7.0 years) participated in the study, comprising two groups. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) were collected using single-pulse TMS paradigms at fixed stimulation intensities at 110% of the resting motor threshold in one group, and individually-derived intensities based on MEP sizes of 1 mV in the second group. Functional variant Val66Met (rs6265) was genotyped from saliva samples by a technician blinded to the identity of DNA samples. Results Twenty-seven participants (60.0%) were identified with Val/Val, sixteen (35.5%) with Val/Met genotype, and two with Met/Met genotype. MEP amplitudes were significantly diminished in the Val/Met than Val/Val individuals. These results held independent of the single-pulse TMS paradigm of choice (p = 0.017110% group; p = 0.035 1 mV group), age, and scalp-to-coil distances. Conclusions The findings should be further substantiated in larger-scale studies. If validated, intrinsic differences by BDNF polymorphism status could index response to TMS prior to implementing plasticity-inducing protocols.
Predictive utility of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care ‘6-Clicks’ short forms on discharge disposition and effect on readmissions: a retrospective observational cohort study

Objectives To evaluate the predictive utility of the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care ‘6-Clicks’ daily activity and basic mobility functional assessment short forms on inpatient discharge to home compared with skilled nursing facilities, including by diagnostic group (trauma injury, major lower joint replacement/reattachment, spinal fusion excluding cervical), as well as assess the effect of the short forms on 30-day inpatient readmissions. Design Retrospective, observational cohort study of electronic health record data. Setting Five hospitals in a multistate, integrated healthcare system serving a large, rural US population. Participants The population-based adult (age ≥18) sample of acute care hospitalised patients receiving rehabilitation services included 10 316 patients with 12 314 hospital admissions from the year prior to 6-Clicks implementation (1 June 2015–31 May 2016) (pre-6-Clicks cohort) and 10 931 patients with 13 241 admissions from the year after 6-Clicks implementation (1 January 2017–31 December 2017) (post-6-Clicks cohort). Patients were admitted for major lower joint replacement/reattachment, spinal fusion excluding cervical, trauma injury or another reason. Intervention Occupational and physical therapist use of 6-Clicks daily activity and basic mobility short forms in the post-6-Clicks cohort. Primary and secondary outcomes Discharge disposition (home, including to assisted living, or skilled nursing facility, including swing beds) and 30-day inpatient readmissions. Results Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.82–0.92 (daily activity) and 0.87–0.94 (basic mobility) for discharge to home or skilled nursing facilities, with trauma and spinal fusion patients having the highest values. Daily activity and basic mobility standardised positive and negative predictive values were highest for the three diagnostic groups compared with the full study sample. Few significant differences in 30-day readmissions were seen between pre- and post-6-Clicks cohorts. Conclusions 6-Clicks performed well when distinguishing between discharge home or skilled nursing facilities, especially by diagnostic group, supporting use by occupational and physical therapists in discharge planning. Future research could assess where additional intervention or training may reduce 30-day readmissions.
Fire Effects and Fire History of Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde consists of a series of mesas in a north to south trend. The mesa tops are narrow strips, cut by numerous canyons of varying depth. Mesa Verde sandstones, particularly the Cliff House Formation, form the canyon slopes. Long Mesa, an area of focus in this study, has an elevation 2180 m at the south to 2517 m at the north end. Long Canyon cuts down to an elevation of 2133 m. The vegetation on Long Mesa is a mosaic of mature pinon-juniper woodlands and mountain shrub associations. Shrub associations range from Gambels oak, (Quercus gambelii), and serviceberry, (Amelancheir utahensis), to Black Sagebrush, Artemesia nova), and Bitterbrush, (Purshia tridentata). Although there is a body of information concerned with the effect of fire on pinon-juniper woodlands, there are no adequate studies of the shrub-rich pinon-juniper ecosystem of Colorado. Succession following fire was documented by Erdman (1970) in Mesa Verde National Park. He reported that annuals dominate initially, then perennial grasses and forbs, followed by shrub invasion. The open shrub stage becomes a "thicket" approximately 100 years after the fire. The shrubs, he suggests, are outcompeted by pinon and juniper trees, which dominate by about 300 years. Fire and its relationship to resource management in Mesa Verde Park has been outlined by Omi and Emrick (1980). Focus was given to succession (cover and frequency of grass and shrub elements) following the 1873, 1934, and 1972 fires, and models predict the possibilities of control over moderate and severe fires in various vegetation classes within the Park. The study was concerned primarily with the nature of fire behavior and various fire-related management tools for use by Resource Management personnel.
Production of Lepton Pairs at the LBL Bevalac

We discuss the physics objectives of the DLS program with some emphasis on the possible use of dileptons as a probe of pion dynamics in nuclear matter. Data on p-Be reactions at 1-5 GeV and Ca-Ca at 1-2 A GeV are presented. The observation of a structure at about twice the pion mass in the e + e - invariant mass spectra above 2 GeV beam energy and the excitation function for the p-Be reaction suggest that pion annihilation is a significant dielectron source above 2 GeV. The dielectron mass spectrum from Ca-Ca at 1 A GeV exhibits an inverse slope larger than the one from p-Be at the same beam energy.
Pulsars at the Highest Energies: Questions for AGILE, Fermi (GLAST) and Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes

Observational studies of gamma‐ray pulsars have languished in recent years, while theoretical studies have made significant strides. Now, with new and improved gamma‐ray telescopes coming online, opportunities present themselves for dramatic improvements in our understanding of these objects. The new facilities and better modeling of processes at work in high‐energy pulsars will address a number of important open questions.
Self-Perceived Transformation of Negro-to-Black Identity:

To examine changes in self-perceptions, 25 male and 25 female low-income, black college students rated personal statements in accordance with how they (a) retrospectively viewed themselves (4 and 2...
Receptor Model Applied to Patterns in Space (RMAPS)

The physical and mathematical bases of a new receptor model based on spatially intensive data are presented. The model apportions the average concentration of a species as measured at many sites among several spatially distinct sources and can be applied to primary or secondary species. In the latter case, no assumptions concerning transformation or deposition rates are required. The methodology is a combination of the empirical orthogonal function approach that is well known in meteorology and the self-modeling multivariate modeling approach that has long been applied in chemometrics and multivariate receptor modeling of air quality data. A simple, geometrical example of the modeling approach is given.
Chemical Engineering: An Introduction By M. M. Denn

A staple of the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum is the introductory course, usually taught in the first term of the sophomore year, and often referred to as ‘‘mass and energy balances’’, ‘‘chemical process principles’’, or just ‘‘introduction to chemical engineering.’’ Over the years, a number of textbooks have been available for this course; at present, the most widely used text is Felder and Rousseau, Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes. Another noteworthy text is Murphy, Introduction to Chemical Processes. The basic elements of most courses include fundamentals of material balances, including process flow sheets, single and multiphase systems, energy balances on closed and open systems, and balances on nonreactive and reactive processes. Details of the chemical reactor and of particular separation processes await the traditional subsequent courses. The nature of the introductory course depends in many respects on the extent to which it bears a portion of the thermodynamics instruction. Felder and Rousseau covers a good deal of thermodynamics, and, therefore, fits well with a subsequent one-term thermodynamics course.
MOSSBAUER EFFECT FOR Fe$sup 57$ IN BERYLLIUM, COPPER, TUNGSTEN, AND PLATINUM

The M\"ossbauer effect has been studied for ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{57}$ as an impurity in Be, Cu, W, and Pt. The positions of the resonances and the ratios of recoilless fractions at different temperatures were determined. The behavior of these quantities as a function of temperature indicates the approximate correctness of the simple expectation that the impurity should behave as if it were in a solid composed only of the impurity atoms with a Debye temperature given by ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{\mathrm{eff}}={(\frac{{M}_{\mathrm{host}}}{{M}_{\mathrm{impurity}}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}{\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{\mathrm{host}}$.
Hemicholinium-3 derivatives A-4 and A-5 affect choline and acetylcholine metabolism.

Abstract The neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid cell (NG108-15) has a sodium-dependent, high-affinity choline transport system with a Km of 16.0 ± 3.4 μM and Vmax of 214.5 ± 27.7 pmol/min/mg protein. A-4, A-5 and HC-3 produce dose-dependent inhibition of high-affinity choline transport in NG108-15 cells. Following 24 h exposure to approximately the EC50 of each inhibitor, no significant decrease was found in total choline accumulation or in choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine. However, when additional inhibitor was added during the 24 h incubation, significant decreases in choline accumulation were produced by A-4 and A-5. Following 24 h exposure to each compound, only A-4 was able to significantly affect free choline content. In contrast, each inhibitor was able to significantly decrease acetylcholine content following 24 h exposure. Possible reasons for consistent decreases in acetylcholine versus minimal changes in choline metabolism will be discussed.
Ambiguity and judgments of obese individuals: No news could be bad news

Stigmatization towards obese individuals has not decreased despite the increasing prevalence of obesity. Nonetheless, stigmatization remains difficult to study, given concerns about social desirability. To address this issue, this study used paired comparisons and cluster analysis to examine how undergraduates (n=189) categorized scenarios describing the health-related behaviors of obese individuals. The cluster analysis found that the scenarios were categorized into two distinct clusters. The first cluster included all scenarios with health behaviors indicating high responsibility for body weight. These individuals were perceived as unattractive, lazy, less likeable, less disciplined, and more deserving of their condition compared to individuals in the second cluster, which included all scenarios with health behaviors indicating low responsibility for body weight. Four scenarios depicted obese individuals with ambiguous information regarding health behaviors; three out of these four individuals were categorized in the high-responsibility cluster. These findings suggested that participants viewed these individuals as negatively as those who were responsible for their condition. These results have practical implications for reducing obesity bias, as the etiology of obesity is typically not known in real-life situations.
Human milk research for answering questions about human health.

Concerns regarding human milk in our society are diverse, ranging from the presence of environmental chemicals to the health of breastfed infants and the economic value of breastfeeding to society. The panel convened for the Technical Workshop on Human Milk Surveillance and Biomonitoring for Environmental Chemicals in the United States, held at the Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, on 24–26 September 2004, considered how human milk research may contribute to environmental health initiatives to benefit society. The panel concluded that infant, maternal, and community health can benefit from studies using human milk biomonitoring. Unlike other biological specimens, human milk provides information regarding exposure of the mother and breastfed infant to environmental chemicals. Some of the health topics relevant to this field of research include disorders of growth and development in infants, cancer origins in women, and characterization of the trend of exposure to environmental...
A Soluble High Molecular Weight Copolymer of Benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene and Benzoxadiazole for Efficient Organic Photovoltaics

The synthesis and characterization of a soluble high molecular weight copolymer based on 4,8-bis(1-pentylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene and 2,1,3-benzoxadiazole is presented. High efficiency organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices comprised of this polymer and phenyl-C(71) -butyric acid methyl ester (PC(71) BM) were fabricated by additive processing with 1-chloronapthalene (CN). When the active layer is cast from pristine chlorobenzene (CB), power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) average 1.41%. Our best condition-using 2% chloronapthalene as a solvent additive in CB-results in an average PCE of 5.65%, with a champion efficiency of 6.05%.
Spontaneous emission between mirrors

Abstract The modification of fluorescence lifetimes due to the presence of mirrors is discussed using an image method. The close analogy of this system with that of many-atom cooperative decay is exploited and discussed.
Infiltrative lung disease due to noncytotoxic agents

Pulmonary complications of therapy for RA or other benign conditions are often difficult to diagnose and treat. Clinical presentation of lung disease that is due to noncytotoxic drugs may vary from a mild, nonspecific cough to fulminant respiratory failure. The differential diagnosis of pulmonary disease should include drug toxicity, progression of the primary illness, and opportunistic infection. An objective assessment of the patient's baseline pulmonary status, as well as his treatment history, is crucial to differentiate drug-induced pathology from the primary process. Diagnostic work-up should include chest radiograph, repeat pulmonary function testing, and high-resolution CT of the chest. Bronchoscopy for tissue pathology or specific BAL cytokine markers also may yield useful information; occasionally, open-lung biopsy is required. If pulmonary disease that results from noncytotoxic drug therapy is suspected, the drug should be discontinued until the disease process is understood clearly.
A method to predict bulk density of tilled Ap horizons

Abstract Bulk density of the Ap horizon is dynamic with respect to time and land use and therefore multiple field measurements are necessary to characterize it. Researchers often need a bulk density value to use in models, characterize field conditions, or convert gravimetric to volumetric measurements. A method is described to predict the field bulk density of the Ap horizon by measurement of the bulk density in the laboratory. The bulk density value measured with this method is independent of the use and temporal dynamics of the tillage zone. The method involves four treatments that have application in predicting bulk density values irrespective of the soil condition when sampled were tested. The treatments are: (1) capillary wetting and desorption at 33 kPa suction; (2) capillary wetting, inundation, air drying, rewetting by capillary action, and desorption at 33 kPa suction; (3) Treatment 2 followed by oven drying; (4) standard mechanical compaction at various water contents to obtain the Proctor density. Bulk densities for Treatments 1–3 were similar for soils with coefficient of linear extensibility less than 0.01. Bulk densities for Treatment 3 were similar to interpretive values used by the USDA-SCS and values predicted from Gupta and Larson's (Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 43: 758–764, 1979) packing model. Bulk densities for Treatment 2 are similar to field measurements. Comparison of bulk densities for Treatment 2 and field measurements provide an evaluation of soil health.
The Time Interval between Absorption and Emission of Light in Fluorescence

The more recent theories of the absorption and emission of light, as in cases of resonance radiation and fluorescence, make the two processes quite distinct. According to Bohr the absorption of radiation of frequency corresponding to D2 by non-luminous sodium vapour, is associated with the passage of an electron from an inner to an outer stable orbit; resonance radiation resulting when the electron returns to the original orbit. The time interval between these two processes is probably too short to be detected experimentally, for the faintness of the light makes it appear doubtful whether methods, similar to the one devised by Abraham and Lemoine, can be used in these cases. In the case of the fluorescence, or rather phosphorescence, of mercury vapour, I have succeeded in measuring the time interval, the vapour remaining non-luminous during the process of the absorption of light, and bursting into luminosity about 1/15000th of a second later. This, I believe, is the first case ever observed of a photo-luminescent body remaining dark during the period of excitation. In the study of processes of this nature two methods are available: we may give the substance a very high velocity of translation or rotation and cause it to pass through a very narrow and intense beam of light, or we may keep the substance stationary, illuminating it with flashes of very brief duration and examining it during the moment of excitation, or at definite moments later, through a perforated disc rotating at high speed (phosphoroscope). Both methods have been employed in the present work, the former being preferable in some respects.
Effects of the Sustained Computer Work on Upper Cervical Flexion Motion

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of sustained computer work on cervical flexion, especially the upper cervical region. [Subjects] We recruited 11 sedentary workers who used a computer for at least 4 hours a day. [Methods] Total range of cervical flexion, upper cervical flexion, and their ratio were measured before and after 1 hour of computer work. [Results] The total range of cervical flexion was not significantly different between pre-and post-measurement. However, upper cervical flexion, and the ratio between the upper cervical flexion and total cervical flexion significantly decreased after 1 hour of computer work, compared to pre-measurement. [Conclusion] Sustained computer work affects the range of cervical flexion, especially in the upper cervical region.
COMPOSITION VARIATIONS IN OBSIDIAN SOURCES AND THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

An obsidian source can exhibit considerable variations in chemical composition. One such flow at Borax Lake in Lake County, California has been carefully investigated by neutron activation analysis of specimens from a number of different loci. Composition variations were found to exist but the six elements discussed are linearly correlated with the total iron concentration. Artifacts can be compared to the obsidian source compositions by observing the fit of the data points for the artifacts on the chemical variation diagram obtained for the obsidian source.
Abraham Lincoln: God’s “Instrument”

This paper examines one example of a spiritual hero, Abraham Lincoln, to reflect on issues about spiritual development, to connect spiritual development to character, and to indicate in what ways moral and religious development define and promote spiritual development. It uses Lincoln to show why spiritual maturity takes so long to develop and to show how spiritual development grows out of, rather than in parallel to, the many developments in our public and private lives. Finally, it shows the significance of being spiritual and why we should support spiritual development.
Therapeutic down-modulators of staphylococcal superantigen-induced inflammation and toxic shock

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and related superantigenic toxins are potent stimulators of the immune system and cause a variety of diseases in humans, ranging from food poisoning to toxic shock. These toxins bind directly to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and specific Vβ regions of T-cell receptors (TCR), resulting in hyperactivation of both monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes. Activated host cells produce massive amounts of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, activating inflammation and coagulation, causing clinical symptoms that include fever, hypotension, and shock. This review summarizes the in vitro and in vivo effects of staphylococcal superantigens, the role of pivotal mediators induced by these toxins in the pathogenic mechanisms of tissue injury, and the therapeutic agents to mitigate the toxic effects of superantigens.
Lowering of ethanol-derived circulating blood acetaldehyde in rats by D-penicillamine

Abstract The sulfhydryl amino acid, D-penicillamine, but not L-cysteine or L-cystine, when administered to disulfiram-treated rats 1 hour before a dose of ethanol lowered the ethanol-derived, circulating blood acetaldehyde to 10% of control values. This was accompanied by a concomitant lowering of AcH in the expired air of penicillamine-treated rats. Since blood ethanol levels were the same in saline injected controls and in sulfhydryl amino acid-treated rats, this lowering of blood acetaldehyde was not due to any malabsorption of ethanol or to inhibition of the enzyme(s) that metabolize ethanol. By administration of D-penicillamine in multiple, divided doses, blood acetaldehyde generated during ethanol metabolism was reduced an average of 70% over an 8 hour period.
Charcoal and Drug Adsorption

Excerpt To the editor: The report by Pederson and colleagues (1) of pruritus in chronic hemodialysis patients relieved by activated charcoal therapy is welcome news. The authors correctly note that...
Crystal and molecular structures of Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes of methyl-2-amino-1-cyclopentenedithiocarboxylate

Abstract Nickel(II), palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of methyl-2-amino-1-cyclopentenedithiocarboxylate have been synthesized and characterized crystallographically in a continued effort to examine the coordination chemistry of N2S2 ligand systems. The Ni(II) complex crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P42/n with a = 18.095(5), c = 5.266(3) A, V = 1724(1) A3 and Z = 4. Both palladium(II) and platinum(II) compounds crystallize with a water molecule weakly bound to the two imine hydrogens of each complex, mandating formation of the cis-planar isomer. Pd(C7H10NS2)2 crystallizes in the triclinic centrosymmetric space group P 1 with a = 7.805(3), b = 9.923(4), c = 12.769(4) A,α = 107.62(3), β = 101.74(3), γ = 92.46(3)°, V = 917.1(6) A3 and Z = 2. Pt(C7H10NS2)2 also crystallizes in the triclinic space group P 1 , with a = 9.905(1), b = 13.503(2), c = 15.690(2) A,α = 67.20(1), β = 87.86(1), γ = 71.94(1)°, V = 1831.0(5) A3 and Z = 4. A discussion of the synthesis, characterization and structural properties is presented.
Comparing the added value of blended science and literacy curricula to inquiry-based science curricula in two 2nd-grade classrooms

In response to pressures to integrate literacy and science learning, an observational, comparative, analysis was conducted exploring the added value of blended science and literacy curricula over inquiry-oriented science curricula in two 2nd-grade classrooms (ages seven to eight). Data were collected over ten weeks by the research team, and statistically significant differences were found in favor of the blended curricula on measures of identity and student understanding of the nature of science (NOS) as well as conceptual understanding. Analyses of the reading, writing, and language use in both classrooms suggests several factors that may have contributed to these important differences in outcome.
Picosecond pulses from passively mode-locked dye lasers

Abstract Successive stages of the development of ultrashort pulses in passively mode-locked dye lasers are studied. It is numerically shown that the initial fluctuations evolve into a picosecond pulse which retains its magnitude and particular shape and moves slower than the speed of light.
Topological analysis of the membrane-localized redox-responsive sensor kinase PrrB from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1.

Abstract Photosynthesis gene expression inRhodobacter sphaeroides is controlled in part by the two-component (Prr) regulatory system composed of a membrane-bound sensor kinase (PrrB) and a response regulator (PrrA). Hydropathy profile-based computer analysis predicted that the PrrB polypeptide could contain six membrane-spanning domains at its amino terminus and a hydrophilic, cytoplasmic carboxyl terminus. Both the localization and the topology of the PrrB sensor kinase have been studied by generating a series of gene fusions with the Escherichia coliperiplasmically localized alkaline phosphatase and the cytoplasmic β-galactosidase. Eighteen prrB-phoA and fiveprrB-lacZ fusions were constructed and expressed in bothE. coli and R. sphaeroides. Enzymatic activity assays and immunoblot analyses were performed to identify and to localize the different segments of PrrB in the membrane. The data obtained in E. coli generally correlated with the data obtained in R. sphaeroides and support the computer predictions. On the basis of the theoretical model and the results provided by these studies, a topological model for the membrane localization of the PrrB polypeptide is proposed.
Diagnostic errors in ambulatory care: dimensions and preventive strategies

Despite an increasing focus on patient safety in ambulatory care, progress in understanding and reducing diagnostic errors in this setting lag behind many other safety concerns such as medication errors. To explore the extent and nature of diagnostic errors in ambulatory care, we identified five dimensions of ambulatory care from which errors may arise: (1) the provider-patient encounter, (2) performance and interpretation of diagnostic tests, (3) follow-up of patients and diagnostic test results, (4) subspecialty consultation, and (5) patients seeking care and adhering to their instruction/appointments, i.e. patient behaviors. We presented these risk domains to conference participants to elicit their views about sources of and solutions to diagnostic errors in ambulatory care. In this paper, we present a summary of discussion in each of these risk domains. Many novel themes and hypotheses for future research and interventions emerged.
Relationship of blood heparin levels to serum lipoproteins and cholesterol levels in fasting subjects.

Summary1. A highly reproducible modification of the Bassiouni method for determination of spontaneously-occurring blood heparin-like substances has been described and evaluated. 2. A mean level of 3.07 mg/100 ml of blood heparin-like substances was determined for a sample of 105 fasting U.S. schizophrenic males 40 to 50 years old. This sample group showed lipoprotein and cholesterol values very close to those characteristic for other samples of U.S. males previously studied. 3. Highly significant negative correlations were demonstrated for the following pairs of variables, Sf° 0-12 lipoproteins versus blood “heparin,” Sf° 12-20 lipoproteins versus blood “heparin,” and serum cholesterol versus blood “heparin.”
Exact free energy functionals for non-simply-connected lattices

We consider the nearest-neighbor Ising model in thermal equilibrium on a network with no required regularity or symmetry properties. Both coupling strengths and external fields are site-dependent. The objective is to describe this system in terms of a free energy magnetization functional whose conjugate variables are the external fields. For simply connected networks, this inverse problem has a local structure. On generalizing to loops, the local structure remains if the description is expanded in an overcomplete fashion to include a collective amplitude with respect to which the free energy is stationary. For more complex connectivity, a superbond representation is developed in terms of which the system can be described by a combined auxiliary set of branch and node collective variables.
Seasonal stomatal behavior of a common desert shrub and the influence of plant neighbors

Stomata simultaneously regulate plant carbon gain and water loss, and patterns of stomatal conductance (g s) provide insight into water use strategies. In arid systems, g s varies seasonally based on factors such as water availability and temperature. Moreover, the presence and species identity of neighboring plants likely affects g s of the focal plant by altering available soil water and microclimate conditions. We investigated stomatal behavior in Larrea tridentata, a drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub occurring throughout the arid southwestern United States. We measured g s in Larrea over multiple seasons in the presence of neighbors representing different woody species. The data were analyzed in the context of a commonly used phenomenological model that relates g s to vapor pressure deficit (D) to understand spatial and temporal differences in stomatal behavior. We found that g s in Larrea was affected by neighborhood association, and these effects varied seasonally. The greatest effect of neighborhood association on g s occurred during the winter period, where Larrea growing alone (without neighbors) had higher g s compared to Larrea growing with neighbors. Larrea’s stomatal sensitivity to D and reference conductance (i.e., g s at D = 1 kPa) also differed significantly among different neighbor associations. Random effects indicated reference g s varied over short time scales (daily), while stomatal sensitivity showed little daily or seasonal variation, but was notably affected by neighbor associations such that neighboring species, especially trees, reduced Larrea’s sensitivity to D. Overall, seasonal dynamics and neighborhood conditions appear critical to understanding temporal and spatial variation in Larrea’s physiological behavior.
Oxcarbazepine improves mood in patients with epilepsy

This study prospectively examined whether continued add-on treatment with oxcarbazepine (OXC) is associated with quantitative improvement in mood and anxiety symptoms in adult patients with partial epilepsy. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were assessed by clinical interview using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Cornell Dysthymia Rating Scale (CDRS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). Forty controls (patients with epilepsy treated with antiepileptic drugs other than OXC) and 40 OXC-treated patients were enrolled and completed the study. In our study, a significant improvement in affect, as measured by the CDRS, was demonstrated during the course of OXC treatment for 3 months. HDRS and BDI scores also declined in the OXC-treated group, but these decreases did not reach statistical significance. In addition, 28 of 40 OXC-treated subjects who were dysthymic by CDRS criteria on study entry (score > or =20) demonstrated affective improvement consistent with a treatment-related antidepressant effect (score <20). Although our results do not provide conclusive evidence supporting the specific use of OXC as an antidepressant, the significant decline in dysthymic symptoms in OXC-treated subjects compared with controls lends support to the hypothesis that OXC improves mood.