cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Maximal Oxygen Uptake Using the 3-Minute All-Out Test in High-Intensity Functional Training Athletes

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and critical speed (CS) are key fatigue-related measurements that demonstrate a relationship to one another and are indicative of athletic endurance performance. This is especially true for those that participate in competitive fitness events. However, the accessibility to a metabolic analyzer to accurately measure VO2max is expensive and time intensive, whereas CS may be measured in the field using a 3 min all-out test (3MT). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between VO2max and CS in high-intensity functional training (HIFT) athletes. Twenty-five male and female (age: 27.6 ± 4.5 years; height: 174.5 ± 18.3 cm; weight: 77.4 ± 14.8 kg; body fat: 15.7 ± 6.5%) HIFT athletes performed a 3MT as well as a graded exercise test with 48 h between measurements. True VO2max was determined using a square-wave supramaximal verification phase and CS was measured as the average speed of the last 30 s of the 3MT. A statistically significant and positive correlation was observed between relative VO2max and CS values (r = 0.819, p < 0.001). Based on the significant correlation, a linear regression analysis was completed, including sex, in order to develop a VO2max prediction equation (VO2max (mL/kg/min) = 8.449(CS) + 4.387(F = 0, M = 1) + 14.683; standard error of the estimate = 3.34 mL/kg/min). Observed (47.71 ± 6.54 mL/kg/min) and predicted (47.71 ± 5.7 mL/kg/min) VO2max values were compared using a dependent t-test and no significant difference was displayed between the observed and predicted values (p = 1.000). The typical error, coefficient of variation, and intraclass correlation coefficient were 2.26 mL/kg/min, 4.90%, and 0.864, respectively. The positive and significant relationship between VO2max and CS suggests that the 3MT may be a practical alternative to predicting maximal oxygen uptake when time and access to a metabolic analyzer is limited.
A New Geological Slip Rate Estimate for the Calico Fault, Eastern California: Implications for Geodetic versus Geologic Rate Estimates in the Eastern California Shear Zone

ABSTRACTAccurate estimation of fault slip rate is fundamental to seismic hazard assessment. Previous work suggested a discrepancy between short-term geodetic and long-term geologic slip rates in the Mojave Desert section of the Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ). Understanding the origin of this discrepancy can improve understanding of earthquake hazard and fault evolution. We measured offsets in alluvial fans along the Calico Fault near Newberry Springs, California, and used several techniques to date the offset landforms and determine a slip rate. Our preferred slip rate estimate is 3.2 ± 0.4 mm/yr, representing an average over the last few hundred thousand years, faster than previous estimates. Seismic hazard associated with this fault may therefore be higher than previously assumed. We discuss possible biases in the various slip rate estimates and discuss possible reasons for the rate discrepancy. We suggest that the ECSZ discrepancy is an artefact of limited data, and represents a combination of fa...
Network topology of the cognitive phenotypes of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Abstract Purpose The neuropsychological complications of temporal lobe epilepsy are characterized by a spectrum of reproducible cognitive phenotypes that vary in the presence, type and degree of impairment. The nature of the disruptions to the neuropsychological networks that underlie these phenotypes remain to be characterized and represent the subject of this investigation. Methods Participants included 30 healthy controls and 104 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who fell into three cognitive phenotypes (intact, focal impairment, generalized impairment). Eighteen neuropsychological measures representing multiple cognitive domains (language, memory, executive function, visuoperception, motor speed) were examined by graph theory techniques within the control and each epilepsy cognitive phenotype group to characterize their global and local network properties. Results Across the control and epilepsy cognitive phenotype groups (intact to focal to generalized impairment), there was: 1) an orderly breakdown in the positive manifold reflected by a stepwise reduction of positive associations among the neuropsychological tests, 2) stepwise abnormal increases in global measures including the normalized clustering coefficient and modularity index, 3) stepwise abnormal decreases in normalized global efficiency, 4) a community structure demonstrating well organized modules within the control group while each epilepsy group showed deviations from controls, and 5) lower strength, compared to controls, across 8 nodes in the focal and generalized impairment groups compared to only 3 nodes in the no-impairment epilepsy group, pointing to the superior integration of local connections in controls. Discussion The cognitive phenotypes of temporal lobe epilepsy are characterized by orderly abnormalities in their underlying neuropsychological networks. These findings inform the network perturbations that underlie the taxonomy of cognitive abnormality in temporal lobe epilepsy and provide a model for examination of similar issues in other focal and generalized epilepsies.
Consumption Smoothing in Russia. Evidence from the RLMS

This paper uses panel data from rounds V-IX of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) to examine the extent to which households are able to protect their consumption from fluctuations in their income. It is found that consumption is only partially protected from idiosyncratic shocks to income with food consumption being better protected than non-food consumption expenditures. This suggests that adjustments in non-food expenditures may be an important component of the risk management tools of Russian households. The analysis also provides evidence on the extent and nature of the coping strategies adopted by households. It is demonstrated that households complement their self-insurance strategies, of borrowing, adjusting their labour supply, and selling assets, with informal risk sharing arrangements with households within their community. An examination of the role of sample selection confirmed that these findings are quite robust to this potential source of bias. Furthermore, accounting for the role of measurement and imputation errors in the measure of household income revealed that OLS estimates may yield a misleading picture about the extent to which urban and rural households are insured from idiosyncratic income shocks.
Establishing a point-of-care additive manufacturing workflow for clinical use.

Additive manufacturing, or 3-Dimensional (3-D) Printing, is built with technology that utilizes layering techniques to build 3-D structures. Today, its use in medicine includes tissue and organ engineering, creation of prosthetics, the manufacturing of anatomical models for preoperative planning, education with high-fidelity simulations, and the production of surgical guides. Traditionally, these 3-D prints have been manufactured by commercial vendors. However, there are various limitations in the adaptability of these vendors to program-specific needs. Therefore, the implementation of a point-of-care in-house 3-D modeling and printing workflow that allows for customization of 3-D model production is desired. In this manuscript, we detail the process of additive manufacturing within the scope of medicine, focusing on the individual components to create a centralized in-house point-of-care manufacturing workflow. Finally, we highlight a myriad of clinical examples to demonstrate the impact that additive manufacturing brings to the field of medicine.
Importance of Insect Pollinators for Florida Agriculture: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Insect pollinators contribute significantly to global food production impacting both crop yields and quality, but the dependence of specific crops on insect pollinators can vary across production regions and cultivars. The state of Florida has a unique agroecosystem that supports temperate and tropical fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and these specialty crops likely have a high dependence on pollinators. We conducted a systematic review to quantify the role of insect pollinators for Florida agriculture, and to identify crops and cultivars for which recent research on pollination is lacking. For all crops, we determined the average yield losses incurred without insect pollination (“pollinator contribution value”) by synthesizing previously reported values. We found that insect pollinators are required or beneficial for 47 different crops in Florida, or 43% of all plant crop species grown in the state. Major crops in the state with complete to high dependence on insect pollinators include blueberries, mangoes, melons, squashes, and tangelos; for these crops, insect pollinators contribute 75 to 100% of crop productivity. Other major crops in Florida that are moderately to highly dependent on pollinators include avocadoes, cucumbers, field tomatoes, grapefruits, green beans, oranges (select cultivars), peppers, southern peas, and strawberries, with pollinator contributions ranging from 30 to 74%. The contribution of insect pollinators exceeds $50 million per crop per yr in Florida for 7 of its most valuable crops. Using production data at the county level, we found that pollinators contribute to agriculture in almost all Florida counties. Our review identified a number of crops for which little information on pollination requirements exists, especially for modern cultivars. We discuss gaps in our knowledge of crop pollination requirements and recommendations for future research. Estimates of pollinator contributions are invaluable for farm management and policy decisions around pollinator conservation.
Effects of Long-Term Preservation of Frankia Strains on Infectivity, Effectivity, and In Vitro Nitrogenase Activity

Frankia strain HFP ArI3 which had been preserved for 27 months by being lyophilized, frozen in glycerol, or stored in complex medium was successfully used as an inoculum after being subcultured for inducing nodulation and nitrogen fixation of Alnus rubra. Glycerol-preserved HFP ArI3 produced significantly lower rates of nitrogenase activity than did lyophilized or complex-medium-preserved inocula. Bacteria that had been preserved by all three methods were successfully induced to fix atmospheric nitrogen by being cultured in nitrogen-free medium. Subculturing of these cells in nitrogen-free medium a second and third time yielded increasing rates of nitrogenase activity. Initial nitrogenase activity was detected on days 5, 4, and 3 during the first, second, and third subcultures after preservation, respectively. Maximum activity was observed on days 11, 10, and 8 during the first, second, and third subcultures, respectively. A description is given of standard culture techniques used in our laboratory for Frankia isolates, and methods used to distribute Frankia cultures by mail are described.
The Catalyst Calamity: Post-Buckhannon Fee-Shifting in Environmental Litigation and a Proposal for Congressional Action

Acknowledging the importance of citizen suits in giving teeth to environmental laws, and recognizing the often prohibitive costs of such litigation, Congress often included fee-shifting provisions in most environmental citizen suit statutes. It is well established that plaintiffs who win a judicial ruling in their favor qualify for the benefits of such fee-shifting. What is less clear is whether those parties whose successes come outside the courtroom - as is often true in the environmental context - can also recover fees. In the past, the so-called “catalyst theory” answered this question affirmatively. However, in 2001, the catalyst theory was dealt a fatal - or nearly fatal - blow when the Supreme Court decided Buckhannon Board and Care Home v. West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services. This article examines the future of the catalyst theory in environmental citizen suits. After analyzing Buckhannon itself, the article then explores its progeny. However, the major focus of the piece is to argue that the availability of the catalyst theory in environmental citizen suits should not be left to the courts. The article argues that Congress should take the initiative in this area, and it proposes a detailed legislative proposal for fee-shifting.
Childhood Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Due to Dove Antigens

A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to doves is reported and compared with other cases due to dove or pigeon antigens reported in children. The diagnosis is substantiated by the presence of precipitating antibody to dove and pigeon serum, clinical improvement after contact with the doves was broken, and a positive response to inhalation challenge with pigeon serum. The insidious nature of this disease is emphasized as well as the importance of having detailed environmental information in children with unexplained respiratory disease.
Less is more: is a green demarketing strategy sustainable?

AbstractThe research explores consumers’ perceptions of the business motivations behind a new type of sustainable business strategy – green demarketing. Green demarketing refers to a strategy whereby a brand encourages consumers to buy less at the category level through purchase of the company’s brand for the sake of the environment. Two studies show that consumer motive attributions and attitudes may depend on the brand’s perceived fit with sustainable business practices. Specifically, results show that the brand’s environmental reputation is the strongest predictor of consumers’ responses towards a green demarketing campaign, with effects persisting above and beyond the influences of the brand’s length of commitment to environmental protection and consumers’ brand habits. Implications for practice and future research are proposed.
suppression due to gluon depletion

Abstract Gluon depletion in the collision of large nuclei can result in a significant reduction in the c c production rate. It may be the mechanism that is responsible for the observed J ψ suppression in heavy-ion collisions. The nonlinear effect due to multiple scatterings among comoving partons initiated by primary scattering of partons can account for the enhanced suppression in the PbPb data.
Earth Rotation Study Using Lunar Laser Ranging Data

Values of UTO derived from lunar laser ranging data have been compared with BIH circular D, 5 day smoothed values on over 300 days during 5 years. A prominent annual term of 2.0 ms amplitude is the dominant systematic difference. After removing the annual term, a drift, and theoretical tidal terms, the UTO differences have an rms value of 1.5 ms. Spectra of these differences show that most of the power occurs at periods of four months or longer. Several spectral peaks may be significant and variations with timescales longer than 5 years are probable. There appears to be little power in the rotation of the earth at periods short compared to a month except that due to tidal terms. Over the 5 yr span we estimate the rms error in BIH circular D, 5 day smoothed values of UT1 to be 2.0 ms while for polar motion a 0.30 m error is obtained. With the annual term removed the UT1 error is reduced to 1.4 ms.
Cooling radioisotope thermoelectric generators in the Shuttle

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG) to be used on future spacecraft and launched by the Shuttle must be cooled from the time they are installed and enclosed until the spacecraft is deployed from the Shuttle. A special Cooling Kit maintains their temperature well below critical by circulating water through the coils soldered to them and through a heat exchanger that boils water and externally discharges the resulting steam. The RTG Cooling Kit, including its support frame, if fully charged with about 64 kg of evaporation water, will increase the Shuttle launch mass by about 200 kg.
Range size, taxon age and hotspots of neoendemism in the California flora.

Aim Sustaining biological diversity requires the protection of the ecological, evolutionary and landscape-level processes that generate it. Here, we identify areas of high neoendemism in a global diversity hotspot, the California flora, using range size data and molecular-based estimates of taxon age. Location California, USA. Methods We compiled distribution and range size data for all plant taxa endemic to California and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based age estimates for 337 putative neoendemics (15% of the endemic flora). This information was combined to identify areas in the state with high proportions of young and restricted-range taxa. We overlaid the distribution of neoendemic hotspots on maps of currently protected lands and also explored correlations between our diversity measures and climate. Results The central coast of California, the Sierra Nevada and the San Bernardino Range contained endemics with the most restricted distributions on average, while areas in the Desert and Great Basin provinces found within the state were composed of the youngest neoendemics on average. Diversity measures that took age and range size into account shifted the estimate of highest endemic diversity in the state towards the Desert and Great Basin regions relative to simple counts of endemic species richness. Our diversity measures were poorly correlated with climate and topographic heterogeneity. Main conclusions Substantial portions of California with high levels of plant neoendemism fall outside of protected lands, indicating that additional action will be needed to preserve the geographic areas apparently associated with high rates of plant diversification. The neoendemic flora of the deserts appears particularly young in our analyses, which may reflect the relatively recent origin of desert environments within the state.
A Comparison of Differential Gene Expression in BrdU Substituted Procaryotic and Eucaryotic Cells

Summary In E. coli substituted with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), the expression of β-galactosidase can be induced to about 800 times its basal level. On the other hand, myoblast fusion to form muscle fibers and the expression of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) is almost completely inhibited in BrdU substituted myoblasts. The level of CPK rises to less than twice the basal level in BrdU subsituted myoblasts. In both E. coli and myoblasts the levels of a constitutive enzyme complex central to intermediate metabolism, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, are unaffected by BrdU substitution. A mutant of E. coli with a defective lac repressor produces equally high levels of β-galactosidase with or without BrdU substitution. Because of the dramatic difference between BrdU substituted E. coli and myoblasts, it is hard to envision the inhibition of myoblast expression as due to a simple repressor binding mechanism.
Intramolecular screening of crystal fields and the X-ray-photoemission determination of charge transfer in TTF-TCNQ

Abstract A recent controversy concerns the XPS data for TTF-TCNQ, which shows two binding energies for the N−1s level. We show that XPS chemical shifts due to charge flow on TCNQ, in response to the crystal potential, can cancel the Madelung splitting of the N−1s levels. Then we decompose the N−1s spectrum into its two components, which have widths characteristic of N−1s in TCNQ0 and TCNQ−, and whose intensities suggest charge transfer of ∼ 0.56–0.67.
Cash buyer beware

In January of this year, two executive officers of Pharmed Group were sentenced to nine years in prison for fraud. They had stolen more than $5 million in cash from a corporate customer. How did Pharmed, a health care supplier, get away with this fraud for several years? And what lessons should cash managers learn from this case? © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cadmium-109 metabolism in mice. III. Organ retention in mice ovariectomized after experiencing multiple rounds of gestation and lactation.

Organ retention of 109Cd was studied in multiparous female mice 6 wk after ovariectomy or sham‐control surgery. Females previously had experienced from three to five rounds of gestation/lactation during a maximum of 5 successive, 42‐d reproductive periods. Throughout the experiment, mice were provided with tracer amounts of 109Cd in drinking water as well as stable Cd appropriate for the itai‐itai experience in solid diets otherwise sufficient or deficient in nutrient quality. For sufficient‐diet females, organ 109Cd content and concentration values were somewhat lower in the ovariectomized group compared to the sham control group. For deficient‐diet females, the opposite trend occurred. When ovariectomized groups were compared with round 5 breeder groups of the same dietary experience, in almost all instances organ 109Cd content and concentration values were lower in the ovariectomized animals. Exceptions to this trend occurred in hepatic and especially renal tissues, where 109Cd concentrations were high...
Migration, fertility, and state policy in Hubei Province, China

Despite China s one-child family planning policy, the nation experienced a slight rise in the birth rate in the mid-1980s. Many observers attributed this rise to the heightened fertility of those rural-to-urban migrants who moved without a change in registration (temporary migrants), presumably to avoid the surveillance of family planning programs at origin and destination. Using a sequential logit analysis with life-history data from a 1988 survey of Hubei Province, we test this possibility by comparing nonmigrants, permanent migrants, and temporary migrants. While changing family planning policies have a strong impact on timing of first birth and on the likelihood of higher-order births, migrants generally do not have more children than nonmigrants. In fact, migration tends to lower the propensity to have a child. More specifically, the fertility of temporary migrants does not differ significantly from that of other women.
A versatile data acquisition system and the ISOL facility TRISTAN

Abstract The on-line mass separator, TRISTAN, is located at Brookhaven's High Flux Beam Reactor. A Nielsen-type ion source, which can contain up to 8g of 235 U in an external beam with a flux of ∼2 × 10 9 n/cm 2 /s is used to generate short-lived fission products. Experiments have been constructed on two of the five available beam lines to measure β-γ and γ-γ coincidences, γ-γ angular correlations and delayed neutron emissions. A Users Group has been formed to coordinate research between University groups and BNL. Developments planned for TRISTAN include FEBIAD, surface ionization and negative-surface ionization-type ion sources, and a He-jet system as well as construction of new experimental facilities. An off-line separator, ISTU, is available for the development program. We have constructed a versatile, modular data acquisition system to service experiments on TRISTAN and other nuclear research facilities at the HFBR using CAMAC interfacing. Standard, commercially-available electronic instruments and computer programs, such as FORTRAN and system routines, are used throughout. Simple interfaces have been built to adapt non-CAMAC equipment to CAMAC input registers. Up to eight different experiments can be multiplexed on the branch highway by a fast microprogrammed branch driver with a 4096 word memory. The branch driver delivers pre-processed data to a bus which links devices such as a central processor, 1 megaword core memory, tape drives, discs, display processor and terminal. The following features are offered: two 8192 channel pulse height analyzers, a 3-parameter coincidence unit, 4 multiscalers, a timed sequence of delayed γ-ray spectra (33 spectra of 4096 channels each), a 2-parameter (pulse height versus time-of-flight) analyzer, 16 scalers and 24 experimental interlocks. Up to 100 different spectra are available to users for display during an experiment. Event mode recording on magnetic tape and direct sorting into the 1 megaword array are used as appropriate. A master program, almost entirely written in FORTRAN, allows users to control and monitor each experiment with simple mnemonic codes. Analysis of the data is carried out on a companion computer devoted to data processing, allowing rapid sorting, plotting, listing and analysis of data.
Sony online entertainment : EverQuest® or EverCrack? Oxford style debate presented at tenth annual international conference promoting business ethics

Part C of this three part series is the presentation from the Oxford style debate held at the Tenth Annual International Conference Promoting Business Ethics between Laura Hartman, J.D., and Dr. Moses Pava on topics related to the EverQuest® v. EverCrack case (Part B). In a traditional Oxford style debate, two debaters take opposing viewpoints and the third debater argues the neutral position. At the Conference, the modified format featured the two debaters presenting diametrically opposing views – corporate responsibility versus personal responsibility. This modified format was also used during the Ethics Awareness Week (Part A), with University professors presenting the debate before the student body. Ms. Hartman’s position focused on the personal responsibility by Mr Woolley while Dr. Pava opined that Sony Online Entertainment had corporate responsibility toward Mr. Woolley and all other individuals similarly situated.
Amazon River time series of surface sediment concentration from MODIS

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data are of sufficient quality-especially the 8-day composite surface reflectance products-that 19-21 images are consistently available per year for derivation of surface sediment concentration (SSC) for the Amazon River and its tributaries. MODIS-derived SSC from 2001 show similar patterns to field measurements of depth-integrated suspended sediment, with the lowest values occurring during peak flows, and the highest during rising water periods. Tributary data show more irregular patterns, but are consistent among the two datasets. When compared to the few field measurements of SSC, the MODIS data are of similar range and accuracy (7-130 ±10 mg L-1) at 17 sites in the main channel, large tributaries and floodplain lakes. Combined with remote measures of discharge or stage, this framework could be used to regularly monitor suspended sediment loads on large rivers.
Contrast sensitivity during horizontal visual pursuit: dynamic sensitivity functions.

The contrast sensitivity functions of college students for grating targets presented at angular velocities of 0, 30, 60, and 90 deg s−1 were determined for target durations of 200 and 600 ms. The most pronounced effects of target movement were evident at the mid to high spatial frequencies in which sensitivity was markedly reduced as velocity increased. These adverse effects were greatest in the 200 ms condition, in which performance was largely limited to the saccadic eye movement system. In the 600 ms condition, in which both saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements were possible, contrast sensitivity for the low-frequency target actually improved significantly for the 30 and 60 deg s−1 targets, whereas only adverse effects of target motion were found for targets of mid and high spatial frequencies. The results are discussed in terms of the limitations of traditional visual assessment procedures and the practical and theoretical benefits of conceptualizing the joint effects of target composition and ta...
The spatiotemporal distinctiveness of direct causation

The launching effect, in which people judge one object to have caused another to immediately move after contact, is often described as the prototype of direct causation. The special status of this interaction may be due to its psychophysical distinctiveness, and this property may be the origin of the formation of causality as a conceptual category. This hypothesis was tested by having participants judge the relative similarity of pairs of events that either had no spatial gap or delay (direct launching) or had small gaps and/or short delays. Direct launching was much easier to discriminate from launches involving small gaps or delays. In a follow-up experiment, participants made similar judgments for a noncausal event.
Glutathione synthesis and glutathione redox pathways in naphthalene cataract of the rat.

This investigation examined many parameters during the course of early development of naphthalene-induced cataract in a time span of 0 to 79 days of treatment. Feeding naphthalene daily to Black-Hooded rats resulted in gradual progressive development of cataract. The first faint opacities were detectable after 7 days. Free soluble total glutathione (oxidized and reduced) of these lenses was shown to gradually decrease to a maximum loss of about 20%, a value reached by day 30 of treatment.No activity loss of either enzyme required for glutathione synthesis (γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase or glutathione synthetase) was observed in homog-enates of naphthalene versus control lenses. There was also neither impairment of [35S]-L-cystine uptake nor of [35S]-glutathione synthetic capacity in lenses cultured from rats after 12, 24 or 36 days of naphthalene feeding when compared to control lenses. Hence, glutathione loss cannot be explained by a damaged glutathione synthesis system.Progressive activity loss of gluta...
The Misuse and Diversion of Prescribed ADHD Medications by College Students.

Objective: This study assesses the misuse and diversion of prescribed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications. Method: One hundred fifteen students, attending two universities, with prescriptions for ADHD medications completed a Web survey in spring 2007. Results: Eighty-nine of 115 students (69%) used their ADHD medications as prescribed, whereas 36 (31%) had misused during college by taking larger or more frequent doses than prescribed or by using someone else’s medication. Nine students (8%) reported intranasal use during the previous 6 months, and 30 (26%) had diverted medications to peers. Misuse was associated with impulsivity and with other substance use. Enhancing the ability to study outside of class was students’ primary motive for misuse, but nonacademic reasons were also reported. Students who misused ADHD medications generally felt that doing so was helpful. Conclusions: Although most students use their ADHD medication as prescribed, misuse and diversion is not uncommon. Because enhancing academic performance was the primary motive for misuse, the results raise questions about whether undergraduates with ADHD perceive their treatment as adequate and the extent to which physicians and students communicate about issues related to medication adjustments. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; XX(X) XX-XX)
SU-DD-A2-05: Quality Assurance Methodology to Monitor Patient Dose in Interventional Radiography

Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary quality assurance project is to use thermoluminescent dosimeters(TLD) to monitor the equivalent dose patients receive while undergoing interventional radiology procedures at our institution. Method and Materials: A TLD is placed centrally on the collimator face of two AP tubes in the angiography department for each patient exam. The TLDs are sent out weekly to be read by Landauer, Inc. Inverse square correction is applied to yield patient equivalent dose at the minimum and maximum possible distances to the patient entrance surface (source‐to‐skin distance, SSD). The inverse square corrected results are entered into a database and analyzed according to exam type and radiation dose threshold categories. All exams having an equivalent dose of greater than 2 Gy (skin erythema threshold) are red‐flagged in the database. These red‐flagged exams are then shared with the angiography section chief radiologist and technologist for feedback and corrective action with the attending physician. Results: Of the 1852 exams surveyed (from July 2003 through the present time), the equivalent dose for minimum SSD was less than 1 Gy for 94.0% of the exams and between 1 and 2 Gy for 2.6% of the exams. The skin erythema threshold dose of 2 Gy was exceeded for 3.1% of exams throughout this time period. It is encouraging that over 96% of measured equivalent dose are below the skin erythema threshold. The remaining 4% of measured equivalent dose were red‐flagged for follow‐up with the physicians responsible for the exam. Conclusions: This preliminary quality assurance and feedback mechanism is a quick and practical way to increase physician awareness of administered patient dose and whether skin injury dose thresholds have been exceeded. It is expected that this monitoring methodology will encourage physicians to practice ALARA.
Ethanol drinking experience attenuates (-)sulpiride-induced increases in extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-preferring (P) rats.

BACKGROUND: The reinforcing properties of ethanol may be partly mediated through the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system. This study examines the effects of local application of the DA D(2) receptor antagonist (-)sulpiride (SUL) on ethanol drinking of alcohol-preferring (P) rats, and extracellular DA levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of P rats that were either ethanol-naive or had been chronically drinking ethanol. METHODS: Microdialysis was used to sample NAc DA levels, and reverse microdialysis was used to locally administer the D(2) antagonist (-)sulpiride (SUL) into the NAc of adult female P rats that were either drinking ethanol (n = 17) or were ethanol-naive (n = 24). Stable intake of 15% (v/v) ethanol (>/=0.75 g/kg) was established for the ethanol-drinking group in daily 1-hr access periods over a minimum of 4 weeks before surgery. Naive and ethanol-drinking rats were implanted with bilateral guide cannulae aimed 4 mm above the NAc shell. After recovery from surgery, microdialysis probes (active area = 2 mm) were inserted bilaterally into the NAc. Two days later, rats in the ethanol-drinking and naive groups were each divided into two groups; one group was bilaterally perfused (1.0 microl/min) with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) and the other group was further divided into three subgroups that were perfused with aCSF + either 50, 100, or 200 microM SUL for 240 min. During the last 60 min of perfusion, the ethanol-drinking rats were given their daily 1-hr ethanol access period. Following ethanol access, the aCSF + SUL subgroups were then given aCSF only. The entire perfusion procedure was repeated 24 hr later, but the aCSF only and aCSF + SUL group treatment conditions were transposed. RESULTS: In ethanol-drinking rats, 100 and 200 microM SUL increased extracellular NAc DA levels to approximately 200% of basal values, but did not significantly alter ethanol intake. In ethanol-naive P rats, 100 and 200 microM SUL increased extracellular NAc DA levels significantly more (450% of basal; p < 0.05) than in the ethanol-drinking group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that ethanol-drinking experience causes a desensitization or a down-regulation of D(2) autoreceptors in the NAc of P rats.
Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism in heliobacteria

Three species of anoxygenic phototrophic heliobacteria, Heliobacterium chlorum, Heliobacterium gestii, and Heliobacillus mobilis, were studied for comparative nitrogen-fixing abilities and regulation of nitrogenase. Significant nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) was detected in all species grown photoheterotrophically on N2, although cells of H. mobilis consistently had higher nitrogenase activity than did cells of either H. chlorum or H. gestii. Nitrogen-fixing cultures of all three species of heliobacteria were subject to “switch-off” of nitrogenase activity by ammonia; glutamine also served to “switch-off” nitrogenase activity but only in cells of H. mobilis and H. gestii. Placing photosynthetically grown heliobacterial cultures in darkness also served to “switch-off” nitrogenase activity. Dark-mediated “switch-off” was complete in lactate-grown heliobacteria but in pyruvate-grown cells substantial rates of nitrogenase activity continued in darkness. In all heliobacteria examined ammonia was assimilated primarily through the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase (GS/GOGAT) pathway although significant levels of alanine dehydrogenase were present in extracts of cells of H. gestii, but not in the other species. The results suggest that heliobacteria, like phototrophic purple bacteria, are active N2-fixing bacteria and that despite their gram-positive phylogenetic roots, heliobacteria retain the capacity to control nitrogenase activity by a “switch-off” type of mechanism. Because of their ability to fix N2 both photosynthetically and in darkness, it is possible that heliobacteria are significant contributors of fixed nitrogen in their paddy soil habitat.
Compartmentalization of signaling in neurons: evolution and deployment.

The localization of signal transduction machinery at synapses is a fundamental organizational feature of the nervous system that allows for highly complex integration of information coding processes. Synaptic communication evolved as multicellular organisms became more complex, and as selection pressures were placed on such organisms such that those capable of responding rapidly and specifically to environmental demands survived. Two obvious advantages of synaptic transmission (as oppossed to endocrine or paracrine signaling) are that it provides for rapid intercellular communication over great distances and that it provides a high level of spatial specificity. There are several structural and functional aspects of synapses that set them apart from other cellular compartments, with many of the specializations subserving roles in synaptic signal transduction (e.g., neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic terminal and postsynaptic receptor activation and second messenger production). However, studies of developing nervous systems have shown that many synaptic signaling mechanisms are operative prior to synaptogenesis and play important roles in regulating growth cone behaviors, synaptogenesis, and even programmed cell death. Indeed, the concept that “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny” can be effectively applied to the evolution of the synapse. As the embryo rapidly grows, neurons must elaborate axons and dendrites, establish functional synaptic connections, and maintain and adjust those connections as the organism matures. The purpose of this introductory article is to set the stage for the following articles by briefly reviewing fundamental aspects of the molecular and cellular biology of synapses in an evolutionary context. J. Neurosci. Res. 58:2–9, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Web power: a survey of practitioners’ World Wide Web use and their perceptions of its effects on their decision-making power

Abstract A national e-mail survey investigated how 432 public relations practitioners perceive their World Wide Web use impacts their decision-making power in their organizations. Practitioners’ web use appears to be positively related to three of Finkelstein's [Finkelstein, S. (1992). Power in top management teams: Dimensions, measurement, and validation. Academy of Management Journal , 35 (3), 505–538] conceptualizations of power derived from “upper echelons” theory from the strategic management literature—structural, expert and prestige power. “Super users” who use the web more frequently for productivity and efficiency, for research and evaluation, and for issues communication are most likely to perceive the web empowered them to be promoted (structural power). Practitioners who use the web more frequently for productivity and efficiency as well as for issues communication are more likely to perceive the web empowers them as experts in their organizations (expert power) and enhances how others see them (prestige power). Practitioner-owners perceive that greater web use leads to greater expert power than did non-owners.
Get charged up: Nonlinear optical voltammetry for quantifying the thermodynamics and electrostatics of metal cations at aqueous/oxide interfaces

Abstract This Letter provides a tutorial review of how the Eisenthal χ(3) Technique can be applied as a general method for quantifying (1) the amount of metal ions adsorbed, (2) the electrostatics associated with the adsorption processes, and (3) the thermodynamics, kinetics, and molecular mechanisms that underlie the interaction of the metal ions with aqueous/solid interfaces. We focus on our recent effort to quantify potentials at aqueous/solid interfaces in the presence of magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium cations and determine alkaline earth metal ion adsorption thermodynamics at pH 7 and 10 mM NaCl. Important theoretical considerations for this method are discussed as well.
Alternative Dynamic Regimes and Trophic Control of Plant Succession

Ecological succession has been the subject of intense study and debate throughout the history of ecology as conceptualizations of process were proposed and refined. Modern concepts view ecological succession as largely driven by bottom-up resource competition for light and nutrients. However, growing evidence shows that top–down effects of consumers can govern succession. These contrasting perspectives require synthesis.
Patterns in N dynamics and N isotopes during primary succession in Glacier Bay, Alaska

Abstract The primary successional sequence in Glacier Bay, Alaska represents a 230-year record of the development of nitrogen (N) dynamics. Because of low inputs of N in precipitation and the absence of initial soil N pools, the pattern of N accumulation is strongly biologically controlled. The simple successional sequence at Glacier Bay is dominated by two main species (Alnus sinuata and Picea sitchensis), thus the influence these species have on N dynamics is more easily deduced than in more complex systems. Along a successional sequence in Glacier Bay, N mineralization rates, foliage and soil C:N, and foliage and soil δ 15 N values in six sites ranging in age from 20 to 225 years old were examined. It is concluded that: (1) Alnus sinuata and Dryas drummondii derived most of their N through the fixation of atmospheric N; (2) under conditions of high N availability, differences among species in plant preference for ammonium or nitrate can be deduced from δ 15 N values; (3) over time, organic soil N separates into two isotopically distinct pools which differ in their turnover rate; (4) the transition from an alder-dominated to a spruce-dominated system results in slower N cycling; and (5) previous site conditions are an important factor in explaining patterns in δ 15 N values.
Short-term outcomes after robotic-assisted total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer.

Background Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer remains a difficult procedure with high conversion rates. We have sought to improve on some of the pitfalls of laparoscopy by using the DaVinci robotic system. Here we report our two-year experience with robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for primary rectal cancer.
Dissecting protein structure and function using directed evolution

To characterize the contributions of individual amino acids to the structure or function of a protein, researchers have adopted directed evolution approaches, which use iterated cycles of mutagenesis and selection or screening to search vast areas of sequence space for sets of mutations that provide insights into the protein of interest.
A case study of the changes in the speech-evoked auditory brainstem response associated with auditory training in children with auditory processing disorders.

Abstract Background Studies related to plasticity and learning-related phenomena have primarily focused on higher-order processes of the auditory system, such as those in the auditory cortex and limited information is available on learning- and plasticity-related processes in the auditory brainstem. Design and method A clinical electrophysiological test of speech-evoked ABR known as BioMARK has been developed to evaluate brainstem responses to speech sounds in children with language learning disorders. Fast ForWord (FFW) was used as an auditory intervention program in the current study and pre- intervention and post-intervention speech-evoked ABR (BioMARK) measures were compared in 2 school-aged children with auditory processing disorders (APD). Results and conclusions Significant changes were noted from pre-intervention to post-intervention and reflect plasticity in the auditory brainstem's neural activity to speech stimuli.
A prospective randomized trial of an antibiotic-and antiseptic-coated central venous catheter in the prevention of catheter-related infections

Objective: To test the efficacy of the ARROWgard (Arrow International Inc, Reading, Pa) central venous catheter (CVC) coated with silver sulfadiazine and chlorhexidine (A-CVC) in the prevention of CVC-related infections. Design: Prospective, randomized trial. Setting: A tertiary care medical center. Patients and Intervention: Two hundred eighty-two patients who required CVC placement were evaluated in this study. Patients were prospectively randomized to receive either a standard CVC (S-CVC) or the A-CVC. Only fresh-stick double- and triple-lumen catheters were studied. Main Outcome Measures: Patients were evaluated for catheter site inflammation, catheter site colonization, local catheter-related infection, and catheter-related septicemia. Results: The 2 groups were matched for age, percentage in the intensive care unit, percentage receiving total parenteral nutrition, percentage with triplelumen catheters, and duration of catheterization. Rates of catheter site inflammation in the 2 groups were similar (12% vs 10%, S-CVC group and A-CVC group, respectively). The A-CVC was associated with a significantly decreased catheter site colonization rate (49% vs 28%; 43% reduction; P P Conclusions: Despite a marked decrease in catheter site colonization and catheter-related infection rates, the A-CVC did not significantly reduce the incidence of catheter-related septicemia. This may be due to a greater pathogenic dependence on catheter hub contamination rather than catheter site colonization or local catheter-related infection, or the relatively short (5.2 days) duration of catheterization in this study. Arch Surg. 1997;132:1348-1351
Emergent leadership in virtual teams: what do emergent leaders do?

Abstract We conducted an exploratory study to examine the behaviors and roles that are enacted by emergent leaders in virtual team settings. Specifically, we analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to identify differences between team members who emerged as leaders and as non-leaders in terms of their behavior as manifested in their electronic mail messages. The longitudinal study involved seven ad hoc and temporary virtual teams composed of senior executives of a US federal government agency who participated in an executive development program at a university. The study indicated that overall, the emergent leaders sent more and longer email messages than their team members did. The number of task-oriented messages, particularly those that were related to logistics coordination, sent by emergent leaders was higher than that of non-leaders. However, there were no differences between emergent leaders and non-leaders in terms of expertise-related messages. No significant differences in relationship-oriented and technology management messages between emergent leaders and other team members existed. Furthermore, the emergent leaders enacted three roles: initiator, scheduler, and integrator. These findings are discussed and their implications for research and practice are described in the paper.
High rates of transitions to injecting drug use among Mexican American non-injecting heroin users in San Antonio, Texas (never and former injectors).

Objective To assess the incidence and rate of transition to injecting among Mexican American noninjecting heroin users.