cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspirated bile acids affect lung immunity and function

Introduction: As bile acids(BAs), molecules affecting motility and immunity in the gut, also promote CLAD when aspirated, we hypothesized their involvement in airway immunity and contractility. BAs and airway infections in post-Tx bronchial washings (BWs) were monitored. We investigated distal airway kinetics (in vitro)to BAs and their role in pulmonary function (in vivo). Methods: BW(238) from 111 lung-Tx pts were tested for BAs (LC-MS) and infections. Murine and human precision-cut lung slices were perfused with 30µM BAs and 300 nM of acetylcholine(ACh): airway lumen area(LA) analyzed with video-phase contrast microscopy. Mice were nebulized with 1mM BA and incremental methacholine(MCh). Lung resistance(Rn) measured on Flexivent. Results: Bacteria were in 29% (71/238) of BW and showed greater: total BAs(p=0.0003); unconjugated(p=0.0002); conjugated(p=0.01); primary(p=0.0015); secondary(p=0.002). Fungi were in 14%(35/238) of BW with greater primary BAs(p=0.045). In-vitro perfusion of BAs in airways pre-contracted with ACh showed ~60% relaxation of LA(p Conclusion: BAs strongly associate to bacterial infections confirming their involvement in allograft dysfunction. Reduced bronchial reactivity suggests that BAs may affect both lung innate defense and function. The effect of BAs on airway reactivity may impair airway clearance and in turn promote infections.
Student Affairs Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: A Guidebook for Graduate Students and New Professionals

Student Affairs Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: A Guidebook for Graduate Students and New Professionals, edited by Vikki Wise and Zebulun Davenport, is the first volume in the American Series...
Sexual Orientation Beliefs and Identity Development: A Person-Centered Analysis among Sexual Minorities

We conducted person-centered analysis of sexual orientation beliefs among sexual minorities to explore potential relationships between these beliefs and sexual orientation, developmental milestones, race and ethnicity, and attitudes about sexual orientation. We recruited participants (N = 416) via Amazon Mechanical Turk who completed measures of beliefs about sexual orientation and attitudes about their own sexuality, as well as assessments of mental health and age of sexual identity development milestones. We conducted a latent profile analysis and found three distinct sexual orientation belief profiles, similar to those previously observed in predominantly straight samples. We found that sexual orientation and race-ethnicity predicted belief profile membership, with the latter exhibiting the most substantial effect. Of the four identity developmental milestones tested, only the age of first same-sex attraction predicted belief profile membership. Across profiles, members differed significantly in their mean endorsement of both positive and negative attitudes regarding sexual orientation and psychological distress. Thus, the current research suggests that sexual orientation beliefs are powerful constructs in the lives of sexual minorities, with relationships to sexual orientation, other social identities, and mental health.
A SINGULARIDADE DO CORDEL DE RAIMUNDO SANTA HELENA

Este texto propoe tecer algumas consideracoes acerca da obra do cordelista Raimundo Luiz do Nascimento, conhecido como Raimundo Santa Helena (1926-2018). Nascido na Paraiba, jovem, passou a residir no Rio de Janeiro, onde produziu a maior parte de sua obra. Os versos do poeta abordam variados temas, em especial, aqueles relacionados as noticias divulgadas pela midia. Esses poemas sao, em geral, apresentados ao lado de outras linguagens, como colagens de manchetes e noticias de jornal, podendo ser acompanhadas pelas fotos que ilustram as materias. Essa pratica conduz a reflexao sobre o carater semiotico dos versos de Santa Helena. Para fundamentar este estudo, buscar-se-a o auxilio da teoria semiotica de extracao peirceana (PEIRCE, 1975). Os escritos de Zumthor (1993) trarao tambem importantes contribuicoes, em virtude das relacoes do cordel com a poesia medieval em diversos aspectos, entre eles, o papel da palavra falada na apresentacao dos versos escritos pelo poeta.
Speckle Pattern Inversion in High Temperature DIC Measurement

During hot fire rocket engine testing, non-contacting measurements are superior to bonded gauges because they are immune to burning, shaking loose, or damage due to the harsh testing conditions. Additionally, when compared to instruments which register at single points, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has the added benefit in that it collects full-field displacement and strain maps over the duration of the test. However, for certain materials and paints under some circumstances of temperature and camera sensitivity, portions of the speckle pattern which were darker at room temperature may emit more light compared to the initially lighter portions of the pattern, resulting in a high temperature pattern which is inverted in comparison with that at room temperature. To address this inversion, a post-processing method is introduced wherein an inverted image containing only emitted light is subtracted from an image containing both emitted and reflected light, thereby generating an un-inverted image. The artificial high temperature image is subsequently correlated against the room temperature image to obtain full-field strains. The subtraction technique is then validated using optical bandpass filters to prevent significant amounts of emitted light from reaching the camera sensor. The two methods are mapped onto common coordinates and shown to produce comparable results. The subtraction method sufficiently mitigates speckle pattern inversion, but its key drawback is that it only works when there is negligible displacement between the subtracted images (i.e. quasi-static loading). It is therefore preferable to eliminate inversion from reaching the camera in the first place by using optical bandpass filters.
A Randomized Phase II Trial of Adjuvant Hepatic Arterial Infusion and Systemic Therapy With or Without Panitumumab After Hepatic Resection of KRAS Wild-type Colorectal Cancer.

Objective/background The purpose was to determine whether adding Pmab versus no Pmab to an adjuvant regimen of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of floxuridine (FUDR) plus systemic (SYS) leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) improves 15-month recurrence-free survival for patients with RAS wild-type colorectal cancer. Secondary endpoints included overall survival, toxicity, and influence of predictive biomarkers. Methods This phase II trial randomized patients with KRAS wild-type resected colorectal liver metastases to adjuvant HAI FUDR + SYS FOLFIRI +/- Pmab (NCT01312857). Patients were stratified by clinical risk score and previous chemotherapy. Based on an exact binomial design, if one arm had ≥24 patients alive and disease-free at 15 months that regimen was considered promising for further investigation. Results Seventy-five patients were randomized. Patient characteristics and toxicity were not different in the 2 arms, except for rash in +Pmab arm. Grade 3/4 elevation in bilirubin or alkaline phosphatase did not differ in the 2 arms. Twenty-five (69%; 95% CI, 53-82) patients in the Pmab arm versus 18 (47%; 95% CI, 32-63) patients in the arm without Pmab were alive and recurrence-free at 15 months. Only the Pmab arm met the decision rule, while the other arm did not. After median follow-up of 56.6 months, 3-year recurrence-free survival was 57% (95% CI, 43-76) and 42% (95% CI, 29-61), and 3-year overall survival was 97% (95% CI, 90-99) and 91% (95% CI, 83-99), +/- Pmab, respectively. Conclusions The addition of Pmab to HAI FUDR + SYS FOLFIRI showed promising activity without increased biliary toxicity and should be further investigated in a larger trial.
Preference of Fertilizer Manufacturers in Pune Region About Structural Form of Raw Material Require for Organic Fertilizer Manufacturing

In recent years the role of the Organic fertilizer sector has been substantial as people came to know disadvantages of chemical fertilizers. This sector is rapidly growing because consumer wants organic food only also increasing number of cancer patients in India changing perspective of consumers. The push towards organic farming methods - no chemicals, better soil management and more bio-dynamic methods - isn't new. Organic farming began long back, and is more of a resurgence of how things used to be, although with advanced equipment, streamlined supply chains, and the benefit of modern marketing strategies and retailing techniques over the last few years there has been a sudden and rapid increase in demand for organic products all over the country. Objectives of this study is to learning the manufacturer preference regarding humic acid, flake fulvic acid, amino acid. Also, to study the various parameters which helps to forecast the demand for raw material. It is a survey in which researchers conducted in depth interviews of manufacturers to know the requirements, problem suggestions and primary data is collected through structure questionnaire.
Covert communication by means of email spam

In digital investigations the investigator typically has to deal with thousands of digital artifacts. Among them, email has long been one of the many focuses that potentially can generate useful information. However, in our training we notice a tendency to overlook or downplay the importance of analyzing spam emails as they are generally assumed to be irrelevant junk emails. In this article we thus illustrate how these seemingly irrelevant messages might play a crucial role in digital investigations. Five scenarios are introduced in which the investigator tends to overlook crucial incriminating information that has been disguised as spam. The methods used by criminals in these cases are discussed. In light of these covert criminal communications, we call for more attention from the digital forensics community to realize how email spam may assist in criminal activities.
A H ∞ constrained robust H ∞ solution for a benchmark problem

A combined H2/H∞ design method is applied to a benchmark problem. The approach is to design robust controllers that minimize an upper bound of a quadratic performance index subject to an H∞ norm bound on a disturbance transfer function matrix. Real parameter variations are included in the design through the addition of fictitious weighted disturbances. Three design cases, each with different robustness, performance, and disturbance rejection requirements, are considered for the benchmark problem. Uncertain parameters and noncolocation of the sensor and actuator make the problem non-trivial. Compensators are found that meet the requirements with reasonable control effort, controller complexity, and noise rejection.
Measurement of in Situ Sulfur Isotopes by Laser Ablation Multi-Collector ICPMS: Opening Pandora's Box

Laser ablation multi-collector ICPMS is a modern tool for in situ measurement of S isotopes. Advantages of the technique are speed of analysis and relatively minor matrix effects combined with spatial resolution sufficient for many applications. The main disadvantage is a more destructive sampling mechanism relative to the ion microprobe technique. Recent advances in instrumentation allow precise measurement with spatial resolutions down to 25 microns. We describe specific examples from economic geology where increased spatial resolution has greatly expanded insights into the sources and evolution of fluids that cause mineralization and illuminated genetic relations between individual deposits in single mineral districts.
Relationships between precipitation and surface temperature

[1] The co-variability of monthly mean surface temperature and precipitation is determined globally for 1979–2002 from observationally-based analyses (ERA-40) for surface air temperature and the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) version 2 for precipitation and compared with results from the NCAR Community Atmospheric Model version 3 (CAM3) and Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3). Results are combined for the 5 months for northern winter (November to March) and summer (May to September). Over land, negative correlations dominate, as dry conditions favor more sunshine and less evaporative cooling, while wet summers are cool. At high latitudes in winter, positive correlations dominate as warm moist advection in extratropical cyclones favors precipitation and the water holding capacity of the atmosphere limits precipitation amounts in cold conditions. Where ocean conditions drive the atmosphere, higher surface air temperatures are associated with precipitation, as in El Nino, but some areas, such as the western Pacific in northern summer, feature negative correlations indicating that the atmosphere determines the surface temperatures. In the CAM driven with observed sea surface temperatures and the CCSM in fully coupled mode the latter mechanism is largely absent, and correlations are generally much stronger than observed, indicating more local control. Neither temperature nor precipitation records should be interpreted without considering the strong covariability that exists.
Preparation and evaluation of nanocellulose–gold nanoparticle nanocomposites for SERS applications

Nanocellulose is of research interest due to its extraordinary optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The incorporation of guest nanoparticles into nanocellulose substrates enables production of novel nanocomposites with a broad range of applications. In this study, gold nanoparticle/bacterial cellulose (AuNP/BC) nanocomposites were prepared and evaluated for their applicability as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. The nanocomposites were prepared by citrate mediated in situ reduction of Au3+ in the presence of a BC hydrogel at 303 K. Both the size and morphology of the AuNPs were functions of the HAuCl4 and citrate concentrations. At high HAuCl4 concentrations, Au nanoplates form within the nanocomposites and are responsible for high SERS enhancements. At lower HAuCl4 concentrations, uniform nanospheres form and the SERS enhancement is dependent on the nanosphere size. The time-resolved increase in the SERS signal was probed as a function of drying time with SERS ‘hot-spots’ primarily forming in the final minutes of nanocomposite drying. The application of the AuNP/BC nanocomposites for detection of the SERS active dyes MGITC and R6G as well as the environmental contaminant atrazine is illustrated as is its use under low and high pH conditions. The results indicate the broad applicability of this nanocomposite for analyte detection.
The cost of being able to fly in the milkweed-oleander aphid,Aphis nerii (Homoptera: Aphididae)

In the wing dimorphic milkweed-oleander aphid,Aphis nerii, winged aphids begin reproducing about 1.5 days after wingless aphids. The longer maturation period is primarily due to slower development since even adult eclosion by winged aphids takes place after wingless aphids begin reproducing. The delay is not due to a post-eclosion, pre-reproductive flight since, beginning with the fourth instar, larval winged aphids were reared at a density of one per plant and the vast majority were not stimulated to fly under such low-density conditions. Thus, the ability to fly incurs a fitness cost in terms of delayed reproduction, irrespective of whether flight actually occurs. We did not observe a difference between morphs for lifetime fecundity, even though wingless aphids have larger abdomens than winged aphids and for both morphs there is a significant correlation between abdomen width and fecundity. Offspring produced by wingless aphids over the first four days of reproduction are larger than those produced by winged aphids, and the size difference at birth is maintained into adulthood. However, there are no differences in life history traits between these offspring, including maturation period and lifetime fecundity. Thus, reduced body size does not increase the cost of being able to fly, at least under the conditions of these experiments. The cost of being able to fly in this species should favor reduced production of winged individuals in populations that exploit more permanent host plants.
Intermolecular Self-Interactions of the Titanium Tetrahalides TiX4 (X ) F, Cl, Br)

Ab initio calculations have been performed on the closed-shell molecules TiX4 and Ti2X8 (X = F, Cl, Br) in order to determine the magnitude and the nature of the intermolecular self-interactions of the titanium tetrahalides. Geometry optimizations have been carried out using an effective core potential basis set with polarization, including the effects of dynamic electron correlation through second-order perturbation theory (MP2). The importance of higher order correlation effects is examined through coupled cluster single-point energy calculations. Basis set effects are investigated using MP2 single-point energy calculations with large all-electron basis sets. Ti2F8 is predicted to be a bound C2h dimer with bridging bonds, lower in energy than the separated monomers by 10.5 kcal/mol. Ti2Cl8 and Ti2Br8 are predicted to be weakly bound dimers whose structures are that of associated monomers with overall D3d point group symmetry. Ti2Cl8 is lower in energy than separated monomers by 4.9 kcal/mol. Transition ...
Applications of the Montmorillonites in Tablet Making

The montmorillonites were studied for their use as disintegrants, binders, and lubricants for the manufacture of compressed tablets. It was found that the clays, although traditionally believed to be inert materials, agglomerated with several macro-molecules commonly used as tablet binders. When added dry to prepared granulations, magnesium aluminum silicate F was an excellent disintegrant which produced tablets disintegrating twice as fast as those containing an equal amount of cornstarch. Furthermore, the clays contained a lower moisture content and were more compressible than starch. However, the other grades of montmorillonite studied were less effective as disintegrating agents than starch, and wet granulation of the clays with the diluents substantially decreased the effectiveness of these materials as disintegrants.
Indicative planning in socialist economies: Does it have a role?☆

Abstract This paper describes the economic system likely to arise in post-reform Eastern Europe and examines the benefits and difficulties of employing indicative planning to improve economic performance. The historical experiences of Czechoslovakia in 1947–1948 and of Hungary under the New Economic Mechanism are analyzed for relevance to the current situation.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF REGIONAL SEWERAGE SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT: A few years ago, many water quality administrators were convinced that large regional sewerage systems, consisting of one large treatment plant and long trunk sewers extending out to various communities, represented the only efficient and economical means of assuring water quality control. In communities favoring rapid development, the provision of sewer service and encouragement of development of new centers along the trunk sewers offered an additional advantage. More recently quite different points of view are arising in certain areas. In parts of New Jersey strong environmental and community resistance has arisen to proposed central plant-trunk sewer systems. The facilitation of new development along the trunk sewers is viewed as a menace by townships not wanting intensive development of these areas. The diversion of effluent flows to trunk sewers rather than septic tanks would dry up the streams which water quality programs are supposed to protect. Both sides to the controversy have mobilized engineering, environmental, economic, and legal expertise and some critical policy issues have developed. Reconsideration of regional sewerage management and particularly trunk sewer policy is required. The decision as to extent of sewerage service areas involves complex and sensitive planning issues. Because of potential conflicts of interest, such decisions should not be left to staffs of sewerage authorities and their design engineers.
Decategorization and the reduction of bias in the crossed categorization paradigm

Within the crossed categorization paradigm we examined the consequences of cooperative and personalized contact under conditions that promoted attention to unique attributes of team members (decategorization) versus conditions that emphasized their category memberships. As predicted, when the rule for composing teams emphasized one or both of the experimentally induced dimensions of category distinction, ethnocentric bias generalized to members of another team as a function of category similarity. When, instead, the rule emphasized team members' unique attributes, shared in-group memberships no longer moderated bias towards members of another team. Instead, there was an equivalence pattern in the evaluative ratings of the four targets (in-group/in-group; in-group/out-group; out-group/in-group; out-group/out-group) of the crossed categorization paradigm. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Visual interactions with Web database content

In this paper, we describe an experimental web application, Visual MeSH that supports dynamic user interaction with medical vocabulary databases and literature databases. Visual MeSH is a client-server application based on Java RMI technology. It provides multiple views of MeSH term relationships and allows the user to explore term relationships visually. Visual MeSH helps the user improve both search precision and recall by making it easy to convert user’s natural language queries to controlled vocabulary-based queries.
Novel Oral Anticoagulants

Warfarin has a proven record as an oral anticoagulant; almost every study, however, has found that it is not prescribed for 40-60% of patients who are eligible and should receive it, and of those who do receive it, serum warfarin levels only achieved a time in therapeutic range (TTR) equal to INR 2-3 about 55-60% of the time (online video available at: http://education.amjmed.com/video.php?event_id=445&stage_id=5&vcs=1). This means that only about 1 in 4 patients are adequately anticoagulated with warfarin, and thus there is a large unmet need for achieving better anticoagulation in these patients. Although physicians have sometimes tried to use antiplatelet therapy (aspirin, plus or minus clopidogrel) for anticoagulation, this may result in as much as a doubling of the risk of thromboembolic events. Recently 2 new classes of oral anticoagulant agents have appeared: direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) and factor Xa inhibitors. This review sequentially examines the recent clinical trial evidence for the 3 approved NOACs in the 2 classes, highlighting that all 3 share a class effect of being noninferior to warfarin for reducing risk of stroke and systemic embolization and reducing risk of bleeding, with a relative risk of mortality consistently reduced by 10% per year. In addition, all of the NOACs have a significantly lower risk of intracranial/intracerebral bleeding than warfarin, an important clinical consideration, since that is the most feared bleeding risk and may be sufficient reason to consider switching patients from warfarin to a NOAC, even if they seem to be doing well on warfarin. Finally in addition to reviewing the overall benefits of these NOACs over traditional therapy, the clinical application differences between the classes and between the agents are reviewed.
A Study on the Dynamic Response in Standardized Drop Test

For past several years, industries are carrying out board level drop tests to calibrate JEDEC board and improve on simulation in order to quantify the solder joint reliability performance of their products. It has not only become a difficult to simulate exact drop condition but also a challenging task to capture some of the important parameters such as board flexural rigidity, stiffness, resulting in non-uniform strain distribution throughout the test board. Previous simulations reveal unreliable stresses on all 15 components during predominate mode, which resulted in grouping of the components by location for performing reliability analysis. In addition, current experimental test procedures are not only expensive but also time consuming. In order to reduce cost and time, predictive analytical models were developed to understand drop behavior and also the key factors effecting solder joint failures. The drop impact simulation was performed using the different pulse time duration input function by analytical Method and evaluate response characteristics of the JEDEC board system. In this paper parametric study is done in order to bring more realistic drop condition and to quantify stress /strain distribution throughout the test board independent from standoff region by analyzing the system as simplified continuous beam system with sine impact pulse with the consideration of singular value (predominate mode) of the natural frequency. In addition, FEA simulation is also performed by developing JEDEC global/local model to simulate the realistic drop test condition. Direct acceleration method is adopted and no ring phenomenon is validated. By adjusting the input pulse period from 1.0 to 2.5 times the system period reveal further increase in the maximum peeling stress and board surface strain due no ring effect. In order to match the current test case, the magnitude of board input acceleration is reduced to the current drop conditions to understand and improve in the efficiency of the test and to capture more stress strain data in all the components. Close forms of theoretical and analytical results were correlated with the results of current JEDEC finite element global model.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Characterization of neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarius pars centralis

Abstract Esophageal sensory afferent inputs terminate principally in the central subnucleus of the tractus solitarius (cNTS). Neurons of the cNTS comprise two major neurochemical subpopulations. One contains neurons that are nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactive (-IR) while the other comprises neurons that are tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-IR. We have shown recently that TH-IR neurons are involved in esophageal-distention induced gastric relaxation. We used whole cell patch clamp techniques in rat brainstem slices combined with immunohistochemical and morphological reconstructions to characterize cNTS neurons. Postrecording reconstruction of cNTS neurons revealed two morphological neuronal subtypes; one group of cells (41 out of 131 neurons, i.e., 31%) had a multipolar soma, while the other group (87 out of 131 neurons, i.e., 66%) had a bipolar soma. Of the 43 cells in which we conducted a neurochemical examination, 15 displayed TH-IR (9 with bipolar morphology, 6 with multipolar morphology) while the remaining 28 neurons did not display TH-IR (18 with bipolar morphology, 10 with multipolar morphology). Even though the range of electrophysiological properties varied significantly, morphological or neurochemical distinctions did not reveal characteristics peculiar to the subgroups. Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC) recorded in cNTS neurons had a frequency of 1.5 ± 0.15 events s−1 and an amplitude of 27 ± 1.2 pA (Vh = −50 mV) and were abolished by pretreatment with 30 μM AP-5 and 10 μM CNQX, indicating the involvement of both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. Some cNTS neurons also received a GABAergic input that was abolished by perfusion with 30–50 μM bicuculline. In conclusion, our data show that despite the heterogeneity of morphological and neurochemical membrane properties, the electrophysiological characteristics of cNTS neurons are not a distinguishing feature.
Pharmacokinetics of cyclosporin microemulsion in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

To obtain a pharmacokinetic profile of cyclosporin microemulsion formulation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. 58 consecutive patients (19 women and 39 men), aged 16 to 64 years (mean age 38 years), with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (29 patients) or Crohn’s disease (29 patients). Patients were treated with oral doses of cyclosporin microemulsion ranging from 200 to 400mg daily. Blood samples were collected after 7 days of treatment; blood was drawn at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 12 hours after the morning dose. In 23 patients out of 29 with ulcerative colitis and 23 out of 29 with Crohn’s disease, these profiles were repeated immediately before hospital discharge, which took place an average of 18 days after admission. Blood specimens were assayed for cyclosporin immunoreactivity on the day of blood withdrawal by a radioimmunoassay technique. In the range of doses employed, the average peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve to 12 hours tended to increase linearly with the dose (from 782.35 to 1607.98 μg/L and from 3612 to 7221 μg · h/L for doses of 200mg and 400mg, respectively), whereas the time to Cmax (tmax) and elimination half-life (t½β) ranged between 78 and 95.2 min and 85.5 and 162 min, respectively, and did not appear to change with the dose. After dose-normalisation by transformation of data into percentage increase over baseline (trough) concentration for each patient, single kinetic parameters for the whole study population (n = 58) could be calculated (Cmax 620% vs baseline, tmax 86.5 min, t½β 115 min). Comparison between patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis showed that the latter had higher Cmax values (702% compared with 543% vs baseline, p < 0.05) whereas tmax and t½β values overlapped. The pharmacokinetic parameters of cyclosporin microemulsion in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are broadly similar to those previously measured in healthy volunteers and in other disorders requiring cyclosporin treatment.
High gastric acid secretion after vagotomy and pyloroplasty in man—Evidence for nonvagal mediation

Twenty-four-hour basal acid collections and 4-hour insulin-stimulated gastric secretory tests were obtained in 21 male patients who had vagotomy and pyloroplasty for duodenal ulcer disease from 2 to 11 years previously. Eleven demonstrated high basal acid secretory rates. All members of this group had “inadequate vagotomies” by most criteria which are based on the assumption that high secretory values represent vagal-mediated gastric secretion. However, all completely studied patients in this group (9) had maximal basal hourly secretory rates which exceeded maximal insulin-stimulated hourly rates. It is argued that this observation is not compatible with the interpretation of vagal-mediated basal secretion because with an intact vagus the maximal insulin-stimulated hourly rate should exceed the maximal basal hourly rate. It is suggested that, regardless of the amount of basal acid secretion in the postvagotomy and pyloroplasty stomach, the secretion is largely nonvagal mediated, and surgery for ulcer recurrence in such patients should not focus on revagotomy.
Factor Structure and Validity of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form.

The psychometric properties of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) were examined in a sample of 185 mothers and fathers. Factor analysis revealed 2 reasonably distinct factors involving parental distress and dysfunctional parent-child interactions. Both scales were internally consistent, and these scales were correlated with measures of parent psychopathology, parental perceptions of child adjustment, and observed parent and child behavior. PSI-SF scores were related to parent reports of child behavior 1 year later, and the Childrearing Stress subscale was a significant predictor of a parental history of abuse.
Cultural sources of variations in US urban sustainability attributes

In a set of US urban areas, this study documents patterns of association between multiple measures of sustainability policies and outcomes on the one hand and indicators of three principal political culture theories on the other. Five dimensions of urban sustainability attributes are examined (environmental, public health, economic utility, sprawl, and local government plans and policies) as well as a summative index across the five dimensions. The three political culture theories are creative class, social capital, and historical legacy. First, the analysis examines the relationships among the five dimensions of sustainability. Second, a correlation analysis exhibits further evidence of major effects attributable to social capital and historical legacy cultural heritage. Third, a multiple regression analysis predicts the summative sustainability index score by measures for creative class, social capital, moralistic cultural legacy, and controls for education level and percentage of low income households; both a moralistic cultural heritage and strong social capital are shown to be facilitative contexts for a US city making a commitment to sustainability, even in the presence of demographic controls. The results suggest that environmental professionals engaged in sustainability efforts must be cognizant of their cultural context and of the linkages among different sustainability domains.
Isotropic chemical shifts in magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of proteins

Here we examine the effect of magic-angle spinning (MAS) rate upon lineshape and observed peak position for backbone carbonyl (C′) peaks in NMR spectra of uniformly-13C,15N-labeled (U–13C,15N) solid proteins. 2D N–C’ spectra of U–13C,15N microcrystalline protein GB1 were acquired at six MAS rates, and the site-resolved C′ lineshapes were analyzed by numerical simulations and comparison to spectra from a sparsely labeled sample (derived from 1,3-13C–glycerol). Spectra of the U–13C,15N sample demonstrate large variations in the signal-to-noise ratio and peak positions, which are absent in spectra of the sparsely labeled sample, in which most 13C′ sites do not possess a directly bonded 13CA. These effects therefore are a consequence of rotational resonance, which is a well-known phenomenon. Yet the magnitude of this effect pertaining to chemical shift assignment has not previously been examined. To quantify these effects in high-resolution protein spectra, we performed exact numerical two- and four-spin simulations of the C′ lineshapes, which reproduced the experimentally observed features. Observed peak positions differ from the isotropic shift by up to 1.0 ppm, even for MAS rates relatively far (a few ppm) from rotational resonance. Although under these circumstances the correct isotropic chemical shift values may be determined through simulation, systematic errors are minimized when the MAS rate is equivalent to ∼85 ppm for 13C. This moderate MAS condition simplifies spectral assignment and enables data sets from different labeling patterns and spinning rates to be used most efficiently for structure determination.
Insulin secretion improves following dietary control of plasma glucose in severely hyperglycemic obese patients

Abstract Severely hyperglycemic obese patients show deficient insulin secretion as well as insulin resistance. To determine whether the secretory defect is reversible, we placed 7 hospitalized patients on severe caloric restriction for 4–12 wk. Insulin secretory responses to oral glucose and intravenous tolbutamide were assessed before and after the diet. On entry, mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was 326 ± 23 mg/dl. The insulin response to oral glucose was completely flat, although modest secretion was evoked by tolbutamide. After initiating caloric restriction, FPG rapidly fell, reaching 150 ± 21 mg/dl by 2 wk, and remained low throughout the duration of the diet period. At restudy, improved oral glucose tolerance was accompanied by significant increases in the insulin secretory responses to both glucose and tolbutamide. These results support the concept that control of plasma glucose concentration allows recovery of insulin secretion. The degree of weight loss necessary to achieve this effect was modest. Since blood glucose was effectively controlled by caloric restriction alone, exogenous insulin is probably not required in the initial management of most obese patients with severe hyperglycemia.
Auto-learning approaches for building expert systems

Abstract Getting the rules from a domain expert is often a time consuming and expensive part of building ES. Methods of ES development which do not require the intervention of a knowledge engineer are receiving increasing attention. This paper discusses modes of automated learning possible in conventional (rule-based), statistical and neural network implemented classification-type ES, and their benefits and limitations.
Pulmonary, branchial and cutaneous gas exchange in the mud puppy, Necturusmaculosus maculosus (Rafinesque)

Abstract 1. 1. Determination of pulmonary, branchial and cutaneous gas exchange ( .V O 2 and .V CO 2 ) were made on aquatic salamanders acclimatized to 5, 15 and 25°C under photoperiods of LD 8 : 16 and LD 16 : 8. 2. 2. Differences in photoperiod did not significantly affect the metabolic rate or partitioning of gas exchange at any of the experimental conditions. 3. 3. The pulmonary surfaces participated the least in gas exchange and never accounted for more than 10 per cent of the .V INO 2 or 12 per cent of the .V CO 2 The lungs have a small total internal surface area, but occupy a large volume; they apparently function more as a hydrostatic organ than as a gas exchanger. 4. 4. When used, the gills accounted for 54 per cent of the total .V O 2 at 5°C and 60 per cent at 25°C; a similar increase in .V CO 2 through the branchial surfaces with increasing temperature was observed. 5. 5. When undisturbed at lower temperatures Necturus relies largely on the cutaneous surfaces for gas exchange. However, at higher temperatures or when the animals are excited, the branchial surfaces assume the dominant role in external respiration.
Spin-Matrix Polynomials and the Veneziano Formula

We consider a partial-wave expansion for $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\omega}$ in terms of the spin-matrix polynomials ${W}_{n}(z)=\frac{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(z+\frac{1}{2}n+\frac{1}{2})}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(z\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}n+\frac{1}{2})}$ rather than the conventional Legendre polynomials. This leads naturally to Veneziano's formula when his supplementary condition $\ensuremath{\alpha}(s)+\ensuremath{\alpha}(t)+\ensuremath{\alpha}(u)=2$ is invoked.
Inferred protein content and distribution from density measurements of calcitic and aragonitic otoconia.

Otoconia from the peripheral portion of the vestibular system contain specific proteins and are mineralized by several poiymorphs of calcium carbonate. To infer the internal distribution of their mineral and protein components, we have measured the densities, by equilibrium centrifugation, and the lengths of aragonitic otoconia from the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) and calcitic otoconia from the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicns). The densities are statistically dependent on the length of the otoconia Further, this dependence is not the same for aragonitic and calcitic otoconia. Aragonitic otoconia are statistically more dense when smaller and less dense when larger. For calcitic otoconia the opposite is true; the smaller otoconia are statistically less dense than larger otoconia. Because the organic and inorganic phases have different densities, this indicates that the otoconial proteins and the mineral phases have different distributions within these two types of otoconia.
Synthesis, characterization and structure of a low coordinate desoxomolybdenum cluster stabilized by a dithione ligand.

Using an oxidized state of a dithiolene ligand, diisopropylpiperazine-2,3-dithione (i-Pr2Pipdt), two monooxo-molybdenum complexes have been synthesized. From one of them, a desoxomolybdenum cluster, [(i-Pr2Pipdt)Mo]4[BF4]4 has been prepared. The molecular structure of this cluster reveals metal–metal interactions and weak coordination by the BF4 anion.
Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) detection chemistries affect enumeration of the Dehalococcoides 16S rRNA gene in groundwater

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) commonly uses the fluorogenic 5′ nuclease (TaqMan) and SYBR Green I (SG) detection chemistries to enumerate biomarker genes. Dehalococcoides (Dhc) are keystone bacteria for the detoxification of chlorinated ethenes, and the Dhc 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene serves as a biomarker for monitoring reductive dechlorination in contaminated aquifers. qPCR enumeration of Dhc biomarker genes using the TaqMan or SG approach with the same primer set yielded linear calibration curves over a seven orders of magnitude range with similar amplification efficiencies. The TaqMan assay discriminates specific from nonspecific amplification observed at low template concentrations with the SG assay, and had a 10-fold lower limit of detection of ~3 copies per assay. When applied to Dhc pure cultures and Dhc-containing consortia, both detection methods enumerated Dhc biomarker genes with differences not exceeding 3-fold. Greater variability was observed with groundwater samples, and the SG chemistry produced false-positive results or yielded up to 6-fold higher biomarker gene abundances compared to the TaqMan method. In most cases, the apparent error associated with SG detection resulted from quantification of nonspecific amplification products and was more pronounced with groundwater samples that had low biomarker concentrations or contained PCR inhibitors. Correction of the apparent error using post-amplification melting curve analysis produced 2 to 21-fold lower abundance estimates; however, gel electrophoretic analysis of amplicons demonstrated that melting curve analysis was insufficient to recognize all nonspecific amplification. Upon exclusion of nonspecific amplification products identified by combined melting curve and electrophoretic amplicon analyses, the SG method produced false-negative results compared to the TaqMan method. To achieve sensitive and accurate quantification of Dhc biomarker genes in environmental samples (e.g., groundwater) and avoid erroneous conclusions, the analysis should rely on TaqMan detection chemistry, unless additional analyses validate the results obtained with the SG approach.
Temporal and Spectral Characteristics of the Output of an Excimer Laser

The output of a Questek Model 2210 excimer laser, operated with XeCl fill, is characterized in both the time and frequency domains. Power spectra are obtained through use of the fast Fourier transform which show that the output is essentially white in character. Furthermore, noise power diminishes with repetition rate, reaching a broad minimum around 40 Hz. Analysis in the time domain shows a "roughly Gaussian" distribution. Movement of optically opaque ("thick") particles in the path of the laser beam is shown to increase the variance of the noise, but not its low-frequency content.
Vestibular neurectomy from the posterior fossa approaches: A summary of the techniques

Vestibular neurectomy remains the gold standard for success in eliminating vertigo when hearing preservation is indicated. The most commonly used approaches are performed through the posterior fossa. This report shows the evolution of technique from Retrolabyrinthine, through Retrosigmoid/IAC, to combined Retrolabyrinthine/Retrosigmoid approaches. All allow more than 90% control rates for vertigo and have low rates of serious complications. These approaches may be indicated when more conservative approaches fail in the treatment of patients with vertigo.
Phase Transfer Function of Sampled Imaging Systems

We analyze the effects of aliasing and sampling phase on the PTF of sampled imaging systems. We present an image-based PTF estimation method and propose through-focus PTF as a tool for characterizing wavefront coding imagers.
Derailing corporate tobacco interests: State initiative policymaking from 1988 to 2006

Since the passage of the landmark anti-tobacco Proposition 99 in California in 1988–2006, there have been 29 state tobacco control-oriented direct democracy measures approved 79 per cent of the time in 13 out of 27 states that currently allow some form of initiative. Passage and support for tobacco control initiatives have also solidly occurred regardless of whether the voter's ideology in a state was leaning conservative or liberal. The tobacco industry has long recognized this significant direct democracy threat to their market and profits. Nevertheless, the tobacco industry's effort to restrict and limit the initiative process through constitutional and statutory amendments has had little success. Public health advocates should continue to use initiatives and voter-certified or popular referenda in a careful and politically astute manner and also join in efforts to expand initiatives and popular referendum to states that currently prohibit such measures.
REJECTION OF BACKGROUND LIGHT USING SINGLE-WAVELENGTH DETECTION IN NONLINEAR RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

A new method for single-wavelength detection (SWD) spectroscopy has been developed with the use of synchronous scanning of an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). With the combination of SWD with spatial and temporal discrimination, a high level of background light rejection is achieved. Results show sufficient ambient room light rejection for obtaining complete gas-phase nonlinear Raman spectra with no detectable signs of interference.
Health insurance and work: characteristics among multi-job holding farmers

ABSTRACT Data regarding employment and health insurance coverage were examined among 1004 male farmers who held additional employment. Two-stage cluster sampling was used to select 60 of Kentucky's 120 counties, mostly rural, and then 8,271 farms. A random sample of these farmers were interviewed between June 1994 and August 1995 using a computer assisted telephone interviewing system. The 1004 participating farmers represents an 80% response rate. Though a large percentage of the farmers' income and time was related to their non-farm employment, the majority (68.7%) of respondents stated they would prefer full-time farm employment. Household expenses led the reasons for off-farm work, and obtaining employer-sponsored health insurance was listed as a primary reason by 54%. Lack of insurance coverage was independently associated with younger age (OR = 5.7, CI: 1.9-17.1, 60 yrs), education (OR = 2.5, CI: 1.5-4.1, < 12 yrs vs. = 12 yrs), and income (OR = 8.6, CI: 2.6-27, lower vs. upper 20%) b...
Effects of time perspective on student motivation: Introduction to a special issue

This article introduces this special issue by establishing a conceptual foundation for thinking about how students' conceptions of time influence motivation and achievement. In particular, we describe how students' perceptions of the utility of what they are learning for their futures can positively affect motivation. Temporal perspective is tied to current models of motivation and learning such as intrinsic motivation and self-regulation. We present 2 purposes for organizing this issue: (a) initiating discussion and research about how conceptions of the future influence and are influenced by students' motivation and (b) bridging gaps in the field between American and international perspectives on learning and motivation. We conclude by introducing the 6 articles that comprise this special issue of Educational Psychology Review.