cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does irrigation with reclaimed water significantly pollute shallow aquifer with nitrate and salinity? An assay in a perurban area in North Tunisia

In Tunisia, reclaimed water is increasingly used for irrigation in order to mitigate water shortage. However, few studies have addressed the effect of such practice on the environment. Thus, we attempted in this paper to assess the impact of irrigation with reclaimed water on the nitrate content and salinity in the Nabeul shallow aquifer on the basis of satellite images and data from 53 sampled wells. Ordinary and indicator kriging were used to map the spatial variability of these groundwater chemical parameters and to locate the areas where water is suitable for drinking and irrigation. The results of this study have shown that reclaimed water is not an influential factor on groundwater contamination by nitrate and salinity. Cropping density is the main factor contributing to nitrate groundwater pollution, whereas salinity pollution is affected by a conjunction of factors such as seawater interaction and lithology. The predictive maps show that nitrate content in the groundwater ranges from 9.2 to 206 mg/L while the electric conductivity ranges from 2.2 to 8.5 dS/m. The high-nitrate concentration areas underlie sites with high annual crop density, whereas salinity decreases gradually moving away from the coastline. The probability maps reveal that almost the entire study area is unsuitable for drinking with regard to nitrate and salinity levels. Appropriate measures, such as the elaboration of codes of good agricultural practices and action programs, should be undertaken in order to prevent and/or remediate the contamination of the Nabeul shallow aquifer.
A Quarter Century of Adaptive Optics at the Starfire Optical Range

This paper summarizes developments in adaptive optics at the Starfire Optical Range from the first Rayleigh laser guidestar concepts in 1981 through current efforts on the 3.5-m telescope using mesospheric sodium guidestars.
Achievements and Challenges in Cocomo-Based Software Resource Estimation

This article summarizes major achievements and challenges of software resource estimation over the last 40 years, emphasizing the Cocomo suite of models. Critical issues that have enabled major achievements include the development of good model forms, criteria for evaluating models, methods for integrating expert judgment and statistical data analysis, and processes for developing new models that cover new software development approaches. The article also projects future trends in software development and evolution processes, along with their implications and challenges for future software resource estimation capabilities.
A Qualitative Study to Understand Positive and Negative Child Feeding Behaviors of Immigrant Asian Indian Mothers in the US

To understand current practice of child feeding behaviors, and underlying factors influencing these practices in Asian Indian mothers, qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 27 immigrant Asian Indian mothers of children ages 5–10 years. Using the theory of planned behavior as a guiding framework, child feeding behaviors employed, beliefs about the outcomes of feeding behaviors, perceived ease or difficultly in practicing feeding behaviors, and social norms were explored during the interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted using coding and display matrices. Mothers were motivated by nutrition outcomes when practicing positive and negative controlling feeding behaviors. Outcomes related to preservation of Indian culture and values also influenced feeding behaviors. Pressuring to eat was often practiced despite the perception of ineffectiveness. Use of food rewards was found, and use of TV to control children’s food intake despite the clear understanding of undesirable nutrition outcomes was a unique finding. Asian Indian mothers need effective child feeding strategies that are culturally appropriate. Integrating cultural beliefs in nutrition education could help support existing motivation and behavior modification.
Learning distance metrics for interactive search-assisted diagnosis of mammograms

The goal of interactive search-assisted diagnosis (ISAD) is to enable doctors to make more informed decisions about a given case by providing a selection of similar annotated cases. For instance, a radiologist examining a suspicious mass could study labeled mammograms with similar conditions and weigh the outcome of their biopsy results before determining whether to recommend a biopsy. The fundamental challenge in developing ISAD systems is the identification of similar cases, not simply in terms of superficial image characteristics, but in a medically-relevant sense. This task involves three aspects: extraction of a representative set of features, identifying an appropriate measure of similarity in the high-dimensional feature space, and return the most similar matches at interactive speed. The first has been an active research area for several decades. The second has largely been ignored by the medical imaging community. The third can be achieved using the Diamond framework, an open-source platform that enables efficient exploration of large distributed complex data repositories. This paper focuses on the second aspect. We show that the choice of distance metric affects the accuracy of an ISAD system and that machine learning enables the construction of effective domain-specific distance metrics. In the learned distance, data points with the same labels (e.g., malignant masses) are closer than data points with different labels (e.g., malignant vs. benign). Thus, the labels of the near neighbors of a new case are likely to be informative. We present and evaluate several novel methods for distance metric learning and evaluate them on a database involving 2522 mass regions of interest (ROI) extracted from digital mammograms, with ground truth defined by biopsy results (1800 malignant, 722 benign). Our results show that learned distance metrics improve both classification (ROC curve) and retrieval performance.
Desensitisation of muscarinic receptor-mediated cyclic GMP formation by cultured nerve cells.

THE loss of sensitivity of a tissue to an agonist (perhaps a neurotransmitter) after prolonged exposure to this compound is called desensitisation and may be specific1 or nonspecific2. Although many different mechanisms may be involved in nonspecific desensitisation3, specific desensitisation (tachyphylaxis) has long been considered to involve the agonist–receptor complex4–7. Our interest in the interaction of certain psychotropic drugs with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of cultured nerve cells8,9 has led us to study the desensitisation of these receptors. They mediate the formation of guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate (cyclic GMP)8–10, a response which has yielded much information about the interactions of agonists and antagonists with the muscarinic receptor8,9, although a direct coupling of this receptor and guanylate cyclase has not been demonstrated. We report here our use of this receptor effect to characterise the specific desensitisation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of intact mouse neuroblastoma cells (clone N1E–115).
A semi-automatic framework for highway extraction and vehicle detection based on a geometric deformable model

Road extraction and vehicle detection are two of the most important steps of traffic flow analysis from multi-frame aerial photographs. The traditional way of deriving traffic flow trajectories relies on manual vehicle counting from a sequence of aerial photographs. It is tedious and time-consuming work. To improve this process, this research presents a new semi-automatic framework for highway extraction and vehicle detection from aerial photographs. The basis of the new framework is a geometric deformable model. This model refers to the minimization of an objective function that connects the optimization problem with the propagation of regular curves. Utilizing implicit representation of two-dimensional curve, the implementation of this model is capable of dealing with topological changes during curve deformation process and the output is independent of the position of the initial curves. A seed point propagation framework is designed and implemented. This framework incorporates highway extraction, tracking, and linking into one procedure. Manually selected seed points can be automatically propagated throughout a whole highway network. During the process, road center points are also extracted, which introduces a search direction for solving possible blocking problems. This new framework has been successfully applied to highway network extraction and vehicle detection from a large orthophoto mosaic. In this research, vehicles on the extracted highway network were detected with an 83% success rate.
Does functional mitral regurgitation improve with isolated aortic valve replacement

Abstract Background: The surgical treatment of mitral valve regurgitation (MR) at the time of aortic valve replacement (AVR) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in severity of MR following isolated AVR, and to determine survival benefit. Methods: Between 1991 and 2001, 250 patients underwent isolated AVR; 196 patients had concomitant functional MR. Follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was available on 107 patients, with a median of 818 ± 752 days. Aortic valve was stenotic in 77 and regurgitant in 30 patients. Results: Mean age was 67 ± 15 years and 57 (53%) were male. Preoperative MR was trivial (1+) in 27 (25%), mild (2+) in 44 (41%), moderate (3+) in 29 (27%), and severe (4+) in 7 (7%). At follow-up TTE, MR improved by 1 or 2 grades in 48 patients (45%). Of patients with preoperative 2+ MR, 19 (43%) improved, 16 (36%) remained unchanged, and 9 (21%) worsened. Although some patients with preoperative 3+ MR exhibited improvement, 11 (38%) remained with moderate-to-severe MR. Of those with a preoperative MR of 4+, 3 (71%) improved, and 4 remained with 3–4+ MR. For patients with preoperative 1 to 2+ MR, survival at 3 years was 98% compared to 78% for those with 3 to 4+ MR (p = 0.038). Conclusion: Functional MR does not always improve after isolated AVR. Survival is lower for patients with preoperative 3 to 4+ MR. Moderate-to-severe MR should be repaired at the time of aortic valve surgery.
Effect of thiouracil in modifying folate function in severe vitamin B12 deficiency

The effects of thiouracil in correcting defects in folic acid function produced by B12 deficiency were studied. Addition of the thyroid inhibitor, thiouracil, to a low methionine diet containing B12, increased the oxidation of [2-14C]histidine to carbon dioxide, and increased liver folate levels. Addition of 10% pectin to the diet accentuated B12 deficiency as evidenced by a greatly decreased rate of histidine oxidation (0.19%) and an increased excretion of methylmalonic acid. Addition of thiouracil to the diet restored folate function as measured by increased histidine oxidation and increased liver folate levels similar to that produced by addition of methionine to a B12-deficient diet. Thiouracil decreased methylmalonate excretion, and increased hepatic levels of B12 in animals on both B12-deficient and -supplemented diets. Hepatic methionine synthase was increased by thiouracil, which may be the result of the elevated B12 levels. S-Adenosylmethionine and the enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase were also increased by thiouracil. Thus it is possible that the effect of thiouracil in increasing folate function consists both in the effect of thiouracil in decreasing levels of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and also in its action in increasing S-adenosylmethionine which exerts a feedback inhibition of this enzyme.
A Review of Biotransport Education in the 21st Century: Lessons Learned From Experts

The field of bioengineering is relatively new and complex including multiple disciplines encompassing areas in science and engineering. Efforts including the National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) and VaNTH Engineering Research Center in Bioengineering Educational Technologies have been made to establish and disseminate knowledge and proven methods for teaching bioengineering concepts. Further, the summer bioengineering conference (SBC), sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' (ASME) Bioengineering Division, was established to provide a meeting place for engineering educators and students having common interests in biological systems. Of the many subdisciplines of bioengineering, biotransport is a key subject that has wide applicability to many issues in engineering, biology, medicine, pharmacology, and environmental science, among others. The absence of standard content, guidelines, and texts needed for teaching biotransport courses to students motivated the Biotransport committee of ASME's Bioengineering Division to establish a biotransport education initiative. Biotransport education workshop sessions were conducted during the SBC 2011, 2012, and 2013 as part of this initiative. The workshop sessions included presentations from experienced faculty covering a spectrum of information from general descriptions of undergraduate biotransport courses to very detailed outlines of graduate courses to successful teaching techniques. A list of texts and references available for teaching biotransport courses at undergraduate and graduate levels has been collated and documented based on the workshop presentations. Further, based on individual teaching experiences and methodologies shared by the presenters, it was noted that active learning techniques, including cooperative and collaborative learning, can be useful for teaching undergraduate courses while problem based learning (PBL) can be a beneficial method for graduate courses. The outcomes of the education initiative will help produce students who are knowledgeable in the subject of biotransport, facile in applying biotransport concepts for solving problems in various application areas, and comfortable with their own abilities as life-long learners.
Dependency on elementary school caregivers: The role of parental intrusiveness and children's separation anxiety

A theoretical model of children's dependency on teachers and other caregivers in elementary school was tested and supported in this study. Based on attachment theory and social-cognitive theory, parental intrusiveness and children's separation anxiety were hypothesized to heighten dependent behaviors with school caregivers. Families of children in Grades K–5 participated. Parent- and child-report measures with good psychometric properties were employed. Parental intrusiveness and children's separation anxiety were associated with clingy, dependent relationships with school caregivers in cross-informant correlational analyses. Intrusiveness and separation anxiety jointly accounted for 18%–29% of the variance in dependency scores. Results are consistent with attachment models of continuity between parent–child relationships and relations with other caregivers. Practice recommendations for teachers and school providers are given. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 44: 823–837, 2007.
Mapping Shared Understandings Using Relational Class Analysis: The Case of the Cultural Omnivore Reexamined1

What do sociologists mean when they describe culture as founded on “shared understandings”? Sharing an understanding does not necessarily imply having the same opinions but rather agreeing on the structures of relevance and opposition that make symbols and actions meaningful. Because meaning is contextual, different people might interpret the same reality in different ways. Yet standard quantitative sociological methods are not designed to take such heterogeneity into account. In this article, I introduce a new method—relational class analysis—that uses attitudinal data to identify groups of individuals that share distinctive ways of understanding the same domain of social activity. To demonstrate its utility I use it to reexamine the cultural omnivore thesis. I find that Americans' understandings of the social symbolism of musical taste are shaped by three competing logics of cultural distinction, in a manner that complicates contemporary sociological accounts of artistic taste.
Adding HPV testing to cytology screening reduced ≥ grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia at 5 years

Source Citation Rijkaart DC, Berkhof J, Rozendaal L, et al. Human papillomavirus testing for the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer: final results of the POBASCAM...
Ibrutinib and indolent B-cell lymphomas.

Most patients with indolent B-cell lymphomas fail to achieve complete remission with current treatment approaches and invariably relapse. During the past decade, innovative immunochemotherapy strategies have substantially improved disease control rates but not survival, thus providing the rationale for development of novel agents targeting dysregulated pathways that are operable in these hematological malignancies. Ibrutinib, a novel first-in-human Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, has progressed into phase III trials after early-phase clinical studies demonstrated effective target inhibition, increased tumor response rates, and significant improvement in survival, particularly in patients with indolent B-cell lymphomas. Recently, the compound was designated a "breakthrough therapy" by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma and Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. This review summarizes recent achievements of ibrutinib, with a focus on its emerging role in the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell lymphoid malignancies.
Hominid-Pongid Distinctiveness in the Miocene-Pliocene Fossil Record: The Lothagam Mandible

Australopithecus afarensis, Hominid origins, Dental/ ABSTRACT The Lothagam mandibular fragment, found in 1967 west of Lake Turkana, Kenya, has been dated to 5.5 million years ago. This date is significant because it may lie within the suggested time range during which the hominid and pongid clades diverged. Because of its fragmentary condition and great age, this specimen has run the gamut of taxonomic assignations, from ramapithecine to pongid to hominid. These three nomenclatural cate- gories serve as the basis for three hypotheses tested in this study. First, morphological and metric comparisons between Lothagam and a sample of Euroafrican ramapithecines address the hypothesis of "Lothagam as predi- vergence hominoid." Second, comparisons with a sample of Pun test the "Loth- agam as postdivergence, African protopongid" hypothesis. Finally, samples of Australopithecus afarensis and A. africanus were utilized to evaluate the hypothesis of "Lothagam as postdivergence, early hominid." Unlike previous studies attempting to ascertain the evolutionary affinities of this enigmatic fossil, this work benefits from the large sample of A. afarensis specimens now generally available for study. Metric and morphological comparisons demon- strate Lothagam's afhity to A. afarensis in sharing derived, hominid states in such features as the mental foramen vertical position, the ascending ramus origin, the breadth of the alveolar margin, the reduction of the hypoconulid, the dimensions of the MI and the dimensions of the mandibular corpus. It is suggested that the dentaugnathic features enumerated in this study can be employed to distinguish ancestral hominid from pongid in future MioPliocene paleontological discoveries.
Effects of the rat renotropic system on 14C-uridine incorporation into RNA and RNA precursors.

Abstract We used the incorporation of 14C-uridine into RNA of incubating kidney fragments from normal control rats to evaluate RNA metabolism. Sera from unilaterally nephrectomized rats (uni) obtained 20 hrs post-operatively stimulate 14C-uridine incorporation into RNA significantly more than sera from sham-operated rats (sham). Differently, sera from uni and sham rats have little influence on specific activities of endogenous uridine nucleotide pool in renal fragments. Renal extracts were obtained by homogenizing kidneys in saline. Extracts from kidneys of uni and sham rats 20 hrs post operation depress incorporation markedly, and each depresses to a similar extent, but kidney extracts dilute the specific activities of uridine pools. Correcting for the latter dilution demonstrates that kidney extracts alone have little effect on 14C-uridine incorporation into RNA. We then followed the results when these sera and extracts were combined. Compared to fragments incubating in sham sera and sham extracts, substitution of uni extracts or both uni extracts and uni sera enhances 14C-uridine into renal RNA, whether or not results are corrected for changes in the specific activities of the uridine pools. We conclude that after uninephrectomy there is a concurrent elevation in circulating renotropin and a tissue activating factor in the remaining kidney. The tissue factor can only form an excitor to 14C-uridine incorporation into RNA when serum is present. The rat renotropic system that enhances incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA also can stimulate 14C-uridine incorporation into renal RNA.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Metronidazole Vaginal Cream in the Treatment of Papanicolaou Smears Showing Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS).

Objective. To compare topical metronidazole gel vs. placebo to assess resolution to normal in subsequent Pap smears of patients with ASCUS. Materials and Methods. Patients with ASCUS pap smears were randomized to metronidazole or placebo. Resolution of ASCUS vs. persistence, or progression, was the endpoint. A subanalysis stratified patients for bacterial vaginosis (BV) to determine if this population responded differently. Discrete variables were compared using chi-square analysis. Results. Forty-nine patients received metronidazole and 52 received placebo. The rate of resolution in the placebo group were 60%, and 67% in the metronidazole group. With BV, the rate of resolution in the placebo group was 67%, and 70% in the metronidazole group. These were not significantly different. Conclusions. Treatment of ASCUS Pap smears using topical metronidazole did not demonstrate a significant increase in the rate of resolution in subsequent Pap smears in the overall group nor in a subgroup with BV.
In situ RBS and channeling study of molecular beam epitaxial growth of metals and semiconductors on semiconductors

Abstract High energy ion scattering (HEIS) has been used for in situ surface and interface studies of molecular beam epitaxial growth of metals and semiconductors on semiconductors. In the study of phase transitions during the initial growth and thermal desorption of Pb on Si(111), HEIS measurement has directly and accurately determined the metal overlayer coverage associated with various surface structures and clearly revealed SiPb interface relaxation and Pb island formation. These results contribute to an unambiguous interpretation of LEED patterns and STM images. HEIS has been used to monitor the homoepitaxial growth of Ge on Ge(111) through liquid metal media, and to characterize in situ the grown thin films. This leads to a better understanding of the growth mechanism and optimal growth conditions.
Solar radiation incident upon slopes of different orientations

Abstract By means of a pyranometer oriented at various tilt angles and azimuth angles with respect to the Sun, measurements of the direct and diffuse solar flux incident on slopes of various orientations have been made for clear sky conditions. The resulting data have been used to evaluate the validity of the solar flux model of Robinson[1] and to introduce certain modifications of that model to achieve better agreement of computations with measurements. It is concluded that the modified model yields significantly better results than the original for slopes oriented in the azimuth of the Sun, but results are comparable for other azimuthal orientations of the slope. The accuracy attainable by this modeling approach is considered sufficient for many practical applications.
mRNA nuclear export.

The export of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is an essential step in the expression of genetic information in eukaryotes. It is an energy-dependent process and involves transport across the nuclear pores. It requires both cis-acting ribonucleoprotein particle signals and specific trans-acting factors. Although much remains to be learned, recent information has begun to define this pathway at both the cellular and biochemical levels and indicates that it is used as a key regulatory step by several viruses.
Eocene Angiosperm Flowers

Collections of well-preserved angiosperm flowers from the Middle Eocene of southeastern North America include a variety of morphological types. The first of these specimens to be studied extensively, a catkin, has yielded a great deal of structural information. Floral morphology, pollen morphology, and the nature of the peltate scales suggest that this catkin is allied with extant genera of the Juglandaceae. This confirms the antiquity of some of the diagnostic floral and pollen features found in extant genera of the Juglandaceae and the importance of structural information available from fossil angiosperm flowers.
A simple method for studying operant wheel running in rats

Abstract The present report describes an operant running device for rats. The apparatus makes use of an activity wheel driven by a small electric motor. The motor is started by a bar press; one activated, the wheel turns for 3–30 sec. depending on the setting of a timing device. The system is well suited to long term studies of activity patterns.
APC-mediated downregulation of β-catenin activity involves nuclear sequestration and nuclear export

Mutational inactivation of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) initiates most colon carcinomas. APC functions include targeting cytoplasmic beta-catenin, a Wnt pathway mediator, for proteolysis. Although APC shuttles between cytoplasm and nucleus, the role of nuclear APC protein, particularly with respect to nuclear beta-catenin levels and activity, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that APC lacking functional nuclear localization signals (NLSs) or nuclear export signals (NESs) does not effectively downregulate nuclear beta-catenin levels; neither does wild-type APC when nuclear export is blocked. While APC bearing mutated NLSs could not downregulate beta-catenin-mediated transcriptional activation, APC lacking NESs remained active. Consistent with the hypothesis that nuclear APC lacking NESs can inhibit beta-catenin function by sequestration, we show that endogenous APC and beta-catenin proteins interact within the nucleus. These data demonstrate that nuclear APC binding to beta-catenin, and then inducing its nuclear export, plays a critical role in the control of nuclear beta-catenin levels and activity.
Explore the relationship between online shopping and shopping trips: An analysis with the 2009 NHTS data

The rapid growth of ecommerce brings great changes to the transportation system. However, most existing studies focus on the impact of ecommerce on freight system. Its impact on personal trips is relatively less studied. It is reasonable to argue that online shopping reduces the need of shopping trips by making goods accessible via door-to-door deliveries. On the other hand, online shopping may also create more shopping trips as online shoppers travel to stores to experience, compare or pick up the goods. Understanding the connections between online shopping and shopping trips is critical for transportation planners to prepare for changes that information technology will continue to bring to this nation in the future. Using the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data and a structural equation model (SEM), this paper disentangles the bidirectional connections between online shopping and shopping trips. Results show that online shopping encourages shopping trips while shopping trips tend to suppress the online shopping propensity. Besides, both online shopping and shopping trips are influenced by exogenous factors such as shoppers’ demographic features, regional specific factors and household attributes. A closer examination at the state level further confirms model validity while disclosing spatial variation in their relationship.
Blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory changes produced by stimulation of the hippocampus of the monkey.

Cardiovascular and respiratory changes resulting from systematic stimulation of the hippocampal formation of the monkey were recorded. Stimulation of the anterior portion of the hippocampus resulted in a marked depression or cessation of respiratory excursions, but without apparent changes in respiratory rate. Respiratory changes were minimal to absent when posterior regions of the hippocampus were activated. Anterior hippocampal stimulation resulted in an initial depression of blood pressure accompanied by a small drop in pulse rate, followed by a rise in blood pressure which lasted throughout the period of stimulation and then gradually returned to former levels. The duration of the rise in blood pressure following cessation of stimulation was directly correlated with hippocampal activity. Posterior hippocampal stimulation did not show the secondary rise in pressure, only the depression. Marked pulse changes occurred only when the hippocampal gyrus was secondarily activated or stimulated directly. The neuron pathways which mediated these responses fall into two general groups, the fornix system and a hippocampotemporal system or both. A hypothesis that both systems may be concerned in visceral responses is presented.
An evaluation of the promotional processes in a large Texas metropolitan police department

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine a police promotional process, in order to determine factors important for a sergeant to be promoted to lieutenant. To do this, written scores, assessment scores, and other demographic variables are used, thus providing a unique look into what it truly takes to promote to an important managerial rank in this large Texas metropolitan police department (LTMPD).Design/methodology/approach – This is an exploratory study utilizing data collected from departmental databases. The original data set was accessed through public information laws, and compiled by the lead author, a 21‐year police veteran and participant in this promotional process.Findings – Significant findings were both expected and unexpected. Of no surprise were the findings that an officer's written score and assessment score significantly affected the likelihood of promotion. Unexpected were past behavior patterns, age, and number of times tested significantly affected both assessment center perf...
Anomalous magnetic depolarization of fluorescence from the NO22B2 state

Abstract Hanle-effect studies were made of 13 identified lines belonging to the 5933-, 6117-, 6125-, and 6126-A bands of the NO22B2 state. The fluorescence was excited using a tunable cw dye laser operated single mode, using NO2 pressures as low as 0.2 mTorr. From the variation of the fluorescence intensity with magnetic field the product gτC is deduced, where g and τC are the excited state g value and coherence lifetime, respectively. Using previously determined radiative lifetimes, g is obtained and compared to the values of g expected from Hund's case (b) coupling. The observed g values do not display the expected N′ dependence and are about an order of magnitude smaller than predicted. An alternative explanation is that the g values are behaved, but the coherence lifetime is shorter than the radiative lifetime, caused by radiationless dephasing processes which may be collisional or intrinsic.
Update on the female athlete triad

Updated prevalence estimates of all 3 components of the Female Athlete Triad, a syndrome characterized by low energy availability, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, and osteoporosis, is low (0 %–16 %), however, estimates of 1 or 2 concurrent components approach 50 %–60 % among certain athlete groups. Recent research identifies components of the Triad among female adolescent athletes, particularly those participating in leanness sports, such as endurance running. This is alarming, as adolescents require adequate nutrition and normal hormone function to optimize bone mineral gains during this critical developmental period. Current literature highlights new assessments, such as measurements of bone microarchitecture and hormone levels to better evaluate bone strength and the hormonal and metabolic profile of athletes with and at risk for the Triad. Recent data also provides support for additional potential consequences of the Triad, such as endothelial dysfunction and related cardiovascular effects, stress fractures, and musculoskeletal injuries. Additional prospective research is needed to evaluate long-term indicators and consequences of the Triad and identify effective behavioral treatment strategies.
Computer modeling of the influence of oxygen adsorption centers in zeolite on the chemisorption of hydrogen ions

We propose a simplified computer model of the interaction of hydrated and nonhydrated hydrogen, calcium, and zinc ions with adsorption centers in the SiO2 fragments of zeolite in the cluster approximation. By using the quantum-chemical РМ6 method, we find the activation energy of adsorption and the energies of formation of chemical bonds and gradual filling of these centers and reveal the positive influence of the ions of metals on the blocking of adsorption of hydrogen ions accompanied by the decrease in their penetration to the surface of the base metal.
Transnational Advocacy Against Capital Punishment: A Role For The Holy See

Networks of social activists can span sovereign borders, seeking to affect human rights policy change within an individual country. Keck and Sikkink argue that such advocates are most effective when they champion a vulnerable population. This poses a problem for transnational advocates of death penalty abolition, because persons guilty of serious crimes are not, intuitively, vulnerable people. The Catholic Church, as a member of the abolition network, attempts to alter discourse on capital punishment such that guilt does not preclude vulnerability. This article examines statements of the Holy See as one way of understanding the Church's contribution to the transnational abolition movement. By emphasising humans' vulnerability before God, treatment of violent criminals in the Bible, and the importance of a consistent ethic of life, the Holy See works to prevent the conflation of criminal guilt with moral invulnerability.
Systems biology approaches for understanding cellular mechanisms of immunity in lymph nodes during infection

Adaptive immunity is initiated in secondary lymphoid tissues when naive T cells recognize foreign antigen presented as MHC-bound peptide on the surface of dendritic cells. Only a small fraction of T cells in the naive repertoire will express T cell receptors specific for a given epitope, but antigen recognition triggers T cell activation and proliferation, thus greatly expanding antigen-specific clones. Expanded T cells can serve a helper function for B cell responses or traffic to sites of infection to secrete cytokines or kill infected cells. Over the past decade, two-photon microscopy of lymphoid tissues has shed important light on T cell development, antigen recognition, cell trafficking and effector functions. These data have enabled the development of sophisticated quantitative and computational models that, in turn, have been used to test hypotheses in silico that would otherwise be impossible or difficult to explore experimentally. Here, we review these models and their principal findings and highlight remaining questions where modeling approaches are poised to advance our understanding of complex immunological systems.
Beta cell regeneration after single-round immunological destruction in a mouse model

Aims/hypothesis Achieving a better understanding of beta cell regeneration after immunological destruction is crucial for the development of immunotherapy approaches for type 1 diabetes. In previous type 1 diabetes models, sustained immune activation eliminates regenerating beta cells, thus limiting the study of the regenerative capacity of beta cells upon immunological destruction. Here, we employed an adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8) vector for beta cell-targeted overexpression of a foreign antigen to induce single-round immunological destruction of existing beta cells.
Audio/visual information in construction project control

Abstract The proper design of an information system in support of project management is crucial to the successful and effective management of the construction process. Particularly, the need for quality data and information pertaining to the performance of a construction project is well recognized. However, one such type of information, namely audio/visual (voice, pictures, videos), has not yet received adequate attention in the construction industry. Researchers have just begun to evaluate the role of such non-conventional data in construction applications. This paper discusses the development of a prototype system that deals with audio/ visual information along with other types of data in support of project management.
Modeling explosive vapor transport through porous media

The detection of buried mines is important to both the military and to civilians, and the possibility of chemical detection may provide a more definitive identification. Understanding the transport of explosive vapors through soil or snow is a major step in the detection problem. In cold regions, the presence of freezing ground or a snow cover complicates the situation, yet also may provide temporary storage of the explosive, potentially leading to opportunities for more optimal sensing conditions later. This paper discusses preliminary work towards adapting an existing 2D heat, mass, and chemical vapor transport model to the problem of explosives transport. The model, originally developed for simulating heat and mass transport through snow under a variety of meteorological conditions, shows promise for simulating explosives vapor transport for buried mines.
A low-cost reliable online noise level estimation for accurate spike detection in extracellular recordings

On-line unsupervised spike detection is a fundamental building block for autonomous neural implants. To accurately monitor neurological activity, the spike detectors should be able to operate at a wide range of firing rates. This can only be achieved by a careful estimation of instantaneous noise level in the recording. In this paper, we propose a system for estimating noise level in extracellular recordings, which is reliable across a wide range of firing rates, and thus leads to accurate spike detection.
Calcium-dependent chloride currents elicited by injection of ethanol into Xenopus oocytes.

Electrophysiological techniques were used to study the response of native Xenopus laevis oocytes to intracellular injection and bath application of ethanol. Injection of ethanol produced dose-dependent transient inward currents accompanied by large current fluctuations, with estimated intracellular concentrations ranging from 10 to 300 mM. The response duration varied between 2 and 15 min, with an onset delay of 2–15 s. The inward current sometimes consisted of a fast and a slow component. Bath application of equivalent concentrations elicited similar but considerably smaller responses. The current showed a reversal potential of −2 ± 10 mV, corresponding to an increase in chloride permeability. The response was eliminated in the presence of low chloride saline and was blocked by the chloride channel inhibitors SITS and DIDS. Ethanol responses were inhibited by the intracellular injections of the calcium chelator EGTA and were unaffected when the extracellular calcium was lowered. It is concluded that ethanol injection into Xenopus oocytes elicits a release of calcium from intracellular stores, which then activates an increased membrane permeability to chloride.
Cardiac structural and hemodynamic changes associated with physiological heart hypertrophy of pregnancy are reversed postpartum

Pregnancy is associated with ventricular hypertrophy and volume overload. Here we investigated whether late pregnancy is associated with cardiac structural and hemodynamic changes, and if these changes are reversed postpartum. Female mice (C57BL/6) were used in nonpregnant diestrus (NP), late-pregnant (LP), or 7-day postpartum (PP7) stages. Echocardiography and cardiac catheterization were performed to monitor cardiac hemodynamics. Transcript expression of proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor, cardiac fetal gene osteopontin, cardiac extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes matrix metalloproteinase-2, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-15 and -17 were assessed by RT-PCR. Masson trichrome staining for cardiac fibrosis and endothelial marker CD31 immunostaining for angiogenesis were performed. Heart hypertrophy in LP was fully reversed in PP7 (heart weight: NP = 114 ± 4 mg; LP = 147 ± 2 mg; PP7 = 117 ± 8 mg, P < 0.05 for LP vs. PP7). LP had elevated left ventricular (LV) pressure (119 ± 5 mmHg in LP vs. 92 ± 7 mmHg in NP, P < 0.05) that was restored at PP7 (95 ± 8 mmHg, P < 0.001 vs. LP). LP had increased LV contractility (maximal rate of increase of LV pressure = 6,664 ± 297 mmHg/s in LP vs. 4,294 ± 568 mmHg/s in NP, P < 0.01) that was restored at PP7 (5,313 ± 636 mmHg/s, P < 0.05 vs. LP). LV ejection fraction was reduced in LP (LP = 58 ± 1% vs. NP = 70 ± 4%, P < 0.001) and was already restored at PP1 (77 ± 2%, P < 0.001 vs. LP). Myocardial angiogenesis was significantly increased in LP (capillary density = 1.25 ± 0.02 vs. 0.95 ± 0.01 capillaries/myocyte in NP, P < 0.001) and was fully restored in PP7 (0.98 ± 0.01, P < 0.001 vs. LP). Vascular endothelial growth factor was upregulated in LP (LP = 1.4 ± 0.1 vs. NP = 1 ± 0.1, normalized to NP, P < 0.001) and was restored in PP7 (PP7 = 0.83 ± 0.1, P < 0.001 vs. LP). There was no increase in cardiac fibrosis in LP. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 transcript levels were downregulated in LP (LP = 0.47 ± 0.03 vs. NP = 1 ± 0.01, normalized to NP, P < 0.001) and was restored at PP7 (0.70 ± 0.1, P < 0.001 vs. LP). In conclusion, pregnancy-induced heart hypertrophy is associated with transient cardiac dysfunction, increased cardiac angiogenesis, lack of fibrosis, and decreased expression of remodeling enzymes that are reversed postpartum.
Abstract 4201: Role of adenomatous poliposis coli (APC) in cigarette smoke condensate-induced accumulation of apurinic/apyrimidinic lesions and enhanced transformation of normal breast epithelial cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Active and passive smoking are major risk factors for cancer and have been implicated in the etiology of breast cancer. The mechanisms through which smoking promotes breast cancer are poorly understood. Our previous studies have shown that cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), a surrogate for cigarette smoke, induces transformation of normal human breast epithelial (MCF10A) cells in culture. We have described the involvement of a multifunctional protein, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), in the CSC-induced transformation of MCF10A cells through the interaction with DNA polymerase β and 5’-flap endonuclease 1 (Fen1), and thus, the blockade of the BER pathway. In the present study, we have examined the underlying mechanisms involved in CSC and Benzo[α]pyrene (B[α]P)-induced transformation of MCF10A cells in which APC was overexpressed or knocked down. Our results suggest a positive correlation between the increased levels of APC expression with the decreased BER activity and concomitant accumulation of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP)-site lesions. If not repaired on time, the cytotoxic and mutagenic AP-site lesions ultimately lead to enhanced transformation of MCF10A cells. These studies suggest a possible mechanism by which active and/or passive cigarette smoking might be linked with breast carcinogenesis. This work was supported by Flight attendant Medical Research Institute, Miami, FL to SN. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4201. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4201
Plasma and Urinary Amino Acids During and After Cardiopulmonary Bypass Preliminary Report

The amount of amino acids in the blood during cardiopulmonary bypass has been studied in two stages by thin-layer chromatography with modifications necessary for this study. In the first stage fresh heparinized blood was recirculated for four to five hours in a heart-lung machine containing a rotating disc oxygenator and nonocclusive roller pumps. This apparatus caused considerable hemolysis, and there was a definite increase in most of the amino acids. Histidine, proline, hydroxyproline, serine, alanine, threonine, aspartic acid, asparagine, glycine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, and tryptophane showed a marked increase; arginine, lysine, valine, cystine, cysteine, and phenylalanine showed a moderate increase. Leucine, isoleucine, and methionine did not change. In the second part of the study, similar investigations were done on blood and urinary samples taken during open-heart operations on five cases. Eight to ten blood samples and a similar number of urinary samples were studied and evaluated repeatedly. T...
Characterization of cerebrovascular responses to hyperoxia and hypercapnia using MRI in rat.

Abstract Understanding cerebrovascular responses to hyperoxia and hypercapnia is important for investigating exogenous regulation of cerebral hemodynamics. We characterized gas-induced vascular changes in the brains of anesthetized healthy rats using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while the rats inhaled 100% O 2 (hyperoxia) and 5% CO 2 (hypercapnia). We used echo planar imaging (EPI), arterial spin labeling (ASL), and intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) to quantify vascular responses as measured by blood oxygenation level dependence (BOLD), cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), microvascular volume (MVV), and vessel size index (VSI) in multiple brain regions. Hyperoxia resulted in a statistically significant increase in BOLD-weighted MRI signal and significant decrease in CBF and CBV ( P P 2 and CO 2 challenges. Interestingly, there was an evident spatial disparity between the O 2 and CO 2 stimuli-induced functional activation maps; that is, cortical and subcortical regions of the brain exhibited notable differences in response to the two gases. Hemodynamic parameters measured in the cortical regions showed greater reactivity to CO 2 , whereas these same parameters measured in subcortical regions showed greater responsivity to O 2 . Our results demonstrate significant changes of hemodynamic MRI parameters during systemic hypercapnia and hyperoxia in normal cerebral tissue. These gas-dependent changes are spatiotemporally distinctive, suggesting important feasibility for exogenously controlling local cerebral perfusion.