cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacterial enteritis as a risk factor for childhood intussusception: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective To assess the relationship between bacterial enteritis and intussusception. Study design The Patient Administration Systems and Biostatistics Activity database from January 2002 to December 2005 was examined for clinic visits or hospital admission to a Department of Defense medical facility for children age 0-5 years. The study included the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems diagnosis-related group (DRG) codes for infections with Yersinia enterocolitica , Escherichia coli , Shigella species, Salmonella species, and Campylobacter . Identified patients were then assessed for the intussusception DRG code for 0-180 days postinfection. The total number of children enrolled in military treatment facilities in the same age group (denominator) was obtained. Results Bacterial enteritis significantly increased the relative risk of intussusception. An increased risk was found following infection with Salmonella , E coli , Shigella , and Campylobacter . The relative risk for intussusception following any bacterial enteritis was 40.6 (95% confidence interval=28.6-57.5; P Conclusions Bacterial enteritis is a significant risk factor for the subsequent development of intussusception in children.
Tuberculin response of lymphocytes from human skin test nonreactors; evidence for in vitro primary sensitization of T lymphocytes.

Abstract Tuberculin-purified protein derivative (PPD) is a B-lymphocyte mitogen in a variety of experimental animals. Although peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB MNC) from healthy human tuberculin responders consistently responded to PPD by increased incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine, cell fractionation studies showed this to be due to T-lymphocyte rather than B-cell blastogenesis. Moreover, utilizing thymidine suicide experiments, the T-lymphocyte response could be categorized as antigenic rather than nonspecific mitogenic reactivity. Kinetic studies revealed a delayed peak of PPD-induced thymidine incorporation in PB MNC from tuberculin skin test-negative as compared to skin test-positive donors. This suggested in vitro primary sensitization of T lymphocytes to PPD, which was corroborated in experiments demonstrating tuberculin reactivity of human umbilical-cord blood lymphocytes.
Estrogen Receptor Activation and Cardioprotection in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Premenopausal females have a comparably lower incidence of cardiovascular disease than their male counterparts. Although estrogen and activation of estrogen receptors (ERs) have been found to contribute to female protection, the complex mechanisms involved are unclear. Besides altering gene transcription, estrogen could elicit its cardioprotective effect via ER-mediated nongenomic signaling pathways. In addition to the two classic nuclear ER isoforms, ERα and ERβ, a G-protein coupled ER (GPR30 or GPER) has been found to be expressed in cardiomyocytes and plays an acute cardioprotective role in ischemia reperfusion injury. By using isoform-specific ER knockout mouse models and/or their specific modulators, the mechanisms of the different ERs involved in cardioprotection have been explored. In this review, we will focus on the signaling pathways leading to cardioprotection in ischemia reperfusion injury after ER activation and discuss the possibility and promise of specific ER modulators to treat ischemic heart diseases.
Numerical Simulations of Drop Collisions

Three-dimensional simulations of the off-axis collisions of two drops are presented. The full Navier-Stokes equations are solved by a Front-Tracking/Finite-Difference method that allows a fully deformable fluid interface and the inclusion of surface tension. The drops are accelerated towards each other by a body force that is turned off before the drops collide. Depending on whether the interface between the drops is ruptured or not, the drops either bounce or coalesce. For drops that coalesce, the impact parameter, which measures how far the drops are off the symmetry line, determines the eventual outcome of the collision. For low impact parameters, the drops coalesce permanently, but for higher impact parameters, a grazing collision, where the drops coalesce and then stretch apart again is observed. The results are in agreement with experimental observations.
Dissociation between the effects of benzodiazepine receptor agonists on behavioral vigilance and responsivity

The effects of benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) full agonists chlordiazepoxide and midazolam, and the partial agonistβ-carboline ZK 91 296 on the rat's performance in a simple reaction time paradigm were examined. This task required the animals to respond to a rarely and unpredictably occurring brief (50 ms) visual stimulus. Non-parametric measures of signal sensitivity and response bias derived from signal-detection theory were used as a basis for the dissociation between the effects of these drugs on attentional abilities and general responsivity. The dose-dependent effects of midazolam (0.1–3.13 mg/kg) on signal sensitivity and general responsivity occurred in parallel. In contrast, the effects of chlordiazepoxide (1.56–12.5 mg/kg) on signal sensitivity were largely independent from effects on response bias. The partial agonist ZK 91 296 (0.39–25 mg/kg) in general had little effect on performance. The effects of the highest doses of chlordiazepoxide and midazolam were reversed by the co-administration of the BZR antagonist Ro15-1788 (15 mg/kg). Additionally, extension of the stimulus presentation time to 500 ms decreased the magnitude of the effect of chlordiazepoxide on signal sensitivity. These results support the hypothesis that BZR agonist-induced disruption of attentional abilities is not necessarily confounded by effects on general responsivity or sedation, and thus may represent a discrete pharmacological property of BZR-agonists.
A new method for assessing fish feeding rhythms using demand feeders and automated data acquisition

A new approach to monitoring fish feeding rhythms and associated environmental variables is described. This system includes demand feeders attached to load cells to monitor feed consumption, and environmental probes to monitor variables such as temperature, solar radiation, barometric pressure, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH. Measurements from the load cells and probes are recorded at some desired time interval on a data logger, and the data are then analyzed for correlations between feed consumption and environmental conditions. An example of feed consumption rhythms by Chinese catfish (Clarias fuscus) is given.
Ethical Dilemmas of Reporting Suspected Elder Abuse

Elder abuse reporting laws exist in every state to protect elderly people being abused physically or emotionally, suffering from neglect, or experiencing financial exploitation. Support groups for caregivers of elderly individuals may help prevent elder abuse by reducing caregiver stress and linking caregivers to community services. Using case illustrations, the authors raise the dilemmas that group facilitators face when deciding whether to report a group member suspected of abusing his or her elder care recipient. The ethical concerns of reporting or withholding a report are discussed, and recommendations to assist facilitators in this complex decision process are presented.
Computer Communications for Advisors.

Many colleges and universities in the U. S. are electronically linked to the internet, the worldwide web of computer networks. Advisors can begin to use internet resources by subscribing to the user-friendly academic advising forum called ACADV. Through ACADV, advisors participate in a daily discussion group that connects them with colleagues around the world. After an advisor who is a new internet user becomes comfortable with ACADV, many other network resources can be explored. Abstruse computer terms and abbreviations such as e-mail, Usenet, Telnet, and FTP will become familiar and meaningful after only a short time. Advisors who learn the terms and concepts enabling them to communicate via computer effectively will discover much of value in the world of computer-mediated communications.
Computer Simulation of the Rough Lipopolysaccharide Membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) form the major constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, and are believed to play a key role in processes that govern microbial metal binding, microbial adsorption to mineral surfaces, and microbe-mediated oxidation/reduction reactions at the bacterial exterior surface. A computational modeling capability is being developed for the study of geochemical reactions at the outer bacterial envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. A molecular model for the rough LPS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been designed based on experimentally determined structural information. An electrostatic model was developed based on Hartree-Fock SCF calculations of the complete LPS molecule to obtain partial atomic charges. The exterior of the bacterial membrane was assembled by replication of a single LPS molecule and a single phospholipid molecule. Molecular dynamics simulations of the rough LPS membrane of P. aeruginosa were carried out and trajectories were analyzed for the energetic and structural factors that determine the role of LPS in processes at the cell surface.
Visibility of radiologists: helping to secure your future.

OBJECTIVE. The success of imaging services has been driven, in large part, by radiologists, who arguably became the most visible physicians within their organizations. But this success came at a price, and many groups have sought ways to reduce their traditional responsibilities. In doing so, they have given away one of their strongest assets, their visibility. They now risk being seen as commodities rather than peers—a position that may make them invisible altogether. This article addresses ways to improve these issues.CONCLUSION. Radiologists need to foster professional relationships with all clinical staff, not just physicians. They need to be seen as visible, active, collaborative, and positive participants by all members of the organization. In this way, they can ensure their visibility and continued demand for their services.
Chromatin Structure and Factor Site Occupancies in an in Vivo-Assembled Transcription Elongation Complex

The chromatin structure specific to the SV40 late transcription elongation complex as well as the occupancy of several sites that bind transcription factors have been examined. These features have been determined by assessing blockage to restriction enzyme digestion. Cleavage specific to the elongation complex has been quantified using ternary complex analysis. This method involves radioactively labeling the complex by in vitro transcription followed by determining the extent of linearization by electrophoresis in an agarose gel. It was found that not only is the origin region devoid of nucleosomes, but there is also no stable factor occupancy at the BglI, SphI, KpnI and MspI restriction enzyme sites within this region. Thus these sites were cleaved to a high degree, meaning that the binding sites for a number of transcription factors, including OBP/TEF-1, TBP, DAP, as well as a proposed positioned nucleosome, are unoccupied in the native viral transcription elongation complex. The absence of these trans-acting factors from their respective binding sites in the elongation complex indicates that they bind only transiently, possibly cycling on and off during the transcription cycle. This finding implies that various forms of transcription complex are assembled and disassembled during transcription and thus supports a 'hit-and-run' model of factor function.
Validation and sensitivity of a convective precipitation model for mountainous areas

A convective precipitation model for use in regions of complex terrain has been developed and applied to the Gunnison River Basin in southwestern Colorado. Spring snowfall in the Rocky Mountain region often has a significant convective component which orographic precipitation models are unable to simulate. Additionally, summertime precipitation is predominately convective in this area and is responsible for a large portion of summer streamflow variability. Streamflow typically increases by 50 to 100 percent of baseflow for moderate rainfall events for periods of up to one week. Larger precipitation episodes can produce peak discharges that exceed the spring snowmelt peaks. Convective precipitation also is important for plant growth, minimum streamflows and fire hazard conditions. In addition, an accurate assessment of the response of hydrologic systems to climate variability and change requires an accurate estimate of convective precipitation in mountainous areas. The convective model accurately reproduced the trend and amount of observed precipitation for the test period August 14-20, 1989. The convective model has applicability for downscaling large-scale model precipitation to smaller scales for use in water quality and quantity assessments.
Universal delocalization rate in driven dissipative two-level systems at high temperature

We study the lifetime of localized states in a two-level system coupled to a dissipative bath and driven by strong time-periodic monochromatic fields. At high temperature, moderate friction and high frequency driving the dynamics is practically exponential characterized by a rate constant. By mapping the driven dissipative two-level system onto a dissipative multilevel curve-crossing problem and applying semiclassical nonadiabatic rate theory we show that strong fields can stabilize localized states over long time intervals and that the delocalization rate exhibits a ``universal'' plateau whose value depends only on the intensity of the driving field. Numerical path integral results confirm our theoretical predictions.
Combined living-related segmental liver and bowel transplantation for megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome.

Abstract Background Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is the most severe form of functional intestinal obstruction in the newborn. To date, multivisceral transplantation has been the only accepted treatment modality for these patients, and the results have met with marginal success. We report the first case of a patient affected by MMIHS and cholestatic liver failure treated by a combined living-related liver and intestinal transplant (CLRLITx). Case Report The patient was a 1-year-old Hispanic girl born with MMIHS and maintained on total parenteral nutrition since birth. Once liver failure developed, she was referred for evaluation for possible CLRLITx. The patient's mother volunteered as the donor. The left lateral segment was used for the liver transplant. The intestinal graft consisted of the terminal 180 cm of the ileum with a single vascular pedicle. Initially, the patient continued to have severe gastroparesis; however, by 8 months posttransplant, stomach function had returned to normal. Currently, at 2 years posttransplant, she is tolerating an oral diet with gastric tube supplementation. Results of absorption studies are within normal, and she has shown catch-up growth. Conclusion A CLRLITx can be a viable alternative for infants diagnosed with MMIHS. This procedure can help avoid the 25% wait-list mortality for children who are in need of a combined transplant.
Greek Medicine in the Fifteenth Century

The fact that a number of printed editions of Greek physicians appeared during the sixteenth century is clear evidence that publishing houses of the time believed that a substantial interest in such texts existed. What is most surprising is that, until the last decade of the fifteenth century, a prevailing shortage of Greek medical manuscripts had not at all troubled the scholarly and medical communities. This essay shows how minor a niche Galen and other Greek medical writers occupied in the West for a long period of time, until some significant occurrences brought them to the forefront in the 1490s.
A spectrophotometer accessory for measuring absorption spectra of light-scattering samples; spectra of dark-grown albino leaves and of adsorbed chlorophylls.

Abstract The opal-glass technique provides a means for obtaining serviceable absorption spectra of pigments in highly scattering samples. A convenient apparatus for using this technique in conjunction with a Beckman DK-2 spectrophotometer for routine spectrophotometric analysis of thin solid samples is described. Examples of absorption spectra obtained by use of this apparatus are given, namely, the changes of absorption that take place in dark-grown albino corn leaves when they are illuminated and the absorption spectra of pure chlorophylls a and b adsorbed on filter paper.
Geomechanics field characterization of Woodford Shale and Barnett Shale with advanced logging tools and nano-indentation on drill cuttings

The Woodford Shale and Barnett Shale have emerged as prolific gas plays in the US midcontinent. However, the intrinsically low permeability of these gas shales hinders profitable pro-duction unless horizontal well drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing are employed. The success of these operations depends on accurate de-terminations of the anisotropic elastic and poroelastic properties of these shale formations.
Patterns of oriented cell division during the steady-state morphogenesis of the body column in hydra.

In an adult hydra, the tissue of the body column is in a dynamic state. The epithelial cells of both layers are constantly in the mitotic cycle. As the tissue expands, it is continuously displaced along the body axis in either an apical or basal direction, but not in a circumfer-ential direction. Using a modified whole mount method we examined the orientation of mitotic spindles to determine what role the direction of cell division plays in axial displacement. Surprisingly, the direction of cell division was found to differ in the two epithelial layers. In the ectoderm it was somewhat biased in an axial direction. In the endoderm it was strongly biased in a circumferential direction. For both layers, the directional biases occurred throughout the length of the body column, with some regional variation in its extent. As buds developed into adults, the bias in each layer increased from an almost random distribution to the distinctly different orientations of the adult. Thus, to maintain the observed axial direction of tissue displacement, rearrangement of the epithelial cells of both layers must occur continuously in the adult as well as in developing animals. How the locomotory and contractile behavior of the muscle processes of the epithelial cells may effect changes in cell shape, and thereby influence the direction of cell division in each layer, is discussed. © 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Design Guidelines for Wave Variable Controllers in Time Delayed Telerobotics

Wave variable controllers provide a passive force reflecting means of communication across time delays in telerobotics. In practice however it is often unclear how to best "tune" the wave variable controller to achieve reasonable responses with fast settling times and provide the user with a good perception of the remote environment. This paper develops a set of metrics to compare the performance of various controllers. It examines controller configurations and parameters to derive basic design guidelines. These guidelines are demonstrated on an experimental system with large master-slave scale asymmetry
Location and seasonal differences in adult dragonfly size and mass in northern Mississippi, USA (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Abstract Size and mass are often uniformly related within individuals and populations, but the relationship may vary in time or space. I asked whether isolated adult dragonfly populations within the same environmental context (climate, physiography, ecoregion) differ in both size and mature mass, and whether earlier emerging dragonflies are both larger and heavier on average. Differences were apparent among locally separated populations (ca 130-160 km apart), with the most northerly populations containing larger and heavier adults on average. Site-level environmental variation probably exerted a larger influence than broad-based ecogeographic rules (e.g., Bergmann's rule) at this fine scale. On average, earlier emerging dragonflies tended to outsize and/or outweigh later emerging dragonflies, a commonly observed pattern in adult odonates and other insect taxa. Size and mass did not produce the same results in every case, suggesting the size-mass relationship within dragonfly species can vary among spatial...
The morphology of multiple-nucleus brightest cluster galaxies

The morphology of high SNR CCD images of 16 multiple-nucleus brightest cluster galaxies is studied using an algorithm that models images of the systems as the line-of-sight superposition of normal elliptical galaxies. The algorithm is applied initially to the classic multiple-nucleus cD galaxy in A2199. Evidence is found suggestive of deep interpenetrating high-speed encounters by its secondaries. The interactions effects studied include noncentric isophotes, brightness profile effects, excess light around primary galaxies, and dynamical friction wakes. The results show that in many cases multiple systems are interacting systems.
How Contagious Are Common Respiratory Tract Infections

The answer to this frequently asked question is addressed in this review article, which focuses on common respiratory tract infections that are spread from person to person. The author concentrates on community-based contagion rather than nosocomial infections or agents that have received recent attention principally because of their actual or potential role in biologic terrorism.
Pharmacologic treatment of hypertension in children and adolescents

lthough hypertension is an infrequent problem among children and adolescents, hypertension has a greater likelihood of developing and requiring drug therapy in certain patients, including those with renal or cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, parents with hypertension, or obesity. In making treatment decisions for such children, clinicians previously ad to adapt the results of adult trials in selecting anti-hypertensive agents. This approach, although possibly effective in owering blood pressure (BP), is fraught with problems, chief among them unknown differences in the metabolism and adverse ffect profiles of these drugs in children versus in adults and unknown long-term effects of anti-hypertensive medications on the rowth and development of children. Fortunately, this situation has changed significantly in the past decade, primarily because of the veritable explosion of ndustry-sponsored clinical trials of anti-hypertensive agents in children and adolescents stimulated by federal legislation. This eview will summarize the recent advances in our knowledge about the use of anti-hypertensive agents in children and provide pdated recommendations on the optimal use of anti-hypertensive agents in children and adolescents who require pharmacologic reatment.
Rescuing the Baby From the Bathwater: How Gender and Temperament (May) Influence How Child Care Affects Child Development

Children's temperament and gender, combined with type, quality, and amount of care, likely influence differences in development and should not be overlooked in studies of child care effects. Research is consistent with this view, although definitive studies have not been carried out. Most notable, children's stress responses to full-time, center-based child care differ, and these differences are associated with emotional tendencies that may precede their entry into care. Changes in full time, center-based child care are needed to reduce stress experienced by some children and their providers, using information about what is happening at home and in family day care settings, where typically cortisol-linked stress does not increase during the day, to guide efforts.
The Importance of Conserving Biodiversity Outside of Protected Areas in Mediterranean Ecosystems

Mediterranean-type ecosystems constitute one of the rarest terrestrial biomes and yet they are extraordinarily biodiverse. Home to over 250 million people, the five regions where these ecosystems are found have climate and coastal conditions that make them highly desirable human habitats. The current conservation landscape does not reflect the mediterranean biome's rarity and its importance for plant endemism. Habitat conversion will clearly outpace expansion of formal protected-area networks, and conservationists must augment this traditional strategy with new approaches to sustain the mediterranean biota. Using regional scale datasets, we determine the area of land in each of the five regions that is protected, converted (e.g., to urban or industrial), impacted (e.g., intensive, cultivated agriculture), or lands that we consider to have conservation potential. The latter are natural and semi-natural lands that are unprotected (e.g., private range lands) but sustain numerous native species and associated habitats. Chile has the greatest proportion of its land (75%) in this category and California-Mexico the least (48%). To illustrate the potential for achieving mediterranean biodiversity conservation on these lands, we use species-area curves generated from ecoregion scale data on native plant species richness and vertebrate species richness. For example, if biodiversity could be sustained on even 25% of existing unprotected, natural and semi-natural lands, we estimate that the habitat of more than 6,000 species could be represented. This analysis suggests that if unprotected natural and semi-natural lands are managed in a manner that allows for persistence of native species, we can realize significant additional biodiversity gains. Lasting biodiversity protection at the scale needed requires unprecedented collaboration among stakeholders to promote conservation both inside and outside of traditional protected areas, including on lands where people live and work.
Semi-Lagrangian Methods for Level Set Equations

A new numerical method for solving geometric moving interface problems is presented. The method combines a level set approach and a semi-Lagrangian time stepping scheme which is explicit yet unconditionally stable. The combination decouples each mesh point from the others and the time step from the CFL stability condition, permitting the construction of methods which are efficient, adaptive, and modular. Analysis of a linear one-dimensional model problem suggests a surprising convergence criterion which is supported by heuristic arguments and confirmed by an extensive collection of two-dimensional numerical results. The new method computes correct viscosity solutions to problems involving geometry, anisotropy, curvature, and complex topological events.
Brain protein metabolism and the acquisition of new behaviors. II. Immunological studies of the α, β and γ proteins of goldfish brain

In a previous study, the labeling pattern of three proteins (alpha, beta and gamma) in goldfish brain was found to change after the animals successfully acquired a new pattern of behavior. In the present study, these proteins were isolated from the brain cytoplasmic fraction, purified by successive gel electrophoresis and used as antigent to immunize rabbits. Antisera containing antibodies to two of the proteins (beta and gamma) were obtained. These gave single precipitin bands when plated against the antigens and a mixture of the total cytoplasmic proteins. The distribution of beta and gamma in brain subcellular fractions and in a variety of goldfish tissues was determined by immunodiffusion methods. gamma was specific to brain. The beta protein cross-reacted but was not identical to a widely distributed substance in plasma, liver and kidney. Both beta and gamma appear to be species specific in that no cross-reactivity was obtained with mouse, chick or rat brain proteins. Immunological methods, in combination with double labeling experiments were used to establish that the beta and gamma antigens were proteins which were normally present in goldfish brain. Both the beta and gamma antisera were equally capable of specifically precipitating the proteins which were differentially labeled after training as well as purified proteins of the same molecular weight present in the brains of control animals. These results suggest that the acquisition of a new pattern of behavior can increase the demand for the synthesis of specific proteins (beta and gamma) normally present in goldfish brain.
South African Debates on the Basic Income Grant: Wage Labour and the Post-Apartheid Social Policy *

The 2002 report of the Taylor Committee of Inquiry into a Comprehensive Social Security System for South Africa recommended widespread social policy changes. A key suggestion in the report was the phased introduction of a Basic Income Grant (BIG) on a universal, non-means tested basis. In this way, the report addressed widespread demands by labour and civil society organisations for a form of income to be provided independently from individual employment conditions. The BIG concept recognises that existing social security programmes are related to stable waged employment and therefore exclude increasing numbers of long-term unemployed and contingent workers. This article argues that current shifts in the country's policy discourse question earlier social policies, which saw social inclusion as primarily depending on labour market participation. At the same time, however, the extremely cautious approach to the BIG contained in the Taylor report reflects a government approach that continuously praises work ...
A new determination of the Newtonian constant of gravity using the free fall method

We report on a recent determination of the Newtonian constant of gravity, G, using a new `free fall' method. This method uses a freely falling test object to sense the gravitational field of a ring-shaped mass placed alternately above and below the drop region. The measurement of the changes in acceleration of the test object allow determination of G. Because the test mass is unsupported, systematic errors associated with the free fall method are significantly different from those of the traditional torsion experiments that constitute the great majority of G measurements. This characteristic makes this method potentially valuable in the context of today's uncertainty about the value of G. The raw data have been examined in a variety of ways. We describe our methods which allow us to extract, besides G, information about various experimental parameters and possible systematic errors. A number of sources of systematic errors have been investigated, including magnetic and vibratory signals arising from the dropping action of our apparatus. We outline the steps we have taken to ascertain the magnitude of errors introduced by these effects. Using the free fall method, we have completed a determination of G, obtaining a result of G = (6.6873?0.0094) ? 10-11 m3 kg-1 s2.
Electrospun Formulations Containing Crystalline Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

To investigate the use of electrospinning for forming solid dispersions containing crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and understand the relevant properties of the resulting materials. Free surface electrospinning was used to prepare nanofiber mats of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and crystalline albendazole (ABZ) or famotidine (FAM) from a suspension of the drug crystals in a polymer solution. SEM and DSC were used to characterize the dispersion, XRD was used to determine the crystalline polymorph, and dissolution studies were performed to determine the influence of the preparation method on the dissolution rate. The electrospun fibers contained 31 wt% ABZ and 26 wt% FAM for the 1:2 ABZ:PVP and 1:2 FAM:PVP formulations, respectively, and both APIs retained their crystalline polymorphs throughout processing. The crystals had an average size of about 10 μm and were well-dispersed throughout the fibers, resulting in a higher dissolution rate for electrospun tablets than for powder tablets. Previously used to produce amorphous formulations, electrospinning has now been demonstrated to be a viable option for producing fibers containing crystalline API. Due to the dispersion of the crystals in the polymer, tablets made from the fiber mats may also exhibit improved dissolution properties over traditional powder compression.
Oxyanion removal and recovery using silica polyamine composites

Abstract Modified silica polyamine composites (SPC) made from silanized amorphous nano-porous silica gel and polyamines have been used for the selective removal and recovery of oxyanions of heavy metals such as As and Se in the presence of excess sulfate. The SPCs were functionalized with phosphorus acid using the Mannich reaction, resulting in a phosphonic acid modified composite (BPAP) on which Zr(IV) was immobilized by complexation to the phosphonic acid group. Tungstate and molybdate anions strongly adsorbed on the ZrBPAP composite over a broad pH range of 2–10. The sorption mechanism is believed to be a complexation between the tungstate and/or molybdate and Zr(IV) immobilized-phosphonic acid complex of BPAP. However, complete regeneration of the composite was not successful. A second composite modeled after polymer based adsorbents containing tetraalkyl ammonium groups was synthesized by exhaustive alkylation of the poly(allylamine) composite, BP-1. This composite, BPQAM, composite shows a higher selectivity for tungstate over molybdate at a pH of 6 (WO 4 2 − /MoO 4 2 − = 3/1). Using 2M H 2 SO 4 as the strip solution provided selectivity for molybdate (~ 90% purity). The significance of the observed selectivity is discussed in terms of the chemical properties of the oxyanion and the nature of the interactions with the immobilized metal site. Attempts to separate molybdate from nickel and vanadium using solution concentrations modeled after a contaminated creek in Western Australia are also reported. The use of ZrBPAP and the aminoacetate modified SPC, WP2, resulted in the efficient separation of molybdate but the separation of the nickel from vanadium proved more difficult.
The paradox of hemoglobin SC disease.

Homozygous HbC gene results only in mild hemolytic anemia. In HbSC disease red cells contain equal levels of HbS and HbC. It is a paradox that HbSC exhibit a moderately severe phenotype in spite of being a mixture of HbS trait and HbC trait, neither of which has significant pathology. Why does the combination of these two Hbs result in a serious disease? The short answer is that HbC enhances, by dehydrating the SC red cell, the pathogenic properties of HbS, resulting in a clinically significant disorder, but somewhat milder that sickle cell anemia (SCA). Nevertheless, retinnitis proliferans, osteonecrosis, and acute chest syndrome have equal or higher incidence in HbSC disease compared to SCA. This pathogenic trick is accomplished by HbC inducing, by mechanisms not fully understood, an increase in the activity of K:Cl cotransport that induces the lost of K + and consequently of intracellular water. This event creates a sufficient increase of MCHC, so that the lower levels of HbS found in SC red cells can polymerize rapidly and effectively. This situation offers a unique opportunity: if we could inhibit the effect of HbC on K +
Astrocyte Development and Heterogeneity

Astrocytes have many roles within the brain parenchyma, and a subpopulation restricted to germinal niches functions as neural stem cells (NSCs) that produce various types of neuronal progeny in relation to spatiotemporal factors. A growing body of evidence supports the concept of morphological and molecular differences between astrocytes in different brain regions, which might relate to their derivation from regionally patterned radial glia. Indeed, the notion that astrocytes are molecularly and functionally heterogeneous could help explain how the central nervous system (CNS) retains embryonic positional information into adulthood. Here, we discuss recent evidence for regionally encoded functions of astrocytes in the developing and adult CNS to provide an integrated concept of the origin and possible function of astrocyte heterogeneity. We focus on the regionalization of NSCs in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) of the adult mammalian brain and emerging evidence for a segmental organization of astrocytes in the developing spinal cord and forebrain. We propose that astrocytes' diversity will provide fundamental clues to understand regional brain organization and function.
Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Activity and Metabolism of 2′,3′-Dideoxy-2′,3′-Didehydro-β-l(−)-5-Fluorocytidine

2',3'-Dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-beta-L(-)-5-fluorocytidine [L(-)Fd4C] was found to be at least 10 times more potent than beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine [L(-)SddC; also called 3TC, or lamivudine]against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in culture. Its cytotoxicity against HepG2 growth in culture was also greater than that of L(-)SddC (3TC). There was no activity of this compound against mitochondrial DNA synthesis in cells at concentrations upto 10 microM. The dynamics of recovery of virus from the medium of cells pretreated with equal drug concentrations were slower with L(-)Fd4C than with L(-)SddC (3TC). L(-)Fd4C could be metabolized to mono-, di-, and triphosphate forms. The degree of L(-)Fd4C phosphorylation to the 5'-triphosphate metabolite was higher than the degree of L(-)SddC (3TC) phosphorylation when equal extracellular concentrations of the two drugs were used. The apparent K(m) of L(-)Fd4C phosphorylated metabolites formed intracellularly was higher than that for L(-)SddC (3TC). This may be due in part to a difference in the behavior of L(-)Fd4C and L(-)SddC (3TC) towards cytosolic deoxycytidine kinase. Furthermore, L(-)Fd4C 5'-triphosphate was retained longer within cells than L(-)SddC (3TC) 5-triphosphate. L(-)Fd4C 5'-triphosphate inhibited HBV DNA polymerase in competition with dCTP with a Ki of 0.069 +/- 0.015 microM. Given the antiviral potency and unique pharmacodynamic properties of L(-)Fd4C, this compound should be considered for development as an expanded-spectrum anti-HBV drug.
On the Structure of Classical Mechanics

Jill North (North, 2009) has recently argued that Hamiltonian mechanics ascribes less structure to the world than Lagrangian mechanics does. I will argue that North's argument is not sound. In doing so, I will present some obstacles that must be navigated by anyone interested in comparing the amounts of structure that different physical theories ascribe to the world.
Sulfur concentration of martian basalts at sulfide saturation at high pressures and temperatures – Implications for deep sulfur cycle on Mars

Abstract To constrain sulfur concentration at sulfide saturation (SCSS) of martian magmas at mantle conditions, we simulated basalt-sulfide melt equilibria using two synthesized meteorite compositions, i.e., Yamato980459 and NWA2990 in both anhydrous and hydrous conditions at 1–5 GPa and 1500–1700 °C. Our experimental results show that SCSS decreases with increasing pressure and increases with increasing temperature. Based on our experimental SCSS and those from previous low-pressure experiments on high-FeO ∗ martian basalts, we developed a parameterization to predict martian basalt SCSS as a function of depth, temperature, and melt composition. Our model suggests that sulfur contents as high as 3500–4300 ppm can be transferred from the martian mantle to the martian exogenic system, and sulfur-rich gases might have caused the greenhouse conditions during the late Noachian. However, modeling of the behavior of sulfur along the liquid line of descent of a primitive martian basalt suggests that a fraction of the magmatic sulfur could precipitate as sulfides in the cumulates during cooling and fractional crystallization of basaltic magmas. Furthermore, the latter case is consistent with the S concentration of martian meteorites, which reflect variable amount of trapped liquid in cumulus mineral assemblage. Furthermore, our model predicts an average S storage capacity of 5700 ppm for the martian magma ocean, whereas the same for Earth is only ∼860 ppm. Lastly, high SCSS of martian magma ocean and its inverse correlation with depth along the mantle liquidus could have triggered a sulfur pump where the post-core-formation magma ocean of Mars would gain sulfur through interaction with SO 2 /H 2 S rich nascent atmosphere.
Philosophy of astrobiology: some recent developments

We present some recent developments in philosophy of astrobiology which illustrate usefulness of philosophy to astrobiology. We cover applications of Aristotelian views to definition of life, of Priest’s dialetheism to the question if viruses are alive, and various thought experiments in regard to these and other astrobiology issues. Thought experiments about the survival of life in the Solar system and about the role of viruses at the beginning and towards the end of life are also described.
W.E.B. Du Bois, Race, and Human Rights

Du Bois’ sociological thought reveals an overlooked tension in the pursuit of human rights, a tension between universal human rights for all people, in general, and a race-specifi c human rights agenda for blacks, in particular. Du Bois recognizes both universal human rights for all individuals, groups, nations, and international bodies (regardless of race, gender, class, and other human divisions) and case-specifi c human rights for particular individuals, groups, nations, and international bodies (with regard to race, gender, class, and other human divisions). I aim to demonstrate why Du Bois’ acknowledgment of universal and case-specifi c human rights, and dynamics of their interrelationship, improves contemporary sociological thought about the complexities of addressing human rights issues and provides a more nuanced model for human rights social action.
RELATIONSHIP OF STUDENTS' RANKS AND DEVELOPMENTAL READINESS SCORES

Summary.-Analysis indicated that the Purdue Perceptual Motor Survey and the Santa Clara Inventory targeted virtually the same student population. Thus the two tests were similar in discriminating levels of readiness necessary for successful academic performance. Further, both developmental tests were moderately correlated with the teachers' ranking for first grade placement. Kindergarten students from Philomath Elementary School, Philomath, Oregon, participated in the study, 26 5-yr.-old males and 38 5-yr.-old females. The Purdue Perceptual Motor Survey (1966) was used for several years by the physical education teacher at Philomath Elementary School, Philomath, Oregon, to assess the developmental readiness of entering kindergarten students. The school recently decided to also employ the Santa Clara Inventory of Developmental Tasks (1974) as a diagnostic cool and for screening students for Title I funds. This allowed opportunity to determine whether the Purdue Survey and the Santa Clara Inventory targeted the same students for special attention.
Theoretical and numerical analysis of a spreading opposed-flow diffusion flame

This article describes the macroscopic and microscopic features of flames spreading over solid-fuel surfaces by examining and comparing three models. The first model examines ignition and flame spread over a solid-fuel surface using a two-dimensional numerical simulation code. This model employs variable density, variable thermophysical properties and one-step global finite-rate chemistry. The second model, a macroscopic ‘field’ model, is solved in terms of the mixture fraction ( Z ) and total enthalpy ( H ) functions. Comparisons are made with numerical predictions for primitive quantities: temperature, species distributions and velocity fields; and derived quantities: heat flux, mass flux, mixture fraction, enthalpy function and flame stretch rate. The third model yields a ‘localized’ flame structure description near the flame attachment point. Theoretical formulas are produced for the quenching distance, the leading edge heat flux, and the flame structure, as characterized by reactivity, temperature field and species distributions. The analytical predictions are compared with numerical simulations to derive flame microstructure scaling parameters.
Geostatistical analysis and simulation of nonpoint source groundwater nitrate contamination; a case study

Abstract A case study of the application of geostatistics to define the spatial distribution of nitrate in groundwater at a 12-acre test site in southern Idaho is presented. Results also are presented for a spatial map subtraction technique used to evaluate the effectiveness of a U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended nutrient Best Management Practice (BMP) for the test site. Nitrate concentration data for 35 point groundwater samplers situated in the shallow, unconfined aquifer at the test site were used in this evaluation. One hundred conditional, sequential Gaussian simulations were generated to produce expected-value estimate maps of nitrate concentration distributions for the first 3 months of implementation of the nutrient BMP. Net difference maps calculated from these E-type maps were used to evaluate nitrate changes at the site. Results of this evaluation suggest that the BMP has a statistically significant influence on the influx of nitrate to groundwater at the site.
Cyst of seminal vesicle associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis

A case of cyst of seminal vesicle associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis in a twenty-three-year-old man presenting primarily with rectal symptoms is reported. The usual symptoms had been urinary bladder irritation and pain on ejaculation. The embryologic development of this rare entity is discussed.
Don't sell social science short.

The News of the Week article that reports on Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) questioning the need to fund social science research at the National Science Foundation is alarming and shortsighted (“Senate panel chair asks why NSF funds social sciences,” 12 May, p. [829][1]). Social science research is at the fundamental core of basic research and has much to contribute to the economic viability of the United States. Twenty years of direct and jointly funded social and ecosystem science research at Colorado State University's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory has produced deep insights into environmental and societal impacts of political upheaval, land use, and climate change in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Beyond greatly advancing our understanding of the coupled human-environmental system, the partnership of social and ecosystem science has brought scientists and decision-makers together to begin to develop solutions to difficult problems. Insights from the social sciences about the vulnerability, sustainability, and resilience of social and environmental systems have greatly increased our understanding of the complex interactions of the world on which we depend. The contributions of social and ecological science for data analyses associated with spatial relationships, transfer of goods and services, valuation, and decision-making processes have improved our understanding of how human activities are altering environmental systems worldwide. These findings have become the core of policy and development decisions used throughout the world. It is critical that the NSF support social science funding and that, as budget decisions are made, the social science allocation should move forward equally with increases as in other basic and applied research. Failure to do so will further hinder U.S. competitiveness in the future and will slow transfer of knowledge and usefulness to the public. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.312.5775.829a