cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research note: A 50-year increase in vehicle mortality of North American mammals

Abstract Mortality of mammals from vehicle collisions is common, but there remain questions regarding how species traits influence vehicle collision vulnerability. We analyzed a database of North American mammal cause-specific mortality to examine factors influencing vehicle mortality. Our dataset consisted of 421 studies that monitored 34,798 individuals across 66 species including 740 vehicle mortalities. Vehicle mortality increased 4-fold over the study period (1965–2017), from 3% to 12% of total mortality between the first and last decade. Omnivores were more likely to die from vehicle mortality than herbivores. Vehicle mortality was highest for species at intermediate body masses (6–12 kg). Sociality, foraging behavior, diel behavior, and scavenging behavior did not influence vehicle mortality. The habitat and dietary flexibility of omnivores may put them at increased risk of vehicle collisions. The increase in vehicle collisions over the past 50 years reiterates the need for mitigation measures to conserve North American mammal populations.
The complexity of establishing causality in a digital environment: an eye to the future

Information Systems (IS) researchers and practitioners have to deal with the concept of causality. IS researchers explicitly model and test causal relationships, like Information Technology (IT) in...
Edge Layer Design and Optimization for Smart Grids

The emergence of modern monitoring, communication, computation, and control equipment into power systems has made them evolve into smart grids that can be thought of as the electric grid of things. This evolution has enhanced the efficiency of the power systems through the availability of a large volume of system data that can help with system functions nevertheless, it has intensified the communication and computation burden on these systems. While many such computations were traditionally deployed in central servers, new technologies such as edge computing can provide unique opportunities to address some of the computational challenges and improve the responsiveness of the system by processing data locally. In this paper, an edge enabled smart grid architecture is presented. The edge layer for the smart grid is designed through various optimization formulations to identify the placement of edge servers and their connectivity structure to the Phasor Measurement Units in the system. Various factors affecting the design, such as the geographical and resource constraints as well as the communication technology considerations have been incorporated in the formulations and evaluated using the IEEE 118 bus system.
The Wearable Artificial Kidney

The column in this issue is supplied by George M Dolson, MD, who is a professor of Medicine in the Renal Section at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Dolson obtained his medical degree from the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, and completed his residency and nephrology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas.
High-throughput phenotypic screen and transcriptional analysis identify new compounds and targets for macrophage reprogramming

Macrophages are plastic and, in response to different local stimuli, can polarize toward multi-dimensional spectrum of phenotypes, including the pro-inflammatory M1-like and the anti-inflammatory M2-like states. Using a high-throughput phenotypic screen in a library of ~4000 FDA-approved drugs, bioactive compounds and natural products, we find ~300 compounds that potently activate primary human macrophages toward either M1-like or M2-like state, of which ~30 are capable of reprogramming M1-like macrophages toward M2-like state and another ~20 for the reverse repolarization. Transcriptional analyses of macrophages treated with 34 non-redundant compounds identify both shared and unique targets and pathways through which the tested compounds modulate macrophage activation. One M1-activating compound, thiostrepton, is able to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages toward M1-like state in mice, and exhibit potent anti-tumor activity. Our compound-screening results thus help to provide a valuable resource not only for studying the macrophage biology but also for developing therapeutics through modulating macrophage activation. Macrophages may polarize into different states with distinct regulatory functions for inflammation. Here the authors perform high-throughput in vitro screening of a library of ~4000 compounds to identify those with specific effects on human macrophage polarization, while RNAseq helps uncover the targets and pathways mediating these effects.
Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcome of Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Obesity is highly prevalent in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In this study, we investigated the impact of body mass index (BMI) in patients undergoing septal myectomy (SM) for obstructive HCM. Methods We reviewed 2746 patients who underwent transaortic SM for obstructive HCM from February 1993 through September 2018. Patients were stratified into 3 groups based on BMI (normal weight, Results Preoperatively, the median left ventricular outflow tract gradient was 58 mm Hg, and there was no difference in gradients across BMI strata (P = .35). The percentage of obese patients with moderate or greater mitral valve regurgitation was lower (45.8%) compared with normal weight (52.9%) and overweight (55.4%) patients (P Conclusions SM is safe and effective in HCM patients with obesity, but the risk of late death increased with increasing BMI. Attention to risk factor management through weight loss may improve late results after SM.
Interracial Contact Differentially Shapes Brain Networks Involved in Social and Non-Social Judgments From Faces: A Combination of Univariate and Multivariate Approaches.

The present work explores the relationship between interracial contact and the neural substrates of explicit social and non-social judgments about both racial ingroup and outgroup targets. Convergent evidence from univariate and multivariate partial least squares (PLS) analyses reveals that contact shapes the recruitment of brain regions involved in social cognition similarly for both ingroup and outgroup targets. Results support the hypothesis that increased contact is associated with generalized changes in social cognition towards both ingroup and outgroup faces. Specifically, regardless of target race, low and average contact perceivers showed the typically-observed increased recruitment of temporoparietal junction and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex during social compared to perceptual judgments. However, high contact perceivers did not show selective recruitment of these brain regions for social judgments. Complimenting univariate results, multivariate PLS analyses reveal that greater perceiver contact leads to reduced co-activation in networks of brain regions associated with face processing (e.g., fusiform gyrus) and salience detection (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex, insula). Across univariate and multivariate analyses, we found no evidence that contact differentially impacted cross-race face perception. Instead, when performing either a social or a novel perceptual task, interracial contact appears to broadly shape how perceivers engage with all faces.
The Effect of Standardized Perioperative Patient Education on Opioid Use After Minor Soft Tissue Procedures Distal to the Wrist.

Purpose Several studies have explored opioid consumption and opioid prescriber education for upper extremity procedures; however, less literature has focused on patient-centered interventions and their impact on opioid consumption after surgery. The purpose of this study was to create a standardized perioperative patient education program regarding postoperative pain management after hand surgery and to determine if it could reduce opioid use after hand surgery. Methods Patients scheduled to undergo elective outpatient hand surgery comprising minor soft tissue procedures at and distal to the wrist were randomized to receive pain management education or standard care. Before the surgery, all patients viewed a webinar with instructions for participation, whereas the education group received an additional 10 minutes of education on postoperative pain management and a pain management reference card for review after the surgery. All patients completed a postoperative daily log documenting the number of opioids consumed, other pain management modalities used, and pain scores. The primary outcome of the number of opioid pills consumed by the patients was compared between the groups. We constructed a linear regression model to determine the risk factors for postoperative opioid use after surgery. Results One hundred seventy-four patients completed the study (n = 90 education group; n = 84 standard care group). Patients in the education group took significantly fewer opioid pills (median = 0, range 0–13) than those in the standard care group (median = 0.5, range 0–40). A linear regression model showed that average week-1 pain (B = 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.56–1.3) and the number of pills prescribed (B = 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.017–0.22) were predictive of greater opioid use. Conclusions Perioperative patient education significantly reduced postoperative opioid use following a minor soft tissue hand surgery, with greater than 70% of the patients taking no opioids. Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Cell Proliferation in Prostate Cancer Patients with Lymph Node Metastasis: A Marker for Progression

The biological aggressiveness of lymph node-positive prostate cancer is closely linked to cancer volume in nodal metastases. We evaluated MIB-1 (Ki-67) labeling index and bcl-2 expression in primary cancer and matched nodal metastases from 138 node-positive patients treated with radical prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy between 1987 and 1992 at the Mayo Clinic. One hundred twenty-eight patients (93%) received androgen deprivation therapy within 90 days after radical prostatectomy. Mean patient age was 66 years (range, 51–78). The median follow-up was 6.7 years (range, 0.03–11). MIB-1 (Ki-67) labeling index was determined by digital image analysis, and nodal cancer volume was determined by the grid method. Systemic progression, defined as the presence of distant metastasis documented by biopsy or radiographic examination, was used as an outcome end point in the Cox proportional hazard models. MIB-1 labeling index in nodal metastases was predictive of systemic progression-free survival ( P = 0.001). The 8-year systemic progression-free survival was 100% for those with MIB-1 labeling index P P = 0.047). bcl-2 expression in the primary cancer and lymph node metastasis was associated with systemic progression-free survival in univariate analysis ( P = 0.027 and 0.048, respectively) but was not significant after adjusting for nodal cancer volume ( P = 0.52 and 0.17, respectively). Our data indicate that assessment of cell proliferation in nodal metastasis is predictive of clinical outcome in prostate cancer patients with regional lymph node metastasis.
WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR CAR EFFICIENCY. A HEDONIC PRICE APPROACH

The paper describes the application of a hedonic price analysis to automobile market activity with special emphasis on the valuation placed on increased mileage per gallon (mpg). Four sets of hypotheses are tested using data for used cars sold in 1977 and 1979. In the examples discussed, homogeneity of coefficients is rejected over the last two years, and in addition, linearity or log-linearity of regressions is also rejected for each year. Coefficient values in the 1977 market are found consistent with theory, but problems arise in 1979. Willingness to pay for increased mpg was found to be elastic for the 1977 market which implies that linear price coefficients significantly overestimate willingness to pay for increased mpg. (TRRL)
Spoiling a Fresh Start: In re Dawes and a Family Farmer’s Ability to Reorganize Under Chapter 12 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code

On June 21, 2011, the Tenth Circuit, in In re Dawes, held that post-petition capital gains taxes are incurred by the individual debtor rather than the bankruptcy estate. Consequently, such tax liabilities are not eligible for downgrade and discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 1222(a)(2)(A). This Comment argues that, although the Dawes decision contradicts the legislative intent underlying the enactment of Chapter 12, it correctly interprets the plain language of the statute.
Holographic storage - elegant technology, elusive product

This article gives a review of holographic data storage, and covers such topics as: history and development; technological issues; recording media; recording and recreation systems; future outlook and prospects.
Factors Affecting the Decline in Incidence of Diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS)

During the first 7 years of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS), diabetes incidence rates, when compared with the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), decreased in the placebo (-42%) and metformin (-25%), groups compared with the rates in the intensive lifestyle intervention (+31%) group. Participants in the placebo and metformin groups were offered group intensive lifestyle intervention prior to entering the DPPOS. The following two hypotheses were explored to explain the rate differences: "effective intervention" (changes in weight and other factors due to intensive lifestyle intervention) and "exhaustion of susceptible" (changes in mean genetic and diabetes risk scores). No combination of behavioral risk factors (weight, physical activity, diet, smoking, and antidepressant or statin use) explained the lower DPPOS rates of diabetes progression in the placebo and metformin groups, whereas weight gain was the factor associated with higher rates of progression in the intensive lifestyle intervention group. Different patterns in the average genetic risk score over time were consistent with exhaustion of susceptibles. Results were consistent with exhaustion of susceptibles for the change in incidence rates, but not the availability of intensive lifestyle intervention to all persons before the beginning of the DPPOS. Thus, effective intervention did not explain the lower diabetes rates in the DPPOS among subjects in the placebo and metformin groups compared with those in the DPP.
Influence of Host on Larval Survival, Feeding Habits, and Adult Fecundity of the Carpenter worm (Lepidoptera: Cossidae)

Carpenter worm, Prionoxystus robiniae (Peck), survival ranged from 0-86% among 15 southern, bottom land hardwood host species. Carpenter worm survival, rate of development, and fecundity were generally greatest in the oaks ( Quercus spp.), cottonwood ( Populus deltoids Bartr. ex Marsh.), and boxelder ( Acer negundo L.); they were intermediate in American elm ( Ulmus Americana L.) and green ash ( Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.), and poorest in sugarberry ( Celtis laevigata Willd.) and black willow ( Salix nigra Marsh.). Carpenter worms did not survive in sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis L.), sweet gum ( Liquidambar Styraciflua L.), red maple ( Acer rubrum L.), persimmon ( Diospyros virginiana L.), water hickory ( Carya aquatica (Michx. f.) Nutt.), or red mulberry ( Morus rubra L.). Favored host species usually had smaller, more uniform cambial cavities, whereas less preferred species had larger, more irregularly shaped cavities with long, narrow lateral extensions. Gallery lengths and diameters varied little among host species but were significantly shortest for l-yr males and longest for 2-yr females.
Simulation of a dendritic microstructure with the lattice Boltzmann and cellular automaton methods

Abstract A new modeling approach combining the lattice Boltzmann method (LB) and the cellular automaton technique (CA) was developed to simulate solidification at the microscale. The LB method was used for the coupled calculation of temperature, solute content and velocity field, while the CA method was used to compute the liquid/solid phase change. To validate the accuracy of the LB–CA model and its efficiency for the simulation of dendrite growth under convection, comparisons of the tip characteristics and dendrite morphologies under various simulation conditions were made with those obtained by analytical means and by a finite element model coupled with the cellular automaton technique (FE–CA model). The results show that the LB–CA model is computationally much more efficient than the FE–CA model for simulations of dendritic microstructures under convection. The tip splitting phenomenon was captured for high cooling rates and with comparatively coarse grids due to mesh-induced anisotropy and thermal instabilities. The simulated dendrite morphologies obtained with various anisotropy and Gibbs–Thomson coefficients were discussed. The results show that the dendrite growth direction does not always follow the crystallographic direction and high branching phenomena can occur with small anisotropy and/or Gibbs–Thomson coefficients.
Electronic transport properties of tungsten silicide thin films

Tungsten suicide thin films have been prepared by neutralized ion beam sputtering of the metal onto a polycrystalline silicon layer followed by furnace annealing. The films appear to be essentially sing le-phase disilicide with thepossibility of a percent or so carbon and oxygen content. The material behaves as a classical metallic conductor, with a temperature-independent residual resistivity of 16 μΩ-cm and a room temperature intrinsic resistivity of 7 μΩ-cm. Hall effect measurements indicate the material is predominantly a hole conductor, with a room temperature Hall mobility of 30cm2/V-s and an apparent free carrier concentration of 8.9×1021 cm−3. The effective one-carrier mobility derived from geometrical magnetoresistance data, on the other hand, is ≈95 cm2/V-s; this difference, taken together with the effect of temperature on the transport properties, suggests there is mixed conduction.
Domain-variant gray-scale morphology

Spatially variant versions of classic morphological operations are introduced. The probes used are locally variant on their domains. Range invariant morphological filters are introduced. A generalized Matheron Representation Theorem for these filters in terms of spatially variant erosions is proved. Locally variant openings and locally variant algebraic openings are introduced, and a generalized Matheron Representation Theorem for locally variant algebraic openings is proved. The theory presented is quite general and is valid for functions defined on subsets of any space X and with values in any ordered commutative group G for which the concept of least upper bound and greatest lower bound are meaningful. When G equals R, the real numbers, and X equals Rn the theory encompasses real signal processing (n equals 1), real image processing (n equals 2), and real multivariable signal processing (n > 2). When G equals Z, the integers, and X equals Zn the theory encompasses the digitized versions of each form of processing.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Polypeptide from Tomato Leaves Induces Wound-Inducible Proteinase Inhibitor Proteins

Defensive genes in plants can be activated by several different types of nonpeptide signaling molecules. An endogenous polypeptide, consisting of 18 amino acids, was isolated from tomato leaves and was able at very low concentrations to induce the synthesis of two wound-inducible proteinase inhibitor proteins when supplied to young tomato plants. The sequence of the polypeptide was determined, and an identical polypeptide was synthesized that possessed full inducing activity. These data establish that a polypeptide factor can initiate signal transduction to regulate the synthesis of defensive proteins in plant tissues.
Hydrodynamic Stability of an Evolving Vortex~Ring in a Counterflow*

The time-dependent motion of a vortex ring obeying the Hall-Vinen equations in a superfluid He counterflow is shown to be locally stable. Both the real and imaginary parts of the normal modes of oscillation scale as wave number squared. J. J. Thomson's calculation of the normal modes of a ring vortex has proved of more enduring value than W. Thomson's theory of vortex atoms, which was its motivation, l't Vortex rings in an ideal fluid are neutrally stable and superimposed on their translational motion are a discrete set of oscillatory modes with a frequency proportional to m (m 2_ 1)1/2 for integer m. The m = 0, 1 modes correspond respectively to a uniform change in radius R and a rigid motion of the plane of the loop. Now in a counterflow experiment in superfluid 4He as a consequence of the core-normal fluid drag, an isolated ring will retain its shape while its orientation and radius vary. 3"4 Its radius can increase no faster than linearly in time. The latter motion can be likened to a weak instability of the m = 0 mode and one is lead to ask, in view of the close correspondence between vortex motion in an ideal fluid and a superfluid at sufficiently low temperatures, whether in a counterflow any of the m > 1 modes might also be weakly unstable. We have addressed a somewhat more comprehensive problem, namely the stability of the time-dependent motion of an isolated vortex ring in a counterflow. The analysis in particular shows that the coupling between the m = 0, 1 and higher modes does not induce any new instabilities.
ACTIVE MONOMERIC AND DIMERIC FORMS OF PSEUDOMONAS PUTIDA GLYOXALASE I : EVIDENCE FOR 3D DOMAIN SWAPPING

3D domain swapping of proteins involves the interconversion of a monomer containing a single domain−domain interface and a 2-fold symmetrical dimer containing two equivalent intermolecular interfaces. Human glyoxalase I has the structure of a domain-swapped dimer [Cameron, A. D., Olin, B., Ridderstrom, M., Mannervik, B., and Jones, T. A. (1997) EMBO J. 16, 3386−3395] but Pseudomonas putida glyoxalase I has been reported to be monomeric [Rhee, H.-I., Murata, K., and Kimura, A. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 141, 993−999]. We show here that recombinant P. putida glyoxalase I is an active dimer (kcat ∼500 ± 100 s-1; KM ∼0.4 ± 0.2 mM) with two zinc ions per dimer. The zinc is required for structure and function. However, treatment of the dimer with glutathione yields an active monomer (kcat ∼115 ± 40 s-1; KM ∼1.4 ± 0.4 mM) containing a single zinc ion. The monomer is metastable and slowly reverts to the active dimer in the absence of glutathione. Thus, glyoxalase I appears to be a novel example of a si...
RNA Folding Transitions and Cooperativity

Using a new theoretical model, we explore the conformational energy landscapes and the statistical thermodynamics of RNA secondary structure folding. The model is physical, treats the conformational entropies and excluded volume explicitly, and has previously been shown to give reasonable agreement with experimental melting curves. Here we use it to design energy landscapes that can be tested by experiments. The model predicts that even simple RNA’s, less than 60 nucleotides long and having only secondary structures, can have remarkably complex and bumpy landscapes that can be altered substantially by small mutations. Moving a GC block around in a sequence of fixed composition can lead from one melting peak to two. A mutation can switch it back to one. Two melting peaks do not imply two simple stem melting events. In one system, we find 5 transitions, each of which can be either 2-state or 1-state. In some sequences we find triple points, where 3 macroscopically identifiable species have equal populations at the same temperature. We show designs of RNA’s with multiple native states, and conformational switching between them, as functions of mutations or temperature.
Improved performance CMUT-on-CMOS devices using ALD hafnium oxide insulation layer

Higher transmit sensitivity and receive sensitivity at lower bias voltages would be achieved by CMUTs when their structure converges to an ideal parallel plate structure without an insulation layer. Using an insulation layer with high relative dielectric constant (high-K) helps achieving this goal with increased capacitance and large electric field in the vacuum gap. The effect of the insulation layer is more pronounced for high frequency, small gap CMUTs, where large pressures can be generated with smaller displacements. In this paper, we present a simple model for optimal insulation layer properties and significant improvement in both transmit and receive sensitivity by replacing the silicon nitride (Si x N y ) insulation layer with high-K hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ) for a low temperature CMUT-on-CMOS process. Experiments are performed on parallel fabricated test CMUTs with 50-nm gap and 16.5-MHz center frequency to measure and compare pressure output and receive sensitivity for PECVD Si x N y and HfO 2 insulation layers. Results for this particular design show 6-dB improvement in receive sensitivity (V/Pa) with the collapse voltage reduced by one half. Successful CMUT-on-CMOS integration with high-k dielectric is also demonstrated.
Absence of the hyperfine magnetic field at the Ru site in ferromagnetic rare-earth intermetallics

The M\"ossbauer effect (ME) is frequently used to investigate magnetically ordered systems. One usually assumes that the magnetic order induces a hyperfine magnetic field, ${B}_{\mathit{\text{hyperfine}}}$, at the ME active site. This is the case in the ruthenates, where the temperature dependence of ${B}_{\mathit{\text{hyperfine}}}$ at $^{99}\text{R}\text{u}$ sites tracks the temperature dependence of the ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic order. However this does not happen in the rare-earth intermetallics, ${\text{GdRu}}_{2}$ and ${\text{HoRu}}_{2}$. Specific heat, magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, M\"ossbauer effect, and neutron diffraction have been used to study the nature of the magnetic order in these materials. Both materials are found to order ferromagnetically at 83.1 and 15.3 K, respectively. Despite the ferromagnetic order of the rare-earth moments in both systems, there is no evidence of a correspondingly large ${B}_{\mathit{\text{hyperfine}}}$ in the M\"ossbauer spectrum at the Ru site. Instead the measured spectra consist of a narrow peak at all temperatures which points to the absence of magnetic order. To understand the surprising absence of a transferred hyperfine magnetic field, we carried out ab initio calculations which show that spin polarization is present only on the rare-earth site. The electron spin at the Ru sites is effectively unpolarized and, as a result, ${B}_{\mathit{\text{hyperfine}}}$ is very small at those sites. This occurs because the $4d$ Ru electrons form broad conduction bands rather than localized moments. These $4d$ conduction bands are polarized in the region of the Fermi energy and mediate the interaction between the localized rare-earth moments.
Effects of Unseeded Areas on Species Richness of Coal Mines Reclaimed with Municipal Biosolids

Land application of municipal biosolids on coal mine spoils can benefit vegetation establishment in mine reclamation. However, the application of biosolids leads to domination by early-successional species, such as grasses, and low establishment of woody and volunteer species, thus reducing potential for forestry as a postmining land use. In this experiment, tree seedlings were planted in strips (0.6-, 1-, and 4-m wide) that were not seeded with grasses, and the effects of unseeded strip width on seedling growth and species richness were assessed. Planted seedling mortality was high; therefore, the effect of unseeded strip width on seedling growth could not be determined. However, it was found that natural plant invasion and species richness were highest in the 4-m unseeded strips. The practice of leaving 4-m-wide unseeded strips in mine reclamation with biosolids in the eastern United States, along with the improvement of tree seedling planting practices and planting stock, would help promote a more species-rich plant community that could be utilized for forestry or a variety of other postmining land uses.
Scaling of stagnant-lid convection with Arrhenius rheology and the effects of mantle melting

SUMMARY On the basis of numerical modelling and scaling analysis, a few modifications are proposed for the scaling of stagnant-lid convection, in order to make it more applicable to the thermal evolution of terrestrial planets. The effect of using Arrhenius rheology, as opposed to more popular linear-exponential rheology, is first investigated, and the stability analysis of top thermal boundary layer is shown to be able to capture systematic differences caused by the different kinds of temperature-dependent viscosity. The local stability analysis is then extended to handle the effects of mantle melting such as dehydration stiffening and compositional buoyancy. A new heat-flow scaling law incorporating these effects suggests that mantle melting may reduce the conventional prediction of surface heat flux by up to a factor of ∼5–10, and its potential impact on our understanding of planetary evolution is briefly discussed.
Diet quality indices and postmenopausal breast cancer survival.

Research on diet in breast cancer survival has been focused on single nutrients or foods, particularly dietary fat, fruits, vegetables, fiber, and alcohol. We hypothesized that diet quality indices decrease the risk of total and non-breast-cancer-related deaths in women diagnosed with breast cancer. We evaluated 4 dietary quality scores: Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), Diet Quality Index—Revised (DQIR), Recommended Food Score (RFS), and the alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMED), among 2,729 women from the Nurses’ Health Study with invasive Stage 1–3 breast cancer diagnosed between 1978 and 1998 with follow-up through 2004. In multivariate adjusted analyses, no association was found between diet quality indices and either total or non-breast-cancer-related deaths. However, a higher aMED score was associated with a lower risk of non-breast-cancer death in women with low physical activity; the RR comparing the highest to lowest tertile was 0.39 (95% CI, 0.20–0.75, P trend = 0.0004). Our results su...
Phase equilibrium in the binary and ternary blend system: Polycaprolactone‐polyvinyl chloride‐styrene acrylonitrile copolymer

An experimental study of binary and ternary phase equilibrium in the system polycaprolactone (PCL) poly(vi-nylchloride) (PVC)-77/23 styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) is described. Miscibility is determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and turbidity. PCL/PVC and PCL/SAN are largely miscible systems but PVC/SAN is immiscible. The ternary system shows considerable miscibility. The blends are characterized by polarized light microscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The former measurement characterizes the structure of the spherulites. Additions of PVC, SAN, or PVC/SAN causes the spherulites observed in PCL to grow in size and become coarse. X-ray diffraction shows no movement of crystallographic peaks indicating the crystallographic unit cell is composed of PCL. Melting point depression measurements are used to calculate Flory χ interaction parameters for PCL/PVC and PCL/SAN. The melting point depression is also considered and used to investigate PVC/SAN interaction. An effort is made to compute the ternary phase diagram and tie lines.
Magnetic interactions in transition-metal-doped ZnO: An ab initio study

We calculate the nature of magnetic interactions in transition-metal doped ZnO using the local spin density approximation and (LSDA) the $\mathrm{LSDA}+U$ (Coulomb interaction) method of density functional theory. We investigate the following four cases: (i) single-transition-metal-ion types (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) substituted at Zn sites, (ii) substitutional magnetic transition-metal ions combined with additional Cu and Li dopants, (iii) substitutional magnetic transition-metal ions combined with oxygen vacancies, and (iv) pairs of magnetic ion types (Co and Fe, Co and Mn). Extensive convergence tests indicate that the calculated magnetic ground state is unusually sensitive to the $k$-point mesh and energy cutoff, the details of the geometry optimizations, and the choice of the exchange-correlation functional. We find that ferromagnetic coupling is sometimes favorable for single-type substitutional transition-metal ions within the LSDA. However, the nature of magnetic interactions changes when correlations on the transition-metal ion are treated within the more realistic $\mathrm{LSDA}+U$ method, often disfavoring the ferromagnetic state. The magnetic configuration is sensitive to the detailed arrangement of the ions and the amount of lattice relaxation, except in the case of oxygen vacancies when an antiferromagnetic state is always favored.
Structural Glycoprotein, Fact or Artefact

It has been repeatedly claimed that structural glycoprotein or SGP is a major component of many connective tissues, particularly aorta. SGP is usually defined as material extractable from tissue with chaotropic agents such as urea and having an amino acid composition matching that of other, similar extracts. It has been claimed that SGP comprises 10-60% of the dry weight of aortic tissue. This paper describes a study in which aorta was exhaustively extracted with agents previously claimed to extract SGP. All the extracts yielded mixtures of proteins which, upon separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were found to consist largely of actin, collagen, myosin and other known proteins. No significant quantity of any one unidentified protein was found which could have been SGP. This study casts grave doubt upon the existence of SGP as a major component of aorta.
Traditional vs. Retrospective Pretests for Measuring Science Teaching Efficacy Beliefs in Preservice Teachers

The difference in gain scores produced by traditional pretests and those produced by retrospective pretests when compared to posttest scores on the Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument for preservice teachers was investigated in this study. Results indicated that gain scores using the traditional pretest produced significant improvement in one factor, but not in the other, which is congruent with most other results for this instrument found in the literature. However, gain scores produced by using retrospective pretests produced a greater magnitude of significance for the first factor, and also produced significant gains for the second factor. Follow-up interviews with participants provided evidence for greater internal validity for the retrospective pretest. Findings support the notion that retrospective pretests may produce gain scores with greater validity and greater statistical power.
Peptides and the control of meal size

There are now a large number of experiments demonstrating that peripheral administration of exogenous cholecystokinin or its synthetic analogue, CCK-8, reduces meal size in a number of species. The peptide interacts with other factors which influence satiety, and treatments thought to be effective in eliciting secretion of cholecystokinin have predictable effects on meal size. Cholecystokinin is effective in the genetically obese Zucker rat, obese rats with lesions of the ventromedial hypothalamus, and subdiaphragmatically vagotomized rats. Somatostatin and bombesin are also reasonable candidates for satiety factors. Intraperitoneal naloxone reduces meal size in rats, and beta-endorphin injected intraventricularly causes an increase in meal size of 50% over 30 minutes. We conclude that cholecystokinin and bombesin may interact in weight regulation and control of meal time food intake.
Synaptic Vesicle Protein NTT4/XT1 (SLC6A17) Catalyzes Na+-coupled Neutral Amino Acid Transport

The SLC6 family of structurally related, Na+-dependent transporter proteins is responsible for presynaptic reuptake of the majority of neurotransmitters. Within this family are a number of orphan transporters, including NTT4/XT1 (SLC6A17), a protein first identified over 15 years ago. NTT4/XT1 is expressed exclusively in the nervous system and specifically on synaptic vesicles in glutamatergic and some GABAergic neurons. Despite extensive efforts by a number of groups, no substrate has been reported for NTT4/XT1. Here we use a combination of molecular manipulations to increase expression of the NTT4/XT1 protein at the plasma membrane and to directly demonstrate that it catalyzes neutral amino acid transport. The substrate profile of the NTT4/XT1-dependent activity is similar to that of the closely related B0AT2/SBAT1 (SLC6A15), including a submillimolar apparent affinity for proline and leucine and a low millimolar apparent affinity for glutamine. The transport activity is Na+-dependent and Cl–-independent and is inhibited by low pH as is SLC6A15, suggesting redundant roles for these proteins. This characterization of NTT4/XT1 offers important insights into neurotransmitter metabolism as well as the mechanistic differences among the structurally related, but functionally divergent, SLC6 proteins.
Identification of symptom parameters for failure anticipation by timed-event trend analysis [power distribution systems]

This paper investigates a timed-event trend analysis method to evaluate and identify symptom parameters for incipient fault detection. To quantify the trend, the Laplace test statistic is adopted and applied to an actual distribution event log. A case study shows that the Laplace test statistic could be of great help in identification of the parameters for incipient fault detection and predictive diagnostics.
Sclerosing bone dysplasias--a target-site approach.

Sclerosing bone dysplasias are a poorly understood group of developmental anomalies, much of whose etiology is still obscure. The list of conditions constituting this group is relatively short: osteopetrosis (Albers-Schonberg disease), pycnodysostosis (Maroteaux-Lamy disease), enostosis (bone island), osteopoikilosis, osteopathia striata (Voorhoeve disease), progressive diaphyseal dysplasia (Camurati-Engelmann disease), hereditary multiple diaphyseal sclerosis (Ribbing disease), four types of endosteal hyperostosis (van Buchem disease, Worth disease, Nakamura disease, and Truswell-Hansen disease), dysosteosclerosis, metaphyseal dysplasia (Pyle's disease), craniometaphyseal dysplasia, melorheostosis (Leri disease), and craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. There are instances in which two or more of the above disorders coexist. These are termed "overlap syndromes", most commonly involving osteopathia striata, osteopoikilosis, and melorheostosis. A classification of these dysplasias is elaborated based on a targetsite approach that views them as disturbances in development associated with the processes of either endochondral or intramembranous bone formation, or both. Accumulated evidence suggests that many of these disorders stem from common defects in bone resorption and/or formation during the processes of skeletal maturation and modeling. Finally, the subgroup of overlap syndromes is emphasized as indicating a strong interrelationship between the sclerosing dysplasias of bone, with perhaps a common pathogenesis for many.
Actual and Perceived Teacher Clarity--Relations to Student Achievement in Science.

College students (N = 41) were randomly assigned to one of two groups defined by the teacher's clarity in the lesson, i.e., high-clarity versus low-clarity presentation on genetics. After the lesson the subjects completed a test on the contents of the lesson and then rated the lesson presentation. Students in the high-clarity group achieved more (although not significantly) than students in the low-clarity group. Students perceived the high-clarity lesson as significantly clearer than the low-clarity lesson. These findings are discussed in relation to previous research on teacher clarity.
Higher powered magnification improved endodontic surgery outcomes.

Medline, Embase and PubMed databases were searched together with hand-searches of a range of journals (Journal of Endodontics, International Endodontic Journal, Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Endodontics, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery). Clinical studies in several languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish) with a minimum follow-up of six months evaluated using clinical and radiographic examination included. Assessment and data abstraction were carried out independently. Weighted pooled success rates and relative risk assessment between TRS and EMS were calculated and a meta-analysis was carried out using a random effects model. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Weighted pooled success rates calculated from extracted raw data showed an 88% positive outcome for CRS (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8455-0.9164) and 94% for EMS (95% CI, 0.8889-0.9816). This difference was statistically significant (P < .0005). Relative risk ratio analysis showed that the probability of success for EMS was 1.07 times that for CRS. Seven studies provided information on the individual tooth type. The probability of success between the groups was statistically significant in favour of EMS for molars, but no significant difference was found for anteriors or premolars. The probability for success for EMS proved to be significantly greater than the probability for success for CRS, providing best available evidence on the influence of high-power magnification rendered by the dental operating microscope or the endoscope.
A gracile hominid cranium from upper member G of the Shungura formation, Ethiopia.

A fragmentary hominid cranium with teeth, specimen L.894-1, dating from 1.84 m.y. BP in the Shungura Formation at Omo, is described. From its dental and cranial morphology and because of similarities to Olduvai Hominids 24 and 13 and Sangiran 4, among others, it is concluded that the specimen represents a member of an early species of the genus Homo (Homo habilis or Homo modjokertensis). The specimen shows approximal grooving on the premolars, pre-mortem chipping of the molar enamel, foramina ovale and spinosum divided by the sphenosquamosal suture, limited pneumatization of the mastoid region, and a possible interparietal bone. Sedimentological, ostracod, pollen, macrofloral, and taphonomic data indicate that the paleo-environmental context was a savanna/grassland or savanna woodland on the margin of a saline lake.
Effects of common analgesics on the in vitro suppression of lymphocyte mitogen responses by cephalosporins.

Acetaminophen and indomethacin either did not alter or partially reversed the inhibition of lymphocyte mitogenic responses by cephalosporins. Aspirin at concentrations of ≥100 μg/ml in cultures containing cephalosporins reduced the response below the level with either drug alone.
Ras and extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling in thymocytes and T cells

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation is important for both thymocyte development and T cell function. Classically, signal transduction from the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) to ERK is thought to be regulated by signaling from Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), through the small G protein Ras, to the three-tiered Raf-MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-ERK kinase cascade. Developing and mature T cells express four members of two RasGEF families, RasGRP1, RasGRP4, son of sevenless 1 (Sos1), and Sos2, and several models describing combined signaling from these RasGEFs have been proposed. However, recent studies suggest that existing models need revision to include both distinct and overlapping roles of multiple RasGEFs during thymocyte development and novel, Ras-independent signals to ERK that have been identified in peripheral T cells.
How a judge's overzealousness will help redefine mediation limits

Alternatives editorial board member Jeff Kichaven, of Los Angeles, examines what he notes is the defining California appellate court decision of 2005, Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. v. Superior Court. The judge in the case proposed mediation and designed a system to deal with claims stemming from accusations against the Catholic Church involving sexual abuse. But a state appeals court found that the judge's good idea was coercive. Kichaven discusses why the judge's mistakes likely will benefit mediation over the long term.
Fourth ventricular phlorizin dissociates feeding from hyperglycemia in rats

The effects of 4th ventricular injections of phlorizin and 5-thioglucose (5-TG) on feeding, plasma glucose, and plasma insulin levels were determined. Fourth ventricular applications of phlorizin (13 micrograms) and 5-TG (150 and 210 micrograms) were equally effective in stimulating feeding. Systemic injections of phlorizin (13 micrograms) did not stimulate feeding. In the absence of food, hyperglycemia was elicited by 4th ventricular injections of 5-TG. In contrast, the dose of phlorizin that stimulated feeding, did not produce hyperglycemia. Basal plasma insulin levels were not affected by either of the 4th ventricular injections. These data indicate that activation of caudal brainstem metabolic interoceptors provides an afferent limb for the production of compensatory responses and that behavioral and autonomic compensatory responses can be activated independently. The glucodynamic action of phlorizin appears selective for that mechanism mediating the behavioral compensatory response of feeding in contrast to the dual effects produced by 5-TG. These and other data suggest that different caudal brainstem mechanisms control behavioral and autonomic compensatory responses.
The effect of infection and transformation by rous sarcoma virus upon lysophosphoglyceride biosynthesis in chicken embryo fibroblasts

Abstract De novo biosynthesis of lysophosphoglycerides, recently observed in the microsomal fractions of normal chicken embryo fibroblasts, is greatly depressed in cells transformed by the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus (subgroup A), but not in those infected with the td 105 transformation-defective mutant of the virus. This depression may be due to a lack of the appropriate enzyme, rather than to an inhibitory factor, and may thus represent an effect of expression of the src gene upon lipid biosynthesis.