cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diversity of Listeria monocytogenes Within a U.S. Dairy Herd, 2004–2010

Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis, is frequently isolated from the environment. Dairy cows and dairy farm environments are reservoirs of this pathogen, where fecal shedding contributes to its environmental dispersal and contamination of milk, dairy products, and meat. The molecular diversity of 40 L. monocytogenes isolates representing 3 serogroups (1/2a, 1/2b, and 4b) collected between 2004 and 2010 from the feces of dairy cattle on a single dairy farm was assessed using a multivirulence locus sequence typing (MVLST) assay. The dairy farm L. monocytogenes MVLST patterns were compared to those from 138 strains isolated globally from clinical cases, foods, and the environment. Results of the study demonstrated that several distantly related L. monocytogenes strains persisted among members of the herd over the course of the study while other strains were transient. Furthermore, some strains isolated during this study appear to be distantly related to previously isolated L. monocytogenes while others are closely related to Epidemic Clones associated with human illness. This work demonstrates that dairy cows can be reservoirs of a diverse population of potentially human pathogenic L. monocytogenes that represents a risk to consumers of milk, dairy products, and meat.
A dynamic profile of window system usage

To obtain a dynamic profile of user input and application requests, an instrumented version of the X window was built and installed on a number of workstations. It was found that in the environment under study, over 90% of all requests are to display text, draw a rectangle, or fill a rectangle. Most text strings, vectors, windows, and area fills are relatively small; most area copies are large. The X client library reduces communication overhead by batching an average of four requests to the server in a single message. Thus, the data show that current server-based window system protocols can be quite efficient in actual use. >
Role of precursor chemistry on synthesis of Si–O–C and Si–O–C–N ceramics by polymer pyrolysis

In this study, the role played by polymer precursor chemistry on the nature of the pyrolyzed product was examined. Variables examined included extent of conjugation of the precursor, differences between a homopolymer and co-polymer, linear and cyclic structures, siloxanes and silazanes and between vinyl and phenyl containing silanes. Results indicate increasing the vinyl content of the precursor increases the amount of free carbon in the pyrolyzed product. The introduction of an aryl group in the silane decreased yield and lastly there was no change in the yield when a silazane was used instead of a silane, however, the composition of the silazane precursor ceramic is rich in nitrogen while a silane precursor ceramic is rich in carbon.
Implications of data-analysis models for careers guidance

Abstract Data-analysis models for careers guidance have been mostly of the regression type, operating to transform trait assessments into predictions of career adjustments. If understanding of self and life-space is a prerequisite to decision-making and planning, models of the correlation type – which transform trait distributions of populations into knowledge of the antecedents of variance in careers phenomena – may need to take precedence in guidance programmes. Models of the two types have some guidance implications in common, but each type of model also has some special implications, which are discussed. It is argued that studying correlation models for career development data in the context of a sequential, structured guidance curriculum can provide young people with scientific attitudes and skills which will make them ready for personal predictions, decisions, and planning.
About Face: Downplaying the Role of the Press in Facial Transplantation Research

About a decade ago I spent a week as guest faculty for a summertime intensive bioethics course. My hotel was several miles from campus, necessitating daily cab rides. Most mornings I was picked up ...
Perceptions of Experienced Music Teachers Regarding Their Work as Music Mentors

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of experienced music teachers regarding their preparation for and experience of mentoring in a 2-year mentor project focusing on the support of teachers in Title I schools in Orlando, Florida. Data included the following: initial expectations of mentoring from Year 1 (note cards), biggest challenges from Year 2 (note cards), mentor development session interactions from Years 1 and 2, interviews with mentors at the end of the study period, and research logs from the two researchers. Findings suggest that mentors need mentors; time management is a challenge for mentors; communication with the mentee is a challenge; observations of the mentees are necessary but difficult; technology can be a positive resource for mentor and mentee interaction; and mentors struggle to keep mentee interactions in the realm of support and not evaluation.
Cloning of a rat cDNA encoding dihydroxypolyprenylbenzoate methyltransferase by functional complementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant deficient in ubiquinone biosynthesis.

Abstract 3,4-Dihydroxy-5-hexaprenylbenzoate methyltransferase (DHHB-MTase) is the product of the COQ3 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and catalyses the fourth step in the biosynthesis of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q) from p-hydroxybenzoic acid. A full-length cDNA encoding a mammalian homologue of DHHB-MTase was isolated from a newly constructed rat testis cDNA library by functional complementation of a coq3 deletion mutant of S. cerevisiae. The complementing clone contained a 1.1-kb poly(A)+-tailed insert with a 858-bp open reading frame and presumably encodes 3,4-dihydroxy-5-polyprenylbenzoate-MTase. The deduced rat amino acid (aa) sequence has a 39% identity over 138 aa with the yeast DHHB-MTase and a 37% identity over this same region with an Escherichia coli protein encoded by the ubiG gene, a MTase that catalyses the terminal step of ubiquinone biosynthesis. The rescue of the yeast coq3 mutant by the rat homologue suggests that yeast and rat synthesize ubiquinone via the same early steps in this pathway.
Do investors misprice components of net periodic pension cost

We examine whether and how investors misprice the components of net periodic pension cost under SFAS No. 87 and 158. We find that investors appear to have difficulty in understanding the transitory feature of other net periodic pension cost (PPOPCC) and thus overestimate its persistence, which in turn leads to the mispricing of PPOPCC in the pre-158 period. We also find that SFAS No. 158 appears to reduce the mispricing of PPOPCC, suggesting a positive effect of SFAS No. 158 on investors' valuation of pension items in the income statement. Additional analysis suggests that investors also overestimate the persistence of, and thus misprice, pension-related cash flows and accruals in the pre-158 period and that SFAS No. 158 reduces the mispricing of pension-related cash flows and accruals.
Out-of-hospital resuscitation research: Rationale and strategies for controlled clinical trials

There is no better place to test life-saving resuscitation interventions than in the prehospital setting. Patients rarely survive cardiac arrest if resuscitation techniques have failed before leaving the scene. Also, paramedics are usually every experienced in key initial resuscitative techniques, and they routinely operate under strict paramilitary protocol, resulting in better study compliance. In addition, the large study populations that are derivec from emergency medical services (EMS) systems lead to faster study completion and statistically stronger data. Most important, by reinforcing standardized care, rigidly scrutimized trials improve patient care, regardless of the effect of the study intervention. The success of productive EMS research centers requires routine communication between hospital and EMS administrators and their medical directors, designation of mutually acceptable data collectors who quarantee confidentiality, reciprocal exchange of study data provided as educational seminars to the hospitals, commitments to support the budget requests of an EMS program and appropriate system modifications, inclusion of EMS personnel is study design from the very beginning, prospective education of the medical community and media before protocol implementation, an authoritative grassroots medical director, and a paramedic supervisor system.
Can Science Test Supernatural Worldviews

Several prominent scientists, philosophers, and scientific institutions have argued that science cannot test supernatural worldviews on the grounds that (1) science presupposes a naturalistic worldview (Naturalism) or that (2) claims involving supernatural phenomena are inherently beyond the scope of scientific investigation. The present paper argues that these assumptions are questionable and that indeed science can test supernatural claims. While scientific evidence may ultimately support a naturalistic worldview, science does not presuppose Naturalism as an a priori commitment, and supernatural claims are amenable to scientific evaluation. This conclusion challenges the rationale behind a recent judicial ruling in the United States concerning the teaching of “Intelligent Design” in public schools as an alternative to evolution and the official statements of two major scientific institutions that exert a substantial influence on science educational policies in the United States. Given that science does have implications concerning the probable truth of supernatural worldviews, claims should not be excluded a priori from science education simply because they might be characterized as supernatural, paranormal, or religious. Rather, claims should be excluded from science education when the evidence does not support them, regardless of whether they are designated as ‘natural’ or ‘supernatural’.
The roots of modern justice: cognitive and neural foundations of social norms and their enforcement

Among animals, Homo sapiens is unique in its capacity for widespread cooperation and prosocial behavior among large and genetically heterogeneous groups of individuals. This ultra-sociality figures largely in our success as a species. It is also an enduring evolutionary mystery. There is considerable support for the hypothesis that this facility is a function of our ability to establish, and enforce through sanctions, social norms. Third-party punishment of norm violations ("I punish you because you harmed him") seems especially crucial for the evolutionary stability of cooperation and is the cornerstone of modern systems of criminal justice. In this commentary, we outline some potential cognitive and neural processes that may underlie the ability to learn norms, to follow norms and to enforce norms through third-party punishment. We propose that such processes depend on several domain-general cognitive functions that have been repurposed, through evolution's thrift, to perform these roles.
Relationship of acceptance and mortality of anticoagulant baits to rats

The data presented in this paper indicates that there is a direct relationship of anticoagulant bait acceptance and mortality. The more acceptable an anticoagulant rodenticide bait is to rats, the greater the mortality to be expected.
Fluorescence of biogenic monoamines in the human dental pulp

Biogenic monoamines in the adrenergic nerve terminals of the human dental pulp are demonstrated by the fluorescence method of Falck and Owman. Unmyelinated nerve fibers from nerves along alveolar blood vessels may enter the pulp, although pulp nerves are composed largely of myelinated fibers. The existence of a few sympathetic fibers is demonstrated by the fluorescence method, and possible drug effects are considered.
Effect of Sterculia foetida Oil on Mortality of the Chick Embryo

Abstract MASSON et al. (1957) and Shenstone and Vickery (1959) have established the relationship between the feeding of the Halphen reactive cyclopropene fatty acids, found in cottonseed oil (malvalic) and Sterculia foetida oil (sterculic), and the pink discoloration phenomena of stored eggs. Schneider et al. (1960) and Doberenz et al. (1960) showed that small amounts of the Sterculia foetida oil fed to laying hens produce large physical-chemical changes in the yolk as measured in vitro. Ringrose, Morgan and Lease (1941), and Naber and Morgan (1957), showed a hatchability depressing factor in the saponifiable fraction of crude cottonseed oil. Heywang, Denton and Bird (1949), showed that egg hatchabilty decreased as the pink discoloration of the egg white increased when hens were fed varying amounts of cottonseed meal. The availability of a concentrated source of sterculic acid in the form of Sterculia foetida oil made it possible to study the effect of this…
Determination of proline by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with automated pre-column o-phthaldialdehyde derivatization

Abstract A simple and sensitive fluorometric HPLC method was developed for the analysis of proline in biological samples. The HPLC apparatus consisted of an autosampler, a binary solvent delivery system, a 3-μm reversed-phase C18 column (150 × 4.6 mm I.D.) guarded by a 40-μm reversed-phase C18 column (50 × 4.6 mm I.D.), a fluorescence detector, and a computer workstation. Proline was oxidized to 4-amino-1-butanol in the presence of chloramine-T and NaBH4 in a 60°C water bath, which took 11 min. 4-Amino-1-butanol was automatically derivatized with o-phthaldialdehyde in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The proline derivative was separated on a 25-min gradient program, employing solvent A (0.1 M sodium acetate-0.5% tetrahydrofuran-9% methanol; pH 7.2) and solvent B (methanol). Fluorescence was monitored with excitation at 340 nm and emission at 450 nm. The conversion of proline to 4-amino-1-butanol was quantitative, reproducible, and linear with proline concentrations ranging from 25 to 500 μM commonly present in biological samples. The described method can be readily used for quantifying proline in biomedical research.
The relationship of entropy‐related measures to money information

The specific purpose of this paper is to trace the development of entropy-related thought from its thermodynamic origins through its organizational and economic applications to its relationship to money information. That trace reveals that existing entropy measures are of states or changes in states that are caused by energy processes. We propose that entropy may as well be conceived as entropic process. The social emergent specific exchange value provides a metric by which entropic process may be quantified. The analysis connects the traditional state-oriented entropy measures to measures of entropic process in social systems. In doing so, the character of exchange-based societies and the function of money information within them are elaborated. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids and phorbol myristate acetate enhance agonist-stimulated synthesis of 1-radyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in vascular endothelial cells.

Abstract This study has investigated the effect of supplementation of vascular endothelial cells with arachidonate and other polyunsaturated fatty acids on the agonist-stimulated synthesis of platelet activating factor (PAF; 1- O -alkyl-2-acetyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine; 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC). Incubation of calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells for 48 h in medium containing 40 μM arachidonate resulted in a 2–3-fold enhancement of [ 3 H]acetate incorporation into 1-radyl-2[ 3 H]acetyl-GPC in response to either bradykinin or calcium ionophore A23187. The effects of arachidonate supplementation were both dose- and time-dependent, requiring a minimum exogenous arachidonate concentration of 2.5 μM and an incubation time of 4–6 h. Eicosapentaenoate and docosahexaenoate also enhanced the synthesis of 1-radyl-2-[ 3 H]acetyl-GPC, but were less potent than arachidonate; α-linolenate, linoleate and oleate were without effect. Although not effective as an agonist, phorbol myristate acetate potnetiated A23187- and bradykinin-stimulated synthesis of 1-radyl-2-[ 3 H]acetyl-GPC. The effects of arachidonate supplementation were synergistic with potentiation by phorbol myristate acetate. Sphingosine inhibited agonist-stimulated incorporation of [ 3 H]acetate into 1-radyl-2-[ 3 H]acetyl-GPC both in the presence and absence of PMA. Characterization of the radiolabeled material indicated that the primary product was the acyl analogue of PAF (1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC) rather than PAF. The results from this study suggest that agonist-stimulated synthesis of 1-radyl-2-acetyl-GPC in vascular endothelial cells is modulated both by cellular fatty acyl composition and activation of protein kinase C. Enrichment of vascular endothelial cells with fatty acids, which are mobilized by agonist-stimulated phospholipase A 2 , may enhance subsequent deacylation of choline phospholipids and, thus, increase synthesis of both 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC and PAF.
A Gauss-Kuzmin theorem for continued fractions associated with nonpositive integer powers of an integer m ≥ 2.

We consider a family of interval maps which are generalizations of the Gauss transformation. For the continued fraction expansion arising from , we solve a Gauss-Kuzmin-type problem.
Is the internet an instrument of global democratization

This article explores the hypothesis that people in less democratic nations will use the Internet newsgroups devoted to those countries as a relatively ‘safe’ form of political discussion and even protest. Also, it is expected that nationals of those countries living overseas will use these newsgroups to more openly discuss politics in those nations than they could otherwise do so. Before turning to a content analysis of the messages posted in non‐United States Usenet groups, the number of these groups and the levels of political discussion in them are quantified. The article quantifies the international usage of the Usenet as a first attempt to find some patterns in this usage that may be politically motivated. After all, many pundits imagine that the Internet will become the vaunted ‘global village’ and source of ‘grass‐roots democracy’, and not merely in the United States. An examination of the content of about 2500 messages in 41 Usenet groups then follows, with a view to establishing the following: h...
Mechanical Effects of Myofibril Disarray on Cardiac Function

Myocardial disarray is a fiber distribution that deviates away from the tightly organized, parallel alignment of myocardial fibers that characterizes the normal myocardium. This coherently-organized distribution of the myofibers results in the twisting contraction of the normal left ventricle (LV). With myofiber disarray, the fibers have random directionality, either locally or globally, within the LV.© 2013 ASME
Indoor photovoltaic energy harvesting for mm-scale systems

Low power electronic circuitry, including wirelessly interconnected sensor nodes, is a transformational technology that can be applied to a broad range of applications. These low power systems still require electrical power, ideally from ambient energy sources. Ambient sources of light can provide sufficient energy for these applications. Stray sunlight is more than adequate, though it is not available in all locations. Indoor lighting may also provide a sufficient energy source, though the characteristics of the spectrum are significantly different than the solar spectrum, where irradiance is confined to a narrower window in the visible spectrum. Energy-autonomous operation in mm-scale sensors have been achieved using photovoltaics based on silicon CMOS [1,2]. Improvements in energy harvesting are necessary to increase the duty cycle of the microsystem and to facilitate wireless transceivers. Photovoltaic cells consisting of materials with larger bandgap energy, such as GaAs, provide a better match to the indoor light spectrum, reducing thermalization losses and increasing power generation. The larger voltage provided by higher bandgap materials such as GaAs can also improve the efficiency of the overall system, where higher voltages are beneficial for the battery storage system and DC-DC converter. While the cost of GaAs photovoltaics is significantly higher than for silicon, and is currently prohibitive for large area solar energy production, the small power requirements and associated size requirements for photovoltaic cells makes GaAs an affordable option. Requirements for active and standby power are 10μW and 0.5nW, respectively[1,2], where perpetual operation may be achieved using a photovoltaic cell with area on the order of 1 mm 2 .
Monte Carlo calculation of dynamical properties of the two-dimensional Hubbard model

A new method is introduced for analytically continuing imaginary-time data from quantum Monte Carlo calculations to the real-frequency axis. The method is based on a least-squares fitting procedure with constraints of positivity and smoothness on the real-frequency quantities. Results are shown for the single-particle spectral-weight function and density of states for the half-filled two-dimensional Hubbard model.
Safety program guidelines for public school facility construction and operations

Facilities management programs at public schools covering capital improvement projects and facility operations and maintenance functions need comprehensive safety programs to ensure that workers, school staff, and students are provided a safe and healthy environment during all related activities. This paper reviews the elements of a school safety program and discusses program implementation issues to make it successful. Program guidelines are provided for safe construction, operations, maintenance, and design in the context of school facilities.
“Direct” Detection and Separation of DNA Using Nanoporous Alumina Filters

The concept of using alumina nanoporous filters (AAO) modified with DNA for "label-free" detection and separation/purification of the target ss-DNA is demonstrated. The high surface density of DNA (4 x 10(12) cm(-2)) and high efficiency of hybridization (ca. 70%) in combination with increased effective surface area make this system very attractive for development of various ss-DNA (or RNA) detection methods. Moderate transparency of AAO in the UV and IR regions allows direct detection of DNA hybridization by optical and IR absorption. Close to the quantitative efficiency of binding the target ss-DNA from solution using a single pass through the modified filter is observed.
Esophageal Pressure Measurements in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Study objectives We sought to determine the adaptability and effectiveness of a new esophageal balloon technique to measure changes in esophageal pressure (Pes) as a reflection of pleural pressure with progressive incremental exercise testing in normal subjects. Design An 8F (0.9 cm) esophageal balloon catheter (Smart Cath; Allied Health Products; Riverside, Calif), a CP-100 pulmonary monitor (BiCore Monitoring Systems PC-100; Irvine, Calif), and a flow transducer (Var flex; Allied Health Products; Riverside, Calif) were connected to a breathing valve (model 2700; Hans-Rudolph Inc; Kansas City, Mo). This apparatus was then used to measure Pes during a graded cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) to symptom limitation. Setting University-affiliated Veterans Affairs Hospital. Participants Eight nonsmoking volunteers with normal results of pulmonary function tests. Interventions Plots of APes against pressure time product (PTP), minute ventilation ( V ˙ e), and oxygen consumption ( V ˙ o 2 ) were obtained. Pes at baseline, anaerobic threshold (AT), and maximum oxygen consumption ( V ˙ o 2 max) were obtained by comparing the Pes measurements from the computer printout to the corresponding breath-by-breath measurements on the CPX. Measurements and results The flow transducer (Varflex) connection added only 20 mL of dead space to the standard mouthpiece apparatus. The mean maximum work performance was 203±32 W. The mean V ˙ o 2 max was 29±9 mL/kg/min. The Pes at AT was 16±3 cm H 2 O. The Pes at maximal exercise was 42±16 cm H 2 O. Conclusion The small esophageal balloon was well tolerated by all subjects. Plots of APes vs PTP, Ve, and V ˙ o 2 demonstrated a linear correlation. This apparatus could be added to the standard CPX to assess the contribution of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles in patients with dyspnea.
Solidarity: Restoring Communion with Those Who are Disabled

People with disabilities have experienced varying degrees of acceptance throughout recorded history. Often their experiences are dreadful; frequently enough, their experiences are moments of God's in-breaking. This in-breaking is the restoration of communion with others from whom persons with disabilities were excluded by a normate/ableist hegemony. 1 Considering and exposing the history of abuse and oppression of people with disabilities, I challenge disciples of Jesus to stand in solidarity definitively with those who are poor and marginalized as their Master has done. Speak with people once thought unclean, touch them, dine with them, become a friend, and identify with them for, as Jesus becomes disabled by the crucifixion, whatever disciples may do with those who are disabled, disciples do so with Jesus.
Methamphetamine abuse as a barrier to HIV medication adherence among gay and bisexual men

Medication adherence among persons with HIV infection is important not only because of the effect of non-adherence on an individual's health but also because non-adherence can lead to medication-resistant viral strains. However, adherence to HIV medications is difficult due to complex dosing regimens and side effects. This paper is a qualitative analysis of HIV medication adherence among gay and bisexual methamphetamine-abusing men enrolled in an outpatient drug treatment research project. As part of an open-ended, semi-structured interview, 23 HIV-infected men discussed the effects of their methamphetamine use on their medication adherence. Substance-use barriers to adherence were coded into two main themes: (1) planned non-adherence and (2) unplanned non-adherence. Planned non-adherence was a strategy for coping with demanding HIV medication schedules, or was linked to sexual behaviours while using methamphetamine or to fears of interaction effects from mixing methamphetamine with HIV medications. Participants did not define their medication regimen adjustments as non-adherence but as a way to achieve a sense of control over their lives. Unplanned non-adherence was linked to methamphetamine-related disruptions in food and sleep schedules. Findings are helpful in designing culturally specific HIV medication adherence interventions for this population.
Homeostatic sleep pressure is the primary factor for activation of cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons.

Cortical interneurons, immunoreactive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the receptor NK1, express the functional activity marker Fos selectively during sleep. NREM sleep ‘pressure’ is hypothesized to accumulate during waking and to dissipate during sleep. We reported previously that the proportion of Fos+ cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons is correlated with established electrophysiological markers of sleep pressure. As these markers covary with the amount of NREM sleep, it remained unclear whether cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons are activated to the same degree throughout NREM sleep or whether the extent of their activation is related to the sleep pressure that accrued during the prior waking period. To distinguish between these possibilities, we used hypnotic medications to control the amount of NREM sleep in rats while we varied prior wake duration and the resultant sleep pressure. Drug administration was preceded by 6 h of sleep deprivation (SD) (‘high sleep pressure’) or undisturbed conditions (‘low sleep pressure’). We find that the proportion of Fos+ cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons was minimal when sleep pressure was low, irrespective of the amount of time spent in NREM sleep. In contrast, a large proportion of cortical nNOS/NK1 neurons was Fos+ when an equivalent amount of sleep was preceded by SD. We conclude that, although sleep is necessary for cortical nNOS/NK1 neuron activation, the proportion of cells activated is dependent upon prior wake duration.
High-calorie parenteral alimentation: serum lactic and pyruvic acid levels in immature dogs during infusion with concentrated glucose solutions.

Abstract Solutions of glucose of varying concentrations (10%–25%) were administered through central venous catheters to immature dogs in volumes greater than those employed in clinical total parenteral infusion therapy. Blood lactate and pyruvate levels were not raised during the course of the infusion, irrespective of the glucose concentration employed. Acidosis was not produced by these infusions. Glucose concentrations of approximately 20% were utilized most effectively, as demonstrated by total glucose retention. Clinical lactic acidemia is probably not adversely affected by continued infusion of high concentrations of glucose.
Fatal thrombocytopenia associated with intracardiac mass.

Platelets are anuclear blood cells whose function is to form blood clots when we injure ourselves, to prevent excessive blood loss. Thrombocytopenia is a relative low number of platelets in the blood. Thrombocytopenia has several possible causes, including the trapping of platelets in spleen, reduced production of platelets and increased breakdown of platelets. Some examples of an increase in platelet breakdown include pregnancy, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hemolytic uremic syndrome, infection, autoimmune diseases and medications (e.g., heparin). Thrombocytopenia may often be asymptomatic and can only be revealed by full blood cell count. Alternatively, it may cause excessive bruises and/or bleeding. In some cases, platelet count is so low that dangerous internal bleeding occurs.
Principles of Exercise Training

Design of exercise programs that are part of pulmonary rehabilitation programs should be founded on an appreciation of the principles of exercise training of healthy subjects. Training produces structural and biochemical changes in the muscles that exercise which increase the ability of the trained muscle to perform aerobic exercise. After training, a given level of heavy exercise engenders lower levels of blood lactate. This is associated with a lower requirement for oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, and ventilation. Although the precise mechanism by which training produces changes in the exercising muscles is unknown, characteristics of an effective training program have been defined. Healthy subjects must train for at least 30 min per day, 3 to 5 days per week for 4 to 8 weeks to achieve a physiologic training effect. More controversial is whether a critical training intensity exists. Further, it is not clear which yardstick to apply to quantitate training intensity. Finally, after a training effect has been achieved, regular exercise must be continued or the gains will be lost.
Programmed cell death induced by ceramide

Sphingomyelin hydrolysis and ceramide generation have been implicated in a signal transduction pathway that mediates the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and other agents on cell growth and differentiation. In many leukemic cells, TNF-alpha causes DNA fragmentation, which leads to programmed cell death (apoptosis). C2-ceramide (0.6 to 5 microM), a synthetic cell-permeable ceramide analog, induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which was inhibited by zinc ion. Other amphiphilic lipids failed to induce apoptosis. The closely related C2-dihydroceramide was also ineffective, which suggests a critical role for the sphingolipid double bond. The effects of C2-ceramide on DNA fragmentation were prevented by the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which suggests the existence of two opposing intracellular pathways in the regulation of apoptosis.
Endoscopic therapy for chronic pancreatitis: Technical success, clinical outcomes, and complications

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) can cause failure of both the exocrine and endocrine portions of the gland. Pain is the most recalcitrant clinical complaint in CP. Generally, conservative measures are first attempted to manage pain. These include cessation of alcohol use and smoking, enzyme replacement therapy, and finally, opioid analgesia. Endoscopy can be employed to treat the pain and complications due to CP. The results of the only two prospective randomized controlled trials suggest that surgery has a more durable effect than endoscopic therapy in controlling pain. Both trials suffer from severe limitations, however, and endoscopy remains the preferred approach for many patients because of its minimally invasive nature. Endoscopic ultrasound celiac plexus block has limited value in helping to control pain. More randomized trials are needed, along with further technologic innovation to improve the current treatment modalities. When considering interventional therapy for a patient with CP, a tailored and multidisciplinary therapeutic approach should be taken.
Oxygen consumption of frightened swamp rabbits, Sylvilagus aquaticus

Abstract 1. 1. Biotelemetry transmitters were implanted in the abdominal cavity of four mature swamp rabbits. Heart rate and oxygen consumption were measured before, during, and after a frightening stimulus. 2. 2. Each rabbit showed a significant reduction in heart rate during stimulus. Mean heart rate values during prestimulus. stimulus, and poststimulus were 176 ± 21, 128 ± 16 and 167 ± 20 beats/min (X ± SE) respectively. 3. 3. Three of four rabbits showed a significant reduction in oxygen consumption during stimulus. Mean oxygen consumption values during prestimulus. stimulus, and poststimulus were 7.65 ± 0.59. 6.60 ± 0.61 and 8.10 ± 0.68 ml O 2 (min kg) respectively. 4. 4. These data suggest frightened swamp rabbits reduce both heart rate and oxygen consumption while frightened. Oxygen consumption tends to overshoot during recovery suggesting an oxygen debt is incurred during fright.
Effect of inhaled nitric oxide on respiratory mechanics in ventilated infants with RSV bronchiolitis.

Objective: To evaluate the bronchodilator effect of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in infants with respiratory failure caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis and to compare the effect with the one obtained by salbutamol. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit of a university children's hospital. Patients: Twelve acutely ill, intubated infants (mean age 4.5 months, mean weight 4.9 kg) with respiratory failure due to documented RSV bronchiolitis. Interventions: Total respiratory system resistance (Rrs) was measured by single breath occlusion at the baseline and after inhaling NO at 20, 40 and 60 ppm for 1 h, and after inhalation of a standard β 2-agonist, salbutamol. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed at each study level on 6 of the 12 patients. Results: The baseline mean Rrs (SE) was 0.29 (0.04) cm H2O/ml per s. At each dose of NO, the mean Rrs (SE) was 0.28 (0.04) cm H2O/ml per s. With salbutamol, the mean Rrs (SE) was 0.21 (0.03) cm H2O/ml per s. These values were not significantly different from each other (by ANOVA). Inhaled NO produced a significant decrease in Rrs of greater than 4 times the coefficient of variation of the baseline measurement in 3 of 12 patients. Seven of 12 patients had no significant change while two patients had a significant increase in Rrs. Inhaled salbutamol produced a significant decrease in Rrs in 5 of 11 patients, while 6 showed no change in Rrs. Conclusion: Inhaled NO has no apparent bronchodilator effect in the majority of acutely ill infants with RSV bronchiolitis and does not appear to provide any additional benefit over the use of salbutamol. The clinical benefit of inhaled NO as a bronchodilator is questionable under these conditions.
Discovery of a 1.6 Year Magnetic Activity Cycle in the Exoplanet Host Star ι Horologii

The Mount Wilson Ca HK survey revealed magnetic activity variations in a large sample of solar-type stars with timescales ranging from 2.5 to 25 years. This broad range of cycle periods is thought to reflect differences in the rotational properties and the depths of the surface convection zones for stars with various masses and ages. In 2007, we initiated a long-term monitoring campaign of Ca II H and K emission for a sample of 57 southern solar-type stars to measure their magnetic activity cycles and their rotational properties when possible. We report the discovery of a 1.6 year magnetic activity cycle in the exoplanet host star ι Horologii and obtain an estimate of the rotation period that is consistent with Hyades membership. This is the shortest activity cycle so far measured for a solar-type star and may be related to the short-timescale magnetic variations recently identified in the Sun and HD 49933 from helioseismic and asteroseismic measurements. Future asteroseismic observations of ι Hor can be compared to those obtained near the magnetic minimum in 2006 to search for cycle-induced shifts in the oscillation frequencies. If such short activity cycles are common in F stars, then NASA's Kepler mission should observe their effects in many of its long-term asteroseismic targets.
Landscapes with megabasins: Polyamorphism in liquids and biopolymers and the role of nucleation in folding and folding diseases

Abstract We show how energy landscape concepts can rationalize the observations on glassforming liquids over the whole range of behavior, strong to fragile. In particular, we show how the existence of landscapes with both strong and fragile megabasins can provide a basis for understanding the nature of quasi-first-order transitions between amorphous states such as those observed to occur in the glassy states of “strong” glassformers. We show how this propensity originates in the liquid state and then emphasize the analogy provided, at the mesoscopic level, by the folding transition in proteins. Recognition that the folding transition is an equilibrium first-order transition between polyamorphic forms of a complex system implies recognition of the need for a nucleation step in the process. When nucleated phase transitions are kinetically retarded, their probability can be influenced by time-temperature history and by the presence of nucleating agents. Nucleation events are statistically rare in mesoscopic systems, hence the ability to fold rapidly should require special features in the folding molecular structure or the presence of nucleating agents. We propose that the unwanted folding events leading to pathogenic forms of certain proteins (prions) can be stimulated by nucleating agents, which thus may be the unidentified infectious agents in “mad cow” disease and related maladies.
Laboratory Evaluation of Malathion as a Protect ant for Stored Walnuts

Malathion as an emulsifiable concentrate and as a dust was applied at 3 dosage levels on inshell walnuts and evaluated in the laboratory against the Indian-meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), and the merchant grain beetle, Oryzaephilus mercator (Fovea). Initial dust residues of 2 and 4 ppm controlled only the eggs and young larvae of the beetle for 12 months. Dust residues that were 6 ppm at the start of the test controlled all stages of the beetle and the egg and 1st-instar larval stages of the moth for 12 months and prevented infestation by all stages of both species for 6 months. The emulsify able concentrate treatment as applied was relatively ineffective.
Parallel In-register Intermolecular β-Sheet Architectures for Prion-seeded Prion Protein (PrP) Amyloids *

Structures of the infectious form of prion protein (e.g. PrPSc or PrP-Scrapie) remain poorly defined. The prevalent structural models of PrPSc retain most of the native α-helices of the normal, noninfectious prion protein, cellular prion protein (PrPC), but evidence is accumulating that these helices are absent in PrPSc amyloid. Moreover, recombinant PrPC can form amyloid fibrils in vitro that have parallel in-register intermolecular β-sheet architectures in the domains originally occupied by helices 2 and 3. Here, we provide solid-state NMR evidence that the latter is also true of initially prion-seeded recombinant PrP amyloids formed in the absence of denaturants. These results, in the context of a primarily β-sheet structure, led us to build detailed models of PrP amyloid based on parallel in-register architectures, fibrillar shapes and dimensions, and other available experimentally derived conformational constraints. Molecular dynamics simulations of PrP(90–231) octameric segments suggested that such linear fibrils, which are consistent with many features of PrPSc fibrils, can have stable parallel in-register β-sheet cores. These simulations revealed that the C-terminal residues ∼124–227 more readily adopt stable tightly packed structures than the N-terminal residues ∼90–123 in the absence of cofactors. Variations in the placement of turns and loops that link the β-sheets could give rise to distinct prion strains capable of faithful template-driven propagation. Moreover, our modeling suggests that single PrP monomers can comprise the entire cross-section of fibrils that have previously been assumed to be pairs of laterally associated protofilaments. Together, these insights provide a new basis for deciphering mammalian prion structures.
Special Issues in Reforming Middle Level Schools.

In this article, some of the particular issues relevant to changing middle level schools were examined. Recent research has increasingly examined the educational needs of early adolescent students,...
A new physics-based compact model for AlGaN/GaN HFETs

A physics-based analytic model with no fitting parameters is introduced for the AlGaN/GaN HFET. For unsaturated operation, non-linear analytic models for the I-V characteristics in the two access regions and beneath the gate are developed. The resulting equations are linked together by voltage and current continuity at the boundaries. Good agreement between the model and corresponding simulations with ATLAS, a commercial simulator, is demonstrated. In addition, the proposed model is shown to compare favorably with popular curve-fitting models of HFET operation.
A case study of pyoderma gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis seen initially as painful pustules or bullae on the skin that rapidly ulcerate and have a characteristic raised, purplish areola surrounding them. It is often associated with inflammatory bowel disease and less commonly with other systemic diseases, such as myelofibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic active hepatitis. Pyoderma gangrenosum involving the hand is a rare entity, with only two previous cases reported in the literature. This article describes a patient with myelofibrosis in whom pyoderma gangrenosum of the hand developed after she underwent splenectomy.
Dark-pulse propagation in optical fibers.

We report measurements of the reshaping of 0.3-psec dark pulses due to their passage through 10 m of single-mode optical fiber. The measurements were performed as a function of intensity and the observed strong reshaping agrees qualitatively with the predictions of the nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation which suggest that we have observed the formation of dark-pulse solitons.
Microhabitat segregation and physiological differences in co-occurring tiger beetle species, Cicindela oregona and Cicindela tranquebarica

The daily movements of two co-occurring tiger beetle species were monitored in conjunction with changes in microclimate along streams in Northeast Arizona. Cicindela oregona and C. tranquebarica temporarily segregated across areas of beach exhibiting different microclimates. C. oregona progressively moved from the dry upper beach to the wet stream edge as beach temperatures increased and humidity decreased. The actively foraged throughout the day in this moist habitat at air temperatures between 25 and 38°C. C. tranquebarica remained on the dry, upper portions of the beach and shuttled between sun and shade at air temperatures above 35°C. Only when stream edge temperatures exceeded 30°C was tranquebarica found in this subhabitat. Both species exhibited physiological tolerances in the laboratory that were consistent with their microhabitat preferences in the field. Although both species had similar high lethal temperatures (47–48°C) in saturated air, oregona died at lower temperatures (39–43°C) than tranquebarica (46–47°C) under dry (0% RH) conditions. C. oregona was considerably more active than tranquebarica at body temperatures below 30°C and exhibited higher levels of active metabolism between 25 and 40°C. In addition, C. tranquebarica exhibited significantly lower water loss rates than oregona at 30, 35 and 40°C.
Peripheral nerve grafts support regeneration after spinal cord injury.

Traumatic insults to the spinal cord induce both immediate mechanical damage and subsequent tissue degeneration leading to a substantial physiological, biochemical, and functional reorganization of the spinal cord. Various spinal cord injury (SCI) models have shown the adaptive potential of the spinal cord and its limitations in the case of total or partial absence of supraspinal influence. Meaningful recovery of function after SCI will most likely result from a combination of therapeutic strategies, including neural tissue transplants, exogenous neurotrophic factors, elimination of inhibitory molecules, functional sensorimotor training, and/or electrical stimulation of paralyzed muscles or spinal circuits. Peripheral nerve grafts provide a growth-permissive substratum and local neurotrophic factors to enhance the regenerative effort of axotomized neurons when grafted into the site of injury. Regenerating axons can be directed via the peripheral nerve graft toward an appropriate target, but they fail to extend beyond the distal graft–host interface because of the deposition of growth inhibitors at the site of SCI. One method to facilitate the emergence of axons from a graft into the spinal cord is to digest the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans that are associated with a glial scar. Importantly, regenerating axons that do exit the graft are capable of forming functional synaptic contacts. These results have been demonstrated in acute injury models in rats and cats and after a chronic injury in rats and have important implications for our continuing efforts to promote structural and functional repair after SCI.
Do U Txt? Event-Related Potentials to Semantic Anomalies in Standard and Texted English.

Texted English is a hybrid, technology-based language derived from standard English modified to facilitate ease of communication via instant and text messaging. We compared semantic processing of texted and standard English sentences by recording event-related potentials in a classic semantic incongruity paradigm designed to elicit an N400 effect. In participants fluent in both text and standard English, an N400 effect was elicited in both the texted and standard English conditions. The amplitude and distribution of the N400 effect (300-500ms) in the texted and standard English conditions were similar, but the text semantic incongruity effect was characterized by a delayed peak latency and an extended duration into the 500-700ms epoch. This pattern of results replicates previous findings regarding differences in the N400 effect in native and non-native language processing, but for the first time extends the bilingual ERP literature to include the technological phenomenon of texted English.
Low-threshold, high-T 0 and high-efficiency 1300nm and 1500nm lasers with AlInGaAs active region grown by MOCVD

We report results for broad area edge emitting lasers having AlInGaAs active regions that exhibit low thresholds, high T0 and T1 and high efficiencies. The lasers were grown on InP substrates using MOCVD. This paper analyzes the effects of doping, epilayer design, wavelength dependence and number of QWs on device performance. Our results show that the concentration and offset of zinc doping in the p-cladding layer plays a major role in carrier confinement and hence high temperature performance. The difference in surface mobility of Al adatoms (as compared to In or Ga) poses some challenges in the growth of AlInGaAs.