cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of Artemsia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis on microsite and herbaceous vegetation heterogeneity

The spatial distribution of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis (Beetle & A. Young) S.L. Welsh within plant communities creates two distinct zones; underneath (subcanopy) and between shrub canopies (interspace). The purpose the study was to determine the influence of subcanopy and interspace zones on microsite characteristics and herbaceous vegetation. Study sites were located at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range (NGBER) (56 km west of Burns, OR) and Baker Pass (80 km southeast of Burns, OR). At the NGBER, microsite and vegetation differences existed between subcanopy and interspace zones. Compared to the interspace, subcanopy zones were characterized by lower fluctuations in soil temperature, higher levels of soil organic matter, nitrogen, carbon, and water, and greater herbaceous biomass, cover, and density. A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis appears to strongly influence the spatial arrangement of herbaceous vegetation at the NGBER. Zonal vegetation differences measured at the NGBER were not found at Baker Pass, a location with a more north-facing aspect than the NBGER. Our results suggest that the influence of A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis on herbaceous spatial heterogeneity may be greater as sites become warmer and drier. Our study demonstrated the potential of A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis to create herbaceous spatial heterogeneity, elucidated that the relationships between A. tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and herbaceous species are complex, and can be site specific.
Effects of perceived discrimination on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, organizational citizenship behavior, and grievances

This study of 366 ethnically diverse operating-level employees examined how their perceptions of discrimination from a variety of sources—including supervisors, coworkers, and the organization itself—affect their work-related attitudes and behaviors. The results suggest that all three types of perceived discrimination have an effect on organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behavior. Contrary to predictions, however, there was no relationship with grievances.
The USA experience with the clonidine transdermal therapeutic system

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death in the United States, with hypertension being amongst the most prevalent of the cardiovascular risk factors. Improvement of hypertension management has, in consequence, received much attention. Extensive pre- and post-marketing experience with the transdermal formulation of clonidine marketed in the USA in the mid-1980s has now been accumulated.
Effect of crystallization on intercalation of clay‐polyolefin nanocomposites and their performance

Clay-polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared by melt processing. Two types of PP with different levels of crystallinity were used. Mixtures of the two PPs were made at different ratios that generate a varying degree of crystallinity for the final NC samples. The level of micro- and nanodispersion of the organo-clays and the microstructure of the resulting NCs were characterized by means of various techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results have demonstrated the impact of crystallization on the level of clay intercalation. The mechanical performance of the nanocomposites was also evaluated, but a direct relationship between intercalation and mechanical properties cannot be established because of the difference in the mechanical properties of the two PP matrices.
Reintroduced bighorn sheep: do females adjust maternal care to compensate for late-born young?

Little is known regarding the potential adjustment of maternal care towards late-born young by reintroduced female ungulates, which may be adapted to environments quite different than those at their release site. We compared nursing behaviors of young to investigate whether females would adjust maternal care toward late-born young between two populations of reintroduced bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in Utah, USA. Neonates on Mount Timpanogos were born on average 28 days later in 2002 and 13 days later in 2003 than neonates in Rock Canyon. Suckling and weaning behaviors, however, were similar in 2002 and 2003 between those populations, except for the number of unsuccessful suckles, which was greater for young in Rock Canyon than for young on Mount Timpanogos during the middle of lactation in 2002. Our results provide preliminary evidence that females did not adjust maternal care to compensate for late-born young within the first 3 years following reintroduction, which possibly influenced survivorship of young.
Temporal Patterns of Software Evolution Defects: A Comparative Analysis of Open Source and Closed Source Projects

This study examines temporal patterns of software systems defects using the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) approach. Defect reports from ten software application projects are analyzed; five of these projects are open source and five are closed source from two software vendors. Across all sampled projects, the ARIMA time series modeling technique provides accurate estimates of reported defects during software maintenance, with organizationally dependent parameterization. In contrast to causal models that require extraction of source-code level metrics, this approach is based on readily available defect report data and is less computation intensive. This approach can be used to improve software maintenance and evolution resource allocation decisions and to identify outlier projects—that is, to provide evidence of unexpected defect reporting patterns that may indicate troubled projects.
A tale of two intrusions—where familiar rock names no longer suffice

Two contrasting intrusions in Greenland are described which both have extreme compositions and mineralogy. Ilimaussaq is part of the Mezoproterozoic Gardar Province of southern West Greenland. It developed by extreme fractionation in the crust of non-remarkable weakly alkaline basic magmas leading to extraordinarily high levels of many rare elements. Indeed, in this intrusion the zirconium mineral, eudialyte, attains rock-forming status. Gardiner in the East Greenland sector of the Palaeogene North Atlantic Igneous Province, was formed from nephelinitic magmas formed at great depth in the mantle by very low degrees of partial melting. Here, the magmas were so silica-poor that there are large amounts of rocks composed of the melilite group of minerals, generally with perovskite (CaTiO4) as a major phase. Thus, extreme compositions at Ilimaussaq were caused by fractionation to very small amounts of melt while at Gardiner it was caused by very small degrees of mantle melting. Both intrusions are known for fine specimens of rare minerals; in the case of Ilimaussaq over 200 have been described. Rocks such as those found here require their own names as they cannot be accommodated in the usual petrological nomenclature.
An approximate analysis of the effect of micro fractures on the caustic of a dynamically moving crack tip

The optical recording of the conditions at the tips of dynamically moving cracks is often associated with a wave pattern which arises from what we call here “radial waves”. This observation is prevalent for tough solids, especially when the observation tools involve surface deformations such as the caustic method. These waves can modify the caustic shape and size and thus influence the interpretation of measurements. The quantification of the sources of these waves poses a very difficult problem so that a precise evaluation of that phenomenon is not yet possible. However, in an attempt to better understand the limitation imposed on the method of caustics by this set of waves this paper analyzes primarily the change of shape in the caustic associated with the passage of “radial waves” over the region of the initial curve of the caustic. The analysis is approximate in that the “radial waves” are assumed to be insensitive to the presence of the crack surfaces, but otherwise accounts for the three dimensional character of wave propagation in a plate of finite thickness.
Caenorhabditis elegans HCF-1 Functions in Longevity Maintenance as a DAF-16 Regulator

The transcription factor DAF-16/forkhead box O (FOXO) is a critical longevity determinant in diverse organisms, however the molecular basis of how its transcriptional activity is regulated remains largely unknown. We report that the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of host cell factor 1 (HCF-1) represents a new longevity modulator and functions as a negative regulator of DAF-16. In C. elegans, hcf-1 inactivation caused a daf-16-dependent lifespan extension of up to 40% and heightened resistance to specific stress stimuli. HCF-1 showed ubiquitous nuclear localization and physically associated with DAF-16. Furthermore, loss of hcf-1 resulted in elevated DAF-16 recruitment to the promoters of its target genes and altered expression of a subset of DAF-16-regulated genes. We propose that HCF-1 modulates C. elegans longevity and stress response by forming a complex with DAF-16 and limiting a fraction of DAF-16 from accessing its target gene promoters, and thereby regulates DAF-16-mediated transcription of selective target genes. As HCF-1 is highly conserved, our findings have important implications for aging and FOXO regulation in mammals.
The film-substrate lattice mismatch between Cu2S and InP films grown on rough ZnxCd1-xS substrates

Abstract The orientation relationships of chalcocite Cu 2 S and zincblende InP films grown on (0001), (2110) and (0110) wurtzite Zn x Cd 1- x S planes are derived. They are used to develop the equations for the lattice mismatch and the planar misorientations between the substrate and the film. Calculations are made for the case of (001)Cu 2 S or (111)InP grown on (0001)Zn x Cd 1- x S. It is shown that whereas the lattice mismatch between Cu 2 S and Zn x Cd 1- x S in the (001) planes decreases as, x initially increases, it usually increases for planes parallel to the sides of morphological protuberances or depressions. It is therefore possible for the overall lattice mismatch to be greater for a (0001)Zn x Cd 1- x S substrate than it is for a CdS substrate if the surface is rough.
SYMMETRY PROPERTIES OF THE DISTORTED WAVE THEORY OF DIRECT NUCLEAR REACTIONS

Abstract It is shown that under certain conditions often nearly realized experimentally the transition amplitudes in the distorted wave Born approximation theory of direct nuclear reactions have a simple symmetry under interchange of the distorted waves for initial and final states. For observations on the reaction the symmetry is equivalent to rotating coordinate axes by π about the recoil direction. This property is used to show in detail how the initial and final distortions have opposing effects for some phenomena (such as polarization of emitted particles or change of symmetry axis for the distribution of subsequent γ-rays) but are cooperative for others (such as the differential cross-section). Some conclusions are drawn about distortion effects in various types of reaction.
A physical model for tunable patch antennas

A model for tuning microstrip patch antennas with a controllable impedance “black box” is presented. These tunable impedance elements can be placed along the mid-line of the patch antenna to alter the impact of the tuning range on the antenna field pattern. Simulation results demonstrate the impact of this level of physical design control. Also highlighted is the improved ability to design beyond tunability with additional impedance matching and antenna area margins. Finally, the unique capability of the IMPATT diode for achieving these tunable impedance properties is discussed.
Localization of an osteoid osteoma nidus in a finger by use of computed tomography: A case report

A case of a phalangeal osteoid osteoma is described. Precise localization of the nidus was determined preoperatively by computed tomography when conventional roentgenography was not clearly diagnostic.
Herman Mark: Life and accomplishments

This short outline of Herman Mark's career covers his youth in Vienna, his activity in the army during World War I, his years at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin-Dahlem where he was mostly concerned with X-ray crystallography, his career as the director of a research laboratory of high molecular compounds of the IG Farben in Ludwigshafen, his years at the University of Vienna where he designed the first academic curriculum of polymer chemistry and his final years at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (now Polytechnic University) where he created the first American doctoral program in polymer science. His activity was crucial to the recognition of polymer chemistry as an important scientific discipline and to its international organization. He was equally at home in the academic environment, and as an industrial and government consultant. His crucial scientific contributions included the first crystal structure of a macromolecule, the first derivation of the mechanical property of a fiber from molecular parameters and the statistical theory of rubber elasticity.
Polarized pulsed beam source for electronic microscopy

A novel pulsed spin-polarized electron source is discussed. Unlike conventional devices based either on a thermionic cathodes or field-emission needle cathodes, the present source is based on photoemission. A gallium arsenide (GaAs) planar cathode impinged with a suitable circularly polarized laser can produce a polarized pulsed electron bunch with duration of the order of the laser pulse. Numerical simulations of the electron dynamics in the optimized cathode-anode geometry have shown that the beam with initial transverse size of a few mm can be focused down to 1 mum root-mean-square (RMS). The suggested source can, in principle, be installed on existing electron microscope thereby opening the path to time- resolved microscopy. Spin-polarization offers an effective probe for some magnetic phenomena. The design of the source and subsequent fabrication has been completed. In the present paper we discuss numerical studies of the source performance, its conceptual design, and report on the experimental status.
Technique of diagnosis and treatment of the lower extremity compartment syndromes in children

Abstract Intracompartmental pressure measurement aids early diagnosis and treatment of acute compartment syndromes.The double incision fasciotomy is the preferred decompression technique.
Using the Radiobiology of Radioresistance and Radiosurgery to Rethink Treatment Approaches for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Metastases

(KPS 70) with one other unfavorable factor (age 65 years or extracranial metastases) if carefully selected may benefit from aggressive brain metastases management. In the original RTOG analysis, 20%, 65%, and 15% of patients were in classes 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Aggressive brain management is most often warranted in class 1 and selected class 2 patients. Aggressive management essentially means treatment directed with the goal of eradicating all visible CNS disease and either treating nonvisible disease with whole brain radiation therapy or frequently monitoring grossly uninvolved brain with frequent magnetic resonance imaging scans, usually every three months, with potential aggressive intervention if indicated. At our institution, in general, patients with four or fewer CNS metastases, that are class 1 or select class 2, are treated with definitive stereotactic radiosurgery. If in this case, a particular lesion is either causing symptomatic mass effect or is greater than 3.0 cm, we opt for surgical resection when feasible, followed by stereotactic radiosurgery to the resection cavity. Because of concern for the development of cognitive deficits, without a proven survival advantage with the addition of whole brain radiation (7), we generally do not give it with upfront aggressive management for class 1 patients. We generally reserve upfront whole brain radiation for class 3 patients and for lower prognostic class 2 patients who have a median survival of 2 to 4 months. In a recently published meta-analysis comparing whole brain radiation therapy dose schedules, Gaspar et al. (12) found the median survival for all comers was four to six months, despite high- or low-dose schedules. The data from this Meta analysis comprise 23 studies and include patients from all three RTOG classes and all histology of tumors (excluding the relatively
An Inductive Exploration of the Social Effectiveness Construct Space

There is no agreement regarding the nature or number of dimensions that make up the social effectiveness domain. We inductively explore the relationships between a set of social effectiveness measures with the intention of identifying an initial set of dimensions. An exploratory factor analysis of the Social Competence Inventory (SCI, Schneider, 2001) resulted in the identification of four factors: Social Potency, Social Appropriateness, Social Emotional Expression, and Social Reputation. A joint factor analysis between the SCI and a set of extant measures resulted in the identification of the same four factors. A fifth factor emerged when a set of scales from an emotional intelligence measure was included in the analysis, suggesting that emotional intelligence is not captured within the common factor space defined by measures of social effectiveness. This study represents a first step in the establishment of a set of common social effectiveness dimensions.
The Psychopathology of Space: A Phenomenological Critique of Solitary Confinement

Many prisoners in solitary confinement experience symptoms such as anxiety, paranoia, insomnia, headaches, hallucinations and other perceptual distortions. While psychiatric accounts of the effects of supermax confinement are important, especially in a legal context, they are insufficient to account for the phenomenological and even ontological harm of solitary confinement. This paper offers a phenomenological analysis of the lived experience of space in supermax confinement by drawing on Merleau-Ponty’s account of intercorporeal depth.
Evaluating inpatient mortality: a new electronic review process that gathers information from front-line providers

Importance Accurately and routinely identifying factors contributing to inpatient mortality remains challenging. Objective To describe the development, implementation and performance of a new electronic mortality review method 1 year after implementation. Methods An analysis of data gathered from an electronic instrument that queries front-line providers on their opinions on quality and safety related issues, including potential preventability, immediately after a patient's death. Comparison was also made with chart reviews and administrative data. Results In the first 12 months, reviewers responded to 89% of reviews sent (2547 responses from 2869 requests), resulting in at least one review in 99% (1058/1068) of inpatient deaths. Clinicians provided suggestions for improvement in 7.7% (191/2491) of completed reviews, and reported that 4.8% (50/1052) of deaths may have been preventable. Quality and safety issues contributing to potentially preventable inpatient mortality included delays in obtaining or responding to tests (15/50, 30%), communication barriers (10/50, 20%) and healthcare associated infections (9/50, 18%). Independent, blinded chart review of a sample of clinician reviews detected potential preventability in 10% (2/20) of clinician reported cases as potentially preventable. Comparison with administrative data showed poor agreement on the identification of complications with neither source consistently identifying more complications. Conclusions Our early experience supports the feasibility and utility of an electronic tool to collect real-time clinical information related to inpatient deaths directly from front-line providers. Caregivers reported information that was complementary to data available from chart review and administrative sources in identifying potentially preventable deaths and informing quality improvement efforts.
Specificity of Mg2+ binding at the Group II intron branch site

Abstract Metal ions play a crucial role in the conformation and splicing activity of Group II introns. Results from 2-aminopurine fluorescence and solution NMR studies suggest that metal ion binding within the branch site region of native D6 of the Group II intron is specific for alkaline earth metal ions and involves inner sphere coordination. Although Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ still bind to a mutant stem loop sequence from which the internal loop had been deleted, ion binding to the mutant RNA results in decreased, rather than increased, exposure of the branch site residue to solvent. These data further support the role of the internal loop in defining branch site conformation of the Group II intron. The specific bound Mg 2+ may play a bivalent role: facilitates the extrahelical conformation of the branch site and has the potential to act as a Lewis acid during splicing.
Lysophosphatidic acid induction of tissue factor expression in aortic smooth muscle cells

Objective— Tissue factor (TF), the initiator of the coagulation cascade, is expressed by cells in atherosclerotic lesions. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a component of oxidized lipoproteins and an agent released by activated platelets. The present study investigated whether and how TF expression is regulated by LPA. Methods and Results— Northern blotting, Western blotting, and TF activity assays demonstrated that LPA markedly induced TF mRNA, protein, and activity in vascular smooth muscle cells. LPA-induced TF expression is primarily controlled at the transcriptional level. Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and extracellular signaling–regulated kinases (ERK1/2) was rapidly and markedly induced by LPA. MEK inhibitors U0126 and PD98059 blocked both ERK activation and the increase in TF mRNA. In contrast, the specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 had no effect on LPA-induced TF mRNA increase. The Gαi protein inhibitor, pertussis toxin, abolished LPA-induced phosphorylation of MEKs and ERKs, as well as the induction of TF mRNA. Conclusions— Our data demonstrate that a Gαi protein and activation of MEKs and ERKs mediate LPA-induced TF expression. Our data suggest that elevated LPA could be a thrombogenic risk factor by upregulating TF expression. These results may have important implications in vascular remodeling and vascular diseases.
Dyphylline Aerosol Attenuates Antigen-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Experimental Canine Asthma

This study compared the bronchodilator effect in experimental canine asthma of dyphylline administered by aerosol and intravenous routes in doses producing equivalent concentrations of the drug in the plasma. Pulmonary resistance (RL) was calculated from simultaneous measurements of pressure and flow during fixed-volume controlled ventilation at the same peak flow and corrected for elastic recoil pressure. Dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was calculated by dividing tidal volume by the change in pressure measured between points of zero flow. Concentrations of dyphylline in the plasma were measured using high-performance liquid chromatographic techniques. Rates of infusion of dyphylline were determined from values for clearance observed in preliminary experiments with intravenous injection. Prior to exposure to antigen, RL and Cdyn were not significantly different in control and dyphylline-treated dogs. Following challenge, with antigen RL increased by 8.3 +/- 2.6 times (mean +/- SE) in untreated dogs but only by 2.4 +/- 0.4 times in dyphylline treated dogs. Levels of dyphylline in the plasma averaged 4.2 micrograms/ml +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml at the end of the ten-minute period of aerosol administration and remained at that level for 60 minutes. At equivalent plasma levels (4.3 micrograms/ml +/- 0.3 micrograms/ml), infusion of dyphylline did not significantly after the response to Ascaris antigen, whereas dyphylline administered by the aerosol route markedly attenuated the response.
The Stillwater Complex

Abstract The Stillwater Complex was emplaced at 2.7 Ga at a depth of 10-15 km. Laramide deformation and subsequent erosion have exposed the basal hornfels and a thick, but incomplete, section of the complex. The complex is divided into a Basal Series, an Ultramafic Series and a Banded Series. The Basal Series forms an irregular sheet-like mass composed of early-formed cumulate rocks and coeval sills of diabase and sulphide-rich mafic norite. The Ultramafic Series is made up of cycles of harzburgite and bronzitite with conformable layers of chromitite in the lower parts of each cycle. The cyclic units and absence of cryptic variation in the Ultramafic Series indicate repeated influxes of magma and venting of fractionated magma from the chamber. The Lower and Upper Banded Series are composed primarily of norite and gabbronorite while the Middle Banded Series is predominantly anorthosite, troctolite and olivine gabbro. Cryptic variation in the Lower and Upper Banded Series is consistent with crystal fractionation and accumulation. In contrast, plagioclase in the Middle Banded Series has a uniform composition throughout which is consistent with a sorting mechanism in which plagioclase crystals were suspended in a convecting magma for extended periods. In the Lower Banded Series, a PGE-rich sulphide zone (J-M Reef) is associated with the reappearance of olivine, most likely due to a magma influx. Two models have been proposed for the origin of the reef. The magmatic model holds that sulphides became enriched in PGE during batch segregation of an immiscible sulphide melt which came into contact with a large volume of silicate melt during magma mixing. In the hydromagmatic model, it is proposed that PGE enrichments are the result of leaching of underlying cumulates by Cl-rich hydrous fluids exsolved during the late stages of intercumulus crystallization. Crystallization sequences reveal that at least two compositionally distinct magmas were involved in the formation of the complex. The magma that formed the Ultramafic Series was rich in both MgO and SiO 2 and appears to be related to the mafic norite sills. The magma that formed the Middle Banded Series was tholeiitic in character. Isotopic and trace element compositions preserve a record of crustal interaction. Addition of older continental crust to the mantle source regions via subduction is the most plausible contamination mechanism.
Late Neogene (Late Hemphillian) rodents from the Pipe Creek Sinkhole, Grant County, Indiana

ABSTRACT Spermophilus cf. howelli, Spermophilus sp., Castor or Dipoides sp., Geomys cf. adamsi, Symmetrodontomys daamsi, sp. nov., Bensonomys hershkovitzi, sp. nov., Ogmodontomys pipecreekensis, sp. nov., and Pliophenacomys koenigswaldi n. sp. are reported from the Pipe Creek Sinkhole of Grant County, Indiana. The Geomys sample demonstrates a variable sulcus morphology of the upper incisor, suggesting it stands near the Geomys—Pappogeomys boundary. Symmetrodontomys daamsi is characterized by its short lower molars and small mandible. Bensonomys hershkovitzi has a unique ml, with an anteroconid that with little wear connects deeply with the labial cingulum, and a mesolophid. O. pipecreekensis, with relatively low dentine tracts and no enamel atoll on ml, may be related to both Ogmodontomys sawrockensis and Ogmodontomys poaphagus, although it is probably not ancestral to either of them. Ogmodontomys Hibbard is considered an endemic North American genus distinguished from Mimomys Forsyth Major on the basis o...
Evaluating Alternative Fast-Pay Mortgages

Homeowners who are interested in building up equity faster and paying off their mortgages more quickly can get a mortgage with a short-term, a biweekly mortgage, or make additional principal paymen...
Correlating the Multilevel Design Representation (CORAL)

Previous chapters have discussed the actual process of synthesizing a structural design from a behavioral description. This chapter offers a method of preserving design information during that process. One of the problems encountered in many automated synthesis systems is that no information is provided describing the relationships between the various intermediate representations of the design that exist in the system. One feeds a design specification into the system and receives an implementation, but the system does not describe the relationship between the input and output design representations.
Comparative Study of Methods to Measure the Density of Cementitious Powders

The accurate measurement of the density of hydraulic cement plays an essential role in the determination of concrete mixture proportions. As more supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), such as fly ash and slag, or cement replacement materials, such as limestone and calcium carbonate, are used in blended cements, knowledge of the density of each powder or of the blended cement would allow a more accurate calculation of the proportions of a concrete mixture by volume instead of by mass. The current ASTM standard for measuring cement density is ASTM C188-14 “Test Method for Density of Hydraulic Cements,” which utilizes a liquid displacement method to measure the volume of the cement. This paper examined advantageous modifications of the current ASTM test by alcohol substitutions for kerosene. In addition, a gas (helium) pycnometry method was evaluated as a possible alternative to the current standard. The described techniques were compared to determine the most precise and reproducible method for measuring the density of hydraulic cements and other powders.
Impact of Functional Group Modifications on Designer Phenethylamine Induced Hyperthermia

The popularity of designer phenethylamines such as synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”) has led to increased reports of life-threatening hyperthermia. The diversity of chemical modifications has resulted in the toxicological profile of most synthetic cathinones being mostly uncharacterized. Here, we investigated the thermogenic effects of six recently identified designer phenethylamines (4-methylmethamphetamine, methylone, mephedrone, butylone, pentylone, and MDPV) and compared these effects to the established thermogenic agent 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Specifically, we determined the impact of a β-ketone, α-alkyl, or pyrrolidine functional group on core-body temperature changes. Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 5–6) were administered a dose (30 mg/kg, sc) of a designer phenethylamine or MDMA, and core body temperature measurements were recorded at 30 min intervals for 150 min post treatment. MDMA elicited the greatest maximum temperature change (ΔTmax), and this effect was significantly greater th...
Abstract 121: Markers of cell proliferation and growth as potential preneoplastic biomarkers of risk for colorectal neoplasms.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Background: Increased colorectal epithelial cell proliferation and growth are early, common events in sporadic colorectal cancer. To assess the potential of cell proliferation and growth markers as pre-neoplastic biomarkers of risk for colorectal neoplasms, we conducted a pilot, colonoscopy-based case-control study (n = 51 cases and 154 controls) of incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma. Methods: We evaluated transforming growth factor alpha (TGFα), TGFβ1, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression in normal-appearing mucosa from the rectum and ascending and sigmoid colon using automated immunohistochemistry and quantitative image analysis in a subset of cases and controls (n = 40 and 46, respectively). Mean differences in staining batch-standardized biomarker labeling optical density between cases and controls were assessed using analysis of covariance, and associations of the biomarkers with adenomas were assessed using unconditional logistic regression. Results: In the normal rectal mucosa, hTERT expression was 13% (P = 0.06) higher in cases than in controls, and higher hTERT expression (above the median in controls) was associated with a three-fold increased risk of colorectal adenoma (OR = 3.28, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 – 10.35). TGFα expression was 31% (P = 0.25) higher in cases than in controls, and higher TGFα expression was associated with a 44% increased risk of colorectal adenoma (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 0.50 – 4.16). TGFβ1 expression alone and the ratio of TGFα to TGFβ1 expression were 3% (P = 0.86, OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.39 – 2.11) and 61% (P = 0.30, OR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.45 – 3.36), respectively, higher in cases than in controls. Conclusions: These preliminary data suggest that hTERT and TGFα expression and, perhaps especially, the balance of TGFα and TGFβ1 expression in the normal rectal mucosa may be directly associated with risk for incident, sporadic colorectal neoplasms, providing support for further investigation of these markers as potential biomarkers of risk for colorectal neoplasms. Citation Format: Huakang Tu, Jill Woodard, Carrie Daniel, Amparo Gonzalez-Feliciano, Thomas Ahearn, Roberd M. Bostick. Markers of cell proliferation and growth as potential preneoplastic biomarkers of risk for colorectal neoplasms. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 121. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-121
Results of microbial contamination of samples in Cenxi city between 2008 and 2012

Objective To analyze the monitoring results of microorganism contamination of samples and to offer scientific basis for dealing with the public events due to contamination of microorganisms in foods,water medical devices and utensils..Methods The samples five categories were collected and detected for microorganism contamination.the results were anlalyzed.Results Totally 5 926 samples were detected in Cenxi between 2008 and 2012,The average qualification rate was84.46%,shwoed an increasing trend year after year.The qualification rates of food products,water quality,cooking utensils,samples from public places and medical devices were 81.12%,84.07%,84.60%,86.31%and 86.76%,respectively..in the 5years.The average qualification rate of cooked meat in five years wa a little lower(68.58%),while the qualification rate of cooking utensils showed decreasing trend.The qualification rate of medical devices was 96.46%,showed an increasing trend.Conclusion The qualification rates of samples detected showed an annually increasing trend but for cooking utensils.Still effective prevention and control measured be taken to strengthen the monitoring activity and enhance the hygienic conditions of the food products,cooking utensils,medical devices etc,and protect the health of the people.
Validating rt-MRI Based Articulatory Representations via Articulatory Recognition.

The large corpus of real time magnetic resonance image sequences of the vocal tract during speech production that was recently acquired and can be referred to as MRI-TIMIT, provides us with a unique platform for systematically studying articulatory dynamics. Compared to previously collected articulatory datasets, e.g., using articulography or X-rays, MRI-TIMIT is a rich source of information for the entire vocal tract and not only for certain articulatory landmarks and further has the potential to continue increasing in size covering a large variety of speakers and speaking styles. In this work, we investigate an articulatory representation based on full vocal tract shapes. We employ an articulatory recognition framework in MRI-TIMIT to analyze its merits and drawbacks. We argue that articulatory recognition can serve as a general validation tool for real-time MRI based articulatory representations. Index Terms: vocal tract shape, articulation, real-time MRI, articulatory recognition
Mortality and predictors of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in Japanese patients with Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II criteria.

Abstract Background Data regarding long-term mortality and factors influencing appropriate therapies in Japanese patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), who satisfy the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (MADIT II) criteria for primary prevention, remain scarce. Methods A total of 118 consecutive patients who underwent ICD implantation without any prior ventricular arrhythmic event, from January 2000 to December 2012, were enrolled based on the MADIT II criteria: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤30% with ischemic heart disease and at least 4 weeks after a myocardial infarction. We investigated the mortality and factors influencing appropriate ICD therapies in this population. Results The mean age was 69±10 years, and the mean LVEF was 25.1±4.5%. During the median follow up of 1406 days, the mortality rate was 20%, and the incidence of appropriate ICD therapy was 37% at 3 years. Multivariate analysis by using Cox regression model showed that left ventricular diastolic diameter ≥60 mm (hazard ratio [HR], 2.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–5.38; P =0.033) and the presence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) before implantation (HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.17-4.39; P =0.015) were independent predictors of appropriate ICD therapy. Conclusions The mortality and incidence of appropriate ICD therapy were 20% and 37%, respectively, at 3 years in Japanese patients who met the MADIT II criteria during ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The presence of NSVT and dilated left ventricle independently predicted the incidence of appropriate ICD therapy after implantation.
Intangible Consequences of Target Marketing: Hidden Threats to a Democratic Social Order:

La restructuration de la communication sociale autour d'une technologie interactive n'est-elle pas en train de detruire le dialogue entre les individus?
Holographic space and time: Emergent in what sense?

Abstract This paper proposes a metaphysics for holographic duality. In addition to the AdS/CFT correspondence I also consider the dS/CFT conjecture of duality. Both involve non-perturbative string theory and both are exact dualities. But while the AdS/CFT keeps time at the margins of the story, the dS/CFT conjecture gives to time the “space” it deserves by presenting an interesting holographic model of it. My goals in this paper can be summarized in the following way. First, I argue that the formal structure and physical content of the duality do not support the standard philosophical reading of the relation in terms of grounding. Second, I put forward a philosophical scheme mainly extrapolated from the double aspect monism theory. I read holographic duality in this framework as it seems to fit the mathematical and physical structure of the duality smoothly. Inside this framework I propose a notion of spacetime emergence alternative to those ones commonly debated in the AdS/CFT physics and philosophy circles.
“Who Won?”: A Critical Examination of Newspaper Editorials Evaluating Nationally Televised Presidential Debates

While mediated reaction to presidential debates assumes many forms, one dominant strain of commentary involves the declaration of “who won.” While there is no shortage of opinion about the utility ...
HIV Prevention and Intervention in the School Setting

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss HIV prevention and intervention in the school setting. We focus not only on the impact of HIV on students infected with or affected by the disease but also on the importance of developmentally appropriate and comprehensive school-based HIV education. Using a three-tiered model, we describe school-related HIV issues within the following contexts: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention.
PhLeGrA: Graph Analytics in Pharmacology over the Web of Life Sciences Linked Open Data

Integrated approaches for pharmacology are required for the mechanism-based predictions of adverse drug reactions that manifest due to concomitant intake of multiple drugs. These approaches require the integration and analysis of biomedical data and knowledge from multiple, heterogeneous sources with varying schemas, entity notations, and formats. To tackle these integrative challenges, the Semantic Web community has published and linked several datasets in the Life Sciences Linked Open Data (LSLOD) cloud using established W3C standards. We present the PhLeGrA platform for Linked Graph Analytics in Pharmacology in this paper. Through query federation, we integrate four sources from the LSLOD cloud and extract a drug-reaction network, composed of distinct entities. We represent this graph as a hidden conditional random field (HCRF), a discriminative latent variable model that is used for structured output predictions. We calculate the underlying probability distributions in the drug-reaction HCRF using the datasets from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System. We predict the occurrence of 146 adverse reactions due to multiple drug intake with an AUROC statistic greater than 0.75. The PhLeGrA platform can be extended to incorporate other sources published using Semantic Web technologies, as well as to discover other types of pharmacological associations.
Myths and methodologies: Making sense of exercise mass and water balance

New Findings What is the topic of this review? There is a need to revisit the basic principles of exercise mass and water balance, the use of common equations and the practice of interpreting outcomes. What advances does it highlight? We propose use of the following equation as a way of simplifying exercise mass and water balance calculations in conditions where food is not consumed and waste is not excreted: ∆body mass − 0.20 g/kcal−1 = ∆body water. The relative efficacy of exercise drinking behaviours can be judged using the following equation: percentage dehydration = [(∆body mass − 0.20 g kcal−1)/starting body mass] × 100. Changes in body mass occur because of flux in liquids, solids and gases. This knowledge is crucial for understanding metabolism, health and human water needs. In exercise science, corrections to observed changes in body mass to estimate water balance are inconsistently applied and often misinterpreted, particularly after prolonged exercise. Although acute body mass losses in response to exercise can represent a close surrogate for body water losses, the discordance between mass and water balance equivalence becomes increasingly inaccurate as more and more energy is expended. The purpose of this paper is briefly to clarify the roles that respiratory water loss, gas exchange and metabolic water production play in the correction of body mass changes for fluid balance determinations during prolonged exercise. Computations do not include waters of association with glycogen because any movement of water among body water compartments contributes nothing to water or mass flux from the body. Estimates of sweat loss from changes in body mass should adjust for non-sweat losses when possible. We propose use of the following equation as a way of simplifying the study of exercise mass and water balance: ∆body mass − 0.20 g kcal−1 = ∆body water. This equation directly controls for the influence of energy expenditure on body mass balance and the approximate offsetting equivalence of respiratory water loss and metabolic water production on body water balance. The relative efficacy of exercise drinking behaviours can be judged using the following equation: percentage dehydration = [(∆body mass − 0.20 g kcal−1)/starting body mass] × 100.
Irradiation-driven amorphous-to-glassy transition in quartz: The crucial role of the medium-range order in crystallization

Noncrystalline solids can be classified into glassy and amorphous, wherein glasses and amorphous solids relax toward the supercooled liquid and crystalline states upon heating, respectively. However, the structural origin of such distinction remains unknown. Herein, based on molecular-dynamics simulations of irradiation-induced disordering of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-quartz, we demonstrate the existence of an amorphous-to-glassy transition. We show that the transition to the glassy state originates from the appearance of structural defects within the medium-range order of the atomic network. Such defects arise from the percolation of short-range defects and kinetically prevent crystallization. Overall, this suggests that the propensity of a disordered system for crystallization is controlled by the similarity between its medium-range order and that of the isochemical crystal.
Vitamin D Status and Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Prognosis

Abstract In the last 2 decades knowledge on the role of vitamin D and cancer incidence, mortality, and prognosis has expanded considerably. Several approaches have been used to investigate this association, including using sun exposure as a proxy for vitamin D status, assessing vitamin D intake from food and supplements, using a predicted score to estimate vitamin D status, and directly measuring circulating 25(OH)D concentration. A variety of complementary study designs have been implemented with various strengths and limitations. Although definitive randomized control trial data are still lacking, there is mounting evidence from a number of observational studies for a protective relationship of vitamin D and cancer mortality, at least for some cancers. For cancer incidence, the evidence of an association with vitamin D deficiency is strongest for colorectal cancer. Some studies have investigated common variations and expression levels of vitamin D-related genes and their relationships to cancer mortality and prognosis in an effort to bolster causality. However, important questions remain about the dose-response/optimal levels required for the most benefit, the most relevant timing of exposure, whether tumor characteristics or lifestyle factors may modify the association, and the effectiveness of supplemental vitamin D or vitamin D analogs as adjuvant therapy options.
Brain Functions of Christians and Non-Christians:

Meyer (1975) has hypothesized that Christians might have “a peculiar organization of neurons” in their right cerebral hemispheres which reflects their approach to the world and which is relevant to...
Plasma Cells Containing Iron An Electron Micrographic Study

The presence of iron in plasma cells was demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. The iron compound was identifiable as ferritin in at least one patient. Possible modes of origin, function, and fate of iron in these cells was discussed.
Accurate Measurement of Certain Physical Properties Down to 20°K

Two different pieces of equipment (see Figures 1 and 2) were designed and accurate measurements were carried out for the following physical properties down to 20°K: 1) Thermal conductivities of solids. 2) Thermal conductivities of condensed gases. 3) Thermal expansion coefficients of solids and condensed gases. 4) Compressibilities of solids and of condensed gases.