cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term ambient PM10 concentrations and incidence of emphysema in California adults: results from the AHSMOG study

In this paper, we evaluate the relationship between long-term concentrations of particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10) and risk of emphysema in California adults. A cohort of 6338 non-Hispanic, white Californian adults, ages 27–95, was followed from 1977 to 2000 for various chronic disease outcomes including physician diagnosed emphysema. Monthly ambient air pollution data were interpolated to zip code centroids according to home and work location histories and averaged over time. Results showed a significant association between mean concentration of PM10 and incidence of emphysema in females with an OR of 1.37 (95% CI: 1.11–1.69) for each increase of 10 μg/m3 in mean PM10. In addition, we observed significant associations between incidence of emphysema and each 40-day increment of ambient PM10 levels in excess of 40, 60, 80 and 100 μg/m3 in females. Our findings suggest that chronic exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with development of emphysema in females.
Retinopic organization of the striate cortex (area 17) in the reeler mutant mouse

Abstract The retinotopic projection of the visual field onto the primary visual cortex (area 17) of the reeler mutant mouse was studied with extracellular unit recordings. The map is organized in a manner similar to that of the normal mouse, indicating that the absence of normal cortical lamination in the reeler does not prevent the thalamocortical afferents from establishing their normal retinotopic order.
The dystroglycan complex: from biology to cancer

Dystroglycan (DG), a non-integrin adhesion molecule, is a pivotal component of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, that is expressed in skeletal muscle and in a wide variety of tissues at the interface between the basement membrane (BM) and the cell membrane. DG has been mainly studied for its role in skeletal muscle cell stability and its alterations in muscular diseases, such as dystrophies. However, accumulating evidence have implicated DG in a variety of other biological functions, such as maturation of post-synaptic elements in the central and peripheral nervous system, early morphogenesis, and infective pathogens targeting. Moreover, DG has been reported to play a role in regulating cytoskeletal organization, cell polarization, and cell growth in epithelial cells. Recent studies also indicate that abnormalities in the expression of DG frequently occur in human cancers and may play a role in both the process of tumor progression and in the maintenance of the malignant phenotype. This paper reviews the available information on the biology of DG, the abnormalities found in human cancers, and the implications of these findings with respect to our understanding of cancer pathogenesis and to the development of novel strategies for a better management of cancer patients.
Reformulation as a measure of student expression in classroom interaction

This study investigates teacher reformulation of student talk. The purpose of the study is to investigate the manner in which teachers affect the meaning and expression of students. The sociolinguistic design identifies reformulations in terms of linguistic form, semantic function, opportunity to confirm and the hard and soft quality of the reformulation process. An ethnomethodological method for establishing corroboration was adopted which allowed the teacher‐subjects the opportunity to review and evaluate the adequacy of the study's method of analysis and findings. The findings indicate that reformulation is a significant language device used by teachers to control classroom dialogue, teacher talk marks the official knowledge of classroom dialogue, and teachers disproportionately perform the language functions most commonly associated with higher‐order cognitive processing.
Falls from rooftops after heavy snowfalls: the risks of snow clearing activities.

Many patients present to emergency departments as a result of falling from a roof while shoveling snow. This study was undertaken to determine whether the frequency of such falls increases after large snowfalls, and to describe associated injuries. We reviewed the records of all patients presenting with cause of injury codes (E-codes) related to a fall: (E882, E881, and E884.9). We compared the frequency with which snow-shoveling related falls from roofs occurred on days with and without snowfalls greater than 12 inches. Fifty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were more likely to fall from a roof while shoveling snow on days with greater than 12 inches of snow accumulation than on days with less than 12 inches of snow accumulation (12/14 v 2/45, P <.001). Injuries included spinal fractures, extremity fractures, and head injury. These results suggest a need for public service campaigns emphasizing the risks of roof shoveling.
Supplementing cross-cover communication with the patient acuity rating.

BACKGROUND Patient hand-offs at physician shift changes have limited ability to convey the primary team’s longitudinal insight. The Patient Acuity Rating (PAR) is a previously validated, 7-point scale that quantifies physician judgment of patient stability, where a higher score indicates a greater risk of clinical deterioration. Its impact on cross-covering physician understanding of patients is not known.
Isolation of a Bismuth Chloride-Iron Carbonyl Adduct: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of [PhCH(2)NMe(3)](2)[Bi(2)Cl(4)(m-Cl)(2){m-Fe(CO)(4)}].

The reaction of bismuth(III) chloride with [PhCH(2)NMe(3)](2)[Fe(CO)(4)] at a ratio of 2:1 in acetonitrile yields the iron carbonyl-bismuth chloride adduct [PhCH(2)NMe(3)](2)[Bi(2)Cl(4)(m-Cl)(2){m-Fe(CO)(4)}] cleanly in high yield. The complex consists of two BiCl(3) groups bridged by an [Fe(CO)(4)](2)(-) unit. Two chloride ligands are shared between the Bi atoms, producing square-pyramidal coordination at bismuth and octahedral coordination at the iron center. The production of this complex represents the synthesis of a stable adduct of a highly nucleophilic metal carbonyl anion with a strongly Lewis acidic main group halide. The compound C(24)H(32)N(2)O(4)Bi(2)Cl(6)Fe crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pba2 (No. 32) with cell parameters a = 14.624(3) A, b = 17.010(3) A, c = 7.1990(10) A, V = 1790.8(5) A(3), and Z = 2.
Tensor products and probability weights

We study a general tensor product for two collections of related physical operations or observations. This is a free product, subject only to the condition that the operations in the first collection fail to have any influence on the statistics of operations in the second collection and vice versa. In the finite-dimensional case, it is shown that the vector space generated by the probability weights on the general tensor product is the algebraic tensor product of the vector spaces generated by the probability weights on the components. The relationship between the general tensor product and the tensor product of Hilbert spaces is examined in the light of this result.
Ecological determinants of clinal morphological variation in the cranium of the North American gray wolf

Abstract The gray wolf (Canis lupus) exhibits both genetic and morphologic clinal variation across North America. Although shape variation in wolf populations has been documented, no study has been made to exhaustively quantify it, or to correlate morphologic variation with environmental variables. This study utilizes a large historical database of wolf skull linear measurements to analyze shape, and attempts to correlate it with wolf ecology. A variety of statistical tests are employed; size and shape are examined through a principal component analysis and a calculation of allometry vectors. Multiple regression analysis (both global and stepwise) are then used to test the resulting principal components against various biotic and abiotic factors. In addition, the effects of sexual dimorphism and taxonomy on morphology are explored through 1-way analysis of variance and canonical variates analysis, respectively. Several patterns are revealed, including size increase with latitude in accord with Bergmann's ...
Degradation of Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Surfactants by Pulsed Ultrasound

The application of pulsed ultrasound for the degradation of the nonvolatile surfactants sodium 4-octylbenzene sulfonate (OBS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) was investigated at a frequency of 354 kHz. By comparing the degradation rate constants with those of continuous wave (CW) ultrasound, observed pulse enhancements were found to be dependent on the pulse length, pulse ratio, initial concentration, and surface activity of the surfactants. For a pulse length of 100 ms and a pulse ratio of 1:1 (equal on/off times), the degradation rate constant of 1 mM OBS was nearly twice the value for CW. Furthermore, the degradation rate constant for 1 mM DBS increased significantly when sonicated under a pulse length of 100 ms and a pulse on/off ratio of 1:50. However, the degradation rate of 0.1 mM OBS increased by only 30% with a 100 ms pulse length and pulse ratio of 1:1 as compared to CW, indicating concentration dependence. The enhanced degradation of surfactants by pulsed ultrasound was attributed to the accumulation of surfactants on cavitation bubble surfaces. In addition, as compared to shorter pulse intervals, longer pulse intervals enhanced DBS degradation, indicating that DBS, a more surface active compound, accumulated and equilibrated with the bubble interface more slowly.
Molecular dynamic simulation of fission fragment induced thermal spikes in UO2: Sputtering and bubble re-solution

Abstract Sputtering and the re-solution of Xe fission gas bubbles in UO 2 due to electronic energy deposition of fission fragments is investigated using molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. First, a two-temperature model coupling the electronic (e-) and phonon (p-) systems is employed to determine the temperature profile along the tracks of fission fragments. The e–p coupling constant within the model is determined by comparing the sputtering yields deduced from the MD simulations with those obtained experimentally. Next, fission fragments tracks are simulated in UO 2 containing Xenon bubbles. At high ( dE / dx ) e bubbles are partially dissolved, however, for ions with electronic stopping powers lower than 34 keV/nm, no bubble re-solution is observed. Thus, bubble re-solution due to the electronic stopping of fission fragments in UO 2 is expected to be insignificant compared to homogeneous re-solution.
A single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid from bacteriophage φX174

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of bacteriophage φX174 can be extracted by phenolic denaturation of the virus protein. The DNA thus obtained has a molecular weight of 1·7 × 10^6, indicating that there is one molecule per virus particle. This φX DNA does not have a complementary nucleotide composition. The ultraviolet absorption of this DNA is strongly dependent upon temperature in the range 20° to 60°C, and upon NaCl concentration in the range 10^(−3) to 10^0 M. This DNA reacts with formaldehyde at 37°C and is precipitated by plumbous ions. This evidence is interpreted to mean that the purine and pyrimidine rings are not involved in a tightly hydrogen-bonded complementary structure. Light scattering studies indicate that this DNA is highly flexible and that its configuration is strongly dependent upon the ionic strength of the solution. Upon treatment with pancreatic deoxyribonuclease, the weight-average molecular weight decreases in accordance with the function expected for a single-stranded molecule. It is concluded that the DNA of bacteriophage φX174 is single-stranded.
Ecotourism impacts in the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

Ecotourism promotes responsible travel to natural areas, environmental conservation and the well-being of local communities. Eco-lodges are an important component of ecotourism ventures but an infrequently researched component of this field. Considering their influence on the natural environment (design and operation) and local communities (employment practices and purchases), the success of ecotourism depends, in part, on the performance of eco-lodges. This project studies the effects of the Punta Islita (PI) eco-lodge on the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. An interdisciplinary nested-scale analysis, combining guest and household interviews with multi-temporal remote sensing analysis of forest cover change of the lodge and surrounding areas, is used to evaluate the environmental, economic and social impacts of ecotourism in the region. Our results show significant positive contributions of the PI eco-lodge on forest cover, environmental conservation, and local economic incomes within the surrounding communities. For local livelihoods, the PI eco-lodge was seen as having positive social, cultural and economic impacts for nearly all societal variables for both employees and their neighbours. The PI eco-lodge was also perceived as reducing alcoholism, drug addiction and prostitution, where conventional tourism on the Peninsula was shown to increase these ‘societal ills’. Land value and product pricing were the few variables believed to have increased as a result of tourism on the Peninsula. For conservation, the PI eco-lodge property had the highest rates of reforestation within the Nicoya Peninsula and remains the scale most reforested in both forest cover change and total forest cover. In fact, at the landscape scale, we find that the Pacific coast of the Nicoya, where the bulk of ecotourism occurs, has undergone reforestation, whereas forest interiors have been deforested. Historically, reforestation occurred as cattle ranching credit programs were halted by the government and households in the area left to find better job opportunities. The PI eco-lodge, as a source of good employment, resulted in worker migration back to the surrounding area, resulting, in some cases, in increased deforestation. Overall, we feel that the PI eco-lodge serves as an example of successful ecotourism. However, increasing development in the region, in particular by standard hotel operations and large condo developments, seeks to capitalise on the region's natural beauty and may reverse land cover trends if they are not accompanied by adequate forest conservation strategies and stresses the importance of monitoring and assessing the impacts of accommodations tied to nature-based tourism operations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extraction of polysaccharides from wheat seedlings with sodium dodecyl sulfate

Abstract A soluble polysaccharide concentrate was prepared from wheat seedling roots and coleoptiles by extraction with buffered 0·01 M sodium dodecyl sulfate. The extract separated into two peaks on Sepharose 6B, Peak 1 (P 1 ) at the void volume, and Peak 2 (P 2 ) at V e / V o = 1·55 when eluted with Tris buffer, and V e / V o = 2·0 when eluted with SDS buffer. The major monosaccharides released by trifluoroacetic acid and Pectinol R-10 from both peaks were galactose and arabinose in a 1:1 molar ratio, together with lesser amounts of glucose, xylose, mannose and rhamnose. Galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid were also detected in the enzyme hydrolyzates. In tracer experiments the major portion of the activity of a membranous fraction co-chromatographed with P 2 .
Comparison of the Carotenoids in Yellow-and Red-fleshed Carica papaya

THE colour of ripe Carica papaya flesh is due to caro-tenoid. Cryptoxanthin, violaxanthin, β-carotene, and ζ-carotene have been identified1,2 in yellow-fleshed fruit. Red-fleshed varieties, which appear to exhibit a single gene difference from yellow-fleshed types3, can also be found. It was of interest to establish the pigment composition of the red-fleshed variety and at the same time to make a quantitative comparison of the pigments in the yellow- and red-fleshed fruits.
Acute renal damage in infants after first urinary tract infection.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common causes of unexplained fever in neonates. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of urinary tract anomalies and acute renal damage in neonates who presented with first urinary tract infection in the first 8 weeks of life. We reviewed the records of 95 infants, who were hospitalised with UTI during a 6-year period (1994–1999). Patients with antenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis and incomplete radiological investigations were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 57 patients, 42 were boys and 15 girls. The mean age at diagnosis was 32 days (range 5–60 days). All patients underwent renal ultrasonography (US), voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) and 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan. Urinary tract abnormalities were detected in 20 (35%) patients. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was found in 19 (33%) neonates, 7 girls and 12 boys. Acute cortical defects on DMSA scan were present in 19 kidneys of patients with VUR and in 25 of those without reflux. Only one-third of neonates after first symptomatic UTI had VUR. We recommend that US, VCUG, and DMSA scan should be routinely performed after the first UTI in infants younger than 8 weeks.
A comprehensive investigation of the accuracy and reproducibility of a multitarget single isocenter VMAT radiosurgery technique.

Purpose: Recent trends in stereotactic radiosurgery use multifocal volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans to simultaneously treat several distinct targets. Conventional verification often involves low resolution measurements in a single plane, a cylinder, or intersecting planes of diodes or ion chambers. This work presents an investigation into the consistency and reproducibility of this new treatment technique using a comprehensive commissioned high-resolution 3D dosimetry system (PRESAGE®/Optical-CT). Methods: A complex VMAT plan consisting of a single isocenter but five separate targets was created in Eclipse for a head phantom containing a cylindrical PRESAGE® dosimetry insert of 11 cm diameter and height. The plan contained five VMAT arcs delivering target doses from 12 to 20 Gy. The treatment was delivered to four dosimeters positioned in the head phantom and repeated four times, yielding four separate 3D dosimetry verifications. Each delivery was completely independent and was given after image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) positioning using Brainlab ExacTrac and cone beam computed tomography. A final delivery was given to a modified insert containing a pin-point ion chamber enabling calibration of PRESAGE® 3D data to dose. Dosimetric data were read out in an optical-CT scanner. Consistency and reproducibility of the treatment technique (including IGRT setup) was investigated by comparing the dose distributions in the four inserts, and with the predicted treatment planning system distribution. Results: Dose distributions from the four dosimeters were registered and analyzed to determine the mean and standard deviation at all points throughout the dosimeters. A dose standard deviation of <3% was found from dosimeter to dosimeter. Global 3D gamma maps show that the predicted and measured dose matched well [3D gamma passing rate was 98.0% (3%, 2 mm)]. Conclusions: The deliveries of the irradiation were found to be consistent and matched the treatment plan, demonstrating high accuracy and reproducibility of both the treatment machine and the IGRT procedure. The complexity of the treatment (multiple arcs) and dosimetry (multiple strong gradients) pose a substantial challenge for comprehensive verification. 3D dosimetry can be uniquely effective in this scenario.
The sources of policy dynamics: Variations in German and French policy towards European monetary co‐operation

When the patterns of French and German policies towards European monetary co‐operation are explored closely, one finds that French policy is characterised by a great deal of continuity, whereas German policy exhibits relative discontinuity. This article seeks to find the internal causes of these two countries’ policy dynamics in three cases of European monetary co‐operation: the creation of the European Monetary System (EMS), the European Monetary Union design negotiations and the 1993 transformation of the EMS. This article develops a model of how the institutions of the policy‐making process can play an important role in determining the type of policy dynamics one can expect to see. It argues that because the French policy‐making process regarding international monetary institutions is controlled by a few decision makers, that policy is prone to consistency. German monetary policy making is influenced by several state and societal organisations which contributes to its dynamic nature. This hypothesis is...
On the effects of propionate and other short-chain fatty acids on sodium transport by the toad bladder

Abstract 1. 1. Propionate and other unbranched short-chain fatty acids, butyrate, pentanoate, hexanoate and octanoate were found to both stimulate and inhibit active sodium transport by the toad bladder, as measured by the short-circuit current (s.c.c.). 2. 2. Stimulation alone followed addition of low concentrations of fatty acids (0.1–1.0 mM) to either the serosal or mucosal bathing medium; stimulation was also seen after an initial period of inhibition in response to higher concentrations (approx. 5 mM) of some compounds. 3. 3. Inhibition alone followed addition of high concentrations (5–20 mM) of these compounds. The duration and magnitude of the inhibition varied with increasing concentration and chain length of the fatty acid, and was greater following mucosal addition than serosal addition. 4. 4. The inhibitory effect of mucosal propionate increased with decreasing pH of the mucosal bathing medium. 5. 5. Inhibition by the fatty acids was completely reversed upon removing the compound from the bathing medium, and stimulation characteristically followed. 6. 6. In studies designed to evaluate the role of metabolism of the fatty acids in their mucosal inhibitory effects it was found that 14 C-labelled propionate, when added to the mucosal surface of the bladder, was converted to 14 CO 2 , and mucosal succinate and α-oxoglutaric acid at 20 mM inhibited the s.c.c. slightly. However, malonate did not interfere with inhibition by mucosal propionate and two non-metabolizable acids, dimethylpropionate and benzoate, induced inhibition (and no stimulation) of the s.c.c. 7. 7. In the presence of an inhibitory concentration of fatty acid, the ability of the bladder to respond to added pyruvate was reduced in proportion to the reduction in the level of the s.c.c., whereas the natriferic response to vasopressin was largely intact. 8. 8. We conclude that stimulation of sodium transport by propionate and other short-chain fatty acids is due to metabolism of the compounds and provision of energy to the sodium transport mechanism. The basis of the inhibition appears complex. It may in part depend on metabolism of the fatty acids and/or uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, with resultant reduction in net ATP production for the sodium transport mechanism. However, the inhibition may also be caused in part by a direct effect on the mucosal entry of sodium into the transporting epithelial cells.
The many faces of agency

This forum article is a response to the article by Alandeom W. Oliveira, Patterson Rogers, Cassie F. Quigley, Denis Sambursky, Kimberly Barss, and Seema Rivera, The article explores agency from the perspective of both personal action and an understanding of causality within environmental systems, and it explores environmental read-alouds as pedagogical events to enhance elementary school students’ climate literacy and activism. In my response I attempt to sharpen the idea of agency through the literatures on (1) prevention education and (2) the dynamics of classroom task systems.
An Attenuator of "S"-Band Energy

The development of an attenuator having a minimum attenuation of 10 decibels or less and a maximum of 25 decibels or more, together with characteristics suitable to an accessory to a precision wavemeter for field use with "S"-band Army aircraft beacon systems, is described. Both theory and operation are presented.
Interferon pretreatment inhibits simian virus 40 infections by blocking the onset of early transcription

CV-1 cells treated with human leukocyte interferon before infection with simian virus 40 (SV40) are protected from virus-induced cytopathic effects. Accumulation of viral mRNA is inhibited markedly. If T antigen is present in interferon-treated cells before infection, viral DNA replication is inhibited only slightly. These results show that many SV40 virions reach the nucleus in a form which can be replicated but not transcribed. Accumulation of SV40 mRNA is not inhibited in cells treated with interferon after infection. Thus the block mediated by interferon is specific for the onset of transcription. Infections with SV40 DNA rather than virions are insensitive to treatment with interferon, showing that the inhibition involves an interaction between viral nucleoprotein complexes and cellular factors.
Evaluation of nitrate nitrogen fluxes from a tile-drained watershed in central Iowa.

Nitrate N fluxes from tile-drained watersheds have been implicated in water quality studies of the Mississippi River basin, but actual NO 3 -N loads from small watersheds during long periods are poorly documented. We evaluated discharge and NO 3 -N fluxes passing the outlet of an Iowa watershed (5134 ha) and two of its tile-drained subbasins (493 and 863 ha) from mid-1992 through 2000. The cumulative NO 3 -N load from the catchment was 168 kg ha -1 , and 176 and 229 kg ha -1 from the subbasins. The outlet had greater total discharge (1831 mm) and smaller flow-weighted mean NO 3 -N concentration (9.2 mg L -1 ) than the subbasins, while the larger subbasin had greater discharge (1712 vs. 1559 mm) and mean NO 3 -N concentration (13.4 vs. 11.3 mg L -1 ) than the smaller subbasin. Concentrations exceeding 10 mg L -1 were common, but least frequent at the outlet. Nitrate N was generally not diluted by large flows, except during 1993 flooding. The outlet showed smaller NO 3 -N concentrations at low flows. Relationships between discharge and NO 3 -N flux showed log-log slopes near 1.0 for the subbasins, and 1.2 for the outlet, considering autocorrelation and measurement-error effects. We estimated denitrification of subbasin NO 3 -N fluxes in a hypothetical wetland using published data. Assuming that temperature and NO 3 -N supply could limit denitrification, then about 20% of the NO 3 -N would have been denitrified by a wetland constructed to meet USDA-approved criteria. The low efficiency results from the seasonal timing and NO 3 -N content of large flows. Therefore, agricultural and wetland best management practices (BMPs) are needed to achieve water quality goals in tile-drained watersheds.
Barrier function in transgenic mice overexpressing K16, involucrin, and filaggrin in the suprabasal epidermis

Abbreviations: CE, cornified envelope; LB, lamellar bodies; PB, permeability barrier; TEWL, transepidermal water loss
Multi-story base-isolated buildings under a harmonic ground motion — Part II: Sensitivity analysis

Abstract A series of sensitivity analyses for multi-story base-isolated structures subject to a harmonic ground excitation is carried out. Several base isolation and energy dissipation devices are considered. The effects of variations in properties of structures and base-isolation systems on the peak responses are studied. For a range of natural frequency, friction coefficient, and damping of the isolator, the peak responses are evaluated. The sensitivity of the base-isolated structure to variations in the amplitude and the frequency of ground excitation is also studied. Particular attention is given to the effects of long-period excitations. The study shows that the peak structural responses for base isolators with a frictional element are less sensitive to variations in intensity and frequency of ground excitation when compared with non-frictional systems. Furthermore, the performances of frictional isolators are insensitive to small variations in friction coefficient and its velocity-dependence.
PHOSPHATE UPTAKE ZONES OF MYCORRHIZAL AND NON-MYCORRHIZAL ONIONS

SUMMARY Mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal onion seedlings were grown in individual soil chambers in which roots were confined to one side of a barrier. External hyphae of Glomus fasciculatus arising from mycorrhizal roots grew into an adjacent volume of soil. 32p was injected into soil at I-cm intervals up to a distance of 8 cm from the confined roots. Relatively high levels of radioactivity were subsequently detected in root segments of mycorrhizal plants at all distances from tracer injection. High levels of radioactivity were detected also in leaf segments of mycorrhizal plants. Radioactivity of root or leaf segments of non-mycorrhizal plants did not exceed background level at any distance from tracer injection. 32P did not move more than 7.5 mm from the point of injection as indicated by gross autoradiography. Absorption of phosphate and its translocation to the host by hyphae of G. fasciculatus can extend the phosphate uptake zone of mycorrhizal onions to at least 7 cm from the root surface.
Erythrocyte Lifespan in Dwarf and Normal Pullets from Growth Selected Lines of Chickens

Abstract Mean erythrocyte lifespan was estimated, using a 51Cr tagging procedure, in dwarf and normal sisters from lines selected for high and low body weight at eight weeks of age. Correlations between body weight, packed cell volume and erythrocyte lifespan were not significant. Significant differences were found among genotypes for body weight and packed cell volume, but not for lifespan of erythrocytes.
A scheduling algorithm for consistent monitoring results with solar powered high-performance wireless embedded systems

Getting consistent results when monitoring phenomena is a challenging but critical task for solar powered wireless high power embedded systems. Our algorithm relies on an energy predictor to achieve uniform monitoring over time while maximizing the number of tasks executed. Our approach outperforms state of the art algorithms by increasing the number of daily measurement by 30% and reducing their standard deviation by 5.5×.
Increased number of heterotopic Purkinje cells in essential tremor

Objective Recent postmortem studies reveal degenerative changes, including Purkinje cell (PC) loss, in most brains from individuals with essential tremor (ET). Heterotopic PCs (HPCs) (ie, PC bodies displaced into the molecular layer) may be found in neurodegenerative diseases with PC loss. HPCs have been observed in ET but no quantitative case control analysis has been performed. Methods HPCs were counted in 35 ET brains and 32 control brains (including 21 non-diseased controls and 11 diseased controls with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)) using a standard 20×25 mm cerebellar cortical section stained with a modified Bielscholwsky method. Results The median number of HPCs per section was three times higher in 35 ET cases (median 3, mean±SD 3.8±3.6, range 0–14) versus 32 controls (median 1, mean±SD 1.6±1.7, range 0–5) (p=0.007). The number of HPCs was similarly low in the 21 non-diseased controls and 12 PSP brains (median 1 in each group) (p=0.04 and p=0.01 compared with ET). In ET, the number of HPCs was inversely related to the number of PCs (Spearman9s rho −0.36, p=0.038) (ie, cases with more HPCs had fewer PCs). Conclusion PC heterotopia, which occurs in cerebellar degenerative disorders, is also a feature of ET. These findings further contribute to our understanding of the postmortem changes in this common neurological disease.
Placental development in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). I. Early development to the time of chorio-allantoic contact.

Early gerbil development was studied from days 4 through 12 of gestation. Implantation occurs on day 8 in a shallow antimesometrial implantation crypt. The proamniotic cavity forms from an invagination of basal trophoblast and a folding together of the rim of the cup thus produced. The approximation of this rim gives rise to the ectoplacental cone. The further development and expansion of the ectoplacental cone is much like the rat. Amniogenesis is by folding into the proamniotic cavity. Between large glycogen-filled decidual cells occur many PAS-positive eosinophilic granular cells. A massive subplacental gland forms from proliferating uterine epithelium within the decidua basalis. Epithelial proliferation begins shortly after implantation, and soon short thick cellular processes extend from the antimesometrial side of the lumen whereas long branching cords penetrate the decidua basalis mesometrially. The function of this structure is unknown.
CB7-02: Medicare Part D Cost-sharing and Antipsychotic Drug Use in Two Medicare Advantage Systems

Background/AimsThe Affordable Care Act phases out the Medicare Part D coverage gap over the next decade; however, beneficiaries will continue to face substantial cost-sharing even after 2020. Higher cost-sharing has been associated with reductions in necessary drug use. Non-adherence to antipsychotics, a mainstay of schizophrenia treatment, is associated with worse clinical outcomes. We investigated the impact of Part D cost-sharing on antipsychotic spending and adherence for beneficiaries with schizophrenia, focusing on within-person cost-sharing increases associated with the gap.MethodsWe included Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries enrolled in plans linked with an integrated delivery system (IDS, N=999) and non-integrated systems (non-IDS, N=3,878) who received 1+ inpatient or 2+ outpatient schizophrenia diagnoses during 2006?2007 and antipsychotics in 2006. We examined total and out-of-pocket antipsychotic spending and adherence based on the proportion of days covered (PDC) using Part D drug event data. We examined changes in monthly costs and adherence before and after beneficiaries reached the gap using within-person fixed effects models to account for unmeasured, time-stable confounders across comparison groups.ResultsOverall, 34% of subjects faced a gap in 2007; most remaining beneficiaries received low- income subsidies (LIS) that covered the gap. Among gap subjects, 45% (IDS) and 55% (non-IDS) reached the gap threshold of $2,400 in total drug spending. Monthly out-of-pocket spending increased substantially in both systems during vs. before the gap (IDS: $139 [$118 to $159]; non-IDS: $84 [$79 to $91]). Total monthly antipsychotic costs and adherence decreased after reaching the gap among non-IDS beneficiaries (costs: ?$163 [?$179 to ?$146]; adherence: ?14.7 percentage points [?16.2 to ?13.1]). Among IDS beneficiaries, changes in total costs and adherence pre- vs. post-gap were not significant (costs: ?$82 [?$179 to $15]; adherence: 3.1 pp [?0.6 to 6.8]). For LIS beneficiaries with no gap, adherence did not decrease after reaching the gap spending threshold.DiscussionAntipsychotic adherence decreased during the gap among non-IDS MA beneficiaries, but did not among IDS beneficiaries or among LIS recipients without a gap. Cost-related non- adherence to antipsychotics among beneficiaries with schizophrenia could result in adverse clinical outcomes. Work is needed to explore potential system-level characteristics that influence patients? responses to cost-sharing.
Interaction between Dax-1 and steroidogenic factor-1 in vivo: increased adrenal responsiveness to ACTH in the absence of Dax-1.

Two nuclear receptors, dosage-sensitive sex reversal adrenal hypoplasia congenita, critical region on the X chromosome gene-1 (Dax-1) and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), are required for adrenal development and function. In vitro assays suggest that Dax-1 represses SF-1 mediated transcription. In this study, we generated SF-1 / : Dax-1 /Y mice to examine the role of Dax-1 in SF-1-dependent steroidogenesis in vivo. While the SF-1 expression was impaired in SF-1 / mice, there was no change in Dax-1 expression in SF-1 / mice and no change in SF-1 expression in Dax-1 /Y mice. SF-1 / mice had small adrenal glands with adrenal hypoplasia and cellular hypertrophy. The loss of Dax-1 in SF-1 / : Dax-1 /Y mice reversed the decreased adrenal weight and histological abnormalities observed in SF-1 / mice. SF-1 / mice had elevated ACTH and the lowest corticosterone following restraint stress. In contrast, Dax-1 /Y mice had elevated corticosterone and decreased ACTH. Adrenal responsiveness (ACTH/corticosterone) was highest in Dax-1 /Y mice, intermediate in WT and SF-1 / : Dax-1 /Y mice, and lowest in SF-1 / mice. In accordance with these findings, ACTH stimulation testing resulted in the highest levels of corticosterone in the Dax-1 /Y mice. Protein levels of P450c21 and the ACTH receptor were increased in Dax-1 /Y mice and intermediate in SF-1 / : Dax-1 /Y mice following chronic food deprivation. These results are consistent with a model in which Dax-1 functions to inhibit SF-1-mediated steroidogenesis in vivo .( Endocrinology 143: 665– 673, 2002)
Ariadne: Architecture of a Portable Threads System Supporting Thread Migration

SUMMARY Threads exhibit a simply expressed and powerful form of concurrency, easily exploitable in applications that run on both uni- and multi-processors, shared- and distributed-memory systems. This paper presents the design and implementation of Ariadne: a layered, C-based software architecture for multi-threaded distributed computing on a variety of platforms. Ariadne is a portable user-spacethreads system that runs on shared- and distributed-memory multiprocessors. Thread-migration is supported at the application level in homogeneous environments (e.g., networks of SPARCs and Sequent Symmetrys, Intel hypercubes). Threads may migrate between processes to access remote data, preserving locality of reference for computations with a dynamic data space. Ariadne can be tuned to specific applications through a customization layer. Support is provided for scheduling via a built-in or application-specific scheduler, and interfacing with any communications library. Ariadne currently runs on the SPARC (SunOS 4.x and SunOS 5.x), Sequent Symmetry, Intel i860, Silicon Graphics workstation (IRIX), and IBM RS/6000 environments. We present simple performance benchmarks comparing Ariadne to threads libraries in the SunOS 4.x and SunOS 5.x systems.
EARLY GROUND APPLICATION OF ACEPHATE FOR CONTROL OF THE WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) ON DOUGLAS-FIR

The insecticide acephate (0.5-dimethyl acetyl phosphoramidothioate) was applied at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 lb A.I./gal (.058, 0.118, 0.179 kg/l.) in aqueous solution to individual Douglas-fir trees infested with western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, larvae in central Washington using hand held ground application equipment. Application was made when larvae were in the needle mining – bud mining stage at rates ranging from 2.58 to 5.10 gal/acre (3.97 to 7.84 l./ha). For all three concentrations, mortality of larvae inside needles was 94–98% after 1 day compared with a check mortality of 18% and larval mortality inside buds was 99% after 1 day compared with 23% for the check. Regression analyses indicated that defoliation was positively correlated with the number of needles mined the current year and per cent punctured buds, and negatively correlated with larval mortality inside both needles and buds. The data suggest that when applied at the rates used, acephate has some type of systemic action and can provide foliage protection during the year of application.
Impact of Ventricular Assist Device Complications on Posttransplant Survival: An Analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing Database

Background Although current left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology has proven more durable than first-generation devices, all mechanical devices are prone to complications that can elevate patient acuity before transplantation. LVAD patients with complications intuitively carry a higher risk profile than other status 1A LVAD patients who are generally stable and use their 30 days of clinically stable status 1A time. We sought to determine if the presence or absence of complications in status 1A LVAD patients at the time of transplant influenced survival after transplant. Methods The United Network of Organ Sharing database was retrospectively analyzed for 15,253 patients who were listed status 1A from 1998 to 2008. Survival after transplant survival was compared between patients who were and were not listed for LVAD-related complications. Standard statistical analysis was applied. Results No survival difference was identified at 1 and 10 years after transplant in patients who had device complications compared with those without complications. Of the five complication entries (thromboembolism, infection, malfunction, malignant arrhythmia, and other), only device infection increased mortality risk compared with noncomplicated patients (39% at 1 year, 30% at 10 years, p Conclusions Long-term outcomes are generally not affected by the status 1A listing criteria for patients bridged to transplant with LVADs. However, the subset of patients with device infection had worse 1-year and 10-year posttransplant survival. Bridge to transplant patients, despite serious device-related complications, still have excellent transplant outcomes.
Attaching lures to multiple-funnel traps targeting saproxylic beetles (Coleoptera) in pine stands: inside or outside funnels?

ABSTRACT We conducted two field trapping experiments with multiple-funnel traps in 2008 and one experiment in 2010 to determine the effects of lure placement (inside or outside funnels) on catches of saproxylic species of beetles (Coleoptera). The experiments were conducted in southern pine (Pinus spp.) stands in central Georgia using combinations of ethanol, α-pinene, ipsenol, and ipsdienol lures. We report on a modification to the multiple-funnel trap that allows placement of large lures inside the confines of the funnels with minimal blockage. In general, catches of five species of common longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), two species of regeneration weevils (Curculionidae), four species of bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae), and seven species of beetle predators and ectoparasites (Cleridae, Histeridae, Tenebrionidae, Trogossitidae, and Zopheridae) were higher in funnel traps with lures attached inside the funnels than in those with lures attached outside of the funnels. Catches of the remaining sp...
Three-Dimensional Organotypic Culture of Stratified Epithelia

One of the limitations of conventional tissue culture on flat two-dimensional surfaces is the loss of complex interactions between the epithelium and stroma. We have devised a culture system that recreates the salient features of the stratified epithelium using primary cell cultures from mouse models. The protocol described here is applicable to the esophageal epithelium, but stratified epithelial cells from other organs (e.g., skin) can be grown. Once established, the system can be used to interrogate the effect of various pharmacologic and genetic manipulations on epithelial homeostasis and invasion.
Predicting the geography of species' invasions via ecological niche modeling

ABSTRACT Species’ invasions have long been regarded as enormously complex processes, so complex as to defy predictivity. Phases of this process, however, are emerging as highly predictable: the potential geographic course of an invasion can be anticipated with high precision based on the ecological niche characteristics of a species in its native geographic distributional area. This predictivity depends on the premise that ecological niches constitute long‐term stable constraints on the potential geographic distributions of species, for which a sizeable body of evidence is accumulating. Hence, although the entire invasion process is indeed complex, the geographic course that invasions are able to take can be anticipated with considerable confidence.
The Cultural Construction of Theatre for Children and Young Audiences: A Captive Eddy of Recursive Harmonies

This essay explores the cultural construction of theatre for young audiences (TYA) as manifested in a “performative” which, through identity formation, both accommodates and restricts the TYA field.
Environmental biochemistry of chromium.

Chromium (Cr) was first discovered in Siberian red lead ore (crocoite) in 1798 by the French chemist, Vauquelin. Named for the bright colors of its compounds, Cr has since found an extremely wide variety of industrial uses that exploit these colors, as well as various other characteristics of Cr, such as strength, hardness and corrosion resistance of the metal, and the oxidizing capabilities of certain Cr species. Not surprisingly, large volumes of Cr waste in various chemical forms are generated from industrial processes and discharged into the environment. While Cr, in trace amounts, is essential for human life, exposure to some Cr compounds can pose a major health risk to all forms of life. This review will discuss some of the environmental impacts of chromium, including novel bioremediation techniques currently under development for detoxifying Cr-contaminated water and soils.
Cavity resonance suppression in power delivery systems using electromagnetic band gap structures

The utilization of electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structures is a new and promising approach in plane pair noise cavity resonance suppression. In this paper, EBG/plane pair structures are studied with full-wave methods and results are experimentally verified. A new equivalent circuit modeling approach of characterizing the frequency behavior of the entire EBG/plane pair structure is presented. The equivalent circuit of the unit cell is proposed and the procedure to extract circuit parameters is described. The influence of EBG patch parameters on the band gap characteristics is quantified and the results provide some design rules to circuit designers. Examples of applications of EBG structures to power/ground plane noise suppression are given.
Modeling the cost of misunderstanding errors in the CMU Communicator dialog system

We describe a data-driven approach that allows us to quantify the costs of various types of errors made by the utterance-level confidence annotator in the Carnegie Mellon Communicator system. Knowing these costs we can determine the optimal tradeoff point between these errors, and tune the confidence annotator accordingly. We describe several models, based on concept transmission efficiency. The models fit our data quite well and the relative costs of errors are in accordance with our intuition. We also find, surprisingly, that for a mixed-initiative system such as the CMU Communicator, false positive and false negative errors trade-off equally over a wide operating range.
Effect of dl-Glyceraldehyde on Mouse Neuroblastoma Cells in Culture

Neuroblastoma cells had a much higher rate of glycolysis than the Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells, although the former cell type had a longer doubling time (24 hr) than did the latter (12 hr). dl-Glyceraldehyde inhibited the glycolysis in both cell types to the same extent, but it reduced the growth of neuroblastoma cells more markedly than that of Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. These data indicated that glycolysis may be more critical for the growth of neuroblastoma cells than for the Chinese hamster ovary K1. In our experimental conditions the higher glycolysis rate did not correlate with the faster growth rate of cells in culture.