cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The destruction of indoleacetic acid. I. Action of an enzyme from Omphalia flavida.

Abstract 1. 1. The IAA-destroying principle produced by Omphalia flavida is a soluble, oxidative enzyme. It can be exhaustively dialyzed, and precipitated with ammonium sulfate, without loss of activity. It shows optimal activity at pH 3.5, and at this pH its activity is not enhanced by 2, 4 dichlorophenol and is moderately stimulated by Mn ++ . It is highly sensitive to HCN. Mn ++ prevents the enzyme activity from declining during the reaction. 2. 2. The IAA-destroying reaction is stoichiometric, consuming 1 mole O 2 and releasing 1 mole CO 2 per mole IAA destroyed. 3. 3. The enzyme does not act on indolepropionic or indolebutyric acid, nor on any of a wide variety of indole compounds except indoleisobutyric acid, which it oxidizes rapidly, and 5- and 7-hydroxyindoleacetic acids, which it attacks slowly. 4. 4. The ultimate reaction product is a mixture of at least four components, all of which contain the 2-carbon of IAA. Two give a positive Salkowski reaction, and several give yellow to red colors with the Ehrlich reagent. Neither indolealdehyde nor derivatives of o -aminoacetophenone nor quinoline can be present in appreciable amounts. The products are not phenolic and do not possess free aryl amino groups. At least one component is unstable and appears to undergo spontaneous slow oxidation and/or to give rise to polymeric material. The major constituents of the product appear to contain the oxindole nucleus. Some, but not all, of their properties agree with those of 3-methyldioxindole.
Spawning distribution and abundance of a northern Chinook salmon population

Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), is an important biological and cultural resource in Alaska, but knowledge about Chinook salmon ecology is limited in many regions. From 2009 to 2012, spawning distribution and abundance of a northern Chinook salmon population on the Togiak River in south-west Alaska were assessed. Chinook salmon preferred deeper mainstem channel spawning habitat, with 12% (14 of 118 tags in 2009) to 21% (22 of 106 tags in 2012) of radio-tagged fish spawning in smaller order tributaries. Tributary spawners tended to have earlier run timing than mainstem spawners. Chinook salmon exhibited extended holding and backout (entering freshwater but returning to saltwater before completing anadromous migration) behaviours near the mouth of Togiak River, potentially prolonging their exposure to fishery harvest. Mark–recapture total annual run estimates (2010–2012) ranged from 11 240 (2011) to 18 299 (2012) fish. Exploitation of Chinook salmon ranged from 36% (2012) to 55% (2011) during the study period, with incidental fishery catches near the mouth of the river comprising the largest source of harvest.
LDL cholesterol: controversies and future therapeutic directions

Summary Lifelong exposure to raised concentrations of LDL cholesterol increases cardiovascular event rates, and the use of statin therapy as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and smoking cessation has proven highly effective in reducing the population burden associated with hyperlipidaemia. Yet, despite consistent biological, genetic, and epidemiological data, and evidence from randomised trials, there is controversy among national guidelines and clinical practice with regard to LDL cholesterol, its measurement, the usefulness of population-based screening, the net benefit-to-risk ratio for different LDL-lowering drugs, the benefit of treatment targets, and whether aggressive lowering of LDL is safe. Several novel therapies have been introduced for the treatment of people with genetic defects that result in loss of function within the LDL receptor, a major determinant of inherited hyperlipidaemias. Moreover, the usefulness of monoclonal antibodies that extend the LDL-receptor lifecycle (and thus result in substantial lowering of LDL cholesterol below the levels achieved with statins alone) is being assessed in phase 3 trials that will enrol more than 60 000 at-risk patients worldwide. These trials represent an exceptionally rapid translation of genetic observations into clinical practice and will address core questions of how low LDL cholesterol can be safely reduced, whether the mechanism of LDL-cholesterol lowering matters, and whether ever more aggressive lipid-lowering provides a safe, long-term mechanism to prevent atherothrombotic complications.
Enhanced Neurobehavioral Effects of Cocaine With Chronic Neuroleptic Exposure in Rats

Individuals with schizophrenia are often treated with medications that block dopamine (DA) neurotransmission. Chronic administration of many DA antagonists alters dopaminergic function, causing a supersensitivity to DA agonists. Because the DA agonist properties of cocaine seem to be involved in its behavioral effects, chronic DA antagonist treatments may enhance these effects of cocaine. This article presents evidence to support this hypothesis, as well as its implications for treating schizophrenia patients who abuse cocaine and suggestions for future research.
Physician sensemaking and readiness for electronic medical records

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore physician sensemaking and readiness to implement electronic medical records (EMR) as a first step to finding strategies that enhance EMR adoption behaviors.Design/methodology/approach – The case study approach provides a detailed analysis of individuals within an organizational unit. Using a theoretical lens of sensemaking and readiness for change gives a framework for triangulated inquiry.Findings – Findings reveal that physicians' key sensemaking factors are alignment, expectations, symbols (i.e. voice activation technology), outside influences, emotional arousal, trust, faith, forced implementation, controlled influence, and clarification of identity. These factors collectively describe how physician derive meaning through innovation.Research limitations/implications – The findings elucidate physicians as autonomous learners utilizing innovative thought processes to prepare for EMR implementation. Physicians used innovation in EMR implementation as a me...
Adult Children of Alcoholics: cognitive and psychomotor characteristics

Summary A comparison of individuals who report alcohol abuse in one or both parents (family history positive: FHP) with those who do not (family history negative: PHN) on a number of metabolic, behavioral, and mood measures before and after alcohol dosing revealed marginally lower cognitive abilities, on average, in the FHP group. Most of the other hypothesized differences between groups (e.g. alcohol metabolism; differential alcohol sensitivity; differential alcohol tolerance; mood) were not found, except in two- and three-way interactions among gender, age, and FH. It seems evident that the search for biological markers of increased risk for future alcohol abuse will need to take account of gender and age, in addition to familial alcohol abuse.
Adsorption of Carboxylic Acids on Submicrocrystalline Aluminum Hydroxides in Aqueous Solution. Part I: Qualitative Study by Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

Adsorption of acetic, oleic, benzoic, and salicylic acids on submicrocrystalline aluminum hydroxide samples is investigated in aqueous solutions. Experimental infrared and Raman spectroscopic data are analyzed to determine the reactivity of the monocoordinated hydroxyl groups located on the edge faces of bayerite or gibbsite crystals. Two key parameters were (1) the effect of concentration of aqueous solutions of the acids, and (2) the variation in specific surface areas of different samples of bayerite and gibbsite powders. Strong preferential adsorption to bayerite was observed over the whole pH range. No adsorption to gibbsite was detected. Data from the literature indicate that acetate, oleate, and benzoate form bidentate complexes on bayerite while salicylate forms a monodentate complex. The infrared spectra show that only monocoordinated hydroxyl groups are reactive, in the bayerite samples, and the band at 1020 cm-1 corresponds to the deformation mode of the monocoordinated hydroxyl groups whose stretching vibration was at 3465 cm-1. It is suggested that the specific surface areas given by the adsorption isotherms is a condition necessary for adsorption, but not sufficient in itself. Adsorption requires the presence of AlOH2+1/2 species as well as the presence of steps or of a packaging sequence ABABABA rather than a packaging sequence ABBAABBA of the hydroxyl planes. The gibbsite impurity present in the bayerite sample reacted completely, while the lateral OH in the gibbsite sample did not, reflecting the lower reactivity in gibbsite relative to extended domains of bayerite.
Lodgement of haemopoietic cells in the course of haemopoiesis on cellulose ester membrane: an experimental model for haemopoietic cell trapping

Summary. Intraperitoneally implanted cellulose ester membrane in mice was used as a model to study the lodgement of haemopoietic cells into haemopoietic organs. A heterogeneous cellular coat developed on the membrane. Its upper layer (epilayer) thinned out and formed a veil over the cellular coat. Numerous microvilli developed on its free surface. They were randomly oriented. A week after implantation, mice were given total body irradiation (400 cGy) and were infused intraperitoneally with 105 marrow cells. Two days after infusion round cells were penetrating the epilayer. Extensive interaction was noted between the surface of the penetrating cells and the microvilli of the epilayer. Penetration was through a single cell in the epilayer and not at the junction of two cells. These observations suggest specific interaction between haemopoietic cells and the supporting tissue leading to lodgement of haemopoietic cells. Intraperitoneally implanted cellulose ester membrane may provide an experimental model for haemopoietic cell trapping.
Seizures in series : similarities between seizures of the west and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes

We observed seizures resembling infantile spasms in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Infantile spasms, the type of seizures that occurs in patients who have West syndrome, have been well characterized by video-EEG studies and typically occur as a series of sudden generalized flexor or extensor jerks. The seizure types that occur in LGS have not been as clearly delineated. Some patients with West syndrome (WS) in early infancy later develop LGS. Using intensive video-EEG monitoring, we evaluated 14 LGS patients who had seizures that occurred in series. Clinically, the seizures greatly resembled infantile spasms, and the ictal EEG changes were identical to those that occur with infantile spasms. These findings expand the number of features known to be shared by these two syndromes and strengthen the hypothesis that the two syndromes represent age-related manifestations of similar epileptogenic processes.
Anterograde Percutaneous Coronary–Cameral Fistula Closure Employing a Guide-in-Guide Technique

A 33-year-old woman was evaluated for palpitations and a continuous murmur. Echocardiography demonstrated a dilated vascular structure posterior to the aortic root. Coronary angiography revealed a coronary–cameral fistula originating from the left main coronary artery emptying into the right
Cardiovascular sympathoinhibitory neurons form an extended longitudinal column in cat lateral medulla

A search for vasomotor depressor sites in the lateral medullary brainstem of anesthetized cat using microinjections of AMPA has delineated a longitudinal column of sympathoinhibitory neurons consisting of the rostral depressor area, the caudal ventrolateral medulla, and a new intermediate depressor area. Systematic blockade of these three subregions with bilateral microinjections of kynurenic acid indicates a uniform involvement of the entire column with sympathetic baroreflex, but a slightly greater involvement of the anterior portion, over the posterior, with regulation of cardiovascular tone.
COMMENTS ON QUANTUM THEORY WITH SHADOW STATES

It is shown that in shadow-state theories the particle mediating a one- shadow--particle-exchange process is propagated via a principal-value propagator. This leads to striking noncausal effects that in principle are observable. It is also noted that the pole-factorization and cluster properties hold in shadow- state theories. (AIP)
Contribution of Genetic Disorders to Neonatal Mortality in a Regional Intensive Care Setting

We examined the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities, mendelian disorders, and birth defects to mortality in a regional neonatal intensive care unit by medical record review of neonatal deaths in that unit. Of a total of 296 infant deaths during the 5-year period June 1986 to May 1991, 69 (23.3%) had a genetic disorder. By diagnostic category, 18.8% had a chromosomal abnormality, 10.1% had a mendelian condition, 42% had a single primary defect in development, and 29% had an unrecognized pattern of malformation. The rate of autopsy and genetic evaluation differed markedly between these diagnostic categories. A comparison was made of underlying cause of death determined from medical records with underlying cause as classified by vital statistics nosologic procedures. No death certificate was on file for two of the deaths; for the remaining 67, 27 (40.3%) had an erroneous or misleading underlying cause of death as determined from vital statistics. The important contribution of genetic disorders to neonatal mortality in this high-risk population and the relative underrecognition of these disorders by vital statistics sources indicate that efforts aimed at reducing neonatal mortality will require a full range of preventive health activities, including preconception, prenatal and perinatal assessment, and counseling. Improved data collection techniques need to be developed to understand the contribution of this group of conditions to total neonatal mortality.
T cell receptor antagonism in vivo, at last

Their approach is based on tracking the responses of a small number of antigen-specific T cells bearing a defined TCR, a …
Geranium defensive agents. III. Structural determination and biosynthetic considerations of anacardic acids of geranium

Ozonolysis, dithioether derivatization, and EI and CI mass spectrometry were used to establish the location of the double bond in the side chain of the two major anacardic acids in geranium (Pelargonium hortorum) trichome exudate. The point of unsaturation was shown to be between C-5 and C-6 counting from the methyl end of the side chain, contradicting the earlier hypothesis that the olefmic bond was probably at the 9–10 position based upon expected biosynthetic considerations. The two major components are thus 6-[(Z)-10′-pentadecenyl]salicylic acid (C22H34O3) and 6-[(Z)-12′-heptadecenyl] salicylic acid (C24H38O3). This may indicate that the precursor of these anacardic acids is a saturated fatty acid since the location of a double bond at the 5–6 position is unusual among the unsaturated fatty acids. Capillary GLC and HPLC of the trichome exudate indicated the presence of small amounts of other anacardic acid analogs possessing such features as odd numbers of carbon atoms and saturated side chains.
Strategies for Managing and Comforting Infant Crying in Early Intervention Programs

Prolonged, frequent, or intense crying, particularly when soothing is ineffective, can be detrimental both to the baby and to the persons who provide care. Because handicapped babies may cry more frequently than their nonhandicapped age-peers and in different ways, there is a strong need to develop strategies for dealing with crying in early intervention settings. This paper reviews the literature on the crying of handicapped babies, describes environmental considerations, techniques for providing comfort, and observational and data-collection techniques, and makes suggestions for coping strategies for caregivers.
Conversion of methylcyclopentane and acyclic hexanes over supported platinum catalysts: I. Isomerization kinetics and hydrogenolysis selectivities

Abstract In studies of the conversion of methylcyclopentane (MCP), n-hexane (nC6), 2-methylpentane (2MP), and 3-methylpentane (3MP) over a Pt/SiO2 catalyst with an average Pt particle size less than 20 A, it is found that MCP formation from acyclic hexanes is independent of residence time. Since a cyclic mechanism via a five-membered ring intermediate is the predominant hexane isomerization route, this observation suggests that isomerization is best approximated by a sequential reaction, (nC6, 2MP, or 3MP) →k1 MCP →k2 (nC6, 2MP, and 3MP), in which the quasi-steady-state approximation, d[ MCP ] dt = 0 , is applicable. The quasi-steady-state approximation requires that k2 ⪢ k1 viz., the five-ring closure of hexane to MCP is rate-controlling. k1 is established to be rate-controlling by experiments with mixed hexane and MCP feeds. Also, the formation of MCP from the acyclic hexanes is found to be independent of time on stream while the generation of isomerized products decreases by 30–40% with time. Based on a hydrodynamic analog of a sequential reaction, this observation indicates that k1 and k2 deactivate at the same rate thereby maintaining k 1 k 2 constant with time on stream. This argument implies that the ring closure of hexane to MCP and the ring opening of MCP occur on the same site and is consistent with microscopic reversibility which requires a common intermediate. Kinetic parameters calculated from the sequential reaction model using the quasi-steady-state approximation show that five-ring closure between two primary carbon atoms (2MP and 3MP) is about three times faster than that between a primary and a secondary carbon atom (nC6). For ring opening of five-ring intermediates, the reaction order in MCP concentration is higher with acyclic hexane feeds than with MCP feed due to a lower surface hydrocarbon coverage with the former feedstocks. During isomerization of the acyclic hexanes, hydrogenolysis to smaller molecules is a competing reaction pathway. For 2MP and 3MP, the rupture of the CC bond in β-position to the tertiary carbon atom is preferred and with the β bond in 3MP being more reactive than that in 2MP. In the case of nC6, the center CC bond ruptures three times faster than the other CC bonds. These observations are in good agreement with literature data.
Studies with transfected and permeabilized RBL-2H3 cells reveal unique inhibitory properties of protein kinase C gamma.

Abstract To characterize protein kinase C (PKC) gamma, an isozyme found exclusively in brain and spinal cord, its cDNA was introduced into basophilic RBL-2H3 cells that lack this isozyme. The expression of PKC gamma significantly attenuated antigen-induced responses including hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids, increase in cytosolic calcium, and secretion of granules but enhanced antigen-induced release of arachidonic acid. Instead of a sustained increase in cytosolic calcium, antigen now induced calcium oscillations; possibly as a consequence of suppression of the phospholipase C activity and incomplete emptying of internal calcium stores. In addition, PKC gamma appeared to inhibit activation of other PKC isozymes because phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to act synergistically with the Ca(2+)-ionophore on secretion. This was confirmed in other studies where PKC gamma was shown to suppress the transduction of stimulatory signals by other isozymes of PKC on provision of these isozymes to PKC-depleted permeabilized cells. The studies in total indicated that only PKC gamma was capable of inhibiting both early and distal signals for secretion including those signals transduced by endogenous isozymes of PKC.
Origin of the nonmetallic properties of δ-(ET) 2AuI2

The crystal structure of δ-(ET) 2AuI2, where ET is the organic donor molecule bis(ethylenedithio) tetrathiafulvalene, has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at 298 K and 125 K. At both temperatures, superlattice reflections corresponding to a (2a, b, c) supercell were detected. On the basis of the average structure of δ-(ET) 2AuI2 (determined without consideration of the (2a, b, c) superlattice), we have performed tight-binding band electronic structure calculations which show that δ-(ET) 2AuI2 has a closed Fermi surface centered at (a∗2,0,0), but that its Fermi surface has an approximate nesting condition, q ≅ 0.5a∗ + 0.75b∗. Thus, the nonmetallic behavior observed for δ-(ET) 2AuI2 does not originate from electron localization, but rather from a Peierls Distortion.
A result in surrogate duality for certain integer programming problems

We consider linear programming problems with some equality constraints. For such problems, surrogate relaxation formulations relaxing equality constraints existwith zero primal-dual gap both when all variables are restricted to be integers and when no variable is required to be integer. However, for such surrogate formulations, when the variables are mixed-integer, the primal-dual gap may not be zero. We establish this latter result by a counterexample.
Improved Timing Windows Overlap Check Using Statistical Timing Analysis

To reduce pessimism in cross talk analysis, a key technique that is employed is the use of timing windows. However, timing windows are associated with corners, hence the use of a single corner timing windows during analysis can lead to optimism. Alternately if the timings windows from best and worst corners are combined to create a wider window, it can lead to excessive pessimism. We propose an approach based on parametrized statistical timing analysis modeling to overcome the shortcomings of the existing approaches, and to account for process variations in the defnition of timing windows. We show that this approach can overcome both the issues in the current approaches.
0.32 mu m gate length InP-channel MODFETs with f/sub t/ above 90 GHz

The fabrication and characterisation of high performance InAlAs/InP modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) with 0.32 mu m gate lengths are reported. Devices have been fabricated on two different delta-doped heterostructures with one having an extra delta-doping plane just below the cap layer. The extra doping resulted in devices with lower source and drain parasitic resistances. Extrinsic DC transconductances g/sub m/as high as 805 mS/mm and unity current-gain cutoff frequency f/sub t/ as high as 92 GHz obtained for these devices at a drain-to-source voltage V/sub ds/ of 2V are attributed to the low parasitics. Also, the devices exhibited an f/sub t/ of at least 75 GHz up to a V/sub ds/ of 4 V.
Predicting Dividends in Log-Linear Present Value Models ∗

Abstract In a present value model, high dividend yields imply that either future dividend growth must be low, or future discount rates must be high, or both. While previous studies have largely focused on the predictability of future returns from dividend yields, dividend yields also strongly predict future dividends, and the predictability of dividend growth is much stronger than the predictability of returns at a one-year horizon. Inference from annual regressions over the 1927–2000 sample imputes over 85% of the variation of log dividend yields to variations in dividend growth. Point estimates of the predictability of both dividend growth and discount rates are stronger when the 1990–2000 decade is omitted.
Establishing the diagnosis of Libman-Sacks endocarditis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

CASE A 43-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted with fever and shortness of breath 1 month after aortic valve replacement. A diagnostic workup including chemistries, complete blood count, blood cultures, chest x-ray, and 2-D echocardiogram was performed to determine the etiology of her symptoms and differentiate between acute bacterial endocarditis and Libman–Sacks endocarditis.
Age-Related Changes in [3H]MK-801 Binding in the Fischer 344 Rat Brain

Abstract In this study we tested the hypothesis that the efficacy of l -glutamate to stimulate [3H]MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor/channel complex is altered as a function of aging. l -Glutamate, or related excitatory amino acid (EAA), is the endogenous neurotransmitter of the NMDA receptor/channel complex. These studies examined the efficacy and potency with which l -glutamate produces receptor activation, channel opening and subsequent MK-801 binding as a function of increasing age by comparing dose-response curves (EC50 and Emax) from 6-, 12-, and 24-month-old F-344 rats. The number of NMDA receptors, as determined by [3H]MK-801 binding in the presence of a saturating concentration of l -glutamate, was reduced in the inner frontal cortex, entorhinal cortex and the lateral striatum in aged rats when compared with young adults. When a range of l -glutamate concentrations were used, differences in Emax were noted in the same brain regions in addition to several others in aged and middle-aged animals when compared with young-adult animals. No changes in EC50 values were noted in any of the brain regions at either age when compared with young-adults.
Apesar do Estatuto da Cidade os Novos Planos Diretores Ainda não Contemplam o Problema dos Excluídos, do Direito à Cidadania e da Cidade Sustentável

O fenomeno urbanizacao e ocupacao pelo homem nunca foi antecedido de normas urbanisticas de sustentabilidade ambiental, economica e social, sendo a cidade mais um projeto de exclusao social do que de garantia da cidadania.
Estradiol treatment and the x-ray-induced acceleration of the age-specific mortality rate.

BALB/c female mice, 430 days old, were irradiated with 250 kvcp x nays (in single or split doses) and were followed for 40 weeks. The irradiation increased the age-specific mortality rate, m/sub x/, but only after a 16-week (403 rads) or an 8-week (831 rads) period. Intramuscular injection (5 mu g every 4 weeks) of long-acting estrogen (estradiol-17 BETA n-valerianate, Delestrogen) practically abolished the latent periods and tended to increase m/ sub x/ throughout the experiment. Estrogen treatment, as reflected in the cumulative percent survival curve, had less effect in the nonirradiated mouse than in the irradiated one. It had more effect on the 403 rad group than on the 831 rad group, and thus brought their survival curves close together. From a study of tumor incidence in decedents and animals that were killed, it was concluded that the effect of estrogen on mortality was not the result of tumor induction, though during the first half of the experiment estrogen tended to hasten the death of irradiated animals with pulmonary tumors. (auth)
Oxygen Electrocatalysis on Epitaxial La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ Perovskite Thin Films for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

This work was supported in part by DOE (SISGR DE-SC0002633), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dharam, Saudi Arabia, for funding the research reported in this paper through the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM. The PLD preparation performed was conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is sponsored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by the Scientific user Facilities Division, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy. E. Mutoro is grateful for financial support from the German Research Foundation (DFG research scholarship). The authors thank Prof. Harry Tuller and Dr. Gerardo Jose la O' for their fruitfully discussion.
An automated system for distributing literature and managing information overload

A challenge in scientific communities is that one member of the community will acquire new literature but the information never gets passed on to other interested colleagues within the community. We designed and are building a Web-based tool to overcome this challenge. This system is the Scientific Literature Exchange and Database System or SciExchange. SciExchange allows a scientist who reads an article, an online journal article or science news update, to log onto the SciExchange Web site and easily submit the article or link to the article to the database. Next, SciExchange automatically sends a notification email to the list of subscribing scientists who asked to be notified if articles on topics of interest to them were entered into the SciExchange database. The email contains a link to the article referred to. Its design, construction, planned uses, and implications for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) are detailed in this paper.
Fingerprint pattern recognition for medical uses-A frequency domain approach

A method of automatically classifying fingerprints into three groups, whorl, loop, and arch is described. It can help medical scientists to study the relationship between fingerprint patterns and medical disorders, such as breast cancer. In the research, a frequency domain approach that uses the feature of Fourier spectrum was developed; that is, prominent peaks in the spectrum give the principal direction of fingerprint patterns. Using the above feature, the authors obtain the principal direction of every subregion. The pattern of the whole image then can be determined. The frequency domain approach allows one to classify whorl faster and is less sensitive to the quality of fingerprint image, but it does not easily allow for the classification of arch and loop when triradii areas are too small. >
The epidemiology of pesticides in a rural area.

Abstract A random sample of 155 farmers was studied with respect to use of pesticides and to farming habits and products. Significant differences were found between the “high” and “low” pesticide use groups with respect to hematocrit, hemoglobin, and prothrombin time values. Significant correlations were obtained between the use of aldrin and blood uric acid values; atrazine and bilirubin, 1-minute and 30-minute values; benzene hexachloride and total blood chlorinated hydrocarbon residues; benzene hexachloride and urinary creatinine values; and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid herbicides and serum albumin values for the high pesticide use group. Significant correlations were found between the total pesticides employed by the high-use group and the blood uric acid and bilirubin 1-minute values. A significant negative correlation existed with respect to erythrocyte sedimentation rates. No significant correlations were obtained for the low-use group. The blood concentrations of pesticide residue were not pro...
Bachman's Sparrows use burrows and palmetto clumps as escape refugia from predators

Abstract We documented Bachman's Sparrows (Aimophila aestivalis) entering natural burrows on six different occasions on a dry prairie in central Florida. Use of burrows was apparently an attempt to escape potential predators. Although Bachman's Sparrows were usually flushed from grass-dominated microsites, they preferred to fly to palmetto clumps (Serenoa repens) that had burrows rather than palmetto clumps lacking burrows. This behavior has inherent risks because these burrows are often used by a variety of animals, including predators of small passerines.
Shear-thickening response of fumed silica suspensions under steady and oscillatory shear

first regime can be explicitly correlated with steady shear-thickening, using a modified version of the Cox‐Merz rule. Accord- disorder transition indeed takes place in all shear-thickening ingly, strain-thickening data for the complex viscosity h *a s a systems. Stokesian dynamics simulations have shown that function of the maximum dynamic shear-rate g0v can be super- the shear-thickened state is characterized by clusters of partiposed against shear-thickening data for the steady viscosity as a cles (5 ‐ 8). The formation of these flow-induced clusters function of the steady shear rate. Such a correlation between the results in an increased dissipation of energy and, consetwo kinds of thickening phenomena has not been reported pre- quently, the viscosity increases. Thus, according to these viously. The combination of shear- and strain-thickening behavior researchers, shear-thickening is not related to the destruction can be qualitatively explained using a clustering mechanism, of ordered layers but to the generation of particle clusters. which attributes the various phenomena to the formation of tem- It should be noted that under certain conditions both events porary, flow-induced clusters. The two regimes of strain-thick- may occur simultaneously (i.e., the disruption of the ordered ening are a result of differences in the relative ease of cluster layer structure can be caused by the clustering of particles). formation. q 1997 Academic Press necessary to assume the existence of an ordered state before the shear-thickening transition. Further evidence for the clustering hypothesis has been provided recently by the work of Bender and Wagner, through optical dichroism measure
OMGProm: a database of orthologous mammalian gene promoters

Summary: Sequence comparisons between human and rodents are increasingly being used for the identification of gene regulatory regions. The effectiveness of such an approach largely depends on the quality and availability of promoter sequences. We developed OMGProm by integrating three data sources: (1) experimentally supported full-length cDNA, promoter and first exon sequences; (2) homology information from HomoloGene and (3) the human and mouse genomic sequences. The current version of OMGProm contains 8550 promoter pairs of 6373 orthologous human and mouse genes, where supporting experimental evidence for transcription start site annotation exists in at least one species. Availability: OMGProm can be accessed from http://bioinformatics.med.ohio-state.edu/OMGProm Contact: davuluri-1@medctr.osu.edu Supplementary information: Additional information on methods and implementation is available at http://bioinformatics.med.ohio-state.edu/OMGProm/si.jsp.
Severe Sepsis and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome From Community-Acquired Legionella Pneumonia: Case Report

A case of a young man with community-acquired pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, and sepsis is reported. Treatment with antibiotics and various modes of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit were unsuccessful. A urinary legionella antigen test was positive for Legionella pneumophila.
Competitive Interactions between Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi) and Other Anurans

Abstract: In recent decades, created ponds have become one of the dominant aquatic habitats in anthropogenic landscapes. Understanding how competition between colonizing species influences community assembly in these new habitats is important for predicting species distributions across the landscape. The objective of this study was to examine competition between larval Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi), which are showing declines in parts of their range, and other anurans including Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus), Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans), and Cope’s Gray Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis). Using two separate experiments, we examined competitive interactions between larvae of (1) Cricket Frogs and different size classes of Bullfrogs; and (2) Cricket Frogs and Green Frogs, Cricket Frogs and Cope’s Gray Treefrogs, or all three species together. We found no effect of either recently hatched or overwintered Bullfrog larvae on Cricket Frog metamorphosis. However, we found that Green Frogs reduced Cric...
An Improved Lower Bound for Sorting Networks

The minimum number of comparators S(N) required by an N-input sorting network is bounded below by S(N) ? N[log 2 (N) - 1] + 0(1), as a consequence of the theorem S(N) ? S(N - 1) + [log 2 (N)].
Mitochondrial toxicity in hearts of CD-1 mice following perinatal exposure to AZT, 3TC, or AZT/3TC in combination.

Antiretroviral therapies based on nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), like zidovudine (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine; AZT) and lamivudine ((-)2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine; 3TC), markedly reduce mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, AZT induces damage in nuclear DNA of mice exposed in utero and postnatally, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage has been observed in both human and mouse neonates following perinatal exposure to AZT and AZT/3TC in combination. To provide animal data modeling the NRTI-induced heart damage reported in human infants, we treated pregnant CD-1 mice throughout gestation and treated their pups by direct gavage from postnatal day (PND) 4 through PND 28 with daily doses of 150 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day AZT, 75 mg/kg bw/day 3TC, 125/62.5 mg/kg bw/day AZT/3TC, or the vehicle control. Half the pups were euthanized on PND 28; the remainder received no further dosing, and were euthanized at week 10. Heart tissue was collected, total DNA was extracted, and mtDNA copy number relative to nuclear DNA copy number, mtDNA damage, and mtDNA mutation assays were performed using PCR-based methods. Analyses revealed increases in mtDNA lesions in 4-week-old males and females treated with AZT or 3TC, but not in 10-week-old mice, suggesting that the damage resolved after treatment ceased. Interestingly, 10-week-old females treated with AZT/3TC had significant increases in mtDNA damage. Point mutations were elevated in 10-week-old females treated with AZT or AZT/3TC, but not 3TC; no increases in mutations were seen in either gender at 4 weeks of age. Our data suggest that AZT/3TC combination treatment produces greater mtDNA damage than either agent individually, and that female mice are more sensitive than males to AZT/3TC-induced mtDNA damage. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2006. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Seasonal Variability in the Diurnal Evolution of the Boundary Layer in a Near-Coastal Urban Environment

AbstractBoundary layer height is estimated during a 21-month period in Houston, Texas, using continuous ceilometer observations and the minimum-gradient method. A comparison with over 60 radiosondes indicates overall agreement between ceilometer- and radiosonde-estimated PBL and residual layer heights. Additionally, the ceilometer-estimated PBL heights agree well with 31 vertical profiles of ozone. Difficulty detecting the PBL height occurs immediately following a frontal system with precipitation, during periods with high wind speeds, and in the early evening when convection is weakening, a new stable surface layer is forming, and the lofted aerosols detected by the lidar do not represent the PBL. Long-term diurnal observations of the PBL height indicate nocturnal PBL heights range from approximately 100 to 300 m throughout the year, while the convective PBL displays more seasonal and daily variability typically ranging from 1100 m in the winter to 2000 m in the summer.
The value of agricultural water rights in agricultural properties in the path of development

article i nfo Article history: This paper estimates the value of water rights in a rapidly urbanizing semi-arid area: Phoenix, Arizona. To do this we use hedonic pricing to explore the impact of water rights on property values in 151 agricultural land transactions that occurred between 2001 and 2005. We test two main hypotheses: (1) that the marginal will- ingness to pay for water rights is higher in more developed urbanizing areas than in less developed rural areas, and (2) that the marginal willingness to pay for water rights in urban areas is increasing in the value of developed land. We find that the marginal willingness to pay for water rights is highest among properties in urbanized or urbanizing areas where a significant proportion of the land has already been developed. Additionally, we find that the marginal willingness to pay for agricultural water rights is greatest in cities where developed land is most valuable.
Financing newborn screening systems: US experience.

Newborn screening (NBS) in the United States (US) has existed since the early 1960s and is required in all 51 state jurisdictions. It is generally recognised that NBS provides a significant public health benefit by preventing or markedly decreasing the adverse medical consequences of conditions included in the screening panel. There is currently no US national NBS policy, so instead there are 51 independent state programmes that vary widely in their policies, infrastructures, procedures and services. Not surprisingly, US NBS programme costs and methods of financing also vary. Surveys have increasingly found a reliance on fees to pay for screening tests, short-term follow-up and other parts of state NBS systems. This article reviews some of the current US NBS financing issues and methodologies. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2008;37(Suppl 3):97-100
Complex flow and transport phenomena in porous media

This thesis analyzes partial differential equations related to the coupled surface and subsurface flows and develops efficient high order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods to solve them numerically. Specifically, the coupling of the Navier-Stokes and the Darcy's equations, which is encountered in the environmental problem of groundwater contamination through lakes and rivers, is considered. Predicting accurately the transport of contaminants by this coupled flow is of great importance for the remediation strategies. The first part of this thesis analyzes a weak formulation of the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equation coupled with the Darcy's equation through the Beavers-Joseph-Saffman condition. The analysis changes depending on whether the inertial forces are included in the interface conditions or not. The inclusion of the inertial forces (Model I) remedies the difficulty in the analysis caused by the nonlinear convection term; however, it does not reflect the physical interactions on the interface correctly. Hence, I also analyze the weak problem by omitting these forces (Model II) which complicates the analysis and necessitates an extra small data condition. For Model I, a fully discrete scheme based on the DG method and the Crank-Nicolson method is introduced. The convergence of the scheme is proven with optimal error estimates. The second part couples the surface flow and a convection-diffusion type transport with miscible displacement in the subsurface. Initially, I consider the coupled stationary Stokes and Darcy's equations for the flow and establish the existence of a weak solution. Next, imposing additional assumptions on the data, I extend the result to the nonlinear case where the surface flow is given by the Navier-Stokes equation. The analysis also applies to the particular case where the flow is loosely coupled to the transport, that is, the velocity field obtained from the flow is an input for the transport equation. The flow is discretized by combinations of the continuous finite element method and the DG method whereas the discretization of the transport is done by a combined DG and backward Euler methods. The scheme yields optimal error estimates and its robustness for fractured porous media is shown by a numerical example.
Anticipating the Unintended Consequences of Closing the Door on Physician Self-Referral

Purpose: While physician self-referral has been associated with increased health care use, the downstream effects of the practice remain poorly characterized. Accordingly we identified the relationship between urologist self-referral and downstream health care use in patients with urinary stone disease.Materials and Methods: With urologist self-referral status as the exposure of interest, we performed a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries from 2008 to 2010 to evaluate the relationship between self-referral and imaging intensity, risk of surgical treatment and time to surgical treatment for urinary stone disease.Results: We identified dose dependent increases in computerized tomography use with increasing stratum of urologist self-referral. Compared to nonself-referring urologists, computerized tomography use was 1.19 times higher (95% CI 1.07–1.34) in episodes ascribed to intermediate frequency (5 to 9) and 1.32 times higher (95% CI 1.16–1.50) in episodes ascribed to high frequency (10+) ...
Coral Rubber—A Cis-1,4-Polyisoprene

Abstract The data presented here support the contention that a polyisoprene rubber of high cis-1,4-content (Coral rubber) has been developed, which is strikingly similar in polymer structure to Hevea rubber, as indicated by infrared structure, x-ray crystalline pattern, perbenzoic acid determination of 1,4-addition, ozonolysis, unsaturation, carbon-hydrogen ratio, molecular-weight distribution, inherent viscosity, and specific gravity. It is also shown that those polymer structural features and other characteristics of Coral rubber provide evidence that these same structural features found in natural rubber account for its low hysteresis, high gum tensile strength, and good retention of physical properties at elevated temperatures. Coral rubber differs from Hevea rubber in that is has slightly less cis-1,4-structure and slightly more 3,4-structure; it does not absorb oxygen as readily as natural rubber, has higher thermal stability, and is more resistant to cracking in tire treads. Both Hevea rubber and b...
International Paper: Longwood Woodyard Plant

This case and its companion, "International Paper: Alternatives to the Longwood Woodyard Plant" (UVA-F-1253), are designed to present students with the challenge of formulating a discounted-cash-flow analysis for a capital-investment decision. Students are asked to estimate the cost of capital and to conduct a sensitivity of their NPV estimates with respect to inflation, the annual savings figures, and the number of years over which the savings are received. The cases are intended for students who are learning or need a refresher on DCF analysis. Because of the basic issues covered, the cases work well with undergraduate, MBA, and executive audiences. The cases also afford the opportunity to explore a variety of issues related to capital investment, including manager-owner agency problems, risk adjustment for discount rates, design of a capital-budgeting system, the challenges of a cyclical capital-intensive industry, and capital-structure management.
Material Mediators: Johan Maurits, Textiles, and the Art of Diplomatic Exchange

Although textiles were key facilitators in global diplomacy in the early modern period, there has been little scholarly consideration of the dynamic role they played in shaping diplomatic relationships during a time when textiles of all types from both east and west were circulating actively as wholesale commodities across world markets. This case study addresses this lacuna by examining the role that textiles, including linens, silks, and tapestries, played in mediating the inter- and intra-cultural diplomatic negotiations of Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen (1604-1679), the governor-general of Dutch Brazil from 1637 to 1644. As I argue, the production and dissemination of objects such as linens and especially the Old Indies tapestry series, based on designs made under Johan Maurits’s patronage, demonstrate how textiles, in their many forms and formats, were uniquely suited to negotiate the dynamic shifts that characterized cross-cultural diplomacy in the early modern period.
New Targets in the Drug Treatment of Heart Failure

Heart failure is a complex syndrome that has been a major contributor to readmissions into hospitals in the USA. Currently, a large number of medications are being used to treat the symptoms of the disease-digoxin, diuretics, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, β-blockers, and vasodilators. There is no doubt that the given pharmaceutical therapy has been effective in lowering hospital readmission rates and prolonging life in individual chronic heart failure patients. Despite this, admission rates following heart failure hospitalization remain high, resulting in a substantial financial strain on healthcare institutions. Clearly, there is much room for improvement in heart failure therapy and management in reducing readmission rates. In this review, we address the unmet needs in the current drug treatment of chronic heart failure and describe novel drug targets that are currently under investigation.
Changes Are Coming and PDA Will Be There To Help.

The FDA has released draft guidance on biosimilars: . The following is excerpted from the above February 9, 2012, news release: These long-awaited documents will undoubtedly clarify many issues for our community. But, as in