cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of cisapride on nocturnal transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations and nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients with oesophagitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Aim: To investigate the effect of cisapride, a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 receptor agonist, on the frequency of nocturnal transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations and oesophageal acid exposure in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 10 patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (six male and four female; mean age, 54 ± 10.4 years) were randomly assigned to 5-day treatments with cisapride, 10 mg q.d.s., or placebo, separated by a 2-day washout period before the treatment crossover. Sleep stages, lower oesophageal sphincter tone and oesophageal pH were monitored overnight at the end of each treatment regimen. Gastric emptying was assessed before treatment. Results: Cisapride decreased the frequency of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations during sleep (1.2 ± 0.2/h vs. 2.7 ± 0.5/h with placebo; P=0.004) and oesophageal acid exposure (17.2 ± 9.9% with placebo vs. 7.2 ± 4.2% with cisapride; P=0.4). Cisapride increased lower oesophageal sphincter tone from 12.7 ± 2.8 mmHg with placebo to 16.9 ± 3.9 mmHg (P=0.03), and decreased heartburn episodes and antacid consumption. All patients had normal gastric retention data over 4 h. Conclusions: In patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, cisapride significantly decreased the frequency of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations during sleep and increased lower oesophageal sphincter pressure without changing gastric emptying. We hypothesize, therefore, that 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 mechanisms are important in the control of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations in humans.
Involvement of brain dopamine systems on neurotensin-induced protection against stress gastric lesions.

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that intracisternal (i.c.) administration of neurotensin (NT), a brain and gastrointestinal tridecapeptide, potently inhibits gastric ulcer formation induced by cold-restraint stress (CRS) in rats. This study evaluated the effect of i.c. NT (17.9 nmol) or vehicle (10 μl of 0.9% NaCl) on the development of CRS-induced gastric ulcers and on dopamine (DA) concentrations and DA turnover (DOPAC/DA) in selected brain regions after 0, 1, 2 and 3 h of CRS. As anticipated, and in confirmation of previous findings, NT significantly reduced the incidence and severity of CRS gastric ulcers in a time-dependent manner. Neurotensin significantly decreased DA concentration and DA turnover in the striatum. In the nucleus accumbens, however, NT produced a decrease in DA concentration and a concomitant increase in DA turnover after 2 and 3 h of CRS. No significant effects of brain NT on DA concentration and DA turnover were observed in the hypothalamus or olfactory tubercles. These findings suggest that the anti-ulcer effect of brain NT may be mediated, at least in part, by a differential activation of the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA systems.
Polynomial growth in semigroup varieties

Abstract In 1989 M. Sapir posed the problem of describing all semigroup varieties where every finitely generated (f.g.) semigroup has polynomial growth. Here we find the solution of this problem for the case of an arbitrary nonperiodic semigroup variety defined by a system of identities over a finite set of variables. We also show that there exists an algorithm to decide whether or not the given finite system of homogeneous semigroup identities defines a variety where every f.g. semigroup has polynomial growth.
Geostatistical and local cluster analysis of high resolution hyperspectral imagery for detection of anomalies

This paper describes a new methodology to detect small anomalies in high resolution hyperspectral imagery, which involves successively: (1) a multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis, PCA) of all spectral bands; (2) a geostatistical filtering of noise and regional background in the first principal components using factorial kriging; and finally (3) the computation of a local indicator of spatial autocorrelation to detect local clusters of high or low reflectance values and anomalies. The approach is illustrated using 1 m resolution data collected in and near northeastern Yellowstone National Park. Ground validation data for tarps and for disturbed soils on mine tailings demonstrate the ability of the filtering procedure to reduce the proportion of false alarms (i.e., pixels wrongly classified as target), and its robustness under low signal to noise ratios. In almost all scenarios, the proposed approach outperforms traditional anomaly detectors (i.e., RX detector which computes the Mahalanobis distance between the vector of spectral values and the vector of global means), and fewer false alarms are obtained when using a novel statistic S2 (average absolute deviation of p-values from 0.5 through all spectral bands) to summarize information across bands. Image degradation through addition of noise or reduction of spectral resolution tends to blur the detection of anomalies, increasing false alarms, in particular for the identification of the least pure pixels. Results from a mine tailings site demonstrate the approach performs reasonably well for highly complex landscape with multiple targets of various sizes and shapes. By leveraging both spectral and spatial information, the technique requires little or no input from the user, and hence can be readily automated.
Weil restriction of noncommutative motives

Abstract The Weil restriction functor, introduced in the late fifties, was recently extended by Karpenko to the category of Chow motives with integer coefficients. In this article we introduce the noncommutative (=NC) analogue of the Weil restriction functor, where schemes are replaced by dg algebras, and extend it to Kontsevich's categories of NC Chow motives and NC numerical motives. Instead of integer coefficients, we work more generally with coefficients in a binomial ring. Along the way, we extend Karpenko's functor to the classical category of numerical motives, and compare this extension with its NC analogue. As an application, we compute the (NC) Chow motive of the Weil restriction of every smooth projective scheme whose category of perfect complexes admits a full exceptional collection. Finally, in the case of central simple algebras, we describe explicitly the NC analogue of the Weil restriction functor using solely the degree of the field extension. This leads to a “categorification” of the classical corestriction homomorphism between Brauer groups.
Sonochromic Effect in WO3 Colloidal Suspensions

In recent years there has been a burst of activities in investigating sonolytic reactions. The usefulness of this technique in synthesizing colloidal semiconductors and metals and dissolution of MnO{sup 2} colloids has also been demonstrated. We have now employed semiconductor colloids to investigate the radical reactions in sonolytic processes. In this study we present our preliminary results from the reaction of WO{sup 3} colloids with sonolytically generated H atoms. Sodium tungstate, oxalic acid, and Acid Orange 7 were obtained from Aldrich. Acid Orange 7 was purified by column chromatography. All other chemicals were analytical reagents of highest available purity. The analysis experiments were carried out with a 640 kHz sonolysis setup of Ultrasonic Energy Systems (Panama City, FL). 24 refs., 4 figs.
Assessing corrosion problems in photovoltaic cells via electrochemical stress testing

A series of accelerated electrochemical experiments to study the degradation properties of polyvinylbutyral-encapsulated silicon solar cells has been carried out. The cells' electrical performance with silk screen-silver and nickel-solder contacts was evaluated. The degradation mechanism was shown to be electrochemical corrosion of the cell contacts; metallization elements migrate into the encapsulating material, which acts as an ionic conducting medium. The corrosion products form a conductive path which results in a gradual loss of the insulation characteristics of the encapsulant. The precipitation of corrosion products in the encapsulant also contributes to its discoloration which in turn leads to a reduction in its transparency and the consequent optical loss. Delamination of the encapsulating layers could be attributed to electrochemical gas evolution reactions. The usefulness of the testing technique in qualitatively establishing a reliability difference between metallizations and antireflection coating types is demonstrated.
Recall and Stem-Completion Priming Have Different Electrophysiological Correlates and Are Modified Differentially by Directed Forgetting

The notion that different aspects of memory are assessed by explicit and implicit memory tests was supported by behavioral and electrophysiological results. In a study-test procedure, 24 subjects were instructed to remember some words and to forget other words. Free recall and cued recall were better for words associated with the remember instruction, whereas directed forgetting did not influence stem completion (an implicit memory test). Event-related brain potentials elicited during study differed as a function of subsequent memory performance for free recall and cued recall, but not for stem completion. These results implicate encoding differences in the distinction between the 2 types of memory test. Factors governing whether explicit retrieval affects performance on an implicit memory test, mechanisms that may underlie directed-forgetting effects, and the importance of electrophysiological correlates of memory are also discussed.
The stress and temperature dependence of steady-state flow at intermediate temperatures for pure polycrystalline aluminum

Abstract Torsion tests to large strains (ϵ = 3–10) in the intermediate temperature range (0.2−0.6 Tm where Tm is the melting temperature in degrees absolute) have been performed on high purity aluminum. Steady-state was reached at all temperatures except for 0.2 Tm. Between 0.29 and 0.48 Tma the activation energy for steady-state creep (Qss) was found to be equal to about 87 kj mole−1 which corresponds quiteclosely to the activation energy for dislocation pipe diffusion as measured by Volin, Lie and Balluffi using a void shrinkage analysis. The relation between stress, σss, and strain rate, ϵss, in steady-state has been analyzed using an effective diffusion coefficient, Deff, for creep data over the temperature range 0.21-0.93 Tm. The Dheff utilized is based on all published diffusion data, namely two different additive lattice self-diffusion coefficients and one dislocation pipe diffusion coefficient. Over 21 orders of magnitude in ϵss/Deff, the data fit the equation ϵ ss D eff = B[ sinh (α σ ss E )] n , where α B and n are constants and E is the dynamic unrelaxed average Young's modulus. This Garofalo-type hyperbolic-sine equation is therefore a good representation of the steady-state behavior of pure polycrystalline aluminum. The activation energy for transient deformation, Qtrans, was found to be dependent upon the method of testing. Qtrans was greater than Qss when calculated from temperature-change tests but less than Qss when calculated from constant temperature tensile tests.
A Stitch in Time: The Needlework of Aging Women in Antebellum America (Newell)

This work is a book review considering the title A Stitch in Time: The Needlework of Aging Women in Antebellum America by Aimee E. Newell.
Effective dual method contraceptive use and HPV vaccination among U.S. adolescent and young adult females.

Abstract Background Problem Behavior Theory posits that risky behaviors cluster in individuals, implying that protective behaviors may follow a similar pattern. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the protective behavior of effective dual method contraception use at first and most recent sexual intercourse is associated with HPV vaccination among adolescent and young adult females. Methods National Survey of Family Growth (2006–2010) data were used to examine the association between women's contraception use during first and most recent sexual intercourse and HPV vaccination. Women aged 15 to 24 years ( n = 1,820) served as the study sample. Findings At first and last sexual intercourse, effective dual method contraception use was reported by 15.3% and 16.8% women, respectively; 27.8% reported receiving at least one dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Higher HPV vaccination rates were observed among dual method users at first and last sexual intercourse (36.4% and 48.2%, respectively). This trend was also observed across age groups (15–19 year olds vs. 20–24 year olds). In adjusted models, among all respondents, dual users at last sexual intercourse were significantly more likely to be vaccinated, whereas at first sexual intercourse only younger dual users were more likely to report HPV vaccination. Conclusions Findings suggest that the protective behavior of dual method contraceptive use at first and most recent sexual intercourse may serve as a predictor of another complementary health behavior, HPV vaccination, particularly among adolescent females. More research is needed to understand behavioral clustering to design related multi-focused women's health interventions.
Employee communication, information technology use, and mandatory training

E-training is becoming an important part of organisational practices intended to support the workforce. This study examined links between a worker's perceptions of a first-time e-training program and two outcomes: The worker's attitude towards sexual harassment, and the worker's expected behaviour in dealing with it. Using a structural equation model to analyse the data, the authors found that the link between training and behaviour is complex. The overall positive link between training and behaviour is due to training's strong positive effect on worker attitude. Incorporating qualitative data that was also gathered, implications for sexual harassment training and e-training are discussed.
MO‐E‐204B‐02: X‐Ray Spectroscopy with a Room Temperature CdZnTe Detector

Purpose: To investigate room temperature CdZnTedetectors for x‐ray spectroscopy. Method: X‐ray spectroscopy with accurate, simple, and room temperature detectors are of interest. The CdZnTesemiconductors are recognized as a good candidate. However, CdZnTedetectors suffer from hole trapping and spectral tailing which is unstable and difficult to correct. We investigated two CdZnTedetectors with different configurations for x‐ray spectroscopy. A 1×1 cm2 planar detector with 3 mm thickness and a 5×5×5 mm3 capacitive grid detector were used. Tilted angle irradiation was used to decrease hole trapping. Spectra were first acquired from isotopes sources 241Am, 59.5 keV, and 57Co, 122 keV. Each source was measured at normal and tilted angle incidence of radiation and peak‐to‐total ratios were compared. X‐ray spectra were acquired at 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 kVp tube voltages. Monte Carlo calculations were used to simulate Cd and Te K x‐ray escape from CdZnTe. The measured x‐ray spectra were corrected for K x‐ray escape using the stripping procedure. The corrected x‐ray spectra were then compared to theoretical spectra simulated using published methods and verified software. Results: It was shown that tilted angle irradiation can virtually eliminate hole trapping and spectral tailing thus increasing peak‐to‐total ratios by more than 40% and 130% for 59.5 and 122 keV photons, respectively. X‐ray spectra showed major improvement with tilted angle irradiation. The capacitive grid detector has shown overall better performance compared to planar detector.Conclusion: Tilted angle of the x‐ray beam with respect to the detector surface virtually eliminates hole trapping and spectral tailing. Tilted angle increases K x‐ray escape, however, this can be simulated with high accuracy and corrected for, while hole trapping is not stable and difficult to correct. The capacitive grid detector has shown better performance in tilted angle configuration due to its inherently higher energy resolution.
Increased mucin levels in submandibular saliva from mice following repeated isoproterenol treatment

Abstract Mucin decreases with age in the submandibular glands of mice and can be restored by chronic administration of isoproterenol. Mice were given repeated injections of isoproterenol to determine if the increase of mucin in the submandibular gland leads to elevated levels of mucin in the submandibular saliva. Mucin was significantly elevated in both the gland and the saliva after isoproterenol. Gland contents of mucin and the concentration of mucin in their salivas were positively correlated for both the isoproterenol (p = 0.01) and the control group (p
MIMO cognitive radio with channel covariance feedback

In MIMO cognitive radio networks, the secondary users are in cognizant of the spatial channels toward the primary users. Based on the knowledge of the interference channel toward the primary receivers and the channel toward its intended receiver, the secondary transmitter adjusts its transmission spatial spectrum in order to maximize its own information rate while limiting interference to the primary receivers. This paper considers the practical case where only the covariance of the time-varying channel matrix can be fed back to the secondary transmitter through a low-rate feedback channel. The optimal transmission is derived when either transmit power constraint or interference power constraint is imposed. Under both constraints, a suboptimal transmission scheme is proposed for the cognitive radio network. Simulation results show the average information rate per secondary user at the Nash equilibrium, which is compared with the rate in the case of perfect feedback of the channel state information.
Using expression information to discover new drug and vaccine targets in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

The recent completion of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum genome has opened the door for applying a variety of genomic-based systems biology approaches that complement existing gene-by-gene methods of investigation. Transcriptomic analyses of P. falciparum using DNA microarrays has allowed for the rapid elucidation of gene function, parasite drug response, and in vivo expression profiles, as well as general mechanisms guiding the parasite life cycle that are vital to disease pathogenesis. The results of these studies have identified promising novel gene targets for the development of new drug and vaccine therapies.
Image recovery from polarimetric, nonimaged laser speckle

The addition of polarization diversity for a non-imaging laser speckle system provides improvement for the phase retrieval problem. The polarization diversity of the remote scene provides additional information for successfully recovering a two-dimensional image from noisy autocorrelations obtained from laser speckle patterns or pupil plane images. The proposed system may be used to characterize space-borne objects and debris with an earthbased sensor array. We propose an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm with a simple, statistical-based stopping criteria. Results from both simulation and laboratory experiment are presented.
Antigenic and electrophoretic variants of vitellogenin in Oncopeltus blood and their control by juvenile hormone

Abstract Antigenic analysis of adult female-specific blood and yolk proteins in Oncopeltus demonstrated an incomplete vitellogenin (A), which appears in the blood prior to yolk deposition and is later modified or joined by an antigenically complete molecule (AB). Vitellogenin AB is antigenically indistinguishable from the major yolk protein of mature eggs, though the electrophoretic mobilities of the two differ in 6% acrylamide gels. Vitellogenin A alone appears in the blood of adult females in which the corpora allata are known to be inactive, i.e., during starvation or photoperiodically induced diapause. Stimulation of these females with a juvenile hormone analog restores yolk deposition, and also induces the appearance of AB in the blood. While juvenile hormone is needed for the termination of diapause and the maturation of vitellogenin in this species, diapause begins with the vitellogenin-producing mechanism already partially assembled.
Winter foraging patterns and voluntary hypothermia in the social caterpillar Eucheira socialis

Summary 1. Analysis of 28 years of weather data for the Sierra Madre Occidentals of Mexico showed that while flight, mating, and oviposition of the social caterpillar Eucheira socialis (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) occurred in the warmest and wettest months, much of the caterpillar’s feeding and growth occurred in the winter when nocturnal temperatures often fell below 0 °C. 2. Although daytime temperatures at the study site in midwinter were markedly warmer than overnight temperatures, colonies remained sequestered in their bolsas by day. Caterpillars initiated activity shortly after the onset of darkness and foraged overnight at temperatures as low as − 2 °C. The remarkably low chill-coma temperature recorded for this species has been reported previously only for a sub-Antarctic caterpillar. 3. Temperature measurements on sunny days showed the interiors of bolsas to be thermally heterogeneous, with an average differential of 12 °C between the warmest and coolest regions of the structure. Although caterpillars clustered within the bolsas had body temperatures significantly greater than ambient, they exhibited voluntary hypothermia by day, seeking out and resting in the coolest pockets of the bolsas. 4. Voluntary hypothermia may influence growth rate adaptively and prevent acclimatisation to daytime temperatures that would have a negative effect on the caterpillar’s ability to locomote at low overnight temperatures.
ACTIVATION HEAT IN MUSCLE: METHOD FOR DETERMINATION.

By varying the interval between two stimuli it is possible to measure the activation heat in a skeletal muscle twitch. The method depends upon finding a range of stimulus intervals where complete mechanical fusion exists and where there is a plateau in the heat production. At 0°C, and when muscles are at normal body length, activation heat represents about 40 percent of the heat in an isometric twitch.
Microspherical-Fiber Laser System

Microspheres (5-50μm diameters) doped with lasing materials have been demonstrated to lase fine laser lines with broad tunability. A novel coupling technique to couple their lasing emission to an optical fiber is presented.
Novel targeted pro-apoptotic agents for the treatment of prostate cancer

Purpose: We reviewed and highlighted novel targeted apoptotic mediated therapies that can be used to treat prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of the peer reviewed literature in the area of apoptosis was performed with special emphasis on apoptotic mediated pathways with promising novel targeted therapies that can be used for patients with prostate cancer.Results: The apoptotic pathway can be classified into 2 separate broad categories, including the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways. Targeting the extrinsic or intrinsic mediated pathway holds promise for developing novel agents for treating prostate cancer. We discuss apoptosis related molecules and therapies, as categorized by 1) targeting apoptosis pathway for antitumor treatment, 2) targeting apoptosis regulators for antitumor treatment and 3) drugs that potentiate pro-apoptotic agents.Conclusions: Defining the molecules responsible for apoptosis and their intricate molecular interactions will help guide us in developing d...
GPU computing with Kaczmarz's and other iterative algorithms for linear systems

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is used to solve large linear systems derived from partial differential equations. The differential equations studied are strongly convection-dominated, of various sizes, and common to many fields, including computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and structural mechanics. The paper presents comparisons between GPU and CPU implementations of several well-known iterative methods, including Kaczmarz's, Cimmino's, component averaging, conjugate gradient normal residual (CGNR), symmetric successive overrelaxation-preconditioned conjugate gradient, and conjugate-gradient-accelerated component-averaged row projections (CARP-CG). Computations are preformed with dense as well as general banded systems. The results demonstrate that our GPU implementation outperforms CPU implementations of these algorithms, as well as previously studied parallel implementations on Linux clusters and shared memory systems. While the CGNR method had begun to fall out of favor for solving such problems, for the problems studied in this paper, the CGNR method implemented on the GPU performed better than the other methods, including a cluster implementation of the CARP-CG method.
Towards gene therapy of diabetes mellitus

A definitive treatment for diabetes mellitus will be one that maintains a normal blood glucose concentration in the face of fluctuating dietary intake. To accomplish this, there must be mechanisms to sense the amount of blood glucose coupled to rapid release of the right amount of insulin. While mechanical devices to accomplish this are being developed, ultimately the best approach is likely to be based on genetic modification of cells. These could be pancreatic beta-cells, which are the only cells that produce insulin, or other cells that are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Although definitive treatment of diabetes using genetically modified cells is a long-term goal, much progress is being made. This review discusses various approaches to modifying cells genetically, both in vitro and in vivo, for the treatment of diabetes.
Trends in U.S. adult chronic disability rates over time

Background Trends in the patterns and prevalence of chronic disability among U.S. residents carry important implications for public health and public policies across multiple societal sectors.
Synthesis, Superconductivity and ESR Characterization of Rb3C60 Crystals

Abstract A one-step doping process of C 60 crystals with three equivalents of rubidium to produce Rb 3 C 60 crystals was developed. The T c 's for all Rb 3 C 60 crystalline samples ( ∼ 30.5 K ) were higher than those of the powder samples (28 to 29.6 K), but consistent with the reported four-probe resistivity result for a doped C 60 crystal (transition midpoint = 30.2 K). High superconducting shielding fractions (between 60 and 90%) and sharp magnetic transition widths (Δ T 10–90 between ∼ 3 K and 0.7 K) were observed for the samples doped with Rb at temperatures of 300 to 450°C. The doping process, as well as the composition, of these samples were studied with the use of an ESR spectrometer. Two major components, RbC 60 and Rb 3 C 60 , were quantitatively characterized. The superconducting shielding fractions of these samples were found to be linearly correlated with the Rb 3 C 60 content obtained from ESR measurements. Higher-temperature doping (> 400°C) favored the formation of Rb 3 C 60 at the expense of severe C 60 crystal fragmentation. The optimal doping condition to produce Rb 3 C 60 crystals was found to be around 300°C.
Bibliographic Database Searching by Graduate Students in Language and Literature: Search Strategies, System Interfaces, and Relevance Judgments.

Abstract Graduate students in language and literature studies were observed as they searched CD-ROM databases. Their search strategies were typical of humanities scholars, who create large sets and review records quickly to select relevant items. Some 1,287 relevance assessments were observed, based most often on the subject/topic of the bibliographic record, with the title and index terms the most frequently used sources of information. Language, source of publication, author, and length of work (with longer materials preferred) as well as previous exposure to a citation all influenced relevance assessments. The Wilsondisc browse and multiterm search options supported query refinement and rapid review of items retrieved, but the option to conduct a search in another file led to confusion in the LAN (local area network) environment. Participants especially appreciated electronic access to the Modern language Association (MLA) International Bibliography but encountered problems with the controlled vocabulary and analytic entries for books and proceedings.
Assessing “Economic Value” Symbolic-Number Mappings Predict Risky and Riskless Valuations

Diminishing marginal utility (DMU) is a basic tenet of economic and psychological models of judgment and choice, but its determinants are little understood. In the research reported here, we tested whether insensitivities in valuations of dollar amounts (e.g., $40, $100) may be due to inexact mappings of symbolic numbers (i.e., "40," "100") onto mental magnitudes. In three studies, we demonstrated that inexact mappings appear to guide valuation and mediate numeracy's relations with riskless valuations (Studies 1 and 1a) and risky choices (Study 2). The results highlight the fundamental notion that individuals' valuations of $100 depend critically on how individuals perceive and map the symbolic quantity "100." This notion has implications for conceptualizations of value, risk aversion, intertemporal choice, and dual-process theories of decision making. Normative implications are also briefly discussed.
Epidemiology of alcohol use in a group of older American Indians

PURPOSE: This study describes alcohol use in a group of older American Indians and the associations with demographic and health status characteristics, by gender. METHODS: Alcohol use was examined in a cross-sectional, population-based study of 161 American Indians, aged 45–76 years (a substudy of the Strong Heart Study). Alcohol use was measured by a questionnaire administered during a personal interview. Information about demographic characteristics and health status was ascertained from interviews and abstraction of medical records. RESULTS: A higher proportion of men than women had used alcohol heavily (71% vs. 28%). Men were more likely than women to drink currently (46% vs. 18%), to binge (26% vs. 5%), and to screen positive for alcoholism (77% vs. 43%). Among current drinkers, > 30% had diabetes, and the average score on the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST) was in the alcoholic range. Heavy drinking was associated with more symptoms of depression in women (P < 0.05) and fewer in men (P < 0.05). Alcoholism was positively associated with a history of heavy drinking in both men (P < 0.05) and women (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use was common and varied by gender. Alcohol use also varied according to other sociodemographic and health status characteristics. Since many older American Indians with chronic illness are currently drinking, this age group may require enhanced alcohol control programs.
Robust circadian rhythms in organoid cultures from PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE mouse small intestine

Disruption of circadian rhythms is a risk factor for several human gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, ranging from diarrhea to ulcers to cancer. Four-dimensional tissue culture models that faithfully mimic the circadian clock of the GI epithelium would provide an invaluable tool to understand circadian regulation of GI health and disease. We hypothesized that rhythmicity of a key circadian component, PERIOD2 (PER2), would diminish along a continuum from ex vivo intestinal organoids (epithelial ‘miniguts’), nontransformed mouse small intestinal epithelial (MSIE) cells and transformed human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells. Here, we show that bioluminescent jejunal explants from PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE (PER2::LUC) mice displayed robust circadian rhythms for >72 hours post-excision. Circadian rhythms in primary or passaged PER2::LUC jejunal organoids were similarly robust; they also synchronized upon serum shock and persisted beyond 2 weeks in culture. Remarkably, unshocked organoids autonomously synchronized rhythms within 12 hours of recording. The onset of this autonomous synchronization was slowed by >2 hours in the presence of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 (20 μM). Doubling standard concentrations of the organoid growth factors EGF, Noggin and R-spondin enhanced PER2 oscillations, whereas subtraction of these factors individually at 24 hours following serum shock produced no detectable effects on PER2 oscillations. Growth factor pulses induced modest phase delays in unshocked, but not serum-shocked, organoids. Circadian oscillations of PER2::LUC bioluminescence aligned with Per2 mRNA expression upon analysis using quantitative PCR. Concordant findings of robust circadian rhythms in bioluminescent jejunal explants and organoids provide further evidence for a peripheral clock that is intrinsic to the intestinal epithelium. The rhythmic and organotypic features of organoids should offer unprecedented advantages as a resource for elucidating the role of circadian rhythms in GI stem cell dynamics, epithelial homeostasis and disease.
A general science-based framework for dynamical spatio-temporal models

Spatio-temporal statistical models are increasingly being used across a wide variety of scientific disciplines to describe and predict spatially-explicit processes that evolve over time. Correspondingly, in recent years there has been a significant amount of research on new statistical methodology for such models. Although descriptive models that approach the problem from the second-order (covariance) perspective are important, and innovative work is being done in this regard, many real-world processes are dynamic, and it can be more efficient in some cases to characterize the associated spatio-temporal dependence by the use of dynamical models. The chief challenge with the specification of such dynamical models has been related to the curse of dimensionality. Even in fairly simple linear, first-order Markovian, Gaussian error settings, statistical models are often over parameterized. Hierarchical models have proven invaluable in their ability to deal to some extent with this issue by allowing dependency among groups of parameters. In addition, this framework has allowed for the specification of science based parameterizations (and associated prior distributions) in which classes of deterministic dynamical models (e.g., partial differential equations (PDEs), integro-difference equations (IDEs), matrix models, and agent-based models) are used to guide specific parameterizations. Most of the focus for the application of such models in statistics has been in the linear case. The problems mentioned above with linear dynamic models are compounded in the case of nonlinear models. In this sense, the need for coherent and sensible model parameterizations is not only helpful, it is essential. Here, we present an overview of a framework for incorporating scientific information to motivate dynamical spatio-temporal models. First, we illustrate the methodology with the linear case. We then develop a general nonlinear spatio-temporal framework that we call general quadratic nonlinearity and demonstrate that it accommodates many different classes of scientific-based parameterizations as special cases. The model is presented in a hierarchical Bayesian framework and is illustrated with examples from ecology and oceanography.
Positive Selection of Dendritic Epidermal γδ T Cell Precursors in the Fetal Thymus Determines Expression of Skin-Homing Receptors

The role of cellular selection in the development of gammadelta T cells remains unclear. Knockout mice lacking a subset of Vgamma genes, including Vgamma3, contain abundant gammadelta T cells but are devoid of dendritic epidermal gammadeltaT cells (DETCs), which normally express an invariant Vgamma3/Vdelta1 gammadelta TCR. A rearranged Vgamma2 transgene restored DETC development, but the restored DETCs selectively expressed a unique Vdelta gene other than Vdelta1, indicating that DETC development involves TCR-based selection. In both normal and transgenic/knockout mice, specific DETC precursors in the fetal thymus were activated and expressed the IL-15 receptor beta chain, skin-homing receptors, and thymic exiting receptors. In vitro activation of irrelevant precursors also led to upregulation of the skin-homing receptor, providing an explanation for how thymic selection is coordinated with development of epidermal gammadelta T cells.
Boron and strontium isotopic characterization of coal combustion residuals: validation of new environmental tracers.

In the U.S., coal fired power plants produce over 136 million tons of coal combustion residuals (CCRs) annually. CCRs are enriched in toxic elements, and their leachates can have significant impacts on water quality. Here we report the boron and strontium isotopic ratios of leaching experiments on CCRs from a variety of coal sources (Appalachian, Illinois, and Powder River Basins). CCR leachates had a mostly negative δ11B, ranging from −17.6 to +6.3‰, and 87Sr/86Sr ranging from 0.70975 to 0.71251. Additionally, we utilized these isotopic ratios for tracing CCR contaminants in different environments: (1) the 2008 Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal ash spill affected waters; (2) CCR effluents from power plants in Tennessee and North Carolina; (3) lakes and rivers affected by CCR effluents in North Carolina; and (4) porewater extracted from sediments in lakes affected by CCRs. The boron isotopes measured in these environments had a distinctive negative δ11B signature relative to background waters. In cont...
Operative findings in the frontal recess at time of revision surgery.

Abstract Objective Endoscopic sinus surgery is the gold standard for the treatment of medically refractory chronic rhinosinusitis. There is, however, a population of patients for whom persistent disease is a problem. Of all the sinuses, the frontal sinus is the most likely to have recurrent obstruction. We evaluated the findings causing frontal recess obstruction at the time of revision surgery. Study design and setting A retrospective review was performed in a tertiary care academic otolaryngology department. Results Findings obstructing the frontal recess at the time of revision sinus surgery were reviewed. Two hundred eighty-nine frontal sinuses were included. Seven findings were identified: mucosal disease (67%), retained ethmoid cells (53%), lateralized middle turbinates (30%), retained agger nasi cells (13%), scar (12%), retained frontal cells (8%), and neoosteogenesis (7%). Most frontal recesses had multiple etiologies for failure listed above, with an average of 1.6. Conclusions Multiple findings can be identified that contribute to frontal recess obstruction requiring revision sinus surgery. A comprehensive approach to address all factors is necessary to prevent surgical failure among patients presenting for endoscopic frontal sinus surgery.
Cumulative Hardship and Wellness of Low-Income, Young Children: Multisite Surveillance Study

OBJECTIVES: The goals were to generate a cumulative hardship index and to evaluate its association with the well-being of children 4 to 36 months of age without private health insurance. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys were linked to anthropometric measures and medical record review at 5 urban medical centers (July 1, 2004, to December 31, 2007). Cumulative hardship index scores ranged from 0 to 6, with food, housing, and energy each contributing a possible score of 0 (secure), 1 (moderately insecure), or 2 (severely insecure) to generate scores indicating no hardship (score of 0), moderate hardship (scores of 1–3), or severe hardship (scores of 4–6). The outcome was a composite indicator of child wellness, including caregivers9 reports of children9s good/excellent heath, no hospitalizations, not being developmentally at risk, and anthropometric measurements within normal limits. Covariates were selected a priori and through association with predictors and outcomes. RESULTS: Of 7141 participants, 37% reported no material hardship, 57% moderate hardship, and 6% severe hardship. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed ordinal association between the cumulative hardship index and children9s adjusted odds of wellness (severe versus no hardship, adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.65 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51–0.83]; severe versus moderate hardship, AOR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.58–0.92]; moderate versus no hardship, AOR: 0.89 [95% CI: 0.79–0.99]). CONCLUSION: Increasing levels of a composite measure of remediable adverse material conditions correlated with decreasing adjusted odds of wellness among young US children.
Restoring Soil Calcium Reverses Forest Decline

Forest decline in the northeastern United States has been linked to the effects of acid deposition on soil nutrients. To test this link, we added a calcium silicate mineral to a paired watershed at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, in an amount designed to gradually replace the estimated amount of calcium lost as a result of human activity in the 20th Century (primarily because of acid deposition). The experimental restoration resulted in a recovery of tree biomass increment. The improved calcium nutrition also promoted higher aboveground net primary production and increased the photosynthetic surface area in the treated watershed relative to that in the reference watershed. These results demonstrated that soil acidification accelerated by acid deposition has contributed to the decline of forest growth and health on naturally acidic soil in the northeastern United States and that decline can be reversed by the addition of calcium.
Best Practices in Undergraduate Clinical Laboratory Science Online Education and Effective Use of Educational Technology Tools

This article discusses the best practices of course design and successful delivery of online clinical laboratory science (CLS) courses, and informs educators about the effective use of currently available educational technology tools used to increase student engagement.
Indigenous Diasporas and Dislocations – Edited by Graham Harvey and Charles D. Thompson, Jr.

The article reviews the book "Indigenous Diasporas and Dislocations," edited by Graham Harvey and Charles D. Thompson.
Researching and writing from an African‐American perspective: reflective notes on three research studies

The author discusses several culturally sensitive qualitative research approaches, revisits the Culturally Sensitive Research Framework, a theoretical framework for conducting culturally sensitive research in African‐American communities and provides examples of research that has employed culturally sensitive approaches. The discussion then shifts to reflections on her use of the Culturally Sensitive Research Framework in three research studies: a case study of a first‐year African‐American teacher, the role of African‐American principals in facilitating the professional and personal competence of novice teachers, and research on African‐American parental engagement. The author concludes the article with reflections on situating herself as an indigenous‐insider (and sometimes outsider) in the research process.
The bone scan.

Bone imaging continues to be the second greatest-volume nuclear imaging procedure, offering the advantage of total body examination, low cost, and high sensitivity. Its power rests in the physiological uptake and pathophysiologic behavior of 99m technetium (99m-Tc) diphosphonates. The diagnostic utility, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of 99m-Tc bone imaging for benign conditions and tumors was established when only planar imaging was available. Currently, nearly all bone scans are performed as a planar study (whole-body, 3-phase, or regional), with the radiologist often adding single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. Here we review many current indications for planar bone imaging, highlighting indications in which the planar data are often diagnostically sufficient, although diagnosis may be enhanced by SPECT. 18 F sodium fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) is also re-emerging as a bone agent, and had been considered interchangeable with 99m-Tc diphosphonates in the past. In addition to SPECT, new imaging modalities, including 18 F fluorodeoxyglucose, PET/CT, CT, magnetic resonance, and SPECT/CT, have been developed and can aid in evaluating benign and malignant bone disease. Because 18 F fluorodeoxyglucose is taken up by tumor cells and Tc diphosphonates are taken up in osteoblastic activity or osteoblastic healing reaction, both modalities are complementary. CT and magnetic resonance may supplement, but do not replace, bone imaging, which often detects pathology before anatomic changes are appreciated. We also stress the importance of dose reduction by reducing the dose of 99m-Tc diphosphonates and avoiding unnecessary CT acquisitions. In addition, we describe an approach to image interpretation that emphasizes communication with referring colleagues and correlation with appropriate history to significantly improve our impact on patient care.
Noncommutative Vieta Theorem and Symmetric Functions

There are two ways to generalize basic constructions of commutative algebra for a noncommutative case. More traditional way is to define commutative functions like trace or determinant over noncommuting variables. Beginning with [6] this approach was widely used by different authors, see for example [5], [15], [14], [12], [11], [7].
Spectrum of Muscle Histopathologic Findings in Forty-Two Scleroderma Patients With Weakness.

Objective To determine if distinct muscle pathologic features exist in scleroderma subjects with weakness. Methods This retrospective study included weak scleroderma subjects with muscle biopsies available for review. Biopsies were systematically assessed for individual pathologic features, including inflammation, necrosis, fibrosis, and acute neurogenic atrophy. Based on the aggregate individual features, biopsies were assigned a histopathologic category of polymyositis, dermatomyositis, necrotizing myopathy, nonspecific myositis, “acute denervation,” “fibrosis only,” or “other.” Clinical data analyzed included autoantibody profiles, scleroderma subtype and disease duration, Medsger muscle severity scores, creatine kinase, electromyography, and muscle magnetic resonance imaging. Results A total of 42 subjects (79% female and 64% diffuse scleroderma) were included in this study. Necrosis (67%), inflammation (48%), acute neurogenic atrophy (48%), and fibrosis (33%) were the most prevalent pathologic features. The presence of fibrosis was strongly associated with anti–PM-Scl antibodies. Histopathologic categories included nonspecific myositis (36%), necrotizing myopathy (21%), dermatomyositis (7%), “acute denervation” (7%), “fibrosis only” (7%), and polymyositis (5%). Disease duration of scleroderma at the time of muscle biopsy was shorter in polymyositis than other histopathologic categories. Patients with anti–PM-Scl and Scl-70 antibodies also had a shorter disease duration than those with other autoantibody profiles. Conclusion Nonspecific myositis and necrotizing myopathy were the most common histopathologic categories in weak scleroderma subjects. Surprisingly, nearly half of the subjects studied had histologic evidence of acute motor denervation (acute neurogenic atrophy); this has not been previously reported. Taken together, these observations suggest that a variety of pathologic mechanisms may underlie the development of myopathy in scleroderma.
A Discrete Delta Method for Estimating Standard Errors for Estimators in Quantal Bioassay

A nonparametric discrete delta method for estimating standard errors of percentile estimators in quantal bioassay is described. A simulation study of confidence intervals for EDx in probit analysis shows the discrete delta method compared favorably with intervals based on maximum likelihood and also some parametric bootstrap methods.