cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Winter cover crops reduce nitrate loss in an agricultural watershed in the central U.S.

Abstract Agricultural land use in the Midwestern U.S. is the major source of nitrogen (N) causing recurring hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Despite efforts to reduce losses, N export from tile-drained, agricultural watersheds throughout the Corn Belt persists. The use of effective agricultural conservation practices can reduce N loss from fields, yet little is known about how field-scale implementation will translate into watershed-scale reductions in N export. In this study, we used a sampling approach with high spatial and temporal resolution to quantify changes in tile drain load and watershed export of nitrate (NO3−-N) after planting cover crops on >60% of croppable acres in a small, agricultural watershed. We found that median NO3−-N losses from tiles draining fields with cover crops were 69–90% lower than tiles draining fields without cover crops during winter/spring. Measured instantaneous flow was the major driver of NO3−-N losses from tile drains, though results suggest that this relationship differed between tiles with and without cover crops in spring. The signature of cover crops at the field-scale was evident in watershed NO3−-N export, particularly during times of elevated flows; median daily NO3−-N exported in elevated flows was 18–22% lower during years with watershed-scale planting of cover crops compared to years without. Nevertheless, changes in watershed NO3−-N export were smaller than the observed reductions in tile drain loads. Results indicate that tile drain reductions directly reflected the influence of cover crops at the field-scale while watershed export integrated both past and present management, ultimately complicating attempts to distinguish the effect of conservation efforts at larger spatial scales.
Chronic medical conditions in U.S. adults with incarceration history.

Objectives To examine the associations between incarceration history and chronic medical conditions in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults and whether risk for chronic medical conditions differ by sex and race among those with incarceration history. Method The data were from the 2012-2013 National Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions III (N = 36,133). Multiple logistic regression was used to compare odds of a self-reported diagnosis for 24 chronic medical conditions by incarceration history, as well as by sex and race within those with incarceration history. Results 12.4% of adults (SE = 0.35) reported a history of incarceration. When adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, and past year alcohol use, incarceration history was associated with significantly increased odds of most chronic medical conditions (adjusted odds ratio [AORs] range = 1.20-3.41). When additionally adjusted for childhood adversity and stressful life events, odds remained significantly elevated for hypertension, myocardial infarction, minor heart conditions, stomach ulcers, arthritis, sleep problems, anemia, bowel, lung, and nerve problems, liver diseases, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted diseases (AORs range = 1.14-2.78). Relative to men with incarceration history, women with incarceration history reported significantly increased odds of multiple chronic disease conditions (AORs range = 1.22-6.60). Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black individuals with incarceration history showed significantly reduced risk for several chronic medical conditions, relative to their non-Hispanic White counterparts (AORs range = 0.30-0.75). Conclusions This study suggests that incarceration may be an important factor when considering health disparities, and also highlights the importance of acknowledging early adversity and ongoing life stressors when providing comprehensive health care for individuals with incarceration history. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Farming across Borders: A Transnational History of the North American West

Review of: "Farming across Borders: A Transnational History of the North American West" by Sterling Evans
The coming apart of case and focus in Bantu

The paper presents an argument for structural case in a Bantu language, Ndebele. Bantu languages notoriously lack typical signs of case licensing, which has led to the proposal that they lack case altogether. A recent claim to the contrary, put forth in Halpert (2012, 2015), has been challenged by Carstens and Mletshe (2016), who argue that the patterns Halpert describes fall under the umbrella of focus licensing, thus undermining the need for an independent case licensing mechanism. Ndebele data invalidate this challenge, revealing a purely syntactic nature of the phenomenon in question.
Measuring Passenger Satisfaction of Interpretive Programming on Two Amtrak Trains in the Midwest: Testing the Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory:

The National Park Service (NPS) developed a partnership with Amtrak in 1994 to offer interpretive programming for train passengers on selected routes. Since its inception, over 1.5 million passenge...
Exogenous and autocrine growth factors significantly reduce the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of curcumin on normal and cancerous epithelial cells

812 INTRODUCTION: Curcumin, a natural dietary substance, has been established as a chemoprotective agent that inhibits colon carcinogenesis. In contrast, growth factors such as IGF-II and progastrin (PG) have been shown to exert proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on both normal and cancerous intestinal epithelial cells. The effects of these growth factors on the inhibitory potency of curcumin have not been examined. Since IGF-II and PG are expressed by the majority of colon carcinomas, we examined the inhibitory efficacy of curcumin on colon cancer cells in the presence of these two relevant growth factors. METHODS: Colon carcinoma (Caco-2) cells express high levels of autocrine IGF-II during their logarithmic growth phase (days 2-5 in culture). Expression of IGF-II rapidly declines as the cells begin to differentiate (days 6-11 in culture). Based on this pattern of expression, Caco-2 cells were treated with curcumin (25-100uM) after 3, 5, 7, or 9 days in culture to determine if the inhibitory efficacy of curcumin correlates with the relative expression of autocrine IGF-II. Rates of proliferation and apoptosis were quantified by cell cycle analysis. Non-transformed intestinal epithelial (IEC-18) cells do not produce autocrine growth factors, but do proliferate in response to exogenous IGF-II or PG. IEC-18 cells were treated with an optimal dose of curcumin (25uM) in the presence or absence of either PG (0.1nM) or IGF-II (10nM). Relative rates of apoptosis were measured by western blot analysis of activated caspase 9, while proliferation was determined by a count of the total number of viable cells. RESULTS: Surprisingly, curcumin was ineffective at inducing apoptosis in Caco-2 cells treated on days 3 and 5 but exerted increasing apoptotic effects in Caco-2 cells on days 7 and 9. The increase in apoptosis suggested a correlation with the naturally declining expression of IGF-II in Caco-2 cells after day 6. In IEC-18 cells, curcumin treatment decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis within 24 hours. However, in the presence of either exogenous PG or IGF-II, the protective effects of curcumin were significantly inhibited. IGF-II was approximately 3 times more effective at interfering with curcumin than was PG. CONCLUSIONS: These unexpected results demonstrate that the protective effects of curcumin can be greatly diminished by the presence of growth factors. Moreover, IGF-II is more effective than PG at overcoming the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of curcumin. Thus, the efficacy of curcumin in a patient’s diet may be dictated by the growth factor profile of the carcinoma.
Efficacy of Clinic-Based Telehealth vs. Face-to-Face Interventions for Obesity Treatment in Children and Adolescents in the United States and Canada: A Systematic Review

Background: Childhood obesity is an ever-growing public health concern in the United States and globally. By 2030, it is estimated that 70% of the world's population of children and adolescents will be obese. Therefore, efforts to reduce childhood obesity are of utmost importance, particularly with the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, as rates are expected to soar due to social distancing measures and restrictions. This systematic review aims to examine the literature regarding the effectiveness of clinic-based telehealth vs. face-to-face modalities to reduce obesity among school-aged children. Methods: An electronic database search of articles published in English over the last 10 years was undertaken in PubMed, Medline, and CINAHL. Key terms used to identify studies included school-aged children and adolescents with overweight and obesity in clinic-based weight management interventions conducted face-to-face or via telehealth, and having efficacy determined through changes in measured child BMI as primary outcomes and dietary and physical activity changes, as well as assessing feasibility and satisfaction with telehealth, as secondary outcomes. Results: Out of 1093 articles identified, 10 met the inclusion criteria. While both telehealth and face-to-face weight management interventions are effective in reducing obesity in children and adolescents, the evidence is lacking in which is more effective. Of the 10 studies, 5 showed outcome improvements when both telehealth and face-to-face interventions were combined as adjunct therapies. Conclusions: Findings support using telehealth in conjunction with face-to-face visits for obesity treatment among children and adolescents. However, more research involving telehealth weight management interventions for young children is recommended.
The Development and Implementation of a Hospitalist-Directed Addiction Medicine Consultation Service to Address a Treatment Gap

Hospitalizations related to the consequences of substance use are rising yet most hospitalized patients with substance use disorder do not receive evidence-based addiction treatment. Opportunities to leverage the hospitalist workforce could close this treatment gap. To describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a hospitalist-directed addiction consultation service (ACS) to provide in-hospital addiction treatment. Six hundred fifty–bed university hospital in Aurora, Colorado. Hospitalists completed buprenorphine waiver training, participated in a 13-part addiction lecture series, and completed a minimum of 40 hours of online addiction training. Hospitalists participated in shadow shifts with an addiction-trained physician. Dedicated addiction social workers developed relationships with local addiction treatment services. Physician-related metrics included education, training, and clinical time spent in addiction practice. Patient and encounter-related metrics included a description of ACS care provision. Eleven hospitalists completed an average of 95 hours of addiction-related didactics. Once addiction training was complete, hospitalists spent an average of 30 days over 12 months staffing a weekday ACS. Between October 2019 and November 2020, the ACS completed 1620 consultations on 1350 unique patients. Alcohol was the most common substance (n = 1279; 79%), followed by tobacco (979; 60.4%), methamphetamines/amphetamines (n = 494; 30.5%), and opioids (n = 400; 24.7%). Naltrexone was the most frequently prescribed medication (n = 350; 21.6%), followed by acamprosate (n = 93; 5.7%), and buprenorphine (n = 77, 4.8%). Trauma was a frequent discharge diagnoses (n = 1564; 96.5%). Leaving prior to treatment completion was commonly noted (n = 120, 7.4%). The ACS completed 47 in-hospital methadone enrollments. The hospitalist-directed ACS is a promising clinical initiative that could be implemented to expand hospital-based addiction treatment. Future research is needed to understand challenges to disseminating this model into other hospital settings, and to evaluate intended and unintended effects of broad implementation.
Accurate and Robust Deep Learning Framework for Solving Wave-Based Inverse Problems in the Super-Resolution Regime.

We propose an end-to-end deep learning framework that comprehensively solves the inverse wave scattering problem across all length scales. Our framework consists of the newly introduced wide-band butterfly network coupled with a simple training procedure that dynamically injects noise during training. While our trained network provides competitive results in classical imaging regimes, most notably it also succeeds in the super-resolution regime where other comparable methods fail. This encompasses both (i) reconstruction of scatterers with sub-wavelength geometric features, and (ii) accurate imaging when two or more scatterers are separated by less than the classical diffraction limit. We demonstrate these properties are retained even in the presence of strong noise and extend to scatterers not previously seen in the training set. In addition, our network is straightforward to train requiring no restarts and has an online runtime that is an order of magnitude faster than optimization-based algorithms. We perform experiments with a variety of wave scattering mediums and we demonstrate that our proposed framework outperforms both classical inversion and competing network architectures that specialize in oscillatory wave scattering data.
Radiographic evaluation of a novel bone adhesive for maintenance of crestal bone around implants in canine oversized osteotomies.

AIM A novel bone adhesive (tetracalcium phosphate and O-phospho-L-serine) has been developed as an osteoconductive, biodegradable bone-adherent material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the maintenance of crestal bone/material level by standardized radiographs. METHODS This was a randomized, controlled, three arm, prospective study. Twenty-six mixed breed hound dogs were included in this study. Three implants were placed on either side of the mandible with either bone adhesive (BA), bovine bone mineral (BBM), or no biomaterial (NC). Standardized periapical radiographs were taken immediately after implant placement and at every month up to one year. The vertical distance between the implant platform to the first radiopaque material on both the mesial and distal surfaces were measured and crestal bone/material level changes were analyzed. RESULTS The crestal bone/material level adjacent to BA was stable and maintained throughout the study. There were statistically significant differences found between BA and NC in terms of maintenance of crestal bone levels at any given timepoint. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that BA maintained crestal bone levels and had a similar ability to maintain that level over one year compared to BBM. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Systems Theory and Biology—View of a Biologist

In defining biology’s relation to other natural sciences Warren Weaver once aptly characterized classical physics as organized simplicity, statistical mechanics as chaotic complexity and biology as organized complexity (Weaver, 1948). Because of this multivariable and highly interconnected organization, living things require for their effective study some overall strategy like systems analysis. Such indeed is the fundamental thesis of this book. Accordingly my intention here is to indicate from an experimental biologist’s point of view the relevance of the systems approach to understanding a living organism, first in general terms, then more specifically by reviewing briefly some applications of this method in our current research program.
Building the Numeracy Skills of Undergraduate and Elementary School Students

This paper describes a project with the goal of exposing both elementary school and undergraduate students to the concepts associated with the experimental method, from the formulation of a researc...
Synthesis and characterization of cyclic pseudopeptide libraries containing thiomethylene and thiomethylene-sulfoxide amide bond surrogates

Summary We describe the first examples of a series of cyclic pseudopeptide libraries that have been prepared in a systematic approach in order to facilitate both synthesis and subsequent deconvolution attempts. Our synthetic strategy involved the attachment of a trifunctional amino acid (Asp, Asn or Glu) to a polystyrene resin via its side chain, and stepwise chain elongation using either protected amino acids or a pseudodipeptide building block. Head to tail cyclic peptides were formed by removal of the temporary N- and C-terminal protecting groups followed by ring closure by amide formation. Cyclization of the hexa, hepta, and octapseudopeptides on the resin avoided dimer formation, as monitored by mass spectrometry. We utilized a ‘psi-scan’ approach in which a second fixed position was serially addressed by stepping a dipeptide surrogate, Pro [CH2S]Gly around the rings to generate a group of cyclic pseudopeptide sub-libraries. Oxidation of [CH2S] to [CH2SO] helped validate the synthesis and also provides a strategy for forming a new set of pseudopeptide libraries (previously described as ‘libraries from libraries’). Our results suggest that libraries of cyclic pseudopeptides are an efficient method of preparing and assaying these synthetically more challenging entities as potential drug leads.
The role of lifestyle modification in dysmetabolic syndrome management.

Lifestyle modification should be the primary therapeutic intervention in individuals with the dysmetabolic syndrome, given the fact that obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity are primary
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding of Genetic Programming

This chapter presents a personal perspective on the relation between theory and practice in genetic programming. It posits that genetic programming practice (including both applications and technique enhancements) is moving toward biology and that it should continue to do so. It suggests as a consequence that future-oriented genetic programming theory (mathematical theory, developed to help analyze, understand, and predict system behavior) should also borrow, increasingly, from biology. It presents specific challenges for theory vis-a-vis recent technique enhancements, and briefly discusses possibilities for new forms of theory that will be relevant to the leading edge of genetic programming practice.
A novel QOS-based broadcasting scheme for wide area networks

In this paper we have proposed a practical approach for broadcasting in wide area networks. The concept of pseudo- diameter, an important parameter in the DVR data structure unused by the RPF method has been applied to prune the flow of packets in order to achieve reduction in the number of the duplicate packets generated during broadcasting. Performance comparison with the classical RPF method shows that the proposed method generates fewer duplicate packets and hence it is more band-width efficient. We have further enhanced our idea by incorporating a new pruning scheme to further reduce the number of duplicate packets; thereby even offering better QOS from the viewpoint of better bandwidth utilization.
Stellar Ablation of Planetary Atmospheres

We review observations and theories of the solar ablation of planetary atmospheres, focusing on the terrestrial case where a large magnetosphere holds off the solar wind, so that there is little direct atmospheric impact, but also couples the solar wind electromagnetically to the auroral zones. We consider the photothermal escape flows known as the polar wind or refilling flows, the enhanced mass flux escape flows that result from localized solar wind energy dissipation in the auroral zones, and the resultant enhanced neutral atom escape flows. We term these latter two escape flows the "auroral wind." We review observations and theories of the heating and acceleration of auroral winds, including energy inputs from precipitating particles, electromagnetic energy flux at magnetohydrodynamic and plasma wave frequencies, and acceleration by parallel electric fields and by convection pickup processes also known as "centrifugal acceleration." We consider also the global circulation of ionospheric plasmas within the magnetosphere, their participation in magnetospheric disturbances as absorbers of momentum and energy, and their ultimate loss from the magnetosphere into the downstream solar wind, loading reconnection processes that occur at high altitudes near the magnetospheric boundaries. We consider the role of planetary magnetization and the accumulating evidence of stellar ablation of extrasolar planetary atmospheres. Finally, we suggest and discuss future needs for both the theory and observation of the planetary ionospheres and their role in solar wind interactions, to achieve the generality required for a predictive science of the coupling of stellar and planetary atmospheres over the full range of possible conditions.
Maternal Diasporas and Posthuman Subjectivity in Hagedorn’s Dream Jungle and Roley’s American Son

In the Philippines, the members of the overseas workforce are reminded to serve the interests of the families and nation they have temporarily left behind. Through intensive training programs, women and men are disciplined to be submissive and compliant workers in order to secure the income that will support both their families and the national economy. In 1982, toward the end of martial law, the short-lived Executive Order 857 required remittances to be processed directly through the national bank. Since Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986, a succession of presidents has only reinforced this diasporic nationalism. In recent decades, these workers have been hailed as Bagong Bayani (“new national heroes”) for the sacrifices they make as overseas laborers and investors, a term that obfuscates the exploitative conditions of their labor in favor of a euphemism referring to the income they remit home (Rodriguez 88). In this case, diasporic affiliations are dangerously conservative and suture the collaboration between Philippine nationalism and globalization. Recent work on diaspora has sought to conceptualize it beyond these essentialist formations. Diaspora, that is, cannot be understood solely as filial migrations emanating from a homeland, as if one’s connection to a place, nation, family, community, and culture can preserve, consolidate, and celebrate cultural identity in spite of the (forced) departure due to the consequences of imperialism, slavery, capitalism, and globalization. This essentialist understanding of diasporic identity ostensibly spearheads efforts to challenge the damage done by colonialism and restore the nation, as if identity itself acts as a bulwark against history. Yet such strategies, as has been well documented, often occur under the banner of heteropatriarchy, manifesting at both concrete and symbolic levels in the Philippines and elsewhere. In the first instance, heteropatriarchy emerges in the training sessions for primarily female overseas workers, sessions that attempt to produce docility and morality by policing them into proper and diplomatic femininity. In the second instance, heteropatriarchy emerges in the mythical figure of Inang Bayan (“mother country”) that must be protected by masculinized
Digital Bibliography and Global Shakespeare

0 0 1 245 1397 Texas AM it is itself an early global Shakespeare studies project that works to foster further scholarship in the field.
Comparison of genome-wide selection strategies to identify furfural tolerance genes in Escherichia coli.

Engineering both feedstock and product tolerance is important for transitioning towards next-generation biofuels derived from renewable sources. Tolerance to chemical inhibitors typically results in complex phenotypes, for which multiple genetic changes must often be made to confer tolerance. Here, we performed a genome-wide search for furfural-tolerant alleles using the TRackable Multiplex Recombineering (TRMR) method (Warner et al. (2010), Nature Biotechnology), which uses chromosomally integrated mutations directed towards increased or decreased expression of virtually every gene in Escherichia coli. We employed various growth selection strategies to assess the role of selection design towards growth enrichments. We also compared genes with increased fitness from our TRMR selection to those from a previously reported genome-wide identification study of furfural tolerance genes using a plasmid-based genomic library approach (Glebes et al. (2014) PLOS ONE). In several cases, growth improvements were observed for the chromosomally integrated promoter/RBS mutations but not for the plasmid-based overexpression constructs. Through this assessment, four novel tolerance genes, ahpC, yhjH, rna, and dicA, were identified and confirmed for their effect on improving growth in the presence of furfural. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 129–140. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The QRS Narrowing Index Predicts Reverse Left Ventricular Remodeling Following Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background: The relationship between QRS narrowing and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been controversial. Objective: We sought to analyze the relationship between QRS narrowing and reverse remodeling in patients undergoing CRT, taking into account potential confounders including pre-CRT QRS duration and underlying QRS morphology. Methods: We reviewed pre- and postimplant electrocardiograms and echocardiograms in a cohort of 233 patients undergoing the new implantation of a CRT device between December 2001 and September 2006. For inclusion in the final cohort, patients had New York Heart Association classes II–IV heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40%, and QRS duration ≥120 ms. Response to CRT was defined as a reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) of ≥10%. A multivariate model was constructed to determine the relationship between QRS change and response to CRT. Results: Patients with QRS narrowing had significantly greater reductions in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (mL) (−26.5 ± 52.5 vs −4.8 ± 44.0, P = 0.002) and LVESV (mL) (−34.0 ± 55.5 vs −9.9 ± 45.8, P = 0.002) and improvement in LVEF (%) (8.9 ± 12.8 vs 4.5 ± 9.0, P = 0.007) than patients without narrowing. In univariate analysis, female gender (P = 0.0002), percent QRS narrowing from baseline (P = 0.008), lack of nitrate (P≤0.0001) and antiarrhythmic medication use (P = 0.01), lack of a nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay (=0.02), nonischemic cardiomyopathy (P = 0.003), and lower pre-CRT LVEDV (P = 0.006) and LVESV [P = 0.01]) were associated with responders. In a multivariate model, QRS narrowing, indexed to the baseline QRS duration, remained strongly associated with response (odds ratio 0.08 [0.01–0.56], P = 0.01). Conclusions: After adjusting for potential confounders, QRS narrowing, indexed to baseline QRS duration, is associated with enhanced reverse ventricular remodeling following CRT. (PACE 2011; 34:604–611)
Bit error rates for a photon echo memory

The noise characteristics of the photon echo memory have been investigated. The photon echo memory has the ability to store many bits of information in a diffraction-limited spot, thereby dramatically increasing the storage density. The temporal Fourier transform of the input data sequence is written into the inhomogeneous absorption profile of the recording medium. Data are encoded by means of temporal modulation onto the waveform of a finite duration data beam. Individual bits are not localized to a specific spectral channel; instead, they are stored throughout a region of spectral-addressing space, In order to store and recall the input data accurately, the Fourier transform of the input data sequence must be narrower than the inhomogeneous bandwidth. In the photon echo memory mechanism, there are several factors affecting the system bit error rate such as finite-width write/read pulses, echo efficiency, shot noise, thermal noise, etc. The accuracy of the echo output depends on those system factors. In this paper we formulate a simple model of the photon echo system, and by analyzing this model we derive the relationship between the characteristics of the echo output signal and several factors such as the bandwidth of the system, echo efficiency, atom excited state population fluctuations, shot noise, and thermal noise.
Preventing session hijacking in collaborative applications with hybrid cache-supported one-way hash chains

Session hijacking attacks of social network websites are one of the commonly experienced cyber threats in today's Internet especially with the unprecedented proliferation of wireless networks and mobile applications. To address this problem, we propose a cache supported hybrid two-dimensional one-way hash construction to handle social networks' user sessions authentication in collaborative applications efficiently. The solution, which presents a major redesign from [18], is based on utilizing two-dimensional OHC chains equipped with sparse caching capabilities to carry out authentication during social networks users' sessions. We analyze the proposed hybrid scheme mathematically to determine the cost of authentication and develop a quartic equation to check the optimal configuration of the two dimensions. We also evaluate the hybrid scheme with simulation experiments of different configurations and scenarios. The results of the simulation experiments show that the hybrid scheme improves performance of the OHC tremendously while efficiently and securely handling authentication.
Inhibition of NF-κB1 and NF-κB2 activation in prostate cancer cells treated with antibody against the carboxyl terminal domain of GRP78: Effect of p53 upregulation

Ligation of cancer cell surface GRP78 by activated alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M*) triggers pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Cancer patients who develop autoantibodies to the alpha2M* binding site in GRP78 have a poor prognosis since these antibodies are receptor agonists. The NF-kappaB family of transcription factors induces expression of genes affecting cell growth and differentiation. NF-kappaB1 plays a major regulatory role in controlling innate immunity and inflammation, whereas NF-kappaB2 plays a greater role in cancer cell proliferation. Here we report that treatment of prostate cancer cells with antibody directed against the carboxyl terminal domain of GRP78 inhibits alpha2M*-induced activation of NF-kappaB2 by approximately 50% while exerting a lesser effect of approximately 20% on NF-kappaB1 activation. Treatment of these cells nearly abolished alpha2M*-induced activation of IKKalpha involved in the activation of NF-kappaB2. This antibody also suppressed alpha2M*-induced phosphorylation of IKKalpha, IKKalpha/beta, IkappaBalpha, and IkappaBbeta as well as levels of NIK. Antibody treatment of cancer cells elevated pro-apoptotic p21WAF and p27kip while reducing cyclin D1 levels. These studies demonstrate that antibody directed against the carboxyl terminal domain of GRP78 inhibits the pro-proliferative NF-kappaB signaling cascade in cancer cells.
Irritant Activation of Epithelial Cells Is Mediated via Protease-Dependent EGFR Activation

Although numerous studies have examined in vivo and in vitro effects of irritants, most focused on events developing hours to days after exposure. Molecular events occurring immediately after skin contact remain incompletely defined. Characterization of early events could lead to the identification of key molecular signals necessary for the production of inflammatory mediators responsible for the signs and symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). HaCaT cells treated with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a model irritant, were used to examine early molecular events of ICD. Western analysis showed SLS-mediated induction of early growth response-1 (egr-1), a transcription factor capable of regulating hallmarks of ICD such as angiogenesis, hyperproliferation, and inflammation. Additionally, de novo egr-1 expression was commensurate with transcriptional activation of egr-1 mRNA and heteronuclear RNA. Use of pharmacological inhibitors demonstrated that SLS-induced egr-1 was dependent on MEK1/p44/42 ERK, but not on p38 or JNK signaling. The EGFR inhibitor PD168393 and the metalloprotease inhibitor TAPI-2 both inhibited SLS-induced egr-1. Finally, small interfering RNA silencing of the EGFR diminished SLS-induced egr-1 mRNA. These studies suggest a role of the EGFR in SLS signaling as well as a, to our knowledge, previously unreported association between ICD and EGFR induction of egr-1.
Mixed integer minimization models for piecewise-linear functions of a single variable

Abstract In an earlier report the concept of a mixed integer minimization model (MIMM) was defined and the utility of MIMM's as well as the relationship of MIMM's to classes of piecewise-linear functions of n variables was described. This report establishes necessary and sufficient conditions for bounded-integer MIMM representability for piecewise-linear functions of a single real variable
Functional studies of regenerated muscles from normal and dystrophic mice.

MINCED skeletal muscle regenerates with autotransplantation and homotransplantation in the rat1,2, and with heterotrans-plantation in the mouse3. If the distal stump of peripheral nerve is positioned in the proximity of the mince, motor units are believed to develop within 75 days, and stimuli applied to the nerve should elicit a contraction in the regenerate muscle (personal communication from Dr B. M. Carlson).
Fostering early literacy skills in children's libraries: opportunities for embodied cognition and tangible technologies

Early literacy is a leading indicator of academic success. Recent findings describe the important role that embodied cognition can play in the promotion of early literacy. Libraries---children's libraries in particular---stand to benefit greatly from emerging forms of tangible and embodied interactive technology that can leverage these findings. As informal community-based learning institutions with a mandate to provide user-centered, personalized reading and learning experiences, children's libraries are uniquely positioned to empower young learners through the development of reading skills. Within these institutions, reading skills---particularly those representing embodied cognition---are supported by social interaction with peers, caregivers, and librarians. Through embodied cognition, children develop critical early literacy skills by linking concepts with corresponding physical actions, to establish the foundation of reading comprehension. When such activities are playful, fun, and interactive, learning to read becomes intrinsically motivating. While embodied technology is particularly conducive to creating such novel interactions, few libraries have adopted technology that deliberately channels these phenomena towards literacy development. Through qualitative ethnographic methods this investigation presents opportunities for embodied cognition and tangible embedded interactive play and learning systems within children's libraries.
Network representation of reaction-diffusion systems far from equilibrium

Abstract This paper develops the network theory of chemical reaction systems from first principles. The network approach is then used to derive a canonical set of differential equations for reaction-diffusion systems, and an analysis of the Brusselator is presented as an example.
Potassium-induced stimulation of thyrotropin release in vitro. Requirement for presence of calcium and inhibition by thyroxine

L'augmentation de la concentration en potassium (K+) a 25 meq/l et au dela, du liquide dans lequel des hypophyses de rat sont incubees in vitro stimule la secretion de l'hormone thyreotrope (TSH). La presence de l'ion calcium (Ca++) est necessaire a cet effet de K+; l'incubation dans un milieu sans Ca++ empeche l'effet (secretion de TSH) de K+, qui est retabli quand on reintroduit Ca++ dans le liquide d'incubation. La stimulation de la secretion de TSH due a K+ est inhibee par la thyroxine. Les effets de K+ sur la secretion de TSH sont identiques a ceux de TRF (TSH-releasing factor) hypothalamique, en ce qui concerne la presence de Ca++ et l'inhibition par la thyroxine.
The physiologic characteristics of relative pupillary block.

In biometric photographs of 13 patients, we quantified the iris contour in eyes with central anterior chamber depths ranging from 1.9 to 3.4 mm (epithelium to lens surface). This actual profile was compared to that predicted by a theoretical analysis of the forces acting on the iris. The average discrepancy between the calculated actual and the theoretically predicted iris position Was only -0.01 to +0.03 mm. The close agreement validates the model under normal conditions and in the presence of relative (nonsynechial) pupillary block. The theoretical iris shape may not occur under conditions that violate the underlying physical assumptions Of the mathematical model, such as when iridectomy eliminates the pressure difference between the anterior and posterior chamber or when synechiae introduce additional forces on the iris other than the ones included in the analysis.
Woodlike properties from carpet and textile fibrous waste : Mitigating the coming landfill crisis

Abstract Large-volume usage of textile and carpet fibrous waste may be achieved with a low-cost material that has woodlike properties. Formulations and properties of composites, laminates, and honeycomb sandwich constructions made from carpet and textile fibrous waste in a high-modulus phenol formaldehyde matrix are described. Using design parameters based on the mechanics of bending beams and the moduli of the fibrous component materials, one can achieve apparent bending moduli of 1 million psi (6.9 GPa) and bending strengths of 10, 000 psi (69 MPa). To achieve these woodlike properties, it is best to use waste carpet material in the core and higher-modulus textile materials such as cotton and polyester in the outer layers. About 20 wt.% phenolic resin is suggested for the matrix component.
Gene expression profiling of ovarian tissues for determination of molecular pathways reflective of tumorigenesis.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of gynecological cancer death among women in the United States. Early detection is a critical prerequisite to initiating effective cancer therapy. Gene microarray technology and proteomics have provided much of the biomarkers with potential use for diagnosis. However, more research is needed to fully understand disease onset and progression. To this end, we have performed microarray analysis with the goal of identifying molecular interaction networks defining tumor growth. Microarray analysis was performed on a limited set of ovarian tissues with various pathological diagnoses using Human Genome Focus Array (HGFA) for the detection of ∼8500 human transcripts. Hierarchical clustering identified groups of ovarian tissues reflective of low malignant potential/early cancer onset and possible pre-cancerous stages involving small molecule, cytokine and/or hormone-dependent feed-back responses specific to the pelvic reproductive system and a priori initiated tumor suppression mechanisms. ANOVA followed by post hoc Scheffe confirmed our hypotheses. Moreover, we established a protein/protein interaction database associated with HGFA probe sets. This database was used to build and visualize molecular networks integrating small but significant changes in gene expression. In conclusion, we were able for the first time to delineate an intersecting genetic pattern linking ovarian tissues reflective of low potential malignancy/early cancer onset stages via long distance signaling between tissues of gynecological origin.
Counting cell nuclei with random sections: The effect of shape and size

Abstract A practical stereological method is described for counting nuclei and cells from random plane sections. Traditional counting methods of stereology can give estimates with large biases when nuclei have irregular shapes. Our method, building on empirical work, uses profile boundary lengths to count nuclei, with results in agreement with serial section reconstruction. Using analytical and numerical models, we consider the effects of shape and size distribution on estimates of numerical density, as well as the mean tangent diameter, surface area, and volume of a nucleus. We identify biases produced by irregular shape and variable size and show these to be small for all but exceptional cases. We also indicate how to estimate and remove biases. We conclude that nuclei and cells can be counted from random sections with a remarkably small bias when stereological expressions are based upon the mean length of nuclear profile boundaries.
The J -integral technique applied to toughened nylons under impact loading

The J-integral technique has been used to characterize the toughness of two rubber-toughened nylons under impact loading conditions, at impact speeds from 1–3 ms−1, using single-edge-notched three-point bend specimens. A falling weight impact tester was used to generate different amounts of crack growth, allowing the resistance curve (J-R curve) to be constructed using the multi-specimen technique. The technique is experimentally straightforward and permits the toughness characterization of tough materials with relatively small specimens. For a rubber-toughened nylon 66, the resistance curve is very similar to that obtained at quasi-static loading rates, indicating a low dependence of toughness on rate. However, for a rubber-toughened amorphous nylon, a higher resistance curve was obtained under impact conditions than at low loading rates. This result probably indicates a limitation in the test method, rather than a genuine material response.
Pediatric influenza and "universal respiratory etiquette": preparing and protecting your staff and the public.

August 2004 30:4 T he 2003-2004 influenza season hit Utah early, and it hit hard. By mid November we were seeing unprecedented numbers in the emergency department at Primary Children’s Medical Center. Typically a slower month, November was the busiest month in 2003. It also was the busiest month in our history. Thanks to an ample supply of flu vaccine available early in October and the persistence of the ED charge nurses who strongly encouraged prophylaxis and willingly gave many flu shots, a high percentage of the ED staff had been immunized. Sick calls were not significantly higher than in previous months; had they been, a bad situation quickly could have become a disaster. We share the following information in the hope of helping ED managers mount a coordinated effort to deal with the next flu season. As the infection control coordinator for the emergency department, I was already involved in a hospital task force addressing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and an upcoming respiratory season that was predicted to be severe. The Task Force was using the SARS plan developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a guide. One of the key concepts was a respiratory infection control strategy called ‘‘Universal Respiratory Etiquette.’’ When I saw the first televised reports of the influenzalinked deaths of 4 children in Colorado, it became obvious we were not going to have an ordinary influenza season. I called my director, and she immediately began implementing the strategy (see Figure 1). We followed up with an article in the ED newsletter (see Figure 2). We placed ‘‘Fight the Flu’’ signs in prominent locations throughout the waiting room to educate parents and visitors about respiratory precautions. We also placed signs
Assessing the accuracy of the isotropic periodic sum method through Madelung energy computation.

We tested the isotropic periodic sum (IPS) method for computing Madelung energies of ionic crystals. The performance of the method, both in its nonpolar (IPSn) and polar (IPSp) forms, was compared with that of the zero-charge and Wolf potentials [D. Wolf, P. Keblinski, S. R. Phillpot, and J. Eggebrecht, J. Chem. Phys. 110, 8254 (1999)]. The results show that the IPSn and IPSp methods converge the Madelung energy to its reference value with an average deviation of ∼10−4 and ∼10−7 energy units, respectively, for a cutoff range of 18–24a (a/2 being the nearest-neighbor ion separation). However, minor oscillations were detected for the IPS methods when deviations of the computed Madelung energies were plotted on a logarithmic scale as a function of the cutoff distance. To remove such oscillations, we introduced a modified IPSn potential in which both the local-region and long-range electrostatic terms are damped, in analogy to the Wolf potential. With the damped-IPSn potential, a smoother convergence was achi...
Compton suppression gamma-spectroscopy in the analysis of radium and lead isotopes in ocean sediments

Compton suppression gamma-spectroscopy provides an efficient method for measuring the concentration of226Ra,228Ra, and210Pb in ocean sediments. The background reduction realized from the suppressed mode of operation provides an “active shield” to allow for the low-level counting required for these measurements. We have used the method to study the possible accumulation of radium from produced waters in sediments from Gulf of Mexico sites of varied distances from drill platforms. In addition,210Pb levels were determined to evaluate the use of our spectrometer for this purpose. Baseline undisturbed concentrations have been obtained from the study of subsurface core material which predates drilling activities. Correlations of radium isotope concentrations with iron and barium provide information concerning the possible relationships between radium levels and drilling activity (excess barium) and natural variations in sediment texture (iron).
Inhibition of protein kinase A phase delays the mammalian circadian clock.

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) contain the mammalian circadian clock whose rhythm of firing rate can be recorded in vitro for several days. Application of a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor onto the SCN at Zeitgeber time (ZT) 10 on the first day in vitro phase delayed the rhythm of firing rate expressed by SCN neurons on the subsequent day in vitro. Application of the inhibitor (Rp-cAMPS) at other circadian phases did not phase shift the rhythm. These results suggest that during approximately 1 h in the late subjective day the presence and activity of PKA plays a role in setting the phase of the mammalian circadian clock.
Study of the mechanism of bone disease in hypophosphatemic glycosuric osteomalacia.

MALACIC bone disease in association with renal glycosuria, aminoaciduria, hyperphosphaturia and increased excretion of organic acids is a rare disorder known as the Fanconi or DeToni-Fanconi syndrome. Although this apparently inborn error of metabolism hasbeen mostfrequently identified with resistant rickets, several recent articles have associated thesyndrome with adult osteomalacia. The bizarre combination of metabolic disordersassociated with renal tubular defects is of general interest, for study of these abnormalities contributes to basic understanding of amino-acid metabolism, acid-base balance, tubular reabsorptive mechanisms and bone and mineral metabolism. This investigation is concerned mainly with the last, for lack of identification of the cause of the skeletal demineralization has impeded the application of universally effective therapeutic measures. Various facets of the Fanconi syndrome have been developed in several comprehensive papers, notable among these being the reports of McCune, Mas...
Defeating Mau Mau, Creating Kenya: Counterinsurgency, Civil War, and Decolonization

Defeating Mau Mau, Creating Kenya: Counterinsurgency, Civil War, and Decolonization Daniel Branch Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2009 xxi+250 pp., ISBN: 978-0-521-13090-5 ($24.99 paperback)...