cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hip Fracture Mortality: Differences Between Intertrochanteric and Femoral Neck Fractures

The purpose of this study was to identify the specific risk factors that affect mortality in patients with hip fractures and differentiate mortality-associated factors between intertrochanteric (IT) and femoral neck (FN) fractures. A total of 1538 consecutive patients with hip fractures were treated at the authors' institution between January 2005 and October 2013. Ultimately 858 IT and 479 FN fracture patients were included on the basis of age >60 years with an isolated hip fracture. Mortality rate at 90 days was 12.1% for IT and 9.6% for FN fractures. In both IT and FN fractures, variables associated with mortality risk include increased age, greater days to surgery, male gender, decreased body mass index, and increased American Society of Anesthesiologists score. When evaluated independently, the presence of cardiac arrhythmia and chronic kidney disease was strongly associated with greater mortality risk in FN fracture patients. The presence of chronic kidney disease and hypertension correlated with decreased mortality risk among FN fracture patients. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 27(1):64-71, 2018).
Devs based modeling and simulation of agricultural machinery movement

Abstract Field operations planning has become critical for the operational efficiency of agricultural activities, in terms of time and cost. To address this type of planning problem, we (1) developed a modeling capability built using a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) approach and object-oriented prgramming, and (2) propose a methodology extending field data to allow spatial operations on various geometric types. The simulation model developed using the Discrete Event Specification System (DEVS) formalism, captures the equipment characteristics and tracks the evolution of its movement across the field via state transition tables. The model is data driven and spatially and temporally detailed, which are key features to accurately estimate field efficiency. Our modeling approach offers more rigor in the component behavior definition and more flexibility enabling the handling of fields and equipment of various shapes and physical characteristics, respectively. The validity of the model was tested, with an error margin of 15%, by comparing its performance with empirical data collected from switchgrass harvesting equipment.
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Robotic-assisted Lobectomy for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract Background Robot-assisted thoracic surgery has emerged as an alternative to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for treating patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of robotic-assisted lobectomy (RAL) compared to VATS and open lobectomy for adults with NSCLC. Methods A decision analysis model was employed to compare the cost-effectiveness of RAL, VATS, and open lobectomy with 1-year time horizon from both healthcare and societal perspectives. Healthcare costs (2020$) and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were compared between the approaches. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated in terms of cost per QALY gained. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify variables driving cost-effectiveness across several willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds. Results Open thoracotomy was not cost-effective compared to both RAL and VATS lobectomy. From the healthcare sector perspective, RAL was $394.97 more expensive per case than VATS resulting in an ICER of $180,755.10 per QALY. From the societal perspective, RAL was $247.77 more expensive per case than VATS, resulting in an ICER of $113,388.80 per QALY. RAL becomes cost-effective with marginally lower robotic instrument costs, shorter operating room times, lower conversion rates, shorter lengths of stay, higher hospital volumes, and improved quality of life. RAL is also cost-effective if surgeons can increase the proportion of minimally invasive lobectomies using robotic technology. Conclusions Compared to VATS, RAL is not cost-effective for lung cancer lobectomy at lower WTP thresholds. However, several factors may drive RAL to emerge as the more cost-effective approach for minimally invasive lung cancer resection.
Pediatric pulmonology 2019 year in review: rare and diffuse lung disease

Pediatric Pulmonology publishes original research, review articles, and case reports on topics related to a wide range of children's respiratory disorders. Here we review manuscripts published in 2019 in this journal and others on (1) anatomic lung, airway, and vascular malformations, (2) children's interstitial lung disease, and (3) primary ciliary dyskinesia and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.
7 Motor and Procedural Memory in Alzheimer's Disease

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses motor and procedural memory in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The chapter outlines the importance of studying motor memory and also compares memory for motor skills and discrete movements. The chapter suggests how knowledge about motor memory may be used in the management, care, and rehabilitation of AD patients, and identifies areas for further research. . Numerous studies examining memory for verbal, visual, and spatial information have shown that AD patients perform at a level far below that of normal older adults. The handful of studies performed to date clearly show that AD patients can learn motor- or movement-based information and some rather complex perceptual-motor skills such as the rotary pursuit. In addition, memory for motor information, which by its very nature requires the subject's active participation, may be relatively spared in this impaired population. AD patients may be able to use the relatively preserved procedural memory system which governs motor learning to partially compensate for losses in other cognitive abilities
Institutions and Human Progress: An Analysis of International Pooled Data

This study investigates the impact of the components of economic freedom (Economic Freedom of the World Index, EFW) on improvements in well-being using pooled data of 105 countries spaced at 5-year intervals between 1990 and 2000. The EFW as well as other control variables are regressed on the log-odds ratios of the Index of Human Progress (IHP), a measurement of progress constructed by the Fraser Institute, and its components. Extreme bound analysis demonstrates that countries with a higher quality of government, well-defined property rights, sound money, limited trade restrictions, and limited regulation experience higher levels of human progress as measured by the IHP.
5 The use of sentence contexts in reading, memory and semantic disambiguation

Abstract Sentences provide the semantic constraints that are typically sufficient to guide the reader to an expected word or group of words. Studies conducted within our laboratories and those of other researchers will be reviewed that demonstrate how bilinguals use sentence contexts to predict specific lexical and conceptual features leading to a precise ending, how sentence contexts serve to facilitate the interpretation of code-switched information, and how those contexts facilitate in the disambiguation of cross-language homographs in processing. The contributions of bilingual research to understanding sentence processing in general for monolingual speakers is also discussed. The resulting bilingual findings help to inform both theory and research in the study of language and cognition.
Future Research into the Mechanisms of Action of Sucralfate

Sucralfate is a nonabsorbable, nonsystematic agent for the therapy and prevention of peptic ulcer disease. The drug was originally developed in Japan as an agent to deactivate peptic activity. Sucralfate was found to adhere to both ulcerated and normal mucosa with a preference for damaged areas of the gastric mucosa. 1 For these reasons, the original proposals to explain sucralfate’s therapeutic efficacy and its mechanisms of action included both pepsin antagonism and surface adhesion which presumably protect ulcerated areas from luminal acid, enzymes and exogenous damaging agents such as NSAIDs, or alcohol.
Immunochemical analysis of acetaminophen covalent binding to proteins: Partial characterization of the major acetaminophen-binding liver proteins

A sensitive immunoassay for detecting acetaminophen (APAP) bound to proteins was developed using an affinity purified antibody directed against the N-acetylated end of the APAP molecule. Western blots of electrophoretically resolved liver proteins taken from mice given an hepatotoxic dose of APAP demonstrated that nearly 85% of the total detectable protein-bound APAP was covalently associated with proteins of 44 and 58 kD. Pretreatment of liver extracts with the sulfhydryl-specific reagent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), prior to derivatization with the reactive metabolite of APAP, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), greatly reduced immunochemically detectable APAP-protein adducts and indicated that the antibody detects protein-thiol conjugates of APAP. To investigate the basis of the binding selectivity in vivo, a variety of systems which yielded APAP-protein adducts were analyzed. Systems which activate APAP enzymatically, as in hepatocyte suspensions or in post-mitochondrial (S9) fractions fortified with an NADPH-regenerating system, resulted in a protein binding profile similar to that produced in vivo. Conversely, when extracts or cells were treated with chemically synthesized NAPQI, an alternative protein binding profile was obtained. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of the reduced protein thiol (PSH) content of liver proteins using [3H]NEM labeling revealed that the 58 kD APAP-binding proteins were rich in PSH, whereas the major 44 kD binding protein had virtually no detectable PSH. Many PSH-rich proteins that were not arylated in vivo did bind NAPQI in vitro. However, the 44 kD proteins were not arylated when chemically synthesized NAPQI was added to homogenates or cell suspensions. The present data further suggest that, in addition to the amount and reactivity of free protein sulfhydryls, the cellular localization with respect to the cytochrome P-450 activation site may influence the susceptibility of proteins to NAPQI binding. These findings signal the need for caution in interpreting studies of APAP mechanisms that rely solely on NAPQI addition.
Radar Signal Processing

Publisher Summary This chapter explores that, considerable progress has been made in radar signal processing. This progress is directly traceable to the lowered cost and increased speed of digital hardware and computers and to more sophisticated techniques in the areas of adaptive processing and tracking systems. This survey of radar signal processing will consider the three broad areas of coherent processing (that is, processing of amplitude and phase), noncoherent processing (that is, processing of amplitude), and track-while-scan systems. The chapter also discusses tracking system which covers the tracking filter, correlation logic, track initiation, maneuver following logic and a basic overview of an entire tracking system. Moreover, the problems involved in coherent processing have received the greatest attention in the survey. One of the main problems is that of adaptively controlling the surveillance radar. There are several problems of interest are: (1) when frequency and/or polarization diversity should be used, (2) when and where the various radar modes should be used, and (3) how the signal processing should be reconfigured to cope with a changing environment. This chapter concludes that, future radars will have more flexibility and their control will become extremely important.
Reliably detecting connectivity using local graph traits

Local distributed algorithms can only gather sufficient information to identify local graph traits, that is, properties that hold within the local neighborhood of each node. However, it is frequently the case that global graph properties (connectivity, diameter, girth, etc) have a large influence on the execution of a distributed algorithm. This paper studies local graph traits and their relationship with global graph properties. Specifically, we focus on graph k-connectivity. First we prove a negative result that shows there does not exist a local graph trait which perfectly captures graph k-connectivity. We then present three different local graph traits which can be used to reliably predict the k-connectivity of a graph with varying degrees of accuracy. As a simple application of these results, we present upper and lower bounds for a local distributed algorithm which determines if a graph is k-connected. As a more elaborate application of local graph traits, we describe, and prove the correctness of, a local distributed algorithm that preserves k-connectivity in mobile ad hoc networks while allowing nodes to move independently whenever possible.
GeNIe: A Development Environment for Graphical Decision-Analytic Models.

Decision-analytic modeling tools, such as Bayesian networks and influence diagrams, are increasingly finding successful applications in medical informatics. Their major strengths are sound theoretical foundations, ability to combine existing data with expert knowledge, and the intuitive framework of directed graphs. is a general-purpose development environment for graphical decision-analytic models. Its reasoning engine, ( tructural odeling, nference, and earning ngine) is a fully portable library of C++ classes implementing graphical decision-analytic methods and directly amenable to inclusion in intelligent information systems. , an Active-X Windows version of , allows the library to be accessed from any Windows programming environment, including direct access from WWW pages. We have made all three modules available free of charge for non-commercial research, teaching, and personal use at the following address: http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/~genie since July 1998. As of March 1999, there are over 1,300 users from over 50 countries. While current applications of and cover a range of fields, a growing number of users apply and in medical informatics training and in building medical informatics systems, for example in medical diagnosis and therapy planning.
Microstructural investigation of La2Ti2O7 thin films grown by MBE

In the La-Ti-O system many phases with different structures exist depending on the actual oxygen content. Starting from LaTiO 3 , which has an orthorhombic unit cell, to the monoclinic La 2 Ti 2 O 7 structure, first semiconducting, then metallic and finally ferroelectric characteristics can be obtained at room temperature. Recent transmission electron microscopy studies of the bulk materials showed that the transformation of the LaTiO 3 structure to La 2 Ti 2 O 7 is based on the insertion of an additional oxygen plane in the {110} perovskite planes. A controlled insertion of this oxygen plane would allow heterostructures to be grown that exhibit different physical properties but have perfect chemical compatibility. Here, we report on our results of epitaxially grown thin films of La 2 Ti 2 O 7 on (110)-oriented SrTiO 3 and LaAlO 3 substrates using sequential deposition of La and Ti under a beam of atomic oxygen. The epitaxial behavior and the microstructural properties of these films were investigated by transmission electron microscopy.
Molecular structure in 12C + 12C, orbiting in 12C + 28Si, and first studies of the 60Ni + 60Ni interaction

I . INTRODUCTION The papers presented at th is workshop have demonstrated convincingly that molecular resonances are not isolated quirks of nature, but rather, phenomena that occur in a very wide var iety of nuclear reactions. Precisely because they are not quirks, and therefore not random, we can hope eventually to understand in detai l why and where they appear. We are not yet at th is stage. Yet, a very considerable body of data has accumulated, permitt ing us to begin to attempt to c lass i fy the resonances, to determine quant i ta t i ve ly how they relate to each other in a given system, and to study how the i r properties change from system to system. In the present paper, we discuss some physical impl icat ions of a recent ly proposed c lass i f i ca t ion scheme for the 12C + IZC Coulomb barr ier resonances for which the requis i te very large body of experimental data is already avai lable. We then present new data I suggesting that the back angle resonancel i ke structure previously observed in quasi-e last ic zSSi + IZC reactions 2 re f lec ts the existence of a f u l l y developed, rotat ing di-nuclear system that governs back-angle y ie lds in many addit ional ex i t channels. F ina l l y , we discuss b r ie f l y some very recent data for 6°Ni + 6°Ni scatter ing in a f i r s t look at a previously unstudied region of the periodic table.
Numerical simulations of time‐dependent cosmic ray mediated shocks

Considerable progress has been made in establishing the character of steady, CR mediated plane shocks. Much less is clear about the behavior of unsteady shocks that are influenced by nonlinear aspects of diffusive particle acceleration and that involve multidimensional flows. We discuss some of what has been learned for the latter classes of shocks, and outline some of the difficulties in making further progress.
Person factors and work environments of workers who use mobility devices

BACKGROUND: Nearly 25% of people with mobility impairments and limitations who are of working age are employed, yet few studies have examined their perspectives on their jobs or work environments required to complete job tasks. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the factors that contribute to successful employment for those who use mobility devices. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 132 workers who use power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, canes, crutches or walkers. METHOD: Participants completed an online version of the Mobility Device User Work Survey (MWS). A multivariate analysis and a two-step multiple linear regression analysis were used. RESULTS: Study participants had few secondary health conditions that influenced their work. Employee satisfactoriness to their employers was high. Accessibility of worksites was high. Assistive technologies were inexpensive, and personal assistance was used infrequently and usually was unpaid. Co-worker communications were very positive. Flexible work rules and supportive managers were highly valued. Job satisfaction positively correlated with accessibility, work tasks, co-worker communication and work support. CONCLUSION: The description of work environments of successfully employed mobility device users can provide some useful guidance to employers, vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselors and unemployed mobility device users to balance employee abilities and preferences with the needs of employers. Language: en
A queuing model‐based approach for the analysis of transactional memory systems

SUMMARY In this paper, we develop an analytical model of the execution efficiency of transactional memory (TM) systems. This model employs queuing theory to analyze the impact of an essential set of TM design parameters including the conflict rate, number of conflict detection/resolution points, and implementation overhead. The model is validated via extensive experiments. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the model, we further study the performance impact of two factors. Our study shows that, for a given TM-based program, the frequency of performing conflict detection can be carefully chosen to minimize the mean transaction completion time. Our study also demonstrated the importance of reducing implementation overhead. We expect our study to be useful for designing TM systems and applications. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correction of a deletion mutant by gene targeting with an adenovirus vector.

Abstract The usefulness of adenovirus type 5 as a vector for homologous recombination was examined in CHO cells by using the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt) gene. Infection of a hemizygous CHO APRT- cell line containing a 3-bp deletion in exon 5 of the aprt gene with a recombinant adenovirus containing the wild-type gene resulted in restoration of the APRT+ phenotype at a frequency of 10(-5) to 10(-6) per infected cell. A relatively high frequency (approximately 6 to 20%) of the transductants appears to result from a homologous recombination event. The mutation on the chromosomal aprt gene is corrected in the homologous recombinants, and APRT expression is restored to a normal hemizygous level. Neither adenovirus nor exogenous promoter sequences are detected in the homologous recombinants. The remaining transductants result from random integration of the aprt gene with the adenovirus sequence. A number of adenovirus vectors containing different promoter sequences linked to the hamster aprt gene were constructed. A possible role for the promoter region in the homologous recombination event was indicated by the lack of homologous recombination in constructs lacking an active promoter.
The claret locus in Drosophila encodes products required for eyecolor and for meiotic chromosome segregation.

Abstract The claret (ca) locus in Drosophila encodes products that are needed both for wild-type eyecolor and for correct meiotic chromosome segregation. Mutants described previously provide evidence that two mutationally independent coding regions are present at ca. We have recovered six new P element-induced and one spontaneous ca mutant. Four of these new mutants affect both eyecolor and chromosome segregation. The high frequency of co-mutation of these two functions suggests that the corresponding genes are closely adjacent to one another. We recovered genomic DNA sequences corresponding to the ca locus by chromosome walking, and showed using revertant analysis that the cloned region encodes ca+. Transformation experiments demonstrate that the mutant effect resulting in meiotic chromosome non-disjunction (nd) and loss is fully rescued by DNA from the cloned region. Two RNAs of 7.4 and 2.2 kb have been identified by Northern blot analysis as the putative eyecolor and segregational products. Expression of the RNAs with respect to males and females, and their presence or absence in ca and nd mutants indicate that the 7.4 kb RNA corresponds to the product needed for wild-type eyecolor and the 2.2 kb RNA is the product required for normal chromosome segregation. These RNAs are transcribed in opposite directions to one another. Alleles that affect both eyecolor and chromosome segregation are deletion mutants that affect both transcripts. Thus, the putative eyecolor and segregational products are encoded by separate genes. Mutants that affect both eyecolor and chromosome segregation apparently do so because they delete essential regions of both genes.
Induced transcription and stability of CELF2 mRNA drives widespread alternative splicing during T-cell signaling

Studies in several cell types have highlighted dramatic and diverse changes in mRNA processing that occur upon cellular stimulation. However, the mechanisms and pathways that lead to regulated changes in mRNA processing remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that expression of the splicing factor CELF2 (CUGBP, Elav-like family member 2) is regulated in response to T-cell signaling through combined increases in transcription and mRNA stability. Transcriptional induction occurs within 6 h of stimulation and is dependent on activation of NF-κB. Subsequently, there is an increase in the stability of the CELF2 mRNA that correlates with a change in CELF2 3′UTR length and contributes to the total signal-induced enhancement of CELF2 expression. Importantly, we uncover dozens of splicing events in cultured T cells whose changes upon stimulation are dependent on CELF2 expression, and provide evidence that CELF2 controls a similar proportion of splicing events during human thymic T-cell development. Taken together, these findings expand the physiologic impact of CELF2 beyond that previously documented in developing neuronal and muscle cells to T-cell development and function, identify unappreciated instances of alternative splicing in the human thymus, and uncover novel mechanisms for CELF2 regulation that may broadly impact CELF2 expression across diverse cell types.
Best practices for fitting the 1-parameter Weibull distribution

This paper presents an evaluation of different techniques used to fit the 1-parameter Weibull distribution for complete and type-II censored data [1]. Rank regression (RR), maximum likelihood (ML) and reduced bias adjusted maximum likelihood (RBA ML) are compared over a wide range of sample sizes, Weibull slope (β), number of Type-II censored units as well as error in the assumed β value. Similar to the 2-parameter Weibull, rank regression performed most co nsistently across the range studied, although it was not the lowest biased estimate in all cases [2]. In particular, for complete data of 2 or more samples, RBA MLE provides the lowest bias estimate of the Weibull position parameter (η). For a sample size of 1, RR provides the lowest bias estimate; however, it is biased optimistically. For Type-II censored data, RR provides the lowest bias estimate below ∼10 failures, above which ML works best.
REST and Its Corepressors Mediate Plasticity of Neuronal Gene Chromatin throughout Neurogenesis

Regulation of neuronal gene expression is critical to central nervous system development. Here, we show that REST regulates the transitions from pluripotent to neural stem/progenitor cell and from progenitor to mature neuron. In the transition to progenitor cell, REST is degraded to levels just sufficient to maintain neuronal gene chromatin in an inactive state that is nonetheless poised for expression. As progenitors differentiate into neurons, REST and its co-repressors dissociate from the RE1 site, triggering activation of neuronal genes. In some genes, the level of expression is adjusted further in neurons by CoREST/MeCP2 repressor complexes that remain bound to a site of methylated DNA distinct from the RE1 site. Expression profiling based on this mechanism indicates that REST defines a gene set subject to plasticity in mature neurons. Thus, a multistage repressor mechanism controls the orderly expression of genes during development while still permitting fine tuning in response to specific stimuli.
Nanoscale ferromagnetism in nonmagnetic doped semiconductors

While ferromagnetism at relatively high temperatures is seen in diluted magnetic semiconductors such as ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}\mathrm{As}$, doped semiconductors without magnetic ions have not shown evidence for ferromagnetism. Using a generalized disordered Hubbard model designed to characterize hydrogenic centers in semiconductors, we find that such systems may also exhibit a ferromagnetic ground state, at least on the nanoscale. This is found most clearly in a regime inaccessible to bulk systems, but attainable in quantum dots as well as heterostructures. We present numerical results demonstrating the occurrence of high spin ground states in both lattice and positionally disordered systems. We examine how the magnetic phases are affected by characteristics of real doped semiconductors, such as positional disorder and electron-hole asymmetry.
Fantasies of identification: disability, gender, race

Ellen Samuels suggests that, from the mid-nineteenth century until the present day, literature, film and medico-legal discourses have utilized ‘fantasies of identification’ involving exaggerated cl...
A 7-manifold with positive curvature

We demonstrate the existence of a metric of positive sectional curvature on the 3-Sasakian 7-manifold over Hitchin's self-dual Einstein orbifold with k=5.
Was there a fascist revolution? The function of penal law in fascist Italy and in Nazi Germany

Abstract Did the fascist seizure of power cause a revolutionary change in the administration of justice in Italy? Did the fascist dictatorship transform the judicial institutions it inherited from liberal Italy? During the early phase of seizure of power (1923–1926), the fascist regime deployed existing instruments to influence judges and prosecutors by means of Ministerial instructions, threats of disciplinary measures or denial of career advancement. The first major innovation came with the creation of a Special Tribunal for Crimes Against the State in 1926, to punish anti-fascist activities and opinions. Although there is still a great deal of research to be done on the working of the ordinary courts, there is considerable evidence that both the courts and the magistrates were subject to an effective process of ‘fascistization’ and recent studies illustrate how the ordinary administration of justice provided an effective support mechanism for the more overt apparatus of repression carried out by the po...
Micro-force measurement of drag on a small flat plate in the presence of a corona discharge

Abstract The design of a micro-force sensor suitable for the measurement of corona drag and other low velocity drag studies in a small laboratory wind tunnel facility is described. Example drag data are given for dc corona discharge generated by sharp parallel electrodes mounted on a microscope glass slide with discharge parallel to the air flow. The arrangement simulates two-dimensional flow over a flat plate useful for theoretical analysis. Measurements of free stream wind velocities in the range 0–210 cm/s with attendant drag down to 10−7 N can be detected in this facility depending on the calibration. The force sensor utilizes two strain gages mounted on a 0.127 mm stainless steel “feeler gage” in a cantilever arrangement. A bridge circuit provides sensitivities in the range 40–250 N/mV using a gravitational calibration technique. Anomalous effects from suspension wires and the interaction of electrostatic forces with the surroundings are discussed.
Identification of an Apo-Superoxide Dismutase (Cu,Zn) Pool in Human Lymphoblasts

Abstract Copper incorporation (64Cu(II)) into Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was studied in human lymphoblasts. Rapid incorporation of copper with a proportionate increase in SOD activity was detected. No copper incorporation or SOD activation was detected when 64Cu(II) was added to cell cytosols rather than to intact cells. Thus, incorporation of 64Cu was not due to isotopic exchange. Cycloheximide had no significant effect on copper incorporation and activation of SOD when the data were corrected for total cell copper. Thus, the data were consistent with copper incorporation into a preexisting apoSOD pool rather than newly synthesized SOD, and no new SOD synthesis was detected over a 15-h incubation period. The size of the apoSOD pool was estimated to be ≈35% of the total SOD in lymphoblasts. When cells were preincubated for 15 h with excess copper (15 μM Cu(II)), the size of the apo pool markedly decreased but was not eliminated, suggesting that the apoSOD was not due to copper deficiency. These experiments also indicated that newly arrived copper was preferentially incorporated into the apoSOD pool, while the function(s) of an apoSOD pool remains unknown. Copper binding to apoSOD may provide a rapid protective response against copper toxicity.
Serum Retinol and Carotenoids in Association with Biomarkers of Insulin Resistance among Premenopausal Women

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate how serum retinol and carotenoids (β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, lycopene) are associated with biomarkers of insulin resistance. Research Methods and Procedures. The BioCycle Study (2005–2007) is a prospective cohort of 259 healthy premenopausal women. Fasting serum samples were collected at up to sixteen clinic visits, from which retinol, carotenoids, insulin, glucose, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Linear mixed models were used to determine associations adjusting for age, race, body mass index (BMI), education, smoking, physical activity, triglycerides, and energy intake. Results. Retinol was positively associated with HOMA-IR (β = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.32)) units per ug/mL increase in retinol; the relationship was driven by insulin (β = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.31)). Retinol was inversely associated with SHBG (β = −0.22 (95% CI: −0.28, −0.16)). Although no significant associations were found between serum carotenoids and HOMA-IR, β-carotene was positively associated with SHBG and β-cryptoxanthin inversely with fasting plasma glucose. Conclusion. Results indicate a possible role for serum retinol in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. However, they do not support a strong association between individual or total serum carotenoids and insulin resistance.
Use of complementary and alternative medicines among a multistate, multisite cohort of people living with HIV/AIDS

Objective The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with use of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) in a multistate, multisite cohort of HIV-infected patients. Methods During 2003, 951 adult patients from 14 sites participated in face-to-face interviews. Patients were asked if they received treatment from any alternative therapist or practitioner in the previous 6 months. Logistic regression was performed to examine associations between demographic and clinical variables and CAM use. Results The majority of the participants were male (68%) and African American (52%) with a median age of 45 years (range 20–85 years). Sixteen per cent used any CAM in the 6 months prior to the interview. Factors associated with use of CAM were the HIV risk factor injecting drug use [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.51] compared with men who have sex with men (MSM), former drug use (AOR=2.12) compared with never having used drugs, having a college education (AOR=2.43), and visiting a mental health provider (AOR=2.76). Conclusions This study demonstrated similar rates of CAM use in the current highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era compared with the pre-HAART era. Factors associated with CAM – such as education, use of mental health services, and MSM risk factor – suggest that CAM use may be associated with heightened awareness regarding the availability of such therapies. Given the potential detrimental interactions of certain types of CAM and HAART, all HIV-infected patients should be screened for use of CAM.
Human Variability in Susceptibility to Toxic Chemicals— A Preliminary Analysis of Pharmacokinetic Data from Normal Volunteers

The tenfold “uncertainty” factor traditionally used to guard against human interindividual differences in susceptibility to toxicity is not based on human observations. To begin to build a basis for quantifying an important component of overall variability in susceptibility to toxicity, a data base has been constructed of individual measurements of key pharmacokinetic parameters for specific substances (mostly drugs) in groups of at least five healthy adults. 72 of the 101 data sets studied were positively skewed, indicating that the distributions are generally closer to expectations for log-normal distributions than for normal distributions. Measurements of interindividual variability in elimination half-lives, maximal blood concentrations, and AUC (area under the curve of blood concentration by time) have median values of log10 geometric standard deviations in the range of 0.11–0.145. For the median chemical, therefore, a tenfold difference in these pharmacokinetic parameters would correspond to 7–9 standard deviations in populations of normal healthy adults. For one relatively lipophilic chemical, however, interindividual variability in maximual blood concentration and AUC was 0.4—implying that a tenfold difference would correspond to only about 2.5 standard deviations for those parameters in the human population. The parameters studied to date are only components of overall susceptibility to toxic agents, and do not include contributions from variability in exposure- and response-determining parameters. The current study also implicitly excludes most human interindividual variability from age and illness. When these other sources of variability are included in an overall analysis of variability in susceptibility, it is likely that a tenfold difference will correspond to fewer standard deviations in the overall population, and correspondingly greater numbers of people at risk of toxicity.
Determination of diffusion coefficients by automatic scanning and analysis of Gouy fringe patterns

Abstract Gouy interference optics, combined with continuous photographic scanning and a conventional boundary sharpening technique, make possible the measurement of diffusion coefficients in a reasonably short experimental time without special equipment. In this study, sucrose was the diffusing solute, and measurements lasting three hours were sufficient to give an accurate value for D. The diffusion coefficient was calculated from the slope of a line fitted to the data by least-squares techniques, which was convenient to perform by computer.
A comparison of methods for determining nuclear matrix elements in first-forbidden β-decay

Abstract In a number of recent papers we have observed that the results of matrix element extraction made by different groups are inconsistent. Since there seemed to be a correlation between the formulation used and the results obtained, the two basic treatments of the theory are compared. The comparison shows that the two methods should give very similar results unless higher-order matrix elements are unusually important. The inconsistent results appear to be caused by the way in which the matrix element extractions are performed rather than by a basic difference in the formulas. The matrix elements for the 2 − (0.959 MeV)2 + β-transition in 198 Au are reviewed to illustrate how differences in technique can affect the results.
Analytical observations for a multiservice node

Motivated by a desire to understand a GI/∞ node in a closed queueing network environment, we study in this paper a finite population multiserver model, where the number of processes is equal to the population in the network. We study its steady-state behavior under various scenarios, e.g., the first three moments of the arrival and service distributions. We show that when the arrivals are bursty, an increase in service time variation can actually decrease congestion. Furthermore, such a decrease is also observed for an increase in the skewness in the arrivals. Additionally, several insensitivity properties in limiting behaviors are observed. In particular, the finite population GI/GI///s-loop is insensitive to the service time distribution when the arrival distribution either has an infinite variance (a form of heavy tail), or is highly skewed. In the latter case, the congestion approaches that of the all Markovian system M/M///s-loop. We conclude that the influence of the third moment can be very significant, indicating that the first two moments do not suffice to characterize the performance measures under consideration.
The Uptake of Calcium-45 in the Acellular-Boned Toadfish*

Bone growth and calcium metabolism were studied in marine acellular-boned toadfish (Opsanus tau) by tetracycline and by45Ca labeling over a 26-day period. The uptake of tracer in vertebrae was initially faster than in the jaws, but the percent retention of45Ca on a gram ash basis in these tissues was not significantly different after 4–6 hours. This was the time at which microdensitometric analysis of contact autoradiographs of jaw sections indicated that peak45Ca uptake had occurred on all cortical bone surfaces. No loss of45Ca from bone surfaces was detected during the next 14 days. The differences in45Ca uptake in these tissues appeared to be related to the relative surface areas of bone rather than to differences in mineral content per unit volume of bone. Attempts to measure appositional bone growth by the separation of two tetracycline labels administered at an interval of 18 days were unsuccessful, and only a single subperiosteal fluorescent band 8–9 μ thick was observed. This was probably the result of a very low rate of excretion of tetracycline from the blood, together with a very low appositional rate of bone growth of only 0.2–0.3 μ/day. The fall in the plasma radioactivity was almost inversely proportional to time since injection. No diffuse labeling could be detected, due presumably to the absence of osteocytes, in lacunae and canaliculi which, in cellular bone, permits diffusion of calcium ions from extracellular fluid to bone crystals deep within the skeleton. The diffuse component, if present, was less than one-fifth that expected in cellular bone.
Drive Analysis Using Vehicle Dynamics and Vision-Based Lane Semantics

Naturalistic driving studies (NDSs) capture large volumes of drive data from multiple sensor modalities, which are analyzed for critical information about driver behavior and driving characteristics that lead to crashes and near crashes. One of the key steps in such studies is data reduction, which is defined as a process by which “trained employees” review segments of driving video and record a taxonomy of variables that provides information regarding the sequence of events leading to crashes. Given the volume of sensor data in NDSs, such manual analysis of the drive data can be time-consuming. In this paper, we introduce “drive analysis” as one of the first steps toward automating the process of extracting midlevel semantic information from raw sensor data. Techniques are proposed to analyze the sensor data from multiple modalities and to extract a set of 23 semantics about lane positions, vehicle localization within lanes, vehicle speed, traffic density, and road curvature. The proposed techniques are demonstrated using real-world test drives comprising over 150 000 frames of visual data, which are also accompanied by vehicle dynamics that are captured from an in-vehicle controller-area-network bus, an inertial motion unit, and a Global Positioning System.
Pseudoperoxidase activity of mushroom tyrosinase.

Abstract Under anaerobic conditions, ethyl hydroperoxide functions as a two-electron acceptor in the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol to 4-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone, apparently by the following mechanism: T−[Cu(II)] 2 + TBC = T−[Cu(I)] 2 + TB− o− BQ + 2H + T−[Cu(I)] 2 + EtOOH + 2H + = T−[Cu(II)] 2 + EtOH +H 2 O This is a direct demonstration of the pseudoperoxidase activity of tyrosinase. Ethyl hydroperoxide failed to oxidize either oxy- or deoxyhemocyanin.
Reduction in the Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated With a Citywide Smoking Ordinance

Background— Secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). One study (Helena, Mont) examined the issue and found a decrease in AMI associated with a smoke-free ordinance. We sought to determine the impact of a smoke-free ordinance on AMI admission rates in another geographically isolated community (Pueblo, Colo). Methods and Results— We assessed AMI hospitalizations in Pueblo during a 3-year period, 1.5 years before and 1.5 years after implementation of a smoke-free ordinance. We compared the AMI hospitalization rates among individuals residing within city limits, the area where the ordinance applied, versus those outside city limits. We also compared AMI rates during this time period with another geographically isolated but proximal community, El Paso County, Colo, that did not have an ordinance. A total of 855 patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of primary AMI in Pueblo between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2004. A reduction in AMI hospitalizations was obs...
Solute-micelle interactions in zwitterionic micellar chromatography

Abstract Equilibrium constants relating the solute concentration in the mobile phase and the solute-micelle complex concentration in the mobile phase were determined for two micellar zwitterions, dodecyldimethyl(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (inner salt) (SB-12) and myristyl betaine (MB-14), with a series of substituted benzene derivatives. The chromatographic capacity factors, k , were employed to calculate equilibrium constants ( K eq ). A rationale is suggested based on experimental results to aid in explaining the zwitterionic micelle-solute intermolecular interactions. Specific attention is given to the polar phenol molecule interactions with SB-12 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) obtained from membrane equilibrium experiments. Linear Scatchard plots indicate that one phenol molecule is bound to one zwitterion monomer in the micelle.
Conductance pathways in epithelial tissues

It has been shown that ionic conductance of the fundic area of gastric mucosa is via the cellular route, whereas in the antrum, conductance is by a shunt or paracellular pathway, using a variety of microelectrode techniques. Definition of the nature of the fundic conductance pathways has shown them to be largely neutral fixed-site (channel) ionophores of varying ion selectivity. Extraction of highly purified membrane fractions produces three separable channels—a cation, an anion and a non-selective channel, as measured after incorporation into an artificial bilayer. A model for proton transport, involving an electrogenic HCO3− ATPase pump shunted by a Cl− channel, is discussed.
Mesozoic Igneous Activity in the Suwannee Terrane, Southeastern USA: Petrogenesis and Gondwanan Affinities

Abstract Drillhole sampling of the rocks beneath the post-upper JUrdSSiC sedimentary cover of the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States has revealed that tholeiitic and alkaline basalts and diabases, in addition to high-K rhyolites and granites, are present in the exotic Suwannee terrane. The most reliable published ages for basaltic rocks range from 183r5 to 199r8 Ma, overlapping the accepted age range for magmatism of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP). Ages for rhyolites range from 16526 to 189's Ma, while the only dated granite has a well-constrained U-Pb zircon age of 159?3 Ma. The geochemistry of all lithologies is consistent with their eruption or emplacement in an extensional tectonic environment. The tholeiitic basalts are derived from continental lithospheric mantle and crust that is approximately 1 billion years old, suggesting an affinity with the South American portions of Gondwana. Alkali basalts found in southwestern Florida may contain a component of sub-lithospheric mantle and have compositions similar to some basalt s from Liberia and Brazil. Associated silicic magmas may have been generated by intracrustal melting induced by the heat of underplated or injected mafic magmas during the waning stages of igneous activity.