cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of ratings of perceived exertion to anticipate treadmill test termination in patients taking beta-blockers.

This investigation identified a perceptually-based “warning zone” that can be used to anticipate termination of treadmill tests administered to individuals taking beta-blockers. The use of ratings of perceived exertion to anticipate test termination may be valuable given the attenuation of heart rate associated with the use of this class of medication. Sixteen men with coronary artery disease participated in this investigation. Ratings of perceived exertion (Borg 6–20 Scale) were estimated during the last 15 sec. of each minute of a progressively incremented treadmill test. Tests were terminated when participants indicated they were too fatigued to continue. The time-to-test termination was determined from the point that participants estimated a rating of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 in order to determine the rating that was less than or equal to the time associated with a single exercise stage. A rating of 14 was associated with impending termination, which can be used as a “warning zone.” The time...
Expert Recommendations for the Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Advantages of the Seven Step Model and Immersion Treatments

This paper provides a review of three sets of recent expert recommendations on the treatment of childhood and adolescent obesity: 2007 Healthcare Organizations’ Four Stage Model; 2009 Seven Step Model; and 2010 US Preventive Task Force Recommendations. A consensus emerged from this analysis. All three groups viewed the evidence as supporting intensive (>25 contact hours) dietary, physical activity and cognitive-behavioral counseling and two of the three groups discouraged reliance on educational interventions alone. A case is made for the advantages of the Seven Steps model and immersion treatments.
Ductal prostate cancer: Contemporary management and outcomes

Abstract Objectives To evaluate contemporary management and outcomes of ductal prostate cancer (PCA). Materials and Methods We reviewed all patients with ductal PCA and at least 6 months of follow-up seen at UTMB from 1990 to 2005, which comprised 17 patients (mean age: 67.7 years, range 55–87). At time of diagnosis, 11 patients had localized disease (Group 1) and 6 patients had distant metastasis (Group 2). Results Treatment of Group 1 patients included radiation and endocrine treatment for at least 2 years ( n = 7), radiation alone ( n = 2), and radical surgery ( n = 2). At a mean follow-up of 3.6 years ( r = 1–12 years) 8 patients (67.7%) remained free of recurrence, 1 patient had biochemical recurrence alone, 1 patient had recurrence in the anterior urethra, and the other had progression with metastasis to the brain and subsequent death. In addition to metastasis to regional/distant lymph nodes and bone in Group 2, metastatic sites included brain ( n = 1), peritoneum ( n = 1), and lung ( n = 1). Mean follow-up was 2.3 years ( r = 8 months to 4 years). All patients received androgen deprivation. One patient had progression of disease despite lack of biochemical recurrence and is alive at 2.5 years. One patient died from other causes while the 4 remaining patients are in remission at last follow-up. Conclusions Contemporary management of localized ductal PCA with radiation and endocrine therapy yields adequate disease-free survival. Metastatic sites include brain, lung, peritoneum, and anterior urethra, and most patients respond well to endocrine treatment.
Silicon photovoltaic cells

Abstract The principles governing the performance of silicon solar cells are reviewed with emphasis on clarifying the essential concepts. Principal attention is devoted to the planar p−n junction cell and recent developments that have contributed to increased efficiency. Other solar cell structures are also reviewed and their relative advantages and shortcomings are discussed. Important areas where our present understanding is inadequate are pointed out and some common misconceptions are corrected.
Equilibrium charge states of 16O ions

Abstract Using the Rice University tandem accelerator to accelerate 16 O ions, the charge state distributions of an O +4 ion beam were measured after passage through thin foils of Au and Ni. The average energy losses in the Au and Ni targets were 4.3 and 3.9 MeV, respectively, and did not change appreciably for the incident bombarding energy range covered. Charge state fractions are calculated as functions of emergent ion velocity. From these fractions, the Z rms / Z is calculated as a function of V/Z 3 2 , where Z rms is the root mean-square of the charge on the ion, Z is the atomic number of the ion, and V is the emergent ion velocity. These results compare favorably with other data taken with 16 O ions at higher and lower ion velocities. There appears to be no indication of a decrease of the degree of ionization with atomic number of the stopping material from these comparisons. Preliminary work was done with an incident O +5 beam, but inconclusive results were obtained because of small beam intensities.
Evaluation of wear: enamel opposing three ceramic materials and a gold alloy.

Abstract Statement of problem. The wear of human enamel and of the restorative material is often a critical concern when selecting a restorative material for any given clinical restorative treatment. Purpose. This in vitro wear investigation evaluated three ceramic restorative materials and one type III gold (the control) opposing enamel. Material and Methods. The area of enamel lost at specified time intervals, the stylus area lost, and the combined stylus and enamel vertical height lost were evaluated. Results. Enamel wear opposing one type III gold was statistically similar to that of Dicor MGC, which was lower than that of Vita Mark II and IPS Empress, which were also statistically similar in value. Conclusions. The total vertical height lost from the type III gold specimens and opposing enamel was statistically lower than that of Dicor MGC and IPS Empress (α
Comparative Historical Analysis, Frank Wright, and Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland: A Comparative Analysis (F. Wright, 1987, Dublin: Gill and Macmillan) remains the most significant work of comparative historical analysis written on Ireland, yet its reputed difficulty has blunted its impact. This article reconstructs Frank Wright's research design and comparative method and situates the book in the research tradition of configurative macroanalysis pioneered by Barrington Moore. Wright's detailed, processual, analytic narratives comparing the breakdown of communal deterrence systems in Northern Ireland, the US South and Algeria have been relatively neglected in later literature. Those grounded comparisons focused on getting the concrete details of cases right while striving to build middle-range generalizations about ethnic stratification and political authority. His comparisons were morally serious searches for paths out of conflict, which analyzed the unfolding of temporal processes in ways that anticipated recent interest in path dependence; but Wright downplayed poli...
Development of the basal forebrain cholinergic system: phenotype expression prior to target innervation.

Abstract We measured choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the rat to determine the time course of development, maturity, and senescence of ChAT activity. Tissue was obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats ranging in age from embryonic day 14 through 23 months. Seven regions were examined, including the magnocellular preoptic/substantia innominata region, frontal cortex, medial septal region, hippocampus, diagonal band, and medial and lateral striatum. ChAT and AChE activities were first detected as early as E18 in the medial septum, diagonal band and magnocellular preoptic area, all regions of cholinergic cell bodies. Enzyme activity subsequently developed in terminal fields of these cholinergic perikarya (hippocampus and frontal cortex) as well as in the striatum. For all regions, enzyme activity rose during the first four postnatal weeks. This increase in enzyme activity was transient and, in most instances, decreases were observed between postnatal days 30 and 60. Most dramatic were the decreases in enzyme activity in the magnocellular preoptic/substantia innominata and diagonal band regions. Age-related declines also occurred in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, magnocellular preoptic/substantia innominata region, and the striatum. Cholinergic systems undergo dynamic changes especially during development and adulthood.
The theory of collision-induced electronic spectra in the condensed phase

Abstract The spectral consequences of the generalised Drude model are examined within the linear hypernetted chain and related theories. A description of collision-induced electronic spectra results, applicable to dense systems. The mechanism involves induced atomic or molecular quadrupoles and stems from the (induced) quadrupole-induced dipole interaction and its many-body analogues.
Hot nuclei in a nucleon vapor

Abstract We consider excited nuclear matter at densities somewhat below the saturation density. The system is described in terms of excitable nuclear fragments embedded in a nucleon vapor. With a view towards applications to medium-energy nuclear collisions, we propose a specific factorization of the total partition by which the individual quasifragments can be formally separated from the vapor: a given nucleon is considered part of a particular fragment to the extent that it is reflected back from the nuclear surface when attempting to leave the domain occupied by that fragment. This prescription leads to a mass-dependent limiting nuclear temperature. A number of other prescriptions used in the past are also examined and compared.
Characterization of the Interaction of a Recombinant Soluble Neuroligin-1 with Neurexin-1β

Neuroligins, proteins of the α/β-hydrolase fold family, are found as postsynaptic transmembrane proteins whose extracellular domain associates with presynaptic partners, proteins of the neurexin family. To characterize the molecular basis of neuroligin interaction with neurexin-β, we expressed five soluble and exportable forms of neuroligin-1 from recombinant DNA sources, by truncating the protein before the transmembrane span near its carboxyl terminus. The extracellular domain of functional neuroligin-1 associates as a dimer when analyzed by sedimentation equilibrium. By surface plasmon resonance, we established that soluble neuroligins-1 bind neurexin-1β, but the homologous α/β-hydrolase fold protein, acetylcholinesterase, failed to associate with the neurexins. Neuroligin-1 has a unique N-linked glycosylation pattern in the neuroligin family, and glycosylation and its processing modify neuroligin activity. Incomplete processing of the protein and enzymatic removal of the oligosaccharides chain or the terminal sialic acids from neuroligin-1 enhance its activity, whereas deglycosylation of neurexin-1β did not alter its association capacity. In particular, the N-linked glycosylation at position 303 appears to be a major determinant in modifying the association with neurexin-1β. We show here that glycosylation processing of neuroligin, in addition to mRNA splicing and gene selection, contributes to the specificity of the neurexin-β/neuroligin-1 association.
Numerical study of hydrogen-air mixing flowfield in a typical combustor geometry

Abstract Simulation of the turbulent, nonreacting hydrogen air mixing flowfield in an axisymmetric, sudden expansion geometry is discussed. Numerical solutions for the compressible form of the full Navier-Stokes equations including the energy equation, the turbulence model equations and the species equation are obtained. The two-equation turbulence model used in the present work appears to be well suited for the present problem compared to algebraic eddy viscosity models and one-equation models. Compared with available experimental data, the numerical results indicate reasonable agreement in the distributions of velocity, mass fraction along both axial and radial directions and the wall static pressure.
Characterizing alcohol dependence: transitions during young and middle adulthood.

Psychometric research into the “nature” of alcohol use disorders seeks to evaluate nosologies of problematic alcohol involvement (see, e.g., Bucholz, Heath, Reich, Hesselbrock, Kramer, Nurnberger, & Schuckit., 1996; B. O. Muthen, Grant & Hasin, 1993) by describing the latent variables that underlie diagnostic data. Consideration of subtypes is informative because subtypes allow researchers to identify (and test theories regarding) specific subgroups of individuals with alcohol-related symptomatology (e.g., Babor, Hofmann, Del Boca, Hesselbrock, Meyer, Dolinsky, & Rounsaville, 1992; Bucholz et al., 1996). Alternately, approaches to characterizing trajectories (or course) of alcohol involvement have been developed, allowing researchers to characterize distinct temporal patterns of alcohol involvement over the course of time (e.g., Chassin, Pitts, & Prost, 2002; Colder, Campbell, Ruel, Richardson, & Flay, 2002; Li, Duncan, & Hops, 2001; Schulenberg, O’Malley, Bachman, Wadsworth, & Johnston, 1996a; Tucker, Orlando, & Ellickson, 2003). Although both subtyping and trajectory studies have provided valuable perspectives on problematic alcohol involvement, each has noteworthy limitations. Typological research uses a rich level of fine-grained detail but often is limited by reliance on cross-sectional assessment. The trajectory/course literature has suffered from the inverse limitation—relying on prospective assessments of a predominantly univariate universe (e.g., repeated assessments of binge drinking). A more comprehensive approach would ideally include assessment of alcohol indicators (e.g., individual dependence symptoms) within a longitudinal framework. The integration of these two approaches is the goal of the present study.
Synaptic exocytosis and nervous system development impaired in Caenorhabditis elegans unc-13 mutants.

Abstract C. elegans mutants defective in unc-13 exhibited severe behavioral abnormalities including paralyzed locomotion and slow pharyngeal pumping and irregular defecation cycle. Consistent with the phenotypes, the mutants accumulated abnormally high levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and were resistant to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The unc-13 gene was expressed in most, if not all, neurons when analyzed by using chimeric constructs consisting of the unc-13 promoter and green fluorescence protein or β-galactosidase reporter gene. While Ca2+-regulated acetylcholine release is lacking, the mutants were still able to release acetylcholine in vivo and in vitro at similar levels to that mediated by the regulated mechanism. Double mutants defective in both unc-13 and other genes involved in synaptic transmission showed the Unc-13 phenotype, rather than other mutant phenotypes, in terms of locomotion as well as of acetylcholine accumulation. Furthermore, electron microscopic reconstruction of the mutant nervous system uncovered that a majority of neurons developed and connected as those in the wild type except for subtle abnormalities including inappropriate connections through gap junctions and morphological alterations of neurons. These results demonstrate that the unc-13 gene product plays an essential role at a late stage in Ca2+-regulated synaptic exocytosis. Neurotransmitters released through the Ca2+-regulated mechanism are required for, but do not play major roles in the nervous system development. The large amount of Ca2+-independent neurotransmitter release observed in the unc-13 mutants suggests that there may be a distinct mechanism from evoked or spontaneous release in neurotransmission.
Helping the helpers: the development of a critical incident stress management team through university/community cooperation.

Prehospital emergency services personnel often are exposed to high levels of occupational stress. Besides chronic stress, they can be involved in critical incidents, which cause a well-recognized set of overwhelming emotional reactions. If these reactions are not addressed promptly, emergency responders and their families can suffer further emotional trauma, and this can impair the ability of responders to care for patients in the field. A critical incident stress management team has been established through cooperation between the Charleston Division of the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center and emergency personnel in Charleston, as well as the rural counties in southern West Virginia. This team provides preincident education and postincident interventions for firefighters, police, emergency medical services, and on occasion, hospital emergency department personnel. This team can serve as a model for other such teams to organize to deal with this growing problem in the health care delivery field.
Chairside color verification for facial prostheses

The coloring technique may be used for facial prosthetic materials that can be processed in gypsum molds. With different surface textures and varying thicknesses built into the technique, it is a reliable method for color verification of facial prosthesis before final processing.
Can we improve the perceived quality of economic forecasts

A number of topics are discussed concerning how economic forecasts can be improved in quality or at least in presentation. These include the following: using 50% uncertainty intervals rather than 95%; noting that even though forecasters use many different techniques, they are all occasionally incorrect in the same direction; that there is a tendency to underestimate changes; that some expectations and recently available data are used insufficiently; lagged forecasts errors can help compensate for structural breaks; series that are more forecastable could be emphasized and that present methods of evaluating forecasts do not capture the useful properties of some methods compared to alternatives.
A Lagrange-gamma multihit dose-response model for risk assessment

Abstract This paper investigates the use of Lagrange-gamma multihit dose-response model to perform toxic chemical risk assessment. A biological interpolation of the model in terms of the occurrence of k “hits” to cause toxic response and a statistical interpretation in terms of a Lagrange-gamma tolerance density are given. The parameters of the model are obtained by the method of maximum likelihood and are used to estimate a virtual safe dose.
Steel Semirigid Column–Tree Moment Resisting Frame Seismic Behavior

Semirigid moment-resisting frames can provide seismic resistance of buildings if the connections are engineered for ductile behavior. Columntree construction can utilize splice assemblies to provid...
Speaking anxiety, achievement, and crime: a response to Boor and Bair.

Use of context and conditional language provide perspective for preliminary data intended to stimulate research.
Congruence Between Near-Death and Mystical Experience

Near-death experiences, altered states during a brush with death, may include mystical features like a sense of sacredness and divine union, timelessness/spacelessness, positive mood, noetic quality, and ineffability. We quantified mystical elements in near-death experience by comparing responses on the Mysticism Scale of 292 near-death experiencers and 34 persons who had come close to death without near-death experiences. Two thirds of near-death experiencers reported mystical experiences during their brush with death, compared to none of the comparison survivors. Near-death experiencers scored higher on the Mysticism Scale than did nonexperiencers; they endorsed noetic quality, positive affect, and unity most often and ego loss, timelessness/spacelessness, and ineffability least often. Depth of near-death experience was correlated highly with scores on the Mysticism Scale, but factor analysis of features during the brush with death yielded two distinct factors representing mystical and near-death elemen...
Analyses of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in the malaria vector mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, as receptors of Cry11Ba toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan.

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan produces Cry11Ba crystal protein with high toxicity to mosquito larvae. The Cry11Ba toxicity is dependent on its receptors on mosquito larval midgut epithelial cells. Previously, a cadherin-like protein (AgCad2), aminopeptidase (AgAPN2) and alkaline phosphatase (AgALP1) were reported to be involved in regulation of Cry11Ba toxicity on Anopheles gambiae larvae. Here, the cDNAs encoding α-amylase (AgAmy1) and α-glucosidase (Agm3) were cloned from A. gambiae larva midgut. Both are glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored proteins on brush border membranes (BBMV). Immunohistochemistry revealed their localization on different regions of the larval midgut. AgAmy1 and Agm3 bound Cry11Ba with high affinity, 37.6 nM and 21.1 nM respectively. Cry11Ba toxicity against A. gambiae larvae was neutralized by both AgAmy1 and Agm3. The results provide evidence that both AgAmy1 and Agm3 function as receptors of Cry11Ba in A. gambiae.
SOLID AND SOLUTION PHASE ORGANIC SYNTHESES OF OLIGOMERIC THIOUREAS

In order to study supramolecular architectures built from unnatural oligomeric and polymeric structures, one must first have an efficient synthetic strategy to produce them. Oligomers built from thiourea groups should form complex secondary and tertiary structures due to the hydrogen-bonding capabilities of the thioureas. Herein, both solution and solid phase synthetic procedures that yield oligomeric thioureas are described. They rely on the coupling of an isothiocyanate with an amine to produce the thiourea linkage. The monomers are derived from simple diamines. Higher yields are achieved using the solid phase method due to the ability to easily monitor the extent of reaction, to use a large excess of reagent, and to perform purification after cleavage from the solid support. A variety of oligomers are given as examples. The procedure is quite general, should be easily extended to complex monomers, and will allow the investigation of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions.
Recognition of hapten-modified cells in vitro by human T lymphocytes

Abstract Clearer definition of the recognitive structures of human T lymphocytes for antigens will be required to elucidate the molecular basis of diseases and immunological responses induced or regulated by normal or abnormal T-cell function. For this purpose we have investigated the cellular requirements for immune responses in vitro to trinitrophenyl-conjugated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The responding cell was characterized as a T cell on the basis of rosetting with sheep erythrocytes. T-cell recognition of hapten in proliferative responses depended upon presentation of antigen in an appropriate stimulator-cell context. Neither autologous hapten-modified erythrocytes nor T cells restimulated responses of in vitro-primed lymphocytes. Moreover, hapten-conjugated non-T cells were more effective than modified unfractionated cells in restimulating proliferative responses. Both macrophages and non-T lymphocytes effectively restimulated hapten-conjugate responses. Cell-mixing experiments indicated that the failure of haptenated T cells to stimulate proliferative responses was not because of a lack of fresh macrophages; these experiments suggested instead that T cells do not express appropriate structures necessary to present haptenic determinants in an immunogenic form. Hapten-modified T cells, however, were capable of inducing primed lymphocytes to become efficient cytotoxic effector cells, indicating that T-cell recognitive units for stimulation of proliferative and cytotoxic responses are different. These data support the concept that for induction of proliferative responses, human T cells recognize conventional antigens in association with HLA-D-region-encoded Ia-like molecules.
Lateral Pterygoid Plate Fractures Associated With Mandible Fractures

ImportanceClassically, pterygoid plate fractures have been associated with fractures of the mid-face and skull base. When isolated pterygoid plate fractures are identified on imaging that only exte...
Non-Invasive Monitoring of Left Ventricular Contractility and Ventilatory Mechanics

The maximum left ventricular elastance (Elv max ) is a valuable index of ventricular contractility. However, conventional methods for its measurements are too invasive for routine use. We propose a non-invasive technique for tracking changes in Elv max by mathematically determining the dynamic coupling between beat-to-beat fluctuations in instantaneous lung volume and arterial blood pressure measured during random-interval breathing. The mathematical technique also provides an estimate of the dominant time constant of the ventilatory system (tau), which is equal to the product of the airway resistance and lung compliance. We then describe a theoretical evaluation of the technique with respect to realistic beat-to-beat variability generated by a cardiovascular simulator. Our results show that the technique is able to detect actual changes in the Elv max and tau values of the simulator. With successful experimental testing, the technique may ultimately be employed to help guide therapy in heart failure patients
Comparative tolerability of the newer generation antiparkinsonian agents

In recent years, the treatment of Parkinson’s disease has undergone an immense amount of research, resulting in the development of multiple new medications. This has largely been fuelled by dissatisfaction over the development of motor complications secondary to long term levodopa therapy.
Radiographic stability of ingrowth humeral stems in total shoulder arthroplasty.

Cemented and uncemented stem types are available for TSA. An early uncemented stem designed for bone ingrowth had radiographic loosening of approximately 10% at intermediate followup (mean 4.6 years). Subsequent stem modifications included circumferential metaphyseal porous coating to enhance ingrowth and reduce loosening rates. We asked whether the radiographic loosening rates would be lower after this design modification and whether the pain score and ROM would be improved. We reviewed the medical records and radiographs of 76 patients undergoing primary TSA with circumferential metaphyseal porous-coated stems for osteoarthritis between 1995 and 2005. All patients had a complete standardized series of radiographs preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final followup. Humeral stems were evaluated for any radiolucent lines by zone, progression of lucencies, and shift in component position. The minimum radiographic followup was 25 months (average, 52 months; range, 25–90 months). There were no radiolucencies seen on the initial postoperative radiographs. Five stems had 1-mm radiolucent lines in one to four of eight zones at final followup. One had a glenoid component judged at risk. None of the humeral components were judged at risk or loose or to have shifted. The pain scores and ROM improved postoperatively. Proximally coated humeral stems for TSA showed few radiolucencies and no loosening at short- to midterm followup, reflecting an improvement over previous series. We now use these stems for primary TSAs and reserve cemented stems only when uncemented fixation is not possible owing to bony deficiency. Level IV, case series. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Daubechies framework based Diffracted Gaussian beam approach on parallel computing platforms

Multi-reflector based collimation antennas are widely used in microwave remote sensing and millimeter wave imaging. For design and analysis of these antenna systems, many methods have been introduced of which the Diffracted Gaussian beam approach (DGBA) is among the most popular. For electrically large reflector antennas, the computation of reflection and diffraction for gigantic number of elementary Gaussian beams demands huge computational resources. To simulate a reflector antenna in hundreds to thousands of wavelength, it may require independent Gaussian beams ranging from tens of millions to a billion, which is extremely time-consuming on conventional computers. To this end, the parallel computer provides one of ultimate solutions since reflection and diffraction of each Gaussian beam can be simulated separately on different CPUs simultaneously. In this paper we present the DGBA simulation of a reflector antenna system on high performance parallel computing platforms, based on Message Passing Interface (MPI).
Career Counseling Specialty: History, Development, and Prospect.

This article contains an overview of the historical development of the specialized practice, preparation standards, and credentialing of career counseling. Discussion also focuses on commonalities of career counseling, general counseling, and other specialized forms of counseling, with attention to questions and implications for the future of career counseling practice and standards.
Digenic inheritance in medical genetics

Digenic inheritance (DI) is the simplest form of inheritance for genetically complex diseases. By contrast with the thousands of reports that mutations in single genes cause human diseases, there are only dozens of human disease phenotypes with evidence for DI in some pedigrees. The advent of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) has made it simpler to identify monogenic disease causes and could similarly simplify proving DI because one can simultaneously find mutations in two genes in the same sample. However, through 2012, I could find only one example of human DI in which HTS was used; in that example, HTS found only the second of the two genes. To explore the gap between expectation and reality, I tried to collect all examples of human DI with a narrow definition and characterise them according to the types of evidence collected, and whether there has been replication. Two strong trends are that knowledge of candidate genes and knowledge of protein–protein interactions (PPIs) have been helpful in most published examples of human DI. By contrast, the positional method of genetic linkage analysis, has been mostly unsuccessful in identifying genes underlying human DI. Based on the empirical data, I suggest that combining HTS with growing networks of established PPIs may expedite future discoveries of human DI and strengthen the evidence for them.
Biphasic Constrictor Response of the Rabbit Ear Artery

The perfused rabbit ear artery shows a biphasic contractile response to intraluminal norepinephrine and sympathetic nerve stimulation. The peak of the first phase occurs after approximately 10 seconds of exposure to NE, and the second, after 1½ to 2 minutes. The magnitudes of the two responses are similar. The time course of the second phase of contraction is similar to the rate of saturation of the vessel's extracellular space as measured by tissue uptake of tritiated norepinephrine. On the other hand, the first phase of contraction occurs when norepinephrine has penetrated only partly into the media. It is proposed that the two phases of contraction are due to different mechanisms of excitation and that the first phase is associated with excitation of the surface layer of smooth muscle cells with subsequent myogenic propagation of excitation through the thickness of the vessel wall. The second may be related to the local concentration of norepinephrine in the extracellular space of the vessel.
RELEASE OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER BY MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON IN COASTAL AND OFFSHORE AREAS OF THE NORTHEAST PACIFIC OCEAN1

The rate of release of dissolved organic matter during phytoplankton photosynthesis was measured in eutrophic and oligotrophic areas of the Northeast Pacific Ocean. A method using liquid scintillation counting techniques is described that allows sample preparation to be done simply and accurately at sea. The absolute amounts of dissolved organic matter release were generally greatest near the surface and in eutrophic waters, but relative to total production were greatest in oligotrophic areas. A close correlation was found between the production of particulate organic matter and the release of dissolved organic matter.
Integrated Maintenance – The Logical Solution

Plants and production lines have specific problems in regard to maintenance, which is a very costly fact of business life. A major company outlines its policy for keeping machines, equipment and people working by use of its maintenance plan. Far more control remains in the hands of a company that takes advantage of a planned maintenance arrangement such as is described.
Vitamin D and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes: The Potential Sunny Vitamin D Effects Are Clouded by Unclear Evidence

What are the recommended intakes for vitamin D? What concentration of 25-hydoxyvitamin D delineates “normal” from vitamin D deficient? These recurring questions have received considerable attention and debate. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) used a systematic, evidence-based review approach to make its recommended dietary allowances for vitamin D, including a critical evaluation of the plethora of evidence relevant to the role of vitamin D in human health and disease. According to the 2011 IOM report (1), despite a large body of scientific evidence supporting the potential role of vitamin D in preventing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, these data were deemed insufficient to inform nutritional requirements. How could such substantial evidence have had minimal influence on the IOM recommended intakes for vitamin D? In a recent commentary in …
Effect of Supplemental Dietary Chromium or Nicotinic Acid on Carbohydrate Metabolism During Basal, Starvation, and Refeeding Periods in Poults

A series of experiments were conducted with turkey poults to ascertain the effects of supplemental chromium or excess of nicotinic acid on growth and carbohydrate metabolism. A 23% protein starter diet was selected to emphasize the effect of chromium under basal, starvation for 48 hr, and refeeding periods. Thirty percent protein diets were also used to determine if the effects were compounded by protein levels. Supplemental chromium (20 ppm) significantly increased (P less than .05) weight at 3 weeks of age of poults consuming 23% protein diets, while an additional 250 ppm of nicotinic acid had little effect on poult weight at 3 weeks (P greater than .05). Supplemental chromium did not increase (P greater than .05) feed consumption of poults consuming both 23 and 30% protein diets. Supplemental chromium increased liver glycogen at 3 weeks of age and following refeeding after the 48 hr fast (P less than .05). Blood glucose was significantly affected by starvation-refeeding (P less than .05) but was not affected by either chromium or nicotinic acid. Supplemental chromium increased (P less than .01) active glycogen synthetase, while nicotinic acid increased (P less than .01) active phosphorylase at both protein levels. Synthetase was not decreased by starvation but was increased (P less than .01) by refeeding regardless of protein level fed. Phosphorylase was not affected by a starvation-refeeding regimen. Chromium supplementation increased in the vitro incorporation of (14C) glucose into glycogen during basal, starvation and refeeding periods (P less than .01), again, regardless of protein level.
The Role of GIS in Selecting Sites for Riparian Restoration Based on Hydrology and Land Use

Successful long-term wetland restoration efforts require consideration of hydrology and surrounding land use during the site selection process. This article describes an approach to initial site selection in the San Luis Rey River watershed in southern California that uses watershed-level information on basin topography and land cover to rank the potential suitability of all sites within a watershed for either preservation or restoration. This approach requires the use of a geographic information system (GIS) to map relative wetness and land cover within a watershed. Relative potential wetness values were derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 30-m digital elevation models by calculating the flow that would potentially accumulate at all 30-m x 30-m pixels within the watershed. Land cover was derived from a Landsat scene covering the 1500 km 2 study area. We ranked sites (contiguous groups of pixels > 1 ha with similar land cover) in terms of their potential for restoration or preservation based on their wetness values (low, medium, and high), size, and proximity to existing riparian vegetation. Sites with medium or high wetness values and extant vegetation were identified as potential preservation sites. Agricultural or barren sites with medium to high wetness were identified as potential restoration sites. Approximately 5500 ha (3.67% of the total watershed) were prioritized for preservation or restoration.
Single Channel Studies of Inward Rectifier Potassium Channel Regulation by Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Negative regulation of the heartbeat rate involves the activation of an inwardly rectifying potassium current (IKACh) by G protein–coupled receptors such as the m2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. Recent studies have shown that this process involves the direct binding of Gβγ subunits to the NH2- and COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domains of the proteins termed GIRK1 and GIRK4 (Kir3.1 and Kir3.4/CIR), which mediate IKACh. Because of the very low basal activity of native IKACh, it has been difficult to determine the single channel effect of Gβγ subunit binding on IKACh activity. Through analysis of a novel G protein–activated chimeric inward rectifier channel that displays increased basal activity relative to IKACh, we find that single channel activation can be explained by a G protein–dependent shift in the equilibrium of open channel transitions in favor of a bursting state of channel activity over a long-lived closed state.
Effect of synchrotron X-ray radiation on the channel hot-carrier reliability of reoxidized nitrided silicon dioxide

Channel hot-carrier-induced degradation was studied in reoxidized nitrided oxide n-channel MOSFETs which were exposed to 1-2-keV X-rays from a synchrotron source. It is found that transconductance degradation under high gate bias stress (Vg=1.3 V/sub d/) is enhanced by the X-ray exposure to a lesser degree in reoxidized nitrided oxide (RNO) devices than in conventional oxide devices. This indicates that radiation generates fewer electron traps in RNO than in a conventional oxide. >
The influence of physical training on glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in middle-aged hypertriglyceridaemic, carbohydrate intolerant men

The effects of 9 weeks of moderate intensity exercise training while on a weight-maintaining diet were studied in 19 untrained middle-aged, hypertriglyceridaemic, carbohydrate intolerant men. Initial mean maximum oxygen consumption was low (29.7 +/- 1.0 ml.min-1.kg-1; mean +/- SEM) and improved (34.2 +/- 1.4 ml.min-1.kg-1, p less than 0.01) with exercise training. Fasting glucose, insulin, lipid and lipoprotein concentrations did not change. While the abnormal glucose response to oral glucose did not change with training, insulin concentrations were significantly (p less than 0.05) lower at 90 and 120 min during the final oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin mediated glucose uptake did not change, indicating that the degree of exercise training failed to improve in vivo insulin sensitivity. Significant associations were found between the following parameters measured: fasting concentrations of triglycerides and insulin, very low density lipoprotein-triglycerides and glucose, and measures of in vivo insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels, suggesting that insulin resistance in these glucose intolerant subjects may play a role in their hypertriglyceridaemia. These data indicate that moderate increases in physical training alone are not sufficient to improve the carbohydrate, insulin and lipid metabolism of hypertriglyceridaemic, glucose intolerant men.
In situ hybridization assay-based small molecule screening in zebrafish

In vitro biochemical and cell-based small molecule screens have been widely used to identify compounds that target specific signaling pathways. But the identified compounds frequently fail at the animal testing stage, largely due to the in vivo absorption, metabolism and toxicity of chemicals. Zebrafish has recently emerged as a vertebrate whole organism model for small molecule screening. The in vivo bioactivity and specificity of compounds are examined from the very beginning of zebrafish screens. In addition, zebrafish is suitable for chemical screens at a large scale similar to cellular assays. This protocol describes an approach for in situ hybridization (ISH)-based chemical screening in zebrafish, which, in principle, can be used to screen any gene product. The described protocol has been used to identify small molecules affecting specific molecular pathways and biological processes. It can also be adapted to zebrafish screens with different readouts.
Simultaneous object segmentation, multiple object tracking and alpha map generation

This paper presents an object-based video modeling. Motion segmentation is performed at the initial frame to identify different coherently moving regions, called motion-objects. These regions are grouped to form objects. Each motion-object is fitted a content-based mesh, and tracked subsequently to the next frame via mesh motion estimation and compensation. The uncovered background region(s), which emerges when objects move, will be segmented so as to identify the new objects or occluded parts of already existing objects. The mesh model is modified to reflect the changes in object boundaries.
Factors Related to the Likelihood of Hiring a Health Advocate

This study was designed to explore factors related to the likelihood of hiring a health advocate. Independent variables were selected from the health service use model to capture predisposing, enabling, and illness-level factors. Participants were 889 adults (M age = 50.9 years, SD = 17.9 years, 52% female) recruited from a large cultural park in San Diego, California during the spring and summer of 2008. Participants read a description of a health advocate and completed a brief set of questions on age, gender, confidence in health care, effort maintaining health, self-rated health, and the likelihood of hiring a health advocate. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that participants age 40-64 , non-Caucasians , participants who exerted more effort maintaining their health , and participants 65 and older who were less satisfied with their social support reported greater likelihood of hiring a health advocate. Findings were similar to those of studies that applied the health service use model to predict use of other health services, such as medical visits. These findings suggest factors that health care organizations offering health advocacy services could consider when targeting potential clients.
Making the Invisible Process Visible: A Kinesthetic Approach to Explicit Reading Comprehension Strategy Instruction in Early Primary Grades

Reading instruction in early primary grades tends to focus on segmenting words into sounds and there is little emphasis on explicitly teaching reading comprehension strategies.Through a kinesthetic approach, I attempted to make the invisible process of applying reading comprehension strategies visible. Students used a remote, similar to that of a TV, to play and pause their reading process.This enabled them to effectively use meaning-making strategies which took shape through signaling. Students would physically motion to themselves various signs which indicated the four reading comprehension strategies modeled in my think alouds (visualization, questioning, making predictions and making connections). The outcome was a highly motivated group of grade one students who could apply reading comprehension strategies and engage in discourse that reflected a higher level of understanding.
Improving Marketing Students' Writing Skills Using a One-Page Paper.

Employers of marketing graduates view good writing as a core marketing skill, but many marketing students are weak writers. The improvement of student writing should therefore be an important objective in a well-designed marketing curriculum. One-page papers combine the effective teaching of marketing concepts with writing instruction while keeping demands on instructor time manageable. This innovation most improves the writing of weaker writers in a class. Combined with a more challenging group writing assignment, it provides a mechanism for improving the writing skill of all class members while fostering an ability to thoughtfully apply marketing concepts to solve unstructured problems.
Aging, oxidative responses, and proliferative capacity in cultured mouse aortic smooth muscle cells.

The cellular mechanisms that contribute to the acceleration of atherosclerosis in aging populations are poorly understood, although it is hypothesized that changes in the proliferative capacity of vascular smooth muscle cells is contributory. We addressed the relationship among aging, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proliferation in primary culture smooth muscle cells (SMC) derived from the aortas of young (4 mo old) and aged (16 mo old) mice to understand the phenotypic modulation of these cells as aging occurs. SMC from aged mice had decreased proliferative capacity in response to α-thrombin stimulation, yet generated higher levels of ROS and had constitutively increased mitogen-activated protein kinase activity, in comparison with cells from younger mice. These effects may be explained by dysregulation of cell cycle-associated proteins such as cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 in SMC from aged mice. Increased ROS generation was associated with decreased endogenous antioxidant activity, increased lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial DNA damage. Accrual of oxidant-induced damage and decreased proliferative capacity in SMC may explain, in part, the age-associated transition to plaque instability in humans with atherosclerosis.
FRACTURES OF THE SPINE WITHOUT PARAPLEGIA—A STUDY OF ELEVEN CASES

Fractures of the vertebral bodies and lumbar transverse processes are not infrequent injuries but are generally overlooked. These fractures cause steady pain in the back but need not be accompanied by any neurological symptoms. Localized tenderness over the spinous processes should always suggest the possibility of fracture of the spine, and if in addition to localized tenderness there is a dis-alinement of the spinous processes, the diagnosis is almost certain. The kyphos caused by compression fractures may readily be mistaken for the deformity of a bad posture. Treatment should consist in prolonged fixation of the spine in extension by plaster jackets or permanent splinting of the spine by a bone grafting operation.