cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A retrospective, population-based cohort study of driving under the influence, Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, and survival.

ABSTRACTIntroduction:The relationship between Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and alcohol addiction is poorly characterized. Arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) can serve as a proxy for alcohol addiction. Therefore, the potential association between DUI and AD could be helpful in understanding the relationship between alcohol abuse and AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective, population-based cohort study using state health and law enforcement data was performed. The study cross-referenced 141,281 South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry cases with state law enforcement data. RESULTS Of the 2,882 registry cases (1.4%) found to have a history of at least one DUI arrest, cases were predominantly White (58.7%) and male (77.4%). Results showed a correlation coefficient of 0.7 (p < 0.0001) between the age of first DUI arrest and the age of AD diagnosis. A dose-response relationship between the number of DUIs and age of AD onset was found to exist, where those with a history of DUI arrest were diagnosed an average of 9.1 years earlier, with a further 1.8 years earlier age at diagnosis in those with two or more arrests for DUI. A history of DUI arrest was also found to be negatively associated with survival after diagnosis, with a 10% decreased life expectancy in those with a DUI arrest history. CONCLUSIONS Driving under the influence, a potential indicator of alcohol addiction, is associated with an earlier onset of AD registry diagnosis and shortened survival after diagnosis. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting that some cases of AD are alcohol related and, possibly, postponable or preventable.
Natural degradation of low-level petroleum hydrocarbon contamination under crop management

Natural degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) is a crucial process to consider when managing contaminated soils. However, the degradation rate is dictated by site-specific environmental factors and contaminant characteristics, so it is highly variable. Thus, region-specific research is required to determine the capacity of natural degradation processes to reach cleanup goals. This study describes the natural degradation of low levels of Bakken crude oil contamination in the Northern Great Plains, USA. Soils contaminated by PHC from an accidental release of Bakken crude oil in western North Dakota, USA, were used to construct research plots adjacent to an active remediation site. The plots had four different initial PHC concentrations, 1400, 700, 220, and 100 mg kg−1, and they were monitored over two growing seasons under crop production. The wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) grown in the plots were assessed for uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). After two growing seasons under crop management, PHC concentrations were reduced between 46 and 53%. Neither the incorporation of composted manure nor the depth of sampling had any effect of PHC reduction, indicating that initial concentration is the driving factor in determining how long it will take to meet a given threshold. Half-life values ranged from 455 to 573 days, which is critical information for land managers determining the best remediation approach. Notably, crops grown in these contaminated soils did not show increased risk of plant uptake of PAHs. Overall, these findings indicate that soil PHC concentrations decrease while producing common agricultural crops in this region, and the crops grown in these contaminated soils show no increased risk to crop safety. Thus, depending on specific project goals, continuing a normal crop rotation may be a viable management strategy for low-level soil contamination in this region.
The Effects of Dissociation on Analogue Trauma Symptoms After Trauma Processing Among Women With Varying Histories of Lifespan Victimization

Research has identified two subtypes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); the traditional form that includes hyperarousal reactions, and the other involving ongoing dissociation. Dissociation has been reflected in the new diagnostic criteria for PTSD with the dissociative specification focused on the experience of high levels of depersonalization and/or derealization. PTSD that presents with ongoing dissociation appears to characterize complex cases of PTSD for individuals exposed to protracted trauma. Yet, our understanding of the role of dissociation in relation to PTSD symptoms is limited with inconsistent empirical findings. This study aims to elucidate the complex associations between trauma, dissociation, and trauma-relevant symptomatology. In total, 60 female interpersonal trauma survivors completed baseline measures of trauma and dissociation, and at least a week later, they completed self-report measures of state trauma intrusions, guilt, and anxiety before and after participating in a trauma recall task to examine dissociative tendencies on analogue trauma-related symptoms. After data collection, participants were categorized into two groups; individuals with multiple forms of lifetime interpersonal trauma versus individuals with trauma isolated to single-type trauma in childhood and/or adulthood. Results revealed trauma intrusions, guilt, and anxiety increased after trauma recall overall, though trauma groups differed in the manifestation of these outcomes. In addition, less depersonalization and greater derealization predicted increases in anxiety overall, though this only remained true for those exposed to multiple-type lifespan traumas. Results reveal dissociative tendencies may be most relevant in the processing of trauma-related material for those exposed to multiple types of trauma throughout the lifespan. Implications for treatment of trauma survivors with different clinical presentations are discussed.
Career Education Needs of Secondary Educable Students

The major purpose of this study was to identify the needs of secondary level educable mentally retarded students and the competencies teachers must have to meet these needs. From the data received at a conference for state and national authorities, a field questionnaire was developed and sent to 30 randomly selected administrators and 251 secondary level teachers of the educable retarded in Wisconsin. The results showed that a greater emphasis is needed to prepare secondary teachers of the educable retarded with knowledge and skills in vocational rehabilitation and vocational education. The teachers indicated that increased involvement of other school and out-of-school personnel was needed to meet some of their students primary needs, and that a prevocational coordinator position was especially needed. The study reflected needed changes in both regular and special education teacher preparation.
Potential circadian and circannual rhythm contributions to the obesity epidemic in elementary school age children

Children gain weight at an accelerated rate during summer, contributing to increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in elementary-school children (i.e., approximately 5 to 11 years old in the US). Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 14:100, 2017 explained these changes with the “Structured Days Hypothesis” suggesting that environmental changes in structure between the school year and the summer months result in behavioral changes that ultimately lead to accelerated weight gain. The present article explores an alternative explanation, the circadian clock, including the effects of circannual changes and social demands (i.e., social timing resulting from societal demands such as school or work schedules), and implications for seasonal patterns of weight gain. We provide a model for understanding the role circadian and circannual rhythms may play in the development of child obesity, a framework for examining the intersection of behavioral and biological causes of obesity, and encouragement for future research into bio-behavioral causes of obesity in children.
Diagnosis of an Inverter by Clark Transform Technique Based on Neural Network

Inverters are widely used as electrical drive systems in many industrial applications. The inverter IGBT switch open-circuit fault; object of our study; is one type of the inverter faults that attracts the attention of many researchers. In this paper an open-circuit fault detection technique is proposed using the artificial neural network (ANN) aided by the Clarke transform. The technique is presented according to two approaches. The first approach calculates the Clarke stator currents and other quantities such as the intervals fault angles α and the trajectory surface S. Once all these quantities are obtained, they are then introduced to the ANN structure for the learning process; the output obtained from the ANN corresponds to the exact angle related to the inverter IGBT switch open-circuit fault. The second approach follows exactly the same calculation steps as the first approach except that in this case all the computation is performed within the ANN architecture. To illustrate the effectiveness of the technique and validate the results, some experimental works are conducted using a three-phase voltage inverter fed induction motor.
Expressive suppression mediates the relation between disordered eating and suicidal ideation

OBJECTIVE Although disordered eating is robustly associated with suicidal thoughts, it is not well understood why these conditions relate to each other. Emotion dysregulation is a shared risk factor for disordered eating and suicidal thoughts. Individuals with dysregulated emotions struggle to select appropriate strategies to modulate emotions and the strategies they use might explain some of the shared variances. Thus, we examined whether emotion regulation strategies mediated the relationship between disordered eating and suicidal ideation. METHOD Adult participants (N = 230) completed questionnaires on current disordered eating symptoms, emotion regulation strategies, and current suicidal ideation. RESULTS Disordered eating symptoms positively associated with suicidal ideation. In addition, expressive suppression mediated the relation between disordered eating symptoms and current suicidal ideation. No relation was found for cognitive reappraisal. CONCLUSIONS The use of expressive suppression as an emotion regulation strategy may be related to increased suicidal ideation in individuals who express concerns about eating.
Modified karapandzic flap with radial forearm free flap to reconstruct a large composite upper lip and palate defect: Case report and anatomic study

Abstract Functional reconstruction of a combined upper lip and palatal defect presents surgical challenges that differ from either type of defect in isolation. While useful in obtaining tissue coverage for large defects, free flaps lack the ability to re-establish oral muscular function. Further, local or regional flaps are limited by the amount of adjacent tissue that can be recruited without causing excessive deformity. We present a case of an 81-year-old female with a history of recurrent verrucous carcinoma of the anterior maxillary vestibule. The patient underwent wide local excision, resulting in a large hard palate and alveolar defect combined with a complex upper lip defect. A modified Karapandzic flap with bilateral peri-alar extensions and a fasciocutaneous radial forearm free flap were used to restore oral function and close the palatal defect, respectively. In our case, this combined approach allowed for aesthetic reconstruction of the upper lip and functional closure of a large oral nasal fistula. At one year, the patient demonstrates a healthy palatal flap with closure of the oronasal fistula and a competent oral sphincter.
Safety and Efficacy of Sacroplasty for Sacral Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sacroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic and malignant sacral fractures by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing literature. Materials and Methods PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were searched from their inception until February 2018 for articles describing sacroplasty. Inclusion criteria were as follows: studies reporting > 5 patients, and pain assessment before and after the procedure recorded with visual analog scale (VAS). Demographic data, procedural details, technical success rates, VAS scores before and after the procedure, and procedural complications were recorded. A random-effects meta-analyses of the VAS pain score before the procedure, at 24–48 hours, at 6 months, and at 12 months were calculated. Results Nineteen studies (18 case series and 1 cohort study) were identified consisting of 861 total patients (682 women and 167 men; mean age 73.89 ± 9.73 years). Patients underwent sacroplasty for the following indications: sacral insufficiency fractures secondary to osteoporosis (n = 664), malignancy (n = 167), and nonspecified sacral insufficiency fractures (n = 30). Technical and clinical successes were achieved in 98.9% (852/861) and 95.7% (623/651) of patients undergoing sacroplasty, respectively. The pooled major complication rate was 0.3%, with 3 patients requiring surgical decompression for cement leakage. Random-effects meta-analyses demonstrated statistically significant differences in the VAS pain level at preprocedure, 24–48 hours, 6 months, and 12 months, with cumulative pain scores of 8.32 ± 0.01, 3.55 ± 0.01, 1.48 ± 0.01, and 0.923 ± 0.01, respectively. Conclusions Sacroplasty appears safe and effective for pain relief in patients with osteoporotic or malignant sacral fractures, with statistically significant sustained improvement in VAS pain scores up to 12 months.
Necessary Adaptations to CBT with Pediatric Patients

Within pediatric medical settings, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) shows promise for treatment targets such as anxiety, depression, pain, and somatic symptoms, as well as adherence to medical regimens and family challenges. This chapter will describe a CBT framework for understanding behavioral health symptoms and discuss the role of physical symptoms in this model. Guidance on tailoring CBT approaches for these medical targets and sensitively adapting core CBT principles and interventions to improve “goodness-of-fit” for medically compromised youth will be discussed. Limitations and common pitfalls in applying CBT with medical illness will also be highlighted.
The Epidemiology and Economic Impact of Spine Pain

Millions of Americans suffer from acute and chronic spine pain, resulting in a significant physical, emotional, and financial burden. In order for physicians to be effective in making care decisions that improve patient outcomes within the context of healthcare reform and significant financial pressures, it is critical that we understand the epidemiology and financial impact of spine-related pain. This chapter is intended to review the epidemiology of spine pain and its economic impact in the United States.
The Mystery Room: discovering the flexibility of an information literacy-based educational escape room

The Mystery Room is an educational escape room based on information literacy and applied to multiple audiences, including first-year students and library student employees. In this article, we expl...
Difference in the risk of depressive symptoms associated with physical activity in persons with diabetes: Across age, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Abstract Background To investigate the link between depressive symptoms and physical activity (PA) by examining their association across genders, age, and race/ethnicity. Methods Data of the cross-sectional study were from the 2011 and 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The Patient Health Questionnaire-8, a well-validated instrument to measure depressive symptoms was used. PA was categorized as active, moderately active, and inactive. A generalized linear model specified with a Poisson distribution and log link was performed to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and PA across population characteristics. Results No significant association between PA and depressive symptoms between genders and across racial/ethnic groups was found. Persons aged 65 years or older showed a significantly lower risk of depressive symptoms than those below 45 years when physically active (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio (APR) 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16–0.82) and moderately active (APR 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16–0.98). Limitations The study included only leisure-time PA. Well-designed surveys that reflect a wider scope of PA are needed to strengthen the analysis. Conclusions Compared to younger adults, older adults may gain further health benefits in reducing the risk of depressive symptoms by being physically active. Similar health benefits may be gained from PA between genders and between racial/ethnic groups. The different association between PA and depressive symptoms provides practical implications for the effective management of depressive symptoms in persons with diabetes.
Toward an inclination to advocate: a discursive study of teachers’ stance toward linguistically-responsive pedagogy in online language teacher education

An inclination to advocate is an important orientation for teachers working with emergent bilingual learners; emphasized in both frameworks for teacher education and in teacher education standards....
Brush-Painted Solar Cells from Pre-Crystallized Components in a Nonhalogenated Solvent System Prepared by a Simple Stirring Technique

Extensive efforts have been employed to improve the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. One of the most successful approaches is the morphological control of the solar cells’ active...
Prediction of surface irrigation advance using soil intake properties

A simple method for predicting surface irrigation advance trajectories using infiltration parameters and inflow rate as inputs was developed. The difference between the inflow rate and the sum of infiltration rates over the wetted portion of the field equals the flow rate available for advance. An average (characteristic) infiltration rate ahead of the wet portion is computed using a fixed time step. An advance step (for a fixed time step) is calculated from the ratio of the flow rate available for advance and characteristic infiltration rate. Predictions of advance by the proposed method were compared with field observations, with the kinematic wave model, and with analytical solutions of Philip and Farrell (1964). In all cases, the method provided predictions that were in good agreement with field observations, and performed similarly to the kinematic wave model. The method offers a simple and efficient tool for prediction and evaluation of surface irrigation systems under various soil types and variable inflow rates. The method is particularly useful for predictions in fields with spatially and temporally variable intake properties.
A Superstructure for Models of Quality

With additional quality modeling features added to conceptual models, computers could play a greater role in ensuring a higher level of quality in the information we model. For information-discovery applications, these additional conceptual modeling features should automatically accommodate certainty and conflicting information, support evidence-based research, automate collaboration, and provide research guidance. To address these issues, we propose a superstructure that adds four additional abstraction layers to typical conceptual models: a knowledge layer, an evidence layer, a communication layer, and an action layer. We show by a running example the benefits these abstraction layers provide for increasing the quality of the information being modeled.
Dynamic Response of Elasto-Plastic Frames

This paper presents the results of an analytical investigation involving a single mass system that has an idealized elasto-plastic resistance deformation relationship and that is subjected to the ground motion measured by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey during the May 1940 E1 Centro earthquake. The Basic parameters that are varied in this investigation are the natural period, ultimate strength, and damping of the system. All results are presented during the simulated earthquake input plotted against natural period for various combinations of ultimate strength and damping.
Fracture of brittle solids: Continuum aspects of crack propagation II: nonlinear crack-tip field

Irwin's generalisation of the Griffith concept, as outlined in the previous chapter, provides us with a powerful tool for handling the mechanics of fracture. In particular, by balancing mechanical energy released against surface energy gained we have a thermodynamically sound criterion for predicting when an ideally brittle crack will extend. But the Irwin mechanics tell us nothing as to how that crack extends. Whenever we have had occasion to refer to events at the tip the description has proved totally inadequate. The singularities in the continuum linear elastic solutions simply cannot be reconciled with any physically realistic local rupture process. Assuming the first law of thermodynamics to be beyond question, it is clear that some vital element is missing in the fracture mechanics: it is not the Griffith energy balance that is at issue here, but rather the mechanism by which this balance is effected. In this chapter we question the adequacy of the linear continuum representation of matter. Real solids tend to a maximum in the intrinsic stress–strain characteristic. This is true even of perfectly brittle solids which fracture by bond rupture. In addition, crack growth can be accompanied by deformation processes in the near-tip field. Such deformation can be highly dissipative. If there is to be any proper basis for understanding the behaviour of ‘tough’ ceramics and other brittle materials for structural applications we must include provision for nonlinear and irreversible elements in the equilibrium fracture mechanics.
A Review of “Modern and American Dignity: Who We Are As Persons and What That Means for Our Future”

Peter Augustine Lawler's Modern and American Dignity is both a reader's delight and a reviewer's nightmare. Each of its twelve chapters teems with substance, and many of them could have been turned...
Does familiarity with text breed complacency or vigilance

Proofreading one's own writing is difficult due to the overfamiliarity of one's writing, which has been claimed to conceal errors, even extraneous errors inserted by someone else (as in collaborative writing). In the present research, we examined whether increasing one's familiarity with text can indeed have a negative influence on error detection. Participants were asked to identify word errors in different contexts: a passage that was unfamiliar, previously read, copied, memorised or paraphrased. These tasks represented a continuum of progressively more demanding and time-consuming activities, which were thought to lead to comparable increases in text familiarity. Greater familiarity with the text to be proofread was expected to improve its predictability and thus the likelihood of overlooking errors. In agreement with the level-of-familiarity account, as the delay between memorising and proofreading increased so did the proportion of errors detected per minute.
Novel reconfigurable leaky-wave aperture with tunable directivity

This paper presents a novel reconfigurable aperture using leaky-wave radiation with tunable directivity. This property is achieved by controlling the wave propagation in a metamaterial based structure. The wave can be made a fast wave (radiation) or slow wave (guidance) in different sections of the structure by changing bias voltages of varactor diodes loaded on the aperture. Thus, the radiation aperture size is reconfigurable in electronic manner, so that beamwidth is also tunable. The proposed idea is experimentally demonstrated at a fixed frequency, 2.6 GHz. A slow wave factor (SWF) is plotted from a measured phase of S21. Comparing with the complete structure in a fast wave region, a half-power beam-width (HPBW) is increased from 58deg to 90deg in the case that a half of structure is in a fast wave region and the other is in a slow wave region
Evolution and Internal Rotation of the Sun

This paper describes how stellar evolution studies assist in determining the current internal rotation of the Sun, and understanding the physical processes that lead to it from a significantly different proto-Sun. It summarizes the formalism which converts solar rotation into an initial value problem in terms of parameters whose values can be inferred from observations of solar analogues. The main perceived source of uncertainty in the initial angular momentum distribution, and the angular momentum redistribution and loss processes are discussed. These uncertainties are then related to our inability to produce a model of the present Sun totally compatible with solar observations. The most promising next steps to be taken on this problem are then suggested.
Occupational lung cancer

The Contribution of Occupational Exposures to Lung Cancer. The overall importance of occupational agents as a cause of lung cancer has been a controversial subject since the 1970s. A federal report, released in the late 1970s, projected a surprisingly high burden of occupational lung cancer; for asbestos and four other agents, from 61,000 to 98,000 cases annually were attributed to these agents alone. Many estimates followed, some much more conservative. For example, Doll and Peto estimated that 15% of lung cancer in men and 5% in women could be attributed to occupational exposures. A number of population-based case-control studies also provide relevant estimates. In a recent literature review, Vineis and Simonato cited attributable risk estimates for occupation and lung cancer that ranged from 4% to 40%; for asbestos alone, the estimates ranged from 1% to 5%. These estimates would be expected to vary across locations and over time. Nevertheless, these recent estimates indicate that occupation remains an important cause of lung cancer. Approaches to Prevention. Prevention of lung cancer mortality among workers exposed to agents or industrial processes that cause lung cancer may involve several strategies, including eliminating or reducing exposures, smoking cessation, screening, and chemo-prevention. For example, changes in industrial processes that have eliminated or reduced exposures to chloromethyl ethers and nickel compounds have provided evidence of reduced risk of lung cancer following these changes. Although occupational exposures are important causes of lung cancer, cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of lung cancer. For adults, the work site offers an important location to target smoking cessation efforts. In fact, the work site may be the only place to reach many smokers. As many as 70% of smokers participating in a work site program reported that they would not seek out other programs for smoking cessation. Furthermore, these programs may be as effective as other smoking cessation programs, with abstinence approaching 30%. By creating a supportive social environment, policies restricting smoking in the workplace may also assist smokers trying to quit. Screening of workers at high risk of lung cancer, with periodic chest radiography and sputum cytology, offers potential methods for early detection that may improve prognosis. However, the failure of those procedures to improve outcome from lung cancer among high-risk smokers makes screening of workers of doubtful value. Both epidemiologic and experimental evidence suggest that dietary factors may modify the risk of lung cancer. To date, attention has been focused on vitamin A and carotenoids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
On weak compactness and countable weak compactness in fixed point theory

We prove that weak compactness and countable weak compactness in metric spaces are not equivalent. However, if the metric space has normal structure, they are equivalent. It follows that some fixed point theorems proved recently are consequences of a classical theorem of Kirk. Let (X, d) be a metric space. Let F be the family of subsets of X consisting of X and sets which are complements of closed balls of X . The weak topology (also called ball topology) on X is the topology whose open sets are generated by F , i.e. F forms a subbase for the open sets of X . If X is a subset of a Banach space, the weak topology defined in this sense is generally weaker than the usual weak topology on X . For details on this topology in a Banach space setting, see [1] and [2]. We say X is weakly compact if it is compact in the weak topology. A subset of X is called a ball-intersection if it is an intersection of closed balls. X is said to have normal structure if every ball-intersection D of X containing more than one point contains a non-diametral point, i.e. a point r ∈ D such that sup{d(r, x) : x ∈ D} < diam(D). It is clear that X is weakly compact if and only if every nonempty family of ballintersections with the finite intersection property has a nonempty intersection. And by the Alexander subbase theorem, one can replace ‘ball-intersections’ with ‘closed balls’. X is countably weakly compact if every decreasing sequence of nonempty ball-intersections in X has a nonempty intersection. Obviously every weakly compact metric space is countably weakly compact. In this paper we show that the converse is false. However, if the metric space has normal structure, the converse is true. This shows that the assumption of countable weak compactness in some theorems in the literature is not really weaker than that of weak compactness. It also shows that every complete metric space with uniform normal structure is weakly compact, thereby a fixed point theorem of Khamsi [3] actually follows from that of Kirk [4]. Throughout this paper, Br(p) will denote the closed ball centered at p with radius r. Received by the editors January 3, 1995 and, in revised form, March 27, 1995. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 47H10, 47H09; Secondary 54E50, 54D30.
Magnesium Transport in Escherichia coli

Abstract A specific transport system with high affinity for magnesium ions has been discovered in Escherichia coli. Experiments with 28Mg provided evidence that both uptake of radioactive magnesium into cells and the exit of magnesium from cells are mediated processes. The uptake of magnesium is greatly reduced when the cells are chilled to 0° or treated with sulfhydryl poisons such as N-ethylmaleimide. The exit of radioactive magnesium from cells previously grown on 28Mg takes place only in the presence of a pool of external unlabeled magnesium, and is also blocked by chilling and by treatment with N-ethylmaleimide.
Supporting practical content-addressable caching with CZIP compression

Content-based naming (CBN) enables content sharing across similar files by breaking files into position-independent chunks and naming these chunks using hashes of their contents. While a number of research systems have recently used custom CBN approaches internally to good effect, there has not yet been any mechanism to use CBN in a general-purposeway. In this paper, we demonstrate a practical approach to applying CBN without requiring disruptive changes to end systems. We develop CZIP, a CBN compression scheme which reduces data sizes by eliminating redundant chunks, compresses chunks using existing schemes, and facilitates sharing within files, across files, and across machines by explicitly exposing CBN chunk hashes. CZIP-aware caching systems can exploit the CBN information to reduce storage space, reduce bandwidth consumption, and increase performance, while content providers and middleboxes can selectively encode their most suitable content. We show that CZIP compares well to stand-alone compression schemes, that a CBN cache for CZIP is easily implemented, and that a CZIP-aware CDN produces significant benefits.
Organ-specific effects of the carcinogen methylazoxymethanol related to metabolism by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent dehydrogenases.

Summary Methylazoxymethanol acetate selectively induces a high incidence of tumors in rat liver and colon after a single treatment. The mechanism for this organotropism is unclear, especially since methylazoxymethanol spontaneously decomposes to a reactive alkylating agent. It had been suggested that methylazoxymethanol might be converted by alcohol dehydrogenase to a reactive aldehydic form. We determined enzyme activity dependent on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in 169,000 × g supernatants from tissues sensitive and resistant to methylazoxymethanol. Liver fractions were most active in changing NAD+ to its reduced form with methylazoxymethanol as substrate; colon and cecum were also active. Jejunum and ileum, resistant to the acute and chronic effects of methylazoxymethanol, showed little NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase activity when either ethanol or methylazoxymethanol was used. In some tissues, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate was changed to its reduced form in the presence of methylazoxymethanol. The 35 to 75% ammonium sulfate pellet of liver 169,000 × g supernatant was fractionated by gel filtration. Methylazoxymethanol NAD+-dependent activity coincided with alcohol dehydrogenase activity, suggesting that methylazoxymethanol is enzymatically acted on by an alcohol dehydrogenase-like enzyme. Pyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, blocked NAD+ reduction in the presence of methylazoxymethanol. In addition, methylazoxymethanol was a substrate for purified horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Pyrazole given to rats 2 hr prior to carcinogen prevented methylazoxymethanol-induced lethality. The data suggest that NAD+-dependent enzymatic reactions in tissue cytosol may, in part, be responsible for the organ-specific effects of methylazoxymethanol in the rat.
On constant power water-filling

This paper derives a rigorous performance bound for the constant-power water-filling algorithm for ISI channels with multicarrier modulation and for i.i.d. fading channels with adaptive modulation. Based on the performance bound, a very-low complexity logarithm-free power allocation algorithm is proposed. Theoretical worst-case analysis and simulation show that the approximate water-filling scheme is close to optimal.
Tourism Supply: A U.S. perspective

Crompton (1979) has stated that the raison d'etre of leisure service delivery Systems is to ensure that adequate opportunities exist through the provision of recreation activities and programs for members of the community to enjoy. It is not important who provides these opportunities as long as they are provided at an equitable price. This may be true in the abstract, however, in the U.S.A. today, like most western nations, there is a mixed economy in which public and private sectors co‐exist, co‐operate and compete in recreation/tourism development. Today, there are many issues and much controversy regarding the appropriate roles which should be taken by public and private suppliers of tourism/recreation.
0289 Preventing needlesticks and other sharps injuries to home care aides: results of a survey to identify hazards during home visits0289 Preventing needlesticks and other sharps injuries to home care aides: results of a survey to identify hazards during home visits

Objectives To follow up on our previous finding that home care (HC) aides have a substantial risk of injury with used sharp medical devices, this study’s goal was to identify modifiable aspects of aide-client encounters during HC visits that increase risk of sharps injuries (SI). Method A survey of 1249 HC aides was conducted in eastern Massachusetts. Approximately half the participants (634) were employed by HC agencies, and half (615) directly by HC clients and their families. A questionnaire gathered data on aides’ most recent home visits, enabling quantification of hazardous working conditions. The specific investigation described here focused on understanding determinants of hazardous conditions likely to increase the risk of SI including: the aide finding used sharps lying around the house; assisting a client with using a sharp; and disposing of sharps. Poisson regression modelling was used to identify important predictors of handling or encountering used sharps. By linking these results to national data on HC visits and clients, we estimated the frequency with which these hazardous conditions occur to HC aides nationwide. Results Although not authorised to do so, 7% of aides assisted clients to use a sharp. Aides were much more likely to encounter sharps if they were employed directly by clients/families than if employed through an agency. Other important determinants of sharps exposure included client medical conditions like diabetes, and aide characteristics including professional certification. Conclusions The results are being investigated further through focus groups of HC aides and used to develop preventive interventions.
Gunning for the Red Baron – By Leon Bennett

This is a book written by an aeronautical engineer, and it shows, for better and for worse. If you are a specialist or military enthusiast looking for technical analyses, this book may be for you. ...
Demographic changes in Daphnia pulex (leydig) after exposure to the insecticides spinosad and diazinon

Abstract The toxicity of the natural insecticide spinosad was assessed against Daphnia pulex (Leydig) using a demographic approach. Data were also generated for the commonly used organophosphorus insecticide diazinon as a comparison. Exposure to spinosad led to a concentration-dependent decline in survival, birth rate (b), net reproductive rate (R0), and intrinsic rate of increase (rm). Population extinction (−rm) occurred after exposure to spinosad concentrations >10 μg/L for 8 days. Exposure to increasing diazinon concentrations led to an initial increase in R0 and rm followed by a sharp decline, with extinction occurring after exposure to >2 μg/L after 2 days. Based on concentrations of pesticide that caused population extinction, spinosad was five times less toxic than diazinon. The stable age distribution (after 65 days) of D. pulex changed after exposure to spinosad and diazinon. Increasing concentrations of spinosad resulted in a decrease in the percentages of individuals in the first juvenile and adult stages, increase in the third and fourth juvenile stages, and little or no change in the second juvenile and adolescent stages. Diazinon had a different effect on stable age distribution. Increasing concentrations of diazinon resulted in an increase in percentages of individuals in the first and second juvenile stages, little or no change in the third and fourth juvenile stages and adolescent stage, and a decrease in the adult stage. Although spinosad and diazinon are both neurotoxins, they have different modes of action and populations of D. pulex reacted differently to each pesticide. Results of this study indicate that spinosad is significantly less toxic than diazinon to D. pulex and because it is applied at lower concentrations than diazinon it should be less hazardous to this species.
Update on prevention of folic acid‐preventable spina bifida and anencephaly

BACKGROUND: The number of countries fortifying wheat and maize flour with folic acid has increased in the past 2 years. Folic acid prevents most cases of spina bifida and anencephaly by raising serum folate levels among women capable of bearing children, as does encouraging women to consume folic acid supplements prior to pregnancy. METHODS: The progress in preventing these serious birth defects can be measured by tracking the number of countries now fortifying and program coverage in each. Country estimates of the number of pregnancies affected by spina bifida and anencephaly are calculated using a prefortification birth prevalence baseline and estimates of the proportion prevented by wheat and maize flour fortified with folic acid. RESULTS: Current fortification programs are preventing about 22,000, or 9% of the estimated folic acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly cases. This represents an annual global decrease of about 6,600 folic acid-preventable spina bifida and anencephaly cases since 2006. CONCLUSIONS: The pace of preventing these serious birth defects can be accelerated if more countries require fortification of both wheat and maize flour and if regulators set fortification levels high enough to increase a woman's daily average consumption of folic acid to 400 mcg. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
RNA viruses and the host microRNA machinery

Gene silencing by small RNAs (sRNAs) occurs in all three domains of life. In recent years, our appreciation of the diverse functions of sRNAs has increased, and we have identified roles for these RNAs in cellular differentiation, fitness and pathogen defence. Interestingly, although plants, nematodes and arthropods use sRNAs to combat viral infections, chordates have replaced this defence strategy with one based exclusively on proteins. This limits chordate use of sRNAs to the silencing of genome-encoded transcripts and has resulted in viruses that do not perturb sRNA-related cellular processes. This evolutionary phenomenon provides an opportunity to exploit the pre-existing chordate sRNA pathways in order to generate a range of virus-based biological tools. Here, I discuss the relationship between sRNAs and RNA viruses, detail how microRNA expression can be harnessed to control RNA viruses and describe how RNA viruses can be designed to deliver sRNAs.
Experimental Evaluation of an Integrated Datalink and Automation-Based Strategic Trajectory Concept

This paper presents research on the interoperability of trajectory -based automation conce pts and technologies with modern Flight Management Systems and datalink communication available on many of today’s commercial aircraft. A tight integration of trajectory -based ground automation systems with the aircraft Flight Management System through da talink will enable mid -term and far -term benefits from trajectory -based automation methods. A two -way datalink connection between the trajectory -based automation resident in the Center/TRACON Automation System and the Future Air Navigation System -1 integra ted FMS/datalink in NASA Ames’ B747 -400 Level D simulator has been established and extensive simulation of the use of datalink messages to generate strategic trajectories completed. A strategic trajectory is defined as an aircraft deviation needed to solv e a conflict or honor a route request and then merge the aircraft back to its nominal preferred trajectory using a single continuous trajectory clearance. E ngineers on the “ground side” of the datalink generated lateral and vertical trajectory clearances and transmitted them to the Flight Management System of the 747 ; th e airborne automation then fl ew the new trajectory without human intervention , requiring the flight crew only to review and to accept the trajectory . This simulation established the protoco ls needed for a significant majority of the trajectory change types required to solve a traffic conflict or deviate around weather. This demonstration provides a basis for understanding the requirements for integration of trajectory -based automation with c urrent Flight Management Systems and datalink to support future National Airspace System operations.
Neonatal Facilitation of Stress-Induced Adrenocorticotropin Secretion by Prior Stress: Evidence for Increased Central Drive to the Pituitary*

The adrenocortical system of the neonatal rat exhibits both normal pituitary (ACTH) and blunted adrenal corticosterone (B) responses to a variety of different stressors. It is established that although circulating levels of B are low during the first 2 weeks of life, efficient inhibition of ACTH secretion by B is observed in neonatal rats. We investigated the ability of the hypothalamo-pituitary unit to respond to two consecutive, 1 h apart, exposures to 3 min ether vapor (stress 1 and stress 2) and whether an exogenously provided B signal that mimicked the amount of B secreted after the first stress could impair stress-induced ACTH secretion. We also determined in vivo and in vitro whether previous stress could alter pituitary responses to CRF, arginine vasopressin (AVP), or a combination of both peptides. After stress 2, 10-day-old neonates showed similar or increased peak (5 min = control) ACTH secretion compared to stress 1, although the area under the curve over 60 min after stress was comparable bet...
Cardiovascular Impact of the Pediatric Obesity Epidemic: Higher Left Ventricular Mass is Related to Higher Body Mass Index

Objective To compare secular changes in body mass index (BMI) and left ventricular mass (LVM) in today's children versus children of a generation earlier. Study design All healthy patients aged 2 to 19 years who underwent echocardiography at a single US academic medical center in 1986 to 1989 (prior era) and 2008 (current era) were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. BMI, BMI z score, LVM indexed to height (LVMI), LVM z score, and relative wall thickness were calculated. Cardiac geometries were assigned based on LVM z score and relative wall thickness and classified as normal, concentric hypertrophy, eccentric hypertrophy, or concentric remodeling. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of LVMI. Results There were 350 subjects in the prior era and 350 age- and sex-matched subjects in the current era. Mean BMI and LVMI were both significantly higher in the current era than in the prior era (BMI, 19.9 ± 5.6 kg/m 2 vs 18.1 ± 3.8 kg/m 2 , P = .0004; LVMI, 32.7 ± 7.8 g/m 2.7 vs 31.5 ± 8.1 g/m 2.7 ; P = .02). Determinants of LVMI in both eras were BMI z score, younger age, male sex, and African-American race. Conclusions Today's children have higher BMI, LVMI, and predicted cardiovascular risk than their counterparts a generation earlier. Reversal of these trends is needed, and intervention is required.
Traveling Wave Electrodes for Substrate Removed Electro-Optic Modulators With Buried Doped Semiconductor Electrodes

This paper reports theoretical and experimental studies of traveling wave electrodes suitable for wide bandwidth operation of ultra-low voltage substrate removed compound semiconductor electro-optic modulators. These modulators use submicron epitaxial layers removed from their substrates and contain buried electrodes made out of doped semiconductors. This approach enables very uniform submicron electrode gap resulting in ultra-low voltage operation. Traveling wave electrodes suitable for wide bandwidth and low voltage operation are designed using loaded line approach. Electrode capacitance and resistance are reduced significantly using staircase waveguides and n-i-p-i-n epitaxial layer designs. A very accurate modeling of the electrode is introduced. Such electrodes are fabricated and characterized up to 35 GHz. Experimental and modeling results are found to agree very well, making the design of such electrodes possible. Theoretical and experimental results show that subvolt modulators with electrical to optical bandwidths in excess of 35 GHz are possible.