cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulating the Effects of Reservoir Management Strategies on Fluvial Erosion

Although sediment is one of the most common causes of stream impairment in the United States, soil erosion is not integrated into many surface water management models. In this work, a module is developed to estimate fluvial erosion within an existing surface water optimization model. This model is applied to the Lower Republican River Basin in Kansas to demonstrate the effects of climate scenarios and water management strategies on water shortages and sediment loads. Results indicate water shortage varies most under different water management strategies, whereas fluvial erosion varies most under different climate scenarios. Fluvial erosion results are highly sensitive to streambank parameters, demonstrating the importance of measuring these parameters and quantifying their uncertainty. This novel modeling approach provides a computationally efficient method of estimating both water shortages and sediment load within one framework and demonstrates the benefit of considering water shortages and fluvial erosion when making water management decisions.
Superoxide-Based K-O2 Batteries: Highly Reversible Oxygen Redox Solves Challenges in Air Electrodes.

In the past 20 years, research in metal–O2 batteries has been one of the most exciting interdisciplinary fields of electrochemistry, energy storage, materials chemistry, and surface science. The me...
Hip symptoms are associated with premature mortality: the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Summary Objective To investigate the impact of hip osteoarthritis (OA) and/or hip symptoms on excess mortality. Design We analyzed data from 3,919 individuals in a community-based prospective cohort of African Americans and Caucasians age ≥45 years. Women ≥50 years of age and all men underwent supine anteroposterior pelvic radiography at baseline, with the participant's feet in 15 degrees of internal rotation. Hip radiographic (rOA) was defined as a Kellgren–Lawrence grade of ≥2 in at least one hip. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline to determine presence of hip symptoms and covariate status. Participants with symptomatic hip rOA (SxOA) are a subset of individuals with hip rOA and symptoms in the same hip. Multiple imputation was used to impute missing values of covariates. Mortality was determined through 2015 and follow-up time was calculated from baseline assessment until death or censoring which took place when a participant was lost to follow-up or reached the end of study period. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We carried out additional analyses stratified by sex, race, age and obesity. Results Mean follow-up time was 14.2 years during which 1762 deaths occurred. There were 29.9% participants in our population with hip rOA at baseline. Compared to those with neither hip rOA nor hip symptoms, we observed an increased risk of all-cause mortality in participants with hip symptoms alone (HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.13–1.46), but no association for hip rOA either with or without symptoms. In stratified analyses we observed increased associations for hip symptoms alone and hip sxOA in those Conclusions Individuals who had hip symptoms without hip rOA had an increased risk of mortality. These effects were particularly strong for those who were
Theoretical Epidemic Laws Based on Data of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract The standard growth model of epidemic evolution such as the Richards generalized logistic function is remarkably successful because it agrees with almost all previous epidemic data. Yet, it fails to explain intervention measures for mitigations of the ongoing coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It also fails to replicate an endemic phase that occurs in many countries epidemic curves (time series data of daily new cases). These discrepancies demonstrate that new epidemic laws are required to understand, predict and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we show that almost all COVID-19 evolution can be modeled by three innovative epidemic laws. Specifically, based on the world COVID-19 data, we first divide an epidemic curve into three phases: an exponential growth phase, an exponential decay phase, and a constant endemic phase. We next integrate the growth and the decay phases into the first epidemic law with interventions as a model parameter. This law is completely opposite to the Richards generalized logistic function in terms of intervention measures. We then combine the first epidemic law with the endemic phase to form the second epidemic law, which makes the curve of cumulative cases increase linearly as time tends to infinity. The third epidemic law states if an epidemic is composed of multiple epidemic waves, the superposition principle applies. These laws were confirmed by the COVID-19 data from 18 countries including undeveloped, developing and developed countries. Finally, we pave the way for future research to incorporate the proposed theory into the classic SIR model. We anticipate that the results from this research can provide a scientific base for governments to mitigate the COVID-19 and other epidemic disasters.
Multidecadal climate oscillations during the past millennium driven by volcanic forcing

Past research argues for an internal multidecadal (40- to 60-year) oscillation distinct from climate noise. Recent studies have claimed that this so-termed Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation is instead a manifestation of competing time-varying effects of anthropogenic greenhouse gases and sulfate aerosols. That conclusion is bolstered by the absence of robust multidecadal climate oscillations in control simulations of current-generation models. Paleoclimate data, however, do demonstrate multidecadal oscillatory behavior during the preindustrial era. By comparing control and forced "Last Millennium" simulations, we show that these apparent multidecadal oscillations are an artifact of pulses of volcanic activity during the preindustrial era that project markedly onto the multidecadal (50- to 70-year) frequency band. We conclude that there is no compelling evidence for internal multidecadal oscillations in the climate system.
Recent advances in hybrid metal oxide–zeolite catalysts for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NOx by ammonia

Abstract A hybrid catalytic system comprised of metal oxide and Cu or Fe exchanged zeolite components represents a potential advancement of state-of-the-art for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by ammonia, including an elegant solution to the current challenge of improving the low-temperature efficiency of SCR catalysts. The idea is to enable in-situ NO oxidation over metal oxide component and concomitant fast SCR over zeolite component in the so-called “bifunctional mechanism”. This review is presented in the wake of growing interest in this innovative catalytic system. We begin this review by presenting key parameters that contribute to the synergy between metal oxide and zeolite components. Then, we discuss the materials selection for both components and their possible interactions in the system, followed by a summary of recent NH3-SCR investigations over multiple metal oxide–zeolite pairs and additional discussion on pairing techniques potentially explorable in upcoming studies. We end the review by providing the perspectives on future challenges in the development of this catalytic system.
Noise Reconstruction & Removal Network: A New Architecture to Denoise FIB-SEM Images

Summary Recent advances in Focused Ion Beam-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB-SEM) allows the imaging and analysis of cellular ultrastructure at nanoscale resolution, but the collection of labels and/or noise-free data sets has several challenges, often immutable. Reasons range from time consuming manual annotations, requiring highly trained specialists, to introducing imaging artifacts from the prolonged scanning during acquisition. We propose a fully unsupervised Noise Reconstruction and Removal Network for denoising scanning electron microscopy images. The architecture, inspired by gated recurrent units, reconstructs and removes the noise by synthesizing the sequential data. At the same time the fully unsupervised training guides the network in distinguishing true signal from noise and gives comparable results to supervised architectures. We demonstrate that this new network specialized on 3D electron microscopy data sets, achieves comparable and even better results than supervised networks.
A discrepancy between CT angiography and transesophageal echocardiographic measurements of the annular size affect long term survival following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement

Introduction: Accurate measurement of the aortic valve annulus is critical for proper valve sizing for the transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. While computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the widely-accepted standard, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional(3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is commonly performed to measure the size of the aortic valve and to verify appropriate seating of prostheses. Methods: Patients undergoing TAVR between 2013-2015 were examined. 2D- and 3D-TEEmeasurements were compared to CTA taken as standard. Patients were followed for at least one year. The presence and effect of discrepancy (defined as a difference of more than 10%) between CTA and TEE measurements on survival were examined. Results: One hundred eighty-five patients (70 men) were included. 2D- and 3D-TEE measurements underestimated the annulus size by -1.49 and -1.32 mm, respectively. Discrepancies > 10% between TEE and CTA methods in estimating the aortic annulus size were associated with a decrease in post implant survival. The peak pressure gradient across the aortic prosthesis measured one year after the implant was higher in patients with an initial discrepancy between 3D-TEE and CTA measurements. In a multivariate cox-regression model, the discrepancy between CTA and 2D-TEE readings and the smaller size of the aortic annular area were the predictors of long-term survival. Conclusion: Both 2D and 3D-TEE underestimate the aortic annulus measurements compared to CTA, with 2D-TEE being relatively more precise than 3D-TEE technology. The presence of a discrepancy between echocardiographic and CTA measurements of the aortic annulus is associated with a lower survival rate.
Microbiology of perianal cellulitis in children: comparison of skin swabs and needle aspiration.

Objective To establish the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of perianal cellulitis in children, comparing skin swab and needle aspirate methodology. Method Swabs of involved skin and needle aspirates of cellulitis were studied for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Results Specimens obtained from 10 patients with perianal cellulitis showed bacterial growth. Polymicrobial aerobic–anaerobic flora was found in all skin surface cultures, where the predominate isolates were Peptostreptococcus spp., Escherichia coli, and alpha hemolytic streptococci. The number of isolates in needle aspirates varied between one and two. The predominant ones were E.coli (3), Peptostreptococcus spp. (3), Staphylococcus aureus (2), and Bacteroides fragilis group (2). Complete or partial concordance in microbiology between skin swabs and needle aspirates was present in six instances. In four instances, isolates recovered from needle aspirates were not isolated from the skin surface. Conclusions This study demonstrates the diversity of aerobic and anaerobic organisms isolated from perianal cellulitis, and the superiority of needle aspirates in establishing the microbiology of the infection.
Niedriggradige Gliome im Kindesalter

Niedriggradige Gliome der WHO-Grade I und II aller ZNS-Lokalisationen sind die haufigsten primaren Hirntumoren im Kindesalter. Uber 40% sind in der supratentoriellen Mittellinie lokalisiert, diese Kinder konnen mit Visuseinschrankungen oder dienzephalen Storungen symptomatisch werden. Der naturliche Verlauf ist schwer vorhersehbar, das Spektrum reicht von spontaner Tumorregression bis zu rasch progredienten Verlaufen. In der Studie SIOP-LGG 2004 werden primar chirurgische Optionen gepruft. Nur bei Lokalisation im Zerebellum und den zerebralen Hemispharen kann ein relevanter Anteil der Tumoren primar vollstandig entfernt werden. Eine nichtchirurgische Therapie (Radio- oder Chemotherapie) wird bei genau definierten Indikationen eingeleitet und ist bei etwa 1/3 der Patienten erforderlich. Ziel der Chemotherapie ist, fur die jungeren Kinder die Durchfuhrung einer Radiotherapie zeitlich zu verzogern, um radiogene Folgeschaden, besonders auf die psychointellektuelle Entwicklung, zu vermeiden. Auch bei der fokalen Bestrahlung sollten Risikoorgane durch den Einsatz moderner Techniken geschont werden. Das Gesamtuberleben der Patienten liegt bei 78–95% nach 5 Jahren, jedoch verlauft die Erkrankung bei vielen Betroffenen „chronisch“.
Cognitive style and diagnostic skills of student programmers

AbstractThere is evidence that personality variables are related to overall programming ability for student programmers. This study investigated the influence of cognitive style, a personality variable, on the component programming skill of debugging. The Group Embedded Figures Test was used to determine students’ cognitive style. Instruments designed to test subjects’ diagnostic skills were developed and validated. Results supported an hypothesis that cognitive style was related to debugging skills, and appeared to indicate that cognitive style measures represent one method for predicting success in this aspect of programming skill for student programmers.
Physical and Chemical Characterization of the Isomerase of Histidine Biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract The amino acid composition and chemical and immunological properties of the isomerase catalyzing the fourth step in histidine biosynthesis in Salmonella typhimurium are reported. The molecular weight of the native enzyme is 29,000, as determined by high speed equilibrium centrifugation; it is unchanged after complete reduction and alkylation, indicating the presence of a single polypeptide chain. This conclusion is supported by the finding of a single carboxyl-terminal amino acid, valine, both by digestion with carboxypeptidase A and by hydrazinolysis. Furthermore, the number of spots seen on peptide maps of tryptic digests of carboxymethylated isomerase is approximately the same as the number of arginine plus lysine residues found by amino acid analyses. These results agree with results of genetic studies (1) which show that the structural gene for this enzyme consists of a single complementation group. The minor active isomers of the enzyme, previously described, appear to result from modifications in vitro of a single protein. Antibody specific to the isomerase has been prepared. Carboxymethylated isomerase and isomerase derived from extracts of repressed and derepressed histidine auxotrophs with mutations in all regions of the histidine operon, of constitutive mutants, and of the wild type strains LT-2 and LT-7 are antigenically identical.
Integral cross sections for the direct excitation of the A 3Σu+, B 3Πg, W 3Δu, B′ 3Σu−, a′ 1Σu−, a 1Πg, w 1Δu, and C 3Πu electronic states in N2 by electron impact

[1] Integral cross sections for electron impact excitation out of the ground state (X 1Σg+) to the A 3Σu+, B 3Πg, W 3Δu, B′ 3Σu−, a′ 1Σu−, a 1Πg, w 1Δu, and C 3Πu states in N2 are reported at incident energies ranging between 10 and 100 eV. These data have been derived by integrating differential cross sections previously reported by this group. New differential cross section measurements for the a 1Πg state at 200 eV are also presented to extend the range of the reported integral cross sections for this state, which is responsible for the emissions of the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield band system (a 1Πg → X 1Σg+). The present results are compared and critically evaluated against existing cross sections. In general, the present cross sections are smaller than previous results at low impact energies from threshold through the excitation function peak regions. These lower cross sections have potentially significant implications on our understanding of UV emissions in the atmospheres of Earth and Titan.
Abrechnung mobiler Dienste im Mobile-Payment-Referenzmodell

The purpose of the paper is to analyze mobile payments in the mobile commerce scenario. Therefore, we first classify the mobile payment in the mobile commerce scenario by explaining general offer models, charging concepts, and intermediaries. Second, we describe the mobile payment reference model, especially, the mobile payment reference organization model and different mobile payment standard types. Finally, we conclude our findings.
Lunch Buddy Mentoring for Children Victimized by Peers: Two Pilot Studies.

The authors describe two pilot studies examining the potential benefits of Lunch Buddy (LB) mentoring, a manualized approach to school-based mentoring. LB mentoring takes place during the school lunch period and is designed to promote positive changes in children's peer relationships. In both studies, changes in peer victimization were assessed after one and three semesters of LB mentoring. In the first study, LB mentors were paired with elementary school children (N = 24) identified by child and teacher reports as victimized by peers. Results revealed significant declines in self- and teacher-rated victimization after one and three semesters of mentoring. In the second study, LB mentors were paired with victimized children who also engaged in bullying behavior (N = 23). Results indicated significant declines in self- and teacher-ratings of peer victimization after three semesters of mentoring. In both studies, ratings of perceived harm were low and ratings of satisfaction were high. Discussed are the imp...
How can very small SMEs make the time for training and development: skill charting as an example of taking a scenistic approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to make clear some of the issues and problems that confront the small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME) when it comes to the training and development of employees. The paper aims to present a training methodology specifically for the small business.Design/methodology/approach – The scenistic method, which involves trainees directly in the creation of strategies to improve performance in some domain, has been introduced in prior literature, and is proposed as particularly appropriate for the small business environment.Findings – Very small enterprises provide workplace training in a significantly different manner than do larger organizations. Usually, the owner‐manager conducts whatever training there is and the training provided addresses only what is needed at the moment rather than be part of an overall training strategy. Workplace training correlates with employee satisfaction and lower turnover. However, often the very small enterprise does not have the resources ...
Isolation and characterization of an insulin-degrading enzyme from Drosophila melanogaster.

An insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) from the cytoplasm of Drosophila Kc cells has been purified and characterized. The purified enzyme is a monomer with an s value of 7.2 S, an apparent K/sub m/ for porcine insulin of 3 ..mu..M, and a specific activity of 3.3 nmol of porcine insulin degraded/(min x mg). N-Terminal sequence analysis of the gel-purified enzyme gave a single, serine-rich sequence. The Drosophila IDE shares a number of properties in common with its mammalian counterpart. The enzyme could be specifically affinity-labeled with (/sup 125/I)insulin, has a molecular weight of 110K, and has a pI of 5.3. Although Drosophila Kc cells grow at room temperature, the optimal enzyme activity assay conditions parallel those of the mammalian IDE: 37/sup 0/C and a pH range of 7-8. The Drosophila IDE activity, like the mammalian enzymes, is inhibited by bacitracin and sulfhydryl-specific reagents. Similarly, the Drosophila IDE activity is insensitive to glutathione as well as protease inhibitors such as aprotinin and leupeptin. Insulin-like growth factor II, equine insulin, and porcine insulin compete for degradation of (/sup 125/I)insulin at comparable concentrations (approximately 10/sup -6/ M), whereas insulin-like growth factor I and the individual A and B chains of insulin are less effective.more » The high degree of evolutionary conservation between the Drosophila and mammalian IDE suggest an important role for this enzyme in the metabolism of insulin and also provides further evidence for the existence of a complete insulin-like system in invertebrate organisms such as Drosophila.« less
Exploring connections between information retrieval systems and information literacy standards

Information literacy involves the location and access of information through retrieval systems, and many information retrieval systems are designed with specific capabilities to support these very skills. In some cases, system enhancements go beyond simple support and alleviate some of the searcher's responsibilities by performing certain tasks for them. By comparing information retrieval functions to the Association of College and Research Libraries' information literacy standards, this article investigates the extent of support that these enhanced systems can offer, and gives librarians greater insight into how these design enhancements could have an impact on information literacy instruction.
Walking and Mapping: Artists as Cartographers. By Karen O’Rourke. Cambridge, MA. MIT Press, 2013.

While there is a long well-documented tradition of poets walking and writing about the landscape, for at least the past fifty years visual artists have been laying out walks as various kinds of artwork. More recently, with the technology of mapping morphing into electronic devices, artists have begun using these tools to develop entirely new genres.
Subject-verb agreement processes in comprehension

Abstract Studies of elicited sentence production show that the occasional subject–verb agreement errors that speakers make are more likely to occur when a singular head noun is followed by a plural, as inThe producer of the adventure movies have arrived,than when a plural head is followed by a singular (e.g., Bock & Miller, 1991). The significance of this asymmetric pattern of errors depends on whether interference from plurals arises only during the production of sentences, or whether it also occurs in sentence comprehension tasks. Five reading experiments revealed the following: (1) patterns of reading times mirror the production error asymmetry; (2) a phrase which isconceptually pluralbut grammatically singular (e.g.,The label on the bottles) produces no more reading difficulty than one which is conceptually and grammatically singular, a result which mimics Bock and Miller's 1991 production results; (3) interference from an intervening plural depends on a close syntactic link to the head noun phrase (e.g., The owner of the house who charmed the realtors ). These results suggest that although the computation of agreement may be accomplished differently in the two systems, interference may arise whenever a structure containing a singular head and intervening plural is computed, whether during production or comprehension.
A carbon‐14 depth profile in the L5 chondrite Knyahinya

We report on a series of measurements of C-14 in samples of the L-chondrite Knyahinya, as a function of depth. The results show C-14 concentrations ranging from 37 to 58 dpm/kg. These measurements are compared to the levels of Ne-21, Be-10 and noble-gas ratios in this meteorite reported by Graf et al (1990). We also compare the C-14 data to the expected profile based on two sets of model calculations. The behavior of this radioisotope with depth is similar to that expected from the models, and good agreement with the profiles of other nuclides is also observed.
Exchange Forces Between Li + and He, and the Mobility of Li + in He

A calculation of the exchange force between ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ and He has been made with the use of simple hydrogenic state functions to represent the charge distributions of the ion and atom. The force so obtained was added to that arising from the polarizability and the van der Waals interaction between ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ and He. The result was then used to calculate the mobility of ${\mathrm{Li}}^{+}$ in He gas. The theoretical value thus found, 19.4 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. volt at a temperature of 18\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, is somewhat lower than the experimental one of 25.8 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. volt, reported by Hoselitz.
The Globalization of Bollywood: An Ethnography of Non-Elite Audiences in India

There has been a growing Western interest in Bollywood, India's large film industry based in Mumbai. This article attempts to find the ways in which Indian identity is being shaped by the new globalizing Bollywood and how non-elite audiences from lower middle class and rural India are understanding these images. This ethnography reveal that the non-elite audiences find themselves increasingly distanced from the images that Indian cinema is constructing. The films are creating an elitism constituted by the brand logic of transnational capital which is redefining the meaning of the masses.
Adoption and the effect on children's development

Adoption, whether formal or informal, has always been a superior method of assuring survival for children whose parents are unwilling or unable to care for them. However, adoption can also affect child development in profound ways. Data collected over the past three decades support adoption as a superior means of promoting normal development in children permanently separated from birth parents. Out of calamity and loss, children recover and progress to become functionally and emotionally competent adults. For children suffering severe neglect or abuse in early life, an adoptive family is a remarkable environment for healing emotional and physical trauma and reversing developmental deficits.
The word without the tachistoscope

In experiments with an unlimited viewing time, we were able to isolate specific stimulus factors that lead to the word-superiority effect. We discovered that advantages of words over nonwords, and words over single letters, are caused by different factors. The word-nonword effect was found in a variety of circumstances, such as with small type, low contrast, or a simultaneously present mask. The advantage of words over single letters occurs only when the stimuli are embedded in a mask making it difficult to find a single letter. In addition, we obtained a word-detection effect without a brief exposure: Subjects were more accurate detecting the presence of words than nonwords. However, this effect only occurred when subjects were required to discriminate letters from nonletters. Thus, the word-superiority (word-nonword difference) and word-detection effects both involve letter discrimination and can be explained by similar mechanisms.
Association for death education and counseling: An organization for our times and for our future

Abstract Organizations have a life cycle. They are born out of need, grow as they speak to that need, evolve to meet changing opportunities, and diminish or die when they no longer are relevant to the lives of their members. As president of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), I have been asked to write an article about the organization: to describe the conditions which led to its formation, to review its accomplishments across the first 12 years of its existence, and to focus on the future of ADEC as it moves toward the 21st century.
The Black Hole Mass Distribution in Early-Type Galaxies: Cusps in Hubble Space Telescope Photometry Interpreted through Adiabatic Black Hole Growth

Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations show that the surface brightness profiles of early-type galaxies have central cusps. I show that the observed characteristics of these cusps are consistent with the hypothesis that (1) all early-type galaxies have central black holes that grew adiabatically in homogeneous isothermal cores and (2) these "progenitor" cores followed scaling relations similar to those of the fundamental plane. The models studied here are the ones first proposed by P. Young. They predict I ∝ r-1/2 at asymptotically small radii, but I ∝ r-γ at the radii observable with HST. The slope γ can take on all observed values and increases monotonically with μ = M•/Mcore. Both "core" profiles (which have a break at a resolved radius and a shallow slope inside that radius) and "power-law" profiles (which have a steep slope down to the resolution limit and no clear break) can be reproduced. Observations show that, with few exceptions, galaxies with MV -20.5 have power-law profiles; both profile types occur in galaxies with -22 -21.2 have power-law profiles. This reproduces both the sense and the absolute magnitude of the observed transition. Intrinsic scatter in BH and galaxy properties can explain why both types of galaxies are observed around the transition magnitude. The observed bimodality in cusp slopes may be due to a bimodality in M•/L, with rapidly rotating disky galaxies having larger M•/L than slowly rotating boxy galaxies. I apply the models to 46 galaxies with published HST photometry. Both core and power-law galaxies are well fitted. The models suggest a roughly linear correlation between BH mass and V-band galaxy luminosity, log M• ≈ -1.83 + log L in solar units (rms scatter 0.33 dex). This agrees with the average relation for nearby galaxies with kinematically determined BH masses. Photometrically and kinematically determined BH masses agree to within ~0.25 dex rms for galaxies that have both. These results provide additional support to the hypothesis that every galaxy (spheroid) has a central BH. The BH mass distribution inferred here is consistent with quasar statistics for a BH accretion efficiency of 4%. The proposed scenario is not a unique way to interpret the observed surface brightness cusps of galaxies, but it explains observational correlations that are otherwise unexplained, and it yields BH masses that agree with those determined kinematically.
Maintenance of nonsmoking behavior through self administered wrist band aversion therapy

Participants in the aversion treatment were instructed to focus vividly on the triggering thoughts leading to smoking each time the urge to smoke occurred. Subjects then were to self-administer a painful snap immediately using the rubber band they were wearing around their wrist and to engage in alternate behaviors such as chewing gum. Participants in a placebo treatment were instructed to wear the wrist band as a “reminder” and to engage in alternate behaviors such as chewing gum, etc. About a third of the participants never wore the wrist band either as an aversive stimulus dispenser or as a “reminder”. These people were assigned to a nonuser group in the statistical analysis. At a 1-year follow-up, a treatment effect was shown for males but not for females. One year after treatment five of the seven males in the aversion group were still abstinent, as compared to one out of seven abstinent in the placebo group and none in the nonuser group.
Information Technology Road Maps: a bibliographic database pilot project

In an effort to facilitate the identification and use of highly‐relevant publications and resources relating to the social and economic implications of information, computation, and communication technologies, the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently funded a pilot project to create a Web‐based bibliographic database of significant materials. Within the framework of this database, users are able to browse citations to relevant topics or search for specific aspects. The nature of the selected resources, their description, and associated methods for searching, viewing, saving, and exporting are outlined. The features and functionalities of the host Web‐based database management software are also described.
Serpentinization of abyssal peridotites from the MARK area, Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Sulfur geochemistry and reaction modeling

Abstract The opaque mineralogy and the contents and isotope compositions of sulfur in serpentinized peridotites from the MARK (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Kane Fracture Zone) area were examined to understand the conditions of serpentinization and evaluate this process as a sink for seawater sulfur. The serpentinites contain a sulfur-rich secondary mineral assemblage and have high sulfur contents (up to 1 wt.%) and elevated δ34Ssulfide (3.7 to 12.7‰). Geochemical reaction modeling indicates that seawater-peridotite interaction at 300 to 400°C alone cannot account for both the high sulfur contents and high δ34Ssulfide. These require a multistage reaction with leaching of sulfide from subjacent gabbro during higher temperature (∼400°C) reactions with seawater and subsequent deposition of sulfide during serpentinization of peridotite at ∼300°C. Serpentinization produces highly reducing conditions and significant amounts of H2 and results in the partial reduction of seawater carbonate to methane. The latter is documented by formation of carbonate veins enriched in 13C (up to 4.5‰) at temperatures above 250°C. Although different processes produce variable sulfur isotope effects in other oceanic serpentinites, sulfur is consistently added to abyssal peridotites during serpentinization. Data for serpentinites drilled and dredged from oceanic crust and from ophiolites indicate that oceanic peridotites are a sink for up to 0.4 to 6.0 × 1012 g seawater S yr−1. This is comparable to sulfur exchange that occurs in hydrothermal systems in mafic oceanic crust at midocean ridges and on ridge flanks and amounts to 2 to 30% of the riverine sulfate source and sedimentary sulfide sink in the oceans. The high concentrations and modified isotope compositions of sulfur in serpentinites could be important for mantle metasomatism during subduction of crust generated at slow spreading rates.
Emerging Perspectives on Essential Amino Acid Metabolism in Obesity and the Insulin-Resistant State

Dysregulation of insulin action is most often considered in the context of impaired glucose homeostasis, with the defining feature of diabetes mellitus being elevated blood glucose concentration. Complications arising from the hyperglycemia accompanying frank diabetes are well known and epidemiological studies point to higher risk toward development of metabolic disease in persons with impaired glucose tolerance. Although the central role of proper blood sugar control in maintaining metabolic health is well established, recent developments have begun to shed light on associations between compromised insulin action [obesity, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)] and altered intermediary metabolism of fats and amino acids. For amino acids, changes in blood concentrations of select essential amino acids and their derivatives, in particular BCAA, sulfur amino acids, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, are apparent with obesity and insulin resistance, often before the onset of clinically diagnosed T2DM. This review provides an overview of these changes and places recent observations from metabolomics research into the context of historical reports in the areas of biochemistry and nutritional biology. Based on this synthesis, a model is proposed that links the FFA-rich environment of obesity/insulin resistance and T2DM with diminution of BCAA catabolic enzyme activity, changes in methionine oxidation and cysteine/cystine generation, and tissue redox balance (NADH/NAD+).
RNA switch at enhancers

Polycomb/Trithorax response elements (PRE/TREs) are genetic elements that can stably silence or activate genes. A new study describes how long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) transcribed from opposite strands of the Drosophila melanogaster vestigial PRE/TRE throw the switch between these two opposing epigenetic states.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of tissue transglutaminase in amyloid plaques

The brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients contains deposits of the 39–42-amino acid (∼ 4 kDa) amyloid β-peptide, which is derived from the β-amyloid precursor protein. These pathological deposits have been shown to consist in part of insoluble 8- and 16-kDa aggregates of the amyloid β-peptide. This report confirms that the amyloid β-peptide is a substrate for tissue transglutaminase (TGase) and demonstrates that human brain preparations from Alzheimer’s disease patients and control patients form cross-linked dimers from added iodinated amyloid β-peptide. Immunohistochemical staining for TGase revealed its presence in tissue sections and isolated amyloid plaque cores obtained from brains of patients diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s disease. These results provide evidence that the previously described insoluble amyloid deposits in Alzheimer’s disease may involve TGase-mediated cross-linked amyloid β-peptide polymers, and suggest a potential role for TGase in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Constraints on reciprocity for non-sessile organisms

Previous game-theoretic models of reciprocity have assumed that populations are large and organisms effectively sessile. This paper analyzes an iterated prisoner's dilemma among non-sessile organisms in a finite population, on the assumption that an individual's chance of remaining in one place is not influenced by a partner's behavior. This mode of interaction is suitable for analyzing potentially cooperative behaviors that are secondary to the advantage of group formation, e.g. allogrooming among social mammals. The analysis yields necessary conditions for stable reciprocity in terms of three parameters, namely, a benefit/cost ratio, the probability of further interaction and the probability of partner retention. The results suggest that, in highly mobile organisms such as fish, birds and mammals, reciprocity may be stable only if the population is small and the relative benefit and future interaction probability are both large.
A Weak Neutralizing Antibody Response to Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoprotein Enhances Virus Infection

We have completed a phase 1 safety and immunogenicity trial with hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2, with MF59 adjuvant as a candidate vaccine. Neutralizing activity to HCV genotype 1a was detected in approximately 25% of the vaccinee sera. In this study, we evaluated vaccinee sera from poor responders as a potential source of antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of HCV infection. Sera with poor neutralizing activity enhanced cell culture grown HCV genotype 1a or 2a, and surrogate VSV/HCV pseudotype infection titer, in a dilution dependent manner. Surrogate pseudotypes generated from individual HCV glycoproteins suggested that antibody to the E2 glycoprotein; but not the E1 glycoprotein, was the principle target for enhancing infection. Antibody specific to FcRII expressed on the hepatic cell surface or to the Fc portion of Ig blocked enhancement of HCV infection by vaccinee sera. Together, the results from in vitro studies suggested that enhancement of viral infectivity may occur in the absence of a strong antibody response to HCV envelope glycoproteins.
Horizontal soil-water intake through a thin zone of reduced permeability

Abstract One-dimensional, horizontal soil-water absorption through a thin zone of constant nonzero hydraulic resistance is examined theoretically and experimentally. Mathematically, this involves a numerical solution, as well as a similarity reduction of the problem for early to intermediate times. The flow equations are transformed by introducing a dimensionless parameter, which enables the solution for any value of thin-zone resistance to be obtained from the solution for a given known thin-zone resistance. At the inlet boundary between the thin zone and the soil column, the soil-water content increases with time to approach the saturated value. The cumulative absorption of water by the soil column increases more than proportionally with the square root of time for early and intermediate times, and approaches a square-root-of-time proportionality at large times. For both the soil-water content at the inlet boundary and the cumulative water absorption by the soil column, simple expressions arise from the similarity-reduction analysis, which is based on specific functional forms of the soil-water diffusivity and suction head. For early to intermediate times of flow, the similarity-reduction analysis describes adequately the calculated numerical-solution flow data for Yolo soil, as well as the measurements obtained experimentally on Salkum silty clay loam.
The Interplay Between MDV and HVT Affects Viral miRNA Expression

SUMMARY. It is well established that herpesviruses encode numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) and that these virally encoded small RNAs play multiple roles in infection. The present study was undertaken to determine how co-infection of a pathogenic MDV serotype one (MDV1) strain (MD5) and a vaccine strain (herpesvirus of turkeys [HVT]) alters viral miRNA expression in vivo. We first used small RNA deep sequencing to identify MDV1-encoded miRNAs that are expressed in tumorigenic spleens of MDV1-infected birds. The expression patterns of these miRNAs were then further assessed at an early time point (7 days postinfection [dpi]) and a late time point (42 dpi) in birds with and without HVT vaccination using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Additionally, the effect of MDV1 co-infection on HVT-encoded miRNAs was determined using RT-PCR. A diverse population of miRNAs was expressed in MDV-induced tumorigenic spleens at 42 dpi, with 18 of the 26 known mature miRNAs represented. Of these, both mdv1-miR-M4-5p and mdv1-miR-M2-3p we...
Treatment of hepatic metastases by transaxillary hepatic artery chemotherapy using an implanted drug pump

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of integrating an implantable, refillable drug infusion pump with transaxillary angiographic hepatic arterial catheterization. The implantation is performed under local anesthesia in the radiology suite. A 2-3 cm incision in the left upper arm is made through skin and subcutaneous tissue. Through an axillary artery puncture, a 5.3F polyethylene catheter is fluoroscopically placed into the hepatic artery. To minimize gastroduodenitis, the gastroduodenal artery is occluded with a Gianturco coil and Gelfoam. The Model 400 Infusaid pump is implanted in the upper chest and attached subcutaneously to the angiography catheter using a friction connector. Patients are discharged 2-3 days later. Over a two-year period, 20 such implants have been performed. Floxyuridine (FUdR) has been used by continuous infusion; mitomycin-C (MMC) and 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) by intermittent intra-arterial infusion. The pump/catheter system has been left in place for as long as 18 months. Partial responses in the colorectal cases are as follows: FUdR four of nine patients, MMC two of three, FUdR + MMC one of one, and FUdR + MMC + BCNU three of three. No arm vascular complications, hepatic arterial occlusions, peripheral emboli, pump malfunctions, or catheter occlusions took place over a total experience of 3210 patient days. Three catheter migrations occurred requiring repositioning in two patients, and three cracked catheters required replacement. This innovative approach offers a comfortable, convenient method for long-term ambulatory hepatic arterial chemotherapy obviating both laparotomy and extra-corporeal pumps.
Restrictive Laboratory Animal Legislation

FREED O M FRO M E N C U M B R A N C E in scientific research is essential to prog­ ress in dental education and practice. The study of disease and its prevention or cure in animals continues to contribute impor­ tantly to our understanding and manage­ ment of human diseases. The Council on Dental Research believes that interference with the freedom of qualified investigators to use animals judiciously in research is not in the public interest. Several bills introduced in the Congress during the past few years would, in the Council’s view, place unnecessary restrictions on health research. At a recent meeting the Council adopted this resolution:
Dating Scripts of Gay Men and Lesbians

Scripts for a first date for 51 gay men and 44 lesbians were explored. Well-defined scripts were found for both hypothetical and actual accounts. Hypothetical scripts contained fourteen actions for gay men and lesbians; eleven were common to both. Gay men's actual scripts had eighteen actions and lesbians' had nineteen, with twelve common to both. Gay men's scripts were more sexually oriented and less intimacy-focused than lesbians'. However, scripts for both genders were free of many other aspects of traditional heterosexual roles and involved some actions unique to this population.
Exercise as Treatment for Anxiety: Systematic Review and Analysis

Background Exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, but few studies have studied exercise in individuals preselected because of their high anxiety.
Effect of heat on the rheumatoid factor precipitation reaction with human gamma-globulin.

To determine the heat lability of rheumatoid factor, rheumatoid serum was heated to 56° C. for 30 minutes. This amount of heat reduced precipitating ability and caused a concurrent loss of hemagglutinating activity in the supernatant, as measured by the F II hemagglutination system. Pro determinar le thermolabilitate de factor rheumatoide, sero rheumatoide esseva calefacite a 56 C durante 30 minutas. Iste grado de calor reduceva le capacitate precipitatori e causava un perdita concomitante de activitate hemagglutinatori in le supernatante secundo mesurationes per le systema de hemaglutination F II.
Engineers and Engineeresses? Self-conceptions and the Development of Gendered Professional Identities

Do men and women in the same field develop different professional identities? This paper theoretically articulates and empirically explores a mechanism of such gendering: Self-conceptions may filte...
Occupational exposure to metalworking fluids and risk of breast cancer among female autoworkers.

Background Metalworking fluids (MWF) are used for lubrication during metal manufacturing. Previous studies have observed increased risks of several cancers among MWF-exposed workers. We hypothesized that MWF may be associated with risk of breast cancer because they can contain carcinogenic or endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Methods We conducted a case-control study nested in a cohort of 4,680 female automobile workers employed for at least 3 years between 1/1/41 and 1/1/85, with follow-up through 1994. Cases were identified using the National Death Index (NDI), Michigan cancer registries, and company records. Detailed quantitative MWF exposure data were available for each subject, although data on known breast cancer risk factors were not. Results Ninety-nine cases of breast cancer and 626 matched controls were identified. There was a weak positive association between lifetime cumulative exposure to soluble MWF and breast cancer risk, but no evidence of association with either straight or synthetic fluids. When exposure was divided into time-windows, the association was strongest for soluble MWF in the decade preceding diagnosis. Controlling for earlier exposures, there was an odds ratio of 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02–1.35) per mg/m3-year of cumulative exposure to soluble MWF in this 10-year period. Conclusion This hypothesis-generating study provides some preliminary evidence for an association between exposure to soluble MWF and increased risk of breast cancer. Additional studies of MWF and breast cancer, with data on known breast cancer risk factors, are warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:153–160, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The effect of temperature variation on spontaneous potential production from explants of brain tissue in culture.

Bei zwei verschiedenen Explantaten von Telencephalogewebe 14tagiger Huhnchenembryonen ergab sich als Temperaturabhangigkeit der Aktionspotentiale: Frequenz und Amplitudenabnahme bei sinkender, Zunahme bei steigender Temperatur bis zwischen 37 und 42,5°C. Weitere Temperatursteigerung bringt die Potentiale nach stetiger Verkleinerung bei 47°C schliesslich zum Verschwinden.