cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of duration-of-inundation on development of a man-initiated Spartina alterniflora Loisel. Marsh in north carolina

Abstract The relative growth responses of a man-initiated Spartina altemiflora Loisel. marsh were monitored annually in four duration-of-inundation zones (4, 7, 9, and 11 h daily) during a 4-yr period following the 17-month establishment period, with another sampling 10 yr later. There was a general trend of maximum values for height, number of flowers · m −2 , basal area, and aboveground standing crop to occur in the 7-h inundation zone and for these values to decrease in the 9- and 11-h zones at the end of the second growing season (17 months after planting). This trend was reversed from the third through the fifth growing seasons with height, number of flowers · m −2 , and aboveground standing crop significantly higher in the longest (11-h) inundation zone. Although other angiosperms began invading the upper elevation, lesser inundated zones during the second growing season, populations were too small to sample until the following growing season (29 months after planting), when they constituted ≈40% of the aboveground standing crop in the uppermost (4-h) zone. The aboveground standing crop of the S. alterniflora -dommated 11-h inundation zone became stabilized by the third growing season, but the belowground material dry weight continued to increase in all zones through the fifth season when its rate of accumulation began to stabilize in the lowermost zones. Although the uppermost zone was dominated by Phragmites communis Trin. by the twelfth season, Spartina alterniflora dominated the other zones where it constituted more than three-fourths of the aboveground standing crop and had spread ≈ 30 m beyond the planting toward the open water of the estuary. The number of invading species present in the fifth season decreased by > 65% in the twelfth season, but the remaining invaders generally constituted relatively more of the aboveground standing crop by the twelfth season. Over the 12 seasons the experimental S. alterniflora planting developed into a marsh with the species composition dictated by the availability of disseminules of other angiosperms under the prevailing environmental conditions of duration-of-inundation and salinity.
A comparison of temperature and mobile phase composition effects for bonded liquid crystal and polymeric stationary phases in HPLC

Using two polycyclyic aromatic hydrocarbons as solutes, a comparison is made between a bonded liquid crystal stationary phase and a conventional polymeric C-18 phase. The bonded nematic liquid crystal phase was the silanized form of 4-[4-(allyloxy)benzoyl-oxy]biphenyl and the polymeric phase was Vydac 201TP. Both phases display shape and planarity selectivity as indicated by the results of the variable temperature and mobile phase composition studies. The slot theory of retention can be used to explain these results. However, the liquid crystal phase is more sensitive to molecular geometry, probably due to its more ordered structure on the surface. Variable temperature experiments which compare retention during both heating and cooling provides additional support for this conclusion. With the polymeric bonded C-18 phase, each solute had identical retention at the same temperature during both the heating and cooling cycles. On the bonded liquid crystal phase, measurable differences in retention were observed at identical temperatures depending on whether the column was heated or cooled. This effect is attributed to a degree of partially reversible disordering which occurs as the column temperature was increased. However, conditioning with the appropriate mobile phase can restore the original retention characteristics of the bonded liquid crystal phase.
Statistics pattern analysis based virtual metrology for plasma etch processes

Virtual metrology (VM) is the prediction of end-of-batch properties (i.e., metrology data) using process variables and other information available for the process and/or the product (i.e., machine data) without physically conducting property measurement. VM (sometimes augmented with existing metrology) has been utilized in semiconductor process monitoring and control. Besides the economic benefit of replacing or reducing metrology tools, due to the instant availability of high frequency machine data, a good VM can actually provide better process monitoring and control performance compared to the same monitoring and control schemes based on the physical metrology data which often obtained at lower frequencies and usually with delays. In this paper, we propose a statistics pattern analysis (SPA) based VM approach for predicting sheet resistance using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) data. The advantageous properties of the SPA based VM are discussed. And the performance of the SPA based VM is compared with several commonly used VM algorithms in terms of prediction accuracy.
Electroluminescent Networks via Photo “Click” Chemistry

The use of thiol–ene click chemistry is demonstrated for the first time as a suitable method for cross-linking thin films of 4-phenylethenyl end-capped poly(fluorene). Cross-linking was accomplished by a simple, brief UV curing step at modest temperatures. This chemistry provides an advantage over similar schemes employed for cross-linking conjugated polymers since it does not require elevated temperature or produce potentially detrimental side products. Thiol–ene cross-linking was found to preserve the emissive color integrity of the poly(fluorene) films and allowed for facile photopatterning of the active polymer layer. Furthermore, the investigated cross-linking chemistry was shown to be fully compatible with fabrication of polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) whose performance was comparable to noncross-linked devices. Multicolor PLEDs were also demonstrated by taking advantage of the photopatternability of the thiol–ene based system.
Compact optical design for dual-axes confocal endoscopic microscopes

Here we describe a simple optical design for a MEMS-based dual-axes fiber optic confocal scanning microscope that has been miniaturized for handheld imaging of tissues, and which is capable of being further scaled to smaller dimensions for endoscope compatibility while preserving its field-of-view (FOV), working distance, and resolution. Based on the principle of parallel beams that are focused by a single parabolic mirror to a common point, the design allows the use of replicated optical components mounted and aligned within a rugged cylindrical housing that is designed for use as a handheld tissue microscope. A MEMS scanner is used for high speed scanning in the X-Y plane below the tissue surface. An additional design feature is a mechanism for controlling a variable working distance, thus producing a scan in the Z direction and allowing capture of 3-D volumetric images of tissue. The design parameters that affect the resolution, FOV, and working distance are analyzed using ASAPTM optical modeling software and verified by experimental results. Other features of this design include use of a solid immersion lens (SIL), which enhances both resolution and FOV, and also provides index matching between the optics and the tissue.
Inducible COX-2 dominates over COX-1 in prostacyclin biosynthesis: Mechanisms of COX-2 inhibitor risk to heart disease

Aim Our aim is to understand the molecular mechanisms of the selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors', higher “priority” to reduce synthesis of the vascular protector, prostacyclin (PGI2), compared to that of nonselective NSAIDs.
The Rise and Fall of the Province of Lygonia, 1643–1658

During the 1640s, George Cleeve and Thomas Morton carved the province of Lygonia out of Ferdinando Gorges' Maine. Cleeve believed Lygonia's legitimacy was guaranteed by its legal standing and by the authority of its Parliamentarian proprietor, but he could not stop Lygonian towns from opting to join the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1658.
Extraneural Metastasis in Medulloblastoma

Extraneural metastasis in medulloblastoma is rare and occurs in 1–2% at initial diagnosis and up to 5–10% during a patient’s lifetime. The most common sites of extraneural spread are the bone, bone marrow and lymph nodes. The survival is generally thought to be poor, but recent studies have indicated that certain subsets of patients may have a better outcome. Adverse prognostic factors have been identified which include concurrent central nervous system involvement, presence of lung or liver metastasis, a time of interval of <18 months from initial diagnosis of medulloblastoma to development of extraneural metastasis and patient age <16 years at time of extraneural spread.
Coupling paths in multilayer printed circuit boards for electromagnetic interference and immunity: experiments and FDTD modeling

Electromagnetic emissions from electronics associated with explosives is a potential detection modality, both passive listening, and stimulated RF emissions. However, the parasitic paths by which energy is coupled off a printed circuit board from an active device, and by which external energy can be coupled onto the board and to a device, must be identified and characterized. One such noise-coupling path is identified in this work, and a modeling approach demonstrated. In particular, coupling of noise from the DC power bus of a multilayer printed circuit board that uses entire metal layers for power and ground, and an I/O line that transitions through the DC power planes is investigated.
Empirical Success or Explanatory Success: What does Current Scientific Realism Need to Explain?

Against the well‐known objection that in the history of science there are many theories that are successful but false, Psillos offers a three‐pronged defense of scientific realism as the best explanation for the success of science. Focusing on these, I criticize Psillos’ defense, arguing that each prong is weakened when we recognize that according to realist rebuttals of the underdetermination argument and versions of empiricism, realists are committed to accounting for the explanatory success of theories, not their mere empirical adequacy or instrumental reliability. I conclude by indicating how ‘explanationist’ realism might be recast to accommodate my arguments.
Scaling of airfoil self-noise using measured flow parameters

Data from an airfoil broadband self-noise study are reported. Attention here is restricted to two-dimensional models at zero angle of attack to the flow. The models include seven NACA 0012 airfoil sections and five flat plate sections with chordlengths ranging from 2.54 to 60.96 cm. Testing parameters include flow velocity to 71.3 m/s and boundary-layer turbulence through natural transition and by tripping. Detailed aerodynamic measurements are conducted in the near-wake of the sharp trailing edges. The noise spectra of the self-noise sources are determined by the use of a cross-spectral technique. The acoustic data are normalized using the measured aerodynamic parameters in order to evaluate a commonly used scaling law. An examination of the Reynolds number dependence of the normalized overall levels has revealed a useful scaling result. This result appears to quantify the transition between turbulent boundary-layer trailing-edge noise and laminar boundary-layer vortex shedding noise.
Use of Mimix hydroxyapatite bone cement for difficult ossicular reconstruction.

Objective To describe the advantages of using Mimix™ hydroxyapatite (HA) bone cement in reconstructing a variety of ossicular chain abnormalities. Study design and setting Case series at a tertiary medical center. Results Twenty-five cases of HA reconstruction are included in this series (ages 23–74; mean, 47 years). The examples presented include (1) HA as the sole reconstructive material for incus erosion, (2) HA for securing a total or partial ossicular replacement prosthesis, (3) incus augmentation after crimping for revision stapedotomy with incus erosion, (4) HA in primary stapedotomy to fix the crimped prosthesis to an intact incus, and (5) other unique situations. Preoperative and postoperative audiograms were evaluated for 4-tone pure tone average (PTA), speech reception thresholds, word recognition scores, and air-bone gaps (AB gaps). Mean follow-up was 11 months (range 2 to 22 months). The mean PTA improved from 57 dB to 37 dB, whereas the mean AB gaps decreased from 33 dB to 16 dB. There were no cases of infection or extrusion. Conclusions Hydroxyapatite bone cement is an excellent adjunct or alternative to ossiculoplasty with preformed prostheses. Easily malleable, rapidly setting, and rapidly hardening, Mimix is particularly well suited for middle ear work. Significance Definitive fixation with bone cements during difficult ossicular chain reconstruction may ensure a more enduring successful outcome.
Comparison of perioperative oral multimodal analgesia versus IV PCA for spine surgery.

Study DesignA preintervention and postintervention design was used to examine a total of 200 patients.ObjectiveAfter successful implementation at our institution of a perioperative oral multimodal analgesia protocol in major joint arthroplasty, a modified regimen was provided to patients undergoing
Chromatin Elimination in Glaucoma pyriformis (Ehrb.)

CHROMATIN elimination at the end of each division from the macronucleus was reported by Kidder1 in Concophthirius mytili. Later, Kidder and Diller2 observed post-divisional chromatin elimination in Urocentrum turbo, Colpidium colpoda, Colpidium campylum and Glaucoma scintillans. Again, in 1936, Diller3 recorded a peculiar type of chromatin elimination in Paramecium aurelia which he termed ‘hemixis’. Seshachar4 confirmed this in three species of Epistylis. The present note embodies certain interesting features concerning the behaviour of the macronucleus during binary fission in Glaucoma pyriformis.
Assessing the influence of pharmacological agents on shock avoidance learning in simpler systems.

Abstract A methodological analysis is undertaken to consider the conditions under which a change in behavior may be considered to represent learning in a system and on what interpretation is to be placed on behavioral changes produced by pharmacological agents. The discussion centers principally upon assessing shock avoidance learning in isolated ganglia of the cockroach although the analysis applies to other systems. Some specific predictions also are made about behavioral changes to be expected in this system if various pharmacological agents do in fact affect learning and memory.
Quantization rules for point singularities in superfluid /sup 3/He and liquid crystals

I show that pointlike singularities can exist in superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$. Integer quantum numbers are associated with these singularities. The quantization rules follow from the single valuedness of the order parameter and quantities derived from it. The results are also easily extended to the quantization of point singularities in nematic liquid crystals. The pointlike singularities in $^{3}\mathrm{He}$-$A$ are experimentally accessible analogs of the magnetic monopole.
Understanding Excess Mortality in Persons With Mental Illness: 17-year Follow Up of a Nationally Representative US Survey

BackgroundAlthough growing concern has been expressed about premature medical mortality in persons with mental illness, limited data are available quantifying the extent and correlates of this problem using population-based, nationally representative samples.MethodsThe study used data from the 1989
An investigation of intercrystalline and interphase boundary sliding in the superplastic Pb-62% Sn eutectic

Abstract An investigation of boundary sliding in the superplastic Pb-62% Sn eutectic alloy shows that the contribution from sliding is high in the superplastic region II ( ϵ gbs ϵ t − 50–60%, where ϵgbs is the strain due to sliding and ϵl is the total strain), but there is a decrease in the magnitude of sliding in the less superplastic regions I and III ( ϵ gbs ϵ l − 20%) . A series of detailed measurements of boundary offset and type of interface indicates that the three boundaries in Pb-62% Sn exhibit very significant differences in sliding behavior: the largest sliding offsets occur at the Sn-Sn intercrystalline boundaries, smaller offsets are recorded at the Pb-Sn interphase boundaries and there is little or no sliding at Pb-Pb intercrystalline boundaries. No theory of superplasticity is available which satisfactorily accounts for either the decrease in ϵ gbs ϵ l in region I or the variation in average sliding offset at the three types of boundary. The results are consistent with earlier reports, from cavitation studies, that the various interfaces in a microduplex alloy exhibit different susceptibilities to cavity formation.
Women's Work and the Politics of Homespun in Socialist China, 1949–1980

For decades after the socialist revolution, people in rural China continued to wear homespun cloth, and millions of rural women continued to spend a large part of their waking hours producing cloth and clothing. This is puzzling because the state opposed manual cloth production as wasteful of labor and raw materials, and because state monopolies should have ensured that all cotton ended up in the hands of the state and that all rural people were supplied with rationed machine-made cloth. This article looks at the reasons for the long survival of handloom cloth. These include the ways in which manual cloth production was integrated with rural gender norms and with a gift economy that prescribed the exchange of cloth at major life cycle events, and the existence of interlocking scarcities (of grain, cash, cotton, and cloth) that forced rural people to sell their cloth rations and make their own cloth from whatever cotton they could scrape together.
Smart Development: Saudi Arabia's Quest for a Knowledge Economy

Nations that have sought to overcome the resource curse and other barriers to economic growth have pursued, for some time, greater development through a number of strategies: from import substitution in the 1950s to current strategies based on micro-finance and human-capabilities approaches. Needless to say, the international community is still searching for the elusive Holy Grail of an optimal development strategy. One strategy that has attracted greater attention and a growing number of adherents is that of promoting the transition to a knowledge economy. This paper is about one such nation, Saudi Arabia. In analyzing the Kingdom’s quest for a knowledge economy, this article hopes to shed light on the anatomy of the strategy itself and identify important preconditions for and barriers to the strategy’s success. The case study of Saudi Arabia’s quest for a knowledge economy carries important implications and lessons for other nations, especially those with resource economies that are seeking effective pl...
Poverty and Disasters in the United States: A Review of Recent Sociological Findings

This article synthesizes the literature on poverty and disasters in the United States and presents the results from a wide range of studies conducted over the past twenty years. The findings are organized into eight categories based on the stages of a disaster event. The review illustrates how people of different socioeconomic statuses perceive, prepare for, and respond to natural hazard risks, how low-income populations may be differentially impacted, both physically and psychologically, and how disaster effects vary by social class during the periods of emergency response, recovery, and reconstruction. The literature illustrates that the poor in the United States are more vulnerable to natural disasters due to such factors as place and type of residence, building construction, and social exclusion. The results have important implications for social equity and recommendations for future research and policy implementation are offered.
Feral swine brucellosis in the United States and prospective genomic techniques for disease epidemiology

Brucellosis is a common infection of feral swine throughout the United States. With the recent expansion of feral swine populations across the country, this disease poses an increasing threat to agriculture and hunters. The standard approach to Brucella surveillance in feral swine has been serological testing, which gives an indication of past exposure and is a rapid method of determining populations where Brucella is present. More in-depth analyses require bacterial isolation to determine the Brucella species and biovar involved. Ultimately, for a comprehensive understanding of Brucella epizootiology in feral swine, incorporation of genotyping assays has become essential. Fortunately, the past decade has given rise to an array of genetic tools for assessing Brucella transmission and dispersal. This review aims to synthesize what is known about brucellosis in feral swine and will cover prospective genomic techniques that may be utilized to develop more complete understanding of the disease and its transmission history.
Gender differences in sexual behaviors, sexual partnerships, and HIV among drug users in New York City

We compared sexual behaviors/partnerships and determined sexual risk correlates associated with HIV by gender among street-recruited drug users using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Men reported higher risk sexual behaviors, yet fewer high-risk sexual partners than women. After adjustment, HIV seropositive men were more likely than seronegatives to be older, MSM, use condoms, and have an HIV-infected partner. HIV seropositive women were more likely to be older, have an HIV-infected partner, and not use non-injected heroin. IDU was not associated with HIV. Prospective studies are needed to determine how gender-specific sexual behaviors/partnerships among drug users affect HIV acquisition.
Reconstitution of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor using a lipid substitution technique

Abstract The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was purified by affinity chromatography in the presence of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). A method for replacing the DOPC with other lipids was developed by using detergent solubilization with a large excess of the new lipid by sucrse density gradient centrifugation in detergent-free buffers to separate receptor-lipid complexes from excess lipid and detergent. Homogeneous complexes of defined lipid composition could be easily prepared and the efficiency of substitution was independent of lipid type. However, the functional properties of the resulting lipid complexes depended on the lipid composition.
Self-Determination Instructional Strategies for Youth with Learning Disabilities

The concept of self-determination is rapidly gaining attention and acceptance within the disability fields. The focus on self-determination is particularly strong in the transition-from-school-to-adulthood movement. The recent Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 1990 mandated that students with disabilities be involved in the development of their transition plans and that students' preferences and interests be taken into account as transition plans are developed. This article describes four self-determination models and examines several instructional programs and strategies to promote self-determination in students with learning disabilities. Emerging issues in self-determination are examined, and the research and policy implications of these issues are discussed. These issues include (a) redefinition of roles, (b) the importance of taking risks, (c) individual versus group orientation for self-determination, and (d) the importance of early experiences.
The IgH locus of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, contains multiple constant region gene sequences: different genes encode heavy chains of membrane and secreted IgD.

The δ-chain of catfish IgD was initially characterized as a unique chimeric molecule containing a rearranged VDJ spliced to Cμ1, seven C domain-encoding exons (δ1–δ7), and a transmembrane tail. The presence of cDNA forms showing splicing of δ7 to an exon encoding a secretory tail was interpreted to indicate that membrane (δm) and secreted (δs) forms were likely expressed from a single gene by alternative RNA processing. Subsequent cloning and sequence analyses have unexpectedly revealed the presence of three δ C region genes, each linked to a μ gene or pseudogene. The first ( IGHD1 ) is located 1.6 kb 3′ of the functional Cμ ( IGHM1 ). The second ( IGHD3 ) is positioned immediately downstream of a pseudo Cμ ( IGHM3P ), ∼725 kb 5′ of IGHM1 . These two δ genes are highly similar in sequence and each contains a tandem duplication of δ2-δ3-δ4. However, IGHD1 has a terminal exon encoding the transmembrane region, whereas IGHD3 has a single terminal exon encoding a secreted tail. The occurrence of IGHD3 immediately downstream of a μ pseudogene indicates that the putative δs product may not be expressed as a chimeric μδ molecule. Western blots and protein sequencing data indicate that an IGHD3 -encoded protein is expressed in catfish serum. Thus, catfish δm transcripts appear to originate from IGHD1 , whereas δs transcripts originate from IGHD3 rather than, as previously inferred, from a single expressed δ gene. The third δ ( IGHD2 ) is associated with a pseudo Cμ ( IGHM2P ); its presence is inferred by Southern blot analyses.
The Temporal Context of Spatial Memory

Foraging strategies provide an effective and convenient means of investigating some characteristics of animal intelligence. The temporal and spatial distributions of food in the environment are not entirely random, and animals that use information about these patterns can gain an adaptive advantage over animals that do not. For some types of strategies to be effective, the animal must remember the temporal context of a visit to a spatial location and use this memory to make decisions about the current distribution of food in the environment. Experiments with different species (rat, Hawaiian honeycreeper, Marsh tit, Clark’s nutcracker) have used variations of a delayed conditional discrimination to examine the cognitive processes influencing this type of memory. These include: primacy, recency, proactive interference, retroactive interference, decay, consolidation, and chunking. The results of these experiments provide information about the types of memory processes that animals use when searching for food, and illustrate the usefulness of combining psychological and ethological approaches when studying animal intelligence.
Evaluation of a New Miniature Pressure-Sensitive Radio Transmitter

Abstract A miniature pressure-sensitive radio transmitter (tag) was evaluated and field tested as a tool for determining the depths of juvenile salmonids. The tag had an effective radiated power of −19.7 decibels (1 mW reference), dimensions of 23 mm × 7 mm, and a weight of 2.2 g in air. The pulse rate of the tag increased with pressure, resulting in an expected tag life of approximately 11 d at the water surface and 7.5 d at 10.5 m. The tags were accurate to within 16 mm with 95% of observations within ±0.32 m of the true depth. The resolution of the tags was 0.2 m. Errors in indicated depth resulting from differences between the calibration and operating temperatures were minimized by means of a correction factor. Tags surgically implanted in juvenile steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss indicated a depth 0.2 m less than the same tags in water. This difference was not affected by pressure or temperature and was rectified by adjusting data from tags in fish. A test tag in a Columbia River reservoir was detected...
Forecast Verification for Eta Model Winds Using Lake Erie Storm Surge Water Levels

This article has two purposes. The first is to describe how the Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System (GLCFS) can be used to validate wind forecasts for the Great Lakes using observed and forecast water levels. The second is to evaluate how well two versions (40 km and 29 km) of the numerical weather prediction step-coordinate Eta Model are able to forecast winds for the Great Lakes region, using the GLCFS as a verification technique. A brief description is given of the 40- and 29-km versions of the Eta Model and their surface wind and wind stress output. A description is given of the GLCFS for Lake Erie. This includes the numerical Princeton Ocean Model (POM), observed winds from surface meteorological stations and buoys, and water level gauge data. The wind stresses obtained from both the 40-km Eta Model and the observed winds are used to force the POM for Lake Erie for several periods in 1993 when water level surges were recorded. The resulting POM water levels are then compared to observed water levels to provide an indication of the accuracy of 40-km Eta Model forecasts. The same experiments are made with the POM using wind stresses from the 29-km Eta Model and observed winds in 1997. Twin experiments are made with the GLCFS to determine: 1) how well it can predict (hindcast) water levels using observed winds as forcing, and 2) how well it can predict water levels using both the 40- and 29-km Eta Model forecast winds as forcing. The use of this forecast validation technique for other coastal forecasting systems is discussed.
Quantifying oxidation rates of carbon monoxide on a Pt/C electrode

Abstract The electrochemical oxidation of carbon monoxide adsorbed (COad) on platinum-on-carbon electrodes was studied via a methodology in which pre-adsorbed CO was partially oxidized by applying potentiostatic pulses for certain durations. The residual COad was analyzed using stripping voltammetry that involved the deconvolution of COad oxidation peaks of voltammograms to quantify the weakly and strongly bound species of COad. The data obtained for various potentials and temperatures were fit to a model based on a nucleation and growth mechanism. The resulting fit produced potential- and temperature-dependent rate parameters that provided insight into the oxidation mechanism of the two COad species. Irrespective of the applied potential or temperature, the concentration of weakly bound COad species decreased exponentially with time. In contrast, the strongly bound COad species showed a gradual transition of mechanisms, from progressive nucleation at relatively low potentials to exponential decay at high potentials.
Functional Properties of Barium Hexaferrite Magnets Sintered by Using Nanostructured Particles

The carbon combustion synthesis technique has been used to produce barium hexaferrite nanostructured particles. Several methods such as X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, magnetism measurement (VSM), and dielectric spectroscopy have been used to investigate crystal structure and magneto-electrical properties of the as-synthesized particles and sintered dense composites. The optimum conditions for fabrication of high dense BaFe12O19 magnets (5.2 g/cm3) are reported. Measured Z-component magnetic field intensity of magnetized samples confirms that magnets have a homogeneous spatial residual magnetic field distribution.
PS2-29: Optimal Lifestyle Adherence and 2-Year Incidence of Chronic Conditions

Background and Aims: Adherence to an optimal lifestyle, defined as adequate physical activity, no use of tobacco, moderate alcohol use, and eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, has been associated with as much as 14 years of increased longevity and improved functional health status. Unfortunately, adherence to these optimal lifestyle behaviors is relatively low among the population. Furthermore, the extent to which adherence to multiple lifestyle behaviors is associated with specific disease incidence is unclear. Improved understanding of this association may hold significant potential for population health improvement strategies. The purpose of this investigation was to study the association of adherence to varying levels of an optimal lifestyle with the incidence of chronic disease among employed adults (N=35,684). Methods: All baseline data were collected as part of a health assessment process during the year 2007. Participants were followed for two years. Descriptive statistics were calculated and reported as the proportion of the sample reporting a newly diagnosed chronic disease (diabetes, heart disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, back pain, or cancer) by the number of lifestyle behaviors that they practiced. Results: Compared with individuals who practiced no or only 1 optimal lifestyle behavior, the risk of developing a condition for individuals practicing 3 or 4 behaviors was 66% lower for diabetes, 45% lower for heart disease, 17% lower for hyperlipidemia, 15% lower for hypertension, 43% lower for back pain, and 24% lower for cancer. Conclusions: Adherence to optimal lifestyle is associated with lower 2-year incidence rates of several chronic conditions. Attention to population-based strategies that improve adherence to these four behaviors appears to positively affect risk of chronic diseases and their risk factors. To the extent that social marketing strategies and systematic measurement and feedback to individual members, patients, and groups (e.g., employer-based) increases adherence to multiple health behaviors, risk of chronic disease may be reduced.
A generalized recursive algorithm for wave-scattering solutions in two dimensions

A generalized recursive algorithm valid for both the E/sub z/ and H/sub z/ wave scattering of densely packed scatterers in two dimensions is derived. This is unlike previously derived recursive algorithms which have been found to be valid only for E/sub z/ polarized waves. In this generalized recursive algorithm, a scatterer is first divided into N subscatterers. The n-subscatterer solution is then used to solve the (n+n')-subscatterer solution. The computational complexity of such an algorithm is found to be of O(N/sup 2/) in two dimensions while providing a solution valid for all angles of incidence. This is better than the method of moments with Gaussian elimination, which has an O(N/sup 3/) complexity. >
Beta-carotene and lutein protect HepG2 human liver cells against oxidant-induced damage.

Numerous epidemiological studies support a strong inverse relationship between consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables and the incidence of some degenerative diseases. One proposed mechanism of protection by carotenoids centers on their putative antioxidant activity, although direct evidence in support of this contention is limited at the cellular level. The antioxidant potential of beta-carotene (BC) and lutein (LUT), carotenoids with or without provitamin A activity, respectively, was evaluated using the human liver cell line HepG2. Pilot studies showed that a 90-min exposure of confluent cultures to 500 mumol/L tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) at 37 degrees C significantly (P or = 1 mumol/L dl-alpha-tocopherol protected cells against oxidant-induced changes. In parallel studies, overnight incubation of HepG2 in medium containing micelles with either BC or LUT (final concentrations of 1.1 and 10.9 mumol/L, respectively), the cell content of the carotenoids increased from < 0.04 to 0.32 and 3.39 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Carotenoid-loaded cells were partially or completely protected against oxidant-induced changes in lipid peroxidation, LDH release and amino acid and deoxyglucose transport. These data demonstrate that BC and LUT or their metabolites protect HepG2 cells against oxidant-induced damage and that the protective effect is independent of provitamin A activity.
Enhancing adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo by addition of protamine and hydrocortisone.

Background Inclusion of positively charged polymers such as protamine in adenovector formulations has been reported to improve the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo. On the other hand, corticosteroids are known to inhibit inflammation and thus might be useful in minimizing vector-related toxicity. In this study, we evaluated the combined effect of protamine sulfate and hydrocortisone on the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo. Methods Protamine and hydrocortisone at different concentrations were added to adenovector formulations. In vitro transgene expression with or without inclusion of protamine and hydrocortisone was evaluated in the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 and the lung cancer cell lines A549 and H460. In vivo transgene expression in the mouse lung was determined after aerosolized vector delivery. Results The combination of 2 µg/ml protamine and 125 ng/ml hydrocortisone significantly increased transgene expression in vitro in all the cell lines tested. Protamine is only effective when it is added to cells before or together with adenovectors, whereas hydrocortisone is effective when it is added to cells before, together with, or after adenovectors. Inclusion of protamine and hydrocortisone also augmented apoptosis induction caused by adenovectors expressing proapoptotic genes in cancer cells. Moreover, protamine and hydrocortisone dramatically enhanced transgene expression in the mouse lung after aerosolized vector delivery. Conclusions Inclusion of protamine and hydrocortisone in adenovector formulations can improve adenovector-mediated gene expression and may be useful for clinical applications of current adenovirus-mediated gene therapy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated calculation of ptosis on lateral clinical photographs.

Rationale, aims and objectives The goal is to fully automate the calculation of a breast ptosis measure from clinical photographs through automatic localization of fiducial points relevant to the measure. Methods Sixty-eight women (97 clinical photographs) who underwent or were scheduled for breast reconstruction were included. The photographs were divided into a development set (N = 49) and an evaluation set (N = 48). The breast ptosis measure is obtained automatically from distances between three fiducial points: the nipple, the lowest visible point of breast (LVP), and the lateral terminus of the inframammary fold (LT). The nipple is localized using the YIQ colour space to highlight the contrast between the areola and the surrounding breast skin. The areola is localized using its shape, location and high Q component intensity. The breast contour is estimated using Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm on the gradient of the photograph in greyscale. The lowest point of the estimated contour is set as the LVP. To locate the anatomically subtle LT, the location of patient's axilla is used as a reference. Results The algorithm's efficacy was evaluated by comparing manual and automated localizations of the fiducial points. The average nipple diameter was used as a cut-off to define success. The algorithm showed 90, 91 and 83% accuracy for locating the nipple, LVP and LT in the evaluation set, respectively. Conclusion This study presents a new automated algorithm that may facilitate the quantification of breast ptosis from lateral views of patients' photographs.
Atherosclerosis of the carotid artery: Evaluation by magnetic resonance angiography†

Carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques (APs) can lead to brain ischemia, an event shown to correlate with both the degree of stenosis and the composition of the AP. Currently, accurate estimates of stenosis can be obtained by either x-ray angiography or three-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Our purpose was to determine whether three-dimensional TOF MRA images could also provide information on plaque location, morphology, and composition. Seven pre-endarterectomy patients underwent three-dimensional TOF MRA. After endarterectomy, plaque histology was evaluated. Three-dimensional TOF MRA images contained sufficient soft tissue contrast to differentiate the plaques from the surrounding tissues in all cases. Estimation of plaque morphology had 80% correlation with histology. Finally, intraplaque hemorrhage and calcification were deplicted as regions of moderately high and very low intensity, respectively. These preliminary results suggest that three-dimensional TOF MRA may be useful in studying the development and progression of carotid atherosclerosis.
Design of a hardware testing system for the D zero detector

Testing a system as large as the D Zero data acquisition system is difficult. The use of IBM compatible personal computers in a hardware test system that can run on any size system from an engineer’s test bench to the entire subsystem in the D Zero Detector is described. The test system uses a PC to W E bus interface for the local testing and the Token Ring network for more global testing. This system has been implemented for several different hardware systems in D Zero.
Popular architecture in the United States and South Africa: a case study of the late nineteenth century

This article briefly examines the present scope of architectural history observing it to range from 'high' or academic to vernacular architecture. Popular architecture is then sketched and a working definition of the latter is given. To add substance to the above thesis some of the most important characteristics common to late nineteenth century domestic architecture in the United States and South Africa are described. The overriding importance of the Romantic ideology in architectural design is noted. The chief objective qualities of Romanticism are described. The article then concludes with a case study of a house type derived from these characteristics and common to both countries. This is described as the asymmetrical or gable front and wing house. The similarities are identified in some detail.
Vector competence of Peruvian mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) for epizootic and enzootic strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus

Abstract Mosquitoes collected in the Amazon Basin, near Iquitos, Peru, were evaluated for their susceptibility to epizootic (IAB and IC) and enzootic (ID and IE) strains of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus. After feeding on hamsters with a viremia of ≈108 plaque-forming units of virus per milliliter, Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatus Sallum, Huchings, & Ferreira, Culex (Melanoconion) vomerifer Komp, and Aedes fulvus (Wiedemann) were highly susceptible to infection with all four subtypes of VEE virus (infection rates ≥87%). Likewise, Psorophora albigenu (Peryassu) and a combination of Mansonia indubitans Dyar & Shannon and Mansonia titillans (Walker) were moderately susceptible to all four strains of VEE virus (infection rates ≥50%). Although Psorophora cingulata (Fabricius) and Coquillettidia venezuelensis (Theobald) were susceptible to infection with each of the VEE strains, these two species were not efficient transmitters of any of the VEE strains, even after intrathoracic inoculation, indic...
Hepatocellular carcinoma: what is happening everywhere?

Welcome to this special issue of CCO on hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a great honor and privilege to guest-edit this special issue of CCO. I am very grateful to all my colleagues worldwide who participated in this effort (Video 1).
Causal competition based on generic priors.

Although we live in a complex and multi-causal world, learners often lack sufficient data and/or cognitive resources to acquire a fully veridical causal model. The general goal of making precise predictions with energy-efficient representations suggests a generic prior favoring causal models that include a relatively small number of strong causes. Such ‘‘sparse and strong” priors make it possible to quickly identify the most potent individual causes, relegating weaker causes to secondary status or eliminating them from consideration altogether. Sparse-and-strong priors predict that competition will be observed between candidate causes of the same polarity (i.e., generative or else preventive) even if they occur independently. For instance, the strength of a moderately strong cause should be underestimated when an uncorrelated strong cause also occurs in the general learning environment, relative to when a weaker cause also occurs. We report three experiments investigating whether independently-occurring causes (either generative or preventive) compete when people make judgments of causal strength. Cue competition was indeed observed for both generative and preventive causes. The data were used to assess alternative computational models of human learning in complex multi-causal situations.
Oxidative Stress and Ethanol Toxicity

Alcohol consumption coevolved with agrarian societies in the World. The benefits of alcohol are countered by the detriments it causes to society and to individual health. Indeed, one could argue that alcohol is the most common poison voluntarily consumed at toxic doses by the human population. Chronic alcohol consumption/abuse is thought to directly damage several organs, including liver, skeletal muscle and heart, the brain, and the pancreas. Alcohol is also considered a group 1 carcinogen for cancers of the GI tract, liver, breast and pancreas. It has been hypothesized for over 50 years that oxidative stress contributes to alcohol-induced organ injury. However, this work has yet to translate into an accepted antioxidant therapy to treat or prevent alcohol-induced tissue injury. With a better understanding of the mechanisms by which oxidative stress leads to liver damage during alcohol exposure, therapies that are more targeted at the cellular/molecular level may be applied in the clinic with potentially greater success. This chapter will discuss the general concepts of oxidative stress and how it relates to current hypotheses in alcohol-induced liver injury.
Regulation of IgE biosynthesis.

A biologic cell product that in an experimental system completely and specifically suppresses the IgE response! This is one of the intriguing findings that give rise to optimism that the growing understanding of mechanisms that regulate normal IgE responses will, in the not-too-distant future, provide rational and effective therapy for the prevention and management of atopic diseases.
Effect of hydrogen bond strength on the redox properties of phylloquinones: a two-dimensional hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy study of photosystem I.

The phylloquinones of photosystem I (PS I), A(1A) and A(1B), exist in near-equivalent protein environments but possess distinct thermodynamic and kinetic properties. Although the determinants responsible for the different properties of the phylloquinones are not completely understood, the strength and geometry of hydrogen bond interactions are significant factors in tuning and control of function. This study focuses on characterizing the hydrogen-bonding interactions of the phylloquinone acceptor, A(1A), by (1)H and (14)N HYSCORE spectroscopy. Photoaccumulation of PS I complexes at pH 8.0 results in the trapping of the phyllosemiquinone anion, A(1A)(-), on the A-branch of cofactors. The experiments described here indicate that A(1A)(-) forms a single H-bond. Using a simple point dipole approximation, we estimate its length to be 1.6 ± 0.1 A. The value of the (1)H isotropic hyperfine coupling constant suggests that the H-bond has significant out-of-plane character. The (14)N HYSCORE spectroscopy experiments support the assignment of a H-bond wherein, the (14)N quadrupolar coupling constant is consistent with a backbone amide nitrogen as the hydrogen bond donor.
Antifungal activity of halophenols and halonitrophenols

Thirty one compounds (phenol; its 12 possible monohalo analogues; 18 nitrophenols (2- and 4-nitrophenols, 4-, 5-, and 6-halo-2-nitrophenols, 3-halo-4-nitrophenols)) were tested for antifungal activity against six fungi (A. niger, A. oryzae, M. verrucaria, T. viride, M. cirinelloides, andT. mentagrophytes) inSabouraud dextrose broth. The two most fungitoxic compounds of those studied were 5-fluoro- and 5-iodo-2-nitrophenols which inhibited all the fungi at concentrations under 10 µg/ml. 6-Iodo-2-nitrophenol inhibited five fungi at a concentration below 10 µg/ml andM. cirinelloides at 10–100 µg/ml.