cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Review of Devra Davis’s (2007) The Secret History of the War on Cancer: Can the Science of Behavior Contribute to the War on Cancer?

Devra Davis’s (2007) The Secret History of the War on Cancer, despite being published several years ago, is an important treatise for behavior analysts interested in utilizing behavioral principles to change important lifestyle behaviors that have been linked to long-term chronic conditions. This review summarizes the important points of the book, most specifically the role of government and industry in the etiology of chronic conditions such as cancer. Research on behavioral interventions for health-related behaviors is proposed as one possible means by which behavior analysis might contribute to the war on cancer, but so too might larger scale research on cultural change, including the study of meta- and macrocontingencies and the promotion of skeptical thinking and scientific literacy.
Conversational BI: an ontology-driven conversation system for business intelligence applications

Business intelligence (BI) applications play an important role in the enterprise to make critical business decisions. Conversational interfaces enable non-technical enterprise users to explore their data, democratizing access to data significantly. In this paper, we describe an ontology-based framework for creating a conversation system for BI applications termed as Conversational BI. We create an ontology from a business model underlying the BI application, and use this ontology to automatically generate various artifacts of the conversation system. These include the intents, entities, as well as the training samples for each intent. Our approach builds upon our earlier work, and exploits common BI access patterns to generate intents, their training examples and adapt the dialog structure to support typical BI operations. We have implemented our techniques in Health Insights (HI), an IBM Watson Healthcare offering, providing analysis over insurance data on claims. Our user study demonstrates that our system is quite intuitive for gaining business insights from data. We also show that our approach not only captures the analysis available in the fixed application dashboards, but also enables new queries and explorations.
Infusion Site Reactions: Classification in the Setting of Fosaprepitant Administration With Chemotherapy.

Background Studies report a wide range of incidence and severity of infusion site adverse events (ISAEs) following fosaprepitant administration. Objectives The purposes of this study were (a) to determine the incidence of suspected extravasation in patients with cancer receiving fosaprepitant infusions with chemotherapy and (b) to determine whether the documented signs, symptoms, and management strategies aligned with the diagnostic criteria for extravasation versus non-extravasation ISAEs. Methods Electronic health records were used to identify patients who received fosaprepitant infusion with chemotherapy and had documentation for suspected extravasation. Chart reviews were conducted for a sample of patients to determine whether documentation was consistent with extravasation. Findings About 3% (n = 460 of 15,667) of patients who received fosaprepitant had documentation for suspected extravasation. Among a random sample of patients (N = 110) with suspected extravasation, 6% (n = 6) had documentation consistent with extravasation.
Fundamentals of Probability with Stochastic Processes, 4th ed. Saeed Ghahramani.: Boca Raton, FL: Chapman & Hall/CRC Press, 2018, xix + 631 pp., $130.00(H), ISBN: 978-1-49-875509-2.

The fourth edition of Fundamentals of Probability with Stochastic Processes continues to be a great one- or two-semester elementary probability text. The text naturally requires an understanding of...
In-situ porcine corneal matrix hydrogel as ocular surface bandage.

Abstract Purpose Bioactive substrates can be used therapeutically to enhance wound healing. Here, we evaluated the effect of an in-situ thermoresponsive hydrogel from decellularized porcine cornea ECM, COMatrix (COrnea Matrix), for application as an ocular surface bandage for corneal epithelial defects. Methods COMatrix hydrogel was fabricated from decellularized porcine corneas. The effects of COMatrix hydrogel on attachment and proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were evaluated in vitro. The effect of COMatrix on the expressions of the inflammatory genes, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 was assessed by RT-PCR. The in-situ application and also repairing effects of COMatrix hydrogel as an ocular bandage was studied in a murine model of corneal epithelial wound. The eyes were examined by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and slit-lamp microscopy in vivo and by histology and immunofluorescence post-mortem. Results In vitro, COMatrix hydrogel significantly enhanced the attachment and proliferation of HCECs relative to control. HCECs exposed to COMatrix had less induced expression of TNF-α (P Conclusions COMatrix hydrogel is a naturally derived bioactive material with potential application as an ocular surface bandage to enhance epithelial wound healing.
Celebrity No-Show: The Great Eater of Kent

This chapter turns from the stage to the temporal and geographical environs of London’s theaters. I focus on the spectacle of the “great eater” Nicholas Wood of Kent, whose extreme gluttony John Taylor attempted to turn into a public show at the Bear Garden in 1630. When Wood declined, Taylor wrote an account of Wood’s “teeth and stomacks exploits,” a stand-in for this theatrical no-show. How is Kent’s local fame distinct from the wider celebrity Taylor seeks to generate? What kind of “publics” might be imagined to consume these performances? How does Wood’s insatiable “maw” anchor Taylor’s literary-historical account of spectacular gluttony? And how is Wood’s bestial embodiment leveraged to secure the fame of “The Water Poet” himself? Mobilizing accounts of the social and physical dimensions of competitive eating, historical food studies, and critical perspectives on theatrical “publics,” I argue Taylor stages Wood’s gluttonous anti-commensality as a form of anti-theatricality.
Assessing acute myeloid leukemia susceptibility in rearrangement-driven patients by DNA breakage at topoisomerase II and CCCTC-binding factor/cohesin binding sites.

An initiating DNA double strand break (DSB) event precedes the formation of cancer-driven chromosomal abnormalities, such as gene rearrangements. Therefore, measuring DNA breaks at rearrangement-participating regions can provide a unique tool to identify and characterize susceptible individuals. Here, we developed a highly sensitive and low-input DNA break mapping method, the first of its kind for patient samples. We then measured genome-wide DNA breakage in normal cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with KMT2A (previously MLL) rearrangements, compared to that of non-fusion AML individuals, as a means to evaluate individual susceptibility to gene rearrangements. DNA breakage at the KMT2A gene region was significantly greater in fusion-driven remission individuals, as compared to non-fusion individuals. Moreover, we identified select topoisomerase II (TOP2)-sensitive and CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)/cohesin binding sites with preferential DNA breakage in fusion-driven patients. Importantly, measuring DSBs at these sites, in addition to the KMT2A gene region, provided greater predictive power when assessing individual break susceptibility. We also demonstrated that low-dose etoposide exposure further elevated DNA breakage at these regions in fusion-driven AML patients, but not in non-fusion patients, indicating that these sites are preferentially sensitive to TOP2 activity in fusion-driven AML patients. These results support that mapping of DSBs in patients enables discovery of novel break-prone regions and monitoring of individuals susceptible to chromosomal abnormalities, and thus cancer. This will build the foundation for early detection of cancer-susceptible individuals, as well as those preferentially susceptible to therapy-related malignancies caused by treatment with TOP2 poisons. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Restoration of plant-animal interactions in terrestrial ecosystems

Abstract Ecosystem restoration is one of the most promising strategies for conservation in the Anthropocene. Within ecosystems, plant-animal interactions are critical to their functioning, biodiversity and to restoration success. However, there is no systematic assessment of such interactions across restoration efforts. We reviewed 127 articles that examined habitat restoration and trophic rewilding to synthesize knowledge on restoration of four key plant-animal interactions: seed dispersal, herbivory, pollination, and seed predation. We conducted a meta-analysis using a subset of 56 studies, which compared restored systems with degraded or reference systems. We addressed four questions: (i) To what extent are interactions recovered in restored sites compared to degraded and reference sites? (ii) Which management practices enhance interaction restoration? (iii) Which interactions and animal taxa were most frequently studied? and (iv) Is interaction restoration being studied in areas deemed critical for conservation? Seed dispersal was the most studied interaction, followed by herbivory, pollination, and seed predation. Mammals were the most studied group, followed by birds, insects, and reptiles. Importantly, occurrence of seed dispersal and pollination was more frequent in restored than degraded sites. While several studies were conducted in critical conservation sites, some biodiversity hotspots, particularly in Southeast Asia, have been understudied. Future research should focus on understudied interactions (e.g., seed predation) and taxa (e.g., insects and reptiles), so this information can be incorporated into practice. Considering the available studies, we find that both habitat restoration and trophic rewilding are effective in bringing seed dispersal and pollination to a better state than in degraded areas.
Interdisciplinary training for effective implementation of services in response to a social policy change

ABSTRACT This article describes an interdisciplinary (law and social work) training program for child welfare staff and attorneys that was implemented and tested in an extremely socially disadvantaged region in response to the legislative mandates of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. This project was undertaken by university-public agency collaboration and as such is part of a nation-wide trend to encourage partnerships that can enhance the delivery of quality services to children and families coming to the attention of the child welfare system. Coming at a time when the federal government is emphasizing the need for safety, permanency, and child well-being for children entering foster care, an interdisciplinary project that is effective in training staff to meet these objectives is timely.
Organ Transplantation and the Revitalization of Immunology

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the circumstances that led to a major discovery in organ transplantation and the revitalization of immunology. There were three routes to transplantation: studies of kidney disease and hypertension, studies of skin grafts and twins, and surgery. Although renal transplantation was performed sporadically in the first half of the past century, planned programs for human organ transplantation started in the late 1940s. Dizygotic twins play a significant role in the history of organ transplantation. In less than 40 years, organ transplantation has produced exciting insights into complex biological and clinical problems. National and international collaborations have been established for the preservation and distribution of organs and have spawned vital forums for the exchange of ideas. With clinical success came the need for better organ preservation, and donor organs can be preserved long enough to be shipped worldwide, if necessary.
Governance Obstacles to Geothermal Energy Development in Indonesia

Despite having 40 per cent of the world’s potential for geothermal power production, Indonesia exploits less than five per cent of its own geothermal resources. We explore the reasons behind this lagging development of geothermal power and highlight four obstacles: (1) delays caused by the suboptimal decentralisation of permitting procedures to local governments that have few incentives to support geothermal exploitation; (2) rent-seeking behaviour originating in the point-source nature of geothermal resources; (3) the opacity of central government decision making; and (4) a historically deleterious national fuel subsidy policy that disincentivised geothermal investment. We situate our arguments against the existing literature and three shadow case studies from other Pacific countries that have substantial geothermal resources. We conclude by arguing for a more centralised geothermal governance structure.
Encoding and retaining information in the visuals and verbals of an educational movie

This study shows that when viewers watching an educational movie are presented simultaneously with information in two media-visual and verbal /auditory, there is no competition fa resources. When encoding information in one medium, one is not hindered from encoding information in the other; even when visual and linguistic information are presented sequentially, doubling study time, the extraction of information is not increased. College students appear to be good dual media processors.
An alternative view of mammalian DNA sequence organization: I. Repetitive sequence interspersion in Syrian hamster DNA: A model system

Abstract The biochemical and biophysical techniques originally introduced by Davidson et al. (1973) and Graham et al. (1974) for the determination of the general organization and length of repetitive and non-repetitive sequences in eukaryotic DNA have been extended and modified. Improvements in the experimental methods employed in these pioneering works have led to novel interpretations and conclusions about mammalian DNA sequence organization. In what is commonly referred to as an interspersion experiment, the average spacing of repetitive DNA regions is inferred from the length dependence of hydroxyapatite binding of radio-labeled tracer DNAs reassociated with an excess of short 200 nucleotide repetitive sequence driver DNA. Studies on Syrian hamster DNA, using an improved procedure for conducting interspersion experiments, suggest that either a frequent cluster in the distribution of non-repetitive DNA sequence lengths occurs at 7200 (±2000) nucleotides or that repetitive sequences are randomly spaced on a number average basis. In contrast, measurements obtained using the traditional methods suggest that a frequent cluster in the distribution of non-repetitive DNA sequence lengths occurs at approximately 1000 nucleotides. When reassociations were conducted at elevated temperatures, to allow only well-matched repetitive sequences to hybridize, the amount of DNA operationally observed as “repetitive” was reduced. Interspersion experiments conducted with Syrian hamster DNA at a reassociation temperature of 75 °C yielded data similar to those obtained by Manning et al. (1975) for Drosophila melanogaster DNA reassociated at 60 °C.
Hepatic apo B-100 lipoproteins and plasma LDL heterogeneity in African green monkeys

The contribution of hepatic apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 lipoproteins to plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolic heterogeneity was examined in African green monkeys. Hepatic 3H-labeled very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) (d less than 1.006, where d is density in g/ml) or hepatic 131I-labeled LDL (1.030 less than d less than 1.063) were isolated from perfused livers and injected simultaneously with autologous plasma 125I-LDL into African green monkeys. Serial blood samples were taken, and the distribution of radioactivity among various subfractions of apo B-100 lipoproteins was determined using density-gradient ultracentrifugation. Compartmental models were developed to describe simultaneously the kinetics of hepatic lipoproteins and plasma LDL. In five of seven studies, the metabolic behavior of LDL derived from radiolabeled hepatic lipoprotein precursors differed from the metabolic behavior of radiolabeled autologous plasma LDL. These differences could be described by different models supporting two hypotheses with different physiological interpretations: 1) lipoproteins of donor and recipient animals are kinetically distinct, and/or 2) plasma LDL derived from various potential sources are kinetically distinct. Compartmental modeling was used to test these hypotheses, which were not accessible to testing by conventional experimental methodologies. The kinetic analyses of these studies suggest that plasma LDL may be derived from a variety of precursors, including hepatic VLDL and hepatic LDL, with each source giving rise to metabolically distinct plasma LDL.
Efficacy of ketamine hydrochloride administered as a basilar sesamoid nerve block in alleviating foot pain in horses caused by natural disease.

SummaryReasons for performing study A local anaesthetic agent capable of temporarily resolving lameness after being administered perineurally would be helpful because rapid return of lameness would allow for other analgesic techniques to be performed within a short period of time. Objectives To determine if a 3% solution of ketamine hydrochloride (HCl), administered around the palmar nerves at the level of the base of the proximal sesamoid bones, can improve naturally occurring lameness that can be improved or abolished with a basilar sesamoid nerve block performed using lidocaine HCl and to compare the change in gait produced using lidocaine to the change in gait produced using ketamine by using objective lameness assessment. Study design Experimental trial using research horses with naturally occurring lameness. Methods Seven horses, chronically lame on a thoracic limb, were chosen for the study. A wireless, inertial, sensor-based, motion analysis system was used to evaluate lameness before and after administration of 2% lidocaine and later, before and after administration of 3% ketamine over the palmar digital nerves at the base of the proximal sesamoid bones (a basilar sesamoid nerve block) at 5 min intervals for 30 min. Lameness scores obtained before and after administration of lidocaine and ketamine HCl were compared using repeated measures analysis. Results Gait significantly improved after basilar sesamoid nerve blocks using 2% lidocaine, but gait did not significantly improve after performing the same nerve block using 3% ketamine HCl. Conclusions Ketamine (3%) administered perineurally for regional anaesthesia of the digit does not desensitise the digit to the same extent as does lidocaine and thus 3% ketamine appears to have no value as a local anaesthetic agent for diagnostic regional anaesthesia.
Identification of a region which directs the monocytic activity of the colony-stimulating factor 1 (macrophage colony-stimulating factor) receptor promoter and binds PEBP2/CBF (AML1).

The receptor for the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (or colony-stimulating factor 1 [CSF-1]) is expressed from different promoters in monocytic cells and placental trophoblasts. We have demonstrated that the monocyte-specific expression of the CSF-1 receptor is regulated at the level of transcription by a tissue-specific promoter whose activity is stimulated by the monocyte/B-cell-specific transcription factor PU.1 (D.-E. Zhang, C.J. Hetherington, H.-M. Chen, and D.G. Tenen, Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:373-381, 1994). Here we report that the tissue specificity of this promoter is also mediated by sequences in a region II (bp -88 to -59), which lies 10 bp upstream from the PU.1-binding site. When analyzed by DNase footprinting, region II was protected preferentially in monocytic cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed that region II interacts specifically with nuclear proteins from monocytic cells. Two gel shift complexes (Mono A and Mono B) were formed with separate sequence elements within this region. Competition and supershift experiments indicate that Mono B contains a member of the polyomavirus enhancer-binding protein 2/core-binding factor (PEBP2/CBF) family, which includes the AML1 gene product, while Mono A is a distinct complex preferentially expressed in monocytic cells. Promoter constructs with mutations in these sequence elements were no longer expressed specifically in monocytes. Furthermore, multimerized region II sequence elements enhanced the activity of a heterologous thymidine kinase promoter in monocytic cells but not other cell types tested. These results indicate that the monocyte/B-cell-specific transcription factor PU.1 and the Mono A and Mono B protein complexes act in concert to regulate monocyte-specific transcription of the CSF-1 receptor.
In vitro development of plasma cells from lymphocytes following pokeweed mitogen stimulation: a fine structural study.

Abstract The occurrence of a significant number of cells which morphologically resemble plasma cells in 7–10-day cultures of lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PMW) is demonstrated. Cells of this type are not observed with phytohemagglutinin or wax bean glycoprotein stimulation.
Chemoprevention strategies for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which makes it difficult to treat. The low survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer points towards an increased need for novel therapeutic and chemopreventive strategies and also early detection of this disease. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables has been associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. Synthetic and natural, diet-derived bioactive compounds have been evaluated as pancreatic cancer chemopreventive agents and have demonstrated various degrees of efficacy in cellular and in vivo animal models. Some chemopreventive agents (for example, curcumin or resveratrol) have also been reported to sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to standard chemotherapeutic drugs (for example, gemcitabine or erlotinib), which suggests that chemopreventive agents could potentially be used as potentiators of standard chemotherapy. Few clinical trials of pancreatic cancer chemopreventive agents have been completed and some are in early phases. Further development of pancreatic cancer chemopreventive agents may prove to be tremendously valuable for individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer and patients who present with premalignant lesions. This Review discusses the current state of the pancreatic cancer chemoprevention field and highlights the challenges ahead.
Lung cancer chemoprevention: current status and future prospects

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, making it an attractive disease for chemoprevention. Although avoidance of tobacco use and smoking cessation will have the greatest impact on lung cancer development, chemoprevention could prove to be very effective, particularly in former smokers. Chemoprevention is the use of agents to reverse or inhibit carcinogenesis and has been successfully applied to other common malignancies. Despite prior studies in lung cancer chemoprevention failing to identify effective agents, we now have the ability to identify high-risk populations, and our understanding of lung tumour and premalignant biology continues to advance. There are distinct histological lesions that can be reproducibly graded as precursors of non-small-cell lung cancer and similar precursor lesions exist for adenocarcinoma. These premalignant lesions are being targeted by chemopreventive agents in current trials and will continue to be studied in the future. In addition, biomarkers that predict risk and response to targeted agents are being investigated and validated. In this Review, we discuss the principles of chemoprevention, data from preclinical models, completed clinical trials and observational studies, and describe new treatments for novel targeted pathways and future chemopreventive efforts.
Material readiness for generation 2 directed self-assembly (DSA) < 24nm pitch

The self-assembling behavior of thermally annealed PS-b-PMMA block copolymer derivatives (GEN2 BCPs) was evaluated using a substrate modified by a random copolymer, commonly called a ‘brush’. Similar to PS-b-PMMA, surface modification using the random copolymer brush served as an effective technique for controlling the domain orientation of the GEN2 BCP and yielded aligned features with pitches below 24nm. Non-preferential and weakly preferential random copolymers were also defined and applied to DSA using a graphoepitaxial approach. Finally, a Dry Development Rinse Process (DDRP)[1] was tested as a method to prevent pattern collapse and improve pattern transfer for GEN2 BCPs.
Smart balloon observations over the North Atlantic: O3 data analysis and modeling

[1] The temporal and spatial variations of ozone (O3) in polluted continental outflow over the North Atlantic were investigated during the International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT) field campaign in July–August 2004. Our analysis utilized measurements of O3 from three smart balloons traveling at 0.5–3 km altitude in combination with simulations using the MM5/SMOKE/CMAQ air quality modeling system. Model results for over and within 300 km off North America were corroborated by comparison to a suite of measurements from ground stations, ozonesondes, and the NOAA ship Ronald H. Brown cruising in the Gulf of Maine. A prominent feature of the O3 distribution was the high mixing ratios over the North Atlantic, reaching a peak value of 171 ppbv, compared to the northeastern United States ( 2 days) it exhibited only −0.05–0.05 ppbv km−1. These same two balloons encountered Hurricane Alex at different times, but both measured O3 mixing ratios >100 ppbv. Our model results show clearly that polluted air from the mid-Atlantic states was channeled directly into Alex's inflow region. Overall, variations in O3 on timescales of tens of minutes to hours are attributed to its highly heterogeneous distribution in urban plumes, with variations over hours to days caused by changing source regions related to cyclonic activity.
The Crystal Structure of the Methanocaldococcus jannaschii Multifunctional L7Ae RNA-Binding Protein Reveals an Induced-Fit Interaction with the Box C/D RNAs†,‡

Archaeal ribosomal protein L7Ae is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein that recognizes the K-turn motif in ribosomal, box H/ACA, and box C/D sRNAs. The crystal structure of Methanocaldococcus jannaschii L7Ae has been determined to 1.45 A, and L7Ae's amino acid composition, evolutionary conservation, functional characteristics, and structural details have been analyzed. Comparison of the L7Ae structure to those of a number of related proteins with diverse functions has revealed significant structural homology which suggests that this protein fold is an ancient RNA-binding motif. Notably, the free M. jannaschii L7Ae structure is essentially identical to that with RNA bound, suggesting that RNA binding occurs through an induced-fit interaction. Circular dichroism experiments show that box C/D and C'/D' RNA motifs undergo conformational changes when magnesium or the L7Ae protein is added, corroborating the induced-fit model for L7Ae-box C/D RNA interactions.
Comparative effects of nitroglycerin and isosorbide dinitrate on coronary collateral vessels and ischemic myocardium in dogs

To determine the effect of isosorbide dinitrate or ischemic myocardium, this agent was administered to dogs with well developed coronary collateral vessels 8 to 14 weeks after embolization and subsequent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. After thoracotomy the left coronary artery was cannulated and perfused with blood from the femoral artery. The distal left anterior descending artery was cannulated to monitor peripheral coronary pressure. Regional contractile force in the normal left circumflex and potentially ischemic left anterior descending regions was measured with isometric strain gauge arches sewn to the epicardium. Moderate decreases in coronary perfusion pressure averaging 27 mm Hg produced selective ischemia in the myocardium beyond the site of occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Under these conditions the average increase in peripheral coronary pressure produced by intracoronary injection of isosorbide dinitrate was 9.0 mm Hg, whereas contractile force in the ischemic region increased by 30 percent. The contractile force was unchanged in the normal regions. Therefore, isosorbide dinitrate can dilate coronary collateral vessels and improve contractile force in ischemic areas. Intracoronary injection of nitroglycerin had similar effects. The durations of responses to isosorbide dinitrate and nitroglycerin were remarkably similar: 6.4 and 6.7 minutes, respectively. Although isosorbide dinitrate can directly dilate coronary collateral vessels, its effects are not longer lasting than those of nitroglycerin.
Non-linear diffusion with concentration-driven flows in miscible systems

The paper applies the established theories of non-linear diffusion and flows driven by surface tension to the dynamical behavior of a miscible mixture. Results are presented for the dissolution of particles initially created by spinodal decomposition but which are subsequently heated into a region of miscibility. The resulting non-linear diffusion and concentration-driven flows are simulated for a 2D system using zero flux and no slip boundary conditions at the walls. Computer simulations provide valuable information regarding the role of hydrodynamics in the dissolution process.
Predicting ability of free‐volume theory for solvent self‐diffusion coefficients in rubbers

The effect of solvent size on the diffusion process is studied for various solvents with natural rubber and polybutadiene in terms of the free-volume theory. The importance of energy effects on the diffusion of penetrants in rubbers is examined. The critical molar volume of the polymer jumping unit is correlated with its glass transition temperature over the range 172 K to 305 K. The correlation shows a linear relationship between these two properties and can be used to predict one of the most sensitive free-volume parameters. Using this parameter in conjunction with the Vrentas-Duda free-volume theory, solvent self-diffusion coefficients in rubbers are then predicted over wide ranges of concentration and temperature. For all the systems, the predictions are comparable with experimental data.
A Complex Manifestation of Concealed A-V Conduction in the Dog Heart

Conditions under which an apparently non-propagated atrial (concealed) response facilitated the passage of a subsequent response to the ventricle are described. Analysis of the time relations of atrial and ventricular events suggest that the apparent facilitation results from a dissociation of two pathways through the A-V node.
Copper(I)/O2 Chemistry with Imidazole Containing Tripodal Tetradentate Ligands Leading to μ-1,2-Peroxo−Dicopper(II) Species

Cuprous and cupric complexes with the new imidazolyl containing tripodal tetradentate ligands {LMIm, (1H-imidazol-4-yl)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)methanamine, and LEIm, 2-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)ethanamine}, have been investigated to probe differences in their chemistry, especially in copper(I)−dioxygen chemistry, compared to that already known for the pyridyl analogue TMPA, tris(2-pyridyl)methyl)amine. Infrared (IR) stretching frequencies obtained from carbon monoxide adducts of [(LMIm)CuI]+ (1a) and [(LEIm)CuI]+ (2a) show that the imidazolyl donor is stronger than its pyridyl analogue. Electrochemical data suggest differences in the binding constant of CuII to LEIm compared to TMPA and LMIm, reflecting geometric changes. Oxygenation of [(LMIm)CuI]+ (1a) in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) solvent at −128 °C leads to an intensely purple colored species with a UV−vis spectrum characteristic of an end-on bound peroxodicopper(II) complex [{(LMIm)CuII}2(μ-1,2-O22−)]2+ (1bP) {λmax = ...
Wave propagation using bases for bandlimited functions

Abstract We develop a two-dimensional solver for the acoustic wave equation with spatially varying coefficients. In what is a new approach, we use a basis of approximate prolate spheroidal wavefunctions and construct derivative operators that incorporate boundary and interface conditions. Writing the wave equation as a first-order system, we evolve the equation in time using the matrix exponential. Computation of the matrix exponential requires efficient representation of operators in two dimensions and for this purpose we use short sums of one-dimensional operators. We also use a partitioned low-rank representation in one dimension to further speed up the algorithm. We demonstrate that the method significantly reduces numerical dispersion and computational time when compared with a fourth-order finite difference scheme in space and an explicit fourth-order Runge–Kutta solver in time.
Modulation of RNA transport by polyvinylpyrrolidone.

A number of studies have documented substantial loss of nuclear protein during aqueous nuclear isolation procedures. This loss can, to some extent, be counteracted by addition of impermeable macromolecules like polyvinylpyrrolidone, which prevent nuclear swelling. While nucleic acids appear to be much less susceptible to leakage during isolation, the effects of these additives on RNA release duringin vitro incubation have not been examined. Here we show that addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone results in significant decreases in RNA transport; inhibition becomes maximal at 50–75 μM addition.
Psychosocial Predictors of Different Stages of Cigarette Smoking among High School Students

Background.Current research on the etiology of cigarette smoking has largely focused on the identification of psychosocial predictors of tobacco onset. Few data are available on the predictors of different stages of smoking among adolescents. The present study examines the psychosocial predictors of different stages of smoking, including trial, experimental, and regular use, among high school students. Method.The predictor variables were measured when the students were in the 7th grade. Logistic regression was used to predict different smoking stages at grade 12. Results.The results show that four domains of psychosocial variables, including social and interpersonal factors, attitudinal and belief factors, intrapersonal factors, and use of other substances, predicted one or more stages of smoking. The important correlates of transition from trial to experimental use (allPvalue <0.001) included friends' smoking and approval, cigarette offers by friends, smoking intentions, school grade, and alcohol and marijuana use. The significant predictors of the transition from experimental to regular use included only parental smoking (P< 0.01) and family conflicts (P< 0.05). We found some gender differences in these predictors. Conclusions.Psychosocial predictors may differ by different stages of smoking.
Governing the US coastal zone: An unresolved issue

Abstract The coast often contrasts the vastness of the ocean with an intensively used shoreline. Coastal governance attempts to integrate these two spheres within one framework that would reconcile ocean and shoreline use conflicts; however, US coastal governance is rooted in an organizational complexity that inhibits effective governance. The use of the area management paradigm to reconcile competing interests has not been as successful as hoped; yet, this evolutionary experience appears to be the only avenue available to greater governance capability.
Processing Strategies in L2 Learners of French: The Role of Transfer

This study compared the comprehension processing strategies of 15 monolingual English native speakers and 8 bilingual French native speakers to 112 second language (L2) learners of French, using stimuli containing word order and clitic pronoun (type and agreement) cues in French. Results indicated differential dependence on cue use by the two native speaker groups, with English native speakers depending more on word order for interpretation and French native speaker depending more on clitic pronoun agreement. Interpretations produced by L2 learners of French indicated an immediate abandonment of LI word order strategies with a much later onset of clitic pronoun agreement strategies. Results are discussed within the framework of the Competition Model.
A cell culture-derived whole-virus H9N2 vaccine induces high titer antibodies against hemagglutinin and neuraminidase and protects mice from severe lung pathology and weight loss after challenge with a highly virulent H9N2 isolate.

Abstract Background Influenza viruses of subtype A/H9N2 are enzootic in poultry across Asia and the Middle East and are considered to have pandemic potential. The development of new vaccine manufacturing technologies is a cornerstone of influenza pandemic preparedness. Methods A non-adjuvanted whole-virus H9N2 vaccine was developed using Vero cell culture manufacturing technology. The induction of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and virus-neutralizing antibodies was assessed in CD1 mice and guinea pigs. A highly sensitive enzyme-linked lectin assay was used to investigate the induction of antibodies capable of inhibiting the enzymatic activity of the H9N2 neuraminidase. Protective efficacy against virus replication in the lung after challenge with the homologous virus was evaluated in BALB/c mice by a TCID50 assay, and prevention of virus replication in the lung and associated pathology were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry. To investigate the ability of the vaccine to prevent severe disease, BALB/c mice were challenged with a highly virulent mouse-adapted H9N2 isolate which was generated by multiple lung-to-lung passage of wild-type virus. Results The vaccine elicited high titers of functional H9N2-specific HA antibodies in both mice and guinea pigs, as determined by HI and virus neutralization assays. High titer H9N2-specific neuraminidase inhibiting (NAi) antibodies were also induced in both species. Vaccinated mice were protected from lung virus replication in a dose-dependent manner after challenge with the homologous H9N2 virus. Immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the lack of virus replication in the lung and an associated substantial reduction in lung pathology. Dose-dependent protection from severe weight loss was also provided after challenge with the highly virulent mouse-adapted H9N2 virus. Conclusions The induction of high titers of H9N2-specific HI, virus-neutralizing and NAi antibodies and dose-dependent protection from virus replication and severe disease in animal models suggest that the Vero cell culture-derived whole-virus vaccine will provide an effective intervention in the event of a H9N2 pandemic situation.
Mobile decision-tree tool technology as a means to detect wildlife crimes and build enforcement networks

Abstract Accurate field identification of illegally traded wildlife and wildlife products is critically important in the detection and suppression of wildlife crimes. Yet many law enforcement officers and concerned citizens lack access to resources for identifying species and products; this is particularly true for those with no formal expertise in biology, zoology or wildlife training. Emerging digital technologies such as mobile applications may provide important easy-to-use decision-tree style tools for in situ identification. With local government and civil society partners, we are piloting such tools in China and Vietnam to identify whole animals and ivory products; and in the United States developing tools that will be used at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan to identify species from wildlife products. We are coordinating these efforts to minimize redundancy and overhead; we benefit from shared backend support for a photo database and species ID keys that can be translated easily to ensure enough flexibility for targeting needs of the specific country and audience. Planned inclusion of ‘ask the expert’ and geolocation functions will increase accuracy in identification and aid monitoring and research of supply chains. For these emerging technologies to be successful, deployment must be accompanied with on-the-ground trainings to recruit and retain enforcement personnel. The establishment of a supporting network of experts and a user community will be critical for long-term implementation and evaluation of success. Preliminary response from users of a pilot app in China demonstrates high potential for employing these technologies as routine tools to help fight wildlife crimes.
Social cognitive and physical health determinants of exercise adherence for HIV-1 seropositive, early symptomatic men and women

This study examined social cognitive and physical health factors that might explain variations in exercise adherence in a 3-month supervised exercise intervention for a group of mildly symptomatic, HIV-1 seropositive men and women. The social cognitive predictor variables were outcome expectations and self-efficacy. The physical health predictor variables included CD4 cell counts, self-report inventories of physical symptoms, and physicians’ examinations. Self-report inventories of physical symptoms were associated with physicians’ examinations and combined into a composite measure of physical health. Criterion variables included exercise adherence rates, VO2 max change, and status as a “remainer” versus “drop-out.” The composite measure of physical health emerged as a significant predictor of adherence rate and gave perfect prediction of remainers and a moderate prediction of dropouts. No significant associations were observed between the social cognitive predictors and adherence. Results suggest that for this population physical health status is a better predictor of exercise adherence than either perceived self-efficacy or outcome expectancy.
Benomyl-induced craniocerebral anomalies in fetuses of adequately nourished and protein-deprived rats.

Benomyl, a benzimidazole fungicide, produced craniocerebral and systemic malformations in fetal rats when administered by gavage in doses of 31.2, 62.5, and 125 mg/kg of maternal body weight on days 7–21 of gestation. Malformations increased in incidence and severity with increasing benomyl dosage and nearly doubled when coupled with a protein-deficient diet. Protein deficiency alone produced only decreased fetal weight. High benomyl doses produced higher percentages of fetal resorptions and late fetal deaths, and these percentages also increased with protein deficiency. A benomyl dose of 62.5 mg/kg in proteindeficiency dams, the optimal combination for a high incidence of anomalies and low fetal wastage, produced hydrocephalus in 69.4% of fetuses, meningocele in 8.2%, encephalocele in 14.3%, exencephaly in 44.9%, anencephaly in 14.3%, corpus callosum agenesis in 26.5%, periventricular necrosis in 26.5%, and periventricular cellular “overgrowth” in 55.1%. The most common combination of anomalies was hydrocephalus, exencephaly, and periventricular “overgrowth.” Common systemic malformations included cleft palate, micromelia, hydroureter, and misshapen tails. No fetus was entirely normal at the highest benomyl dose. Benomyl has been shown by others to bind tubulin and inhibit the formation of microtubules that are important in neurulation, mitosis, and cell migration during early brain development. Thus, it is suggested that benomyl, coupled with a protein-deficient diet, offers a teratogenic model with a spectrum of abnormalities similar to hypervitaminosis A but with a higher yield of specific craniocerebral anomalies.
Fibronectin and Viral Pathogenesis

Fibronectin is a dimeric high-molecular-weight glycoprotein composed of two similar but not identical subunits. Differences have been observed between plasma and cell-derived fibronectins, and molecular and sequencing studies have revealed a domain structure. The characteristic features of fibronectin include its various molecular and biologic interactions, which can be assigned to the different domains of the molecule. Fibronectin was originally discovered as a protein missing from the surfaces of virus-transformed cells. The importance of functional oncogenes in the loss of extracellular matrices was later established in a number of studies using virus mutants that are temperature-sensitive for transformation. The loss of the extracellular matrix appears to be a result of multiple events in cells but is not a prerequisite for malignant growth in vivo. There appear to be multiple transformed phenotypes, and the loss of extracellular fibronectin may be due in part to proteolytic activity by the cells and other alterations caused by functioning oncogenes. The wide distribution of tissue and soluble forms of fibronectin offers multiple occasions for interactions with other molecules. Binding of fibronectin to viruses and purified viral proteins has been observed in a number of studies. Neuraminidase-sensitive virus-binding sites in the fibronectin molecule have tentatively been identified. Fibronectin also is capable of binding to various complement components, possibly making clearance of viral antigen-antibody-complement complexes, which are observed in the circulation during viral infection, more rapid. The virus-binding ability of fibronectin may play a role in modifying viral infections in the body.
Early life stages of resident nekton in intertidal marshes

Variability in early life stages of species that are permanent residents of the estuarine nekton is poorly understood, especially in systems with extensive areas of emergent vegetation (e.g., salt marshes and mangroves). Sampling small mobile nekton in these shallow intertidal habitats presents a difficult methodological challenge. Simulated aquatic microhabitats (SAMs) were used to collect the early life stages of resident nekton that remained on the emergent marsh surface after it was exposed by the tide and could not be adequately sampled by traditional methods. Where the intertidal is a prominent areal component of the estuary, a large portion of young nekton could be overlooked using other common survey methods (e.g., plankton tows or block nets). Populations of young fishes and natant crustaceans were monitored for a year at 3-d to 6-d intervals from both low and high intertidal elevations within each of two marsh sites on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Three species accounted for >99% of the 41,023 individuals collected. These were the killifishesFundulus heteroclitus (57.0%) andF. luciae (4.0%), and the daggerblade grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio (38.4%). YoungF. heteroclitus were used in field enclosure experiments to relate abundance data to actual areal densities. Average annual estimated density of young nekton on the surface of the intertidal marsh at low tide was 7.2 individuals m−2. Early life stages of estuarine resident species, particularly those with demersal young, are not affected by the same physical processes influencing larval supply and recruitment variability in marine-spawned species. In salt marshes, biotic factors (e.g., adult reproductive activity, predation, and food limitation) may be more important as proximate causes of variation during the early life histories of resident nekton.