cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface Seismic Refraction/Reflection Measurement Determinations of Potential Site Resonances and the Areal Uniformity of NEHRP Site Class D in Memphis, Tennessee

Abstract We determined S-wave velocities (Vs) to about 40-m depth at 65 locations in the Memphis-Shelby County, Tennessee, area. The Vs measurements were made using high-resolution seismic refraction and reflection methods on the ground surface. We find a clear difference in the Vs profiles between sites located on the Mississippi River flood plain and those located to the east, mostly covered by loess, in the urban areas of Memphis. The average Vs to 30-m depth at 19 sites on the modern Mississippi River floodplain averages 197 m/s (±15 m/s) and places 17 of these sites at the low end of NEHRP soil profile category type D (average Vs 180-360 m/s). The two remaining sites are type E. Vs to 30-m depth at 46 sites in the urban areas east of the modern floodplain are more variable and generally higher than the floodplain sites, averaging about 262 m/s (±45 m/s), still within category D. We often observed the base of the loess as a prominent S-wave reflection and as an increase in Vs to about 500 m/s. Based o...
Improved associated conditions in rapid intensifications of tropical cyclones

[1] Rapid intensification (RI) of tropical cyclones (TC) is a major error source in TC intensity forecasting. In order to improve the estimates of RI probability, association rules are used to facilitate the process of mining for candidate sets of conditions. Compared to the relation analysis method, the technique of association rules can simply explore associations among multiple conditions. Our mining results identified a reduced predictor set with fewer factors identified in previous studies but improved RI probabilities. That is, the RI probability with three conditions satisfied: low vertical shear, high humidity, and the TC being in an intensification phase is higher than that with five satisfied conditions including high sea surface temperature and an intensity far away from the maximum potential intensity in addition to the above three.
Distinct roles for donor- and host-derived antigen-presenting cells and costimulatory molecules in murine chronic graft-versus-host disease: requirements depend on target organ

The application of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is limited by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD can be divided into acute and chronic forms that likely have different requirements for initiation and pathogenesis mechanisms. In prior studies we demonstrated that residual host antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were required to initiate acute GVHD (aGVHD) mediated by CD8 T cells. In contrast, here we demonstrate that either donor or host APCs can initiate CD4-mediated GVHD in a model that has features of chronic GVHD (cGVHD). Both donor and host APCs must provide CD80/86-dependent costimulation to elicit maximal cGVHD, and there is no GVHD when both donor and host lack CD80/86. Finally, we were surprised to find that, although either donor or host APCs are sufficient to stimulate skin cGVHD, donor APCs play a dominant role in intestinal cGVHD. Both CD40 and CD80/86 are critical for donor APC function in intestinal cGVHD, but only CD80/86 is required for skin cGVHD. Thus, there are target-tissue-specific differences in APC requirements. These results identify differences in APC requirements between CD8-mediated aGVHD and CD4-mediated cGVHD. They further highlight donor APCs as additional targets for GVHD therapy.
First-Order Fréedericksz Transition Above the Nematic Smectic-A Phase Transition

The Freedericksz transition is investigated for thin homeotropic cells of a negative dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal above its nematic-smectic-A phase transition temperature in a spatially uniform electric field. For very thin cells, a crossover from second- to first-order Freedericksz behavior is observed; no additional fields are necessary. The results are consistent with the theory of Shi [Liq. Cryst. 29, 121 (2002)]].
The spirit of leadership and a commitment to quality transform SSM health care system

SSM Health Care has become something of an icon as the first health care organization to win the coveted Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The success of SSM's larger quest—to be the best it can possibly be—owes much to its continuous improvement framework, discipline, commitment, and process, and to the firm belief that every SSM employee has the capacity to lead. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Colonial Policing and Control of Movements for Independence

Colonial policing as developed by the British deliberately separated the community policed from its police force. From earliest times, policing in the British system involved the use of strangers to police, separation of the police force from the population, and separation of the officers from the rank and file. The police acted as an instrument of control for the government. The separation of the police from the community created social distance which increased the extent to which the police force could be controlled and the extent to which the police are seen as a visible symbol of government. As a consequence, when the community was dissatisfied with the government, the police were the most immediate target. Government could redirect dissatisfaction from the government to the police as an additional technique of control. An analysis of the emergence of Bermuda as it progresses toward becoming an independent member of the British commonwealth and observations from the Bahamas are used to illustrate this...
Ingested metallic foreign body lodged in the appendix

An 8-year-old child ingested a metallic screw 3 months prior to admission. At laparotomy, the foreign body was found to be lodged inside the vermiform appendix, and was removed by appendicectomy.
Characterization of a Novel CLC Homolog from Citrobacter Koseri

CLC chloride-transport proteins are expressed ubiquitously and are vital to several physiological processes. This family is distinctive in that some members are chloride ion channels while others are chloride/proton antiporters. To better understand the mechanistic similarities and differences between CLC proteins, we have characterized a novel bacterial homolog from Citrobacter koseri called CLC-b. CLC-b is 24% identical and 42% similar in amino acid sequence to CLC-ec1, but lacks several amino acids near the chloride binding sites that are conserved in most CLCs. Despite lacking these regions, we found that CLC-b does transport chloride ions. CLC-b contains an isoleucine at the position equivalent to the intracellular proton transfer glutamate (E203 in CLC-ec1). Since all known CLC ion channels contain a hydrophobic residue at this position whereas all antiporters contain a protonatable residue at this position, we had hypothesized that CLC-b would be an ion channel. To our surprise, we found that CLC-b is a chloride/proton antiporter. Hence, a protonatable residue at the intracellular glutamate position is not necessary for proton transfer. We are currently working to test the ion selectivity and the effects of introducing a glutamate at this position.
Combining stimulants with monoamine oxidase inhibitors: a review of uses and one possible additional indication.

Background: Among antidepressant augmentation strategies, the addition of a stimulant to a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) has received little attention in the literature in recent years because of the diminished clinical use of the latter and concerns of precipitating a hypertensive crisis or other serious complication. Despite that fact, experienced clinicians continue to use this combination for a variety of indications after other options have failed. This article reviews these reported uses and presents a case suggesting another possible indication. Method: A MEDLINE search was conducted for articles published from 1962 to December 2003 using relevant search terms (psychostimulant, stimulant, amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, pemoline or methylphenidate, atomoxetine, bupropion, monoamine oxidase inhibitor, and selegiline). A manual search was conducted of cross-references and other relevant recent psychiatric sources (2000-2003). Results: The described uses of the MAOI-stimulant combination have included treatment of refractory depression and the MAOI-related side effects of orthostatic hypotension and daytime sedation. No documented reports were found in the recent literature of hypertensive crises or fatalities occurring when the stimulant was cautiously added to the MAOI. Also presented here is another possible indication for this therapeutic regimen: treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in an adult patient whose major depression had uniquely responded to the MAOI tranylcypromine. Conclusion: As in other fields of medicine, potentially hazardous medication combinations are utilized in psychiatry after cautiously weighing the danger of the treatment against the morbidity and risk of not adequately addressing the illness. Particularly, as the potential arrival of the apparently safer transdermal selegiline may increase the use of MAOIs, we feel this combination deserves additional controlled study.
Mixing Enhancement in a Supersonic Combustor

Research has been conducted for a number of years at the NASA Langley Research Center to develop a supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) capable of propelling a vehicle at hypersonic speeds in the atmosphere or beyond. Recently, that research has been directed toward the optimization of the scramjet combustor, and in particular the efficiency of fuel-air mixing and reaction in the engine. This paper describes a numerical study of fuel-air mixing and reaction in a supersonic combustor, and discusses the analysis of a technique that was used to enhance the mixing processes and overall combustion efficiency in the flow. Based on the results of that study, conclusions are drawn regarding the applicability of the technique to enhance mixing in a scramjet combustor.
Promoting a new brain tumor mutation: TERT promoter mutations in CNS tumors

Genomic research has recently linked two fundamental observations about the molecular biology of cancer. The first of these pivotal observations is that cancer is essentially a genetic disease, with tumor cells driven to grow inappropriately by acquired genetic alterations that deregulate cellular molecular machinery. The second observation is that ~85% of tumors contain upregulated activity of the ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase, which is thought to help tumor cells avoid senescence and achieve immortality by replenishing the telomere cap on the tips of chromatin. For many cancers, it remained unclear how telomerase activity came to be upregulated in the first place, with no obvious genetic cause to explain why telomerase activity was inappropriately “switched on”. Now, recent work has uncovered what may very well be the genetic basis for telomerase activation in many human cancers, particularly CNS tumors. This work, including discoveries reported in three articles and one letter to the editor in this issue of Acta Neuropathologica, centers around recurrent point mutations in the promoter of the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT).
Aerodynamic focusing in spatially periodic flows : Two-dimensional symmetric and antisymmetric channels

Abstract Aerodynamic focusing of particles in spatially periodic flows is investigated numerically in model potential two-dimensional flows with axial harmonic modulations of the stream function. A distinction is made between cases where the two walls oscillate approximately in phase (antisymmetric) or with a phase difference of 180 ∘ (symmetric). The latter case has been most widely used in the past. It focuses all particles smaller than a critical size into a unique terminal streamline, the axis or plane of symmetry. It also alternates regions of high and low speed, with strong adverse pressure gradients along the walls, and tendency towards early flow separation. Antisymmetric walls focus particles along oscillating terminal trajectories (as in earlier work by Maxey), with amplitudes and phase shifts that depend on particle size. Because the flow cross-section is almost constant, pressure variations along the walls are greatly reduced with respect to the symmetric case, with an expected tendency to delay flow separation and turbulent transition. Analysis in the limit of a small particle inertia parameter S reveals that the mean drift velocity towards the terminal trajectory is proportional to S e 2 , where e is a corrugation parameter measuring the amplitude of the wall oscillation in wavelength units. Surprisingly, focusing is as effective in symmetric and antisymmetric walls, even though acceleration is predominantly along streamlines in the first case, while it is dominantly centrifugal in the latter. However, because the maximum expected e value attainable without flow separation is larger in antisymmetric than in symmetric walls, the latter would focus considerably better at fixed Re, or could presumably be run at considerably higher Re at fixed e . The symmetric flows studied have high particle transmission efficiency even at very high S ( ∼ 100 ), and can focus particles with apparently no upper size limit. Antisymmetric walls also focus arbitrarily large particles, but good transmission efficiency requires using special particle introduction schemes.
Indirect measurement of leaf area index in Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) using a commercial gap inversion method

Abstract Leaf area index (LAI) is an important indicator of canopy development and function, but is time consuming to measure directly. In this paper the authors investigate an indirect and non-destructive method of determining LAI in field-grown Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.) planted in rows, using a commercially available instrument (LiCor LAI-2000, Plant Canopy Analyzer (PCA); Lincoln, NE, USA). The PCA uses a circular sensor head, with a full 360° field of view, consisting of five sensor rings, each viewing a narrow range of zenith angles. Excellent agreement was obtained between destructively determined LAI and indirectly measured LAI, over a range of LAI induced by irrigation treatments. However, the near 1:1 relationship between the two methods required specific measurement and calculation protocols. All measurements were obtained at dusk. Only a 90° sector (25%) of all five sensor rings was exposed, directed along the rows and, when possible, away from the setting sun. Measurements were obtained at four positions across the row/inter-row, which were averaged to characterize the canopy. Underestimation of LAI was observed when data from all five sensor rings were used in the calculation. This bias was removed when data from only the central three, most vertical, rings were used. This protocol empirically compensated for significant violations of the theory underlying the indirect measurement technique. As most row crops similarly violate the theory, this protocol could have widespread utility.
Signalling Asymmetry in the Communication of the Water Strider Aquarius remigis in the Context of Dominance and Spacing in the Non‐mating Season

The role of high-frequency ripple signals (HF signals) made by males of the water strider Aquarius remigris was studied in the contexts of competition for food and general spacing behaviour during the non-mating season. HF signals were played back through the ripple-producing legs of males during dyadic agonistic encounters, using a signal-driven wire coil to oscillate a magnet glued to a leg. These signals were in addition to normal signals. The additional signals significantly increased the number of retreats by non-magneted males, showing that the signals increased the dominance of a non-territorial male. Hence, our results increase the number of contexts in which HF signals of A. remigris function. Males, but not females, avoided a site occupied by a magneted dead male through which HF signals were played. Thus, the communication system used by A. remigris males during competition for food seemed to be ignored by females, suggesting sex-specific signals even in a non-mating context. Evolutionary models of signalling often assume that contestants have evolved the same repertoire of signals in order to resolve conflicts peacefully. This water strider system thus poses an interesting challenge for future theoretical and empirical research on communication asymmetry.
Effects of a single inescapable swim on long-term brain stimulation reward thresholds.

Abstract Rats were subjected to a 15-min inescapable swim in a procedure which induces “behavioral despair” (immobility) 24 hr later. Their thresholds for brain stimulation reward were measured six times over the subsequent two weeks. Under one condition thresholds were first determined 3 hr postswim and, under a second condition, 24 hr postswim. Rats tested in the 3-hr condition showed elevated thresholds compared to preswim baselines. Elevations remained significant for six days. Thresholds for rats in the 24-hr condition did not change. Results are discussed in terms of a) the lack of correspondence between behavioral despair and brain stimulation reward models of depression, b) possible mechanisms for the 3-hr condition effect, and c) the significance of long-term changes in brain reward substrates.
Stimulated brillouin scattering.

Stimulated Brillouin scattering, the efficient scattering of light from parametrically amplified therma acoustic waves, has found many valuable uses since its initial observation and identification. Among these uses are included the measurement of hypersonic velocities and absorption in the gigaherz frequency range, laser frequency shifting, laser Q switching and others. A description of the process, as well as its applications is presented.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE NESTS AND PREY OF SPHODROTES NEMORALIS SP. N. (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)

The nesting behaviour of a small aggregation of Sphodrotes nemoralis sp.n. at Kuranda, Queensland, is described briefly. On the basis of behaviour and of structure, Sphodrotes Kohl appears to be most closely related to the African genus Paranysson Guerin-Meneville. A description of the species is appended.
Role of GATA factors in development, differentiation, and homeostasis of the small intestinal epithelium

The small intestinal epithelium develops from embryonic endoderm into a highly specialized layer of cells perfectly suited for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. The development, differentiation, and regeneration of the small intestinal epithelium require complex gene regulatory networks involving multiple context-specific transcription factors. The evolutionarily conserved GATA family of transcription factors, well known for its role in hematopoiesis, is essential for the development of endoderm during embryogenesis and the renewal of the differentiated epithelium in the mature gut. We review the role of GATA factors in the evolution and development of endoderm and summarize our current understanding of the function of GATA factors in the mature small intestine. We offer perspective on the application of epigenetics approaches to define the mechanisms underlying context-specific GATA gene regulation during intestinal development.
Serial infection of diverse host (Mus) genotypes rapidly impedes pathogen fitness and virulence

Reduced genetic variation among hosts may favour the emergence of virulent infectious diseases by enhancing pathogen replication and its associated virulence due to adaptation to a limited set of host genotypes. Here, we test this hypothesis using experimental evolution of a mouse-specific retroviral pathogen, Friend virus (FV) complex. We demonstrate rapid fitness (i.e. viral titre) and virulence increases when FV complex serially infects a series of inbred mice representing the same genotype, but not when infecting a diverse array of inbred mouse strains modelling the diversity in natural host populations. Additionally, a single infection of a different host genotype was sufficient to constrain the emergence of a high fitness/high virulence FV complex phenotype in these experiments. The potent inhibition of viral fitness and virulence was associated with an observed loss of the defective retroviral genome (spleen focus-forming virus), whose presence exacerbates infection and drives disease in susceptible mice. Results from our experiments provide an important first step in understanding how genetic variation among vertebrate hosts influences pathogen evolution and suggests that serial exposure to different genotypes within a single host species may act as a constraint on pathogen adaptation that prohibits the emergence of more virulent infections. From a practical perspective, these results have implications for low-diversity host populations such as endangered species and domestic animals.
Electrical conduction in rocks and minerals: Parameters for interpretation

Abstract Recent studies of electrical properties have clarified the important parameters governing electrical conductivity in minerals — temperature, oxygen fugacity, stoichiometry, iron content — and in porous rocks — shape and interconnections of fluid-filled pore spaces. These parameters are discussed in terms of: (1) how they contribute to bulk conduction mechanisms within minerals; and (2) how they pertain to the conditions of rocks in situ.
Ni 8 Ta in nickel-rich Ni−Ta alloys

An ordering reaction has been observed in the nickel-rich binary alloys of the Ni−Ta system that are aged below 570°C following quenching from elevated temperatures. This reaction has been investigated by employing electron diffraction microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrical resistivity techniques. The ordered phase has been identified as Ni8Ta and its structure is identical to that of the Ni8Nb (Cb) reported earlier. In the stoichiometric Ni8Ta alloy (Ni-11.1 at. pct Ta) three variants of the Ni8Ta phase are nucleated apparently “homogeneously” throughout the matrix. The precipitate or domain morphology has been identified as a cuboid elongated in one direction such that the cube faces are parallel to the {100} planes of the matrix. The cuboid morphology of the precipitates tends to disappear as the precipitates coalesce and the particle size approaches 1000A.
Bacterial reductive dissolution of crystalline Fe(III) oxide in continuous-flow column reactors.

Bacterial reductive dissolution of synthetic crystalline Fe(III) oxide-coated sand was studied in continuous-flow column reactors in comparison with parallel batch cultures. The cumulative amount of aqueous Fe(II) exported from the columns over a 6-month incubation period corresponded to (95.0 ± 3.7)% (n = 3) of their original Fe(III) content. Wet-chemical analysis revealed that only (6.5 ± 3.2)% of the initial Fe(III) content remained in the columns at the end of the experiment. The near-quantitative removal of Fe was visibly evidenced by extensive bleaching of color from the sand in the columns. In contrast to the column reactors, Fe(II) production quickly reached an asymptote in batch cultures, and only (13.0 ± 2.2)% (n = 3) of the Fe(III) oxide content was reduced. Sustained bacterial-cell growth occurred in the column reactors, leading to the production and export of a quantity of cells 100-fold greater than that added during inoculation. Indirect estimates of cell growth, based on the quantity of Fe(III) reduced, suggest that only an approximate doubling of initial cell abundance was likely to have occurred in the batch cultures. Our results indicate that removal of biogenic Fe(II) via aqueous-phase transport in the column reactors decreased the passivating influence of surface-bound Fe(II) on oxide reduction activity, thereby allowing a dramatic increase in the extent of Fe(III) oxide reduction and associated bacterial growth. These findings have important implications for understanding the fate of organic and inorganic contaminants whose geochemical behavior is linked to Fe(III) oxide reduction.
Producing sociology: Time trends in authorship of journal articles, 1975–1986

Authorship of articles in three major journals is used as an indicator of productivity of individuals and institutions over a twelve-year period. Authorship is dispersed among more than 1000 persons, with few consistent publishers. Productivity is highly concentrated among institutions. But while relative rankings of institutions on productivity by alumni are extremely stable, there have been important changes in rankings on authorship by current staff during this period. Finally, productivity is strongly associated with reputation for faculty quality, but change in productivity is hardly correlated with reputation for improvement.
THE SYNTHESIS OF SEVERAL NEW CYCLOPENTADIENYL-RUTHENIUM T-BUTYL THIOL COMPLEXES

Abstract The air-sensitive complexes [CpRu(L)(L′)(HSBu t )]PF 6 (L = L′ = PPh(OMe) 2 , PPh 2 OMe, P(OMe) 3 ; L = PPh 3 , L′ = CO, P(OMe) 3 ) are prepared by heating methanol solutions of CpRu(L)(L′)Cl, HSBu t , and NH 4 PF 6 . The cyclopentadienyl-ruthenium thiol complexes oxidized in air to form paramagnetic complexes, one of which, [CpRu(PPh 2 OMe) 2 SBu t ]PF 6 , was isolated and characterized by a single crystal x-ray diffraction study. Crystals are monoclinic with space group P 2 1 / c , a = 12.8070(25), b = 14.3160(36) c = 20.1768(50) A, β = 97.841(18)°, and Z = 4. Data were refined to R = 0.0452 (6248 reflections). The RuS(1) bond length was 2.274(1) A and the RuP bond lenghts were 2.298(1) and 2.291(1) A. The synthesis of CpRu(CO)(PPh 3 )SBu t is also reported.
Treatment of influenza virus-infected SCID mice with nonneutralizing antibodies specific for the transmembrane proteins matrix 2 and neuraminidase reduces the pulmonary virus titer but fails to clear the infection.

Antibodies (Abs) can contribute to the cure of a viral infection, in principle, in two ways by: (1) binding to infected cells and thereby reducing the production of progeny virus [here termed cell-targeting (CT) activity] and (2) reacting with released progeny virus and thereby inhibiting the spread of the infection [termed virus neutralizing (VN) activity]. We have previously shown that a pulmonary influenza virus infection in severe combined immunodeficient mice could be cured by treatment of these mice with hemagglutinin (HA)-specific monoclonal Abs (mAbs) that mediated both of the above activities. Although the therapeutic activity of these mAbs correlated with their VN activity, it remained unclear how much their CT activity contributed to the Ab-mediated recovery process. To clarify this point, we tested the therapeutic efficacy of two mAbs of IgG2a isotype that mediated CT but no VN activity: one specific for the viral neuraminidase and the other for matrix protein 2. Both mAbs reduced pulmonary virus titers by 100- to 1000-fold but they failed to clear the infection, even when administered in combination and at therapeutically saturating concentrations. The results suggest that CT activity contributes significantly also to the therapeutic activity of HA-specific mAbs and further support the notion that VN-activity is required for Ab-mediated virus clearance.
Phosphorylcholine allows for evasion of bactericidal antibody by Haemophilus influenzae.

The human pathogen Haemophilus influenzae has the ability to quickly adapt to different host environments through phase variation of multiple structures on its lipooligosaccharide (LPS), including phosphorylcholine (ChoP). During colonization with H. influenzae, there is a selection for ChoP+ phase variants. In a murine model of nasopharyngeal colonization, this selection is lost in the absence of adaptive immunity. Based on previous data highlighting the importance of natural antibody in limiting H. influenzae colonization, the effect of ChoP expression on antibody binding and its bactericidal activity was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that ChoP+ phase variants had decreased binding of antibody to LPS epitopes compared to ChoP− phase variants. This difference in antibody binding correlated with increased survival of ChoP+ phase variants in the presence of antibody-dependent, complement-mediated killing. ChoP+ phase variants were also more resistant to trypsin digestion, suggesting a general effect on the physical properties of the outer membrane. Moreover, ChoP-mediated protection against antibody binding correlated with increased resilience of outer membrane integrity. Collectively, these data suggest that ChoP expression provides a selective advantage during colonization through ChoP-mediated effects on the accessibility of bactericidal antibody to the cell surface.
Teaching in Real Time: A Model of Excellence in Nursing Care

Abstract Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of inherited disorders in which skin blisters develop in response to routine handling and minor injury. Infants born with this condition may develop blisters hours after birth. Transfer to a tertiary medical center for diagnosis and initiation of treatment is dependent on the severity of the infant's illness. The incidence of EB is estimated to be 1:20 000. The Children's Hospital Boston Neonatal Intensive Care Unit averages 1 admission per year of infants with EB. Infants who are diagnosed with EB will need a skin biopsy to determine the type of EB, as some forms are associated with an increased mortality during infancy. These infants present a challenge for the primary nursing team. It is essential to involve parents early with care and treatment. This case study of an infant with EB will be presented to illustrate how teaching in real time can optimize patient outcomes.
Temporal Trends in Diabetes Mortality among American Indians and Hispanics in New Mexico: Birth Cohort and Period Effects

Rates of diabetes mortality are disproportionately high among ethnic minorities in the United States. To describe ethnic trends and cohort effects in diabetes mortality in New Mexico, the authors examined the trends in mortality rates for non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and American Indians in the state during the period 1958-1994. Age-specific rates were examined graphically to qualitatively describe the contribution of calendar period and birth cohort effects to changes in the rates. The authors also fit age-period-cohort models to these data. Age-adjusted diabetes mortality rates for American Indians and Hispanics surpassed rates for non-Hispanic whites for all but the earliest two time periods. In the 1993-1994 period, the age-adjusted mortality rate for American Indians was 3.8 times higher for men and 5.6 times higher for women than for their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Rates for American Indian men and women increased sharply over the 37-year period, by 565% and 1,105%, respectively. Mortality rates increased among Hispanics over the period of study but less rapidly than did rates among American Indians. Graphical analyses of age-specific rates were consistent with birth cohort effects among both American Indians and Hispanics and also with a period effect among American Indians. Results from age-period-cohort models indicate a birth cohort effect starting with the 1912 cohort in American Indians and the 1902 cohort in Hispanics. A period effect was present during the 1960s in American Indians. American Indians have experienced an epidemic rise in diabetes mortality in New Mexico; if current trends continue, diabetes may become the leading cause of mortality among American Indians in the state.
Traumatic Ventricular Septal Defect with Aorto-right Ventricular Fistula and Aortic Regurgitation; Surgical Considerations

Following a stab wound of the left chest, a 24-year-old man had an aorto-right ventricular communication, ventricular septal defect and minimal aortic regurgitation. The aortic regurgitation was not repaired, but the other defects were successfully corrected surgically.
Normal triglyceride levels despite insulin resistance in African Americans: role of lipoprotein lipase.

Abstract Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing triglyceride (TG) in plasma lipoproteins, is a key regulator of plasma TG levels. In Caucasians, postheparin-LPL (PH-LPL) activity is impaired in the presence of insulin resistance and leads to elevated TG levels. However, African Americans are often both insulin-resistant and normotriglyceridemic. But in African Americans, the effect of insulin resistance on PH-LPL activity has not been studied. In African Americans, if insulin resistance is not associated with a decrease in PH-LPL activity, this could account for the simultaneous presence of insulin resistance and normotriglyceridemia. Therefore, our goal was to determine in African Americans the relationship between insulin resistance and PH-LPL activity. In a cross-sectional study of 107 nondiabetic African Americans (57 men and 50 women; age mean ± SD, 35 ± 8 years, range 22-50 years; body mass index 31.6 ± 7.9 kg/m2, range 18.5-54.7 kg/m2), fasting TG levels and PH-LPL activity were determined. Visceral adipose tissue was measured by abdominal computed tomographic scan. Insulin resistance was determined by the insulin sensitivity index (SI). Subjects were divided into tertiles by SI. The range of SI in each tertile was 12.75 to 3.99, 3.87 to 2.20, 2.06 to 0.17 mU · L−1 · min−1. Insulin resistance was defined as being in the third tertile. TG levels in the men and women were 82.2 ± 35.5 versus 56.4 ± 30.1 mg/dL, P
The conformational manifold of ferricytochrome c explored by visible and far-UV electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy.

The oxidized state of cytochrome c is a subject of continuous interest, owing to the multitude of conformations which the protein can adopt in solution and on surfaces of artificial and cell membranes. The structural diversity corresponds to a variety of functions in electron transfer, peroxidase and apoptosis processes. In spite of numerous studies, a comprehensive analysis and comparison of native and non-native states of ferricytochrome c has thus far not been achieved. This results in part from the fact that the influence of solvent conditions (i.e., ionic strength, anion concentration, temperature dependence of pH values) on structure, function and equilibrium thermodynamics has not yet been thoroughly assessed. The current study is a first step in this direction, in that it provides the necessary experimental data to compare different non-native states adopted at high temperature and alkaline pH. To this end, we employed visible electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and absorption spectroscopy to prob...
Energy transport analysis in ultrashort pulse laser ablation through combined molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulation

Mechanisms of energy transport during ultrashort laser pulses (USLPs) ablation are investigated in this paper. Nonequilibrium electron-transport, material ionization, as well as density change effects, are studied using atomistic models---the molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC) methods, in addition to the previously studied laser absorption, heat conduction, and stress wave propagation. The target material is treated as consisting of two subsystems: valence-electron system and lattice system. MD method is applied to analyze the motion of atoms while MC method is applied for simulating electron dynamics and multiscattering events between particles. Early-time laser-energy absorption and redistribution as well as later-time material ablation and expansion processes are analyzed. This model is validated in terms of ablation depth, lattice/electron temperature distribution as well as evolution, and plume front velocity, through comparisons with experimental or theoretical results in literature. It is generally believed that the hydrodynamic motion of the ablated material is negligible for USLP but this study shows it is true only for its effect on laser-energy deposition. This study shows that the consideration of hydrodynamic expansion and fast density change in both electron and lattice systems is important for obtaining a reliable energy transport mechanism in the locally heated zone.
Lessons learned using ubiquitous sensors for data collection in real homes

Interface design for the home requires a realistic understanding of the complexity and richness of the human activities that go on there; it is our goal to develop tools that enable HCI investigation in actual home environments. We have developed a kit of ubiquitous sensing devices and over the past year have conducted a series of studies installing a large number of sensors, of diverse types, in multiple homes of participants not affiliated with the research team. As we deployed our portable kit outside the laboratory, we encountered unanticipated study design and technology requirements that will affect the continued development of the kit itself. We offer practical tips we have learned from our experience and describe how we are applying them to the design of our next generation of sensors.
Short communication: Attempts to identify Clostridium botulinum toxin in milk from three experimentally intoxicated Holstein cows

Three adult lactating Holstein cows were injected in the subcutaneous abdominal vein with 175 ng/kg of body weight of Clostridium botulinum type C toxin (451 cow median toxic doses) to determine if this botulinum toxin crosses the blood-milk barrier. Whole blood (in sodium heparin) and clotted blood serum samples were taken at 0 min, 10 min, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 h postinoculation. Milk samples were taken at 0 min and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h postinoculation. All samples were tested for the presence of the toxin using the mouse bioassay and immunostick ELISA test. The immunostick ELISA identified the toxin in whole blood and the mouse bioassay identified the toxin in serum at all times examined in all 3 animals. Toxin was not identified by either detection method in milk samples collected from the 3 animals. From these results, it appears that Clostridium botulinum type C toxin does not cross from the blood to the milk in detectable concentrations.
Signaling by S-Nitrosylation in the Heart

Nitric oxide is a gaseous signaling molecule that is well-known for the Nobel prize-winning research that defined nitric oxide as a physiological regulator of blood pressure in the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide can signal via the classical pathway involving activation of guanylyl cyclase or by a post-translational modification, referred to as S-nitrosylation (SNO) that can occur on cysteine residues of proteins. As proteins with cysteine residues are common, this allows for amplification of the nitric oxide signaling. This review will focus on the possible mechanisms through which SNO can alter protein function in cardiac cells, and the role of SNO occupancy in these mechanisms. The specific mechanisms that regulate protein SNO, including redox-dependent processes, will also be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Redox Signalling in the Cardiovascular System".
Open Bedside Rounds for Families With Children in Pediatric Intensive Care Units

arents of children in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) place great importance on receiving information about their children’s condition, having their questions answered, and talking with the physicians in charge of their children’s care. 1 Although nurses often bridge the communication gap between parents and physicians, patients’ families understandably want the opportunity to speak directly with physicians about the medical plan of care. In the PICU at Children’s Hospital of Iowa in Iowa City, the family visiting policy was a major obstacle to sharing information between parents and the physicians in a timely manner. Because families were not allowed to stay in the unit during medical rounds, nurses often felt “caught in the middle” between parents and physicians. When parents were allowed to reenter the unit after rounds, the physicians were busy with procedures, admissions, or rounds with other patients until late in the afternoon. Although the nurses could answer some of the parents’ questions, they did not have all of the information and thought that it was inappropriate for them to discuss prognosis or specific medical treatment options with the parents. In order to meet the parents’ need for communication and to alleviate the nurses’ discomfort with feeling caught in the middle, a group of PICU staff
How Organizational Identity influences Information Technology (IT) Outsourcing Success

Corporate Information Technology (IT) functions are under increasing pressure to succeed in their IT outsourcing (ITO) arrangements. Studies of ITO success have in the past mainly explored its operational and financial aspects. At the same time there is a dearth of research on broader organizational antecedents and outcomes of ITO. This study examines the effect of organizational identity on outsourcing success. Specifically, we ask: does the strength of an organization’s identity- i.e. how unique it views its role in relation to other corporate functions- influence ITO success? We conduct an empirical study among 312 IT leaders engaged in outsourcing. We find that organizational identity strength mediates the effect of one pivotal outsourcing antecedent – effective knowledge sharing – on ITO Success. We thereby expose the role of identity strength as a potential determinant of ITO success and subsequently surmise that it is likely to have a material impact on the firm as a whole.
Colonization of citrus leaves and secondary conidiation response to citrus flower extracts by non-postbloom fruit drop strains of Colletotrichum acutatum

Postbloom fruit drop (PFD) is caused by a unique strain of Colletotrichum acutatum that infects citrus flowers, producing necrotic lesions on petals and the abscission of fruitlets. This strain survives on vegetative tissues during non-flowering periods, and conidial production on colonized tissue is stimulated by flower extracts. Genetically distinct strains from other hosts can cause PFD symptoms, but their survival on vegetative tissues and ability to sporulate in response to flower extracts is unknown. Isolates from anthracnose-affected blueberry, leatherleaf fern, strawberry, Key lime and PFD-affected sweet orange were evaluated for their ability to survive on leaves after inoculation and to produce conidia in response to flower extracts. Viable propagules were recovered from leaves inoculated with all non-PFD isolates and recovery of some was equal to or greater than that of the PFD isolate. The number of propagules recovered increased for all isolates after treatment with flower extracts and was comparable across isolates. Application of sucrose to leaves inoculated with the PFD isolate increased the number of propagules recovered from leaves, suggesting that the response to flower extracts was nutritional. Non-PFD isolates of C. acutatum can colonize and reproduce on leaves, and their inability to cause epidemics is probably due to their reduced pathogenicity to flowers.
Small Firm Use of Debt: An Examination of the Smallest Small Firms

Access to capital is an on-going challenge for small firms. Capital is required to address a broad range of needs: to cover start-up costs, to provide working capital, to secure facilities or equipment, and to hire employees. Most small firms are at a relative disadvantage, because they are too small to access the public debt and equity markets. Similarly, they are typically too small to show up on the radar screens of venture capitalists on patrol for the next potential hot IPO. Alternatively, very small firms are heavily reliant on bank loans, trade credit, and informal sources of capital including loans from family and friends. Entrepreneurial finance literature typically segments small firms into two types. "Entrepreneurial firms" are those that start out small but have the objectives of growth, profitability, and eventually, perhaps, an IPO. "Lifestyle firms", on the other hand, are firms that are small and intend to remain small. The point of this distinction is that firms of different size might be expected to have different types of objectives. Correspondingly, one might expect different attitudes toward and use of various sources of capital. This paper will use data from the 1993 National Survey of Small Business Finances (NSSBF) to examine the financing strategies of very small firms, a largely understudied segment of the small business market. Specifically, it will examine the types of debt capital used by the smallest small firms and compare their usage to that of somewhat larger small firms. Further this article will attempt to determine the variables that predict the use of debt capital and externally acquired debt capital by small firms and larger firms. Finally, it will explore the extent to which smaller and larger firms apply for external debt capital and the extent to which they are approved for loans.
Somatization is associated with non-adherence to opioid prescriptions.

Abstract Non-adherence to opioid prescriptions can decrease the safety and efficacy of opioid therapy. Identifying factors associated with over- and under-use of opioids in patients presenting with pain may improve prescribing and pain management. Patients presenting with pain often also present with somatization, and somatization is associated with both excessive use of and non-adherence to medications. This study examines the relationship between somatization and non-adherence (over- and under-use) to opioid prescriptions in the Veteran sample. One hundred and ninety-one Veterans who received an opioid prescription at a Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in the prior year participated by completing a 1.5 hour semistructured interview which included assessments of depressive symptoms, somatization, medication side effects, and opioid pain medication usage. The percentage of patients non-adherent to opioid prescriptions increased as a function of somatization: Compared to no somatization, all levels of somatization were associated with higher rates of underuse, while severe somatization was associated with increased rates of overuse. Consistent with previous studies of medication non-adherence, increased depression and medication side effects were associated with decreased adherence to opioid prescriptions. However, in exploratory analyses, somatization mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and opioid-use patterns as well as medication side effects and opioid use patterns. Perspective This article sought to explore the relationship between somatization and adherence to prescription opioid medications. Our findings suggest that pain management treatment plans may be optimized by addressing patient distress about physical symptoms when considering the use of prescription opioid medications.
Diminished paternity and gonadal function with increasing obesity in men

Objective To examine the relationship of male obesity and reproductive function. Design Observational study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Eighty-seven adult men, body mass index (BMI) range from 16.1 to 47.0 kg/m 2 (mean = 29.3 kg/m 2 ; SD=6.5 kg/m 2 ). Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Reproductive history, physical examination, inhibin B, FSH, LH, T, and unbound T levels, and semen analysis. Result(s) Body mass index was negatively correlated with testosterone ( r = −0.38), FSH ( r = −0.22), and inhibin B levels ( r = −0.21) and was positively correlated with E 2 levels ( r = 0.34). Testosterone also negatively correlated with skinfold thickness ( r = −0.30). There was no correlation of BMI or skinfold thickness with semen analysis parameters (sperm density, volume, motility, or morphology). Inhibin B level correlated significantly with sperm motility ( r = 0.23). Men with paternity had lower BMIs (28.0 kg/m 2 vs. 31.6 kg/m 2 ) and lower skinfold thickness (24.7 mm vs. 34.1 mm) than men without. Conclusion(s) Obesity is an infertility factor in otherwise normal men. Obese men demonstrate a relative hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Reduced inhibin B levels and diminished paternity suggest compromised reproductive capacity in this population.