cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generating an Exercise Prescription from the Exercise Test

Thus far we have examined the importance of exercise testing by primary care physicians and discussed the physiology behind the test, including indications and interpretation of the results. These results are used for purposes of risk stratification. The formulation of an exercise prescription is another application of the exercise test results, which will be examined here. Primary care physicians need to be prepared to recommend and structure an exercise program for many different types of patients, including the healthy as well as those with chronic medical conditions. The exercise test can be used to prescribe appropriate activity levels to these patients, including recommendations for specific exercise regimens. Obesity and the rise of associated comorbidities including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, increased cancer risk, and metabolic syndrome are clearly of concern to physicians. Recent media outlets have begun to examine the role of diet and exercise on general health and cardiovascular disease prevention in greater detail. Movies such as “Super Size Me” (directed by Morgan Spurlock) have brought some of these issues to the public, while efforts by school boards to curb rising obesity rates in children have led to changes in school vending machines. Sixty percent of Americans are either obese or overweight [1]. Three out of every four Americans do not engage in sufficient physical activity on a regular basis [2]. Despite the rising concern among patients in regard to physical activity counseling, physicians often do not provide adequate information or guidance in regard to a specific exercise plan. Previous studies have shown that only 20–40% of preventative health care visits document physical activity counseling [3–6]. Physical activity has been listed as a leading health issue for the national public health initiative (Healthy People 2010). Exercise as a component of lifestyle change and its relation to the primary prevention of coronary artery disease has been examined in a prior chapter. Additional benefits of exercise are increased vagal tone, lowering of catecholamines, decrease in serum triglycerides, increase in the ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, slowing loss of bone mass, reduction in adipose tissue, increase in circulating fibrinolytic activity,
The Large Scale Geometry of Products of Trees

We establish the quasi-isometric rigidity of the class of groups quasi-isometric to products of trees. In particular, we show that any group quasi-isometric to a product of trees is a lattice in the isometry group of a new product of trees (which are quasi-isometric to the original trees).
NOSOCOMIAL PNEUMONIA: Diagnosis and Prevention

Nosocomial pneumonia is the second most common nosocomial infection after nosocomial urinary tract infection and has the highest fatality rate among nosocomial infections. 41,87 Although nosocomial pneumonia may occur in patients throughout the hospital, the patients at greatest risk for hospital-acquired pneumonia are those who are managed with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilatory support and are usually hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU). Thus, today most nosocomial pneumonias in ICVs are associated with mechanical ventilation and are referred to as ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP). In this article the pathogenesis, diagnosis, etiology, epidemiology, and prevention of VAP is reviewed.
Body Image Among Asian Americans

This article focuses on the body image of Asian Americans. Sociocultural, interpersonal, and individual factors that may influence Asian American body images are described. Sociocultural factors include traditional Asian values such as collectivism, importance placed on female beauty, beliefs regarding emotional expression, and religious values. Other sociocultural factors include Asian ideals of beauty regarding body size, facial features, breast size, and height and the media. Interpersonal factors include experiences with parents, peers, and general social environment. Individual factors include perfectionism, self-consciousness, ethnic identity, acculturation, and cultural conflict. Research implications and clinical recommendations are also discussed.
Are the Sanctified Becoming the Pornified? Religious Conservatism, Commitment, and Pornography Use, 1984–2016*

Objectives Americans are generally increasing in their pornography viewership. While devout, theologically conservative Christians have been among the most ardent opponents to pornography's dissemination and use historically, there is a growing—but thus far untested—assumption that they too are following this same trend. This study examines (1) whether committed or conservative Christians are increasing in rates of porn viewership similar to other Americans and (2) when potential religious divergences in porn viewership started. Methods We fit a series of binary logistic regression models using data from the 1984–2016 General Social Surveys. Results Holding other variables constant, American evangelicals are indeed increasing in their reported porn viewership at rates identical to other Americans. Frequent church attendees and biblical literalists, however, show a divergent trend, with both remaining constant in their reported porn viewership across time. Analyses also show clear cutoff points for the divergence starting in the mid‐1990s, roughly when Internet pornography became available. Conclusions Findings suggest that, all else being equal, Americans who merely identify with conservative Christianity are indeed increasing in their porn viewership, but among the most faithful and theologically conservative Americans, they are no more likely to report viewing pornography than they were over 30 years ago.
Patterns of antihypertensive and statin adherence prior to dementia: findings from the adult changes in thought study.

Detecting patients with undiagnosed dementia is an important clinical challenge. Changes in medication adherence might represent an early sign of cognitive impairment. We sought to examine antihypertensive and statin adherence trajectories in community-dwelling older adults, comparing people who went on to develop dementia to those who did not. We analyzed data from Adult Changes in Thought (ACT), a population-based cohort study embedded within an integrated healthcare delivery system. Analyses included 4368 participants aged ≥65 years who had at least one follow-up visit. Research-quality dementia diagnoses were used to identify cases. We selected non-dementia control visits matched on age, sex, and study cohort that occurred at similar ACT follow-up time as the case’s dementia onset; we treated this as the index date. Participants were included if they were prevalent users of either a statin or antihypertensive medication on the first day of follow up – 3 years prior to the index date. Using prescription fill dates and days supply, we calculated daily binary medication availability measures for each participant (‘days covered’) over 3 years leading up to the index date. We used group-based trajectory models to identify patterns of antihypertensive and statin adherence, and used conditional logistic regression to examine associations between adherence trajectories and dementia. Four trajectories were identified for antihypertensive users (292 cases, 3890 control visits), including near perfect (n = 1877, 36.6% cases, 45.5% controls), high (n = 1840, 43.2% cases, 44.1% controls), moderate (n = 365, 18.5% cases, 8.0% controls) and early poor adherence (n = 100, 1.7% cases, 2.4% controls). Odds of dementia was 3 times greater for those with moderate antihypertensive adherence compared to those with near perfect adherence (adjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.0, 4.3). Four trajectories were identified for statin users (148 cases, 1131 control visits), including high (n = 1004, 75.0% cases, 79.0% controls), moderate (n = 192, 19.6% cases, 14.4% controls), early poor (n = 43, 2.0% cases, 3.5% controls), and delayed poor adherence (n = 40, 3.4% cases, 3.1% controls). No association was detected between statin adherence trajectories and dementia. Patterns of medication adherence may be useful to identify a subset of people at higher likelihood of developing dementia.
WMD and the Arctic

AbstractPast national security decisions leave environmental and human health impacts that challenge the international community. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD), specifically nuclear and chemica...
Trends in the conduct of information systems research

With the rapidly changing institutional and technological environment for information systems research, it is useful to examine how the conduct of research itself has been changing. In this Debates...
Heat Shock Proteins and Alarmins in Autoimmunity

Autoimmunity represents a diverse group of diseases, which demonstrate complex immuno-pathological responses. Heat shock proteins (Hsp) and danger signaling proteins such as HMGB1 and RAGE, grouped as alarmins play a crucial role in autoimmunity. These proteins are present at elevated levels in the patient’s plasma. Hsp bind and stabilize large protein complexes such as immune complexes (ICs), which are formed with autoantibodies generated against modified proteins and nucleic acids that are released from apoptotic and dead cells. Alarmins protect nucleic acids from degrading and enhance ICs capability to produce proinflammatory cytokines. Our current understanding of the role of Hsp in disease is largely based on the studies performed in innate immune cells. In autoimmunity, CD4+ T cells are a major contributor of pathology in inflamed tissue. Activation of CD4+ T cells by ICs triggers upregulation of a large set of genes that encode Hsp and also the HMGB1. HMGB1 associates with the low affinity Fc receptor, which trigger the release of proinflammatory cytokines from ICs ligation. This chapter will address our current understanding of the role and interplay of Hsp with other alarmins in autoimmune pathology. Additionally, it will also address the possible role of low affinity Fc receptors in triggering Hsp and alarmins mediated responses in autoimmune pathology.
Mechanism of stimulated Mie scattering: Light-induced redistribution of self-assembled nanospheres of two-photon absorbing chromophore

We report the observation of backward stimulated Mie scattering (SMS) due to light-field induced spatial redistribution of self-assembled nanospheres of a two-photon resonant organic chromophore in water, pumped by ∼10-ns laser pulses of ∼816-nm wavelength. The pump-energy threshold for generating backward stimulated scattering in such a system is remarkably lower than that in pure water. The gain of backscattering originates from an induced Bragg grating that reflects partial energy from the pump beam into the backward Mie scattering beam. Based on the experimental fact that the time-delay of the SMS pulse onset depends on both the pump level and the viscosity of the solvent, a physical model of SMS generation is proposed. Our experimental results have shown that the major contribution to the formation of an induced Bragg grating is spatial redistribution of nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. These nanoparticles are driven by a force that is proportional to the intensity gradient of the standing-wave field resulting from interference between the forward pump beam and the backward Mie scattering beam. When the nanoparticle motion is frozen in a gel-like medium, no SMS is observed, which experimentally supports the validity of the proposed physical model.
CohereNet: A Deep Learning Architecture for Ultrasound Spatial Correlation Estimation and Coherence-Based Beamforming

Deep fully connected networks are often considered “universal approximators” that are capable of learning any function. In this article, we utilize this particular property of deep neural networks (DNNs) to estimate normalized cross correlation as a function of spatial lag (i.e., spatial coherence functions) for applications in coherence-based beamforming, specifically short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) beamforming. We detail the composition, assess the performance, and evaluate the computational efficiency of CohereNet, our custom fully connected DNN, which was trained to estimate the spatial coherence functions of in vivo breast data from 18 unique patients. CohereNet performance was evaluated on in vivo breast data from three additional patients who were not included during training, as well as data from in vivo liver and tissue mimicking phantoms scanned with a variety of ultrasound transducer array geometries and two different ultrasound systems. The mean correlation between the SLSC images computed on a central processing unit (CPU) and the corresponding DNN SLSC images created with CohereNet was 0.93 across the entire test set. The DNN SLSC approach was up to 3.4 times faster than the CPU SLSC approach, with similar computational speed, less variability in computational times, and improved image quality compared with a graphical processing unit (GPU)-based SLSC approach. These results are promising for the application of deep learning to estimate correlation functions derived from ultrasound data in multiple areas of ultrasound imaging and beamforming (e.g., speckle tracking, elastography, and blood flow estimation), possibly replacing GPU-based approaches in low-power, remote, and synchronization-dependent applications.
Workplace Lactation Support: Using Implementation Climate to Inform a New Model.

Introduction: Breastfeeding (BF) duration remains problematic, especially among women returning to work. Given that use of workplace lactation support programs has not gained traction in improving ...
Developing and Implementing a Specifications Grading System in an Organic Chemistry Laboratory Course

Large, multisection laboratory courses are particularly challenging when managing grading with as many as 35 teaching assistants (TAs). Traditional grading systems using point-based rubrics lead to significant variations in how individual TAs grade, which necessitates the use of curving across laboratory sections. Final grade uncertainty perpetuates student anxieties and disincentivizes a collaborative learning environment, so we adopted an alternative grading system, called specifications grading. In this system each student knows exactly what level of proficiency they must demonstrate to earn their desired course grade. Higher grades require demonstrating mastery of skills and content at defined higher levels. Each students’ grade is solely dependent on the work they produce rather than the performance of other students. We piloted specifications grading in the smaller, third quarter course of the lower division organic chemistry laboratory series held during a summer term. Open-ended questions were chosen to gather student and TA perceptions of the new grading system. TAs felt that the new grading system reduced the weekly grading time because it was less ambiguous. Responses from students about the nature of the grading system were mixed. Their perceptions indicate that initial buy-in and multiple reminders about the bigger picture of the grading system will be essential to the success of this grading system on a larger scale.
Tumor and immune reprogramming during immunotherapy in advanced renal cell carcinoma

Summary Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) results in durable disease control in a subset of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but mechanisms driving resistance are poorly understood. We characterize the single-cell transcriptomes of cancer and immune cells from metastatic RCC patients before or after ICB exposure. In responders, subsets of cytotoxic T cells express higher levels of co-inhibitory receptors and effector molecules. Macrophages from treated biopsies shift toward pro-inflammatory states in response to an interferon-rich microenvironment but also upregulate immunosuppressive markers. In cancer cells, we identify bifurcation into two subpopulations differing in angiogenic signaling and upregulation of immunosuppressive programs after ICB. Expression signatures for cancer cell subpopulations and immune evasion are associated with PBRM1 mutation and survival in primary and ICB-treated advanced RCC. Our findings demonstrate that ICB remodels the RCC microenvironment and modifies the interplay between cancer and immune cell populations critical for understanding response and resistance to ICB.
Visualizing Planetary Spectroscopy through Immersive On-Site Rendering

Remote sensing is currently the primary method of obtaining knowledge about the composition and physical properties of the surface of other planets. In a commonly used technique, visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectrometers onboard orbiting satellites capture reflectance data at different wavelengths, which in turn gives insight about the minerals present and the overall composition of the terrain. In select locations on Mars, rovers have also conducted up close in-situ investigation of the same terrains examined by orbiters, allowing direct comparisons at different spatial scales. In this work, we build Planetary Prism, a virtual reality tool to visualize orbital and ground data around NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover’s ongoing traverse in Gale Crater. We have built a 3D terrain along Curiosity’s traverse using rover images, and within it we visualize satellite data as polyhedrons, superimposed on the terrain. This system provides perspectives of VNIR spectroscopic data from a satellite aligned with ground images from the rover, allowing the user to explore both the physical aspects of the terrain and their relation to the mineral composition. The result is a system that provides seamless rendering of data sets at vastly different scales.
Parametric Design for Landscape Architects: Computational Techniques and Workflows

Parametric Design for Landscape Architects provides a sequence of tutorial-based workflows for the creation and utilization of algorithmic tools calibrated toward the field of landscape architecture. Contemporary practice and projective theory in landscape architecture require the processing and design of data associated with complex systems to adequately represent composite, emergent scenarios. Aligning to both traditional and nascent processes of analysis and digital modeling, this book unpacks and decodes the characterization of algorithmic-based automation, leveraging software that is widely accessible in both academia and professional practice. Curated throughout are workflows that apply to a multiplex of computation programs that widely support the design, analysis, and production of landscapes, primarily concentrated on digital modeling tools Grasshopper and Rhinoceros. It is a much-needed, visually accessible resource to aid in more efficient understanding and creation of tools that automate and re-examine traditional calculations, analyses, drawing standards, form-finding strategies, fabrication preparations, and speculative assessments/simulation. This primer provides professionals and students with multifaceted skill-sets that, when applied in practice, expand and expedite conventional and speculative design workflows applicable to spatial design, and more specifically landscape architecture. The book includes over 200 full-colour drawings, images, and tables to illustrate and support examples throughout.
Inter-loop optimization in RAJA using loop chains

Typical parallelization approaches such as OpenMP and CUDA provide constructs for parallelizing and blocking for data locality for individual loops. By focusing on each loop separately, these approaches fail to leverage sources of data locality possible due to inter-loop data reuse. The loop chain abstraction provides a framework for reasoning about and applying inter-loop optimizations. In this work, we incorporate the loop chain abstraction into RAJA, a performance portability layer for high-performance computing applications. Using the loop-chain-extended RAJA, or RAJALC, developers can have the RAJA library apply loop transformations like loop fusion and overlapped tiling while maintaining the original structure of their programs. By introducing targeted symbolic execution capabilities, we can collect and cache data access information required to verify loop transformations. We evaluate the performance improvement and refactoring costs of our extension. Overall, our results demonstrate 85-98\% of the performance improvements of hand-optimized kernels with dramatically fewer code changes.
The influence of metal-support interactions during liquid-phase hydrogenation of an α, β-unsaturated aldehyde over Pt

Liquid-phase hydrogenation of citral was investigated over SiO2- and TiO2- supported Pt catalysts in the range of 298–423 K, 7–41 atm H2 pressure, and 0.5–6.0 M citral in hexane. The initial rate of citral hydrogenation over Pt/SiO2 catalysts exhibits an activity minimum with respect to temperature accompanied by an increase in selectivity for hydrogenation of the C=O bond with increasing reaction temperature. Furthermore, the initial rate of citral disappearance is strongly influenced by metal particle size since the rate of citral disappearance at 373 K decreased 20-fold from the 5 nm SiO2-supported Pt crystallites to the 1 nm SiO2-supported Pt crystallites. This difference is suppressed at 298 K and only a five-fold decrease in the rate is observed during this change in Pt crystallite size. Pt/TiO2-LTR (low temperature reduced-473 K) and Pt/SiO2 catalysts exhibited zero- and first-order dependencies on citral concentration and hydrogen pressure, respectively, at 373 K. In contrast, the Pt/TiO2-HTR (high temperature reduced-773 K) catalyst exhibited negative first- and zero-order dependencies on citral concentration and hydrogen pressure, respectively. The TOF on the Pt/TiO2-HTP catalyst was more than an order of magnitude greater than that on Pt/SiO2 and Pt/TiO2-LTR. In addition, the Pt/TiO2-HTR catalyst exhibited a marked enhancement in selectivity towards hydrogenation of the C=O bond.
Eclampsia at Magee-Womens Hospital, 1970 to 1980

Abstract The medical records of 52 eclamptic patients at Magee-Womens Hospital from 1970 through 1980 were reviewed in regard to age, parity, socioeconomic status, race, gestation, prenatal care, management, mode of delivery, and maternal and fetal complications. Unique features of this series included eclampsia among private, white patients early in gestation in spite of prenatal care. There was a high incidence of fetal distress leading to operative delivery.
Improved SPICE modeling and analysis of a thermoelectric module

An improved SPICE model for a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is presented. Temperature variations of the intrinsic internal parameters are included in the proposed model. For accuracy in the proposed model, the internal parasitic components effects and the temperature dependence of the parameters that occur in any thermoelectric module (TEM) were taken into account. Experimental results were compiled in the form of a lookup table and then fed into the SPICE simulator using a piecewise linear (PWL) model in order to validate the model. Experimental results showed that a differential temperature of 13.43°C was achievable whereas the SPICE model indicated a temperature gap of 9.86°C with the higher error being associated with the hot side. Overall, both experimental and simulated results were in a good agreement.
The relationship between work/family benefits and earnings: A test of competing predictions

Abstract Using data from a random statewide telephone survey, this study examines the relationship between four specific types of work/family benefits (child care, flextime, and two types of flexible leaves) and employee earnings. The research is guided by two competing theoretical perspectives. One—compensating wage differential theory—is based on the presumed cost of the benefits, and the other is based on their potential productivity enhancing effects. Despite the prevalence of the former perspective for guiding work on the impact of job characteristics on earnings, we found limited supporting evidence. Instead, earnings more closely related to work/family benefits were likely to have a positive impact on productivity, but only among those groups that stood the most to gain. Building on the findings of this study, suggestions are made to examine further how and in what ways this important new class of benefits might affect employee earnings.
A comparative investigation of the BigCAT and Erickson S-24 measures of speech-associated attitude.

Abstract The BigCAT and the Erickson S-24, self-report measures of communication attitude, were administered in a randomly determined order to 72 adults who stuttered (PWS) and 72 who did not (PWNS). The two groups of participants differed from each other to a statistically significant extent on both of these measures of speech-associated attitude, regardless of gender. However, the BigCAT showed a larger between-group difference and a greater effect size than was made apparent by the S-24. These findings, and the presence of a significant group by test interaction, suggest that the BigCAT is the more powerful of these two test procedures for discriminating the speech-associated attitude of PWS from that of PWNS. It follows from this that the BigCAT is likely a more useful attitudinal measure than the S-24 with respect to clinical decision making that relates to differential diagnostic assessment and the management of stuttering. Learning outcomes: The reader will be (1) describe the BigCAT, a communication attitude test for adults who do and do not stutter, (2) discuss comparative data on the BigCAT and the Erickson S-24, based on information on the discriminative power of these measures of speech-associated attitude, (3) recognize that gender does not significantly effect the results of either the BigCAT or the Erickson S-24.
Glucose metabolism in the developing brain

As in adults, glucose is the predominant cerebral energy fuel for the fetus and newborn. Studies in experimental animals and humans indicate that cerebral glucose utilization initially is low and increases with maturation with increasing regional heterogeneity. The increases in cerebral glucose utilization with advancing age occurs as a consequence of increasing functional activity and cerebral energy demands. The levels of expression of the 2 primary facilitative glucose transporter proteins in brain, GLUT1 (blood-brain barrier and glia) and GLUT3 (neuronal), display a similar maturational pattern. Alternate cerebral energy fuels, specifically the ketone bodies and lactate, can substitute for glucose, especially during hypoglycemia, thereby protecting the immature brain from potential untoward effects of hypoglycemia. Unlike adults, glucose supplementation during hypoxia-ischemia is protective in the immature brain, whereas hypoglycemia is deleterious. Accordingly, glucose plays a critical role in the developing brain, not only as the primary substrate for energy production but also to allow for normal biosynthetic processes to proceed.
Ethanol inhibition of aspartyl-asparaginyl-β-hydroxylase in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Potential link to the impairments in central nervous system neuronal migration

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol and associated with hypoplasia and impaired neuronal migration in the cerebellum. Neuronal survival and motility are stimulated by insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), whose signaling pathways are major targets of ethanol neurotoxicity. To better understand the mechanisms of ethanol-impaired neuronal migration during development, we examined the effects of chronic gestational exposure to ethanol on aspartyl (asparaginyl)-beta-hydroxylase (AAH) expression, because AAH is regulated by insulin/IGF and mediates neuronal motility. Pregnant Long-Evans rats were pair-fed isocaloric liquid diets containing 0, 8, 18, 26, or 37% ethanol by caloric content from gestation day 6 through delivery. Cerebella harvested from postnatal day 1 pups were used to examine AAH expression in tissue, and neuronal motility in Boyden chamber assays. We also used cerebellar neuron cultures to examine the effects of ethanol on insulin/IGF-stimulated AAH expression, and assess the role of GSK-3beta-mediated phosphorylation on AAH protein levels. Chronic gestational exposure to ethanol caused dose-dependent impairments in neuronal migration and corresponding reductions in AAH protein expression in developing cerebella. In addition, prenatal ethanol exposure inhibited insulin and IGF-I-stimulated directional motility in isolated cerebellar granule neurons. Ethanol-treated neuronal cultures (50mMx96h) also had reduced levels of AAH protein. Mechanistically, we showed that AAH protein could be phosphorylated on Ser residues by GSK-3beta, and that chemical inhibition of GSK-3beta and/or global Caspases increases AAH protein in both control- and ethanol-exposed cells. Ethanol-impaired neuronal migration in FASD is associated with reduced AAH expression. Because ethanol increases the activities of both GSK-3beta and Caspases, the inhibitory effect of ethanol on neuronal migration could be mediated by increased GSK-3beta phosphorylation and Caspase degradation of AAH protein.
Modelling the Wildlife Conservation Society database: Saving money for saving tigers (and gorillas and jaguars and elephants …)

Not-for-profit organisations, or those with relatively small databases, are often unable to test fund-raising or other types of direct marketing appeals. In these circumstances, a good model of the organisation's database can greatly increase net revenues. This paper compares several methods of modelling a database using the Wildlife Conservation Society database as an example. A new model for estimating potential donation amounts seems to offer some practical as well as conceptual improvements over existing procedures.
Comparison of adenoma detection rate in Hispanics and whites undergoing first screening colonoscopy: a retrospective chart review

Background Current guidelines recommend screening colonoscopy beginning at age 50 in the average-risk population. Race has been shown to influence the risk of colorectal cancer, thus leading to the recommendation of initiating screening in blacks at the age of 45. Few data exist on the prevalence of colon polyps among U.S. Hispanics. Objectives To compare the adenoma detection rate (ADR) between Hispanics and whites undergoing a first screening colonoscopy at our referral center. Design Observational study. Setting Single endoscopy unit, tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients Patients 50 years of age or older undergoing their first screening colonoscopy whose race was determined as white or Hispanic from June 2007 to August 2010. Main Outcome Measurement ADR by race. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the ADR among Hispanics and whites (45% and 48%, respectively; P = .2). No difference was found when comparing the ADR in Hispanic and white males (50% and 55%, respectively; P = .2), Hispanic and white females (40% in both groups), or in the 50- to 59-year-old subgroup (42% in Hispanics, 45% in whites, P = .4). There was no difference in the prevalence of advanced adenomas (3% in Hispanics, 4% in whites, P = .3). The prevalence of proximal polyps in Hispanics and whites was similar (18% and 19%, respectively, P = .8). Limitations Retrospective design, self-identification of race/ethnicity, underrepresentation of certain Hispanic subgroups. Conclusions We found a similar ADR among Hispanics and whites undergoing their first screening colonoscopy. These findings have important implications for colorectal cancer screening recommendations, suggesting that the current guidelines are appropriate for Hispanics.
The silica cycle in the Precambrian

Abstract Whereas the modem silica cycle is heavily dependent on the biology of silica-secreting organisms such as the diatoms, the Precambrian silica cycle was dominated by inorganic reactions among dissolved silica, clay and zeolite minerals, and organic matter. There is no evidence for deposition of a layered amorphous silica but abundant evidence for diagenetic silicification in the Neoproterozoic, the time period chosen for this analysis. The influx of silica to the Neoproterozoic ocean would have been governed, as today, by the balance among tectonism, weathering, and hydrothermal input. The evidence of Neoproterozoic rocks favors tectonic and weathering regimes not very dissimilar to those of the early Phanerozoic and hydrothermal inputs significantly altered at certain periods. One flux would have been very different: the present diffusional influx of silica from interstitial waters into the oceans would have been altered to an efflux from the oceans to interstitial waters. Reactions of dissolved silica with inorganic phases would have controlled silica concentrations at a level of about 60 ppm. This figure is based on experimental determinations of solubility and silica sorption on clay minerals and zeolites. As silica in interstitial waters was lowered by opal-CT precipitation, a diffusional efflux from the ocean into the sediment was set up. Silicification would have started in early diagenesis as opal-CT precipitated from interstitial waters. Diffusion of silica from overlying seawater declined as the sediment was buried a few hundred meters and the diffusion path lengthened. During this still relatively shallow burial, silicification continued, but this time powered by hydrologie transport of dissolved silica from coastal plain sediments during transgressions and regressions. Thus the major removal of silica from the Neoproterozoic ocean took place by diagenetic reactions.
An examination of the reaction pathways for the recombination of FCO radicals

Abstract Pathways for the reaction of FCO+FCO on the ground state potential energy surface have been studied by using ab initio methods. Heats of reaction and barrier heights have been computed by using Moller—Plesset perturbation theory. The reaction of FCO+FCO has been found to form F 2 C 2 O 2 molecule as an intermediate which subsequently dissociates to form F 2 CO and CO. Since the exothermicity for the overall reaction is much larger than the barrier for the dissociation of F 2 C 2 O 2 , the reaction to produce F 2 CO+CO should be rapid.
Magnetostriction measurements of high strength steel under the influence of bi-axial magnetic fields

Abstract A detailed knowledge of a material's microscopic texture is required in order to produce a realistic model of the magnetization process under applied fields. Previous studies on the magnetostriction in high strength steels have ignored the internal anisotropies due to prior material handling. To this end, a measurement utilizing two perpendicular fields was designed to interrogate the magnetic texture and microstructure of high-strength steel rods. These magnetization and magnetostriction measurements were then fitted to an energy-based domain rotation model which had been altered to address vector fields and uniaxial anisotropies. Given the simplicity of the model it is surprising to see that it captures a number of the general trends in the Data, however the fit is generally poor. Improving upon this data set will allow us to determine general magnetic characteristics of microstructure in the steels. These measurements will be incorporated into a future Vector Preisach model allowing detailed predictions of the magnetic state after stress and field changes in multiple directions.
A simple and efficient system for green note compound biogenesis by use of certain lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase sources.

Six-carbon (C6) aldehydes and alcohols are important components of the aroma and flavor of fruits and vegetables. Soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) isozyme LOX 3 was reported not only to produce less 13-hydroperoxides, precursors of C6 aldehydes, but also to convert them to ketodiene products. Here, we examined the effects of LOX 3 on hexenal formation from linolenic acid homogenized with watermelon 13-hydroperoxide lyase (HL)-overexpressing Nicotiana tabacum leaves and soybean acetone powder. Compared to the wild type, which contains LOXs 1, 2, and 3, the elimination of LOX 3 in LOX 1 + 2 facilitates greater production of hexenals. The use of LOX 2 alone yielded the highest hexenal production, while a two-step conversion was required for LOX 1 to produce hexenals at high levels due to different pH optima of the enzymes involved. These results clearly demonstrate that the soybeans lacking LOX 3 in combination with watermelon HL-overexpressing leaf tissues greatly enhance hexenal formation. Keywords: Hydroperoxid...
Range-gated imaging experiments using gated intensifiers

A variety of range gated imaging experiments using high- speed gated/shuttered proximity focused microchannel plate image intensifiers (MCPII) are reported. Range gated imaging experiments were conducted in water for detection of submerged mines in controlled turbidity tank test and in sea water for the Naval Coastal Sea Command/U.S. Marine Corps. Field experiments have been conducted consisting of kilometer range imaging of resolution targets and military vehicles in atmosphere at Eglin Air Force Base for the U.S. Air Force, and similar imaging experiments, but in smoke environment, at Redstone Arsenal for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. Wavelength of the illumination laser was 532 nm with pulse widths ranging from 6 to 12 ns and comparable gate widths. These tests have shown depth resolution in the tens of centimeters range from time phasing reflected LADAR images with MCPII shutter opening.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Seasonal evolution of ecohydrological controls on land surface temperature over complex terrain

The spatiotemporal distribution of Land Surface Temperature (LST) is linked to the partitioning of the coupled surface water and energy budgets. In watersheds with a strong seasonality in precipitation and vegetation cover, the temporal evolution of LST patterns are a signature of the interactions between the land surface and atmosphere. Nevertheless, few studies have sought to understand the topographical and ecohydrological controls on LST in regions of complex terrain. Numerical watershed models, tested against spatially distributed field and remote sensing data, can aid in linking the seasonal evolution of LST to meteorology, terrain, soil, and vegetation. In this study, we use a distributed hydrologic model to explore LST patterns in a semiarid mountain basin during the transition from a dry spring to the wetter North American monsoon (NAM). By accounting for vegetation greening through remotely sensed parameters, the model reproduces LST and surface soil moisture observations derived from ground, aircraft, and satellite platforms with good accuracy at individual sites and as spatial basin patterns. Distributed simulations reveal how LST varies with elevation, slope, and aspect and the role played by the seasonal vegetation canopy in cooling the land surface and increasing the spatial variability in LST. As a result, LST is shown to track well with ecosystem-specific changes in vegetation cover, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture during the NAM. Furthermore, vegetation greening is shown to modulate the spatial heterogeneity of LST during the NAM that should be considered in subsequent atmospheric studies in regions of complex terrain.
Motional effects on optimum coherence transfer in MAS NMR spectroscopy

Abstract The detailed mechanism of coherence transfer in 2 H MAS NMR spectroscopy is investigated in the presence of molecular motion. An elaborate theoretical formalism is developed that exploits the properties of Lie algebras to characterize the states of nuclear spin ensembles and to identify the allowed coherence transfer pathways. The functional form of the coherence transfer functions is investigated within the Floquet–Poincare formalism. Based on these principles a general methodology is described for evaluating the optimum pulse parameters consistent with maximum sensitivity. The intensity and phase distortions induced by the optimum pulse parameters are discussed and the importance of incorporating these effects in theoretical simulations is examined. The results are verified by experimental spectra of polycrystalline thiourea- 2 H 4 that are analyzed in terms of a discrete motional model.
The strategy-shareholder value relationship: Testing temporal stability across market cycles

This study examines the stability of the relationship between diversification and shareholder value across contiguous time periods, organized so as to highlight three distinct market cycles. By defining value as a two-dimensional construct, separating the concurrent economic phenomena of cycle and trend, and controlling for other factors that influence risk and return, this study finds that the best way to protect shareholder value against economic downturns is to diversify in a manner such that ‘all of one's eggs are in similar baskets’.
Heligmosomoides polygyrus (=Nematospiroides dubius): suppression of antibody response to orally administered sheep erythrocytes in infected mice.

Abstract Mice infected with 200 to 300 Heligmosomoides polygyrus had reduced serum hemagglutinin titers following a series of oral inoculations of sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) when compared to similarly inoculated uninfected mice. Study of antibody-producing cells by the indirect hemolytic plaque technique demonstrated a low splenic response to oral immunization in which IgA predominated. No alteration was evident in the proportions of antibody-containing cells in the different Ig classes with infection. Comparison of the immune response to oral and intraperitoneal routes of SRBC inoculation in infected and uninfected mice demonstrated a similar reduction in antibody titer with both routes of inoculation, although immunosuppression following intraperitoneal inoculations was not consistantly observed. The data are discussed in relation to the influence of the helminth infection on intestinal immune response and systemic immune response.
Quantifying the effects of the division of labor in metabolic pathways

Division of labor is commonly observed in nature. There are several theories that suggest diversification in a microbial community may enhance stability and robustness, decrease concentration of inhibitory intermediates, and increase efficiency. Theoretical studies to date have focused on proving when the stable co-existence of multiple strains occurs, but have not investigated the productivity or biomass production of these systems when compared to a single ‘super microbe’ which has the same metabolic capacity. In this work we prove that if there is no change in the growth kinetics or yield of the metabolic pathways when the metabolism is specialized into two separate microbes, the biomass (and productivity) of a binary consortia system is always less than that of the equivalent monoculture. Using a specific example of Escherichia coli growing on a glucose substrate, we find that increasing the growth rates or substrate affinities of the pathways is not sufficient to explain the experimentally observed productivity increase in a community. An increase in pathway efficiency (yield) in specialized organisms provides the best explanation of the observed increase in productivity.
A Network-Based Approach for Identifying Cancer Causing Pathogens

We present a new method to identify malignant cancer-causing pathogens by analyzing their interactions with the host protein interaction network. We introduce two new measurements, core score and moment score that is based on topological characteristics of the network of host proteins that interact with the pathogen. We applied these measurement to a data set consisting of the interactions of 135 pathogens and a human protein-interaction network. We show a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0:90) between the core score and the probability that a pathogen leads to malignant cancer in humans and demonstrate, using a decision tree classifier, that both measurements can be used to correctly identify pathogens that lead to malignant cancer in humans with an accuracy of 97%.
Aldosterone and dexamethasone both stimulate energy acquisition whereas only the glucocorticoid alters energy storage.

Corticosteroids stimulate and insulin inhibits energy acquisition (food intake); conversely, corticosteroids inhibit and insulin stimulates energy storage (body weight gain). Thus, together these hormones mediate long-term energy balance. This study tested whether the stimulatory action of corticosteroids on food intake was mediated by association with high affinity mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) or lower affinity glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). Young male rats were adrenalectomized (ADX) and given vehicle (control) or streptozotocin (diabetic); subgroups of rats were infused with vehicle, aldosterone (Aldo, an MR agonist in vivo), dexamethasone (Dex, a GR agonist in vivo), or AldoD together, Aldo and Dex restored insulin and food intake to sham-ADX rats. Food intake in diabetic ADX rats was significantly increased by each treatment (ADX < Aldo < Dex < AldoD however, fat stores were not different from ADX. Dex reduced body weight in control rats but maintained fat stores; in diabetic rats, body weight and fat stores were less than or similar to ADX. We conclude that: 1) corticosteroids, acting through association with both MRs and GRs, stimulate food intake; 2) insulin counteracts the GR-mediated stimulation of food intake in control rats; and 3) Dex and insulin, which is stimulated by Dex, selectively maintain or increase body fat stores, probably at the expense of protein stores.
Calculating the Potential of C2 Domains for Membrane Binding

A recent report in Molecular Cell demonstrates the ability of electrostatic calculations to predict the membrane binding properties of structurally characterized C2 domains and assign probable membrane targeting functions to numerous uncharacterized C2 domains.
Physical mapping of the genome and sequence analysis at the inverted terminal repetition of adenovirus type 4 DNA

Abstract The genome of adenovirus type 4 (Ad4), the unique member of Ad group E, has been mapped with nine restriction endonucleases. Comparison of the occurrence of restriction endonuclease cleavage sites on Ad2, Ad7, Ad12 and Ad4 indicates that there is very little homology between these serotypes. Sequence analysis at the ITR of Ad4 showed that the “CAT” box which is present in all the ITRs of Ad's so far sequenced is absent in Ad4. The length of 116 bp for the ITR of Ad4 is also different from that of other Ad subgroups.
Significance of myelofibrosis in early chronic-phase, chronic myelogenous leukemia on imatinib mesylate therapy.

BACKGROUND Myelofibrosis is associated historically with a poor prognosis in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Its significance in the recent era of effective therapy with imatinib mesylate is unknown. METHODS The current study evaluated the significance of the degree of pretreatment myelofibrosis on response and survival with imatinib therapy in patients with newly diagnosed CML. The study group comprised 198 patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive, chronic-phase CML treated with imatinib mesylate therapy. They were analyzed for the prognostic significance of bone marrow reticulin fibrosis. RESULTS Severe reticulin (Grade 3–4) fibrosis was observed in 75 patients (38%): Grade 3 in 46 (23%) patients and Grade 4 in 29 (15%) patients. There was a trend towards a lower incidence of a complete cytogenetic response in patients with Grade 4 reticulin fibrosis (76% vs. 89%; P = 0.07), and a significantly worse survival (estimated 3-year survival rate of 87% vs. 97%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Although the prognostic significance of severe reticulin fibrosis in patients with newly diagnosed CML receiving imatinib therapy was better, 15% of patients with Grade 4 reticulin fibrosis still had a worse outcome. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.