cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Interplay of Chronic Interpersonal Stress and Rumination on Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Youth.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) describes deliberate self-destructive behaviors without the intention to die. Little is known about what factors contribute to NSSI especially among youth. The current study tested two conceptual models for how chronic interpersonal stress and rumination may contribute to NSSI engagement across 18 months in a community sample of youth: (1) a mediation pathway based on the Emotional Cascade Model (i.e., stress contributes to rumination and then to subsequent NSSI), and (2) a moderation model based on the cognitive vulnerability-stress framework (i.e., rumination moderates the relation between stress and NSSI). 516 youth aged 7–16 (Mage = 12.0; 56% female; 90% Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx) reported on ongoing interpersonal stress occurring between T1-T2 (every 6 months from T1 to 12 months) via the Youth Life Stress Interview, rumination via the Children’s Response Styles Questionnaire (at T1 and 18 months later, T2), and NSSI engagement every six months from 18 to 36 months (T2-T3) via the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview. Interpersonal stress predicted later rumination (b = .43, p < .01), rumination forecasted later NSSI occurrence (OR = 1.06, p < .01), and mediation was supported via a significant indirect effect of interpersonal stress on NSSI through rumination (b = .03, 95% CI = .01, .07). Rumination did not significantly moderate the relation between stress and NSSI. The prospective relation between chronic interpersonal stress and NSSI engagement was partly explained by rumination, aligning with the Emotional Cascade Model’s prediction that rumination contributes to NSSI. Youth may conduct NSSI to interrupt rumination elicited by chronic interpersonal stress.
SOME NEW ASPECTS OF SLAMMING PROBABILITY THEORY

A systematic investigation of some probabilistic aspects of slamming is presented. This investigation includes the assessment of the unconditional probability of slamming at a random instant of time; the estimation of the conditional probability of slamming at a given instant after a particular slam; and the consequent rejection of the hypothesis that slamming is a Poisson process. In addition, a procedure to approximate the distribution of slamming interarrival times is presented. Finally, new slamming statistics, obtainable from the theory of this work, are presented and compared with the existing slamming criteria. The theory of this paper can be readily applied to other seakeeping events such as deck wetness, keel emergence, and propeller racing.
An educational intervention to improve antimicrobial use in a hospital-based long-term care facility.

OBJECTIVES: To improve antimicrobial use in patients receiving long-term care (LTC). DESIGN: Prospective, quasi-experimental before–after assessment of the effects of physician education and guideline implementation. SETTING: Public LTC and acute care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty salaried internists who provided most of the medical care to LTC patients. INTERVENTION: National guidelines, hospital resistance data, and physician feedback were incorporated into a series of four teaching sessions presented over 18 months and into booklets detailing institutional guidelines on the optimal management of common LTC infection syndromes. MEASUREMENTS: One hundred randomly selected LTC patients treated with antimicrobials were reviewed before these interventions were implemented and 100 after, and measures of the quality of care were compared. The effect of the interventions on antimicrobial days and starts were also assessed using interrupted time series analysis. RESULTS: Charted clinical abnormalities met guideline diagnostic criteria (62% vs 38%, P=.006), and initial therapy agreed with guideline recommendations (39% vs 11%, P<.001), more often in the post- than in the preintervention cohort. Mean census-adjusted monthly LTC antimicrobial days fell 29.7%, and antimicrobial starts fell 25.9% during the intervention period; both decreases were sustained during the 2-year postintervention period. CONCLUSION: The teaching and guideline intervention improved the quality and reduced the quantity of antimicrobial use in LTC patients.
The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma

The role of oxidative stress in asthma is gaining increasing scientific attention. The hallmark of asthma is airway inflammation. Oxidative stress may initiate and augment inflammation, and may also result from inflammation. Exposure to tobacco smoke, ozone, diesel exhaust, and a variety of other pollutants generates reactive oxygen species and other oxidative stressors. Some studies suggest that asthmatics have a decreased ability to respond to oxidative stress, while others find upregulated antioxidative function. Oxidative stress may alter the Th(1)/Th(2) immune response and result in activation of NF-kbeta, a powerful inducer of pro-inflammatory genes. Genetic polymorphisms may play an important role in determining susceptibility to oxidative stress. Many therapeutic strategies to decrease oxidative stress in asthma have been suggested. Dietary changes, antioxidant vitamins, other antioxidant drugs, Ayurvedic supplements, and even radon exposure in a hot bathroom have been studied. Minimizing exposure of young children to environmental tobacco smoke remains paramount.
Influence of boundary conditions on the accuracy of diffusion theory in time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy of biological tissues

The applicability of diffusion theory for the determination of tissue optical properties from time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy is investigated. Analytical expressions from diffusion theory using the three most commonly assumed boundary conditions at the air-tissue interface are compared with time-resolved Monte Carlo simulations and measurements on tissue phantoms. The effects of the choice of the boundary conditions on the accuracy of the findings for the optical parameters are quantified, and criteria for accurate curve-fitting algorithms are developed.
Collaborative Web crawling: information gathering/processing over Internet

The main objective of the IBM Grand Central Station (GCS) project is to gather all types of information in any format (text, data, image, graphics, audio, video) from cyberspace, to process/index/summarize the information, and to push the right information to the right people. Because of the very large scale of cyberspace, parallel processing in both crawling/gathering and information processing is indispensable. We present a scalable method for collaborative Web crawling and information processing. The method includes an automatic cyberspace partitioner which is designed to balance and re-balance the load dynamically among processors. It can be used when all Web crawlers are located on a tightly coupled high-performance system as well as when they are scattered in a distributed environment. We implemented these algorithms in Java.
Mediterranean diet and incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in women.

The traditional Cretan Mediterranean diet characterized by a high consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, olive oil, less red meat and moderate alcohol is generally regarded as a healthy diet pattern (1). A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies showed that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with significantly lower mortality rate from cardiovascular disease, lower incidence of cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease (2). It has been suggested that the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet pattern are mediated through improvements of inflammatory markers, lipid profile and blood pressure (3–5). Several randomized controlled clinical trials have shown a beneficial effect of Mediterranean diet intervention on physical function and vitality among patients with existing RA (6,7). This beneficial effect was found to be associated with improved fatty acid profile but not related with levels of plasma antioxidants (8,9). Several case-control studies suggested that higher consumption of fish, olive oil and cooked vegetables all of which were key components of the Mediterranean diet was associated with reduced risk or lower severity of RA (10–12). However, recall bias may be a particular critical issue in the dietary assessment because individuals with RA may be more likely to misreport their actual food consumption in the past. The case-control design is also unable to measure the long-term effects of certain dietary factors. Reverse causation may be a possible bias in case-control studies because individuals with early symptoms might change their usual diet. In most cases, many important time-varying confounders are rarely sufficiently controlled. To the best of our knowledge, no previous prospective cohort studies have evaluated the association between the overall Mediterranean dietary pattern and risk of developing RA. We therefore investigate the relationships between the Mediterranean diet dietary pattern represented by Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMed) (13)and RA risk in 2 well-established large cohorts of middle-aged and old women, controlling for a series of lifestyle and dietary factors.
Clues to the Martian Atmosphere

Some 30 years ago, it was discovered that the main constituent of the thin martian atmosphere is carbon dioxide (CO) but that it only contained trace amounts of carbon monoxide and molecular oxygen, the photodissociation products of CO. Chemical reaction cycles involving water and hydrogen species have been developed to explain these observations, but as Hunten explains in his Perspective, observational evidence has been slow to emerge. He highlights the importance of Krasnopolsky and Feldman9s discovery of molecular hydrogen in the martian atmosphere.
Mechanisms of oncogenic chromosomal translocations

Chromosome translocations are caused by inappropriate religation of two DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in heterologous chromosomes. These DSBs can be generated by endogenous or exogenous sources. Endogenous sources of DSBs leading to translocations include inappropriate recombination activating gene (RAG) or activation-induced deaminase (AID) activity during immune receptor maturation. Endogenous DSBs can also occur at noncanonical DNA structures or at collapsed replication forks. Exogenous sources of DSBs leading to translocations include ionizing radiation (IR) and cancer chemotherapy. Spatial proximity of the heterologous chromosomes is also important for translocations. While three distinct pathways for DNA DSB repair exist, mounting evidence supports alternative nonhomologous end joining (aNHEJ) as the predominant pathway through which the majority of translocations occur. Initiated by poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), aNHEJ is utilized less frequently in DNA DSB repair than other forms of DSB repair. We recently found that PARP1 is essential for chromosomal translocations to occur and that small molecule PARP1 inhibitors, already in clinical use, can inhibit translocations generated by IR or topoisomerase II inhibition. These data confirm the central role of PARP1 in aNHEJ-mediated chromosomal translocations and raise the possibility of using clinically available PARP1 inhibitors in patients who are at high risk for secondary oncogenic chromosomal translocations.
Comparative activity of trovafloxacin, alone and in combination with other agents, against gram-negative nonfermentative rods

In the first part of this study, agar dilution MICs were used to test the activities of trovafloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, sparfloxacin, clinafloxacin, ceftazidime, and imipenem against 458 gram-negative nonfermenters. The overall respective MICs at which 50% of isolates are inhibited (MIC50s) and MIC90s were as follows: trovafloxacin, 1.0 and 16.0 microg/ml; ciprofloxacin, 2.0 and 16.0 microg/ml; ofloxacin, 2.0 and 32.0 microg/ml; levofloxacin, 1.0 and 16.0 microg/ml; sparfloxacin, 1.0 and 16.0 microg/ml; clinafloxacin, 0.5 and 4.0 microg/ml; ceftazidime, 8.0 and 128.0 microg/ml; imipenem, 2.0 and 256.0 microg/ml. Clinafloxacin was the most active of all the quinolones tested. The MIC90s of trovafloxacin were or = 32.0 microg/ml) were observed for all nonfermentative species tested. Although for the majority of strains tested imipenem MICs were 0.5 to 4.0) for 205, 245, and 246 strains, respectively. No FIC indices indicating antagonism (> 4.0) were observed. Synergy between trovafloxacin and ceftazidime was found for 32 of 36 S. maltophilia strains. Time-kill studies with 20 strains showed that for most strains for which FIC indices were in the range indicating additivity or indifference, FIC indices indicated synergy by the time-kill method. Synergy was particularly noticeable for S. maltophilia strains with combinations of ceftazidime and trovafloxacin.
A review of the outcomes of parental use of nonabusive or customary physical punishment.

The most important finding of the review is that there are not enough quality studies that document detrimental outcomes of nonabusive physical punishment to support advice or policies against this age-old parental practice. Only 30 relevant journal articles were found from 1974 through 1995, an average of less than 1 1/2 per year. Next, many of the studies had methodological weaknesses, and the stronger ones were more likely to find beneficial outcomes of physical punishment. A particularly pervasive weakness was that no prospective or retrospective study controlled for the original frequency or severity of child problem behavior, which would be like studying cancer recurrences following radiation treatment without taking into account the severity or existence of the original cancer. More quality research is needed on nonabusive physical punishment. Public and private agencies should make quality research on the broader topic of parental discipline a top priority. How parents use discipline tactics may be more important than which ones they consider off limits. Effects of physical punishment, as well as nonphysical punishment, probably depend on when and how parents implement it, its role in their overall approach to parental discipline, and the overall parentchild relationship. Other aspects of parental discipline may be more important indicators of dysfunctional parenting than whether parents spank or not.
Amorphous silica particles promote inflammatory gene expression through the redox sensitive transcription factor, AP-1, in alveolar epithelial cells.

Ultrafine particulate (UFP) matter, from environmental or industrial exposure, can induce expression of inflammatory mediators and promote production of reactive oxygen species. Previous studies showed various cellular stresses activate signaling pathways operating through specific transcription factors (TFs), activator protein (AP)-1 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, known to regulate inflammatory gene expression. Exposing MLE15 cells to inflammatory, or UFP, stimuli increased macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 protein, in the absence of the NF = κB inhibitor IκBc degradation, synergistically increasing in the presence of proteosomal inhibition. Although thiol antioxidants attenuate MIP-2 induction, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors significantly inhibit MIP-2 protein production. This suggests UFP promote inflammatory gene expression through the redox responsive TF AP-1.
Low-Power Hypercube Divided Memory FFT Engine Using 3D Integration

In this article we demonstrate a floating point FFT processor that leverages both 3D integration and a unique hypercube memory division scheme to reduce the power consumption of a 1024 point FFT down to 4.227μJ. The hypercube memory division scheme lowers the energy per memory access by 59.2p and increases the total required area by 16.8p. The use of 3D integration reduces the logic power by 5.2p. We describe the tool flow required to realize the 3D implementation and perform a thermal analysis of it.
Agroforestry: working trees for sequestering carbon on agricultural lands

Agroforestry is an appealing option for sequestering carbon on agricultural lands because it can sequester significant amounts of carbon while leaving the bulk of the land in agricultural production. Simultaneously, it can help landowners and society address many other issues facing these lands, such as economic diversification, biodiversity, and water quality. Nonetheless, agroforestry remains under-recognized as a greenhouse gas mitigation option for agriculture in the US. Reasons for this include the limited information-base and number of tools agroforestry can currently offer as compared to that produced from the decades-worth of investment in agriculture and forestry, and agroforestry’s cross-cutting nature that puts it at the interface of agriculture and forestry where it is not strongly supported or promoted by either. Agroforestry research is beginning to establish the scientific foundation required for building carbon accounting and modeling tools, but more progress is needed before it is readily accepted within agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation programs and, further, incorporated into the broader scope of sustainable agricultural management. Agroforestry needs to become part of the agricultural tool box and not viewed as something separate from it. Government policies and programs driving research direction and investment are being formulated with or without data in order to meet pressing needs. Enhanced communication of agroforestry’s carbon co-benefit, as well as the other benefits afforded by these plantings, will help elevate agroforestry awareness within these discussions. This will be especially crucial in deliberations on such broad sweeping natural resource programs as the US Farm Bill.
Phase locking of multi-helicity neoclassical tearing modes in tokamak plasmas

The attractive “hybrid” tokamak scenario combines comparatively high q95 operation with improved confinement compared with the conventional H98,y2 scaling law. Somewhat unusually, hybrid discharges often exhibit multiple neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) possessing different mode numbers. The various NTMs are eventually observed to phase lock to one another, giving rise to a significant flattening, or even an inversion, of the core toroidal plasma rotation profile. This behavior is highly undesirable because the loss of core plasma rotation is known to have a deleterious effect on plasma stability. This paper presents a simple, single-fluid, cylindrical model of the phase locking of two NTMs with different poloidal and toroidal mode numbers in a tokamak plasma. Such locking takes place via a combination of nonlinear three-wave coupling and conventional toroidal coupling. In accordance with experimental observations, the model predicts that there is a bifurcation to a phase-locked state when the frequency ...
Vitamin D Metabolites Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus and Modulate Cellular Gene Expression.

Background and Aims: Previous studies suggest that low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] levels are associated with reduced responsiveness to interferon and ribavirin therapy. We investigated the impact of vitamin D metabolites on HCV and cellular gene expression in cultured hepatoma cells. Methods: HCV Replicon cell lines stably expressing luciferase reporter constructs (genotype 1b and 2a replicon) or JC1-Luc2a were incubated in the presence of vitamin D2, vitamin D3 or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). Presence of HCV was quantified by a luciferase reporter assay and immunoblot of the Core protein. Synergy of interferon-alpha A/D (IFN-α) and 1,25(OH)2D3 was evaluated using the Chou-Talalay method. Cellular gene expression by microarray analysis using Illumina Bead Chips and real-time quantitative PCR. Results: Vitamin D2, D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 each demonstrated anti- HCV activity at low micro molar concentrations. In vitro conversion from D3 to 25(OH)D3 was shown by LC/MS/MS. Combination indices of 1,25(OH)2D3 and IFN-α demonstrated a synergistic effect (0.23-0.46) and significantly reduced core expression by immunoblot. Differentially expressed genes were identified between Huh7.5.1 cells in the presence and absence of 1,25(OH)2D3 and HCV. Genes involved with classical effects of vitamin D metabolism and excretion were activated, along with genes linked to autophagy such as G-protein coupled receptor 37 (GPR37) and Hypoxiainducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1a). Additionally, additive effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 and IFN-α were seen on mRNA expression of chemokine motif ligand 20 (CCL20). Conclusions: This study shows that vitamin D reduces HCV protein production in cell culture synergistically with IFN-α. Vitamin D also activates gene expression independently and additively with IFN-α and this may explain its ability to aid in the clearance of HCV in vivo.
Input data for decision trees

Data Mining has been successful in a wide variety of application areas for varied purposes. Data Mining itself is done using several different methods. Decision Trees are one of the popular methods that have been used for Data Mining purposes. Since the process of constructing these decision trees assume no distributional patterns in the data (non-parametric), characteristics of the input data are usually not given much attention. We consider some characteristics of input data and their effect on the learning performance of decision trees. Preliminary results indicate that the performance of decision trees can be improved with minor modifications of input data.
Determination of Oxygen Tension by Measurement of Net Charge Transport

Conventional electrodes that are used to measure oxygen tension in the biological environment have been plagued by one or more of three major problems: 1) flow sensitivity, 2) instability, and 3) inadequate response time. Pulsatile operation of the electrode has the potential of eliminating these problems. A new technique of measurement using integration of output current has been developed. This new method of measurement enhances the pulsatile operation in the Po 2 electrode. The technique effectively determines the difference in charge transport that occurs during the polarization potential. Using this technique, it has been possible to measure net charge transport, which is proportional to the oxygen tension level of whole blood as early as 1 ms after application of the polarization pulse. Also, the subtraction of the discharging current component appears to stabilize electrode drift. The short polarization time required allows for the elimination of flow sensitivity by reducing the extension of the oxygen diffusion gradient to less than 8 ?m from the electrode face. The short duration of active measurement will tend to decrease poisoning by allowing use of an operating duty cycle of minimal duration.
MRI-guided needle localization in the head and neck using contemporaneous imaging in an open configuration system.

Background MRI-guided procedures have previously been limited by technical difficulties, including the need for MRI-compatible instruments, slow image acquisition time, and the closed nature of conventional MRI scanners. The development of open configuration MRI systems with in-room, contemporaneous imaging has greatly increased the potential for MRI-guided interventional procedures. We evaluate our clinical experience applying this technology to the head and neck. Methods An open design 0.2T magnet combined with an in-room monitor was used for 24 MRI-guided needle localization procedures in the head and neck. Success of the procedures was based on the ability to accurately position the instrument in the target region to allow biopsy or treatment. Results In all 24 cases placement of the instrument within the target tissue was successful. Conclusion MRI-guided needle-localization procedures in an open design magnet with in-room, contemporaneous image monitoring offer advantages over previous conventional interventional MRI systems by allowing interactive guidance with near real-time imaging feedback. As a result, procedure time is reduced and accuracy of instrument positioning is increased. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 22: 355–359, 2000.
Validation of the SenseWear Armband at high intensity exercise.

The SenseWear Armband (SWA) has been shown to be a valid and practical tool to assess energy expenditure during habitual physical activity. However, previous studies have focused on low-to-moderate intensity activities. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the SWA during high intensity exercise. Twenty (ten males, ten females) endurance trained subjects, 24.3 (±2.8) years of age, performed three 10-min treadmill runs at 65, 75, and 85% of their VO2max each and also ran outside for 30 min at their preferred speed. Energy expenditure was measured with the SWA (software version 6.1) and a portable indirect calorimetry system (Jaeger Oxycon Mobile®). The SWA showed a ceiling effect around an intensity of ten METs. Since all subjects exceeded that intensity range during the exercise trials, the SWA significantly underestimated energy expenditure at high intensities. The intra-individual correlations between MET values calculated by the SWA and values derived from the Oxycon, however, were significant for all but two subjects (r = 0.390–0.933, mean = 0.66 ± 0.25). While providing accurate results for energy expenditure during low-to-moderate intensity physical activities, the SWA does not provide accurate estimates of energy expenditure at high intensity levels. The threshold for accurate measurements seems to be around an intensity of ten METs.
The anticonvulsant properties of urethane contained as a solvent in commercial preparations of trimethadione (tridione)

Abstract Experiments were conducted on 3 cats, one human normal control and 10 patients, to compare the actions of urethane and tridione on the following: (1) the Metrazol-induced response to light in the cat, (2) the photomyoclonic and photoconvulsive response in the human. It is concluded that urethane has an evanescent anticonvulsant action which mistakenly could be attributed to tridione. Because of its uncertain and transitory effects, as well as its unpleasant and sometimes harmful side reactions, urethane is not suitable as an anti-convulsant.
Single-Hole Film Cooling on a Turbine-Blade Leading-Edge Model

The present study numerically investigates the effectiveness of film cooling on a turbine blade leading-edge model through a single-hole coolant exit. The model used in this study has the same dimensions as that of an experimental investigation done earlier by Ekkad et al [1]. The cylindrical model, a half cylinder and a flat after-body attached to it, well represents the leading edge of a turbine blade. The half-cylinder is 88.9 mm in diameter with a length of 364 mm. The flat after-body is attached to it to constitute the model of a turbine blade leading edge. The coolant hole is situated approximately at the center of the cylindrical model along the spanwise direction. The coolant hole makes an angle of 21.5 degrees to the true leading edge and 20 degrees to the spanwise direction. A multi-block grid is generated using GridGen, and the flow is simulated using the flow solver Fluent. The highly clustered structured C-grid is developed around the leading edge of the model with an initial Δy corresponding to a y+ value of 1 and a growth ratio of 1.1 till 10d from the surface. The outer unstructured domain imitates the wind-tunnel as used in the experimental study of Ekkad et al. [1], and the leading-edge model is placed at the center of the domain. Simulations are carried out for different blowing ratios M, ranging from 0.25 to 1.0, with the k-e realizable turbulence model and κ-ω SST model. The flow is assumed to have a free-stream turbulence intensity of 0.75%. Additionally, the enhanced wall function approach is used as the near-wall treatment in the computational model for the simulation with k-e realizable turbulence model. Results obtained indicate an increased film-effectiveness for low blowing ratio in the far downstream region. Also, in the vicinity of coolant jet exit, it is observed that increase in blowing ratio increases the film cooling effectiveness.© 2007 ASME
Correlates of fitness for duty in hazardous materials firefighters.

Background and Methods From a statewide medical examination program, we identified firefighters who were deemed unfit for duty by attending physicians (ATTENDING FAIL, n=9) and those who would have been disqualified by the application of selected numerical criteria from the 1997 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines (NFPA FAIL, n=27) and criteria from a Medical Workshop (WORK FAIL, n=16). The subjects who were unfit for duty or failed numerical criteria were compared with those who were fit for duty and passed all objective criteria (FIT group, n=302). All subjects were given an overall morbidity rating by a board certified internist. Comparisons on two surrogate measures of fitness, VO2 max predicted and predicted coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, were also performed. Results We found a significant tendency towards worse results (e.g. higher blood pressure or lower spirometric function) among the three FAIL groups compared with the FIT group. The FAIL groups shared only a small overlap, however, with the firefighters with the highest morbidity ratings, lowest predicted VO2 max, and highest CHD risks. Increasing morbidity was associated with higher age, lower spirometric function, lower predicted VO2 max, increasing cholesterol, greater BMI, and higher predicted 10 year CHD risk. Conclusions Although the presence of a single serious or poorly controlled condition may render an individual unfit for safe performance as a firefighter, examination of our cohort suggests that multiple risk factor models or overall clinical assessments are superior means of identifying firefighters with poor health status and increased CHD risk. Am. J. Ind. Med. 36:618–629, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dispersion of sound in dilute suspensions with nonlinear particle relaxation

The theory accounting for nonlinear particle relaxation (viscous and thermal) has been applied to the prediction of dispersion of sound in dilute suspensions. The results suggest that significant deviations exist for sound dispersion between the linear and nonlinear theories at large values of Omega(Tau)(sub d), where Omega is the circular frequency, and Tau(sub d) is the Stokesian particle relaxation time. It is revealed that the nonlinear effect on the dispersion coefficient due to viscous contribution is larger relative to that of thermal conduction
“focus on Fiber” Nutrition Education Program in a University Residence Hall Dining Center

Abstract A promotion, "Focus on Fiber", was held in a university residence hall dining center during National Nutrition Month to raise awareness about the health benefits of high fiber, low fat foods and to encourage increased use of these foods. The program included an inservice for cooks as well as a promotion for students that made use of messages on the menu hotline, point-of-choice information, bulletin board displays, and table tents. Inservice objectives for the cooks were to be able to analyze a recipe to determine whether it is a low fat product and to describe how this product relates to the food guide pyramid. Through a learning activity the cooks compared traditional recipes with recipes for new menu items that combine pasta and/or vegetables with small amounts of meat. During the promotion, the point-of-choice information cards were changed each meal, and the menu hotline messages were changed daily. The menu hotline is popular with students and is accessed by calling 581-FOOD. During the week of the promotion, students who called the hotline heard not only the menu, but a brief nutrition education message related to the fiber theme. On the last day of the promotion, 100 surveys were distributed to students. Of the 94 surveys returned, 78% reported being aware of the promotion and 24% reported that they had selected more fiber-rich foods. Table tents were cited most often as being the most helpful part of the promotion, followed by point-of-choice information, bulletin boards, and hotline messages. The promotion did catch the attention of diners, including cooks. According to the survey, the promotion did result in more high fiber foods being selected. Cooks have continued to make suggestions about revising recipes to reduce fat content. While the menu hotline was reported least often as being the most helpful part of the promotion, further investigation could determine how to use it more effectively for nutrition education. Using a variety of methods to convey the message seemed to be helpful to cooks and students.
The Affordable Care Act: Dispersing the Fog of Misinformation

Editor Max J. Skidmore provides a concise history and political analysis of the attacks on American efforts to achieve near universal health care, and also reviews an innovative history of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Music and Poetry as Social Justice Texts In the Secondary Classroom

Abstract Although social justice education should be an ongoing process that transcends curriculum, pedagogy, and the institutional establishment of education, it is often neglected. This action research study describes how middle/high school students responded to music and poetry as social justice texts. The study documents the curricular and pedagogical considerations for using music and poetry to explore the complexities of social justice. Initially, students in the study were reluctant and unresponsive to social justice issues in their government and literature classes. An early activity indicated that students had a broad range of understanding regarding social justice issues. Intellectually, utilizing music and poetry as relevant and accessible texts encouraged students to deconstruct meaning and identify social justice themes. Students also began to consider multiple perspectives as they challenged previously held assumptions. Emotionally, students exhibited intense emotions as they began to decons...
Quantitative trait locus and haplotype mapping in closely related inbred strains identifies a locus for open field behavior

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in the mouse typically utilizes inbred strains that exhibit significant genetic and phenotypic diversity. The development of dense SNP panels in a large number of inbred strains has eliminated the need to maximize genetic diversity in QTL studies as plenty of SNP markers are now available for almost any combination of strains. We conducted a QTL mapping experiment using both a backcross (N2) and an intercross (F2) between two genetically similar inbred mouse strains: C57BL/6J (B6) and C57L/J (C57). A set of additive QTLs for activity behaviors was identified on Chrs 1, 9, 13, and 15. We also identified additive QTLs for anxiety-related behaviors on Chrs 7, 9, and 16. A QTL on Chr 11 is sex-specific, and we revealed pairwise interactions between QTLs on Chrs 1 and 13 and Chrs 10 and 18. The Chr 9 activity QTL accounts for the largest amount of phenotypic variance and was not present in our recent analysis of a B6 × C58/J (C58) intercross (Bailey et al. in Genes Brain Behav 7:761–769, 2008). To narrow this QTL interval, we used a dense SNP haplotype map with over 7 million real and imputed SNP markers across 74 inbred mouse strains (Szatkiewicz et al. in Mamm Genome 19(3):199–208, 2008). Evaluation of shared and divergent haplotype blocks among B6, C57, and C58 strains narrowed the Chr 9 QTL interval considerably and highlights the utility of QTL mapping in closely related inbred strains.
Universal Dripping and Jetting in a Transverse Shear Flow

One particularly efficient approach to making emulsions having monosized droplets is to push a fluid through an orifice into a transverse flow of a second immiscible fluid. We find that, at an intermediate particle Reynolds number, the final droplet size can be readily computed using a simple force balance. Remarkably like the well-known dripping faucet, this system displays both dripping and jetting behavior, controlled by the capillary, Weber and Ohnesorge numbers of the relevant fluids, and interesting nonlinear behavior such as period doubling near the transition between these two regimes.
Colon cancer, dysplasia, and surveillance in patients with ulcerative colitis. A critical review.

Most gastroenterologists and current textbooks1 2 3 recommend that patients who have had widespread ulcerative colitis for 7 to 10 years should be entered into a surveillance program designed to detect colonic dysplasia (precancer). This involves frequent colonoscopies with multiple mucosal biopsies. The recommended frequency of colonoscopy is any time from every year to every three years. Although there is no clear rationale for choosing one interval over another, the Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Profile, a publication of the American College of Physicians, states that patients with long-term extensive ulcerative colitis should have a colonoscopy every year.4 The argument for surveillance in such . . .
Palmitoylation Controls Dopamine Transporter Kinetics, Degradation, and Protein Kinase C-dependent Regulation

Palmitoylation is a lipid modification that confers diverse functions to target proteins and is a contributing factor for many neuronal diseases. In this study, we demonstrate using [3H]palmitic acid labeling and acyl-biotinyl exchange that native and expressed dopamine transporters (DATs) are palmitoylated, and using the palmitoyl acyltransferase inhibitor 2-bromopalmitate (2BP), we identify several associated functions. Treatment of rat striatal synaptosomes with 2BP using lower doses or shorter times caused robust inhibition of transport Vmax that occurred with no losses of DAT protein or changes in DAT surface levels, indicating that acute loss of palmitoylation leads to reduction of transport kinetics. Treatment of synaptosomes or cells with 2BP using higher doses or longer times resulted in DAT protein losses and production of transporter fragments, implicating palmitoylation in regulation of transporter degradation. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that palmitoylation of rat DAT occurs at Cys-580 at the intracellular end of transmembrane domain 12 and at one or more additional unidentified site(s). Cys-580 mutation also led to production of transporter degradation fragments and to increased phorbol ester-induced down-regulation, further supporting palmitoylation in opposing DAT turnover and in opposing protein kinase C-mediated regulation. These results identify S-palmitoylation as a major regulator of DAT properties that could significantly impact acute and long term dopamine transport capacity.
Rapid, economical testing in the clinical laboratory: A new flow cytometry-based multiplex system

Summary Luminex Corp. has developed a multiplex assay system (FlowMetrix) that incorporates the most advanced digital signal processing technology into an established assay platform, enhancing its speed, economy, sensitivity, precision, and throughput. Microsphere-based assays are now multiplexed assays, capable of performing up to 64 discrete tests in a single tube from the same sample at the same time. The flow cytometer becomes an absolute measurement instrument, acquiring and analyzing the data generated by thousands of microspheres every second, and reporting the values in real time. With applications in routine immunoassay and advanced molecular diagnostics, this system should provide significant benefit to the clinical laboratory today and in the future.
INFLUENCE OF FEEDER LAYER TYPE ON THE EFFICIENCY OF ISOLATION OF PORCINE EMBRYO-DERIVED CELL LINES

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeder layers composed of different cell types on the efficiency of isolation and the behavior of porcine embryo-derived cell lines. Inner cell masses (ICM) isolated from 7- to 8-d-old embryos were plated on feeder layers composed of Buffalo rat liver cells (BRL), a continuous cell line of murine embryonic fibroblasts (STO), STO combined with BRL at a 9:1 and 1:1 ratio, STO with BRL-conditioned medium (STO + CM), porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEF), PEF combined with BRL at a 9:1 and 1:1 ratio, porcine uterine epithelial cells (PUE), murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), or an epithelial-like porcine embryo-derived cell line (PH3A). It was found that embryo-derived cell lines could be isolated only from the STO and the STO with BRL-conditioned medium treatments. The isolated cell lines were of epithelial-like and embryonic stem cell-like (ES-like) morphology. The feeders tested had an effect on the behavior of plated ICM. Some feeders, represented by PUE, BRL, STO:BRL (1:1), PEF:BRL (1:1), and PH3A, did not promote attachment of the ICM to the feeder layer; others, represented by STO and MEF, allowed attachment, differentiation and proliferation. On PEF feeders the ICM spread onto the feeder layer after attachment without apparent signs of proliferation or differentiation. None of the feeders tested increased the efficiency of isolation or the growth characteristics of embryo-derived (both ES-like and epithelial-like) cell lines over that of STO feeders.
Influence of surface charge of PLGA particles of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen in enhancing systemic and mucosal immune responses.

Abstract This study investigates the efficacy of surface-modified microspheres of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in eliciting systemic and mucosal immune responses. Positively charged poly( d , l -lactic- co -glycolic acid) microspheres were prepared by a double-emulsion solvent-evaporation method with cationic agents—stearylamine and polyethylenimine—in the external aqueous phase. Formulations were characterized for morphology, size, density, aerodynamic diameter, entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug-release profile. Immunization was performed after pulmonary administration of the formulations to female Sprague–Dawley rats and the immune response was monitored by measuring IgG levels in serum and secretory (sIgA) levels in salivary, vaginal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. The cell-mediated immune response was studied by measuring cytokine levels in spleen homogenates, and a cytotoxicity study was performed with Calu-3 cell line. The aerodynamic diameter of the particles was within the respirable range, with the exception of stearylamine-modified particles. Zeta potential values moved from negative (−6.76 mV) for unmodified formulations to positive (+0.515 mV) for polyethylenimine-modified particles. Compared to unmodified formulations, polyethylenimine-based formulations showed continuous release of antigen over a period of 28–42 days and increased levels of IgG in serum and sIgA in salivary, vaginal and bronchoalveolar lavage. Further, cytokine levels—interferon γ and interleukin-2—were increased in spleen homogenates. The viability of Calu-3 cells was not adversely affected by the microparticles. In summation, this study establishes that positive surface charges on poly( d , l -lactic- co -glycolic acid) particles containing HBsAg enhances both the systemic and mucosal immune response upon immunization via the respiratory route.
"Stealth surgery": transaxillary subcutaneous endoscopic excision of benign neck lesions

Background: Benign neck lesions are traditionally removed through an overlying incision. The resultant scar can be aesthetically displeasing. We previously reported our experience with a transaxillary subcutaneous endoscopic approach for management of torticollis. We now report a similar technique for removal of benign lesions of the neck. Methods: The study uses a retrospective review of 5 elective transaxillary endoscopic procedures from March to December 2006. The lesions included an enlarged cervical lymph node, thyroglossal duct cyst, dermoid cyst, ectopic dilated neck vein, and a parathyroid adenoma. Outcome measures included need for conversion, cosmetic outcome, and complications. Results: All procedures were successfully completed using the endoscopic approach. Postoperative pain was controlled with acetaminophen, and all patients were discharged from the hospital the same day. There were no intraoperative complications. The patient who had a thyroglossal cyst removed developed a postoperative seroma that resolved spontaneously. All families were pleased with the cosmetic results. Conclusions: A transaxillary subcutaneous endoscopic approach can be applied effectively to a variety of benign lesions of the neck, allowing adequate exposure for dissection, and resulting in a quick recovery. Neck scarring is absent, with small scars well hidden in the axilla.
Differences of thermal properties of white-tailed deer pelage between seasons and body regions

Abstract 1. 1.The thermal properties of the winter and summer pelages of white-tailed deer were studied for 11 body regions and related to the body surfaces effective in conductive heat transfer during lying activity. 2. 2.Coefficients of apparent thermal conductivity differed significantly between body regions within each seasonal pelage, and between seasons. Compression of the hair layer simulating changes in posture during lying activity significantly increased the thermal conductivity coefficients of the winter pelage only for rthe lower legs, whereas in the summer pelage the thermal conductivity coefficients of all body regions were significantly increased with compression. 3. 3.The physical depth of the nonpiloerected hair layer was from 1.86 to 8.67 times as deep for the winter as for the summer pelage, with the greatest changes in the regions of the body trunk. Total thermal resistance of the pelage is greater in winter than summer, because the hair layer of the winter pelage is both thicker and of a higher specific resistance. 4. 4.Changes in the physical depth of the hair layer with development of the winter pelage were monitored in two deer maintained in captivity. As the fall moult progressed from October to December, the estimated thermal resistance of the nonpiloerected pelage increased from 29 to 93% of that of the fully developed pelage of January. 5. 5.The influences on total conductive heat transfer to the bedsite substrata of several physiological and behavioural responses of white-tailed deer are discussed.
Synthesis of nectriapyrone

A totally synthetic route to the antibacterial fungal metabolite nectriapyrone (1) has been achieved by condensation of methylmalonyl dichloride with ethyl trans-4-methyl-3-oxo-4-hexenoate followed by hydrolysis, decarboxylation, and methylation of the resulting 3-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-carbethoxy-6-(trans-1-methyl-1-propenyl)-2-pyrone. Exploration of an alternate scheme involving the dehydrogenation of 6-substituted-4-methoxy-5,6-dihydro-2-pyrones, prepared by Reformatsky reaction of ethyl γ-bromo-β-methoxycrotonate with various aldehydes, was abandoned since it did not appear to have general applicability to the preparation of nectriapyrone and its analogs.
Functional Determinants of a Synthetic Vesicle Fusion System

Selective membrane mergers may be driven by small-molecule recognition between synthetic surface-displayed fusogens which bear vancomycin glycopeptide and its native binding target, D-Ala-D-Ala dipeptide. These recognition motifs are membrane anchored by antimicrobial peptide magainin II and a phosphatidylethanolamine lipid derivative, respectively. We report herein characterization of this synthetic membrane fusion reaction with regard to the following: effects of fusogen concentration, lipid composition, and membrane charge. Our findings indicate that these parameters are determinants of fusion rate, vesicle stability, peptide binding, catalytic fusion and membrane disruption during fusion. Notably, these data indicate the importance of coupling between molecular recognition and insertion for bilayer activation as well as the critical role of membrane subdomain formation for membrane fusion reactivity. These phenomena are general to lipid membrane chemistry, and therefore these findings provide a guideline for understanding more complex biomembrane systems.