cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-governmental organisations and philanthropy: The case of Argentina

The social, cultural and political activities of non-profit organisations in Argentina have a long history. They existed prior to the creation of the nation state. With a very strong religious influence, they expanded throughout the nineteenth century. National state provision of collective goods only started to develop at the end of the nineteenth century as a result of what Salamon (1987) has referred to as ‘voluntary failure’. The social, political and economic changes that have taken place in Argentina during the last decade had not only had an impact on non-profit organisations, but also on the traditional roles and responsibilities in the development of the state, the market and civil society. The political democratisation which started in 1983, along with the economic stability of the 1990s, were the two most relevant factors to affect non-profit organisations. The new social movements which had emerged during the previous decade (1976–1983) tended to disappear, leaving behind a wide array of organisations concerned with youth, women, human rights and neighbourhoods. With a focus on poverty issues, several state agencies now prioritise new strategies and mechanisms which involve the participation of civil society in social policies. The extent to which these will develop, how large the resources devoted to these programmes will be, and what kinds of controls over NGOs the state will implement are some of the main topics which will demand close attention.
Getting a Head Start: Diet, Sub-Adult Growth, and Associative Learning in a Seed-Eating Passerine

Developmental stress, and individual variation in response to it, can have important fitness consequences. Here we investigated the consequences of variable dietary protein on the duration of growth and associative learning abilities of zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, which are obligate graminivores. The high-protein conditions that zebra finches would experience in nature when half-ripe seed is available were mimicked by the use of egg protein to supplement mature seed, which is low in protein content. Growth rates and relative body proportions of males reared either on a low-protein diet (mature seed only) or a high-protein diet (seed plus egg) were determined from body size traits (mass, head width, and tarsus) measured at three developmental stages. Birds reared on the high-protein diet were larger in all size traits at all ages, but growth rates of size traits showed no treatment effects. Relative head size of birds reared on the two diets differed from age day 95 onward, with high-diet birds having larger heads in proportion to both tarsus length and body mass. High-diet birds mastered an associative learning task in fewer bouts than those reared on the low-protein diet. In both diet treatments, amount of sub-adult head growth varied directly, and sub-adult mass change varied inversely, with performance on the learning task. Results indicate that small differences in head growth during the sub-adult period can be associated with substantial differences in adult cognitive performance. Contrary to a previous report, we found no evidence for growth compensation among birds on the low-protein diet. These results have implications for the study of vertebrate cognition, developmental stress, and growth compensation.
The role of HLA-DR determinants in monocyte-macrophage presentation of herpes simplex virus antigen to human T cells

Abstract The ability of a monomorphic monoclonal anti-HLA-DR antibody to block herpes simplex virus antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was assessed using three in vitro cell systems: peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC); separated monocytes (Mo) added to enriched T-cell populations; and macrophages (Mφ) cultured in vitro in microtiter wells 7 to 10 days prior to pulsing with antigen and the addition of T cells. Inhibition of transformation with PBMC was inconsistent and was not improved by varying the cell numbers, antigen dose, or antibody dilution. Under appropriate conditions, blocking was seen in the Mo, T-cell cultures with monoclonal antibody but this reagent appeared to be less potent than alloanti-DR sera. Blocking of the mixed lymphocyte reaction was also seen with the monoclonal reagent at low numbers of irradiated PBMC or Mo stimulator cells. In vitro -activated macrophages were capable of supporting HSV-induced proliferation and augmenting PHA-induced proliferation with kinetics similar to that seen with the standard PBMC assay. Mφ were able to stimulate T cells after a brief period of exposure to antigen and this proliferative response was also weakly blocked by allo-anti-DR but not by monomorphic, monoclonal antibody.
Classifying soil structure using neural networks

Abstract Various feed forward artificial neural networks (ANNs) with back propagation were tested to classify 3 types of soil structure (granular, blocky, and massive) from 390 soil samples. The samples represented soils falling within the Ustoll taxonomic suborder that are part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (USDA, NRCS) data base. The best network found to predict soil structure was one with 3 input nodes, 2 hidden nodes, and 3 output nodes with accuracies on the order of 79%. Inputs were percent organic carbon, silt, and clay. Simple perceptrons and simple linear perceptrons, e.g. networks with no hidden nodes (3 a 3), had accuracies of only 46%. Thus, ANNs are capable of learning soil structure from soil characterization data, and show a greater ability to classify soil structure types than simpler, linear methods. Classification of soil structure from commonly measured quantitative soil parameters is important because of the role structure plays in determining other soil properties, making it a critical component for modeling the soil system. This study shows the potential of artificial neural networks to recognize and learn complex relationships between quantitative soil parameters that can be used to correctly classify soil structure, and allow soil characterization data to be more effectively used for modeling activities.
Nutritional Parameters Observed During 28-Day Infusion of Recombinant Human Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

In conjunction with a Phase I investigation of the antineoplastic activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), administered as a 28-day continuous infusion, selected nutritional parameters were evaluated to identify any effect that might be attributed to the TNF infusion. Seven clinically stable men with a variety of tumor types were studied. None had clinical or laboratory evidence of significant malnutrition before entry into the study. Five patients received 10 micrograms of recombinant human TNF-alpha per square meter per day and two patients received 25 micrograms/m2 per day. Indirect calorimetry assessment of resting energy expenditure, body weight, serum TNF concentration, and laboratory analysis of common nutritional markers (albumin, prealbumin, and triglycerides) were performed at baseline, day 14, day 28, and 2 weeks (day 42) after completion of the infusion. There were no statistically significant differences by analysis of variance observed in any parameter during the study period compared with baseline values and values on day 42. Also, there were no differences between any parameters when stratified by dose administered, although the number of patients studied was small. Measured serum TNF concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 1.56 ng/mL and did not correlate with study day or dose of TNF infused. No correlation was observed between serum TNF concentrations and resting energy expenditure. Although others have reported significant metabolic changes associated with acute administration of TNF in humans and animals, our experience does not support a hypermetabolic state in patients receiving low daily dose, long-term (28-day) continuous infusion of recombinant human TNF-alpha, a state that may be consistent with many neoplastic conditions.
Modification of hepatic fructose 1,6-diphosphatase activity by proteolytic enzymes and sulfhydryl reagents.

The activity of bovine hepatic fructose 1,6-diphosphatase is modified by both proteolytic enzymes and sulfhydryl reagents. Digestion with nagarse resulted in a 2-to 3-fold increase in enzyme activity at pH 9.0 and a simultaneous loss of activity at pH 6.5. Proteolytic modification was not accompanied by any apparent changes in either sedimentation rate or optical rotation. However, column chromatography of the trichloroacetic acid-soluble material after nagarse digestion revealed a large number of ninhydrin-positive peaks. Qualitatively similar changes in activity were observed after incubation with either p -mercuribenzoate or N -ethylmaleimide, but not with iodoacetate. Low molar ratios of p -mercuribenzoate activate the alkaline activity, while inhibiting the pH 6.5 activity. Higher concentrations inhibit activity at both pH 6.5 and 9.0. Under certain conditions the purified enzyme requires EDTA for maximum activity. Dithiothreitol activates approximately 50%, but only after preincubation.
Fabrication of optical waveguides by the outside vapor deposition process

The outside vapor deposition process (OVD) represents one of the principle vapor deposition methods used to make glass fiber optical waveguides [1], [2]. In this brief review, each of the basic process steps (deposition, sintering, drawing) are described and the present performance capabilities are presented. Process improvements leading to hydroxyl removal, increased numerical aperture (NA), and long wavelength operation are discussed. Selected examples of fiber compositions and properties are tabulated which range from high-NA fibers suitable for short-distance applications through very-high-performance fibers for long-distance transmission.
A Methyl Cyanide Search for the Earliest Stages of Massive Protostars

Forty-eight candidate massive protostar regions were surveyed for methyl cyanide (CH3CN) emission using the Heinrich Hertz Telescope (HHT) on Mount Graham, AZ. CH3CN J = 12-11 emission at 220 GHz was detected toward 25 regions. Thirteen of these are new detections, yielding a substantial number of new candidates for massive protostars. The CH313CN (J = 12-11) isotopomer was included in the bandpass of all observed sources and was detected toward eight sources in our sample. These sources are probably optically thick in some of the CH3CN lines. CH3CN J = 25-24 emission at 460 GHz was detected in at least one K-component toward five of 11 sources observed in this transition. Using a rotational equilibrium temperature analysis we estimate the CH3CN rotation temperatures and beam-averaged column densities for 20 of the sources.
Microscopic Detection of Quenched Activity Based Optical Imaging Probes Using an Antibody Detection System: Localizing Protease Activity

The family of cathepsin proteases plays an important physiological role in both normal physiology and in the physiology of many human diseases. This activity, which is upregulated in many cancers, can be exploited for tumor imaging both in vivo and ex vivo. To characterize the behavior of a topically applied quenched fluorescent activity-based probe, GB119, ex vivo, we developed a basic immunohistochemistry technique to identify unquenched GB119 within tissue. Immunoblot assays were used to validate the utility of an anit-Cy5 antibody for the detection of unquenched GB119 generated by cathepsin-L. Following validation of the anti-Cy5 antibody, an immunohistochemical procedure was developed to detect the presence of unquenched GB119 in frozen sections of brain tumors derived from an orthotopic mouse model. These studies demonstrate that the anti-Cy5 antibody preferentially recognizes unquenched GB119 and that this differential can be used to identify the regions within the brain and the tumor that contained unquenched GB119. Using H&E staining and antibodies against other biochemical markers, it was further determined that unquenched GB119 was localized to the peri-tumor space and co-localized with cathepsin-L expression. Our data indicate that this methodology allows high-resolution detection of unquenched GB119 that can be correlated with other immunohistological stains.
Endothelin receptor subtype A blockade selectively reduces pulmonary pressure after cardiopulmonary bypass

Background: The bioactive peptide endothelin-1 is elevated during and after cardiopulmonary bypass and exerts cardiovascular effects through its 2 receptor subtypes, endothelin-1A and endothelin-1B. Increased endothelin-1A receptor stimulation after cardiopulmonary bypass can cause increased pulmonary vascular resistance and modulate myocardial contractility. However, whether and to what degree selective endothelin-1A blockade influences these parameters in the postbypass setting is not completely understood. Objectives : Our objective was to measure left ventricular function and hemodynamics in a porcine model of cardiopulmonary bypass after selective blockade of endothelin-1A. Methods : Adult pigs (n = 23) underwent 90 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass and were randomized 30 minutes after bypass to receive a selective endothelin-1A antagonist (TBC 11251, 10 mg/kg; n = 13) or saline vehicle (n = 10). Results : After bypass and before randomization, pulmonary vascular resistance rose nearly 4-fold, and left ventricular preload recruitable stroke work fell to one third of baseline values (both P <.05). In the vehicle group pulmonary vascular resistance continued to rise, and preload recruitable stroke work remained reduced. However, after endothelin-1A blockade, the rise in pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly blunted compared with that in the vehicle group. Moreover, the reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance with endothelin-1A blockade was achieved without a significant change in systemic perfusion pressures. Conclusions : The present study demonstrated that increased activity of the endothelin-1A receptor likely contributes to alterations in pulmonary vascular resistance in the postbypass setting. Selective endothelin-1A blockade may provide a means to selectively decrease pulmonary vascular resistance without significant effects on systemic hemodynamics. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;122:365-70
Pacific Basin tsunami hazards associated with mass flows in the Aleutian arc of Alaska

Abstract We analyze mass-flow tsunami generation for selected areas within the Aleutian arc of Alaska using results from numerical simulation of hypothetical but plausible mass-flow sources such as submarine landslides and volcanic debris avalanches. The Aleutian arc consists of a chain of volcanic mountains, volcanic islands, and submarine canyons, surrounded by a low-relief continental shelf above about 1000–2000 m water depth. Parts of the arc are fragmented into a series of fault-bounded blocks, tens to hundreds of kilometers in length, and separated from one another by distinctive fault-controlled canyons that are roughly normal to the arc axis. The canyons are natural regions for the accumulation and conveyance of sediment derived from glacial and volcanic processes. The volcanic islands in the region include a number of historically active volcanoes and some possess geological evidence for large-scale sector collapse into the sea. Large scale mass-flow deposits have not been mapped on the seafloor south of the Aleutian Islands, in part because most of the area has never been examined at the resolution required to identify such features, and in part because of the complex nature of erosional and depositional processes. Extensive submarine landslide deposits and debris flows are known on the north side of the arc and are common in similar settings elsewhere and thus they likely exist on the trench slope south of the Aleutian Islands. Because the Aleutian arc is surrounded by deep, open ocean, mass flows of unconsolidated debris that originate either as submarine landslides or as volcanic debris avalanches entering the sea may be potential tsunami sources. To test this hypothesis we present a series of numerical simulations of submarine mass-flow initiated tsunamis from eight different source areas. We consider four submarine mass flows originating in submarine canyons and four flows that evolve from submarine landslides on the trench slope. The flows have lengths that range from 40 to 80 km, maximum thicknesses of 400–800 m, and maximum widths of 10–40 km. We also evaluate tsunami generation by volcanic debris avalanches associated with flank collapse, at four locations (Makushin, Cleveland, Seguam and Yunaska SW volcanoes), which represent large to moderate sized events in this region. We calculate tsunami sources using the numerical model TOPICS and simulate wave propagation across the Pacific using a spherical Boussinesq model, which is a modified version of the public domain code FUNWAVE. Our numerical simulations indicate that geologically plausible mass flows originating in the North Pacific near the Aleutian Islands can indeed generate large local tsunamis as well as large transoceanic tsunamis. These waves may be several meters in elevation at distal locations, such as Japan, Hawaii, and along the North and South American coastlines where they would constitute significant hazards.
Pott's puffy tumor: Sonographic diagnosis

We report a case of a child with Pott's puffy tumor (PPT) in which ultrasonography contributed to making the diagnosis. The clinical presentation and laboratory investigations were inconclusive, and the diagnosis of PPT was made by ultrasonography and subsequently confirms CT scan and MRI. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound33:305–307, 2005
G Protein Effectors

This Teaching Resource provides lecture notes and slides for a class covering two aspects of G protein–mediated signaling and is part of the course "Cell Signaling Systems: A Course for Graduate Students." The lecture begins with a discussion of the regulation of receptor-G protein coupling and then proceeds to describe the specificity of the response achieved through regulation of specific isoforms of effectors.
Divalent ion exchange of alkaline-earth cations into the triple-layered perovskite RbCa2Nb3O10

Abstract Ion exchange reactions between the Dion-Jacobson-type, triple-layered perovskite RbCa 2 Nb 3 O 10 and calcium, strontium, and barium cations were investigated. Exchange occurs in all systems, but only the strontium and barium systems form stable compounds. The final products, Rb 1−x Sr x/2 Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 (x = 0.45) and Rb 1−x Ba x/2 Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 (x = 0.55), are isostructural with the parent. Unit cells contract upon replacement of rubidium with the smaller, more highly charged cation. The effect of layer contraction in directing the extent of exchange is discussed.
Linkage of mike she to wetland-dndc for carbon budgeting and anaerobic biogeochemistry simulation

This study reports the linkage between MIKE SHE and Wetland-DNDC for carbon dynamics and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions simulation in forested wetland.Wetland-DNDC was modified by parameterizing management measures, refining anaerobic biogeochemical processes, and was linked to the hydrological model – MIKE SHE. As a preliminary application, we simulated the effect of water table position and forest management practices on GHGs emissions and carbon dynamics to test the capabilities of the models for simulating seasonal and long-term carbon budget. Simulation results show that water table changes had a remarkable effect on GHGs fluxes. Anaerobic conditions in forested wetland soils reduce organic matter decomposition and stimulate CH4 production. Decrease in the water table from the wetland surface decreases methane flux, while CO2 emission was lower with a rise in the water table. When there is a drop in water availability, wetlands can become a net source of atmospheric CO2 as photosynthesis is decreased and respiration loss enhanced. Forest management activities i.e. harvest, fertilization and reforestation practices were parameterized in the model. We predicted carbon fluxes and stores on a pine forest under different forest management scenarios during 160 years. Results show that average long-term carbon storage in ecosystem pools increased with increasing rotation length; Soil carbon showed only minor, long-term responses to harvesting events. In contrast, carbon sequestered in tree biomass and litter fluctuated widely, in concert with the harvest cycle. Application of nitrogen fertilizer increased average carbon storage in all ecosystem pools and wood products. We presented the linkage of MIKE SHE and Wetland-DNDC as a way to use of simulation modeling tools for assessing GHGs mitigation strategies, carbon budgeting and forest management.
The Information Technology Productivity Paradox

A vintage capital model where the firm makes decisions about whether to replace or upgrade its old capital stock with new capital is developed in this paper. The model is used to study how technological characteristics of capital affect investment behavior. In particular, it is asked how the rate of technological advance, the compatibility between capital stocks of different vintages, and the extent of learning-by-doing affect investment behavior. The model sheds light on the “information technology productivity paradox.” The results suggest that the paradox may just be an artifact of the estimation procedures used, which ignore the vintage features of capital. Finally, the key implications of the model are tested using firm-level data. The data support the implications of the model that information technology (IT) capital is associated with a strong learning-by-doing effect and that IT capital investment is lumpier than other kinds of capital investment.Journal of Economic LiteratureClassification Numbers: E1, E2, O3, O4, L2, L6.
Where's Wally?: Precise User Discovery Attacks in Location Proximity Services

Location proximity schemes have been adopted by social networks and other smartphone apps as a means of balancing user privacy with utility. However, misconceptions about the privacy offered by proximity services have rendered users vulnerable to trilateration attacks that can expose their location. Such attacks have received major publicity. and, as a result, popular service providers have deployed countermeasures for preventing user discovery attacks. In this paper, we systematically assess the effectiveness of the defenses that proximity services have deployed against adversaries attempting to identify a user's location. We provide the theoretical foundation for formalizing the problem under different proximity models, design practical attacks for each case, and prove tight bounds on the number of queries required for carrying out the attacks. To evaluate the completeness of our approach, we conduct extensive experiments against popular services. While we identify a diverse set of defense techniques that prevent trilateration attacks, we demonstrate their inefficiency against more elaborate attacks. In fact, we pinpoint Facebook users within 5 meters of their exact location, and 90% of Foursquare users within 15 meters. Our attacks are extremely efficient and complete within 3-7 seconds. The severity of our attacks was acknowledged by Facebook and Foursquare, both of which have followed our recommendations and adopted spatial cloaking to protect their users. Furthermore, our findings have wide implications as numerous popular apps with a massive user base remain vulnerable to this significant threat.
Long-acting reversible contraceptive use in urban women from a title X-supported Boston community health center.

Background: Unintended and adolescent pregnancy disproportionately affects minority populations, but the effect of age, race and ethnicity on the use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) ...
Frequency of therapist contact in the treatment of obesity

Thirty-four overweight adults participated in a study investigating the effects of frequent versus infrequent therapist-client contacts on weight loss in the initial stages of a weight reduction program. Over a 5-week period subjects contacted three times per week, whether in person or by phone, lost significantly more weight and reported significantly less food consumption than those seen on a once per week basis. Self-reported caloric intake was a good predictor of weight loss, but self-reported exercise was not.
Plasticity in carbon nanotubes: Cooperative conservative dislocation motion

Monte Carlo simulations are used to study dislocation glide mediated plasticity in carbon nanostructures. A detailed analysis of the simulations leads to identification of a type of defect, a dislocation screened by multiple dislocation dipoles, as the mediator of plastic deformation. The defects appear under high stress conditions. The appearance of these defects is rationalized in terms of the competition between dislocation core energy and the buckling inherent to dislocation motion within an essentially two-dimensional membrane. These defects thus represent a deformation mechanism that is uniquely found in nominally two-dimensional nanostructures. The influence of these defects on the predicted mechanical properties of carbon nanostructures is discussed.
Agreeableness, extraversion, and peer relations in early adolescence: Winning friends and deflecting aggression

This multimethod research linked the Big Five personality dimensions to peer relations in early adolescence. Agreeableness was the personality dimension of focus because this dimension is associated with motives to maintain positive interpersonal relations. In two studies, middle school children were assessed on the Big Five domains of personality. Study 1 showed that agreeableness and extraversion were associated with both peer acceptance and friendship. Study 2 followed children longitudinally and examined the hypothesis that agreeableness protects children from victimization by peers. Agreeableness was associated with decreased victimization over the school year. In addition, agreeableness moderated the associations between behavioral vulnerabilities and victimization. At low levels of agreeableness, as behavior vulnerabilities increased, victimization increased, and at high levels of agreeableness, there was no association between vulnerabilities and victimization. Results suggest that of the Big Five dimensions, Agreeableness is most closely associated with processes and outcomes related to peer relations in children.
Cardiac deceleration in newborns: habituation, dishabituation, and offset responses.

Abstract Twenty healthy, 1–4 day-old infants were selected from a sample of 135 neonates on the basis of alertness during testing. The infants were presented mild intensity colored light with gradual onset and offset while heart rate was monitored. Half the infants received six exposures to blue light followed by two exposures to blue-green light, whereas remaining subjects received colors in reverse order. Stimulus duration was 20 sec and variable periods between stimuli averaged 30 sec. Results of trend analysis of variance of the second-by-second cardiac data indicated that for infants older than the median age, the decelerative responses to both stimulus onset and offset were significant. Further, these subjects' onset decelerations significantly habituated within the six stimulus repetitions and significantly dishabituated with change in the stimulus color. Offset decelerations incremented over habituation trials and decremented with change in stimulus color. Responses of younger subjects were more variable which probably reflects their less complete recovery from the effects of maternal medication and the birth process.
Natural history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in women in rhode island

Abstract purpose: Current recommendations for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and for prophylaxis against associated opportunistic infections in North America are largely based on observations of HIV infection in males. In an effort to determine whether the natural history and clinical course may be different, with implications relevant to prophylaxis against opportunistic infections, we have documented the clinical courses of the first 24 known cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in women in Rhode Island, most of whom developed Centers for Disease Control-defined AIDS before the availability of an effective antiviral agent (i.e., zidovudine) or a well-defined approach to prophylaxis against opportunistic infections (e.g., oral trimethoprimsulfa). patients and methods: The subjects in this study are 24 women with AIDS who were treated by members of the Brown University medical faculty from June 1982 through June 1988. All patients had thorough clinical evaluations and appropriate laboratory studies as they became available. All were followed at intervals no greater than two months. All opportunistic infections were treated by appropriate specific antimicrobial therapy. When zidovudine became available, it was administered to all remaining patients in the study. All subjects were counseled about HIV infection, its modes of transmission, and the early symptoms of opportunities infections. results: These observations yielded the following three major findings: (1) Candida esophagitis was the most common (38%) AIDS-defining event; (2) Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was less frequently the AIDS-defining event (13%) and occurred less commonly during the illness (29%) than in North American males with AIDS (3) Of 14 women in whom the diagnosis of AIDS was established before January 1, 1987, the mean survival time after diagnosis was greater than 20 months. conclusion: More information on the natural history of HIV infection in North American women is urgently needed. If more extensive data from other geographic regions confirme the observations in this study, the optimal approach to prophylaxis against opportunistic infections in women with AIDS may be substantially different from that which is most appropriate for males.
AIDS presenting as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with clinical response to zidovudine

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) due to JC virus can be the initial manifestation of AIDS. A 40-year-old man seropositive for HIV-1 presented with aphasia, hemiparesis, and hemianopsia, and with magnetic resonance imaging of the brain typical of PML. He quickly became bed bound, incontinent, and mute. The diagnosis of PML was established by histopathology in a brain biopsy with positive immunocytochemistry for polyomavirus capsid proteins, and detection of JCV DNA by polymerase chain reaction using JCV-specific primers. High dose zidovudine therapy was initiated (1200 mg/day). Within two weeks the patient began to respond, and after three months he was able to walk and care for himself and was discharged. He lived for two years from the onset of PML. While cytarabine has been the drug most widely used for PML treatment, this is the second confirmed case with apparent response to zidovudine. High dose zidovudine may benefit some previously untreated AIDS patients with onset as PML.
High diversity and abundance of scleractinian corals growing on and near mangrove prop roots, St. John, US Virgin Islands

Received: 20 April 2009/Accepted: 10 June 2009/Published online: 12 July 2009 Springer-Verlag 2009A narrow zone of red mangroves fringes the shorelines of four small bays inHurricane Hole, within Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (VICRNM)on St. John. In two of these bays, Otter Creek and Water Creek, a particularlyhigh abundance and diversity of corals are growing directly on or near the proproots (Fig. 1a,b,c). To date, 28 coral species have been found: Stephanocoeniaintersepta, Agaricia sp., Agaricia agaricites, Siderastrea siderea, S. radians,Porites porites, P. astreoides, P. furcata, P. divaricata, Favia fragum, Diploriastrigosa, D. labyrinthiformis, D. clivosa, Manicina areolata, Colpophyllia natans,C. amaranthus, Montastraea annularis, M. faveolata, M. franksi, M. cavernosa,Oculina diffusa, Meandrina meandrites, Dendrogyra cylindrus, Scolymia cubensis,Mycetophyllia sp., Eusmilia fastigiata, Cladocora arbuscula, and Tubastreacoccinea. The size of many of the colonies, including some M. faveolata andC. natans colonies over 1 m across (Fig. 1b), indicate that they survived the2005/2006 bleaching and disease event that caused losses of over 60% of the coralcover on St. John reefs (Rogers et al. 2008). Shading by the mangroves possiblyreduced the thermal and photic stress on these corals. The coral diversity in thesemangroves may be higher than for other Caribbean mangrove systems. Few pub-lished papers include data on corals in these habitats. Two comprehensive reviewsof the biology of mangroves make no reference to corals on or near prop roots(Kathiresan and Bingham 2001; Nagelkerken et al. 2008). The number of corals inHurricane Hole, particularly the new recruits on the prop roots (Fig. 1c), may haveincreased since the establishment of the VICRNM in 2001, as boaters are notpermitted to overnight in these bays or to tie their boats to the mangrove trees as wasdone in the past.Acknowledgments Thanks to J. Miller, R. Boulon, E. Weil and J. Lang for livelydiscussions about the corals in these bays, and to K. and R. Vahling for researchsupport.
Glycolipid sialyltransferases in normal and neoplastic murine thymocytes

Abstract Total labeled glycolipids from thymocytes of leukemic AKR/J mouse thymus incubated for 24 h in the presence of the precursors [3H]galactose or [14C]glucosamine were found to exceed those from non-leukemic thymocytes. The amount of labeled compounds that c-migrated with monosialogangliosides (GM3 and GM2) and disialogangliosides (GD1a and GD1b) was higher, whereas incorporation into monosialoganglioside (GM1) and trisialoganglioside (GT10 was lower in leukemic than in non-leukemic thymocytes. Consistent with this altered pattern of ganglioside distribution was the finding of a higher activity of two of the sialyltransferase activities in homogenates of leukemic thymus as compared to normal thymus. About 2-fold higher activities of the enzymes CMP-AcNeu: lactosylceramide sialyltransferase and CMP-AcNeu: GM1 sialyltransferase were observed in leukemic thymus homogenate compared to homogenates of non-leukemic cells. The substrate affinity of sialytransferase with GM1 as acceptor from the leukemic thymus was similar to that of the enzyme from normal thymus. Thus, our studies reveal an enzymatic basis for the enhanced rate of synthesis and altered ganglioside profile observed in malignant thymocytes, and are consistent with the general view on the pattern of acidic glycolipids in tumorigenesis.
Does the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with stimulants contribute to drug use/abuse? A 13-year prospective study.

Objective. To examine the impact of stimulant treatment during childhood and high school on risk for substance use, dependence, and abuse by young adulthood. Methods. A total of 147 clinic-referred hyperactive children were followed approximately 13 years into adulthood (mean: 21 years old; range: 19–25). At adolescent (age 15) and adult follow-up, probands were interviewed about their use of various substances and duration of stimulant treatment. Results. Duration of stimulant treatment was not significantly associated with frequency of any form of drug use by young adulthood. Stimulant-treated children had no greater risk of ever trying drugs by adolescence or any significantly greater frequency of drug use by young adulthood. Stimulant treatment in high school also did not influence drug use in adulthood except for greater use of cocaine. This difference was no longer significant after controlling for severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Stimulant treatment in either childhood or high school was not associated with any greater risk for any formal Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised drug dependence or abuse disorders by adulthood. Treatment with stimulants did not increase the risk of ever having tried most illegal substances by adulthood except for cocaine. Subsequent analyses showed that this elevated risk was primarily mediated by severity of conduct disorder by young adulthood and not by stimulant treatment in childhood. Conclusion. This study concurs with 11 previous studies in finding no compelling evidence that stimulant treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder leads to an increased risk for substance experimentation, use, dependence, or abuse by adulthood.
Proteus rebound: reconsidering the "torture of nature".

Though Carolyn Merchant has agreed that Francis Bacon did not advocate the "torture of nature," she still maintains that "the very essence of the experimental method arose out of human torture transferred onto nature." Her arguments do not address serious problems of logic, context, and contrary evidence. Her particular insistence on the influence of the torture of witches ignores Bacon's skepticism about witchcraft as superstitious or imaginary. Nor do the writings of his successors sustain her claim that they carried forward his supposed program to abuse nature. We should be wary of metaphorical generalizations that ignore the context of the metaphor, the larger intent of the writers, and the fundamental limitations of such metaphors as descriptions of science. There are no scientific methods which alone lead to knowledge! We have to tackle things experimentally, now angry with them and now kind, and be successively just, passionate, and cold with them. One person addresses things as a policeman, a second as a father confessor, a third as an inquisitive wanderer. Something can be wrung from them now with sympathy, now with force; reverence for their secrets will take one person forwards, indiscretion and roguishness in revealing their secrets will do the same for another. We investigators are, like all conquerors, discoverers, seafarers, adventurers, of an audacious morality and must reconcile ourselves to being considered on the whole evil. Language: en
Effect of non‐isothermal processing and moisture content on the anthocyanin degradation and colour kinetics of cherry pomace

Anthocyanins (ACY) and colour changes in cherry pomace under non-isothermal processing were investigated. Pomace at moisture levels of 70% (MC-70), 41% (MC-41) and 25% (MC-25) was heated at 126.7 °C in a retort for 25, 40 and 60 min. Total ACY, Hunter colour values, total colour difference (ΔE), chroma, hue angle (h°) and browning index (BI) were analysed. Thermal degradation kinetics for colour parameters were determined using zero- and first-order models. ACY degradation increased with heating time and ranged from 34 to 68% for 25 and 60 min heating, respectively. The half-life of ACY was 38, 33 and 27 min for MC-70, MC-41 and MC-25 pomace, respectively. The ΔE increased with increasing heating time, whereas BI exhibited an inverse trend. Except for ∆E for MC-70, the zero-order kinetic model showed better fit (R2 = 0.85–0.97) to experimental data than the first-order kinetic model for Hunter colour b values and ∆E.
Snowball Earth: A thin-ice solution with flowing sea glaciers

[1] The late Neoproterozoic era, ∼600–800 Myr ago, was marked by at least two intervals of widespread cold that left glacial deposits at low paleolatitudes. Both “Snowball” solutions with global ice cover and “Slushball” solutions with ice-free tropical oceans have been proposed to explain the paleomagnetic data. The Snowball model is best able to explain the auxiliary geological evidence, particularly the existence of cap carbonates, but it implies drastic survival pressure on the photosynthetic biota if the ice cover was everywhere thick enough to prevent sunlight from reaching the underlying ocean. A “thin ice” solution that avoids this problem has been proposed but is thought to be inconsistent with realistic optical properties of sea ice and with the equatorward flow of sea glaciers. Here we use a coupled energy-balance climate/sea-glacier model to argue that these apparent difficulties can be overcome and that thin tropical ice may have prevailed during these remarkable glacial episodes. We also suggest that (1) some processes beyond the scope of zonal mean energy-balance models may significantly affect the solutions and (2) thin ice could have prevailed on low-latitude seas (or large lakes) protected from large-scale sea-glacier flow by surrounding land even if most of the Earth was in a “hard Snowball” state.
Usable browsers for ontological knowledge acquisition

In this paper we compare the usability of several presentation formats for ontological knowledge of events. The goal is to support further work in knowledge acquisition from informants who are not necessarily experienced with knowledge representations. This work investigates the question: How can we present detailed ontological information to such informants, in a format that is easy to understand, modify, and augment? We compare three formats: two commonly-used diagram styles and one lisp-like list of knowledge axioms. Ongoing work on this topic will expand the investigation into a study of the role of natural language in knowledge acquisition.
Variables influencing the accuracy of right ventricular volume assessment by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography: an in vitro validation study.

Background Preliminary experience with matrix-array real-time (RT) 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) in pediatric patients has demonstrated consistently lower right ventricular volume (RVV) compared with magnetic resonance imaging. Our hypothesis was that variables in RT 3DE acquisition and offline analysis, including gain settings, thickness, and orientation of disks, could alter RVV measurements. Methods Displacements of water from latex models derived from excised lamb hearts were used for comparison. RT 3DE volume acquisitions were performed using a matrix-array probe (2-4 MHz); RVVs were calculated offline using summation of disks method. Results No significant difference and excellent agreement was found for comparison of RT 3DE with displacement of water using 5-mm cut planes, optimal gain settings, and short-axis tracings. Different gain settings and long-axis tracings significantly affected RVV. A slice thickness of 13 mm or greater affected volume measurements. Conclusions RT 3DE can accurately measure RVV. Specific variables will alter volumes measurements and must be considered in clinical studies.
Stability of slender liquid bridges subjected to axial flows

Experiments document the influence of flow on the Plateau-Rayleigh (PR) instability of a near-cylindrical liquid bridge. The slightly heavy bridge is subjected to a surrounding pipe flow from bottom to top. Linear and nonlinear regimes of response are reported. Islands of stability in flow rate are observed; that is, there are bridges that are stable with flow but otherwise not. Density imbalance and flow each, on its own, is destabilizing but together they are stabilizing as recorded by a variety of measures. This nonlinear stabilization is explained in terms of the codimension-2 nature of the pitchfork bifurcation of the 'perfect' Plateau-Rayleigh instability.
Photocatalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using dirhenium decacarbonyl as photocatalyst

Abstract Dirhenium decacarbonyl is an active photocatalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. The rhenium complex is present in micromolar quantities with millimolar amounts of hydrogen peroxide in a mixed solvent containing water and cyclohexane. No significant quantities of hydrogen are produced. The reaction is strongly inhibited by mineral acid, but increased catalytic activity is observed by carrying out the catalysis under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide. Addition of benzene causes no substantial formation of phenol or biphenyl in the organic layer. The reaction is photocatalytic, with oxygen formation continuing to increase after removal of the light source. The compounds ReBr(CO)5 and [Re(OH)-(CO)3]4 are active thermal catalysts for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. t-Butyl hydroperoxide is also catalytically decomposed to t-butanol and oxygen by dirhenium decacarbonyl. A reaction pathway is proposed to explain the results
Toward the Breathing Rights of Counselors and Other Persons.

Non-smokers have breathing rights in a society of smokers is the theme of this drug education article. At least 8 million Americans suffer from the ill effects of tobacco smoke. This is a sizable minority of persons in this nation. The issue of minority rights to breathe non-polluted air in spite of smokers in close quarters is as important as any issue of prejudice to other minorities in this country. For the first time in counselor education literature, this article states the issue and in a non-judgemental manner suggests various solutions to the problem of counselors and others who smoke in inadequately ventilated rooms. In a clear and concise manner, the author presents ways to face up to drug education by every person who smokes and how to make the environment more livable for a significant number of non-smokers who get sick from tobacco smoke in their immediate atmosphere. Counselors who believe in being sensitivve to all persons and their physical as well as their psychological problems can be val...
An alternative approach to inflow boundary conditions for Maxwell fluids in three space dimensions

Abstract In an earlier paper [1] M. Renardy, Rocky Mt. J. Math., 18 (1988) 445 (corrigendum 19 (1989) 561)), the author considers flow of a Maxwell fluid across a strip bounded by parallel planes. In order to formulate a well-posed boundary value problem, boundary conditions on the stresses at the inflow boundary need to be imposed in addition to the velocity boundary conditions which are familiar from the Newtonian case. However, it is not possible to prescribe all the stresses at the inflow boundary. In two dimensions, the diagonal components of the extra stress tensor can be prescribed, but in three dimensions the situation is awkward. Basically, four boundary conditions are required (this is expected from the analysis of characteristics ([2] D.D. Joseph, M. Renardy and J.C. Saut, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal., 87 (1985) 213)), but it is not possible to identify four specific stress components. In [1], the problem is resolved by expanding the stresses at the inflow boundary in a Fourier series; certain stress components are then prescribed for each Fourier mode. It is hard to see how this procedure could be generalized to more complex geometries. In this paper, an alternative idea will be pursued. Instead of trying to prescribe components of the extra stress, we shall prescribe certain first order differential expressions acting on them. It is demonstrated how a well-posed boundary value problem can be formulated in this fashion.
Aligning quality and payment for heart failure care: Defining the challenges

Hospitals may not support programs that improve the quality of care delivered to heart failure patients because these programs lower readmission rates and empty beds, and therefore further diminish already-declining revenues. A conflict between the highest quality of care and financial solvency does not serve the interests of patients, physicians, hospitals, or payers. In principle, resolution of this conflict is simple: reimbursement systems should reward higher quality care. In practice, resolving the conflict is not simple. A recent roundtable discussion sponsored by the Heart Failure Society of America identified 4 major challenges to the design and implementation of reimbursement schemes that promote higher quality care for heart failure: defining quality, accounting for differences in disease severity, crafting novel payment mechanisms, and overcoming professional parochialism. This article describes each of these challenges in turn.