cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of pH and growth rate on production of the bacteriocin, bavaricin MN, in batch and continuous fermentations

Bavaricin MN, a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus bavaricus MN, reached titres of 2000 AU ml-1 in APT broth maintained at pH 6.0, 30°C in a batch fermenter. Levels of bavaricin MN at pH 5.5 and 6.5 were lower despite comparable levels of producer cells. The addition of 3.0 g l-1 beef extract to APT broth resulted in increases in both the growth rate of the culture and the production of bavaracin MN. The titre of bavaricin MN in batch fermenters controlled at pH 6.0 in APT broth plus 3 g l-1 beef extract reached 3200 AU ml-1 at 30°C. This level was reduced to 800 AU ml-1 by 76 h. Glucose-limited continuous culture of Lact. bavaricus MN under the same conditions resulted in an increase in the titre of bavaricin MN to 6400 AU ml-1. This level was maintained, independent of growth rate, for 345 h. Growth rates of 0.205, 0.118, 0.169 and 0.058 h-1 were examined.
Efficacy and optimal dose of daily polyethylene glycol 3350 for treatment of constipation and encopresis in children

Abstract Objective: To determine efficacy, safety, and optimal dose of a laxative, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350, in children with chronic constipation. Study design: Children with chronic constipation (n = 24) were treated with PEG for 8 weeks at an initial dose of 1 g/kg/d. The dose was adjusted every 3 days as required to achieve 2 soft stools per day. A diary was kept to monitor dose, stool frequency and consistency, soiling, and other symptoms. Stool consistency was rated from 1 (hard) to 5 (watery). Subjects were examined for fecal retention. The Student t test and the Fisher exact test were used for data analysis. Results: All 20 children who completed the study found PEG to be palatable and were satisfied with the treatment. There were no significant adverse effects. Weekly stool frequency increased from 2.3 ± 0.4 to 16.9 ± 1.6 ( P P P = .003). The mean effective dose was 0.84 g/kg/d (range, 0.27-1.42 g/kg/d). Conclusion: Daily administration of PEG at a mean dose of 0.8 g/kg is an effective, safe, and palatable treatment for constipation. (J Pediatr 2001;139:428-32)
Genesis of calcretes in the devonian wood bay group, Dicksonland, Spitsbergen

Abstract A continuous pedogenic calcrete and numerous glaebular calcretes are exposed over approximately 150 km 2 in the Devonian Wood Bay Group, Dicksonland, Spitsbergen. The prominent continuous calcrete horizon is up to 4 m thick and exhibits both prismatic and knobby weathering outcrops. The prismatic calcrete outcrop, of approximately hexagonally arranged vertical fractures, usually shows gradational contacts with the underlying sediment. The calcrete, and clastic sediments immediately below the gradational contact show petrographic evidence for both replacive and displacive carbonate crystallization. In contrast, knobby calcrete is generally lenticular, and probably represents an intra-formational conglomerate. Both the knobby and prismatic calcretes have a brecciated fabric in which low ferroan calcite fragments are cemented and bound by dolomite; some of the calcite fragments are coated by concentric laminae of dolomite. The glaebular calcretes are composed of low ferroan calcite nodules, ranging in size from a few millimeters to approximately 6 cm, and show elongation ratios of approximately 1.5 normal to bedding. These nodular zones are most common in floodbasin or levee sediments in both the Stjordalen Formation and the upper part of the Keltiefjellet Formation. Nodular horizons occur singly and in groups, and vary from a single layer of nodules to beds several meters thick. Calcretes are common in the Old Red Sandstone of Great Britain and rare in equivalent strata in Spitsbergen suggesting differences in climate or other aspects of the depositional environment.
Identification and quantification of volatile organic species during microbial treatment of leachate

Sequential anaerobic/aerobic microbial populations, in a packed-bed configuration, were employed to biodegrade leachate from a high priority Superfund site. Leachate characteristics included up to 100 ppm (as carbon) volatile organic priority pollutants. Identification and quantification of these pollutants at key steps in the biodegradation process is important. A method employing purge and trap concentration followed by gas chromatographic separation was developed for accurate identification and quantification of the volatile compounds of interest. Results obtained from application of this method to the leachate treatment process indicated that 84 to 99% of the specific volatile priority pollutants were biodegraded, under anaerobic conditions, during steady-state operation.
Toxicity of Dietary Lead in Japanese Quail

The toxicity of dietary lead in Japanese quail was investigated. The data indicated that dietary lead, in the form of lead acetate, was toxic to young quail at the level of 500 p.p.m. and this toxicity was evidenced by an inhibition of normal growth and by anemia. The anemic state in the lead toxic quail was more readily detected by reduced blood hemoglobin concentrations than by packed cell volumes. In addition, the data suggested that lead interfered with normal sexual development in the males. Lead at levels as high as 1000 p.p.m. did not prevent normal primary antibody responses to sheep erythrocytes.
Creativity and Unpredictability in School Achievement

AbstractIn each of the 9th (N = 75) and 11th (N = 84) grades and on each subtest of the ITED battery, overachieving and underachieving groups were identified by using the predicted scores plus and minus one SB as the cutting points. When these two groups were compared on tests of creative thinking, the mean scores did not show any consistent trend across the different achievement areas to favor either one of these groups. Because of the low correlations between IQ and creativity (.12 in 9th, "-.01 in 11th) and achievement and creativity (—.02 to .21 in 9th, —.16 to .07 in 11th), results of analyses of covariance, controlling for IQ, did not affect the findings.
A parallel agent-based model of land use opinions

In this article we present a parallel agent-based model (ABM) to support large-scale simulations of land use change. ABMs are a commonly used simulation approach for the investigation of land use systems. The computationally intense nature of these models, however, often prohibits the development of models that fully capture the complex dynamics of land use systems when using typical desktop computing environments. The search for scientific understanding and solutions to real-world problems is, therefore, often limited by an inability to explore a wide range of scales or the impact of complex interactions. Parallel computing provides a potential solution for this limitation issue. Our ABM is designed using parallel computing to simulate the formation of large-scale land use opinions within spatially explicit environments. Agents, environments, and interactions among agents are distributed among processors through parallel computing strategies, including spatial domain decomposition, ghost zones, and synch...
Prevalence of Axis I Psychopathology in an Intellectually Disabled Population: Type of Pathology and Residential Supports

The prevalence of mental illness among the mentally retarded is higher than that observed in the nondisabled in the majority of studies on the subject. With the trend towards closing large state-run care facilities for this population, functioning of mentally retarded individuals in community homes has been of interest to the scientific and human services community. While there is an extensive body of literature on the prevalence of mental illness in various in-patient settings, relatively little attention has been given to prevalence of mental illness in community settings that provide varying levels of support. Given the movement of many mentally retarded individuals from large intensive care homes to community supports, more information is needed on the numbers of those diagnosed with mental illness who are receiving support from various providers. This study examined prevalence of mental illness among 179 clients served in several community settings in Marion County Oregon. Diagnoses were determined using retrospective case file review. A relatively high rate of Axis I psychopathology (31%) was found. Rates for specific types of disability, and Axis I pathology by level of disability and residential setting are reported. Implications for these findings are presented and recommendations for state and local care organizations are offered.
New fears in gynecologic cancer.

Background. A review of the psychosocial oncology literature indicates the paucity of psychological services available in early detection programs, yet there is an increasing awareness of the need to attend to the psychosocial distress of women whose mothers have had ovarian cancer. The explosion of information transmitted to the public through the news media about ovarian cancer, early detection, and genetic susceptibility should heighten the scientific community's sensitivity to the apprehensions of women who are first-degree relatives of women with ovarian cancer. Method. The emotional fragility of participants in the early detection ovarian cancer screening program at Yale University is addressed through an initial counseling session. An open-ended, unstructured interview was designed to enable participants to express their concerns about ovarian cancer. This experience is being evaluated. Results. Through psychosocial assessment and evaluation, the authors observed that life cycle events, unresolved episodic grief, cognitive adaptation to loss, and interpersonal relationships contribute to the importance of total care and medical responsibility for the gynecologic cancer patient. Psychosocial counseling has been an integral component of the Yale Early Detection Program since its inception. Preliminary results suggest the necessity of continued counseling intervention to address women's increased anxieties about gynecologic cancers. Conclusion. Special attention must be paid to the psychological needs of vulnerable subjects in disease-screening programs. Medical providers of early detection screening should rigorously explore the psychosocial aspects of early detection and provide appropriate intervention to meet women's needs.
Scale Effects on Ion Rocket Performance

Two geometrically similar sources, a 5- and a 20-cm dia. beam source, were scaled from a 10-cm dia. source to allow a performance comparison. The three ion sources are compared for ion chamber characteristies and over-all engine efficiency. The results of the chamber investigations are compared with scaling variations indicated by simple plasma theory. The effects of size on operating limits are also discussed. Mercury was used as the propellant.
Transcervical electrosurgical resection of submucous leiomyomas for chronic menorrhagia.

Abstract Study Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transcervical electrosurgical resection (TSR) of submucous leiomyomas with or without concomitant transcervical endomyometrial resection (TEMR) for chronic menorrhagia. Design. Prospective observational study, with 6-month follow-up of all 208 women and up to 6-year follow-up of 185 (88.9%). Setting. Gynecology departments of teaching, community, and proprietary hospitals. Patients. Two hundred eight women with submucous leiomyoma requiring surgical treatment of menorrhagia between March 1988 and March 1994. Interventions. All 208 women (age range 32–63 yrs) underwent TSR with a continuous-flow gynecologic resectoscope. In 88 of these women who had no desire to preserve fertility, concomitant TEMR was performed. Measurements and Main Results. Six months postoperatively 113 (94.2%) of the 120 women who underwent only TSR reported normal menses and 85 (96.6%) had satisfactory results; 62 (70.5%) who had both TSR and TEMR were amenorrheic. Eleven (73%) of the 15 women who had TSR and wanted to conceive subsequently became pregnant. One hundred eight-five (88.9%) of the 208 patients have been followed for as long as 6 years. Ninety (84.1%) of the 107 women who had only the initial TSR and 69 (88.5%) of the 78 who had initial TSR and TEMR had satisfactory results. Only five women (2.7%) required major abdominal surgery. Among those undergoing TSR and TEMR, 49 (62.8%) were amenorrheic for as long as 6 years after TSR and one or two TEMRs. Eight (3.8%) of the 208 women had perioperative complications: 6 (2.9%) had fluid overload, 1 (0.5%) had dilutional hyponatremia, and 1 (0.5%) had excessive postoperative bleeding requiring tamponade. Conclusion. We believe that TSR with or without concomitant TEMR is an effective and safe treatment for women with submucous leiomyomas suffering from chronic menorrhagia.
Spatial and temporal frequency in animated mimic displays

Abstract Animated mimic displays provide analogical representations of the flow of information or resources between system components. For example, the transfer of fuel from one tank to another in an aeroplane could be represented by fluid running through the connecting pipe, rather than an analogue meter or digital display. The quality of apparent motion is critical: does the subjective impression of flow that results from viewing the display correspond to the physical rate of flow that exists in the underlying domain? Previous research has revealed potential problems with display configurations modelled on prominent examples in the literature, including ambiguity with respect to both the direction and the rate of flow. Two psychophysical experiments were conducted to (1) investigate these potential problems more thoroughly and (2) examine two critical design parameters. Observers performed a rate-matching task with various combinations of spatial frequency, temporal frequency and luminance contrast. The findings were atypical: the usual ‘bandpass’ pattern (better performance at intermediate frequencies, relative to high or low frequencies) was obtained only for spatial frequency, and only when luminance contrast was low. In addition, performance was more closely tied to specific combinations of spatial and temporal frequency than to velocity. An interpretation based on Fourier's theorem is discussed and alternative display designs are proposed. Finally, design guidelines for spatial and temporal frequency are provided.
Development of cancer chemopreventive drugs based on mechanistic approaches

One of the most important medical practices of the 21st century is the chemoprevention of cancer. Much progress has been made in this new emerging field, but much work remains before widespread use and practice of cancer prevention becomes commonplace. Cancer chemoprevention includes the concepts of inhibition, reversal, and retardation of the cancer process. The process of carcinogenesis requires 20-40 years to reach invasive cancer. This process follows multiple, diverse, and complex pathways in a stochastic process, called clonal evolution. Many of these pathways appear amenable to inhibition, reversal, or retardation at various points. It is urgent that we identify key pathways in the evolution of the cancer cell, which can be exploited to prevent this carcinogenesis process. Basic researchers are identifying many genetic lesions and epigenetic processes associated with the progression of precancer to invasive disease. These precancer lesions are also called intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN). Many of these early precancerous lesions favor cell division over quiescence and protect cells against apoptosis when signals are present. Many oncogenes, which are active during early development, are reactivated in adulthood by aberrant gene promoting errors. Normal regulatory genes can become mutated, making them insensitive to normal regulatory signals. Tumor suppressor genes are deleted or mutated rendering them inactive. These are several of a wide range of defects in cellular machinery, which can lead to evolution of the cancer phenotype. Errors may not have to appear in a defined order for cells to progress along the cancer pathway. To conquer this diverse disease, it is necessary to attack multiple key pathways at once for a predetermined period of time. Agent combination prevention strategies are, therefore, essential to decrease cancer morbidity. Each cancer type, organ location, or individual genetic background may require a custom combination of prevention strategies to be successful.
3-D inlet shock-boundary layer interactions - PIV database for the second SBLI workshop

A unique data base of stereo-PIV velocity measurements has been recorded and analyzed in order to understand the complex flow separation patterns that occur due to a threedimensional shock-boundary layer interaction (SBLI) within a rectangular inlet. The database will be used for the Second Workshop of CFD predictions of SBLI. This dataset provides the first complete measurements of a three-dimensional SBLI ‐ that is, all three velocity components were measured in all three orthogonal planes (a total of 16 data planes total). An experimental methodology was followed such that the data collected would be of maximum utility for CFD comparisons. These metrics include velocity contours that define the free stream core, the characteristic sonic line and the sizes of corner vortices. The purpose of this paper is to provide methodology and results from the boundary conditions and geometry of the experiment; a later paper will provide the full experimental findings. Access to a website containing the CAD drawings of the experiment, calculations of the metrics of interest, and other information for potential participants in the workshop is available at https://ctools.umich.edu/portal. Access can be granted by contacting the authors at 3d.sbli.workshop@umich.edu.
New magnetic and structural results for uniformly spaced, alternatingly spaced, and ladder‐like copper (II) linear chain compounds (invited)

Results of recent synthetic, structural, and magnetic work on exchange coupled copper (II) ions bridged by nonmagnetic ligands are discussed, including the quasi‐linear chain compound bis (dimethyldithiocarbamato) copper (II) in which the copper (II) ions are antiferromagnetically exchange coupled. An unusual correlation exists in the structural and magnetic data for [Cu(dmtc)2]∞ and other known sulfur bridged copper compounds. Data are presented for the alternatingly spaced linear chain compounds di‐μ‐chlorobis‐(4‐methylpyridine)copper (II), and a series of dionebis‐(thiosemicarbazato)copper (II) compounds. Exchange coupling constants and alternation parameters were obtained from expressions which were empirically generated from calculations on rings of ten S = 1/2 ions for kT/‖J‖≳0.5 and J<0. Finally, new results for recently discovered spin ladder systems are presented.
Comparative energy metabolism in cultured heart muscle and hela cells

The yields of energy from oxidation of fatty acids, glucose, and glutamine were compared in cultures of chick embryo heart muscle (heart) and HeLa cells. Aerobic energy production, as measured by oxygen utilization, was comparable in the two cell types. In media containing dialyzed sera, the rates of incorporation of fatty acids directly into lipids were similar in both cells and accounted for greater than 97% of fatty acid metabolism in HeLa cells. However, in heart cells only 45% ended in lipid, 42% in protein, and 13% was released as CO2; the latter two products probably reflect the oxidation of fatty acids to acetyl-coenzyme A (-CoA) and its subsequent metabolism in the citrate cycle. Increased serum concentration in the medium did not affect fatty acid metabolism in HeLa cultures, but resulted in greater oxidation by heart cells (greater than 100 times that by HeLa cells). The metabolisms of both glucose and glutamine were similar in heart and HeLa cells with greater than or equal to 60% of glucose carbon ending as medium lactate and only 3-5% converted to acetyl-CoA. About 25% of glutamine carbon ended as CO2 and increased utilizations with increasing serum concentrations was accountable in both cells by increased lactate from glucose and glutamate from glutamine. CO2 production (and energy) from glutamine was independent of glutamine concentration within a tenfold range of physiological concentrations. The yields of energy have been calculated. In 10% dialyzed calf serum, oxidation of glutamine carbon provided about half of the total energy in heart cells; glucose about 35-45%, with most coming from glycolysis; oxidation of fatty acid carbon provided only 5-10%. That greater than 90% of the aerobic energy comes from glutamine in both cells can account for the comparable rates of oxygen utilization. HeLa cells derived little or no energy from fatty acids.
On best error bounds for approximation by piecewise polynomial functions

An analog of the well-known Jackson-Bernstein-Zygmund theory on best approximation by trigonometric polynomials is developed for approximation methods which use piecewise polynomial functions. Interpolation and best approximation by polynomial splines, Hermite and finite element functions are examples of such methods. A direct theorem is proven for methods which are stable, quasi-linear and optimally accurate for sufficiently smooth functions. These assumptions are known to be satisfied in many cases of practical interest. Under a certain additional assumption, on the family of meshes, an inverse theorem is proven which shows that the direct theorem is sharp.
Prostaglandin production in response to a bacterial infection in true armyworm larvae

Prostaglandin levels were determined by fluorometric HPLC analysis of hemolymph collected from larvae of the true armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta, that had been injected with bacteria. Prostaglandins were extracted and derivatized with the fluorogenic compound 9-anthryldiazomethane and detected by fluorescence-HPLC. One of the prostaglandins produced was identified as prostaglandin F2a based on HPLC retention time. The chemical identity of prostaglandin F2a was confirmed by isolation and derivatization followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Larvae injected with heat-killed bacteria, Serratia marcescens, produced about 4 times as much prostaglandin F2a as larvae injected with saline. In a separate experiment, larvae injected with bacteria and the prostaglandin precursor arachidonic acid produced still higher levels of prostaglandin F2a. The production of prostaglandin was inhibited with phenidone, a dual cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor. These data indicate that bacterial injections stimulate increased eicosanoid biosynthesis in true armyworms, particularly biosynthesis of prostaglandin F2a. Our findings add considerable support to the hypothesis that eicosanoids mediate insect cellular immune reactions to bacterial infections. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 41:225‐232, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Innervation of the Developing Hamster Maxillary Incisor

Innervation was correlated with the development of the hamster maxillary incisor. Absence of nerves until the stage of morphodifferentiation indicated that the initiation and early proliferation of the tooth germ was independent of the nervous system. The association of nerves with the tooth germ during morphodifferentiation may mean that nerves influence shaping of the tooth.
High performance liquid chromatographic determination of lactose, glucose, and galactose in lactose-reduced milk.

A simple, rapid high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to simultaneously determine lactose, glucose, and galactose in lactose-reduced milk. The sugars were separated on a Bio-Rad HPX-87C fixed ion resin column in the Ca++ form, using water as the mobile phase and a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. The column was heated to 80°C, and the sugars were detected using refractive index. Lactose-reduced milk was analyzed for lactose and its hydrolysis products. Milk samples were rapidly prepared for injection by precipitating protein and fat with acetonitrile. Retention times for lactose, glucose, and galactose were 9.3, 10.8, and 12.3 min, respectively. Transgalactosylation products were estimated to be at least 7.8%.
GLOBAL QUERY OPTIMIZATION BASED ON MULTISTATE COST MODELS FOR A DYNAMIC MULTIDATABASE SYSTEM

Global query optimization in a multidatabase system (MDBS) is a challenging issue since some local optimization information such as local cost models may not be available at the global level due to local autonomy. It becomes even more difficult when dynamic environmental factors are taken into consideration. In our previous work, a qualitative approach was suggested to build so-called multistate cost models to capture the performance behavior of a dynamic multidatabase environment. It has been shown that a multistate cost model can give a good cost estimate for a query run in any contention state in the dynamic environment. In this paper, we present a technique to perform query optimization based on multistate cost models for a dynamic MDBS. Two relevant algorithms are proposed. The first one selects a set of representative system environmental states for generating an execution plan with multiple versions for a given query at compile time, while the second one efficiently determines the best version to invoke for the query at run time. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed technique is quite promising for performing global query optimization in a dynamic MDBS. Compared with related work on dynamic query optimization, our approach has an advantage of avoiding the high overhead for modifying or re-generating an execution plan for a query based on dynamic run-time information.
Central auditory dysfunction as a harbinger of Alzheimer dementia.

Objective To confirm that central auditory dysfunction (CAD) may be a precursor to the onset of Alzheimer dementia (AD). Design Cohort study. Setting Research study center. Participants Two hundred seventy-four volunteers from a dementia surveillance cohort were followed up for as long as 4 years after undergoing complete audiometric assessment. Twenty-one received a consensus diagnosis of AD after a hearing test. Intervention The following 3 central auditory tests were performed: the Dichotic Sentence Identification, the Dichotic Digits, and the Synthetic Sentence Identification With Ipsilateral Competing Message. Main Outcome Measures A new diagnosis of AD using the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke–Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria at a consensus conference. Results The mean scores on each CAD test were significantly poorer in the incident dementia group. Cox proportional hazards models with age as the time scale were used to estimate the hazard ratio for incident dementia based on CAD test results. After adjusting for educational level, the hazard ratio for incident dementia in people with severe CAD based on a Dichotic Sentence Identification in free report mode of less than 50% was 9.9 (95% confidence interval, 3.6-26.7). Conclusions Central auditory dysfunction is a precursor to AD. We recommend evaluation with CAD tests in older adults who report hearing difficulty. Those with severe CAD should receive a modified rehabilitation program and be considered for referral for neurologic evaluation.
Hadron particle therapy

Hadron therapy is a maturing field, with strengths and weaknesses that have been clearly identified. For certain tumour types, particles have become the treatment of choice, and hospital-based implementation of these techniques are coming on line. Focused RD effective control requires a wide arsenal of treatment techniques. The flexibility and precision of hadron therapy are powerful tools in this arena, and promise to provide great improvements in our health-care when fully understood and implemented.
Long-term effects of CS: Clues to structural borrowing

Contact phenomena such as codeswitching and linguistic borrowing occur quite normally in situations of intense language contact. Some researchers have proposed relationships between the two suggesting causal links, and that codeswitching, as an assumed mechanism of change (Myers-Scotton, 2002, p. 104; Thomason, 2001, p. 131), in some way causes or instigates the kinds of lexical and structural borrowing that lead to long-term language change. This paper attempts to make clear that, while the two phenomena may have links, they are not causal in nature. Both emanate from similar underlying social conditions that constitute predispositions to particular outcomes. Proximate causes for each must lie elsewhere, in mental responses to the triggering effects of particular environmental stimuli. They represent consequences of the dynamic interaction of underlying social conditions and consequent psychological states (Grosjean, 2001). One conclusion is that contact phenomena are behaviors produced by speakers as they interact with environmental factors such as linguistic input (e.g., mixed input from other speakers). Motivations for long-term change may be as simple as an unconscious desire of one community to copy the speech of another socially and, therefore, linguistically dominant group, the dwindling availability of viable alternatives (via shift), or a combination of the two.
Older homebound women's perceived risk of being unable to reach help quickly: influence of situations involving age-peers.

The purpose of this facet of a longitudinal descriptive phenomenological study of the experience of reaching help quickly for older homebound women was to explore the personal�social context (life-world) of situations when age-peers had needed to reach help quickly (RHQ). Twenty- ?ve women aged 85�95 (13 subscribers to a personal emergency response system and 12 non-subscribers) reported 80 peer situations. Life-world was characterized by sharing with peers the risk of being unable to RHQ. Knowledge of peer situations had varying degrees of in?uence on participants� decisions to adopt and use RHQ devices. Findings support the need for healthcare professionals to explore the in?uences of age-peer RHQ situations upon adoption and use of devices to RHQ by older homebound women.
Trends in adult current asthma prevalence and contributing risk factors in the United States by state: 2000-2009

Current asthma prevalence among adults in the United States has reached historically high levels. Although national-level estimates indicate that asthma prevalence among adults increased by 33% from 2000 to 2009, state-specific temporal trends of current asthma prevalence and their contributing risk factors have not been explored. We used 2000–2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) to estimate state-specific current asthma prevalence by 2-year periods (2000–2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2009). We fitted a series of four logistic-regression models for each state to evaluate whether there was a statistically significant linear change in the current asthma prevalence over time, accounting for sociodemographic factors, smoking status, and weight status (using body mass index as the indicator). During 2000–2009, current asthma prevalence increased in all 50 states and D.C., with significant increases in 46/50 (92%) states and D.C. After accounting for weight status in the model series with sociodemographic factors, and smoking status, 10 states (AR, AZ, IA, IL, KS, ME, MT, UT, WV, and WY) that had previously shown a significant increase did not show a significant increase in current asthma prevalence. There was a significant increasing trend in state-specific current asthma prevalence among adults from 2000 to 2009 in most states in the United States. Obesity prevalence appears to contribute to increased current asthma prevalence in some states.
Efficacy of a heterologous vaccine and adjuvant in ferrets challenged with influenza virus H5N1

Please cite this paper as: Vela et al. (2012) Efficacy of a heterologous vaccine and adjuvant in ferrets challenged with influenza virus H5N1. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(5), 328–340. Background In 1997, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses caused outbreaks of disease in domestic poultry markets in Hong Kong. The virus has also been detected in infected poultry in Europe and Africa. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a heterologous vaccine administered with and without the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant in ferrets challenged with HPAI (A/Vietnam/1203/04). Methods Animals in four of the five groups were vaccinated twice 21 days apart, with two doses of a heterologous monovalent subvirion vaccine with or without an aluminum hydroxide adjuvant and challenged with a lethal target dose of A/Vietnam/1203/04. Results All animals vaccinated with the heterologous vaccine in combination with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant survived a lethal challenge of A/Vietnam/1203/04. Four of the eight animals vaccinated with 30 μg of the vaccine without the adjuvant survived, while two of the eight animals vaccinated with 15 μg of the vaccine without the adjuvant survived. None of the unvaccinated control animals survived challenge. Additionally, changes in virus recovered from nasal washes and post-mortem tissues and serology suggest vaccine efficacy. Conclusions Altogether, the data suggest that the heterologous vaccine in combination with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant offers maximum protection against challenge with A/Vietnam/1203/04 when compared to the unvaccinated control animals or animals vaccinated without any adjuvant.
Information Dynamics in the Networked World

We review three studies of information flow in social networks that help reveal their underlying social structure, how information spreads among them and why small world experiments work.
Using a 1200 kHz workhorse ADCP with mode 12 to measure near bottom mean currents

Using high frequency acoustic Doppler current (ADCP) profiling technology, it is possible to make high-resolution measurements of mean current profiles within a few meters of the seabed. In coastal applications, mean current speeds may be 10 cm/s or less, and oscillatory wave currents may exceed 100 cm/s during storm events. To resolve mean flows of 10 cm/s or less under these conditions, accuracies of 1 cm/s or better are desirable. RD Instruments (RDI) has recently added a fast ping mode (mode 12) to their ADCP sampling schemes which may make it possible to achieve 1 cm/s to over 100 cm/s dynamic range with their 1200 kHz ADCP during a 4-month deployment using three standard battery packs. Mode 12 combines fast ping rates with high spatial resolution and high maximum velocities. Mode 12 may be more suitable for these types of high resolution, high velocity measurements than RDI's existing shallow water modes (5 and 8).
Influence of Serum and Its Lipoprotein Fractions on Progesterone Synthesis and Secretion by Bovine Luteal Tissue in vitro

To study the ability of serum to affect progesterone synthesis and its subsequent secretion into the incubation medium, slices of bovine luteal tissue were incubated in the presence or absence of luteinizing hormone (LH) with various types and components of sera. When serum-free incubation medium was used, “30% of the progesterone produced was found in the incubation medium. Addition of LH to this serum-free medium greatly increased progesterone production, but did not increase the fraction of progesterone secreted into the incubation medium. Addition of 10% calf serum, heat-inactivated calf serum, dialyzed calf serum, fetal calf serum, or charcoal-treated serum to the medium increased the fraction of progesterone secreted into the incubation medium to “v50%. Addition of LH to the serum-containing medium resulted in a highly significant increase in progesterone production, but the portion of the progesterone found in the incubation medium was no different from that found with serum alone. Removal of the lipoproteins (low and high density) from the serum did not alter the ability of the serum to increase the secretion. The increased secretion caused by the serum could be partially duplicated by bovine serum albumin (BSA). Addition of BSA to the incubation medium at levels equivalent to that found in 10% bovine serum increased the progesterone secreted from 30% to 42%, but could not duplicate the 50% secretion level achieved by the addition of the 10% serum preparations. These findings indicate that the ability of bovine luteal tissue to secrete progesteone is increased in the presence of small amounts of serum, that this increased secretion is independent of progesterone synthesis, and that the increased secretion is not attributable to the lipoproteins in the serum. The data support the hypothesis that serum steroid-binding proteins facilitate the transport of steroid hormones from their site of synthesis into the blood stream.
Youth offspring of mothers with posttraumatic stress disorder have altered stress reactivity in response to a laboratory stressor

Summary Parental Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), particularly maternal PTSD, confers risk for stress-related psychopathology among offspring. Altered hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis functioning is one mechanism proposed to explain transmission of this intergenerational risk. Investigation of this mechanism has been largely limited to general stress response (e.g., diurnal cortisol), rather than reactivity in response to an acute stressor. We examined cortisol reactivity in response to a laboratory stressor among offspring of mothers with a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD (n = 36) and age- and gender- matched control offspring of mothers without PTSD (n = 36). Youth (67% girls; mean age = 11.4, SD = 2.6) participated in a developmentally sensitive laboratory stressor and had salivary cortisol assessed five times (one pre-stress, one immediate post-stress, and three recovery measures, spaced 15 min apart). Results were consistent with the hypothesis that offspring of mothers with PTSD would exhibit a dysregulated, blunted cortisol reactivity profile, and control offspring would display the expected adaptive peak in cortisol response to challenge profile. Findings were maintained after controlling for youth traumatic event history, physical anxiety symptoms, and depression, as well as maternal depression. This finding contributes to the existing literature indicating that attenuated HPA axis functioning, inclusive of hyposecretion of cortisol in response to acute stress, is robust among youth of mothers with PTSD. Future research is warranted in elucidating cortisol reactivity as a link between maternal PTSD and stress-related psychopathology vulnerability among offspring.
Positive Allosteric Modulation of mGluR5 Accelerates Extinction Learning but Not Relearning Following Methamphetamine Self-Administration

Recent studies have implicated glutamate neurotransmission as an important substrate for the extinction of conditioned behaviors, including responding for drug reinforcement. Positive allosteric modulation of the type-5 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) in particular has emerged as a treatment strategy for the enhancement of extinction of drug-motivated behaviors. Here, we investigated the effects of the mGluR5 positive allosteric modulator CDPPB, a compound known for its cognitive enhancing effects in rodents, on extinction learning in rats with different histories of methamphetamine (METH) training. Rats were trained to self-administer METH under two conditions: 16 daily sessions of short access (90 min/day, ShA), or eight daily sessions of short access followed by eight sessions of long access (6 h/day, LgA). Control rats self-administered sucrose pellets in daily 30 min sessions. Next, rats were administered vehicle or 30 mg/kg CDPPB prior to seven consecutive daily extinction sessions, subjected to additional extinction sessions to re-establish a post-treatment baseline, and then tested for reinstatement of behavior in the presence of METH- or sucrose-paired cues. Rats were then subjected to a second series of extinction sessions, preceded by vehicle or 30 mg/kg CDPPB, and an additional test for cue-triggered reinstatement. CDPPB treatment resulted in a more rapid extinction of responding on the active lever, especially in the early sessions of the first extinction sequence. However, treatment effects were minimal during subsequent cue reinstatement tests and non-existent during the second series of extinction sessions. Rats with histories of ShA, LgA, and sucrose training expressed similar behavioral sensitivities to CDPPB, with LgA rats demonstrating a modestly higher treatment effect. Positive allosteric modulation of mGluR5 may therefore have some beneficial effects on efforts to facilitate extinction learning and reduce methamphetamine seeking.
Sensitivity to genotoxic effects of bleomycin in humans: possible relationship to environmental carcinogenesis.

Responses to the genotoxic effect of bleomycin in lymphocytes of blood cultures, expressed as the average number of chromatid breaks per cell (b/c), varied from less than 0.20 to more than 2.00 in 335 normal individuals. More than 11% of the subjects tested showed a b/c rate above 1.00 and more than 22% showed a b/c rate above 0.80. These individuals are considered sensitive to this radiomimetic drug. The distributional profile of bleomycin responses of the control individuals appears to be representative of the normal human population. In patients with cancers of the colon (83), upper aerodigestive tract (head/neck) (77), and lung (71), the frequencies of subjects in the hypersensitive class were found to be between 40 and 50%, and the response profiles were distinctly different from those of the control population. On the other hand, in a group of elderly cigarette smokers, who exhibited no symptoms of lung cancer, the bleomycin sensitivity profile was significantly skewed toward the more resistant stratum, with only one hypersensitive case among 56 individuals tested (1.78%). The sensitivity profile of patients with breast cancer (82) was similar to that of the control population. Our data suggest that: (1) mutagen sensitivity may play an important role in carcinogenesis of organs and tissues that have direct contact with the external environment (respiratory, digestive, and integumentary systems); (2) it appears to have no significant influence on carcinogenesis of tissues that are not directly exposed to the environment (e.g., breast, brain); and (3) it also has little impact on carcinogenesis in individuals with a hereditary predisposition to cancer (e.g., retinoblastoma, Gardner's syndrome). Development of more effective and precise test systems for carcinogen sensitivity is highly desirable for identification of persons at risk.
Age and gender exert differential effects on blood lipids in patients after LAGB and LRYGB

Abstract Background Although bariatric surgery is known to exert favorable effects on dyslipidemia, few studies have systematically considered how the demographic variables might modulate the outcomes. The aim of the present study was to examine the interactive effects of gender, age, and surgery type on dyslipidimia in bariatric surgery patients at a tertiary hospital in the United States. Methods In a retrospective review of 294 patients who had undergone laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or laparoscopic adjustable gastric bypass (LAGB), we examined the changes in lipid profiles and antihyperlipidemic use for ≤4 years postoperatively. The data were analyzed using longitudinal mixed modeling methods, in which the effects on lipid concentrations and medication use were tested in models with gender, surgery type, age, postoperative duration, and all possible interactions entered as factors. Results Significant 2-way interactions of surgery type*time were found for total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, gender*time for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and age*time for triglycerides. A 3-way interaction of surgery type*age*time was noted for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. For older patients, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was reduced by 20% from baseline in the LRYGB group but did not lessen significantly in the LAGB group. In the younger patients, however, decreases from the preoperative concentrations were not evident in either surgery group. An interaction of surgery type*time on antihyperlipdemic medication use, in which values changed significantly from baseline was found in both groups. However, the pattern in the LRYGB patients opposed that in the LAGB patients. Conclusion Our results have demonstrated that bariatric surgery imparts a pronounced improvement in the blood lipid profile of recipients; however, these effects might be moderated by other factors, such as age and gender, independently of the baseline weight status of the patients.
Iconic memory for natural scenes: Evidence using a modified change-detection procedure

ABSTRACTChange blindness for the contents of natural scenes suggests that only items that are attended while the scene is still visible are stored, leading some to characterize our visual experiences as sparse. Experiments on iconic memory for arrays of discrete symbols or objects, however, indicate observers have access to more visual information for at least several hundred milliseconds at offset of a display. In the experiment presented here, we demonstrate an iconic memory for complex natural or real-world scenes. Using a modified change detection task in which to-be changed objects are cued at offset of the scene, we show that more information from a natural scene is briefly stored than change blindness predicts and more than is contained in visual short-term memory. In our experiment, a cue appearing 0, 300, or 1000 msec after offset of the pre-change scene or at onset of the second scene presentation (a Post Cue) directed attention to the location of a possible change. Compared to a no-cue conditio...
Structuring an MBA Consulting Course: Aligning Pedagogical Strategies to Meet the Needs of a Business School's Critical Stakeholders.

At a time when business schools of second-tieruniversities face budget constraints, the MBA consulting program has become avehicle to build a schools reputation and to engage the business community inorder to raise financial resources. Business schools also face competition fromon-line programs, and consulting assignments help to define a schools competitive advantage. Finally, an increasing number of students with little or no prior business experience are seeking the MBA edge to help them find their first positions. As a result, the consulting program is rapidly becoming aninstrument of choice to facilitate the transition from campus to professional environment. This article presents the pedagogical strategies implemented by auniversity with limited resources and for which the consulting program has been designed to address the needs of both external and internal stakeholders.
Interventions with battered women in health care settings

Over the past decade advocates for battered women in the health care system, citing the large number of battered women who come to health care settings, have proposed interventions and trainings for health care personnel on behalf of battered women. However, little is currently known about the effectiveness of intervention efforts. This paper presents observation data on characteristics of battered women in four hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) and on staff responses to battered women in these EDs. The data show definite patterns in the women's characteristics and in staff responses to battered women. These data raise issues which should be considered in the researching and designing of interventions for battered women in the health care system.