cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A method for quantifying cloud immersion in a tropical mountain forest using time-lapse photography

Abstract Quantifying the frequency, duration, and elevation range of fog or cloud immersion is essential to estimate cloud water deposition in water budgets and to understand the ecohydrology of cloud forests. The goal of this study was to develop a low-cost and high spatial-coverage method to detect occurrence of cloud immersion within a mountain cloud forest by using time-lapse photography. Trail cameras and temperature/relative humidity sensors were deployed at five sites covering the elevation range from the assumed lifting condensation level to the mountain peaks in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Cloud-sensitive image characteristics (contrast, the coefficient of variation and the entropy of pixel luminance, and image colorfulness) were used with a k-means clustering approach to accurately detect cloud-immersed conditions in a time series of images from March 2014 to May 2016. Images provided hydrologically meaningful cloud-immersion information while temperature-relative humidity data were used to refine the image analysis using dew point information and provided temperature gradients along the elevation transect. Validation of the image processing method with human-judgment based classification generally indicated greater than 90% accuracy. Cloud-immersion frequency averaged 80% at sites above 900 m during nighttime hours and 49% during daytime hours, and was consistent with diurnal patterns of cloud immersion measured in a previous study. Results for the 617 m site demonstrated that cloud immersion in the Luquillo Mountains rarely occurs at the previously-reported cloud base elevation of about 600 m (11% during nighttime hours and 5% during daytime hours). The framework presented in this paper will be used to monitor at a low cost and high spatial resolution the long-term variability of cloud-immersion patterns in the Luquillo Mountains, and can be applied to ecohydrology research at other cloud-forest sites or in coastal ecosystems with advective sea fog.
Inflammatory Disease of the Breast

It is frequently stated in the literature that inflammatory disease of the breast is indistinguishable from carcinoma (Raju et al. 1986). With careful correlation of clinical signs and symptoms, and mammographic and sonographic findings, a high rate of accuracy can be achieved in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases (80%–85% in our experience). The ability to recognize benign disease, prevent unnecessary procedures, and insure prompt institution of proper therapy is most important. As increasing numbers of patients are referred for mammography, more patients with inflammatory disease will be seen.
Helping students navigate the sea of information in a digital world

BRIEF SESSION DESCRIPTION:This panel will discuss how to teach students how to effectively evaluate online sources for research purposes.________________________________________________________________FULL ABSTRACT: Students question the need to learn from textbooks and possibly outdated course material when current information is always available online. Additionally, students can find it challenging to find effective strategies to cope with the fire hose of data available 7 x 24 with no curation. Our panel will provide some hands-on tips to help your students with this problem. At last year's Innovations in Teaching & Learning conference, this panel focused on how to design course material to align with these student expectations of ubiquitous access to information and data. This year our panel will extend that conversation into discussions about guiding students through source evaluation, identifying confirmation bias in searches, and managing data overload. Our panelists will discuss their own experiences in working with students and ideas they have considered and open the discussion to the attendees.For more information about how to help students through the research and writing process:AÂ https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/teaching/writing-and-research
Human Retrotransposon Insertion Polymorphisms Are Associated with Health and Disease via Gene Regulatory Phenotypes.

The human genome hosts several active families of transposable elements (TEs), including the Alu, LINE-1, and SVA retrotransposons that are mobilized via reverse transcription of RNA intermediates. We evaluated how insertion polymorphisms generated by human retrotransposon activity may be related to common health and disease phenotypes that have been previously interrogated through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To address this question, we performed a genome-wide screen for retrotransposon polymorphism disease associations that are linked to TE induced gene regulatory changes. Our screen first identified polymorphic retrotransposon insertions found in linkage disequilibrium (LD) with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were previously implicated in common complex diseases by GWAS. We further narrowed this set of candidate disease associated retrotransposon polymorphisms by identifying insertions that are located within tissue-specific enhancer elements. We then performed expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis on the remaining set of candidates in order to identify polymorphic retrotransposon insertions that are linked to gene expression changes in B-cells of the human immune system. This progressive and stringent screen yielded a list of six retrotransposon insertions as the strongest candidates for TE polymorphisms that lead to disease via enhancer-mediated changes in gene regulation. For example, we found an SVA insertion within a cell-type specific enhancer located in the second intron of the B4GALT1 gene. B4GALT1 encodes a glycosyltransferase that functions in the glycosylation of the Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody in such a way as to convert its activity from pro- to anti-inflammatory. The disruption of the B4GALT1 enhancer by the SVA insertion is associated with down-regulation of the gene in B-cells, which would serve to keep the IgG molecule in a pro-inflammatory state. Consistent with this idea, the B4GALT1 enhancer SVA insertion is linked to a genomic region implicated by GWAS in both inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Crohn’s disease. We explore this example and the other cases uncovered by our genome-wide screen in an effort to illuminate how retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms can impact human health and disease by causing changes in gene expression.
Association of multiple chronic conditions and pain among older black and white adults with diabetes mellitus

Aging is often associated with the challenge of navigating daily tasks with a painful chronic medical illness. Yet, there is concern of the number of older adults impacted with more than one chronic condition. Despite the increasing number of adults diagnosed with diabetes and comorbid chronic illnesses, there remains a lack of understanding in how multiple illnesses relate to experiences of pain. To assess the association between multiple chronic conditions and pain, this study aimed to identify clusters of chronic medical conditions and their association with pain among a sample of older Black and White adults diagnosed with diabetes. Two hundred and thirty-six participants responded to a series of questions assessing pain frequency and severity, as well as health and social characteristics. A factor analysis was used to categorize clusters of medical conditions, and multiple regression models were used to examine predictors of pain. Seven of the assessed chronic medical conditions loaded on three factors, and accounted for 57.2% of the total variance, with heart disease (factor 1) accounting for 21.9%, musculoskeletal conditions (factor 2) for another 18.4%, and factor 3 (microvascular diseases) accounting for a final 16.9% of the variability among the chronic medical conditions. Covariate-adjusted models showed that fewer years of education and higher scores on the microvascular and musculoskeletal conditions factors were associated with higher pain frequency, with the musculoskeletal conditions factor being the strongest predictor. Findings from this study compliment existent literature underscoring the prevalence and importance of comorbid diagnoses in relation to pain. Examining health-related factors beyond a single disease diagnosis also provides an opportunity to explore underlying disease co-occurrences that may persist beyond organ system classifications.
Phosphorylation of the Amino Terminus of the Dopamine Transporter: Regulatory Mechanisms and Implications for Amphetamine Action

Amphetamines (AMPHs) are potent psychostimulants that are widely used and abused, with profound medical and societal impact. Their actions at dopaminergic neurons are thought to mediate their therapeutic efficacy as well as their liability for abuse and dependence. AMPHs target the dopamine transporter (DAT), the plasmalemmal membrane protein that mediates the inactivation of released dopamine (DA) through its reuptake. AMPHs act as substrates for DAT and are known to cause mobilization of dopamine (DA) to the cell exterior via DAT-mediated reverse transport (efflux). It has become increasingly evident that the mechanisms that regulate AMPH-induced DA efflux are distinct from those that regulate DA uptake. Central to these mechanisms is the phosphorylation of the DAT amino (N)-terminus, which has been repeatedly demonstrated to facilitate DAT-mediated DA efflux, without impacting other aspects of DAT physiology. This review aims to summarize the current status of knowledge regarding DAT N-terminal phosphorylation and its regulation by protein modulators and the membrane microenvironment. A better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic approaches that interfere selectively with the pharmacological effects of AMPHs without altering the physiological function of DAT.
The Use of FRAX® in DXA Interpretation

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently developed a fracture risk algorithm (FRAX®) that has fundamentally changed how clinical Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scans are interpreted. The impact of FRAX on the community of clinicians who diagnose and treat patients with osteoporosis almost rivals the introduction of the T-score two decades ago. We review the clinical utility of FRAX in this chapter and show how our practice of DXA interpretation and reporting has changed with its introduction.
Book Review: Rockwell F. Clancy, Towards a Political Anthropology in the Work of Gilles Deleuze: Psychoanalysis and Anglo-American Literature (Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2015).

A review of Rockwell F. Clancy, Towards a Political Anthropology in the Work of Gilles Deleuze : Psychoanalysis and Anglo-American Literature (Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2015).
Aging studies on normal lens using the Scheimpflug slit-lamp camera.

PURPOSE To study the changes in density and thickness in normal lenses related to aging, and to study changes in anterior chamber depth related to aging. METHODS Eighty nine normal volunteers (ages 9-80 yr) were examined and their eyes were photographed to obtain Scheimpflug photographs. The images were digitized and linear densitometry was performed, dividing the lens into five areas: posterior capsular (area 1), posterior cortical (area 2), nuclear (area 3), anterior cortical (area 4), and anterior capsular (area 5). Total lens thickness and anterior chamber depth were similarly measured for 90 normal eyes from the densitometry profiles. These were correlated with age. RESULTS There was a strong positive correlation between increasing age and the density in all lens areas (area 2: r = 0.805; P < 0.0001; area 3: r = 0.836, P < 0.0001; area 4: r = 0.767, P < 0.0001; and area 5: r = 0.319, P < 0.0023), except the posterior capsular area, where correlation was negative (area 1: r = -0.426; P < 0.0001). In addition, there was a significant correlation between age and overall lens thickness (r = 0.756; P < 0.0001), thickness of nucleus (r = 0.543; P < 0.0001), and cortex (r = 0.632; P < 0.0001), and a negative correlation with anterior chamber depth (r = -0.513, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION This report shows human lens changes in density and thickness correlated with aging using Scheimpflug photography and image analysis techniques. The results will aid future development of systems for automated detection, classification, and monitoring of human cataracts, as well as other anterior segment disorders.
Axiomatizing the Logic of Decision

Ethan Bolker’s theorem [1,2] on the representation of functions resembling quotients of measures underlies the logic of decision [5] in the same way in which Holder-like theorems on the repsentation of Archimedean ordered groups, semigroups, etc., are seen in [6] as underlying various foundational systems of measurement. In [3] and in Chapter 9 of [1] Bolker applies his theorem to a system akin to that of [5], proving existence and uniqueness of probability and utility functions for preference rankings that satisfy certain axioms. Here I want to clarify the framework of [5] and bring Bolker’s theorem to bear directly upon it. It should be noted that Bolker’s theorem predated [5] and made it possible.
Employees' perceptions of organizational justice: a comparison among human resource management issues

This study focused upon comparing aspects of fairness in terms of various human resource management issues, in particular, salaries, promotions, scheduling, and performance appraisals. Greenberg's taxonomy of the classes of organizational justice was used as the basis for the aspects of fairness. A measure was developed for this study by compiling items corresponding to the aspects of justice delineated by Greenberg and by reviewing past measures to incorporate other aspects of justice specified by other researchers. The study analyzed the generalizability of the concept of fairness across the four human resource issues. Employees' degree of perceived fairness varied between the human resource issues, but the relations between the components of fairness were comparable for each of the human resource issues. The choice of justice goal (equality, equity, or need) for basing human resource decisions was related to the human resource issue being addressed. This study also compared employees' perceptions of fairness depending upon various demographic issues. The sample used for this study was fairly homogeneous. However, there were still some statistically significant, but small, difiFerences found between males and females, among employees at different job levels, and between employees who had and had not worked for other companies in in their perceptions of fairness.
Temporal and spectral investigation of multiple-Landau-level quantum beats in GaAs

In the parabolic-band effective-mass approximation model of a semiconductor, application of a magnetic field leads to the formation of equally spaced Landau levels. By application of a spectrally broad laser pulse, one would expect to observe in the coherent emission quantum beats with a periodic time dependence. In fact, in transient (100-fs) four-wave-mixing (FWM) experiments in GaAs, we observed nonperiodic multiple beating between magnetoexcitons associated with different Landau levels. This results from complex density-dependent quantum interferences between coupled slates in the material.1
Flow cytometry analysis of single strand DNA damage in neuroblastoma cell lines using the F7-26 monoclonal antibody

1806 Most chemotherapeutic agents act via DNA damage, and drugs such as alkylating agents and topoisomerase inhibitors act primarily by inducing single-strand DNA (ssDNA) breaks. We developed a flow cytometry method to measure the proportion of cells with ssDNA using the F7-26 monoclonal antibody (Mab) specific for ssDNA. Neuroblastoma cells were treated with melphalan (L-PAM), fenretinide, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC) ± pan-caspase inhibitor BOC-d-fmk, topotecan or with 10Gy gamma radiation ± hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Cytotoxicity was measured by DIMSCAN digital imaging fluorescence assay. Apoptosis by TUNEL, reactive oxygen species (ROS) by carboxy-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, and ssDNA by Mab F7-26 were measured with a BD LSRII flow cytometer, with DNA visualized by propidium iodide counterstaining. Irradiated and immediately fixed neuroblastoma cells showed increased ssDNA, but not apoptosis by TUNEL. 4-HC or L-PAM ± BOC-d-fmk increased ssDNA (F7-26-positive), but BOC-d-fmk prevented TUNEL staining in the same cells. Fenretinide increased apoptosis by TUNEL but not ssDNA damage detected with F7-26. Enhanced ssDNA in neuroblastoma cells treated with radiation + H 2 O 2 was associated with increased ROS. Topotecan increased both ssDNA and cytotoxicity in 4-HC-treated cells. Table shows mean percentages (%) of ssDNA damage assayed by Mab F7-26 or apoptosis assayed by TUNEL assay in neuroblastoma cell lines (n = 3). Thus, Mab F7-26 recognized ssDNA due to exogenous DNA damage, rather than apoptosis. This 2-color assay can be used to accurately and sensitively quantify alkylator- and irradiation-induced ssDNA damage, and also to exclude DNA damage as a mechanism of drug action. This assay should be useful not only for studying the mechanism of drug action in cell culture but also as a pharmacodynamic assay with patient specimens.
Complicated Grief and Cortisol Response: An Integrative Review of the Literature:

BACKGROUND: The loss of a loved one, especially by a caregiver, can be stressful. Grief can affect one emotionally, mentally, behaviorally, spiritually, and physically and affects individuals diffe...
Why Do Students Enroll in Political Science Courses

Why do students enroll in political science courses? I conducted an experiment designed to test the appeal of three possible motivations: students might hope to develop valuable skills, look for a better grasp of current events, or expect a deeper understanding of how the world works and their place within it. The experiment involved visiting several sections of Introduction to American Government courses. In each section, I advertised a political science course offered in the following semester. However, I varied the way in which the course was described and subsequently tracked whether students enrolled in it. I find that highlighting opportunities to develop skills does not have a significant effect on enrollment. In contrast, emphasizing “how the world works” is most effective at increasing enrollment. Qualitative evidence suggests that students are attracted to this type of course because it offers the opportunity for personal development and growth.
The rebirth of the Inline Six at general motors

The Vortec 4200 Inline 6 Engine is entirely new. It was designed for a new family of sports utility vehicles, namely: the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, the Oldsmobile Bravada and the GMC Envoy
REVERSAL OF SEVERE BIVENTRICULAR FAILURE DUE TO CARDIAC HEMOCHROMATOSIS WITH REPEAT PHLEBOTOMY

Hemochromatosis is an inherited disorder with dysregulation of iron absorption resulting in deposition in parenchymal tissues. A 68-year-old White male with past medical history significant for bicuspid aortic valve with ascending aortic aneurysm status post Bental aortic root replacement,
Charcot-Leyden crystal protein/galectin-10 is a surrogate biomarker of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma.

Aim: Eosinophilic asthma is associated with more exacerbations and differential responses to treatment. The aim of this study was to assess if CLC/Gal-10 and MBP-1 are surrogate biomarkers of eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. Methods & results: Sputum induction was performed in patients with asthma and in healthy controls. Sputum analysis revealed higher (p < 0.001) levels of CLC/Gal-10 and MBP-1 in asthmatics versus healthy controls. CLC/Gal-10 levels were highly correlated (rs = 0.74; p < 0.001) with sputum eosinophils; MBP-1 approached significance (r = 0.44; p = 0.07). Conclusion: Increased CLC/Gal-10 and MBP-1 levels in the sputum were strongly correlated with sputum eosinophils in patients with asthma. CLC/Gal-10 and MBP-1 may be useful biomarkers for differentiation of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma.
The vasculature in HFpEF vs HFrEF: differences in contractile protein expression produce distinct phenotypes

Both heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction are associated with abnormalities of the vasculature, including a resting vasoconstriction and a decrease in sensitivity to nitric oxide (NO) mediated vasodilation. Vascular tone is controlled by the expression and activation of both smooth muscle (SM) and nonmuscle (NM) myosin, and NO mediated vasodilation is regulated by the expression of the leucine zipper positive (LZ+) isoform of the myosin targeting subunit (MYPT1) of myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP). This study was designed to determine the expression of these contractile proteins in humans with HFrEF and HFpEF vs normal controls. We isolated tertiary mesenteric vessels from remnant biospecimens of patients undergoing partial or total colectomy at Mayo Clinic Rochester from August 2017 to December 2018, and examined the expression of MYPT1 and the LZ + MYPT1 isoform with immunoblots, while 2D SDS-PAGE was used to resolve the phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated regulatory light chains of NM and SM myosin. Our data show that NM myosin expression, as a percentage of total myosin, was 12 ± 3% (controls, n = 6), 7 ± 5% (HFpEF, n = 4) and 37 ± 18% (HFrEF, n = 5, p < 0.05). Total MYPT1 expression was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in both HFpEF (70 ± 11%) and HFrEF (48 ± 6%); and in HFrEF, LZ + MYPT1 was also depressed (62 ± 19%, <0.05). These results demonstrate that HFrEF and HFpEF are distinct vascular entities, and the changes in protein expression contribute to the vascular abnormalities associated with these diseases. Further in HFpEF, the decrease in MYPT1 would explain why pharmacologic therapies that are designed to activate the NO/cGMP/PKG signaling pathway do not produce a clinical benefit.
Mediastinal metastatic melanoma: an unusual case presentation of recurrent melanoma.

Mediastinal malignant melanoma is rare as both primary and metastatic lesions. We present the case of a 50-year-old man with diagnosis of recurrent melanoma of the mediastinum. Our patient was previously treated for cutaneous melanoma in 2001 with surgical excision. He presented with symptoms of exertional dyspnoea, dull chest pain and non-productive cough for 12 weeks. CT revealed a large heterogeneously enhancing mass, measuring 10.7×7.6 cm, centred within the aortopulmonary window which abutted the adjacent pericardium. Open biopsy of the epicardial mass was performed via left anterior thoracotomy. Immunohistochemical stains performed on the mass were positive for CD99, focally positive for CD56, SOX10, S100 and WT-1. A diagnosis of metastatic melanoma was established. The patient was started on pembrolizumab with pending BRAF testing. V600E and V600K mutations in exon 15 of the BRAF gene were codetected, and the patient was treated with dabrafenib and trametinib.
Party Laws and Party Nationalization: a Critique of Afghan Political Party Laws

Afghan party laws have consistently discouraged ethnic parties and politics. Taking an implicit approach to party nationalization, the laws have set three qualification thresholds for parties: consisting of at least 10,000 members; having offices in at least 20 provinces; and having at least 35 founders, who represent a minimum of 20 provinces. Although these thresholds have not explicitly referred to the ethnic composition of political parties, they were indeed designed to encourage broad-based parties given the regional concentration of ethnic groups. Even so, these laws have failed to encourage cross-ethnic parties or coalitions. Afghan parties have remained fragmented, personalized, and ethnic-based. In fact, no cross-ethnic party has grown in Afghanistan. Although some cross-ethnic coalitions have emerged during elections, they have failed to institutionalize as stable and cohesive political forces. This paper shows that the failure of laws to encourage cross-ethnic parties and coalitions has been due to their command-and control nature (as compared to incentive-based) and the fact that the laws have failed to set a regulatory framework for the cross-ethnic coalitions that have emerged, particularly during the presidential elections.
An observational ergonomic tool for assessing the worn condition of slip-resistant shoes

Abstract Worn shoes are known to contribute to slip-and-fall risk, a common cause of workplace injuries. However, guidelines for replacing shoes are not well developed. Recent experiments and lubrication theory suggest that the size of the worn region is an important contributor to the shoe tread's ability to drain fluid and therefore the under-shoe friction. This study evaluated a simple test for comparing the size of the worn region relative to a common object (AAA and AA battery) as a means of determining shoe replacement. This study consisted of three components involving slip-resistant shoes: Experiment #1: a longitudinal, mechanical, accelerated wear experiment; Experiment #2: a longitudinal experiment where the same shoes were tested after each month of worker use; and Experiment #3: a cross-sectional experiment that exposed participants to a slippery condition, while donning their own worn shoes. The COF (Experiments #1 and #2); under-shoe fluid pressure (all experiments); and slip severity (Experiment #3) were compared across outcomes (fail/pass) of the battery tests. Larger fluid pressures, lower coefficient of friction, and more severe slips were observed for shoes that failed the battery tests compared with those passing the tests. This method offers promise for assessing loss in friction and an increase in slip risk for slip-resistant shoes.
Introduction: Spanish Banking—How Do We Explain a History of Fragility?

This introductory chapter outlines the framework of analysis to explain why banking systems have been unstable in Spain, with a particular emphasis on the 2008 banking crisis and the 2012 financial bailout. It applies the framework developed by Calomiris and Haber (Fragile by Design: The Political Origins of Banking Crises & Scarce Credit. Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2014), and argues that Spanish institutions could not prevent opportunities for the development of rent-seeking coalitions between populist and bankers. This has led to less stable banking system (i.e., more crisis prone) that has provided less abundant credit. The chapter also places the book in the context of the wider literature on financial systems and varieties of capitalism, describes what is unique about this book, and examines the structure of the Spanish banking system.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists closed claims project: the beginning.

Unexpected cardiac arrest during spinal anesthesia: A closed claims analysis of predisposing factors. By Robert A. Caplan, Richard J. Ward, Karen Posner, and Frederick W. Cheney. ANESTHESIOLOGY 1988; 68:5―11. Abstract used with permission. Abstract: Fourteen cases of sudden cardiac arrest in healthy patients who received spinal anesthesia were discovered in a preliminary review of 900 closed insurance claims for major anesthetic mishaps. All patients were resuscitated from the intraoperative cardiac arrest, but six suffered such severe neurologic injury that they died in hospital. Of the eight survivors, only one patient exhibited sufficient neurologic recovery to allow independence in daily self-care. In view of the unexpected nature of these cardiac arrests—as well as the ultimate severity of injury— the cases were analyzed in detail to determine whether there were recurring patterns of anesthetic management that may have contributed to patient morbidity and mortality. Two patterns were identified. The first was the intra-operative use of sufficient sedation to produce a comfortable-appearing, sleep-like state in which there was no spontaneous verbalization. Cyanosis frequently heralded the onset of cardiac arrest in patients exhibiting this degree of sedation, suggesting that unappreciated respiratory insufficiency may have played an important role. The second pattern appeared to be an inadequate appreciation of the interaction between sympathetic blockade during high spinal anesthesia and the mechanisms of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Prompt augmentation of central venous filling through the use of a potent α-agonist and positional change might have improved organ perfusion, shortened the duration of cardiac arrest, and lessened the degree of neurologic damage.
A Compact Volume-Expandable Sorbent for Oil and Solvent Capture

Many sorbents demonstrate exceptionally high absorbance capacity on a per unit mass basis, with some sorbents capable of absorbing hundreds of times their own mass. However, the volumetric capacity...
Evaluation of Linear Implicit Quantized State System method for analyzing mission performance of power systems

The Linear Implicit Quantized State System (LIQSS) method has been evaluated for suitability in modeling and simulation of long duration mission profiles of Naval power systems which are typically ...
Taking the Medical Sciences Seriously: Why and How Medical Sociology Should Incorporate Diverse Disciplinary Perspectives

Over the past two decades, sociologists have increasingly begun to advocate the synthesis of sociological and biological approaches to health and illness (Mechanic and Aiken 1986; Cohen and Williamson 1991; Fremont and Bird 2000; Guo 2006; Schwartz 1999), and several recent reports from the National Research Council suggest that biomedical scientists also promote an integrative model (e.g., From Neurons to Neighborhoods; Shonkoff and Phillips 2000; New Horizons in Health; Singer and Ryff 2001; Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment; Hernandez and Blazer 2006). Scholars from diverse disciplines now recognize the futility of the nature/nurture debate (Hernandez and Blazer 2006; Shonkoff and Phillips 2000), and instead assert that health outcomes are the result of complex interactions between social, psychological, and biological factors being mediated in the brain and body (Hamer 2002; Singer and Ryff 2001). Arguably, the twenty-first century holds the promise of a new kind of health science in which disciplinary boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred. Medical sociology is at a crossroads: On the one hand, we can continue to focus narrowly “on the connections of social conditions to single diseases via single mechanisms at single points in time (Link and Phelan 1995, p. 81),” a strategy which limits our ability to achieve a complete understanding of even those causal factors that are central to sociology. Alternatively, sociologists have the opportunity to contribute to a process of integration and collaboration in which the best theoretical and methodological approaches, irrespective of discipline, are brought to bear on the most pressing empirical questions and public health problems of our generation.
Best Practices for Selecting the Best Fit

Includes bibliographic references and index. For full access, check out the book through your local library, request it on interlibrary loan, or order it through a book dealer.
Transverse acceptance calculation for continuous ion beam injection into the electron beam ion trap charge breeder of the ReA post-accelerator

Abstract The ReA post-accelerator at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) employs an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) as a charge breeder. A Monte-Carlo simulation code was developed to calculate the transverse acceptance phase space of the EBIT for continuously injected ion beams and to determine the capture efficiency in dependence of the transverse beam emittance. For this purpose, the code records the position and time of changes in charge state of injected ions, leading either to capture or loss of ions. To benchmark and validate the code, calculated capture efficiencies were compared with results from a geometrical model and measurements. The results of the code agree with the experimental findings within a few 10%. The code predicts a maximum total capture efficiency of 50% for EBIT parameters readily achievable and an efficiency of up to 80% for an electron beam current density of 1900 A/cm 2 .
Treatment of heart failure in older persons. Dilemmas with coexisting conditions: diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and arthritis.

Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for congestive heart failure. Diabetics with congestive heart failure should have good glycemic control, treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia, and treatment with diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and β blockers as well as digoxin, if the left ventricular ejection fraction is abnormal. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have left ventricular failure because of a coexistent cardiac disorder or right ventricular failure from pulmonary hypertension. An acute respiratory tract infection may precipitate right ventricular failure and should be treated. Alveolar hypoxia should be corrected by improving alveolar ventilation through relieving airflow obstruction with bronchodilators and by increasing inspired oxygen concentration. Loop diuretics should be used cautiously. Beta blockers may be given to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and left ventricular failure if bronchospasm is not present. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors should be used to treat left ventricular failure. Digitalis should not be used in patients with right ventricular failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are contraindicated in patients with congestive heart failure. There are controversial data about the negative interaction between aspirin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with congestive heart failure. Patients with arthritis and congestive heart failure needing large doses of aspirin for pain relief may be treated instead with acetaminophen, tramadol, or Percocet if necessary for chronic severe pain.
Characterization of Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) Isoforms and Comparison of Their Enzymatic Activities toward the Tobacco Etch Virus RNA

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are found in a wide range of plants. Their antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal biological activities point toward RIPs playing important roles in plant's defense mechanisms. RIPs are RNA N-glycosidases. They specifically recognize and depurinate universally conserved sarcin/ricin (S/R) loop of the large rRNA. This leads to ribosomal inactivation and termination of protein synthesis. Phytolacca americana, the common pokeweed plant, produces pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a type 1 RIP. PAP possesses antiviral properties and inhibits translation of viral RNAs, including HIV-1, influenza, poliovirus, brome mosaic virus (BMV) RNAs. PAP inhibits translation of capped RNAs by directly binding to the 5'-cap of the RNA, and depurinating it downstream of the cap structure. The mechanism of uncapped viral RNA translation inhibition is not known. Pokeweed plant produces nine seasonal tissue-distinct PAP isoforms. Some isoforms are known to exhibit stronger antiviral potent...
Spectroscopic flame temperature measurements and their physical significance—II: Results from flame model calculations

Abstract Apparent temperatures have been calculated for several theoretical flame models representing typical laboratory flames. These apparent temperatures correspond to those temperature values which would have been measured by the line reversal, emission-absorption, two-line and slope methods if the theoretical models correspond to real flames. It is shown that differences as large as 800 K may arise between the measured values and the average or weighted average temperatures. Moreover, temperatures measured by the same technique and thermometric species but with different spectral lines may differ by as much as 200 K even if no other errors are involved, such as uncertainties in the transition probabilities. Physical interpretations that go beyond these uncertainties flatter the actual experimental situations and are not justified.
Disgruntled Newfoundland MDs take job action

Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador have been asked to resign from all government committees in a bid to force the province to come up with more money to attract and retain physicians. In September, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association called on Health Minister Julie Bettney to
Bone mineral density and the subsequent risk of cancer in the NHANES I follow-up cohort

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a marker of long-term estrogen exposure. BMD measurement has been used in this context to investigate the association of estrogen with breast cancer risk in three cohorts. In order to assess further BMD as a predictor of estrogen related cancer risk, the association of BMD with colorectal and corpus uteri cancer was investigated in the NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Study (NHEFS) cohort along with breast cancer and prostate cancer. Participants were members of the NHEFS cohort who had BMD measurement in 1974–1975. Age, race, and BMI adjusted rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for incidence of cancers of the corpus uterus, breast, colorectum, prostate, and of osteoporosis and hip fracture related to baseline BMD. Data were available for 6046 individuals. One hundred cases of breast cancer, 94 prostate cancers, 115 colorectal cancers, 29 uterine cancers, 110 cases of hip fracture and 103 cases of osteoporosis were reported between 1974 and 1993. Hip fracture and osteoporosis were both significantly inversely associated with BMD. Uterine cancer was positively associated (p = 0.005, test for linear trend) and colorectal cancer negatively associated (p = 0.03) with BMD. No association was found between elevated BMD and incidence of breast cancer (p = 0.74) or prostate cancer (p = 0.37) in the overall cohort, although a weak association was seen between BMD and subsequent breast cancer incidence when BMD was measured in post-menopausal women (p = 0.04). The findings related to cancers of the uterus and colorectum as well as the weak association of BMD with breast cancer strengthen the use of BMD as a marker of estrogen exposure and cancer risk.
1‐Chloro‐3‐diazo‐2‐propanone

[20485-53-4] C3H3ClN2O (MW 118.53) InChI = 1S/C3H3ClN2O/c4-1-3(7)2-6-5/h2H,1H2 InChIKey = QQRZDPCAMOLWBA-UHFFFAOYSA-N (undergoes Darzens condensation with aldehydes;1, 2 efficiently alkylates benzene;3 forms a quaternary ammonium salt with trimethylamine;4 undergoes PH carbene insertion5 with dimethyl phosphite; displaceable diazo moiety6) Alternate Name: chloromethyl diazomethyl ketone. Physical Data: mp 3 °C; bp 75 °C/13 mmHg. Preparative Method: prepared by reaction of chloroacetyl chloride with excess diazomethane. In most recent reports,1 the crude material is purified by fractional vacuum distillation to furnish product as a yellow oil in 52% yield. In earlier references, isolation of pure material is accomplished by three-fold distillation under reduced pressure8 or crystallization from diethyl ether at −80 °C.7 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: no difficulties have been reported. However, alkyl diazo compounds in general are considered explosive and appropriate precautions should be taken during handling and distillation of these materials. Use in a fume hood.
Post-Stroke Apathy and Hypersomnia Lead to Worse Outcomes from Acute Rehabilitation

Apathy and hypersomnia occur after stroke and, by definition, reduce participation in rehabilitation, but their effect on outcome from acute rehabilitation is not known. We performed a retrospective review of 213 patients admitted to a stroke-specialized acute rehabilitation unit in the United States. All patients had ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, and no dementia or dependence on others pre-stroke. We diagnosed apathy and hypersomnia using standardized documentation by treating therapists. We used multiple regression analysis to control for overall impairment (combination of strength, cognitive and sensory measures), age, time since stroke, and stroke type (ischemic or hemorrhagic). Forty-four (21%) of the patients had persistent apathy, and 12 (5.6%) had persistent hypersomnia. Both groups were more impaired in cognition, sustained attention, and more likely to be treated for depression. Patients with apathy were 2.4 times more likely to go to a nursing home, and had discharge FIM scores 12 points below the mean. Patients with hypersomnia were ten times more likely to go to a nursing home, and had discharge FIM scores 16 points below the mean. These findings indicate that studies to prospectively define these clinical factors and potential confounds using standardized tools are indicated, and if confirmed, justify studies to identify these patients early and develop targeted interventions.
Supramolecular arrays of the [Re6(μ3-Se)8]2+ core-containing clusters mediated by transition metal ions

Abstract Vapor diffusion of diethyl ether into a methanol/dichloromethane (v/v, 1:1) solution of M(NO3)2 (M=Cd2+, Co2+, Zn2+) and the site-differentiated solvated cluster trans-[Re6(μ3-Se)8(PEt3)4(4,4′-dipyridyl)2](SbF6)2 afforded supramolecular arrays featuring the [Re6(μ3-Se)8]2+ core-containing clusters mediated by the transition metal ions. The cluster complex with two 4,4′-dipyridyl moieties can be viewed as an expanded dipyridyl ligand, serving to coordinate the transition metal ions via a pair of Npyridyl–M dative bonds. All compounds have been characterized by microanalysis (CHN) and their solid-state structures have been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Two polymorphous forms (1 and 2) of the crystal of M  Cd2+ have been obtained, one of which (1) exhibits a highly porous structure, whereas the other (2) displays a wavy one-dimensional arrangement. The latter form is isostructural with the complex with Co2+ (3). In the case of Zn2+ (4), the cluster complex ligand and the mediating Zn2+ are arranged in a zigzag fashion, with an average Npyridyl–M–Npyridyl angle bond of 88°.
Two modes of intense cocaine bingeing: increased persistence after social defeat stress and increased rate of intake due to extended access conditions in rats.

Rationale Escalated, binge-like patterns of cocaine self-administration are engendered by repeated, intermittent exposure to episodes of social defeat stress, as well as by extended drug access.
Creep buckling of viscoelastic structures

Abstract The creep buckling of viscoelastic structures is investigated analytically and experimentally. The theory of linear viscoelasticity is used to model polymeric column specimens subjected to constant compressive end loads. The growth of initial imperfections is calculated using the hereditary integral formulation. Solution techniques are developed for small displacements and also generalized to include the effects of non-linear kinematics. It turns out that the kinematically linear model represents the deformation process closely and conservatively; material non-linearities are not dominant since maximum strains of the order of only 2% are encountered. The analyses are exact with respect to (non-linear) kinematics and linearly viscoelastic material representation. A failure criterion based on maximum deformation allows the column life to be determined from the material relaxation modulus if the initial imperfections are known. A discussion on the possible generalization of the results to include plates and shells is presented. Results of creep buckling experiments performed on PMMA specimens at elevated temperatures (accelerating the creep behavior) are reported. The relaxation modulus of PMMA is represented by a Prony-Dirichlet series and the model is used to simulate the laboratory experiments. Model and experimental results are compared and discussed especially with respect to uncontrollable material behavior.
Early Practice of Dietetics during the Civil War

Abstract LEARNING OUTGONE : To identify at least two ways in which early practitioners of dietetics dealt with malnutrition and disease among soldiers during the American Civil War. Over half of the 600,000 casualties in the American Civil War, fought between 1861 and 1865, were due to disease; despite these grim figures, the fact that others nevertheless did recover from illness and/or wounds is testimony to the combined efforts of many men and women in establishing procedures to provide nourishment and medical care to Union and Confederate soldiers. This investigator has researched diaries, letters, reports, and biographies of surgeons, nurses, commissions, civilians, and soldiers themselves; many of these reveal heroic efforts of individuals both in the north and south to nourish sick and wounded soldiers on the battlefield and in hospitals - often without regard to color of uniform, and at great risk to their own health and safety in unsanitary and dangerous surroundings. Highlights of this history are presented as a special program for dietetics students enrolled in a Foundations of Dietetic Practice course, and includes discussion of 19th century hospital diet kitchen rules, recipes, and procedures. Outside reading is assigned, and examination questions are used to assess learning of dietetics history in the course. Students searching the beginnings of their profession in Civil War hospitals and camps will discover resourceful individuals and groups who paid considerable attention to special dietary needs of soldiers who fought in the bloodiest war of our nation's history.
Slow base excision by human alkyladenine DNA glycosylase limits the rate of formation of AP sites and AP endonuclease 1 does not stimulate base excision

Abstract The base excision repair pathway removes damaged DNA bases and resynthesizes DNA to replace the damage. Human alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG) is one of several damage-specific DNA glycosylases that recognizes and excises damaged DNA bases. AAG removes primarily damaged adenine residues. Human AP endonuclease 1 (APE1) recognizes AP sites produced by DNA glycosylases and incises the phophodiester bond 5′ to the damaged site. The repair process is completed by a DNA polymerase and DNA ligase. If not tightly coordinated, base excision repair could generate intermediates that are more deleterious to the cell than the initial DNA damage. The kinetics of AAG-catalyzed excision of two damaged bases, hypoxanthine and 1,N6-ethenoadenine, were measured in the presence and absence of APE1 to investigate the mechanism by which the base excision activity of AAG is coordinated with the AP incision activity of APE1. 1,N6-ethenoadenine is excised significantly slower than hypoxanthine and the rate of excision is not affected by APE1. The excision of hypoxanthine is inhibited to a small degree by accumulated product, and APE1 stimulates multiple turnovers by alleviating product inhibition. These results show that APE1 does not significantly affect the kinetics of base excision by AAG. It is likely that slow excision by AAG limits the rate of AP site formation in vivo such that AP sites are not created faster than can be processed by APE1.