cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adsorption of Tetrathiomolybdate to Iron Sulfides and Its Impact on Iron Sulfide Transformations

Molybdenum (Mo) in marine sediments has been used as a paleoproxy to provide evidence for past oceanic euxinic and sulfidic conditions through its association with pyrite. Here, we examine the adso...
Point-of-care ultrasound for the evaluation of venous cannula position in neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVE To assess the ability of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to identify venous cannula position in neonates on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and compare with conventional imaging. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review of 37 infants on ECMO with 51 POCUS studies between January 2017 and October 2019. Studies were reviewed for identification of venous cannula location and compared with plain radiography and echocardiography. Kappa statistic and predictive values were calculated. RESULTS Venous cannula tip position was identified in 90% of POCUS studies. Fifty percent of the cannula tips were malpositioned. Plain radiography, the most commonly used method for evaluating tip position, showed poor agreement (57%) with POCUS (kappa 0.13). There was substantial agreement (89%) between echocardiography and POCUS (kappa 0.78). CONCLUSION This study provides preliminary evidence that POCUS is more accurate than plain radiography for the evaluation of ECMO venous cannula position. Adoption of this practice may prevent potentially catastrophic ECMO complications.
Cardiovascular responses to putative chemoreceptor stimulation of embryonic common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) chronically incubated in hypoxia (10% O2).

Abstract Developmental hypoxia has been shown to result in significant changes in cardiovascular development of American alligators and common snapping turtles. These include similar effects on cardiac mass and aspects of cardiovascular function. However, given the distant phylogenetic relationship between crocodilians and chelonians, we hypothesized that snapping turtles would also exhibit differences in the effects of developmental hypoxia on cardiovascular regulation. This hypothesis was based in part on prior studies that documented differences in plasticity of vagal tone on the heart between alligators and snapping turtles incubated in hypoxic conditions. To test this hypothesis, we investigated how 10% O2 exposure over final 80% of incubation altered the heart rate and blood pressure response to two chemical manipulations of the “chemoreflex” in common snapping turtles at 70% and 90% of incubation. NaCN injections produced a dose dependent bradycardia that was mediated by cholinergic receptor stimulation. This reflex was relatively unaffected by hypoxic incubation conditions in snapping turtle embryos. Injections of the 5-HT3 agonist phenylbiguanide (PBG) caused a pronounced bradycardia that decreased in intensity at 90% of incubation in embryos from the normoxic group while the heart rate response was unchanged in the hypoxic group. This differs from the previously reported diminished heart rate response of embryonic alligators incubated in 10% O2, suggesting plasticity in this chemoreflex response differs between the species. Our data also indicate the cardiovascular response is mediated by a secondary cholinergic receptor stimulation however the inability of ganglionic blockade to inhibit the PBG response leaves the location of the receptors antagonized by PBG in question in embryonic snapping turtles. Primarily, our findings refute the hypothesis that hypoxic incubation decreases the “chemoreflex’ response of snapping turtle embryos.
Adolescent bullying victimization and psychosomatic symptoms: Can relationship quality with fathers buffer this association?

Abstract The present study explored racial/ethnic and sex differences in fathers’ awareness and perceived ease of communication with fathers and how they are related to adolescent bullying victimization and psychosomatic symptoms. Data were drawn from the 2009 to 2010 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study in the United States. The sample consists of 5,121 White, 1,497 African American, and 1,850 Hispanic adolescents in grades 5 to 10. For all three racial and ethnic groups, bullying victimization was positively associated with psychosomatic symptoms. A higher level of the child's perception of their father's awareness was found to be positively associated with lower levels of bullying victimization for White and Hispanic adolescents. African American, White, and Hispanic adolescents who perceived their fathers as easy to communicate with had a lower risk of bullying victimization. The child's perception of their father's awareness buffered the positive association between bullying victimization and psychosomatic symptoms for Hispanic adolescents. A higher child's perception of their father's awareness was related to lower bullying victimization for adolescents of both sexes. The child's perception of their father's awareness and their perceived ease of communication with their father were found to be associated with a decreased risk of psychosomatic symptoms for both sexes. Overall, the results support the importance of relationship quality with fathers as a protective factor against bullying victimization.
Regulatory Focus, Proximity to Goal Weight, and Weight Loss Maintenance.

Objectives Regulatory focus theory proposes 2 self-regulatory orientations: promotion focus – related to achieving aspirations and positive outcomes – and prevention focus – related to fulfilling responsibilities and preventing negative outcomes. The investigation examined whether regulatory focus and proximity to goal weight moderated the effectiveness of a weight-loss maintenance intervention.
Photoplethysmographic Signal to Screen Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients: Feasibility of a Prospective Clinical Pathway.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the plethysmographic signal-derived oxygen desaturation index (ODI) as an inpatient screening strategy to identify sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Background SDB is highly prevalent among patients hospitalized with CHF but is widely underdiagnosed. We evaluated overnight photoplethysmography as a possible screening strategy for hospitalized patients with CHF. Methods Consecutively admitted heart failure patients with high clinical suspicion of SDB and ODI ≥5 were offered outpatient polysomnography (PSG), which was completed within 4 weeks of discharge. PSG was considered positive if the apnea hypoxia index (AHI) was ≥5. A Bland-Altman plot was used to assess agreement between ODI and AHI. Receiver-operator characteristics were determined for ODI ≥5 and AHI ≥5. Results A screening questionnaire identified 246 of 282 consecutive patients with positive symptoms for SDB. Of these patients, 105 patients were offered further evaluation and 86 had ODI ≥5 (mean ODI 17 ± 17). Among these 86 patients, 68 underwent outpatient PSG within 4 weeks of discharge. PSG showed that 64 (94%) had SDB, with a mean AHI of 28. Inpatient ODI correlated well with PSG-derived AHI. The area under the curve was 0.82 for AHI ≥5. The Bland-Altman plot revealed no major bias. Matthew’s correlation coefficient revealed that the optimal cut-off for ODI is 5. Conclusions Screening hospitalized patients with heart failure using targeted inpatient ODI identifies a cohort of patients with a high prevalence of SDB. Our screening strategy provides a potentially cost-effective method for early detection and treatment of SDB.
ERBB2, TBX2, RPS6KB1, and MYC alterations in breast tissues of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers

Breast cancer risk is greatly increased in women who carry mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Because breast cancer initiation is different between BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and women who do not carry mutations, it is possible that the mechanism of breast cancer progression is also different. Histopathologic and genetic studies have supported this hypothesis. To test this hypothesis further, we utilized a large cohort of women who underwent therapeutic mastectomy (TM) and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (PM). From this cohort, we developed case groups of women with a family history of breast cancer with BRCA1/2 deleterious mutations, with unclassified variant alterations, and with no detected mutation and matched these cases with sporadic controls from the same TM and PM cohort. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was performed on paraffin sections by use of dual-color probes for ERBB2/CEP17, MYC/CEP8, TBX2/CEP17, and RPS6KB1/CEP17. All malignant and benign lesions, including putative precursor lesions, were studied. The invasive cancers from deleterious mutation carriers had a higher prevalence of duplication of MYC (P = 0.006) and TBX2 (P = 0.0008) compared to controls and a lower prevalence of ERBB2 amplification (P = 0.011). Coduplication of MYC and TBX2 was common in the in situ and invasive lesions from the deleterious mutation carriers. The odds ratio of having a BRCA1/2 mutation is 31.4 (95% CI = 1.7–569) when MYC and TBX2 are coduplicated but ERBB2 is normal. Unclassified variant carriers/no mutation detected and sporadic controls had a similar prevalence of alterations, suggesting that hereditary patients with no deleterious mutations follow a progression pathway similar to that of sporadic cases. With the exception of one atypical ductal hyperplasia lesion, no putative precursor lesion showed any detectable alteration of the probes tested. There was no significant intratumoral heterogeneity of genetic alterations. Our data confirm that a specific pattern of genomic instability characterizes BRCA1/2-related cancers and that this pattern has implications for the biology of these cancers. Moreover, our current and previous results emphasize the interaction between phenotype and genotype in BRCA1/2-related breast cancers and that a combination of morphologic features and alterations of ERBB2, MYC, and TBX2 may better define mechanisms of tumor progression, as well as determine which patients are more likely to carry BRCA1/2 mutations. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Health, Human Rights, and Ethics

Public health and human rights are complementary—and, at times, conflicting—approaches to protecting and promoting human well-being and dignity. Public health addresses the needs of populations and seeks, through intervention and education, to prevent the spread of disease. Enshrined in international law, human rights describe the obligations of governments to safeguard their citizenry from harm and to create conditions where each individual can achieve his or her full potential. Human rights norms lie at the core of public health theory and practice, and their enforcement can help to ensure an equitable distribution of health resources.
The effects of monetary and fiscal policy on aggregate demand in a small open economy : an application of the structural error correction model

This paper empirically analyzes the short-run effects of monetary and fiscal policy on aggregate demand, using the two-step structural error correction method. This method has an advantage over the standard reduced-form error correction method in providing a meaningful interpretation for impulse responses, The results are in sharp contrast to those of the traditional Mundell-Fleming and Dornbusch models: after the monetary (fiscal) policy is relaxed, the home currency depreciates (appreciates) for a substantial period of time, and the aggregate demand first expands (contracts) then gradually returns toward its original path.
A novel technique using a steerable guide catheter to successfully deliver an Amplatzer septal occluder to close an atrial septal defect.

Correct positioning of an Amplatzer ASD occluder can be difficult in vertical hearts or in those with diminutive or missing septal rims. In this report we describe the use of a steerable sheath to position the device in the plane of the ASD to achieve success. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Full‐Frontal History of the Romanov Dynasty: Pictorial “Political Pornography” in Pre‐Reform Russia

This profusely illustrated article expands the chronological and evidentiary basis of Boris Kolonitskii's argument about the role of scurrilous rumors and sexual innuendo in the desacralization of the Russian monarchy and demonstrates the complexity of the processes of reception, re-appropriation, and subversion of imperial “scenarios of power.” It does so by offering a close reading of what is arguably the earliest-known example of the genre of pictorial “political pornography” in Russia: a set of five, unique watercolors from the collection of the New York Public Library depicting eighteenth-century Russian emperors and empresses in flagrante delicto. The author presents evidence that suggests that this anonymous series of “folded” or “double pictures” (skladnye or dvoinye kartinki) was created in the first half of the nineteenth century by means of a subversive repurposing of Russian popular broadsheets, French revolutionary pornography, and official Russian royal portraiture. He argues that this artifact of male salon culture is the product of a deliberate attempt to create nothing less than an alternative, unexpurgated history of the House of Romanov: a sexually explicit, full-frontal assault that takes pleasure in exposing the “mysteries of state” that nineteenth-century royal apologists sought to conceal in official histories of the dynasty, which presented the children of Paul I and Maria Fedorovna as epigones of family values and models for the nation.
Arthroscopic treatment of labratears

Abstract The acetabular labrum serves important physiological and biomechanical functions, allowing for normal hip function. Tears of the acetabular labrum occur in active, young patients. Common injuries attributed to labral tears include direct blows, falls, twisting injuries, and running. In many patients, however, the onset of symptoms is insidious, with atraumatic tearing caused by repetitive activities. These injuries, in most cases, may be diagnosed through careful history, physical examination, and magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography. A small subset of patients may respond to conservative treatment when initiated early. Arthroscopy of the hip is the gold standard both for diagnosing and treating labral tears. By using careful techniques and arthroscopic instrumentation adapted for the hip, arthroscopic treatment of labral tears may be performed with a very low rate of complications and successful treatment of symptoms in the majority of patients. However, long-term outcomes after partial labrectomy are not known.
Quantitative exposure assessment for confinement of maize biogenic systems.

The development of transgenic crops as production platforms for biogenic agents will largely depend on the success of efforts to confine the genes and their expressed proteins in field environments. We have used quantitative exposure assessment to evaluate how management practices affect materials escape due to outcrossing by pollen flow or grain loss during harvest operations. Specifically, we study the use of maize to produce biogenic agents within field-confined systems. Decision trees representing simplified schemes of fully conforming (designed to comply with current regulatory standards for field confined trials), partially conforming, and non-conforming management practices were developed. Exemplifying assumptions and published data for conformance and material fate probabilities were used in Monte Carlo simulations to forecast materials escape by pollen outcrossing and harvest operations from a 1 ha source field. Deterministic analyses showed fully conforming confinement management restricted materials loss to low levels (for this example, outcrossing produced 15000-fold over the base result in receptor fields, and harvest loss was >10000-fold over the base result. For non-conforming practice, high-end outcrossing produced >15000-fold greater kernels in receptor fields and high-end harvest loss was at least 19000-fold greater. Deterministic estimates of off-field loss by machine transfer are as much as 30000-fold higher for non-conforming operations relative to the base case of pollen outcrossing. Better knowledge of failure frequencies for confinement management practices, improved physical models of materials flows, refined analysis of confinement loss probabilities using quantitative tools, and decision analysis to improve and audit management system performance are all needed to extend understanding of confinement integrity beyond the exemplifying case used here.
An Aqueous Thermodynamic Model for the Complexation of Nickel with EDTA Valid to High Base Concentration

An aqueous thermodynamic model is developed which accurately describes the effects of high base concentration on the complexation of Ni2+ by ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid (EDTA). The model is primarily developed from an extensive dataset on the solubility of Ni(OH)2(cr) in the presence of EDTA and in the presence and absence of Ca2 + as the competing metal ion. The solubility data for Ni(OH)2(cr) were obtained in solutions ranging in NaOH concentration from 0.01 to 11.6 mol-kg−1, and in Ca2 + concentrations extending to saturation with respect to portlandite, Ca(OH)2. Owing to the inert nature of the Ni-EDTA complexation reactions, solubility experiments were approached from both the oversaturation and undersaturation direction and over time frames extending to 413 days. The final aqueous thermodynamic model is based upon the equations of Pitzer, accurately predicts the observed solubilities to concentrations as high as 11.6 mol-kg−1 NaOH, and is consistent with UV–Vis spectroscopic studies of the complexes in solution.
Prolonged usage of prophylactic intravenous (IV) antibiotics (ABX) for preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) may be associated with fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS)

(ABX) FOR PRETERM PREMATURE RUPTURE OF THE MEMBRANES (PPROM) MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH FETAL INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME (FIRS) ROBERT ABRAMS, KRISTINA BELL MIXER, PETER G. PRYDE, MARK SANTILLAN, JOHN G. GIANOPOULOS, JONATHAN MURASKAS, RICHARD E. BESINGER, ROBERT MITTENDORF, Loyola University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maywood, Illinois, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, University of Iowa, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iowa City, Iowa, and Loyola University Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Maywood, Illinois OBJECTIVE: Last year, we reported that prolonged IV ABX prophylaxis for PPROM did not improve sterilization of the chorioamnion space (AJOG 2005;193:S185[653]). Herein, we evaluate the impact of ABX prophylaxis on FIRS, adocumented risk factor for adverse neonatal outcomes (AJOG1998;179: 194; AJOG 1999;181:773; AJOG 2003;188:1438; J Perinat Med 2005;33:428). STUDY DESIGN: During the Magnesium and Neurologic Endpoints Trial, the Epidemiologic Data File (EDF) of variables included: 1) precise tabulation (drug and dose) of IV ABX used; 2) umbilical cord blood plasma interleukin-6 levels (IL-6, ELISA method); and, 3) placental histology to determine the presence of funisitis (transmural migration of neutrophils through cord blood vessel walls). We define FIRS as elevated cord IL-6 levels (O25 pg/ml) and/or funisitis. RESULTS: In the EDF, 97 PPROM mothers had data linkage between ABX, IL-6 levels, and placental histology. At delivery, 31 babies had FIRS. The median antenatal exposure to ABX was 13 doses; 89% of women received IV ampicillin (2g each dose); 76% got erythromycin (500 mg each); 63% got both ampicillin and erythromycin; 9%, cefazolin (2 g each dose); 12%, gentamicin (120 mg each); and, 5%, clindamycin (600 mg each dose). Using the Cochran Armitage Trend Test (Table), we now find a significant correlation between increased exposure to IV ABX and FIRS (P=.03). When using multivariate logistic regression to control for confounding, we find that exposure to O12 ABX doses is an independent risk factor for FIRS (adj OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 6.8). CONCLUSION: Other reports indicate benefit of prolonged latency (PPROM-to-delivery) when using ABX prophylaxis. Our data suggest, however, that prolongation is also a risk factor for FIRS. Given the known adverse outcomes following fetal inflammatory response, the possible benefits of antibiotics-related prolonged latency, when viewed in the context of increased FIRS, need further investigation.
Comparative methodology for distant relationships in North and South American languages

Abstract Comparative linguistics has been an indispensable tool for classifying languages for the last couple of centuries. The method has been successfully used for grouping of languages with obvious relationships; it is also used, though less successfully, for identifying more distant relationships. An example is the placing of Hittite with the Indo-European languages. Languages with close relationships show a good deal of regularity in their reflexes from former states. More distant relationships exhibit fewer and fewer regularities, and thus comparative methodology is less secure. I propose that there are other linguistic features that can be observed in the application of comparative methodology to distant relationships. For example, the phonetic variants of the languages may show patterns of language change which are at the phonemic level in other languages. Another feature to observe is the pattern of fluctuations which occur between phonemes, as well as between phonetic variants. Still another structural feature which can maintain parallels between related families is the distribution pattern — phonemes within morphemes and within words, and the potential consonant and vowel clusters. One might also study “loanwords” (not always easily identifiable), to see if they exhibit patterns that reflect borrowings between related languages. At the semantic level, one can study the various meanings within cognate sets — if the same set of meanings occur in another group of languages, it may reflect common history. Finally, one can study the patterns of reflexes of the obviously related languages. If a proto form has been reconstructed, in addition, one must study the actualizations in the various languages. Proto forms 2 can obscure useful identification markers, especially if they have been wrongly reconstructed. I maintain caution in proposing proto forms for distantly related languages.
Mixed difference matrices and the construction of orthogonal arrays

Abstract We introduce a method to construct asymmetrical orthogonal arrays through the generalized Kronecker sum of (nonorthogonal) mixed-level matrix and mixed difference matrices. This method is distinct from that of Wang and Wu (1991) and produces a new class of arrays
Animal models and molecular imaging tools to investigate lymph node metastases

Lymph node metastasis is a strong predictor of poor outcome in cancer patients. Animal studies of lymph node metastasis are constrained by difficulties in the establishment of appropriate animal models, limitations in the noninvasive monitoring of lymph node metastasis progression, and challenges in the pathologic confirmation of lymph node metastases. In this comprehensive review, we summarize available preclinical animal cancer models for noninvasive imaging and identification of lymph node metastases of non-hematogenous cancers. Furthermore, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of common noninvasive imaging modalities used to identify tumor-bearing lymph nodes and provide guidelines for their pathological confirmation.
Palliative surgery for advanced cancer: lessons learned in patient selection and outcome assessment.

Introduction: When considering the appropriate and effective use of palliative procedures, a surgeon is often confronted with a full range of multidisciplinary treatment options and technical considerations that could potentially relieve some of the symptoms of an advanced malignancy. Practitioners must often deliberate over complex choices that can greatly impact a patient's final days. Methods: Advances in the understanding of surgical palliation are reviewed with emphasis on elements required for sound clinical decision making. Results: Palliation of complications from advanced cancer demands the highest level of surgical judgment. Although consideration of risk in terms of treatment-related toxicity, morbidity and mortality is an important part of the surgical decision making process. Attention to this element should not be the sole factor in making decisions about palliative therapy. Decisions are best made on endpoints such as the probability of symptom resolution, the impact on overall quality of life, pain control, and cost effectiveness. Conclusions: Regardless of the anatomic site and cause leading to the need for palliative intervention, deliberations over surgical palliation must consider the medical condition and performance status of the patient, the extent and prognosis of the cancer, the availability and success of nonsurgical management, and the individual patient's quality and expectancy of life. Therapy for symptoms must remain flexible and individualized to continually meet the patient's unique and ever changing needs.
Cryosurgical ablation of hepatic tumors

Background Cryosurgical ablation of hepatic tumors relies on nonspecific tissue necrosis due to freezing as well as microvascular thrombosis. Patients with selected primary and metastatic hepatic malignancies who are not candidates for surgical resection are afforded potentially curative benefit using this technique. Methods Forty patients underwent cryosurgery for hepatic malignancy related to colorectal metastasis (n = 27), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 8), metastatic breast (n = 2), metastatic neuroendocrine (n = 2), and metastatic ovarian carcinoma (n = 1). Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) was used in all patients to help locate the tumor and guide the cryosurgical trocar to the lesions. Results Indications for cryosurgical ablation included bilobar and centrally located disease, poor medical risk, insufficient hepatic reserve, and involved margin after wedge resection. Major complications included hepatic parenchyma cracking requiring transfusion in 5 patients, 1 postoperative biliary stenosis, and 1 inferior vena cava injury. There were 3 postoperative deaths from non-hepatic-related events. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis the estimated overall survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (60% at 18 months) was compared with patients with colorectal metastases (30% at 18 months). Nine patients (23%) are currently free of disease with an average follow-up of 17.7 months. The pattern of failure was identified at the site of cryosurgical ablation in 2 of 88 lesions. Conclusions Cryosurgical ablation of selected hepatic malignancies is a safe and viable treatment for patients not amenable to surgical resection.
Recent volumetric changes in salt marsh soils

Salt marsh sediment volume decreases from organic decomposition, compaction of solids, and de-watering, and each of these processes may change with age. Variability in the vertical accretion rate within the upper 2 m was determined by assembling results from concurrent application of the 137 Cs and 210 Pb dating techniques used to estimate sediment age since 1963/1964, and 0 to ca 100+ years before present (yBP), respectively. The relationship between 210 Pb and the 137 Cs dated accretion rates (Sed 210 and Sed 137 , respectively) was linear for 45 salt marsh and mangrove environments. Sed 210 averaged 75% of Sed 137 suggesting that vertical accretion over the last 100+ years is driven by soil organic matter accumulation, as shown for the pre 137 Cs dated horizon. The ratio of Sed 210 /Sed 137 declines with increasing mineral content. A linear multiple regression equation that includes bulk density and Sed 137 to predict Sed 210 described 97% of the variance in Sed 210 . Sediments from Connecticut, Delaware and Louisiana coastal environments dated with 14 C indicate a relatively constant sediment accretion rate of 0.13 cm year -1 for 1000-7000 yBP, which occurs within 2 m of today's marsh surface and equals modern sea level rise rates. Soil subsidence is not shown to be distinctly different in these vastly different coastal settings. The major reason why the Sed 137 measurements indicate higher accretion rates than do the Sed 210 measurements is because the former apply to younger sediments where the effects of root growth and decomposition are greater than in the latter. The most intense rates of change in soil volume in organic-rich salt marshes sediments is, therefore, neither in deep or old sediments (>4 m; >1000 years), but within the first several hundreds of years after accumulation. The average changes in organic and inorganic constituents downcore are nearly equal for 58 dated sediment cores from the northern Gulf of Mexico. These parallel changes downcore are best described as resulting from compaction, rather than from organic matter decomposition. Thus most of the volumetric changes in these salt marsh sediments occurs in the upper 2 m, and declines quickly with depth. Extrapolation forwards or backwards, using results from the 210 Pb and the 137 Cs dating technique appear to be warranted for the types of samples from the environments described here.
Assessing vegetation cover on the date of satellite-derived start of spring

Time series of satellite imagery are commonly used to study and model phenology. To use these models, their results must be compared with time series of areal field data, and vegetation condition must be assessed relative to model predictions. Field data and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data for corn fields in Illinois, USA, were collected throughout the growing season, including vegetation cover fraction (VCF) derived from kite aerial photography (KAP). The mean height of corn on the estimated start of spring (SOS) date was just over 2 cm and the mean VCF on SOS was nearly 10%, indicating that satellite models of phenology lag behind field-based measures of phenology like crop emergence. The relationships between MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and both KAP NDVI (coefficient of determination (R 2) = 0.918, p < 0.000) and KAP VCF (R 2 = 0.920, p < 0.000) were strong, highlighting the importance of areal field data in phenology studies.
Clastogenicity of formaldehyde fumes and X-rays evaluated by the Tradescantia-micronucleus assay

Abstract The present study was designed to demonstrate the clastogenic effect of formaldehyde fumes (FA) with the Tradescantia–micronucleus (Trad–MCN) assay, which exhibits chromosome damage in the form of micronuclei in the meiotic microspore mother cells. The clastogenic effect of X-rays on the same germ cell system was also evaluated for comparison with that of FA to establish the relative effectiveness of FA. Tradescantia plant cuttings were exposed to FA for 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 h at a dose rate of 72 ppm/min in a dynamic gas flow fumigation chamber. The MCN frequencies of 5.5, 8.2, 20, 26 and 37 MCN/100 tetrads were induced by each of the increasing dosages of FA, respectively. Linear regression analysis of the FA data yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.956. A parallel series of experiment using five increasing doses of X-rays at 18.6, 27.9, 37.2, 46.5 and 55.8 cGy at a dose rate of 37.3 cGy/min was conducted. The MCN frequencies of 7.7, 10.5, 17.2, 27.4, and 44.8 MCN/100 tetrads were observed from each of the increasing X-ray dosage groups, respectively. Linear regression analysis of the X-ray data MCN frequencies yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.997. The MCN frequency for the control groups yielded 4.3 MCN/100 tetrads for the FA and 3.2 MCN/100 tetrads for the X-ray experiments. By comparing the results of these two series of experiments, the relative clastogenic effectiveness of FA at the median dose of 2.7×10−4 MCN/ppm for FA is equivalent to 5.08×10−4 MCN/0.01 mGy for X-rays, or roughly the clastogenic effect of 1 ppm of FA equals 5.3 μGy of X-rays. In other words, the amount of damage from 1 ppm of FA could inflict as much as the damage done by the exposure to 0.57 mrad of ionizing radiation.
Gender Differences in the Connections Between Violence Experienced as a Child and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adulthood

This paper uses longitudinal and nationally representative survey data to investigate the direct relationship between three forms of child maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse), and future intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in the USA. We further examine the indirect effect that child maltreatment has on future IPV perpetration through the presence of youth violence perpetration, and the roles of socioeconomic factors on committing youth violence and IPV. Analyses indicate that gender differences exist for the developmental relationship between child maltreatment and young adult IPV perpetration, and the effects of socioeconomic factors on youth violence and IPV perpetration. For males, the direct effects of being neglected/physically abused as a child on IPV perpetration are not significant. However, the indirect effects of being neglected/physically abused on IPV perpetration through the presence of youth violence perpetration are significant. For females, the direct effects of being neglected/physically abused on IPV perpetration are significant. The indirect effect of being neglected on IPV perpetration is significant, while the indirect effect of childhood physical abuse is not significant. Childhood sexual abuse is not significantly directly associated with IPV perpetration for females; however, for males, it is the strongest (i.e., largest effect size) direct predictor of IPV perpetration. The indirect effects of childhood sexual abuse on IPV perpetration are not significant for both females and males.
Racial Disparities in Poverty Status among Families of Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Poverty rates among individuals with disabilities are much higher than for the general U.S. population. However, little is known about the likelihood of poverty among families of those with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Objectives: Examine the association of pre-injury and post-injury education with the likelihood of familial poverty by race/ethnicity for 1,405 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who had a traumatic spinal cord injury at least one year prior to the study interview (2003). Methods: Based on reported household income in 2002, familial poverty status of individuals with a SCI was determined based on United States (U.S.) Federal Poverty Guidelines during the year of reported income. Based on a conceptual model of human capital loss and acquisition, a model of the likelihood of poverty was estimated separately for Non-Hispanic White and Black/Hispanic families. Results: 18.33% of Non-Hispanic White families and 42.35% of Black/Hispanic families with a member having SCI were found to be living below the poverty level. Bachelor's degree education attainment was the most important factor and was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of familial poverty for Non-Hispanic White (-0.10) and for Black/Hispanic families (-0.27). Conclusions: We have proposed that the Social Security Administration grant presumptive disability eligibility for SCI, guarantee continued medical benefits after employment and pilot an online college degree reimbursement plan to reduce poverty among families of individuals with SCI.
Commentary; Usage of stratigraphic terminology in papers, illustrations and talks

ABSTRACT Some writers and speakers have problems with clear usage of stratigraphic terminology, a topic made more acute by the appearance of the complex 1983 North American Code and revisions in progress of the 1976 International Guide. The basic categories of stratigraphic units are 1) material; 2) nonmaterial; 3) hybrid. Examples are the well-known rock (lithostratigraphic), time (geochronologic), and time-rock (chronostratigraphic) units, respectively. Lesser-known categories include magnetostratigraphic, lithodemic, pedostratigraphic, unconformity-bounded, and diachronic units. Both formal and informal stratigraphic units are recognized. All words in formal units are capitalized. Only the geographically derived name in informal units is generally capitalized. Inadequate distinction between time and place words, both formal and informal, leads to unnecessary confusion. Misuse of early versus lower and late versus upper is prevalent. Publications such as lexicons and correlation charts are recommended as initial sources of stratigraphic information. Naming, revising, and abandoning formal stratigraphic nomenclature is governed by specific rules laid down in the Code and Guide. In illustrations of stratigraphic units, it is important to distinguish clearly between scales of time and position. Strata are not measured in years, nor time in meters!
Family attitudes about tobacco smoke exposure of young children at home.

ABSTRACTPurposeTo explore families' attitudes about smoking and their perceptions of the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on their children.Study Design and MethodsQualitative study using face-to-face interviews with a semistructured guide in 20 households containing a child und
Transforming biomedical research to develop effective TB vaccines: the next ten years.

The 2012 Strategic Blueprint for tuberculosis (TB) vaccines presents a cogent vision for developing and introducing safe and effective TB vaccines within a decade. This document offers a valuable reappraisal of how we can best move this critical area of research forward to help achieve our ultimate goal of eliminating tuberculosis worldwide. The new Blueprint builds on more than 10 years of exceptional progress in TB science and product development since the 2000 publication of the first Blueprint, which resulted from a workshop organized by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). For a research field that began to receive serious attention and commitment of substantial resources only in the mid1990s, remarkable gains have been achieved. The framework laid out in the original Blueprint for creating a sustainable infrastructure for the clinical development of candidate TB vaccines is updated in the current plan to reflect new knowledge gained from studying multiple vaccine candidates in preclinical studies and human clinical trials. This update will enable us to refine our approach and define research gaps that must be filled if we are to make licensure of new TB vaccines a reality. The NIH welcomes the publication of the 2012 Blueprint, and we look forward to continuing to work with the many committed scientists and our public and private partners in the global effort to control and ultimately end the global TB pandemic. TB control programs have led to a recent worldwide decline in the number of people falling ill and dying from TB. However, as noted in the 2011 Global Plan to Stop TB, novel drugs, rapid diagnostics, and, importantly, an effective vaccine are all needed to accelerate the decline of TB cases worldwide and drive TB toward elimination. Multifaceted global efforts will be required to reach this goal. As part of the international team dedicated to TB elimination, NIH will sustain and accelerate our support of the basic and clinical research that plays a critical role in developing medical countermeasures for TB, primarily through research supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). NIAID’s strategic goals for the developing new TB vaccines are well complemented by and reflected in the new Blueprint. In U.S.-based research and collaborations conducted in more
Integration of Rapid Prototyping and Electroforming for Tooling Application

Abstract Solid freeform fabrication integrated with electroforming as a novel process for the generation of metal molds and EDM electrodes is presented in this paper. A part built by stereolithography is metalized by electroless plating and then placed in an electroplating solution where metal is deposited upon the part by electrolysis. After the desired thickness of metal has been reached, the part is removed from the metal shell by heating. The shell is then backed with other materials to form a mold cavity or an EDM electrode. The accuracy of the formed mold cavity or EDM electrode influenced by materials and process parameters is discussed.
Plasma Polymerization Deposited Transparent Protective Coating for Plastic Display Window

The technique of mid-frequency plasma polymerization was employed to deposit scratch-resistant and anti-fogging films on transparent polycarbonate substrates. The input monomer used for depositing scratch-resistant coatings was tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDSO). Variation of oxygen-to-TMDSO ratio study indicated that the hardest film was formed using equal amount of oxygen and TMDSO. The typical deposition rate was about 3 micrometers /hr. Typical operation pressure, TMDSO flow and oxygen flow were 2 X 10-2 Torr, 30 sccm and 30 sccm, respectively. The deposited polysiloxane layer was characterized as a hard, highly transparent and durable against scratching and abrasion film. Further depositing a thin hydrophilic film on top of the polysiloxane layer significantly improved the surface wettability and therefore dramatically increased the anti-fogging capability. The monomer used for polymerization deposition of the anti- fogging film was vinyl acetate, and the typical flow for vinyl acetate monomer and oxygen were 15 sccm and 10 sccm, respectively.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Location and discharge properties of respiratory vagal afferents in the newborn dog

Activity from afferents of respiratory origin was recorded from filaments of the vagus nerve in puppies 1-17 days old. Animals were anesthetized with a mixture of chloralose-urethane and artificially ventilated with the chest open. A total of 256 receptors were studied of which 96% were identified as slowly adapting mechanoreceptors (SARs) and 4% as rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors (RARs). Hence the newborn has fewer spontaneously active RARs than the adult. Thirty-five percent of SARs were located in the trachea and the remainder in the bronchi: a distribution similar to that found in the adult. The transpulmonary pressure (Ptp) threshold required for SAR activation was higher in the newborn than the adult for both tracheal (2.42 cm H2O vs 0.51 cm H2O) and bronchial 4.66 cm H2O vs 3.66 cm H2O) receptors. This resulted in less SAR activity at FRC in the puppy (16% of the total number of SARs in 1-17-day-old animals) compared to the adult (63%). In addition, the discharge frequency of tracheal and bronchial SARs, at any given Ptp, was lower in the newborn than in the adult dog. These data suggest that the newborn has considerably less volume-related feedback during the respiratory cycle compared to the adult.
Ultrastructural analysis of artificially activated rabbit eggs.

Ultrastructural investigations have been carried out on parthenogenetic rabbit eggs in an effort to elucidate events occurring during artificial activation and their similarity to processes of fertilization and embryogenesis. Rabbit eggs were artificially activated by culturing at 10 degrees C for 24 hours followed by incubation at 37 degrees C for 2 to 24 hours. Examination of eggs immediately after incubation at 10 degrees C for 24 hours indicates that activation is initiated when the chromosomes coalesce to form a reticulum which is either surrounded completely by two parallel membranes or incompletely by cisternae of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Aggregation of the chromosomes occurs as a result of a reduction in the number of microtubules making up the meiotic spindle. When cold treated ova are subsequently incubated at 37 degrees C a nucleus is formed which moves central where it may participate in the cleavage of the egg. Formation of a second polar body and release of the contents of the cortical granules as reported for inseminated eggs was not found to be a part of activation of the egg by cold treatment. Approximately 95% of the ova cultured at 10 degrees C for 24 hours followed by 37 degrees C for 12 hours were activated, i.e., they possessed a nucleus or they had cleaved. Many of the activated eggs cultured for short periods at 37 degrees C were structurally similar to fertilized ova, with further incubation fragmented eggs and abnormal multicellular stages predominated.
Predator risk affects foraging behaviour of pikas: observational and experimental evidence

Abstract Field observations were made on collared pikas, Ochotona collaris, in Alaska to determine whether the risk of predation affected foraging behaviour in this small, herbivorous lagomorph. Four lines of evidence suggest that pika foraging is risk sensitive. First, pikas concentrated their foraging near talus (rock piles) rather than away from it despite the increase in vegetation biomass with increasing distance from the talus. Second, juveniles increased their foraging distance from the talus to match adults after juveniles had been above ground for 2 weeks, and lactating females foraged further from the talus than when they were pregnant, exposing themselves to a greater risk, but also availing themselves of more food. Third, after an ermine, Mustela erminea, appeared, pika latency to resume foraging depended on how close the ermine had come to capturing the pika. Finally, foraging distance was altered experimentally by constructing talus ‘fingers’, which reduced predator risk, and by fertilizing different meadow areas, which enhanced forage value. In addtion to energy and nutrients, the risk of predation plays an important role in pika foraging behaviour.
Are technical and soft skills required?: the use of structural equation modeling to examine factors leading to retention in the cs major

This research investigates the effects of technical (i.e. technical ability) and soft (i.e. emotional intelligence) skills on CS program retention. Structural equation modeling revealed that affinity (satisfaction with the major) was the most important factor in determining intention to leave the CS major. Unexpectedly, technical skills were the least important (compared to soft skills). Gender differences were also examined. Results indicate significantly different effects on affinity and intent to stay across gender. For example, when examining female CS students, both technical and soft skills were significantly related to affinity which in turn was significantly related to intent to stay; with soft skills providing the stronger relationship. For males, affinity for the CS major was only significantly related to emotional intelligence. Technical skills were not significantly related to affinity. The implications of these findings are discussed.