cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Free prostate-specific antigen in serum is becoming more complex.

T measurement of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is used for the screening and early detection of prostate cancer.1–3 These early studies established that serum values greater than 4 ng/mL significantly correlated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, but the PSA assay still suffers from a lack of specificity. It was subsequently discovered by Lilja et al.4 and Stenman et al.5 that serum contained two distinct forms of PSA: one form (complexed PSA) that was covalently attached to the serum protease inhibitor alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and a second form (free PSA) that was present as the free “non-complexed” form. Antibodies have been identified that can specifically measure the free form of PSA and total PSA (free plus complexed PSA).6 The measurement of free and total PSA has allowed a modest but significant improvement in the discrimination of prostate cancer from benign disease such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A higher ratio of free to total PSA in serum correlates with a lower risk of prostate cancer.7,8 Free (uncomplexed) PSA in serum is now known to be composed of at least three distinct forms of inactive PSA. One form has been identified as the proenzyme, or precursor forms of PSA (pPSA), and is associated with cancer.9,10 A second form of PSA, called BPSA, is an internally cleaved or degraded form of PSA that is more highly associated with BPH.11 The third PSA form may contain a number of minor variants, but appears to be composed largely of intact PSA that is similar to native, active PSA, except for structural or conformational changes that have rendered it enzymatically inactive. Figure 1 shows the subtle but distinct differences for each of these free, inactive forms compared with enzymatically active PSA. This update describes each of these inactive forms of free PSA, and reviews their potential clinical application as serum markers.
On the degradation of methyl bromide in sea water

Methyl bromide degradation in sea water can be described by a summation of the hydrolysis and chloride ion exchange reactions. Laboratory experiments covered chloride concentrations of 0.1 to 1.0 mol/1, and temperatures from 20 to 60°C. The first-order hydrolysis rate constant is and the second-order chloride ion exchange rate constant deduced from the experiments is At a sea water surface temperature of 21.9 °C and a chloride concentration of 0.56 mol/1, the calculated degradation half-life of methyl bromide in sea water is 4 days. At 35 °C, τ1/2 = 22 hr.
A space scalar approximation to the particle-hole interaction in the 2s-1d shell

Abstract It is shown that the diagonal matrix elements of the Gillet particle-hole interaction can be well reproduced by retaining only those terms which are space scalars.
Demixing: A source of material deterioration

Abstract Demixing is a significant cause of deterioration of materials used in high temperature technologies. It is important to devise ways to relate such deterioration behavior to microscopic properties of materials so that precise predictions can be made. An atomistic rather than a customary phenomenological treatment would be required for this purpose. An analytical treatment based on the Path Probability Method (PPM) of irreversible statistical mechanics has been proved useful towards this end. This article reviews the topic of demixing emphasizing particularly the importance of such an atomistic treatment.
Hydrogen induced grain boundary fracture in high purity nickel and its alloys—Enhanced hydrogen diffusion along grain boundaries

Abstract Embrittlement of nickel by solute hydrogen is usually accompanied by a change in fracture mode from ductile rupture to an intergranular mode. When hydrogen is supplied at the external surface, the kinetics of this embrittlement is shown to be more rapid than can be accounted for by lattice diffusion of hydrogen. The embrittlement kinetics are shown to be consistent with hydrogen diffusion along grain boundaries and the grain boundary diffusivity is derived over the temperature range 274–314 K. The effects of carbon and sulfur grain boundary segregation on the kinetics of grain boundary embrittlement were also investigated. Segregation of carbon decreases the extent of embrittlement while sulfur segregation increases the amount of embrittlement relative to that observed in pure nickel. These effects are interpreted in terms of the effects of segregated solutes on hydrogen grain boundary diffusivity and on the critical hydrogen concentration for intergranular fracture.
Interpersonal Violence and Posttraumatic Symptomatology The Effects of Ethnicity, Gender, and Exposure to Violent Events

A sample of 222 African American, Mexican American, or European American undergraduate students completed questionnaires assessing lifetime exposure to interpersonal violence and current levels of psychological distress. The frequency of interpersonal violence was high: 39.2% of the students reported direct exposure to at least one violent, nonsexual life event and 43.7% reported at least one violent sexual experience. Fourteen percent of the participants had lifetime diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, with the highest reported rate occurring for the African Americans, who also reported more violent sexual and nonsexual experiences and higher levels of psychological distress. Women reported more direct sexual experiences whereas men reported more nonsexual violent events. Covariance analyses suggested that degree of exposure to violence explained most, but not all of the ethnic and gender differences found in terms of posttraumatic symptomatology. Thus, exposure to life-threatening events, rathe...
Comparison of Whisker Growth Sites and Dislocation Etch Pits on Single-Crystal Sapphire

It has been shown previously that alumina (sapphire) whiskers grown on single-crystal alumina grow coherently with and in the directions of screw dislocations in the substrate. A possible explanation is that the whiskers grow by the screw-dislocation mechanism at the site of emergent screw dislocations on the substrate surface. The present study was undertaken to determine if the whiskers grow at the sites of substrate dislocations as revealed by etching techniques. To do this, whisker growth sites were compared with the positions of dislocation etch pits. This was done for the prismatic [{112¯0}, ] and basal [(0001), (112¯0)] slip systems on (112¯0), (11¯01), and (0001) crystal surfaces. The whiskers and etch pits did not form at the same places on the crystal surfaces. The reason may be that (1) the etch pits form at pure edge dislocations only, (2) surface nucleation generates screw dislocations at which the whiskers grow, or (3) screw dislocations play no part in the growth of these whiskers.
An Examination of Authoritarian Personality Traits among Police Officers: The Role of Experience

This study compared authoritarian traits as determined by MMPI-2 scores between inexperienced versus experienced police officers. The purpose of this comparison was to investigate whether experienced police officers possessed higher levels of authoritarian traits which may be related to years on the job. Results found that inexperienced and experienced police officers tend to be psychologically healthy and do not possess high levels of authoritarian traits. Some specific differences emerged with inexperienced police officers demonstrating higher scores on ASP (antisocial practices) but lower scores on HY (emotional reactions to stress). Possible reasons for these results are discussed.
The plasma membrane origin of liver-specific protein (LSP).

— Liver-specific lipoprotein (LSP) is a potentially important target antigen for autoimmune liver cell injury, but the complexity of LSP “the preparation” has hindered investigation of anti-LSP immune responses. In the present study, rabbit LSP and isolated liver plasma membranes (LPM) were compared using electron microscopy and marker enzyme analysis to determine the subcellular site of origin of LSP. These results suggest that LSP “the preparation” is highly enriched with plasma membrane.
Spatially resolved gas permeation through SAPO-34 membranes

Abstract A technique to measure spatially resolved permeances through tubular membranes with a moveable mass spectrometer probe at the membrane surface is described. This technique was used to determine spatial permeance distributions for SAPO-34 zeolite membranes, alumina membrane supports, and a Vycor glass membrane. The distribution of local permeances provides more detailed information about membrane properties than global permeances. The CO 2 and CH 4 permeances of SAPO-34 membranes that had high permeances and selectivities at 4.6 MPa were not spatially uniform across the membrane area. Membranes prepared using Al(OH) 3 as the aluminum precursor had large regions that were nearly impermeable, whereas membranes prepared with Al( i -C 3 H 7 O) 3 were more uniform, and thus had higher overall permeances. Scanning electron micrographs indicated that these differences in permeance were not due to differences in membrane thickness, and spatially uniform permeance distributions for alumina supports suggest that they were not due to non-uniformities in the supports. Defect locations in the SAPO-34 layers were detected using i -butane permeation, because i -butane is too large to enter the SAPO-34 pores, and the defect concentrations were low. These spatially resolved measurements indicate the potential to increase both CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity and CO 2 permeance, and help understand the factors that affect membranes properties.
Mechanism of Norepinephrine Binding

A NUMBER of sympathomimetic amines chemically related to norepinephrine (Fig. 1), which have either a catechol or β-hydroxyl group, can be stored in the vesicles of sympathetic nerves1. Octopamine, which lacks only the m-hydroxyl group of norepinephrine, is released by nerve stimulation2, and is depleted by drugs which deplete norepinephrine3. Although bound to particles with similar sedimentation characteristics as those which store norepinephrine4,5, octopamine appears to be stored mainly in a compartment which has a rapid turnover.
Top-down AlN/GaN enhancement- & depletion-mode nanoribbon HEMTs

III–V Nitride HEMTs are currently being intensively investigated for both depletion- and enhancement mode operation at high powers and high frequencies. Among the various methods that can render the polarization-doped HEMTs enhancement-mode, the least investigated are those that exploit 3-D nanoscale geometrical electrostatic effects. Recently, bottom-up grown GaN nanowire MISFETs have shown respectable depletion-mode device performance [1]. However, the handling of isolated nanowires is technologically challenging. Here, we demonstrate that by combining conventional epitaxially grown AlN/GaN HEMT structures with top-down nanoribbon fabrication, both E-mode and D-mode HEMTs with high performance can be realized in a facile manner, and allow integration on the same substrates. In addition to the ease of realizing E-mode and D-mode devices, these top-down nanoribbon HEMTs also take advantage of the superior electrostatics of wrap-gates and quasi-1D charge transport for high performance.
EFFECTS OF $gamma$ RADIATION ON PENICILLIUM EXPANSUM L. I. SOME FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SENSITIVITY OF THE FUNGUS.

Abstract The effects of media, age of spores, delayed plating, heat treatment and chemical sensitizers on the lethality of gamma radiation to Penicillium expansum L. were determined. Higher survival was obtained when irradiated conidia were plated on the Czapek's agar medium. Six-month-old conidia were more radiation sensitive than 1–2-week-old conidia. Recovery from radiation injuries was observed when irradiated spores were held in suspension for several days at 23°C; however, no recovery was evident at 1°C. Heat treatment (58°C for 4 min) before or after irradiation increased the radiation effect. Difolatan, iodoacetic acid and secondary butylamine were effective radiation sensitizers.
Individual differences in critical tendencies and noise annoyance

Abstract Results of a survey ( N = 163) in a physically homogeneous neighborhood revealed substantial differences among individuals in their evaluations of the neighborhood's environmental quality. These individual differences were consistent across topics. In other words, some residents tended to give consistently positive ratings of noise, privacy, air quality, neighborhood amenities, and general neighborhood satisfaction, whereas others tended to give more negative ratings in all categories. This variation among individuals in the tendency to give negative evaluations was termed the critical-uncritical dimension. An individual's standing on this dimension explained 32% ( r = 0·56) of the variability in annoyance reactions to neighborhood noise sources. A second interview of the same community residents ( N = 131) was completed after a new highway through this community was opened to traffic. The results showed that the critical-uncritical dimension could be used to predict how these individuals would react to a new community noise problem. The correlation between a measure of critical tendencies which included no noise questions and highway noise annoyance assessed seven months later was 0·46, p
Invasive cytotrophoblasts manifest evidence of oxidative stress in preeclampsia.

In preeclampsia, poor placental perfusion may result in maternal endothelial dysfunction, but the pathways involved are largely unknown. Candidate placental mediators include products of oxidative stress released into the maternal circulation. Xanthine oxidase has been implicated in postischemic-reperfusion injury via the generation of superoxide anion radicals (superoxide. O 2 .− ) and hydrogen peroxide. We examined placentas and placental bed curettings and/or biopsies from preeclamptic control pregnant women to test the hypothesis that xanthine oxidase is a mediator of oxidative stress in placentas from women with preeclampsia. The expression of xanthine dehydrogenase/xanthine oxidase holoenzyme and the activity of xanthine oxidase, the isoform known to generate reactive oxygen species, were increased in a subpopulation of cytotrophoblasts of preeclamptic women. Additionally, the expression of superoxide dismutase, which would scavenge superoxide produced by xanthine oxidase, was reduced in the same cells. Furthermore, fluorescence immunostaining for nitrotyrosine, which was suggestive of superoxide-nitric oxide interactions to form peroxynitrite anion (ONOO − ) in vivo , was increased in these cells and in villous vessels. Thus, our data indicate an increased capacity of placental cells to generate reactive oxygen species in preeclampsia.
Will permanent LVADs be better than heart transplantation

Current interest in permanent mechanical support systems has been renewed as a result of the present shortage of human heart donors, and in view of the satisfactory results obtained with their use as a bridge-to-transplant. As the number of donors is unlikely to increase dramatically in the near future, there is an urgent need to develop mechanical alternatives to transplantation. Preliminary data on the use of the implantable electric LVAD as a bridge-to-transplant indicate that the adverse clinical and mechanical events in outpatients are few and do not preclude use of the device on a permanent basis. Except for infections, transplant issues relating to need for endomyocardial biopsies, rejection, malignancies, and graft arteriosclerosis do not apply to LVAD recipients who face important issues relating to device durability, cost, and potential need for concomitant right heart support. This lack of data on long-term durability contrasts with a yearly mortality rate of about 5% after the first year of transplant. With the initiation of clinical trials on the permanent use of the electric LVAD, several design modifications and upgrading of the currently available devices are expected. Completely sealed systems with steadily improving durability will hopefully appear. Inductive coupling techniques under investigation and development appear to be able to transmit energy without damage across the skin. It is anticipated that with more reliable electronic microprocessors, the future generation of implantable LVADs will be smaller, more reliable and longer lasting.
Head-on collision of compact objects in general relativity: Comparison of post-Newtonian and perturbation approaches.

The gravitational-wave energy flux produced during the head-on infall and collision of two compact objects is calculated using two approaches: (i) a post-Newtonian method, carried to second post-Newtonian order beyond the quadrupole formula, valid for systems of arbitrary masses; and (ii) a black-hole perturbation method, valid for a test body falling radially toward a black hole. In the test-body case, the methods are compared. The post-Newtonian method is shown to converge to the ``exact'' perturbation result more slowly than expected a priori. A surprisingly good approximation to the energy radiated during the infall phase, as calculated by perturbation theory, is found to be given by a Newtonian, or quadrupole, approximation combined with the exact test-body equations of motion in the Schwarzschild spacetime.
Centrifugation-Augmented Solid-Phase Immunoassay (CASPIA) for the Rapid Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

We have devised centrifugation-augmented solid-phase immunoassays (CASPIAs) for the detection of microbial pathogens in human body fluids. The CASPIA format combines several features of latex agglutination and solid-phase immunoassay systems to produce an assay system that is inexpensive and simple to perform. We found that CASPIA systems for the detection of rotaviral, group A streptococcal, and Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens were significantly more sensitive than latex agglutination assays and at least as sensitive as enzyme immunoassay systems using analogous reagents. Because CASPIA reactions could either be read macroscopically, recorded with a standard office photocopying device, or quantitated by means of a microplate colorimeter, the assays were applicable under a wide range of clinical and laboratory conditions.
Increased susceptibility to audiogenic seizure resulting from injection of brain extract from acoustically primed mice

Mice of the C57BL/6J strain, which are normally nonsusceptible to audiogenic seizures, can be made susceptible by prior intense auditory stimulation. Since this “behavioral pattern” fits a general definition of learning, it was thought that effects of acoustical priming might be transferable in a manner similar to the transfer of learned behavior via injection of trained brain extract. Naive mice were injected with extract taken from the brains of primed mice. Using littermate controls that consisted of both noninjected mice and mice injected with either saline or extract from nonprimed donors, it was concluded that injection of brain extract from acoustically primed mice increased the susceptibility to audiogenic seizure in C57BL/6J mice.
Impulsive behavior and stimulus–response variability in choice reaction time

In two studies involving 138 unselected undergraduates, we investigated the idea that impulsivity is linked to a reflexive style of information processing. Using the Stroop test, we calculated the standard deviation of response times and found that this measure was negatively correlated with both trait impulsivity (Study 1) and the likelihood of impulsive behavior in daily life (Study 2). We suggest that: (a) impulsive people favor a more reflexive style of responding to environmental stimuli and (b) standard deviations may supplement other cognitive processing measures (e.g., RT and accuracy) in understanding the relation between impulsivity and behavior.
Recommending Talks at Research Conferences Using Users' Social Networks

This paper investigates recommendation algorithms to suggest talks of interest to attendees of research conferences. In this study, based on a social conference support system Conference Navigator 3 (CN3), we explored three kinds of knowledge sources to generate recommendations: users' preference about talks (CN3 bookmarks), users' social networks (research collaboration network and CN3 following network) and talk content information (titles and abstracts). Using these sources, we explored a diverse set of algorithms from non-personalized community vote-based recommendations and conventional collaborative filtering recommendations to hybrid recommendations such as social network-based (SN) recommendations boosted by content information of talks. We found that SN recommendations fused with content information outperformed the other approaches. Moreover, for cold-start users who have an insufficient number of bookmarks to express their preferences, the recommendations based on their social connections also ...
Conscious and nonconscious memory effects are temporally dissociable

Intentional (explicit) retrieval can reactivate sensory cortex, which is widely assumed to reflect conscious processing. In the present study, we used an explicit visual memory event-related potential paradigm to investigate whether such retrieval related sensory activity could be separated into conscious and nonconscious components. During study, abstract shapes were presented in the left or right visual field. During test, old and new shapes were presented centrally and participants classified each shape as “old-left”, “old-right”, or “new”. Conscious activity was isolated by comparing accurate memory for shape and location (old-hits) with forgotten shapes (old-misses), and nonconscious activity was isolated by comparing old-left-misses with old-right-misses and vice versa. Conscious visual sensory activity had a late temporal onset (after 800 ms) while nonconscious visual sensory activity had an early temporal onset (before 800 ms). These results suggest that explicit memory-related sensory activity re...
Effects of morphine on left ventricular dimensions and function in patients with previous myocardial infarction

To assess the effects of morphine sulfate on left ventricular function and dimensions we administered 15 mg of this agent to 11 stable patients with previous transmural myocardial infarction. All studies were carried out in the supine position. Before morphine administration an echocardiogram was obtained, and this procedure was repeated at 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min after morphine. Heart rate decreased from a control value of 69 +/- 4 to 62 +/- 5 beats/min 2 h after morphine (p less than 0.01, analysis of variance); this slower heart rate persisted for 4 h after morphine. Serial measurements of blood pressure, echocardiographic ejection fraction, percent of fractional shortening, and mean normalized velocity of circumferential fiber shortening also showed no significant alterations after morphine. We conclude that in stable patients with chronic ischemic heart disease studied in the supine position, 1) morphine exerts no effect on left ventricular dimensions, an observation which does not support the concept that this agent acts in humans by producing a 'pharmacologic phlebotomy'; and 2) morphine does not alter left ventricular function at rest. Whether different results will be found in patients with increased sympathetic activity, such as occurs in the setting of an acute myocardial infarction or during an episode of acute pulmonary edema, remains to be investigated.
Some analytical aspects of the chromatographic headspace concentration method using a porous polymer

Compounds of different chemical type can be concentrated on a precolumn containing thermostable 2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide porous polymer and transferred to a gas chromatographic column. The representation of trapped organics in a high-resolution chromatogram can be explained primarily on the basis of frontal chromatography, displacement, and irreversible-adsorption phenomena. The effect of sampling variables is demonstrated with complex chromatograms of sage leaf headspace.
Application restructuring and performance portability on shared virtual memory and hardware-coherent multiprocessors

The performance portability of parallel programs across a wide range of emerging coherent shared address space systems is not well understood. Programs that run well on efficient, hardware cache-coherent systems often do not perform well on less optimal or more commodity-based communication architectures. This paper studies this issue of performance portability, with the commodity communication architecture of interest being page-grained shared virtual memory. We begin with applications that perform well on moderat scale hardware cache-coherent systems, and find that they do not do so well on SVM systems. Then, we examine whether and how the applications can be improved for SVM systems --- through data structuring or algorithmic enhancements---and the nature and difficulty of the optimization. Finally, we examine the impact of the successful optimizations on hardware-coherent platforms themselves, to see whether they are helpful, harmful or neutral on those platforms. We develop a systematic methodology to explore optimizations in different structured classes. The results, and the difficulty of the optimizations, lead insight not only into performance portability but also into the viability of SVM as a platform for these types of applications.
Daily and Seasonal Activity Patterns of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Washington State

The diurnal and seasonal activity patterns of the western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, were determined on three sweet cherry trees, Prunus avium (L.), from 0700 to 1900 hours during June and July 2001 in Yakima County, WA. There were significant effects of time of day and season on numbers of flies seen on fruit relative to leaves, indicating that presence on or attraction to these substrates for feeding, mating, or oviposition, whether caused by visual or chemical cues, was greatly modified by temperature. When temperatures were 15-16°C at 0700 hours in early June, flies of both sexes were seen mostly on leaves, but when the temperature reached 20°C, more flies of both sexes moved onto fruit. Peak fly sightings occurred at 25-35°C, usually after 1000 hours. At >35°C, most flies vanished from view, and those seen were less active. Over the entire season, males were seen four times more often than females and spent more time on fruit than on leaves. Females were seen equally on and spent equal time on fruit and leaves when temperatures were 20-35°C. Mating was initiated on fruit but was completed on fruit and leaves. Overall fly sightings and daily temperatures were positively correlated early in the season when it was cooler, uncorrelated in the middle of the season, and negatively correlated in late season when it was warmest. The results show that R. indifferens presence and times spent on fruit and leaves are greatly altered by daily and seasonal changes in temperature, but they also suggest that at 20-35°C substrate-seeking behaviors of each sex do not change with time of day or season.
Pathways for Ethanol Dehydrogenation and Dehydration Catalyzed by Ceria (111) and (100) Surfaces

We have performed computations to better understand how surface structure affects selectivity in dehydrogenation and dehydration reactions of alcohols. Ethanol reactions on the (111) and (100) ceria surfaces were studied starting from the dominant surface species, ethoxy. We used DFT (PBE+U) to explore reaction pathways leading to ethylene and acetaldehyde and calculated estimates of rate constants employing transition state theory. To assess pathway contributions, we carried out kinetic analysis. Our results show that intermediate and transition state structures are stabilized on the (100) surface compared to the (111) surface. Formation of acetaldehyde over ethylene is kinetically and thermodynamically preferred on both surfaces. Our results are consistent with temperature-programmed surface reaction and steady-state experiments, where acetaldehyde was found as the main product and evidence was presented that ethylene formation at higher temperature originates from changes in adsorbate and surface struc...
Biomedical applications of the information-efficient spectral imaging sensor (ISIS)

The Information-efficient Spectral Imaging Sensor (ISIS) approach to spectral imaging seeks to bridge the gap between tuned multispectral and fixed hyperspectral imaging sensors. By allowing the definition of completely general spectral filter functions, truly optimal measurements can be made for a given task. These optimal measurements significantly improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and speed, minimize data volume and data rate, while preserving classification accuracy. The following paper investigates the application of the ISIS sensing approach in two sample biomedical applications: prostate and colon cancer screening. It is shown that in these applications, two to three optimal measurements are sufficient to capture the majority of classification information for critical sample constituents. In the prostate cancer example, the optimal measurements allow 8% relative improvement in classification accuracy of critical cell constituents over a red, green, blue (RGB) sensor. In the colon cancer example, use of optimal measurements boost the classification accuracy of critical cell constituents by 28% relative to the RGB sensor. In both cases, optimal measurements match the performance achieved by the entire hyperspectral data set. The paper concludes that an ISIS style spectral imager can acquire these optimal spectral images directly, allowing improved classification accuracy over an RGB sensor. Compared to a hyperspectral sensor, the ISIS approach can achieve similar classification accuracy using a significantly lower number of spectral samples, thus minimizing overall sample classification time and cost.
Ultra high resolution fMRI at ultra-high field

In this short review article I will summarize the path we took over the years towards increasing the spatial resolution of fMRI. To fully capitalize on the fMRI technique, a better understanding of the origin of the hemodynamic signals, and what factors are governing their spatial control is necessary. Here, I will briefly describe the studies and developments that ultimately led to our successful effort in mapping orientation columns in humans that is considered by many as the current state-of-the-art for fMRI studies.
Left atrial function and maximum volume as determined by MDCT are independently associated with atrial fibrillation.

Rationale and Objectives To assess whether left atrial (LA) volume, function, and diameter as determined by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) are associated with the presence and chronicity of atrial fibrillation (AF). Materials and Methods A total of 232 subjects, 156 with AF (43 with chronic and 113 with paroxysmal) and 76 normal subjects, formed the study population. AF subjects underwent MDCT of the pulmonary veins and LA, and normal subjects underwent coronary computed tomography (CT), on which LA volume, function, and diameter were measured. Associations between each MDCT LA parameter and presence and chronicity of AF were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results The indexed LA maximum volume (odds ratio [OR] = 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43–4.08; P = .0009) was significantly associated with chronicity and presence of AF (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03–1.10; P = .0003) after adjustment for traditional risk factors. The LA function was associated with presence of AF (OR = 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89–0.97; P = .0005), but not with AF chronicity (OR = 1.12; 95% CI, 0.93–1.33; P = .21). Conclusions Decreased LA function is associated with presence of AF, and increased LA maximum volume is associated with presence and chronicity of AF, independent of traditional risk factors.
Self-focused attention and the placebo effect: Fooling some of the people some of the time

Abstract An experiment tested the hypothesis that mirror-induced self-awareness would minimize a “placebo” effect. Some subjects were led to believe that a drug that they were about to ingest would produce arousal symptoms as a side effect. Self-aware subjects in this condition subsequently reported experiencing less arousal from the placebo, and fewer of the side effects ascribed to it, than did less self-aware subjects. Discussion centered on the implications of these findings for placebo research and implications for two common alternative interpretations of self-awareness effects.
Worldwide Spread of Pheidole teneriffana (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Pheidole teneriffana is an Old World ant species that has spread to other parts of the world through human commerce. To evaluate its known distribution, I compiled and mapped P. teneriffana records from >200 sites. I documented the earliest known P. teneriffana records for 43 geographic areas (countries, island groups, major islands, and US states), including 11 West Indian islands for which I found no previously published records: Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic (Hispanola), Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, and St Lucia. Pheidole teneriffana is known from sites scattered across the greater Mediterranean region (North Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, and neighboring islands), though it is unclear which parts of this area constitute its native range. Pheidole teneriffana is known from only a few Old World sites distant from the Mediterranean region, i.e., Ascension, China, England, St Helena, and South Africa. In the New World, where this species is certainly exotic, there are published P. teneriffana records only from California, Cuba, and Peru. The first records from 11 West Indian islands presented here, all from 2003 or later, suggest that P. teneriffana is actively spreading through this region. Almost all West Indian records of P. teneriffana come from beaches or urban areas. It seems doubtful that P. teneriffana will develop into a major pest species like its congener, the infamous Pheidole megacephala.
Sexually transmitted diseases in older adults

Health professionals are frequently reluctant to recognize or investigate the sexuality of their older patients. Thus, sexual health may never be addressed, even among older adults who come into frequent contact with health care professionals. As the dominant culture continues to shift toward a more realistic view of aging that supports the expression of sexuality among older adults, evaluation of sexual health will become a critical component of comprehensive assessment of the geriatric patient. This article reviews the clinical features and management of common sexually transmitted diseases in the older adult.
Anisotropy of exchange stiffness and its effect on the properties of magnets

Abstract Using the spin-spiral formulation of the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method, the principal components of the exchange stiffness tensor are calculated for typical hard magnets including tetragonal CoPt-type and hexagonal YCo 5 alloys. The exchange stiffness is strongly anisotropic in all studied alloys. This anisotropy makes the domain wall surface tension anisotropic. Competition between this anisotropic surface tension and magnetostatic energy controls the formation and dynamics of nanoscale domain structures in hard magnets. Anisotropic domain wall bending is described in detail from the general point of view and with application to cellular Sm–Co magnets. It is shown that the repulsive cell-boundary pinning mechanism in these magnets is feasible only due to the anisotropic exchange stiffness if suitably oriented initial pinning centers are available. In polytwinned CoPt-type magnets the exchange stiffness anisotropy controls the orientation of macrodomain wall segments. These segments may reorient both statically during microstructural coarsening and dynamically during the macrodomain wall splitting in external field. Reorientation of segments may facilitate their pinning at antiphase boundaries.
A rapid method for the regional dissection of the rat brain

A method is described for the rapid dissection of seventeen areas of the rat brain. Regions from fresh unfrozen brain tissue are dissected from coronal brain slices obtained with use of a cutting block. This method is applicable to pharmacological and behavioral studies which require the dissection of numerous brains during short time intervals.
Boron diffusion into 6H-SiC through graphite mask

Experimental results are reported of selective diffusion of boron in 6H−SiC. Photoluminescence spectroscopy scanning electron microscopy cathodoluminescence imaging, secondary-ion mass spectroscopy optical microscopy, and stain-groove technique were used to characterize the selectively doped regions fabricated by diffusion from the vapor phase through a graphite mask. Local p-doped regions of dimensions down to ∼20 μm in diameter were formed on an n-type substrate using the graphite mask. Maximum concentration of boron atoms at the surface, obtained by SIMS, varied from 3×1019 cm−3 to 6×1019 cm−3, depending upon the temperature of diffusion, while the p-n junction depth measured by the stain-groove technique varied from 0.5 μm to 1.2 μm. Planar p-n junction diodes fabricated on the diffused regions exhibited good rectification characteristics with a breakdown voltage of about 1000 V.
Endotoxin Upregulates Expression of an Antimicrobial Peptide Gene in Mammalian Airway Epithelial Cells

maceuticals, usually in cases of severe liver damage. The latter suggests that PIMs may be induced under certain circumstances, and we have designed these experiments to induce phagocytic pulmonary mononuclear cells in a species where they are not normally prevalent. The aims of this study were to determine whether PIMs can be induced in rats, a species normally without these cells, and whether pulmonary uptake of pathogens by such induced mononuclear cells is associated with lung injury. Rats were injected intravenously with saline solution (n=4) or 3 mg/kg Escherichia coli 0111:B4 hipopolysaccharide (LPS) (n=12). One day later, all animals were injected intravenously with a tracer particle, 5 mg/kg magnetic iron oxide (0.5 p.m diameter). One hour later, animals were humanely killed and phagocytic uptake of iron oxide in lungs, liver, and other internal organs was determined using magnetic field strength in 1 g tissue samples. A second group of saline solution control (n=6) and LPS-injected (n=6) rats was injected at 24 h with 2 x 10� colony-forming units/kg live Pseudomonas aernginosa to determine the fate of a circulating pathogenic particle. Phagocytic uptake at 1 h was determined by quantitative culture of organ samples. Lung and liver samples from each group of animals were fixed for ultrastructural study to determine the cell types responsible for iron oxide and Pseudomonas uptake. Organ distribution as the mean percent of recovered dose of iron oxide or bacteria ± SEM were:
Effect of Hydrophobic Tails on Orientation of SDS and SDOSS Surfactants near the Film−Air Interface of Sty/n-BA Copolymer Latex Films

This study focuses on the effect of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (SDOSS) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants on mobility and conformational behavior in styrene/n-butyl acrylate/methacrylic acid (Sty/n-BA/MAA) copolymer latex films. Because of similar hydrophilicity of SO3-Na+ groups but differences in hydrophobic tails, SDOSS and SDS are examined near the surface for coalesced Sty/n-BA/MAA latex films. These studies show that the presence of hydrophilic SO3-Na+ groups and hydrophobic entities represented by two C8H17 tails in SDOSS and one C12H25 hydrophobic group in SDS significantly affects the magnitude of surfactant−latex matrix interactions. Furthermore, not only the surfactant conformational behavior near the film−air interface is affected but also the magnitude of the interactions of hydrophilic SO3-Na+ groups in SDOSS with H2O and COOH groups of Sty/n-BA/MAA is substantially different from its SDS counterpart. This is demonstrated by the splitting of the S−O band when hydrophilic SDOSS gr...
Viscoelastic and fatigue properties of model methacrylate-based dentin adhesives

The objective of the current study is to characterize the viscoelastic and fatigue properties of model methacrylate-based dentin adhesives under dry and wet conditions. Static, creep, and fatigue tests were performed on cylindrical samples in a 3-point bending clamp. Static results showed that the apparent elastic modulus of the model adhesive varied from 2.56 to 3.53 GPa in the dry condition, and from 1.04 to 1.62 GPa in the wet condition, depending upon the rate of loading. Significant differences were also found for the creep behavior of the model adhesive under dry and wet conditions. A linear viscoelastic model was developed by fitting the adhesive creep behavior. The developed model with 5 Kelvin Voigt elements predicted the apparent elastic moduli measured in the static tests. The model was then utilized to interpret the fatigue test results. It was found that the failure under cyclic loading can be due to creep or fatigue, which has implications for the failure criterion that are applied for these types of tests. Finally, it was found that the adhesive samples tested under dry conditions were more durable than those tested under wet conditions.
Respiratory effects of chronic hydrogen sulfide exposure

A cross-sectional study investigated whether the exposure of sewer workers to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was associated with reduced lung function. Sixty-eight sewer workers and 60 water treatment workers performed spirometric tests. Job titles were used to classify the sewer workers according to presumed H2S exposure, and water treatment workers served as a comparison population presumed to have no occupational exposure to H2S. There was a statistically significant difference in mean FEV1/FVC values between sewer and water treatment workers of similar age, height, race, and smoking habits (−3.1, s.e. = 1.4). This deficit was greatest (−5.7, s.e. = 2.0) for sewer workers presumed to have high H2S exposure. Nonsmoking sewer workers presumed to have high H2S exposure achieved only 89% of their predicted FEV1/FVC value, whereas nonsmoking water treatment workers achieved nearly 98% of their predicted FEV1/FVC value. In conclusion, this study found evidence that chronic low level exposure to H2S may be associated with reduced lung function. © 1995 Wiley-Liss. Inc.
Unraveling the Brow: What and How of Choice in Musical Preference

Mapping the association between social position and cultural disposition—“patterns of cultural choice”—is a long-standing practice in sociological research. These maps, often read in terms of “brow...
Generation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for gene discovery and marker development in cultivated peanut

Expressed sequence tag (EST) libraries for cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were developed from two cDNA libraries constructed by means of mRNA prepared from leaves of peanut line C34-24 (resistant to leaf spots and Tomato spotted wilt virus) and immature pods of peanut line A13 (tolerant to drought stress and preharvest aflatoxin contamination). Randomly selected cDNA clones were partially sequenced to generate a total of 1825 ESTs, 769 from the C34-24 cDNA library and 1056 from the A13 cDNA library, in which 536 and 769 unique ESTs were identified, respectively. Results of BLASTx search showed that 52.8% of the ESTs from leaf tissue and 78.6% of the ESTs from the pod tissue have homology to genes of known function. Approximately 27.3 and 22.1% of ESTs matching homologous sequences in dbEST of GenBank on the basis of BLASTn algorithm have unknown functions. The ESTs were queried against MIPS functional catalog criteria and sorted according to putative function into 15 categories. A total of 1345 ESTs have been released to GenBank'. Four hundred unigenes have been selected from these ESTs and arrayed on glass slides for gene expression analysis, and 44 EST-derived simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers have been characterized for cultivated peanut, in which over 20% of the SSRs produced polymorphic markers among 24 cultivated peanut genotypes. This is the first report of ESTs in cultivated peanut, and further characterization of resistance and stress genes may explain mechanisms functioning in these two peanut lines.
Phenology model from surface meteorology does not capture satellite‐based greenup estimations

Seasonal temperature change in temperate forests is known to trigger the start of spring growth, and both interannual and spatial variations in spring onset have been tied to climatic variability. Satellite dates are increasingly being used in phenology studies, but to date that has been little effort to link remotely sensed phenology to surface climate records. In this research, we use a two-parameter spring warming phenology model to explore the relationship between climate and satellite-based phenology. We employ daily air temperature records between 2000 and 2005 for 171 National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration weather stations located throughout New England to construct spring warming models predicting the onset of spring, as defined by the date of half-maximum greenness (D50) in deciduous forests as detected from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer. The best spring warming model starts accumulating temperatures after March 20th and when average daily temperatures exceed 5°C. The accumulated heat sums [heating degree day (HDD)] required to reach D50 range from 150 to 300 degree days over New England, with the highest requirements to the south and in coastal regions. We test the ability of the spring warming model to predict phenology against a null photoperiod model (average date of onset). The spring warming model offers little improvement on the null model when predicting D50. Differences between the efficacies of the two models are expressed as the ‘climate sensitivity ratio’ (CSR), which displays coherent spatial patterns. Our results suggest that northern (beech-maple-birch) and central (oak-hickory) hardwood forests respond to climate differently, particularly with disparate requirements for the minimum temperature necessary to begin spring growth (3 and 6°C, respectively). We conclude that spatial location and species composition are critical factors for predicting the phenological response to climate change: satellite observations cannot be linked directly to temperature variability if species or community compositions are unknown.
Phosphogypsum in agriculture: a review.

Publisher Summary Phosphogypsum is the term used for the gypsum by-product of wet-acid production of phosphoric acid from rock phosphate. It is essentially hydrated CaSO 4 , with small proportions of P, F, Si, Fe, Al, several minor elements, heavy metals, and radionuclides as impurities. Phosphogypsum appears to be good source of S and Ca for crops. Most of the studies showed that surface-applied gypsum or phosphogypsum ameliorated subsoil Al toxicity, acidity, and infertility in shorter time periods than did surface-applied lime materials. Phosphogypsum may prove to be superior to mined gypsum as an ameliorant for subsoil A1 toxicity, acidity, and infertility and as a conditioner for sodic soils, hardsetting clay soils, and subsoil hardpans because of its much higher rate of dissolution compared to that of mined gypsum. Gypsum and phosphogypsum, where they are readily accessible, are potential bulk carriers for micronutrients and low-analysis fertilizers. Increasing environmental demands to prevent contamination of ground water with nitrates and to minimize applied N and P losses in runoff, losses that promote rapid eutrophication of surface waters, may require the use of low-analysis fertilizers in commercial agriculture, at more frequent application, as they are now commonly used in recreational and residential lawns and gardens. Radionuclides, heavy metal impurities, and other pollutants at concentrations found in phosphogypsum do not appear to constitute environmental hazards to surficial ground water, soil, crop tissue, and the ambient atmosphere at rates normally used in agriculture.