cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The management of desmoid tumors.

Abstract Purpose : To determine the efficacy of different treatment modalities for desmoid tumors. Materials and Methods : We reviewed the treatment of 40 patients with histologically confirmed desmoid tumors seen at Duke University Medical Center between 1974 and 1990. Results : Radiotherapy was administered to 16 patients (Group I)—14 with recurrent disease s/p surgery and in two as initial treatment. The average size of the irradiated lesions was 9.3 ± 3.9 × 8.4 ± 3.5 cm. With a median follow-up of 57.5 months and a median administered dose of 5400 cGy (mean 5286 cGy, range 4960–5620 cGy), local control has been obtained in 15 16 patients (94%). Complete regression ( 5 16 ), partial regression ( 5 16 ), or stable disease ( 5 16 ) was produced in 15 patients while one patient failed and was salvaged via gross total resection. Continued regression has been seen up to 60 months after treatment. Fourteen patients underwent primary gross total resection and two underwent subtotal resection (Group II). None received post-operative radiotherapy. Three of 14 patients (21%) recurred after gross total resection. All three were salvaged with subsequent gross total resection. After subtotal resection, 2 2 patients recurred. With a mean follow-up of 52 months, 14 patients are without evidence of disease, one is dead with disease (unrelated cause of death), and one was lost to follow-up after recurrence. Eight patients have been treated with combinations of chemotherapy, NSAIDS, anti-estrogens, and immunotherapy with mixed results (Group III). A subset of seven patients with retroperitoneal disease taken from all three groups had large tumor burden (mean size 17 × 15 cm), an infiltrative nature, as well as a difficult location. The disease was surgically resectable in three patients. One is without evidence of disease 9 years after gross total resection alone. Disease has been stabilized with radiotherapy in the other two patients after multiple unsuccessful surgical resections. Of four patients with unresectable disease, two are dead of disease, one died of unrelated causes with disease, and regression of disease was obtained in the other with Gamma-interferon after unsuccessful treatment with tamoxifen and vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Conclusion : Gross total resection is the indicated initial therapy, if it can be performed without significant disfigurement. Radiotherapy is also excellent for obtaining local control, even in patients with a large burden of recurrent disease. Doses in the range of 50 to 55 Gy give a chance of local control equal to that obtained with higher doses previously reported.
Methods of Estimating the Mean Egg Weight per Bird for the First Year Production

Abstract THE weight of the eggs laid by the individual birds in a flock is now thought to be of considerable economic importance both from the standpoint of market price in relation to size and from the standpoint of egg weight inheritance. Interest is therefore taken in the mean weight of the eggs laid by each bird in one year in all officially conducted egg-laying contests, poultry research institutions, and most breeding plants. As this involves weighing each individual egg, it is evident that a great amount of labor is required. Two different methods were used in this investigation in order to find an accurate means of estimating the mean annual egg weight. The first method was to determine the possible relationship between the mean annual egg weight and age at first egg, body weight at first egg, and the average weight of the first ten eggs laid. The second method . . .
Vibrational energy relaxation in liquid N2CO mixtures

The vibrational energy relaxation rates of the liquid nitrogenCO system have been measured by optically pumping the collision-induced fundamental vibrational absorption band of liquid N2 with the output of an HBr TEA laser. A radiatively dominated value of 56 ± 10 s is found for the intrinsic nitrogen relaxation time. The CO contribution to the decay rate is explained on the basis of a simple kinetic model and found also to be radiatively dominated at low CO concentrations. The importance of radiative trapping and energy transport in evaluating the lifetimes is demonstrated.
Expressed Emotion Moderates the Effects of Family-Focused Treatment for Bipolar Adolescents

Abstract Objective Family interventions have been found to be effective in pediatric bipolar disorder (BD). This study examined the moderating effects of parental expressed emotion (EE) on the 2-year symptomatic outcomes of adolescent BD patients assigned to family-focused therapy for adolescents (FFT-A) or a brief psychoeducational treatment (enhanced care [EC]). Method A referred sample of 58 adolescents (mean age 14.5 ± 1.6 years, range 13-17 years) with BD I, II, or not otherwise specified was randomly allocated after a mood episode to FFT-A or EC, both with protocol pharmacotherapy. Levels of EE (criticism, hostility, or emotional overinvolvement) in parents were assessed through structured interviews. Adolescents and parents in FFT-A underwent 21 sessions in 9 months of psychoeducation, communication training, and problem-solving skills training, whereas adolescents and parents in EC underwent 3 psychoeducation sessions. Independent “blind” evaluators assessed adolescents' depressive and manic symptoms every 3 to 6 months for 2 years. Results Parents rated high in EE described their families as lower in cohesion and adaptability than parents rated low in EE. Adolescents in high-EE families showed greater reductions in depressive and manic symptoms in FFT-A than in EC. Differential effects of FFT-A were not found among adolescents in low-EE families. The results could not be attributed to differences in medication regimens. Conclusions Parental EE moderates the impact of family intervention on the symptomatic trajectory of adolescent BD. Assessing EE before family interventions may help determine which patients are most likely to benefit from treatment. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 2009;48(6):643-651.
Fusion of multiscale edge maps for robust segmentation of range images

Segmentation is an important process in 3D vision since it is at this stage that all higher level processing begins. Range images are useful because they can provide direct depth measurements of objects in the scene which can be used for navigation and object manipulation tasks. Range images are characterized by two principal types of discontinuities: step edges that represent discontinuities in depth, and roof (or trough) edges that represent orientation discontinuities. A Gaussian weighted least squares technique is developed for extracting these two types of edges from range images. Edge extraction is followed by a surface-based region splitting algorithm in order to generate a more complete partition of the image. The result is fed into a surface-based region growing algorithm which yields the final segmentation image. The algorithm is tested using synthetic and real range image data which illustrate the importance of each of these steps in yielding final segmentation results that are robust and consistent.
UBVRI Photometric Standard Stars around the Sky at −50° Declination

UBVRI photoelectric observations have been made of 109 stars around the sky, centered more or less at -50° declination. The majority of the stars fall in the magnitude range 10.4 < V < 15.5 and in the color index range -0.33 < (B - V) < +1.66. These new broadband photometric standard stars average 16.4 measurements each from data taken on 116 different nights over a period of 4 yr. Similar data are tabulated for 19 stars of interest that were not observed often enough to make them well-defined standard stars.
Comparative biological activities of potent analogues of α-melanotropin. Effect of nonaromatic and para substituted aromatic amino acids at position 7

Several alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) analogues with para substituted aromatic and nonaromatic amino acids in the 7-position of the hormone were prepared and their melanotropic activities determined in the frog (Rana pipiens) and lizard (Anolis carolinensis) skin bioassays. D and L-Phe(p-NO2), D- and L-Tyr, D- and L-Ala, and Gly were substituted in the 7-position. The use of substituted D or L-aromatic amino acids in the 7th position of the central Ac-[Nle4]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 fragment resulted in a loss in potency relative to the corresponding phenylalanine-containing analogue. The loss in potency cannot be due entirely to steric hindrance at the melanophore receptor, since nonaromatic amino acids substituted in the 7th position of this octapeptide fragment also generally led to a loss in biological activity. We reported previously that replacement of phenylalanine-7 by its D enantiomer led to a marked increase in potency in each fragment analogue tested. Analogues containing other D amino acids in the 7th position also were more potent than their L amino acid-containing analogues with one exception: Ac-[Nle4, Ala7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 was more potent than Ac-[Nle4, D-Ala7]-alpha-MSH4-11-NH2 in the frog skin bioassay. Replacement of phenylalanine-7 by glycine resulted in a large decrease in potency in both bioassays, illustrating the importance of the side chain group, in this position of alpha-MSH, to biological potency of the hormone.
The development of a helping community for lesbians and gay men: A case study in community psychology

The neglect by community psychologists of the life concerns and problems of lesbians, gay men, and their families is discussed, with an emphasis on the lost opportunities that collaborative efforts can produce. The power of community psychology strategies is illustrated by a case description of efforts to encourage informal helping resources in a rural community. Informal helping resources were developed for lesbians, gay men, and students at a major university in the community. An anonymous telephone help-system was also organized. Community psychologists are urged to pursue collaborative efforts with lesbians and gay men in their own localities.
Effect of reaction temperature on Cu(InGa)(SeS) 2 formation by a sequential H 2 Se/H 2 S precursor reaction process

The effect of sulfization temperature on Ga through-film uniformity in a 2-reaction H 2 Se/H 2 S precursor process for Cu(InGa)(SeS) 2 was studied. Cu 0.8 Ga 0.2 /In bi-layer precursors were prepared by sputter deposition. The precursors were then partially selenized at 450 °C, followed by sulfization at temperatures ranging from 450 to 550 °C. The observed threshold temperature for Ga homogenization during sulfization was ∼500 °C. It is speculated that this threshold temperature possibly derives from a solid→liquid phase transition at 485 °C on the Ga-rich edge of the γ1-Cu 9 Ga 4 phase region.
Abundance, diversity, and activity of ammonia-oxidizing prokaryotes in the coastal arctic ocean in summer and winter

Ammonia oxidation, the first step in nitrification, is performed by certain Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria and Crenarchaea to generate metabolic energy. Ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) genes from both Bacteria and Crenarchaea have been found in a variety of marine ecosystems, but the relative importance of Bacteria versus Crenarchaea in ammonia oxidation is unresolved, and seasonal comparisons are rare. In this study, we compared the abundance of betaproteobacterial and crenarchaeal amoA genes in the coastal Arctic Ocean during summer and winter over 2 years. Summer and winter betaproteobacterial amoA clone libraries were significantly different, although the gene sequences were similar to those found in temperate and polar environments. Betaproteobacterial and crenarchaeal amoA genes were 30- to 115-fold more abundant during the winter than during the summer in both years of the study. Archaeal amoA genes were more abundant than betaproteobacterial amoA genes in the first year, but betaproteobacterial amoA was more abundant than archaeal amoA the following year. The ratio of archaeal amoA gene copies to marine group I crenarchaeal 16S rRNA genes averaged 2.9 over both seasons and years, suggesting that ammonia oxidation was common in Crenarchaea at this location. Potential nitrification rates, as well as the total amoA gene abundance, were highest in the winter when competition with phytoplankton was minimal and ammonium concentrations were the highest. These results suggest that ammonium concentrations were important in determining the rates of ammonia oxidation and the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing Betaproteobacteria and Crenarchaea.
Design of a silicon carbide CMOS power OPAMP for stable operation at elevated temperatures

A class AB silicon carbide CMOS power operational amplifier with stable open-loop voltage gain over a wide temperature range is presented. A bias circuit is provided to make the voltage gain of the operational amplifier insensitive to threshold voltage and mobility variations. A class AB output stage combined with a novel adaptive biasing scheme is developed to produce a full-rail-to-rail output swing and a low output resistance. A nested Miller compensated topology is also incorporated to provide a phase margin of 68/spl deg/. The DC gain of the operational amplifier only experiences a 0.51 dB variation over a temperature range of 25/spl deg/C to 300/spl deg/C and a 7.22 dB variation from V/sub DD/=32 V to V/sub DD/=100 V. This operational amplifier is ideal for use as a voltage buffer or power amplifier intended for high temperature operation.
Reflections of everyday activities in spending data

In this paper we show that financial information can be used to sense many aspects of human activity. This simple technique gives people information about their daily lives, is easily accessible to many at no extra cost, requires little setup, and does not require the manufacture of any external devices. We will focus on how financial data can be used to show users where they spend their time, when they accomplish certain habits, and what the impact of their activities is on the environment. We validate our idea by implementing three demonstration applications intended for personal use. Finally, this paper discusses limitations of sensing using financial data and possible solutions.
Plasmolemmal potassium gradient does not affect lung protection by an ATP-regulated potassium channel opener.

Abstract Background We have previously shown that metabolic arrest induced with ATP-regulated potassium channel openers (PCOs) can improve lung preservation by adding Aprikalim (a PCO, Rhone-Poulene Roher) to modified Euro-Collins solution for pulmonary artery flush. Because the membrane hyperpolarizing effects of a PCO potentially competes with the depolarizing effects of a hyperkalemic solution, this study evaluated the effects of the potassium gradient on PCO-mediated lung protection. Study design Twenty rabbits underwent lung protection in four groups. Group 1 underwent harvest and reperfusion as a "no ischemia" control. Groups 2, 3, and 4 underwent harvest followed by 18 hours of cold ischemic storage before reperfusion. Groups 1 and 4 received Euro Collins as the pulmonary flush at induction of ischemia. Group 2 received Euro Collins plus Aprikalim (100 μM); and group 3 received lactated Ringer's plus Aprikalim. After ischemic storage, the lungs were reperfused with autologous blood for 2 hours. Every 30 minutes, the lungs were given a 10-minute 100% fractional inspired oxygen (F i O 2 ) challenge to measure maximal gas exchange as an indication of graft function. Results Repeated measures ANOVA showed Aprikalim improved graft function after 18 hours of cold ischemia (p Conclusions The ability of the PCO Aprikalim to preserve gas exchange in a model of hypothermic pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion injury was not affected by the plasmolemmal potassium gradient. This is consistent with recent findings in myocardial protection studies that the protective effects of PCOs may be intracellular.
Peer Effects in Academic Cheating

Using self-reported academic cheating from the classes of 1959 through 2002 at the three major United States military service academies (Air Force, Army, and Navy), we measure how peer cheating influences individual cheating behavior. We find higher levels of peer cheating result in a substantially increased probability that an individual will cheat. One additional college student who cheated in high school drives approximately 0.33 to 0.47 additional college students to cheat. One additional college cheater drives approximately 0.61 to 0.75 additional college students to cheat. These results imply, in equilibrium, the social multiplier for academic cheating is approximately three.
Changing Paradigms in the Management of Peripheral Vascular Disease: The Need for Integration of Knowledge, Imaging, and Therapeutics

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) due to atherosclerosis of the lower extremities affects 3‐7% of the population and up to one in five patients over 75 years of age. It is associated with decreased measures of quality of life [1‐3] and is an underrecognized marker for multisystem atherosclerotic vascular disease. The risk of disease increases two- to threefold for every 10-year increase in age after the age of 40 years [4‐6], with males developing claudication about twice as commonly as females. Mortality in patients with PAD is up to four times that of the nonPAD age-adjusted population [7]. Most (55%) die from heart disease, 10% from a stroke, and 10% from abdominal vascular pathology [8‐12]. Less than 20% of PAD sufferers will die from a nonvascular cause. PAD is easily measured by the ratio of the systolic blood pressure in the upper arm and the systolic blood pressure at the ankle ‐ the ankle brachial Index (ABI). The normal ratio is 1.0. The strength of association is so strong that even an asymptomatic patient with a slightly reduced ABI of 0.9 has a twofold relative risk of a coronary event [13]. Anatomic distribution of PAD is important. Patients with PAD can have disease in the aortic, iliac, femoral, and tibial vessels of the lower extremity. Patients with isolated aorto-iliac vessel disease tend to be younger and have a lower likelihood of pre-existing coronary heart disease. Those with femoral vessel disease, tibial vessel disease, or disease in all three vessels tend to have the lowest ABI and the highest likelihood of coronary heart disease [7, 14‐19]. There is at present no current national US database on vascular interventions to allow realtime analysis of the trends in therapy and outcomes.
SEXUAL BEHAVIORS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN ADULT INTERSEXUALS: A PILOT STUDY

Purpose: Sexual preference and adjustment of intersexuals have rarely been investigated. Interview techniques were used to explore these issues.Materials and Methods: Ten adult intersexuals (average age 34.2 years) were randomly selected from Intersex Society of North America members. Of the 10 subjects 8 had initially been gender assigned as female and 2 as male. A structured telephone interview was used to assess sexual orientation, sexual activity and satisfaction with gender assignment.Results: Sexual debut occurred at age 18.1 years (range 15 to 22). At debut, 4 females and 2 males engaged in heterosexual intercourse, and 4 females engaged in gynephilic (female) sexual contact. Despite female gender assignment of 8 and initial heterosexual activity by 4 subjects, the final choice of a sexual partner was female in all 8. Both males had initial heterosexual contact but only 1 continued to prefer female partners. Current number of sexual partners averaged 0.9 (range 0 to 2) and total number of sexual pa...
Topological study of continuous transformations in Rn

The integer n≧1 will be arbitrary but fixed until further notice. A bounded domain D in R n is a nonempty, bounded, connected, open set. A pair of non-empty compact sets X, Y in R n will be said to form a frame for D if X > Y and X - Y = D. The symbol [X, Y, D] will be used to refer to this situation. For brevity, we shall speak simply of the frame [X, Y, D]. Thus the use of this term is merely an abbreviation for the following set of statements.
Forest floor plant response to lime and fertilizer before and after partial cutting of a northern red oak stand on an extremely acidic soil in Pennsylvania, USA

Abstract Liming and fertilization have been suggested as a means to remedy calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) deficiencies on acidic, base poor forested soils. However, little is known about the effect such treatments may have on forest floor plants in North America. The objective of this study was to determine if additions of dolomitic lime (6600 kg/ha) and fertilizer (110 kg/ha K 2 O, 220 kg/ha P 2 O 5 ) would alter forest floor plant communities. Forest floor plants were monitored for 2 years prior and 2 years after partial cutting on plots that received lime and fertilizer and on control plots. Forest floor plant diversity was unaffected by lime and fertilizer application. Deer-tongue grass ( Panicum clandestinum L.), white violet ( Viola blanda Willd.), blue violet ( Viola sororia Willd.) and Carex spp. increased in number on limed and fertilized plots. While not affected by lime and fertilizer, numbers of dwarf ginseng ( Panax trifolius L.) and mayflower ( Maianthemum canadense Desf.) decreased after cutting, while numbers of fire cherry ( Prunus pensylvanica L.) and hay-scented fern ( Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Michx.)Moore) increased after cutting. A general trend toward decreased numbers of red oak ( Quercus rubra L.) seedlings was also noted. While there was no effect of liming and fertilization on overall forest floor plant diversity, numbers of some species increased significantly.
Convergence of the sum-product algorithm

We address the question of convergence in the sum-product algorithm. Specifically, we relate convergence of the sum-product algorithm to the existence of a weak limit for a sequence of Gibbs measures defined on the associated computation tree. Using tools from the theory of Gibbs measures we develop easily testable sufficient conditions for convergence. The failure of convergence of the sum-product algorithm implies the existence of multiple phases for the associated Gibbs specification. These results give new insight into the mechanics of the algorithm.
Mapping X-linked Ophthalmic Diseases: Provisional Assignment of the Locus for Choroideremia to Xq13-q24

Abstract Choroideremia (McK 30310), an X-linked hereditary retinal dystrophy, causes nyctalopia, progressive visual field loss, and ultimately central blindness in affected males in early adulthood. We have used restriction fragment length polymorphisms from the X-chromosome to localize the region of the mutation for choroideremia in three families with this disorder. One polymorphic marker, DXYS1, located within Xg13-q21, shows no recombination with choroideremia at a LOD score of 5.78. Thus choroideremia maps within 9 centiMorgans of DXYS1 at 90% probability. Another marker, DXS11, located at Xg24-q26, shows no recombination with choroideremia but at a smaller LOD score of 1.54. These results suggest that the locus for choroideremia is distal to DXYS1 and between the two markers in the region Xg13-q24. This information may be useful for antenatal diagnosis, isolation of the mutant gene, and development of a rational therapy for the disorder.
Women Infant and Children program participants' beliefs and consumption of soy milk : Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

The purpose of this study was to determine if Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) variables predict soy milk intake in a sample of WIC participants in 2 Illinois counties (n = 380). A cross-sectional survey was used, which examined soy foods intake, behavioral beliefs, subjective norms, motivation, and intention. Soy product intake was low at both sites, and many participants (40%) did not know that soy milk was WIC approved. Most (>70%) wanted to comply with their health care providers, but didn’t know their opinions about soy milk (50-66%). Intention was significantly correlated with intake (0.507, P ≤ 0.01; 0.308, P ≤ 0.05). Environmental beliefs (0.282 and 0.410, P ≤ 0.01) and expectancy beliefs (0.490 and 0.636, P ≤ 0.01) were correlated with intention. At site 1, 30% of the variance in intention to consume soy milk was explained by expectancy beliefs and subjective norm beliefs (P < 0.0001); at site 2, 40% of the variance in intention was explained by expectancy beliefs. The TPB variables of expectancy beliefs predicted intention to consume soy milk in WIC participants. Therefore, knowing more about the health benefits of soy and how to cook with soy milk would increase WIC participants’ intention to consume soy milk. Positive messages about soy milk from health care providers could influence intake.
Critical Role of β3 Integrin in Experimental Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

We show that mice lacking β3 integrin are protected from OVX-induced bone loss. Using a lentiviral-based strategy to express β3 mutants in β3−/− mice, we also show that β3S752, but not β3Y747/Y759, is important for osteoclastic bone resorption in vivo. Introduction: Mice lacking the β3 integrin have dysfunctional osteoclasts and therefore accumulate bone mass with age. Thus, the αvβ3 integrin is a potential anti-osteoporosis target. Identifying components of the β3 integrin that determine its function in vivo is essential for therapeutically exploiting the antiresorptive properties of αvβ3. Materials and Methods: We used DXA and histomorphometry to assess bone loss after ovariectomy in wildtype and β3 integrin null mice. We used lentiviral vectors carrying various human β3 (hβ3) integrin constructs to transduce β3−/− bone marrow and reconstituted lethally irradiated β3−/− mice with the transduced marrow. The expressed constructs include the intact integrin and two mutants, namely hβ3Y747F/Y759F and hβ3S752P, each of which induces the bleeding dyscrasia, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, in humans. Two months after transplantation, the expression of hβ3 was measured by flow cytometry of marrow-derived macrophages. Osteoclast differentiation and function were assessed ex vivo by TRACP and actin-ring staining, respectively. Reconstituted mice were ovariectomized, and bone loss was assessed by DXA, histomorphometry, and serum TRACP5b assay. Results: β3−/− mice are protected from ovariectomy-induced bone loss, showing no difference in BMD compared with sham-operated controls. We successfully expressed hβ3 integrins in β3−/− hosts using lentiviral transduction of bone marrow. Two months after transplantation, 25–35% of marrow-derived macrophages expressed the hβ3 constructs. Similar to its effect in vitro, hβ3WT completely rescued the osteoclast and platelet phenotype of β3−/− mice. Whereas platelet function remained deranged in β3−/− mice overexpressing hβ3Y747F/Y759F, osteoclast function was fully restored. In contrast, β3−/− mice expressing hβ3S752P continued to exhibit prolonged bleeding times and dysfunctional osteoclasts in vitro and ex vivo. Most importantly, hβ3WT and hβ3Y747F/Y759F transplanted mice underwent equivalent ovariectomy-induced bone loss, whereas, like those bearing the control vector, hβ3S752P transplanted mice were protected. Conclusions: Functional β3 integrin is required for ovariectomy-induced bone loss. β3S752, but not β3Y747/Y759, is critical for osteoclast function in vivo.
Engineering Properties of Lunar Soil Simulant JSC-1A

This study was carried out to assess the tensile and shear strength in lunar soil, and to examine the variation as a function of density and confinement. Geotechnical engineering properties of the lunar soil simulant designated Johnson Space Center Number One-A lunar soil simulant (JSC-1A) have been investigated experimentally. To better understand these soil properties, a variety of conventional and unconventional experiments were conducted on JSC-1A to determine its grain-size distribution, cohesion, friction angle, dilatancy angle, tensile strength, and appropriate low strain elastic constants. These experiments were conducted on JSC-1A at a variety of densities prepared through tamping densification to quantify the response of the soil over a range of conditions. To simulate lunar conditions, the samples were prepared at medium to very high relative densities. Grain-size distribution, shear strength, tensile strength, dilatancy angles, and elasticity modulus of the JSC-1A were compared with lunar soil...
Identification of a Novel Isoform of the Chloroplast-Coupling Factor α-Subunit

Studies were conducted to identify a 64-kD thylakoid membrane protein of unknown function. The protein was extracted from chloroplast thylakoids under low ionic strength conditions and purified to homogeneity by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Four peptides generated from the proteolytic cleavage of the wheat 64-kD protein were sequenced and found to be identical to internal sequences of the chloroplast-coupling factor (CF1) alpha-subunit. Antibodies for the 64-kD protein also recognized the alpha-subunit of CF1. Both the 64-kD protein and the 61-kD CF1 alpha-subunit were present in the monocots barley (Hordeum vulgare), maize (Zea mays), oat (Avena sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum); but the dicots pea (Pisum sativum), soybean (Glycine max Merr.), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) contained only a single polypeptide corresponding to the CF1 alpha-subunit. The 64-kD protein accumulated in response to high irradiance (1000 mumol photons m-2 s-1) and declined in response to low irradiance (80 mumol photons m-2 s-1) treatments. Thus, the 64-kD protein was identified as an irradiance-dependent isoform of the CF1 alpha-subunit found only in monocots. Analysis of purified CF1 complexes showed that the 64-kD protein represented up to 15% of the total CF1 alpha-subunit.
Breast-feeding exposure of infants to selected pesticides: a public health viewpoint.

In this paper, we provide an overview of the public health implications of exposure to some pesticides via breast milk and provide health-based guidance. The presence of organochlorine pesticides in breast milk has been documented in many studies around the world. Included in our review are aldrin/dieldrin, chlordane, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT)/1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), endrin, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Toxicological and environmental data on these chemicals are compiled in toxicological profiles published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Based on the data, ATSDR derives chemical-specific minimal risk levels (MRLs) that assist in evaluating public health risks associated with exposure. MRLs are health-based guidance values designed to protect the most sensitive populations, including breast-fed infants. We compare MRLs and projected intakes from the breast milk for the listed pesticides, expl...
Mathematical model of beta-cell glucose metabolism and insulin release. I. Glucokinase as glucosensor hypothesis

To quantitatively test the theory that glucokinase controls the rate of glucose metabolism and therefore the rate of insulin secretion, a minimal mathematical model of glycolysis in the pancreatic beta-cell was developed. The model represents our current hypothesis of how the normal beta-cell transduces the glucose signal. In this report, the model was used to address questions regarding the control strength of transport, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and phosphofructokinase in the metabolism of glucose. The hypothesis that fructose 6-phosphate and a protein regulator modulate glucokinase activity was evaluated by simulation analysis, as was the possibility that glucose-6-phosphatase, working in concert with phosphofructokinase, can modulate the glucose-sensing system. It was found that, in the absence of glucose-6-phosphatase, transport, hexokinase, and phosphofructokinase do not greatly influence the rate of glucose metabolism unless their activities are dramatically altered from the measured values. Glucose metabolism was profoundly affected by the activity of glucokinase. However, in the presence of glucose-6-phosphatase, the ratio of glucose-6-phosphatase to phosphofructokinase activities was a very important parameter, and this potential control mechanism deserves more attention. The results further support the notion that glucokinase is indeed the glucosensor of the beta-cell and that modeling the system in toto provides quantitative evaluation needed to interpret the experimental tests of hypotheses.
A macroergonomic perspective on fatigue and coping in the hospital nurse work system

Occupational fatigue in hospital nurses is associated with increased nurse turnover, and decreased nurse health and patient safety. The goal of this study was to explore the factors contributing to or preventing fatigue, and barriers and facilitators to individual nurse coping in hospital work systems. Interviews were conducted and analyzed using a directed qualitative content analysis approach guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model. Themes related to sources of fatigue within each of the five primary components of the SEIPS work system were identified, along with barriers and facilitators to nurses' experiences and strategies for coping with fatigue. Findings from this study provide guidance on what nurses perceive as contributing to fatigue and factors that are helpful and harmful to coping with fatigue within their work system. Implications for fatigue risk management systems (FRMS) are also discussed, in particular the importance of maintaining nurse autonomy in decision-making when implementing fatigue interventions or countermeasures.
On Emotion, Juvenile Sex Offenders, and Mandatory Registration

It is both unremarkable and true that juveniles are different from adults. United States Supreme Court decisions over the past decade have highlighted the extent of the differences. Yet, played out against the backdrop of sex offender registration laws, the conversation takes an abrupt turn. Rather than differentiating between adult and juvenile offenders, federal sex offender registration laws require juveniles convicted of certain sex offenses to face the same onerous registration and notification burdens as their adult counterparts. Tracking the shift in sex offender registration models from “likely to reoffend” to “conviction-based" assessment, this article argues that “conviction-based” assessment is an unstable proposition when applied to child offenders for two fundamental reasons. First, juvenile offenders lack intentionality and purpose that adult offenders possess, thereby diminishing the value that a conviction carries. Further, and more importantly, studies reveal that the commission of juvenile sex crimes does not portend future predatory behavior, raising the question of the purpose of registration for this class of offenders. Ultimately, the legislative push to require juvenile sex offenders to suffer serious register and notification burdens demonstrates convincingly the pitfall that impacts the entire debate over sex offender registration. Emotional rhetoric controls the legislative agenda, even in the face of compelling arguments to the contrary.
Platelets Context-Dependent Vascular Protectors or Mediators of Disease

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent arterial plaque-associated thrombus formation (atherothrombosis) leads to myocardial infarctions and ischemic strokes. Although hyperlipidemia and abnormalities in hemostatic balance contribute to atherothrombosis, the sequence of events and mechanisms are largely unclear and remain of interest. Platelets are thought to play a major role in driving atherothrombosis by localizing to lesions, facilitating inflammatory cell infiltration into lesions, and locally delivering prothrombotic and proinflammatory molecules. Mechanisms underlying platelet dysregulation in atherosclerosis may be caused by exogenous factors, like diet. In fact, Fuller et al investigated the genetic effects of combined scavenger receptor class B, type 1, and Ldlr −/− (double knockout) deficiency on atherogenesis and the development of occlusive coronary artery atherothrombosis in response to 4 different dietary challenges.1 They observed that double knockout mice had increased spontaneous coronary artery disease and decreased survival in response to diets containing high fat and high cholesterol (22% fat, 0.15% cholesterol), high cholesterol (2% cholesterol), and diets high in fat, cholesterol, and choline (ie, the Paigen diet).1,2 Diet-induced mortality in the double knockout mice was likely attributed to abundant platelet accumulation surrounding atherosclerotic plaques as assessed by CD41 staining. Inflammatory markers and plaque-associated monocytes also correlated with increased plaque-associated platelets. These studies suggest that diet not only contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, but also the degree of platelet accumulation within plaques. Overproduction of platelets is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, yet the mechanisms that govern excessive platelet production in hyperlipidemic conditions are widely uncharted. Recent findings indicated the lack of ATP-binding cassette transporters (eg, ABCG4 and ABCB6) leads to increased platelet production and atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic mice.3,4 Specifically, the lack of ABCB6 in the bone marrow leads to unrestrained platelet production, enhanced proinflammatory platelet activity, and accelerated atherosclerosis in Ldlr …
Vernicia fordii ‘Anna Bella’, a New Ornamental Tung Tree

Despite their floral display and tropical foliage, ornamental use for tung trees has been limited by the production of tung nuts, which are large, heavy, and toxic. ‘Anna Bella’ is a semisterile, or nutless, tung tree selection that significantly reduces homeowner concerns about mowing and toxicity to pets and children. Sterility also reduces the possibility of invasiveness. ‘Anna Bella’ is the first and only ornamental tung tree selection available to landscape professionals and homeowners and is recommended for USDA cold hardiness zones 8 to 10. The Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory (TCSHL) was formerly the USDA Tung Oil Research Station in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s and maintains the most extensive Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airey Shaw (syn. Aleurites fordii Hemsl.) germplasm collection in the United States that includes historic breeding lines and cultivars used in commercial tung oil production. This collection includes trees that are late-flowering and were used as parents in a USDA-ARS tung tree breeding program to delay flowering and prevent freeze damage to commercial tung oil orchards. Tung germplasm has been conserved by the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Poplarville, MS, for the last 50 years although the mission of the research station transitioned to small fruits in 1971. The germplasm collection was screened for ornamental use and ‘Anna Bella’ was selected for evaluation. Although they have not been shown to displace native flora, tung trees persist in fence rows and along roadsides and are classified as mildly invasive in parts of Florida (Langeland and Craddock Burks, 2008). Some specimens have been retained or planted in landscapes as ornamental trees because they flower profusely in early spring. Tung nuts are large, 8.0 cm in diameter, heavy, and toxic making them a nuisance for homeowners. ‘Anna Bella’ is a semisterile, or nutless, tung tree selection that significantly reduces concerns about mowing and yard maintenance, toxicity to pets and children, and the possibility of invasiveness. In four years of observations, peak flowering for ‘Anna Bella’ occurs 4 weeks later when compared with popular tung tree cultivars for tung oil production such as ‘Folsom’ and ‘Isabel’. ‘Anna Bella’ is the first ornamental tung tree selection released by the USDAARS Southern Horticultural Research Unit.
An alternative framework for analysing and managing conflicts in integrated water resources management (IWRM): linking theory and practice

AbstractResearch on water resource conflicts needs to be better aligned with practitioner approaches to water resources development, chiefly integrated water resources management (IWRM). This paper bridges the gap between research and practice through a novel application of the social–ecological systems framework to a set of 10 conflict cases from an IWRM initiative in rural Central America. The conflicts in the empirical cases are found to be primarily the result of socio-political variables, particularly low levels of trust and social capital, and peacebuilding is suggested as a promising approach to address this suite of conflicts. The paper concludes with a proposed course of research designed to further both theoretical and applied knowledge of water resource conflicts.
Pulmonary Emboli as a Complication of Germ Cell Cancer Treatment

Abstract A total of 3 patients with germ cell cancer had pulmonary emboli while receiving cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. In addition to cisplatin, 1 patient was receiving etoposide plus doxorubicin, 1 vinblastine plus bleomycin and 1 etoposide plus bleomycin at the time of the vascular event. One patient died of cardiovascular collapse, while the other 2 presented with severe shortness of breath, hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain. A review of vascular complications of cisplatin- containing chemotherapy is presented. Awareness and early recognition of pulmonary emboli in patients receiving these chemotherapeutic agents may minimize treatment-related morbidity and mortality.
An Efficient Tri-Level Optimization Model for Electric Grid Defense Planning

The work reported in this paper aims at developing a practical and efficient tool for utility transmission planners to protect critical transmission assets from potential physical attacks. A trilevel min–max–min optimization model is proposed to represent actions of a planner, an attacker, and an operator. These three agents share a common objective function, which is the system load shedding. The strong duality theorem is used to merge the middle- and lower-level problems into a single-level one. The resulting mixed-integer bilevel model is solved by a Benders decomposition technique using primal cuts. Two case studies are presented as applications of this novel technique. Additionally, the proposed technique is compared with an implicit enumeration algorithm.
N,N-Dibutylanilinium Hydrogen Squarate

The title mol­ecular salt, C14H24N+·C4HO4− [systematic name: N,N-di­butyl­benzenaminium 2-hy­droxy-3,4-dioxo­cyclo­but-1-en-1-olate], is composed of a protonated N,N-di­butyl­aniline cation with a hydrogen squarate monoanion (common names). The disparate bond lengths within the squarate anion suggest delocalization of the negative charge over only part of the squarate moiety. In the crystal, the squarate anions are linked by pairs of O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers with an R22(10) ring motif. The dimers are linked to the cations on either side by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, and weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These cation–anion–anion–cation units are linked by further C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to (102).
Real-time state estimation with whole-body multi-contact dynamics: A modified UKF approach

We present a real-time state estimator applicable to whole-body dynamics in contact-rich behaviors. Our estimator is based on the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), with modifications that proved essential in the presence of strong contact non-linearities combined with unavoidable model errors. Instead of the standard UKF weighting scheme, we use uniform weighting which is less susceptible to samples that violate unilateral constraints. We also develop a rich model of process noise including noise in system parameters, control noise, as well as a novel form of timing noise which makes the estimator more robust. The method is applied to an enhanced Darwin robot in walking as well as pseudo-walking while lying on the floor. Estimation accuracy is quantified via leave-one-out cross-validation, as well as comparisons to ground-truth motion capture data which is not used by the estimator. A full update takes around 7 msec on a laptop processor. Furthermore we perform the computationally-expensive prediction step (involving 210 forward dynamics evaluations in the MuJoCo simulator) while waiting for sensor data, and then apply the correction step as soon as sensor data arrive. This correction only takes 0.5 msec. Thus the estimator adds minimal latency to closed-loop control, even though it handles the whole-body robot dynamics directly, without resorting to any of the modeling shortcuts used in the past.
Improved Fluorescent Protein Contrast and Discrimination by Optically Controlling Dark State Lifetimes.

Modulation and optical control of photoswitchable fluorescent protein (PS-FP) dark state lifetimes drastically improves sensitivity and selectivity in fluorescence imaging. The dark state population of PS-FPs generates an out-of-phase fluorescence component relative to the sinusoidally modulated 488 nm laser excitation. Because this apparent phase advanced emission results from slow recovery to the fluorescent manifold, we hasten recovery and, therefore, modulation frequency by varying coillumination intensity at 405 nm. As 405 nm illumination regenerates the fluorescent ground state more rapidly than via thermal recovery, we experimentally demonstrate that secondary illumination can control PS-FPs dark state lifetime to act as an additional dimension for discriminating spatially and spectrally overlapping emitters. This experimental combination of out of phase imaging after optical modulation (OPIOM) and synchronously amplified fluorescence image recovery (SAFIRe) optically controls the fluorescent prote...
Textile dye dermatitis:A review

The occurrence of dermatologic problems caused by consumer exposure to dyes on clothing is reviewed. Thirty-one dyes, mainly disperse with anthraquinone or azo structures, have caused allergic contact dermatitis. Phototoxic dye dermatitis is rare.
Some enzymatic activities of a particulate fraction from sonic lysates of Escherichia coli.

Crude lysates of animal, plant, and bacterial cells almost invariably can be shown to contain a particulate fraction from which certain oxidative enzymes can be separated and solubilized only with the greatest difficulty. The particles in this fraction should not be confused with the much more complex and highly organized mitochondria that have been isolated from animal and plant cells. They contain a much smaller, less varied, and more stable aggregate of enzymatic activities than do mitochondria. Indeed it seems very probable that such particles, at least where obtained from plant and mammalian cells, consist largely of varying-sized fragments of an insoluble component of disrupted mitochondria. In the course of our investigation of the mode of antibacterial action of "furacin" (5-nitro-2furaldehyde semicarbazone) we have had the opportunity to make a fairly extensive survey of such a particulate fraction from cells of Escherichia coli strain ECFS.