cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Putative mechanism and dynamics of inhibition of the apple scab pathogen Venturia inaequalis by compost extracts

Abstract Clarified water extracts of slurries of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) inhibited in vitro germination of conidia of the apple scab pathogen Venturia inaequalis by up to 98% relative to germination in water controls. Inhibition of conidial germination increased with incubation time of slurries over 5 to 7 d and persisted for at least 14 d, at which time experiments were terminated. Compost slurries became anaerobic within 1 h when incubated without aeration. Aeration of slurries decreased efficacy of the resulting extracts compared to non-aerated controls. When aerated slurries were allowed to incubate without further aeration, extracts regained efficacy, becoming not significantly different from non-aerated controls. There was no difference in efficacy between filtered (0.1μm) and untreated extracts. Passage of filtrate through microconcentrators with molecular cut-off limits ranging from 100 to 3 kDa did not diminish activity of the extracts. Autoclaved extracts were less effective than mutreated extracts but retained most of their efficacy. Extracts produced from sterile SMS were virtually ineffective compared with those from non-sterile SMS. When small volumes of slurry from raw SMS were added to slurries of sterile SMS and incubated for an additional period, efficacy of the inoculated SMS was enhanced compared to uninoculated controls. We conclude that a major inhibitory principle of the SMS extract is a low molecular weight, heat-stable, non-protein metabolite produced by anaerobic microorganisms in the compost.
Rapid and Micro High-pressure Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Plasma Phenytoin Levels

Abstract A rapid and simple high-pressure liquid chromatographic microanalytical method was developed for the determination of clinically encountered plasma phenytoin levels. This method is accurate down to about 1 μg of phenytoin/ml of plasma and requires as little as 10 μl of sample. Total analysis time is about 10 min. The method involves deproteinizing with acetonitrile followed by monitoring the deproteinized sample at 254 nm. Phenytoin’s primary metabolite in humans, 5-(phydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, also can be quantitated when present in moderately high clinically encountered concentrations. Plasma profiles of phenytoin and its metabolite were followed with time after an intravenous bolus injection to a rabbit.
Gravity evidence for an extinct magma chamber beneath Syrtis Major, Mars: a look at the magmatic plumbing system

Abstract Syrtis Major is an ancient basaltic shield volcano on Mars with a basal diameter of 1100 km. The free-air gravity anomaly is 126 mGal at spherical harmonic degree 50 and reaches its maximum amplitude over the 2 km deep topographic caldera. The observed gravity anomaly cannot be explained by flexurally supported surface topography and requires the presence of a buried, high-density load. The geologically most reasonable interpretation of this high-density load is that it represents the magma chamber of Syrtis Major, now solidified and filled at least in part by dense igneous cumulates. Pyroxene is likely to be the dominant cumulate mineral in this system, although olivine may also be present. Gravity models presented here define the structure of the buried load and in essence provide a look at the magmatic plumbing system of this volcano. The preferred model involves a buried load that is approximately 300×600 km across, roughly twice as large as the topographic caldera. Both the buried load and the caldera are elongated in the north–south direction. In the center of the buried load, the minimum thickness is 2.8 km for an olivine-dominated cumulate system or 3.9 km for a pyroxene-dominated system. The best terrestrial analog for this structure is the Bushveld Complex, an igneous cumulate body that is similar in size and thickness to the Syrtis Major structure. Assuming that the mean crustal density is 2600 kg m −3 due to impact brecciation, the elastic lithosphere at Syrtis Major was 10–15 km thick at the time when the topographic load was emplaced. This corresponds to a lithospheric thermal gradient of 28–52 K/km and a surface heat flux of 70–130 mW m −2 . Higher resolution gravity data, such as that which is planned for the 2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, will permit further refinement of the dimensions of this structure.
A method for characterizing transition concertedness from polymer dynamics computer simulations.

A statistical method based on classifying the transitions among a set of dihedral angles within an “energy transfer window” is developed, and used to analyze Brownian (BD) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the acyl chains in a lipid bilayer, and MD of neat hexadecane. It is shown for the BD simulation that when a transition of the dihedral angle in the center of the chain occurs, a transition of a particular next nearest neighbor (or angle 2-apart) will follow concertedly with a probability of approximately 0.10 within a lime window of approximately 3 ps. The MD bilayer simulations, which are based on a more flexible model of the hydrocarbon chains, yield corresponding concerted transition probabilities of approximately 0.083 and window sizes of 1–2 ps. An analysis of angles 4-apart yields concerted transition probabilities of 0.03 and 0.04 for the BD and MD bilayer simulations, respectively, and window sizes close to those of the corresponding 2-apart cases. Statistical hypothesis testing very strongly rejects the assertion that these follower transitions are occurring at random. Similar analysis reveals marginal or no evidence of concertedness between 1-apart (nearest neighbor) and between 3-apart dihedral angle transitions. The pattern of concertedness for hexadecane is qualitatively similar to that of the lipid chains, although concertedness is somewhat stronger for the 3-apart transitions and somewhat weaker for those 4-apart. Finally, it is suggested that the diffusion of small solute molecules in membranes is better facilitated by non concerted transitions, which are associated with relatively large displacements of the chains, than by concerted transitions, which do little to change the chain shape. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Principal component analysis reveals gender-specific predictors of cardiometabolic risk in 6th graders

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the sex-specific pattern of pediatric cardiometabolic risk with principal component analysis, using several biological, behavioral and parental variables in a large cohort (n = 2866) of 6th grade students. Methods: Cardiometabolic risk components included waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood pressure, plasma triglycerides levels and HDL-cholesterol. Principal components analysis was used to determine the pattern of risk clustering and to derive a continuous aggregate score (MetScore). Stratified risk components and MetScore were analyzed for association with age, body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA), and parental factors. Results: In both boys and girls, BMI and CRF were associated with multiple risk components, and overall MetScore. Maternal smoking was associated with multiple risk components in girls and boys, as well as MetScore in boys, even after controlling for children’s BMI. Paternal family history of early cardiovascular disease (CVD) and parental age were associated with increased blood pressure and MetScore for girls. Children’s PA levels, maternal history of early CVD, and paternal BMI were also indicative for various risk components, but not MetScore. Conclusions: Several biological and behavioral factors were independently associated with children’s cardiometabolic disease risk, and thus represent a unique gender-specific risk profile. These data serve to bolster the independent contribution of CRF, PA, and family-oriented healthy lifestyles for improving children’s health.
Two-Nucleon Stripping Process

A new expression is derived for the differential cross section of processes in which two nucleons are captured from an incident alpha particle or similar projectiles. The formula derived is compared with a similar one previously obtained together with some experimental data on the O/sup 16/(d, alpha )N/sup 14/ reaction. Fairly gocd agreement is observed. (auth)
Are opioid-induced changes in fetal breathing related to changes in glucose metabolism?

The effects of opioids on fetal breathing have been shown to be a function of dose and receptor selectivity. We hypothesized that the effects on breathing may be related to opioid-induced changes in glucose metabolism. The present studies, using unanesthetized fetal lambs, showed that morphine exerts dual action on glucose metabolism, with hypoglycemia at 1.2 mg/hr and hyperglycemia at 2.5 and 5.0 mg/hr. In contrast, fetal breathing was increased by all three doses of morphine. The μ-selective agonist, DAMGO, caused hyperglycemia but significantly decreased fetal breathing. The δ-selective agonist, DPDPE, stimulated fetal breathing but had no effect on plasma glucose
Cyclic staggered scheme: a loop allocation policy for DOACROSS loops

Within the scope of the multithreaded dataflow, the problem of scheduling/allocation of DOACROSS loops has been discussed and it was shown that the so called staggered allocation offers higher performance and resource utilization than other schemes described in the literature. The staggered scheme, however, produces an unbalanced load among processors. The paper introduces an extension to the staggered scheme-cyclic staggered scheme-that produces a more balanced distribution of iterations among processors. The cyclic staggered scheme is simulated and its performance improvement is analyzed.
Review essay: Lynn and Vanhanen, IQ and Global Inequality

Abstract IQ and Global Inequality is a sequel to the authors' earlier IQ and the Wealth of Nations wherein they argued that “… national differences in intelligence are an important factor contributing to differences in national wealth and rates of economic growth” (p. 2). Or, later more precisely stated, that “… national IQ is the single most powerful explanatory variable, but because the explained part of the variation does not rise higher than 40–60 percent, this explanation leaves room for other explanatory factors”(p. 13). Not surprisingly, even so qualified, this thesis triggered a “mixed reception.” As the authors relate with refreshing candor, some of the reviewers denounced them for “jumping to conclusions,” took issue with their “relatively weak statistical evidence and dubious presumptions,” found the study “neither methodologically nor theoretically convincing,” and dismissed the evidence as “virtually meaningless” (p. 3).
Burnout and job satisfaction among student support services personnel

This study measured burnout and job satisfaction among Student Support Services personnel (SSSP). In it, the researchers used the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Job satisfaction was measured using the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS), which examined intrinsic, organizational, and salary and promotion. The study correlated three components of burnout with the total mean on job satisfaction. Burnout levels were compared to national norms. Two-hundred fifty individuals were randomly selected from 1,702 SSSP. This yielded 166 usable surveys, for a response rate of 66 percent. Results, using the Spearman rho and rank transformation regression analysis, were significant. Findings disclosed a significant negative relationship between emotional exhaustion and total job satisfaction, a significant positive relationship between personal accomplishment and total job satisfaction, and an overall significant relationship between the three components of burnout and total job satisfaction.
Pericardial Fat Is Associated With Impaired Lung Function and a Restrictive Lung Pattern in Adults: The Jackson Heart Study

Background: Impaired lung function has been linked to obesity and systemic infl ammation. Pericardial fat has been shown to be associated with anomalies in cardiac structure, function, and atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that pericardial fat may have a similar role in the impairment of lung function. Methods: Cross-sectional associations of pericardial fat volumes, quantifi ed by multidetector CT scan, with FEV 1 and FVC assessed by spirometry, were investigated in 1,293 participants (54.5 10.8 years; 66.4% women) in the Jackson Heart Study. We also examined whether these associations were independent of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Results: Pericardial fat was associated with impaired lung function after multivariable adjustment, but these associations generally did not remain after adjustment for VAT. An exception was the FEV 1 /FVC ratio. Higher pericardial fat volumes were associated with higher odds of a restrictive lung pattern and lower odds of airway obstruction. Participants in the highest quartile had the highest odds of a restrictive lung pattern (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.22-2.79, compared with quartile 1), even after adjustment for VAT. The odds of obstruction decreased across increasing quartiles of pericardial fat. These relationships were generally graded, suggesting dose-response trends. Conclusions: Pericardial fat is generally associated with lower lung function and independently associated with a restrictive lung pattern in middle-aged and elderly adults. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms through which pericardial fat contributes to pulmonary anomalies.
"We Who Are Dark...:" The Black Community According to Black Adults in America--An Exploratory Content Analysis.

The author explored the meaning of the Black community according to a purposeful sample of 60 Black adults in the mid-Atlantic United States. Purposeful stratified sampling resulted in equal numbers of participants along the lines of locale (Brooklyn, New York; Wilmington, Delaware; and Washington, D.C.), gender, and generational affiliation (older adults, middle-aged adults, and young adults). Content analysis of responses to a single open-ended survey question resulted in 11 emergent themes around the meaning of the Black community: the Black community as cultural, the Black community as residential, the Black community as global, the Black community as supportive, the Black community as visibly distinctive, the Black community as socioeconomic, the Black community as nonactualized, the Black community as nondifferential, the Black community as nihilistic, the Black community as nondefinable, and the Black community as other. Gender and generational variations in thematic endorsement were analyzed, and implications of these findings as they pertain to research, mental health programs, and policies for Blacks are discussed.
Noniterative cross-flow integration for the pressure-split analysis of subsonic mixing-layer problems

In utilizing pressure-split methodology for the two-dimensional analysis of curved wall jets and the subsonic regions of underexpanded free jets, Dash et al (1984) employed the cross flow procedure of Bradshaw et al (1979, 1984). In assessing this procedure, it was noted that the iterative steps required between the continuity and cross flow momentum equation solutions could be eliminated by combining these equations into a unified equation for the cross flow velocity, yielding a significant reduction in computer time and eliminating possible convergence problems which occur in iterative approaches. Attention is presently given to the application of this noniterative procedure to a two-dimensional curved wall jet problem.
A Community of Scholars: What Is It?

This column addresses the question, What is a community of scholars? This question is explored through the writings of authors about genius—looking at such geniuses as Plato, Mahatma Ghandi, Queen Elizabeth I, and Christopher Columbus. The question is also explored through the writings of present day nurse scholars and their meanings of community of scholars.
Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test Scores of Preschool Children

Two groups of preschool Negro children of poor parents were administered the PPVT, SB and other linguistic and perceptual-motor measures. Since the PPVT score was consistently lower than the SB, it was concluded that this test may be more susceptible to environmental impoverishment than the SB. Substandard performance on the PPVT was discussed in terms of (a) a cumulative deficiency in storage and/or retrieval of verbal terms and (b) an inefficiency in sustaining the correct mental set required in the multiple-choice format of the PPVT.
Reliability prediction and simulation for a communications-satellite fleet

Telecommunications satellites are usually designed to operate in-orbit for as long as 10-15 years. This places a lot of focus on the reliability of the spacecraft from the early design phase, through the manufacturing process and up until after the spacecraft has been launched and put into service. In this paper, the authors discuss methods with primary focus on the reliability of an in-orbit satellite fleet, i.e. a collection of satellites that have been placed successfully in orbit. Traditional methods developed primarily for reliability predictions of a single satellite with no flight history are not adequate for this purpose. Realistic reliability predictions for an in-orbit satellite fleet must address the flight history (launch date and observed in-orbit failures) of each individual satellite, and furthermore spacecraft units are often observed to have nonconstant hazard rates, significantly different from those that can be calculated using military handbooks. To obtain reliability predictions for a satellite fleet with individual flight histories, nonconstant unit hazard rates, and complicated redundancy configurations, Monte-Carlo simulation is a very useful tool, because it can handle complex models in contrast to most analytical tools.
Crop Response and Control of Common Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) and Prostrate Pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides) in Green Onion with Oxyfluorfen

Abstract Weed management in green onion continues to be a challenge for vegetable growers in Ohio. Field experiments were conducted from 2005 to 2009 to evaluate oxyfluorfen efficacy on common purslane and prostrate pigweed and green onion tolerance when applied POST at 0, 30, 70, 105, and 290 g ai ha−1 approximately 3 wk after planting. No crop injury was observed from any of the herbicide rates, except in 2009 when 209 g ha−1 oxyfluorfen resulted in 10% injury at 7 d after treatment. The transient injury did not reduce green onion yield. Green onion yield ranged from 1.8 to 2.2 kg plot−1 in 2006 and 1.3 to 1.5 kg plot−1 in 2009. In 2007 yield increased linearly from 1.9 to 3.0 kg plot−1 with oxyfluorfen rates of 0 to 105 g ha−1. Common purslane control increased as the rate of oxyfluorfen increased. Application of oxyfluorfen at 70 to 105 g ha−1 provided the best control of common purslane, ranging from 61 to 95% across the years. Similar control results were observed for prostrate pigweed. Prostrate pi...
Role of Phospholipid Oxidation Products in Atherosclerosis

There is increasing clinical evidence that phospholipid oxidation products (Ox-PL) play a role in atherosclerosis. This review focuses on the mechanisms by which Ox-PL interact with endothelial cells, monocyte/macrophages, platelets, smooth muscle cells, and HDL to promote atherogenesis. In the past few years major progress has been made in identifying these mechanisms. It has been recognized that Ox-PL promote phenotypic changes in these cell types that have long-term consequences for the vessel wall. Individual Ox-PL responsible for specific cellular effects have been identified. A model of the configuration of bioactive truncated Ox-PL within membranes has been developed that demonstrates that the oxidized fatty acid moiety protrudes into the aqueous phase, rendering it accessible for receptor recognition. Receptors and signaling pathways for individual Ox-PL species are now determined and receptor independent signaling pathways identified. The effects of Ox-PL are mediated both by gene regulation and transcription independent processes. It has now become apparent that Ox-PL affects multiple genes and pathways, some of which are proatherogenic and some are protective. However, at concentrations that are likely present in the vessel wall in atherosclerotic lesions, the effects promote atherogenesis. There have also been new insights on enzymes that metabolize Ox-PL and the significance of these enzymes for atherosclerosis. With the knowledge we now have of the regulation and effects of Ox-PL in different vascular cell types, it should be possible to design experiments to test the role of specific Ox-PL on the development of atherosclerosis.
Bipolar fuzzy sets and relations: a computational framework for cognitive modeling and multiagent decision analysis

A bipolar fuzzy set theory is presented for cognitive modeling and multiagent decision analysis. Firstly, notions of bipolar fuzziness are introduced. Secondly an interval-based bipolar fuzzy logic is defined which generalizes a real-valued bipolar fuzzy logic by allowing interval-based linguistic variables x and y to be substituted into (S, =, V, /spl otimes/) or (S, =, /spl cup/, /spl odot/) where S={/spl forall/(x,y)|(x,y)/spl isin/([-1,0]/spl times/[0,+1])}. Thirdly, a fuzzy number-based bipolar logic is presented which. Further generalizes the interval-based model by allowing /spl alpha/-level fuzzy number-based linguistic variables x and y to be substituted into (S, =, V, /spl otimes/) or (S, =, /spl cup/, /spl odot/), S={/spl forall/(x,y)|(x,y) maps ([-1,0]/spl times/[0,+1]) to [0,1]}. Bipolar fuzzy set operations of disjunction composition (V-/spl otimes/), union-composition (/spl cup/, /spl odot/), are proved commutative and associative; V respect to /spl otimes/ and /spl cup/ respect to /spl odot/ are proved distributive. It is shown that a interval-based bipolar variable is a nesting of a real-valued bipolar variable; a trapezoidal-fuzzy number-based bipolar variable is an 2-level nesting of an interval-based bipolar variable; and an /spl alpha/-level (/spl alpha/ is an integer) fuzzy number-based bipolar variable is an /spl alpha/+1 level nesting of an interval-based bipolar variable. Based on the nesting features, it is proved that /spl alpha/-level fuzzy number-based bipolar operations can be converted to interval-based and then real-valued bipolar operations. The conversions lead to significant computational simplification on bipolar fuzzy relations. Major advantages of the bipolar fuzzy set theory include: (1) it formalizes a unified approach to polarity and fuzziness; (2) it captures die bipolar or double-sided (negative and positive, or effect and side effect) nature of human perception and cognition; and (3) it provides a basis for bipolar cognitive modeling and multiagent decision analysis. >
Building Blocks for Agent Design

We present our Component-Based Agent Framework, which enables a software engineer to design a set of agents by using a visual component-based toolkit (Sun’s BDK), and wiring together desired blocks of functionality. We instantiate this framework in the RoboCup domain by implementing the necessary components. The implementation also serves as a proof of the viability of our framework. Finally, we use this implementation to build sample agents. The proposed framework is a first step towards the merging of agent-based and component-based design tools.
Estimation of a Prior Distribution for the Bayesian Estimation of Pearson III Skews

The Pearson III distribution is often used as a model for the annual maximum streamflow process. Estimates of flood quantiles and the probabilities of exceedance of flood magnitudes, using this distribution and the small samples usually available are rather biased. A number of investigators have shown that the sampling distributions of, and the bias in the estimates of the Pearson III parameters, and consequently the flood quantiles and probabilities, are dependent only on the magnitude of the skew γ of the distribution and the sample size n. The importance of unbiased estimates of skew is thus recognized. The development of such unbiased estimators, using regional and/or site information, has met with limited success. This has contributed to the controversy surrounding the use of the Pearson III distribution to model the flood frequency Process.
Gastrointestinal Physiology During Sleep

This article describes a variety of research findings concerning the gastrointestinal (GI) system and sleep. The understanding of the modulation of GI function during sleep has increased over the years, and this has occurred in concert with substantially more sophisticated techniques for the measurement of intraluminal pressure and smooth muscle functioning. In brief, the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) functioning appears to be substantially altered by sleep while the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is not. Esophageal function during sleep is somewhat different with regard to primary and secondary peristalsis. The frequency of primary peristalsis is governed by swallows which have been shown to decrease from stage 1 to stage 4 sleep. The amplitude and duration of secondary peristalsis is decreased from stage 1 to stage 4 sleep, with a slight recovery noted in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Gastric function during sleep is largely related to the marked increase in acid secretion which is identified in the first third of the night. There are conflicting studies with regard to intestinal functioning during sleep, but in general there appear to be periodic oscillations in intestinal contractile activity, which seems to describe a 90-min cycle in the fasting state. Colonic function is largely quiescent during sleep with marked increases in contractile activity associated with arousals from sleep and awaking. Alterations in anal–rectal functioning during sleep appear to be largely related to the preservation of rectal continence during sleep. Anal canal pressures are generally higher than rectal pressures, and rectal contractions appear to be largely retrograde during sleep.
Physics and Computation

By this point we have seen that Maxima’s built-in routines can be very helpful tools in solving physics problems. Users can expand Maxima’s usefulness by taking advantage of its programming capabilities. Although Maxima should not be viewed as a substitute for a full-featured programming language, it does have some basic programming features that allow users to write simple programs. This chapter introduces these basic programming features and shows how they can be used to solve problems in mathematics and physics.
Multiple Robot-Multiple Operator Control and Teamwork: Lessons Learned and Design Guidelines

Research has demonstrated that human operation of unmanned systems is a difficult task that will most likely require a team of operators to control one or more vehicles. In addition to creating interactions between multiple operators and multiple robots, researchers have also proposed that the autonomy of robotic entities be increased, such that the unmanned systems can be considered as true teammates. Given the inherent challenges that are associated with this task, the following paper provides a review of research in the domain. This is intended to: (a) provide a list of lessons learned from prior research and (b) provide a set of design guidelines. This is not only intended to support design, but it is also intended to support managing personnel that would be directing the use of these systems.
Seasonality of cornstalk borers (Lepidoptera: pyralidae) in northeastern Mexico

The seasonal abundance and phenology of the borers Diatraea lineolata (Walker), D. saccharalis (F.), and Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) were investigated on corn in northern Tamaulipas, Mexico, from 1985 to 1988. D. lineolata was the dominant species throughout the study. The presence of E. loftini was practically limited to the fall seasons, and D. saccharalis wasmostcommon during the fall of 1985. Positive interspecific associations between borer species were detected, particularly during the fall, when densities were highest. Two borer generations were detected within each corn growing season (spring or fall) for all borer species; the first generation was initially detected at middle to late whorl stage, whereas the second generation normally occurred after tasseling. All species overwintered as mature larvae in dry cornstalks, with D. lineolata also expressing summer diapause. Plant maturation was the major factor responsible for diapause induction of D. lineolata regardless of time of year. A minimal accumulation of heat units and contact moisture was required for D. linealata larvae to terminate diapause. The relationship of these studies to those reported for the same species in the tropics or other species elsewhere is discussed.
Structure of cleaved (001) USb2 single crystal

We have achieved what we believe to be the first atomic resolution STM images for a uranium compound taken at room temperature. The a, b, and c lattice parameters in the images confirm that the USb2 crystals cleave on the (001) basal plane as expected. The a and b dimensions were equal, with the atoms arranged in a cubic pattern. Our calculations indicate a symmetric cut between Sb planes to be the most favorable cleavage plane and U atoms to be responsible for most of the DOS measured by STM. Some strange features observed in the STM will be discussed in conjunction with ab initio calculations.
Differences in Environmental Impact and Food Expenditures of Four Different Plant-based Diets and an Omnivorous Diet: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Intervention

ABSTRACTThe New Dietary Interventions to Enhance the Treatments for weight loss (New DIETs) study was a 6-month weight-loss intervention in which adults (n = 63) were randomized to follow one of 5 different diets: vegan, vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian, and omnivorous. Participants completed 24-hr dietary recalls and reported food expenditures. The Nitrogen footprint calculator was used to calculate an environmental impact score (N-footprint) for dietary intake, expressed as kg N/capita/y. Changes in spending on groceries or meals eaten away from home did not differ by diet group at 2 or 6 months (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in changes in N-footprint score at both 2 (P < 0.01) and 6 months (P = 0.03) among the 5 groups, with the vegan group having a significantly greater decrease in N-footprint score (kg N/capita/y) at both two (−16.0 ± 2.8) and six months (−13.1 ± 2.98) than the vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, or omnivorous groups (P < 0.05).
Recommended and actual lepirudin doses in patients with renal insufficiency.

(December 15, 2003, Note). On page 2588, the author identification section should state that Dr. Gandhi is employed at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), Worcester, and that Mr. Tataronis and Ms. Krikorian are employed at MCPHS, Boston.
Fine needle aspiration cytopathology of malignant lymphoma.

Morphologic features allowing the cytopathologist to distinguish a reactive lymph node from a malignant lymphoproliferative disorder and to distinguish Hodgkin lymphoma from non-Hodgkin lymphoma are presented in concert with pertinent immuno-phenotypic profiles of various lymphomas. The limitations and diagnostic pitfalls of aspiration cytopathology in the diagnosis of lymphoma and lymphoid aspirates are also discussed.
Diploma Schools of Nursing in America

The diploma school of nursing in the United States is, according to the stated policy of the American Nurses’ Association, slated to disappear. The leaders of professional nursing have adopted a policy which involves the upgrading of academic standards in nursing education. At the same time, society’s demand for nurses and the increased use of medical services mean that the diploma schools which, in 1965, accounted for 80% of the total number of nursing students who graduated that year, and furnished 78% of all the nurses in practice, are not about to die quickly.
Complications, Readmissions, and Revisions for Spine Procedures Performed by Orthopedic Surgeons Versus Neurosurgeons: A Retrospective, Longitudinal Study.

Study design Retrospective database analysis. Objective To examine the impact of training pathway, either neurosurgical or orthopedic, on complications, readmissions, and revisions in spine surgery. Summary of background data Training pathway has been shown to have an impact on outcomes in various surgical subspecialties. Although training pathway has not been shown to have a significant impact on spine surgery outcomes in the perioperative period, long-term results are unknown. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis of 197,682 patients receiving 1 of 3 common spine surgeries [lumbar laminectomy, lumbar fusion, and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)] between 2006 and 2010 was conducted. Patient data were obtained from a large claims database. Postoperative adverse effects, all-cause readmission, revision surgery rates, and intermediary payments in these cohorts of patients were compared between spine surgeons with either neurosurgical or orthopedic backgrounds. Results Patient demographics, hospital-stay characteristics, and medical comorbidities were similar between neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons. The risks of surgical complications, all-cause readmission, and revision surgery were also similar between neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons across all procedure types assessed, with several minor exceptions: neurosurgeons had marginally higher odds of any complication for lumbar fusions [odds ratio (OR) 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-1.20] and ACDFs (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.15). Neurosurgeons also had slightly higher rates of revision surgery for concurrent lumbar laminectomy with fusion (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22), and ACDFs (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.14-1.28). No associations between surgeon type and any particular complication were consistently observed for all procedure groups. There were also no associations between surgeon type and 30-day all-cause readmission. Median total intermediary payments were somewhat higher for neurosurgery patients for all procedure groups assessed. Conclusions Few significant associations between surgeon type and patient outcomes exist in the context of spine surgery. Those which do are small and unlikely to be clinically meaningful. Level of evidence Level 3.
Metabolism of Trichloroethylene in Liver Microsomes: II. Identification of the Reaction Product as Chloral Hydrate

The product of metabolism of trichloroethylene in rat liver microsomes has been characterized as chloral hydrate. In common with chloral hydrate, the metabolite is converted to dichloroacetic acid upon reaction with basic cyanide; to chloroglyoxal bis-2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone upon treatment with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in acid; to trichloroethanol by the action of liver alcohol dehydrogenase; and to trichloroacetic acid upon oxidation mediated by chloral hydrate dehydrogenase. Possible mechanisms of the conversion of trichloroethylene to chloral hydrate are discussed. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors are greatly indebted to Mr. Howard J. Lambert for aid in gas chromatography, and to him and Dr. E. R. Garrett for making available to them their chromatographic method in advance of publication. They also acknowledge the technical assistance of Mr. James D. Hindman in developing colorimetric methods. This work was supported in Part by U. S. Public Health Service Research Grant No. OH-00124.
Microcins mediate competition among Enterobacteriaceae in the inflamed gut

The Enterobacteriaceae are a family of Gram-negative bacteria that include commensal organisms as well as primary and opportunistic pathogens that are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although Enterobacteriaceae often comprise less than 1% of a healthy intestine's microbiota, some of these organisms can bloom in the inflamed gut; expansion of enterobacteria is a hallmark of microbial imbalance known as dysbiosis. Microcins are small secreted proteins that possess antimicrobial activity in vitro, but whose role in vivo has been unclear. Here we demonstrate that microcins enable the probiotic bacterium Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) to limit the expansion of competing Enterobacteriaceae (including pathogens and pathobionts) during intestinal inflammation. Microcin-producing EcN limits the growth of competitors in the inflamed intestine, including commensal E. coli, adherent-invasive E. coli and the related pathogen Salmonella enterica. Moreover, only therapeutic administration of the wild-type, microcin-producing EcN to mice previously infected with S. enterica substantially reduced intestinal colonization by the pathogen. Our work provides the first evidence that microcins mediate inter- and intraspecies competition among the Enterobacteriaceae in the inflamed gut. Moreover, we show that microcins can act as narrow-spectrum therapeutics to inhibit enteric pathogens and reduce enterobacterial blooms.
The 21st Century Cures Act: pharmacoeconomic boon or bane?

AbstractBarriers to entry in healthcare markets constitute one of the overriding concerns of health economists. The recent enactment of the 21st Century Cures Act in the United States reduces statutory entry barriers to the discovery, development, testing, and licensing of drugs and medical devices. Drug and device makers also see the burdensome and time-consuming requirements of the Food and Drug Administration?s approval process as key barriers to lowering the costs of their products, considering it takes a decade of research amounting to $1 billion just to bring a single drug to the market. Along with novel opportunities for medical product innovation and faster treatment of diseases, the expedited approval process carries with it contentious challenges involving the safety, efficacy and value of drugs and devices. The ensuing trade-offs and unintended consequences of such a regulatory game-changer bring to the fore one of the most enduring debates between medicine and economics: Whether – or to what e...
Belief Networks for Knowledge Integration and Abductive Inference in Fault Diagnosis of Chemical Processes

Abstract Chemical process diagnosis requires a framework to represent and process uncertain and probabilistic knowledge. This paper deals with the use of probability theory as a framework to represent the uncertain elements of the diagnosis problem, and the use of distributed network (parallel) computations to determine the most probable diagnostic hypotheses. Knowledge is represented by belief networks, graphs encoding and quantifying causal relations and conditional independence among variables. This representation is contrasted with a rule-based expert system to show how the probabilistic approach can overcome several limitations of expert systems.
Minimizing irrigation water demand: An evaluation of shifting planting dates in Sri Lanka.

Climate change coupled with increasing demands for water necessitates an improved understanding of the water–food nexus at a scale local enough to inform farmer adaptations. Such assessments are particularly important for nations with significant small-scale farming and high spatial variability in climate, such as Sri Lanka. By comparing historical patterns of irrigation water requirements (IWRs) to rice planting records, we estimate that shifting rice planting dates to earlier in the season could yield water savings of up to 6%. Our findings demonstrate the potential of low-cost adaptation strategies to help meet crop production demands in water-scarce environments. This local-scale assessment of IWRs in Sri Lanka highlights the value of using historical data to inform agricultural management of water resources when high-skilled forecasts are not available. Given national policies prioritizing in-country production and farmers’ sensitivities to water stress, decision-makers should consider local degrees of climate variability in institutional design of irrigation management structures.
Social Work Registration: What’s the Contention?

In the face of consistent lobbying for the national registration of social workers by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), the Council of Health Minsters maintains the view that reg...
MALDI-TOF-MS with PLS Modeling Enables Strain Typing of the Bacterial Plant Pathogen Xanthomonas axonopodis

Matrix-assisted desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) is a fast and effective tool for microbial species identification. However, current approaches are limited to species-level identification even when genetic differences are known. Here, we present a novel workflow that applies the statistical method of partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to MALDI-TOF-MS protein fingerprint data of Xanthomonas axonopodis, an important bacterial plant pathogen of fruit and vegetable crops. Mass spectra of 32 X. axonopodis strains were used to create a mass spectral library and PLS-DA was employed to model the closely related strains. A robust workflow was designed to optimize the PLS-DA model by assessing the model performance over a range of signal-to-noise ratios (s/n) and mass filter (MF) thresholds. The optimized parameters were observed to be s/n = 3 and MF = 0.7. The model correctly classified 83% of spectra withheld from the model as a test set. A new decision rule was developed, termed the rolled-up Maximum Decision Rule (ruMDR), and this method improved identification rates to 92%. These results demonstrate that MALDI-TOF-MS protein fingerprints of bacterial isolates can be utilized to enable identification at the strain level. Furthermore, the open-source framework of this workflow allows for broad implementation across various instrument platforms as well as integration with alternative modeling and classification algorithms. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
Malthus meets Green Lantern: comic book representation of Malthusian concerns

With growing concerns of overpopulation in the developing world in the 1960s, Thomas Malthus’ work was rediscovered as an answer to social problems. Neo-Malthusian thought was centred on the pessim...
Impact of field-edge habitat on mammalian wildlife abundance, distribution, and vectored foodborne pathogens in adjacent crops.

Abstract Field-edge habitat is important for enhancing biodiversity and associated ecosystem services on farms for long term agricultural sustainability. However, there is some concern that this habitat will increase wildlife activity and damage to adjacent crops. Wildlife incursion into production areas may also pose food safety risks. A two-year study in walnut orchards and processing tomato fields in the Sacramento Valley, California, documented variable use of farm fields by mammalian wildlife. This depended on field-edge habitat (restored hedgerows versus conventionally managed field edges where vegetation was mostly controlled), wildlife species present, season, and crop monitored. In walnut orchards, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus Wagner, 1845) were found throughout the orchard, while house mice (Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758) exclusively used hedgerows. In tomato fields, deer mice were more common in field interiors during spring, but used field-edge habitats more during summer; the opposite was true for house mice. In general, deer mice preferred more open sites, while house mice were most numerous in areas with thick cover. Both desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii Baird, 1858) and black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus Gray, 1837) showed affinity to hedgerow portions of fields, although this association was stronger for cottontails. Overall, we documented greater mammalian species richness and abundance associated with hedgerows. However, this increase in diversity did not generally lead to greater wildlife incursion into adjacent crops. In walnut orchards, Salmonella and non-O157 STEC were detected from 2 (1%) and 4 (2%) individual rodents, respectively (n = 218); no detections occurred in tomato fields. A subset of fecal samples (n = 87) from rodents captured in walnut orchards were positive for Giardia (25%) and Cryptosporidium (24%) but prevalence was not associated with field-edge habitat type. Overall, there does not appear to be a substantially greater risk of crop loss or contamination of foodborne pathogens in crops bordered by hedgerows in our study in the Sacramento Valley, although potential damage could vary by the stage and type of crop and wildlife species present.
Longitudinal associations between having an adult child migrant and depressive symptoms among older adults in the Mexican Health and Aging Study.

Background Migration may impact the mental health of family members who remain in places of origin. We examined longitudinal associations between having an adult child migrant and mental health, for middle-aged and older Mexican adults accounting for complex time-varying confounding. Methods Mexican Health and Aging Study cohort (N = 11 806) respondents ≥50 years completed a 9-item past-week depressive symptoms scale; scores of ≥5 reflected elevated depressive symptoms. Expected risk differences (RD) for elevated depressive symptoms at each wave due to having at least one (versus no) adult child migrant in the US or in another Mexican city were estimated with longitudinal targeted maximum likelihood estimation. Results Women with at least one adult child in the US had a higher adjusted baseline prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms (RD: 0.063, 95% CI: 0.035, 0.091) compared to women with no adult children in the US. Men with at least one child in another Mexican city at all three study waves had a lower adjusted prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms at 11-year follow-up (RD: -0.042, 95% CI: -0.082, -0.003) compared to those with no internal migrant children over those waves. For men and women with ≤3 total children, adverse associations between having an adult child in the US and depressive symptoms persisted beyond baseline. Conclusions Associations between having an adult child migrant and depressive symptoms varied by respondent gender, family size, and the location of the child migrant. Trends in population aging and migration bring new urgency to examining associations with other outcomes and in other settings.
Gender diversity and organisational performance: assessing the effects of gender diversity in US law enforcement agencies

As one of the first endeavours in the public sector that assess organisational consequences of hiring female employees in male-dominated occupations, this study examined organisational consequences that gender diversity would bring to male-dominated occupations, using a sample of law enforcement agencies. With law enforcement agencies' data from 464 cities with more than 50,000 residents in the USA, as well as Uniform Crime Reports Data, multiple regression analyses were conducted to find the effects of gender diversity. According to the findings, as more female sworn officers were hired in law enforcement agencies, conflicts between genders among sworn officers increased, but crime control performance was not significantly affected. Managerial implications are discussed.
G-CSF Receptor Structure, Function, and Intracellular Signal Transduction

The G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR), like other members of the type-I cytokine receptor family, is a single transmembrane-spanning protein lacking intrinsic kinase activity, and is composed of an extracellular cytokine receptor homologous (CRH) domain containing four conserved cysteine residues and a Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (WSXWS, where X is a nonconserved amino acid) motif, and shared elements in the intracellular region denoted as Box 1 and Box 2 (Fig. 1). This receptor also comprises an immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain and 3 fibronectin type III (FNIII)-like domains in the extracellular portion, as well as a cytoplasmic region containing a conserved sequence termed Box 3 [1, 2].