cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pheochromocytoma Crisis Presenting With ARDS Successfully Treated With ECMO-Assisted Adrenalectomy.

Abstract Objective Pheochromocytoma (PCC) crisis caused by acute catecholamine release from an adrenal PCC or extra-adrenal paraganglioma can be difficult to diagnose and may require an unconventional management strategy to achieve good outcomes. We describe a case of PCC crisis presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that resolved with stabilization on veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during adrenalectomy. Case Description A 30-year-old man with a history of severe alcohol use disorder and a prior hospital admission for alcohol withdrawal syndrome presented with sudden-onset hemoptysis, altered mental status, and severe dyspnea that rapidly deteriorated to ARDS requiring ECMO support. He demonstrated hemodynamic collapse after cannulation for VV-ECMO and stabilized after conversion to veno-arterial-ECMO, but ARDS persisted and he developed acute renal failure. Computed tomography without contrast done as part of work-up for a presumed infection revealed a 6.9 × 6.4 cm right adrenal mass suspicious for pheochromocytoma. Plasma and random urine metanephrine levels were markedly elevated. ARDS persisted despite α- and β-adrenoreceptor blockade, and he underwent laparoscopic right adrenalectomy with VV-ECMO support. Pathology confirmed PCC with intermediate risk for malignancy. Postoperatively, he was weaned off respiratory and renal support within 10 days, showed rapid clinical improvement, and was discharged 1 month later. Conclusion This case highlights diagnostic and management challenges associated with patients with PCC crisis presenting with ARDS. A multidisciplinary team approach is critical to identifying appropriate treatment strategies.
What the Past Has Taught Us: Best Practices for OFPs to Manage Stress During a Virus Outbreak

OFPs and other health care professionals experience increased rates of stress, anxiety, fatigue and burnout in the face of pandemics. Historically, this has been observed with other pandemics, such as the influenza pandemic, HIV/AIDS, SARS, H1N1, Ebola virus disease and, more recently, COVID-19. Research about physician wellbeing during prior pandemics has informed recent practices and provides more guidance on how larger health care entities can provide for employees and how physicians can care for themselves. Here, we explore best practices for emotional/spiritual wellbeing, physical wellbeing, maintaining a healthy family life and wellness during a virus outbreak.
Pilot Trial of Vitamin D3 and Calcifediol in Healthy Vitamin D Deficient Adults: Does It Change the Fecal Microbiome?

CONTEXT Experimental studies suggest that vitamin D receptor signaling may benefit the gut microbiome. In humans, whether vitamin D supplementation directly alters the gut microbiome is not well studied. OBJECTIVE To determine whether correcting vitamin D deficiency with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3, D3) or calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25(OH)D3) changes gut microbiome composition. METHODS 18 adults with vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] <20 ng/mL) received 60 µg/day of D3 or 20 µg/day of 25(OH)D3 for 8 weeks. Changes in serum 25(OH)D, 1,25-diydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25(OH)2D) were assessed. We characterized composition of the fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and examined changes in α-diversity (Chao 1, Faith's Phylogenetic Diversity, Shannon Index), β-diversity (DEICODE), and genus-level abundances (DESeq2). RESULTS Vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 groups were similar. After 8 weeks of vitamin D3, mean 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2D increased significantly, but 1,25(OH)2D did not (25(OH)D: 17.8-30.1 ng/mL, P = .002; 24,25(OH)2D: 1.1 to 2.7 ng/mL, P =0.003; 1,25(OH)2D: 49.5-53.0 pg/mL, P = .9). After 8 weeks of 25(OH)D3, mean 25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)2D, and 1,25(OH)2D increased significantly (25(OH)D: 16.7-50.6 ng/mL, P < .0001; 24,25(OH)2D: 1.3-6.2 ng/mL, P = .0001; 1,25(OH)2D: 56.5-74.2 pg/mL, P = .05). Fecal microbial α-diversity and β-diversity did not change with D3 or 25D3 supplementation. Mean relative abundance of Firmicutes increased and mean relative abundance of Bacterioidetes decreased from baseline to 4 weeks, but returned to baseline by study completion. DESeq2 analysis did not confirm any statistically significant taxonomic changes. CONCLUSION In a small sample of healthy adults with vitamin D deficiency, restoration of vitamin D sufficiency with vitamin D3 or 25(OH)D3 did not lead to lasting changes in the fecal microbiota.
Integrated Cloud-based System for Endangered Language Documentation and Application

Nearly half of the world languages are considered endangered and need to be documented, analyzed, and revitalized. However, existing linguistics tools lack the accessibility to effectively analyze languages such as Blackfoot in which relative pitch movement is significant, e.g., words with the same sound sequence but convey different meanings when changing in pitches. To address this issue, we present a novel form of audio analysis with perceptual scale, and develop a consolidated and interactive toolset called MeTILDA (Melodic Transcription in Language Documentation and Analysis) to effectively capture perceived changes in pitch movement and to host other existing desktop-based linguistic tools on the cloud to enable collaboration, data-sharing, and data reuse among multiple linguistic tools.
Unsettling Definitions of Qualitative Research

Most qualitative research relies on the researcher’s close engagement with the data that they collect and analyze. While acknowledging this pattern, this article cautions against any narrow definition of qualitative research. Efforts to shore up or clarify collective definitions of “qualitative research” may conflict with the productive unsettling of extant categories and definitions generated by getting close to data. We ought to embrace collective uncertainty and debate about how to define qualitative research as one way toward critical conversations about the boundaries between different methods, as well as about the utility of the research categories on which we rely.
Utilizing Semantic, Syntactic, and Question Category Information for Automated Digital Reference Services

Digital reference services normally rely on human experts to provide quality answers to the user requests via online communication tools. As the services gain more popularity, more experts are needed to keep up with a growing demand. Alternatively, automated question answering module can help shorten the question-answering cycle. When the system receives a new user submitted question, the similarity of the user's request and the existing questions in the archive can be compared. If the appropriate match is found, the system then uses the associated answer to response to such request. Since a question is relatively short and two questions might contain very few words in common, the challenge is how to effectively identify the similarity of questions. In this paper, we focus on the problem of identifying questions that convey the similar information need. That is, our goal is to find paraphrases of the original questions. To achieve this, we propose a hybrid approach that combines semantic, syntactic, and question category to judge question similarity. Semantic and syntactic information is measured by taking into account word similarity, word order, and part of speech information. Information about the types of question is derived from a Support Vector Machine classifier. The experimental results demonstrate that our combined measures are highly effective in distinguishing original questions and their paraphrases, thus improving the potency of question matching task.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Since its introduction in 1968, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of pancreatobiliary disease. During most of the intervening years, ERCP has been invaluable as both a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. However, advances in noninvasive radiographic and less invasive endoscopic imaging have transformed ERCP into an almost exclusively therapeutic procedure.
Issues in modeling induced technological change in energy, environmental, and climate policy

This paper addresses the objective of including Induced Technological Change (ITC) in research and policy models of energy, environment, and climate change. Theoretical foundations, fundamentals, and current methodologies for ITC models are reviewed. In addition, limitations and possible extensions to ITC models are explored. Current approaches to energy-environmental modeling that neglect technological characteristics such as heterogeneity, uncertainty, and path-dependence are likely to underestimate both the impact and the lags in the effectiveness of policy options.
Reparative Therapy: The Adolescent, the Psych Nurse, and the Issues

TOPIC: Reparative therapy aims to modify the sexual orientation of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people into that of heterosexuals. Although denounced as harmful by most professional organizations, these treatments continue—youth may be particularly vulnerable to the negative consequences. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to discuss reparative therapies, the potential harm LGB youth may experience, clinical and practice issues for psychiatric nurses, and the ethical issues surrounding nurse involvement in reparative therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Reparative therapy for adolescents raises important clinical and ethical issues for psychiatric nursing. Further discussion of nurse involvement in these treatments is needed.
Making Workshops Work (for Everyone): Creating and Capturing a Student-Driven Writing Workshop Series

It's not uncommon for new law students to arrive at law school anxious for support on their legal writing assignments and looking for strategies to improve their time management and exam preparation skills. At the same time, upper-level law students are often eager for opportunities to develop their public speaking, presentation development, and leadership skills. This article presents an overview of the 2009-10 Fall Writing Workshop Series, sponsored by the GW Law Writing Center, which successfully met both sets of goals. The article provides readers with concrete ideas for implementing a similar program at their law schools, and includes ideas for expanding and refining the program in future years.
Cognitive Reserve : Theory and Applications

Yaakov Stern, The Concept of Cognitive Reserve: A Catalyst for Research. Joseph H. Lee, Understanding Cognitive Reserve through Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology. Marcus Richards, Amanda Sacker, Ian J. Deary, Lifetime Antecedents of Cognitive Reserve. Maureen Dennis, Keith Owen Yeates, H. Gerry Taylor, J. M. Fletcher, Brain Reserve Capacity, Cognitive Reserve Capacity, and Age-Based Functional Plasticity after Congenital and Acquired Brain Injury in Children. Erin D. Bigler, Traumatic Brain Injury and Cognitive Reserve. Patricia A. Boyle, Susan A. Legendre Ropacki, Robert A. Stern, Electroconvulsive Therapy and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: Pseudoexperimental Paradigms for Studying Cognitive Reserve. Linas A. Bieliauskas, Ami Antonucci, The Impact of Cognitive Reserve on Neuropsychological Measures. Miranda G. Dik, Dorly J.H. Deeg, Marjolein Visser, Cees Jonker, Association between Early Life Physical Activity and Late-life Cognition: Evidence for Cognitive Reserve. Robert S. Wilson, Lisa L. Barnes, David A. Bennett, Assessment of Lifetime Participation in Cognitively Stimulating Activities. Brent J. Small, Tiffany F. Hughes, David F. Hultsch, Roger A. Dixon, Lifestyle Activities and Late-Life Changes in Cognitive Performance. Nikolaos Scarmeas, Lifestyle Patterns and Cognitive Reserve. M. J. Reinhard, P. Satz, O. A. Selnes, N. Sacktor, B. A. Cohen, J. T. Becker, E. N. Miller, Brain Reserve: HIV Morbidity and Mortality. Jennifer J. Manly, Nicole Schupf, Ming-Xin Tang, Yaakov Stern, Literacy and Cognitive Decline among Ethnically Diverse Elders. James A. Mortimer, David A. Snowdon, William R. Markesbery, Brain Reserve and Risk of Dementia: Findings from the Nun Study. Yaakov Stern, Imaging Cognitive Reserve. Cheryl L. Grady, Cognitive Reserve in Healthy Aging and Alzheimer Disease: Evidence for Compensatory Reorganization of Brain Networks. David Friedman, A Neurocognitive Overview of Aging Phenomena Based on the Event-Related Brain Potential (ERP). Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, Elizabeth Gould, Adult Neurogenesis and Regeneration in the Brain.
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome in Childhood: Report of Ten Cases and Review of the Literature

Experience with ten children with superior vena cava obstruction is reported. Five patients had non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma, two had Hodgkin9s disease, two had benign lesions, and one patient was suspected on clinical and radiologic basis to have a lymphoma. The clinical situation at presentation was often critical and required rapid treatment. Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy were used initially as lymphoma was the most frequent cause of obstruction. Urgent thoracotomy was resorted to when treatment failed. Survival with no evidence of disease for more than 5 years was observed in three children: one had a cystic lymphangioma, another had a mediastinal abscess, and the third had a Hodgkin9s lymphoma. Review of the literature from 1951 to 1976 revealed that only 24/150 children reported with superior vena cava obstruction syndrome had mediastinal tumors; the remainder developed the obstruction after surgical procedures on the heart or vena cava.
Protein synthesis in virus-infected plants III. Effects of tobacco mosaic virus mutants on protein synthesis in Nicotiana tabacum

Abstract Nicotiana tabacum , infected with three widely differing chemically produced and one natural mutant of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), was pulse labeled with [ 3 H]leucine. Uninfected plants were similarly pulse labeled with [ 14 C]leucine. The 3 H- and 14 C-labeled leaf tissues were combined, fractionated into subcellular fractions, denatured, dialyzed, and electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels in SDS. Increases or decreases in the 3 H 14 C ratio in gel slices indicated changes in the proteins synthesized in the infected fractions as compared to the uninfected control fractions. In contrast to wild-type TMV, where only coat protein was detected ( Singer, 1971 ), protein synthesis differed markedly among the mutants and their subcellular fractions in both the number and molecular weights of the protein peaks. No protein was found to be common to all strains in the same subcellular fractions except the coat protein. In addition, decreases in the 3 H 14 C ratio were found, indicative of suppression of specific host proteins. The total molecular weights of proteins appearing upon infection with some mutants exceeded the coding capacity of the viral nucleic acid, and there was no indication that any of the very large proteins found were precursors. It appears probable that these multiple responses specifically produced by mutants are the result of changes in host protein synthesis caused by the infection.
Organization of long-range inhibitory connections with rat visual cortex

We have studied the laminar organization of local long-range inhibitory connections within rat primary visual cortex (area 17) by combining retrograde tracing of nerve cell bodies with glutamic acid decarboxylase immunocytochemistry. While most inhibitory connections are confined to within 0.4 mm of the injection site, a subset of neurons at the layer 5/6 border provide long-range (> 1 mm) inhibitory connections within area 17. However, other cell layers that contain similar local long-range horizontal connections, that is, lower layer 2/3, upper layer 5, and lower layer 6 (Burkhalter and Charles, 1990), show a much more restricted distribution of inhibitory connections. This suggests that cells at the layer 5/6 border play a role in the direct inhibition of neurons at a distant point of the topographic map. Similar double labeling studies reveal long-range inhibitory connections between visual areas. Following injections of fluorescent tracers into area 17, in horizontal sections inhibitory connections can be identified that are up to 8 mm long, linking the extrastriate subdivisions 18a and 18b with striate cortex. Conversely, injections of fluorescent tracers into the cytoarchitectonic subdivision 18a reveal local long-range inhibitory connections within 18a, long-range inhibitory connections between 18a and the cytoarchitectonic subdivision 18b, and inhibitory forward connections from area 17 to 18a. These results suggest that the communication between different cortical areas can be influenced by direct inhibitory connections.
A Review of “Love and War in Intimate Relationships: Connection, Disconnection, and Mutual Regulation in Couple Therapy”

Love and War in Intimate Relationships: Connection, Disconnection, and Mutual Regulation in Couple Therapy presents a model of couple therapy founded on attachment and neuroscience. The model is th...
Assessment concordance and predictive validity of self-report and biological assay of cocaine use in treatment trials

Background and Objectives Cocaine use during randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is typically assessed by participant self-report or biological assay (eg, urinalysis). There have been few direct comparisons of these assessment methods to investigate their concordance and their predictive validity for cocaine use and psychosocial outcomes following treatment completion. Method In a combined sample of 380 participants from 5 cocaine RCTs, the concordance between cocaine use assessment methods was examined. Sequential multiple linear and logistic regression models evaluated the predictive validity of two assessment methods for cocaine use and psychosocial outcomes assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Results Concordance for self-report and urinalysis indicators of cocaine use was high within-treatment (k = 0.72) and moderate during follow-up (k = 0.51). Rates of concordance were higher in studies using test cups with immediate urinalysis results. Regression analyses indicated that self-report data within-treatment predicted self-reported cocaine use at all post-treatment points (β 0.22–0.30, p < .01), while urinalysis results within-treatment predicted urinalysis results at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment (OR 3.92–20.99, p < .05). Cocaine-positive urinalyses within-treatment were negatively associated with a composite “good outcome” indicator at 1 and 3 months post-treatment (OR 0.17–0.32, p < .05). Discussion and Conclusions These results suggest a significant role of method variance in predicting post-treatment outcomes from within-treatment cocaine use indices. Scientific Significance Results support recommendations that cocaine treatment trials should include both biological assay and self-report assessment. Test cups may facilitate increased self-report accuracy. (Am J Addict 2014;23:466–474)
Suicide mortality among Kentucky farmers, 1979-1985.

Farmers may be at high risk for suicide because of their social environment and because of chemical exposure resulting in neurotoxic effects in the workplace. Age-specific suicide rates are compared for Kentucky white farmers, Kentucky white males, and U.S. white males. Data for suicides occurring in Kentucky represent the 7-year period between 1979 and 1985; data for the United States suicides represent the period 1980. Overall, suicide rates were highest for Kentucky farmers, followed by Kentucky males and then by U.S. males. All males were most likely to use firearms as the mode of suicide, but the farmers used firearms significantly more often than the U.S. males, as did the other Kentucky males. These findings and other evidence support the need to assess suicide rates in this occupational group in other states, to begin suicide prevention programs for Kentucky, and to work to identify risk factors contributing to the Kentucky farm suicides.
Production Comparison of Three Genetic Strains of Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Raised Under Two Pond Management Technologies

Three genetic strains (Texas [cultured], Hawaii [cultured], and Myanmar [wild]) of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, were characterized and compared under two pond grow-out management technologies using a 3 × 2 factorial design. Juvenile prawns (45 d nursed juveniles) from each strain were stocked at individual average weights of 0.4 ± 0.3 g (Texas), 0.3 ± 0.2 g (Hawaii), and 0.3 ± 0.2 g (Myanmar). The low input management technology prawns were stocked at 24,700 /ha with no added substrate. The high input management technology prawns were stocked at 74,100 /ha with the addition of artificial substrate. Each of the six treatment combinations were replicated in three, 0.04 ha earthen ponds (total of 18 ponds). Prawns were fed a sinking pellet (32% protein) once daily at a standardized rate. After 112 d, prawns were harvested, bulk weighed, and counted. Survival of Texas strain (95%) was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than Myanmar strain (77–80%) under both management technologies with survival of Hawaii strain (86–91%) intermediate and not significantly different (P > 0.05) from other strains. Under both management technologies, average weight, total production, and marketable percentage (>20 g) was significantly better (P ≤ 0.05) in Texas and Hawaii strains in comparison to the Myanmar strain. These data appear to indicate that the cultured strains evaluated in this study demonstrate positive impacts of domestication and do not indicate inbreeding depression.
Branching out: origins of the sea urchin larval skeleton in development and evolution

It is a challenge to understand how the information encoded in DNA is used to build a three-dimensional structure. To explore how this works the assembly of a relatively simple skeleton has been examined at multiple control levels. The skeleton of the sea urchin embryo consists of a number of calcite rods produced by 64 skeletogenic cells. The ectoderm supplies spatial cues for patterning, essentially telling the skeletogenic cells where to position themselves and providing the factors for skeletal growth. Here, we describe the information known about how this works. First the ectoderm must be patterned so that the signaling cues are released from precise positions. The skeletogenic cells respond by initiating skeletogenesis immediately beneath two regions (one on the right and the other on the left side). Growth of the skeletal rods requires additional signaling from defined ectodermal locations, and the skeletogenic cells respond to produce a membrane-bound template in which the calcite crystal grows. Important in this process are three signals, fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and Wnt5. Each is necessary for explicit tasks in skeleton production.
Phase variation of the 987P-like CS18 fimbriae of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli is regulated by site-specific recombinases.

Summary The gene cluster of the CS18 (PCFO20) fimbriae of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was found to include seven genes (fotA to fotG) that are similar to each of the seven structural and export proteins of the 987P fimbriae. However, no analogous gene to the fasH regulatory gene, which is located at the 3′ end of the 987P gene cluster and encodes an AraC-like activator of transcription, could be detected. Surprisingly, two novel genes (fotS and fotT) encoding proteins similar to the site-specific recombinases of the type 1 fimbriae (FimB and FimE) were identified at the 5′ end of the fot gene cluster. These genes were shown to be required for the catalysis of a 312 bp-inversion just upstream of fotA. The inversion determines CS18 fimbrial phase variation. FotS participates in inverting the 312 bp-segment in both the ON and OFF orientation, whereas FotT has a bias for the OFF oriented recombination. Similar regulators of fimbriation by phase variation were described in uropathogenic and commensal Enterobacteriaceae. In contrast, only AraC-like transcriptional activators were previously described as regulators of the intestinal colonization factors of human ETEC isolates. Thus, the CS18 and 987P gene clusters encode similar components for fimbrial biogenesis but different types of regulators for fimbriation. The combination of blocks of genes encoding similar structural products but different regulatory proteins underlines how modular DNA rearrangements can evolve by serving pathogen diversification. Acquisition of a phase variation module to regulate fimbrial genes is proposed to be beneficial for the adaptation and transmission of pathogens.
An Empirical Analysis of Intertemporal and Demographic Variations in Consumer Preferences

Analysis of consumer demand behavior typically focusses on either the cross-sectional dimension or takes a time-series approach. The former ignores intertemporal changes in preferences, and the latter ignores differences in preferences among different groups of consumers. In this study two identically defined cross sections of expenditure data are used to estimate a nonhomothetic demand system for food at home for three demographic groups. The results indicate that both demographic and intertemporal differences in preferences are significant and that the method of incorporating demographic variables into the estimation is also important.
Do cervical collars and cervicothoracic orthoses effectively stabilize the injured cervical spine? A biomechanical investigation.

STUDY DESIGN In vitro biomechanical study. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of cervical collars and cervicothoracic orthoses for stabilizing clinically relevant, experimentally produced cervical spine injuries. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Most previous in vitro studies of cervical orthoses used a simplified injury model with all ligaments transected at a single spinal level, which differs from real-life neck injuries. Human volunteer studies are limited to measuring only sagittal motions or 3-dimensional motions only of the head or 1 or 2 spinal levels. METHODS Three-plane flexibility tests were performed to evaluate 2 cervical collars (Vista Collar and Vista Multipost Collar) and 2 cervicothoracic orthoses (Vista TS and Vista TS4) using a skull-neck-thorax model with 8 injured cervical spine specimens (manufacturer of orthoses: Aspen Medical Products Inc, Irvine, CA). The injuries consisted of flexion-compression at the lower cervical spine and extension-compression at superior spinal levels. Pair-wise repeated measures analysis of variance (P < 0.05) and Bonferroni post hoc tests determined significant differences in average range of motions of the head relative to the base, C7 or T1, among experimental conditions. RESULTS.: All orthoses significantly reduced unrestricted head/base flexion and extension. The orthoses allowed between 8.4% and 25.8% of unrestricted head/base motion in flexion/extension, 57.8% to 75.5% in axial rotation, and 53.8% to 73.7% in lateral bending. The average percentages of unrestricted motion allowed by the Vista Collar, Vista Multipost Collar, Vista TS, and Vista TS4 were: 14.0, 9.7, 6.1, and 4.7, respectively, for middle cervical spine extension and 13.2, 11.8, 3.3, and 0.4, respectively, for lower cervical spine flexion. CONCLUSION Successive increases in immobilization were observed from Vista Collar to Vista Multipost Collar, Vista TS, and Vista TS4 in extension at the injured middle cervical spine and in flexion at the injured lower cervical spine. Our results may assist clinicians in selecting the most appropriate orthosis based upon patient-specific cervical spine injuries.
Allelopathic potential ofSalsola kali L. and its possible role in rapid disappearance of weedy stage during revegetation

Salsola kali L. is one of the species that invades during early successional stages on mine-spoil material, but tendś to disappear rapidly from the weedy stage. What controls its rapid disappearance from the weedy stage becomes a logical question.Salsola was found to be an allelopathically active species, which also decreased the growth of selected associated species during its decaying process. However, leaf leachate did not play an important role in depressing the growth of associated species.Salsola was autotoxic, but its germinatoin was not inhibited by any of the isolated phytotoxins applied. The phytotoxins identified fromSalsola leaves were caffeic, ferulic, chlorogenic, isochlorogenic, and neochlorogenic acids, and quercetin. Allelopathy may play an important role in the rapid disappearance of the weedy stage, similar to what is established for old farm lands. However, further studies are desirable.
CO2-enhanced diffusion of azobenzene in glassy polystyrene near the glass transition

Forced Rayleigh scattering (FRS) has been used to measure the tracer diffusion coefficient of azobenzene in low molecular weight polystyrene (PS) as a function of temperature, and in high molecular weight PS plasticized by CO2 at 35 °C and CO2 pressures from 14 to 85 bar. In contrast to dye diffusion in pure PS and PS plasticized by tricresyl phosphate, where the effect of plasticization by temperature, chain ends, or added diluent can be accounted for by (T − Tg) scaling, dye diffusion in CO2-plasticized PS is enhanced by 2−3 orders of magnitude over values predicted on the basis of Tg depression alone. This enhancement begins at surprisingly low CO2 pressures (<15 bar at 35 °C) and is maintained across the CO2-induced glass transition. A large difference in mobilities of the cis and trans isomers of azobenzene is also observed in the presence of CO2, which is much greater than that seen in the experiments on pure PS. Two additional FRS relaxation modes unrelated to translational diffusion of the dye mol...
Couple Well-Being and Dementia

Taking a multidisciplinary approach to understanding dementia challenges some common beliefs about the illness. Applying a family systems perspective and performance theory to research from nursing, social work, occupational therapy, sociology, and anthropology situates dementia in an embodied social context of relatedness. As a result, new knowledge emerges: when their sense of relatedness is supported, dementia-affected couples report experiencing increased well-being rather than the despair described in medical and psychological literature that focuses on the individualistic experience of dementia. These findings have implications for dementia care, research, and policy, and particularly for couples and families affected by the illness.
On the multimodality of density functions of pollutant aerosols

Abstract Numerous observations support the view that continental tropospheric aerosols, particularly urban aerosols, have surface and mass density functions which are multimodal. We examine here briefly the origins of such multimodality. One obvious mechanism producing multimodality involves the mixing of various dissimilar primary sources. The production of multimodal mass densities by this mixing process and their smoothing by coagulation is discussed briefly. A second, hitherto unexplored, mechanism is the production of additional modes in the mass density function by condensation processes in the atmosphere involving secondary aerosol sources. These additional modes are shown to be essentially independent of the size distributions of the primary sources.
A simple and inexpensive encapsulation route for high-throughput characterization of organic photovoltaic devices

Currently, the field of organic photovoltaics experiences tremendous growth because this technology offers competitive efficiency of light – to – energy conversion and compliance with requirements for high-throughput manufacturing (roll – to – roll, screen printing, etc.). However, several challenges exist, such as relatively short device lifetime and optimization of device structure to achieve a commercial viability threshold of 10% power conversion efficiency for this technology, exist. For research purposes quick, simple and inexpensive approaches for device encapsulation are desired for high-throughput screening of samples. In this paper we show that encapsulation of organic photovoltaic devices using silicone adhesive and Kapton or glass is a viable approach for preserving devices in ambient conditions at ~25 °C in the dark for at least 24 hours. Also, PET, Kapton and glass encapsulation materials can be used to limit oxygen and water access to the device and to determine prevalent degradation pathways in organic solar cells.
Cerebrospinal fluid production and histological observations in animals with experimental obstructive hydrocephalus

Abstract The effect of obstructive hydrocephalus on CSF formation in cats and dogs was studied. Experimental hydrocephalus resulted from the intracisternal injection of kaolin. The rate of formation of CSF was calculated from measurements made during stteady state lateral ventricle-to-lateral ventricle perfusion. Spinal fluid production in hydrocephalic cats was 0.0027 ml/min or approximately 20% of that found in normal cats during ventriculocisternal perfusion. In hydrocephalic dogs, the rate of CSF formation was 0.033 ml/min which was 0.014 ml/min less, or 70% than that reported for normal dogs. The marked reduction in CSF synthesis in the cat was attributed to the histological changes observed in the choroid plexus and ependymal lining of the ventricles. In addition, spongiform changes in the white matter of the brain were noted.
Interleukin-10 Regulated Gene Expression in Cells of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Origin

1. Aim: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a mediator for interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been shown to activate the HPA axis. Recently, interleukin-10, an important anti-inflammatory cytokine in the immune system, has been shown to be expressed in the central nervous system and neuroendocrine system. Little is known, however, about IL-10’s functions in the HPA axis. 2. Methods: The Affymetrix DNA microarray (mouse genome U74Av2 Probe Array) was conducted to determine the gene expression profile regulated by IL-10 in cells of HPA axis origin. 3. Results: In this study, we analyzed gene expression regulated by IL-10 in cells derived from the HPA axis. The results showed that quorums of genes are modulated by IL-10 in these neuroendocrine cells. 4. Conclusions: These findings will provide a valuable repository to aid in understanding IL-10’s functions in the HPA axis at the molecular level.
A clinical interactive technique for MR-CT image registration for target delineation of intracranial tumors

Replacement of current CT-based, three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning systems by newer versions capable of automated multi-modality image registration may be economically prohibitive for most radiation oncology clinics. We present a low-cost technique for MR-CT image registration on a "first generation" CT-based, 3D treatment planning system for intracranial tumors. The technique begins with fabrication of a standard treatment mask. A second truncated mask, the "minimask," is then made, using the standard mask as a mold. Two orthogonal leveling vials glued onto the minimask detect angular deviations in pitch and roll. Preservation of yaw is verified by referencing a line marked according to the CT laser on the craniocaudal axis. The treatment mask immobilizes the patient's head for CT. The minimask reproduces this CT-based angular treatment position, which is then maintained by taping the appropriately positioned head to the MR head coil for MR scanning. All CT and MR images, in DICOM 3.0 format, are entered into the treatment planning system via a computer network. Interactive registration of MR to CT images is controlled by real-time visual feedback on the computer monitor. Translational misalignments at the target are eliminated or minimized by iterative use of qualitative visual inspection. In this study, rotational errors were measured in a retrospective series of 20 consecutive patients who had undergone CT-MR image registration using this technique. Anatomic structures defined the three CT orthogonal axes from which angular errors on MR image were measured. Translational errors at the target isocenter were within pixel size, as judged by visual inspection. Clinical setup using the minimask resulted in overall average angular deviation of 3 degrees +/-2 degrees (mean +/- SD) and translational deviation within the edges of the target volume of typically less than 2 mm. The accuracy of this registration technique for target delineation of intracranial tumors is compatible with practice guidelines. This method, then, provides a cost-effective means to register MR and CT images for target delineation of intracranial tumors.
Pulse propagation on a fractal network. I.: structural and temporal scaling characteristics

Abstract This paper considers the propagation of a pulse through a theoretical fractal network. Thd multi-fractal characteristics and spectral features resulting from the decorrelation of a pulse as it transits the network, are discussed. Analogies to naturally occuring networks, such as the His-Purkinje system of the myocardium, are considered. The fractal dimension ( D F ), multi-fractal (f(α)) spectrum and the power spectrum [ V (ω)] reflect the oganizational features of the network. D F and f(α) are global measures that describe the geometric structure based on segment length, generation, and scaling factors. V (ω) measures the heterogeneity of the pathways present in the network which, in turn, reflects the distribution of the segment length variations throughout the network. Multi-fractal analysis and the spectral features of the decorrelation distribution provide additional information regarding the structural organization of fractal networks relevant to understanding the role of critical dimensions or scales within a complex fractal structure whether related to propagation features, vibrational modes or heterogeneity considerations.
Gene expression profiling of aging reveals activation of a p53-mediated transcriptional program

Aging has been associated with widespread changes at the gene expression level in multiple mammalian tissues. We have used high density oligonucleotide arrays and novel statistical methods to identify specific transcriptional classes that may uncover biological processes that play a central role in mammalian aging. We identified 712 transcripts that are differentially expressed in young (5 month old) and old (25-month old) mouse skeletal muscle. Caloric restriction (CR) completely or partially reversed 87% of the changes in expression. Examination of individual genes revealed a transcriptional profile indicative of increased p53 activity in the older muscle. To determine whether the increase in p53 activity is associated with transcriptional activation of apoptotic targets, we performed RT-PCR on four well known mediators of p53-induced apoptosis: puma, noxa, tnfrsf10b and bok. Expression levels for these proapoptotic genes increased significantly with age (P < 0.05), while CR significantly lowered expression levels for these genes as compared to control fed old mice (P < 0.05). Age-related induction of p53-related genes was observed in multiple tissues, but was not observed in young SOD2+/- and GPX4+/- mice, suggesting that oxidative stress does not induce the expression of these genes. Western blot analysis confirmed that protein levels for both p21 and GADD45a, two established transcriptional targets of p53, were higher in the older muscle tissue. These observations support a role for p53-mediated transcriptional program in mammalian aging and suggest that mechanisms other than reactive oxygen species are involved in the age-related transcriptional activation of p53 targets.
Formation of Dichloroacetic Acid by Rat and Mouse Gut Microflora, anin VitroStudy

Abstract Metabolism of trichloroethylene (TRI) and its major metabolite, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), by gut content and gut microflora cultures was studied to gain an insight into the role of enterohepatic circulation in TRI metabolism. TRI and TCA were incubated anaerobically with rat and mouse cecal contents and TCA was additionally incubated anaerobically and aerobically with microflora cultures from mice. Although TRI was not metabolized by rat or mouse cecal contents, TCA was metabolized to dichloroacetic acid (DCA) by cecal contents. DCA formation in microflora cultures was dependent on initial TCA concentration, duration of incubation, and initial bacterial number. DCA was not observed in aerobic cultures exposed to TCA. These results suggest that strict anaerobic microorganisms of the gut may partly be responsible for dechlorination of TCA to DCA.
Explanation and correction of false step heights in amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy measurements on alkane films.

Abstract We use a prototypical alkane film (n−C32H66 or C32) adsorbed on a SiO2 surface to compare step heights measured by amplitude modulation atomic force microscopy (AM-AFM) with those measured in the contact mode. The C32 film exhibits layers in which the molecules are oriented with their long axis parallel to the SiO2 surface followed by partial layers of perpendicular molecules. We show that step heights measured in the AM and contact modes agree in all cases except where the step is between a surface formed by a layer of parallel molecules and one of perpendicular molecules. In this case, the AM mode gives a false step height that is as much as 20% lower than that measured in the contact mode and inferred from synchrotron X-ray specular reflectivity measurements. We propose that the weaker van der Waals forces between the AFM tip and a perpendicular layer compared to a parallel layer causes this discrepancy. We show how to correct the false step height by using the approximately linear relationship observed between phase angle (cantilever oscillation relative to the drive signal) and cantilever height measured in an approach curve.
Steps towards mechanizing program transformations using PVS

Abstract PVS is a highly automated framework for specification and verification. We show how the language and deduction features of PVS can be used to formalize, mechanize, and apply some useful program transformation techniques. We examine two such examples in detail. The first is a fusion theorem due to Bird where the composition of a catamorphism (a recursive operation on the structure of a datatype) and an anamorphism (an operation that constructs instances of the datatype) are fused to eliminate the intermediate data structure. The second example is Wand's continuation-based transformation technique for deriving tail-recursive functions from non-tailrecursive ones. These examples illustrate the utility of the language and inference features of PVS in capturing these transformations in a simple, general, and useful form.
Antecedents, Mediators, and Consequences of Affective, Normative, and Continuance Commitment: Empirical Tests of Commitment Effects in Federal Agencies

This study examines the constructs and the effects of three subdimensions of federal employees' organizational commitment—affective, normative, and continuance. Using the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) 2000 survey instrument and employing an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, multivariate regression, and a structural equation model, the authors empirically test and measure (a) the dimensionality of the three commitment constructs, (b) how and to what extent antecedent variables would affect the three different commitment variables—affective, normative, and continuance— and (c) how these three commitment values differently influence several outcome variables. The authors confirm that there are three distinctive constructs of commitment to stay in federal agencies and that transformation-oriented leadership (TOL), empowerment, goal clarity, public service—oriented motivation (PSOM), procedural equity perceptions, and objective appraisal systems have direct and indirect effects on the commi...
Erratum to: “Parsing reward” [Trends Neurosci. 26 (2003) 507–513]

In the article ‘Parsing reward’ by Kent C. Berridge and Terry E. Robinson, which was published in the September 2003 issue of Trends in Neurosciences, text in the bottom right corner of Figure 1Figure 1 should have read “Human unconscious ‘liking’”, rather than “Humanun conscious ‘liking’”. The corrected figure is shown here. TINS apologizes to the authors and readers for this error.Figure 1Reward components and how to recognize them. The categories of learning, motivation, and emotion or affect categories (top, in red) each contain different psychological components as shown (middle boxes, in blue). Both explicit and implicit psychological component processes are contained in each top category. Explicit processes are consciously experienced (e.g. explicit desire, expectation or pleasure), whereas implicit psychological processes are unconscious in the sense that they can operate at a level not always directly accessible to conscious experience (implicit incentive salience, habits and ‘liking’ reactions). Additional psychological and neural processes of cognitive awareness can sometimes transform the products of implicit processes into explicit representation, but explicit awareness is not necessary for implicit processes to powerfully influence behavior [5,12,18,22]. Explicit versus implicit processes within a single category (e.g. motivation) also can operate by quite different psychological rules (e.g. conscious desires based on cognitive expectations versus cue-triggered incentive salience based on Pavlovian associations) and can have different neural mechanisms. At the bottom are listed some behavioral procedures or measures (in green) that are especially sensitive assays of the processes listed above them. For example, incentive salience (‘wanting’) is revealed especially through conditioned incentive approach and Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) experiments [5,23,45,47,50,54,55], whereas explicit desires and plans are revealed through subjective reports and experiments that study goal-directed behavior [5,12–14,50,55,58]. Although each psychological category is depicted in a separate column here for simplicity, it is stressed that categories of motivation, learning and emotion or affect constantly interact in reward. Even each measured behavioral example listed here involves a combination of motivation, learning and affective processes (although the behavioral examples are particularly sensitive to different processes). In fact, brain manipulations are needed to dissociate many of these processes to reveal their psychological and neural separation. For example, the dissociation of ‘wanting’ motivation versus ‘liking’ affect or emotion has been revealed chiefly by manipulations of mesolimbic dopamine systems that changed reward ‘wanting’ without changing reward ‘liking’ [21,23,26,27,48]. Abbreviations: CS, conditioned stimulus; UCS, unconditioned reward stimulus.View Large Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Growth of Clostridium perfringens from spore inocula in sous-vide turkey products

Abstract Clostridium perfringens growth from a spore inoculum was investigated in vacuum-packaged, cook-in-bag ground turkey (pH 6) that included 0.3% ( w w ) sodium pyrophosphate, and sodium chloride at 0, 1, 2 or 3% ( w w ). The packages were processed to an internal temperature of 71.1 °C, ice chilled and stored at various temperatures. The total C. perfringens population was determined by plating diluted samples on tryptose-sulfite-cycloserine agar followed by anaerobic incubation at 37 °C for 48 h. At 28 °C, the addition of 3% salt in turkey was effective in delaying growth for 12 h. At 15 °C, growth occurred at a relatively slow rate in the presence of 1–2% salt. Vegetative cells were not observed even after 28 days of storage in the presence of 3% salt. C. perfringens growth was not observed at 4 °C regardless of salt levels. The D-values ranged from 23.2 min (no salt) to 17.7 min (3% salt). Cyclic and static temperature abuse of refrigerated products for 8 h did not lead to growth by C. perfringens from a spore inoculum.