cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Long-term Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Testing.

Importance Adverse cardiovascular findings associated with habitual vigorous exercise have raised new questions regarding the benefits of exercise and fitness. Objective To assess the association of all-cause mortality and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients undergoing exercise treadmill testing. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients at a tertiary care academic medical center from January 1, 1991, to December 31, 2014, with a median follow-up of 8.4 years. Data analysis was performed from April 19 to July 17, 2018. Consecutive adult patients referred for symptom-limited exercise treadmill testing were stratified by age- and sex-matched cardiorespiratory fitness into performance groups: low ( Exposures Cardiorespiratory fitness, as quantified by peak estimated metabolic equivalents on treadmill testing. Main Outcomes and Measures All-cause mortality. Results The study population included 122 007 patients (mean [SD] age, 53.4 [12.6] years; 72 173 [59.2%] male). Death occurred in 13 637 patients during 1.1 million person-years of observation. Risk-adjusted all-cause mortality was inversely proportional to cardiorespiratory fitness and was lowest in elite performers (elite vs low: adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.20; 95% CI, 0.16-0.24;P Conclusions and Relevance Cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with long-term mortality with no observed upper limit of benefit. Extremely high aerobic fitness was associated with the greatest survival and was associated with benefit in older patients and those with hypertension. Cardiorespiratory fitness is a modifiable indicator of long-term mortality, and health care professionals should encourage patients to achieve and maintain high levels of fitness.
Intravenous therapy for hypertensive emergencies, part 2

Purpose. Intravenous antihypertensive agents for the treatment of hypertensive emergencies are reviewed. Summary. An estimated 500,000 people in the United States experience a hypertensive crisis annually. Hypertensive emergency is associated with significant morbidity in the form of end-organ damage. Rapid controlled reduction of blood pressure (BP) may be necessary to prevent or minimize end-organ damage. I.V. antihypertensive agents available for the treatment of hypertensive emergencies are, in general, characterized by a short onset and offset of action and predictable responses during dosage adjustments to reach BP goals, without excessive adjustment or extreme fluctuations in BP. Nicardipine, nitroprusside, fenoldopam, nitroglycerin, enalaprilat, hydralazine, labetalol, esmolol, and phentolamine are i.v. antihypertensive agents recommended for use in hypertensive emergency by the seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Since the publication of these recommendations, another i.v. antihypertensive agent, clevidipine, became commercially available. The selection of a specific agent should be based on the agent’s pharmacology and patient-specific factors, such as comorbidity and the presence of end-organ damage. Conclusion. The rapid recognition and initiation of therapy are key to minimizing end-organ damage in patients with hypertensive emergency. Tailoring drug selection according to individual patient characteristics can optimize the management and potential outcomes of patients with hypertensive emergency.
Data on the effect of heat and other technical variables on the detection of microRNAs in human serum.

Abstract Data are presented on the number and levels of 384 microRNAs (miRNAs) quantified by reverse-transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in human serum analyzed under different experimental conditions. The technical variables tested were 1) heating of the serum samples at 60 °C for 120 minutes prior to RNA extraction versus no heating; 2) RNA extraction using an Exiqon miRCURY RNA Isolation kit for Biofluids versus a Systems Biosciences SeraMir Exosome RNA Purification kit; 3) miRNA quantitation by RT-qPCR using an Exiqon SYBR Green Human Panel I versus an Applied Biosystems TaqMan Human microRNA Array A.
Myocardial native-T1 times are elevated as a function of hypertrophy, HbA1c, and heart rate in diabetic adults without diffuse fibrosis.

Abstract Purpose Cardiac native-T1 times have correlated to extracellular volume fraction in patients with confirmed fibrosis. However, whether other factors that can occur either alongside or independently of fibrosis including increased intracellular water volume, altered magnetization transfer (MT), or glycation of hemoglobin, lengthen T1 times in the absence of fibrosis remains unclear. The current study examined whether native-T1 times are elevated in hypertrophic diabetics with elevated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) without diffuse fibrosis. Methods Native-T1 times were quantified in 27 diabetic and 10 healthy adults using a modified Look-Locker imaging (MOLLI) sequence at 1.5 T. The MT ratio (MTR) was quantified using dual flip angle cine balanced steady-state free precession. Gadolinium (0.2 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA) was administered as a bolus and post-contrast T1-times were quantified after 15 min. Means were compared using a two-tailed student's t-test, while correlations were assessed using Pearson's correlations. Results While left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and cardiac output were similar between groups, left ventricular mass and mass-to-volume ratio (MVR) were significantly higher in diabetic adults. Mean ECV (0.25 ± 0.02 Healthy vs. 0.25 ± 0.03 Diabetic, P = 0.47) and MTR (125 ± 16% Healthy vs. 125 ± 9% Diabetic, P = 0.97) were similar, however native-T1 times were significantly higher in diabetics (1016 ± 21 ms Healthy vs. 1056 ± 31 ms Diabetic, P = 0.00051). Global native-T1 times correlated with MVR (ρ = 0.43, P = 0.008) and plasma HbA1c levels (ρ = 0.43, P = 0.0088) but not ECV (ρ = 0.06, P = 0.73). Septal native-T1 times correlated with septal wall thickness (ρ = 0.50, P = 0.001). Conclusion In diabetic adults with normal ECV values, elevated native-T1 times may reflect increased intracellular water volume and changes secondary to increased hemoglobin glycation.
Patterns, relevance, and predictors of dyadic mental health over time in lung cancer

Objective To identify distinct patterns of dyadic mental health in a sample of lung cancer dyads over 12 months and associations with other health characteristics and individual, dyadic, and familial predictors. Methods A sample of 113 patient-care partner dyads living with nonsmall cell lung cancer were examined five times over 12 months. An integrative multilevel and mixture modeling approach was used to generate dyadic mental health summaries and identify common dyadic patterns of mental health over time, respectively. Results Three distinct patterns of dyadic mental health were observed: a congruent pattern (32.7%) characterized by almost identical mental health between members of the dyad, a disparate pattern (29.2%) characterized by better mental health of the patient compared with the care partner, and a parallel pattern (38.1%) characterized by care partner patterns of improvement and greater similarity in mental health over time. Membership of patterns was associated with physical health characteristics of both patient and care partner, levels of patient concealment regarding worries and concerns, and relationship quality reported by the care partner. Patterns did not differ by patient gender, care partner strain, or levels of social support. Conclusions Findings emphasize the importance of examining patterns of dyadic mental health to identify dyads most at risk so we may optimize the health of the dyad in tailored ways.
Investigating the impact of the mid-season winter break on technical performance levels across European Football – does a break in play affect team momentum?

Using game-level data, this study examines what impact the mid-season winter break in football fixtures has on technical performance across European football leagues. Thirty-eight technical measure...
The implications of neighborhood socioeconomic status on surgical management and mortality in malignant phyllodes patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program.

Abstract Background Neighborhood socioeconomic status has been implicated in breast cancer incidence and mortality. However, there are no studies on the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic status on clinical outcomes or surgical management among patients with phyllodes tumors. The objective of this study is to understand the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status, surgical management and disease specific mortality in malignant phyllodes tumor patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Methods Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program was queried for malignant phyllodes tumor patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2016. Using the National Cancer Institute census tract-level index for neighborhood socioeconomic status the data were stratified into low neighborhood socioeconomic status, middle neighborhood socioeconomic status, and high neighborhood socioeconomic status. Bivariate intergroup analysis was conducted. Disease specific mortality was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results Of the 651 patients with malignant phyllodes tumor in the sample, the disease specific mortality was 7.6% and 7.9% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. On bivariate analysis, there were no differences between the neighborhood socioeconomic status groups and surgery type (P = .794). On multivariable analysis, older age (≥71 years; hazard ratio 9.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.84–34.57; P Conclusion Among malignant phyllodes tumor patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, disease specific mortality and surgical management are mostly driven by tumor characteristics and not social determinants of health.
MAGI: A method for metabolite, annotation, and gene integration

Metabolomics is a widely used technology for obtaining direct measures of metabolic activities from diverse biological systems. However, ambiguous metabolite identifications are a common challenge and biochemical interpretation is often limited by incomplete and inaccurate genome-based predictions of enzyme activities (i.e. gene annotations). Metabolite, Annotation, and Gene Integration (MAGI) generates a metabolite-gene association score using a biochemical reaction network. This is calculated by a method that emphasizes consensus between metabolites and genes via biochemical reactions. To demonstrate the potential of this method, we applied MAGI to integrate sequence data and metabolomics data collected from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), an extensively characterized bacterium that produces diverse secondary metabolites. Our findings suggest that coupling metabolomics and genomics data by scoring consensus between the two increases the quality of both metabolite identifications and gene annotations in this organism. MAGI also made biochemical predictions for poorly annotated genes that were consistent with the extensive literature on this important organism. This limited analysis suggests that using metabolomics data has the potential to improve annotations in sequenced organisms and also provides testable hypotheses for specific biochemical functions. MAGI is freely available for academic use both as an online tool at https://magi.nersc.gov and with source code available at https://github.com/biorack/magi.
Applications of resilience engineering principles in different fields with a focus on industrial systems: A literature review

Abstract This paper reviews literature that addresses applications of resilience engineering principles to various fields. Recently the concept has attracted great attention from a technical and industrial perspective. The primary focus of this paper is to review the resilience engineering applications to industrial systems with the purpose of applying them to the chemical industry. A systematic review is performed to classify peer-reviewed journal papers that are associated with resilience engineering applications into three categories: industrial systems, ecological systems, and interlinked systems. The literature in the category of industrial systems is further divided based on the type of approaches such as field studies, case studies, methodologies, and mathematical modeling. After thoroughly analyzing the literature, four key research areas are identified: Considering socio-technical factors for resilience assessment efficiently; Inculcating the possibility of multiple disasters in resilience assessment; Design optimization for resilience enhancement; Efficient restoration strategies. All these research areas have not been explored exclusively for chemical facilities to a great extent. It is concluded that if these research areas are addressed appropriately, it would help in triggering the research pertaining to the application of resilience engineering principles in chemical facilities.
Leukocytosis during cervical preparation with osmotic dilators for dilation and evacuation.

Objectives:To describe leukocytosis trends during cervical preparation with osmotic dilators for second-trimester dilation and evacuation procedures, and to determine whether there is a difference ...
No Quick Fix: An Analysis of the Challenges Law Schools Face

This is a review of Benjamin H. Barton’s new book, Fixing Law Schools: From Collapse to the Trump Bump and Beyond. The book provides an excellent critical analysis for the challenges law schools face. Barton’s exploration of this controversial issue is backed up with illuminating statistics, often presented in graph form to demonstrate the trends over time and the abruptness and severity of the 2010 collapse.
Symptom and Age Homophilies in SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Networks during the Early Phase of the Pandemic in Japan

Kanagawa and Hokkaido were affected by COVID-19 in the early stage of the pandemic. Japan’s initial response included contact tracing and PCR analysis on anyone who was suspected of having been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. In this retrospective study, we analyzed publicly available COVID-19 registry data from Kanagawa and Hokkaido (n = 4392). Exponential random graph model (ERGM) network analysis was performed to examine demographic and symptomological homophilies. Age, symptomatic, and asymptomatic status homophilies were seen in both prefectures. Symptom homophilies suggest that nuanced genetic differences in the virus may affect its epithelial cell type range and can result in the diversity of symptoms seen in individuals infected by SARS-CoV-2. Environmental variables such as temperature and humidity may also play a role in the overall pathogenesis of the virus. A higher level of asymptomatic transmission was observed in Kanagawa. Moreover, patients who contracted the virus through secondary or tertiary contacts were shown to be asymptomatic more frequently than those who contracted it from primary cases. Additionally, most of the transmissions stopped at the primary and secondary levels. As expected, significant viral transmission was seen in healthcare settings.
The role of foreign language requirements in domestic students’ first-year success at one internationalising Japanese university

This project addressed the role of foreign language (FL) classes in a successful first-year student experience at one Japanese university. I assessed six dimensions of this experience: Match betwee...
International Criminal Law: Nature, Origins and a Few Key Issues

The purpose of international criminal law is to establish the criminal responsibility of individuals for international crimes. Public international law is traditionally focused on the rights and obligations of states, and thus is not particularly well suited to this task. It has adapted through a long and slow historical process, drawing upon multiple sources. Many of the chapters in this Handbook explore to some extent the historical development of international criminal law. I will not attempt to summarize that history in detail, but a few historical observations here will help to explain how international criminal law emerged from its sources in public international law, comparative law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law. This will set the stage for an introductory discussion of some key issues in contemporary international criminal law.
Pulmonary surfactant and stability of aeration in young human fetuses.

The striking predominance of prematurity among infants with the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is well-known. It has, therefore, been interesting to study in young fetuses the specific pulmonary surface activity which governs stability of aeration. Both surface activity and stability of aeration are characteristically deficient in the RDS. Stability of aeration, as determined by artificial inflation and deflation of a lung specimen, correlates well with surface activity, varying with changes in area as determined on a Wilhelmi surface balance. Information based on either method is equally pertinent, as is that obtained by studying the stability of bubbles from lungs.
Enzymatic Breakage and Joining of Deoxyribonucleic Acid: VI. FURTHER PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF POLYNUCLEOTIDE LIGASE FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTED WITH BACTERIOPHAGE T4

Abstract Polynucleotide ligase has been purified 1000-fold from extracts of Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage T4. The enzyme catalyzes (a) the repair of phosphodiester bond scissions introduced into the strands of bihelical DNA by pancreatic DNase and (b) the conversion of hydrogen-bonded circular duplexes or concatemers of λ bacteriophage DNA to covalently bonded circular molecules or concatemers, respectively. The DNA products of these reactions have been characterized by sedimentation and end group analysis. The ligase does not catalyze the end to end joining of T7 bacteriophage DNA. The standard assay for ligase activity measures the protection of a 32P-labeled 5'-phosphoryl group, located at a single strand break in DNA, from attack by bacterial alkaline phosphatase. The enzyme purification procedure has been redesigned to eliminate the necessity for enzyme assays during the early fractionation steps and to permit the use of a simple assay, based on ATP-PPi exchange, during the later stages of purification. The ligase reaction has a specific requirement for a bihelical DNA substrate and for ATP, and it results in the formation of phosphodiester bonds, AMP, and pyrophosphate. The Km for DNA containing single strand breaks is 1.5 x 10-9 m expressed as the concentration of internal phosphomonoesters. The Km for ATP is 1.4 x 10-5 m, and dATP is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme (Ki of 3.5 x 10-5 m).
Abstract 13180: Impact of Cigarette Smoking on Levels on Platelet P2Y12 Mediated Platelet Inhibition in Prasugrel Treated Patients: Results of a Pharmacodynamic Study

Introduction: In patients with established vascular disease, smoking is a strong independent risk factor for adverse outcomes, including mortality. Several investigations have shown that cigarette smoking induces cytochrome P450 enzymatic activity which in turn increases clopidogrel metabolism leading to enhanced pharmacodynamic (PD) effects compared with non-smokers. These findings may explain the heightened clinical benefits of clopidogrel in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Prasugrel has superior PD and clinical effects compared with clopidogrel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cigarette smoking on platelet P2Y12 mediated effects among patients on maintenance prasugrel therapy. Methods: A total of 156 patients on maintenance prasugrel therapy (10mg/qd) for at least 7-days, in addition to aspirin (81mg/qd), who previously underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of an acute coronary syndrome were studied. An objective assessment of smoking status was performed b...
An atlas of obesity and weight control

Realities and Treatment of Obesity Etiology of Obesity Energy Balance and the Controlled System Afferent Signals The Central Controller Efferent Signals Outline of Treatment Historical Perspective Mechanisms of Action Currently Available Drugs Side Effects Features of an Ideal Drug Obesity and Weight Control Illustrated Index
BACTERIAL PRESERVATION OF PINK SALMON USING POTATOES AS A CARBOHYDRATE SOURCE

Salmon processing waste can create disposal issues unless a fish meal plant is located nearby. Other preservation methods, such as fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), are less energy intensive, but require an added carbohydrate. In this study, pink salmon heads (raw, smoked or cooked) were mixed with potatoes at different ratios and incubated with LAB. An initial pH drop was observed, with concurrent production of lactic acid, for all salmon–potato silages within 24 h; however, only silages composed of 100% potato or salmon with added sucrose became stable and remained at or below pH 4.8 for 60 days. Increasing the potato content of the potato–salmon silage increased the initial acidification, but did not prevent a rise in pH during storage. This study suggests that discarded agricultural products such as potatoes might be useful as a carbohydrate supplement for LAB preservation of fish by-products. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Pink salmon by-products, such as heads and viscera, create disposal issues for fish processors in Alaska. However, preserving these high-protein wastes through natural acidification (using lactic acid bacteria) requires an added carbohydrate to promote fermentation during silage production. Agricultural waste products such as discarded potatoes represent a convenient source of fermentable carbohydrate. Once preserved, fish processing waste offers an inexpensive feed source for agricultural animals, or as aquaculture feeds or local compost for vegetable farming.
Executive Compensation in a Changing Environment: Cautious Investors and Sticky Contracts

We study dynamic incentive contracts in a continuous-time agency model with productivity switching between two unobserved states, about which an investor may learn by deviating from the myopically optimal action. The optimal contract balances short-run profits from myopic actions and the long-run benefits from obtaining information on the current state. We endogenously characterize the stickiness of contracts and show that the optimal contract offered by the investor can substantially deviate from the myopic solution when strategic collection of information is possible. The results provide a rational explanation for the commonly observed low pay-for-performance sensitivity and sluggish adjustment of executive compensation.
Out of the Limelight: Discredited Communities and Informal Communication on the Internet

In this article we will suggest that print and related traditional media have been used more successfully in constituting a public sphere than in supporting more private and localized forms of community building (Habermas 1989; Stone 1991). The costs and control of print media, in addition to the stability of the content, have reduced the applicability of these media to the improvisatory and quotidian social processes that groups use to help keep themselves cohesive. In contrast, computer-based interactions have been and are being used extensively to support many of the informal interactions and related activities necessary to communities, giving members new tools for negotiating and rehearsing public forms of group life (Jones 1995). We hope to show how the public aspirations and problems of social groups shape their encounters with computers and encourage them to use computer interaction to manage their public representations.
Influence of immunosuppressive drugs on dendritic cells

Immunosuppressive drugs used to control allograft rejection and in efforts to promote transplant tolerance are well recognized for their abilities to inhibit lymphocyte activation and proliferation. In recent years, evidence has accumulated that these diversely acting agents (anti-proliferative drugs, calcineurin inhibitors, rapamycin, deoxyspergualin and glucocorticoids) also affect the development and functional immunobiology of dendritic cells, in vitro and in vivo. Here we review the influence of immunosuppressive drugs on the differentiation and function of these important antigen-presenting cells. We also consider how these effects influence immune reactivity and tolerance induction, implications for furthermore understanding of dendritic cell biology and prospects for improving the outcome of organ transplantation and therapy of other immune-mediated disorders by impacting dendritic cell function.
Sub-harmonic resonance in a nearly pre-loaded mechanical oscillator

In this paper, the sub-harmonic resonance of a single degree of freedom system with a nearly preloaded non-linearity (gain-changing clearance) is studied. First, a new perturbation approach is incorporated in the traditional multi-term harmonic balance method to calculate the sub-harmonic resonance. Our approach significantly reduces the work as it computes the sub-harmonic responses with just one run. Initial guesses in the vicinity of sub-harmonic regime are relaxed compared to prior approaches. Second, a parametric study is conducted to examine the occurrence and characteristics of sub-harmonic resonance. The possibility of the sub-harmonic occurrence increases with an increase of dynamic excitation or the stiffness ratio. For instance, our analysis shows that the sub-harmonic resonance typically occurs when the mean load is close to the stiffness transition point. In the extreme case, a very small excitation would generate a sub-harmonic resonance. With a higher mean load, the resonant peak appears at lower frequencies as a result of the reduced equivalent stiffness. Finally, our analytical formulation is successfully validated using numerical integration results.
A Population Study of the Frequency of High-Dose Acetaminophen Prescribing and Dispensing

Background:Recurrent intake of 4 g/day or more of acetaminophen has been associated with elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in 30–40% of the exposed population and may result in hepatotoxicity.Objective:To describe the frequency that patients are prescribed acetaminophen doses that exceed 4 g/day across a large population.Methods:Using California's Medicaid (MediCal) fee-for-service population, pharmacy claims including over-the-counter (OTC) medications were examined for prescriptions that could result in acetaminophen doses of 4 g/day or more. The period studied, October 2004 through September 2005, was before the Part D pharmacy benefit was available to dually eligible Medicare patients when all prescriptions were covered by the MediCal claims process.Results:During the pre-Part D evaluation period, approximately 3.27 million beneficiaries were enrolled in the fee-for-service MediCal program. A total of 192,716 (5.9%) were potentially exposed to at least 1 day of 4 g/day or more o...
Surfactant ionic liquid-based microemulsions for polymerization

Surfactants based on imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs), including polymerizable surfactant ILs, have been synthesized and used to stabilize polymerizable microemulsions useful for producing polymer nanoparticles, gels, and open-cell porous materials.
Molecular beam homoepitaxial growth of MgO(001)

We describe homoepitaxial growth and detailed in situ characterization of MgO(001). We have used, for the first time, high-speed Auger electron spectroscopy as a real-time probe of film composition during growth. Excellent short-range and long-range crystallographic order are achieved in films grown to a thickness of several hundred angstroms in the substrate temperature range of 450 °C to 750 °C. Moreover, the films become more laminar as the growth temperature increases, suggesting that MgO grows homoepitaxially by the step-flow growth mechanism at elevated temperature. The surfaces of films grown at 650°and 750 °C are smoother than those obtained by cleaving MgO(001).
Parameter estimation in the 1-D transport equation with advection

Abstract We introduce a stable numerical method for the identification of the diffusion coefficient in a one-dimensional transport equation with advection, when noisy data at the active boundary and initial measured population density are given. This algorithm makes no assumption on the amount and/or character of the noise in the data. Several numerical examples are supplied to show the consistency of the scheme.
A comparative study of the chromatographic selectivity of polystyrene- coated zirconia and related reversed-phase materials

The chromatographic selectivities of polystyrene-coated zirconia (PS-ZrO2) have been investigated in detail by means of homologue series retention studies and studies of a variety of nonpolar aromatic positional isomers. This material has been compared to polybutadiene-coated zirconia, octadecyl- and phenyl-bonded silica, and polymer-based reversed phases. In addition, the separations of a wide variety of compound classes on PS-ZrO2 were compared with those on other aromatic and aliphatic RPLC phases. The PS-ZrO2 material exhibits substantial differences in selectivity toward nonpolar and polar analytes as compared to other phases, especially with respect to polybutadiene-coated zirconia (PBD-ZrO2). On PS-ZrO2, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are retained much more than are alkylbenzenes, whereas on PBD-ZrO2 the opposite is observed. In addition, PS-ZrO2 has much greater selectivity than does PBD-ZrO2 for the separation of structural isomers which differ in the position of phenyl groups. In gener...
Survey of Waste Comminglers’ VOC Exposures

Twelve U.S. universities performing hazardous waste solvent commingling operations were surveyed for waste handler exposures to 45 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Personal exposures (n = 33) and area concentrations (n = 30) were determined using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of passively collected samples. Air monitoring data were used to determine the veracity of laboratory-generated reports of waste container contents. Participants completed a questionnaire concerning the use of personal protective equipment, ventilation, and other appropriate safety equipment for their specific commingling operation. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted to elucidate safeguards in place. Results showed that personal exposures exceeded area concentrations in 70% of operations. For the contaminant concentrations reported, 17% of personal samples exceeded Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) time-weighted average or ceiling limit values. Methylene chloride was a frequently seen airborne contaminant not listed on drum inventory sheets. When airborne constituents were compared with container content tags, 44% of the chemicals detected in air were omitted from the waste tags. This study concluded that the most frequently necessary safeguard is respiratory protection, preferably a supplied-air-type. The use of local exhaust ventilation systems rather than dilution or natural systems and facility operation in a totally explosion-safe manner are also recommended.
New kernel methods for asset pricing: application to natural gas price prediction

Natural gas prices show a non-linear, non-stationary, and time variant behaviour. In this study, we build a regression function for daily natural gas prices using e -SVR and v -SVR and experiment with different kernels. We compare the proposed methods with artificial neural networks, RBF networks and asymmetric GARCH models. The comparison results demonstrate that the v -SVR with sigmoid kernel is the best of the compared techniques with respect to the mean square error and squared correlation coefficient criteria. The paper is also extended to discuss the price tendency prediction and the performance of SVR without data imputation. The purpose of the paper is to provide an effective way to predict the short term gas price, which can be used as a tool to reduce uncertainty and financial risk in the energy market.
Mucosal origin and shedding of an early colonic tumor marker defined by Adnab-9 monoclonal antibody

Recent attention has been drawn to the diagnostic potential of tests based on shed colonic tumor markers. Adnab-9 monoclonal antibody raised against neoplastic, potentially premalignant colonic adenomas recognizes a marker in colonic effluent or tissue which correlates with the presence of tumors or risk of colorectal cancer. The origin of this antigen and optimal collection of colonic effluent were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. Mean Adnab-9 binding in effluent samples from colorectal cancer patients even after resection is high as compared with that in normal subjects (P < 0.05). Effluent samples are best collected in the morning hours. Antigen proteolysis may be significant depending on the site and timing of effluent collection, but breakdown products are reactive. Tissue and effluent Adnab-9 binding at any one anatomic site of collection appear to correlate (r = 0.88, P = 0.01). The Adnab-9 antigen is constitutively expressed at low levels throughout the distal bowel and localized to the deepest regions of the mucosal crypts. Other than meconium, no significant levels of binding are found in other body fluids. This antigen is specific for the gastrointestinal tract, its binding in conveniently collected effluent samples correlates with tissue content, and the antigen is constitutively expressed in the crypts of the distal small bowel and colonic mucosa.
A novel model of allograft rejection: immune reconstitution of Rag-1 recipients with 2C transgenic T-cell receptor lymphocytes.

Summary The complexity of allorejection (cell activation, homing, and effector function) makes detailed studies difficult. We have developed a model of allograft rejection using purified monoclonal alloreactive effector cells. Immunodeficient C57Bl/6-Rag-1 (H-2b) recipients of Balb/c (H-2d) islet or skin grafts were reconstituted via adoptive transfer of splenocytes from 2C transgenic mice containing CD8+ cytotoxic effector cells directed against Ld. Recipients were assessed for engraftment, activation and homing of effector cells, and ability to reject grafts. Both unpurified 2C splenocytes and purified 2C/CD8+ cells durably reconstitute immunodeficient mice. Naive 2C effector cells reject skin grafts, but not islet allografts. However, when effector cells are primed prior to reconstitution, islet allografts are rejected. Using this model, blockade of adhesion molecules LFA-1 and α4-integrin delayed infiltration of islet allografts and prolonged allograft survival. This model of allorejection may be useful to study the activation and homing of allospecific cells in vivo.
Low-uncertainty H2O line intensities for the 930-nm region

Abstract We measured room-temperature H2O spectra of the 3ν polyad within the wave number range 10 603 cm−1 to 10 852 cm−1 using frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy. More than 70 transitions, divisible into two groups based on their relative intensities (strong and weak) were investigated. For the 23 lines comprising the set of strong transitions, the water vapor sample was prepared as a dilute mixture in a steady flow of N2 carrier gas, and the measurement of the water vapor sample number density was linked to primary methods of humidity generation. For these strong transitions, the measured line intensities were within 1% of previous measurements. The line intensity measurements of the weaker H2O transitions, were made on samples of static pure water vapor, and these results were systematically greater than previous measurements by approximately 20%.
Comparison of static and dynamic treatment modes for the pion therapy beam at LAMPF.

Focused beams of negative pions have been developed for dynamic treatments at the Biomedical Facility in Los Alamos. In dynamic treatment, the patient is scanned under a focused pion beam. Using measured depth-dose distributions and off-axis dose distributions, we are able to find a scanning function that allows the best coverage of the target volume. Calculation of dose distributions for dynamic beam treatment plans, both in a water phantom and in a patient, illustrates the superiority of dynamic over static treatments that use broad, essentially parallel beams in shaping the dose distribution to the target volume.
Transnational locality: Diasporas and indentured South Asians

This article investigates why Diasporas are often considered threatening to state security, especially during periods of national or international uncertainty. The central argument is that this perception can best be understood if they are seen as inhabiting a transnational locality, a space that encapsulates both their indigenization and transnationality. In other words, it is limiting to view Diasporas in terms of a home–host trope; this relies on a state-to-state structural analysis that elides the complex identities associated with Diasporas and the abiding perception that they are a threat. What is distinctive about Diasporas is that they are indigenized over time (Creolized, hybridized), but they retain a transnational identity that is associated with a perceived homeland (real or imagined). While they are insiders in the nation-state, they are also outsiders in all states – they reside in a transnational locality that is rooted, but also removed. The article relies on empirical evidence from the In...
A Re-Examination of the Crystal Structure of A-DNA Using Fiber Diffraction Data

Classical A-DNA helices with h = 0.25 nm may represent the greatest mass per unit length attainable by polynucleotide duplexes. The X-ray diffraction pattern from polycrystalline and well-oriented fibers of calf thymus DNA in its A-form has been carefully re-examined. Indexing on the basis of a C-face-centered monoclinic unit cell of dimensions a = 2.170 nm, b = 3.990 nm, c = 2.803 nm and beta = 96.82 degrees is superior to alternatives that have been proposed. Two right-handed. Watson-Crick base-paired, helical DNA chains with 2 X 11 nucleotides per 2.803 nm pitch, each carrying C3'-endo furanose rings, pass through the unit cell. The crystallography requires the two chains in the duplex to be antiparallel and conformationally identical but the 11 nucleotides in each pitch may be distinct. However, a secondary structure with a mononucleotide asymmetric unit provides as good an X-ray agreement as one with 11 distinct nucleotides. This relative lack of variability is quite different from what is observed in fibrous B-DNAs.
Software engineering education via the use of corporate-sponsored projects: A panel discussion of the approaches, benefits, and challenges for industry-academic collaboration

In this panel, we will address questions regarding the development and execution of one type of industry-academic collaboration - corporate-sponsored projects. As representatives of programs at both public and private institutions, we will address a set of questions related to these programs. We have prepared an initial list that will be augmented with questions submitted and voted on by conference participants in advance of the session. After we have presented our prepared responses, the balance of the session will be dedicated to open discussion with audience members.
Signaling domain of the aspartate receptor is a helical hairpin with a localized kinase docking surface: cysteine and disulfide scanning studies.

Cysteine and disulfide scanning has been employed to probe the signaling domain, a highly conserved motif found in the cytoplasmic region of the aspartate receptor of bacterial chemotaxis and relat...
The Depressed Patient: Social Antecedents of Psychopathologic Changes in the Elderly*

The importance of depression as a psychopathologic syndrome in the elderly is stressed by the estimate that about 30 percent of persons over the age of 65 may be expected to experience an episode of depression severe enough to interfere with daily functioning. Depression is the chief cause of psychiatric hospitalization among the elderly, and it bears great potential for death through inanition or suicide. Loss of mastery (ability to cope) and the onset of helplessness are frequent dynamic issues in the development of depression or behavioral problems in the elderly. Geriatric stereotypes contribute directly to helplessness by reinforcing such behavior. Stereotypes also minimize the chance of appropriate response outcomes relative to needs. Rolelessness, a partial result of stereotyping, leads to anomie, alienation, and lowered self-esteem. These issues are discussed and points of interaction among them are examined. The relevance to psychotherapy with older persons is outlined.
Non-Functional Parathyroid Carcinoma: A Review of the Literature and Report of a Case Requiring Extensive Surgery

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy, and only accounts for 0.5–2% of cases of primary hyperparathyroidism. Less than 10% of parathyroid carcinomas are non-functional, and as such, they have been rarely reported in the literature. Importantly, margin status at resection is related to prognosis, and only a handful of case reports of non-functional carcinoma note this important parameter. Here we report the first case of non-functional parathyroid carcinoma with negative margins, and review the literature on this rare entity. Whether functional or non-functional, parathyroid carcinoma can often be difficult to differentiate from benign parathyroid adenoma. While diagnosis has been based on clinical and histological criteria, recent data concerning the molecular underpinnings of parathyroid carcinoma may allow for improved accuracy in distinguishing benign and malignant parathyroid tumors.
USDA Certification of Food as Organic: An Investigation of Consumer Beliefs about the Health Benefits of Organic Food

Back in 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) implemented the final national standards and began certifying foods as having met the criterion in the production, handling, and processing of organically grown agricultural products. Consumers began seeing the USDA seal displayed as well as, the word “certified” and various levels of organic content on the front display panel of the product. The USDA stresses that the organic standard and label requirements do not imply organic foods are healthier. This research analyzes possible implications of consumers incorrectly inferring that food products with the USDA-organic certification label are healthier than food products without that certification.
Raman scattering in highly disordered amorphous phosphorus

Raman scattering measurements are presented on amorphous phosphorus ($a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{P}$) films deposited by rf and dc sputtering under conditions that enhance structural disorder. This includes rf sputtering at increased substrate bias as well as dc sputtering employing in situ measurements on surfaces at 80 K. In addition, the influence of annealing on the Raman spectra has been studied. The experimental results indicate that substantial changes in the Raman spectra occur relative to more ordered rf sputtered $a\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{P}$ films prepared at high pressure. These changes, which are most noticeable in low-temperature dc sputtered films, are interpreted in terms of modifications of both intermediate- as well as short-range order. The results indicate that modifications of intermediate-range order are primarily manifest by changes in the Raman coupling parameters, whereas the most disordered films indicate broadening of the phonon density of states as well. The influence of changes in short-range order on the polarized Raman spectra is related to dynamical correlation effects.
Color Reactions of Veratrum Alkaloids with Sulfuric Acid and Sulfuric Acid Reagents

Veratrum alkaloids, when treated with concentrated sulfuric acid, or “sulfuric acid reagents” give red, purple, yellow, or violet with characteristic absorption maxima. This reaction can be used as the basis of a simple, rapid colorimetric method for the determination of isolated samples of this class of alkaloids. The final concentration of sulfuric acid is very critical for maximum color development and, since color intensity is decreased if water is present to the extent of greater than 1 per cent, an anhydrous medium is recommended for maximum development. The typical color is best obtained when ethyl alcohol or methyl alcohol is used as the solvent for the alkaloids. Except for hydrochloric acid, no color is obtained with acids other than sulfuric. After heating for several minutes in hydrochloric acid, some color developed, but the intensity was always much less than that produced after treatment of the same amount of alkaloid with sulfuric acid. Inorganic salts, sodium benzoate, and glucose, above certain limiting concentrations, will interfere with color development.
Thermodynamics and dynamics of polypeptide liquid crystals

ABSTRACT The prediction that molecular asymmetry alone is sufficient to force a phase transition from a disordered to an ordered phase in a system of rodlike particles has been investigated using α-helical synthetic polypeptides as the source of rodlike particles. To this end the temperature–composition phase diagrams for the two component systems polybenzylglutamate (PBLG)–dimethylformamide (DMF) and polycarbobenzoxylysine (PCBL)–dimethylformamide are compared with the Flory lattice model for rigid impenetrable rods. The experimental systems exhibit and the theory predicts three distinct regions in the phase diagram: a narrow biphasic region in which isotropic and liquid crystal phases differing only slightly in composition coexist, a transition region over which solvent is increasingly excluded from the coexisting ordered phase and rods excluded from the coexisting isotropic phase, and a region where almost pure solvent coexists with a highly concentrated liquid crystal phase. A detailed comparison of the theoretical phase diagram for rigid, impenetrable rods with the experimental ones reveals discrepancies which can be attributed to the facts that the experimental rods are neither completely rigid nor impenetrable. Analysis of thermal data on PBLG–DMF indicates that the latent heat for the isotropic to liquid crystal phase transition is small and endothermic. We conclude that molecular asymmetry alone is sufficient to produce a phase transition to an ordered phase. Dynamical data show that the bulk viscosity may be considerably lower in the ordered than in the disordered phase. Although rod motion in the liquid crystal phase is correlated, electron spin resonance data suggest that individual rod motion about its mean lattice position is greater than in the isotropic solution of equivalent concentration. Additional electron spin resonance studies show that the motion of small rods and of the polymer side-chains is little affected by the presence of a high concentration of long rods, whereas the tumbling of long rods is dramatically influenced by the presence of other long rods.