cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Group Oriented Arterial Leg Study (GOALS) to improve walking performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease

People with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) have greater functional impairment and faster functional decline than those without PAD. We describe methods for the Group Oriented Arterial Leg Study (GOALS), an ongoing randomized controlled clinical trial designed to determine whether a Group-Mediated Cognitive Behavioral (GMCB) intervention improves functional performance in PAD participants, compared to a health education control condition. In GOALS, PAD participants were randomized to either an intervention or a health education control condition in a parallel design. Both conditions consist of weekly group sessions with other PAD participants. In the intervention, cognitive behavioral techniques are used to assist participants in setting and adhering to home-based walking exercise goals. Participants are encouraged to walk for exercise at home at least 5 days/week. In the control condition, participants receive lectures on health-related topics. After 6 months of on-site weekly sessions, participants are transitioned to telephone follow-up for another 6 months. Participants in the intervention are asked to continue home walking exercise. The primary outcome is change in six-minute walk performance between baseline and six-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include change in six-minute walk performance at 12-month follow-up, and change in treadmill walking performance, the Walking Impairment Questionnaire, quality of life, and physical activity at six and 12-month follow-up. In conclusion, if our group-mediated cognitive behavioral intervention is associated with improved walking performance in individuals with PAD, results will have major public health implications for the large and growing number of people with PAD.
The hydrological setting, occurrence and significance of gypsum in late Quaternary salt lakes in South Australia

Well exposed, often laminated gypsum sequences occur in many Quarternary salt lakes in southern South Australia. The gypsum in the salt lakes is classified by increasing grain size into gypsite, gypsarenite and selenite. The salt lakes are classified by age and hydrological setting into coastal salinas which are Holocene sea-water fed groundwater lakes, and continental playas which are late Pleistocene endorheic basins. A study of the relationships between coastal salina hydrology and the associated gypsum deposition has shown the different types of gypsum form under distinct hydrological regimes. As the hydrology above a coastal salina depositional surface changes through time so does the type of gypsum deposited. Application of a gypsum depositional model derived from a study of the coastal salina gypsum to those portions of a continental playa gypsum unit where deposition is no longer occurring confirms the applicability of the model to non-salina gypsum deposits.
Prolonged survival in pyruvate carboxylase deficiency: Lack of correlation with enzyme activity in cultured fibroblasts

Objective: To report the clinical history and laboratory evaluation of a patient presenting with lactic acidosis secondary to pyruvate carboxylase deficiency. Methods and Results: Enzyme analysis of cultured skin fibroblasts revealed 2–5% of normal pyruvate carboxylase activity. Although most patients with this condition die in early infancy, this child has survived to age: 8-12 years, with only occasional episodes of metabolic acidosis, usually responding rapidly to intravenous hydration and bicarbonate. Despite having a seizure disorder and moderate mental retardation, he continues to thrive and make progress in his acquisition of motor and language skills. Of the 35 patients described in the literature with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, only two other patients have lived beyond 5 years of age. Conclusion: There does not seem to be a correlation of prolonged survival with residual pyruvate carboxylase activity on assay of cultured fibroblasts. Possible explanations for this patient's prolonged survival include tissue heterogeneity, increased residual enzyme activity in vivo, or partial stabilization of the enzyme by supplemental biotin.
Toxicity of road salt to Nova Scotia amphibians

The deposition of chemical pollutants into roadside wetlands from runoff is a current environmental concern. In northern latitudes, a major pollutant in runoff water is salt (NaCl), used as de-icing agents. In this study, 26 roadside ponds were surveyed for amphibian species richness and chloride concentration. Acute toxicity tests (LC50) were performed on five locally common amphibian species using a range of environmentally significant NaCl concentrations. Field surveys indicated that spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) did not occupy high chloride ponds. American toads (Bufo americanus) showed no pond preference based on chloride concentration. Acute toxicity tests showed spotted salamanders and wood frogs were most sensitive to chloride, and American toads were the least. Spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and green frogs (Rana clamitans) showed intermediate sensitivities. We concluded that chloride concentrations in ponds due to application of de-icing salts, influenced community structure by excluding salt intolerant species.
Total Ionizing Dose Characterization of the Calibration Circuit of Texas Instruments' ADC12D1600CCMLS, 12b, 3.2 GSPS Analog-to-Digital Converter

In situ testing of a high speed Analog-to-Digital Converter under gamma irradiation is impractical. A special test was developed to characterize the stability of the calibration of Texas Instruments' ADC12D1600CCMLS over a Total Ionizing Dose exposure to 300 krad(Si).
Field Test of In Situ Soil Amendments at the Tar Creek National Priorities List Superfund Site

A range of soil amendments including diammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP), municipal biosolids (BS), biosolids compost, and Al- and Fe-based water treatment residuals were tested on Pb-, Zn-, and Cd-contaminated yard soils and tailings at the Tar Creek NPL site in Oklahoma to determine if amendments could restore a vegetative cover and reduce metal availability in situ. For the yard soils, all amendments reduced bioaccessible (assessed with a physiologic-based extraction method) Pb, with reductions ranging from 35% (BS+Al, DAP 0.5%, DAP+Compost+Al) to 57% (Compost+Al). Plant Zn (Cynadon dactylon L.) and NH4 NO3-extractable Cd and Zn were also reduced by a number of amendments. For the tailings, all amendments excluding BS reduced bioaccessible Pb, with the largest reductions observed in the DAP 3% and DAP3%+BS treatments (75 and 84%). Plant growth was suppressed in all treatments that contained DAP for the first season, with the highest growth in the treatments that included compost and biosolids. In the second year, growth was vigorous for all treatments. Plant Zn and Cd and extractable metal concentration were also reduced. A number of treatments were identified that reduced bioaccessible Pb and sustained a healthy plant with reduced metal concentrations. For the yard soil, Compost+Al was the most effective treatment tested. For the tailings, BS+DAP 1% was the most effective treatment tested. These results indicate that in situ amendments offer a remedial alternative for the Tar Creek site.
Reaction of the anion radical of phenazine with carbon dioxide

Abstract Phenazine has been observed to react with carbon dioxide in non-aqueous electrolyte via an ECE type mechanism at much lower potentials than aromatic hydrocarbons such as anthracene and olefins. The reactivity appears to be similar to that of a proton. The second order rate constant has been determined to be 2.6 × 104 M−1 s−1. This manuscript reports an electrochemical analysis of the kinetics of the reaction of the phenazine anion radical in DMSO (TBAP, 0.1 M) with CO2.
Comparison of cell proliferation following partial hepatectomy in rats fed NIH-31 or semipurified AIN-76A diets: Effects of nucleic acid supplementation

Abstract Male Fischer 344 rats, were administered NIH-31, AIN-76A, or AIN-76A plus 0.25% yeast RNA diets for 3 weeks, partially hepatectomized (PH), and groups of 6 rats from each diet group were sacrificed at 0, 2, 7 and 14 days following PH. Liver weight, total DNA, total lipids, levels of thiobarbaturic acid reactive substances (TBARS), and levels of intracellular deoxyribonucleotides were determined. In addition, the number of hepatocytes in mitosis and/or positive for nuclear proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were determined. Liver regeneration, measured as liver weight or total liver DNA, was equal in the three diet groups and was essentially complete by the end of 14 days. However, there was a 53% reduction in the mitotic index and a two-fold increase in the ratio of proliferating cells (G1 + S + G2 cells) to mitoses at 48 hours in animals of the AIN-76A diet group compared to those fed NIH-31 diet, suggesting that the cells were arrested or delayed in S-phase. At the time of PH, liver deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) and deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) levels in the AIN-76A group were decreased 29% and 57%, respectively, compared to those of the NIH-31 group. Addition of yeast RNA to the AIN-76A diet partially prevented the decrease in mitosis and maintained deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTP) levels to those of the NIH-31 group. These results indicate that the lack of dietary nucleotides in semipurified diets can alter dNTP levels and have adverse effects on cell proliferation. Consideration should be given to supplementing purified diets with a dietary source of nucletides.
Classification and patient selection in abdominoplasty

Abdominal contour surgery is currently characterized by a group of procedures, corresponding to variations in individual anatomy. Patient selection is based on an assessment of the soft-tissue layers according to the abdominolipoplasty system of classification and treatment, correlated with the patient's goals. Using these methods, a choice of alternatives that include: liposuction, limited abdominoplasties, and full abdominoplasty (with or without suction-assisted lipectomy) (types I–IV); or for certain individuals, minimal-access variations in abdominoplasty [extended liposuction (type 1a), open mini-abdominoplasty (type 2a), and endoscopic or muscle access abdominoplasty (type 3a)] are applicable to a spectrum of disorders. In this article, we discuss this concept of staging patients and how it is used to determine treatment alternatives, as well as specific technical considerations necessary to achieving an optimal outcome.
Evolutionary pattern design for copolymer directed self-assembly

Directed assembly of block polymers is rapidly becoming a viable strategy for lithographic patterning of nanoscopic features. One of the key attributes of directed assembly is that an underlying chemical or topographic substrate pattern used to direct assembly need not exhibit a direct correspondence with the sought after block polymer morphology, and past work has largely relied on trial-and-error approaches to design appropriate patterns. In this work, a computational evolutionary strategy is proposed to solve this optimization problem. By combining the Cahn–Hilliard equation, which is used to find the equilibrium morphology, and the covariance-matrix evolutionary strategy, which is used to optimize the combined outcome of particular substrate–copolymer combinations, we arrive at an efficient method for design of substrates leading to non-trivial, desirable outcomes.
In situ measurements of contributions to the global electrical circuit by a thunderstorm in southeastern Brazil

Article history: Received 11 December 2007 Accepted 27 March 2008 The global electrical circuit, which maintains a potential of about 280 kV between the earth and the ionosphere, is thought to be driven mainly by thunderstorms and lightning. However, very few in situ measurements of electrical current above thunderstorms have been successfully obtained. In this paper, we present dc to very low frequency electric fields and atmospheric conductivity measured in the stratosphere (30–35 km altitude) above an active thunderstorm in southeastern Brazil. From these measurements, we estimate the mean quasi-static conduction current during the storm period to be 2.5±1.25 A. Additionally, we examine the transient conduction currents following a large positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning flash
Metacognitive Radio Engine Design and Standardization

In this paper, we provide an overview of how cognitive radio (CR) technology is making its way into the current wireless standards, and we discuss further opportunities for more CR-oriented standardization efforts. Specifically, we discuss how a cognitive engine (CE) can be potentially standardized, and we offer our latest innovations on metacognitive engine (meta-CE) design. The intelligent techniques of a CR are implemented in an agent commonly referred to as a CE. A CE manages the CR's operation. Typically, a CE is based on a primary learning and optimization algorithm that is utilized within the CE. Each of these algorithms has its own strengths and deficiencies depending on the operating scenario that makes some of them more appropriate for specific operating conditions. A meta-CE is an engine that learns which CE is more appropriate to provide the adaptation needed for the operating conditions. To make a meta-CE possible, first, we need a method for characterizing the CE algorithm's performance. Second, we should classify the operating conditions based on the CE algorithm's characteristics in order to determine the most appropriate operating condition. Our results show that, when we use meta-CE techniques, we have about 30% increase in performance compared with using the best individual CE.
Lipoprotein lipids in older people. Results from the Cardiovascular Health Study. The CHS Collaborative Research Group.

BACKGROUNDCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in older people. There is little information about the distributions of risk factors in older populations. This article describes the distribution and correlates of lipoprotein lipids in people greater than or equal to 65 years old.METHODS AND RESULTSLipoprotein lipid concentrations were measured in 2,106 men (M) and 2,732 women (F) who were participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based epidemiological study. Distributions of lipids by age and sex and bivariate and multivariate relations among lipids and other variables were determined in cross-sectional analyses. Mean concentrations of lipids were cholesterol: M, 5.20 +/- 0.93 mmol/l (201 +/- 36 mg/dl) and F, 5.81 +/- 0.98 mmol/l (225 +/- 38 mg/dl); triglyceride (TG): M, 1.58 +/- 0.85 mmol/l (140 +/- 75 mg/dl) and F, 1.57 +/- 0.78 mmol/l (139 +/- 69 mg/dl); high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C): M, 1.23 +/- 0.33 mmol/l (48 +/- 16 mg/dl), and F, 1.53...
Manipulation of infection levels of horizontally transmitted fungal endophytes in the field

Studies of fungal endophytes in tree leaves are largely descriptive and taxonomic. Testing hypotheses on the ecological role of these fungi is difficult as manipulating micro-organisms in the field or greenhouse is not easy. This study describes a technique which allows considerable manipulation of infection levels of endophytes within the leaves of the plant host without the use of fungicides. It involves placing bags (composed of clear PVC tops and polyester netting bottoms and sides) over branches so newly emerging leaves are protected from infective propagules. Leaves can be infected with target fungi by the repeated spraying of spore suspensions onto the leaves.
Energy conversion and optimal energy management in diesel–electric drivetrains of hybrid-electric vehicles

Abstract This paper develops nonlinear models for diesel–electric powertrains used in medium- and heavy-duty hybrid-electric vehicles and describes a new method for designing optimal controllers for highly coupled drivetrains. Current applications of heavily loaded, heavy-duty drives call for the use of comprehensive, innovative ways of handling a large variety of nonlinear phenomena in order to optimize performance and energy conversion, to shape steady-state characteristics and to meet other desired specifications. It is evident that energy conversion and optimal energy management should be integrated and thoroughly studied. This paper demonstrates the application of derived nonlinear models of drivetrain components (diesel, synchronous generator, traction motor) analyzes the nonlinear energy conversion and develops an innovative design method to control these highly nonlinear diesel–electric systems. Fundamental analysis and design methods, such as the Lyapunov stability theory and admissibility concept, are used to attain nonlinear analysis, design and motion control. The developed concept in nonlinear analysis and design allows one to synthesize optimal tracking controllers for highly nonlinear systems with minimal approximating simplifications and assumptions used in the model development. New promising analytical results are presented along with a supporting example involving a controlled, 40-ton vehicle with a hybrid-electric drivetrain. Experimental data is reported to validate the results.
Understanding Factors That Influence Stakeholder Trust of Natural Resource Science and Institutions

Building trust between resource users and natural resource institutions is essential when creating conservation policies that rely on stakeholders to be effective. Trust can enable the public and agencies to engage in cooperative behaviors toward shared goals and address shared problems. Despite the increasing attention that trust has received recently in the environmental management literature, the influence that individual cognitive and behavioral factors may play in influencing levels of trust in resource management institutions, and their associated scientific assessments, remains unclear. This paper uses the case of fisheries management in the northeast to explore the relationships between an individual’s knowledge of the resource, perceptions of resource health, and participatory experience on levels of trust. Using survey data collected from 244 avid recreational anglers in the Northeast U.S., we test these relationships using structural equation modeling. Results indicate that participation in fisheries management is associated with increased trust across all aspects of fisheries management. In addition, higher ratings of resource health by anglers are associated with higher levels of trust of state and regional institutions, but not federal institutions or scientific methods.
Intensity coding in the transient portion of the rat chorda tympani response.

For assessment of the relative importance of the transient and steady state components of the chorda tympani response to intensity coding of gustatory stimuli, the rat's ability to discriminate aversive solutions following adaptation was compared with changes in the neural response also resulting from adaptation. A taste aversion was conditioned to .9% NaCl, and subsequent acceptance of several NaCl concentrations (range: .1%-1.5%) was tested following infusion of 1 ml of adapting solution (H2O or .1%, .9%, or 1.5% NaCl) through an intra-oral cannula. Adaptation significantly decreased gustatory intensity discrimination and decreased the magnitude of the transient portion of the chorda tympani response. The degree of reduction in transient magnitude correlated significantly with reduced discrimination in all adapting conditions. However, the magnitude of the steady state response negatively correlated with discrimination. These data suggest that gustatory intensity discrimination depends upon information contained in the transient portion of the neural response and that the transient is necessary as well as sufficient for taste intensity discrimination.
Inter-ring rotational potential of biphenyl and its effect on poly(p-phenylene)

Detailed ab initio studies have been done on the inter-ring torsional states of the biphenyl molecule using self-consistent field molecular orbital method. The potential goes through a minimum at an angle of 38°. The height of the potential barrier for the coplanar state is 2.01 kcal/mol. When the phenyl rings are perpendicular to each other, this height increases to 2.37 kcal/mol. The role of correlation and polarization is found to be important. The shape of the potential suggests that polyparaphenylene may possibly exist as a super helix.
A field study of the effects of elevated CO2 on carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance and leaf and branch growth of Pinus taeda trees

A study was conducted in 21-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees growing in plantation in north central Georgia, USA. The experiment used branch chambers to impose treatments of ambient, ambient +165 and ambient + 330 μmol mol−1 CO2. After one growing season there was no indication of acclimation to elevated CO2. In August and September, carbon assimilation, measured by two different methods, was twice as high at ambient +330 μmol mol−1 CO2 than at ambient. Dark respiration was suppressed by 6% at ambient +165 and by 14% at ambient + 330 μmol mol−1 CO2. This suppression was immediate, and not an effect of exposure to elevated CO2 during growth, since respiration was reduced by the same amount in all treatments when measured at a high CO2 concentration. Elevated CO2 increased the growth of foliage and woody tissue. It also increased instantaneous transpiration efficiency, but it had no effect on stomatal conductance. Since the soil at the study site had low to moderate fertility, these results suggest that the growth potential of forests on many sites may be enhanced by global increases in atmospheric CO2, concentration.
Remembering the Future: A Sociological Narrative of Crisis Episodes, Collective Action, Culture Workers, and Countermovements

Cet article se base sur la distinction a effectuer entre les formes contractuelles et conventionnelles que peuvent prendre les relations sociales et applique cette distinction a la religion. Apres avoir montre que ces formes se caracterisent, l'une par son caractere sacerdotal et l'autre par son caractere prophetique, l'A. propose une typologie des mouvements religieux ou apparaissent des formes graduelles integrant a des degres divers les formes contractuelle ou conventionnelle
Utility of routine admission chest radiographs in patients with acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage admitted to an intensive care unit

Abstract Purpose To determine the diagnostic yield of routine admission chest radiographs in patients with acute gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage and clinical predictors of radiographic abnormalities. Patients and methods The study was a retrospective series of 202 adult patients with GI hemorrhage admitted to intensive care units at an academic medical center. Routine admission chest radiographs were obtained in 161 patients. These radiographs were reviewed by a study radiologist blinded to the study purpose. The radiologist scored radiographic abnormalities into categories of "minor" or "major," "new" or "previously known," and "with an intervention" or "without an intervention." Nominal logistic regression explored the data for clinical features that identified patients with major new radiographic abnormalities with or without an intervention. Results Minor radiographic abnormalities were noted in 23 (14.3%) patients, of whom 17 (10.6%) patients had "new" (previously unknown) abnormalities. No minor abnormality prompted a therapeutic or diagnostic intervention. Major radiographic abnormalities were detected in 21 (13.0%) patients, of whom 19 (11.8%) had new findings. Major new findings prompted interventions in only 9 (5.6%) of patients. A history of lung disease and an abnormal lung physical examination predicted major new radiographic findings ( P = 0.0001, sensitivity 79%, negative predictive value 96%). These variables also identified major new abnormalities that prompted interventions ( P = 0.007, sensitivity 89%, negative predictive value 99%). Use of the logistic regression model to select patients for admission chest radiographs decreased charges from $1,068 to $580 for each detected major new radiographic abnormality and from $2,254 to $1,087 for major new radiographic abnormalities that prompted an intervention. Conclusion These data indicate that routine chest radiographs have a low yield in detecting major new radiographic abnormalities in patients with acute GI hemorrhage. Clinical criteria, available at the time of admission, may be useful for selecting patients for chest radiographic evaluations.
Repair, refold, recycle: how bacteria can deal with spontaneous and environmental damage to proteins

Summary Proteins, like DNA, are subject to various forms of damage that can render them non-functional. Conformational changes and covalent chemical alterations occur spontaneously, and the rates of these reactions can be increased by environmental stresses such as heat, oxidative agents, or changes in pH or osmotic conditions. Although affected proteins can be replaced by de novo biosynthesis, cells – especially those subjected to stress or nutrient limitation – have developed mechanisms which can either restore damaged polypeptides to an active state or remove them. Such mechanisms can spare the biosynthetic capacity of the cell and ensure that the presence of non-functional molecules does not disrupt cell physiology. Three major mechanisms, which operate in bacteria as well as eukaryotic organisms, have been described. First, chaperones not only assist in proper de novo folding of proteins but also provide an important means of restoring activity to conformationally damaged proteins. Second, enzymatic‘repair’systems exist to directly reverse certain forms of protein damage, including proline isomerization, methionine oxidation and the formation of isoaspartyl residues. Finally, proteolysis provides a‘last-resort’means of dealing with abnormal proteins which cannot be repaired. Protein maintenance and repair may be of special importance for bacteria preparing to survive extended periods in stationary phase: both constitutive and induced mechanisms are utilized to permit survival despite greatly reduced protein synthesis.
Bipartite DNA recognition by the human Oct-2 POU domain: POUs-specific phosphate contacts are analogous to those of bacteriophage lambda repressor.

The POU motif defines a family of eukaryotic transcription factors broadly involved in tissue-specific gene expression and developmental regulation. The motif contains two DNA-binding domains: an N-terminal POU-specific domain (POUs) and C-terminal homeodomain (POUHD). Surprisingly, POUs has recently been found to be similar in structure to helix-turn-helix (HTH) domains of phage repressor and Cro proteins [Assa-Munt, N., Mortishire-Smith, R., Aurora, R., Herr, W., & Wright, P.E. (1993) Cell 73, 193-205; Dekker, N., Cox, M., Boelens, R., Verrijzer, C.P., van der Vliet, P.C., & Kaptein, R. (1993) Nature 362, 852-855]. Because POUHD and POUs are expected to bind DNA differently, we have used "methylphosphonate interference" to investigate the alignment of their HTH elements in a specific DNA complex. This neutral phosphate analogue, originally developed for applications in antisense drug design [Miller, P. S., & Ts'o, P. O. P. (1987) Anti-Cancer Drug Des. 2, 117-128], is shown to provide a sensitive probe for sites of backbone-specific protein-DNA interaction. Inferred POUs-phosphate contacts are in striking accord with cocrystal structures of bacteriophage repressor and Cro proteins. Alignment of POUHD and POUs in successive major grooves in each case predicts unique HTH-adenine contacts. This prediction is verified using DNA base analogues to effect interchange of AT functional groups by the method of 2'-deoxyinosine/5-methyl-2'-deoxycytosine substitution [McLaughlin, L. W., Benseler, F., Graeser, E., Piel, N., & Scholtissek, S. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 7238-7245]. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that the DNA-binding properties of POUs are analogous to those of bacteriophage lambda repressor.
Body image, body size, and Samoan ecological and individual modernization

Idealization of slim bodies is a powerful cultural value in economically advantaged Western societies, and this value appears to be taking global dimensions. To examine the relationship between increasing ecological and individual modernity and acculturation to slim ideals, Samoans living in three environments with different degrees of modernization (Samoa, American Samoa, Auckland) were compared on actual and perceptual measures of body size. Women in more ecologically modern settings selected significantly slimmer ideal body sizes, and they also had the largest bodies on average. One significant finding is that the value placed on slim ideal bodies was less pronounced among Samoans who live in environments where they represent the dominant ethnic group. However, disregarding setting, Samoan women who engaged in non‐traditional occupations displayed slimmer ideals than those with traditional women's occupations, but had the same mean body sizes. The male pattern is distinct from that of women, as men in ...
Synthetic slings: pros and cons.

Historically, the choice of sling material for the treatment of urinary incontinence has been based on the surgeon’s preference and experience. In general, pelvic surgeons have not differentiated artificial graft materials by their inherent qualities or for biocompatibility in the female pelvis and vaginal wall. The introduction of new artificial graft materials and new methods of implantation for the correction of genuine stress incontinence has generated renewed interest in the “pros and cons” associated with nonabsorbable material use. In this review, we discuss and differentiate sling materials and techniques. We consider some of the physical and biologic qualities of artificial graft materials, present theories and practices associated with the successful use of permanent grafts, and discuss the natural evolution of artificial graft slings to the current use of the tension-free vaginal tape and Suprapubic Arc Sling System (American Medical Systems, Minneapolis, MN).
Coffee, Cigarette Smoking, and Bladder Cancer in Western New York

The association between consumption of coffee and bladder cancer and the effect modification of cigarette smoking was investigated as part of a comprehensive case-control study. The study population consisted of 351 case patients with histologically confirmed transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder among white males and 855 white male control subjects selected from Erie, Niagara, and Monroe counties in New York from 1979 to 1985. Usual diet, coffee consumption, and cigarette use were estimated by comprehensive interviews using a detailed food frequency questionnaire. After adjustment for age, education, and dietary risk factors by multiple logistic regression, risk was found to increase with increasing pack-years of cigarette use with an odds ratio in the highest quartile of 2.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 4.0) when compared to the lowest quartile. Coffee consumption was associated with an increased risk for bladder cancer among the heaviest coffee drinkers after adjustment for cigarette smoking and other dietary risk factors (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 3.2). The effect was more pronounced among nonsmokers, especially among those 65 years and older. These findings support the contention that coffee is a weak carcinogen.
Health Care Providers Style May Impact Acceptance of Telemonitoring

Health care provider’s acceptance of telemonitoring is pivotal for implementation. The aim of this study was to determine provider’s feelings about telemonitoring using a qualitative method. In reg...
Disruption of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protects against stress-evoked immunocompromise

Chronic stress, mediated by adrenal hormones, is a major risk factor in the progression and outcome of human disease. While the secretion of adrenal hormones is known to be the primary endocrine mediator of stress-induced immunocompromise, the molecular mechanisms underlying the immunocompromise remain unspecified. Overproduction of the nuclear enzyme, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) has been implicated in the molecular pathway that leads to cell death by energy depletion following stress. Wild-type (WT) mice and mice with targeted disruption of the gene encoding PARP-1 (PARP-1 −/−) were subjected to 2 wk daily cold-water swim; splenocyte proliferation, anti-KLH IgG, and serum corticosterone concentrations were assessed. Additional mice of each genotype received daily i.p. injections of dexamethasone (DEX) (0.75 mg/kg) for 2 wk, and splenocyte proliferation and anti-KLH IgG were assessed. Splenocyte proliferation and specific antibody concentrations of stressed WT mice were reduced by ∼20% of their pre-stress levels. In contrast, PARP-1 −/− mice maintained normal cell-mediated and humoral immune function following enforced cold-water swim stress. PARP-1 −/− mice also failed to compromise immune function following DEX treatment, whereas WT mice displayed significant reductions of immune function following this treatment. These results provide support for the involvement of PARP activation in immunological damage following physical stress. These results suggest that glucocorticoid-induced immunosuppression may require the activation of PARP in order for apoptosis of immune cells to take place. Taken together, these results suggest that therapies designed to inhibit PARP may prove valuable in the treatment of stress-related diseases.
Dynamic instruction schedulers in a 3-dimensional integration technology

We present the design of high-performance and energy-efficient dynamic instruction schedulers in a 3-Dimensional integration technology. Based on a previous observation that the critical path latency of a conventional dynamic scheduler is greatly affected by wire delay, we propose 3D-integrated scheduler designs by partitioning a conventional scheduler across multiple vertically-stacked die. The die-stacked organization reduces the lengths of critical wires thus reducing both latency and energy. Our simulation results show that a 20-entry (120-entry) instruction scheduler implemented in a 2-die stack achieves a 9% (19%) reduction in latency with simultaneous energy reduction as compared to a conventional planar design. The benefits are even larger when the instruction scheduler is implemented on a 4-die stack, with the corresponding latency reductions being 12% (32%).
Returns from Self-Employment: Using Human Capital Theory to Compare U.S. Natives and Immigrants

An article in USA today written by John Hopkins (2007) explains what it takes to be a successful selfemployed person. Looking at the list of characteristics, education and experience are missing from the equation. What Hopkins lists as crucial is being a risk taker, knowing how to manage money, and even having the right genetics. The fact that education and experience are viewed by Hopkins to have minimal influence on the success of being self-employed is odd considering that those are some of most important factors for being successful according to economic theory which is later discussed in this paper, which is why I hypothesize that education and experience will have a significant impact on the success of a self-employed individual. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol20/iss1/15 The Park Place Economist, Volume XX 65 RETURNS FROM SELF-EMPLOYMENT: USING HUMAN CAPITAL THEORY TO COMPARE U.S. NATIVES AND IMMIGRANTS
Th17 and Th1 responses directed against the immunizing epitope, as opposed to secondary epitopes, dominate the autoimmune repertoire during relapses of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease with similarities to multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been suggested that relapses of EAE and MS may be associated with, and even driven by, T cells specific for novel epitopes that are primed during the course of tissue destruction in the target organ or in secondary lymphoid tissues. We show, however, that IFNgamma and IL-17 responses against the immunizing epitope remain dominant through out the course of multiphasic EAE. Furthermore, induction of tolerance against a putative secondary epitope did not prevent clinical relapses.
Relationship marketing can mitigate product and service failures

Relationship marketing is beneficial to firms because it can foster customer loyalty and re‐patronage behavior. Consumers engaged in relational exchanges are more satisfied than those in discrete transactions because of the ease and psychological comfort of purchasing from a familiar company. This research investigates the power of relationship marketing to mitigate in two situations. One exposes consumers to poor product performance and examines their levels of trust, commitment and satisfaction. The second presents a product failure that is followed by a lapse in service recovery and measures satisfaction and exit behavior. The findings of both studies suggest that relationships make up for increasingly strong negative encounters, providing a level of insulation for the marketer. Implications for service firms are discussed.
Mobile health monitoring systems

Advancements are being made towards a cheap and effective means for health monitoring. A mobile monitoring system is proposed for monitoring a bicycle rider using light weight, low power wireless sensors. Biometric and environmental information pertaining to the bicycle rider is captured, transmitted to, and stored in a remote database with little user interaction required. Remote users have real time access to the captured information through a web application. Possible applications for this system include the monitoring of a soldier in the battlefield and the monitoring of a patient during an ambulance ride.
Cell-based fully integrated CMOS frequency synthesizers

A family of standard cells for phase-locked loop (PLL) applications is presented. The applications are processed using a 1.5 /spl mu/m, n-well, double-polysilicon, double-layer metal CMOS process. Applications include frequency synthesis for computer clock generation, disk drives, and pixel clock generators for computer monitors, with maximum frequencies up to 80 MHz. The synthesizers require no external components since the loop filter and oscillator are on chip with the phase frequency detector and the charge pump. Special voltage and current reference cells are discussed. Analysis of noise sources in the PLL demonstrates the need for reducing the phase noise of the system. A low phase noise is achieved through supply rejection techniques and by placing the oscillator in a high-gain feedback loop to minimize its noise contributions. Laboratory measurements of completed silicon show synthesizers with exceptionally linear gain, as well as transient responses and phase noise similar to predicted results. >
Temperature sensitivity of respiration differs among forest floor layers in a Pinus resinosa plantation

Decomposer microorganisms contribute to carbon loss from the forest floor as they metabolize organic substances and respire CO2. In temperate and boreal forest ecosystems, the temperature of the forest floor can fluctuate significantly on a day-to-night or day-to-day basis. In order to estimate total respiratory CO2 loss over even relatively short durations, therefore, we need to know the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of microbial respiration. Temperature sensitivity has been calculated for microbes in different soil horizons, soil fractions, and at different depths, but we would suggest that for some forests, other ecologically relative soil portions should be considered to accurately predict the contribution of soil to respiration under warming. The floor of many forests is heterogeneous, consisting of an organic horizon comprising a few more-or-less distinct layers varying in decomposition status. We therefore determined at various measurement temperatures the respiration rates of litter, F-layer, and H-layer collected from a Pinus resinosa plantation, and calculated Q10 values for each layer. Q10 depended on measurement temperature, and was significantly greater in H-layer than in litter or F-layer between 5 and 17 °C. Our results indicate, therefore, that as the temperature of the forest floor rises, the increase in respiration by the H-layer will be disproportionate to the increase by other layers. However, change in respiration by the H-layer associated with change in temperature may contribute minimally or significantly to changes of total forest floor respiration in response to changes in temperature depending on the depth and thickness of the layer in different forest ecosystems.
Specificity of IS6110-based amplification assays for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

The specificity of IS6110 for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex has recently been questioned. We observed no cross-reaction with 27 nontuberculous mycobacteria using strand displacement- and PCR-based amplification of the nucleotide 970 to 1026 and 762 to 865 regions of IS6110. These data support use of selected regions of IS6110 as M. tuberculosis complex-specific targets.
Interleukin 6 Activates Androgen Receptor-mediated Gene Expression through a Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3-dependent Pathway in LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that regulates not only immune and inflammatory responses but also the growth of some tumors, including prostate carcinomas. IL-6 signals through Janus kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and mitogen-activated protein kinase and is also able to induce androgen receptor (AR)-mediated gene activation in prostate cancer, which is an important process in prostate cancer androgen-independent progression. We now show that IL-6-induced AR-mediated gene activation requires the activation of STAT3 by IL-6 in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. In particular, STAT3 associates with AR in an androgen-independent but IL-6-dependent manner. Inhibition of STAT3 rather than mitogen-activated protein kinase results in inhibition of AR-mediated gene activation in response to IL-6. These findings not only identify STAT3 as an important signaling molecule required for IL-6-signaling to induce AR-mediated gene activation in prostate carcinoma cells but also reveal the importance of activated STAT3 in human tumor development and progression.
Clustering of relational data containing noise and outliers

The concept of noise clustering algorithm is applied to several fuzzy relational data clustering algorithms to make them more robust against noise and outliers. The methods considered include techniques proposed by Roubens (1978), Hathaway et al. (1994) and FANNY by Kaufman and Rouseeuw (1990). A new fuzzy relational data clustering (FRC) algorithm is proposed through generalization of FANNY. The FRC algorithm is shown to have the same objective functional as the relational fuzzy c-means algorithm. However, through use of direct objective function minimization based on the Lagrangian multiplier technique, the necessary conditions for minimization are derived without imposition of the restriction that the relational data is derived from Euclidean measure of distance from object data. Robustness of the new algorithm is demonstrated through several examples.
Direct Instruction Research: The Third Decade

Current research on direct instruction is reviewed with a particular emphasis on two strands—studies of instructional design and technology and research on effective staff development. The latter research suggests that three components are essential to the position of instructional supervisor or resource consultant, including a working knowledge of the research on effective teaching and the ability to effectively coach teachers in the classroom setting. Extensive training is required for individuals to become competent in these components. The technology research indicates that the same instructional variables that enhance learner performance with traditional written materials appear to enhance learning with computer-assisted instruction and interactive videodisc instruction. Several examples of technology applications are presented. The article concludes with a discussion of future directions in direct instruction research.
Characteristics of ion transport in kidney cortex of mammalian hibernators.

Slices of kidney cortex of two species of hibernating mammals (hamsters and ground squirrels) have been leached of K, and their subsequent ability to reaccumulate K in vitro has been determined at temperatures between 38° and 0°C. At 5°C (body temperature of a hibernating mammal) uptake is appreciable in kidney cortex of both species. In the kidney cortex of hamsters, for example, the tissue K of slices incubated at 5°C reaches the same steady-state concentration after 2 hours that is observed in slices at 38°C after 20 minutes. At 0°C there is also a measurable uptake. This K transport is blocked by metabolic inhibitors and, in ground squirrel kidneys, by ouabain. In kidney cortex slices from guinea pigs net K accumulation is slight at 5°C and absent at 0°C. The initial rapid uptake of K at 38°C occurs at the same rate in kidney cortex slices of hamsters as in those of rabbits. Lowering the temperature of incubation decreases this initial rate of uptake in hamster kidney slices with a Q10 of 1.8 between 38° and 15° and of 5.7 between 15° and 0°C. In hamsters this uptake of K has been shown to require the outward extrusion of Na. Conversely, about half of the outward extrusion of Na requires K in the medium, while the remainder appears to be independent of K. The conclusions warranted are that kidney cells of hibernators possess an unusual ability to transport ions at low temperature, that this ability does not depend upon a more rapid rate at higher temperatures, and that the characteristics of transport at low temperature are qualitatively similar to those at 38°C in cells of nonhibernators.
Functional and biochemical characterization of a recombinant Arabidopsis thaliana 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase

An open reading frame, encoding for KDOPS (3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate synthase), from Arabidopsis thaliana was cloned into a T7-driven expression vector. The protein was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Recombinant A. thaliana KDOPS, in solution, displays an apparent molecular mass of 76 kDa and a subunit molecular mass of 31.519 kDa. Unlike previously studied bacterial KDOPSs, which are tetrameric, A. thaliana KDOPS appears to be a dimer in solution. The optimum temperature of the enzyme is 65 °C and the optimum pH is 7.5, with a broad peak between pH 6.5 and 9.5 showing 90% of maximum activity. The enzyme cannot be inactivated by EDTA or dipicolinic acid treatment, nor it can be activated by a series of bivalent metal ions, suggesting that it is a non-metallo-enzyme, as opposed to the initial prediction that it would be a metallo-enzyme. Kinetic studies showed that the enzyme follows a sequential mechanism with Km=3.6 μM for phosphoenolpyruvate and 3.8 μM for D-arabinose 5-phosphate and kcat=5.9 s−1 at 37 °C. On the basis of the characterization of A. thaliana KDOPS and phylogenetic analysis, plant KDOPSs may represent a new, distinct class of KDOPSs.