cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interferon-Based Treatment for Patients with Mycosis Fungoides and Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Case Series

Interferon (IFN) is a treatment option for both mycosis fungoides (MF) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Chemotherapy and anti-HCV treatment are generally not administered concurrently for fear of overlapping side effects. Herein, we report on a subset of patients who received IFN-containing therapy for MF and HCV infection simultaneously. We aimed to evaluate whether concomitant treatment for MF and HCV is effective and well tolerated. We reviewed the records of patients who were seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2008 to 2013 with histologically confirmed MF and chronic HCV infection, and were treated with simultaneous focus on both diseases. Six HCV-infected patients with MF received simultaneous anti-HCV and anti-MF treatment with IFN-containing therapy. Two patients achieved sustained virological response (regarded as virological cure). They both received antiviral combination therapy with ribavirin. All patients experienced some improvement of their cutaneous lesions, with two of them achieving complete MF remission. All six patients developed side effects while receiving treatment; two of them had grade 4 toxic effects requiring treatment discontinuation. IFN-based therapy can be administered for MF and HCV infection concurrently to provide not only virological but also oncological benefits to chronically HCV-infected MF patients. However, this regimen is poorly tolerated. Further studies are warranted in this patient population, using different treatment combinations with improved efficacy, safety, and tolerability.
Usage parameters of nickel-titanium rotary instruments: a survey of endodontists in the United States.

Abstract Introduction Usage of U.S. endodontists regarding rotary root canal instruments is not well-documented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to retrieve data from a representative sample of endodontists regarding contemporary usage of rotary instruments. Methods A questionnaire addressing (1) nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instrument usage and (2) expectations for future instrument design was constructed. An online survey was e-mailed to 954 endodontists in California (n = 358), Iowa (n = 25), Massachusetts (n = 120), Minnesota (n = 49), New York (n = 217), Texas (n = 144), and Wisconsin (n = 41). Data were collected from respondents by using a web-based interface during a 4-month period. Valid responses were received from 359 endodontists, representing a 38% response rate. Chi-square tests and correlation coefficients were used to analyze the data; the level of significance was set at .05. Results Usages varied by region, graduation date, and type of practice. Recent graduates were more likely to use NiTi rotary instruments for every treatment (P = .007), multiple NiTi systems (P = .002), torque control motors (P = .03), and Gates Glidden instruments (P = .001) than were older endodontists. More than 50% of respondents used NiTi rotary instruments in several patients before discarding, and 57% reported cleaning the instruments with a combination of ultrasonics and sterilization. Crown-down was the most frequently used preparation strategy. There were few differences regarding geographic regions. More than 70% of respondents expected similar but improved files during the next 10 years. Conclusions Differences exist among U.S. endodontists regarding current NiTi instrument use, and expectations for future development might be correlated with level of exposure and training.
Naturalism and Humanism

The main purpose of this essay is to dispel certain confusions and misunderstandings which still prevent the much-needed constructive synthesis and mutual supplementation of the scientific and humanistic elements in general education. It is my contention that the philosophical foundations of both science and the humanities are widely misconceived; and that the frequently held claim of their basic incompatibilities arises out of philosophical prejudices which, owing to cultural lag, have unfortunately not as yet been completely relegated to oblivion. Science is still identified with an absurd mechanistic reductionism, but this is the caricature of science drawn by representatives of the humanities who are largely ignorant of the nature of modern science and also of the more recent scientific outlook in philosophy. The defenders of the humanities often enough increase the existing tension by holding an equally distorted view of the philosophical basis of the humanities.
High-resolution spectra of ν1 of CH3CCH

Abstract Spectra of the ν1 region of CH3CCH contain lines assigned to ν1, ν1 + ν10 − ν10, and ν1 + 2ν10 − 2ν10. Molecular parameters determined in this study which are of greater accuracy than those determined in previous studies are: ν0 = 3335.062 cm−1, B1' = 0.284387 cm−1, DJ' = 1.00 × 10−7 cm−1, α10B = −0.00053 cm−1, and χ1,10 = −1.689 cm−1.
An SH hybrid method and shear velocity structures in the lowermost mantle beneath the central Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans

[1] An SH hybrid method is developed for calculating synthetic seismograms involving two-dimensional localized heterogeneous structures. The hybrid method is a combination of analytic and numerical methods, with the numerical method (finite difference) applied in the heterogeneous region only and analytical methods applied outside the region. Generalized ray theory solutions from a seismic source are used to initiate the finite difference calculation, and seismic responses at the Earth's surface are obtained from the finite difference output by applying the Kirchhoff theory. We apply the hybrid method and study SH wave propagation near the bottom of the mantle. The shear velocity structures and the interaction of SH waves with these velocity structures at the base of the mantle beneath the central Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans are of particular importance. The observed SH waves sampling these two regions of the core-mantle boundary show very different characteristics across the epicentral distance range of 83°–108°. The SH waves sampling the core-mantle boundary beneath the central Pacific show a linearly increasing delay of 4 s from 98° to 108° and discernible ScS phases up to an epicentral distance of 102°. The SH waves propagating through the base of the mantle beneath the South Atlantic Ocean, on the other hand, exhibit a linearly increasing delay of 10 s from 98° to 108°, discernible multiple ScS phases with a same slowness as the direct SH waves up to 108°, and rapid variations of waveforms across small epicentral distances. Synthetic tests indicate that while the observations sampling the central Pacific can be explained by a negative shear velocity gradient of 3% (relative to the preliminary reference Earth model) at the bottom 300 km of the mantle, those sampling the South Atlantic Ocean require a 300-km-thick bottom boundary layer with a larger negative velocity gradient (up to 10%) and steeply dipping edges. The negative velocity gradient at the base of mantle beneath the South Atlantic Ocean can be best explained by partial melt driven by a compositional change produced in the early Earth's history and a vertical thermal gradient within the layer, while that beneath the central Pacific may reasonably be attributed to pure thermal effects within a thermal boundary layer.
Long-term effects of gypsiferous coal combustion ash applied at disposal levels on soil chemical properties

Currently, there is renewed interest in the agricultural utilization of coal combustion byproducts. Field sites where high rates (112 Mg ha−1) of high gypsum coal combustion spent bed ashes were surface applied in 1980 within fruit tree orchard rows were identified and sampled with depth. The objective of this study was to examine the effects on long-term exposure/leaching of these materials on soil profile chemical properties. When applied, the material had an aqueous pH of 12.5 and consisted of about 52% calcium sulfate, 33% calcium oxide and 15% coal ash residues. Eleven years after ash application, soil pH is significantly higher in the top 66 cm of the treated sites compared to unamended sites. This has been accompanied by increases in extractable and total calcium and total boron and sulfur with a concomitant reduction in extractable magnesium. Remaining pieces of the applied spent bed material are composed primarily of calcite and quartz with some gypsum associated with large pieces.
2003: Signaling Breakthroughs of the Year

This annual feature summarizes major advances in signaling research published during the past year. Notable findings in signaling research nominated by leading researchers in signal transduction and by the STKE editors are described, along with the potential new avenues of research opened by these findings.
Production of DF* from Polytetrafluoroethylene and Deuterium Plasma as Observed in the Mid-Infrared by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The reaction of a deuterium plasma and polytetrafluoroethylene has been investigated. Vibrationally excited DF* (up to v' = 3) has been observed in emission via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The vibrational and rotational temperatures suggest that a mechanism similar to that found previously for the reaction between H atoms and the fluoroethylenes is responsible for the production of the DF.
The importance of dosing intravenous calcitriol in dialysis patients with severe hyperparathyroidism

The current study evaluates the use of intravenous (IV) calcitriol in 10 patients with severe hyperparathyroidism (HPTH). Patients with parathyroid hormone (PTH) > 1,200 pg/m and serum P < 6.5 mg/dL were studied. Ten patients with a mean PTH of 1,826 +/- 146 pg/mL were treated for a mean of 48 weeks with a dose of IV calcitriol commensurate to the level of PTH. The initial calcitriol dose had to be increased in seven patients. The mean maximum dose of calcitriol was 3.8 micrograms thrice weekly. There was a dramatic decrease in PTH levels, and by the end of the study it was 211 +/- 48 pg/mL. Alkaline phosphatase decreased from 582 +/- 3 to 120 +/- 12 IU/L. Serum Ca and P remained unchanged in most patients. There were three episodes of hyperphosphatemia in one patient, and another had a hypercalcemic episode. In conclusion, patients with severe HPTH respond very well to IV calcitriol, provided that dosing of calcitriol is commensurate to PTH levels, and hyperphosphatemia is kept under control.
Whole-mount immunostaining of the adult Drosophila gastrointestinal tract.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors an essential barrier epithelium that separates an organism from its changing external environment. As such, the gut epithelium is a fascinating nexus of stem cell biology, immunology and physiology. Investigators have sought to mine this rich interface for new biological and mechanistic insights. Many of the powerful genetic approaches developed in Drosophila have proven effective in the study of the gut. The goal of this article is to present a method for dissecting, immunostaining and mounting samples of the adult Drosophila GI tract. This protocol combines readily with techniques to label cell lineages and/or challenge the system with environmental perturbations, which are briefly discussed.
Immunology: What does it mean to be just 17?

For a long time it was thought that there are only two types of T helper cell. But it is becoming clear that there may be other lineages that influence inflammatory responses in certain circumstances.
True two-wavelength holography

Double exposure holograms taken at different wavelengths can be replayed at one wavelength. This is usually called `two wavelength holography.'' With photorefractive holography, the two wavelengths can directly interfere. We explore this phenomenon here
Plakophilins, desmogleins, and pemphigus: the tail wagging the dog.

The importance of desmosomal cell adhesion to human health is evidenced by the autoimmune disease pemphigus vulgaris (PV), in which autoantibodies against the extracellular domain of the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 3 cause potentially fatal blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. Tucker et al. describe how enhanced expression of a desmosomal cytoplasmic plaque protein, plakophilin-1, protects keratinocytes from PV IgG–induced loss of cell adhesion by inducing calcium-independent hyperadhesive desmosomes. This study beautifully demonstrates that desmosomal adhesion can be modulated by the molecular interactions of the desmoglein tail and suggests that these novel regulatory pathways may possibly be exploited in treating human disease.
Identification and regulation of whole-cell Cl- and Ca2+-activated K+ currents in cultured medullary thick ascending limb cells

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique has been used to study membrane currents in cultured rabbit medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) epithelial cells. A Ca2+-activated K+ current was characterized by its voltage-dependent and Ca2+-dependent properties. When the extracellular K+ ion concentration was increased from 2 to 140 mm, the rereversal potential (Ek) was shifted from −85 to 0 mV with a slope of 46 mV per e-fold change. The Ca2+-activated K+ current is blocked by charybdotoxin (CTX) in a manner similar to the apical membrane Ca2+-activated K+ channel studied with the single channel patch-clamp technique. The results suggest that the Ca2+-activated K+ current is the predominant, large conductance and Ca2+-dependent K+ pathway in the cultured MTAL cell apical membrane. The biophysical properties and physiological regulation of a Cl− current were also investigated. This current was activated by stimulation of intracellular cAMP using forskolin and isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). The current-voltage (I–V) relationship of the Cl− current showed an outward-rectifying pattern in symmetrical Cl− solution. The Cl− selectivity of the whole-cell current was confirmed by tail current analysis in different Cl− concentration bath solutions. Several Cl− channel blockers were found to be effective in blocking the outward-rectifying Cl− current in MTAL cells. The cAMP-dependent Cl− transport in MTAL cells was further confirmed by measuring changes in the intensity of Cl− sensitive dye using fluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that the Cl− channel in the apical or basolateral membrane of MTAL cells may be regulated by cAMP-dependent protein-kinase-induced phosphorylation.
HIGGS-BOSON-EXCHANGE MODELS OF CP VIOLATION AND K-]2PI

Work by Deshpande and Sanda, which appears to invalidate Higgs-boson-exchange models of CP noninvariance, is buttressed by (i) use of the MIT bag model to calculate matrix elements, (ii) use of experimental rather than calculated numbers for the K..-->..2..pi.. decay amplitude and the K/sub L/-K/sub S/ mass difference, and (iii) inclusion of possible t-quark effects. We conclude that, barring accidental cancellations, such Higgs-boson-exchange models are incompatible with experiment.
Effect of hypoxia on the expression of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 in neuronal nuclear, mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions of the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that cerebral hypoxia results in increased activity of caspase-9, a key initiator of programmed cell death, in the cytosolic fractions of the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. The present study tests the hypothesis that hypoxia results in increased expression of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 in neuronal nuclear, mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions of the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. To test this hypothesis, expression of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 was determined in 10 newborn piglets divided into two groups: normoxic (Nx, n = 5) and hypoxic (Hx, n = 5). The hypoxic piglets were exposed to an FiO 2 of 0.06 for 1 h. Tissue hypoxia was documented by ATP and phosphocreatinine (PCr) levels. Neuronal nuclear, mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions were isolated and the expression of procaspase-9 and procaspase-3 was determined by immunoblotting using specific anti-procaspase-9 and anti-procaspase-3 antibodies. ATP levels (μmol/g brain) were 4.34 ± 0.36 in the Nx and 1.43 ± 0.28 in the Hx ( p p 2 ) was 88.82 ± 17.55 in the Nx and 215.54 ± 22.77 in the Hx ( p 2 ) was 104.67 ± 12.75 in the Nx and 183.44 ± 16.69 in the Hx ( p 2 ) was 135.56 ± 15.36 in the Nx and 190.66 ± 29.35 in the Hx ( p 2 ) was 23.72 ± 3.71 in the Nx and 92.44 ± 8.46 in the Hx ( p 2 ) was 22.12 ± 2.97 in the Nx and 51.22 ± 10.67 in the Hx ( p 2 ) was 53.80 ± 7.18 in the Nx and 84.67 ± 5.63 in the Hx ( p
All-pole transitional Bessel-Chebyshev filters

A new family of all-pole equiripple transitional Bessel-Chebyshev filters is derived. These filters have improved delay characteristics in comparison with Chebyshev phase characteristics and can provide more attenuation in the stopband than Butterworth filters. Design information in tabular form is given for filters up to l0th-order.
Effects of age, reproductive state, and the number of competitors on the dominance dynamics of wild female Hanuman langurs

Female dominance hierarchies form as a result of individual differences in resource holding potential, social processes such as winner-loser effects or coalitions, and ecological conditions that favor contest competition. Contest competition is assumed to result in despotic, nepotistic, and stable hierarchies. However, female Hanuman langurs are exceptions to this pattern, with data from provisioned populations indicating despotic, yet individualistic (age-inversed) and unstable hierarchies despite strong within-group contest. We present data on hierarchical linearity, stability, and the determinants of female rank and rank change in a population of unprovisioned, wild Hanuman langurs (Ramnagar, Nepal). Based on 12 490 dyadic displacement interactions collected over 5 years from a medium-sized group (P group, mean = 6.9 adult females) and a large group (O group, mean = 13.6 adult females), stable periods (P group, N = 14 ; O group, N = 31 ) were identified and dominance hierarchies constructed with the program MatMan. In both groups, dominance hierarchies were linear ( p < 0 . 05 ), with high directional consistency within dyads. Rank was negatively related with age, while the presence of maternal kin had no effect. Reproductive state affected dominance rank in the larger group, with females ascending the hierarchy prior to conception, and dropping in rank after birth. Ranks were unstable, with group size and the number of juvenile females driving the effect (GLMM, p < 0 . 001 ). These results match earlier findings for provisioned populations. In female Hanuman langurs, competition seems most intense around conception and during gestation, creating rank instability, which is further exacerbated by the number of adult as well as maturing females.
Usability evaluation of acoustic interfaces for the blind

With the rapid advent of touchscreen devices, opportunities are increasing to develop innovative interfaces, including applications that combine touch input with auditory feedback to serve the blind and visually impaired (BVI) community. Targeted to blind high-school children, our innovative design, AEDIN (Acoustic EDutainment INterface), uses non-speech sounds simultaneously as navigational prompts and content icons/signifiers for recorded text-to-speech educational essays, which are the main content of this application. A study of two versions of AEDIN was conducted with 20 participants from a K-12 school for the BVI to evaluate its usability and identify ways to improve it. Through the collection of quantitative and qualitative data, we discovered key design improvements that made AEDIN a highly usable and enjoyable interface for these users. The paper highlights good design practices for acoustic interfaces.
Measurement of In Situ-Full-Field Strain Maps on Ceramic Matrix Composites at Elevated Temperature Using Digital Image Correlation

An experimental method has been developed to address the challenges associated with the measurement of full field-strain maps at elevated temperatures using Digital Image Correlation (DIC). The experimental setup will be presented and results of measurements on ceramic matrix composites at very high temperatures will be shown. Artificial speckle pattern techniques at very high temperatures are usually prone to spalling and therefore only suitable for short duration testing. A new speckle technique has been developed and tested for strain measurements at room and elevated temperatures up to 1300 °C.
Ectopic Pregnancy Among American Indian and Alaska Native Women, 2002–2009

To examine rates of ectopic pregnancy (EP) among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women aged 15–44 years seeking care at Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal, and urban Indian health facilities during 2002–2009. We used 2002–2009 inpatient and outpatient data from the IHS National Patient Information Reporting System to identify EP-associated visits and obtain the number of pregnancies among AI/AN women. Repeat visits for the same EP were determined by calculating the interval between visits; if more than 90 days between visits, the visit was considered related to a new EP. We identified 229,986 pregnancies among AI/AN women 15–44 years receiving care at IHS-affiliated facilities during 2002–2009. Of these, 2,406 (1.05 %) were coded as EPs, corresponding to an average annual rate of 10.5 per 1,000 pregnancies. The EP rate among AI/AN women was lowest in the 15–19 years age group (5.5 EPs per 1,000 pregnancies) and highest among 35–39 year olds (18.7 EPs per 1,000 pregnancies). EP rates varied by geographic region, ranging between 6.9 and 24.4 per 1,000 pregnancies in the Northern Plains East and the East region, respectively. The percentage of ectopic pregnancies found among AI/AN women is within the national 1–2 % range. We found relatively stable annual rates of EP among AI/AN women receiving care at IHS-affiliated facilities during 2002–2009, but considerable variation by age group and geographic region. Coupling timely diagnosis and management with public health interventions focused on tobacco use and sexually transmitted diseases may provide opportunities for reducing EP and EP-associated complications among AI/AN women.
Hyperfine Structure in the Microwave Spectra of CFCl3 and CHCl3

The theory for the hyperfine structure in the rotational spectrum of symmetric‐top molecules containing three identical quadrupolar nuclei is discussed. Formulas and tables are given from which the quadrupole interaction energies, and the transition frequencies and intensities can be calculated for the case of nuclear spin 32. The theory is applied to the molecules CF35Cl3 and CH35Cl3 with completely satisfactory results. The bond‐axis quadrupole coupling constants determined for CF35Cl3 and CH35Cl3 are −79.9±0.6 Mc/sec and −77.9±0.5 Mc/sec, respectively. Rotational constants were determined for four rotational transitions of each molecule, and the results are in agreement with centrifugal‐distortion theory.
Sensitivity of nestling and adult starlings to dicrotophos, an organophosphate pesticide

The 24-hr median lethal dose (LD50) of dicrotophos (3-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-cis-crotonamide dimethyl phosphate) for free-living 5-day-old nestling European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris, LD50 = 4.92 mg/kg body wt) was about one-half that obtained for free-living 15-day-old nestlings (9.59 mg/kg) and captive adult males (8.37 mg/kg) and females (8.47 mg/kg). Nestlings and adults with low pretreatment body weights appeared to be more vulnerable to organophosphate (OP) exposure. Brain cholinesterase (ChE) activity was severely depressed in all birds that died (74-94%); the degree of inhibition did not vary with age or sex. Inhibition of brain ChE in 5-day-old nestlings alive 24 hr post dose (mean = 28-43%) was lower than that of 15-day-old (mean = 55-68%) and adult (mean = 55-77%) survivors. Body weights of OP-dosed birds that died were depressed an average of 20 to 46% in 5-day-olds, 7 to 20% in 15-day-olds, and 0 to 10% in adults; weight losses varied inversely with age and dosage, and directly with time to death. Average weight losses in 5- and 15-day-old survivors (mean less than or equal to 31 and 26%, respectively) varied directly with dose and exceeded comparable values for adults (mean = 3-15%). Results suggest that (1) young nestling songbirds may be nearly twice as sensitive as adults to OPs, (2) growth of nestlings may be severely depressed following OP exposure, and (3) recovery of brain ChE activity following exposure to ChE inhibitors may be more rapid in nestlings than adults.
Distributions of ozone in the region of the subtropical jet: An analysis of in situ aircraft measurements

[1] In situ measurements of ozone and meteorological fields from the NASA WB-57F and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Gulfstream IV airborne platforms in the region of the subtropical jet are investigated. The high resolution and precision of the aircraft measurements allow the ozone distribution to be examined on a wide range of spatial scales. Probability distribution functions (pdfs) of ozone, temperature, and wind speed are calculated in a coordinate system centered on the maximum jet wind speeds. There are significant differences in the pdfs near the jet maximum in winter versus spring seasons. The largest gradients in the ozone pdfs are seen at the location of the jet maximum in winter, whereas during spring the largest gradients are most often poleward of the jet by up to several thousand kilometers. These seasonal differences do not appear to be directly related to the strength of the jet on the basis of the limited geographical sampling of the airborne platforms.
Chemical and biostimulatory properties of cattle feedlot runoff

Abstract Standard bottle test bioassays and chemical analyses were used to assess the biostimulatory and chemical properties of snowmelt runoff from two small cattle feedlots. Nutrient supplements (spikes) were employed to determine the levels at which nitrogen and phosphorus became limiting to algal growth. An abundance of both elements existed in the heavily enriched feedlot runoff. However, further growth was eventually limited by rapid algal uptake of phosphorus or nitrogen. Balanced algal growth occurred when the nitrogen: phosphorus ratio was about 15:1. When the ratio was initially below this number, nitrogen was first to become limiting; when the ratio was above 15:1 phosphorus limited growth. Chemical analyses predicted qualitatively and quantitatively limiting nutrients, and algal bioassays substantiated the predictions. Bioassays revealed the possible effects of such nutrient enrichment on an aquatic system and also indicated that while feedlot runoff is usually biostimulatory it may also be quite toxic to algae. Geological and physical differences between the feedlots resulted in variations of limiting nutrients.
Unlocking Foreclosed Beliefs: An Autoethnographic Story about a Family Business Leadership Dilemma

Autoethnographers research how self interacts with culture. In what ways do a person and culture intersect and at what consequence? Autoethnographers explore these questions using their own experience to reflect on self-other interactions and the greater cultural meaning. In this autoethnographic story, the first author reflects on dilemmas he experienced when considering whether or not to succeed his father as president of his family‘s business. He reports his journey through this process in the context of a professional helping relationship. An =executive counselor‘ was engaged to explore issues of career foreclosure, motivation, and leadership dilemmas as they came into conflict with self-expectations and =overriding goals‘. This story provides insight into some dimensions of an executive counseling relationship, explores themes relevant to family business succession, and addresses some consequences of career foreclosure and ways an executive counselor might help a client break out of the foreclosed state.
Denitrification in north temperate forest soils: Spatial and temporal patterns at the landscape and seasonal scales

Abstract Spatial and temporal patterns of denitrification were studied in nine forest soils of different texture and drainage classes in Michigan. Denitrification was measured using intact soil cores amended with acetylene. Sampling was done weekly during spring, and monthly at other times. To determine the factors limiting denitrification, selected cores were amended with either water or water plus nitrate. We found that activity was highest in spring and fall and was lowest during summer. Soils showed a characteristic relationship between denitrification rate and soil texture and drainage classes. Over 80% of the annual N loss to denitrification occurred during brief (3–6 week) periods of high activity in the spring and fall. Rates of denitrification during these periods exceeded 0.5kg N ha −1 d −1 in some soils. Estimates of annual N loss to denitrification ranged from −1 yr −1 in a well-drained sand soil to over 40kg N ha −1 yr −1 in a poorly-drained clay loam soil. Lack of available NO −1 1 was the primary factor limiting denitrification in summer, but available carbon was probably occasionally limiting, especially in the well-drained soils. Marked seasonal changes were observed in the variability and frequency distributions of denitrification rates. Denitrification rates showed lower variance in spring and fall compared to summer, regardless of the magnitude of the rates. These patterns may be related to seasonal changes in soil structure, carbon availability or aeration, which create a more uniform environment in the spring an fall. The characteristic relationship between denitrification rates and soil texture and drainage over two seasons and multiple sites suggests that geomorphologically-based models using these parameters may be feasible for producing landscape- and regional-scale estimates of denitrification.
Single- and Double-Stranded Chains Assembled via Concomitant Metal Coordination and Hydrogen Bonding

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of two novel cationic metal complexes bearing ligands capable of multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions (isonicotinamide) are reported. cis-(Et3P)2Pt(NC5H4CONH2)2(NO3)2 (2) crystallizes as its monohydrate via the amide functionality, resulting in infinite, parallel zigzag chains. (C5Me5)Rh(NC5H4CONH2)3(OTf)2 (3), along with one molecule of acetone, crystallizes via the amide functionality, resulting in infinite, doubly stranded, interwoven chains. The preparation and X-ray crystal structure of cis-(Et3P)2Pt(NO3)2 (1) is also reported.
Alcohol extracts of Echinacea inhibit production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by macrophages in vitro

It has been suggested that Echinacea has anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1beta are important mediators in the inflammatory response. The effect of alcohol extracts of E. angustifolia (EA), E. pallida (EPA) and E. purpurea (EP) on the production of these inflammatory mediators in both LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro and murine peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) in vivo were investigated. As macrophages produce these inflammatory mediators in response to pathogenic infection, parallel cultures of macrophages were studied for phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Salmonella enterica. EPA and EP in vitro inhibited NO production and TNF-α release in a dose-dependent manner. RAW 264.7 cells treated with EA or EP showed decreased killing over 24 h, although EA enhanced bacterial phagocytosis. Upon bacterial infection, RAW 264.7 cells produce high levels of NO; however, an Echinacea-mediated decrease in NO production was observed. Echinacea alcohol extracts administered orally at 130 mg/kg per day for seven days had a weak effect on NO production and phagocytosis by LPS-stimulated PECs. The results indicated that all Echinacea species significantly decreased inflammatory mediators in vitro, however, only EA and EP reduced bacterial killing. Oral administration of Echinacea alcohol extracts did not adversely affect the development and anti-bacterial function of inflammatory PECs in vivo, however, NO production was decreased during bacterial infection of PECs.
Differential scanning calorimetry heat capacity hysteresis of semicrystalline polymers

The polymer morphology that is responsible for showing the heat capacity hysteresis is elucidated
Pilot Study of a School-Based Parent Training Program for Preschoolers With ASD

This study investigated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a parenting training program designed for early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ESCE) programs serving students with autistic spectrum disorders. Thirteen teachers representing three intermediate school districts implemented the intervention with 27 students and their parents. Eighty-nine percent of families completed the program. From pre- to post-intervention parents improved their use of the treatment strategies and children increased their rate of language during a parent-child interaction in their home. Parents and teachers reported significant gains in child mastery of social-communication skills and teachers, but not parents, reported a significant decrease in social impairment. Parents reported a significant decrease in parenting stress. Both groups rated the intervention highly in regard to treatment acceptability, perceived effectiveness, and usability. Findings suggest that this intervention can be feasibly implemented in public EI/ECSE settings, filling an important gap in services for intervention programs serving children with autistic spectrum disorders.
Comparing map-reduce and FREERIDE for data-intensive applications

Map-reduce has been a topic of much interest in the last 2–3 years. While it is well accepted that the map-reduce APIs enable significantly easier programming, the performance aspects of the use of map-reduce are less well understood. This paper focuses on comparing the map-reduce paradigm with a system that was developed earlier at Ohio State, FREERIDE (FRamework for Rapid Implementation of Datamining Engines). The API and the functionality offered by FREERIDE has many similarities with the map-reduce API. However, there are some differences in the API. Moreover, while FREERIDE was motivated by data mining computations, map-reduce was motivated by searching, sorting, and related applications in a data-center. We compare the programming APIs and performance of the Hadoop implementation of map-reduce with FREERIDE. For our study, we have taken three data mining algorithms, which are k-means clustering, apriori association mining, and k-nearest neighbor search. We have also included a simple data scanning application, word-count. The main observations from our results are as follows. For the three data mining applications we have considered, FREERIDE outperformed Hadoop by a factor of 5 or more. For word-count, Hadoop is better by a factor of up to 2. With increasing dataset sizes, the relative performance of Hadoop becomes better. Overall, it seems that Hadoop has significant overheads related to initialization, I/O, and sorting of (key, value) pairs. Thus, despite an easy to program API, Hadoop's map-reduce does not appear very suitable for data mining computations on modest-sized datasets.
High‐throughput two‐dimensional root system phenotyping platform facilitates genetic analysis of root growth and development

High-throughput phenotyping of root systems requires a combination of specialized techniques and adaptable plant growth, root imaging and software tools. A custom phenotyping platform was designed to capture images of whole root systems, and novel software tools were developed to process and analyse these images. The platform and its components are adaptable to a wide range root phenotyping studies using diverse growth systems (hydroponics, paper pouches, gel and soil) involving several plant species, including, but not limited to, rice, maize, sorghum, tomato and Arabidopsis. The RootReader2D software tool is free and publicly available and was designed with both user-guided and automated features that increase flexibility and enhance efficiency when measuring root growth traits from specific roots or entire root systems during large-scale phenotyping studies. To demonstrate the unique capabilities and high-throughput capacity of this phenotyping platform for studying root systems, genome-wide association studies on rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays) root growth were performed and root traits related to aluminium (Al) tolerance were analysed on the parents of the maize nested association mapping (NAM) population.
Effect of Geometric Constraint on Fracture Toughness of PVC Foam Core Sandwich Beams

Purpose of this study was to understand the effect of core material thickness (tc) on the core deformation constraint and the associated mode I fracture toughness in Double Cantilever Sandwich Beam (DCSB) specimens. Specimens were made from woven roving glass fiber/vinyl ester composite face sheet with PVC core, whose thickness ranged from 3.18 mm to 40.6 mm. The specimens were tested in mode I loading and measured fracture initiation (GIC) and resistance (GIR) toughnesses. The GIC was found to be practically same for core thicknesses from 3.18 to 40.6 mm. The GIR was found to be 1.02, 0.88 and 0.91 kJ/m2 for tc’s 3.18, 6.25, and 12.7 mm. For tc ≥ 25.4 mm, the crack grew by only few mm’s before it deflected to face sheet. Larger GIR for tc = 3.18 mm is probably due to resin densification of foam cells in the co-cure processing of panels. Three dimensional, material nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis very well simulated the test data. The JIC integrals from FE analysis agreed well with GIC from the test. The analysis revealed that the deformation constraint was nearly the same for all core thicknesses considered and thus resulting in nearly identical fracture toughness.
PROMOTING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES: THE ADOPTION OF A PREVENTION SUPPORT SYSTEM IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS

Prevention support systems (PSSs) are designed to help communities implement evidence-based practices (EBPs). Little is known about the factors that influence their adoption. In this article, we examined adoption of a PSS for substance abuse prevention called Getting To Outcomes (GTO) s among staff in two community coalitions with varying levels of exposure to it over a 2-year period. A multistage regression model was used to determine the relative predictive power of organizational, innovationrelated, and practitioner characteristics on adoption. Findings indicate that GTO adoption occurred through increased exposure, especially via staff training. Perceptions of the system’s complexity moderated this effect. Individuals with high GTO exposure were less likely to adopt it if they perceived it as complex. Other organizational, innovation-related, and practitioner characteristics did not predict adoption. Results from this study are useful for understanding the factors associated with PSS adoption and suggest ways to increase their use in typical delivery settings. � C 2009 Wiley
Closed-Loop Sequential Signal Processing and Open-Loop Batch Processing Approaches for GNSS Receiver Design

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver design is considered in terms of closed-loop and open-loop receiver architectures that utilize sequential and batch processing techniques. The paper uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a case study to demonstrate that an open-loop approach that combines batch and sequential signal processing improves GNSS signal tracking characteristics as compared to the traditionally applied closed-loop sequential receiver design for a number of important application areas. Particularly, for flight test scenarios considered, it is demonstrated that open-loop batch/sequential processing improves the GPS tracking margin by 8 dB as compared to the closed-loop sequential tracking for the case of deep GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS) integration mode that performs code and carrier phase tracking and data bit recovery.
Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Fiber Length Comparisons of Various Cottons

Fiber length is one of the most important physical properties of cotton. Frequently, it is necessary to compare the fiber lengths of various cottons. The commonly used statistical characteristics of a cotton fiber length distribution include the mean fiber length, short fiber content, and upper quartile length. These statistics may be calculated from number-based or weight-based distributions. This paper shows theoretically and experimentally that number-based and weight-based statistics may give opposite rank orders in some cases when they are used to compare cotton fiber lengths.
The Pericyte: A Forgotten Cell Type with Important Implications for Alzheimer's Disease?

Pericytes are cells in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that degenerate in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by early neurovascular dysfunction, elevation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), tau pathology and neuronal loss, leading to progressive cognitive decline and dementia. Pericytes are uniquely positioned within the neurovascular unit between endothelial cells of brain capillaries, astrocytes and neurons. Recent studies have shown that pericytes regulate key neurovascular functions including BBB formation and maintenance, vascular stability and angioarchitecture, regulation of capillary blood flow, and clearance of toxic cellular by-products necessary for normal functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we review the concept of the neurovascular unit and neurovascular functions of CNS pericytes. Next, we discuss vascular contributions to AD and review new roles of pericytes in the pathogenesis of AD such as vascular-mediated Aβ-independent neurodegeneration, regulation of Aβ clearance and contributions to tau pathology, neuronal loss and cognitive decline. We conclude that future studies should focus on molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying aberrant signal transduction between pericytes and its neighboring cells within the neurovascular unit, that is, endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons, which could represent potential therapeutic targets to control pericyte degeneration in AD and the resulting secondary vascular and neuronal degeneration.
Type-specific coherence protocols for distributed shared memory

The concept of a structured distributed shared memory in which memory units are objects is introduced. The coherence of object replicas is maintained by type-specific coherence protocols that are based on the semantics of operations on objects. The aim is to reduce message traffic and operation latency in many common situations. The protocols subsume traditional distributed shared memory protocols based on the read/write model. >
Upper Cretaceous marl-limestone sequences of Alabama: Possible products of sea-level change, not climate forcing

Marl-limestone sequences in the Arcola Limestone Member (Campanian) of Alabama have been cited as key examples of climate-forced sedimentation resulting from cycles of production and dilution. However, sedimentologic and stratigraphic data from the Arcola presented herein suggest a more probable link between short-term sea-level changes and marl-limestone sequence genesis. Either relative sea-level change caused by intraplate deformation or short-term eustatic sea-level change is suggested as the causative mechanism for deposition of the marl-limestone sequences.
Selective Survival in Pentazocine and Tripelennamine of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Serotype O11 from Drug Addicts

The growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly serotype O11, in pentazocine and tripelennamine ("T's and Blues") was evaluated as a possible explanation for the association of deep-seated infection with this organism and abuse of these drugs. The mean reduction of growth caused by the drugs was 1,000-fold greater for 49 Pseudomonas strains from normal subjects than for 32 strains from drug addicts (4.2 vs. 1.3 logs of reduction at 2 hr, P less than .0005). A common phenotypic subset of the serotype O11 strains from drug addicts was especially resistant to the inhibitory effects. Twelve strains of Staphylococcus aureus (a frequent cause of infection in heroin, but not in pentazocine and tripelennamine, addicts) were completely inhibited by the drug combination. Dose-response curves (derived from the results of using the tablets as well as pure powders) showed that tripelennamine was responsible for the inhibitory activity, which was partially antagonized by pentazocine. We conclude that an ability of some P. aeruginosa serotype O11 strains, but not S. aureus, to survive in pentazocine and tripelennamine may explain in part a shift from S. aureus to P. aeruginosa as common pathogens of drug addicts in areas where abuse of this combination of drugs has increased.
Absence of positive eigenvalues in a class of 2-body quantum systems with nonlocal interactions

If we use the dilatation analytic techniques of Combes and results of Simon in the local situation, the absence of positive eigenvalues embedded in the continuum is proven for a suitable class of nonlocal 2-body Hamiltonians. Nuclear-physics nonlocal interactions are discussed.
Seasonal Variations of Sea Surface Height in the Gulf Stream Region

Abstract Based on more than four years of altimetric sea surface height (SSH) data, the Gulf Stream shows distinct seasonal variations in surface transport and latitudinal position, with a seasonal range in the SSH difference across the Gulf Stream of 0.14 m and a seasonal range in position of 0.42° lat. The seasonal variations are most pronounced west (upstream) of about 63°W, near the Gulf Stream’s warm core. The changes in the SSH difference across the Gulf Stream are successfully modeled as a steric response to ECMWF heat fluxes, after removing the large SSH variations due to seasonal position changes of the Gulf Stream. A phase shift between predicted and observed SSH changes in the Gulf Stream suggests that advection may be important in the seasonal heat budget. Consistent with the interpretation of SSH variations as steric, comparisons with hydrographic data suggest that the fall maximum SSH difference is from the upper 250 m of the water column. The maximum volume transport is in the spring. Zonal...
Detection Of Major Depressive Disorder In Primary Care Patients

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of a two-phase case detection strategy for major depressive disorder and a quantitative self-rating instrument for dysphoria. Methods: A convenience sample of 302 ambulatory patients received three self-administered depression rating instruments: a modified version of the Dartmouth Cooperative (COOP) Functional Health Assessment Chart on emotional condition, a three-question screening test for depression taken from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), and the Inventory to Diagnose Depression (IDD). All patients’ medical charts were reviewed after the administration of these instruments, and those charts of patients found to be depressed were reviewed again 6 months later. A family practice ambulatory patient center in a university hospital was the setting for the study. Results: The IDD detected current major depressive disorder in 41 persons (13.6 percent of sample). Twenty-five of the 41 IDD-positive patients had not previously had a major depressive disorder diagnosed according to chart notes. Six months later, 16 of the 25 patients with newly diagnosed major depressive disorders had not returned to the clinic since the index visit. A single question (DIS question 073b), when compared with the IDD diagnosis of major depressive disorder, had a sensitivity of 95.1 percent, specificity of 78.9 percent, positive predictive value of 41.5 percent, and negative predictive value of 99 percent. Dysphoria, as measured by the modified COOP chart on emotional condition, was significantly worse among those with current major depression (IDD positive) than for those without (IDD negative). Conclusions: A two-phase case detection strategy for major depressive disorder consisting of a single screening question followed by a self-administered diagnostic instrument can efficiently pick out virtually all ambulatory primary care patients with a major depressive disorder. A brief functional assessment chart can quantify the extent of dysphoria.