cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An optimized step-by-step protocol for isolation of nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and end plate cells from the mouse intervertebral discs and subsequent preparation of high-quality intact total RNA.

Intervertebral disc degeneration is the most significant, and least understood, cause of chronic back pain, affecting almost one in seven individuals at some point of time. Each intervertebral disc has three components; central nucleus pulposus (NP), concentric layers of annulus fibrosus (AF), and a pair of end plate (EP) that connects the disc to the vertebral bodies. Understanding the molecular and cellular basis of intervertebral disc growth, health, and aging will generate significant information for developing therapeutic approaches. Rapid and efficient preparations of homogeneous and pure cells are crucial for meaningful and rigorous downstream analysis at the cellular, molecular, and biochemical level. Cross-sample contamination may influence the interpretation of the results. In addition to altering gene expression, slow or delayed isolation procedures will also cause the degradation of cells and biomolecules that create a bias in the outcomes of the study. The mouse model system is extensively used to understand the intervertebral disc biology. Here we describe two protocols: (a) for efficient isolation of pure NP, AF, and EP cells from mouse lumbar intervertebral disc. We validated the purity of the NP and AF cells using Shh Cre/+ ; R26 mT/mG/+ dual-fluorescent reporter mice where all NP cells are GPF+ve, and by the sensitive approach of qPCR analysis using TaqMan probes for Shh, and Brachyury as NP-specific markers, Tenomodulin as AF-specific marker, and Osteocalcin as bone-specific marker. (b) For isolation of high-quality intact RNA with RIN of 9.3 to 10 from disc cells. These methods will be useful for the rigorous analysis of NP and AF cells, and improve our understanding of intervertebral disc biology.
Epidemic Thresholds of Infectious Diseases on Tie-Decay Networks.

In the study of infectious diseases on networks, researchers calculate epidemic thresholds as informative measures to help forecast whether a disease will eventually infect a large fraction of a population. The structure of network typically changes in time, which fundamentally influence the dynamics of spreading processes on them and in turn affect epidemic thresholds for disease propagation. Most existing studies on epidemic thresholds in temporal networks have focused on models in discrete time, but most real-world networked systems evolve continuously in time. In our work, we encode the continuous dependency of time into the evaluation of the epidemic threshold of an susceptible--infected--susceptible (SIS) process by studying an SIS model on tie-decay networks. We formulate epidemic thresholds for an SIS compartmental model of disease spread on tie-decay networks, and we perform numerical experiments to verify the threshold condition that we derive. We also examine how different factors---the decay coefficients of the networks, the frequency of interactions, and the sparsity of the underlying social network in which interactions occur---lead to decreases or increases of the critical values of the threshold condition and hence contribute to facilitating or impeding the spread of a disease. We thereby demonstrate how the tie-decay features of these networks alter the outcome of disease spread.
Schottky Barrier Diodes

A Schottky barrier diode consists of a rectifying metal-semiconductor contact with a N-drift region, designed to support the required reverse voltage as shown in Fig. 3.1. Forward conduction in the Schottky diode occurs by the transport of majority carriers (electrons) across the metal-semiconductor barrier Baliga, 1996. After passing through the rectifying junction, the current flows through the resistive drift region of the device. The device supports a maximum reverse bias depending on the properties of the N- drift region. The physical mechanisms responsible for these characteristics and their temperature dependence are explained in the following sections.
Predator preferences shape the diets of arthropodivorous bats more than quantitative local prey abundance

Although most predators are generalists, the majority of studies on the association between prey availability and prey consumption have focused on specialist predators. To investigate the role of highly generalist predators in a complex food web, we measured the relationships between prey consumption and prey availability in two common arthropodivorous bats. Specifically, we used high-throughput amplicon sequencing coupled with a known mock community to characterize seasonal changes in little brown and big brown bat diets. We then linked spatiotemporal variation in prey consumption with quantitative prey availability estimated from intensive prey community sampling. We found that although quantitative prey availability fluctuated substantially over space and time, the most commonly consumed prey items were consistently detected in bat diets independently of their respective abundance. Positive relationships between prey abundance and probability of consumption were found only among prey groups that were less frequently detected in bat diets. While the probability of prey consumption was largely unrelated to abundance, the community structure of prey detected in bat diets was influenced by the local or regional abundance of prey. Observed patterns suggest that while little brown and big brown bats maintain preferences for particular prey independently of quantitative prey availability, total dietary composition may reflect some degree of opportunistic foraging. Overall, our findings suggest that generalist predators can display strong prey preferences that persist despite quantitative changes in prey availability.
Giant Vertebrobasilar Fusiform Aneurysm Mass Effect Heralds Rapid in Situ Thrombosis and Ischemic Stroke in the Setting of Ulcerative Colitis

Here we describe a case of brainstem infarction secondary to rapid thrombus formation in a giant vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysm (GVBFA) that was preceded clinically by several months of headaches and dizziness initially attributable to mass effect. Less than a month after initial identification of the aneurysm, a large partially-occluding thrombus formed leading to infarction of the brainstem. Interestingly, this patient also had ulcerative colitis, which has been associated with acquired hypercoagulability. Balancing risk versus benefit in the management of GVBFA to prevent morbidity and mortality is very challenging; thus more information is needed to better stratify treatment options for patients, particularly those that may have an accelerating clinical course or co-morbidities that increase clotting risk.
Engaging the Sickle Cell Community in Participatory Research

Community based participatory research (CBPR) is an effective tool in engaging under-represented minorities in research (Brewer et al. 2019). To be successful, CBPR must be culturally sensitive, re...
Chapter 31 – Antiretroviral Chemotherapy

This chapter outlines a current approach to antiretroviral chemotherapy and provides insight into the directions likely to be followed by the field over the next several years. The rational development of antiretroviral chemotherapy compounds is based on the development of agents that are directed at aspects of the viral replicative cycle that are not shared by the host. In the case of HIV-1, additional complexity is added by the wide variety of cell types in which the virus replicates artifacts that are introduced by the in vitro cultivation of the virus in continuous cell lines and the highly error-prone process of reverse transcription. The high rate of errors introduced into the replicative process results in major strain diversity at the population level and in a susceptibility in individual patients for the emergence of strains with reduced susceptibility to antiretroviral agents following prolonged exposure to antiviral drugs unless near complete suppression of viral replication is achieved with combination chemotherapy.
MO-B-213-02: History and Future Outlook for the AAPM Professional Liability Insurance Program

The AAPM Professional Liability Insurance program provides a unique ability for medical physicists to obtain liability coverage for risks arising from the practice of medical physics. In 2015, the program introduces a new occurrence-form coverage option which has important cost and functional differences from the existing claims-made coverage. Since both forms will be offered to new and renewing policy holders, the details and implications of these two options will be explained. A brief history of the program will be given to review the collaboration between AAPM and its insurance company partners that established and maintains the program that is available today. The future outlook of the program will include an overview of threats and opportunities that affect AAPM members’ ability to obtain cost-effective coverage in the future. Learning Objectives: 1. Gain understanding of the professional liability insurance program offered to AAPM members 2. Gain understanding of the difference between claims-made form and occurrence form of coverage 3. Gain understanding of the role of AAPM in operating the professional liability insurance program Graham Fuller is an employee of Mercer Consumer which is the broker and administrator of the AAPM Professional Liability Insurance program.
Components of Effortful Control and Their Relations to Children's Shyness.

Relations between children’s (n = 213) mother-reported effortful control components (attention focusing, attention shifting, inhibitory control at 42 months; activational control at 72 months) and mother-reported shyness trajectories across 42, 54, 72, and 84 months of age were examined. In growth models, shyness decreased. Inhibitory control and attention shifting predicted higher levels and lower levels of shyness at 42 months (the intercept), respectively. Inhibitory control negatively, and attention shifting positively, predicted the shyness slope. Children with higher inhibitory control had relatively more rapid decreases in shyness. Children with higher attention shifting had relatively slower decreases in shyness. Activational control was negatively correlated with the shyness intercept. Effortful control components should be examined separately, rather than in combination, in relation to shyness in the future. If results are replicated, it may suggest that fostering attention shifting and activati...
Synaptic connectivity and computation.

A new study finds two classes of synapses between layer 2/3 neurons in auditory cortex, and suggests they may be involved in processing transient versus sustained acoustic stimuli
Field Instructors' Perspectives on Foundation Year MSW Students' Preplacement Anxiety

This study elicited 39 field instructors' perspectives on the anxiety that students experience as they begin field placements. Field instructors rated students as significantly more anxious than did students themselves, and although field instructors believed anxiety interferes with learning to a greater extent than did students, they did not believe its effect is significant. Field instructors are attuned and sensitive to student fears but have different concerns, primarily focused on students' attitudes and motivations for learning. In addition, field instructors feel challenged in their role, given competing pressures for their time. Implications for support of both students and field instructors are discussed.
Photovoltaics as a distributed resource - making the value connection

Photovoltaics, the modular, versatile, market-ready distributed generator, is gaining share in the electric service market. The grid-connected distributed resource (DR) application is the fastest growing market for photovoltaics (PV). PV may be the ultimate distributed resource (DR) due to its modularity, resource availability and independence on fossil fuel. As a distributed resource, PV attributes include the usual values of being near the load, and offsetting generation, distribution, and transmission losses and capacity requirements. PV-DR also has unique values of modularity, independence on fossil fuel price volatility, no environmental emissions or noise, and a generation profile caused by the same resource as the system load peaks. However, these tangible values are often spread out several stakeholders and it is difficult for the PV system investor to collect the full value potential for the investment. This paper presents the PV value analysis using PV value matrix that focused on both individual value attributes and stakeholder perspective.
Interleukin-1β-converting Enzyme Mediates Cisplatin-induced Apoptosis in Malignant Glioma Cells

Increasing the susceptibility of tumor cells to apoptotic cell death following chemotherapy is of importance to the outcome of cancer treatment. Although the tumor suppressor gene p53 is required for efficient induction of apoptosis by chemotherapeutic agents, it is not the only apoptosis mediator gene. The molecular mechanisms mediating apoptosis following chemotherapy via p53-dependent or p53-independent pathways remain unclear. We show here that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin) induces the expression of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE), a mammalian homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene ced-3, in murine and human malignant glioma cells during apoptosis regardless of their p53 status. Furthermore, overexpression of the murine ICE gene induces apoptosis in these tumor cells. The apoptosis induced by cisplatin treatment or murine ICE overexpression can be suppressed by the tetrapeptide ICE inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK or the apoptosis inhibitors bcl-2 or bcl-2-related bcl-XL gene. These findings suggest that ICE may mediate apoptosis induced by chemotherapy, and its induction could represent a novel approach for the effective treatment of malignant glioma.
Transmission electron microscopic characterization of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition-derived superconducting Tl2Ba2Ca1Cu2Oχ thin films on Au substrates. Evidence for Au-Cu alloy formation and texturing on a nonplanar metal substrate

Abstract The microstructure of superconducting Tl 2 Ba 2 Ca 1 Cu 2 O χ thin films grown on Au substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) has been investigated. Characterization techniques included X-ray diffraction, variable temperature magnetization, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements. The films exhibit a magnetically derived T c ≈80 K and a high degree of texturing with the crystallite c -axis oriented perpendicular to the Au substrate surface as evidenced by enhanced (00 l ) X-ray diffraction reflections. SEM/ EDX and TEM/EDX provide evidence of Au-Cu alloy formation but no Au diffusion into the film. The superconducting grains exhibit good compositional uniformity and excellent alignment with the substrate, even though the Au substrates were not smooth and exhibited a moderate density of steps.
Body temperature and white blood cell count in dairy cows during the first ten days after calving.

The postpartum period is a time of physiological stress for high-producing dairy cows. Close monitoring of recently calved cows enables the earliest possible intervention when illness develops. An objective of this study was to evaluate the use of rectal temperature as a diagnostic tool in postpartum cows. As immune suppression is common in postpartum dairy cows, another objective was to compare white blood cell counts in the postpartum period between cows that developed clinical disease and those that did not.
A Dimension Management Framework for High Dimensional Visualization

Visualization is an important approach to analyzing high dimensional datasets, which are common in important applications such as financial analytics, multimedia analysis, and genomic analysis. However, larger numbers of dimensions in high dimensional datasets not only cause visual clutter in the display, but also cause difficult user navigation among dimensions. To overcome these problems, dimension management, such as subspace construction, dimension ordering and spacing, and multivariate relationship examination, needs to be provided in high dimensional visualization systems. In this book chapter, we propose a general framework for dimension management in high dimensional visualization that provides a guideline for the design and development of dimension management functions in high dimensional visualization systems. We then present our recent work on dimension management in high dimensional visualization, namely the Hierarchical Dimension Management approach, the Value and Relation display, and the Multivariate Visual Explanation approach, as examples to illustrate the proposed framework.
When the Living and the Deceased Cannot Agree on Organ Donation: A Survey of US Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs)

The legal concept of first person authorization (FPA) is based on the principle that a decision by a person with decision-making capacity should be respected even after he or she dies. Although the transplant community largely supports this concept, its implementation has not been universal. We conducted a web-based survey of all 58 Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) executive directors in the United States to assess OPOs' procurement policies and practices in the context of family objections. All 58 respondents (100%) responded to our survey. All OPOs except one have an online donor registration website. Most OPOs (89%) (51 of 57 respondents) estimated that the frequency of family objecting to organ donation in cases of registered donors was <10%. No OPOs reported the frequency to be higher than 25%. Only 50% (27 of 54) of the OPOs have a written policy on handling family objections. Approximately 80% of the OPOs reported honoring FPA. However, in the past 5 years, 20 OPOs (35%) have not yet participated in organ procurement from a registered deceased donor over family objection. Further research to identify the barriers and possible solutions to implementing FPA is warranted.
New morganucodontans from an Early Jurassic fissure filling in Wales (United Kingdom)

: Two new genera and species of morganucodontans, Bridetherium dorisae and Paceyodon davidi, are recognized as members of the Morganucodon-sphenodont fauna preserved in a fissure filling (Pant 4) exposed in Pant Quarry, Vale of Glamorgan, southern Wales. Both taxa are based on isolated molariforms. Mode of occlusion of upper and lower molariforms in B. dorisae differs from the embrasure shearing pattern of Megazostrodon and the offset pattern characteristic of Morganucodon. Lack of a clear correlation between different patterns of occlusion and morphologies of their molariforms supports the working hypothesis that a close correlation between function and morphology of the molars characteristic of therian mammals, for example, was not present in morganucodontans. P. davidi is based on an isolated morganucodontan molariform that is significantly larger than any yet discovered. Several isolated morganucodontan-like molariforms cannot be referred to these taxa. The new Welsh morganucodontans added to records from other sites indicate the group achieved considerable taxonomic diversity and a near global distribution by the Early Jurassic.
Policies to Improve Biomedical Communications

This chapter discusses the problems associated with biomedical communications. It makes some recommendations for policies and programs to improve the practice, reach, and effectiveness of biomedical communications. The chapter focuses on the educational policies that advance biomedical literacy, policies that support informed decision-making by consumers, and citizenship and the formulation of biomedical policy. Improved levels of biomedical literacy depend heavily on improvements in the educational achievement of pre-college students in the United States. Biomedical literacy provides a foundation for consumer understanding and for effective policy communications, but evidence indicates that only one in five American adults has a level of biomedical literacy sufficient to read a news story in science. Biomedical literacy provides a foundation for consumer understanding and for effective policy communications. Future research is required to advance our understanding of biomedical communications.
The discrete mathematics enhancement project

The discrete mathematics enhancement project was a project undertaken by two computer science faculty and one mathematics faculty member in the summer of 2001. The goals of the project were to increase student retention in the discrete mathematics course and to provide students with opportunities to explore the relationship between computer science and topics covered in the discrete mathematics course. The results of the project are a set of ten learning exercises and various programming and interactive resources. This paper describes the reasons for undertaking this project, the results of the project, and future directions for this project.
Observations of Water Mass Transformation and Eddies in the Lofoten Basin of the Nordic Seas

AbstractThe Lofoten basin of the Nordic Seas is recognized as a crucial component of the meridional overturning circulation in the North Atlantic because of the large horizontal extent of Atlantic Water and winter surface buoyancy loss. In this study, hydrographic and current measurements collected from a mooring deployed in the Lofoten basin from July 2010 to September 2012 are used to describe water mass transformation and the mesoscale eddy field. Winter mixed layer depths (MLDs) are observed to reach approximately 400 m, with larger MLDs and denser properties resulting from the colder 2010 winter. A heat budget of the upper water column requires lateral input, which balances the net annual heat loss of ~80 W m−2. The lateral flux is a result of mesoscale eddies, which dominate the velocity variability. Eddy velocities are enhanced in the upper 1000 m, with a barotropic component that reaches the bottom. Detailed examination of two eddies, from April and August 2012, highlights the variability of the e...
Persistence and Change in Intergroup Relations: The Crisis Upon Us

This paper analyzes several patterns of persistence and change in intergroup relations in the United States and Western Europe. I advance six propositions as a framework for understanding certain specific relationships between dominant and subordinate groups. As well, I assess these relationships in terms of competing theories of discrimination in the marketplace. A review of the history and gains of the U.S. civil rights movement illustrates the diverse forces which affect relations between dominant and minority groups. I argue that both progress and retrogression have marked efforts to achieve racial equality in the United States in recent years. A forecast is also made of an impending crisis in intergroup relations based upon evidence of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, the hardening of racial attitudes, conflict between minority groups, and the mistreatment of immigrant groups.
Traditional and Alternative Research Designs and Methods in Clinical Pediatric Psychopharmacology

ABSTRACT Objective To review both traditional and alternative research designs and methods in pediatric psychopharmacology. Method Study designs used in clinical trials in psychiatry were selected for review with the special considerations of pediatric psychopharmacological trials in mind. Where possible, a reference to a specific published trial in pediatric psychopharmacology was provided for each design. Results It appears that pediatric psychopharmacology trials require a relatively greater flexibility in design to avoid significant study biases. Alternative research designs may be preferable to the traditional approaches, particularly when the use of the latter may raise important issues of feasibility. Conclusions Evolution of a clinical research hypothesis to a study protocol in pediatric psychopharmacology is a manageable task if one keeps in mind essential elements such as selection of study design, population, sample size, treatment duration, and efficacy assessments.
Robust traffic engineering: game theoretic perspective

On-line routing algorithms deal with requests as they arrive without assuming any knowledge of the underlying process that generates the streams of requests. By contrast, off-line traffic engineering algorithms assume complete statistical knowledge of the request generating process. This dichotomy, however, oversimplifies many practical situations when some incomplete information on the expected demands is available, and proper utilization of the available information may improve the network performance. This paper proposes a game theoretic framework for robust traffic engineering intended to guard against the worst case scenario with respect to possible uncertainties in the external demands and link loads. The proposed framework can be interpreted as a game of the routing algorithm attempting to optimize the network performance and the adversarial environment attempting to obstruct these efforts by selecting the worst case scenario with respect to the uncertainties. Two different classes of schemes are considered: first, suitable for MPLS implementation, centralized schemes, and, second, suitable for OSPF-OMP implementation, decentralized schemes.
Graft-versus-host disease: How to translate new insights into new therapeutic strategies

Abstract Graft-versus-host disease occurs when transplanted donor-derived T lymphocytes recognize major or minor histocompatibility complex proteins and their associated peptides expressed by recipient antigen-presenting cells. A widely accepted paradigm for the pathophysiology of acute GVHD is based on the existence of 3 sequential steps: (1) injury to the host environment (as would occur during conditioning regimens); (2) donor T-cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation; and (3) damage to the target tissue caused by either cytotoxicity or indirectly by inflammatory cytokines. In order to reduce the incidence of GVHD, recent studies have focused on methods of prophylaxis as well as novel treatments for established GVHD. We review each phase in the development of acute GVHD and discuss recently developed interventions aimed to prevent or treat GVHD by interfering with these pathways.
The oxygen balance criterion for thermal hazards assessment

It is a matter of considerable practical importance to recognize metastable, potentially hazardous chemical compositions so that suitable thermal hazard management means can be provided as a part of process safety management. This communication is a report on our evaluation of the oxygen balance criterion as a screening technique for thermal hazard assessment.
THE MANIPULATIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES DURING FERTILIZATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMAL EGGS

In recent years the general outlook has altered considerably. This change is large? ly due to the work and writings of the late Professor A. M. Schechtman, to whom this symposium and this paper are dedicated. For example, in experiments with chickens, he demonstrated that large mo? lecular substances were incorporated in essentially unaltered form into the growing oocyte. This was basic to the concept, developed since the early experi? ments of Hevesy and Hahn (1938) that much of the material of the mature egg is not manufactured by the growing oocyte itself but is supplied to it in essentially "finished" form from other cells (cf Tyler, 1955). Schechtman, also, speculated about the possible developmental role of such naturally-supplied substances, and others
Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens

A real-time PCR assay targeting the phosphotransferase system I gene (ptsI) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was compared to 2 commercially available PCR assays targeting the P1 cytadhesion gene (the LightMix®Kit Mycoplasma pneumoniae [TIB MOLBIOL, Adelphia, NJ, USA] and M. pneumoniae Analyte Specific Reagent [Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, USA] assays) and to a PCR assay targeting the M. pneumoniae repetitive element, RepMP1. Thirty previously positive specimens including 15 throat swab, 10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 5 sputum specimens, all tested positive with the ptsI and M. pneumoniae ASR assays. Among the previously positive specimens, 14/15 throat swab, 9/10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 4/5 sputum specimens tested positive with the LightMix®Kit Mycoplasma pneumoniae assay and 13/15 throat swab, 10/10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 4/5 sputum specimens tested positive with the RepMP1 assay. Forty previously negative clinical specimens tested negative using the ptsI assay. A PCR assay targeting M. pneumoniae ptsI performs equivalently to assays targeting the P1 cytadhesion gene or RepMP1.
Unisexual reproduction among vertebrates

The past decade has seen a remarkable revision of perspectives on unisexual reproduction in vertebrates. One can no longer view it as a rare curiosity far outside the mainstream of evolution. More than 80 taxa of fish, amphibians, and reptiles are now known to reproduce by parthenogenesis (Greek for 'virgin birth') or its variants, and they persist in nature as all-female lineages. Other lower vertebrates that ordinarily rely on sexual reproduction can resort to facultative parthenogenesis under extenuating circumstances that isolate females from males. Molecular tools have now been applied to the study of unisexual organisms, and fascinating insights have emerged regarding the molecular mechanisms that preserve heterozygosity and increase genetic diversity in all-female populations. A deeper understanding of the underlying genetics increasingly calls into question the assumption that unisexuality in vertebrates is an evolutionary dead-end.
Diminished Speech Intelligibility Associated with Certain Types of Respirators Worn by Healthcare Workers

This study sought to determine the level of communication interference associated with commonly used disposable and reusable respirators and surgical masks worn by healthcare workers. Speech intelligibility was assessed using the modified rhyme test in an intensive care unit environment. Respirators decreased speech intelligibility by a range of 1% to 17%, although not all were statistically significant. Differences in speech intelligibility associated with surgical masks and disposable filtering facepiece respirators (without exhalation valves) were not statistically significant compared with controls. Wearing half-face elastomeric respirators with voice augmentation equipment was associated with higher speech intelligibility than models without this equipment (OR = 2.81). Hearing clarity while wearing a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) was 79% compared with 90% with no PAPR (OR = 0.40). While some respirators appear to have little or no effect on speech intelligibility, interference with speech i...
A Simple Dynamic Method for Obtaining Inspection Schedules

A method for obtaining inspection schedules is proposed for situations where it is difficult to quantify the costs associated with inspections and undetected failure, or when these costs vary in time. After each inspection, the next inspection is scheduled so that there is only a small, specified probability that a failure goes undetected for longer than a specified time. Some properties of the inspection times are derived, and numerical illustrations are given for some particular cases.
Blowing in the wind: the impact of China's Pearl River Delta on Hong Kong's air quality.

The local versus regional nature of Hong Kong's air pollution remains an unresolved issue with important policy implications. Specifically, the potential benefits of different air quality improvement efforts will vary dramatically, depending upon the nature of the pollution. This multi-disciplinary paper attempts to resolve the issue, using a time series, cross-sectional panel of pollution data from Hong Kong and southern China, along with weather variables from Hong Kong. An econometrically-based structural model of Hong Kong pollution levels is constructed, and Granger causality tests are conducted. Then, using results from the structural model, the health impacts on Hong Kong residents of reductions in mainland China's pollution are estimated and valued in economic terms. Results indicate that for the pollutants PM10 and NO2 causality runs in both directions, highlighting the regional nature of the air pollution problem. However, the potential health benefits resulting from reductions in southern China's pollution are relatively small. In US dollar terms, the averted mortality benefits of a large China-focused clean up are approximately $40 million, but the benefits of a more modest Hong Kong-focused effort are nearly $200 million. The resulting policy implication is that Hong Kong's primary pollution control efforts should lie at the local level.
Microstructure and magnetic behavior of compounds in the solid solution system Li [Ni1 − xMnx] O2 (x = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7)

Abstract Layered transition metal oxides containing more than one transition element are considered for applications in electric vehicles. In these compounds new and improved properties may result from the combination of element specific properties. At the same time the arrangement of species within the transition metal layer is one aspect that may affect the Li intercalation behavior and hence the electrochemical properties. Here we present a microstructural study on a series of Li [Ni1 − xMnx] O2 compounds where the oxidations state and arrangement of TM ions are characterized by SQUID magnetometry and single crystal electron diffraction. Our results show that in-plane long range ordering increases with Mn content and that Li/Ni interchange takes place in all powders but seems to be highest in Mn-rich compositions. During chemical delithiation Li is removed from the TM layers leading to a decrease in percentage of long range ordering.
Identification of Previously Unrecognized Common Elements in Eukaryotic Promoters: A RIBOSOMAL RNA GENE INITIATOR ELEMENT FOR RNA POLYMERASE I *

A new ribosomal RNA promoter element with a functional role similar to the RNA polymerase II initiator (Inr) was identified. This sequence, which we dub the ribosomal Inr (rInr) is unusually conserved, even in normally divergent RNA polymerase I promoters. It functions in the recruitment of the fundamental, TATA-binding protein (TBP)-containing transcription factor, TIF-IB. All upstream elements of the exceptionally strong Acanthamoeba castellanii ribosomal RNA core promoter, to within 6 base pairs of the transcription initiation site (tis), can be deleted without loss of specific transcription initiation. Thus, the A. castellanii promoter can function in a manner similar to RNA polymerase II TATA-less promoters. Sequence-specific photo-cross-linking localizes a 96-kDa subunit of TIF-IB and the second largest RNA polymerase I subunit (A133) to the rInr sequence. A185 also photo-cross-links when polymerase is stalled at +7.
Gene flow between Clearfield™ rice and red rice

Abstract Imidazolinone-herbicide-resistant Clearfield™ (CL) rice allows the selective chemical control of red rice (Oryza sativa L.), a major weed problem in rice-growing areas of the southern US, using herbicides that otherwise are toxic to the crop. However, selection imposed by the herbicide of resistant individuals resulting from gene flow, and of naturally tolerant individuals, is a major concern. Experiments were conducted at the Rice Research and Extension Center, Stuttgart, AR, US in 2002–2004 to evaluate the effects of cultivar, distance from pollen source, and planting date on natural outcrossing between CL rice and Stuttgart strawhull red rice. The experiments were planted in a split-plot design with planting date (April and May) as main plot and cultivar (CL121 and CL161) as subplots. An encircle-population combination technique was used to determine distance from the rice pollen source at which hybrids were detected. Resistance of the F1 plants was determined by repeated spraying of imazethapyr, and DNA analysis using SSR primer RM 180 to confirm hybrids. All resistant red rice plants were confirmed hybrids. Outcrossing was higher with CL161 (0.008%) than with CL121 (0.003%) regardless of planting date. Averaged over cultivars, outcrossing rate between April (0.004%) and May (0.006%) plantings did not differ. The majority of hybrids were located within 1 m from CL rice. However, a few hybrids were found up to 6 m from the CL rice, which was the limit of detection in these experiments. All F1 hybrids were taller and had longer flag leaves than their parents. F1 hybrids had rough texture and pale-colored leaves similar to the red rice parent. Gene flow between CL rice and red rice is a concern, and even at the low outcrossing rates in these experiments, approximately 170 resistant plants/ha resulted.
Toward a model for open- and closed-basin deposition in ancient lacustrine sequences: the Newark supergroup (Triassic-Jurassic), eastern North America

Abstract Climate and tectonics have a profound influence on the lacustrine sedimentary record because they affect hydrologic systems in depositional basins. Lakes in hydrologically-closed basins tend to fluctuate in depth, producing transgressive-regressive sequences, sometimes associated with evaporites. Lakes in hydrologically-open basins tend to have stable shorelines, producing thick sedimentary deposits that lack transgressive-regressive sequences and evaporites. In addition, some lakes fluctuate between open and closed, producing transgressive-regressive sequences in which deep water sediments were deposited when the lake was overflowing, and shallow water sediments capped by subaerial exposure surfaces were deposited when the basin was closed. Lacustrine deposits in the northern part of the Newark Supergroup consist of cyclic transgressive-regressive sequences, locally containing evaporites. They are interpreted as deposits of hydrologically-closed basins, which occasionally became open at lake high-stand. In the southern part of the Newark Supergroup, many of the lacustrine sequences are thicker, lack evaporites, and some contain coal and siderite. These features suggest deposition in hydrologically-open basins. Fluvial paleocurrents in at least one southern basin suggest through-flow and open basin deposition. Thin lacustrine sequences interpreted as perennial floodplain lake deposits are associated with these fluvial systems, and may also indicate open basin conditions.
Imaging spectrometry in the post-EOS era

It is argued that the next generation of imaging spectrometers will need greater capabilities and more flexibility than the High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (HIRIS) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS), which were designed for the first Earth Observation System platform. The emerging technology that represents a major advance in the scientific utility of imaging spectrometry is the acoustooptic tunable filters, (AOTFs). AOTFs are compact robust solid-state crystals which provide rapid (millisecond) electronically-controlled spectral tunability. This paper discusses the evolving requirements of imaging spectrometers and examines the basic system parameters of the HIRIS and the MODIS concepts involving the use of AOTFs, which will satisfy these requirements.
Urban and wildland fire phenomenology

Mankind's concern with unwanted fires likely predates the first practical use of combustion in unrecorded history. Yet the science of fire protection has progressed more slowly than other aspects of combustion science. This state of affairs is due partially to the complexity of the problem and partially to the fact that relatively large technological payoffs generally are not anticipated to be obtained from scientific investigations of fires. Numerous promises and problems in the use of combustion in heat and power production, in locomotion and in industrial endeavors have generated intensive scientific efforts. By way of contrast, the ever-present fire problems have attracted fluctuating interest with a relatively low average level of concern. Although periodic disasters engender beliefs that more should be done in fire science, these beliefs often are short-lived and are replaced by more immediate concerns. Rarely has a disaster or a series of disasters provoked a program of scientific study of fire phenomena. The long-term efforts that have been mounted in the field instead have been motivated mainly by detailed comparative evaluations of the magnitude of the fire problem. There is reason to believe that today's rapid technological advances intensify problems of unwanted fires. Hosts of new processes and new combustible materials are emerging and finding their way into widespread use. Too often these innovations become commonplace before their fire hazards are properly understood. Therefore there seems to be justification for more extensive development and dissemination of knowledge in fire science. The present article has been prepared with the objective of bringing together many aspects of fire science for a nonspecialized audience. It is based on an undergraduate course by the same name, given only once, at the University of California, San Diego. It focuses on basic aspects of fire as a phenomenon, presented in an elementary but unified manner. It is more restricted than other treatments of the subject in that physiological, social, economic, organizational and operational aspects are not covered. However, it is broader in that both urban and wildland fires are considered equally; most presentations are slanted toward one or the other of these classes of fire problems. I hope that this article will help to introduce nonspecialists to the scientific phenomenology of fires.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Schiff Bases. I. Imines in Aqueous Solution

Abstract Aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes are shown to react with amino acids in basic solution to produce imines which can be detected by proton magnetic resonance. The aliphatic imines decompose due to the aldol condensation of the aldehyde. Aromatic imines and aliphatic imines formed from isobutyraldehyde are stable in aqueous solutions, and it is possible to measure the formation constants of these Schiff bases. Interconversion between the aldehyde, amino acid, and imine can be observed by lineshape effects for the Schiff base formed from isobutyraldehyde and glycine. The rate of hydrolysis, rate of formation, and energies of activation can be calculated for these processes.
New techniques for laser prostatectomy: an update

Traditionally, the gold standard for treatment of BPH has been the electrocautery-based TransUrethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). However, the number of laser techniques being performed is rapidly increasing. Potential advantages of laser therapy over traditional TURP include decreased morbidity and shorter hospital stay. There are several techniques for laser prostatectomy that continue to evolve. The main competing techniques are currently the Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) and the 80W 532nm laser prostatectomy. The HoLEP, using the Holmium:YAG laser, has been shown to have clinical results similar to TURP and is suitable for patients on anticoagulation as well as those with large prostates. Disadvantages of this technique are the high learning curve and requirement of a morcellator. When used to treat BPH, studies have demonstrated that, like the HoLEP, the 80W KTP laser is safe and effective in patients with large prostates and in those taking oral anticoagulation. Several studies have compared these two techniques to TURP. Frequently reported advantages of the HoLEP over the 80W laser prostatectomy are the availability after the procedure of a pathology specimen and ability to remove a higher percentage of prostate tissue during resection. However, the transurethral laser enucleation of the prostate addresses these concerns and has shown to have durable outcomes at 2-year follow-up. Two new laser systems and techniques, the thulium laser and the 980nm laser, have emerged recently. However, clinical data from these procedures are in their infancy and large long-term studies are required.
Training Addiction Professionals in Empirically Supported Treatments: Perspectives from the Treatment Community

ABSTRACT. Background: Large-scale dissemination efforts seek to expand opportunities for the addiction treatment community to receive training in empirically supported treatments (ESTs). Prospective consumers of such training are valuable sources of input about content of interest, preferences for how training events are structured, and obstacles that deter receipt of training. Methods: In this mixed-method study, data were collected in 64 semistructured individual interviews with personnel during site visits to 16 community opioid treatment programs (OTPs). At each OTP, interviews were completed with the executive director, a clinical supervisor, and 2 direct-service clinicians. Topical interests were analyzed qualitatively in a cultural domain analysis. Likert ratings of training event preferences were analyzed via generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), and unstructured interviewee comments were analyzed via narrative analysis. Obstacles to training receipt were analyzed qualitatively with both conten...
Effect of attention on frontal distribution of delta activity and cerebral metabolic rate in schizophrenia

15 patients with schizophrenia and nine normal volunteers had 32 channel topographic EEG recorded for spectral analysis during the uptake of 18-F-deoxyglucose (FDG) for positron emission tomography (PET). Both patients and controls performed the Continuous Performance Test, a visual vigilance task, during FDG uptake. EEG was also obtained during an initial pre-FDG resting period. Each EEG epoch was individually inspected for eye movement artifacts. Analysis confirmed increased delta activity in the frontal region of patients with schizophrenia in comparison to normal controls, and a significant correlation between increased frontal delta and relative reduction in frontal lobe metabolism among patients with schizophrenia. This finding of increased delta is consistent with PET, blood flow and topographic EEG studies of schizophrenia, suggesting reduced frontal activity.
Reaction of peroxyacetyl nitrate with cysteine, cystine, methionine, lipoic acid, papain, and lysozyme

Abstract Peroxyacetyl nitrate was reactive with small molecular-weight sulfur-containing compounds The order of susceptibility was cysteine > reduced lipoic acid = reduced lipoamide > oxidized lipoic acid > oxidized lipoamide > methionine ⪢ cystine. From thiols the predominant product was disulfide. In the early stages of oxidation methionine yielded methionine sulfoxide. Products of oxidation of oxidized lipoic acid and lipoamide were the respective sulfoxides. Cystine was resistant to oxidation, yielding cysteic acid when oxidation took place. Papain was readily inactivated by peroxyacetyl nitrate while lysozyme was resistant. The small amount of inactivation of lysozyme was correlated with methionine oxidation. Papain inactivation was correlated with thiol oxidation and could be reversed by thiol compounds. The oxidation product was judged to be a dimer by methods for determining molecular weight.