cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
203 GENDER BUT NOT RACE OR BODY MASS INDEX IS A PREDICTOR FOR FINDING COLORECTAL ADENOMAS ON FIRST-TIME COLONOSCOPY.

Introduction Data suggest that there are gender- and race-based differences in the prevalence of colorectal polyps and cancer. However, most of the data are uncontrolled or derived from studies done in populations where African Americans (AAs) are only a small minority of the population. There is a paucity of data about direct race and gender comparisons where AAs and Caucasian Americans (CAs) are in roughly equal numbers. Methods Adults undergoing first-time colonoscopy performed at our institution from July 1, 2004, to June 30, 2005, formed the database. We excluded patients who were less than 18 years old. We recorded age, race, gender, height, body weight, family history of colon cancer, alcohol or tobacco use, and colonoscopic and pathologic findings. We calculated body mass index (BMI). Statistical analysis was performed using Student9s t-test, chi-square test, and logistical regression as appropriate. Results 1,175 subjects underwent colonoscopy during this period. Of these, 930 met inclusion criteria. Of these, 59.5% were AAs and 40.5% were CAs, with 64.5% females. The mean age was 53.7(± 12.0) years, whereas the mean BMI was 29.9(± 7.7); 29.5% used tobacco, 20.5% used alcohol, and 15.6% had a family history of colon cancer. We found no difference between AAs (19.9%) versus CAs (21.2%) with respect to the incidence of adenomatous polyps. Logistical regression revealed that age > 50 years (23.3% vs 14.1%) and male sex (24.6% vs 18.2%) were independent risk factors (p Conclusion Males but not AAs have a higher risk for adenomas; however, AAs do have an increased incidence of higher-grade neoplasia. BMI and tobacco or alcohol use have no impact.
Efficacy of iloprost (ZK36374) versus aspirin in preventing heparin-induced platelet activation during cardiac operations

For patients with heparin-induced platelet activation, reexposure to heparin can result in profound thrombocytopenia, intravascular thrombosis, and hemorrhage. We compared the ability of aspirin to that of iloprost (ZK36374), an analogue of prostacyclin, in preventing heparin-induced platelet activation and thus permitting a cardiac operation in a patient with heparin-induced platelet activation. Despite abolishing thromboxane A2 synthesis, aspirin (4 mmol/L) failed to prevent either in vitro heparin-induced platelet aggregation (65.0% without versus 59% with aspirin) or carbon 14–serotonin release (81.8% without versus 59.7% with aspirin). In contrast, iloprost (0.01 μmol/L) prevented both in vitro heparin-induced platelet aggregation (65% without versus 5.0% with iloprost) and release (81.8% without versus 0% with iloprost). Consequently, a continuous infusion of iloprost was begun before administration of heparin, continued throughout cardiopulmonary bypass, and discontinued 15 minutes after administration of protamine. The whole blood platelet count (209,000/μl) remained stable after intraoperative administration of heparin (238,000/μl) and was 115,000/μl after the operation. No spontaneous platelet aggregates were observed in samples of platelet-rich plasma after heparin administration, and no platelet transfusions were required. Plasma levels of platelet factor 4 rose from 27 to 725 ng/ml after heparin administration but then declined during bypass to 50 ng/ml. Beta thromboglobulin levels only rose from 92 to 496 ng/ml with administration of heparin. Fibrinopeptide A levels fell from 72 to 22 ng/ml after heparin and remained stable throughout bypass. The template bleeding time was 7.5 minutes preoperatively and 8.0 minutes postoperatively. The postoperative chest tube drainage (12 hours) was 475 ml, and platelets responded normally to adenosine diphosphate. In conclusion, iloprost but not aspirin completely prevented heparin-induced platelet activation in vitro. Furthermore, iloprost effectively prevented this syndrome clinically, which permitted a safe cardiac operation in this patient with heparin-induced platelet activation.
Probabilities Cannot Be Rationally Neglected

In response to Smith (2014), I argue that probabilities cannot be rationally neglected. I show that Smith’s proposal for ignoring low-probability outcomes must, on pain of violating dominance reasoning, license taking arbitrarily high risk for arbitrarily little reward.
New Source of Leafhopper Resistance in Peanut

Field screening for potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae Harris, resistance among peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., genotypes were conducted for three consecutive years (2001, 2002, and 2003) at the Univer...
Activating the nuclear piston mechanism of 3D migration in tumor cells

Primary human fibroblasts have the remarkable ability to use their nucleus like a piston, switching from low- to high-pressure protrusions in response to the surrounding three-dimensional (3D) matrix. Although migrating tumor cells can also change how they migrate in response to the 3D matrix, it is not clear if they can switch between high- and low-pressure protrusions like primary fibroblasts. We report that unlike primary fibroblasts, the nuclear piston is not active in fibrosarcoma cells. Protease inhibition rescued the nuclear piston mechanism in polarized HT1080 and SW684 cells and generated compartmentalized pressure. Achieving compartmentalized pressure required the nucleoskeleton-cytoskeleton linker protein nesprin 3, actomyosin contractility, and integrin-mediated adhesion, consistent with lobopodia-based fibroblast migration. In addition, this activation of the nuclear piston mechanism slowed the 3D movement of HT1080 cells. Together, these data indicate that inhibiting protease activity during polarized tumor cell 3D migration is sufficient to restore the nuclear piston migration mechanism with compartmentalized pressure characteristic of nonmalignant cells.
Transcriptional comparison of myogenesis in leghorn and low score normal embryos.

Abstract In a previous study, we reported on a quantitative transcriptomic method which confirmed the temporal transcription of developmental fast skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain (fsMyHC) embryonic isoforms in the embryonic Pectoralis major (PM) of the Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL). The objective of the current study was to further investigate the transcriptional events underlying embryonic PM growth in the SCWL and a genotype exhibiting partial muscular dystrophy, the Low Score Normal (LSN). We hypothesized that within the SCWL and LSN embryos, there would be differences in the temporal transcription of the fsMyHC isoforms and other myogenic regulatory genes. Samples of PM tissues were collected daily from embryonic day (ED) 6 through ED19. Total RNA was isolated from each PM tissue sample and mRNA transcripts from 28 target genes were simultaneously quantified using a probe hybridization method. Raw data counts were normalized against the geometric mean of 5 housekeeping genes and analyzed using Local Regression (LOESS) smoothing methods. Predicted estimates based on LOESS smoothing were plotted with 95% upper and lower confidence intervals, allowing for line comparisons between the SCWL and LSN. Differences (P
Clay-silt sediment modeling using multiple grain classes: Part II: Application to shallow-water resuspension and deposition

Single and multiple grain class model formulations for the erosion and deposition of clay and silt sized particles are compared to each other for a series of laboratory experiments and field data from a shallow lake where resuspension occurs from wind-waves. The approach for coupling between grain classes during settling and deposition is presented in Part I (this volume). Threshold shear stresses for mutually-exclusives erosion and deposition are used in the model formulation to be consistent with previous laboratory investigations. Model deposition and erosion laws treat silt and clay fractions differently, yet couple them during certain modes of vertical transport. Models with up to 7 grain classes are compared to laboratory flume tests which formed steady state suspension concentrations during deposition. Models with 1 and 4 grain classes are compared to field data. An automated, objective method is used to adjust coefficients for both model simulations. Comparisons indicate that the multiple grain class formulation improves erosion and deposition process descriptions.
After Skin Wounding, Noncoding dsRNA Coordinates Prostaglandins and Wnts to Promote Regeneration.

In a rare example akin to organogenesis in adult mammals, large wounds in mice lead to de novo morphogenesis of hair follicles. It is still not fully clear what controls this process, known as wound-induced hair neogenesis (WIHN). In other tissues, prostaglandin E2 is an important effector of regeneration and has been shown to stimulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which in turn is known to control WIHN. Previously, our group has shown that noncoding double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) released during wounding is both necessary and sufficient to stimulate WIHN through toll-like receptor 3. Here, we hypothesized that dsRNA similarly induces the β-catenin pathway through prostaglandin E2. We found that WIHN levels correlate closely with Wnt7b production in vivo and that dsRNA potently induces Wnt7b in a manner that requires Ptgs2. The Ptgs2 inhibitor celecoxib reduces dsRNA-induced WIHN and Wnt7b, and exogenous prostaglandin E2 can rescue WIHN and Wnt7b. Although other Wnts and pathways likely contribute, these results highlight noncoding dsRNA as an upstream coordinator of prostaglandin and Wnt levels in regeneration.
2 Shared and endorgan specific transcriptional networks in skin versus kidney biopsies in systemic lupus

Background and aims Skin rash can often herald the onset of a systemic disease flare in systemic lupus. The subtype of skin lesion may confer a differential risk of renal involvement. We hypothesised that renal flares may exhibit crosstalk between skin and kidneys and that similar molecular mechanisms may underlie skin and renal disease. Methods We used systems biology approaches to integrate the regulatory events occurring in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (sCLE, n=43) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE, n=47) and compared with those in the ERCB lupus nephritis (LN) class II+IV cohort (n=22). Results Shared transcriptional networks in SLE skin lesions versus LN kidney biopsies reflect similar pathway regulation (p-value IL-12 signalling and production in macrophages, IL-3, IL-15 signalling pathways were regulated only in LN glomeruli and sCLE rashes, while there were metabolic pathways unique to DLE. CCL21 mRNA expression was specifically up-regulated in sCLE and LN tubulointerstitium and correlated with eGFR, which suggests it may play a role in cutaneous and renal lupus pathogenesis. Conclusions SCLE, which is associated with a higher risk of systemic disease involvement compared with DLE, shares overlapping gene regulation with lupus nephritis. Dendritic cell pathways and associated upregulation of the CCR7 ligand CCL21, that is involved in recruitment of immune effector cells, may serve as a marker for sCLE patients at risk for LN. These data thus identify potentially important molecular targets for novel therapies in cutaneous and renal lupus.
Growth Response of Acer grandidentatum Nutt. to Chilling Treatments

The response of dormant canyon maple (Acer grandidentatum Nutt.) seedlings to chilling was investigated. The most rapid, uniform bud break occurred after the plants were chilled for 1,000 or 1,500 hours at 5°C (41 °F). Plant height and caliper were also greater for chilled plants than unchilled controls. These results suggest that A. grandidentatum production can be accelerated by alternately growing the plants in a greenhouse until growth ceases and then chilling them for at least 1,000 hours to overcome rest.
Relative susceptibility of selected potato cultivars to feeding by two wireworm species at two soil moisture levels

Abstract Tubers from six potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars were exposed to the wireworms Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal) and Glyphonyx bimarginatus (Schaeffer) under no-choice conditions in the laboratory to determine the relative susceptibility of these cultivars to wireworm feeding under high and low soil moisture conditions. Feeding injury by G. bimarginatus was not affected by soil moisture but differed by cultivar. Percent injury, mean number of feeding holes, and volume of tuber consumed were significantly higher in Yukon Gold than all other cultivars. Neither head capsule width nor larval weight affected any of the feeding parameters measured for G. bimarginatus . Injury incidence and number of feeding holes caused by M. communis were significantly higher in high soil moisture conditions; soil moisture had no effect on the volume of tuber consumed. Melanotus communis consumed more tissue from Dark Red Norland and Yukon Gold than all other cultivars. Size of M. communis larvae did not affect any of the feeding parameters measured. This study provides evidence of host plant resistance in commercial potato cultivars and suggests planting less susceptible cultivars could be a viable strategy for integrated pest management of wireworm in potato.
Demand and Supply of Corruption

There is much talk about corruption today in poor, emerging and advanced societies. But what is the meaning of â€œcorruptionâ€? The word has many connotations and denotations, which is conducive to confusion. The Transparency Index (CPI) offers a way to measure the occurrence of corruption, but it is heavily skewed in favour of the advanced nations. It lacks essential conceptual distinctions, covering almost all kinds of economic crime against the public sector, leaving out corruption in the private sector. In a new approach, one must separate between the demand and supply of corruption as real bribery or illegal kickbacks.
Sexual Assault and Dyadic Relationship Satisfaction: Indirect Associations Through Intimacy and Mental Health

Rates of child and adult sexual assault (SA) among women are staggering and place women at risk for intra- and interpersonal difficulties. However, the independent contributions of child and adult SA or the mechanisms of this risk are unknown. This study's goal was to examine the indirect effects of child and adult SA on women's own and partner's relationship functioning through their impact on women's mental health, emotional intimacy, and sexual intimacy. Results revealed that the association of women's child SA with both her own and her partner's relationship satisfaction operated through emotional intimacy. Considerations for the study of women with a history of SA in the context of couple functioning are discussed.
An assessment of high-resolution gridded temperature datasets over California

AbstractHigh-resolution gridded datasets are in high demand because they are spatially complete and include important fine-scale details. Previous assessments have been limited to 2-3 gridded datasets or analyzed the datasets only at the station locations. Here, eight high-resolution gridded temperature datasets are assessed two ways: at the stations, by comparing with Global Historical Climatology Network – Daily data; and away from stations, using physical principles. This assessment includes six station-based datasets, one interpolated reanalysis, and one dynamically downscaled reanalysis. California is used as a test domain because of its complex terrain and coastlines, features known to differentiate gridded datasets. As expected, climatologies of station-based datasets agree closely with station data. However, away from stations, spread in climatologies can exceed 6 °C. Some station-based datasets are very likely biased near the coast and in complex terrain, due to inaccurate lapse rates. Many stati...
The organization of classical and instrumental conditional reactions

This paper makes a theoretical analysis of the process of formation of neural associations among sensory changes produced in the brain by environmental stimuli; it also analyzes the origin of classical and instrumental conditional reactions. It has been proposed that sensory traces of stimuli “intermingle,” forming patterns of associations in “polymodal” structures of the brain. The sensory traces of stronger stimulus dominate over the sensory traces of weaker stimulus in the pattern. An activation of a pattern of associations by any of the stimuli involved releases a reaction typical of the stronger stimulus (called a reinforcing or unconditional stimulus) before the latter is presented. That type of reaction, called classical conditional reaction, is dispensable; it is one of post-reinforcement origin and therefore, is not represented in the pattern of associations. When a physiological act, such as a definite movement (e.g., pressing a bar) must precede the obtaining of the reinforcing stimulus, this physiological act, called an instrumental conditional reaction, is also evoked each time the pattern of associations has been activated. The instrumental conditional reaction is indispensable and, because of its pre-reinforcement origin, belongs, through its sensory feedback, to the pattern of associations.
Accountability Factors Associated with the Delivery of Mental Health Services to Children

This study describes a sample of children served in a community mental health center and identifies factors associated with the delivery of services to them. The data are from a 1993 sample. Results of the analysis indicate the number of sessions, total services and referrals are associated with the presence of treatment plans for children.
Large Scale Cryocooler Development for Superconducting Electric Power Applications (HTS-4)

The Department of Energy is sponsoring work at Praxair for HTS-4 to develop cryocooler hardware for high temperature superconducting electric power applications. The HTS-4 program goals specify an oil-free cryocooler capable of producing 1500 W at 72.5 K and 1050 W at 65 K, with a targeted 30% Carnot efficiency (minimum 25%). This highly reliable system’s availability should be 99.9% (99.8% minimum) with a mean time to repair of 4 hours and a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of 17,520 hours. The target system cost is $40 /watt of cooling at 65 K ($42K), and the maximum allowable cost is $60 /watt ($63K).
Phenylalanine Derivatives as GPR142 Agonists for the Treatment of Type II Diabetes.

Optimization of GPR142 agonists possessing a pyridone-phenylalanine scaffold leads to the discovery of the proof-of-concept compound (I) which reveals in vivo efficacy with dose-dependent increase in insulin secretion and a decrease in glucose levels.
Implementation of a Comprehensive Program for Respiratory Therapists Providing Asthma Education

Background: Asthma is one of the most common treatable diseases of childhood. Patient and family education for self-management and adherence to a treatment plan is key to gaining control of asthma and improving outcomes. Literature supports that knowledge of the asthma condition alone often does not increase patient adherence. Asthma control is dependent on both patient behavior and guideline-based therapies. Thus, educators should impart knowledge using evidence-based learning strategies that impact behavior and empower self-management. These learning strategies include teach-back method (TBM), teach-to-goal (TTG), and motivational interviewing (MI). Many healthcare organizations lack a comprehensive program to train asthma educators on these techniques. Methods: This study was deemed not human subject testing by the local IRB. Fifty observations taken from a respiratory therapist (RT), an asthma education provider, and patients/families were obtained. An assessment tool evaluated if all required topics were discussed and if strategies of TBM, TTG, and MI were utilized. The educators included 12 RTs who routinely perform asthma education. Results: Observations of asthma education encounters indicated RTs were consistent in providing patients/families with scripted information about asthma. Neither TBM, TTG, nor MI were previously part of initial training or competency assessments. Many of the RTs used various communication elements associated with motivational interviewing such as open-ended questions, but there were no interactions where the spirit, process, and communication skills related to MI were used together. The style of verifying inhaler technique varied. Conclusions: A comprehensive education program was warranted to teach RTs learning strategies. The program included e-learning, interactive classroom and education simulation sessions in a dedicated simulation center.
Quantitative assessment of normal adrenal gland metabolic activity using time-of-flight (TOF) with resolution recovery versus non-TOF PET reconstructions

1986 Objectives TOF reconstruction with resolution recovery (TOF-RR) could increase the observed activity in normal adrenal glands without associated pathology over non-TOF reconstruction. This is important as newer PET-CTs are equipped with TOF-RR. This study serves to quantify physiologic activity in normal adrenal glands using different reconstructions to prove increased baseline activity on TOF-RR PET-CT relative to non-TOF PET-CT. Methods Data from 49 consecutive patients who underwent PET-CT were evaluated. Patients were excluded if there was any evidence of adrenal gland disease on CT or other available imaging modalities. TOF-RR, TOF without resolution recovery (TOF only), and non-TOF were reconstructed with OSEM of 3 iterations and 24 subsets. Regions of interest were contoured around the right and left adrenal glands on fused PET-CT images using proprietary software. SUVmax was recorded for each adrenal gland, and comparative statistical analysis was performed. Results Paired t-tests were used to determine if there was a difference between the adrenal gland SUVmax on TOF-RR vs. non-TOF reconstructions. For the left adrenal gland, the mean difference (M=0.1353, SD=0.3791) was statistically significant, t=2.4982, two tail p=0.016. For the right adrenal gland, the mean difference (M=-0.0149, SD=0.3797) was not statistically significant, t=-0.2747, two tail p=0.7847. Additionally, paired t-tests were used to determine if there was a difference between the adrenal gland SUVmax on TOF only vs. non-TOF reconstructions. For both the left and right adrenal glands, the mean difference (M=0.0692, SD=0.3622 and M=0.0106, SD=0.3512, respectively) was not statistically significant (left: t=1.13371, two tail p=0.1875; right: t=0.2115, two tail p=0.8334). Conclusions There is a statistically significant difference in SUVmax for the left adrenal gland between TOF-RR and non-TOF, with increased SUVmax on TOF-RR. This is in keeping with the hypothesis of perceived increased baseline adrenal activity. There is not a statistically significant difference for the right adrenal gland SUVmax between TOF-RR and non-TOF reconstructions. The authors hypothesize that this is likely due to the right adrenal gland’s close proximity to the liver with spurious liver activity making an accurate quantification of activity difficult; hence, the left adrenal gland appears to be a better surrogate to answer this question. Furthermore, there is not a statistically significant difference between TOF only and non-TOF reconstructions, which suggests that the perceived increased activity is primarily due to resolution recovery.
The impact of cell phone use on the intensity and liking of a bout of treadmill exercise.

This study used a within-subjects design to assess the effect of three common cellular telephone (cell phone) functions (texting, talking, listening to music) on planned exercise. Forty-four young adults (n = 33 females, 21.8 ± 1.3 years) each participated in four, separate, 30-minute exercise conditions on a treadmill in a random order. During each condition, the treadmill speed display was covered and grade was fixed at zero. However, participants were able to alter treadmill speed as desired. Throughout the texting and talking conditions, research personnel used a pre-determined script to simulate cell phone conversations. During the music condition, participants used their cell phone to listen to music of their choice. Finally, participants completed a control condition with no cell phone access. For each condition, average treadmill speed, heart rate and liking (via visual analog scale) were assessed. Treadmill speed (3.4 ± 1.3 miles∙hour-1), heart rate (122.3 ± 24.3 beats∙min-1) and liking (7.5 ± 1.5 cm) in the music condition were significantly (p ≤ 0.014) greater than all other conditions. Treadmill speed in the control condition (3.1 ± 1.2 miles∙hour-1) was significantly (p = 0.04) greater than both texting and talking (2.8 ± 1.1 miles∙hour-1 each). Heart rate during the control condition (115.4 ± 22.8 beats∙min-1) was significantly (p = 0.04) greater than texting (109.9 ± 16.4 beats∙min-1) but not talking (112.6 ± 16.1 beats∙min-1). Finally, liking during the talking condition (5.4 ± 2.2 cm) was greater (p = 0.05) than the control (4.3 ± 2.2 cm) but not the texting (5.1 ± 2.2 cm) conditions. In conclusion, using a cell phone for listening to music can increase the intensity (speed and heart rate) and liking of a bout of treadmill exercise. However, other common cell phone uses (texting and talking) can interfere with treadmill exercise and reduce intensity.
Evolution of structural and electrical properties in coal-derived graphene oxide nanomaterials during high-temperature annealing

Abstract Graphene oxide nanomaterials have been synthesized from Powder River Basin coal using an alternative nitric acid method. The absorption at ultraviolet-visible light energies and thermal decomposition properties of GO derived from raw and charred coal are comparable to graphene oxide fabricated using the improved Hummers' method. Similar observations are extended for coal residues, making coal a promising candidate for an environmentally friendly synthesis approach. The electrical conductivity of powder coal char reduced graphene oxide via this new method, is increased to 4800 S m−1 at 2500 °C, comparable to the improved Hummers' method. For coal-derived graphene nanomaterials, an additional Raman feature D″ related to the amorphous phase in carbonaceous materials is found. The consideration of this feature along with the ratio of sp2-hybridized carbon atoms to structural defects, second-order Raman modes, and complementary X-ray diffraction and photoelectron spectroscopy is used to characterize the properties of thermally reduced graphene oxide nanomaterials.
Repairing Organizational Legitimacy Following Information Technology (IT) MaterialWeaknesses: Executive Turnover, IT Expertise, and IT System Upgrades

Since Information Technology (IT)-based internal controls are pivotal in providing access to, and security of, financial records, we argue that an IT-related material weakness (ITMW) is a significant threat to organizational legitimacy. Prior research suggests that firms work to repair legitimacy by disassociation with executives blamed for the deficiency and the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to ensure the problem is addressed (Suchman, 1995). As a test of disassociation, we find that relative to a propensity-score-matched sample of nonITMW firms, ITMW firms experience higher CEO, CFO, and director turnover. As a test of the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to repair organizational legitimacy, we find that ITMW firms hire CEOs, CFOs, and directors with higher levels of IT expertise, and make significant IT system upgrades. We find evidence that ITMW firms remediate deficiencies in a more timely fashion when they appoint a new CFO with IT expertise or upgrade their financial reporting system. Collectively, our results suggest that firms make significant monitoring changes to re-establish organizational legitimacy after receiving an ITMW.
Liver biopsy in cattle

Liver biopsy can be a safe, simple, and reliable technique to obtain information on the liver content of nutrients, drugs, chemicals, and metabolic products. The technique is suitable for a wide variety of research and diagnostic application in cattle. The additional information obtained could contribute to improved and efficient cattle production.
Oxime as a general photocage for the design of visible light photo-activatable fluorophores

Photoactivatable fluorophores have been widely used for tracking molecular and cellular dynamics with subdiffraction resolution. In this work, we have prepared a series of photoactivatable probes using the oxime moiety as a new class of photolabile caging group in which the photoactivation process is mediated by a highly efficient photodeoximation reaction. Incorporation of the oxime caging group into fluorophores results in loss of fluorescence. Upon light irradiation in the presence of air, the oxime-caged fluorophores are oxidized to their carbonyl derivatives, restoring strong fluorophore fluorescence. To demonstrate the utility of these oxime-caged fluorophores, we have created probes that target different organelles for live-cell confocal imaging. We also carried out photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) imaging under physiological conditions using low-power light activation in the absence of cytotoxic additives. Our studies show that oximes represent a new class of visible-light photocages that can be widely used for cellular imaging, sensing, and photo-controlled molecular release.
New Perspectives on Organism-Environment Interactions in Anthropology

Anthropologists contend that the organism-environment connections responsible for human evolution are indirect—mediated by culture. This chapter reviews influential twentieth-century anthropological interpretations of the cultural mediation of human adaptations to environments, arguing that ethnography and other qualitative forms of analysis reveal important phenomena overlooked by quantitative analysts committed to methodological individualism. It highlights work by post-positivist anthropologists, who describe relations among human and non-human organisms, cultural forms, and features of environments as “natural-cultural” networks, an approach reminiscent of developmental systems theory and niche construction. Evolutionary theorists have much to gain by incorporating these sophisticated, contemporary post-positivist anthropological understandings of culture into their models of human-environment connections.
A new related message attack on RSA

Coppersmith, Franklin, Patarin, and Reiter show that given two RSA cryptograms xemod N and (ax+b)emod N for known constants a,b∈ℤN, one can compute x in O(elog 2e) ℤN-operations with some positive error probability. We show that given e cryptograms ci≡ (aix+bi)emod N, i=0,1,...e–1, for any known constants ai,bi∈ℤN, one can deterministically compute x in O(e) ℤN-operations that depend on the cryptograms, after a pre-processing that depends only on the constants. The complexity of the pre-processing is O(elog 2e) ℤN-operations, and can be amortized over many instances. We also consider a special case where the overall cost of the attack is O(e) ℤN-operations. Our tools are borrowed from numerical-analysis and adapted to handle formal polynomials over finite-rings. To the best of our knowledge their use in cryptanalysis is novel.
Program Development Environment for OpenMP Programs on ccNUMA Architectures

OpenMP is emerging as a viable high-level programming model for shared memory parallel systems. Although it has also been implemented on ccNUMA architectures, it is hard to obtain high performance on such systems. In this paper, we discuss various ways in which OpenMP may be used on ccNUMA and NUMA architectures, and describe a programming style that can provide scalable high performance on such systems. We give an example of its use on the SGI Origin 2000, and on TreadMarks, a Software DSM system from Rice University. These results have encouraged us to work on a programming environment that provides general support for OpenMP application development and incorporates a system to translate standard loop-level parallel OpenMP code, with additionaluser input in the form of directives, into an equivalent OpenMP program relying on our alternative programming style. The equivalent program does not use constructs external to OpenMP.
Comparison of heparin and EDTA transport tubes for detection of cytomegalovirus in leukocytes by shell vial assay, pp65 antigenemia assay, and PCR.

The anticoagulants heparin and EDTA were compared for inhibitory effects on the detection of cytomegalovirus from washed leukocytes in specimen transport tubes. Evaluation was made by the centrifugation/shell vial culture technique, the pp65 antigenemia assay, and PCR. For each assay, the results with heparin and EDTA were equivalent. Images
From Molecular Insights to Novel Catalysts Formulation

First-principles methods can be utilized to obtain elementary step mechanisms for chemical reactions on model systems. In this chapter, we will illustrate how this molecular information can be employed to motivate novel heterogeneous catalyst formulations. We will discuss a few examples where first-principles studies on idealized model systems were utilized, along with various experimental tools, to identify alloy catalysts that exhibit improved performance in a number of catalytic processes. We will emphasize the role of molecular approaches in the formulation of these catalysts.
Nutritional epidemiology of cervical neoplasia

There appears to be a natural progression of some preinvasive cervical lesions to more advanced lesions. Although research has evaluated the associations between nutrients and particular preinvasive lesions or invasive disease, little work has been done to compare results across the spectrum of lesions in the progression to invasive disease. This review compiles studies that have evaluated the relation between nutrients and cervical neoplasia and evaluates the general consistency of the literature across stage of disease. Preformed vitamin A does not appear to be related to risk of any preinvasive or invasive lesions, whereas vitamin C has been associated with a reduced risk for dysplasia, in situ cancer, and invasive disease, particularly among smokers. There was evidence of reduced risks associated with various carotenoids and vitamin E at all stages of the disease process, although these studies were inconsistent and further work is needed. Folate was the only nutrient that appeared to be protective for dysplastic lesions and not related to risk of in situ or invasive disease. Red blood cell folate was a better predictor of dysplasia than were serum or dietary folate, and further investigation using this marker of folate status is warranted. Research is needed across a spectrum of lesions within one study, with particular attention to interactions between nutrients and other risk factors for disease.
Contractiveness preserving model reduction of LFT systems

This paper presents a contractiveness preserving model reduction method for general Q-stable linear fractional transformations (LFTs) with guaranteed error bound. The approach is based on balancing positive definite solutions to dual linear matrix inequalities for contractiveness. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed model reduction method. >
Effect of temperature variations and thermal noise on the static and dynamic behavior of straintronics devices

A theoretical model quantifying the effect of temperature variations on the magnetic properties and static and dynamic behavior of the straintronics magnetic tunneling junction is presented. Four common magnetostrictive materials (Nickel, Cobalt, Terfenol-D, and Galfenol) are analyzed to determine their temperature sensitivity and to provide a comprehensive database for different applications. The variations of magnetic anisotropies are studied in detail for temperature levels up to the Curie temperature. The energy barrier of the free layer and the critical voltage required for flipping the magnetization vector are inspected as important metrics that dominate the energy requirements and noise immunity when the device is incorporated into large systems. To study the dynamic thermal noise, the effect of the Langevin thermal field on the free layer's magnetization vector is incorporated into the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. The switching energy, flipping delay, write, and hold error probabilities are studied, which are important metrics for nonvolatile memories, an important application of the straintronics magnetic tunneling junctions.
Techniques to Ablate Premature Ventricular Ectopy Arising from the Coronary Sinus System

Frequent ventricular ectopy is often the cause of debilitating symptoms, even in the absence of structural heart disease or malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Mapping and ablation technology has evolved to offer permanent elimination of the ventricular ectopy as a means to manage symptoms. The majority of idiopathic ventricular ectopy originate from the endocardium, but some can only be ablated using an epicardial approach.1–3 This paper describes two case reports that highlight some challenges of ablating symptomatic premature ventricular contractions arising from the coronary sinus system (CSS). (PACE 2011; 34:e74–e77)
Strength model of adhesive-bonded double-lap joints under cantilevered bending

The objective of this study was to develop mathematical relations for predicting the strength of adhesive-bonded double-lap joints under cantilevered bending. Based on the strength of composite materials theory, two models were proposed to predict the stress-strain distribution and vertical deflection of the laminates and the adhesive under this loading condition. The first model was based on the basic beam theory with the assumption that every cross section in a plane before bending remains plane after the bending load is applied. In the other model, a strain gap between each bonded surface is assumed. Based on the second model and the predicted peel failure mode, the effects of shear modulus of the adhesive, joint length, and adhesive thickness on the joint strength were evaluated. Scotchply composite laminates were used as the adherends of the double-lap joints in the experimental investigation. An Instron machine fitted with a special apparatus was used for conducting the experiments. By the attachment of strain gages to the adherends and through the use of a dial indicator, the theoretical models were verified experimentally.
Polycarbonate-modified epoxies. I. Studies on the reactions of epoxy resin/polycarbonate blends prior to cure

An epoxy resin based upon the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A was modified with poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PC). Prior to aromatic amine cure, the possible reactions in the epoxy resin/PC blend were investigated using GPC and FTIR techniques. It was shown that at 150°C, the epoxy resin acted as a plasticizer and promoted the crystallization of PC. In addition, a transesterification between the secondary hydroxyl groups in the epoxy resin with the carbonate groups in PC occurred. This reaction resulted in degraded PC chains with phenolic hydroxyl end groups. There was no evidence of reaction of epoxide groups at 150°C in this blend. At 200°C, the secondary hydroxyl groups acted as a catalyst converting most of the aromatic-aromatic carbonates to the aromatic-aliphatic and aliphatic-aliphatic carbonates through transesterification. At this elevated temperature, the secondary hydroxyl groups were regenerated by the addition reaction between the epoxide groups and the phenolic hydroxyl end groups, either from the transesterification or the hydrolysis of PC. This addition reaction combining the PC chains and epoxy chains eventually resulted in a crosslinked polymer if the extent of reaction was high. Thus, by using a melt blending process at high temperature, e.g., 200°C, a copolymer network structure of PC-modified epoxy could be formed. The fracture toughness should be increased by increasing the capability for plastic deformation due to the incorporation of PC chains into the network ; results will be reported in a future study.
Comparative kinetics and dynamics of zaleplon, zolpidem, and placebo

Purpose This study evaluated the relationship of dose, plasma concentration, and time to the pharmaco-dynamics of zaleplon and zolpidem, 2 structurally distinct benzodiazepine receptor agonists. Method Ten healthy male volunteers received single oral doses of placebo, 10 mg zaleplon, 20 mg zaleplon, 10 mg zolpidem, and 20 mg zolpidem in a double-blind, 5-condition crossover study, with 48 hours elapsing between trials. Plasma drug concentrations and pharmacodynamic effects were measured during the 8 to 24 hours after administration. Results Kinetics of zaleplon and zolpidem were not significantly related to dose. However, zaleplon had more rapid elimination (apparent elimination half-life [t½] of 1 hour) and higher apparent oral clearance (approximately 4300 mL/min) than zolpidem (t½, 2.0 to 2.2 hours; apparent oral clearance, 340 to 380 mL/min). Active treatments produced pharmacodynamic effects consistent with benzodiazepine agonist activity: self- and observer-rated sedation, impairment of digit symbol substitution test (DSST) performance, impaired memory, and increased electroencephalographic activity in the beta frequency range. The overall order of agonist potency was as follows: placebo < 10 mg zaleplon < 20 mg zaleplon < 10 mg zolpidem < 20 mg zolpidem; on a number of measures, 20 mg zaleplon was comparable to 10 mg zolpidem. Quantitative effects of zolpidem 20 mg far exceeded those of other treatments. Dynamic effects of both drugs were significantly related to plasma concentration. Conclusions Benzodiazepine agonist effects of zaleplon and zolpidem were dose and concentration dependent. At the usual clinically effective hypnotic dose (10 mg of either drug), agonist effects of zolpidem exceeded those of zaleplon. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1998) 64, 553–561; doi:
Validating the Need to Validate Code

© 2005 American Institute of Physics, S-0031-9228-0508-220-7 Validating the Need to Validate Code T article “Computational Science Demands a New Paradigm” by Douglass Post and Lawrence Votta (PHYSICS TODAY, January 2005, page 35) makes some good points about the pitfalls of believing computed physics. The authors propose several criteria for verification and validation of large computational models for making public-policy decisions. Among other examples, they mention climate-change calculations. The article’s figure 5 shows several famous bridges, including as the third example the infamous “Galloping Gertie,” the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State, which collapsed in 1940. In that case, previous designs were pushed too far, with just one little thing forgotten: resonance! The film of that collapse is still often used in physics classes to dramatize the importance of resonance. Post and Votta “assert that computational science is currently in the midst of” the stage where computing power makes it possible to outrun good engineering judgment. The Kyoto Protocol to curtail CO2 emissions was based on a global circulation model from 1994, now a full decade old. It left out the importance of clouds, because they were just too difficult to model. That model was never even successful in accurately describing the past: It violates the first validation criterion given by Post and Votta. Nevertheless, international policymakers have not attended to validation criteria, have never doubted the truth of the model, and have gathered momentum toward implementing the Kyoto Protocol. Consequently, large economic impact is associated with those computational results. The Galloping Gertie of environmental science is the Kyoto Protocol. Unless computational scientists learn from its shortcomings, it will discredit future attempts to predict climate change. Thomas P. Sheahen (tsheahen@alum.mit.edu) Deer Park, Maryland
Robust hypothesis tests for independence in community assembly

The extent to which competition affects the distributions of species at large spatial scales is unclear. To evaluate this question, hypothesis tests that do not depend on parametric assumptions are needed. Here, we develop a broadly applicable test that requires only one parametric assumption. Letting i and j denote the ith and jth colonists to arrive at a site, respectively, and \({\langle ij \rangle}\) the event that i and j belong to the same “unit” (e.g., functional group, genus), we show how colonists will be partitioned into units if for all i and j, \({\langle ij \rangle}\) is independent of whether i and j share unit membership with the other colonists, conditional on other information about shared units. Our distribution of partitions is useful for inferring competitive effects, because these effects predict that for at least one i and j, \({P(\langle ij \rangle)}\) will be less when i and j share unit membership than when they do not.
Cleavage Reactions in Crosslinked Urethan Elastomers

Abstract : A study of network cleavage in a crosslinked polyurethane elastomer was made using the technique of stress relaxation. It was found that the data could be well represented by a sum of two exponential decay terms, and a theoretical explanation for this is presented. Stress relaxation in the polyurethane sample investigated is discussed in terms of the reversible cleavage of various linkages formed by isocyanate reactions. It is possible to identify two different decay processes and obtain activation energies for these processes. These are identified with cleavage of two different linkages. It is not possible at present to give a certain chemical identification of the linkages responsible for stress decay. (Author)
Transmission loss analysis of single-inlet/double-outlet (SIDO) and double-inlet/single-outlet (DISO) circular chamber mufflers by using Green’s function method

Abstract A Green’s function solution method is implemented to study sound attenuation in single-inlet/double-outlet (SIDO) and double-inlet/single-outlet (DISO) circular chamber mufflers. The mufflers are modeled as piston driven rigid circular chambers containing a stationary fluid. The pistons are assumed to perform simple harmonic motion with uniform velocities. Velocity potential in the chamber is derived as a superposition of three dimensional velocity potential due to each piston. Pressure field in the chamber is calculated from the velocity potential through conservation of linear momentum equation. Acoustic pressure acting on each piston is calculated by averaging over the surface of the piston. Transmission loss (TL) is evaluated from incident and transmitted acoustic energy. TL curves for various inlet/outlet orientations derived from this method is validated with results obtained from the literature. The effect of locations of inlet/outlet on TL is studied.
Quantum electrodynamics and radiation reaction: Nonrelativistic atomic frequency shifts and lifetimes

We present a quantum electrodynamic treatment of radiative corrections in atoms which is patterned after Lorentz's classical work on radiation damping. Expressions for both radiative lifetimes and frequency shifts are calculated through second order in the electric charge for a fictitious two-level model atom and for a spinless one-electron atom with an infinite number of arbitrarily spaced energy levels. In order to apply the classical ideas of Lorentz to quantum-electrodynamic problems of this kind we work directly with the relevant dynamical variables of the atom and field. The calculations are carried out entirely in the Heisenberg picture by recognizing the importance of radiation reaction. The quantized-field operator equations are integrated with the aid of a Markov approximation. The part of the integrated field that arises from the atomic electron current operator, the radiation-reaction field, is shown to be solely responsible for the atom's linewidths and frequency shifts. It is clear that it is unnecessary to invoke vacuum fluctuations at any stage. The usual quantum electrodynamic exponential decay law is found to govern the expectation values of the energy and dipole moment of the atom as well as the radiated-field amplitude. The theory nevertheless remains unitary. The Heisenberg operator commutation relations are shown to be valid at all times, and the Markov approximation is justified for times longer than a reciprocal transition frequency.