cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Program on the surgical control of the hyperlipidemias: 1994 report

The Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH), a randomized clinical trial, tested the hypothesis that cholesterol modification induced by partial ileal bypass would favorably affect mortality and morbidity due to coronary heart disease (CHD). The study population consisted of 838 patients (417 in the control group and 421 in the surgery group) in four clinical centers, both men (90.7%) and women with an average age of 51 years who had survived a first myocardial infarction. The lipid changes in POSCH have been the most marked in any atherosclerosis intervention trial utilizing a single mode of intervention in addition to diet therapy. At 5 years, the surgery group, compared with the control group, had a 23.3 ± 1.0% (mean ± SE) lower total plasma cholesterol level (p < 0.0001), a 37.7 ± 1.2% lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (p < 0.0001), and a 4.3 ± 1.8% higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (p = 0.02). For the combined end point of CHD mortality and confirmed nonfatal myocardial infarction, there was a 35.0% reduction in the surgery group (p < 0.001). Coronary artery bypass grafting was reduced in the surgery group by 62.0% (p < 0.0001) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was reduced by 55.0% (p < 0.01). A comparison of baseline coronary arteriograms with those obtained at 3, 5, 7, and 10 years consistently showed less atherosclerosis disease progression (p < 0.001) and greater atherosclerosis disease regression at 5 and 7 years (p < 0.01) in the surgery group. At formal trial completion in July 1990, the overall mortality in the surgery subgroup with an ejection fraction of 50% or greater was 36.1% lower (p = 0.02). During subsequent follow-up, trends toward statistical significance for differences in both CHD and in overall mortality have become evident. The POSCH results provide strong support for beneficial clinical and arteriographic reduction of atherosclerosis progression after lipid modification by partial ileal bypass.
Polyploidy and invasion of English ivy (Hedera spp., Araliaceae) in North American forests

Polyploidy is a common feature of agricultural weeds and natural area invaders. There are few studies comparing related diploid and polyploid exotics, however, and it is unclear what ecological and genetic factors favor the establishment of weedy polyploids. This research characterizes the geographic distribution and phenotypic characteristics of diploid Hedera helix and tetraploid Hedera hibernica, European species that are invading North American forests. To confirm the taxonomic affinity of invasive plants, we sequenced five non-coding cpDNA regions for 108 individuals (105 populations) as well as reference samples representing all species in the genus Hedera. Because diploid H. helix and tetraploid H. hibernica are poorly distinguished by morphology and DNA sequence, we used flow cytometry to determine their distribution (585 individuals). More than 90 % of sampled plants had cpDNA sequences identical or similar to H. helix sensu lato and H. hibernica. Diploid H. helix was dominant on the U.S. east coast (78.5 % of sampled plants) while tetraploid H. hibernica was dominant on the U.S. west coast (72.2 % of sampled plants), mirroring the species’ occurrence in maritime versus continental climates of Europe. Moreover, for sympatric occurrences in the Pacific Northwest, H. hibernica was larger and more frequently reproductive than H. helix. In a 2-year garden experiment, tetraploid H. hibernica had substantial architectural differences compared to diploid H. helix, including larger (but less numerous) leaves and thicker (but less branched) stems. Field experiments are needed to evaluate “pre-adaptation” (directional ecological filtering) and other factors mediating the invasion of H. helix and H. hibernica.
Preterm premature rupture of membranes: Vascular endothelial growth factor and its association with histologic chorioamnionitis

Abstract Objective: We hypothesize that vascular endothelial growth factor, a known angiogenic and permeability factor that is locally expressed in fetal membranes and decidua, may be the primary regulator in the pathway that eventually leads to preterm premature rupture of membranes. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that, both in the presence and in the absence of histologic chorioamnionitis, there is an increased expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and its receptor Flt-1 in the human fetal membranes. Study Design: Membranes were sampled from a region that was distinct as the rupture site from three groups of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes. Groups 1 and 2 differed only in the length of the latency period from rupture of the membranes to delivery. Group 3 included preterm patients with intact membranes, who acted as control subjects. All patients who were selected for the study lacked clinical signs of chorioamnionitis and were delivered by cesarean delivery. Tissue samples were analyzed for interleukin-6 gene expression by Northern blot analysis and for the presence of interleukin-6 protein by immunocytochemistry. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and Flt-1 genes was analyzed by in situ hybridization. Results: All tissue samples from group 1 and five tissue samples from group 2 (designated as group 2A) showed expression of the interleukin-6 gene and the presence of interleukin-6 protein in the fetal membranes ( P P Conclusion: The expression patterns of vascular endothelial growth factor and Flt-1 genes are indicative of a molecular pathologic condition of fetal membranes, regardless of their inflammatory status, which suggests their role as a primary regulator of preterm premature rupture of membranes. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1131-6.)
Control of centrosome reproduction: The right number at the right time

It is of great importance for the cell to precisely coordinate the doubling of the interphase centrosome with nuclear events during the cell cycle and limit the number of centrosomes it contains at the onset of mitosis to two and only two. The penalties for mistakes are abnormal spindle assembly, inappropriate chromosome distribution, and consequently, genomic instability. We review the functional properties of the mechanisms that control when the centrosome duplicates in the cell cycle and the controls for centrosome copy number. We look to limits that are intrinsic to the centrosome itself and controls imposed by cell cycle linked changes in cytoplasmic conditions. Control of centrosome reproduction is exercised at both levels.
Burst-duration mechanism of in-phase bursting in inhibitory networks

We study the emergence of in-phase and anti-phase synchronized rhythms in bursting networks of Hodgkin-Huxley-type neurons connected by inhibitory synapses. We show that when the state of the individual neuron composing the network is close to the transition from bursting into tonic spiking, the appearance of the network’s synchronous rhythms becomes sensitive to small changes in parameters and synaptic coupling strengths. This bursting-spiking transition is associated with codimension-one bifurcations of a saddle-node limit cycle with homoclinic orbits, first described and studied by Leonid Pavlovich Shilnikov. By this paper, we pay tribute to his pioneering results and emphasize their importance for understanding the cooperative behavior of bursting neurons. We describe the burst-duration mechanism of inphase synchronized bursting in a network with strong repulsive connections, induced by weak inhibition. Through the stability analysis, we also reveal the dual property of fast reciprocal inhibition to establish in- and anti-phase synchronized bursting.
Temperature-Programmed Desorption Investigation of the Adsorption and Reaction of Butene Isomers on Pt(111) and Ordered Pt−Sn Surface Alloys

The influence of alloyed Sn on the chemistry of C4 butene isomers, including 1-butene, cis-2-butene, and isobutene, chemisorbed on Pt(111) was investigated by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). Pt−Sn alloy chemistry was probed by investigation of two ordered surface alloys formed when Sn atoms were incorporated within the topmost layer on a Pt(111) substrate to form a (2 × 2) Sn/Pt(111) alloy with ϑSn = 0.25 and a (√3 × √3)R30° Sn/Pt(111) alloy with ϑSn = 0.33. Low-coverage states of chemisorbed 1-butene, cis-2-butene, and isobutene on Pt(111) have desorption activation energies of 17.5, 17, and 17 kcal/mol, respectively. These energies are reduced to 16, 15.5, and 15 kcal/mol on the (2 × 2) alloy and 13.5, 12, and 11 kcal/mol on the (√3 × √3)R30° alloy. Changing the surface Sn concentration from ϑSn = 0.25 to ϑSn = 0.33 causes a relatively larger decrease in the chemisorption bond strength of these alkenes, and we associ...
Evaluating the relationship between AVIRIS water vapor and poplar plantation evapotranspiration

[1] Remotely sensed data acquired using the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) at two irrigated hybrid poplar plantation sites located in Oregon and Washington States were used to assess the feasibility of using AVIRIS retrieved column water vapor as a measure of evapotranspiration (ET) of poplar plantations. AVIRIS data collected on four different days in the summers of 1996, 1997 and 1998 were used to derive column water vapor over the sites. To relate column water vapor to poplar ET, we developed a hypothesis, which was used to infer the relationship between the two variables. The approach tested consisted of delineating homogenous vegetated patches and averaging the column water vapor to determine the downwind spatial distribution pattern (trend) in the water vapor signal. The results indicate that the poplars were transpiring at rates characteristic of vegetation under unlimited soil moisture conditions and that the vertical distribution of water vapor was chiefly driven by forced convection. The concentration and the observed trends in the column of water vapor over the vegetated patches were related to the moisture condition of the land cover upwind of their location, and the trends were best described by linear or quadratic functions. To give an idea of the strength of moisture flux in the AVIRIS vapor signal, latent heat fluxes were estimated, based on the slope of the trends. Comparison of the AVIRIS values with flux estimates at the Boardman site lend credence to the potential for AVIRIS retrieved column water vapor in fields such as ecology, agriculture and meteorology.
The sample tree: a sequential hypothesis testing approach to 3D object recognition

A method is presented for efficient and reliable object recognition within noisy, cluttered, and occluded range images. The method is based on a strategy which hypothesizes the intersection of the object with some selected image point, and searches for additional surface data at locations relative to that point. At each increment, the image is queried for the existence of surface data at a specific spatial location, and the set of possible object poses is further restricted. Eventually, either the object is identified and localized, or the initial hypothesis is refuted. The strategy is implemented in the discrete domain as a binary decision tree classifier. The tree leaf nodes represent individual voxel templates of the model. The internal tree nodes represent the union of the templates of their descendant leaf nodes. The union of all leaf node templates is the complete template set of the model over its discrete pose space. Each internal node also references a single voxel which is the most common element of its child node templates. Traversing the tree is equivalent to efficiently matching the large set of templates at a selected image seed location. The process is approximately 3 orders of magnitude more efficient than brute-force template matching. Experimental results are presented in which objects are reliably recognized and localized in 6 dimensions in less than 60 seconds within noisy and significantly occluded range images.
Web services for multiplatform exploratory analysis of level 2 and 3 NEWS merged A-Train data

To simplify access to large and complex satellite data sets for climate analysis and model verification, a service-oriented architecture-based tool was developed to help study long-term and global-scale trends in climate, water and energy cycle, and weather variability. NASA's A-Train satellite constellation set of Level 2 data can be used to enable creation of climatologies that include correlation between observed temperature, water vapor and cloud properties from the A-Train sensors. However, the volume and inhomogeneity of Level 2 data have typically been difficult or time consuming to search and acquire. This tends to result in small-scale or short-term analysis. Instead of imposing on the user an often rigid and limiting web-based analysis environment, we recognize the need for well-designed distributed services so that users can perform analysis in their own familiar computing environments. Voluminous merged Level 2 data containing the various instrument data from the A-Train have recently been generated. Scientists next want to efficiently access selected sets of this merged data and perform their analysis. Server-side capabilities were developed to off-load processing and reduce the amount of data to be transferred to the client. Correspondingly, client-side processing APIs were developed to enable scientists to perform analysis of voluminous server-side data from within their own familiar computing environment (Java, Python, Matlab, IDL, C/C++, and Fortran90).
Affect Intensity Analysis of Dark Web Forums

Affects play an important role in influencing people's perceptions and decision making. Affect analysis is useful for measuring the presence of hate, violence, and the resulting propaganda dissemination across extremist groups. In this study we performed affect analysis of U.S. and Middle Eastern extremist group forum postings. We constructed an affect lexicon using a probabilistic disambiguation technique to measure the usage of violence and hate affects. These techniques facilitate in depth analysis of multilingual content. The proposed approach was evaluated by applying it across 16 U.S. supremacist and Middle Eastern extremist group forums. Analysis across regions reveals that the Middle Eastern test bed forums have considerably greater violence intensity than the U.S. groups. There is also a strong linear relationship between the usage of hate and violence across the Middle Eastern messages.
Issues in cold start emission control for automotive IC engines

We consider the problem of reducing unburned tailpipe hydrocarbon (HC) emissions for internal combustion engines during the "cold start" period. Using Pareto-optimization, a cold start engine and catalyst model, the trade-offs between rapid catalyst "light-off" and reduction in unburned HC are analyzed. The effects of different operating constraints and catalyst light-off characteristics on the optimization results are also discussed.
Developmentally linked changes in proteases and protease inhibitors suggest a role for potato multicystatin in regulating protein content of potato tubers.

The soluble protein fraction of fully developed potato (Solanumtuberosum L.) tubers is dominated by patatin, a 40 kD storage glycoprotein, and protease inhibitors. Potato multicystatin (PMC) is a multidomain Cys-type protease inhibitor. PMC effectively inhibits degradation of patatin by tuber proteases in vitro. Herein we show that changes in PMC, patatin concentration, activities of various proteases, and their gene expression are temporally linked during tuber development, providing evidence that PMC has a role in regulating tuber protein content in vivo. PMC was barely detectable in non-tuberized stolons. PMC transcript levels increased progressively during tuberization, concomitant with a 40-fold increase in PMC concentration (protein basis) as tubers developed to 10 g fresh wt. Further increases in PMC were comparatively modest (3.7-fold) as tubers developed to full maturity (250 g). Protease activity declined precipitously as PMC levels increased during tuberization. Proteolytic activity was highest in non-tuberized stolons and fell substantially through the 10-g fresh wt stage. Cys-type proteases dominated the pre-tuberization and earliest stages of tuber development. Increases in patatin transcript levels during tuberization were accompanied by a notable lag in patatin accumulation. Patatin did not begin to accumulate substantially on a protein basis until tubers had reached the 10-g stage, wherein protease activity had been inhibited by approximately 60%. These results indicate that a threshold level of PMC (ca. 3 µg tuber−1, 144 ng mg−1 protein) is needed to favor patatin accumulation. Collectively, these results are consistent with a role for PMC in facilitating the accumulation of proteins in developing tubers by inhibiting Cys-type proteases.
Validation study of automated dermal/epidermal junction localization algorithm in reflectance confocal microscopy images of skin

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has seen increasing clinical application for noninvasive diagnosis of skin cancer. Identifying the location of the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) in the image stacks is key for effective clinical imaging. For example, one clinical imaging procedure acquires a dense stack of 0.5×0.5mm FOV images and then, after manual determination of DEJ depth, collects a 5×5mm mosaic at that depth for diagnosis. However, especially in lightly pigmented skin, RCM images have low contrast at the DEJ which makes repeatable, objective visual identification challenging. We have previously published proof of concept for an automated algorithm for DEJ detection in both highly- and lightly-pigmented skin types based on sequential feature segmentation and classification. In lightly-pigmented skin the change of skin texture with depth was detected by the algorithm and used to locate the DEJ. Here we report on further validation of our algorithm on a more extensive collection of 24 image stacks (15 fair skin, 9 dark skin). We compare algorithm performance against classification by three clinical experts. We also evaluate inter-expert consistency among the experts. The average correlation across experts was 0.81 for lightly pigmented skin, indicating the difficulty of the problem. The algorithm achieved epidermis/dermis misclassification rates smaller than 10% (based on 25×25 mm tiles) and average distance from the expert labeled boundaries of ~6.4 μm for fair skin and ~5.3 μm for dark skin, well within average cell size and less than 2x the instrument resolution in the optical axis.
Protein-energy malnutrition in older subjects.

The concept of old age is not a new one. Many of the ancient Greek philosophers lived long and full lives, e.g. Isocrates 98 years, Sophocles 91 years, Plat0 8 1 years. The bible refers to the extreme longevity of personages such as Methusaleh. What is new is the greying of populations as opposed to the successful ageing of a few individuals. By the year 2000, approximately two-thirds of the elderly in the world will live in developing countries, e.g. 300 million in China and 170 million in India. By the year 2030, the percentage of older individuals in the population of most developed nations will be approaching 20 %. Individuals over the age of 65 years are faced by a number of challenges that increase the chance of them developing protein-energy malnutrition. These challenges include difficulty in shopping (1 1 %), in preparing meals (7 %), inability to self-feed (27 %), poverty (15 %), social isolation (30 %), impaired mobility (87 %), visual deficits (8 %), dental problems (16 %), and difficulty in chewing (35 %). As will be further explored later in the present article (pp. 588-589), the development of protein-energy malnutrition is directly responsible for a number of disease processes and functional impairment in old age. Protein-nergy malnutrition is a major problem in older subjects. While estimates of its prevalence vary, it has been reported to be present to some degree in 15 % of community-dwelling older subjects (Morley et al. 1989). Severe protein-energy malnutrition occurs in 10-38 % of older outpatients (Miller et al. 1990; Wallace et al. 1995; Wilson et al. 1998), 5-12 % of homebound patients (Morley, 1997), 26-65 % of hospitalized patients (Linn & Jensen, 1984; Morley et aE. 1989) and 5-85 % of institutionalized older subjects (Sandman et al. 1987; Johnson et al. 1993; Silver et al. 1993; Morley & Silver, 1995). While proteinenergy malnutrition is extremely common in older subjects, its presence is rarely recognized by physicians, and even when recognized, it is even more rarely treated (Miller et al. 1990; Wilson et al. 1998). The physiological anorexia of ageing
Beyond rationality: The content of preferences

The BDT literature has largely focused on demonstrations of violations of rationality (i.e. consistency) in individual decision making and has had little to say about the content of preferences. While researchers concluded that inconsistency implied preferences were constructed, some went so far as to presume that since preferences are constructed, substantive preferences do not exist prior to their revelation. In other words, they extended the findings that individuals do not always know exactly what they want to imply that consumer's do not have any substantive preferences. This clearly overstepped the bounds of the evidence, which was agnostic toward the existence of reasonably stable substantive preferences. We applaud Simonson for calling attention to this point. While we do not believe that Simonson's “inherent preferences” lead to preference orders that behave any more rationally or consistently than those studied in the BDT literature, we nevertheless join him in his call for further research into the content of preferences and make a variety of suggestions about where that research will bear most fruit.
Crop-Yield Distributions Revisited

This article revisits the issue of crop-yield distributions using improved model specifications, estimation, and testing procedures that address the concerns raised in recent literature, which could have invalidated previous findings of yield nonnormality. It concludes that some aggregate and farm-level yield distributions are nonnormal, kurtotic, and right or left skewed, depending on the circumstances. The advantages of utilizing nonnormal versus normal probability distribution function models, and the consequences of incorrectly assuming crop-yield normality are explored.
Molecular Imaging of Bacterial Infections in vivo: The Discrimination between Infection and Inflammation

Molecular imaging by definition is the visualization of molecular and cellular processes within a given system. The modalities and reagents described here represent a diverse array spanning both pre-clinical and clinical applications. Innovations in probe design and technologies would greatly benefit therapeutic outcomes by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and assessment of acute therapy. Opportunistic pathogens continue to pose a worldwide threat, despite advancements in treatment strategies, which highlights the continued need for improved diagnostics. In this review, we present a summary of the current clinical protocol for the imaging of a suspected infection, methods currently in development to optimize this imaging process, and finally, insight into endocarditis as a model of infectious disease in immediate need of improved diagnostic methods.
Election and the Trinity: Theses in response to George Hunsinger

The theses offered here for discussion constitute a response to theses published by my Princeton Theological Seminary colleague, George Hunsinger. The debate carried out between us has to do not only with the question of how Karl Barth's theology is to be understood, but also with how his theology is to be taken up today in order address pressing issues of concern. As the debate has unfolded, it has centred upon three areas of questioning: 1) the genetic-historical question of how Karl Barth's theology developed, whether his mind changed on important issues and in what way; 2) the question of whether Barth's later christology (in volume IV of the Church Dogmatics) would require modifications to be made in his earlier treatment of the doctrine of the Trinity (in CD I/1), his christology (in CD I/2) and of the being and perfections of God (in CD II/1); and 3) the question of the logical relationship between God's eternal act of election (as treated by Barth in CD II/2) and God's triunity. The last question does indeed take me beyond Barth, but it does so in a way that does full justice to the christological commitments found in his doctrine of reconciliation. The position I set forth here is one I have held to with a high degree of consistency since 1994 – which means that it antedates the publication of my book on Barth's theological development in 1995. Since that time, I have been engaged in a process of further elaboration and clarification.
Crisis negotiations: A Preliminary investigation of facework in naturalistic conflict discourse

Abstract This article views crisis negotiations from an interaction goal perspective, with facework constituting a significant and heretofore unexplored dimension of interaction. We present a three‐dimensional model of facework used in coding perpetrator and negotiator discourse for face behaviors within three authentic negotiation interactions. Results indicate that Restore Other's Face and Restore Self's Face were the two predominant facework behaviors. While negotiators were the primary users of Restore Other's Face acts, perpetrators used mostly Restore Self's Face behaviors. No Attack Other's Face acts were observed. However, of five Attack Self's Face behaviors enacted, four occurred in a negotiation which ended in the suicide of the perpetrator. Lag sequential analysis revealed a general cycle of perpetrator use of Restore Self's Face and negotiator use of Restore Other's Face. Implications of these findings for future research and for training crisis negotiators are discussed.
Altered prolactin response to M-chlorophenylpiperazine in monkeys previously treated with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or fenfluramine.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“Ecstasy,” MDMA) and fenfluramine, widely used by humans, are potent brain serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxins in animals. Thus, there is concern that humans previously exposed to these amphetamine derivatives may have incurred brain 5-HT neurotoxicity. However, assessing the status of brain 5-HT neurons in the living organism is challenging. To determine whether MDMA- and/or fenfluramine-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity can be detected during life using neuroendocrine methods, groups of monkeys previously treated with neurotoxic regimens of MDMA or fenfluramine, along with saline-treated controls, underwent neuroendocrine challenge with the direct 5-HT agonist and 5-HT-releasing drug, m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP). Animals treated 2 weeks previously with MDMA exhibited a nonsignificant reduction in the prolactin response to m-CPP. In contrast, monkeys treated 3½ years previously with MDMA or 2 years previously with fenfluramine exhibited significantly increased prolactin responses to m-CPP. No significant differences in cortisol concentrations were noted between groups at any time point. These data indicate that neuroendocrine challenge with m-CPP is capable of detecting substituted amphetamine-induced 5-HT neurotoxicity in living primates, but that the recency of drug exposure is an important consideration. Changes in the neuroendocrine response to m-CPP over time in animals with substituted amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity may be related to aberrant 5-HT reinnervation of the basal forebrain that occurs over time in monkeys previously treated with neurotoxic doses of MDMA or fenfluramine. Synapse 44:51–57, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An antiviral RISC isolated from Tobacco rattle virus-infected plants

The RNAi model predicts that during antiviral defense a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) is programmed with viral short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to target the cognate viral RNA for degradation. We show that infection of Nicotiana benthamiana with Tobacco rattle virus (TRV) activates an antiviral nuclease that specifically cleaves TRV RNA in vitro. In agreement with known RISC properties, the nuclease activity was inhibited by NaCl and EDTA and stimulated by divalent metal cations; a novel property was its preferential targeting of elongated RNA molecules. Intriguingly, the specificity of the TRV RISC could be reprogrammed by exogenous addition of RNA (containing siRNAs) from plants infected with an unrelated virus, resulting in a newly acquired ability of RISC to target this heterologous genome in vitro. Evidently the virus-specific nuclease complex from N. benthamiana represents a genuine RISC that functions as a readily employable and reprogrammable antiviral defense unit.
Influence of oviposition strategy of Nemorilla pyste and Nilea erecta (Diptera: Tachinidae) on parasitoid fertility and host mortality

Abstract This study examined fertility of the tachinid (Diptera) parasitoids Nemorilla pyste (Walker) and Nilea erecta (Coquillett), and mortality of the host, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). These are common parasitoids of mature C. rosaceana larvae in apple and sweet cherry orchards in central Washington where C. rosaceana is an important pest. The parasitoids have similar phenology and use the same stages of the host, but their modes of attack and development in the host differ. N. pyste oviposits on the host and develops gregariously, while N. erecta ovolarviposits on foliage near the host and develops solitarily. Life tables were used to compare adult longevity and fertility of these flies at three different host densities in laboratory cage experiments. Results suggested that although population growth rates of these species were similar under the experimental conditions, N. erecta had a greater effect on mortality of the host population. This additional mortality was attributed to superparasitism because it occurred in host larvae at a higher rate than expected from natural causes, and it occurred more frequently when fewer hosts were available to N. erecta females. A supplemental experiment demonstrated that host larvae that were manually infected with N. erecta maggots to simulate superparasitism expressed high rates of larval mortality. Thus, even though N. erecta had a greater effect on the host population, reproductive opportunity was lost to superparasitism. These findings may demonstrate certain situational disadvantages of ovolarviposition as a reproductive strategy, and illustrate how parasitism effects may be underestimated in field sampling.
Durkheim's "Heroic Suicide" in Military Combat

Durkheim's neglected concept, heroic suicide, was explored using Congressional Medal of Honor data. All cases meeting the criteria for heroic altruistic suicide in military combat (n=125) were sele...
Albedo of a Dissipating Snow Cover

Abstract Albedos of surfaces covered with 50 cm of fresh dry snow following a major U.S. East Coast storm on 11–12 February 1983 ranged from 0.20 over a mixed coniferous forest to 0.80 over open farmland. As the snow cover dissipated, albedo decreased in a quasi-linear fashion over forests. It dropped rapidly at first, then slowly, over shrubland; while the opposite was observed over farmland. Following the melt, the albedo of snowfree surfaces ranged from 0.07 over a predominantly wet peat field to 0.20 over a field covered with corn stubble and yellow grass. The difference between snow-covered and snowfree albedo was 0.72 over the peaty field and 0.10 over the mixed forest. Visible band (0.28–0.69 μm) reflectivities of snow-covered fields and shrubland were higher than those in the near-infrared (0.69–2.80 μm), whereas the opposite was true over mixed coniferous forests. Visible and near-infrared reflectivities were approximately equal over deciduous forests. Data were collected in a series of low-altit...
Role of Ceruloplasmin in Copper Transport

Copper in a biological setting is primarily an essential metal cofactor for numerous biocatalysts. Transport systems that specifically handle copper are known to exist but have not been fully characterized. We are left, therefore, with an incomplete understanding as to how copper becomes incorporated into cells and into the cellular enzymes. In this paper we discuss the evidence that ceruloplasmin, the major copper-binding globulin, is a transporter of copper to extrahepatic tissues. Much of the evidence rests with the discovery of receptors for ceruloplasmin in cell membranes of numerous tissues and the impact this may have on a transport mechanism.
How to Manage Allergic Reactions to Contrast Agent in Pregnant Patients

OBJECTIVE. This article reviews optimal treatment of allergic reactions to iodinated contrast material in pregnant patients. Initial evaluation and treatment of a pregnant patient is similar to that for a nonpregnant patient. However, additional steps, including assessment for uterine cramping, using left uterine displacement to improve venous return, and maintaining blood pressure to ensure placental perfusion, may be required. CONCLUSION. Adequate preparation and a team approach will provide optimal care for a pregnant patient who has an allergic reaction to a contrast agent.
Respect, Protect, Fulfill: Raising the Bar on Women's Rights in San Francisco

Ten years after the passage of the historic CEDAW ordinance in San Francisco, California in April 1998. This report is both a celebration and an analysis of its impact. It seeks to understand the added value of implementing international human rights standards to reduce discrimination in the United States and to access the role of city government in advancing human rights.
Constitutional Birth Pains

Review of William M. Wiecek, The Birth of the Modern Constitution: The United States Supreme Court, 1941-1953 (Cambridge 2006).
Gender Differences in Choice of Procedure and Case Fatality Rate for Elderly Patients with Acute Cholecystitis: A Masters Thesis

Background: Treatment decisions for elderly patients with gallbladder pathology are complex. Little is known about what factors go into treatment decisions in this population. We used Medicare data to examine gender-based differences in the use of cholecystectomy vs. cholecystostomy tube placement in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis. Methods: We queried a 5% random sample of Medicare data (2009-2011) for patients >65 admitted for acute cholecystitis (by ICD-9 code) who subsequently underwent a cholecystectomy and/or cholecystostomy tube placement. Demographic information (age, race), clinical characteristics (Elixhauser index, presence of biliary pathology), and hospital outcomes (case fatality rate, length of stay, need for ICU care) were compared by gender. A multivariable model was used to examine predictors of cholecystectomy vs. cholecystostomy tube placement. Results: Of 4063 patients admitted with cholecystitis undergoing the procedures of interest just over half (58%) were women. The majority of patients (93%) underwent cholecystectomy. Compared to women, men were younger (average age 76 vs. 78, p value <0.01) and had few comorbidities (average Elixhauser 1.2 vs. 1.4 p value <0.01). Case fatality rate was similar between men (2.5%) and women (2.4% p value 0.48). A higher percentage of men spent time in the ICU (36%) compared to women (31% p value
Dispersal of Algae and Protozoa Via the Alimentary Tracts of Selected Aquatic Insects

The passage of viable algae and protozoa through digestive tracts of field-collected herbivorous and carnivorous aquatic insects was demonstrated. Thirty-two genera of viable algae and protozoa were identified from 36 cultures inoculated with aquatic Hydrophilidae hindguts; 86% of the beetle cultures yielded organisms. Nineteen genera of algae and protozoa were identified from 107 cultures inoculated with dragonfly feces; 65% of the dragonfly cultures yielded organisms. The results indicated that herbivorous aquatic beetles were more important than carnivorous dragonflies in dispersal of algae and protozoa by passive internal transport. The results were ecologically significant since aquatic insects periodically disperse, carrying a variety of aquatic microorganisms adapted for alimentary survival during overland transport. Not only was internal transport of spores, cysts, and resistant structures possible, but transport of vegetative algal cells also was demonstrated.
Conversion of (η5-C5H5)Co(PPh3)2 and Nitro Compounds to Mononuclear η1(N)-Nitrosoalkyl and Dinuclear μ-η1(N):η2(N,O)-Nitrosoaryl Complexes

The room-temperature reaction of(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Co(PPh 3 ) 2 (5) with aliphatic nitro compounds, RNO 2 , where R = Me, Et, iPr, leads to formation of the corresponding η 1 -nitroso derivatives (h 5 -C 5 H 5 )Co(PPh 3 )[η 1 (N)-N(O)R](6-Me, R = Me; 6-Et, R = Et; 6-Pr, R = iPr). Aromatic nitro compounds, ArNO 2 , where Ar = -C 6 H 5 , -p-C 6 H 4 C≡CTMS, undergo reaction with 5 to give the μ-η 1 :η 2 -nitroso derivatives, [(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Co] 2 [μ-η 1 (N):η 2 (N,O)-N(O)R] 2 (7-Ph, R = -C 6 H 5 ; 7-Ar, R = -p-C 6 H 4 C≡CTMS). Complexes 6-Me and 7-Ar were characterized by X-ray crystallographic analyses.
THE PERSONAL ATTRIBUTE INVENTORY: A REPORT ON NORMATIVE DATA

The Personal Attribute Inventory (2 ) is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing attitudes toward many different individuals or groups. Until n&w, however, normative data have been rather limited to very small samples of 13 to 76 subjects ( 1). In the present study a larger sample rated target groups of greater social relevance to researchers and counselors. In all,1,410 undergraduates who were enrolled in educational psychology classes volunteered to fill out three copies of the inventory, one each labeled "yourself," "your mother," and "your father." The order was counterbalanced. Of the inventory's 50 positive and 50 negative descriptors participants checked 30 which best described the person in question. Scores were the number of negative words checked. Means and standard deviations for the students' evaluations of themselves, their mothers, and their fathers appear by sex of the respondents in Table 1.
Synthesis and In Vitro Cancer Cell Targeting of Folate-Functionalized Biodegradable Amphiphilic Dendrimer-Like Star Polymers

By coupling a well-defined PLLA star polymer with six carboxylic acid-terminated polyester dendrons based on 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid, a biodegradable dendrimer-like star polymer (DLSP) with multiple carboxylic acid groups at the outer surface was successfully synthesized. Conjugation of amine-functionalized folic acids (FA) onto the DLSP yielded a folate-DLSP hybrid as a carrier for targeted drug delivery. The chemical structures were proven by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and size exclusion chromatography. The DLSPs could form unimolecular micelles with a mean particle size of about 18 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering. Flow cytometry and confocal microscope studies revealed that the cellular uptake of the folate-DLSP hybrid against KB cells (overexpressed folate-receptor) was much higher than that of the neat DLSP (without FA) due to the folate receptor-mediated binding.
Becoming Confident in the Statistical Nature of Human Confidence Judgments.

In this issue of Neuron, Sanders et al. (2016) demonstrate that human confidence judgments seem to arise from computations compatible with statistical decision theory, shining a new light on the old questions of how such judgments are formed.
Surveillance of main vectors density in Tianjin

Objective To grasp the population density and its seasonal fluctuation of primary vectors in Tianjin,and provide scientific basis for the control of vector.Methods The light trapping and cage trapping were conducted to monitor the density of mosquitoes and flies respectively,as well as the night trapping and cockroach paste for rats and cockroaches.Results From 2009 to 2011,the densities of adult mosquitoes reached 14.96,18.78 and 18.82 pieces per lamp hour in the three years,and Culex pipiens pallens as the dominant species.The fly densities were 5.86,4.65 and 4.76 pieces per cage,and Musca domestica as the dominant species.The densities of cockroaches reached 1.29,1.03 and 1.13 pieces per sticky and Blattella germanica as the dominant species.The rat densities reached 0.29%,0.27% and 0.20%,and the dominant species was Rattus norvegicus.Conclusion The monitoring program revealed the species composition and population dynamics of major biological vectors in Tianjin.The focal targets for preventionand control in Tianjin included Rattus norvegicus,Mus musculus,Culex pipiens pallens,Musca domestica and Blattella germanica.To reduce the vector density,environment centered integrated measures dependent on the breeding places,habitual traits and seasonal variation should be adopted.
Design of Power Communication Network Management System Transformation Scheme Based on RIA/Flex Technology

To adapt the needs of business application mode in the new condition and to take full advantage of the hardware and software investment on the same time,this paper raises the spring/ActiveMQ extension methods of the business logic reuse under J2EE architecture,and realizes browser-interface B/S transformation based on the RIA/Flex demonstration technology for the management system.It improves the usefulness of the original system,reduces the cost of maintainability,and provides a useful reference for other systems B/S transformation.
How to Image a Child by PET–Computed Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET)–computed tomography (CT), which merges functional and anatomic imaging, is likely to herald a new generation of imaging modalities. Despite increasing interest and expertise in PET–CT, incorporation of such new technology into any department can be a challenge. Each department has its individual needs, personality, strengths, and weaknesses. The organization and integration of such imaging equipment must reflect these individual institutional and departmental characteristics, plus available supporting resources and the characteristics of patient cohorts.
The Roles of Retinoic Acid and Retinoic Acid Receptors in Inducing Epigenetic Changes

Epigenetics is “the branch of biology which studies the causal interactions between genes and their products which bring the phenotype into being” as defined by Conrad Waddington in 1942 in a discussion of the mechanisms of cell differentiation. More than seven decades later we know that these mechanisms include histone tail post-translational modifications, DNA methylation, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, and non-coding RNA pathways. Epigenetic modifications are powerful drugs targets, and combined targeting of multiple pathways is expected to significantly advance cancer therapy.
Improved Surface Integrity from Cryogenic Machining of Ti-6Al-7Nb Alloy for Biomedical Applications☆

Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy is emerging as an alternative biomedical material for replacing Ti-6Al-4 V alloy used in dental implants and femoral stem prosthesis applications. In cryogenic machining using liquid nitrogen, the surface integrity characteristics of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy significantly improved compared to dry and flood-cooled machining. This study shows that surface roughness improved in cryogenic machining by 35% and 6.6% respectively, compared with dry and flood-cooled machining. Also, the hardness in the cryogenically-machined surface layer increased, by 33.6% and 14.7%, respectively, compared to dry and flood-cooled machining, with the formation of a severe plastic deformation (SPD) layer with less volume fraction of α-phase.
Highly Coherent Tunable Frequency Combs

Introduction of optical frequency combs during the last decade has revolutionized multiple disciplines, with metrology, remote sensing, spectroscopy, ranging, vibrometry and imaging being the most prominent applications. However, it is also recognized that a set of fundamental and practical limitations are preventing widespread use of frequency comb sources across general imaging/sensing platforms. To be useful, frequency comb must possess sufficient spectral bandwidth, have high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across all generated frequency tones and be capable of addressing any frequency grid. Article not available.
Hepatic Encephalopathy and Driving

Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized as a spectrum of neuro-cognitive impairment that ranges from overt disturbances to minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). MHE patients have deficits in attention that are compounded by impaired response inhibition, working memory, and visuo-motor coordination. All these are important skills for driving a vehicle. Adding to this impairment is the lack of insight and predisposition to fatigue. These patients lack the neurologic exam findings and historical symptoms for diagnosis, and as MHE is estimated to have a prevalence of 22–80%, this becomes particularly important when pertaining to the responsibility of driving an automobile or commercial vehicle. Diagnosis of MHE requires specialized testing and is often difficult to detect, and physician reporting to state driver regulatory organizations is riddled with ethical and legal dilemmas. Significant strides have been made in better understanding how MHE affects patient’s everyday lives, including important functions such as driving. This improved understanding will improve awareness and road safety for both patients with cirrhosis and other chronic illnesses as well as the general public.
A Suicide Mutation Affecting Proton Transfers to High-Valent Hemes Causes Inactivation of MauG during Catalysis.

In the absence of its substrate, the autoreduction of the high-valent bis-FeIV state of the hemes of MauG to the diferric state proceeds via a Compound I-like and then a Compound II-like intermediate. This process is coupled to oxidative damage to specific methionine residues and inactivation of MauG. The autoreduction of a P107V MauG variant, which is more prone to oxidative damage, proceeds directly from the bis-FeIV to the Compound II-like state with no detectable Compound I intermediate. Comparison of the crystal structures of native and P107V MauG reveals that this mutation alters the positions of amino acid residues in the heme site as well as the water network that delivers protons from the solvent to the hemes during their reduction. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and solvent kinetic isotope effect studies demonstrate that these changes in the heme site affect the protonation state of the ferryl heme and the relative efficiencies of two alternative pathways for the transfer of protons from solvent to the...
Characterization of hydrothermal and acid modified proso millet starch

The aim of this study was to characterize modified proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) starch in order to explore its prospect as an ingredient for food applications. The current study determined the effect of hydrothermal modification (HTM) at 30 g/100 g moisture level and acid modification (AM) with HCl on extracted proso millet starch physicochemical and functional properties. Amylose content reduces with AM while HTM showed negligible effect. HTM starch had higher water binding capacity (WBC) whereas AM starch showed reduction in WBC. Additionally, the solubility and swelling power of HTM starch decreased with increase in temperature, and in AM starch solubility increased sharply but swelling power increases at 80 °C but significantly (P < 0.05) reduces at 90 °C. HTM caused increase in gelatinization temperature with a mean value of 87.17 °C compared to 78.61 °C in native starch. AM reduced onset (69.71 °C) and gelatinization temperature (77.26 °C), and it increased the range (26.56 °C) significantly (P < 0.05) with no effect on ΔHG. Pasting profiles of native proso millet starch changed significantly (P < 0.05) upon modifications and reduction in peak viscosity was observed in both modifications. AM reduced the holding strength, final viscosity, setback and breakdown whereas HTM reduced only breakdown and no change was observed in other parameters.