cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting risky and angry driving as a function of gender

The present study was designed to examine putative risk factors of driving anger, traffic citations, and traffic-related injuries as a function of gender. Participants included 785 (65% men) drivers identified by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Just over half of participants (55%) were identified as high-risk drivers based on multiple traffic violations, whereas 45% were recruited from a random sample of drivers. Participants completed a mailed survey assessing indicators of risky driving and risk factors including sensation seeking, stressful events, negative affect, tobacco use, and drinking behavior. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to evaluate risky driving outcomes as a function of theoretically prioritized risk factors and to evaluate gender as a moderator. Overall, men reported more traffic citations and injuries, but did not differ from women in reported driving anger. All putative risk factors were associated with one or more indicators of risky driving. Moderation results revealed that the positive relationship between drinking frequency and driving anger was stronger for women. In contrast, typical number of drinks consumed was negatively associated with driving anger, which was also more evident for women. In addition, the positive association between sensation seeking and number of traffic citations was stronger among women.
Activity and response to serum of the mammalian thyroid hormone deiodinase 3 gene promoter: identification of a conserved enhancer

Abstract Dio3 is an imprinted gene that codes for the type 3 deiodinase (D3), a conserved selenocysteine-containing enzyme that degrades thyroid hormones (TH) into inactive metabolites. D3 is partially responsible for the very low TH levels that are found in utero as it is highly expressed in mammalian uterus, placenta, and fetal tissues. For this reason, it is presumed that D3 protects the developing fetus from high, adult-like levels of TH. To further understand the regulation of D3 expression, we analyzed the promoter activity of 6 kb of 5′-flanking regions of the human and mouse Dio3, by transient transfection studies. Both mouse and human Dio3 promoters are markedly responsive to serum and, to a lesser extent, to phorbol esters and fibroblast growth factor, but only in a cell line in which the endogenous Dio3 mRNA is also responsive to those factors. In addition, we identified a conserved enhancer located 3′ of the gene containing putative AP-1 and serum response elements, and that further increases the serum responsiveness of the Dio3 promoter in a cell-specific manner. The cell-specific serum response of the Dio3 promoter and the identified enhancer may play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression at this imprinted locus.
How can we improve the nursing work environment

It has been suggested by many recently that the nursing work environment needs to be altered to make it more responsive to both nurse and patient needs. One essential aspect of this change would be to increase patient safety. This article suggests that to improve patient safety as well as satisfaction of nurses, the culture of the nursing organization should be transformed into one of a "learning organization." Using this model of an organization, every member of the nursing organization would be encouraged to reach his or her greatest potential, the welfare of the team would become paramount, and a shared vision of where the organization needs to go would emerge, thus maximizing productivity, safety, and job satisfaction for all healthcare team members. This transformation could mean that the terms "Nursing Organizations" and "Learning Organizations" would not have to be oxymorons.
Regulation of obesity and insulin resistance by nitric oxide

Abstract Obesity is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and has quickly become a worldwide pandemic with few tangible and safe treatment options. Although it is generally accepted that the primary cause of obesity is energy imbalance, i.e., the calories consumed are greater than are utilized, understanding how caloric balance is regulated has proven a challenge. Many “distal” causes of obesity, such as the structural environment, occupation, and social influences, are exceedingly difficult to change or manipulate. Hence, molecular processes and pathways more proximal to the origins of obesity—those that directly regulate energy metabolism or caloric intake—seem to be more feasible targets for therapy. In particular, nitric oxide (NO) is emerging as a central regulator of energy metabolism and body composition. NO bioavailability is decreased in animal models of diet-induced obesity and in obese and insulin-resistant patients, and increasing NO output has remarkable effects on obesity and insulin resistance. This review discusses the role of NO in regulating adiposity and insulin sensitivity and places its modes of action into context with the known causes and consequences of metabolic disease.
Linking emergency department patients to primary care: phone vs face-to-face interaction.

. Objective: To compare the patient compliances and time analyses of two methods of assigning primary care providers (PCPs) to ED patients who are without a PCP: phone interview vs face-to-face interaction. Methods: Prospective observational cohort study following an intervention, performed in a pediatric ED, serving a population of 1.7 million, with a census of 80,000 pediatric ED visits per year. Over one year, a consecutive sampling of 1,062 patients evaluated in the ED and without a PCP were approached to participate in our study (536 enrolled, 526 declined). Patients enrolled were addressed by a nurse practitioner/social worker (NP/SW) who arranged an appointment with a PCP, either in person (in ED) or by phone after discharge. The primary outcome measure was compliance with the arranged appointment. Secondarily, the authors analyzed the time necessary for each approach in person-hours. Results: Of the 536 enrolled, 81 were excluded because data collection was incomplete at the time of the study's completion, leaving 455 study patients. Seventy-six percent of the study patients were between the ages of 1 month and 12 years. Contact was made by phone for 151 (33%) patients and face-to-face for 304 (67%). Sixty-two percent of the phone patients kept their appointments, compared with 52% of face-to-face patients (p = 0.048, RR = 1.20, 1.02 < RR < 1.41). Phone interaction was also more time effective. Conclusions: Linking ED patients without a medical provider to PCPs via phone is as effective as a face-to-face interaction.
Biomass control in waste air biotrickling filters by protozoan predation.

Two protozoan species as well as an uncharacterized protozoan consortium were added to a toluene-degrading biotrickling filter to investigate protozoan predation as a means of biomass control. Wet biomass formation in 23.6-L reactors over a 77-day period was reduced from 13.875 kg in a control biotrickling filter to 11.795 kg in a biotrickling filter enriched with protozoa. The average toluene vapor elimination capacity at 1 g/m3 toluene and 64 m3/(m3 · h) was 31.1 g/(m3 · h) in the control and 32.2 g/(m3 · h) in the biotrickling filter enriched with protozoa. At higher toluene inlet concentrations, toluene degradation rates increased and were slightly higher in the biotrickling filter enriched with protozoa. The lower rate of biomass accumulation after the addition of protozoa was due to an increase of carbon mineralization (68% as compared to 61% in the control). Apparent biomass yield coefficients in the control and enriched trickling filter were 0.72 and 0.59 g dry biomass/g toluene, respectively. The results show that protozoan predation may be a useful tool to control biomass in biotrickling filters, however, further stimulation of predation of the biomass immobilized in the reactor is required to ensure long-term stability of biotrickling filters. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 62: 216–224, 1999.
Elastic properties of β-boron

Mesure des modules d'elasticite sur polycristaux, et de leurs derivees par rapport a la temperature
Phase transitions and hysteresis in nonlocal and order-parameter models

The paper describes two types of regularization to the basic quasistatic double-well potential problem in one space dimension. One model features a spatially nonlocal term while the other incorporates the use of an order parameter. Some basic existence and regularity results for these modified models are derived and some numerical calculations that show hysteresis and motion of phase boundaries are presented.
Time-stretch oscilloscope with dual-channel differential detection front end for monitoring of 100 Gb/s return-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift keying data.

Optical performance monitoring of high-capacity networks is one of the enabling technologies of future reconfigurable optical switch networks. In such networks, rapid performance evaluation of data streams becomes challenging due to the use of advanced modulation formats and high data rates. The time-stretch enhanced recording oscilloscope offers a potential solution to monitoring high-rate data in a practical time scale. Here we demonstrate an architecture with a differential detection front end for simultaneous I/Q data monitoring of a 100 gigabits/sreturn-to-zero differential quadrature phase-shift keying signal. This demonstration shows the potential of this technology for rapid performance monitoring of high-rate optical data streams that employ advanced modulation formats.
Optical Constants in the Infrared for Aqueous Solutions of NaCl

Relative specular reflectances of 1M, 3M, and 5M aqueous solutions of NaCl were measured in the 2–20-μm region of the infrared for the component of radiant flux with the electric vector linearly polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence. Distilled water was the reflectance standard. The angle of incidence was 70.03°±0.23°. Absolute reflectances of the solutions for the same polarization and angle of incidence were computed by use of the measured relative reflectances, one of the Fresnel equations, and the optical constants of distilled water. Phase-shift and phase-difference spectra were obtained by applying a Kramers–Kronig dispersion analysis to the absolute- and relative-reflectance spectra, respectively. The optical constants of the solutions were determined by methods commonly associated with the Kramers–Kronig analysis. Spectral signatures that characterize the solute and the infrared bands of water were noted in the phase-difference spectra.
Therapeutic effects of hydroxyurea. Experience with 118 patients with inoperable solid tumors.

Hydroxyurea (Hydrea, Squibb) has proved to be a drug with moderate anticancer chemotherapeutic value which may be taken on an ambulatory basis with minimal clinical toxicity. One hundred and eighteen patients with inoperable neoplasms were treated with hydroxyurea on an outpatient basis, receiving an average oral dose of 50 mg/kg body weight daily in 2 divided doses. A reduction of 25% or more in tumor size was considered an objective response. As with other anticancer agents, the response of different neoplasms to hydroxyurea was variable. Patients with malignant melanomas, cancer of the colon, rectum, and anus (particularly with metastasis to the liver), cancer of the head and neck, lymphomas, and primary hepatomas responded best. Patients with carcinoma of the prostate, thyroid, or lung and those with primary cancer in an unknown site responded the poorest. Of 10 patients with sarcoma, 60% had subjective relief, and 37% had objective improvement. One patient with ovarian cancer, of 7 treated, has remained asymptomatic with no evidence of dissemination for over 2 years on hydroxyurea therapy; and one patient with cancer of the kidney, of 4 treated, had a dramatic response of metastases to bone. The toxicity in most instances was mild and consisted primarily of hematopoietic depression which usually cleared up spontaneously in one to two weeks after withdrawal of the drug. A continuous oral dose of 50 mg/kg body weight daily, in 2 divided doses, proved to be a satisfactory regimen.
BINOL-Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective Terminal Alkyne Additions to Aromatic Aldehydes

The readily available BINOL ligand in combination with Ti(OiPr)4 was found to catalyze the highly enantioselective reaction (92−98% ee) of terminal alkynes with aromatic aldehydes that contain a variety of substituents and substitution patterns. After the preparation of the zinc acetylide reagent, the catalytic asymmetric addition to aldehydes proceeded at room temperature with excellent stereocontrol. This simple catalyst system is practical for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral propargylic alcohols.
An empirical evaluation of the performance of antibody identification tasks

Four empirical studies were conducted for better understanding of the nature of problem-solving activities by medical technologists and medical technology students when performing antibody identification tasks. The results indicated the importance of strategies that ensure the collection of converging evidence, as these strategies protect against the fallibility of commonly used heuristics and against errors due to simple slips. The results also indicate that not only do students make significant numbers of errors, but so do practicing technologists. In one of the studies covering a 1-year period, for instance, a group of 16 technologists made a total of 41 errors in 1057 cases. On the basis of these findings, several alternatives are proposed to reduce errors.
Plant organelle gene expression: Altered by RNA editing

Transcripts of the higher plant plastid and mitochondrial genomes undergo cytosine-to-uracil RNA editing. Although only about 0.13% of the codons in the entire maize chloroplast genome are altered, plant mitochondrial protein coding genes typically have 3–15% of the codons affected by editing. Incompletely edited transcripts of certain genes are abundant, indicating that plant organelle-transcript editing is a post-transcriptional process. Partially edited transcripts can enter the translation apparatus, resulting in more than one protein product encoded by the same gene. How are cytosine residues selected for editing? Recent data from chloroplast transformants and abnormal mitochondrial genes provide some clues.
Economic phosphorus fertilization using a linear response and plateau function

Abstract The linear response and plateau model is now used extensively to depict the relationship between crop yield and soil test level. This function has not been subjected to economic analysis extensively as the variation in critical level is seldom known. Yield data for corn, soybean, and wheat grown on a sandy Typic Umbraquult, which has a low phosphrous (P) sorption capacity, for 13 years were available from a residual P experiment. The study had six replications with 20 observations each, so critical levels of Mehlich‐3‐extractable P (M3P) were calculated on each replication. The critical level mean and standard deviation per crop were used to determine the probability of the critical level being within a 2.5 mg/L increment of M3P. Expected profit was calculated by summation of the gross income minus P fertilizer and other production costs for each increment at selected M3P recommendations. The yield critical levels for the three crops were between 25 and 32 mg/L and the standard deviations 23 to 3...
AGS proteins: receptor-independent activators of G-protein signaling

The identification of AGS proteins as receptor-independent activators of G-protein signaling reveals unexpected mechanisms for the regulation of heterotrimeric G-protein activation and has opened up new areas of research related to the role of G proteins as signal transducers. In addition to their obvious interest associated with G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, AGS proteins might provide alternative binding partners for G-protein subunits that enable them to serve unexpected functions related to cell division, differentiation and organelle structure that might operate independently of a GPCR. Thus, these proteins and the concepts advanced with their discovery highlight the diversity associated with G-protein signaling and present new avenues for the development of therapeutics that target G-protein signaling.
Assessing the impacts of anthropogenic and physiographic influences on grass shrimp in localized salt-marsh estuaries

Abstract The complexity and severity of ecological impacts associated with coastal development demand that resource managers explore new spatial analytical techniques combined with multidisciplinary scientific expertise for proactive coastal zone management. Arising from these environmental concerns and the identified need for adequate databases and integrated models, a long-term study of the impacts of urbanization on localized estuaries of the South eastern United States was initiated in 1990. A goal of this study was to examine the role of Geographic Information Processing (GIP) to integrate data and scientific expertise for the identification, assessment, and modeling of anthropogenic and physiographic relationships within estuaries. This goal is being achieved through the implementation and utilization of a multi-agency Geographic Information System (GIS) and the development and validation of spatially explicit models. This work presents spatial modeling efforts that incorporate land use and land cover characteristics with fisheries data to assess and predict the impacts of anthropogenic and natural influences on key species that inhabit critical estuarine wetlands and streams. A spatial assessment of two small, high-salinity estuaries suggests that upland development adjacent to critical estuarine habitat limits the population size and distribution of adult and larval grass shrimp ( Palaemonetes pugio (Holthuis)). Modeled spatial distributions of adult populations suggest the existence of estuarine ‘deserts’ — wetlands and stream reaches adjacent to commercial and residential land use void of natant fauna. This paper's approach is being developed for coastal resource managers to predict the impact of proposed landscape modifications prior to occurrence of changes.
Towards fault-tolerant optimal control

Questions regarding the design of fault-tolerant controllers that may endow systems with dynamic reliability are addressed here. Results for jump linear quadratic Gaussian (JLQG) control problems are extended to include random jump costs, trajectory discontinuities, and a simple case of non-Markovian mode transitions.
Nonlinear dynamics of the m=1 instability and fast sawtooth collapse in high-temperature plasmas.

A theory is given for the nonlinear dynamical evolution of the m=1 instability, governed by a generalized Ohm's law that includes the Hall term. An island equation is derived for the entire nonlinear evolution which includes an almost explosive growth phase followed by a rapid decay phase. The predictions of the theory are compared with recent numerical results and experiments.
QUEST: a Bayesian adaptive psychometric method.

An adaptive psychometric procedure that places each trial at the current most probable Bayesian estimate of threshold is described. The procedure takes advantage of the common finding that the human psychometric function is invariant in form when expressed as a function of log intensity. The procedure is simple, fast, and efficient, and may be easily implemented on any computer.
Plural but Equal: Group Identity and Voluntary Integration*

During this period, when disciples were growing in number, a grievance arose on the part of those who spoke Greek, against those who spoke the language of the Jews; they complained that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.When Americans think of ethnic conflict, conflict between blacks and whites comes to mind most immediately. Yet ethnic conflict is pervasive around the world. Azerbijanis and Turks in the Soviet Union; Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland; Arabs and Jews in the Middle East; Maoris and English settlers in New Zealand; Muslims and Hindus in India and Pakistan; French and English speakers in Quebec; Africans, Afrikaaners, and mixed-race people in South Africa, in addition to the tribal warfare among the Africans themselves: these are just a few of the more obvious conflicts currently in the news. We observe an even more dizzying array of ethnic conflicts if we look back just a few years. Japanese and Koreans; Mongols and Chinese; Serbs and Croats; Christians and Buddhists in Viet Nam: these ancient antagonisms are not immediately in the news, but they could erupt at any time. And the history of the early Christian Church recounted in the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that suspicion among ethnic groups is not a modern phenomenon; rather, it is ancient.The present paper seeks to address the problem of ethnic conflict in modern western democracies. How can our tools and traditions of participatory governments, relatively free markets, and the common law contribute to some resolution of the ancient problems that we find within our midst? In particular, I want to focus here on the question of ethnic integration.
Constructing the computer-rated Face Stimulus Assessment-Revised (FSA-R) to assess formal elements of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Abstract The Face Stimulus Assessment-Revised (FSA-R) is an art-based instrument constructed from elements of the Face Stimulus Assessment (FSA, Betts, 2003 ). The pilot test of the FSA-R involved comparing computerized ratings of formal elements between those with Major Depressive Disorder ( n = 20), and controls without known diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder ( n = 20). Significance resulted from a multiple t test analysis of the data. In response to the hypothesis that computer-rated formal elements of color or free space, or both, from the FSA-R can distinguish artwork of those with Major Depression from the artwork of those without Major Depression, this researcher concluded that, with Bonferroni-adjusted alpha levels of .005 (.05/9) per test, those with Major Depression drew less purple ( t (38) = −2.95, p = .05, d = −.96) than controls. As a result, the FSA-R requires further study using improved experimental methods, including the control of comorbid factors present in this study in order for it to become a standardized instrument for screening for depression.
Analytic method for the minimum time for binder removal from three-dimensional porous green bodies

An analytical expression was derived to predict the heating profile that minimizes the cycle time for the thermal removal of binder from porous green ceramic bodies. The analytical equation was based upon the solution to a three-dimensional convective transport equation that describes flow in porous media arising from the thermal decomposition of binder. The solution to the transport problem was then combined with an algorithm derived from variational calculus. The analytical expression described the time for binder removal in terms of the body dimensions, isotropic permeability, volume fraction of binder, and threshold pressure within the green body.
PHARMACY TECHNOLOGY OF THE ICU: Today and Tomorrow

This article takes a broad sweep at some of the forces that will impact pharmacy in the intensive care units of tomorrow. Each of the topics covered has journals or societies devoted to these issues. The incredible change from 10 years ago is that one can easily put these topics into a search engine on the Internet and receive more information than it is possible to read in one setting. The challenge to us all is to find ways to maintain a degree of knowledge about these changes that is both timely and considered. The old axiom of not being the first or the last to change is still a safe approach, but the speed at which the decision must be made is ever increasing. We must all put pressure on our professional societies and our employers to assure that we have adequate access to the rapidly developing technology and a level of expert review prior to its adoption. Future technology is already in our intensive care units but what we do with the technology and the information will determine the future healthcare outcomes of our patients.
A profile of regionally accredited for‐profit institutions of higher education

A number of for-profit institutions of higher education have established themselves successfully within the traditional framework of regionally accredited institutions.
Consumer reactions to the adoption of green reverse logistics

Firms are beginning to find that the adoption of certain reverse logistics practices may offer a lucrative approach to greening their supply chain. Consisting of remanufacturing, reusing, and recycling, this idea of green reverse logistics is currently being diffused throughout the supply chain. A recently published logistics diffusion model with its basis in resource-advantage theory suggests that a logistics innovation is more likely to be adopted if it enhances competitive advantage for the firm considering adoption. Our study uses diffusion of innovation and resource-advantage theories as a foundation to investigate consumer reactions to firms that implement green reverse logistics practices. We investigate whether a firm's adoption of green reverse logistics leads to higher levels of consumer loyalty and a willingness to pay more for the firm's products. Our findings suggest that consumers' satisfaction with firms that adopt green reverse logistics leads to increased levels of loyalty to the firm, wh...
The role of morphology in subject–verb number agreement: A comparison of Mexican and Dominican Spanish

The goal of the present study was to test the predictions of two contrasting claims about the role of morphology in subject–verb number agreement production. According to the maximalist view described by Vigliocco, Hartsuiker, Jarema, and Kolk, languages with relatively rich inflectional morphology may be more susceptible to the influence of notional number due to the penetration of meaning into the agreement process. An alternative proposed by Eberhard, Cutting, and Bock predicts the opposite: Languages with richer inflectional morphology are less susceptible to notional number because inflectional morphemes filter the effect of number meaning. In the present experiments, utterances differing in notional number properties were elicited from speakers of two varieties of Spanish that vary in morphological richness. In Experiment 1, participants formed sentences with overt subjects. In Experiment 2, they produced sentences with null subjects. Results supported the hypothesis that richer morphology reduces n...
MULTIMODE quantum calculations of vibrational energies and IR spectrum of the NO+(H2O) cluster using accurate potential energy and dipole moment surfaces

A new, full (nine)-dimensional potential energy surface and dipole moment surface to describe the NO(+)(H2O) cluster is reported. The PES is based on fitting of roughly 32,000 CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVTZ electronic energies. The surface is a linear least-squares fit using a permutationally invariant basis with Morse-type variables. The PES is used in a Diffusion Monte Carlo study of the zero-point energy and wavefunction of the NO(+)(H2O) and NO(+)(D2O) complexes. Using the calculated ZPE the dissociation energies of the clusters are reported. Vibrational configuration interaction calculations of NO(+)(H2O) and NO(+)(D2O) using the MULTIMODE program are performed. The fundamental, a number of overtone, and combination states of the clusters are reported. The IR spectrum of the NO(+)(H2O) cluster is calculated using 4, 5, 7, and 8 modes VSCF/CI calculations. The anharmonic, coupled vibrational calculations, and IR spectrum show very good agreement with experiment. Mode coupling of the water "antisymmetric" stretching mode with the low-frequency intermolecular modes results in intensity borrowing.
Superior Oblique Palsy Manifested during Pregnancy

The author describes his experience with diplopia during uncomplicated pregnancy in 3 of 25 (12%) women with neurologically isolated unilateral superior oblique palsy. These three patients had visual sensory and ocular motor findings that suggested they had longstanding latent vertical deviations that decompensated during pregnancy. Two of these three women experienced resolution of symptoms shortly after delivery. Increased recognition of the benign association between decompensation of a latent superior oblique palsy and pregnancy may obviate the need to further evaluate such patients with neuroimaging studies or other procedures.
Methods for probabilistic assessments of geologic hazards

Although risk analysis today is considered to include three separate aspects (1) identifing sources of risk, (2) estimating probabilities quantitatively, and (3) evaluating consequences of risk, here only estimation of probabilities for natural geologic events, processes, and phenomena is addressed. Ideally, evaluation of potential future hazards includes an objective determination of probabilities that have been derived from past occurrences of identical events or components contributing to complex processes or phenomena. In practice, however, data which would permit objective estimation of those probabilities of interest may not be adequate, or may not even exist.
Dose-dependent effects of post-training estradiol plus progesterone treatment on object memory consolidation and hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in young ovariectomized mice.

Abstract Previous work from our laboratory has shown that the ability of estradiol to enhance object memory consolidation in young ovariectomized mice is dependent on dorsal hippocampal activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) signaling pathway [Fernandez SM, Lewis MC, Pechenino AS, Harburger LL, Orr PT, Gresack JE, Schafe GE, Frick KM (2008) Estradiol-induced enhancement of object memory consolidation involves hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and membrane-bound estrogen receptors. J Neurosci 28:8660–8667]. However, it is unclear if estradiol modulates memory or ERK activation similarly in the presence of progesterone. Therefore, the present study investigated effects of combined estradiol and progesterone treatment on object memory consolidation and dorsal hippocampal ERK activation in young ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice. Object memory was tested in a novel object recognition task. Immediately after training, mice received intraperiotoneal (i.p.) injections of vehicle, 17β-estradiol (E 2 ; 0.2 mg/kg), or E 2 plus 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg progesterone (P). Forty-eight hours later, mice receiving E 2 alone or E 2 plus 10 or 20 mg/kg P exhibited significantly enhanced memory for the novel object relative to chance, whereas those receiving vehicle or E 2 plus 5 mg/kg P spent no more time than chance with the novel object. Two weeks later, ERK phosphorylation was measured in the dorsal hippocampus 1 h after i.p. injection of vehicle, E 2 , or E 2 plus P. Consistent with our previous work [Fernandez SM, Lewis MC, Pechenino AS, Harburger LL, Orr PT, Gresack JE, Schafe GE, Frick KM (2008) Estradiol-induced enhancement of object memory consolidation involves hippocampal extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and membrane-bound estrogen receptors. J Neurosci 28:8660–8667], E 2 alone significantly increased phospho-p42 ERK protein levels in the dorsal hippocampus relative to vehicle controls. In contrast, no combination of E 2 and P affected dorsal hippocampal phospho-ERK levels. These data indicate that, unlike E 2 alone, the beneficial effects of combined E 2 plus P treatment on memory are not associated with ERK activation in the dorsal hippocampus 1 h after treatment, and suggest that E 2 alone and combined E 2 plus P may influence ERK activation in different time frames or enhance memory through different mechanisms.
Medical and Behavioral Evaluation of Patients with Obesity

Obesity may be the most significant medical problem that health care providers will face over the coming decades. Physicians must aggressively address this chronic disease, providing both preventive and therapeutic care. Since this topic has not been traditionally taught in medical school or residency training, physicians and other health providers will need to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be effective obesity care providers. Performing a detailed initial assessment, including an obesity focused history, physical examination, and selected laboratory and diagnostic tests is fundamental to the process of care.
The effect of prior pneumonectomy or lobectomy on subsequent lung transplantation.

Background Lung transplantation in patients with prior lobectomy or pneumonectomy is not well understood. Using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, we address the impact of prior major lung resection on lung transplantation outcomes. Methods Retrospective review of adult lung transplants from October 1999 to December 2011 in the UNOS database identified 15,300 lung transplants; 102 patients had undergone major lung resection, defined as prior pneumonectomy (n = 22) or lobectomy (n = 80). Propensity match with nonparametric 3:1 nearest-neighbor matching algorithm adjusted for treatment-level differences. After matching, the primary outcome (90-day mortality) and secondary outcome (airway dehiscence, need for dialysis, length of stay more than 25 days) were assessed with univariable and multivariable methods. Subanalysis of pneumonectomy and lobectomy individually compared with matched nonresection patients was done in a similar manner. The Kaplan-Meier method estimated long-term survival. Results After matching, no significant differences were noted between groups for recipient, donor, or operative characteristics. There were 10 double lung and 12 single lung transplants after pneumonectomy and 51 double lung and 29 single lung transplants after lobectomy. Mortality at 90 days was 13.9% (n = 14) for the resection group and 8.6% (n = 1,247) for the nonresection group ( p = 0.09). After matching, a significant increase was noted in 90-day mortality ( p = 0.017) and perioperative dialysis ( p = 0.039) for the resection versus nonresection patients. Dialysis was significantly higher among pneumonectomy patients ( p = 0.03). No long-term survival difference was observed ( p = 0.514). Conclusions After propensity-matching, resection was associated with increased 90-day mortality and dialysis. Careful patient selection is necessary with patients who have undergone prior major lung resection, given their increased risk of perioperative mortality and dialysis.
Research needs in regulated river ecology

The general effects of single dams on the downstream ecology of temperature lotic systems are predictable, although some underlying causal mechanisms remain elusive. Few quantitative data of an ecological nature are available for regulated tropical rivers, however, and it would not be prudent to uncritically apply principles and patterns developed from temperate rivers to fluvial systems of the tropics. New techniques of gradient analysis appear especially suited to examining spatial recovery gradients below dams at any latitude and portend to provide considerable insight into the mechanisms responsible for such patterns. Few studies have specifically examined the influence of regulation on interactions between the river channel and the floodplain and virtually nothing is known of channel-aquifer interactions. A fuller understanding of these interactive pathways is necessary to effectively regulate discharge as part of river restoration strategies. Viewing regulated streams as experimental systems for addressing ecological questions has proved to be useful and should be further exploited. It is concluded that research and expertise in regulated stream ecology will increasingly be needed as the rational basis for flow criteria to conserve, protect and enhance the societal values of regulated rivers world-wide.
Analysis: Mobile Phones Integrated into Diabetes Management: A Logical Progression

In this issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, the intervention described by D. Katz, “Novel Interactive Cell-Phone Technology for Health Enhancement,” uses cell phones to provide the rapid communication necessary for the support of intensive management of diabetes. Mobile technology is widely accepted in today's society and can be an effective tool for this cause. There have been numerous interventions using various communication tools, including cell phones, to manage chronic disease, which all propose that improved communication and feedback to patients would improve health status. Dr. Katz has taken the next step by giving semiautomated, real-time, immediate feedback on each data point all transmitted by cell phone.
Anatomic and advanced adenoma detection rates as quality metrics determined via natural language processing.

Anatomic and Advanced Adenoma Detection Rates as Quality Metrics Determined via Natural Language Processing
The healing role of assistance dogs: What these partnerships tell us about the human–animal bond

There are more than 22,000 individuals in the United States who are partnered with an assistance dog. Partnership with an assistance dog has been shown to have significant benefits for the human partner. These benefits include increased ability of people to perform activities of daily living; psychological/emotional health, and participation in social, work, and school activities outside the home. The relationship a person has with an assistance dog is mutually interdependent and can be...
Assessment of Exposure to PACs in Asphalt Workers: Measurement of Urinary PACs and their Metabolites with an ELISA Kit

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit made for determination of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in water was adapted for measuring PACs and their metabolites in urine. This method was then applied to a pilot asphalt worker PAC exposure study. Currently, liquid-liquid extraction with gas chromatography/isotope dilution high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS) is the preferred method to determine urinary PAC metabolites. Although sensitive and specific, GC/HRMS is time consuming and costly. The ELISA method had a range from 14–720 ng/ml 1-hydroxypyrene equivalents with a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 14 ng/ml urine. ELISA and GC/HRMS PAC metabolite measurements had a statistically significant correlation and the PAC ELISA results were indicative of potential asphalt exposure. PAC ELISA is promising as a more rapid and less costly routine method for determining worker exposure to PACs in asphalt emissions.
Paraganglioma of the filum terminale: MR findings.

A 54-year-old man presented in March 1992 with “back problems” and pain in both legs progressing during the preceding year. He had a history of back trauma related to a fall in 1 985 or 1986. A CT scan obtained at another hospital reportedly showed a bulge in the L4-L5 disk. Physical examination showed some pain radiating down the left leg upon flexion and hyperextension at the waist. MR imaging performed on a 1 .5-T GE unit subsequently revealed a 1.7 cm (transverse) x 1 .1 cm (anteroposterior) x 1 .6 cm (craniocaudal) intradural mass at the L3 level. The lesion was isointense with respect to the spinal cord on Ti-weighted images (500/16/1 [TA! TE!number of excitations]), enhanced inhomogeneously with contrast administration, was isointense with respect to CSF on fastspin-echo proton density-weighted images (2769!16!2) and inhomogeneous with hyperintense and isointense components relative to the spinal cord on fast-spin-echo T2-weighted images (2769/80! 2). A well-defined, hypointense margin surrounded the mass with a hypenintense component in the upper pole of the mass on the proton density-weighted and T2-weighted images. The hypenintense upper pole component enhanced markedly on Ti -weighted images. Serpiginous structures hypointense relative to CSF on proton density-weighted and T2-weighted images and enhancing with contrast administration extended superiorly and inferiorly from the mass. Ependymoma was suspected. At surgery, a firm, encapsulated tumor attached to the fibum was found. A single vessel extended inferiorly from the conus to supply the tumor. Frozen section revealed a neoplasm with a differential diagnosis of myxopapillary ependymoma vs paraganglioma vs capillary hemangioma. Microscopic examination of the tumor revealed neoplastic cells staining positively with chromogranin that did not react with glial fibrillary acidic protein or epithelial membrane antigen, confirming the diagnosis of paraganglioma. A capsule containing connective tissue and large amounts of hemosiderin surrounded the neoplastic cells. The patient was essentially free of neurobogic symptoms at 2 months postoperative follow-up.
Differential biosynthesis and intracellular transport of follistatin isoforms and follistatin-like-3.

Follistatin (FST) and FST-like-3 (FSTL3) are structurally related proteins that bind and neutralize activin and closely related members of the TGF superfamily. Three FST isoforms (FST288, FST303, and FST315) are produced from the Fst gene that are primarily secreted proteins. FSTL3 is secreted, but is also observed within the nucleus of most cells. We used pulse-chase 35 S labeling to examine the biosynthetic and intracellular transport patterns that lead to differential secretionandintracellularretentionoftheseproteins.Among theFSTisoforms,FST315wassecretedfastestandFST288was secreted more slowly, with some remaining intracellular. In contrast, FSTL3 was secreted the slowest, with newly synthesized proteins being both secreted and trafficked to the nucleus. This nuclear FSTL3 wasN-glycosylated, although not to the same degree as secreted FSTL3. Both FST and FSTL3 have two Mets in their signal sequence. Mutation of the first Met in FST288 eliminated protein translation, whereas FSTL3 could be translated from either Met. However, although FSTL3 translated from the second Met, which had no signal sequence, was confined to the nucleus, it was not glycosylated. Interestingly, this FSTL3 retained activin-antagonizing activity. Thus, although bioactive, nuclear FSTL3 can be translated from the second Met when the first Met is mutated, the glycosylated nuclear FSTL3 produced endogenously indicates that a different mechanism must be used under natural conditions that apparently includes N-glycosylation. Moreover, the differential biosynthetic and intracellular transport patternsforFST288andFSTL3suggestthatthesetwoactivinbinding proteins may have distinct intracellular roles. (Endocrinology 146: 5052–5062, 2005)
Investigation of microelectromechanical systems bimaterial sensors with metamaterial absorbers for terahertz imaging

One attractive option to achieve real-time terahertz (THz) imaging is a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) bimaterial sensor with embedded metamaterial absorbers. We have demonstrated that metamaterial films can be designed using standard MEMS materials such as silicon oxide (SiOx), silicon oxinitrate (SiOxNy), and aluminum (Al) to achieve nearly 100% resonant absorption matched to the illumination source, providing structural support, desired thermomechanical properties and access to external optical readout. The metamaterial structure absorbs the incident THz radiation and transfers the heat to bimaterial microcantilevers that are connected to the substrate, which acts as a heat sink via thermal insulating legs, allowing the overall structure to deform proportionally to the absorbed power. The amount of deformation can be probed by measuring the displacement of a laser beam reflected from the sensor’s metallic ground plane. Several sensor configurations have been designed, fabricated, and characterized to optimize responsivity and speed of operation and to minimize structural residual stress. Measured responsivity values as high as 1.2 deg/μW and time constants as low as 20 ms with detectable power on the order of 10 nW were obtained, indicating that the THz MEMS sensors have a great potential for real-time imaging.
Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea)-induced lesions in mule deer (Odocoileius hemionus).

Locoweed poisoning has been reported in wildlife, but it is unknown whether mule deer (Odocoileius hemionus)are susceptible. In areas that are heavily infested with locoweed, deer and elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni)have developed a spongiform encephalopathy, chronic wasting disease (CWD). Although these are distinct diseases, no good comparisons are available. The purpose of this study was to induce and describe chronic locoweed poisoning in deer and compare it with the lesions of CWD. Two groups of four mule deer were fed either a complete pelleted ration or a similar ration containing 15% locoweed (Oxytropis sericea). Poisoned deer lost weight and developed a scruffy, dull coat. They developed reluctance to move, and movement produced subtle intention tremors. Poisoned deer had extensive vacuolation of visceral tissues, which was most severe in the exocrine pancreas. Thyroid follicular epithelium, renal tubular epithelium, and macrophages in many tissues were mildly vacuolated. The exposed deer also had mi...
A Statistical Analysis of Medicinal Plants: A Case Study of Plant Families in Kansas and the Great Plains

We analyzed ethnobotanical data on Kansas plants to evaluate differences among families for medicinal uses by Native Americans. We compared three different statistical methods used in previous ethnobotanical studies for use in our Native Medicinal Plant Research Program, which seeks to determine which plant families are more likely to contain species with medicinal compounds. The three approaches were linear regression, binomial approach, and Bayesian analysis. All were useful for determining medicinal plant use differences among plant families, although regression analysis was most useful for our purposes. Asteraceae and Fabaceae are abundant in the open sun environments of Great Plains grasslands and contain high numbers of medicinal plants. In contrast, although grasses (Poaceae) and sedges (Cyperaceae) also are species-rich and ecologically abundant, each is underrepresented as being used by Native Americans as medicine, which can be explained at least partially by their paucity of secondary compounds.
Robust stabilizability of linear time invariant plants: Nonlinear time-varying controllers

This paper is addressed to the problem of robust stabilization of imprecisely known linear time-invariant (LTI) plants, using nonlinear time-varying (NLTV) controllers. We consider a general family of LTI plants described by a nominal plant model with unstructured uncertainty, and show that a necessary and sufficient condition for such a family to be robustly stabilizable (by an arbitrary NLTV controller) is that it be robustly stabilizable by an LTI controller.