cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence of hypercholesterolemia in the active duty Navy population in 1986.

A National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference recently advocated lowering the serum cholesterol levels required to diagnose moderate and severe hypercholesterolemia. We reviewed 998 active duty United States Navy personnel who underwent routine physical examinations with determinations of serum cholesterol. Analysis of the data revealed a gradual rise in mean serum cholesterol with increasing age. Moderate elevation of serum cholesterol ranged from 11.3% to 34.6% of the study group, depending on age. Severe hypercholesterolemia was also age dependent and occurred in 2.0% to 9.3% the group. Dietary and cholesterol-binding agents have been shown to reduce the occurrence of myocardial infarction in subjects with cholesterol greater than 265 mg/dl. The incidence of Navy personnel with serum cholesterol above this level ranged from 2 to 10%. It is likely that intervention with dietary or medical therapy would prevent the development or delay the occurrence of coronary artery disease in a large number of active duty U.S. Navy personnel.
Trajectories of function and biomarkers with age: the CHS All Stars Study

Background Multimorbidity is a major driver of physical and cognitive impairment, but rates of decline are also related to ageing. We sought to determine trajectories of decline in a large cohort by disease status, and examined their correspondence with biomarkers of ageing processes including growth hormone, sex steroid, inflammation, visceral adiposity and kidney function pathways. Methods We have followed the 5888 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) for healthy ageing and longevity since 1989-90. Gait speed, grip strength, modified mini-mental status examination (3MSE) and the digit symbol substitution test (DSST) were assessed annually to 1998-99 and again in 2005-06. Insulin-like growth hormone (IGF-1), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin and cystatin-C were assessed 3-5 times from stored samples. Health status was updated annually and dichotomized as healthy vs not healthy. Trajectories for each function measure and biomarker were estimated using generalized estimating equations as a function of age and health status using standardized values. Results Trajectories of functional decline showed strong age acceleration late in life in healthy older men and women as well as in chronically ill older adults. Adiponectin, IL-6 and cystatin-C tracked with functional decline in all domains; cystatin-C was consistently associated with functional declines independent of other biomarkers. DHEAS was independently associated with grip strength and IL-6 with grip strength and gait speed trajectories. Conclusions Functional decline in late life appears to mark a fundamental ageing process in that it occurred and was accelerated in late life regardless of health status. Cystatin C was most consistently associated with these functional declines.
"Unethical Corporate Values, Bullying Experiences, Psychopathy, and Salespersons' Ethical Reasoning"

This exploratory study assesses the relationships among unethical corporate values, bullying, psychopathy, and selling professionals’ ethical evaluations of deviant behaviors. At the intersection of these constructs is the idea that a poor work context and negative psychology are interrelated so that competitive and self-interested selling is encouraged and ethical reasoning is reduced. Information was collected in the United States from national and regional samples of selling professionals (N = 356). While controlling for social desirability, hierarchical regressions indicated that unethical corporate values were positively linked to both bullying experiences and psychopathic attitudes, and that bullying was positively associated with psychopathy. Psychopathy and unethical corporate values were also negatively associated with moral intensity, while moral intensity was positively related to perceived ethical issue importance, and psychopathy and unethical corporate values were negatively related to ethic...
Virion incorporation of integrin α4β7 facilitates HIV-1 infection and intestinal homing

The intestinal mucosa is a key anatomical site for HIV-1 replication and CD4+ T cell depletion. Accordingly, in vivo treatment with an antibody to the gut-homing integrin α4β7 was shown to reduce viral transmission, delay disease progression, and induce persistent virus control in macaques challenged with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). We show that integrin α4β7 is efficiently incorporated into the envelope of HIV-1 virions. Incorporated α4β7 is functionally active as it binds mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), promoting HIV-1 capture by and infection of MAdCAM-expressing cells, which in turn mediate trans-infection of bystander cells. Functional α4β7 is present in circulating virions from HIV-infected patients and SIV-infected macaques, with peak levels during the early stages of infection. In vivo homing experiments documented selective and specific uptake of α4β7+ HIV-1 virions by high endothelial venules in the intestinal mucosa. These results extend the paradigm of tissue homing to a retrovirus and are relevant for the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of HIV-1 infection.
Data Breaches: Public Sector Perspectives

A data breach exposes confidential, protected data to unauthorized access and manipulation. This study examines the extent and occurrences of data breaches in the US public sector through an analysis of data breaches over a five-year period. This research is motivated by two questions: What are the current trends of data breaches in the public sector and how do contextual governmental factors impact these data breaches?
MicroRNA-711-Induced Downregulation of Angiopoietin-1 Mediates Neuronal Cell Death

Abstract Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) is a well-known endothelial growth factor, but its effects on neurons have yet to be elucidated. We show that Ang-1 is rapidly downregulated in the injured brain aft...
Wage Policies, Employment, and Puerto Rican Migration

It is necessary to understand the forces influencing Puerto Rican migration to truly assess the economic status of Puerto Ricans in the United States. The migratory response reflects the aspirations of workers and their families and represents a relative dissatisfaction with economic conditions on the island. Moreover, the Puerto Rican migratory phenomenon is fundamentally different from the place-to-place European migrations of the twentieth century or the periodic movements of workers from Yugoslavia and Turkey to Western European countries. The Puerto Rican experience is characterized by both features. There is a good deal of cyclical mobility of workers between the island and the United States and longer-term secular movements from the island to the United States. My contention in this chapter is that we must examine both the cyclical and secular nature of Puerto Rican migration to fully comprehend its effects on the economic status of the Puerto Rican population in the United States.
Kinetic of Water-Gas Shift Reaction on Y Zeolite

Abstract The kinetics of water-gas shift reaction on Ni-Mo-Y zeolite has been studied. The intrinsic reaction rate was obtained experimentally in a Carberry type Continuous-Stirred-Tank-Reactor (CSTR). The gas-solid film resistance was eliminated by high speed rotation of the pellets and the pore diffusion resistance was minimized by selecting pellets of small size (∼1.4 mm). The reaction temperature and pressure ranged from 176° - 400°C and 4–69 bars respectively. The rate is kinetics controlled at low temperatures (176° -232°C) and pore diffusion controlled at higher temperatures (260° -400°C). The rate equation was found to be Lanqmuir-Hinshel wood type with two parameters. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed and discussed. Also, the catalyst was found of possessing excellent resistance to H 2 S and NH 3 poisoning. Catalytic deactivation by carbon deposition or poisoning of phenol and benzine was investigated and a deactivation model was established which described the activity decay accurately. Moreover, Y zeolite was demonstrated to be superior than other catalysts in reactivity under identical test conditions.
Semantic Security for the Wiretap Channel

The wiretap channel is a setting where one aims to provide information-theoretic privacy of communicated data based solely on the assumption that the channel from sender to adversary is "noisier" than the channel from sender to receiver. It has developed in the Information and Coding IC it has optimal rate; and both the encryption and decryption algorithms are proven to be polynomial-time.
A scoping review to understand simulation used in interprofessional education

Abstract The purpose of this scoping review is to describe professions engaged in interprofessional education-focused simulations, characterize the types of simulations, and review common facilitators and barriers to utilization in the classroom, clinical and experiential settings. An electronic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and ERIC databases was conducted. Peer-reviewed, English-language articles published between January 2007 and November 2017 were retrieved. Articles were included if they were interprofessional, included learners and simulation, were research articles, and had full text available. A total of 315 articles were screened and 93 were eligible for analysis, of which, 64% (n = 60) were published since 2015. The most common professions were nursing (n = 76), medical students (n = 55), physical therapy (n = 27), pharmacy (n = 25), and medical residents (n = 13), respiratory therapy (n = 12), occupational therapy (n = 12), dentistry (n = 9), and paramedic (n = 8). The most common types of simulations were mannequin alone (n = 33), or standardized patients alone (n = 17) as well as standardized patient plus mannequin (n = 11) or other types of multiple simulations (n = 18). Typically, between three to six professions participated in each simulation (range 2–13). Key facilitators included representation of more than two professions, including at least one learner per profession on each team, using realistic cases that could be adapted to reflect the learner's knowledge and skills, allowing repetitive practice in order to fix mistakes, including a debriefing session, and including simulations in required courses. Barriers included not having enough learners for a valid evaluation of the simulation experience, learner's lack of experience with interprofessional education or simulations, learner's feeling uncomfortable being observed, different knowledge and skill by profession, poor learner attitude, scheduling, cost, and incorporating learners who are both required and elect to complete the simulation. Additional research is needed to assess the impact of these experiences, both at the time of the activity and as learners transition to become practitioners.
Application of Non-UV BG Tape on Assembly of Flip-Chip Package with Copper Pillar Bump

UV tape is widely used in the assembly process of flip-chip package. The adhesiveness of this kind tape will decrease after exposing under UV light. By using this character, the UV tape could be easily peeled off from the bump side of flip-chip wafer after wafer back grinding(BG) process. But in the case of flip-chip die integrated with eflash unit Non-UV BG tape need to be used in stead of UV BG tape since eflash is sensitive to UV light and the data stored in it could be damaged after exposing under UV light. The adhesiveness of Non-UV BG Tape is stronger than UV BG Tape after UV exposure. Therefore, when removing it after BG process, bump crack or die crack could be happened. In this paper, key parameters in Non-UV BG taping process have been studied through assembly design of experiment(DOE). As a result, SB370-SV(Mitsui) tape is successfully applied on a flip-chip wafer with copper pillar bump with 4hrs window time to remove which is acceptable and feasible in actual assembly production.
Risk factors for poor perineal outcome after operative vaginal delivery.

Identify risk factors for poor perineal outcome after operative vaginal delivery. A retrospective cohort study was performed including operative vaginal deliveries during 2015 through 2016. Of 529 operative vaginal deliveries, 79 (14.9%) had higher order perineal lacerations and 14 (2.7%) had a wound breakdown. The only significant risk factor for higher order lacerations was chorioamnionitis (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.09–4.44). Risk factors for perineal wound breakdown included episiotomy (5.2 vs. 1.2%; p < 0.01), type of operative delivery (5.5% after forceps vs. 1.4% after vacuum; p < 0.01) and postpartum narcotic use. Overall, 9.3% of those using narcotics subsequently had a perineal breakdown as compared to 0.7% (p < 0.01). Narcotic use postpartum remained strongly associated in multivariable logistic regression (aOR 21.29; 95% CI 5.43–83.47). Patients with forceps deliveries, episiotomy, and narcotic use had a 38% risk of breakdown. Women at highest risk of perineal wound breakdown benefit from close follow-up.
Costs of Producing for an Identity-Preserved (IP) Grain Market: A Case Study

Precision farming practices may influence precision farmers' preferences for alternative forms of land lease and the contract terms negotiated between landlord and tenant. This article discusses attributes of cash and share leases, the two primary lease types employed in Ohio, and suggests implications of precision farming for the choice of lease type. Evidence from the 1999 Ohio Precision Farming Survey may shed light on how precision farmers are controlling land through lease.
Regionalization of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Surgery to High-Volume Hospitals: Missed Opportunities for Outcome Improvement

PURPOSE:Surgery continues to be the dominant therapy for the management of retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcoma (RPS). Many groups advocate performing these resections at high-volume hospitals (HVHs...
MicroRNA dysregulational synergistic network: discovering microRNA dysregulatory modules across subtypes in non-small cell lung cancers.

The majority of cancer-related deaths are due to lung cancer, and there is a need for reliable diagnostic biomarkers to predict stages in non-small cell lung cancer cases. Recently, microRNAs were found to have potential as both biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lung cancer. However, some of the microRNA’s functions are unknown, and their roles in cancer stage progression have been mostly undiscovered in this clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. As evidence suggests that microRNA dysregulations are implicated in many diseases, it is essential to consider the changes in microRNA-target regulation across different lung cancer subtypes. We proposed a pipeline to identify microRNA synergistic modules with similar dysregulation patterns across multiple subtypes by constructing the MicroRNA Dysregulational Synergistic Network. From the network, we extracted microRNA modules and incorporated them as prior knowledge to the Sparse Group Lasso classifier. This leads to a more relevant selection of microRNA biomarkers, thereby improving the cancer stage classification accuracy. We applied our method to the TCGA Lung Adenocarcinoma and the Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma datasets. In cross-validation tests, the area under ROC curve rate for the cancer stages prediction has increased considerably when incorporating the learned microRNA dysregulation modules. The extracted modules from multiple independent subtypes differential analyses were found to have high agreement with microRNA family annotations, and they can also be used to identify mutual biomarkers between different subtypes. Among the top-ranked candidate microRNAs selected by the model, 87% were reported to be related to Lung Adenocarcinoma. The overall result demonstrates that clustering microRNAs from the dysregulation pattern between microRNAs and their targets leads to biomarkers with high precision and recall rate to known differentially expressed disease-associated microRNAs. The results indicated that our method improves microRNA biomarker selection by detecting similar microRNA dysregulational synergistic patterns across the multiple subtypes. Since microRNA-target dysregulations are implicated in many cancers, we believe this tool can have broad applications for discovery of novel microRNA biomarkers in heterogeneous cancer diseases.
In situ generation of hydrophobic magnetic ionic liquids in stir bar dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with headspace gas chromatography

Abstract For the first time, an in situ stir bar dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction approach has been developed and coupled with headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of a group of organic pollutants. The method exploits a new generation of magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) that contain paramagnetic cations based on Ni2+ or Co2+ metal centers coordinated with either N-butylimidazole or N-octylimidazole ligands and chloride anions. The reactants are added to an aqueous solution containing a high field neodymium rod magnet, followed by the addition of the bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide anion that promotes a metathesis reaction for the in situ generation of a hydrophobic MIL. Concurrently, a high stirring rate is maintained to exceed the magnetic field of the rod magnet and disperse the generated MIL in the sample solution. When stirring is stopped, the MIL coats the rod magnet due to its paramagnetic nature, facilitating the MIL transfer and subsequent desorption and analysis. Under optimum conditions, the method required a 2.5–18% (w/v) aqueous solution of sodium chloride, 10 mL of sample, 20 or 30 mg of MIL, the addition of a small volume of dispersive solvent, and stirring for 5–7.5 min, depending on the MIL. The method provided limits of detection (LODs) down to 10 μg L−1, adequate reproducibility (with relative standard deviation values lower than 10% for a spiked level of 80 μg L−1), and relative recoveries between 72.5% and 102%. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied in the analysis of tap and mineral water.
145. Opioid utilization in adult idiopathic scoliosis after multilevel deformity correction: postoperative trends and factors associated with long-term use

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Opioid therapy is effective in alleviating acute postoperative pain. However, benefits of chronic opioid therapy (COT) is a contentious issue corollary to concerns relating to long-term drug dependence, tolerance and misuse. Patients with adult spinal deformities (ASD) undergoing complex, multilevel fusions often require optimized pain management strategies tailored upon disease progression and the extent of deformity correction. In alignment with a national focus on regulating lenient prescription practices, investigating epidemiological trends and risk factors associated with postoperative consumption in patients with ASD can be beneficial in understanding atypical opioid requirements, guiding practice surveillance, and implementing preventive strategies. PURPOSE To assess trends in postoperative opioid use in preoperative opioid users (OU) vs opioid-naive (ON) and identify risk-factors associated with long-term use (at one year) after deformity correction for adult idiopathic scoliosis (IS). STUDY DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective, observational cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE A total of 1,894 adults who underwent primary short (4-8 vertebrae) or long fusions (≥ 9 vertebrae) for IS. OUTCOME MEASURES Monthly, active postoperative opioid prescription rates up to one year in OUs and ON, and risk factors associated with long-term opioid use after surgical correction. METHODS A commercial claims dataset (The Humana Inc.) was queried to longitudinally track monthly postoperative opioid use up to a year after surgical correction. Preop active opioid prescription within three months prior to surgery was used as a surrogate marker for defining patients as OUs vs ON (no active prescription). Multivariable regression models identified factors associated with opioid use at one year. RESULTS A total of 1606 (84.8%) patients underwent deformity correction involving 4-8 vertebral levels vs 288 (15.4%) with long fusions (≥ 9 vertebrae). Of those, 66.8% were OUs. At one month postop, 79.6% OUs vs 54.2% ON had filled an opioid prescription. At the second month, the absolute risk reduction in opioid use was 55% in ONs (24.6% with active prescription) vs CONCLUSIONS Two-thirds of patients undergoing multilevel deformity correction for adult IS will use opioids prior to surgery. Nonexposure to opioids one-quarter prior to surgery was associated with dramatic risk reduction in postoperative requirements after the third postop month, underscoring the importance of preop opioid tapering protocol. With nearly 50% of OUs having an active prescription at one year following deformity correction, the identified risk factors will serve as an adjunct to preoperative risk stratification and mitigating atypical opioid requirements. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Talking-Heads Attention.

We introduce "talking-heads attention" - a variation on multi-head attention which includes linearprojections across the attention-heads dimension, immediately before and after the softmax operation.While inserting only a small number of additional parameters and a moderate amount of additionalcomputation, talking-heads attention leads to better perplexities on masked language modeling tasks, aswell as better quality when transfer-learning to language comprehension and question answering tasks.
Recent Advances in Arabidopsis CLE Peptide Signaling.

Like communities of people, communities of cells must continuously communicate to thrive. Polypeptide signaling molecules that act as mobile ligands are widely used by eukaryotic organisms to transmit information between cells to coordinate developmental processes and responses to environmental cues. In plants, the CLAVATA3/EMBRYO SURROUNDING REGION-RELATED (CLE) genes encode a large family of extracellular signaling peptides that stimulate receptor-mediated signal transduction cascades to modulate diverse developmental and physiological processes. This review highlights the emerging roles of Arabidopsis thaliana CLE peptide signaling pathways in shoot stem cell homeostasis and root xylem development, as well as in root protophloem cell differentiation, vascular cambium activity, and stomatal formation and closure.
Behavioral Risk Factors for HIV Infection in Hospitalized Persons Who Co-use Stimulants and Opioids

We investigated the association of 90-day opioid and stimulant co-use and HIV risk behaviors in a cross-sectional analysis of hospitalized HIV-negative people who inject drugs (PWID). We compared those injecting opioids alone to two sub-groups who co-used opioids with (1) cocaine, (2) amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), on sex and injection drug risk behaviors assessed via the Risk Assessment Battery (RAB), where a higher score indicates a higher risk. Of 197 participants who injected opioids, 53% co-used cocaine only, 5% co-used ATS only, 18% co-used both cocaine and ATS, 24% co-used neither stimulant. PWID who injected opioids alone had a mean RAB drug risk score of 5.98 points and sex risk score of 2.16 points. Compared to PWID who injected opioids alone, PWID who co-used stimulants had higher mean drug risk RAB scores: cocaine, b = 2.84 points [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01; 4.67]; ATS, b = 3.43 points (95% CI 1.29; 5.57). Compared to PWID who injected opioids alone, cocaine co-use was associated with higher sex RAB scores b = 1.06 points (95% CI 0.32; 1.79). Overall, we found a significant association between stimulant co-use and higher HIV sex and drug risk scores.
Determination of Activated Carbon Fiber Adsorption Capacity for Several Common Organic Vapors: Applications for Respiratory Protection.

In the context of workplace safety, activated carbon in the fiber form (i.e., activated carbon fiber, ACF) represents an alternative adsorbent to granular activated carbon (GAC) for use in organic vapor respiratory protection devices. ACFs are high surface area carbonaceous materials that are often available in a self-supporting non-woven form. The physical form of ACF suggests the potential for a filtration medium that is capable of supporting both organic vapor adsorption and particulate filtration.To study the application of these materials in respiratory protection devices, ACFs (ACFF 1200 m2/g, ACFF 1800 m2/g, and ACFF 2000 m2/g) were challenged with representative organic vapors (toluene, hexane, and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)) at an occupationally relevant concentration (200 ppm). Breakthrough curves were generated for at least three different bed weights of adsorbent. Pressure drop (i.e., the resistance across the filtration media) was also measured to determine maximum ACF bed depths for use in respiratory protection devices.Breakthrough experiments indicate that ACFF 2000 has the highest adsorption capacity for toluene (381 mg/g), followed by ACFF 1800 and ACFF 1200 (344 mg/g and 239 mg/g, respectively). A similar trend was observed for hexane: 221 mg/g, 196 mg/g, and 146 mg/g for ACFF 2000, ACFF 1800, and ACFF 1200, respectively. ACFF 1200 showed the highest adsorption capacity for the polar adsorbate MEK (168 mg/g), followed by ACFF 1800 and ACFF 2000 (166 mg/g and 147 mg/g, respectively). Based on the constraints of pressure drop, it seems unlikely the exclusive use of ACF in a filtering facepiece respirator can provide an adsorbent mass sufficient for full shift protection against organic vapor contaminants at or above the legally enforceable permissible exposure level (PEL). Nevertheless, the incorporation of ACF into a facepiece respirator appears promising for "nuisance odor" applications; i.e., the further reduction of organic vapor concentrations when workplace exposures are already below PEL concentrations. Implication StatementThis research brings innovation to the field of occupational health and air pollution control technology by investigating the adsorption performance of activated carbon fiber (ACF) media in the context of worker respiratory protection. ACF properties such as high specific surface area (m2/g), high permeability to airflow, and rapid adsorption kinetics make it ideal for use in thin, N95-style respirators for organic vapors. Respiratory protection is an exciting and relevant application for ACF media. A lightweight adsorbent such as ACF, if incorporated into an N95-style respirator, could potentially provide nuisance-level VOC protection in a physical form that is accessible to workers and consistent with OSHA's voluntary use provisions for facepiece respirators. The research presented in this manuscript represents one of several steps planned in the characterization of ACF media for this particular application.
Transport of Scalable MPEG-2 Video over ATM Based Networks

Networks based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)1 offer the possibility to support source coding at variable bit rate (VBR), which has the advantages of consistent picture quality, bandwidth savings and delay reduction. However, in times of simultaneous peak rate from different connections, network congestion can occur due to statistical multiplexing. The resultant cell losses and delay jitter will cause picture quality degradation. Hence for a high bandwidth-delay product ATM based network, preventive approaches, such as traffic control, need be taken to alleviate or solve this problem. Traffic control for real-time video services over an ATM based network is mainly implemented at the user network interface (UNI).
Effects of Xylocoris flavipes (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) Releases on Moth Populations in Experimental Peanut Storages

A biological control test in experimental peanut storages indicated that release of large numbers of the warehouse pirate bug, Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), a generalist predator of stored-product insects, has considerable potential for suppression of stored-product moth populations. Suppression of the almond moth, Cadra cautella (Walker), and the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was dependent on both the prey species and environmental conditions. Release of X. flavipes suppressed small populations of almond and Indianmeal moths by as much as 78.8% and 71.4%, respectively, before cold weather and a severe freeze eliminated the almond moth population in January. Suppression of the Indianmeal moth lasted through the 7-month test period. X. flavipes may be useful as one component of an integrated peanut control program based on release of biological agents
Nature, Extent, and Variation of Plant Response to Air Pollutants

Publisher Summary The investigations of air pollution injury to vegetation began near the middle of the 19th century. Injury from leaking illuminating gas mains also was an early problem. Ethylene was identified as the toxicant in the illuminating gas. The complete loss of vegetation may be avoided in the future, but interest in the problem has continued, primarily because of the increased number of large power plants that burn sulfur-containing fuels and emit high concentrations of sulfur oxides. This chapter identifies the major air pollutants and discusses the nature and extent of air pollution problems. It also describes the symptoms of injury caused by these pollutants, especially on crop plants. Air pollution problems have increased because of multiple sources and mixtures of pollutants. There is increased concern about chronic injury and reduced growth attributed to air pollutants such as photochemical oxidants and sulfur oxides. The response to pollutants may be altered by many factors such as genetic, environmental, cultural conditions, time-concentration relationships, and the presence of mixtures of pollutants. The identification and use of tolerant varieties, including resistant varieties developed by breeding, will help reduce losses and assure maximum agricultural production.
A Bacteroides ovatus chromosomal locus which contains an alpha-galactosidase gene may be important for colonization of the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract An alpha-galactosidase gene has been cloned from the human colonic Bacteroides species Bacteroides ovatus 0038. This alpha-galactosidase appears to be distinct from two previously characterized alpha-galactosidases, I and II, from the same strain and has been designated alpha-galactosidase III. Partially purified alpha-galactosidase III from Escherichia coli EM24 containing pFG61 delta SE had a pI of 7.6, as compared with the reported pI values for the known alpha-galactosidases of 5.6 for I and 6.9 for II. Its molecular weight as estimated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels was 78,000, whereas the molecular weights of alpha-galactosidases I and II were 85,000 and 80,500, respectively. The only substrate hydrolyzed by alpha-galactosidase III was melibiose, whereas the other two alpha-galactosidases were able to degrade melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose and partially degraded guar gum. alpha-Galactosidase III had a pH optimum of 6.7 to 7.2. Finally, a single crossover insertion which disrupted the gene in the B. ovatus chromosome had no effect on expression of alpha-galactosidases I and II. Although this insertion had no effect on the ability of B. ovatus to grow in laboratory medium on any of the galactoside-containing carbohydrates tested, the insertion mutant was outcompeted by wild type when a combination of mutant and wild type was used to colonize germfree mice. Insertions on either side of the gene had the same effect. Thus, the locus which contains alpha-galactosidase III may be important for colonization in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Regulation under Economic Globalization

How does economic globalization shape the regulations that states enact to control negative externalities? Previous research downplays the role of international cooperation and the present historical context, so it cannot offer a coherent theoretic account of the empirical record. I construct a formal model in which states can engage in regulatory cooperation to coordinate their policies. I prove three main results. First, a “race to the bottom” is unlikely because it requires non-cooperative adjustments by industrialized countries. Second, a partial “race to the top” is likely because many emerging countries stand to gain from reduced negative externalities and the competitiveness problem is limited when the most lucrative export markets are already regulated. Finally, powerful industrialized countries with a high regulatory capacity benefit from a global expansion of regulation.
Hypertension control: the role of screening and referral to community physicians.

Abstract In this trial of one method to control hypertension, adults in a community were screened and those with elevated pressures were referred to their local physicians for management. On a follow-up survey 1 year later blood pressure measurements were obtained on 73% of the patients originally identified as hypertensive. In those rescreened there had been an increase in the proportion of subjects receiving drug treatment for hypertension from one-third to three-quarters. Also, systolic and diastolic pressures were significantly lower. However, the degree of control of hypertension was often inadequate. Of those subjects who initially had disatolic pressures of 105 mm Hg or more, only 42% could be classified as having fair to good control of their pressure. Screening patients in a community and referring them to their physicians for management was shown to be a relatively ineffective method for controlling hypertension. Expanded or alternative screening and referral programs need to be developed or increased emphasis placed on prevention to improve on these results.
The role of pepsin in acid injury to esophageal epithelium.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The development of reflux esophagitis in humans is a process resulting from esophageal exposure to refluxed gastric contents. There is no doubt that damage to the esophageal epithelium requires exposure to gastric acid; however, the role of refluxed pepsin as contributor to this damage seems to be underappreciated. METHODS: The role of physiological concentrations of pepsin was examined in Ussing chambered rabbit esophageal epithelium and in cultured esophageal epithelial cells. RESULTS: The results of this investigation reaffirmed the ability of pepsin to increase the rate and degree of esophageal cell and tissue damage at acidic pH, although the range of activity was limited to pH CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that acidified pepsin plays a key role in the development of reflux esophagitis by producing an early irreversible lesion that results in an increase in paracellular permeability, which indirect evidence suggests is due to damage to the junctional complex. The irreversibility of the increase in paracellular permeability is likely to aid conversion of nonerosive to erosive damage to the epithelium by permitting luminal acid greater access to the basolateral membrane of esophageal epithelial cells, which is known to be acid permeable.
Individual differences in the response to ingested nutrients.

Lucretius’s statement affirms a long-held belief that there are individual differences in the response to ingested nutrients. These differences may have a basis in biological inheritance. If we can come to understand the origin of these differences, we may be able to not only better direct individuals to tailored nutrition recommendations but also enhance our understanding of the basic pathways through which particular nutrients achieve their effects. It is estimated that there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 000 genes in the human genome.1 It is further estimated that there are well over five single nucleotide polymorphisms per 10 kb of the human genome.2 Given a human genome of approximately 3 billion base pairs, this translates to well over 1.5 million single nucleotide polymorphisms. These genes are expressed as mRNA that can vary in abundance and subsequently be translated into proteins that can take on multiple forms. This massive genomic-transcriptomic-proteomic dimensionality then collides with the dimensionality of nutrition. A typical food frequency questionnaire will have more than 100 distinct items. It is estimated that there are more than a quarter of a million plant species,3 approximately 80 000 of which are thought to be edible.4 At the molecular level, any one food source may contain thousands of individual compounds. This matrix of many thousands of foods and ingestible nutrients by many thousands of genes, genetic polymorphisms, and gene products is the playing field of nutrigenomics. As a field, we have just begun to explore this and must acknowledge that we have a combinatorial tiger by the tail. In this special issue, we have invited some scientists who have been brave enough to venture into this arena. As is illustrated herein, success in this line of research is critically dependent on sophisticated use of a variety of rapidly evolving molecular and statistical technologies coupled with sound sense of and respect for basic biology. In our own work, we find that this combination of expertise is critical, and this recognition has brought the three of us together in close collaboration. We thank the authors for their contributions and hope readers enjoy consuming the contents as much as we enjoyed preparing them. David B. Allison, PhD Department of Biostatistics Section on Statistical Genetics Clinical Nutrition Research Center The University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama, USA
A Framework for Learning about Big Data with Mobile Technologies for Democratic Participation: Possibilities, Limitations, and Unanticipated Obstacles.

As Big Data becomes increasingly important in policy-making, research, marketing, and commercial applications, we argue that literacy in this domain is critical for engaged democratic participation and that peer-generated data from mobile technologies offer rich possibilities for students to learn about this new genre of data. Through the lens of what we term the paradigms of technology and cutting-edge content as an educational end, means, and equalizer, we explore how learning about Big Data with mobile technologies exists at the critical intersection of issues such as the purpose of schooling, global competitiveness, corporate profit, student agency, and democratic participation. These competing interests surface tensions at the classroom, institutional, and societal levels. Engaging these tensions, we offer a framework of student objectives for learning about Big Data with mobile technologies. Through a reflection on the challenges we continue to encounter as we attempt to implement innovative curriculum within the constraints of urban public schools, we hope to prompt dialogue and changes in practice with respect to what it means to learn for democratic participation using Big Data.
Genetic analysis of geotactic and phototactic behavior in selected strains of Drosophila pseudoobscura.

Hybridization studies were carried out with strains ofDrosophila pseudoobscura that differ in regard to phototactic and geotactic behavior. These strains were being maintained at The Rockefeller University, New York, N. Y. Behavior was measured by using Hirsch-Hadler classification mazes. The phototactic scores of F1 and F2 progeny resulting from reciprocal matings between flies from positive and negative phototactic strains are compatible with the hypothesis that the responsible genes are largely located in the autosomes. Geotactic scores of F1, F2, F3, and backcross progeny from reciprocal matings between flies from a positive geotactic strain and a slightly negative geotactic strain suggest that the bulk of the genes for positive geotactic behavior occur in a region of the X chromosome not readily separated by crossing over. Homozygosity or hemizygosity for this region tends to give positive geotactic behavior.
Addition of a left ventricular lead to conventional pacing systems in patients with congestive heart failure: feasibility, safety, and early results in 60 consecutive patients.

BAKER, C.M., et al.: Addition of a Left Ventricular Lead to Conventional Pacing Systems in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure: Feasibility, Safety, and Early Results in 60 Consecutive Patients. Left bundle branch block worsens congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients with LV dysfunction. Asynchronous LV activation produced by RV apical pacing leads to paradoxical septal motion and inefficient ventricular contraction. Recent studies show improvement in LV function and patient symptoms with biventricular pacing in patients with CHF. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility, safety, acute efficacy, and early effect on symptoms of the upgrade of a chronically implanted RV pacing system to a biventricular system. Sixty patients with NYHA Class III and IV underwent the upgrade procedure using commercially available leads and adapters. The procedure succeeded in 54 (90%) of 60 patients. Acute LV stimulation thresholds obtained from leads placed along the lateral LV wall via the coronary sinus compare favorably to those reported in current biventricular pacing trials. The complication rate was low (5/60, 8.3%): lead dislodgement (n = 1), pocket hematoma (n = 1), and wound infections (n = 3). During 18 months of follow-up (16.7%) of 60 patients died. Two patients that died failed the initial upgrade attempt. At 3-month follow-up, quality of life scores improved 31 ± 28 points (n = 29), P < 0.0001). NYHA Class improved from 3.4 ± 0.5 to 2.4 ± 0.7 (P = < 0.0001) and ejection fraction increased from 0.23 ± 0.8 to 0.29 ± 0.11 (P = 0.0003). Modification of RV pacing to a biventricular system using commercially available leads and adapters can be performed effectively and safely. The early results of this study suggest patients may benefit from this procedure with improved functional status and quality of life.
Solar disturbances and mesospheric odd nitrogen

The odd nitrogen (NOx) abundance of the high latitude mesosphere exhibits a large variability in response to energetic particle precipitation. Model calculations for a very large particle event predict increases in the NOx mixing ratio that can exceed a factor of ten over time periods of the order of one week in the summer hemisphere. A more typical sized event can still lead to an enhancement of a factor of three in summer. Relative changes in the winter hemisphere are less dramatic due to a larger ambient NOx mixing ratio predicted here. However, a factor of two increase in NOx is possible during a very large event. Owing to the large variability, it is difficult to define a physically meaningful mean state profile in the high latitude mesosphere. Rather, the NOx abundance likely displays an erratic behavior which is correlated with the level of solar activity.
Test for characterizing settleability of anaerobic sludge

Abstract The paper describes a simple, inexpensive method for evaluating settling properties of granular sludges. Test conditions, sample recovery, reproducibility, interpretation of results and applications are discussed.
Open door policies: Measuring impact using attitude surveys

This study examines employee perceptions of an Open Door Complaint System from both those who have filed claims and those who have not. Our sample includes over 4000 employees working in a Fortune 100 company. We examine these perceptions through an organization wide employee attitude survey. Analyzing situation specific perceptions, we examine their relationship with overall fairness, satisfaction and intent to remain with the organization. Results suggest that a positive Open Door incident raises both distributive and procedural justice perceptions. In turn, fairness perceptions influence satisfaction levels. Finally, results indicate that satisfaction has a strong effect on the intent to remain with the organization. Implications are discussed for both complaint systems and employee opinion surveys.
Increased sperm numbers in the vas deferens of meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, in response to odors of conspecific males

Sperm competition occurs when the sperm of two or more males compete to fertilize the egg/s of a particular female. Males of some species respond to a high risk of sperm competition by increasing the number of sperm in their ejaculates. Males may accomplish such a response by increasing the intensity or duration of contraction of the cauda epididymidis and vas deferens. During emission (first phase of the ejaculatory process), the vas deferens receives sperm from the cauda epididymidis and propels the sperm to the urethra. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that males exposed to a high risk of sperm competition mobilize larger numbers of sperm from the cauda epididymidis to the vas deferens before initiation of copulatory behavior. This accumulation of sperm in the vas deferens would result in a larger number of sperm in the ejaculate. To test this hypothesis, we exposed male meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, to either low or high risks of sperm competition using soiled bedding of conspecific individuals. At three different times after this exposure (15, 30, or 60 min), we removed both vasa deferentia and counted the sperm within them. We found a significant increase in sperm numbers in the vas deferens of males after 30 min of being exposed to a high risk of sperm competition. The lower sperm numbers after 15 and 60 min of exposure suggest that the observed response is relatively slow and that sperm mobilized to the vasa deferentia may return to the cauda epididymides if ejaculation does not occur some time after the observed response. Our results indicate that the physiological response that may result in high sperm numbers in the ejaculate in relation to high risk of sperm competition can occur before initiation of copulatory behavior.
Do You See What I See? Effects of Communication on Scanning Strategies in Change Detection by Individuals and Teams of Observers

Change blindness results from the absence of attention from the source of a change. Unsurprisingly, change blindness worsens in dual task and high workload conditions. Such is the environment in which teams of operators in military command and control missions operate, yet little is known about change blindness susceptibility in these conditions. A flicker task required individuals and dyads to detect changes under high and low task difficulty. Reaction time, accuracy, and eye movements were examined. Scan path analyses showed that communicating dyads were more efficient at change detection than individuals and non-communicating dyads, but are just as blind to no change. Eye movement data also indicate differences in attention allocation and scan strategies among individuals, communicating, and non-communicating dyads. Implications for adaptive aids and tasks such as tactical command and control are discussed.