cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Key determinants of the fungal and bacterial microbiomes in homes.

Abstract Background The microbiome of the home is of great interest because of its possible impact on health. Our goal was to identify some of the factors that determine the richness, evenness and diversity of the home’s fungal and bacterial microbiomes. Method Vacuumed settled dust from homes (n=35) in Cincinnati, OH, were analyzed by pyrosequencing to determine the fungal and bacterial relative sequence occurrence. The correlation coefficients between home environmental characteristics, including age of home, Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) values, occupant number, relative humidity and temperature, as well as pets (dog and cat) were evaluated for their influence on fungal and bacterial communities. In addition, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used for identifying fungal and bacterial genera and species associated with those housing determinants found to be significant. Results The fungal richness was found to be positively correlated with age of home (p=0.002), ERMI value (p=0.003), and relative humidity (p=0.015) in the home. However, fungal evenness and diversity were only correlated with the age of home (p=0.001). Diversity and evenness (not richness) of the bacterial microbiome in the homes were associated with dog ownership. Linear discriminant analysis showed total of 39 putative fungal genera/species with significantly higher LDA scores in high ERMI homes and 47 genera/species with significantly higher LDA scores in homes with high relative humidity. When categorized according to the age of the home, a total of 67 fungal genera/species had LDA scores above the significance threshold. Dog ownership appeared to have the most influence on the bacterial microbiome, since a total of 130 bacterial genera/species had significantly higher LDA scores in homes with dogs. Conclusions Some key determinants of the fungal and bacterial microbiome appear to be excess moisture, age of the home and dog ownership.
Old lies, new truths: Demographic realities and economic consequences facing America

T he twenty-first century is now less than seven years away. How will America fare in the new century? To answer the questions of tomorrow, we must recognize the erstwhile truths by which we live today. We must understancl that the realities of yesterday ancl today are even now creating those of tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow’s realities are very clifferent from what many of us are expecting. Why? Becawe we are basing our future on old lies rather than on new truths. The new realities of tomorrow include: l a dramatic change in the age structure of our population; l a tremendous transformation in the cliversity of our population; l a growing population of “at-risk” children and aclults; l a significant transfer of resources away from our chilclren and young families to our niature work force ancl aging population; and l a government policy of doing less, when the new realities tell us we must do more to ensure a competitive and productive tomorrow.
The effect of glucose priming solutions in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract To assess the impact of glucose-containing priming solutions on plasma glucose level in diabetic patients during and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, we studied 50 diabetic patients and 10 nondiabetic patients who underwent bypass graft surgery. Glucose-containing priming solutions profoundly elevated plasma glucose levels during and after bypass graft surgery. In diabetic patients who received glucose primes, intraoperative peak plasma glucose levels averaged 696 ± 48 mg/dl as compared with 341 ± 17 mg/dl in diabetic patients who received nonglucose primes ( p
Thermal properties of structural materials used in LWR vessels

High temperature thermal property data for structural materials used in existing Light Water Reactors (LWRs) are limited. Often, values extrapolated from available data, as recommended in the literature, differ significantly. To reduce uncertainties in predictions relying upon extrapolated data for LWR vessel and penetration materials, high temperature tests were completed on SA533 Grade B, Class 1 (SA533-B1) low alloy steel, Stainless Steel 304 (SS304), and Inconel 600 using material property measurement systems available in the High Temperature Test Laboratory (HTTL) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Properties measured include thermal expansion, specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity for temperatures up to 1200 °C. From these results, thermal conductivity and density were calculated. Results show that, in some cases, previously recommended values for these materials differ significantly from measured values at high temperatures.
REVISION OF DISEPALUM (ANNONACEAE)

The relationship between the Asian generaDisepalum Hook. f. andEnicosanthellum Ban (Annonaceae) is examined in a revisionary study. Despite the disparate perianth morphologies of the two genera, other characters support inclusion of all species in a single genus with nine species. The monocarp stalks in all species are found to be derived from the receptacle rather than the ovary, and are thus not homologous with those found in most other Annonanceae genera. Cladistic analysis indicates that the species on the mainland of Asia and of montane habitats are more primitive than the species of the lowlands and of Sumatra and Borneo. Two new combinations,Disepalum petelotii andD. plagioneurum, are necessary as a result of merging the two genera, and one species,D. aciculare, is described as new.
Hyperelastic modeling of location-dependent human distal femoral cartilage mechanics

Knee articular cartilage exhibits complex mechanical behavior, even under high strain rates, which poses a challenge to developing accurate and efficient cartilage models. In particular, the tissue's stress-strain response is non-linear and the stiffness of the response is location-dependent. Hyperelastic models such as those of Alan Gent and others have increasingly found use in soft tissue biomechanics. Recently, a hyperelastic statistical chain network model representing the transverse isotropy of the collagen matrix in the superficial tangential zone has been developed. The model successfully simulated the 100% strain/ s unconfined compression response of human proximal tibial cartilage. Moreover, spatial variations in the tangent modulus to the nominal stress-strain curve taken at 10% strain were reflected in the variability of a single parameter of the model. Given the success of the model, we desired to determine whether these outcomes are equally applicable to healthy human distal femoral cartilage so that a complete model of tibiofemoral joint cartilage can be developed. The transversely isotropic model was employed along with two other hyperelastic chain network models to determine which model best simulated unconfined compression data for healthy distal femoral cartilage. The transversely isotropic model fit the data excellently (R 2 ¼0.999). The model was subsequently simplified to depend on a single parameter and reapplied to the dataset. The modified model maintained an excellent fit to the data (R 2 ¼0.999), and its single parameter varied in a statistically similar regional pattern (po0.05) to the experimentally-obtained elastic modulus of the tissue. Outcomes suggest that this model is suitable for modeling the spatially-varying, non-linear mechanics of healthy human distal femoral cartilage. Implementation of this constitutive relation within computational models of the knee will provide novel insight into the relationship between joint mechanics, cartilage loading, and knee osteoarthritis development.
Improved spam filtering by extraction of information from text embedded image e-mail

The increase of image spam, a kind of spam in which the text message is embedded into an attached image to defeat spam filtering techniques, is becoming an increasingly major problem. For nearly a decade, content based filtering using text classification or machine learning has been a major trend of antispam filtering systems. A Key technique being used by spammers is to embed text into image(s) in spam email. In [4], we proposed two levels of ontology spam filters: a first level global ontology filter and a second level user-customized ontology filter. However, that previous system handles only text e-mail and the percentage of attached images is increasing sharply. The contribution of the paper is that we add an image e-mail handling capability to the previous anti-spam filtering system, enhancing the effectiveness of spam filtering.
Accuracy evaluation of weather data generation and disaggregation methods at finer timescales

Availability of weather data at finer timescales such as hourly is vital in the application of dynamic physical and biological models. In this study, we have examined the suitability of various approaches (deterministic periodic versus stochastic) of disaggregating daily weather data into hourly data in the Cedar Creek watershed, TX, USA. We found the cosine function suitable to disaggregate daily maximum and minimum temperatures and wind speed data into respective hourly data. We also used a common logarithmic equation to compute vapor pressures from temperature data, and hence relative humidity (the ratio between actual and saturated vapor pressures multiplied by 100). Disaggregation following uniform distribution of daily rainfall over 24 h did not reproduce most statistical parameters computed from observed hourly rainfall data onsite. Conversely, both stochastic models formulated based on univariate (Hyetos) and multivariate (MuDRain) processes mimicked the measured hourly rainfall distributions very well. Overall, we found the MuDRain model superior, compared to other models to disaggregate daily rainfall data into hourly data.
Effect of hypophysectomy on somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28 biosynthesis in the rat hypothalamus

Abstract The in vivo incorporation of [35S]cysteine into hypothalamic somatostatin-14 and somatostatin-28 was found to be substantially below normal in hypophysectomized rats. A smaller reduction in label incorporation into arginine vasopressin was also observed, while incorporation into acid-precipitable protein was normal. The diminution in somatostatin biosynthesis presumably reflects the absence of pituitary growth hormone secretion, while that in vasopressin synthesis may reflect the loss or disruption of vasopressin-producing cells.
Extending the Direct Strength Method for Cold-Formed Steel Design to Through-Fastened Simple Span Girts and Purlins with Laterally Unbraced Compression Flanges

AbstractA direct-strength method (DSM) prediction approach is introduced and validated for metal building wall and roof systems that are constructed with steel panels through-fastened with screws to girts or purlins. The focus is capacity prediction for simple spans under wind uplift or suction; however, the DSM framework is generally formulated to accommodate gravity loads, continuous spans, standing-seam roofs, and insulated roof and wall systems in the future. System flexural capacity is calculated with the usual DSM approach; global buckling, local-global buckling interaction, and distortional buckling strengths are determined with a finite-strip Eigen-buckling analysis, including a rotational spring that simulates restraint provided by the through-fastened steel panel. The DSM flexural capacity is then reduced with a code-friendly equation consistent with existing standard provisions to account for the additional stress at the intersection of the web and free flange that occurs as the girt or purlin ...
Sinusoidal modulation for a neutron Fourier TOF spectrometer

Abstract Sinusoidal modulation for neutron time-of-flight measurements is obtained using a stator with specially shaped windows.
Gravimetric Methods – Spacecraft Altimeter Measurements

Satellite altimetry has become an important tool for studying the Earth. Here, we summarize the basic concepts of satellite radar altimeters, including how range is measured, how the precise orbit height is calculated, and how these are combined to determine sea surface height (SSH). Corrections needed to account for path delays of the radar pulse in the atmosphere and biases at the surface are described. These include the ionosphere, wet troposphere, and dry troposphere atmospheric corrections and the sea state bias and inverted barometer surface corrections. The calibration and verification of the SSH measurement is explained, using specific examples from the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 missions. We also comment on some geophysical applications of the altimeter measurement, including the ocean geoid, bathymetry, tides, and global mean sea level. Finally, we briefly discuss other types of satellite altimeters, including laser, delay-Doppler, and wide-swath altimeters.
Excel grader and access grader

Excel Grader is an automated grader for use by instructors in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office application courses. Excel Grader performs static analysis on Microsoft Excel workbooks. The program compares a student workbook with the instructor's correct version of the workbook. The student workbook is marked and a grade report is embedded. Excel Grader includes reports and a tool for plagiarism detection. Access Grader is a companion product that grades Microsoft Access assignments. Access Grader embeds an "ERRORS" table in the student database. Access Grader grades database table and queries. Access Grader has similar reports and user interface as Excel Grader. The graders have been tested in thirty-nine Microsoft Office applications classes (with about 800 students) over two semesters. Thousands of assignments have been graded. According to a survey of instructors using the programs, the graders were extremely accurate and saved hours of grading time. Students that were surveyed felt the grading was fair and accurate.
Increased lipid peroxidation and altered membrane functions in Emory mouse cataract.

Lipid peroxidation has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of some types of cataract. The possibility of such a mechanism was investigated in Emory mouse cataract. Malondi aldehyde, a breakdown product of lipid peroxides, increased 4-fold in advanced cataract. Studies on cation transport revealed that in early cataract there was no alteration in permeability and active transport of cations. However, these functions were significantly altered in advanced cataract as evidenced by about 300% increase in cellular influx of 22Na+ (140 mM) and 50% fall in cellular uptake of 86Rb+ (5 mM). At this stage of cataract, the ouabain- inhibitable component of uptake of Rb+ was drastically decreased, whereas the ouabain-resistant component was unchanged. The mannitol-space increased markedly with progression of cataract. Altered transport of cations in cataract was indicative of damaged membranes which may be due to peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in the lipid bilayers concomitant with oxidation of sul...
Semantic facilitation and lexical access during sentence processing

An experiment was conducted testing predictions derived from context-dependent and context-independent models of lexical access. Four types of unambiguous test sentences were constructed. The direct object of each test sentence was preceded by a verb that was either semantically related or unrelated to it, and by an adjective that was semantically related or unrelated. Context-dependent models predict that the speed with which the object noun is retrieved from the mental lexicon will be faster when the verb and/or the adjective is semantically related; context-independent models predict no such facilitation. Forty-four subjects each heard 32 test sentences and were asked to monitor within the sentence for a word-initial target phoneme. The target phoneme occurred on the word following the object noun. Reaction times to detect the targets were obtained. According to context-dependent models, these times should be shorter when related words precede the object noun, and that is what was found. It was also observed that the facilitation effects due to the related verbs and adjectives were additive. Implications of these results were discussed.
Radiation field analysis and synthesis using Prony's method

Prony's method, a technique for extracting the parameters of an exponential series from its discrete samples, is applied here to far-field pattern data. The method offers possibilities in imaging source distributions and in array analysis and synthesis.
The G-protein family and their interaction with receptors.

Introduction THE FAMILY of GTP-binding proteins, called Gproteins, provides a signal transduction coupling mechanism for many cell surface receptors. The receptors act catalytically to mediate guanine nucleotide exchange at the GDP-GTP binding site of G-proteins. This process is referred to as activation and results in the displacement of bound GDP for GTP. The GTP-bound form of the G-protein then initiates a cellular response by altering the activity of specific enzymes. Examples of such signal transduction systems include the receptor regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity and the photoreceptor regulation of cyclic (c)GMP phosphodiesterase. Recent evidence also suggests that specific ion channels may be regulated by G-proteins. As detailed in this review, recent elucidation of both receptor and G-protein primary sequence has allowed structural predictions and new experimental approaches to study the mechanism of receptor-catalyzed G-protein regulation of effector systems and the control of cell function.
Psychosocial counseling to improve quality of life in HIV infection

Psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioral stress management (CBSM), may enhance coping and social support which contribute to an improvement of quality of life factors such as emotional functioning, social functioning, and sense of well-being, for HIV-infected men during several phases of HIV spectrum disease. These phases include the acutely stressful period immediately following notification of HIV+ status, the adjustment period following this news, and the process of dealing with chronic symptomatic HIV infection. Normalization of some aspects of immunological status were found to accompany some of these psychosocial changes in the short-run. Longer-term follow-up indicated relationships between psychosocial factors and improved immunological status and physical functioning up to 2 years later. Factors such as an increased use of active coping strategies, including relaxation exercises, use of more functional appraisals and elicitation of social support, and decreased use of denial/avoidance coping strategies, may be key predictors of longer-term emotional well-being, social functioning, and physical functioning in HIV-infected populations. Special issues need to be addressed in emerging models of quality of life assessment in HIV populations. For example, the way resurgence of stigmatization and self-doubt affects sense of identity and well-being need to be addressed in quality of life research as well as in psychosocial interventions. Loss of employment and its financial and existential consequences are also factors which impact sense of self and well-being, and need to be addressed both in research as well as in interventions. The effect of repeated HIV-related bereavements upon an individual's social network and the emotional, social, and physical sequelae of bereavement have implications for HIV quality of life research as well. Quality of survival time has become a paramount issue in the context of HIV spectrum disease. Examining the relationships among coping strategies, social support, emotional well-being, realistic appraisals of one's functioning in comparison to their aspirations, and the influence of psychosocial functioning on disease course are central missions of our research program.
Spectra of irradiated polyamides

Differential spectra have been obtained of a number of irradiated polyamides and monomeric amides. These spectra indicate that both free radical and molecular products are produced as primary products. The transient colored products (which are believed to be free radicals) and molecular products appear to be in the amine portion of the molecvle for the most part. The approximate G yield for radical production in nylon 66 is 5.8, and the approximate molar extinction coefficient of the free radical at 355 mμ is 690.
Challenges to graphene growth on SiC(0 0 0 1‾): Substrate effects, hydrogen etching and growth ambient

Abstract Controlling the uniformity and morphology of graphene grown on the C-face of SiC is more difficult than on the Si-face. To improve graphene grown on the C-face, a continuous growth process was developed in a conventional tube furnace that included in situ surface preparation by annealing in H2 followed by an Ar-mediated growth, which was done at a variety of different temperatures and pressures. Optimized H2 etch conditions for the C-face were developed to improve the starting substrate morphology and reduce the effect of substrate defects on growth. The resulting graphene film, however, had non-uniform thickness due to intrinsic bulk defects within the SiC substrate and an interfacial oxide. Differences between substrate properties, such as polytype, are shown to have a significant effect on growth, with a 4H substrate displaying faster in-plane graphene growth than a 6H substrate. A primarily 2-domain graphene film with significant rotational disorder was found regardless of the starting substrate and growth conditions. Ultra-high vacuum desorption of the interfacial oxide caused the graphene to reorder into a single preferred rotational orientation, suggesting trace oxygen impurities in the growth chamber can play an important role in graphene growth on the C-face of SiC.
The induction of tolerance to alloantigens using HLA-based synthetic peptides

The identification of immunomodulatory approaches that allow the induction of antigen-specific unresponsiveness is required for long-term graft survival without the complications of chronic immunosuppression. Recent novel strategies based upon treatment with synthetic peptides corresponding to linear sequences of MHC class I and II molecules reproducibly induce tolerance to alloantigens. Although the mechanisms involved are still not completely understood, the phenomenology reported makes these approaches promising for evaluation in clinical trials.
Benzodiazepines and risk of Alzheimer's disease

Prescribers and patients need a proper surveillance system for cognitive side effects A growing number of observational studies have shown the critical role of potentially inappropriate medications for increasing the risk of cognitive impairment. In a linked paper, Billioti de Gage and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.g5205) extend the pharmacoepidemiological research on the adverse cognitive effects of benzodiazepines with an investigation of their link with Alzheimer’s disease.1 Their results suggest that long term exposure to benzodiazepines might be a modifiable risk factor for this condition. The authors conducted a nested case-control study of about 2000 older members of a public drug plan in the province of Quebec, Canada. They observed a cumulative dose-effect association between exposure to benzodiazepines (at least 90 days) and risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and found that exposure lasting more than 180 days was associated with a nearly twofold increase in risk. In further analyses, they showed that longer acting benzodiazepines were associated with greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared with shorter acting benzodiazepines, adding support for a causal association. The interpretation of these findings is …
Fiber optic sensor for oceanic carbon dioxide

Sensors are needed to evaluate the role of CO2 in global warming. We have developed a fiber optic sensor to measure the CO2 partial pressure (PCO2) in seawater.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Emergency physician awareness of prehospital procedures and medications.

Introduction: Maintaining patient safety during transition from prehospital to emergency department (ED) care depends on effective handoff communication between providers. We sought to determine emergency physicians’ (EP) knowledge of the care provided by paramedics in terms of both procedures and medications, and whether the use of a verbal report improved physician accuracy. Methods: We conducted a 2-phase observational survey of a convenience sample of EPs in an urban, academic ED. In this large ED paramedics have no direct contact with physicians for non-critical patients, giving their report instead to the triage nurse. In Phase 1, paramedics gave verbal report to the triage nurse only. In Phase 2, a research assistant (RA) stationed in triage listened to this report and then repeated it back verbatim to the EPs caring for the patient. The RA then queried the EPs 90 minutes later regarding their patients’ prehospital procedures and medications. We compared the accuracy of these 2 reporting methods. Results: There were 163 surveys completed in Phase 1 and 116 in Phase 2. The oral report had no effect on EP awareness that the patient had been brought in by ambulance (86% in Phase 1 and 85% in Phase 2.) The oral report did improve EP awareness of prehospital procedures, from 16% in Phase 1 to 45% in Phase 2, OR=4.28 (2.5-7.5). EPs were able to correctly identify all oral medications in 18% of Phase 1 cases and 47% of Phase 2 cases, and all IV medications in 42% of Phase 1 cases and 50% of Phase 2 cases. The verbal report led to a mild improvement in physician awareness of oral medications given, OR=4.0 (1.09-14.5), and no improvement in physician awareness of IV medications given, OR=1.33 (0.15-11.35). Using a composite score of procedures plus oral plus IV medications, physicians had all three categories correct in 15% of Phase 1 and 39% of Phase 2 cases (p<0.0001). Conclusion: EPs in our ED were unaware of many prehospital procedures and medications regardless of the method used to provide this information. The addition of a verbal hand-off report resulted in a modest improvement in overall accuracy. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(4):504-510.]
Comparison of Prestress Losses for a Prestress Concrete Bridge Made with High-Performance Concrete

Five prestressed concrete girders made with high-performance concrete were instrumented using vibrating-wire strain gages. Their behavior was monitored for three years from the time of casting. The measured change in concrete strain at the centroid of the prestressing strands was used to evaluate changes in prestress. The total measured prestress loss was as large as 28% of the total jacking stress. Due to the higher stresses, this loss is larger than would be expected for a girder made with conventional-strength concrete. The observed values of prestress losses were compared with values calculated using the recommended AASHTO LRFD and NCHRP 18-07 procedures. The AASHTO LRFD method overpredicted the average prestress losses for the highly stressed Span 2 girders by 20% while the NCHRP method underpredicted the average losses by 16%. The NCHRP method was found to be more inclusive and adaptable to regional construction. The calculated NCHRP Span 2 losses were found to be within 10% of the average measured losses when the elastic shortening losses were calculated based on measured data and differential shrinkage was calculated based on continuous beams.
A Friendship Of Metal And Stone: Representations Of Fan Juqing And Zhang Yuanbo In The Ming Dynasty

This essay examines representation of male friendship in Ming vernacular literature through an analysis of works that retell the story of two late Han friends, Fan Juqing and Zhang Yuanbo. Throughout the Ming, versions of the tale were produced in a variety of literary genres including a zaju play and a vernacular short story. Both the drama and the short story are extant in multiple editions, providing us insights into how they were interpreted by various literati editors. The durability of the friendship between Fan and Zhang-an essential aspect in all depictions of their story-is vividly evoked by the phrase that characterizes their relationship in dramatic literature: "a friendship of metal and stone." The late Ming editions of the play and the short story underline the two friends' unbending commitment to their friendship through a variety of textual and paratextual additions and emendations. In the hands of these late Ming literati editors the two friends Fan and Zhang thus become heroic figures worthy of eternal respect.
Permanent or Temporary Classroom Groups: A Field Study

Interviews of graduate and undergraduate students and faculty members at several urban universities were conducted during a 3-year period. The results suggest differences in satisfaction and performance with respect to temporary versus permanent groups and groups versus teams. Possible explanations for these differences are provided. The article discusses types of projects for which permanent and temporary groups will be effective. Findings also suggest the need for increased training of faculty in creating appropriate classroom environments and projects. Areas of additional training necessary for students include group dynamics and leadership requirements to supplement course concepts.
Tension-free vaginal tape: a quality-of-life assessment.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess whether tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) results in significant improvements in urinary incontinence and its effect on patients’ quality of life (QOL) utilizing two validated questionnaires. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two tension-free vaginal tape procedures were performed at two sites between October 1998 and January 2001. All patients were requested to complete the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) and Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) as part of their preoperative assessment. History, physical, and demographic data were also collected. All subjects underwent subtracted cystometry and urethral function tests prior to surgery. A combination of mail and phone follow-up was used to obtain postoperative IIQ-7 and UDI-6 scores in October 2001. Data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-one patients completed the pre- and postoperative quality-of-life forms and were included in the analysis. Mean follow-up was 22.1 months (range 6.1–49.8). There were significant improvements in postoperative scores for both the IIQ-7 and the UDI-6 (P CONCLUSION: The IIQ-7 and UDI-6 are validated tools that can be used to provide some objective evidence for the impact of urinary incontinence on patients’ lives. Utilizing these two validated quality-of-life tools we show that tension-free vaginal tape results in significant improvement in patient quality of life and symptoms of urgency, stress incontinence, and voiding dysfunction.
A constitutive model for two-dimensional nonlinear elastic foams

Abstract A constitutive theory that describes the nonlinear elastic behavior of two-dimensional foams is formulated in terms of a strain energy function. The analytical theory is based upon micromechanical analysis of an idealized cellular material with regular hexagonal structure. The mechanics of solid films that represent the elastic cell walls is represented by a stretching compliance M and a bending compliance N, which express force-displacement relations and are assumed to be independent of strain. Terms in the strain energy that represent nonlinear response are determined by analysing finite deformations of a foam with pin-jointed structure. These terms stem from geometrical effects due to large distortion of the cells. The assumption that essential large-deformation effects are captured through neglect of film bending is supported by numerical simulations. The macroscopic mechanical response of the foam can show strong variation with strain when the dominant mechanism for microscopic distortion of the films changes from bending to stretching with increasing strain. The micromechanical basis for this model provides an evaluation of the forces in each film, which allows an assessment of critical conditions for the mechanical failure of foams. For conditions representative of a typical compression test, this theory predicts that films in the cellular material will first buckle near the load-bearing ends of the specimen.
Mechanisms modulating estrogen-induced uterine vasodilation.

Estrogen, a potent vasodilator, has its greatest effects in reproductive tissues, e.g., increasing uterine blood flow (UBF) 5- to 10-fold within 90 min after a bolus dose. High-conductance potassium channels and nitric oxide (NO) contribute to the uterine responses, but other factors may be involved. We examined the role of ATP-dependent (ATP-sensitive) and voltage-gated (Kv) potassium channels and new protein synthesis in ovariectomized ewes with uterine artery flow probes, infusing intraarterial inhibitors glibenclamide (GLB; KATP), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; Kv) or cycloheximide, respectively, into one uterine horn before and/or after systemic estradiol-17β (E2β, 1 μg/kg iv). E2β alone increased UBF >5-fold and heart rate by 10–25% (P<.01) within 90 min; mean arterial pressure (MAP) was unaffected. GLB did not alter basal hemodynamic parameters or responses to E2β. Basal UBF and heart rate were unaffected by 4-AP, but MAP increased by 10% and 25% at 30 and 120 min of infusion (P<.01), respectively. Although E2β-induced rises in UBF were unaffected in the control uterine horn, 4-AP dose-dependently inhibited UBF responses in the infused horn (R=.83, P=.003, n=10). Cycloheximide not only dose-dependently inhibited UBF responses (R=.57, P=.01, n=18) and increases in uterine cGMP secretion, 23.4±10.7 versus 340±60 pmol/min (P<.001), but also decreased UBF by 50% and cGMP by ∼90% at the time of maximum UBF. Mechanisms modulating estrogen-induced uterine vasodilation involve signaling pathways that include NO, smooth muscle cGMP, smooth muscle potassium channels and new protein synthesis.
Hierarchical performance measurement and modeling of the linux file system (abstracts only)

File systems are very important components in a computer system. File system simulation can help to predict the performance of new system designs. It offers the advantages of the flexibility of modeling and the cost and time savings when utilizing simulation instead of full implementation. Being able to predict end-to-end file system performance against a pre-defined workload can help system designers to make decisions that could affect their entire product line, affecting several million dollars of investment. This paper presents a detailed simulation-based performance model of the Linux ext3 file system. The model is developed using Colored Petri Nets. A performance study using the model shows that the obtained results are close to the expected behavior of the real file system. The model shows that file system parameters have significant impact on the performance of the I/O when compared to the parameters of the disk subsystem.
Phaeohyphomycosis of the maxilloethmoid sinus caused by drechslera spicifera: A new fungal pathogen†

“Phaeohyphomycosis” refers to soft tissue and systemic infections caused by dematiacious septate fungi. Drechslera spicifera, a dematiacious fungus, rarely pathogenic in humans was found to cause maxilloethmoid sinus disease in two immunocompetent children. The clinical presentation was similar to noninvasive aspergillosis. Intracavitary surgical excision without adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in apparent cure. The microbiologic and clinicopathologic aspects of this mycotic sinus disease are reviewed and discussed in relation to the entire spectrum of human disease reported which has been attributed to this organism.
Fetal lung epithelial ion channels relocate in the cell membrane during late gestation.

Near the end of gestation, the direction of ion and fluid flow across the alveolar epithelium rapidly changes from secretion to absorption. Thus, the relative cell membrane location of epithelial Na channels (ENaCs) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) Cl channels during late fetal lung development and after maternal interleukin-1β (IL-1β) pretreatment was the focus of our study. Western blot analysis after sucrose gradient separation of caveolin-1-(Cav-1)-rich membrane regions (CRR) and Cav-1-poor membrane (non-CRR) revealed primary CRR ENaC localization at gestation day (GD) 61 in guinea pigs. Correlating with the natural induction of distal lung fluid absorption, ENaC appeared in the non-CRR cell membrane regions at GD68. Conversely, CFTR was present in the non-CRR cell membrane regions at GD61 and in the CRRs at GD68. IL-1β-induced conversion to distal lung fluid absorption at GD61 was associated with ENaC non-CRR presence and CFTR CRR presence, suggesting that relative ENaC and CFTR locations induced distal lung fluid absorption and decreased fluid secretion. Instilling fetal lungs with the CRR-disrupting agent methyl-β-cyclodextrin resulted in the conversion from lung fluid secretion to absorption and ENaC non-CRR presence at GD61. Coimmunoprecipitation of Cav-1 with α- and β-ENaC demonstrated reduced coimmunoprecipitation with increased GD and after IL-1β pretreatment. On the other hand, coimmunoprecipitation of Cav-1 with CFTR demonstrated increased coimmunoprecipitation with increasing GD and after IL-1β pretreatment. This concept may provide novel molecular mechanisms for the rapid transition from fetal distal lung fluid secretion to absorption in near-term lungs. Anat Rec, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of rearing condition on HPA axis response to fluoxetine and desipramine treatment over repeated social separations in young rhesus monkeys

Normal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity is disrupted in several types of human psychiatric disorders, and has been widely reported to be altered as a result of early experience in rodents. In this study the effects of early social experience on later response of the HPA axis to separations from cagemates and pharmacologic treatments were examined in rhesus monkeys. HPA axis activity was measured in mother-reared and peer-reared monkey infants in conjunction with six repeated separations from and reunions with their cagemates. Within each rearing group, infants were assigned to one of three treatment groups that received continuous treatment with either fluoxetine (2 mg/kg), desipramine (DMI, 5 mg/kg) or placebo (saline) beginning 2 weeks prior to separations. At 2 weeks after drug treatment, fluoxetine increased ACTH and cortisol in the treated groups, while DMI decreased ACTH and cortisol in both treated groups; however, these effects were not persistent over the separations. While these treatment effects tended to be more pronounced in the mother-reared group, the rearing groups did not show a clearly differential response to either of the treatments. The most prominent finding was that mother-reared monkeys showed significantly higher ACTH and cortisol levels than peer-reared monkeys over all samples, an effect that may have mitigated a potential rearing group difference in treatment response. The results add to growing evidence for the influence of primate mothers on the functional development of psychobiological systems in their infants, and suggest that the HPA axis is among the more sensitive of these systems to postnatal experience.
Designing effective diversity training: Influence of group composition and trainee experience.

Despite the popularity of diversity training in corporate America, a lack of systematic evaluation has left managers with little guidance on how to design effective diversity training programmes. In this research, we examine how training group composition and trainee experience interact to influence the effects of diversity training on cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes. Results indicate that trainees with prior experience with diversity training responded most positively to training groups homogeneous with respect to racioethnicity and nationality; trainees without prior experience with diversity training were generally unaffected by training group composition. The implications of these findings for the design of diversity training programmes in organizations and future research on diversity training are discussed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genomic analysis of post-mating changes in the honey bee queen ( Apis mellifera )

The molecular mechanisms underlying the post-mating behavioral and physiological transitions undergone by females have not been explored in great detail. Honey bees represent an excellent model system in which to address these questions because they exhibit a range of "mating states," with two extremes (virgins and egg-laying, mated queens) that differ dramatically in their behavior, pheromone profiles, and physiology. We used an incompletely-mated mating-state to understand the molecular processes that underlie the transition from a virgin to a mated, egg-laying queen. We used same-aged virgins, queens that mated once but did not initiate egg-laying, and queens that mated once and initiated egg-laying. Differences in the behavior and physiology among groups correlated with the underlying variance observed in the top 50 predictive genes in the brains and the ovaries. These changes were correlated with either a behaviorally-associated pattern or a physiologically-associated pattern. Overall, these results suggest that the brains and the ovaries of queens are uncoupled or follow different timescales; the initiation of mating triggers immediate changes in the ovaries, while changes in the brain may require additional stimuli or take a longer time to complete. Comparison of our results to previous studies of post-mating changes in Drosophila melanogaster identified common biological processes affected by mating, including stress response and alternative-splicing pathways. Comparison with microarray data sets related to worker behavior revealed no obvious correlation between genes regulated by mating and genes regulated by behavior/physiology in workers. Studying the underlying molecular mechanisms of post-mating changes in honey bee queens will not only give us insight into how molecular mechanisms regulate physiological and behavioral changes, but they may also lead to important insights into the evolution of social behavior. Post-mating changes in gene regulation in the brains and ovaries of honey bee queens appear to be triggered by different stimuli and may occur on different timescales, potentially allowing changes in the brains and the ovaries to be uncoupled.
Plant Processing of Sub-atmospheric Steam Scalded Poultry

Abstract Sub-atmospheric steam at ordinary scalding temperatures was shown in laboratory tests to readily loosen feathers on dry birds. The possibility that this type of pure steam treatment can be used to avoid the conventional scald tank was investigated in a broiler and a turkey processing plant using a batch scale vacuum tank. Steam scalded birds were interspersed with birds on the same picking line used for tank scalded birds. Pure steam at sub-atmospheric pressure readily provided a uniform scald of either dry or damp birds. A steam temperature of 124°F. (51°C.) for 2 min loosened the feathers sufficiently to give clean broilers comparable to birds tank scalded at 128°F. (53°C.) for 2 min. Little or no abrasion of the outside occurred. Under subscald conditions (134–138°F.) typical subscald broilers, fowl, and turkeys were obtained by a 1 min. treatment. As anticipated, the air sacs of steam scalded birds had very few bacteria compared with the air sacs of tank scalded birds (more than 1,000-fold difference). However, after passing through the evisceration line and chiller the total bacterial load on the birds scalded by the two methods was similar. Steam scalded and tank scalded broilers had about the same shelf life at 37°F. (3°C.) and about the same degree of tenderness.
A short, enantiospecific synthesis of the 1α-hydroxyvitamin D enyne A-ring synthon

Abstract The vitamin D A-ring synthon, the enyne 3b , was synthesized in 5 steps (37% overall yield) from (S)-(+)-carvone ( 5 ). The key step was the SmI 2 -Pd 0 mediated transformation of epoxypropargyl ester 6 to 3b .
Uranium Sequestration by Aluminum Phosphate Minerals in Unsaturated Soils

A mineralogical and geochemical study of soils developed from the unmined Coles Hill uranium deposit (Virginia) was undertaken to determine how phosphorous influences the speciation of uranium in an oxidizing soil/saprolite system typical of the eastern US. This paper presents mineralogical and geochemical results that identify and quantify the processes by which uranium has been sequestered in these soils. It was found that uranium is not leached from the saturated soil zone (saprolites) overlying the deposit due to the formation of a sparingly soluble uranyl phosphate mineral of the meta-autunite group. The concentration of uranium in the saprolites is approximately 1000 mg uranium per kg of saprolite. It was also found that a significant amount of uranium was retained in the unsaturated soil zone overlying uranium-rich saprolites. The uranium concentration in the unsaturated soils is approximately 200 mg uranium per kg of soil (20 times higher than uranium concentrations in similar soils adjacent to the deposit). Mineralogical evidence indicates that uranium in this zone is sequestered by a barium-strontium-calcium aluminum phosphate mineral of the crandallite group (gorceixite). This mineral is intimately inter-grown with iron and manganese oxides that also contain uranium. The amount of uranium associated with both the aluminum phosphates (as much as 1.4 weight percent) has been measured by electron microprobe microanalyses and the geochemical conditions under which these minerals formed has been studied using thermodynamic reaction path modeling. The geochemical data and modeling results suggests the meta-autunite group minerals present in the saprolites overlying the deposit are unstable in the unsaturated zone soils overlying the deposit due to a decrease in soil pH (down to a pH of 4.5) at depths less than 5 meters below the surface. Mineralogical observations suggest that, once exposed to the unsaturated environment, the meta-autunite group minerals react to form U(VI)-bearing aluminum phosphates.
Reintroduction of the Eastern Woodrat (Neotoma floridana) in Southern Illinois

Abstract Populations of Neotoma floridana (Eastern Woodrat) are decreasing in parts of their geographic range in the southeastern United States, and the species is stateendangered in Illinois. Once found throughout the Shawnee Hills region of southern Illinois, woodrats were restricted to four known populations in Jackson and Union counties by the late 1980s. We used reintroductions to establish viable populations of Eastern Woodrats at previously occupied sites in Illinois. From April 2003 through March 2009, we released 422 Eastern Woodrats live trapped in Arkansas and Missouri into 5 historically occupied sites in southeastern Illinois. Recapture rate 1 month after release was 12.5%. The continued presence of woodrats at release sites, reproduction, and wide dispersal beyond reintroduction sites all suggest preliminary success of the reintroduction of this r-selected species.