cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low amniotic fluid glucose levels are a specific but not a sensitive marker for subclinical intrauterine infections in patients in preterm labor with intact membranes

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a low amniotic fluid glucose level, as defined by previously published thresholds, to identify a subclinical intrauterine infection in women in preterm labor with intact membranes. Study Design: Amniotic fluid glucose levels, amniotic fluid cultures, and placental histologic characteristics were determined in women with preterm labor ( n = 55) and in preterm controls ( n = 58). These amniotic fluid glucose levels were compared between women with and without intrauterine infection using the Mann-Whitney U test. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the identification of an intrauterine infection were determined with four different previously published amniotic fluid glucose threshold levels and the threshold from receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis of the study data. Results: The median amniotic fluid glucose level was significantly lower in patients with positive amniotic fluid cultures (intraamniotic infection group) but was not lower in the group of patients with only histologic chorioamnionitis (extraamniotic infection group), compared with noninfected controls. The sensitivity of a low amniotic fluid glucose level to detect both types of intrauterine infection ranged from 41% to 55%, depending on the threshold used. The specificity of a low amniotic fluid glucose level to detect an intrauterine infection ranged from 94% to 100%, the positive predictive value ranged from 86% to 100%, and the negative predictive value ranged from 70% to 80% with the same thresholds. Conclusion: Low amniotic fluid glucose levels are a specific but not a sensitive marker for either intraamniotic or extraamniotic intrauterine infections in patients with preterm labor.
Creation of direction selectivity in adult strobe-reared cats

Animals raised in a stroboscopically illuminated environment have deficits in several visual functions, including visuo-motor integration1, discrimination learning2 and spatial contrast sensitivity3. Moreover, recordings from the visual pathways of strobe-reared animals show severe functional abnormalities, including greatly reduced selectivity for orientation and for directional motion in neurones of the visual cortex and superior colliculus4–9. Subsequent normal visual experience improves cortical orientation selectivity, but does not alter the neural deficit in direction selectivity6,7. As the motion-analysing capacities of strobe-reared animals have not been studied, we examined the ability of strobe-reared cats to discriminate stationary from moving patterns. We report here that the cats detected motion in the direction for which they had originally been trained much better than motion in other directions. In recordings from striate cortex in these animals, orientation and direction-selective neurones were encountered with a frequency much higher than that seen in strobe-reared cats not trained in motion discrimination, and comparable with that in normal cats. Moreover, the distribution of the preferred directions of these neurones was sharply biased towards the direction first seen hi training. We conclude that there exists an extended period of cortical plasticity in strobe-reared animals, which, in contrast to that previously reported6, includes plasticity of direction selectivity.
Tricationic Metal Complexes ([ML][NO3]3, M = Ga, In) of N,N‘,N‘‘-Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)- cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane: Preparation and Structure

The novel hexadentate chelator tachpy, composed of the cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane framework with N-pendant 2-pyridylmethyl arms, forms Ga3+ and In3+ complexes. The solid-state structures of the M(tachpy)3+ units show distortion of the coordination sphere toward trigonal prismatic from octahedral as the metal radius increases. There is also a slight expansion of the triaminocyclohexane nitrogens as the metal radius increases, with concomitant flattening of the cyclohexyl ring. Proton NMR over greater than 4 weeks indicates that Ga(tachpy)3+ is inert to aqueous hydrolysis over the pH range 2−8, while In(tachpy)3+ hydrolyzes immediately under these conditions.
Continuous infusion of opioid drugs in the treatment of cancer pain: Guidelines for use

Abstract Continuous intravenous infusion of opioid drugs is a commonly applied approach to the management of cancer pain. Though rare studies, clinical surveys and anecdotal reports have generally concluded that the technique is both safe and efficacious, the supporting literature is meager, and neither clinical indications nor guidelines for use have been clearly defined. This report reviews the available literature on the use of continuous opioid infusion and proposes guidelines for management in the cancer population. Controlled, prospective trials of this method of drug administration are needed.
Evaluation of amphotericin B and chloramphenicol as alternative drugs for treatment of chytridiomycosis and their impacts on innate skin defenses

Chytridiomycosis, an amphibian skin disease caused by the emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has been implicated in catastrophic global amphibian declines. The result is an alarming decrease in amphibian diversity that is a great concern for the scientific community. Clinical trials testing potential antifungal drugs are needed to identify alternative treatments for amphibians infected with this pathogen. In this study, we quantified the MICs of chloramphenicol (800 μg/ml), amphotericin B (0.8 to 1.6 μg/ml), and itraconazole (Sporanox) (20 ng/ml) against B. dendrobatidis. Both chloramphenicol and amphotericin B significantly reduced B. dendrobatidis infection in naturally infected southern leopard frogs (Rana [Lithobates] sphenocephala), although neither drug was capable of complete fungal clearance. Long-term exposure of R. sphenocephala to these drugs did not inhibit antimicrobial peptide (AMP) synthesis, indicating that neither drug is detrimental to this important innate skin defense. However, we observed that chloramphenicol, but not amphotericin B or itraconazole, inhibited the growth of multiple R. sphenocephala skin bacterial isolates in vitro at concentrations below the MIC against B. dendrobatidis. These results indicate that treatment with chloramphenicol might dramatically alter the protective natural skin microbiome when used as an antifungal agent. This study represents the first examination of the effects of alternative antifungal drug treatments on amphibian innate skin defenses, a crucial step to validating these treatments for practical applications.
Defect structure and electrical properties of NiO—I. High temperature

Abstract Electrical conductivity and weight change measurements were made on single crystal and polycrystalline nickel oxide as a function of temperature from 900 to 1400°C and oxygen partial pressure from 1 atm to 10 −4 atm. Samples of several different purities were measured. Both conductivity and weight change were proportional to the one-sixth power of the oxygen partial pressure, and had an activation energy of 18·6±1·0 kcal/mole for the highest purity samples. Impurities increased both the activation energy and the pressure dependence for conduction. The integrated carrier density of states, N v , would fit a T 3/2 temperature dependence supporting a band model. The hole mobility was 0·53 cm 2 / V -sec and was almost temperature independent. The magnitude and temperature dependence of the mobility would not easily fit either a band or a hopping transport model.
Hemodynamics in patients with intradialytic hypotension treated with cool dialysate or midodrine.

Cool dialysate and midodrine have been used successfully to treat intradialytic hypotension (IDH) in the end-stage renal disease population. However, the exact mechanisms by which these interventions improve hemodynamic stability are not well known. We undertook a study to evaluate the effect of these modalities on intradialytic hemodynamics in patients with documented dialysis-associated hypotension. We used the ultrasound dilution technique to measure cardiac output (CO), central blood volume (CBV), and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) in these patients. The study was performed in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of control (1A) and cool dialysate (1B) studies, whereas phase 2 consisted of control (2A) and midodrine (2B) studies. CO, CBV, and PVR were measured 30 minutes after the initiation of hemodialysis (HD) and 30 minutes before the termination of HD using the HD01 monitor. Blood pressure was measured pre-HD and post-HD. Fourteen patients with documented IDH completed the study. CO and CBV were significantly more preserved in the cool dialysate and midodrine phases compared with control phases. PVR increased in all phases of the study. Declines in mean arterial pressures from pre-HD to post-HD were less with cool dialysate versus control and midodrine versus control. Ultrafiltration volumes were not significantly different between phases. Cool dialysate and midodrine appear to improve intradialytic hemodynamics in patients with dialysis-associated hypotension, mainly through the preservation of CBV and CO, rather than significantly elevating PVR.
Floc Foam Flotation of Nickel, Chromium, Cobalt, and Manganese. Interaction in Surface Adsorption

Abstract Adsorbing colloid flotation of nickel(II), chromium(III), cobalt(II), and manganese(II) was carried out using a variety of techniques. Satisfactory separations were developed for all but manganese; residual Mn levels could not be reduced below 0.5 mg/1, and the results were sometimes erratic. Surface potentials of flocs in the presence of adsorbable ions were calculated from a model which assumes discrete, interacting charge sites on the floc surface.
Regional investigations of soil and overburden analysis and plant uptake of metals

Regional studies on the bioavailability of metals at native and disturbed sites were conducted over the past seven years by the USGS. The work was concentrated in the Fort Union, Powder River, and Green River coal resource regions where measures of extractable metals in soils were found to have limited use in predicting metal levels in plants.
Interaction between language and vision: It’s momentary, abstract, and it develops

In this paper, we present a case study that explores the nature and development of the mechanisms by which language interacts with and influences our ability to represent and retain information from one of our most important non-linguistic systems - vision. In previous work (Dessalegn & Landau, 2008), we showed that 4 year-olds remembered conjunctions of visual features better when the visual target was accompanied by a sentence containing an asymmetric spatial predicate (e.g., the yellow is to the left of the black) but not when the visual target was accompanied by a sentence containing a novel noun (e.g., look at the dax) or a symmetric spatial predicate (e.g., the yellow is touching the black). In this paper, we extend these findings. In three experiments, 3, 4 and 6 year-olds were shown square blocks split in half by color vertically, horizontally or diagonally (e.g., yellow-left, black-right) and were asked to perform a delayed-matching task. We found that sentences containing spatial asymmetric predicates (e.g., the yellow is to the left of the black) and non-spatial asymmetric predicates (e.g., the yellow is prettier than the black) helped 4 year-olds, although not to the same extent. By contrast, 3 year-olds did not benefit from different linguistic instructions at all while 6 year-olds performed at ceiling in the task with or without the relevant sentences. Our findings suggest by age 4, the effects of language on non-linguistic tasks depend on highly abstract representations of the linguistic instructions and are momentary, seen only in the context of the task. We further speculate that language becomes more automatically engaged in nonlinguistic tasks over development.
Glyoximes as reagents for the gravimetric determination of bismuth

Abstract Several oximes were investigated for possible use as organic precipitating reagents for bismuth. Of the oximes studied, nioxime (1,2-cyclohexanedionedioxime) was found to be an excellent gravimetric reagent for 50–500 mg of bismuth. The precipitation of bismuth was carried out in the presence of EDTA at pH 12 in aqueous solution; EDTA was used simultaneously as a masking agent for specificity and to prevent the formation of bismuth hydroxides. Bismuth could be determined in the presence of over 30 cations including Ni and Pd. The determination of lead nioximate was briefly studied.
Influence of Collard Patch Size on Population Densities of Lepidopteran Pests (Lepidoptera: Pieridae, Plutellidae)

In short-term, small-scale field experiments, population densities of two specialist herbivores differed significantly among different-sized patches of host plants. Eggs and larvae of Pieris rapae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) were more abundant on collards planted in small (four- or nine-plant) patches than on those in large (64- or 81-plant) patches. Larvae of plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae) were more abundant on collards in large (81-plant) patches.
AZT Decreases Rat Myocardial Cytochrome Oxidase Activity and Increasesβ-myosin Heavy Chain Content

AZT, a widely-utilized drug for the treatment of HIV infection, inhibits the polymerase responsible for mitochondrial DNA replication (mtDNA). The aim of this study was to assess myocardial alterations caused by this action. Ventricular muscle from rats treated for >35 days with 1 mg/ml of AZT in their drinking water was analysed for cytochrome oxidase activity and the content of mRNAs for the nuclear-encoded cytochrome oxidase (COX) subunit VIc and the mitochondrial-encoded COX subunit III. In addition contractile protein expression was assessed by examining mRNA levels forα- andβ-myosin heavy chains (MHC). Changes in MHC mRNA levels were correlated with changes inα- andβ-MHC proteins and changes in myofibrillar ATPase activity. Results show that AZT caused a reduction in COX activity, COX subunit III mRNA, and mtDNA levels. There was no decrease in the COX subunit VIc mRNA. MHC expression was altered such that the relative content ofβ-MHC protein and mRNA were increased. Accumulation ofβ-MHC was reflected in the reduction of myofibrillar ATPase activity at pCa values of 5.875 and 6.125. These data demonstrate that AZT induces a reorganization of cardiac gene expression indicative of changes in cardiac contractile properties. The observed decreases in mtDNA levels along with mRNA for a mitochondrial-encoded protein and COX activity is consistent with the postulated mechanism whereby AZT induces a myopathy by diminishing mtDNA replication.
Effects of monovalent cations and divalent metal ions on Escherichia coli selenophosphate synthetase

A labile selenium donor compound, selenophosphate, is formed from selenide and ATP by selenophosphate synthetase. A divalent metal ion, Mg2+, and a monovalent cation, K+, NH4+, or Rb+, are required for selenophosphate synthetase activity [Veres, Z., Kim, I. Y., Scholz, T. D. & Stadtman, T. C. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 10597-10603]. Na+ and Li+ are ineffective as activators and in the presence of K+ are inhibitory. Mn-ATP, although not able to replace Mg-ATP for catalytic activity, binds to the enzyme provided an active monovalent cation is present. No Mn-ATP is bound when K+ is replaced with Na+. The requirement for K+, both for Mn-ATP binding and for catalytic activity of the synthetase, indicates a specific monovalent cation-induced conformational state of the enzyme. Previously we reported that activity of the enzyme is markedly inhibited by micromolar levels of Zn2+ in the presence of millimolar levels of Mg2+ [Kim, I. Y., Veres, Z. & Stadtman, T. C. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 27020-27025]. Binding of Mn-ATP also is decreased upon addition of Zn2+, indicating that the inhibitory effect of Zn2+ is exerted at the substrate-binding step of the overall selenophosphate synthetase reaction. When a cysteine residue at position 17 or 19 is replaced with serine, Mn-ATP binding to these mutant enzymes is unaffected by Zn2+ addition. Direct involvement of these cysteine residues in the zinc binding site was shown by use of 65ZnCl2. Radioactive Zn2+ bound to wild-type enzyme and was retained after gel filtration, but under the same conditions the catalytically inactive Cys-17 mutant protein and the catalytically active Cys-19 mutant enzyme were unlabeled.
FACTORS IN VENOMS LEADING TO BLOCK OF AXONAL CONDUCTION BY CURARE.

Abstract Several enzyme and other fractions of venoms were studied to determine the component (or components) responsible for rendering axonal conduction sensitive to the action of acetylcholine and curare. A phospholipase A (EC 3.1.1.4)-rich fraction from cobra venom and phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4) rendered the squid axon sensitive to the action of curare. Venom phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.1), apparently also active, was found to have considerable phospholipase A activity. A phospholipase A-poor fraction of cobra venom, l -amino acid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.2), Cobroxin, lysolecithin and phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.3) were all ineffective in rendering curare active on the squid axon. All the enzymes and venom products tested were relatively weak in their direct effects on conduction except for the phospholipase A-rich fraction. Heating a solution of cottonmouth venom at an alkaline pH destroyed almost all of its phospholipase A activity whereas heating at an acid pH had little effect on this enzymic activity. Eastern diamondback rattlesnake venom hydrolyzes egg lecithin at a rate only slightly less than that of cottonmouth venom. The ability of several venoms to hydrolyze beef lecithin was also compared. The results support the assumption that the phospholipase A of venoms is responsible for their ability to increase the permeability of the squid axon allowing thereby acetylcholine and curare to penetrate into the axon and to affect conduction.
Effect of a Copper Surface Film on Twinning in Zinc Mono-crystals

THE fact that surface oxide films increase the resistance to plastic deformation of mono-crystals of cadmium and zinc is well known from the work of Roscoe1, Andrade2, Harper and Cottrell3 and others. The type of deformation which these authors observed to be affected by surface oxidation was slip along the basal planes of the mono-crystals. I have recently observed that twinning in zinc mono-crystals is also influenced by a surface film. In this case the film consists of electrodeposited copper.
Sample size determination for quadratic inference functions in longitudinal design with dichotomous outcomes

Quadratic inference functions (QIF) methodology is an important alternative to the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method in the longitudinal marginal model, as it offers higher estimation efficiency than the GEE when correlation structure is misspecified. The focus of this paper is on sample size determination and power calculation for QIF based on the Wald test in a marginal logistic model with covariates of treatment, time, and treatment-time interaction. We have made three contributions in this paper: (i) we derived formulas of sample size and power for QIF and compared their performance with those given by the GEE; (ii) we proposed an optimal scheme of sample size determination to overcome the difficulty of unknown true correlation matrix in the sense of minimal average risk; and (iii) we studied properties of both QIF and GEE sample size formulas in relation to the number of follow-up visits and found that the QIF gave more robust sample sizes than the GEE. Using numerical examples, we illustrated that without sacrificing statistical power, the QIF design leads to sample size saving and hence lower study cost in comparison with the GEE analysis. We conclude that the QIF analysis is appealing for longitudinal studies.
NECOR: New research consortium

Three major marine research institutes in the northeastern United States have entered into a formal agreement to coordinate the operation and scheduling of five seagoing oceanographic vessels. NECOR (Northeast Consortium Research Fleet) consists of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the University of Rhode Island, and Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory. NECOR was established, in part, to save money during a time of drastic funding reductions for ship support, explained Jules Hirshman, marine science coordinator at Lamont. Budget axings for 1982 chipped off 10–12% (constant dollars) from 1981 s ship funding, estimates Robert Dinsmore, chairman of facilities and marine operations at Woods Hole and chairman of NECOR's executive committee. Steadily rising fuel costs (Eos, June 23, 1981, p. 549) aggravate the funding problem.
Alarm calls of tufted titmice convey information about predator size and threat

Many birds utter alarm calls when they encounter predators, and previous work has revealed that variation in the characteristics of the alarm, or ‘‘chick-a-dee,’’ calls of black-capped (Poecile atricapilla) and Carolina (P. carolinensis) chickadees conveys information about predator size and threat. Little is known, however, about possible information conveyed by the similar ‘‘chick-a-dee’’ alarm call of tufted titmice (Baeolophus bicolor). During the winters of 2008 and 2009, free-ranging flocks (N ¼ 8) of tufted titmice were presented with models of several species of raptors that varied in size, and titmice responses were monitored. Smaller, higher threat predators (e.g., eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio) elicited longer mobbing bouts and alarm calls with more notes (D-notes) than larger lower threat predators (e.g., red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis). During playback experiments, titmice took longer to return to feeding after playbacks of alarm calls given in response to a small owl than to playbacks given in response to a large hawk or a robin (control). Like chickadees, titmice appear to utter alarm calls that convey information about predator size and threat. Titmice, however, appear to cue in on the total number of D-notes given per unit time instead of the number of D-notes per alarm call. The broadband alarm calls of titmice, containing D-notes uttered in an unpredictable manner that may make it difficult for predators to determine the number of titmice calling, may be particularly well suited for deterring predators.
Experimental study on the heat transfer at the heat exchanger of the thermoacoustic refrigerating system

Oscillatory flow heat transfer at the heat exchanger of the thermoacoustic refrigeration system was studied. The study identified significant factors that influence this heat transfer as well as the construction of the system. The results from the experimental study were correlated in terms of Nusselt number, Prandtl number and Reynolds number to obtain a useful new correlation for the heat transfer at the heat exchangers. Results show that using straight flow heat transfer correlations for analyses and design of this system could result in significant errors. Results also show the relationship between the oscillatory heat transfer coefficient at the heat exchangers, the mean pressure and frequency of oscillation. Higher mean pressures result in greater heat transfer coefficients if the thermoacoustic refrigerating system operates at the corresponding resonant frequency. However, a compromise has to be reached to accommodate construction of the stack.
A database architecture for design collaboration

The objective of this paper is to outline new facilities within an integrated environment supporting design collaboration. The details of the architecture and issues regarding explicit support for collaboration mechanisms are presented.
Topological foundations of computer-aided systems engineering

A theory of topological spaces that proved useful for analysis, design, and pattern recognition of multidimensional large-scale systems is discussed. Primitive and primitively path-connected spaces (PPCSs) are introduced. Finite and finitely connected spaces are discussed, as are T/sub 1/(T/sub 2/)-discrete, Alexandroff, and PPCS-like spaces. Relationships among primitively derived, Alexandroff, and PPCSs are examined. >
The use of neural networks to support "intelligent" scientific computing

We report on the use of backpropagation based neural networks to implement a phase of the computational intelligence process of the PYTHIA expert system for supporting the numerical simulation of applications modelled by partial differential equations (PDEs). PYTHIA is an exemplar based reasoning system that provides advice on what method and parameters to use for the simulation of a specified PDE based application. When advice is requested, the characteristics of the given model are matched with the characteristics of previously seen classes of models. The performance of various solution methods on previously seen similar classes of models is then used as a basis for predicting what method to use. Thus, a major step of the reasoning process in PYTHIA involves the analysis and categorization of models into classes of models based on their characteristics. In this study we demonstrate the use of neural networks to identify the class of predefined models whose characteristics match the ones of the specified PDE based application. >
Planning under continuous time and resource uncertainty: a challenge for AI

We outline a class of problems, typical of Mars rover operations, that are problematic for current methods of planning under uncertainty. The existing methods fail because they suffer from one or more of the following limitations: 1) they rely on very simple models of actions and time, 2) they assume that uncertainty is manifested in discrete action outcomes, 3) they are only practical for very small problems. For many real world oroblems, these assumptions fail to hold. In particular, when planning the activities for a Mars rover, none of the above assumptions is valid: 1) actions can be concurrent and have differing durations, 2) there is uncertainty concerning action durations and consumption of continuous resources like power, and 3) typical daily plans involve on the order of a hundred actions. This class of problems may be of particular interest to the UAI community because both classical and decision-theoretic planning techniques may be useful in solving it. We describe the rover problem, discuss previous work on planning under uncertainty, and present a detailed, but very small, example illustrating some of the difficulties of finding good plans.
How patients perceive a doctor's caring attitude

Abstract Objective Caring is closely associated with reduced malpractice litigation, adherence to treatment and even symptom relief. Caring also is included in pay for performance formulas as well as widely utilized for quality improvement purposes. Our objective in this prospective qualitative study was to define caring behaviors associated with three challenging encounters: discussing the transition from curative to palliative care, delivering bad news (cancer), and discussing a medical error (misplaced test result). The purpose was to lay the groundwork for the creation of a ‘patient-centered’ caring attitude checklist that could help the healthcare provider understand and ultimately enhance the patient's experience of care. Methods Groups of randomly selected lay people, henceforth referred to as patients: (1) engaged in ‘think aloud’ exercises to help create a 15-item caring behavior checklist; (2) used the checklist to rate videotapes of simulated challenging encounters conducted by twenty primary care physicians (total of 600 ratings sets); and (3) participated in 12 separate 1.5 h focus groups discussing the caring (and non-caring) behaviors exhibited in videotapes of the highest and lowest rated encounters. Results Thirteen behaviors emerged as focal for describing a doctor's caring attitude but with disagreement as to whether specific examples of these behaviors were ‘caring’ or ‘uncaring.’ For example, although the concept of empathic inquiry was considered important by most patients, the physician question, “Is there someone you can call or talk with” (about a cancer diagnosis) was interpreted by one patient as ‘very caring’ while another was ‘impressed with how uncaring’ the statement appeared. Conclusion At the conceptual level there is a set of behaviors that represent caring, however, the manifestation of these behaviors is ‘in the eye of the beholder.’ The most important element of caring may not be the set of behaviors but a set of underlying abilities that include taking the patient's perspective and reflecting on the patient's responses. Practice implications Medical education must focus on the underlying abilities of caring.
INFLUENCE OF VESICULAR‐ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZA ON GROWTH, WATER RELATIONS, AND LEAF ORIENTATION IN LEUCAENA LEUCOCEPHALA (LAM.) DE WIT*

Summary Plant growth characteristics, nutrient absorption and water relations were compared for plants of Leucaena leucocephala (Larn.) de Wir that were non-mycorthizal and those that were infected with the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatum (Thaxter sensu Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe. Mycorrhizal plants had substantially greater shoot and root dry weight, leaf area and root length than non-mycorrhizal plants, and alsos greater P, K, and Ca uptake. Leaf area was over five times greater and leaf conductance to water vapour diffusion was nearly twice as great for mycorrhizal plants, yet the difference between xylem pressure potential and soil water potential were considerably less in mycorrhizal plants than in non-mycorhizal plants. Stomatal responses to the humidity deficits of the air during the day were nearly twice as great in mycorrhizal plants. Leaflet folding and orientation responses to avoide direct sunlight during the day were also much greater in non-mycorrhizal plants. Lower leaf conductances and increased leaf folding leading to less absorption of sunlight may contribute significantly to the reduction in growth rate observed in non-mycorrhizal plants.
Impact of Location, Cropping History, Tillage, and Chlorpyrifos on Soil Arthropods in Peanut

Demand for agricultural production systems that are both economically viable and environmentally conscious continues to increase. In recent years, reduced tillage systems, and grass and pasture rotations have been investigated to help maintain or improve soil quality, increase crop yield, and decrease labor requirements for production. However, documentation of the effects of reduced tillage, fescue rotation systems as well as other management practices, including pesticides, on pest damage and soil arthropod activity in peanut production for the Mid-Atlantic US region is still limited. Therefore, this project was implemented to assess impacts of fescue-based rotation systems on pests and other soil organisms when compared with cash crop rotation systems over four locations in eastern North Carolina. In addition, the effects of tillage (strip vs. conventional) and soil chlorpyrifos application on pod damage and soil-dwelling organisms were also evaluated. Soil arthropod populations were assessed by deploying pitfall traps containing 50% ethanol in each of the sampled plots. Results from the present study provide evidence that location significantly impacts pest damage and soil arthropod diversity in peanut fields. Cropping history also influenced arthropod diversity, with higher diversity in fescue compared with cash crop fields. Corn rootworm damage to pods was higher at one of our locations (Rocky Mount) compared with all others. Cropping history (fescue vs. cash crop) did not have an effect on rootworm damage, but increased numbers of hymenopterans, acarina, heteropterans, and collembolans in fescue compared with cash crop fields. Interestingly, there was an overall tendency for higher number of soil arthropods in traps placed in chlorpyrifos-treated plots compared with nontreated controls.
How can we combat excess mortality in Harlem: a one day survey of substance abuse in adult general care.

Our hypothesis was that a one-day survey of all patients hospitalized on Adult General Care would demonstrate a need for expanded addiction services in a municipal teaching hospital in East Harlem. We interviewed 276 patients in Adult General Care on February 16, 1990 to assess whether they abused drugs or alcohol or were hospitalized for reasons related to substance use. Of the 276 patients interviewed, 18 percent used alcohol alone, 14 percent used drugs alone, 17 percent used both drugs and alcohol and 2 percent were hospitalized for reasons related to substance use. One hundred forty or 51 percent of all patients were admitted because of substance use and its sequelae or as a result of violence associated with the buying or selling of drugs. The percentage was highest on one medical floor where 89 percent of the patients were substance users and on medical floors in general where the average was 60 percent. Forty patients or 14 percent were known to be HIV seropositive. Given the high mortality in Har...
Modeling the spatial pattern of land-use change with GEOMOD2: application and validation for Costa Rica

Abstract The objective of this paper is to simulate the location of land-use change, specifically forest disturbance, in Costa Rica over several decades. This paper presents a GIS-based model, GEOMOD2, which quantifies factors associated with land-use, and simulates the spatial pattern of land-use forward and backward in time. GEOMOD2 reads rasterized maps of land-use and other biogeophysical attributes to determine empirically the attributes of land that humans tend to use. Then GEOMOD2 uses the patterns of those biogeophysical attributes to simulate the spatial pattern of land-use change. GEOMOD2 can select locations for land-use change according to any of three decision rules based on (1) nearest neighbors, (2) stratification by political sub-region, and/or (3) the pattern of biogeophysical attributes. GEOMOD2 simulates the progressive loss of closed-canopy forest in Costa Rica for 1940, 1961 and 1983, which are the years for which maps of land-use are available. Also, GEOMOD2 extrapolates the pattern of land-use to the year 2010. When GEOMOD2 extrapolates land-use change over several decades, it is able to classify correctly between 74 and 88% of the grid cells, for two categories: forest versus non-forest. Over various simulation runs, Kappa ranges from 0.31 to 0.53. The model’s ability to predict the location of disturbance is best when the model is driven by the location of biogeophysical characteristics, most importantly lifezones.
Seeing everyone else's highlight reels: How Facebook usage is linked to depressive symptoms.

Two studies investigated how social comparison to peers through computer-mediated interactions on Facebook might impact users' psychological health. Study 1 (N = 180) revealed an association between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for both genders. However, results demonstrated that making Facebook social comparisons mediated the link between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for men only. Using a 14-day diary design (N = 152), Study 2 found that the relationship between the amount of time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms was uniquely mediated by upward, nondirectional, and downward Facebook social comparisons. Similarly, all three types of Facebook social comparisons mediated the relationship between the number of Facebook logins and depressive symptoms. Unlike Study 1, gender did not moderate these associations. Both studies provide evidence that people feel depressed after spending a great deal of time on Facebook because they feel badly when comparing themselves to...
Suppression of cortical functional hyperemia to vibrissal stimulation in the rat by epoxygenase inhibitors

Application of glutamate to glial cell cultures stimulates the formation and release of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) from arachidonic acid by cytochome P-450 epoxygenases. Epoxygenase inhibitor...
Soft decision decoding of linear block codes based on ordered statistics

Presents a novel approach to soft decision decoding for binary linear block codes. The basic idea is to achieve a desired error performance progressively in a number of stages. For each decoding stage, the error performance is tightly bounded and the decoding is terminated at the stage where either near-optimum error performance or a desired level of error performance is achieved. As a result, more flexibility in the tradeoff between performance and decoding complexity is provided. The decoding is based on the reordering of the received symbols according to their reliability measure. The statistics of the noise after ordering are evaluated. Based on these statistics, two monotonic properties which dictate the reprocessing strategy are derived. Each codeword is decoded in two steps: (1) hard-decision decoding based on reliability information and (2) reprocessing of the hard-decision-decoded codeword in successive stages until the desired performance is achieved. The reprocessing is based on the monotonic properties of the ordering and is carried out using a cost function. A new resource test tightly related to the reprocessing strategy is introduced to reduce the number of computations at each reprocessing stage. For short codes of lengths N/spl les/32 or medium codes with 32 >
RECOMBINATION AND THE MULTILOCUS STRUCTURE OF FUNGAL POPULATIONS

This review examines the relationship between recombination and the multilocus structure of populations. This discussion of population structure is based on the pattern of genetic variation within populations, especially the frequencies of multilocus genotypes, which can be used for making inferences about recombination. Three questions are addressed: Is population structure consistent with a random mating hypothesis? Is there evidence for recombination? How frequently does recombination occur?
An application of Petri net reduction for Ada tasking deadlock analysis

As part of our continuing research on using Petri nets to support automated analysis of Ada tasking behavior, we have investigated the application of Petri net reduction for deadlock analysis. Although reachability analysis is an important method to detect deadlocks, it is in general inefficient or even intractable. Net reduction can aid the analysis by reducing the size of the net while preserving relevant properties. We introduce a number of reduction rules and show how they can be applied to Ada nets, which are automatically generated Petri net models of Ada tasking. We define a reduction process and a method by which a useful description of a detected deadlock state can be obtained from the reduced net's information. A reduction tool and experimental results from applying the reduction process are discussed.
Real-time imaging of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α promoter activity in skeletal muscles of living mice

In response to sustained increase in contractile activity, mammalian skeletal muscle undergoes adaptation with enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and fiber type switching. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) was recently identified as a key regulator for these adaptive processes. To investigate the sequence elements in the PGC-1alpha gene that are responsible for activity-dependent transcriptional activation, we have established a unique system to analyze promoter activity in skeletal muscle of living mice. Expression of PGC-1alpha-firefly luciferase reporter gene in mouse tibialis anterior muscle transfected by electric pulse-mediated gene transfer was assessed repeatedly in the same muscle by using optical bioluminescence imaging analysis before and after low-frequency (10 Hz) motor nerve stimulation. Nerve stimulation (2 h) resulted in a transient 3-fold increase (P < 0.05) in PGC-1alpha promoter activity along with a 1.6-fold increase (P < 0.05) in endogenous PGC-1alpha mRNA. Mutation of two consensus myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) binding sites (-2901 and -1539) or a cAMP response element (CRE) (-222) completely abolished nerve stimulation-induced increase in PGC-1alpha promoter activity. These findings provide direct evidence that contractile activity-induced PGC-1alpha promoter activity in skeletal muscle is dependent on the MEF2 and the CRE sequence elements. The experimental methods used in the present study have general applicability to studies of gene regulation in muscle.
Design, synthesis and evaluation of microtubule inhibitors phenoxy pyridine (PP) and phenyl sulfanyl pyridine (PSP) analogs for cancer therapy

B277 INTRODUCTION: Lack of sensitivity and acquired resistance of tumors to chemotherapy are major obstacles in the treatment of cancer. So, there is a need for the development of new anticancer agents. Microtubules are key components of eukaryotic cell division. Treatment of cancer cells with agents that interfere with microtubule assembly causes mitotic arrest and eventually cell death. Current microtubule inhibitory agents used in the clinic have severe side effects, and development of resistance is frequent. We have designed and synthesized a 30-compound library of Phenoxy Pyridine (PP) and Phenyl Sulfanyl Pyridine (PSP) derivatives and studied their effects in pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and Burkitt lymphoma cells. RESULTS: In MTT assays (J Immunol Methods, 1983; 65:55-63) with pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc1 and HS766T, ARK-62 and ARK-78showed highest potency of the 30 compounds. The IC50 values after 24h treatment with ARK-62 were 0.8 and 0.15 μM for Panc1 and HS766T, respectively, and with ARK-78, 0.7 and 0.5 μM for Panc1 and HS766T, respectively. Next, we examined the tubulin inhibitory activity of ARK62 and ARK78 with in vitro tubulin assembly assays (Cell Biochem Biophys, 2003; 38:1-22), using bovine brain tubulin. ARK78 caused a 30% inhibition of tubulin assembly at concentrations of 4 μM and above. ARK62 caused a delay of tubulin assembly at all concentrations tested. Colchicine binding experiments (Mol. Pharmacol. 1998; 53: 62-76) with ARK-62 and ARK-78 revealed no inhibitory effect on the binding of radio labeled colchicine to tubulin, indicating that their binding site may be different from the colchicine binding site. To determine whether the microtubule inhibitory effects of ARK-62 or ARK-78 resulted in mitotic arrest and DNA fragmentation, we used flow cytometry. MCF7 breast cancer cells were treated for 15-27h with either ARK-62 or ARK-78 and stained with propidium iodide (DNA), and MPM2 (mitotic cells). Both ARK-62 and ARK-78 caused a mitotic arrest of 30% in MCF7 cells followed by DNA fragmentation. The response of MCF7 cells to ARK-62 and ARK-78 was comparable to microtubule inhibitory compounds taxol (250 nM) and colcemid (0.1μg/ml). Treatment of Burkitt lymphoma cells CA46 resulted in a similar response. CONCLUSION: The development of microtubule inhibitors can provide novel therapy options. In addition, the development of novel microtubule inhibitors is very useful for the investigation of the biological function of microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins. ARK-62 and ARK-78 are anti cancer agents in the low micro molar range that affect microtubule assembly and cause a strong mitotic arrest followed by DNA fragmentation and cell death in a broad range of cancer cells.
IMPACT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION ON OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE AVIATOR REGISTRY

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are at high-risk for thromboembolic and bleeding events. However, the influence of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) on PCI outcomes and the post-procedural anti-thrombotic strategy in AF patients remains
Regimes of Meaning: The Intersection of Space and Time in Kitchen Cultures

Drawing on participant observation of a high-end restaurant, I examine how work group culture and discourse are formulated through the organization of space and time. To date, scholars have typically divided the study of space and time into two separate fields of inquiry, but the two constructs are intimately integrated. I use a natural ethnographic experiment, observing two different kitchen regimes while keeping the space and occupational pressures constant, to illustrate that groups can arrange time and space according to local cultures. My findings reveal that internally created pressures (i.e., chefs creating constraints via their managerial style) combined with external demands influence both how restaurant workers use the kitchen space during particular moments and what forms of speech they deem acceptable in those spaces and times. My study demonstrates the social organization of time and space, particularly in the context of a restaurant kitchen.
Lysophosphatidic acid rapidly induces protein kinase D activation through a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway.

Protein kinase D (PKD) is a serine-threonine protein kinase with distinct structural features and enzymological properties. Herein we demonstrate that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) induces rapid PKD ...
Non-compliance in the emergency department: Is there a difference between medical and psychiatric patient's reasons and use of the emergency department

Background It is estimated that on average up to 50% of patients are non-compliant with their medication, resulting in 28% emergency room visits costing about $8.5 billion annually. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine, what, if any, differences there are between medical versus psychiatric non-compliant patients with regard to use of the emergency department (ED). Methods A random sample of patients who present to the ED for medical or psychiatric illnesses and who state that they were non-compliant with their medicine were given the National Health Access Survey. They were asked about sources of medical care, drug compliance and reason for non-compliance. Results There were a total of 300 participants in the study. There was no significant difference in the reason both medical and psychiatric patients gave for being non-compliant with their medications that resulted in their ED visit. Each group cited cost as the number one reason for not taking their medication as prescribed. The psychiatric participants who were more likely to get admitted disposition (P = .00), not afford mental health care (P = .01), were not able to get care from other places and used the ED for their psychiatric care (P = .02). Conclusion There was no difference between the two populations with regards to their reasons for non-compliance that brought them to the ED. Non-compliance of the psychiatric patients compared to the medical patients lead to a higher admission rate.
Design of Dielectric Antenna Assembled on Reciprocal Ferrite Phaser and the Measuring Fitting

Reciprocal phase-shifter terminated with dielectric anttena has important engineering utility.However,there are a series of difficulties on designing and measurement of the device.This article describes one way of designing of dielectric antenna assembled on reciprocal ferrite phaser and the measuring fitting for this type of phaser,and gives design routine and experimental verification based on ANSOFE design platform.By taking into account the factor of applying state and convinient tuning of the device,we got a pretty outcome in the design of model device and measuring system.
Terminating a patient: is it time to part ways?

A standardized approach will help you determine whether your relationship is broken and what to do about it.