cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Analysis of Thailand Residents' Perception of Tourism's Impacts

This study examines Thai residents' perception of tourism's impacts on their communities. Two destination groups in Southern Thailand representing domestic and international tourist destinations were chosen to explore the similarities and differences in their residents' perception of tourism and its development. The results revealed that the majority of respondents were female, 18 to 34 years of age, single, and born in the surveyed area. Thai respondents perceived preservation and encouragement of local culture, an increase in investment, and an increase in local government's revenues as the top three impacts of tourism. Residents who resided in domestic tourist destinations differed from those who lived in international tourist destinations in regard to environmental, economic, and social factors.
Norepinephrine stimulates LH-RH secretion into the hypophysial portal blood of the rat.

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the effect of intracerebroventricular infusion of norepinephrine (NE) on the secretion of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) into the hypophysial portal blood of steroid-primed ovariectomized rats. Saline infusion into the third ventricle caused no significant change in LH-RH levels. NE infusion (20 μg) resulted in a significant release of LH-RH ( p p
Tracking Injectable Microspheres in Dynamic Tissues With Encapsulated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Trackable spheres of similar size to those typically used for sustained protein delivery are prepared by incorporating superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles into the core of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres. The visibility of injections in static and temporally in dynamic tissue systems is demonstrated. This method improves upon other, less sensitive imaging modalities in their ability to track injectable delivery systems. The results obtained confirm the localization of microspheres to the injected target area and highlight the novelty of tracking delivery vehicles for other applications.
Comparative whole-genome analysis of Streptococcus mutans isolates within and among individuals of different caries status.

Introduction: Genotypic analyses of Streptococcus mutans using fingerprinting methods depend on a few genetic loci being different but do not reveal the underlying genome-wide differences between strains. Methods: We used comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) with 70-mer oligonucleotide microarrays containing open reading frames (ORFs) from S. mutans strain UA159 to examine the genetic diversity of 44 isolates from nine children selected from a local study population in Eastern Iowa. Results: Unique strains (clones) within each child initially identified by arbitrary-priming polymerase chain reaction were confirmed by CGH. There was a wide range of variation in the hybridization patterns of the 1948 ORFs among the test isolates examined. Between 87 and 237 ORFs failed to give a positive signal among individual isolates. A total of 323 of the UA159 ORFs were absent from one or more of the test strains. These 323 variable genes seemed to be distributed across the entire UA159 genome and across all the predicted functional categories. Conclusion: This set of very close geographically and temporally collected S. mutans isolates had a degree of gene content variation as high as a previously examined global set of strains. Comparing the frequency of these variable genes, the majority of which have unknown function, among strains of different origins (i.e. different caries status) could help to determine their relevance in S. mutans cariogenicity.
Research on the Pressure Field and Production Ability of Compound Hydrocyclone

Compound hydrocyclone is an important separation equipment in oilfield waste water treatment. In order to grasp the equipment separation characteristics, its pressure field and production ability research is becoming more and more important. In the process of pressure or pressure drop deduced, the hydrocyclone’s vortex field is divided into two parts: semi-free vortex area and compulsive vortex area. In the free vortex area, the pressure and the pressure drop are all deduced by the tangential equation, the pressure gradient equation and the relationship equation of tangential velocity in the hydrocyclone body and the velocity of the rotary crib. In the compulsive vortex area, the pressure and the pressure drop are deduced by the velocity equation and the hydrocyclone’s separation equation. As to the respect of the production ability, it is fixed on the relationship of the inlet flow-rate, overflow pipe diameter, the main diameter of the compound hydrocyclone, pressure drop and the inlet liquid density. The research indicates that the pressure or the pressure drop are all connected with compound hydrocyclone’s diameter, rotary crib’s running velocity and diameter of the maximum tangential velocity track face. As the results of the research, the ascertained key operators, pressure and the pressure drop, the hydrocyclone’s production ability can provide designing consult for the hydrocyclone designers.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Invariance of isotope ratios of lithogenic radionuclides: more evidence for their use as sediment source tracers

Activities of radionuclides in the 238U (230Th, 226Ra, 210Pb) and 232Th (232Th, 228Th, 228Ra) decay series were determined in sediments from an east Texas watershed and examined with isotope ratios and compared to particulate organic carbon (POC), % fines (<63 microm) and total concentrations of Al, Fe and Mn. The objective was to elucidate the presence or absence of relationships affecting the effectiveness of these radionuclides in modeling sediment transport. Strong positive correlations were observed between radionuclides and Mn (Th) and % fines (Ra and Th). Isotope ratios effectively reduce these influences, supporting the contention that isotope ratios offset extrinsic variability in terrestrial sediments. Strong associations of 210Pbxs (excess 210Pb) and 226Ra/230Th with POC agree with data from marine and terrestrial settings, indicating that the role of POC in isotope fractionation, transport and sequestration merits further investigation.
Is financial dishonesty a rational decision

A field experiment was conducted to test the theory that financial dishonesty is a rational decision in which the likelihood of being dishonest increases with the utility of dishonesty and decreases with its cost. People in the streets of Cambridge, England, were given an opportunity to dishonestly accept a coin from an experimenter under two conditions of utility (low or high) and two conditions of cost (low or high). Utility was varied by the value of the coin, and cost was varied by the experimenter's statement. Thirty-one of the 84 subjects falsely claimed the coin. In agreement with the prediction, more dishonesty occurred in the low cost condition, but, contrary to expectations, the utility manipulation had no overall effect on dishonesty. Cost and sex of experimenter interacted significantly, in that the cost manipulation affected dishonesty only with the male experimenter. It was also found that high utility tended to produce greater dishonesty in the low cost condition than in the high cost condition.
Luminescence of a-Si:C:H alloys deposited with hydrogen dilution

Measurements of photoluminescence in a-Si:C:H alloys are reported. The alloys are grown at different levels of hydrogen dilution in the plasma and the measurements are made to study how H dilution influences the defect and recombination properties. It is found that strong H dilution yields samples with low defect density and high photoluminescence efficiency. However, high H dilution also causes changes in band gap energy, which is partially responsible for the improved electronic properties.
Acousto-optical imaging using a powerful long pulse laser

Acousto-optical imaging is an emerging biodiagnostic technique which provides an optical spectroscopic signature and a spatial localization of an optically absorbing target embedded in a strongly scattering medium. The transverse resolution of the technique is determined by the lateral extent of ultrasound beam focal zone while the axial resolution is obtained by using short ultrasound pulses. Although very promising for medical diagnostic, the practical application of this technique is presently limited by its poor sensitivity. Moreover, any method to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio must obviously satisfy the in vivo safety limits regarding the acceptable power level of both the ultrasonic pressure wave and the laser beam. In this paper, we propose to improve the sensitivity by using a pulsed single-frequency laser source to raise the optical peak power applied to the scattering medium and to collect more ultrasonically tagged photons. Such a laser source also allows illuminating the tissues mainly during the transit time of the ultrasonic wave to maintain the average optical power below the maximum permissible exposure. In our experiment, a single-frequency Nd:YAG laser emitting 500-μs pulses with a peak power superior to 100 W was used. Photons were tagged in few-cm thick optical phantoms with tone bursts generated by an ultrasonic transducer. Tagged photons were detected with a GaAs photorefractive interferometer characterized by a large optical etendue to process simultaneously a large number of speckle grains. When pumped by high intensity laser pulses, such an interferometer also provides the fast response time essential to obtain an apparatus insensitive to the speckle decorrelation due to mechanical vibrations or tissues movements. The use of a powerful long pulse laser appears promising to enhance the signal level in ultrasound modulated optical imaging. When combined with a photorefractive interferometer of large optical etendue, such a source could allow obtaining both the sensitivity and the fast response time necessary for biodiagnostic applications.
Primary and secondary immune responses to Listeria monocytogenes

Recent studies have revealed the complexity of cytokine and cellular interactions required for resistance to primary Listeria monocytogenes infection and have illustrated that resistance to secondary infection may occur through multiple pathways. Analyses of Listeria epitope generation and the specificity of protective CD8+ T cells have suggested that future research should focus on secreted protein antigens in specific resistance to infection and have increased our understanding of Listeria antigens presented by MHC class I-b molecules.
An intensive communication intervention for the critically ill

Abstract PURPOSE: We sought to determine the effects of a communication process that was designed to encourage the use of advanced supportive technology when it is of benefit, but to limit its burdens when it is ineffective. We compared usual care with a proactive, multidisciplinary method of communicating that prospectively identified for patients and families the criteria that would determine whether a care plan was effective at meeting the goals of the patient. This process allowed caregivers to be informed of patient preferences about continued advanced supportive technology when its continuation would result in a compromised functional outcome or death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a before-and-after study in 530 adult medical patients who were consecutively admitted to a university tertiary care hospital for intensive care. Multidisciplinary meetings were held within 72 hours of critical care admission. Patients, families, and the critical care team discussed the care plan and the patients' goals and expectations for the outcome of critical care. Clinical "milestones" indicative of recovery were identified with time frames for their occurrence. Follow-up meetings were held to discuss palliative care options when continued advanced supportive technology was not achieving the patient's goals. We measured length of stay, mortality, and provider team and family consensus in 134 patients before the intensive communication intervention and in 396 patients after the intervention. RESULTS: Intensive communication significantly reduced the median length of stay from 4 days (interquartile range, 2 to 11 days) to 3 days (2 to 6 days, P = 0.01 by survival analysis). This reduction remained significant after adjustment for acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) 3 score [risk ratio (RR) = 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66 to 0.99; P = 0.04). Subgroup analysis revealed that this reduction occurred in our target group, patients with acuity scores in the highest quartile who died (RR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.92; P = 0.02). The intervention, which allowed dying patients earlier access to palliative care, was not associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive communication was associated with a reduction in critical care use by patients who died. Our multidisciplinary process targeted advanced supportive technology to patients who survived and allowed the earlier withdrawal of advanced supportive technology when it was ineffective.
Social and reproductive influences on plasma cortisol in female marmoset monkeys

Subordinate female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) undergo ovulation suppression and exhibit low plasma cortisol levels compared to the dominant, breeding female. To determine whether this cortisol difference is mediated by the differential reproductive consequences of social status, we monitored plasma progesterone and cortisol in 32 adult female marmosets while they were housed in heterosexual pairs, during the first 3 days of heterosexual group formation, and while animals were housed in established social groups. Cortisol levels prior to group formation were significantly higher in females exhibiting cyclic ovulatory activity than in anovulatory females but were not predictive of social status. Subsequently, when animals were housed in established social groups, dominant (cyclic) females had significantly higher cortisol levels than did subordinate (anovulatory) females. Cortisol levels differed between the pre and postgroup formation conditions only in animals that underwent a corresponding onset or termination of ovulatory cyclicity. Cortisol differences between dominant and subordinate female marmosets therefore appear to be associated with differences in reproductive function rather than with social status per se.
Timentin in the treatment of symptomatic complicated urinary tract infections in adult patients.

Abstract The safety and effectiveness of Timentin were evaluated in 34 adult patients with symptomatic complicated urinary tract Infections, principally due to multiply-drug-resistant bacteria. Although a wide variety of organisms, particularly gram-negative bacilli, were found, Escherichia coli was the most frequent, accounting for 14 of 45 (31 percent) pathogens isolated. Ten (22 percent) isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa; 11 (24 percent) were Proteus or Morganella species; three (7 percent) were Citrobacter; one (2 percent) was Klebsiella pneumoniae; two (4 percent) were Staphylococcus aureus; and two (4 percent) were enterococci. Ninety-three percent of all pathogens isolated produced a beta-lactamase. Eight (24 percent) infections were polymicroblal; seven (21 percent) were associated with bacteremia. Clinical improvement occurred in 30 of 34 (86 percent) patients. All bacteremias were cured. Although bacteriologic cure occurred in only 32 percent of patients, control of sepsis and temporary eradication of bacteria (bacteriologic Improvement) occurred in 96 percent. Not surprisingly, the rates of relapses and reinfections were high. It was concluded that Timentin is a useful agent in the management of complicated urinary tract infection and offers clinicians an alternative to more toxic antibiotics, such as aminoglycosides.
Comparison of traditional versus high-fidelity simulation in the retention of ACLS knowledge.

Abstract Objective We performed a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the retention of advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) knowledge between high-fidelity simulation training (HFST) and traditional training (TT) in medical students. Methods Medical students were randomized to HFST or TT for their ACLS training. Students were then tested on 2 different mega-code scenarios immediately after their training and then 1-year later. A survey was performed asking their satisfaction of ACLS training and confidence of ACLS knowledge with a 10-point rating scale. Results 93 students were randomized with 86 completing the study (HFST=45, TT=41). The HFST group scored a higher percentage correct on initial testing than the TT group (83% vs. 70%, P P =0.84). Satisfaction with training was higher with the HFST compared to the TT group (9.0 vs. 7.8, P P =0.18) and at 1-year (4.8 vs. 4.5, P =0.46). Conclusion Students demonstrated greater ACLS knowledge initially with HFST than with TT. However, after 1-year, both groups performed the same. Satisfaction with training was higher with HFST compared to TT. Confidence in ACLS knowledge was the same initially and decreased similarly over a 1-year time period regardless of the type of ACLS training. Further studies will need to determine optimal strategies to retain ACLS knowledge.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia and oral care: a successful quality improvement project.

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a nosocomial pneumonia that develops in patients on mechanical ventilation for ≥48 hours. VAP develops at an estimated rate of 1% to 3% per day of mechanical ventilation. Methods Quality improvement project. Mechanically ventilated patients received the following oral care every 4 hours: the teeth were brushed with cetylpyridinium chloride (changed to 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate in 2007) using a suction toothbrush, the oral cavity was cleansed with suction swabs treated with hydrogen peroxide, a mouth moisturizer was applied, deep oropharyngeal suctioning was performed, and suction catheters were used to control secretions. The primary efficacy variable was a diagnosis of VAP in patients mechanically ventilated for ≥48 hours. Results The historical average rate of VAP in 2004 was 12.6 cases/1000 ventilator-days. After the inception of the quality improvement project, VAP rates decreased to 4.12 (VAP cases/days of ventilation × 1000) for May to December 2005, to 3.57 for 2006, and to 1.3 for 2007. Conclusion The use of an oral care protocol intervention and ventilator bundle led to an 89.7% reduction in the VAP rate in mechanically ventilated patients from 2004 to 2007.
Effect of prazosin on renal function in congestive heart failure

Prazosin improves hemodynamics promptly in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), but tolerance to repeated doses may develop rapidly. To determine if the kidneys play a role in this attenuation of effect, we studied renal responses in nine CHF patients treated with prazosin (5 mg three times a day for 3 days) preceded and followed by 3 days of placebo. Prazosin decreased mean arterial blood pressure from 87.0 +/- 2.2 (mean +/- SEM) to 84.0 +/- 2.0 mm Hg (p < 0.05) with no change in heart rate (73.1 +/- 3.3 bpm on placebo and 73.6 +/- 3.5 bpm on prazosin). The change in creatinine clearance from 81.6 +/- 8.7 to 96.3 +/- 10.4 ml/min with prazosin was not statistically significant, but the slight increase in urine volume from 2.33 +/- 0.22 to 2.51 +/- 0.23 1/24 hr was (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in serum sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2, blood urea nitrogen, osmolality or glucose, urinary excretion of sodium or potassium, or sodium balance. The data were analyzed for changes within each period but there were no significant changes from day to day. Plasma renin activity rose from 3.93 +/- 0.69 to 4.96 +/- 0.84 ng/ml/hr during prazosin (p < 0.02). Significant alterations in renal function are not likely when patients with CHF are treated with prazosin, and any attenuation of effect of prazosin after repeated doses is not likely due to mechanisms involving alterations in renal function.
Analysis of space-time relational data with application to legislative voting

We consider modeling spatio-temporally indexed relational data, motivated by analysis of voting data for the United States House of Representatives over two decades. The data are characterized by incomplete binary matrices, representing votes of legislators on legislation over time. The spatial covariates correspond to the location of a legislator's district, and time corresponds to the year of a vote. We seek to infer latent features associated with legislators and legislation, incorporating spatio-temporal structure. A model of such data must impose a flexible representation of the space-time structure, since the apportionment of House seats and the total number of legislators change over time. There are 435 congressional districts, with one legislator at a time for each district; however, the total number of legislators typically changes from year to year, for example due to deaths. A matrix kernel stick-breaking process (MKSBP) is proposed, with the model employed within a probit-regression construction. Theoretical properties of the model are discussed and posterior inference is developed using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Advantages over benchmark models are shown in terms of vote prediction and treatment of missing data. Marked improvements in results are observed based on leveraging spatial (geographical) information.
Protein kinase C activity in permanent focal cerebral ischemia

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity was investigated in a model of focal stroke in the rat. Following 6 h of left middle cerebral artery occlusion, rat brains were frozenin situ. In the peripheral ischemic zone, total PKC activity declined by close to two-thirds (1.07±0.35 vs 2.77±0.12 nmol/min/mg protein;p<0.05,n=4), and the proportion of total activity associated with the particulate fraction decreased from 33.3±1.5% to 16.2±1.4% (p<0.01,n=4). Thus, overall particulate PKC activity in the ischemic zone was <20% of control. The cerebral energy metabolite profile of tissue from the ipsilateral hemisphere, corresponding to the region where samples were obtained for PKC activity assay, suggests that this tissue may have been part of the ischemic penumbra before further deterioration.
The Euler Characteristic Is the Unique Locally Determined Numerical Invariant of Finite Simplicial Complexes which Assigns the Same Number to Every Cone

We show that a proof given by Levitt in [L] suffices to prove the stronger theorem stated in the title.
Design parameters for temperature programmed desorption from porous catalysts

Abstract A model for temperature programmed desorption from porous catalysts is analyzed to determine when concentration gradients are present, when lag time due to diffusion or sample-cell detection is important, and when readsorption affects the spectrum. Dimensionless groups of catalyst parameters were determined which allow a priori calculation of which effects are important and show how to change the experiment to avoid difficulties in interpretation. Concentration gradients are shown to be due mainly to carrier-gas flow rates and may be difficult to avoid. Readsorption can easily change the desorption temperature by several hundred K and cannot be eliminated by increasing the carrier-gas flow rate. Lag times due to pressure build up in the catalyst and to sample-cell detection are shown to be particularly serious since they can affect the heat of adsorption calculated using variable heating rate methods. The analysis shows that great care should be taken in interpreting temperature programmed desorption results and, in many cases, only qualitative features can be obtained.
The role of cell division in Xenopus laevis skin gland development

Abstract Approximately 3.5 days before rudiments with ca. 5 or more cells (recognizable rudiments) appear in Xenopus forelimb skin during metamorphosis, there is an increase in the frequency of mitosis in the epidermis of this skin. Subsequent to this increase in mitosis, but prior to the appearance of recognizable rudiments, doublets of contiguous mitotic cells can be found in this epidermis. These doublets persist throughout the stages of metamorphosis when rudiments are being initiated, and diminish when rudiment formation is reduced. Inhibition of mitosis by fluorouridine-5′-deoxyribose or colchicine prevents the formation of new gland rudiments with ca. 5 or more cells in them. Our previously estimated duration of the gland cell division cycle of ca. 40 hours permits a sufficient number of divisions to occur to form clones of cells recognizable as gland rudiments in the time available for this. These data are consistent with a clonal origin of early Xenopus multicellular skin gland rudiments, and they are difficult to reconcile with a mechanism of rudiment formation that involves only cell aggregation.
3D wave propagation simulation in complex indoor structures

Modern wireless radio systems, such as public mobile cellular services (GSM or CDMA), PCN, DECT, wireless LANs, etc., are established in different operating frequency bands according to their specific applications. For new service deployments and expansion or improvement of existing systems, accurate path loss and power delay profile prediction in different environments is important for specifying system parameters. Recently, wave propagation prediction algorithms based on site-specific deterministic models, quasi-optical ray tracing and higher order electromagnetic wave propagation models have been developed. The paper discusses the results from a simulator consisting of two discrete computer codes, an environment modeler and a ray tracing engine. It is found that, for closed indoor areas with many scatterers, modeling the environment with more details is beneficial because it improves the accuracy of the simulated results while simulation time is not significantly increased. However, considering diffraction may not be useful, as it is very time consuming and does not have a major impact on the total predicted result because of extreme multipath effects.
MANGANESE STIMULATES ADHESION AND SPREADING OF MOUSE SARCOMA I ASCITES CELLS

Adhesion of Sarcoma I cells (SaI) to untreated or to serum-treated glass was examined by layering 51Cr-labeled cells on the substrate for 20 min at 34°C and determining the glass-bound radioactivity after the monolayers were rinsed. Adhesion to untreated glass proceeded in sodium chloride-imidazole-potassium medium (SIK) without added divalent cations, whereas SaI adhered maximally to the serum-coated substrate only in the presence of 50 µM or more Mn. Divalent Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, or Zn were inactive or minimally active. Mn-stimulated adhesion was sharply temperature dependent, reversible upon removal of Mn, and inhibited by Ca as well as by cytochalasin B, vinblastine, or tetracaine. Adhesion of SaI in SIK did not ensue when cells or the coated substrate were pretreated with Mn and washed in SIK before the adhesion assays. Microscope observations showed that Mn induced the formation of cell processes, ruffles, and veils, and that SaI spread on the uncoated or serum-coated substrate when exposed to Mn. Cells withdrew veils and processes and rounded up when postincubated in Mn-free medium. Formation of cell processes and spreading was inhibited by cytochalasin B, vinblastine, or tetracaine. Manganese-induced adhesion seems to require the participation of microtubules and microfilaments and may be mediated by an effect of Mn on Ca fluxes. The results support the role of cell processes and spreading in cell-to-substrate adhesion.
Plasma Membrane–Associated ROP10 Small GTPase Is a Specific Negative Regulator of Abscisic Acid Responses in Arabidopsis

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important plant hormone that modulates seed germination and plant growth and stress responses, but its signaling remains poorly understood. We investigated the role of ROP10, a member of the Arabidopsis Rop subfamily of Rho GTPases, in ABA signaling. A null rop10 mutant exhibits enhanced responses to ABA in seed germination, root elongation, and stomatal closure assays and in the induction of expression of the transcription factor MYB2, but it shows wild-type levels of ABA and normal responses to other hormones. Consistently, transgenic expression of a constitutively active form of ROP10 reduces ABA inhibition of seed germination, whereas dominant-negative mutants of ROP10 enhance ABA response and partially suppress abi2. Furthermore, ABA specifically downregulates ROP10 transcription in root tips. ROP10 is localized to the plasma membrane (PM), and PM localization is crucial for its function. These results suggest that ROP10 is a PM-localized signaling molecule that is involved specifically in the negative regulation of ABA signaling.
Epidemiology of Neonatal Early-onset Sepsis

Neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) continues to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality among newborns, especially among very-low birthweight infants. Epidemiologic risk factors for EOS have been defined, and considerable resources are devoted to the identification and evaluation of infants at risk for EOS. The widespread implementation of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease has reduced the overall incidence of neonatal EOS and influenced the microbiology of persistent early-onset infection. Most early-onset neonatal GBS disease now occurs in preterm infants or in term infants born to mothers who have negative GBS screening cultures. Ongoing clinical challenges include reassessment of clinical risk factors for EOS in the era of GBS prophylaxis; more accurate identification of GBS-colonized women; and continued surveillance of the impact of GBS prophylaxis practices on the microbiology of EOS, particularly among very low-birthweight infants.
Ionic Composition of Urate-Containing Spheres in the Urine of Domestic Fowl

Abstract Birds excrete urate in their urine in the form of small spherical concretions. In addition to urate, these concretions contain protein and inorganic ions. Energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis was used to determine the inorganic ion composition of the urate-containing spheres to gain a better understanding of how the spheres are formed. Ureteral urine was collected from six female white leghorn domestic fowl, Gallus gallus . The urine was filtered to separate the spheres into size categories to determine if the ionic composition varied with the size of the spheres. The spheres were placed on scanning electron microscope stubs, dried and coated with carbon. All samples were examined at an accelerated voltage (kV) of 20. The results showed that in all birds, the spheres contained the ions calcium and potassium (approximately 70% and 30%, respectively, of the total inorganic ions present). However, in one bird, the percent of calcium and potassium was reversed (i.e., calcium 30% and potassium 70%). In all birds, chloride and magnesium were also detected, but in comparatively small amounts (less than 1%). There were no significant differences in the ion content of spheres of different sizes. These data suggest that calcium and potassium may play an important role in the formation of the spheres and are not random inclusions as the spheres are formed. We suggest that the spheres form to facilitate the excretion of urate without blocking or damaging the renal tubules.
Sequential Priming Measures of Implicit Social Cognition A Meta-Analysis of Associations With Behavior and Explicit Attitudes

In a comprehensive meta-analysis of 167 studies, the authors found that sequential priming tasks were significantly associated with behavioral measures (r = .28) and with explicit attitude measures (r = .20). Priming tasks continued to predict behavior after controlling for the effects of explicit attitudes. These results generalized across a variety of study domains and methodological variations. Within-study moderator analyses revealed that priming tasks have good specificity, only predicting behavior and explicit measures under theoretically expected conditions. Together, these results indicate that sequential priming-one of the earliest methods of investigating implicit social cognition--continues to be a valid tool for the psychological scientist.
Digital topography models for Martian surfaces

We propose to use an unsupervised automated classification of topographic features on Mars in order to speed up geomorphic and geologic mapping of the planet. We construct a digital topography model (DTM), a multilayer grid that stores various kinds of topographical information for every pixel in a site. The method uses a probabilistic clustering algorithm to assign topographically meaningful labels to all pixels in the DTM. The results are displayed as a thematic map of topography. Resultant topographical features are characterized and compared using statistics of their constituent pixels. We demonstrate the usage of our method by classifying and characterizing the topography of a landscape in the Tisia Valles region on Mars. We discuss extensions and further applications of our method.
Water soluble poly(ethylene oxide) functionalized norbornene polymers

The synthesis of three different poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers with a norbornene and oxanorbornene end group is presented. The macromonomers were polymerized to comb-polymers by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using Grubbs' Catalyst G3 to produce water soluble polymers with polydispersities between 1.04 and 1.30 and molecular weights between 14,000 and 50,000 g/mol. Characterization by static and dynamic light scattering reveals that the comb-polymers with norbornene backbone are molecularly disperse in aqueous solution, while the oxanorbornene-backbone polymers form small water-soluble aggregates.
The intestinal microbiome of the pig

The intestinal microbiome has been the subject of study for many decades because of its importance in the health and well being of animals. The bacterial components of the intestinal microbiome have closely evolved as animals have and in so doing contribute to the overall development and metabolic needs of the animal. The microbiome of the pig has been the subject of many investigations using culture-dependent methods and more recently using culture-independent techniques. A review of the literature is consistent with many of the ecologic principles put forth by Rene Dubos. Animals develop an intestinal microbiome over time and space. During the growth and development of the pig, the microbiome changes in composition in a process known as the microbial succession. There are clear and distinct differences in the composition of the pig intestinal microbiome moving from the proximal end of the intestinal tract to the distal end. The majority (>90%) of the bacteria in the pig intestinal microbiome are from two Phyla: Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. However, the ileum has a high percentage of bacteria in the phylum Proteobacterium (up to 40%). Perturbations to the microbiome occur in response to many factors including stresses, treatment with antibiotics, and diet.
Development and preliminary validation of a Satz-Mogel short form of the WAIS-III in a sample of persons with substance abuse disorders.

We developed a Satz-Mogel short form of the WAIS-III and evaluated its accuracy for predicting IQs of 50 men with substance abuse disorders. Means for age, education, and Full Scale IQ were 44.20years (SD = 7.23), 12.82 years (SD = 1.53), and 98.06 (SD = 11.93). Correlations between the forms were significant for the 11 subtests (all rs ≥. 79) and three IQs (all rs ≥. 93). Short form estimated Verbal. Performance, and Full scale IQs were within →6 points of the WAIS-III 92% 80% and 90% of the time. The abbreviation may be used to estimate general intelligence, but interpretation of short-form-based IQ discrepancies should be avoided. The short form detected reliable WAIS-III Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancies only 67% of the time.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses

Purpose: To report the clinical outcome of patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Methods and Materials: Between 1998 and 2004, 36 patients with malignancies of the sinonasal region were treated with IMRT. Thirty-two patients (89%) were treated in the postoperative setting after gross total resection. Treatment plans were designed to provide a dose of 70 Gy to 95% or more of the gross tumor volume (GTV) and 60 Gy to 95% or more of the clinical tumor volume (CTV) while sparing neighboring critical structures including the optic chiasm, optic nerves, eyes, and brainstem. The primary sites were: 13 ethmoid sinus, 10 maxillary sinus, 7 nasal cavity, and 6 other. Histology was: 12 squamous cell, 7 esthesioneuroblastoma, 5 adenoid cystic, 5 undifferentiated, 5 adenocarcinoma, and 2 other. Median follow-up was 51 months among surviving patients (range, 9 – 82 months). Results: The 2-year and 5-year estimates of local control were 62% and 58%, respectively. One patient developed isolated distant metastasis, and none developed isolated regional failure. The 5-year rates of disease-free and overall survival were 55% and 45%, respectively. The incidence of ocular toxicity was minimal with no patients reporting decreased vision. Late complications included xerophthalmia (1 patient), lacrimal stenosis (1 patient), and cataract (1 patient). Conclusion: Although IMRT for malignancies of the sinonasal region does not appear to lead to significant improvements in disease control, the low incidence of complications is encouraging. © 2007 Elsevier Inc.
Measurement of the Cardiac Output in Dogs by a Conductivity Method after Single Intravenous Injections of Autogenous Plasma

Equations are developed for the estimation of cardiac output from hematocrit dilution, using the continuously recorded conductivity of whole blood drawn from an artery through a conductivity cell, after a single intravenous injection of autogenous plasma. The equipment used is described, the results are compared with those of simultaneously performed measurements of dye dilution and the advantages of the method are discussed.
A mechanism for efficient context switching

Context switches are slow in conventional processors because the entire processor state must be saved and restored, even if much of the restored state is not used before the next context switch. This unnecessary data movement is required because of the coarse granularity of binding between names and registers. The context cache is introduced, which binds variable names to individual registers. This allows context switches to be very inexpensive, since registers are only loaded and saved out as needed. Analysis shows that the context cache holds more live data than a multithreaded register file, and supports more tasks without spilling to memory. Circuit simulations show that the access time of a context cache is 7% greater than a conventional register file of the same size. >
The Laboratory and Patient Safety

Laboratory data are used extensively in patient care; consequently, laboratory errors have a tremendous impact on patient safety. Clinical laboratories were early leaders in efforts to minimize medical errors and improve patient safety. These efforts continue in many areas, including patient and specimen identification, laboratory result notification, and assistance in laboratory data interpretation. Emerging ideas on identifying and reducing laboratory errors, as well as specific strategies are reviewed and discussed with examples.
The time interval between kidney and pancreas transplantation and the clinical outcomes of pancreas after kidney transplantation

Pancreas after kidney (PAK) transplantation is one of the accepted pancreas transplant modalities. We studied the impact of time interval between kidney and pancreas transplantation on the outcomes of PAK transplantation. Using OPTN/SRTR data, we included 1853 PAK transplants performed between 1996 and 2005 with follow-up until November 1, 2008. Kaplan-Meier survival and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed using the time interval between kidney and pan- creas transplantation either as a categorical (less than one yr, between one and less than three yr, and greater than or equal to three yr) or as a continuous variable (months) to assess kidney graft and patient survival. Patients who received a pancreas transplant three yr or later after kidney transplantation had higher risk of death-censored kidney graft loss (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.04, 2.32, p = 0.03). Each month beyond three yr between kidney and pancreas transplantation incurred 1% higher risk of subsequent death-censored kidney graft loss (HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.001, 1.02, p = 0.03). In conclusion, time interval between pancreas and kidney transplantation is an independent risk factor of kidney graft loss following pancreas trans- plantation. Shortening the time interval between pancreas and kidney transplantation to less than three yr may reduce the risk of kidney graft loss in qualified PAK transplant candidates.
Identity-driven differences in stakeholder concerns about hunting wolves

Whereas past wolf management in the United States was restricted to recovery, managers must now contend with publicly contentious post-recovery issues including regulated hunting seasons. Understanding stakeholder concerns associated with hunting can inform stakeholder engagement, communication, and policy development and evaluation. Social identity theory (SIT) has been used to understand how groups interact, why they conflict, and how collaboration may be achieved. Applying SIT to stakeholder conflicts about wolf hunting may help delineate groups according to their concern about, support for or opposition to the policy choice of hunting wolves. Our objective was to assess concerns about hunting as a tool to resolve conflict in Michigan, using SIT as a framework. We used a mixed-modal sampling approach (e.g., paper, Internet) with wolf hunting-related public meeting participants in March 2013. Survey questions focused on 12 concerns previously identified as associated with hunting as a management tool to resolve conflict. Respondents (n = 666) cared greatly about wolves but were divided over hunting wolves. Wolf conflicts, use of science in policy decisions, and maintaining a wolf population were the highest ranked concerns. Principle components analysis reduced concerns into three factors that explained 50.7% of total variance; concerns crystallized over justifications for hunting. General linear models revealed a lack of geographic influence on care, fear and support for hunting related to wolves. These findings challenge assumptions about regional differences and suggest a strong role for social identity in driving dichotomized public perceptions in wildlife management.
Effects of Nonlinearities on Wave Power Estimates

Contours of relative errors between deterministic wave power estimates computed by the nonlinear numerical Dean Stream Function and by linear wave theory are graphically presented on the dimensionless relative wave steepness-relative water depth dissection plane. A contour of zero relative error is found to intersect the breaking index and to establish a lower bound for which the effect of nonlinearities on wave power estimates may be neglected for engineering purposes. Deterministic wave power estimates that are determined by linear wave theory should specifically identify the parameters of wave height, wave period, and water depth in order that the effect of nonlinearities on the magnitude of the wave power estimates may be evaluated.
Behavioral Thermoregulation and Trade-Offs in Juvenile Lobster Homarus americanus

Water temperature influences the behavior and distribution patterns of both larval and adult American lobster Homarus americanus. However, very little is known about the responses of juvenile lobsters. The juvenile life stage is a critical period; high levels of mortality, combined with specific behavioral responses, can disconnect larval settlement from patterns of abundance of adults. We assessed behavioral thermoregulation in juvenile lobsters, and determined how thermal preferences can be altered by the presence of shelter and food. Juvenile lobsters avoided temperatures higher than 20 °C and lower than 8 °C, and had a mean temperature preference of 16.2 ± 1 °C. This preference was unaffected by prior acclimation, origin (laboratory-raised or wild), or size. When the animals were subjected to a temperature change (5-20 °C), activity rates peaked at 15 °C, and remained stable thereafter. Activity rates did not change when a shelter was added. The addition of food resulted in an increase in activity associated with food handling. When juvenile lobsters were offered a choice between temperature, shelter, and food, they always chose the environment with a shelter, even when it was in a thermally unfavorable temperature. Juveniles also spent more time in a thermally unfavorable environment when food was present; however, acquisition of a shelter was prioritized over food. Although juveniles had a similar thermal preference to adults, they are more vulnerable to predation; the innate shelter-seeking behavior of juveniles overrode their thermal preference. While temperature is an important environmental factor affecting the physiology, distribution, and growth of aquatic ectotherms, our findings suggest that trade-off behaviors occur in order to maintain optimal fitness and survival of the individual.
Simulations of potentials of mean force for separating a leucine zipper dimer and the basic region of a basic region leucine zipper dimer.

Basic region leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors involved in DNA recognition are dimeric proteins. The monomers consist of two subdomains, a leucine zipper sequence responsible for dimerization and a highly basic DNA recognition sequence. Leucine zippers are strongly dimerized, and in a bZIP, the basic region can, in the absence of DNA, undergo extensive relative monomer-to-monomer fluctuations. In this work, LZ and bZIP potentials of mean force (PMFs), which provide free energies along reaction coordinates, are simulated with a distance replica exchange method. The method uses restraint potentials to provide sampling along a reaction coordinate and enhances configuration space exploration by exchanging information between neighboring restraint potential configurations. Restraint potentials that are constructed from sums over a number of atom distances are employed. Their use requires a modification of the Weighted Histogram Analysis Method (WHAM) procedure to combine and unbias the data from the ...
Effect of rice cereal feedings on bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis in cow milk formula fed infants.

We conducted a prospective randomized, single-blinded clinical trial to test the hypothesis that intake of formula plus cereals between the ages of 16 and 26 weeks postnatally (as compared to formula alone) would lead to lower bone mineral content (BMC), higher parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration, lower serum calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and osteocalcin (OC); and increased continuous night sleep.At 16 weeks postnatally, 41 healthy, term infants were randomized to formula alone or formula and cereal.We found no significant differences in growth or sleep pattern, nor in BMC between groups. Serum PTH concentration was significantly increased in the cereal group at 26 weeks.We speculate that the increase in PTH is due to relative Ca deficiency or is responsive to increased phosphate load in the cereal group.