cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The hydrology of cypress wetlands in Florida pine flatwoods

The poorly drained pine flatwoods of the Lower Coastal Plain of the Southern United States, including Florida, contain many pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) wetlands, which cover about one-third of the area. Management of the resource includes pine silviculture and cypress harvesting for lumber, plywood, paper, and mulch. Concern about the ecological impacts and hydrologic effects prompted a cooperative study of cypress wetlands integrating several disciplines. This paper reports results of clear-cut harvesting on the wetland hydrology. Three wetlands of about 0.5 ha were selected and instrumented to measure the climatic and hydrologic variables before and after treatments from January 1993 to January 1997. Silvicultural treatments were wetland-only clear-cut harvesting, wetland plus surrounding upland clear-cut harvesting, and an undisturbed control. The absence of observable soil surface runoff (high infiltration rate) and slow ground-water movement in the upland pine flatwoods suggested that normally the precipitation and evapotranspiration balanced each other and that the wetlands generated most of the runoff from the landscape mosaic as a whole. However, the results showed that open-water evaporation after wetland harvesting exceeded evapotranspiration of the control, explaining in part a decrease in outflow after wetland-only harvesting. Increased runoff from the pine upland, generated by reduced evapotranspiration and expanded saturated areas after elear-cut harvesting, apparently was buffered to some extent by increased evaporation from the embedded clear-cut cypress wetland. The average open-water area was about fifty percent larger than the wetland area as defined by the vegetation. However, excess wetland water balance data suggested the presence of a rain-catchment area that was 2–3 times larger than the vegetative wetland area because of semi-saturated soil in the low slopes. Therefore, the actual catchment area of a cypress wetland in the pine flatwoods may be variable in time, space, and silviculture depending on the topography, the extent of open water, and saturated soil. The application of this information in water management is for better control of first-year runoff from the pine-cypress landscape as a whole. Furthermore, silvicultural Best Management Practices for cypress wetland water management need to consider a variable source area for surface-water pollution that is larger than the wetland area as defined by the vegetation.
Estimating and testing conditional sums of means in high dimensional multivariate binary data

We study the estimation of the strength of signals corresponding to the high valued observations in multivariate binary data. These problems can arise in a variety of areas, such as mass spectrometry or function magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), where the underlying signals could be interpreted as a proxy for biochemical or physiological response to a condition or treatment. More specifically, the problem we consider involves estimating the sum of a collection of binomial probabilities corresponding to large values of the associated binomial random variables. We emphasize the case where the dimension is much greater than the sample size, and most of the probabilities of the events of interest are close to zero. Two estimation approaches are proposed: conditional maximum likelihood and nonparametric empirical Bayes. We use these estimators to construct a test of homogeneity for two groups of high dimensional multivariate binary data. Simulation studies on the size and power of the proposed tests are given, and the tests are demonstrated using mass spectrometry data from a breast cancer study.
“We Have to Create Family”: Aging Support Issues and Needs Among Older Lesbians

Gay and lesbian seniors are more likely to be single, live alone, and be childless. The current evidence base suggests that limited social supports are associated with a variety of health disparities among all older adults. Research regarding the aging issues of lesbian seniors is scarce. This instrumental collective case study of 4 older lesbians (ages 59 and older) illustrates unique aging support concerns, issues, and needs. The purpose of the case study is to increase provider sensitivity and provide supportive evidence of the need for more research. Findings suggest that limited biological family support, childlessness, and “families of choice” may be important factors in support service and health care decisions for older lesbians. Implications for care providers in working with the older lesbian population include exploring existing supports and assisting with the formation of culturally acceptable support systems and services. Given the current evidence base regarding the impact of social support ...
Effect of GABAergic transmission in the subpallidal region on the hypermotility response to the administration of excitatory amino acids and picrotoxin into the nucleus accumbens.

Abstract Excitatory amino acids and picrotoxin have been shown to produce an intense stimulation of co-ordinated locomotor activity after bilateral administration into the nucleus accumbens of rats. The objective of this study was to determine the role of GABAergic neurotransmission in the substantia innominata/lateral preoptic area in the hypermotility responses to excitatory amino acids and picrotoxin. It was found that the bilateral administration of muscimol into the substantia innominata/lateral preoptic area almost completely inhibited the stimulation of locomotor activity induced by the administration of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA), kainic acid, N- methyl- d -aspartic acid and picrotoxin into the n. accumbens. In contrast, muscimol did not inhibit locomotor activity or induce catalepsy in control animals injected with saline into the nucleus accumbens. The inhibitory effect of muscimol on the hypermotility responses to excitatory amino acids and picrotoxin was not due to diffusion to the nucleus accumbens and the activation of GABAergic receptors at this site. This conclusion is supported by the finding that the doses of muscimol injected into the substantia innominata/lateral preoptic area, which effectively inhibited the responses to AMPA and picrotoxin, were either much less effective or not effective in inhibiting these responses when injected into the nucleus aecumbens. These observations suggest that the stimulation of locomotor activity produced by the injection of excitatory amino acids or picrotoxin into the nucleus accumbens may be mediated by the inhibition of a GABAergic neuronal pathway projecting from the nucleus accumbens to the substantia innominata/lateral preoptic area.
HPMA Copolymer-Bound Doxorubicin Induces Apoptosis in Human Ovarian Carcinoma Cells by a Fas-Independent Pathway

The mechanism of cell death in A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells induced by free doxorubicin (DOX) and N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-bound DOX [P−(GFLG)−DOX] was investigated. In particular, the involvement of the Fas receptor system in drug-induced apoptosis was evaluated. P−(GFLG)−DOX was shown to effect apoptosis-induced tumor cell death as manifested by positive Annexin V−FITC staining, cleavage of procaspase 3 and its physiological substrate, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and cleavage of procaspase 8. Using the fluorochrome-labeled caspase inhibitor assay, it was found that both free DOX and P−(GFLG)−DOX activated caspases 3 and 9, but both forms of DOX did not have an effect on the activity of caspase 8, when compared to untreated cells. It was shown that free DOX and P−(GFLG)−DOX upregulated Fas receptor expression at the cell membrane in a time-dependent manner. Triggering the drug-induced Fas receptor with an exogeneous soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) resulted in an increa...
Correlation between Activity and Electronic State of Hallucinogenic Amphetamines

THE actions of hallucinogenic agents have been correlated with Huckel molecular orbital calculations of the π-elections1 and with fluorescent properties2. The Huckel correlations on three methoxylated amphetamines indicated that hallucinogenic activity correlated with energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital1.
The Contours and Complexity of Legislator Objectives: Empirically Examining the Basis of Purposive Models:

QO VER the past decade legislative scholars have been quite successful in explaining many aspects of legislative behavior by focusing on legislator objectives. However, there has been little effort to examine empirically the importance of legislator objectives in explaining legislative behavior. While earlier studies by Fenno, Mayhew, and Fiorina have focused on the small number (usually three or four) of legislator objectives there has been little investigation of the ability of these central goals to capture fully the complexity of legislator behavior. Legislators engage in a wide variety of activities including those involving voting on legislation, committee work, staff operations, ceremonial functions, and general governmental oversight. This analysis focuses on the importance that legislators place on various legislative activities and examines the interrelationship among these activities. The purpose is to assess the complexity and scope of legislative objectives as a foundation for explaining legislator behavior. Specifically, this analysis examines the measurement of legislator objectives and analyzes various ways that a large number of legislative activities can be reduced to a smaller number of central goals. Using interview questions first employed in the Obey Commission's study of the legislative activities of members of the House of Representatives, this analysis relies on survey data collected in interviews with Indiana state legislators.' While the Indiana legislature is a citizen legislature meeting for long sessions (60 days) and short sessions (30 days) in alternate years, it is a suitable setting for assessing the contours and complexity of legislator objectives. To the extent that the adoption of legislative objectives is part of a legislator's socialization to the legislative arena, the less formal organizational structure, less frequent meetings, and smaller staffs and perquisites found in a citizen legislature may affect the assimilation and adoption of objectives by legislators (see, for example, Bell and Price
Spontaneous assembly of organic thiocyanates on gold sufaces. Alternative precursors for gold thiolate assemblies.

Thiolate self-assembly on gold has proven to be a valuable technique for assembling monolayers on a wide variety of substrates. However, the oxidative instability of the thiols, especially aromatic thiols and α,ω-dithiols, presents several difficulties. Shown here is that thiocyanates, easily synthesized stable thiol derivatives, can be directly assembled on gold surfaces with no auxiliary reagents required. Assembly is complete in 24 h and leaves a similar gold thiolate structure as seen in typical thiol self-assembled monolayers.
A vibrating target assembly for intense ion beams

Abstract A high power vibrating target assembly was designed for work with well-collimated intense proton beams. The water-cooled target vibrates in two mutually perpendicular directions at different frequencies. It is shown that for many target materials power dissipation up to 0.5 kW/cm 2 can be tolerated over long time intervals.
An investigation of the dynamic stability of a slider-crank mechanism with link and drive train flexibility

Abstract Symbolic and numerical techniques are used to model and analyze the dynamic behavior of a slider-crank mechanism with a flexible coupler and drive train. The equations of motion are generated using a symbolic algorithmic procedure based on the principle of virtual work. The flexibility of the drive train, when combined with the flexibility of the coupler, leads to coupling between the rigid and elastic motions of the mechanism and, therefore, a set of non-linear dynamic equations with time varying parameters. The linearized equations obtained by restricting the analysis to crank to coupler ratios of less than 0.3 are analyzed using Floquet theory. Stability charts are plotted by tracing the boundaries of the unstable regions. The method of multiple scales is then used to obtain analytical expressions that explain the sensitivity of the shape and location of the unstable regions to combinations of system parameters. The results show that for the coupler to crank ratios considered, the flexibility of the drive train does not appreciably affect the dynamic behavior of the mechanism. In addition, the flexibility of the coupler and of the drive train independently affect the system stability.
The effect of protective aprons in dental roentgenography

Abstract Measurements were made of gonadal radiation while full-mouth dental roentgenograms were being taken of sixty adult male subjects. Radiation to the gonads was greater when the short pointed cone was used than when the long open-ended cone was used. Lead protective aprons significantly reduced the radiation to this area, and little difference was seen between the ability of the bib and lap aprons to provide gonadal protection.
Thermoelastic problem for an isotropic sphere with temperature dependent properties

Es werden Warmespannungen infolge polarsymmetrischer stationarer Temperaturfelder in einer isotropen Kugel mit temperaturabhangigen Stoffwerten untersucht. Das Material wird als inkompressibel vorausgesetzt, was einem oberen Grenzwert der viskoelastischen Spannungen in einem Maxwellschen Korper entspricht. Diese Annahme erlaubt, die Losung in einer geschlossenen Form und fur jede Temperaturverteilung und Temperaturabhangigkeit der Materialkonstanten und des Warmeausdehnungskoeffizienten aufzustellen. Es werden allgemeine Formeln fur die Spannungs- und Verschiebungsfelder in einer vollen Kugel und in einer kugelformigen Schale gegeben und die Einwirkung der variablen Warmeleitzahl auf das Temperaturfeld untersucht. Ein numerisches Beispiel fur lineare Temperaturabhangigkeit des Elastizitatsmoduls und des Warmeausdehnungskoeffizienten wird berechnet.
Intravascular ultrasound imaging of saphenous vein grafts in vitro: comparison with histologic and quantitative angiographic findings.

Abstract The ubiquity of coronary artery disease and the resultant widespread use of saphenous veins for coronary artery bypass surgery has stimulated considerable interest in the morphologic and pathophysiologic alterations these vessels undergo after implantation. This study was undertaken to determine the ability of intravascular ultrasound to identify and characterize abnormalities in saphenous vein grafts. Ten saphenous vein grafts excised at autopsy and nine saphenous vein segments harvested during coronary artery bypass surgery were examined with intravascular ultrasound imaging, quantitative coronary angiographic techniques and histologic analysis. Intravascular ultrasound lumen measurements were strongly correlated with quantitative coronary arteriographic measurements (r 0.91, SEE 0.5 mm). Wall thickness was significantly greater in the vein grafts after long-term implantation than in the freshly harvested veins (average thickness 1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 0.7 ± 0.2 mm, p Thus, this preliminary study demonstrates the ability of intravascular ultrasound to provide real-time cross-sectional images of saphenous veins and morphologic characterization of their walls. This modality may have important clinical applications, including the ability to detect serial changes in vein graft intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis.
The People Next Door: Getting Along With the Neighbors in Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg and District 9

Two different perspectives on the immigrant struggles are found in a documentary about the radio and television program The Goldbergs and a science fiction thriller about the treatment of an immigrant alien community. Yoo-Hoo Mrs. Goldberg is optimistic and celebrates the achievements of an established ethnic community in America and the woman who conceived and implemented the idea for the show. District 9, excites and terrifies with an imaginary future ethnic catastrophe. A third movie, Amreeka, deals with an ethnic immigrant drama of the present, neither sentimental about past ethnic struggles nor frightening about future disasters. It is, therefore, the most unsettling and least amusing of the three, in spite of its conventional upbeat ending.
Changes in the Behavior of Pet Owners across Generations

200 adults (100 men and 100 women with a mean age of 58.8 yr.) were interviewed to assess the associations of recollections about their grandparents' and parents' attitudes and their adults' attitu...
Jeffrey S. Lee Lecture. Occupational exposure guidelines--why process is as important as science.

This presentation summarizes the Jeff Lee Lecture delivered at the May 2011 AIHce in Portland, Oregon. The quality of OEGs should matter as much to occupational health and safety professionals as t...
Restoration of vascular endothelial function in diabetes

Nitric oxide (NO) is believed to mediate the phenomenon known as endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR). NO synthase produces NO from its precursor, arginine (ARG). We have previously demonstrated impaired EDR in diabetic blood vessels. In this study, we investigated a possible mechanism for defective EDR in experimental diabetes and whether pancreatic islet transplantation could reverse established endothelial dysfunction. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were maintained for 8 or 12 weeks. NO-mediated EDR was assessed in isolated thoracic rings ex vivo. A group of untreated diabetic rats received syngeneic islet transplantation at 8 weeks of diabetes and were tested for EDR after 4 weeks of euglycemia. EDR to acetylcholine was impaired in untreated diabetic rings. Endothelium-independent relaxation to nitroglycerin was unaltered. In vitro incubation of diabetic rings with 3 mM L-ARG (but not D-ARG) improved EDR to acetylcholine in rings from 8-week but not 12-week diabetic rats. L-ARG did not alter EDR in control rings nor relaxation to nitroglycerin in control or diabetic rings. Islet transplantation at 8 weeks of diabetes normalized blood glucose, plasma arginine and total glycosylated hemoglobin while restoring normal EDR. In conclusion, a defect in substrate/supply for NO synthesis is acutely reversed by ARG supplementation at early but not at later stages of diabetes. Also, preemptive surgical intervention with islet transplantation prior to the ARG-insensitive phase is an effective strategy to reverse established endothelial dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Use Is Associated with Decreased Bacteremia and Increased Survival in Neutropenic HIV-Infected Patients

Abstract Background: Neutropenia occurs in up to 17% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. Although granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can reverse HIV-related neutropenia, it is not established that this therapy can reduce bacterial infections and affect survival. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 152 neutropenic, HIV-infected patients was performed to determine the therapeutic utility of G-CSF. Medical records of 71 patients who received G-CSF and 81 patients who never received G-CSF, during the years of 1991 to 1994 at Parkland Memorial Hospital, were reviewed for the incidence of bacteremia, G-CSF use, antiretroviral therapy (AR), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis (PCPP), and opportunistic infections (OI). Results: The two patient groups had similar baseline characteristics including CD4 count (37 cells/mm 3 versus 40 cells/mm 3 , P = 0.7). Univariate analysis revealed and trend toward decreased rates of all bacteremias in the G-CSF-treated group compared with the controls (0.54 bacteremias/100 patient months versus 2.2 bacteremias/100 patient months, P = 0.064) and a marked decrease in the rates of gram-negative rod bacteremias in the G-CSF-treated group compared with the untreated group (0.09 gram-negative rod bacteremias/100 patient months versus 1.7 gram-negative rod bacteremias/100 patient months, P = 0.002). In a multivariate analysis, significant decreased risk for bacteremia was found with G-CSF use (odds ratio [OR] = 0.15, P = 0.02). Survival was longer in patients treated with G-CSF than in the untreated group (median: 397 days versus 165 days). Multivariate analysis using Cox Proportional Hazards Model showed decreased risk of death in patients treated with G-CSF, ARs, PCPP. Conclusions: We conclude that G-CSF use is associated with decreased bacteremias and is associated with prolonged survival in neutropenic, HIV-infected patients.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEMSELVES, EACH OTHER, AND SELECTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES

ABSTRACT This study describes the perceptions of judges, prosecutors, police officers, and probation officers of themselves, each other, and selected criminal justice practices. Judges and police officers perceived themselves more positively than they perceived the other criminal justice practitioners while probation officers and prosecutors did not see themselves as the most positive group. Police officers were the most negatively perceived, and judges the most positively. The police group indicated the strongest opposition to early parole of offenders and Supreme Court rulings, while judges and probation officers were generally more favorable toward such criminal justice practices. All groups indicated that communication and cooperation between criminal justice components is inadequate. The research suggests that inadequate communication and cooperation between practitioners and components can be the result of negative attitudes based on misperceptions.
Antiferromagnetism of the α-Mn system

Abstract The variation of the Neel temperature ( T N) of antiferromagnetic alloys of Mn with 3-d elements has been studied by electrical resistivity measurements. Binary Mn-rich alloys Fe, Co, Ni, Ti, Rh, Os, Ir, and Ru were investigated. The results show a strong and systematic dependence on the number of d-electrons of the impurity element. Elements with more d electrons than Mn raise T N , while those with fewer d electrons depress T N . The change of T N per atomic percent impurity also exhibits a striking, non-monotonic dependence on the impurity used. The dependence shows inversion symmetry with impurities around Mn. To further elucidate the properties of the Mn-rich antiferromagnetic system, a study was made of ternary Mn-rich alloys in the MnFeCr, MnCoNi, and MnVTi systems. The results from the MnFeCr system are consistent with the rigid-band model, the average number of d-electrons per atom being of primary importance determiningh the antiferromagnetism in this system. Our goal in these studies has been to provide a firm experimental data baseupon which future theoretical work can be built. A more detailed understanding of the very intriguing α-Mn magnetic system now awaits further theoretical investigation.
Distinct classes of chromosomal rearrangements create oncogenic ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer

Recently, we identified recurrent gene fusions involving the 5' untranslated region of the androgen-regulated gene TMPRSS2 and the ETS (E26 transformation-specific) family genes ERG, ETV1 or ETV4 in most prostate cancers. Whereas TMPRSS2-ERG fusions are predominant, fewer TMPRSS2-ETV1 cases have been identified than expected on the basis of the frequency of high (outlier) expression of ETV1 (refs 3-13). Here we explore the mechanism of ETV1 outlier expression in human prostate tumours and prostate cancer cell lines. We identified previously unknown 5' fusion partners in prostate tumours with ETV1 outlier expression, including untranslated regions from a prostate-specific androgen-induced gene (SLC45A3) and an endogenous retroviral element (HERV-K_22q11.23), a prostate-specific androgen-repressed gene (C15orf21), and a strongly expressed housekeeping gene (HNRPA2B1). To study aberrant activation of ETV1, we identified two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and MDA-PCa 2B, that had ETV1 outlier expression. Through distinct mechanisms, the entire ETV1 locus (7p21) is rearranged to a 1.5-megabase prostate-specific region at 14q13.3-14q21.1 in both LNCaP cells (cryptic insertion) and MDA-PCa 2B cells (balanced translocation). Because the common factor of these rearrangements is aberrant ETV1 overexpression, we recapitulated this event in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that ETV1 overexpression in benign prostate cells and in the mouse prostate confers neoplastic phenotypes. Identification of distinct classes of ETS gene rearrangements demonstrates that dormant oncogenes can be activated in prostate cancer by juxtaposition to tissue-specific or ubiquitously active genomic loci. Subversion of active genomic regulatory elements may serve as a more generalized mechanism for carcinoma development. Furthermore, the identification of androgen-repressed and insensitive 5' fusion partners may have implications for the anti-androgen treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Structure and cholesterol domain dynamics of an enriched caveolae/raft isolate

Despite the importance of cholesterol in the formation and function of caveolar microdomains in plasma membranes, almost nothing is known regarding the structural properties, cholesterol dynamics or intracellular factors affecting caveolar cholesterol dynamics. A non-detergent method was employed to isolate caveolae/raft domains from purified plasma membranes of murine fibroblasts. A series of fluorescent lipid probe molecules or a fluorescent cholesterol analogue, dehydroergosterol, were then incorporated into the caveolae/raft domains to show that: (i) fluorescence polarization of the multiple probe molecules {diphenylhexatriene analogues, DiI18 (1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate), parinaric acids and NBD-stearic acid {12-(N-methyl)-N-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-octadecanoic acid} indicated that acyl chains in caveolae/raft domains were significantly less ‘fluid’ (i.e. more rigid) and the transbilayer ‘fluidity gradient’ was 4.4-fold greater than in plasma membranes; (ii) although sterol was more ordered in caveolae/raft domains than plasma membranes, spontaneous sterol transfer from caveolae/raft domains was faster (initial rate, 32%; half-time, t1/2, 57%) than from the plasma membrane; (iii) although kinetic analysis showed similar proportions of exchangeable and non-exchangeable sterol pools in caveolae/raft domains and plasma membranes, addition of SCP-2 (sterol carrier protein-2) 1.3-fold more selectively increased sterol transfer from caveolae/raft domains by decreasing the t1/2 (50%) and increasing the initial rate (5-fold); (iv) SCP-2 was also 2-fold more selective in decreasing the amount of non-exchangeable sterol in caveolae/raft domains compared with plasma membranes, such that nearly 80% of caveolar/raft sterol became exchangeable. In summary, although caveolae/raft lipids were less fluid than those of plasma membranes, sterol domains in caveolae/rafts were more spontaneously exchangeable and more affected by SCP-2 than those of the bulk plasma membranes. Thus caveolae/raft domains isolated without the use of detergents display unique structure, cholesterol domain kinetics and responsiveness to SCP-2 as compared with the parent plasma membrane.
Electroforming of copper structures at nanometer-sized gaps of self-assembled monolayers on silver

This paper describes a method to fabricate micro- and nanostructures of copper by electrodeposition onto nanometer-sized gaps in self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of alkanethiolates on metal surfaces. We have demonstrated that the approach can produce large numbers of metallic micro- or nanostructures over large (2 cm2) areas with features as small as ≈70 nm. The electrodeposited copper structures can be transferred using Scotch tape onto both flat and curved substrates. Linear arrays of copper structures have been tested for use as optical polarizers. A polarization ratio R = ≈2.0 was found for light with λ = 633 nm in transmission mode for linear arrays of copper wires (≈220 nm, with a 1-μm pitch) mounted on antireflective windows.
Effects of H1 blocking agents on age-related osteopenia in the mouse.

Abstract Old female B6AF, mice were given acidified tap water, distilled water, one of five H1 blockers or chlorpheniramine (an H1 blocker) and trifluoperazine (a phenothiazine with no H1 blocking activity) in their drinking water for 5 months, and the effects of these agents on bone mineral metabolism were assessed by determining ash weights of femur, ilium and sacrum at the end of the study. In one experiment 24 h whole-body retention (WBR) of Tc 99m methylene diphosphonate (Tc 99m MDP, an indicator of bone metabolism) was measured at the beginning of the study and 40 days later. It was found that: (a) promethazine and dimenhydrinate were the most effective of the H1 blockers in preventing age-related loss of bone mass; (b) distilled water, chlorpheniramine, and chlorpheniramine plus trifluoperazine had no effect on the loss of bone mass; (c) mean bone mass in the groups given meclizine and pyrilamine were greater than but not significantly different from that in the control group given acidified tap water; and (d) only promethazine induced a significant reduction in the WBR of Tc 99m (the other HI blockers induced small but not significant reductions)
Strategies in the treatment of diffuse pontine gliomas: the therapeutic role of hyperfractionated radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

This article will review the current treatment of pediatric patients with diffuse pontine gliomas (DPG) and discuss three potential avenues of therapeutic research including (i) radiotherapy (RT) in combination with radiation sensitizers, (ii) dose-intensive, induction chemotherapy with hematopoietic support followed in sequence with RT applied as a ‘consolidation’ therapy, and (iii) the interleafed application of phase-specific chemotherapeutic agents and hyperfractionated external beam radiotherapy (HFEBRT) referred to as ‘chemoradiotherapy’.
Two-flavour Schwinger model with dynamical fermions in the Lüscher formalism

Abstract We report preliminary results for 2D massive QED with two flavours of Wilson fermions, using the Hermitean variant of Luscher's bosonization technique. The chiral condensate and meson masses are obtained. The simplicity of the model allows for high statistics simulations close to the chiral and continuum limit, both in the quenched approximation and with dynamical fermions.
Does low-dose growth hormone therapy improve the body composition of patients infected with HIV?

Does low-dose growth hormone therapy improve the body composition of patients infected with HIV?
Effects of Advance Questions on Reading Comprehension

Abstract Based on research on working memory and on advance organizers, the author hypothesized that advance information could have a negative effect on reading comprehension. College students read two expository passages and then responded to multiple-choice comprehension questions. In Experiment 1, advance information in the form of stems of multiple-choice comprehension questions was provided to participants in one condition, whereas participants in a control condition received no advance information. Participants who had received information about comprehension questions in advance of reading the text did not perform better in answering comprehension questions than those who did not receive advance information. In Experiment 2, readers were allowed to refer back to the text after encountering the comprehension questions. Those who received advance information on the questions made more errors than participants who did not receive advance information.
Tumor bed radiosurgery: an emerging treatment for brain metastases

While typically used for treating small intact brain metastases, an increasing body of literature examining tumor bed directed stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is emerging. There are now over 1000 published cases treated with this approach, and the first prospective trial was recently published. The ideal sequencing of tumor bed SRS is unclear. Current approaches include, a neoadjuvant treatment before resection, alone as an adjuvant after resection, and following surgery combined with whole brain radiotherapy either as an adjuvant or salvage treatment. Based on available evidence, adjuvant stereotactic radiosurgery improves local control following surgery, reduces the number of patients who require whole brain radiotherapy, and is well tolerated. While results from published series vary, heterogeneity in both patient populations and methods of reporting results make comparisons difficult. Additional prospective data, including randomized trials are needed to confirm equivalent outcomes to the current standard of care. We review the current literature, identify areas of ongoing contention, and highlight ongoing studies.
Bupivacaine Causes Cytotoxicity in Mouse C2C12 Myoblast Cells: Involvement of ERK and Akt Signaling Pathways

The adverse effects of local anesthetics (LAs) on wound healing at surgical sites have been suggested, and may be related to their cytotoxicity. This study was aimed to compare the cellular toxicity of bupivacaine and lidocaine (two well-known LAs), and to explore the molecular mechanism(s). Toxicity of bupivacaine and lidocaine was assessed in cultured mouse C2C12 myoblasts by cell viability and apoptosis assays. Effects of LAs on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt) activation, which are essential for cell proliferation and survival, were evaluated by immunoblotting. Both LAs, especially bupivacaine, prevented cell growth and caused cell death in a dose-dependent manner. The half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for bupivacaine and lidocaine were 0.49±0.04 and 3.37±0.53 mmol/L, respectively. When applied at the same dilutions of commercially available preparations, the apoptotic effect induced by bupivacaine was more severe than that of lidocaine in C2C12 cells. Furthermore, bupivacaine significantly diminished the ERK activation, which may underlie its anti-proliferative actions. Both LAs suppressed Akt activation, which correlated with their effects on apoptosis. Our study demonstrated that, when used at the same dilutions from clinically relevant concentrations, bupivacaine is more cytotoxic than lidocaine in vitro. Anti-proliferation and cell death with concomitant apoptosis mediated by bupivacaine may offer an explanation for its adverse effects in vivo (eg slowing wound healing at the surgical sites). A less toxic, long-acting anesthetic may be needed.
Huntington's disease as a model for mood disorders : clues from neuropathology and neurochemistry

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neuropsychiatric degenerative process characterized by movement disorder, dementia, and, often, affective disorder (AfD) (seen in 38% of patients). Depression in HD is not just an understandable reaction to fatal illness: 10% of HD patients develop mania; AfD can occur 20 yr before neurological signs; and mood disorders are not randomly distributed, but occur in a subset of HD families. This evidence suggests that AfD in HD relates to brain pathophysiology. With its clear neuropathology, HD is proposed as one model for biological underpinnings of idiopathic AfD. There is striking atrophy and neuronal loss in HD neostriatum, particularly caudate. Caudate has rich connections to the limbic system. It is hypothesized that AfD in HD relates to dysfunction of the part of the neostriatum damaged earliest, dorsal medial caudate. Preliminary studies on neuropathological differences between HD patients with and without AfD are discussed. HD neurochemistry is reviewed, emphasizing the excitotoxin hypothesis, which involves dysfunction of the glutamate neurotransmitter system in HD (especially the NMDA receptor, which contains a channel with a phencyclidine (PCP) binding site). Based on the HD model, it is suggested that the glutamate system (particularly NMDA receptors) be examined in idiopathic AfD.
You Can't Get There From Here: Reaching the Outdoors in Senior Housing

By providing access to outdoor environments, exterior doors can enhance the sense of freedom in residential environments for aging. However, doorways may also present barriers to outdoor access. Using environmental audits, this study examined doorway problems at 68 assisted living facilities in three geographic regions. Results were compared with resident surveys (n = 1,128), staff surveys (n = 432), and resident focus groups (n = 76). Specific doorway issues were found to be associated with residents’ weekly minutes of walking, outdoor usage, and perceived ease of reaching outdoor areas. The main problems were door opening/closing, thresholds and landings, and self-locking doors. The findings indicate that exterior doorways often present barriers to assisted living residents, resulting in lower levels of walking and outdoor use. By discouraging these health-related behaviors, doorway problems may negatively affect residents’ health and well-being. Practice implications suggest that many existing doorway ...
Targeting African American Nonsmokers to Motivate Smokers to Quit: A Qualitative Inquiry

African Americans bear a disproportionate health burden from smoking but are less likely than other populations to engage in cessation treatment. Intervening on adult nonsmokers residing with a smoker might represent an innovative approach to motivate smokers to engage in smoking behavior change. Twelve focus groups were conducted with African American smokers (four groups, n = 27), nonsmokers (four groups, n = 26) and pairs of cohabitating smokers and nonsmokers (four groups, n = 22) to assess attitudes and/or beliefs regarding engaging a nonsmoker in the home in smoking behavior change efforts. Participants ( N = 75) were middle-aged (45.1 ±3.7 years) females (68.0%) with 11.8 ±1.5 years of education. Smokers smoked 14.9 ±11.3 cigarettes per day, made 3.0 ±4.4 quit attempts in the past year, and are interested in receiving cessation assistance from a nonsmoker in their home. African American nonsmokers living with a smoker may be an appropriate target group to motivate smoking behavior change in the smo...
Parasites of Agromyzid Leafminers (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on Alfalfa in Europe

Four species of agromyzid leafminers, Agromyza frontella (Rondani), A. nana Meigen, Liriomyza congesta (Becker), and Phytomyza horticola (Goureau), the last representing a new host plant record, were studied in selected alfalfa fields in France and Denmark in 1977. Only 0.4% of the alfalfa leaflets contained agromyzid mines, a degree of infestation that is far below the 25 to 30% level or higher that may occur in alfalfa fields in the northeastern United States and Canada. The combined action of hymenopterous parasites of the families Braconidae, Eulophidae, and Pteromalidae produced an overall seasonal parasitism (determined by dissection) in excess of 70% for all hosts species. In some samples, parasitism reached 100%. New host records were established for 16 of the 17 species recovered from A. frontella and 11 of the 18 species from A. nana. The sequence of parasite species, multiple and superparasitism, competition, encapsulation by the host, and general geographical distribution in Europe were also studied. A total of 14 species were sent to the United States for study and release against A. frontella, a pest recently introduced into North America. Of these, three are now established in the United States.
CHARGE STATE EVOLUTION IN THE SOLAR WIND. III. MODEL COMPARISON WITH OBSERVATIONS

We test three theoretical models of the fast solar wind with a set of remote sensing observations and in-situ measurements taken during the minimum of solar cycle 23. First, the model electron density and temperature are compared to SOHO/SUMER spectroscopic measurements. Second, the model electron density, temperature, and wind speed are used to predict the charge state evolution of the wind plasma from the source regions to the freeze-in point. Frozen-in charge states are compared with Ulysses/SWICS measurements at 1 AU, while charge states close to the Sun are combined with the CHIANTI spectral code to calculate the intensities of selected spectral lines, to be compared with SOHO/SUMER observations in the north polar coronal hole. We find that none of the theoretical models are able to completely reproduce all observations; namely, all of them underestimate the charge state distribution of the solar wind everywhere, although the levels of disagreement vary from model to model. We discuss possible causes of the disagreement, namely, uncertainties in the calculation of the charge state evolution and of line intensities, in the atomic data, and in the assumptions on the wind plasma conditions. Last, we discuss the scenario where the wind is accelerated from a region located in the solar corona rather than in the chromosphere as assumed in the three theoretical models, and find that a wind originating from the corona is in much closer agreement with observations.
USING TISSUE ANALYSIS AS A TOOL TO PREDICT BAHIAGRASS PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION REQUIREMENT

Tissue analysis in combination with soil testing has been recently incorporated in the fertilization recommendations for bahiagrass in Florida; however, limited research is available to validate the proposed critical tissue phosphorus (P) level. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to identify the critical minimum tissue P concentration below which bahiagrass dry matter (DM) yield is impacted. Treatments consisted of three nitrogen (N) rates (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1), four P rates (0, 20, 40, 60 kg P2O5 ha−1) and two clipping intervals (28 and 56 d). Bahiagrass yields and tissue P increased in response to P application. Phosphorus uptake showed a quadratic response to P rates when N was applied. Phosphorus recovery increased linearly as P rate increased. Root mass responded to P, even at the smallest (20 kg ha−1) rate. Data indicated that tissue P concentration of 1.3 (±0.2) g kg−1 can be used as an indicator of bahiagrass P deficiency.
Monoclonal antibodies reacting with endo-beta-galactosidase-resistant epitopes on keratan sulfate-bearing fragments of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan.

Six monoclonal antibody-producing cell lines were derived from mice immunized with keratan sulfate (KS)-bearing tryptic fragments of the core protein of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan monomer digested with KS-specific endo-β-galactosidase. The monoclonal antibodies were characterized by solid-phase ELISA competition studies and SDS-PAGE immunoblotting. Two of them resemble previously described monoclonal antibodies that are directed to epitopes containing both KS and core protein. In contrast, the remaining four monoclonal antibodies are unprecedented in being directed to epitopes whose reactivity is unaffected or enhanced by endo-β-galactosidase degradation of KS. SDS-PAGE immunoblots revealed two large KS-bearing tryptic fragments of cartilage proteoglycan and a heterogeneous population of smaller fragments not evident by non-immunological techniques. Some of the antibodies used react with all KS-bearing fragments, others react only with the two largest fragments.
Cellular distribution of torsin A and torsin B in normal human brain.

Background Early-onset torsion dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder caused by a deletion of 1 glutamic acid residue in torsin A protein, a novel member of the AAA family of adenosine triphosphatases. No mutation has been found so far in the closely related torsin B protein. Little is known about the molecular basis of the disease, and the cellular functions of torsin proteins remain to be investigated. Objective To study the regional, cellular, and subcellular distribution of the torsin A and torsin B proteins. Methods Expression of torsin proteins in the central nervous system was analyzed by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry in human postmortem brain tissues. Results We generated polyclonal antipeptide antibodies directed against human torsin A and torsin B proteins. In Western blot analysis of normal human brain homogenates, the antibodies specifically recognized 38-kd endogenous torsin A and 62-kd endogenous torsin B. Absorption controls showed that labeling was blocked by cognate peptide used for immunization. Immunolocalization studies revealed that torsin A and torsin B were widely expressed throughout the human central nervous system. Both proteins displayed cytoplasmic distribution, although torsin B localization in some neurons was perinuclear. Strong labeling of neuronal processes was detected for both proteins. Conclusions Torsin A and torsin B have similar distribution in the central nervous system, although their subcellular localization is not identical. Strong expression in neuronal processes points to a potential role for torsin proteins in synaptic functioning.
Fluid ontologies for digital museums

With the advent and accessibility of the Internet, artistic and indigenous communities are beginning to realize how digital technologies can be used as a means for documenting and preserving their histories and cultures. However, it is not yet clear what knowledge architectures are most appropriate for creating a digital museum in order to facilitate an effective collection, organization, conservation, and experience of cultural and artistic heritage. In this paper, we discuss the concept of “fluid ontologies,” a novel, dynamic structure for organizing and browsing knowledge in a digital museum. Fluid ontologies are flexible knowledge structures that evolve and adapt to communities’ interest based on contextual information articulated by human contributors, curators, and viewers, as well as artificial bots that are able to track interaction histories and infer relationships among knowledge pieces and preferences of viewers. Fluid ontologies allow for a tighter coupling between communities’ interests and the browsing structure of a digital museum. We present the key ideas behind the use of fluid ontologies within the context of digital museum design and seminal work in metadata/dynamic ontologies, particularly as it pertains to objects of cultural heritage, and discuss these characteristics in three concrete examples: (1) Village Voice, an online agora that ties together the narratives created by a group of Somali refugees using an iteration of community-designed ontologies, (2) Eventspace, a node-based collaborative archive for design activities, and (3) Tribal Peace, an online digital museum still under construction and evaluation that uses proactive agents to tie distributed Kumeyaay, Luiseno, and Cupeno reservations together in their quest to achieve greater political sovereignty .
The effects of shell layer morphology and processing on the electrical and photovoltaic properties of silicon nanowire radial p+–n+ junctions

Single wire p+–n+ radial junction nanowire solar cell devices were fabricated by low pressure chemical vapor deposition of n+ silicon shell layers on p+ silicon nanowires synthesized by vapor–liquid–solid growth. The n+-shell layers were deposited at two growth temperatures (650 °C and 950 °C) to study the impact of shell crystallinity on the device properties. The n-type Si shell layers deposited at 650 °C were polycrystalline and resulted in diodes that were not rectifying. A pre-coating anneal at 950 °C in H2 improved the structural quality of the shell layers and yielded diodes with a dark saturation current density of 3 × 10−5 A cm−2. Deposition of the n-type Si shell layer at 950 °C resulted in epitaxial growth on the nanowire core, which lowered the dark saturation current density to 3 × 10−7 A cm−2 and increased the solar energy conversion efficiency. Temperature-dependent current–voltage measurements demonstrated that the 950 °C coated devices were abrupt junction p+–n+ diodes with band-to-band tunneling at high reverse-bias voltage, while multi-step tunneling degraded the performance of devices fabricated with a 950 °C anneal and 650 °C coating. The higher trap density of the 950 °C annealed 650 °C coated devices is believed to arise from the polycrystalline nature of the shell layer coating, which results in an increased density of dangling bonds at the p+–n+ junction interface.