cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wispy Communities: Transient Gatherings and Imagined Micro-Communities

Building on Benedict Anderson’s concept of “imagined communities,” we apply the term to a class of social locations that we term wispy communities. By wispy communities, we refer to social ties that exist within evanescent, limited micro-publics—worlds of action that are temporary, limited in time and space, and have the potential of being displaced by more insistent identities. We divide occasions into events and gatherings, and then divide gatherings into macro-groups (“nations,” such as Woodstock or Burning Man) and micro-groups (“fests,” including focused groups, such as the Lebowski Fest). A wispy community is a distinctive form of local affiliation that underscores both the communal features of occasions and their evanescent quality. In such communities relations are frequently intense, but after their conclusion relations slip into latent memory, available to be retrieved under proper circumstances.
Variability in ganglion cell firing patterns; implications for separate “on” and “off” processes

Abstract Correlation matrices and autocorrelation functions were calculated from responses of goldfish retinal ganglion cells to repeated photic stimuli effective only for the long-wavelength cones. Both of these analyses indicated that the ON response is generated by a process independent of the one that generates the OFF response, while the maintained discharge is a mixture of the two. In most cases, the maintained discharge seems to be primarily a product of the process responsible for the OFF response. The properties of the variability of the center and surround mechanisms were compared and found to be distinct: thus the center and surround of the receptive field each possesses a separate ON and OFF process. The transient characteristics of the responses are generated primarily within these processes. A model is presented to account for these findings.
The aged and the dangerousness criterion in involuntary civil commitment

Using data from official court records and observations in court hearings throughout one state with a typical reform statute, this study investigates the elderly against whom petitions are brought for involuntary civil commitment. In relation to their proportion in the population, the aged are only slightly more likely than younger persons to become respondents in commitment proceedings; but they are over three times more likely to remain involuntarily hospitalized and to be subjected to recommitment proceedings. Once brought into the process, they are more likely than younger respondents to be committed and are more likely to be successively recommitted. In analyzing court testimony, focus is on evidence of dangerousness since involuntary commitment is limited to the mentally ill who are dangerous. Almost half of the young old initial respondents with formal hearings have no testimony alleging dangerous behavior and more than half of the old old have no such testimony. The alleged dangerous acts of the a...
Culturally responsive school counseling for Hispanic/Latino students and families: The need for bilingual school counselors

Hispanic/Latino students are the largest minority school-age population (Pew Hispanic Center, 2005). In this study, pupil services administrators in Florida identified concerns about Hispanic/Latino children and families and the need for bilingual school counselors for growing numbers of Hispanic/Latino students. Administrators' perceptions of cultural barriers, which isolate students from the school environment, were strongly related to their perceived need for Spanish-speaking school counselors. School programs more often provided for Hispanic/Latino students were those that specifically addressed language barriers rather than counseling services that specifically addressed cultural barriers of Hispanic/Latino students.
1699 A TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY STUDY OF HUMAN CEREBRAL CORTICAL AND GERMINAL MATRIX (GM) BLOOD VESSELS IN PREMATURE NEONATES

1699 A TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY STUDY OF HUMAN CEREBRAL CORTICAL AND GERMINAL MATRIX (GM) BLOOD VESSELS IN PREMATURE NEONATES
The dependence of FeIII hydrolysis on ionic strength in NaCl solutions

Abstract The influence of ionic strength on FeOH2+ formation (0.1 m ≤ I ≤ 6.0 m) in NaCl solutions at 25 °C was observed potentiometrically, and can be summarized as log B 1 * = − 2.34 ( ± 0.01 ) − 2.044 I 1 / 2 / ( 1 + 1.70 ( ± 0.08 ) I 1 / 2 ) − 0.228 ( ± 0.005 ) I where B1* = [FeOH2+][H+][FeIII]− 1, brackets denote species concentrations, and [FeIII] is the total FeIII concentration ([FeIII]T) exclusive of hydrolyzed forms of FeIII ([FeIII] = [Fe3+] + [FeCl2+] + [FeCl2+]). The magnitude of B1* is well described in terms of FeIII hydrolysis constants (β1*) determined in NaClO4 solutions (β1* = [FeOH2+][H+][Fe3+]− 1), and ferric chloride formation constants determined in moderately acidic solutions (Clβ1 = [FeCl2+][Fe3+]− 1[Cl−]− 1, Clβ2 = [FeCl2+][Fe3+]− 1[Cl−]− 2): log β 1 * = − 2.179 ( ± 0.012 ) − 2.044 I 1 / 2 / ( 1 + 2.42 ( ± 0.11 ) I 1 / 2 ) + 0.020 ( ± 0.004 ) I log Cl β 1 = 1.26 ( ± 0.01 ) − 3.066 I 1 / 2 / ( 1 + 2.10 ( ± 0.06 ) I 1 / 2 ) + 0.130 ( ± 0.003 ) I log Cl β 2 = 2.53 ( ± 0.16 ) − 5.11 I 1 / 2 / ( 1 + 0.86 ( ± 0.22 ) I 1 / 2 ) + 0.27 ( ± 0.12 ) I Ferric chloride formation constants are strongly medium dependent. At high ionic strengths, FeCl2+ formation constants are much larger in HClO4 solutions than in NaClO4 solutions. In strong acids (HClO4 + HCl) log Clβ1 is given as log Cl β 1 = 1.26 ( ± 0.04 ) − 3.066 I 1 / 2 / ( 1 + 1.78 ( ± 0.11 ) I 1 / 2 ) + 0.244 ( ± 0.006 ) I Chloride complexation exerts a strong influence on the magnitude of B1*. In 0.7 m NaCl, B1* is smaller than β1* by a factor of three, and in 6 m NaCl, B1* is smaller than β1* by a factor of eighty. Chloride complexation also exerts a strong influence on the enthalpy of FeIII hydrolysis. While observations of the influence of temperature on β1* in 0.72 m NaClO4 indicate that the enthalpy for the FeIII hydrolysis reaction is ΔH = 42.7 ± 0.8 kJ mol− 1 [Byrne, R.H., Luo, Y.R., Young, R.W., 2000. Iron hydrolysis and solubility revisited: observations and comments on iron hydrolysis characterizations. Mar. Chem. 70, 23–35], observations of B1* in 0.7 m NaCl indicate that ΔH = 26.0 ± 1.2 kJ mol− 1. This result is in good agreement with results obtained via solubility analysis [Liu, X., Millero, F.J., 1999. The solubility of iron hydroxide in sodium chloride solutions. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 63, 3487–3497]. Potentiometric observations of FeIII solubility equilibria in 0.7 m NaCl at 25 °C can be summarized as log [ Fe 3 + ] = 4.62 ( ± 0.06 ) − 2.73 ( ± 0.01 ) pH The slope (n = − 2.73) obtained for freshly precipitated hydrous ferric oxides in 0.7 m NaCl is identical to that observed in previous work [Biedermann, G., Chow, J.T., 1966. Studies on the hydrolysis of metal ions. Acta Chem. Scand. 20 (5), 1376–1388] using aged precipitates in 0.5 m NaCl. This slope is somewhat smaller than that observed in 0.7 m NaClO4 at 25 °C [n = − 2.86 ± 0.009; Byrne, R.H., Luo, Y.R., 2000. Direct observations of nonintegral hydrous ferric oxide solubility products: Kso*=[Fe3+][H+]−2.86. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 64, 1873–1877.].
Amino acids of Hymenolepis microstoma and host bile.

Abstract 1. 1. Classical methods of column and paper chromatography reveal some of the ninhydrin-positive compounds of the cestode Hymenoleptic microstoma and the bile of its host Mus musculus . 2. 2. Free pool amino acids of H. microstoma detected in this study vary little from projections based on earlier investigations. 3. 3. Differences in age of M. musculus are reflected in kinds and amounts of ninhydrin-positive compounds. 4. 4. The significance of these findings are discussed.
Job characteristics as mediators in SES–health relationships ☆

We focus on physical and psychosocial job characteristics as mediators in the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health. From sociological research on the stratification of employment outcomes we expect that people with less education, lower earnings, and lower levels of occupational standing have more physically and psychosocially demanding jobs. From the occupational stress, ergonomics, and job design literatures, we expect that people with more physically and psychosocially demanding jobs have less favorable health outcomes. Consequently, we expect to find that job characteristics play an important mediating role in associations between SES and self-assessed overall health and cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health problems. To address these hypotheses, we use data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS). We find support for our hypotheses, although the extent to which job characteristics mediate SES-health relationships varies across health outcomes and by sex.
Decreased prevalence of asthma among farm-reared children compared with those who are rural but not farm-reared

Background Farm exposure has been associated with decreased asthma prevalence. Objectives We compared asthma prevalence among rural farm-reared and non–farm-reared children and examined farm demographic and environmental factors. Methods We performed a cross-sectional, population-based survey among 36,500 rural kindergarten through 12th grade school children. Surveys were distributed through schools and returned by mail. Results Of the 4152 participants, 18% had lived or were currently living on a farm. Compared to other rural children, farm children had more siblings (3.0 vs 2.5; P P P P P P P Conclusions Asthma, but not other manifestations of allergy, is less commonly reported among farm-reared children. Early exposures may be more important than those occurring later. Without ongoing exposures, their effects on disease expression may diminish over time.
Tannic acid induced penetration twinning in gel‐grown calcium sulfate dihydrate

Well-formed calcium sulfate dihydrate penetration twins with twin plane a(100) are induced by the presence of gallotannic acid under alkaline conditions in bentonite clay gel. These twin closely resemble natural gypsum that occurs in alkaline desert soils. Gut ausgebildete Durchdringszwillinge von Calciumsulfatdihydrat mit Zwillingsebene a(100) werden durch die Anwesenheit von Gallotanninsaure unter alkalischen Bedingungen in einem Bentonit-Gel erzeugt. Diese Zwillinge haben grose Ahnlichkeit mit naturlichen Gipskristallen aus alkalischen Wustenboden.
Depolymerization of some polysaccharides and synthetic polymers by L-ascorbic acid☆

Abstract The viscometric behavior of several naturally occurring polysaccharides and synthetic polymers was studied in the presence of L -ascorbic acid, L -cysteine, ferrous ions. The viscosity of all the polyelectrolytes investigated decreased in the presence of autoxidants; neutral polysaccharides, with the exception of methylcellulose showed no changes in viscosity, although they exhibited oxygen uptake. A possible mechanism of the observed reduction in viscosity is discussed.
Block-copolymer assisted synthesis of arrays of metal nanoparticles and their catalytic activities for the growth of SWNTs

Block copolymer micellar templates were used for the controlled synthesis of large arrays of mono-metallic (Fe, Co, Ni, Mo) and bi-metallic (Fe–Mo) nanoparticles with average diameters ranging from 1 to 4 nm and the distance between the nanoparticles ranging from 40 to 45 nm. XPS data reveal the presence of mono-metallic nanoparticles in their oxidized states. These uniform arrays of nanoparticles serve as an excellent tool to investigate the catalytic effect of different metal/metal oxide nanoparticles for the growth of carbon nanotubes, and in this work, they were used to investigate the growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes with the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) process, using both ethanol and hydrocarbon (methane + ethylene) gases as carbon sources. The periodicity and the arrangement of nanoparticles were unaffected even at high growth temperatures, indicating that nanoparticle agglomeration on the Si substrate does not take place during growth. AFM and SEM results reveal uniform growth of nanotubes with diameters smaller than the initial size of the catalyst nanoparticles. The Fe, Co and Ni nanoparticles all serve as effective catalysts for nanotube growth with both types of carbon feed stock, and Co and Ni give rise to a relatively higher yield than Fe. The catalytic activity of Fe and bi-metallic Fe–Mo nanoparticles of similar size and identical densities using ethanol CVD are also compared.
Coronary artery perforation following pericardiocentesis managed by coil embolization

Abstract Iatrogenic coronary artery perforation is an uncommon but often fatal complication usually associated with percutaneous coronary artery intervention and seldom seen as a complication of pericardiocentesis. Although the definitive treatment is cardiothoracic surgery to repair the coronary artery, we describe a case of coronary artery perforation secondary to pericardiocentesis successfully managed by platinum microcoil embolization. In selected cases where the risk of major myocardial injury is minimal, embolization of the injured coronary artery can be safely performed.
Influence of dietary factors on plasma lipid relationships in the growing chick.

SummaryChicks fed 20% dietary protein had lower plasma total cholesterol, phospholipid and glyceride levels than did chicks fed a 10% level of protein. The chicks fed the higher level of protein excreted 4.45 g of bile acids per kilo of body weight per day as compared to 3.06 g for the chicks fed the 10% level of protein. A highly significant positive correlation was observed between plasma total cholesterol and phospholipid levels in chicks fed cholesterol-free diets. The data illustrate that cholesterol and phospholipid increase at similar rates in animals not fed cholesterol, but that in the cholesterol-fed chick cholesterol increases at a faster rate, thereby resulting in an elevated cholesterol-phospholipid ratio.
The multifaceted kidney

The Kidney describes molecular, developmental, anatomical, and functional aspects of the human kidney. It is well written and will be useful both for students and researchers in developmental biology, as well as clinical nephrologists and urologists.This book clearly outlines the development of the human kidney from an evolutionary perspective. In addition, it describes the pronephros and the mesonephros in great detail, in preparation for discussion of the formation and function of the metanephric kidney.The Kidney is divided into three sections with one seamlessly leading to the next. The first discusses development of malphigian tubules in Drosophila, followed by formation of pronephric tubules and eventual development of the mesonephron, its role in gonadal differentiation and its contribution to other systems. The last chapter of this section describes embryological, genetic and other molecular tools for investigating embryonic kidney development.The second section begins with an introduction to the metanephron, followed by a discussion of the anatomy and histology of the human urinary system, leading to development of the structure and function of the human kidney.The third section begins with an overview of malformations of the human urogenital tract, followed by chapters on several genetic disorders, cystic renal disease, renal cell carcinoma, tubulopathies and glomerular disorders. The book concludes with an excellent review of therapies for congenital kidney diseases, including gene-transfer techniques and cell-based therapies.Overall, The Kidney is well organized and well written. This book is an excellent resource for the researcher in kidney development and developmental diseases, and an outstanding reference for clinical pediatric nephrologists and urologists.
Using Higher Order Thinking Questions to Foster Critical Thinking: A Classroom Study.

To determine if quizzes containing higher order thinking questions are related to critical thinking and test performance when utilised in conjunction with an immersion approach to instruction and effort-based grading, sections of an Educational Psychology course were assigned to one of three quizzing conditions. Quizzes contained factual multiple-choice questions, factual essay questions or essay items requiring higher order thinking. Critical thinking was measured with a pre-test–post-test design and the Watson–Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (Short Form). Classroom learning was assessed via multiple-choice and essay tests. Critical thinking increased equally across all sections. The section receiving higher order thinking quizzes performed significantly better than the other two sections on both the multiple-choice and essay portions of the classroom tests. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of methodological approaches to encouraging critical thinking.
Age-related renal disease in female Dahl salt-sensitive rats is attenuated with 17 beta-estradiol supplementation by modulating nitric oxide synthase expression.

Abstract Background: The incidence of chronic renal disease in women increases with aging, especially after menopause, suggesting that loss of sex hormones may contribute to the development and progression of renal disease. However, the mechanisms by which sex hormones, particularly estrogens, contribute to the disease process are unclear. Objective: The present study examined the effects of ovariectomy (OVX) with or without 17²-estradiol (E 2 ) supplementation (OVX+E 2 ) on the expression of inducible (iNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) nitric oxide synthase in the kidney. Methods: The study was performed in young (4 months [4M]) and aged (12 months [12M]) female Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a low-sodium (0.1% NaCl) diet. At 3 months of age, the animals were either subjected to sham surgery, OVX, or OVX with implantation of an E 2 silastic pellet. The treatments were administered for either 1 or 9 months, rendering the animals 4 months of age or 12 months of age at the time of sacrifice, respectively. Renal expression of NOS isoforms was measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results: OVX in the aged rats was associated with 35% and 25% decreases in medullary iNOS (mean [SEM] relative optical density [ROD]: 4M OVX, 1.81 [0.14] vs 12M OVX, 1.17 [0.16]; P P 2 : 4M OVX, 1.18 [0.09] vs 12M OVX, 30.0 [0.74]; P 2 supplementation either partially or completely attenuated these changes in iNOS (mean ROD: 4M OVX+E 2 , 2.26 [0.08] vs 12M OVX+E 2 , 1.70 [0.09]; P 2 , 2.03 [0.07] vs 12M OVX+E 2 , 1.77 [0.11]; P = NS) and CD68 (mean cells/mm 2 : 4M OVX+E 2 , 1.46 [0.07] vs 12M OVX+E 2 , 6.87 [1.6]; P Conclusions: These data suggest that ovarian E 2 loss with aging may contribute to the development of age-related renal disease through downregulation of iNOS and eNOS protein abundance and increased renal inflammation in this animal model. Furthermore, E2 supplementation may be protective in the aging kidney by attenuating these changes.
A kinetic study of the oxidation of nitrous acid by Np(VI) and Am(VI) in perchlorate media

Abstract The empirical form of the rate law for the oxidation of HNO2 by Np(VI) and Am(VI) in aqueous perchlorate media at 25° and I = 1.0 M is −d Am(VI)/dt = [Am(VI)][HNO2] (k1 + k2/[H+]). For Np(VI), k 1 = 2.01 ± 0.45 M −1 sec −1, k 2 =1.56 ± 0.07 sec −1 , ΔH 1 Psu∗ = 11.7 kcal/mol , ΔS 1 ∗ = = −17.9 e.u., ΔH 2 ∗ = 16.1 kcal/mol and ΔS 2 ∗ = −3.7 e.u. For Am(VI), k1 (11.5 ± 0.3) × 103 M−1 sec−1, k 2 = 656 ± 32 sec −1 , ΔH 1 ∗ = 9.2 kcal/mol , ΔS 1 ∗ = −9.0 ΔH 2 ∗ = 7.9 kcal/mol and ΔS 2 ∗ = -19.1 e.u. These results are compared with those obtained for Mn(III) and Co(III) as oxidants.
Congenital heart disease: emerging themes linking genetics and development.

Although congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common survivable birth defect, the etiology of most CHD remains unclear. Several lines of evidence from humans and vertebrate models have supported a genetic component for CHD, yet the extreme locus heterogeneity and lack of a distinct genotype–phenotype correlation have limited causative gene discovery. However, recent advances in genomic technologies are permitting detailed evaluation of the genetic abnormalities in large cohorts of CHD patients. This has led to the identification of copy-number variation and de novo mutations together accounting for up to 15% of CHD. Further, new strategies coupling human genetics with model organisms have provided mechanistic insights into the molecular and developmental pathways underlying CHD pathogenesis, notably chromatin remodeling and ciliary signaling.
Advancers in Optical Imaging in Cancer Research — Part 2

TCRT continues to offer to its readers the current advances in OPTICAL BIOPSY. This special section’s focus is presented in four articles in optical imaging area. The salient features of the articles touch upon the use of time and frequency domain in imaging, the use of different wavelengths of several of possible fingerprint molecules in cancer, the role of hypoxia in cancer, the use of key topical contrast agent with confocal micro-endoscope, and the use of ultrasound guided hybrid system with optical diffusive tomography for minima invasive cancer detection. Several key methods are discussed in these articles. Ueda’s group (1) presents clinical results on breast cancer screening using multi-channel Time Resolved optical spectroscopy system in the development of optical mammography. Time-correlated single photon counting and Ti Sapphire laser beam irradiated the breasts. 3D images of breast were reconstructed using the time-resolved paths and algorithms. More than 200 breast cancer patients participated in the study. Piao’s group (2) present imaging using frequency domain methods; in particular, DC approach with several wavelengths in optical diffusive optical tomography probing key finger print molecules of hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin and water for imaging cancer regions. Zhu’s group (3) combined ultrasound with diffusive optical tomography commonly called DOT by Britton Chance for mapping hypoxia region of tumors. The fingerprints molecules are hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin concentration in blood phantoms and in vivo cancer patients. The article from Kortum’s group (4) discussed on the use and efficacy of topical fluorescent contrast agent and miroenedoscopy for detection of Barrett’s neoplastic regions in 26 patients at 206 sites .The morphologic and metabolic features of gastrointestinal neoplastic lesions were delineated. The next issue of TCRT will be a continuation of articles in Optical Imaging Advances in cancer area – part 2.
Coalition formation and motion coordination for optimal deployment

This paper presents a distributed algorithmic solution to achieve network configurations where agents cluster into coincident groups that are distributed optimally over the environment. The motivation for this problem comes from spatial estimation tasks executed with unreliable sensors. We propose a probabilistic strategy that combines a repeated game governing the formation of coalitions with a spatial motion component governing their location. We establish the convergence of the agents to coincident groups of a desired size in finite time and the asymptotic convergence of the overall network to the optimal deployment, both with probability 1. The algorithm is robust to agent addition and subtraction. From a game perspective, the algorithm is novel in that the players' information is limited to neighboring clusters. From a motion coordination perspective, the algorithm is novel because it brings together the basic tasks of rendezvous (individual agents into clusters) and deployment (clusters in the environment).
The Triad That Matters: Palliative Medicine, Code Status, and Health Care Costs

Introduction: Delayed discussion of a patient’s code status can lead to shortsighted care plans that increase hospital length of stay (LOS) and costs. Methods: Retrospective study compared intensive care unit (ICU) patients who accepted verses rejected palliation and examined the relationships between 5 predictor variables with the outcome variables ICU LOS and total hospital LOS, and total direct and variable hospital cost. Results: A significant number of patients who accepted palliative care agreed to a hospice referral or expired in the hospital. The relationships between days until a family conference, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, and the number of invasive procedures were significant. Conclusions: The amount of time that expires until the issue of code status was settled to clearly related to utilization of hospital resources.
Neural crest cell motility in valproic acid.

Abstract Neural crest cells (NCCs) exit the dorsal neural tube and migrate to sites where they form diverse tissues. Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant drug that induces neural tube and related defects. Altered NCC migration and proliferation have been proposed as mechanisms of teratogenicity. We cultured neural tube segments from chick embryos in 0.75–3.0 mM VPA. We used image analysis, proliferation assays, and fluorescence localization to investigate NCCs during VPA exposure. VPA inhibited attachment of explants and the number that produced migrating cells. VPA markedly decreased the proportion of cells migrating individually, promoting migration as epithelial sheets. VPA at 3 mM decreased cellular spreading. Area and perimeter change per minute were reduced, but migration velocity was not. VPA at 2 mM reduced proliferation 11% and 3 mM arrested proliferation. Immunostaining of VPA-exposed explants revealed N-cadherin-positive cell boundaries within sheets, but independent NCCs did not stain. F-actin staining was reduced in independent NCCs. The data support a VPA mechanism involving interference with epithelial–mesenchymal transition.
Meaning-Mechanics Tensions in Teacher Decisions

Abstract This research examined the nature of classroom decision making among three elementary teachers (the first in her 8th year, the second in her 3rd year, and the third in her 1st year). We were interested in understanding how teachers experience the complexity of classroom decision making and how they manage the cognitive load while teaching. The cognitive constructs of knowledge integration and automaticity framed our study of the knowledge and information that these teachers consciously used in moments of classroom decision making. The design involved a stimulated recall methodology using classroom video data from each teacher. The data analysis entailed a qualitative/interpretive analysis of the teachers' reflections on their own videotapes. We found that critical decision points for all three teachers involved a tension between preserving the conceptual meanings of the lesson while managing the logistics of the moment. How this tension was perceived and negotiated varied in interesting ways acro...
Reliability and maintainability tradeoff study for repetitive electromagnetic launch systems

A quantitative model has been developed which will support conceptual reliability and maintainability tradeoff studies for repetitive electromagnetic launch systems early in the research and development phase. Model results are presented in a sensitivity analysis format. A study covering a hypothetical 120-shot repetitive launch system was developed, the results of which are displayed in graphical form. Results clearly establish the high degree of effectiveness that modest maintenance alternatives contribute to system availability. In contrast, relatively large improvements in reliability result in modest improvements in availability. Results suggest that system maintainability, as well as reliability, will be a critical issue in electromagnetic launch system development. >
Multiple Polymorphisms in the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (ACE, CYP11B2, AGTR1) and Their Contribution to Hypertension in African Americans and Latinos in the Multiethnic Cohort

ABSTRACT Objective When compared with other U.S. populations, African Americans have excess hypertension. Genetic variants in elements of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), namely the angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE ), aldosterone synthase ( CYP11B2 ), and angiotensin II type 1 receptor ( AGTR1 ) genes, have been associated with risk of hypertension in some populations. Methods We genotyped the D/I polymorphism in the ACE gene, the C(-344)T polymorphism in the CYP11B2 gene, and the C(-535)T polymorphism in the AGTR1 gene among African American and Latino members of the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC) to determine their association with hypertension. Results We observed no significant increase in the risk of hypertension for either African Americans or Latinos homozygous or heterozygous for the D allele of the ACE gene. Among African Americans we observed carriers of the (-344)T allele of CYP11B2 to be at increased risk of hypertension (versus CC genotype: TC genotype, OR = 1.66 [95% CI: 1.01–2.72]; TT genotype, OR = 1.74 [95% CI: 1.07–2.82]). There was also an increase in risk of hypertension associated with the AGTR1 T allele for African Americans (versus CC genotype: TC genotype, OR = 2.62 [95% CI: 1.46–4.72]; TT genotype, OR = 2.67 [95% CI: 1.51–4.74]). The associations observed with CYP11B2 and AGTR1 genotypes were not observed among Latinos. Conclusion These data suggest that the (-535)T allele of AGTR1 and (-344)T allele of CYP11B2 may increase hypertension risk among African Americans but not among Latinos. Characterization of the linkage disequilibrium and haplotype patterns in the RAAS pathway genes will be crucial to understanding differences in hypertension susceptibility in these ethnic populations.
Employment, social networks, and health in the retirement years

The impact of employment on the health of retirees is examined, with particular attention to the hypothesis that social roles affect health through their impact on social networks. Data are based on comprehensive assessment questionnaires completed by 175 participants of a corporate sponsored geriatric clinic. Results indicate that employment in the retirement years is related to larger social networks and indirectly, through this relationship, to better perceived health. Of the three social network factors identified through factor analysis: family, friends, and confidant relationships, employment was significantly related only to the friendship component. A summary analytic model is presented and implication for interventions are discussed.
THE PREPARATION OF THYROTROPIC HORMONE11

THE PRESENT KNOWLEDGE of the chemical nature of the pituitary hormones is inadequate. In view of the importance of the hypophysis in the control of the thyroid gland, the chief objective of the present study was to develop more satisfactory methods of extraction, separation and purification of the thyrotropic hormone. Methods of preparation and purification of this hormone have been reported (1–4). In the preliminary work we attempted to evaluate quantitatively the usefulness of each of these procedures. Our experience in this regard indicates that a large percentage of the thyrotropic hormone is discarded in these methods of purification. Methods of biological assay. The analytical determination of the thyrotropic activity of the pituitary extracts was based upon the histological changes in the thyroid of the guinea pig according to the method of Junkmann and Schoeller (1) and in the thyroid of the 8 to 2-day-old White Leghorn chick.
Development of a Windows-based indoor air quality simulation software package

Abstract A Microsoft Windows-based indoor air quality (IAQ) simulation software package has been developed and has completed a small-scale beta test and quality assurance review. Tentatively named Simulation Tool Kit for Indoor Air Quality and Inhalation Exposure, or STKi for short, this package complements and supplements existing IAQ simulation packages and is designed mainly for advanced users. STKi Version 1 consists of a general-purpose simulation program and four stand-alone, special-purpose programs. The general-purpose program performs multi-zone, multi-pollutant simulations and allows gas-phase chemical reactions. With a large collection of models for sources, sinks, and air filters/cleaners, it can perform simulations for a wide range of indoor air pollution scenarios. The special-purpose programs implement fundamentally based models, which are often excluded from existing IAQ simulation programs despite their improved performance over statistical models. In addition to performing conventional IAQ simulation, which generates time–concentration profiles, STKi can estimate the adequate ventilation rate when certain air quality criteria are given, a unique feature useful for product stewardship and risk management. STKi will be developed in a cumulative manner. More special-purpose simulation programs will be added to the package. Key numerical methods used in STKi are discussed. Ways to convert the STKi programs into language-independent simulation modules that can be used by multi-pathway exposure models are also being explored.
Random forest based adaptive non-intrusive load identification

Non-intrusive load monitoring (NEM) is a load monitoring technique proposed to be used in today's residential energy auditor. It is expected to automatically provide the information of the type, energy consumption, and operation status of the electric loads without getting access to the loads. However, there still not exists any commercialized product so far, mainly because of the extraordinary large load sets comparing with the limited learning data. The fast emerging of new types of loads further aggravates the problem. This paper proposes an adaptive non-intrusive load identification model to address this problem. The proposed model is not dedicated to identify all the loads around the world, but it will grasp knowledge from samples that are not identified in the real application, and gradually form a new learning procedure so as to identify more and more new samples correctly. Random forest algorithm is introduced here to realize the objective and a case study is carried out to verify the effectiveness of the model.
“Positive” Plasma tCO2 Tests in Racehorses in New York, Maine, and California Result from Day‐to‐Day Instrument Variability

Introduction Many jurisdictions measure plasma tCO2 to determine if racehorses may have been administered exogenous alkalinizers illegally (“milkshakes”). Our hypothesis was that plasma tCO2 test results vary within a racing jurisdiction due to inter-day instrument variability. Methods Individual or daily mean plasma tCO2 test results from New York (n = 584) and Maine (n = 443) Standardbreds and California Thoroughbreds (n = 23,686) were obtained through legal discovery in adjudicated cases where trainers were accused of tampering with horses resulting in tCO2 concentrations ≥37.0 mmol/L. Daily results were grouped by days on which no horse tested ≥37.0 mmol/L (LOW) or days on which at least one horse tested ≥37.0 mmol/L (HIGH). HIGH days were further subsampled by eliminating “positive” test results ≥37.0 mmol/L (MODIFIED HIGH). With P<0.05 considered significant, differences between groups were compared by Student's t test for means and Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test for medians. Results HIGH tCO2 means (32.9 ± 2.6, 35.2 ± 3.4, 32.6 ± 2.7) and medians (32.9, 35.4, 32.6) for all 3 jurisdictions were higher than LOW means (31.7 ± 2.3, 31.9 ± 4.3, 31.5 ± 0.7) and medians (31.8, 32.9, 31.5) (P<0.001). Even when “positive” tests ≥37.0 were eliminated, MODIFIED HIGH means (32.5 ± 2.2, 33.6 ± 2.6, 32.4 ± 2.5) and medians (32.7, 34.2, 32.5) were still higher than LOW (P<0.001). Conclusions Unless the population tCO2 mean varies significantly daily, it must be concluded that instrument variability resulted in day-to-day differences in plasma tCO2 test results. Without appropriate quality control including correction of individual suspect results to a contemporaneous standard curve, horse trainers may be accused unfairly of tampering when day-to-day instrument variability contributes to positive plasma tCO2 test results. Ethical Animal Research This was a retrospective study investigating laboratory results obtained through adjudication of legal cases before various racing commissions. Sources of funding: none. Competing interests: none.
Computer Graphics Achievement Award

ACM SIGGRAPH recognizes Jessica Hodgins for her contributions in the field of physically based animation. Her research has had a significant impact on our understanding, simulation, and animation of how people and other creatures move. She, together with her students and postdocs, has achieved this understanding by developing new techniques in simulation, control systems, and motion capture. She has also led efforts in helping us understand how people perceive motion of both simulated characters and real humans.
The role of bone biopsy in osteomyelitis—utility or futility?

Purpose To examine the usefulness of bone biopsy in diagnosis of osteomyelitis and its role in management. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed cases of 42 bone biopsies performed by interventional radiology for suspected osteomyelitis. Data collected and analyzed from these cases included extent of associated soft tissue infection/ulceration; results from bone, wound, and fluid cultures; antibiotic therapy; radiologic findings; and clinical impression. Results Of 42 bone cultures, 12 (28.6%) were positive and 30 (71.4%) were negative. Of the 12 positive cases, 8 yielded bone culture results congruent with wound and/or fluid cultures, with no observed change in antibiotic therapy based on bone culture results. In 4 of the 12 culture-positive cases, different organisms were cultured from the bone than were cultured from the wound or fluid. No change in long-term broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was observed in 3 of these 4 cases. The bone culture of the remaining case yielded mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the patient was subsequently treated with long-term multi-drug therapy. 6 of the 30 cases with negative bone cultures had positive wound cultures. 5 of these 6 cases involved patients with radiologic findings consistent with osteomyelitis. These cases were treated with long-term antibiotic therapy despite negative bone culture. The majority of cases (24 of 42, 57.1%) had congruently negative soft tissue and bone culture results, and treatment varied according to clinical impression and radiologic findings. Conclusion Our retrospective, observational study suggests that bone biopsy is a low-yield procedure playing a minor role in the diagnosis and treatment of osteomyelitis. A minority of bone cultures were positive. Additionally, we found only 1 case where bone biopsy results significantly altered antibiotic treatment. Negative bone culture results had no diagnostic utility, with the length and type of antibiotic treatment in these cases predicated solely on radiologic and clinical findings. Based on these results, we recommend bone biopsy only in highly selected cases, such as poor response to standard therapy or incongruent clinical and radiologic findings.
Modeling and measurement of accuracy/distortion in an operationally passive FBG demodulation technique

A system for interrogating fiber optic Bragg grating arrays at kiloHertz sampling rates with sub-microstrain resolution was presented recently. The system makes use of a tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter for demultiplexing and a path-imbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer for wavelength conversion. The operationally-passive demodulation technique for the interferometer makes use of probing the 3x3 coupler at the interferometer output for its coupling parameters to execute the technique. In this work, we discuss the effects of how errors in determining these parameters translate into measurement error and harmonic distortion. We compare measured effects in the laboratory with predictive models to give error sensitivity metrics. We also consider two modes of sampling errors for such frequency-modulated systems and propose a generalized sampling criterion for minimizing harmonic distortion and measurement error.
An Experimental Analysis of Phoneme Blending and Segmenting Skills

In this 2-experiment study, experimental analyses of phoneme blending and segmenting skills were conducted with four-first grade students. Intraindividual analyses were conducted to identify the effects of classroom-based instruction on blending phonemes in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, the effects of an individualized intervention for the student who failed to improve in the first experiment were examined. Stimulus materials were drawn directly from the classroom curriculum, making it possible to monitor students’ response to classroom instruction and intervention over time. Generalization of responding to unique letter combinations was measured. A multiple-probe across tasks designs was used in both studies. Results indicated that all students improved their phoneme blending skills and are discussed in terms of the need for evaluation methods that are sensitive enough to identify individual differences in responding between students and to detect within-student performance increases in critical early literacy skills.
EPR detection of kinetic responses to photochemically generated protein cofactors

Advances in photochemical generation of “caged” biochemical intermediates ( 1) have made it possible to examine kinetic events that are too fast or inappropriate for stopped-flow methods. We have done experiments to test whether the chemistry of photochemical generation of organic phosphates can be used in the presence of spinlabeled macromolecules. It was a concern that free-radical intermediates generated in the photolysis might react with the nitroxide groups. Specifically, we have examined the known conformational change of spin-labeled phosphorylase b when it binds AMP ( 2). The effector, AMP, was generated photochemically from its 1 ( 2-nitrophenyl ) ethyl ester. For the test, the photolysis was done with a mercury arc lamp. The results suggest that it should be feasible to conduct experiments in the time-resolved mode using EPR detection with spin labels and laser-induced photolysis of caged intermediates to initiate events. Phosphorylase b is a dimer that exhibits cooperativity between subunits (3). The protein can be labeled with an iodoacetamide spin label at cysteine-3 17 (4). The factors that contribute to altered EPR signals when spin-labeled phosphorylase b from rabbit muscle interacts with effecters have been examined in detail (2). Phosphorylase b is activated when AMP binds to the activator site and the EPR signal of the spinlabeled protein changes on AMP binding. In addition, there is a different nucleoside inhibitor site to which adenine, adenosine, and other inhibitors bind. Pyridoxal 5’phosphate serves as a cofactor. Caged AMP was prepared (5) by DCC coupling of I-(2-nitrophenyl)ethanol to pyridinium AMP in dry pyridine. After complete removal of pyridine, caged AMP was separated from starting materials on a DEAE-A25 Sephadex column (bicarbonate form, pH 7.0, 0 to 0.26 M triethylammonium bicarbonate linear gradient). Thinlayer chromatography on silica gel plates in a solvent system of isopropanol, ammonium hydroxide, water (7, 2, 1 v/v) gave a spot with Rf 0.82 which gave, after photolysis, a spot of Rf 0.33, identical to that of AMP. Microanalysis was consistent with the formula of caged AMP * 2.5 H20 and inconsistent with the formulas of starting materials. Phosphorylase b was prepared with modifications of the procedure of Fischer
INNOVATION OBJECTIVES, KNOWLEDGE SOURCES, AND THE BENEFITS OF BREADTH

Given the inherent risk of innovative activity. firms can improve the odds of success by pursuing multiple parallel objectives. Because innovation draws on many sources of ideas, firms also may improve their odds of successful innovation by accessing a large number of knowledge sources. In this study, we conduct one of the first firm-level statistical analyses of the impact on innovation of breadth in both innovation objectives and knowledge sources. The empirical results suggest that broader horizons with respect to innovation objectives and knowledge sources are associated with successful innovation. We do not find diminishing returns to breadth in innovation objectives, which suggests that firms may tend to search too narrowly. We interpret these results in light of well-known cognitive biases toward searching in relatively familiar domains. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiproliferative effect of intravitreal alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl-acid-succinate in a rabbit model of PVR.

PURPOSE. To evaluate the antiproliferative properties of a-tocopherol and a-tocopheryl-acid-succinate in a rabbit model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS. Fifty-seven rabbits underwent gas-compression vitrectomy and gas/fluid exchange. Group 1 (n = 8): 50 µg a-tocopherol in 1 ml of 0.5% ethanol in balanced salt solution; Group 2 (n = 8): 50 µg a-tocopheryl-acid-succinate in 1 ml of 0.5% ethanol in balanced salt solution; Groups 3 (n = 4) and 4 (n = 2): 1 ml 0.5% ethanol in balanced salt solution; Groups 5 (n = 12) and 8 (n = 9): a-tocopherol in 1 ml silicone oil (12 mg/ ml); Group 6 (n = 9): 1 ml silicone oil; Group 7 (n = 5): 1 ml balanced salt solution. Groups 1–3, and 5–7 also received fibroblasts and platelet-rich plasma injection. Fundus evaluation was performed during a four-week period. The eyes were enucleated for gross examination on day 28. Histopathology was performed on Group 4. RESULTS. Alpha-tocopherol and a-tocopheryl-acid-succinate in saline solution delayed development of prolif...
Thermodynamics of Cationic Lipid Binding to DNA and DNA Condensation: Roles of Electrostatics and Hydrophobicity

Alkylammonium binding to DNA was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry. Experimental data, obtained as functions of alkyl chain length, salt concentration, DNA concentration, and temperature, provided a detailed thermodynamic description of lipid−DNA binding reactions leading to DNA condensation. Lipid binding, counterion displacement, and DNA condensation were highly cooperative processes, driven by a large increase in entropy and opposed by a relatively small endothermic enthalpy at room temperature. Large negative heat capacity change indicated a contribution from hydrophobic interactions between aliphatic tails.An approximation of lipid−DNA binding as dominated by two factorsionic and hydrophobic interactionsyielded a model that was consistent with experimental data. Chemical group contributions to the energetics of binding were determined and could be used to predict energetics of other lipid binding to DNA. Electrostatic and hydrophobic contributions to Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, entropy, an...
Deterministic and nondeterministic flowchart interpretations

Abstract Programming languages are studied in the abstract. Algebraic theories supply the syntax for programming languages. Semantics is provided by coproduct preserving functors from the algebraic theory to some semantic category with finite coproducts. Deterministic programming languages are provided when the semantic domain is the category of pointed sets and point preserving functions. Nondeterministic programming languages occur when the semantic domain is the category of Abelian monoids. The class of all nondeterministic programming languages with a fixed syntax is shown to be a variety of algebras. All classes of deterministic programming languages that allow branching are shown to be nonvarietal. Other properties of classes of programming languages are studied using category theory.
Developments in X-ray detectors at the Advanced Photon Source

Abstract We present a progress report on some of the X-ray detector developments on-going at the Argonne National Laboratories Advanced Photon Source. We focus on pixel array detector architecture, and emphasize collaborations, particularly with industries and universities. We discuss our progress establishing a silicon-sensor fabrication facility at Northern Illinois University, our application specific integrated circuit design work, X-ray testing and detector calibration, and readout electronics based on a collection of interchangeable digital circuit boards.