cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Culture-independent Next Generation Sequencing of Urine and Expressed Prostatic Secretions in Men With Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome.

Objective To compare standard cultures and next-generation sequencing (NGS) in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). CPPS shares clinical features with urinary tract infections, but bacteria are seldom found. NGS is more sensitive than standard cultures. Materials and Methods Men diagnosed with CPPS (National Institute of Health Category III) underwent traditional cultures and NGS of their urine and expressed prostatic secretions (EPS). Characteristics between groups were compared statistically. Results Thirty-one men with CPPS were included (mean age 44.5). All standard urine cultures were negative, and 3 EPS cultures were positive. Seventy-eight unique microbes were detected with NGS, including uropathogens in 10 of the men. There were no bacteria identified by NGS in EPS that were not also found in the urine. Men with positive NGS did not differ from those without in age, symptom severity or phenotype. Men with typical urinary tract infection symptoms (eg, dysuria, chills) were more likely to have uropathogens detected on NGS relative to men without such symptoms. Nine patients were prescribed antibiotics based on their NGS findings, but only 1 exhibited symptom improvement (11%). Conclusion NGS commonly identified bacteria in CPPS patients, but these did not localize to the prostate. NGS positivity did not correlate with symptom severity and antibiotic therapy was seldom effective. NGS detected uropathogens more frequently in those with clinical symptoms suggestive of urinary tract infection. Clinical trials are needed to examine the utility of NGS-guided antibiotics in this subpopulation.
A Quality Improvement Evaluation of a Primary As-Needed Light Sedation Protocol in Mechanically Ventilated Adults.

Objectives First, to implement successfully a light-sedation protocol, favoring initial as-needed (prioritizing as-needed) boluses over continuous infusion sedation, and second, to evaluate if this protocol was associated with differences in patient-level sedative requirements, clinical outcomes, and unit-level longitudinal changes in pharmacy charges for sedative medications. Design Retrospective review comparing patients who received the prioritizing as-needed sedation protocol to similar patients eligible for the prioritizing as-needed protocol but treated initially with continuous infusion sedation. Setting Thirty-two bed medical ICUs in a large academic medical center. Patients A total of 254 mechanical ventilated patients with a target Riker Sedation-Agitation Scale goal of 3 or 4 were evaluated over a 2-year period. Of the evaluable patients, 114 received the prioritizing as-needed sedation protocol and 140 received a primary continuous infusion approach. Interventions A multidisciplinary leadership team created and implemented a light-sedation protocol, focusing on avoiding initiation of continuous sedative infusions and prioritizing prioritizing as-needed sedation. Measurements and main results Overall, 42% of patients in the prioritizing as-needed group never received continuous infusion sedation. Compared with the continuous infusion sedation group, patients treated with the prioritizing as-needed protocol received significantly less opioid, propofol, and benzodiazepine. Patients in the prioritizing as-needed group experienced less delirium, shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, and shorter ICU length of stay. Adverse events were similar between the two groups. At the unit level, protocol implementation was associated with reductions in the use of continuous infusion sedative medications. Conclusions Implementation and use of a prioritizing as-needed protocol targeting light sedation appear to be safe and effective. These single-ICU retrospective findings require wider, prospective validation.
REAL PROPERTY TAXES AND FARM REAL ESTATE VALUES: INCIDENCE AND IMPLICATIONS: COMMENT

Pasour demonstrated the capitalization of differential property tax burdens into farm values. These results were based on the coefficients of a multiple regression cross-sectional statistical model for 83 of 100 counties in North Carolina. Urban counties were omitted from the study. Pasour's analysis yielded a negative, statistically significant regression coefficient (a = 0.05) for the effective tax rate variable in an equation with farmland values as the dependent variable, implying that the tax rate is capitalized to some extent into land values. This excellent report clarified conflicting but very important issues in the property tax literature. The purpose of this comment is not to criticize the Pasour article but rather to discuss further implications for property values arising from capitalization of differential property tax rates. A case in point arises from a shift in the method of assessment from constant proportional to preferential assessment of farmland at a lower percentage of market value such as that recently enacted in Tennessee.1 This system assesses farmland at 25% of its "fair market" value and does not base land values on "use-value" in
Neighborhood Socioeconomic Resources and Crime-Related Psychosocial Hazards, Stroke Risk, and Cognition in Older Adults

Living in neighborhoods with lower incomes, lower education/occupational levels, and/or higher crime increases one’s risk of developing chronic health problems including cardiovascular disease risk factors and stroke. These cardiovascular health problems are known to contribute to cognitive decline and dementia. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of neighborhood socioeconomic resources and crime-related psychosocial hazards on stroke risk and cognition, hypothesizing that cardiovascular health would mediate any relationship between the neighborhood-level environment and cognition. The study evaluated 121 non-demented Chicago-area adults (~67 years; 40% non-Latino White) for cardiovascular health problems using the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile 10-year risk of stroke (FSRP-10). The cognitive domains that were tested included memory, executive functioning, and attention/information processing. Neighborhood socioeconomic resources were quantified at the census tract level (income, education, and occupation); crime-related psychosocial hazards were quantified at the point level. Structural equation modeling (SEM) did not show that the FSRP-10 mediated the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and domain-specific cognition. The SEM results did suggest that higher crime rates were associated with a higher FSRP-10 (β(105) = 2.38, p = 0.03) and that higher FSRP-10 is associated with reduced attention/information processing performance (β(105) = −0.04, p = 0.02) after accounting for neighborhood socioeconomic resources. Clinicians may wish to query not only individual but also neighborhood-level health when considering cognition.
Real-World Claims Analyses of Comorbidity Burden, Treatment Pattern, Healthcare Resource Utilization, and Costs in Pediatric Psoriasis

There are limited real-world data on treatment patterns, comorbidities, and healthcare burden in pediatric patients with psoriasis. We examined patient demographics, comorbidity burden, treatment patterns, and healthcare use and costs in pediatric psoriasis. A retrospective, real-world, exploratory study was conducted using US claims databases. Pediatric patients aged < 18 years with newly diagnosed psoriasis (index date) were selected from IBM® MarketScan® databases (2016–2018). Patients were enrolled continuously for ≥ 12 months pre- and post-index date. Pre-index demographics, comorbidity, treatment drug classes prescribed, and post-index healthcare resource utilization and costs were studied. Study measures are reported for total population and by severity (categorized as mild and moderate-to-severe psoriasis). Variables were compared using t-test (continuous) or chi-square and Fisher’s exact test (categorical). Overall, 4754 pediatric patients with psoriasis (58.3% females) met the selection criteria and were included in the study. Mean and standard deviation (SD) age was 12.6 (3.7) years on index date, with 13.4% patients having moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The mean (SD) Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index was 0.14 (0.40); anxiety (6.6%), depression (4.1%), and obesity (3.9%) were the most prevalent comorbidities observed. Topical treatments were prescribed to most patients as first-line treatment of mild (79.1%) and moderate-to-severe (52.0%) psoriasis. Other first-line therapies prescribed in moderate-to-severe cases included non-biologic systemics (21.0%), phototherapy (15.0%), and biologics (9.2%). Healthcare use and costs increased with psoriasis severity during the post-index period. Mean annual total all-cause costs per patient were higher for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis compared with mild psoriasis ($27,541 vs. $5,034; P < 0.001). Psychiatric, metabolic, and inflammatory disorders were observed comorbidities in pediatric patients with psoriasis. For moderate-to-severe psoriasis, topicals, phototherapy, and biologics were a common first-, second-, and third-line treatment sequence. Higher unadjusted healthcare costs by severity were driven by outpatient prescription costs.
PENAL INSTITUTIONS Sentence and Punishment: Impose Mandatory Imprisonment Term for Serious Violent Felonies; Deny First Offender Treatment to Those Persons Committing Serious Violent Felonies

The Act imposes a mandatory term of imprisonment of not less than ten years for a defendant who commits a serious violent felony. The Act further provides that no portion of the ten-year sentence may be suspended, stayed, or reduced by any form of parole or commutation. The seven serious violent felonies include murder, rape, armed robbery, kidnaping, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, and aggravated sexual battery. The Act also explicitly provides that a defendant convicted of a serious violent felony shall be ineligible for first offender treatment.
Dietary adherence and acceptability of five different diets, including vegan and vegetarian diets, for weight loss: The New DIETs study

The goal of the present study was to examine dietary adherence and acceptability among participants from the New DIETs study who were randomized to one of four plant-based diets (vegan, vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarian) or an omnivore diet. Primary outcomes at two- and six months included dietary adherence (24-hour dietary recalls), weight loss and changes in animal product intake (mg cholesterol) by adherence status, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Power of Food Scale (PFS), dietary acceptability (Food Acceptability Questionnaire), and impact of diet preference on adherence. No differences were found in dietary adherence or changes in FAQ, TFEQ, or PFS among the groups. At six months, non-adherent vegan and vegetarian participants (n=16) had a significantly greater decrease in cholesterol intake (-190.2 ± 199.2 mg) than non-adherent pesco-vegetarian/semi-vegetarian (n=15, -2.3 ± 200.3 mg, P=0.02) or omnivore participants (n=7, 17.0 ± 36.0, P=0.04). Non-adherent vegan/vegetarian participants lost significantly more weight at six months (-6.0 ± 6.7%) than non-adherent omnivore participants (-0.4 ± 0.6%, P=0.04). Dietary preference had no impact on adherence at six months. Due to equal rates of adherence and acceptability among the diet groups, instructing participants to follow vegan or vegetarian diets may have a greater impact on weight loss and animal product intake than providing instruction in more moderate approaches even among non-adherent participants.
Model-assisted analysis of fluidized bed chemical-looping reactors

Abstract A three-phase hydrodynamic model is employed for the analysis of experimental data of chemical-looping reduction with nickel-based oxygen carriers and methane as the fuel. The model rigorously accounts for the mass, energy, and pressure balances, and the effect of oxygen carrier entrainment in the freeboard region. Model predictions are in good agreement with the relevant experimental data. The capability of the model to be used in the scale-up of fixed-bed kinetic studies of oxygen carriers to fluidized bed pilot-scale reactors is illustrated. The generality and validity of the model are analyzed, so that it can be used for further reactor design studies. In particular, sensitivity analyses, in terms of the crucial hydrodynamic parameters and correlations are carried out and the effects of important parameters, such as bubble size, mass transfer, oxygen carrier entrainment and reactions in the freeboard, on the performance of the chemical-looping reducer are investigated.
On the hermeneutical nature of modern natural science

An effort is made in this essay to show the intrinsic hermeneutic nature of the natural sciences by means of a critical reflection on data taken from the history of classical mechanics and astronomy. The events which eventually would lead to the origin of Newton’s mechanics are critically analyzed, with the aim of showing that and in what sense the natural sciences are essentially interpretive enterprises. In my book, Ideas for a Hermeneutic Phenomenology of the Natural Sciences, I have explained that, why, and in what sense in my view the natural sciences are inherently hermeneutic enterprises, and that the scientists in their work as scientists give us “legitimate” interpretations of what is. I have also made clear that, and in what sense, these interpretations can be called true in that they indeed make claims about what is; but this is to be understood constantly under the assumptions or prejudgments that the scientists must make to be able to do their work. This is why scientific claims do not reveal the all- encompassing, exhaustive, and definitive truth of what is.
Community Collaborations at Work and in Practice Today: An A to Z Overview.

This paper provides background and practical suggestions for creating and nurturing community partnerships.
Apical Growth of Streptomycetes and Fungi

An entirely different set of problems must be solved by rod-shaped cells that grow at only one end than those microorganisms that grow by elongation over their central cylindrical region. The latter organisms solve the problem of maintaining shape because the pair of existing poles forms a supporting framework for central enlargement (see Chapter 6). Both mycelial prokaryotes and eukaryotes have developed successful techniques for apical growth, though the strategies are more difficult than for cylindrical growth of prokaryotes. Mycelial organisms use these mechanisms to burrow through soil or rotting wood. By using the combination of apical growth and branching, these organisms can exploit resources effectively throughout a three-dimensional solid substratum.
Intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of neurologic disorders

Intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) are often used in the treatment of autoimmune disorders and immunodeficiencies, and it has been estimated that neurologic indications can account for up to 43% of IVIG used in clinical practice. In neurologic clinical practice, IVIG is used for acute therapy of newly diagnosed autoimmune disorders or exacerbations of pre-existing conditions, or as long-term maintenance treatment for chronic disorders. IVIG exerts its effects on humoral and cell-based immunity through multiple pathways, without a single dominant mechanism. Clinical use of IVIG has been supported by guidelines from American Academy of Neurology and European Federation of Neurologic Societies. IVIG is generally recommended for the treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy in adults, multifocal motor neuropathy and myasthenia gravis, and should be considered as a treatment option for dermatomyositis in adults and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Additional potential indications include stiff person syndrome, multiple sclerosis during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, refractory autoimmune epilepsy, and paraneoplastic disorders. Clinical use of IVIG is mostly safe but few adverse effects may still occur with potentially severe complications, including aseptic meningitis and thromboembolism. In addition to intravenous route (IVIG), subcutaneous immunoglobulins have been used as an alternative treatment option, especially in patients with limited intravenous access. Treatment with IVIG is effective in various autoimmune diseases, but its broader use is constrained by limited supply. This review evaluates the use of immunoglobulins in treatment of neurologic diseases.
Lipoprotein Trafficking in Vascular Cells: MOLECULAR TROJAN HORSES AND CELLULAR SABOTEURS *

During the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, inflammatory cells such as the monocyte-derived macrophage accumulate in the vessel wall where they release cytokines. Initially, cytokines may assist in CE removal of lipoprotein-derived cholesterol/CE hydrolysis to clear intracellular lipid. When plasma levels of LDL become elevated, the vessel wall becomes lipid-engorged over time because it is unable to traffick the large amounts of endocytosed LDL-CE from the cell. In addition, lipoprotein entrapment by the extracellular matrix can lead to the progressive oxidation of LDL because of the action of lipoxygenases, reactive oxygen species, peroxynitrite, and/or myeloperoxidase. A range of oxidized LDL species is thus generated, ultimately resulting in their delivery to vascular cells through several families of scavenger receptors (Fig 1). These molecular Trojan horses and cellular saboteurs once formed or deposited in the cell can contribute to, and participate in, formation of macrophage- and smooth muscle-derived foam cells. A lipid-enriched fatty streak along the vessel wall can ensue. In addition to foam cell development, products of LDL peroxidation may activate endothelial cells, increase smooth muscle mitogenesis, or induce apoptosis because of the effects of oxysterols and products of lipid peroxidation (Fig 1). Because antioxidant defenses may be limited in the microenvironment of the cell or within LDL, the oxidation process continues to progress. Enzymes associated with HDL such as PAF acetylhydrolase and paraoxonase can participate in the elimination of biologically active lipids, but diminished cellular antioxidant activity coupled with low levels of HDL may allow acceleration of the clinical course of vascular disease. There is still much to be learned about how modified LDL initiate cellular signals that lead to inflammation, mitosis, or cholesterol accumulation. The present challenges include elucidation of the key signaling events that regulate lipoprotein-derived cholesterol trafficking in the vessel wall, which can impact on the pathogenesis of vascular disease.
HUMAN MILK FORTIFIER (HMF) AND VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS

In order to maintain the advantage of breast milk (BM) feedings in VLBW infants without concurrent slow growth, a proprietary supplement of BM, HMF (by Mead Johnson) has been recently developed. We selected 4 VLBW infants for study and 5 for control with birth weights <1.6 kg (1.28 ± 0.22 v 1.26 ± 0.10 kg), all appropriate for gestational age. Study infants received banked BM with HMF; control received banked BM with the usual doses of Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorous (P) - 60 and 30 mg/kg/day respectively. Both received the same fluid intake (177.6± 11.2 v 176.4 ± 6.5 ml/kg/day) and Vitamin D (400 IU/day). Study group received significantly greater amounts of protein (3.2±0.2 v 2.0 ± 0.1 gm/kg/day), Ca (165.1 ± 10.4 v 118.6 ± 1.5 mg/kg/day), P (85.2 ± 5.3 v 56.4 ± 0.8 mg/kg/day) and zinc (1.8 ± .08 v .25 ± .05 mg/kg/day) compared to the control group. Both groups tolerated the feedings to the same degree without development of necrotizing enterocolitis, clinical laboratory or radiological evidence of ricketts of prematurity. In spite of the small number studied, the study group gained weight significantly faster than the control group (Av. 16.3 v 14.1 gm/kg/day: p≤ 0.032 using the Manning-Whitney Test). Conclusion: VLBW infants fed banked BM grew faster on HMF than on mere supplementation with Ca and P.
Comparative toxicity of MPTP, MPP+ and 3,3-dimethyl-MPDP+ to dopaminergic neurons of the rat substantia nigra.

The depletion of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum of rats was assessed 3 weeks after the unilateral intranigral infusion of different doses of MPTP, its ultimate metabolite MPP+, and 3,3-DM-MPDP+, a non-oxidizable analog of the initial MPTP metabolite 2,3-MPDP+. MPP+ was found to be 2–3 orders of magnitude more toxic than the other two agents, consistent with the view that it is primarily responsible for MPTP neurotoxicity.
Seeing faces in the noise: stochastic activity in perceptual regions of the brain may influence the perception of ambiguous stimuli.

Research on binocular rivalry and motion direction discrimination suggests that stochastic activity early in visual processing influences the perception of ambiguous stimuli. Here, we extend this to higher level tasks of word and face processing. In Experiment 1, we used blocked gender and word discrimination tasks, and in Experiment 2, we used a face versus word discrimination task. Stimuli were embedded in noise, and some trials contained only noise. In Experiment 1, we found a larger response in the N170, an ERP component associated with faces, to the noise-alone stimulus when observers were performing the gender discrimination task. The noise-alone trials in Experiment 2 were binned according to the observer’s behavioral response, and there was a greater response in the N170 when they reported seeing a face. After considering various top-down and priming-related explanations, we raise the possibility that seeing a face in noise may result from greater stochastic activity in neural faceprocessing regions.
Infrared emission of 12C16O, 13C16O, and 12C18O☆

Abstract The combination of a new high-resolution grating spectrometer and a spontaneous emission source has made it possible to measure precisely the 1 → 0, 2 → 1, and 2 → 0 transitions of 12C16O relative to the accurately known 12C16O laser lines which have been referred to pure frequency standards by Eng et al. The 1 → 0 and 2 → 0 band centers agree to within 0.0002 cm−1 with those measured relative to wavelength standards by Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS). From a weighted simultaneous fit to the FTS-absorption, FTS-flame, our grating-emission, and microwave results, a set of calculated line positions was obtained for the 1 → 0, 2 → 1, and 2 → 0 transitions of 12C16O. The absolute accuracy of these line positions is believed to be ±0.0005 cm−1 and we propose that the lines can be used as secondary wavenumber standards in the infrared. The spontaneous emission sequences v′ → (v′ − 1) were measured for 12C16O up to v′ = 20, for 13C16O up to v′ = 11 (using a 13C-enriched sample), and for 12C18O up to v′ = 4 (in natural abundance). Internally consistent sets of Dunham coefficients were calculated from the best available data for the molecules of 12C16O, 13C16O, and 12C18O.
Selective epitaxy of DyBa2Cu3O7 using an amorphous Dy1−δCuδOx template

Abstract Selective epitaxial growth of DyBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 using Dy 1− δ Cu δ O x templates has produced superconducting wires as small as 5 microns in width. A systematic study of the effects of template composition on the superconducting properties of the wires is presented. The lateral diffusion of Dy and Cu from the template into the wires is measured with characteristic X-ray maps. Optimized Dy 1− δ Cu δ O x templates are found to be useful in defining device-size features without degradation of the superconducting properties of the film.
Radiation Effects Issues Related to U.S. Doe Site Remediation and Nuclear Waste Storage

Site restoration activities at DOE facilities and the permanent disposal of nuclear waste generated at the same DOE facilities involve working with and within various types and levels of radiation fields. Radionuclide decay and the associated radiation fields lead to physical and chemical changes that can degrade or enhance material properties. This paper reviews the impact of radiation fields on site restoration activities and on the release rate of radionuclides to the biosphere from nuclear waste forms.
Facilitated Transport of a Dpp/Scw Heterodimer by Sog/Tsg Leads to Robust Patterning of the Drosophila Blastoderm Embryo

Patterning the dorsal surface of the Drosophila blastoderm embryo requires Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Screw (Scw), two BMP family members. Signaling by these ligands is regulated at the extracellular level by the BMP binding proteins Sog and Tsg. We demonstrate that Tsg and Sog play essential roles in transporting Dpp to the dorsal-most cells. Furthermore, we provide biochemical and genetic evidence that a heterodimer of Dpp and Scw, but not the Dpp homodimer, is the primary transported ligand and that the heterodimer signals synergistically through the two type I BMP receptors Tkv and Sax. We propose that the use of broadly distributed Dpp homodimers and spatially restricted Dpp/Scw heterodimers produces the biphasic signal that is responsible for specifying the two dorsal tissue types. Finally, we demonstrate mathematically that heterodimer levels can be less sensitive to changes in gene dosage than homodimers, thereby providing further selective advantage for using heterodimers as morphogens.
Exploring urban transformations in Latin America

The question of how to transform behaviors, systems, cultures and institutions to move to more sustainable and resilient cities has received increased attention among scholars and decision makers. However, while sustainability and resilience are increasingly becoming core issues for different strands of scholarship, the strategies for affecting change toward more sustainable and resilient urban centers remain elusive. We use a combination of elements from socio-technical transition theory and political ecology and two Latin American cities (Mexico City and Manizales) to suggest a framework for an analysis of urban transitions in Latin America. The two cities were faced with similar triggers and pressures to create sustainability and resilience and each acted within a time of sweeping international movements. In both cases, networks of actors introduced innovative responses to their own particular set of pressures, constraints and opportunities and attempted to expand nature's life-supporting features such as ecosystem and hydrological services, while reducing threats from hazards such as floods. Yet the innovations that took place in the two cities presented very different results with regard to regime transition. Interestingly, Mexico City's success at creating an urban regime change seems to have been based on the use of a top-down approach as it was driven mainly by actors within the existing power structure with access to the power and the resources of an authoritarian state. By contrast, actors in Manizales have been largely outside the power structure and had less success in creating a city-wide transformation. This highlights the importance of power structure dynamics that can promote or prevent transformations from within or impede transformations from without.
Decreased protein synthesis by microsomes from aging Drosophila melanogester

A microsomal preparation from larvae of Drosophila melanogaster readily incorporated a 14C-amino acid mixture into its protein. Amino acid incorporation by microsomes from adult organisms, however, declined markedly with age. The decline in amino acid incorporation did not appear to be due to decreases in ribosomes or messenger RNA, since ribosome levels decreased only 6%, while incorporation decreased more than 70%, and only a 23% decrease in polysome-bound RNA could be detected. However, the ppolyuridylate-promoted incorporation of 14C-phenylalanine into polypeptide exhibited a sharp, age-related decline, indicating that some component of the translation system, other than messenger RNA, is responsible for the observed decline in protein synthesis
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-g-sulfonated Polystyrene Graft Copolymers for Proton Exchange Membrane

A series of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-g-sulfonated polystyrene (PVDF-g-SPS) graft copolymers were systematically synthesized and examined with the focus of understanding how the polymer microstructure (backbone molecular weight, graft density, graft length, sulfonic acid concentration, ion exchange capacity, etc.) affects their morphology, water uptake, and proton conductivity under various environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity). The synthesis of these relatively well-defined graft structures involves three reaction steps, including the preparation of PVDF copolymers containing a few mol% of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) units, the ATRP graft-from reaction to incorporate several polystyrene side chains, and the subsequent sulfonation reaction on the PS side chains. The PVDF-g-SPS graft copolymer with a combination of a high PVDF backbone molecular weight (Mn >300 000 g/mol), very low SPS graft density (0.3 mol%), and high graft length (SPS content >30 mol%) presents an interesting m...
Analysis of consecutive pseudo-first-order reactions. I: An evaluation of available methods to calculate the rate constants from co-product or co-reactant data.

Abstract Co-product or co-reactant data is commonly used to obtain the hydrolysis rate constants for two-step consecutive pseudo-first-order reactions. Different methods to calculate the rate constants from experimental data were evaluated using data simulated with and without a ±2% random error. The results of this analysis indicate that the ability to determine the value and accuracy of the rate constants obtained by the different methods depends on the k 2 / k 1 ratio. In certain ranges of k 2 / k 1 ratios, erroneous results are obtained which have occasionally led to incorrect conclusions by authors in the literature.
Training psychologists in clinical psychopharmacology.

This article first describes three types of psychopharmacology training programs for psychologists: 1. postdoctoral programs that award certificates and/or continuing education credit; 2. postdoctoral programs that award master's degrees in psychopharmacology; 3. a predoctoral program that awards joint psychology and nursing degrees. Next, the postdoctoral masters degree program at Nova Southeastern University is described in some detail. We close with some general comments about the current status of these training efforts.
Coronary Hyperemic Dose Responses of Intracoronary Sodium Nitroprusside

Background— Sodium nitroprusside is one of several agents considered effective for treating the no-reflow phenomenon during acute coronary interventions. However, the coronary hyperemic dose responses and systemic hemodynamic effects of intracoronary nitroprusside have yet to be determined in humans. The purpose of this study was to compare the hyperemic and hemodynamic responses of intracoronary nitroprusside to intracoronary adenosine in patients during cardiac catheterization with angiographically normal anterior descending arteries. Methods and Results— In 21 patients, coronary blood flow velocity (0.014-inch Doppler flow wire), heart rate, and blood pressure were measured in unobstructed left anterior descending coronary arteries at rest, after intracoronary adenosine (30- to 50-μg boluses), and after 3 serial doses (0.3-, 0.6-, and 0.9-μg/kg boluses) of intracoronary nitroprusside. Coronary reserve was calculated as hyperemia/basal coronary flow velocity. In an additional 9 patients with intermediat...
Metal-metal distances in vanadium, scandium, and aluminum doped Ti2O3 and their implications for the role of vanadium in (Ti1−xVx)2O3

Abstract Single crystal x-ray structure determinations of a series of V, Sc, and Al doped Ti 2 O 3 samples have shown that the metal-metal distance along the 3-fold axis in all of these corundum-like systems increases with increasing concentration of dopant. However, the effect of V is at least twice that of a corresponding amount of Al or Sc. The metal-metal distance in the basal plane decreases with increasing V and Al concentration and increases with increasing Sc concentration. These structural changes have been correlated with the electrical behavior of the doped systems and a cluster model has been proposed for the behavior of vanadium in Ti 2 O 3 .
Hydrogen production from glycerin by steam reforming over nickel catalysts

Abstract Increasing biodiesel production has resulted in a glut of glycerin that has led to a precipitous drop in market prices. In this study, the use of glycerin as a biorenewable substrate for hydrogen production, using a steam reforming process, has been evaluated. Production of hydrogen from glycerin is environmentally friendly because it adds value to this byproduct generated from biodiesel plants. The study focuses on nickel-based catalysts with MgO, CeO2, and TiO2 supports. Catalysts were characterized with thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction techniques. Maximum hydrogen yield was obtained at 650 °C with MgO supported catalysts, which corresponds to 4 mol of H2 out of 7 mol of stoichiometric maximum.
Toward tactile authentication for blind users

This paper describes the design of an accessible authentication mechanism. The Tactile Authentication System has been adapted to enable individuals who are blind to access electronic data using their sense of touch. To enter the system, users must identify a set of pre-selected pin-based icons from a wider range presented via a tactile mouse. As information is presented underneath the user's fingertips, 'tactile passwords' are shielded from observers, thereby enhancing security from third-party attacks. Results from a pilot study showed that five participants were able to authenticate entry to the non-visual interface over the course of a two week period. However, findings have revealed that the time needed to perform this process should be reduced to improve the quality of the user experience.
Further studies on a hybrid cell-surface antigen associated with human chromosome 11 using a monoclonal antibody

A monoclonal antibody has been obtained that recognizes an antigen encoded by human chromosome 11. We present evidence that this monoclonal antibody recognizes the same or a similar antigenic activity as that previously called a1. Genetic information necessary for a1 expression and recognition by the monoclonal antibody both map to 11p13 → 11pter. Mutants that have lost a1 are no longer recognized by the monoclonal antibody. The macroglycolipid fraction of human erythrocyte membranes which contains the a1 antigenic activity is able to convert antigen-negative Chinese hamster ovary cells into cells which are killed by the monoclonal antibody plus complement.
Rules of engagement for base excision repair in chromatin

Most of the DNA in eukaryotes is packaged in tandemly arrayed nucleosomes that, together with numerous DNA- and nucleosome-associated enzymes and regulatory factors, make up chromatin. Chromatin modifying and remodeling agents help regulate access to selected DNA segments in chromatin, thereby facilitating transcription and DNA replication and repair. Studies of nucleotide excision repair (NER), single strand break repair (SSBR), and the homology-directed repair (HDR), and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) double strand break repair pathways have led to an “access-repair-restore” paradigm, in which chromatin in the vicinity of damaged DNA is disrupted, thereby enabling efficient repair and the subsequent repackaging of DNA into nucleosomes. When damage is extensive, these repair processes are accompanied by cell cycle checkpoint activation, which provides cells with sufficient time to either complete the repair or initiate apoptosis. It is not clear, however, if base excision repair (BER) of the ∼20,000 or more oxidative DNA damages that occur daily in each nucleated human cell can be viewed through this same lens. Until recently, we did not know if BER requires or is accompanied by nucleosome disruption, and it is not yet clear that anything short of overwhelming oxidative damage (resulting in the shunting of DNA substrates into other repair pathways) results in checkpoint activation. This review highlights studies of how oxidatively damaged DNA in nucleosomes is discovered and repaired, and offers a working model of events associated with BER in chromatin that we hope will have heuristic value. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 258–266, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
P450 gene induction by structurally diverse xenochemicals: central role of nuclear receptors CAR, PXR, and PPAR.

The biochemistry of foreign compound metabolism and the roles played by individual cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in drug metabolism and in the toxification and detoxification of xenochemicals prevalent in the environment are important areas of molecular pharmacology and toxicology that have been widely studied over the past decade. Important advances in our understanding of the mechanisms through which foreign chemicals impact on these P450-dependent metabolic processes have been made during the past 2 years with several key discoveries relating to the mechanisms through which xenochemicals induce the expression of hepatic P450 enzymes. Roles for three "orphan" nuclear receptor superfamily members, designated CAR, PXR, and PPAR, in respectively mediating the induction of hepatic P450s belonging to families CYP2, CYP3, and CYP4 in response to the prototypical inducers phenobarbital (CAR), pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile and rifampicin (PXR), and clofibric acid (PPAR) have now been established. Two other nuclear receptors, designated LXR and FXR, which are respectively activated by oxysterols and bile acids, also play a role in liver P450 expression, in this case regulation of P450 cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase, a key enzyme of bile acid biosynthesis. All five P450-regulatory nuclear receptors belong to the same nuclear receptor gene family (family NR1), share a common heterodimerization partner, retinoid X-receptor (RXR), and are subject to cross-talk interactions with other nuclear receptors and with a broad range of other intracellular signaling pathways, including those activated by certain cytokines and growth factors. Endogenous ligands of each of those nuclear receptors have been identified and physiological receptor functions are emerging, leading to the proposal that these receptors may primarily serve to modulate hepatic P450 activity in response to endogenous dietary or hormonal stimuli. Accordingly, P450 induction by xenobiotics may in some cases lead to a perturbation of endogenous regulatory circuits with associated pathophysiological consequences.
Guilt and posttraumatic stress symptoms in child victims of interpersonal violence

Our objective was to examine the relationship between guilt and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children with a history of interpersonal violence. Eighty-seven children between the ages of 5 and 16 years (mean age = 11.70 years) were administered the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents to assess for PTSD symptoms and associated features. Multiple regression analysis found that guilt over acts of commission or omission (behaviors the child performed or failed to perform during the event or to prevent it) was highly associated with PTSD severity. Derealization and changes in attachment were also significantly related to PTSD symptoms. Findings suggest that it may be important for clinicians to assess for associated features in traumatized children as these are associated with greater PTSD severity. Posttraumatic interventions may benefit from targeting these symptoms.
Protective behavioral strategies and negative alcohol-related consequences among US college fraternity and sorority members

AbstractObjectives: Students affiliated with Greek fraternities/sororities are at greater risk for experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) appear ...
An Improved Method to Determine Gamma-glutamylcysteine Content in Foodstuffs Using 4-(Aminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole

An improved method to determine gamma-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC) content in foodstuffs was developed using 4-(aminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole as a fluorescent reagent in high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The separation of γ-GC derivatives from L-gamma-glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine (GSH) derivatives was drastically improved when acetic acid was added to the mobile phase instead of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), resulting in an Rs value of 5.5 compared to an Rs value of 1.4 for TFA. In addition, the linearity, recovery, and precision of analysis were proven with the use of acetic acid in this method. Using this improved method, the γ-GC content in foodstuffs such as foie gras, chicken gizzard, wet yeast, and dry yeast could be determined. The γ-GC content in these foodstuffs was approximately 1–2 mg/100 g. This improved method appears useful for determining the γ-GC and GSH contents in foodstuffs.
Seed Dormancy in Luzula Spicata and L. Parviflora

Inhibitors localized at the micropyle and interacting with gibberellin impose dormancy on seeds of both Luzula spicata and L. parviflora from the Colorado Front Range. Removal of the inhibition by precise scarfication elicits germination in both species. Luzula spicata seeds lacking precise scarification were found germinated in tundra soil. Germination was experimentally induced in L. spicata by random scarification, which may be accomplished by repeated freeze—thaw cycles, followed by stratification for 2—3 months. The inhibitor in L. parviflora was inactivated by after—ripening. Germination requirements of L. spicata may represent adaptions to fall freeze—thaw cycles followed by extended chilling under accumulated snow in its tundra habitat. Luzula parviflora, a subalpine and montane species, lacks these adaptations. See full-text article at JSTOR
Mechanisms of sediment flux and turbidity maintenance in the Delaware Estuary

[1] An observational study was conducted to identify mechanisms of suspended sediment flux and turbidity maintenance in the Delaware River estuary. From March through October 2005, instrumented moorings were deployed to obtain continuous measurements of currents and suspended sediment concentration at sites along the estuarine channel and on flanking subtidal flats. Data time series were analyzed to determine the relative influence of nontidal advection and tidal pumping on residual fluxes of sediment. Results indicate that the estuarine channel is a strongly advective transport environment with residual sediment fluxes driven mostly by gravitational circulation. Tidal pumping is a contributing process of residual sediment flux in the channel near the estuarine null point and turbidity maximum, though the magnitude and direction of pumping vary with river flow and resident sediment inventory in the upper estuary. Sediment pumping in the channel is driven by tidal asymmetries in velocity and particle settling and perhaps by tidal variations in internal mixing in the stratified lower estuary. In contrast to the estuarine channel, residual sediment fluxes over the subtidal flats are weak and dominated by tidal pumping. Landward advective fluxes of sediment in bottom waters of the lower estuarine channel are strongest during neap tides; during large spring tides sediment is mixed high in the water column and the advective flux reverses to seaward under the residual surface outflow. Despite these transient seaward fluxes, the estuary has an enormous capacity to buffer extreme freshwater discharges and suppress export of suspended sediment to Delaware Bay.
An analysis of the microstructure and properties of cold-rolled Ni:Al laminate foils

Ni:Al laminate composites were fabricated by repeatedly cold-rolling Al and Ni foils that were stacked together with initial thicknesses of 25 and 18 μm, respectively. The rolling process consisted of multiple 50 % thickness reductions wherein the first reduction was followed by cutting, restacking, and rerolling to achieve a total of three, six or nine 50 % thickness reductions. However, some of the laminates also received a more mild series of six 20 % thickness reductions without restacking. An analysis program was written and used to quantify the distribution of layer thicknesses, bilayer thicknesses and local chemistries for the complex laminate microstructures, while also preserving positional information for the constituent layers. The resulting distributions show that while we see no clustering of very large bilayers in any of the composites, the heavily rolled laminates with only 50 % thickness reductions have a higher percentage of very large bilayers, relative to the volume mean bilayer, compared to laminates with the additional 20 % thickness reductions. This phenomenon is attributed to less uniform layer deformation and more layer pinch-off with 50 % thickness reductions compared to the more gradual 20 % thickness reductions. Differential scanning calorimetry was performed on the laminates to determine the exothermic peak temperatures and the total energy released during controlled heating. Peak temperatures correlate with the volume average bilayer thickness, while the energy release correlates with the bilayer thickness distribution. The velocity and maximum temperature of self-propagating reactions were measured for the laminates and were found to vary according to processing conditions but not according to the volume average bilayer thickness. Foils with 20 % thickness reductions have both hotter and faster reactions compared to samples with only 50 % thickness reductions. The distributions of layer thicknesses, bilayer thicknesses, and local chemistries within the laminates are used to predict the maximum temperature during reaction. The velocities of the unsteady reaction propagations, though, could not be predicted effectively, at least with current analytical models.
Adaptive parallel algorithms for integral knapsack problems

Abstract In this paper, the design of a time-efficient and processor-efficient parallel algorithm for the integral knapsack problem is considered. A parallel integral knapsack algorithm is presented, which is adaptive to all parameters, especially to the maximum size of items. The parallel complexity of another important packing problem, the integral exactly-packing problem, is also considered. An optimal O(log n log m) time, parallel integral exactly-packing algorithm is given. Since the partition problem has a constant time, constant processor reduction to the exactly-packing problem, our parallel integral exactly-packing algorithm can be used for job scheduling, task partition, and many other important practical problems. Moreover, the methods and techniques used in this paper can be used for developing processor-efficient and time-efficient parallel algorithms for many other problems. Using the new parallel integral knapsack algorithm, the previously known parallel approximation schemes for the 0–1 knapsack problem and the binpacking problem, by E. W. Mayr and P. S. Gopalkrishnan, are improved upon significantly.
Π-supports for modules for finite group schemes

We introduce the space Π(G) of equivalence classes of π-points of a finite group scheme G and associate a subspace Π(G)M to any G-module M. Our results extend to arbitrary finite group schemes G over arbitrary fields k of positive characteristic and to arbitrarily large G-modules, the basic results about “cohomological support varieties” and their interpretation in terms of representation theory. In particular, we prove that the projectivity of any (possibly infinite-dimensional) G-module can be detected by its restriction along π-points of G. Unlike the cohomological support variety of a G-module M, the invariant M↦Π(G)M satisfies good properties for all modules, thereby enabling us to determine the thick, tensor-ideal subcategories of the stable module category of finite-dimensional G-modules. Finally, using the stable module category of G, we provide Π(G) with the structure of a ringed space which we show to be isomorphic to the scheme ProjH•(G,k)