cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of 7-nitroindazole with other nitric oxide synthase inhibitors as attenuators of opioid withdrawal

Previously, we demonstrated that two nonselective inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS),l-N G-nitroarginine (l-NNA) andl-N G-nitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME), reduced some signs of morphine withdrawal in rats. The present work extended these studies to include 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), an inhibitor specific for cerebral NOS, andN(5)-(1-iminoethyl)-l-ornithine (l-NIO), a potent inhibitor of endothelial NOS. Behavioral effects of these four NOS inhibitors and clonidine, anα 2-adrenoceptor, agonist, on morphine withdrawal in rats were assessed. Rats received one 75-mg morphine pellet subcutaneously (SC). Three days later, NOS inhibitors were administered IP 1 h before withdrawal was precipitated with naloxone (0.5 mg/kg, SC) and scored. 7-NI,l-NIO,l-NAME andl-NNA produced dose-related decreases in weight loss, diarrhea, wet dog shakes and grooming. 7-NI also reduced mastication, salivation and genital effects. Clonidine produced effects similar to 7-NI. In awake, morphine-naive and morphine-dependent rats not subjected to withdrawal, 7-NI was the only NOS inhibitor that did not increase blood pressure. Because 7-NI attenuated more signs of opioid withdrawal thanl-NNA,l-NAME orl-NIO without causing hypertension, 7-NI appears to warrant further testing as a potential candidate for human use.
An electron microscope study of the chlorophyll-water interaction

Abstract Structures characteristic of chlorophyll a oligomers, (Chl 2 ) n , and chlorophyll-water micelles, (Chl·H 2 O) n , in aliphatic hydrocarbon systems have been characterized by electron microscopy by a cryofracture and shadowing technique. In anhydrous media, where (Chl 2 ) n predominates, roughly spherical entities 25–55 A are present. In the presence of water, where large micelles of the composition, (Chl·H 2 O) n , have been shown to exist, large, brick-like structures 150 A wide with lengths extending from 150 A to 1μ are the characteristic feature. The hydration of chlorophyll in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents has been studied by light microscopy with results that emphasize the colloidal nature of chlorophyll oligomers and (Chl·H 2 O) n adducts in such media.
The epidemiology of revision total knee arthroplasty in the United States.

Understanding the cause of failure and type of revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed in the United States is essential in guiding research, implant design, and clinical decision making in TKA. We assessed the causes of failure and specific types of revision TKA procedures performed in the United States using newly implemented ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes related to revision TKA data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Clinical, demographic, and economic data were reviewed and analyzed from 60,355 revision TKA procedures performed in the United States between October 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. The most common causes of revision TKA were infection (25.2%) and implant loosening (16.1%), and the most common type of revision TKA procedure reported was all component revision (35.2%). Revision TKA procedures were most commonly performed in large, urban, nonteaching hospitals in Medicare patients ages 65 to 74. The average length of hospital stay (LOS) for all revision TKA procedures was 5.1 days, and the average total charges were $49,360. However, average LOS, average charges, and procedure frequencies varied considerably by census region, hospital type, and procedure performed.
Pentobarbital enhances [3H]diazepam binding to soluble receptors at the benzodiazepine-GABA-receptor-ionophore complex ☆

Abstract Pentobarbital enhances [ 3 H]diazepam binding to soluble receptors in a dose-dependent and saturable manner. Half-maximal enhancement occurred at 110 μM pentobarbital. This enhancement was due to an increase in the affinity of diazepam to its receptor sites. Pentobarbital enhancement was blocked by pictrotoxinin and bicuculline. These results are similar to those reported for membranes and suggest that various components of the benzodiazepine-GABA-receptor-ionophore complex are intimately associated.
Calcium efflux from sarcoplasmic reticulum microsomes due to oxidation and sulfhydryl-binding agents.

Abstract Calcium permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) microsomes was measured after aging or after exposure to peroxydisulfate or to sulfhydryl-binding agents. Under conditions where the Ca2+-ATPase was active, the maximum net release of Ca2+ was not significantly different between control and oxidized SR. However, when calcium uptake was prevented by EGTA or apyrase, the Ca2+ permeability of oxidized microsomes was 2 to 3 times greater than control of low (10−9, 10−7 M) but not high (10−6 M) levels of external calcium. The observation that vesicles preincubated with 5 mM dithiothreitol loaded up to 3 times as much calcium and had a slightly lower calcium permeability coefficient than control vesicles suggested that suflhydryl oxidation might modulate calcium flux. This hypothesis was tested by exposing to sulfydryl-binding agents:silver, arsenite, and p-chloromercuri-phenylsulfonic acid. Sulfhydryl-binding agents initiated a rapid release of calcium from microsomes, and release was halted by dithiothreitol. Inhibition of calcium transport could not entirely account for the apparent increase in permeability because the calcium permeability of SR treated with sulfhydryl-binding agents was 5 times greater than that of SR exposed to Ca2+-ATPase inhibitors. These results suggest that oxidation may increase the calcium permeability of SR. by allowing calcium loss through a channel that can be gated by sulfhydryl oxidation.
Elevated circulating erythrocyte micronuclei in fishes from contaminated sites off Southern California

Abstract Frequencies of circulating erythrocyte micronuclei in two marine fish species from contaminated areas off southern California were elevated relative to fishes from less contaminated sites. Micronuclei frequencies from contaminated sites were four times higher in white croaker ( Genyonemus lineatus ) and eleven times higher in kelp bass ( Paralabrax clathratus ). The increased micronuclei frequency was related to previously determined environmental concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDTs and PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites. However, micronuclei frequency was only weakly correlated to individual body burdens of chlorinated hydrocarbons in white croaker as determined in this study. Applications and limitations of piscine micronucleus measurements are discussed.
Computer-Based Education and Research on the Psychology of Instruction: Instruct the Parent if You Wish to Reach the Child.

A programmatic research and development effort needs to be mounted to transform school teaching skills to those of instructional designer-researcher. The computer makes available the power to make dynamically visible physical and abstract processes that have had to depend upon verbal or static visual representations in traditional lecture modes of instruction in the past. Educators can begin to introduce a curriculum of inquiry learning into the schools that will transform them into houses of scholarship. The disciplines of psychology, instructional systems design, and curriculum design will collaborate with classroom teachers to study instructional science in the schools using the computer as the medium to convert the covert to the observable. Pupils will become engaged in the study of the learning process itself and thus become deliberate problem solvers too.
In search of message design best practices: The Silver Anvil Award winners archive

Abstract We investigated specific award-winning public relations efforts to derive best practices that bridge industry practices with academic research and pedagogy. The data for this project were the winning entries for the annual Public Relations Society of America's (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award, which is considered the top award recognizing excellence in public relations. We found, however, that the archive of award winners does not provide sufficiently definitive information about what defines any public relations discourse genre or why any genre as used is “excellent.” This archival research provides us with a key rationale for employing rhetorical, narrative, and linguistic theories prospectively to guide public relations message design and planning, theories which hitherto have been used to judge campaigns post hoc or retrospectively.
Telomeres, immune aging and autoimmunity

Telomere length is important in constraining the replicative potential of cells; cellular systems that are dependent on cell replenishment for renewal or on cell proliferation for functionality are highly sensitive to telomeric erosion. Cell replication invariably leads to telomere loss, which, in some cellular systems, is partially compensated for by telomerase activity. In addition to this typical telomere loss, several mechanisms of sporadic telomere loss exist. Heterogeneity in age-dependent telomere loss can be a consequence of increased cellular turnover during a lifetime, accelerated telomeric DNA damage, or defects in telomere repair. The immune system is a prime example of a highly dynamic cellular system, for which telomere maintenance is pivotal. Immune competence is strictly dependent on rapid expansions of clonal T- and B-cell populations, and telomere loss may contribute to defective immune responses in the elderly. Equally interestingly, accelerated T-cell aging combined with telomeric shortening may predispose for autoimmune responses and thereby explain the increased susceptibility for chronic inflammatory diseases in the elderly.
Establishing a Multi-scale Stream Gaging Network in the Whitewater River Basin, Kansas, USA

Investigating the routing of streamflow through a large drainage basin requires the determination of discharge at numerous locations in the channel network. Establishing a dense network of stream gages using conventional methods is both cost-prohibitive and functionally impractical for many research projects. We employ herein a previously tested, fluid-mechanically based model for generating rating curves to establish a stream gaging network in the Whitewater River basin in south-central Kansas. The model was developed for the type of channels typically found in this watershed, meaning that it is designed to handle deep, narrow geomorphically stable channels with irregular planforms, and can model overbank flow over a vegetated floodplain. We applied the model to ten previously ungaged stream reaches in the basin, ranging from third- to sixth-order channels. At each site, detailed field measurements of the channel and floodplain morphology, bed and bank roughness, and vegetation characteristics were used to quantify the roughness for a range of flow stages, from low flow to overbank flooding. Rating curves that relate stage to discharge were developed for all ten sites. Both fieldwork and modeling were completed in less than 2 years during an anomalously dry period in the region, which underscores an advantage of using theoretically based (as opposed to empirically based) discharge estimation techniques.
Responses of cultured human airway epithelial cells treated with diesel exhaust extracts will vary with the engine load

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that increased morbidity and mortality are associated with the concentrations of ambient air particulate matter (PM). Many sources contribute to the particulate fraction of ambient air pollution, including diesel exhaust particulates (DEP). Diesel exhaust also contributes gas-phase pollutants to the atmosphere, and gaseous copollutants may influence the toxicity of PM. The composition of diesel exhaust varies greatly depending on the engine load conditions as well as other factors. To determine whether different diesel exhaust composition can affect lung cell resposes, the effects of of diesel exhaust extracts derived from different engine loads were examined on normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) in vitro. Diesel exhaust was collected into chilled impingers containing phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Cultured NHBE cells were treated with 0 to 500 microg/well extract from approximately 0% engine load (termed low load or LL) or extract from approximately 75% engine load (termed high load or HL) for 24 h. The HL extract was cytotoxic at 500 microg compared to controls as measured by (51)Cr release. Production of the neutrophil chemotaxin interleukin 8 (IL-8) was decreased 4.7-fold in cells treated with 500 microg LL extract, whereas cells treated with 500 microg HL extract showed a 2.4-fold increase in IL-8 release. Production of the inflammatory and immune system mediator prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) was increased up to 2.5-fold in cells treated with HL extract, but unchanged with other treatments. Melittin stimulation of cells showed that the LL extract had an inhibitory effect on PGE(2) release at 500 microg. Differences in carbonyl content of the extracts were found by high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy HPLC/MS, with the HL extract having more intermediate size carbonyls (i.e. with six to nine carbons). The data suggest that the response of NHBE cells to treatment with diesel exhaust will vary depending on the constituent components of the exhaust.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Imaging for Investigating Stroke Rehabilitation: Test-Retest Reliability and Review of the Literature

Abstract Strangman G, Goldstein R, Rauch SL, Stein J. Near-infrared spectroscopy and imaging for investigating stroke rehabilitation: test-retest reliability and review of the literature. Objectives To review the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in stroke rehabilitation and to evaluate NIRS test-retest reliability within-session on a motor control task commonly used in neuroimaging of stroke recovery. Design Cohort study. Setting Hospital-based research laboratory. Participants Nineteen healthy control subjects (age range, 22−55y). Interventions Subjects performed 2 experimental runs of a finger-opposition task in a block-design paradigm (finger opposition alternated with a fixation rest period) while undergoing multichannel NIRS and physiologic monitoring. Main Outcome Measure Reliability coefficients (Pearson r ) for oxyhemoglobin (O 2 Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) correlated amplitude modulations across measurement channels during individual blocks and block averages. Results Correlations between single blocks (ie, 16-s slices of data) exhibited a correlation intercept of .33±.09 for O 2 Hb. This value was minimally decreased by increasing lag between compared blocks (slope, −.012; P =.019) but was substantially enhanced by averaging across blocks (within-run slope, .11; between-run slope, .044). Correlations using 64 seconds of data reached 0.6. Results for HHb were virtually identical. Conclusions NIRS modulations were repeatable even when comparing very short segments of data. When averaging longer data segments, the test-retest correspondences compared favorably to neuroimaging using other modalities. This suggests that NIRS is a reliable tool for longitudinal stroke rehabilitation and recovery studies.
Analysis of Dark Current Mechanisms for Split-Off Band Infrared Detectors at High Temperatures

An analysis of dark current mechanisms has been performed on high-operating-temperature (up to 330 K) split-off (SO) band p+-GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunction infrared detectors (3-5 μm). In contrast to conventional 1-D current models due to carrier transport based on tunneling and/or thermionic emission mechanisms, a 2-D electrical model is used to explain nonuniformity degradation of zero-bias differential resistance (RoA) with temperatures as measured on SO detectors. The 2-D characteristic of carrier transport could have the limitation on high-temperature performances of detectors and, hence, needs optimizing. A theoretical model shows that this 2-D effect can be reduced by structural modifications such as using smaller mesa sizes, higher doping of the p+ -GaAs layer, and a higher potential barrier that prospectively provides better electrical uniformity for SO detectors working at high temperatures.
Low-Complexity Approaches to Slepian&#8211;Wolf Near-Lossless Distributed Data Compression

This paper discusses the Slepian-Wolf problem of distributed near-lossless compression of correlated sources. We introduce practical new tools for communicating at all rates in the achievable region. The technique employs a simple "source-splitting" strategy that does not require common sources of randomness at the encoders and decoders. This approach allows for pipelined encoding and decoding so that the system operates with the complexity of a single user encoder and decoder. Moreover, when this splitting approach is used in conjunction with iterative decoding methods, it produces a significant simplification of the decoding process. We demonstrate this approach for synthetically generated data. Finally, we consider the Slepian-Wolf problem when linear codes are used as syndrome-formers and consider a linear programming relaxation to maximum-likelihood (ML) sequence decoding. We note that the fractional vertices of the relaxed polytope compete with the optimal solution in a manner analogous to that observed when the "min-sum" iterative decoding algorithm is applied. This relaxation exhibits the ML-certificate property: if an integral solution is found, it is the ML solution. For symmetric binary joint distributions, we show that selecting easily constructable "expander"-style low-density parity check codes (LDPCs) as syndrome-formers admits a positive error exponent and therefore provably good performance
Human-Pet Interaction and Loneliness: A Test of Concepts from Roy's Adaptation Model

This research used two key concepts from Roy's adaptation model of nursing to examine the relationship between human-pet interaction and loneliness in nursing home residents. These concepts included (a) envi ronmental stimuli as factors influencing adaptation and (b) interdepend ence as a mode of response to the environment. The hypothesis of this study asserted that the residents of a nursing home who had greater levels of interaction with a pet program would experience less loneliness than those who had lower levels of interaction with a pet. The study used an ex post facto nonexperimental design with 65 subjects. The simplified version of the revised UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure loneliness. Reported level of human-pet interaction was meas ured according to a four-point scale (1 = no interaction, 4 = quite a lot of interaction). The hypothesis was supported at the p < 0.03 level of significance. Implications for practice through organizing pet programs in situations where loneliness exists ...
Antibacterial Activity of Heated Cabbage Juice, S-Methyl-L-Cysteine Sulfoxide and Methyl Methanethiosulfonate

Autoclaved cabbage juice was inhibitory to growth of Staphylococcus aureus. S-Methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO), autoclaved either together with or separately from nutrient broth, also inhibited the growth of S. aureus, but inhibition was greater when SMCSO was autoclaved separately. Methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTSO2), a thermal breakdown product of SMCSO, completely inhibited growth of S. aureus at 10 ppm. MMTSO2 was formed in both autoclaved samples of cabbage juice and aqueous solution of SMCSO. Thus, evidence indicates that the bacterial inhibitory activity in autoclaved cabbage juice was due to heatinduced formation of MMTSO2 from SMCSO.
Merging information by discourse processing for information extraction

In information extraction tasks, a finite-state pattern matcher is widely used to identify individual pieces of information in a sentence. Merging related pieces of information scattered throughout a text is usually difficult, however, since semantic relations across sentences cannot be captured by the sentence level processing. The purpose of the discourse processing described in this paper is to link individual pieces of information identified by the sentence level processing. In the Tipster information extraction domains, correct identification of company names is the key to achieving a high level of system performance. Therefore, the discourse processor in the Textract information extraction system keeps track of missing, abbreviated, and referenced company names in order to correlate individual pieces of information throughout the text. Furthermore, the discourse is segmented, so that data can be extracted from relevant portions of the text containing information of interest related to a particular tie-up relationship. >
STUDIES ON PITUITARY LACTOGENIC HORMONE III. SOLUBILITIES OF SHEEP AND BEEF HORMONES

The solubility of sheep pituitary lactogenic hormone in 0.302 M NaCl at pH 2.02 (solution in HCl) has been determined at room temperature. It showed a constant solubility in the presence of a considerable excess of the solid phase, an indication that the preparation contained but one component. Beef lactogenic hormone showed a constant solubility in distilled H(2)O at 7-8 degrees C in the presence of excess of the solid phase. The salting-out effect of NaCl in acid solution of both beef and sheep hormones has been studied at room temperature. In these studies both preparations behaved as pure substances, but they exhibited differences in solubility, thus indicating a species specificity.
The Human Hyaluronan Receptor for Endocytosis (HARE/Stabilin-2) Is a Systemic Clearance Receptor for Heparin

The hyaluronic acid receptor for endocytosis (HARE; also designated Stabilin-2) mediates systemic clearance of hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfates from the vascular and lymphatic circulations. The internalized glycosaminoglycans are degraded in lysosomes, thus completing their normal turnover process. Sinusoidal endothelial cells of human liver, lymph node, and spleen express two HARE isoforms of 315 and 190 kDa. Here we report that the 190- and 315-kDa HARE isoforms, expressed stably either in Flp-In 293 cell lines or as soluble ectodomains, specifically bind heparin (Hep). The Kd for Hep binding to purified 190- and 315-kDa HARE ectodomains was 17.2 ± 4.9 and 23.4 ± 5.3 nm, respectively. Cells expressing HARE readily and specifically internalized 125I-streptavidin-biotin-Hep complexes, which was inhibited >70% by hyperosmolar conditions, confirming that uptake is mediated by the clathrin-coated pit pathway. Internalization of Hep occurred for many hours with an estimated HARE recycling time of ∼12 min. Internalized fluorescent streptavidin-biotin-Hep was present in a typical endocytic vesicular pattern and was delivered to lysosomes. We conclude that HARE in the sinusoidal endothelial cells of lymph nodes and liver likely mediates the efficient systemic clearance of Hep and many different Hep-binding protein complexes from the lymphatic and vascular circulations.
Investigation of triplet—triplet energy transfer in films of poly-n-vinylcarbazole employing chemiluminescence techniques

Abstract Chemiluminescent techniques are employed to investigate energy transfer and exciton in polyvinylcarbazole films at 34°C. Tetramethyl-1,2-dioxetane is used as a source of chemiexcited acetone triplets and 1,4-dibromonaphthalene and 1,10-phenanthroline are used as triplet acceptors which phosphoresce under the conditions of measurement. A study of the relationship of acceptor chemiluminescence intensity to acceptor concentration leads to the conclusion that extensive energy transfer by triplet excitons can occur in polyvinylcarbazole films.
‟Frailty, Thy Name Is Woman” Syndrome of Women With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure (HF) is the most common cause for hospitalization among patients aged ≥65 years, affecting ≈6 million Americans; at 40 years, American men and women have a 1 in 5 lifetime risk of developing HF.1 There are 2 distinct HF phenotypes: a syndrome with normal or near-normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) referred to as HF with preserved EF (HFpEF)2 and the phenotype associated with poor cardiac contractility or HF with reduced EF (HFrEF). HFrEF is frequently caused by coronary artery disease with a male predominance; evidence-based strategies have been established for more than a decade. In contrast, the precise clinical criteria for HFpEF are not universally agreed on, the syndrome disproportionally affects women in 2:1 ratio, and there are no proven treatments.3–5 There are some commonalities between HFrEF and HFpEF in addition to the classic symptoms of breathlessness, edema, and fatigue: older age, diabetes mellitus, and a history of valvular disease are risk factors that are predictive of both clinical phenotypes.6 Risk factors associated with HFpEF include female sex, especially women with diabetes mellitus,7 higher body mass index, smoking, hypertension, concentric LV hypertrophy (LVH), and atrial fibrillation (AF).6,8,9 Risk factors associated with HFrEF include male sex, higher total cholesterol and heart rate, eccentric LVH, coronary artery disease, and left bundle-branch block.6,9 A remarkable lack of consensus exists with respect to the phenotypic characteristics of HFpEF, as evidenced by the divergent definitions of the European Study Group on Diastolic Heart Failure,10 the Framingham Group,11 and the European Society of Cardiology,12 to name just a few (Table).13 All include symptoms or signs but vary in specificity and a requirement for objective data. The definition of preserved LVEF is also inconsistent …
An embedding theorem for HCF-rings

Let D be an integral domain with identity. In (3), Cohn has shown that if D is a Schreier ring, then D can be inertly embedded in a pre-Bezout domain B(D), which Cohn calls the pre-Bezout hull of D. Further, D is an HCF-ring if and only if B(D) is a Bezout domain, and D is a UFD if and only if B(D) is a PID. Using a modification of Cohn's techniques, Samuel in (8) has shown that a Krull domain can be inertly embedded in a Dedekind domain. In this paper, we show that these embedding theorems are also obtained by considering the embedding of a v-ring in its Kronecker function ring with respect to the v-operation. To wit, if D is a v-ring and if Dv is the Kronecker function ring of D with respect to the v-operation, then Dv is a Bezout domain, and we show that D is inertly embedded in Dv if an only if D is an HCF-ring. Moreover, D is a UFD if and only if Dv is a PID, and if D is a Krull domain, D is inertly embedded (in Samuel's sense) in Dv, a Dedekind domain.
The Waive of the Future? School Accountability in the Waiver Era:

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia have recently received waivers to the school accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). As the prospects for reauthorizing the Act in the near term are dim, these new accountability systems will be law for at least several years. Drawing on a four-part framework from the measurement literature, we describe and critique the approved waiver accountability plans, comparing them to the NCLB accountability rules. We find a mixed bag—some states have made large improvements and others have not. Overall we conclude that states missed opportunities to design more effective school accountability systems that might minimize negative unintended consequences of these policies. The article concludes with suggestions for state and federal policy in light of the available literature.
Bayesian theory used in designing the ocean floor electromagnetic sounding experiment

In the Bayesian formulation of inversion the information content for each unknown parameter is quantified in terms of its marginal posterior probability distribution, which defines the accuracy expected in inversion. The problem of seafloor electromagnetic sounding is defined in terms of recovering the electrical conductivity profile beneath the seafloor from measurements of the electromagnetic field. Electromagnetic inversion represents a strongly nonlinear problem for which a direct solution is not available. A matched-field approach to this problem can be formulated based on Bayesian inversion theory, which provides environmental parameter estimates and their uncertainties. This paper investigates the contribution of various experimental factors to the information content of the inversion parameters aiming to recover the conductivity profile from measurements of the electromagnetic field.
Three-Dimensional Canopy Structure of an Old-Growth Douglas-Fir Forest

In this study, the structurally heterogeneous canopy of a 12-ha plot in an old-growth Douglas-fir forest was analyzed using three-dimensional (3-D) canopy modeling, geographic information system (GIS), and spatial statistics. Using this approach, we were able to depict how species composition and spatial distribution affect the 3-D structure of canopies. We were also able to slice the canopy and calculate the canopy coverage at various heights, and therefore were able to calculate the cumulative canopy volume at individual crown bases. Information generated by GIS allowed us to calculate how much area canopies or canopy openings occupy. Total canopy volume (243,641 m 3 /ha) was dominated by western hemlocks (67.1%) and Douglas-firs (23.7%) in this plot. Western hemlocks and Douglas-firs also dominated the canopy coverage, with 65.7% and 25.5% average coverage, respectively. Average total canopy coverage was 84.3% with variations between 78.7% and 89.9% among the 12 1-ha subplots, implying that 15.7% of the stand consisted of canopy openings. Coverage of the canopy projection changed greatly from the lower to the upper canopy layers, with the maximum at about 20 m high. We also examined spatial relationships among groups of trees at different heights and at various scales using bivariate Ripley's K analysis. We found that different species of the understory layer showed different spatial relationships relative to the overstory canopy layer. Likewise the same species in the understory layer showed different spatial relationships when the overstory species differed. This approach provided a useful tool for characterizing 3-D forest canopies, and the results will be very helpful for examining leaf distribution, understory light environ- ment, understory vegetation, and microclimate. FOR .S CI. 50(3):376 -386.
Hypoxia-induced alveolar epithelial dysfunction

Alveolar hypoxia occurs in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a result of flooded alveoli, and is associated with decreased edema fluid clearance and, thus, increased mortality. The mechanisms of impaired alveolar fluid clearance in epithelial injury are incompletely understood. Hypoxia-mediated impairment of lung edema clearance is closely related to the inhibition of Na,K-adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase), an enzyme that consumes up to 40% of cellular ATP production. Within a short period of time, hypoxia inhibits Na,K-ATPase activity by promoting its endocytosis from the plasma membrane to intracellular compartments in alveolar epithelial cells. More prolonged hypoxia appears to result in both downregulation and degradation of Na,K-ATPase. By decreasing Na,K-ATPase activity, there is decreased ATP demand and oxygen consumption, crucial elements for cellular survival under hypoxic conditions. Better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic approaches ...
Debonding of Stitched Composite Joints under Static and Fatigue Loading

An experimental study was conducted to examine the effects of stitches on the static and fatigue failure of two different single lap joint configurations. To monitor damage growth, X-rays were taken periodically during the fatigue tests. The study showed that a 21/2 fold increase in static strength due to stitching. A similar increase was found in fatigue strength for a given fatigue life. Additionally, stitching significantly changed the pattern of damage growth.
Speciation in the baboon and its relation to gamma-chain heterogeneity and to the response to induction of HbF by 5-azacytidine

In the baboon (Papio species), the two nonallelic gamma-genes produce gamma-chains that differ at a minimum at residue 75, where isoleucine (I gamma-chain) or valine (V gamma) may be present. This situation obtains in baboons that are sometimes designated as Papio anubis, Papio hamadryas, and Papio papio. However, in Papio cynocephalus, although the I gamma-chains are identical with those in the above mentioned types, the V gamma-chains have the substitutions ala----gly at residue 9 and ala----val at residue 23. The V gamma-chains of P. cynocephalus are called V gamma C to distinguish them from the V gamma A-chains of P. anubis, etc. A single cynocephalus animal has been found to have only normal I gamma-chains and I gamma C-chains (that is, glycine in residue 9, valine in 23, and isoleucine in 75). When HbF is produced in response to stress with 5-azacytidine, P. anubis baboons respond with greater production than do P. cynocephalus, and hybrids fall between. Minimal data on P. hamadryas and P. papio suggest an even lower response than P. cynocephalus. As HbF increases under stress, the ratio of I gamma to V gamma-chains changes from the value in the adult or juvenile baboon toward the ratio in the newborn baboon. However, it does not attain the newborn value. The V gamma A and V gamma C-genes respond differently to stress. In hybrids, the production of V gamma A- chains exceeds that of V gamma C-chains. A controlling factor in cis apparently is present and may be responsible for the species-related extent of total HbF production. It may be concluded that the more primitive the cell in the erythroid maturation series that has been subjected to 5-azacytidine, the more active is the I gamma-gene.
Quantifying species trait-functioning relationships for ecosystem management

Questions: Can we use plant traits to make predictions about ecosystem functioning of different species mixtures, identify inherent trade-offs of particular species, and design custom communities for desired ecosystem functions? Can we develop a methodology to address plant trait–functioning relationships in species-level units, which are missing from measures of community functional diversity but needed for management? Location: Grazing lands northeastern USA. Method: We measured 53 physiological, morphological and growth traits for 19 plant species from glasshouse and field experiments. We developed a twostep method to link species to ecosystem processes related to management goals of improving desirable forage production in grazing lands in northeastern USA. Results: Species were distributed continuously, rather than clustering into discrete functional types. Grasses, legumes and forbs overlapped considerably in trait values with these common classifications failing to adequately distinguish functional differences. Factor analyses were used to assess variation in species traits, and to rate species for six plant processes through which species contribute to the production of desirable forage. Species performed well in some processes and poorly in others, illustrating complex trade-offs.
Regional deposition of coarse particles and ventilation distribution in healthy subjects and patients with cystic fibrosis.

The efficacy of inhaled pharmaceuticals depends, in part, on their site of respiratory deposition. Markedly nonuniform ventilation distribution may occur in persons with obstructive airways disease...
Obtaining R and Downloading Packages

This chapter is written for the user who has never downloaded R onto his or her computer, much less opened the program.
Management of life-threatening flecainide overdose: A case report and review of the literature.

Anti-arrhythmic drug therapy carries an understood risk for toxic side effects, even at therapeutic doses. In cases of high dose ingestion these toxic effects can present rapidly with extra-cardiac symptoms, malignant arrhythmias and life-threatening hemodynamic deterioration. Prescribing clinicians should maintain familiarity with the mechanisms and kinetics of the anti-arrhythmic drugs they prescribe, as well as the clinical manifestations of anti-arrhythmic drug toxicity. Here we present a case of intentional flecainide overdose complicated by amphetamine co-ingestion. We hope this case illustrates the importance of prompt symptom recognition, mechanism-directed medical management and the utility of short term mechanical hemodynamic support in the management of anti-arrhythmic drug toxicity.
Focus on emotional intelligence in medical education: From problem awareness to system-based solutions

Objective: To review emotional intelligence (EI) literature in the context of how its application can help mediate various stressors among medical students, physicians-in-training, and faculty. Also, discussed are potential barriers to why EI-based programs face challenges to full implementation in medical education. Literature Search: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were searched for English language articles using various combinations of the following terms: EI, medical students, medical education, graduate medical education, trainees (including intern, resident, and residency), practitioners, and physicians. Electronic publications and printed books referenced by primary sources were also included. Results: Although there is increasing evidence for EI implementation being favorably associated with physician wellness, decreasing burnout, building better physician-patient relationships, and even better patient outcomes, there has so far not been a large scale movement to integrate EI into medical school curricula. The main barriers to wider implementation of EI are general lack of awareness, insufficient time and resources, and paucity of qualified faculty. Conclusions: Despite a number of associated potential benefits, EI has been facing various implementation hurdles in the medical education setting. Increasing awareness of EI and its benefits could help medical schools and residency programs around the globe to more actively engage in the implementation of EI training into medical school and residency curricula. We expect that such interventions would have several desirable outcomes, including improved overall physician wellness, enhanced patient experience, and perhaps even improved patient outcomes. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Patient care, Professionalism, Interpersonal and communication skills, Systems-based practice.
Mitochondrial swelling produced by compounds exhibiting estrogenic activity.

SummaryThe ability of the compounds diethylstilbesterol, hexosterol, dienesterol, phloretin and estradiol to induce swelling of liver mitochondria was determined. Diethylstilbesterol, hexosterol and dienesterol produced marked mitochondrial swelling at final concentration of 4-8 × 10 5M. The compounds estradiol and phloretin were inactive at the highest levels tested (8 × 10 5M). Under the experimental conditions ATP, Mg+ or versene did not prevent the mitochondrial swelling induced by diethylstilbesterol.
On the Order of the Central Moments of the Length of the Longest Common Subsequences in Random Words

We investigate the order of the r-th, 1 ≤ r < +∞, central moment of the length of the longest common subsequences of two independent random words of size n whose letters are identically distributed and independently drawn from a finite alphabet. When all but one of the letters are drawn with small probabilities, which depend on the size of the alphabet, a lower bound is shown to be of order nr∕2. This result complements a generic upper bound also of order nr∕2.
Corporate Tax Planning and Stock Returns

This paper investigates the asset pricing implications of corporate tax planning. Tax planning influences real and reported activities to optimize expected tax liabilities. As a result, it changes the amounts, timing and variance of corporate cash flows. Basic intuition suggests that tax planning can significantly influence firm value by changing expected after-tax cash flows. It is less clear whether it can also affect expected returns. By exposing the firm to higher uncertainty associated with government actions, tax planning may increase the firm’s non-diversifiable risk. Our results suggest that a tax planning-based risk premium exists but depends on firm size, the political party of the President, and the ideology of US Tax Court judges. These results have implications for assessing the importance of tax planning risks in the contexts of both capital markets and corporate governance and control. While the expected cash flows should remain the primary focus of evaluating the net present value of tax strategy, managers, boards and investors should also consider the impact of tax strategy on discount rates.
Analysis of Stressful Clinical and Didactic Incidents Reported by Returning Registered Nurses

Although stress is an important issue for the returning or entry registered nurse, seldom is stress management discussed with students. This paper describes a study designed to identify and rank stressful clinical and didactic experiences of returning female registered nurses enrolled in baccalaureate degree nursing programs. A content analysis of critical incidents reported by these re-entry women is the focus of this paper.
Tobacco Growers, Resistance and Accommodation to American Domination in Puerto Rico, 1899–1940

The inclusion of Puerto Rico in the tariff structure of the United States after 1898 guaranteed the free entrance of many island products into the mainland and dramatically accelerated the existing production of agricultural commodities. Tobacco leaf was included in this tariff exemption, and Puerto Rican farmers in the highland regions of the island made the cultivation of tobacco for the American market their most important economic activity during the first four decades of the twentieth century.1 Puerto Rico’s absorption into the United States also created new and dynamic political opportunities for the island’s farmers that tobacco growers exploited for their economic benefit. The study of the highland tobacco regions provides a unique opportunity to examine how a local population adapted to a new colonial regime, resisted unilateral political decision-making and redefined global (or in this case United States) commodity production.
Non-regularized State Preserving Extreme Learning Machine for Natural Scene Classification

Scene classification remains a challenging task in computer vision applications due to a wide range of intraclass and interclass variations. A robust feature extraction technique and an effective classifier are required to achieve satisfactory recognition performance. Herein, we propose a nonregularized state preserving extreme learning machine (NSPELM) to perform scene classification tasks. We employ a Bag-of-Words (BoW) model for feature extraction prior to performing the classification task. The BoW feature is obtained based on a regular grid method for point selection and Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) technique for feature extraction on the selected points. The performance of NSPELM is tested and evaluated on three standard scene category classification datasets. The recognition accuracy is compared with the standard extreme learning machine classifier and it shows that the proposed NSPELM algorithm yields better accuracy.
Platelet Factor 4 Induces Leukocyte Responses through Integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18)

The proteins/peptides secreted from α-granules of activated platelets not only aid in thrombus formation and blood coagulation, but also exert various immune-modulating effects. Among many secreted products, Platelet Factor 4 (PF4), a chemokine that belongs to the CXC family, is one of the most abundant platelet proteins. While PF4 assignment to the chemokine family is based on its structural similarity with other CXC chemokines and chemotactic activity, to date no receptor for PF4 on leukocytes has been identified. Our recent elucidation of the recognition specificity of a major leukocyte integrin αMβ2 (Mac-1) allowed the prediction that PF4 contains several putative Mac-1 recognition motifs and thus could potentially interact with this receptor. Using a peptide library spanning the sequence of PF4, we showed that the αMI-domain of Mac-1 bound several overlapping PF4-derived peptides. The biolayer interferometry analyses demonstrated that PF4 bound recombinant active αMI-domain of Mac-1 in a concentration-dependent manner with a KD of 1.3 ± 0.2x10-6 M. No interaction of PF4 with the inactive αMI-domain (α7 helix extended) or the αLI-domain of a homologous integrin αLβ2 was detected. The full-length recombinant PF4 and the αMI-domain-binding peptide (residues 58-70) identified in the peptide library supported strong adhesion and spreading of Mac-1-expressing cells, including neutrophils, U937 monocytic and Mac-1-transfected HEK293 cells. The cell adhesion to PF4 was partially inhibited by anti-Mac-1 mAbs and completely blocked when anti-Mac-1 antibodies were combined with heparin, suggesting that cell surface proteoglycans act cooperatively with integrin Mac-1. PF4 induced a potent migratory response of wild-type, but not Mac-1-deficient, macrophages in a Transwell system. PF4 also enhanced phagocytosis: coating of E. coli bacteria or latex beads with PF4 enhanced ~ 4-fold their phagocytosis by macrophages, and this process was blocked by different Mac-1 antagonists. Furthermore, PF4 potentiated phagocytosis by wild-type, but not Mac-1-deficient, macrophages. These results identify PF4 as a ligand for integrin Mac-1 and suggest that many immune-modulating effects previously ascribed to PF4 are mediated via interaction with Mac-1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Herpes Simplex Infections

Herpes simplex infections may cause significant morbidity following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (Saral 1988). The pathophysiology of these infections was studied in the pre-antiviral era and provided the basis for the development of studies designed to evaluate the efficacy of promising antiviral agents.
Modeling of sample deformation in atomic force microscope imaging on live cell: Live mammalian cell imaging example?

In this paper, the sample deformation caused by the probe-sample interaction during atomic force microscopy (AFM) contact mode (CM) imaging of live cells is analyzed and quantified. CM is the most commonly used imaging approach for live cell topography characterization. However, due to the intrinsic softness of live cell membrane, the sample deformation caused by the probe-sample interaction leads to significant error in the topography quantified in CM imaging. Although it has been recommended to keep the sample deformation small by using low imaging speed (scan rate < 0.2 Hz), such an approach is not only time consuming, but also incapable of providing accurate topography characterization. The proposed work aims to quantify the sample deformation in CM imaging by using an energy-based approach to formulate the lateral imaging force exerted from AFM probe to the sample. To validate the proposed deformation quantification approach, the deformation difference of live human prostate cancer cells caused by two different CM imaging speeds (0.1 Hz vs. 0.5 Hz) was quantified using the proposed model and compared to that measured experimentally. The comparison showed that the sample deformation difference obtained from the proposed model was more that 70% close to the experimental data (the percentage was the RMS value of the point-by-point difference over the entire imaging area).