cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of the Adoption of Water Harvesting Technologies in the Marginal Areas of Nakuru District, Kenya: The Case of Trench and Water Pan Technologies

A priority concern in the marginal areas of Kenya is food security, which can be achieved through the development of technologies relevant to dry-land farming with a strong component of water management. One area where runoff harvesting technologies have been promoted extensively over the last few years is Lare division of Nakuru district where several institutions initiated an integrated system of technology generation and transfer to promote water harvesting from runoff. The objective of the study was to investigate factors, which influence adoption of runoff harvesting technologies. A Probit model was used to analyze primary farm level data collected from a sample of 124 farmers chosen through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Trained enumerators administered structured questionnaires that detailed information on the adoption status of the farmer, socio-economic data and household demographics. Results of the Probit analysis show that farm income, farm size, labour requirement, and education of spouses significantly influenced adoption of water harvesting technologies. The study draws some policy recommendations. Keywords: Water harvesting: Adoption Technology, Semi-arid, Runoff. Eastern African Journal of Rural Development</I. Vol.19(1) 2003: 25-39
Effect of Pressure on Microstructure of C12E5/n-Octane-in-D2O Microemulsions

Forced Rayleigh scattering was used to measure the self-diffusion coefficients of oil droplets dispersed in the water-continuous L1 phase of the C12E5/n-octane/D2O microemulsion. A single microemulsion composition of 3.7 wt % surfactant, 4.3 wt % alkane, and 92.0 wt % water was studied at atmospheric pressure as a function of temperature from 17.3 to 24.5 °C and at 26.2 °C as a function of pressure from 100 to 534 bar. Droplet self-diffusion coefficients were found to decrease by a factor of ∼2 with increasing temperature from the emulsification failure boundary to the phase boundary for this L1 phase and the lamellar phase. This decrease is attributed to a transition from spherical to larger nonspherical oil droplets in water, i.e., a decrease in the spontaneous curvature of the oil/water interface with increasing temperature. The effect of increasing pressure, like decreasing temperature, in this region of the phase diagram is to increase the oil droplet self-diffusion coefficients by a factor of ∼2−3 b...
Agenda building effects by 2008 presidential candidates on global media coverage and public opinion

Abstract Grounded in first and second level agenda building and agenda setting, the relationships among public relations, global media, and public opinion were explored in the context of the 2008 United States presidential election. Two candidates’ speeches, press releases, and foreign media coverage were analyzed and compared with global public opinion. The results showed that object salience (issue and candidate) relationships were found between public relations messages and global media coverage while affective attribute (tone) salience relationships were partially found among public relations messages, global media, and public opinion.
Streptomycin-Induced Defects of the Otocon1al Membrane

Damage to the neuro-epithelium caused by the vestibulotoxic drugs has been well described in previous reports; however, little is known about the effect of such drugs on the otoconia. In this inves...
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Infection Yields Overlapping CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cell Responses

Activation of CD4 + T cells helps establish and sustain other immune responses. We have previously shown that responses against a broad set of nine CD4 + T-cell epitopes were present in the setting of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) Armstrong infection in the context of H-2 d . This is quite disparate to the H-2 b setting, where only two epitopes have been identified. We were interested in determining whether a broad set of responses was unique to H-2 d or whether additional CD4 + T-cell epitopes could be identified in the setting of the H-2 b background. To pursue this question, we infected C57BL/6 mice with LCMV Armstrong and determined the repertoire of CD4 + T-cell responses using overlapping 15-mer peptides corresponding to the LCMV Armstrong sequence. We confirmed positive responses by intracellular cytokine staining and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide binding assays. A broad repertoire of responses was identified, consisting of six epitopes. These epitopes originate from the nucleoprotein (NP) and glycoprotein (GP). Out of the six newly identified CD4 + epitopes, four of them also stimulate CD8 + T cells in a statistically significant manner. Furthermore, we assessed these CD4 + T-cell responses during the memory phase of LCMV Armstrong infection and after infection with a chronic strain of LCMV and determined that a subset of the responses could be detected under these different conditions. This is the first example of a broad repertoire of shared epitopes between CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the context of viral infection. These findings demonstrate that immunodominance is a complex phenomenon in the context of helper responses.
Resurrection of an Urbilaterian U1A/U2B″/SNF protein

The U1A/U2B″/SNF family of proteins found in the U1 and U2 spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins is highly conserved. In spite of the high degree of sequence and structural conservation, modern members of this protein family have unique RNA binding properties. These differences have necessarily resulted from evolutionary processes, and therefore, we reconstructed the protein phylogeny in order to understand how and when divergence occurred and how protein function has been modulated. Contrary to the conventional understanding of an ancient human U1A/U2B″ gene duplication, we show that the last common ancestor of bilaterians contained a single ancestral protein (URB). The gene for URB was synthesized, the protein was overexpressed and purified, and we assessed RNA binding to modern snRNA sequences. We find that URB binds human and Drosophila U1 snRNA SLII and U2 snRNA SLIV with higher affinity than do modern homologs, suggesting that both Drosophila SNF and human U1A/U2B″ have evolved into weaker binders of one RNA or both RNAs.
High incidence of gastrointestinal tract disorders and autoimmunity in primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas.

Importance To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study addressing comorbidities associated with primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (PCMZLs). Objective To determine if patients with PCMZL were at risk for other medical conditions. Design, Setting, and Participants Case-control study at a cutaneous lymphoma clinic and a dermatopathologic consultation service at a single academic institution using an extensive questionnaire of illnesses, symptoms, and environmental exposures for 80 sequential patients with PCMZL and 80 matched controls. Main Outcomes and Measures The frequency of several morbidities was obtained in both groups from data gathered from the questionnaire and corroborated by reviewing medical records when available. Results We found a high incidence of past or present gastrointestinal tract problems in 49 patients (61.2%) with PCMZL compared with 30 participants (37.5%) in the control group (CG) ( P = .003). Gastroesophageal reflux was reported in 50.0% (40 vs 27 in the CG, P = .04) and gastric ulcers in 10.0% (8 vs 3 in the CG, P = .13); 20.0% of the cohort had positive Helicobacter pylori serology (16 vs 2 in the CG, P = .003). Colon disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, were more common in the PCMZL cohort (20 vs 7 in the CG, P = .01). Autoimmunity was reported in 20.0% of participants (16 vs 6 in the CG, P = .03). Eight patients had a history of Hashimoto thyroiditis. Three patients had a positive antinuclear antibody. Two had a diagnosis of lupus erythematosus and 1 had Sjogren syndrome. Sicca syndrome was noted in 12.5% (10 vs 3 in the CG, P = .052). A history of noncutaneous malignant neoplasms was observed in 21.3% of the patients (17 vs 8 in the CG, P = .050). Other notable morbidities did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions and Relevance Our results indicate a high incidence of systemic conditions in patients with PCMZL, especially involving the gastrointestinal tract, but also autoimmunity and cancer.
US for Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Young Athlete: Emphasis on Dynamic Assessment

US can be used for diagnosis of musculoskeletal conditions in the young athlete and includes static assessment, which is used to characterize conditions such as tendinosis, and dynamic assessment, which is useful for diagnosing conditions such as joint instability, snapping hip syndrome, snapping triceps syndrome, and snapping knee syndrome.
Helix-coil transition of Poly(L-glutamic acid) in N-methylacetamide.

The folding of randomly coiled poly(L-glutamic acid) to the helical state has been studied in N-methylacetamide by titration methods. Since this solvent would be expected to form amide-peptide group hydrogen bonds with the unfolded form of the polymer, to a first approximation no helix stabilization could come from intrapolymer hydrogen bonds. The titration data, collected from 30 to 70°C yield the following values per residue for the thermodynamic parameters governing the coil-helix reaction for the uncharged polymer: ΔG30°C°, −1. 9 ± 0.1 kcal; Δ H°, 0 ± 0.1 kcal; ΔS30°C°, 6.3 ± 0.6 eu. In N-methyl acetamide, the helix is an order of magnitude more stable than in water, and this stabilization appears to be entirely the result of the entropy gained by solvent molecules which are released from the polymer upon folding.
The dharma of Islam and the dīn of Hinduism: Hindus and Muslims in the age of Śivājī

The broad, almost obsessive interest which many contemporary scholars have for the theme of identity has entailed a companion concern, a concern of 'difference.* In speaking of 'them,' 'we' define ourselves and draw the boundaries accordingly. With respect to South Asia, the historical definition of Hindus by a powerful Muslim minority as 'Other' is one instance of this massive contemporary cultural and scholarly interest in the theme of identity. We must see ourselves as immersed in this 'identity project' and recognize the ideology it silently presupposes while remaining open to the lessons learned in the continuing discussions of multiculturalism and identity politics. Similarly, there are some dominant models for understanding religious communities of Hindus and Muslims which produce a sort of knowledge that replicates contemporary patterns of identity construction and occludes real insight into premodern identities. This replication occurs among modern communalists who read history teleologically, finding in the past all the ingredients for a future subcontinent divided into two or more political states by religion. In this scenario, the world of the Hindu is radically separate from the world of the Muslim, and their religions are the single definitive factor in separating them. The replication also occurs among modern secularists. They find in the past a world where religious differences are mere style, encompassed by an all-inclusive universalism. They applaud not only the likes of Kab?r1 but also celebrate the pragmatic villager who embraces nothing but particulars, uncorrupted by the claims of literate, partisan theologians. The villager is affably rustic at home with people and practices only superficially colored by the cosmopolitan religions of Hinduism and Islam. If I try, in my current discussion, to avoid these master narratives, do I have another story to tell, with its own plot, heroes and villains, beginning and
Automated measurement of phosphatases.

Summary Automated phosphate determination was used to quantitate the amountof the specific marker enzymes acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and Mg ++ -activated ATPase found in subcellular fractions. The versatility of the automated phosphate determination and various parameters affecting the analyses are discussed.
Frequency-mixing detection (FMD) of polarization-modulated light

When a light beam whose polarization and intensity are weakly modulated at a frequency ωm passes through a periodic analyzer of frequency ωa(≪ωm) and the transmitted flux is linearly detected, the resulting total signal St consists of two components: (i) a periodic baseband signal Sbb with harmonics of frequencies nωa(n = 0,1,2,…) and (ii) an amplitude-modulated-carrier signal δSmc with center (carrier) frequency ωm and sideband frequencies at ωm ± nωa(n = 1,2,…). In this paper we show that the average polarization of the beam is determined by a limited spectral analysis of Sbb, whereas the polarization and intensity modulation are determined by a limited spectral analysis of δSmc, or the associated envelope signal δSe, where δSmc = δSe cosωmt. The theory of this frequency-mixing detection (FMD) of polarization modulation is developed for an arbitrary periodic analyzer. The specific case of a rotating analyzer is considered as an example. Applications of FMD include the retrieval of information impressed on light beams as polarization modulation in optical communication systems, and the automation of modulated ellipsometry, AIDER (angle-of-incidence-derivative ellipsometry and reflectometry), and modulated generalized ellipsometry.
Comparison of BACTEC 12B vs solid media for the recovery of Mycobacterium avium complex from blood cultures in AIDS patients

We compared liquid (BACTEC 12B) and solid culture media for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium avian complex (MAC) bacteremia among 258 AIDS patients with a positive blood culture. Neither culture media alone had adequate sensitivity; BACTEC 12B detected growth earlier. Use of both liquid and solid media may improve the yield of mycobacterial blood culture.
Restoration of degraded images by composite gratings in a coherent optical processor.

A study has been made on restoration of degraded images utilizing spatial filtering techniques in a coherent optical processor. This study differs from other coherent approaches in that the spatial filters employed contain only composite gratings that are quite simple to produce. A general method of synthesizing the appropriate composite gratings for linearly smeared as well as multiply exposed and out-of-focus images will be presented in some detail with experimental results. The extension of the method of synthesis to other types of degradation is briefly discussed.
Alias Smith and Jones: The testimony of the senses

Probabilistic accounts of judgment can disappoint dogmatically rooted expectations, i.e., expectations rooted in cases where simple ac? ceptance and rejection are appropriate attitudes toward hypotheses, and where evidence can be expected to simply verify or falsify hypotheses. But probabilistic judgment, freed from the two endpoints, can rate hypotheses anywhere in the unit interval, and can do the same for evidence itself. Where the reliability of signs and witnesses is an issue, dogmatism must in some measure take account of probabilistic considerations; but the risk of paradox is then extreme. Here is such a case, presented as an epistemological parable that can also be read as a parable of scientific hypothesis-testing.
Quotas without Supply Control: Effects of Dairy Quota Policy in California

Unlike the federal milk marketing order system, California's system includes a milk quota program. Oddly, this quota restricts neither production nor marketing. In aggregate, the quota program leads to more milk production than a typical marketing quota, but less milk than blend pricing without the quota. The California program generates more producer surplus and smaller welfare losses than a federal-style program without quota. When class 1 milk sales expand, production expands less under the quota program than with blend pricing without a quota. Finally, increases in aggregate quota lower production because they lower the marginal price of milk facing producers.
Discrete observability and Dirichlet series

Abstract The problem of recovering the initial data of the heat equation when the output is measured at points discrete in time and space is considered. It is shown that the solution of this problem is linked to the theory of Dirichlet series and a solution is found in the case of the one dimensional problem.
Behavioral avoidance tests: The effects of demand characteristics and repeated measures on two types of subjects

Two types of subjects (undergraduates satisfying a course requirement or volunteers for a treatment program) were administered repeated Behavioral Avoidance Tests (BATs) involving a live snake. Level of demand for approach was varied by presenting the test as a measure of avoidance (Low Demand; L) or a measure of physiological reaction which required that subjects handle the target object (High demand; H). All subjects were tested twice, half under the same level of demand and half under increased or decreased demand. On BAT-I, the H condition resulted in more approach and less overt fear behavior. Treatment volunteers showed significantly less approach, more overt fear, and longer latencies to touch. The main effect of repeated testing was significant for all behavioral measures, and the Treatment × Time interaction was significant for approach and overt fear measures. Subjects displayed less fear on the second as opposed to the first BAT. The results were discussed in terms of three aspects of outcome research: demand characteristics, repeated testing effects, and type of subjects employed.
Habitat selection and utilization of white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) in the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors and the development of predictive habitat use models

Abstract White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) are a sentinel fish species for contamination due to their direct interaction with contaminated sediments through benthic foraging. White croaker within the Los Angeles (LA) and Long Beach (LB) Harbor exhibited hierarchical habitat selection: avoiding dredged areas while selecting for areas of high sediment total organic carbon (4.8–8.1%), high polychaete density (406–700 polychaetes/0.1 m2), and small sediment grain size (
Some radiometric microassays for butyrylcholinesterase.

Abstract A simple method for purifying [ 14 C]butyrylcholine and incubation conditions suitable for estimating butyrylcholinesterase activity are described. Solvent extraction and anion- and cation-exchange procedures for separating butyrylcholine from butyric acid are described and compared. The anion-exchange method provides the most efficient separation of precursor from product. Blanks using the anion-exchange method average approximately 0.1% of the total radioactivity in the substrate; product recovery is quantitative. Butyrylcholinesterase activity can be measured reliably in samples of embryonic nervous system tissue having wet weights less than 5 μg.
A model for Chinese transnational migration through the Americas: the Canadian experience

Purpose – This article was based on the information from The 5th International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Chinese Overseas Studies held in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada in which the author was a presenter in session 4.2.9a of the Early life of Yuan Shikai and the formation of Yuan family. The paper aims to include comprehensive analysis and development of the history of Chinese migration. An annotated bibliography of suggested readings was offered to highlight the subject knowledge for further research in this area. Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes comprehensive analysis and development of the history of Chinese migration and the experiences and family histories of overseas Chinese in Canada. An annotated bibliography of suggested readings was offered to highlight the subject knowledge for further research in this area. Findings – The paper offers full description and comprehensive analysis of the history of Chinese migration and overseas Chine...
Abstract B47: Neural cells labeling with intracerebral ferumoxytol iron oxide nanoparticles in a rat model.

Purpose: To investigate uptake of ferumoxytol iron oxide nanoparticles into rat neural cells for a clinically applicable magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique. Materials and Methods: Long Evan rats were injected with intracerebral ferumoxytol (360 μg) iron oxide nanoparticles into the right hemisphere. A needle track in the left hemisphere was used as a sham control. Animals underwent T2-weighted fast spin-echo MRI sequences at 12T 48 h after nanoparticle inoculation. Immediately after MRI, single brain cell suspensions were produced from the right and left hemispheres, and neurospheres were stained for iron using Prussian blue histochemstry. Results: The ferumoxytol-injected right hemisphere showed decreased T2 signal compared to the sham injected left hemisphere. Positive iron staining was found in neural cells from the right cerebral hemisphere, although Conclusion: Iron oxide loading of neural cells in the brain parenchyma can be achieved with the clinically approved agent ferumoxytol. Iron labeling may be utilized to monitor neuro-inflammation and brain tumors after chemotherapy for non-invasive MRI. Citation Format: Yingjen Jeffrey Wu, Leslie L. Muldoon, Edward A. Neuwelt. Neural cells labeling with intracerebral ferumoxytol iron oxide nanoparticles in a rat model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology: Multidisciplinary Science Driving Basic and Clinical Advances; Dec 2-5, 2012; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(1 Suppl):Abstract nr B47.
Something Smells Phishy: Exploring Definitions, Consequences, and Reactions to Phishing

One hundred fifty-five participants completed a survey on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk that assessed characteristics of phishing attacks and requested participants to describe their previous experiences and the related consequences. Results indicated almost all participants had been targets of a phishing with 22% reporting these attempts were successful. Participants reported actively engaging in efforts to protect themselves online by noticing the “padlock icon” and seeking additional information to verify the legitimacy of e-retailers. Moreover, participants indicated that phishers most frequently pose as members of organizations and that phishing typically occurs via email yet they are aware that other media might also make them susceptible to phishing scams. The reported consequences of phishing attacks go beyond financial loss, with many participants describing social ramifications such as embarrassment and reduced trust. Implications for research in risk communication and design roles by human factors/e...
Uso de las medidas de salud autopercibida en las evaluaciones económicas de tecnologías sanitarias

En las ultimas decadas estamos asistiendo al desarrollo e incremento del uso de las medidas de salud autopercibida en el seno de los ensayos clinicos y otros tipos de estudios que persiguen analizar la enfermedad desde la perspectiva del paciente. Uno de los aspectos de la salud, cada dia mas importante por diferentes razones, hace referencia al impacto economico de la enfermedad y a la valoracion farmacoeconomica de las diferentes alternativas, diagnosticas y terapeuticas, que se emplean en el tratamiento y manejo clinico de las mismas. En particular, es cada dia de mayor interes conocer la cuantia de recursos economicos demandada por cada enfermedad o segmento poblacional afecto de un deterioro o menoscabo de la salud, y, sin ningun genero de dudas, comienza a imponerse la evaluacion economica de tecnologias sanitarias como herramientas de ayuda a la toma de decisiones sanitarias. En este articulo se pretende revisar las posibilidades que la medida de la salud autopercibida nos brinda para llevar a cabo evaluaciones economicas que sirvan de apoyo a la toma de decisiones en salud, asi como para detectar areas de la asistencia sanitaria de mayor utilizacion de recursos sanitarios y, por tanto, mas necesitadas de atencion por parte de las autoridades sanitarias.
Law Enforcement’s Information Sharing Infrastructure: A National Assessment

The September 11 attacks impacted society generally, and law enforcement specifically, in dramatic ways. One of the major trends has been changing expectations regarding criminal intelligence pract...
Temperature-dependent phonon dispersion relation in magnetic crystals

Abstract It is shown that the lattice vibration will change the exchange energy which then contributes to the temperature-dependent phonon dispersion. The observed phonon frequency softening in nickel and cobalt at high temperatures is shown partly due to this effect.
Occupational health and safety in the biotechnology industry--a survey of practicing professionals.

A survey was created to gauge how health and safety (HS 12 commercial firms responded. Nearly 68% of the work force monitored did not fall into any biohazard classification. Almost 80% of work involving biohazards was considered “exempt” or “BL-1” under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification system, indicating that most work was performed involving organisms of low pathogenic potential. HS 100% of respondents report having written programs for chemical, biological, and physical hazards. Chemical safety programs occupied, on average, the greatest percentage of the H&S professionals' time (46%), followed by biosafety (29.6%) and physical hazards (16.4%). The person most responsible for H&S averaged 65% of work t...
Diurnal Variations in Blood and Rumen Metabolites and Feeding Activity of Dairy Steers Under Controlled Lighting

Abstract Photographic evidence of diurnal eating patterns of five steers allowed free access to hay in an environment free of natural light were recorded during 37, 24-hour periods preceded by a 14-day preliminary period. Four replicate collections of rumen liquor, jugular blood, and carotid blood were obtained at 2-hour intervals. Rumen liquor samples were analyzed for acetic, propionie, and butyric acid concentrations as well as for pH. Blood samples were analyzed for volatile fatty acids, reducing substances, and ketones. The greatest concentration of eating activity occurred during two periods peaking at 0600 and 1630 hours. Smaller peaks were noted at 0930 and 1430 hours. Only rumen pH and jugular β -hydroxybutyrate were significantly correlated (.476 and −.243) with eating activity. Generally, the steers stopped eating before detectable rises in metabolite concentration. However, periods of maximum metabolite concentration were associated with periods of relatively little eating. These data do not preclude metabolite Concentration as a factor in the regulation of ruminant feed intake patterns.
Radiochemical determination of short-lived radionuclides in neutron-activated biological samples

Abstract A radiochemical procedure has been developed for rapid post-irradiation chemistry of neutron-activated biological samples. It is based on destruction of the sample in a sodium permanganate-nitric acid medium, followed by appropriate radiochemical techniques to separate the elements of interest. Dissolution of most soft tissue samples is complete in 45–60 s. The procedure has been used to assay calcium in tissue samples as small as 5 mg (dry-weight basis) with a total separation time of less than 4 min.
Efficient Opportunistic Broadcasting over Duty-Cycled Wireless Sensor Networks

We consider the problem of supporting multihop broadcast over adaptively duty-cycled wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We present hybrid-cast, a broadcast protocol which adopts opportunistic data delivery in order to shorten broadcast latency. Hybrid-cast achieves less number of transmission times or redundant transmissions via delivery deferring and online forwarder selection. The preliminary simulation results validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our design.
Recursive estimation of incremental cost curves

Abstract The economic scheduling of power generation among fossil fuel plants has historically been based on incremental cost curves which relate the rate of change of cost with respect to change in power delivered to the transmission system. These curves are based on steady-state measurements and are up-dated periodically, normally weekly or monthly, to reflect changes in operating conditions. Since the load of a power system is constantly changing, one or more of the generation units must be in a dynamic state at any given time. Also, changes in such quantities as ambient temperature and feedwater temperature affect the overall system efficiency. Thus the incremental cost given by a cost curve is at best only an approximation of the actual incremental cost. In this work, a superior estimation technique is used to model this economic metric. It features on-line, real-time capabilities which allow the algorithm to adaptively follow structural changes in the generating system. The practical problems of divergence and parameter initialization are also treated. The experimental results presented demonstrate that the developed real-time method is accurate and will fit in a mini-computer controller.
Does Social Approval Increase Helping

In order to determine the interactive effects of social response and individual differences in need for approval on subsequent helping behavior, 46 female subjects were either socially rewarded or punished for helping the experimenter. As predicted, subjects who were high in need for approval were subsequently more likely to help a confederate who had dropped books if they had been socially rewarded than if they had been punished. Subjects low in need for approval were unaffected by the previous social reinforcement. Several explanations for these results are offered. The importance of examining interactions between personality and situational variables in research on prosocial behavior is discussed.
Species of Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Infecting Pikas From Alaska, U.S.A. and Northeastern Siberia, Russia

Eighty-eight fecal samples from 2 species of pika, Ochotona collaris and Ochotona hyperborea, collected in Alaska (N = 53) and Russia (N = 35), respectively, were examined for the presence of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). Five oocyst morphotypes were observed. In O. collaris, we found Eimeria calentinei, Eimeria cryptobarretti, and Eimeria klondikensis, whereas in O. hyperborea, we found Eimeria banffensis, E. calentinei, E. cryptobarretti, E. klondikensis, and Isospora marquardti. This study represents new geographic records for all 5 coccidia and new host records for E. cryptobarretti and I. marquardti. Only minor quantitative differences were seen between the sporulated oocysts we studied and those reported in their original descriptions.
IP-10-induced recruitment of CXCR3+ host T cells is required for small bowel allograft rejection

Abstract Background & Aims: Chemokines mediate cell trafficking in inflammatory states such as allograft rejection. However, their role in small-bowel allograft rejection has not been defined. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of type 1 helper T-cell chemokines in small-bowel allograft rejection. Methods: Mucosal histology, chemokine messenger RNA (real-time polymerase chain reaction), and cell isolates were examined in small-bowel allografts and isografts. Interferon-γ-inducible protein-10/ CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) 3 interactions were specifically evaluated by using allografts from interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 −/− donors and adoptive transfer of CXCR3 −/− T cells into recombination activating gene (RAG)-1 −/− recipients of small-bowel allografts. Results: Type 1 helper T-cell cytokine (interferon-γ) and chemokine (interferon-γ-inducible protein-10, monokine induced by interferon-γ, macrophage-inflammatory protein-1α, and regulated on activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted) messenger RNA up-regulation was detected (real-time polymerase chain reaction) by postoperative day 3 in small-bowel allografts. Interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 +/+ small-bowel allograft rejection was associated with a dramatic (>7-fold) increase in CXCR3 + host T cells in the graft lamina propria. With interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 −/− small-bowel allografts, CXCR3 + host T-cell infiltration of the graft lamina propria was markedly decreased and rejection was significantly delayed. Whereas adoptive transfer of wild-type B6 (CXCR3 +/+ ) T cells into B6 (RAG-1 −/− ) recipients induced rapid rejection of CB6F1 small-bowel allografts, rejection was significantly delayed (29.2 ± 8.7 days vs. 16.5 ± 3.1 days; P −/− ) mice reconstituted with T cells from B6 (CXCR3 −/− ) mice. Conclusions: Recruitment of CXCR3 + host T cells by donor derived interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 may precipitate small-bowel allograft rejection. These data highlight the importance of type 1 helper T cell-related chemokines in promoting cell-mediated rejection responses in small-bowel allografts and suggest that interferon-γ-inducible protein-10 is an attractive therapeutic target for humanized monoclonal antibody strategies.
Management of Cutaneous and Extracutaneous Side Effects of Smoothened Inhibitor Therapy for Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma

Smoothened inhibitors represent the first class of targeted drugs approved for use in advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma. For many patients with limited treatment options, this drug class has led to significant clinical improvements, but is not without side effects. In this review, we outline the basic mechanism of smoothened inhibitors and the most commonly observed cutaneous and extracutaneous side effects. We also highlight possible mechanisms for these adverse events and current management strategies.
Aftermath of a snowball Earth

[1] Using a simple 3-box model of the ocean-atmosphere system, we simulate the cycling of carbon and strontium in the aftermath of a global glaciation. Model simulations include the delivery of alkalinity to seawater from intense carbonate and silicate weathering under high pCO2 conditions as well as ocean mixing, air-sea gas exchange, and biological productivity. The δ13C of the first carbonate precipitated after the glaciation depends on the pCO2, temperature, the saturation state of the surface ocean, and kinetic effects associated with mineral precipitation. With no biological productivity, the model produces δ13C values between +1‰ and −3‰, consistent with observations. This is in direct contradiction with arguments by Kennedy et al. [2001a], who suggest that the δ13C value of dissolved carbon in a snowball ocean (and directly afterward) must be −5‰. Kennedy et al. assume the carbon isotope cycle is in steady state, which does not apply to a global glaciation, and also neglect any effect of high pCO2 on the carbonate chemistry of seawater. A major difference between our findings and the qualitative predictions of Hoffman et al. [1998] is our interpretation of the cap dolostone as representing an interval dominated by carbonate weathering of exposed continental shelves. As a result, the ∼2‰ drop in the δ13C observed in the cap dolostone is unlikely to be the product of Rayleigh distillation of atmospheric CO2 via silicate weathering. Instead, we interpret the ∼2‰ drop in the δ13C values as indicative of an increase in sea surface temperature which lowers the fractionation between CO2 and carbonate. Kinetic isotope effects associated with rapid precipitation from a highly supersaturated surface ocean may also be important. Rayleigh distillation of atmospheric CO2 via silicate weathering is a viable explanation for the continued drop in the δ13C values in the limestone sequence above the cap dolostone, with biological productivity and carbonate weathering driving a slow increase in δ13C values once pCO2 levels decline. Our study also simulates the cycling of strontium in seawater. In contrast to the finding of Jacobsen and Kaufman [1999] and Kennedy et al. [2001a], model simulations show a drop in 87Sr/86Sr of less than 0.001 during 5 million years of global glaciation and an increase of less than 0.001 over the entire episode of silicate weathering. Our calculations emphasize the importance of considering the changes in seawater chemistry due to high pCO2 in evaluating the Snowball Earth hypothesis.
Determining a "do not start" temperature for a marathon on the basis of adverse outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Marathon races faced with unexpectedly hot conditions must make a decision to start or not to start. The current race cancellation parameters may not reflect the safety profile of an individual race, and a universal temperature may not work an individual race. METHODS: A retrospective review of the number of starters, finishers, and finish line medical encounters was used to calculate the rate of "unsuccessful" marathon starters from race records, where unsuccessful is defined as medical encounters seen for any reason in the finish medical area plus marathon starters who did not finish. Unsuccessful marathon starters were plotted against the race start wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), and the WBGT level at which a mass casualty incident (MCI) occurred was used to calculate a "do not start" WBGT. RESULTS: A start WBGT of >21 degrees C resulted in MCI or midrace cancellation in several races. Twin Cities Marathon data show a rapid increase in the rate of unsuccessful marathoner starters above a start WBGT of 13 degrees C. The event experienced an area-wide MCI at a start WBGT of 22 degrees C with an unsuccessful starter rate of 160 per 1000 finishers. CONCLUSIONS: Marathons in northern latitudes (>40 degrees) held in "unexpectedly" hot conditions when the participants are not acclimatized and the start WBGT is >21 degrees C often end in either race cancellation or an MCI. It would seem prudent not to start these races in similar conditions. The rate of unsuccessful marathon starters per 1000 marathon finishers plotted against start WBGT generates a curve that can be used to estimate a do not start level. The do not start WBGT for Twin Cities Marathon is 20.5 degrees C on the basis of this model. Language: en
Flow cytometric probing of chromatin condensation in maize diploid nuclei

SUMMARY Nuclei were isolated from stems, mesocotyls, nodal roots and root tips of two maize hybrids. The fluorochrome, propidium iodide (PI), was used to stain the nuclei that were passed through a flow cytometer-cell sorter. Significant differences in fluorescence intensities were observed among the diploid nuclei from the different plant organs. These observations, in conjunction with previously reported DAPI fluorescence data, reflect the state of chromatin condensation in diploid nuclei isolated from meristematic and differentiating tissues. Nuclei from root meristematic tissues showed no or very little chromatin condensation. Mesocotyls and nodal roots, 1-wk-old, appeared to contain chromatin in a more diffuse state owing to completed differentiation which allows more DNA to be accessible to PI. Mesocotyls, 2-wk-old owing to senescence, contained degraded chromatin in which DNA was more accessible to PI because it lacked associated proteins. The diploid nuclei from stems had the highest amount of chromatin condensation. The results show the usefulness of flow cytometry for analyzing chromatin condensation in plant nuclei. The study also shows the importance of selecting a particular type of fluorochrome in the analysis of nuclear chromatin.
Tolerance to morphine analgesia

There is a growing body of evidence that implicates the role of excitatory amino acids (EEAs), in particular the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, in the development of opioid tolerance. In their Focus article, Fundytus and Coderre have proposed a model of opioid tolerance that highlights the importance of metabotropic glutamate receptors (MGIuRs) in the contribution of EEAs to opioid tolerance. The authors conclude that drugs that target MGIuRs may provide a therapeutic tool for the prevention of tolerance to morphine analgesia in humans. However, although the authors provide clear evidence that MGIuRs play a critical role in the development of tolerance to morphine analgesia, we should practice caution in ascribing a single mechanism to a complex phenomenon. The aim of this Commentary is to examine some broader issues that surround tolerance to morphine analgesia to highlight the complexity of the problem.
Calculations pertaining to the use of fast (≲50-MeV) neutrons in cancer radiotherapy

Calculated results are presented for a variety of neutronspectra incident on a tissue‐equivalent phantom. The neutronspectra considered are those produced by 35‐ and 50‐MeV deuterons in a thick beryllium target and by 67‐MeV protons in a thick lithium target. Results are presented for the absorbed doses, LET spectra, cell‐survival probabilities, OERs, and RBEs as a function of position in the phantom. The cell‐inactivation calculations were carried out using the model of Katz et al. and parameters for T‐1 kidney cells. In the case of incident neutrons from 35‐MeV 2H on Be, experimental and calculated absorbed‐dose data are compared as a function of position in the phantom and are shown to be in good agreement.
RACISM, GROUP POSITION, AND ATTITUDES ABOUT IMMIGRATION AMONG BLACKS AND WHITES1

Previous research has shown that racial or ethnic prejudice is one of the most influential antecedents of opposition to more expansive immigration policies. In this paper, we explore whether a theoretical perspective derived from the group position model might represent an additional and complementary explanation for immigration attitudes. We also compare how well the prejudice and group position models explain immigration attitudes among both White and Black Americans. Most of the previous work in this literature focuses solely on Whites’ attitudes, and it remains unclear how well models designed with this group in mind might also apply to African Americans. We rely upon the 2004–2005 National Politics Study to explore the power of these models. In general, we find that measures derived from the group position model account for immigration attitudes even after controlling for various forms of out-group prejudice. The pattern of results also differs considerably across the two racial groups in our study.
Synthesis and processing of nanostructured materials

Significant and growing interest is being exhibited in the novel and enhanced properties of nanostructured materials. These materials, with their constituent phase or grain structures modulated on a length scale less than 100 nm, are artificially synthesized by a wide variety of physical, chemical, and mechanical methods. In this NATO Advanced Study Institute, where mechanical behavior is emphasized, nanostructured materials with modulation dimensionalities from one (multilayers) to three (nanophase materials) are mainly considered. No attempt is made in this review to cover in detail all of the diverse methods available for the synthesis of nanostructured materials. Rather, the basic principles involved in their synthesis are discussed in terms of the special properties sought using examples of particular synthesis and processing methodologies. Some examples of the property changes that can result from one of these methods, cluster assembly of nanophase materials, are presented.
The Role of Placental Nutrient Sensing in Maternal-Fetal Resource Allocation

The placenta mediates maternal-fetal exchange and has historically been regarded as a passive conduit for nutrients. However, emerging evidence suggests that the placenta actively responds to nutritional and metabolic signals from the mother and the fetus. We propose that the placenta integrates a multitude of maternal and fetal nutritional cues with information from intrinsic nutrient-sensing signaling pathways to match fetal demand with maternal supply by regulating maternal physiology, placental growth, and nutrient transport. This process, which we have called placental nutrient sensing, ensures optimal allocation of resources between the mother and the fetus to maximize the chances for propagation of parental genes without jeopardizing maternal health. We suggest that these mechanisms have evolved because of the evolutionary pressures of maternal undernutrition, which result in decreased placental growth and down-regulation of nutrient transporters, thereby limiting fetal growth to ensure maternal survival. These regulatory loops may also function in response to maternal overnutrition, leading to increased placental growth and nutrient transport in cases of maternal obesity or gestational diabetes. Thus, placental nutrient sensing modulates maternal-fetal resource allocation to increase the likelihood of reproductive success. This model implies that the placenta plays a critical role in mediating fetal programming and determining lifelong health.
Effects of Periodic Unsteady Wake Flow and Pressure Gradient on Boundary Layer Transition Along the Concave Surface of a Curved Plate

Boundary layer transition and development on a turbomachinery blade is subjected to highly periodic unsteady turbulent flow, pressure gradient in longitudinal as well as lateral direction, and surface curvature. To study the effects of periodic unsteady wakes on the concave surface of a turbine blade, a curved plate was utilized. On the concave surface of this plate, detailed experimental investigations were carried out under zero and negative pressure gradient. The measurements were performed in an unsteady flow research facility using a rotating cascade of rods positioned upstream of the curved plate. Boundary layer measurements using a hot-wire probe were analyzed by the ensemble-averaging technique. The results presented in the temporal-spatial domain display the transition and further development of the boundary layer, specifically the ensemble-averaged velocity and turbulence intensity. As the results show, the turbulent patches generated by the wakes have different leading and trailing edge velocities and merge with the boundary layer resulting in a strong deformation and generation of a high turbulence intensity core. After the turbulent patch has totally penetrated into the boundary layer, pronounced becalmed regions were formed behind the turbulent patch and were extended far beyond the point they would occur in the corresponding undisturbed steady boundary layer.
Low exposure concentrations of atrazine increase male production in Daphnia pulicaria

Results of 24 bioassays with the water flea (Daphnia pulicaria) show an exposure–response relationship between Daphnia sex ratio and the herbicide atrazine. Exposure of Daphnia to atrazine during embryogenesis resulted in a shift in sex determination toward males. The shift was detectable at 0.5 ppb (nominal concentration) and pronounced at 10 ppb or more. The shift occurred in the upper part of the range of atrazine concentrations commonly found in aquatic environments (such as lakes, streams, wells, and rainwater). Our results suggest that Daphnia sex ratio is one to two orders of magnitude more sensitive to atrazine than are survivorship or fecundity.
Shaped Ceria Nanocrystals Catalyze Efficient and Selective Para-Hydrogen-Enhanced Polarization.

Intense para-hydrogen-enhanced NMR signals are observed in the hydrogenation of propene and propyne over ceria nanocubes, nano-octahedra, and nanorods. The well-defined ceria shapes, synthesized by a hydrothermal method, expose different crystalline facets with various oxygen vacancy densities, which are known to play a role in hydrogenation and oxidation catalysis. While the catalytic activity of the hydrogenation of propene over ceria is strongly facet-dependent, the pairwise selectivity is low (2.4 % at 375 °C), which is consistent with stepwise H atom transfer, and it is the same for all three nanocrystal shapes. Selective semi-hydrogenation of propyne over ceria nanocubes yields hyperpolarized propene with a similar pairwise selectivity of (2.7 % at 300 °C), indicating product formation predominantly by a non-pairwise addition. Ceria is also shown to be an efficient pairwise replacement catalyst for propene.