cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein B is associated with carotid atherosclerosis progression independent of individual cholesterol measures in a 9-year prospective study of Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants

Background High blood cholesterol contributes to atherosclerosis, yet reliance on the lipid panel alone may mischaracterize individuals with elevated lipoprotein particle numbers. Objective The aim of the article was to determine whether elevated lipoprotein or apolipoprotein measures are associated with carotid atherosclerosis and plaque progression independent of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors including standard lipids in a subcohort of 2228 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants. Methods Ultrasonography assessed carotid artery plaque and common carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at baseline and after a median period of 9.4 years. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy estimated lipoprotein particle concentrations. Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and apolipoprotein A-I were measured using an automated immunoassay. Regression analysis determined associations of apolipoprotein and lipoprotein measurements with cIMT and relative risk regression determined associations with carotid plaque progression. Results After adjustment for typical CV risk factors, individuals in top quartiles of ApoB, ApoB/apolipoprotein A-I, low-density lipoprotein particles (LDL-P), small LDL-P, and total LDL-P/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles showed similar risks of carotid plaque and cIMT progression as LDL-C, non-HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and TC/HDL-C. A significant association with plaque progression remained in the top ApoB quartile after further adjustment for LDL-C ( P = .02) or TC + HDL-C ( P = .04), but was nonsignificant when adjusted for all lipid covariates ( P = .086). Those in the top quartile of small LDL-P concentrations showed greater cIMT progression than those in the referent after adjustment for LDL-C, but this was nonsignificant after adjustment for TC + HDL-C. Conclusion When coupled with evidence that apolipoprotein testing identifies lipid-lipoprotein discordance, these findings suggest that ApoB and small LDL-P provide atherosclerosis risk information that is not revealed by typical CV risk factors.
Polymer turbulence with Reynolds and Riemann

Models of flowing complex fluids such as polymer solutions often use a conformation tensor that reflects the state of the fluid microstructure. In polymer solutions, this quantity measures the orientation and stretching of the molecules, and reflects the fact that the squared length of a polymer molecule must be positive. By exploiting results from differential geometry and continuum mechanics, Hameduddin et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 842, 2018, pp. 395–427) introduce a new approach for analysing the conformation tensor that respects this positivity constraint. With this approach, they present computational results for turbulent flow of a polymer solution that exhibits turbulent drag reduction, showing that the new measures of polymer stretching afforded by their approach lend insights not available in traditional methods.
Responses of Cochlear Afferents to Low-Frequency Tones: Intensity Dependence

It is remarkable that the adequate stimulus for the inner hair cell (IHC) of the mammalian cochlea has not yet been fully specified in terms of the vibration of the cochlear partition. There is little doubt that the proximal stimulus for depolarization is displacement of the stereocilia toward the longer stereocilia (Russell et al., 1986). What is not known is the manner in which this stimulus arises from interactions of the basilar membrane (BM), tectorial membrane and surrounding fluid spaces. In an effort to resolve this issue, we have been studying the responses of cochlear afferents and of the BM to the same stimuli -- low-frequency tones -- under comparable experimental conditions in a single species, the chinchilla. Previously we have discussed the response phases of the basal region of the BM (Ruggero et al., 1986b) and the dependence on site of innervation of near-threshold cochlear-afferent response phases (Ruggero and Rich, 1983 and 1987). Here we focus on the intensity dependence of IHC response phases relative to BM displacement, as reflected in cochlear afferent excitation.
Cooperating with Regulators: Meaningful Credit or Sword of Damocles?

Regulators claim that firm cooperation is rewarded in the enforcement process. Critics contend, however, that firm cooperation leads to “harsh” and “unfair” penalties for cooperating firms. Using 1,162 enforcement actions for financial misrepresentation initiated by the SEC and DOJ, we find that cooperation credit is best explained by remedial actions (e.g., termination of culpable employees) and self-reporting the law violation to regulators. Although we find that cooperation credit increases the likelihood of the firm being charged and penalized, firms receiving cooperation credit realize an average monetary penalty reduction of $25.5 million (46.1 percent). For those firms without cooperation credit, the penalties nearly double. These estimates are robust to controlling for potential selection issues. Our results provide important insights into what constitutes meaningful cooperation with regulators and indicate that there are significant monetary benefits for firms that regulators deem to be cooperative.
AI can help to create a humane society: cognition amplifiers and guardian angels

Cognition Amplifiers (COGs) and Guardian Angels (GATs) are two types of intelligent Agents technologies that assist humankind. A Cognition Amplifier is a Personal Enduring Autonomic Intelligent Agent that anticipates what you want to do and helps you to do it with less effort. A Cognition Amplifier can perform day to day tasks such as buying and selling, banking, and answer routine emails. A Guardian Angel is a Personal Enduring Autonomic Intelligent Agent assigned to each person on the planet to ensure the user's safety, security and wellbeing. A Guardian Angel can discover and warn the user about unanticipated events such as just-in-time warnings about hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme weather as well as potential impending problems of food security, water security and energy security. Together these intelligent agents can be used to create a Humane Society. AI technologies can be used to monitor, diagnose and remediate problems using personalized Guardian Angels and ensure basic necessities and protect human rights of every person on earth.To do these tasks, GATs and COGs must be always-on, always working and always-learning. They should be capable of automated discovery from multiple Internet-based data and information sources by monitoring, analyzing and learning from own experience and experience of others and by sharing knowledge with a community of GATs and COGs. Big Data from the global community of GATs and COGs, suitably anonymized, can be used to learn appropriate responses for every possible situation. They learn preferences by observing user choices, learn using task similarity and user similarity, learn from error correction data, and/or simply learning by asking using clarification dialog. These tasks require the development of foundational AI technologies of data driven learning, augmented intelligence through human-machine collaboration, multi-lingual and multimedia data mining, autonomous and autonomic self-healing system technologies.
Nativity and Occupational Determinants of Physical Activity Participation Among Latinos

Introduction Latinos in the U.S. bear a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular risk factors, including physical inactivity. Previous research among Latinos has focused on leisure-time physical activity, limiting understanding of the different ways in which populations, particularly working-class groups, achieve recommended levels of physical activity. This study examined associations of race/ethnicity; nativity; and leisure-time, transportation, and occupation-related physical activity among Latino and non-Latino white adults. Methods Participants sampled in the 2007–2012 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey self-reported domain-specific physical activity. Data were analyzed in 2016–2017 using multivariable log binomial regression models to examine differences in meeting guidelines for each physical activity domain separately and as total physical activity among Latinos (n=4,692) and non-Latino whites (n=7,788). Models were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and health status and tested interactions between nativity and occupational categories. Results In adjusted models, foreign-born Latinos (prevalence ratio=0.70, 95% CI=0.63, 0.77) and U.S.-born Latinos (prevalence ratio=0.85, 95% CI=0.76, 0.95) were least likely to meet physical activity guidelines through occupation-related and leisure time physical activity, when compared with non-Latino whites. By contrast, foreign-born Latinos were more likely to meet physical activity guidelines through transportation physical activity than non-Latino whites (prevalence ratio=1.26, 95% CI=1.01, 1.56) and were proportionately more likely to participate in vigorous modes of physical activity. Interaction results indicated that foreign-born Latinos were the least likely to meet physical activity guidelines compared with U.S.-born Latinos and non-Latino whites if they worked in non-manual occupational categories. All racial/ethnic groups working in manual occupations saw the largest increase (40%–50%) in meeting physical activity guidelines when occupation-related physical activity was combined with leisure-time and transportation physical activity. Conclusions These findings suggest variability in the relationship between nativity and the physical activity domain Latinos engage in compared with non-Latino whites, with occupation contributing substantially to meeting physical activity recommendations for all population groups.
Trait-based community assembly and succession of the infant gut microbiome.

The human gut microbiome develops over early childhood and aids in food digestion and immunomodulation, but the mechanisms driving its development remain elusive. Here we use data curated from literature and online repositories to examine trait-based patterns of gut microbiome succession in 56 infants over their first three years of life. We also develop a new phylogeny-based approach of inferring trait values that can extend readily to other microbial systems and questions. Trait-based patterns suggest that infant gut succession begins with a functionally variable cohort of taxa, adept at proliferating rapidly within hosts, which gradually matures into a more functionally uniform cohort of taxa adapted to thrive in the anoxic gut and disperse between anoxic patches as oxygen-tolerant spores. Trait-based composition stabilizes after the first year, while taxonomic turnover continues unabated, suggesting functional redundancy in the traits examined. Trait-based approaches powerfully complement taxonomy-based approaches to understanding the mechanisms of microbial community assembly and succession. Recent efforts have been made to apply ecological theory on succession to understand the dynamics of human microbiomes throughout development. Here, Guittar et al. use a trait-based approach to show how microbial traits putatively related to dispersal and environmental tolerance shift in the infant microbiome over the first three years of life.
New Jersey Home Health Care Aides Survey Results

The objective of the study was to report on what violence-based training home health care aides received, their participation in health promotion classes, and home health care aides’ experience wit...
Vector Spaces and Systems of Linear Equations

This chapter contains the basic definitions and facts about vector spaces, together with a thorough discussion of the application of the general results on vector spaces to the determination of the solutions of systems of linear equations. The chapter concludes with an optional section on the geometrical interpretation of the theory of systems of linear equations. Some motivation for the definition of a vector space and the theorems to be proved in this chapter was given in Section 1.
Contending and negotiating identity: trans activism within the Brazilian LGBT movement

Social movements engage in processes of identity work to construct and reconstruct identities. Within movements characterized by group differences, such as contemporary LGBT movements, demands for ...
Neonatal intensive care unit incubators reduce language and noise levels more than the womb.

Objective To assess the sound reducing characteristics of modern incubators in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to better characterize auditory and language exposures for NICU infants. Study design Sound frequency spectral analysis was conducted on language and noise audio acquired simultaneously inside and outside incubators located in the NICU. Results Sound transmission into the incubators was nonuniform. Very low-frequency sounds ( 2000 Hz), which convey important language information. Conclusions Sound reductions observed across NICU incubator walls are more severe than those reported for sound transmission into the intrauterine environment, particularly for midrange frequencies that are important for language. Although incubator walls may serve as a protection against noxious noise levels, these findings reveal a potentially detrimental effect on language exposure for infants inside a NICU incubator.
Research evolution of children with sporadic Burkitt' s lymphoma

Children with sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive lymphoma.It partly overlaps with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and unclassified B cell lymphoma (DLBCL/BL) which is between DLBCL and BL in the morphological,immunophenotypic and molecular genetic aspects,but it has its unique.characterization. Enhancing awareness of the disease based on the BL pathology, pathogenesis and prognosis of understanding,at the time of diagnosis and identificate with DLBCL and DLBCL/BL at the tine of diagnosis will be beneficial to clinical correct treatment and prognosis. Key words: Lymphoma; Pathological diagnosis; Immunophenotype; Molecular genetics
Exploring potentials of indigenous yeasts in fermentation of Chambourcin Grapes

Background: Indigenous yeasts present on grape berries have been shown to impact the winemaking process and final wine quality. In this study, we used Chambourcin, a hybrid grape cultivar, to isolate indigenous yeasts for potential use in winemaking. Hybrid grapes are of particularly interest due to higher resistance to cold temperature and fungal diseases. Methods: Yeasts were isolated from spontaneous fermentation of crushed grapes by plating on Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol agar and identified by Sanger sequencing. Yeast candidates were selected for their ability to grow in Yeast Extract-Peptone-Dextrose broth supplemented with varying ethanol concentration. Candidate yeasts were chosen for mock fermentation using sterile Chambourcin juice. Volatile and non-volatile compounds that predict wine quality (flavor and aroma) were measured by UPLC and GC-MS. Results: Hanseniaspora uvarum, Starmerella bacillaris, Candida californica, and Zygoascus meyerae were predominantly isolated from Chambourcin. S. bacillaris isolate 180002 and C. californica isolate 180004 were able to tolerate up to 10% ethanol compared to S. cerevisiae (ethanol tolerance up to 12%). Our results demonstrate that isolate 180002 grown in ethanol supplemented medium is comparable to the commercial S. cerevisiae. Various aroma profiles of three main chemical families – esters, higher alcohol and volatile acids in products fermented by S. bacillaris and other isolates were observed. Conclusion: Starmerella bacillaris isolate 180002 demonstrates potential for use in winemaking with hybrid grapes based on ethanol tolerance and production of wine related chemical compounds. This study further supports the application of indigenous grape-associated yeasts in creating flavor and aroma diversity of wine.
Leveraging a Software Analysis and Design Course to Train Ph.D. Students in Teaching

Software analysis and design courses present a unique teaching challenge, as they best benefit from professional experience to identify the nuances and subtleties of developing software models. It is not sufficient to teach these courses through just pure lecture. Mastery of the techniques being taught requires constant practice and focused feedback. It can be inadequate to rely on just school training to find skilled software engineers because to design and implement good software takes real world experience. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that recent graduates of Ph.D. programs in software engineering are trained to be capable of mastering the skills needed to teach such courses. Co-teaching is the collaboration of multiple teachers to deliver material to students. Co-teaching has many advantages not only for students but also for the teaching assistant. The shared responsibility of instruction and management of courses gives guidance to graduate teaching assistants on how to translate learning outcome to course administration. This also gives the teaching assistant the opportunity to gain shared expertise from the faculty member. This co-teaching experience also has the benefits of peer teaching for the graduate student such as improved confidence, comfort, and openness. Experience with how to handle teaching challenges such as classroom disruptions and assisting students who are struggling to understand the course content. In addition to this, it also broadens the teachings assistants' domain knowledge by gaining the experience from the paired faculty member of how to identify and convey experience to students. This paper presents the benefits of implementing a co-teaching approach for Ph.D. software engineering students pursuing faculty careers. The work presents the methods, lessons learned, and results of a Ph.D. student's co-teaching experience of a software analysis and modeling course with a faculty member.
Autoantibodies to the presumptive cytoplasmic domain of platelet glycoprotein IIIa in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura [published erratum appears in Blood 1991 Dec 1;78(11):3109]

Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder due to autoantibodies against platelets that result in their destruction. In some patients, these autoantibodies bind to platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIIa. With the aim of better defining the antigenic epitopes, plasma from 13 selected patients with chronic ITP known to have anti-GPIIb/IIIa autoantibodies was tested for reactivity with nine synthetic peptides corresponding to different regions of the GP IIIa molecule. Of these plasmas, five bound significantly (P less than .001) with either peptide 8 (amino acids 721–744) or peptide 9 (amino acids 742–762), which together form most of the carboxyterminal region presumed to be the cytoplasmic domain. Three of these positive plasmas, were tested further. In two of these positive plasmas, the anti-peptide antibodies represented greater than 80% of the detectable circulating autoantibody. To further evaluate the importance of the carboxyterminal region as an antigenic site, the chronic ITP plasmas were tested against Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with GPIIb and either whole GPIIIa or GPIIIa lacking amino acids 728 to 762. Ten of the 13 plasmas required the presence of this region for significant autoantibody binding. We conclude that the carboxyterminal region is an important area for stimulating antiplatelet autoantibody formation in some patients with chronic ITP. It is not known whether these autoantibodies to the presumed cytoplasmic domain play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease or occur as a secondary phenomenon during the course of platelet destruction.
Sediment-contaminant transport model

The unsteady, two-dimensional model, FETRA, was developed to simulate both sediment and contaminant transport in rivers and esturies. The model consists of three submodels which, when used jointly accurately depict the interaction and migration of sediment, dissolved contaminants, and particulate contaminants. FETRA solves the migration (transport, deposition and resuspension) of cohesive and noncohesive sediments and particulate contaminants of three sediment-size fractions. FETRA was applied to the James River estuary to simulate the migration of river sediments and the pesticide, Kepone. Computed results produced by the model are very similar to field-measured data, meaning that FETRA is reasonably accurate.
Belief Echoes: The Persistent Effects of Corrected Misinformation

Across three separate experiments, I find that exposure to negative political information continues to shape attitudes even after the information has been effectively discredited. I call these effects “belief echoes.” Results suggest that belief echoes can be created through an automatic or deliberative process. Belief echoes occur even when the misinformation is corrected immediately, the “gold standard” of journalistic fact-checking. The existence of belief echoes raises ethical concerns about journalists’ and fact-checking organizations’ efforts to publicly correct false claims.
Lac—I : The structure of shellolic acid

Abstract Shellolic acid, a component of the hydrolysate from lac resin, is shown to be 2,3,4,7,8a-hexa-hydro-4-hydroxy-8-(hydroxy-methyl)-8-methyl-1H-3a,7-methanoazulene-3,6-dicarboxylic acid ( 41 ).
Cheever's New Existential Man in Falconer

"Farragut (fratricide, zip to ten, #734-508-32)," writes Cheever, "had been brought to this old iron place [Falconer] on a late summer's day. He wore no leg irons but-was manacled to nine other men, four of them black and all of them younger than he." Thus begin the corrosive yet ultimately redeeming adventures and misadventures of Cheever's heroin-addicted, identity-muddled, memory-dissociated protagonist—a college professor, forty-eight years of age, married, and the father of a schoolboy son—who was sentenced to prison for the murder of his brother Eben. During an argument, Cheever recounts, Eben had screamed at Zeke, '"[Father] wanted you to be killed. Mother told me. He had an abortionist came out to the house. Your own father wanted you to be killed.' Then," says Cheever, "Farragut struck his brother with a fire iron. The widow testified that Farragut had struck his brother eighteen to twenty times, but she was a liar, and Farragut thought the doctor who corroborated this lie contemptible" (198). In prison Farragut is assigned to cellblock F, where his methadone and placebo cure, his relationships with Tiny and Walton, the guards, and with the other prisoners there—namely, Ransome, Stone, Chicken Number Two, and Cuckold—and near where his sexual relationship with his best friend Jody all eventually, but not easily, lead him out of the lower depths of his dissociation and fragile identity to a sufficient degree of association and self-confidence to make his break, just as his lover and mentor Jody had done some months before him.
Soybean Aphid Efficacy Evaluation in Northwest Iowa

Soybean, Glycine max (L.), grown in Iowa and most of the north central region of the United States has not required regular insecticide usage. Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is the most important soybean pest in Iowa and is capable of reducing yield by 40 percent. Nymphs and adults feed on sap within the phloem and can vector several plant viruses. In Iowa, soybean aphids have been a persistent pest that can colonize fields from June through September. Their summer population dynamics are dependent on weather and other environmental conditions.
Wave breaking turbulence at the offshore front of the Columbia River Plume

Observations at the Columbia River plume show that wave breaking is an important source of turbulence at the offshore front, which may contribute to plume mixing. The lateral gradient of current associated with the plume front is sufficient to block (and break) shorter waves. The intense whitecapping that then occurs at the front is a significant source of turbulence, which diffuses downward from the surface according to a scaling determined by the wave height and the gradient of wave energy flux. This process is distinct from the shear-driven mixing that occurs at the interface of river water and ocean water. Observations with and without short waves are examined, especially in two cases in which the background conditions (i.e., tidal flows and river discharge) are otherwise identical.
Three-dimensional organization of a human water channel

Aquaporins (AQP) are members of the major intrinsic protein (MIP) superfamily of integral membrane proteins and facilitate water transport in various eukaryotes and prokaryotes1,2. The archetypal aquaporin AQP1 is a partly glycosylated water-selective channel3,4 that is widely expressed in the plasma membranes of several water-permeable epithelial and endothelial cells2,5. Here we report the three-dimensional structure of deglycosylated, human erythrocyte AQP1, determined at 7A resolution in the membrane plane by electron crystallography of frozen-hydrated two-dimensional crystals6,7. The structure has an in-plane, intramolecular 2-fold axis of symmetry located in the hydrophobic core of the bilayer. The AQP1 monomer is composed of six membrane-spanning, tilted α-helices. These helices form a barrel that encloses a vestibular region leading to the water-selective channel, which is outlined by densities attributed to the functionally important NPA boxes8 and their bridges to the surrounding helices. The intramolecular symmetry within the AQP1 molecule represents a new motif for the topology and design of membrane protein channels, and is a simple and elegant solution to the problem of bidirectional transport across the bilayer.
Explosive Vapor Detection Using Microcantilever Sensors

Explosive-based terrorism is an eminent threat to a civilized and free society. Accurate and cost-effective explosive sensors are, therefore, essential for combating the terrorist threat. Some of the main performance characteristics for explosive sensors include sensitivity, selectivity, and real-time fast operation. As the vapor pressures of commonly used explosives are extremely small, highly sensitive sensors are essential for detecting trace quantities of explosives. Moreover, the sensors should have high selectivity to have an acceptable rate of false positives. Also, these sensors should have the capability of mass deployment because of the breadth of terrorist threats involving explosives [1]. Finally, these sensors should have fast detection and regeneration time for fast operation. Currently available sensors are unable to satisfy these requirements.
Effects of Continuous Irradiation on Animal Populations

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effects of continuous irradiation on animal populations. It focuses on terrestrial and freshwater populations for radiation effects on marine animals. The chapter discusses the effects of continuous irradiation on the processes of reproduction and survival and, hence, on the size and age-composition of animal populations. It considers the possibility of radiation-induced behavioral responses. Widespread lethality as a result of enormous radiation doses also occur. The chapter also provides an overview of the genetic effects for nonhuman populations. The genetic response of populations is relatively unimportant and that general mortality and infertility are limiting factors in the extent to which populations overcome radiation exposure. The chapter discusses the changes in plant community structure and function that result from somatic effects upon the generation irradiated. In considering nonhuman populations, ecologists have assumed that natural selection and other compensating mechanisms will counteract genetic disturbances imposed by irradiation.
Management of epilepsy in patients with Rett syndrome: perspectives and considerations

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that appears in infancy with regression of acquired motor skills, loss of purposeful activity, hand stereotypies, loss of acquired spoken language, and seizures. Epilepsy affects the majority of patients in a specific clinical stage of the disease and is drug resistant in approximately one-third of cases. The association of epilepsy and even drug-resistant epilepsy has been reported in certain genotypes of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 mutation, which is present in a majority of patients with classical RTT. The evolution of electroencephalographic abnormalities accompanying the clinical development of the syndrome is well described, but much less is known about the seizure semiology and the effectiveness of specific antiepileptic drugs. The aim of this review is to present the clinical and electrophysiological aspects of epilepsy in RTT and the current treatment approach.
On the equivalence of pulsed and continuous ultrasound in producing temperature elevations resulting from absorption

It is commonly accepted that the temperature elevation in biological specimens resulting from ultrasonic absorption will be the same for both continuous and pulsed ultrasound fields for identical spatial-peak, temporal-average intensities. The rate of heat genera tionper unit volume is typically determined by time averaging the square of the pressure waveform divided by pc. over the pulse repetition frequency. The assumption that pulsed and continuous ultrasound fields produce the same temperature elevation for identical spatial-peak, temporal-average intensities is examined from an alternate per spective and is found to be consistent with the above usual practice.
Transient versus persistent functional and structural changes associated with facilitation of Aplysia sensorimotor synapses are second messenger dependent

Increases in activity of both protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) contribute to short-term facilitation of Aplysia sensorimotor synapses evoked by serotonin (5-HT). We report here that increasing levels of cAMP in sensory neurons evokes increases in both synaptic efficacy and in the number of sensory neuron varicosities contacting the major axons of motor cell L7 at intermediate times (3 hr) that persist for 24 hr. Treatment with phorbol esters results in a large transient increase in synaptic efficacy that is accompanied by a large transient increase in the number of sensory neuron varicosities with the newest varicosities most susceptible to elimination. The reversal of the synaptic facilitation and the structural changes does not appear to be the result of long-term inhibitory actions of persistent PKC activation by phorbol esters, since changes in synaptic efficacy can be evoked by additional applications of either phorbol esters or 5-HT. The short-lived changes in structure evoked by phorbol esters occur in preexisting sensory neurites and not by new growth, since increases in PKC activity with phorbol esters lead to reductions in neurite extension and to retractions by sensory neuron growth cones. The action of phorbol esters on growth cone extension is reversible with washout. The results suggest that increases in PKA and PKC activities by 5-HT contribute to short (minutes) and intermediate (hours) forms of facilitation of sensorimotor synapses while increases in PKA activity also mediate long-term (days) maintenance of synaptic facilitation.
Celecoxib: a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor

Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors were developed to fill an important medical need. The rationale for the development of selective COX-2 inhibitors will be discussed using celecoxib as an example. A brief description of the pharmacology and selective binding to the COX-2 enzyme will be presented. Both preclinical and clinical data will be shown to demonstrate important clinical aspects of celecoxib. The efficacy data will include studies of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute pain conditions. Both gastroenterology and cardiovascular safety of celecoxib will be discussed. Finally, potential new therapeutic areas for celecoxib will be presented.
ESTIMATING THERMAL REGIMES OF BULL TROUT AND ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE WARMING ON CRITICAL HABITATS

Understanding the vulnerability of aquatic species and habitats under climate change is critical for conservation and management of freshwater systems. Climate warming is predicted to increase water temperatures in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, yet few studies have developed spatially explicit modelling tools for understanding the potential impacts. We parameterized a nonspatial model, a spatial flow-routed model, and a spatial hierarchical model to predict August stream temperatures (22-m resolution) throughout the Flathead River Basin, USA and Canada. Model comparisons showed that the spatial models performed significantly better than the nonspatial model, explaining the spatial autocorrelation found between sites. The spatial hierarchical model explained 82% of the variation in summer mean (August) stream temperatures and was used to estimate thermal regimes for threatened bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) habitats, one of the most thermally sensitive coldwater species in western North America. The model estimated summer thermal regimes of spawning and rearing habitats at <13°C and foraging, migrating, and overwintering habitats at <14°C. To illustrate the useful application of such a model, we simulated climate warming scenarios to quantify potential loss of critical habitats under forecasted climatic conditions. As air and water temperatures continue to increase, our model simulations show that lower portions of the Flathead River Basin drainage (foraging, migrating, and overwintering habitat) may become thermally unsuitable and headwater streams (spawning and rearing) may become isolated because of increasing thermal fragmentation during summer. Model results can be used to focus conservation and management efforts on populations of concern, by identifying critical habitats and assessing thermal changes at a local scale. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal conductivity of hydrocarbons in the naphthene group under high pressures

The thermal conductivity of hydrocarbons in the naphthene group has been experimentally determined. An equation is now proposed for calculating the thermal conductivity over the given temperature and pressure ranges.
Cell survival kinetics in peripheral blood and bone marrow during total body irradiation for marrow transplantation

Abstract Cell survival kinetics in both peripheral blood and in bone marrow have been studied over the time course of hyperfractionated total body irradiation (TBI) for bone marrow transplantation. Our unique TBI regimen allows the study of the in vivo radiation effect uncomplicated by prior cyclophosphamide, since this agent is given after TBI in our cytoreduction scheme. Peripheral blood cell concentrations were monitored with conventional laboratory cell counts and differentials. Absolute bone marrow cell concentrations were monitored by measuring cell concentrations in an aspirate sample and correcting for dilution with blood by a cell cycle kinetic method using cytofluorometry. In the entire group of patients, time to engraftment with donor marrow was found to be 16.6 × 4.4 days and more rapid when a nucleated donor cell dose of ≥4.0 × 10 8 cells/kg was given. For lymphocytes in peripheral blood in patients in remission, the effective D 0 ranged from 373 rad in 10 children ≤10 y old, to 536 rad in the four patients between 11–17 y old, while n = 1.0 in all groups. There was no trend observed according to age. Granulocytes had a much higher effective D 0 , approximately 1000 rad in vivo . Absolute nucleated cell concentration in marrow dropped slowly initially, due to an increased lymphocyte concentration in marrow during a concurrent drop in lymphocyte concentration in peripheral blood, but eventually fell on the last day of TBI ranging from 7–44 % of the initial marrow nucleated cell concentration. Marrow myeloid elements, however, dropped continuously throughout the course of TBI.
Sirtuins and ageing—new findings

Sirtuins are a promising avenue for orally administered drugs that might deliver the anti-aging benefits normally provided by calorie restriction.
High-Risk Tissue Distribution in the Human Proximal Femur Under Sideways Fall Loading

Despite the central role of femoral strength in the etiology of osteoporotic hip fractures [1], the associated micromechanical basis of femoral strength remains poorly understood. Cadaver studies [2] using biomechanical testing have established that both the cortical and trabecular bone contribute to the structural integrity of the proximal femur but these studies did not address mechanisms. Addressing mechanisms, theoretical and finite element continuum analyses have assessed cortical-trabecular load sharing and have described stress and strain distributions throughout the proximal femur [1,3]. However, the regions of the bone at highest risk of initial failure remain unclear, in part because the continuum nature and low spatial resolution of these previous analyses render them incapbable of capturing load transfer associated with the microstructure of the trabecular bone and the sometimes thin cortex. Overcoming this limitation, micro-CT-based finite element analysis has recently been applied to the entire proximal femur [4], but so far only two femurs have been analyzed and thus reported trends are difficult to generalize. To extend this recent work and provide further insight into the microstructural basis of femoral strength, we applied micro-CT based finite element analysis to investigate femoral micro-mechanics in a cohort of elderly human proximal femurs.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Genetic transformation of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus by particle bombardment

Paxillus involutus was transformed using gold particle mediated gene transfer. Transformation was determined using the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) as the selectable marker and the β-glucuronidase gene (GUS) as a reporter gene. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the vector DNA for both hph and GUS genes was integrated into the fungal genome. Variations in the number of multiple gene copies and insertions were found in the transformants. The hygromycin resistant transformants were mitotically stable maintaining both the hph and GUS genes in the fungal genome six months following transformation. Western blot analysis determined that the GUS gene was capable of transcribing and translating its protein product in the transformed fungus. Enzyme assays of GUS extracts determined that β-glucuronidase was active in the transformed fungi. Pure culture synthesis experiments showed that the ability of P. involvutus to form ectomychorrhizae with Pinus resinosa was not altered by transformation. These results provide the first report of a successful transformation of an ectomycorrhizal fungus using particle bombardment.
Circadian variation in mouse hematopoiesis. I. Sex difference in cellularity of femoral diaphyseal marrow.

SummaryThe total nucleated cell count in the bone marrow of mice exhibits a sex related daily fluctuation. The male cellularity is highest at 4:00 a.m. and is minimal at 4:00 p.m.; whereas in the female, high cellularity is evident at midnight and assumes its low value at 4:00 a.m.
Studies on the ascorbic acid-induced depolymerization of hyaluronic acid

Abstract Ascorbic acid and intermediates produced in the course of its autoxidation were studied for their capacity to depolymerize hyaluronic acid. Depolymerization was expressed in terms of increase in specific fluidity as determined viscometrically. Calcium diketogulonate was demonstrated to be more active in eliciting depolymerization of the polysaccharide than either dehydroascorbic acid or ascorbic acid. Dehydroascorbic acid was about half as active as ascorbic acid. In the presence of added H 2 O 2 , the rate of depolymerization by all three compounds was markedly increased, although H 2 O 2 alone failed to depolymerize hyaluronic acid. The results indicate that when ascorbic acid undergoes autoxidation in the presence of hyaluronic acid, degradation of diketogulonic acid is one of the major reactions to which depolymerization of the polysaccharide is coupled. H 2 O 2 appears to increase the rate of ascorbic acid induced depolymerization of hyaluronic acid by a catalytic or synergistic action diketogulonic acid or its products of degradation.
Ionoluminescence of aluminum

Abstract The impact of low energy (10–30 keV) H + and He + ions on polycrystalline aluminum gives rise to broad band optical emission; this extends from 3000 to 6500 A and peaks in intensity near 5100 A. The integrated intensity in this band represents approximately 0.02 photons emitted for each ion incident. All observations are consistent with the source of the emission being localized in the target surface. We suggest that this emission is due to a recombination mechanism involving electrons localized (in reciprocal space) at a minimum in an excited band at the critical point W. We calculate the spectral distribution expected from this direct-transition, electron-hole recombination model and show that the result is consistent with the observed spectrum.
A Geocomputational Process for Characterizing the Spatial Pattern of Lung Cancer Incidence in New Hampshire

Data that are detailed both spatially and demographically are increasingly available for disease incidence and background population at risk. Rapidly growing computer capability makes computational...
The effects of DDT upon flat and vesicular bilayers studied by a fluorescent probe

Abstract The effect of DDT and several analogs upon bilayer membranes was studied, using the fluorescent dye di (octadecyl)oxycarbocyanin as a probe. It was shown in flat bilayers of Torpedo electroplax phospholipids, using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, that neither DDT nor its physiologically inactive analog, p,p′ -hydroxy-DDT, affected the fluidity of the membrane. However DDT, and not the analog, displaced half of the dye from the membrane. In studies with lecithin or Torpedo electroplax phospholipid vesicles, using simple fluorescence measurements, no displacement of the dye was observed by DDT or its analogs.
Deuteron magnetic resonance in a-Ge:D, H and a-Si:D, H

Abstract Nuclear spin relaxation times and resonance line shapes have been measured at 30 MHz for deuterons in a-Ge:H, D plasma-deposited from a 10% GeH 4 /D 2 gas mixture. The molecular D 2 component of the resonance is relatively much larger, in comparison to the lattice-bound D components, than has been observed for similarly prepared a-Si:H, D samples. The increased D 2 /D ratio is interpreted to reflect a larger fractional void volume in a-Ge. The lattice-bound D in a-Ge shows a resolved quadrupolar doublet splitting in good agreement with infra red stretching mode absorptions. The deuteron spin-lattice relaxation shows a component dominated by relaxation via effectively dilute p-D 2 relaxation center molecules located in microvoids. Another deuteron T 1 component, associated with the resolved doublet, shows a distribution of relaxation times over five orders of magnitude and reflects the distribution of bonded D with respect to microvoid locations.
Optogalvanic spectra of neon and argon in glow discharge lamps

Optogalvanic spectra of atomic neon and argon have been obtained by irradiating miniature glow discharge lamps with a pulsed, tunable dye laser. The method is shown to be useful for wavelength calibration of tunable lasers, and the resonant lines are cataloged. Two-photon absorption lines in neon are observed when the laser is focused into a small region of the discharge.
Accumulation and Crisis in a Small and Open Economy: The Postwar Social Structure of Accumulation in Puerto Rico

This paper presents a model of capital accumulation in a small and open economy, a model consisting of an investment equation and a profit equation. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the erosion of the postwar social structure of accumulation, as reflected in declining profit rates, led to the current economic crisis. Econometric estimation of the model confirms the critical importance of lower profit-rate differentials in inducing a lower reinvestment of foreign capital, and it shows how the deterioration of the postwar social structure of accumulation has caused the decline of long-term profitability in Puerto Rico.
Likelihood of high rates of energy deposition in the human legs at the ANSI recommended 3-30-MHz RF safety levels

Based on physical measurements, the letter provides estimates of currents in human subjects exposed to ANSI C95.1-1982 recommended safety levels for RF EM fields. It is shown that such fields are likely to result in high SARs in the leg with values as high as 182 W/kg for the frequency band 3-30 MHz.
Alcohol Alters Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in Immature Female Rhesus Monkeys by a Hypothalamic Action

We determined whether the effect of alcohol (ALC) to suppress LH secretion in immature female monkeys is due to a hypothalamic or pituitary site of action. Beginning at 20 months of age, four monkeys received a single intragastric dose of ALC (2.4 g/kg), and four monkeys received an equal volume of a saline/sucrose solution daily until they were 36 months old. For the hypothalamic response test, two basal samples (3.5 ml) were collected at 15-min intervals via the saphenous vein, and then N-methyl-D-L-aspartic acid (NMA; 20 mg/kg) was given iv and four more blood samples collected. Three weeks later, this protocol was repeated except LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) (5 g/kg) was used to test pituitary responsiveness. NMA or LHRH was administered 3 h after the ALC. After the pituitary challenge, each monkey was ovariectomized and 6 wk later, implanted with an indwelling subclavian vein catheter. Blood samples were drawn every 10 min fo r8ht oassess effects of ALC on post-ovariectomy LH levels and the profile of LH pulsatile secretion. The hypothalamic challenge showed NMA stimulated LH release in control monkeys, an action that was blocked by ALC. The pituitary challenge revealed that LHRH stimulated LH release equally well in control and ALC-treated monkeys. A post-ovariectomy rise in LH was observed in both groups, but levels were 45% lower in ALC-treated monkeys. This reduction was attributed to an ALC-induced suppression of both baseline and amplitude of pulses. Results demonstrate that the ALC-induced suppression of LH in immature female rhesus monkeys is due to an inhibitory action of the drug at the hypothalamic level. (Endocrinology 145: 4558 – 4564, 2004)
Numerical Analysis of Conduction in a Foam

Porous organic materials are being developed for use as insulation, heat spreaders, and compact heat exchanger cores. The bulk properties of such a porous medium are difficult to determine analytically, particularly for the case of high porosity or when the porous material is not isotropic or homogeneous. Models that predict thermal conductivity of foams often use an empirical parameter to account for the effect of pore shape and material microstructure on the conduction process. A finite element analysis has been developed to calculate the thermal conductivity of a porous medium containing micropores. The effective thermal conductivity and the empirical conduction parameter are evaluated by comparing the results of the analytical and numerical models.Copyright © 2002 by ASME