cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modulation of a volume-regulated chloride current by F-actin.

We have examined whether F-actin integrity is involved in activation of a volume-regulated Cl− current (VRChlC) in B-lymphocytes. VRChlC activation was initiated in response to establishing a whole cell recording in the presence of a hyposmotic gradient. Parallel confocal microscopy experiments using Rhodamine Phalloidin (R-P) as a specific marker of F-actin showed that the submembrane actin ring is reversibly disrupted in response to an hyposmotic gradient. Disruptions of cortical F-actin integrity by 50 μm cytochalasin B (CB) does not trigger activation of VRChlC under isosmotic conditions or potentiate the rate of activation when the osmolarity of the extracellular solution was decreased by 75%. However, incubation with CB increased the rate of VRChlC activation in response to a 90% hyposmotic gradient. Phalloidin, a stabilizer of F-actin, decreases the rate of VRChlC activation in response to a 90% gradient, but has no effect in response to a 75% gradient. These observations suggest that disassembly of cortical F-actin is not critical for VRChlC activation in B-lymphocytes. The integrity of cortical F-actin, however, can exert a modulatory effect on the rate of VRChlC activation in the presence of a hyposmotic gradient.
Complications of care in a pediatric intensive care unit: a prospective study.

Objectives (a) To examine the frequency, type, and severity of complications occurring in a pediatric intensive care unit; (b) to identify populations at risk; and (c) to study the impact of complications on morbidity and mortality.
Lakes under a three-pronged attack

Two studies of environmental damage to lakes in Canada teach us several lessons — not least, that understanding such problems requires long-term investigations that take into account the complex interactions involved.
Epps Performance under Social Desirability Instructions: College Females:

The EPPS was administered to 59 female Ss under social desirability instructions (SDI). Under SDI, and similar to males under SDI, Ach, Def, Ord, Aff, Nur, and End means were significantly higher than under standard instructions (Edwards' college norms), and Exh, Aut, Chg, Het, Agg, and Suc, were significantly lower. Whereas for males, the SDI-SI correlation is .19, for females it is .77. Such results suggest that the high SDI-SI correlations previously found by other investigators were mainly due to the contribution of the females' performance. Furthermore, performance of males and females under SDI correlates .88, indicating close agreement as to their choices of SD statements on the EPPS.
Comparison of the in vitro isolated strip methodology with the superfused strip technique

There are several methodologies available for determining the contractile effects of specific agents on isolated smooth muscle. The standard isolated bath technique utilizes strips mounted in a physiological buffer. The agent under study is added to the buffer and the response is recorded on a polygraph. The superfused strip technique utilizes strips in which buffer is pumped over the strip at relatively low flow rates. The agent under investigation is either infused into the stream of buffer bathing the tissue strip or administered directly onto the tissue. We have compared the response of these two methodologies using isolated strips of rabbit urinary bladder body. Isolated strips of rabbit urinary bladder were mounted in standard isolated baths containing 30 ml Tyrode's solution. The response of these strips to the autonomic agonists bethanechol, ATP, and isoproterenol were determined via cumulative addition at 5-minute intervals. Similar strips were mounted as above, after equilibration, the Tyrode's was drained, and fresh oxygenated Tyrode's was pumped over the strip at a rate of 4 ml per minute. Flow was stopped and drugs were administered directly onto the tissue in 100-μl aliquots. After either maximal response or 2 minutes, flow was resumed. Drugs were added at 10-minute intervals. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) The superfused bladder strips responded to 100-fold lower amounts of autonomic agonist than the strips in the isolated bath. 2) The maximum response to ATP (an agent that produces rapid desensitization) was threefold greater in the superfused model than in the bladder bath, and the rate of response of the tissues in the superfused system was significantly greater than in the isolated baths. In summary, the superfused isolated bladder preparation is an excellent methodology to use in specific investigations.
Polyphenylquinoxaline-based proton exchange membranes synthesized via the PPA Process for high temperature fuel cell systems

Abstract A novel method for the successful, high temperature (125 °C) polymerization of high inherent viscosity polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) homopolymer and copolymers with polybenzimidazole (PBI) was investigated. PPQ homopolymer and PPQ/PBI copolymer membranes were prepared via the Polyphosphoric Acid (PPA) Process for use in high temperature (>120 °C) fuel cell systems. PPQ homopolymer membrane with a polymer content of 8.00 wt% was shown to have a phosphoric acid loading of 36.2 mol phosphoric acid per mol of polymer repeat unit (PA/r.u.) and a Young's modulus of 21 MPa, indicating a rigid gel membrane. PPQ homopolymer membranes with high PA loadings were, however, found to be dimensionally unstable at temperatures greater than 120 °C and reverted to a sol state. To increase the dimensional stability of a PPQ-based proton exchange membrane (PEM), a series of copolymer films containing PPQ and the highly dimensionally stable p-PBI polymer were studied. The series of PPQ/PBI copolymer membranes ranged in PPQ content from 10 to 95 mol% and were found to possess phosphoric acid doping levels between 19 and 39 mol PA/r.u. and proton conductivities up to 0.26 S cm−1. Several of the copolymer membranes were also shown to have enhanced rigidity over numerous other membranes developed by the PPA Process as exhibited by Young's moduli between 1.9 and 31.1 MPa. An advantageous balance of properties was found for a PPQ/p-PBI copolymer membrane composition of 58 mol% PPQ and 42 mol% p-PBI, denoted as PPQ-58. This membrane was found to have a phosphoric acid doping level of 39.2 mol PA/r.u. and a proton conductivity of 0.24 S cm−1 at 180 °C. PPQ-58 membranes also showed excellent long-term stability in a fuel cell operating under non-humidified conditions at 160 °C utilizing hydrogen and air (1.2:2.0 stoich.) at a current density of 0.2 A cm−2. Under these conditions, PPQ-58 exhibited a voltage degradation rate of 30 μV h−1 during a 2900 h lifetime performance test.
Weighted versus unweighted Charlson score to predict long-term other-cause mortality in men with early-stage prostate cancer.

Abstract Background Clinicians need a simple yet accurate method to predict other-cause mortality to inform medical decision making for men with prostate cancer (PCa). Objective To compare weighted and unweighted Charlson Comorbidity Index scores in predicting long-term, other-cause mortality in men with early-stage PCa. Design, setting, and participants A retrospective cohort study of 1482 men with early-stage PCa diagnosed in 1998–2004 at two Southern California Veterans Affairs medical centers. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Subhazard ratios and cumulative incidence of other-cause mortality associated with weighted and unweighted Charlson scores, calculated by competing-risks regression accounting for cancer mortality, along with Harrell concordance index (C-index) values. Results and limitations Weighted and unweighted Charlson scores were identical in 88.6% of subjects (1313 of 1482 men) across all scores and in 91.7% of subjects (1359 of 1482 men) across scores of 0, 1, 2, and ≥3. In competing-risks analysis, hazards of other-cause mortality were similar when comparing weighted and unweighted scores. Men with weighted scores of 1, 2, and ≥3 (vs 0) had subhazard ratios of 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6–3.2), 4.1 (95% CI, 2.9–5.8), and 8.3 (95% CI, 5.9–11.5), respectively. Men with unweighted scores of 1, 2, and ≥3 (vs 0) had subhazard ratios of 2.5 (95% CI, 1.8–3.5), 4.5 (95% CI, 3.2–6.3), and 10.3 (95% CI, 7.2–14.7), respectively. The C-indexes for prediction of other-cause mortality were nearly identical for weighted scores (0.759 [95% CI, 0.715–0.780]) and unweighted scores (0.756 [95% CI, 0.717–0.780]). The difference in C-index between the two methods was −0.003 (95% CI, −0.01 to 0.004). Conclusions An unweighted Charlson score yields similar strength of association and variance in predicting long-term, other-cause mortality compared with a weighted Charlson score. Patient summary A simple count of major comorbidities provides similar accuracy to a weighted index in predicting death from other causes in men with early-stage prostate cancer.
C program for finding the roots of real-coefficient polynomials

A C language program, based on Laguerre's method for finding the roots of real-coefficient polynomials, is developed. This is a modified version of ZROOTS and LAGUER. This program works very well and can be a good tool in engineering classes as well as in developing one's own program. >
The Unique Challenges Facing HIV-Positive Patients Who Smoke Cigarettes: HIV Viremia, Art Adherence, Engagement in HIV care, and Concurrent Substance Use

Evidence suggests that smoking may have negative associations with HIV health outcomes. The smoking rate in our sample of people living with HIV (N = 333) was triple that of the general population (57 v. 19 %). Regression analyses revealed that (smokers v. non-smokers) reported lower medication adherence (unstandardized beta = 9.01) and were more likely to have a detectable viral load (OR = 2.85, 95 % CI [1.53–5.30]). Smokers attended fewer routine medical visits (β = −0.16) and were more likely to report recent hospitalization (OR = 1.89, 95 % CI [0.99, 3.57]). Smokers ranked “health” as less important to their quality of life (β = −0.13) and were more likely to report problematic alcohol (OR = 2.40, 95 % CI [1.35, 4.30]), cocaine (OR = 2.87, 95 % CI [1.48–5.58]), heroin (OR = 4.75, 95 % CI [1.01, 22.30]), or marijuana use (OR = 3.08, 95 % CI [1.76–5.38]). Findings underscore the need for integrated behavioral smoking cessation interventions and routine tobacco screenings in HIV primary care.
Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids (R.O.C.K.): The Program and Its Evaluation.

The Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids (R.O.C.K.) program was designed as a service-learning project for students at Saint Francis University to serve the local communities by organizing chemistry activities in high schools. It was initiated in 1995 and has involved a large number of Saint Francis University students and local high school students. This article presents an evaluation of the R.O.C.K. program and discussion of its findings. The evaluation was conducted using multiple evaluation designs to assess the impact of the program on high school students' interest in science and Saint Francis students' learning process and their views on service-learning. The results indicate that program was effective and had positive impact on both high school and Saint Francis students who participated.
Tourette's Syndrome: Characteristics and Interventions

Children and youth with Tourette's syndrome present with many complex characteristics that are often poorly understood by special and general educators. This article overviews the characteristics of children and youth with Tourette's syndrome and provides helpful suggestions that can be used in school settings.
Nicotinamidase modulation of NAD+ biosynthesis and nicotinamide levels separately affect reproductive development and cell survival in C. elegans.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a central molecule in cellular metabolism and an obligate co-substrate for NAD+-consuming enzymes, which regulate key biological processes such as longevity and stress responses. Although NAD+ biosynthesis has been intensely studied, little analysis has been done in developmental models. We have uncovered novel developmental roles for a nicotinamidase (PNC), the first enzyme in the NAD+ salvage pathway of invertebrates. Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans nicotinamidase PNC-1 cause developmental and functional defects in the reproductive system; the development of the gonad is delayed, four uterine cells die by necrosis and the mutant animals are egg-laying defective. The temporal delay in gonad development results from depletion of the salvage pathway product NAD+, whereas the uv1 cell necrosis and egg-laying defects result from accumulation of the substrate nicotinamide. Thus, regulation of both substrate and product level is key to the biological activity of PNC-1. We also find that diet probably affects the levels of these metabolites, as it affects phenotypes. Finally, we identified a secreted isoform of PNC-1 and confirmed its extracellular localization and functional activity in vivo. We demonstrate that nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), the equivalent enzyme in nicotinamide recycling to NAD+ in vertebrates, can functionally substitute for PNC-1. As Nampt is also secreted, we postulate an evolutionarily conserved extracellular role for NAD+ biosynthetic enzymes during development and physiology.
Least squares estimation of mechanical tissue parameters from cine MRI data using a finite element mechanical model of the left ventricle-feasibility study

It is well known that biological tissue adapts to changes in mechanical loading. The stress level in the myocardium is an important factor in evaluating the cardiac tissue. For example, it may be an indicator of the metabolic rate of cardiac cells. But measuring the stress level in living tissue is very difficult. The deformations of the left ventricle (LV) can be obtained from 3D tagged MRI or image warping. To calculate the stress distribution in the LV, the mechanical properties of myocardium still must be determined. In this paper, we studied the feasibility to use a finite element (FE) model of the LV to estimate the material constants for Humphrey's model of passive cardiac tissue from cine MRI data. In our simulations, the target strain-map was generated by running the forward FE model of the LV with known material constants. The target strain-map was compared with current strain-map and objective functions were defined as the discrepancies between them. Newton-Raphson's method was used to minimize the objective functions iteratively.
Forest ecosystems, disturbance, and climatic change in Washington State, USA

Climatic change is likely to affect Pacific Northwest (PNW) forests in several important ways. In this paper, we address the role of climate in four forest ecosystem processes and project the effects of future climatic change on these processes across Washington State. First, we relate Douglas-fir growth to climatic limitation and suggest that where Douglas-fir is currently water-limited, growth is likely to decline due to increased summer water deficit. Second, we use existing analyses of climatic controls on tree species biogeography to demonstrate that by the mid twenty-first century, climate will be less suitable for key species in some areas of Washington. Third, we examine the relationships between climate and the area burned by fire and project climatically driven regional and sub-regional increases in area burned. Fourth, we suggest that climatic change influences mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreaks by increasing host-tree vulnerability and by shifting the region of climate suitability upward in elevation. The increased rates of disturbance by fire and mountain pine beetle are likely to be more significant agents of changes in forests in the twenty-first century than species turnover or declines in productivity, suggesting that understanding future disturbance regimes is critical for successful adaptation to climate change.
Equity Investments: Research Sources; Investment Theory: Efficient Market Theory; Portfolio Management: Equity Strategies

Typical socially responsible investors tilt their portfolios toward stocks of companies with high scores on social responsibility characteristics and shun stocks of companies associated with tobacco, alcohol, gambling, firearms, and military or nuclear operations. Analyzing 1992-2007 returns of stocks rated on social responsibility, this study found that this tilt gave such investors an advantage over conventional investors. The study also found that shunning resulted in a disadvantage for such investors relative to conventional investors. The advantage from tilting toward stocks of companies with high social responsibility scores is largely offset by the disadvantage from the exclusion of stocks of shunned companies. Socially responsible investors can thus do both well and good by adopting the best-in-class method in constructing their portfolios: tilting toward stocks of companies with high scores on social responsibility characteristics but refraining from shunning stocks of any company.
Activity budgets of woolly spider monkeys, or muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides).

One group of woolly spider monkeys, or muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides), was observed from June 1983 through July 1984 at Fazenda Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study subjects spent an average of 49% of their daylight time resting, 29% traveling, and 19% feeding. They shifted their diurnal schedule of activities in response to seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall. The activity budgets of adult males and females were similar. However, a comparison of three adult females in different reproductive conditions revealed that the lactating female spent a greater proportion of time feeding than did both the pregnant and nonreproductive females. Intraspecific differences in group size and diet appear to be important to understanding differences in the activity budgets of Brachyteles. Differences between locomotion patterns of woolly spider monkeys and sympatric howler monkeys may explain activity budget differences based on group size and diet.
Energy-Efficient Random-Access Scheduler for Delay-Limited Traffic in Wireless Networks

This paper considers energy minimization for a fast-fading random-access network, where each user sends a single fixed-length packet by selecting a single time-slot within a strict delay-limit. The proposed algorithms assume that each user causally knows its channel state information from electromagnetic reciprocity. With the channel distribution known to all users, the proposed dynamic-programming solution provides an optimal scheduler that minimizes the sum of energy used to transmit a packet and outage cost incurred by a packet drop. Without the knowledge of the channel distribution, a heuristic scheduler is additionally proposed, which learns channel statistics by observing initial time slots.
Extreme variations in spring temperature affect ecosystem regulating services provided by birds during migration

Extreme weather is becoming more pronounced, making phenological patterns less predictable. Among the potential consequences, extreme weather may alter relationships of migratory birds with their seasonal food resources and thus impact valuable ecosystem regulating services (e.g., bird predation of herbivorous insects). Our goal was to quantify the effect of an extremely warm spring on these relationships in a U.S Midwest oak savanna. Average regional temperatures in the spring of 2009 coupled with record highs in 2010 (8°C warmer) were the basis of a natural experiment for addressing our goal. In both springs we documented tree flowering and leaf-out phenology, related these to arrival and foraging behavior of the three most abundant migratory wood-warbler species (Parulidae), and quantified the effects of migratory bird foraging on insect density, size, and herbivory using a branch exclosure experiment. In 2009, the dominant tree species at our study site, eastern black oak (Quercus velutina), flowered in mid-May and the wood warblers foraged heavily in the savanna during this time. Branches from which birds were excluded exhibited a trend toward higher insect density, larger Lepidopterans, and greater flower damage than control branches. In 2010, tree phenology was four weeks earlier than in 2009 and the wood warblers were nearly absent from the savanna (83% fewer), likely because peak food availability preceded their arrival in mid-May. Insect density was 83% greater in 2009 than 2010. However, in 2010, 81% of sampled leaves exhibited substantial damage (>25% of leaf-area removed) compared with 27% of leaves in 2009, presumably due to a lack of herbivorous insect regulation by birds. Our results suggest that the extremely warm spring of 2010 altered linkages between migratory birds and their invertebrate prey that are typical during years of average weather, which likely affected habitat use and the delivery of ecosystem regulating services.
Advanced Technologies in Radiation Therapy: A New Beginning

Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) is often used to describe two different, but related new technologies which foretell significant improvements in radiation therapy (RT) treatment planning and treatment beam delivery. First, functional imaging (FI) modalities such as PET and MRI now permit quantification of tumor biology and radiosensitivity. In conjunction with anatomy based CT treatment simulation they are increasingly being used in RT treatment planning. Second, IGRT is often used to describe linear accelerator based kilovoltage (kV) imaging systems that are increasingly being used to monitor both inter and intrafraction changes in patient setup and internal anatomy offering the potential for real time adaptive RT. Functional imaging offers the potential to more accurately diagnose tumors and in particular, identify aggressive heterogeneous subvolumes within tumors, which when coupled with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and ‘dose painting’ have the potential to improve local control rates. The combination of FI based treatment planning plus IGRT therapy delivery may permit reduced treatment field margins, in turn leading to reduced normal tissue damage, which in turn may permit further dose escalation and improved clinical outcome. In particular the normal tissue dose sparing achievable with the combination of FI and IGRT may permit increased application of high dose hypofractionated radiosurgery to various extracranial tumor sites such as liver, lung, pelvis, abdomen, and soft tissues. Single fraction extracranial IGRT has also been proposed as a systemic treatment for oligometastases. Decreased treatment field margins and dose escalation place increasing importance on accurate treatment delivery, control of respiratory induced organ motion, and intrafractional monitoring of treatment delivery. The application of new technologies for these purposes is rapidly expanding in the clinical setting. We present here an overview of these new technologies, a review of early reports of their clinical application, and goals for the future.
Modulation of the immune system by synthetic polynucleotides

The complexities of the immune system have become fully appreciated within the last 10 years and are slowly being unravelled. Vital to our current definition and knowledge of the pathways and cell populations involved, have been a variety of immunostimulatory agents which have illuminated heretofore subliminal responses [62]. During the past decade our laboratory has concentrated on defining the immunoregulatory properties of one of these, the synthetic double-stranded polyribonucleotide complexes [41]. Polynucleotides are formed following the action of the enzyme, polynucleotide Phosphorylase, isolated from Streptomyces lysodeikticus, on the desired mononucleotide diphosphates. When the polymerized single strands from opposite base pairs are mixed, a double helix is formed. Thus, polyadenylic acid mixed with its opposite base pair, polyuridylic acid, forms the poly A: U complex. Similarly, polyinosinic acid mixed with polycytidylic acid forms poly I:C
Mechanism of renal action of parathyroid hormone.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a major hormone involved in the maintenance of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. The two major target organs for this peptide hormone are bone and kidney. In this communication, we briefly review our knowledge on the mechanisms of actions of PTH on the kidney, and by doing so we could envision some insight into the mechanisms of action of PTH on bone, since some of the basic hormone-cell interaction may be similar. For those who are interested, two recent review articles (1,2) are available discussing in detail the various aspects of PTH-kidney relationship. The present discussion will be limited to the acute effects of PTH on the kidney.
Observed infection control compliance in a dental school: A natural experiment.

Objective The objective of this study was to determine student adherence to infection control policies at 1 dental school. A secondary objective was to determine the influence of Ebola virus disease (EVD)-related training on student infection control behaviors. Methods An instrument to assess and record infection control behaviors was developed to reflect Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines as well as current teaching. Third- and fourth-year dental students were observed during patient-care appointments and behaviors were recorded and analyzed. Behaviors observed before the EVD outbreak and subsequent mandatory in-service training were compared with behaviors observed after completion of the training. Results Use of personal protective equipment was nearly universal. Overall compliance with infection control parameters was 88%. However, only a minority of students demonstrated no breaches of protocol. Most violations involved improper mask use and improper glove use during the intraoperative phase of an appointment and failure to wash hands after removing gloves. There were no significant overall differences in observed behavior pre- and post-EVD training. Conclusion Overall compliance with recommendations was high but some areas showed room for improvement. Future training in infection control should focus on these areas. Training related to EVD had no influence on student behavior.
Progressive redshifts in the late-time spectra of Type Ia supernovae

We examine the evolution of late-time, optical nebular features of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using a sample consisting of 160 spectra of 27 normal SNe Ia taken from the literature as well as unpublished spectra of SN 2008Q and ASASSN-14lp. Particular attention was given to nebular features between 4000-6000 A in terms of temporal changes in width and central wavelength. Analysis of the prominent late-time 4700 A feature shows a progressive central wavelength shift from ~4600 A to longer wavelengths out to at least day +300 for our entire sample. We find no evidence for the feature's red-ward shift slowing or halting at an [Fe III] blend centroid of 4701 A as has been proposed. The width of the feature also steadily increases with a FWHM ~170 A at day +100 growing to 200 A or more by day +350. Two weaker adjacent features around 4850 and 5000 A exhibit very similar red shifts to that of the 4700 A feature but show no change in width until very late times. We discuss possible causes for the observed red-ward shifting of these late-time optical features including contribution from [Co II] emission at early nebular epochs and the emergence of additional features at later times. We conclude that the ubiquitous red shift of these common late-time, nebular SN Ia spectral features is not mainly due to a decrease in a blueshift of forbidden Fe lines but the result, in part, of decreasing velocity and/or optical depth of permitted Fe lines.
Restoration of R117H CFTR folding and function in human airway cells through combination treatment with VX-809 and VX-770

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a lethal recessive genetic disease caused primarily by the F508del mutation in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The potentiator VX-770 was the first CFTR modulator approved by the FDA for treatment of CF patients with the gating mutation G551D. Orkambi is a drug containing VX-770 and corrector VX809 and is approved for treatment of CF patients homozygous for F508del, which has folding and gating defects. At least 30% of CF patients are heterozygous for the F508del mutation with the other allele encoding for one of many different rare CFTR mutations. Treatment of heterozygous F508del patients with VX-809 and VX-770 has had limited success, so it is important to identify heterozygous patients that respond to CFTR modulator therapy. R117H is a more prevalent rare mutation found in over 2,000 CF patients. In this study we investigated the effectiveness of VX-809/VX-770 therapy on restoring CFTR function in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells from R117H/F508del CF patients. We found that VX-809 stimulated more CFTR activity in R117H/F508del HBEs than in F508del/F508del HBEs. R117H expressed exclusively in immortalized HBEs exhibited a folding defect, was retained in the ER, and degraded prematurely. VX-809 corrected the R117H folding defect and restored channel function. Because R117 is involved in ion conductance, VX-770 acted additively with VX-809 to restore CFTR function in chronically treated R117H/F508del cells. Although treatment of R117H patients with VX-770 has been approved, our studies indicate that Orkambi may be more beneficial for rescue of CFTR function in these patients.
Simplified Dendrite—Soma—Axon Information Processing

In this chapter, the ball stick model of dendrite—soma—axon information processing is introduced. The particular boundary conditions needed due to the cable endcap having one conductance and the soma membrane another one are discussed carefully. The solution is obtained using separation of variables and leads of a family of separation constants that can only be obtained using root finding codes in MatLab. Such codes and their theoretical underpinnings are also discussed. The MatLab ball stick model code is then developed so that typical ball stick sample problems can be approximately solved.
The Organizational Context

Disasters always have plagued human settlements--be they floods, droughts, insect manifestations, or armed conflicts. As with other aspects of culture, centuries of experience, molded by religious and philosophical perspectives, are reflected in the coping strategies people selectively use to mitigate or respond to disaster. Reflecting varied political systems and cultural assumptions regarding human-environmental relationships, disaster policies vary widely today. When the planet is used as the referent, this variation is profound (Burton et al., 1978). Explicit recognition of such variabilities in both policy and its determinates sets the context for this analysis (Kasperson and Pijawka, 1985).
INSIGHTS INTO THE KEY ROLE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE ON SUCCESSFUL AGING IN OLDER ADULTS

Consensus statements from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)/American Heart Association and the World Health Organization promote regular physical activity during older adulthood as a means to gain substantial health-related benefits including reducing cardiovascular disease risk, preventing or mitigating functional limitation and fall risks, and serving as an effective therapy for several chronic diseases. Although physical activity cannot stop the aging process, the physiological effects of aging are known to be minimized by regular physical activity. What remains unclear is the best physical activity type (e.g., aerobic vs. resistance), intensity, treatment, and prescription for optimal health of older adults. The objective of this symposium, featuring researchers from the ACSM’s Aging Interest Group & Strategic Health Initiative on Aging Committee, is to share evidence-based knowledge and cutting-edge research on the role of physical activity/exercise in older adults on sarcopenia, psychosocial health, falls prevention, and fatigability. Dr. Hayes will examine the impact of resistance training and nutrition interventions for the treatment of sarcopenic obesity. Dr. Guggenheim will discuss the influence of resistance training on physiologic and psychosocial adaptations. Selection of ideal field-based assessments and designing exercise prescriptions for falls prevention programs will be shared by Dr. Thompson, and the relationship between vigorous physical activity and habitual walking on the reduction and/or preservation of fatigability will be explored by Dr. Simonsick. Together, these presentations will sharpen our understanding of the role of physical activity/exercise on successful aging in older adults.
Chapter 3 – Neuropulmonology

Neuropulmonology refers to the complex interconnection between the central nervous system and the respiratory system. Neurologic injury includes traumatic brain injury, hemorrhage, stroke, and seizures, and in each there are far-reaching effects that can result in pulmonary dysfunction. Systemic changes can induce impairment of pulmonary function due to changes in the core structure and function of the lung. The conditions and disorders that often occur in these patients include aspiration pneumonia, neurogenic pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, but also several abnormal respiratory patterns and sleep-disordered breathing. Lung infections, pulmonary edema – neurogenic or cardiogenic – and pulmonary embolus all are a serious barrier to recovery and can have significant effects on outcomes such as hospital course, prognosis, and mortality. This review presents the spectrum of pulmonary abnormalities seen in neurocritical care.
Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Human Security: A Comparative Analysis, Dhirendra K. Vajpeyi (Ed.). Lexington Books, Lanham, MD (2013), 363 pp.

This book is a collection of scholarly essays about the implications of climate change and global warming issues for human health and habitats. All of the chapters are original and were prepared sp...
Preventive dental care among Medicaid-enrolled senior adults: from community to nursing facility residence.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the utilization rate of preventive oral health care services while senior adults were community-dwelling differed from the rate after those same senior adults were admitted to nursing facilities. A secondary objective was to evaluate other significant predictors of receipt of preventive oral health procedures after nursing facility entry. Methods Iowa Medicaid claims from 2007–2014 were accessed for adults who were 68+ years upon entry to a nursing facility and continuously enrolled in Medicaid for at least three years before and at least two years after admission (n = 874). Univariate, bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted. Results During the five years that subjects were followed, 52.8% never received a dental exam and 75.9% never received a dental hygiene procedure. More Medicaid-enrolled senior adults received ≥1 preventive dental procedure in the two years while residing in a nursing facility compared to the three years before entry. In multivariable analyses, the strongest predictor of preventive oral health care utilization after entry was the receipt of preventive oral health services before entry (p < 0.01). Conclusions The strongest predictor of receipt of dental procedures in the two years after nursing facility entry was the receipt of dental procedures in the three years before entry while community-dwelling. This underscores the importance of the senior adult establishing a source of dental care while community-dwelling.
Expanding Polysulfides - Applications of Organic Tetrasulfides as H2S Donors

Alongside nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a widely recognized gasotransmitter and H2S-mediated signaling has been discovered in a variety of physiological processes. The endogenous production of H2S stems primarily from enzymatic consumption of cysteine; however, thiol-mediated reduction of organic polysulfides, such as diallyl trisulfide (DATS), constitute a common strategy for administering exogenous H2S. Commonly found in alliums including garlic, DATS releases H2S in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH) and is the most widely used polysulfide for H2S donation. In an effort to expand the availability of simple, symmetrical polysulfides for H2S donation, we report the synthesis and H2S release profiles of bis(aryl) and bis(alkyl) tetrasulfides. These tetrasulfide-based donors release H2S in a first-order dependence on GSH and release more H2S that the commonly used trisulfide DATS under identical conditions. To further investigate applications of organic tetrasulfides and provide structure-activity relationships, we have begun assessing the antioxidant activity of these molecules. In comparison to a previously reported inorganic tetrasulfide (Na2S4), the ability of organic tetrasulfides to provide a cytoprotective effect via an Nrf2-mediated pathway in mouse neuroblastoma cells (N2a) was investigated and will be presented.
Unusual Role of Excited State Mixing in the Enhancement of Photoinduced Ligand Exchange in Ru(II) Complexes

Four Ru(II) complexes were prepared bearing two new tetradentate ligands, cyTPA and 1-isocyTPQA, which feature a piperidine ring that provides a structurally rigid backbone and facilitates the installation of other donors as the fourth chelating arm, while avoiding the formation of stereoisomers. The photophysical properties and photochemistry of [Ru(cyTPA)(CH3CN)2]2+ (1), [Ru(1-isocyTPQA)(CH3CN)2]2+ (2), [Ru(cyTPA)(py)2]2+ (3), and [Ru(1-isocyTPQA)(py)2]2+ (4) were compared. The quantum yield for the CH3CN/H2O ligand exchange of 2 was measured to be Φ400 = 0.033(3), 5-fold greater than that of 1, Φ400 = 0.0066(3). The quantum yields for the py/H2O ligand exchange of 3 and 4 were lower, 0.0012(1) and 0.0013(1), respectively. DFT and related calculations show the presence of a highly mixed 3MLCT/3ππ* excited state as the lowest triplet state in 2, whereas the lowest energy triplet states in 1, 3, and 4 were calculated to be 3LF in nature. The mixed 3MLCT/3ππ* excited state places significant spin density o...
The economics of corporate lobbying

Abstract Prior literature examines motivations and impact of corporate lobbying and presents inconclusive evidence. We examine the association of corporate lobbying with firm performance by focusing on how this relationship varies with firm characteristics. Addressing various endogeneity concerns, our analysis shows that corporate lobbying has a negative association with firm performance. We find that the negative association between corporate lobbying and firm performance is largely driven by operationally complex firms. On the other hand, firms with high growth opportunities benefit more from lobbying than low-growth firms. Lobbying seems to provide limited tangible benefits in terms of helping a firm obtain government contracts or successfully pass the congressional bills lobbied. These results suggest that agency costs dominate the strategic benefits of lobbying activities. However, there is some evidence that firms benefit when there is political alignment between the firm and the party in power.
The Description of Humboldteria, a New Genus Neotropical Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)

Abstract A new genus of eucoiline wasps, Humboldteria, new genus is described from the Neotropical Region. The type species of the genus is H. davesmithi, new species; other new species include H. maurofrons, new species, H. kerri, new species, H. montanai, new species, and H. kojaki, new species. The phylogenetic analysis presented herein recovers the new genus in the Ganaspini, and sister-group with either Glauraspidia (Bayes analysis) or Steleucoela (parsimony analysis). Distribution maps and a key to species are provided.
Compensatory mortality in a recovering top carnivore: wolves in Wisconsin, USA (1979–2013)

Populations of large terrestrial carnivores are in various stages of recovery worldwide and the question of whether there is compensation in mortality sources is relevant to conservation. Here, we show variation in Wisconsin wolf survival from 1979 to 2013 by jointly estimating the hazard of wolves’ radio-telemetry ending (endpoint) and endpoint cause. In previous analyses, wolves lost to radio-telemetry follow-up (collar loss) were censored from analysis, thereby assuming collar loss was unconfounded with mortality. Our approach allowed us to explicitly estimate hazard due to collar loss and did not require censoring these records from analysis. We found mean annual survival was 76% and mean annual causes of mortality were illegal killing (9.4%), natural and unknown causes (9.5%), and other human-caused mortality such as hunting, vehicle collisions and lethal control (5.1%). Illegal killing and natural mortality were highest during winter, causing wolf survival to decrease relative to summer. Mortality was highest during early recovery and lowest during a period of sustained population growth. Wolves again experienced higher risk of human-caused mortality relative to natural mortality as wolves expanded into areas with more human activity. We detected partial compensation in human- and natural-caused mortality since 2004 as the population saturated more available habitat. Prior to 2004, we detected additivity in mortality sources. Assessments of wolf survival and cause of mortality rates and the finding of partial compensation in mortality sources will inform wolf conservation and management efforts by identifying sources and sinks, finding areas of conservation need, and assessing management zone delineation.
Concentrations of twenty-four elements in bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus from the Northwest Atlantic

Abstract Fourteen muscle samples of bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus , collected in the area of the Virgin Rocks, on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, Canada were analyzed for total mercury (Hg) by cold vapor atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy and for 23 other elements including priority pollutants and biologically essential elements, by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The order of decreasing concentration (ppm, dry weight) for the 24 elements was Mg (680), Ca (215), Fe (29), Zn (17), Hg (3.4), As (3.2), Se (2.2), Rb (1.4), A1 (1.0), Cu (1.0), Sr (0.6), B (
Regenerating clearcuts combined with postharvest forestry treatments promote habitat for breeding and post-breeding spruce-fir avian assemblages in the Atlantic Northern Forest

Abstract The quantity of spruce-fir forest and some conifer-associated breeding bird abundances in the Atlantic Northern Forest have declined in recent decades emphasizing the need to better understand avian responses to forest management and to identify options that proactively conserve habitat for birds during the breeding and post-breeding period. We conducted avian point counts and vegetation surveys on publicly and privately-owned lands with known management histories to assess relationships between avian assemblages in harvest and postharvest treatments that could provide habitat for passerine birds associated with the spruce-fir forest type. We sampled regenerating conifer-dominated stands 5–41 years-since-harvest (YSH) in three harvest treatments (selection, irregular first-stage shelterwood, and clearcuts) and three postharvest treatments including regenerating clearcuts treated with aerially applied herbicide (e.g., glyphosate), precommercial thinning (PCT), both herbicide and PCT, and mature stands (≥48 YSH). Spruce-fir obligate and associate birds were more abundant in stands with greater spruce-fir tree composition (≥70% and ≥60%, respectively). Avian richness of spruce-fir obligates, associates, and species of concern was greater in clearcuts and clearcuts with postharvest treatments. Vegetative features associated with greater richness and abundance of spruce-fir birds, such as greater spruce-fir composition and smaller tree diameter at breast height, were prominent in regenerating clearcuts and postharvest treatments and suggested that these management practices promote local abundances and richness of spruce-fir birds. Richness and abundances of spruce-fir birds were least in selection, shelterwood, and mature stands, and vegetative features associated with greater richness and abundance of spruce-fir birds were diminished in these stands. Forestry trends in Maine indicate that the extent of the clearcut suite of treatments has decreased on the landscape while selection and shelterwood harvests have increased. Thus, changes in incentives for managers to apply even-aged management coupled with post-harvest applications of herbicides or precommercial thinning might mitigate further declines in habitat for spruce-fir passerines assemblages. A greater ratio of clearcuts with postharvest treatments 11–40 YSH compared to other treatments (mature forest ≥48 YSH, selection and shelterwood 5–41 YSH) would maintain diverse spruce-fir bird communities on the landscape. Use of clearcuts with postharvest treatments in the hemiboreal forests of northern New England, southern Quebec, and Maritime Provinces of eastern Canada may enhance habitat for breeding and post-breeding spruce-fir birds, especially where the quantity of conifer forests are declining and residual patches of conifers are increasingly fragmented.
Early experience with the first pre-connected 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis : the Mentor Alpha-1

The aim of this clinical investigation was to obtain preliminary treatment outcome data concerning the Mentor Alpha-1, the first 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis with pre-connected tubing between the pump and the penile cylinders. The study was designed to be the first multi-institutional treatment outcome report for any clinically available penile prosthesis with data analysis to be independent of the participating surgeons. A total of 12 board-certified urologists of mixed surgical training backgrounds and practices implanted the Alpha-1 device in 112 consecutive patients. With a mean of 27 +/- 5 months of followup the surgical complication rate included a 4% mechanical malfunction, 2% infection rate and 9% reoperation rate. Patient experience with the implanted device was computed from information on 96 of the 112 patients who returned a questionnaire. Of the patients 82% stated that the device fulfilled expectations as a treatment for impotence and 83% had improved sexual intercourse by 8 weeks after implantation. Patient satisfaction was computed on a scale of 12 equally weighted interrelated variables. Of the patients 77% recorded 9 or more cumulative satisfaction points. Patient and physician questionnaire data were analyzed for their relation to the cumulative prosthesis satisfaction score. A significant difference in cumulative scores was found for physician reported long-term postoperative problems (mean satisfaction score 8.1 for patients with problems versus 10.2 for patients without problems, p = 0.018). The Alpha-1, with its feature of pre-connected tubing, is a reliable 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis associated with a high level of patient satisfaction.
Structured Local Training and Biased Potential Functions for Conditional Random Fields with Application to Coreference Resolution

Conditional Random Fields (CRFs) have shown great success for problems involving structured output variables. However, for many real-world NLP applications, exact maximum-likelihood training is intractable because computing the global normalization factor even approximately can be extremely hard. In addition, optimizing likelihood often does not correlate with maximizing task-specific evaluation measures. In this paper, we present a novel training procedure, structured local training, that maximizes likelihood while exploiting the benefits of global inference during training: hidden variables are used to capture interactions between local inference and global inference. Furthermore, we introduce biased potential functionsthat empirically drive CRFs towards performance improvements w.r.t. the preferred evaluation measure for the learning task. We report promising experimental results on two coreference data sets using two task-specific evaluation measures.