cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anaerobic treatment of soil wash fluids from a wood preserving site

An integrated system has been developed to remediate soils contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This system involves the coupling of two treatment technologies, soil solvent washing and anaerobic biotreatment of the extract. Specifically, this study evaluated the effectiveness of the granular activated carbon (GAC) fluidized-bed reactor to treat a synthetic waste stream of PCP and four PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthene, pyrene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene) under anaerobic conditions. This waste stream was intended to simulate the wash fluids from a soil washing process treating soils from a wood preserving site. The reactor achieved a removal efficiency of greater than 99.8% for PCP with conversion to its dechlorination intermediates ranging from 47% to 77%. Effluent, carbon extraction, and isotherm data also indicate that naphthalene and acenaphthene were removed from the liquid phase with efficiencies of 86% and 93%, respectively. Effluent levels of pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene were extremely low due to the adsorptive capacity of GAC for these compounds. Experimental evidence does not suggest that these compounds were chemically transformed within the reactor.
Semi-automatic central-chest lymph-node definition from 3D MDCT images

Central-chest lymph nodes play a vital role in lung-cancer staging. The three-dimensional (3D) definition of lymph nodes from multidetector computed-tomography (MDCT) images, however, remains an open problem. This is because of the limitations in the MDCT imaging of soft-tissue structures and the complicated phenomena that influence the appearance of a lymph node in an MDCT image. In the past, we have made significant efforts toward developing (1) live-wire-based segmentation methods for defining 2D and 3D chest structures and (2) a computer-based system for automatic definition and interactive visualization of the Mountain central-chest lymph-node stations. Based on these works, we propose new single-click and single-section live-wire methods for segmenting central-chest lymph nodes. The single-click live wire only requires the user to select an object pixel on one 2D MDCT section and is designed for typical lymph nodes. The single-section live wire requires the user to process one selected 2D section using standard 2D live wire, but it is more robust. We applied these methods to the segmentation of 20 lymph nodes from two human MDCT chest scans (10 per scan) drawn from our ground-truth database. The single-click live wire segmented 75% of the selected nodes successfully and reproducibly, while the success rate for the single-section live wire was 85%. We are able to segment the remaining nodes, using our previously derived (but more interaction intense) 2D live-wire method incorporated in our lymph-node analysis system. Both proposed methods are reliable and applicable to a wide range of pulmonary lymph nodes.
Is Peer Delinquency in the Eye of the Beholder?: Assessing Alternative Operationalizations of Perceptual Peer Delinquency

Researchers have devoted significant attention to the measurement of peer delinquency, with recent work indicating that perceptual measures are plagued by various biases. Absent from this research is an inquiry into whether the manner in which perceptions are typically operationalized potentially contributes to these limitations. In this study, we report on a methodological quasi-experiment where the operationalization of perceptual peer delinquency was manipulated across two different versions of a survey questionnaire completed by a sample of young adults. RESULTS indicated no significant difference in the strength of the association between perceptual peer delinquency items and self-reported delinquency items across the two survey conditions. As such, this study provides preliminary evidence that existing limitations of perceptual measures of peer delinquency cannot be overcome by altering the manner in which such items are operationalized within survey questionnaires. Keywords: Juvenile justice Language: en
Treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting

Better data, improved control have been achieved during recent years Postoperative nausea and vomiting is a nuisance. The anaesthetist is usually blamed, despite evidence that postoperative nausea and vomiting results from several factors, some related to anaesthesia, others to surgery, and some to the patients themselves. The importance of postoperative nausea and vomiting is generally underestimated because it is self limiting, never becomes chronic, and almost never kills. However, its impact on the cost of health care is not negligible. Ten per cent of the population undergo general anaesthesia every year,1 and about 30% of them are affected by postoperative nausea and vomiting.2 This amounts to about two million people in the United Kingdom every year. About 1% of patients undergoing ambulatory surgery are admitted overnight because of uncontrolled postoperative nausea and vomiting.2 Surgical patients prefer to suffer pain rather than postoperative nausea and vomiting3 and would be willing to pay considerable amounts of money for an effective antiemetic.4 However, successful control of postoperative nausea and vomiting has proved elusive. A major obstacle to the development of an effective treatment has been the lack of a valid animal model for postoperative nausea and vomiting. New insights into pathways for emesis and efficacy of antiemetics have come from animal research with highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Extrapolation of these data to postoperative nausea and vomiting has been of …
The costs of collectivization, per se

The question of collectivization becomes relevant in the post-financial crisis years as characterized by growing criticism of market organization. Collectivization, the social structure distinguishable from the market or central planning agency, can be costly from overspending. In our analytical framework, the political order remains polycentric. The most widely acceptable institutional solution may be budgetary outlay sufficient to meet all demand, and especially when it is recognized that public criticism of market alternatives is often concentrated on moral goods, e.g., health care. The excess burden of collectivization, per se, is the excess of costs over benefits if the collectivity meets individual demand for the good beyond plausible efficiency levels. The costs of collectivization, per se, can be reduced by separated budgets, showing both revenue and outlay for individual budgetary line items, that bring collective spending decisions closer to the accompanying levy of taxes.
Understanding the Impact of Political Structure, Governance and Public Policy on E-Government

Effective e-government creates an environment for citizens to have greater access to their government and, in theory, makes citizen-to-government contact more inclusive. Our research examines two distinct but related measures of e-government effectiveness, namely the online service index and the e-participation index, both reported in the 2010 e-government survey conducted by United Nations. We analyze the impact of political structure, administrative culture and policy initiatives on both indices in approximately 160 countries. Our multiple regression analysis shows that when controlling for measures of economic and educational development, there is greater e-government capability in countries that have an administrative culture of sound governance and policies that promote the development and diffusion of information and communication technologies. These results hold in nations that are more democratic, even though political freedom (i.e., press freedom and civil liberties) appears to have a negative impact on e-government. These results suggest that the path to e-government leverages different strategies depending on a nation's political structure, and that countries in which there is less political freedom may be utilizing e-government to maintain the status quo.
Transmission dynamics and control of cholera in Haiti: an epidemic model

Summary Background Official projections of the cholera epidemic in Haiti have not incorporated existing disease trends or patterns of transmission, and proposed interventions have been debated without comparative estimates of their effect. We used a mathematical model of the epidemic to provide projections of future morbidity and mortality, and to produce comparative estimates of the effects of proposed interventions. Methods We designed mathematical models of cholera transmission based on existing models and fitted them to incidence data reported in Haiti for each province from Oct 31, 2010, to Jan 24, 2011. We then simulated future epidemic trajectories from March 1 to Nov 30, 2011, to estimate the effect of clean water, vaccination, and enhanced antibiotic distribution programmes. Findings We project 779 000 cases of cholera in Haiti (95% CI 599 000–914 000) and 11 100 deaths (7300–17 400) between March 1 and Nov 30, 2011. We expect that a 1% per week reduction in consumption of contaminated water would avert 105 000 cases (88 000–116 000) and 1500 deaths (1100–2300). We predict that the vaccination of 10% of the population, from March 1, will avert 63 000 cases (48 000–78 000) and 900 deaths (600–1500). The proposed extension of the use of antibiotics to all patients with severe dehydration and half of patients with moderate dehydration is expected to avert 9000 cases (8000–10 000) and 1300 deaths (900–2000). Interpretation A decline in cholera prevalence in early 2011 is part of the natural course of the epidemic, and should not be interpreted as indicative of successful intervention. Substantially more cases of cholera are expected than official estimates used for resource allocation. Combined, clean water provision, vaccination, and expanded access to antibiotics might avert thousands of deaths. Funding National Institutes of Health.
Decision-directed hysterectomy: a possible approach to improve medical and economic outcomes.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if the use of formal guidelines in selecting the route of hysterectomy would improve medical and economic outcomes. Method: Data from 4595 hysterectomies performed at a single center in women whose primary diagnosis were unrelated to invasive cancer or pregnancy were analyzed in terms of mean, uterine weight, costs, length of stay, and complications. Results: When formal guidelines were used to determine the route of hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy was performed in 90% of the patients treated and in 100% of the patients in whom the pathology was confined to the uterus. In comparison, when formal guidelines were not incorporated in the decision-making process, vaginal hysterectomy was performed in 42% of the patients treated and in 64% of the patients in whom the pathology was confined to the uterus. Conclusions: Using these or similar guidelines to assist in clinical decision making would have resulted in a potential savings of US$1 184 000 for every 1000 hysterectomies performed at the institution where this study was undertaken and would have freed up 1020 patient-bed days and reduced complications by approximately 20%.
Distribution, diversity, and traits of native, exotic, and invasive climbing plants in Michigan.

We compiled records of all the known climbing plant species both native and non-native in the state of Michigan, USA. County-level distributions and a broad suite of traits related to ecological and reproductive success were individually scored for each species. Non-native climbing species were subdivided and classified as either invasive or exotic. A total of 103 climbing species are present in the state, 50% of which are native. We classified only ten climbing species as currently invasive: of those 40% are woody, compared to 31% woody native and 33% woody exotic species. Our research asks whether latitude is correlated with either species richness or mode of dispersal among climbers. We also asked whether sexual system, dispersal mode, and unit of dispersal are different in native versus non-native climbers, and whether the dispersal mode of common trees is different from that of common climbers. We found latitudinally bimodal species richness for all classes of climbers, which we propose is due to collecting effort, growing season length, and human population density. We found surprisingly high numbers of climbing species at northern latitudes, in spite of harsh winter conditions, especially for climbing plants whose vascular tissues are compromised by freezing temperatures. Native species are significantly more often dioecious (27%) than non-natives (6%); however one of the woody invasive species, Celastrus orbiculatus, is functionally dioecious. Collectively, climbers include more abiotically dispersed species (62%) than biotically dispersed (38%). However, the 18 most common native species (found in more than 40 of 83 counties) are 61% biotically dispersed. Native woody climbers are 81% biotically dispersed, whereas native trees include 38–40% biotically dispersed species. Native climbing species are more often dispersed as fruits (52%) than are non-native climbers (37%), which are more often dispersed as seeds. Climbing mechanism is generally achieved by stem apical twining in both native and non-native species; however when tendrils are produced, native species produce similar proportions of leaf, petiole, and axillary tendrils, while non-native species largely produce leaf tendrils, a mechanism that is phylogenetically concentrated in the crop and crop-weed family, Fabaceae. Based on traits of the ten currently invasive climbing species in Michigan, we identify ten exotic species that are most likely to become invasive, most of which are perennials, hermaphroditic, with abiotically dispersed fruits, and modified climbing organs. Climbing species add significantly to biodiversity in Michigan, comprising 3.6% of the 2858 vascular plants. Climbing guilds in the temperate zone are more morphologically diverse and species rich than broadly recognized.
Social Psychology, Social Science, and Economics: Twentieth Century Progress and Problems, Twenty-first Century Prospects:

Stimulated by social scientists' and especially social psychologists' contributions during World War II, as well as by America's post-war economic and population growth, the period from 1945 to 1970 was widely viewed as a “Golden Age” for American social science. Interdisciplinary social psychology arguably was in the vanguard of these developments. Progress since then have been variable and in some ways negative for social psychology, not only as an interdisciplinary field, but also within its parent disciplines of psychology and especially sociology, where social psychology could plausibly become extinct within twenty-five years. The decline of social psychology as a field and a broad influence on the social sciences, society, and public policy has coincided with a rise of economics to an analogous vanguard position. Understanding the reasons for and implications of these trends has been limited, with a focus on analyses of developments within particular disciplines. However, developments across the soc...
Effect of Etching and Imaging Mode on the Measurement of Subsurface Damage in Microground Optical Glasses

Microgrinding of optical glass has been under intensive study recently. Characterization of the subsurface damage (SSD) generated by this process is very important because it is one of the criteria used to characterize the quality and efficiency of the microgrinding technique. SEM, as a new method, is applied for a detailed observation of the SSD. Etching with HF solutions of various concentrations is utilized to open the subsurface cracks. The etching condition has a significant influence on the measured SSD value. Using the SEM method, slightly larger SSD values are obtained compared to those obtained using conventional optical microscopy.
A Family of acr-Coregulated Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genes Shares a Common DNA Motif and Requires Rv3133c (dosR or devR) for Expression

Previous work has shown that the divergently transcribed Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes acr (hspX, Rv2031c) and acg (Rv2032) are induced under conditions of shallow standing culture and low oxygen and intracellularly within macrophages. We used a combination of computational and experimental methods to identify promoters for eight additional genes that are regulated in a similar manner and that comprise an acr-coregulated promoter (ACP) family. Transcriptional regulation of these ACP family members was evaluated by using a plasmid-based promoter-green fluorescent protein fusion system and flow cytometry. All promoters showed increased expression in shallow standing versus shaking cultures, in low- versus high-oxygen conditions, and intracellularly within macrophages versus extracellularly in tissue culture medium. However, there were quantitative differences in expression among promoters and among conditions for each promoter. A conserved 18-bp palindromic sequence motif was identified in all ACPs by Gibbs sampling-based computational analyses. Two such motifs overlap regions in the acr and acg promoters that were previously shown to be required for their expression. In addition, we found that 5% carbon dioxide was required for growth of Mycobacterium bovis BCG under microaerophilic (1.3% O(2)) culture conditions and fully prevented the growth cessation typically associated with rapid removal of oxygen. These findings are likely to be relevant to the in vivo environment and will contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of tuberculosis infection.
A rigorous formalism of information transfer between dynamical system components. I. Discrete mapping

We put the concept of information transfer on a rigorous footing and establish for it a formalism within the framework of discrete maps. The resulting transfer measure possesses a property of directionality or transfer asymmetry as emphasized by Schreiber [T. Schreiber, Measuring information transfer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85 (2) (2000) 461]; it also verifies the transfer measure for two-dimensional systems, which was obtained by Liang and Kleeman [X.S. Liang, R. Kleeman, Information transfer between dynamical system components, Phys. Rev. Lett. 95 (24) (2005) 244101] through a different avenue. Connections to classical formalisms are explored and applications presented. We find that, in the context of the baker transformation, there is always information flowing from the stretching direction to the folding direction, while no transfer occurs in the opposite direction; we also find that, within the Henon map system, the transfer from the quadratic component to the linear component is of a simple form as expected on physical grounds. This latter result is unique to our formalism.
Magnetic field measurements for fast-changing magnetic fields

Several recent applications for fast ramped magnets have been found that require rapid measurement of the field quality during the ramp. (In one instance, accelerator dipoles will be ramped at 1 T/sec, with measurements needed to the accuracy typically required for accelerators.) We have built and tested a new type of magnetic field measuring system to meet this need. The system consists of 16 stationary pickup windings mounted on a cylinder. The signals induced in the windings in a changing magnetic field are sampled and analyzed to obtain the field harmonics. To minimize costs, printed circuit boards were used for the pickup windings and a combination of amplifiers and ADC's used for the voltage readout system. New software was developed for the analysis. Magnetic field measurements of a model dipole developed for the SIS200 accelerator at GSI are presented. The measurements are needed to ensure that eddy currents induced by the fast ramps do not impact the field quality required for successful accelerator operation.
Failure of observation of blunt splenic injury in adults: variability in practice and adverse consequences.

Background The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Multiinstitutional Workgroup reported a failure rate for nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults of 10.8%. Sixty percent of the failures occurred within 24hours of admission. The purpose of this multiinstitutional study by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma was to determine common variables in failure of nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults. Study design Medical records were reviewed in a blinded fashion on 78 patients in whom nonoperative management failed. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA, extended chi-square, and Fisher's exact test; statistical significance was p Results The 78 patients were categorized based on hemodynamic status. Forty-four percent were stable; 31% had transient hypotension or tachycardia that resolved with fluid infusion (responders); and 25% were unstable. Two-thirds of the unstable patients required laparotomy within 12hours of admission; all had laparotomy within 72hours. Mortality was significantly different when comparing the unstable to the stable and responder groups: stable (3%), responders (8%), and unstable (37%), despite similar age and only modest differences in Injury Severity Score. Eight CT scans were misinterpreted initially. Of 26 Focused Abdominal Sonography for Trauma (FAST) studies, 11 (42.3%) were false negative. Abnormal abdominal findings were noted in 67.7% of patients on admission. Ten patients died (12.8%). Sixty percent of the deaths were caused largely by delayed treatment of splenic or other abdominal injuries; one patient died in the responder group and five unstable patients died. Conclusions Thirty percent to 40% of the patients who had unsuccessful nonoperative management in this study were selected inappropriately, with hemodynamic instability or initial misinterpretation of diagnostic studies. As a consequence, the majority of the deaths were from delayed treatment of intraabdominal injuries. This article suggests that written protocols, better adherence to sound clinical judgment, and experienced and timely interpretation of radiologic studies would reduce the incidence of failure of nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in adults.
Emotion-Oriented Coping, Avoidance Coping, and Fear of Pain as Mediators of the Relationship Between Positive Affect, Negative Affect, and Pain-Related Distress Among African American and Caucasian College Women:

The authors tested whether coping styles and fear of pain mediate the relationship between positive affect and negative affect on one hand and pain-related distress (PD) on the other. Among African American and Caucasian female college students, negative affect, fear of pan, and emotion-oriented coping together accounted for 34% of the variance in PD among African American woman and 40% of the variance in PD among Caucasion women. Emotion-oriented coping and fear of pain fully mediated the relationship between negative affect and PD among Caucasian women and partly mediated the relationship between negative affect and PD among African American women. Results suggest that reducing college women's reliance on emotion-oriented coping and their fears of pain may help reduce PD.
Small acid-soluble proteins with intrinsic disorder are required for UV resistance in Myxococcus xanthus spores

Bacterial sporulation in Gram-positive bacteria results in small acid-soluble proteins called SASPs that bind to DNA and prevent the damaging effects of UV radiation. Orthologs of Bacillus subtilis genes encoding SASPs can be found in many sporulating and nonsporulating bacteria, but they are noticeably absent from sporeforming, Gram-negative Myxococcus xanthus. This is despite the fact that M. xanthus can form UV-resistant spores. Here we report evidence that M. xanthus produces its own unique group of low-molecular-weight, acid-soluble proteins that facilitate UV resistance in spores. These M. xanthus-specific SASPs vary depending upon whether spore formation is induced by starvation inside cell aggregations of fruiting bodies or is induced artificially by glycerol induction. Molecular predictions indicate that M. xanthus SASPs may have some association with the cell walls of M. xanthus spores, which may signify a different mechanism of UV protection than that seen in Gram-positive spores. When Myxococcus xanthus is starved for nutrients on solid media, hundreds of thousands of cells begin to aggregate and construct a macroscopic fruiting body. Inside this multicellular structure, individual rod-shaped cells begin to differentiate into spherical, dormant spores that are resistant to many types of
Skeletal muscle myofibrillar protein metabolism in heart failure: relationship to immune activation and functional capacity

Chronic heart failure is characterized by changes in skeletal muscle that contribute to physical disability. Most studies to date have investigated defects in skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. In...
Biphasic Regulation of Il2 Transcription in CD4+ T Cells: Roles for TNF-α Receptor Signaling and Chromatin Structure

We describe a novel biphasic regulation of Il2 transcription in naive CD4(+) T cells. Few ( approximately 5%) CD4(+) T cells transcribe Il2 within 6 h of anti-TCR-beta plus anti-CD28 stimulation (early phase). Most naive CD4(+) T cells do not initiate Il2 transcription until after an additional approximately 12 h of T cell stimulation (late phase). In comparison, essentially all previously activated (Pre-Ac) CD4(+) T cells that transcribe Il2 do so with an early-phase response. Late-phase Il2 expression mostly requires c-Rel, CD28, and TNFR signaling. In contrast, early-phase transcription is only partly c-Rel and CD28 dependent and TNFR independent. There was also increased stable DNA accessibility at the Il2 locus and elevated c-Rel expression in resting Pre-Ac CD4(+) cells. Upon T cell activation, a faster and greater increase in DNA accessibility as well as c-Rel nuclear expression were observed in Pre-Ac CD4(+) cells relative to naive CD4(+) T cells. In addition, both acetylated histone H3 and total H3 decreased at the Il2 locus upon rechallenge of Pre-Ac CD4(+) T cells, whereas increased acetylated histone H3 with no change in total H3 was observed following activation of naive CD4(+) T cells. We propose a model in which nucleosome disassembly facilitates rapid initiation of Il2 transcription in CD4(+) T cells, and suggest that a threshold level of c-Rel must be reached for Il2 promoter activity in both naive and Pre-Ac CD4(+) T cells. This is provided, at least partially, by TNFR signaling during priming, but not during recall.
Placenta ingestion by rats enhances δ- and κ-opioid antinociception, but suppresses μ-opioid antinociception

Ingestion of placenta or amniotic fluid produces a dramatic enhancement of centrally mediated opioid antinociception in the rat. The present experiments investigated the role of each opioid receptor type (mu, delta, kappa) in the antinociception-modulating effects of Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor (POEF-presumably the active substance). Antinociception was measured on a 52 degrees C hotplate in adult, female rats after they ingested placenta or control substance (1.0 g) and after they received an intracerebroventricular injection of a delta-specific ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE); 0, 30, 50, 62, or 70 nmol), mu-specific ([D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO); 0, 0.21, 0.29, or 0.39 nmol), or kappa-specific (U-62066; spiradoline; 0, 100, 150, or 200 nmol) opioid receptor agonist. The results showed that ingestion of placenta potentiated delta- and kappa-opioid antinociception, but attenuated mu-opioid antinociception. This finding of POEF action as both opioid receptor-specific and complex provides an important basis for understanding the intrinsic pain-suppression mechanisms that are activated during parturition and modified by placentophagia, and important information for the possible use of POEF as an adjunct to opioids in pain management.
Taking a "Simple View" of the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills as a Predictor of Multiple Measures of Third-Grade Reading Comprehension.

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity evidence of first-grade Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) scores for predicting third-grade reading comprehension scores. We used the “simple view” of reading as the theoretical foundation for examining the extent to which DIBELS subtest scores predict comprehension through both word recognition and language comprehension. Scores from the DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) subtest, a measure of word recognition speed and accuracy, strongly and significantly predicted multiple measures of reading comprehension. No other DIBELS subtest score explained additional variance beyond DIBELS ORF. Although experimental DIBELS Word Use Fluency (WUF) was significantly correlated with a language comprehension measure and measures of reading comprehension, WUF scores did not predict reading comprehension beyond ORF scores. Alternatively, first-grade Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test scores did predict additional, significant variance in reading comprehension, beyond DIBELS ORF.
Induction of Type I Interferon Signaling by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Is Diminished in Cystic Fibrosis Epithelial Cells

The clinical manifestations of infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) are restricted to the lung, and involve a limited number of pathogens, suggesting a specific defect in mucosal immunity. We postulated that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CTFR) mutations could affect the activation of type I interferon signaling in airway epithelial cells, which function in immune surveillance and initiate the recruitment and activation of immune cells. In response to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ifnb was induced more than 100-fold in the murine lung, and the phosphorylation of STAT1 was similarly induced by the expected TLR4/TRIF/MD2/TBK1 cascade. The stimulation by P. aeruginosa of CF (IB3) cells and control (C-38) human cell lines similarly resulted in the induction of IFN-β, but to a significantly lower extent in CF airway cells. The potential consequences of diminished type I IFN signaling were demonstrated in a murine model of P. aeruginosa pneumonia, pretreatment with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid significantly enhanced bacterial clearance and correlated with increased numbers of mature CD11c+/CD86+ dendritic cells (DCs) in the lung. Using culture supernatants from CF or control cell lines stimulated with P. aeruginosa, we similarly demonstrated the diminished activation of human monocyte–derived DCs by incubation with CF compared with normal epithelial cell culture supernatants, which was dependent on IFN-β. These observations suggest that dysfunction of the CFTR in airway epithelial cells may contribute to impaired immune surveillance in the CF airway and resultant colonization by P. aeruginosa.
Systemic lupus erythematosus: modern strategies for management – a moving target

Rapid advances in understanding the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have yielded an unprecedented era of discovery of new targets with therapeutic potential. Recent clinical trials have also shed light on the optimal utility of several traditional therapies used in our SLE armamentarium.
Early lexical development: comprehension and production

Lists of the first 50 words comprehended and produced by eight infants between 0; 9 and 1; 8 were compared. Comprehension development began earlier (around 0; 9) and reached the 50-word level (age 1; 1) earlier than production development (ages 1; 0 and 1; 6 respectively) and rate of word acquisition for comprehension was twice that of production, confirming the hypothesis that comprehension precedes production for lexical development. Word-class analysis revealed differences in the proportion and type of action words in comprehension and production vocabularies. It is suggested that action is central to lexical development but is expressed differently in comprehension, where action words are used to initiate actions, and production, where non-action words accompany the child's actions.
Natural integration of scalar fluxes from complex terrain

Large eddy simulations of turbulent flow and transport in the atmospheric boundary layer were conducted over heterogeneous sources of heat and water vapor to identify the blending properties of the turbulent mixing in an unstably stratified boundary layer. The numerical simulations show that the concept of blending in the ABL is in fact a useful one, even under convective conditions, for a range of surface conditions. Since the transport eddies that are responsible for the blending have sizes that are constrained by the boundary layer depth, and since the vertical motion is so important under the unstable density stratification studied here, we see that a hen the length scales of the source variability on the land surface become significantly greater than the ABL depth the blending is lost. In this case the source fields remain relatively uncoupled by the important eddy motion. However, for smaller surface length scales, the dynamic eddy motion couples the surface patches. Hence, there is good reason that the land surface exchange phenomenon would not be scale invariant over the entire range of scales, Because of the active role of temperature the effects of inhomogeneous surface sources of sensible heat persist higher into the ABL than do the effects of surface sources from more passive scalars, such as water vapor. Moreover, the mean fields of potential temperature and specific humidity blend at much lower heights than do the vertical turbulent flux fields of these two scalars. We propose a useful measure of blending efficiency for simulation studies and show how this bridges from the dynamics responsible for the blending to the horizontal homogeneity of scalar flux fields at measurement heights in the ABL.
Inhibition of rat hepatic sterol formation from squalene by plasma lipoproteins.

The conversion of3H-squalene to sterols by rat liver microsomes and cytosol was inhibited by individual rat and human plasma lipoproteins at various concentrations. This inhibition was also observed with added human high density apolipoprotein, but triglycerides, cholesterol or cholesteryl esters had no inhibitory effects. Lipoproteins and apo high density lipoprotein (HDL) were demonstrated to bind3H-squalene in vitro. The binding of3H-squalene by apo HDL could be reversed by increasing concentration of liver cytosol containing sterol carrier protein.
Heat acclimation and thirst in rats.

The effects of heat acclimation on water intake and urine output responses to thermal dehydration and other thirst stimuli were studied in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats were heat acclimated by continuous exposure to a 34°C environment for at least 6 weeks. Thermal dehydration‐induced thirst was brought about by exposing the heat‐acclimated rats and control rats housed at 24°C to a 37.5°C environment for 4 h without access to food or water. Heat acclimation reduced evaporative and urinary water losses and the increases in plasma sodium and osmolality during thermal dehydration, which led to a reduction in thermal dehydration‐induced thirst. Heat acclimation reduced the rate of rehydration following thermal dehydration but did not alter the final rehydration level, indicating that heat acclimation does not alter the primary control of thermal dehydration‐induced thirst. Heat acclimation did not alter water intake or urine output following administration of hypertonic saline, which selectively stimulates intracellular thirst, but led to greater water intake following administration of angiotensin II, which plays an important role in extracellular/volemic thirst, and following water deprivation, which activates both thirst pathways. Cardiovascular responses to angiotensin II were not altered by heat acclimation. Heat acclimation thus reduces water loss during heat exposure in rats, but does not have major effects on thermal dehydration‐induced or extracellular thirst but does appear to alter volemic thirst.
The 'Mere Fact' Method of Prior Conviction Impeachment: 'Bringing Some Honesty and Fairness to Being Dishonest' Evidence and Trial Advocacy: Advance Workshop

Criminal defense attorneys have on numerous occasions suggested that the court adopt the "mere fact" method of prior conviction impeachment employed in Florida and several other states which precludes disclosure of the nature of a prior conviction - particularly when the prior conviction impeachment is of the criminal defendant himself and the prior conviction is similar to the crime for which the accused is currently on trial. Such proposals have met with stern rebuke from federal courts such as the Second Circuit in Estrada, 430 F.3d 606, as well as from several state courts including Supreme Courts of California and Illinois. The question is "Why?"
Contributions of individual acculturation and neighborhood ethnic density to variations in Hispanic children's respiratory health in a US–Mexican border metropolis

Background We used an expanded conceptualization of ethnic density at the neighborhood level, tailored to Hispanic majority communities in the USA, and a robust measure of children’s acculturation at the individual level, to predict Hispanic children’s respiratory health. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1904 children in 2012 in El Paso, TX, USA. One thousand one hundred and seven Hispanic children nested within 72 census tracts were analyzed. Multilevel logistic regression models with cross-level interactions were used to predict bronchitis, asthma and wheezing during sleep. Results A neighborhood-level ethnic density factor was a non-significant risk factor while individual-level acculturation was a significant risk factor for the three outcomes. Pest troubles and not having been breastfed as an infant intensified the positive association between ethnic density and bronchitis. Increases in ethnic density intensified the odds of wheezing in sleep if the child was not low birth weight or was not economically deprived. Conclusions Results suggest that increasing individual-level acculturation is detrimental for US Hispanic children’s respiratory health in this Hispanic majority setting, while high ethnic density neighborhoods are mildly risky and pose more significant threats when other individual-level factors are present.
Efficacy of CME 134 against mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): effects on nontarget organisms and evaluation of potential chemical persistence.

CME 134, 1-(3,5-dichloro-2,4-difluorophenyl)3-(2,6-diHuorobenzoyl) urea, is very active against immature mosquitoes. The operational use rate appeared to be 0.0056 kg (AI)/ha (0.005lb/acre). When applied at the latter rate, the compound is safe to nontarget, aquatic organisms. CME 134 is stable in water under acidic conditions and less stable when temperature and pH increase simultaneously; sunlight has little effect on its aqueous stability. CME 134 might adsorb onto organic matter, thus affecting residual activity in field water. In highly polluted water, the chemical appeared to be lost because of microbial action as well as adsorption onto organic matter. In animal waste lagoons, biological activity persisted for several weeks during the fall and winter but only for a few days during early summer. Persistence in pasture water is limited to a few days when applied at levels up to 0.027 kg (AI)/ha (0.03 Ib/acre).
Socio-Emotional Adaptation Theory: Charting the Emotional Process of Alzheimer’s Disease

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The emotional reactions to the progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease (MCI/AD) oftentimes present as cognitive or behavioral changes, leading to misguided interventions by Formal Support (paid health care providers). Despite a rich body of literature identifying cognitive and behavioral staging of MCI/AD, the emotional changes that accompany these diagnoses have been largely ignored. The objective of this study was to develop a model of the emotional aspects of MCI/AD. DESIGN AND METHODS: One hour, semistructured interviews, with 14 patient-Informal Support Partner dyads (N = 28) interviewed concurrently; patients were in various stages of MCI/AD. An interdisciplinary team employed a grounded theory coding process to detect emotional characteristics of the participants with MCI/AD. RESULTS: Emotional reactions were categorized into depression/sadness, apathy, concern/fear, anger/frustration, and acceptance. The emotions did not present linearly along the course of the disease and were instead entwined within a set of complex (positive/negative) interactions including: relationship with the Informal Support Partner (i.e., teamwork vs infantilization), relationship with the Formal Support (i.e., patient vs disengaged), coping (i.e., adaptive vs nonadaptive), and perceived control (i.e., internal vs external locus-of-control). For example, a person with poor formal and informal support and external locus-of-control may become depressed, a condition that is known to negatively affect cognitive status. IMPLICATIONS: Understanding the emotional reactions of individuals diagnosed with MCI/AD will provide clinicians with information needed to develop treatments suited to current needs of the patient and provide Informal Support Partners insight into cognitive and physical changes associated with MCI/AD.© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]/* */ Language: en
The Role of Arene–Arene Interactions in the Folding of ortho-Phenylenes

The ortho-phenylenes are a simple class of helical oligomers and representative of the broader class of sterically congested polyphenylenes. Recent work has shown that o-phenylenes fold into well-defined helical conformations (in solution and, typically, in the solid state); however, the specific causes of this folding behavior have not been determined. Here, we report the effect of substituents on the conformational distributions of a series of o-phenylene hexamers. These experiments are complemented by dispersion-corrected DFT calculations on model oligomers (B97-D/TZV(2d,2p)). The results are consistent with a deterministic role for offset arene–arene stacking interactions on the folding behavior. On the basis of the experimental and computational results, we propose a model for o-phenylene folding with two simple rules. (1) Conformers are forbidden if they include a particular sequence of biaryl torsional states that causes excessive steric strain. These “ABA” states correspond to consecutive dihedral...
Photolysis of Riboflavin in Poultry Feeds

Abstract In an experiment in the fall of 1945 a large quantity of poultry feed was exposed on a canvas to direct sunlight for the purpose of eliminating the riboflavin. The feed was exposed for two weeks and stirred several times a day. After the two week period only about 15% of the riboflavin was lost. The work by Stamberg and Theophilus (1945) showed that milk exposed to direct sunlight for six hours lost up to 80 percent of riboflavin. DeMerre and Brown (1944) found that riboflavin in solution was rapidly destroyed by light. Such studies have led many to believe that riboflavin undergoes photolysis rapidly in opaque foods or feeds when exposed to sunlight. The early experiment indicated that the photolysis in dry feeds is less rapid than in solutions. To check this further, two poultry feeds were exposed to direct sunlight for nine days. The feeds were exposed on . . .
Hereditary Susceptibility to Fetal Valproate Syndrome

Three families in whom all 7 siblings were affected by fetal valproate syndrome (FVS) are reported from the Department of Medical Genetics, Family Federation of Finland, Helsinki, Finland.
Application of VE Technology in Product Development

The article discussed the application of VE technology in detail by taking an actual example case. It analyzed and evaluated the products. The functional evaluation coefficient was calculated by the design department, manufacturer and the experts of VE, therefore the reliability is ensured. The Inductive Grading Method was used to evaluate the function. The importance of each function was classified carefully. After analyzing each part of the product, and assuring its reliability , the final VE object has been selected by using the most suitable region method.The trying selecting method has been used when determining evaluation coefficient. Finally, by using Delphi method, new design was created and the practically improving plan was formulated.
Maternal hemodynamics associated with uterine contraction in gravid monkeys

Electromagnetic flowmeters were used to measure cardiac output and pelvic blood flow during late gestation and parturition. Hypogastric artery blood flow consistently decreased and aortic blood pressure increased with each uterine contraction. In both anesthetized and unanesthetized monkeys, a decrease in mean cardiac output preceded the characteristic increase in output of the heart observed several seconds after onset of myometrial contractions. These observations suggest that the initial hemodynamic event associated with myometrial contraction in the gravid monkey is a decreased blood flow to the uterus occurring shortly after onset of a detectable rise in amniotic fluid pressure and preceding initiation of corresponding changes in venous outflow from the uterus. Reduction of blood flow from the uterus decreases venous return and, coupled with increased arterial pressure, engenders an initial reduction in cardiac output. This response may be masked by ancillary factors which override the basic fluid dynamics.
Long-Term Effect of Exposure to a Friend's Adolescent Childbirth on Fertility, Education, and Earnings

Abstract Purpose To examine the long-term effect of a female adolescent's exposure to a peer's childbirth on fertility, schooling, and earnings. Methods Estimating causal peer effects in fertility is challenging because the exposure variable (peer pregnancy and childbirth) is nonrandomly assigned. Miscarriages in early pregnancy occur spontaneously in a significant proportion of pregnancies and, therefore, create a natural experiment within which the causal effect of childbirth can be examined. This exploratory study compared adjusted fertility, educational, and labor market outcomes of female adolescents whose adolescent pregnant friend gave birth to female adolescents whose pregnant friend miscarried. Longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were analyzed using logistic, ordinal logistic, linear, and log-linear regressions. Results Females whose adolescent pregnant friends gave birth (instead of miscarried) had decreased adolescent sexual activity, pregnancy, and teen childbearing and increased educational attainment, but there were no significant long-term effects on total fertility or differences in labor market outcomes, relative to females whose pregnant adolescent friend miscarried. Conclusions Adolescent females appear to learn vicariously from teen childbearing experiences of their friends, resulting in delayed childbearing and higher educational attainment. Interventions that expose adolescents to the reality of teen motherhood may be an effective way of reducing the rates of teen childbearing and improving schooling.