cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developing Graphic Messages for Vaping Prevention Among Black and Latino Adolescents: Participatory Research Approach.

Background: As an important transition stage in human development, adolescence is a critical window for vaping prevention. There is a substantial gap in communication research on vaping prevention among racial and ethnic minority groups. Their representation is essential to develop, implement, and disseminate innovative and effective interventions for vaping prevention. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the participatory research (PR) procedures used with Black and Latino adolescents to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate graphic messages for vaping prevention. Methods: This PR study used a qualitative, user-centered design method. We conducted a series of focus groups with 16 Black and Latino adolescents to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate graphic messages for vaping prevention. The biobehavioral model of nicotine addiction provided a framework for the development of the graphic messages. Participants met 4 times to provide iterative feedback on the graphic messages until they reached a consensus on overall quality and content. Results: At baseline, the participants’ mean age was 15.4 years (SD 1.4). Of the participants, 50% (8/16) were female, 88% (14/16) were heterosexual, 56% (9/16) were Black/African American, and 44% (7/16) were Hispanic/Latino. A total of 12 of the 16 participants (75%) chose to participate in the English sessions. Participants decided to create four types of graphic messages: (1) financial reward, (2) health reward, (3) social norms, and (4) self-efficacy. Meeting 4 times with the 4 groups provided sufficient opportunities for iterative feedback on the graphic messages to reach a consensus on overall quality and content. Conclusions: It is feasible and practical to build PR among Black and Latino adolescents focused on vaping prevention. Adolescents added innovation and creativity to the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate graphic messages for vaping prevention. Appropriate staffing, funding, and approaches are key for successful PR efforts among Black and Latino adolescents. Future research is needed to evaluate the impact of the graphic messages on vaping prevention.
PROPERTIES OF COMPOUNDS USED AS CHEMICAL SIGNALS

The most important property of a compound used as a chemical signal is an appropriate volatility. This limits its upper molecular weight to ~ 300 and the effective lower molecular weight appears to be ~ 50 (Wilson, 1963; Wilson et al., 1969). Many different functional groups have been observed in pheromones and defensive materials from nonpolar molecules such as alkanes and alkenes to very polar compounds which may be acidic (acids, phenols) or basic (amines) (Weatherston, 1967; Law and Regnier, 1971).
The use and Effectiveness of E-Mail as a Method of Communication in Marketing Education

This paper describes an empirical study which analyzes the use and effectiveness of e-mail as a method of communication between professor and student in marketing education. A survey on e-mail usage and perceptions was administered to 125 marketing students. Findingsindicate fairlyhighstudentuseof e-mail, yet low levels of usage of e-mail as a medium to communicate with college educators. Given the potential benefits of this new form of written communication, further study into both marketing educators’ and students’ perceptions is recommended.
Malic Dehydrogenase VIII. LARGE SCALE PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF SUPERNATANT PIG HEART ENZYME

Abstract A reproducible procedure for the large scale purification of pig heart supernatant malate dehydrogenase which yields up to 400 mg of homogeneous protein has been developed. The purity of the isolated enzyme is shown by acrylamide gel electrophoresis over a pH range from 4.9 to 9.2 as well as by detailed analysis of boundary spreading during sedimentation velocity experiments. Three enzymically active zones of enzyme were observed on gel electrophoresis at pH 4.9. Physical properties, including the partial specific volume, s20,w, apparent diffusion coefficient, molar extinction coefficient, and molecular weight, have been evaluated. Chemical determinations include a detailed quantitative amino acid analysis, amino end group analysis, and the preparation of peptide maps of tryptic digests of the enzyme. The results indicate that pig heart supernatant malate dehydrogenase is made up of two identical or very similar subunits.
Abstract 1872: A novel method for efficient and hands-free purification of circulating DNA from human plasma

Circulating or Cell-Free DNA in plasma can be used to detect biomarkers that show great promise for diagnosis and monitoring of cancer, and is already being used as a non-invasive method to detect trisomy in fetuses. There is currently great interest in the discovery of new cancer biomarkers and their potential clinical application. However, reproducible and efficient purification of these highly fragmented and low-concentration species represents a major challenge. Here we will present a novel method which is completely automated and allows parallel purification of circulating nucleic acid from plasma and serum using a medium-throughput robot. Sixteen samples can be processed simultaneously. The method was optimized to produce high-quality DNA that is suitable for use in quantitative PCR and next generation sequencing. In addition, the absence of any pre-processing steps improves reproducibility and lowers the risk of contamination.Initial characterization on plasma from pregnant women showed that fetal DNA could be detected as early as 4 weeks into gestation and could be tracked throughout pregnancy. Further characterization showed that the system was able to reliably detect less than 25 copies/ml plasma of fragmented DNA that was spiked into the sample. Subsequent work on plasma from patients with colorectal cancer showed that the system was able to detect DNA containing both wild-type and mutated EGFR, suggesting that this method can be a useful tool when screening plasma samples for biomarkers of interest. Citation Format: Douglas White, Douglas Horejsh, Zhiyang Zeng, Tetsuo Uyeda, Poncho Meisenheimer, Marjeta Urh. A novel method for efficient and hands-free purification of circulating DNA from human plasma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1872. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1872
The role of INDY in metabolism, health and longevity

Indy (I'm Not Dead Yet) encodes the fly homolog of a mammalian SLC13A5 plasma membrane transporter. INDY is expressed in metabolically active tissues functioning as a transporter of Krebs cycle intermediates with the highest affinity for citrate. Decreased expression of the Indy gene extends longevity in Drosophila and C. elegans. Reduction of INDY or its respective homologs in C. elegans and mice induces metabolic and physiological changes similar to those observed in calorie restriction. It is thought that these physiological changes are due to altered levels of cytoplasmic citrate, which directly impacts Krebs cycle energy production as a result of shifts in substrate availability. Citrate cleavage is a key event during lipid and glucose metabolism; thus, reduction of citrate due to Indy reduction alters these processes. With regards to mammals, mice with reduced Indy (mIndy(-/-)) also exhibit changes in glucose metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis and are protected from the negative effects of a high calorie diet. Together, these data support a role for Indy as a metabolic regulator, which suggests INDY as a therapeutic target for treatment of diet and age-related disorders such as Type II Diabetes and obesity.
Surgical margin reporting in breast conserving surgery: Does compliance with guidelines affect re-excision and mastectomy rates?

Abstract Purpose Margin status is important in guiding decisions to re-excise following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) developed guidelines to standardize pathology reporting; however, compliance with margin documentation guidelines has been shown to vary. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether compliance with CAP guidelines affects re-excision and mastectomy rates. Methods We identified 1423 patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1998 and 2006 who underwent BCS with negative margins. CAP compliance was categorized as maximal, minimal, or non-compliant. Statistical analyses were performed comparing the frequency of re-excision and mastectomy after initial BCS according to CAP margin reporting guideline compliance. Data were adjusted for provider facility by including a clustering variable within the regression model. Results Patients with non-compliant margin reporting were 1.7 times more likely to undergo re-excision and/or mastectomy than those with maximally compliant reporting. Level of compliance was most strongly associated with the frequency of mastectomy; non-compliant margin reporting was associated with a 2.5-fold increase in mastectomy rates compared to maximally compliant reporting. The results did not substantially change when the analyses accounted for clustering at the provider facility level. Conclusions Our findings suggest that compliance with CAP guidelines in pathology reporting may be associated with variation in re-excision and mastectomy rates following BCS.
Constructing the minimization diagram of a two-parameter problem

Let P(@l @m) = min{@?"1(x)[email protected]@?"2(x)[email protected]@?"3(x)|x @e D}. We present a method that constructs P(@l, @m) for all @l, @m in a given interval in O(@?.T(n)[email protected]?^2) time, where @? denotes the number of faces of P(@l, @m) in the interval and T(n) denotes the time needed to solve the associated nonparametric problem.
Long-term effect of the North Carolina graduated driver licensing system on licensed driver crash incidence: A 5-year survival analysis

Several studies document the success of graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems in reducing young teen crash rates, but it is not yet clear whether any portion of the crash reduction is achieved by producing more capable drivers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether young teen drivers licensed under the North Carolina GDL system remain crash-free longer than those licensed prior to GDL, independent of the crude reductions in exposure (i.e., decreasing and delaying licensure) that may be responsible for most documented effects of GDL. Survival analysis was used to compare retrospective cohorts of 16-17 year olds before (n=105,569) and after (n=327,054) the North Carolina GDL system was implemented. The crash incidence of GDL-licensed 16-17 year olds (combined) was 10% lower than that for pre-GDL teens for at least 5 years after being licensed to drive independently (hazard ratio [HR]=0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.89, 0.91). However, more refined analysis revealed the reductions to only be among females (7%; HR=0.93; CI=0.91, 0.94) and males (15%; HR=0.85, CI=0.84, 0.87) licensed at age 16 and not among females (0%; HR=1.00; CI=0.95, 1.06) and males (0%; HR=1.00; CI=0.92, 1.09) licensed at age 17. Sixteen-year-old drivers licensed under the North Carolina GDL system experienced lower first-crash incidence during the first 5 years of unsupervised driving than did those licensed under the previous system. The benefits are greater for males, who tend to have higher crash rates. The findings contradict conventional wisdom that the entire benefit of GDL results merely from decreasing or delaying licensure among young drivers.
Evidence in Islamic law: reforming the Islamic evidence law based on the federal rules of evidence

Islamic law is followed currently in at least some capacity in about 53 Muslim countries around the world. Islamic law formed during the time of the Prophet Mohammed, and became widely recognized a...
Infrared Spectra of Carbonaceous Chondrites and the Composition of Interstellar Grains

Infrared spectra (7–40 μ) of the carbonaceous chondrites, Cold Bokkeveld, Murray, and Orgueil are compared with phyllosilicate minerals and interstellar grain spectra. Similarities in the position and shape of the silicate feature near 9.8 μ suggest that similar silicate minerals are present in primitive meteorites and the interstellar dust.
Physical, Chemical, Molecular, and Immunologic Methods

Most of the methods for detecting and characterizing microorganisms covered in this chapter were developed since 1960. Many can be used to estimate numbers of cells or quantity of cellular by-products. Unlike direct microscopic counts, most of those that follow are based on metabolic activity of microorganisms on given substrates, measurements of growth response, measurements of some part of cells (including nucleic acids), or combinations of these.
Inferring the Origin of Routing Changes using Link Weights

The global Internet routing infrastructure is a large and complex distributed system where routing changes occur constantly. Our objective in this paper is to develop a simple and effective inference solution that can identify the AS or inter-AS link failures that trigger large scale routing changes in near realtime. We achieve this goal through a novel approach based on link weights. We measure the weight of each inter-AS link by the number of routes carried over that link, and keep track of its expected value and variance. We then correlate the weight changes of adjacent links and use a min-cut heuristic to find candidates for the origin of change. This work makes three contributions. First, we keep track of link weights rather than the routes of individual prefixes and thus our analysis is based on an aggregate view. Second, we use expected value and mean deviation of the link weights to identify routing events and distinguish route changes caused by failures from those by recoveries. Finally we use a min-cut heuristic based on the classification of routing events to accurately identify the AS or inter-AS link most likely responsible for the observed route changes. We verified our design using BGP data collected from operational Internet. Our efficient and accurate routing diagnosis solution can greatly help us gain better understanding of the dynamics in the operational Internet.
The Effects of Hyperpnea on Exhaled Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Normal Subjects

Study objectives: To determine if the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in the lungs increases with hyperpnea by contrasting calculated production ( ie , the product of the fractional expired NO concentration [FeNO] and minute ventilation [V e ]) [V no ] with the amount of NO in equilibrium with the conducting airways (eNOair) and the amount of NO diffusing from the alveoli (eNOalv). Design: Observational study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Participants: Normal subjects. Interventions: Measurements were made in 16 healthy people during and after 4 min of tidal breathing (10 L/min) and isocapnic hyperventilation of 60 L/min. Measurements and results: FeNO was measured by collecting the exhaled air during the last minute of each trial and passing it through a chemiluminescence analyzer. The expired NO levels in the plateau phases of slow (30 mL/s) and fast (200 mL/s) single-breath exhalations were also obtained before and after hyperventilation. The V no (mean ± SEM) increased from 89.8 ± 12.3 to 329.1 ± 36.2 nL/min as V e rose (p Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the amount of NO in equilibrium with the airway walls and alveoli are not altered by hyperpnea. Rather, the apparent augmentation in V no in such circumstances appears to be an arithmetic artifact.
The evolution of cost efficient swimming in marine mammals: limits to energetic optimization

Mammals reentered the oceans less than 60 million years ago. The transition from a terrestrial to an aquatic lifestyle required extreme morphological and behavioural modifications concomitant with ...
Are rap videos more violent? Style differences and the prevalence of sex and violence in the age of MTV

Over a decade after MTV made music videos a popular form of entertainment among American youths, the landscape of the television and recording industries has changed. Newer genres of music videos, particularly rap and hip‐hop, have raised questions in the minds of policy makers, parents, and community activists as to the extent that these music forms inordinately perpetuate negative effects in their audiences. This study selected 203 music videos from popular video channels and assessed the occurrence of elements of sex and violence based on five music styles, including rap, hip‐hop, R&B‐Soul, Country & Western, and Pop. The study found that while none of the music video genres predicted elements of the occurrence of more physical aspects of sex and violence, rap videos were consistently higher than other genres in certain other behaviors. Among these were guntalk, drugtalk, the presence of alcohol, and gambling. Implications for sex and violence in other genres are also reported.
Tumor-Volume Simulation During Radiotherapy for Head-and-Neck Cancer Using a Four-Level Cell Population Model

Purpose To develop a fast computational radiobiologic model for quantitative analysis of tumor volume during fractionated radiotherapy. The tumor-volume model can be useful for optimizing image-guidance protocols and four-dimensional treatment simulations in proton therapy that is highly sensitive to physiologic changes. Methods The analysis is performed using two approximations: (1) tumor volume is a linear function of total cell number and (2) tumor-cell population is separated into four subpopulations: oxygenated viable cells, oxygenated lethally damaged cells, hypoxic viable cells, and hypoxic lethally damaged cells. An exponential decay model is used for disintegration and removal of oxygenated lethally damaged cells from the tumor. Results We tested our model on daily volumetric imaging data available for 14 head-and-neck cancer patients treated with an integrated computed tomography/linear accelerator system. A simulation based on the averaged values of radiobiologic parameters was able to describe eight cases during the entire treatment and four cases partially (50% of treatment time) with a maximum 20% error. The largest discrepancies between the model and clinical data were obtained for small tumors, which may be explained by larger errors in the manual tumor volume delineation procedure. Conclusions Our results indicate that the change in gross tumor volume for head-and-neck cancer can be adequately described by a relatively simple radiobiologic model. In future research, we propose to study the variation of model parameters by fitting to clinical data for a cohort of patients with head-and-neck cancer and other tumors. The potential impact of other processes, like concurrent chemotherapy, on tumor volume should be evaluated.
Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Braced-Chain Eyebar Bridge

Braced-chain eyebar bridges were common variations on the suspension bridge in the nineteenth century. The particular integration of a suspension system (eyebar chains) with the truss system (single diagonals and fabricated verticals) used at English Center, Pennsylvania, represents an important step in the evolution of the suspension bridge through its developmental stages in the late nineteenth century. The bridge, which spans 91.4 m (300 ft), was constructed in 1891 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as a rare short-span suspension bridge. Because of the complex, apparently dual structural system of the bridge, identification of the bridge response to loading using analytical techniques was considered inadequate. Results of controlled load testing consisting of strain response measurements in selected suspension and truss components of the bridge are presented, and the interaction of the bridge truss and suspension systems is discussed. Field-measured response and predicted response derived from analytical models are compared and discussed. The Lower English Center Bridge is also evaluated for capacity of current legal loads considering the strength limit states.
Two-Level Neural Network For Deterministic Logic Processing

A two-level neural network is proposed for the implementation of general deterministic logic (switching) functions. The network is potentially capable of implementing any set of binary switching functions of n variables. A cascade of two neural-like processor levels gives rise to a high-performance nonlinear functional memory. The first neural layer implements a linearly separable psuedorandom mapping that maps n dimensional binary input vectors into a higher m dimensional space of randomly scattered vectors, while the second neural layer implements a one-pass associative neural memory (ANM) that maps the output of the first layer into prerecorded target vectors. The interconnection weights of this layer are synthesized using a new and highly efficient recording technique[l]. The high fan-out of the first layer mapping and the highly distributed parallel architecture of the proposed network are ideal for optical implementation.
Effect of air on granular size separation in a vibrated granular bed

Using high-speed video and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we study the motion of a large sphere in a vertically vibrated bed of smaller grains. As previously reported we find a nonmonotonic density dependence of the rise and sink time of the large sphere. We show that air drag causes relative motion between the intruder and the bed during the shaking cycle and is ultimately responsible for the observed density dependence of the risetime. We investigate in detail how the motion of the intruder sphere is influenced by size of the background particles, initial vertical position in the bed, ambient pressure, and convection. We explain our results in the framework of a simple model and find quantitative agreement in key aspects with numerical simulations to the model equations.
Effective anisotropic elastic constants of bimaterial interphases: comparison between experimental and analytical techniques

The effective elastic constants of a bimaterial composite were experimentally measured with the goal of validating the numerical predications of these constants made by homogenization theory. Secondly, solutions predicted by homogenization theory were compared to predictions made with more standard composite theories. Composite specimens consisting of titanium and epoxy were developed to mimic a porous titanium/tissue interphase. Tensile and shear tests (ASTM D3983) measured the stiffness along the porous coating/epoxy interphase (EL), across the interphase (ET) and in shear (GET). NO significant differences in moduli were found between the experimental measurements and predictions made with homogenization theory, nor between the experimental measurements and Hashin-Shtrikman estimates. Homogenization theory predicted results usually within 20% of Hashin-Shtrikman estimates, but typically more than 50% different from what is predicted by the rule of mixtures. However, homogenization theory allows calculation of anisotropic stiffness estimates and local strains, neither of which is possible using Hashin-Shtrikman estimates. With this experimental validation, the accuracy of homogenization theory for use in implant/tissue interface mechanics applications is confirmed. Since the composite interphase is anisotropic and more compliant in the transverse direction, with stiffness an order of magnitude lower across the interphase, local mechanics, tissue ingrowth and remodeling may be strongly directional dependent.
Better vocabularies for assistive communication aids: connecting terms using semantic networks and untrained annotators

The difficulties of navigating vocabulary in an assistive communication device are exacerbated for individuals with lexical access disorders like those due to aphasia. We present the design and implementation of a vocabulary network based on WordNet, a resource that attempts to model human semantic memory, that enables users to find words easily. To correct for the sparsity of links among words, we augment WordNet with additional connections derived from human judgments of semantic similarity collected in an online experiment. We evaluate the resulting system, the visual vocabulary for aphasia (ViVA), and describe its potential to adapt to a user's profile and enable faster search and improved navigation.
Gel speciation studies-I The intrinsic dissociation constant of weakly acidic cation-exchange gels.

Abstract The arid-dissociation properties of three weakly acidic cation-exchange gels, CM-Sephadex C-50-120, Biogel CM-2 and CM-Biogel A, have been studied. Each of the gels was equilibrated in sodium polystyrene sulphonate (NaPSS) solutions at three different concentration levels (0.1, 0.01 and 0.001M). The volume of the gels was measured as a function of a (their degree of neutralization), and Cp (the NaPSS concentration); pH and pNa were also measured at each α-value. Intrinsic pK values of 3.25 and 4.55 have been found for CM-Sephadex C-50-120 and Biogel CM-2 respectively.
Epithelial basement membranes: the isolation and identification of a soluble component.

Abstract A glycoprotein which carries an antigenic marker similar or identical to that of epithelial basement membranes in murine tissues has been isolated in a soluble form. This glycoprotein is synthesized and secreted by parietal yolk sac carcinoma cells grown in tissue culture, and was isolated by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 followed by column chromatography on agarose (Bio-gel A-5m). The protein which eluted with the void volume was characterized. Amino acid analysis revealed no hydroxyproline or hydroxylysine. Sugar analysis indicated the presence of fucose, mannose, galactose, glucose and hexosamines. Sialic acid was not detected. The data obtained by immunodiffusion suggested the presence of a single protei species. The data indicate that one glycoprotein component of epithelial basement membrane can be obtained in a soluble form, thus simplifying subsequent characterization. Other components, including collagen, have not yet been isolated from this system.
Fluid intake, renal solute load, and water balance in infancy.

A simple, largely empiric method for estimating renal solute load is proposed. Utilizing this method, examples of urine concentration and water balance are described in hypothetic infants receiving various feedings at differing volumes of intake and with normal or increased extrarenal losses of fluid. Circumstances in which water balance must be a primary consideration in infant feeding are discussed.
Intercellular communication and tissue growth: VII. A cancer cell strain with retarded formation of permeable membrane junction and reduced exchange of a 330-dalton molecule

A cancer (hepatoma) cell strain is described in which the formation of junctional membrane channels is abnormally slow. The development of electrical junctional coupling following the establishment of contact between these (reaggregated) cells is at least 15 times slower than that between their normal counterparts; and junctional transfer of fluorescein eventually develops, but only in about 5% of the contacts (as against 100% normally). This deviant membrane behavior is interpreted as a retardation in the process of accretion of junctional membrane channels. Its possible etiological role in defective growth regulation is discussed.
Dependence and Stability of the Demand for Money in a Small open Economy: The Case of Côte‐d'Ivoire

Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of foreign variables on the demand for money in Cote-d'Ivoire during 1970. I-1986. IV. In the model specification, we consider that Cote-d'Ivoire is a member of the Franc zone. Within the zone, the CFA Franc is pegged to the French Franc, but outside the zone or with the generalized floating system, the CFA Franc espouses the form taken by the French Franc against other major currencies. The model satisfactorily explains behavioral relationships under these two regimes. Domestic determinants of the demand for real cash balances are the real GDP, the expected rate of inflation, the degree of credit restraint, and expectations of economic instability. International influences are captured by foreign interest and exchange rates. Stability and causality tests indicate that the money demand relation has been stable over time and is highly influenced by foreign interest rates. Resume: Le present document etudie les incidences des variables exterieures sur la demande de monnaie en Cote-d'Ivoire de 1970. I a 1986.IV. Dans la specification du modele, nous considerons que la COcte-d'Ivoire est membre de la Zone Franc, mais hors de la Zone ou avec le systeme flottant generalise, le Franc CFA adopte les formes proses par le Franc Francais par rapport aux devise fortes. Le modele explique de manie satisfaisante les rapprots aux devises fortes. Le modele explique de manie satisfaisante les rapprots de comportement sous ces deux regimes. Les facteurs determinants sur la demande de bilans de tresorerie reelle sont le PIB reel, le taus d'inflation previsionnel, le degre de penurie de credit, les menaces d'instabiliteeconomique. Les influences internationales sont representees par les interets etrangers et les taux de change. Les tests de stabilite et der cause a effect indiquent que le rapport de la demande de monnaie a eate stable au fil du temps et est fortement influence par les taus d'interet etrangers.
Probability matching in the Prisoner’s Dilemma

An attempt is made to relate the findings of probability matching studies to more complex human behavior. The general result is that the PM finding is not directly applicable to situations which are more complex, i.e., where the subject has additional cues available on which to base his prediction.
Strain Differences in the Effects of Chronic Corticosterone Exposure in the Hippocampus

Stress hormones are thought to be involved in the etiology of depression, in part, because animal models show they cause morphological damage to the brain, an effect that can be reversed by chronic antidepressant treatment. The current study examined two mouse strains selected for naturalistic variation of tissue regeneration after injury for resistance to the effects of chronic corticosterone (CORT) exposure on cell proliferation and neurotrophin mobilization. The wound healer MRL/MpJ and control C57BL/6J mice were implanted subcutaneously with pellets that released CORT for 7 days. MRL/MpJ mice were resistant to reductions of hippocampal cell proliferation by chronic exposure to CORT when compared to vulnerable C57BL/6J mice. Chronic CORT exposure also reduced protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of C57BL/6J but not MRL/MpJ mice. CORT pellet exposure increased circulating levels of CORT in the plasma of both strains in a dose-dependent manner although MRL/MpJ mice may have larger changes from baseline. The strains did not differ in circulating levels of corticosterone binding globulin (CBG). There were also no strain differences in CORT levels in the hippocampus, nor did CORT exposure alter glucocorticoid receptor or mineralocorticoid receptor expression in a strain-dependent manner. Strain differences were found in the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and BDNF I and IV promoters. Strain and CORT exposure interacted to alter tropomyosine-receptor-kinase B (TrkB) expression and this may be a potential mechanism protecting MRL/MpJ mice. In addition, differences in the inflammatory response of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may also contribute to these strain differences in resistance to the deleterious effects of CORT to the brain.
Influence of prior distributions and random effects on count regression models: implications for estimating standing dead tree abundance

Thepresenceandabundanceofstandingdeadtrees(SDTs)inforestsistyp- ically characterized by an excess number of zeros and high variation. The variability inherentinSDTdatanaturallyleadstotheassessmentofnovelquantitativemethodsto represent SDT populations and their role in contributing to forest ecosystem structure. This analysis assessed the performance of count regression methods fit with Bayesian mixed-effects models that estimate SDTs (all dead trees with a diameter at breast height ≥12.7 cm found on plots 0.07-ha in size) on over 17,000 forest inventory plots across the US Lake States (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Random effects models that used the independent variables basal area, mean annual temperature, and plot ownership (i.e., publicly- or privately-owned) as fixed effects and forest type as a random effect outperformed a method which used fixed-effects, alone. Standard and zero-inflatednegativebinomialmodelswereeffectiveinaccountingforoverdispersion present in the data (variance/mean ratio for SDT counts was 72.6), whereas Poisson count models were not. Random effects were calibrated on a new population of SDTs. Employing informative prior distributions from the developed model led to improved estimates of SDT abundance by reducing root mean square error by seven percent. This analysis highlights an approach that uses existing models for representing popu- lation averages while calibrating their local random effects with new data to arrive at improved estimates of SDTs across the region.
Sexual assault of women at work

Review of twenty-one workers' compensation claims for sexual assault filed in Ohio for the period 1983-1985 revealed that five (62%) of the rapes by unknown assailants after dark occurred in convenience food stores. The rape rate was 7.0 per 100,000 females employed in convenience food stores per year compared with a rate of 0.3 per 100,000 females employed in Ohio (IRR = 25.6, CI 8.1-132.3). In addition, three rapes occurred among motel maids and housekeepers, and three among residential property managers. Police reports for sexual assault in Memphis, Tennessee for 1985 corroborated the observation of a potential increased risk of rape in female employees of convenience food stores. Strategies for the provision of personal security against assault in the workplace have not previously been addressed in the public health literature. A review of workers' compensation claims has identified an area for which strategies to prevent workplace injuries should be developed.
Measurements of air broadening, pressure shifting and off diagonal relaxation matrix coefficients in the ν 3 band of 12 CH 3 D

Abstract A multispectrum nonlinear least-squares fitting technique has been applied to determine Lorentz air-broadening coefficients and air induced pressure-shift coefficients of 12 CH 3 D for the ν 3 fundamental band in the spectral region between 1154 and 1430 cm −1 . This analysis has utilized 11 absorption spectra recorded at an unapodized resolution of 0.005 cm −1 with the McMath-Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) on Kitt Peak. Low pressure spectra (with 1–2.99 Torr of enriched 12 CH 3 D samples) as well as lean mixtures (≈1%) of 12 CH 3 D in dry air (total pressures of 100–400 Torr) at room temperature have been measured to determine the pressure broadening coefficients of more than 360 ν 3 transitions with quantum numbers as high as J ″=17 and K ″=17. The measured air-broadening coefficients range from 0.0155 to 0.0726 cm −1 atm −1 at 296 K. The pressure-induced shift coefficients vary from about −0.0086 to +0.0058 cm −1 atm −1 . The majority of the shifts are negative, and the positive shifts often involve transitions with J ″= K ″. Weak line mixing effects have also been observed in a few high J lines with K ″=3 and approximate off diagonal relaxation matrix coefficients were determined for several A + A − (A1A2) split components. At low to medium values of J , the A + A − splitting is extremely small, and the two components are practically unresolved. Variations of the measured parameters with the A- and E- symmetry species and the rotational quantum numbers of the transitions involved are discussed. The present results are compared to the few available experimental values in the literature.
Bioavailability of Cadmium in Food and Water: A Case Study on the Derivation of Relative Bioavailability Factors for Inorganics and Their Relevance to the Reference Dose

Abstract Published studies in which rats were exposed to CdCl 2 in standard chow or drinking water were analyzed to compare the relative bioavailability of cadmium from the two media. Relative bioavailability was assessed from estimates of the rate of accumulation of cadmium in kidney cortex or liver. Data were grouped into tiers based on study design and reporting of data: Tier 1, identical experimental protocols and dosage can be estimated; Tier 2, very similar or identical protocols and dosage can be estimated; Tier 3, protocols may differ and dosage can be estimated; and Tier 4, protocols may differ and dosages cannot be estimated (but concentration of cadmium in food or water is reported). Tiers were nested, such that Tier 4 contained all relevant studies; Tier 3 included data sets from Tiers 1 and 2; and Tier 2 included the data set from Tier 1. Data within Tiers 1, 2, and 3 were subjected to a linear regression analysis with dosage as the independent variable and tissue accumulation rate as the dependent variable to determine whether bioavailability of cadmium was significantly different based on medium of administration. The results of this analysis show the following: (I) In rats receiving food and drinking water ad libitum , the bioavailability of cadmium in drinking water is not significantly different ( P > 0.05) from the bioavailability of cadmium in food when dosages are less than 4 mg/kg body wt/day. (2) Cadmium decreases food and water consumption; therefore, assessments of relative bioavailability should be made based on actual dosage rather than exposure levels. (3) Diet composition and status of the gastrointestinal tract are probably a more important determinant of the bioavailability of cadmium than is the exposure medium. (4) Studies of the effect of total diet composition on bioavailability of cadmium may be more relevant than are studies of the effect of the exposure medium. It is concluded from this analysis that the bioavailability of cadmium in food is not different from that in water when diet is provided ad libitum . Therefore, we recommend that distinct RfDs for cadmium in food and drinking water should not be based on the assumption that the bioavailability of cadmium in drinking water is greater than that of cadmium in food.
Identification of two leucine-sensitive lysine transport activities in human placental basal membrane.

Abstract The recent demonstration of multiple high-affinity leucine-sensitive cationic transport systems prompted this investigation of their role in lysine uptake in basal cell membrane. Transport of lysine by basal membrane was saturable at both 22 and 37°C and linear in time to I min and 30 sec, respectively. At 22°C, at least two systems were active. The portion of uptake inhibited by the sulphydryl binding reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) but not by leucine in the absence of sodium had a high K m and high V max and was attributed to system y + . NEM-insensitive uptake was fitted by a one-system model with K m ( ± s.e.) of 4 ± 1 μm and a V max of 0.9 ± 0.1 pmol/mg protein/min. This component was completely inhibited by leucine in the absence of sodium but not by glutamine in the presence of sodium. Therefore, it was attributed to system b o,+ . At 37°C, at least three systems were active. For essentially the same reasons as above the NEM inhibitable uptake was attributed to system y + . NEM-insensitive uptake was fitted by a one-system model with K m of 26 ± 7 μm and V max of 11.1 ± 2.8 pmol/mg protein/30 sec. Inhibition studies, however, indicated its heterogeneity. NEM-insensitive saturable uptake was only partially inhibited by either leucine in the absence of sodium (system b o,+ ) or by glutamine in the presence of sodium (system y + L). It is concluded that the NEM-insensitive portion of lysine uptake at 37°C represents activity of both system b o,+ and the temperature-sensitive system y + L. As a previous investigation indicates, only one of these (system y + L) is present in the more specialized microvillous membrane. The demonstration of functional differences in the high affinity leucine transporters of basal and microvillous membrane in this and our previous investigations suggest that the two membranes possess different transport or modifier proteins.
Sorption and swelling of block copolymers in the presence of supercritical fluid carbon dioxide

Abstract The sorption and swelling of polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl pyridine) and polyisoprene, and of styrene-methyl methacrylate, styrene-vinyl pyridine and styrene-isoprene block copolymers, in the presence of carbon dioxide, is examined at 35°C and at pressures to 1500 psia. Sorption data were obtained using a quartz spring technique and swelling data were obtained by direct measurement of the dimensions of a separate sample using a cathetometer. Sorption in the glassy polymers increases linearly at low pressures before leveling off at higher pressures, while sorption in the rubber polyisoprene is linear over the entire range of pressures investigated. Sorption in the block copolymers shows a continuous transition from the behavior of one homopolymer to the behavior of the other. The Sanchez-Lacombe equation of state is used to model the homopolymer data using the concept of order parameters to extend the model to the glassy polymers. A simple linear model based on the homopolymer sorption is adequate to describe the copolymer results.
EG/AD/S: A new type of model ice for refrigerated towing tanks

Abstract A new type of model ice has been developed for use in refrigerated towing basins. The ice is grown from an aqueous solution containing three different chemical dopants - ethylene glycol (EG), aliphatic detergent (AD) and sugar (S). In this paper, the concepts and development of this model ice are discussed. Analysis of the structure of the ice indicates that it is single layered, fine-grained and strictly columnar. A number of the mechanical properties of EG/AD/S model ice have been measured including the flexural strength, uni-axial and confined compressive strength, strain modulus and critical stress intensity factor. The results of these tests are compared to appropriately scaled sea ice values and the corresponding properties for carbamide (urea) model ice. This comparison shows that this new ice is far superior to urea model ice in all respects.
Preserved cardiac function despite marked impairment of cAMP generation.

OBJECTIVES So many clinical trials of positive inotropes have failed, that it is now axiomatic that agents that increase cAMP are deleterious to the failing heart. An alternative strategy is to alter myocardial Ca(2+) handling or myofilament response to Ca(2+) using agents that do not affect cAMP. Although left ventricular (LV) function is tightly linked to adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, the beneficial effects of AC may be independent of cAMP and instead stem from effects on Ca(2+) handling. Here we ask whether an AC mutant molecule that reduces LV cAMP production would have favorable effects on LV function through its effects on Ca(2+) handling alone. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated transgenic mice with cardiac-directed expression of an AC6 mutant (AC6mut). Cardiac myocytes showed impaired cAMP production in response to isoproterenol (74% reduction; p<0.001), but LV size and function were normal. Isolated hearts showed preserved LV function in response to isoproterenol stimulation. AC6mut expression was associated with increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) uptake and the EC50 for SERCA2a activation was reduced. Cardiac myocytes isolated from AC6mut mice showed increased amplitude of Ca(2+) transients in response to isoproterenol (p = 0.0001). AC6mut expression also was associated with increased expression of LV S100A1 (p = 0.03) and reduced expression of phospholamban protein (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION LV AC mutant expression is associated with normal cardiac function despite impaired cAMP generation. The mechanism appears to be through effects on Ca(2+) handling - effects that occur despite diminished cAMP.
Multi-object feature detection and error correction for NIF automatic optical alignment

Fiducials imprinted on laser beams are used to perform video image based alignment of the beams in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In any laser beam alignment operation, a beam needs to be aligned to a reference location. Generally, the beam and reference fiducials are composed of separate beams, as a result only a single feature of each beam needs to be identified for determining the position of the beam or reference. However, it is possible to have the same beam image contain both the beam and reference fiducials. In such instances, it is essential to separately identify these features. In the absence of wavefront correction or when image quality is poor, the features of such beams may get distorted making it difficult to distinguish between different fiducials. Error checking and correction mechanism must be implemented to avoid misidentification of one type of feature as the other. This work presents the algorithm for multi-object detection and error correction implemented for such a beam line image in the NIF facility. Additionally, we show how when the original algorithm fails a secondary algorithm takes over and provides required location outputs.
Uncommon η3-(N,C,C‘)-1-Azaallyl Bonding Mode for the Nacnac Ligand: A Bis(β-diketiminato)uranium(III) Iodide Complex

The reaction between 2 equiv of K(Nacnac) (Nacnac- = [Ar]NC(Me)CHC(Me)N[Ar], Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) and UI3(THF)4 in toluene affords (Nacnac)2UI (4), which features a β-diketiminate ligand bound to uranium(III) in an unusual η3-(N,C,C‘)-1-azaallyl mode and possesses close U···Calkene contacts.
Empathy, home environment, and attitudes toward animals in relation to animal abuse

AbstractRecent years have seen an increase in interest in the social, behavioral, psychological, and developmental correlates of animal abuse. The current study examined the relationships between empathy, family environment, attitudes toward animals and participation in animal abuse using a self-report methodology among a sample of college students. Within a sample of 286 college students, scores on the Attitudes Toward the Treatment of Animals Scale (ATTAS) were significantly correlated with scores on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a measure of empathy. The Caregiving subscale of the ATTAS was found to significantly differentiate abusers from non-abusers, and to differentiate abusers who reported having first engaged in abuse prior to age 13 years from those who reported having first engaged in abuse at age 13 or later. Abusers scored significantly higher on the IRI Fantasy subscale than did non-abusers. Men who reported a history of sexual abuse were more likely to report participating in ani...
Organochlorine residues in three heron species as related to diet and age.

Tous les herons examines: Butorides striatus, Egretta caeruka, Nycticorax violaceus contenaient au moins un contaminant Organochlore (le DDT et ses metabolites et le PCB etaient les principaux residus detectes). On note des differents dans le taux residuel entre les trois especes qui semblent liees au regime, l'âge joue egalement un role
Mass Flux Through a Cell Filled with Solid 4He Induced by the Thermo-Mechanical Effect

We have induced a mass flow through a sample cell filled with hcp solid 4He by the imposition of a temperature difference between two reservoirs filled with superfluid liquid helium connected to each other by porous Vycor glass rods in series with the bulk solid 4He. The Vycor rods allow us to perform this experiment at pressures greater than the bulk melting pressure. The imposition of a change in the temperature difference between the reservoirs results in a rate-limited flux that creates a change in the pressure difference. The equilibrium pressure and temperature differences are in accord with predictions based on the fountain effect.