cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seq-ing out the Killers of Mice and Men

The diversity of natural killer cells between mouse and human is poorly understood. In this issue of Immunity, Crinier et al. (2018) utilize single-cell RNA-seq to profile splenic and blood NK cells from both organisms, uncovering both tissue- and species-specific transcriptomic signatures.
Look at my pearly white teeth: Exploring adolescents' oral health behavior.

Informed by grounded theory, this study explored adolescent oral health behaviors to determine what factors influence them and to develop a substantive theory explaining the social process behind the behaviors identified. Multiple types of data were collected and analyzed simultaneously: demographic and oral health questionnaires, 16 individual interviews, eight small group discussions, field notes, and investigator memoing. Participants were 37 Midwestern adolescents aged 13-18, and most were White or African-American females 14 years of age whose parents had at least a high school education. While more than half reported using mouthwash and brushing their teeth regularly, almost all participants described their behavior in terms of relationships, confidence, and attractiveness rather than health. Top motivators were habits learned as children and the desire to be attractive or "kissable." To reflect teens' understanding of "healthy" as good-looking, and their primary concern not with having healthy teeth but with being attractive to peers, our model of the basic social process of adolescent oral health behavior is called "Look at my Pearly White Teeth." Understanding the actual motivations behind adolescent oral health behavior can help public health administrators develop more effective interventions, especially for teens who did not learn healthy habits as children.
PCAOB Form AP: Leveraging Information about Audit Personnel

SUMMARY The PCAOB's Form AP (audit personnel) includes the identity of the engagement partner, an indication of whether the audit report is dual-dated, and an indication of whether and to what exte...
Characterization of aggregation and declustering tendency of hydrophobic fine particles in water

When hydrophobic particles are added to water, they form clusters by interparticle gas bridging. The hydrostatic, capillary and buoyancy forces acting on the submerged clusters can gradually mobilize the interparticle gas bubbles. As particles are released from the cluster gradually, the cluster is transformed into slurry state. We studied the clustering and declustering characteristics of hydrophobic granular particles (dyed quartz sand with 0.33 mm and 0.73 mm in diameter), which were applied to the water surface and submerged after forming clusters. Behavior of the particle clusters was evaluated to characterize (1) clustering tendency of particles, and (2) gradual particle declustering by mobilization, coalescence and release of air bubbles from the submerged cluster. Cluster formation and declustering rates of the particles were evaluated based on the experimental data and observations. Clustering tendency of the particles depends on the surface tension characteristics (or spreading tendency) of the particles on the water surface. On the other hand, stability of the submerged cluster is highly dependent on the surface roughness which we propose affects the ability of the microbubbles to coalesce within the submerged cluster. Particle cohesion coefficient for clustering tendency and particle declustering rate for transformation of the submerged aggregate to slurry state were estimated from experimental data.
Income inequality in local economies: Where is it perceived as an obstacle?

Using data from a survey of city and county managers, the 2014 ICMA Economic Development Survey, the effect of local area inequality on the perception that it is a barrier to development was estima...
The The Shift in Firms’ Reliance on Debt Sources

Structural changes in capital market and information innovations have altered characteristics of debt sources, make them more or less favourable to firms. This could possibly lead to a shift in firms' reliance on debt sources. Using a unique data set of debt mix of 1,100 U.S. non-financial firms, I conduct data analysis to reveal changes in firms' preference for different debt sources over a decade from 2004 to 2014. I find that bank debt remains the most common source of borrowing, followed by public debt and finally private placement debt. In addition, over time, firms have become more reliant on bank and public debt while less reliant on private placement debt. This pattern is consistent across different industries.
Biomimetic nanoparticle technology for cardiovascular disease detection and treatment

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which encompasses a number of conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels, presents a major challenge for modern-day healthcare. Nearly one in three people has some form of CVD, with many suffering from multiple or intertwined conditions that can ultimately lead to traumatic events such as a heart attack or stroke. While the knowledge obtained in the past century regarding the cardiovascular system has paved the way for the development of life-prolonging drugs and treatment modalities, CVD remains one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. More recently, researchers have explored the application of nanotechnology to improve upon current clinical paradigms for the management of CVD. Nanoscale delivery systems have many advantages, including the ability to target diseased sites, improve drug bioavailability, and carry various functional payloads. In this review, we cover the different ways in which nanoparticle technology can be applied towards CVD diagnostics and treatments. The development of novel biomimetic platforms with enhanced functionalities is discussed in detail.
Thioredoxin reductase modulates NFkB signaling at the nuclear compartment

5268 Nuclear factor-kappa-B (NFκB) promotes cell survival, proliferation, and inflammation, and is recognized as a promising target for chemotherapeutics. Some inhibitors of NFκB have also been shown to inhibit thioredoxin reductase (TR1), which is itself a focus of anticancer therapies. One of the major substrates of TR1 is thioredoxin (Trx1). It has been assumed, but never tested, that the effects of TR1 inhibition on the NFκB pathway are mediated through a buildup of oxidized Trx1. The purpose of the present study is to test the hypothesis that TR1 regulates NFκB activity through effects on the redox state of Trx1. In order to address this question, we treated HeLa cells with siRNA for TR1, and stimulated the NFκB pathway with TNFα. We then confirmed TR1 protein knockdown by western blot and performed an insulin reduction assay to confirm decreased enzymatic activity. IκB degradation was analyzed by western blot, and p50 and p65 localization were determined by western blot and gel shift assay. A luciferase reporter construct was used to measure NFκB activity. The redox status of Trx1 was measured by a redox western blot technique, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by FACS analysis of DCF fluorescence. Following knockdown of TR1 and stimulation with TNFα, IκB degradation, and p50/p65 translocation occurred as expected, however expression of the NFκB reporter gene decreased by 40%. Surprisingly, even at a 95% knock-down of TR1 activity, Trx1 was not oxidized and no ROS were detected. From this we conclude that active TR1, and not the redox status of the total cellular pool of Trx1, is important for maximal NFκB signaling in the nuclear compartment.
Clinical Decision-Making

Eye removal surgery can be challenging clinically for the surgeon and emotionally for the patient. There are three main techniques of eye removal including evisceration (removal of the intraocular contents and cornea with retention of the patient’s sclera and natural extraocular muscle attachments), enucleation (removal of the entire globe with lysis of the natural attachments of the extraocular muscles and severing of the optic nerve proper), and exenteration (removal of the entire orbital contents, including the globe if present). The choice of technique is dependent upon the disease process being addressed and patient factors such as the condition of the native sclera, medical comorbidities, anticoagulation, and the presence and extent of traumatic damage.
First Field Measurements of the 15 T Nb 3 Sn Dipole Demonstrator MDPCT1

Within the US Magnet Development Program (MDP), a 15 T Nb3Sn dipole was developed to demonstrate a possible magnet design for a post-LHC proton-proton Collider. The magnet design is based on 60 mm aperture 4-layer shell-type coils, graded between the inner and outer layers to maximize magnet performance. Magnet coils are surrounded by vertically split thick iron laminations, connected by aluminum I-clamps, and a thick stainless-steel skin. The magnet coils were preloaded to achieve 14 T in the first test. The magnet was tested at the Vertical Magnet Test Facility (VMTF) at Fermilab. This paper reports the first results of magnetic measurements of the 15 T Nb3Sn dipole demonstrator, including dipole strength, geometrical harmonics, coil magnetization and iron saturation effects. At the maximum quench current of 9742 A we obtained a dipole strength of 14.13 T.
Anxiety sensitivity and grit as mediators between childhood abuse and relapse risk for substance use.

Abstract Background Childhood abuse is prevalent in those with substance use disorders (SUDs), and can lead to adverse consequences, including relapse to substance use following treatment. Objective To determine whether anxiety sensitivity (AS) and grit mediate associations between childhood abuse and substance use relapse risk. Participants and setting Patients on an inpatient detoxification and stabilization unit seeking treatment for SUDs (N = 702). Methods Participants were administered self-report measures assessing childhood physical and sexual abuse (CPA/CSA), AS, grit, and relapse risk. A parallel mediation model was used to investigate the association between childhood abuse and relapse risk as mediated by AS and grit. Results Anxiety sensitivity was associated with greater relapse risk (β = 0.29, t = 8.24, p Conclusions Anxiety sensitivity may be an important construct linking child abuse to relapse risk. Although grit may not mediate the effect of child abuse on relapse risk, it may be clinically relevant to relapse risk. As this sample consisted of treatment-seeking adults, the generalizability of results to other populations is uncertain. Future studies should investigate interventions targeting these constructs in this population.
Putting it all together: Connecting mobile technology to systems biology

Abstract Wearable data has never been as affordable and easy to access as it is right now. With the increasing popularity of consumer wearables, like Fitbit and Apple Watch, as well as the growing range of more specialized sensors, such as skin patches and glucose-tracking contacts, collection of longitudinal biological data is now more doable than ever. At the same time, mechanistic, physics-based models are finding new synergy with machine learning techniques, leveraging known physiology to compensate for sparse data. Yet the limited amount of most health-related data remains an enduring problem for any kind of model building. In this review, I outline how these two frontiers of research can come together, with wearables providing massive amounts of data collected from a single individual, and combined mechanistic modeling and machine learning approaches translating this data into better models and incentives for users to share their data.
Features of skewness-adjusted binomial interest rate models

This paper examines four distinctive features of a skewness-adjusted binomial interest rate model. Specifically: 1) implied spot yield curves generated from a skewness-adjusted binomial interest rate tree are consistent with interest rate expectations theory; 2) implied forward rates and implied yields on futures contracts are equal when the skewness-adjusted binomial interest rate tree is calibrated to an end-of-the period distribution reflecting an increasing, decreasing, or stable interest rate trend; 3) the asymptotic properties of the skewness-adjusted binomial interest rate model elevate the importance of the mean in determining the up and down parameters for the case of a large number of sub-periods; 4) the skewness-adjusted Black-Derman-Toy model retains its arbitrage-free features, but loses them when the variability conditions are not adjusted to account for skewness.
Middle School Mathematics Classrooms Practice Based on 5E Instructional Model

The 5E instructional model is known for increasing student engagement and participation in the learning process. While viewing the video recorded lessons of middle school mathematics teachers, the researchers noticed teachers had a difficult time implementing the 5E model with fidelity. This case study explored the extent to which mathematics teachers used the 5E instructional model in their classrooms through analyzing video recorded lessons. The findings illustrate that the challenges of the teacher varied. They had difficulty finding activities related to the phases and moving away from a teacher-centered approach to a student-centered approach were identified as challenges of the teachers. The findings of this study inform educators about the difficulty’s teachers have in implementing the 5E model with fidelity. Also, the researchers elaborate on what phases need to be addressed specifically when teachers are provided professional development regarding lesson instruction.
Testing whether flat bands in the calculated electronic density of states are good predictors of superconducting materials

Abstract If one could systematically search the calculated electronic structures of materials, already available on online materials databases, for electronic characteristics that are associated with superconductivity, then the rate of new superconductor discovery could be accelerated. Here we test whether one such proposed characteristic, flat bands in the calculated electronic density of states, can broadly distinguish known superconductors from known non-superconductors. Our data mining exercise, performed on the materials for which the relevant data can currently be downloaded, does not support flat bands as strong predictors of superconductivity in materials. Beyond the specific test, our study's limitations underscore the importance of standardizing digital resources for achieving the accelerated materials discovery paradigm promised by the Materials Genome Initiative.
Nonparametric Estimation of the Short Rate Diffusion Process from a Panel of Yields

In this paper, we propose a nonparametric estimator of the short rate diffusion process using observations of a panel of yields. The proposed estimator can greatly reduce the bias of the nonparametric estimator proposed in Stanton (1997) that uses a single time series of short rate observations. Simulations confirm that the new method significantly attenuates the spurious nonlinearity of the drift function as documented in Chapman and Pearson (2000). We apply the method to estimate the U.S. short rate process using a panel of six Treasury yields. With 42 years' daily observations of the panel of yields, the proposed drift function estimator achieves the same efficiency as the Stanton (1997) estimator based on 145 years of daily short rate observations. Finally, we show that the proposed estimator also has significant economic implications on the pricing of bonds and interest rate derivatives.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist inhibits aeroallergen-induced activation of ILC2 and neutrophilic airway inflammation in obese mice.

Background Obesity is a risk factor for the development of asthma. However, pharmacologic therapeutic strategies that specifically target obese asthmatics have not been identified. We hypothesize that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) treatment inhibitsaeroallergen-induced early innate airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma in the setting of obesity. Methods SWR (lean) and TALLYHO (obese) mice were challenged intranasally with Alternaria alternata-extract (Alt-Ext) or PBS for 4 consecutive days concurrent with GLP-1RAor vehicle treatment. Results TALLYHO mice had greater Alt-Ext-induced airway neutrophilia and lung protein expression of IL-5, IL-13, CCL11, CXCL1, and CXCL5, in addition to ICAM-1 expression on lung epithelial cells,compared with SWR mice, and all endpoints were reduced by GLP-1RA treatment. Alt-Ext significantly increased BALF IL-33 in both TALLYHO and SWR mice compared to PBS challenge, but there was no difference in the BALF IL-33 levels between these two strains. However, TALLYHO, but not SWR, mice had significantly higher airway TSLP in BALF following Alt-Ext challenge compared to PBS, and BALF TSLP was significantly greater in TALLYHO mice compared to SWR mice following airway Alt Ext challenge. GLP-1RA treatment significantly decreased the Alt-Ext-induced TSLP and IL-33 release in TALLYHO mice. While TSLP or ST2 inhibition with a neutralizing antibody decreased airway eosinophils,they did not reduceairway neutrophils in TALLYHO mice. Conclusions These results suggest that GLP-1RA treatment may be a novel pharmacologic therapeutic strategy for obese persons with asthma by inhibiting aeroallergen-induced neutrophilia, a feature not seen with either TSLP or ST2 inhibition.
The Caring Moment and the Impact on HCAHPS Nurse Communication Scores

The purpose of the study was to review the impact of The Caring Moment on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores, particularly Communication with Nurses scores. The Caring Moment program was implemented to impact the patient’s perception of nurse communication and in turn, raise HCAHPS scores on the Press Ganey post-discharge survey. Nurses spend more time with the patient than any other healthcare provider in the healthcare setting (Dempsey, Reilly, & Buhlman, 2014). So, the nurse-patient relationship is a critical relationship that should be treated with priority, respect, courtesy, caring, and kindness. The evidence from multiple studies suggests that nurse caring behaviors and improved communication interventions have the potential to significantly impact patient satisfaction, patient outcomes, and the patient’s perception of care (Dingman, Williams, Fosbinder, & Warnick, 1999; Duffy & Hoskins, 2002; Lidgett, 2016). Potential implications from the implementation of The Caring Moment can potentially have far-reaching effects on patients, caregivers, and nurses. Patients want to be cared for while in the acute care setting and in today’s competitive hospital market nurses must understand the needs of the patient, including the incorporation of caring behaviors into their everyday nursing practice (O’Nan, Jenkins, Morgan, Adams, & Davis, 2014). The implementation of The Caring Moment involves nurse communication and new nurse behaviors. Optimization of nurse communication has been proven to have a direct and positive impact on HCAHPS domains and other quality indicators (Dempsey et al., 2014).
Grasp planning from human prehension

ADSTRA CT. The study of the human hand in prehensile movements can offer insights into the design of robot grasp planners. A design for a two-level llierarchical grasp planner is presented. The first phase maps an object and task representation into a grasporiented description of the task The second phase maps this description into an opposition space, which captures the available foices and degrees of freedom of the hand As these mappings are not unique, constraints acting on the hand/object /task interaction are discussed.
Calculation of Thermopower in Noble Metals Using dHvA Data

Results for the change in area of the Noble metal Fermi surfaces with electron energy evaluated at the Fermi energy are calculated using the dHvA effective mass data on copper, silver, and gold of Lengeler et. al.l Local values for the Fermi velocities deduced from the effective mass data provide the full energy gradient in k-space at all points on the Fermi surface.
Amplitude analysis of the system in J/ψ radiative decay

Preliminary results of a mass independent amplitude analysis of J/ψ radiative decays into KK final states are presented. A large component of spin zero is observed at the 2/gq(1720) mass region; however, a small spin two component at this mass region cannot be excluded with the present statistics.
An angular weighting approach for calculating gradients and divergences

There are several desirable properties for a free Lagrange algorithm: 1) a Lagrangian nature, 2) reciprocity, 3) minimization of numerical noise, 4) numerical efficiency, and 5) the ability to extend the algorithms to 3-D. In addition, some integral hydro formulations allow the mass points to drift among the other points because the divergences and gradients do not depend explicitly on the position of a mass point between two other mass points. Therefore, another desirable property is G) a restoring force that keeps the mesh regular. An algorithm based on the angles subtended by the Voronoi polygon sides satisfies all the above criteria, except the fourth; this is because of the necessity of using trigonometric functions. Nevertheless, this loss of efficiency may be compensated by the avoidance of reconnection noise.
The Protein Data Bank and the challenge of structural genomics

The PDB has created systems for the processing, exchange, query, and distribution of data that will enable many aspects of high throughput structural genomics.
Recognizing Friend and Foe: Biometrics, Veridiction, and the Iraq War

In analyzing the deployment of biomertics in Iraq, argue that whereas the body was seen as a site of verification in 20 th century surveillance and identification practices, in the ongoing War on Terror, and the Iraq War more specifically, it became a site of veridiction - a site in which the truth about the security of the state can be analyzed (Foucault 2008:32). The body thus became the basis for determining not so much one’s unique identity but one’s friendliness to the normative state order. Enemies could thus be identified and confined as a group, and in this process the state could be secured. In the ongoing of the War on Terror, the visual regime of veridiction has been further articulated to the logic of digital technologies in order to categorize an unfamiliar diverse population into a binary simplistic schema consistent of true and false, therefore friend or foe, and thus “go” - allowed to move through the country or “no go” - destined to be detained. In other words, the digitization of veridiction as the primary goal of biometrics is evident in the automation of the recognition method, the conversion of the archive into database, the transition away from the anthropological station onto mobile dispersed data-gathering enterprise, and replacement of scientific expertise with easy-to-use automated intelligence.
A Lyα Galaxy at Redshift z = 6.944 in the COSMOS Field

Lyα emitting galaxies can be used to study cosmological reionization, because a neutral intergalactic medium (IGM) scatters Lyα photons into diffuse halos whose surface brightness falls below typical survey detection limits. Here, we present the Lyα emitting galaxy LAE J095950.99+021219.1, identified at redshift z = 6.944 in the COSMOS field using narrowband imaging and follow-up spectroscopy with the IMACS instrument on the Magellan I Baade telescope. With a single object spectroscopically confirmed so far, our survey remains consistent with a wide range of IGM neutral fraction at z ≈ 7, but further observations are planned and will help clarify the situation. Meantime, the object we present here is only the third Lyα-selected galaxy to be spectroscopically confirmed at z 7, and is ~2-3 times fainter than the previously confirmed z ≈ 7 Lyα galaxies.
Stochastic analysis of contaminant transport through nonstationary fractured porous media: A dual‐permeability approach

[1] A Eulerian moment expansion through the first order of σp2(p = f, m) (σp2 is the velocity variance in the fracture, p = f, or matrix, p = m, domain) is developed for solute transport in a nonstationary, fractured medium. A dual-permeability model is applied to describe the conceptualized fractured medium where solute convection and dispersion in both the fracture and matrix domains are considered. Hydraulic conductivity distrbutions in both fracture and matrix domains are nonstationary. The stochastic governing equations for the mean concentration and concentration covariance are analytically derived. A numerical method (a finite difference method) is applied to obtain the solutions. The developed method is applied to study solute transport in stationary and nonstationary fractured media. The study results indicate that medium nonstationarity significantly influences the solute transport process. The nonstationary transport theory relaxes many assumptions adopted in stationary theories and paves the way for applying the theory to many environmental projects, especially for uncertainty analysis of solute transport.
Quality Indicators for the Screening and Care of Urinary Incontinence in Vulnerable Elders

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition that affects many community-dwelling elderly people. Studies estimate the prevalence of UI in noninstitutionalized persons to be approximately 30% of communitydwelling elderly women and 15% to 28% of men. 1–6 UI often causes poor quality of life, social isolation and significant psychological distress in persons affected and their family and caregivers. Despite the effects of UI, studies demonstrate that many patients do not disclose its symptoms to their healthcare providers and many healthcare providers do not routinely ask elderly patients about UI symptoms. 7 This article reviews the available evidence for quality indicators (QIs) that could be applied when evaluating and treating vulnerable elders (VEs) for UI. Although symptoms of urgency and nocturia in the absence of UI are also important problems for VEs, this articles focuses on UI.
Influence of climate change and uplift on Colorado Plateau paleotemperatures from carbonate clumped isotope thermometry

The elevation history of Earth's surface is key to understanding the geodynamic processes responsible for the rise of plateaus. We investigate the timing of Colorado Plateau uplift by estimating depositional temperatures of Tertiary lake sediments that blanket the plateau interior and adjacent lowlands using carbonate clumped isotope paleothermometry (a measure of the temperature-dependent enrichment of ^(13)C-^(18)O bonds in carbonates). Comparison of modern and ancient samples deposited near sea level provides an opportunity to quantify the influence of climate and therefore assess the contribution of changes in elevation to the variations of surface temperature on the plateau. Analysis of modern lake calcite from 350 to 3300 m elevation in the southwestern United States reveals a lake water carbonate temperature (LCT) lapse rate of 4.2 ± 0.6°C/km. Analysis of Miocene deposits from 88 to 1900 m elevation in the Colorado River drainage suggests that the ancient LCT lapse rate was 4.1 ± 0.7°C/km, and temperatures were 7.7 ± 2.0°C warmer at any one elevation than predicted by the modern trend. The inferred cooling is plausible in light of Pliocene temperature estimates off the coast of California, and the consistency of lapse rates through time supports the interpretation that there has been little or no elevation change for any of the samples since 6 Ma. Together with previous paleorelief estimates from apatite (U-Th)/He data from the Grand Canyon, our results suggest most or all of the plateau's lithospheric buoyancy was acquired ∼80–60 Ma and do not support explanations that ascribe most plateau uplift to Oligocene or younger disposal of either the Farallon or North American mantle lithosphere.
Nucleotide Excision Repair in Eukaryotes

Nucleotide excision repair is the process whereby eukaryotic cells repair damaged DNA by the excision of damaged bases as oligonucleotide fragments. Several genes have been identified as expressing proteins important for the repair mechanism and have therefore been implicated in the related human hereditary diseases. Keywords: DNA repair; nucleotide excision repair; yeast; human eukaryotes; DNA damage
Global Shift in Container Traffic and its Implications for Economic Development Along the American Land Bridge

Since the “container revolution” in the 1970s, seaports on the Pacific Coast have been the engines of economic development, regionally and nationally. But circumstances continue to change that threaten the long-term viability of the intermodal land bridge system that emerged from that revolution. These circumstances include railroads not maintaining rail lines critical to transcontinental container traffic and the shift in the locus of global production that raises the question of obsolescence for the existing infrastructure moving trade West to East from the Pacific Rim. The implications are enormous, especially for policy makers at the regional and local levels as they contemplate the potential gain and loss of economic development momentum in the interregional competition for growth and prestige. This research note discusses public developmental policy as both the core of the problem and a potential source for adjusting to the global dynamics of intermodal transportation.
Piecewise Endomorphisms of Pid-Modules

Let G be a finitely generated module over a PID, D. We investigate the structure of the centralizer near-ring MD(G) = {f: G → G ¦ f(ar) = (fa)r,a ∈ G, r ∈ D}. If C = {Gα} is a cover of G by maximal cyclic submodules then we show that every f ∈ MD(G) is piecewise an endomorphism of G.
Serious psychological distress, as measured by the K6, and mortality.

Purpose The K6 is a 6-item scale of nonspecific psychological distress included in many nationally representative health surveys. This study examines whether persons with serious psychological distress (SPD), as measured by the K6, have a greater risk of mortality than persons without SPD and whether K6 scores have a dose–response relationship with mortality. Methods The data used are the combined 1997–2000 National Health Interview Surveys linked with the National Death Index through 2002. We examined the relationship between K6 score and mortality using a cut-off of 13 for SPD and then a 5-level categorical variable. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for potential confounders, including sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, and physical illness. Results The age- and sex-adjusted mortality hazard ratio associated with SPD was 2.2 (1.9, 2.5). After adjusting for covariates, SPD remained related to increased mortality, hazard ratio, 1.30 (1.13, 1.49). Adjusted mortality hazard ratios for the categorical variable demonstrated a dose–response effect with hazard ratios of 1.00, 1.10, 1.22, 1.51, and 1.54. All 4 exposure categories were statistically significantly different from the reference group. Conclusions SPD as measured by the K6 is associated with increased mortality, even after adjusting for potential confounders; scores were related to increased mortality in a dose–response fashion.
Acceptance diagram analysis of the performance of multidisk neutron velocity selectors

Abstract Transmission and absorption properties of helical multidisk neutron velocity selectors can be calculated using the method of acceptance diagrams. In th
The role of the 5-HT2 receptor in the regulation of sexual performance of male rats.

The present studies have attempted to evaluate the role of 5-HT2 receptors in the regulation of sexual behavior of male rats by determining the effects of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists, pirenperone, LY53857 and LY281067, and a 5-HT2 receptor agonist, DOI. The administration of 1 mg/kg s.c. pirenperone produced a total suppression of ejaculatory response and lower doses had no effect. However, the administration 0.1 mg/kg s.c. of either LY53857 or LY281067 restored ejaculatory capacity to rats that were unable to ejaculate and produced significant decreases in ejaculatory latency in rats with full sexual capacity. Although all of these agents are 5-HT2 antagonists, LY53857 and LY281067 lack the additional monoaminergic activity of pirenperone. Since the effects of pirenperone were opposite from the effects of the selective 5-HT2 antagonists, the suppressive effects of this agent were probably related to its other monoaminergic activity e.g. alpha 1 antagonist activity. This proposal was supported by the observation that the administration of prazosin, an alpha 1 antagonist, significantly increased ejaculatory latency and suppressed the stimulatory effects of LY53857. In contrast to the stimulatory effects of the selective 5-HT2 antagonists, the administration of DOI, resulted in a suppression of sexual performance, which was blocked by pretreatment with LY53857.
Linear free energy relationships implicate three modes of binding for fluoroaromatic inhibitors to a mutant of carbonic anhydrase II.

Linear free energy relationships between binding affinity and hydrophobicity for a library of fluoroaromatic inhibitors of F131V carbonic anhydrase II (CA) implicate three modes of interaction. X-r...
Effect of increased current, multiple pacing sites and number of extrastimuli on induction of ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract Reproduction of spontaneously occurring ventricular tachycardia (VT) and induction of previously undocumented VT were studied prospectively in 98 patients: 48 with documented sustained VT or ventricular fibrillation, 25 with nonsustained or exercise-induced VT, and 25 with no documented VT. Patients received 1 to 4 ventricular extrastimuli and ventricular burst pacing at 2 right ventricular (RV) sites, first at twice late diastolic threshold, and then at 10 mA using a prospective, tandem study design. Spontaneously occurring VT was reproduced in 37 of 48 patients (77 %) at twice late diastolic threshold and in 1 other patient (2%) at 10 mA. VT was reproduced at both RV sites In 17 of 48 patients (35%) and at 1 site in 20 of 48 patients (42%) at twice late diastolic threshold. A previously undocumented VT was induced in 7 of 25 patients (28%) with no documented VT at twice diastolic threshold and 14 of 25 patients (56%) at 10 mA. A previously undocumented VT was induced in 33 of 73 patients (45%) with a history of sustained or nonsustained VT at twice late diastolic threshold and in 47 of 73 patients (64%) at 10 mA. In patients with documented sustained VT, the use of up to 4 ventricular extrastimuli at multiple RV sites increases the sensitivity of the test. In patients without documented VT, the induction of previously undocumented VT with more than 3 ventricular extrastimuli limits the specificity of the test. Increased current provides only a slight advantage over 4 ventricular extrastimull at twice late diastolic threshold in terms of reproduction of spontaneously occurring VT, but leads to a marked Increase in induction of previously undocumented VT.
Psychoactive drug-induced changes of interhemispheric EEG amplitude relationships.

Analyses of the EEG amplitude levels (integrative method) in the right (R) and left (L) occipital areas of human subjects reveal that there exists in most subjects a R/L difference, and that certain psychoactive drugs can change the relationships which prevail under normal conditions (lateralization). Stimulants tend to decrease interhemispheric differences while, on the contrary, following drug-induced euphoria, these differences are increased. Hallucinogens can reverse lateralization; neuroleptics produce a decrease in the variability of amplitude ratios. Sedatives, minor tranquillizers and placebo are without effect. With hallucinogenic drugs, changes similar to those occurring in man have also been obtained in rabbits.
Water and Urban Land-Use Planning in the Developing World: A Linked Simulation-Multiobjective Approach

Rapid urbanization in the Third World is exacerbating problems of water supply, flooding, and water pollution, as well as rendering more difficult the provision of such basic services as sanitation. Although fundamental to human welfare, these water-related issues seldom play a major role in guiding urban development. This paper is a description of a water resource-constrained, land-use planning model suitable for use in the developing world. The model allocates population among city subareas and specifies the type of sanitary service and level of water supply to be provided. The core of the model consists of a multiobjective optimization component linked to a rainfall-runoff simulation submodel. The program from the optimization model serves as input for the simulation of the flood regime under the given development conditions. Goal achievement is then evaluated, and reformulation of the optimization model is undertaken if desired. Specific applications include the determination of optimal residential-se...
Diode pumped caesium laser

A continuous-wave caesium vapour laser with diode laser pumping is demonstrated. An output power of more than 130 mW was achieved using a 400 mW pump giving an overall optical efficiency better than 32%. It is expected to increase the laser efficiency with improvement to the experimental setup.
Microbubble ultrasound contrast in the assessment of hepatic artery patency following liver transplantation: role in reducing frequency of hepatic artery arteriography

We prospectively evaluated the role of microbubble ultrasound contrast for detection of hepatic artery thrombosis following liver transplantation. The hepatic artery of adult liver transplant recipients with suspected thrombosis on surveillance Doppler ultrasound (US) were re-examined by a second observer. In patients with no hepatic spectral Doppler signal the microbubble contrast agent Levovist was used. The presence or absence of flow following microbubble contrast was evaluated against arteriography or repeated Doppler US findings. A total of 794 surveillance Doppler US examinations were performed in 231 patients. Hepatic artery flow was demonstrated in 759 of 794 (95.6%) examinations. Microbubble ultrasound contrast was administered in 31 patients (35 studies) with suspected hepatic artery thrombosis. Following microbubble US contrast the hepatic artery could not be demonstrated in 13 of 35 (37.1%) studies (12 patients). Eight patients had arteriography: there was hepatic artery thrombosis in 7 patients and 1 patient had a patent, highly attenuated artery. Detection of a patent hepatic artery increased from 759 of 794 (95.6%) to 781 of 794 (98.4%) with the addition of microbubble contrast. Upon independent reading of the data, the degree of operator confidence in the assessment of the hepatic artery patency prior to microbubble contrast was 4.7 (CI 1.92–7.5) but rose to 8.45 (CI 7.06–9.84) following microbubble contrast (p<0.0001). In 22 of 35 (62.9%) of studies arteriography could potentially have been avoided. Ultrasound microbubble contrast media may reduce the need for invasive arteriography in the assessment of suspected hepatic artery thrombosis.
Effects of Acute and Chronic Ethanol Intake on Bile Acid Metabolism

Ethanol has been demonstrated to cause aberrations in lipoprotein metabolism, cholesterol synthesis, biliary secretion, and bile acid synthesis. Although there is interdependency of cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, a role of ethanol-induced lipid abnormalities in altering bile acid synthesis has not been found. The direct effects of ethanol administration on bile acid metabolism have been studied in animals and vary with the experimental design. Acutely, ethanol causes decreased bile acid secretion and synthesis, but other effects are less well defined. Chronic ethanol use in man may result in cirrhosis, a condition in which abnormalities of bile acid metabolism have been described in detail. Cholic acid synthesis and pool size are markedly depressed in advanced cirrhosis. Chenodeoxycholic acid synthesis is affected less than cholic acid synthesis, probably because 12 alpha-hydroxylase activity is markedly depressed in cirrhosis, although other steps may also be influenced such as 7 alpha-hydroxylation of cholesterol or availability of cholesterol precursor. The deoxycholic acid pool is depressed probably because of changes in fecal flora. Despite the decrease in total bile acid pool, lithogenicity of bile is not increased in cirrhotic patients because of a concomitant decline in cholesterol and phospholipid secretion. Changes in hepatic blood flow and hepatic extraction cause an increase in plasma bile acid levels which may have clinical relevance.
Surfactant-Templated Inorganic Lamellar and Non-Lamellar Hybrid Phases Containing Adamantane (Ge4Se10) 4- Anions

The metathesis reaction of K4Ge4Se10 with various alkyl tri- and dimethylammonium halides [CnH2n+1N(CH3)3-mHm]X (n = 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18; m = 0, 1; X = Cl, Br) led to several new surfactant−inorganic template phases containing selenogermanate adamantane units [Ge4Se10].4- The crystal structures of phases with shorter alkylammonium chains (n = 8 and 9) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography; octyltrimethylammonium decaselenotetragermanate, [n-C8H17N(CH3)3]4Ge4Se10 (C8−GeSe), monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 34.2324(9) A, b = 10.9213(3) A, c = 19.2700(5) A, β = 104.567°; nonyltrimethylammonium decaselenotetragermanate [n-C9H19N(CH3)3]4Ge4Se10 (C9−GeSe), triclinic, space group P1, Z = 2, a = 10.7799(2) A, b = 18.1172(3) A, c = 19.0075(1) A, α = 91,881(1)°, β = 90.017(1)°, γ = 98.767(1)°; octyldimethylammonium decaselenotetragermanate [n-C8H17N(CH3)2H]4Ge4Se10 (ODA−GeSe) tetragonal, space group I1/a, Z = 4, a = 18.6462(1) A, c = 19.2038(1) A. C8−GeSe and C9−GeSe are compose...
Performance of spray, sieve tray, and packed contactors for high pressure extraction

Abstract The performance of various contactors in high pressure extraction service was studied. The mass transfer efficiency of a spray column and columns filled with sieve trays, 1.27 cm ceramic Raschig rings, and no. 15 metal Intalox saddles were obtained from a “windowed” high pressure extraction column with an internal diameter of 9.88 cm and a column height of 168 cm. The extraction column has an internal diameter of 9.88 cm and a contacting height of 168 cm. Glass windows in the extractor allowed visual observation and photography. Supercritical and liquid carbon dioxide were used to extract isopropanol from water at pressures of 81 to 150 atmospheres and 297 to 318 [ddot]K. The sieve tray extractor yielded the highest mass transfer efficiency followed closely by Raschig rings and metal Intalox saddles. The spray column was by far the least efficient. The mass transfer efficiency was observed to be independent of the operating conditions studied in this work. Sauter mean drop diameters and dispersed...
Intravenous dopamine in the treatment of myocardial dysfunction after open-heart surgery.

Abstract Intravenous dopamine (6 to 33 μg per kilogram per minute) was administered to 15 consecutive patients developing hypotension after corrective valve surgery or saphenous vein bypass grafts. All were unresponsive to one or more of the usual inotropic agents (norepinephrine, metaraminol, isoproterenol, epinephrine, and glucagon). Ten of the 15 patients had adequate blood pressure restoration, increase in urine flow, and decrease in peripheral vasoconstriction. Of the 9 who no longer required dopamine for cardiovascular support, 6 were discharged from the hospital and remain well, 2 died of cerebral complications, and one of hyperkalemic cardiac arrest. One patient initially responded, but died during drug therapy. Five patients, unresponsive to dopamine as well as other pharmacologic agents, died. Dopamine was used continuously for over 60 hours in 5 patients and in concentrations greater than 20 μg per kilogram per minute in 8 patients. The data indicate that dopamine is a useful catecholamine in the treatment of patients with low cardiac output states after open-heart surgery.
Thoracoscopic techniques for the treatment of scoliosis

Study design To determine the effectiveness of an endoscopic option in an anterior approach to the thoracolumbar spine for scoliosis treatment, 50 patients with follow-ups of 24–45 months were studied retrospectively.
Are local health department expenditures related to racial disparities in mortality

Abstract This study estimated whether 1990–1997 changes in expenditures per capita of local health departments (LHDs) and percentage share of local public revenue allocated to LHDs were associated inversely with 1990–1997 changes in mortality rates for Black and White racial/ethnic groups in the US. Population was 883 local jurisdictions with 1990 and 1997 mortality rates for Black and White racial populations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wonder Compressed Mortality File and LHD expenditures from the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Using a time-trend ecologic design, changes in LHD expenditures per capita and percentage share of public revenue were not related to reductions in Black/White disparities in total, all-cause mortality rates. Increased LHD expenditures or percentage share were associated with reduced Black/White disparities for adults aged 15–44 and males. LHD expenditures or percentage share were related to absolute reductions in mortality for infants, Blacks, and White females but did not close Black–White mortality differences for these groups. Therefore, disparities in Black and White mortality rates for subgroups with the greatest mortality gaps may be more likely to be reduced by public investment in local health departments than disparities in Black and White total, all-cause mortality rates.
Sun-compass orientation in the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis

Summary Mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, from shallow water along straight shorelines moved on a compass course perpendicular to the home shore (Y-axis) when released in test arenas under sunny skies or an artificial 'sun'. Fish tested at various times of day indoors exhibited a time-compen­sated directional response. Orientation failed under completely overcast skies, in diffuse light, and after fish were kept in darkness for 72 hr. Smaller fish, larger test arenas, and outdoor tests favoured accuracy of orientation. Shore­ward orientation was absent in mosquitofish from environments lacking predacious fish that normally prey upon mosquitofish. Acknowledgments This study was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grants GB 3991 and GB 7063 to D. E. Ferguson. The senior author held a National Defense Education Act Graduate Fellowship while working on the project. REFERENCES Ferguson, D. E. & Landreth, H. F. (1966).
Socially explicit fire regimes

Fire regime classifications are established and proven tools that guide fire policy, management, and science. They summarize and organize complex information into a concise measure of the timing, intensity, and distribution of fire. The idea of fire regime deserves careful examination because it provides the guiding rationale for managing vast acreage. We identify and unpack two fire regimes articulated in the intense public, professional, and scientific debate that following the 2003 “Cedar” fire outside San Diego, one of the largest and fastest moving fires in California history. We contrast these two regimes and describe their implications for science, management, policy, and land use.