Showing papers by "California State University, Long Beach published in 2009"

Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends.

Abstract: Plastics have transformed everyday life; usage is increasing and annual production is likely to exceed 300 million tonnes by 2010. In this concluding paper to the Theme Issue on Plastics, the Environment and Human Health, we synthesize current understanding of the benefits and concerns surrounding the use of plastics and look to future priorities, challenges and opportunities. It is evident that plastics bring many societal benefits and offer future technological and medical advances. However, concerns about usage and disposal are diverse and include accumulation of waste in landfills and in natural habitats, physical problems for wildlife resulting from ingestion or entanglement in plastic, the leaching of chemicals from plastic products and the potential for plastics to transfer chemicals to wildlife and humans. However, perhaps the most important overriding concern, which is implicit throughout this volume, is that our current usage is not sustainable. Around 4 per cent of world oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics and a similar amount is used as energy in the process. Yet over a third of current production is used to make items of packaging, which are then rapidly discarded. Given our declining reserves of fossil fuels, and finite capacity for disposal of waste to landfill, this linear use of hydrocarbons, via packaging and other short-lived applications of plastic, is simply not sustainable. There are solutions, including material reduction, design for end-of-life recyclability, increased recycling capacity, development of bio-based feedstocks, strategies to reduce littering, the application of green chemistry life-cycle analyses and revised risk assessment approaches. Such measures will be most effective through the combined actions of the public, industry, scientists and policymakers. There is some urgency, as the quantity of plastics produced in the first 10 years of the current century is likely to approach the quantity produced in the entire century that preceded.

Monitoring the abundance of plastic debris in the marine environment

Abstract: Plastic debris has significant environmental and economic impacts in marine systems. Monitoring is crucial to assess the efficacy of measures implemented to reduce the abundance of plastic debris, but it is complicated by large spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the amounts of plastic debris and by our limited understanding of the pathways followed by plastic debris and its long-term fate. To date, most monitoring has focused on beach surveys of stranded plastics and other litter. Infrequent surveys of the standing stock of litter on beaches provide crude estimates of debris types and abundance, but are biased by differential removal of litter items by beachcombing, cleanups and beach dynamics. Monitoring the accumulation of stranded debris provides an index of debris trends in adjacent waters, but is costly to undertake. At-sea sampling requires large sample sizes for statistical power to detect changes in abundance, given the high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Another approach is to monitor the impacts of plastics. Seabirds and other marine organisms that accumulate plastics in their stomachs offer a cost-effective way to monitor the abundance and composition of small plastic litter. Changes in entanglement rates are harder to interpret, as they are sensitive to changes in population sizes of affected species. Monitoring waste disposal on ships and plastic debris levels in rivers and storm-water runoff is useful because it identifies the main sources of plastic debris entering the sea and can direct mitigation efforts. Different monitoring approaches are required to answer different questions, but attempts should be made to standardize approaches internationally.

Mycophenolate Mofetil versus Cyclophosphamide for Induction Treatment of Lupus Nephritis

Abstract: Recent studies have suggested that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) may offer advantages over intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVC) for the treatment of lupus nephritis, but these therapies have not been compared in an international randomized, controlled trial. Here, we report the comparison of MMF and IVC as induction treatment for active lupus nephritis in a multinational, two-phase (induction and maintenance) study. We randomly assigned 370 patients with classes III through V lupus nephritis to open-label MMF (target dosage 3 g/d) or IVC (0.5 to 1.0 g/m(2) in monthly pulses) in a 24-wk induction study. Both groups received prednisone, tapered from a maximum starting dosage of 60 mg/d. The primary end point was a prespecified decrease in urine protein/creatinine ratio and stabilization or improvement in serum creatinine. Secondary end points included complete renal remission, systemic disease activity and damage, and safety. Overall, we did not detect a significantly different response rate between the two groups: 104 (56.2%) of 185 patients responded to MMF compared with 98 (53.0%) of 185 to IVC. Secondary end points were also similar between treatment groups. There were nine deaths in the MMF group and five in the IVC group. We did not detect significant differences between the MMF and IVC groups with regard to rates of adverse events, serious adverse events, or infections. Although most patients in both treatment groups experienced clinical improvement, the study did not meet its primary objective of showing that MMF was superior to IVC as induction treatment for lupus nephritis.

Antiparallel beta-sheet: a signature structure of the oligomeric amyloid beta-peptide.

Abstract: AD (Alzheimer's disease) is linked to Abeta (amyloid beta-peptide) misfolding. Studies demonstrate that the level of soluble Abeta oligomeric forms correlates better with the progression of the disease than the level of fibrillar forms. Conformation-dependent antibodies have been developed to detect either Abeta oligomers or fibrils, suggesting that structural differences between these forms of Abeta exist. Using conditions which yield well-defined Abeta-(1-42) oligomers or fibrils, we studied the secondary structure of these species by ATR (attenuated total reflection)-FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy. Whereas fibrillar Abeta was organized in a parallel beta-sheet conformation, oligomeric Abeta displayed distinct spectral features, which were attributed to an antiparallel beta-sheet structure. We also noted striking similarities between Abeta oligomers spectra and those of bacterial outer membrane porins. We discuss our results in terms of a possible organization of the antiparallel beta-sheets in Abeta oligomers, which may be related to reported effects of these highly toxic species in the amyloid pathogenesis associated with AD.

Multiroute synthesis of porous anionic frameworks and size-tunable extraframework organic cation-controlled gas sorption properties.

Abstract: Under diverse and dramatically different chemical environments, including organic solvents, an ionic liquid, and a deep eutectic solvent, a series of porous anionic framework materials that contain size-tunable, ion-exchangeable extraframework organic cations have been prepared. Even though a large fraction of the pore space is occupied with charge-balancing cations, some of these materials exhibit a very high gas uptake capacity (e.g., 70.6 cm(3)/g for CO(2) at 1 atm and 273 K), suggesting that the charged anionic framework and extraframework cations may help to enhance the gas adsorption.

Zeolitic Boron Imidazolate Frameworks

Abstract: Low-connectivity (4- or 3-connected) of the basic structural building block is closely associated with the open architecture and porosity in 3-D framework materials. The synthetic development of low-connectivity frameworks with new composition and topology continues to attract much attention because applications of such materials depend on the unique composition or topology of each material.[1–6] Currently, the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is an active research area.[1, 7] The vast majority of new microporous materials synthesized in the past decade belong to this family.[8–13] Among numerous known MOFs, a family of materials that closely resemble zeolite topologies are those based on divalent metal (M2+) imidazolates (im−) in which M2+ and im− replace Si4+ (Al3+) and O2−, respectively, resulting in the general framework composition M(im)2, just like SiO2.[8–11] The success in generating new zeolitic topologies is attributed to structure-directing effects of imidazolate ligands and other conditions such as solvents. Here we demonstrate a versatile synthetic method capable of generating a large family of low-connectivity framework materials. This method is based on the crosslinking of various pre-synthesized boron imidazolate complexes by monovalent cations (e.g., Li+ and Cu+) into extended frameworks. One advantage of this method is that it allows the use of ultra-light chemical elements (i.e., Li and B) as framework vertices. Furthermore, unlike the Zn-im system in which it is difficult to pre-synthesize 3-connected Zn(im)3 − unit, both 4-connected B(im)4 − and 3-connected HB(im)3 − can be readily synthesized (Scheme 1) prior to solvothermal synthesis, which further increases the diversity of materials accessible through this method. For the creation of 4-connected topologies, our strategy is reminiscent of the strategy that led to the discovery of microporous AlPO4 by analogy with porous silica.[2] Just as Al3+ and P5+ can replace two Si4+ sites in a porous silicalite, Li+ and B3+ can replace two Zn2+ sites in a Zn(im)2 type framework. Scheme 1 The pre-synthesized 4- and 3-connected B-centred ligands. A total of eleven boron imidazolate framework materials have been made (Table 1). In addition to 4-connected topologies, 3-connected and mixed (3,4)-connected 3-D framework topologies have also been realized. These materials exhibit eight distinct topological features (Table 1). Three particularly interesting materials are the unprecedented 4-connected framework materials (BIF-1-Li, BIF-2-Li and BIF-3-Li) based on the lightest possible tetrahedral nodes in the Periodic Table: Li and B (excluding Be which is not studied in this work because of its toxicity). Table 1 A Summary of Crystal Data and Refinement Results.[a] BIF-1-Li exhibits a 3D tetrahedral framework in which each Li+ or B3+ center is connected to four imidazoly (denoted as im) ligands to create a SiO4-like tetrahedron (i.e., Li(im)4 and B(im)4) (Figure 1a). Each im− linker bridges one Li+ center and one B3+ center with the Li…B distance ranging from 5.585 to 5.683 A. The Li(im)4 and B(im)4 tetrahedra alternate through corner-sharing into a 4-connected 3-D zni-type framework containing 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings (Figure 1b, Figure S2). Figure 1 View of the coordination environment in BIF-1-Li (a) and BIF-3-Cu (c), respectively, showing the connectivity between the Li+ and B3+ tetrahedra or the Cu+ and B3+ tetrahedra; and the zni net of BIF-1-Li (b) and the sodalite net of BIF-3-Cu (d). BIF-2-Li, another 3-D 4-connected Li-B imidazolate framework, was synthesized by using 2-methylane-imidazolate (mim) as the crosslinking ligand and it possesses the non-interpenetrating diamond (dia) topology (Figure S3). To demonstrate the general applicability of our synthetic strategy, we have also explored other M+/M3+ combinations. We have found that the same framework topology present in BIF-1-Li and BIF-2-Li can also be made by using Cu+ in place of Li+ (Table 1) Prior to this work, some polymeric materials based on [B(im)4]− and divalent metals (e.g., Pb, Mg, Ca, Sr) are known.[14] However, it was observed that such combinations between [B(im)4]− and M2+ have a tendency to produce layered materials. There is one known Li-B-im structure, however, half of the lithium sites in this phase contain terminal H2O and CH3OH ligands.[15] Two of the most interesting materials reported here are isostructural LiB(mim)4 (BIF-3-Li) and CuB(mim)4 (BIF-3-Cu) with neutral sodalite (SOD) topology containing 4- and 6-rings formed by alternating corner-sharing Li(mim)4 (or Cu(mim)4) and B(mim)4 tetrahedra (Figure 1c and 1d). The synthetic method described here can also lead to the synthesis of framework materials with the mixed (3,4) connectivity. The solvothermal reaction of CuI and sodium tetrakis(benzimidazolyl)borate (NaB(bim)4) at 85 °C or 120 °C led to the crystallization of BIF-4 and BIF-5 with (3,4)-connected nets, respectively. In the asymmetric unit of BIF-4, two independent tetrahedral Cu+ ions show 4- and 3-connectivity due to one terminal acetonitrile ligand at the Cu1 site, and two independent B(bim)4 − ligands show μ4- and μ3-coordination modes, respectively (Figure 2a). BIF-4 features a unique (3,4)-connected framework with sqc1436 topology containing 4- and 8-membered rings (Figure 2b). The uncoordinated bim ligand in μ3-B(bim)4 − is located in the 8-membered ring. Figure 2 (a) The coordination environment in BIF-4; (b) view of the 4-ring and 8-ring in BIF-4, the terminal bim groups in the B(bim)4 − ligands are highlighted in the 8-ring; (c) the coordination environment in BIF-5; (d) view of the 4-ring and 8-ring ... In BIF-5, the B(bim)4 − ligand is 4-connected to four Cu+ ions. However, two independent Cu+ ions show two different coordination environments: CuIN3 tetrahedron and linear CuN2 (Figure 2c) (iodide anion in CuIN3 is a terminal ligand). The 3-connected Cu1 sites are linked by the B(bim)4 − ligands into a layer with 4- and 8-rings (Figure 2d). The linear Cu2 centres further connect these layers through the additional coordination of the B(bim)4 − ligands, generating a (4.6.8)(4.62.83) net by considering the B(bim)4 − ligands as the 4-connected nodes and the Cu1 sites as the 3-connected nodes (Figure S4). By employing 3-connected boron-imidazolate ligands, 3-connected frameworks (BIF-6 to BIF-8) have also been prepared. In BIF-6 with the formula CuIBH(im)3, tripodal BH(im)3 − ligands are linked through planar 3-coordinate Cu+ ions into a 2D 4.82 layer (Figure 3a and Figure S5). In BIF-7, the planar 3-connected Cu+ ions are bridged by the tripodal BH(mim)3 − ligands into a 3D 2-fold interpenetrating framework with the (10,3)-b topology (also called the ths net) (Figure 3b and Figure S6). In comparison, BIF-8 features a 3-connected 3-D 2-fold interpenetrating framework with the chiral (10,3)-a topology (also called the srs net) (Figure 3e). Figure 3 View of the tripodal ligands in BIF-6 (a), BIF-7 (b) and BIF-8 (c and d). In BIF-8, the racemic BH(eim)3 − ligands (c and d) act as 3-connected building blocks in two-fold interpenetrating srs net of opposite handedness (e). In BIF-8, one prominent feature is the spontaneous resolution of the racemic BH(eim)3 − ligands into two interpenetrating 3-connected chiral sub-nets with opposite handedness. The BH(eim)3 − ligand is chiral because of the conformation of the ethyl groups (Figure 3c and 3d). It is worth noting that there are two sources of chirality here: chiral BH(eim)3 − ligands (R- and S-configurations) and chiral srs nets (denoted +γ* and −γ* for two enantiomeric forms). Because each intrinsically chiral srs net selects only one enantiomer of BH(eim)3 − ligands, the spontaneous resolution of racemic BH(eim)3 − ligands into two independent but interpenetrating frameworks is observed (Figure 3e). To determine zeolitic properties of such materials, BIF-3-Cu and BIF-3-Li with the sodalite topology were studied by gas adsorption measurements performed on Micromeritics ASAP 2010 surface area and pore size analyzer. The permanent porosity was confirmed by N2 adsorption measurements. The samples were degassed at 200°C prior to the measurement. They exhibit type I isotherm, indicating the microporous nature. The Langmuir surface areas are 182.3 and 726.5 m2/g for BIF-3-Cu and BIF-3-Li, respectively (Figure 4, Figure S13). The CO2 adsorption isotherms of BIF-3-Cu and BIF-3-Li at 273 K were also evaluated. As shown in Figure 5, the maximum adsorptions at ~1 atm are 21.9 and 34.5 cm3·g−1 for BIF-3-Cu and BIF-3-Li, respectively. Figure 4 N2 gas sorption isotherm of BIF-3-Li at 77K. P/P0 is the ratio of gas pressure (P) to saturation pressure (P0), with P0=769 torr (adsorption: dotted line; desorption: circles). Figure 5 CO2 adsorption isotherms of BIF-3-Li (dotted line) and BIF-3-Cu (circles) at 273 K. In conclusion, we have synthesized a family of boron imidazolate framework materials by crosslinking 3- or 4-connected boron imidazolate complexes (e.g., B(im)4 − or HB(im)3−) with 3- or 4-connected Li+ or Cu+ centers. These materials possess various 4-connected, mixed (3,4)-connected, and 3-connected 3-D open frameworks with topologies ranging from zeolitic sodalite type to chiral (10,3)-a type. The permanent microporosity has been demonstrated for BIF-3-Cu and BIF-3-Li with the sodalite topology. There materials represent a unique family of materials that border between MOFs and covalent frameworks because of the co-existence of covalent (B–N) and coordination bonds (Li-N and Cu-N).

Versatile structure-directing roles of deep-eutectic solvents and their implication in the generation of porosity and open metal sites for gas storage.

Abstract: Trap it in and burn it out: A deep-eutectic solvent provides a versatile medium for the creation of highly stable porous frameworks encapsulating neutral coordinating ligand molecules, which can escape intact from the pores upon heating to form crystals directly, leaving behind permanent porosity and coordinatively unsaturated metal sites with potential applications in gas storage and catalysis.

The angry brain: Neural correlates of anger, angry rumination, and aggressive personality

Abstract: Very little is known about the neural circuitry guiding anger, angry rumination, and aggressive personality. In the present fMRI experiment, participants were insulted and induced to ruminate. Activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex was positively related to self-reported feelings of anger and individual differences in general aggression. Activity in the medial prefrontal cortex was related to self-reported rumination and individual differences in displaced aggression. Increased activation in the hippocampus, insula, and cingulate cortex following the provocation predicted subsequent self-reported rumination. These findings increase our understanding of the neural processes associated with the risk for aggressive behavior by specifying neural regions that mediate the subjective experience of anger and angry rumination as well as the neural pathways linked to different types of aggressive behavior.

Trends in incidence of adult-onset psoriasis over three decades: A population-based study

Abstract: Background Incidence studies of psoriasis are rare, mainly due to lack of established epidemiological criteria and the variable disease course. The objective of this study is to determine time trends in incidence and survival of psoriasis patients over three decades. Methods We identified a population-based incidence cohort of 1633 subjects aged ≥18 years first diagnosed with psoriasis between January 1, 1970 and January 1, 2000. The complete medical records for each potential psoriasis subject were reviewed and diagnosis was validated by either a confirmatory diagnosis in the medical record by a dermatologist or medical record review by a dermatologist. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated and were age- and sex-adjusted to the 2000 US white population. Results The overall age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of psoriasis was 78.9 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 75.0-82.9). When psoriasis diagnosis was restricted to dermatologist-confirmed subjects, the incidence was 62.3 per 100,000 (95% CI: 58.8-65.8). Incidence of psoriasis increased significantly over time from 50.8 in the period 1970-1974 to reach 100.5 per 100,000 in the 1995-1999 time period ( P = .001). Although the overall incidence was higher in males than in females ( P = .003), incidence in females was highest in the sixth decade of life (90.7 per 100,000). Survival was similar to that found in the general population ( P = .36). Limitations The study population was mostly white and limited to adult psoriasis patients. Conclusion The annual incidence of psoriasis almost doubled between the 1970s and 2000. The reasons for this increase in incidence are currently unknown, but could include a variety of factors, including a true change in incidence or changes in the diagnosing patterns over time.

Review Article: The Effects of Radiation Chemistry on Solvent Extraction: 1. Conditions in Acidic Solution and a Review of TBP Radiolysis

Abstract: The partitioning of the long‐lived α‐emitters and high‐yield fission products from dissolved nuclear fuel are key components of processes envisioned for the recycling of nuclear fuel and the disposition of high‐level waste. These future processes will likely be based on aqueous solvent‐extraction technologies for light‐water reactor fuel and consist of four main components for the separation of uranium, fission products, group trivalent actinides, and lanthanides, and finally the separation of the trivalent actinides from the lanthanides. Since the solvent systems will be in contact with highly radioactive solutions, they must be robust toward radiolytic degradation in an irradiated mixed organic, acidic aqueous environment. Therefore, an understanding of their radiation chemistry is important to the design of a practical system. In this paper we review the radiolytic production of the reactive species expected to be present in such an irradiated system and predict which radiolytically‐produced ...

Scale-dependent effects of habitat on movements and path structure of reef sharks at a predator-dominated atoll

Abstract: The effects of habitat on the ecology, movements, and foraging strategies of marine apex predators are largely unknown. We used acoustic telemetry to quantify the movement patterns of blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, in the Pacific Ocean. Sharks had relatively small home ranges over a timescale of days to weeks (0.55 6 0.24 km 2 ) and showed strong site fidelity to sand-flat ledges within the west lagoon over a three-year period. Sharks showed evidence of diel and tidal movements, and they utilized certain regions of the west lagoon disproportionately. There were ontogenetic shifts in habitat selection, with smaller sharks showing greater selection for sand-flat habitats, and pups (total length 35-61 cm) utilizing very shallow waters on sand-flats, potentially as nursery areas. Adult sharks selected ledge habitats and had lower rates of movement when over sand-flats and ledges than they did over lagoon waters. Fractal analysis of movements showed that over periods of days, sharks used patches that were 3-17% of the scale of their home range. Repeat horizontal movements along ledge habitats consisted of relatively straight movements, which theoretical models consider the most efficient search strategy when forage patches may be spatially and temporally unpredictable. Although sharks moved using a direct walk while in patches, they appeared to move randomly between patches. Microhabitat quantity and quality had large effects on blacktip reef shark movements, which have consequences for the life-history characteristics of the species and potentially the spatial distribution of behaviorally mediated effects on lower trophic levels throughout the Palmyra ecosystem.

Consumer Identity Renaissance: The Resurgence of Identity-Inspired Consumption in Retirement

Abstract: Using multimethod data, we investigate retirement as a life stage centered on consumption, where cultural scripts are particularly contested and in flux and where we witness an increase in breadth and depth of identity-related consumption, which we term consumer identity renaissance While prior research on older consumers focuses on corporeal and cognitive decline and its impact on individual decisionmaking situations, our attention is drawn to the competency and growth potential of those who have exited their formal productive stage and privilege consumption as a means to create and enact identity Contrary to the received view of older consumers simply reviewing and integrating their already developed identities, we find retirement can be a time of extensive identity work with multiple revived and emergent inspirations weaving across all time orientations (past, present, and future) and involving intricate consumption enactments

A highly sensitive ethanol sensor based on mesoporous ZnO-SnO2 nanofibers.

Abstract: A facile and versatile method for the large-scale synthesis of sensitive mesoporous ZnO–SnO2 (m-Z–S) nanofibers through a combination of surfactant-directed assembly and an electrospinning approach is reported. The morphology and the structure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm analysis. The results showed that the diameters of fibers ranged from 100 to 150 nm with mixed structures of wurtzite (ZnO) and rutile (SnO2), and a mesoporous structure was observed in the m-Z–S nanofibers. The sensor performance of the prepared m-Z–S nanofibers was measured for ethanol. It is found that the mesoporous fiber film obtained exhibited excellent ethanol sensing properties, such as high sensitivity, quick response and recovery, good reproducibility, and linearity in the range 3–500 ppm.

Zeolite RHO-type net with the lightest elements.

Abstract: Reported here are two highly porous examples of MOCOFs, a new family of framework materials seamlessly integrating the coordinate bonds of metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent bonds of covalent organic framework materials (COFs). These two materials represent the lightest zeolite RHOs. Their synthesis is an extraordinary example in which the structure-directing effect of the substituent groups on the cross-linking imidazolyl ring strikes a perfect balance with their pore narrowing effect, leading to the creation of a very open zeolite RHO topology with highly accessible internal pores, characterized by a large surface area of 1818 m2/g and a high CO2 storage capability as high as 35.6 cm3/g at 760 Torr and 273 K.

Increasing Latina/o Students' Baccalaureate Attainment: A Focus on Retention

Abstract: Notwithstanding years of retention efforts, graduation rates of Latinas/os remain alarmingly low. The purpose of this review is threefold. First, the authors go beyond traditional theory and highlight those scholars who shed new information on retention for Latina/o students. Second, they summarize factors that specifically affect Latina/o students. Third, promising practices for effectively retaining Latina/o students in higher education institutions are highlighted.

Loss of metal ions, disulfide reduction and mutations related to familial ALS promote formation of amyloid-like aggregates from superoxide dismutase.

Abstract: Mutations in the gene encoding Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are one of the causes of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). Fibrillar inclusions containing SOD1 and SOD1 inclusions that bind the amyloid-specific dye thioflavin S have been found in neurons of transgenic mice expressing mutant SOD1. Therefore, the formation of amyloid fibrils from human SOD1 was investigated. When agitated at acidic pH in the presence of low concentrations of guanidine or acetonitrile, metalated SOD1 formed fibrillar material which bound both thioflavin T and Congo red and had circular dichroism and infrared spectra characteristic of amyloid. While metalated SOD1 did not form amyloid-like aggregates at neutral pH, either removing metals from SOD1 with its intramolecular disulfide bond intact or reducing the intramolecular disulfide bond of metalated SOD1 was sufficient to promote formation of these aggregates. SOD1 formed amyloid-like aggregates both with and without intermolecular disulfide bonds, depending on the incubation conditions, and a mutant SOD1 lacking free sulfhydryl groups (AS-SOD1) formed amyloid-like aggregates at neutral pH under reducing conditions. ALS mutations enhanced the ability of disulfide-reduced SOD1 to form amyloid-like aggregates, and apo-AS-SOD1 formed amyloid-like aggregates at pH 7 only when an ALS mutation was also present. These results indicate that some mutations related to ALS promote formation of amyloid-like aggregates by facilitating the loss of metals and/or by making the intramolecular disulfide bond more susceptible to reduction, thus allowing the conversion of SOD1 to a form that aggregates to form resembling amyloid. Furthermore, the occurrence of amyloid-like aggregates per se does not depend on forming intermolecular disulfide bonds, and multiple forms of such aggregates can be produced from SOD1.

Antipredator behavior in blackbirds: habituation complements risk allocation

Abstract: Several studies showed that animals allow closer approaches (measured through flight initiation distances, FIDs) by potential predators (e.g., humans) in high--predator density areas, which has been explained by habituation effects. We assessed whether this pattern could be produced by not only habituation but also risk allocation by simulating attacks on blackbirds Turdus merula by both usual (pedestrians) and novel (radio-controlled vehicle) potential predators in parks with different levels of human visitation. Individual blackbirds from parks with higher pedestrian rates showed lower FID than individuals from parks with lower pedestrian rates, in response to both usual and novel approaches. Blackbirds adjusted their antipredator behavior to the specific level of pedestrian rate encountered every morning and evening in each park, with higher FID in the period with lower pedestrian rate. Similar responses to usual and novel potential predators among parks and daily variation in antipredator behavior support the risk allocation hypothesis and could not be explained by habituation. However, the rate at which FID was reduced in individuals from low-visited parks to high-visited parks was greater for pedestrian attacks than for novel potential predator attacks, suggesting that habituation is also present in our system and complements the effects of risk allocation. Our results have applied implications: the reduction in FID with increasing human visitation in natural areas is usually attributed to habituation; however, we propose that risk allocation can also reduce antipredator behavior effort to survive in habitats with high levels of recreational activities at the expense of potential physiological costs. Copyright 2009, Oxford University Press.

Interactive Event Planning and Payment Method and System

Abstract: Method for an event organizer to receive gifts and services and an interactive registry system. A database of gifts and services is created and a price therefor is obtained. Gift givers accessing the database are shown gifts and services along with their prices. The gift givers select which gifts and/or services they want to purchase and remit funds to an intermediary upon which, the gift or service provider is directed to forward the gift to the organizer or perform the services for the organizer. In an event planning method and system, different templates with prices are stored in memory, each template including information about goods and services for an event or service. An event organizer accesses the memory to browse the templates and select one for purchase. Upon selection of a template, the provider(s) of the goods or services are requested to provide the listed goods and services.

Review Article: The Effects of Radiation Chemistry on Solvent Extraction 3: A Review of Actinide and Lanthanide Extraction

Abstract: The partitioning of the long‐lived α‐emitters and the high‐yield fission products from dissolved used nuclear fuel is a key component of processes envisioned for the safe recycling of used nuclear fuel and the disposition of high‐level waste. These future processes will likely be based on aqueous solvent‐extraction technologies for light‐water reactor fuel and consist of four main components for the sequential separation of uranium, fission products, group trivalent actinides, and lanthanides, and then trivalent actinides from lanthanides. Since the solvent systems will be in contact with highly radioactive solutions, they must be robust toward radiolytic degradation in an irradiated mixed organic/aqueous acidic environment, with the formation of only benign degradation products. Therefore, an understanding of their radiation chemistry is important to the design of a practical system. In the first paper in this series, we reviewed the radiation chemistry of irradiated aqueous nitric acid and the tributyl ...

Advancements in contemporary physical therapy research: use of mixed methods designs.

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to advocate for the use of mixed methods designs in contemporary physical therapist research. Mixed methods designs are used for collecting, analyzing, and mixing both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study or series of studies to both explain and explore specific research problems, thereby enriching the breadth and depth of understanding phenomena. These designs are particularly well suited for physical therapist researchers to reveal the complexity of disablement, rehabilitation, and recovery processes. Although contextual factors influence a person's health condition and recovery, they remain empirically less understood and underexplored by physical therapist researchers. To address this gap, the authors describe various combinations of quantitative and qualitative methods and data within a single study or set of related studies and the decisions that underlie the uses of these combinations. They include examples from current physical therapist research and applications from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. They argue that the rigorous application of quantitative and qualitative methods and data can propel physical therapist research and practice forward by stimulating new research questions, creating a holistic understanding of patient injury and rehabilitation, and contributing to innovative, complex treatment interventions.

Acculturation Orientations and Social Relations Between Immigrant and Host Community Members in California

Abstract: This study, based on the Interactive Acculturation Model, investigates the acculturation orientations of undergraduates attending a multicultural university in Los Angeles County. European Americans (n = 178), African Americans (n = 88), Asian immigrants (n = 165), and Hispanic immigrants (n = 109) participated in the questionnaire study. Results show that individualism and integrationism are the acculturation orientations preferred by European American, African American, and Asian immigrants. Hispanic immigrants also prefer individualism. Assimilationism, segregationism, and exclusionism are least endorsed by host community members. Immigrants moderately endorse separatism and weakly endorse assimilationism and marginalization. The social psychological profile of each acculturation orientation revealed that integrationism and individualism was associated with harmonious relational outcomes, whereas assimilationism, segregationism, separatism, and exclusionism were associated with problematic and conflict...

Hiring Discrimination Against Arab Minorities: Interactions Between Prejudice and Job Characteristics

Abstract: Individuals of Arab descent have increasingly experienced prejudice and employment discrimination. This study used the social identity paradigm to investigate whether greater Arab identification of applicants led to hiring discrimination and whether job characteristics and raters' prejudice moderated this effect. One hundred forty-one American and 153 Dutch participants rated resumes on job suitability. Resumes with Arab name and affiliations negatively influenced job suitability ratings, but only when job cognitive demands and external client contact were limited. Within the Dutch sample job suitability rating of Arab applicants was lowest when Dutch raters' implicit prejudice was high. As expected, no effects of explicit prejudice were found: discrimination may operate in subtle ways, depending on the combined effect of applicant, job, and rater characteristics. Further research and implications for employment-related decision making, such as anonymous resume-sifting, are discussed.