cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unique and Common Facets of Religion and Spirituality: Both Are Important

This commentary describes a multidimensional approach that underlies much recent empirical research on religion and spirituality (RS) and health. Each faith tradition possesses its own particularities, and common facets shared with other traditions as a coherent resemblance. Taxonomies of RS dimensions vary from being coarse grained to fine grained. The most useful taxonomy depends upon the particular research question. Fine-grained measures may more easily document particularistic facets. However, fine-grained measures can obscure common facets, which are sometimes usefully assessed by moderate- or coarse-grained measures. Full understanding requires the scientific study of both common and particularistic facets. In light of these conceptions, seven RS scales critiqued by Glicksman are analyzed for problematic themes that may obscure particularistic facets.
Fatal Rhodococcus equi infection in an Angora goat.

l laremia in three domestic cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 199: 16021605. 15. 4. Belding DL, Merrill B: 1941, Tularemia in imported rabbits in Massachusetts. N Engl J Med 224:1085-1087. 16. 5. Bell JF, Reilly JR: 1981, Tularemia. In: Infectious diseases of wild animals, ed. Davis JW, Karstad LH, Trainer DO, 2nd ed., pp. 213-231. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA. Eidson M, Thilsted JP, Rollag OJ: 1991, Clinical, clinicopathologic, and pathologic features of plague in cats: 119 cases (19771988). J Am Vet Med Assoc 199:1191-1197. Evans ME, McGee ZA, Hunter PT, Schaffner W: 1981, Tularemia and the tomcat. J Am Med Assoc 246:1343. Gallivan MVE, Davis WA, Garagusi VF, et al.: 1980, Fatal cat-transmitted tularemia: demonstration of the organism in tissue. S Med J 73:240-242. Lillie RD, Lillie FE: 1936, The pathology of tularemia. Natl Inst Health Bull 167:1-217. Mair NS, Harbourn JF, Greenwood MT, White G: 1967, Pasteurella pseudotuberculosis infection in the cat: two cases. Vet Rec 81:461462. McCoy GW, Chapin CW: 1912, Further observations on a plague-like disease of rodents with a preliminary note on the causitive agent, Bacterium tularense. J Infect Dis 10:61-72. Miller LD, Montgomery EL: 1957, Human tularemia transmitted by bite of cat. J Am Vet Med Assoc 130:314. Quenzer RW, Mostow SR, Emerson JK: 1977, Cat-bite tularemia. J Am Med Assoc 238:1845-1846. Rhyan JC, Gahagan T, Fales WH: 1990, Tularemia in a cat. J Vet Diagn Invest 2:239-241. Spearman JG, Hunt P, Nayar PSG: 1979, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in a cat. Can Vet J 20:361-364. Watts HFR: 1930, A case of tularemia. N Engl J Med 202: 329-330.
Thin p/p+ epitaxial layer characterization with the pulsed MOS capacitor

Abstract The defect properties of thin p/p + wafer are not as easily characterized as those of bulk wafers. Recombination lifetime and minority carrier diffusion length measurements do not work well for thin layers, but generation lifetime characterization is eminently suitable. However, for thin epitaxial layers it is difficult to determine the correct generation lifetime because the linear portion of the Zerbst plot is too small to extract the generation lifetime when the applied gate voltage confines the space-charge region (scr) to the lightly doped epitaxial layer. For low gate voltages, moreover, the Zerbst slope is higher then that at high gate voltages. A sufficiently high gate voltage extends the scr to the out-diffused p + region. However, if the scr reaches the p + region, there is a drop off in the Zerbst plot. We have developed a mathematical analysis for this region. We have also extended the analysis to the measurement of possible p/p + interface imperfections, e.g. misfit dislocations.
Spectroscopy of KISS Emission-Line Galaxy Candidates. III. A Second Set of MDM Observations

Spectroscopic observations for 315 emission-line galaxy (ELG) candidates from the KPNO International Spectroscopic Survey (KISS) have been obtained using the MDM Observatory 2.4 m telescope on Kitt Peak. KISS is a wide-field objective-prism survey for extragalactic emission-line objects that has cataloged over 2200 ELG candidates to date. Spectroscopic follow-up observations are being carried out to study the characteristics of the survey objects. The observational data presented here include redshifts, reddening estimates, line equivalent widths, H? line fluxes, and emission-line ratios. The galaxies have been classified based on their emission-line characteristics. The procedure for selecting the ELG candidates in KISS is found to be very reliable: 93% of the candidates in this sample are verified to have emission lines. A comparison of objective-prism survey data?redshifts, H? line fluxes, and equivalent widths?to the long-slit measurements shows good overall agreement.
Saul Who Also Is Called Paul

From the time of Origen and of Rufinus and St. Jerome the question of the apparent change of the apostle's name from Saul to Paul has interested students of the New Testament. The problem is due to the fact that the author of the Acts in briefly giving an account of Paul's meeting with the Roman governor of Cyprus, Sergius Paullus, and with the false prophet Elymas, simply states: “Then Saul (who also is called Paul) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, etc.” Before this verse in Acts the apostle's name is invariably given as Saul, and after this verse he is always called Paul, except in two passages where there is reference to the very beginning of his career, his conversion. In his letters the name Paul, and never Saul, is used.
International Comparisons of Money Demand

Many studies of the demand for money, covering a wide variety of economies, have demonstrated the importance of financial innovations and shifts in monetary policy regimes, but they have also illustrated the difficulty of measuring and assessing such changes. Because innovations and regime shifts have differed markedly across countries, international comparisons can help identify their effects. This paper reviews the literature on money demand comparisons, focusing primarily on industrial countries. It finds that innovations have had widespread effects, but also that the demand for money is not generally less stable now than it was before those changes occurred.
Glucocorticoids Control β-Catenin Protein Expression and Localization through Distinct Pathways that Can Be Uncoupled by Disruption of Signaling Events Required for Tight Junction Formation in Rat Mammary Epithelial Tumor Cells

In Con8 rat mammary epithelial tumor cells, the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone stimulates the remodeling of tight junctions and adherens junctions before formation of highly sealed tight junctions. In this study, the expression and localization of key components of the apical junction were examined as potential targets of glucocorticoid signaling. Western blot and RT-PCR demonstrated that dexamethasone up-regulated beta-catenin protein and transcript expression and nearly ablated beta-catenin phosphorylation under conditions that led to a significant increase in monolayer transepithelial resistance. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that dexamethasone treatment also caused beta-catenin to localize predominantly at the cell membrane rather than the nucleus. The glucocorticoid regulation of beta-catenin expression and localization was not a consequence of dexamethasone inhibition of cell growth, because both responses were unaltered in the presence of hydroxyurea. The steroid induction of beta-catenin expression and localization can be uncoupled by altering the function of signaling pathways needed for tight junction formation. Expression of dominant-negative RasN17 abolished dexamethasone up-regulation of beta-catenin protein expression without affecting its localization at the membrane. In contrast, exogenous treatment or constitutive production of TGFalpha abolished the dexamethasone-induced alteration of beta-catenin localization without affecting the dexamethasone stimulation of beta-catenin expression. Taken together, our results demonstrate that glucocorticoids control beta-catenin at two distinct levels of cellular regulation that differ in their cell signaling requirements for the glucocorticoid regulation of mammary epithelial junctional dynamics.
Separation of plant polyphenolics by chromatography on a boronate resin

m-Aminophenylboronic acid attached to polyacrylamide beads by a short aliphatic chain strongly and selectively binds vicinal dihydroxyphenyl substituted compounds at pH 7–8. At lower pH these substances are released quantitatively thus affording a simple and rapid method for separation and purification of catecholic materials.
Ascorbic acid promotes recovery of cellular functions following toxicant-induced injury.

We have shown that renal proximal tubular cells (RPTC) recover cellular functions following sublethal injury induced by the oxidant t-butylhydroperoxide but not by the nephrotoxic cysteine conjugate dichlorovinyl-l-cysteine (DCVC). This study investigated whether l-ascorbic acid phosphate (AscP) promotes recovery of RPTC functions following DCVC-induced injury. DCVC exposure (200 μM; 100 min) resulted in 60% RPTC death and loss from the monolayer at 24 h independent of physiological (50 μM) or pharmacological (500 μM) AscP concentrations. Likewise, the DCVC-induced decrease in mitochondrial function (54%), active Na+ transport (66%), and Na+-K+-ATPase activity (77%) was independent of the AscP concentration. Analysis of Na+-K+-ATPase protein expression and distribution in the plasma membrane using immunocytochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed the loss of Na+-K+-ATPase protein from the basolateral membrane of RPTC treated with DCVC. DCVC-injured RPTC cultured in the presence of 50 μM AscP did not proliferate nor recover their physiological functions over time. In contrast, RPTC cultured in the presence of 500 μM AscP proliferated, recovered all examined physiological functions, and the basolateral membrane expression of Na+-K+-ATPase by day 4 following DCVC injury. These results demonstrate that pharmacological concentrations of AscP do not prevent toxicant-induced cell injury and death but promote complete recovery of mitochondrial function, active Na+ transport, and proliferation following toxicant-induced injury.
1482 INTERACTIONS OF HUMAN, CULTURED KIDNEY CELLS WITH THE COMPLEMENT (C) SYSTEM

Previously we have shown that C activation takes place when heat-killed, cultured human kidney cells are incubated in normal human serum. C activation initiated by 0.5 × 107 cells/50 μl permitted moderate C4, C2, C3 and C5 consumption of hemolytic activity without detectable loss of Cl and no reduction in C6 activity. At 2 × 107 cells/50 μl serum, some loss of C1 and C6 hemolytic activity was noted. C4 and C2 consumption could not be prevented by blocking primary C pathway through prior EGTA chelation of serum. Both living and heat-killed kidney cells were incubated with normal serum and then examined for surface bound C components using immunofluorescence techniques. The heat-killed kidney cells were strongly positive for C3 which was distributed in a diffuse, speckled pattern over the entire cell surface . Dead cell suspensions also showed weak IgG and Clq immunofluorescence but were negative for surface albumin, C5 and β1H. In contrast, living cell suspensions treated in a similar manner showed only occasional cells immunofluorescent positive for C3, IgG or Clq and all cells were negative for albumin, C5 and β1H. Viability stains run concurrently revealed that the few C3 positive cells in living cell suspensions belonged to the small, nonviable cell subpopulation. These data indicate that dead kidney cells can initiate limited C activation resulting in preferential C3b opsonization of dead, but not living cells.
The Iberomaurusian enigma: north African progenitor or dead end?

Data obtained during an ongoing dental investigation of African populations address two long-standing, hotly debated questions. First, was there genetic continuity between Late Pleistocene Iberomaurusians and later northwest Africans (e.g., Capsians, Berbers, Guanche)? Second, were skeletally-robust Iberomaurusians and northeast African Nubians variants of the same population? Iberomaurusians from Taforalt in Morocco and Afalou-Bou-Rhummel in Algeria, Nubians from Jebel Sahaba in Sudan, post-Pleistocene Capsians from Algeria and Tunisia, and a series of other samples were statistically compared using 29 discrete dental traits to help estimate diachronic local and regional affinities. Results revealed: (1) a relationship between the Iberomaurusians, particularly those from Taforalt, and later Maghreb and other North African samples, and (2) a divergence among contemporaneous Iberomaurusians and Nubian samples. Thus, some measure of long-term population continuity in the Maghreb and surrounding region is supported, whereas greater North African population heterogenity during the Late Pleistocene is implied.
Stressors Arising in Highly Valued Roles, Meaning in Life, and the Physical Health Status of Older Adults

Objective The purpose of this study is to see if stressors arising in highly valued roles affect health by eroding an older person's sense of meaning in life. A second goal is to assess whether emotional support provided by social network members helps offset the deleterious effects of stress on meaning and health. Methods Interviews were conducted with a nationwide sample of older people. Survey items were administered to assess stressors in highly valued roles, meaning in life, and self-rated health. Result The findings suggest that life events arising in roles that are valued highly are associated with less favorable health ratings. Moreover, the data reveal that stressors in highly valued roles affect health primarily by eroding an older person's sense of meaning in life. Finally, the results indicate that emotional support helps older people cope more effectively with stress by restoring their sense of meaning in life. Discussion Researchers have devised a number of interventions to improve the health of older people by enhancing the functioning of their social networks. These interventions have met with mixed success. The findings from the current study suggest that focusing on meaning in life may help researchers devise more effective interventions.
Justifying Inequality: A Cross-Temporal Investigation of U.S. Income Disparities and Just-World Beliefs from 1973 to 2006

This cross-temporal meta-analysis examined 6,120 American college students’ scores on the Belief in a Just World Scale (BJW; Rubin and Peplau, J Soc Issues 31(3):65–90, 1975) across the last three and a half decades. Drawing on models of belief threat, we examined whether the causal relationship between perceived injustice and increases in BJW could extend from the laboratory to society by using macro-economic injustice trends to predict changes in BJW across these decades. Specifically, we hypothesized that perceptions of inequality, operationalized as rising income disparities, would result in a greater need to justify this inequality and that this would be evidenced by increased commitment to just world beliefs over time. Consistent with this prediction, BJW scores increased significantly over time and this increase was positively related to increasing income disparities in society. Income inequality remained a significant predictor of BJW scores even after controlling for additional factors of general income and political ideology. Implications of increasing just world beliefs are discussed in terms of psychological and policy outcomes.
CMOS integrated gas sensor chip using SAW technology

The development of inexpensive and miniaturized SAW gas sensors that are highly selective and sensitive is introduced. These sensors are implemented with micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in CMOS technology. Since the sensors are fabricated on a silicon substrate, additional signal processing circuitry can easily be integrated into the chip thereby readily providing functions such as multiplexing and analog-to-digital conversion that are needed for integration into a network.
Porin activity and sequence analysis of a 31-kilodalton Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum rare outer membrane protein (Tromp1).

We have recently reported the isolation and purification of the Treponema pallidum outer membrane and the identification of its rare protein constituents, including a 31-kDa protein markedly enriched in the outer membrane preparation (D.R. Blanco, K. Reimann, J. Skare, C.I. Champion, D. Foley, M. M. Exner, R. E. W. Hancock, J. N. Miller, and M. A. Lovett, J. Bacteriol. 176:6088-6099, 1994). In this study, we report the cloning, sequencing, and expression of the structural gene which encodes the 31-kDa outer membrane protein, designated Tromp1. The deduced amino acid sequence from the tromp1 gene sequence encodes a 318-amino-acid polypeptide with a putative 40-amino-acid signal peptide. Processing of Tromp1 results in a mature protein with a predicted molecular mass of 30,415 Da and a calculated pI of 6.6. Secondary-structure predictions identified repeated stretches of amphipathic beta-sheets typical of outer membrane protein membrane-spanning sequences. A topological model of Tromp1 containing 14 transmembrane segments is proposed. Specific antiserum against a recombinant Tromp1 fusion protein was generated and was used to identify native Tromp1 in cellular fractionation. Upon Triton X-114 extraction and phase separation of T. pallidum, the 31-kDa Tromp1 protein was detected in the detergent-phase fraction but not in the protoplasmic cylinder or aqueousphase fractions, consistent with a hydrophobic outer membrane protein. Anti-Tromp1 antiserum was also used to identify native Tromp1 purified from whole T. pallidum by Triton X-100 solubilization followed by nondenaturing isoelectric focusing. Reconstitution of purified Tromp1 into planar lipid bilayers showed porin activity based on the measured single channel conductanes of 0.15 and 0.7 nS in 1 M KCl. These findings demonstrate that Tromp1 is a transmembrane outer membrane porin protein of T. pallidum.
Attributes of Shelters Selected by Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) in the French Broad River Basin of North Carolina

We investigated the attributes of shelters used by Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in two 500-m stretches of the French Broad River basin in North Carolina during June 2010. We quantified attributes at each Hellbender shelter and at a corresponding unoccupied shelter located <25 m away to determine whether the attributes selected differed from those available in the surrounding environment. We identified 41 Hellbender shelters, each occupied by a single animal. Hellbenders selected shelters that had larger cover rocks and deeper cavities than the unoccupied shelters. No other attributes differed between occupied and unoccupied shelters, and there were no significant relationships between total length of Hellbenders and size of the cover rock or cavity depth. All Hellbender shelters were formed by large rocks with flat bottoms. Most had a single entrance that was oriented downstream and a cavity floor consisting of sand and gravel. Shelters were generally located in shallow, fast-flowing water with <10% of their surface area embedded in the substrate. Our results suggest that Hellbenders prefer shelters with attributes that maximize cavity space. Larger cavities likely provide greater protection from predators and greater concealment from sunlight. In addition, larger cavities allow more space for Hellbenders to rock back and forth to maximize oxygen uptake through their skin during periods of low flow when oxygen levels drop.
A 1.2mW CMOS temporal-difference image sensor for sensor networks

In this paper we report a 64x64 active pixel image sensor (APS), Mototrigger, which targets low-power image sensing for sensor networks. The image sensor computes the temporal- difference between two continuous light-intensity frames and communicates them in address-event format. The image sensor is capable of computing 30 temporal-difference frame/s and consumes 1.2mW with a 3V power supply. Light-intensity images are also available as an output at a speed of 60 frame/s. The pixel occupies an area of 29x28mum2 with a All factor of 23%. The die size is 3mm by 3mm, including pads and test structures. The image sensor is fabricated in a 0.5mum bulk CMOS process.
Medicago truncatula as a model for dicot cell wall development.

We have initiated a genome-wide transcript profiling study using the model legume Medicago truncatula to identify putative genes related to cell wall biosynthesis and regulatory function in legumes. We used the GeneChip® Medicago Genome Array to compare transcript abundance in elongating versus postelongation stem internode segments of two M. truncatula accessions and two Medicago sativa (alfalfa) clones with contrasting stem cell wall concentration and composition. Hundreds of differentially expressed probe sets between elongating and postelongation stem segments showed similar patterns of gene expression in the model legume and cultivated alfalfa. Differentially expressed genes included genes with putative functions associated with primary and secondary cell wall biosynthesis and growth. Mining of public microarray data for coexpressed genes with two marker genes for secondary cell wall synthesis identified additional candidate secondary cell wall-related genes. Coexpressed genes included protein kinases, transcription factors, and unclassified groups that were not previously reported with secondary cell wall-associated genes. M. truncatula has been recognized as an excellent model plant for legume genomics. The stem tissue transcriptome analysis, described here, indicates that M. truncatula has utility as a model plant for cell wall genomics in legumes in general and shows excellent potential for translating gene discoveries to its close relative, cultivated alfalfa, in particular. The natural variation for stem cell wall traits in Medicago may offer a new tool to study an expanded repertoire of valuable agronomic traits in related species, including woody dicots in the eurosid I clade.
Kindergarten readiness skills in children with sickle cell disease: evidence of early neurocognitive damage?

Young children with sickle cell disease are at risk of brain damage, including stroke. We tested the hypothesis that such patients are also at risk of cognitive impairment. We characterized the cognitive ability of kindergarten children to minimize the effect of disease-related school absence. The Memphis City Schools use the Developing Skills Checklist, a teacher-administered test given in the classroom, to assess kindergarten-appropriate skills. Data were obtained for 34 patients, who were matched to controls by gender, race, date of birth, school, and approximate income. Two controls were selected for each patient, and paired t-tests were used to compare patient's scores to composite control scores. Patients scored lower than controls in auditory discrimination (P < .O1), and there was a trend (P < .10) toward lower patient scores in language. Deficits cannot be attributed to school absence and may predict academic problems for patients with sickle cell disease. (J Child Neurol 2002;17:111-116).
Comments regarding ‘Operative Management of Penetrating Carotid Artery Injuries’

Dr. Reva and his colleagues from the Military Medical Academy in Saint-Petersburg, Russia are to be congratulated for their thoughtful review of their management of carotid injuries due to military trauma. In this manuscript the authors present their analysis of 46 patients with injuries to theCCAand ICA. Seventeen civilian patients and twenty-nine soldiers were wounded during combat operations between November 1999 and August 2002. All patients had confirmed injuries to the CCA and ICA, while patients with isolated external carotid artery (ECA) injury were excluded from the analysis. Carotid artery ligation was accomplished in nine patients (19%); the remaining 37 patients underwent vascular repair. Methods of repair included end-to-end anastomosis (37%), lateral sutures (22%), and vein grafting (22%). The management of patients with carotid trauma depends upon numerous factors that the trauma surgeonmust critically analyze in a rapid fashion. In this article the authors point out several of these indications. These include the following criteria made us ligate the injured CA patient instability and the presence of a high zone III ICA injury in the skull base. As reproduced in this study the data support aggressive carotid reconstruction for trauma in all but the most hopeless situations. This was demonstrated byRich et al. during the Vietnam Warwhere patient survival was improved through the repair of all carotid vascular injuries compared to ligation during previous conflicts. Similarly, during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts repair of carotid arterial injuries led to improved results. Fox et al. reported on thirty-nine patients (30%) underwent immediate neck exploration in Iraq or Afghanistan, of which 65% (25/39) were positive for amajor injury. Twentyone patients underwent 24 vascular repairs for 13 arterial and
TetR-Type Transcriptional Regulator VtpR Functions as a Global Regulator in Vibrio tubiashii

Vibrio tubiashii, a causative agent of severe shellfish larval disease, produces multiple extracellular proteins, including a metalloprotease (VtpA), as potential virulence factors. We previously reported that VtpA is toxic for Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) larvae. In this study, we show that extracellular protease production by V. tubiashii was much reduced by elevated salt concentrations, as well as by elevated temperatures. In addition, V. tubiashii produced dramatically less protease in minimal salts medium supplemented with glucose or sucrose as the sole carbon source than with succinate. We identified a protein that belongs to the TetR family of transcriptional regulators, VtpR, which showed high homology with V. cholerae HapR. We conclude that VtpR activates VtpA production based on the following: (i) a VtpR-deficient V. tubiashii mutant did not produce extracellular proteases, (ii) the mutant showed reduced expression of a vtpA-lacZ fusion, and (iii) VtpR activated vtpA-lacZ in a V. cholerae heterologous background. Moreover, we show that VtpR activated the expression of an additional metalloprotease gene (vtpB). The deduced VtpB sequence showed high homology with a metalloprotease, VhpA, from V. harveyi. Furthermore, the vtpR mutant strain produced reduced levels of extracellular hemolysin, which is attributed to the lower expression of the V. tubiashii hemolysin genes (vthAB). The VtpR-deficient mutant also had negative effects on bacterial motility and did not demonstrate toxicity to oyster larvae. Together, these findings establish that the V. tubiashii VtpR protein functions as a global regulator controlling an array of potential virulence factors.
Improved transcriptome quantification and reconstruction from RNA-Seq reads using partial annotations

The paper addresses the problem of how to use RNA-Seq data for transcriptome reconstruction and quantification, as well as novel transcript discovery in partially annotated genomes. We present a novel annotation-guided general framework for transcrip- tome discovery, reconstruction and quantification in partially annotated genomes and compare it with existing annotation-guided and genome-guided transcriptomeassemblymethods.Our method,referredasDiscoveryandReconstruction ofUnannotated Transcripts (DRUT), can be used to enhance existing transcriptome assemblers, such as Cufflinks (3), as well as to accurately estimate the tran- script frequencies. Empirical analysis on synthetic datasets confirms that Cufflinks enhanced by DRUT has superior quality of recon- struction and frequency estimation of transcripts.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Delay of Neutrophil Apoptosis through the p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signal Pathway

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The bacterium avoids host innate defenses in part by infecting, surviving in, and propagating in neutrophils, as well as by inhibiting neutrophil apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of A. phagocytophilum survival in neutrophils and the inhibition of spontaneous apoptosis are not well understood. In this study, we demonstrated that antiapoptotic Mcl-1 protein (Bcl-2 family) expression is maintained and that inhibition of procaspase-3 processing occurs in A. phagocytophilum-infected human neutrophils. An evaluation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) showed evidence of increased phosphorylation with infection. Moreover, antagonism of p38 MAPK by the inhibitor SB203580 reversed apoptosis inhibition in live or heat-killed A. phagocytophilum-infected neutrophils. A role for the autocrine or paracrine production of antiapoptotic interleukin 8 (IL-8) expressed with A. phagocytophilum infection was excluded by the use of IL-8-, IL-8R1 (CXCR1)-, and IL-8R2 (CXCR2)-blocking antibodies. As previously demonstrated, the antiapoptotic effect was initially mediated by exposure to A. phagocytophilum components in heat-killed bacteria. However, an important role for active infection is demonstrated by the additional delay in apoptosis with intracellular growth and the refractory abrogation of this response by the p38 MAPK inhibitor 3 to 6 h after neutrophil infection. These results suggest that the initial activation of the p38 MAPK pathway leading to A. phagocytophilum-delayed neutrophil apoptosis is bypassed with active intracellular infection. Moreover, active intracellular infection contributes more to the overall delay in apoptosis than do components of heat-killed A. phagocytophilum alone.
New NASA mandate announced

NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe introduced a new strategic framework and mandate on 12 April that he said would allow the agency to work in a more efficient and collaborative manner in order to increase both knowledge and national security. The new NASA mandate is “to improve life here, to extend life to there, to find life beyond.”
Characterizing Fine-Grained Associativity Gaps: A Preliminary Study of CAD-CAE Model Interoperability

This paper describes an initial study towards characterizing model associativity gaps and other engineering interoperability problems. Drawing on over a decade of X-analysis integration (XAI) 1 research and development, it uses the XAI multirepresentation architecture (MRA) as a means to decompose the problem and guide identification of potential key metrics. A few such metrics are highlighted from the aerospace industry. These include number of structural analysis users, number of analysis templates, and identification of computing environment components (e.g., number of CAD and CAE tools used in an example aerospace electronics design environment). One problem, denoted the fine-grained associativity gap, is highlighted in particular. Today such a gap in the CAD-CAE arena typically requires manual effort to connect an attribute in a design model (CAD) with attributes in one of its analysis models (CAE). This paper estimates that 1 million such gaps exist in the structural analysis of a complex product like an airframe. The labor cost alone to manually maintain such gaps likely runs in the tens of millions of dollars. Other associativity gap costs have yet to be estimated, including over- and underdesign, lack of knowledge capture, and inconsistencies. Narrowing in on fundamental gaps like fine-grained associativity helps both to characterize the cost of today’s problems and to identify basic solution needs. Other studies are recommended to explore such facets further.
A Multiple Description Coding and Delivery Scheme for Motion-Compensated Fine Granularity Scalable Video

Motion-compensated fine-granularity scalability (MC-FGS) with leaky prediction has been shown to provide an efficient tradeoff between compression gain and error resilience, facilitating the transmission of video over dynamic channel conditions. In this paper, we propose an n-channel symmetric motion-compensated multiple description (MD) coding and transmission scheme for the delivery of scalable video over orthogonal frequency division multiplexed systems, utilizing the concepts of partial and leaky predictions. We investigate the proposed MD coding and transmission scheme using a cross-layer design perspective. In particular, we construct the symmetric motion-compensated MD codes based on the diversity order of the channel, defined as the ratio of the overall bandwidth of the system to the coherence bandwidth of the channel. We show that knowing the diversity order of a physical channel can assist an MC-FGS video coder in selecting the motion-compensation prediction point, as well as on the use of leaky prediction. More importantly, we illustrate how the side information can reduce the drift management problem associated with the construction of symmetric motion-compensated MD codes. We provide results based on both an information-theoretic approach and simulations.
The Effects of Age, Sex, Ethnicity, and Sleep-Disordered Breathing on Sleep Architecture

Background Polysomnography is used to assess sleep quality and to gauge the functional effect of sleep disorders. Few population-based data are available to estimate the variation in sleep architecture across the population and the extent to which sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), a common health condition, contributes to poor sleep independent of other factors. The objective of this study was to describe the population variability in sleep quality and to quantify the independent associations with SDB. Methods Cross-sectional analyses were performed on data from 2685 participants, aged 37 to 92 years, in a community-based multicenter cohort study. Dependent measures included the percentage time in each sleep stage, the arousal index, and sleep efficiency. Independent measures were age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidity status, and the respiratory disturbance index. Results Lighter sleep was found in men relative to women and in American Indians and blacks relative to other ethnic groups. Increasing age was associated with impaired sleep in men, with less consistent associations in women. Notably, women had, on average, 106% more slow wave sleep. Sleep-disordered breathing was associated with poorer sleep; however, these associations were generally smaller than associations with sex, ethnicity, and age. Current smokers had lighter sleep than ex-smokers or never smokers. Obesity had little effect on sleep. Conclusions Sleep architecture varies with sex, age, ethnicity, and SDB. Individual assessment of the effect of SDB on sleep quality needs to account for other host characteristics. Men, but not women, show evidence of poorer sleep with aging, suggesting important sex differences in sleep physiology.
Quality of Life: A Critical Assessment

There is increased recognition that Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) or Health Status (HS) is important and, together with other outcome measures, highly relevant to evaluating both the impact of diseases, and the individual and societal benefits/costs of different interventions, management strategies and health policies: yet many problems remain. While the methodology of HS assessment has been extensively studied and greatly improved, implementation has lagged in practice and in clinical research. Resources have been forthcoming for studies which promise increased profit (e.g., marketing advantage) or cost-containment, but funding has been scarce when the focus is on quality of care, patient utility, or health issues such as screening, monitoring or disease prevention. There are well-defined limitations associated with various assessment instruments, with interpretation of scores, and with the lack of relationship between disease activity and overall HRQOL. For these reasons, to date, HS assessment has not been clearly shown to be useful to physicians or to benefit patient outcomes to a degree sufficient to justify the burden of widespread use. Physicians remain cautious of the processes, especially with those aspects that relate to values, autonomy, equity, legal liability and potential for abuse.
Electrically conductive superhydrophobic octadecylamine-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube films

Abstract Electrically conductive, superhydrophobic multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) thin films were prepared by direct amination of MWCNTs with up to 14 wt.% of octadecylamine (ODA) by vacuum filtration method. The ODA-functionalized MWCNT films exhibit a high water contact angle of 165° and electrical conductivity of 860 S/m. The liquid–air–solid interface is directly observed from above the water droplet using an optical microscope. The observation indicates that the wettability state of the MWCNTs has changed from relatively hydrophilic to superhydrophobic state upon functionalization with ODA. The fundamental mechanisms responsible for the unusual combination of surface superhydrophobicity and high electrical conductivity of the MWCNT films are described and their implications are discussed.
The Volterra input-output map of a high frequency amplifier as a practical alternative to load-pull measurements

Using a nonlinear black-box model based on the Volterra theory it is possible to describe the nonlinear behaviour of a high frequency amplifier. Acquiring only a strongly reduced set of measurements it is easy to predict the load impedance curves anywhere on a Smith Chart. The classic load-pull approach involves the acquisition of a large amount of data and still lacks a description of the nonlinear behaviour of the amplifier in deviating situations. >
Invited reaction: The effects of alternative reports of human resource development results on managerial support

Mattson's article is an important contribution to the literature in HRD and program evaluation for a variety of reasons. It addresses an area that sorely needs rigorous research, it uses a theory-based model that is relevant to managers' evaluations of HRD programs, it provides valuable insights on how best to present HRD evaluation results to managers, and it demonstrates that HRD program evaluations that are expressed in terms of results do influence the decisions of operating managers. The ongoing challenge will be to articulate linkages between HRD programs, employees' behavior, and outcomes that are important to managers. Doing so will lead to even greater impact on managers' decisions about the future uses of HRD interventions.
Rural landlords and rental housing energy efficiency

Abstract This study examines several aspects of energy conservation in non-metropolitan rental housing with a focus on landlords. The study includes an analysis of data collected through a survey of rental housing owners in four non-metropolitan counties of New York State. Findings include differences in conservation behaviour and perspectives of small-scale and large-scale property owners. Some differences were also observed among landlords based on identified economic incentives. Policies targeted to different categories of landlords are recommended for the purpose of improving energy efficiency in the rental housing sector.
Enhancing Children's Sexual Development Through Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs

Prior to participating in a personal safety program, Head Start preschoolers were asked for the names of nongenital and genital body parts. Although almost all children knew the correct terminology for nongenital body parts, few knew the anatomically correct terms for genitals. Children were able to learn the correct terms when taught by their parents as part of a personal safety program. Being taught correct genital terminology appeared to affect positively children's attitudes toward their own sexuality. Parents who did and did not teach correct terminology were compared and found to differ on income and in their attitudes toward children's genital exploration. Suggestions for integrating sexuality education into child sexual abuse prevention programs are offered, and parental involvement in sexuality and personal safety education is strongly encouraged.
Assessment of Depression and Anxiety in Older Adults

Late-life depression and anxiety may contribute to detrimental consequences for patients and their families. They impair functioning, negatively affect quality of life, disrupt interpersonal relationships and increase utilization of medical services. Further, late-life depression is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and is the most common psychiatric diagnosis in attempted or completed suicides. This chapter explores diagnostic considerations and provides clinical pearls for the accurate assessment of the most common depression and anxiety disorders in older adults.
A fully automated verilog-to-layout synthesized ADC demonstrating 56dB-SNDR with 2MHz-BW

Fully automated Verilog-to-layout synthesis of ADCs using custom analog cells is presented. Previous work in synthesized ADC design used only the standard digital library, and consequently the achieved resolution has been extremely limited. This work adds rudimentary analog components alongside the standard digital library, then uses Verilog code to describe analog functions and synthesize it into layout. The same Verilog code is used to create a MASH ADC in both 65nm and 130nm CMOS, demonstrating 56dB SNDR with ≥2MHz bandwidth. The ADCs occupy 0.014mm2 and 0.046mm2, respectively. Using the same Verilog code demonstrates the rapid portability and scalability of this design procedure.
Economic Analysis by Federal Financial Regulators

The Federal financial regulators who are entrusted with implementing Dodd-Frank and other key financial regulatory initiatives do not routinely conduct economic analysis. This paper looks at the statutory obligations that Federal financial regulators face and the degree to which they useeconomic analysis in their decision-making. The paper also looks at quasi-governmental regulatory organizations, which — like their governmental counterparts — do not routinely conduct economic analysis.
Instrumented Evaporative Cooler: An Experiment in Psychrometrics

An instrumented evaporative cooler was developed for use in an undergraduate laboratory in psychrometrics. The air temperature and relative humidity at the inlet and outlet, and the air flow and wa...
Concomitant Lymphoma and Cryptococcosis in a Patient With Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Abstract Cryptococcomas and primary central nervous system lymphomas are rarely seen together in a single mass in patients diagnosed with acquired immune deficiency syndrome [Wang et al, Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei) 1997;59:50–4]. This report details the unique presentation, diagnosis and subsequent medical and surgical treatments for this pair of conditions.
A Far-reaching Formula

(1999). A Far-reaching Formula. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 138-140.
Angular dependence of metamagnetic transitions in HoNi2B2C

Detailed measurements of M(2 K, H, {theta}) of HoNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C, where {theta} is the angle that the applied field H makes with the [110] axis while remaining perpendicular to the crystallographic c axis, reveal three metamagnetic transitions with angular dependences H{sub c1}=(4.1{plus_minus}0.1 kG)/cos({theta}), H{sub c2}=8.4{plus_minus}0.2 kG/cos({phi}), and H{sub c3}=(6.6{plus_minus}0.2 kG)/sin({phi}), where {phi}={theta}{minus}45 is the angle from the [100] axis. The high-field saturated moment, M{sub sat}{approx}10{mu}{sub B}cos{theta} is consistent with the local moments being confined to the [110] direction. The locally saturated moments for fields between H{sub ci} (i=1,2,3) also manifest angular dependences that are consistent with combinations of local moments along [110] axes. Analysis of these data lead us to infer that the net distribution of moments is ({up_arrow}{down_arrow}{up_arrow}{down_arrow}{up_arrow}{down_arrow}) for H{lt}H{sub c1}, ({up_arrow}{up_arrow}{down_arrow}{up_arrow}{up_arrow}{down_arrow}) for H{sub c1}{lt}H{lt}H{sub c2}, ({up_arrow}{up_arrow}{r_arrow}{up_arrow}{up_arrow}{r_arrow}) for H{sub c2}{lt}H{lt}H{sub c3}, and ({up_arrow}{up_arrow}{up_arrow}{up_arrow}{up_arrow}{up_arrow}) for H{gt}H{sub c3}. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Evaluation of an ATP Assay to Quantify Bacterial Attachment to Wetted Surfaces in Variable Gravity Conditions

The goal of this experimentation was to develop an assay to quantify the biomass of attached cells and biofilm formed on wetted surfaces in variable gravity environments. Liquid cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were exposed to 30–35 brief cycles of hypergravity (≤ 2 g) followed by free fall (i.e., reduced gravity) equivalent to either lunar g (i.e., 0.17 normal Earth gravity) or micro g (i.e., < 0.001 normal Earth gravity) in an aircraft flying a series of parabolas. Over the course of two days of parabolic flight testing, 504 polymer or metal coupons were exposed to a stationary-phase population of P. aeruginosa strain ERC1 at a concentration of 1 x 10 cells/milliliter. After the final parabola on each flight test day, half of the material coupon samples were treated with either 400 μg L-1 ionic silver fluoride (microgravity-exposed cultures) or 1% formalin (lunar gravity-exposed cultures). The remaining sample coupons from each flight test day were not treated with a fixative. All samples were returned to the laboratory for analysis within 2 hours of landing, and all biochemical assays were completed within 8 hours of exposure to variable gravity. The intracellular ATP luminescent assay accurately reflected cell physiology compared to both cultivation-based and direct-count microscopy analyses. Cells exposed to variable gravity had more than twice as much intracellular ATP as control cells exposed only to normal terrestrial gravity.
Determination of Cd in animal liver by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

objective To explore the optimal conditions in detecting content of Cd in animal liver by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Method The samples which were pretreatment and microwave-digestion were detected in AAS with a automatic sampling system, using zeeman for background correction. Results The linear range of the method was 0-10.0μg/L.The linear regression equation and correlation coefficient are y=0.0388x+0.0084 and 0.999 1,the detection limit was 0.53μg/L, standard recovery test was 96.4.7-101.7 %, RSD was 1.15-3.90 %. Conclution The content of Cd in samples which were microwave-digested can be detected directly by AAS. This method which had the advantages of good linearity, high recovery rate and easy to operate is suitable for detecting the content of Cd in animal liver.
Justices ‘en Garde’: ideological determinants of the dissolution of anti-establishment parties

Examining justice-level determinants of party dissolution decisions can reveal how high Courts may influence the public choice by constraining the representation of political ideologies. We argue that Constitutional Court justices strategically engage in politics through party dissolution cases, and justices ‘en garde’ act to guard the regime against anti-establishment ideologies. As a graveyard of political parties, Turkey is an appropriate case to study this claim. By introducing a unique dataset, we demonstrate that communist, religious and ethnic parties in Turkey with considerable public support are more likely to be dissolved by justices having an activist and pro-status quo ideological stance.
Case report: tetraploid leukemia.

A patient with acute leukemia and tetraploid blast cells in the bone marrow is reported. The patient was a 69-yr-old white male who was referred to our institution for chemotherapy. His bone marrow contained 89% blasts, 30% of which were peroxidase positive. The clinical history was characterized by a rapid, downhill course, and the patient expired 1 mo after admission in spite of chemotherapy. At autopsy, nests of viable leukemic cells were still present in the bone marrow. Cytogenetic studies demonstrated a true tetraploid karyotype with 92 chromosomes. The various mechanisms that may lead to the establishment of a tetraploid clone and the clinical implications of the presence of these cells in acute leukemia are discussed. So far as we know, this is the first case in which a true tetraploid clone associated with human neoplasia has been identified.