cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P2.34 Does oral sex cause female infertility

Introduction We present the following tri-factorial hypothesis: 1. All members of the Chlamydiaceae have evolved primarily as commensals of the digestive tract of their host(s) with fecal-oral transmission (FOT) as the principal route of dissemination to new hosts. In communities where fecal-oral transmission is reduced (e.g., via global sanitation), the occurrence of chlamydiae in the digestive tract of their host is reduced.2. Chlamydia trachomatis is a commensal microorganism of the human gastro-intestinal (GI) tract, and an opportunistic pathogen in the genital and respiratory tracts, and the conjunctiva. Under conditions of reduced FOT, direct contact (e.g., sexual) is the primary mode of transmission. 3. C. trachomatis is efficiently transmitted to the GI tract of new hosts via oral sex. The practice of oral sex has ‘reintroduced’ C. trachomatis to the human GI tract in communities where FOT was previously reduced. Methods Circumstantial, historical and recent evidence from humans and animals that support the hypothesis is reviewed. Imaging of mCherry expressing Chlamydia muridarum in the murine GI tract was obtained. Results and Conclusion: Tenets 1 and 2 imply a paradigm shift to reflect a revision of the status of C. trachomatis from that of a principal pathogen to that of a commensal organism that causes opportunistic infection at mucosal epithelia other than its preferred GI site. High frequency on/off switching of the expression of autotransported polymorphic membrane proteins, the unique properties of peptidoglycan and lipo-oligosaccharide, and observed extruded inclusions in the GI tract of C. muridarum-infected mice may facilitate chlamydial survival and colonisation of the GI tract.Tenet 3 implies that orally inoculated chlamydiae that survive in and colonise the GI tract, may reach the rectum and chronically, or episodically, infect the female genital tract eventually causing/contributing to tubal pathology and infertility. The global hypothesis therefore raises the provocative question: does oral sex cause or contribute to female infertility?
The Putative Cerean Exosphere

The ice-rich crust of dwarf planet 1 Ceres is the source of a tenuous water exosphere, and the behavior of thisputative exosphere is investigated with model calculations. Outgassing water molecules seasonally condensearound the winter pole in an optically thin layer.
Thermoluminescence due to tunneling in nanodosimetric materials: A Monte Carlo study

Abstract Thermoluminescence (TL) signals from nanodosimetric materials have been studied extensively during the past twenty years, especially in the area of nanomaterials doped with rare earths. One of the primary effects being studied experimentally have been possible correlations between the nanocrystal size and the shape and magnitude of TL signals. While there is an abundance of experimental studies attempting to establish such correlations, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. This paper is a Monte Carlo simulation study of the effect of nanocrystal size on the TL signals, for materials in which quantum tunneling is the dominant recombination mechanism. TL signals are simulated for a random distribution of electrons and positive ions, by varying the following parameters in the model: the radius of the crystal R, tunneling length a, and the relative concentrations of electrons and ions. The simulations demonstrate that as the radius of the nanocrystals becomes larger, the peaks of the TL glow curves shift towards lower temperatures and changes occur in both peak intensity and peak width. For large crystals with a constant density of positive ions, the TL glow curves reach the analytical limit expected for bulk materials. The commonly used assumption of nearest neighbor interactions is examined within the model, and simulated examples are given in which this assumption breaks down. It is demonstrated that the Monte Carlo method presented in this paper can also be used for linearly modulated infrared stimulated luminescence (LM-IRSL) signals, which are of importance in luminescence dosimetry and luminescence dating applications. New experimental data are presented for Durango apatite, a material which is known to exhibit strong anomalous fading due to tunneling; the experimental data is compared with the model. The relevance of the simulated results for luminescence dosimetry is discussed.
Breakout Session: Getting Moral Rights Right. Presented by Kevin Smith, Dean of Libraries, University of Kansas.

This brief piece records the breakout session Getting Moral Rights Right by Kevin Smith from the 2017 Kraemer Copyright Conference.
The origin of language among the Aché

Abstract For the Ache of Paraguay, language seems to never have been an issue, much less a topic. Ache verbal art emphasizes non-communicative and non-representational functions of speech. The activity of speaking was not related to ethnic or personal identity and there is no account of language in their mythology. This stands in stark contrast to their neighbors, the Guarani, who have the concept of the word-soul, which relates to names and personhood, and a myth about the origin of language. In the twentieth century, contact with Paraguayan society, settlement in reservation communities, and the influence of missionaries led to profound sociocultural transformations among the Ache, including language shift. And as their speech practices were changing, these same practices were attended to in novel ways, as “language.” This paper analyzes the origin of language among the Ache and how it became similar to what it is in many other places of the world where people struggle for the maintenance and revitalization of their ancestral ways of speaking: a decontextualized cultural object and emblem of ethnic identity.
Filter Stability in Flows

Filters have been used by J. Auslander in order to have a unified approach for ɛ-δ and nbd definitions for Lyapunov stability. The purpose of this note is to generalize his results to rim-compact topological spaces.
Moral Priorities, Cases, and Practices in Medical Genetics

The goal of this discussion is to promote dialogue in forums for geneticists and policy makers. Examining ethical issues in a field like medical genetics is comparable to navigation and repairs during a sea journey (Benjamin, 2003, 112). After locating position, the crew must alter or maintain direction. Faults in the structure of the ship or equipment that make it unseaworthy or unprepared for trouble must be corrected. These corrections have to be done on a ship already underway. There are different priorities, but all are important. In ethics, as in all human ways of knowing, the ship cannot return to port for refitting (Benjamin, 2003, 112) once the journey has started.
Structural analysis of the glycine-rich, arginine-rich histone. I. Sequence of the carbosyl-terminal portion.

1. The glycine-rich, arginine-rich (GAR) histone from calf thymus, which contains 1 methionine residue, was cleaved with cyanogen bromide to yield two peptides which were fractionated on Sephadex G-100. 2. The smaller peptide was isolated and contained 18 amino acids. This peptide was the carboxyl-terminal portion of the GAR histone since it did not contain homoserine, and aspartic acid was the amino-terminal amino acid. The amino-terminal amino acid of the whole GAR histone is acetylserine. The carboxyl-terminal sequence of the whole GAR histone was found to be Gly-Gly-COOH by treatment with carboxypeptidase which agreed with the carboxyl-terminal sequence of the octadecapeptide. 3. This octadecapeptide was found to contain 2 of the 4 tyrosine and 1 of the 2 phenylalanine residues contained in the whole GAR histone. 4. The total sequence of this octadecapeptide was determined after tryptic and chymotryptic hydrolysis to be: Asp-Val-Val-Tyr-Ala-Leu-Lys-Arg-Gln-Gly-Arg-Thr-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Phe-Gly-Gly-COOH.
Truth is What Happens to News

Here I propose that the phenomenon of “fake news” is indicative of the contested position of news and the dynamics of belief formation in contemporary societies. It is symptomatic of the collapse o...
Darrel Wanzer-Serrano’s The New York Young Lords and the Struggle for Liberation: Theoretical Contributions

In his book, The New York Young Lords and the Struggle for Liberation, Professor Darrel Wanzer-Serrano makes several important contributions to rhetorical, communication, and Latinx, race and ethni...
On the propagation of electrodynamic waves along a wire by A. Sommerfeld

This is a translation of a classic paper of Arnold Sommerfeld published in 1899. It provided the first rigorous theory of waves traveling on a resistive wire of finite radius. General solutions ins...
La Fête-Dieu du Vermilion en Louisiane

La Fete-Dieu en Louisiane a lieu le 15 aout, marquant a la fois la fete nationale des Acadiens et la fete de l’Assomption de la Vierge Marie. Le circuit peut varier, mais il s’agit toujours d’une procession d’une centaine de bateaux sur un bayou et elle comprend plusieurs escales. Bien que le nom de cette fete soit en francais, la ceremonie se deroule majoritairement en anglais avec certaines parties en francais. La Fete-Dieu, qui existe depuis 2015, est devenue un evenement annuel et semble indiquer un interet renouvele envers la culture francophone (notamment par son heritage acadien) de l’Eglise catholique.
The Nasal Swell Body and Septal Perforation Repair.

Objectives To review our experience with secondary surgery for persistent nasal obstruction following successful septal perforation repair and describe the potential contribution of the nasal swell body (NSB) to obstruction. Study design Retrospective chart review. Methods IRB-approved retrospective chart review of perforation repairs utilizing bilateral mucosal flaps performed by the senior author from October 2008 through April 2019 was performed. Patients who underwent secondary surgery for persistent nasal obstruction were identified. Data regarding patient demographics, perforation characteristics, primary closure technique, and secondary surgical procedures for persistent postoperative obstruction were analyzed. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores were assessed pre and post revision surgery. Results Thirty-four patients (14.7% of 232 successful repairs) met study criteria. Of those, 30 patients underwent revision septal surgery. An inferiorly advanced NSB was surgically reduced in 9.9% (23/232) of patients following successful closure to improve persistent obstruction. There was no incidence of reperforation. All patients undergoing NSB reduction reported improved nasal airflow postoperatively and 13 completed the NOSE questionnaire. The mean preoperative NOSE score (95% CI) was 52.7 (42.2-63.2; median, 50). The mean postoperative NOSE score (95% CI) was 19.2 (12.8-25.6; median, 15). The difference between the preoperative and postoperative NOSE scores was statistically significant (P Conclusions Repair of a septal perforation using a superior bipedicle flap carries the potential for the NSB to contribute to persistent postoperative nasal obstruction. The swell body can be surgically reduced, without re-perforation, to relieve obstructive symptoms in the patient with a successful perforation repair. Level of evidence IV Laryngoscope, 2020.
Exercise Oncology: The Past and Present

The history of exercise for health and cancer reaches deep into antiquity. Early evidence of a connection between exercise and cancer prevention dates back over 100 years, and preclinical data that exercise slows tumor growth were first published in 1938. Despite this long history, the concept of exercise as prevention or therapy for cancer remained esoteric until the past 10–20 years, when the field has grown exponentially. In this chapter, we review this history as a backdrop to the chapters that follow.
Neurodiversity and deficit perspectives in The Washington Post’s coverage of autism

Media representations can perpetuate stereotypes about marginalized groups. Autism is often portrayed as a series of deficits needing correction. Many autistic self-advocates argue, however, that t...
Beneficial metabolic role of β-arrestin-1 expressed by AgRP neurons

β-Arrestin-1 and β-arrestin-2 have emerged as important signaling molecules that modulate glucose fluxes in several peripheral tissues. The potential roles of neuronally expressed β-arrestins in regulating glucose homeostasis remain unknown. We here report that mice lacking β-arrestin-1 (barr1) selectively in AgRP neurons displayed impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity when consuming an obesogenic diet, while mice overexpressing barr1 selectively in AgRP neurons were protected against obesity-associated metabolic impairments. Additional physiological, biochemical, and electrophysiological data indicated that the presence of barr1 is essential for insulin-mediated hyperpolarization of AgRP neurons. As a result, barr1 expressed by AgRP neurons regulates efferent neuronal pathways that suppress hepatic glucose production and promote lipolysis in adipose tissue. Mice lacking β-arrestin-2 (barr2) selectively in AgRP neurons showed no substantial metabolic phenotypes. Our data suggest that agents able to enhance the activity of barr1 in AgRP neurons may prove beneficial as antidiabetic drugs.
Approach to the Patient: Management of the Post-Bariatric Surgery Patient With Weight Regain.

CONTEXT Weight regain (WR) after bariatric surgery is emerging as a common clinical problem due to the increase in the number of procedures performed. Early interventions are necessary to curtail the potential recurrence of comorbid conditions. However, it is often difficult to recognize WR early enough to introduce mitigating measures because there are no current guidelines for timely diagnosis and assessment of the severity of this condition. OBJECTIVE We present a practical approach for the early recognition of WR, based on 11-year follow-up data from our multiethnic bariatric surgery patient population. METHODS We classify WR according to the rate of increase in weight relative to nadir weight, normalized per 30-day interval. We also review pertinent literature about the etiologic factors contributing to WR after bariatric surgery. RESULTS According to our algorithm, mild, moderate, and rapid WR are defined as weight increases of 0.2% to <0.5%, 0.5% to 1.0%, and more than 1.0% of nadir weight per 30 days, respectively. Treatment options, including dietary counseling, use of antiobesity medication, and consideration of surgical revision, are described. A case is presented to illustrate the utility of timely identification of WR and the importance of collaboration between bariatric surgeons, obesity medicine specialists, and dietitians. CONCLUSION Our approach emphasizes the importance of regular long-term follow-up for all bariatric surgery patients.
The Effects of Nucleus Basalis Lesions in the Rat on One Way Passive and Active Avoidance, Two Way Avoidance, and Lashly III Maze Learning: An Animal Model for SDAT

The development of a useful animal model for senile dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (SDAT) entails a number of considerations. Among them are the following: 1. The choice of an appropriate organism. In choosing a candidate organism the following issues should be addressed. A. Are there well established neurological homologies between the model’s CNS and the human CNS? B. Is the model organism’s behavior well enough studied and described so that pathologies in behavior due to disease or lesions have an adequate research base for comparison to normal behavior? C. Is the organism’s behavior homologous to a wide variety of human behavior? D. Is it practical and cost efficient to use a given organism? 2. Once the organism has been selected, the choice of the behaviors to be studied must have a rational basis. Although this seems obvious, there are subtle nuances often overlooked. When an investigator decides that one way passive avoidance would be a good test for memory function many questions must be answered, such as: a. Number of pre-shock trials b. Number of shock trials c. Intensity of shock d. Number of spacing of post shock trials Variations in these parameters can lead to a wide variety of interpretations of findings. Furthermore, analysis of the data is often simplistic (such as only measuring latency of entering the shock chamber in one way passive avoidance) when a more sophisticated description and analysis of behavior would lead to more insights into the behavioral deficit. One of the goals of the research to be reported on in this chapter was to achieve a finer analysis of the avoidance behavior often used in research in Alzheimer’s disease using various animal models. 3. Another important decision is the use of inter-subject designs as opposed to intra-subject designs. By this we mean using different animals for each behavior investigated (inter-subject) or exposing each animal to a wide variety of tasks (intra-subject). While the former has the appeal of noncontamination of one behavior by previous experiences (use of the so called naive subject) it suffers in generalizing to human behavior since humans, and all higher organisms, have a rich variety of experiences against which pathological changes must be assessed. Furthermore, intra-subject designs are more efficient because more information is obtained per subject. Balanced against the above advantages of the intra-subject design is the necessity of determining the order of behaviors to be investigated or the controlling of them through counterbalancing procedures.
The cannabinoid agonist CB-13 produces peripherally mediated analgesia in mice but elicits tolerance and signs of CNS activity with repeated dosing

Abstract Activation of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) produces analgesia in a variety of preclinical models of pain; however, engagement of central CB1 receptors is accompanied by unwanted side effects, such as tolerance and dependence. Efforts to develop novel analgesics have focused on targeting peripheral CB1 receptors to circumvent central CB1-related side effects. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of acute and repeated dosing with the peripherally selective CB1-preferring agonist CB-13 on nociception and central CB1-related phenotypes in an inflammatory model of pain in mice. We also evaluated cellular mechanisms underlying CB-13-induced antinociception in vitro using cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. CB-13 reduced inflammation-induced mechanical allodynia in a peripheral CB1 receptor-dependent manner and relieved inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia. In cultured mouse DRG neurons, CB-13 reduced TRPV1 sensitization and neuronal hyperexcitability induced by the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2, providing potential mechanistic explanations for the analgesic actions of peripheral CB1 receptor activation. With acute dosing, phenotypes associated with central CB1 receptor activation occurred only at a dose of CB-13 approximately 10-fold the ED50 for reducing allodynia. Strikingly, repeated dosing resulted in both analgesic tolerance and CB1 receptor dependence, even at a dose that did not produce central CB1 receptor-mediated phenotypes on acute dosing. This suggests repeated CB-13 dosing leads to increased CNS exposure and unwanted engagement of central CB1 receptors. Thus, caution is warranted regarding therapeutic use of CB-13 with the goal of avoiding CNS side effects. Nonetheless, the clear analgesic effect of acute peripheral CB1 receptor activation suggests that peripherally restricted cannabinoids are a viable target for novel analgesic development.
Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Cytotechnology Graduate and Undergraduate Students’ Attitudes Toward Teamwork Before and After Participation in an Interprofessional Education Experience

BACKGROUND Educating health professional (HP) students in environments wherein they can learn about, from, and with each other can prepare them for interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP), which may positively impact patient safety and satisfaction (Brashers et al., 2015; Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative [HPAC], 2019). IPCP is characterized by effective communication, shared values, respect for diverse disciplines and teamwork among health professionals (IOM, 2015). However, professional silos in practice can foster competition rather than collaboration. Knowledge of HP roles and responsibilities is a primary tenet of IPCP (Interprofessional Educational Collaborative [IPEC], 2011). PURPOSE An interprofessional education (IPE) approach that combined book reading, a presentation by the author of the book, and small group discussion of a case study focused on patient safety was used to introduce students to HP roles and responsibilities and to highlight the benefits of IPCP. Patient safety is an effective platform for engaging students in IPE learning and exposing them to the benefits of teamwork and interprofessional collaboration as demonstrated in this study. METHOD Block randomization was used to assign graduate and undergraduate students (N=167) to interprofessional groups for the IPE learning, including case discussions. There were 20 groups of 8 students and one group with the remaining 7 students. The group compositions were reviewed and it was verified prior to data collection that each group had interprofessional representation of students based on their programs of study. Most students in our sample had two or more prior IPE experiences. Pre- and post-participation attitudes about teamwork were assessed using the Teamwork, Roles, and Responsibilities (TRR) subscale of the Interprofessional Attitudes Scale (IPAS). RESULTS There were significant changes in student attitudes toward teamwork (p < .05) and significant differences in scores based on discipline, prior IPE learning and level (graduate or undergraduate) with moderate to large effect sizes. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates how IPE can be implemented through co-curricular learning to build upon prior IPE learning to improve both graduate and undergraduate students’ attitudes toward teamwork.
Predictability and parallelism in the contemporary evolution of hybrid genomes

Hybridization between species is widespread across the tree of life. As a result, many species, including our own, harbor regions of their genome derived from hybridization. Despite the recognition that this process is widespread, we understand little about how the genome stabilizes following hybridization, and whether the mechanisms driving this stabilization tend to be shared across species. Here, we dissect the drivers of variation in local ancestry across the genome in replicated hybridization events between two species pairs of swordtail fish: Xiphophorus birchmanni × X. cortezi and X. birchmanni × X. malinche. We find surprisingly high levels of repeatability in local ancestry across the two types of hybrid populations. This repeatability is attributable in part to the fact that the recombination landscape and locations of functionally important elements play a major role in driving variation in local ancestry in both types of hybrid populations. Beyond these broad scale patterns, we identify dozens of regions of the genome where minor parent ancestry is unusually low or high across species pairs. Analysis of these regions points to shared sites under selection across species pairs, and in some cases, shared mechanisms of selection. We show that one such region is a previously unknown hybrid incompatibility that is shared across X. birchmanni × X. cortezi and X. birchmanni × X. malinche hybrid populations.
Journalism Beyond the Command Post: Local Journalists as Strategic Citizen Stakeholders in Natural Disaster Recovery

On Memorial Day weekend 2015, the Blanco River crested at 42 feet, drowning the town of Wimberley, Texas (USA), resulting in the death of 11 people and damaging more than 300 homes and businesses. ...
IPv6: Now You See Me, Now You Don't

Current implementations of the Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) use stateless address auto configuration (SLAAC) to assign network addresses to hosts. This technique produces a static value determined from the Media Access Control (MAC) address as the host portion, or interface identifier (IID), of the IPv6 address. Some implementations create the IID using the MAC unobscured, while others compute a onetime hash value involving the MAC. As a result, the IID of the address remains the same, regardless of the network the node accesses. This IID assignment provides third parties (whether malicious or not) with the ability to track a node's physical location by using simple tools such as ping and traceroute. Additionally, the static IID provides a means to correlate network traffic with a specific user through simple traffic analysis. We examine the techniques used to create autoconfigured addresses. We also discuss how these techniques violate a user's privacy. The serious breaches in privacy caused by SLAAC need to be addressed before deployment of IPv6 becomes widespread. To that end, we provide a detailed taxonomy of different methods for obscuring IPv6 autoconfigured IIDs. Index Terms—IPv6 addressing, privacy protection
Spontaneous pneumopericardium, case report.

Abstract 1. 1. A case of spontaneous pneumopericardium is presented, and the literature briefly reviewed. 2. 2. The pneumopericardium was caused by a carcinoma of the stomach which eroded through the diaphragm into the pericardium and through gastrocolic adhesions into the transverse colon. The pericardial sac was soiled by both colon and stomach contents.
Reduction in piston-cylinder experiments; the detection of carbon infiltration into platinum capsules

Problems associated with intermittent and variable degrees of sample blackening are often reported for studies involving the preparation of CO2-bearing silicate glasses in piston-cylinder apparatus. This phenomenon is generally attributed to H infiltration, which leads to the reduction of CO2 and the precipitation of graphite with the concomitant formation of water. In this study we demonstrate that carbon diffusion into platinum capsules may be a common cause of blackened glasses and this process may be detected using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the presence of CO without elevated H2O contents. The simulated infiltration of 12C from a graphite furnace into a 13Cbearing sample is illustrated using secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and microFTIR analysis. Careful FTIR monitoring of variable sample reduction has helped to identify the precautions required to reduce C (and H) infiltration in solid media assemblies and it appears that physical barriers can be more important than the chemical buffers traditionally employed.
El Señor del Perdón y los matacristos de Oaxaca: la Revolución Mexicana desde el punto de vista de los católicos

Este articulo examina las respuestas religiosas a una decada de violencia producto de la Revolucion Mexicana que estallo en 1910, en dos comunidades del estado de Oaxaca —San Pablo y San Pedro Tequixtepec, en la Mixteca Baja, y en Magdalena Tequisistlan, en el Istmo de Tehuantepec—. En Tequixtepec el dialogo entre el clerigo y el sector laico propicio una innovacion ortodoxa, aceptada por las autoridades eclesiasticas. En Tequisistlan, la falta de negociacion religiosa causo un renacimiento religioso menos aceptable: la crucifixion de un viajero italiano
Role of Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein in Early Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Cellular responses to endotoxins are enhanced markedly by LPS-binding protein (LBP). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that endotoxins and proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha participate in early alcohol-induced liver injury. Therefore, in this study, a long-term intragastric ethanol feeding model was used to test the hypothesis that LBP is involved in alcoholic hepatitis by comparing LBP knockout and wild-type mice. Two-month-old female mice were fed a high-fat liquid diet with either ethanol or isocaloric maltose-dextrin as control continuously for 4 wk. There was no difference in mean urine alcohol concentrations between the groups fed ethanol. Dietary alcohol significantly increased liver to body weight ratios and serum alanine aminotransferase levels in wild-type mice (189 +/- 31 U/L) over high-fat controls (24 +/- 7 U/L), effects which were blunted significantly in LBP knockout mice (60 +/- 17 U/L). Although no significant pathological changes were observed in high-fat controls, 4 wk of dietary ethanol caused steatosis, mild inflammation, and focal necrosis in wild-type animals as expected (pathology score, 5.9 +/- 0.5). These pathological changes were reduced significantly in LBP knockout mice fed ethanol (score, 2.6 +/- 0.5). Endotoxin levels in the portal vein were increased significantly after 4 wk in both groups fed ethanol. Moreover, ethanol increased TNF-alpha mRNA expression in wild-type, but not in LBP knockout mice. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that LBP plays an important role in early alcohol-induced liver injury by enhancing LPS-induced signal transduction, most likely in Kupffer cells.
Independent Sets in Graphs with Given Minimum Degree

The enumeration of independent sets in graphs with various restrictions has been a topic of much interest of late. Let $i(G)$ be the number of independent sets in a graph $G$ and let $i_t(G)$ be the number of independent sets in $G$ of size $t$. Kahn used entropy to show that if $G$ is an $r$-regular bipartite graph with $n$ vertices, then $i(G)\leq i(K_{r,r})^{n/2r}$. Zhao used bipartite double covers to extend this bound to general $r$-regular graphs. Galvin proved that if $G$ is a graph with $\delta(G)\geq \delta$ and $n$ large enough, then $i(G)\leq i(K_{\delta,n-\delta})$. In this paper, we prove that if $G$ is a bipartite graph on $n$ vertices with $\delta(G)\geq\delta$ where $n\geq 2\delta$, then $i_t(G)\leq i_t(K_{\delta,n-\delta})$ when $t\geq 3$. We note that this result cannot be extended to $t=2$ (and is trivial for $t=0,1$). Also, we use Kahn's entropy argument and Zhao's extension to prove that if $G$ is a graph with $n$ vertices, $\delta(G)\geq\delta$, and $\Delta(G)\leq \Delta$, then $i(G)\leq i(K_{\delta,\Delta})^{n/2\delta}$.
Use of allergen bronchoprovocation to screen drugs for anti-asthma activity.

In the atopic patient with asthma, allergens are an important cause of chronic airway inflammation and symptoms. Natural exposure to seasonal allergens, such as grass pollen, may result in exacerbation of asthma, increased airway responsiveness (i.e., increased susceptibility of the airways to constrict), and an increased frequency of emergency room visits. Removal of patients from exposure to indoor allergens, such as dust mites, results in a marked reduction in symptoms, less airway responsiveness, and a decrease in drug requirements. In the pulmonary function laboratory, inhalation of increasing doses of allergen, in a safe and controlled manner (allergen bronchoprovocation), produces physiological responses similar to those observed after natural exposure. These include an immediate decrease in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) that is rapid in onset but short in duration (early response), a subsequent gradual decline in FEV 1 4-8 hours after allergen inhalation that is sustained (late response), an increase in airway responsiveness, and infiltration of the airway mucosa by inflammatory cells. Drugs that are effective as maintenance therapy for chronic asthma generally attenuate the late response to allergen bronchoprovocation, and those with antiinflammatory effects (e.g., inhaled corticosteroids) also attenuate the allergen-induced increase in airway responsiveness and cellular infiltration of the airways. However, the magnitude of drug effect in this clinical model does not correlate well with the drug's relative efficacy in chronic asthma. In contrast, drugs that have no effect in this clinical model, such as calcium channel blockers, ketotifen, and antihistamines, are ineffective as maintenance therapy for chronic asthma. Thus, it appears that allergen bronchoprovocation is most useful as a screening tool for excluding drugs that are unlikely to be effective for chronic asthma and for determining whether a drug has antiinflammatory and/or immunomodulatory actions on the airway mucosa.
Collision-Induced Coherence in Four Wave Light Mixing

The evolution of the density matrix of a material system under the influence of one or more traveling electromagnetic waves is central in determining the linear and nonlinear optical response. The role of spontaneous emission and collisional processes may, under certain conditions which apply to a rather large variety of experimental situations, be represented by phenomenological damping terms in the equations of motion for the diagonal and off-diagonal elements of the density matrix [1]. General expressions for the third order nonlinear susceptibility have been given by many authors [2–4]. The bookkeeping of the many terms occurring in third order perturbation theory may be systematized by the use df double-sided Feynman type diagrams [5,6,7]. It is important to consider explicitly the evolution of both bra vectors in the presence of damping. Authors who use only one sided diagrams irretrievably lose some terms which have physical significance. One must not calculate the evolution in the absence of damping, and then formally add the damping by considering some frequencies as complex quantities. In the latter case one always ends up with resonant denominators which contain only separations ωgn from the initially occupied state, ρ gg (o) =1, to states |n>. The correct expression also contains denominators with frequency separations ωnn, between two initially unoccupied excited states.
Identification and mutational relocation of the AUG codon initiating translation of iso-1-cytochrome c in yeast.

Abstract Mutational studies and amino acid sequence analysis were used to identify the initiating methionyl codon AUG as an essential element at the beginning of the genetic message for iso-1-cytochrome c in yeast. Nine cy1 mutants completely lack iso-1-cytochrome c as a result of mutations at one end of the CY1 gene. Amino acid sequence changes of iso-1-cytochrome c from 45 intragenic revertants of these mutants were determined. No sequence changes occurred in 21 of the revertants and the changes in the rest were additions or deletions at the NH2 terminus. The additions were either Met-Ile-, Met-Leu-, Met-Arg-, or in one case, both Met- Val- and Val-. The additions were all alike in the revertants of any cy1 mutant. The deletions were always losses of the first four residues of the protein, Thr-Glu-Phe-Lys-. Normal amounts of iso-1-cytochrome c occurred in all of the revertants except those containing the short protein, which contained only 51% of the normal amount. The nine cy1 mutants had incurred single base pair substitutions at the three nucleotides immediately preceding the codon for the NH2-terminal threonine. The essential, initial triplet is the methionyl codon, AUG. Its conversion to codons for isoleucine, leucine, arginine, or valine prevents the formation of the protein. Reversions either reverse the original substitutions, leading to the normal protein, or generate new methionine codons at the left of the original AUG position, producing the long proteins, or they convert the normal lysine 4 codon to AUG, creating the short protein. A methionine aminopeptidase is proposed to exist, which cleaves methionine efficiently from Met-Thr- and Met-Ala- bonds, less efficiently from Met-Val- bonds, and not at all from Met-Leu, Met-Ile-, and Met-Arg- bonds. The cy1 initiator mutants were used to demonstrate that ethyl methanesulfonate induces the transition G·C → A·T at a frequency at least 100 times greater than it causes the transversions A·T → T·A and G·C → T·A and one or more unidentified base pair exchanges to G·C. The function of the essential AUG triplet is presumed to be initiation of translation. This function is not provided by at least 35 of the 64 nucleotide triplets; notably it is not provided by GUG. The amount of iso-1-cytochrome c in yeast is under the control of the rate of initiation of translation, which may be reduced or remain unaltered following mutational relocation of the initiator codon.
Investigating information systems with action research

Action research is an established research method in use in the social and medical sciences since the mid-twentieth century, and has increased in importance for information systems toward the end of the 1990s. Its particular philosophic context is couched in strongly post-positivist assumptions such as idiographic and interpretive research ideals. Action research has developed a history within information systems that can be explicitly linked to early work by Lewin and the Tavistock Institute. Action research varies in form, and responds to particular problem domains. The most typical form is a participatory method based on a five-step model, which is exemplified by published IS research.
Zwitterionic amphiphile coated magnetofluorescent nanoparticles – synthesis, characterization and tumor cell targeting

Magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (MFNPs) have recently attracted significant research interests due to their potential application in biological manipulation and imaging. In this work, through a simple and fast self-assembling process, we first report the preparation of zwitterionic MFNPs (ZW-MFNPs) in the form of micelles using our newly synthesized zwitterionic amphiphiles, CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots, and MnFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles. ZW-MFNPs integrate both MnFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles and CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots in their hydrophobic cores and zwitterionic groups such as carboxybetaine and sulfobetaine on their hydrophilic shells. ZW-MFNPs possess dual imaging properties, high (Mn + Fe) recovery, excellent stability in aqueous solutions with a wide pH/ionic-strength range and physiological media, minimal cytotoxicity, and specific targeting to brain tumor cells after bioconjugation with chlorotoxin. The unique characteristics of ZW-MFNPs may open an avenue for these particles to be employed in broad biomedical applications.
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(ethylene glycol) Dimethacrylate Hydrogels

Facile synthesis and detailed characterization of photopolymerizable and biocompatible poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates (PEGDM) and their hydrogels are described. Combined analyses of 1 H NMR and MALDI-TOF MS confirmed the formation of prepolymers of high purity and narrow mass distribution (PD < 1.02). A systematic investigation into the structure and mechanical properties of PEGDM hydrogels was performed to characterize the relationships between the network structure and gel properties. Small-angle neutron scattering was used to characterize the structural features of hydrogels with respect to their semidilute solution precursors. A well-defined structural length scale (correlation length) manifested as a maximum in the scattering intensity was observed for hydrogels derived from high molecular mass PEGDMs and/or high oligomer mass fractions. Hydrogels derived from lower molecular mass PEGDMs and/or low oligomer mass fractions exhibited multiple correlation lengths suggesting the formation of inhomogeneous gel structures. The shear moduli, determined from uniaxial compression measurement, showed that the gel structures correlate well with the gel mechanical properties.
Experimental Verification of the Identity of Variant-Specific Surface Proteins in Giardia lamblia Trophozoites

The cell membrane of a Giardia lamblia trophozoite is covered with a single species of variant-specific surface protein (VSP) that is replaced by another VSP every 6 to 13 generations of cell growth, possibly for an evasion of host immunity. Experimentally, only six VSP species have been verified to localize to the cell membrane thus far. By assuming that VSP contains multiple CXXC motifs, 219 vsp genes were annotated in GiardiaDB of the WB isolate. By further assuming that VSP possesses both CXXC motifs and a CRGKA tail at the C terminus, Adam et al. (BMC Genomics 11:424, 2010) identified a total of 303 potential vsp genes in Giardia WB. The discrepancies between these two assumed VSP identities have caused some confusion. Here, we used experimental approaches to further verify what is required of the structures of a VSP to localize to the surface of cell membrane. The data led to the following conclusions. (i) The C-terminal CRGKA sequence is not essential for localizing VSPs to the cell membrane. (ii) A "motif 1" of 45 residues, consisting of two CXXCs separated by 12 to 15 amino acid residues, located close to the C terminus and a hydrophobic "motif 2" of 38 residues at the C terminus are both essential and sufficient for localizing the protein to the cell membrane. (ii) An N-terminal sequence upstream from motif 1 is not required for targeting VSPs to the cell membrane. By these criteria, we are able to identify 73 open reading frames as the putative vsp genes in Giardia. IMPORTANCE The intestinal pathogen Giardia lamblia expresses only one variant-specific surface protein (VSP) on the cell membrane surface at a given time, but it changes spontaneously every 6 to 13 generations of growth, presumably for evading the host immunity. Only 6 VSPs have been empirically shown to localize to the cell membrane surface thus far. Here, we used mutations of VSPs and methods of identifying their locations in Giardia cells and found that a "motif 1" of 45 residues, consisting of two CXXCs separated by 12 to 15 amino acid residues, located close to the C terminus and a hydrophobic "motif 2" of 38 residues at the C terminus are the only essential and sufficient structural requirements for localizing a protein to the cell membrane. By these criteria, 73 genes are identified in the Giardia WB strain genome database as the putative repertoire of VSPs.
Selecting a Generic Measure of Health-Related Quality of Life for Use among Older Adults A Comparison of Candidate Instruments

Selecting an outcomes assessment instrument requires knowledge of their relative merits, especially head-to-head comparisons. The authors compare health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) instruments among older adults for theirpsychometric properties and subject burden, specifically the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and Medical Outcomes Study Short- Form 36 (SF-36). Subjects were 282 of 373 eligible older adults (75.6% response) ranging in age from 65 to 96. SIP scores demonstrated a strong skew toward low (good health) scores with a mean of 11.1% (SD 11.5) on the Total SIP index score. Similar components of the SIP and SF-36 were moderately to strongly correlated. The SIP suffered from a ceiling (good health) scaling effect, and the SF-36 scales also demonstrated some scaling extremes. These results demonstrate the relative scaling limits, especially the ceiling effect, of the SIP compared to the SF- 36, and in general, the SF-36 is preferredfor use among community-living older adults.
Disseminated histoplasmosis producing hypertrophic gastric folds

A patient with disseminated histoplasmosis who had hypertrophic gastric rugae on upper-gastrointestinal x-ray is described. Endoscopic biopsy of the giant folds revealed submucosal fungal elements which subsequently grewHistoplasma capsulatum on culture. This patient represents the first reported case of histoplasmosis involving the stomach causing giant rugae. Recognition of this infectious process and the differentiation from malignancy allowed for its prompt treatment and good clinical response.
Plant UBX Domain-containing Protein 1, PUX1, Regulates the Oligomeric Structure and Activity of Arabidopsis CDC48

p97/CDC48 is a highly abundant hexameric AAA-ATPase that functions as a molecular chaperone in numerous diverse cellular activities. We have identified an Arabidopsis UBX domain-containing protein, PUX1, which functions to regulate the oligomeric structure of the Arabidopsis homolog of p97/CDC48, AtCDC48, as well as mammalian p97. PUX1 is a soluble protein that co-fractionates with non-hexameric AtCDC48 and physically interacts with AtCDC48 in vivo. Binding of PUX1 to AtCDC48 is mediated through the UBX-containing C-terminal domain. However, disassembly of the chaperone is dependent upon the N-terminal domain of PUX1. These findings provide evidence that the assembly and disassembly of the hexameric p97/CDC48 complex is a dynamic process. This new unexpected level of regulation for p97/CDC48 was demonstrated to be critical in vivo as pux1 loss-of-function mutants display accelerated growth relative to wild-type plants. These results suggest a role for AtCDC48 and PUX1 in regulating plant growth.
Geriatric oncology: perspectives from decision analysis. A review.

Abstract The management of advanced cancer in the older person is variable. In some patients with common malignancies chemotherapy may palliate symptoms and prolong survival, while in other patients chemotherapy is a cause of overwhelming toxicity and supportive care is the preferred form of treatment. We explored the principles of individualized management for the older person with cancer and we used decision analysis as a guide. From a decisional standpoint, geriatric malignancies may be subdivided into two categories: diseases whose management is not affected by age and diseases whose management may be age-conditioned. In the latter group one can distinguish three clinical situations: diseases with short survival when untreated, which are responsive only to highly toxic chemotherapy; diseases with short survival when untreated, which may be responsive to low-toxicity chemotherapy; and diseases with prolonged survival when untreated, whose clinical course may be affected by chemotherapy. From the analysis of these clinical situations, a critical paucity of information has emerged in five areas: prognostic evaluation of the older patients, interaction of comorbid conditions and cancer chemotherapy, availability of low-toxicity alternative treatment regimens, life expectancy and estimate of outcome utilities. Further research in these areas, according to the lines we propose, may fill critical gaps of knowledge and allow optimal management of geriatric cancer.
The craters in the lunar walled plain Ptolemaeus

Measurements of the diameters of craters in the lunar walled plain ptolemaeus and in vicinal equal-area terrae /highland surfaces/ by currently available lunar photographs
Anesthetic implications of Möbius syndrome

Mobius syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by unilateral or bilateral facial paralysis and defective extraocular eye movements secondary to congenital paresis of the facial (VII) and abducens (VI) cranial nerves. Associated dysfunction of other cranial nerves, orofacial abnormalities, and skeletal muscle hypotonia are common accompanying features. Given the multisystem involvement of Mobius syndrome, there are several potential perioperative concerns. Of primary importance to the anesthesia provider are the propensity for postoperative respiratory failure due to several pathological mechanisms, associated orofacial abnormalities that may make routine airway management difficult, the presence of gastroesophageal reflux and other factors that increase the risk of perioperative aspiration, and associated hypotonia of the skeletal musculature. The authors present a 10-month-old infant with Mobius syndrome who required anesthetic care during a Nissen fundoplication. The potential anesthetic implications of this syndrome are discussed.
Instructional or Managerial Leadership: The Principal Role!

"Instructional Or Managerial Leadership: The Principal Role" is a case study written to challenge the beliefs of graduate students preparing for educational leadership roles and educational leaders already in these positions as to the importance of the principal as an instructional leader. This case explores communication between superintendents and principals regarding the importance of the principal as an instructional leader. The case study, based upon insight from approximately fifty superintendents and five hundred principals, uses fictitious names and places to encourage participatory discussion.