cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Salmonella serovars isolated from commercial animal feed mills in the United States and serovar identification using CRISPR analysis.

AIMS: In this study, we sought to determine the incidence and diversity of Salmonella in a broad collection of commercial animal feeds collected from animal feed mills across the United States over an 11‐month period and utilize CRISPR analysis to identify individual serovars. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over two independent trials, 387 feed samples from 135 different animal feed mills in the United States were screened for Salmonella. A total of 6·2% (24/387) of samples were contaminated with Salmonella, which is concordant with similar studies. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐typing was used to serotype Salmonella isolates, and serovars Infantis and Tennessee were the most common. CONCLUSIONS: Serogroups O:4 and O:7 were enriched in the feed samples, suggesting that these serogroups are better adapted to surviving in low moisture animal feeds. The study supports the utility of CRISPR to determine serovar type since most of the serovars identified in this study have been also isolated and identified in earlier studies using more classical serotyping methods. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This work contributes to a growing body of literature concerning the Salmonella prevalence in animal feeds and highlights the need to effectively mitigate pathogens in livestock and poultry feed.
Civil Commitment for Substance Use Disorders: A National Survey of Addiction Medicine Physicians.

BACKGROUND Civil commitment (CC) for substance use disorders (SUDs) is a legal mechanism, initiated by family members, healthcare professionals, or others, that compels individuals with substance use problems into involuntary treatment. With the recent rise of US overdose deaths, more states are considering these laws. Yet little is known about physicians' perspectives regarding CC in treating patients with SUDs. METHODS We conducted a web-based survey of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) physician members regarding their awareness of, attitudes towards, and experiences with CC for adults with SUDs. RESULTS One hundred sixty-five addiction physicians completed the survey; 60.7% favored, 21.5% opposed, and 17.8% were unsure regarding CC for SUDs. More than a third (38.4%) were unfamiliar with these laws and more than a quarter (28.8%) were unsure if CC for SUDs was permitted in their state. Support for CC was strongest for SUDs involving heroin (79.0%), alcohol (74.7%), and nonheroin opioids (74.7%). Those opposing CC were more likely to believe it would jeopardize patient rapport (P < 0.001), would be ineffective for unmotivated individuals (P < 0.001), and should only be permitted for certain substances (P = 0.007). A majority of respondents endorsed the need for more clinician education (91.5%) and research (87.1%) on this topic. CONCLUSIONS Although most addiction physicians in this study approve of CC for SUDs, enthusiasm for this compulsory intervention is mixed with strongest support for patients with opioid and alcohol use disorders. At the same time, many respondents are unfamiliar with these laws and most believe more education and research are needed.
Graph-Theoretic Partitioning of RNAs and Classification of Pseudoknots-II

Dual graphs have been applied to model RNA secondary structures with pseudoknots, or intertwined base pairs. In previous works, a linear-time algorithm was introduced to partition dual graphs into maximally connected components called blocks and determine whether each block contains a pseudoknot or not. As pseudoknots can not be contained into two different blocks, this characterization allow us to efficiently isolate smaller RNA fragments and classify them as pseudoknotted or pseudoknot-free regions, while keeping these sub-structures intact. Moreover we have extended the partitioning algorithm by classifying a pseudoknot as either recursive or non-recursive in order to continue with our research in the development of a library of building blocks for RNA design by fragment assembly. In this paper we present a methodology that uses our previous results and classify pseudoknots into the classical H,K,L, and M types, based upon a novel representation of RNA secondary structures as dual directed graphs (i.e., digraphs). This classification would help the systematic analysis of RNA structure and prediction as for example the implementation of more accurate folding algorithms.
Metabolism of Formaldehyde in M. extorquens AM1

M. extorquens AMI is one of the best studied methylotrophs, a representative of a large group of pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophic bacteria utilizing the serine cycle for formaldehyde assimilation. Reactions of the serine cycle were essentially solved using this organism in J.R. Quayle’s laboratory in the 1960’s and are as follows (Fig. 1). Formaldehyde in the form of methylene tetrahydrofolate (THF) is condensed with glycine by serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) to produce serine. Serine is transaminated with glyoxylate to produce hydroxypyruvate in the serine glyoxylate aminotransferase (SGAT) reaction. Hydroxypyruvate is reduced to D-glycerate by hydroxypyruvate reductase (HPR), the latter is phosphorylated by glycerate kinase (GK) to produce phosphoglycerate. Phosphoglycerate is converted into PEP by enolase, PEP is carboxylated to oxaloacetate by PEP carboxylase (PEPC), the latter is converted to malate, which is transformed to malyl-CoA by malate thiokinase (MTK) and cleaved to acetyl-CoA and glyoxylate by malyl-CoA lyase (MCL). Glyoxylate is then used to regenerate glycine. In serine methylotrophs possessing isocitrate lyase (ICL), the second molecule of glycine is regenerated from acetyl-CoA in the glyoxylate cycle. In the ICL-minus serine methylotrophs like M. extorquens AM1, the glyoxylate cycle is not operational, and the pathway leading to regeneration of glyoxylate from acetyl-CoA remains unknown.
Role of Ultrasound in the Detection and Management of Intrauterine Growth Retardation and Associated Placental Abnormalities

In recent years, diagnostic ultrasound has been utilized extensively in the determination of gestational age through correlation with the biparietal diameter of the fetal head. This has been of immeasurable assistance in reconciling uterine size — menstrual date incompatibility or in projecting a delivery date when menstrual dates are unknown. Our experience has shown that single ultrasound evaluations are often confusing or inconclusive in such cases. Rather, serial examinations provide information regarding the general pattern of fetal growth. This trend may change from week to week, especially in high-risk patients at risk for intrauterine growth retardation. Poor fetal growth is especially common in patients with chronic hypertension, severe diabetes, or narcotic addiction.
Generalized CreditRisk+ model and applications

In the paper we give a mathematical overview of the CreditRisk+ model as a tool used for calculating credit risk in a portfolio of debts and suggest some other applications of the same method of analysis.
Transplantation of the Islets of Langerhans: New Hope for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

For more than two decades, islet transplantation has been pursued as a curative treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with little success. It is likely that the failures of the past have involved technical difficulties in harvesting human islets, transplantation of insufficient amounts of islet tissue, the antagonistic effects of immune suppressive drugs, including calcineurin inhibitors and glucocorticoids, graft rejection and recurrent autoimmune disease. More recently, success has been reported in seven out of seven consecutive transplants using approaches that overcome the technical and therapeutic problems of the past. Although this success is noteworthy, issues remain that preclude the general application of islet transplants for treatment of the majority of patients with T1DM. These include the need for chronic immunosuppression and the requirement of large numbers of islets. Efforts are under way, using a variety of immunological, molecular and cellular strategies, to make this promising treatment available to the majority of patients with this disease.
In vivo pharmacological resultant analysis reveals noncompetitive interactions between opioid antagonists in the rat tail-withdrawal assay.

Background and purpose: Pharmacological resultant analysis is a technique that can detect secondary effects of competitive antagonists in vitro. The utility of pharmacological resultant analysis as a potential tool for the investigation of antagonist interactions in vivo was examined in the present study using two opioid antagonists, naltrexone and CTAP. Experimental approach: Using the experimental design of pharmacological resultant analysis, the well-characterized opioid antagonist naltrexone was examined in the presence of multiple doses of CTAP to block the antinociceptive effects of morphine in the rat warm-water (55oC), tail-withdrawal assay. Key results: Alone, all doses of naltrexone, CTAP, and CTOP examined blocked the antinociceptive effects of morphine. In the presence of fixed doses of 1 or 10 μg CTAP, increasing doses of naltrexone produced dose-dependent shifts to the right in the morphine dose-response curve. However, a lower dose of naltrexone in combination with 1 or 10 μg CTAP failed to alter the morphine dose-response curve. In the presence of a fixed dose of 0.1 mg kg−1 naltrexone, CTAP doses produced irregular shifts to the right in the morphine dose-response curves. Conclusions and implications: Resultant analysis was applied and an apparent pKC value for CTAP was found to be one log unit higher than the apparent pA2 value for CTAP, evidence that CTAP may have secondary actions or that a signal transducer function may be altered by the combinations of these antagonists. Taken together, these data suggest pharmacological resultant analysis can reveal novel interactions between antagonists in vivo. British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 1071–1082. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706946
Promoting Student Engagement through an Academic Leadership Certificate Program

The University of Georgia’s Interdisciplinary Certificatein Leadership and Service is an undergraduate academicprogram designed to enhance college students’ preparation forleadership in their communities and organizations throughservice-learning. This form of engagement with the communityprepares students to face the technical and social challengesof the future through cross-disciplinary collaboration, scholarship,and application. The article discusses requirements of thecertificate, the collaborative nature of the program acrossmultiple colleges at the university, and the impact ofinstitutionalizing leadership and service by providing amechanism for both students and faculty to document activityin experiential education and its outcomes. The certificateprogram or any of its components can serve as a model forother colleges or leadership programs.
Characteristics of the diathermal adsorption calorimeter: II. Corrections for work of gas phase compression

Abstract Heat of compression corrections commonly used in adsorption calorimetry involve reversible work processes for idealized calorimeter systems. An expression for the irreversible work processes occurring in operational calorimeters is developed. Corrections derived on the basis of irreversible work processes are approximately twice those obtained for reversible work. Comparison with isosteric heats of adsorption indicate that the irreversible work correction is most appropriate.
Active learning strategies to promote critical thinking.

Stacy E. Walker, PhD, ATC, provided conception and design; acquisition and analysis and interpretation of the data; anddrafting, critical revision, and ﬁnal approval of the article.Address correspondence to Stacy E. Walker, PhD, ATC, Department of EMS, 300 Pompton Road, William Paterson University,Wayne, NJ 07470. Address e-mail to walkers@wpunj.edu.Objective: To provide a brief introduction to the deﬁnitionand disposition to think critically along with active learning strat-egies to promote critical thinking.Data Sources: I searched MEDLINE and Educational Re-sources Information Center (ERIC) from 1933 to 2002 for lit-erature related to critical thinking, the disposition to think criti-cally, questioning, and various critical-thinking pedagogictechniques.Data Synthesis: The development of critical thinking hasbeen the topic of many educational articles recently. Numerousinstructional methods exist to promote thought and active learn-ing in the classroom, including case studies, discussion meth-ods, written exercises, questioning techniques, and debates.Three methods—questioning, written exercises, and discussionand debates—are highlighted.Conclusions/Recommendations:The deﬁnition of criticalthinking, the disposition to think critically, and different teach-ing strategies are featured. Although not appropriate for allsubject matter and classes, these learning strategies can beused and adapted to facilitate critical thinking and active par-ticipation.Key Words:athletic training education
U.S./Canadian Boundary Waters Treaty and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

The IJC was created as a result of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 between the United States and Great Britain because it still controlled Canadian foreign policy. The pressure for a treaty came from within as populations of communities on both sides of the border began to grow and demands on water increased along with it. Initially, obstacles had to be overcome in the legal wording of the document because the two countries look at boundary waters differently. Americans tend to look at boundary water resources from the point of view of equity and equitable utilization, in which rights and obligations of the individual water user are recognized. Canadians, on the other hand, see water issues in terms of equality and the rights and responsibilities of the two states. Keywords: international joint commission; boundary waters treaty; great lakes water quality agreement; boundary waters
Cosmic Rays in the Galaxy

Once accelerated at supernova shocks, cosmic rays have to propagate through the interstellar medium before we detect them. The interstellar medium contains matter, magnetic fields and radiation fields, all of which are targets for cosmic ray interactions. Cosmic ray protons scatter in the magnetic fields and slowly diffuse away from their sources. By the time they reach the solar system cosmic ray nuclei have no memory for the position of their sources. Observations show that cosmic rays at Earth are isotropic to a very large degree, except perhaps the cosmic rays of the highest energies. Cosmic ray nuclei interact mostly with the interstellar matter and produce all kinds of secondary particles.
Sequential Vapor Infiltration of Metal Oxides into Sacrificial Polyester Fibers: Shape Replication and Controlled Porosity of Microporous/Mesoporous Oxide Monoliths

The preparation of microporous and mesoporous metal oxide materials continues to attract considerable attention, because of their possible use in chemical separations, catalyst support, chemical sensors, optical and electronic devices, energy storage, and solar cells. While many methods are known for the synthesis of porous materials, researchers continue to seek new methods to control pore size distribution and macroscale morphology. In this work, we show that sequential vapor infiltration (SVI) can yield shape-controlled micro/mesoporous materials with tunable pore size, using polyesters as a sacrificial template. The reaction proceeds by exposing polymer fiber templates to a controlled sequence of metal organic and co-reactant vapor exposure cycles in an atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor. The precursors infuse sequentially and thereby distribute and react uniformly within the polymer, to yield an organic–inorganic hybrid material that retains the physical dimensions of the original polymer template...
Scaling of island growth in Pb overlayers on Cu(001)

The growth and ordering of a Pb layer deposited on Cu(001) at 150 K has been studied using atom beam scattering. At low coverage, ordered Pb islands with (\ensuremath{\surd}61 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}61 )R ${\mathrm{tan}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ (5/6) symmetry are formed. This is a high-order commensurate phase with 30 atoms in the unit cell. From the measurement of the island diffraction peak profiles we find a power law for the mean island size versus coverage with an exponent n=0.54\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03. A scaling behavior of growth is confirmed and a simple model describing island growth is presented. Due to the high degeneracy of the monolayer phase, different islands typically diffract incoherently. Therefore, when islands merge they still diffract as separate islands and coalescence effects are thus suppressed. From the result for n we conclude that the island density is approximately a constant in the coverage range 0.1FTHETA0.5 where the ordered islands are observed [FTHETA is defined as the ratio between the number of Pb atoms and the number of Cu atoms in the underlying Cu(001) layer]. We thus conclude that most islands nucleate at FTHETA0.1 and then grow in an approximately self-similar fashion as FTHETA increases.
A simple synthesis of cyclotribromoveratrylene (CTBV) : an extractive of the red alga Halopytis pinastroides

Abstract Treatment of 5-bromoveratryl alcohol with trifluoroacetic acid yields 1,6,11-tribromo-10,15-dihydro-2,3,7,8,12,13-hexamethoxy-5H-tribenzo [a,d,g]cyclononene(CTBV), previously isolated from the red alga, Halopytis pinastroides .
Investigation of novel mixed metal ferrites for pure H2 and CO2 production using chemical looping

Abstract The mixed metal oxides NiFe 2 O 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 are candidate materials for the Chemical Looping Hydrogen (CLH) process, which produces pure and separate streams of H 2 and CO 2 without the use of complicated and expensive separations equipment. In the CLH process, syngas reduces a metal oxide, oxidizing the H 2 and CO in the syngas to H 2 O and CO 2 , and “stores” the chemical energy of the syngas in the reduced metal oxide. The reduced metal oxide is then oxidized in steam to regenerate the original metal oxide and produce H 2 . In this study, we report thermodynamic modeling and experimental results regarding the syngas reduction and H 2 O oxidation of NiFe 2 O 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 to determine the feasibility of their use in the CLH process. Modeling predicts the oxidation of nearly all the CO and H 2 in syngas to H 2 O and CO 2 during the reduction step for both materials, and regeneration of the mixed metal spinel phase during oxidation with excess H 2 O. Laboratory tests in a packed bed reactor confirmed over 99% conversion of H 2 and CO to H 2 O and CO 2 during reduction of NiFe 2 O 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 . Powder XRD analysis of the reduced materials showed, in accordance with thermodynamic predictions, the presence of a spinel phase and a metallic phase. High reactivity of the reduced NiFe 2 O 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 with H 2 O was observed, and XRD analysis confirmed re-oxidation to NiFe 2 O 4 and CoFe 2 O 4 under the conditions tested. When compared with a conventional Fe-based CLH material, the mixed metal spinels showed a higher extent of reduction under the same conditions, and produced four times the H 2 per mass of active material than the Fe-based material. Analysis of the H 2 and CO consumed in the reduction and the H 2 produced during the oxidation showed over 90% conversion of the H 2 and CO in syngas back to H 2 during oxidation.
Properties and subcellular distribution of Na+,K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in the antennae of Periplaneta americana

Abstract The properties and subcellular locations of (Na + ,K + )-ATPase and Mg 2+ -ATPase from antennae of Periplaneta americana were studied. (Na + ,K + )-ATPase and Mg 2+ -ATPase were found to be different enzyme systems based on their ion dependencies and subcellular locations. (Na + ,K + )-ATPase was associated with the apparent plasma membrane fraction, required Na + ,K + , and Mg 2+ for optimum activity, and was inhibited by ouabain. For (Na + ,K + )-ATPase the optimal pH range was 8.8–9.5; and the K m values for Na + ,K + , and ATP were 6.3, 3.7, and 0.22–0.24 mM, respectively. The optimal range in Mg 2+ :ATP concentration ratio was 1.0–1.4. The ouabain pI 50 was 6.2; and (Na + ,K + )-ATPase activity was completely inhibited by 1 × 10 −4 M ouabain. Mg 2+ -ATPase was associated with the apparent mitochondrial fraction, required Mg 2+ for maximal activity, was inhibited by Na + , independent of K + and not inhibited by ouabain. The pH optimum was 8.0; and K m values for Mg 2+ and ATP were 2.3 and 0.24–0.27 mM, respectively. Neither (Na + ,K + )-ATPase nor Mg 2+ -ATPase appeared to be stimulated by Ca 2+ . (Na + ,K + )-ATPase was totally inhibited by 4.5 mM Ca 2+ , while Mg 2+ -ATPase was slightly inhibited at similar Ca 2+ concentrations.
Heterogeneity of Vascular Endothelial Cells: Differences in Susceptibility to Neutrophil-mediated Injury

Vascular endothelial cells are key participants in the development of inflammatory-mediated tissue injury. Not all tissues have the same response to inflammation and the role of vascular endothelial cells in this response is unclear. The objective of this study was to compare cultured primary endothelial cells derived from a variety of microvascular and macrovascular sources within the same species, rat. We developed and compared primary cultures of endothelial cells from dermis, kidney and lung microvasculature, pulmonary artery and vein, renal artery and vein, and aorta. Endothelial cells were similar in their growth characteristics, ability to take up DiI-Ac-LDL, and expression of ICAM-1, regardless of their site of origin. In contrast, susceptibility to injury by PMA-activated neutrophils differed markedly among cells from different tissues as well as between microvascular and macrovascular endothelial cells from the same tissue. This study demonstrated that while endothelial cells maintain some fundamental characteristics regardless of their origin, clear site-specific differences are evident in the sensitivity of endothelial cells to injury mediated by activated neutrophils.
Aspirin Idiosyncrasy in Systemic Mast Cell Disease: A New Look at Mediator Release During Aspirin Desensitization

Objective To report the clinical responses and mediator-release profiles of an aspirin-sensitive man with systemic mast cell disease during aspirin desensitization. Material and Methods We quantified the release of six mediators during aspirin desensitization. Results Although aspirin was administered cautiously with an initial dose of 20 mg, successful aspirin desensitization necessitated complete monitoring and resuscitation capabilities of a medical intensive-care unit for 4.5 days because of frequent, severe anaphylactoid responses. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a pronounced increase in plasma levels of the vasodilator peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide during episodes of aspirin-induced hypotension. Increases in plasma levels of calcitonin and serum levels of tryptase paralleled those of calcitonin gene-related peptide, but plasma levels of calcitonin remained increased for up to 18 hours. Urinary excretion ofhistamine and I-methyl-4-imidazoleacetic acid also showed precipitous, although delayed, increases. Excretion of the prostaglandin D 2 metabolite 11β-prostaglandin F 2α : followed a bimodal pattern during aspirin desensitization; after severe hypotensive responses, the maximal value was more than 490,000 pg/mL, but the level decreased to less than 100 pg/mL after therapeutic serum levels of salicylate were attained. Conclusion These data suggest that the hypotensive responses to aspirin in some patients with systemic mast cell disease may result from the combined effects of several mediators.
Combinatorial control of DNase I-hypersensitive site formation and erasure by immunoglobulin heavy chain enhancer-binding proteins.

DNase I-hypersensitive sites in cellular chromatin are usually believed to be nucleosome-free regions generated by transcription factor binding. Using a cell-free system we show that hypersensitivity does not simply correlate with the number of DNA-bound proteins. Specifically, the leucine zipper containing basic helix-loop-helix protein TFE3 was sufficient to induce a DNase I-hypersensitive site at the immunoglobulin heavy chain μ enhancer in vitro. TFE3 enhanced binding of an ETS protein PU.1 to the enhancer. However, PU.1 binding erased the DNase I-hypersensitive site without abolishing TFE3 binding. Furthermore, TFE3 binding enhanced transcription in the presence and absence of a hypersensitive site, whereas endonuclease accessibility correlated strictly with DNase I hypersensitivity. We infer that chromatin constraints for transcription and nuclease sensitivity can differ.
The Use of Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy to Predict the Moisture, Nitrogen, Calcium, Total Phosphorus, Gross Energy, and Phytate Phosphorus Contents of Broiler Excreta

Abstract One hundred forty-three broiler chick excreta samples were obtained from previous experiments dealing with phytate phosphorus utilization. The air-dried samples were ground in a Cyclotech 1093 sample mill and analyzed for the following: moisture, N, Ca, energy, total P, and phytate P. By chemical assay, the sample compositions were moisture: mean = 9.62, SD = 1.27% (range = 7.37-13.59); N: mean = 5.31, SD = 0.37% (range = 4.28 to 6.48); Ca: mean = 1.66, SD = 0.32% (range = 0.85 to 2.6); total P: mean = 1.13, SD = 0.28% (range = 0.66 to 1.75); gross energy: mean = 3,560, SD = 120 kcal/kg (range = 3,309 to 3,882); phytate P: mean = 0.63, SD = 0.17% (range = 0.32 to 0.97). The samples were scanned in a Feed & Forage Analyzer Model 5000 with near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS)-2 Software. One hundred twenty-three samples were used to create the calibration curves (20 randomly selected samples were set aside for validating the calibration). The combination of math treatments and scatter corrections that provided the best standard error of cross validation (and its correlation coefficient) was chosen for the standard curves. The coefficients of determination (R2) were moisture, 0.96; N, 0.88; Ca, 0.84; total P, 0.91; gross energy, 0.86; and phytate P, 0.86. The standard errors of prediction were moisture, 0.342%; N, 0.193%; Ca, 0.143%; total P, 0.134%; gross energy, 74.66 kcal; and phytate P, 0.91%. We concluded that it is possible to predict the moisture, N, Ca, gross energy, total P, and phytate P in broiler excreta by using NIRS.
Fine analog coding minimizes information transmission

One measure of the computational power of a single unit in a network is the rate at which it can transfer information. Because that rate depends both on the unit's analog resolution and on its speed, many types of units may reach their optimum information flow when they operate very fast, with only coarse or binary resolution at each time step (this occurs because the information rate scales linearly with speed or bandwidth, but only logarithmically with analog resolution). Furthermore, calculations for a mean-square-limited channel with Gaussian noise show that the optimum information rate for the best possible analog code is only about 30% better than the optimum rate for the simplest binary code. For the biologically realistic case of an irregular neural spike train, a binary code carries about two orders of magnitude more information than an analog rate-code using the same spikes, and is equally consistent with neurophysiology. Thus, neural networks that optimally transfer information would probably use a binary (or coarse analog) code, rather than the high-resolution, real-valued codes usually explored.
Rethinking protestantism and democratic consolidation in Latin America

This article summarizes the theoretical and empirical bases for thinking that Protestant growth may contribute to democratic consolidation in Latin America. The literature and theorizing about Protestantism and democratic consolidation offers an incomplete understanding of how economic and social structures constrain and enable the political strategies pursued by religious leaders. The article draws on the empirical literature and attempts to theorize new directions for the study of Protestant politics and the Protestant contribution to democratic consolidation. The rapid growth of Protestantism and the pluralization it is bringing to Latin America's religious market is beginning to attract the attention of scholars interested in regional prospects for social and political change (e.g., Stoll 1990; Martin 1990; Stoll and Garrard-Burnett 1993; Smith 1994). Most notably in Brazil, Peru, and Guatemala, but also in Nicaragua and Chile, Protestants, by themselves and in coalitions with political parties and movements, have begun to accumulate a significant share of political power and influence at the local and national levels. In the wake of the most recent wave of democratic transitions, and in light of the decline of progressive Catholicism (Daudelin and Hewitt 1995), it becomes increasingly important to ask: What role will Protestantism play in the consolidation of Latin American democracies? In this article I review prominent works on Latin American Protestantism, summarizing the theoretical and empirical bases for thinking that Protestant growth may contribute to democratic consolidation. Two principal perspectives emerge from the existing literature: arguments about Protestantism's potential effects on material or economic culture and arguments about Protestantism's effects on political culture. While both perspectives offer some insights into the possible impacts of Protestant growth, I believe that existing perspectives have offered us only a partial account of the political potentialities of Protestantism. What both perspectives largely ignore are the effects that religious and political leaders and organizational structures have on social, and particularly, political practices and outcomes. Now is a propitious time to remedy the oversights of the
Comparison of piperacillin alone versus piperacillin plus tobramycin for treatment of respiratory infections in children with cystic fibrosis

Seventeen patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pulmonary exacerbations were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: piperacillin 600 mg/kg/day (P), and piperacillin 600 mg/kg/day plus tobrarmycin (PT), in order to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of high-dose piperacillin and whether piperacillin alone was effective for the treatment of Pseudomonas infections. The mean half-life of piperacillin was 0.54 hours, with a peak concentration of 232 μg/ml. No differences between P and PT groups were noted in clinical assessment, as judged by Shwachman scores, pulmonary function testing, or weight gain. However, during the course of treatment, quantitative sputum cultures decreased by greater than 102 colony-forming units in only 5 out of 19 Pseudomonas isolates from the P group, compared with 12 of 19 isolates from the PT group (P < 0.03, Chi-square). Although emergence of resistance was not seen, one isolate had an increase in minimum inhibitory concentration from 8 to 128 μg/ml. There were no serious adverse reactions to piperacillin; only one patient developed fever possibly related to piperacillin. Therapy with high-dose piperacillin was safe in children with CF. Treatment with piperacillin alone was less effective than combination therapy with gentamicin for reduction in titer of Pseudomonas in sputum. However, the role of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of CF remains undefined. A double-blind placebocontrolled trial is indicated.
Ion transport in alveolar type I cells

This highlight article summarizes the current published literature of ion channels and ion transport in type I cells. Twenty years ago, the general theory of ion and fluid transport in the lung was that the alveolar type II cells, known to contain ion channels, governed ion transport and that the type I cells, believed to be incapable of ion transport, only allowed passive movement of water. Unable to reconcile the extraordinarily large surface area covered by type I cells (95% of the internal surface area of the lung) with such minimal biological activity, investigators set out to demonstrate that type I cells were capable of ion transport and played a role in regulating lung fluid balance. Various methods were employed to show that type I cells contained ENaC (HSC and NSC channels), CNG and K+ channels, and CFTR, further necessitating a revision of the current theories of ion and fluid transport in the lung.
Optimal Acquisition of FMS Technology Subject to Technological Progress

In order to gain competitive advantage, a firm must link its technology choice to its total manufacturing strategy and business unit's goals. A dynamic model is presented to examine the strategic decision concerning the acquisition of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) technology. A major contribution of this model is its ability to capture the strategic benefits of FMS with respect to economies of scope and technological progress. Decisions such as the timing and size of new technology acquisition and the scrapping of conventional capacity are explored as a firm plans for the upgrading of its facility to meet future dynamic strategic goals. This model may be used to assist with strategic planning because it identifies the critical relationships and trade-offs between various exogenous forces (such as market growth or decay, the cost of acquiring flexible manufacturing systems, and the rate of technological progress) and the decision variables considered.
How a neuron model can demonstrate co-existence of tonic spiking and bursting

Tonically spiking as well as bursting neurons are frequently observed in electrophysiological experiments. The theory of slow-fast dynamical systems can describe basic scenarios of how these regimes of activity can be generated and transitions between them can be made. Here, we suggest a biophysically plausible mechanism based on homoclinic bifurcations of a saddle periodic orbit which explains a transition between tonic spiking behavior and bursting behavior in a neuron model of Hodgkin-Huxley type. Also, this mechanism is featured by the coexistence of tonic spiking and bursting oscillations.
Tumor Enucleation for Renal Cell Carcinoma

The increased number of small renal masses (SRMs) detected annually has led to a rise in the use of nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). These techniques aim to preserve the largest amount of healthy renal tissue possible while maintaining the same oncologic outcomes as radical nephrectomy (RN). Additionally, partial nephrectomy (PN) has been linked to a lower risk of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality when compared to RN. There has been continual progress toward resecting less renal parenchyma. While the predominant surgical method of performing NSS is through traditional PN, simple enucleation (SE) of the tumor has increased in popularity over recent years. SE is a technique that aims to preserve the maximal amount of renal parenchyma possible by utilizing the renal tumor pseudocapsule to bluntly separate the lesion from its underlying parenchyma, offering the smallest possible margin of excised healthy renal tissue. Several studies have demonstrated the oncological safety of SE compared with PN in the treatment of SRMs, with lower overall incidence of positive surgical margins. Additionally, SE has been shown to have similar 5- and 10-year progression-free and cancer-specific survival as PN. We present a review of the literature and an argument for SE to be a routine consideration in the treatment of all renal tumors amenable to NSS.
Conjugate Fabry-Perot cavity pair for astro-combs

We propose a new mode-filtering scheme for astro-combs using two Fabry-Perot cavities: a “conjugate Fabry-Perot cavity pair”. Simulations suggest that this scheme improves astro-comb accuracy in the presence of errors from nonlinear fibers.
Bound by Chains of Carbon: Ecological–Economic Geographies of Globalization

In an era of globalization, how are we to associate carbon emissions with particular places or peoples? Contemporary environmental science and policy often debate between assigning emissions to the...
MOLECULAR STATICS STUDIES OF GRAIN BOUNDARIES : STRUCTURE AND ENERGY OF (001) TWIST BOUNDARIES

While structures and energies of tilt boundaries studied atomistically conform to the common wisdom and, in general, agree with experimental observations, the results of atomistic studies of twist boundaries often appear not to do so. In particular, experimentally well established presence of grain boundary dislocations in (001) twist boundaries [43-47] has not been confirmed by most atomistic calculations [48-50] and results of the X-ray diffraction studies of the structure of the 2 = 5 boundary disagree with its atomistically calculated structure [48-50]. In this paper we first present calculations of the structures and energies of very long period low coincidence boundaries the results of which show both localized dislocations and well defined energy cusps. The reasons for previously encountered problems as well as for the unconventional shape of the cusps, are then analyzed. The structure of the 2 = 5 boundary is then discussed in terms of the structural multiplicity which was proposed to explain the discrepancies with X-ray diffraction data [30]. It is shown here that the possible multiplicity of structures of the 2 = 5 boundary is even more extensive than previously anticipated and molecular dynamics studies are needed to reveal structures which can be meaningfully compared with experiments.
Bragg scattering from atoms in optical lattices.

We observe coherently enhanced reflection (Bragg scattering) of a near resonant laser beam from cesium atoms ordered by a periodic array of optical potential wells known as an optical lattice. The reflected light is enhanced by a factor of $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{5}$ over scattering from a disordered atomic sample. We measure the magnitude of the reflectivity and its detuning dependence as functions of the density and the degree of localization of the atoms. The change in lattice constant due to the frequency-dependent effective index of refraction seen by the lattice light field is observed.
Temporal fuel dynamics following high-severity fire in dry mixed conifer forests of the eastern Cascades, Oregon, USA

Fire-resilient landscapes require the recurrent use of fire, but successful use of fire in previously burned areas must account for temporal fuel dynamics. We analysed factors influencing temporal fuel dynamics across a 24-year spatial chronosequence of unmanipulated dry mixed conifer forests following high-severity fire. Duff and litter accumulated as bark sloughed from snags and leaves senesced from recovering vegetation, averaging 14.6 Mg ha–1 and 22.1 Mg ha–1 at our 24-year post-fire site, respectively. 1-h fuels increased linearly, averaging 1.1 Mg ha–1 at our 24-year post-fire site, with additions occurring from recovering vegetation. 10-h and 100-h fuels exhibited non-linear temporal trends, with maximum loadings occurring 14 years (3.9 Mg ha–1) and 18 years (10.5 Mg ha–1) post-fire, respectively. 1000-h fuel accumulation slowed after 20 years post-fire (reached 124.6 Mg ha–1), concurrently with ~90% snag fall and fragmentation. Maximum herbaceous fuel loading averaged 0.73 Mg ha–1 at our 5-year post-fire sites, but only averaged 0.02 Mg ha–1 at all sites thereafter. Live shrub biomass accumulation slowed after 21 years post-fire, averaging 14.3 Mg ha–1 at our 24-year post-fire site. Managers can use post-fire temporal fuel dynamics to help facilitate the restoration of fire regimes while mitigating undesirable fire effects.
Stability studies of the electrical conductivity of various poly(3-alkylthiophenes)

Abstract The stability of the electrical conductivity of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3ATs) was examined under systematically controlled environmental and thermal conditions. It was found that the stability of the alkyl-substituted polythiophenes increases as the length of the alkyl sidegroup decreases. The stability of the polymer conductivity can also be dramatically influenced by the nature of the counterion introduced into the polymer during doping, and to a lesser extent by the type of polymerization method used to prepare the polymer. P3ATs doped with FeCl 3 were found to be considerably more stable than those doped with NOPF 6 in part because of a thermally activated additional doping process that takes place in the FeCl 3 -doped samples at elevated temperatures and the lower flexibility of the FeCl 3 -doped polymer chains. Polymers synthesized via a chemical polymerization route are in general slightly more stable than those prepared via an electrochemical route. As revealed by FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and DSC, a process involving thermal undoping of the doped P3ATs upon heating appears to be driven by a conformational change of the polymer backbone which regenerates the original neutral polymer. This suggests that P3ATs with improved stability may be obtained by restricting the mobility of the polymer chain via post-processing crosslinking of the sidegroups.
Managing price risks using and local polynomial kernel forecasts

This study contributes to understanding price risk management through hedging strategies in a forecasting context. A relatively new forecasting method, nonparametric local polynomial kernel (LPK), is used to forecast prices and to generate ex ante hedge ratios. The selective multiproduct hedge based on the LPK price and hedge ratio forecasts is in general found to be better than continuous hedging, no hedging and alternative forecasting procedures. Selective multivariate hedging using the LPK is found to improve hog producer's expected returns. The findings indicate that combining hedging with forecasts, especially when using the LPK procedure, can improve price risk management.
Vitamin D receptor is not required for the rapid actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to increase intracellular calcium and activate protein kinase C in mouse osteoblasts.

The rapid, non-genomic actions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] have been well described, however, the role of the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) in this pathway remains unclear. To address this question, we used VDR(+/+) and VDR(-/-) osteoblasts isolated from wild-type and VDR null mice to study the increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) and activation of protein kinase C (PKC) induced by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3). Within 1 min of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (100 nM) treatment, an increase of 58 and 53 nM in [Ca(2+)](i) (n = 3) was detected in VDR(+/+) and VDR(-/-) cells, respectively. By 5 min, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) caused a 2.1- and 1.9-fold increase (n = 6) in the phosphorylation of PKC substrate peptide acetylated-MBP(4-14) in VDR(+/+) and VDR(-/-) osteoblasts. The 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced phosphorylation was abolished by GF109203X, a general PKC inhibitor, in both cell types, confirming that the secosteroid induced PKC activity. Moreover, 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) treatment resulted in the same degree of translocation of PKC-alpha and PKC-delta, but not of PKC-zeta, from cytosol to plasma membrane in both VDR(+/+) and VDR(-/-) cells. These experiments demonstrate that the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced rapid increases in [Ca(2+)](i) and PKC activity are neither mediated by, nor dependent upon, a functional nuclear VDR in mouse osteoblasts. Thus, VDR is not essential for these rapid actions of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in osteoblasts.
Slip interface classification through tactile signal coherence

The manipulation of objects in a hand or gripper is typically accompanied by events such as slippage, between the fingers and a grasped object or between the object and external surfaces. Humans can identify such events using a combination of superficial and deep mechanoreceptors. In robotic hands, with more limited tactile sensing, such events can be hard to distinguish. This paper presents a signal processing method that can help to distinguish finger/object and object/world events based on multidimensional coherence, which measures whether a group of signals are sampling a single input or a group of incoherent inputs. A simple linear model of the fingertip/object interaction demonstrates how signal coherence can be used for slip classification. The method is evaluated through controlled experiments that produce similar results for two very different tactile sensing suites.
Overcoming methodological elitism: Afrocentrism as a prototypical paradigm for intercultural research

Abstract This essay explores the application of Afrocentric epistemology and methodology to intercultural research. Molefi Kete Asante’s idea of Afrocentrism is used as a starting point from which to consider the possibility of methodological pluralism. An overview of Afrocentricity precedes a discussion of three theoretical tenets of Afrocentricity: cultural centeredness, paradigmatic pluralism, and cultural liberation and agency. The third part of the essay includes a brief analysis of the parallels between Afrocentricity and some Western intellectual traditions. Finally, the essay elaborates and expands on specific Afrocentric methodological imperatives: rejection of objectivity, closing the distance between researcher and participants, thinking holistically, and fostering creativity.
Interactions of GABAA antagonists with deltamethrin, diazepam, pentobarbital, and SKF100330A in the rat dentate gyrus

Activation of dentate gyrus granule cells leads to a period of depressed excitability mediated primarily by recurrent inhibition. This response can be increased in intensity and duration by drugs that enhance GABAA-mediated inhibition including GABA uptake blockers (SKF100330A), benzodiazepines (diazepam), and barbiturates (pentobarbital). It can be attenuated or abolished by administration of the GABAA antagonists picrotoxin and bicuculline. Type II pyrethroids, such as deltamethrin, produce effects in vitro which lead one to expect that they would decrease GABA-mediated inhibition. However, administration of deltamethrin to animals intensifies the inhibitory consequences of granule cell activation by many fold. To determine the role of GABAA-mediated mechanisms in the action of deltamethrin, we have looked at its antagonism by bicuculline and picrotoxin. Neither GABAA antagonist reduced the duration of the inhibition produced by deltamethrin. The only effect observed was a small but significant reduction in intensity of inhibition during the period of 10–40 msec after activation of the granule cells. For comparative purposes we have also examined the antagonism produced by bicuculline and picrotoxin on agents known to enhance GABAA-mediated inhibition. These antagonists were quite effective in antagonizing the enhancement of inhibition produced by diazepam a and SKF 100330A. Bicuculline was also effective in antagonizing pentobarbital while picrotoxin was not. These results suggest that the prolongation of inhibition produced by deltamethrin in dentate granule cells does not result simply from an extension of GABAA-mediated inhibition, but rather derives from a different source.
Personnel scheduling in public systems: a survey

Abstract In many public systems efficiencies may be realized by improved personnel scheduling. This paper surveys the literature on personnel scheduling in the public domain. Two general problems are considered: the daily scheduling problem where hourly employee work day patterns are determined and the weekly scheduling problem where day off and day on work week patterns are constructed. The daily problem is discussed in terms of scheduling with and without simultaneous work assignment; and the weekly problem is dichotomized into those schedules based on cyclical personnel requirements and those that are not.