cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic toxicity and histopathological studies with Benlate®, a commercial grade of benomyl, in Penaeus vannamei (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Abstract Juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Penaeus vannamei (Crustacea: Decapoda) were exposed to 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0 mg/l of benomyl (Benlate® OD; DuPont) in a 30-day static renewal bioassay. The levels tested were below the 96 h LC50 of approximately 10 mg benomyl/1 for juvenile penaeid shrimp. Exposure to benomyl at 1.0 mg/l resulted in death of some shrimp after 11 to 12 days, and approximately 80% cumulative mortality by 19 days. No overt toxicity or histopathological changes were noted at 0.01 or 0.1 mg benomyl/l after 30 days of exposure. Moribund shrimp (in the 1.0 mg benomyl/l treatments from day 11 to 19) displayed lethargy, anorexia, opaque musculature, and cuticular hyperchromatophorism. Histological examination of affected shrimp revealed distinctive pathological changes which were confined to the hepatopancreas (HP) and the associated anterior midgut caecum. The most significant lesions included a marked atrophy of the HP, intertubular hemocytic inflammation, often with melanized foci, and necrosis and desquamation of the HP epithelial cells. Moreover, all shrimp examined from the 1.0 mg/l dose level displayed HP epithelial cells that were enormously hypertrophied and presented as conspicuous giant megahepatopancreatocytic (MCy) cells. These benomyl-induced MCy cells are a unique lesion which is distinct from other reported toxic and infectious diseases of penaeid shrimp. Hence, the presence of MCy cells in degenerate HP tubules may provide pathognomonic indicators of benomyl toxicity in penaeid shrimp and perhaps other crustaceans.
Assessing the Impact of Airborne Toxic Releases on Populations with Special Needs

In this article, we 1) develop and demonstrate an approach for assessing the population at risk to airborne releases of extremely hazardous substances, 2) examine the relationship between potential sources of chemical hazards and the special needs population in a medium-sized metropolitan area (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), and 3) determine whether the distribution of environmental risks disproportionately impacts the special needs population. Our approach provides a comprehensive view of the risk burden imposed on the population by examining the effects of multiple sources of toxic releases. Disproportionate impacts are evaluated by comparing the existing distribution of the special needs population at risk to 1,000 randomly simulated distribution patterns. The results indicate that a significantly high proportion of the special needs population resides in areas susceptible to worst-case toxic releases.
Congenitally learned helpless rats show abnormalities in intracellular signaling

Abstract Background Affective disorders and the drugs used to treat them lead to changes in intracellular signaling. We used a genetic animal model to investigate to what extent changes in intracellular signal transduction confer a vulnerability to mood or anxiety disorders. Methods Levels of gene expression in a selectively bred strain of rats with a high vulnerability to develop congenitally learned helplessness (cLH), a strain highly resistant to the same behavior (cNLH) and outbred Sprague-Dawley (SD) control animals were compared using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results Congenitally learned helpless animals had a 24%–30% reduced expression of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the hippocampus and a 40%–41% increased level of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-2 mRNA in the prefrontal cortex compared to cNLH and SD rats. Other significant changes included changes in the expression levels of the alpha catalytic subunit of protein kinase A, glycogen synthase kinase 3β, and protein kinase C e. Conclusions Congenitally learned helpless animals show evidence of altered signal transduction and regulation of apoptosis compared to cNLH and SD control animals.
Recovery of Salmonella from water, equipment, and carcasses in turkey processing plants.

Abstract Foodborne salmonellae outbreaks in humans have been associated with consumption of foods of animal origin, including turkey meat. A field study was conducted to determine the incidence of serotypes of Salmonella spp. in turkeys before and after processing, on equipment at different stages during the slaughter operation, and in water used to chill turkey carcasses. Rinse water from turkey carcasses, swabs from equipment, and samples of chill water were cultured by enrichment procedures designed to isolate and identify Salmonella. A total of 868 samples were cultured, and bacteriological results from two different turkey slaughter facilities were compared. Eleven Salmonella serotypes were isolated. Processing Plant 1 had 21.2% positive samples, whereas only 0.4% of samples from Plant 2 yielded Salmonella. There was little correlation between isolation of salmonella from cloacal swabs of turkeys entering the plant and isolation of Salmonella spp. from postchill carcasses. Because sanitation and disinfection procedures at both slaughter facilities were equivalent, it was concluded that the difference in Salmonella isolations between the two facilities was due to the Salmonella status of turkeys delivered to the plants. Reduction of Salmonella on turkey carcasses may require removal of litter and feces from feathers before turkeys enter a processing plant.
The Helix-II epitope: a cautionary tale from a cartilage biomarker based on an invalid collagen sequence.

Summary Objective An apparent database error in the sequence underlying the Helix-II cartilage biomarker immunoassay was investigated at the protein level. Methods and results Tandem mass spectrometry established the peptide sequence ERGETGPP*GPA in human type II collagen, not ERGETGPP*GTS used to generate the antibody for the Helix-II assay. Conclusions Recent reports in which the Helix-II assay was applied to urine or serum as a marker of cartilage collagen degradation need to be re-evaluated since the epitope does not occur in cartilage type II collagen. Based on collagen sequences and Helix-II epitope properties, type III collagen is one of several candidate sources of the cross-reacting signal in body fluids, but not type II collagen. The findings highlight the need for more stringent scrutiny of the origins and validation of molecular markers in body fluid assays in general.
Fatal exsanguination from hemodialysis vascular access sites

Exsanguination from hemodialysis vascular sites may cause a rapid death. Due to extensive blood loss at the scene, investigators may initially suspect a homicide or suicide. We reviewed 100 deaths due to hemorrhage from hemodialysis shunt sites. The majority (81%) of these hemorrhages occurred at home and 44% subsequently died at home. Recognition of this medical complication at the scene is important to prevent the dispatch of the crime scene or homicide unit. In these instances, the common causes of kidney failure included hypertensive cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The manners of death were certified as therapeutic complication (93%), accident (5%), and suicide (2%). These fatal shunt hemorrhages are rapid and large due to their superficial subcutaneous locations and elevated shunt pressures from the arterial-venous anastamosis. The cause of death statement must include the proximate cause of death, which is usually the disease that resulted in kidney failure, if it is known.
Mechanical properties of aluminum matrix composites reinforced with sintered ferrous compacts

The current investigation involves fabrication and characterization of squeeze-cast aluminum metal matrix composites reinforced with sintered metal compacts. Four types of metallic powder compacts were used: plain carbon steel, 409 stainless steel, A6 tool steel, and a wear-resistant stainless steel. All the composites were cast under the same nominal conditions, but only the plain carbon steel-reinforced composites contained a significant amount of reaction phase. When tested in tension, the composites exhibited very limited ductility, with the exception of the 409 stainless steel-reinforced composites. The higher ductility demonstrated by these composites is attributed to the high relative density of the reinforcing compact and the low amount of reaction phase formed. When tested in compression, the 0.2% offset yield strength of the composites were observed to correlate directly with the microhardness measured on the reinforcement particles within the composite.
Recent insights into the pathogenesis and management of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Purpose of review To identify and critique the most recent experimental findings regarding the pathogenesis and therapy of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. Recent findings Much of the recent work in this field has focused on identifying genetic alterations associated with the phenotypes of Graves' disease and thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy and investigating their functional consequences. Identified candidate genes include CD40, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, protein tyrosine phosphatase-22, human leukocyte antigen-major histocompatibility complex and those associated with the X-chromosome. Efforts to generate a complete rodent model of Graves' disease continue with little progress. These uniformly involve the immunization of animals with the thyrotropin receptor. Studies conducted in vitro have focused on the actions of cytokines in orbital fibroblasts, the potential role of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor and activating antibodies directed against it as a fibroblast and T cell activation pathway. Reports continue to appear examining the potential relationship between the thyrotropin receptor and orbital adipogenesis. Regarding therapy for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, small molecules and antibodies disrupting cytokine pathways and lymphocyte function are currently under examination and have yielded promising albeit preliminary results. Summary Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy remains a vexing medical problem, the pathogenesis of which remains uncertain. A number of obstacles continue to plague major advances, not least of which is the absence of a robust animal model. A few new insights seem to represent departure from traditional thinking about this disease and may herald important innovation.
Eddy covariance network design for mapping and quantification of surface CO2 leakage fluxes

Abstract We develop a method to design an eddy covariance (EC) network to enhance monitoring of the spatial distribution and magnitude of a surface CO 2 flux leakage signal. Integrated and distributed estimates of CO 2 surface flux inferred using the network are used to assess trade-offs between number and location of stations, and the determination of the surface flux distribution. We applied this method to a surface CO 2 flux leakage signal generated by a controlled CO 2 release conducted in the shallow subsurface in Bozeman, MT. At this site, three EC stations provide definition of the spatial distribution of this CO 2 leakage signal, and quantify total CO 2 leakage discharge. Results provide a means of designing experiments to map the spatio-temporal distribution of CO 2 leakage fluxes and quantify total leakage rate in areas where a priori information may be used to infer likely scenarios for surface flux distributions.
Prospective study of metabolic abnormalities in patient with continent kock pouch urinary diversion

Metabolic alterations as a result of bowel being employed in the urinary tract are well documented. To investigate this phenomenon in the continent ileal reservoir urinary diversion, 106 patients who had undergone Kock pouch surgery were followed in a prospective study at the University of Southern California between 1985 and 1987. Serum chemistries and urine osmolality determinations were performed approximately every three months for a year. Mean patient values for each time period were then compiled and compared with the norms and with the preoperative values. The mean serum electrolyte values were found to be within normal limits during all follow-up periods. Fourteen patients were identified, however, as having values falling intermittently outside of the normal range. These patients were investigated and found to be abnormal during episodes of acute renal failure usually secondary to dehydration or obstruction at which time they usually became acidotic and occasionally hyperchloremic. These problems disappeared when the renal failure was corrected. This study corroborated our previously reported findings that hyperchloremic acidosis or other metabolic alterations requiring replacement therapy do not routinely occur in this population.
Lipid II: total synthesis of the bacterial cell wall precursor and utilization as a substrate for glycosyltransfer and transpeptidation by penicillin binding protein (PBP) 1b of Escherichia coli.

An essential feature in the life cycle of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria is the production of new cell wall. Also known as murein, the cell wall is a two-dimensional polymer, consisting of a linear, repeating N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) motif, cross-linked via peptides appended to MurNAc. The final steps in the maturation of murein are catalyzed by a single, bifunctional enzyme, known as a high MW, class A penicillin binding protein (PBP). PBPs catalyze polymerization of the sugar units (glycosyltransfer), as well as peptide cross-linking (transpeptidation) utilizing Lipid II as substrate. Detailed enzymology on this enzyme has been limited, due to diffculties in obtaining sufficient amounts of Lipid II, as well as the availability of a convenient and informative assay. We report the total chemical synthesis of Lipid II, as well as the development of an appropriate assay system and the observation of both catalytic transformations.
Atlantic Seasonal Hurricane Frequency. Part I: El Niño and 30 mb Quasi-Biennial Oscillation Influences

Abstract This is the first of two papers on Atlantic seasonal hurricane frequency. In this paper, seasonal hurricane frequency as related to E1 Nino events during 1900–82 and to the equatorial Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) of stratospheric zonal wind from 1950 to 1982 is discussed. It is shown that a substantial negative correlation is typically present between the seasonal number of hurricanes, hurricane days and tropical storms, and moderate or strong (15 cases) El Nin off the South American west coast. A similar negative anomaly in hurricane activity occurs when equatorial winds at 30 mb are from an easterly direction and/or are becoming more easterly with time during the hurricane season. This association of Atlantic hurricane activity with El Nino can also be made with the Southern Oscillation Index. By contrast, seasonal hurricane frequency is slightly above normal in non-El Nino years and substantially above normal when equatorial stratospheric winds blow from a westerly direction and/or are bec...
Four-million-frame/s CMOS image sensor prototype with on-focal-plane 64-frame storage

An image sensor acquisition and readout circuit prototype, capable of 4 to 10 million frames/s and 79 dB (13 bits), RMS, dynamic range has been fabricated and tested. The 0.35 μm CMOS chip tests sensor and readout circuitry intended for applications such as accelerator-based radiography, where fast, brief, transient events can be captured with high resolution. It exhibits a unique combination of extremely high speeds and very wide dynamic range, as well as 64-frame analog storage on the focal plane array (FPA). Each pixel includes either a charge-integrating trans-impedance amplifier or a direct-integration source-follower front end, followed by an array of 64 sample capacitors and associated readout electronics. Flexible operation capabilities allows the acquisition of either 32 frames using correlated double sampling (CDS) at 4 M-frames/s, or 64 frames without CDS at 7 M-frames/s without any reduction in gain. Allowing a -3dB gain reduction, frame rates as high as 10.5 MHz can be achieved. CDS is performed by acquiring two samples per frame, one immediately after reset and one at the end of the integration period, followed by external subtraction of the two samples. Two samples at a time are read out in parallel when CDS is not required. A 200 by 200 μm pixel is implemented in order to mate an extended version to an existing back-illuminated hybrid photo-diode FPA.
Health Education as an Arena for Adult Educators' Engagement in Social Justice.

This chapter addresses the ways that health can be a social justice issue and how adult educators can work towards social justice, either alone or collaboratively with health professionals.
Update on screening for type 2 diabetes. The why, who, how, and what of testing and diagnosing.

PREVIEWDiabetes mellitus, a leading cause of death in the United States, remains undiagnosed in more than 5 million people. While screening for this disease is key to reducing its complications, morbidity and mortality, the recommendations for identifying and testing at-risk populations are debatable. This article summarizes the competing guidelines for screening for type 2 diabetes and offers insight on the different diagnostic methods and tools available.
Energy Requirements during First Two Years of Life Based on Measurements of Energy Expenditure and Growth

Energy Requirements during First Two Years of Life Based on Measurements of Energy Expenditure and Growth
Influenza Fusion Peptide and Transmembrane Domain Interaction Induces Distinct Domains in Lipid Bilayers

Viral glycoproteins, such as influenza HA2 and HIV gp41, are anchored by a single helical segment transmembrane domain (TMD) on the viral envelope membrane. The function of the TMD's is still unclear, but it is speculated to be involved in the final steps of membrane fusion. The interactions between the influenza HA fusion peptide (FP) and the TMD, as well as the HIV gp41 FP and TMD have previously been shown. We found that the FP or TMD alone perturbs membrane structure. We hypothesized that the FP-TMD interaction will further change the membrane structure which provides a driving force for the fusion between the inner membranes. We used PC spin labels DPPTC (on the head group), 5PC and 14PC (5-C and 14-C positions on the acyl chain) to detect the perturbation by titrating the FP to TMD-reconstituted POPC/POPG/Chol lipid bilayers by ESR. We found that the FP increases the lipid order in all positions. In addition to the increase of lipid order, multiple components are found for 5PC when the concentration of FP increases, indicating that distinct domains are induced. The FP or TMD alone does not induce this change. Therefore, this domain formation should be an effect of FP-TMD interaction. Although HA-mediated membrane fusion is pH dependent, the domain formation is observed at both pH5 and pH7. The mutations on TMD do not affect the domain formation. However, the deletion of G1 in the FP eliminates all perturbations. We conclude that the influenza FP-TMD interaction induces distinct domains in the lipid bilayers, which is pH independent but relies on the glycine ridge in the N-terminal helix of the FP. We are extending our research on ITC and ESR on spin-labeled peptides to further characterize this interaction.
Need remains for evidence-based reassurance for absence of bilirubin neurotoxicity with severe hyperbilirubinaemia.

Commentary on: Vandborg PK, Hansen BM, Greisen G, et al. Follow-up of neonates with total serum bilirubin levels ≥ 25 mg/dL: a Danish population-based study. Pediatrics 2012;130:61–6.[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Bilirubin-induced neurological dysfunction and its contextual relationship to severity of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia has been a subject of long-standing debate. Vandborg and colleagues report no evidence of developmental delay, using a parent-centred ‘Ages and Stages Questionnaire’ (ASQ) survey, for a specific cohort of children (age 1 and 5 years) with antecedent severe hyperbilirubinaemia. This was a controlled descriptive follow-up of 250 047 live-births in Denmark (2004–2007) that is linked through national registries to medical laboratory databases. The review identified 258 infants with severe hyperbilirubinaemia which was defined as at least one measure of total serum bilirubin (TSB) level ≥25 mg/dl (428 μmol/l) during the first 3 weeks after birth. The ASQ method evaluated child development and performance … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPediatrics%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1542%252Fpeds.2011-2760%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22732176%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=pediatrics&resid=130/1/61&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F5%2F189.atom
Future Directions with Angiogenesis Inhibitors in Colorectal Cancer

The recent US Food and Drug Administration's approval of bevacizumab has reinvigorated antiangiogenic research and has moved colorectal cancer to the forefront of study for the most promising drug candidates in this class. Predicting future directions in this field requires a return to the challenges of the past. Antiangiogenic drugs have necessitated new study design paradigms and imaging techniques in the assessment of drug activity and in dose selection. The success of bevacizumab and the promise of vatalanib (PTK787/ZK222584) and the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors also illustrate the importance of these adaptations. A better understanding of the determinants of response to antiangiogenic agents and their mechanisms of action, especially in combination with cytotoxic drugs, is crucial to future drug development.
Performance consideration for the scaling of submicron on-chip interconnections

Effects of long wire RC delay to circuit and system performance are investigated for sub- micron on-chip interconnections corresponding to 0.75 to 0.25 micrometers CMOS technologies. A system performance model based on hypothetic microprocessors, projected from previous generations, is introduced for the performance analysis. From the analysis, it is found that non-scaled upper wiring levels (wide wires) for long global interconnections is the most effective approach to improve system performance with sub-micron-pitch interconnections. It can provide 70% performance improvement over the wide wire approach, which increase only wire width for long interconnections. The fat wire approach, however, requires some technology modifications, as well as one more wiring level than conventional approaches.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cost Trends in Land Grant Colleges and Universities

Thisis a study of the production and cost relationships in the Land Grant Colleges and Universities for the period 1956–57 to 1962–63. The study is based upon financial, enrolment, and employment data as published by the U.S. Office of Education (Lind, 1959–65). The results show few significant changes in the production relations, but rapid increases in factor costs have resulted in great increases in the social costs of educating students. These results are important, both for national educational policy and planning on the level of the individual college or university.
Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Individual Human Blood Cells

The largest human blood cells--the red cells (erythrocytes) and white cells (leukocytes)--must undergo a significant amount of deformation as they squeeze through the smallest vessels of the circulation and the small openings between bone, vessel and tissue. This ability to deform in response to external forces shows that cells exhibit material behavior and behave as either elastic solids or viscous liquids. The question then is "how can we measure the deformation and flow of something as small as a blood cell and what kinds of constitutive equations describe cellular deformation"? In this paper the use of the micropipet to measure red cell and white cell, especially neutrophil, deformation will be described and the viscoelastic models used to describe the deformation behavior of red cell membrane and neutrophil cytoplasm will be discussed. Values for the elasticities of a red cell membrane subjected to shear, area expansion and bending will be given. The viscosity of red cell membrane in shear will also be discussed. Finally, the cortical tension of the neutrophil and the Newtonian and Maxwell models used to characterize its apparent viscosity will be discussed even though neither is wholly successful in describing the viscous behavior of the neutrophil. Thus, alternate models will be suggested.
Sildenafil citrate (viagra) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with Parkinson's disease

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is a phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction. Ten men with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and erectile dysfunction were prescribed 50-100 mg sildenafil citrate to use in eight sexual encounters over a 2-month period. Patients underwent Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) evaluations and completed a Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and a Sexual Health Inventory-M version (SHI-M) at baseline and after 8 weeks. There was statistically significant improvement in total SHI-M scores (23.8 +/- 2.0 vs 16.6 +/- 2.8; p = 0.01), overall sexual satisfaction (p = 0.03), satisfaction with sexual desire (p = 0.04), ability to achieve erection (p = 0.02), ability to maintain erection (p = 0.03), and ability to reach orgasm (p = 0.04) with use of sildenafil citrate. UPDRS and BDI scores were not significantly changed. Side effects included headache in one patient during three sexual encounters. In this open-label study, sildenafil citrate significantly improved sexual function in men with PD and erectile dysfunction.
Line shapes of doppler shifted γ-rays from coincidence and singles spectra in measurements of nuclear lifetimes

Abstract A procedure is described for extracting nuclear lifetimes from the analysis of line shapes of γ-rays from either coincidence or singles spectra obtained from Doppler-shift attenuation experiments. The nuclear and electronic stopping powers in a given slowing down medium are independently adjusted to give the line shape and lifetimes of “standard” Doppler-shifted γ-rays, the lifetimes of which have been determined by other independent methods. The stopping power thus calibrated is then used to determine the lifetimes of other transitions from Doppler-shift attenuation experiments in the same stopping medium. Line shapes are obtained by including the effects (a) of the recoils that escape the target, (b) of the decay of other levels into the state in question, (c) of the γ-or particle-detection angles and their corresponding solid angles, (d) of the integration over the distribution of recoils in the singles experiments including angular correlation effects to a good approximation for angles of observation ≤30° to the beam direction, and (e) of the detector response assumed to be gaussian. Lifetimes are obtained from comparison with experiment using both a line shape fitting technique and the F ( τ ) or centroid-shift technique.
Hyperbolic sets for twist maps

An example is given of an area-preserving monotone twist map such that a uniformly hyperbolic structure exists on the closure of its Birkhoff maximizing orbits.
Survival Time of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus–Free Status after Institutional Clearance

Objective. To determine the durability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)–free status after patients are removed from contact precautions and the association of specific clearance policy variables with survival Design. Retrospective cohort study from October 2007 to April 2013. Setting. Veteran Affairs Boston Healthcare System. Participants. Patients with a prior history of MRSA who were removed from contact precautions after deemed cleared of their MRSA status by infection prevention. Methods. Active nasal screening results and clinical data from acute, long-term, and outpatient care facilities were evaluated to determine survival of MRSA-free status in a time-to-event analysis. Results. A total of 351 unique patients were followed for 107,112 patient-days. The median age was 68 years. Overall, 249 (71%) of patients remained MRSA-free, and 102 (29%) reverted to MRSA positive. The median MRSA-free survival was 880 days. Comorbidities, presence of indwelling devices, and the use of systemic antibiotics at the time of clearance screening were not associated with MRSA-free survival. More than 21,000 days of inpatient isolation days were avoided during the study period. Conclusions. The majority of patients removed from contact precautions remained MRSA-free for more than 2 years. Antibiotic use at the time of clearance was not associated with reductions in MRSA-free survival. These findings can be used to simplify clearance criteria, promote clearance policies, and reduce patient isolation days.
The Pollution Game: A Classroom Game Demonstrating the Relative Effectiveness of Emissions Taxes and Tradable Permits.

This classroom game illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of various regulatory frameworks aimed at internalizing negative externalities from pollution. Specifically, the game divides students into three groups—a government regulatory agency and two polluting firms—and allows them to work through a system of uniform command-and-control regulation, a tradable emissions permit framework, and an emissions tax. Students observe how flexible, market-oriented regulatory frameworks can outperform inflexible command-and-control. More important, given the ongoing debate about how best to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, students also can observe how the introduction of abatement-cost uncertainty can cause one market-oriented solution to outperform another.
Role of acoustic striae in hearing: discrimination of sound-source elevation

After years of systematic experimentation, we finally uncovered one thing the dorsal system contributes to hearing which the ventral system may not -- the mechanism for orienting to an elevated sound source [Sutherland, D.P., Masterton, R.B., Glendenning, K.K. (1998) Behav. Brain Res. in press]. This paper follows up this one positive result on a historical background of uniformly negative results. The focus of this report is on the fusiform cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus whose axons course through the dorsal acoustic stria (DAS). Because electrophysiological studies have shown that the cues for sensing the elevation of a sound source would seem to be best analyzed by the dorsal cochlear nucleus, we tested, behaviorally, normal cats and cats deprived of their DAS or intermediate acoustic stria, bilaterally or ipsilaterally (with or without their contralateral ear deafened), for their ability to orient to elevated sources of broad-band noise. For behavioral testing, we made use of a conventional shock-avoidance procedure. The results lead to the conclusion that DCN and DAS may play no role in learned elevation discriminations. This result builds on that of another of our papers which suggests that a deficit in reflexive discrimination of elevation is strictly auditory in nature [Sutherland, D.P., Masterton, R.B., Glendenning, K.K. (1998) Behav. Brain Res. in press].
Potential natural vegetation and environment: a critique of Kusbach, Shaw & Long

Aims Recent work by Kusbach, Shaw & Long (2015, Applied Vegetation Science 18: 158–168) critiqued a system of potential natural vegetation classification widely employed on coniferous forests of the Rocky Mountains in the US, arguing that the lack of fit by a statistical model of vegetation type to environment suggests that these potential natural vegetation types may not represent basic ecological units of land. The aims of this paper are to (1) critically examine the model of environmental variability employed in their analysis, (2) evaluate the appropriateness of the statistical methods used in their analyses, and (3) demonstrate that despite the limitations in their approach the models actually worked well and refute the conclusions reached by Kusbach, Shaw & Long. Location Interior western USA including Utah, SE Idaho, W Wyoming and Colorado, N Arizona, NW New Mexico and E Nevada. Methods I examined the methods and results presented in Kusbach, Shaw & Long with respect to (1) the suitability of the model of environmental biophysics, (2) the appropriateness of the statistical methods employed, (3) the significance of the results obtained, and (4) the logical validity of the interpretations presented by the authors. I estimated the statistical significance of their predictive model results using a cumulative binomial probability based on the number of sample plots/type and the observed number of correct predictions obtained in their analyses. I estimated the probability of obtaining within-type dispersions in PCA using a Monte Carlo randomization technique. Results The models of environmental biophysics employed in Kusbach, Shaw & Long are poorly developed and inadequate in representing the primary ecological factors structuring the distribution of vegetation in the study region. The statistical model employed assumes that potential natural vegetation types are simply categorical, when in fact they are instances of a multidimensional ordinal variable. The failure to weight errors resulting from the model presents a vastly exaggerated error distribution. However, despite the shortcomings in the model of environmental biophysics and the inappropriate statistical tests, their results are in fact highly significant and argue for conclusions diametrically opposed to those presented by the authors.
Introduction: The History of Prison Sex Research:

The study of prison sexuality began in the early 1900s with a few scant articles discussing the unnatural relationship between women behind bars. Today, the number of manuscripts on all aspects of ...
An analysis of permanent mesiodistal crown size.

Abstract This article refers to the mesiodistal size of the permanent teeth and presents an effective way of locating and analyzing crown-size discrepancies. The analysis proposed contributes to a more complete study of intraoral etiologic factors and a more precise diagnosis and prognosis of the dental problem. It has been illustrated that crown-size patterns differ greatly, even among good occlusions (Figs. 1 and 2). Common to both subjects are the small premolars and molars. Favorable crown-size discrepancies (Fig. 2) usually involve smaller teeth, particularly posterior teeth, which allow flexibility for the self-correction of minor anterior space deficiencies. In contrast, the remaining figures illustrate various crown-size discrepancies and the resulting malocclusions. Irregularities associated with the size disharmonies include (1) crowding of the mandibular incisors, (2) labial displacement of canines, (3) end-to-end premolar relationships, and (4) marked labial inclination of the anterior teeth. The effects on interdigitation of discrepant teeth must be differentiated from the effects of rotations and tipping of the teeth. Fig. 5 shows Class I molar and first premolar relationships; however, there is a tendency toward an end-to-end second premolar relationship because of mesial inclination of the maxillary second premolar. The complexity of interdigitation in orthodontic treatment is emphasized by the theoretical existence of more than 22,000 billion possible combinations of crown-size discrepancies (excluding the third molars).
Resurrector: a tunable object lifetime profiling technique for optimizing real-world programs

Modern object-oriented applications commonly suffer from severe performance problems that need to be optimized away for increased efficiency and user satisfaction. Many existing optimization techniques (such as object pooling and pretenuring) require precise identification of object lifetimes. However, it is particularly challenging to obtain object lifetimes both precisely and efficiently: precise profiling techniques such as Merlin introduce several hundred times slowdown even for small programs while efficient approximation techniques often sacrifice precision and produce less useful lifetime information. This paper presents a tunable profiling technique, called Resurrector, that explores the middle ground between high precision and high efficiency to find the precision-efficiency sweetspot for various livenessbased optimization techniques. Our evaluation shows that Resurrector is both more precise and more efficient than the GC-based approximation, and it is orders-of-magnitude faster than Merlin. To demonstrate Resurrector's usefulness, we have developed client analyses to find allocation sites that create large data structures with disjoint lifetimes. By inspecting program source code and reusing data structures created from these allocation sites, we have achieved significant performance gains. We have also improved the precision of an existing optimization technique using the lifetime information collected by Resurrector.
Neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus: target, mechanism of action, and therapeutic potential

The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) led to a rapid response not only to contain the outbreak but also to identify possible therapeutic interventions, including the generation of human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs). hmAbs may be used therapeutically without the drawbacks of chimeric or animal Abs. Several different methods have been used to generate SARS-CoV specific neutralizing hmAbs including the immunization of transgenic mice, cloning of small chain variable regions from naive and convalescent patients, and the immortalization of convalescent B cells. Irrespective of the techniques used, the majority of hmAbs specifically reacted with the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein and likely prevented receptor binding. However, several hmAbs that can bind to epitopes either within the RBD, located N terminal of the RBD or in the S2 domain, and neutralize the virus with or without inhibiting receptor binding have been identified. Therapeutic utility of hmAbs has been further elucidated through the identification of potential combinations of hmAbs that could neutralize viral variants including escape mutants selected using hmAbs. These results suggest that a cocktail of hmAbs that can bind to unique epitopes and have different mechanisms of action might be of clinical utility against SARS-CoV infection, and indicate that a similar approach may be applied to treat other viral infections.
"Race" Specificity and the Femur/Stature Ratio

This inquiry explores a series of problems related to the femur/stature ratio first raised by Feldesman et al. (1990). In particular, we used a revised data set and a more elaborate research protocol to address questions pertaining to: (1) whether the femur/stature ratios of three quasi-geographic “races” (“Blacks,” “Whites,” “Asians”) are statistically significantly different; (2) whether these are statistically (as opposed to biologically) coherent groups; and (3) whether the “race”-specific ratios are more accurate than the simple generic femur/stature ratio. We used ANOVA, ANOCOVA, post hoc analysis, k-means cluster analysis, linear discriminant functions, and approximate randomization to determine whether the group differences in the ratio were significant, and to assess the coherence of the “racial” groups themselves. We used validation procedures including mean absolute deviation, mean squared error, and Pitman's measure of closeness of a known sample of 798 femur/stature pairs to compare the accuracy of the generic ratio and the group-specific ratios. The results confirmed that the “Black” femur/stature ratio is significantly different from those of “Whites” and “Asians”; however, group coherence was poor, with results barely better than chance. We found that “race”-specific ratios slightly outperform the generic ratio when “race” is certain, but the gains are small for the assumptions required. More significantly, however, we found that when “race” attribution is uncertain or unknown, as in paleoanthropology, the wrong ratio (or the wrong regression equation) performs poorer than the generic femur/stature ratio. As a result, we recommend that researchers continue using the generic femur/stature ratio to estimate stature in pre- and protohistoric populations. An alternative equation, a generic regression, yields even better stature estimates; however, we urge further study before recommending that researchers use this instead of the more thoroughly tested generic femur/stature ratio. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Iron Acquisition from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Siderophores by Human Phagocytes: an Additional Mechanism of Host Defense through Iron Sequestration?

Chelation of iron to iron-binding proteins is a strategy of host defense. Some pathogens counter this via the secretion of low-molecular-weight iron-chelating agents (siderophores). Human phagocytes possess a high-capacity mechanism for iron acquisition from low-molecular-weight iron chelates. Efficient acquisition and sequestration of iron bound to bacterial siderophores by host phagocytes could provide a secondary mechanism to limit microbial access to iron. In the present work we report that human neutrophils, macrophages, and myeloid cell lines can acquire iron from the two Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophores. Analogous to iron acquisition from other low-molecular-weight chelates, iron acquisition from the siderophores is ATP independent, induced by multivalent cationic metals, and unaffected by inhibitors of endocytosis and pinocytosis. In vivo, this process could serve as an additional mechanism of host defense to limit iron availability to invading siderophore-producing microbes.
Disagreements between medical specialty boards and their diplomates.

Medical specialty boards improve the quality and safety of health care, but they can overreach, and their board members express disapproval of board action by petition and through legal action.
Anisometropic Amblyopia: An Easily Overlooked Cause of Visual Loss in Children

Anisometropic amblyopia is a unilateral visual-acuity reduction secondary to suppression of a constantly blurred image in the eye with the greater uncorrected refractive error. The refractive error may be farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), and/or irregular curvature of the cornea (astigmatism). Children with anisometropic amblyopia have good visual acuity in one eye and usually have straight eyes. These factors, combined with peekingfrom under the occluder by the child during visual screening, may allow monocular reduced visual acuity to go undetected. Delay in diagnosis and treatment may result in an irreversible decrease in visual acuity. Other types of amblyopia will be discussed. Two cases are presented to illustrate these points. Suggestions for refining and improving basic screening technique will be made.
USE OF SORBENTS FOR OIL SPILL CLEANUP

Six basic unit operations required to achieve oil removal are being investigated: Sorbent Broadcasting, Oil-Sorbent Harvesting, Oil-Sorbent Separation, Vessel or Platform Configuration, Oil Storage or Disposal, Sorbent Reuse or Disposal. Data developed to date indicate the feasibility or sorbent systems able to effectively and efficiently recover oil floating on the water surface without contribution to solid waste or air pollution problems.
Critical thinking in nursing education and practice as defined in the literature.

Abstract Critical thinking is frequently discussed in nursing education and nursing practice literature. This article presents an analysis of the concept of critical thinking as it applies to nursing, differentiating its use in education and practice literature. Three computerized databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, and EBSCO) were searched for the years 1981 to 2002, using the keywords critical thinking. References were stratified into two 11-year periods (1981–1991, 1992–2002) to identify changes in the concept over time and integration of the concept differentially into nursing education and nursing practice. A random sample of literature from each stratum was coded for definitions, attributes, surrogate terms, referents, antecedents, and consequences of critical thinking. Critical thinking as a nursing concept has matured since its first appearance in the literature. It is well defined and has clear characteristics. However, antecedents and consequences are not well defined, and many consequences are identica...
Management of Osteochondritis Dissecans

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is an acquired condition affecting subchondral bone that manifests as a pathologic spectrum including softening of the overlying articular cartilage with an intact articular surface, early articular cartilage separation, partial detachment of an articular lesion, and osteochondral separation with loose bodies. The etiology of OCD remains speculative; however. repetitive microtrauma is a common association. Nonoperative initial management is indicated for stable lesions in skeletally immature patients given the potential for healing with normal subsequent function and radiographs. Nonoperative treatment options range from “watchful waiting” and activity modification to nonweightbearing and immobilization with trials lasting from 6 to 18 months. Operative treatment is indicated for detached or unstable lesions, adult OCD lesions or juvenile patients approaching epiphyseal closure, and failure of nonoperative management. Surgical options depend on the involved pathology and include drilling, curettage, bone grafting, internal fixation, open or arthroscopic reduction of a loose fragment with internal fixation, fragment removal, autologous or allogeneic osteochondral grafting, and autologous chondrocyte implantation. This chapter is an overview of the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, nonoperative treatment, and operative treatment of OCD of the knee.
The drinking culture of a Nigerian community: Onitsha.

The Onitsha indigenous community living since the mid-17th centmy in one section of a modern Nigerian city, Onitsha, have kept some of their traditional customs in spite of the modernizing forces o...