cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-material matters: A call for integrated assessment of benefits from ecosystems in research and policy

Abstract Systematic assessment of non-material benefits from healthy ecosystems is a critical complement to economic valuations in policy. Several frameworks of increasing nuance and complexity have been proposed to facilitate collection of data on non-material benefits from healthy ecosystems, as well as transmission of these data to policymakers. However, systematic incorporation of such data in policy arenas lags behind the theory. We argue that failure to incorporate data on non-material benefits, and thus failure to account for the full range of values at stake for impacted parties, leaves natural resource policy processes especially vulnerable to partisan influences. We examine a recently published account of conflicting economic benefit-cost analyses and their policy contexts to illustrate opportunities for robust analysis of non-material benefits to strengthen the policy process. Building on this analysis, we call for practical applications, complementing recent theoretical advances, to more comprehensively research the full range of benefits from ecosystems and incorporate such research into policy decisions. Doing so would enhance both the scientific and democratic merit of natural resource policy efforts.
High-sensitivity detection of 4-(3-pyridinylmethylaminocarboxypropyl) phenylthiohydantoins by capillary liquid chromatography-microelectrospray ion trap mass spectrometry.

We describe the separation and detection at the low-femtomole level of 4-(3-pyridinylmethylaminocarboxypropyl) phenylthiohydantoins (311-PTHs) by capillary liquid chromatography–microelectrospray ion trap mass spectrometry. Highest sensitivity was obtained in the multiple-ion monitoring operating mode in which we detected 311-PTHs at the 5-fmol level with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 10. We investigated the fragmentation patterns of the isobaric 311-PTH isoleucine and 311-PTH leucine by electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. The compounds could be differentiated by a fragment ion of mass m/z=366.1 which was specific for the breakdown of 311-PTH leucine, thus allowing for the unambiguous identification of the 311-PTH derivatives of all 20 naturally occurring amino acids by their masses and fragmentation patterns.
Microwave spectrum and structure of the lowest A – internal rotor state of Ar⋅⋅⋅CH3I

Abstract The microwave spectrum of the lowest A-internal rotor state of Ar⋅⋅⋅CH3I has been observed by chirped-pulse and conventional cavity Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Using the observed spectroscopic constants, the system is determined to be an asymmetric rotor with an Ar⋅⋅⋅I distance of 4.1941(14) A, an Ar⋅⋅⋅C distance of 3.874(16) A, and an Ar⋅⋅⋅I–C angle of 66.5(4)°. Additionally, MP2 and M06-2X calculations were performed with MIDI! and SDB-aug-cc-PVTZ basis sets on iodine and a cc-PVTZ basis set on all other atoms. The MP2 calculations gave better agreement with the experimentally determined intermolecular separation, while the M06-2X calculations gave a slightly better result for the angular orientation of the CH3I moiety. MP2 calculations with a 6-311G(d,p) basis set on all atoms were also performed, but were generally not as effective at reproducing the experimentally derived geometry. None of the calculations proved satisfactory for predicting the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants of the iodine. The computed barriers to internal rotation of the methyl group ranged from 8 to 94 cm−1, depending on the method and basis set used.
Apparatus Using Radioactive Probes for Measuring the Vertical Component of Atmospheric Potential Gradient from an Airplane

An apparatus for measuring and recording the atmospheric potential gradient from an aircraft is described. lt consists of two radioactive probes connected through an electromechanical coupling device to a conventional electrometer and recorder. (auth)
The Chinese Ring puzzle, the Crazy Elephant Dance puzzle, the b-Spinout puzzle, and Gray codes

The Chinese Ring puzzle consists of a long loop with a handle on one end and nine rings entwined on the loop (see Figure 1).
Optimal Kalman Consensus Filter for Weighted Directed Graphs

The distributed estimation problem has proven to be a highly relevant topic today, due to its applicability in a wide variety of scenarios that do not accommodate a centralized supervisor. Decentralized algorithms can offer enhanced robustness and resilience to system failures and cyber-attacks. A seminal work on the topic was the development of the Kalman Consensus Filter (KCF), and recently the issue of the suboptimality of the KCF was addressed. However, in the KCF scheme, the sensor network is modeled as an unweighted undirected graph. This fact has been shown to severely degrade performance when certain assumptions on the network topology are not met, such as in the case of limited observability. Subsequent contributions in the field have implemented consensus based filters on directed graphs, but they either employ heuristic choices for the consensus gains or entail the sharing of information matrices between neighbors. In this paper, we address these issues by proposing an optimal distributed state estimation algorithm for weighted directed graphs. The proposed scheme is shown to be more versatile and offers critical performance improvements in scenarios where the KCF performs poorly. Specifically, we highlight the efficacy of the proposed algorithm in the presence of naive sensors, through illustrative numerical examples.
Multidisciplinary Heart Team Approach for Complex Coronary Artery Disease: Single Center Clinical Presentation

Background The Heart Team approach is ascribed a Class I recommendation in contemporary guidelines for revascularization of complex coronary artery disease. However, limited data are available rega...
Immunogenetics of neurological disease

Abstract The study of immune and nervous system traits has been prominent throughout the course of human genetic studies, and the interface of these two disciplines has had a profound effect on our understanding of the pathophysiology of many neurologic diseases. Human genetics has a unique role in biomedical research in that it provides clues to the earliest events related to disease onset. In some cases, a genetic variant can be causal, creating a Mendelian disease; however, most variants have more modest effects and are not deterministic. They increase the likelihood of disease onset. Nonetheless, such variants can be critical in identifying at least some of the myriad of events that contribute to disease susceptibility, answering some fundamental questions such as whether an inflammatory reaction is causal in a neurologic disease or is a response to nervous system dysfunction. Here, we review the state of immunogenetics, an area of intense investigation over the past decade, and use certain neurologic diseases to illustrate how that understanding has contributed to changing our perspective of their pathophysiology, how it has redirected therapeutic development efforts in certain fields, and how it informs the design of future studies and clinical management algorithms.
Pre-operative comparisons for a return to running protocol in recreational athletes following hip arthroscopy

The purpose of the current study was to present pre-operative comparisons for recreational athletes attempting a return to running following hip arthroscopy, and the return to running progression protocol used to guide them. A prospective, non-randomized cohort study was conducted to evaluate recreational athletes that returned to running following hip arthroscopy. Return to running was the primary outcome measure and defined as the ability to run at least one mile three times weekly while maintaining patient-reported relief of pre-operative symptoms. Patients included were correlated with the following pre-operative patient-reported outcome measures: hip outcome score (HOS), 12-item international outcome tool (iHOT-12), visual analog scale for pain (VAS) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Of the 99 included patients, 94 (95%) returned to running successfully with an average return of 4.8 months. There was no statistical difference in pre-operative comparisons between patients that returned to running and did not return to running (P ≥ 0.154). Evaluation of pre-operative clinical outcomes demonstrated no statistical difference between individuals that returned and did not return to running (P ≥ 0.177), but a large difference between the two groups was identified for HOS-ADL (64.8 versus 53.7, returned versus did not return), iHOT-12 (33.8 versus 25.4) and VAS (58.6 versus 69.3). Patients who returned to running demonstrated similar intraoperative procedures as those that did not return to running (P ≥ 0.214). The current study successfully establishes a management plan and progression protocol for patients identifying a return to recreational running following hip arthroscopy. Level of evidence: 3.
Health effects of heat vulnerability in Rio de Janeiro: a validation model for policy applications

Extreme heat events can lead to increased risk of heat-related deaths. Furthermore, urban areas are often hotter than their rural surroundings, exacerbating heat waves. Unfortunately, validation is difficult; to our knowledge, most validations, even if they control for temperatures, really only validate a social vulnerability index instead of a heat vulnerability index. Here we investigate how to construct and validate a heat vulnerability index given uncertainty ranges in data for the city of Rio de Janeiro. First, we compare excess deaths of certain types of circulatory diseases during heat waves. Second, we use demographic and environmental data and factor analysis to construct a set of unobserved factors and respective weightings related to heat vulnerability, including a Monte Carlo analysis to represent the uncertainty ranges assigned to the input data. Finally, we use distance to hospital and clinics and their health record data as an instrumental variable to validate our factors. We find that we can validate the Rio de Janeiro heat vulnerability index against excess deaths during heat waves; specifically, we use three types of regressions coupled with difference in difference calculations to show this is indeed a heat vulnerability index as opposed to a social vulnerability index. The factor analysis identifies two factors that contribute to >70% of the variability in the data; one socio-economic factor and one urban form factor. This suggests it is necessary to add a step to existing methods for validation of heat vulnerability indices, that of the difference-in-difference calculation.
The Administration of Genius: Expertise and the Patent Bargain

This draft workshop paper investigates the role of the patent clerk in the nineteenth century development of the patent system to provide a new history of the foundational metaphor of the patent system, the “patent bargain.” The “patent bargain” refers to the exchange represented by each issued patent, in which the inventor reveals a novel idea in return for a limited-term monopoly to exploit that idea. Today, critiques of the patent system focus on whether the patent bargain is a good deal, that is, whether the economic interests of inventors and the public are served by issued patents. Drawing upon nineteenth-century patent manuals and regulations, the annual reports of the patent office, and case law and statutes, as well as the history of technology and of the early administrative state, this draft resituates the patent bargain as a metaphor explaining the actions of patent bureaucrats when deciding which applications to grant. In a series of nineteenth-century experiments with the operation of the patent system, Congress adopted different approaches to the deployment of expertise within the executive branch in order to best serve the public and private interests at stake in patent applications. Each experiment raised a storm of controversy about the definition and use of expertise within a democratic republic. Deciding what patent clerks ought to be doing required consideration not only of the public interest in patents, but also of the role of the administrative state. The ultimate resolution of these controversies about the administration of genius depended both on the transformation of the patent office into the first modern federal agency and the development of a consensus that the patent bargain appropriately described the task of these executive branch experts.
Simultaneous use of Cs and Rb Rydberg atoms for dipole moment assessment and RF electric field measurements via electromagnetically induced transparency

We demonstrate simultaneous electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) with cesium (Cs) and rubidium (Rb) Rydberg atoms in the same vapor cell with coincident (overlapping) optical fields. Each atomic system can detect radio frequency (RF) electric (E) field strengths through the modification of the EIT signal (Autler-Townes (AT) splitting), which leads to a direct International System of Unit traceable RF E-field measurement. We show that these two systems can detect the same RF E-field strength simultaneously, which provides a direct in situ comparison of Rb and Cs RF measurements in Rydberg atoms. In effect, this allows us to perform two measurements of the same E-field strength, providing a relative comparison of the dipole moments of the two atomic species. This gives two measurements that help rule out systematic effects and uncertainties in this E-field metrology approach, which are important when establishing an international measurement standard for an E-field strength, and is a necessary step for this method to be accepted as a standard calibration technique. We use this approach to measure E-fields at 9.2 GHz, 11.6 GHz, and 13.4 GHz, which correspond to three different atomic states (different principal atomic numbers and angular momentums) for the two atom species.
First principle studies of effects of solute segregation on grain boundary strength in Ni-based alloys

Abstract Thermal annealing or radiation induced segregation of solute and impurity elements to grain boundaries (GBs) in metallic alloys changes GB chemistry and thus can alter the GB cohesive strength. In this work, first principles based density functional theory calculations are conducted to study how the segregation of substitutional solute and impurity elements (Al, C, Cr, Cu, P, Si, Ti, Fe, which are present in Ni-based X-750 alloys) influences the cohesive strength of Σ 3 111 , Σ 3 112 , Σ 5 210 and Σ 5 310 GBs in Ni. It is found that C and P show strong embrittlement potencies while Cr and Ti can strengthen GBs in most cases. Other solute elements, including Si, have mixed but insignificant effects on GB strength. In terms of GB character effect, these solute and impurity elements affect the GB strength of the Σ 5 210 GB most and that of the Σ 3 111 least. Detailed analyses of solute-GB chemical interactions are conducted using electron localization function, charge density map, partial density of states, and Bader charge analysis. The results suggest that the bond type and charge transfer between solutes and Ni atoms at GBs may play important roles on affecting the GB strength. For non-metallic solute elements (C, P, Si), their interstitial forms are also studied but their effects on GB strength are weaker than their substitutional counterparts.
Credible Commitments and the International Criminal Court

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the most comprehensive effort to date to deal with justice, peace and security at the international level. There is a good deal of debate over whether the Court will make any important contribution in this regard, and certainly a dearth of theorizing as to why any state would sacrifice its sovereignty to join. In this paper, we argue that the ICC can be understood as a mechanism to enhance government's ability to make credible commitments to their domestic populations (including their opponents) that they will refrain from atrocities in civil war situations. States that have credible ways to punish potential perpetrators shy away from the court despite their experience with civil conflicts. We also present statistical evidence of tentative moves toward peace for those countries that have experienced civil war, lack domestic accountability mechanisms, and have ratified the ICC statutes. This evidence suggests that the ICC is in fact perceived by parties involved in local conflicts as a way to tie their hands with respect to warfighting tactics, on the condition that they have no credible way domestically to do so. This implies that the ICC does in fact have a useful role to play in budging parties in civil conflict toward peaceful settlements.
A small RNA regulates pprM, a modulator of pleiotropic proteins promoting DNA repair, in Deinococcus radiodurans under ionizing radiation.

Networks of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators are critical for bacterial survival and adaptation to environmental stressors. While transcriptional regulators provide rapid activation and/or repression of a wide-network of genes, post-transcriptional regulators, such as small RNAs (sRNAs), are also important to fine-tune gene expression. However, the mechanisms of sRNAs remain poorly understood, especially in less-studied bacteria. Deinococcus radiodurans is a gram-positive bacterium resistant to extreme levels of ionizing radiation (IR). Although multiple unique regulatory systems (e.g., the Radiation and Desiccation Response (RDR)) have been identified in this organism, the role of post-transcriptional regulators has not been characterized within the IR response. In this study, we have characterized an sRNA, PprS (formerly Dsr2), as a post-transcriptional coordinator of IR recovery in D. radiodurans. PprS showed differential expression specifically under IR and knockdown of PprS resulted in reduced survival and growth under IR, suggesting its importance in regulating post-radiation recovery. We determined a number of potential RNA targets involved in several pathways including translation and DNA repair. Specifically, we confirmed that PprS binds within the coding region to stabilize the pprM (DR_0907) transcript, a RDR modulator. Overall, these results are the first to present an additional layer of sRNA-based control in DNA repair pathways associated with bacterial radioresistance.
How Long Do Legislators Stay In Office

Power law and related distributions, such as the logarithmic distribution, have been found in many data sets, both natural and social. Recently Aidt et al. have claimed that the time in office of sports managers may be captured by a power law distribution. The present paper extends that analysis to legislatures, finding that the distribution of tenure among legislators is captured by the logarithmic distribution.
A lack of relationship between phenothiazine administration to mothers in labor and hyperbilirubinemia of prematurity

Abstract Under the conditions of this study it was not possible to detect any influence of promethiazine or promazine upon the course of hyperbilirubinemia of prematurity.
The process of infection with coliphage T7: V. Shutoff of host RNA synthesis by an early phage function

Abstract Infection of Escherichia coli B with gene 1 defective mutants of coliphage T7 results in inhibition of host mRNA synthesis. Hybridization of pulse-labeled RNA from infected cells to phage and host DNA shows that the kinetics of shutoff of host mRNA are identical in infections with wild-type phage and either amber or temperature-sensitive gene 1 mutants. At low multiplicities of infection, chloramphenicol or puromycin prevent the shut off, indicating a requirement for a phage-coded protein (s). At higher multiplicities, there is a chloramphenicol-independent, multiplicity-dependent inhibition of translation. However, at low multiplicity, translation of preformed lac mRNA is not prevented. Since, under nonpermissive conditions, gene 1 mutants code for only two or three other early proteins in addition to the inactive gene 1 product, one or more of these appear to be a likely candidate for the protein responsible for turning off host mRNA synthesis.
Constrained Kalman Filtering: Additional Results

Summary This paper deals with linear state space modelling subject to general linear constraints on the state vector. The discussion concentrates on four topics: the constrained Kalman filtering versus the recursive restricted least squares estimator; a new proof of the constrained Kalman filtering under a conditional expectation framework; linear constraints under a reduced state space modelling; and state vector prediction under linear constraints. The techniques proposed are illustrated in two real problems. The first problem is related to investment analysis under a dynamic factor model, whereas the second is about making constrained predictions within a GDP benchmarking estimation. Resume Cet article traite des modeles espace-etat sujets aux restrictions lineaires generales sur le vecteur d'etat. La discussion se concentre autour de quatre aspects: le filtrage de Kalman restreint versus l'estimateur de moindres carres restreint recursive; une nouvelle preuve du filtrage de Kalman restreint sous le cadre de l'esperance conditionelle; restrictions lineaires aux modeles espace-etat reduits; et la prediction d'etat sous restrictions lineaires. Les techniques proposees sont illustrees par deux problemes reels. Le premier probleme est concerne par l'analyse d'investissement sous un modele a facteur dynamique, tandis que le second concerne les predictions restreintes dans l'estimation de benchmarking.
Catullus’s Ameana Cycle as Literary Criticism

This paper will reevaluate Catullus’s venom in poems 41 and 43 (the so-called ‘Ameana Cycle’) to show that his attacks on Ameana are in fact veiled criticisms of Mamurra’s loathsome poetry. Catullus’s descriptions of Ameana substantiate this reading: her physical features are disproportionate and ill suited to Roman conceptions of beauty, she is entirely without wit, and despite her patent imperfections, she has no idea how hideous she really is. The use of a poetic mistress in this manner has parallels within the Catullan corpus, and is also referenced in the work of Martial.
COMPARATIVE SENSITIVITY OF LACTATING AND VIRGIN FEMALE RATS TO OZONE-INDUCED PULMONARY INFLAMMATION

AbstractStudies from this laboratory have shown that lactating rats exhibit a greater inflammatory response to inhaled ozone than age-matched nulligravidous or postlactating rats. One factor contributing to this enhanced response by lactating rats is their greater ventilation, which results in a higher inhaled dose rate. In the study reported here, we investigate the concept that lactating rats are predisposed to ozone-induced inflammation, not only because of their higher ventilation but also because of the inherently greater sensitivity of their tissues. We found that the airways of naive, 13-day postpartum lactating Sprague-Dawley rats have significantly greater numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), a higher protein concentration, and a lower concentration of the antioxidant ascorbic acid than do the airways of virgin females. Lactating rats also have a higher PMN concentration in their circulating blood. These differences in the steady state condition of lactating rats, particularly the airw...
Protracted manifestations of acute dependence after a single morphine exposure

Rationale Acute opiate exposure produces a state of dependence in humans and animals, which is revealed by signs and symptoms of withdrawal precipitated by opioid receptor antagonists. The physiological changes that underlie this state of acute dependence develop rapidly and can persist long after the end of chronic opiate exposure.
Exercise and weight management.

Overweight and obesity are major health concerns in the United States; they increase cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and various forms of cancer. Obesity, along with poor diet and physical inactivity, is estimated to be responsible for approximately 300,000 preventable deaths each year in the United States. The cause of obesity is controversial and likely is complex and multifactorial. Societal behavioral components likely play major roles. For a weight loss intervention to be successful, a negative energy balance must be attained. Energy expenditure, in the form of physical activity, is an important part of this formula, but is not sufficient for optimal weight loss. It must be combined with dietary interventions and an overall "healthy lifestyle" approach.
Human Origins and the Origins of Humanity

As long asHomo sapiens was considered to be separated from the rest of the natural world by an unbridgeable if narrow gulf, there was no difficulty in defining, or at least in recognizing, what is «human» and what is not. But with the advent of evolutionary thought came the realization that the concept of humanity lacks any firm definition. While adminitting that any definition of humanness must be essentially intuitive and thus arbitrary, this article examines various innovations in the human fossil and archaeological records and discusses at what point humanness could be said to have been achieved. This task is complicated by the fact that there appears to be no correspondence whatever between biological and cultural innovation.
A novel method for protein quantitation using a competitive binding assay

A method for determining protein concentration in the range of 5 × 10−7 to 1 × 10−4 g protein/ml is described. A polypropylene solid phase is activated to bind proteins by treatment with a glutaraldehyde solution. A competition is then set up between a protein of unknown concentration, and a known quantity of alkaline phosphatase for the reactive sites on the solid phase. After protein binding to the solid phase has occurred, enzyme activity on the solid phase is determined. Enzyme activity varies inversely with the concentration of the competing protein.
Cerebral embryopathy in late first trimester: Possible association with swine influenza vaccine

An infant girl was born with cerebral malformations characterized by developmental arrest late in the first trimester of gestation. These features included persistent pontine flexure, cerebellum developed only around the rhombic lip, failure of migration of inferior olive, absence of basis pontis and of corticospinal and corticopontine tracts, and agenesis of olfactory bulbs. The cerebral cortex was thin and poorly laminated, and primary and secondary sulci had failed to form. The choroid plexus contained vascular malformations, hemorrhages, and infarcts. The leptomeninges contained foci of primitive mes-enchyme. The mother had received an inoculation of swine influenza vaccine six weeks after conception, followed by a 2-week illness. The temporal relation to the timing of the cerebral malformation suggests a teratogenic effect of the vaccine, but may have been coincidental.
The Taiwan strait crisis of 1996: Implications for US security policy

The Taiwan Strait crisis of 1996 was the greatest challenge to Sino‐American relations in several decades. This study examines the crisis and its implications for US security policy. It outlines US policy toward the defense of Taiwan, discusses the US response to Beijing's military intimidation of Taiwan and analyzes several of the major lessons gleaned from the crisis. The paper suggests that, while China's aggressive behavior should not lead to a dramatic shift in the American position toward Taiwan's defense, some modest adjustments in policy may be warranted.
Aligned and Unaligned Coherence: A New Diagnostic Tool

The study of combustion noise from turbofan engines has become important again as the noise from other sources like the fan and jet are reduced. A method has been developed to help identify combustion noise spectra using an aligned and unaligned coherence technique. When used with the well known three signal coherent power method and coherent power method it provides new information by separating tonal information from random process information. Examples are presented showing the underlying tonal structure which is buried under broadband noise and jet noise. The method is applied to data from a Pratt and Whitney PW4098 turbofan engine.
Tungsten nano-tendril growth in the Alcator C-Mod divertor

Growth of tungsten nano-tendrils (?fuzz?) has been observed for the first time in the divertor region of a high-power density tokamak experiment. After 14 consecutive helium L-mode discharges in Alcator C-Mod, the tip of a tungsten Langmuir probe at the outer strike point was fully covered with a layer of nano-tendrils. The thickness of the individual nano-tendrils (50?100?nm) and the depth of the layer (600???150?nm) are consistent with observations from experiments on linear plasma devices. The observation of tungsten fuzz in a tokamak may have important implications for material erosion, dust formation, divertor lifetime and tokamak operations in next-step devices.
Building reliable large-scale distributed systems: when theory meets practice

In a follow-up on the theme of the previous Distributed Computing Column (SIGACT News 40(2), June 2009, pp. 67–95), which dealt with “Cloud Computing”, the current column deals with the tension between theoretical results and practical deployments of large-scale distributed systems. It consists of a single contribution by Lidong Zhou of Microsoft Research Asia, who has experience on both sides of this divide– both in designing distributed algorithms and in building large-scale distributed systems. Many thanks to Lidong for his contribution.
Cyclooligiomerization of Alkynlphosphazenes

Abstract The cyclooligiomerization of the alkynl function in alkynlphosphazenes with various organometallic catalysts has been studied. The cyclization of N3P3F5(C≡CPh) with Fe2(CO)q yields a variety of products including the cyclodimer, cyclopentadienone and a unique cyclotrimer all coordinated to the Fe(CO)3 moiety. The cyclotrimerization of N3P3F5(C≡CPh) with CO2(CO)8 affords a dimetallated asymmetric hexasubstituted benzene derivative, C6(C6H5)3(N3P3F5)3. Due to the sterically hindered nature of the molecule, rotamers derived from restricted rotation about the phosphazene-central arene bond have been observed. Their intratransformations have been examined by VT 19F-NMR. Reactions involving CpCO(CO)2 lead to cyclodimer, cyclotrimer and cyclopentadienone products each coordinated to a CpCo fragment. Other organometallic catalysts capable of tetramerizing and polymerizing alkynlphosphazenes have been investigated.
AHR: making the keratinocytes thick skinned.

Dysregulated signals from the external environment and/or the internal milieu of the skin can lead to pathological conditions such as psoriasis. Di Meglio et al. (2014) show that the environment-responsive transcription factor AhR acts in keratinocytes to suppress psoriatic lesions.
Glancing-angle extended x-ray-absorption fine structure and reflectivity studies of interfacial regions

Glancing-angle extended x-ray-absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and x-ray reflectivity measurements have been made for a Au surface and several Cu/Al interfaces. The Cu/Al samples consisted of 1000 A\r{} Al on Cu, and the measurements demonstrate the potential of these techniques for determining interface structure and morphology. In particular, distinct differences were observed in both the reflectivity and interface EXAFS signals for Cu/Al samples prepared under different conditions. The information obtained on these samples is compared with information obtained by transmission electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and Auger sputter profiling, and excellent agreement is found. The glancing-angle measurements are distorted by anomalous dispersion effects and a simple analytic correction scheme is presented. This correction has been tested on the Au data and found to work well for the entire range of incident angles. For the Cu/Al interfaces the corrections allowed quantitative analysis of the Cu-Al bonding at the interface, and a substantial difference is found for samples prepared under UHV and non-UHV (${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}6}$ Torr) conditions. These glancing-angle techniques offer some unique characteristics and are compared to more standard interface studies.
Effect of Feeding Diets Containing Corn Treated with a Commercial Mold Inhibitor (Myco Curb®) on Broiler-Breeder Performance

Abstract Corn purchased from commercial sources was split at delivery and was left untreated or treated with a commercial mold inhibitor. Feed was prepared from these two lots of corn from within 1 wk to as much as 20 wk after delivery over the course of two experiments. There was evidence of reduced mold growth due to the mold inhibitor, particularly in the second experiment where initial mold populations were higher. Mycotoxins were evident in feed samples, regardless of the corn treatment. There was no significant effect from the treatment of corn on growth, livability, egg production, feed conversion, egg weight, or the eggshell quality of broiler breeders. Treatment of corn with a mold inhibitor significantly increased hatchability of fertile eggs in both experiments. Fertility was also significantly improved in the second experiment. These data suggest that using corn treated with a mold inhibitor results in significantly better hatchability in broiler breeders than untreated corn, although there were no observed differences in the incidence of mycotoxins in the samples taken.
Rabbit liver microsomal lipid peroxidation The effect of lipid on the rate of peroxidation

Abstract Rat and rabbit liver microsomes catalyze an NADPH-cytochrome P -450 reductase-dependent peroxidation of endogenous lipid in the presence of the chelate, ADP-Fe 3+ . Although liver microsomes from both species contain comparable levels of NADPH-cytochrome P -450 reductase and cytochrome P -450, the rate of lipid peroxidation (assayed by malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxide formation) catalyzed by rabbit liver microsomes is only about 40% of that catalyzed by rat liver microsomes. Microsomal lipid peroxidation was reconstituted with liposomes made from extracted microsomal lipid and purified protease-solubilized NADPH-cytochrome P -450 reductase from both rat and rabbit liver microsomes. The results demonstrated that the lower rates of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by rabbit liver microsomes could not be attributed to the specific activity of the reductase. Microsomal lipid from rabbit liver was found to be much less susceptible to lipid peroxidation. This was due to the lower polyunsaturated fatty acid content rather than the presence of antioxidants in rabbit liver microsomal lipid. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of fatty acids lost during microsomal lipid peroxidation revealed that the degree of fatty acid unsaturation correlated well with rates of lipid peroxidation.
Positive immunoselection using antibody-enzyme complexes.

We have developed an immunoselection technique using catalase-anti-catalase complexes coupled to specific antibodies to protect antigen positive target cells from the lethal effects of H2O2. The antibody-enzyme complexes are bound to the target cells through an antibody bridge with specificity for both the complexes and an anti-target cell antibody. In a model system, Thy-1 positive (RL▩1–3) cells were protected by incubation with rabbit anti-brain-associated theta antigen (BAT), sheep anti-rabbit IgG [F(ab)′2] and catalase-anti-catalase complexes. The amount and composition of the complexes adhering to the cells were measured by dual radiolabeling of the catalase and anti-catalase immunoglobulin. This technique provides a means of identifying and isolating large numbers of cells bearing any antigen for which specific antisera are available.
Utility of intra-access pressure monitoring in detecting and correcting venous outlet stenoses prior to thrombosis

Utility of intra-access pressure monitoring in detecting and correcting venous outlet stenoses prior to thrombosis. Vascular access thrombosis is a major problem for hemodialysis patients. Over 7.75 years, we performed intra-access venous pressure monitoring at zero dialyzer blood flow (VP 0 ), correlated VP 0 with access anatomy angiographically, and examined the effect of two levels of stenosis, 50% and >65% luminal diameter reduction (%D) as selection criteria for referral and elective angioplasty or surgical revision upon access outcomes. Summary receiver outcome curves for absolute intra-access pressure (VP 0 ) and intra-access pressure normalized for systemic pressure (VP 0 /systolic BP) were constructed to evaluate sensitivity and specificity and compared to recirculation and duplex color-flow Doppler. Access outcomes included thrombosis, revision, replacement, and angioplasty rates that were normalized per 100 patient years (100 pt-yrs). During the 7.75 year long study period totaling 832 patient-acfcess years of risk, the percentage of prosthetic bridge grafts increased from 65% to 80%. SROC showed better sensitivity for normalized (VP 0 /systolic BP) than absolute intra-access pressure (VP 0 ) in grafts. Recirculation had poor predictive power in prosthetic bridge grafts compared to VP 0 . Predictive power of recirculation was superior to VP 0 in native arteriovenous fistulae. The angioplasty rate correlated inversely with the degree of luminal reduction used as seleetion criterion for referral for angioplasty or surgical revision. A strong inverse relationship between thrombosis rate and the angioplasty rate (R 2 = 0.99) but not between thrombosis rate and the number of angiograms performed (R 2 = 0.39) was noted. A consistent, yet evolving, intensive graft maintenance protocol produced a 70% decrease in the thrombosis rate, a 79% decrease in the access replacement rate, arid an increase in the average age of patent usable vascular accesses from 1.97 to 2.98 years that was associated with a 13-fold increase in the angioplasty rate. We conclude that vascular access monitoring with VP 0 /systolic BP provides excellent selection criteria for angiographic referral. Intervention for stenotic lesions >50%D using angioplasty or surgical revision markedly reduces thrombosis and access replacement rates.
The Use of an Overall F Test to Control Type I Error Rates in Factorial Analyses of Variance: Limitations and Better Strategies

The inflation of Type I error rates caused by the testing of multiple null hypotheses in factorial analyses of variance (ANOVAs) is a problem that is often not recognized in the behavioral sciences. Fletcher, Daw, and Young (1989) described the problem and conducted a limited simulation study to investigate the effectiveness of two strategies to correct the problem: use of an overall F test and use of a Bonferroni adjustment. Unfortunately, two limitations in the design of their simulation led these authors to conclusions about the overall F test that do not hold under all conditions. The present study was designed to overcome these limitations and to provide a more complete evaluation of such strategies. Our results indicated that the overall F test is effective only when all effects in the ANOVA are null. In contrast, the Bonferroni adjustment and recent modifications of the procedure control the Type I error rate regardless of the number of true null hypotheses in the ANOVA.
Superior Colliculus: Some Receptive Field Properties of Bimodally Responsive Cells

Many cells in the intermediate and deep gray layers of the superior colliculus of the cat respond to both auditory and visual stimuli. These cells have similar receptive fields for both modalities and are directionally selective for both modalities, requiring stimuli moving laterally away from the animal. Perhaps cells that integrate auditory and visual information participate in the control of orienting and following responses to stimuli of both modalities.
Protective effect of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid against lipopolysaccharide-induced liver damage in rodents

Abstract Background Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has a deleterious effect on several organs, including the liver, and eventually leads to endotoxic shock and death. LPS-induced hepatotoxicity is characterized by disturbed intracellular redox balance and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, leading to liver injury. We have shown that treatment with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, improves survival in a murine model of LPS-induced shock, but the protective effect of SAHA against liver damage remains unknown. The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanism underlying SAHA action in murine livers. Method Male C57BL/6J mice (6–8 wk), weighing 20–25 g, were randomly divided into three groups: (A) a sham group was given isotonic sodium chloride solution (10 μL/g body weight, intraperitoneal, i.p.) with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; 1 μL/g body weight, i.p.); (B) an LPS group was challenged with LPS (20 mg/kg, i.p.) dissolved in isotonic sodium chloride solution with DMSO; (C) and an LPS plus SAHA group was treated with SAHA (50 mg/kg, i.p.) dissolved in DMSO immediately after injection of LPS (20 mg/kg, i.p.). Mice were anesthetized, and their livers were harvested 6 or 24 h after injection to analyze whether SAHA affected production of ROS and activation of apoptotic proteins in the liver cells of challenged mice. Results SAHA counteracted LPS-induced production of ROS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and nitrite) and reversed an LPS-induced decrease in antioxidant enzyme, glutathione. SAHA also attenuated LPS-induced hepatic apoptosis. Moreover, SAHA inhibited activation of the redox-sensitive kinase, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1, and the mitogen-activated protein kinases, p38 and Jun N-terminal kinase. Conclusions Our data indicate, for the first time, that SAHA is capable of alleviating LPS-induced hepatotoxicity and suggest that a blockade of the upstream events required for apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 action may serve as a new therapeutic option in the treatment of LPS-induced inflammatory conditions.
Precise Infrared Radial Velocimetry with the TripleSpec Exoplanet Discovery Instrument: Current Performance and Results

ABSTRACT The TripleSpec Exoplanet Discovery Instrument (TEDI) is optimized to detect extrasolar planets orbiting mid-to-late M dwarfs using the Doppler technique at infrared wavelengths. TEDI is the combination of a Michelsoninterferometer and a moderate-resolution near-infrared spectrograph, TripleSpec, mounted on the Cassegrainfocus of the Palomar 200-inch Hale Telescope. Here we present results from observations of a radial velocitystandard star and a laboratory source over the past year. Our results indicate that focus eects within theinterferometer, combined with non-common-path errors between the ThAr calibration source and starlight, limitour performance to several 100 m/s. An upgraded version of TEDI, TEDI 2.0, will eliminate this behavior bymixing ThAr with starlight in a scrambled ber before a redesigned interferometer with minimal focal eects.Keywords: Extrasolar Planets, Radial Velocity, Infrared Astronomy 1. MOTIVATION Eciently attaining 1 m/s of radial velocity (RV) precision with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy enables thefollowing: (1) detection of potentially-habitable Earth-mass and larger exoplanets orbiting nearby mid-to-lateM dwarf stars too faint for visible radial velocimetry, (2) expansion of the number of early M dwarfs targetableby visible RV surveys to those at greater distances increasing the yield of detected potentially-habitable planets,(3) verication and mass-measurement of exoplanet transit candidates observed to transit such M dwarfs, (4)detection of exoplanets around active stars and young stars with too much visible RV jitter,
Evaluation of creatinine-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate in a large cohort of living kidney donors.

Background. Accurate determination of kidney function is critical in the evaluation of living kidney donors and higher donor glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is associated with better allograft outcomes. However, among transplant centers donor kidney function evaluation varies widely. Methods. The performance of creatinine clearance (CrCl), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), the re-expressed MDRD equations with standardized creatinine, and the Cockcroft-Gault (CG) formula as compared with 125 I-iothalamate GFR (iGFR) was analyzed in 423 donors. All methods of GFR measurement were then evaluated for their association with graft function at 1 year. Results. The MDRD and re-expressed MDRD equations underestimated iGFR whereas CG showed minimal bias (median difference=-11.0,-16.3, and -0.5 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively). CrCl overestimated iGFR (10 mL/min/ 1.73 m 2 ). The MDRD, re-expressed MDRD, and CG formulas were more accurate (88%, 86%, and 88% of estimates within 30% of iGFR, respectively) than CrCl (80% within 30% of iGFR). Interestingly, low bias and high accuracy were achieved by averaging the MDRD estimation with the CrCl result; both methods available to the clinician in most transplant centers. We also showed that predonation GFR as measured by isotopic renal clearance or any of the creatinine-based estimation formulas may be associated with allograft function at 1 year, whereas the widely used CrCl was not. Conclusions. Variable performance was seen among different GFR estimations, with CrCl being the poorest. Recent recommendations to use the MDRD equation with standardized serum creatinine did not improve its performance. However, recognizing the limited availability of GFR laboratories, these methods are still clinically useful if used with caution and understanding their limitations.
EVALUATION OF VARIOUS FIRE RETARDANTS FOR USE IN WOOD FLOUR-POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

Abstract Wood–plastic composites represent a growing class of materials used by the residential construction industry and the furniture industry. For some applications in these industries, the fire performance of the material must be known, and in some cases improved. However, the fire performance of wood–plastic composites is not well understood, and there is little information regarding the effectiveness of various fire retardants in the public domain. We used oxygen index and cone calorimeter tests to characterize the fire performance of wood flour–polyethylene composites, and compared the results with unfilled polyethylene and solid wood. We then evaluated the effect of five additive-type fire retardants on fire performance. Generally, magnesium hydroxide and ammonium polyphosphate improved the fire performance of WPCs the most while a bromine-based fire retardant and zinc borate improved fire performance the least.