cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Book Review: Without Apology: Sermons for Christ's Church

Without Apology: Sermons for Christ's Church. By Stanley Hauerwas. New York: Seabury Books, 2013. 208 pp. $18.00 (paper).In his Without Apology: Sermons for Christ's Church, we find renowned theological ethicist Stanley Hauerwas in an unusual, yet familiar place. This book is a collection of sermons and other popular writings. As such, it is a departure from Hauerwas s more academic work. Yet, many of the themes and positions that he develops therein are quite familiar to those who are even remotely acquainted with his thought. The result is twofold: we get interesting pieces that are more practical in nature, while also being treated to an accessible way to begin to filter through the main themes of Hauerwas s work.Without Apology contains three sections. The first is the introduction, where Hauerwas lays out a theology of preaching. The first move he makes in this theology of preaching is to fight the common presumption that he does not believe in apologetics; rather, he believes he follows Karl Barth in that the best apologetics is a good dogmatics. With this in mind, Hauerwas sees preaching as communicating the difference that exists for how we live and exist when we say that God was in Christ. From this, he does not try to "translate" the gospel into a more accessible language, but to allow the "odd grammar" that is Christian speech help us see the contingency of our existence and how we are to live and be as creatures made in Gods image. The second move that Hauerwas makes in the introduction is to explain why he does not explain. He fights against the critique leveled against him that he does not explain the gospel. He contrasts this by saying these attempts are almost always "about us"; he would rather speak about the Triune God and how God has determined God's relationship to us. Our attempts at controlling the gospel must be broken by seeing our relationships and the whole of our lives in light of God's relationship with us. From this, Hauerwas refuses to "dumb down" sermons, instead opting to allow the Holy Spirit to show up as the Word is rightly proclaimed.The second section of Without Apology is the longest, containing a number of sermons that have been preached in a variety of places, but mostly at his home congregation, Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and at Christ Church Cathedral in Nashville, Tennessee, where he is canon theologian. The main theme that runs throughout Hauerwass sermons is that the way we, as American Christians, often practice our Christianity is at best problematic and at worst unfaithful. …
Differential sorting of constitutively co-secreted proteins in the ovarian follicle cells of Drosophila.

Summary Conventional and freeze-fracture electron microscopy, immuno-electron microscopy of ovarian cryosections and confocal immunofluorescence were used to analyze the ovarian distribution of the major protein classes being secreted by the follicle cells during the vitellogenic and choriogenic stages of Drosophila oogenesis. Our results clearly demonstrated that at vitellogenic stages the follicle cells co-secrete constitutively vitelline membrane and yolk proteins that are either sorted into distinct secretory vesicles or they are segregated in different parts of bipartite vesicles by differential condensation. Following their exocytosis only the vitelline membrane proteins are incorporated into the forming vitelline membrane. The yolk proteins (along with their hemolymph circulating counterparts) diffuse through gaps amongst the incomplete vitelline membrane and are internalized through endocytosis by the oocyte where they are finally stored into modified lysosomes referred to as α-yolk granules. The unexpected immunolocalization of vitelline membrane antigens in the associated body of the α-yolk granules may indicate that this structure is a transient repository for the proteins being internalized into the oocyte along with the yolk proteins. In the early choriogenic follicle cells the vitelline membrane and early chorion proteins were found to be co-secreted and to be evenly intermixed into the same secretory vesicles. These findings illuminate new details concerning the follicle cells secretory and oocyte endocytic pathways and provide for the first time evidence for condensation-mediated sorting of constitutively secreted proteins in Drosophila.
Assessment of Telomere Length, Phenotype, and DNA Content

Telomere sequences at the end of chromosomes control somatic cell division; therefore, telomere length in a given cell population provides information about its replication potential. This unit describes a method for flow cytometric measurement of telomere length in subpopulations using fluorescence in situ hybridization of fluorescently-labeled probes (Flow-FISH) without prior cell separation. After cells are stained for surface immunofluorescence, antigen-antibody complexes are covalently cross-linked onto cell membranes before FISH with a telomere-specific probe. Cells with long telomeres are included as internal standards. Addition of a DNA dye permits exclusion of proliferating cells during data analysis. DNA ploidy measurements of cells of interest and internal standard are performed on separate aliquots in parallel to Flow-FISH. Telomere fluorescence of G0/1 cells of subpopulations and internal standards obtained from Flow-FISH are normalized for DNA ploidy, and telomere length in subsets of interest is expressed as a fraction of the internal standard telomere length. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Stable carbon isotope analysis of nucleic acids to trace sources of dissolved substrates used by estuarine bacteria.

Abstract The natural abundance of stable carbon isotopes measured in bacterial nucleic acids extracted from estuarine bacterial concentrates was used to trace sources of organic matter for bacteria in aquatic environments. The stable carbon isotope ratios of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nucleic acids extracted from cultures resembled those of the carbon source on which bacteria were grown. The carbon isotope discrimination between the substrate and total cell carbon from bacterial cultures averaged 2.3% +/- 0.6% (n = 13). Furthermore, the isotope discrimination between the substrate and nucleic acids extracted from bacterial cultures was 2.4% +/- 0.4% (n = 10), not significantly different from the discrimination between bacteria and the substrate. Estuarine water samples were prefiltered through 1-micron-pore-size cartridge filters. Bacterium-sized particles in the filtrates were concentrated with tangential-flow filtration and centrifugation, and nucleic acids were then extracted from these concentrates. Hybridization with 16S rRNA probes showed that approximately 90% of the nucleic acids extracted on two sample dates were of eubacterial origin. Bacteria and nucleic acids from incubation experiments using estuarine water samples enriched with dissolved organic matter from Spartina alterniflora and Cyclotella caspia had stable carbon isotope values similar to those of the substrate sources. In a survey that compared diverse estuarine environments, stable carbon isotopes of bacteria grown in incubation experiments ranged from -31.9 to -20.5%. The range in isotope values of nucleic acids extracted from indigenous bacteria from the same waters was similar, -27.9 to -20.2%. Generally, the lack of isotope discrimination between bacteria and nucleic acids that was noted in the laboratory was observed in the field.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Boss's “Brains”: Political Capital, Democratic Commerce and the New York Tweed Ring, 1868–1871

Departing from Pierre Bourdieu's contention that capital takes on many forms beyond the economic, including a political form, this article examines how commodification patterned nineteenth century American politics. A case study of the Tweed Ring, which briefly governed Gilded Age New York, is reevaluated as a speculative political bubble that produced empirically identifiable political profits. From an election sweep in 1868 to a bank run in 1871, William Tweed gained and lost political power and material wealth through management of what the editorial cartoonist Thomas Nast hailed as the boss's “Brains,” or democratic commerce, the market in political commodities.
Characteristics of the norepinephrine-stimulated phosphatidylinositol turnover in rat pineal cell dispersions

Dispersed rat pineal cells can be used for the study of the phosphatidylinositol effect. The response to ( - )-norepinephrine of the incorporation of 32Pi into phospholipids is linear with time and cell concentration, stereospecific, and mediated through alpha-1-adrenergic receptors. Na+ in the incubation medium is obligatory for labeling of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine by 32P. In the absence of K+, incorporation of 32P is drastically lowered and no stimulation by norepinephrine occurs. Rb+ can replace K+. Omission of Ca2+ or substitution with Sr2+ preferentially lowers incorporation of radioactivity into phosphatidylcholine. Mg2+ is not required for basal or stimulated labeling.
Prediction of cardiac and pulmonary complications related to elective abdominal and noncardiac thoracic surgery in geriatric patients

Abstract purpose: Major cardiac and pulmonary complications associated with abdominal and noncardiac thoracic surgery are a common cause of mortality and serious morbidity in elderly patients. We postulated that a simple, inexpensive bicycle exercise test could provide objective documentation of cardiopulmonary reserve and, therefore, predict perioperative pulmonary as well as cardiac complications. patients and methods: Prior to elective surgery, 177 patients aged 65 years or older had assessment of the clinical history, results of physical examination, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, blood chemistries, pulmonary function test findings, supine exercise test results, Dripps classification, and Goldman cardiac risk factors. Observations in patients with and without major perioperative cardiac and/or pulmonary complications were compared using univariate analysis followed by a multivariate logistic regression procedure. results: Major perioperative complications were pulmonary in 24 patients, cardiac in 25 patients, and either cardiac or pulmonary in 39 patients. By multivariate analysis, inability to perform two minutes of supine bicycle exercise raising the heart rate above 99 beats/minute was the best predictor of perioperative pulmonary, cardiac, and combined cardiopulmonary complications (p conclusion: Objective measurement of exercise capacity by supine bicycle ergometry appears to be of clinical value for preoperative risk stratification for both pulmonary and cardiac complications prior to major elective abdominal or noncardiac thoracic surgery in elderly patients.
Improving bronchial stump necrosis outcomes with the use of platelet-poor plasma?

DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.1 * Corresponding author. Indianapolis, IN 462 E-mail address: meddoc22@yahoo.com. 0022-4804/$ e see front matter a 2014 Elsev http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.02.046 Despite many advances and modifications in surgical technique, the development of postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF) following pulmonary resection remains a dreaded complication. Morbidity and mortality following BPF development can be exceptionally high [1,2]. Consequently, renewed efforts are being directed toward preemptive strategies to minimize the risk of BPF formation. Although several proposed risk factors have been identified, necrosis and/or the presence of vascular ischemia following surgery seems to play a prominent role in the development of BPFs [3,4]. Consequently, attention has focused on the intracellular milieu and role of cytokines, growth factors, and local hemostatic mechanisms in tissue necrosis and wound healing. The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been utilizedwith growing success in a number of clinical applications [5e7]. From these studies, PRP appears to play a crucial role in modulating local wound inflammation, hemostasis, and tissue remodeling. Paradoxically, in contrast to these studies, in a paper recently published in the Journal of Surgical Research, Santana-Rodriguez et al. reported a significant decrease in bronchial stump necrosis using local application of plateletpoor plasma (PPP) following pneumonectomy [8]. Whereas
Work function in field emission — the (110) plane of tungsten

Abstract Field emission for the (110) plane of field evaporated and thermally annealed tungsten has been restudied with particular reference to the significance of interpretation of the work function. It is concluded that the results obtained in field emission are consistent with results from non-field emission methods where the important variable of the local field is adequately considered. Possible contribution of other factors to measurement of the clean surface work function is also discussed.
The vacuum of lattice quantum chromodynamics in the large- N limit

Abstract The equations that determine the lowest energy configuration of a non-abelian gauge theory on a spatial lattice in the large- N limit are derived. In a simplified model these equations are explicitly solved. The solution exhibits the well-known large- N phase transition.
Sesquiterpene emissions from loblolly pine and their potential contribution to biogenic aerosol formation in the Southeastern US

Abstract Sesquiterpene (SQT) and montoterpene (MT) emissions from loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) were studied by branch enclosure experiments at Duke Forest in Chapel Hill, NC. Four SQT ( β -caryophyllene, α -bergamotene, α -humulene, β -farnesene), five MT ( α -pinene, β -pinene, β -myrcene, β -phellandrene, limonene), and the oxygenated MT linalool were identified. Emission rates of both compound classes increased exponentially with temperature, albeit SQT temperature coefficients (0.12–0.18 K −1 ) were higher than for MT (0.068–0.15 K −1 ), resulting in an increased contribution of SQT to the overall biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) flux during warm temperature conditions. The highly correlated variables of light and temperature conditions preclude a rigorous characterization of their individual roles in driving these emissions. However, the observations indicate that there may be both temperature-only and temperature/light-dependent components contributing to SQT emission variations. When normalized to 30 °C using the best-fit temperature algorithm, total SQT basal emission rate was 450 ng g −1 h −1 . The potential contribution of SQT from all pine trees (based on the loblolly pine emission factors) to secondary, biogenic organic aerosol in 12 southeastern US states was estimated to be 7×10 6 kg for the month of September which constitutes an appreciable portion of the overall PM 2.5 emission budget.
The MINOS Magnets

The MINOS long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment will consists of two magnetized tracking calorimeters one on the Fermilab site and one in Minnesota. This paper summarizes the design, magnetic performance, and status of the MINOS magnets.
Plant-specific expression of antipredator behaviour by larval damselflies.

In this study of interactions between larval damselflies (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) and pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) we focus on the behaviour of the damselfly prey. First we document a prey behaviour in which damselflies use plant stems or leaves to hide from pumpkinseeds. We then test two hypotheses: (1) that damselfly ‘hiding’ is a specific antipredator behaviour and (2) that ‘hiding’ occurs more frequently in plant habitats where damselflies experience greater risk of predation. Since plant species growth forms can influence predation risk, our second hypothesis implies that hiding behaviour is conditional upon the type of vegetation providing habitat structure. Conditional expression of antipredator behaviour according to vegetation type may be important in littoral environments, since predator-prey interactions can occur in habitats with a wide range of macrophyte growth forms. The first hypothesis was supported by our findings that damselfly hiding increased in frequency in the presence of pumpkinseeds, that it was related to the frequency of predator approaches, and that its use reduced damselfly predation risk in high risk habitats. The second hypothesis was supported by our results that damselfly hiding rates were greater in the high risk Scirpus habitats than in the lower risk Potamogeton habitats. These results indicate that prey behaviour can influence predator-prey interactions, and that variation in plant growth form can influence prey behaviour, thus contributing to the impact of habitat structure on predator-prey dynamics.
Additive and synergistic inhibition of mammalian microsomal enzyme functions by piperonyl butoxide, safrole and other methylenedioxyphenyl derivatives.

Piperonylbutoxyd, Methylendioxylanilin, Methyleugenol, Safranol und Vanillylamin bewirken eine additive Hemmung der Funktion mikrosomaler Enzyme in Mausen, wenn sie zusammen in Dosen verabreicht werden, die einzeln inaktiv sind. Piperonylbutoxyd und Safranol induzieren synergistisch die Hemmung von Aminopyrenedemethylase-Aktivitat. Es erfolgte keine synergistische Hemmung nach kombinierter Behandlung mit Pib. und hohen Dosen der strukturell verwandten, aber inaktiven Piperonylsaure.
Research into Theory into Practice: An Overview of Family Based Interventions for Child Antisocial Behavior Developed at the Oregon Social Learning Center

Although many psychotherapeutic approaches exist for treating troubled children and their families, not all have been evaluated to be effective through research. Moreover, among those that have been determined to be "evidence-based," few have followed as coherent and rigorous a path of rigorous scientific investigation as the interventions that have been developed at the Oregon Social Learning Center. As such, these interventions serve as a model of "research to theory to practice" that may not only be employed to support families with children in need of treatment, but may also guide other programs of treatment development. This is the story of how this work has unfolded over the past four decades.
Olfactory sensitivity of the herbivorous grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, to amino acids

The olfactory sensitivity of a herbivore, the grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, to ten amino acids was investigated using electrophysiological recording techniques. Underwater electroolfactogram recordings increased exponentially with logarithmic increases of stimulus concentration from threshold to 1 × 10−3 m. Calculated detection thresholds ranged from 1 × 10−7.15 m to 1 × 10−8.7 M and are similar to those previously reported for carnivorous fish species. The relative stimulatory efficacy (RSE) of the ten amino acids determined at 1 × 10−4 M revealed five groups of stimuli, with cysteine the most stimulatory and proline the least. Measures of amino acid RSE did not differ significantly from those of previously studied carnivores, except for arginine. Grass carp showed strong responses to this compound, whereas it has produced only limited responses in carnivores. Differences in the responsiveness of herbivores and carnivores were not observed, suggesting that feeding niche segregation is probably not facilitated by differential olfactory sensitivities to feeding stimuli.
Strategic Placement of Phasor Measurements for Parameter Error Identification

Previous work on parameter error identification based on normalized Lagrange multipliers has shown that the errors in parameters of branches constituting single- or double-edge cutsets could not be detected or identified without incorporating phasor measurements. In order to address this deficiency, a computationally efficient algorithm has been developed to identify all such cutsets and documented in a recent paper. This paper builds on that work and formulates a strategic phasor measurement placement problem whose objective is to ensure detectability and identifiability of all network parameters in a given system. A practical solution is developed for this problem and simulation results for IEEE 14-, 30- and 57-bus test systems are provided to illustrate its implementation.
Water descent: A simple, effective technique for avoidance learning in hamsters

Within 50 acquisition trials, four male and four female hamsters learned to avoid falling into a container of water by exiting a startbox within 10 sec of the onset of a compound stimulus composed of an auditory (buzzer) and a visual (light) element. During 30 CS effectiveness trials, four animals were assigned to a group receiving either the auditory or the visual stimulus. Finally, 30 extinction trials were given. The water descent led to quick and effective avoidance learning, and the auditory cue was the more potent stimulus in avoidance performance. Extinction gradually occurred.
A randomized controlled trial of acupuncture in stable ischemic heart disease patients.

Background Heart rate variability (HRV) is reduced in stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD) patients and is associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). We evaluated the impact of traditional acupuncture (TA) on cardiac autonomic function measured by HRV in SIHD patients.
Critique of Sikkink and Keane's comparison of surface fuel sampling techniques

The 2008 paper of Sikkink and Keane compared several methods to estimate surface fuel loading in western Montana: two widely used inventory techniques (planar intersect and fixed-area plot) and three methods that employ photographs as visual guides (photoload, photoload macroplot and photo series). We feel, however, that their study design was inadequate to evaluate the accuracy of these methods when measured against a series of reference sites. Incorrect use may have contributed to the authors' inferences that the photo series method was the least accurate in this case. Furthermore, sampling efficiency was not adequately taken into account when evaluating overall efficacy of the five methods studied.
The effects of opioids on the lung

The term opioid refers to a broad class of medications that are used most frequently for their analgesic effects. Along with this effect, they also produce euphoria, and it is for this reason that they have been used illicitly, as well as medicinally, for thousands of years. While the most well-known complications of opioid use and misuse include respiratory and central nervous system depression, there are many other toxicities that have been associated with these drugs. Many complications can occur with multiple different opioids, such as non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, while many of the complications are unique to the opioid used as well as the route of administration. This review focuses on the pulmonary complications associated with opioid use and abuse, but opioids can affect nearly every organ system. Their effects on the pulmonary system can be direct, such as causing granulomatous change, but they can also work indirectly. For example, opioids cause respiratory depression by decreasing sensitivity of peripheral chemoreceptors to carbon dioxide and decreasing activity in the central respiratory centers. Opioids have also been reported to affect the immune system, and place users at increased risk for many different infectious complications. Patients can have a wide array of signs and symptoms, sometimes making it difficult to recognize opioids as a cause for a patient's clinical picture. Due to the sedative effects of opioids, patients are also often not able to provide a reliable history. Knowledge of the possible toxicities of opioids can help prepare a physician to recognize the many complications associated with opioid use.
Efficient Reduction of Aromatic Bis-Imides to Their Amine Derivatives

Abstract Excellent yields greater than 85% per carbonyl group were obtained during the reduction of aromatic bis-imides to the corresponding bis-amines with BH3-THF complex.
Minitrack Summary: Using Information: New Technologies, Ways & Means

As the quantity of digital information rises, so have the number and variety of tools to route, access, differentiate, label, assess, structure, synthesize, manage, and route it. Digital tools are not as expensive as they once were, and much of the experimentation with these tools is done by young people focused on exploring and understanding the world. They will bring their skills and knowledge of when, where, and how to use these tools. With digital infrastructures in place, this can happen more quickly than in the past.
Resolution Limit of an IR Interferometer

A physical method for determining the resolution limit of an interferometer is based on the Fourier comparison of a fixed frequency oscillator with the modulated frequency of a He-Ne reference laser. This technique replaces the usual gas measurement for most calibrations.
Pathogenesis and management of adult-onset Still's disease.

Objective To review recent literature regarding the pathogenesis and treatment of adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). Methods We searched MEDLINE and PUBMED from 1971 to present using the following terms: adult-onset Still’s disease, AOSD, or adult Still’s disease. In addition we manually retrieved relevant abstracts from recent American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism meetings. Results The etiology of AOSD, a rare, immune-mediated, multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by quotidian spiking fevers, evanescent rash, and arthritis, remains unknown. An infectious etiology has been postulated, although a definitive agent has yet to be identified. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α, are elevated in patients with AOSD. IL-18 and macrophage-colony stimulating factor also seem to play a role. Treatment historically consisted of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, often in combination with low-dose corticosteroids. Immunosuppressants (mainly methotrexate, but also intramuscular gold, azathioprine, cyclosporine A, leflunomide, and cyclophosphamide) and intravenous gamma-globulin are efficacious and have been used as steroid-sparing drugs. The recently reported use of anticytokine (anti-TNF-α, anti-IL-1, and anti-IL-6) agents in refractory cases has opened new horizons in the treatment of AOSD and provided important clues for its pathophysiology. Conclusions Advances in immunology have enhanced our understanding of the role of cytokines in AOSD pathogenesis. Early, promising studies of anticytokine agents in AOSD may provide further insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms of this complex disease.
Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Recording

Cardiac rhythm abnormalities are common. Although many arrhythmias are not harmful, some can cause symptoms and be a signal for potential cardiac arrest or stroke. Thus, the detection and quantification of these arrhythmias are important, especially for patients who have structural heart disease caused by an event such as a prior heart attack. Arrhythmias are frequently limited in duration and occurrence and cannot be detected during physical examination and routine electrocardiography (ECG) because these procedures permit only a few seconds of observation. To diagnose arrhythmias and to assess their relationship to patient symptoms, or to assess the effectiveness of an intervention to suppress them, longer periods of ECG recording are required while the patient is pursuing his or her normal routine. In this paper, we review the techniques and the clinical situations in which ambulatory ECG recordings are indicated. The most commonly used method of extended ECG recording is a Holter monitor (named for its inventor, Norman Holter) that uses a conventional tape recorder or solid-state storage system for acquiring ECG information that is later processed and displayed for physician review (Figure). Traditionally, these recordings are carried out for 24 to 48 hours via leads placed on the chest to yield 2 or 3 channels of ECG data. The patient is instructed to keep a diary of symptoms and to note the time on the Holter clock when the symptoms occur for later correlation to ECG abnormalities. For example, if the patient has a dizzy spell or rapid heart rhythm during the recording, the physician can determine if an arrhythmia, either fast or slow, was or …
Associations between inflammation and cognitive function in African Americans and European Americans

Objectives: To examine associations between specific inflammatory biomarkers and cognitive function in African Americans (AAs) and European Americans (EAs) with prevalent vascular risk factors. Design: Cross-sectional analysis using generalized estimating equations to account for familial clustering; standardized β-coefficients, adjusted for age, sex, and education are reported. Setting: Community cohort study in Jackson, Mississippi, and Rochester, Minnesota. Participants: Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA)–Genetics of Microangiopathic Brain Injury (GMBI) Study participants. Measurements: Associations between inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 and 2 (sTNFR1, sTNFR2)) and cognitive function (global, processing speed, language, memory, and executive function) were examined in AAs and EAs (N = 1,965; aged 26–95, 64% women, 52% AA, 75% with hypertension). Results: In AAs, higher sTNFR2 was associated with poorer cognition in all domains (global: −0.11, P = .009; processing speed: −0.11, P < .001; language: −0.08, P = .002; memory: −0.09, P = .008; executive function: −0.07, P = .03); sTNFR1 was associated with slower processing speed (−0.08, P < .001) and poorer executive function (−0.08, P = .008); higher CRP was associated with slower processing speed (−0.04, P = .024), and higher IL6 was associated with poorer executive function (−0.07, P = .02). In EA, only higher sTNFR1 was associated with slower processing speed (−0.05, P = .007). Associations were not found between cognition and sTNFR2, CRP, or IL6 in EA. Conclusion: In a population with high vascular risk, adverse associations between inflammation and cognitive function were especially apparent in AAs, primarily involving markers of TNFα activity.
Alteration in glycerol and metalloid permeability by a single mutation in the extracellular C‐loop of Leishmania major aquaglyceroporin LmAQP1

The Leishmania major aquaglyceroporin, LmAQP1, is responsible for the transport of antimonite [Sb(III)], an activated form of Pentostam or Glucantime. Downregulation of LmAQP1 provides resistance to trivalent antimony compounds and increased expression of LmAQP1 in drug resistant parasites can reverse the resistance. Besides metalloid transport, LmAQP1 is also permeable to water, glycerol, methylglyoxal, dihydroxyacetone, and sugar alcohols. LmAQP1 also plays a physiological role in volume regulation and osmotaxis. In this study we examined the role of extracellular C-loop glutamates (Glu143, Glu145, and Glu152) in LmAQP1 activity. Alteration of both Glu143 and Glu145 to alanines did not affect either the biochemical or physiological properties of the protein suggesting that neither residue is critical for LmAQP1 activity. Alteration of Glu152 to alanine, aspartate and glutamine affected metalloid transport in the order, wild-type > E152Q > E152D > E152A. In fact, axenic amastigotes expressing E152A LmAQP1 accumulated negligible levels of either arsenite [As(III)] or Sb(III). Alteration of Glu152 significantly affected volume regulation and osmotaxis suggesting that Glu152 is critical for the physiological activity of the parasite. More importantly, alteration of Glu152 to alanine did not affect glycerol permeability. Although the metalloids, As(III) and Sb(III), are believed to be transported through aquaglyceroporin channels as they behave as inorganic molecular mimic of glycerol, this is the first report where metalloid and glycerol transport can be dissected by a single mutation at the extracellular pore entry of LmAQP1 channel.
Infection control professionals: roles and responsibilities in New York State acute care hospitals, 1999 and 2004

OBJECTIVES: In 1999 and 2004, the New York State (NYS) Department of Health conducted a survey of acute care hospital (ACH) infection control program resources and responsibilities. METHODS: Surveys were mailed (hard copy in 1999, and electronic version in 2004) to the infection control department of all ACHs. The surveys were designed to assess infection control (IC) staffing, IC support services, interaction in other hospital programs, and routine surveillance activities. RESULTS: The response rate was 202/255 (79%) in 1999, and 167/234 (71%) in 2004. In 1999 and 2004, the average infection control professional (ICP) covered the following facilities and services: 1999 2004 Acute Care Hospitals 0.8 0.8 ACH Beds 195 150.5 ICUs n/a 1.3 ICU Beds n/a 14.4 LTC Facilities 0.3 0.2 LTC Beds 45 24 Dialysis Centers 0.4 0.6 Ambulatory Surgery Centers 0.6 0.5 Ambulatory Clinics 2.4 3.9 Private Practice Settings 3.0 1.1 n/a = not available. In 2004, IC programs were most frequently integrated into the quality assurance program (32%), followed by nursing (29%), administration (14%), infectious disease (5%), internal medicine (4%), laboratory (1%), or other/unknown (14%). In 2004, only 57% had some secretarial support and for those with secretarial support, the average was 0.7 full-time employees (FTEs); 96% had a personal computer, 99% had Internet access, 86% had a fax, 53% had access to partial or complete electronic medical records, 93% computerized laboratory records, and 86% computerized radiology records. ICPs had some responsibility for employee/occupational health (68%), central supply (52%), staff education (73%), risk management (45%), emergency/BT preparedness (70%) and quality assurance (55%). Routine surveillance activities included bloodstream infections (57% total house, 40% targeted), surgical site infections (51% total house, 44% targeted), pneumonias (36% total house, 57% targeted) and urinary tract infections (28% total house, 41% targeted). CONCLUSIONS: Infection control resources cannot be accurately described or allocated solely on the basis of acute care beds. This survey revealed that the average ICP has responsibilities covering a broad array of facilities, services, and roles.
The City of Roses——The Green City——Portland, Oregon

Located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, Portland was an ideal choice for the joint meeting of the National Council on Public History and the American Society for Environmental History. Incorporated in 1851, Portland is a relatively old city for the American West, yet it is also a thoroughly modern city that celebrates its reputation as the most environmentally friendly or “green” city in the United States. Through historic preservation, Portland has found a way to protect its historic resources and engage in environmentally sustainable forms of modernization. The sites reviewed for this issue of The Public Historian reflect Portland’s environmentalism, its commitment to historic preservation, and its diverse cultural history. Our reviewers visited traditional museums, archives, and historic sites. They also explored the city’s unique offerings in historic preservation and cutting-edge efforts to incorporate green technologies into adaptive reuse projects. We begin with Debbie Bahn’s assessment of the venerable Oregon Historical Society and History Museum. Bahn notes that the museum is one of the primary cultural and historical attractions in Portland and serves as the de facto state museum. As such, the society’s collections, museum, research library, and educational programs seek to address the diverse experience of Oregonians. TPH 32-4 11/30/10 4:32 PM Page 110
Linear regression with an independent variable subject to a detection limit.

Background:Linear regression with a left-censored independent variable X due to limit of detection (LOD) was recently considered by 2 groups of researchers: Richardson and Ciampi (Am J Epidemiol. 2003;157:355-363), and Schisterman et al (Am J Epidemiol. 2006;163:374-383).Methods:Both groups obtained
Note : Simultaneous optimization of efficiency and performance balance measures in single-machine scheduling problems

n independent jobs are to be scheduled nonpreemptively on a single machine so as to minimize some performance measure. Federgruen and Mosheiov [2] show that a large class of such scheduling problems can be optimized by solving either a single instance or a finite sequence of instances of the so-called SQC problem, in which all the jobs have a fixed or controllable common due date and the sum of general quasiconvex functions of the job completion times is to be minimized. In this note we point out that this is not always true. In particular, we show that the algorithm proposed in [2] does not always find a global optimal schedule to the problem of minimizing the weighted sum of the mean and variance of job completion times.
Testing the state environmental protection literature in a nonregulatory policy arena: implementation of pollution prevention policy in California and Colorado

Abstract Despite the litany of studies examining state environmental protection efforts, few studies have examined environmental policy arenas where target compliance is voluntary and incentives based rather than mandatory and command-and-control. One such nonregulatory approach is pollution prevention policy, an alternative environmental protection strategy that shifts the focus from downstream mitigation strategies to upstream reduction strategies. This article uses the extant policy literature to analyze implementation of pollution prevention policy in California and Colorado. The findings indicate that the extant environmental protection literature produces mixed results, when applied to the pollution prevention policy arena. Of the five variables tested, only three produced findings consistent with previous research, suggesting that nonregulatory policy arenas differ enough from regulatory policy arenas that they require different causal explanations.
A clinical evaluation of the QBCII® centrifugal hematology analyzer in the emergency department

Abstract As part of an effort to reduce patient waiting time for laboratory results, the QBCII desktop CBC analyzer was evaluated in an emergency department. CBCs were performed by the emergency department staff (multiple-observers) on 498 patients and by a single observer on 250 patients. Time required by the emergency department staff to obtain a CBC was 10.1 minutes compared with 47.8 minutes for the hospital laboratory. Correlation coefficients between hospital laboratory and QBCII were WBC 0.94, hematocrit 0.92, platelets 0.88, lymphocytes/monocytes 0.92, and granulocytes 0.90.
A method for enhancing gunshot residue patterns on dark and multicolored fabrics compared with the modified Griess test.

In using infrared or infrared-enhanced photography to examine gunshot residue (GSR) on dark-colored clothing, the GSR particles are microscopically examined directly on the fabric followed by the modified Griess test (MGT) for nitrites. In conducting the MGT, the GSR is transferred to treated photographic paper for visualization. A positive reaction yields an orange color on specially treated photographic paper. The examiner also evaluates the size of the powder pattern based on the distribution of nitrite reaction sites or density. A false-positive reaction can occur using the MGT due to contaminants or dyes that produce an orange cloud reaction as well. A method for enhancing visualization of the pattern produced by burned and partially unburned powder is by treatment of the fabric with a solution of sodium hypochlorite. In order to evaluate the results of sodium hypochlorite treatment for GSR visualization, the MGT was used as a reference pattern. Enhancing GSR patterns on dark or multicolored clothing was performed by treating the fabric with an application of 5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite. Bleaching the dyes in the fabric enhances visualization of the GSR pattern by eliminating the background color. Some dyes are not affected by sodium hypochlorite; therefore, bleaching may not enhance the GSR patterns in some fabrics. Sodium hypochlorite provides the investigator with a method for enhancing GSR patterns directly on the fabric. However, this study is not intended to act as a substitute for the MGT or Sodium Rhodizonate test. Language: en
Service-Learning projects in environmental engineering courses: Models of community engagement activities

The curriculum for an introductory environmental engineering course was enhanced with the addition of Service-Learning (S-L) based projects in the community. Senior year Civil and Environmental Engineering students worked on four projects, including green roof and biomass energy considerations at a local elementary school (engaging a fifth grade classroom), water quality testing (engaging high school chemistry students), researching the environmental impacts from a proposed biomass plant in the state (engaging local citizens opposed to the project), and a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based map project for southwest Haiti to locate and display health clinic locations for use by the area health workers. Students interacted with four different community partners, and reflected on their experiences answering questions focused on their interactions with the community partners, impacts on their learning, and personal growth as individuals. The impact of these projects transcends the 20 students who participated in the experience, as various population groups locally and internationally were affected in this process. This paper is a narrative on the development of the projects in collaboration with the community partners, along with detailed notes for faculty wishing to develop similar projects in their communities, and a summation of the lessons learned. A similar course design this academic year involves six projects with four community partners. Students and community partners will take surveys and specific metrics on the test results will be available for presentation and reporting, at the conference.
“It Makes Me Worry About Her Future Pain:” A Qualitative Investigation of White Mothers of Non-White Children

In the United States, increasing numbers of White women are mothering children of color. Little is known about their psychosocial experiences of racially socializing non-White children within a culture that transmits socially constructed meanings about race. Such messages influence employment and quality and access to health care. Thirteen White mothers of non-White children (school age to adulthood) residing in the U.S. were interviewed. Their psychosocial experiences and racial socialization practices were explored. Through an analysis of transcribed interviews and interview notes, seven themes emerged: (1) Looking Like a Family and Looking Alike; (2) Mothering as Vulnerability; (3) Teen Daughters’ Perceptions of Black Men as Undesirable and Frightening; (4) Exposing Children to Culture; (5) Children and Mothers’ Experiences as “Other”; (6) Hostility from Black Women; and (7) Not Talking About Race. Study's limitations and future research are discussed.
Elucidating binding modes of zuonin A enantiomers to JNK1 via in silico methods

Abstract Aberrant c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling is associated with a number of diseases, including neurological conditions and cancer. Enantiomers of the lignan zuonin A, (−)-zuonin A and (+)-zuonin A bind isoforms of JNK with similar affinity and disrupt protein-protein interactions at JNK's D-recruitment site. Thus, they are of interest as lead non-ATP competitive inhibitors of the JNKs. While (−)-zuonin A inhibits the activity of JNK toward c-Jun by 80% when saturating, (+)-zuonin A only inhibits by 15%. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to gain a better understanding of how these inhibitors interact with JNK. The results of this study provide new insight into potential binding modes for (−)-zuonin A and suggest that (−)-zuonin A interacts with JNK via an induced fit mechanism near the highly conserved φ A -X-φ B recognition site. Binding of (+)-zuonin A to JNK displays no such dynamic feature. The different binding modes may help explain differences in the inhibitory properties of the enantiomers although further experimental work would be necessary to fully confirm this interpretation.
Rebel without a Gauze

It had been one of those busy but rewarding mornings where nothing could throw off my groove. I'd reassured one patient about a scary test result, eased another's shoulder pain with a cortisone injection, and provided the open ear that a third needed. So when the first patient of the afternoon took my hand with a smirk and squeezed it hard, I wasn't fazed. But it wasn't one of those firm but friendly handshakes. This one felt mean. I wondered if I'd done something. I was five minutes late but I'd apologized. John Stroup plunked himself down and stared at the floor. He was fifty-four, muscular and compact. His Adam's apple jutted from his neck like a sharp rock. "How are you today," I said, affecting a bright tone. "It's been awhile since you saw a doctor here." He shrugged. I peered at my computer. The note from his last physical was brief and unremarkable--nothing about this seeming hostility. "Looks like it's been almost two years." "So why're you asking? You have it right there." I exhaled silently and tried a more professional tone. "What brings you here today?" "Got a letter." Presumably, he was referring to a computer-generated letter sent to patients who hadn't been to the clinic in a while. "Do you have any concerns about your health?" "Nope." I inquired about his work. "Drive a truck." "What do you transport?" "Don't know, don't care." His muscular upper arms strained against the short sleeves of his black T-shirt. If only I'd remembered what we teach our medical students to do when a patient cries, or is angry, or expresses some other kind of emotion. You don't ignore the elephant in the room: you address it. But it was too late. My patients were usually respectful and pleasant. I wasn't used to this. Somebody knocked on the door. Need you for a second, the nurse's raised eyebrows said. "I'll be right back," I said and closed the door behind me. After answering the nurse's question about another patient's blood pressure, I knocked and opened the door. Mr. Stroup was shutting a cabinet drawer. My mind went blank. At first I thought he was impatiently sliding the drawer in and out. But then I saw his handful of gauze pads. I drew my breath in sharply. "What are you doing?" I heard myself asking, my heart beating fast. "Taking some gauze," he said. His upper lip curled like he had a bad taste in his mouth. "You want me to put it back?" I looked at him, tongue-tied. …
Shear accommodation in dirty grain boundaries

The effect of solutes (dirt) on the mechanics of crystalline interfaces remains unexplored. Here, we perform atomic-scale simulations to study the effect of carbon segregation on the shear accommodation at select grain boundaries in the classical α-Fe/C system. For shear velocities larger than the solute diffusion rate, we observe a transition from coupled motion to sliding. Below a critical solute excess, the boundaries break away from the solute cloud and exhibit in a coupled motion. At smaller shear velocities, the extrinsic coupled motion is jerky, occurs at relatively small shear stresses, and is aided by fast convective solute diffusion along the boundary. Our studies underscore the combined effect of energetics and kinetics of solutes in modifying the bicrystallography, temperature and rate dependence of shear accommodation at grain boundaries.