cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bradykinin-Induced Reductions in Collagen Gene Expression Involve Prostacyclin

Abstract —Cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction and in chronic hypertension involves an increase in the synthesis and deposition of collagen within the myocardium. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors limit hypertrophy and fibrosis; their mechanism of action remains controversial, although kinins have been implicated to play a role. Because both bradykinin and prostaglandins (PG) have been shown to reduce collagen gene expression in cardiac fibroblasts, the goal of this study was to determine whether the bradykinin effect was mediated through enhanced prostaglandin formation by cardiac fibroblasts. Bradykinin increased [ 3 H]arachidonic acid metabolite release 2.3-fold over control and stimulated a dose-dependent increase in 6-keto PGF 1α (the stable metabolite of PGI 2 ) release from these cells, in which 1 nmol/L bradykinin produced a 4-fold increase in 6-keto PGF 1α release. Beraprost (a PGI 2 analogue) reduced steady-state proα1(I) and proα1(III) collagen mRNA levels by 35.6±6.6% and 34.2±10.0%, respectively. Bradykinin-induced reductions in collagen type I and III gene expression were reversed by pretreatment with indomethacin. Our results indicate that one mechanism by which bradykinin modulates collagen biosynthesis via the rabbit cardiac fibroblast involves formation of arachidonic acid metabolites, particularly PGI 2 . The results of the present study argue that stabilization of endogenous kinins (as by ACE inhibitors) would enhance prostacyclin production and result in the attenuation of collagen gene expression, with potential implications for collagen synthesis and deposition within the myocardium.
Evolving Treatment Strategies for Management of Cardiorenal Syndrome

The treatment of acute decompensated heart failure in the presence of progressive renal dysfunction is a commonly encountered dilemma in clinical practice. Also known as cardiorenal syndrome, this complex disease state has forced researchers and clinicians to develop new treatment strategies to relieve the symptomatic congestion of heart failure while preserving renal function. Loop diuretics remain the standard of pharmacologic treatment of acute heart failure, but their effects on renal function have been called into question. The DOSE trial set out to determine optimal diuretic dosing strategies but no clear regimen was firmly established. Initial studies with vasopressin antagonists showed promise in their ability to increase urine output, provide short-term symptom relief, and correct hyponatremia while maintaining renal function. Unfortunately, the EVEREST trial did not demonstrate any benefit on long-term clinical outcomes. Adenosine antagonists also appeared to be an emerging therapeutic option, but the recently completed PROTECT trial failed to establish their role in the treatment of cardiorenal syndrome. Both nesiritide and low-dose dopamine have endured years of trials with mixed results. Most recently, findings from the ASCEND-HF trial showed that nesiritide was safe with no adverse effects on renal function or mortality and was associated with a modest improvement in dyspnea. The ongoing ROSE study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health Heart Failure Research Network, will attempt to confirm the safety and efficacy profiles of low-dose nesiritide and dopamine, as well as clarify their roles within acute heart failure management. Despite its inherent complexities, ultrafiltration has demonstrated potential benefit in several clinical outcomes compared to traditional pharmacotherapy. The results of the CARRESS-HF trial will reveal how the use of ultrafiltration specifically applies to patients with cardiorenal syndrome. The most exciting aspects about our evolving understanding of the cardiorenal system are the innovative treatments that have emerged as a result. The creation of chimeric natriuretic peptides, targeted intra-renal pharmacotherapy, the novel use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and combination treatment strategies demonstrate that despite our varied success in treating cardiorenal syndrome in the past, there are highly encouraging translational therapies rapidly developing in the pipeline.
Causes of Death in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis of a Hybrid Hematology-Oncology and HIV Practice and the Seattle/King County Adult/Adolescent Spectrum of HIV-Related Diseases Project

ABSTRACT Background HIV-infected patients continue to die in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Objective To describe the cause of mortality in the HAART era between 2 cohorts by conducting a comparative retrospective analysis. Methods The Virginia Mason Medical Center (VMMC) cohort was composed of 60 died HIV-infected patients from 600 patients. The second cohort was comprised of 351 died patients from the Seattle portion of the Adult and Adolescent Spectrum of Diseases Project (Seattle-ASD) of 4721 patients. Among the abstracted data were the conditions present at death, defined as any major cause of morbidity present at death for both cohorts. Results Non-AIDS defining illnesses (non-ADI) were a major source of mortality in 60% and 45% for the VMMC and Seattle-ASD cohorts, respectively. The most common fatal non-ADI in both cohorts were cancer (7% and 19%), bacterial infections (15%), and liver failure (9% and 14%). Cancer (10%) and wasting (7%) were prominent fatal ADI in both cohorts. In each cohort, patients died despite a nondetectable HIV viral load and a CD4 + lymphocyte count >200 cells/μL. This included 11 of 60 (18%) VMMC patients (all of whom died of non-ADI) and 35 of 351 (10%) Seattle-ASD patients (81% died with non-ADI). Conclusions In 2 well-characterized urban HIV cohorts, non-ADI were a major cause of mortality in the HAART era. A substantial number of these patients died despite nondetectable HIV viral loads and reasonably well-preserved immune function measured by CD4 + cell counts.
Energetic demands of larval krill, Euphausia superba, in winter

Abstract Metabolic rates of larval and juvenile krill, Euphausia superba , were measured on board ship during three winter cruises west of the Antarctic Peninsula (June–July 1987, June 1993, and June 1994), and also under different temperature regimes and feeding conditions during long-term maintenance in the laboratory (Palmer Station, winter 1993). A mean oxygen consumption and nitrogen excretion ratio of 31.1 measured on board ship at ambient ocean temperatures suggested that larval and juvenile krill from ice-covered waters were primarily herbivorous. Results from both shipboard and laboratory experiments demonstrated that oxygen consumption increased with temperature, but that larvae subjected to acute temperature increases exhibited higher rates. Experiments conducted at near ambient water temperatures for winter were also conducted to test the effect of habitat on the energy requirements of larval and juvenile krill. A comparison of the field and laboratory studies conducted at −1.5 to −1.8 °C showed that larvae from ice-covered waters and fed larvae in the laboratory had oxygen consumption rates significantly higher than those of larvae collected from open, i.e. ice-free, water and those starved in the laboratory. Results of the comparison lend support to the concept that in winter, larval and juvenile krill are better fed in ice-covered waters than in open water, and to the hypothesis that ice biota in the pack ice are an important food resource in winter for larval and juvenile krill.
Site-specific Mutagenesis Demonstrates That Cysteine 4326 of Apolipoprotein B Is Required for Covalent Linkage with Apolipoprotein(a) in Vivo

In the formation of the lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) particle, apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) are covalently linked via a disulfide bond in both humans and human-apo(a)/apoB transgenic mice. Studies based upon fluorescent labeling of free cysteine residues have suggested that cysteine 3734 of the 4 carboxyl-terminal cysteines of apoB (Cys-3734, Cys-3890, Cys-4190, and Cys-4326) is the most likely candidate to form a disulfide bond with apo(a). However, other recent studies using truncated apoB molecules suggest that Cys-4326, the terminal cysteine of apoB, may be implicated in the binding to apo(a). In order to definitively show which of apoB's carboxyl-terminal cysteines is essential in interacting with apo(a) we have used RecA-assisted restriction enzyme digestion coupled with site-specific mutagenesis to convert Cys-3734 and Cys-4326 to serine within separate 90-kilobase pair apoB P1 phagemid clones. Transgenic mice containing the normal or mutated apoB transgenes were created, and the covalent association of mutated apoB with apo(a) was assessed in mice transgenic for both apoB and apo(a). Analysis by ultracentrifugation and immunoblotting revealed that Cys-4326, but not Cys-3734, was essential in the formation of the covalent bond between apo(a) and apoB in vivo.
Prognostic Factors for Children With Hodgkin’s Disease Treated With Combined-Modality Therapy

Purpose: Evaluation of pretreatment factors to identify children at high risk for relapse after combined-modality therapy for Hodgkin’s disease. Patients and Methods: From 1990 to 2000, 328 pediatric patients with clinical stage I to IV Hodgkin’s disease were treated with chemotherapy and low-dose involved-field radiotherapy on prospective, collaborative, risk-adapted protocols at three institutions. Pretreatment factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis for prognostic significance for 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: With a median follow-up of 59 months (range, 8 to 125 months), the 5-year DFS and OS for all patients were 83% and 93%, respectively. Several factors were associated with inferior DFS and OS by univariate analysis. By multivariate analysis, male sex; stage IIB, IIIB, or IV disease; bulky mediastinal disease; WBC more than 13.5 × 103/mm3; and hemoglobin less than 11.0 g/dL were significant for inferior DFS. A prognostic index was devel...
Lawns and Toxins: An Ecology of the City

Abstract This paper surveys the problems of contemporary urban ecology through the lens of lawn chemical usage, exploring the difficulty of explaining and managing urban ecological dilemmas that, though built from the disaggregated choices of individuals, aggregate into large and serious issues. Introductory discussion surveys the seriousness of lawn chemicals as urban non-point pollution sources and suggests why the issue, and problems like it, it understudied. Analysis proceeds with a case study from the United States city of Columbus, Ohio, utilizing formal survey techniques and aanlysis of county assessor's data. The results suggest lawns and lawn care chemicals are expanding with urban sprewl and that users of high-input lawn chemical systems are more likely to be wealthy, well-educated, and knowledgeable about the negative environmental impacts of the actions than non-users. Further investigation demonstrates the instrumental logics of homeowners in pursuit of property values but also points to the moral and community-oriented institutions that enforce and propel high chemical use. The conclusions point to policy options for dealing with the lawn chemical dilemma but suggest the difficulties of circumventing the deeply structured roots of the problem.
A STUDY OF SPECIFIC E. COLI INFECTIONS OCCURRING IN A UNIT FOR SURGICAL NEONATES.

SUMMARY During a 2½ year period 14.6 % of 367 infants who had been subjected to surgery in the neo-natal period excreted pathogenic E. eoli. Forty-one per cent of the infected infants developed gastroenteritis; 59 % were symptomless excretors. The highest incidence of infection occurred in infants suffering from Hirschsprung's disease and high rectal atresia. Symptomless excretors were more liable to bacteriological relapse after antibiotic treatment than were infants with gastro-enteritis.
Utilizing middleware to interface with the simulation environment for autonomous robots

The Simulation Environment for Autonomous Robots (SEAR) has been updated to include new sensors that are more usable and customizable than in previous iterations. The simulator is now also fully integrated into robotics middleware MyRobotLab (MRL) allowing users to access other external libraries and use multiple programming languages to set up and control a simulation. SEAR interfaces with user code in the same way as actual hardware so the only changes required for the user to migrate code to actual hardware is by changing serial port addresses.
Quantitation of plasma catecholamines by on-line trace enrichment high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Abstract A sensitive and specific procedure for quantifying plasma catecholamines using on-line trace enrichment high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) is described. Plasma catecholamines are off-line extracted using aluminum oxide and then on-line enriched on cation exchange enrichment HPLC columns and back-eluted using a potassium enriched mobile phase for further separation by ion-pair, reverse phase HPLC. The salient features of this method are (1) the on-line combination of distinct HPLC retention mechanisms for enrichment and separation of the catecholamines to yield optimal assay specificity, (2) a lower working limit of detection of 25 pg norepinephrine and epinephrine per milliliter plasma based upon an assayed plasma volume of 1 ml, (3) the generation of calibration curves using standard additions to a ‘like’ matrix, (4) a high daily sample throughput due to the lack of late-eluting chromatographic interferences and (5) use of an optimized aluminum oxide prepurification procedure. The advantages of this method relative to other HPLC-EC assays for plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine are discussed as are the general considerations to be addressed when defining performance characteristics of an assay.
Coordiante expression of ribosomal protein genes in Neurospora Crassa and identification of conserved upstream sequences

Abstract The relative levels of rRNAs and ribosomal proteins are coordinately regulated by growth rate and carbon nutrition in Neurospora crassa. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved. To investigate the transcriptional regulation of ribosomal protein genes in N. crassa, we cloned and sequenced a ribosomal protein gene (crp-3). The inferred crp-3 protein sequence shares 89% and 83% homology at its N-terminus with the yeast rp51 and the human S17 ribosomal proteins respectively. The crp-3 gene contains two introns, neither of which are conserved in position with the RP51 or the S17 genes. The crp-3 gene is present in a single copy and was mapped by RFLP analysis to the right arm of linkage group IV, near the cot-1 locus. Sequence comparisons of the upstream regions of the three sequenced crp genes revealed several common features. These include a 'Taq box' (consensus: ARTTYGACTT) at -39, a CG repeat (consensus: CCCRCCRRR) at -65, and a major transcription initiation site embedded in a purine rich region flanked by an upstream pyrimidine rich sequence. Using four N.crassa ribosomal protein genes as probes, we demonstrated that the levels of the four ribosomal protein mRNAs were closely coordinated during a nutritional downshift from sucrose to quinic acid.
Magnetic-superconducting oxide heterostructures

Advances in thin film deposition techniques, in particular molecular beam epitaxy, have made it possible to produce heterostructures of high temperature superconductors and manganite perovskites. The latter exhibit the phenomenon of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR). The half-metallic character of the CMR compounds results in their carriers being spin polarized. Experiments with these heterostructures have demonstrated that the injection of spin polarized carriers into high temperature superconductors results in a reduction of parameters such as the critical current and critical temperature.
Far-infrared spectroscopy of CO2 clathrate hydrate with Martian applications

It has been suggested that CO2 clathrate hydrate forms in the Martian polar regions in winter. A large deposit of hydrate would affect the polar energy budget because of its low thermal conductivity and its sizeable latent heat of dissociation, and it could also be important to the total CO2 budget. In this paper we present the far-infrared spectrum of CO2 hydrate at 150 K. The spectrum exhibits a broad absorption centered near 17 cm−1 (0.59 mm) that is probably due to a rattling transition. Our radiative transfer model predicts that the absorption gives rise to a distinctive emission spectrum for densely packed particles having average diameters greater than 100 µm.
An efficient chemoenzymic access to optically active myo-inositol polyphosphates

Abstract The 1,4,5-tris-, 1,3,4-tris-, and 1,3,4,5-tetrakis-phosphates of 1 d -myo-inositol have been prepared in their enantiomerically pure forms from the two enantiomers of 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-myo-inositol. A facile enzymic preparation is also described of these chiral intermediates through enantiospecific deacylation of the corresponding racemic esters.
Impact of Superalloy Composition, Bond Coat Roughness and Water Vapor on TBC Lifetime with HVOF NiCoCrAlYHfSi Bond Coatings

Abstract The performance of thermal barrier coating (TBC) specimens with superalloy 1483 and X4 substrates and high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF)-NiCoCrAlYHfSi bond coatings was evaluated in dry and wet air in 1 h furnace cycles at 1100 °C. Compared to a prior study of NiCoCrAlYHfSi bond coatings, the HVOF bond coatings were rougher Ra = 8 μm, closer to commercial HVOF coatings. For TBC coatings on the X4 substrates cycled in air with 10% water vapor, increasing the roughness from Ra = 5 to 8 μm had little effect on the average TBC lifetime. The presence of 10% water vapor reduced the average TBC lifetime for 1483 by 13%, however, in both wet and dry conditions, the lifetimes for this substrate were 30–50% below those observed for X4 substrates. This may be attributed to the lower Al content and higher Ti content in 1483. Roughness and residual stress in the alumina scale were measured on specimens without a ceramic top coating, but no effects were observed due to the change in substrate or the addition of water vapor.
Comparative utility of LC3, p62 and TDP-43 immunohistochemistry in differentiation of inclusion body myositis from polymyositis and related inflammatory myopathies

Background: Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a slowly progressive inflammatory myopathy of the elderly that does not show significant clinical improvement in response to steroid therapy. Distinguishing IBM from polymyositis (PM) is clinically important since PM is steroid-responsive; however, the two conditions can show substantial histologic overlap. Results: We performed quantitative immunohistochemistry for (1) autophagic markers LC3 and p62 and (2) protein aggregation marker TDP-43 in 53 subjects with pathologically diagnosed PM, IBM, and two intermediate T cellmediated inflammatory myopathies (polymyositis with COX-negative fibers and possible IBM). The percentage of stained fibers was significantly higher in IBM than PM for all three immunostains, but the markers varied in sensitivity and specificity. In particular, both LC3 and p62 were sensitive markers of IBM, but the tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity was smaller (and diagnostic utility thus greater) for LC3 than for p62. In contrast, TDP-43 immunopositivity was highly specific for IBM, but the sensitivity of this test was low, with definitive staining present in just 67% of IBM cases. Conclusions: To differentiate IBM from PM, we thus recommend using a panel of LC3 and TDP-43 antibodies: the finding of 7% of TDP-43-positive fibers strongly supports a diagnosis of IBM. These data provide support for the hypothesis that disruption of autophagy and protein aggregation contribute to IBM pathogenesis.
Cosmopolitics and the Subaltern Problematizing Latour’s Idea of the Commons

This essay traces the ontological and political limits of Bruno Latour’s conceptualization of the ‘common world’. Latour formulates this concept in explicating how modernist scientific and political institutions require a metaphysical foundation that is anti-democratic in rigidly partitioning nature from society. In the stead of nature/society, Latour proposes a ‘cosmopolitics’ in which we recognize our embroilment in systems comprised of heterogeneous human and nonhuman actors, and seek to innovate appropriate procedures for governing such systems and composing a more peaceful common world. However, feminist and postcolonialist science studies scholars have argued that Latour’s project fails to apprehend the experiences of subjects marginalized by scientific and political structures of representation. Thus, science studies scholars seem to be faced with a problem; to avoid ontological dissonance and contradiction in integrating Latour’s program with feminist and postcolonialist critiques we must defer hi...
Theoretical Models of Type I Supernovae

Before discussing the recent models of Type I supernovae (SNI), the observational constraints should be summarized. None of these constraints are as unambiguous as we would desire. Indeed the discussion at the meeting showed that there could be considerable disagreement as to which constraints were the strongest and which could be assigned lower weight. Here the argunents and their various caveats will be presented and readers will be invited to assign their own weights to the individual factors. A similar discussion with some more detail is given by Wheeler, Branch, and Falk (1980).
Longitudinal relation of community-level income inequality and mortality in Costa Rica

The controversy regarding the direct relationship between income distribution and health remains unresolved. Empirical evidence has often failed to advance our understanding because in the countries studied there was limited ability to distinguish hypotheses. This study examines the relation between inequality and mortality in the context of Costa Rica. Costa Rica's unique social and political structure makes confounding through resource and political channels less likely, thus any effects would work predominantly through direct psychosocial channels. Using mortality data extracted from the Vital Statistics Registry, we evaluate the longitudinal relations between lagged and contemporaneous income inequality and cause-specific mortality in Costa Rica from 1995 to 2005. For those aged 15-60, results indicate that there is a significant adverse relation between increases in lagged inequality and mortality from liver disease, and marginal adverse relations with mortality from diabetes and suicide. For those aged 60 and over, there is a limited evidence of a relation between inequality and health. These results suggest increases in inequality may impact health behavior of the working aged population in Costa Rica.
Optimal acquisition parameter selection for CT simulators in radiation oncology.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify optimal CT acquisition parameter settings for each make and model of scanners used in a large Radiation Oncology (RO) Department, considering the special requirements of CT simulation. 2 CT phantoms were used to evaluate the image quality of the five different multi-channel CT scanners using helical scan mode. We compared the effects of various pitch, detector configurations, and rotation time parameters on image artifacts and on spatial and contrast resolution. We found that helical artifact was closely related to pitch and detector configuration settings. This artifact was scanner specific and generally more obvious when the channel width, or detector collimation, was equal to the image thickness. Different acquisition parameter settings produced slight differences in observed high- and low-contrast resolution. Short rotation time degraded image quality for certain scanners, but only slightly, while other rotation times, such as 0.75s/rotation and above, had no obvious effect on resolution. An optimized combination of acquisition parameters was determined for each scanner make and model, based on phantom image quality and other considerations for clinical applications. This information may be directly useful for physicists whose CT simulation scanners match one examined in this study. If not, the strategy reported here may be used as a guide to perform a similar evaluation of the scanner.
Lack of sufficiently strong informative features limits the potential of gene expression analysis as predictive tool for many clinical classification problems

Our goal was to examine how various aspects of a gene signature influence the success of developing multi-gene prediction models. We inserted gene signatures into three real data sets by altering the expression level of existing probe sets. We varied the number of probe sets perturbed (signature size), the fold increase of mean probe set expression in perturbed compared to unperturbed data (signature strength) and the number of samples perturbed. Prediction models were trained to identify which cases had been perturbed. Performance was estimated using Monte-Carlo cross validation.
Processed VirB2 Is the Major Subunit of the Promiscuous Pilus of Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Previous studies have implicated the obligatory requirement for the vir regulon (or “virulon”) of the Ti plasmid for the transfer of oncogenes from Agrobacterium tumefaciens to plant cells. The machinery used in this horizontal gene transfer has been long thought to be a transformation or conjugative delivery system. Based on recent protein sequence comparisons, the proteins encoded by the virB operon are strikingly similar to proteins involved in the synthesis and assembly of conjugative pili such as the conjugative pilus of F plasmid in Escherichia coli. The F pilus is composed of TraA pilin subunits derived from TraA propilin. In the present study, evidence is provided showing that the counterpart of TraA is VirB2, which like TraA propilin is processed into a 7.2-kDa product that comprises the pilus subunit as demonstrated by biochemical and electron microscopic analyses. The processed VirB2 protein is present exocellularly on medium on which induced A. tumefaciens had grown and appears as thin filaments of 10 nm that react specifically to VirB2 antibody. Exocellular VirB2 is produced abundantly at 19°C as compared with 28°C, an observation that parallels the effect of low temperature on the production of vir gene-specific pili observed previously (K. J. Fullner, L. C. Lara, and E. W. Nester, Science 273:1107–1109, 1996). Export of the processed VirB2 requires other virB genes since mutations in these genes cause the loss of VirB2 pilus formation and result in processed VirB2 accumulation in the cell. The presence of exocellular processed VirB2 is directly correlated with the formation of pili, and it appears as the major protein in the purified pilus preparation. The evidence provides a compelling argument for VirB2 as the propilin whose 7.2-kDa processed product is the pilin subunit of the promiscuous conjugative pilus, hereafter called the “T pilus” of A. tumefaciens.
Cultures of Discipline: Law Teaches Hawaii to Become a Colony

Sally Merry's Colonizing Hawaii tells us about the nineteenth-century penetration of Hawaii by colonial cultures and structures while the island was still independent. "Neocolonialism before Colonialism" might be an alternative title. She analyzes five kinds of discipline imposed on or induced in Hawaii between about the 1820s and the early twentieth century: (1) the disciplining of everyday life of Hawaiians by puritanical New England missionaries; (2) the disciplining of the Hawaiian ruling class by the prospect of being conquered as a colony if they did not become a civilized legal sovereign nation; (3) the disciplining of indentured, mostly Asian, labor by sugar plantations, where the construction of unbridled authority created rightless workers, (4) the development of ethnic communities with internal social controls, and (5) the stop-off for "liberty" of ship crews that had been under tight discipline on board for up to six months. Merry looks at the role of law in these five very diverse types of bourgeois civilized discipline, especially by studying available early appeals court cases and sampling lower court records from Hilo on the big island from the 1840s to the first part of the twentieth century. The puritans hoped to discipline the outer life of Hawaiians in order to prepare them for salvation and civilization, as they understood them.
Isolation and characterization of the Lyme disease spirochete from the skin of patients with erythema chronicum migrans

The Lyme disease spirochete, which had previously been isolated with difficulty from human skin lesions of erythema chronicum migrans of Lyme disease, was grown from six of fourteen skin biopsies cultured in a newly modified Kelly's medium. In two instances the Lyme disease spirochetes that were grown were also seen in histopathologic sections. Organisms grew in clumps in liquid culture medium. All six isolates reacted with a monoclonal antibody to a 31,000-dalton outer membrane protein. Only three of six reacted to a monoclonal antibody to a 34,000-dalton outer membrane protein, suggesting that different subtypes of this organism may infect man. Penicillin, erythromycin, and minocycline were bactericidal agents to all six spirochetes. These in vitro findings may be helpful in determining specific antibiotic treatment of Lyme disease, which was previously based primarily on clinical observations.
The Extraordinary Educational Attainment of Asian-Americans: A Search for Historical Evidence and Explanations

The very high educational attainments of Asian-Americans have roots in the preWorld War II era. Native-born Chineseand Japanese-Americans reached educational parity with majority whites in the early decades of the twentieth century. In this paper, we present an analysis and interpretation of the structural conditions that may have favored the educational progress of Asian-Americans in spite of considerable societal discrimination. Changes in the occupational structure of the Asian-American population and a somewhat positive rate of occupational returns to education appear to be plausible explanations for Asian-American educational gains. Our interpretation is consistent with the middleman minority thesis. Contrary to the popular image, Asian-Americans have not achieved equality in all spheres of American society. Their record of occupational and earnings attainment is positive relative to other minorities, but is still short of parity with the majority population (Chiswick 1983a; Hirschman and Wong 1984; Jiobu 1976; Kitano and Sue 1973; Kuo 1981; Nee and Sanders 1985; Wong 1980b, 1982; Woodrum 1981). In the field of education, however, the record of Asian-Americans is one of consistent high achievement. In 1980, for the central college-going ages of 20 and 21, more than 50 percent of Asian-Americans were enrolled in school compared to about a third of whites at the same ages (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1984). For specific Asian populations, the percentages enrolled (at ages 20-21) *This is a revised version of a paper presented at the 1983 meetings of the American Sociological Association. This research has been supported by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD16309), "Asian-Americans: Immigration and Adaptation." We thank Luis M. Falcon, Keiko Yamanaka, Leslye Wood, and Suzanne M. Sauer for their excellent research assistance. Teresa Sullivan, Suzanne Model, and Victor Nee provided helpful critiques of an earlier version of the paper. Address correspondence to Charles Hirschman, Department of Sociology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. C 1986 The University of North Carolina Press
Recombinant Vaccinia Virus Expressing the PR/8 Influenza Hemagglutinin Gene Overcomes the Impaired Immune Response and Increased Susceptibility of Old Mice to Influenza Infection

Elderly humans have increased morbidity and mortality after viral influenza despite immunization. A mouse model of influenza infection was used to search for a more effective way to induce immunity to influenza. Old (18 months) BALB/c mice were more susceptible to influenza pneumonia than young (2 months) BALB/c mice after intranasal challenge with PR/8 influenza virus despite prior immunization with influenza virus. The decreased resistance to live influenza virus challenge was associated with an impaired generation of anti-hemagglutinin antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocytes in old mice. In contrast, immunization of old mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the PR/8 influenza hemagglutinin gene protected them from intranasal challenge with live influenza virus and generated high levels of anti-PR/8 influenza virus hemagglutinin antibody and PR/8-specific cytotoxic T cells. Recombinant vaccine overcame the age-associated immune defect that follows the administration of conventional viral vaccine.
Cytotoxic constituents of Aspergillus terreus from the rhizosphere of Opuntia versicolor of the Sonoran Desert.

A novel cyclopentenedione, asterredione (1), two new terrecyclic acid A derivatives, (+)-5(6)-dihydro-6-methoxyterrecyclic acid A (2) and (+)-5(6)-dihydro-6-hydroxyterrecyclic acid A (3), and five ...
Scanner parameter estimation using bilevel scans of star charts

Scanning a high-contrast image in bilevel mode results in image degradation. This is caused by two primary effects: blurring and thresholding. This paper expands on a method of estimating a joint distortion parameter called the edge spread, from a star sector test chart in order to calculate the values of the point spread function width and binarization threshold. This theory is also described for variations in the source pattern which can represent degradations caused by repetition of the bilevel process as would be seen in printing then scanning, or in repeated photocopying. Estimation results are shown for the basic and extended cases.
Father's involvement in the lives of children in foster care

Limited understandings exist about non-resident fathers' views of their involvement with their children in foster care placements. Guided by the ecological systems framework, the purpose of this exploratory study was to gain insights into fathers' perceptions of their involvement with a child in foster care. Data were collected from demographic questionnaires and two focus groups with 17 men. Fathers expressed how kinship compared with non-kinship placements affected their involvement. Fathers were also in agreement that their financial hardships were a significant factor affecting their involvement. Several fathers also reported how they experienced discrimination in the child welfare system as men. Surprisingly, uncommon to findings from other studies, few men viewed the child's mother as being a barrier to their involvement. The findings provide insights into factors requiring attention to help non-residential fathers become involved with their children.
Tillich et le criticisme kantien : le lien insoupçonné

Decouvert recemment, le premier cours de Paul Tillich sur la philosophie de la religion (Berlin, 1920) montre a quel point la philosophie critique de Kant fut une influence determinante sur la genese de la pensee tillichienne. Tillich applique la methode critique de maniere ingenieuse pour definir la fonction religieuse. Il voit egalement dans la notion kantienne de l’inconditionne l’amorce d’une saisie intuitive de la nature irreductiblement irrationnelle de la religion. Pour Tillich, ce noyau mystique du rationalisme kantien mene tout droit au mysterium tremendum et fascinans de la phenomenologie religieuse de Rudolf Otto. Mais Tillich va plus loin en affirmant que notre orientation fondamentale vers l’inconditionne constitue le vrai point de depart du religieux, meme lorsque cela se fait sous un deguisement profane.
Localization of Distinct Peyer's Patch Dendritic Cell Subsets and Their Recruitment by Chemokines Macrophage Inflammatory Protein (Mip)-3α, Mip-3β, and Secondary Lymphoid Organ Chemokine

We describe the anatomical localization of three distinct dendritic cell (DC) subsets in the murine Peyer's patch (PP) and explore the role of chemokines in their recruitment. By two-color in situ immunofluorescence, CD11b+ myeloid DCs were determined to be present in the subepithelial dome (SED) region, whereas CD8α+ lymphoid DCs are present in the T cell–rich interfollicular region (IFR). DCs that lack expression of CD8α or CD11b (double negative) are present in both the SED and IFR. By in situ hybridization, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α mRNA was dramatically expressed only by the follicle-associated epithelium overlying the SED, while its receptor, CCR6, was concentrated in the SED. In contrast, CCR7 was expressed predominantly in the IFR. Consistent with these findings, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis and in vitro chemotaxis assays using freshly isolated DCs revealed that CCR6 was functionally expressed only by DC subsets present in the SED, while all subsets expressed functional CCR7. Moreover, none of the splenic DC subsets migrated toward MIP-3α. These data support a distinct role for MIP-3α/CCR6 in recruitment of CD11b+ DCs toward the mucosal surfaces and for MIP-3β/CCR7 in attraction of CD8α+ DCs to the T cell regions. Finally, we demonstrated that all DC subsets expressed an immature phenotype when freshly isolated and maintained expression of subset markers upon maturation in vitro. In contrast, CCR7 expression by myeloid PP DCs was enhanced with maturation in vitro. In addition, this subset disappeared from the SED and appeared in the IFR after microbial stimulation in vivo, suggesting that immature myeloid SED DCs capture antigens and migrate to IFR to initiate T cell responses after mucosal microbial infections.
Specificity of the Valyl Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase from Escherichia coli in the Binding of Valine Analogues

Abstract Using the valyl-tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli Km, Ki, and Vmax values have been determined for a variety of potential amino acid substrates and structural analogues of these potential substrates using the ATP:32PPi exchange reaction. Using these kinetic constants, comparisons have been made concerning (a) the relative binding affinity of the enzyme for amino acids and their analogues in the initial binding or "recognition" reaction, and (b) the relative effectiveness of these same amino acids and analogues in supporting the exchange reaction. It was found that the enzyme had a broader specificity in the initial binding reaction than in the carboxyl activation reaction. Notably, the stereospecificity in the activation reaction appeared to be absolute while it was considerably less than absolute in the binding reaction. The degree of stereospecificity in the binding reaction appeared to be related to the size and structure of the aliphatic alkyl group of the bound amino acid. In the case of valine, the binding affinity was about 50 times greater for the l isomer than for the d isomer; however, in the cases of alanine and α-aminobutyric acid, where the aliphatic alkyl group is smaller than that of valine, there appeared to be a preference for the d isomer in the binding reaction. The presence of an α-carboxyl group in the molecule was not obligatory for effective binding; however, in a number of instances, the presence of the α-carboxyl group of potential substrates and competitive inhibitors appeared to influence the specificity of the enzyme by diminishing the affinity between the enzyme and the bound molecule.
Indispensable Insight: Children's Perspectives on Factors and Mechanisms That Promote Educational Resilience.

In order to foster educational resilience in children who face adversity, adults need a clear grasp of which factors are most relevant and motivating for these children. This study asked 50 children (ages eight to 12) who face serious life difficulties to share their perspectives on which factors support academic performance and how those factors operate in their lives. Participants identified eight factors (intelligence, feelings, behaviours, home environment, family assistance, school support, community connections, organized programs) that improve academic performance and described three mechanisms (facilitating work, increasing understanding, preventing negative behaviour) by which the factors function. Implications for practice and further research are discussed. Resume Afin d’encourager la resilience chez les enfants faisant face a des contextes d’adversite, les adultes doivent clairement saisir quels facteurs sont les plus pertinents et motivants pour ces enfants. Nous avons demande a cinquante enfants entre huit et douze ans faisant face a des serieuses difficultes de nous indiquer quels facteurs soutenaient la performance academique, et comment ces facteurs se deployaient dans leur vie. Les participants ont identifie huit facteurs (intelligence, sentiments, comportements, environnement familial, soutien familial, soutien scolaire, contacts dans la communaute, programmes structures) qui amelioraient leurs performances academiques, et ont decrit trois mecanismes (faciliter le travail, augmenter la comprehension, prevenir les comportements negatifs) par lesquels les facteurs entraient en action. Nous abordons ensuite les implications de ces donnees pour la pratique et la recherche.
Using a neural network in the software testing process

Software testing forms an integral part of the software development life cycle. Since the objective of testing is to ensure the conformity of an application to its specification, a test “oracle” is needed to determine whether a given test case exposes a fault or not. Using an automated oracle to support the activities of human testers can reduce the actual cost of the testing process and the related maintenance costs. In this paper, we present a new concept of using an artificial neural network as an automated oracle for a tested software system. A neural network is trained by the backpropagation algorithm on a set of test cases applied to the original version of the system. The network training is based on the “black-box” approach, since only inputs and outputs of the system are presented to the algorithm. The trained network can be used as an artificial oracle for evaluating the correctness of the output produced by new and possibly faulty versions of the software. We present experimental results of using a two-layer neural network to detect faults within mutated code of a small credit approval application. The results appear to be promising for a wide range of injected faults. ? 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reproductive Factors, Hormone Use, and Risk for Lung Cancer in Postmenopausal Women, the Nurses' Health Study

Background: There is increasing evidence suggesting that female hormones may play a significant role in lung cancer development. We evaluated the associations between reproductive factors, exogenous hormone use, and lung cancer incidence in the Nurses' Health Study. Methods: We assessed age at menopause, age at menarche, type of menopause, parity, age at first birth, postmenopausal hormone (PMH) use, and past oral contraceptive use in 107,171 postmenopausal women. Cox models were used to estimate the hazard ratios for each exposure, adjusting for smoking and other covariates. Results: We identified 1,729 lung cancer cases during follow-up from 1984 to 2006. Menopause onset before 44 years of age (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.70) and past oral contraceptive use for >5 years (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.42) were associated with increased lung cancer risk. These associations were strongest in current smokers and small cell histology. In never smokers, increased parity was associated with decreased risk among parous women ( P trend = 0.03), whereas in current smokers, older age at first birth was associated with increased risk ( P trend = 0.02). PMH use was not associated with overall lung cancer incidence. However, nonsignificant results of increased risk in adenocarcinoma were seen with current PMH use. Conclusions: Our findings suggest female hormones may influence lung carcinogenesis, although the effect is likely modest, varied by histologic subtype, and altered by smoking. Impact: Further investigation of the pathophysiology of female hormones in lung cancer subtypes and their interaction with smoking will lead to better understanding of lung carcinogenesis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(10); 2525–33. ©2010 AACR.
A Stakeholder-Human Capital Perspective on the Link between Social Performance and Executive Compensation

The link between firm corporate social performance (CSP) and executive compensation could be driven by a sorting effect (a firm's CSP is related to the initial levels of compensation of newly hired executives), or by an incentive effect (incumbent executives are rewarded for past firm CSP). Existing empirical work focuses exclusively on the incentive effect. In contrast, in this paper we explore the sorting effect of firm CSP on the initial compensation of newly hired executives. In doing so, we develop a novel theoretical approach based on an integration of stakeholder theory and human capital theory, suggesting a positive association between the initial compensation of executives and firm CSP strengths and concerns. It also suggests that the strength of this relationship varies between different executive roles (as a function of stakeholder-management responsibilities). We find support for this theoretical framework in a large sample of newly-hired executives employed by Standard & Poor 1500 firms.
Vector electromagnetic scattering from layered rough surfaces with buried discrete random media for subsurface and root-zone soil moisture sensing

In this work, a 3D scattering model from layered arbitrarily random rough surfaces with embedded discrete random scatterers is constructed based on the scattering matrix approach. Scattering matrix of a single rough surface is found using the stabilized extended boundary condition method (SEBCM). Meanwhile, by finding the T-matrices of discrete scatterers using analytical or numerical methods, the random medium scattering solution is found based on the recursive T-matrix approach and near-to-far field transformed numerical plane wave expansion of the vector spherical harmonics. Solutions provided in this work include multiple scattering effects among the medium scatterers and between subsurfaces and sublayers. The high computational efficiency and accuracy of this method enable it to serve as a powerful tool for studying the role of vegetation roots and other sublayer inhomogeneities in retrieval of subsurface and root-zone soil moisture from radar measurements.
Ad in question.

To the Editor: I am writing to call your attention to what appears to be false advertising in recent issues of Physical Therapy . The advertisement describing Nuwave™ TENS (Staodynamics, Inc) contains several statements pertaining to clinical effectiveness that are substantively inconsistent with the actual results of the study cited in the advertisement. The advertisement states, “The positive and negative pulses are separated by a precise interval which has been empirically demonstrated to be most effective for controlling low back pain.” Elsewhere in the ad the statement is made, “In controlled clinical studies, the patented waveform used in Nuwave was proven more effective for chronic low back pain.” A recent paper by Lampe and Dunn1 is cited in support of these statements. A careful reading of the cited paper suggests, however, that the above-quoted statements are not true and that the advertisers have significantly misrepresented the work of Lampe and Dunn.…