cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SRC1 promotes Th17 differentiation by overriding Foxp3 suppression to stimulate RORγt activity in a PKC-θ-dependent manner.

Th17 cells are major players in multiple autoimmune diseases and are developmentally contingent on reciprocal functionality between the transcription factor Retineic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor gamma (RORγt) and Forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3). Here we deciphered a previously unappreciated role of Steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC1) in defining the lineage decision for the development of Th17 versus induced T-regulatory (iTreg) cells. We demonstrate that SRC1 functions as a critical coactivator for RORγt in vivo to promote the functional dominance of RORγt over Foxp3 and thus establishing an unopposed Th17 differentiation program. In the absence of SRC1, T cell polarization resulted in decreased IL-17+ and increased Foxp3+ cells during both in vitro differentiation and in vivo development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Mechanistically, T cell receptor (TCR) signaling molecule protein kinase C theta (PKC-θ)–mediated phosphorylation of SRC1 is important for inducing enhanced RORγt–SRC1 interaction, stable DNA binding, and resultant IL-17A transcription. Furthermore, phospho-SRC1–mediated recruitment of CARM1 induced prominent asymmetric dimethylation of H3R17 while preventing repressive H3K9 trimethylation and hence further modifying the IL-17 locus for optimal transcription. Moreover, binding of phospho-SRC1 to RORγt displaced bound Foxp3, leading to prompt degradation of the dissociated Foxp3 via a ubiquitin–proteosomal pathway and hence reversing the inhibitory action of Foxp3 on RORγt activity. Thus, SRC1 acts as a crucial molecular mediator to integrate positive PKC-θ–dependent TCR signals to induce peak RORγt activity and establish phenotypic dominance of Th17 over the iTreg pathway.
Energy bounds and vanishing results for the Gromov-Witten invariants of the projective space

Abstract We describe generating functions for arbitrary-genus Gromov–Witten invariants of the projective space with any number of marked points explicitly. The structural portion of this description gives rise to uniform energy bounds and vanishing results for these invariants. They suggest deep conjectures relating Gromov–Witten invariants of symplectic manifolds to the energy of pseudo-holomorphic maps and the expected dimension of their moduli space.
Psychosocial interventions for internalizing disorders in youth and adults with ASD

Internalizing disorders are common in individuals with ASD. Psychosocial interventions targeting these disorders in the ASD population have burgeoned in the last decade. Cognitive-behavioural therapy, modified for ASD, is the most frequently investigated model, although other interventions, including behaviour therapy, third-wave interventions, models targeting transdiagnostic constructs, and alternative interventions and treatment delivery methods are now emerging. This review provides a summary of the efficacy of these interventions in treating internalizing disorders in youth and adults with ASD. The barriers to accessing these treatments, which are experienced by many individuals with ASD and their families, as well as future research directions, are also discussed.
Inducible Silencing Of eIF4E Using a Tet-On System Results In Myeloma Growth In Vivo That Correlates With eIF4E Expression

Introduction Overexpression and/or activation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is critical for oncogenic protein synthesis. Mutations in genes related to mRNA translation are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (Chapman, Lawrence et al. 2011). Recently, we found that MM cells express high levels of eIF4E protein compared to normal plasma cells and overexpression of eIF4E induces transcription factors such as c-myc critical for the growth of multiple myeloma cells (Li, Fu et al. 2011,2012). The understanding of the mechanisms that control protein synthesis is an emerging new research area in MM with significant potential for developing innovative therapies. Here we show the critical role of eIF4E driven protein synthesis by using an inducible knockdown system to silence eIF4E gene expression and confirm the critical role of eIF4E in multiple myeloma growth in vivo and in vitro. Methods and Results We stably infected U266, RPMI-8226, IM-9 and MM.1S cells with a robust inducible single-lentiviral knockdown vector pLKO-Tet-On containing either control non-targeting shRNA or eIF4E targeting shRNA sequences. Doxycycline-induced eIF4E shRNA expression resulted in significant decrease of eIF4E mRNA and protein in eIF4E-shRNA but not the control shRNA infected MM cells. To determine the effects of eIF4E knockdown on MM cell growth and viability, stably transfected cell lines were grown in the presence or absence of doxycycline. Silencing of eIF4E by doxycycline induction of eIF4E shRNA in RPMI-8226 cells significantly inhibited (>72%,P Conclusion Here we show that eIF4E, a key player in the translational machinery, promotes multiple myeloma cell growth. We found that high eIF4E expression is indispensable for the growth of MM cells both in vitro and in vivo. Silencing of eIF4E decreases protein expression of a subset of transcripts encoding regulators of the cell cycle and proliferation, and resulted in tumor inhibition. Our study indicated that targeting transcriptional initiating factor eIF4E may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for MM treatment. Disclosures: Schecter: Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Research Funding. Lentzsch: Celgene: Research Funding.
The Sleep-Wake Pattern of Cortisol and Growth Hormone Secretion during Non-Entrained (Free-Running) Conditions in Man

It is now well established that all the peptide hormones secreted from the pituitary in man are related to the daily sleep-wake cycle. In addition to a temporal pattern of episodic secretion, the timing of the daily rhythm has been shown to be closely associated with sleep stages (1–6). The field of biological rhythm research has demonstrated that biological organisms have endogenous oscillations and that when these rhythms are no longer entrained to specific daily time cues (zeitgebers) they will develop free-running rhythms with period lengths greater than or less than 24 hours (circadian) (7–15).
Three Major Integrative Systems

Again addressing the oscillating, cause-and-effect relationship that has illuminated the development of knowledge of brain anatomy and physiology, we direct attention to three great systems on which the integrated behavior of higher animals depends: the ancient limbic system, the classical sensory or thalamocortical system, and the nonspecific ascending reticular system. Named in the order in which they were recognized and will be discussed, in each system an anatomic substrate was described before its “use,” or function, became apparent. The English-American neurophysiologist well known for her historical writings on the nervous system, M. A. B. Brazier, equated this triad of structures with the functions necessary to maintain the conscious state (1963, pp. 748–749). First, “transmission of the sense-labeled impulse bearing the message from the periphery to the brain” is achieved by “the classical afferent system, ascending laterally through the specific thalamic nuclei to specific cortical sites.” Second, “awareness that the message has arrived” occurs because “the ascending sensory systems in the midbrain core and medially placed thalamic nuclei are profoundly implicated.” Receiving and storing the message, the final requisite of the conscious state, “is served by the third of the three systems named: the limbic system, and in particular the hippocampal system.” This chapter considers the manner by which each of those integrated anatomic circuits was recognized as a functional entity. They cannot be envisioned as neatly demarcated nor are they competitive; rather, they lack agreed-on boundaries and it is clear that they interact profusely, each feeding into and receiving information from the others.
Airway anesthesia: theory and practice

Topical anesthesia of the airway is a necessary for awake intubation and is usually achieved using lidocaine delivered by various means. Although some experts favor the use of airway blocks, a more common approach is to use pure topical methods in combination with "spray as you go" techniques. Once the topicalization is complete, the patient should be able to easily tolerate the use of an oral airway used to facilitate awake oral intubation. Nasal intubation requires additional topicalization of the nasal passages in conjunction with a vasoconstrictor. Finally, judicious sedation is frequently used when awake intubation is carried out.
First-Principles Analysis of Site- and Condition-Dependent Fe Speciation in SSZ-13 and Implications for Catalyst Optimization

Metal-exchanged zeolites are common catalysts and adsorbents, but the relationship between their macroscopic composition (Si:Al and M:Al ratios) and microscopic details of exchange site composition and reactivity are difficult to infer. Here we address this general problem for Fe exchange in an SSZ-13 zeolite. We report periodic supercell density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the structures and energies of candidate Fe-exchange sites, including monomeric and dimeric Fe species with formal oxidation states ranging from 2+ to 5+ and charge-compensated by arbitrary combinations of framework Al, oxo, and hydroxyl ligands plus H2O adsorbates. We show that the chemical identity of an Fe-exchange site depends strongly on the number and proximity of framework Al and, through first-principles thermodynamics models, that these sites evolve in distinct ways as a function of external treatment conditions. By placing the results on a common energy reference and combining with simulated Al distributions, we ...
Spatial Control of Mechanical Properties and Surface Topography in a Photoreactive Block Copolymer Hydrogel

A simple method for spatially directed mechanical reinforcement and surface feature introduction on a photoactive block copolymer-based thermoplastic elastomer hydrogel is presented. The hydrogel material comprises two primary spherical micelle-forming block copolymer species: photoactive ω-anthracenylpolystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer (SO-anth) and polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SOS). The PEO midblock of the SOS triblock copolymer species provides a physical tether between adjacent micelles, increasing mechanical robustness (modulus) with addition of bridging SOS chains. The photoactive SO-anth diblock copolymer contains a terminal anthracene unit capable of dimerization by application of 365 nm light to induce a [4 + 4] photocycloaddition. The ability to photocouple chain termini populating the outer shell of the hydrophilic micelle coronas produces additional SOS triblock copolymer in situ. While the initial population of SOS tethers act to form a...
The Christian academic in higher education: the consecration of learning

This profoundly challenging book lies within a great tradition of writers such as Newman, Sertillanges, Barth, Bonhoeffer, Pieper and Tracey who all, in very different circumstances and out of diff...
Development and application of a high throughput one-pot extraction protocol for quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of phospholipids in serum and lipoprotein fractions in normolipidemic and dyslipidemic subjects.

Abstract Progress toward better diagnosis and treatment of lipid metabolism-related diseases requires high throughput approaches for multiplexed quantitative analysis of structurally diverse lipids, including phospholipids (PLs). This work demonstrates a simplified “one-pot” phospholipid extraction protocol, as an alternative to conventional liquid-liquid extraction. Performed in a 96-well format, the extraction was coupled with high throughput UPLC and multiplexed tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection, allowing non-targeted quantification of phosphatidylcholines (PC), sphingomyelins (SM), lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), and phosphatidylinositols (PI). Using 50 μL aliquots of serum samples from 110 individuals, lipoproteins were fractionated by size, and analyzed for phospholipids and non-polar lipids including free cholesterol (FC), cholesteryl esters (CEs) and triglycerides (TGs). Analysis of serum samples with wide range of Total-TG levels showed significant differences in PL composition. The correlations of molar ratios in lipoprotein size fractions, SM/PL with FC/PL, PE/PL with TG/CE, and PE/PL with PI/PL, demonstrate the applicability of the method for quantitative composition analysis of high, low and very-low density lipoproteins (HDL, LDL and VLDL), and characterization of lipid metabolism related disease states.
Analytics, bias, and evidence: the quest for rational decision making

ABSTRACTEvidence-based decision making seems both desirable and rational. New analytical tools for investigating ‘big data’ promise to provide additional unbiased evidence. Concurrently, technologi...
Crystal structure of the cytochrome P-450(CAM) active site mutant Thr252Ala

The crystal structure of a cytochrome P-450 CAM site-directed mutant in which the active site Thr252 has been replaced with an Ala(Thr252Ala) has been refined to an R factor of 0.18 at 2.2 A. According to sequence alignments , Thr252 is highly conserved among P-450 enzymes
OAuthLint: an empirical study on OAuth bugs in Android applications

Mobile developers use OAuth APIs to implement Single-Sign-On services. However, the OAuth protocol was originally designed for the authorization for third-party websites not to authenticate users in third-party mobile apps. As a result, it is challenging for developers to correctly implement mobile OAuth securely. These vulnerabilities due to the misunderstanding of OAuth and inexperience of developers could lead to data leakage and account breach. In this paper, we perform an empirical study on the usage of OAuth APIs in Android applications and their security implications. In particular, we develop OAuthLint, that incorporates a query-driven static analysis to automatically check programs on the Google Play marketplace. OAuthLint takes as input an anti-protocol that encodes a vulnerable pattern extracted from the OAuth specifications and a program P. Our tool then generates a counter-example if the anti-protocol can match a trace of Ps possible executions. To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach, we perform a systematic study on 600+ popular apps which have more than 10 millions of downloads. The evaluation shows that 101 (32%) out of 316 applications that use OAuth APIs make at least one security mistake.
Local Magnetic Field Design and Characterization for Independent Closed-Loop Control of Multiple Mobile Microrobots

We present a new localized magnetic field generating system consisting of microcoils in two different layers of a printed circuit board that can be used for the independent control of multiple magnetic microrobots. Such a system will allow for cooperative or parallel microassembly tasks with teams of magnetic microrobots. In this article, we have modeled and characterized the performance of the microcoils in the workspace by analyzing the effects of input current and substrate layer position. The interactions between the magnetic microrobots that affect their motion in the workspace was also studied. The local magnetic field generates sufficient forces to enable the closed-loop control of multiple microrobots in the workspace. A new microrobot design is then presented that enables orientation control of a magnetic microrobot when actuated by local magnetic fields. An overview of the design is presented first and then it is experimentally validated. Finally, sample micromanipulation tasks are demonstrated using the new microrobot design, showcasing its improved manipulation capabilities.
Characterizing Construction Demand Surge Using Spatial Panel Data Models

AbstractThe socioeconomic losses in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters have increased dramatically over the last few decades. The postdisaster survival of cities and communities depend ...
The Effects of Interrupting Sitting Time on Affect and State Anxiety in Children of Healthy Weight and Overweight: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Purpose Sedentary time relates to higher anxiety and more negative affect in children. This study assessed whether interrupting sitting over 3 hours is sufficient to influence state anxiety, positive affect, or negative affect, and tested weight status as a moderator. Methods Analyses were the second (preplanned) purpose of a larger study. Children (N = 61; age: mean [SD] = 9.5 [1.3]; 43% healthy weight) completed 2 experimental conditions: continuous sitting for 3 hours and sitting for 3 hours interrupted with walking for 3 minutes in every 30 minutes. State anxiety, positive affect, and negative affect were reported at pretest and posttest. Multilevel models for repeated measures assessed whether experimental condition predicted posttest scores. Results Experimental condition was unrelated to posttest state anxiety or positive affect. Weight status moderated how experimental condition influenced posttest negative affect (P = .003). Negative affect was lower in the children of healthy weight after interrupted sitting (vs continuous sitting; β = -0.8; 95% confidence interval, -1.5 to 0.0, P = .05), but it was higher in the children with overweight/obesity after interrupted sitting (vs continuous sitting; β = 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.0 to 1.2, P = .06). Conclusions Interrupting sitting acutely reduced negative affect in children of healthy weight, but not in children with overweight. Further research is needed to better understand the potential emotional benefits of sitting interruptions in youth.
FaceOff: Detecting Face Touching with a Wrist-Worn Accelerometer.

According to the CDC, one key step of preventing oneself from contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) is to avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. However, touching one's face is a frequent and spontaneous behavior---one study observed subjects touching their faces on average 23 times per hour. Creative solutions have emerged amongst some recent commercial and hobbyists' projects, yet most either are closed-source or lack validation in performance. We develop FaceOff---a sensing technique using a commodity wrist-worn accelerometer to detect face-touching behavior based on the specific motion pattern of raising one's hand towards the face. We report a survey (N=20) that elicits different ways people touch their faces, an algorithm that temporally ensembles data-driven models to recognize when a face touching behavior occurs and results from a preliminary user testing (N=3 for a total of about 90 minutes).
Trauma, social media, and #WhyIDidntReport: An analysis of twitter posts about reluctance to report sexual assault.

Recent social trends regarding sexual violence and gender have included elements of "hashtag activism," which involves using social media tools for cultural awareness and change. For example, the Twitter hashtag: #WhyIDidntReport was created for survivors of sexual victimization to share their barriers to reporting. In this project, 600 tweets attached to this hashtag were analyzed using a combination of grounded theory and content analysis methods. Results were organized into a conceptual map, with a central category (power), connected to three other ecological categories (culture, community systems, and relationships) and one category of survivor experiences. Each category has subcategories which illustrate certain contextual and internal barriers to reporting assault. The model shows how these barriers intersect and interact, and often further traumatize those who have been assaulted. The model offers implications for professionals working with those who have survived sexual trauma, as well as those studying the dynamics of abuse.
Lung Transplant Outcomes with Concomitant Heart Donation

Purpose Concomitant heart and lung donation may adversely affect outcomes in lung transplant recipients. In this study we characterized donor characteristics and examined the outcomes of lung transplantation from donors with concomitant heart donation. Methods This retrospective cohort study used the UNOS SRTR database and identified donors as lung only (LO) or heart and lung (HL) donors. Recipients from 5/01/05-03/31/19 were identified and compared. Redo and multi-organ transplants were excluded. Characteristics and outcomes were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests. Survival was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional-hazard (CPH) model. Results We identified 24,393 lung transplant recipients. 6,412 were in the HL group and 17,981 in the LO donor group. HL recipients were older, male, and had shorter waitlist times (Table, p Conclusion No survival difference was noted in recipients of LO and HL donors. Given comparable survival outcomes HL donors should be viewed as equivalent to LO donors. Further investigation should be directed into the reasons behind increased use of single lung transplantation of HL donors and whether both lungs are utilized.
Honoring Dr. Rosalie Kane.

Obituary for Rosalie Kane from the Minneapolis Star Tribune May 5, 2020 Rosalie Ann Kane, PhD, 79, died in her home with her daughters at her side on May 5, 2020, following a brief battle with brai...
Introducing RDA: A Guide to the Basics after 3R: by Chris Oliver. 2nd ed. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2021. ix, 200 pp. ISBN 978-0-8389-1908-8. $46.99

The goal of Introducing RDA is more ambitious than its title suggests. This second edition, which like the toolkit it describes has been completely revised and reorganized, sets out to do more than...
Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi using fungicides and host plant defense inducers under drought conditions: A case-study of flowering dogwood.

Phytophthora cinnamomi is considered one of the most destructive pathogens of ornamental crops. Different fungicides and host plant defense inducers were tested for their efficacy in managing Phyto...
2021 ACM SIGMOBILE Rockstar Award: Aruna Balasubramanian, Stony Brook University

The recipient of the 2021 SIGMOBILE RockStar Award is Aruna Balasubramanian, associate professor of computer science at Stony Brook University, NY. The award recognizes Aruna's outstanding contributions in the areas of mobile systems and mobile web performance, and her mentoring and leadership efforts in improving diversity in the SIGMOBILE community.
Courageous Cultures Embrace Automation: A Grounded Theory Investigation to Determine Individual Willingness to Adopt Automation in the Workplace

The objective of this research is to identify the primary factors that influence an individual’s willingness to adopt automation in the workplace. This is an important topic for anyone interested or responsible for implementing automation within an organization, regardless of scale or scope of the project. Using the grounded theory research method, the research team developed the Automation Adoption Theory by interviewing individuals in various industries and with various skill levels to understand the factors that influence their willingness to adopt and use automation in the workplace. We found that perceived necessity is a critical precursor for employees to willingly adopt automation. An organizational culture that encourages change and effective change management practices are essential factors for cooperative adoption of automation to occur.
Effect of Lifestyle, Aging, and Phytochemicals on the Onset of Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders include neurotraumatic and neurodegenerative diseases. Common neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and multiple sclerosis (MS), whereas common neurotraumatic diseases include strokes, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and spinal cord injury (SCI) (Farooqui 2010). Among neurotraumatic diseases, stroke is a metabolic insult induced by severe reduction or blockade in cerebral blood flow. This blockade not only causes deficiency of oxygen and reduction in glucose metabolism, but also results in ATP depletion and accumulation of toxic products. TBI and SCI due to motor cycle and car accidents are major cases of disability among young people. Neurotraumatic and neurodegenerative diseases share excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation as a common mechanism of cell death. In addition to excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases are accompanied by the accumulation of misfolded proteins, mitochondrial and proteasomal dysfunction, loss of synapses, and premature and slow death of certain neuronal populations in brain tissue (Graeber and Moran 2002). For example in AD, neuronal degeneration occurs in the nucleus basalis, whereas in PD, neurons die in the substantia nigra. The most severely affected neurons in Huntington’s disease (HD) are striatal medium spiny neurons (Farooqui 2010).
Ethics, religion, and mental health

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ethics, religion, and mental health. The chapter describes that in recovery from illness, illness prevention and health enhancement, suicide prevention, and substance abuse prevention, the clinical evidence for the impact of religious beliefs is increasingly strong. On the other hand, healthcare professionals with religious beliefs should not force religion on patients, but the professional should respond to the religious patient seeking some acknowledgment in the spirituality and religiousness and not have to worry about losing licensure for allowing a moment of silence or prayer. This chapter constructively surveys a small number of the many areas of clinical care in which mental health professionals cannot fully succeed in establishing therapeutic empathy and efficacy without respecting and allowing a place for spirituality and religion. The spiritual history of patients can be very useful in understanding their sources of well-being and in helping them to identify spiritual resources in the community. Psychiatrists should acknowledge the importance of spirituality and religion in maintaining hope in diagnosed individuals, refer to clergy, but also respond (if willing) to the patient's requests for spirituality in the physician–patient relationship. A good deal of moral idealism has been grounded in the spiritual-religious traditions, and these traditions may still contribute to the moral fiber of the psychiatric profession, as they did in the 19th century.
Complementary Approaches to Evaluation of Technology in Science Education.

An interesting and relevant case involving two distinct systematic evaluations, traditional as well as somewhat nontraditional, of a science teacher education project with a heavy technology emphasis is discussed. Comparisons of the two separate evaluations of the same project revealed the complexity of evaluating technology projects and the multifaceted ways in which the evaluation endeavor could be approached, and provided an unusual situation and seldom seen opportunity for thinking about such evaluations. Additionally, what some other authors have said about the evaluations of efforts that take advantage of technology in the training of science teachers will also be explored. Evaluators must become active players in guiding the infusion of technology in preservice science programs. If evaluators, don't function to identify what works and what doesn't and what induces the best supportive environment, then who will?
Attorneys at the Podium: A Plain Language Approach to Using the Rhetorical Situation in Public Speaking Outside the Courtroom

The general public typically has the unrealistic expectation that all lawyers are effective and persuasive public speakers who, when called upon, have the innate ability to say “just the right thing.” In fact, not all of us have that innate ability. And even though we may have some level of legal genius swirling around in our minds, that genius is sometimes poorly communicated in speeches that ultimately don’t meet audience expectations or needs. Certainly, law school has taught us how to think and write like lawyers, but the ability to effectively communicate orally isn’t as frequently emphasized. This lack of emphasis on effective public speaking is unfortunate because lawyers are frequently forced to engage in some public speaking outside the courtroom, including speaking to lay groups about various matters of legal controversy; making appearances before legislatures, city councils and municipal boards; presenting at bar association luncheons; making client pitches; or participating in media interviews on behalf of clients. All of these occasions require the attorney-speaker to organize content, consider the audience, and deliver the most effective message possible. Understanding the rhetorical situation - a theoretical concept with huge practical implications - before crafting the response helps the speaker meet these crucial components to effective speaking. Rather than focus merely on the mechanics of speech delivery or the flourishes of theatrical speaking, the speaker should first identify the rhetorical situation, which will force the speaker to concentrate on specific content for the speech. The good news for those attorneys who want to become more successful public speakers is that if they understand the rhetorical situation, they will be better able to meet audience expectations. This is true because their analysis of the situation gives the attorney-speaker the tools to understand the environmental context of the speech (what is happening in the world outside the speech) and the audiences affected by this context. Together, these understandings ultimately permit the speaker to craft a speech that can aid, persuade, or satisfy those affected. This short article first introduces the theoretical definition of the rhetorical situation. Translating the theory into plain language, it then offers a checklist for the attorney in preparing for any speaking scenario. These steps embody the rhetorical-situation analysis. Finally, the article illustrates the recommended approach by guiding the reader through an analysis of the rhetorical situation surrounding President Reagan’s Challenger speech.
Voter participation and the redistributive state

The redistributive theory of the state implies that voter participation rates should be highest among those who have the most to gain or lose or a V-shaped relationship between income and voting participation should exist. We use a data set that contains nearly 21,000 observations on individual survey responses about voting behavior in the U.S. between 1972 and 1993 to show that the participation rate generally rises monotonically with income, perhaps except at very high income levels. It does report other findings consistent with an economic theory of voting based on returns to association and with the hypothesis that public employees vote more.
Anemia and recovery from disability in activities of daily living in hospitalized older persons.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the predictive value of hemoglobin levels upon hospital admission on recovery from activity of daily living (ADL) disability during hospital stay in older patients. DESIGN: Longitudinal observational study. SETTING: Geriatric and internal medicine acute care units. PARTICIPANTS: Data are from 5,675 patients aged 65 and older enrolled in the Italian Group of Pharmacoepidemiology in the Elderly Study with ADL disability upon hospital admission. MEASUREMENTS: ADL disability was defined as inability to perform or need for assistance in performing one or more ADLs. Recovery from ADL disability was defined as independence in ADLs upon hospital discharge. Anemia was defined according to the World Health Organization criteria. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were considered as potential confounders. RESULTS: Mean age was 80.5 years; 57.7% of subjects were female. Prevalence of anemia was 46.8%. A total of 536 (9.4%) participants regained independence in all six ADLs at hospital discharge. Patients with anemia had a lower rate of recovery from ADL disability than those with normal hemoglobin levels (7.0% vs 11.6%; P<.001). Adjusted analyses confirmed that anemia was inversely associated with the likelihood of ADL recovery (odds ratio=0.71, 95% confidence interval=0.57–0.88). The probability of ADL recovery in anemic patients was higher at higher hemoglobin concentrations. CONCLUSION: In older hospitalized patients, anemia is inversely associated with the likelihood of regaining ADL independence during a hospital stay.
Chicago: A Geography of the City and Its Region

For a long time, the urban studies community has used Chicago as a model city for understanding urban spatial processes and patterns. More recently, Los Angeles has been offered up as a model city ...
Müllerian inhibiting substance inhibits testosterone synthesis in adult rats.

Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a gonadal hor- mone that causes regression of the Mullerian ducts during male sex- ual differentiation. Postnatally, MIS inhibits the proliferation and dif- ferentiation of immature Leydig cells, and transgenic mice that over- express MIS have decreased serum testosterone concentrations. To elucidate the effects of MIS on androgen regulation in the postnatal testis, we examined testosterone synthesis in adult Sprague-Dawley rats following intratesticular and intraperitoneal injections of MIS. In- tratesticular MIS injection achieved high local concentrations of MIS (574.0 60.0 ng/mL) at 4 hours, with a corresponding decline in serum testosterone concentrations to 0.7 0.1 ng/mL, compared to 1.1 0.2 ng/mL with intraperitoneal MIS and 1.6 0.1 ng/mL with intratesticular vehicle (IT-Veh) (P.001). Intratesticular administra- tion of MIS (IT-MIS) resulted in much higher serum and testicular interstitial fluid MIS concentrations than the intraperitoneal route. To directly examine the testosterone production rate in MIS-treated an- imals, we isolated Leydig cells from MIS and vehicle-injected testes. Primary Leydig cells exposed to MIS had a lower testosterone pro- duction rate and decreased expression of p450c17 (hydroxylase/ lyase) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor mRNAs than that of vehicle-injected controls or the noninjected contralateral testis. In conclusion, intratesticular administration of MIS caused a decline in serum testosterone concentrations by decreasing the rate of testos- terone biosynthesis, confirming that MIS can regulate adult Leydig cell androgen production. The ability of MIS to down-regulate mRNA expression of the p450c17 and LH receptor genes suggests that this effect is mediated transcriptionally. These data indicate that, in ad- dition to its role in embryonic differentiation of the male reproductive tract, MIS has a regulatory function in the postnatal testis. We con- clude that one such function is for MIS to directly inhibit adult Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
[2-({3-[(3-Amino-prop-yl)amino]-prop-yl}imino-meth-yl)phenolato-κO,N,N'',N''']bromidocopper(II).

In the title compound, [Cu(C13H20N3O)Br], the Cu(II) atom is coordinated by three N atoms and one O atom from the deprotonated ligand derived from the Schiff base condensation of 3,3-imino­bis­(propyl­amine) and salicyl­aldehyde. The three N and the O atoms occupy equatorial positions, while the Br atom occupies an axial position. The amine H atoms form inter­molecular hydrogen bonds with the Br and O atoms of adjoining mol­ecules
Progestins inhibit murine oocyte meiotic maturation in vitro.

The in vitro culture of fully grown mammalian oocytes results in spontaneous meiotic maturation from prophase arrest to metaphase II. This maturation can be inhibited by steroid hormones in both murine and porcine oocytes. Using selected steroids, we have examined the structure-activity relationships of steroids and oocyte inhibition. Experiments with androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, and progesterone revealed that at least one steroid from each class was inhibitory. Progesterone, however, was two to three times more effective than steroids from other classes. Examination of a variety of progestins showed that most substitutions decreased or abolished the inhibitory activity. Hydroxy group substitutions at different carbon atoms and substitutions at the 4-ene group lessened the inhibitory effectiveness, with the exception of 5β-dihydroprogesterone, which was as effective as progesterone. However, several steroids with substitutions at the C17 acetyl group were more active than progesterone, including 20β-dihydroprogesterone which was the most inhibitory steroid tested (ID50 = 5 μM). The progesterone agonist R5020 was also very active (ID50 = 8 μM). This is the first report of a detailed examination of the steroid-induced inhibition of murine oocytes. A comparison between the results reported here and previous reports of steroid-induced inhibition in porcine oocytes reveals differences in the response of oocytes from the two families. The structure-activity relationships of the inhibitory steroids examined here suggest that the steroids are acting via a receptor-mediated system. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dissociation constants of certain γ-pyrone dicarboxylic acids. Meconic acid and chelidonic acid

Meconic acid and chelidonic acid are very strong acids having dissociation constants of the same order of magnitude as sulfuric acid. This high acidity is explained on the basis of the resonance structure of the γ-pyrone molecule.
The multidisciplinary management of psammomatoid ossifying fibroma of the orbit.

Abstract Objective To discuss the multidisciplinary management of psammomatoid ossifying fibroma (POF) of the orbit and to clarify the clinicopathologic terminology. Design The authors present a cohort of cases of POF involving the frontal and ethmoid sinuses and the orbit and discuss the nomenclature and literature. Participants Three patients with POF and their treatment are discussed. Intervention Patients were worked up and treated by a multidisciplinary team using imaging studies and histopathologic analysis. Reconstruction, if necessary, was carried out at the time of excision or in a second-stage procedure. Main outcome measures In each case, the lesion was completely excised and has not recurred. Results The diagnosis of POF was made in each case, and the patient underwent successful resection of the tumor. Conclusion The authors’ experience suggests that a multidisciplinary approach, including a radiologist, pathologist, neurosurgeon, otolaryngologist, craniofacial surgeon, and orbital specialist, may be useful in the evaluation and management of these lesions.
HOXA10 Regulates Expression of Cytokeratin 15 in Endometrial Epithelial Cytoskeletal Remodeling

The mammalian cytoskeleton is composed in part from keratin filaments which form a complex, highly dynamic intracellular network. We investigate the expression of cytokeratin 15 (CK15) in human endometrium and its regulation by HOXA10 in the human endometrial cell lines. Endometrial biopsies from throughout the menstrual cycle (N = 32) were evaluated for CK15 protein expression by immunohistochemistry using a mouse monoclonal antibody. The human endometrial epithelial cell line (Ishikawa) was transfected with pcDNA/HOXA10. Total RNA was isolated and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine expression levels of CK15. In the peri-implantation window (days 16 through 23) CK15 protein expression in glandular epithelium of human endometrium decreased to 50% of proliferative phase expression levels. Expression of CK15 messenger RNA decreased by 99% (P < .05) after pcDNA/HOXA10 transfection of Ishikawa cells. The CK15 expression corresponded to the time of maximal secretory epithelial remodeling. Gene expression of CK15 is decreased in a HOXA10-dependent fashion in human endometrial epithelial cells. Expression decreases in the peri-implantation period concurrent with maximal HOXA10 expression. Dramatic changes in cellular architecture are necessary to achieve the secretory changes in the endometrial epithelium that bring about the implantation window. Alterations in CK15 likely facilitate these cytoskeletal changes, ultimately promoting endometrial receptivity.
Mechanisms of resistance of bacteria causing ventilator-associated pneumonia

The common causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter spp) are frequently resistant to multiple antibiotic classes. S aureus develops resistance to all beta-lactam antibiotics by producing a modified penicillin-binding protein. Linezolid resistance arises by way of mutations in the 23S ribosomal subunit. Antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacilli usually arises by way of beta-lactamase production, upregulation of efflux pumps, or loss of outer membrane proteins. The ability of bacteria to develop and disseminate new mechanisms of antibiotic resistance may outstrip the availability of new antibiotic classes.
Intracellular Calcium Oscillations in Cell Population ras-Transfected I-7 Subline of Human HaCaT Keratinocytes

We have observed oscillations of intracellular Ca2+ (Ca[i]) concentration in populations of ras-transfected HaCaT keratinocytes of I-7 subline. In postconfluent monolayers of I-7 keratinocytes, an increase in extracellular Ca2+ (Ca[o]) concentration to 0.25-0.5 mM induced sinusoidal Ca(i) oscillations, which persisted longer than 1 h with amplitudes of 50-150 nM and periods of 5-10 min. Thapsigargin, which depletes internal Ca2+ stores, did not prevent Ca(o)-induced Ca(i) oscillations, and it also induced Ca(i) oscillations in the ras-transfected I-7 line. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or addition of Ca2+-entry blocker La3+ or SK&F 96365 inhibited Ca(i) oscillations, suggesting that Ca(i) oscillations in ras-transfected HaCaT keratinocytes were dependent on Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane. Because the Ca(o)-induced Ca(i) oscillations have been observed only in ras-transfected I-7 subline and not in its nontransfected parental HaCaT line, this may provide a partial explanation for the divergent responses of ras-transfected and nontransfected keratinocytes to Ca(o) signal for control of growth and differentiation.
Developmental and teratogenic effects of precocene 2 on the bed bug, Cimex Lectularius L.

Contact application of precocene 2 (6,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene) to inseminated adult female bed bugs inhibited egg maturation and affected egg viability. Third-stage nymphs exposed to 100μg/cm 2 showed precocious maturation after the moult to the next stage. Nymphs exposed to lower concentrations of precocene exhibited teratism of the antennae, including the reduction of terminal sensillae. This was thought to be responsible for the bugs not assembling. Reduction in the fecundity in adult bugs, and the morphogenetic and teratogenic activity in nymphs was circumstantially related to reduced levels of juvenile hormone, as a result of exposure to precocene.
An efficient, classification-based approach for grouping pen strokes into objects

Abstract Objects in freely drawn sketches often have no spatial or temporal separation, making object identification difficult. We present a two-step stroke-grouping algorithm that first classifies individual strokes according to the type of object to which they belong, and then groups strokes with like classifications into clusters representing individual objects. The first step facilitates clustering by naturally separating the strokes, and both steps fluidly integrate spatial and temporal information. Our single-stroke classifier has comparable accuracy to an existing state-of-the-art single-stroke classifier on text vs. non-text classification, and is significantly more efficient. Furthermore, our classifier is also suitable for applications with more than two classes of strokes. Our approach to grouping is unique in its formulation as an efficient classification task rather than, for example, an expensive search task. In experiments on several types of sketches, our grouping method performed accurately, correctly grouping up to 92% of the ink, with up to 79% of the shapes being perfectly clustered.
907-106 A Specific Anti-ICAM Antibody Prevents Neutrophil Mediated Injury in the Postischemic Heart

It has been hypothesized that PMN-mediated reperfusion (R) injury is triggered by increased expression of intracellular adhesion molecule 1, (ICAM1), on the surface of the coronary endothelium follOWing ischemia and reperfusion which in turn triggers CD18-mediated adhesion of circulating neutrophils (PMN) and subsequent postischemic inflammation. In order to evaluate the role of ICAM in the pathogensis of postischemic injury, experiments were performed in an isolated rat heart model perfused with isolated PMNs and plasma. The efficacy of a specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) against ICAM, IA-29 (Upjohn), was studied in hearts subjected to 20 min of global ischemia and 45 min of R. 3 × 107PMNs and plasma were infused during the first 5 min of R, with or without IA-29 (20 mg/ml); N = 10/group. Contractile function and PMN retention were measured. This specific anti ICAM-l antibody markedly increased the recovery of contractile function and decreased PMN retention. These experiments demonstrate that a blocking antibody to ICAM-l can be effective in reducing PMN accumulation and subsequent PMN-mediated reperfusion injury. Thus, the use of a MAb against ICAM-l could be an effective therapeutic approach to prevent myocardial reperfusion injury. Summary data of (%) recovery at 45 min are shown below Group CF LVDP RPP PMNRetention control 13 ± 3 35 ± 5 33 ± 5 59 ± 4% IA-29 75 ± 2 * 76 ± 5 * 80 ± 6 * 4 ± 3% * CF = coronary flow, LVDP = left ventricular developed pressure, RPP = rate-pressure product. * p l 0.05 vs control
Dye-enhanced reflectance and fluorescence confocal microscopy as an optical pathology tool

Early detection and precise excision of neoplasms are imperative requirements for successful cancer treatment. In this study we evaluated the use of dye-enhanced confocal microscopy as an optical pathology tool in the ex vivo trial with fresh thick non-melanoma skin cancer excisions and in vivo trial with B16F10 melanoma cancer in mice. For the experiments the tumors were rapidly stained using aqueous solutions of either toluidine blue or methylene blue and imaged using multimodal confocal microscope. Reflectance images were acquired at the wavelengths of 630nm and 650 nm. Fluorescence was excited at 630 nm and 650 nm. Fluorescence emission was registered in the range between 680 nm and 710 nm. The images were compared to the corresponding en face frozen H&E sections. The results of the study indicate confocal images of stained cancerous tissue closely resemble corresponding H&E sections both in vivo and in vitro . This remarkable similarity enables interpretation of confocal images in a manner similar to that of histopathology. The developed technique may provide an efficient real-time optical tool for detecting skin pathology.