cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Big Tent Effect: Descriptive Candidates and Black and Latino Political Partisanship

In this study, we assess whether Blacks and/or Latinos are more likely to identify with political parties that nominate a U.S. House candidate who shares their race/ethnicity using the 2010 Coopera...
Testing for Drugs of Abuse in Meconium of Newborn Infants

A reliable and sensitive screening procedure has been developed for drugs of abuse (amphetamines, cocaine metabolites, opiates, and phencyclidine [PCP]) in meconium from infants. The substances in meconium were extracted with chloroform-isopropanol (3:1) and screened by enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT). The lower detection limits of the EMIT for benzoylecgonine, d-methamphetamine, morphine, and PCP were 250 ng/g, 730 ng/g, 110 ng/g, and 100 ng/g, respectively. This method was applied to meconium from 50 infants born to mothers suspected of using the drugs of abuse during pregnancy. Of the 50, 12 were positive for benzoylecgonine, seven for opiates, and one for PCP. The presence of benzoylecgonine and PCP in meconium was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and that of opiates by thin-layer chromatography. The routine analysis of meconium for drugs of abuse is recommended in cases where (A) urine can not be obtained or (B) urinalysis is negative for the substances despite a strong suspicion of maternal use of the substances during pregnancy.
Providing Hospitalized Patients With an Educational Booklet Increases the Quality of Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation.

Background & Aims Inadequate bowel preparation is a problem frequently encountered by gastroenterologists who perform colonoscopies on hospitalized patients. A method is needed to increase the quality of bowel preparation in inpatients. An educational booklet has been shown to increase the overall quality of bowel preparation for outpatients. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the effects of an educational booklet on the quality of bowel preparation in a group of hospitalized patients. Methods We performed a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial of all inpatients at a tertiary care medical center scheduled for inpatient colonoscopy from October 2013 through March 2014. They were randomly assigned to groups that were (n = 45) or were not (controls, n = 40) given the booklet before bowel preparation the evening before their colonoscopy. All patients received a standard bowel preparation (clear liquid diet the day before the procedure, followed by split-dose GoLYTELY). At the colonoscopy, the Boston Bowel preparation scale (BBPS) was used to assess bowel preparation. The primary outcome measure was adequate bowel preparation (a total BBPS score ≥6 with all segment scores ≥2). Secondary outcomes assessed included total BBPS score, BBPS segment score, and a total BBPS score of 0. Results There were no differences between the groups in age, race, sex, body mass index, history of colonoscopy, history of polyps, or time of colonoscopy. Twenty-eight patients who received the booklet (62%) and 14 who did not (35%) had an adequate bowel preparation ( P = .012). The number needed to treat to attain adequate bowel preparation was 4. After adjusting for age and history of prior colonoscopies, the odds of achieving an adequate bowel preparation and a higher total BBPS score after receipt of the booklet were 3.14 (95% confidence interval, 1.29–7.83) and 2.27 (95% confidence interval, 1.05–4.88), respectively. Three patients in the booklet group and 9 in the no-booklet group had a BBPS score of 0 ( P = .036). The mean BBPS segment score was greater for the booklet group than the no-booklet group (right colon, P = .097; transverse colon, P = .023; left colon, P = .045). Conclusions In a randomized controlled trial, we found that providing hospitalized patients with an educational booklet on colonoscopy preparation increases the odds of a quality bowel preparation more than 2-fold.
Cancer care cost trends in the United States: 1998 to 2012

BACKGROUND The authors examine trends in spending on cancer from 1998 through 2012, including cancer care costs, prevalence, and cases by payer, and discuss the results within the context of a prior analysis and recent health policy and programmatic changes. METHODS Condition-specific distribution of expenditures from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, supplemented with results from the National Nursing Home Survey and other data sources, was used as the basis for allocating the Personal Health Care components of the National Health Expenditure Accounts among conditions. RESULTS Cancer care expenditures grew at an annualized rate of 2.9% from 1998 to 2012. The share of expenditures for hospital-based care declined to a low of 48% during 2007 through 2009. Professional and clinical services' shares declined substantially between 2007 to 2009 and 2010 to 2012 when the hospital share increased. Treated prevalence decreased for all payers between the first and last study periods with the exception of private payers (11.2% increase). Out-of-pocket expenditures declined to 4.7%, whereas Medicare's share increased slightly. Medication expenditures increased, notably within retail and mail order settings. CONCLUSIONS The previous rapid growth of cancer prevalence and expenditures has now slowed, most remarkably since the 2007 recession. Out-of-pocket expenses for cancer treatment continue to decline, most recently reaching the lowest point in 25 years. In addition, the early effects of Affordable Care Act expansion can be observed in the decline of treated prevalence in the Medicaid population as the demographics of Medicaid enrollees change. Cancer 2016;122:1078–1084. © 2016 American Cancer Society
On the (geo)politics of belonging: Agamben and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This essay considers the significance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), drawing on the work of Giorgio Agamben in order to do so. UNDRIP provides means for develop...
Securing unmanned autonomous systems from cyber threats

Unmanned systems, with and without a human-in-the loop, are being deployed in a range of military and civilian applications spanning air, ground, sea-surface and undersea environments. Large investments, particularly in robotics, electronic miniaturization, sensors, network communication, information technology and artificial intelligence are likely to further accelerate this trend. The operation of unmanned systems, and of applications that use these systems, are heavily dependent on cyber systems that are used to collect, store, process and communicate data, making data a critical resource. At the same time, undesirable elements of our society and adversarial states have also realized the high value of this resource. While enormous efforts have been made to secure data and cyber systems, lack of rigorous threat modeling and risk analysis can lead to more specific, rather than generic, security solutions relevant to the cyber system to be protected. This scenario has created an urgent need to develop a h...
Pneumococcal Otitis Media following Middle Ear Deflation

Temporal bone histology has been studied in chinchillas following middle ear deflation in the presence of nasopharyngeal colonization with S pneumoniae. All animals sacrificed within one hour following deflation had similar middle ear histology regardless of whether or not the animals had been colonized with S pneumoniae. All animals with negative nasopharyngeal culture for S pneumoniae sacrificed from 3-24 days following - 30 mm Hg negative middle ear pressure had negative middle ear cultures and normal morphology. During the same time period, however, nearly 60% of animals colonized with S pneumoniae developed acute otitis media with positive middle ear cultures for S pneumoniae. Histologic changes in the middle ear included the presence of effusion, leukocytes, granulation tissue, osteoneogenesis, mucosal metaplasia, and hemorrhage. Changes in the inner ear were much less frequent and included some leukocyte infiltration with hyperemia in the scala tympani and and endolymphatic hydrops.
Gender biased immune-biomarkers in active tuberculosis and correlation of their profiles to efficacy of therapy

Active pulmonary TB is an inflammatory disease and is increasingly viewed as an imbalance of immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb.) infection. In addition, this immune imbalance may be gender biased (males have a higher prevalence of TB) but reasons for such bias are uncertain. We hypothesized that studies on profiles of immune-biomarkers will not only provide insight into molecular basis of gender bias but may also help identify biomarkers to monitor efficacy of TB therapy. We examined 10 plasma cytokine/chemokine/growth-factor and 8 antibody (against 8 M. tb. antigens) biomarkers (elevated in TB patients) by multiplex microbead immunoassays. In addition, we examined these biomarkers in patients under anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT). The results showed that female patients contained significantly higher levels of CXCL9 (MIG) and CXCL10 (IP-10), while males contained higher levels of PDGF-BB. In contrast, more males than females contained antibodies against several antigens. Our results also show that there are progressive and substantial decreases in plasma levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, PDGF-BB, IFNγ, and IL-18, correlating with treatment success. Our results suggest that studies on gender bias in immunebiomarkers will enhance understanding of host responses in TB and would be valuable as biomarkers for monitoring efficacy of ATT.
Erythropoietin assays: Some new and different approaches

Published reports of the levels of erythropoietin (Ep) in normal human serum have been reviewed. Current evidence suggests that the level of Ep in normal human serum is 30 +/- 10 mU Ep/ml. When serum was concentrated before assay somewhat lower values were obtained and the mouse fetal liver cell assay gave slightly higher values. Three new potential Ep assay techniques are presented. These are: 1) The use of synthetic microbeads as indicators in an agglutination assay, 2) the use of wheat germ lectin in affinoelectrophoresis techniques, and 3) an immunoradiometric assay as an alternative to radioimmunoassays. The results indicate that the use of all three assays should be explored further.
Adsorption Behavior of Silk Fibroin on Amphiphilic Graphene Oxide

Graphene oxide-silk composites have gained a significant interest in the recent times because of the unique mechanical properties of both GO and silk and their ability to form layered structures that exhibit a striking resemblance to the layered (brick-mortar) composites found in nature. However, various aspects of the interaction between silk and graphene oxide (e.g., conformation and distribution of the silk chains on chemically heterogeneous GO surface) are not completely understood. In this study, we demonstrate that the interaction between the silk fibroin chains and GO can be modulated by altering the pH of the silk fibroin solution. We employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to probe the distribution and the secondary structure of silk fibroin adsorbed on GO. In acidic pH conditions (i.e., pH < pI), a high density of silk chains were found to adsorb on the GO surface, whereas an increase in pH resulted in a progressive decrease in the density of the...
Perioperative screening for obstructive sleep apnoea and treatment outcomes: where are the data?

Perioperative obstructive sleep apnoea screening: how should it be evaluated? http://ow.ly/105cGT
Galdós: Fortunata and Jacinta

Galdos's four-part Fortunata and Jacinta (1886–7), the masterpiece among his almost 80 novels, tells the turbulent story of two women, their husbands and their lovers, set against the intricate web of dynastic alliances and class contrasts of Madrid in the 1870s. In this new critical introduction Professor Turner provides information on the history and social life of the times, and analyzes Galdos's theory of realism, his powerful use of imagery and metaphor to express the reality of social, mental and moral conditions, and the artistic merits of his narrative style. The book contains tables illustrating the complex family relationships fundamental to the structure of the work, and a chronological summary of the plot, as well as a detailed guide to further reading.
The influence of sea surface temperature fronts on radar performance

A nominal sub-refractive event off the east coast of the United States was modeled with the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System. The resulting three dimensional refractivity field was employed as input to the Advanced Refractive Effects Prediction System (AREPS). The sea surface temperature (SST) gradient produced across the western border of the Gulfstream modified the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer such that sub-refraction resulted north of the SST front and super-refraction developed south of the SST front. Notional S, C, and X-band radars were modeled by AREPS and detection ranges for a notional target were calculated. Detection ranges were below those for a standard atmosphere north of the SST front but greater than those for a standard atmosphere south of the SST front.
Demographic Analyses for Public Policy: Projecting the Use of Veteran Educational Benefits in Texas

Demographers are often called upon to project change in public programs and to analyze alternative scenarios based upon proposed changes to public policy. In response, methods must be found to adequately prepare research despite limitations in time, data, and information. This chapter describes one such project completed to estimate the number of potential participants in a state-specific program to help veterans and their dependents obtain college degrees or technical credentials. We use the Hamilton-Perry method to prepare projections of veterans and veteran dependents as a basis for projecting the change in the use of a Texas specific educational benefit for veterans and dependents – the Hazlewood Exemption. We then use these projections of Hazlewood participants as well as estimates of the characteristics of veterans and veteran households to analyze the impacts of proposals for managing the future use of the Hazlewood Exemption. Despite recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the size of the United States military is much smaller than it was during the Vietnam and Cold War eras which will lead to a smaller veteran population as older cohorts of veterans age and die. The analysis indicates that the age characteristics of these veterans as well as the characteristics of their households are critical to understanding future levels of educational benefit usage.
NanoSIMS for biological applications: Current practices and analyses

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) has become an increasingly utilized tool in biologically relevant studies. Of these, high lateral resolution methodologies using the NanoSIMS 50/50L have been especially powerful within many biological fields over the past decade. Here, the authors provide a review of this technology, sample preparation and analysis considerations, examples of recent biological studies, data analyses, and current outlooks. Specifically, the authors offer an overview of SIMS and development of the NanoSIMS. The authors describe the major experimental factors that should be considered prior to NanoSIMS analysis and then provide information on best practices for data analysis and image generation, which includes an in-depth discussion of appropriate colormaps. Additionally, the authors provide an open-source method for data representation that allows simultaneous visualization of secondary electron and ion information within a single image. Finally, the authors present a perspective on the future of this technology and where they think it will have the greatest impact in near future.
Paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures: a technique for safe medial pin passage with zero incidence of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury.

Introduction The cross Kirschner wire (K-wire) configuration in closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of paediatric supracondylar humeral fracture affords superior stability. However, medial pin placement presents a risk of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. This study describes, in step-by-step detail, another safe method of percutaneous medial pin insertion. Methods The technique involved placing the patient's arm in external rotation, with elbow flexed no more than 45° after closed reduction. The surgeon held the K-wire close to its sharp end to pass it percutaneously onto the medial epicondyle, then adjusted his grip toward the blunt end. After fluoroscopy check, the wire driver was engaged and an anteriorly directed force was applied to the distal humerus fragment using the thumb of the surgeon's free hand. The K-wire was inserted at a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis of the humerus shaft. Clinical notes and radiographs of patients who underwent surgery with this technique from 2006 to 2008 were reviewed. Results A total of 125 patients (84 boys, 41 girls) were included, with a mean age of 7.1 (range 2-14) years. Most injuries were left-sided (72.8%, n = 91, vs. right: 27.2%, n = 34). 72 (57.6%) patients had two-pin cross K-wire configuration, while 53 (42.4%) patients had an additional lateral pin inserted. No patient had postoperative ulnar neuropathy. There were no complications of non-union, malunion or infection. Conclusion This safe method of medial pin placement for surgical stabilisation of paediatric supracondylar humeral fractures is easily learnt and reproducible, and produces excellent results.
Par la main des femmes: la poterie modelée du Maghreb

Until recently, those interested in the so-called ‘Berber’ ceramic traditions practiced primarily in the mountain villages of North Africa had a fairly small pool of scholarly resources to draw upo...
Anterior cruciate ligament tear induces a sustained loss of muscle fiber force production.

Introduction Patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears have persistent quadriceps strength deficits that are thought to be due to altered neurophysiological function. Our goal was to determine the changes in muscle fiber contractility independent of the ability of motor neurons to activate fibers. Methods We obtained quadriceps biopsies of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction, and additional biopsies 1, 2, and 6 months after surgery. Muscles fiber contractility was assessed in vitro, along with whole muscle strength testing. Results Compared with controls, patients had a 30% reduction in normalized muscle fiber force at the time of surgery. One month later, the force deficit was 41%, and at 6 months the deficit was 23%. Whole muscle strength testing demonstrated similar trends. Discussion While neurophysiological dysfunction contributes to whole muscle weakness, there is also a reduction in the force generating capacity of individual muscle cells independent of alpha motor neuron activation. Muscle Nerve, 2018.
Loss of follow-up in transition to adult CHD: a single-centre experience.

Lapses in care during transition in adult CHD patients lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have investigated predictors of poor follow-up in universal healthcare paradigms and select American populations. We studied patients with a wide spectrum of CHD severity within a single American centre to identify factors associated with successful internal transition and maintenance of care. Loss of follow-up was defined as no documented cardiac follow-up for ⩾3 years. Ambulatory cardiology patients aged 16–17 years with CHD were retrospectively enrolled and contacted. A survey assessing demographics, patients’ understanding of their CHD, medical status, and barriers to care was administered. On the basis of chart review of 197 enrolled patients, 74 demonstrated loss of follow-up (37.6%). Of 78 successfully contacted patients, 58 were surveyed, of whom a minority had loss of follow-up (n=16). The status of most patients with loss of follow-up was not known. Maintenance of care was associated with greater complexity of CHD (p<0.01), establishment of care with an adult CHD provider (p<0.001), use of prescription medications (p<0.001), and receipt of education emphasising the importance of long-term cardiac care (p<0.003). Insurance lapses were not associated with loss of follow-up (p=0.08). Transition and maintenance of care was suboptimal even within a single centre. Over one-third of patients did not maintain care. Patients with greater-complexity CHD, need for medications, receipt of transition education, and care provided by adult CHD providers had superior follow-up.
The New Regulatory Era - An Introduction

For many decades the word “regulation” has been a bogeyman concept evoking images of unproductive and wasteful government bureaucracy. While this image has been a popular rallying cry for politicians over the years, every interest group — with the exception of libertarians — has actively supported and lobbied for regulation in certain domains of the economy and society. With the recent financial crisis, this bogeyman image of regulation has been turned on its head. This Essay explains some of the causes for the change and highlights several expected directions that the new regulatory era is likely to take.
Investigating Enzyme Activity of Immobilized Candida rugosa Lipase

Candida rugosa lipase is a food-grade enzyme that is extensively utilized in the dairy processing industry for milk fat hydrolysis. The enzyme is mainly employed to modify the fatty acid chain length that results in the enhancement of flavors. The hydrolytic activities of C. rugosa lipase (fungal source) in its free and immobilized forms were investigated at different pH and temperature settings. The main objective of this study was to understand how different support materials (Celite-545, Sephadex G-25, and chitosan) and immobilization techniques alter lipase activity and stability. Our results indicated that hydrolytic activity increased significantly with immobilization on Celite-545. In general, immobilization resulted in considerable improvements in the stability of the enzyme with variations in pH and temperature. Immobilization on Celite-545 led to the highest catalytic efficiency. Remarkable improvements in the recovery and reusability of the immobilized lipases were noted. Comparatively, the acetone immobilization procedure resulted in higher activities than alcohol immobilization. In conclusion, the activity of C. rugosa lipase was enhanced most significantly when immobilized on Celite-545 using acetone as an adsorption solvent.
Impact of risk factors for recurrence after the first ischemic stroke in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Risk factors for first-ever stroke have been studied extensively, while those for recurrent stroke are not accurately understood. To provide the adequate secondary prevention for the patients, it is necessary to reveal the risk factors that dominate recurrent stroke. Multiple databases were adopted to search for the relevant studies and full-text articles involving in the risk factors for stroke recurrence were reviewed. Meta-analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.0 to estimate the impact of risk factors included, and forest plots, quality analysis and bias analysis for the articles included were also conducted. Finally 11 studies which eventually satisfied the eligibility criteria were included in this study, and patients with initial stroke and recurrent stroke were 14,455 and 1545, respectively. The meta-analyses showed that hypertension (OR = 1.67, 95%CI [1.45, 1.92], P
A Survey of Licensed Massage Therapists' Perceptions of Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection Activities.

Background: Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US. Training massage therapists (MTs) in skin cancer prevention and detection cre-ates opportunity for reducing skin cancer burden. Little is known about MTs’ perceptions of skin cancer prevention and detection, their discussions of these topics with clients, or their referral recom-mendations for suspicious skin lesions. Purpose: We surveyed MTs’ perceptions of their role in engaging in conversations about skin cancer prevention, viewing the skin for suspicious lesions, and referring clients with such lesions to health care providers. Setting, Participants, Research Design: We ad-ministered an online survey from 2015–2017 of licensed MTs practicing in the US and at least age 21 years (n = 102); quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed in 2017. Main Outcome Measures: The main variables assessed were MTs perceptions of (a) appropriate-ness for asking clients about skin cancer history, skin cancer prevention, suspicious lesion referral and follow-up; and (b) comfort with recognizing and discussing suspicious lesions, recommending a client see a doctor for suspicious lesion, and discussing skin cancer prevention. Results: Quantitative data revealed that most MTs were amenable to discussing skin cancer prevention during appointments; few were en-gaging in these conversations. MTs were more comfortable discussing suspicious lesions and recommending that a client see a doctor than they were sharing knowledge about skin cancer and sun safety. Categories based on qualitative content analysis were: sharing information for the client’s benefit, and concerns about remaining within scope of practice. Conclusions: MTs have boundaries for skin cancer risk-reduction content to include in a client discussion and remain in their scope of practice. These findings will help support a future educa-tional intervention for MTs to learn about and incorporate skin cancer risk-reduction messages and activities into their practice.
High-Efficiency Lentiviral Genetic Modification of Primary Human Natural Killer Cells

Natural killer (NK) cells have the unique capacity to lyse tumor cells without the need for antigen specific receptors. Modulation of NK cell cytokine, chemokine, and activating and inhibitory receptor expression using gene regimens represents an attractive strategy to further bolster NK cell anti-tumor activity for the purpose of NK cell immunotherapy. Current efforts in clinical-grade genetic modification of patient-derived cells, used in immunotherapy protocols, rely on stable transduction mediated by viral vectors. However, primary NK cells are notoriously difficult to transduce using viral vectors. Here we describe a lentiviral vector-based approach that results in an efficient, robust, and highly reproducible method of stable gene transfer into primary human peripheral blood-derived NK cells, which can subsequently be expanded ex vivo for adoptive infusion into humans. In vitro experiments established highly efficient transduction of ex vivo expanded NK cells could be achieved by activation of primary NK cells in vitro for 2-4 days in cytokine containing media followed by transduction of activated NK cells using LV vectors 2-3 days before integration into our existing ex vivo expansion protocol using irradiated EBV-LCL feeder cells. Unless NK cells were first activated in cytokine-containing media, LV transduction was unsuccessful. Cytokine activation in media containing IL-2 for 2-4 days was found to be sufficient to achieve high transduction efficiency, while additional supplementation of the media with IL-15 or IL-21 had negligible effects. NK cell transduction efficiency and viability with the use of RetroNectin® was uniformly superior to polycation-based transduction protocols. In experiments where NK cells were transduced with identical lentiviral constructs with 8 different promoter sequences driving expression of EGFP, PGK, EFS, and SV40 promoters consistently demonstrated the highest transduction efficiencies reproducibly in the range of 25-60%. Remarkably, when transduced NK cells were stimulated ex vivo using a clinical grade irradiated EBV-LCL feeder cell line, 100-1000 fold expansions of transduced NK cells could be achieved with sustained transgene expression over two weeks. Transduced and expanded primary NK cells remained highly cytotoxic against K562 tumor targets without developing functional deficiencies in degranulation, IFNγ, or TNFα production. These data establish a simple method to produce large numbers (>1011) of genetically modified clinical grade NK cells suitable for infusion. The protocol described herein overcomes previous difficulties described with common transduction techniques opening new avenues to investigate the impact of adoptive infusion of primary NK cells stably transduced to express a variety of different transgenes of interest. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A marginal structural model approach to analyse work-related injuries: an example using data from the health and retirement study.

Background Biases may exist in the limited longitudinal data focusing on work-related injuries among the ageing workforce. Standard statistical techniques may not provide valid estimates when the data are time-varying and when prior exposures and outcomes may influence future outcomes. This research effort uses marginal structural models (MSMs), a class of causal models rarely applied for injury epidemiology research to analyse work-related injuries. Methods 7212 working US adults aged ≥50 years, obtained from the Health and Retirement Study sample in the year 2004 formed the study cohort that was followed until 2014. The analyses compared estimates measuring the associations between physical work requirements and work-related injuries using MSMs and a traditional regression model. The weights used in the MSMs, besides accounting for time-varying exposures, also accounted for the recurrent nature of injuries. Results The results were consistent with regard to directionality between the two models. However, the effect estimate was greater when the same data were analysed using MSMs, built without the restriction for complete case analyses. Conclusions MSMs can be particularly useful for observational data, especially with the inclusion of recurrent outcomes as these can be incorporated in the weights themselves.
Novel transcriptional responses to heat revealed by turning up the heat at night.

The circadian clock controls many molecular activities, impacting experimental interpretation. We quantify the genome-wide effects of time-of-day on the heat-shock response and the effects of “diurnal bias” in stress experiments. Heat stress has significant adverse effects on plant productivity worldwide. Most experiments examining heat stress are performed during daytime hours, generating a ‘diurnal bias’ in the pathways and regulatory mechanisms identified. Such bias may confound downstream interpretations and limit our understanding of the full response to heat stress. Here we show that the transcriptional and physiological responses to a sudden heat shock in Arabidopsis are profoundly sensitive to the time of day. We observe that plant tolerance and acclimation to heat shock vary throughout the day and are maximal at dusk. Consistently, over 75% of heat-responsive transcripts show a time of day-dependent response, including many previously characterized heat-response genes. This temporal sensitivity implies a complex interaction between time and temperature where daily variations in basal transcription influence thermotolerance. When we examined these transcriptional responses, we uncovered novel night-response genes and cis-regulatory elements, underpinning new aspects of heat stress responses not previously appreciated. Exploiting this temporal variation can be applied to most environmental responses to understand the underlying network wiring. Therefore, we propose that using time as a perturbagen is an approach that will enhance our understanding of plant regulatory networks and responses to environmental stresses.
Identifying art forgeries by radiocarbon dating microgram quantities of artists' paints.

Most people view paintings orthogonally. Usually, this is what the artist intended. However, historically and technically minded artists, art conservators, technical art historians, and indeed forgers are also interested in what paintings look like in microscopic cross-section. From this vantage point, other dimensions of the art are revealed. The stratigraphic perspective has obvious analogs in archaeology and geology, and the value for all 3 fields is that much can be learned from understanding the ordered arrangement of layers. The invention of radiocarbon dating in 1949 profoundly enriched stratigraphic methods employed in archaeology and geology by providing absolute dates from organic remains embedded within strata. In PNAS, Hendriks et al. (1) lay the groundwork for similar advances in the study of paintings. They report discordant radiocarbon dates within a painting inscribed with a written date of 1866. A canvas sample (the basal stratum) had a radiocarbon date consistent with the written age. However, carbon from the binding medium (the glue that holds pigment particles in place) in a single upper paint layer, contained elevated levels of radiocarbon that definitively indicated the paint was made after 1955. Radiocarbon (14C) is produced naturally from 14N in the earth’s upper atmosphere as a consequence of solar- and cosmic-ray bombardment. It oxidizes to carbon dioxide and mixes with the nonradioactive carbon dioxide pool. The incorporation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into plant molecules by photosynthesis and the recycling of those up the food chain by heterotrophs mixes 14C throughout the biosphere. The natural 14C production dynamic was perturbed by above-ground nuclear tests that took place between 1945 and 1963. These tests created additional atmospheric 14C. Elevated levels were first detectable in 1955, and by 1963, atmospheric 14C levels had nearly doubled. The 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty prohibited further atmospheric … [↵][1]1Email: ghodgins{at}email.arizona.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Cystatin C regulates the cytotoxicity of infection-induced endothelial-derived β-amyloid

Infection of rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells with the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces the production and release of cytotoxic oligomeric tau and beta amyloid (Aβ). Here, we characterized these cytotoxic amyloids. Cytotoxic behavior and oligomeric tau were partially resistant to digestion with proteinase K, but cytotoxicity was abolished by various denaturants including phenol, diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC), and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-isopropanol (HFIP). Ultracentrifugation for 8 h at 150 000 g was required to remove cytotoxic activity from the supernatant. Ultracentrifugation, DEPC treatment, and immunodepletion using antibodies against Aβ also demonstrated that cytoprotective protein(s) are released from endothelial cells during P. aeruginosa infection. Mass spectrometry of endothelial cell culture media following P. aeruginosa infection allowed identification of multiple potential secreted modulators of Aβ, including cystatin C, gelsolin, and ApoJ/clusterin. Immunodepletion, co-immunoprecipitation, and ultracentrifugation determined that the cytoprotective factor released during infection of endothelial cells by P. aeruginosa is cystatin C, which appears to be in a complex with Aβ. Cytoprotective cystatin C may provide a novel therapeutic avenue for protection against the long-term consequences of infection with P. aeruginosa.
Physical body experiences questionnaire simplified for active aging (PBE-QAG): Validation with Rasch measurement theory

Purpose To validate the Physical body experiences questionnaire simplified for active aging (PBE-QAG) with Rasch measurement theory. PBE-QAG measures body awareness during physical activity and includes dimensions of body-mind relationship, body acceptance, and awareness of physical skills and limits. Methods Adults without pain (n=269), with pain (n=61), with mental health conditions (n=200), and with stroke (n=36) were recruited at the Minnesota State Fair, Highland Fest, and in the Brain Body Mind Lab (University of Minnesota) and completed demographic and clinical questionnaires as well as the PBE-QAG. The PBE-QAG has 12 items, with scores ranging between 0 (totally true) to 4 (totally false). A low total score on the PBE-QAG reflects better body awareness. We evaluated item and person fit, targeting, unidimensionality, person separation reliability (PSR), local item dependence (LID), and differential item functioning (DIF) for demographic and clinical characteristics. We compared with Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA the person mean location in four groups: Adults with or without mental health conditions; and whether those groups did body awareness training. Results Unidimensionality and item fit were obtained after deleting 2 and rescoring 5 items. Seven participants did not fit the model (1.23%). There was minimal floor (5.72%), no ceiling effect (0.00%), and no LID. No DIF was greater than 0.50 logits for any of the variables. The Wright-corrected PSR was 0.96. The person mean location was -1.71+/-1.21 logits. Adults with mental health conditions who did not practice body awareness had a higher person mean location [Median (IQR)=0.83(0.89) logits, p<0.0001] versus the other three groups, reflecting lower body awareness. Conclusions PBE-QAG demonstrated good item and person fit, but the targeting is off. Therefore, the current version of PBE-QAG is not recommended for use in the general population. We encourage further validation of PBE-QAG in adults with mental health conditions who do not practice body awareness.
Causality and dispersion relations

Our basic observations from daily experiences as well as sophisticated experiments suggest causality in various branches of physics (and beyond). Causality is mathematically reflected in the analyticity of the system's response function, which relates the dispersion of the system to the dissipation. We also observe that the dissipation is related to fluctuations in that system. By surveying introductory elements (and thus mostly undergraduate textbooks) of this relation, the student finds the interrelationship among different sub-disciplines of physics otherwise buried. A pedagogical experiment in class reveals a student's enjoyment in learning through this experience.Our basic observations from daily experiences as well as sophisticated experiments suggest causality in various branches of physics (and beyond). Causality is mathematically reflected in the analyticity of the system's response function, which relates the dispersion of the system to the dissipation. We also observe that the dissipation is related to fluctuations in that system. By surveying introductory elements (and thus mostly undergraduate textbooks) of this relation, the student finds the interrelationship among different sub-disciplines of physics otherwise buried. A pedagogical experiment in class reveals a student's enjoyment in learning through this experience.
A Representation-Oriented Taxonomy of Gradation

Gradation, the presence of gradual rather than abrupt boundaries around geographic entities, is one of the many complexities of geography which is beginning to be investigated for representation and analysis informal models. Much of the research to date has been focused on specific applications, but some are starting to look at the underlying theory behind this phenomenon, leading toward better understanding and better models. This work extends this theory with a taxonomy which describes and explains gradational situations, focusing on issues related to formal representation. This taxonomy has been beneficial in developing methods of representing this phenomenon in GIS and maps.
Certain Diseases, Uncertain Explanations

Human Frontiers, Environments and Disease Past Patterns, Uncertain Futures. Tony McMichael. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2001. 413 pp. $59.95. ISBN 0-521-80311-X. Paper, $24.95. ISBN 0-521-00494-2. McMichael uses ecology to meld a wide range of perspectives on understanding human health and disease.
Immunological Adhesion and Homing Molecules

Leucocytes must interact with other cells and extracellular matrix molecules to migrate from the bloodstream to lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues, to detect and respond to antigen, and to exert immune functions. Adhesion and homing molecules on the surface of leucocytes and interacting cells provide mechanical stability and contribute to the specificity of such interactions. Keywords: integrins; selectins; vascular addressins; immunoglobulin superfamily
Television watching increases motivated responding for food and energy intake in children

Background: Sedentary activities, such as watching television, may disrupt habituation to food cues, thereby increasing motivation to eat and energy intake. Objective: These experiments were designed to examine the effect of television watching on habituation of ingestive behavior in children. Design: In experiment 1, all children worked for access to cheeseburgers in trials 1-7 (habituating stimulus). In trials 8-10, children in the control group continued to work for cheeseburgers without any dishabituating stimuli, whereas children in the other groups received either a novel food (French fries) or television as dishabituating stimuli. Responding for food and amount of food eaten were measured. In experiment 2, all children had access to 1000 kcal of a preferred snack food. One group watched a continuous television show, and the control groups either watched no television or watched a repeated segment of a television show, which controls for the television stimulus but requires reduced allocation of attention. Results: In experiment 1, both the novel food and the television watching groups reinstated responding for food (P = 0.009) and increased the amount of energy earned (P = 0.018) above the level of the control subjects. In experiment 2, the continuous television group spent more time eating (P < 0.0001) and consumed more energy than the no television and the repeated segment groups (P = 0.007). Conclusion: These experiments show that television watching can dishabituate eating or disrupt the development of habituation, which may provide a mechanism for increased energy intake associated with watching television.
Sociodemographic Risk, Developmental Competence, and PTSD Symptoms in Young Children Exposed to Interpersonal Trauma in Early Life

Young children are disproportionately exposed to interpersonal trauma (maltreatment, witnessing intimate partner violence [IPV]) and appear particularly susceptible to negative sequelae. Little is known about the factors influencing vulnerability to traumatic stress responses and other negative outcomes in early life. This study examined associations among interpersonal trauma exposure, sociodemographic risk, developmental competence, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in 200 children assessed from birth to first grade via standardized observations, record reviews, and maternal and teacher interviews. More severe PTSD symptoms were predicted by greater trauma exposure (r = .43), greater sociodemographic risk (r = .22), and lower developmental competence (rs=−.31 and −.54 for preschool and school-age developmental competence, respectively). Developmental competence partially mediated the association between trauma exposure and symptoms. Trauma exposure fully mediated the association between sociodemographic risk and symptoms. Neither sociodemographic risk nor developmental competence moderated trauma exposure effects on symptoms. The findings suggest that (a)exposure to maltreatment and IPV has additive effects on posttraumatic stress risk in early life, (b) associations between sociodemographic adversity and poor mental health may be attributable to increased trauma exposure in disadvantaged populations, and (c) early exposures have a negative cascade effect on developmental competence and mental health.
Chemical vapor infiltration : modelling solid matrix deposition for ceramic composites reinforced with layered woven fabrics

Abstract A model is developed for chemical vapor infiltration in a sample of overlapping, woven plies. The holes through each ply, formed by the interweaving of filamentous tows, are considered to be staggered maximally for the overlapping plies. The results are compared with another bounding case, the aligned-hole model studied previously. The staggered-hole model predicts concentration profiles, deposition amounts, porosities, and changes of dimensions with time. The model also explains the effects of diffusion, rate of deposition, and spatial distribution of filaments in the woven fabric. Staggering the holes leads to somewhat less uniform deposition in the holes between tows and in the spaces between plies.
Sulfonamide and Penicillin Resistance of Group A Hemolytic Streptococci.

SummaryStrains of certain types of Group A hemolytic streptococci were discovered to be naturally resistant to moderate amounts of sulfadiazine. It is suggested that such organisms originated the epidemics of streptococcal disease among troops receiving sulfonamide prophylaxis, later becoming more resistant by mutation. No strains significantly resistant to penicillin were discovered.
Effective Advising of Diverse Students in Community Colleges.

In-depth interviews with 363 students across nine campuses capture the experiences of Latino, African American, Asian, Native American, White and Immigrant students in the California community college system. Four themes emerged with respect to advising and counseling: (a) Differences in the Use of Counseling and Advising; (b) The Importance of the Counseling Relationship; (c) Knowing the System; and (d) Cultural Understanding and Racism.
A model of coal devolatilization and combustion in fluidized beds

Abstract A mathematical model of the combustion of coal particles under conditions prevailing in fluidized combustors has been developed. Allowance is made for the evolution and burning of volatiles in addition to the combustion of the residual char. The relative significance of the various steps in the oxidation process of the char, such as external diffusion, pore diffusion, and chemical kinetics of the reactions at the surface, is evaluated for the ranges of particle size, temperature, and partial pressure of the oxidant of interest in fluidized coal combustion.
Regulation of CpG-induced immune activation by suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides.

: Bacterial DNA and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated “CpG motifs” stimulate an innate immune response characterized by the production of cytokines, chemokines, and polyreactive Igs that promote host survival following infectious challenge. Yet CpG-driven immune activation can have deleterious consequences, such as increasing the host's susceptibility to autoimmune disease. The immunomodulatory activity of CpG DNA can be blocked by DNA containing “suppressive” motifs. This work explores the rules governing cellular recognition of stimulatory and suppressive motifs, and the resultant modulation of the immune system. Results suggest that both CpG and suppressive ODN may find use as therapeutic agents.