cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Manganese promotes the aggregation and prion-like cell-to-cell exosomal transmission of α-synuclein

The aggregation of α-synuclein (αSyn) is considered a key pathophysiological feature of certain neurodegenerative disorders, collectively termed synucleinopathies. Given that a prion-like, cell-to-cell transfer of misfolded αSyn has been recognized in the spreading of αSyn pathology in synucleinopathies, we investigated the biological mechanisms underlying the propagation of the disease with respect to environmental neurotoxic stress. Considering the potential role of the divalent metal manganese (Mn2+) in protein aggregation, we characterized its effect on αSyn misfolding and transmission in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. In cultured dopaminergic neuronal cells stably expressing wild-type human αSyn, misfolded αSyn was secreted through exosomes into the extracellular medium upon Mn2+ exposure. These exosomes were endocytosed through caveolae into primary microglial cells, thereby mounting neuroinflammatory responses. Furthermore, Mn2+-elicited exosomes exerted a neurotoxic effect in a human dopaminergic neuronal model (LUHMES cells). Moreover, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis revealed that Mn2+ accelerated the cell-to-cell transmission of αSyn, resulting in dopaminergic neurotoxicity in a mouse model of Mn2+ exposure. Welders exposed to Mn2+ had increased misfolded αSyn content in their serum exosomes. Stereotaxically delivering αSyn-containing exosomes, isolated from Mn2+-treated αSyn-expressing cells, into the striatum initiated Parkinsonian-like pathological features in mice. Together, these results indicate that Mn2+ exposure promotes αSyn secretion in exosomal vesicles, which subsequently evokes proinflammatory and neurodegenerative responses in both cell culture and animal models.
Novel Nerve Transfers for Motor and Sensory Restoration in High Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

Background Tetraplegia caused by cervical spinal cord injury is devastating for patients and represents a significant public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Improved functional outcomes after nerve transfers are increasingly reported in the literature, but thus far, no options exist for injuries above the C5 level. Case Description We report the cases of 2 patients with C4 spinal cord injury, American Spinal Injury Association A, who underwent successful bilateral spinal accessory nerve transfers, on 1 side to the triceps nerve with long intervening sural graft and on the other side direct transfer to the motor fascicles of the middle trunk. Patients improved from Medical Research Council 0 to 4 on the side of the nerve graft and 0 to 2 or 3 on the side of the direct transfer. Both patients also underwent transfer of the greater auricular nerve to sensory fascicles of the middle trunk, and they experienced sensory recovery in the C6 distribution. Notably, both patients were far removed from the traditional window of nerve transfer surgery at 4 years and almost 11 years out from injury. Conclusions We describe 2 successful cases of the first and to date only option for motor and sensory reinnervation in high cervical spinal cord injuries. These procedures provide a robust nerve transfer option capable of improving quality of life in tetraplegic patients. There may be a significant undertreated population of patients with cervical spinal cord injury patients in the United States who were previously considered outside the window for benefiting from nerve transfers but who would benefit from these techniques.
Indirect signatures of CP violation in the processes γγ→γγ, γZ, and ZZ

This paper studies the utility of the processes $\gamma \gamma \to \gamma \gamma$, $\gamma Z$, and $ZZ$ in searching for sources of CP violation arising from energy scales beyond the production thresholds of planned future colliders. In the context of an effective Lagrangian approach we consider the most general set of CP odd SU(2) $\times$ U(1) operators that give rise to genuinely quartic gauge boson couplings which can be probed in $2 \to 2$ scattering processes at a $\gamma \gamma $ collider. We study each process in detail, emphasizing the complementary information that is obtained by varying the initial beam polarizations. Finally, we compare our results to other constraints in the literature on CP odd gauge boson interactions and quartic gauge boson couplings; the search reaches obtained here are typically stronger and nicely complement previous studies which have focused primarily on $W$ boson, top quark, or Higgs production.
Association of the Mandatory Medicare Bundled Payment With Joint Replacement Outcomes in Hospitals With Disadvantaged Patients.

Importance Medicare’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model rewards or penalizes hospitals on the basis of meeting spending benchmarks that do not account for patients’ preexisting social and medical complexity or high expenses associated with serving disadvantaged populations such as dual-eligible patients (ie, those enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid). The CJR model may have different implications for hospitals serving a high percentage of dual-eligible patients (termedhigh-dual) and hospitals serving a low percentage of dual-eligible patients (termedlow-dual). Objective To examine changes associated with the CJR model among high-dual or low-dual hospitals in 2016 to 2017. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study comprised 3 analyses of high-dual or low-dual hospitals (n = 1165) serving patients with hip or knee joint replacements (n = 768 224) in 67 treatment metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) selected for CJR participation and 103 control MSAs. The study used Medicare claims data and public reports from 2012 to 2017. Data analysis was conducted from February 1, 2019, to August 31, 2019. Exposures The CJR model holds participating hospitals accountable for the spending and quality of care during care episodes for patients with hip or knee joint replacement, including hospitalization and 90 days after discharge. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were total episode spending, discharge to institutional postacute care facility, and readmission within the 90-day postdischarge period; bonus and penalty payments for each hospital; and reductions in per-episode spending required to receive a bonus for each hospital. Results In total, 1165 hospitals (291 high-dual and 874 low-dual) and 768 224 patients with joint replacement (494 013 women [64.3%]; mean [SD] age, 76 [7] years) were included. An episode-level triple-difference analysis indicated that total spending under the CJR model decreased at high-dual hospitals (by $851; 95% CI, –$1556 to –$146;P = .02) and low-dual hospitals (by $567; 95% CI, –$933 to –$202;P = .003). The size of decreases did not differ between the 2 groups (difference, –$284; 95% CI, –$981 to $413;P = .42). Discharge to institutional postacute care settings and readmission did not change among both hospital groups. High-dual hospitals were less likely to receive a bonus compared with low-dual hospitals (40.3% vs 59.1% in 2016; 56.9% vs 76.0% in 2017). To receive a bonus, high-dual hospitals would be required to reduce spending by $887 to $2231 per episode, compared with only $89 to $215 for low-dual hospitals. Conclusions and Relevance The study found that high- and low-dual hospitals made changes in care after CJR implementation, and the magnitude of these changes did not differ between the 2 groups. However, high-dual hospitals were less likely to receive a bonus for spending cuts. Spending benchmarks for CJR would require high-dual hospitals to reduce spending more substantially to receive a financial incentive.
Infiltrative Lymphoma-Associated Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Abnormalities

In 2015, a 31-year-old woman presented with cough and lymphadenopathy. On positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), she was found to have cervical and mediastinal lymph node involvement and superior vena cava encasement. Open left neck lymph node biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of
From Arabia to Bilād al-Shām: Muʿāwiya’s Development of an Infrastructure and Monumental Architecture of Early Umayyad Statehood

This article first examines the early history of Muʿāwiya and his monumental architectural achievements in Arabia. He was from a wealthy land-owning elite Arabian family of traders from the Meccan Qurayshi tribe. As Companion and scribe of the Prophet he was well-positioned to achieve the goals of tribal unification, agricultural development, initiating a period of architectural construction and state-building. Second the article’s major focus is his monumental architectural construction in Greater Syria evidenced in the archaeological and re-evaluated textual evidence, which support his creation of statehood infrastructure for the Umayyads in Bilād al-Shām. As governor of Syria and later as the first Sufyānid Amīr al-muʾminīn or Commander of the Faithful in the Dār al-Islam, he controlled the development of an architecture and bureaucratic infrastructure of state throughout the region. After arrival with the armies of conquest in 634, he became provincial governor of Syria in 638/639 and continued the process of tribal unification and state-building at the behest of the Rashidun caliphs ʿUmar and ʿUthman. As Amīr al-muʾminīn he continued tribal consolidation, settling disputes by moving populations within the Dār al-Islam. He also engaged in monumental architectural development throughout the realm including mosques, palaces and fortresses, invented the miḥrāb–the stone or space (later the niche) indicating the direction of prayer toward Mecca, and established what was later known as the ribāṭ system along the Mediterranean coast. Though there are meager documentary survivals of texts and inscriptions, there is now sufficient archaeological and recent secondary scholarly evidence particularly in a revision textual usage to claim that Muʿāwiya created the Umayyad state and monuments reflecting statehood during his reign as Commander of the Faithful in Syria with multiple capitals in Damascus, al-Jābiya, al-Ṣinnabra and Jerusalem.
Preoperative echocardiographic parameters predict primary graft dysfunction following pediatric lung transplantation

The importance of preoperative cardiac function in pediatric lung transplantation is unknown. We hypothesized that worse preoperative right ventricular (RV) systolic and worse left ventricular (LV) diastolic function would be associated with a higher risk of primary graft dysfunction grade 3 (PGD 3) between 48 and 72 hours. We performed a single center, retrospective pilot study of children (<18 years) who had echocardiograms <1 year prior to lung transplantation between 2006 and 2019. Conventional and strain echocardiography parameters were measured, and PGD was graded. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves and logistic regression were performed. Forty-one patients were included; 14 (34%) developed PGD 3 and were more likely to have pulmonary hypertension (PH) as the indication for transplant (P = .005). PGD 3 patients had worse RV global longitudinal strain (P = .01), RV free wall strain (FWS) (P = .003), RV fractional area change (P = .005), E/e' (P = .01) and lateral e' velocity (P = .004) but not tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (P = .61). RV FWS (AUROC 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-0.95) and lateral e' velocity (AUROC 0.87, 95% CI 0.68-1.00) best discriminated PGD 3 development and showed the strongest association with PGD 3 (RV FWS OR 3.87 [95% CI 1.59-9.43], P = .003; lateral e' velocity OR 0.10 [95% CI 0.01-0.70], P = .02). These associations remained when separately adjusting for age, weight, primary PH diagnosis, ischemic time, and bypass time. In this pilot study, worse preoperative RV systolic and worse LV diastolic function were associated with PGD 3 and may be modifiable recipient risk factors in pediatric lung transplantation.
Enterobactin-specific antibodies inhibit in vitro growth of different gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Abstract Enterobactin (Ent)-mediated high affinity iron acquisition is critically important for Gram-negative bacterial pathogens to survive and infect the host. Recently, we reported an efficient method to prepare novel Ent conjugate vaccines for inducing high level of Ent-specific antibodies, which displayed similar bacteriostatic feature as lipocalins, the host innate immune effectors with potent Ent-binding ability. The Ent-specific antibodies also showed a significant advantage over lipocalins by cross-reacting to various Ent derivatives including salmochelins, the glycosylated Ent that can help enteric pathogens evade the siderophore sequestration by host lipocalins. To demonstrate significant potential of the Ent conjugate vaccine for broader applications to prevent and control various Gram-negative infections in human and animal, in this study, we examined inhibitory effect of Ent-specific antibodies on the in vitro growth of three significant Gram-negative pathogens: Escherichia coli (n = 27), Salmonella enterica (n = 8), and Campylobacter spp. (n = 6). The tested strains were diverse with respect to hosts, geographical origins, serotypes, infection sites and siderophore productions. The Ent-specific antibodies significantly suppressed the growth of each tested strain under iron-restricted conditions. For example, the Ent-specific antibodies consistently exerted 2–5 log10 units of growth reduction on most tested avian pathogenic E. coli (9 of 10 strains) isolated in five countries. Despite various dynamic growth responses observed, notably, the Ent-specific antibodies displayed significantly higher magnitude of growth reduction than lipocalin-2 (up to 5 log10 units of difference) on majority of tested E. coli and S. enterica, which is likely due to sequestration of other siderophores (e.g., salmochelins) by the Ent-specific antibodies. Production of a variety of major siderophores by the tested E. coli and S. enterica strains was examined and confirmed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis. Collectively, this study provides critical and compelling in vitro evidence supporting the feasibility of Ent-based immune interventions against several Gram-negative pathogens.
Adaptive Leadership: An Opportunity for Increasing the Representation of People with Disabilities in the Workplace

People with disabilities continue to have inadequate access to jobs, which has led to a significant level of attrition from competitive employment. This chapter focuses on what it means to be an adaptive leader and the impact of adaptive leadership on employment diversity as it relates to employment of people with disabilities. When employees perceive equal access to opportunities and fair treatment, intent to change jobs diminishes: employers must strive to keep employees with disabilities contend. Adaptive leadership is designed to build mutual trust with staff members and has four core elements, including diagnosis of situations, managing the ‘self-element’, intervene skilfully, and energize/motivate others. All employees are managed to their strengths, and diverse contributions and adaptive leaders must focus on change to value and motivate each employee’s talents and contributions. It utilizes flexibility for systematic change, focusing long-term transformation through considering the fundamentals of organizations and its building blocks.
Chipping away at the tough questions about bedding management and mastitis

Over the past several decades, the dairy industry and mastitis researchers have, collectively, made great progress in improving our understanding of the role of bedding selection and management as a determinant of mastitis risk. Increased bedding bacteria counts (BBC) are associated with increased bacteria loads on teat ends and with increased risk for infection caused by environmental mastitis pathogens. Benchmarks for BBC have been established. The use of recycled manure solids is, on average, associated with higher BBC and poorer udder health, compared to inorganic materials or organic non-manure materials. However, BBC and udder health measures are highly variable among herds, regardless of the bedding material used. Several factors have been identified that are related to the processing and management of unused bedding and the management of bedding in stalls, which are associated with reduced BBC. Producers using recycled manure solids or sand bedding should strive to increase bedding dryness, with a view to reducing BBC. However, many questions remain, including the need to better understand the significance of organic matter levels in sand bedding, and to evaluate the impact of various methods of processing recycled manure solids on bedding characteristics, udder health, and economics.
The importance of storytelling in chemical education.

Storytelling can be a powerful educational tool to help address equity in the chemical sciences.
Resource binding-a universal approach to parallel programming

The authors present a parallel programming paradigm, resource binding, which offers an architecture-independent environment for various parallel computation models. The resource binding technique, with a simple set of primitives, enables a flexible and consistent way of handling process synchronization, shared resource management, and other problems in parallel programming. High portability can be maintained without losing performance. For a clear introduction to the technique, comparisons are made among resource binding and other well-defined schemes such as semaphore, monitor, message passing, and Linda.
An Assessment of Global Neurotrauma Prevention and Care Delivery: The Provider Perspective.

Background Neurotrauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Assessment of injury prevention and prehospital care for neurotrauma patients is necessary to improve care systems. Methods A 29-question electronic survey was developed based on the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency Of health Research (EQUATOR) checklist to assess neurotrauma policies and laws related to safety precautions. The survey was distributed to members of World Health Organization regions that were considered to be experienced medical authorities in neurosurgery and traumatic brain injury. Results There were 82 (39%) responses representing 46 countries. Almost all respondents (95.2%) were within the neurosurgical field. Of respondents, 40.2% were from high-income countries (HICs), and 59.8% were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Motor vehicle accidents were reported as the leading cause of neurotrauma, followed by workplace injury and assault. Of respondents, 84.1% reported having a helmet law in their country. HICs (4.38 ± 0.78) were ranked more likely than LMICs (2.88 ± 1.34; P = 0.0001) to enforce helmet laws on a scale of 1–10. Effectiveness of helmet laws was rated as 3.94 ± 0.95 out of 10. Measures regarding prehospital care varied between HICs and LMICs. Patients in HICs were more likely to use public emergency ambulance transportation (81.8% vs. 42.9%; P = 0.0004). All prehospital personnel having emergency training was also reported to be more likely in HICs than LMICs (60.6% vs. 8.7%; P = 0.0001). Conclusions When injuries occur, timely access to neurosurgical care is critical. A focus on prehospital components of the trauma system is paramount, and policymakers can use the information presented here to implement and refine health care systems to ensure safe, timely, affordable, and equitable access to neurotrauma care.
Elevated methylmercury concentration and trophic position of the non-native bloody red shrimp (Hemimysis anomala) increase biomagnification risk in nearshore food webs

Abstract The establishment of non-native species can result in complex shifts in food-web structure and ecosystem function that alter the bioaccumulation, transfer, and biomagnification of contaminants. Hemimysis anomala (the bloody red shrimp), a mysid native to the Ponto-Caspian region that is now established throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes region (North America) and Europe, is characterized by high densities and a trophic ecology that may be consequential to mercury fluxes and bioaccumulation. We combined methylmercury (MeHg) and stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) analyses of invertebrates from Seneca Lake (NY, USA) to test the hypotheses that mercury concentrations differ among (1) H. anomala and native or naturalized analogs due to food-web position and (2) stages of H. anomala due to ontogenetic diet shifts. The MeHg concentration and δ15N of H. anomala exceeded other littoral invertebrates (such as amphipods, dreissenid mussels, and zooplankton >153 μm) and were as high as the pelagic, native Mysis diluviana. These taxa-specific patterns indicate intensified biomagnification of MeHg is possible in nearshore and reef-spawning fish following the establishment of H. anomala, an energy-dense prey item for economically and ecologically important fish. Larger, adult H. anomala had higher MeHg concentrations and more enriched δ15N than juveniles, and H. anomala collected at a littoral site had higher MeHg than a canal site. These intraspecies contrasts are consistent with the shift toward zooplanktivory in adult H. anomala. As both putative prey for fish and competitors for shared zooplankton resources, H. anomala may impact fish in compounding ways.
Chronic alcohol exposure of rats exacerbates apoptosis in hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Abstract Background/aims: The liver apoptotic response to chronic alcohol consumption remains poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine in rats the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the relative magnitude of apoptosis in two major targets of alcohol-induced liver injury: the hepatocyte (Hep) and sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC). Methods: Rats were fed a liquid diet containing either alcohol or isocaloric amounts of maltose-dextrin for 14 weeks. Hep and SEC were isolated by liver perfusion with collagenase followed by centrifugal elutriation. The state of the liver was assessed on the basis of light microscopic appearance, plasma liver enzymes (alanine and aspartate:2-oxoglutarate amino transferases), and the content of malondialdehyde in Hep. Apoptosis was assessed on the basis of DNA fragmentation in the whole organ (TUNEL), and caspase-3 and -8 activity in isolated cells. A mechanistic approach was also undertaken by measuring mRNA expression and the amount of protein for Fas/CD95, Fas ligand, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-X L , and Bcl-2 in the isolated Hep and SEC. Results: The livers of alcohol-fed rats displayed prominent steatosis. Oxidative stress was also present as reflected by an increase in the malondialdehyde content of Hep. Alcohol consumption increased apoptosis in the whole liver assessed on the basis of TUNEL procedure and in Hep and SEC as reflected by significant increase in caspase-3 activity. Of the multiple pro- and anti-apoptotic factors determined in this study, significant changes as assessed by both mRNA expression and the amount of proteins, were observed only in the SEC compartment. Conclusions: The data presented in this study indicate that: (1) chronic alcohol consumption in rats leads to a moderate augmentation of apoptosis in the whole liver and in two liver cell types which are targets for injury in alcoholic liver disease: Hep and SEC; (2) the mechanisms recruited/activated by these two types of liver cells to initiate and execute apoptosis in response to alcohol vary with the cell type.
Linea Vestibularis: Follow-up of a Normal Genital Structure

Keen observation and precise documentation have become increasingly important in the physical evaluation of a child who may have been sexually abused. The task of proper interpretation of these [See table in the PDF file] physical findings depends on the recognition of normal anatomy. Much work has been done to differentiate normal anatomic variants from physical changes resulting from injury.1-7 In a recent study, healthy female newborns were examined to establish the presence of a white midline streak in the posterior vestibule.8 In the initial phase of this study, 123 newborns were examined. A white linear structure in the mid-posterior vestibule, termed linea vestibularis (LV), was found in 10% (n = 13) of the group and a white spot in the mid-posterior vestibule, termed partial linea vestibularis (PLV), was found in 14% (n = 17) of the group.
Broadcasting Disability: An Exploration of the Educational Potential of a Video Sharing Web Site:

YouTube is an Internet phenomenon, a video sharing Web site where individuals can upload videos to be viewed by anyone visiting the site. The purpose of this study was to search for and categorize videos related to disability on YouTube and explore the educational potential of the site for the disability community. A seven-day time period in mid-July 2007 was chosen for the search. The 13 disability categories listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were used to create search terms. A total of 147 videos were found, the majority from the deaf and autism groups. Eight content categories were identified. YouTube videos have unique educational potential, offer a place for discussion of disability issues, and provide an outlet for creative expression.
Racing Economic Geography: The Place of Race in Economic Geography

In this paper, I provide a critical overview of research in economic geography on race and racialization. I begin with a discussion about the connections between geography and processes of racialization. I then move into an examination of the kinds of engagements economic geographers are undertaking in research examining racial difference and the racialized implications of economic policy and practice. Drawing from the insights of feminist economic geographers as well as critical race scholars, I argue that while economic geographers have long engaged in research that illustrates racially uneven economic outcomes, race remains under-examined in economic geography. I conclude with a call for increased scholarship on race in economic geography, suggesting that economic geographers draw from research that interrogates the foundational nature of race and relational racialization to interrogate the mutually constitutive nature of ‘race’ and ‘economy’.
Neurologic complications of leukemia.

Leukemia is a disease that may occur in any age group and with differing clinical behavior. The neurologic complications that may be encountered are numerous and often difficult to diagnose. Prompt recognition of the cause of neurologic illness in these patients will permit timely intervention and decrease the likelihood of additional morbidity.
Symptom recovery after thoracic surgery: Measuring patient-reported outcomes with the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory.

Abstract Objectives Measuring patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has become increasingly important for assessing quality of care and guiding patient management. However, PROs have yet to be integrated with traditional clinical outcomes (such as length of hospital stay), to evaluate perioperative care. This study aimed to use longitudinal PRO assessments to define the postoperative symptom recovery trajectory in patients undergoing thoracic surgery for lung cancer. Methods Newly diagnosed patients (N = 60) with stage I or II non–small cell lung cancer who underwent either standard open thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy reported multiple symptoms from before surgery to 3 months after surgery, using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. We conducted Kaplan–Meier analyses to determine when symptoms returned to presurgical levels and to mild-severity levels during recovery. Results The most-severe postoperative symptoms were fatigue, pain, shortness of breath, disturbed sleep, and drowsiness. The median time to return to mild symptom severity for these 5 symptoms was shorter than the time to return to baseline severity, with fatigue taking longer. Recovery from pain occurred more quickly for patients who underwent lobectomy versus thoracotomy (8 vs 18 days, respectively; P = .022). Patients who had poor preoperative performance status or comorbidities reported higher postoperative pain (all P Conclusions Assessing symptoms from the patient's perspective throughout the postoperative recovery period is an effective strategy for evaluating perioperative care. This study demonstrates that the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory is a sensitive tool for detecting symptomatic recovery, with an expected relationship among surgery type, preoperative performance status, and comorbid conditions.
Arctic Report Card Underscores Continued Long‐Term Warming Trend

Although fewer record-setting snow and ice events occurred in the Arctic in 2013 compared to 2012, “the impacts of the persistent warming trend of over 30 years remain clearly evident,” according to the 2013 Arctic Report Card issued by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at a 12 December news briefing at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif.
CD2 activation of human lamina propria lymphocytes reduces CD3 responsiveness

Summary Lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) are thought to be antigen-activated memory T cells. Yet, they respond better to ligation of the CD2 receptor than the CD3 receptor by mitogenic antibodies. This study defines their constitutive state of activation and relates it to their CD3 hyporesponsiveness. The activated state of LPLs was demonstrated by their heightened display of the activated CD2 epitope, T113. Constitutive CD2 activation was shown by the reduction in spontaneous proliferation when the CD2–CD58 interaction was blocked. LPLs preferentially recognized CD58 rather than the major histocompatibility complex molecules on monocytes, triggering proliferation and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion that was inhibited by blocking the CD2–CD58 interaction. To determine whether CD2 activation of LPLs contributes to their CD3 hyporesponsiveness, they were first stimulated with mitogenic CD2 antibodies and then tested for CD3-induced proliferation. The responses were greatly reduced by prior CD2 stimulation compared with LPLs cultured in medium alone. This effect was not caused by apoptosis or by changes in CD3 expression induced by CD2 triggering. This study shows that LPLs are constitutively activated through CD2, that they preferentially recognize CD58 on monocytes and that CD2 stimulation leads to CD3 hyporesponsiveness.
Formic acid decomposition on palladium-coated Pt(1 1 0)

Abstract Pt/Pd anode catalysts for direct formic acid polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells outperform both Pt and Pd in steady-state electrooxidation trials. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) experiments in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) were performed with 1 L formic acid on clean Pt(1 1 0), 0.6 monolayers Pd/Pt(1 1 0), and multilayer Pd/Pt(1 1 0) to gain a better understanding of the effect of Pd additions to a Pt catalyst. Both dehydration and dehydrogenation of formic acid occur on all three surfaces. As Pd coverage increases, the activation barrier for formate decomposition to CO 2 decreases, but the effect does not explain the unusual activity of Pt/Pd in the electrochemical environment.
Effects of experimental chlorate preparations as feed and water supplements on Escherichia coli colonization and contamination of beef cattle and carcasses

Abstract The effects of feed or water administration of experimental chlorate preparations on recovery of generic Escherichia coli and E. coli O157:H7 from the gut, hide and carcasses of feedlot cattle were tested. Sixty-four naturally colonized cattle were randomly assigned to one of four feed treatments with or without a 12 h chlorate-containing water treatment. An analysis of variance revealed a main effect of feed treatment ( P = 0.002 ) on generic E. coli concentrations in feces collected before shipment to slaughter. Main effect means were 5.57, 4.75, 5.00 and 4.08 log10 cfu/g for animals fed an experimental chlorate product at 0, 0.01% in last meal, 0.01% for last 5 d and 0.05% of body weight in last meal, respectively. A main effect of feed treatment was observed ( P = 0.041 ) on generic E. coli concentrations in feces collected at slaughter (means for the respective treatments were 4.92, 3.57, 3.98 and 3.20 log10 cfu/g) as well as on numbers of generic E. coli recovered ( P = 0.034 ) from hide swabs collected at the rump (means for the respective treatments were 4.86, 3.92, 3.87 and 4.06 log10 cfu/swab). A main effect of water treatment was observed ( P 0.016 ) on generic E. coli concentrations in rumen contents (3.44 vs. 2.72 cfu log10 cfu/g for animals administered 0 or 2500 ppm active chlorate ion, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed a main effect of feed treatment ( P 0.001 ) on the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 recovered from feces collected at slaughter (75%, 33%, 20% and 25% for animals fed an experimental chlorate product at 0%, 0.01% in last meal, 0.01% for last 5 d and 0.05% of body weight in last meal, respectively). Animals exhibited no symptoms of chlorate toxicity and negative effects on feed or water intake or animal performance were not observed.
Lysophosphatidic acid signaling in airway epithelium: role in airway inflammation and remodeling

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a potent bioactive phospholipid, induces diverse cellular responses, including cell proliferation, migration, and cytokine release. LPA can be generated intracellularly and extracellularly through multiple synthetic pathways by action of various enzymes, such as phospholipase A(1/2) (PLA(1/2)), phospholipase D (PLD), acylglycerol kinase (AGK), and lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD). Metabolism of LPA is regulated by a family of lipid phosphate phosphatases (LPPs). Significant amounts of LPA have been detected in various biological fluids, including serum, saliva, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The most significant effects of LPA appear to be through activation of the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), termed LPA(1-6). LPA regulates gene expression through activation of several transcriptional factors, such as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), AP-1, and C/EBPbeta. In addition to GPCRs, cross-talk between LPA receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) partly regulates LPA-induced intracellular signaling and cellular responses. Airway epithelial cells participate in innate immunity through the release of cytokines, chemokines, lipid mediators, other inflammatory mediators and an increase in barrier function in response to a variety of inhaled stimuli. Expression of LPA receptors has been demonstrated in airway epithelial cells. This review summarizes our recent observations of the role of LPA/LPA-Rs in regulation of airway epithelium, especially in relation to the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators and regulation of airway barrier function.
Studies of acoustic-electric feed-throughs for power transmission through structures

There are numerous engineering design problems where the use of wires to transfer power and communicate data thru the walls of a structure is prohibitive or significantly difficult that it may require a complex design. Using physical feedthroughs in such systems may make them susceptible to leakage of chemicals or gasses, loss of pressure or vacuum, as well as difficulties in providing adequate thermal or electrical insulation. Moreover, feeding wires thru a wall of a structure reduces the strength of the structure and makes the structure prone to cracking due to fatigue that can result from cyclic loading and stress concentrations. One area that has already been identified to require a wireless alternative to electrical feedthroughs is the container of the Mars Sample Return Mission, which will need wireless sensors to sense a pressure leak and to avoid potential contamination. The idea of using elastic or acoustic waves to transfer power was suggested recently by [Y. Hu, et al., July 2003]. This system allows for the avoidance of cabling or wiring. The technology is applicable to the transfer of power for actuation, sensing and other tasks inside any sealed container or vacuum/pressure vessel. An alternative approach to the modeling presented previously [Sherrit et a., 2005] used network analysis to solve the same problem in a clear and expandable manner. Experimental tests on three different designs of these devices were performed. The three designs used different methods of coupling the piezoelectric element to the wall. In the first test the piezoelectric material was bolted using a backing structure. In the second test the piezoelectric was clamped after the application of grease and finally the piezoelectric element was attached using a conductive epoxy. The mechanical clamp with grease produced the highest measured efficiency of 53% however this design was the least practical from a fabrication viewpoint. The power transfer efficiency of conductive epoxy joint was 40% and the stress bolts (12%).
Defining the “fast-reacting” thiols of myosin by reaction with 1,5 IAEDANS☆

Abstract The specificity of the fluorescent reagent N-iodoacetyl-N-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine (1,5 IAEDANS) for a specific thiol group of myosin has been characterized by a comparison with iodoacetamide (IAA) and by observing maximal enhancement of the Ca2+-ATPase activity and inhibition of the K+-EDTA-ATPase activity of myosin. The stoichiometry of the [3H]1,5 IAEDANS bound to myosin indicates the presence of two fast-reacting thiols which correspond to the “SH1” groups responsible for the catalytic properties of myosin. Moreover, it has been unequivocally demonstrated by gel electrophoresis that the fast-reacting thiol is located on the myosin heavy chain. A single radioactivity-labeled thiol peptide obtained from tryptic digests of myosin labeled with [3H]1,5 IAEDANS or iodo[1-14C]acetamide indicates strongly that the identical thiol was labeled by both reagents.
The Privacy Paradox: Personal Information Disclosure Intentions versus Behaviors

Impelled by the development of technologies that facilitate collection, distribution, storage, and manipulation of personal consumer information, privacy has become a “hot” topic for policy makers. Commercial interests seek to maximize and then leverage the value of consumer information, while, at the same time, consumers voice concerns that their rights and ability to control their personal information in the marketplace are being violated. However, despite the complaints, it appears that consumers freely provide personal data. This research explores what we call the “privacy paradox” or the relationship between individuals’ intentions to disclose personal information and their actual personal information disclosure behaviors.
The Power is in the Partnership: Families as Partners in Bilingual Bicultural Family Literacy Programs

This paper presents a research project that involved Mexican and Honduran families in a family literacy program through a service-learning course of cross-cultural education for teacher education candidates The study examined how the families in the program articulated their purposes for participating in the program and how they changed their attitudes toward education and toward the program, moving from a stance of participant to stakeholder in the program. The paper also describes the dissonance that occurred when the program incorporated an online language learning program. Despite the dissonance, however, the instructor posits that a family literacy program that regards the families as partners offers numerous possibilities for strengthening children’s education.
Protein Dynamics: From the Native to the Unfolded State and Back Again

Simulations to study protein unfolding and folding were performed. The unfolding simulations make use of molecular dynamics and treat an atomic model of barnase in aqueous solvent. The cooperative nature of the unfolding transition and the important role of water are described. The folding simulations are based on a bead model of the protein on a cubic lattice. It is shown for the 27-mer model that a large energy gap between the lowest energy (native) state and the excited states is a necessary and sufficient condition for fast folding.
Gauge theories, chiral invariance and electromagnetic mass differences

Abstract A spontaneously-broken gauge theory of strongly-interacting bosons, based on the chiral SU(2) × SU(2) group, is constructed. The model is renormalizable, and reproduces most of the well known results of hard-pion calculations or effective chiral Lagrangians. Chiral symmetry breaking can be introduced only through the fourth component of a chiral vector. The model can be enlarged to include electromagnetic interactions. The electromagnetic mass differences, even in case of broken chiral symmetry, turn out to be finite and non-arbitrary.
Behavioural thermoregulation in three species of robber flies (Diptera, Asilidae: Efferia)

Abstract Robber flies of three species of the genus Efferia (Diptera: Asilidae) were active in a grassland habitat across a wide range of diurnal environmental temperatures. Perch height, posture and orientation of the body axes varied with environmental temperature. Early in the day, the flies warmed up by perching with their ventral surfaces close to the ground and basking with their longitudinal and dorsoventral body axes perpendicular to the direction of the sun. As the day progressed, they perched with their bodies raised off the surface and eventually moved onto surfaces above the ground, so that the air temperatures experienced remained within the relatively narrow range of approximately 27–35°C. Changes in perch height and orientation of the body axes resulted in significant changes in operative body temperatures. At the highest environmental temperatures, E. bicaudata and E. frewingi perched with their longitudinal axes towards the sun, while E. staminea showed no tendency to orient in any particular direction. The significance of behavioural thermoregulation and differences among the species in perch height and in orientation at high environmental temperatures are discussed.
Influence of age on the cerebral lesions in an immature rat model of cerebral hypoxia–ischemia: a light microscopic study

Abstract The most frequently used model of neonatal cerebral hypoxia–ischemia consists of a 7-day postnatal rat model with combined common carotid artery ligation and hypoxemia. Neuropathologic studies have shown major differences between this 7-day postnatal rat model and a similar adult model in regard to overall cerebral vulnerability, type and distribution of lesions. It is not clear how and when during animals' development these changes in cerebral vulnerability take place. To determine this we studied groups of rats of 2 to 30 postnatal days. The animals underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by breathing in 8% oxygen for 30, 60, 90, or 120 min and their brains were examined at 24- or 72-h recovery intervals. Due to resistance of 2–3-day-old rats to develop cerebral hypoxic–ischemic damage, 5% O2 was used instead of 8% O2. The results indicate that: (i) There is an overall increase in severity of cerebral lesions on the side of common carotid artery ligation between 2 and 7 postnatal days. There is also an increase in the frequency of cerebral lesions in developing animals with increasing age. (ii) Hippocampus is remarkably resistant to hypoxic–ischemic insult at 2–3 postnatal days but becomes progressively vulnerable, and by age 13 postnatal days hippocampal vulnerability far exceeds that of cortex. (iii) Cortical lesions change from predominantly columnar cell death to laminar selective neuronal death at age 13 postnatal days. (iv) Also significant changes occur in relative vulnerability of various hippocampal regions during development. During the first 5 postnatal days relative vulnerability of hippocampal regions is similar, but as the animals' development proceeds and hippocampal vulnerability increases lesions tend to involve specific regions while sparing others. By age 13 postnatal days CA1 and lateral CA3 develop increased vulnerability while medial CA3 and fascia dentata become relatively resistant and by 21 postnatal days adult pattern of CA1 selective vulnerability is approached. The underlying mechanisms for these changes in regional vulnerability to cerebral hypoxia-ischemia during development should be sought in complex regional anatomic, functional, and metabolic alterations that take place as brain matures.
Density power spectrum in the local interstellar medium

Observational evidence is presented for the existence of interstellar medium electron density irregularities over a wide range of scale sizes. Radio scattering observations associated with the wavenumber range of about 10 to the -11th to 10 to the -6th/m are consistent with a density spectrum of the wavenumber form -3.7 + or - 0.6. At lower spatial wavenumbers (10 to the -16th to 10 to the -18th/m) the power spectrum can be estimated by (1) computation of the density fluctuations near the outer scale of the spectrum, (2) comparison with density irregularities predicted by theoretical models of the interstellar medium, and (3) comparison with observations of the velocity structure function.
Human Neuronal Pentraxin II (NPTX2): Conservation, Genomic Structure, and Chromosomal Localization

We have previously identified a novel rat neuronal member of the pentraxin family (neuronal pentraxin) that may mediate the uptake of synaptic material and the presynaptic snake venom toxin, taipoxin. Here we report human cDNA and genomic sequences of a second neuronal pentraxin. This pentraxin, which we propose to name neuronal pentraxin II (NPII; gene symbol NPTX2), shows 54% amino acid identity to rat neuronal pentraxin (NPI) with 69% identity over the carboxyl-terminal half of NPI and is 88% identical to a newly identified sperm acrosomal pentraxin p50/apexin. Northern blot analysis reveals that NPII message is present in brain, testis, pancreas, liver, heart, and skeletal muscle, so, unlike NPI, NPII is not exclusively localized to neurons. Like NPI, NPII has potential N-linked glycosylation sites. The human NPII gene is 11 kb in length, contains four introns, and is localized to chromosome 7q21.3-q22.1. These data demonstrate the existence of a family of pentraxin proteins that are expressed in the brain and other tissues and that may play important roles in the uptake of extracellular material.
The geology and geochemistry of Isla Marchena, Galapagos Archipelago: An ocean island adjacent to a mid-ocean ridge

Abstract Isla Marchena is the subaerial exposure of a shield volcano located between the Galapagos Platform and the Galapagos Spreading Center. The geologic evolution of the island can be divided into two lava series separated by formation of a cadera and a period of explosive activity. Both lava series contain evolved alkali olivine and tholeiitic basalts (average mg # = 55.2) and are virtually aphyric with the exception of a plagioclase-rich horizon in the pre-caldera section. Although the major-element compositions of the two series are similar, the abundances of incompatible elements and ratios of highly/moderately incompatible elements increase systematically with decreasing stratigraphic age. These compositional differences, together with textural and mineral chemical evidence for disequilibrium, are not easily explained by any single petrologic mechanism. The combined effects of a periodically replenished magma chamber, assimilation-fractionation, and in situ crystallization of a solidification zone are possible mechanisms that may be responsible for the temporal changes in lava composition. MORB-like abundances of trace elements, in addition to unusually depleted 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and 143 Nd/ 144 Nd ratios for ocean-island basalts, suggest that magmas associated with the Galapagos plume interacted with those of the Galapagos Spreading Center.