cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Racism is a perfect crime”: favela residents’ everyday experiences of police pacification, urban militarization, and prejudice in Rio de Janeiro

This article examines residents’ everyday experiences and perceptions of changing urban politics and racism in a “pacified” favela, or poor informal neighbourhood, in Rio de Janeiro, drawing on lon...
Not without my attending: a survey of patient and family member attitudes and perceptions about concurrent and overlapping surgery.

Abstract Background Context Recent media coverage of overlapping surgery has led to several studies investigating public perception of concurrent and overlapping surgery, both of which involve a single attending surgeon working on two separate cases in two separate operating rooms. In concurrent surgery, the critical periods of the surgeries overlap, while in overlapping surgery they do not. The literature revealed a general lack of knowledge about these practices and strong disapproval of their use by the public. Purpose To determine the comfort level of spine surgery patients and their family members toward concurrent and overlapping surgery. Study Design/Setting This cross-sectional survey study was performed at an urban, adult academic spine surgery clinic. Patient Sample Patients and their companions who were waiting to be seen at their initial clinic visit or follow-up visit were approached to participate in the study. Outcome Measures The survey queried respondents’ baseline knowledge of and comfort level with concurrent and overlapping surgery, in addition to comfort level with different levels of surgical trainees on a 5-point Likert scale. Methods A five-section, 36-item questionnaire was administered by a research assistant to respondents over a 3-month period spanning June 2019 – August 2019. A research assistant described the terms overlapping surgery and concurrent surgery to participants of the survey using diagrams and a preformulated script after self-reported knowledge questions. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test for categorical variables, and Kendall's tau-c rank correlation coefficient with ordinal independent variables for correlations. Results Knowledge about concurrent and overlapping surgery was low in our study population (8.22% and 6.16%, respectively). Over half of respondents reported that they felt comfortable with overlapping surgery (58.22%). Most respondents reported that they would like their surgeon to disclose the participation of surgical trainees (residents and fellows) in their surgery (98%). In addition, the 4th and 5th years of surgical training were associated with a significant increase in patient comfort with surgical trainee participation. There was no difference in response distribution between patients versus nonpatients. Conclusions Knowledge about concurrent and overlapping surgery remains poor in our study population. Lack of general knowledge about overlapping surgery can be a serious impediment to obtaining informed consent, and further study is required to determine the best methods to raising patient awareness.
Pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines as Imaging Agents for Neurofibrilary Tangles.

Tau protein and tau aggregates Summary: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal and synaptic loss, brain atrophy, and slow, progressive dementia first characterized by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1901, remains a major unmet medical need. Despite decades of research, a cure remains elusive and treatment options are limited. In 2015, approximately 5.3 million US citizens had Alzheimer’s disease, and the direct cost of AD patient care in the US was ∼$226 billion. In the absence of novel therapies, the US AD patient population is expected to exceed 13.8 million by 2050, and the cost of care will balloon to over $1.1 trillion. Although the pathogenesis of AD has not been determined, there are two major theories that describe its pathogenesis, the amyloid hypothesisandthetautheory.Accordingtotheamyloidhypothesistheneurodegenerationandlossofcognitivefunctionassociated withADare causedbythe buildupof β-amyloidplaques.These plaquesarebelievedtobe theresultofimproperamyloidprecursor protein(APP)processingby β-secretase(BACE)and γ-secretase,whichleadstoabuildupoftheAβ-42 fragmentofAPP.Aβ-42is prone to aggregation and plaque formation, and it has been hypothesized that preventing the formation and/or clearing these materials from the brain will arrest AD progression. Thetautheory,however,hypothesizesthatADpathogenesisiscausedbymishandlingoftubulin-associatedunit(tau)proteins.Under normalconditions,thishighlysolublemicrotubuleassociatedproteinmodulatesthestabilityofaxonalmicrotubules.InADpatients, however, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, which substantially decreases its solubility. This leads to the formation of tau aggregates and neurofibrillary tangles inside nerve cells. This, in turn, causes neuron death, cognitive impairment, and other symptoms of AD. Diagnostictoolscapableofdetectingthepresenceofeither β-amyloidplaquesortauaggregatescouldprovideamethodofdiagnosing AD. The present disclosure describes a series of pyrrolo[2,3-c]pyridines useful as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents capable of binding to tau aggregates.
Balanced networks under spike-time dependent plasticity

The dynamics of local cortical networks are irregular, but correlated. Dynamic excitatory-inhibitory balance is a plausible mechanism that generates such irregular activity, but it remains unclear how balance is achieved and maintained in plastic neural networks. In particular, it is not fully understood how plasticity induced changes in the network affect balance, and in turn, how correlated, balanced activity impacts learning. How do the dynamics of balanced networks change under different plasticity rules? How does correlated spiking activity in recurrent networks change the evolution of weights, their eventual magnitude, and structure across the network? To address these questions, we develop a theory of spike-timing dependent plasticity in balanced networks. We show that balance can be attained and maintained under plasticity-induced weight changes. We find that correlations in the input mildly affect the evolution of synaptic weights. Under certain plasticity rules, we find an emergence of correlations between firing rates and synaptic weights. Under these rules, synaptic weights converge to a stable manifold in weight space with their final configuration dependent on the initial state of the network. Lastly, we show that our framework can also describe the dynamics of plastic balanced networks when subsets of neurons receive targeted optogenetic input.
Nitric Oxide, Gravity Response, and a Unified Schematic of Plant Signaling

Abstract Plant signaling components are often involved in numerous processes. Calcium, reactive oxygen species, and other signaling molecules are essential to normal biotic and abiotic responses. Yet, the summation of these components is integrated to produce a specific response despite their involvement in a myriad of response cascades. In the response to gravity, the role of many of these individual components has been studied, but a specific sequence of signals has not yet been assembled into a cohesive schematic of gravity response signaling. Herein, we provide a review of existing knowledge of gravity response and differential protein and gene regulation induced by the absence of gravity stimulus aboard the International Space Station and propose an integrated theoretical schematic of gravity response incorporating that information. Recent developments in the role of nitric oxide in gravity signaling provided some of the final contextual pillars for the assembly of the model, where nitric oxide and the role of cysteine S-nitrosation may be central to the gravity response. The proposed schematic accounts for the known responses to reorientation with respect to gravity in roots—the most well studied gravitropic plant tissue—and is supported by the extensive evolutionary conservation of regulatory amino acids within protein components of the signaling schematic. The identification of a role of nitric oxide in regulating the TIR1 auxin receptor is indicative of the broader relevance of the schematic in studying a multitude of environmental and stress responses. Finally, there are several experimental approaches that are highlighted as essential to the further study and validation of this schematic.
Early myositis ossificans progressiva occurring in homozygotic twins; a clinical and pathologic study.

Summary The clinical and pathologic findings in early myositis ossificans progressiva occurring in homozygotic twins are presented. This is the second reported instance of this disease in identical twins. The early lesions consist of marked interstitial edema and connective tissue proliferation in the involved mesodermal structures. Degenerative changes in the skeletal muscle fibers are probably secondary to the surrounding connective tissue reaction. The progress of the disease appears to be unaffected by steroid therapy, even when instituted early, except for a transient response during the more acute phases.
The plaque-forming cell response of human blood lymphocytes. I. PFC response of lymphocytes to formalin-treated staphylocci.

Abstract The plaque-forming cell and proliferative responses of human peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by formalin-treated Staphylococcus aureus of the Cowan strain were studied in vitro. Human blood mononuclear cells were incubated for 6 days with staphylococci in culture medium RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% human AB serum. The number of anti-sheep erythrocyte plaque-forming cells was determined by the Jerne technique. Lymphocyte proliferation was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Individual lymphocyte donors could be classified as high or low responders to staphylococci. Lymphocyte proliferation appeared necessary for the generation of plaque-forming cells. The plaque-forming cell response was greatly influenced by the source of the human AB serum used in the culture medium. The addition of hydrocortisone to the culture medium augmented the plaque-forming cell response. Human B lymphocytes prepared by passage through a column containing Sepharose 4B conjugated to anti-human F(ab)2 generated plaque-forming cells when incubated with staphylococci. However, the addition of T lymphocytes to these B-lymphocyte preparations augmented the plaque-forming cell response to staphylococci.
Biosynthesis of the Peptidoglycan of Bacterial Cell Walls XXI. ISOLATION OF FREE C55-ISOPRENOID ALCOHOL AND OF LIPID INTERMEDIATES IN PEPTIDOGLYCAN SYNTHESIS FROM STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Abstract The lipid intermediate, disaccharide (-pentapeptide)-P-P-lipid, has been isolated from Staphylococcus aureus. The lipid, moiety, like that from a similar intermediate from Micrococcus lysodeikticus, is a C55-isoprenoid alcohol. Less than 10% of the C55-isoprenoid alcohol in S. aureus is present in the form of phosphorylated derivatives. The remainder is present as the free C55-isoprenoid alcohol which has also been isolated in relatively large amounts. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the latter material indicated that it contains two internal trans double bonds, as did a similar compound isolated from M. lysodeikticus by Scher, Lennarz, and Sweeley (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 59, 1313 (1968)). It thus differs from the main component of C55-ficaprenol which contains three internal trans double bonds, and it can be separated from C55-ficaprenol by reverse phase chromatography.
Malignant Atrophic Papulosis. Report of a Case with Multiple Ophthalmic Findings.

Malignant atrophic papulosis is a rare and fatal condition with multiple organ involvement. We describe a patient with progressive ocular and dermatological findings.
Toward a Practical Module System for ACL2

Boyer and Moore's ACL2 theorem prover combines first-order applicative Common Lisp with a computational, first-order logic. While ACL2 has become popular and is being used for large programs, ACL2 forces programmers to rely on manually maintained protocols for managing modularity. In this paper, we present a prototype of Modular ACL2. The system extends ACL2 with a simple, but pragmatic functional module system. We provide an informal introduction, sketch a formal semantics, and report on our first experiences.
Nations at war: War-prone systems

Introduction This chapter focuses on quantitative empirical research relating to the war-proneness of states at the analytical level of the state. The distinction between the search for causal factors associated with state behavior at the aggregate level of interacting units (dyad/system) or at the level of the acting unit alone (state) was initially described by Waltz (1959) and Singer (1961), and elaborated by Waltz (1979). State- and subnational-level factors presumably associated with foreign policy behavior include governmental variables such as political system-type, the distribution of influence within regimes, bureaucratic characteristics, organizational processes, and electoral cycles. Economic elements postulated to affect the foreign policies of states include the structure of the economic system, business cycles, level of economic development, and the pool of national capabilities that constitute or contribute to military and economic power. The impact of many of these factors on state-level behavior has been explored through the comparative analysis of foreign policy utilizing the Snyder, Bruck and Sapin (1962), Rosenau (1966), and Andriole, Wilkenfeld and Hopple (1975) analytical frameworks. Issues surrounding rational and nonrational decisionmaking models have been discussed in chapter 2. As noted in that chapter, there is an extensive literature on the impact of psychological characteristics and cognitive processes of decisionmakers on foreign policy choices. In this area, factors such as perception, belief-system, cognitive dissonance, displacement, and the nexus between frustration and aggression are hypothesized to affect patterns of international conflict and war.
Reordering for cache conscious photon mapping

Photon mapping is a global illumination algorithm for generating and visualizing a sparse representation of the incident radiance on surfaces. Photon mapping places an enormous burden on the memory hierarchy. A 512x512 image using the standard kd-tree data structure requires more than 196GB of raw bandwidth to access the photon map. This bandwidth is a major obstacle to our long term goal of designing hardware capable of real time photon mapping.This paper investigates two approaches for reducing the required bandwidth: 1) reordering the kNN searches; and 2) cache conscious data structures. Using a Hilbert curve reordering, we demonstrate an approximate lower bound of 15MB of bandwidth. This improvement of four orders of magnitude requires a prohibitive amount of intermediate storage. We then demonstrate two more cost-effective algorithms that reduce the bandwidth by one order of magnitude to 24GB with IMB of storage. We explain why the choice of data structure can not, by itself, achieve this reduction. Irradiance caching, a popular technique that reduces the number of required kNN searches, receives the same proportional benefit as the higher quality photon gathers.
The Ecology and Pathobiology of Clostridium difficile Infections: An Interdisciplinary Challenge

Summary Clostridium difficile is a well recognized pathogen of humans and animals. Although C. difficile was first identified over 70 years ago, much remains unknown in regards to the primary source of human acquisition and its pathobiology. These deficits in our knowledge have been intensified by dramatic increases in both the frequency and severity of disease in humans over the last decade. The changes in C. difficile epidemiology might be due to the emergence of a hypervirulent stain of C. difficile, ageing of the population, altered risk of developing infection with newer medications, and/or increased exposure to C. difficile outside of hospitals. In recent years, there have been numerous reports documenting C. difficile contamination of various foods, and reports of similarities between strains that infect animals and strains that infect humans as well. The purposes of this review are to highlight the many challenges to diagnosing, treating, and preventing C. difficile infection in humans, and to stress that collaboration between human and veterinary researchers is needed to control this pathogen.
Semantics and Pragmatics in the Interpretation of "or"

This paper concerns what might be called the variably bad behavior of the word or. As is well known, there are a variety of environments in which the word or misbehaves – misbehaves, in the sense that it gives rise to interpretations which are not expected given the standard analysis of this word as, roughly, set union. One of these environments is the scope of a modal. This case has received a lot of attention recently in the literature, and a number of researchers, including myself, have proposed accounts of or which explain its behavior in this environment. But here is where the problem arises: When we embed or under both a modal and negation, it stops misbehaving and starts acting again like a well behaved Boolean operator. This is problematic for those of us who have gone to some lengths to argue, on the basis of the affirmative cases, that or isn’t a Boolean operator at all. In this paper, I will offer an explanation for this variable misbehavior. I will propose that or is, after all, more or less a Boolean operator, although one which works in a somewhat special way. In addition, I will argue that or coordinations are subject to a special constraint, called Symmetry; and that it is the requirement to satisfy Symmetry which sometimes forces or to display apparently non-Boolean behavior.
Clark T. Sawin historical vignette: what do criminology, Harry Houdini, and King George V have in common with postpartum thyroid dysfunction?

The history of postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) dates back almost two millennia, when Soranus of Ephesus, who practiced obstetrics and neonatology, observed swelling in the necks (presumably goiters) of women after pregnancy. The next reference to PPTD appeared in artwork more than 1000 years later, with many portraits illustrating women with goiter while holding infants. In the early to mid-19th century, Caleb Hillier Parry and Armand Trousseau described postpartum hyperthyroidism, while in the late 1800s, Sir Horatio Bryan Donkin reported the first patient with postpartum hypothyroidism. The modern era of PPTD began with the description in the late 1940s by H.E.W. Roberton of women after delivery reporting hypothyroid symptoms and responding to thyroid extract. The immunologic influence on PPTD was recognized initially by Parker and Beierwaltes in the early 1960s, and the clinical variability and natural history were carefully documented by numerous investigators in the 1970s–1980s. The past two de...
MMPI patterns in common headache disorders.

SYNOPSIS The results of the study support the findings that vascular headache patients obtain lower MMPI scores than do muscle contraction and mixed headache patients. We suggest that this may be due to more frequent and longer pain-free intervals. We also note a tendency for male muscle contraction headache patients to be somewhat more morally self-righteous than the other categories, but this finding requires confirmation. Comparisons between these headache patients (all categories) and 50,000 general medical patients showed the former to obtain scores markedly greater than the latter on most scales; this also may reflect greater duration and severity of subjective distress.
Radiation field design and patterns of locoregional recurrence following definitive radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Purpose Locoregional control is associated with breast cancer-specific and overall survival in select women with breast cancer. Although several patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics have been shown to contribute to locoregional recurrence (LRR), studies evaluating factors related to radiotherapy (XRT) technique have been limited. We investigated the relationship between LRR location and XRT fields and dose delivered to the primary breast cancer in women experiencing subsequent locoregional relapse. Methods and Materials We identified 21 women who were previously treated definitively with surgery and XRT for breast cancer. All patients developed biopsy-result proven LRR and presented to Emory University Hospital between 2004 and 2010 for treatment. Computed tomography (CT) simulation scans with XRT dose files for the initial breast cancer were fused with 18 F-labeled fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET)/CT images in DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format identifying the LRR. Each LRR was categorized as in-field, defined as ≥95% of the LRR volume receiving ≥95% of the prescribed whole-breast dose; marginal, defined as LRR at the field edge and/or not receiving ≥95% of the prescribed dose to ≥95% of the volume; or out-of-field, that is, LRR intentionally not treated with the original XRT plan. Results Of the 24 identified LRRs (3 patients experienced two LRRs), 3 were in-field, 9 were marginal, and 12 were out-of-field. Two of the 3 in-field LRRs were marginal misses of the additional boost XRT dose. Out-of-field LRRs consisted of six supraclavicular and six internal mammary nodal recurrences. Conclusions Most LRRs in our study occurred in areas not fully covered by the prescribed XRT dose or were purposely excluded from the original XRT fields. Our data suggest that XRT technique, field design, and dose play a critical role in preventing LRR in women with breast cancer.
Bisphosphonates and Oral Health

Bisphosphonates are drugs used for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, metastasis of cancers, and hypercalcemia. They work in a relatively complex way by interfering with cells that form and break down bone. Bisphosphonates remain attached to the bone for a long time after they are taken, and decrease significantly the bone’s ability to remodel and heal after injuries.1 There are many types of bisphosphonates available, including nitrogenous, nonnitrogenous, intravenous, and oral presentations. Examples of bisphosphonates on the market include Actonel (risedronate), Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Aredia (pamidronate), Novartis Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., East Hanover, NJ, USA; Boniva (ibandronate), Roche Therapeutics, Inc., Nutley, NJ, USA; Didronel (etidronate), Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals; Fosamax (alendronate), Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA; Skelid (tiludronate); Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, USA; and Zometa (zoledronate), Novartis Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.2 HOW DO THEY AFFECT YOUR ORAL HEALTH?
Protein kinase C-regulated dynamitin-macrophage-enriched myristoylated alanine-rice C kinase substrate interaction is involved in macrophage cell spreading.

Macrophage spreading requires the microtubule cytoskeleton and protein kinase C (PKC). The mechanism of involvement of the microtubules and PKC in this event is not fully understood. Dynamitin is a subunit of dynactin, which is important for linking the microtubule-dependent motor protein dynein to vesicle membranes. We report that dynamitin is a Ca2+/calmodulin-binding protein and that dynamitin binds directly to macrophage-enriched myristoylated alanine-rice C kinase substrate (MacMARCKS), a membrane-associated PKC substrate involved in macrophage spreading and integrin activation. Dynamitin was found to copurify with MacMARCKS both during MacMARCKS purification with conventional chromatography and during the immunoabsorption of MacMARCKS using anti-MacMARCKS antibody. Vice versa, MacMARCKS was also found to cosediment with the 20 S dynactin complex. We determined that the effector domain of MacMARCKS is required to interact with the N-terminal domain of dynamitin. MacMARCKS and dynamitin also partially colocalized at peripheral regions of macrophages and in the cell-cell border of 293 epithelial cells. Treatment with phorbol esters abolished this colocalization. Disrupting the interaction with a short peptide derived from the MacMARCKS-binding domain of dynamitin caused macrophages to spread and flatten. These data suggest that the dynamitin-MacMARCKS interaction is involved in cell spreading. Furthermore, the regulation of this interaction by PKC and Ca2+/calmodulin provides a possible regulatory mechanism for cell adhesion and spreading.
Does Humor Benefit Health In Retirement? Exploring Humor as a Moderator

This research assessed the extent to which humor moderates the relationship between retirement stress, including hassles, and health. Two hundred sixty-five retirees over the age of 55 years responded to an on-line survey, completing the RAND 36-Item Health Survey and the Humor Styles Questionnaire. Stress was measured using the Self Perceived Stress in Retirement Scale and The Hassles Scale. The stress moderating effect of humor was examined via regression analyses. Contrary to expectation, and the assumed nature of humor styles, results suggest that the adaptiveness of humor styles depends on the level of stress or hassles one perceives, as well as gender. This is a first indication that whether specific humor styles are adaptive or maladaptive may depend on specific circumstances or person variables.
Partial oxidation of ethane to ethylene and acetaldehyde over a supported molybdenum catalyst

Abstract The catalytic conversion of ethane to acetaldehyde has been achieved using nitrous oxide as the oxidant. Water vapor is essential for high selectivity to acetaldehyde. The product distribution is strongly dependent upon the mode of preparation of the Mo SiO 2 catalysts, the type of silica support, and the molybdenum loading. Typical conversions of 7% with combined selectivities to CH3CHO and C2H4 of 70% may be attained. At partial pressures between 30 and 280 Torr the rate of ethane conversion is first order with respect to nitrous oxide and ca. 0.4 order with respect to ethane. A mechanism is proposed in which O− ions, derived from N2O, react with C2H6 by hydrogen-atom abstraction. The resulting ethyl radical reacts with surface MoO to produce a surface ethoxide, which may either decompose to ethylene or react further with surface OH− to form acetaldehyde or with water to form C2H5OH. The latter is rapidly converted to acetaldehyde under reaction conditions.
Structural-Functional Relationships of the Dynein, Spokes, and Central-Pair Projections Predicted from an Analysis of the Forces Acting within a Flagellum

In the axoneme of eukaryotic flagella the dynein motor proteins form crossbridges between the outer doublet microtubules. These motor proteins generate force that accumulates as linear tension, or compression, on the doublets. When tension or compression is present on a curved microtubule, a force per unit length develops in the plane of bending and is transverse to the long axis of the microtubule. This transverse force (t-force) is evaluated here using available experimental evidence from sea urchin sperm and bull sperm. At or near the switch point for beat reversal, the t-force is in the range of 0.25-1.0 nN/ micro m, with 0.5 nN/ micro m the most likely value. This is the case in both beating and arrested bull sperm and in beating sea urchin sperm. The total force that can be generated (or resisted) by all the dyneins on one micron of outer doublet is also approximately 0.5 nN. The equivalence of the maximum dynein force/ micro m and t-force/ micro m at the switch point may have important consequences. Firstly, the t-force acting on the doublets near the switch point of the flagellar beat is sufficiently strong that it could terminate the action of the dyneins directly by strongly favoring the detached state and precipitating a cascade of detachment from the adjacent doublet. Secondly, after dynein release occurs, the radial spokes and central-pair apparatus are the structures that must carry the t-force. The spokes attached to the central-pair projections will bear most of the load. The central-pair projections are well-positioned for this role, and they are suitably configured to regulate the amount of axoneme distortion that occurs during switching. However, to fulfill this role without preventing flagellar bend formation, moveable attachments that behave like processive motor proteins must mediate the attachment between the spoke heads and the central-pair structure.
SELF‐SACRIFICE TO SAVE THE LIFE OF ANOTHER IN JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS1

Although both the Jewish and Christian traditions permit and even valorize self-sacrificial death for the sake of God (martyrdom), and for other people, they diverge on the issue of self-sacrificial death for the sake of a single individual. The Jewish tradition prohibits such self-sacrifice on the basis of the principles that (1) God owns the body and that (2) one cannot exchange one's life for another's. Christian ethics, in contrast, permits sacrificing one's life to save a single person based on the model of Christ's self-sacrificial love. This ethical disagreement exposes a fundamental theological disagreement between the two traditions concerning what constitutes the imago Dei.
Effects of atrazine, agricultural runoff, and selected effluents on antimicrobial activity of skin peptides in Xenopus laevis

Abstract Atrazine (technical and formulation), agricultural runoff containing atrazine, and treated sewage and landfill effluents were evaluated for their potential to modulate antimicrobial activity of Xenopus laevis skin secretions against the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This chytrid fungus is implicated in several localized mass mortality events, yet the cause of the susceptibility of amphibians to this newly emergent pathogen is unknown. Antimicrobial peptides secreted from dermal glands are thought to provide critical protection against this pathogen. Chronic exposure of X. laevis larvae to agricultural runoff decreased protein content of collected secretions, while treated wastewater effluents increased protein content. However, the in vitro bioactivity was decreased in treatments with both increased and decreased protein. No differences were observed in protein or bioactivity following laboratory exposures of technical atrazine or a typical atrazine formulation (AAtrex® 4L/Top Surf®). These findings demonstrate that exposure of an amphibian model to agricultural runoff or effluent from municipal sewage treatment plants and landfills alters peptide production and in vitro activity of protective peptides. Although evidence suggests peptide production and bioactivity is a critical part of amphibian resistance to pathogens such as the chytrid fungus, the implications of observed effects for immunity and infection are not clear.
A model for the evolution of despotic versus egalitarian societies

Abstract I present an optimization model that defines some conditions under which group-living and cooperating individuals interact in a despotic versus and egalitarian manner. The model assumes that dominants within groups can bias resources or fitness in their favour to the limits established by the subordinates' options outside the group. Ecological factors, such as the cost of dispersing and relative benefit of group living compared to solitary living, determine the subordinates' options and greatly affect the degree of bias the dominant can impose. The degree of relatedness among group members also has a large impact on the degree of bias. To determine whether groups should be composed of relatives or non-relatives, a second optimization analysis eeks the best biasing and dispersal strategy from the point of view of a dominant individual. Specific sets of conditions favour the evolution of the following kinds of behaviour within the societies: (1) solitary living or non-cooperation, (2) egalitarian cooperation among relatives, (3) despotic cooperation among relatives, (4) egalitarian cooperation among non-relatives, and (5) despotic cooperation among non-relatives. The model provides insights into the interactions between a basic behavioural process, i.e. dominance, and ecological contexts in determining aspects of population structure such as group size, dispersal pattern, group composition, and fitness bias within groups. I list three examples of animal societies with different degrees of bias which closely fit the predictions of the model.
Cholesterol supplementation with egg yolk increases plasma cholesterol and decreases plasma 7-dehydrocholesterol in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), an autosomal recessive condition comprising multiple malformations, mental retardation, and growth failure, results from reduced activity of the final enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, 7-dehydrocholesterol Delta(7)-reductase (DHCR7). Reduced plasma and tissue cholesterol concentrations and accumulation of cholesterol precursors including 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) are characteristic biochemical abnormalities. While it is still unclear what role these potentially toxic precursors have in the pathogenesis of this disorder, the accumulation of 7-DHC in the brain has been associated with impaired learning in rats and oxidized 7-DHC has been shown to induce growth retardation in cultured rat embryos. We hypothesized that supplemental dietary cholesterol would increase plasma cholesterol levels and suppress synthesis of 7-DHC and other abnormal sterols in individuals with SLOS. After baseline sterol levels were obtained, patients were provided supplemental cholesterol as egg yolk. Plasma sterols were analyzed by capillary-column gas chromatography over time in four children with SLOS. When evaluated at 4-8 weeks after the initiation of cholesterol supplementation, there was a marked increase in mean plasma cholesterol, from 53 mg/dl to 82 mg/dl. While the percent of total sterols as 7-DHC decreased from 15% to 10%, there was no change in total plasma 7-DHC levels. However, when evaluated 35-90 weeks after the institution of cholesterol supplementation, mean plasma 7-DHC decreased, from 11.3 mg/dl to 3.5 mg/dl (-67%, P < 0.05), along with an increase in mean plasma cholesterol from 53 mg/dl to 114 mg/dl (+116%, P < 0.05). These results support the hypothesis that over time dietary cholesterol supplementation from egg yolk increases the plasma cholesterol levels and decreases levels of 7-DHC which may be toxic. These data have important therapeutic implications in the management of SLOS.
Bimorph disk piezoelectric energy harvester under base excitation: electroelastic modeling and experimental validation

Vibration-based energy harvesting using a disk-type piezoelectric bimorph with thickness poled circular piezoelectric laminates is explored theoretically and experimentally. The bimorph disk consists of two circular laminates electrically connected in series and shunted through the outer surface electrodes to an electrical load for characterizing the power output and piezoelectrically shunted vibration in response to base excitation. The bimorph disk with free edge conditions is mounted to the vibrating base from its center and the focus is placed on the fundamental axisymmetric vibration mode. Electromechanical coupling is introduced to the distributed-parameter model of the thin circular plate and a resistive load is considered across the electrodes. Following a modal analysis-based electroelastic solution, closed-form expressions are obtained for the voltage output and shunted vibration frequency response functions by accounting for the two-way coupling in the presence of a finite electrical load impedance. Experimental validations of the electroelastic model are given for two separate bimorph disks of different diameters.
Cisapride and ventricular arrhythmia

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Case reports have linked cisapride to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. • However, two prior epidemiological studies have failed to show an association between cisapride and serious arrhythmia. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Overall, cisapride was associated with a doubling to tripling of the risk of hospitalization for sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmia, and a near eightfold risk in the initial prescription period. • Although potentially arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors were associated with an increased risk in cisapride users, this appears to be due to a direct effect of the drugs themselves rather than an interaction with cisapride. AIMS We aimed to examine the association between cisapride and ventricular arrhythmia, and examine the relationship to dose and CYP3A4 inhibitors. METHODS A nested case–control study was conducted in Medicaid beneficiaries exposed to cisapride, metoclopramide or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) from 1999 to 2000. Cases were hospitalized with a principal International Classification of Diseases-9 code indicating sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia. Controls had at least as much event-free person time following the study prescription as its matched case. RESULTS A total of 145 cases and 7250 controls were identified. The unadjusted rate ratio for cisapride vs. PPIs was 1.49 (95% confidence interval 0.96, 2.25). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for cisapride vs. PPIs was 2.10 (1.34, 3.28). Excluding persons in managed care, the adjusted OR for cisapride was 2.92 (1.55, 5.49). In the initial prescription period, the adjusted OR for cisapride vs. PPIs was 7.85 (1.95, 31.60). Non-arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors were not associated with an increased risk in users of cisapride or PPI inhibitors. The OR for potentially arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors was 3.79 (1.76, 8.15) in cisapride users and 3.47 (2.06, 5.83) in PPI users. CONCLUSIONS Cisapride was associated with a doubling to tripling of the risk of hospitalization for ventricular arrhythmia, and a nearly eightfold risk in the initial prescription period. Although use of potentially arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors was associated with an increased risk, this appears to be due to a direct effect of the drugs themselves rather than an interaction with cisapride.
Average Height-Integrated Joule Heating Rates and Magnetic Deflection Vectors Due to Field-Aligned Currents during Sunspot Minimum

Abstract Height-integrated Joule heating has been calculated from simultaneous observations of field-aligned currents and precipitating electrons made by the Defense Meterorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite F7. The DMSP/F7 satellite provided nearly continuous data from January 1984 to October 1987. In this paper we use data from January 1984 to December 1985, a period of nearly uniform, low solar EUV flux near the minimum of the sunspot cycle. By assuming that the majority of the observed field-aligned currents connect through the ionosphere via local Pedersen currents, we have calculated the local Joule heating rates. By combining Joule heating observations from multiple orbits, a survey of Joule heating vs magnetic latitude, magnetic local time, magnetic activity level and season has been compiled. In addition, the average magnetic deflection vector has been compiled. Our survey of the distribution of Joule heating has finer resolution than previous surveys, and is comparable with previous case studies. We have found evidence that the source of the field-aligned current into/out of the dayside cusp is on open field lines and that the source of the field-aligned current into/out of the auroral zones is on closed field lines.
Icatibant for the treatment of hereditary angioedema

Introduction: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition caused by deficiency or dysfunction of C1 inhibitor and accompanied by recurrent episodes of swelling affecting different parts of body. Patients experience significant morbidity and have impaired quality of life. Mortality may result from laryngeal attacks and asphyxiation. In last five years, developments in HAE therapies have changed HAE treatment paradigm.Areas covered: In United States and Europe, icatibant, a BR2 bradykinin receptor antagonist, is approved for self administration to treat acute attacks of HAE. It appears to have a favorable efficacy and safety profile. We examine pharmacokinetic profile, published data on safety and efficacy, important drug trials and post marketing surveillance studies of icatibant.Expert opinion: Icatibant has the desirable characteristics for self-administration such as safety, portability, accessibility, stability at room temperature and ease of administration. It is t...
Influence of ferrous iron and ph on carbon tetrachloride degradation by Methanosarcina thermophila.

Abstract The influence of environmental conditions on the biological transformation of a contaminant must be well understood to optimize remediation processes. One factor that impacts the biological transformation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) is elemental iron (Fe 0 ). Previous research has shown that Fe 0 increases the methanogenic CT degradation rate by providing H 2 for cell growth and dechlorination. As Fe 0 oxidizes it also increases the pH and Fe 2+ levels, which may also impact the biological transformation of CT. Experiments were performed with Methanosarcina thermophila to investigate the influence of these factors on CT degradation. The transformation of CT and CF was greatly influenced by pH, with the rate of CT and CF degradation increasing with increasing pH. After 6 h, >90% of the CT had been degraded in the treatments containing cells at a pH of 8.5, whereas only about 51% of the CT had been degraded in similar treatments at a pH of 5.5. Fe 2+ did not significantly influence the degradation of CT; however, 60% less CF was formed in systems containing cells+Fe 2+ than in systems containing cells only. In addition, Fe 2+ promoted rapid transformation of CF when added to treatments containing cells. The product distribution after 9 days in all systems containing cells was very similar, with 98.04±5.46% (two-sided 95% confidence interval) of the originally fed CT present as soluble products. These results show that pH and Fe 2+ influence the degradation of CT and CF, although transiently. Because the residence time of contaminants in Fe 0 barriers varies with the thickness of the barrier, it is likely that this influence will be important for some flow-through systems. This implies that a combined Fe 0 /organism remediation system may have previously unrealized advantages (due to pH and Fe 2+ changes).
Zero-reflectivity high spatial-frequency rectangular-groove dielectric surface-relief gratings.

Using rigorous coupled-wave analysis, high spatial-frequency rectangular-groove surface-relief phase gratings are shown to be capable of exhibiting zero reflectivity. Thus these corrugated surfaces may act as antireflection coatings in a variety of applications. The diffraction characteristics of rectangular-groove surface-relief gratings are presented for several ratios of incident wavelength to grating period as a function of filling factor, groove depth, angle of incidence, and polarization. The conditions for zero reflectivity are identified. Results are compared with single-homogeneous-layer approximate theory results. In the limit of long wavelengths for an electromagnetic wave in a dielectric of refractive index n1 normally incident on a dielectric of index n2, it is determined that for antireflection behavior, the grating groove depth should be λ/4(n1n2)1/2 and the filling factor should be n1/(n1 + n2) or n2/(n1 + n2) for the electric field perpendicular or parallel to the grating vector, respectively. The spectral and angular responses of these gratings are like those of single-homogeneous-layer antireflection coatings. These gratings also exhibit birefringent retardation.
The responses of planehead filefish, Monocanthus hispidis (Linnaeus), to low temperature

Juvenile planehead filefish,Monocanthus hispidis, were collected from the Westport River, a southern New England estuary, during September and October of 1971. The critical thermal minimum of filefish acclimated to 15 C was found to be 8.70 C. The mean lower lethal temperature of these fish was 5.63 C. It is suggested that these fish do not escape northern waters before cold temperatures overtake them in the fall.
Annual species abundance in a tidal freshwater marsh: germination and survival across an elevational gradient

Annual species contribute significantly to the standing biomass of tidal freshwater marshes, but they tend to be distributed unevenly along the elevation gradient, with higher surface elevations supporting greater densities of annual species. We explored the generation of this pattern by evaluating how different life history stages of annual species are related to elevation and to each other. In 2006, we counted seedlings emerging from the seed bank under optimal greenhouse conditions, as well as seedlings and mature stems of annual species in 38 plots located at different elevations in a tidal freshwater marsh near Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Annual species seedling and mature stem density increased with elevation of the marsh surface, but seed density did not change with elevation. Seeds of annual species germinated in saturated rather than flooded conditions (4.50 ±0.54 versus 1.66 ±0.26 species/ greenhouse container ±SE). Germination and survival from seedling to mature stem affected density of annual species across an elevational gradient, but the relative importance of either process differed by species. Amaranthus cannabinus was common and frequent in the seed bank (68% of all plots), and seed density increased with elevation, but seedlings and mature stems were infrequent at any elevation (21% and 5%, respectively), suggesting that germination is limiting its recruitment to standing vegetation. In contrast, Bidens laevis was uncommon in the seed bank (18% of all plots), but was frequently observed as seedlings and mature stems (55% and 34%, respectively). We therefore conclude that B. laevis recruitment was limited by its ephemeral seed bank. Impatiens capensis density did not appear to be limited by germination or survival to maturity as density of the species was high at all life history stages. Rather, its strong positive relationship with elevation at all life stages shows that I. capensis is limited by water inundation, particularly in spring when seeds require oxygen to germinate. Overall, we show that annual species increase in density at higher elevations in a tidal freshwater marsh, but that recruitment of each species may be limited by different intrinsic and extrinsic processes.
Assessing the Perceived Importance of Skin Cancer: How Question-Order Effects Are Influenced by Issue Involvement

Question-order effects refer to systematic differences in responses that can be attributed to the manner in which questions assessing attitudes and cognitions are asked. This article hypothesized that question-order effects in assessing the perceived importance of skin cancer would be moderated by the extent to which people are involved with the issue of skin cancer. A telephone survey (N = 325) was conducted by administering two versions of the same questionnaire, one in which importance of skin cancer was assessed without other contextual variables and another in which contextual variables were asked before assessing the importance of skin cancer. As hypothesized, when people were highly involved with the issue, question-order effects did not occur. When involvement was low, importance of skin cancer was greater in the absence of contextual questions than in their presence. Findings have implications for how health-related issues are communicated to the public and how formative research is conducted.