cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisims of asthma and allergic disease – 1081. Resolvin inhibits the cryopyrin/nalp3 inflammasome

Background The inflammasome is a novel protein complex that stimulates caspase-1 activation to promote the processing and secretion of IL-1b, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, which is among the most biologically important inflammatory mediators in allergic airway diseases. Among the various types of inflammasomes, Cryopyrin/NALP3 has been suggested to be involved in sensing sterile stress response, extracellular ATP, danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and crystals. Recently inappropriate NALP3 inflammasome activity has been reported in various allergic airway diseases including asthma. Therefore, inhibitors of the NALP3 inflammasome offer considerable therapeutic promise. Recently Omega-3 fatty acid derivates termed resolvins have shown to alter the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokine storm seen in inflammatory diseases. However the ability of resolvins to modulate the effects of inflammasome activation has not been studied. We investigated whether resolvin treatment inhibits inflammasome activation and regulates the functional effects of inflammasome mediated by IL-1b secretion.
Atmospheric Science of Air Pollution Phenomena—Current Directions Toward Exposure Characterization

Any approach to multipollutant air quality management must consider the chemical transformation and fate of the relevant pollutant species that affect human health and welfare. Estimating exposure for a broader mix of pollutants (e.g. oxidants, hazardous air pollutants, or the chemical composition and size distribution of PM) requires improved understanding of the complex chemistry and physicochemical transformations of these compounds, their relevant precursors, and their lifetimes in time and space. This chapter provides insights into those processes most likely to affect this broad and complex mix of pollutants in terms of their distribution on the urban/regional and the local scale (i.e. 10’s–100’s of meters from a source). It is not the intent of this chapter to provide comprehensive review of the chemistry of the atmosphere (these can be found elsewhere), but to provide an overview of the atmospheric processes important to a multipollutant approach to air quality management.
The anatomy of Clickbot.A

This paper provides a detailed case study of the architecture of the Clickbot. A botnet that attempted a low-noise click fraud attack against syndicated search engines. The botnet of over 100,000 machines was controlled using a HTTP-based botmaster. Google identified all clicks on its ads exhibiting Clickbot. Alike patterns and marked them as invalid. We disclose the results of our investigation of this botnet to educate the security research community and provide information regarding the novelties of the attack.
DNA Nanotechnology: From Biology and Beyond

Over the past three decades, tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of how to use DNA molecules to design and construct intricate nanostructures and nanodevices and how to use these nanoconstructs as versatile tools to functionally arrange a variety of molecules and moieties with nanometer spatial resolution. This chapter summarizes recent development in DNA nanotechnology and addresses its potential applications in drug delivery, analysis and diagnosis, electronics, and photovoltaics.
Are We Always 'Better' When We Are Being Watched? Understanding the Implications for Social Context and Envy on Self-Bolstering Behavior

Consumer behavior often varies as a function of social context (public vs. private). This occurs in part because decisions that are made in public (vs. private) reflect self-presentational concerns, due to the fact that they have the potential to confer reputational costs and/or benefits. However, no research to date has examined if this widely acknowledged phenomenon might be affected by consumers’ emotions at the time of the decision. The current article addresses this by examining if incidental envy moderates the effect of social context on subsequent, unrelated self-bolstering behaviors. Across three studies, we find that although public (vs. private) social contexts generally promote self-bolstering behaviors (e.g., effort exertion, conspicuous consumption and charitable giving), this effect is attenuated among consumers who experience incidental envy prior to the decision task. We suggest that this pattern of results occurs because the potential reputational costs of self-bolstering behavior are more salient to those experiencing incidental envy, and discuss this process explanation. We conclude with a discussion of the practical and theoretical implications of this work.
PD46-12 LONG TERM OUTCOMES OF PATIENTS WITH LOW GRADE CYSTIC EPITHELIAL RENAL NEOPLASMS

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:In 2016, the World Health Organization reorganized low grade cystic renal epithelial neoplasms, previously broadly termed cystic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), i...
Identifying uncertainties in simulated streamflow from hydrologic model components for climate change impact assessments

Abstract. Assessing the impacts of climate change on hydrologic systems is critical for developing adaptation and mitigation strategies for water resource management, risk control and ecosystem conservation practices. Such assessments are commonly accomplished using outputs from a hydrologic model forced with future precipitation and temperature projections. The algorithms used in the hydrologic model components (e.g., runoff generation) can introduce significant uncertainties in the simulated hydrologic variables, yet the identification and quantification of such uncertainties is rarely studied. Here, a modeling framework is developed that integrates multiple runoff generation algorithms with a routing model and associated parameter optimizations. This framework is able to identify uncertainties from both hydrologic model components and climate forcings as well as associated parameterization. Three fundamentally different runoff generation approaches: runoff coefficient method (RCM, conceptual), variable infiltration capacity (VIC, physically-based, infiltration excess) and simple-TOPMODEL (STP, physically-based, saturation excess), are coupled with Hillslope River Routing model to simulate streamflow. A case study conducted in Santa Barbara County, California, reveals that the median changes are 1–10 % increases in mean annual discharge (Qm) and 10–40 % increases in annual maximum daily discharge (Qp) and 100-yr flood discharge (Q100). The Bayesian Model Averaging analysis indicates that the probability of increase in streamflow can be up to 85 %. However, the simulated discharge uncertainties are large (i.e., 230 % for Qm and 330 % for Qp and Q100) with general circulation models (GCMs) and emission scenarios accounting for more than half of the total uncertainty. Hydrologic process models contribute 10–30 % of the total uncertainty, while uncertainty due to hydrologic model parameterization is almost negligible (
I Love Teaching: It Is Fun!

This article traces the author’s shift from the Socratic method with its primary focus on the professor as the discusser-in-chief to an approach to teaching that is more student-centered and performative. It explains why this shift was neither seamless nor quickly achieved, but rather required iterative and self-reflective practice and the willingness to experiment and change. The author is honest about the challenges and trepidations one might face in relinquishing what might appear to be control and yet how rewarding such an approach can be for your students when you actually let them into the class. The article discusses how the author’s own development as a postmodern theorist informed her teaching and opened critical pathways for her to rethink how she taught and why she was so comfortable with the Socratic method. The author also discusses the importance of integrating critical thinking, doing and writing and how to scaffold these aspects throughout your course. The article concludes with some reflections on the author’s own belief that teaching is fun and how one might keep the passion and excitement flowing across the semester.
Nanophotonics: From quantum confinement to collective interactions in metamaterial heterostructures

Low-dimensional nanophotonic materials have unique properties that are due to behavior on the quantum scale, in addition to emergent properties that arise from collective interactions in the material. These collective interactions may include complex quasiparticle interactions as well as structural coupling in the device, at an interfacial boundary in a heterostructure, for example. Physical properties of nanophotonic materials may be modeled with a high degree of accuracy, provided that the technique used takes into account both properties on the atomistic scale and the continuum, as well as bridging this hierarchal gap. This chapter details the theory and modeling techniques involved in creating accurate and predictive models for nanophotonic materials.
The Silent Plague: Regulation of Latent Tuberculosis Infections

Nearly one-third of the world’s population carries viable tubercle bacilli in their bodies but do not display disease. This represents the clinical definition of a latently infected patient who can reactivate and produce active disease at any time. Despite a great deal of investigation, it remains unclear exactly where or what state the bacteria responsible, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, are in during this latent phase of infection and how they enter and leave dormancy. Neither the exact signals nor the complete regulatory pathways involved are fully understood. This review is not meant to be a comprehensive overview of tuberculosis latency, but is meant to briefly raise some of the more critical and controversial issues in the literature related to latent infections, focusing primarily on bacterial gene expression and offering suggestions for directions of future research. We conclude that there are several signals involved in establishment of the persistent state during latent infections and reactivation from that state that remain to be elucidated. Interestingly, the clinical definition of latency is not likely to be due to bacteria in the same state in all patients. The complexity of these events offers opportunities to combat tuberculosis through manipulation of the bacterial persistent state and the interacting host immune response. Exploitation of bacterial persistence during latent infections as well as the signals that control these events may be critical to the ultimate goal of eradicating this ongoing plague of mankind.
Cognition in Anxiety Disorders

Although generally conceptualized as involving primarily abnormal anxiety regulation, the anxiety disorders as a group along with obsessive–compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder also appear associated with deficits in cognitive function in several cognitive domains, including attention, executive function, language, memory, and processing speed. The association between cognitive deficits and anxiety varies across the various types of anxiety disorders, with some disorders having a greater association than others. It is unclear how treatment affects the cognitive deficits associated with the anxiety disorders and the causes of the cognitive impairments associated with the anxiety disorders remain to be identified. As is the case with the mood disorders, it is feasible that the abnormal function of the neural circuits associated with the anxiety disorders could contribute to cognitive impairments. Additional research is required to explore more fully cognitive function in anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder and how deficits in cognition contribute to the disorders and to the disability that can accompany these conditions.
Initial Precipitants and Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may occur after an acute precipitant and subsequently resolve. Management guidelines for AF in these settings are unclear as the risk of recurrent AF and relate...
Natural language processing of clinical mental health notes may add predictive value to existing suicide risk models.

Background This study evaluated whether natural language processing (NLP) of psychotherapy note text provides additional accuracy over and above currently used suicide prediction models. Methods We used a cohort of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) users diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) between 2004–2013. Using a case-control design, cases (those that died by suicide during the year following diagnosis) were matched to controls (those that remained alive). After selecting conditional matches based on having shared mental health providers, we chose controls using a 5:1 nearest-neighbor propensity match based on the VHA's structured Electronic Medical Records (EMR)-based suicide prediction model. For cases, psychotherapist notes were collected from diagnosis until death. For controls, psychotherapist notes were collected from diagnosis until matched case's date of death. After ensuring similar numbers of notes, the final sample included 246 cases and 986 controls. Notes were analyzed using Sentiment Analysis and Cognition Engine, a Python-based NLP package. The output was evaluated using machine-learning algorithms. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to determine models' predictive accuracy. Results NLP derived variables offered small but significant predictive improvement (AUC = 0.58) for patients that had longer treatment duration. A small sample size limited predictive accuracy. Conclusions Study identifies a novel method for measuring suicide risk over time and potentially categorizing patient subgroups with distinct risk sensitivities. Findings suggest leveraging NLP derived variables from psychotherapy notes offers an additional predictive value over and above the VHA's state-of-the-art structured EMR-based suicide prediction model. Replication with a larger non-PTSD specific sample is required.
An Agent-Based Approach to Artificial Stock Market Modeling

Abstract Consumer stock markets have long been a target of modeling efforts for the economic gains anticipatorily enabled by well-performing models. Aimed at identifying strategies capable of achieving desired returns, many modeling approaches have attempted to capture the innumerable and intricate complexities present within these adaptive socio-technical systems. Decreasingly constrained by available computation power, contemporary models have grown in sophistication to include several of the features present in de facto market systems. However, these models require extensive effort to dictate the variety of states, behaviors, and adaptations that entities of the system may exhibit. Mandating the development of complex formulas and an incredible number of situational considerations, traditional approaches to stock market modeling are intensive to architect and applicable to a limited range of scenarios. Further, these models commonly fail to incorporate external influences on the actions of investing parties. Employing an agent-based approach, independent and externally influenced entities are modeled to simulate market activity. Under the jurisdiction of assigned simple rules, agents of the system interact in complex and emergent ways without requiring macroscopic guiding equations. Successive trails are conducted using varying initialization values, enabling the determination of robust investment strategies performing well across a range of market scenarios.
Long-range correlations in high multiplicity pp and pA collisions

This review summarizes recent discoveries in high-energy proton + proton and proton + nucleus collisions, with particular attention on the observation of long-range azimuthal correlations in high multiplicity collisions. These correlations, which resemble those seen in ultra-relativistic nucleus–nucleus collisions, provide a unique window into the physics of the very early collision stage in high energy nuclear interactions. Here we present a compilation of the most important experimental results and briefly discuss successes and challenges for a selection of theoretical approaches.
Conceptual and measurement limitations of the Biennial Congress: an examination

This paper proposes congressional scholars reexamine biennial measures in their research. It argues two-year measures, while providing important insight on legislative behaviour in Congress over the past five decades, are both methodologically regressive and conceptually impractical. Not only is this measurement practice insensitive to the vibrant political life that marks American politics over the course of a two-year period, it is prone to numerous measurement shortcomings when compared against refined metrics such as annual, quarterly, and monthly data. To demonstrate these deficiencies, this paper explores the conceptual and methodological limitations of biennial measures.
Globalization and the Transformation of Latin America’s Political Economy

As Latin America has become swept up into capitalist globalization from the 1980s, and on it has experienced a vast transformation of its political economy and social structure. Mass movements, revolutionary struggles, nationalist and populist projects were on the ascent in the 1960s and 1970s, were beaten back by local and international elites in the latter decades of the twentieth century in the face of the global economic downturn, debt, state repression, U.S. intervention, the collapse of a socialist alternative, and the rise of the neo-liberal model. This paved the way for the region’s integration into the new global capitalism. A new breed of transnationally oriented elites and capitalists led the region in the late twentieth century into the global age of hothouse accumulation, financial speculation, credit ratings, the internet, malls, fast-food chains, and gated communities through restructuring and integration into the new global production and financial system. This chapter explores Latin America’s integration into this new global economy and concludes with a discussion of the region’s early twenty-first century turn to the Left followed by a return to the Right in the context of a mounting crisis of global capitalism.
The effect of motorcyclists' age on injury severities in single-motorcycle crashes with unobserved heterogeneity.

Abstract Introduction: Due to the myriad of unique characteristics associated with motorcycle operation, motorcycle safety is a public health concern as complex as it is serious. National crash data suggest motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to be killed when compared to passenger car occupants. In the state of Florida, motorcycle crashes are 1.5 times more likely to result in the death of the rider, placing Florida among the top deadliest states for motorcyclists in the nation. Using police-reported data from 2016, this study addresses the complex and interconnected nature of the many characteristics associated with motorcycle operation by investigating the effect of age on motorcyclists’ riding behavior as it relates to injury severity for single-motorcycle crashes in the state of Florida. Method: To account for unobserved heterogeneity in the crash data, mixed logit models with heterogeneity in means and variances were estimated to model three injury severity outcomes (non-visible, severe, and fatal) for three age groups (under 30, 30–49, and 50 and above). Results: Model results indicate that age affects motorcyclists’ safety perception and ability to assess risks, thereby influencing their involvement in risky behaviors. Characteristics unique to motorcycle operation—spatial characteristics, speed, motorcycle type, time of day, helmet usage, alcohol consumption, ejection from motorcycle, passenger presence, endorsement status, and lighting—are further complicated by their dependency on the characteristics of the individual motorcyclist. Age of motorcyclist indicates a relationship between motorcyclists’ behavior and perceived safety. Conclusion: The model results indicated that statistically significant parameters constituted different models and they were not equal across the age groups of motorcyclists: aged under 30, aged 30–49, and aged 50 and above. Through advanced econometric modeling, this study fills a gap in the existing literature and assists the safety professionals, motorcycle trainers, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and roadway designers in developing countermeasures.
Frequency-based Distortions in Contextualized Word Embeddings

How does word frequency in pre-training data affect the behavior of similarity metrics in contextualized BERT embeddings? Are there systematic ways in which some word relationships are exaggerated or understated? In this work, we explore the geometric characteristics of contextualized word embeddings with two novel tools: (1) an identity probe that predicts the identity of a word using its embedding; (2) the minimal bounding sphere for a word's contextualized representations. Our results reveal that words of high and low frequency differ significantly with respect to their representational geometry. Such differences introduce distortions: when compared to human judgments, point estimates of embedding similarity (e.g., cosine similarity) can over- or under-estimate the semantic similarity of two words, depending on the frequency of those words in the training data. This has downstream societal implications: BERT-Base has more trouble differentiating between South American and African countries than North American and European ones. We find that these distortions persist when using BERT-Multilingual, suggesting that they cannot be easily fixed with additional data, which in turn introduces new distortions.
Autocorrelation Effects in Air Traffic Management Performance Data

Quantitative analysis is required as part of managing the automation systems which provide Air Traffic Management (ATM) services for the National Airspace System (NAS). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) invests significant levels of funding for such analyses for both post-hoc evaluation of tools/techniques, as well as prospective evaluation of proposed new capabilities. Statistical analysis is one quantitative analysis technique to assess the impact of a newly implemented automation capability. The general approach is to compare air traffic operations performance metrics (e.g., flight time/distance) before and after the activation of a new capability.
The International Aspects of State-Owned Enterprises

State-owned enterprises are growing in relative importance both within various national economies and in international economic relations. Some facts concerning the practices of such enterprises and the consequences of their operations can be asserted with confidence. However, some major questions of fact and policy have yet to be resolved. Both areas are explored in the following discussion.
Snakes for robotic grasping

Object grasping is one of the basic functions required for many manipulator tasks. In particular, the grasping of unknown objects is often a desired functionality in manipulator system applications ranging from space exploration to factory automation. Due to the amount of object and environment data typically required to execute an unknown object grasp, computer vision is the sensing modality of choice. This paper presents a method for the automatic determination of plausible grasp points on unknown objects using an eye-in-hand robotic system and active deformable contour models. The system finds potential grasp point pairs, ranks all the possible pairs based upon measurements taken from the contour, and executes a vision-guided grasp of the object using the highest ranked grasp point. The paper also presents initial experimental results.
Foundation for Interior Design Education Research's Early History: Important Developments from 1970 to 1990

The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), founded in 1970 and now the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), was established to administer interior design accreditation processes in higher education across the United States and Canada. It was the first and only regulatory agency professionally recognized and in the public's interest. This paper examines FIDER's early growth from 1970 to 1990 through key actions in its Founding and Governance, Research and Development, and Accreditation Processes. Content of primary and secondary resources from CIDA archives were analyzed, as well as oral histories collected from leaders. Each action is assessed for its importance during the time and in context to FIDER's mission. A content analysis guided by minutes, significant publications, research reports, and press releases helped identify and clarify important and relevant information as it related to the FIDER/CIDA history, capturing the main milestones. Documentation herein clarifies critical issues and changes that FIDER faced and offers insights into its evolution and status as an instrument of change in interior design education with contributions to the field's identity and professionalism. This history provides definitive stages to its growth, and substantiates key actions that afford its landmark status. Numerous goals are achieved and a model for specialized program accreditation matures with strong, professional, and equitable characteristics. A fervent and dedicated commitment to FIDER exists from those in education and the profession, and an international presence and more expansive agenda emerge with many more volunteers.
Book Review. Legal Education in Asia: Globalization, Change and Contexts

This is a book review of Legal Education in Asia: Globalization, Change and Contexts (Stacey Steele and Kathryn Taylor, eds.), which offers important insight into globalization’s influence on legal education. The authors find that globalization has sharpened the peripheral vision of national reformers by encouraging them to consider the approaches followed elsewhere to educating lawyers as well as the role lawyers play in society. Their analysis also identifies that while U.S. legal education is under fire domestically, it has significant influence outside of the U.S., even serving as the standard against which legal education programs in much of the rest of the world measure themselves.
The Dissipation Topography Associated with Solutions to a Riemann Problem Involving Elastic Materials Undergoing Phase Transitions

Riemann problems are examined for elastic solids in an isothermal framework for the case in which the material constitutive response allows for the possibility of change of type in the equations of motion. Solutions are examined in terms of a contact locus: stress vs. velocity on x = 0. A family of solutions will often exist for those values of initial data which permit change of type. Various criteria for resolving uniqueness involve additional assumptions upon the mechanical energy dissipation rate (entropy generation rate). In order to understand the efficacy of these criteria, the dissipation rate topography associated with the contact locus is examined. Conclusions regarding those solutions selected by the entropy rate admissibility criterion are obtained.
Justiciability and the Role of Courts in Adequacy Litigation: Preserving the Constitutional Right to Education

In the first study of opinions handed down in education adequacy litigation between January 2005 and January 2008, this paper shows a marked shift away from outcomes favorable to adequacy plaintiffs. Following two decades in which courts spurred significant reforms in our nation's neediest schools by interpreting the education clauses of their state constitutions to guarantee an "adequate" education for all students, the years 2005 to 2008 have seen a dramatic change in the judicial response to adequacy litigation. Through an analysis of the latest body of cases, this paper shows that separation of powers concerns have begun to drive state courts out of this important avenue of education reform. These separation of powers concerns have become more salient as litigators pressure courts to mandate concrete remedies that would trump legislative discretion. The most problematic such remedy is one that would require courts to order the legislature to make specific budgetary allocations. This trend spans courts seeing adequacy claims for the first time and those presiding over a second round of adequacy litigation. This paper argues that despite this shift recent courts have not wholly disavowed their role in substantiating the state constitutional right to education. Courts remain willing to act as a constitutional check on the legislature's actions within the field of education if only plaintiffs can find a way to respond to concerns over remedies. This paper examines the nature of and reasons for courts' increasing separation of powers concerns and then briefly explores what lessons adequacy plaintiffs might take away for use in future litigation.
How invariant is the measured equation of invariance

We prove that the measured equation of invariance (MEI) is not invariant to the excitation. The proof is based on the fact that different sets of sinusoidal metrons produce different boundary equations, even when the nodal separation is infinitely small. These results follow from the rigorous analytical derivations which are also verified numerically. The noninvariance of the MEI emphasizes the importance of the proper choice of metrons and indicates that this choice should be influenced by the excitation and geometry in question. >
Influence of diagnosis-related groups on discharge planning, professional practice, and patient care.

Previous studies of Medicare's diagnosis-related group (DRG)-based prospective payment system have described the effectiveness of DRGs in controlling hospital expenditures, the relationship between DRGs and nursing resources, and the fiscal implications for hospitals. Little is known about how DRGs change the health care system, particularly the nature of the changes and how they influence nursing practice and patient care. This article reports the additional findings of a study of how eight hospitals in a Midwest health systems area adapted to DRGs. Qualitative methods were used, and interviews were conducted with 118 persons affiliated with community hospitals. The findings suggest that DRGs have a critical influence on discharge planning, professional practice, and patient care.
The stability of the laminar free convection flow induced by a heated inclined plate

Abstract Visual observations by Lloyd and Sparrow [1] and Sparrow and Husar [2] have indicated that the instability of the boundary layer on a heated, inclined plate is predominated by two-dimensional waves for angles of inclination less than 14°, whereas both waves and longitudinal vortices are observed for angles of 14°–17°, and vortices predominate for larger angles. A linear stability analysis is carried out in this paper. It is found that each mode becomes unstable first at the same location along the plate at an angle of only 4°. However, correlation with the experimental observations is achieved by calculating the total amplification of each disturbance from the predicted point of onset of instability to the point of observed instability for various angles of inclination.
Spontaneous hair-cell renewal following gentamicin exposure in postnatal rat utricular explants.

We have established an in vitro model of long-time culture of 4-day-old rat utricular maculae to study aminoglycoside-induced vestibular hair-cell renewal in the mammalian inner ear. The explanted maculae were cultured for up to 28 days on the surface of a membrane insert system. In an initial series of experiments utricles were exposed to 1 mM of gentamicin for 48 h and then allowed to recover in unsupplemented medium or in medium supplemented with the anti-mitotic drug aphidicolin. In a parallel control series, explants were not exposed to gentamicin. Utricles were harvested at specified time points from the second through the 28th day in vitro. Whole-mount utricles were stained with phalloidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate and their stereociliary bundles visualized and counted. In a second experimental series 2'-bromo-5'deoxyuridine labeling was used to confirm the antimitotic efficacy of aphidicolin. Loss of hair-cell stereociliary bundles was nearly complete 3 days after exposure to gentamicin, with the density of stereociliary bundles only 3-4% of their original density. Renewal of hair-cell bundles was abundant (i.e. 15x increase) in cultures in unsupplemented medium, with a peak of stereociliary bundle renewal reached after 21 days in vitro. A limited amount of hair-cell renewal also occurred in the presence of the anti-mitotic drug, aphidicolin. These results suggest that spontaneous renewal of hair-cell stereociliary bundles following gentamicin damage in utricular explants predominantly follows a pathway that includes mitotic events, but that a small portion of the hair-cell stereociliary bundle renewal does not require mitotic activity.
Calorimetric determination of the heat capacity changes associated with the conformational transitions of polyriboadenylic acid and polyribouridylic acid

The heat capacities of the single-stranded and double-stranded forms of polyadenylic acid, polyuridylic acid, and poly(uridylic and adenylic acid) were determined with a drop heat capacity calorimeter. In addition, the temperature dependence of the apparent partial heat capacity (ϕCp) was measured with a newly developed differential scanning calorimeter. The calculated ΔCp at 28°C for the transition poly(A)·poly(A) ⇄ 2 poly(A) was found to be 165 ± 24 cal/Kmol-base pair, compared with a value of 140 ± 28 for the transition poly(A)·poly(U) ⇄ poly(A) + poly(U). The temperature dependence of ϕCp of single-stranded poly(U) was consistent with the conclusion that it is totally unstacked at temperatures above 15°C. The temperature dependence of ϕCp of single-stranded poly(A) was used to determine the base-stacking parameters for poly(A). The experimental results are consistent with a stacking enthalpy change of −8.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol bases and a cooperativity parameter σ of 0.57 ± 0.03 for the stacking of adenine bases. These results demonstrate that the heat capacity of single-stranded polynucleotides is greater than that of the double-stranded forms. This increased heat capacity is mainly the result of the temperature dependence of the base-stacking interactions in the single-stranded form.
A Quorum-Sensing Antagonist Targets Both Membrane-Bound and Cytoplasmic Receptors and Controls Bacterial Pathogenicity

Quorum sensing is a process of bacterial communication involving production and detection of secreted molecules called autoinducers. Gram-negative bacteria use acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) autoinducers, which are detected by one of two receptor types. First, cytoplasmic LuxR-type receptors bind accumulated intracellular AHLs. AHL-LuxR complexes bind DNA and alter gene expression. Second, membrane-bound LuxN-type receptors bind accumulated extracellular AHLs. AHL-LuxN complexes relay information internally by phosphorylation cascades that direct gene expression changes. Here, we show that a small molecule, previously identified as an antagonist of LuxN-type receptors, is also a potent antagonist of the LuxR family, despite differences in receptor structure, localization, AHL specificity, and signaling mechanism. Derivatives were synthesized and optimized for potency, and in each case, we characterized the mode of action of antagonism. The most potent antagonist protects Caenorhabditis elegans from quorum-sensing-mediated killing by Chromobacterium violaceum, validating the notion that targeting quorum sensing has potential for antimicrobial drug development.
Age at menarche on a small Bahamian island

SummaryAge at menarche in the rather highly inbred population of a small island in the Bahamas has been estimated through the recollection of adult women. It averages 14·5 years for women over 40 and 14·1 years for women under 40.
Endoscopic direct cholangioscopy by using an ultra-slim upper endoscope: a feasibility study.

Background The search for an easier and less cumbersome technique to perform direct visual examination of the biliary tree is still underway. Objective To assess the feasibility of performing endoscopic direct cholangioscopy utilizing an ultra-slim upper endoscope designed for pediatric patients. Design Prospective, observational, pilot study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Three patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for evaluation and treatment of choledocholithiasis. Methods Following the completion of the endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, a 0.035-inch diameter super-stiff Jagwire (Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, Mass) was placed in the common bile duct. Using the wire to maintain access, we removed the duodenoscope and backloaded the wire onto an ultra-slim upper endoscope (GIF-XP 160, Olympus America Inc, Melville, NY), which was advanced over the guidewire under fluoroscopic and endoscopic control into the duodenum and then across the ampulla of Vater into the common bile duct and upstream. Results Endoscopic direct cholangioscopy was attempted and successfully completed in all 3 patients. One patient was found to have persistent large amount of sludge and stones, and was referred for surgery. In the other two patients, endoscopic direct cholangioscopy demonstrated complete duct clearance, obviating the need for stent placement and repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangiography procedures. Limitations Small sample size, pilot study. Conclusions Endoscopic direct cholangioscopy with an ultra-slim upper endoscope originally designed for pediatric use is feasible. Future advances in endoscope development, as well as specifically designed accessories, could lead to the next generation of intraductal diagnosis and therapy.
Work Process and Quality of Care in Early Childhood Education: The Role of Job Crafting

In this study we conducted performance assessments in 62 childcare centers and surveyed 232 teachers and aides, to examine the extent to which workers crafted their jobs and how such crafting affec...
Sediment Transport in Flow Disturbed by Rainfall

Studies were conducted in a closed system recirculating research flume to evaluate the relative effects of high intensity rainfall on von Karman's universal constant and the sediment transport capacity of shallow flow. The tests in this study were conducted at flow depths of 0.3 ft and less with discharges less than 0.5 cfs. The point velocities in the flow were determined with a Pace CD-25 pressure transducer and an inclined manometer connected in parallel to a Pitot-static tube of the standard Prandtl design. Regression analyses were performed on the velocity data to determine the best fit dimensionless velocity curve on semilogarithmic paper. Von Karman's universal constant was then evaluated from the slope of the regression line. Point sediment samples were siphoned from the flow with a stainless steel-pipette sediment sampler. Sediment concentrations were found with a filtering technique. Sediment samples were taken with and without rainfall to evaluate the relative effect of the rainfall on the transport capacity of shallow flow.
Jewish History as a Subject of Instruction in the Jewish School

*Address delivered at the Joint Conference on Jewish Education at Atlantic City, N. J. on May 28, 1949.
Physician-Assisted Death and Its Relationship to the Human Services Professions

The history, current status, opinions and attitudes, and ethical issues related to physician-assisted death (PAD) are examined. Specific implications for PAD and its interface with the human services professions are described with respect to multiculturalism; identity; perceptions of disease, illness, and pain; attitudes towards therapy; family decision making; ethics; and professional roles.
Effects of thyroxine upon strontium and calcium metabolism of embryonic bone grown in vitro.

Embryonic chick bone was cultured in a synthetic medium for periods up to 7 days to determine the effect of levels of 0.05 to 5.0 μg thyroxine per 100 ml medium upon the uptake and removal of Sr85 and Ca45 from bone. Thyroxine generally caused a decrease in the bone content of Sr85 and Ca45, reduced growth and reduced selection against strontium. Serum in the medium seemed to eliminate the effect of thyroxine. The reduced content of Sr85 and Ca45 due to thyroxine was evident in bone cultured at 37 C but not at 30 C. The removal of radionuclides from labeled bones was decreased by the presence of thyroxine. The results have been interpreted to mean that thyroxine could increase the conversion of labile bone Sr85 and Ca45 into the nonlabile fraction and reduce its reconversion back to the labile form.
How (the meaning of) gender matters in political economy

Work cannot be understood without examining how gender is embedded in all social relations.1 Our collective fear [is] that the new political economy will fail to adopt a gendered analysis at its co...
Aging Out Of Coverage: Young Adults With Special Health Needs

Young adults with disabilities and chronic conditions have high uninsurance rates, while Medicaid and Medicare are closed to many of them. Federal legislation to allow states to offer Medicaid to employed persons with disabilities has met with an unenthusiastic reaction thus far in the states, with few using the Medicaid options and low enrollment levels even in those states. Nevertheless, these Medicaid changes do move us toward a more basic solution: replacing employability with insurability and dependence on health interventions as the eligibility standards for public coverage for adults.
Echo Doppler guidance for atrial fibrillation ablation: recognition of primary electropathy

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a multivariable disease. Young patients with paroxysmal AF without structural cardiac abnormality ("lone AF") likely have a primary electropathy with excellent results from radiofrequency ablation. However, with persistent AF with cardiac abnormalities, including left atrial enlargement and systolic ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction percent), the electropathy is considered secondary and ablation results poor. We describe a case with persistent AF, depressed systolic function, and marked left atrial enlargement but without echo Doppler evidence of diastolic dysfunction. At electrophysiology study, findings were consistent with a primary electropathy, and the patient did well following ablation.
Non-Canonical Notch Signaling: Emerging Role and Mechanism

Notch is an ancient transmembrane receptor with crucial roles in cell-fate choices. Although the 'canonical' Notch pathway and its core members are well established - involving ligand-induced cleavage of Notch for transcriptional regulation - it has been unclear whether Notch can also function independently of ligand and transcription ('non-canonically') through a common mechanism. Recent studies suggest that Notch can non-canonically exert its biological functions by post-translationally targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling, an important cellular and developmental regulator. The non-canonical Notch pathway appears to be highly conserved from flies to mammals. Here, we discuss the emerging conserved mechanism and role of ligand/transcription-independent Notch signaling in cell and developmental biology.
Association between Sex Hormones and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Men and Women

Background & Aims There is observational and clinical evidence that indicates that sex hormones affect development of colorectal cancer in men and women. However, the relationship between endogenous sex hormone levels and colorectal cancer is unclear. Methods We collected data on lifestyle, medical history, and diet (through 2008), along with blood samples, from the Nurses' Health Study, the Women's Health Study, the Health Professional Follow-up Study, and the Physicians' Health Study II. We measured plasma levels of estrone, estradiol, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and C-peptide among 730 women (293 cases of colorectal cancer and 437 healthy individuals as controls) and 1158 men (439 colorectal cancer cases and 719 controls) and used unconditional logistic regression to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals. All statistical tests were 2-sided. Results Total testosterone, SHBG, and the ratio of estradiol to testosterone were associated with colorectal cancer in men after adjustments for matching and risk factors for colorectal cancer, including body mass index and plasma levels of C-peptide. The RRs in the highest relative to the lowest quartile were 0.62 for testosterone (95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.96), 0.65 for SHBG (95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.99), and 2.63 for the ratio (95% confidence interval, 1.58–4.36) ( P values for trend ≤ .02). However, in women, only the ratio of estradiol to testosterone was (inversely) associated with colorectal cancer after adjustments for all factors (RR, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.22–0.84; P value for trend=.03). Conclusions On the basis of combined data from 4 population studies, there appears to be an association between levels of sex hormones and colorectal cancer risk in men. There also appears to be an inverse association between the ratio of estradiol to testosterone and colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women.
An Introductory Review Module For an Anti-Infectives Therapeutics Course

Objective. To determine whether an introductory review module using a hybrid-learning approach helped students learn infectious disease management in an anti-infectives therapeutics course. Design. An introductory module consisting of an online pharmacology review, pre-class assignment, 2 classroom lectures, and 1 case-based lecture was developed and implemented. Assessment. Among the 110 students who completed pre- and post-tests on the material covered, average scores increased from 71% to 83% (p<0.0001). Performance on knowledge-based question improved for 8 out of 10 questions (p<0.05) and student confidence increased from the first lecture to completion of the module (p<0.001 for all comparisons). Of the 129 students who completed an evaluation of the introductory module, 98% strongly agreed or agreed that the content was essential for course success. Conclusion. The addition of an introductory module using a hybrid-learning approach to review and solidify concepts of medical microbiology and pharmacology provided the foundation necessary for success in an infectious diseases module.
Defect mechanisms in the In2O3(ZnO)k system (k=3, 5, 7, 9)

The defect chemistry of several compounds in the In2O3(ZnO)k series (k = 3, 5, 7, and 9) was investigated in bulk specimens by analysis of the dependence of their conductivity on the oxygen partial pressure. The resulting Brouwer slopes were inconsistent with a doubly charged oxygen vacancy defect model, and varied with the phase. The k = 3 phase had behavior similar to donor-doped In2O3, and the behavior of the other phases resembled that of donor-doped ZnO. The donor in both cases is proposed to be In occupying Zn sites. First principles calculations of the formation energy of intrinsic defects in this system support the proposed models. The present work expands prior theoretical analysis to include acceptor defects, such as cation vacancies (VZn, VIn) and oxygen interstitials (Oi).