cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Nutrition Benefits Participation Gap: Barriers to Uptake of SNAP and WIC Among Latinx American Immigrant Families.

To examine nutrition benefit under-enrollment in Latinx American immigrant families, we administered a survey to 100 adults attending a NY Latinx American community serving organization. We used a logistic regression approach to analyze misinformation impact on enrollment, and examined non-enrollment explanations, among participants in whose families a child or pregnant or breastfeeding woman appeared SNAP- or WIC-eligible. Among households (N = 51) with ≥ 1 SNAP-eligible child, 49% had no child enrolled. Reasons included repercussion fears (e.g. payback obligation, military conscription, college aid ineligibility, child removal, non-citizen family member penalties), and logistical barriers. In multivariable regression models, having heard the rumor that SNAP/WIC participation makes unauthorized status family members vulnerable to being reported to the government was associated with an 85% lower enrollment rate (OR 0.15, CI 0.03, 0.94). Misinformation impedes nutrition benefit participation. A multi-level intervention is necessary to inform potential applicants and providers regarding eligibility criteria and erroneous rumors, along with an informed discussion of the risks versus benefits of using resources, especially as public charge criteria change.
Domestic Product Involvement and Consumer Willingness to Buy Domestic Products: Empirical Testing of a Cognitive Consistency Theory Framework

This study investigates biases affecting domestic products willingness to buy (WTB). An interdisciplinary perspective uses the cognitive consistency theory as the framework for the development of a...
Local Classrooms, Global Technologies: Toward the Integration of Sociotechnical Macroethical Issues Into Teacher Education:

Discussions of ethics within in-service teacher education tend to focus on microethical concerns (e.g., discipline) that deal with decision making at interpersonal levels. Issues concerning educati...
College students' intentions to assist peers with chronic medical conditions.

Objective: This study identified influences on college students’ intentions to assist peers with chronic medical conditions. Participants: A panel of 293 U.S. full-time college students completed o...
Analysis of the composition of health emergency professionals in Dong’e County

Objective Through the analysis and understanding of the constitution of the personnel of health emergency in Dong’e County, the existing problems in the composition of the professional personnel of health emergency are found and suggestions are provided to improve the capacity of the county health emergency team. Method Through questionnaire survey and interview, the establishment of health emergency office in Dong’e county-level Disease Control Center (infectious disease prevention and control team), county-level medical institutions (medical rescue team), township medical institutions (Health Hospital, community service center) and health emergency team personnel structure(gender, education, professional title, working time, professional training and participation). Result All units in the survey area have set up health emergency offices, but part-time staff are responsible for routine management. The county has 3 categories of 13 emergency support teams, a total of 170 people. There were 99 men(58.2%)and 71 women(41.8%), and there was no significant difference in gender distribution between the members of each unit of health emergency (χ2=0.152, P>0.05). The age composition of team members are analyzed, including aged under 30 years [30(17.64%)], aged from 30 to 39 years old [100(58.8%)], aged from 40 to 49 years of [31(18.2%)], above 50 years [9(4.7%)] . The educational level of the team members are mainly junior college [35(20.6%)]and undergraduate [105(61.8%)] and there are more middle and low education personnel in the health emergency team of township medical institutions. Among the county’s health emergency responders, the personnel with the junior, middle and deputy senior professional titles are 98(56.5%), 70(42.4%) and 2(1.2%) , respectively. The proportion of junior titles in health emergency responders of township medical institutions (health emergency team) reached 76.0%(76 / 100). Most of the team members’ working hours are 10 to 20 years [88(51.8%)], high-grade (>20 years) personnel was 33(19.4%), and working hours<10 years personnel was 49(28.82%). 36(21.2%) did not participate in the training, 65(38.2%) participated in only one training, 42(24.7%) participated in 2 trainings, and only 27(15.9%) trained in 3 times or more. Conclusion The health emergency management system and personnel team in Dong’e County have been basically completed, but there are still gaps in the composition of various professional teams at all levels, especially strength in township team is weak, and the number of training and the number of participants is fewer. Key words: health emergency; talent composition; Dong’e County
Indigenous Teacher Education Is Nation Building: Reflections of Capacity Building and Capacity Strengthening in Idaho:

This article discusses the efforts of the Indigenous Knowledge for Effective Education Program (IKEEP), at the University of Idaho, a predominately white institution (PWI) of higher education, and ...
Characterization of long period return values of extreme daily temperature and precipitation in the CMIP6 models: Part 2, projections of future change

Using a non-stationary Generalized Extreme Value statistical method, projected future changes in selected extreme daily temperature and precipitation indices and their 20 year return values from the CMIP5 and CMIP6 climate models are calculated and compared. Projections are framed in terms of specified global warming target temperatures rather than at specific times and under specific emissions scenarios. The change in framing shifts projection uncertainty due to differences in model climate sensitivity from the values of the projections to the timing of the global warming target. At their standard resolutions, there are no meaningful differences between the two generations of models in their projections of simulated extreme daily temperature and precipitation at specified global warming targets.
Strategies for Preventing Group A Streptococcal Adhesion and Infection

Group A streptococci are responsible for a number of clinical syndromes including pharyngitis, impetigo, pneumonia, puerperal sepsis, and myositis. Recently, an increase in the incidence of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis have been noted which have a high morbidity and mortality rate.25,140 Two nonsuppurative sequelae of group A streptococcal infections, acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute glomerulonephritis (AGN), are the most significant health problems stemming from group A streptococcal infections worldwide. Development of ARF is usually preceded by a streptococcal infection of the pharynx, whereas AGN may be caused by infections of either the skin or oral mucosa, but only by certain nephritogenic strains.20,153 Exactly how an antecedent streptococcal infection leads to ARF or AGN is unknown, but autoimmune humoral and cellular responses to infection are suspected of contributing to these diseases.
High Incidence of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Exacerbation Rate Among Patients With Morbid Obesity and Drug Abuse

This study aims to identify the baseline patient characteristics, clinical presentation, and response to treatment of 11 patients who were diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) between 2014 and 2020 at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. Laboratory and clinical parameters were recorded for 29 patients who received plasmapheresis in this time period. Of 29 patients, 11 had confirmed TTP and one was diagnosed with hereditary TTP. Young, black, and female patients made up the majority of our patient population. A high prevalence of obesity and drug abuse were seen among our patients. Five out of 11 were obese and four of them were morbidly obese; six out of 11 patients were positive for the drug screen including cannabinoids (3), opiates (2), benzodiazepines (1), PCP (1), and methadone (1). Four patients with a positive drug screen had acute kidney injury (AKI), and plasmapheresis helped them enhance their kidney function. We observed a high incidence of AKI and high TTP exacerbation rates in patients who were drug abusers and those who were morbidly obese. There is a paucity of data on the relationship of TTP with obesityor drug abuse and this needs further study.
Can Transfer Methods Skew Knowledge Adoption? Experiments on Transferring Multiple Knowledge Inputs

In this paper, I examine how knowledge transfer methods may skew the adoption of multiple knowledge inputs. I propose that transfer methods vary in their potential to trigger cognitive heuristics u...
Drug approvals taking too long

Health Canada, which takes an average of 2 years to review a licence application for a new drug, has “one of the worse performances in new medication approvals in developed countries,” says Jacques Lefebvre, spokesperson for Canada's brand-name pharmaceutical lobby group, Rx&D. However, the
Parasacral anesthesia in obstetrics

Abstract Our experience with parasacral anesthesia in fifty operative obstetric cases is presented. 1.1. Parasacral anesthesia is practical for major operative obstetric cases. Relaxation of the uterus occurs for from fifteen to twenty minutes following the injection and in some cases is sufficient for version and extraction, manual rotation of a posterior head, and for the Pinard maneuver in bringing down a foot in single breech. It is of value in breech deliveries, giving marked relaxation of the entire pelvic floor, thus facilitating all the maneuvers for the extraction of the after-coming arms and head. Episiotomy and perineorrhaphy, Duhrssen's incisions and trachelorrhaphy may be painlessly done. Traction pain is abolished, and difficult forceps can be painlessly performed, with the added advantage of utilizing the mother's auxiliary powers. 2.2. The engaged head offers no obstacle to the induction of this type of anesthesia. 3.3. There is no appreciable alteration of blood pressure or pulse rate, and the procedure is unattended by any signs of shock or collapse. 4.4. The blood loss in six cases was above normal. 5.5. The puerperium was in no way affected by the procedure. 6.6. In two cases there was complete failure of anesthesia, and we had to resort to ether. 7.7. In seven cases it was necessary to complement parasacral anesthesia with local infiltration in order to do painlessly episiotomy and repair. In a teaching clinic such as ours, where of necessity the duration of an operation is prolonged, we find this type of anesthesia more satisfactory than inhalation methods. It is a valuable adjunct to the armamentarium of the obstetrician, especially where an inhalation anesthetic is contraindicated. We believe that this type of local anesthesia produces a minimum of shock to the patient, and that its particular sphere lies in the class of case requiring a difficult, time-consuming operative procedure.
The Complete Works of Shakespeare

A reference for the student or general reader, here are Shakespeare's complete works in one 1,032 page volume.
Improvement in clinical outcome of FLT3 ITD mutated acute myeloid leukemia patients over the last one and a half decade.

AML with FLT3 ITD mutations are associated with poor outcome. We reviewed outcomes of patients with FLT3 ITD mutated AML to investigate trends over time. We analyzed 224 AML patients (excluding patients with core binding factor and acute promyelocytic leukemia) referred to our institution between 2000 and 2014. Patients were divided into five cohorts by era: 2000-2002 (Era 1, n = 19), 2003-2005 (Era 2, n = 41), 2006-2008 (Era 3, n = 53), 2009-2011 (Era 4, n = 55), and 2012-2014 (Era 5, n = 56) to analyze differences in outcome. The baseline characteristics were not statistically different across Eras. The response rate (CR/CRp) from Era 1-5 was 68%, 49%, 72%, 73%, and 75%, respectively. The overall response rate (all Eras) with chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus FLT3 inhibitor was 67% and 72.5%, respectively (P = 0.4). The median time to relapse was 6, 3.6, 7.9, 8.1 months and not reached from Eras 1 through 5, respectively (P = 0.001). The median OS has improved: 9.6, 7.6, 14.4, 15.7, and 17.8 month from Eras 1-5, respectively (P = <0.001). Stem cell transplant as a time-dependent variable, showed better OS in the univariate analysis (HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.84, P = 0.004) but did not retained its significance in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.50-1.13, P = 0.16). Our data suggest improvement in outcome of FLT3 ITD mutated AML patients over the last 15 years. This is probably due to improvement in treatment strategies, including but not limited to integration of FLT3 inhibitors and increased use of SCT.
Flory and Friends

Although Wallace Carothers (1896-1937) was not alive to personally interact with the ongoing polymer science community, he left a legacy of publication that was quickly collected and edited by Herman Mark (1895-1992) and G. Stafford Whitby (1887-1972).
Ecological limit functions relating fish community response to hydrologic departures of the ecological flow regime in the Tennessee River basin, United States

Ecological limit functions relating streamflow and aquatic ecosystems remain elusive despite decades of research. We investigated functional relationships between species richness and changes in streamflow characteristics at 662 fish sampling sites in the Tennessee River basin. Our approach included the following: (1) a brief summary of relevant literature on functional relations between fish and streamflow, (2) the development of ecological limit functions that describe the strongest discernible relationships between fish species richness and streamflow characteristics, (3) the evaluation of proposed definitions of hydrologic reference conditions, and (4) an investigation of the internal structures of wedge-shaped distributions underlying ecological limit functions. Twenty-one ecological limit functions were developed across three ecoregions that relate the species richness of 11 fish groups and departures from hydrologic reference conditions using multivariate and quantile regression methods. Each negatively sloped function is described using up to four streamflow characteristics expressed in terms of cumulative departure from hydrologic reference conditions. Negative slopes indicate increased departure results in decreased species richness. Sites with the highest measured fish species richness generally had near-reference hydrologic conditions for a given ecoregion. Hydrology did not generally differ between sites with the highest and lowest fish species richness, indicating that other environmental factors likely limit species richness at sites with reference hydrology. Use of ecological limit functions to make decisions regarding proposed hydrologic regime changes, although commonly presented as a management tool, is not as straightforward or informative as often assumed. We contend that statistical evaluation of the internal wedge structure below limit functions may provide a probabilistic understanding of how aquatic ecology is influenced by altered hydrology and may serve as the basis for evaluating the potential effect of proposed hydrologic changes. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Ecohydrology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On particle creation by black holes

Hawking's analysis of particle creation by black holes is extended by explicitly obtaining the expression for the quantum mechanical state vector ψ which results from particle creation starting from the vacuum during gravitational collapse. (Hawking calculated only the expected number of particles in each mode for this state.) We first discuss the quantum field theory of a Hermitian scalar field in an external potential or in a curved but asymptotically flat spacetime with no horizon present. In agreement with previously known results, we find that we are led to a unique quantum scattering theory which is completely well behaved mathematically provided a certain condition is satisfied by the operators which describe the scattering of classical positive frequency solutions. In terms of these operators we derive the expression for the state vector describing particle creation from the vacuum, and we prove that S-matrix is unitary. Making the necessary modification for the case when a horizon is present, we apply this theory for a massless Hermitian scalar field to get the state vector describing the steady state emission at late times for particle creation during gravitational collapse to a Schwarzschild black hole. There is some ambiguity in the theory in this case arising from freedom involved in defining what one means by “positive frequency” at the future event horizon. However, it is proven that the expression for the density matrix formed from ψ describing the emission of particles to infinity is independent of this choice, and thus unambiguous predictions for the results of all possible measurements at infinity are obtained. We find that the state vector describing particle creation from the vacuum decomposes into a simple product of state vectors for each individual mode. The density matrix describing emission of particles to infinity by this particle creation process is found to be identical to that of black body emission. Thus, black hole emission agrees in complete detail (i.e., not only in expected number of particles) with black body emission.
Computer-assisted design of selective imidazole inhibitors for cytochrome P450 enzymes

A modified version of the DOCK program has been used to predict inhibitors for cytochrome P450cam and its L244A mutant. A library of azole compounds was designed in silico and screened for binding to wild-type P450cam. Lead compounds were synthesized and found to inhibit wild-type P450cam. To test our approach to designing ligands that discriminate between closely related sites, the azole library was DOCKed into both the active sites of wild-type P450cam and its L244A mutant. The L244A active site is predicted to be slightly larger than that of wild-type P450cam. Ligands predicted to have a high affinity for the mutant alone were synthesized and assayed with the recombinant enzymes. All of the compounds showed inhibition of the L244A enzyme (IC(50) = 6-40 microM), and the compounds that were predicted to be too large to bind to the wild-type showed poor inhibition (IC(50) > or = 1 mM). The binding mode was shown to be similar to that predicted by our modified version of DOCK by spectroscopic analysis. A discrepancy between the IC(50) values and spectroscopic K(s) values indicates that the spectroscopic binding constants do not accurately estimate inhibitory activity. This study, the first report of computer-assisted ligand (drug) design for P450 enzymes in which the coordination bond between imidazole and the heme is explicitly considered in structural modeling, opens a promising design avenue because azole compounds are widely used as P450 enzyme inhibitors and drugs.
Lipopolysaccharide and soluble CD14 in cord blood plasma are associated with prematurity and chorioamnionitis

Lipopolysaccharide and soluble CD14 in cord blood plasma are associated with prematurity and chorioamnionitis
Relationship among American presidential charismatic leadership, narcissism, and rated performance.

This research examines the relationship of American presidential narcissistic behaviors with charismatic leadership and rated performance. Using historiometric procedures, raters assessed narcissism in unidentified profiles describing 39 American Presidents. Archival sources were tapped for two charisma and five performance assessments. Supporting the prediction, narcissism was generally positively associated with presidential charismatic leadership and rated performance. The results were explained in terms of Kohut's psychoanalytic self theory. The beneficial and detrimental aspects of leader narcissism, as well as future research directions, are addressed.
MISCIBILITY OF POLYCARBONATE WITH METHYL METHACRYLATE-BASED COPOLYMERS

Abstract Poly(methyl methacrylate) and bisphenol-A polycarbonate having high molecular weights do not form homogeneous mixtures above the glass transition temperature at equilibrium. This paper outlines a strategy for developing melt-processible, homogeneous blends of polycarbonate with an acrylic polymer through copolymerization. Nine different comonomers were copolymerized with methyl methacrylate and these polymers were blended with polycarbonate. Copolymers based on cyclohexyl methacrylate and phenyl methacrylate gave homogeneous mixtures with polycarbonate having cloud points (lower critical solution temperature behaviour) near or above the temperature range needed for melt processing. The thermal stability of the acrylic polymers was examined and in some cases a third monomer was used to obtain improvements.
SU-FF-I-19: A Study of Megavoltage Beam Tomosynthesis

Purpose: To study the impact of projection numbers on the quality of tomosynthesisimages using megavoltage beams. Method and Materials: It has been shown that isocentric kilovoltage tomosynthesisimages can be generated with no more than 50 degree scan angle. With only one seventh of scan time and dose of CBCT, this new technology can generate on‐board images with comparable quality as CBCT to guide patient's positioning. In this study, we used megavoltage (MV) beam projections to reconstructtomosynthesisimages. The MV projection images were acquired by using a MV portal imager mounted on a Varian‐21EX LINAC. The high‐resolution mode was used for acquisition and it required less than 1 cGy dose for each projection. The raw projections data needed background and floor image corrections and was then taken to generate tomosynthesisimages by using the FDK cone‐beam reconstruction algorithm. Results: Compared with kV tomosynthesisimages, MV tomosynthesisimages also give good contrast for bones. However, for soft tissue, their contrast is relatively lower. We calculate normalized mutual information (NMI) between MV and kV tomosynthesisimages and studied its dependence on scan angle and angular interval. The experiment shows that with the angular interval fixed, NMI increases as the scan angle grows and with the scan angle fixed, NMI decreases as the angular interval increases. For our study on a spine phantom, 50‐degree scan angle and 1‐degree angular interval gives good trade‐off between images quality and projection numbers. Conclusion: MV beam can be used to generate good quality tomosynthesisimages.
The Good Polity: Can We Design It?

Depicting a good polity, one that is morally superior and desired, is relatively easy. Utopian writers have drawn various designs for centuries. Some prefer direct democracies to representative ones; some see much merit in local government; others extol the merits of world government. There is surely much merit to this visionary approach, if only because it allows one to clarify the values to which we adhere, as they are projected or "revealed" in these utopian designs. This article focuses on the more difficult question of how one can get from here to there, on the ways a polity may restructure itself to reflect more closely the preferred system. The result, it turns out, is not neutral in terms of various utopian pictures: The good polity turns out to be one in which the government is responsive to all the needs of all the members of the community. At the same time, we recognize the factors that limit our ability to move toward a good polity, the constraints on design. At issue are questions surrounding the capacities of a polity to know itself and its environment, how decisions are made, the relative power of the government versus those who are governed-and not only questions of effective representation but of institutionalized opportunities to change those in power and other such more often studied factors.
The insulin signaling cascade from nematodes to mammals: insights into innate immunity of Anopheles mosquitoes to malaria parasite infection

As revealed over the past 20 years, the insulin signaling cascade plays a central role in regulating immune and oxidative stress responses that affect the life spans of mammals and two model invertebrates, the nematode Caenorhabitis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. In mosquitoes, insulin signaling regulates key steps in egg maturation and immunity and likely affects aging, although the latter has yet to be examined in detail. Reproduction, immunity and aging critically influence the capacity of mosquitoes to effectively transmit malaria parasites. Current work has demonstrated that molecules from the invading parasite and the blood meal elicit functional responses in female mosquitoes that are regulated through the insulin signaling pathway or by cross-talk with interacting pathways. Defining the details of these regulatory interactions presents significant challenges for future research, but will increase our understanding of mosquito/malaria parasite transmission and of the conservation of insulin signaling as a key regulatory nexus in animal biology.
Automated Video Analysis System Reveals Distinct Diurnal Behaviors in C57BL/6 and C3H/HeN Mice

Advances in rodent behavior dissection using automated video recording and analysis allows detailed phenotyping. This study compared and contrasted 15 diurnal behaviors recorded continuously using an automated behavioral analysis system for a period of 14 days under a 14/10 light/dark cycle in single housed C3H/HeN (C3H) or C57BL/6 (C57) male mice. Diurnal behaviors, recorded with minimal experimental interference and analyzed using phenotypic array and temporal distribution analysis showed bimodal and unimodal profiles in the C57 and C3H mice, respectively. Phenotypic array analysis revealed distinct behavioral rhythms in Activity-Like Behaviors (i.e. walk, hang, jump, come down) (ALB), Exploration-Like Behaviors (i.e. dig, groom, rear up, sniff, stretch) (ELB), Ingestion-Like Behaviors (i.e. drink, eat) (ILB) and Resting-Like Behaviors (i.e. awake, remain low, rest, twitch) (RLB) of C3H and C57 mice. Temporal distribution analysis demonstrated that strain and time of day affects the magnitude and distribution of the spontaneous homecage behaviors. Wheel running activity, water and food measurements correlated with timing of homecage behaviors. Subcutaneous (3 mg/kg, sc) or oral (0.02 mg/ml, oral) melatonin treatments in C57 mice did not modify either the total 24 h magnitude or temporal distribution of homecage behaviors when compared with vehicle treatments. We conclude that C3H and C57 mice show different spontaneous activity and behavioral rhythms specifically during the night period which are not modulated by melatonin.
Biomimetic growth of gallic acid–ZnO hybrid assemblies and their applications

In this study, we probed the biomimetic formation of gallic acid (GA)–ZnO nanoparticle hybrids. It was found that the morphologies formed were dependent upon pH values, resulting in GA–ZnO hybrids of varying shapes such as micro or nanoplates or fibers. The formed supramolecular GA–ZnO hybrids were found to be luminescent as indicated by confocal microscopy and were utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of the organic dye methylene blue. We also explored the bactericidal effects of the hybrids on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as well as Escherichia Coli (E. Coli). Thus, we have developed a new class of shape-controlled nanohybrid assemblies via mild, green synthetic methods that may be utilized for photocatalytic degradation for environmental remediation as well as for antibacterial applications.
Interactions between the retinal pigment epithelium and the neural retina

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interacts with the photoreceptors, which it faces across the subretinal space. In these interactions the RPE acts as three types of cell - epithelium, macrophage, and glia. This review briefly describes selected interactions between the RPE and photoreceptors in ion and water transport, Vitamin A transport, phagocytosis of shed portions of outer segments, ensheathment of photoreceptors outer segments, and electrical responses. The electrical interactions can be recorded at the cornea in the c-wave, fast oscillation, and light peak of the DC electroretinogram (DC-ERG) and electrooculogram (EOG). Each response reflects photoreceptor-RPE interactions in a distinct way. The three responses taken together provide perhaps the best opportunity to learn how pathophysiological conditions alter the interactions between the RPE and photoreceptors.
Estimating car driver injury severity in car/tractor-trailer collisions

This paper analyzes road accidents between passenger cars and tractor-trailer rigs occurring in the greater Baltimore-Washington D.C. metropolitan area during the period 1983-84. During this time interval, approximately 1700 such collisions occurred on major highways in the state of Maryland. Traffic accident data is factor analyzed for underlying dimensions related to this accident type. A subsequent prediction analysis is made in order to discern whether injury severity estimations can be made using driver, vehicle, and environmental characteristic variables.
Mechanisms of liquid flux across pulmonary alveolar epithelial cell monolayers

Active transport of sodium by pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) is believed to be an important component of edema clearance in the normal and injured lung. Data supporting this premise have come from measurements of sodium movement across AEC monolayers or from perfused lung model systems. However, direct measurement of fluid flux across AEC monolayers has not been reported. In the present work, AEC were studied with an experimental system for the measurement of fluid flux (Jv) across functionally intact cell monolayers. Primary adult rat type II alveolar epithelial cells were cultured on 0.8 µm nuleopore filters previously coated with gelatin and fibronectin. Intact monolayers were verified by high electrical resistance (> 1000 Θ) at 4–5 d of primary culture. At the same time interval, transmission electron microscopy revealed cells with type I cell-like morphology throughout the monolayer. These were characterized by both adherens and tight junctional attachments. Fluid flux across the monolayers was measured volumetrically over a period of 2 h in the presence of HEPES-buffered DMEM containing 3% fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin. Flux (Jv) was inhibited 39% by 1 × 10−4 M ouabain (P < 0.01) and 27% by 5 × 10−4 M amiloride (P < 0.05). These data support the concept that AEC Na+/K+-ATPase and Na+ transport systems are important determinants of AEC transepithelial fluid movement in vitro.
Contextual Unanimity and the Units of Selection Problem

Sober and Lewontin’s critique of genic selectionism is based upon the principle that a unit of selection should make a context‐independent contribution to fitness. Critics have effectively shown that this principle is flawed. In this paper I show that the context independence principle is an instance of a more general principle for characterizing causes,called the contextual unanimity principle. I argue that this latter principle, while widely accepted, is erroneous. What is needed is to replace the approach to causality characterized by the contextual unanimity criterion with an approach based on the concept of causal mechanism. After sketching such an approach, I show how it can be used to shed light on the units of selection problem.
Serum free thyroxine concentration is not reduced in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective We used improved methods of assay to determine whether pituitary-thyroidfunction is altered in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) during the first week of postnatal life. Methods Serum free thyroxine (T4) was measured by direct equilibrium dialysis, total thyroxine (TT4) by radioimmunoassay, and thyrotropin by a sensitive immunometric assay in 90 premature infants (45 healthy control subjects and 45 with RDS) during their first week of life after 25 to 30 weeks of gestation. Infants in the RDS group received exogenous surfactant therapy. Results Free T4 and thyrotropin concentrations of infants were not significantly differentbetween RDS and control groups. As expected, infants with RDS had significantly lower serum total T4 concentrations compared with control infants (p Conclusion These data indicate that pituitary-thyroid function is not altered in prematureinfants with RDS. The low total T4 state in these premature infants is attributable solely to reduced serum T4 binding, as is often seen in acute nonthyroidal illnesses.
Effect of fatty acid composition of phospholipids on their antioxidant properties and activity index

Various phospholipids may act as antioxidants or prooxidants. This study investigated the effects of three phospholipid classes and their fatty acid composition on antioxidant activity. Antioxidant properties of sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylethanolamine from salmon and menhaden oil were measured by oxidation induction time. An antioxidant activity index was determined in these systems with the Rancimat 617. Fatty acid profiles of the individual phospholipids and total oils were determined by gas-liquid chromatography before and after oxidation. The index was significantly (P 84 h) and higher antioxidant index (>9). Chainlength of the fatty acids may have contributed to the observed index, as phospholipids with longer chains (i.e., C18 and above) had longer oxidation induction times. Phospholipids tested in this study had little or no antioxidant activity in menhaden oil, nor did they offer protection to n-3 or total polyunsaturated fatty acids in this oil. These findings suggest that fatty acid profiles of individual oils may influence the antioxidant index of each phospholipid.
Estrogen Receptors and eNOS are Colocalized as Components of a Signaling Module on the Plasma Membrane of Endothelial Cells

Estrogen Receptors and eNOS are Colocalized as Components of a Signaling Module on the Plasma Membrane of Endothelial Cells
The uses of argument

Preface Introduction 1. Fields of argument and modals 2. Probability 3. The layout of arguments 4. Working logic and idealised logic 5. The origins of epistemological theory Conclusion References Index.
Computations with disjunctive cuts for two-stage stochastic mixed 0-1 integer programs

Two-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming (SMIP) problems with recourse are generally difficult to solve. This paper presents a first computational study of a disjunctive cutting plane method for stochastic mixed 0-1 programs that uses lift-and-project cuts based on the extensive form of the two-stage SMIP problem. An extension of the method based on where the data uncertainty appears in the problem is made, and it is shown how a valid inequality derived for one scenario can be made valid for other scenarios, potentially reducing solution time. Computational results amply demonstrate the effectiveness of disjunctive cuts in solving several large-scale problem instances from the literature. The results are compared to the computational results of disjunctive cuts based on the subproblem space of the formulation and it is shown that the two methods are equivalently effective on the test instances.
Methionine Synthase Exists in Two Distinct Conformations That Differ in Reactivity toward Methyltetrahydrofolate, Adenosylmethionine, and Flavodoxin†

Methionine synthase (MetH) from Escherichia coli catalyzes the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine and methyltetrahydrofolate via two methyl transfer reactions that are mediated by the endoge...
Polyglutamine aggregation behavior in vitro supports a recruitment mechanism of cytotoxicity.

In expanded CAG repeat diseases such as Huntington's disease, proteins containing polyglutamine (poly(Gln)) sequences with repeat lengths of about 37 residues or more are associated with development of both disease symptoms and neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NIIs). Disease physiology in animal and cellular models does not always correlate with NII formation, however, and the mechanism by which aggregate formation might lead to cytotoxicity is unknown. To help evaluate various possible mechanisms, we determined the biophysical properties of a series of simple poly(Gln) peptides. The circular dichroism spectra of poly(Gln) peptides with repeat lengths of five, 15, 28 and 44 residues are all nearly identical and are consistent with a high degree of random coil structure, suggesting that the length-dependence of disease is not related to a conformational change in the monomeric states of expanded poly(Gln) sequences. In contrast, there is a dramatic increase in both the kinetics and the thermodynamic favorability of the spontaneous formation of ordered, amyloid-like aggregates for poly(Gln) peptides with repeat lengths of greater than 37 residues. At the same time, poly(Gln) peptides with repeat lengths in the 15-20 residue range, despite their poor abilities to support spontaneous, self-nucleated aggregation, are capable of efficiently adding to an already-formed aggregate. We also find that morphologically small, finely divided aggregates are much more efficient at recruiting poly(Gln) peptides than are large aggregates, suggesting a possible explanation for why disease pathology does not always correlate with the observable NII burden. Together, these data are consistent with a model for disease pathology in which critical cellular proteins possessing poly(Gln) sequences of modest length become inactivated when they are recruited into aggregates of an expanded poly(Gln) protein.
Effects of Prolonged ACTH-stimulation on Adrenocortical Cholesterol Reserve and Apolipoprotein E Concentration in Young and Aged Fischer 344 Male Rats

Abstract Changes in the morphology of rat adrenal cortex with age include increased accumulations of lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules. Because glandular concentrations of cholesteryl esters (CE) and apolipoprotein (apo) E are also increased in parallel, the utilization or metabolism of lipid-droplet stored CE for steroidogenesis might be altered in aging cells. To explore this possibility, adrenocortical cholesterol storage and utilization were studied in 3–6 months-old (mo) (Y) rats and 20–23 mo (O) Fischer 344 male rats. Both groups received either adrenocorticotropin (ACTH1-39, Acthar gel) or gelatin alone daily for seven consecutive days. We found that: (a) the CE concentration in O rats, but not Y animals, was diminished by ACTH. The depleted CE in stimulated-O rats was replenished within five days post stimulation. Failure to deplete CE in stimulated-Y rats was not associated with an insufficient dose of the hormone, since stimulation of Y animals with higher doses of ACTH actually increased the CE concentration. In contrast, adrenocortical free cholesterol concentration remained constant during stimulation regardless of age. (b) The depleted CE in stimulated-O rats was principally comprised of cholesteryl adrenate, cholesteryl arachidonate and cholesteryl cervonate. The accumulated CE in stimulated-Y animals was primarily comprised of cholesteryl adrenate, cholesteryl arachidonate and cholesteryl oleate. (c) Whereas in stimulated-Y rats adrenal apoE concentration declined, the concentration in stimulated O animals was well maintained. (d) In vitro , adrenal homogenate or cytosolic fraction from stimulated-O rats displayed a higher capacity to hydrolyze exogenous CE than its Y counterpart. However, cholesterol esterification with external fatty acid substrates in adrenal homogenate or microsomal fraction was comparable in the two age-groups. Our findings revealed altered adrenocortical cholesterol reserve in O rats to cope with prolonged ACTH-stimulation. Changes in apoE levels and CE hydrolysis activity may be factors associated with this alteration. Depletion and accumulation of adrenocortical CE are reflected in parallel changes in cholesteryl adrenate and cholesteryl arachidonate, suggesting physiologic importance of these polyunsaturated fatty acids during sustained steroidogenesis.
Validating the Reduced Burnout Scale and Sequencing of Burnout

Abstract Given the renewed interest in salesperson burnout, three research objectives that are key to uniting and moving the sales literature forward are addressed. Specifically, sequencing issues with the ordering of the burnout facets are addressed. Then, facets of burnout as both direct and indirect predictors of job performance are examined. Finally, the study places the burnout facets within a nomological network. Findings suggest that emotional exhaustion is a direct predictor of job performance, whereas, depersonalization and personal accomplishment have an indirect affect on job performance.
Assessing the utility of coevolution-based residue-residue contact predictions in a sequence- and structure-rich era.

Recently developed methods have shown considerable promise in predicting residue–residue contacts in protein 3D structures using evolutionary covariance information. However, these methods require large numbers of evolutionarily related sequences to robustly assess the extent of residue covariation, and the larger the protein family, the more likely that contact information is unnecessary because a reasonable model can be built based on the structure of a homolog. Here we describe a method that integrates sequence coevolution and structural context information using a pseudolikelihood approach, allowing more accurate contact predictions from fewer homologous sequences. We rigorously assess the utility of predicted contacts for protein structure prediction using large and representative sequence and structure databases from recent structure prediction experiments. We find that contact predictions are likely to be accurate when the number of aligned sequences (with sequence redundancy reduced to 90%) is greater than five times the length of the protein, and that accurate predictions are likely to be useful for structure modeling if the aligned sequences are more similar to the protein of interest than to the closest homolog of known structure. These conditions are currently met by 422 of the protein families collected in the Pfam database.
RETENTION AND STABILITY OF VOLATILE SULFUR‐CONTAINING COMPOUNDS IN CHICKEN MEAT

Methionine-35S was used to generate radioactive volatile sulfur-containing compounds. The degree of retention and stability of these compounds in a cold chicken meat slurry was determined. It was found that substantial amounts of radioactive volatile sulfur-containing compounds were trapped in the slurry (.71 μci). It was also concluded that 44.0% of the total methanethiol generated was trapped in the slurry. Further investigation revealed that the major portion of these highly volatile sulfur-containing compounds, which were trapped in the slurry, was no longer volatile and would not be released upon heating. Subsequent heating of the slurry for 4 hr under reflux and in an open vessel resulted in a 32.3% and 33.8% loss of radioactivity, respectively. However, the major loss of radioactivity occurred within the first hr of cooking with little loss of activity after that period. The results of a chloroform-methanol fractionation showed that 90.7% of the trapped radioactive sulfur-containing compounds were associated with the protein fraction of meat. The association of these compounds with the protein fraction was confirmed using picric acid precipitation. The remaining radioactive sulfur-containing compounds retained in the aqueous and lipid fraction, 8.95% and 0.35% respectively, could also play an important role in flavor.
Mark Murcko discusses enabling technologies in drug discovery

Abstract Mark is responsible for the strategic evaluation, identification, and integration of new technologies into worldwide R&D. He joined Vertex as a Founding Scientist in 1990 and started the company's molecular modeling, bioinformatics, IS and chemoinformatics groups. He is a co-inventor of a half-dozen compounds in Vertex's clinical pipeline. Notable among these are the HIV-protease inhibitors Agenerase® and Lexiva®, Vertex's first two marketed drugs, as well as the anti-inflammatory compounds Pralnacasan® and VX-765, both oral blockers of the IL-1 beta converting enzyme. Mark also played a key role in the creation and launch of Vertex's gene family approach, dubbed chemogenomics. Mark was named Chief Technology Officer in 2001. Prior to Vertex, Mark was at Merck in West Point, PA (1987–1990), where he helped discover multiple clinical candidates against cardiovascular and ocular diseases, including inhibitors of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase for the treatment of glaucoma. One of Merck's development candidates in this area, Trusopt®, became the first marketed drug in pharmaceutical history to result from a structure-based drug design program. Mark is a co-inventor on more than 30 issued patents, has co-authored more than 75 scientific articles, and has delivered more than 100 invited lectures. He currently sits on the scientific advisory boards of several outside companies and over the years has served as an editorial board member for Drug Discovery Today and the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, among others.
Review of William R. LaFleur, Gernot Bohme, and Susumu Shimazono, eds., Dark Medicine: Rationalizing Unethical Medical Research

As a society, we grant the medical profession guardianship over the care and treatment of our minds and bodies. We reveal our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, trusting that physicians will handle us...
Magnetic properties of exposed deep crustal rocks from the Superior Province of Manitoba

Abstract A traverse across Precambrian rocks of the Superior Province in central Manitoba provided 56 samples for magnetic study from the Pikwitonei granulite domain and the adjacent Cross Lake subprovince. These rocks represent a cross section of the continental crust presently exposed at the surface. Thirty-one samples are dominantly paramagnetic, and three contain pyrrhotite. Twenty-two samples from silicic plutonic rocks, which make up about 80% of the section by volume, contain nearly pure magnetite and have susceptibilities that are almost constant between room temperature and 540°C, averaging about 1 × 10 −2 SI units. The mafic supracrustal rocks, with much higher iron content, are about an order of magnitude less magnetic because they contain little or no magnetite. Susceptibility is generally independent of metamorphic grade or apparent depth in the crust. The discrepancy between induced magnetizations of measured lower crustal rocks and the source requirements of long-wavelength magnetic anomalies may be due to a high-temperature viscous magnetization in the deep crust.
Aerodynamic theory for wing with side edge passing subsonically through a gust

An approximate solution for the unsteady loading near the square-shape tip of a wing passing through an oblique gust is obtained in closed form. The aerodynamic theory developed can be used to predict airloads felt by a helicopter blade experiencing a blade/vortex interaction for high blade tip speed and/or for small vertical blade/vortex separation. Under these conditions one can show that the blade's trailing edge has little influence on the character of the chordwise loading at all spanwise sections; thus, the chord may be allowed to extend to infinity in the downstream direction. Therefore, the model considered here is that of a quarter-infinite flat plate wing with side edge passing subsonically through an oblique gust.