cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacteremia Due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Children with AIDS

Six episodes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in five children with AIDS were reviewed to characterize further the disease caused by this pathogen. Hypotension occurred in five episodes, and two children died. Bacteremia was associated most frequently with new pulmonary infiltrates and skin lesions, but additional sites of infection were also observed (the middle ear, an abdominal abscess, and the CNS). None of the children had catheter-associated infection, and only three were neutropenic. P. aeruginosa should be considered as a cause of sepsis in children with AIDS.
Flow and contaminant transport in an airliner cabin induced by a moving body: Model experiments and CFD predictions

The effects of a moving human body on flow and contaminant transport inside an aircraft cabin were investigated. Experiments were performed in a one-tenth scale, water-based model. The flow field and contaminant transport were measured using the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) techniques, respectively. Measurements were obtained with (ventilation case) and without (baseline case) the cabin environmental control system (ECS). The PIV measurements show strong intermittency in the instantaneous near-wake flow. A symmetric downwash flow was observed along the vertical centerline of the moving body in the baseline case. The evolution of this flow pattern is profoundly perturbed by the flow from the ECS. Furthermore, a contaminant originating from the moving body is observed to convect to higher vertical locations in the presence of ventilation. These experimental data were used to validate a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model. The CFD model can effectively capture the characteristic flow features and contaminant transport observed in the small-scale model.
Stimulus-evoked electromyography testing of percutaneous pedicle screws for the detection of pedicle breaches: a clinical study of 409 screws in 93 patients.

Object Percutaneous pedicle screws have recently become popularized for lumbar spinal fixation. However, successful anatomical hardware placement is highly dependent on intraoperative imaging. In traditional open surgery, stimulus-evoked electromyography (EMG) responses can be useful for detecting pedicle screw breaches. The use of insulated sleeves for percutaneous screws has allowed for EMG testing in minimally invasive surgery; however, no reports on the reliability of this testing modality have been published. Methods A total of 409 lumbar percutaneous pedicle screws were placed in 93 patients. Levels of instrumentation included L-1 (in 12 patients), L-2 (in 34), L-3 (in 44), L-4 (in 120), L-5 (in 142), and S-1 (in 57 patients). Intraoperative EMG stimulation thresholds were obtained using insulating sleeves over a metallic tap prior to final screw placement. Data were compared with postoperative fine-cut CT scans to assess pedicle screw placement. Data were collected prospectively and analyzed retros...
Viability of the retained bone core in the core-vent dental implant

The survival of dental implants has been correlated with the formation of a bone-implant interface. This study was done to determine whether the recently developed Core-Vent dental implant forms a bone-implant interface without intervening fibrous tissue. Core-Vent implants were placed in four dogs, and healing was evaluated histologically 15, 30, 60, and 120 days after insertion. Bone grew through the implant vents to join with the inner bone plug, and the implants approximated the bone without an intervening fibrous tissue layer.
Psychodynamic perspectives: Responding to the assessment needs of people of color?

Abstract The aim of this article is to explicate how clinicians can incorporate psychodynamic theory into their work with people of color and at‐risk groups without marginalizing them. Subjects that I discuss here are as follows: Cross Cultural Assessment, One or Two Person Psychology, and Relational Psychotherapy. My intent is not to establish a hierarchy of clinical techniques or approaches, but to reconsider the usefulness of theories that might seem inappropriate and misplaced with regard to oppressed populations. A case vignette in the section on cross‐ cultural assessment illustrates the theoretical principles.
Condensed complexes of cholesterol and phospholipids

There is overwhelming evidence that lipid bilayer regions of animal cell membranes are in a liquid state. Quantitative models of these bilayer regions must then be models of liquids. These liquids are highly non-ideal. For example, it has been known for more than 75 years that mixtures of cholesterol and certain phospholipids undergo an area contraction or condensation in lipid monolayers at the air-water interface. In the past 3 years, a thermodynamic model of "condensed complexes" has been proposed to account for this non-ideal behavior. Here we give an overview of the model, its relation to other models, and to modern views of the properties of animal cell membranes.
Variable data rate modem for low Earth orbiting satellite (LEOS) communication

There is wide interest in providing mobile satellite services (MSS) via low Earth orbiting satellite (LEOS) instead of by the traditional geosynchronous satellites (GEOS). This development conforms with the trends in personal communication services (PCS) where low cost, low power and high volume users are the goals. The distinct features of LEOS are characterized by its low altitude (4000 km versus 37700 km) and its high flyby speed (6.9 km/sec). Due to shortening of the LOS distance by a factor of 4 that is translated into a 12 dB advantage in power as compared to GEOS terminals, LEOS terminals are more compact. It generally radiates in the neighbourhood of 5 Watts. Currently planned small LEOS systems rely on sending short burst of data packet generally of a duration less than 100 msec. There are plans to optimize the data transmission during the burst. This paper studies the possibility of using a variable data rate modem to increase the total throughput in such a system. Baud rate variations in the range of 1200, 2400, 4800, and 9600 are considered. This will be a new feature at the link layer of the OSI model. It is necessary to consider the available link margin variation in the burst period of a practical small LEOS system. Due to the antenna orientation, nonuniform radiation pattern, and the angular aspect between the terminal and satellite, the available link margin is reduced. The crucial issue is how much dB margin is there. An analysis of the available link margin for a variable rate data modem is presented.
Child Physical Abuse Prevalence, Characteristics, Predictors, and Beliefs About Parent-Child Violence in South Asian, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Latina Women in the United States

The present study examined the prevalence, characteristics, beliefs, and demographic predictors of parent-child physical violence among South Asian, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Latina women in the United States. Two hundred fifty-one college-educated women from a middle to high SES (South Asian/Middle Eastern, n = 93; East Asian,n = 72; Latina,n = 86) completed a self-report survey on childhood experiences and beliefs regarding physical abuse. Seventy-three percent of the South Asian and Middle Eastern sample, 65% of the East Asian sample, and 78% of the Latina sample reported experiencing at least one type of physical abuse. Significant differences in characteristics and perpetrators of abuse were found across groups. Demographic factors did not predict physical abuse. Experiencing physical abuse was the only predictor for acceptance of physical discipline and as a parental privilege or right across groups. Implications of alternate cultural models of family violence based on beliefs and exposure to violence are discussed.
Personality is tightly coupled to vasopressin-oxytocin neuron activity in a gregarious finch.

Nonapeptides of the vasopressin-oxytocin family modulate social processes differentially in relation to sex, species, behavioral phenotype, and human personality. However, the mechanistic bases for these differences are not well understood, in part because multidimensional personality structures remain to be described for common laboratory animals. Based upon principal components (PC) analysis of extensive behavioral measures in social and nonsocial contexts, we now describe three complex dimensions of phenotype ("personality") for the zebra finch, a species that exhibits a human-like social organization that is based upon biparental nuclear families embedded within larger social groups. These dimensions can be characterized as Social competence/dominance, Gregariousness, and Anxiety. We further demonstrate that the phasic Fos response of nonapeptide neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and medial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are significantly predicted by personality, sex, social context, and their interactions. Furthermore the behavioral PCs are each associated with a distinct suite of neural PCs that incorporate both peptide cell numbers and their phasic Fos responses, indicating that personality is reflected in complex patterns of neuromodulation arising from multiple peptide cell groups. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying sex- and phenotype-specific modulation of behavior, and should be broadly relevant, given that vasopressin-oxytocin systems are strongly conserved across vertebrates.
What Do CD-ROM Users Really Need?.

CD-ROM users are happy. But are they well served? There are hints in the literature that the CD-ROM heaven may be somewhat closer to purgatory than to paradise. Library administrators who, understandably enough, wish to be leaders in adopting new technology have assumed that staffing can be reduced or held at the same level when such changes are made. As Zink notes, "A persistent administrative malady is the assumption that technology will decrease, or at least not require additional, demands on staff time" [5]. Other writers have observed that this is at best a delusion. Pope comments that patrons suffer from an inability to select or understand the nature of databases [6]. This author, in contrast to wishful administrative dreams, states that the use of CD-ROM in academic libraries" has considerable implications for library staffing" [7]. Bostian and Robbins see a fallacy in the idea that end users soon gain the ability to work by themselves without serious problems. They observe that students" are likely to become overconfident in their skills [and] delight in teaching their friends all they know" [8] (Figure 1).
Strong limitationality of essential proper subsets of factors of production

Abstract : It has been shown in a previous paper that: A factor combination (Nu sub 1, Nu sub 2, ..., Nu sub k), 1 < or = k < or = (n - 1), is weak limitational if and only if the combination is essential. In the paper a necessary and sufficient condition is given for an essential proper subset of factors of production to be strong limitational, together with a corollary stating that essential proper subsets of factors for a homothetic technology are strongly limitational. (Author)
Adjunctive Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis With Systemic Low‐Dose Aspirin Therapy

Focused Clinical QuestionIn patients presenting with generalized moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis (CP), does adjunctive use of systemic low-dose aspirin therapy with non-surgical periodontal therapy improve the maintenance of alveolar bone support and/or clinical attachment level?Clinical ScenarioA 55-year-old male presents for a periodontal evaluation after deep pockets were noted at a periodontal maintenance visit. The patient reports a dental history significant for non-surgical periodontal therapy and resective osseous surgery ≈18 years before the current evaluation, and has been seeing a general dentist for periodontal maintenance every 6 months since his surgical treatment. The patient also reports a medical history significant for hypertension and a recent transient ischemic attack (TIA). After the TIA, the patient was placed on 325 mg acetylsalicylic acid daily to reduce his risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The treatment plan includes non-surgical periodontal therapy foll...
The finite-dipole dynamical system

The notion of a finite dipole is introduced as a pair of equal and opposite strength point vortices (i.e. a vortex dipole) separated by a finite distance. Equations of motion for N finite dipoles interacting in an unbounded inviscid fluid are derived from the modified interaction of 2N independent vortices subject to the constraint that the inter-vortex spacing of each constrained dipole, �, remains constant. In the absence of all other dipoles and background flow, a single dipole moves in a straight line along the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining the two point vortices comprising the dipole, with a self-induced velocity inversely proportional to �. When more than one dipole is present, the velocity of the dipole centre is the sum of the self-induced velocity and the average of the induced velocities on each vortex comprising the pair due to all the other dipoles. Each dipole orients in the direction of shear gradient based on the difference in velocities on each of the two vortices in the pair. Several numerical experiments are shown to illustrate the interactions between two and three dipoles in abreast and tandem configurations. We also show that equilibria (multi-poles) can form as a result of the interactions, and we study the stability of polygonal equilibria, showing that the N = 3 case is linearly stable, whereas the N > 3 case is linearly unstable.
Technical change, competition and vertical integration

This paper starts with a survey of the received theories of vertical integration. We then extend these theories by arguing that while uncertainty in general will make integration more effective, a particular type of uncertainty, the possibility of technological obsolescence, works the other way. After making this point at a conceptual level, we build a model to study how the frequency of technological change interacts with the intensity of competition to influence the optimal level of integration. The predictions of the model are then tested and very strongly supported by data from 93 industries.
Holographic probabilities in eternal inflation.

In the global description of eternal inflation, probabilities for vacua are notoriously ambiguous. The local point of view is preferred by holography and naturally picks out a simple probability measure. It is insensitive to large expansion factors or lifetimes, and so resolves a recently noted paradox. Any cosmological measure must be complemented with the probability for observers to emerge in a given vacuum. In lieu of anthropic criteria, I propose to estimate this by the entropy that can be produced in a local patch. This allows for prior-free predictions.
The Pathology of Human Teratomas

Teratomas are tumors composed of multiple tissues foreign to the anatomic site from which they originate (Willis, 1951). The term, coined from the Greek words teras meaning monster, and the suffix -oma (from onkoma—swelling) to denote its neoplastic nature, was introduced by Virchow (1863), and since then, it has been used to describe both benign and malignant tumors composed of haphazardly intermixed tissues originating from actually or potentially pluripotent stem cells. Teratomas are considered to be neoplasms because of their progressive, uncoordinated and unregulated growth. The teratoid, ie., monster-like appearance of these tumors, reflects abnormal development of tissues originating from the pluripotent stem cells. Since teratomas represent true neoplasms, most of them are unrelated to congenital malformations or abnormal embryonic development (Warkany, 1971).
Collisions of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo Jamaicensis), Turkey Vultures(Cathartes Aura), and Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus) with Aircraft: Implications for Bird Strike Reduction

COLISIONES DE BUTEO JAMAICENSIS, CATHARTES AURA Y CORAGYPS ATRATUS CON AERONAVES: CONSECUENCIAS PARA LA REDUCCIoN DE LOS GOLPES POR AVES Buteo jamaicensis, Cathartes aura y Coragyps atratus estuvieron involucrados en aproximadamente el 37% de los golpes de rapaces (N = 1945) que se registraron contra aviones civiles en los EEUU entre 1990 y 2003, resultando en un 93.4% del tiempo en que los aviones se encontraron fuera de servicio debido a golpes de rapaces en general, y en una perdida de aproximadamente $7 millones para la industria aerea civil de EEUU. Nos preguntamos si las estadisticas de los golpes de rapaces podrian brindar informacion critica para el manejo de la vida silvestre y de los recursos en las areas de operacion (AAO; areas designadas para el despegue, aterrizaje, y maniobras terrestres de los aviones) de los aeropuertos y dentro del area establecida por la Administracion Federal de Aviacion de EEUU (AFA) para los aeropuertos certificados (i.e., hasta 1.5 km desde la pista para los aerop...
Proportionality and Federalism: A Response to Professor Stinneford

John Stinneford’s latest article, Rethinking Proportionality Under the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause, sheds fresh light on the original public meaning of the Eighth Amendment. Stinneford provides the most cogent rejoinder to date to Justice Scalia’s position that the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause contains no proportionality principle. Stinneford demonstrates the unlikelihood of this claim by showing that (1) the best reading of the Clause’s English ancestor was that it encompassed a proportionality requirement and (2) the nearly contemporaneous uses of the term “cruel and unusual punishments” in other areas of the law implicated proportionality requirements.But to show that the Clause contains some proportionality requirement gets us only part of the way to an understanding of what that proportionality principle demands. Where Stinneford’s work falters is in its articulation of the proportionality requirement of the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause as understood in 1791. He claims, in essence, that the Clause was understood as generally constraining Congress from inflicting punishments that were significantly harsher than those imposed at common law for the same offense. While Stinneford’s assertion that the Clause imposed common-law constraints on Congress’ power to punish is well supported, he incorrectly assumes that there was universal agreement in 1791 that the common law was of the pre-realist, brooding-omnipresence-in-the-sky variety. To the contrary, the conceptions of the common law in 1791 were far from homogenous. To be sure, some during the framing period took the pre-realist view that the common law was uniform and obligatory irrespective of sovereignty. Yet, many others asserted, as the Legal Realists later would, that the content of the common law was simply a matter of public policy that differed from state to state, especially as regards the law of crime and punishment. More importantly, it was generally the Anti-federalists, who conditioned ratification of the Constitution on the inclusion of a Bill of Rights, who propounded this more modern, realist notion of the common law of crime. Nothing shows this better than the debate over the existence of a general federal criminal common law that took place during the first twenty years of the Republic.In short, while Stinneford is probably correct that the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause was widely understood in 1791 as imposing common-law constraints on the federal government’s power to punish, it is unlikely that there was any consensus as to what that meant. In particular, the Anti-federalists took a more state-centered approach than Stinneford would allow. Under such an approach, the federal government would generally be barred from imposing any punishment harsher than that authorized for the same offense conduct by the State where the conduct took place.
Perioperative Management of Anemia

Studies have shown that both preoperative [1, 2] and postoperative [3] anemia are associated with increased mortality after surgery. However, red blood cell transfusions are associated with their own risks and costs [4–7]. Therefore, the goals of managing anemia in the perioperative setting are preventing significant anemia and blood loss and the judicious use of red blood cell transfusions.
Audience Development: One Case of Marketing the Arts to Students

This paper addresses the issue of marketing the performing arts to students. It details the situation faced by one college campus organization attempting to increase student season subscriptions to a performing arts series. Information was gathered for two seasons, one prior to implementing a discount and two-for-one promotional pricing approach. The outcome of that effort is described and discussed.
Texts and Professional Activities

In the midst of teaching, research, and administrative activities, Werner still succeeded in producing his two textbooks within the span of a few years. In 1901, he began work on his “Lehrbuch der Stereochemie” (T 1), using as a guide his course lectures on that topic. In a letter of Dec. 23 of that year to his publisher, Gustav Fischer Verlag, he cited his reasons for writing such a book, outlined its contents, and estimated that the manuscript of 12 to 14 Druckbogen* (proof-sheets) exclusive of formulas would be ready for the printer by July of 1902.
African American Autobiographer Accounts of Learning from Parents How to Deal with Racism

The literature on racial socialization of African Americans has focused on data drawn from young children, teens, and college students. The question of what mature adults recall as having been significant messages in their childhood about dealing with racism has been ignored, and so has the question of what the adult impact might be of childhood racial socialization. To explore these issues, we examined the autobiographies of 41 African Americans that included material on the parenting they received to deal with racism. Many of the lessons the autobiographers wrote about learning can be classified in three broad themes—be aware of and alert to white racism, get a good education, and have a strong racial identity. As evidence of the usefulness in adulthood of childhood racial socialization, some autobiographers wrote about how important certain socialization experiences were to them in adulthood. This paper adds to the literature on African American racial socialization by showing the durability of some memories of childhood racial socialization and also showing that there can be an impact in adulthood of childhood racial socialization.
Abstract 119: Urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress and breast cancer survival among Chinese breast cancer survivors.

Background: Systemic oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of many chronic diseases, including breast cancer. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the association of biomarkers of systemic oxidative stress after cancer treatment and breast cancer prognosis. Methods: We conducted a pilot study to investigate the association of systemic oxidative stress after primary cancer treatment with mortality in a nested case-control study in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study (SBCSS). Urinary levels of 15-F(2t)-isoprostane (15-F(2t)-IsoP) and one of its major metabolites (2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-F(2t)-IsoP (15-F(2t)-IsoP-M)), two well-studied biomarkers of systemic oxidative stress, were measured using gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry for 57 deceased breast cancer patients (cases; 88% due to breast cancer) and 103 matched surviving breast cancer patients (controls) in the SBCSS with available post-cancer treatment urinary samples. Cases and controls were aged 26-70 years and were matched approximately 1:2 on age at diagnosis (+/- 1 year), stage (I-III), and year of diagnosis (2003-2004). Biomarkers were adjusted for creatinine concentrations and expressed as ng/mg of creatinine. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived from conditional logistic regression models, conditioned on age, stage, and year of diagnosis. Results: Elevated 15-F(2t)-IsoP levels, categorized based on the median level (≥1.73; Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest differing associations for 15-F(2t)-IsoP and 15-F(2t)-IsoPM with mortality among breast cancer survivors. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between 15-F(2t)-IsoP or 15-F(2t)-IsoP-M levels and breast cancer survival. Results from this pilot study require conformation in future larger studies. Citation Format: Sarah J. Nechuta, Qiuyin Cai, Ying Zheng, Ginger L. Milne, Hui Cai, Qi Dai, Gong Yang, Wei Zheng, Wei Lu, Xiao Ou Shu. Urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress and breast cancer survival among Chinese breast cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 119. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-119
Cost as a Prohibitive Factor on Effectiveness of Informational Campaigns to Reduce Dental Sealant Disparities

To the Editor: The authors of the abstract "Reducing Dental Sealant Disparities in School-aged Children Through Better Targeting of Informational Campaigns" (1) state: The lack of an association between sealant prevalence and knowledge among low-income families may reflect higher levels of public provision of sealants to this group. This suggests that informational campaigns could increase demand for sealants in both income groups. However, I fail to see how targeted informational campaigns about sealants, regardless of the efficiency or the impact, could increase demand for a service in groups that cannot afford that service.
Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic ribosomes. Distinguishing characteristics and a requirement for the homologous ribosomal saltextractable fraction for protein synthesis

1. Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic ribosomes of Euglena gracilis differ in their total RNA and protein content. 2. Mitochondrial ribosomes dissociate to subunits at higher Mg(2+) concentrations than do cytoplasmic ribosomes. 3. A separable 5S RNA is obtained from cytoplasmic and chloroplast ribosomes, but not from mitochondrial ribosomes. 4. For protein-synthesizing activity with a natural mRNA, mitochondrial ribosomes use tRNA from any cell compartment and are partly active with supernatant enzymes from cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic ribosomes are partly active with enzymes and tRNA from mitochondria or chloroplasts. 5. Both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic ribosomes show high specificity for the homologous salt-extractable ribosomal fraction for protein-synthesizing activity.
METHODS OF TIME SERIES DYNAMIC PREDICTION OF ROAD EMBANKMENT SETTLEMENT

The roadbed settlement which is influenced by many complicated factors is a dynamic and dependent process.During the filling construction of the roadbed the total settlement value could be predicted by using time series equal interval prediction model of recent information. With the addition of new deformation datum the model parameters are continuously modified. The practical settlement prediction of the abutment embankment has showed that the error between measure and one-step prediction value is mostly below 5mm of 2.3mm average error absolute value. The more prediction step is the more error is.
Application of syslog in the network management of the enterprise

Syslog is called system log or system record, syslog can manage computer system and make safety audit, in the network equipment of server, route indicator, exchanger under different system (Unix/Linux), through the system record syslog, the network administrator can master the safety situation of the system , simultaneously provides case record data for safety audit of the network.
THE ANTIMICROBIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF COTRIMOXAZOLE IN CAPO PATIENTS

Cotrimoxazole (TMP/SMX) has been used to treat continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) associated peritonitis. It is considered bactericidal for some species. The most common single organi...
Dietary Contributions to Metabolic Acidosis

What we eat alters the systemic acid–base balance in our bodies. The net balance of endogenous acids produced by metabolic processes and the intake of dietary acid or base precursors alters steady state plasma acid–base parameters (pH, PCO2, and HCO3) within the range of normal pH (7.35–7.45). This chapter presents a clinical case illustrating how dietary recommendations may provoke pathophysiologic consequences; discusses which dietary precursors affect acid or base production, and to what degree; and summarizes some of the pathophysiologic processes that can occur with differing diets that alter the net balance of systemic pH in the body.
A Novel Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone 1 (Gnrh1) Enhancer-Derived Noncoding RNA Regulates Gnrh1 Gene Expression in GnRH Neuronal Cell Models

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a neuropeptide released from a small population of neurons in the hypothalamus, is the central mediator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and is required for normal reproductive development and function. Evolutionarily conserved regulatory elements in the mouse, rat, and human Gnrh1 gene include three enhancers and the proximal promoter, which confer Gnrh1 gene expression specifically in GnRH neurons. In immortalized mouse hypothalamic GnRH (GT1-7) neurons, which show pulsatile GnRH release in culture, RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR revealed that expression of a novel long noncoding RNA at Gnrh1 enhancer 1 correlates with high levels of GnRH mRNA expression. In GT1-7 neurons, which contain a transgene carrying 3 kb of the rat Gnrh1 regulatory region, both the mouse and rat Gnrh1 enhancer-derived noncoding RNAs (GnRH-E1 RNAs) are expressed. We investigated the characteristics and function of the endogenous mouse GnRH-E1 RNA. Strand-specific RT-PCR analysis of GnRH-E1 RNA in GT1-7 cells revealed GnRH-E1 RNAs that are transcribed in the sense and antisense directions from distinct 5' start sites, are 3' polyadenylated, and are over 2 kb in length. These RNAs are localized in the nucleus and have a half-life of over 8 hours. In GT1-7 neurons, siRNA knockdown of mouse GnRH-E1 RNA resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of the Gnrh1 primary transcript and Gnrh1 mRNA. Over-expression of either the sense or antisense mouse GnRH-E1 RNA in immature, migratory GnRH (GN11) neurons, which do not express either GnRH-E1 RNA or GnRH mRNA, induced the transcriptional activity of co-transfected rat Gnrh1 gene regulatory elements, where the induction requires the presence of the rat Gnrh1 promoter. Together, these data indicate that GnRH-E1 RNA is an inducer of Gnrh1 gene expression. GnRH-E1 RNA may play an important role in the development and maturation of GnRH neurons.
189. Therapeutic Gene Transfer as a Treatment Option for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration, otherwise known as AMD, is a progressive, irreversible eye condition in which the retina is permanently damaged by either atrophy of its pigment epithelial layer (dry AMD) or abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina's membrane (wet AMD). Wet AMD, the more advanced, severe version of the disease, is induced by overexposure to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye. This VEGF-induced blood vessel growth leads to rupture and leaking of the retina's membrane, endangering the integrity of the macula, which is vital for acute central vision. Once the macula is scarred and central vision is lost, it cannot be recovered. Current treatments for wet AMD include several drugs (i.e. lucentis) that inhibit VEGF, yielding a reduction in retinal thickness and moderate increases in visual acuity. While these treatments succeed in prohibiting disease progression, they require frequent intravitreal injections. In the future, the goal is to prevent disease progression while avoiding repeated injections with the use of therapeutic gene transfer.To develop this new generation of AMD therapeutic, we sought to create an efficacious AAV vector expressing anti-VEGF antibody via systematic optimization of all vector elements. Six promoters, 12 coding sequence variants, an F2A linker, and 3 internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) were evaluated for tissue-specific expression in mouse eye. Mean expression from the 2 best promoters, UbC and CB7, was 400 and 450 ng/mg of eye lysate, respectively, compared with the CMV promoter at 10 ng/mg. In the context of a CMV promoter, mean expression for best-performing IRES (EMCV) was 2 ng/mg of tissue lysate, which was 5-fold lower than that from the construct containing an F2A linker (10 ng/mg). The best-expressing coding sequence variants, named AMD11 and AMD42, yielded 12 and 13 ng/mg of tissue lysate, respectively.In order to identify a clinical candidate vector, the best-performing elements were combined to generate 4 additional vectors, which were evaluated in both eyes of 8 rhesus macaques for each vector. Following subretinal injection with 1×1011 GC/eye, anterior chamber fluid was sampled on days 15 and 29. Among the 16 injected eyes, average expression of AAV-UbC-AMD11 was 473.6 ng/ml (ranging from 123.5 to 933 ng/ml) of anterior chamber fluid on day 15 after vector administration and 546.2 ng/ml (262 to 1263 ng/ml) on day 29. Average expression of AAV-UbC-AMD42 was 360.6 ng/ml (144.6 to 646.8 ng/ml) and 536.8 ng/ml (238.3 to 920.7 ng/ml) on days 15 and 29, respectively. For AAV-CB7-AMD11, average expression on days 15 and 29 was 972.4 ng/ml (495.9 to 1684.7 ng/ml) and 1100.3 ng/ml (422.3 to 2187.8 ng/ml). The final vector, AAV-CB7-AMD42, expressed at 1922.2 ng/ml (707.9 to 2892.7 ng/ml) on day 15 and 1396 ng/ml (431.2 to 2346.4 ng/ml) on day 29. After final selection, the clinical candidate vector will be evaluated in formal nonclinical studies prior to a clinical trial. Selection criteria will include expression levels and vector yields.
Pressure and temperature effects on fuels with varying octane sensitivity at high load in SI engines

Abstract The octane sensitivity (S), defined as the difference between the Research Octane Number (RON) and the Motor Octane Number (MON), is of increasing interest in spark ignition (SI) engines because of its relevance to knock resistance at boosted high-load conditions. In this study, a set of three fuels was designed to hold RON nearly constant (RON = 99.2–100) and to vary S (S = 0, 6.5, and 12). These fuels were operated at the knock-limited spark advance (KLSA) at nominal engine loads of 10, 15, and 20 bar indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) in a single cylinder SI engine with side-mounted direct injection fueling, at λ = 1 stoichiometry. At each load condition, the intake manifold temperature was swept from 35 °C to 95 °C to alter the temperature and pressure history of the charge. At the 10 bar IMEP condition, knock resistance was inversely proportional to S, with the S = 0 fuel being the most knock resistant. As load increased the trend reversed and knock resistance became proportional to fuel S, with the S = 12 fuel being the most knock resistant. The fuel S knock resistance reversal with load is attributed to changing fuel ignition delay. At increased load, intermediate temperature heat release (ITHR) for the S = 0 fuel was observed several crank angles prior to spark command, and ITHR magnitude was proportional to intake temperature. As intake temperature continued to increase, the S = 0 fuel transitioned from ITHR to low-temperature heat release (LTHR) prior to spark command. At the highest load and intake temperature, 20 bar IMEP and 95 °C, the S = 0 fuel exhibited distinct LTHR and negative temperature coefficient (NTC), and the intermediate S value fuel (S = 6.5) exhibited distinct ITHR behavior several crank angles prior to spark command. However, for all tested conditions, the S = 12 fuel exhibited neither ITHR nor LTHR. To understand the measured trends, chemical kinetic modeling was used to elucidate the fuel-specific dependencies on in-cylinder pressure–temperature history. An island of low temperature reactivity was identified at temperatures between 700 K and 825 K and at pressures higher than 17 bar. The size and magnitude of this island was found to be fuel-specific, decreasing with increasing S. The combined findings illustrate the commonality and utility of fuel S, ITHR, LTHR, and NTC across a wide range of conditions and the associated implications of fuel S in boosted modern gasoline direct injection SI engines relative to the RON and MON tests.
Evaluation of the safety and immunomodulatory effects of sargramostim in a randomized, double-blind phase 1 clinical Parkinson’s disease trial

A potential therapeutic role for immune transformation in Parkinson’s disease evolves from more than a decade of animal investigations demonstrating regulatory T cell (Treg) nigrostriatal neuroprotection. To bridge these results to human disease, we conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind phase 1 trial with a well-studied immune modulator, sargramostim (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor). We enrolled 17 age-matched non-Parkinsonian subjects as non-treated controls and 20 Parkinson’s disease patients. Both Parkinson’s disease patients and controls were monitored for 2 months for baseline profiling. Parkinson’s disease patients were then randomized into two equal groups to self-administer placebo (saline) or sargramostim subcutaneously at 6 μg/kg/day for 56 days. Adverse events for the sargramostim and placebo groups were 100% (10/10) and 80% (8/10), respectively. These included injection site reactions, increased total white cell counts, and upper extremity bone pain. One urticarial and one vasculitis reaction were found to be drug and benzyl alcohol related, respectively. An additional patient with a history of cerebrovascular disease suffered a stroke on study. Unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale, Part III scores in the sargramostim group showed modest improvement after 6 and 8 weeks of treatment when compared with placebo. This paralleled improved magnetoencephalography-recorded cortical motor activities and Treg numbers and function compared with pretreated Parkinson’s disease patients and non-Parkinsonian controls. Peripheral Treg transformation was linked to serum tryptophan metabolites, including L-kynurenine, quinolinic acid, and serotonin. These data offer a potential paradigm shift in modulating immune responses for potential therapeutic gain for Parkinson’s disease. Confirmation of these early study results requires larger numbers of enrolled patients and further clinical investigation. The immune system modulating drug sargramostim shows promising results in a small clinical trial with Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Previous studies have shown that sargramostim increases the number of regulatory T cells, attenuates immune responses, and confers neuroprotection in animal models of neurodegenerative disease. To determine whether these findings translate to humans, Howard E. Gendelman at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA, and colleagues examined the effects of sargramostim in 20 patients with PD. Despite the high number of mild to moderate reported adverse events, the drug was generally well tolerated and led to an increase in regulatory T cell number and activity. Moreover, preliminary assessments after 6 and 8 weeks of treatment suggested an overall improvement in the motor skills of patients that received the drug compared with those that received a placebo.
Optical characterization of chiral plasmonic nanostructures

Abstract Chiral plasmonic nanomaterials can have circular dichroism and optical rotatory dispersion effects orders of magnitude larger than those observed in ordinary chiral molecules. Understanding this fascinating class of materials has proved challenging and has motivated several research groups to develop entirely new experimental techniques for characterizing chirality driven optical properties. In this review, we first describe the classical method of circular dichroism which measures linear, far-field responses from an ensemble population. We then go on to describe several of the more recently developed methods to probe chiral nanostructures as they expand into the domains of non-linear, near-field, and single particle measurements including spatially and spectrally resolved techniques.
Re-Examining Group-Centrism in American Public Opinion: The Case of Anti-Latino Sentiment and Immigration Policy Attitudes

Empirical linkages between attitudes toward salient social groups and opinions about public policy issues are commonly taken as evidence that mass opinion is “group-centric.” That is, citizens evaluate policies based on whether favored or disfavored groups are perceived to benefit from them. We argue that this interpretation can be misleading when core values, moral precepts, or pragmatic aims influence both group attitudes and policy preferences alike. In such cases, group attitude-policy opinion linkages are at least partly spurious, and the assumption that considerations of group interest shape and structure policy attitudes may be misplaced. We illustrate this point by drawing on evidence from survey experiments embedded in two original surveys of the California and U.S. publics to examine a seemingly straightforward case of a group-centric relationship – that between non-Hispanic whites’ sentiments toward Latinos and attitudes about illegal immigration policy. We find that modest favoritism toward Europeans and Asians over Latinos reflects respondents’ preference for immigrants who contribute economically and speak English and use of Latino ethnicity as a stereotypical marker of these attributes. Moreover, strong correlations between measures of anti-Latino sentiment and immigration policy opinions emerge because hostility to illegal immigration in general taints attitudes toward Latinos as a group and fosters opposition to legalization. These findings are inconsistent with the group-centric view that whites reject liberal immigration policies because they believe they benefit Latinos. Beyond urging caution about which way the causal arrow points in group attitude-policy opinion links, these conclusions reconcile conflicting findings in the literature on prejudice and immigration policy attitudes.
“Um Casebook sobre a Humanidade”: o uso de Shakespeare por Faulkner

O texto discute as referencias a obra do dramaturgo ingles William Shakespeare presentes na obra do romancista norte-americano William Faulkner. Para tanto, utiliza-se de tres exemplos representativos, os quais sao agrupados de acordo com as seguintes categorias: 1) alusoes especificas de Faulkner as personagens e pecas de Shakespeare; 2) a presenca de um interesse comum em analogias historicas; 3) e uma enfase no tema da imortalidade da arte que perpassa as suas obras. A analise percorre diversas obras de cada um dos autores como forma de elucidacao dos tres modos de referencia estabelecidos pelos eixos mencionados anteriormente. Descobre-se que as alusoes explicitas sao mais complexas do que uma simples mencao, que o modo de apropriacao das fontes historicas na obra de cada um desses autores possui objetivos bastante afinados com a critica de seus contextos imediatos e que a tematica da imortalidade da arte vai alem de um motivo artistico, constituindo-se na ambicao mais intima de suas obras.
Were Wages That Low? Real Wages in the Strasbourg Region Before 1775

Robert Allen characterized the region of Strasbourg in France in the period before 1789 as exceptionally poor. New evidence suggests, however, that Allen underestimated wage levels because of a fai...
In vitro Explant Cultures to Interrogate Signaling Pathways that Regulate Mouse Lung Development

Early mouse lung development, including specification of primordia, patterning of early endoderm and determination of regional progenitor cell fates, is tightly regulated. The ability to culture explanted embryonic lung tissue provides a tractable model to study cellular interactions and paracrine factors that regulate these processes. We provide up-to-date protocols for the establishment of this culture model and its application to investigate hedgehog signaling in the developing lung.
Interrelationships between egg mass and adult body mass and metabolism among passerine birds

The regression of egg mass of Passeriformes against female body mass (n=1244) and basal metabolic rate of Passeriformes against body mass (n=159) have similar slopes, indicating that for this group egg mass is directly proportional to basal metabolic rate and that the relative egg mass (% of body mass) is directly proportional to the weight-specific metabolism. This relationship and the average caloric density of passerine eggs (n=38) provides an estimate of the cost of egg production, which for single eggs is 41 % of the basal metabolic rate.
Behavioral Patterns Towards Organ Donation and Transplantation in the Middle East

Background Donor availability remains the most significant problem in transplant medicine, with sociocultural mechanisms able to hinder any sustainable progress in the field. The Middle East saw its first heart transplant in Jordan in 1985, but today across the region, cadaveric organ transplant is nearly non-existent. The infrastructure is there, so a deeper look into ideological perspectives of the public may reveal how the vital therapy can thrive. Purpose To identify the Jordanian public's willingness regarding organ donation and transplantation in multiple scenarios, including personal preferences and decisions made on behalf of loved ones. Methods An anonymous survey (English and Arabic) was distributed. Participants had to provide basic demographic information and go through brief educational content explaining donation both while living and after death. Questions then spanned six categories. The first four regarding willingness to: 1) Receive an organ from living and cadaver donors; 2) Be a living donor and/or support a loved one to donate; 3) Donate after death; 4) Donate a loved one's organs after their death; next identified 5) Reasons when opting to not to donate; and 6) Previous communication among loved ones regarding wishes. Results Over 200 surveys were distributed, 124 deemed usable for analysis. Demographics showed 84% identified as Muslim, 57% were male, and over two-thirds had living first-degree relatives and held at least a bachelor's degree. Table 1 shows primary findings to major questions. It was indicated that most would be willing to donate while alive, but more likely to accept from a cadaver donor. Choices after death however indicated that although 50% were willing to donate everything, 24% were completely unwilling to allow any donation procedures. Choices when it was on behalf of loved ones were even stricter. A mere 25% allowed donation of all organs, with 56% completely against. In fact, half of the subjects who were willing to donate all of their own organs, were against any donation of their loved ones’. Not wanting to, and not knowing why were named reasons for not donating just as frequently as religious, and the majority of subjects had never discussed donation with family nor knew of wishes after death. Conclusion As advanced therapy programs continue to develop, the ability to carry out the clinical practice of organ donation and transplantation in the Middle East does not remain the most significant hurdle. To truly implement and sustain any successful program, accurate understanding and analysis of sociocultural values and subsequent investment in public health education and awareness will be vital.