cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct evidence of bacterial biofilms in otitis media.

Objectives/hypothesis Bacteriologic studies of otitis media with effusion (OME) using highly sensitive techniques of molecular biology such as the polymerase chain reaction have demonstrated that traditional culturing methods are inadequate to detect many viable bacteria present in OME. The presence of pathogens attached to the middle-ear mucosa as a bacterial biofilm, rather than as free-floating organisms in a middle-ear effusion, has previously been suggested to explain these observations. The suggestion has been speculative, however, because no visual evidence of such biofilms on middle-ear mucosa has heretofore been collected. The hypotheses motivating the current study were: 1) biofilms of nontypable Hemophilus influenzae will form on the middle-ear mucosa of chinchillas in an experimental model of OME, 2) these biofilms will exhibit changes in density or structure over time, and 3) biofilms are also present on tympanostomy tubes in children with refractory post-tympanostomy otorrhea. The objective of this study was to collect visual evidence of the formation of bacterial biofilms in these situations. Study design Laboratory study of bacteriology in an animal model and on medical devices removed from pediatric patients. Methods Experimental otitis media was induced in chinchillas by transbullar injection of nontypable H. influenzae. Animals were killed in a time series and the surface of the middle-ear mucosa was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the presence of bacterial biofilms. Adult and fetal chinchilla uninfected controls were similarly examined for comparison. In addition, tympanostomy tubes that had been placed in children's ears to treat OME and removed after onset of refractory otorrhea or other problems were examined by SEM and by confocal scanning laser microscopy for bacterial biofilms, and compared with unused control tubes. Results Bacterial biofilms were visually detected by SEM on the middle-ear mucosa of multiple chinchillas in which H. influenzae otitis media had been induced. Qualitative evaluation indicated that the density and thickness of the biofilm might increase until at least 96 hours after injection. The appearance of the middle-ear mucosa of experimental animals contrasted with that of uninjected control animals. Robust bacterial biofilms were also visually detected on tympanostomy tubes removed from children's ears for clinical reasons, in contrast with unused control tubes. Conclusions Bacterial biofilms form on the middle-ear mucosa of chinchillas in experimentally induced H. influenzae otitis media and can form on tympanostomy tubes placed in children's ears. Such biofilms can be directly observed by microscopy. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the bacterial aggregates called biofilms, resistant to treatment by antibiotics and to detection by standard culture techniques, may play a major etiologic role in OME and in one of its frequent complications, post-tympanostomy otorrhea.
An Adaptive Cartesian Mesh Algorithm for the Euler Equations in Arbitrary Geometries

We present a Cartesian mesh algorithm with adaptive refinement to compute flows around arbitrary geometries. Cartesian meshes have been less popular than unstructured or body-fitted meshes because of several technical difficulties. We present an approach that resolves many of these problems. Cartesian meshes have the advantage of allowing the use of high resolution methods that are difficult to develop on unstructured grids. They also allow for efficient implementation on vector computers without using gather-scatter operations except at boundary cells. Some preliminary computational results using lower order boundary conditions are presented.
Zebrafish RNase T2 genes and the Evolution of Secretory Ribonucleases in Animals

Members of the Ribonuclease (RNase) T2 family are common models for enzymological studies, and their evolution has been well characterized in plants. This family of acidic RNases is widespread, with members in almost all organisms including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and even some viruses. While several biological functions have been proposed for these enzymes in plants, their role in animals is unknown. Interestingly, in vertebrates most of the biological roles of plant RNase T2 proteins are carried out by members of a different family, RNase A. Still, RNase T2 proteins are conserved in these animals As a first step to shed light on the role of animal RNase T2 enzymes, and to understand the evolution of these proteins while co-existing with the RNase A family, we characterized RNase Dre1 and RNase Dre2, the two RNase T2 genes present in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) genome. These genes are expressed in most tissues examined, including high expression in all stages of embryonic development, and their expression corresponds well with the presence of acidic RNase activities in every tissue analyzed. Embryo expression seems to be a conserved characteristic of members of this family, as other plant and animal RNase T2 genes show similar high expression during embryo development. While plant RNase T2 proteins and the vertebrate RNase A family show evidences of radiation and gene sorting, vertebrate RNase T2 proteins form a monophyletic group, but there is also another monophyletic group defining a fish-specific RNase T2 clade. Based on gene expression and phylogenetic analyses we propose that RNase T2 enzymes carry out a housekeeping function. This conserved biological role probably kept RNase T2 enzymes in animal genomes in spite of the presence of RNases A. A hypothetical role during embryo development is also discussed.
Phase compensation in interferometric fiber-optic sensors

A new method of keeping interferometric fiber-optic sensor systems in quadrature by tuning the emission frequency of the laser-diode source is described. The compensation scheme has a better than 10−5-rad sensitivity and a usable tracking range.
SpS1-Measuring magnetic fields on young stars

T Tauri stars (TTSs) are young (~few Myr) late type stars that have only recently emerged from their natal molecular cloud material to become visible at optical wavelengths. It is now generally accepted that accretion of circumstellar disk material onto the surface of a TTS is controlled by a strong stellar magnetic field (e.g. see review by Bouvier et al . 2007). The stellar field appears critical for explaining the rotational properties of TTSs (Bouvier et al . 2007, Herbst et al . 2007) and may also play a critical role in driving the outflows seen from many of these sources (e.g. Shang et al . 2007, Mohanty & Shu 2008). As a result, there is a great deal of interest in measuring the magnetic field properties of TTSs (e.g. Johns–Krull 2007, Donati et al . 2008). In particular, disk locking theories predict that an equilibrium is established where the disk is trunctated at or close to corotation and the stellar rotation rate depends only on the (assumed) dipolar magnetic field strength, the stellar mass, radius, and the mass accretion rate in the disk (see Bouvier et al . 2007).
Macrostructure and mechanical behavior of fibers of poly‐p‐phenylene benzobisthiazole

Morphology and tensile behavior of wet-spun fibers of poly-p-phenylene benzobisthiazole have been investigated. The as-spun fibers contain a large number of voids, which result in void-localized tensile failure. The stress–strain behavior is elastic–plastic with strain hardening. This behavior is shown to be the result of residual stresses which arise during the wet-spinning process.
The Effect of Pelvic Tilt on Radiographic Markers of Acetabular Coverage

Background:Radiographic indices of acetabular coverage are crucial to objectively characterize femoroacetabular impingement and plan bony decompression. It is established that changes in pelvic inclination result in alterations of acetabular crossover; however, it is unclear what influence this has on other measures of acetabular anatomy.Hypothesis:The objective of the present study was to determine if, and to what degree, a variation in pelvic tilt alters 4 measures of acetabular anatomy: the angle of Sharp, Tonnis angle, percentage of acetabular crossover, and lateral center edge angle (LCEA). The hypothesis was that pelvic tilt would significantly alter all measures of acetabular coverage.Study Design:Descriptive laboratory study.Methods:Fluoroscopic images of 8 adult hemipelvises were obtained at 7 positions of rotation in the sagittal plane to investigate the change of each measurement in response to pelvic orientation. Two reviewers obtained measurements from each image at 2 separate time points.Res...
Constructing Masculinity through Penetration Discourse: The Intersection of Misogyny and Homophobia in High School Wrestling:

Drawing from ethnographic data, this article analyzes how the ‘‘fag’’ identity and the epithet ‘‘pussy’’ relate to high school wrestlers’ constructions of masculinity. Empirically, this research illuminates two dynamics: (1) how wrestlers achieve normative masculinity by symbolically framing sexual relations as acts of domination and (2) the way in which wrestlers’ use of ‘‘pussy’’ parallels how other adolescents typically deploy the epithet ‘‘fag.’’ The article introduces the concept of ‘‘penetration discourse’’ to highlight how these linguistic and corporeal aspects of wrestlers’ masculinity interconnect with misogyny and homophobia.
Possible observation of a defect resonance in DNA.

A sharp feature is observed at about 600 MHz in the inelastic scattered light spectrum of fibers of calf thymus DNA. It broadens so as to be no longer distinctly resolved when the ordering of a fiber is disrupted by convection caused by laser heating. To within experimental uncertainties the frequency of this feature is wavevector independent. A possible origin of the feature lies in a defect resonance such as that associated with the chain terminus.
Career Subjectivities in U.S. Anthropology: Gender, Practice, and Resistance

ABSTRACT This article explores shifts in anthropological career opportunities and subjectivities in the United States since World War II. Survey and interview data reveal a lively discourse surrounding the changing job market in which practicing anthropology outside of the academy is often identified as a secondary occupational choice. We argue that the nonacademic practitioner's subjectivity is defined in contrast to (and by) academically based anthropologists and the long-standing, but often implicit, hierarchy of universities and programs. Typically, the nonacademic “other” is further marginalized by his or her gender and racial-ethnic minority status. However, we find evidence of a “sea change” within the discipline, led by nonuniversity-based practitioners and a subset of departments (often with a commitment to applied anthropology), that produces and links practitioners with students and faculty in their programs.
Ovocleidin (OC 116) Is Present in Avian Skeletal Tissues

Ovocleidin (OC-116), a protein identified in eggshell matrix, was found to be expressed in avian growth plate chondrocytes. Because OC-116 has been reported to be a member of a family of related phosphoprotein genes clustered on avian chromosome 4, we expanded our search to other skeletal tissues. Using Western blotting, we found OC-116 in the matrix of chick cortical bone and laying hen medullary bone as well as in hypertrophic chondrocyte lysates. Furthermore, other members of this family (bone sialoprotein, dental matrix protein-1, and osteopontin) were also present in the eggshell matrix. Reverse transcription-PCR was used to confirm the presence of the OC-116 gene in bone tissues as well as the expression of bone sialoprotein and dental matrix protein-1 in uterine tissue. These results, in combination with those of other laboratories, show that this family of phosphoproteins is found in a wide variety of avian mineralized tissues.
Quantification and classification of locomotion patterns by spatio-temporal morphable models

Morphable models have been applied successfully in the context of computer vision and computer graphics for the representation of classes of stationary images. We develop a similar technique for the representation of classes of complex movements that we call space-time morphable models. This technique permits one to approximate new complex movement patterns by linear combinations of few learned prototypical example patterns. The weights of the linear-combination provide a low-dimensional description of the patterns that can be exploited for the classification of the underlying actions, and also for the estimation of continuous parameters that quantify characteristic properties of the movement. (Examples are the direction of locomotion and the style with which a certain movement is executed.) We demonstrate the applicability of the technique for the classification and quantification of properties of locomotion patterns. Several possible applications of space-time morphable models in the context computer vision and surveillance are discussed.
Responses of output in Poland to shocks to the exchange rate, the stock price, and other macroeconomic variables: a VAR model

A general equilibrium model is specified to examine possible impacts of real or nominal depreciation, stock market movements, and changes in other macroeconomic variables on real output for Poland. The VAR model is applied in empirical work. Real depreciation is contractionary in the first quarter, expansionary in the second quarter, and neutral thereafter, and nominal depreciation is contractionary in the first quarter and neutral thereafter. Real output does not respond significantly to stock market movements or the government deficit spending/GDP ratio.
Conserved sequence and structure association motifs in antibody-protein and antibody-hapten complexes.

Inthispaper,wepresenttheassociationrequirementsacross a wide variety of antibody–antigen complexes. Phylogenetic analysis clearly indicates the representative nature of our structural dataset. Antigen molecules range from smallmolecule haptens to complete protein structures. Common association motifs identified include five conserved tyrosine residuesandasingleconservedarginineresiduefrom CDRH3. Further, specificity is refined by a diverse array of antibody–antigen electrostatic interactions that maximize complex specificity. Through analysis of calculated pKa shifts on antigen binding, we find that these interactions are conserved at 23 alignment ‘hot-spot’ positions. Despite consistent roles in defining substrate specificity, 16hot-spotpositionsareconservedlessthan50%ofthetime. On the other hand, because of the conserved functional role of these positions, mutant screening at hot-spots is more likely to result in increased antigen specificity than elsewhere. Therefore, we believe these results should facilitate subsequent antibody design experimentation.
Exercise and Thyroid Function

Thyroid hormone receptors are present in virtually every tissue in the body, thereby permitting an important physiologic role for the thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
The Chef In Society: Origins And Development

In his discourse The Chef In Society: Origins And Development Marcel R. Escoffier, Graduate Student, School of Hospitality Management at Florida International University, initially offers: “The role of the modern professional chef has its origins in ancient Greece. The author traces that history and looks at the evolution of the executive chef as a manager and administrator.” “Chefs, as tradespersons, can trace their origins to ancient Greece,” the author offers with citation. “Most were slaves...” he also informs you. Even at that low estate in life, the chef was master of the slaves and servants who were at close hand in the environment in which they worked. “In Athens, a cook was the master of all the household slaves...” says
Unc93b induces apoptotic cell death and is cleaved by host and enteroviral proteases

Unc93b is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident transmembrane protein that serves to bind and traffic toll-like receptors (TLRs) from the ER to their appropriate subcellular locations for ligand sensing. Because of its role in TLR trafficking, Unc93b is necessary for an effective innate immune response to coxsackievirus B3 (CVB), a positive-sense single stranded RNA virus belonging to the enterovirus family. Here, we show that Unc93b is cleaved by a CVB-encoded cysteine protease (3Cpro) during viral replication. Further, we define a role for Unc93b in the induction of apoptotic cell death and show that expression of wild-type Unc93b, but not a mutant incapable of binding TLRs or exiting the ER (H412R), induces apoptosis. Furthermore, we show that cellular caspases activated during apoptosis directly cleave Unc93b. Interestingly, we show that the 3Cpro- and caspase-mediated cleavage of Unc93b both occur within ten amino acids in the distal N-terminus of Unc93b. Mechanistically, neither caspase-mediated nor 3Cpro-mediated cleavage of Unc93b altered its trafficking function, inhibited its role in facilitating TLR3 or TLR8 signaling, or altered its apoptosis-inducing effects. Taken together, our studies show that Unc93b is targeted by both viral- and host cell-specific proteases and identify a function of Unc93b in the induction of apoptotic cell death.
Facilitation at the Lobster Neuromuscular Junction: A Stimulus-Dependent Mobilization Model

Worden, Mary Kate, Maria Bykhovskaia, and John T. Hackett. Facilitation at the lobster neuromuscular junction: a stimulus-dependent mobilization model. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 417–428, 1997. Frequency facilitation is a process whereby neurosecretion increases as a function of stimulation frequency during repetitive synaptic activity. To examine the physiological basis underlying facilitation, we have estimated the frequency dependence of the synaptic parameters n (number of units capable of responding to a nerve impulse) and P (average probability of responding) at the lobster neuromuscular junction. Both n and P increase as a function of frequency, suggesting that the efficiency of quantal docking and quantal fusion is regulated by repetitive synaptic activity. In experiments in which facilitation is strong and quantal content does not saturate over the frequency range tested, the value of P saturates at low frequencies of stimulation, and increases in quantal content at higher frequencies of stimulation ar...
Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Two Patients with Systemic Sclerosis

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most common extracutaneous organ system damaged in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and is the presenting feature in 10% of patients. The esophagus as the portion of the GIT is the most commonly affected and there is an association of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) with SSc interstitial lung disease (ILD). Thus, an aggressive treatment for GER is recommended in all SSc patients with ILD; however, it is recognized that a long-term benefit to this treatment is needed to understand its impact. In this case report we discuss the presence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in two SSc patients and discuss the role for early EGD in SSc patients with moderate-severe GER symptoms for tissue study. Assessment of esophageal biopsy specimens for the presence of eosinophils and possibly ANA can help elucidate disease pathogenesis and direct therapy, as the presence of EoE in SSc has important management considerations, particularly with regards to dietary modification strategies.
BURDEN OF PSYCHOSOCIAL AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH SYMPTOMATIC ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Impaired mood and cognition are associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, how often these conditions co-occur has not been examined. We describe the burden of psychosocial (PS) and cognitive impairments in symptomatic patients with AF. 218
catena-Poly[zinc-tris-(μ-dimethyl-carbamato-κO:O')-zinc-μ-(2-phenyl-benzimidazolido-κN:N'].

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Zn2(C13H9N2)(C3H6NO2)3]n, displays a long chiral chain. This is composed of zinc-dimer clusters capped by dimethyl­carbamate ligands, which lie on crystallographic twofold rotation axes and are polymerically linked in one dimension by 2-phenyl­benzimidadole (2–PBImi) organic ligands. The two Zn2+ ions defining the dimetal cluster are crystallographically independent, but display very similar coordination modes and tetra­hedral geometry. As such, each Zn2+ ion is coordinated on one side by the N-donor imidazole linker, while the other three available coordination sites are fully occupied by the O atoms from the capping dimethyl­carbamates. The chirality of the chain extends along the c axis, generating a rather long 52.470 (11) A cell axis. Inter­estingly, the chiral material crystallizes from completely achiral precursors. A twofold axis and 31 screw axis serve to generate the long asymmetric unit.
Mass Communication Research in Sustainability Science: Moving Toward an Engaged Approach to Address Society’s Sustainability Dilemma

Mass communication scholarship provides invaluable insight into how discursive trends in media reflect, produce, and obscure society’s most pressing sustainability issues, yet too often this research falls short of creating action, interventions, or change. In this article, we argue that mass communication should be considered a cornerstone discipline for sustainability science research, particularly within transdisiciplinary sustainability science teams. We contend that mass communication researchers can advance sustainability efforts by moving toward a more engaged approach. In an effort to support scholars’ transition to such engagement, we consider how traditional mass communication theories can add value to action-oriented transdisciplinary sustainability science efforts and provide examples of engaged, transdisciplinary mass communication scholarship.
Submicrometer-Linewidth Laser Doping

Dopant patterns of 250-nm linewidth have been written in silicon by localized heating with a cw laser beam, and then transferred into positive and negative surface-relief patterns by preferential etching. The tightly focused beam both generates free dopant atoms and simultaneously promotes solid-state diffusion into the substrate. Because of the nonlinear dependence of diffusion rates on temperature, the linewidths of the patterns are substantially narrower than those of both the temperature and the laser-beam profiles on tile surface. In addition, an enhancement is observed in diffusion rates under the strong thermal gradients associated with highly localized heating.
ASDL: The Analytical Sciences Digital Library Taking the Next Steps

The Analytical Sciences Digital Library (ASDL) is a peer-reviewed Website created by, and for, analytical chemists as part of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL) and supported by National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. This digital library project has grown and evolved since its creation just a few years ago, and a second phase is now under way that includes Website evaluation, usability testing, and the peer review, and publication of articles. The addition of new members to the ASDL Advisory Board, and evaluation team in 2004 was designed to help broaden outreach for the site, to determine user experiences and expectations, and to identify improvements to the site based on user testing. This portion of the ASDL is sponsored by two NSF grants, DUE-0435327 and DUE-0435422 titled, “Collaborative Projects: Assessing the User-base and Expanding the Usability/Reach of the Analytical Sciences Digital Library through Developmental Workshops.”
Drone Class: Keeping Coursework Current as Technology Advances

ABSTRACTToday’s students prioritize employment; they want to be sure that there will be work for them upon graduation. Film and media students, in particular, need a long list of computer software and film equipment skills on their resumes, especially newer technologies that professionals in the workforce have not yet mastered. Consider, in this regard, the development of aerial photography, a staple of conventional filming. Just as students can elect to specialize in camera technology or motion graphics, they may soon choose to hone their drone operator skills. Colleges with an emphasis on ensuring viable employment for graduates would be wise to offer drone training for all types of students, from engineering and robotics, to agriculture and aid work. They need to choose the training that will truly best serve their students.
Extraction Process Optimization of Kundan Capsules by Orthogonal Design

Objective: Optimizing the extract process for Kundan capsule.Method: The content of 5,7-Dimethoxycoumarin,butenolideⅠand butenolide Ⅲin the extract was the index,and the concentration was determined by HPLC.The concentration of number of times,extract time,alcohol,and extraction solvent were considered.The orthogonal test was used for optimization.Result: The optimum extract process was:8 times as much 75% alcohol extracted 0.5 h,the extract number of times were three times.Conclusion: The optimum process provides a high yield for both three components,and easy to carry out.
Analysis of Childhood Immunization Information Management System in He'nan

OBJECTIVE To understand and evaluate current status of Childhood Immunization Information Management System in He'nan and provide evidence for health administration in formulating related policies.METHOD Provincial platform was used to analyze the childhood immunization information management system.RESULTS The information technology client had been covering all provincial cities and counties of He'nan,2 802 out of 2 819 vaccination units had uploaded their data to provincial platform,5 days,10 days and20 days upload rate were 79.00%,92.52%and 93.71%respectively.12 198 713 children's immunization information had been created on information platform by Dec 31,2012,including 11 765 503 local resident children,123 963 foreign resident children and 309 247migrant children.Until Dec 31,2012,a total of 273 891 children had been repeated on the province's information technology platform,accounting for 2.26%of all children.Platform staistics showed that the province's vaccination unit backup rates was 96.38%,the 5 days in time backup rate was 62.58%,the 10 days in time backup rate was 87.80%and the 15 days in time backup rate was 93.19%.CONCLUSION Childhood immunization information management system in He'nan well running,but there are still many problems,which needs to strengthen the construction,increase the training of personnel and establish practical monitoring and evaluation system.
Summarization via Pattern Utility and Ranking: A Novel Framework for Social Media Data Analytics.

The firehose of data generated by users on social networking and microblogging sites such as Facebook and Twitter is enormous. The data can be classified into two categories: the textual content written by the users and the topological structure of the connections among users. Real-time analytics on such data is challenging with most current efforts largely focusing on the efficient querying and retrieval of data produced recently. In this article, we present a dynamic pattern driven approach to summarize social network content and topology. The resulting family of algorithms relies on the common principles of summarization via pattern utilities and ranking (SPUR). SPUR and its dynamic variant (D-SPUR) relies on an in-memory summary while retaining sufficient information to facilitate a range of user-specific and topic-specific temporal analytics. We then follow up by describing variants that take the implicit graph of connections into account to realize the Graph-based SPUR variant (G-SPUR). Finally we describe scalable algorithms for implementing these ideas on a commercial GPU-based systems. We examine the effectiveness of the summarization approaches along the axes of storage cost, query accuracy, and efficiency using real data from Twitter.
Dynamic Mathematical Model Framework of Complex Utility and Logistics System Interactions using Object-Oriented Approach for Forward Operating Bases

AbstractForward operating bases are temporary military contingency bases established to support and facilitate tactical operations on foreign soil. Operational and logistical inefficiencies, excessive resource demands, and increased costs are some of the issues caused by poor initial planning of contingency bases. In this article, a modeling method is introduced to increase planning capabilities for base camps using an object-oriented approach. The model addresses issues faced by the Department of Defense related to unexpected second-, third-, and higher-order effects observed on base camps, determined to be caused by the interactions between the base camp utility systems. The model is based on a coupled mathematical system of equations that captures the relationships between various base camp subsystems and their respective inputs and outputs. Subsystems are objectified and their various inputs and outputs are parameterized to solve the system of equations simultaneously each time there is a change in ba...
Facilitating situation assessment through gir with multi-scale open source web documents

In this paper, we present our preliminary work on a Geographic Information Retrieval (GIR) system that utilizes loosely coupled web services and Google Earth™(GE) to retrieve, extract, combine, and visualize situation information from multi-scale, open source web documents. Our intent with this work is to support situation assessment in the crisis management domain through tools that link and geographically contextualize information contained in text documents retrieved from multiple sources. In particular, our present work focuses on combining two data sources - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Situation Updates and Google News"™.
Bioavailability of threonine in soybean meal for young pigs.

The bioavailability of threonine in solvent-extracted soybean meal for 10- to 20-kg pigs was determined using the slope-ratio method. In Exp. 1, the assay range was determined by feeding six diets to 144 pigs. The basal diet (.40% threonine) contained corn, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal. Five additional diets were formulated by supplementing the basal diet with .05 to .25% crystalline L-threonine in .05% increments. Weight gain, gain/feed, and plasma concentrations of threonine and urea responded quadratically (P .10). The slope ratio for soybean meal:L-threonine was .80. Although the difference between the soybean meal and L-threonine slopes was not significant (P > .23), the best estimate of the bioavailability of threonine in soybean meal relative to that of L-threonine was 80%.
Changes in Hormone and Metabolite Concentrations in the Blood of Cows During the Experimental Induction of Ketosis

SUMMARY Seventeen dairy cows were fed on a ration with a high protein to carbohydrate ratio from 8 weeks before parturition into early lactation. After parturition when the daily milk yields reached a maximum the cows were given four daily intramuscular injections of 25mg L-thyroxine. Blood samples were collected for the assay of glucose, acetoacetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, corticosteroids and insulin. Milk yields were recorded throughout the experiment. It was only possible to induce ketosis in six cows with blood concentrations of 3-hydroxybutyrate which were above normal before administration of thyroxine.
MCM4 and MCM7, potential novel proliferation markers, significantly correlated with Ki-67, Bmi1, and cyclin E expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and precancerous lesions

Minichromosomal maintenance (MCM) proteins are participants of DNA replication and may represent more accurate markers in determining the proliferative fraction within a tumor than proliferative marker Ki-67. Our study investigated the correlation between MCM4 and MCM7 expression and Ki-67, Bmi1, and cyclin E expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and precancerous lesions. MCM4 and MCM7 expression had similar distribution as Ki-67 and Bmi1 expression in esophageal carcinoma and precancerous lesions. The mean percentage of MCM4, MCM7, and Ki-67 expression increased from squamous epithelium (5.5%, 7.3%, and 5.9%, respectively), to columnar cell metaplasia (11.2, 13.5%, and 3.4%), Barrett's esophagus (27.7%, 35.3%, and 8.3%), low-grade dysplasia (42.6%, 52.2%, and 12.9%), high-grade dysplasia (63.2%, 77.7%, and 29.6%), adenocarcinoma (61.3%, 75.5%, and 24.5%), and squamous cell carcinoma (74.1, 85.4%, and 36.3%). The percentages of MCM4 and MCM7 expression were significantly higher than Ki-67 expression. Using univariate analysis we found a high percentage of MCM4 expression (>70%) to be significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and shorter survival in the adenocarcinoma group. We also demonstrated the percentage of MCM4 and MCM7 expression to be significantly correlated with Ki-67, Bmi1, and cyclin E expression in esophageal carcinoma and precancerous lesions. MCM4 and MCM7 may serve as more sensitive proliferative markers for the evaluation of esophageal lesions.
‘To them that hath…’. News media and knowledge gaps

Scholars continue to debate what citizens know about politics, whether ordinary people lack the capacity to make rational and informed choices in a democracy, and what voters learn from election campaigns. One common prism to understand these issues focuses upon the role of ‘knowledge gaps’, suggesting that any adult learning from the media will be strongly conditioned by prior levels of formal education. An alternative theory suggests that lifetime learning occurs, so that adult use of the news media has the capacity to shrink any information gaps arising from early schooling. Dozens of studies have examined the individual-level factors associated with political knowledge among citizens, including the role of fixed characteristics such as sex and race, and of slowly changing factors such as education and income. Cross-national research is important, however, as the broader context of information environments is expected to play a vital role in shaping political learning; with smaller knowledge gaps predicted in more cosmopolitan societies, where communications flows easily across and within national borders. To explore these issues, this study compares European citizens to investigate whether the size and distribution of any knowledge gaps are affected by individual-level education and media use and also by societal-level processes of cosmopolitan communications. The study utilizes the European Parliament Election Study 2009 survey, monitoring individual level news use and civic knowledge. Societies are classified by the cosmopolitan characteristics of media landscapes in European countries, using the Norris and Inglehart (2009) Cosmopolitan Communications Index. The conclusion considers the implications of the results for understanding processes of political learning within European societies.
Therapy of Rheumatic Diseases

This session on the therapy of rheumatic diseases as it relates to essential metals is extremely important, because it may provide ample justification to the main theme of this symposium.
Effects of the combination of metyrapone and oxazepam on cocaine-induced increases in corticosterone in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens.

Abstract We have previously demonstrated that a combination of drugs (i.e., metyrapone and oxazepam) known to attenuate HPA-axis activity effectively decreases cocaine self-administration and cue reactivity in rats. However, we did not find changes in plasma corticosterone that matched the behavioral effects we observed, indicating that a different mechanism of action must be involved. Therefore, we hypothesized that the combination of metyrapone and oxazepam attenuates cocaine taking and seeking by decreasing cocaine-induced increases in corticosterone in the brain. Male rats were implanted with guide cannulae targeting the medial prefrontal cortex or nucleus accumbens. After the rats recovered from surgery, the microdialysis session was conducted. Rats were housed in the experimental chamber and the dialysis probes inserted into the guide cannulae the night before the session. The following day, dialysate samples were collected over a five-hour session. Baseline samples were collected for the first two hours, every 20 min. Samples were then collected following administration of cocaine (15 mg/kg, ip). Before injections of cocaine, rats were pretreated with either vehicle or the combination of metyrapone (50 mg/kg, ip) and oxazepam (10 mg/kg, ip). The administration of cocaine resulted in an increase in corticosterone in the medial prefrontal cortex following vehicle pretreatment, which was not observed in the nucleus accumbens. This cocaine-induced increase in corticosterone was attenuated by metyrapone/oxazepam. Reducing cocaine-induced increases in corticosterone in the medial prefrontal cortex might represent a novel mechanism through which the combination of metyrapone/oxazepam produces its behavioral effects.
Combining Rh-Catalyzed Diazocoupling and Enzymatic Reduction To Efficiently Synthesize Enantioenriched 2-Substituted Succinate Derivatives

We report the development of a modular, one-pot, sequential chemoenzymatic system for the formal enantioselective construction of the C–C bond in 2-aryl 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds. This sequence comprises a rhodium-catalyzed diazocoupling that provides >9:1 selectivity for heterocoupling of two diazoesters and a reduction mediated by an ene-reductase (ER), which occurs in up to 99% enantiomeric excess (ee). The high yield and enantioselectivity of this system result from the preferential generation of an (E)-alkene from the diazo coupling reaction and selective reduction of the (E)-alkene in a mixture of (E) and (Z) isomers by the ER. Screening of a panel of ERs revealed that OPR1 from Lycopersicum esculentum catalyzes the reduction of bulky tert-butyl or benzyl esters to afford chiral diesters that are poised for orthogonal reactions at the two distinct ester units of the product. Overall, this work demonstrates the benefit of combining organometallic and enzymatic catalysis to create unusual overall trans...
On the Likelihood of God's Existence: An Econometric Perspective

This paper derives the measure of likelihood associated with the hypothesis of God's existence. God is defined as an omnipotent, omniscient being. These words are given econometric definitions. The probability of an event is decomposed into its rationality (a measure of subjective preference) and nomicity (a measure of subjective influence). The likelihood of an event is thus a convolution of rationality and nomicity, as a function of the data. The existence of God is thus represented as the state of perfect rationality (omniscience) and perfect nomicity (omnipotence). It is shown that this is the maximum likelihood model for any data set. Hence, the most statistically sound explanation of behavior is "God wanted it that way." However, the ultimate purpose of econometrics is not explanation or prediction, it is to increase the utility of the agent using the analysis. As such, the theory that God causes all behavior may not be economically useful, and is put aside for other theories/models with less likelihood but greater nomic value. The implications for the neoclassical approach to methodology are also considered.
When environmental factors become stressors: interactive effects of vermetid gastropods and sedimentation on corals.

Environmental stressors often interact, but most studies of multiple stressors have focused on combinations of abiotic stressors. Here we examined the potential interaction between a biotic stressor, the vermetid snail Ceraesignum maximum , and an abiotic stressor, high sedimentation, on the growth of reef-building corals. In a field experiment, we subjected juvenile massive Porites corals to four treatments: (i) neither stressor, (ii) sedimentation, (iii) vermetids or (iv) both stressors. Unexpectedly, we found no effect of either stressor in isolation, but a significant decrease in coral growth in the presence of both stressors. Additionally, seven times more sediment remained on corals in the presence (versus absence) of vermetids, likely owing to adhesion of sediments to corals via vermetid mucus. Thus, vermetid snails and high sedimentation can interact to drive deleterious effects on reef-building corals. More generally, our study illustrates that environmental factors can combine to have negative interactive effects even when individual effects are not detectable. Such ‘ecological surprises9 may be easily overlooked, leading to environmental degradation that cannot be anticipated through the study of isolated factors.
Contemporary outcomes of surgical revascularization of the lower extremity in patients on dialysis

Abstract Objective Peripheral arterial disease is a common comorbidity found in up to 38% of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). With an increase in the survival rate of patients with ESRD by >25%, there is a lack of contemporary data on the safety of open surgical revascularization of the lower extremity (OSRLE) in this population of patients. We sought to identify the perioperative morbidity and mortality and independent risk factors of mortality in dialysis patients undergoing OSRLE. Methods We reviewed data from 34,941 patients who underwent OSRLE from January 2011 to December 2014 at all hospitals in North America participating in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Trauma, emergencies, aneurysms, and endovascular cases were excluded. We compared the 30-day outcomes of 1623 patients on dialysis with those of 33,318 patients not on dialysis. Results Patients on dialysis were younger (66.0 vs 66.7; P P P P P P P = .56) between the two study groups, major amputation rate was threefold higher in dialysis patients (1.7% vs 0.57%; P P P P P Conclusions With improvements in the medical care of ESRD patients resulting in a large increase in survival rates, little is known about how dialysis patients fare after OSRLE in the contemporary period. Our study shows that despite advances in the medical management of dialysis patients, improvements in outcomes after revascularization have not yet been realized. We found that specific clinical and procedural factors increase the risk for inferior results. Careful selection of dialysis patients suitable for OSRLE according to these risk factors may improve the management of this still high-risk vascular population.
The effect of an electronic health record–based tool on abnormal pediatric blood pressure recognition

Background Recognition of high blood pressure (BP) in children is poor, partly due to the need to compute age-sex-height referenced percentiles. This study examined the change in abnormal BP recognition before versus after the introduction of an electronic health record (EHR) app designed to calculate BP percentiles with a training lecture. Methods and results Clinical data were extracted on all ambulatory, non-urgent encounters for children 3–18 years old seen in primary care, endocrinology, cardiology, or nephrology clinics at an urban, academic hospital in the year before and the year after app introduction. Outpatients with at least 1 BP above the age-gender-height referenced 90th percentile were included. Abnormal BP recognition was defined as a BP related ICD-9 code, referral to nephrology or cardiology, an echocardiogram or renal ultrasound to evaluate BP concern, or a follow-up primary care visit for BP monitoring. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression compared odds of recognition before and after app introduction. Of 78 768 clinical encounters, 3521 had abnormal BP in the pre- and 3358 in the post-app period. App use occurred in 13% of elevated BP visits. Overall, abnormal BP was recognized in 4.9% pre-app period visits and 7.1% of visits post-app (P < .0001). Recognition was significantly higher when the app was actually used (adjusted OR 3.17 95% CI 2.29–4.41, P < .001). Without app use recognition was not different. Conclusions BP app advent modestly increased abnormal BP recognition in the entire cohort, but actual app use was associated with significantly higher recognition. Predictors of abnormal BP recognition deserve further scrutiny.
Teaching Earth Smarts: Equipping the Next Generation with the Capacity to Adapt

What if we could equip the next generation with the capacity to adapt to a changing world? Isn’t it our responsibility to give them the ability to face local and global environmental challenges and improve, or at least maintain, the quality of life that many of us presently enjoy? Communities will need the ability to quickly and effectively adapt, or risk diminished lives or even collapse. This chapter will suggest that education should be about giving our kids “earth smarts,” a kind of street smarts writ large. Earth smarts is an educational construct, a tool that can help policymakers, educators, and researchers. Synthesized from a wide range of research and thought on environmental literacy and related concepts, it highlights our considerable capacity to meet challenges and will be a useful tool for anyone who believes that education can play a crucial role in preparing individuals and communities to creatively and justly adapt to environmental challenges. Freely available in a variety of formats, earth smarts was designed to be open, flexible, and practical – policymakers, researchers, and educators from around the world are encouraged to shape it to their own cultural and environmental contexts.
The structural basis of molecular genetic deletions: An integration of classical cytogenetic and molecular analyses in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Molecular genetic alterations are known to be important in human carcinoma, but the structural basis of these changes is largely unknown. To examine the basis of these changes, we compared the karyotypic chromosomal abnormalities of primary pancreatic adenocarcinomas with the molecular changes identified in these same cancers. In 14 cancers with abnormal karyotypes, 65% (123 of 188) of the chromosomal arms with molecular loss of heterozygosity (LOH) were associated with karyotypic structural anomalies. Karyotypic changes accounting for these molecular allelic losses included 83 chromosome losses, 18 partial deletions, nine isochromosomes, eight additions, and five translocations. Eight bomozygous deletions were also identified by molecular analyses. Of the three homozygous deletions identified at 9p21, the only karyotypic change was a single case in which one entire copy of chromosome 9 was deleted. Of the four homozygous deletions identified at 18q21.1, one showed a loss of both copies of chromosome 18, two showed a loss of one copy of chromosome 18, and the fourth had two structurally normal copies of chromosome 18. One homozygous deletion was identified at 13q12.3, and the karyotype revealed the loss of one entire copy of chromosome 13. The second copy of chromosome 13 in this carcinoma was structurally normal. These results indicate that chromosomal structural anomalies can account for two-thirds of the LOH in pancreatic adenocarcinomas and that most homozygous deletions are likely to be interstitial chromosomal deletions that are below the detection limit of conventional karyotypic analyses. Some of the molecular deletions detected as LOH on chromosomes with karyotypically normal structure can be explained by chromosomal loss with reduplication of the remaining chromosome.
Constitutional Rights and Ascertaining Their Original Meaning

There is a difference between the free exercise of religion as a fact (being free from any constraint or restraint on what a person wants to do), a moral right (being free from unnecessary or illegitimate constraints or restraints), and a constitutional right (being free from laws unauthorized or prohibited by a constitution), and only the last of these is explained in the book. The original meaning of religious freedom as a constitutional right can be ascertained by examining how the religion clauses were explained by those early Americans who advocated, drafted, and discussed them, even though they did not always practice what they preached.