cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MONOTONICALLY CONVERGENT UPPER AND LOWER BOUNDS FOR CLASSES OF CONFLICTING POPULATIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses monotonically convergent upper and lower bounds for the classes of conflicting populations. There exist many examples of populations consisting of elements that influence one another through cooperation and competition. Important examples include chemical reactions, businesses, societies, biological species etc. The chapter discusses many of the existing mathematical models for these interactions including Volterra–Lotka–Verhulst. Efficient computational methods for such systems should not only preserve the positivity of the solutions but should provide iteratively improvable upper and lower bounds. One manner in which this can be accomplished for a subset of system is to construct antitone functional operators that are oscillatory contraction mappings. The chapter discusses a detailed chemical kinetics example and some remarks on the application of the method of lines to parabolic partial differential equations.
A comprehensive association study of apolipoprotein E-C1-C4-C2 gene cluster variation with plasma lipoprotein traits

Apolipoproteins are major determinants of plasma lipoprotein-lipid distribution. Dyslipidemia with elevated level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and decreased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is a major public health problem worldwide. Therefore, unraveling the genetic basis of plasma lipoprotein-lipid traits would provide insight into risk prediction and contribute to the developing of new therapeutic and intervention measures to reduce the CVD burden, which has a public health importance. The objective of this study was to characterize genetic variation in the APOE-C1-C4-C2 gene cluster on chromosome 19q13.32 by resequencing selected individuals from non-Hispanic White (NHW) and African Black populations with extreme lipid profile and then genotyping the identified sequence variants (common tagSNPs and rare variants) along with the HapMap tagSNPs covering the intergenic regions in the entire datasets (623 NHWs, and 788 Blacks) to evaluate their association with major lipid traits. Sequencing of the four apolipoprotein genes along with their hepatic control regions in subjects falling in the upper (47 NHWs, 48 Blacks), and lower (48 NHWs, 47 Blacks) 10th percentile distribution of HDL-C/triglycerides (TG) revealed 230 variants (215 substitution, 15 indels), of which 63 were shared in both populations, 52 were NHW-specific and 115 were Black-specific. A total of 70 variants (65 sequencing-identified, 5 HapMap tagSNPs) in NHWs and 108 variants (103 sequencing-identified, 5 HapMap tagSNPs) in Blacks were successfully genotyped in the entire datasets and were considered for the association analyses. Twenty variants in NHWs and twenty-four variants in Blacks (MAF>1%) showed nominally significant association (P<0.05) with at least one lipid trait. Although the major contribution of the APOE-C1-C4-C2 gene cluster was on LDL-C and apolipoprotein (apo) B, we observed multiple associations with other lipid traits, including TG, HDL-C, and apoA1. In addition to the significant contribution of common variants, rare/less common variants showed significant association with lipid traits. Our findings confirm the significant contribution of APOE-C1-C4-C2 genetic variation in affecting plasma lipid profile in the general population and consequently the CVD risk.
Interactions between jaw-muscle recruitment and jaw-joint forces in Canis familiaris.

Abstract Electromyographic activity from the jaw-adductor muscles was recorded during mastication and bone crushing in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). During mastication, balancing-side temporalis electromyographic activity was much less than that of the working side while masseter muscle electromyographic activities were of similar amplitude. Despite the large bite forces that were produced during bone crushing, balancing-side masseter and temporalis electromyographic activities were always smaller than the working-side electromyographic amplitudes. Based upon geometric modelling, it is proposed that balancing-side muscle activity is reduced because of its tendency to produce mechanically disadvantageous jaw-joint forces. This hypothesis was tested by correlating bone strain adjacent to the jaw joint measured during manipulations of the mandibular condyle with bone strain recorded during the simulation and stimulation of jaw-adductor muscle activity. Working-side muscle activity produced bone strain that correlated with a compressive joint loading, while balancing-side muscle activity, with an occlusal fulcrum at the carnassial teeth, produced bone strain indicative of an anteroventral movement of the working-side mandibular condyle which eventually ruptured the joint capsule. When the temporalis and masseter muscles were stimulated bilaterally with a carnassial bite point, bone strain indicative of a ventrally directed and potentially damaging condylar movement was produced. It is proposed that working-side muscle activity exceeds balancing-side muscle activity during carnassial biting to maintain jaw-joint stability.
Toulmin’s Problematic Notion of Warrant

We argue that it is wrong to try to identify a statement in an argument text as expressing a warrant. Indeed, it is wrong to apply the data/warrant/backing distinction to argument texts. Although Toulmin might arguably agree about some warrants, in presenting a “layout of arguments” he has been taken by some as presenting an account of analyzing argument texts. His indication that propositions expressing warrants are conditionals (or generalized conditionals) reinforces this reading. Furthermore, in applying his layout to quasi-syllogisms (syllogisms with a general conditional premise and a particular premise), Toulmin allows that the general premise may serve as a warrant. We detail many problems Toulmin encounters in taking quasi-syllogisms as a paradigm for arguments. He allows that the general premise may in this context also present a statistical report or both a warrant and a statistical report. Statistical reports summarize observations of particulars, and serve as backing for a corresponding warrant of the form “An A may be taken to be a B.” The general premise, then, does not express a universal proposition about all A’s, if the class of A’s is open ended or unlimited. Toulmin understands conditionals in general this way. But this is problematic. How can Toulmin maintain that there are no universal descriptive generalizations going beyond observed data, extrapolating from observed data, and that when open-ended generalizations appear in arguments, they always function as warrants? Toulmin does not offer a satisfactory argument for this view.
Family and Child Care Practices in the Soviet Union

Societal values are changing in the U.S.S.R., affecting traditional ideas about the family, marital relations, and parent–child relations. The Soviets are experiencing social and psychological prob...
Analysis of pediatric gunshot wounds in Houston, Texas: A social perspective

Abstract Background This study sought to determine the role of social factors in pediatric gunshot wounds (GSW). Methods We identified medical records of victims aged 0-15 years who presented to our Level 1 pediatric trauma center from 2001 to 2016. Results Three hundred fifty-eight children were treated between 2001 and 2016. Patients ranged from 2.5 months to 15 years old (mean = 10.8 years). Two hundred ninety-two patients (81.6%) were male, and 66 (18.4%) were female. The most common anatomic injury location was the head, face, neck, and/or spine (n = 168; 36.2%). 38.3% of injuries (n = 137) were caused by handguns, 25.1% (n = 90) by BB guns, and 12.6% (n = 45) by shotguns/rifles. 45.5% of incidents (n = 163) were intentional; 17 of these (4.7%) were suicide attempts. 48.9% of incidents (n = 175) were accidental. The majority (n = 229) of incidents (64.0%) occurred in a family residence. An adult supervised the victim in only 26.3% of cases (N = 94). Criminal charges were filed in 36 cases (10.1%). Fifteen victims (4.2%) were placed in CPS custody. 12.0% of charts (N = 43) mentioned gun safety education being provided to the family. Conclusion Analysis of social factors associated with pediatric GSW suggests that many of these injuries could have been prevented with safe firearm storage, increased community education efforts, and other safety measures. Levels of Evidence Level III- Retrospective Comparative Study.
Introducing Engineering Design and Materials Science at an Earlier Age through Ceramic Cold Casting

Elementary and middle school science curricula typically focus on generating an interest in science and engineering through the use of hands-on activities that demonstrate specific concepts. Laboratory activities designed in this manner often circumvent some of the main challenges that engineers and scientists face, namely balancing advantages and disadvantages for a variety of potential solutions to solve a specific problem. This activity was designed to show students that different solutions for a given problem can exist, and engineers must manage priorities when choosing the best solution. This laboratory involves cold casting ceramics slurries with varying viscosities into a mold. The resulting casts have a varying final density, controlled by the initial viscosity. Students are presented with different outcome measures regarding the objects they cast: ease of manufacturing, cost, aesthetics, and mechanical properties. Based on the laboratory design, no single cast will perform the best in all of thes...
A comparison of sampling approaches for monitoring schoolwide inclusion program fidelity.

Including students with disabilities requires schoolwide interventions that are implemented with fidelity (adherence). Collection of fidelity data may become problematic when multiple evidence-base...
Protective and acquisitive self-monitoring differences in attachment anxiety and avoidance

ABSTRACTThe purpose of the investigation was to examine how different self-monitoring orientations would manifest in interpersonal relationship functioning. Protective, but not acquisitive, self-mo...
The Generalized Ridge Estimator of the Inverse Covariance Matrix

The ridge inverse covariance estimator is generalized to allow for entry-wise penalization. An efficient algorithm for its evaluation is proposed. Its computational accuracy is benchmarked against ...
Winners and losers reconsidered: party support, character valence, and satisfaction with democracy

Studies of citizens’ satisfaction with democracy have established a connection between satisfaction and how well those citizens’ preferred parties perform in elections. Yet, the question remains whether ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ respond to the same system- and party-level factors when evaluating their political satisfaction. We build on extant literature to consider citizen satisfaction with democracy from the perspective of character valence. Using the Mannheim Eurobarometer trend file and content analysis-based data on parties’ character valence, we find that both winners’ and losers’ satisfaction with the political system is affected by parties’ character valence, but in differing (and somewhat surprising) ways. We find that winners respond to improvements in the character valence of opposition parties, whereas losers demonstrate greater concern with the valence of governing parties.
Touching with Light, or, How Texture Recasts the Sensing of Underground Water:

This paper is an ethnographic examination of the early social life of a project to map Costa Rica’s aquifers using LandSat imagery and a specialized algorithm. The project aims to make subterranean...
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use Near the End of Life Is Associated With Poor Performance Status, Lower Hospice Enrollment, and Dying in the Hospital:

Background:Immune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the landscape of cancer care by increasing progression-free and overall survival in some patients with cancer. We evaluated use and variables co...
Sinus Arrest during Radiofrequency Ablation of the Atrioventricular-Node Slow Pathway: Implications and Possible Mechanisms

Radiofrequency ablation has been associated with changes in autonomic function. In this case, a 52-year-old woman was referred for electrophysiologic study of recurrent supraventricular tachycardia. Typical slow/fast atrioventricular node re-entry tachycardia was induced and confirmed during the study. Radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway of the atrioventricular node led to sinus arrest, which resolved once ablation was stopped. Given the distance of the ablation site from the sinus node, we inferred that mechanisms other than direct injury to the sinus node were involved. To our knowledge, this is only the 2nd reported finding of sinus arrest during slow-pathway ablation of the atrioventricular node. This case highlights the complex interaction between the autonomic nervous system and the cardiac conduction system. Possible mechanisms include a Bezold-Jarisch reflex and modification of the intrinsic autonomic nervous system.
LQR Approach for Regulating Voltage and Power Flow through the Ports of a Medium Voltage Quad Active Bridge Solid State Transformer

In this paper, the authors investigate power and voltage regulation of a quadrative active bridge (QAB) based, solid-state transformer (SST) design under unbalanced conditions. The control system implemented in this work makes use of linear quadratic regulator (LQR) based state feedback approaches to perform the regulation. The dynamic performance of the SST is verified analytically and validated extensively in the MATLAB/Simulink environment.
Disappointment in God and Relational Spirituality: Moderator Effects for Meditative Prayer:

In recent years, there have been a number of studies exploring the positive and negative aspects of spirituality. While many studies have indicated spirituality has a generally positive influence i...
Reclaiming Stigmatized Narratives: The Networked Disclosure Landscape of #MeToo

The social stigma looming over disclosures of sexual violence discourages many women from publicly sharing their stories, limiting their ability to seek support and obscuring the epidemic of sexual violence against women. By inviting women to share their ordinarily silenced stories, the hashtag #MeToo surfaced a network of survivors to confront this stigma. Through a mixed-methods analysis of over 1.8 million tweets posted during the first two weeks after #MeToo gained widespread popularity in 2017, we map the landscape of disclosures that emerged and disentangle the effects of network-level reciprocal disclosures, or disclosures made in reaction to seeing others disclose. We detail how survivors disclosed a diversity of sexual violence experiences in solidarity with others, composing nearly half of all authored tweets and comprising a disproportionate number of interactions within the #MeToo network. Further, we show that the more disclosures an individual potentially saw prior to disclosing, the more likely they were to share details with their disclosure. We argue that such network-level reciprocal disclosures may have reduced stigma, creating a counterpublic space safe for disclosure which, subsequently, generated more disclosures. Our work illustrates how feminist hashtag activism, like #MeToo, can unify individual and collective narratives to dismantle the stigma surrounding disclosures of sexual violence. Content warning: This article heavily discusses issues of sexual violence against women.
Interpreting stochastic agent-based models of cell death

Abstract Linking individual cell behavior to changes on the cell population and ultimately tissue scale is a key step towards connecting in vitro laboratory experiments to clinically relevant organ-scale behavior. For example, understanding how an individual tumor cell’s response to drug treatments propagates to the macroscale could help guide clinical decision making when tumors are located in high stakes regions. Based on how dying cells interact, macroscale tumor response can be dominated by tumor shrinkage, tumor damage, change in tumor porosity, or some combination of these phenomena. Here we focus on methods of modeling collective cell behavior with the overall goal of understanding how stochastic cell behavior will ultimately manifest on the cell population scale. To do this, we define and implement an agent-based model problem, introduce novel methods for interpreting simulation results, implement a recently developed technique for conducting a variance-based sensitivity analysis, and investigate key model parameters. Operating within an in silico framework allows us to compare our proposed methods with and without reproducible stochastic variations. This is critical because methods that will be functional for interpreting experimental data must also be able to function when aspects of stochastic variation are not reproducible. To demonstrate the utility of our proposed methods, we identify important simulation parameters for our agent-based model, show that two-dimensional and three-dimensional results are not directly equivalent, and highlight the macroscale implications of cell shrinkage. Looking forward, we anticipate that the methods and results presented here will contribute to significant future research in modeling stochastic cell behavior in the multiscale setting.
Sex-based Differences in Hearing Loss: Perspectives From Non-clinical Research to Clinical Outcomess.

Introduction It is estimated over 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, and untreated hearing loss is associated with poorer health outcomes. The influence of sex as a biological variable on hearing loss is not well understood, especially for differences in underlying mechanisms which are typically elucidated through non-clinical research. Although the inclusion of sex as a biological variable in clinical studies has been required since 1993, sex reporting has only been recently mandated in National Institutes of Health funded non-clinical studies. Objective This article reviews the literature on recent non-clinical and clinical research concerning sex-based differences in hearing loss primarily since 1993, and discusses implications for knowledge gaps in the translation from non-clinical to clinical realms. Conclusions The disparity between sex-based requirements for non-clinical versus clinical research may inhibit a comprehensive understanding of sex-based mechanistic differences. Such disparities may play a role in understanding and explaining clinically significant sex differences and are likely necessary for developing robust clinical treatment options.
The metaphysics of intersectionality

This paper develops and articulates a metaphysics of intersectionality, the idea that multiple axes of social oppression cross-cut each other. Though intersectionality is often described through metaphor, theories of intersectionality can be formulated using the tools of contemporary analytic metaphysics. A central tenet of intersectionality theory, that intersectional identities are inseparable, can be framed in terms of explanatory unity. Further, intersectionality is best understood as metaphysical and explanatory priority of the intersectional category over its constituents, akin to metaphysical priority of the whole over its parts.
Tensile elongation at break for polymers related to Vickers hardness

Abstract Polymeric materials and components need, first of all, to ‘survive attacks’ by external mechanical forces. One can apply a force slowly along the main axis of the specimen—such as in tensile testing. One can apply a force rapidly perpendicularly to the surface—such as in Vickers hardness determination. We provide for polymers an equation relating their tensile elongation at break to the Vickers hardness.
Implications for evolutionary trends from the pairing frequencies among golden-winged and blue-winged warblers and their hybrids

Extensive range loss for the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) has occurred in areas of intrusion by the Blue-winged Warbler (V. cyanoptera) potentially related to their close genetic relationship. We compiled data on social pairing from nine studies for 2,679 resident Vermivora to assess evolutionary divergence. Hybridization between pure phenotypes occurred with 1.2% of resident males for sympatric populations. Pairing success rates for Golden-winged Warblers was 83% and for Blue-winged Warblers was 77%. Pairing success for the hybrid Brewster's Warbler was significantly lower from both species at 54%, showing sexual selection against hybrids. Backcross frequencies for Golden-winged Warblers at 4.9% were significantly higher than for Blue-winged Warblers at 1.7%. More frequent backcrossing by Golden-winged Warblers, which produces hybrid phenotypes, may contribute to the replacement of Golden-winged by Blue-winged Warblers. Reproductive isolation due to behavioral isolation plus sexual selection against hybrids was 0.960. Our analyses suggest that plumage differences are the main driving force for this strong isolation with reduced hybrid fitness contributing to a lesser degree. The major impact of plumage differences to reproductive isolation is compatible with genomic analyses (Current Biology, 2016, 26, 2313), which showed the largest genetic difference between these phenotypes occurred with plumage genes. These phenotypes have maintained morphological, behavioral, and ecological differences during two centuries of hybridization. Our estimate of reproductive isolation supports recognition of these phenotypes as two species. The decline and extirpation of the Golden-winged Warbler in almost all areas of recent sympatry suggest that continued coexistence of both species will require eco-geographic isolation.
Surface Acoustic Wave Cavities and InAs Quantum Dots for Quantum Transduction

We demonstrate progress in developing a new microwave-optical quantum transducer. We demonstrate focusing and stable surface acoustic wave cavities at 3.4 GHz and characterize the acoustic performance. This work is a contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; not subject to copyright in the United States of America.
Nicotinic receptor modulation of the default mode network

Previous neuroimaging studies of cognition involving nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist administration have repeatedly found enhanced task-induced deactivation of regions of the default mode network (DMN), a group of brain systems that is more active at rest and mediates task-independent thought processes. This effect may be related to pro-cognitive nAChR agonist effects The present study sought to test whether nAChR modulation of the DMN is bi-directional, i.e., whether a nAChR antagonist would reduce task-induced deactivation. Eighteen healthy non-smokers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a letter N-back task. Scans were performed after nicotine administration (7 mg/24 h, transdermally), after administration of the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (7.5 mg, p.o.), and after double placebo, in counterbalanced sequence. Blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal was analyzed within ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) regions of interest—central hubs of the DMN in which consistent nAChR agonist–induced changes had previously been identified. Nicotine enhanced hit rate in both the 0-back and 2-back condition, while mecamylamine slowed reaction time in the 2-back condition. Mecamylamine reduced task-induced deactivation of vmPFC and PCC. Nicotine had no significant effects on the BOLD signal. The finding that nAChR tone reduction by mecamylamine weakened task-induced DMN deactivation indicates that a constant tone of nAChR activation helps regulate DMN activity in healthy individuals. This suggests that low nAChR tone may play a causal role in DMN dysregulation seen in conditions such as mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.
ARTICLE: Measuring Disproportionate Treatment in Policing: One Department’s Experience

Detecting disparate impact in policing practice is essential, but those tasked with developing such inquiry face significant challenges in designing analyses. Racial profiling research has also been plagued by an inability to gain consensus regarding valid comparison groups – commonly termed the “denominator problem” in benchmarking analyses. The current inquiry details the process and outcome of using the disproportionality index (Dolan Consulting Group, 2016) to investigate several enforcement actions at a midsize department in the southeastern United States. The findings highlight the importance of combining the appropriate benchmark with the appropriate level of analysis, and the need for more scholarly inquiry into disproportionate treatment in a variety of law enforcement outcomes. The correlation between selected geographical locations and the disproportionality index in the assessment of disparity during traffic stops, field contacts, and arrest is discussed.
Ex Vivo Human Colon Tissue Exposure to Pristine Graphene Activates Genes Involved in the Binding, Adhesion and Proliferation of Epithelial Cells

Toxicology studies on pristine graphene are limited and lack significant correlations with actual human response. The goal of the current study was to determine the response of total colonic human tissue to pristine graphene exposure. Biopsy punches of colon tissues from healthy human were used to assess the biological response after ex vivo exposure to graphene at three different concentrations (1, 10, and 100 µg/mL). mRNA expression of specific genes or intestinal cytokine abundance was assessed using real-time PCR or multiplex immunoassays, respectively. Pristine graphene-activated genes that are related to binding and adhesion (GTPase and KRAS) within 2 h of exposure. Furthermore, the PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) gene was upregulated after exposure to graphene at all concentrations. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that STAT3 and VEGF signaling pathways (known to be involved in cell proliferation and growth) were upregulated. Graphene exposure (10 µg/mL) for 24 h significantly increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFNγ, IL-8, IL-17, IL-6, IL-9, MIP-1α, and Eotaxin. Collectively, these results indicated that graphene may activate the STAT3–IL23–IL17 response axis. The findings in this study provide information on toxicity evaluation using a human-relevant ex vivo colon model and serve as a basis for further exploration of its bio-applications.
Assessing niche width of endothermic fish from genes to ecosystem

Endothermy in vertebrates has been postulated to confer physiological and ecological advantages. In endothermic fish, niche expansion into cooler waters is correlated with specific physiological traits and is hypothesized to lead to greater foraging success and increased fitness. Using the seasonal co-occurrence of three tuna species in the eastern Pacific Ocean as a model system, we used cardiac gene expression data (as a proxy for thermal tolerance to low temperatures), archival tag data, and diet analyses to examine the vertical niche expansion hypothesis for endothermy in situ. Yellowfin, albacore, and Pacific bluefin tuna (PBFT) in the California Current system used more surface, mesopelagic, and deep waters, respectively. Expression of cardiac genes for calcium cycling increased in PBFT and coincided with broader vertical and thermal niche utilization. However, the PBFT diet was less diverse and focused on energy-rich forage fishes but did not show the greatest energy gains. Ecosystem-based management strategies for tunas should thus consider species-specific differences in physiology and foraging specialization.
Effects of glycoprotein iib/iiia inhibition on microvascular flow after coronary reperfusion: A quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography study

Abstract Objectives We assessed the effect of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition (GPI) on microvascular flow after coronary occlusion/reperfusion using quantitative myocardial contrast echocardiography (QMCE). Background Platelets may play a major role in the dissociation of epicardial artery recanalization and tissue-level reperfusion, referred to as the “no-reflow phenomenon.” Therefore, GPI might improve myocardial reperfusion, distinct from its effects on epicardial patency. Methods Three-hour occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was followed by 3-h reperfusion in 16 open-chest dogs: 8 controls and 8 given a continuous infusion of the GPI tirofiban, starting 45 min before LAD reopening. Perfusion of the LAD bed was quantified by the rate of intensity rise (b)by QMCE; myocardial blood flow (MBF) was assessed by fluorescent microspheres. Results No differences in bor MBF were observed within the risk area between the control and GPI groups at baseline or occlusion. However, band MBF were higher in GPI dogs than in controls during reperfusion, despite similar epicardial flow (p Conclusions As demonstrated by QMCE, GPI improves microvascular flow and reduces the infarct area after coronary occlusion/reperfusion, independent of epicardial flow. These data demonstrate the usefulness of QMCE in assessing microvascular flow, provide novel evidence for the role of platelets in the early phase of reperfusion injury, and show that GPI is of value in preserving microvascular perfusion after coronary reperfusion.
THE ROLE OF ARGININE VASOPRESSIN |[lpar]|AVP|[rpar]| IN MODULATING THE CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE IN HYPOXEMIC |[lpar]|HPX|[rpar]| FETAL LAMBS

The role of AVP in modulating the cardiovascular response to HPX was studied in 2 groups of fetuses (111-135 days; term 145 days). The experimental (EXP) group was given the AVP inhibitor (AVP-I), d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP (400 ugm bolus), 80 minutes prior to the onset of HPX. The control group (CON) received only vehicle. Using microspheres, cardiac output (C.O.) and blood flow distribution were measured in both groups before, during and 80 min after HPX. HPX significantly decreased fetal PO2 from 20±4.0 to 13±3.5 mmHg (p<.001) and produced significant increases in the proportion of C.O. distributed to heart, brain, and adrenals and a significant decrease to the carcass in both groups. A significant decrease to the gut was seen only in CON fetuses and C.O. decreased significantly only in EXP. The effect of AVP-I on fetal arterial blood pressure (ABP) during HPX was as follows: Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and angiotensin II increased similarly in both HPX groups. Thus, AVP appears to play a significant role in modulating C.O. and ABP during HPX but does not affect redistribution of flow to heart, brain, adrenal and carcass. Moreover, the decrease in ABP following AVP-I (EXP) during HPX was not associated with a greater increase in vasoactive substances in CON fetuses.
Ron Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Activation Confers Resistance to Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Although tamoxifen treatment is associated with improved survival in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors, resistance remains an important clinical obstacle. Signaling through growth factor signaling pathways, in particular through receptor tyrosine kinases, has been demonstrated to confer tamoxifen resistance in an estradiol-independent manner. The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase, a member of the c-Met family of receptors, is expressed in a number of human epithelial tumors, and elevated expression of Ron is associated with poor prognosis in women with breast cancer. In this report, we evaluated the role of Ron receptor activation in conferring resistance to tamoxifen in human and murine breast cancer cell lines. Activation of Ron by its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor-like protein (HGFL) was associated with partial rescue from tamoxifen-induced growth inhibition in Ron-expressing cell lines. Western analysis revealed that treatment of the T47D human breast cancer cell line with tamoxifen and HGFL was associated with increased phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1/2 and phosphorylation of serine residue 118 of ER. Expression of ER-dependent genes was increased in cells treated with tamoxifen and HGFL by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. All of these effects were inhibited by treatment with either a Ron-neutralizing antibody or a MEK1 inhibitor, suggesting the specificity of the effect to Ron, and the involvement of the MAPK 1/2 signaling pathway. In summary, these results illustrate a novel connection between the Ron receptor tyrosine kinase and an important mechanism of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.
Obtaining antibodies to spindle components.

Publisher Summary This chapter outlines a basic method for the identification of spindle components by raising monoclonal antibodies specific to proteins included in the isolated mitotic spindle. Obtaining antibodies to spindle components involves a series of experimental processes: (a) preparation of immunogens and immunization of animals, (b) cell fusion, (c) screening of hybridoma supernatants, and (d) purification and characterization of antibodies. Although each step is considered labor-intensive and time-consuming, recent progress in hybridoma techniques has made it possible to produce specific antibody probes in a simple and reproducible manner. Preparation of immunogens involves four separate processes: (a) preparation of a homogenous mitotic cell population, (b) stabilization of spindle microtubules, (c) lysis of cells, and (d) separation of the whole stabilized spindle structure from other cellular components. The chapter provides the protocol for preparation of spindles from cultured mammalian [Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)] cells which has to be synchronized at mitosis, and then presents two major protocols used for immunizing mice to increase the chance of success in production of monoclonal antibodies.
Natura Naturans and the Organic Ecocritic: Toward a Green Theory of Temporality

If ecocriticism has been a form of scholarship that is integrated with an activist practice, that activism has most often taken the form of rhetorical appeals to conservation and to valuation of a specific place (or “place” as such), a species, or even a privileged mode of representation such as the pastoral, the work of the bioregionally-grounded poet, or green themes in middlebrow novels (Garrard, 2005). Ecocriticism-as-advocacy assumes a particular view of time. An active present is taken as a means of forestalling an undesirable future, with little account for the past; the critic is in a race against time to explicate the water images in this or that poem, and heated debate concerns the limits of an appropriate canon for such an enterprise . Meanwhile, historically-informed and materialist approaches to ecocriticism, have been proposed, which look to the past as a field of determinations and limits on the present: the present as the given product, finished or not, of past causes . Both these approaches, and the Utopian mode—so promising in its ability to imagine a positive political program in addition to the earnest advocacy we already have of the conserve this and care for that type—are all predicated on two unspoken and contradictory a priori: time as a matrix of causality, and hence the objects of time as legible in space in the present, on one side; time as a transhistorical and transcendent Now of reflection and contemplation or another. The former, in that it supports a view of nature as a time-produced and time-bound formation vulnerable and impermanent in its complexity, is appropriate to an activist stance as something to defend; the latter predicates a certain kind of criticism, specifically a detached and aesthetically-oriented gaze. Both positions have merit. However, neither is wholly or solely adequate, and there remains between them a conceptual tension if not contradiction between the political and critical engagements characteristic of ecocriticism since the 1980s.
Evaluation of patient-care interventions by Pharm.D. clerkship students.

A program is described in which Pharm.D. clerkship students provide pharmaceutical care by identifying drug-related problems, suggesting interventions to solve the problems, and documenting the patient's outcome. Four doctor of pharmacy degree students under the direct guidance of a clinical pharmacy preceptor suggested 231 patient-care interventions during their clinical rotations; 219 (94.8%) of the interventions were either fully or partially accepted by the prescriber. The most commonly solved drug-related problems were underdose (31.5%) and overdose (17.4%), followed by untreated indications (14.1%) and drug given without indication (13.7%). The remainder of the drug-related problems that the students solved were improper drug selection, failure to receive drug, adverse drug reactions, or drug interactions. All but 10 interventions were considered by preceptors to be significant contributions to patient care. The interventions were estimated to have decreased drug costs in 50.7% of the cases, increased drug costs in 23.7% of the cases, and not changed drug costs in 25.6% of the cases. Patient outcomes were documented by the students in 58.9% of cases; the desired goals of the accepted intervention were achieved in all documented cases. A preceptor-supervised intervention program was beneficial to Pharm.D. students and patients and was well received by prescribers.
The privatization of correctional management: A review

Abstract The privatization of corrections became a topic of increasing debate during the 1980s, and the debate continues. While there are a number of important issues, the focus of this review is on the privatization of correctional management. Both sides are presented, through an examination of three central economic issues. The conclusion is that more scientific research and empirical evaluations are necessary before decisions are made that will influence the operation of correctional facilities for years to come.
Influence of Dietary Lipid and Temperature on Bactericidal Activity of Channel Catfish Macrophages

Abstract We fed juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus purified diets containing different lipid sources for 90–110 d to examine the influence of dietary lipids on intracellular killing of Edwardsiella ictaluri by pronephros macrophages. The diets contained either menhaden oil, soybean oil, beef tallow, or a combination ofall three lipids. We performed the study with nonimmune and immunized fish acclimated to optimal (28°C) and suboptimal (19°C) temperatures. In both temperature trials, bactericidal activity was positively correlated with the level of n-3 fatty acids in the diet (particularly long-chain highly unsaturated fatty acids). Vaccination resulted in substantially enhanced bactericidal activity, except at suboptimal temperature in fish fed the diet containing beef tallow (primarily saturated and monoenoic fatty acids). Overall results were similar at optimal and suboptimal temperatures. This study demonstrates the potential for nutritional manipulation of disease resistance in fish and illu...
Evaluation of thein VivoInteraction of Methyltert-Butyl Ether with α2u-Globulin in Male F-344 Rats☆

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a fuel additive blended into unleaded gasoline, decreases emissions of selected air pollutants. Exposure to MTBE causes a low incidence of renal tumors in male, but not female, F-344 rats. A number of chemicals that cause male rat-specific renal tumors also cause a syndrome unique to male rats referred to as alpha2u-globulin (alpha2u) nephropathy (alpha2u-N). Previous investigations have demonstrated that MTBE exposure induces a mild accumulation of alpha2u in male F-344 rats. The objective of the present study was to determine if MTBE, or a metabolite of MTBE, interacts with alpha2u in male rats administered MTBE orally. Eleven-week-old male and female F-344 rats were administered 750 mg [14C]MTBE/kg body wt or an equivalent volume of 10% emulphor orally for 4 consecutive days. Although [14C]MTBE-treated male rats exhibited a statistically significant increase in renal alpha2u concentration, the total radioactivity recovered was similar in kidney samples from [14C]MTBE-treated male and female rats. Further analysis of kidney cytosol prepared from [14C]MTBE-treated rats revealed that a slightly greater percentage of radioactivity coeluted on a G-25 gel filtration column with the total protein fraction from male rats than from female rats. Gel filtration (Sephadex G-75 column) and anion exchange chromatography, however, did not demonstrate any coelution of MTBE-derived radioactivity with the low-molecular-weight protein fraction or alpha2u fraction, respectively, in kidney cytosol prepared from [14C]MTBE-treated male or female rats. Further experimentation using a sealed vial equilibration system demonstrated that d-limonene oxide, a chemical with a high affinity for alpha2u, displaced MTBE in male, but not female, rat kidney samples following administration of MTBE. These findings provide indirect evidence that MTBE interacts with a male-specific protein such as alpha2u in male F-344 rats. Since the pathogenesis of alpha2u-N is dependent on the formation of a reversibly bound chemical-alpha2u complex, demonstration of an in vivo interaction of MTBE or one of its metabolites with alpha2u supports the alpha2u mechanism as a cause of MTBE-induced protein droplet nephropathy in male rats.
A Record of Microsorex hoyi from Kentucky

While examining a series of old specimens found in storage at the University of Kentucky, a specimen of Microsorex hoyi winnemana Preble was discovered. The specimen, originally in alcohol, is now completely …
Building secure web applications with automatic partitioning

Swift is a new, principled approach to building Web applications that are secure by construction. Modern Web applications typically implement some functionality as client-side JavaScript code, for improved interactivity. Moving code and data to the client can create security vulnerabilities, but currently there are no good methods for deciding when it is secure to do so. Swift automatically partitions application code while providing assurance that the resulting placement is secure and efficient. Application code is written as Java-like code annotated with information flow policies that specify the confidentiality and integrity of Web application information. The compiler uses these policies to automatically partition the program into JavaScript code running in the client browser and Java code running on the server. To improve interactive performance, code and data are placed on the client. However, security-critical code and data are always placed on the server. The compiler may also automatically replicate code across the client and server, to obtain both security and performance.
Forced Resting by High Dietary Zinc: Tissue Zinc Accumulation and Reproductive Organ Weight Changes

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of high dietary zinc, as a means of inducing a forced-rest, on selected organ accumulation of zinc and reproductive function in terms of ovary and oviduct weight in the laying hen. Single Comb White Leghorn hens laying approximately at 60% production were fed either 10,000 ppm zinc as zinc oxide (10 Zn) or 20,000 ppm zinc (20 Zn) for a period of 4 days. At the initiation of the experiment (Day 0), five hens were killed and organs obtained for analysis. On 4, 10, 16, and 22 days afterward, similar samples were obtained from 5 hens per treatment. Ovary and oviduct weights were determined and zinc analysis performed on the latter as well as liver, kidney, and pancreas. The brief 4-day feeding of either high zinc diet caused a marked 80% reduction in ovary weight by Day 10. The oviduct, although less affected, was still reduced approximately 60% in weight after feeding either 10 Zn or 20 Zn for 4 days. The oviduct exhibited a statistically significant elevation in zinc concentration on Day 4 but was normal by Day 10 (6 days following the refeeding of a normal diet) and not different between treatments. There was extensive accumulation of zinc in kidney, liver, and especially pancreas after 4 days of feeding either 10 Zn or 20 Zn. The level of dietary zinc had no effect on the extent of accumulation in any tissue. The depletion of tissue zinc roughly corresponded to the magnitude of increase in the concentration of zinc observed at Day 4. Possible ramifications of the dramatic increase observed in pancreatic zinc were discussed. We concluded that feeding either 10 Zn or 20 Zn as a means of inducing a forced rest effects a marked and rapid reduction in ovary and oviduct weight as well as an extensive increase in renal, hepatic, and especially pancreatic zinc.
Responsiveness of rats to interleukin-1: effects of monosodium glutamate treatment of neonates.

Abstract Monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment of neonatal rats results in degenerative lesions of the medial basal hypothalamus, particularly the arcuate nucleus (AN). The AN is rich in corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone/α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). These substances are part of a negative feedback mechanism for the regulation of interleukin-1 (IL1), a cytokine with diverse biologic actions including a role in sleep regulation. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the effects of exposure of neonatal rats to MSG on their responsiveness as adults to IL1. Adult rats, treated as neonates with MSG or the saline, were injected intracerebroventricularly during the light phase with three doses of IL1 (2.5, 10.0, 25.0 ng) and sleep-wake activity determined and brain temperature recorded for the next 6 hr. IL1 administration induced fever in both treatment groups at each dose of IL1 tested, and the febrile response of the MSG rats to the 25.0 ng dose of IL1 was greater than that of the saline control rats. In saline-treated rats, the 2.5 ng dose of IL1 enhanced non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) without affecting rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) or wakefulness, whereas the 25.0 ng dose of IL1 inhibited both NREMS and REMS. In contrast, only the 10.0 ng dose of IL1 altered NREMS in MSG-treated rats. These results support the hypothesis that CRF- and α-MSH-containing perikarya are involved in regulation of IL1 actions.
Wind and Wave Measurements Taken from a Tower in Lake Michigan

Abstract In July 1977 the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory installed a lightweight, solar powered research tower in Lake Michigan. The tower, located 2 km offshore from Muskegon, Michigan, in 16 m of water, provided a stable platform for two levels of anemometers and air temperature sensors, a surface water temperature sensor, and an array of four wave staffs to measure meteorological and directional wave variables. Solar power was successfully used to provide power for tower instrumentation. The measurements, while short-lived due to a guy wire failure in October 1977, comprise over 1300 well-documented hourly wind and wave data for further detailed studies. This report presents a detailed description of the instrumentation, data collection, and data reduction systems. The results show that the triangular array of wave staffs provides reasonable wave direction information, although nearshore waves appear to have a larger onshore component of momentum than would be indicated by prevailing winds. Further detailed studies of wind and wave processes are in progress.