cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thrombotic Microangiopathy in the Setting of HIV Infection: A Case Report and Review of the Differential Diagnosis and Therapy

Before the modern era of HIV/AIDS therapeutics, which enabled a cascade of early recognition of infection, prompt initiation of effective antiretroviral therapies, and close follow-up, severe forms of microvascular clotting disorders known as thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) were frequent in the setting of advanced HIV disease. Their incidence was as high as 7% in the period 1984-1999, but fell dramatically, to <0.5%, by 2002. This profound change was predicated on one critical development: availability of new classes of anti-HIV drugs, enabling reduction and maintenance of HIV viral loads to undetectable levels. Another development in the period 1999-2002 related to TMA therapy: with recognition of autoantibodies against the von Willebrand factor cleaving protease ADAMTS13 as the etiology of most cases of one major form of TMA, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, it permitted appropriate use of life-saving interventions based on plasma exchange and immune suppression. A more recent factor in TMA therapeutics was the 2011 approval by the US FDA and European EMA of eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against complement component C5, for the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, another major form of TMA. Despite these milestones, life- and organ-threatening TMAs still occur in untreated HIV disease and, to a much lesser extent, in those patients with suppressed viral loads. Confusion in terms of the differential diagnosis of these TMAs also impedes use of directed treatments. This report utilizes a case study of a young woman with advanced AIDS who presented with a severe TMA, characterized by coma and renal failure, to highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges raised by complex hematologic conditions occurring in the setting of HIV.
Translatio Vampyri: Transamerican Vampires and Transnational Capital in Guillermo del Toro’s Cronos

Abstract‘As an act of disruption’, writes Emily Apter, ‘translation becomes a means of repositioning the subject in the world and in history’. The vampires in Guillermo del Toro’s film Cronos (1993) reveal similar ‘disruptions’, ‘repositionings’,and translations. Del Toro’s reinvented vampires embody on the screen – even as they are caught within – transnational webs of storytelling and neoliberal capitalism. Cronos dramatizes the transamerican exploitation of the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) at the same time as it visually remakes the hemispheric and transatlantic filmic/literary trope of the vampire. Del Toro’s neo-gothic recreations, and socio-economic commentaries, ‘translate’ the vampire from a European backdrop of bloodthirsty counts and ruined castles to a globalized Mexican metropolis full of bustling streets, middle-class life, and grimy assembly plants. That translation reveals and disrupts the vampiric logic of modern transamerican economies.
Dissociation of Procedural and Working Memory in Pigeons (Columba livia)

A new method was developed to concurrently investigate procedural memory and working memory in pigeons. Pigeons performed a sequence of keypecks across 3 response keys in a serial response task, with periodic choice probes for the location of a recently produced response. Procedural memory was operationally defined as decreasing response times to predictable cues in the sequence. Working memory was reflected by accurate responses to the choice probes. Changing the sequence of required keypecks to a random sequence interfered with procedural memory in the form of slowed response times, but did not prevent pigeons from effectively using working memory to remember specific cue locations. Conversely, changing exposure duration of to a cue location influenced working memory but had no effect on procedural memory. Double dissociations such as this have supported the multiple systems approach to the study of memory in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, and they encourage a similar approach in comparative psychology.
Equity sensitivity versus Egoism: New conceptualizations and implications for justice perceptions

Traditional research on equity sensitivity has defined the construct as a preference for increased work rewards and/or a preference for reduced work inputs. We note this classic definition is more ...
"I wish they could hold on a little longer": physicians' experiences with requests for early IUD removal.

Abstract Objective This study describes the perceptions and experiences of family physicians when women request early intrauterine device (IUD) removal. Study design This qualitative study included semistructured individual interviews with 12 physicians who encountered patients seeking early IUD removal. We identified eligible participants via chart review. We analyzed interviews using deductive and inductive techniques to identify content and themes. Results Physicians consistently referred to IUDs as the “best” or their “favorite” method, and several joked that they tried to “sell” the IUD during contraceptive counseling. Most reported having mixed or negative feelings when patients opted to remove the IUD. Most encouraged their patients to continue the IUD, hoping to delay removal until symptoms resolved so that removal was not needed. Some physicians reported feeling guilty or as if they had “failed” when a patient wanted the IUD removed. Many providers reported a conflict between valuing patient autonomy and feeling that early removal was not in the patient's best interest. Conclusions Physicians have complex and contradictory feelings about early IUD removal. While most providers acknowledged the need for patient autonomy, they still reported encouraging IUD continuation based on their own opinion about the IUD. Implications While IUDs are highly effective and well-liked contraceptives, providers' responses to IUD removal requests have implications for both reproductive autonomy as well as the doctor–patient relationship. More work is needed to ensure that providers remove a patient's IUD when requested.
Supporting Weather Forecasters in Predicting and Monitoring Saharan Air Layer Dust Events as They Impact the Greater Caribbean

AbstractDuring the spring and summer months, the greater Caribbean region typically experiences pulses of moderate to heavy episodes of airborne African dust concentrations that originate over the Sahara Desert and propagate westward across the tropical North Atlantic basin. These dust episodes are often contained within the Saharan air layer (SAL), an elevated air mass (between 850–500 hPa) marked by very dry and warm conditions within the lowest levels. During its westward transport, the SAL’s distinct environmental characteristics can persist well into the Gulf of Mexico and southern United States. As a result, the Caribbean population is susceptible to airborne dust levels that often exceed healthy respiratory limits. One of the major responsibilities within the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico (NWS-PR), is preparing the public within their area of responsibility (AOR) for such events. The Naval Research Laboratory Marine Meteorology Division (NRL-MMD) is sponsored by the National Oce...
Recurrent pyloric stenosis: a form of the incomplete pyloromyotomy

Abstract Post-pyloromyotomy emesis is common and may be secondary to non-surgical conditions such as pyloric edema, gastroparesis, pylorospasm, or gastroesophageal reflux. Early persistent postoperative emesis is typically attributed to an incomplete pyloromyotomy; whereas delayed postoperative emesis after an asymptomatic period with weight gain has been attributed to recurrent pyloric stenosis. We report a case of an incomplete pyloromyotomy, fulfilling all the criteria of recurrent pyloric stenosis, that suggests recurrent pyloric stenosis is not a separate entity, but a form of the incomplete pyloromyotomy with a failure of the hypertrophied pyloric muscle to regress after an unsuccessful pyloromyotomy.
Bb gun-related open globe injuries

Purpose To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients treated for BB and pellet gun–related open globe injuries. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Patients presenting to a tertiary care trauma center with open globes secondary to BB or pellet gun injury from January 2002 to November 2017. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients presenting with open globe injuries from January 2002 to November 2017. Charts were reviewed to isolate the mechanism of injury related to BB or pellet guns. Demographic data, injury type, presenting clinical examination findings, visual acuity (VA), secondary ocular complications, necessary surgical procedures and long-term outcome data were recorded. Additionally, the ocular trauma score (OTS) was calculated for all patients who had documented VA on presentation. Main Outcome Measure Final VA. Results During the study period, 681 open globe injuries were identified, 16 of which met inclusion criteria. Fourteen cases were due to injury from a BB gun and 2 were due to a pellet gun. Fourteen of the 16 patients (88%) were males. The average age of patients at time of presentation was 14±6.4 years (range, 4–28 years). Common presenting complications included hyphema, traumatic cataract, and retinal detachment. Twelve of the 16 patients required at least one additional surgery after open globe repair. Fifteen (94%) patients had hand motion–only or worse vision at time of final presentation. Eight patients had no light perception vision in the injured eye at final follow-up. Conclusions Open globe injuries related to BB or pellet guns result in devastating visual outcomes. They are often associated with multiple complications and the need for additional surgeries. Modern surgical techniques can increase the rate of globe salvage although final vision remains poor. The study findings highlight the risks associated with widely available BB and pellet guns and underscore the importance of eye protection in this setting.
Assessment of Language in Developmentally Disabled Infants and Preschoolers

The language assessment of infants and developmentally delayed preschoolers requires a usable definition of language and a comprehensive understanding of language development. Language is a complex skill that has traditionally been viewed as consisting of four basic parts: phonology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Phonology refers to the sound system of our language; semantics, to the meaning of words and word relations; syntax, to the grammatical rules for ordering words; and pragmatics, to communication, or the use of language in social contexts. Although language must always be viewed as an interactive system in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, the assessment process requires that the major components be examined separately. This approach is necessary for evaluating language development and for identifying specific deficit areas.
Elimination of Salmonella contamination from poultry tissues by cetylpyridinium chloride solutions

The effects of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) on the inhibition and reduction of viable Salmonella typhimurium cells were studied. In these experiments skin excised from chicken drumsticks was treated with solutions of CPC. At the CPC concentrations used, the ability of this compound to reduce bacterial contamination was clearly demonstrated. This effect was both CPC concentration- and exposure-time-dependent. A 4.87-log reduction of viable S. typhimurium cells was achieved at a CPC concentration of 4 mg/ml at the treatment time of 3 min. Moreover, CPC was effective in preventing bacterial contamination, as shown by a 4.9-log inhibition of S. typhimurium cell attachment at a CPC concentration of 8 mg/ml and a treatment time of 10 min.
The Operational Infrastructure of Secondary-Level CTE: Definition, Validation, and Application.

The profession of career and technical education (CTE) at the secondary level has become increasingly complicated. The need or requirement of CTE agencies (local, state, and university) to measure progress, synthesize responsibilities, and integrate disciplines has never been more prominent, nor emphasized. State and local CTE agencies are required in the form of new legislation, regulations, and procedures to take on this administrative burden with, in many instances, dwindling budgets. This has led to the uncomfortable, but all too common, practice of decreasing or eliminating support for basic operational criteria such as the ones defined and validated in this piece of research. For example, the CTE state-level administration in one of the researcher's state has eliminated certain teacher education grants in order to help fund accountability measures put forth by Perkins IV. These teacher education grants were generally used to help improve and maintain CTE teacher education programs and/or recruit quality CTE teacher candidates. As Dr. Richard Lynch, CTE teacher educator, once stated, "...without good teachers, you cannot have good instruction nor good programs. The studies on the education and re-education of good teachers...indicate that effective teacher education takes time and it takes money" (NCRVE, 1991, p. 23). Yet, as state and local budgets decrease, some programs and/or initiatives must take the brunt of fiscal belt tightening. Of course, these programs and/or initiatives are generally not the ones that new federal and state guidelines or regulations are requiring state and/or local CTE agencies to increase or emphasize. What effect does this have on the general operation of secondary-level CTE? While no new legislation or accountability measure can account for all of the factors, what does such a change do to the objectives, tasks, programs, and/or initiatives not included in the new legislation or measure?
The Chemical Kinetics of Solid Thermal Explosions

In this chapter, we discuss the physics and chemistry of thermal decomposition in energetic materials. We adopt the traditional approach of chemical kinetics, where the chemistry of decomposition and the resulting conversion of chemical potential into heat are captured by systems of differential equations whose variables are the concentrations of original reagent and product chemical species. Rates of transformation are simulated using temperature-dependent equations for the rate constant and the particular mechanisms of chemical transformation are reproduced in the form of the concentration equations. The energy liberated or consumed by reaction is then a function of the calculated concentration change either as a Hess’s Law calculation constrained by real chemical species and their heats of formation or more generally as a free parameter for an unconstrained, unidentified chemistry. These systems of equations then serve as thermal source (sink) terms in the nonsteady heat equation, within which other thermo-physical parameters, such as the average heat capacity or thermal diffusivity, as well as overall geometry and thermal boundary condition, must also be specified.
Interdependency of Mechanical and Chemical Processes During the Evolution of Chloritic Breccia, Sacramento Mountains, SE California

Complex interaction between brittle deformation and mineralizing fluids resulted in the formation of the chloritic breccia zone that is found in crystalline footwall rocks of the Sacramento Mountains detachment fault (SMDF). The Sacramento Mountains, located in southeastern California, is one of a line of metamorphic core complexes in western North America that extends from Canada into Mexico. Similar to other core complexes, the Sacramento Mountains is characterized by upper plate Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks separated from lower plate intrusive rocks (predominantly granite and granodiorite) by a low angle extensional fault. Chloritic breccia is found in the crystalline footwall rocks in most metamorphic core complexes and is characterized by 1) the disruption of preexisting rock textures due to brittle deformation and 2) a green color due to secondary chlorite and epidote.
Preliminary Development of a Fundamental Analysis Model for Crack Growth in a Fiber Reinforced Composite Material

A mathematical model for the strength of fiber reinforced composites containing specific flaws is described. The approach is to embed a local heterogeneous region surrounding the crack tip in an anisotropic elastic continuum. By consideration of the individual failure events activated near the flaw tip, a strength prediction can be made from basic properties of the composite constituents. Computations for arbitrary flaw size and orientation have been performed for unidirectional composites with linear elastic-brittle constituent behavior. The mechanical properties were those of graphite epoxy. With the rupture properties arbitrarily varied to test the capability of the model to reflect real fracture modes in fiber composites, it is shown that fiber breakage, matrix crazing, crack bridging, matrix-fiber debonding, and axial splitting all can occur during gradually increasing load prior to catastrophic fracture. Qualitative comparisons with experimental results on edge-notched unidirectional graphite epoxy specimens have also been made.
The Influence of Isometric Exercise and Passive Stretch on Hip Joint Motion

A method was designed to compare the effects of isometric contractions and passive stretch on modifying joint range of motion in 30 normal men. Subjects were randomly assigned into a control group, a passive stretch group, or an isometric contraction group. Each subject assumed a left sidelying position on the force table. Stabilization was applied to the pelvis and left lower extremity. The cuff, to which the force cable was attached, was applied to the right lower extremity. Force measurements produced by the isometric contractions or passive stretch procedures were stored on computer tape. The results of the mean differences in pelvifemoral angle measurements indicated that both treatment groups significantly increased their range of passive hip flexion with the knee extended when compared to the control group. Comparisons between the two treatment groups indicated that the isometric contraction and passive stretch procedures had significant and similar effects.
Does Broad-Based Merit Aid Improve College Completion? Evidence from New Mexico's Lottery Scholarship

We use the natural experiment of a state lottery scholarship to measure the effect of generous financial aid on graduation rates at New Mexico's flagship public university. During the study period,...
Interplay between α-synuclein amyloid formation and membrane structure.

Abstract Amyloid formation is a pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. While it is unknown how these disorders are initiated, in vitro and cellular experiments confirm the importance of membranes. Ubiquitous in vivo, membranes induce conformational changes in amyloidogenic proteins and in some cases, facilitate aggregation. Reciprocally, perturbations in the bilayer structure can be induced by amyloid formation. Here, we review studies in the last 10 years describing α-synuclein (α-syn) and its interactions with membranes, detailing the roles of anionic and zwitterionic lipids in aggregation, and their contribution to Parkinson's disease. We summarize the impact of α-syn - comparing monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar forms - on membrane structure, and the effect of membrane remodeling on amyloid formation. Finally, perspective on future studies investigating the interplay between α-syn aggregation and membranes is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Amyloids.
Comprehensive approaches to addressing mental health needs and enhancing school security: a hybrid type II cluster randomized trial

School safety is fundamental to fostering positive outcomes for children. Violence remains a critical public health issue with 8.1% of elementary and 21.8% of middle school students reporting daily or weekly bullying in 2015–16. Similarly, over half of lifetime mental health concerns become evident before age 14. Thus, elementary school is a key time for comprehensive school safety interventions. Yet, interventions are rarely delivered with fidelity in community settings. Evidence-based interventions must be complemented by implementation strategies to achieve desired public health outcomes. We develop and test an intervention focused on promoting a positive school climate guided by a school-based 3-person leadership team (3-PLT) using a hybrid Type II design. The 3-PLT includes a School Resource Officer, (SRO), administrator and mental health services professional as a newly appointed climate specialist (CS). The interventions to be delivered include 1) Restorative justice, 2) Mental Health First Aid and 3) Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. The CS will lead the team and coordinate implementation through a process of interactive problem solving and supports, consistent with the implementation facilitation strategy. We will conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial with staged entry over two school years in Genesee County, Michigan (n = 20 elementary schools, with 10 participating per school year). We will use a combination of data sources including data collected by schools (e.g., discipline data), a student survey, and a teacher survey. We will also conduct a process evaluation and assess implementation and sustainability through focus groups with key stakeholders, teachers, and students. Finally, we will conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Results from both the behavioral outcome and implementation strategy evaluations are expected to have significant implications for school safety and student well-being. This study adopts a unique approach by integrating three evidence-based programs and incorporating implementation facilitation led by the CS as part of the 3-PLT to support intervention delivery and enhance public health impact among schools in disadvantaged communities with students at risk of poor health outcomes. This study aims to create a comprehensive, well-integrated model intervention that is sustainable and can be translated to similar high-risk settings. Trial was retrospectively registered, registration ISRCTN1226421, May 16, 2019.
Fostering Creativity in Student Oral Presentations: A Case for Mood Boards as an Alternative to Power Point

How might faculty foster student creativity in the classroom? There has been growing recognition that encouraging students’ creative potential is a worthwhile educational goal, as creativity is an intricate part of the human experience and a skill necessary for future graduates. Some course subjects are inherently creative by nature; many are not. Discovering methods in which to encourage student creativity in traditionally non-creative courses can be instructionally challenging. Student development of mood boards is one way in which to foster creativity in the postsecondary classroom.
The Bar Is Open

With the successful completion of the 140 Foot Radio Telescope in 1965, and the increased use of the 300 Foot Telescope, NRAO finally began to serve its role as a national observatory. Any scientist with a good program had access to world class facilities without regard for institutional affiliation—a policy which later became known as “Open Skies.”
A Rare Case of Osteomyelitis and Tenosynovitis in Secondary Syphilis

We describe a case of secondary syphilis presenting with osteomyelitis and tenosynovitis of the thumb. With appropriate therapy, the patient's symptoms resolved and seroreversion occurred. MRI showed improvement with treatment. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate therapy in this unusual presentation of syphilis.
Effects of prenatal mindfulness-based childbirth education on child-bearers' trajectories of distress: a randomized control trial.

The perinatal period is a time of immense change, which can be a period of stress and vulnerability for mental health difficulties. Mindfulness-based interventions have shown promise for reducing distress, but further research is needed to identify long-term effects and moderators of mindfulness training in the perinatal period. The current study used data from a pilot randomized control trial (RCT) comparing a condensed mindfulness-based childbirth preparation program—the Mind in Labor (MIL)—to treatment as usual (TAU) to examine whether prenatal mindfulness training results in lower distress across the perinatal period, and whether the degree of benefit depends on child-bearers’ initial levels of risk (i.e., depression and anxiety symptoms) and protective (i.e., mindfulness) characteristics. Child-bearers (N = 30) in their third trimester were randomized to MIL or TAU and completed assessments of distress—perceived stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms—at pre-intervention, post-intervention, six-weeks post-birth, and one-year postpartum. Multilevel modeling of distress trajectories revealed greater decreases from pre-intervention to 12-months postpartum for those in MIL compared to TAU, especially among child-bearers who were higher in anxiety and/or lower in dispositional mindfulness at baseline. The current study offers preliminary evidence for durable perinatal mental health benefits following a brief mindfulness-based program and suggests further investigation of these effects in larger samples is warranted. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier for the study is: NCT02327559 . The study was retrospectively registered on June 23, 2014.
Abstract 13288: Risk of Thrombotic Events After Respiratory Infection Requiring Hospitalization

Background: Thrombosis is a major concern in respiratory infections such as influenza and now COVID-19. We investigated the magnitude and duration of risk for arterial and venous thrombosis followi...
Risk Management for Space Human Support Research and Technology

NASA requires continuous risk management for all programs and projects. The risk management process identifies risks, analyzes their impact, prioritizes them, develops and carries out plans to mitigate or accept them, tracks risks and mitigation plans, and communicates and documents risk information. Project risk management is driven by the project goal and is performed by the entire team. Risk management begins early in the formulation phase with initial risk identification and development of a risk management plan and continues throughout the project life cycle. This paper describes a risk management approach that is suggested for use in NASA's Human Support Research and Technology (HSRT).
On Praising Convergent Thinking: Creativity as Blind Variation and Selective Retention

Arthur Cropley (2006) emphasized the critical place that convergent thinking has in creativity. Although he briefly refers to the blind variation and selective retention (BVSR) theory of creativity, his discussion could not reflect the most recent theoretical and empirical developments in BVSR, especially the resulting combinatorial models. Therefore, in this article I first provide an overview of contemporary BVSR theory, including both a general combinatorial model and its specific manifestations (internal vs. external selection, simultaneous vs. sequential selection, exploration vs. elimination, and open vs. closed preselection). This overview then permits theoretical treatment of the connections between convergent thinking and BVSR. These connections entail the direct involvement of convergent thinking in BVSR, as well as the occasions in which sequential BVSR operates in a manner resembling convergent thinking. The article closes with a discussion of some misunderstandings regarding the function of d...
Survival of guinea pig thyroid and parathyroid autotransplants previously subjected to extremely low temperatures.

SummaryThyroid gland of guinea pig was subjected to low temperatures (−70°, or −190°C) and subsequently autotransplanted. In some instances pituitary thyrotropin was administered before or after transplantation in order to increase the growth potential of the transplant and overcome the injurious effects incident to transferring the tissue. There was one successful transplantation of thyroid gland in 12 attempts after exposure at −70°C and one parathyroid transplant. Eight viable thyroid grafts in 12 attempts were obtained after immersion at −190°C. The significance of these findings with respect to rapidity of freezing is discussed in their relation to the mechanism of survival of mammalian cells and tissues exposed to extremely low temperature. The relation of these results to evidence purported to indicate a viral transmission of transplanted frozen-dehydrated tumor material is also pointed out.
Large-basis no-core shell-model calculations for p-shell nuclei

Results of large-basis shell-model calculations for nuclei with A=7–10 are presented. The effective interactions used in the study were derived microscopically from the Reid93 potential and take into account the Coulomb potential as well as the charge dependence of T=1 partial waves. For A=7, a 6ℏΩ model space was used, while for the rest of the studied nuclides, the calculations were performed in a 4ℏΩ model space. It is demonstrated that the shell model combined with microscopic effective interactions derived from modern nucleon-nucleon potentials is capable of providing good agreement with the experimental properties of the ground state as well as with those of the low-lying excited states. In the context of the calculations for A=10 isobars we study in detail the isospin-mixing correction to the 10C→10B Fermi matrix element.
Retinoic acid-specific induction of a protein kinase C isoform during differentiation of HL-60 cells

Human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) were treated with several differentiation inducers, then the changes in the activity of cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms were examined by hydroxylapatite chromatography and the species of the isoforms were determined immunologically. In three undifferentiated HL-60 cell lines examined, PKC alpha and beta isoforms were present, but PKC gamma isoform was not detected. When the cells were induced by dimethylsulfoxide, dibutyryl cAMP, or nicotinamide to differentiate into granulocytes, these two PKC isoforms each increased to about 2- to 3-fold. When retinoic acid was used as the inducer, in addition to PKC alpha and beta, a third PKC isoform appeared. This isoform was clearly distinct from rat PKC alpha, beta, and gamma, immunologically. This isoform showed a distinctly lower Ca(2+)-requirement (3 microM) than that of PKC alpha or beta (100 microM) and was more dependent on cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine, compared with PKC alpha, beta, and gamma. These results suggest that while the increases in the activities of PKC alpha and beta isoforms are common in the differentiation program initiated by several inducers, including retinoic acid, the emergence of an unclassified PKC isoform is a retinoic acid-specific process.
African Roots of the Amistad Revolt

Sierra Leone: The African Roots of the Amistad Revolt: Masks of the Sacred Bush. Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, July 15, 2000– December 2000.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae in children.

By culturing for N gonorrhoeae in cases of neonates and children with conjunctivitis, vaginitis, urethritis, proctitis, sepsis, and arthritis, gonococcal infections can be identified easily. They are then treated with ceftriaxone. In neonates, the mother and her sexual contacts also should be treated. In children, a full evaluation for sexual contacts, with the assistance of other professionals, if necessary, will almost always identify a sexual contact. Appropriate action then can be taken to protect the child from further sexual contact. .
Streptococcus uberis Plasminogen Activator (SUPA) Activates Human Plasminogen through Novel Species-specific and Fibrin-targeted Mechanisms

Bacterial plasminogen (Pg) activators generate plasmin to degrade fibrin blood clots and other proteins that modulate the pathogenesis of infection, yet despite strong homology between mammalian Pgs, the activity of bacterial Pg activators is thought to be restricted to the Pg of their host mammalian species. Thus, we found that Streptococcus uberis Pg activator (SUPA), isolated from a Streptococcus species that infects cows but not humans, robustly activated bovine but not human Pg in purified systems and in plasma. Consistent with this, SUPA formed a higher avidity complex (118-fold) with bovine Pg than with human Pg and non-proteolytically activated bovine but not human Pg. Surprisingly, however, the presence of human fibrin overrides the species-restricted action of SUPA. First, human fibrin enhanced the binding avidity of SUPA for human Pg by 4–8-fold in the presence and absence of chloride ion (a negative regulator). Second, although SUPA did not protect plasmin from inactivation by α2-antiplasmin, fibrin did protect human plasmin, which formed a 31-fold higher avidity complex with SUPA than Pg. Third, fibrin significantly enhanced Pg activation by reducing the Km (4-fold) and improving the catalytic efficiency of the SUPA complex (6-fold). Taken together, these data suggest that indirect molecular interactions may override the species-restricted activity of bacterial Pg activators; this may affect the pathogenesis of infections or may be exploited to facilitate the design of new blood clot-dissolving drugs.
Abstract 4056:Gaussialuciferase complementation demonstrates that secreted CXCL12 (SDF-1) forms dimer under physiologic conditions

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Chemokine CXCL12 signaling through receptors CXCR4 and/or CXCR7 promotes tumor growth and metastasis in more than 20 different human malignancies, establishing CXCL12 as a promising therapeutic target in cancer. Under physiologic conditions, many chemokines form homodimers, which may activate signaling pathways distinct from those regulated by monomers of the same chemokine. Prior studies with recombinant, mutant forms of CXCL12 engineered to form either monomers or dimers show that monomeric and dimeric CXCL12 preferentially activate different downstream signaling molecules. However, the extent to which CXCL12 forms homodimers under physiologic conditions and resultant effects on CXCR4 and CXCR7 signaling remain to be determined. To analyze dimerization of CXCL12 secreted by mammalian cells, we used bioluminescence imaging of CXCL12 fused to either full length or complementation fragments of Gaussia luciferase (GL). Using column chromatography and GL protein fragment complementation, we demonstrated that CXCL12 is secreted from mammalian cells as both monomers and homodimers, and the homodimer remains stable in the extracellular environment. In 3D spheroid cultures, we also established that CXCL12 secreted from two independent cell populations can form homodimers in the extracellular space. Relative to dimeric CXCL12, monomeric CXCL12 preferentially signaled via CXCR4 to Gαi proteins to activate AKT and suppress intracellular cAMP. By comparison, dimeric CXCL12 was more potent at recruiting α-arrestin 2 to CXCR4 and regulating chemotaxis CXCR4+ breast cancer cells. In cell-based assays and an orthotopic tumor xenograft model of human breast cancer, we also found that CXCR7 preferentially sequestered monomeric CXCL12 and had minimal accumulation of the dimer. From these studies, we conclude that CXCL12 secreted from mammalian cells forms homodimers under physiologic conditions, and monomeric versus homodimeric CXCL12 regulate distinct signaling pathways. These results inform ongoing efforts to target CXCL12 and its receptors for cancer therapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4056. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4056
Selling Guatemala's next Green Revolution: agricultural modernization and the politics of GM maize regulation

Although genetically modified (GM) agriculture is posited as key for increasing food production, controversy has limited the global adoption of the technology. There has been little work, however, analysing the negotiation of biotechnology regulations in developing countries where disputes are related to different histories of agricultural change from the US and Europe. Guatemala is a key case to examine the relationship of biotechnology debates to the historical trajectory of Green Revolution technologies. While Mayan farmers increased maize yields by mixing local seeds with modern fertilizers, the Green Revolution exacerbated structural inequities underlying Guatemala's agrarian system and heightened political tensions during the country's civil war. This paper contends that biotechnology regulatory politics are integrally tied to concerns over heightening existing tensions between small-scale and industrialized farming systems as well as to more recent issues of seed patenting. The first section links ...
An update on transfusion-transmitted viruses

Advances in blood donor screening have advanced the concept that a zero-risk blood supply may be possible in the future. Although the application of a large number of serologic tests and more stringent donor questioning has certainly aided our ability to screen out donors, risks still remain. In this article, the literature on some transfusion transmitted diseases is reviewed.
Information maintenance and statistical dependence reduction in simple neural networks

This study compares the ability of excitatory, feed-forward neural networks to construct good transformations on their inputs. The quality of such a transformation is judged by the minimization of two information measures: the information loss of the transformation and the statistical dependency of the output. The networks that are compared differ from each other in the parametric properties of their neurons and in their connectivity. The particular network parameters studied are output firing threshold, synaptic connectivity, and associative modification of connection weights. The network parameters that most directly affect firing levels are threshold and connectivity. Networks incorporating neurons with dynamic threshold adjustment produce better transformations. When firing threshold is optimized, sparser synaptic connectivity produces a better transformation than denser connectivity. Associative modification of synaptic weights confers only a slight advantage in the construction of optimal transformations. Additionally, our research shows that some environments are better suited than others for recoding. Specifically, input environments high in statistical dependence, i.e. those environments most in need of recoding, are more likely to undergo successful transformations.
Strongly coupled plasma with electric and magnetic charges

A number of theoretical and lattice results lead us to believe that quark-gluon plasma not too far from ${T}_{c}$ contains not only electrically charged quasiparticles---quarks and gluons---but magnetically charged ones---monopoles and dyons---as well. Although binary systems such as charge-monopole and charge-dyon were considered in detail before in both classical and quantum settings, this is the first study of coexisting electric and magnetic particles in a many-body context. We perform a molecular dynamics study of strongly coupled plasmas with \ensuremath{\sim}1000 particles and differing fractions of magnetic charge. Correlation functions and Kubo formulas lead to transport properties such as the diffusion constant, the shear viscosity, and electric conductivity: We compare the first two with empirical data from RHIC experiments as well as with results from anti-de-Sitter space/conformal field theory correspondence. We also study a number of collective excitations in these systems.
The effectiveness of a brief psychological intervention on court-referred and self-referred aggressive drivers

This study tested the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral psychological intervention (CBT) targeting aggressive driving behaviors within both a court-referred (N=20) and a self-referred community (N=8) sample as compared to a symptom monitoring (SM) only control condition. Treatment outcome was assessed through the use of daily driving diaries, standard psychological tests, and a global rating of change scale. The CBT treatment condition improved more than the SM condition as assessed through the daily driving diaries. Although the court-referred and self-referred samples showed equivalent improvement on the driving diaries, the self-referred group improved more on measures of general anger. Standardized measures of driving anger, state anxiety and measures of general anger indicated significant change in the expected direction. Aggressive drivers who met criteria for Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) showed a trend to improve less than non-IED aggressive drivers. Treatment gains were maintained at the 2-month follow-up point.
African Womanism: An Afrocentric Theory

This article evolves from my study (see Dove, 1993, 1996) of the life herstories2 of African mothers who send their children to culturally affirming schools. I focus on conceptualizing and defining the racialization of the world through European domination/White supremacy. In doing this work, I find it impossible to ignore the specificity of the oppression of African women living in male-centered Western society. My original study included 21 herstories. A significant number of these mothers had experienced negative relationships with men who played critical roles in their lives. In what seemed to be a paradox, these women neither hated nor separated themselves from men. To the contrary, those who had sons, for instance, recognized their responsibilities to their sons. They feared for their sons' survival and for the safety of African men living under White supremacy. They wanted their sons to be fearless and to respect women. To be true to their feelings required that I not only use their words to tell their stories but develop a culturally based theory that could be sensitive to their experiences as African women. Theories pertaining to the particularized nature of African women's experiences have largely been inadequate. Those related to the feminist tradition, both White and Black, have critiqued the social conditions of women within Europeanized societies and sought solutions within European paradigms. In a departure from this pattern, Hudson-Weems's (1993) Africana womanist theory critically examines the limitations of feminist theory and helps to
Farm size and land-use policy : an Oregon case study

Farmland conversion has become an important public policy issue in the United States and in many other countries. An important part of policy considerations in farmland protection programs is the minimum parcel size for farm-related land divisions and dwelling units. The rationale for establishing size thresholds varies considerably among jurisdictions. This article reviews the policies and criteria used in the United States and several other countries, discusses the policy implications of different types of objectives, and presents the results of a case study in Oregon. The case study was the first attempt by an Oregon county to articulate a set of measurable criteria to quantify a definition of commercial agriculture for land-use applications. The criteria and data base used in the model provide a systematic procedure to process permit applications in an objective, consistent manner. The ordinance was adopted in February 1988 and has worked successfully since that time. The article summarizes permit activity under the new ordinance and comments on its effectiveness.
Genomics of Methylotrophy in Gram-Positive Methylamine-Utilizing Bacteria

Gram-positive methylotrophic bacteria have been known for a long period of time, some serving as model organisms for characterizing the specific details of methylotrophy pathways/enzymes within this group. However, genome-based knowledge of methylotrophy within this group has been so far limited to a single species, Bacillus methanolicus (Firmicutes). The paucity of whole-genome data for Gram-positive methylotrophs limits our global understanding of methylotrophy within this group, including their roles in specific biogeochemical cycles, as well as their biotechnological potential. Here, we describe the isolation of seven novel strains of Gram-positive methylotrophs that include two strains of Bacillus and five representatives of Actinobacteria classified within two genera, Arthrobacter and Mycobacterium. We report whole-genome sequences for these isolates and present comparative analysis of the methylotrophy functional modules within these genomes. The genomic sequences of these seven novel organisms, all capable of growth on methylated amines, present an important reference dataset for understanding the genomic basis of methylotrophy in Gram-positive methylotrophic bacteria. This study is a major contribution to the field of methylotrophy, aimed at closing the gap in the genomic knowledge of methylotrophy within this diverse group of bacteria.
Stimulation ofDugesia tigrina auricle regeneration by exogenous putrescine, spermine or spermidine

Specimens of a flatworm,Dugesia tigrina were decapitated and then cultured in a solution of 1×10−4 M putrescine, spermine or spermidine. Subsequent observation for the reappearance of auricles indicates that the amine treatment stimulates the flatworm regeneration process.
Comment on “Educating Our Students About Pharmaceutical Care for Those Living With Cancer”

To the Editor. We read with great interest the recent Viewpoint entitled “Educating Our Students About Pharmaceutical Care for Those Living With Cancer.”1 In the commentary, Anderson and colleagues highlight the importance of properly preparing student pharmacists for involvement in the long-term care of cancer patients. In the United States, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will develop cancer in their lifetime.2 In 2008, there were an estimated 13 million newly diagnosed cases of cancer worldwide.3 We agree that pharmacists play a vital and rapidly increasing role in the management of patients with malignancy. Although oncology practice in pharmacy has traditionally been the realm of specialists, the increasing ability to manage many cancers as chronic diseases (often by using oral oncolytic agents and concomitant supportive care therapies) has moved anticancer treatment into mainstream pharmacy practice. Given these advances, it is no longer sufficient to leave oncology pharmacy practice to the specialists; pharmacists in all practice settings must be adequately prepared to care for cancer patients across the care continuum from initial diagnosis to end-of-life care.
A Preliminary 6-Month Prospective Study Examining Self-reported Religious Preference, Religiosity/Spirituality, and Retention at a Jewish Residential Treatment Center for Substance-Related Disorders

Although there is a substantial amount of research suggesting that higher levels of religiosity/spirituality (R/S) are associated with better treatment outcomes of substance-related disorders, no studies have explored this relationship at a faith-based residential treatment center. The objective of this prospective study is to explore the relationship between R/S, self-reported religious preference, and retention at a Jewish residential treatment center for substance-related disorders. Using the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, R/S levels were assessed for 33 subjects at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Results demonstrated a significant relationship between baseline R/S level and retention at 6 months, while R/S levels were unchanged during the course of treatment. Notably, no relationship was found between self-reported religious affiliation and retention. This study demonstrates that patients’ R/S level, rather than religious affiliation, is a possible predictor for better outcome at faith-based residential centers for substance-related disorders.