cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stock price firm-specific information on the choice of stock payment in mergers and acquisitions†

Previous studies on the choice of stock payment in M&A mainly focus on managerial private information. This study shows that managers also learn new firm-specific information from financial markets in making this decision. The acquirer's stock price firm-specific information increases the stock-payment-to-Q sensitivity. The target's stock price firm-specific information decreases the stock payment probability. Further analyses on deal and firm characteristics as well as shareholder wealth in stock mergers support the managerial learning argument. Overall, this study highlights a new set of information that affects the form of merger payment in mergers and acquisitions.
Identifying the protein interactions of the cytosolic iron sulfur cluster targeting complex essential for its assembly and recognition of apo-targets

The cytosolic iron sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) system assembles iron sulfur (FeS) cluster cofactors and inserts them into >20 apo-protein targets residing in the cytosol and nucleus. Three CIA proteins, called Cia1, Cia2, and Met18 in yeast, form the targeting complex responsible for apo-target recognition. There is little information about the structure of this complex or its mechanism of CIA substrate recognition. Herein, we exploit affinity co-purification and size exclusion chromatography to determine the subunit connectivity and stoichiometry of the CIA targeting complex. We conclude that Cia2 is the organizing center of the targeting complex, which contains one Met18, two Cia1, and four Cia2 polypeptides. To probe target recognition specificity, we utilize the CIA substrates Leu1 and Rad3 as well as the E. coli FeS-binding transcription factor FNR (fumerate nitrate reductase). We demonstrate that both of the yeast CIA substrates are recognized, whereas the bacterial protein is not. Thus, while the...
HIV risk and multiple sources of heterosexism among young Black men who have sex with men.

Author(s): Vincent, Wilson; Pollack, Lance M; Huebner, David M; Peterson, John L; Steward, Wayne T; Rebchook, Gregory M; Storholm, Erik D; Kegeles, Susan M | Abstract: ObjectiveThis study examined whether the association between social support and condom self-efficacy would be moderated by (a) internalized heterosexism among and (b) enacted heterosexism experienced by young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM), who contend with high HIV incidence, heterosexism, and low uptake of preexposure prophylaxis.MethodParticipants were 1,210 YBMSM (ages 18-29) who completed measures of social support, internalized and enacted heterosexism, and condom self-efficacy in 2 large cities in the southern United States as part of a community-level HIV-prevention study.ResultsA significant 3-way interaction between social support and both hypothesized moderators, internalized and enacted heterosexism, showed that social support was positively associated with condom self-efficacy when both internalized and enacted heterosexism were high (1 SD above the mean; b = .177, 95% confidence interval [CI: .088, .266]). However, social support was not associated with condom self-efficacy when scores were low (1 SD below the mean) on both internalized and enacted heterosexism (b = .024, 95% CI [-.054, .101]), low on internalized and high on enacted heterosexism (b = .058, 95% CI [-.061, .117]), or high on internalized and low on enacted heterosexism (b = .039, 95% CI [-.083, .161]).ConclusionsYBMSM who are high in both internalized and enacted heterosexism may see greater benefits from social support on condom self-efficacy than would YBMSM who grapple with less heterosexism. In addition to promoting social support, interventions should aim to assess and reduce multiple forms of stigma. (PsycINFO Database Record
When does a Technology Venture Captures More Value from Corporate Venture Capital Investors

In this paper we analyze the contingent benefits of receiving corporate venture capital (CVC) investment on tech ventures’ innovation outcome. First, we show that ventures receiving CVC investment have higher innovation performance in comparison to ventures that have received independent VC (IVC) investment only. Furthermore, the positive effect of having CVC investors is more pronounced for a focal tech venture’s innovation rate when the tech venture has more patents and higher alliance activity at the time the venture received its first CVC funding. We also show that tech venture can access more of the resources that a CVC can offer during favorable (or hot) market conditions, thanks to the venture’s increased bargaining power in favorable market conditions, hence further pronouncing the positive effects of CVC investment on the venture’s innovation rate. We tested our hypotheses on the biotech ventures that received venture capital funding between 1980 and 1997 and found supporting results for our hypo...
A Case of Levamisole-Induced Agranulocytosis.

A sixty-eight-year-old male with a past medical history of recurrent cocaine use presented to the emergency department with recurrent diarrhea and was found to have a white blood cell (WBC) count of 1.9 × 109/L with agranulocytosis (absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 95 cell/mm3). At admission, the patient disclosed that he used cocaine earlier during the day, and a urine drug screen tested positive for this. On hospital day one, the patient was found to have a fever with a maximum temperature of 313.6 K. After ruling out other causes and noting the quick turnaround of his neutropenia after four days of cocaine abstinence, the patient’s neutropenia was attributed to levamisole-adulterated cocaine.
Burnout is Associated With Emotional Intelligence but not Traditional Job Performance Measurements in Surgical Residents

Objective To evaluate whether burnout was associated with emotional intelligence and job performance in surgical residents. Design General surgery residents at a single institution were surveyed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and trait EI questionnaire (TEIQ-SF). Burnout was defined as scoring in 2 of the 3 following domains; Emotional Exhaustion (high), Depersonalization (high), and Personal Accomplishment (low). Job performance was evaluated using faculty evaluations of clinical competency-based surgical milestones and standardized test scores including the American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE) and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 3. USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2, which were taken prior to residency training, were included to examine possible associations of burnout with USMLE examinations. Statistical comparison was made using Pearson correlation and simple linear regression adjusting for PGY level. Setting This study was conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) general surgery residency program. Participants All current and incoming general surgery residents at UAB were invited to participate in this study. Results Forty residents participated in the survey (response rate 77%). Ten residents, evenly distributed from incoming residents to PGY-4, had burnout (25%). Mean global EI was lower in residents with burnout versus those without burnout (3.71 vs 3.9, p = 0.02). Of the 4 facets of EI, mean self-control values were lower in residents with burnout versus those without burnout (3.3 vs 4.06, p Conclusions Burnout is present in surgery residents and associated with emotional intelligence. There was no association of burnout with USMLE scores, ABSITE percentile, or surgical milestones. Traditional methods of assessing resident performance may not be capturing burnout and strategies to reduce burnout should consider targeting emotional intelligence.
Disparities in Outcomes and Resource Use After Hospitalization for Cardiac Surgery by Neighborhood Income

BACKGROUND: Significant disparities exist between patients of different races and with different family incomes; less is understood regarding community-level factors on outcomes. METHODS: In this study, we used linked data from the Pediatric Health Information System database and the US Census Bureau to examine associations between median annual household income by zip code and mortality, length of stay, inpatient standardized costs, and costs per day, over and above the effects of race and payer, first for children undergoing cardiac surgery (2005–2015) and then for all pediatric discharges (2012–2015). Median community-level income was examined as continuous and categorical (by quartile) predictors. Hierarchical logistic and censored linear regression models were constructed. To these models, patient and surgical characteristics, year, race, payer, state, urban or rural designation, and center fixed effects were added. RESULTS: We identified 101 013 cardiac surgical (and 857 833 total) hospitalizations from 46 institutions. Children from the lowest-income neighborhoods who were undergoing cardiac surgery had 1.18 times the odds of mortality (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 1.35), 7% longer lengths of stay (CI: 1% to 14%), and 7% higher standardized costs (CI: 1% to 14%) than children from the highest-income neighborhoods. Results for all children were similar, both with and without any major chronic conditions. The effects of neighborhood were only partially explained by differences in race, payer, or the centers at which patients received care. There were no differences in costs per day. CONCLUSIONS: Children from lower-income neighborhoods are at increased risk of mortality and use more resource intensive care than children from higher-income communities, even after accounting for disparities between races, payers, and centers.
Hydrogen Bonding Interaction in Polymer Blends

Abstract Miscibility enhancement via hydrogen bonding interactions between dissimilar polymers is discussed. The minimum number of interacting groups required for miscibility and the effect of interaction on thermally induced phase separation temperature are elucidated. NMR relaxation time measurements allow an estimate of the homogeneity of mixing on a nanometer scale. By controlling the extent of hydrogen bonding in a polymer pair, it is possible to prepare interpenetrating polymer networks either in the homogeneous or in the heterogeneous state.
A FRAMEWORK OF DEVELOPING SEMANTIC MODELS OF USER PERFORMANCE

The development of models of user performance in man-computer interaction must take increased account of the representation and organization of knowledge. This paper describes a conceptual framework of this kind on the basis of a psychologically based model of knowledge representation. Attention is centred on operative knowledge units that are learning-dependent and exercise an influence on both the planning processes and the specification of action sequences for the computer. The results of investigations made on the basis of a simple graphic system will be interpreted in this very framework.
C-MET as a potential target therapy toward personalized therapy in some pediatric tumors: An overview.

Abstract Althoughpediatric tumors represent less than 1% of all new cancer diagnoses, they still rank the second in the list of disease-related morbidity and mortality in children in the US. Combining biomarker-driven targeted therapy with individualized genomic analysis is the principle of precision medicine trials. The cellular–mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET) factor receptor signaling pathway plays an important role in many physiological functions including embryological development. It, tightly, regulates changes in cell growth and survival, it also defines the general pattern of invasive growth during normal development. Aberrant MET signaling is the fundamental cause of carcinogenesis of many pediatric tumors and it may play a role in tumor metastasis that leads to the poor prognosis in most cancer patients. This review describes c-MET/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling pathway relevance to pediatric tumors. Also, it discusses the pre-clinical and clinical studies for inhibitors of this pathway.
Plasma Membrane ATPase as a Key Site of Alteration by a Freeze-thaw Stress: Role in Recovery and Progressive Injury

One of the first visual manifestations of freezing injury is the water soaked appearance of the tissue due to infiltration of the intercellular spaces with water (Levitt, 1980; Palta et al., 1977a). This is often accompanied by loss of turgor, and leakage of ions and organic solutes from the cell (Palta et al., 1977b; Palta et al., 1977c). Until recently it was believed that this leakage was due to a complete breakdown in membrane semipermeability and membrane rupture. Recent work of Palta and co-workers (Palta et al., 1982; Palta and Li, 1980) have established that ion leakage is due to a selective change in membrane transport properties and that freezing injury was either reversible or irreversible depending upon the initial extent of injury. From these studies they proposed that freezing stress results in alteration of the functions of plasma membrane ATPase in the early stages of injury (Palta and Li, 1980). Results supporting this hypothesis have been reported by studying changes in plasma membrane (PM) ATPase after freezing injury and cold acclimation (Helleregren et al., 1985; Ishikawa and Yoshida, 1985; Jian et al., 1982).
What is the Relationship between Entrepreneurship and Innovation Output? Evidence from 219 Economies over 1960–2018

Entrepreneurship is widely thought to be associated with innovation, yet the prior evidence about this relationship has been mixed. For this reason, some researchers have argued that the locus of innovation lies with large, professionally managed firms rather than new entrants. This study uses the largest available panel data comprising 219 economies over 1960-2018 and instrumental variables models to estimate empirically the relationship between entrepreneurship and innovation output at a national level, testing alternative mechanisms such as new entry and reliance on professional management as drivers of innovation output. The findings show that various measures of entrepreneurship, including rates of new company registration, were positively correlated with innovation within economies over time, after accounting for potential endogeneity in this relationship. Every 10 percent increase in the number of new companies registered per capita in a calendar year was associated with a 2.4 percent increase in the number of patent applications by residents and 34.6 percent increase in the value of high-technology exports per capita over the observation period. The empirical relationship between professional management and innovation output, however, was null. These findings have important implications for the literature on entrepreneurship and innovation and for entrepreneurship policy.
Natural Killer (NK) Cell Recovery After Bone Marrow Transplantation in Mice: Early Emergence of a Novel Ly49+ Stage in Differentiation Independent of MHC Haplotype.

Abstract Abstract 4477 NK cells play critical roles in resistance to viral infections and in cancer. NK cells exist as subpopulations of cells that bear inhibitory and/or activating receptors to MHC. In mice, these are the Ly49+ subsets which have been shown to play a role in the rejection of bone marrow allografts as well as resistance to CMV. These Ly49 receptors also play a central role in the “education”, “arming” or “licensing” of NK cells. NK cell recovery after bone marrow transplantation is thought to proceed quickly but the acquisition of the Ly49 receptors has been incompletely characterized. NK cell differentiation has for the most part been characterized through in vitro models. We therefore examined the recovery of NK cells after syngeneic BMT in mice and assessed the effects of MHC on the recovery of the Ly49+ subsets using congenic recipients. NK cells were rapidly detected in mice as early as 14 days after BMT. Interestingly, the dominant population observed had a mature NK cell phenotype based on the expression of CD94, CD43, CD11b, etc. However, the majority of NK cells had a unique expression of Ly49G2 single positive NK cells with median fluorescence intensity (MFI) approximately twice as high as on NK cells from normal animals. This phenotype was not observed in untreated normal mice and occurred in B6 and B10 (H2b) as well as B10.D2 (H2d) strain mice showing independence from MHC. When these cells were sorted and assessed for cytotoxic activity, the cells had comparable killing efficiency as NK cells from untreated mice. Over time, NK cells with normal Ly49 subset distribution and phenotype were observed with the disappearance of this earlier subset. However, total splenic NK cell numbers remained significantly reduced in the BMT recipients as long as 120 days after BMT and despite normal recovery and numbers of T cells. These results demonstrate the existence of novel stage(s) in NK cell differentiation that occur independently of MHC and that can be characterized by sole expression of Ly49G2 at high levels. However, deficits in NK cell numbers persist in mice for extended periods of time. These findings suggest that NK cell recovery may occur in waves with some inhibitory receptors programmed to repopulate first and that surface expression intensity also needs to be assessed. Furthermore, the long-term deficits in total numbers suggest that overall activity may be compromised for extended periods clinically post-BMT. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Gender matters in questioning presidents

This paper traces the increasing prominence of women in the White House press corps over the latter half of the 20th century, and considers how this trend toward greater gender balance has impacted the questioning of presidents. Modest gender differences are documented in the topical content of questions, with women journalists slightly favoring domestic policy and private-sphere topics relative to men. More substantial differences are documented in aggressiveness, with women journalists asking more adversarial questions, and more assertive questions at least in the earlier years of the sampling period. The topical content differences are broadly aligned with traditional conceptions of gender, but the stronger differences in aggressiveness run contrary to such conceptions.
Bayesian Inference of Cell Composition and Gene Expression Reveals Tumor-Microenvironment Interactions

Understanding the dynamic interactions between malignant cells and the tumor stroma is a major goal of cancer research. Here we developed a Bayesian model that jointly infers both cellular composition and gene expression in each cell type, including heterogeneous malignant cells, from bulk RNA-seq using scRNA-seq as prior information. We conducted an integrative analysis of 85 single-cell and 1,412 bulk RNA-seq datasets in primary human glioblastoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. We identified cell types correlated with clinical outcomes and explored regional heterogeneity in tumor state and stromal composition. We redefined common molecular subtypes using gene expression in malignant cells, after excluding confounding non-malignant cell types. Finally, we identified genes whose expression in malignant cells correlated with infiltration of macrophages, T-cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells across multiple tumor types. Our work provides a new lens that we used to measure cellular composition and expression in a statistically powered cohort of three primary human malignancies.
Media Review: The Owlet Smart Sock-a "must have" for the baby registry?

Citation:Malik A, Ehsan Z. Media Review: The Owlet Smart Sock—a “must have” for the baby registry? J Clin Sleep Med. 2020;16(5):839–840.
Decay of 15-min Ga 65 to Zn 65

Fifteen-min ${\mathrm{Ga}}^{65}$ was produced from the ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{63}(\ensuremath{\alpha}, 2n){\mathrm{Ga}}^{65}$ reaction. The decay of this isotope was studied using Ge(Li) and Si(Li) detectors and scintillation counters. $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays of the following energies have been identified: 54, 61, 115, 153, 207, 654, 752, 769, 910, 932, 1047, 1227, 1342, 1353, and 1414 keV. Conversion electrons were observed for the 54-, 61-, 115-, and 153-keV transitions, from which multipolarity assignments were made. The half-life of the 115-keV state was measured by delayed coincidence and was found to be (4.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec. Information from singles and coincidence measurements have been incorporated into a decay scheme. The levels in ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{65}$ found to be populated from the ${\mathrm{Ga}}^{65}$ decay are at 54, 115, 207, 769, 867, 1047, 1342, and 1468 keV.
Tree-Based Machine Learning to Identify and Understand Major Determinants for Stroke at the Neighborhood Level.

Background Stroke is a major cardiovascular disease that causes significant health and economic burden in the United States. Neighborhood community‐based interventions have been shown to be both ef...
A Facebook intervention to address cigarette smoking and heavy episodic drinking: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Background Co-occurrence of tobacco use and heavy episodic drinking (HED; 5+ drinks for men and 4+ drinks for women per occasion) is common among young adults; both warrant attention and intervention. In a two-group randomized pilot trial, we investigated whether a Facebook-based smoking cessation intervention addressing both alcohol and tobacco use would increase smoking abstinence and reduce HED compared to a similar intervention addressing only tobacco. Methods Participants were 179 young adults (age 18–25; 49.7% male; 80.4% non-Hispanic white) recruited from Facebook and Instagram who reported smoking 4+ days/week and past-month HED. The Smoking Tobacco and Drinking (STAND) intervention (N = 84) and the Tobacco Status Project (TSP), a tobacco-only intervention (N = 95), both included daily Facebook posts for 90 days and weekly live counseling sessions in private “secret” groups. We verified self-reported 7-day smoking abstinence via remote salivary cotinine tests at 3, 6, and 12 months (with retention at 83%, 66%, and 84%, respectively). Participants self-reported alcohol use. Results At baseline, the participants averaged 10.4 cigarettes per day (SD = 6.9) and 8.9 HED occasions in the past month (SD = 8.1), with 27.4% in a preparation stage of change for quitting smoking cigarettes. Participants reported significant improvements in cigarette smoking and alcohol use outcomes over time, with no significant differences by condition. At 12 months, intent-to-treat smoking abstinence rates were 3.5% in STAND vs. 0% in TSP (biochemically verified) and 29.4% in STAND vs. 25.5% in TSP (self-reported). Compared to TSP, participants rated the STAND intervention more favorably for supporting health and providing useful information. Conclusions Adding an alcohol treatment component to a tobacco cessation social media intervention was acceptable and engaging but did not result in significant differences by treatment condition in smoking or alcohol use outcomes. Participants in both conditions reported smoking and drinking less over time, suggesting covariation in behavioral changes.
Expanding Penn State’s Office Delivery Service to Include Graduate Students

The Office Delivery service at the Pennsylvania State University Libraries’ University Park campus allows faculty and staff to request and receive libraries owned and borrowed materials in their ca...
Coronavation: Keep Calm, and Carry On

In this essay, I summarize a few ideas inspired by my involvement in the "Coronavation" working group, which spanned 2020's COVID-19 crisis. Health-care practitioners, computer scientists, and engineers alike, we strive to meet the challenges associated with practice under threat of pandemic with the same ideals driving the rapid, positive developments in health care today: innovation, collaboration and technology convergence, and acquisition of valuable data that leads to better approaches and new ideas. The ideas sketched here, forged by the need for practical pandemic responses, are rooted in those ideals.
Balancing Academic Career and Parenthood: Ten Thoughts and One Bonus on Success

There are several approaches to balancing academic career and parenthood. In this chapter, we will look at a few of my personal perspectives on this delicate balance. Herein are listed ten thoughts on how I approach these two very important aspects of my life including: follow your heart; it begins with you; be a supporter at work; be a Mom at home; strive to be happy; organize your day; heal thy patient; efficiency, commitment, and a good mentor count; be honest; and last, but certainly not least, family comes first. And one final consideration to remember, especially in the greater scheme of life – humor helps.
High sigma model of pulsar wind nebulae

Pulsars and central engines of long gamma ray burst -- collapsars -- may produce highly magnetized (Poynting flux dominated) outflows expanding in a dense surrounding (interstellar medium or stellar material). For certain injection conditions, the magnetic flux of the wind cannot be accommodated within the cavity. In this case, ideal (non-dissipative) MHD models, similar to the Kennel and Coroniti (1984) model of the Crab nebular, break down (the so-called sigma problem). This is typically taken to imply that the wind should become particle-dominated on scales much smaller than the size of the cavity. The wind is then slowed down by a fluid-type (low magnetization) reverse shock. Recent Fermi results, indicating that synchrotron spectrum of the Crab nebula extends well beyond the upper limit of the most efficient radiation reaction-limited acceleration, contradict the presence of a low sigma reverse shock. We propose an alternative possibility, that the excessive magnetic flux is destroyed in a reconnection-like process in two regions: near the rotational axis and near the equator. We construct an example of such highly magnetized wind having two distinct reconnection regions and suggest that these reconnection cites are observed as tori and jets in pulsar wind nebulae. The model reproduces, qualitatively, the observed morphology of the Crab nebula. In parts of the nebular the dissipation occurs in a relativistically moving wind, alleviating the requirements on the acceleration rate.
Working with Information

There is an implicit human valuing of information, one embodying religious formulations that the truth will make one free, philosophic formulations that the unexamined life is not worth living, scientific premises that knowledge is power one can use for human good, psychoanalytic principles that ego (usually viewed as logos) should replace id, and common sense principles that one should look before leaping. I would like to take a closer look at how we make this choice for information, some of the justification for such a choice, and the implications of this choice or valuation. In medical ethics, it is not always as clear-cut as the above stated axioms make it seem.
Behavior of Pesticides in Soils

Publisher Summary The behavior of pesticides in soils has been the subject of research long before pollution became a byword. In recognition that soil is the ultimate sink for most widely used pesticides, and given the impetus of recent public awareness of the quality of our environment, the past decades have marked much progress in the understanding of the fate and behavior of pesticides in soils. A strong case for the continued use or precipitate abandonment of agricultural pesticides is inappropriate. It is reasonable, however, to note the vitally important role pesticides have assumed in increasing the quantity and quality of foodstuffs, timber, and ornamental plants; in improving animal health; and in combating certain diseases transmitted to man. This chapter reviews the behavior of pesticides in soils from the standpoint of processes affecting pesticides (physicochemical and metabolic), the effect of pesticides on the soil microbiota, and the implications of these processes on persistence, bioactivity, and plant uptake. Adsorption, the most influential process affecting pesticides in soils, depends on both soil and pesticide properties. Other significant soil factors include total surface area, water content, temperature, and pH. Pesticide properties that are relevant include overall chemical character and configuration, dissociation constant, water solubility, charge distribution, and molecular size. Movement of the pesticides occurs by leaching, volatilization, or runoff. The importance of photodecomposition as a process degrading pesticides in soils is uncertain. Generally, photolysis occurs more readily for compounds in solution, with soil inhibiting the reaction.
Human Intestinal Brush Border Peptidases

Hydrolysis of small peptides, like disaccharide hydrolysis, is an important function of the intestinal brush border, but little is known of the individual human peptidases. The purposes of this study were to detect all human brush border enzymes hydrolyzing dipeptides and tripeptides, identify the most discriminating substrate for each enzyme in order to permit assays in crude mixtures, and begin biochemical characterization of each enzyme. Four brush border peptidases were identified. Enzymes I (aspartate aminopeptidase, E.C. 3.4.11.7) and III (amino-oligopeptidase, E.C. 3.4.11.2) are known brush border enzymes. Enzymes II (membrane GlyLeu peptidase) and IV (zinc stable Asp-Lys peptidase) have not been identified in human brush border previously. They are distinct from dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV, carboxypeptidase, and γ-glutamyl transferase. The substrate most discriminating for each enzyme is α-Glu-β-naphthylamide for I (100% of the brush border activity for this substrate is due to enzyme I), glycylleucine for II (80%), leucyl-β-naphthylamide for III (91%), and aspartyllysine in 5 mM Zn 2+ for IV (63%). The enzymes are immunologically distinct and antibodies to each one localize to the brush border on immunohistochemical staining. Purification of 142−, 79−, 158−, and 46-fold was achieved for enzymes I through IV, respectively. Biochemical characteristics include slightly alkaline pH optima, molecular weights of 91,000–190,000, and evidence of metal ion involvement in activity. These studies provide necessary information for determining the role of brush border peptidase deficiencies in human disease.
Purification of the inducible murine macrophage nitric oxide synthase. Identification as a flavoprotein.

The synthesis of nitric oxide (.NO) from L-arginine has been demonstrated in a number of cell types and functions either as a cell signaling agent or as a key component of the cell-mediated immune response. Both constitutive and inducible activities have been described. Herein we report the purification of inducible .NO synthase (EC 1.14.23) from activated murine macrophages using a two-column procedure. Crude 100,000 x g supernatant was passed through a 2'-5'-ADP-Sepharose 4B affinity column followed by a DEAE-Bio-Gel A anion exchange column. The .NO synthase ran as a band of Mr = 130,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Gel filtration experiments using a Superose 6 HR 10/30 column estimated the native molecular weight to be 260 +/- 30 kDa, indicating that the native enzyme exists as a dimer. Activity was dependent upon L-arginine (Km = 16 +/- 1 microM at 37 degrees C and pH 7.5) and NADPH. Both (6R)-tetrahydro-L-biopterin and FAD enhanced activity, whereas Mg2+ and FMN had no effect on activity. Fluorescence studies demonstrated the presence of one bound FAD and one bound FMN per subunit.
Identification of glutathione S-transferase (GST) polymorphisms in brain tumors and association with susceptibility to pediatric astrocytomas.

Polymorphisms in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes, a superfamily that plays a key role in carcinogen metabolism, have been associated with an increased susceptibility to several types of cancer. We wished to evaluate whether variant allelic forms of GST isoenzymes were associated with an increased susceptibility for brain tumors and age of tumor onset. Here, we examined 394 brain tumors (221 adult and 173 pediatric cases consisting of 197 astrocytic and 197 non-astrocytic tumors) to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes compared to a healthy control population. Our data shows that the frequency of GST polymorphisms varies not only between adult and pediatric patients with brain tumors and healthy controls, but also between different histological subtypes of brain tumors occurring in pediatric patients. We found (i) a statistically significant increase in the frequency of the functional GSTM1 allele in high-grade pediatric astrocytomas (p < 0.002), (ii) a significant increase in the frequency of the rare GSTP1 variant Val114/Val114 in pediatric astrocytomas (p < 0.002), and (iii) a significant increase in the frequency of the rare GSTP1 Val114/Val114 genotype among pediatric tumors showing microsatellite instability (MSI) due to defects in mismatch repair (MMR) proteins (p = 0.003). Our results suggest that GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms may play a role in brain tumor susceptibility by histological subtype, particularly high-grade pediatric astrocytomas. Moreover, the presence of the genetic modifier GSTP1 Val114/Val114 genotype may begin to define a high-risk genotype for cancer susceptibility in the pediatric population.
Ch. 7: Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry - US

During negotiations for the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the 1990s, the United States (US) played a notable role in securing recognition for the climate mitigation potential in land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF). Ultimately, the US did not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but as a signatory to the UNFCCC, the US is formally obliged to control its greenhouse gas emissions. This chapter provides an overview of LULUCF in the US and the primary legal regimes that structure US progress toward climate mitigation through LULUCF means. It also addresses points of legal and policy intersection between LULUCF and the energy and transportation sectors, both considered critical to climate mitigation.
Fas ligand (CD95L) and B7 expression on dendritic cells provide counter-regulatory signals for T cell survival and proliferation.

Activation of T cells is induced efficiently by dendritic cells (DC), but little is known about the role of DC in the regulation of T cell death. In this study, highly purified DC (DEC-205+, MHC class II(high), B7-1+ [CD80+], B7-2high [CD86high], CD40+, CD11c+) grown from normal mouse bone marrow in granulocyte-macrophage CSF + IL-4 were found to express FasL (CD95L) mRNA by reverse transcriptase PCR and to uniformly express FasL by both flow cytometric and immunocytochemical analyses. These cells, but not DC propagated from FasL-deficient (B6.gld) mice, induced dose-dependent increases in DNA fragmentation in Fas+ Jurkat T cells over 18 h coculture. Addition of mouse Fas-Fc fusion protein at the start of the cultures diminished this effect. Even at high relative concentrations, however, B7-2high DC induced only low levels of DNA fragmentation in Con A or alloactivated splenic T cells, as determined by radio- or spectrofluorometric assays and by in situ nick-end labeling. However, in the presence of CTLA4Ig, a molecule that blocks the B7-CD28 costimulatory pathway, DC that failed to stimulate in primary MLR induced markedly augmented levels of apoptosis in alloactivated T cells. CTLA4Ig treatment also increased the level of DNA fragmentation induced by FasL-deficient DC, indicating the existence of additional potential (Fas-independent) pathways of DC-induced T cell death. These findings suggest that the costimulatory (B7-CD28) and T cell death-inducing pathways may play important counter-regulatory roles in dictating the outcome of (allogeneic) DC-T cell interactions.
Limiting Behavior of Random Gibbs Measures: Metastates in Some Disordered Mean Field Models

We present examples of random mean field spin models for which the size dependence of their Gibbs measures μΛ n can be rigorously analyzed. We investigate their ‘empirical metastates’ \(1/N \sum\nolimits_{n = 1}^N {\delta _{\mu \Lambda _n } }\), introduced by Newman and Stein, along the sequence of finite volumes \(\Lambda _n = \{ 1,\,...,\,n\}\). The empirical metastate is shown not to converge in our examples if the realization of the disorder is fixed. This phenomenon leads us to consider the distributions w.r.t disorder of the empirical metastates for which we show convergence and give explicit limiting expression.
Evaluation of a Regional Approach to Standards for Plug-in Battery Electric Vehicles in Future Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Regulations

Representing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) in vehicle GHG emissions regulations is complex because of spatial and temporal variation in fueling sources and vehicle use. Previous work has shown that the environmental performance of PEVs significantly varies depending on the characteristics of the electricity grid and how the vehicle is driven. This article evaluates the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) GHG emissions accounting methodology in current and future standards for new electrified vehicles. The current approach employed by the EPA in their 2017–2025 model year light-duty vehicle GHG regulation is compared with an accounting mechanism where the actual regional sales of PEVs, and the regional electricity emission factor in the year sold, are used to determine vehicle compliance value. Changes to the electricity grid over time and regional vehicle sales are included in the modeling efforts. A projection of a future GHG regulation past the 2017–2025 rule is used to observe the effect of such a regional regulation. The results showed that the complexity involved in tracking and accounting for regional PEV sales will not dramatically increase the effectiveness of the regulations to capture PEV electricity-related GHG emissions in the absence of a major policy shift. A discussion of the feasibility and effectiveness of a regional standard for PEVs, and notable examples of region-specific regulations instated in past energy policies, is also addressed.
Cell Growth and Division in Escherichia coli: a Common Genetic Control Involved in Cell Division and Minicell Formation

Escherichia coli Div 124(ts) is a conditional-lethal cell division mutant formed from a cross between a mutant that produces polar anucleated minicells and a temperature-sensitive cell division mutant affected in a stage of cross-wall synthesis. Under permissive growth temperature (30 C), Div 124(ts) grows and produces normal progeny cells and anucleated minicells from its polar ends. When transferred to nonpermissive growth temperature (42 C), growth and macromolecular synthesis continue, but cell division and minicell formation are inhibited. Growth at 42 C results in formation of filamentous cells showing some constrictions along the length of the filaments. Return of the filaments from 42 to 30 C results in cell division and minicell formation in association with the constrictions and other areas along the length of the filaments. This gives rise to a "necklace-type" array of cells and minicells. Recovery of cell division is observed after a lag and is followed by a burst in cell division and finally by a return to the normal growth characteristic of 30 C cultures. Recovery of cell division takes place in the presence of chloramphenicol or nalidixic acid when these are added at the time of shift from 42 to 30 C, and indicates that a division potential for filament fragmentation is accumulated while the cells are at 42 C. This division potential is used for the production of both minicells and cells of normal length. The conditional-lethal temperature sensitive mutation controls a step(s) in cross-wall synthesis common to cell division and minicell formation.
Cell Death in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Requires de Novo Protein Synthesis

Abstract: Degradation of cytoskeletal proteins by calpain, a Ca2+-dependent cysteine protease, may promote neuronal apoptosis in the lesion and surrounding areas following spinal cord injury (SCI). Clinically relevant moderate (40 g-cm force) SCI in rats was induced at T12 by a standardized weight-drop method. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation or apoptosis in the lesion was inhibited by 24-h treatment of SCI rats with cycloheximide (1 mg/kg), indicating a requirement for de novo protein synthesis in this process. To prove an involvement of calpain activity in mediation of apoptosis in SCI, we treated SCI rats with a cell-permeable calpain inhibitor E-64-d (1 mg/kg). Following 24-h treatment, a 5-cm-long spinal cord section centered at the lesion was collected, and divided equally into five segments (1 cm each) to determine calpain activity, as shown by degradation of the 68-kD neurofilament protein (NFP), and apoptosis as indicated by internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Neurodegeneration propagated from the site of injury to neighboring rostral and caudal regions. Both calpain activity and apoptosis were readily detectable in the lesion, and moderately so in neighboring areas of untreated SCI rats, whereas these were almost undetectable in E-64-d-treated SCI rats, and absent in sham animals. Results indicate that apoptosis in the SCI lesion and penumbra is prominently associated with calpain activity and is inhibited by the calpain inhibitor E-64-d providing neuroprotective benefit.
Defining aerodrome and airspace FIS-B products for delivery to aircraft via data link

Flight Information Service - Broadcast mode (FIS-B) provides safety data services for the airport surface and surrounding terminal airspace that complement the pilot's traffic situation awareness. FIS-B encompasses non-control aeronautical information of general use to pilots and addresses potential flight hazards other than traffic. Weather data, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and the status of Special Use Airspace (SUA) are examples of FIS-B products. This paper will overview a new format to accommodate products, such as NOTAMs, Digital Automated Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) and Terminal Weather Information for Pilots (TWIP). The format supports just text data or a combination of text data and a graphical overlay representation of the text data. This work was performed for the FAA's Safe Flight 21 Program.
A prospective evaluation of emergency department bedside ultrasonography for the detection of acute cholecystitis

Study objective We assess the diagnostic accuracy of emergency physician–performed bedside ultrasonography and radiology ultrasonography for the detection of cholecystitis, as determined by surgical pathology. Methods We conducted a prospective, observational study on a convenience sample of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with suspected cholecystitis from May 2006 to February 2008. Bedside gallbladder ultrasonography was performed by emergency medicine residents and attending physicians at an academic institution. Emergency physicians assessed for gallstones, a sonographic Murphy's sign, gallbladder wall thickness, and pericholecystic fluid, and the findings were recorded before formal imaging. The test characteristics of bedside and radiology ultrasonography were determined by comparing their respective results to pathology reports and clinical follow-up at 2 weeks. Results Of the 193 patients enrolled, 189 were evaluated by bedside ultrasonography. Forty-three emergency physicians conducted the ultrasonography, and each physician performed a median of 2 tests. After the bedside ultrasonography, 125 patients received additional radiology ultrasonography. Twenty-six patients underwent cholecystectomy, 23 had pathology-confirmed cholecystitis, and 163 were discharged home to follow-up. Twenty-five were excluded (23 lost to follow-up and 2 unavailable pathology). The test characteristics of bedside ultrasonography were sensitivity 87% (95% confidence interval [CI] 66% to 97%), specificity 82% (95% CI 74% to 88%), positive likelihood ratio 4.7 (95% CI 3.2 to 6.9), negative likelihood ratio 0.16 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.46), positive predictive value 44% (95% CI 29% to 59%), and negative predictive value 97% (95% CI 93% to 99%). The test characteristics of radiology ultrasonography were sensitivity 83% (95% CI 61% to 95%), specificity 86% (95% CI 77% to 92%), positive likelihood ratio 5.7 (95% CI 3.3 to 9.8), negative likelihood ratio 0.20 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.50), positive predictive value 59% (95% CI 41% to 76%), and negative predictive value 95% (95% CI 88% to 99%). Conclusion The test characteristics of emergency physician–performed bedside ultrasonography for the detection of acute cholecystitis are similar to the test characteristics of radiology ultrasonography. Patients with a negative ED bedside ultrasonography result are unlikely to require cholecystectomy or admission for cholecystitis within 2 weeks of their initial presentation.
Cochlea-inspired sensing node for compressive sensing

While sensing technologies for structural monitoring applications have made significant advances over the last several decades, there is still room for improvement in terms of computational efficiency, as well as overall energy consumption. The biological nervous system can offer a potential solution to address these current deficiencies. The nervous system is capable of sensing and aggregating information about the external environment through very crude processing units known as neurons. Neurons effectively communicate in an extremely condensed format by encoding information into binary electrical spike trains, thereby reducing the amount of raw information sent throughout a neural network. Due to its unique signal processing capabilities, the mammalian cochlea and its interaction with the biological nervous system is of particular interest for devising compressive sensing strategies for dynamic engineered systems. The cochlea uses a novel method of place theory and frequency decomposition, thereby allowing for rapid signal processing within the nervous system. In this study, a low-power sensing node is proposed that draws inspiration from the mechanisms employed by the cochlea and the biological nervous system. As such, the sensor is able to perceive and transmit a compressed representation of the external stimulus with minimal distortion. Each sensor represents a basic building block, with function similar to the neuron, and can form a network with other sensors, thus enabling a system that can convey input stimulus in an extremely condensed format. The proposed sensor is validated through a structural monitoring application of a single degree of freedom structure excited by seismic ground motion.
An Elaboration on Causation and Positive Cases in Child Sexual Abuse

Sbraga and O'Donohue (2003, this issue) argued that backward reasoning from current symptomatology to past child sexual abuse (CSA), often done by experts in court cases, is flawed in several important ways. Backward reasoning, or postdiction, is usually based on models that assume that CSA invariably causes symptoms and that it is always negatively experienced. They demonstrated the weaknesses in these assumptions. The present commentary expands on causation and positive reactions. Statistical research is reviewed that shows that causation cannot be safely inferred in the typical case. Prevalence of positive reactions is discussed. Case studies are presented to illuminate these issues. It is concluded that Sbraga and O'Donohue are correct in disputing post-diction in CSA and the models it is based on.