cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Critical Role of Macrophage FcγR Signaling and Reactive Oxygen Species in Alloantibody-Mediated Hepatocyte Rejection

Humoral alloimmunity negatively impacts both short- and long-term cell and solid organ transplant survival. We previously reported that alloantibody-mediated rejection of transplanted hepatocytes is critically dependent on host macrophages. However, the effector mechanism(s) of macrophage-mediated injury to allogeneic liver parenchymal cells is not known. We hypothesized that macrophage-mediated destruction of allogeneic hepatocytes occurs by cell-cell interactions requiring FcγRs. To examine this, alloantibody-dependent hepatocyte rejection in CD8-depleted wild-type (WT) and Fcγ-chain knockout (KO; lacking all functional FcγR) transplant recipients was evaluated. Alloantibody-mediated hepatocellular allograft rejection was abrogated in recipients lacking FcγR compared with WT recipients. We also investigated anti-FcγRI mAb, anti-FcγRIII mAb, and inhibitors of intracellular signaling (to block phagocytosis, cytokines, and reactive oxygen species [ROS]) in an in vitro alloantibody-dependent, macrophage-mediated hepatocytoxicity assay. Results showed that in vitro alloantibody-dependent, macrophage-mediated hepatocytotoxicity was critically dependent on FcγRs and ROS. The adoptive transfer of WT macrophages into CD8-depleted FcγR-deficient recipients was sufficient to induce alloantibody-mediated rejection, whereas adoptive transfer of macrophages from Fcγ-chain KO mice or ROS-deficient (p47 KO) macrophages was not. These results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that alloantibody-dependent hepatocellular allograft rejection is mediated by host macrophages through FcγR signaling and ROS cytotoxic effector mechanisms. These results support the investigation of novel immunotherapeutic strategies targeting macrophages, FcγRs, and/or downstream molecules, including ROS, to inhibit humoral immune damage of transplanted hepatocytes and perhaps other cell and solid organ transplants.
Clinical findings associated with development of postoperative reflux and short-term survival after small intestinal surgery in geriatric and mature nongeriatric horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors, especially age, associated with postoperative reflux (POR; >2 L of reflux present upon intubation), high‐volume POR (≥20 L in 24 hours), and short‐term outcome after small intestinal (SI) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case‐control study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Horses aged ≥16 years (geriatric; range, 16–30; n = 44) and <16 years (mature; range, 2–15; n = 39) with an SI surgical lesion that survived general anesthesia and did not have a second exploratory celiotomy during the same visit. METHODS: Medical records (2009–2015) were reviewed; perioperative variables were evaluated for associations with outcomes by using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Postoperative reflux was associated with an increasing packed cell volume at admission (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00–1.16; P = .042) and presence of nasogastric reflux at admission (OR, 4.61; 95% CI, 1.3–15.69; P = .014). High‐volume POR was associated with an increasing glycemia at admission (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01–1.40; P = .041), presence of nasogastric reflux at admission (OR, 10.05; 95% CI, 2.21–45.74; P = .003), and SI resection (OR, 10.52; 95% CI, 1.81–61.25; P = .009). Increasing surgical time (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.16–5.29; P = .019) and high‐volume POR (OR, 6.37; 95% CI, 2.12–19.12; P = .001) were associated with nonsurvival. CONCLUSION: Age, considered as both a continuous variable and a categorical variable, was not associated with the development of POR, high‐volume POR, or nonsurvival. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Age does not influence the occurrence of POR and should not negatively impact an owner's decision to pursue surgery in aged horses.
Cholelithiasis in hereditary leptocytosis (Mediterranean trait).

Summary 1.The first instance of cholelithiasis in a patient with hereditary leptocytosis (Meditarranean trait) is described. 2.The importance of excluding this disorder in individuals of Italian extraction with cholelithiasis is emphasized.
Prophylactic gabapentin decreases fatigue and swallowing difficulty in patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiation (CCR) for head and neck cancer (HNC): Interim results from a randomized controlled trial.

6059Background: Preliminary data suggest that gabapentin (G) administered during HNC radiation may decrease treatment associated pain. To confirm this, we undertook a prospective, randomized trial ...
Who benefits from ethnic capital? Group norms, social-class and education among Armenian-Americans in Los Angeles

Sociologists show that the high levels of college-educated adults found in specific immigrant communities become a social resource, called ethnic capital, which is accessed in co-ethnic community o...
Grouping of carbonaceous nanomaterials based on association of patterns of inflammatory markers in BAL fluid with adverse outcomes in lungs.

AbstractCarbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs) are universally being used to make commodities, as they present unique opportunities for development and innovation in the fields of engineering, biotechno...
WLS-ENO Remap: Superconvergent and Non-Oscillatory Weighted Least Squares Data Transfer on Surfaces

Abstract Data remap between non-matching meshes is a critical step in multiphysics coupling using a partitioned approach. The data fields being transferred often have jumps in function values or derivatives. It is very challenging to avoid spurious oscillations (a.k.a. the Gibbs Phenomenon) near discontinuities, and at the same time, to achieve high-order accuracy away from discontinuities. In this work, we introduce a new approach, called WLS-ENOR, or Weighted-Least-Squares-based Essentially Non-Oscillatory Remap, to address this challenge. Based on the WLS-ENO reconstruction technique proposed by Liu and Jiao (J. Comput. Phys. vol 314, pp 749–773, 2016), WLS-ENOR adapts WLS-ENO to remap by enhancing it to resolve not only the severe oscillations due to C 0 discontinuities, but also the accumulated effect of mild oscillations due to C 1 discontinuities. To this end, WLS-ENOR introduces a robust detector of discontinuities and a new weighting scheme for WLS-ENO near discontinuities. We also optimize the weights at smooth regions to achieve superconvergence, delivering higher than ( p + 1 ) st-order convergence with even-degree p. We compare WLS-ENOR with some commonly used methods, including consistent interpolation, L 2 projection, moving least squares, and radial basis functions. We show that WLS-ENOR has high accuracy and low dissipation in smooth regions, and is non-oscillatory and minimally diffusive near discontinuities.
Should airbags be deactivated for wheelchair-seated drivers?

Objective: Field data have shown significant benefit from driver airbag for occupant protection in frontal crashes. However, vehicle modifiers almost always permanently deactivate airbags for wheel...
Assessment of Post-Rehabilitation ACL Reconstructed Knees

Background: Understanding objective measures of ACL-reconstructed knee function is important in determining the efficacy of rehabilitation protocols and a patient’s return to activities of daily living and sport activities. Objective: To assess the range of motion (ROM), isokinetic strength (torque) and functional performance measures (hop test) of ACL-reconstructed and ACL-intact knees. Methods: Twelve volunteers (5 females, 7 males) with unilateral ACL injury and reconstruction were given a battery of tests (hop test for distance, knee range of motion, knee extensor isokinetic testing to assess both affected and unaffected lower limb function, flexibility and strength. Main effects and interactions were analyzed by mixed-model repeated measures ANCOVA. Dependent variables included hop test for distance, knee flexion and extension range of motion, and knee extensor isokinetic torque. The independent variables were the intact/reconstructed ACL knee and time from surgery. Sex was the covariate. Results: No statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were found across all dependent variables hop test for distance (P = 0.939), knee flexion (P = 0.576) and extension (P = 0.431) ROM, and knee extensor torque (eccentric P = 0.923 and concentric P = 0.723) for the main effects and interactions of knee (ACL-reconstructed and ACL-intact) and time (0-12 months, 13-24 months, 25-36 months and 37+ months). The covariate, sex, did produce significant differences for the hop test (P < 0.0001) and isokinetic testing (eccentric peak torque P = 0.003 and concentric peak torque P=0.012). Conclusions: Clinicians may consider present rehabilitation protocols to be adequate in developing ROM and isokinetic strength following ACL reconstruction. However, greater improvements in ROM and strength may be achieved over an extended period following ACL reconstruction surgery.
BAX is necessary for neuronal death following exposure to isoflurane during the neonatal period

Abstract Exposure to volatile anesthetics during the neonatal period results in acute neuronal death in rodent and non-human primate models, potentially leading to lasting cognitive deficits. We used Bax-/- mice to show that neuronal death following neonatal exposure to isoflurane is mediated by the apoptotic pathway, and that GABAergic interneurons are selectively vulnerable. Neonatal Bax-/- mice also showed attenuated microglial activation after exposure to isoflurane, indicating that neuroinflammatory response is secondary to neuronal apoptosis. Isoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis in neonates appeared to have little effect on seizure threshold or cognitive function later in life. Collectively, these findings define the acute injury mechanism of volatile anesthetics during the neonatal period.
Trading Votes for Votes: A Laboratory Study

Abstract Vote trading is ubiquitous in committees and legislatures, and yet we know very little about its properties. We explore this subject with a laboratory experiment. We propose a model of vote trading in which pairs of voters exchange votes whenever doing so is mutually advantageous. The resulting trading dynamics always converge to stable vote allocations–allocations where no further improving trades exist. The data show that stability has predictive power: vote allocations in the lab converge towards stable allocations, and individual vote holdings at the end of trading are in line with theoretical predictions. There is less support for the finer details of the trade-by-trade dynamics.
Avoiding information about one’s romantic partner:

Research links open communication and self-disclosure to a host of beneficial outcomes in romantic relationships, including better relationship quality, relationship satisfaction, feelings of close...
A Nation with the Church’s Soul

This essay considers Barack Obama’s invocation of Reinhold Niebuhr to oppose the Iraq War and Richard John Neuhaus’s support for the war. I argue that although Niebuhr and Neuhaus might have disagreed over the Iraq War, there is a more substantive agreement between the two figures over the role, or lack thereof, of the church in the public square. I argue that a weak ecclesiology in both impedes the Church’s ability to be a prophetic voice in the face of injustice.
Analysis of Ethanol in Beer Using Gas Chromatography: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Calibration Methods

An important objective of any analytical chemistry course is for students to generate and interpret data from the analysis of complex, real-world samples in order to assess the effectiveness of the analysis method, including the calibration. In this laboratory exercise, students directly compare calibration methods (external standards and standard addition, both with and without an internal standard) for the determination of ethanol in beer using an affordable benchtop gas chromatograph. The experiment allows students to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each method (including accuracy, precision, and sample preparation) using their own data.
A multi-objective perspective on jointly tuning hardware and hyperparameters.

In addition to the best model architecture and hyperparameters, a full AutoML solution requires selecting appropriate hardware automatically. This can be framed as a multi-objective optimization problem: there is not a single best hardware configuration but a set of optimal ones achieving different trade-offs between cost and runtime. In practice, some choices may be overly costly or take days to train. To lift this burden, we adopt a multi-objective approach that selects and adapts the hardware configuration automatically alongside neural architectures and their hyperparameters. Our method builds on Hyperband and extends it in two ways. First, we replace the stopping rule used in Hyperband by a non-dominated sorting rule to preemptively stop unpromising configurations. Second, we leverage hyperparameter evaluations from related tasks via transfer learning by building a probabilistic estimate of the Pareto front that finds promising configurations more efficiently than random search. We show in extensive NAS and HPO experiments that both ingredients bring significant speed-ups and cost savings, with little to no impact on accuracy. In three benchmarks where hardware is selected in addition to hyperparameters, we obtain runtime and cost reductions of at least 5.8x and 8.8x, respectively. Furthermore, when applying our multi-objective method to the tuning of hyperparameters only, we obtain a 10\% improvement in runtime while maintaining the same accuracy on two popular NAS benchmarks.
A case report: percutaneous management of high-output heart failure from iatrogenic aortocoronary venous grafting to the coronary sinus.

Aortocoronary arteriovenous fistula (ACAVF) due to iatrogenic bypass grafting to a cardiac vein is an exceedingly rare complication resulting from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. If not identified in a timely fashion, ACAVF has known significant clinical consequences related to left to right shunting and possible residual myocardial ischemia. An 82-year-old male with a history of CABG, presented with dyspnea. Over the span of 2 years following CABG, the patient experienced progressive exertional dyspnea and peripheral edema. The patient was found to have a new cardiomyopathy with a severely reduced ejection fraction at 30–35%. The patient underwent diagnostic left heart catheterization, and an ACAVF was discovered between a saphenous vein graft and the coronary sinus. The patient underwent successful percutaneous coiling of the ACAVF with no residual flow. Follow-up echocardiography at 3 months revealed restoration of left ventricular systolic function to 50% and significant improvement in heart failure symptoms. ACAVF is an exceedingly rare iatrogenic complication of CABG that may result in residual ischemia from the non-grafted myocardial territory and other sequelae relating to left to right shunting and a high-output state. Management for this pathology includes but is not limited to the use of percutaneous coiling, implantation of covered stents, graft removal and regrafting, and ligation.
Tips and tricks for managing bovine dystocia

Acquisition of skills in bovine obstetrics is essential for every food animal practitioner, especially those engaged in dairy or cow-calf practice. A dystocia is often the first call a veterinarian makes to a cattle producer’s facility and demonstrating competence, confidence, and professionalism many times leads to the development of a long-term relationship with that producer. A conversation with the producer describing the practitioner’s requirements for patient restraint is paramount to avoiding frustration and a poor outcome. Planning and the willingness to modify the dystocia management plan “on the fly” requires thoughtful consideration when the initial procedures do not result in relief of a dystocia. Purchase of a full array of high quality obstetrical equipment and learning their proper application greatly facilitates dystocia management. Knowledge and skill in handling complications of dystocia such as uterine rupture, uterine prolapse, and perivaginal hemorrhage are required to preserve the reproductive potential of the patient.
The Sartorius Muscle Flap

The sartorius muscle flap is a type IV (segmental blood supply) Mathes–Nahai flap. It is located in the upper thigh and is an excellent option for reconstruction of the groin. It has traditionally been used due its ease of harvesting by non-plastic surgeons (such as vascular surgeons or general surgeons) in order to cover the femoral vessels, following inguinal lymphadenectomy or debridement of an infected bypass graft. Its segmental blood supply allows a wide range of reconstructive options: a simple myoplasty involves placing the muscle under tension and moving part of the fascicles medially, enough to cover the vessels. On the other spectrum, the muscle can be transected, either distally or proximally, and rotated in order to fill the medial space and provide the necessary coverage. When distally based, the sartorius muscle can be rotated to cover small defects of the knee. The donor site morbidity is minimal.
Tick Systematics and Identification

Ticks are obligate ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals). They belong to the class Arachnida, which as a group are distinguished from the class Insecta by having four pairs of legs as nymphs and adults, lacking both antennae and wings, and having two pairs of appendages associated with their mouthparts, i.e., chelicerae and pedipalps. All ticks and some mites are the only members of the Arachnida that are parasitic. In terms of size, ticks are the largest acarines and can be recognized by their dorsoventrally flattened appearance and by one component of the mouthparts, a hypostome with recurved teeth that acts as a holdfast organ, anchoring the tick to its host. They also possess a unique sensory apparatus, called Haller’s organ on the tarsus of each foreleg. Ticks can be divided into three families, the Argasidae (soft ticks), Ixodidae (hard ticks), and Nuttalliellidae. The last-named family includes a single species from Africa that is infrequently collected, but the other two families are widespread and include many species, some of which may bite humans. While several species of ticks may occasionally attach to humans, relatively few species commonly bite humans, and some of these are vectors of disease-causing pathogens. This chapter considers ticks that are frequently recorded as biting humans. It lists identification guides for ticks that occur in the world’s different zoogeographic regions.
A Non-Standard Representation of Measurable Spaces, L∞, and L∞*

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the application of nonstandard analysis to measure theory. There are linear mappings from an arbitrary, real L∝, space and its dual L *∝ into Euclidean ω-space, Eω, where ω is an infinite integer. The chapter discusses the nonstandard representations of multiplicative linear functionals on L∝, and bounded Radon–Nikodym derivatives.
Stereospecific Synthesis of Substituted Aziridines by a Crystal-to-Crystal Photodenitrogenation of Δ2-1,2,3-Triazolines

Crystalline cis- or trans-Δ2-1,2,3-triazolines prepared by highly stereospecific and regioselective hydrogen bonding-catalyzed dipolar cycloaddition of activated cis- or trans-alkenes with aryl azides undergo a highly stereospecific photodenitrogenation to form the corresponding cis- or trans- azidirines in high chemical yields. While examples involving disubstituted and trisubstituted triazolines highlight steric challenges encountered in the dipolar cycloaddition reaction, the stereochemical control exerted by the crystalline lattice is enhanced by bulky substituents in the triazoline precursors to generate aziridines photochemically.
Rudolf B. Schlesinger - A Tribute

To speak of Comparative Law in the United States in the second half of this century is to speak of Rudolf Schlesinger. What Prosser did to establish Torts as a subject Schlesinger did for our field. Of course, like Moliere's Monsieur Jourdain, many had been dealing with the subject before him, but only after the appearance of the first edition of the casebook in 1950 did they know it. Schlesinger's approach to the subject was both conscious and preordained by his background; he made Comparative Law a "real" subject to "real" lawyers, yet-and this second theme has to be established at the outset-without sacrificing its normative, even idealistic claim to help bring nations and peoples to a better understanding of each other. Indeed, the heroic project he understood at about the same time, to identify and demonstrate by hard, patient, and above all detailed work a common core of legal principles in the most interior, doctrinally and precedentially close-meshed field of private law, established both his double claim on Comparative Law and his own doubled reputation on the practical and the normative side of the field. In terms of immediate impact the "Common Core" project probably would be considered a heroic failure. Like many such failures, however, it too has leaped a generation to be rediscovered by its intellectual grandchildren. Today's serious efforts to find and develop a unitary European private law is, consciously or unconsciously, a continuation of Schlesinger's effort; and if as a regional project it is somewhat less ambitious than his universally oriented one, its doctrinal scope is no less ambitious and no less based on exactly the kind of detailed effort Schlesinger postulated as essential to the legitimacy and eventual success of such ambitions. To his many students at Cornell and Hastings, of course, it is the other, the eminently professional academic-but over what a global range!-who presides over their memory and shaped much of their own thinking and even careers. Many of us learned Schlesinger on Comparative Law in the triple context of Schlesinger on Civil Procedure and Schlesinger on International Business Transactions, and that professional context gave his brilliant pedagogical skills the extra cachet that drew the kind of crowds to Comparative Law that otherwise could be found onlv in bar courses. The same context explains the enduring success of the now five editions of this pioneering work; in a sense, only after the field was
Preadolescent Decision-Making Competence Predicts Interpersonal Strengths and Difficulties: A 2-Year Prospective Study

Recent research has demonstrated that decision-making competence (DMC), a latent construct reflecting individual differences in rational thought, is predictive of real-world decision outcomes at various stages of life. This construct has been shown to be associated with concurrent and retrospective accounts of health-risking behavior, but its predictive validity has yet to be demonstrated. In the present study, we examine this issue using a 2-year prospective, multiple-informant design. Specifically, we tested the degree to which preadolescent DMC (PA-DMC) obtained at ages 10�11?years (Time 1; N?=?101) predicted both self-reports and caregiver reports of emotional, behavioral, and peer-related difficulties obtained 2?years later (Time 2; N?=?76). Holding variables such as numeracy and inhibitory control constant, lower Time 1 PA-DMC scores predicted greater reported Time 2 psychosocial difficulties (i.e.?peer, conduct, emotional, and hyperactivity/inattention problems). Additionally, higher PA-DMC scores were associated with greater self-reported prosocial behaviors at Time 2. These results highlight the utility of testing individual differences in rational responding. We discuss the potential for improving children's decision-making processes.
Cutting Edge: Targeting of Vβ to Dβ Rearrangement by RSSs Can Be Mediated by the V(D)J Recombinase in the Absence of Additional Lymphoid-Specific Factors

Assembly of TCRβ variable region genes is ordered during thymocyte development with Dβ to Jβ rearrangement preceding Vβ to DJβ rearrangement. The 5′Dβ 12-RSS is required to precisely and efficiently target Vβ rearrangement beyond simply enforcing the 12/23 rule. By prohibiting direct Vβ to Jβ rearrangement, this restriction ensures Dβ gene segment use in the assembly of essentially all TCRβ variable region genes. In this study, we show that rearrangement of Vβ 23-RSSs is significantly biased to the Dβ 12-RSS over Jβ 12-RSSs on extrachromosomal recombination substrates in nonlymphoid cells that express the recombinase-activating gene-1/2 proteins. These findings demonstrate that targeting of Vβ to Dβ rearrangement can be enforced by the V(D)J recombinase in the absence of lymphoid-specific factors other than the recombinase-activating gene-1/2 proteins.
The politics of rapid growth

Institutions are thought to be the critical antecedents of rapid economic growth. However, the effectiveness of similar institutions varies dramatically from country to country or even from region to region or from time to time. The differences in the effectiveness of institutions are attributed to the political process (the exercise of leadership in constructing coalitions that give policy legitimacy). Political processes resulting in elite coalitions with narrow interests are not likely to result in rapid growth, whereas elite coalitions where interests are encompassing in nature are likely to create states that are developmental and innovative. Whether elite coalition interests are encompassing or not depends on the extent to which political processes result in the incorporation of the developmental needs of the agricultural sector into the interests of the ruling coalition. This is most likely to occur when an agricultural technology backlog has accumulated over time. These ideas are illustrated with an analysis of the Vietnamese experience.
Using Debit Cards for Incentive Payments: Experiences of a Weekly Survey Study

The effectiveness of incentives is well-documented in the literature (e.g., Church 1993; Singer 2002). Cash incentives are both cost-effective and easy to deliver in face-to-face surveys, or as prepaid incentives enclosed with advance letters. For larger amounts—typically used with conditional incentives—checks are often used. The cost of processing and mailing a check can be relatively expensive, especially for small incentive amounts delivered frequently. In online panels, the use of lotteries or rewards points is common, in part because of the cost of delivering repeated incentives of small value (Goritz 2006). Unfortunately these incentives are often less effective than cash. We describe an alternative approach to incentive delivery, using automated prepaid debit cards or cash gift cards, in the context of a weekly survey with small incentive payments. While ATM or debit cards have previously been used for one-time payment of incentives (e.g., Beckler and Ott 2006; McGrath 2006) and convenience store debit cards have been used for repeated incentive payments among volunteers (Wiebe et al. 2008), we are aware of no other studies that have used this approach for repeated delivery of small incentive amounts in a survey setting. This approach has several important advantages, including reducing the cost of incentive delivery, reducing the administrative costs associated with the need to reconcile cash payments, the automation of the delivery process, and the ability to track card use.
Vector-current sum rule and the broken magnetic moment of the Σ+(*)

A familiar vector-current sum rule of the Fubini-Furlan-Rossetti type is presented, and a model for the continuum corrections evolved. The symmetry breaking is introduced in a simple way by coupling the spurion in the sum rule to the baryon line in the graphs which contribute to the continuum terms. The decuplet does not contribute in this low-energy model. The correction terms turn out to be typically a few tenths of a magneton. The result for the Σ+ moment, which depends on theD/F ratio, is, for the usual choice of this ratio, Σ+ nuclear magnetons.
Educational activities of the IEEE

A strategic objective of the Educational Activities Board (EAB) of the IEEE is the reshaping of educational programs to help members prepare for careers and employment in a rapidly changing technical arena. The Educational Activities Board works with IEEE Sections to promote an awareness of the available educational resources and in planning educational programs. The IEEE encourages the involvement of its members with their student branches, pre-college programs and in explaining the role of the engineer in the community. In addition to numerous technical conferences hosted by the IEEE at the national and international levels, many technical books and periodicals are available to keep members abreast with the latest advances in electrical engineering research. The IEEE has a collection of video tapes on technical topics, publishes the IEEE Standards and provides multi-media self study courses. This presentation will cover the educational activities mentioned above. In addition, specific activities of the Education Chapter of the IEEE Orlando Section will be presented.
The impacts of environmental knowledge and attitudes on vehicle ownership and use

Using responses to a knowledge-attitudes-behavior questionnaire administered in the Sacramento, California metropolitan region, the effects of environmental knowledge and environmental attitudes on the numbers and types of vehicles owned per household, annual vehicle miles traveled, and fuel consumption are assessed. The results indicate that households with pro-environmental attitudes own fewer and more fuel-efficient vehicles, drive them less, and consequently consume less fuel than do the households of respondents without pro-environmental attitudes. The households of respondents who know more about the environmental impacts of owning and using vehicles own more fuel-efficient vehicles, but environmental knowledge is not statistically significant in relation to numbers of vehicles owned, miles driven, or fuel consumption.
Virulence properties of multidrug resistant ocular isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii.

AbstractPurpose: Acinetobacter (A.) baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen and has been reported as a causative agent of ocular infections. The aim of this study is to identify virulence properties (biofilm formation, adhesion, invasion and cytotoxicity) and antibiotic resistance among A. baumannii isolates recovered from the eye.Materials and Methods: The Microscan Walk-Away®, an automated bacterial identification and susceptibility testing system was used to determine antibiotic resistance. Clonal relatedness was assessed by Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and plasmid profile analysis. Conjugation experiments were carried out to determine the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes and PCR was used to confirm gene transfer. Virulence properties of the isolates were determined by biofilm formation using crystal violet and immunofluorescence staining, adherence and internalization using cultured corneal epithelial cells, and cytotoxicity by TUNEL-staining and LDH release assays.Results: All ocular...
Effect of Growth and Maturation on Membrane-Initiated Actions of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3. I. Calcium Transport, Receptor Kinetics, and Signal Transduction in Intestine of Male Chickens

To study the physiological relevance of membrane-initiated steroid signaling, we investigated the correlation of age in male chickens with the magnitude of responses to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] in duodena from 7-, 14-, 28-, and 58-wk-old birds. Measurements of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (130 pm) responsiveness as a function of age, showed a decreased intestinal Ca2+ transport. Western analyses of isolated basal lateral membranes indicated a decreased expression of the membrane-associated rapid response binding protein with increasing age. Saturation analyses of [3H]1,25-(OH)2D3 binding to basal lateral membranes, revealed an allosteric interaction identified as cooperative binding. A significant increase in Kd was observed with increasing age, indicating decreasing affinity. Determinations of the number of binding sites yielded a binding capacity of 190–250 fmol/mg protein during growth and maturation, whereas in adulthood (58 wk) saturable binding was no longer observed. Data obtained in parallel analys...
Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity

Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity. By Samuel P. Huntington. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004. 448p. $27.00.Samuel Huntington suggests in this book that American national identity is threatened by a tidal wave of Latino—primarily Mexican—immigrants who are refusing to assimilate to American “Anglo-Protestant” values, and who are facilitated in this resistance by the erosion of elite support for those very same values. That erosion is a consequence of the “cults of multiculturalism and diversity” (p. 144) that have collectively “denounced the idea of Americanization,” “downgraded the centrality of English,” and “advocated legal recognition of group rights and racial preferences” (p. 142), strong charges indeed.
Dog-Whistle Politics: Multivocal Communication and Religious Appeals

This paper explores how multivocal appeals, meaning appeals that have distinct meanings to different audiences, work with respect to religious language. Religious language is common in politics, but there is great variation in its effectiveness. I argue that multivocal appeals can resonate as religious with select audiences but have no religious content for other listeners. I test the effectiveness of multivocal and obvious religious appeals experimentally with two national samples: an ingroup that understands the religious connotations in a multivocal appeal and a religiously diverse outgroup that does not. Religious appeals are persuasive for the ingroup, but an obvious religious appeal can be politically costly by triggering negative reactions among outgroup members, while the religious meaning in a multivocal appeal eludes them. Obvious religious appeals are costly in the diverse audience because of different preferences over the appropriate role for religion in political speech.
Nonpharmacologic Therapy Improves Functional and Emotional Status in Congestive Heart Failure

Purpose To compare the effects of a multimodal nonpharmacologic intervention to digoxin and to placebo in patients with congestive heart failure receiving background therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Design Randomized, parallel assignment to three treatment groups of 20 patients with congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class II and III). Intervention Nonpharmacologic treatment program included the following: (1) graduated exercise training, three to five times per week; (2) structured cognitive therapy and stress management; and (3) dietary intervention aimed at salt reduction and weight reduction in the overweight. Digoxin was titrated to achieve a blood level between 0.8 and 2.0 ng/ml. Placebo and digoxin were administered in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Results Echocardiographic ejection fraction improved (p Conclusions Nonpharmacologic therapy improved functional capacity, body weight, and mood state in patients with congestive heart failure. In contrast, digoxin improved ejection fraction without corresponding changes in exercise tolerance or quality of life.
A new class of Laplace inverses and their applications

Abstract In this work, a new class of inverse Laplace transforms of exponential functions involving nested square roots are determined. Using these new inverses and other techniques from Laplace transform theory, a new class of three-parameter definite integrals, that yield to exact evaluation, is generated. It is shown that these integrals evaluate to simple closed-form expressions. These results are then verified using independent analytical techniques. Special and limiting cases of the parameters are investigated, some of which yield well-known expressions from classical analysis. Asymptotic results for these integrals and inverses are also given. In addition, a representation of the complementary error function as a limit is presented. Last, some aspects concerning the numerical implementation of these inverses are discussed and several applications in continuum mechanics are noted.
The effects of nerve growth factor on the development of septal cholinergic neurons in reaggregate cell cultures.

Abstract Recent studies suggest that nerve growth factor is present within the central nervous system where it may exert selective trophic effects on cholinergic neurons. We have measured the effects of nerve growth factor on septal cholinergic neurons in three-dimensional reaggregating cell cultures, a system which closely simulates the cellular environment in situ. Septal cells obtained from 15-day-old mouse embryos were dissociated into a single cell suspension and then allowed to reaggregate in culture in a rotary incubator shaker. After 17 days in culture, half of the reaggregates from a flask were sonicated for measurement of choline acetyltransferase activity, and the remaining reaggregates were processed for acetylcholinesterase histochemistry. Addition of nerve growth factor to medium containing septal reaggregates resulted in greater than a three-fold increase in choline acetyltransferase activity and in the number of acetylcholinesterase-positive cells, as well as an enhancement in the staining of acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers. All of these effects of nerve growth factor could be neutralized by antibodies to nerve growth factor. In order to evaluate the possible role of endogenous hippocampal-derived nerve growth factor, antiserum to nerve growth factor was added to the culture media containing septal-hippocampal coaggregates. After 21 days in culture, the presence of nerve growth factor antibodies did not qualitatively affect the pattern or density of cholinergic fibers observed. Synapse formation between cholinergic axons and hippocampal target cells was still in evidence as revealed by electron microscopy. However, there was a modest decrease in choline acetyltransferase activity (20%) and cholinergic cell number (30%) when compared with coaggregates grown in culture medium either without nerve growth factor antiserum or with non-immune serum. The magnitude of these effects was markedly less than the effects observed when exogenous nerve growth factor was added to septal cells grown alone in reaggregate culture. These results suggest that nerve growth factor may play a role during central cholinergic development, but that additional trophic mechanisms are likely to be required.
Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifies Seven Major Regions Responsible for Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Soybean (Glycine max)

Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is a yield limiting problem in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) production regions with calcareous soils. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using a high density SNP map to discover significant markers, QTL and candidate genes associated with IDC trait variation. A stepwise regression model included eight markers after considering LD between markers, and identified seven major effect QTL on seven chromosomes. Twelve candidate genes known to be associated with iron metabolism mapped near these QTL supporting the polygenic nature of IDC. A non-synonymous substitution with the highest significance in a major QTL region suggests soybean orthologs of FRE1 on Gm03 is a major gene responsible for trait variation. NAS3, a gene that encodes the enzyme nicotianamine synthase which synthesizes the iron chelator nicotianamine also maps to the same QTL region. Disease resistant genes also map to the major QTL, supporting the hypothesis that pathogens compete with the plant for Fe and increase iron deficiency. The markers and the allelic combinations identified here can be further used for marker assisted selection.
Fitting spheres to electron density

X-ray crystallography produces molecular models (spheres for every atom of the molecule) from electron density maps (distribution of electrons over 3d space). These maps seldom have enough resolution to identify hydrogens, which are added later using simple geometric rules. For example, the structure refinement toolbox PHENIX places hydrogen at a distance of 0.82 AA from the bonded oxygen nucleus, while the structure validation toolbox Molprobity places this hydrogen at a distance of 1 AA from the bonded oxygen. To harmonize these numbers we wanted to use bond lengths that were consistent with the electron density maps based on quantum calculations and hence at a higher resolution than experimentally determined maps. In this video we describe geometric tools based on curvature and contour trees for identifying spherical patches on the iso-surfaces of electron density. These tools allow us to determine lengths of hydrogen covalent bonds from high resolution electron density maps.
Reply to G.J. Veal et al

I heartily agree with the insightful comments of Veal and Boddy regarding the need for appropriate planned population pharmacokinetic studies, especially in infants, to provide better data on which to base chemotherapy dosing. They also suggest real-time therapeutic drug monitoring to inform subsequent day carboplatin dose adjustments, a practice routinely used in the United Kingdom. However, from a practical standpoint, the chemotherapy regimen with the largest published experience in the United States uses a single dose of carboplatin in addition to vincristine and etoposide (CEV). Importantly, in a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia retrospective analysis of 116 patients treated with CEV, no ototoxicity developed in patients with normal baseline hearing. CEV is also the regimen used by the Children’s Oncology Group in the largest prospective international trial of adjuvant chemotherapy for retinoblastoma after enucleation. Although therapeutic drug monitoring clearly has a role in multiday carboplatin regimens, especially in the setting of high-dose therapy, it is not a strategy that would be feasible with the most commonly used American systemic chemotherapeutic regimen for retinoblastoma.
Diclofenac gel in the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Actinic keratoses are areas of intraepithelial neoplasia for which treatment is necessary. Because they arise in areas of sun damage, it is desirable to treat the entire damaged field to not only treat visible lesions, but also subclinical, emerging malignancies, ie, “field therapy”, 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, and diclofenac are all treatment options, and are discussed and compared.
Optical detection of terahertz radiation by using nonlinear parametric upconversion

We describe and demonstrate sensitive room-temperature detection of terahertz (THz) radiation by nonlinearly upconverting terahertz to the near-infrared regime, relying on telecommications components. THz radiation at 700 GHz is mixed with pump light at 1550 nm in a bulk GaAs crystal to generate an idler wave at 1555.6 nm, which is separated and detected by using a commercial p-i-n diode. The THz detector operates at room temperature and has an intrinsic THz-to-optical photon conversion efficiency of 0.001%.
Occultation Experiment: Results of the First Direct Measurement of Mars's Atmosphere and Ionosphere

Changes in the frequency, phase, and amplitude of the Mariner IV radio signal, caused by passage through the atmosphere and ionosphere of Mars, were observed immediately before and after occultation by the planet. Preliminary analysis of these effects has yielded estimates of the refractivity and density of the atmosphere near the surface, the scale height in the atmosphere, and the electron density profile of the Martian ionosphere. The atmospheric density, temperature, and scale height are lower than previously predicted, as are the maximum density, temperature, scale height, and altitude of the ionosphere.
Analysis of combined cooling, heating, and power systems based on source primary energy consumption

Abstract Combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) is a cogeneration technology that integrates an absorption chiller to produce cooling, which is sometimes referred to as trigeneration. For building applications, CCHP systems have the advantage to maintain high overall energy efficiency throughout the year. Design and operation of CCHP systems must consider the type and quality of the energy being consumed. Type and magnitude of the on-site energy consumed by a building having separated heating and cooling systems is different than a building having CCHP. Therefore, building energy consumption must be compared using the same reference which is usually the primary energy measured at the source. Site-to-source energy conversion factors can be used to estimate the equivalent source energy from site energy consumption. However, building energy consumption depends on multiple parameters. In this study, mathematical relations are derived to define conditions a CCHP system should operate in order to guarantee primary energy savings.
Properties of dextrans isolated from whole cultures at various stages of incubation.

Abstract 1. 1. The decrease in viscosity which dextran from Leuc. mesenteroides NRRL B-512 exhibits when left in the culture fluid after synthesis is complete was shown to result from partial degradation to smaller macromolecular size. 2. 2. Other dextrans representing a diversity of structures from three species were shown to remain unchanged in cultures as long as 49 days. 3. 3. Length of incubation appeared not to influence the presence in cultures of two strains studied of polysaccharide products separable from the dextran component on the basis of solubility. 4. 4. Leuc. dextranicum NRRL B-1146 produces a dextran closely comparable in structure to that from the B-512 strain, but which is not degraded in the culture fluid. The only polysaccharide produced by this strain is dextran; in contrast to the B-512 strain, it produces no 50–65% ethanol-insolubles. 5. 5. Dextrans isolated prior to and at the time of complete fermentation showed differences so small as to be of questionable structural significance.
A strategy for coping with change: An affiliation between a medical school and a managed care health system

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRU), a private research-focused medical school, and Henry Ford Health System (HFHS), an integrated health system with a preponderance of managed care, have established a formal, broad affiliation that includes substantial commitments that bind the two organizations. Among them are formal full-time faculty appointments at CWRU for qualified professional staff of HFHS, designation of an associate dean for CWRU at HFHS, election of HFHS faculty to key medical school committees such as admission, curriculum, and promotions and tenure, and the commitment of funds to the affiliation by both organizations: a grant from HFHS to CWRU for curriculum development, and investment from CWRU to HFHS. The alliance of two such organizations is made complex by a number of issues. They include differences of institutional cultures as well as traditional issues in academic health centers such as departmental authority over curriculum and faculty appointments, competition for academic preeminence, and competition among hospitals for patients. The affiliation was facilitated by shared commitments to education, agreement on the need to adapt student education to the emerging managed care environment, a shared commitment to health services research, investment in the concept that learners add value to a health care delivery setting, and the desire to develop graduates with knowledge of practice in managed care. The authors conclude that medical schools and integrated managed care health systems gain sufficiently from such an affiliation that the investment of time, effort, and resources is readily justified.