cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Frequency of Class II HLA-DQ Donor-Specific Antibodies Is Associated with Mixed Cellular and Humoral Rejection in Lung Transplantation

Purpose The significance of donor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA) in lung transplantation (LTx) has emerged with the introduction of solid phase assays for antibody detection. Using ELISA based screening we have shown that 14% of LTx had de novo DSA and most (78%) developed chronic allograft rejection vs. 24% in patients without DSA. Further evaluation of DSA with Luminex (L) based methods for screening, specificity and functional analysis is needed to determine the impact of pre-formed and de-novo DSA on outcome. Methods and Materials Patients who were transplanted January 2011 to July 2012 and were screened prospectively for DSA with L-PRA were included in the analysis. The screening included samples pre-Tx and post LTx at 1 month and every 2 months in conjunction with surveillance and clinical bronchoscopies. The specificity of DSA and strengths (MFI) determined with single antigen beads (L-IgG) and complement binding with L-C1q- assay (L-C1q) was associated with cellular rejection and antibody mediated rejection. Results This study was done on 149 consecutive LTx with a minimum follow-up of 3 months and adequate DSA screening. All had negative CDC T and B cell crossmatches. 5% had DSA pre-Tx that persisted post-Tx and 23% had de-novo DSA within 3-6 months post LTx. Overall, 55% of LTx had high grade ACR; de-novo DSA was higher in ACR (22/82, 27%) vs. no ACR (5/67, 7%) (p 70%) de-novo DSA were HLA-DQ specific including Ab towards DQB, DQA and combination of DQB/DQA pairs. Severe ACR (n=4) with DSA and C1q reactivity was treated with plasmapheresis, IVIG and Rituximab for AMR. Patients with ACR and low level or declining DSA that had a transient or no C1q reactivity (n=19) were not treated for AMR. DSA in LTx without ACR were also low level, transient and without C1q reactivity. Conclusions The frequency of de-novo DSA is higher than previously reported. Persistent, high grade ACR with C1q binding class II HLA-DQ DSA was associated with AMR.
Studying Courts Comparatively: The View from the American States

In this study, we perform a basic exercise to illustrate the vital influence of institutional rules and structures on judicial behavior, and the impor tance of recognizing this influence in models of judicial choice. Specifically, we estimate several models of state supreme court justices' voting on the death penalty. Beginning with a simple preferences model, an institutional model, and an additive preferences-institutional model, we explore the extent to which our understanding of judicial behavior is enhanced or changed through models that include the interactive effects of institutional features with other sources of influence on judicial choice. Our most fundamental point, clearly supported by the results, is that the effects of case facts, per sonal attributes, and environmental features are conditioned by institutional arrangements. Any explanation of judicial choice must consider carefully the impact of institutional context on the exercise of judicial discretion. Through this approach, the incons...
The Unit of Selection in DROSOPHILA MERCATORUM I. the Interaction of Selection and Meiosis in Parthenogenetic Strains

ABSTRACT An important problem in population genetics is the determination of the level of genetic organization to which fitness measures can be ascribed that yield an adequate description or prediction of the outcome of selection in populations. To study this problem, we used two strains of Drosophila merca torum (S-1-Im and O-3-Im) that are capable of both sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction, a feature that allows us to experimentally control many factors which affect genetic variability. Both S and O reproduce parthenogenetically by "pronuclear duplication," a mechanism that retains normal meiosis (and hence crossing over and assortment) but results in homozygosity for all loci in a single generation. Since an isozyme survey indicated that S and O differ at a third of their loci, we hypothesized that S and O have adapted in genetically distinct fashions to the genetic environment of total homozygosity. This is tested by breeding females that are S-O hybrids for 100%, 60% and 40% of their genetic backgrounds, and scoring their respective parthenogenetic progenies for four isozyme and two visible markers. The data collected gave evidence for a coadaptation to total homozygosity involving non-additive and non-multiplicative interactions between non-alleles. As the perturbation of the parental coadapted genotypes by meiosis increases (i.e., the greater the degree of S-O hybridity), the level of genetic material which behaves as an additive/multiplicative fitness unit becomes larger. Selective neutrality of genetic variation may be an artifact of our failure to measure the proper genetic unit of selection.
A Review of Oral Antiretroviral Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

Objective:To describe the current evidence for the use of oral antiretroviral (ARV) agents in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Data Sources:A search from 1950 to April 2010 was conducted using the databases PubMed and MEDLINE with the search terms chronic hepatitis B, lamivudine, entecavir, adefovir, telbivudine, tenofovir, emtricitabine, clevudine, and pradefovir. The search was limited to trials conducted in humans that were published in the English language.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Studies were included if they evaluated the use of oral ARVs in patients with CHB infection who were not coinfected with hepatitis C, hepatitis D, or HIV.Data Synthesis:Oral ARVs have revolutionized the treatment of CHB. Studies conducted comparing ARVs have favored entecavir and tenofovir with respect to their ability to decrease hepatitis B virus DNA viral load while minimizing the development of resistance. However, low seroconversion rates, recurrent viremia when ARV therapy is discontinued, and incr...
Time Lag between Deforestation and Bird Extinction in Tropical Forest Fragments

Tropical forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, threatening the survival of the species that depend on them. Small, isolated forest fragments will lose some of their original species. What is uncertain is how long this process of faunal relaxation will take. We compiled data on birds in five tropical forest frag- ments in Kakamega Forest, Kenya, of known date of isolation. We then predicted the original and eventual species richness of these fragments and, from this difference, the eventual species losses. Expressing the losses to date as a fraction of eventual losses suggests that faunal relaxation approximates an exponential decay with a half-life of approximately 50 years for fragments of roughly 1000 ha. In other words, in the first 50 years after isolation, tropical forest fragments of this size suffer half of the total number of extinctions that they are likely to experience. This result sets the time scale over which humanity must take conservation ac- tion in fragmented tropical forests, may aid efforts to set priorities, and indicates how high the future global extinction rate will be.
Clinical studies of pemetrexed and gemcitabine combinations

Pemetrexed (ALIMTA) is a novel multitargeted antifolate that inhibits thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase. This agent is broadly active in a wide variety of solid tumors, including breast cancer, bladder cancer, mesothelioma, non-small-cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer. Pemetrexed has also shown clinically relevant activity in combination with gemcitabine. This combination has been, and continues to be evaluated for the treatment of a number of malignancies, including non-small cell lung and ovarian cancer. A recently published randomized trial of different sequences has identified the sequence of pemetrexed on day 1 followed by gemcitabine on day 1 and gemcitabine on day 8, every 21 days as the most efficacious and least toxic sequence.
Ballistic Penetration of Compressively Loaded Composite Plates

The effects of ballistic penetration on woven E-glass fiber-reinforced epoxy laminates subjected simultaneously to in-plane compressive loading were investigated. A portable hydraulic press and fixture was designed to apply compressive preloads during ballistic penetration. A civilian version of the US Army ’s M4 carbine was used for the ballistic tests where penetration velocities were well above the ballistic limit for 5.56 mm projectiles. Compression-only data were initially obtained to characterize the various modes of damage. Samples without simultaneous compressive preload were subjected to ballistic penetration alone and then compressively loaded to failure. Finally, samples that had previously undergone ballistic testing at varying levels of compressive preloads were loaded in compression to determine the residual compressive failure strength. For simultaneous loading, samples were subjected to a specified compressive preload while a projectile was fired through the center of the sample. This stud...
Dialysis continuous process for ammonium lactate fermentation: Simulated prefermentor and cell‐recycling systems

A generalized mathematical model, previously developed and experimentally validated, was modified and used to computer-simulate the outcomes of adding two systems for increasing the concentration of cell mass in the fermentor, and thereby the rate and extent of substrate conversion, in a dialysis continuous process for the ammonium lactate fermentation of deproteinized whey. The addition of a nondialysis continuous prefermentor would not improve the process. However, the addition of cell retention time would be reduced ninefold, and the extent of converting substrate to product would be increased 25% and accomplished almost entirely by maintenance metabolism.
On the number of Hamiltonian cycles in Dirac graphs

In response to a question of Bondy, bounds are established on the minimum number of Hamiltonian cycles in all graphs of order n and minimum degree at least n/2.
Does ethanol affect the reliability of pelvic bone examination in blunt trauma

Abstract Study Objective: We sought to determine whether the reliability of clinical evaluation for pelvic bone fracture after trauma is compromised by a serum ethanol level of 100 mg/dL or greater. Methods: This is a retrospective case control study of trauma registry patients presenting from October 1, 1995, to March 31, 1997, to an urban level I trauma center. Inclusion criteria were as follows: blunt trauma, age 13 years or older, and Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 or greater. Exclusion criteria were as follows: isolated penetrating injury and suspected spinal injury. Patients were separated into 2 groups: those with an ethanol level of 100 mg/dL or greater, and those with an ethanol level of less than 100 mg/dL. Physician performance in clinical identification of pelvic bone fracture by using a complaint of pain, pelvic tenderness, with or without deformity, was compared between the 2 groups. Results: Seven hundred sixty-three patients met inclusion criteria. Fifty-five (7.2%) patients had a pelvic fracture, 75% of which were isolated acetabulum or pubic ramus fractures. Two hundred six control patients without pelvic fractures were randomly selected. The sensitivity and specificity of the complaint of pain and tenderness, deformity, or both for identification of a pelvic fracture was not significantly different between the ethanol groups. Five (9%) of 55 patients with pelvic fractures had neither a complaint of pain nor bony tenderness or deformity on examination. This was not statistically associated with an ethanol level of 100 mg/dL or greater ( P =1.000). Conclusion: In our study, clinical evaluation for pelvic fracture in trauma patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 13 or greater was not compromised by an ethanol level of 100 mg/dL or greater. The most common reason for clinically missed pelvic fractures was the presence of additional painful distracting injuries. [Tien IY, Dufel SE. Does ethanol affect the reliability of pelvic bone examination in blunt trauma? Ann Emerg Med. November 2000;36:451-455.]
Enhanced Spectral Sensing by Electromagnetic Coupling With Localized Surface Plasmons on Subwavelength Structures

Existing sensor platforms have limited sensitivity, specificity, and portability. With a new algorithm for the coupled dipole approximation of Maxwell's equations, we examine near- and far-field features of electromagnetism (EM) coupled with localized surface plasmons on subwavelength, solid-state nanoparticle (NP) structures measured using spectroscopy, microscopy, and calorimetry. Near-field extinction efficiency, blue/redshifts, and full-width at half-maximum are optimized using a new ?bottom-up? NP assembly method that tunes particle size and spacing to enhance sensitivity and produce molecule-specific ?tenfold surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy enhancements. Far-field plasmon-photon resonances are identified, which offer ? 106-fold higher sensitivity. Solid-state NP structures increase stability, reduce power consumption, and improve response time and optothermal transduction up to tenfold for better portability and throughput relative to aggregation-prone NP suspensions. Sample rate is increased ?tenfold by inducing transverse hydrodynamic diffusion adjacent to sensor interfaces. These results guide development of next-generation chemical and biological sensors based on EM-coupled UV, Raman, or terahertz modes that improve sensitivity, biospecificity, stability, and portability to distinguish biological molecules and species at high throughputs.
Avoidance of mussel farms by dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) in New Zealand

We describe fine-scale interactions between dusky dolphins and mussel farms in Admiralty Bay, New Zealand. We examined dusky dolphin presence in nearshore mussel farms, coordinated feeding behaviours in and near mussel farms, and long-term changes in regional population abundance. Sampling methods included boat-based surveys, focal follows, underwater observations, and photo-identification. Correcting for area, dusky dolphins spent significantly less time inside mussel farms versus outside mussel farms and other nearshore areas (both P<0.001). Prey balls entered or moved adjacent to mussel farms during 2/52 feeding bouts, after which dusky dolphin feeding behaviour ceased. Total estimated abundance during winter 2005–2006 was 712 (95% CI: 511–1134) with a declining trend in annual abundance after 2003. Results suggest that: (1) dusky dolphins rarely use mussel farms; (2) mussel farms may hinder coordinated feeding strategies; and (3) the number of dusky dolphins using this foraging habitat varies between ...
A Data-Based Conservation Planning Tool for Florida Panthers

Habitat loss and fragmentation are the greatest threats to the endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). We developed a data-based habitat model and user- friendly interface so that land managers can objectively evaluate Florida panther habitat. We used a geographic information system (GIS) and the Mahalanobis distance statistic (D 2 ) to develop a model based on broad-scale landscape characteristics associated with panther home ranges. Variables in our model were Euclidean distance to natural land cover, road density, distance to major roads, human density, amount of natural land cover, amount of semi-natural land cover, amount of permanent or semi- permanent flooded area-open water, and a cost-distance variable. We then developed a Florida Panther Habitat Esti- mator tool, which automates and replicates the GIS process- es used to apply the statistical habitat model. The estimator can be used by persons with moderate GIS skills to quantify effects of land-use changes on panther habitat at local and landscape scales. Example applications of the tool are presented.
Free-living fungal symbionts (Lepiotaceae) of fungus-growing ants (Attini: Formicidae)

Surveys of leucocoprinaceous fungi (Lepiotaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) in the rain-forests of Panama and Brazil revealed several free-living counterparts of fungi cultivated by primitive attine ants (the lower Attini, Formicidae, Hymenoptera), adding to two such collections identified in a survey by Mueller et al (1998). The accumulated evidence supports the hypothesis that perhaps all fungi of lower attine ants have close free-living relatives. Free-living counterparts of ant-cultivated fungi are collected most readily during the early rainy season; in particular these are free-living mushrooms of fungal counterparts that are cultivated as yeasts in gardens of ants in the Cyphomyrmex rimosus group. Free-living and symbiotic fungi of these yeast-cultivating ant species might represent a promising study system to compare the biology of sympatric, conspecific fungi existing outside versus inside the attine symbiosis.
Model of Formin-Associated Actin Filament Elongation

Formin FH2 domains associate processively with actin-filament barbed ends and modify their rate of growth. We modeled how the elongation rate depends on the concentrations of profilin and actin for four different formins. We assume that (1) FH2 domains are in rapid equilibrium among conformations that block or allow actin addition and that (2) profilin-actin is transferred rapidly to the barbed end from multiple profilin binding sites in formin FH1 domains. In agreement with previous experiments discussed below, we find an optimal profilin concentration with a maximal elongation rate that can exceed the rate of actin alone. High profilin concentrations suppress elongation, largely because free profilin displaces profilin-actin from FH1. The model supports a common polymerization mechanism for the four formin FH1FH2 constructs with differences attributed to varying parameter values. The mechanism does not require ATP hydrolysis by polymerized actin, but we cannot exclude that formins accelerate hydrolysis.
Severe hemorrhage from a 4 mm punch biopsy site in a hemophilia patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Chez un homme hemophile (Hemophilie A) et atteint du SIDA, une biopsie chirurgicale, realisee afin de confirmer un psoriasis devant une dermatose papulo-squameuse, s'est complique d'une hemorragie importante
Optimization of Ring Stiffened Cylindrical Shells

This paper deals with the optimum structural design of circular cylindrical shells reinforced with identical uniformly spaced T-ring stiffeners, and subjected to external pressure loading. The optimization problems considered are of three types: 1) minimum-weigh t design, 2) design for maximum separation of the lowest two natural frequencies, and 3) design for maximum separation of the lowest two natural frequencies which have primarily axial content. Gross buckling is precluded by specifying a minimum natural frequency, and additional behavioral constraints preclude yielding or buckling of panels, T-ring stiffeners, and web and flange instabilities within each T-ring. The analysis is based on use of an equivalent orthotropic shell model, and optimization is accomplished through use of a sequential unconstrained minimization technique. Examples indicate that moderate increases in weight above optimum (minimum) values can result in more than a doubling of the frequency separations, and that maximum frequency separations are obtained when second and third lowest frequencies approach each other. (A], df
Association Between Perceived Life Chaos and Medication Adherence in a Postmyocardial Infarction Population

Background—The benefits of medication adherence to control cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well defined, yet multiple studies have identified poor adherence. The influence of life chaos on medication adherence is unknown. Because this is a novel application of an instrument, our preliminary objective was to understand patient factors associated with chaos. The main objective was to evaluate the extent to which an instrument designed to measure life chaos is associated with CVD-medication nonadherence. Methods and Results—Using baseline data from an ongoing randomized trial to improve postmyocardial infarction (MI) management, multivariable logistic regression identified the association between life chaos and CVD-medication nonadherence. Patients had hypertension and a myocardial infarction in the past 3 years (n=406). Nearly 43% reported CVD-medication nonadherence in the past month. In simple linear regression, the following were associated with higher life chaos: medication nonadherence (β=1.86; 95% co...
Peak amplitude and frequency of urinary free cortisol excretion in patients with a history of major depressive disorder.

Seven male recovered depressive patients who were dexamethasone suppression test (DST) nonsuppressors while ill and eight male controls submitted an average of thirty-six 24-hr urine specimens for analysis during a 12-mo collection period. Recovered depressive patients had a significantly greater mean peak amplitude (mean distance from fitted regression line to the highest point on the peak) when compared to controls. Peak frequency (number of peaks per year) for recovered depressive patients for peaks greater than 30μg/g-cr was three times that found in the control population. The number of collections by each patient did not account for these differences. Only one of seven recovered depressives had a circasemiannual rhythm of Cortisol excretion while none demonstrated a seasonal rhythm. These findings suggest that patients with a history of depression and DST nonsuppression have greater variability in Cortisol excretion than a control population while in the compensated state.
What Do We Mean When We Ask “Why is There Something Rather Than Nothing?”

Let’s call the sentence “why is there something rather than nothing?” the Question. There’s no consensus, of course, regarding which proposed answer to the Question, if any, is correct, but occasionally there’s also controversy regarding the meaning of the Question itself. In this paper I argue that such controversy persists because there just isn’t one unique interpretation of the Question. Rather, the puzzlement expressed by the sentence “why is there something rather than nothing?” varies depending on the ontology implicitly or explicitly endorsed by the speaker. In this paper I do three things. First, I argue that other proposals according to which the Question has one uniquely adequate interpretation are false. Second, I give several examples of the way in which the meaning of the Question can vary depending on the ontology to which it is coupled. Third, I explore the implications of my thesis for the manner in which we should approach future attempts to answer the Question.
Adverse effects of nutritional inadequacy and excess: a hormetic model

I address and explain the increased risk of adverse effects from nutrients by using the paradigm of hormesis, the biological and toxicological concept that small quantities have opposite effects from large quantities. To provide necessary background, I categorize, depict, discuss, and contrast hormetic and other dose-response relations. I review some of the different hormetic mechanisms that others have proposed. I then use the hormetic paradigm to explain adverse effects from essential nutrients, including vitamin D. The hormesis paradigm could be useful to nutritional scientists in their consideration of nutritional adverse effects.
APE1-mediated DNA damage repair provides survival advantage for esophageal adenocarcinoma cells in response to acidic bile salts

Chronic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the main risk factor for the development of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Accordingly, EAC cells are subjected to high levels of oxidative stress and subsequent DNA damage. In this study, we investigated the expression and role of Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) protein in promoting cancer cell survival by counteracting the lethal effects of acidic bile salts (ABS)-induced DNA damage. Immunohistochemistry analysis of human tissue samples demonstrated overexpression of APE1 in more than half of EACs (70 of 130), as compared to normal esophagus and non-dysplastic BE samples (P < 0.01). To mimic in vivo conditions, we treated in vitro cell models with a cocktail of ABS. The knockdown of endogenous APE1 in EAC FLO-1 cells significantly increased oxidative DNA damage (P < 0.01) and DNA single- and double-strand breaks (P < 0.01), whereas overexpression of APE1 in EAC OE33 cells reversed these effects. Annexin V/PI staining indicated that the APE1 expression in OE33 cells protects against ABS-induced apoptosis. In contrast, knockdown of endogenous APE1 in FLO-1 cells increased apoptosis under the same conditions. Mechanistic investigations indicated that the pro-survival function of APE1 was associated with the regulation of stress response c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38 kinases. Pharmacological inhibition of APE1 base excision repair (BER) function decreased cell survival and enhanced activation of JNK and p38 kinases by ABS. Our findings suggest that constitutive overexpression of APE1 in EAC may be an adaptive pro-survival mechanism that protects against the genotoxic lethal effects of bile reflux episodes.
Asymptotic theory of slender configurations in and out of wind tunnels

Theories for slender bodies and wings in wind tunnels are summarized. Limit-process asymptotic expansions are shown to provide a systematic approximation procedure for the subsonic flow field on slender wings and bodies in and out of porous wind tunnels. The near field for slender wings corresponds to the inner expansion and is corrected for upstream influence by matching with the far field outer expansion, which is a line doublet of intensity equal to the cumulative lift up to the current streamwise station. Interaction with porous walls is seen in the matching as a downwash correction associated with imaging of the doublet in the walls. This theory agrees with the earlier non-asymptotic theories for lift interference of Goodman, Baldwin, Pinzola and Lo and others and provides a natural launching pad for treatment of the transonic case which has not been studied. Wall corrections of Jones' theory are compared with our transonic TsAGI T-128 wind tunnel experiments on wing-body combinations. Agreement with wall interference variations associated with porosity alterations is good qualitatively and is improved by acc ounting for wing-body juncture vortices. Other theories presented give equivalence and area rules for transonic blockage interference and corrections for noncircular test sections. (Author)
Availability of Resources and Use of Space in Eastern Chipmunks, Tamias striatus

The adaptive significance of the use of resources is a central issue in population ecology. Empirical and theoretical studies have examined the relationship between mean size of home range and environmental variables. Few studies have examined age, gender, and individual variation in these relationships. We examined the relation between patterns of variation in size of home range in eastern chipmunks, Tamias striatus , and distribution and abundance of resources in northwestern Pennsylvania. Previous research on Tamias showed that mean size of home range responded quickly to changes in abundance of resources, suggesting that individual variation in size of home range would be tied to resources. We captured 278 individuals 3,933 times. Forty individuals were studied in 1981 and 49 in 1982. Home ranges were calculated and all mast-producing trees were mapped yielding expected abundance of resources for all home ranges. Abundance of resources was an increasing function of size of home range even when corrected for competition for access to resources, contrary to predictions based upon models of use of space. When examined by age and sex of chipmunks and by different species of mast-producing trees, we noted that the distribution and abundance of white oaks influenced the distribution of age and sex groups on the study area and appeared to be a disputed resource for adults. Studies of patterns of age, sex, and individual variation in complex behaviors are logistically challenging, but they are the best way to empirically test models in population ecology dealing with the adaptive significance of access to space and resources.
Pharmaceutical services and inpatient drug costs in bone marrow transplantation

A survey of U.S. bone marrow transplantation (BMT) programs was conducted to determine the role of pharmaceutical services in those programs and the pharmacy department resources allocated to support them. Surveys were sent to 92 U.S. BMT programs to solicit the following information: characteristics of the institution and the BMT program, extent of pharmacist involvement in the BMT program, and pharmacy resource allocation to the program. Fifty-five responses were received (60% response rate). BMT pharmacists were employed by 53 of these institutions (a total of 66 pharmacists). BMT pharmacists at 49 of the 53 institutions (92%) received their salary from the department of pharmacy. Common BMT pharmacist responsibilities included managing adverse effects (100% of respondents), adjusting medication doses (96%), providing drug information (94%), participating in BMT team rounds (87%), maintaining medication profiles (85%), and developing medication protocols (81%). Inpatient BMT-related drug costs (reported by 37 respondents) averaged 12% of the pharmacy's annual inpatient drug budget. One or more pharmacists were members of the BMT team at 46 of 53 institutions. BMT-related drug costs accounted for 12% of the total inpatient drug budget at the 37 institutions reporting cost data.
Potential for Abiotic Reduction of Pesticides in Prairie Pothole Porewaters

Prairie pothole lakes (PPLs) are critical hydrological and ecological components of central North America and represent one of the largest inland wetland systems on Earth. These lakes are located within an agricultural region, and many of them are subject to nonpoint-source pesticide pollution. Limited attention, however, has been paid to understanding the impact of PPL water chemistry on the fate and persistence of pesticides. In this study, the abiotic reductive transformation of seven dinitroaniline pesticides was investigated in PPL sediment porewaters containing naturally abundant levels of reduced sulfur species (i.e., bisulfide (HS–) and polysulfides (Sn2–)) and dissolved organic matter (DOM). Target dinitroanilines underwent rapid degradation in PPL porewaters and were transformed into corresponding amine products. While the largest fraction of the transformation could be attributed to reduced sulfur species, experimental evidence suggested that other reactive entities in PPL porewaters, such as D...
The presence of bacterial microorganisms within human gingival tissue in gingivitis.

Human gingival tissue has been obtained at biopsy from subjects showing gingivitis. This has been fixed and sectioned in paraffin. Various methods suitable for pathological histological examination and for the demonstration of microorganisms have been followed.Such tissues show a subacute inflammatory process characterized by the presence of large numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Likewise, there are present within this tissue and closely adjacent to lymph channels, a variety of bacterial forms, especially streptococci and what appear to be diptheroids. The accompanying photomicrographs indicate some of these.Although it has been denied by certain authors that there is any phagocytosis of microorganisms by cellular elements within this region, it will be noted that there is definite evidence of such reaction in one of the photographs submitted. Careful microscopic examination does not convince us that the engorging cell is the polymorphonuclear leucocyte. Possibly the macrophage may be implicated.T...
Use and outcomes of a cholesterol-lowering intervention for rural elderly subjects.

Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of cholesterol-lowering interventions in a community setting and have included a control or comparison group. As part of a preventive health demonstration project in rural Pennsylvania, Medicare beneficiaries underwent cholesterol screening to identify high-risk individuals with serum cholesterol levels > or = 240 mg/dL. These high-risk individuals were randomized to a cholesterol-lowering intervention through either local hospitals or physicians' offices or to a control group. Baseline and follow-up serum cholesterol levels collected two to three years later were compared according to service location (hospital versus physician's office), intervention attendance, degree of participation, baseline heart disease history, and cholesterol-lowering medication use at follow-up. Serum cholesterol levels decreased between 5.7% and 6.6% in the hospital-based and physician-based groups, as well as in a control group not offered the intervention. Participation rates did not differ between treatment groups, nor did participation affect serum cholesterol levels. Attendance level and heart disease history were not associated with a greater decrease in serum cholesterol levels. Individuals reporting cholesterol-lowering drug use at follow-up had significantly higher baseline serum cholesterol levels and a significantly greater decrease in total serum cholesterol (P < .0001) than those not on medication. Both nonpharmacological (diet) and pharmacological (drug) interventions will reduce serum cholesterol levels and heart attack risk. The study results suggest that, at least for older individuals, the impact of nonpharmacological interventions on the community is minimal. We conclude that only very aggressive treatment will significantly loser serum cholesterol levels in older individuals at risk for heart attack.
Red panda anatomy

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the red panda anatomy. While studying the external anatomy, it was found that the facial vibrissae of the red panda, located in the buccal, mandibular, and submental regions, are moderate in length. The erect, triangular-shaped ears are covered with white hair ventrally, apart from a red patch in the centre. The red panda possesses 36 to 38 teeth and has the dental formula: i 3/3, c 1/1, p 3/3-4, m 2/2. The first upper premolar is absent, while the first lower premolar is absent or vestigial. Compared to other carnivores, the red panda's mandible is more robust than expected based on body size; however, the mandible of the giant panda is even more robust, reflecting its dependence on the hardest part of the bamboo plant, the stems. The larynx of the red panda resembles that of the procyonids, in that the thyroid, cri- coid, arytenoid, and corniculate cartilages are reduced, while the cuneiform cartilages are absent. The glands associated with the reproductive system are reduced or absent in the red panda. Similar toursids, Ailurus is characterized by a small prostate gland; infact, in the giant panda, the gland is absent altogether. Further, in the red panda, the humerus is characterized by a prominent entepicondylar foramen. This foramen is absent in ursids and canids. In Ailurus, the entepicondylar foramen transmits the median nerve; however, the brachial artery does not travel through this foramen. This arrangement is also found in procyonids; however, inmustelids and feliforms, the artery and the nerve travel through the foramen.
Pueblo I Ceramic Production in Southwest Colorado: Analyses of Igneous Rock Temper

ABSTRACTWhite ware ceramics associated with the ninth-century occupation of southwest Colorado are characterized by diverse painted designs. In the research presented here, petrographic analysis is used to better understand the production of these igneous rock-tempered ceramics and thus to gain insight into the source of the design variation. Analysis reveals slight differences in tempering materials at different sites, suggesting that the ceramics were produced at a small scale in many locations. Comparison of the temper with raw material sources suggests that potters in different locations were using the same criteria to select their temper. Thus, it appears that localized white ware production was part of a widespread technological tradition.
Young Adult Fairy Tales for the New Age: Francesca Lia Block's The Rose and the Beast

Francesca Lia Block's The Rose and the Beast attests to the resilience of the traditional folktale form. Block's work is a modern adaptation of some of the most familiar old tales, all with heroines struggling against a plastic, soulless culture beset by drugs, sex, and violence. Her heroines in these feminist retellings survive not with the help of magic but by their own ingenuity and resourcefulness. Using the folktale template, Block conveys her often strong social messages (the destructiveness of sexual violence or drug abuse, for example) with stark symbolism, surreal settings, and deceptive simplicity. The results are powerful, revisionist tales that ultimately celebrate the triumph of love—in all its manifestations—as the antidote to the neuroses of contemporary American society.
High Resolution Epigenomic Profiling of Loss of Heterozygosity in MDS Reveals an Important Role of DNA Methylation in Regulating Expression of Genes in the Deleted Regions of Chromosomes 5q, 7q and 20q.

Myelodysplasia (MDS) is a clonal hematopoietic disorder that leads to ineffective hematopoiesis and peripheral cytopenias. MDS is characterized by large mono-allelic deletions that lead to loss of heterozygosity. It is unclear how the loss of one allele affects the expression of genes on the remaining allele and the role epigenetic silencing plays in this process. To study this directly, we performed whole genome methylation analysis on 3 selected MDS cases with deletions of chromosomes 5q, 7q and 20q. DNA methylation was analyzed by a recently described novel method, the HELP assay (HpaII tiny fragment Enrichment by Ligation-mediated PCR; Khulan et al, Genome Res. 2006 Aug;16(8)) that uses differential methylation specific restriction enzyme digestion by HpaII and MspI followed by amplification, two color labeling and cohybridization to quantitatively determine individual promoter CpG island methylation. A whole genome human promoter array (Nimblegen) was used to determine the level of methylation of genes by calculating HpaII/MspI cut fragment intensity ratio. Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) was used to map the exact breakpoints in peripheral blood leucocytes obtained from these 3 MDS cases. Gene expression analysis of the cDNA from the same cells was performed using 37K oligo maskless arrays and integrated with methylation analysis. Promoter methylation status and gene expression of corresponding genes of six age-matched healthy and anemic controls were used as controls. Our results showed that the 5q14.2–31.3 deletion encoded for a total of 248 genes. On comparison with healthy controls, 73 gene promoters were hypomethylated and 143 were methylated. Promoters with lower methylation levels were associated with a greater proportion of genes with higher expression values, thus suggesting that epigenetic modification is a regulator of their transcription. On the other hand, hypermethylation of the remaining allele led to underexpression of important genes such as APC, Cyclin H, CD14 antigen, protein phosphatase 2 (PPP2CA), heat shock 70kDa protein 4, H2A histone family members and others. Similarly, the 7q11.2–36.3 deletion encoded for a total of 497 genes. Out of these, 130 promoters were methylated and resulted in lower expression of genes not previously implicated in MDS such as Alpha 2 Type I Collagen, Schwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome protein, MEF3 and others. Lastly, the 20q11.21–13.13 segment encoded for 173 genes out of which 67 were methylated when compared to controls. In these large deleted regions, only 8–25% of the genes had lower expression when compared to controls; suggesting that large segmental mono-allelic deletions themselves do not result in decreased gene expression. Most importantly, epigenetic modifications of the remaining allele seems to be a very important regulator of gene expression in these cases and can be a potential target for therapeutic strategies.
Degradation of silicone encapsulants in CPV optics

Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules operate in extreme conditions, which poses a unique materials challenge for guaranteeing operational lifetimes of at least 25 years. The encapsulants used in the optical elements are critically susceptible to environmental degradation during operation. We studied the effects of weatherings on adhesion using an outdoor concentrator operating in excess of 1100 times the AM1.5 direct irradiance and in environmental chambers with broadband ultraviolet (UV) irradiation combined with controlled temperature and humidity. We observed a sharp initial increase in adhesion energy followed by a gradual decrease in adhesion as a result of both outdoor concentrator exposure and indoor UV weathering. We characterized changes in mechanical properties and chemical structures using XPS, FTIR, and DMA to understand the fundamental connection between mechanical strength and the degradation of the silicone encapsulant.
Spatio-temporal characteristics based wind speed predictions

Integration of large-scale wind power plants to the power system is a challenge as the power generation is variable, and energy management systems require accurate prediction of wind power for a stable operation. Frequency control, economic dispatch and unit commitment problems in power system operations depend on forecasted wind power. Due to the dynamic changes in wind patterns, wind speed (and power) is very difficult to predict. In this paper, several computational approaches using neural networks (NN) for wind speed prediction is presented. Cellular Computational Networks (CCNs) are found to be more accurate than Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) and Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs). This is due to capability of CCNs to simultaneously capture spatial-temporal characteristics of wind. The effectiveness of standard backpropagation, Backpropagation Through Time (BPTT) algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are compared for training the computational networks. Performance of PSO algorithm is comparatively better than that of BPTT for training CCNs with MLPs.
Chapter 45 – Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphisms in Heart Failure

Adrenergic receptors serve to increase cardiomyocyte contractility and acutely rescue failing ventricular function. However, a complex series of signaling events among these receptors occurs in chronic heart failure. The function of these receptor networks has implications for risk, progression, and the response to pharmacologic intervention. There is, however, substantial interindividual variation in these aspects of heart failure. Indeed there are multiple, common, nonsynonymous genetic polymorphisms of adrenergic receptors and their regulatory proteins. Provided here is a compilation of the basic molecular biology, physiology, and clinical associations between these polymorphisms and cardiomyocyte function as they relate to heart failure and its therapy.
Do antibiotics affect cerebrospinal fluid results

A 4-week-old baby presented to the emergency department with apparent septic shock. She required 60 mL/kg of fluid boluses prior to transfer to intensive care for inotropes and ventilation. She was given intravenous cefotaxime and intravenous amoxicillin as per local protocol. There were no risk factors for sepsis. Forty-eight hours later, when clinically stable, she had a lumbar puncture (LP). This showed white cells 45 x 106/L, red cells 14 000 x 106/L and glucose 2.2 mmol/L. Protein count was unavailable due to blood-stained sample. Cytospin showed a neutrophil predominance of 73%. Gram stain and culture were negative, as were blood cultures. Meningococcal and pneumococcal PCR were also negative. Following discussion, we concluded that bacterial meningitis was likely despite no identified organism, especially given she had 48 hours of antibiotics prior to performing LP. Decision for a prolonged course of intravenous antibiotics was therefore necessary. In (patient) infants, children and adolescents with presumed meningitis, how does (intervention) antibiotic pretreatment compared with (comparison) no antibiotic pretreatment affect the diagnostic value of (outcome) cerebrospinal fluid? MEDLINE (1946–2016) and EMBASE (1974–2016) were searched using the search strings: (adolescent OR child OR infant OR paediatric OR pediatric) AND (meningitis) AND (antibiotic OR antibiotic agent OR antibiotic therapy OR anti-bacterial agents) AND (empiric OR pre treat OR pretreat OR time interval OR time to treatment) AND (cerebrospinal fluid OR CSF OR lumbar puncture OR spinal fluid). The search was then limited to English language. This identified 253 articles in MEDLINE and 295 in EMBASE. A total of four articles were then reviewed (table 1). The references of these articles were reviewed and no additional studies were identified. View this table: Table 1 Do antibiotics affect CSF results? Bacterial meningitis in childhood carries a significant morbidity and mortality, which worsens with delayed treatment. Accurate and rapid diagnosis is important to enable appropriate treatment. Clinical prediction …
Shooting for the moon: using tissue-mimetic hydrogels to gain new insight on cancer biology and screen therapeutics

Tissue engineering holds great promise for advancing cancer research and achieving the goals of the Cancer Moonshot by providing better models for basic research and testing novel therapeutics. This paper focuses on the use of hydrogel biomaterials due to their unique ability to entrap cells in three-dimensional (3D) matrix that mimics tissues and can be programmed with physical and chemical cues to recreate key aspects of tumor microenvironments. The chemistry of some commonly used hydrogel platforms is discussed, and important examples of their use in tissue engineering 3D cancer models are highlighted. Challenges and opportunities for future research are also discussed.
Exercise and sudden death.

Sudden death during exercise is rare, and cardiac disease, either overt or occult, is present in a large majority of these circumstances. In victims under the age of 35, the most common conditions are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries; in older individuals coronary artery atherosclerosis is most frequent. The extent of screening prior to increased physical activity is related to the clinical status of the individual. This determines the cost-benefit ratio of any assessment, but in patients with overt cardiac disease, an exercise test is an integral part of the evaluation.
Existence Theorems: Problems of Slow Growth

We discuss here existence theorems for the usual integrals \( I\left[ x \right] = {\text{ }}\int_{{{{t}_{1}}}}^{{{{t}_{2}}}} {{{F}_{0}}(t,x(t),x'(t))dt} {\text{ }} \) as in Section 11.1, but where F0(t, x, x′) does not satisfy any of the growth conditions we have considered in Chapters 11, 12, 13. Well known problems are of this kind (cf. Section 3.12). There are a number of methods to cope with these problems; we mention here one based on their reduction to equivalent “parametric problems” (Sections 14.1–2). In Section 14.3 we state a number of existence theorems for the usual integrals I[x], and in Section 14.4 we present many examples of problems for which the existence theorems in Section 14.3 hold.