cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship of Baseline Prostate Specific Antigen and Risk of Future Prostate Cancer and Its Variance by Race

Abstract Purpose Several studies suggest that a baseline prostate specific antigen (PSA) measured in young men predicts future risk of prostate cancer. Considering recent recommendations against PSA screening, high-risk populations (e.g. black men, men with a high baseline PSA) may be particularly vulnerable in the coming years. Thus, we investigated the relationship between baseline PSA and future prostate cancer in a black majority–minority urban population. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was performed of the prostate biopsy database ( n = 994) at the Brooklyn Veterans Affairs Hospital. These men were referred to urology clinic for elevated PSA and biopsied between 2007 and 2014. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict positive prostate biopsy from log-transformed baseline PSA, race (black, white, or other), and several other variables. Results The majority of men identified as black (50.2%). Median age at time of baseline PSA and biopsy was 58.6 and 64.8, respectively. Median baseline PSA was similar among black men and white men (2.70 vs 2.91 for black men vs white men, p = 0.232). Even so, black men were more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer (OR 1.62, p p = 0.101). Conclusions Black men were more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than were white men, despite comparable baseline PSA. In our pre-screened population at the urology clinic, a retrospective examination of baseline PSA did not predict future prostate cancer.
Cerium oxide nanoparticles improve outcome after in vitro and in vivo mild traumatic brain injury

Abstract Mild traumatic brain injury results in aberrant free radical generation, which is associated with oxidative stress, secondary injury signaling cascades, mitochondrial dysfunction, and poor functional outcome. Pharmacological targeting of free radicals with antioxidants has been examined as an approach to treatment, but has met with limited success in clinical trials. Conventional antioxidants that are currently available scavenge a single free radical before they are destroyed in the process. Here, we report for the first time that a novel regenerative cerium oxide nanoparticle antioxidant reduces neuronal death and calcium dysregulation after in vitro trauma. Further, using an in vivo model of mild lateral fluid percussion brain injury in the rat, we report that cerium oxide nanoparticles also preserve endogenous antioxidant systems, decrease macromolecular free radical damage, and improve cognitive function. Taken together, our results demonstrate that cerium oxide nanoparticles are a novel nan...
Possible role of elevated phosphoSTAT5a in 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-induced rat mammary gland carcinomas.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 5131 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is a heterocyclic amine found in cooked meat that is a mammary gland carcinogen in rats. Through immunohistochemical staining, we observed two populations of PhIP-induced rat mammary gland carcinomas that could be distinguished by high or low levels of nuclear STAT5a expression. STAT5a, a transcription factor activated by phosphorylation and translocation to the nucleus, is known to regulate proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in the normal mammary gland. Herein we sought to determine whether there were differences in proliferation and apoptosis in carcinomas showing high and low phosphoSTAT5a expression. Mammary gland carcinomas were classified into two groups based on the levels of phosphorylated STAT5a as determined by immunoprecipitation analysis. Carcinomas with phosphoSTAT5a levels not statistically different from normal mammary gland were classified as having low phosphoSTAT5a. Carcinomas designated as having high phosphoSTAT5a showed at least 3-fold higher levels of expression than normal mammary gland. Carcinomas with high phosphoSTAT5a showed statistically higher proliferation, as demonstrated by a 5-fold higher percentage of MIB5 positive cells by immunostaining (22.7% versus 4.2% of carcinoma epithelial cells) and a 3-fold higher expression of cyclin D1 as determined by Western blot analysis. Carcinomas with elevated phosphoSTAT5a also showed lower apoptosis as determined by the TUNEL assay and by an elevated Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic) to Bax (pro-apoptotic) protein ratio. The percentage of apoptotic cells was 0.4% and 1.2% in carcinomas with low and high phosphoSTAT5a, respectively. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio was 3.5-times higher in tumors with high phosphoSTAT5a as determined by Western blotting. Carcinoma growth as determined by the ratio of proliferating to apoptotic cells was statistically significantly higher in carcinomas with high phosphoSTAT5a. Furthermore, carcinomas with elevated phosphoSTAT5a showed a 2.5-fold higher protein expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα). ERα expression in PhIP-induced carcinomas is also known to correlate with proliferation. The results of the study suggest that in this rat mammary gland model, phosphorylation and activation of STAT5a is associated with carcinomas showing enhanced growth and proliferation.
The Relationship between Working from Home and the Time Parents Spend on Child Care

A substantial amount of literature discusses the adverse effects of maternal employment on children’s obesity, cognitive development, and other outcomes. This study uses data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) to investigate a potential solution: working from home. Parents who work from home contribute significantly more time to child-care activities than parents working outside the home. At-home workers spend 176.4 and 132 more minutes per day on total child-care time, respectively, than those who commute to work. Working from home offsets the reduction in total primary-child-care time associated with maternal and paternal employment by 62.6 and 54.5 percent, respectively. Secondary child care contributes more than 80 percent of the increase of total child-care time. Using the amount of selection on the observables as a guide to the amount of selection on the unobservables, I find robust associations between working from home and the time parents spend on physical care; secondary child care; and total primary, secondary, and total child-care time.
Probing the Local Dielectric Constant of Plasmid DNA in Solution and Adsorbed on Chemically Graded Aminosilane Surfaces

Nile Red dye was used to determine the dielectric constant, e, of nonpolar microenvironments in double stranded DNA (ds-DNA) both in aqueous buffer solution and when adsorbed on amine-modified surfaces. The value of e within the DNA decreased with increasing buffer concentration. Values of e ∼ 6.75 and ∼3.00 were obtained in 0.1 mM phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and in 10 mM PBS, respectively. Similar effects were observed upon adsorption to chemically graded amine-modified silica surfaces. Under 1 mM buffer, e was measured to be ∼2.84 and ∼1.90 at the low amine (high silica) and high amine (low silica) ends of the gradient, respectively. An increase in the buffer concentration again led to a decrease in e, but only at the low amine end. It is concluded that high buffer concentrations and binding to an amine surface cause a condensation of the DNA, forming less polar microenvironments. These results provide important knowledge of the factors governing the polarity of DNA microenvironments to which interc...
Proximal Humeral Fracture

Proximal humeral fractures follow the standard bimodal distribution in trauma, resulting from high-energy mechanisms in young patients (often motor vehicle collision or fall from height), and low-energy mechanisms in elderly patients (often ground-level falls). Even with considerable displacement and angulation, many can be managed nonoperatively due to many degrees of freedom (and compensatory ability) of the upper extremity. Surgery can be fixation with plates and screws, an intramedullary nail, or arthroplasty.
CHAPTER 27 – Application of Biomechanics to the Aging Human Skeleton

This chapter emphasizes the concept that age-related fractures represent a structural failure wherein the forces applied to the bone exceed its load-bearing capacity. This concept makes it is clear that studies of their etiology must include factors that influence skeletal fragility, or its load-bearing capacity, as well as those that influence the forces that are applied to the skeleton. The load-bearing capacity of a skeletal structure is determined by its intrinsic material properties as well as the total amount (size) and spatial distribution (shape) of the bone tissue. Considerable evidence indicates that the material properties of both cortical and trabecular bone decrease with increasing age in both men and women. This decrease in material properties is likely due, in part, to age-related reductions in bone mass, because the elastic modulus and strength of trabecular bone are related to density by a squared relationship. Therefore, small changes in bone density can dramatically influence bone material properties. These decrements in bone density and material properties may be partially offset by geometric rearrangement of the bone tissue, particularly in the long bones, that helps to preserve the bone's ability to resist bending and torsional loads.
Free Speech as Risk Analysis: Heuristics, Biases, and Institutions in the First Amendment

What does behavioral analysis of law have to offer First Amendment doctrine? This Article offers some tentative answers to that question. A great deal of First Amendment law asks whether the risk of harm stemming from particular speech acts can justify the regulation of that speech. We may, in short, think of First Amendment law as a species of risk analysis. Looking at free speech issues through the lens of behavioral analysis of law may help us to better understand, evaluate and improve the courts' approach to recurring problems in the First Amendment. This Article focuses on two such issues. First, it examines the development of First Amendment doctrine relating to illegal advocacy, from its modern roots in the "clear and present danger" test to the emergence of the currently prevailing test in Brandenburg v. Ohio. Viewed from the vantage point of behavioral analysis of law, this development is a success story. Illegal advocacy doctrine initially required triers of fact to make a probabilistic assessment of the risk of harm flowing from speech, but failed to account for cognitive shortcomings that could lead triers to overestimate the actual likelihood of harm. An examination of that doctrine's development, however, suggests that over time, the courts have developed an approach that erects appropriate safeguards against those cognitive failings. By contrast, this Article portrays the development of commercial speech doctrine as a departure from the insights of behavioral analysis. By hewing closely to a classical model of rationality and urging a strongly anti-paternalistic approach to commercial speech, the courts have failed to account for the judgment-distorting effects of advertising. Whatever shape doctrine in this area ought to take, it must at least begin to acknowledge and respond to these concerns. Necessarily wedded to this Article's positive analysis of First Amendment doctrine is the question of institutional choice. This Article thus asks two recurring questions: (1) how do we craft First Amendment rules that appropriately measure the extent of the risk generated by particular speech acts; and (2) given the varying degree to which different players in the system of free speech - judges, juries, legislators, and regulators - suffer from particular cognitive shortcomings, which institution should be assigned the ultimate decision-making role? The Article suggests that the answer to these questions may vary across a range of First Amendment issues.
Scaling Laws For Ac Breakdown Voltage In Microdischarges

The shrinking of devices for applications involving MEMS and microplasmas motivates better understanding and predictions of breakdown to either prevent or enhance discharge formation, respectively 1. We have previously derived universal microdischarge scaling laws for any gas at atmospheric pressure for DC fields 2, 3 and are currently in the process of extending this to any gap distance and pressure. Here, we conduct a similar analysis to develop microdischarge scaling laws for AC fields. Incorporating frequency effects into the electric field 4 allows us to modify our previous dimensionless parameters and scaling terms to account for AC. Analyzing critical limits of the breakdown function elucidate the transition from DC behavior (ion flow driving breakdown) to RF behavior (electron diffusion driving breakdown). We perform particle-in-cell simulations with AC voltages to assess the model's validity. The derived scaling laws provide breakdown curves as a function of frequency, gap distance, and gap pressure to guide experimental design and optimize system performance.
On the emergence of minority disadvantage: testing the cultural Red King hypothesis

The study of social justice asks: what sorts of social arrangements are equitable ones? But also: how do we derive the inequitable arrangements we often observe in human societies? In particular, in spite of explicitly stated equity norms, categorical inequity tends to be the rule rather than the exception. The cultural Red King hypothesis predicts that differentials in group size may lead to inequitable outcomes for minority groups even in the absence of explicit or implicit bias. We test this prediction in an experimental context where subjects divided into groups engage in repeated play of a bargaining game. We ran 14 trials involving a total of 112 participants. The results of the experiments are statistically significant and suggestive: individuals in minority groups in these experiments end up receiving fewer resources than those in majority groups. Combined with previous theoretical findings, these results give some reason to think that the cultural Red King may occur in real human groups.
Paving the Way for C4 Evolution: Study of C3-C4 Intermediate Species in Grasses.

C4 photosynthesis originated as an adaptation to low atmospheric CO2 concentrations 30–35 million years ago ([Sage, 2016][1]). Although accounting for only 3% of the vascular plants on earth, C4 plants contribute 25% of terrestrial photosynthesis ([Westhoff and Gowik, 2010][2]), thus providing a
Co-creations, Master Texts, and Monuments: Long Narrative Poems of Ethnic Minority Groups in China

This paper concerns publications of long narratives, both oral and written, associated with ethnic minority groups across China. What is the situation and value of these many published versions tha...
Earliest Record of the Bee-Mimic Robber Fly, Mallophora fautrix Osten Sacken 1887 (Diptera: Asilidae), in Louisiana

The charismatic bee-mimic robber fly Mallophora fautrix (Bee Killer) is distributed throughout the southwestern US and Mexico. Recent sightings of M. fautrix in Louisiana represent the easternmost reports of the species. We photographed and identified M. fautrix in north Lafayette Parish, LA, on 5 August 2015. This 2015 discovery and a second sighting in Bossier City, LA, on 28 July 2019, extend the eastern range of this charismatic bee-mimic robber fly.
Assessment of task-based performance from five clinical DBT systems using an anthropomorphic breast phantom.

Purpose Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a limited-angle tomographic breast imaging modality that can be used for breast cancer screening in conjunction with full-field digital mammography (FFDM) or synthetic mammography (SM). Currently, there are five commercial DBT systems that have been approved by the U.S. FDA for breast cancer screening, all varying greatly in design and imaging protocol. Because the systems are different in technical specifications, there is a need for a quantitative approach for assessing them. In this study, the DBT systems are assessed using a novel methodology with an inkjet-printed anthropomorphic phantom and four alternative forced choice (4AFC) study scheme. Method A breast phantom was fabricated using inkjet printing and parchment paper. The phantom contained 5 mm spiculated masses fabricated with potassium iodide (KI)-doped ink and microcalcifications made with calcium hydroxyapatite. Images of the phantom were acquired on all five systems with DBT, FFDM, and SM modalities where available using beam settings under automatic exposure control. A 4AFC study was conducted to assess reader performance with each signal under each modality. Statistical analysis was performed on the data to determine proportion correct (PC), standard deviations, and levels of significance. Results For masses, overall detection was highest with DBT. The difference in PC was statistically significant between DBT and SM for most systems. A relationship was observed between increasing PC and greater gantry span. For MCs, performance was highest with DBT and FFDM compared to SM. The difference between PC of DBT and PC of SM was statistically significant for all manufacturers. Conclusions This methodology represents a novel approach for evaluating systems. This study is the first of its kind to use an inkjet printed anthropomorphic phantom with realistic signals to assess performance of clinical DBT imaging systems.
Impact of Market Structure on Regulatory Compliance: Evidence from Online Censorship in China

This paper studies the role of market structure in regulatory compliance through a unique empirical example: censorship via content removal by three major live-streaming platforms in China. Adopting an event study approach, this paper exploits the unexpected occurrence of 30 salient events over two years and shows that platforms of different sizes censor a different number of keywords with notably different delays. This paper then develops and estimates a structural model where the platform’s profit depends on its own censorship action as well as that of its competitors, induced by the switching behavior of users with heterogeneous preferences for censorship. By complying with the government’s censorship request, platforms may lose users who prefer to evade censorship by switching out. By not complying, platforms incur a cost imposed by the government that is positively correlated with their sizes, but it also allows them to attract new users from their competitors that obey the government’s censorship requests. My counterfactual analysis predicts that centralizing market power via merging or shutting down small platforms could backfire and lead to an unintended consequence where the overall censorship in the marketplace turns out to be lower.
Surge Pricing on a Service Platform Under Spatial Spillovers: Evidence From Uber

Ride-sharing platforms employ surge pricing to match anticipated capacity spillover with demand. We develop an optimization model to characterize the relationship between surge price and spillover. We test predicted relationships using a spatial panel model on a dataset from Uber’s operation. Results reveal that Uber’s pricing accounts for both capacity and price spillover. There is a debate in the management community on the eﬃcacy of labor welfare mechanisms associated with shared capacity. We conduct counterfactual analysis to provide guidance in regards to the debate, for managing congestion, while accounting for consumer and labor welfare through this online platform.
A Prospective Assessment of Opioid Utilization Post-Operatively in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeries.

Background The healthcare system is plagued finding the balance between opioid use and abuse. Orthopaedic surgeons are expected to curtail the number of opioids prescribed in order to lower opioid abuse. We sought to prospectively evaluate opioid consumption following a wide range of sports orthopaedic surgical procedures to determine utilization patterns. Methods All patients receiving procedures within a one-year period were consented and then called daily for one week followed by weekly for up to two months or until the patients no longer were taking their opioid medication. We studied the number of opioids patient's took postoperatively and also collected information in regards to the patient and the surgical procedure. Results Included were 223 patients with a mean age of 32.9 years (range, 11 to 82). Surgeons prescribed a mean total of 59.5 pills, and patients reported consuming a mean total of 20.9 pills, resulting in a utilization rate of 40%. 94.4% of patients received no education on how to properly dispose of unused opioids. The mean SANE score was 53.9. The mean Pain Catastrophizing Scale score was 15.1. The mean Opioid Risk Tool was 3.3. The procedures were broken down into: 47.5% ligamentous knee repair, 18.4% shoulder arthroscopy/other shoulder, 7.6% meniscus, 7.6% shoulder arthroplasty, 5.4% distal biceps, 4.0% lower leg (ankle/foot/tibia) and 4.0% shoulder ORIF. Conclusion Over-prescribing opioids after sports orthopaedic surgeries is widespread. In this study, we found that patients are being prescribed 2.48 times greater opioid medications than needed following sports orthopaedic surgical procedures. We recommend surgeons take care when prescribing postoperative pain control and consider customizing their opioid prescriptions on the basis of prior opioid usage, anatomic location and procedure type. We also recommend educating the patients on proper disposal of excess opioids and consider involving pain management for patients likely to require prolonged opioid usage.
Cultural Influences on Sibling Relationships, Roles, and Self-Concept in the Context of Autism: Perspectives of Latino/a/x and non-Latino/a/x Siblings.

Siblings describe positive and negative aspects of autism and often assume lifelong support roles. Less is known about cultural influences on sibling relationships. This qualitative study characterizes processes linking siblings’ autism conceptualizations, sibling relationships, and self-concept using a multicultural framework. Siblings (12 Latino/a/x, 9 non-Latino/a/x white) participated. Data were stratified by ethnicity and analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Latino/a/x and non-Latino/a/x siblings described processes linking autism, relationships, and self-concept differently. Latino/a/x siblings emphasized family roles and identified as caregivers and protectors. Non-Latino/a/x siblings emphasized general sensitivity toward individuals who differed from themselves. Findings may reflect cultural differences in familism, caregiving expectations, and autism conceptualizations, thereby illuminating foundations of siblings’ lifelong caregiving roles and highlighting the importance of culturally-sensitive, family-centered care.
Association of RACK1 protein with ribosomes in Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract The receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1), a highly conserved eukaryotic protein, is known to have many, varying biological roles and functions. Previous work has established RACK1 as a ribosomal protein, with defined regions important for binding ribosomes in both human and yeast cells. In Plasmodium falciparum, RACK1 has been shown to be required for parasite growth, however conflicting evidence has been presented about the RACK1 ribosome binding and its role in mRNA translation. Given the importance of RACK1 as a regulatory component of mRNA translation and ribosome quality control, the case could be made in parasites for either of the binary options: bound or unbound to the ribosome. Here we used bioinformatics and transcription analyses to describe P. falciparum RACK1 protein. Based on homology modeling and structural analyses, we generated a model of P. falciparum RACK1 protein. We created and explored mutant and chimeric human and P. falciparum RACK1 proteins binding properties to the human and P. falciparum ribosome. Wild type, chimeric and mutant RACK1 proteins suggest different binding characteristics for P. falciparum and human RACK1 proteins and different regions being involved in their ribosome association. The ribosomal binding of RACK1 variants in human and parasite cells shown here demonstrates that although RACK1 proteins have highly conserved sequences and structures across species, ribosomal binding is affected by species specific alterations to the protein. In conclusion, we show that in the case of P. falciparum, contrary to the structural data, RACK1 is found to be bound to ribosomes and in actively translating polysomes of P. falciparum cells.
Financial Value for Cardiovascular Telemedicine

Telemedicine has constantly been evolving and expanding over the last 20 years, and Covid has rapidly accelerated this process. Three main types have emerged—store and forward/asynchronous, live-video, and remote patient monitoring—with remote monitoring the latest to emerge and currently is rapidly evolving. The value of telemedicine is critical for all healthcare stakeholders and must be defined, especially in cardiology, where telemedicine can be broadly applied. There are two ways to view telemedicine’s value for cardiovascular care—by location and by stakeholder. Both views have a unique view of telemedicine value, and both will benefit from widespread adoption. Financial modeling must be clearly defined to cover all types and vantage-points of telemedicine to increase its value and subsequent adoption. The role of value for payers is crucial at this moment in telemedicine’s evolution.
Machine learning classification of medication adherence in patients with movement disorders using non-wearable sensors

Medication non-adherence is a major concern in the healthcare industry and has led to increases in health risks and medical costs. For many neurological diseases, adherence to medication regimens can be assessed by observing movement patterns. However, physician observations are typically assessed based on visual inspection of movement and are limited to clinical testing procedures. Consequently, medication adherence is difficult to measure when patients are away from the clinical setting. The authors propose a data mining driven methodology that uses low cost, non-wearable multimodal sensors to model and predict patients' adherence to medication protocols, based on variations in their gait. The authors conduct a study involving Parkinson's disease patients that are "on" and "off" their medication in order to determine the statistical validity of the methodology. The data acquired can then be used to quantify patients' adherence while away from the clinic. Accordingly, this data-driven system may allow for early warnings regarding patient safety. Using whole-body movement data readings from the patients, the authors were able to discriminate between PD patients on and off medication, with accuracies greater than 97% for some patients using an individually customized model and accuracies of 78% for a generalized model containing multiple patient gait data. The proposed methodology and study demonstrate the potential and effectiveness of using low cost, non-wearable hardware and data mining models to monitor medication adherence outside of the traditional healthcare facility. These innovations may allow for cost effective, remote monitoring of treatment of neurological diseases. Display Omitted Data driven methodology to detect adherence using non-invasive sensors in PD patient.Effectiveness of approach illustrated with case study.Solution for non-hospital remote monitoring of patients.
LA IDÓNEA IMPLEMENTACIÓN ESTRATÉGICA ES CONDICIÓN NECESARIA PARA ASPIRAR AL ÉXITO DE LA EMPRESA

El pensamiento estrategico tiene que traducirse a implementacion estrategica para alcanzar las metas por las que lucha la organizacion. De no ser asi, todo el proceso de planeacion, tanclaro, ordenado y controlado, falla en alcanzar los resultados y termina como letra muerta. El proposito del articulo es darlesguias, caminos y herramientas a aquellos que quieren aceptar el desafio de la implementacion estrategica en sus empresas con minima ayuda externa.
A role for adenosine A2 receptors in the induction of long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus

Although reductions in neurotransmission have been reported in response to agonist-mediated adenosine A1 receptor activation, the implications of A2 receptor activation on synaptic transmission have not been well explored. We examined the role adenosine A2 receptors play in the efficacy of neurotransmission between the Schaffer collateral-CA1 pathway in the rat transverse hippocampal slice. A2 receptor blockade in the presence of complete A1 receptor inhibition led to a reversible reduction of the field excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP) slope in response to low-frequency test pulses (0.033 Hz) indicating that A2 receptors can enhance synaptic transmission. A2 receptor blockade by the A2 antagonist, DMPX (3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine) prevented the induction of tetanus-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of the EPSP. In contrast, no such effect on LTP induction was observed during A1 receptor blockade. We also examined the effects of DMPX on the induction of LTP during continued A1 receptor blockade with CPT. Under this condition, LTP was significantly reduced when compared to LTP induced in the presence of CPT alone. A similar result was found using the highly polar A2 antagonist 8-SPT (8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline) suggesting that the effects of DMPX on LTP were not due to a direct action on an intracellular intermediate. DMPX had no effect on LTP expression if applied 45 min following the tetanus indicating that A2 receptors play no significant role in the maintenance phase of LTP. Selective A2a receptor activation did not alter the field EPSP. Similarly, selective blockade of the A2a receptor did not interfere with tetanus-induced LTP. Increases in neuronal firing rates can result in elevations in the concentration of extracellular adenosine. Together, these results suggest that the A2 receptors may play an important role in the induction although not the maintenance of hippocampal LTP and that the effect is likely to be mediated by the A2b receptor.
Ion motive force dependence of protease secretion and phage tranduction in Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Vibrio cholerae is known to secrete a large number of proteins into the extracellular milieu, including the important virulence factor cholera toxin (CT). However, one of the most abundant proteins found in V. cholerae supernatants is the zinc-metalloprotease HA/protease (HAP). Whereas efficient protein secretion in Escherichia coli requires ATP hydrolysis and the proton motive force (pmf), little is known about the energy requirements for protein secretion in V. cholerae. To analyze some of the energy requirements for protein secretion in V. cholerae, HAP accumulation in culture supernatants following growth in the presence of various ionophores was assayed. Extracellular production of HAP was strongly reduced in the presence of monensin, an artificial Na+/H+ antiporter that collapses the ΔpNa+ across the membrane without affecting Δψ, whereas the protonophore CCCP had no significant effect on the extracellular accumulation of HAP. In contrast, extracellular protease production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was affected by CCCP, but not monensin. Furthermore, extracellular protease production of V. cholerae, but not P. aeruginosa, was increased in increasing amounts of NaCl in the culture medium. Together these results indicate that the V. cholerae HAP requires an intact sodium motive force (smf) for its efficient translocation across the membranes, whereas extracellular protease production by P. aeruginosa requires only pmf. As the entry of some bacteriophage genomes has been reported to require pmf, the effects of ionophores on the efficiency of tranduction of V. cholerae by the CTXΦ phage were analyzed. CTXΦ transduction was strongly affected by CCCP, but not monensin, suggesting that phage entry requires pmf but not smf. Understanding the energy requirements for these potentially important virulence aspects of pathogens might lead to novel intervention strategies.
Aristotle on Choosing Virtuous Action for its Own Sake

While Aristotle claims that virtuous actions are choiceworthy for their own sakes, he also claims that many virtuous actions are to be chosen as instrumental means to securing further ends. It would seem that an action is choiceworthy for its own sake only if it would be choiceworthy whether or not it served further ends. How, then, can such virtuous actions be choiceworthy for their own sakes? This article criticizes John Ackrill's and Jennifer Whiting's answers to this question. I propose an alternative, linking the choiceworthiness of virtuous actions to the pleasure, nobility, and beauty to be found in them.
Differential staining of bacteria: flagella stain

Bacterial flagella are appendages used for motility. Their presence is a useful tool for identification and differentiation of prokaryotes. Since flagella are too thin to be seen by compound light microscopy, staining methods employ the use of a mordant (often tannic acid) to make them thick enough to see using an oil immersion objective. Two protocols are described. Basic Protocol 1 is a modified Leifson method and is the one that many microbiologists have adapted. Basic Protocol 2 is a wet-mount stain using a Ryu stain and is included because the stain is stable at room temperature. Both of these methods are fairly time-consuming, taking from 15 to as long as 60 min to perform.
Life skills training: preventing substance misuse by enhancing individual and social competence

Research concerning the etiology and prevention of substance misuse has led to the development of preventive interventions that are theory-based and effective. One such approach, Life Skills Training (LST), targets key etiologic factors using a conceptual framework derived from social learning theory and problem behavior theory. LST has been extensively tested in a series of randomized trials and found effective in preventing the use/misuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other psychoactive drugs. Research demonstrates that it is effective when implemented under different delivery conditions, by different program providers, with different age groups, and with different populations. Follow-up studies provide evidence of the long-term effectiveness of LST. Independent economic analysis indicates that LST produces cost savings of as much as $38 for every dollar invested. Finally, LST offers the potential of reducing other health risk behaviors and fostering academic success.
Abstract 98: Reducing Mitochondrial, But Not Cytosolic Iron, Protects The Heart Against Ischemia-reperfusion Injury

Introduction: Iron is essential for the activity of a large number of cellular proteins, but excess free iron can cause cellular damage through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria are the major site of cellular iron homeostasis, and we recently showed the mitochondrial iron export is mediated by ATP-binding cassette protein-B8 (ABCB8). The role of mitochondrial iron in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart has not been examined. We hypothesize that mitochondrial iron has a critical role in I/R damage and a reduction of mitochondrial iron is protective against I/R injury through a reduction in ROS. Results: Cardiomyocyte-specific ABCB8 transgenic (TG) mice had significantly lower mitochondrial iron in the heart than nontransgenic (NTG) littermates at baseline, but their cardiac function and the expression of key antioxidant systems were indistinguishable from NTG littermates. To study the role of mitochondrial iron in I/R injury, we subjected ABCB8 TG mice to I/R. TG mice dis...
Fair Trade or Imperialism: Importing 'Merger Guidelines' into (De)Regulatory Policy

Since initially presented in the 1982 Department of Justice Horizontal Merger Guidelines, market definition has been adopted nearly worldwide to see if a merger would substantially lessen competition. This framework is also useful for addressing the similarly counterfactual question of whether forbearance from regulation would lead to an increase in prices. Because the alternative to forbearance is regulation, and since some regulated rates may be below competitive levels, finding that deregulation would lead to market power as defined for mergers need not deter deregulation. Forbearance in telecommunications highlights market definition questions regarding gross vs. marginal substitutes, dynamic efficiencies, and service bundling. It also reveals ambiguities in the meaning of "geographic market." Market definition may have limits if regulation exists not to prevent high prices, but the abuse of dominance through predatory pricing.
Smart headphones: enhancing auditory awareness through robust speech detection and source localization

We describe a method for enhancing auditory awareness by selectively passing speech sounds in the environment to the user. We develop a robust far-field speech detection algorithm for noisy environments and a source localization algorithm for flexible arrays. We then combine these methods to give a user control over the spatial regions from which speech will be passed through. Using this technique, we have implemented a "smart headphones" system in which a user can be listening to music over headphones and hear speech from specified directions mixed in. We show our preliminary results on the algorithms and describe initial user feedback about the system.
Renal Allograft Infiltrating Lymphocytes: Frequency of Tissue Specific Lymphocytes

Acute rejection, mediated by T lymphocytes recognizing donor MHC class I and II, is a major factor influencing renal transplant survival. To define the specificity of these effector cells we examined cytolytic activity of graft infiltrating T lymphocytes (GIL) from renal biopsies of individuals undergoing acute cellular rejection. The majority of these cells recognized MHC class I on both donor kidney epithelial cells (KCL) and B-lymphoblastoid cells (LCL) suggesting these T cells recognized peptides from various tissues. However, cold target inhibition experiments demonstrated a significant proportion of GIL T cells were tissue specific. We reported previously that kidney specific CTL can be isolated from biopsies of kidney allografts undergoing acute cellular rejection. Here we extend that observation showing we were able to isolate tissue specific CTL from two additional biopsies. Greater than 10% of the clones isolated (4 of 36 and 5 of 37) from these biopsies were CTL recognizing donor KCL but not LCL targets suggesting that peptides, recognized in the context of donor MHC, were tissue specific. Repeated isolation of significant numbers of tissue specific CTL suggests these T cells play a role in allograft rejection and may be important effector cells mediating rejection in HLA matched transplants.
Brief report: a reappraisal of clumsiness as a diagnostic feature of Asperger syndrome.

Asperger syndrome, first described by the Austrian physician Hans Asperger (1944), is an uncommon disorder whose clinical features overlap with those of autism (Kanner, 1943) and schizoid personality disorder (Wolff & Barlow, 1979; Wolff & Chick, 1980). Some authorities regard it as part of the "autistic spectrum" (Wing, 1981), while others have argued for the need to separate it from autism (Rutter, 1988; Tsai, 1991). One possible reason for the controversy surrounding the status of this syndrome is the lack of consensus about its clinical features. It is generally accepted that the core features of the syndrome consist of social isolation, odd and pedantic speech, poor nonverbal communication, and preoccupation with certain idiosyncratic interests (Wing, 1981). In addition, clumsiness has been proposed as one of the diagnostic criteria. Thus, based on the description of cases by Asperger, Wing (1981) noted that gross motor movements are clumsy and ill-coordinated in this syndrome. Most of the patients are said to be poor at games involving motor skills, and sometimes show impaired ability to write and draw. In a subsequent paper (Burgoine & Wing, 1983), she stated that "clumsy and ill-coordinated movements and odd posture" form one of the major clinical features of Asperger syndrome [italics added]. Other writers have concurred with this view. For example, after a review of the topic, Tantam suggested that the diagnosis of Asperger syndrome should be used for those autistic children who "use language freely but fail to make adjustment to fit different social contexts or the needs of different listeners, wish to be sociable but fail to make relation-
Quantitative Spectrophotometric Methods for Determination of Sodium Hypochlorite in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract Two simple spectrophotometric procedures for the quantitative estimation of hypochlorite in commercially available sodium hypochlorite solutions are presented.One method is based directly on the absorbance of hypochlorite in alkaline aqueous media.The other method takes advantage of the quantitative reaction of hypochlorite and ammonia in alkaline solution to form chloramine, which has a higher molar absorptivity.Results of the spectrophotometric assays are compared with results obtained by the titrimetric procedure of NF XII.
Union Contracts and Teacher Professional Development

In this article, I report the results of an investigation that examined the impact of teacher union contracts on the development of professional learning communities in schools. There are three primary sources of data used in the study: 1) 100 written teacher union contract documents; 2) structured interview data from 21 educators (school superintendents, principals, directors of staff development, and teacher union representatives; and 3) focus group interview data from educational leaders in schools. The analysis and discussion focus on five areas related to teacher professional development with implications for policy and practice: explicit language covering opportunities for teaching learning in their work; governance and decision making structures, that is, specific provisions covering wages, hours, and conditions of employment; the description of legitimate and sponsored activities for the professional development of teachers; and the resources supporting the on-going professional growth of teachers. The findings indicate that rethinking, restructuring, and organizational re-culturing in schools are initial expressions of a new unionism that has the potential to lead to the development of more powerful professional learning communities in schools.
Food Syrups from Acid Whey Treated with β-Galactosidase of Aspergillus niger

Abstract Hydrolysis of lactose in acid whey by a β-galactosidase from Aspergillus niger followed by deproteinization at different pH values (4.5, 5.6, and 6.8) and subsequent incubation at low temperatures produced colorless to golden, sweet food syrups.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMER-(MULTI)-PEPTIDE CONJUGATES FOR CONTROL OF SPECIFIC CELL AGGREGATION

A new synthetic approach has been applied to obtain novel di-, tetra-, and (multi)-peptide containing polymer conjugates in quantitative yields with a high degree of conjugation. Bis-(N-hydroxysuccinimidyl) esters of PEG (Mw = 200, 600, 1400, 2000, and 3400) were synthesized and studied in a condensation reaction with synthetic peptides: glycine-glycine-tyrosine-arginine (GGYR), a model peptide, and glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-tyrosine (GRGDY), a sequence known to promote cell adhesion and aggregation. Tetra-substituted derivatives of PEG-based conjugates were synthesized by coupling L-aspartic acid and L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine through a condensation procedure in organic media. Poly(acrylic acid) and co-polymers (Mw = 2000 and 5000) were studied as a model of multifunctional linear polymers in the reaction with L-tryptophan and GGYR. Alternative polymer-(multi)-peptide conjugates were successfully synthesized using Starburst dendrimer PAMAM (G = 3), 'short' and 'long'-chain PEG-based active esters and GRGDY. The structure of the intermediate precursors and peptide-conjugates was confirmed by spectral (UV-Vis, FTIR, H-NMR) and chromatographic (RP-HPLC and SEC) methods. By varying the properties of the interconnecting polymer--such as hydrophobicity, molecular weight, and functionality--a set of polymer-GRGDY conjugates was synthesized.
Molecular biology of glutamate receptors in the central nervous system and their role in excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and aging

Forty years of research into the function of L-glutamic acid as a neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) have uncovered a tremendous complexity in the actions of this excitatory neurotransmitter and an equally great complexity in the molecular structures of the receptors activated by L-glutamate. L-Glutamate is the most widespread excitatory transmitter system in the vertebrate CNS and in addition to its actions as a synaptic transmitter it produces long-lasting changes in neuronal excitability, synaptic structure and function, neuronal migration during development, and neuronal viability. These effects are produced through the activation of two general classes of receptors, those that form ion channels or "ionotropic" and those that are linked to G-proteins or "metabotropic". The pharmacological and physiological characterization of these various forms over the past two decades has led to the definition of three forms of ionotropic receptors, the kainate (KA), AMPA, and NMDA receptors, and three groups of metabotropic receptors. Twenty-seven genes are now identified for specific subunits of these receptors and another five proteins are likely to function as receptor subunits or receptor associated proteins. The regulation of expression of these protein subunits, their localization in neuronal and glial membranes, and their role in determining the physiological properties of glutamate receptors is a fertile field of current investigations into the cell and molecular biology of these receptors. Both ionotropic and metabotropic receptors are linked to multiple intracellular messengers, such as Ca2+, cyclic AMP, reactive oxygen species, and initiate multiple signaling cascades that determine neuronal growth, differentiation and survival. These cascades of complex molecular events are presented in this review.