cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The morality of abortion and the deprivation of futures

In an influential essay entitled Why abortion is wrong, Donald Marquis argues that killing actual persons is wrong because it unjustly deprives victims of their future; that the fetus has a future similar in morally relevant respects to the future lost by competent adult homicide victims, and that, as consequence, abortion is justifiable only in the same circumstances in which killing competent adult human beings is justifiable.1 The metaphysical claim implicit in the first premise, that actual persons have a future of value, is ambiguous. The Future Like Ours argument (FLO) would be valid if "future of value" were used consistently to mean either "potential future of value" or "self-represented future of value", and FLO would be sound if one or the other interpretation supported both the moral claim and the metaphysical claim, but if, as I argue, any interpretation which makes the argument valid renders it unsound, then FLO must be rejected. Its apparent strength derives from equivocation on the concept of "a future of value". Key Words: Abortion • Future Like Ours • Donald Marquis • potentiality • pro-choice
Nocturnal Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Influence on Waking Respiratory Muscle Function

Patients with COPD often have reduced inspiratory muscle strength and endurance as well as poor exercise tolerance. Increased inspiratory work during sleep (probably due to increased upper airway resistance) may further strain these compromised respiratory muscles in COPD patients. We hypothesized that nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) might reduce respiratory work during sleep in COPD patients and thereby improve waking inspiratory muscle function. To test this hypothesis, eight male COPD patients were treated with sustained nocturnal nasal CPAP. Inspiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure) and endurance (sustained inspiratory pressure) as well as clinical performance (12-min walk) were assessed before and after therapy. We observed that compared with matched controls, COPD patients treated with nocturnal nasal CPAP had significant and substantial improvement in inspiratory muscle strength and endurance as well as functional ability as assessed by the 12-min walk. In addition, CPAP did not significantly alter sleep quality or oxygenation in the patients studied. We conclude that nocturnal nasal CPAP improves inspiratory muscle performance during wakefulness in COPD patients, which is very likely a product of the reduced work of breathing during sleep while these individuals received CPAP.
The role of metalloelastase in immune complex-induced acute lung injury.

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are a group of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that can degrade every component of the extracellular matrix. Under normal circumstances, the levels of MMPs are tightly regulated at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. However, they are up-regulated in pathological states such as inflammation. Previous investigations have suggested that MMP-12 (metalloelastase) may be an important mediator in the pathogenesis of chronic lung injury. In this study we investigated the role of metalloelastase in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury using mice containing a targeted disruption of the metalloelastase gene. Neutrophil influx into the alveolar space in metalloelastase-deficient animals was reduced to ∼50% of that observed in parent strain mice following the induction of injury by immune complexes. In addition, lung permeability in metalloelastase-deficient mice was ∼50% of that of injured parent strain animals with normal levels of metalloelastase and this was correlated with histological evidence of less lung injury in the metalloelastase-deficient animals. Collectively, the data suggest that metalloelastase is necessary for the full development of acute alveolitis in this model of lung injury. Further, the data suggest that reduced injury in metalloelastase-deficient mice is due in part to decreased neutrophil influx into the alveolar space.
Insurance and economic growth

Individuals in a growing economy suffer from heterogeneous stochastic productivity shocks. In the absense of perfect information, income subsidies that encourage investment are efficient, and accelerate growth. The subsidies widen wealth disparities. The degree of the subsidy is an increasing function of the persistence of productivity shocks, rationalizing subsidies to investment in human capital.
Preparation of linear polyacrylamide gel step gradients for capillary electrophoresis

Abstract A means for casting step-gradients in linear polyacrylamide gel concentration for capillary electrophoresis is presented. A UV-Vis whole-column detector is used to profile the gel gradients cast in the capillary, while detection of fluorescein-labeled proteins is accomplished with an epi-illumination laser-induced fluorescence whole-column detection system. Fluorescence images of the capillary during the separation indicate a sharpening of the zones as they traverse the interface between gel concentrations. The potential of gel gradients in capillary electrophoresis for the analysis of wide molecular mass range protein or peptide samples is demonstrated. A mixture of proteins that range in molecular mass from 6·103 to 97.4·103 is separated in less than 15 min with baseline resolution of closely sized proteins that were not be resolved in a single concentration gel. Finally, analysis of several capillary images acquired during solute migration through the gel gradient permits the generation of a Ferguson plot from a single electrophoretic run.
Two Domains in Dihydropyridine Receptor Activate the Skeletal Muscle Ca2+ Release Channel

Abstract The II-III cytoplasmic loop of the skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) α 1 -subunit is essential for skeletal-type excitation-contraction coupling. Single channel and [ 3 H]ryanodine binding studies with a full-length recombinant peptide (p 666–791 ) confirmed that this region specifically activates skeletal muscle Ca 2+ release channels (CRCs). However, attempts to identify shorter domains of the II-III loop specific for skeletal CRC activation have yielded contradictory results. We assessed the specificity of the interaction of five truncated II-III loop peptides by comparing their effects on skeletal and cardiac CRCs in lipid bilayer experiments; p 671–680 and p 720–765 specifically activated the submaximally Ca 2+ -activated skeletal CRC in experiments using both mono and divalent ions as current carriers. A third peptide, p 671–690 , showed a bimodal activation/inactivation behavior indicating a high-affinity activating and low-affinity inactivating binding site. Two other peptides (p 681–690 and p 681–685 ) that contained an RKRRK-motif and have previously been suggested in in vitro studies to be important for skeletal-type E-C coupling, failed to specifically stimulate skeletal CRCs. Noteworthy, p 671–690 , p 681–690 , and p 681–685 induced similar subconductances and long-lasting channel closings in skeletal and cardiac CRCs, indicating that these peptides interact in an isoform-independent manner with the CRCs.
Fill Cleanout Operations in Offshore Saudi Arabian Fields: Case Histories toward Improving Economics and Operational Logistics

Coiled tubing (CT) fill cleanouts have been in existence for over four decades and today account for approximately 30% of the services performed. Both CT and conventional jointed pipe offer a forward or reverse circulation mode to remove solids; however, using conventional water-based fluids, a sand cleanout method may apply excess hydrostatic pressure to the formation, resulting in some lost circulation to a sub-hydrostatic reservoir. Nitrogen (N2) can be used to reduce hydrostatics, but this requires a very precise job design and execution. Moreover, N2 use can have adverse logistical and economic implications – large amounts of N2 may be needed, especially in larger diameter wellbores and in horizontal wells. Several cleanout methods have been utilized in the past, employing a variety of different approaches. CT historically has incorporated limited circulation rates, exotic/costly fluids and reversing circulation to remove solids. The use of CT to remove sand from wellbores was one of its earliest applications and continues to be an important service today. This paper will discuss cost-effective solutions in Saudi Arabia, highlighting field cases and job optimization. The selection of the most appropriate sand cleanout method has to be based on both logistical and technical issues. This paper shows how to select the most cost-effective fills cleanout method for these wells. A few field cases are discussed to demonstrate the proper operational procedure, challenges and lessons learned. The combination of how to utilize the sophisticated solids transport software, downhole switchable nozzle, and proper operational procedure with the frequent evaluation of downhole conditions on site is essential to insure the fills cleanout is executed 100% successfully.
Wear Scar Progression of Impact Fretting at Elevated Temperature for Steam Generator Tubes in Nuclear Power Plants

Fretting wear generated by flow induced vibration is one of the important degradation mechanisms of steam generator tubes in the nuclear power plants. Understanding of tube wear characteristics is very important to keep the integrity of the steam generator tubes to secure the safety of the nuclear power plants. Experimental examination has been performed for the purpose of investigating the impact fretting. Test material is alloy 690 tube and 409 stainless steel tube supports. From the results of experiments, wear scar progression is investigated in the case of impact-fretting wear test of steam generator tubes under plant operating conditions such as pressure of 15MPa, high temperature of 290C and low dissolved oxygen. Hammer imprint that is actual damaged wear pattern, has been observed on the worn surface. From investigation of wear scar pattern, wear mechanism was initially the delamination wear due to cracking the hard oxide film and finally transferred to the stable impact-fretting pattern.
A Banded Matrix Iterative Approach to Monte Carlo Simulations Of Large-Scale Random Rough Surface Scattering: TE Case

A banded matrix iterative approach is applied to study scattering of a TE incident wave from a perfectly conducting one-dimensional random rough surface. It is much faster than the full matrix inversion approach or the conjugate gradient method. When compared to the Kirchhoff iterative approach, it is of comparable CPU time, and works for cases when the Kirchhoff iteration is erroneous. The method is illustrated for a variety of parameters with particular application to large scale rough surface problems. The largest surface length used is 400 wavelengths with 3200 unknowns, and all the coherent wave interactions are included within the entire surface length. The accuracy of the banded iterative approach is demonstrated by showing that the results overlie those of the exact matrix inversion and the conjugate gradient method. The numerical method is also easy to implement. With this approach, we are able to compute the new response characteristics of composite rough surfaces with much larger scales. The ca...
Energy and multiplicity dependence of fragment flow in high energy nuclear collisions

Collective flow of light particles (Z=1,2) is measured as a function of multiplicity and beam energy for collisions of Ca+Ca, Nb+Nb and Au+Au with the Plastic Ball detector at the Berkeley Bevalac. In particular, the reaction 200 MeV per nucleon Au+Au is studied to provide information on the flow of intermediate mass fragments (2<Z<10). The largest directed flow reached in semi-central collisions is found to increase with bombarding energy, projectile-target mass, and with fragment mass.
Biological maturation and β-adrenergic effectors: development of β-adrenergic receptors in rabbit heart

The β-adrenergic receptor, transduction processes and catalytic activity of the adenylate cyclase enzyme complex have been investigated in rabbit heart at different stages of biological maturation. The binding of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol to a washed membrane preparation isolated from rabbit ventricular muscle was used to characterize β-adrenergic receptors. Significant age-related differences were noted in β-receptor affinity (Kd) and density (RD) of neonatal and adult animals; the adult Kd was 3.7-fold greater and the RD 2-fold higher than the neonates. No significant differences in these parameters were detected among the 27-day old fetus and the 1- and 7-day old neonates. Age-dependent differences in agonist isoproterenol affinity for the receptor were not observed in contrast to the significant changes in antagonist (DHA) affinity.
A heuristic approximation for reducing problem size in network file allocation models

Abstract The design of distributed processing systems has increasingly drawn the attention of systems designers as more and more organizations recognize the advantages of decentralizing operations. However, determination of an optimal or preferred distributed data base configuration is a nontrivial task. A viable model for allocating files to nodes in a distributed system must consider the tradeoffs between costs and service and the unique characteristics of the system, including the planned redundancy inherent in the file organization. It also must be solvable within the current state of the art. This paper presents a mixed-integer linear programming model which allows assignment of replicated and/or partitioned files to the nodes of a distributed network while considering query, update and storage costs associated with the file assignments. The resulting model, though large, is solvable even for networks with a substantial number of nodes and links. Because the model relies on an average communication cost for determining file location, results are presented comparing the model performance to that of a model utilizing exact communication costs.
Cytotoxicity of commercial nano-TiO2 to Escherichia coli assessed by high-throughput screening: effects of environmental factors.

Abstract The extensive use of nano-TiO 2 in industry has led to growing concerns about its potential environmental impacts. However, negligible toxicity is commonly reported under insufficient illumination and artificial solution conditions in the literature, which rarely includes discussion of the regulating role of environmental factors. Herein, we report the results of a high-throughput screening assay to evaluate the acute cytotoxicity of six commercial nano-TiO 2 materials to Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) using Lake Michigan water as a model for aquatic surface environments. In particular, we investigate the specific effects of illumination wavelength and natural organic matter (NOM) content. Under simulated solar irradiation, four anatase-based nano-TiO 2 materials including Pigment White 6 exhibit significant bacterial toxicity (2 h-IC 50 value of 2.7–9.1 mg/L), with toxicity thresholds much lower than previously reported. Negligible toxicity is caused either by pure-phase rutile or under dark condition. Formation of nano-TiO 2 aggregates well beyond nano-scale does not eliminate their toxic effect, but photoactivity dominates over the primary size and extent of aggregation in determining the acute cytotoxicity of nano-TiO 2 . Under visible light irradiation (UVA&B blocked) the antibacterial activity of nano-TiO 2 is essentially erased, whereas removing only UVB wavelengths slightly mitigates the toxicity. Suwannee River fulvic acid, acting as a natural dispersant, reverses the extent of nano-TiO 2 aggregation, but also reduces its bacterial cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that despite particle aggregation, the short-term cytotoxicity of nano-TiO 2 is predominantly attributed to its phototoxicity, emphasizing the importance of illumination conditions in toxicological screening of photoactive nanomaterials. In the natural aquatic environment, however, this acute toxicity may be mitigated by the attenuation of UV irradiation and increased NOM concentration in the water column.
Water deprivation and shock thresholds

Thirty-two rats, under no deprivation or under 48 h water deprivation, were given 10 series of 12 different shock intensities, using the method of constant stimuli. Their reactions were classified into several categories. None of the group differences on these categories approached statistical significance, indicating that water deprivation does not alter thresholds for electric foot shock.
Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia originating in the great cardiac vein

44-year-old woman with no structural heart disease and a istory of recurrent wide complex tachycardia was referred or radiofrequency (RF) ablation of idiopathic ventricular achycardia (VT). Electrophysiologic study demonstrated ormal sinus rhythm with frequent premature ventricular eats, a left bundle branch block morphology, and inferior xis identical to the previously documented tachycardia. ustained VT of the same morphology was easily induced ith ventricular burst pacing during isoproterenol infusion t 2 g/min (Figure 1A). Electroanatomic activation mapping was performed durng induced tachycardia in the right ventricular outflow tract oth above and below the pulmonic valve (Figure 2), but resystolic activation was not found at any of these sites Figure 3A). Furthermore, pace mapping at the site of eariest ventricular activation in the outflow tract produced a oor match with the tachycardia QRS morphology (Figure B). The distal coronary sinus then was accessed, and preystolic activation during the tachycardia was observed in his region (Figures 2 and 3B). Earliest activation was found t the takeoff of the great anterior cardiac vein where pace apping provided a close match with the tachycardia (Figre 1C). RF energy was applied to this site and two adjacent ites under temperature control (30 seconds each, target emperature 60°C, maximum power 50 W), with eliminaion of spontaneous ventricular ectopy and tachycardia inucibility. Careful ECG monitoring during the case showed o ST-segment changes during or after RF energy applicaion. Eleven months after the procedure, the patient has emained arrhythmia free and asymptomatic.
Differential Gene Expression in the Axotomized Facial Motor Nucleus of Presymptomatic SOD1 Mice

Previously, we compared molecular profiles of one population of wild-type (WT) mouse facial motoneurons (FMNs) surviving with FMNs undergoing significant cell death after axotomy. Regardless of their ultimate fate, injured FMNs respond with a vigorous pro-survival/regenerative molecular response. In contrast, the neuropil surrounding the two different injured FMN populations contained distinct molecular differences that support a causative role for glial and/or immune-derived molecules in directing contrasting responses of the same cell types to the same injury. In the current investigation, we utilized the facial nerve axotomy model and a presymptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse (SOD1) model to experimentally mimic the axonal die-back process observed in ALS pathogenesis without the confounding variable of disease onset. Pre-symptomatic SOD1 mice had a significant decrease in FMN survival compared with WT, which suggests an increased susceptibility to axotomy. Laser microdissection was used to accurately collect uninjured and axotomized facial motor nuclei of WT and presymptomatic SOD1 mice for mRNA expression pattern analyses of pro-survival/pro-regeneration genes, neuropil-specific genes, and genes involved in or responsive to the interaction of FMNs and non-neuronal cells. Axotomized pre-symptomatic SOD1 FMNs displayed a dynamic pro-survival/regenerative response to axotomy, similar to WT, despite increased cell death. However, significant differences were revealed when the axotomy-induced gene expression response of presymptomatic SOD1 neuropil was compared with WT. We propose that the increased susceptibility of presymptomatic SOD1 FMNs to axotomy-induced cell death and, by extrapolation, disease progression, is not intrinsic to the motoneuron, but rather involves a dysregulated response by non-neuronal cells in the surrounding neuropil.
Bacteriophage λ and Plasmid pUR288 Transgenic Fish Models for Detecting In Vivo Mutations

We adapted transgenic rodent mutation assays based on fish carrying bacteriophage λ and plasmid pUR288 vectors to address the needs for improved methods to assess health risks from exposure to environmental mutagens and also to establish new animal models to study in vivo mutagenesis. The approach entails separating the vectors from fish genomic DNA and then shuttling them into specialized strains of E. coli bacteria to analyze spontaneous and induced mutations in either lacI and cII or lacZ mutational targets. Fish exhibited low frequencies of spontaneous mutants comparable to the sensitivity of transgenic rodent models. Mutations detected after treating fish with chemical mutagens showed concentration-dependent, tissue-specific, and time-dependent relationships. Spontaneous and induced mutational spectra also were consistent with the specificity of known mutagens, further supporting the utility of transgenic fish for studies of in vivo mutagenesis.
897 BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DURING ANESTHESIA IN CHILDREN

This investigation explored the effect of anesthesia on serum electrolytes and enzymes in relation to the etiology of malignant hyperthermia (MH). Forty children undergoing elective surgical procedures under halothane anesthesia were studied. Control blood samples were taken 5 minutes after induction of anesthesia and repeated in 3, 6, 15, 30, 60 minutes after a single 1 mg/kg IV dose of succinylcholine chloride (Sch). The results demonstrated: a)a mean fall in ionized serum calcium of 0.75 mEq/L at 3-6 minutes; b)a mean rise in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity of 150 U/L; c)a mean rise in serum potassium of 0.2 mEq/L and a mean fall in serum sodium of 6 mEq/L. The finding of a fall in serum calcium ion with a corresponding rise in CPK activity, supports the hypothesis that a preexisting defect in permeability of many membranes exists in MH patients, and is further exaggerated by the passive transfer of calcium ions during the state of membrane depolarization. Thus the rapid rise of intracellular calcium in precipitating the MH crisis after exposure to triggering agents may be potentiated.
Optical ranging by wavelength multiplexed interferometry

A new optical technique is described for measurement of absolute distance. The approach is based upon a wavelength multiplexed heterodyne interferometer with FM demodulation. By temporally multiplexing discrete wavelengths in a heterodyne interferometer, a complete elimination of interferometric range ambiguity can be achieved while maintaining the high range sensitivity and resolution of interferometry. The basic theory is presented and an algorithm is described for measurement of range over meter distances with submicrometer resolution. The experimental implementation of the wavelength multiplexed interferometer is described and ranging results with 2 μm resolution from 20 cm are presented. A scanned three‐dimensional map of a surface contour with 3‐mm topography is also presented.
Expression of Rhizobium pydA-pydB fusion gene in Nicotiana tabacum confers resistance to the toxic aromatic compound 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone

The toxic aromatic compound 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (HP) is an intermediate in both synthesis and degradation of mimosine, which is produced by the tree legume Leucaena leucocephala. The L. leucocephala root-nodule symbiont Rhizobium TAL1145 contains a dioxygenase (pydA) and a hydrolase (pydB) gene that produce enzymes necessary for the degradation of HP. In order to coordinately express both genes in plant tissues under a single promoter, three different pydA-pydB fusion constructs (G0, G3, and G7) with varying glycine linkers between the two genes were developed. Prior to transferring the fusion constructs into L. leucocephala, which is highly recalcitrant to genetic transformation, we tested the expression and activity of the hybrid proteins in Nicotiana tabacum, a model plant system that can be easily transformed and analyzed. Seven independent transgenic tobacco lines were generated by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and stable integration and expression of pydA-pydB in these transgenic lines were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) and Western analysis. Only one of the fusion constructs, G3, containing a 9-nucleotide linker between pydA and pydB, provided significant levels of resistance to 3 mM HP, indicating that the hybrid protein produced by this fusion construct could degrade HP.
An Intergroup Investigation of Disparaging Humor

This article takes an intergroup approach to studying disparaging humor. Specifically, this study tests the in-group favoritism/out-group rejection tenet of social identity theory in the context of...
Rule-Based Simulation of Vein Graft Remodeling

Vascular adaptation following local injury occurs through a combination of intimal hyperplasia and wall (inward/outward) remodeling. Over the past two decades, researchers have applied a wide variety of approaches to investigate neointimal hyperplasia and vascular remodeling in an effort to identify novel therapeutic strategies. However, despite incremental progress over these decades, specific cause/effect links between hemodynamic factors, inflammatory biochemical mediators, cellular effectors, and vascular occlusive phenotype remain lacking.
Reducing Welfare Benefits: Consequences for Adequacy of and Eligibility for Benefits

During the past two decades, most states have allowed welfare benefit levels to erode with inflation. Very little attention has been paid by academics and policy makers to the potential effects of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 on welfare benefit levels. This article provides a number of explanations for likely reductions in states' welfare benefit levels. Consequences of reducing welfare benefit levels are examined. The article shows how small changes in benefit levels can alter profoundly eligibility for welfare. Social workers need to advocate for increases in welfare benefit levels which, at the very least, keep up with inflation.
WHEN EXPLORATION BACKFIRES: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF MULTILEVEL ORGANIZATIONAL SEARCH

An enduring belief is that unleashing low-level members of an organization to explore extensively will broaden the exploration conducted by the entire organization. Using an agent-based simulation ...
Practical codes for lossy compression when side information may be absent

Practical codes are developed for quadratic Gaussian lossy compression when side information may be absent by hybridizing successively refinable trellis coded quantization (SR-TCQ) and low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. A 2-refinement level SR-TCQ is used to generate a common description for both decoders and an individual description for the decoder with side information. Then, the common description is losslessly compressed while the individual description is compressed using a LDPC code which exploits the side information in a belief propagation decoder. Simulation results show that the practical codes require no more than 0.46 extra bits at moderate rates and no more than 0.7 extra bits at low rates from the theoretical bounds.
Semantic variability predicts neural variability of object concepts

The prevailing approach to the neuroscientific study of concepts is to characterize the neural pattern evoked by a given concept, averaging over any variation that might occur upon multiple retrieval attempts (e.g., across time, tasks, or people). This approach—which diverges substantially from approaches to studying conceptual processing with other methods—treats all variation as noise. Here, our goal is to determine whether variation in neural patterns evoked by semantic retrieval of a given concept is more than just measurement error, and instead reflects variation arising from contextual variability. We measured each concept's diversity of semantic contexts (“SV”) by analyzing its word frequency and cooccurrence statistics in large text corpora. To measure neural variability, we conducted an fMRI study and sampled neural activity associated with each concept when it appeared in three separate, randomized contexts. We predicted that concepts with low SV would exhibit uniform activation patterns across stimulus presentations, whereas concepts with high SV would exhibit more dynamic representations over time. We observed that a concept's SV score predicted its corresponding neural variability. This finding supports a flexible, distributed organization of semantic memory, where a concept's meaning and its neural activity patterns both continuously vary across contexts. & 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Cavitation in Normal Separation of Square and Circular Plates

The negative squeeze lubrication problem is investigated by means of a mass-conserving finite element cavitation algorithm (described elsewhere) within the context of a dimensionless study of lubricant film behavior between rigid, parallel separating surfaces. Appropriate mesh geometries which capture spatial and temporal mixture density history and satisfy JFO conditions on the cavitation interface are determined. Present simulation results agree qualitatively with previous experiments, supporting the validity of the algorithm and its utility in the bearing design process
Virus-specific RNAs in cells infected by avian myelocytomatosis virus and avian erythroblastosis virus: Modes of oncogene expression

Abstract The avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV) and the avian myelocytomatosis virus 29 (MCV) induce the rapid appearance of tumors in birds. Although basically similar in nucleotide sequence, the genomes of MCV and AEV each contain a unique putative oncogene ( onc MCV and onc AEV ); each virus transforms at least two cell types in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that multiple functional domains may exist within onc AEV and onc MCV . Virus-coded polyproteins were previously detected in cells infected by MCV and AEV by the use of antibodies directed against virion proteins of the closely related avian sarcoma virus. However, AEV and MCV may encode as yet undetected proteins that do not react with antibodies directed against avian sarcoma virus proteins. mRNA was examined from MCV- and AEV-infected cells as a means of determining whether such additional proteins might exist. Our results indicate that MCV-infected cells contain only one RNA with sequences corresponding to onc MCV ; this 5.4 kb RNA corresponds in size to the MCV genome and probably encodes P110, the previously identified MCV polyprotein. The absence of any other MCV-specific mRNAs suggests that P110 (or presently unidentified derivatives) may be solely responsible for transformation by MCV. In contrast to our results with MCV, we found that AEV-infected fibroblasts and erythroblasts contain two species of RNA that anneal with cDNA corresponding to the majority of onc AEV . For several strains of AEV, the two intracellular viral RNAs have sizes of 5.3 and 3.5 kb, but in one instance have sizes 6.1 and 4.3 kb. We analyzed the distribution of onc AEV -specific sequences within the two AEV RNAs by hybridization with cDNAs corresponding to different sections of onc AEV . As expected, cDNAs from all regions of onc AEV anneal with the larger AEV RNA; this RNA probably encodes the AEV polyprotein. By contrast, hybridization results for the subgenomic RNA indicate that it contains the 3′ half of onc AEV and a leader sequence splied from the 5′ end of the viral genome. Our analyses of mRNA expression for two multipotential oncogenic retroviruses thus yield contrasting results. The existence of two intracellular AEV RNAs suggests that onc AEV may encode two distinct proteins. MCV, however, apparently encodes only a single viral protein. A third defective leukemia virus, the avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), generates a subgenomic 2.3 kb mRNA. We conclude that each of these three defective avian retroviruses employs a distint scheme for expression of its oncogenicity.
Cloning and characterization of a Chlamydia psittaci gene coding for a protein localized in the inclusion membrane of infected cells

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria which occupy a non-acidified vacuole (the inclusion) throughout their developmental cycle. Little is known about events leading to the establishment and maintenance of the chlamydial inclusion membrane. To identify chlamydial proteins which are unique to the intracellular phase of the life cycle, an expression library of Chlamydia psittaci DNA was screened with convalescent antisera from infected animals and hyperimmune antisera generated against formalin-killed purified chlamydiae. Overlapping genomic clones were identified which expressed a 39 kDa protein only recognized by the convalescent sera. Sequence analysis of the clones identified two open reading frames (ORFs), one of which (ORF1) coded for a predicted 39 kDa gene product. The ORF1 sequence was amplified and fused to the malE gene of Escherichia coli and antisera were raised against the resulting fusion protein. Immunoblotting with these antisera demonstrated that the 39 kDa protein was present in lysates of infected cells and in reticulate bodies (RBs), but was at the limit of detection in lysates of purified C. psittaci elementary bodies. Fluorescence microscopy experiments demonstrated that this protein was localized in the inclusion membrane of infected HeLa cells, but was not detected on the developmental forms within the inclusion. Because the protein produced by ORF1 is deposited on the inclusion membrane of infected cells, this gene has been designated incA, (inclusion membrane protein A) and its gene product, IncA. In addition to the inclusion membrane, these antisera labelled structures that extended from the inclusion over the nucleus or into the cytoplasm of infected cells. Immunoblotting also demonstrated that IncA, in lysates of infected cells, had a migration pattern that seemed indicative of post-translational modification. This pattern was not observed in immunoblots of RBs or in the E. coli expressing IncA. Collectively, these data identify a chlamydial gene which codes for a protein that is released from RB and is localized in the inclusion membrane of infected cells.
Differences in Spider Community Composition among Adjacent Sites during Initial Stages of Oak Woodland Restoration

Fire suppression has altered the uplands of northern Mississippi (U.S.A.). Once blanketed by open oak woodlands, this region is now experiencing mesophytic tree invasion, canopy closure, reduced oak regeneration, and herbaceous understory loss. In an attempt to reestablish historical conditions, experimental restoration was initiated through thinning and burning treatments. Our study, part of a comprehensive monitoring effort, is the first to examine the impact of oak woodland restoration on the spider community and associated habitat structure. Samples measuring a variety of environmental variables and utilizing an array of spider collecting techniques were taken within four habitats located at the restoration site: fire-suppressed forest, moderately treated forest, intensely treated forest, and old field. Two main conclusions resulted from this study. (1) Open-habitat specialists responded positively to increased canopy openness regardless of the availability of herbaceous vegetation. (2) Woodland restoration increased spider diversity, perhaps through the formation of diverse habitat structure and/or by altering species dominance patterns. A rise in open-habitat specialist diversity was observed as treatment intensity increased, with no compensatory reduction in the diversity of forest specialists. What remains to be seen is whether the continued transition to open woodland habitat will result in losses of forest specialist species. More aggressive overstory tree thinning is currently being administered to encourage the growth of herbaceous grasses and forbs, which will permit future tests of a hypothesized decline in forest specialists.
New perspectives for the clinical evaluation of atherosclerosis

Title: New perspectives for the clinical evaluation of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a progressive and degenerative disease of the artery wall that begins relatively early in life but does not become recognized until it is severe enough to result in the development of clinical signs and symptoms. Too often, however, these clinical events are closely associated with morbidity and mortality. Much progress has been made in elucidating those risk factors associated with development of clinical endpoints; however, risk when used in this context is defined as increased chance and, except in unusual circumstances, cannot predict specific individuals who will develop signs and symptoms nor when these events will occur. Several methods have been developed during the last 25 years that have the potential for detecting atherosclerotic plaques in their preclinical stages. High-resolution, B-mode ultrasound imaging, particularly, has high sensitivity and specificity in detecting carotid artery plaques and in accurately measuring size characteristics of individual lesions. Reliability studies have demonstrated the possibility of detecting changes in asymptomatic carotid artery atherosclerosis with 95%percnt; confidence, if these changes are greater than ± 0.4 mm. Application of this noninvasive method to identify subjects with asymptomatic lesions, and to monitor plaque changes over time, will aid greatly in determining the efficacy of various therapies and potentially will decrease the mortality and morbidity associated with stroke.
Long-term Experience With Endoscopic Staple-Assisted Esophagodiverticulostomy for Zenker's Diverticulum†

The authors have previously described the endoscopic staple-assisted esophagodiverticulostomy (ESED) technique for treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. In the initial series of six patients, ESED was shown to be safe and effective in the short term, with a significant reduction in hospital stay and convalescence as compared with other surgical techniques. This report documents the authors' long-term experience with ESED (average follow-up, 9.3 months; range, 1.5 to 25 months) and discusses the long-term results of this therapy, technical issues, and variations they have utilized, as well as the advantages and limitations of this approach. Thirty-six patients with Zenker's diverticula have been treated from March 1995 to March 1997. In 34 of the patients, ESED was accomplished, resulting in successful resolution of preoperative symptoms in 32 (94%). Two patients had persistent dysphagia after initial ESED; a revision ESED was successfully performed without complication in both. Two patients were unable to be treated with ESED because of inability to expose the diverticulum with the Weerda laryngoscope. Oral liquid diet has been resumed, on average, 0.8 days after surgery (range, 0 to 4 days), with solid diet resumed by day 5 (range, 1 to 14 days). The average hospital stay has been 1.3 days (range, 1 to 4 days). There have been no postoperative deaths, infections, or airway difficulties. Perioperative morbidity to date has included one case of iatrogenic pharyngeal perforation, one postoperative fever, one transient true vocal fold paralysis, and two dental injuries, with no long-term sequelae. The results support the use of ESED as the initial treatment of choice for patients with Zenker's diverticula.
Fracture of the anteromedial facet of the coronoid process.

BACKGROUND: Fracture of the anteromedial facet of the coronoid was recently recognized as a distinct type of coronoid fracture resulting from a varus posteromedial rotational injury force. Very few reports are available to help guide the management of these injuries. METHODS: Eighteen patients with a fracture of the anteromedial facet of the coronoid process were treated over a six-year period. Twelve patients were treated for the acute fracture, and six were managed after initial treatment elsewhere. All but three patients (two with concomitant fracture of the olecranon and one with a second fracture at the base of the coronoid) had avulsion of the origin of the lateral collateral ligament complex from the lateral epicondyle. The initial treatment was operative in fifteen patients and nonoperative in three. The coronoid fracture was secured with a plate applied to the medial surface of the coronoid in nine patients, a screw in one patient, and sutures in one patient. It was not repaired in the remaining seven patients. RESULTS: At the final evaluation, an average of twenty-six months after the injury, six patients had malalignment of the anteromedial facet of the coronoid with varus subluxation of the elbow, which was due to the fact that the fracture had not been specifically treated in four patients and to loss of fracture fixation in two patients. All six had development of arthrosis and a fair or poor result according to the system of Broberg and Morrey. The remaining twelve patients had good or excellent elbow function. CONCLUSIONS: Anteromedial fractures of the coronoid are associated with either subluxation or complete dislocation of the elbow in most patients. Secure fixation of the coronoid fracture usually restores good elbow function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. ORIGINAL ABSTRACT CITATION: “Fracture of the Anteromedial Facet of the Coronoid Process” (2006;88:[2216-24][1]). [1]: /lookup/volpage/88/2216
Immune-mediated colitis: important to recognize and treat.

Dear Sir, Adverse effects related to biologic monoclonal antibodies are common; potentially life threatening and can involve almost every organ. Ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen-4-antagonist (CTLA-4), has been approved for treatment of advanced melanoma. We report a case of ipilimumab immune-mediated side effects involving multiple organ systems (pancolitis, hypophysitis), simultaneously. A 73-year-old man with metastatic melanoma involving the spine was treated with ipilimumab (Yervoy®) every three weeks. After the third cycle he developed fatigue, anorexia, and watery, non-bloody diarrhea (5–8 stools/24 h). He was diagnosed with ipilimumab immune-mediated hypophysitis leading to panhypopituitarism with hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency. Therapy with oral prednisone …
Controllability and stabilizability properties of a nonholonomic control system

Controllability and stabilizability properties are examined for a control system with a nonholonomic constraint. A representative nonholonomic control system example is discussed: the control of a knife edge moving on a plane surface. This example contains the essential features of the general case. It is noted that conditions for small-time local controllability are satisfied. An explicit open loop control is then given which transfers the knife edge to a single equilibrium and an explicit stabilizing feedback control. >
Lung-specific induction of heme oxygenase-1 and hyperoxic lung injury

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1, which catalyzes heme breakdown, is induced by oxidative stress and may protect against oxidative injury. We hypothesized that induction of HO-1 by hemoglobin (Hb) in the lung would protect the rat from pulmonary O2 toxicity. Rats given intratracheal (i.t.) Hb showed lung-specific induction of HO-1 by 8 h by Western analysis. Rats were then pretreated for 8 h before 60 h of exposure to 100% O2 with either IT normal saline, HB, or Hb plus the HO-1 inhibitor tinprotoporphyrin (SnPP). Both the Hb + O2 and Hb + O2 + SnPP animals had less lung injury than normal saline controls as indicated by lower pleural fluid volumes and wet-to-dry weight ratios (P < 0.01). The improvement in injury in the two Hb-treated groups was the same despite a 61% decrease in HO enzyme activity in the Hb + SnPP group after 60 h of O2. In addition, inhibition of HO activity with SnPP alone before O2 exposure did not augment the extent of hyperoxic lung injury. These results demonstrate that IT Hb induces lung HO-1 in the rat and protects against hyperoxia; however, the protection is not mediated by increased HO enzyme activity.
Crime and Public Health in the United States

The fields of criminal justice and public health intersect in various ways in the United States. Certain criminal behaviors, criminal and delinquent rehabilitation, and the fear of crime have public health implications to the extent they shape exposure to immediate and long-term negative health outcomes, overall access to health care, and intervention strategies towards high-risk populations. As such, the study of criminality and particular types of ‘offenders’ remain a concern for both criminal justice and public health researchers and policy makers. This introductory chapter first reviews certain ‘intersections’ of areas pertinent to the fields of criminal justice and public health, particularly substance use and violence, vulnerable populations, negative health outcomes and incarceration, and interventions that crossover both public health and criminal justice initiatives. From here, the chapter provides a brief overview of the four themes examined within the book: Incarceration and health risks; health risk behaviors among high-risk youth; crime, space, and health; and public health interventions towards traditional criminal justice populations.
Attitudes of nurses and nursing students toward alcoholism treatment.

Attitudes of authoritarianism were correlated in nursing students with custodial rather than humanistic attitudes toward alcoholic patients.
Social Psychology in the Soviet Union

Although most American psychologists are at least vaguely aware of Soviet research in such areas as conditioning, development, and neuropsychology, I suspect that even well-read American social psychologists have little knowledge of the work of their Russian counterparts. Judging from the literature available in English, social psychology has begun to figure importantly among the behavioral sciences in the USSR only in the past two decades. In one sense this is something of an irony. Given the Russian emphasis on the importance of social determinants of human affairs and the general tendency to minimize the importance of genetic explanations of behavior, one would expect social psychology to occupy a central role in Russian investigations of human behavior. From the information available to Western scientists at least, this has not been the case.
Safety and efficacy of delayed intraarterial urokinase therapy with mechanical clot disruption for thromboembolic stroke.

PURPOSE To evaluate safety and efficacy of delayed intraarterial urokinase therapy with mechanical disruption of clot to treat thromboembolic stroke. METHODS Thirteen patients with cerebral thrombolic disease (10 carotid territory, 3 basilar territory) were treated with catheter-directed intraarterial urokinase therapy with mechanical disruption of the clots. All patients were excluded from a 6-hour multicenter thrombolytic trial by either time, recent surgery, age, seizure, or myocardial infarction. Time elapsed before treatment ranged from 3.5 to 48 hours (12 +/- 13 hours), with 200,000 to 900,000 U of urokinase used. RESULTS Ten patients had successful vessel recanalization, confirmed by repeat angiography. Cases with distal branch vessel occlusions were less likely to recanalize. Asymptomatic hemorrhagic conversion occurred in 2 patients on repeat scans. Both acute neurologic and functional outcomes were assessed with significant improvement occurring in 9 (69%) of 13 patients at 48 hours (greater than four-point change on the National Institutes of Health scale) and in 100% of 3-month survivors. All patients who improved had normal initial CT scans. CONCLUSIONS Intraarterial cerebral thrombolysis with mechanical disruption of clot seems to be a useful therapy in selected stroke cases even after 6 hours.