cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Responses to the Unite the Right Rally: Perceptions, Stress, and the Moderating Role of Interpersonal Proximity

Demonstrations led by right-wing extremist groups and racially motivated hate crimes have increased significantly since the 2016 election of Donald Trump (Edwards and Rushin in The effect of Trump’s election on hate crimes. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3102652 , 2018). However, few studies have examined racially marginalized (RM) persons’ perceptions of such events or their potential impact on mental health for this population. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between RM individuals’ perceptions of the 2017 Unite the Right rally as a racially motivated hate crime and subsequent perceived stress. Additionally, we investigated the moderating role of interpersonal proximity (i.e., direct or indirect knowledge of someone personally affected by the events that occurred at the rally) in the relationship between hate crime perceptions and stress. Survey data were collected from 388 RM adults living in Virginia at the time of the rally. Our results suggest that perceiving the rally as a hate crime was positively associated with greater levels of stress. Moreover, interpersonal proximity moderated this association, such that the relationship between hate crime perceptions and stress was significant and positive for those who knew someone affected by the rally, but unrelated for RM people who did not know someone affected by the rally. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Adaboost-based electricity theft detection

Traditionally, electricity theft detection is estimated by field crews and verified by on site visit. It is rather difficult to enhance the precision to locate electricity theft. Extensive application of smart meters facilitates data-driven based electricity theft detection. However, electricity theft detection approaches based on the premise that electricity usage decline due to electricity theft could bring about higher false positive rate and cannot be put in use for industrial applications. AdaBoost based electricity theft identification algorithm is proposed in this paper for low false positive rate. The cross validation is employed to optimize hyper-parameter of Adaboost to low the false positive rate. Numerical simulation with metering data of marketing system and metering system of power utilities indicates that the proposed approach outperform SVM and BP based approach in either false positive or precision.
Estimating propensity scores using neural networks and traditional methods: a comparative simulation study

Neural networks are a contending data mining procedure to estimate propensity scores due to its robustness to non-normal residual distributions, ability to detect complex nonlinear relationships be...
IMPACTO DA NÃO-ADESÃO DO RECEPTOR NOS DESFECHOS EM LONGO PRAZO DE TRANSPLANTE. REVISÃO DA LITERATURA E EXPERIÊNCIA DA UNIVERSIDADE DE MINNESOTA

In the last 2 decades, there has been a significant after-transplantation improvement of patient and graft survival in short-term. But there has not been a parallel improvement in the long-term outcome. A potentially remediable cause for the late graft loss is the non-adherence. It is not possible to precisely quantify if the percentage of graft loss is actually due to non-adherence. Quantifying the graft loss to the non-adherence is not possible, since there are many aspects in the post-transplant adherence (e.g., intake of immunosuppressive and other medications, attending clinic appointments), we do not have a reliable means to measure, and there is a lack of a clear definition on what is non-adherence (e.g., how much medication and/or how many clinic appointments must a recipient miss to be classified as non-adherent?). Several studies in kidney, heart, and liver transplant recipients have shown a clear association between non-adherence and an increased incidence of acute rejection episodes, chronic rejection (chronic allograft nephropathy, or coronary artery disease), late graft loss, and need for re-transplantation. Such outcomes have significant economic consequences for the Healthcare System. Some factors must be considered, in order to decide whether or not to perform the re-transplantation in patients with graft loss due to non-adherence. For heart and liver patients who refuse the re-transplantation, the consequence is death; but for patients with kidney failure, dialysis provides a treatment option. Our policy is to consider such patients for a second transplant if they can show their adherence to the dialysis regimen for a minimum of 6 months period. We will not perform a third kidney transplant in a patient who lost his previous two ones due to non-adherence.
The management of complications of feminizing gender affirming genital surgery

ABSTRACT Penile inversion vaginoplasty is the most common technique used for gender affirming genital surgery in the treatment of gender dysphoria among transwomen. As vaginoplasty becomes more widely available, the management of associated complications has become its own field. There is a relative dearth of literature on surgery for complications following vaginoplasty. This review illustrates surgical technique and management options for patient reported complaints and complications following vaginoplasty. The goal of this manuscript is 2-fold (1) to introduce community surgeons to common postoperative issues they may encounter and (2) provide a systematic operative approach to complications for reconstructive surgeons who see transgender patients regularly.
Renin and Erythropoietin Levels in Uremic and Anephric Man

The association of uremic renal disease with hypertension and anemia has been clinically identifiable for some time. The kidney is known to play a significant role in the production or release, or both, of two substances: erythropoietin (ESF), a hormone active in regulating the production of red blood cells(1), and renal renin(2). Levels of both of these hormones, ESF and renal renin, may be altered significantly in the presence of uremic renal insuficiency(2–4).
Conservative Care for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)is due to entrapment of the median nerve and is the most common form of compressive neuropathy affecting 1%–3%of the general population [1, 2].Females in their fourth and fifth decades are four times more likely to suffer from CTS as opposed to men of the same age [3].Symptoms often include paresthesias into the thumb,index,long and half of the ring finger,as well as pain in the hand,wrist, and occasionally the forearm [4].These symptoms usu- ally worsen at night and with repetitive,strenuous activities utilizing the hands.In severe cases,atrophy of the thenar musculature can be present [5].The clinical diagnosis of CTS is generally straightforward;however, nerve conduction studies (NCS)and electromyogram (EMG)are often recommended to reliably confirm the diagnosis [6].
TU‐CD‐210‐02: Breast MR Guided Focused Ultrasound Hardware Design and Treatment Strategies

Therapeutic ultrasound technology offers the ability to achieve non-invasive and non-ionizing treatments for soft-tissue disease throughout the body. The bio-effects in tissue caused by ultrasound energy can be thermal in nature (ranging from mild heating to tissue ablation) or can utilize the mechanical energy associated with acoustic waves. Ultrasound energy can be delivered from external devices and focused to a region of a few millimeters in the body. It can also be delivered from body cavities or from devices inserted directly into tissue. One challenge with designing therapeutic ultrasound systems is the need to consider wave propagation and distortion as energy passes through tissues. Consequently, therapeutic ultrasound systems are usually designed to target specific anatomic sites to optimize the delivery of ultrasound to these locations. In this session a number of advanced therapeutic ultrasound delivery systems will be described for the treatment of breast, brain, and prostate tissue. In addition the talks will describe both thermal and non-thermal applications of ultrasound energy. Specific topics addressed in this symposium include: (1) Advances in Focused Ultrasound Brain Therapies, (2) Breast MR guided Focused Ultrasound Hardware Design and Treatment Strategies, (3) The Role of Pulsed Focused Ultrasound in Cancer Therapy, and (4) Sonication and Feedback Control Strategies for MR guided Hyperthermia with the Insightec Prostate Array. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the technical issues important in the design of therapeutic ultrasound systems 2. Learn about therapeutic ultrasound systems under development for brain, breast and prostate applications 3. Learn about different treatment approaches with therapeutic ultrasound including tissue ablation, hyperthermia, and drug delivery Lili Chen: Funding: FUS Foundation, DOD (PC073127,BC102806) Allison Payne: Funding: NIH (R01EB013433,R01CA178727) Vasant Salgaonkar: Funding: FUS Foundation, NIH (R01CA122276, R01CA111981)
Identification of Nonresponse to Treatment Using Narrative Data in an Electronic Health Record Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort

BACKGROUND Electronic health records, increasingly a part of healthcare, provide a wealth of untapped narrative free text data that have the potential to accurately inform clinical outcomes. METHODS From a validated cohort of patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, we identified patients with ≥1 coded or narrative mention of monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor α. Chart review by ascertained true use of therapy, time of initiation, and cessation of treatment, and also clinical response stratified as nonresponse, partial, or complete response at 1 year. Internal consistency was assessed in an independent validation cohort. RESULTS A total of 3087 patients had a mention of an antibodies to tumor necrosis factor α. Actual therapy initiation was within 60 days of the first coded mention in 74% of patients. In the derivation cohort, 18% of antibodies to tumor necrosis factor α starts were classified as nonresponse at 1 year, 21% as partial, and 56% as complete response. On multivariate analysis, the number of narrative mentions of diarrhea (odds ratio 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.14) and fatigue (odds ratio 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.32) was independently associated with nonresponse at 1 year (area under the curve 0.82). A likelihood of nonresponse score comprising a weighted sum of both demonstrated a good dose-response relationship across nonresponders (2.18), partial (1.20), and complete (0.50) responders (P < 0.0001) and correlated well with need for surgery or hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS Narrative data in an electronic health record offer considerable potential to define temporally evolving disease outcomes such as nonresponse to treatment.
The Nervous Control of Insect Flight and Related Behavior

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the neuromotor coordination underlying the flight movements. It presents a brief description of wing movements and aerodynamics, especially recent results, along with an extensive survey of motor output patterns in a variety of flying insects, together with descriptions of patterns of use of the same output elements in other behaviors such as singing, walking, and behavioral temperature regulation. Discussions of some related special topics; sound production, effects of temperature on flight motor patterns, temperature regulation are presented. The chapter presents theoretical discussions of coordinating mechanisms. Much information is included only in the figure legends. Less dramatic than changes from one behavior to another are control modulations of the flight itself. Most insects use four wings during flight, but in many cases they are moved nearly as a single pair. True bugs and bees hook the fore- and hindwings together. In flies the hind pair of wings are lost as aerodynamic power organs, but serve as pure sense organs for flight stabilization. The smaller hindwings are partly covered by the hind edge of the forewing and appear to be pressed down by it during downstroke. The elytra, however, may be used as gliding planes and thus contribute to lift; and if they are capable of even slow adjustment of angle of attack, could be used in control of direction. The chapter also provides an overview of notions of aerodynamic behavior in the locust Schistocerca .
Acceleration of pulmonary surfactant maturation in stressed pregnancies: A study of neonatal lung effluent

To determine the maturation of pulmonary surfactant at birth, phospholipid patterns in tracheal or pharyngeal aspirates of 54 newborn infants were analyzed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. The compositions of phospholipids and their surface tension-lowering abilities were assessed after gestations with various complications. Preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) lacked phosphatidylglycerol and had lower lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios than infants without RDS. An acceleration of both phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and phosphatidylglycerol concentrations was observed in 21 preterm infants born after prolonged rupture of the membranes and treatment with isoxuprine. In these infants, the phospholipid pattern of lung effluent was similar to that of term infants even at gestational ages less than or equal to 30 weeks. Biochemical lung maturation was delayed in aneccephalic infants, infants of diabetic mothers, and one infant of a mother with hypothyroidism.
Myocarditis and Friedreich's ataxia; a report of two cases.

Abstract The literature concerning myocarditis in Friedreich's ataxia is briefly reviewed. Two cases of Friedreich's ataxia with marked electrocardiographic changes and apical diastolic murmurs are presented. Necropsy findings in one patient showed a diffuse interstitial myocarditis with nothing to identify a specific etiological basis. Both are presumed to be of the type associated with Friedreich's ataxia. It is concluded that a thorough cardiac study is indicated in patients with Friedreich's disease.
β1-Adrenergic Receptors on Immune Cells Impair Innate Defenses against Listeria

Cold restraint (CR) for 1 h elicits a psychological and physiological stress that inhibits host defenses against Listeria monocytogenes (LM). Previous analyses indicated that this inhibition is not due to depletion of B or T cells but is instead dependent on signaling through β-adrenoceptors (βARs). We now show that impaired host resistance by CR cannot be accounted for by a decrease in LM-specific (listeriolysin O91–99 tetramer+) effector CD8+ T cells; this result is consistent with previous observations that CR-induced effects are mainly limited to early anti-LM responses. β2-Adrenoceptor (β2AR)−/− FVB/NJ and wild-type FVB/NJ mice had equivalent anti-LM defenses, whereas β1-adrenoceptor (β1AR)−/− FVB/NJ mice had lower levels of LM even when subjected to CR treatment. Additionally, host-resistance competency of β1AR−/− mice could be transferred to irradiated wild-type mice reconstituted with β1AR−/− bone marrow progenitors and spleen cells, indicating that β1AR signaling on immune cells reduces anti-LM responses. β1AR−/− mice had improved cellular (delayed-type hypersensitivity) responses while β2AR−/− mice had improved humoral responses (IgG1, IgG2, and IgM), a result that further explains the strain differences in LM defenses. CR-induced expression of β1AR and β2AR mRNA was assessed by real-time PCR. CR treatment significantly increased βAR mRNAs in Ficoll-purified and F4/80+-enhanced liver but not splenic homogenates, demonstrating an organ-specific effect of stress that alters host defenses. Finally, CR treatment induced early increases in perforin expression that may enhance immune cell apoptosis and interfere with LM clearance. In conclusion, β1AR signaling has immunomodulatory effects on early cell-mediated immune responses; a lack of β1AR signaling improves antilisterial defenses and cell-mediated immunity, in general.
Research Commentary: Toward the 24-Hour Knowledge Factory - a Prognosis of Practice and a Call for Concerted Research

The term "24-Hour Knowledge Factory" connotes a geographically dispersed team of workers in which members of the team are able to work on specific endeavors on a round- the-clock basis. A professional could work in the US on a standard 9 am to 5 pm basis. At the end of his or her workday, the activity is transferred to a colleague in China who works during daytime in that country. At the end of the latter's workday, the work is transferred to a third colleague in Poland or Romania, who in turn will pass the baton 8 hours later to the first worker in the US. Each member of the team works during the normal workday hours that pertain to his or her time zone. The use of sequential workers that underpins the concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory has some similarity to the shift-style workforce that evolved in the manufacturing sector as an adjunct to the industrial revolution. Just as the latter concept had a profound impact on the entire manufacturing sector, we argue that the concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory will have a major impact on the entire field of information systems, and that more research is needed in this area. The concept of 24-Hour Knowledge Factory is relevant for semi-structured work in both the IS arena as well as in other professional arenas such as finance, product development, marketing, and medicine. The proposed areas of research can help to create the IS infrastructure for supporting applications in these diverse arenas.
The preparation and characterization of pure rat liver glucokinase.

Abstract Glucokinase from rat liver has been purified over 10,000-fold and appears homogeneous by the criterion of sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. The enzymatically active protein represents 0.007 % of the total liver protein and possesses a specific activity of 80 units per mg for purified enzyme. The use of potassium phosphate buffer gradients greatly enhances enzyme resolution during ion-exchange chromatographic procedures. In addition, use of substrate and sulfhydryl protecting reagents in all buffers prevents significant losses of activity. To our knowledge this is the highest degree of purity ever achieved for a mammalian hepatic ATP:d-hexose-6-phosphotransferase. Rat liver glucokinase has been characterized with respect to stability, Km, Vmax, and phosphorylation coefficient toward several substrates as well as behavior in the presence of several inhibitors. Spectral analysis fails to reveal the presence of a prosthetic group. The molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration is 53,000 and 57,000, respectively. The turnover number is calculated to be 4,346 moles of d-glucose phosphorylated by ATP per min per mole of enzyme at 25°.
Aortic root replacement with pulmonary autograft in children

Between September 1988 and February 1993, 14 patients whose ages ranged from.3 months to 16 years (mean 11.1 ± 4.3 years) underwent replacement of the aortic root with the autologous pulmonary root for aortic valve disease. The follow-up was 4 years (cumulative total of 25.2 patient-years). There was no early mortality. Late mortality (one patient) was 7.1 % (95% confidence limits 0 % to 21 %). This patient had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and died of consequent congestive heart failure with autograft failure 6 months after operation: Event-free survival after 4 years was 78.6% (95% confidence limits 50% to 95%). One patient was reoperated on because of autograft failure caused by a relapse of rheumatic fever. One patient operated on for critical neonatal aortic stenosis has subnormal exercise tolerance because of restrictive cardiomyopathy and pulmonary homograft regurgitation. The other 12 patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I at the end of follow-up. There was no prevalence of bacterial endocarditis. There were no signs of primary structural degeneration of the pulmonary autograft. During follow-up, in eight patients, increased anulus diameter of the pulmonary autograft could be demonstrated by precordial two-dimensional echocardiography, suggesting growth of the autograft. Our experience shows that aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft can be done with low mortality and morbidity in children with aortic valve disease. The operation seems to be contraindicated in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis because of the risk of recurrence of rheumatic disease in the autograft: The pulmonary autograft has also been shown to be susceptible to recurrence of rheumatic inflammation in children with a history of acute rheumatic fever. Despite pulmonary autograft replacement of the aortic valve in infants with critical valvular aortic stenosis and endocardial fibroelastosis, clinical results may be poor. Growth of the autograft is suggested by echocardiography follow-up. We consider aortic root replacement with the pulmonary autograft the procedure of choice in children who require aortic valve replacement.
Artificial Intelligence: Natural Language Processing

This article has no abstract. Keywords: artificial intelligence: natural language processing; knowledge bases
New Rules for an Old Game: Recent Changes to the NCAA Enforcement Process and Some Suggestions for the Future

In recent decades, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has repeatedly attempted to modify its much-maligned rule-enforcement process. Still, both legal commentators and athletics executives regularly point out the shortcomings of that process, and lately they have called for it to be “outsourced” to an independent entity.This article describes the most recent (August 2013) changes to the NCAA’s enforcement process and the bungled investigation of rules violations at the University of Miami (FL) that spurred the changes. Building on the recent suggestions of “outsourcing,” the article presents a plan whereby the NCAA would delegate investigations and adjudications of “severe” (Level I) and “significant” (Level II) violations of NCAA rules to independent investigators and judges. The article concludes that although the recent changes to NCAA enforcement are positive, they are insufficient because they overlook the need for fair, independent investigation, which need the plan presented here would satisfy.
High accurate optical proximity correction under the influences of lens aberration in 0.15 /spl mu/m logic process

In this paper, the high correction accuracy of simulation-based optical proximity correction under a 0.15/spl mu/m logic process is described. We applied simulation-based OPC to actual gate poly and contact photo-patterning. We consider the influences of lens aberration of the optical projection system in 0.15/spl mu/m logic photo patterning, such as 0.12/spl mu/m reduced gate photo, and 0.18/spl mu/m contact photo using KrF excimer lithography. We estimate these influences with the Seidel aberration which are analyzed by aerial image simulation. The common process latitudes for typical patterns are calculated, and the aberration effect was evaluated.
Relation of the jet in M 87 to nearby galaxies in the virgo cluster

The massive and active galaxies in the core of the Virgo Cluster were shown in 1968 to be aligned on either side of M 87, along the direction of the jet and counter-jet. Recent observations confirm the significance of this alignment by showing that the brightest X-ray sources, including additional large galaxies, define the same line.
On the meaning and implications of facial prominence

Archer et al. (1983) found that visual depictions (e.g., photographs) of men tend to show more face and less of the body (a characteristic that was termed high face-ism) than visual depictions of women. Furthermore, photographs (of both men and women) high in face-ism elicited more favorable impressions than photographs low in face-ism. The present studies examined possible reasons for sex differences in face-ism and their implications concerning the effects of high and low face-ism on interpersonal perception. Study 1 showed that the greater face-ism in photographs of men was less pronounced when the photographs were taken from periodicals that are oriented toward women's issues. Study 2 showed that photographs high in face-ism received higher ratings on dominance, a dimension related to masculinity, but not on positivity, a dimension related to femininity. This study also indicated that facial expressions provided more information about degrees of positivity while body cues provided more information about dominance and submission. Consistent with these latter results, Study 3 showed that amateur drawings portraying kind or hostile persons showed more of the face while drawings presenting dominant or weak persons showed more of the body. The two phenomena—the relationship of high face-ism with impressions of high dominance and the different types of information transmitted by the face and body—were considered in the discussion.
Chapter 7 Technology and school mathematics

Abstract Many educators believe that technology can be a catalyst for the reform of school mathematics. That promise is largely unfulfilled as over the past decade computers have been used mainly for drill-and-practice type tutorials. Technologies that provide teachers and students with tools for doing mathematics, dynamic environments for exploration, experimentation and conjecturing, and powerful languages for creating algorithmic solutions to problems have transformed the teaching and learning of mathematics. Multi-media environments that are under the joint control of teacher and students also show promise for changing the meaning of teaching and learning. The teachers are critical factors in how technology is used in their classrooms. My thesis is that a technology-driven reform effort will have little effect on the classroom curriculum until teachers are given the opportunities, support and training to take charge of the technology and use it to transform their own teaching environments.
Adsorption and adsorbate interaction at soot particle surfaces

Abstract Previously reported research, demonstrating a role of adsorbed molecular oxygen in the reaction of ozone with soot particles and in their hydration, has been extended to explore the interaction between O 2 and SO 2 , O 3 , H 2 O, NH 3 , NO 2 and NO at the soot surface as well as the effect of these adsorbates on each other. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and microgravimetry have revealed the extent of interactions between some competing reactants on soot. EPR has been used as a probe of the surface behavior of paramagnetic species (O 2 , NO 2 , NO) through their effect on the intensity of a large signal which is the result of the high concentration of unpaired electrons in soots. The effects of diamagnetic reactants (H 2 O, NH 3 , SO 2 ) also are measured through their influence on the paramagnetic adsorbates and thus on the EPR signal. Microgravimetric measurements of adsorption and changes in the mass resulting from surface reactions also have enabled interpretations of the behavior of reactants on soot particles. Details of the modes of adsorption of SO 2 , NO 2 and NH 3 on n -hexane soot have emerged from these measurements as well.
Effect of calcium on cyclic AMP-dependent and cyclic GMP-dependent endogenous protein phosphorylation in mouse brain cytosol.

Abstract In the presence of Ca ++ (>1mM), cyclic AMP (10μM) inhibited, and cyclic GMP (10μM) stimulated, the phosphorylation of a protein in the brain cytosol fraction of A/Jax mice. Lower concentrations of cyclic AMP stimulated phosphorylation of this protein, while lower concentrations of cyclic GMP had no effect. This protein (called protein 49) co-migrated on SDS - polyacrylamide gels with the endogenously phosphorylated band of partially purified bovine heart protein kinase, and was estimated to have an apparent molecular weight of 49,000. The significance of this Ca ++ -dependent effect of the two cyclic nucleotides is discussed.
DNA damage, redox changes, and associated stress-inducible signaling events underlying the apoptosis and cytotoxicity in murine alveolar macrophage cell line MH-S by methanol-extracted Stachybotrys chartarum toxins

Spore-extracted toxins of the indoor mold Stachybotrys chartarum (SC) caused cytotoxicity (release of lactate dehydrogenase), inhibition of cell proliferation, and cell death in murine alveolar macrophage cell line MH-S in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Apoptotic cell death, confirmed based on morphological changes, DNA ladder formation, and caspase 3/7 activation, was detectable as early as at 3 h during treatment with a toxin concentration of 1 spore equivalent/macrophage and was preceded by DNA damage beginning at 15 min, as evidenced by DNA comet formation in single cell gel electrophoresis assay. The apoptotic dose of SC toxins did not induce detectable nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) but showed exacerbated cytotoxicity in presence of a non-apoptotic dose of the known pro-inflammatory agent LPS (10 ng/ml). Intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) level showed a significant decrease beginning at 9 h of the toxin treatment whereas oxidized glutathione (GSSG) showed a corresponding significant increase, indicating a delayed onset of oxidative stress in the apoptosis process. The toxin-treated macrophages accumulated p53, an indicator of DNA damage response, and showed activation of the stress-inducible MAP kinases, JNK, and p38, in a time-dependent manner. Chemical blocking of either p38 or p53 inhibited in part the SC toxin-induced apoptosis whereas blocking of JNK did not show any such effect. This study constitutes the first report on induction of DNA damage and associated p53 activation by SC toxins, and demonstrates the involvement of p38- and p53-mediated signaling events in SC toxin-induced apoptosis of alveolar macrophages.
Towards a golden standard for the regulatory assessment of health and environmental hazards: Part 1

We assess, in the second part of our research on the broad context of establishing a golden standard for regulatory risk assessment. The policies of international jurisdictions can (and often are) different from those in the US; yet, they are neither opposite nor inconsistent with regulating societal hazards rationally. Although rational decision-making is understood to be the normative use of economically efficient solutions, which consist of ranking alternatives by balancing risks, costs and benefits (possibly discounted, adjusted for purchasing parity and so on), we think that risk assessment is prescriptive and informative, but not necessarily normative. In Part 2, we conclude that regulatory risk management, regardless of the jurisdiction assessed, can benefit from relying on a common treatment of uncertain causation. In particular, we suggest that probabilistic methods applied from a Bayesian perspective, at least when frequentistic arguments cannot be made. Clearly, as discussed in Part 1, other representations of uncertainty can be more appropriate; however, because the courts and the legislation is still favouring probabilistic and statistical analysis when reviewing agency rules, we suggest that the prudent tack is to couch causal arguments and decision-making in probabilistic and statistical framework.
Sequence Diversity within the Reovirus S3 Gene: Reoviruses Evolve Independently of Host Species, Geographic Locale, and Date of Isolation

Abstract To better understand genetic diversity of mammalian reoviruses, we studied sequence variability in the S3 gene segment of 17 field-isolate reovirus strains and prototype strains of the three reovirus serotypes. Strains studied were isolated over a 37-year period from different mammalian hosts and geographic locations. A high degree of variability was observed in the nucleotide sequences of the S3 gene, whereas the deduced amino acid sequences of the S3 gene product, σNS, were highly conserved. When variability among the S3 nucleotide sequences was analyzed using pairwise comparisons, we found that 5′ and 3′ noncoding regions were significantly more conserved than the remainder of the gene. This high degree of sequence conservation was also observed within the first 15 nucleotides of the 5′ coding region. Phylogenetic analyses showed that multiple alleles of the S3 gene cocirculate and that genetic diversity in the S3 gene does not correlate with host species, geographic locale, or date of isolation. Phylogenetic trees constructed from variation in the S3 sequences are distinct from those previously generated from sequences that encode attachment protein σ1, core protein σ2, and outer capsid protein σ3, which supports the hypothesis that reovirus gene segments reassort in nature. These findings suggest that reovirus gene segments are well-adapted to mammalian hosts and that reovirus evolution has reached an equilibrium.
Creating Value with Measurement: Moving toward the Patient

The rehabilitation marketplace has evolved from a provider- to a payer-driven environment. Eventually, rehabilitation will be consumer directed, necessitating client-centered measures. Outcome measurement for stroke is thus discussed in terms of moving measurement toward the patient. “Handicap and quality of life” are incorporated into a model in which client-centered domains are addressed to meet four objectives: satisfy consumer need, serve as a resource for clinical management, meet regulatory/payer requirements and, in effect, provide value to those who measure. Case-mix adjustment is discussed as the next refinement in benchmarking quality. The influence of payment incentive, setting, and accreditation are reviewed.
Introduction to Environmental Chemistry (Bunce, Nigel)

This text should appeal to those favoring an applied approach to teaching general chemistry at a level well beyond that of liberal arts "consumer chemistry" texts.
The Effect of Age, Pre‐conditioning, and Water Stress on the Transpiration Rates of Douglas‐Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Seedlings of Several Ecotypes

Seedlings of Douglas-fir from seed of a number of mesic and xeric origins were grown in growth chambers and a nursery to various ages up to 16 weeks. Measurements were made to determine the effect of seedling age, growth chamber and nursery pre-conditioning, and seed source on transpiration rates under closely controlled laboratory conditions. Additional experiments were conducted on seedlings of two contrasting ecotypes to determine the effect of different pre-conditioning combinations of plant and soil water potential on seedling transpiration rates. Results show that well-watered seedlings of two mesic ecotypes show no decline in transpiration rates per unit leaf area up to 16 weeks of age while corresponding seedlings of three exeric ecotypes do decline. The growth chamber pre-conditioning results in lower seedling transpiration rates and more decline in seedling transpiration rates with increasing plant water stress than for nursery pre-conditioning. In a similar way, the xeric ecotype seedlings have more decline in transpiration rates with increasing plant water stress than do the mesic ecotype seedlings. Soil water potential influences transpiration rates through pre-conditioning effects. Seedlings which have experienced prior soil moisture stress decrease transpiration more in response to low plant water potentials than do plants which have experienced no soil moisture stress. These behavioral characteristics illustrate adaptive means by which seedlings conserve water through the interaction of genetic and preconditioning mechanisms.
Nuclear recognition in images of fluorescent-stained cell monolayers

A method for reliable recognition of fluorescent stained cell monolayers has been developed. This method utilizes convolution filtering and object intensity dependent thresholding to achieve accurate recognition. These operations are performed rapidly by dedicated image processing hardware. Details of the transfer of image information into efficient representation in computer memory are presented. These methods are utilized in conjunction with a computer-controlled microscope stage to scan the specimen field-by-field. An example of the measurements possible with this system is provided by presentation of a DNA content histogram from analysis of over 50 Because this system is capable of analyzing attached cells it offers an alternative to flow cytomeiry which requires that cells be in suspension.
Reversal of leukotriene D4 hypotension by thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Abstract Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) reversed the hypotension produced by leukotriene D 4 (LTD 4 ) (5 μg/kg, i.v.) in conscious guinea pigs in a dose-dependent fashion at intravenous doses between 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg. LTD 4 hypotension was also reversed by the synthetic TRH analog MK771 (0.2 or 2 mg/kg, i.v.), suggesting a possible receptor-mediated mechanism. Since LTD 4 has been implicated as a mediator of anaphylaxis, these results provide a basis for further evaluation of TRH and its analogs in the treatment of anaphylactic shock.
Thermal investigations of transitional metal oxide cathodes in Li-ion cells

Abstract Accelerating rate and differential scanning calorimeters were used to investigate the thermal behavior of LiCoO2 and LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 cathodes in fully charged Li-ion cells. The heat flow for LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 was observed to be three times higher than that for LiCoO2. The net heat transferred out of the cell fabricated with a LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 cathode was found to be 51% higher than the net heat transferred out of the cell fabricated with LiCoO2. Although LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 was found to be thermally less stable than LiCoO2, the electrochemical performance of the LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 cathode under high power discharge was found superior to LiCoO2.
Breast Cancer Risk is not Associated with Polymorphic Forms of Xeroderma Pigmentosum Genes in a Cohort of Women from Washington County, Maryland

Background: The genes mutated in the cancer-prone syndrome, xeroderma pigmentosum (XP genes), have been well studied both biochemically and mechanistically. These genes are important components of the DNA nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, which protects against environmentally-induced cancers. XP genes are also downstream of the hereditary breast cancer syndrome gene, BRCA1, suggesting that XP genes may be important to hereditary forms of breast cancer as well. Although mutated XP genes are rare, polymorphic forms with potential functional deficiencies are common, and could pose a significant cancer risk in the general population. Hypothesis: This study tested the hypothesis that common polymorphic variants of XP genes were associated with the risk of breast cancer among a population of women in Washington County, Maryland. Methods: Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among four XP genes (XPC, XPD, XPF and XPG) were genotyped from DNA samples collected at baseline, and then analyzed by conditional logistic regression for association with the incidence of breast cancer. 321 cases were individually matched to 321 controls, by age and menopausal status. Results: No significant associations were found between breast cancer risk and any of the XP genotypes. Odds ratios for all genotypes ranged from 0.61 to 1.14, and none were statistically significant. Adjustment and stratification for family history of breast cancer did not alter the findings. Conclusion: These results suggest that polymorphisms of XP genes are not likely to be significant risk factors for women within the general population. This study did not address, however, risks for subpopulations of women with high exposures to DNA damaging agents.
Evaluating the potential for internal injuries from a pulsed 3.8-micron laser

The goal of this study is to determine if a high energy laser pulse can cause internal injury that cannot be grossly visualized. High power lasers are currently in development such as the Medical Free Electron Laser (MFEL), the Anti-Ballistic Laser (ABL) and the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) and the potential exists for human exposure. Little is known about the effects of these high output lasers on internal organs when a thoracic exposure occurs. This study utilized a 3.8 micron single 8 microsecond pulse laser for all exposures. Yucatan miniature pigs were exposed to a single pulse over the sternum. In addition, some animals were also exposed in the axillary region. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and troponin levels were measured prior to and post exposure to assess cardiac muscle damage. Gross and histologic changes were determined for the porcine skin, lung tissue, and cardiac muscle. This study explores if a greater than class 4 laser classification is warranted based on the potential for thoracic injury.
Neuroprotectin D1 is Synthesized in the Cone Photoreceptor Cell Line 661W and Elicits Protection Against Light-Induced Stress

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid family member, is obtained by diet or synthesized from dietary essential omega-3 linolenic acid and delivered systemically to the choriocapillaris, from where it is taken up by the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). DHA is then transported to the inner segments of photoreceptors, where it is incorporated in phospholipids during the biogenesis of outer segment disk and plasma membranes. As apical photoreceptor disks are gradually shed and phagocytized by the RPE, DHA is retrieved and recycled back to photoreceptor inner segments for reassembly into new disks. Under uncompensated oxidative stress, the docosanoid neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), a potent mediator derived from DHA, is formed by the RPE and displays its bioactivity in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. The purpose of this study was to determine whether photoreceptors have the ability to synthesize NPD1, and whether or not this lipid mediator exerts bioactivity on these cells. For this purpose, 661W cells (mouse-derived photoreceptor cells) were used. First we asked whether these cells have the ability to form NPD1 by incubating cells with deuterium (d4)-labeled DHA exposed to dark and bright light treatments, followed by LC–MS/MS-based lipidomic analysis to identify and quantify d4-NPD1. The second question pertains to the potential bioactivity of these lipids. Therefore, cells were incubated with 9-cis-retinal in the presence of bright light that triggers cell damage and death. Following 9-cis-retinal loading, DHA, NPD1, or vehicle were added to the media and the 661W cells maintained either in darkness or under bright light. DHA and NPD1 were then quantified in cells and media. Regardless of lighting conditions, 661W cells acquired DHA from the media and synthesized 4–9 times as much d4-NPD1 under bright light treatment in the absence and presence of 9-cis-retinal compared to cells in darkness. Viability assays of 9-cis-retinal-treated cells demonstrated that 34 % of the cells survived without DHA or NPD1. However, after bright light exposure, DHA protected 23 % above control levels and NPD1 increased protection by 32 %. In conclusion, the photoreceptor cell line 661W has the capability to synthesize NPD1 from DHA when under stress, and, in turn, can be protected from stress-induced apoptosis by DHA or NPD1, indicating that photoreceptors effectively contribute to endogenous protective signaling mediated by NPD1 under stressful conditions.
The Role of Political Ideology in Mediating Judgments of Blame in Rape Victims and their Assailants: A Test of the Just World, Personal Responsibility, and Legitimization Hypotheses

Previous research often has shown that conservative ideology is positively correlated with the extent to which people blame victims of rape. However, much of this work has been descriptive, with little attention directed toward the development of theoretical models addressing why conservatism might play an important role in this area. Three hypotheses were tested. The just world hypothesis suggests that people blame others to preserve one’s view that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get. The personal responsibility hypothesis suggests that conservatism is associated with a tendency to hold people personally responsible for their own actions. The legitimization hypothesis stipulates that conservative perceivers are motivated to maintain traditional power differences between dominant and nondominant groups. Two studies showed much more support for the legitimization hypothesis compared to the other hypotheses. The implications of the present results for previous investigations of victim bl...
3-(2-Fur­yl)-1,5-diphenyl­pentane-1,5-dione

The title compound, C21H18O3, was synthesized by the reaction of furfural with acetophenone and NaOH under solvent-free conditions. All bond lengths and angles are normal. In the crystal structure, weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains running along the c axis.
Chemical Analyses of Membranes Isolated from Streptococcus mutans BHT

Cell membranes of Streptococcus mutans BHT (serotype b) were prepared following glass-bead disruption or mutanolysin digestion of whole cells. Major constituents of purified BHT membranes included: protein (60-65%), fatty acids (10%), glucose (3%), and phosphorus (0.5%). The principal amino acids measured were glutamate, aspartate, lysine, alanine, and leucine. The principal fatty acids measured were octadecenoic, palmitoleic, palmitic, and eicosenoic acids; smaller amounts of eicosanoic acid were also detected. Chemical analyses of membranes from cellsgrown to four different growth phases revealed no major shifts in composition during batch growth under our experimental conditions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these four membrane preparations confirmed the apparent compositional stability of cell membranes during growth.
The costamere bridges sarcomeres to the sarcolemma in striated muscle.

Costameres are sub-membranous, Z-line associated structures found in striated muscle. They have been shown to have important roles in transmission of force from the sarcomere to the sarcolemma and extracellular matrix, maintaining mechanical integrity of the sarcolemma, and orchestrating mechanically related signaling. The costamere is akin to the more well-known focal adhesion complex present in most cells. The Z-line is a critical structural anchor for the sarcomere, but it is also a hot-spot for muscle cell signaling. Therefore functionally, the costamere represents a two-way signaling highway tethered between the Z-line and the extracellular matrix, relaying mechanical stress signals from outside the cell to intracellular signaling networks. In this role it can modulate myofibril growth and contraction. The major force generated by sarcomeres is transduced in the lateral direction from the sarcomere to the extracellular matrix through the costamere. Two major protein complexes have been described at the costamere: the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex and the integrin–vinculin–talin complex. The importance of these two protein complexes in striated muscle function has between demonstrated both in human disease and mouse models. Members of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex and integrins have both been reported to interact directly with filamin-C, thus linking costameric complexes with those present at the Z-line. Moreover, studies from our labs and others have shown that the Z-line proteins belonging to the PDZ-LIM domain protein family, enigma homolog (ENH) and cypher, may directly or indirectly be involved in this linkage. The following review will focus on the protein components of this linkage, their function in force transmission, and how the dysfunction or loss of proteins within these complexes contributes to muscular disease.
The Problem of Equating the Environment of Negro-White Groups for Intelligence Testing in Comparative Studies

(1943). The Problem of Equating the Environment of Negro-White Groups for Intelligence Testing in Comparative Studies. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 3-15.