cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased Toll-like Receptor-MyD88-NFκB-Proinflammatory neuroimmune signaling in the orbitofrontal cortex of humans with alcohol use disorder.

Background Many brain disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD), are associated with induction of multiple proinflammatory genes. One aspect of proinflammatory signaling is progressive increases in expression across cells and induction of other innate immune genes. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) heteromers contribute to amplification by potentiating multiple proinflammatory responses, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLR signaling recruits coupling proteins linked to nuclear transcription factors that induce proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and their respective receptors. We tested the hypothesis that AUD induction of TLR expression increases levels of proinflammatory genes and cellular signaling cascades in association with neurodegeneration in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Methods Postmortem human OFC tissue samples (n = 10) from males diagnosed with AUD were compared to age-matched moderate drinking controls (CON). Neuroimmune signaling molecules were assessed using immunohistochemistry for protein and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for messenger RNA (mRNA). Results In the AUD OFC, we report induction of the endogenous TLR agonist HMGB1 as well as all TLRs assessed (i.e., TLR2-TLR9) except TLR1. This was accompanied by increased expression of the TLR adaptor protein myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), activation of the proinflammatory nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB), and downstream induction of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and their corresponding receptors. Several of these proinflammatory signaling markers are expressed in glia and neurons. The induction of HMGB1-TLR-MyD88-NFκB proinflammatory signaling pathways correlates with neurodegeneration (i.e., Fluoro-Jade B), lifetime alcohol consumption, and age of drinking onset. Conclusion These data implicate the induction of HMGB1-TLR-MyD88-NFκB cascades through coordinated glial and neuronal signaling as contributors to the neurodegeneration seen in the postmortem human OFC of individuals with AUD.
Growing Healthy Together: A Randomized Clinical Trial Using Parent Mentors for Early Childhood Obesity in Low-Income, Latino Families.

Background: Parent mentors are a potential community-based mechanism for delivering behavioral interventions. For communities at a higher risk of obesity and challenges with access to care, such as migrant and seasonal farm workers, this may be an effective intervention for obesity. This study examined the effect of parent mentors on weight outcomes. Methods: This randomized clinical trial assigned parents of 2- to 5 year-old children enrolled in Head Start 1:1:1 to control, a parent mentor teaching We Can!, or a parent mentor teaching an intervention derived from positive deviance methods. The parent mentor arms were designed to have weekly interactions and monthly community meetings over 6 months. The primary outcome was change in adiposity, as measured by body mass indices. Results: We randomized 188 parents, and 155 completed the 6-month visit. Most parents, 107 (58%), had less than a high school education, and 170 (90%) reported Latino ethnicity. In the intention-to-treat analysis, no difference between the groups was observed for change in percent distance from the median or BMI z-score. The median number of interactions was 14 (IQR 10-20) over 6 months for those who did engage, though 24 of 118 (20%) had no interaction. Those with no interactions in We Can! had a mean increase in change from median of 6.7 [standard deviation (SD) = 8.2]; those with higher participation experienced a 0.4 (SD = 9.2) change, p = 0.04. Conclusions: Parent mentors were not effective in changing the adiposity indices in this study overall, with some evidence of efficacy after accounting for participation. Clinicaltrials.gov registration number: NCT03330743.
Models of Conflict and Cooperation

Deterministic games Player preferences Strategic games Probabilistic strategies Strategic game cooperation Negotiation and arbitration Coalition games Fair division Epilogue Answers to selected exercises Bibliography Index.
Investigating the Catalytic Mechanism of Yeast Cytochrome c Heme Lyase (CCHL) Through Mutation of Highly Conserved Amino Acid Residues

Cytochrome c is a vital component in energy transduction pathways, as well as in the process of programmed cell death (apoptosis). As a functional holoform, cytochrome c contains at least one coval...
Chemical safety, health care costs and the Affordable Care Act.

On May 22, 2013, the late Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and 19 of their colleagues introduced bipartisan chemical safety legislation in the US Senate, “The Chemical Safety Improvement Act of 2013.” The bill's purpose is to protect human health and the environment against the hazards of toxic chemicals, by requiring the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to examine the safety of all chemicals in consumer products. The bill is currently before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, chaired by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). This legislation is critically important for physicians and healthcare organizations because it creates significant new opportunities to prevent disease and cut healthcare costs. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:1–3, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Autoimmune liver disease and therapy in childhood

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the liver. In childhood, autoimmune liver disorders include autoimmune hepatitis type I and II, autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis, Coombs-positive giant cell hepatitis, and de novo autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation. Autoimmune liver disease has a more aggressive course in children, especially autoimmune hepatitis type II. Standard therapy is a combination of corticosteroids and azathioprine. Around 80 % of children with autoimmune liver disease show a rapid response to combination therapy. The non-responders are treated with more potent drugs, otherwise autoimmune disease progresses to cirrhosis of the liver and the child needs liver transplantation as rescue therapy.
Intolerance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment targeting breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukemia virus, the cause of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), has revolutionized therapy for patients with this disease. The majority of patients with CML maintain favorable responses with long-term imatinib therapy; however, the availability of the second-generation TKIs nilotinib and dasatinib limits the need for patients intolerant to imatinib to continue with therapy. Unfortunately, there is currently no standard definition of intolerance to imatinib. Common Toxicity Criteria for grading adverse events, designed to identify acute toxicities, are often used to determine intolerance. However, because CML therapies are long-term, patient quality of life may provide a better measure of true intolerance. Several general methods of quantifying patient quality of life are in use for patients with CML, and a CML-specific variant of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory is in development. An appropriate and consistent definition of intolerance will provide clinicians with an algorithm for managing their patients with severe or chronic adverse events during treatment with imatinib. As more long-term data become available for newer TKIs, the definition of intolerance in the context of CML treatment will continue to evolve to maximize the likelihood of durable responses and superior quality of life for patients.
Thymic stromal cells in culture. 2. Binding of normal thymocytes to a cloned thymic stromal cell line.

Abstract Thymic stromal cell line TS-9 was found to selectively bind a subpopulation of normal murine thymocytes. Selective binding allowed the isolation and phenotypic characterization of the adherent and nonadherent subpopulations of thymocytes. Flow cytometric analysis of fluorescently labeled thymocytes revealed that the adherent and nonadherent populations differ in maturity, with the adherent population enriched in immature thymocytes of the PNA hi , Thy-1 hi , CD3 −/lo , and CD4+/CD8+ double positive surface phenotype. A quantitative microwell assay was developed to measure the binding of thymocytes to TS-9. Thymocytes labeled with vital DNA stain Hoechst 33342 were allowed to bind to TS-9 in microwells and the intense fluorescence of this label was readily detected with a scanning fluorometer. The binding was trypsin-sensitive and hyaluronidase and PI-PLC resistant. The binding was also temperature dependent and sensitive to cytochalasin B. A panel of monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens including CD2, LFA-I/ICAM-I, and Thy-1 was screened in a quantitative binding assay for their ability to inhibit the binding of thymocytes to TS-9. The binding was partially inhibited by the C3C12 monoclonal antibody which recognizes the recently identified and apparently unique gp23, gp45 complex expressed on murine Stromal cells.
Coinductive logic programming with negation

We introduce negation into coinductive logic programming (co-LP) via what we term Coinductive SLDNF (co-SLDNF) resolution. We present declarative and operational semantics of co-SLDNF resolution and present their equivalence under the restriction of rationality. Co-LP with co-SLDNF resolution provides a powerful, practical and efficient operational semantics for Fitting’s Kripke-Kleene three-valued logic with restriction of rationality. Further, applications of co-SLDNF resolution are also discussed and illustrated where Co-SLDNF resolution allows one to develop elegant implementations of modal logics. Moreover it provides the capability of non-monotonic inference (e.g., predicate Answer Set Programming) that can be used to develop novel and effective first-order modal non-monotonic inference engines.
Computer-brain interaction to optimize auditory stimuli based on neuronal responses

The authors have developed a self-optimizing way of finding the best excitatory frequencies (BEF) of auditory neurons. The ALOPEX-(algorithm of pattern extraction) algorithm uses feedback from the extracellular responses recorded from frog (Rana Pipiens) auditory neurons to optimize sound stimuli. This computer based system works in real time to iteratively find the neuron's BEF. The stimulus is produced by controlling the Yamaha (YMF262) FM-chip on board a Sound Blaster 16 card. The response and stimulus are captured by a Dataq (DI-300F) high speed analog and digital I/O board. Programmable threshold logic is used to determine the number of action potentials in response to sinusoidal sound stimuli. The normalized tone ranges in frequency from 80 to 3150 Hz. The duration and intra-stimulus intervals are 270 and 500 msec respectively. The system dynamics and reliability were tested with the response calculated as a parabolic function of frequency. Actual results, using 10 stimulus presentations per iteration, showed that the setup is able to converge within 100 iterations. A companion demonstration that uses the parabolic equation to simulate response has been developed and will be presented as a demo.
More Equal Than Others: The Travails of Literacy Education in an Employment Preparation Program

The relative status of literacy education and vocational education are examined within a Canadian employment preparation program. The low status exhibited for literacy education results from several factors, including the contextually low value of the social and cultural capital literacy educators offer to participants and the organization. The author argues that if program organizers can move beyond viewing the provision as primarily employment preparation training and embrace a broader, collaborative educational status not only will the program be truer to their espoused philosophy, but the experience and knowledge of literacy instructors will have a vital role to play. Resume Tout ce qui se rapporte a l'alphabetisation et a l'enseignement professionnel est presentement examine par un programme canadien de preparation a l'emploi. Le peu d'interet demontre pour l'alphabetisation decoule de certains facteurs comme le fait que les educateurs en alphabetisation offrent peu aux participants et a l'organisation d'un point de vue social et culturel. L'auteur pretend que si les concepteurs des differents programmes peuvent les voir audela de leur role primordial de preparation pratique a l'emploi et accorde une plus grande place a la collaboration, alors le programme sera peut-etre plus conforme a leur philosophie, et l'experience et les connaissances des enseignants joueront un role crucial.
A Rational Emotive Behavioral Approach to Improve Anger Management and Reduce Office Referrals in Middle School Children: A Formative Investigation and Evaluation

Abstract Sixteen seventh and eighth graders previously identified as having behavioral problems earned significantly higher post-test scores on a test of REBT concepts immediately after participation in a Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) training program, and this knowledge was retained after an 8-week follow-up period (p < .01). Additionally, the 7th graders' post-test scores were significantly higher than the pre-test scores of the 8th graders (who served as a waiting control group). Although the number of office referrals did not decrease sufficiently to produce a statistically significant reduction from baseline to intervention or from baseline to follow-up, moderate to large effect sizes were found. Participants' level of rational thinking and (stated) action were evaluated through written responses to anger-inducing scenarios; rationality of stated actions increased and rationality of thinking increased for the 7th graders and decreased for the 8th graders. Children were successful in acqu...
Chemical Analysis of the Outer Cyst Wall and Inclusion Material of Bdellovibrio bdellocysts

The outer cyst wall and inclusion material fromBdellovibrio bdellocysts were isolated and their chemical composition was determined. The outer cyst wall is primarily peptidoglycan containing glucosamine, muramic acid, alanine, glutamic acid, and diaminopimelic acid. The cyst walls are resistant to lysozyme, but are rendered sensitive following deacylation and N-acetylation. Isolated inclusions were degraded quantitatively to glucose by HCl and by amyloglucosidase, whereas α-amylase degraded the polymer only partially with the release of reducing groups. The inclusion material is therefore an amylopectin-like polysaccharide, being a polyglucose containing both α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages.
Vibrational spectra of pyridazine, pyridazine-d4, pyridazine-3,6-d2 and pyridazine-4,5-d2☆

Abstract Infrared spectra of the liquids pyridazine, pyridazine- d 4 and pyridazine-3,6- d 2 are reported from 270 to 4,000 cm −1 . Raman spectra are reported for these liquids with the state of polarization for many lines. The vibrational assignment suggested for these three compounds satisfies the three Teller—Redlich product rules within limitations imposed by evident Fermi resonance perturbation of several of the fundamentals. A method of synthesis of pyridazine-4,5- d 2 was proposed and tested, and preliminary liquid phase infrared data are reported together with a few suggested assignments for this compound.
The physiological effects of extensive sympathectomy for essential hypertension

T HIS study of physiological changes resulting from extensive sympathectomy is based on forty-five patients who were operated on for essential hypertension from February, 193.3 to .January, 19.37. Studies of patients operated on since .Jannar-, 1937 are not included in this report. The technique used, which has bee11 described in detail elsewhere,l~ 3 consists of bila,teral subdiaphragmwtic, ext,raperitoneal resection of the splanchnic nerves, celiac ganglions, ant1 the upper two lumbar sympathetic ganglions. The second operation is performrtl about ten days after that on the opposite side. In twenty-five instances partial suprarenalectomy was performetl ; one-third to two-fifths of each gland was removed to see if this woultl acc~rntuate the effects on blood pressure of extensive sympathectomv. Surgical treatment of hypertension has been attempted beeausr it is apparent that there is no means of controlling hypertension adequately. hinonsurgical management, in many instances ; the high mortality from hypertension is adequate testimony for this observation.ls 2 It is known that elevation of blood pressure in essential hypertension is due to a generalized increase in resistance to the flow of blood t.hrough the periphery of the arterial system. The fault, which seems to be that of the arterioles chiefly, appears to be abnormal vaso(aonstriction or increased arteriolar tonus, at least in early stages of hypertension. Later in the disease organic> changes affecting small arteries and a,rterioles may contribute to incarrased resistance f o tilt> flow of blood through them. There is evidence that. at. least in early hypertension, the abnormal state of the arterioles is an expression of abnormal vasomotor stimuli arising ill the vasomotor (*enter> lvliic*h are transmitted to arterioles by way of’ sympat~llrtic* llervcs. 01’ that the arterioles respond with an abnormal state of vasc~~onstrictic)ll OL tonus to normal stimuli transmitted by way of the sympathetic: nervous system. In advanced hypertension the arterioles may assume all independent function of increased resistantde to the flop of 1~10011 through them either by virtue of structural changes or by virtue of an inherently increased tonus independent. of stimnli transmitted OWI. the sympathetic nervous system from the vasomotor center. Goldblatt’s experimental work’ has shown that diminution of blood suppI>, to the kidneys produces hypertension (alosely simulating essential ]I>--
The safety and feasibility of high-force eccentric resistance exercise in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Dibble LE, Hale T, Marcus RL, Gerber JP, LaStayo PC. The safety and feasibility of high-force eccentric resistance in persons with Parkinson's disease. Objective To examine the effect of high-force eccentric resistance exercise on measures of muscle damage and injury in persons with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease (PD). Design Before-after trial. Setting Tertiary care center clinical laboratory. Participants Ten persons with PD (Hoehn and Yahr Staging Scale, stage 1–3). Intervention Participants trained 3 days a week for 12 weeks on an eccentric ergometer, performing high-force eccentric resistance exercise with bilateral lower extremities. Main Outcome Measures Serum creatine kinase (CK) concentrations, muscle pain scores, and isometric force production were measured before, during, and after training. Results Mean CK levels did not differ and did not exceed the threshold of muscle damage at any time point ( P =.17). Muscle visual analog scale scores were low and only differed at week 2 ( P =.04). Participants were highly compliant, whereas total negative work and isometric force increased over time ( P =.02, P =.006, respectively). Conclusions Persons with mild to moderate PD can safely and feasibly participate in high-force eccentric resistance training. The data we present provide a basis for future investigations of the efficacy of this type of training on muscle size, strength, and mobility in persons with PD.
Identification of interspecies difference in efflux transporters of hepatocytes from dog, rat, monkey and human

The large interspecies differences of hepatobiliary transport present a challenge for the allometric prediction of human biliary excretion for drug candidates primarily cleared via hepatobiliary secretion. In the present study, we determined the metabolic stabilities of common fluorescent substrates of hepatobiliary efflux transporters and developed a rapid efflux assay to determine the functional activities of MRP/Mrp, BCRP/Bcrp and P-gp in hepatocytes of four species. The specificities of transporter-mediated dye efflux were confirmed by selective transporter inhibitors. Among tested species, transporter-specific dye efflux kinetics was consistent between freshly isolated and cryopreserved hepatocytes. Hepatocyte elimination half-lives of MRP/Mrp substrates GS-MF and calcein were observed in the rank order of human > monkey > dog > rat. The fourfold higher MRP/Mrp substrate efflux rate of rat hepatocytes compared to human is likely due to the species-specific functional differences of MRP2/Mrp2 expressed on the canalicular membrane. We also observed efficient BCRP-mediated pheophorbide A (PhA) efflux by human and dog hepatocytes, while PhA extrusion in monkey and rat hepatocytes appeared limited. P-gp function measured by DiOC2(3) efflux was minimal in hepatocytes of all origins and no significant species differences were detected. Our results demonstrated marked differences in hepatocyte MRP/Mrp and BCRP/Bcrp activities across species, indicating that they may contribute to the species differences of in vivo hepatobiliary excretion. These results also suggest the potential utility of primary hepatocytes, either fresh or cryopreserved, as an in vitro model to predict interspecies differences in the biliary transport of MRP/Mrp and BCRP/Bcrp substrates.
Forming Terrestrial Planets

The Sun's rocky planets come in a range of sizes. Mercury weighs in at barely 5% of Earth's mass, perhaps because it formed under harsh conditions close to the Sun. Venus is similar in size to our own planet. However, the modest mass of Mars is perplexing. Current theories for planet formation can explain the gross features of the solar system, such as the dichotomy between its rocky and gas-rich planets, but there is no consensus on why Mars is almost a tenth the mass of Earth and Venus. Now, simulations by Izidoro et al. ( 1 ) show that Mars' small size may date back to a partial gap in the solar nebula, the cloud of gas surrounding the young Sun.
A political theory of regulation with some observations on railway abandonments

One of the main themes of partisan dispute in the recent past (and doubtless in the foreseeable future) is whether or not the value of detailed governmental regulation of the economy exceeds the cost. This is exactly the kind of dispute that might be resolved by raising it from the level of mere partisan interest to the level of economic and political science. Unfortunately, however, it has not been raised because we do not have the necessary intellectual apparatus, namely, a theory about the motivation for, the operation of, and the consequences of regulation. As a result, most of the discussion consists of biased, ad hoc explanations of particular cases, with little effort to formulate and test alternative generalizations. We have, therefore, nothing but unresolved and unresolvable disputes about a more or less random collection of stories and some contradictory recipes about cause and effect.
LIN-12/Notch Activation Leads to MicroRNA-Mediated Down-Regulation of Vav in C. elegans

Cell-cell interactions and cross-talk between signaling pathways specify Caenorhabditis elegans vulval precursor cells (VPCs) to adopt a spatial pattern: a central “1°” VPC, in which epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity is high and LIN-12/Notch activity is low, flanked by two “2°” VPCs, in which LIN-12/Notch activity is high and EGFR-MAPK activity is low. Here, we identify a microRNA gene, mir-61, as a direct transcriptional target of LIN-12 and show that expression of mir-61 promotes the 2° fate. We also identify vav-1, the ortholog of the Vav oncogene, as a target of mir-61, and show that down-regulation of VAV-1 promotes lin-12 activity in specifying the 2° fate. Our results suggest that lin-12, mir-61, and vav-1 form a feedback loop that helps maximize lin-12 activity in the presumptive 2° VPCs.
Treatment of Morbid Obesity in Inner-City Women

Objective: To explore the use of the very-low-calorie formula diet (VLCD) in the indigent population of Newark, NJ, with the goal of achieving 10% weight loss within a relatively short period of 10 weeks. Research Methods and Procedures: We accepted 131 morbidly obese indigent women into our study program. The study was limited to women only and the average starting weight was 292.3 ± 5.9 lbs (± SE; 50.3 ± 0.9 body mass index [kg/m2]). We used three treatment paradigms: total cost-free program for 10 weeks; cost-free, but compliance requirements; and a weekly charge of $25. The results obtained were compared with two control populations: women enrolled during the same recruitment period in a comparable suburban VLCD program and a historical control population of suburban women treated from 1985 through 1995. Results: In group A (total cost-free), 79% of patients completed the 10-week program, but only 18% of patients achieved the goal of 10% weight loss. In group B when attendance and weight loss requirements were imposed, the dropout rate accelerated such that only 37% of patients completed the 10-week course, and 16% of the women were successful with their weight loss. In group C, imposing $25/wk financial outlay also accelerated dropouts but had little effect on weight loss success, which was 10% of the starting group. By comparison, the suburban patients and the historical control group exhibited 67% and 76% attendance rates after 10 weeks, and 33% and 55% success rates, respectively, in achieving the weight loss goal. Discussion: We conclude that inner-city patients exhibit great interest in weight loss when financial barriers are removed. Successful weight loss was achieved in 10% to 18% of patients using the VLCD approach, approximately one-half of that obtained in affluent suburban women. Imposing financial or compliance restrictions to the inner-city patients served only to enhance dropouts.
Gambling Outcome Expectancies and Gambling Behavior Among African-American Adolescents: Gender as a Moderating Variable

Most high school adolescents have reported past year gambling, and males gamble more frequently and problematically than females. Ethnic minority adolescents appear to be gambling at a higher rate than Caucasian adolescents. There is evidence indicating that adolescent gambling outcome expectancies are correlated with gambling behavior, but limited evidence that this relation differs by gender. In the present study gender was evaluated as a moderator in the relation between gambling outcome expectancies and gambling behaviors in an African-American high school sample. Males gambled more frequently, gambled more problematically and held more positive gambling outcome expectancies than females. Gender was found to moderate the relations between gambling frequency and the expectations of material gain, affect, self-evaluation and parental approval. Gender also moderated the relations between gambling problems and expectations of affect and self-evaluation. These findings should inform future adolescent gambling prevention and intervention programs.
The performance improvement calculation of corrugated quantum well infrared photodetector (C-QWIP) with a high critical temperature (Tc) superconducting electron filter

The Corrugated Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (C-QWIP) holds significant performance and other advantages over other infrared (IR) detectors. However, one disadvantage of the detector is the relatively low operating temperature needed to suppress the dark current. By coating two additional layers (thin insulator and high critical temperature (Tc) superconductor) on the top contact layer of a C-QWIP wafer, the top three layers of the detector form a high-Tc superconducting single electron tunneling junction. It could act as an electron filter because of the presence of an energy gap in superconductors. For QWIPs, the photo electrons and dark electrons are well separated in energy, most dark current is conducting below the quantum well (QW) barrier height and most photo current is conducting above the barrier height. Most dark electrons thus could be blocked by the junction while most photo electrons pass the junction by applying an appropriate voltage. Therefore, both the sensitivity and the operating temperature of the detector could be improved. Our calculation shows that the filter could provide 40% or 70% improvement in Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD) of detector focal plane arrays (FPAs) at normal operating temperature, depending on whether the detector emitter photocurrent to dark current ratio is = 1 (Emitter is background limited BLIP) or = 0.1 (Emitter is far from BLIP). For both cases, the filter could increase the detector FPAs operating temperatures up to 90K (30K improvement) with 15% to 25% NETD improvement respectively.
An ADI procedure suitable for virtual storage systems

The Peaceman–Rachford ADI technique is a well-known iterative method for solving large systems of linear equations arising from finite difference methods of solution of partial differntial equations. The present note demonstrates how the algorithm can be conveniently rearranged for computation in a virtual storage system with paging. Timing results are given for a sample problem typical of those encountered in nuclear diffusion computation.
Respiratory syncytial virus affects pulmonary function in BALB/c mice.

BALB/c mice inoculated intranasally with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were studied in a whole-body plethysmograph to determine if signs of respiratory illness similar to those observed in human infants could be detected. Also, responsiveness to methacholine was assessed. RSV-infected mice showed significantly higher respiratory rates than did controls (409.2 vs. 305.2 breaths/min, P < .0001). Significantly increased airway responsiveness to methacholine was noted, infected mice responding to a 100-fold lower dose than controls (P = .003). Together, these data provide the first objective evidence of respiratory illness in the mouse model of RSV infection, which enhances the value of this model for evaluating effects of vaccines, antivirals, and other drugs acting on respiratory tract disease caused by RSV.
The Pious and the Profane: The Religious Life of Early Barbados Planters

(1999). The Pious and the Profane: The Religious Life of Early Barbados Planters. The Historian: Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 265-284.
The global carbon cycle and climate change: responses and feedbacks from below-ground systems.

According to most global climate models, a continued build-up of CO2 and other greenhouse gases will lead to significant changes in temperature and precipitation patterns over large parts of the Earth. Below-ground processes will strongly influence the response of the biosphere to climate change and are likely to contribute to positive or negative biospheric feedbacks to climate change. Current global carbon budgets suggest that as much as 2000 Pg of carbon exists in soil systems. There is considerable disagreement, however, over pool sizes and flux (e.g. CO2, CH4) for various ecosystems. An equilibrium analysis of changes in global below-ground carbon storage due to a doubled-CO2 climate suggests a range from a possible sink of 41 Pg to a possible source of 101 Pg. Components of the terrestrial biosphere could be managed to sequester or conserve carbon and mitigate accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Mind-Body Interventions to Reduce Risk for Health Disparities Related to Stress and Strength Among African American Women: The Potential of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Loving-Kindness, and the NTU Therapeutic Framework

In the current article, the authors examine the potential role of mind-body interventions for preventing or reducing health disparities in a specific group-African American women. The authors first discuss how health disparities affect this group, including empirical evidence regarding the influence of biopsychosocial processes (e.g., psychological stress and social context) on disparate health outcomes. They also detail how African American women's unique stress experiences as a result of distinct sociohistorical and cultural experiences related to race and gender potentially widen exposure to stressors and influence stress responses and coping behaviors. Using two independent, but related, frameworks (Superwoman Schema [SWS] and the Strong Black Woman Script [SBW-S]), they discuss how, for African American women, stress is affected by "strength" (vis-a-vis resilience, fortitude, and self-sufficiency) and the emergent health-compromising behaviors related to strength (e.g., emotional suppression, extraordinary caregiving, and self-care postponement). The authors then describe the potential utility of three mind-body interventions-mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), loving-kindness meditation (LKM), and NTU psychotherapy-for specifically targeting the stress-, strength-, and contextually related factors that are thought to influence disparate outcomes for African American women. Self-awareness, self-care, inter- and intrapersonal restorative healing and a redefinition of inner strength may manifest through developing a mindfulness practice to decrease stress-related responses; using LKM to cultivate compassion and forgiveness for self and others; and the balance of independence and interdependence as a grounding NTU principle for redefining strength. The authors conclude with a discussion of potential benefits for integrating key aspects of the interventions with recommendations for future research.
Comparison of the effects of three sprue designs on the internal porosity in crowns cast with a silver-free high-palladium alloy.

Abstract This study tested the effect of sprue design on internal porosity of a silver-free high-palladium alloy. The designs evaluated consisted of: (1) a cylindrical sprue, (2) a cylindrical sprue with a reservoir, and (3) a cylindrical sprue with a constriction at the point of attachment with the pattern. Ten identical complete crowns were made with each sprue design. The cast crowns were embedded in epoxy resin, sectioned, and polished. A total of six sites for each sample were analyzed for percent of porosity in a Quantimet image analyzing computer. The mean amount of internal porosity from all analyzed sites for each sprue design was calculated as a percent site porosity per total site and differences between the experimental sites and groups tested. The analysis of variance found no significant differences among the sprues and no significant interaction, but determined a significant difference ( p
Smart Insulation for Thermal Control in Buildings

Buildings are a significant source of energy consumption in the US and worldwide, and conditioning building interiors occupies a major portion of that expenditure. At the building level, a particular scenario can occur where it becomes more advantageous for a structure’s walls to be “open” to the outside, as opposed to remaining “closed”, in an insulating state. For instance, a cool night may follow a hot summer day after the sun sets, but traditional insulation captures heat built up inside a home. A clear, sunny day may also heat a building’s exterior during a cold winter day, and heat transfer to the interior would be more desirable than insulation. This paper presents a study of a concept, termed “smart insulation”, that could be used in such scenarios to take advantage of beneficial thermal gradients in order to save heating and cooling costs. Enabling heat transfer without moving air can also help control humidity within interior spaces, as well as limit noise either from moving air or through open windows. Unlike traditional insulation that maintains a specific insulating value during its useful life, smart insulation changes between an insulating and a conducting state depending on the thermal gradient. Some design concepts have been fabricated and were tested in an insulated chamber that provides a “hot side” and a “cool side”. In the test chamber, temperature measurements were taken and the insulating capacity of each design specimen was calculated. Results indicate that the designs have potential to operate between two states (with the best case ranging from 11% to 61% of a benchmark insulation case) and effectively provide sustainable heating or cooling by capitalizing on ambient outdoor conditions.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A cross spectral analysis of high-latitude Pc 5 pulsations in the morning sector

An analysis of the spatial phase and amplitude structures of the ground Pc 5 pulsations in the morning sector was carried out using data from the North American IMS magnetometer network. Signals in the X, Y, and Z components were found to propagate from noon to the nightside with an apparent phase velocity of 13 km/sec. The phase was determined to vary with latitude, with total latitudinal phase differences of 200 and 90 deg, respectively, for the X and Y components. Corresponding latitudinal phase differences in the vertical components were 550 deg for the Alaska chain, and 360 deg for the Fort Churchill chain. Phase variation in the Fort Churchill chain was attributed to the ionospheric Hall current related to the field line resonance and the earth induction current. The earth induction current in the shallower regions near Fort Yukon is a necessary factor to explain the large variation in the Alaska chain.
Adenosine antagonists potentiate D2 dopamine-dependent activation of Fos in the striatopallidal pathway

Adenosine antagonists potentiate dopamine-mediated behaviours. A2a adenosine and D2 dopamine receptors are abundantly co-expressed within the striatopallidal subset of striatal neurons, suggesting that this is the site of interaction between A2a and D2 receptors. We show that the D2-dependent induction of the immediate early gene c-Fos occurs in striatopallidal neurons 3 h following injection of reserpine (10 mg/kg). We used this paradigm to test whether adenosine antagonists modulate D2-dependent activation of striatopallidal neurons. The non-selective A1-A2 adenosine antagonists theophylline (25 mg/kg) or 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (25 mg/kg) potentiated the effect of a submaximal dose of the D2 dopamine agonist quinpirole (0.05 mg/kg) to prevent the induction of striatal c-Fos following reserpine. Co-administration of the A2a receptor antagonist 8-(3-chlorostyryl) caffeine (5 mg/kg) with quinpirole (0.05 mg/kg) also attenuated striatal c-Fos induction following reserpine to a greater extent than 0.05 mg/kg quinpirole alone. When administered prior to reserpine, theophylline (25 mg/kg) or 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (25 mg/kg) partially attenuate the induction of striatal c-fos. These results demonstrate that systemic administration of adenosine antagonists enhance D2 dopamine receptor-dependent regulation of c-Fos in the striatopallidal pathway. These results support a functional interaction between A2a adenosine and D2 dopamine receptors in striatopallidal neurons.
The accuracy of prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis: a critical review.

Review of the recent medical literature raises doubts about the reliability of reported prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS). Many published prevalence rates are inflated. Some studies have sho
The reliability of P50 suppression as measured by the conditioning/testing ratio is vastly improved by dipole modeling

Suppression of auditory P50 evoked potential amplitude to the second of a pair of clicks is potentially important in psychiatric research because it has been shown to be abnormal in both schizophrenics and their relatives. However, its clinical utility using the standard single-channel electroencephalographic (EEG) peak picking methodology is under question because of low test-retest reliability. Dipole Components Modeling of the P50 component was attempted as a method for increasing the reliability of the P50 suppression measure. It was hypothesized that this procedure might work because of pooling of noise from the two responses and because of the use of topographic information. Six replications of a P50 suppression paradigm in 12 subjects were analyzed. Reliability using peak picking was 0.27, and was significantly increased to 0.63 using dipole modeling. Dipole modeling was helpful not only for better modeling the P50 when it was present, but also for deciding that there was no P50 response in one subject.
Acid Protease Production from Neosartorya fischeri

Abstract A three-factor, five-level central composite design was used to optimize acid protease production from wheat bran by Neosartorya fischeri var. spinosa IBT 4872. Initial water content, incubation temperature and phosphate concentration significantly affected acid protease production. Initial water content showed the strongest effect on the enzyme production. No interaction was observed among the variables. The validity of the model was confirmed by verification tests. Optimal conditions for acid protease production were: initial substrate water content, 53 mL H 2 O/100 g; phosphate concentration, 0.86 mol/L; and temperature, 30 °C. The enzyme yield was 1.59 units/mL (8.83 units/g wheat bran). Acid proteases are widely used in cheese-making, baking and meat tenderization.
Effect of isoetharine on cardiac conduction in man.

The effects of isoetharine on the His bundle electrogram were studied in 10 patients with heart disease. Recordings were made at varied heart rates using atrial pacing, Isoetharine significantly reduced the AH interval with atrial pacing, but it had no effect on the HV interval. Second degree heart block occurred at higher pacing rates after isoetharine treatment as compared to the control state. The heart rate and blood pressure showed no significant change after isoetharine. The functional and effective refractory periods were measured with the use of the extra-stimulus technique. The functional refractory period of the AV node, as well as the effective refractory period of the atrium, significantly decreased after isoetharine. Thus, isoetharine can improve conduction through the atrioventricular node. The drug does have a cardiac effect as measured by its action on the human conduction system. (PACE, Vol. 5, July-August, 1982)
Vadose Zone Characterization at a Contaminated Field Site Using Partitioning Interwell Tracer Technology

The partitioning interwell tracer test (PITT) has been demonstrated to be effective in determining volume and spatial distribution of residual nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in the saturated subsurface. Use of PITT technology in the vadose zone has been limited to this point. Two PITTs were completed in the vadose zone of a NAPL contaminated site at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, NM. The PITTs were completed before and after a thermally enhanced soil vapor extraction remediation effort, to provide performance assessment. Methane was used as a nonpartitioning tracer. Four perfluorocarbons (perfluoromethylcyclohexane, perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane, perfluoro-1,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, and perfluorodecalin) were utilized as air−NAPL partitioning tracers. Difluoromethane was used as an air−water partitioning tracer to estimate water saturation. The complex light NAPL (LNAPL) consisted of hydrocarbon fuels ranging from approximately 12−70 carbons in size. Laboratory experimental data and thermo...
Characterization of organic emissions from hazardous waste incineration processes under the new EPA draft Risk Burn Guidance: measurement issues

EPA's recently published draft Risk Burn Guidance recommends that hazardous waste combustion facilities complete a mass balance of the total organics (TOs) that may be emitted from the combustor. TOs, consisting of three distinct fractions (volatile, semivolatile, and nonvolatile organic compounds) are determined using measurement techniques specific to the boiling point (bp) range of each component. Preliminary proof-of-concept tests have been performed to gain further knowledge of the total chromatographable organics (TCO) and gravimetric analysis (GRAV) procedures used to determine the semivolatile and nonvolatile organic fractions. A commercially prepared Method 8270 semivolatile organic standard solution, made up of 112 compounds containing a variety of halogenated, oxygenated, nitrogenated, and sulfonated hydrocarbons, in addition to those hydrocarbons containing only carbon and hydrogen, was used to examine measurement biases of the TCO and GRAV methods. The results indicate that, at least for this particular standard, both methods are accurate, exhibiting biases <±10%. However, these TCO results may be deceiving. TCO measurement biases observed for select individual semivolatile organic compounds are well in excess of the composite bias observed. The composite bias observed may be more a result of a relatively equal number of negative and positive biases that negate each rather than a true indication of TCO measurement bias. Further methods evaluation work is required to support this tenet. Additional tests were performed to verify that the semivolatile organic mass was not redundantly measured by the GRAV procedure. Experiments were also performed to expand the mass of nonvolatile organic material that could be quantified using the TCO procedure. Expanding the TCO working bp range may be a viable alternative to the GRAV technique. It must be cautioned that these results are not fully comprehensive in nature and, as a result, applications of these results are limited.
REVERSIBILITY OF THE NECKER CUBE. V. EFFECT OF MOVEMENT OF THE FIGURE ON THE PERCEPTION OF REVERSALS.

It has been proposed that growth of “satiation” to a critical value is responsible for the reversals of perspective seen in the Necker cube; when the satiation process is somehow prevented from rea...
Finding the Intracellular Signaling Pathways Affected by Mood Disorder Treatments

Postmortem and brain imaging studies have revealed structural changes and cell loss in cortico-limbic regions of the brain in bipolar disorder and major depression. Consistent with these findings, mood stabilizers such as lithium ion and valproic acid, which are used to treat bipolar disorder, as well as antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy have recently been shown to activate interconnected intracellular signaling pathways that promote neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. These insights should assist in understanding the pathophysiology of severe mood disorders as well as aid in the development of more effective treatments.
Answering Kentucky's Five Questions: The Public Agenda and Accountability System Guiding Postsecondary Education Reform in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky links state-level and institutional accountability indicators to the public agenda for its postsecondary education system.
A proper method of reporting results from digital simulations

Abstract A method of reporting results from digital simulations is presented and illustrated. The method is particularly useful when alternative approaches to the solution of a problem are to be compared. The method focuses on the reporting of standard errors, a result of paramount importance, and all too often overlooked.
Directed evolution of nucleic acids by independent replication and selection

Specific interactions between nucleic acid and protein mediate the control of gene expression. The understanding of these interactions has been facilitated by the construction of sequence variants of both nucleic acid and protein. An exciting new experimental procedure is described by Tuerk and Gold. In their method, called SELEX for the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, a random collection of RNA molecules is enriched for those that can bind to a particular protein. Those RNA molecules that bind are converted to complementary DNA and are replicated by the polymerase chain reaction. Continued cycles of enrichment and amplification lead to a collection of sequences that bind whith the highest affinity