cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new proline aminopeptidase assay for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

Abstract Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common occurring vaginal conditions among women of reproductive age. A rapid and reliable laboratory test for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis would be helpful in the clinical detection of this disease. Elevated proline aminopeptidase activity has been identified as a reliable marker enzyme for bacterial vaginosis. A proline aminopeptidase assay has been shown to predict accurately women with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. However, this assay has significant practical disadvantages, the most notable of which is the production of a carcinogenic end product, a-naphthylamine. We have developed a modified assay for this bacterial vaginosis marker enzyme with L-proline p-nitroanilide, a substrate that does not yield a carcinogenic end-product. The new proline aminopeptidase assay is a one-step test that is analyzed colorimetrically with microsomal leucine aminopeptidase used as a standard enzyme (linear from 3 to 125 mU per well). We have determined the activity of proline aminopeptidase in vaginal wet preparations from 57 patients with both assay methods. In addition, vaginal smears were examined with Gram's stain and analyzed for bacterial vaginosis with the Spiegel method. When compared with the Spiegel method, the two proline aminopeptidase assay methods were similar with respect to assay sensitivity (93%), specificity (91 % to 93%), and the predictive value of a positive result (78% to 82%) or a negative result (97% to 98%). Vaginal wash samples also were assessed for proline aminopeptidase activity. Values for samples identified as bacterial vaginosis positive were significantly different (p &#x0026;#x003C; 0.0001) from those that were negative according to the Spiegel analysis of Gram's stain: negative results, 66 ± 41 mU I ml; positive results, 704 ± 145 mU I ml. These findings indicate that this improved proline aminopeptidase assay will offer a rapid, sensitive, and objective laboratory method for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.
Preparation of polyhydrouracils and polyiminoimidazolidinones

Polyhydrouracils and polyiminoimidazolidinones were prepared by ring formation along the chain of appropriately substituted polyureas. Cyclization of 2-carbomethoxy-ethyl-substituted polyureas in a polyphosphoric acid medium gave the polyhydrouracils. The polyurea precursors were prepared from N,N′-bis(2-carbomethoxyethyl)-1,6-hexanediamine and N,N′-di(2-carbomethoxyethyl)-1,4-cyclohexanebis(methylamine) with methylenebis(4-phenyl isocyanate), 2,4-toluene diisocyanate, and 3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate. These polyureas were soluble in m-cresol, dimethylformamide, and chloroform, had inherent viscosities of up to 0.8, and could be cast into tough films. The polyhydrouracils had similar physical properties and could also be cast into films. The polyhydrouracils melted at temperatures 100–150°C higher than their polyurea precursors. Polyiminoimidazolidinones were prepared by cyclization of α-cyanoalkyl-substituted polyureas in the presence of n-butylamine. The intermediate polyureas, which were not isolated, were prepared from methylenebis(4-phenyl isocyanate) with N,N′-bis(1-cyanocyclohexyl)-1,6-hexanediamine, N,N′-bis(1-cyanocyclohexyl)-m-xylylenediamine and N,N′-bis(1-cyanocyclopentyl)-1,6-hexanediamine. The polyiminoimidazolidinones were soluble in m-cresol, dimethylformamide, and chloroform and had low inherent viscosities of 0.14–0.28. Thermogravimetric analyses showed that the polyhydrouracils underwent rapid decomposition at 400°C, whereas an analogous unsubstituted polyurea decomposed at 300°C. On the other hand, the polyiminoimid-azolidinones showed no greater thermal stability than the unsubstituted polyurea.
The Trouper Syndrome: A Train Wreck Waiting to Happen

In show business lore, a “trouper” perseveres without complaint no matter how arduous or dangerous the circumstances. In the camaraderie-driven, show-must-go-on world of entertainment, the appellat...
MEMS-based uncooled THz detectors for staring imagers

We review our previous work to develop an uncooled THz detector capable of achieving an NEΔT ~0.5K at 30Hz frame rate and describe our approach to develop a staring THz camera based on a 2D array of such detectors. Both predicted and measured results of performance metrics (responsivity, NEP, response time, spectral bandwidth, NEΔT) are presented. The measured performance agrees reasonably well with predictions and is consistent with attaining our NEΔT goal. Thus far, 1x4 detector arrays have been fabricated, and 1x8 focal plane arrays have been developed and tested. We briefly discuss our vision to achieve a128x128 detector array needed for a practical staring THz imager and describe the technology challenges needed to realize it.
Superalgebraic approach to supergravity

Abstract We apply the theory of superalgebras to the study of supergravity. This allows one to build supermultiplets of off-shell fields. Generalizing to the supersymmetric case Cartan's approach to Weyl and Einstein gravity, we give a recipe for writing the off-shell action for SU( N ) Poincare supergravity. We study in some detail the N = 2 case and the geometrical content of the N = 8 case.
Science Literacy Circles: Big Ideas about Science.

ABSTRACT Science literacy circles incorporate the organization of both science notebooks and literature circles to help K–8 students internalize big ideas about science. Using science literacy circles gives students opportunities to engage in critical thinking as they inductively develop understanding about science concepts.
Protein structure evolution in liquid DESI as revealed by selective noncovalent adduct protein probing

Previous experiments based on charge state distributions have suggested that liquid desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) is capable of preserving solution phase protein structure during transfer to the gas phase (Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 21 (2010) 1730-1736). In order to examine this possibility more carefully, we have utilized selective non-covalent adduct protein probing (SNAPP) to evaluate protein structural evolution in both liquid DESI and standard ESI under a variety of conditions. Experiments with cytochrome c (Cytc) demonstrated that methanol induced conformational shifts previously observed with ESI are also easily observed with liquid DESI. However, undesirable acid-induced unfolding becomes apparent at very high concentrations of methanol in liquid DESI due to acetic acid in the spray solvent, suggesting that there are conditions under which liquid DESI will not preserve solution phase structure. The effects of ammonium acetate buffer on liquid DESI SNAPP experiments were examined by monitoring structural changes in myoglobin. Heme retention and SNAPP distributions were both preserved better in liquid DESI than traditional ESI, suggesting superior performance for liquid DESI in buffered conditions. Finally, liquid DESI SNAPP was used to study the natively disordered proteins α, β, and γ synuclein with SNAPP. α-Synuclein, the main component of fibrils found in patients with Parkinson’s disease, yielded a significantly different SNAPP distribution compared to β and γ synuclein. This difference is indicative of highly accessible protonated basic side chains, a property known to promote fibril formation in proteins.
Use of cosmogenic radionuclides as a sediment tracer in the Santa Cruz littoral cell, California, United States

We demonstrate that cosmogenic radionuclides can be employed to trace sediment when the sources have sufficiently distinct concentrations, and develop a theoretical mixing model for a rocky coastline littoral system. We combine the resulting mixing model with existing cosmogenic radionuclide methods that quantify river inputs and terrace ages to determine the major components of the long-term littoral sediment budget of the Santa Cruz, California, coastline. Sediment derived from coastal basins eroding at 0.2 mm/yr has a much lower concentration than sediment derived from 60‐84 ka terrace sands atop backwearing seacliffs. The complex pattern of cosmogenic radionuclide concentrations in littoral sands along .100 km of coastline can be explained by mixing sediment derived from seacliffs backwearing at 10 cm/yr with that delivered by rivers having widely different amounts of sediment discharge.
Anisotropic ab -plane optical response of the charge-density-wave superconductor P 4 W 14 O 50

We report the polarized optical reflectance of ${\mathrm{P}}_{4}{\mathrm{W}}_{14}{\mathrm{O}}_{50},$ the only charge-density-wave (CDW) superconductor in the monophosphate tungsten bronze family, over a wide frequency range. The 300-K infrared spectra are dominated by two-dimensional behavior: high reflectance with weak phonons in the conducting $\mathrm{ab}$ plane and low reflectance with strong vibrational modes along the interlayer direction. An anisotropic intra-${t}_{2g}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{d}d$ excitation $(\ensuremath{\sim}10000 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1})$ reveals the ``hidden'' one-dimensional band structures in ${\mathrm{P}}_{4}{\mathrm{W}}_{14}{\mathrm{O}}_{50}.$ The variable temperature $\mathrm{ab}$-plane spectra clearly show a suppression of the optical conductivity along the b axis below 140 K, giving rise to charge localization and anisotropic CDW gap formation at $\ensuremath{\sim}1400 {\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}.$ Although the oscillator strength is redistributed among the free-carrier response, the CDW gap absorption, and the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{d}d$ transition in the density wave states, the spectral weight is largely conserved below the plasma frequency. The $\mathrm{ab}$-plane phonons become well resolved in the CDW states due to reduced screening. Based upon these observations, ${\mathrm{P}}_{4}{\mathrm{W}}_{14}{\mathrm{O}}_{50}$ is another example of a superconductor with an unusual normal state.
Neuropsychological correlates of negative, disorganized and psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia

Recent studies suggest that three dimensions (negative, disorganized and psychotic) categorize schizophrenic symptoms. A developing literature indicates distinct cerebral correlates of each symptom cluster, but few investigations have determined their neuropsychological correlates. In the present study, the Schedules of Negative and Positive Symptoms measured symptom severity in 62 schizophrenics, and a subsequent principal components analysis revealed three symptom dimensions. Factor scores, age and parental socio-economic status were simultaneously entered into regression equations to explain variance across a broad neuropsychological test battery. Negative symptoms were associated with deficits involving intelligence, executive function, memory, sustained-attention and sensory-motor function, whereas disorganized symptoms correlated with decreased intelligence, attention-span and sensory-motor function. Psychotic symptoms were unrelated to deficits. These data are consistent with hypotheses that these three symptom dimensions have distinct neurobehavioral correlates.
Langmuir probe measurements in a discharge from a hollow cathode

SERT 2 mercury vapor fed hollow cathode operated in bell jar, determining volt-ampere characteristics and flow rates for plasma diagnostics
Measuring teacher attitudes and expectations toward students with ADHD: Development of the Test of Knowledge about ADHD (KADD)

Objective: The attitudes, expectations, and behaviors of teachers toward children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have a lasting impact on the academic self-efficacy and success of students with ADHD. Yet, to date there exists no standardized measure of teacher attitudes or expectations toward children with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure teacher attitudes and expectancies toward children with ADHD.Method: The Test of Knowledge About ADHD (KADD) was constructed based on the error-choice method, which is an indirect method of attitude measurement. This psychometric approach was utilized to reduce patterns of response distortions that produce systematic errors in direct attitudinal assessment. Elementary school teachers (N = 103) completed the error-choice instrument.Conclusion: Results indicated adequate to good internal consistency reliability for the KADD for this sample, with a Cronbach's coefficient alpha of 0.82. Additionally, results yi...
Soliton dynamic structure factors in a planar ferromagnetic chain

Abstract For a planar ferromagnetic chain in a transverse magnetic field we present calculations for the soliton contribution to the longitudinal and transverse dynamic structure factors. We treat the solitons as a dilute relativistic ideal gas. Criteria for the breakdown of the continuum sine-Gordon model are discussed.
Electron Transfer Reactions Induced by Excited State Quenching

Electron transfer quenching of excited states can lead to separated redox products for which back electron transfer can be highly favored. Application of flash photolysis leads to a relaxation technique in which a system at equilibrium is perturbed by separate excitation-quenching steps. The rates of several electron transfer reactions have been studied using the technique based on redox quenching of the CT excited state Ru(bpy)2+−3. Quenching and back electron transfer has also been observed for a series of excited states including examples of CT(Ru(phen)2+3, etc), π - π * (Pd(OEP)), and f-f(Eu(phen)3+3) states. In recent work, even non-emitting excited states have been shown to be quenched by electron transfer which suggests that the technique may have broad applicability. In properly designed systems containing more than one redox reagent, the quenching and back electron transfer steps can be separated and reactions have been studied which are driven photocatalytically by excited states like Ru(bpy)2+−3. A modification of the technique has been used to estimate the self-exchange rate for the Ru(bpy)3+/2+3 couple and to measure rates of electron transfer for a series of systems where the rates measured do not involve a Ru-couple.
Copy number variation at 22q11.2: from rare variants to common mechanisms of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders

Recently discovered genome-wide rare copy number variants (CNVs) have unprecedented levels of statistical association with many developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, as CNVs often include multiple genes, causal genes responsible for CNV-associated diagnoses and traits are still poorly understood. Mouse models of CNVs are in use to delve into the precise mechanisms through which CNVs contribute to disorders and associated traits. Based on human and mouse model studies on rare CNVs within human chromosome 22q11.2, we propose that alterations of a distinct set of multiple, noncontiguous genes encoded in this chromosomal region, in concert with modulatory impacts of genetic background and environmental factors, variably shift the probabilities of phenotypes along a predetermined developmental trajectory. This model can be further extended to the study of other CNVs and may serve as a guide to help characterize the impact of genes in developmental neuropsychiatric disorders.
Changes in Brown Adipose Tissue in Boys and Girls during Childhood and Puberty

The adipose organ is a complex endocrine system, composed of white and brown adipose tissue (BAT). White adipose tissue serves as the primary site of energy storage, storing triglycerides within individual adipocytes, and BAT stores little fat, burning it instead to produce heat and regulate body temperature (1-4). In comparison with white fat, which has been extensively studied in recent years, relatively little progress has been made in our understanding of brown fat. The lack of reliable methods to quantify BAT in humans has greatly limited our understanding of the physiologic role of this tissue. Based on anatomical studies, BAT was known to be present in all neonates but thought to be lost after infancy (3). However, significant amounts of BAT have recently been noticed in a fraction of patients undergoing positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) examinations (1, 5). To date, clinical studies have been mostly confined to the use of fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) that is taken up by metabolically active BAT (6). The depiction of BAT by PET has been reported to be dependent on a multitude of physiologic and technical factors including age, sex, body composition, FDG dose, acquisition parameters, and season and temperature during examinations (1, 2, 7-11). Moreover, PET scans underestimate the amount of BAT because they only reflect metabolically active tissue (12-14). Recently, it has been shown that cytological differences between brown and white adipocytes translate into differences in radiographic attenuation and that BAT is characterized by significantly higher CT Hounsfield Units (HU) than white fat (15). Differences in HUs and FDG uptake between these two adipose tissues allows for measurement of BAT using both the CT and PET components of PET/CT scans. We have previously shown that pediatric patients with visualized BAT on PET/CT examinations had significantly greater muscle volume than patients with no identifiable BAT (16). This clinical observation is consistent with data from cell cultures indicating that brown adipocytes and myocytes may derive from a common lineage in the paraxial mesoderm (17, 18) and that muscle and some brown fat cells express myogenic factors, such as Myf5 (19). Further support for a link between brown fat and skeletal muscle comes from knowledge that these tissues share many features such as an abundance of mitochondria, energy expenditure via oxidative phosphorylation, and sympathetically mediated adaptive thermogenesis (20, 21). Regardless of sex, skeletal musculature increases substantially during puberty. Gains in musculature associated with sexual development closely equal the growth of all other organs, systems and tissues combined (22). To test the hypothesis that measures of BAT, like those of muscle, increase during puberty, we examined the changes in BAT at various stages of sexual development in 73 pediatric patients undergoing follow-up PET/CT examinations and found to have no evidence of disease.
Near-field scattering measurements for determining complex target RCS

The application of near-field scattering measurements for determining the near-zone and far-zone radar cross section (RCS) of complex targets that are both physically and electrically large is reviewed and examined in the light of recent advances in near-field measurement technology and data processing capabilities. >
Returns to a specific graduate education

The research on returns (or gains) to graduate-level education is mixed. Some graduate degrees “pay off” in increased earnings while some graduate degree holders actually receive less salary than their BS/BA counterparts. This study showed that a nontraditional, off-campus, master's degree from the University of Utah did pay off for its graduates. A research project matching master's graduates with nonattendees indicated significant gains for the graduates with respect to salary, promotability, and perceptions of self and job. The study will be used as a pilot for a nationwide research project surveying and interviewing some 400 graduates from Utah's program.
Crack healing and strength recovery in SiC/spinel nanocomposite

Abstract The crack healing behavior and the strength recovery of the newly introduced SiC/spinel nanocomposite were investigated. SiC/spinel nanocomposite containing 27.26 wt% SiC was prepared by the ball milling of talc, graphite and aluminum powders with subsequent annealing at 1200 °C for 1 h in a vacuum. The SEM results showed that the surface cracks produced by Vickers indenter on the prepared SiC/spinel pellets can be completely healed after sintering at 1545 °C for 1 min in air atmosphere. Furthermore, an almost complete strength recovery of the specimens can be obtained in those samples heat treated at 1550 °C for 1 min, as evaluated by diametral tensile strength (DTS) test. The formations of mullite and aluminosilicate glassy phases are the major factors which are responsible for the crack healing and strength recovery in the structure. It was found that the healing efficiency of those specimens healed at 1550 °C for 1 min is 99%.
The Impact of Officer and Agency Characteristics on the Likelihood of Arrest in Domestic Violence Situations among Rural Law Enforcement Officers

Domestic violence cuts across all demographic groups. The factors related to why police officers arrest in some domestic violence situations but not others have been often studied. Little research, however, has been conducted on the arrest views of rural police officers. One hundred seventy line officers in six rural Midwestern counties were surveyed to determine the impact of officer personal characteristics and agency type on arrest decisions in various hypothetical domestic violence scenarios. First, the same situational factors appeared to be important in shaping the arrest decision in domestic violence calls of rural officers as have previously been found with urban officers. Second, the characteristics of officers and the type of agency had some impact on the likelihood of arrest, particularly if there was evidence of a physical assault. Third, the presence of evidence of a physical assault helped shape the arrest decisions of rural officers. Fourth, situational factors were more important than officer characteristics and the type of agency.
Psychotropic Drug-Related Eosinophilia With Systemic Symptoms After Acute Caffeine Ingestion

Drug-related eosinophilia with systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a potentially life-threatening, multiorgan condition that can result from drug treatment. Antiepileptic medications have provided the best-studied link of any class of medications. Here, we report the case of a 16-year-old boy with long-standing bipolar disorder who was chronically treated with aripiprazole and fluoxetine and developed DRESS syndrome after ingestion of high doses of caffeine. His classic presentation with fever, morbilliform rash, lymphadenopathy, and visceral involvement, including leukocytosis, eosinophilia, and hepatitis, was consistent with this diagnosis. Furthermore, the patient's symptoms dramatically improved after corticosteroid therapy and discontinuation of all psychotropic medications. We propose that the development of DRESS syndrome is a net result of inconsistent medication adherence coupled with the ingestion of near-toxic doses of caffeine, which can lead to rhabdomyolysis and, through renal impairment, lead to the accumulation of toxic oxidative metabolites of either or both psychotropic medications. We also present one of the few reported cases of caffeine-induced rhabdomyolysis and propose its role in the development of DRESS in this patient.
The Relation Between Breastfeeding and Amenorrhea: Report of a Survey

Nursing mothers completed questionnaires concerning various breastfeeding practices. First, those questionnaires lacking sufficient data were eliminated; then two more samplings were made, one of mothers who fed exclusively by breast for at least 5 months and the other of mothers who met the criteria for complete “natural mothering.” Each sample was analyzed according to duration of breastfeeding and duration of amenorrhea, and the findings were compared. The all-inclusive sample averaged 10.2 months of amenorrhea; the sample of mothers who fed exclusively by breast, 11.6 months; the natural mothering sample, 14.6 months. The authors compared their results with those of other studies and concluded that breastfeeding, lactation amenorrhea and the resulting extended postpartum infertility comprise a delicate symbiotic relationship involving the ecologic interdependence of mother and child.(An extension of the conclusion is offered: the right of nursing mothers to know how certain cultural practices can upset such an ecology.)
TLR7- and TLR9-Responsive Human B Cells Share Phenotypic and Genetic Characteristics

B cells activated by nucleic acid-sensing TLR7 and TLR9 proliferate and secrete immune globulins. Memory B cells are presumably more responsive due to higher TLR expression levels, but selectivity and differential outcomes remain largely unknown. In this study, peripheral blood human B cells were stimulated by TLR7 or TLR9 ligands, with or without IFN-α, and compared with activators CD40L plus IL-21, to identify differentially responsive cell populations, defined phenotypically and by BCR characteristics. Whereas all activators induced differentiation and Ab secretion, TLR stimulation expanded IgM(+) memory and plasma cell lineage committed populations, and favored secretion of IgM, unlike CD40L/IL-21, which drove IgM and IgG more evenly. Patterns of proliferation similarly differed, with CD40L/IL-21 inducing proliferation of most memory and naive B cells, in contrast with TLRs that induced robust proliferation in a subset of these cells. On deep sequencing of the IgH locus, TLR-responsive B cells shared patterns of IgHV and IgHJ usage, clustering apart from CD40L/IL-21 and control conditions. TLR activators, but not CD40L/IL-21, similarly promoted increased sharing of CDR3 sequences. TLR-responsive B cells were characterized by more somatic hypermutation, shorter CDR3 segments, and less negative charges. TLR activation also induced long positively charged CDR3 segments, suggestive of autoreactive Abs. Testing this, we found culture supernatants from TLR-stimulated B cells to bind HEp-2 cells, whereas those from CD40L/IL-21-stimulated cells did not. Human B cells possess selective sensitivity to TLR stimulation, with distinctive phenotypic and genetic signatures.
Observations of Spatial Variations of Boundary Layer Structure over the Southern Great Plains Cloud and Radiation Testbed

Results from a field campaign to study the response of the planetary boundary layer to spatially varying surface conditions are presented. Radiosondes released at four locations with contrasting land use characteristics in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Cloud and Radiation Testbed (CART) in Kansas and Oklahoma showed significant variations in mixed-layer depth, temperature, and water vapor mixing ratios over distances of 100‐200 km. Using CART and radiosonde data, estimates of the surface sensible and latent heat fluxes are derived; the results from several methods are compared and a discussion of the similarities and differences in the values is given. Although substantial flux differences among the sites account for some of the variations in the boundary layer behavior, other features of the ambient meteorology and initial conditions appear to be equally important. Despite large changes in mixed-layer and surface-layer temperatures over scales of approximately 100 km, no evidence for temperature-induced secondary circulations was found. A simple scaling argument is presented that gives a possible reason for this absence.
Work in Progress: Helping College Students Understand Digital Divide

The term Digital Divide refers to the socio-economic difference between communities in their access to computers and the Internet. Closing the digital divide has been considered as national interest and of great social benefit. This paper presents an innovative approach in helping college students understand the problems and impacts of the digital divide through a service learning project. The course hosting the service learning project is Computer Mastery with Active Server Pages. Our campus is surrounded with schools that have a high percentage of minority students and students from low income families. The service learning project sends college students in teams to local schools and non-profit organizations to teach computer lessons to those who otherwise cannot afford. This paper will describe how such community service can be linked to the learning objectives of the course. Impacts of the project on all parties involved will be discussed.
Mutational Profiling Reveals PIK3CA Mutations in Gallbladder Carcinoma

The genetics of advanced biliary tract cancers (BTC), which encompass intra- and extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinomas as well as gallbladder carcinomas, are heterogeneous and remain to be fully defined. To better characterize mutations in established known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes we tested a mass spectrometric based platform to interrogate common cancer associated mutations across a panel of 77 formalin fixed paraffin embedded archived BTC cases. Mutations among three genes, KRAS, NRAS and PIK3CA were confirmed in this cohort. Activating mutations in PIK3CA were identified exclusively in GBC (4/32, 12.5%). KRAS mutations were identified in 3 (13%) intra-hepatic cholangiocarcinomas and 1 (33%) perihillar cholangiocarcinoma but were not identified in gallbladder carcinomas and extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The presence of activating mutations in PIK3CA specifically in GBC has clinical implications in both the diagnosis of this cancer type, as well as the potential utility of targeted therapies such as PI3 kinase inhibitors.
Performance‐Enhancing Drugs on the Web: A Growing Public‐Health Issue

Background and Objectives Today's Internet provides extensive “underground” guidelines for obtaining and using illicit substances, including especially anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and other appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs). We attempted to qualitatively characterize APED-related Internet sites. Methods We used relevant Internet search terms (eg, “steroids bodybuilding” and “buy steroids online”) to assess (i) the numbers of site visitors; (ii) offers of drugs for sale; and (iii) the quality of online medical information. We also chose the examples of (iv) “site-enhancing oils” and (v) “cattle implants” to illustrate the volume of available Internet information as compared with that in the medical literature. Results We found thousands of sites involving AAS and other APEDs. Most sites presented an unabashedly pro-drug position, often openly questioning the qualifications and motivations of mainstream medical practitioners. Offers of AAS and other APEDs for sale, together with medical advice of varying legitimacy, was widespread across sites. Importantly, many sites provided detailed guidelines for exotic forms of APED use, some likely associated with serious health risks, which are probably unknown to most practicing clinicians. Conclusions and Scientific Significance It seems important for practitioners to be aware of the extent of this “underground literature,” which may strongly influence their patients' decisions about use and abuse of APEDs. (Am J Addict 2013;22:158-161)
Molecular epidemiology and diversity of Salmonella serovar Typhimurium in pigs using phenotypic and genotypic approaches.

For epidemiological investigations of the most common and non-host-adapted Salmonella serotypes, such as Typhimurium, highly discriminatory approaches are essential. In the present study, we evaluated three genotyping methods; amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and repetitive palindromic extragenic–PCR (Rep–PCR) using 40 isolates. AFLP showed the highest discriminatory index (0·939), resolution and throughput. To determine clonality of Salmonella Typhimurium isolates and epidemiological relatedness in different commercial pig production units, we employed AFLP in combination with antimicrobial resistance pattern and phage typing. Salmonella serovar Typhimurium isolates (n=196) obtained from a longitudinal study of 18 pig farms over a 3-year period were studied. Using this approach, 16 distinct clonal types were identified. We found two common multidrug- resistant patterns including AmCmStSuTe and AmKmStSuTe. Two commonly multidrug- resistant phage types that are of known public health importance, DT104 and DT193, were also common. AFLP differentiated distinct clones within DT104, a phage type previously reported to be clonal. Fourteen of the clonal types were unique to one of the two production systems, showing diversity between independent commercial pig production systems located in the same geographical area. Clonal types obtained from nursery farms and corresponding finishing units were, however, similar.
Mycolic Acid Analysis by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography for Identification of Mycobacterium Species

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the etiologic agent of tuberculosis and can be accurately detected by laboratories using commercial genetic tests. Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) causing other mycobacterioses can be difficult to identify. The identification processes are confounded by an increasing diversity of newly characterized NTM species. The ubiquitous nature of NTM, combined with their potential to be opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised as well as nonimmunodeficient patients, further complicates the problem of their identification. Since clinical case management varies depending on the etiologic agent, laboratories must identify the species in a timely manner. However, only a few identification methods can detect the species diversity within the Mycobacterium genus. Over the last decade, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the mycolic acids has become an accepted method for identification of mycobacteria. In this review, we assess its development and usefulness as an identification technique for Mycobacterium species.
Appointment Methods for the House of Representatives and the Court Challenges

Four different methods have been used to apportion the seats in the United States House of Representatives among the states following the decennial census. The current method, the method of equal proportions, has been used for each census since 1940. In 1991, for the first time in U.S. history, the constitutionality of an apportionment method was challenged in court, by Montana and Massachusetts in separate cases. Montana proposed two methods as alternatives to equal proportions, the methods of harmonic means and smallest divisors, while Massachusetts proposed the method of major fractions. On March 31, 1992, in a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of equal proportions. This author wrote the declarations on the mathematical and statistical issues used by the defense in these cases. The declarations in the Massachusetts case contain several new theoretical and empirical results. This paper discusses the technical issues in these cases together with a brief history of the apportionment problem.
Durkheim, Deviance and Development: Opportunities Lost and Regained

The full theoretical potential of Durkheim's ideas on crime and punishment has not been developed by his followers, who have focused on his earlier, less defensible formulations at the expense of his later, more significant developments. While labeling theory and functionalist approaches have drawn heavily on Durkheim's work, his contribution to an evolutionary theory of crime and punishment has only recently begun to attract attention. It is argued that a reformulated Durkheimian model needs to be developed before further progress towards an adequate evolutionary theory may be achieved. Considering the size of the secondary literature on Durkheimian theory, it is surprising that so little has been done to develop a cumulative theory of crime and punishment on the basis of Durkheim's basic perspective. Durkheim appears to have suffered the sad fate of being often cited to legitimize a study or argument which promptly goes on to pursue different or only tenuously related theories. This ritual, moreover, generally involves references to a small number of statements taken from The Division of Labor in Society, or (more rarely) from The Rules of Sociological Method, with Durkheim's more general theoretical aims and his remarks in later works being for the most part ignored. In marked contrast to Marx, Durkheim has been ill-served by his followers; thus, while Marx has provided a basis for the development of a rich array of innovative theoretical advances within criminology (as well, of course, as in other areas) the potential for cumulative growth within Durkheim's work has remained undeveloped. This has been especially true of Durkheim's ideas on the evolution of crime and punishment, which have only begun to receive serious attention during the last few years. It is to this issue that we shall address ourselves in what follows, our purpose being not to undertake yet another exercise in detailed exegesis, but rather to consider the extent to which Durkheim and his followers failed to develop further what were promising and innovative ideas. We will contend that not only would the study of crime and punish01981 The University of North Carolina Press. 0037-7732/81/041009-24$01.60
Modeling and experiments of magneto-nanosensors for diagnostics of radiation exposure and cancer

We present a resistive network model, protein assay data, and outlook of the giant magnetoresistive (GMR) spin-valve magneto-nanosensor platform ideal for multiplexed detection of protein biomarkers in solutions. The magneto-nanosensors are designed to have optimal performance considering several factors such as sensor dimension, shape anisotropy, and magnetic nanoparticle tags. The resistive network model indicates that thinner spin-valve sensors with narrower width lead to higher signals from magnetic nanoparticle tags. Standard curves and real-time measurements showed a sensitivity of ~10 pM for phosphorylated-structural maintenance of chromosome 1 (phosphor-SMC1), ~53 fM for granulocyte colony stimulation factor (GCSF), and ~460 fM for interleukin-6 (IL6), which are among the representative biomarkers for radiation exposure and cancer.
Response-to-Intervention and Mastery Learning: Tracing Roots and Seeking Common Ground

Abstract In this article we draw parallels between defined critical features of response-to-intervention (RTI) and the mastery learning approach described in the general education literature by Benjamin S. Bloom. We posit that these two processes include many common elements but that each incorporates unique elements that could potentially complement and strengthen the other. Finally, we outline the specific advantages a synthesis of these two processes offer both special educators and general educators in their efforts to enhance the effectiveness of instructional programs for all students.
Simulation in Neurosurgery—A Brief Review and Commentary

Neurosurgery is one of the most technically demanding and liable of all medical professionals. More than 75% of neurosurgical errors are deemed as preventable and technical in nature. Yet in a specialty that requires such high level of technical expertise, with large consequences for error, there are even fewer opportunities for residents in training to practice on the most complicated cases. Although there is no replacement for actual experiences in the operating room, interpersonal mentorship, coaching, and training, there is room to supplement residency education through simulation. Here we review the evidence to support surgical simulation, describe the strengths and weaknesses of existing technologies in direct neurosurgery specific and indirect simulation applications, and advocate for the development of more neurosurgery-specific applications using emerging kinetic technologies.
Managing Microbial Contamination in Urban Watersheds

This paper describes different approaches for controlling pathogen contamination in urban watersheds for contamination resulting from point or diffuse sources. Point sources of pathogens can be treated by a disinfection technology of known effectiveness, and a desired reduction of microbial concentration is usually achieved. Diffuse sources of pathogens are commonly managed with the use of structural and nonstructural best management practices (BMPs). The primary function of BMPs is reduction of flow volume, sediment, and/or nutrients, while reduction of pathogens is a secondary function and not always quantified. Disinfection technologies for pathogen control are presented here for point sources resulting from urban wet-weather flow (WWF) such as combined sewer overflow (CSO), sanitary sewer overflow (SSO), and stormwater, as all components of WWF carry significant loads of fecal and pathogen contamination that should be prevented from entering an urban receiving water body. Further, since issuance o f the National CSO Control Policy, CSO has become the most frequently disinfected and studied type of urban WWF. Thus, discussion of WWF disinfection is largely based on studies conducted on CSO. However, disinfection of SSO and of collected and confined stormwater is feasible, though seldom implemented. Known implementation examples of disinfecting CSO, SSO, stormwater, and dry-weather runoff are discussed. BMPs, structural and nonstructural, are a set of practices to control and manage the quality and quantity of urban runoff, a diffuse source. There are two basic types of structural BMPs. One BMP type requires erection of a structure to control stormwater quality, and the second BMP type requires management of the sewerage system. Examples of BMPs requiring a structure are dry and wet ponds, constructed
Human Parasites: Bed Bugs

Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated Our Bedrooms and Took Over the World . By Brooke Borel. 2015. University of Chicago Press (ISBN 978-0226041933). 224 pages. Hardcover, $26. This is a delightful read (for the non-entomophobe) about one woman's journey to discover all she can about the biology, history, sociology, and resurgence of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius . The interest of the author to embark on writing this small treatise – part travelogue, part science journalism, and part nonfiction mystery – arose from her long-undiagnosed bites that originated within her New York City apartment in 2004. After discovering what the bites were, the author obsessively learned all she could about these nighttime mini-vampires. Clearly, the bed bugs chose the wrong woman to bite – a skilled science writer. Ms. Borel may, through her journalism, help change public misunderstanding of bed bugs. She has been privileged to hob-nob with the …
Polyamines. (1) Enhanced s-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase in rapid growth systems, and (2) the relationships between polyamine concentration and RNA accumulation.

Abstract 1. 1. S- Adenosyl- l -methionine decarboxylase activity was studied in a number of rapid growth systems. There was a stoichiometric relationship between spermidine formation and S- adenosyl- l -methionine decarboxylase activity in all tissues studied. 2. 2. Early after the initiation of growth processes, S- adenosyl- l -methionine decarboxylase activity increases markedly in all systems studied. 3. 3. There was not a consistent 1 : 1 relationship between spermidine concentration and RNA content. Maximal putrescine and spermidine concentrations were detectable 24 h prior to the establishment of maximal RNA levels in both chick embryos and in regenerating rat liver. 4. 4. The earliest consistent indication of tissue stimulation was a dramatically increased putrescine pool.
A light and dark trough methodology for measuring rates of lotic periphyton settlement and net growth

Continuous-flow light and dark troughs were used to measure and compare passive settlement and net growth rates of periphyton communities in the North Thompson, South Thompson and lower Thompson rivers, British Columbia. At all sites chlorophyll a concentration in the dark increased linearly for up to 2–3 weeks, while light-trough values increased exponentially. Use of dark-trough data to correct light-trough accumulation for passive settlement resulted in net growth rate estimates which were as low as one-third of unadjusted estimates. This correction was most important when algal growth rates were low relative to settlement. Algae in the North Thompson River always had higher substratum affinity coeffients and more rapid shifts in the chlorophyll acid ratio in the light than communities in the South Thompson and lower Thompson rivers. We hypothesize that these differences are due to the greater tychoplankton:phytoplankton ratio in the North Thompson. This river has little upstream lake influence compared to the South and lower Thompson rivers, both of which drain from large lakes.
The epistemology of communitarian bioethics: traditions in the public debates.

I consider the problem liberalism poses for bioethics.Liberalism is a view that advocates that the state remain neutralto views of the good life. This view is sometimes supported by askeptical moral epistemology that tends to propel liberalismtoward libertarianism. I argue that the possibilities for sharedagreement on moral matters are more promising than is sometimesappreciated by such a view of liberalism. Using two examples ofpublic debates of moral issues, I show that commonly sharedintuitions may ground moral principles even if they may be givendifferent weight by persons of different moral and religioustraditions. Nevertheless, the fact that the intuition andprinciple is widely shared may be sufficient to chart somedirections for public policy or cooperative action even if theydo not lead to complete agreement. As a result, I argue that aliberal communitarianism that presupposes a fairly minimalistepistemology is a legitimate approach to achieving sharedagreement in a pluralistic society.
Epistemic Normativity, Argumentation, and Fallacies

In Biro and Siegel (1992) we argued that a theory of argumentation mustfully engage the normativity of judgments about arguments, and we developedsuch a theory. In this paper we further develop and defend our theory.
Influence of the North American monsoon on Southern California tropospheric ozone levels during summer in 2013 and 2014

The impact of the North American (NA) monsoon on tropospheric ozone variability in Southern California is investigated using lidar measurements at JPL-Table Mountain Facility, California, and the chemical-transport model GEOS-Chem. Routine lidar observations obtained in July-August 2013- 2014 reveal a consistent ozone enhancement of 23 ppbv in the free troposphere (6-9 km), when ozone-rich air is transported along the western edge of the upper-level anticyclone associated with the NA monsoon from regions where maximum lightning-induced NOx production occurs. When the high pressure system shifts to the southeast, a zonal westerly flow of the air parcels reaching TMF occurs, prohibiting the lightning-induced ozone enhanced air to reach TMF. This modulation of tropospheric ozone by the position of the NA monsoon anticyclone could have implications on long term ozone trends associated with our changing climate, due to the expected widening of the tropical belt affecting the strength and position of the anticyclone.
Homeschooling in the United States: A review of select research topics

The U.S. homeschooling movement has grown steadily since the early 1980s. In that time, a growing body of academic literature has been published that assesses various aspects of the phenomenon. This article first explains some of the methodological issues surrounding this literature as it has developed. It then summarizes the findings of the literature with respect to the following topics: the history of homeschooling, demographics (including parental motivation), academic achievement, and transition to college/adulthood.
The Myth of the Flogging Parson: Samuel Marsden and Severity of Punishment in the Age of Reform

In 1817, Governor Macquarie alleged that Samuel Marsden was an especially severe magistrate, a claim widely repeated in subsequent histories. And yet, if measured against other magistrates in the Macquarie era, Marsden sentenced convicts to a flogging less frequently and ordered typical numbers of lashes. The myth of Marsden as the flogging parson developed in the writing of Marsden's political enemies, grounded in his popular reputation as a brute and a hypocrite. In a context of growing humanitarian and criminological opposition to corporal punishment, Marsden's incongruous responsibilities to preach and punish convicts became a scandalous anachronism.