cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Twenty-First Century Diseases: Commonly Rare and Rarely Common?

Abstract Alzheimer's drugs are failing at a rate of 99.6%, and success rate for drugs designed to help patients with this form of dementia is 47 times less than for drugs designed to help patients with cancers (www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-alzheimer-s-drugs-keep-failing/2014). How can it be so difficult to produce a valuable drug for Alzheimer's disease? Each human has a unique genetic and epigenetic makeup, thus endowing individuals with a highly unique complement of genes, polymorphisms, mutations, RNAs, proteins, lipids, and complex sugars, resulting in distinct genome, proteome, metabolome, and also microbiome identity. This editorial is taking into account the uniqueness of each individual and surrounding environment, and stresses the point that a more accurate definition of a “common” disorder could be simply the amalgamation of a myriad of “rare” diseases. These rare diseases are being grouped together because they share a rather constant complement of common features and, indeed, general...
A Way Forward for Bipartisan Health Reform? Democrat and Republican State Legislator Priorities for the Goals of Health Policy.

The article discusses the possibility that bipartisan health care reform can be achieved in America as of 2017, and it mentions efforts to repeal and replace the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as well as information about the health policy-related priorities of Democrat and Republican state legislators. U.S. surveys are examined, along with goals regarding medical care cost reductions and limits on government involvement in health care.
Asian Women’s Action for Resilience and Empowerment Intervention: Stage I Pilot Study:

This study describes the development and pilot test of Asian Women's Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE), a culturally informed group psychotherapy intervention designed to reduce depressive symptoms, suicidality, substance use, and HIV and sexual risk behaviors among 1.5 and second generation Asian American (AA) women. To participate, AA women had to meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or have a history of exposure to interpersonal violence (IPV) as determined using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ). This article also presents the preliminary feasibility and acceptability of AWARE from its Stage I pilot study of nine Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese American women. To foster holistic treatment, AWARE was developed based on original research findings from Stage 0 and integrated theoretical models including fractured identity theory, empowerment theory, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM). The development of AWARE was an iterative process informed by participant feedback, which led to frequent intervention modifications for a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Stage II. A qualitative analysis of participant feedback informed the following modifications: further exploration of feelings, improvements in technology delivery, learning and practicing coping skills, more specific cultural tailoring related to sexual health, decreased number of sessions and increased time per session. Findings provide support for the acceptability and feasibility of AWARE as "culturally informed" for AA young women with IPV histories, high-risk behaviors, and mental health issues.
The Lingering Effects of Neighborhood Appraisal: Evaluating Redlining's Legacy in Pittsburgh

Place-based classifications can create long-standing influences on neighborhood fortunes. Redlining is a classic example of these unintended effects. The Federal Home Loan Bank Board developed hous...
Public sector investment failures: theoretical contributions from new institutional and austrian economic theory

This paper illustrates how two contemporary economic traditions - New Institutional and Austrian economics - may be used to add insight into the organization and governance of public sector investment programs. When combined, these frameworks offer a theoretical foundation that may be used for purposes of assessing relative levels of agency and transactions costs within different institutional settings. The insights provided suggest that one option for reducing these costs is to “outsource” the public sector investment function. The theories explored in the paper are not panacea for dealing with agency and transaction costs, but they do draw attention to key institutional characteristics that influence their size.
Frequency-Selective and Time-Selective Fading [Book\/Software Reviews]

Chapter 1 of Frequency -Domain Receiver Design for Doubly Selective Channels explains the book's focus on frequency selective and time -selective fading in broadband wireless communication (jointly referred to as doubly selective). Chapter 2, "Fading," explains both large- and small-scale fading. Large scale fading is based on path loss and shadowing, while small-scale fading is based on multipath fading and Doppler spread. Chapter 3, "Block Transmission Techniques," begins with a brief introduction to the techniques of orthogonal frequency -division multiplexing (OFDM) and single carrier with frequency -domain equalization (SC-FDE) and covers several aspects of analytical characterization and the relevant properties of each modulation type.
Evaluation of intra-articular thio-tepa in rheumatoid arthritis.

The potential action of cytotoxic agents such as alkylating drugs and antimetabolites on the immune response and inflammatory process has suggested their trial in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Nitrogen mustard was tried initially both by intravenous and intra-articular injection in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and gave variable responses (Jimenez Diaz, 1951; Jimenez Diaz, Lopez Garcia, Merchante, and Perianes, 1951; Shutkin, 1951; Phillips, Phillips, and Caraway, 1952; Cohen, Rose, and Cooper, 1953; Scherbel, 1957; Scherbel, Schuchter, and Weyman, 1957; Scherbel, Mackenzie, and Atdjian, 1963). Scherbel and others (1957) noted a rapid and prolonged decrease in joint swelling after the intra-articular injection of nitrogen mustard in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but not a corresponding satisfactory relief of pain. He, therefore, combined steroids with nitrogen mustard for intra-articular injection and obtained more beneficial results. When a purine antagonist, 6-mercaptopurine, was administered to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus the responses were equivocal (Lee, Meiselas, Zingale, and Richman (1961). The development of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats has been successfully inhibited by 6-mercaptopurine (Kalliomaki, Saarimaa, and Toivanen, 1964). Methotrexate has been used experimentally in psoriatic arthritis (O'Brien, Van Scott, Black, Eisen, and Bunim, 1962; Black, O'Brien, Van Scott, Auerbach, Eisen, and Bunim, 1964). Recently, thio-tepa (N, N', N2 triethylenethiophosphoramide) has been reported to give satisfactory improvement after intra-articular administration to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (Flatt, 1962; Gross, 1963; Pace, Kantor, and McEwen, 1964). Some of the latter results are difficult to interpret because thio-tepa was, in many instances, combined with steroids or local anaesthetics for intra-articular injection. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which rheumatoid factor(s), an abnormal antibody(s) or antibody-like substance(s), is frequently present. Alkylating agents interfere with antibody production and, therefore, could inhibit the possible immune reaction and inflammatory changes characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. It seemed appropriate to study this possibility in more detail. Thio-tepa, an alkylating agent, was selected for study because it can be placed in solution at a pH which is not irritating to the tissues and, consequently, can be given by all parenteral routes. The present investigation describes our results after intra-articular injection of thio-tepa into the knee joint of nineteen patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Leading instructional rounds in education: A facilitator’s guide

The use of instructional rounds in education, ‘‘an adaptation and extension of the medical rounds model, which is used routinely in medical schools and teaching hospitals to develop the diagnostic and treatment practice of physicians’’ (City et al. 2009, p. 3), has recently emerged as a means to effect school improvements. Instructional rounds consist of systematic classroom observations conducted by teams in conjunction with pre-classroom visit preparation and post-classroom visit debriefings. Elizabeth City et al. (2009) were first to clearly define this process for education with Instructional Rounds in Education. Thomas Fowler-Finn builds on the scholarship established by City et al. in his companion volume, Leading Instructional Rounds in Education: A Facilitator’s Guide. This book, reviewed here, accomplishes a logical next step in establishing a detailed guidebook for those facilitating a rounds network. While City et al. (ibid.) and others (Chew 2013; Del Prete 1997; Marzano 2011; Thompson and Cooner 2001; Virtue 2006–2007; Zenger 2003) have outlined basic parameters for conducting rounds, none has addressed specifically the role of the instructional rounds facilitator, which is the primary focus of Fowler-Finn’s volume. The book is comprehensive in scope and adeptly aligns the author’s personal experiences with practical applications. Importantly, Fowler-Finn provides sample agendas, lists of needed materials, practice exercises and evaluative protocols throughout, which provide the reader with clear and explicit guidelines to ease implementation during each stage of the instructional rounds process. In the Introduction, Fowler-Finn describes how he first came into contact with the Harvard team and the instructional rounds process as the school superintendent
Controlled organocatalyzed D,L-lactide ring-opening polymerizations: synthesis of low molecular weight oligomers

A systematic approach to the synthesis of organocatalyzed oligo(D,L-lactide) demonstrates that choice of initiator, catalytic ratio, and reaction time yields well-controlled oligomers. Ring-opening polymerization of D,L-lactide with the initiator α-methyl propargyl alcohol, a secondary alcohol, used in excess of 4-dimethylaminopyridine catalyst mitigates cyclicization, transesterification, and catalyst-initiated side reactions. This approach enables the design of uniform lactide oligomers for controlled release applications, such as delivery systems for drugs, prodrugs, and molecular sensors.
Population Policy and the Peasant

Antinatalist population policy on the governmental level reveals itself in the following measures: 1) providing birth control services on demand 2) persuading individuals to have smaller families and 3) restricting family size through laws and procedures. It is recognized now that the media alone do not influence action unless friends and relatives confirm the assertions of the media. The peasant should have explained to him why the nation cannot afford too many children. If the rationale makes sense to the peasant mass social awareness of the problem will lead to individual actions. Governments can also use measures such as giving priority in housing to smaller families and/or limiting childrens allowance to the first 4 children. Taking population concerns to the villages and giving the villagers their full share of resources products and services are the 2 essential tasks. The first cannot be attempted without the second. In providing the motivational basis for the small family the Peoples Republic of China has been described as successful and is an example that can be followed by placing confidence in the rationality of the peasant. The article includes discussion of unconvincing arguments given to the peasants such as fewer children can be better educated fewer children means greater power to save etc. It is concluded that dispersion of political social and economic power is a precondition for a successful population policy.
Anesthetics alter outer membrane architecture and temperature range of growth of Escherichiacoli K12

Abstract The addition of local anesthetics procaine and 2-phenylethanol during cell growth and membrane isolation lowered the phase transition temperature of purified outer membranes of Escherichia coli . Furthermore, when added to growth media, these anesthetics lowered to an equal extent the maximum temperature of growth without affecting growth at low temperatures. The phase transition of the cytoplasmic membrane was not affected by the presence of the drugs. These data substantiate the hypothesis that the temperature range over which the cell can maintain the outer membrane in a mixed (gel + liquid crystalline) lipid state determines the temperature range over which growth can occur.
P083/O23 Novel subclass of non-classical monocytes are critical for inflammation

Career situation of first and presenting author Post-doctoral fellow. Introduction Monocytes in mice are distinguishable by expression of Ly6c. Ly6chi (classical) monocytes are associated with pro-inflammatory responses, while Lyc6lo (non-classical) are involved in patrolling endothelial membranes. We have previously shown that depletion of monocytes prevents serum transfer induced arthritis (STIA) in mice, and that Lyc6lo monocytes are the critical population. Objectives We aim to contrast Ly6clo monocytes from the circulation, lining vessels, and tissue to determine their involvement in inflammation. Methods Female 8–10 week old NR4A1-/-, CX3CR1ERCre.zsGFP, and C57Bl/6 mice were used in all studies. CX3CR1ERCre.zsGFP were utilized for cell tracking studies and joint shielded bone marrow chimeras via administration of tamoxifen (tam). Intravascular monocytes were identified by I.V. anti-CD45 labeling before perfusion. STIA was induced via I.V. KBxN sera. Cell populations were quantified by flow cytometry and FACS sorted for RNA-seq. Monocytes were identified CD45+ CD11b+ Ly6G- TIM4- CD64- Ly6clo and subdivided into intravascular (labeled, CD43+), trans-vascular (labeled CD43-) and extravascular (no label). Results NR4A1-/- mice retain only 5% of circulating Ly6clo monocytes but all joint Ly6clo cells. STIA was comparable in NR4A-/- and C57Bl/6 mice suggesting circulating Ly6clo are redundant. Transcriptional profiling of Ly6clo cells identified distinct pathways enriched in upregulated genes between Ly6clo from joint and blood. In the joint we identified three populations of Ly6Clo monocytes: extravascular unlabeled cells, labeled trans-vascular cells, and labeled intravascular cells adherent to endothelium. Mice given tam D8 of gestation had GFP+ microglia only, whereas D15 tam induced GFP+ synovial macrophages and unlabeled Ly6clo monocytes. Both labeled Ly6clo populations were GFP-, indicating unlabeled and unlabeled Ly6clo arise from different progenitors. This was confirmed by bone marrow chimera studies showing labeled Ly6clo cells are replenished from blood monocytes. Clodronate loaded liposomes depleted labeled CD43+ cells but did not affect CD43- cells or unlabeled cells. With with our previous finding that clo-lip prevents STIA, these suggest adherent CD43+ Ly6clo cells are essential. This is supported by the finding that labeled Ly6clo monocytes expand rapidly during the first 1 hour of STIA. Adherent CD43+ cells expand especially rapidly, increasing in population size by 30x. Conclusions We have identified and described two previously uncharacterized populations of Ly6clo cells in the joint- intra-vascular adherent and trans-vascular which have distinct origins and phenotype from both extravascular and circulating Ly6clo. The findings presented here strongly suggest adherent Ly6clo monocytes are a key effector cell in inflammatory arthritis. Disclosure of Interest None declared.
Work-In-Progress: Private Runtime Verification

Complex systems require runtime monitoring of their operation, and this task can be performed by a separate monitoring process. A hacked monitor however could use the system traces it receives to attack the system or leak the information to competitors. We introduce private runtime verification, in which the monitoring process learns nothing about the traces, and yet is still able to correctly monitor them for satisfaction of temporal specifications.
Evaluating short-season soybean management adaptations for cover crop rotations with a crop simulation model

Abstract Cover crop fall biomass production and thus successful provisioning of ecosystem services depend on the previous cash crop harvest date. We used a process-based eco-physiological model to investigate the potential of short-season soybean maturity groups (MG) to lengthen the cover crop growing window while achieving yields similar to full-season MG cultivars. Cultivar coefficients for MG 0–4 cultivars for the DSSAT – CROPGRO model were calibrated with data from 13 site-years (in 2017 and 2018) across Kentucky, Nebraska, and Ohio. The model was efficient in predicting differences in soybean harvest maturity date (R8; Model efficiency [ME] = 0.61; Root Mean Square Error [RMSE] = 7.4 days) and yield (ME = 0.38; RMSE = 0.452 Mg ha−1) for an independent set of soybean cultivars in the same site-years. Thereafter, a multi-factor sensitivity analysis across 30-yr of historical weather data was conducted. Simulated results showed that MG 3 cultivars would not reduce yield and would advance cover crop establishment compared to MG 4 cultivars. For planting dates in May and conditions of no water stress, adaptating cultivar choices to MG lower than 3 would reduce yields by 55 to 567 kg ha−1 per unit decrease in MG. Under water stress or when planting date was delayed, adapting cultivar choices to MG lower than 3 had a less detrimental effect on yield. Overall, switching to earlier cutlivar maturities would advance soybean harvest by 7–11 days MG−1 (May 15 planting date) or 1–7 days MG-1 (Jul 1 planting date), and lengthen the cover crop growing season in the fall by 95–198 °C day MG−1 (May 15 planting date) or 19−104 °C day MG−1 (Jul 1 planting date). The greater potential to increase the cover crop growing season with short-season MG cultivars was also associated with a greater soybean yield penalty in the warmest locations in our study. Using crop coefficients calibrated by MG rather than by specific cultivar provided a way to increase model application within a study region to study cultivar maturity adaptations for crop rotations while reducing the need for calibration. Further studies that analyze the tradeoffs from soybean cultivar adaptation on C, N, and water balance, and other indirect ecosystem services from cover crops are necessary.
Chapter 4 – Dating Methods II

Variations in the Earth's magnetic field, as recorded by magnetic particles in rocks and sediments, may be used as a means of stratigraphic correlation. Major reversals of the Earth's magnetic field have been independently dated in many localities throughout the world. Consequently, the record of these reversals in sediments can be used as time markers or chronostratigraphic horizons. There have also been secular (century- to millennial-scale) variations in the nondipole field that were regional in scale. Two other general categories of dating methods are based on chemical changes within the samples being studied since they were emplaced. The first involves amino acid analysis of organic samples, generally used to assess the age of associated inorganic deposits or to estimate paleotemperatures from organic samples of known age. The second category involves methods that assess the amount of weathering an inorganic sample has experienced, primarily to assess the relative age of freshly exposed rock surfaces. Another dating method uses tephra (airborne pyroclastic material ejected during the course of a volcanic eruption). Extremely explosive eruptions may produce a blanket of tephra covering vast areas forming regional isochronous stratigraphic markers. Providing that the dated tephra layer can be uniquely identified in different areas, it can be used as a chronostratigraphic marker horizon to provide limiting dates on the sediments with which it is associated. Biological dating methods generally use the size of an individual species of plant or lichen as an index of the age of the substrate on which it is growing. They may be used to provide minimum age estimates only. Examples include lichen growth on rock surfaces, and tree growth on glacial moraines.
The Potential of Programmable Logic in the Middle: Cache Bleaching

Consolidating hard real-time systems onto modern multi-core Systems-on-Chip (SoC) is an open challenge. The extensive sharing of hardware resources at the memory hierarchy raises important unpredictability concerns. The problem is exacerbated as more computationally demanding workload is expected to be handled with real-time guarantees in next-generation Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). A large body of works has approached the problem by proposing novel hardware redesigns, and by proposing software-only solutions to mitigate performance interference.Strong from the observation that unpredictability arises from a lack of fine-grained control over the behavior of shared hardware components, we outline a promising new resource management approach. We demonstrate that it is possible to introduce Programmable Logic In-the-Middle (PLIM) between a traditional multi-core processor and main memory. This provides the unique capability of manipulating individual memory transactions. We propose a proof-of-concept system implementation of PLIM modules on a commercial multi-core SoC. The PLIM approach is then leveraged to solve long-standing issues with cache coloring. Thanks to PLIM, colored sparse addresses can be re-compacted in main memory. This is the base principle behind the technique we call Cache Bleaching. We evaluate our design on real applications and propose hypervisor-level adaptations to showcase the potential of the PLIM approach.
Developing human fetal skin demonstrates a unique lymphocyte signature

Lymphocytes in barrier tissues play critical roles in host defense and homeostasis. These cells take up residence in tissues during defined developmental windows, when they may demonstrate distinct phenotypes and functions. Here, we utilized mass and flow cytometry to elucidate early features of human skin immunity, demonstrating a unique fetal skin lymphocyte signature. While most conventional {beta} T (Tconv) cells in fetal skin have a naive, proliferative phenotype, a subset of CD4+ Tconv and CD8+ cells demonstrate memory-like features and a propensity for IFN{gamma} production. Skin regulatory T cells dynamically accumulate over the second trimester in temporal and regional association with hair follicle development. These fetal skin Tregs demonstrate an effector memory phenotype while differing from their adult counterparts in expression of key effector molecules. Thus, we identify features of prenatal skin lymphocytes that may have key implications for understanding antigen and allergen encounters in utero and in infancy.
Players in Drug-Resistant Leukemia Stem/Initiating Cells and Immunity in Patients with CML in Context of Oxygen Levels: Would Collecting/Processing Cells in Hypoxia Offer Additional Information? A Next Frontier of Investigation

Summary: Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a stem cell disorder once considered an eventual death sentence upon progression to the terminal acute/blastic cell phase, a terrible clinical outcome that has improved with the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. A major continuing problem with treating CML is the persistence of drug-resistant leukemia stem/initiating cells (LS/IC). In this issue of Blood Cancer Discovery, Silvestri and colleagues describe an incredibly in-depth mechanistic study using genetic and pharmacologic modulation of the miRNA MiR300 with and without treatment with activators of the serine-threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in human cells. In vitro studies and in vivo mouse models of patient-derived xenografts were used to address the need to target LS/ICs and restore immunity of impaired natural killer cells for attenuation of CML progression. See related article by Silvestri et al., p. 48.
Comparison of Genomic DNA Extraction Methods

Many methods are available for isolating eukaryotic and prokaryotic gDNA. The size and quality of gDNA can be affected by different extraction methods, driving a need for reliable quality assessment. Genomic DNA was extracted from 4 commercially available gDNA extraction kits and legacy phenol-chloroform method then analyzed by PFGE and the Agilent Femto Pulse system. Both electrophoresis methods showed that gDNA sizing and quality varied greatly between the extraction methods. The classical phenol-chloroform method produced the most intact gDNA. Similar results were achieved with both methods.
Assessment of National Organ Donation Rates and Organ Procurement Organization Metrics.

Importance Organ transplant is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage organ failure. In the US, organ procurement organizations (OPOs) are responsible for the evaluation and procurement of organs from donors who have died; however, there is controversy regarding what measures should be used to evaluate their performance. Objective To evaluate OPO performance metrics using combined mortality and donation data and quantify the associations of population demographics with donation metrics. Design, Setting, and Participants This national cohort study includes data from the US organ transplantation system from January 2008 through December 2017. All individuals who died within the US, as reported by the National Death index, were included. Exposures Death, organ donation, and donation eligibility. Main Outcomes and Measures Evaluation of the variation in donation metrics and the use of ineligible donors by OPO and demographic subgroup. Results This study included 17 501 742 deaths and 75 769 deceased organ donors (45 040 men [59.4%]; 51 908 White individuals [68.5%]). Of these donors, 15 857 (20.9%) were not eligible, as defined by the OPOs. The median donation metrics by OPO were 0.004 (range, 0.002-0.012) donors per death, 0.89 (range, 0.68-1.30) donors per eligible death, and 0.72 (range, 0.57-0.86) eligible donors per eligible death. The OPOs in the upper quartile of the overall eligible donors per eligible death metric were in the upper quartile of annual rankings on 90 of 140 occasions (64.3%). There was little overlap in top-performing OPOs between metrics; an OPO in the upper quartile for 1 metric was also in the upper quartile for the other metrics on 37 of 570 occasions (6.5% of the time). The median donor eligibility rate, defined as the number of eligible donors per donor, was 0.79 (range, 0.61-0.95) across OPOs. Age (eg, 65 to 84 years, coefficient, -0.55 [SE, 0.03]; P < .001; vs those aged 18 to 34 years), sex (male individuals, -0.09 [SE, 0.02]; P < .001; vs female individuals), race (eg, Black individuals, 0.35 [SE, 0.02]; P < .001; vs White individuals), cause of death (eg, central nervous system tumor, 0.48 [SE, 0.08]; P < .001; vs anoxia), year (eg, 2016-2017: -0.10 [SE, 0.03]; P < .001; vs 2008-2009), and OPO were associated with the use of ineligible donors; OPO was a significant factor associated with performance in all metrics (χ256, 500.5; P < .001; coefficient range across individual OPOs, -0.15 [SE, 0.09] to 0.75 [SE, 0.09]), even after accounting for population differences. Female and non-White individuals were significantly less likely to be used as ineligible donors. Conclusions and Relevance We demonstrate significant variability in OPO performance rankings, depending on which donation metric is used. There were significant differences in OPO performance, even after accounting for differences in potential donor populations. Our data suggest significant variation in use of ineligible donors among OPOs, a source for increased donors. The performance of OPOs should be evaluated using a range of donation metrics.
An index-based approach for understanding gender preferences in active commuting: A case study of Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract Active transportation (walking and bicycling) enhances the safety of commuters and improves the environmental conditions of a region. A major way of fighting against obesity, chronic diseases, and mental stresses, active commuting also aids in forming of social cohesion among people. In developing countries, gender disparity is commonly observed in active commuting systems. Demographically, females in Pakistan are comparatively less mobile than males, except for automobile transportation. The influences of other essential factors including, safety, infrastructure, society, and attitudes, on active commuting in the local situation are still missing in the literature. This study examines the gender-based effects of such imperative factors. 35 discrete elements were shortlisted after extensive desk research and expert’s opinions for questionnaire data, recorded on a 5 – point Likert scale. The acquired data from 414 respondents was analyzed statistically using Pearson’s chi-square test, paired sample t-test, and weighted mean method. Results revealed that gender-based differences were significant in various factors linking to all four components, especially social and safety ones. These differences were also observed in the combined perception of each of the four components and overall composite perception. The study indicates a comparatively higher perception of females regarding the factors affecting active commuting with the recommendations to incorporate the requisites of both genders in future transportation developments.
β-Lactamases: Sequence, Structure, Function, and Inhibition.

β-Lactams were the first class of antibiotics to be discovered and the second to be introduced into the clinic in the 1940s [...]
Eumops floridanus (Chiroptera: Molossidae)

Eumops floridanus (Allen, 1932) is a molossid commonly called the Florida bonneted bat or the Florida mastiff bat. Eumops floridanus is the largest species of bat in Florida and is one of 16 species in the genus Eumops. With one of the smallest distributions of any bat in the United States, it is endemic to southern peninsular Florida where it roosts in cavities of live and dead trees and man-made structures. Eumops floridanus was formerly classified as a subspecies of E. glaucinus but has been elevated to species level based on morphology. Due primarily to its restricted distribution, small population size, and the continued loss of habitat, E. floridanus is federally listed as “Endangered” (EN) by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Low Abundance Members of the Gut Microbiome are Potent Drivers of Immune Cell Education.

One of the main goals of microbiome research is to identify bacterial members that significantly affect host phenotypes and understand their contributions to disease pathogenesis. Studies identifying bacterial members that dictate host phenotype have focused mainly on the dominant members, and the role of low abundance microbes in determining host phenotypes and pathogenesis of diseases remains unexplored. In this study, we compared the gut bacterial community of mice with wide-ranging microbial exposure to determine if low abundance bacteria vary based on microbial exposure or remain consistent. We noted that similar to the high abundance bacterial community, a core community of low abundance bacteria made up a significant portion of the gut microbiome irrespective of microbial exposure. To determine the effect of low abundance bacteria on community structure and host gene expression, we devised a microbiome dilution strategy to delete out low abundance bacteria and engrafted the diluted microbiomes into germ-free mice. Our approach successfully excluded low abundance bacteria from small and large intestinal bacterial communities and induced global changes in microbial community structure and composition in the large intestine. Gene expression analysis of intestinal tissue revealed that loss of low abundance bacteria resulted in a drastic reduction in expression of multiple genes involved MHC class II antigen presentation pathway and T-cell cytokine production in the small intestine. The effect of low abundance bacteria on MHC class II expression was found specific to the intestinal epithelium at an early timepoint post-colonization and correlated with bacteria belonging to the family Erysipelotrichaceae. We conclude that low abundance bacteria have a significantly higher immuno-stimulatory effect compared to dominant bacteria and are thus potent drivers of early immune education in the gut. Therefore, characterizing the immune interaction of low abundance bacteria with the host will offer greater insight into the intestinal immune landscape and disease pathogenesis.
Ruling Pine Ridge: Oglala Lakota Politics from the IRA to Wounded Knee

Incorporating previously overlooked materials, including tribal council records, oral histories, and reservation newspapers, "Ruling Pine Ridge" explores the political history of South Dakotas Oglala Lakota reservation during the mid-twentieth century. Akim D. Reinhardt examines the reservations transition from the direct colonialism of the pre-1934 era to the indirect colonial policies of the controversial Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) and the advent of the tribal council governing system still in place today on Pine Ridge and on many other reservations. Reinhardt demonstrates how conflicting political values foregrounded by the new governing format led to an aggravation of social divisions on the reservation and eventually came to a head in 1973 with the occupation and siege of Wounded Knee. The siege is best understood, he claims, not as a political stunt of the American Indian Movement (AIM) but as a spontaneous, grassroots protest at least forty years in the making.
The Effects of Self-Referencing on Mood and Information Processing

THE EFFECTS OF SELF-REFERENCING AND MOOD ON INFORMATION PROCESSING by Michael Mehler Research in the area of attitude change has demonstrated that people can process a persuasive message in a systematic or heuristic manner. It has been shown that positive mood increases heuristic processing, whereas negative mood increases systematic processing. In the current study, we were interested in examining one factor that may increase happy people’s ability or desire to systematically process a persuasive message, self-referencing. Self-referencing occurs when information is processed by relating it to oneself or one’s personal experience. After a happy, neutral, or sad mood was induced, participants were exposed to a message with either self-referencing or no self-referencing in the content. Participants’ attitude change toward the message was then assessed. Results showed that happy participants systematically processed only when the message was self-referencing, supporting our predictions. Results suggested that self-referencing has a considerable influence on mood and information processing and can serve as a motivational factor that increases happy people’s desire to systematically process a persuasive message. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 FACTORS AFFECTING INFORMATION PROCESSING 4 EXPLANATIONS FOR MOOD’S EFFECTS ON PROCESSING 7 SELF-REFERENCING AND MESSAGE PROCESSING 11 PREDICTIONS 14 METHODS 16 RESULTS 20 DISCUSSION 26 REFERENCES 33 APPENDIX A: PRE-ATTITUDE SCALE 39 APPENDIX B: VIDEO PRE-TESTING 43 APPENDIX C: MOOD ASSESSMENT 45 APPENDIX D: MESSAGE ARGUMENT 46 APPENDIX E: POST-ATTITUDE SCALE 54
Time is brain: recanalização precoce no acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo

, published in this issue of the RBCI, illustrates that in patients with an angiography related stroke, mechanical thrombolysis or intra-arterial fibrinolysis makes sense and can be accomplished quickly, leading to a rapid restoration of the cerebral blood flow with salvage of ischemic brain and a subsequent good outcome.
Breakeven price of biomass from switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indiangrass in a dual-purpose production system in Tennessee

The objective was to determine the breakeven price for switchgrass (SG) (Panicum virgatum L.), a mix of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and Indiangrass (BBIG) (Sorghastrum nutans L. Nash), and a combination of SG and BBIG (SG/BBIG) produced under three harvest treatments. Two-harvest treatments included a forage harvest at early boot (EB) and at early seedhead (ESH) plus a biomass harvest at fall dormancy (FD). The third harvest treatment was a single biomass harvest at FD. Mixed models were used to determine if there were differences in yield, crude protein, and nutrient removal for each of the native warm-season grass (NWSG) treatments at each harvest. The EB plus FD harvest system would be preferred over the ESH plus FD harvest system for all NWSG treatments. BBIG was the only NWSG treatment with a breakeven price for biomass that decreased with an EB harvest. For all three NWSG treatments, a producer would be better off harvesting once a year for biomass than twice for forage and biomass. The cost of harvesting and replacing the nutrients for the forage harvest was greater than the revenue received from selling the forage.
The 'Banana Tree at the Gate': Perceptions of Production of Piper Nigrum (Piperaceae) in a Seventeenth Century Malay State.

This study is based on a remarkable seventeenth-century Malay court chronicle, in which the kingdom's rulers issue injunctions on their death-beds against cultivating pepper (Piper nigrum Piperaceae) for the colonial trade. The rulers say that pepper cultivation will lead to expensive food stuffs, malice, government disorder, pretensions on the part of the subject peoples, and inevitably the destruction of the kingdom. The "fatal attraction" of pepper cultivation is likened, in an indigenous metaphor, to having a flourishing banana tree in front of one's gate. Analysis of historic as well as contemporary evidence from Borneo suggests that this is a remarkably astute analysis of the relations of production in pepper cultivation, especially in the transition from small-scale household cultivation to larger-scale production with state involvement. This analysis demonstrates the potential value of historic, indigenous texts for the study of economic plants, and it also shows the value of historical depth for understanding contemporary issues.
Preparing Students for Democratic Citizenship in a Multicultural Society: Engaging Diversity through Project Mosaik.

This study examines whether participation in a diversity initiative, Project MosaiK, helped prepare students to engage and actively address social justice issues in their residence halls. After controlling for background characteristics, findings suggest that the more students participated in Project MosaiK activities, the more likely they were to score higher on measures of multicultural consciousness, capacity for empathy across differences, and motivation to take actions for social justice.
Development in the neurophysiology of emotion processing and memory in school-age children

In the adult literature, emotional arousal is regarded as a source of the enhancing effect of emotion on subsequent memory. Here, we used behavioral, electrophysiological, and psychophysiological methods to examine the role of emotional arousal on subsequent memory in school-age children. Five- to 8-year-olds, divided into younger and older groups, viewed emotional scenes as EEG, heart rate, and respiration was recorded, and participated in a memory task 24 hours later where EEG and behavioral responses were recorded; participants provided subjective ratings of the scenes after the memory task. All measures indicated emotion responses in both groups, and in ERP measures the effects were stronger for older children. Emotion responses were more consistent across measures for negative than positive stimuli. Behavioral memory performance was strong but did not differ by emotion condition. Emotion influenced the ERP index of recognition memory in the older group only (enhanced recognition of negative scenes). The findings an increasing interaction of emotion and memory during the school years. Further, the findings impress the value of combining multiple methods to assess emotion and memory in development. Development in the neurophysiology of emotion processing and memory in school-age children.
Effect of larval walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and fertilization on the plankton community: implications for larval fish culture

Abstract Plankton abundance which greatly affects larval fish growth and survival can be regulated by fish predation and nutrient input. In this study, we examined community effects of larval walleye and fertilizer type on plankton in ponds involving three densities (0, 250 000, and 500 000 fish/ha) of larval walleye ( Stizostedion vitreum ) and two fertilizer types (inorganic or organic). Walleye survival was not affected by fish density or fertilizer type, and more fish yield was gained in high fish density ponds. The best fish growth was obtained in ponds with low fish density and inorganic fertilizer. As fish density increased, the abundances of Daphnia, Diaptomus and nauplii, Secchi depth, NH 3 -N, NO 3 -N and chironomids were reduced, whereas primary productivity, Scenedesmus , flagellates, colonial algae, Anabaena , rotifers and pH were enhanced. Compared to organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer increased the levels of primary productivity, algal abundance, dissolved oxygen, pH and total phosphorus. Inorganic liquid fertilizer with N:P ratio at 20:1 and a stocking density of 250 000500 000 fry/ha is recommended for larval walleye culture. The stocking and fertilization protocol for larval walleye culture could be applied to the larval culture of other planktivorous fish species.
Lead in the hydrosphere

This paper describes sources of lead in the hydrosphere, the global and regional distribution of lead in continental and ocean waters, its occurrence in waste discharges as well as the chronological concentration profiles of lead in polar ice sheets, continental glacier, and aquatic sediments. The recent United States recommendation for the maximum permissible amount of lead in drinking water is mentioned.
A CONJUNCTIVE-COMPENSATORY APPROACH TO THE SELF-EXPLICATION OF MULTIATTRIBUTED PREFERENCES*

Consumer choice among multiattributed products is modeled as a two-stage process in which a conjunctive stage (that eliminates products with one or more “totally unacceptable” attribute levels) is followed by a compensatory stage (that trades off remaining products on multiple attributes). A self-explicated preference measurement procedure based on the two-stage model yielded a slightly larger predictive validity compared to conjoint analysis.
Response to aerobic exercise training in humans with neuromuscular disease

There have been few studies examining the response of persons with neuromuscular disease and postpolio syndrome to cardiopulmonary testing and aerobic exercise training. In persons with neuromuscular disease that directlyinvolves the cardiac and respiratory systems, deficits in performance may be primarily due to these limitations, along with loss of functional muscle tissue from the disease process. In the more slowly progressive disorders, deconditioning may play an important role in limiting aerobic exercise performance and may be amenable to training. Recommendations are provided for future exercise studies with these populations.
Mining the Giardia lamblia genome for new cyst wall proteins.

The Giardia lamblia cyst wall (CW), which is required for survival outside the host and infection, is a primitive extracellular matrix. Because of the importance of the CW, we queried the Giardia Genome Project Database with the coding sequences of the only two known CW proteins, which are cysteine-rich and contain leucine-rich repeats (LRRs). We identified five new LRR-containing proteins, of which only one (CWP3) is up-regulated during encystation and incorporated into the cyst wall. Sequence comparison with CWP1 and -2 revealed conservation within the LRRs and the 44-amino-acid N-flanking region, although CWP3 is more divergent. Interestingly, all 14 cysteine residues of CWP3 are positionally conserved with CWP1 and -2. During encystation, C-terminal epitope-tagged CWP3 was transported to the wall of water-resistant cysts via the novel regulated secretory pathway in encystation-secretory vesicles (ESVs). Deletion analysis revealed that the four LRRs are each essential to target CWP3 to the ESVs and cyst wall. In a deletion of the most C-terminal region, fewer ESVs were stained in encysting cells, and there was no staining in cysts. In contrast, deletion of the 44 amino acids between the signal sequence and the LRRs or the region just C-terminal to the LRRs only decreased the number of cells with CWP3 targeting to ESVs and cyst wall by ∼50%. Our studies indicate that virtually every portion of the CWP3 protein is needed for efficient targeting to the regulated secretory pathway and incorporation into the cyst wall. Further, these data demonstrate the power of genomics in combination with rigorous functional analyses to verify annotation.
Children with AIDS in the public schools: The ethical issues

The question of whether to allow children with AIDS to attend public school generates explosive emotions and has wide-reaching consequences. This paper focuses on the perspective of parents of well children who may be asked to attend school with children who have AIDS. These parents are poised at the heart of the dilemma: they are the ethical “bottom line,” and an argument that fails to satisfy them ought not to satisfy anyone. The conflicting commitments these parents face are first to the parentchild covenant which requires them to act in their child's best interests, and second, to the principles of beneficence and justice, which require them not to further burden a sick child with ostracism and isolation. Almost exact parallels exist between this issue and that of proxy consent by parents for children's participation in low-risk, non-therapeutic research. The lengthy and important debate between Paul Ramsey and Richard McCormick on this question is analyzed, concluding that McCormick's position in favor of thoughtful proxy consent is the more compelling. Returning to the question of allowing children with AIDS to attend school, the essay shows why the parallels are persuasive. On the ethical level, the apparent conflict of obligations is almost exactly the same; on the pragmatic level, the essay shows why sharing a classroom with a child who has AIDS is comparable to the “low-risk” category that the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects found acceptable in its 1978 guidelines. The essay concludes that parents of healthy childrenmay and ought to accept the presence of children with AIDS in the public school.
Sense of Coherence and Stress: The Mechanics of a Healthy Disposition

Sense of coherence - a disposition towards seeing the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful - has been linked to greater stress-resistance and better health. However, the mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unspecified. Three laboratory studies of undergraduates ( n s = 116, 90, and 52) explored possible perceptual, attributional, and behavioral mechanisms. Findings revealed (1) a perceptual process, which had diffuse and subtle effects on views of stressful events; (2) a behavioral process, which involved more problem-solving and less avoidant coping; and (3) that these processes were tied to coherence, rather than to related (i.e., control) constructs. Data from a community-based, longitudinal field study ( n = 75) verified associations among coherence, coping, and health. Moreover, they yielded a causal model which showed the disposition to both directly impact health status, and to operate indirectly via coping. Implications for the study of other personality dispositions and hea...