cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity and cleavage site specificity of an anti-HIV-1 hairpin ribozyme in human T cells.

Abstract Human CD4+ T cells (Molt-4) were transduced with retrovital vectors containing a hairpin ribozyme which targets the rev/env coding region of HIV-1 RNA (HXB2: 8629-8644). This target sequence is conserved among many HIV-1 clones, including the prototype virus HXB2, but the infectious clone SF2 contains a single nucleotide substitution at the cleavage site (from N*GUC to N*UUC). Cells stably expressing the ribozyme or its disabled counterpart were challenged with HXB2 or SF2 and the amount of p24 antigen produced was monitored. While this ribozyme was effective in inhibiting the replication of HXB2 in Molt 4 cells, it showed only marginal inhibitory effect on SF2 replication. The same level of virus production was observed with cells transduced by the disabled ribozyme, which functions essentially as an antisense molecule. Expression of the ribozyme was comparable in HXB2- or SF2-infected cells as detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These data provide in vivo evidence that the antiviral activity of the hairpin ribozyme is strictly dependent on the presence of the cleavage site in the target RNA and supports the conclusion that the ribozyme acts as catalytic RNA rather than as antisense RNA in vivo.
Differential expression of normal and mutant Huntington's disease gene alleles.

Huntingtin expression was examined by Western blot and immunoprecipitation studies of lymphoblastoid cell lines from Huntington's disease (HD) homozygotes, heterozygotes, and a phenotypically normal individual with a t(4p16.3;12p13.3) breakpoint in theHDgene. The latter produced a reduced level of normal huntingtin without evidence of an altered protein, indicating that simple loss of huntingtin activity does not cause HD. In juvenile onset HD heterozygotes, NH2- and COOH-terminal antisera revealed reduced relative expression from the mutant allele. Pulse–chase studies indicated that huntingtin is a stable protein whose differential allelic expression is not due to destabilization of the mutant isoform. No stable breakdown products specific to mutant huntingtin were detected in either HD homozygotes or heterozygotes. These data are consistent with HD involving either a gain of function or a dominant negative loss of function that operates within severe constraints and suggest that in either case the pathogenic process is usually saturated by the amount of abnormal huntingtin produced from a single mutant allele.
Prefrontal Cortex Guides Context-Appropriate Responding during Language Production

Although language processing is thought to frequently require cognitive control, little is known about the cognitive and neural basis of the control of language. Here, we demonstrate that processing of context by the PFC plays an important role in the control of language comprehension and production. Using a missing letter paradigm and fMRI, we found that increased activation in the PFC (but not in posterior regions), while encoding and maintaining context information, predicted context-appropriate responses. Furthermore, greater selection demands increased activity during responding in the same regions engaged during the encoding and maintenance of context. Overall, as in other cognitive task domains, these results suggest that PFC context processing plays an important role in the control of language.
An intelligent symbol usage assistant for CAD systems

The Augurs (Assistant for Using Graphic Symbols) program embeds a neural network for symbol recognition in a commercial CAD system (the US Army Corps of Engineers' MicroStation). The goals are to accelerate the drawing process, maintain drawing consistency, and, most importantly, attach symbolic information to graphic entities so they can be analyzed and communicated across platforms. >
Amphibian Sampling Techniques along Maryland Coastal-Plain Streams

Abstract Amphibians and other herpetofauna may be useful in assessing the biological integrity of small streams, so determining which sampling technique maximizes encounters is important. Area-constrained surveys (ACS), used by the Maryland Biological Stream Survey, were tested against cover-board surveys, drift fences with pitfall and funnel traps, quadrat leaf-litter searches, leaf-litter bags, and electrofishing. Twenty sites within the coastal plain region of Maryland, west of the Chesapeake Bay, were sampled with each technique once a month from June 2006 through August 2006. Overall, ACS and electrofishing yielded significantly more taxa and total individuals than cover-board surveys, quadrat searches, and leaf-litter bags; drift fence captures were moderate between ACS and electrofishing and the other methods. Electrofishing and ACS collected both more taxa and more individuals more reliably through time than the other techniques used; therefore, efforts to use herpetofauna to monitor the health of...
Achieving Efficiency and Accuracy in the ALPS Application-level Proportional-share Scheduler

We present the design and implementation of ALPS, a per-application user-level proportional-share scheduler. It provides an application with a way to control the relative allocation of CPU time amongst its individual processes. The ALPS scheduler runs as just another process (belonging to the application) at user level; thus, it does not require any special kernel support, nor does it require any special privileges, making it highly portable. To achieve efficiency, ALPS delegates fine-grained time-slicing responsibility to the underlying kernel scheduler, while itself making coarse-grained decisions to achieve proportional-share scheduling, all in a way that is transparent to the underlying kernel. Our results show that the ALPS approach is practical; we can achieve good accuracy (under 5% relative error) and low overhead (under 1% of CPU time), despite user-level operation.
Initial documentation requirements for a high assurance system: lessons learned

The validation that a system is high assurance is provide via an independent third-party evaluation. A key aspect of a high assurance evaluation is the documented methodologies, standards, and processes that are used throughout the product lifecycle. This paper presents the lessons learned to date through the creation of document required prior to the engineering phase of development.
Low-loss analog fiber-optic links

Experimental and theoretical studies of high-performance fiber-optic links are reported. For the experimental directly modulated link, the measured electrical insertion gain was -4.9 dB at a bandwidth of 1500 MHz, and 0.3 dB at a bandwidth of 200 MHz. For the experimental externally modulated link operating at a bandwidth of 800 MHz, the calculated electrical insertion gain based on actual device parameters is -1.0 dB, while at 150 MHz a gain of 6.0 dB is expected. Both links have no active amplification. The directly modulated links have higher noise figures because of the high relative intensity noise of the diode laser. >
'Strong and silent' machine agents: in need of improved communication and coordination skills

In recent years, the introduction of increasingly independent and powerful automation to a variety of domains has led to expected improvements in the precision and efficiency of operations. At the same time, unexpected difficulties were created which are related to breakdowns in the communication and coordination between humans and machines. Training can be modified to better support operators in developing an appropriate model of their system, or the communication and coordination skills of modern technology can be improved. One promising candidate for achieving this goal is the (re)introduction of multisensory feedback to support functions such as attention capture and guidance and to allow for parallel processing of information. Yet another avenue towards improving human-automation coordination is to better understand and utilize proposed and currently practised styles of automation management. We suggest that more empirical evidence is needed on the effectiveness and limitations of these approaches in the interest of making progress towards a more human- and use-oriented design of modern technology.
Psychanalyse en Tunisie : actualités et perspectives

Partant de la situation actuelle de la prise en charge de la sante mentale en Tunisie, et de son histoire, ce texte interroge les conditions d’une psychanalyse tunisienne en devenir. Il rend compte de la genese de l’AFPEC (Association de formation a la psychanalyse et d’echanges cliniques), creee au lendemain de la revolution, et dont les activites s’inscrivent dans le vif d’une societe engagee dans l’invention de nouvelles modalites de relation a l’autre.
Competing Effects of Buckling and Anchorage Strength on Optimal Wheat Stalk Geometry

We seek the ideal wheat stalk, which minimizes the structural mass required to support a fixed grain load in the presence of gravity and wind. The optimization search is restricted to stepped cylindrical stems of known moduli and density but unknown dimension. Stem buckling and root anchorage strength are assumed to place restrictions on the permissible stalk resonant frequency in the presence of a specified wind forcing frequency. These effects are described mathematically, and the penalty parameter method is used to find stem mass minima for various stalk heights. In general, there are two alternative solution branches. The lower solution is the global minimum but it is probably impractical for field crops exposed to natural wind. The upper minimum is more conservative and therefore requires more stem mass. Due to the competing requirements of buckling versus anchorage strength, the parameter study shows that optimal wheat stem geometry has a nonlinear dependence on the intensity of gravity and the frequency spectra of the wind.
QUANTITATIVE EXPERIMENTS WITH ANTIBODIES TO A SPECIFIC PRECIPITATE : III. ANTIGENIC PROPERTIES OF HORSE SERUM FRACTIONS ISOLATED BY ELECTROPHORESIS AND BY ULTRACENTRIFUGATION.

1. Rabbit antisera to a Type II pneumococcus specific precipitate from horse serum were tested with fractions prepared by ultracentrifugation and electrophoresis of normal and immune horse serum. 2. In one instance a rapidly sedimenting protein from normal horse serum had nearly the same quantitative antigenic properties toward the anti-antibody rabbit serum as did the purified pneumococcus antibody solutions previously reported. In another instance a comparable fraction removed only a part of the rabbit antibody. 3. Electrophoretic γ-globulin from an immune horse serum had quantitatively the same antigenic properties as did antibody solutions prepared by salt-dissociation of specific precipitates. 4. Electrophoretic γ-globulin from normal horse serum differed in its antigenic behavior from γ-globulin containing antibody. The data are compared with the antigenic properties of acid and alkali treated pneumococcus specific polysaccharides toward antipneumococcus horse sera. An interpretation in terms of polymers is suggested. 5. The cross-reaction of goat serum γ-globulin against the anti-antibody serum is reported and the extent of the reaction compared with those of goat and horse serum albumins against a rabbit antiserum to the latter.
ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE SIGNAL II IN SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS—II. INFLUENCE OF PHOSPHORYLATION AND ELECTRON-TRANSPORT INHIBITORS

—The influence of several groups of inhibitors on the electron paramagnetic resonance Signal II of spinach chloroplasts was investigated. It was found that phosphorylation uncouplers that do not inhibit electron transport (gramicidin, valinomycin) have no effect. Likewise, inhibitors that block electron transport between the two photosystems are ineffective. However, reagents that can inhibit electron transport and also uncouple phosphorylation, such as phenylhydrazones (FCCP) or anilino-thiophenes (ANT 2p), will completely abolish Signal II in the dark. The signal is regenerated by red light and also by far-red light, but in the latter case only if cyclic electron transport is possible. These agents, in addition to discharging the water-splitting enzyme [ADRY effect, G. Renger, Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1972) 256, 428] were also found to inhibit cyclic electron flow. Light activation of Signal II in ANT 2p- or FCCP-treated chloroplasts by either red or far-red light can be suppressed by simazine or dichlorophenyl dimethylurea (DCMU) but not by other inhibitors that also inhibit linear electron flow. Evidence is provided which indicates that one functioning electron-transport system, either linear or cyclic, is necessary and sufficient for the enhancement of Signal II. The requirement for Signal II activation seems to be the reduction of plastoquinone. In ANT 2p- and FCCP-treated chloroplasts, a link probably exists between the water-splitting enzyme and the plastoquinone pool, bypassing Photosystem II; the unknown substance giving rise to Signal II may be located on such a sidepath.
The Relationship between Self-Esteem and Anxiety in Grades Four through Eight.

This study examined the relationships between two measures of self-esteem and each of two measures of general anxiety and test anxiety in a sample of 4,367 pupils, grades four through eight. Cooper...
Writing papers people remember

Can you recall the papers you read last month? Probably not. You invested the time and have very little to show for it. It's not your fault. Chances are, from inception these papers were headed toward your personal recycle bin. Certainly not all published papers can be landmarks, but why are so many forgettable?
Polyimides based on 2,2',6,6'-tetramethylbenzidine:

Thermoplastic and addition curing polyimides based on non-coplanar 2,2',6,6'-tetrarnethylbenzidine (TMBZ) were prepared and investigated. The TMBZ based thermoplastic polyimides displayed high Tg values, enhanced solubility and excellent thermal stability. These high-mnolecular-weight polyimides could be either cast into optically transparent thin films or spun into fibres. The addition curing polyimides based on TMBZ exhibited higher Tg values than the corresponding PMR-1I type polyimides, due to the increased rotational barrier created by the substituents on the biphenyl moiety. However, the methyl substituents on the TMBZ inherently lowered the thermo-oxidative stability of TMBZ based polyimides, relative to the corresponding PMR-II type polyimides.
Restoring aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires expanding inventories of both dams and road crossings

A key challenge in aquatic restoration efforts is documenting locations where ecological connectivity is disrupted in water bodies that are dammed or crossed by roads (road crossings). To prioritize actions aimed at restoring connectivity, we argue that there is a need for systematic inventories of these potential barriers at regional and national scales. Here, we address this limitation for the North American Great Lakes basin by compiling the best available spatial data on the locations of dams and road crossings. Our spatial database documents 38 times as many road crossings as dams in the Great Lakes basin, and case studies indicate that, on average, only 36% of road crossings in the area are fully passable to fish. It is therefore essential that decision makers account for both road crossings and dams when attempting to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity. Given that road crossing structures are commonly upgraded as part of road maintenance, many opportunities exist to restore connections within a...
Novel nickel contact dermatitis in a patient taking isotretinoin

There are many reports about contact dermatitis to nickel and side effects of isotretinoin, but the development of contact dermatitis to a previously tolerated allergen while taking isotretinoin is not well described. We report the case of a 19-year-old man who developed a new nickel allergy during isotretinoin treatment. We theorize that thinning of the stratum corneum by this medication allows for greater antigen presentation and thus sensitization to contact allergens.
The PRP6-like splicing factor STA1 is involved in RNA-directed DNA methylation by facilitating the production of Pol V-dependent scaffold RNAs

DNA methylation is a conserved epigenetic marker in plants and animals. In Arabidopsis, DNA methylation can be established through an RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway. By screening for suppressors of ros1, we identified STA1, a PRP6-like splicing factor, as a new RdDM regulator. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing suggested that STA1 and the RdDM pathway share a large number of common targets in the Arabidopsis genome. Small RNA deep sequencing demonstrated that STA1 is predominantly involved in the accumulation of the siRNAs that depend on both Pol IV and Pol V. Moreover, the sta1 mutation partially reduces the levels of Pol V-dependent RNA transcripts. Immunolocalization assay indicated that STA1 signals are exclusively present in the Cajal body and overlap with AGO4 in most nuclei. STA1 signals are also partially overlap with NRPE1. Localization of STA1 to AGO4 and NRPE1 signals is probably related to the function of STA1 in the RdDM pathway. Based on these results, we propose that STA1 acts downstream of siRNA biogenesis and facilitates the production of Pol V-dependent RNA transcripts in the RdDM pathway.
A Role for Dietary Copper in Nitric Oxide‐Mediated Vasodilation

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the role of dietary copper in nitric oxide-mediated arteriolar dilation.Methods: Male weanling Sprague—Dawley rats were fed a purified diet that was either copper-adequate (6.0 μg Cu per g diet) or copper-deficient (0.3 μg Cu per g diet) for a period of 4 weeks. Each rat was anesthetized with pentobarbital and its cremaster muscle was positioned in a Krebs'-fdled bath to which graded concentrations of vasoactive agents were added. In the first series, responses to norepineph-rine (NE 10−9-10−6 M) and acetylcholine (ACH 10−7-10−4 M) were compared in third-order arterioles. Second, the dilator response to 10−5 M ACH in the absence and presence of 240 U/ml Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined. Third, arteriolar dilation was determined in response to NO-independent stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase with hydrogen peroxide (10−7-10−5 M) and to dibutyryl cGMP (10−6-10−4 M), dibutyryl cAMP (10−6-10−4 M), and papaverine (10−4M).Results: The arter...
Spatial thinking as the dimension of progress in an astronomy learning progression

The big idea of celestial motion, observational astronomy phenomena explained by the relative position and motion of objects in the solar system and beyond, is central to astronomy in primary and secondary education. In this paper, I argue that students’ progress in developing productive, scientific explanations for this class of astronomical phenomena can be defined by the increasing sophistication of spatial knowledge and reasoning in the domain. Drawing upon literature on children’s ideas about celestial motion, instruction that supports progress in that domain and literature on spatial thinking, I developed a learning progression (LP) framework that integrates cognition, instruction and assessment to understand student learning in this domain. This framework was applied to a study of children learning to explain the daily celestial motion of the Sun, Moon and stars, and the phases of the Moon. The application of the LP framework to analyse teaching sequences in astronomy extends this review by illustr...
Ustilago maydis KP6 killer toxin: structure, expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and relationship to other cellular toxins.

Abstract There are a number of yeasts that secrete killer toxins, i.e., proteins lethal to sensitive cells of the same or related species. Ustilago maydis, a fungal pathogen of maize, also secretes killer toxins. The best characterized of the U. maydis killer toxins is the KP6 toxin, which consists of two small polypeptides that are not covalently linked. In this work, we show that both are encoded by one segment of the genome of a double-stranded RNA virus. They are synthesized as a preprotoxin that is processed in a manner very similar to that of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae k1 killer toxin, also encoded by a double-strand RNA virus. Active U. maydis KP6 toxin was secreted from S. cerevisiae transformants expressing the KP6 preprotoxin. The two secreted polypeptides were not glycosylated in U. maydis, but one was glycosylated in S. cerevisiae. Comparison of known and predicted cleavage sites among the five killer toxins of known sequence established a three-amino-acid specificity for a KEX2-like enzyme and predicted a new, undescribed processing enzyme in the secretory pathway in the fungi. The mature KP6 toxin polypeptides had hydrophobicity profiles similar to those of other known cellular toxins.
Automating Word Of Mouth To Recommend Classes To Students: An Application Of Social Information Filtering Algorithms

This paper describes the development of a system called OSRS (online student recommender system). We present quantitative and qualitative results obtained from the use of OSRS by current students.
Historical Development of Concepts of Ganglionic Transmission

This historical and conceptual introduction to this book on ganglionic transmission in the vertebrates is organized under the following three headings: (1) anatomical and morphological features of the ganglia and their functional aspects, (2) neurotransmitter and neurochemical characteristics of ganglionic transmission, and (3) synaptic responses of the ganglia.
The Prosternal Gland in Pacific Northwest Butterfly Larvae with Preliminary Chemical Analyses of Emissions

During rearing studies, larvae of 41 Pacific Northwest butterfly species from three families (Nymphalidae, Hesperiidae and Pieridae) were identified as possessing a prosternal gland. Observations on larvae of Argynnis spp. (Nymphalidae) showed the gland appeared in the second instar as a pale-colored ventral suture. Rough handling of final instars caused eversion of a single-lobed papilla and emission of a ‘musky’ odor. The prosternal glands of all nymphalid and hesperid larvae examined were similar morphologically but the pierids, Neophasia menapia and Nathalis iole possessed a pair of bi-lobed glands. Chemical analyses revealed that the glands of final instar Argynnis spp. contained hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, carboxylic acids and acetate esters. Dodecene or dodecanol and/or associated alkanes and acetate esters occurred in nearly all Argynnis samples as well as in the glands of N. menapia (Pieridae) and Polites sonora (Hesperiidae) larvae. These compounds have a dispersive function in other arthropods. Terpenoid compounds were found in most samples and likely have a defensive function. Glands contained other potentially defensive compounds including disulfides, squalene, acridine, diphenyl ether and diphenylamine. Based on these preliminary data, the prosternal gland appears to have at least two functions in butterfly larvae: defense and dispersion. The apparent widespread occurrence of prosternal glands in larvae of Nymphalidae and Hesperiidae suggests that this gland is important in the ecology of many species although experimental evidence for function is needed.
Schooling in the ‘Iron Cage’ and the Crucial Role of Interpretive, Normative, and Critical Perspectives in Social Foundations Studies

This article addresses the unique role performed by social foundations programs in colleges of education and in addressing broader issues facing education today, which fundamentally include the dev...
Diagnostic performance of HbA1c for diabetes in Arab vs. European populations: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Aim To examine differences in the performance of HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes in Arabs compared with Europeans. Methods The PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library databases were searched for records published between 1998 and 2015. Estimates of sensitivity, specificity and log diagnostic odds ratios for an HbA1c cut-point of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) were compared between Arabs and Europeans, using a bivariate linear mixed-model approach. For studies reporting multiple cut-points, population-specific summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were constructed. In addition, sensitivity, specificity and Youden Index were estimated for strata defined by HbA1c cut-point and population type. Database searches yielded 1912 unique records; 618 full-text articles were reviewed. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria; hand-searching yielded three additional eligible studies. Three Arab (N = 2880) and 16 European populations (N = 49 127) were included in the analysis. Results Summary sensitivity and specificity for a HbA1c cut-point of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) in both populations were 42% (33–51%), and 97% (95–98%). There was no difference in area under SROC curves between Arab and European populations (0.844 vs. 0.847; P = 0.867), suggesting no difference in HbA1c diagnostic accuracy between populations. Multiple cut-point summary estimates stratified by population suggest that Arabs have lower sensitivity and higher specificity at a HbA1c cut-point of 44 mmol/mol (6.2%) compared with European populations. Estimates also suggest similar test performance at cut-points of 44 mmol/mol (6.2%) and 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) for Arabs. Conclusions Given the low sensitivity of HbA1c in the high-risk Arab American population, we recommend a combination of glucose-based and HbA1c testing to ensure an accurate and timely diagnosis of diabetes.
Public Administration, 1928

Steady progress in the improvement of the processes of public administration marked the year 1928, but possibly of even greater significance has been the development of research interest in administrative problems by organized bodies of public officials. The greatest hope for realization of higher standards of performance necessarily lies in the body of officials who are responsible for the conduct of public business, and their new interest in research as a means of discovery of improved methods is of great significance. Among the groups of officials who are breaking new ground in this direction are the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International City Managers' Association, the reorganized Civil Service Assembly, and some state leagues of municipalities. The appointment of four research fellows by the New York State Tax Department is also full of interest. Specific reference to some phases of their work will be made in the following paragraphs. Academic interest in research in this field has also been exceptional. During the year Dr. W. F. Willoughby prepared for the Policy Committee of the American Political Science Association a survey of the institutions carrying on studies in public administration, and during the year also the Problems and Policy Committee of the Social Science Research Council appointed a special Advisory Committee on Research in Public Administration, the chairman of which is Professor Leonard D. White, of the University of Chicago. Other committees of the Social Science Research Council also have dealt with special phases of administration, especially the Advisory Committee on Industrial Relations and the Advisory Committee on Social and Economic Research in Agriculture.
Amelioration of nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in rats by adrenalectomy.

SummaryRemoval of the adrenal glands prevented osteitis fibrosa cystica that occurs when intact rats are fed diets containing high phosphate. It also decreased the incidence of calcific deposits in the kidney. It is suggested that decreased secretion of PTH may be one of the causative factors in the beneficial effects of adrenalectomy. Balance studies showed that intestinal absorption and renal excretion of calcium and phosphate by rats fed a normal diet were unaffected by adrenalectomy or the administration of prednisolone or aldosterone.
The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976: An Anatomy of Disaster

Chen Yong, Kam-ling Tsoi, Chen Feibi, Gao Zhenhuan, Zou Qijia, and Chen Zhangli, State Seismological Bureau, People’s Republic of China, Pergamon Press, 1988, 153 pages “The Great Tangshen Earthquake of 1976: An Anatomy of Disaster” is a general interest book that summarizes the damage that resulted from and the government and societal responses to the 1976 Tangshan, PRC, earthquake. At MS ≈ 7.8, the Tangshan earthquake was not as large as either the 1964 Alaska or 1960 Chile earthquakes, yet the loss of life and destruction of property exceeded both. The authors attribute the “unprecedented intensity of its (the earthquake) destructive effects” to the proximity of the mainshock to a densely populated industrial city, the time of day of the mainshock, and the site geology. All of these points are explored in this easy to read, 4-chapter volume. As the authors note, most of the data and descriptions published about the Tangshan earthquake have been published in Chinese or in highly technical scientific literature. This volume is a fine attempt to convey knowledge about the Tangshan earthquake and its aftereffects to readers worldwide. The authors have designed this book so that each chapter may be read as an independent unit. Chapter 1, Damage of the Tangshan Earthquake, describes the earthquake damage to buildings and lifelines (railroads, water supplies, and sewage, etc.) in the Tangshan region. The text is amply supported by photographs of structural damage and a few diagrams of faulting and isoseismals. The photographs are clear and well chosen to illustrate the types and degrees of structural damage described in the text. And the damage was extensive; the meizoseismal zone (MMI≈XI) covered 47 km2 . Nearly . . .
Hepatic and renal trace element concentrations in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) following chronic dietary exposure to coal fly ash contaminated prey

Little is known about the propensity of crocodilians to bioaccumulate trace elements as a result of chronic dietary exposure. We exposed 36 juvenile alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) to one of four dietary treatments that varied in the relative frequency of meals containing prey from coal combustion waste (CCW)-contaminated habitats vs. prey from uncontaminated sites, and evaluated tissue residues and growth rates after 12 mo and 25 mo of exposure. Hepatic and renal concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and selenium (Se) varied significantly among dietary treatment groups in a dose-dependent manner and were higher in kidneys than in livers. Exposure period did not affect Se or As levels but Cd levels were significantly higher after 25 mo than 12 mo of exposure. Kidney As and Se levels were negatively correlated with body size but neither growth rates nor body condition varied significantly among dietary treatment groups. Our study is among the first to experimentally examine bioaccumulation of trace element contaminants in crocodilians as a result of chronic dietary exposure. A combination of field surveys and laboratory experiments will be required to understand the effects of different exposure scenarios on tissue residues, and ultimately link these concentrations with effects on individual health.
Water drinking as a potential treatment for idiopathic exercise-related syncope

We report a 20-year-old sportsman with frequent attacks of lightheadedness, chest pain, blurred vision and falls during and shortly after exercise. Cardiac and pulmonal evaluation and routine autonomic function tests were normal apart from a relatively high resting heart rate (70 bpm) compared to endurance-trained men. In view of the relation to exercise, the patient was asked to cycle with maximal effort on an ergometer with continuous blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and electroencephalogram (EEG) registration. Immediately after cessation of exercise a brief hypotensive period (75/45 mmHg) occurred together with sinus tachycardia (180 bpm) during which the patient experienced his typical complaints. We hypothesized that our patient's symptoms were primary related to sympathetic failure. As water drinking has been demonstrated to raise sympathetic activity rapidly, we undertook a second cycling test after ingestion of 1000 mL tap water. Symptoms nor hypotension recurred. Because of the short lasting pressor effect and its minimal side effects, we suggest water drinking as simple and possible effective therapy for idiopathic exercise-related syncope.
Knowledge of diet and blood pressure among African Americans: Use of focus groups for questionnaire development

Though focus groups are widely used for development of interventions, little is known about their utility in questionnaire construction, particularly for health surveys in a south-eastern African-American population. In this study, focus groups aided in the development of questions, question sub-components, and response options identifying factors that may influence dietary behavior. Information was used for a survey of dietary knowledge, blood pressure knowledge, and measured blood pressure in a church-based, stratified random sample of middle-class African Americans in North Carolina. Each session, conducted in six churches, lasted 1-1 1/2 hours and had four to nine participants; thirty-four individuals participated. Recorded responses were reviewed and summarized by trained personnel. Results indicate that participants had a general understanding of hypertension, its risk factors, and modes of prevention. However, some misconceptions existed regarding blood pressure and sources of sodium. Television was the most common source of health information. Cost and Southern cultural traditions were deemed the major influences on dietary behavior. Many believed stress was strongly related to blood pressure. The focus group process generated useful information for developing questions about nutrition knowledge, blood pressure knowledge, and health attitudes and beliefs of the target population for the epidemiologic survey that followed.
Sleep Difficulties are Associated with Parent Report of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo.

Objective Sleep disturbance is considered both a behavioral symptom of and a contributor to functional difficulties in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The construct of sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) has also been linked to ADHD; however, little is known regarding the effects of sleep specifically on SCT symptoms. This study examined the association between parent-reported sleep disturbance and parent- and teacher-reported SCT, while controlling for the effects of ADHD and mood symptoms. Method Participants included 746 clinically referred children (65% male, age range: 5-18 years) with both parent and teacher ratings assessing symptoms of ADHD, mood symptoms (depression, anxiety), and SCT. Parents/caregivers also rated their child's sleep problems with regard to 4 core concerns: falling asleep, sleep restlessness, difficulty waking, and breathing difficulties. The SCT scale included three empirically derived subscales: sleepy/sluggish, low initiation/persistence, and daydreamy. Results After accounting for age, medication status, ADHD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, sleep problems accounted for a small but significant proportion of additional variance in the prediction of parent-reported sleepy/sluggish SCT. Difficulty waking showed the strongest associations with parent-reported SCT. There were no significant relationships found between parent-reported sleep difficulties and teacher-reported SCT. Conclusions Some elements of sluggishness and lethargy inherent to the SCT construct may be associated with sleep difficulties, even after accounting for ADHD and mood symptoms; however, these associations are not consistent across SCT subscales and sleep problem domains.
Results of surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma with solitary metastasis

To determine the effect on survival of excision of a solitary metastasis from renal cell carcinoma, the records of 29 patients seen at our institute within the last 15 years (1972 to 1986) who underwent such an operation were reviewed. Metastasis was present at diagnosis in 11 of the 29 patients, while 18 had metastasis 2 months to 11 years after nephrectomy, with an average interval free of disease of 38 months. There were 13 pulmonary metastases, 6 bone lesions and 10 other lesions. The estimated over-all survival rate for this group was 41 per cent at 2 years and 13 per cent at 5 years after excision of the metastasis. Only 2 of the 29 patients currently are alive with no evidence of disease 42 and 53 months since excision of the metastasis. Neither the presence nor absence of a metastasis at diagnosis nor the interval between nephrectomy and the development of a metastasis in patients without metastatic disease at diagnosis appeared to influence survival after excision of the metastasis. Unlike previous reports, these results suggest that the beneficial effects of excision of metastatic renal cell carcinoma are limited to improved short-term survival postoperatively and that surgical cure of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a relatively uncommon event.
Pathology of Atrioventricular Block

This article provides a summary of the types of congenital atrioventricular block and the various acquired diseases in which atrioventricular block may occur. Some lesions found in atrioventricular block are illustrated.
Ethnoracial inequality and insurance coverage among Latino young adults

Previous research has demonstrated that Latino young adults are uninsured at higher rates relative to other ethnoracial groups. Recent implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased access to health insurance for young adults, in part by maintaining health coverage through their parents until age 26. This paper examines patterns of Latino young adults' insurance coverage during early ACA implementation by addressing three questions: 1) To what extent do Latino young adults remain uninsured relative to their peers of other ethnoracial groups? 2) How do young adults' family socioeconomic background, immigrant characteristics, college enrollment, and employment status mediate their coverage? And, 3) do patterns of insurance coverage differ for employer-provided coverage versus other sources of coverage (including parents' health insurance)? Using a 2011 representative sample of U.S.-born and 1.5-generation immigrant young adults in California, we find that Latinos are more likely than other ethnoracial groups to remain uninsured. While they are as likely as similar peers to obtain employer-provided health insurance, they are less likely to possess insurance through other sources (including their parents). This study contributes to our understanding of the limits of the ACA in reducing disparities in insurance coverage for Latinos by highlighting the importance of family socioeconomic background, immigrant characteristics, college enrollment, and employment in shaping coverage among this age group.
Sleep Disturbance in Cancer Survivors

Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent among survivors of cancer across the continuum of care. There are numerous unique factors among survivors that may precipitate and/or perpetuate sleep disturbance, including, but not limited to, cancer diagnosis and treatment. Similar to the general population, sleep disturbance is negatively associated with multiple domains of quality of life, including the emotional and physical well-being of cancer survivors. Moreover, sleep disturbance often co-occurs with other common behavioral symptoms such as fatigue, pain, depression, and cognitive impairment. Routine screening for sleep disturbance is recommended, especially at key transitions in care (e.g., a change in treatment or transition off of treatment). Guidelines for thorough assessment and treatment of sleep disturbance exist; however, research examining sleep in cancer survivors is a growing area of inquiry. The best empirical support to date is for treating insomnia among cancer survivors using cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Additional clinical research is warranted to establish the efficacy of treatment modalities, including pharmacotherapy, for sleep disturbance among cancer survivors.
Preparation and property assessment of neat lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) and their composite films

Lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) were produced from thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP) using a micro-grinder and were characterized with respect to fiber diameter and thermal stability. The initial water content in the TMP affected the defibrillation process and longer grinding time was necessary for the air-dried TMP, resulting in LCNF with higher fibril diameter. As compared to the reference cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) produced through a refining process, LCNF was less thermally stable and started to degrade at a temperature that was 30 °C lower than that of CNF. LCNF obtained from the never-dried TMP was combined with various additives (10 wt%) to produce composite films. The neat LCNF and composite films did not reach the mechanical properties of the neat CNF film that was evaluated as reference. However, the addition of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at 10 wt% on a dry basis did cause a 46 and 25% increase in tensile strength and elastic modulus, respectively. Other additives including cellulose nanocrystals, bentonite and CNF were also found to increase to some extent the Young’s modulus and ductility of the LCNF composite films whereas the addition of talc did not improve the film performance. Water absorption of neat LCNF films was lower than the reference CNF and was negatively affected by the addition of PVA.
A Quality Assurance Strategy for Forensic Pathology

This article will present an overview of, and a strategy for, designing a comprehensive quality assurance and improvement program for forensic pathology. Quality forensic pathology, as in anatomic ...
CD47 regulates CD11b-dependent neutrophil transepithelial migration during intestinal inflammation

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis, is a chronic, relapsing disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by neutrophil (PMN) associated bysta...
Volume-Outcome Relationships in Thoracic Surgery

Most thoracic surgery studies indicate that hospital and surgeon procedure volume are inversely associated with mortality. However, controversy exists regarding the strength and validity of this volume-outcome association. Because thresholds of procedure volume are used to recommend the regionalization of care, investigation of the volume-outcome relationship is imperative. This article examines the methodology used in the volume-outcome relationship literature and highlights important areas of concern. Careful examination of the literature demonstrates that lung and esophageal cancer resection volume is not strongly associated with mortality and should not be used as a proxy measure for quality.
Anti-Jewish Violence in Poland, 1914–1920

Widespread anti-Jewish pogroms accompanied the rebirth of Polish statehood out of World War I and Polish–Soviet War. William W. Hagen offers the pogroms' first scholarly account, revealing how they served as brutal stagings by ordinary people of scenarios dramatizing popular anti-Jewish fears and resentments. While scholarship on modern anti-Semitism has stressed its ideological inspiration ('print anti-Semitism'), this study shows that anti-Jewish violence by perpetrators among civilians and soldiers expressed magic-infused anxieties and longings for redemption from present threats and suffering ('folk anti-Semitism'). Illustrated with contemporary photographs and constructed from extensive, newly discovered archival sources from three continents, this is an innovative work in east European history. Using extensive first-person testimonies, it reveals gaps - but also correspondences - between popular attitudes and those of the political elite. The pogroms raged against the conscious will of new Poland's governors whilst Christians high and low sometimes sought, even successfully, to block them.
Origins of Metaplasia in Barrett's Esophagus: Is this an Esophageal Stem or Progenitor Cell Disease?

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has been increasing in Western countries over the past several decades. Though Barrett’s esophagus, in which the normal esophageal squamous epithelium is replaced with metaplastic intestinalized columnar cells due to chronic damage from gastroesophageal reflux, is accepted as the requisite precursor lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma, the Barrett’s esophagus cell of origin and the molecular mechanism underlying esophageal epithelial metaplasia remain controversial. Much effort has been dedicated towards identifying the Barrett’s esophagus cell of origin since this could lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies for both Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Previously, it was hypothesized that terminally differentiated esophageal squamous cells might undergo direct conversion into specialized intestinal columnar cells via the process of transdifferentiation. However, there is increasing evidence that stem and/or progenitor cells are molecularly reprogrammed through the process of transcommitment to differentiate into the columnar cell lineages that characterize Barrett’s esophagus. Given that Barrett’s esophagus originates at the gastroesophageal junction, the boundary between the distal esophagus and gastric cardia, potential sources of these stem and/or progenitor cells include columnar cells from the squamocolumnar junction or neighboring gastric cardia, native esophageal squamous cells, native esophageal cuboidal or columnar cells from submucosal glands or ducts, or circulating bone marrow-derived cells. In this review, we focus on native esophageal specific stem and/or progenitor cells and detail molecular mediators of transcommitment based on recent insights gained from novel mouse models and clinical observations from patients.
Labor admission test

The Labor Admission Test permits the clinician to reallocate risk patients based on their admission fetal heart rate pattern. This means that obstetric patients normally considered high risk on admission to labor and delivery can be reallocated to low risk when the initial fetal heart rate pattern is reactive.
Groundwater in the Urban Environment

Groundwater is a critical resource for many of the world’s cities. While a few cities (for example, New York) rely upon protected surface-water reservoirs for their supply, many more depend on groundwater. Conservation, protection, and management of groundwater are thus necessities for most cities. This chapter reviews the basics of groundwater hydrology, supply, and water quality, and then goes on to examine groundwater in the specific context of the urban environment.