cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clearance and phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein are inhibited in methionine sulfoxide reductase a null yeast cells.

Aggregated α-synuclein and the point mutations Ala30Pro and Ala53Thr of α-synuclein are associated with Parkinson’s disease. The physiological roles of α-synuclein and methionine oxidation of the α-synuclein protein structure and function are not fully understood. Methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA) reduces methionine sulfoxide residues and functions as an antioxidant. To monitor the effect of methionine oxidation to α-synuclein on basic cellular processes, α-synucleins were expressed in msrA null mutant and wild-type yeast cells. Protein degradation was inhibited in the α-synuclein-expressing msrA null mutant cells compared to α-synuclein-expressing wild-type cells. Increased inhibition of degradation and elevated accumulations of fibrillated proteins were observed in SynA30P-expressing msrA null mutant cells. Additionally, methionine oxidation inhibited α-synuclein phosphorylation in yeast cells and in vitro by casein kinase 2. Thus, a compromised MsrA function combined with α-synuclein overexpression may promote processes leading to synucleinopathies.
Increasing heterosexual responsiveness in the treatment of sexual deviation: A review of the clinical and experimental evidence

Despite wide agreement that avoidance of heterosexuality is a major component in the genesis and maintenance of sexual deviation, the development of therapeutic procedures to increase heterosexual responsiveness has been largely neglected in favor of aversion therapy to suppress deviant responsiveness. Therapeutic procedures that have been employed to increase heterosexual responsiveness include: aversion relief techniques in which relief from an aversive stimulus is paired with heterosexual stimuli; “Systematic Desensitization procedures” in which heterosexual avoidance is desensitized either in imagination or in the real situation; social retraining where heterosexual skills are directly encouraged and taught; or pairing techniques in which sexual arousal is elicited and associated with heterosexual stimuli. Clinical and experimental evidence for the effectiveness of these procedures, as well as some newly developed techniques which cannot be classified in the above categories, is evaluated and the relationship of these procedures to aversion therapy in the treatment of sexual deviation is discussed.
Calpain inhibitor MDL28170 modulates Aβ formation by inhibiting the formation of intermediate Aβ46 and protecting Aβ from degradation

The observations that three major cleavages within the transmembrane domain of APP, namely, the gamma-cleavage, -cleavage, and the newly identified zeta-cleavage, are involved in the generation of secreted Abeta40 and Abeta42 prompted us to determine how the calpain inhibitor III MDL 28170 influences these three cleavages and Abeta formation. With the use of a cell culture system, our data demonstrate that 1) at either high concentrations, or at a low range of concentrations, at early time points, MDL 28170 inhibits the formation of secreted Abeta40 and Abeta42. However, this effect is due to inhibition of the intermediate Abeta46 generation by zeta-cleavage and not due to direct inhibition of the gamma-cleavage that produces Abeta40/42 from Abeta46; 2) at low range of concentrations and at late time points, MDL 28170 causes an increase in secreted Abeta40/42 that likely results from inhibition of degradation of both the initial substrate, CTFbeta, and the final product, Abeta40/42, of gamma-secretase. These data strongly suggest that formation of Abeta46 is a key step in the gamma-secretase mediated generation of Abeta40/42 and provide a new target for the development of Abeta inhibitors. These data also suggest that calpain and related proteases, which are sensitive to MDL 28170, play an important role in the accumulation of secreted Abeta.
The derivation language of a phrase structure grammar

This paper studies the problem of representing derivations in general phrasestructuregrammars. By properly sorting the nodes, the syntactical graph of any derivation in a phrase-structure language can be expressed uniquely as a word in a context-sensitive language, just as the derivations in a context-free grammar can be expressed in the prefix form of a derivation tree. The set of all such graph representations is called the ''derivation language.'' Algorithms are given for obtaining the one-to-one correspondence between the set of syntactical graphs (of a grammar) and the derivation language. In the special case of context-free grammars, the results reduce to well-known properties of context-free derivations.
A Challenge for Social Studies Educators: Teaching about Islam, Jihād, and Shari’ah Law

In this article, the author investigates the controversial curricular and instructional aspects of teaching about Islam in social studies courses. Specifically, the author discusses pedagogically sound approaches to teaching about jihād and Shari’ah law, two of the most important and controversial concepts in Islam that often generate intense debates among scholars, policy-makers, social studies teachers, and the general public. It is crucial that social studies teachers present all of the competing and complex definitions regarding jihād and Shari’ah law; this task is exacerbated by passionate disagreements among Islamic scholars, lawyers, and historians over the true nature of these concepts. Many K–12 textbooks omit or distort the multiple interpretations of jihād and Shari’ah law because of political pressures, space limitations, and efforts to avoid controversies inherent in discussing religion. Thus, many students are confused by competing views and ideological perspectives by experts regarding Isla...
BH3-only protein silencing contributes to acquired resistance to PLX4720 in human melanoma

B-RAF is mutated to a constitutively active form in 8% of human cancers including 50% of melanomas. In clinical trials, the RAF inhibitor, PLX4032 (vemurafenib), caused partial or complete responses in 48–81% of mutant B-RAF harboring melanoma patients. However, the average duration of response was 6–7 months before tumor regrowth, indicating the acquisition of resistance to PLX4032. To understand the mechanisms of resistance, we developed mutant B-RAF melanoma cells that displayed resistance to RAF inhibition through continuous culture with PLX4720 (the tool compound for PLX4032). Resistance was associated with a partial reactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling, recovery of G1/S cell-cycle events, and suppression of the pro-apoptotic B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) homology domain 3 (BH3)-only proteins, Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death-extra large (Bim-EL) and Bcl-2 modifying factor (Bmf). Preventing ERK1/2 reactivation with MEK (mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase) inhibitors blocked G1-S cell-cycle progression but failed to induce apoptosis or upregulate Bim-EL and Bmf. Treatment with the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, led to de-repression of Bim-EL and enhanced cell death in the presence of PLX4720 or AZD6244 in resistant cells. These data indicate that acquired resistance to PLX4032/4720 likely involves ERK1/2 pathway reactivation as well as ERK1/2-independent silencing of BH3-only proteins. Furthermore, combined treatment of HDAC inhibitors and MEK inhibitors may contribute to overcoming PLX4032 resistance.
Structural biology of the hepatitis C virus proteins

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant human pathogen of global impact. Therapeutic intervention to cure infections, although improving with recent specific antivirals, still remains a challenge because of the diversity of HCV genotypes and the ability of the virus to quickly evolve resistance. An evolving list of antiviral targets is therefore necessary to help stem the global burden of HCV, and the structural characterization of key viral proteins is of significant importance to this effort.
Hyperglycemia Management in the Hospital: The Pharmacist's Role

Hyperglycemia is prevalent in the inpatient setting and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes and in those without diabetes. Too often hyperglycemia is underrecognized, under-reported, and undermanaged. Insulin is the treatment of choice for most patients who have hyperglycemia and are hospitalized, and pharmacists are often responsible for ensuring its safe and effective use. Improving hyperglycemia management in patients who are hospitalized provides pharmacists with an opportunity to positively affect patient outcomes and health care costs. This article discusses the pharmacist's role in managing blood glucose levels; current recommendations for target blood glucose concentrations; the evolution of insulin treatment from sliding scale to algorithms/protocols to computer-guided decision-support systems; discharge planning; and patient education.
Inpatient procedures in elderly women: An analysis over time

Objectives To describe inpatient surgical and diagnostic/therapeutic procedures in women ≥65 years old and assess procedure trends over time.
Microcomputers in US Planning: Past Present and Future:

The historical development of microcomputer use in US planning is reviewed and the major ways in which microcomputers are currently being used in planning practice and education are evaluated. Seven applications of microcomputer technology in planning are examined: electronic spreadsheets, data-base management, statistical analysis and forecasting, computer-aided design and drafting, geographic information systems, planning information, and expert systems. Current educational and professional development efforts in this area are evaluated, and the prospects which continued technological advances will have for the use of microcomputers in US planning are assessed.
Comparative virulence of clinical Brachyspira spp. isolates in inoculated pigs

Classical swine dysentery is associated with the presence of the strongly beta-hemolytic Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. However, multiple Brachyspira spp. can colonize the porcine colon. Since 2008, several Brachyspira spp. not identified as B. hyodysenteriae by genotypic and/or phenotypic methods have been isolated from the feces of pigs with clinical disease typical of swine dysentery. In the current study, 8 clinical isolates, including 5 strongly beta-hemolytic and 3 weakly beta-hemolytic Brachyspira strains, and a reference strain of B. hyodysenteriae (B204) were inoculated into pigs (n = 6 per isolate) to compare pathogenic potential following oral inoculation. Results revealed that strongly beta-hemolytic isolates induced significantly greater typhlocolitis than those that are weakly beta-hemolytic, regardless of the genetic identification of the isolate, and that strongly beta-hemolytic isolates identified as "Brachyspira sp. SASK30446" and Brachyspira intermedia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) produced lesions similar to those caused by B. hyodysenteriae. The results suggest that phenotypic culture characteristics of Brachyspira spp. may be a more sensitive indicator of potential to induce dysentery-like disease in pigs than molecular identification alone based on currently available PCR assays. Additionally, culture of mucosal scrapings obtained at necropsy was more sensitive than direct PCR on the same samples for detection of Brachyspira spp.
Dual role of esterases in insecticide resistance in the green rice leafhopper

Abstract The role of esterases as related to insecticide resistance was studied in an organophosphorus (OP)-resistant strain of the green rice leafhopper. As judged by p -nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis, 21, 5, and 74% of the esterase activity was located in nuclei/mitochondria, microsomes, and the soluble fraction, respectively. All the fractions were active in hydrolyzing malathion, paraoxon, and fenvalerate. Hydrolysis of malathion and fenvalerate increased with time while that of paraoxon reached a plateau within 15 min. Since a considerable amount of p -nitrophenol was detected in the paraoxon reaction at 0°C and at zero time, the formation of p -nitrophenol may be due to phosphorylation of the esterases rather than phosphorotriesterase action. The results suggest a dual role for esterases in resistance mechanisms; a catalyst for hydrolysis of malathion and fenvalerate, and a binding protein for the oxygen analogs of other OP insecticides, both of which would protect the intrinsic target, acetylcholinesterase, from inhibition. Chromatofocusing of the soluble fraction resolved five esterase peaks, I–V. These esterases were active toward the three general substrates as well as for the three insecticides tested, except for Peak I in which the overall activity was too low. Thin-layer agar gel electrophoresis showed that the chromatofocusing peaks I–V corresponded to the electrophoretic bands E 1 –E 5 , some of which were previously shown to be associated with OP resistance. The dual role of these esterases may explain the cross-resistance between malathion and other OP insecticides as well as synergism between OP and carbamate insecticides.
Altimeter estimates of anomalous transports into the northern California Current during 2000–2002

[1] Surface transports into the California Current are calculated from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter surface height slopes during the 9.5 year period from October 1992–May 2002. These quantify the anomalous onshore and southward displacements of the water column during the 2000–2002 period, which had been hypothesized by others based on anomalous water properties observed in mid-2002 off Oregon. Anomalous eastward transport into the boundary between 52°–54°N occurred first (mid-2000 to mid-2001) followed by eastward transport into the boundary between 50°–52°N in 2001. Equatorward transports during 2001 and 2002 resulted in approximately 800 km of anomalous southward displacements during the 1.5 years prior to the anomalous observations off Oregon. This sequence suggests that both onshore and southward displacement anomalies off British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest contributed to the subarctic characteristics of the water observed off Oregon.
Materials science: germanium takes holey orders.

Soap-like molecules serve as a scaffold for remarkably well-ordered, porous germanium skeletons. The nanometre-sized features of these semiconductor frameworks confer unique optical and electronic properties.
Disruption of the alpha5 helix of transducin impairs rhodopsin-catalyzed nucleotide exchange.

Photoactivated rhodopsin (R*) catalyzes nucleotide exchange by transducin, the heterotrimeric G protein of the rod cell. Recently, we showed that certain alanine replacement mutants of the α5 helix of the α subunit of transducin (Gαt) displayed very rapid nucleotide exchange rates even in the absence of R* [Marin, E. P., Krishna, A. G., and Sakmar, T. P. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 27400−27405]. We suggested that R* catalyzes nucleotide exchange by perturbing residues on the α5 helix. Here, we characterize deletion, insertion, and proline replacement mutants of amino acid residues in α5. In general, the proline mutants exhibited rates of uncatalyzed nucleotide exchange that were 4−8-fold greater than wild type. The proline mutants also generally displayed decreased rates of R*-catalyzed activation. The degree of reduction of the activation rate correlated with the position of the residue replaced with proline. Mutants with replacement of residues at the amino terminus of α5 exhibited mild (<2-fold) decreas...
Constraints on Sustainable Energy Consumption: Market System and Public Policy Challenges and Opportunities

The purpose of this essay is to identify factors that constrain customers’ ability to engage in sustainable energy consumption, conceived of as a consumption practice that reduces the moral hazards associated with fossil fuel overconsumption. The authors outline some marketing policy and consumer research issues related to the market system and identify four constraints to sustainable energy consumption: policies and regulation, product accessibility and availability, pricing, and customer knowledge. This topic is important because of changes in the macro context of energy consumption—namely, the growing recognition of a fundamentally resource-constrained environment and the increased salience of various global commons effects to customers. The authors conclude with directions for further research.
Light sensitive zinc content of protein fractions from bovine rod outer segments.

Abstract Bovine retinas, isolated rod outer segments and emulphogene extracts of rod outer segments have been shown to contain appreciable amounts of Zn2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ when isolated in the absence of added metal ions. Chromatography of emulphogene extracted rod outer segments in Sephadex G-25 showed virtually all the Ca2+, Zn2+ and protein to elute with the void volume. Levels of Zn2+ but not Ca2+ were light sensitive. The Zn2+ contents of protein fractions were about 60% higher when samples were bleached. Under optimal conditions protein fractions contained 1.4 – 1.8 g atoms Zn2+/mole rhodopsin for dark adapted samples and 2.1 to 3.2 g atoms Zn2+/mole of rhodopsin for bleached samples.
A modular approach to program visualization in computer science instruction

The approach to program visualization in computer science instruction discussed here has two components: the graphic display of algorithms and the graphic display of their execution. Both types of display are based on the same hierarchical representation of an algorithm (in terms of Scandura FLOWforms, an enhancement and generalization of Nassi-Shneiderman diagrams). The execution display is obtained by the addition of explicit display commands to the basic algorithm, but the execution display details can be largely suppressed when the algorithm itself is being displayed. Two major characteristics of this approach are the modularity and the easy modifiability of demonstration procedures. The hardware required is an IBM PC or AT or compatible.
Evaluation of static eliminators containing polonium-210

Six static eliminators containing radioactive polonium-210 microspheres were examined subsequent to a contamination incident at a commercial facility. It was found that cracked and broken microspheres were being produced and incorporated into new devices and even as received devices were potential sources of contamination. It is shown that rough handling of the devices may initiate polonium-210 leakage during or prior to service. The epoxy binder used in the devices appears to suffer significant environmental and material damage even under ambient conditions. The effects of solvents, heat, moisture, or vibration during service may accelerate this damage. The breakdown of the epoxy binder appears to be a significant contributor to the contamination by loose microspheres or microsphere fragments.
A study of contemporary levels and temporal trends in inbreeding in the Tangier Island, Virginia, population using pedigree data and isonymy.

In this study we describe inbreeding in a large pedigree from Tangier Island, Virginia, in which we compare two commonly used methods to estimate inbreeding in humans: pedigree and isonymy (identical surnames of spouses). Genealogical data on 3,512 individuals dating back to 1722 were used. Using the pedigree method, we determined an average inbreeding coefficient (F) of 0.00873 for the community as a whole, and 0.018 for inbred individuals. Analysis of temporal trends showed that inbreeding began around 1800 and peaked at 0.0109 in 1824-1849 and 1875-1899. Thereafter, inbreeding steadily declined to 0.00565 in 1975-1997. Analysis of pedigree structure complexity over time showed that close consanguinity contributes to inbreeding in the earlier cohorts, and remote consanguinity accounts for much of the inbreeding in the later cohorts. The number of common ancestors increases over time, as does the number of paths connecting inbred individuals to these common ancestors. Inbreeding estimates based on the isonymy approach yielded a 2.2-fold higher value of F (0.01945) compared to the pedigree method. Total isonymy estimates over 25-year cohorts overestimated inbreeding values from pedigree data between 1. 5-8-fold. We speculate that the overestimation is probably due to the inability of our data to satisfy the method's assumption of monophyletic origin of each surname. In conclusion, inbreeding in the Tangier Island population is consistent with the isolated nature of its population, and temporal trends reflect patterns in emigration and a breakdown in isolation over time.
Hemophilia and the family: life-long challenges and adaptation.

To live with hemophilia presents many long-term psycho-social stresses, in addition to the painful and often immobilizing physical symptoms. Among the psychological stress factors are the impact on the family of raising a hemophilic boy, the patient's coping with frequent hospitalizations often involving infusions and orthopedic care, patient and his family learning the aspects of home care, and the common uncertainties relating to the hemophiliac's social adjustment and educational and professional future. These aspects of the life of hemophiliacs will be presented by the use of an open systems model which allows for delineation of the many interrelationships of the hemophiliac which have to be considered by the comprehensive care team. The maturation of the mind of a young hemophiliac, that is his cognitive functions, and the existence of stable family functioning and open communication within the family and with the health care team are essential allies in promoting a healthy psychosocial development of the hemophiliac.
Low dimensionality of supraspinally induced force fields.

Recent experiments using electrical and N-methyl-d-aspartate microstimulation of the spinal cord gray matter and cutaneous stimulation of the hindlimb of spinalized frogs have provided evidence for a modular organization of the frog’s spinal cord circuitry. A “module” is a functional unit in the spinal cord circuitry that generates a specific motor output by imposing a specific pattern of muscle activation. The output of a module can be characterized as a force field: the collection of the isometric forces generated at the ankle over different locations in the leg’s workspace. Different modules can be combined independently so that their force fields linearly sum. The goal of this study was to ascertain whether the force fields generated by the activation of supraspinal structures could result from combinations of a small number of modules. We recorded a set of force fields generated by the electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve in seven frogs, and we performed a principal component analysis to study the dimensionality of this set. We found that 94% of the total variation of the data is explained by the first five principal components, a result that indicates that the dimensionality of the set of fields evoked by vestibular stimulation is low. This result is compatible with the hypothesis that vestibular fields are generated by combinations of a small number of spinal modules.
Electron paramagnetic resonance of triplet alternant methylenes

Abstract In a previous study the alternant methylenes, propargylene, and some of its homologs, were investigated with electron paramagnetic resonance, and the zero-field splitting parameters of their triplet ground states determined assuming that the g -factors for all the molecules were equal to the free electron value. The same molecules have been reinvestigated at two microwave frequencies, 9.5 GHz and 15.7 GHz, for each sample preparation. With the possible exception of g zz for cyanomethylene and propargylene, the assumption of the free electron g -value is valid for a determination of the zero-field splitting parameters precise to about 1%.
Faith-Based Umbrella Organizations: Implications for Religious Identity

Little research has been done on the role of umbrella organizations in affecting how faith-based organizations (FBOs) relate to their sponsoring faith community. Using interviews, archival historic...
Modelling PMMA porosity on the cement-stem interface of hip implants

Porosity at the cement-stem interface plays a major role in failure of total hip implants. Since porosity is directly proportional to loosening and lack of stability, reducing the number of pores will result in stronger fixations of total joint arthroplasties. Knowing the porosity at the cement-stem interface will be valuable as pores interlink and form cracks. Using Monte Carlo simulation to the data compiled from the literature, a model was developed to assess and predict porosity. The contributing factors of: type of bone cement used, stem temperature upon insertion, and the type of PMMA mixing method used during surgery were incorporated in the model. The model developed was able to predict porosity levels in the cemented hip replacements.
Transformation of human cells with different forms of SV40 DNA.

Abstract Human fibroblast cells can be transformed by DNA extracted from the tumor virus, SV40. The supercoiled DNAs (DNA I) of the small (SV-S) and large (SV-L) plaque variants were compared for their ability to induce T-antigen and to transform human cells. The transforming efficiencies of SV-S and SV-L DNA I were similar in contrast to the marked differences in transformation reported with the intact virions. A mixture of nicked circular and linear forms of SV-S DNA was also capable of transforming human cells. The DNA transformed cells were similar in morphology to transformants produced by whole virus, and infectious virus of the same plaque type as the parent strain could be recovered from DNA transformed cells. With mechanically sheared linear fragments of SV-S DNA, ranging in size from 3.0 to 8.6 × 10 5 daltons, neither infectivity nor transforming activity could be detected.
Tracer Concentration Gradients for Diffusion Coefficients Exponentially Dependent on Concentration

A diffusion equation having a tracer diffusion coefficient exponentially dependent on solute concentration, D* = D/sub 0/* exp (..beta..C), was solved numerically for thin-film and thick-film boundary conditions and varying values of annealing time, film thickness, and ..beta... For values of ..beta.. in the range 3 to 10 mol fraction/sup -1/, the calculated distribution of solute remained remarkably Gaussian. The apparent diffusion coefficient evaluated from such solute gradients was greater than the true tracer diffusion coefficient D/sub 0/* by less than or equal to 20 percent for large ..beta.. and shallow tracer penetration. The results were used to estimate possible errors in data which have been reported for several oxide systems, and may be used as a guide for the selection of experimental parameters so that corrections will not be necessary.
Structural and Mechanistic Insights into the Interaction of Cytochrome P4503A4 with Bromoergocryptine, a Type I Ligand

Cytochrome P4503A4 (CYP3A4), a major human drug-metabolizing enzyme, is responsible for the oxidation and clearance of the majority of administered drugs. One of the CYP3A4 substrates is bromoergocryptine (BEC), a dopamine receptor agonist prescribed for the inhibition of prolactin secretion and treatment of Parkinson disease, type 2 diabetes, and several other pathological conditions. Here we present a 2.15 Å crystal structure of the CYP3A4-BEC complex in which the drug, a type I heme ligand, is bound in a productive mode. The manner of BEC binding is consistent with the in vivo metabolite analysis and identifies the 8′ and 9′ carbons of the proline ring as the primary sites of oxidation. The crystal structure predicts the importance of Arg212 and Thr224 for binding of the tripeptide and lysergic moieties of BEC, respectively, which we confirmed experimentally. Our data support a three-step BEC binding model according to which the drug binds first at a peripheral site without perturbing the heme spectrum and then translocates into the active site cavity, where formation of a hydrogen bond between Thr224 and the N1 atom of the lysergic moiety is followed by a slower conformational readjustment of the tripeptide group modulated by Arg212.
Family environment influences emotion recognition following paediatric traumatic brain injury

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between family functioning and performance on two tasks of emotion recognition (emotional prosody and face emotion recognition) and a cognitive control procedure (the Flanker task) following paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) or orthopaedic injury (OI).Methods: A total of 142 children (75 TBI, 67 OI) were assessed on three occasions: baseline, 3 months and 1 year post-injury on the two emotion recognition tasks and the Flanker task. Caregivers also completed the Life Stressors and Resources Scale (LISRES) on each occasion. Growth curve analysis was used to analyse the data.Results: Results indicated that family functioning influenced performance on the emotional prosody and Flanker tasks but not on the face emotion recognition task. Findings on both the emotional prosody and Flanker tasks were generally similar across groups. However, financial resources emerged as significantly related to emotional prosody performance in the TBI group only (p = 0.0...
Efficient Light Harvesting Polymers for Nanocrystalline TiO2Photovoltaic Cells

Carboxylated polythiophenes were found to be alternative photo sensitizers for nanocrystalline TiO2 photovoltaic (PV) cells. The overall solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency found was ∼1.5% in these regenerative electrochemical photovoltaic cells without any dye sensitizer. These initial and promising results are believed to be due to the presence of the carboxylic group which provides enhanced adsorption and transport of the photoinduced charge. Further optimization is expected to result in even higher PV performance.
Stakeholder position paper: economist's perspectives on antibiotic use in animals.

Abstract Economics seeks to understand and explain the allocation of resources within society and to suggest appropriate policy to achieve goals such as optimal efficiency. Relating antimicrobial use and antibiotic resistance is a complex task and requires very clear and careful analyses of many relationships. To address these relationships, antibiotic use data must be linked with other basic data. Ideally, a complex relational database needs to be developed. These must include data on: antimicrobial usage, farm-level animal productivity, basic disease, basic farm management, consumer response, and antimicrobial resistance at multiple levels (farm, during process, on a variety of both animal, vegetable and grain-derived food products, from humans, from other animal species, and from the environment) among other data. Such a complex relational database can help with the attribution and risk assessment process. Also these linked data are needed in order to develop the economic production models and other economic models, as well as control for confounding so that there is both adequate and appropriate statistical control. Antimicrobial usage data may become economically important for reasons unrelated to animal productivity and animal health. With expanding global trade of animals and animal products, there have been changes in restrictions and regulations associated with the movement of products. Future trade opportunities may be linked to antimicrobial usage. The European Union banned the use of antimicrobials for growth-promoting purposes based on perceived risk and on public opinion. Monitoring antimicrobial use, disease occurrence, and resistance patterns following changes in usage that are a result of either policy changes or response to new information will help in the understanding of the complex relationships in microbial and disease ecology. There is a lot of evidence substantiating the productivity and profitability gains to producers from the use of antimicrobials. There is also evidence for the potential gains to consumers, both from an economic perspective as well as from a health perspective. Economists can help identify the implications of these relationships both at a micro- and macroeconomic level; both relative to producer and to consumer welfare. We are at a pivotal time in history with sufficient analytical expertise and tools to address this complex issue from a scientific perspective. Linking various agencies so there can be coordination of data collection and data sharing is needed to successfully address this topic.
Analysis of Clostridium difficile infections after cardiac surgery: Epidemiologic and economic implications from national data

Objectives Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) have increased during the past 2 decades, especially among cardiac surgical patients, who share many of the comorbidity risk factors for CDI. Our objectives were to use a large national database to identify the regional-, hospital-, patient-, and procedure-level risk factors for CDI; and determine mortality, resource usage, and cost of CDIs in cardiac surgery. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, we identified 349,122 patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass, valve, or thoracic–aortic surgery from 2004 to 2008. Of these, 2581 (0.75%) had been diagnosed with CDI. Multivariable regression analysis and the propensity method were used for risk adjustment. Results Compared with the West, CDIs were more likely to occur in the Northeast (odds ratio [OR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.47) and Midwest (OR, 1.27, 95% CI, 1.11-1.46) and less likely in the South (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90). Medium-size hospitals (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99) had a lower risk of CDI than did large hospitals. Older age (>75 years; OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.93-3.49), longer preoperative length of stay (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.43-1.60), Medicare (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.39) and Medicaid (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.31-1.96) coverage, and more comorbidities were associated with CDI. Among the matched pairs, patients with CDIs had greater mortality (302 [12%] vs 187 [7.2%], P P P Conclusions Our results have shown that CDI is associated with increased morbidity and resource usage. Additional work is needed to better understand the complex interplay among regional-, hospital-, and patient-level factors.
Embryology, Ethology and Ecology of Ontogenetic Critical Periods in Fish

Overviews of critical period concepts, as they appear at several biological levels, are presented. In embryology, critical periods generally refer to restricted periods in development during which und
On tool wear and its effect on machined surface integrity

This paper presents the results of an investigation of induced residual stress, induced strain, and induced subsurface energy in machined surfaces due to the machining process. The influence of tool wear on residual stress, strain, and energy is also reported. The exact elasticity solution for a split ring was extended and used to calculate the residual stress in the machined surface by using ring dimension changes caused by the electrochemical removal of a thin layer of residually stressed surface. The strain distribution beneath the machined surface was determined by using the grid technique. The subsurface energy stored in the machined surface was then obtained from the data of residual stress and strain. For the materials studied, this investigation showed that such energy could not be neglected when establishing the total energy needed for machining a unit volume of material.
Numerical Simulation of Effect of Fracture Distribution on Failure Mechanism of Tunnel

In order to study the effect of rock fracture distributions on stability of tunnel, the effect of joints with different strike dip, the size and density was considered by using probability and statistics method. Based on the Monte Carlo random simulation, the statistical network model of 2D jointed rockmass was established to describe and characterize jointed rock mass. On the basis of this, the numerical code RFPA2D is employed to analyze effect of fracture dip angle on the tunnel stability. Numerical results show that the fracture distribution has a little effect on tunnels failure mechanism and failure type of tunnel because the failure of tunnel in the jointed rockmass is similar to the one without joints and fissures. However with the change of the fracture dip angle, the loading capacity of the tunnel in the jointed rockmass varies accordingly.
Assessing the subsequent effect of a formative evaluation on a program

The literature on formative evaluation focuses on its conceptual framework, methodology and use. Permeating this work is a consensus that a program will be strengthened as a result of a formative evaluation although little empirical evidence exists in the literature to demonstrate the subsequent effects of a formative evaluation on a program. This study begins to fill that gap. To do this, we outline the initial program and formative evaluation, present key findings of the formative evaluation, describe how these findings influenced the final program and summative evaluation, and then compare the findings to those of the formative. The study demonstrates that formative evaluation can strengthen the implementation and some impacts of a program, i.e. knowledge and some behaviors. The findings also suggest that when researchers are faced with negative feedback about program components in a formative evaluation, they need to exercise care in interpreting and using this feedback.
Vomeronasal, Olfactory, Hormonal Convergence in the Brain: Cooperation or Coincidence?a

This paper briefly reviews three topics: (a) Convergent vomeronasal and olfactory chemosensory input into a common circuit considered important for mating in male golden hamsters; (b) Apparent activation of this circuit by intracerebral luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and (c) Interaction of the LHRH and the two chemosensory inputs. Mapping of c-fos protein in male hamsters mating with females or exposed to female pheromones indicates intense activation in the central vomeronasal pathways, induced by both olfactory and vomeronasal input. This input appears to activate the medial preoptic area, where chemosensory activation is greater in experienced than in inexperienced animals. Intracerebral injection of LHRH facilitates mating behavior and increases Fos expression in the medial preoptic area of mating males. Despite evidence that the release of LHRH in response to female chemosignals is dependent on vomeronasal input, no activation of LHRH neurons has been demonstrated in males exposed to such chemosignals. Electrical stimulation of the vomeronasal organ can induce Fos expression in chemosensory pathways and in medial preoptic LHRH neurons.
Clinical, histologic, and genetic features of mesothelioma in a 7-Year-old child

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive malignancy that is extremely rare in children. This case report documents a 7-year-old male without previous asbestos exposure with peritoneal MM that initially responded to chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine but ultimately metastasized to his chest. He was diagnosed with MM based on histology, extensive immunohistochemical analyses, and an elevated serum CA-125 level. Cytogenetics and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis of his tumor identified a single extra copy number of chromosome 11 with few other changes noted. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 146–148. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cdc73 Subunit of Paf1 Complex Contains C-terminal Ras-like Domain That Promotes Association of Paf1 Complex with Chromatin

The conserved Paf1 complex localizes to the coding regions of genes and facilitates multiple processes during transcription elongation, including the regulation of histone modifications. However, the mechanisms that govern Paf1 complex recruitment to active genes are undefined. Here we describe a previously unrecognized domain within the Cdc73 subunit of the Paf1 complex, the Cdc73 C-domain, and demonstrate its importance for Paf1 complex occupancy on transcribed chromatin. Deletion of the C-domain causes phenotypes associated with elongation defects without an apparent loss of complex integrity. Simultaneous mutation of the C-domain and another subunit of the Paf1 complex, Rtf1, causes enhanced mutant phenotypes and loss of histone H3 lysine 36 trimethylation. The crystal structure of the C-domain reveals unexpected similarity to the Ras family of small GTPases. Instead of a deep nucleotide-binding pocket, the C-domain contains a large but comparatively flat surface of highly conserved residues, devoid of ligand. Deletion of the C-domain results in reduced chromatin association for multiple Paf1 complex subunits. We conclude that the Cdc73 C-domain probably constitutes a protein interaction surface that functions with Rtf1 in coupling the Paf1 complex to the RNA polymerase II elongation machinery.
Density stratification in an estuary with complex geometry: Driving processes and relationship to hypoxia on monthly to inter‐annual timescales

[1] The density field in Narragansett Bay (NB), a northeast U.S. estuary with complex geometry that suffers hypoxia, is described and related to driving factors using monthly means from time series observations at 9 sites during late spring to early fall 2001–2009. Stratification (deep-shallow density difference) is dominated by salinity and strongest (4– 7k g m � 3 in late spring) near rivers in the north and east. Shallow horizontal density gradients are about 0.2 kg m � 3 km � 1 ; deep densities have minor spatial and seasonal variations. Geographic structure in density, and its inter-annual anomalies, is weaker than expected based on the complex geometry and large size relative to the internal deformation radius. Inter-annual variability is primarily driven by river flow and weakly influenced by winds, contrasting nearby systems (Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound), likely due to reduced fetch and/or unfavorable alignment with prevailing winds. Stratification response to river flow follows 2/3 power scaling despite that the theory omits important NB attributes (complex geometry, depth-varying horizontal gradients). Contrasting other systems (Delaware Bay, San Francisco Bay), horizontal gradients are at least as responsive to river forcing as theoretical 1/3 power scaling; depth-dependent horizontal gradients or finite basin constraint of intrusion length may be responsible. Bay-wide inter-annual variations in seasonal hypoxia correlate with late spring stratification, though stratification peaks in the north and east with hypoxia most severe in the north and west. Long-term response of stratification, and thus its role in hypoxia, to climate-driven increases in river flow and temperatures will be dominated by the former.
Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor–δ Enhances Regenerative Capacity of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells by Stimulating Biosynthesis of Tetrahydrobiopterin

The mechanisms underlying the regenerative capacity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are not fully understood. We hypothesized that biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin is an important mechanism responsible for the stimulatory effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-δ (PPARδ) activation on regenerative function of human EPCs. Treatment of human EPCs with a selective PPARδ agonist GW501516 for 24 hours increased the levels of mRNA, protein, and enzymatic activity of GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH I), as well as the production of tetrahydrobiopterin. The effects of GW501516 were mediated by suppression of PTEN expression, thereby increasing phosphorylation of AKT. The AKT signaling also mediated GW501516-induced phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase. In addition, activation of PPARδ significantly enhanced proliferation of EPCs. This effect was abolished by the GTPCH I inhibitor, 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine, or genetic inactivation of GTPCH I with small interfering RNA but not by inhibition of endothelial NO synthase with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. Supplementation of NO did not reverse 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine-inhibited 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Furthermore, transplantation of human EPCs stimulated re-endothelialization in a mouse model of carotid artery injury. Pretreatment of EPCs with GW501516 significantly enhanced the ability of transplanted EPCs to repair denuded endothelium. GTPCH I-small interfering RNA transfection significantly inhibited in vivo regenerative capacity of EPCs stimulated with GW501516. Thus, in human EPCs, activation of PPARδ stimulates expression and activity of GTPCH I and biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin via PTEN-AKT signaling pathway. This effect enhances the regenerative function of EPCs.
The Domestic Politics of Trade and Conflict

Liberal international relations theory suggests that mutual gains from trade prevent conflict between states. Previous research has focused predominately on international outcomes, especially the occurrence of militarized conflict between pairs of states. How concerns about welfare gains from trade help produce the policy choices leading to these outcomes is less well understood. This paper examines the influence of economic interests arising from international trade on the policy-making process at the domestic level. If the benefits of trade increase the opportunity cost of conflict, then support for a harmonious foreign policy should be strongest among trade�s domestic beneficiaries. Those whose income is diminished by trade have no reason to favor a friendly foreign policy and might even prefer a hostile alternative. We test whether the domestic distributional effects of trade affect support for hostile foreign policies toward China among representatives in the US Congress. An analysis of cosponsorship and roll-call voting suggests that the export orientation and import sensitivity of their districts influences members� positions on measures that criticize Chinese policies or treat the country as a security threat.
The drug facts box: providing consumers with simple tabular data on drug benefit and harm.

Context. Direct-to-consumer drug ads have been criticized for providing inadequate and misleading information. Requiring ads to include a table with data on drug benefits and side effects (derived from clinical trials) could help, provided that consumers understand such tabular information. Objective. To determine if people could understand and use a 9-row × 2-column ``study findings table'' presenting expected outcomes (both beneficial and harmful) with and without a drug. Subjects.A convenience sample of 274 participants: 186 recruited from alumni of Dartmouth's ``Community Medical School'' public lecture series and Dartmouth Hitchcock's Center for Shared Decision Making and 88 veterans and their families recruited from waiting rooms in the Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, White River Junction, Vermont. Design. Cross-sectional survey. Participants were tested on their comprehension of the study findings table about the drug tamoxifen used for the primary prevention of breast cancer—with no instructio...
The organization of information retrieved from situation models

The organization of information when it is retrieved from situation models was explored using recognition and recall tests. A fan effect paradigm was used to assess organization in recognition and a clustering measure was used in recall. People memorized either object-location facts (e.g., “The pay phone is in the city hall”) or person/small location facts (e.g., “The banker is on the witness stand”). For object-location facts, a location-based organization was observed in both recall and recognition. However, for person/small location facts, a location-based organization was observed for recall, and a person-based organization was observed for recognition. Thus, the observed organization was flexible depending on the retrieval task.
Naval Communications-Radio Washington

This article describes the radio facilities at Radio Washington. There is included a brief description of receiving equipment and of methods of control of transmitters in use at the Navy Department, Radio Central, and of the transmitting equipment installed at Arlington, Va., and Annapolis, Md.