cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal Trends and Geographic Variations in Mortality Rates from Prescription Opioids: Lessons from Florida and West Virginia.

OBJECTIVES To explore temporal trends and geographic variations in mortality from prescription opioids from 1999 to 2016. METHODS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research Multiple Cause of Death files were used to calculate age-adjusted rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and create spatial cluster maps. RESULTS From 1999 to 2016, counties in West Virginia experienced the highest overall mortality rates in the United States from prescription opioids. Specifically, from 1999 to 2004, the highest rate in West Virginia of 24.87/100,000 (95% CI 17.84-33.73) was the fourth highest in the United States. From 2005 to 2009, West Virginia experienced the highest rate in the United States, 60.72/100,000 (95% CI 47.33-76.71). From 2010 to 2016, West Virginia also experienced the highest rate in the United States, which was 90.24/100,000 (95% CI 73.11-107.36). As such, overall, West Virginia experienced the highest rates in the United States and the largest increases overall of ~3.6-fold between 1999 and 2004 and 2010 and 2016. From 1999 to 2004, Florida had no "hot spots," but from 2006 to 2010 they did appear, and from 2011 to 2016, they disappeared. CONCLUSIONS These data show markedly divergent temporal trends and geographic variations in mortality rates from prescription opioids, especially in the southern United States. Specifically, although initial rates were high and continued to increase alarmingly in West Virginia, they increased but then decreased in Florida. These descriptive data generate hypotheses requiring testing in analytic epidemiological studies. Understanding the divergent patterns of prescription opioid-related deaths, especially in West Virginia and Florida, may have important clinical and policy implications.
Ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine reverses behavioral despair produced by adolescent trauma.

Abstract Early life trauma dramatically increases the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD), and is associated with a markedly decreased adult treatment response to antidepressants. Novel treatment approaches are required to treat childhood trauma-associated MDD. Recent studies suggest that the (R,S)-ketamine (ketamine) metabolite, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), exerts fast- and long-lasting antidepressant-like effects without ketamine's NMDAR-inhibition-associated adverse side-effect profile. We investigated the therapeutic potential of (2R,6R)-HNK against behavioral despair produced by a novel live-predator stress exposure during adolescence. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to a live snake or control conditions at post-natal (PND) days 31, 45 and 61. In order to assess the enduring consequences of trauma-exposure, at a minimum of 14 days following the last exposure, mice received inescapable shocks followed by a session with available escape options twenty-four hours later. Mice that manifested enduring escape deficits (helplessness) were treated with vehicle or (2R,6R)-HNK (20 mg/kg, i.p.), 24 h prior to retesting for reversal of escape deficits. We found that a significantly greater number of mice developed the helpless phenotype when they were exposed to the live predator and that the helpless phenotype was reversed in mice treated with (2R,6R)-HNK. There were no sex differences in the response to predator-stress exposure or (2R,6R)-HNK treatment. The live-predator model developed in this study provides an opportunity to further refine our understanding of the neurobiological substrates impacted by adolescent trauma and improve treatment strategies. The demonstrated efficacy of (2R,6R)-HNK in this model suggests a novel therapeutic intervention for a treatment-resistant population.
Decrease in Hatchability of Pheasant Eggs Associated with Enterococcus faecalis

A game bird producer in the North Central region of the United States submitted unhatched ring-neck pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) eggs for diagnostic evaluation. The submitting complaint was a drastic drop in hatchability. This operation has its own breeder birds that are housed in outside pens. This hatch occurred in the latter third of the production cycle. Typical hatchability for this operation is around 75% (± 3%). The hatchability of this hatch was between 14%-15%. Approximately 30,000 eggs were set with an expected hatchability of about 23,000 birds. The number of birds from this hatch was less than 4500, with a net loss approaching 20,000 chicks. All unhatched eggs submitted were in late stage development. The chick embryos had pipped through the shell but died before hatching. Approximately 5000 eggs originating from an outside breeder source were also set at the same time in the same machines and experienced a normal hatch. The exterior surfaces of the eggshells of the unhatched eggs experiencing low hatchability were swabbed and submitted for bacteriologic evaluation. Additionally, embryos from some of the unhatched eggs were removed aseptically from their eggshells, and their internal organs were harvested and submitted for bacteriologic evaluation. The bacteriology results identified no pathogenic bacteria from the eggshells. However, the embryo samples revealed large quantities of Enterococcus faecalis. In discussions with the producer, the only factor identified was an unusually warm period followed by an atypically cold and wet period during the time of egg collection for those eggs experiencing low hatchability.
Abstract 173: Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Induces Cognitive Impairment and Aggravates the Progression of Cardiac and Renal Dysfunction

Background: Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VICD) are major health problems worldwide. Heart-kidney deficit and dementia frequently coexist, but little is known whether...
What Do Preschool Teachers Know About Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Does It Impact Ratings of Child Impairment?

Among preschool children referred for psychological assessment and intervention, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed disorder. In order to create school-based interventions that are consistently and effectively implemented by teachers, it is important to understand teachers’ knowledge and beliefs about ADHD, as studies have identified lack of knowledge as a barrier to treatment integrity. The present study seeks to fill the important gaps of previous work and gain an understanding of preschool teachers’ knowledge and opinions of ADHD, and how knowledge of ADHD impacts teachers’ perceptions of child impairment across domains. The present study includes teachers (n = 107; 97.2% female; 59.2% Hispanic or Latino; 16.8% Black or African-American) of ethnically and linguistically diverse preschool students in an urban school setting who were being referred for a summer treatment program. Teachers’ knowledge of ADHD was investigated and related to teacher characteristics (i.e., education, years of experience, classroom type, professional development) and ratings of child impairment across domains. Overall, preschool teachers achieved 38.3% accuracy on the knowledge of ADHD measure, with highest levels of inaccurate knowledge related to the symptoms and treatment for ADHD. Generally, teachers with more misperceptions and knowledge gaps regarding ADHD rated children as more impaired on several domains. The results of the current study reveal large gaps in preschool teacher knowledge of ADHD. As such, there are important implications for future teacher training and professional development.
Demographic trends of open globe injuries in a large inpatient sample.

PURPOSE To evaluate demographic trends of open globe injuries (OGIs) using a large dataset representative of United States population. METHODS Retrospective cross-sectional observational study using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2002 to 2013. Only patients with a primary admitting diagnosis of OGI were included. Data included age (in years), gender, race, type of OGI, death rate and length and cost of stay. RESULTS During the 12-year period, 27,467 adults (age > 20) with acute OGIs were admitted to the US hospitals. The incidence of OGIs in the adult US population was 10.6 cases per 1,000,000 persons. The mean age was 50.4 years (SD 21.52); the average ages of men and women were 44.34 (SD 17.63) and 65.69 (SD 22.77), respectively. Men accounted for 71% of all cases, with 84% of patients under 60. A decrease in the number of OGIs was seen with advancing age in men, whereas the opposite was true for women. Men, elderly over 80 and Blacks were at the highest risk of sustaining an OGI. The most and least common types of injuries were penetrating injuries (73%) and IOFBs (11%), respectively. Over half of young adults in the 21-40 cohort and 43% of men were uninsured (p < 0.001). The average length of hospital stay increased with age and was significantly much higher in women than men (3.4 vs 2.5 days). CONCLUSIONS Racial, gender and age disparities are prevalent in patients with OGIs. Although the majority of cases were seen in Whites and young men age 21-40 years, the incidence of OGIs per 1,000,000 persons per year was the highest in Blacks and Hispanics, elderly over 80, and men. One-third of all cases were uninsured. These disparities should be the basis of future public health safety measures.
Astrocyte-derived ApoE is Required for the Maturation of Injury-induced Hippocampal Neurons and Regulates Cognitive Recovery After Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene confer a major genetic risk for the development of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and are predictive of outcome following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Alterations in adult hippocampal neurogenesis have long been associated with both the development of AD and recovery following TBI, and ApoE is known to play a role in this process. In order to determine how ApoE might influence hippocampal injury-induced neurogenesis, we developed a novel conditional system whereby functional ApoE from astrocytes was ablated just prior to injury. While successfully ablating 90% of astrocytic ApoE just prior to a closed cortical impact injury in mice, we observed an attenuation in the development of newly born neurons using a GFP-expressing retrovirus, but not in existing hippocampal neurons visualized with a Golgi stain. Intriguingly, animals with a “double-hit”, i.e. injury and ApoE conditionally inactivated in astrocytes, demonstrated the most pronounced impairments in the hippocampal-dependent Morris water maze test, failing to exhibit spatial memory after both acquisition and reversal training trials. In comparison, conditional knockout mice without injury displayed impairments but only in the reversal phase of the test, suggesting accumulative effects of astrocytic ApoE deficiency and traumatic brain injury on AD-like phenotypes. Together, these findings demonstrate that astrocytic ApoE is required for functional injury-induced neurogenesis following traumatic brain injury. Significance Statement ApoE has long been implicated in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and recovery from traumatic brain injury via unknown mechanisms. Using a novel conditional ablation model of mouse ApoE and subsequent tracing of individual hippocampal neurons, we demonstrate its requirement in injury-induced neurogenesis for proper dendritic arborization and cognitive function in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory tasks.
Couple communication and contraception use in urban Senegal.

Objectives:Couple communication about family planning has been shown to increase uptake of contraception. However, couple communication is often measured based solely on one partner’s report of com...
Surgical clerkship: Do examination scores correlate with clinical performance?

Abstract Background This study aims to determine if there are correlations between clinical performance and objective grading parameters for medical students in the third-year surgery clerkship. Methods Clerkship grades were compiled from 2016 to 2020. Performance on clinical rotations, NBME shelf exam, oral exam, and weekly quizzes were reviewed. Students were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4) based on clinical performance. Standard statistical analysis was performed. Results There were 625 students included in the study. Students in Q1+Q2 were more likely than those in Q3+Q4 to score in the top quartile on the shelf exam (29% vs. 19%, p = 0.002), oral exam (24% vs. 17%, p = 0.032), and quizzes (22% vs. 15%, p = 0.024). However, there was negligible correlation between clinical performance and performance on objective measures: shelf exam (R2 = 0.027, p Conclusions Clinical performance does not correlate with objective grading parameters for medical students in the third-year surgery clerkship.
Emerging roles of the complement system in host–pathogen interactions

The complement system has historically been entertained as a fluid-phase, hepatically derived system which protects the intravascular space from encapsulated bacteria. However, there has been an increasing appreciation for its role in protection against non-encapsulated pathogens. Specifically, we have an improved understanding of how pathogens are recognized by specific complement proteins, as well as how they trigger and evade them. Additionally, we have an improved understanding of locally derived complement proteins, many of which promote host defense. Moreover, intracellular complement proteins have been identified that facilitate local protection and barrier function despite pathogen invasion. Our review aims to summarize these advances in the field as well as provide an insight into the pathophysiological changes occurring when the system is dysregulated in infection.
Snapshot Aesthetics and the Strategic Imagination

This paper is concerned with photography as strategic imagery. Strategic imagery consists of images intended to persuade, promote, or otherwise perform strategic intentions. Encompassing advertising, billboards, packaging, promotional brochures, point of purchase displays, viral media, and website design, strategic imagery comprises a large portion of contemporary visual culture. Pictures of people - models, celebrity endorsers, spokespersons, “average” consumers, managers and employees - make up a large part of strategic imagery. In turn, visual images constitute much strategy imagery for products and services, about economic performance, or designed to promote organizational identity. Within this purview advertising has long since moved beyond its traditional role of “showing products” or “informing” consumers. Much strategic imagery, of course, does not show products at all; instead, it encourages a range of aesthetic, cognitive and, emotional effects to promote a vision of a brand’s essential role in a good life. Much of this promotion depends upon visual style, how images appear, and how they fit into to broader trajectories of visual culture.
Maximum likelihood sequence estimation of communication signals by a Hopfield neural network

The application of Hopfield's neural networks for data sequence estimation in digital communication receivers is presented. The Hopfield neural networks are used to perform the maximum-likelihood sequence estimation (MESE), and robust architectures for VLSI realizations are presented. The Hopfield's neural networks for MESE have several advantages over other applications in that the complexity is proportional to channel memory, the network provides a regularity in architecture, and the problem of vanishing diagonal elements can be relaxed. It has been shown that artificial neural networks have potential abilities to perform optimization problems which occur often in the area of electronic communications. >
Einstein Observatory Solid State Detector Observations of Cooling Flows in Clusters of Galaxies

We present SSS observations of cooling flows in 9 clusters of galaxies chosen to have cooling flows based on Einstein Observatory imaging results. We analyze the data with three models, 1) the addition of a cool to a hot component, 2) a power law distribution of emission measure with temperature and 3) a cooling flow model. We find strong evidence for the existence of cool components in the centers of these clusters. The derived distribution of emission measure versus. temperature for M87 agrees very well with that derived from the Einstein Observatory Focal Plane Crystal Spectrometer. Values of the cooling rate, Ṁ, derived from the SSS data (in this paper, we will always quote values of Ṁ in solar masses per year and use a Hubble constant of 50 km/sec/Mpc) agree very well with those derived from analysis of the Einstein Observatory IPC and HRI data (K. Amaud, this workshop). This agreement is not fortuitous since the methods of analysis and the free parameters involved are totally different. We feel that the agreement between the three Einstein Observatory experiments is good and gives weight to the the numerical values of Ṁ for the larger sample of objects observed only with the Einstein Observatory IPC and HRI.
Electronic Charge and Orbital Reconstruction at Cuprate-Titanate Interfaces

In complex transition metal oxide heterostructures of physically dissimilar perovskite compounds, interface phenomena can lead to novel physical properties not observed in either of their constituents. This remarkable feature opens new prospects for technological applications in oxide electronic devices based on nm-thin oxide films. Here we report on a significant electronic charge and orbital reconstruction at interfaces between YBa2Cu3O6 and SrTiO3 studied using local spin density approximation (LSDA) with intra-atomic Coulomb repulsion (LSDA+U). We show that the interface polarity results in the metallicity of cuprate-titanate superlattices with the hole carriers concentrated predominantly in the CuO2 and BaO layers and in the first interface TiO2 and SrO planes. We also find that the interface structural relaxation causes a strong change of orbital occupation of Cu 3d orbitals in the CuO2 layers. The concomitant change of Cu valency from +2 to +3 is related to the partial occupation of the Cu \(3d_{3z^{2}-r^{2}}\) orbitals at the interface with SrO planes terminating SrTiO3. Interface-induced predoping and orbital reconstruction in CuO2 layers are key mechanisms which control the superconducting properties of field-effect devices developed on the basis of cuprate-titanate heterostructures.
Penguins And Pandas: A Note On Teaching Cantors Diagonal Argument

This note describes contexts that have been used by the author in teaching Cantors diagonal argument to fine arts and humanities students.
Structure of the Blytheville Arch in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Seismic-reflection profiles across part of the New Madrid seismic zone in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri show a faulted and structurally complex zone, originally known as Charlie’s ridge but herein renamed Blytheville arch, which is about 10 to 15 km wide and about 110 km long. Several exploratory drill holes in the arch penetrate Upper and possibly Middle Cambrian formations directly below Cretaceous rocks, whereas drill holes off the arch penetrate the Cambrian and Ordovician Knox and Arbuckle Groups equivalents and possibly younger Paleozoic rocks below the Cretaceous; therefore, the pre-Cretaceous rocks in the arch are structurally high. Most earthquakes in the northeast-trending segment of the New Madrid seismic zone along the axis of the Reelfoot rift occur along the arch. Focal mechanisms of earthquakes in the trend show right-lateral, strike-slip movement. Epicenters in the northeastern part of the seismic trend between Caruthersville, MO, and Blytheville, AR, are spatially less dispersed than those to the southwest between Blytheville and Marked Tree, AR. Most of the hypocenters to the northeast cluster between 6 to 12 km deep, whereas those to the southwest range from near the surface to about 15 km deep. Earthquakes in the northeast part of the seismic trend are concentrated along a fault zone under the arch, whereas those to the southwest are more dispersed under the arch. A seismic trend that extends south-southwest from near Charleston, MO, projects to the northwest side of the ridge near Blytheville, where the seismicity changes character and the southeast boundary of the arch trends more easterly. The relationship between the structural boundaries of the arch and the seismicity may establish the extent of part of New Madrid seismicity and improve the basis for seismic hazard assessment.
Is Johnny wheezing? Parent–child agreement in the Childhood Asthma in America survey

We compared responses of children and parents to determine their level of agreement in a national, population-based survey regarding asthma-related health of US children. A telephone-based survey was conducted in 2004 among a national probability sample of children with current asthma in the United States. To compare responses between parent-child pairs, a subset of 284 children aged 10-15 were interviewed in addition to the parents. This survey collected data on asthma symptom prevalence, physical activity limitations and impact of exercise on asthma, and asthma management including medication use. Paired responses were compared using the kappa (κ) statistic. Overall, parents of 10-15-yr-olds underestimated the burden of asthma experienced by their children, especially the effects on physical activity. More than half (58%) of children replied that exercise was a trigger for their asthma compared to only 35% of parents (κ 0.23). Children were more likely than parents to mention activity limitations, specifically avoiding physical exertion (63% vs. 49%-κ 0.004). Prevalence of symptoms was also underreported by parents relative to children, particularly breathing problems (41% vs. 67%-κ 0.16) and cough (45% vs. 64%-κ 0.14). Maintenance therapy use in the past 4 weeks was reported by 35% of children, whereas 44% of parents believed their children had used maintenance therapy (κ 0.47). Relative to children's self-report, parents underestimated avoidance tactics used by their children with asthma, including exercise and physical activity self-limitation to prevent the onset or worsening of asthma symptoms. Parents also underreported asthma symptoms of their children aged 10-15 years old and were discordant with their children regarding medication use. Increasing regular communication about asthma between child, parent, and physician is warranted to improve asthma control and overall health.
Multi-team development project experience in a core computer science curriculum

This paper discusses our introducing a multi-team development project into the third semester of an undergraduate Computer Science core curriculum. One of the goals of the third semester course has been to provide student with practical experience in system design and development. The multi-team development project exposes students to the rigors of working together to complete a specific component of a larger system and to insure that all components integrate properly. It also introduces them to project management concepts such as project scheduling, maintaining team journals, delivering written and oral team status reports, and participating in project meetings.
Hemostasis in larvae of Manduca sexta: formation of a fibrous coagulum by hemolymph proteins.

Summary Little is known of the participation of insect hemolymph proteins in wound healing and clot formation. We describe the assembly of purified hemolymph protein from the tobacco hornworm into an extended fibrous coagulum in the absence of hemocytes. This coagulum resembles the clot formed from bovine fibrinogen and thrombin. Structural components of the coagulum are present in hemolymph, however, spontaneous assembly occurs only in hemolymph collected through a wound. The fibrous coagulum assembles from purified structural protein(s) following addition of a non-protein factor from hemolymph, which is also present in Grace's insect cell culture medium.
SU-FF-T-02: In Vitro Validation of Temporal Optimization Effects On Cell Survival for a Single Fraction of Radiation

Purpose: To experimentally validate how temporal modification of the applied dose pattern within a single fraction of radiation therapy affects cell survival. Method and Materials: The linear quadratic (LQ) repair‐time model predicts that, for a single fraction of dose, the degree of cell kill is dependent on the pattern of dose applied over a period of irradiation. Previously, we demonstrated that: (1) maximum cell kill is achieved using a “triangular” temporal dose pattern (delivering the highest doses during the middle of a fraction and the lowest at the beginning and end), and (2) minimum cell kill is achieved with a “V‐shaped” pattern (delivering the lowest doses at the middle of a fraction and the highest at the beginning and end). Furthermore, the model also predicted that cells with low α/β values will have a larger difference in survival based on the applied pattern of dose. Two cells lines with low α/β values (PC‐3, WiDr) and one with a high α/β value (SQ‐20b) were chosen for this study. For each cell line, one group of cells in a six‐well plate received 9 Gy in a triangular dose pattern, and the same dose was delivered to a second plate using a V‐shaped pattern. The delivery time for each dose pattern was 20 min. Cell survival was assessed using a clonogenic assay. Results: For the SQ‐20b cells, irradiation with both dose patterns resulted in only a 4.5% relative difference in cell survival (p>0.25). However, the triangle and V‐shaped patterns resulted in relative cell survival differences of 15.2% and 18.6% for both the PC‐3 (p<0.025) and WiDr (p<0.01) cell lines, respectively. Conclusion: These results verify the assertions of the modeling study in vitro, and imply that the temporal pattern of applied dose is another variable to be considered in treatment planning and delivery.
Biochemical characterization of a structure-specific resolving enzyme from Sulfolobus islandicus rod-shaped virus 2.

Sulfolobus islandicus rod shaped virus 2 (SIRV2) infects the archaeon Sulfolobus islandicus at extreme temperature (70°C–80°C) and acidity (pH 3). SIRV2 encodes a Holliday junction resolving enzyme (SIRV2 Hjr) that has been proposed as a key enzyme in SIRV2 genome replication. The molecular mechanism for SIRV2 Hjr four-way junction cleavage bias, minimal requirements for four-way junction cleavage, and substrate specificity were determined. SIRV2 Hjr cleaves four-way DNA junctions with a preference for cleavage of exchange strand pairs, in contrast to host-derived resolving enzymes, suggesting fundamental differences in substrate recognition and cleavage among closely related Sulfolobus resolving enzymes. Unlike other viral resolving enzymes, such as T4 endonuclease VII or T7 endonuclease I, that cleave branched DNA replication intermediates, SIRV2 Hjr cleavage is specific to four-way DNA junctions and inactive on other branched DNA molecules. In addition, a specific interaction was detected between SIRV2 Hjr and the SIRV2 virion body coat protein (SIRV2gp26). Based on this observation, a model is proposed linking SIRV2 Hjr genome resolution to viral particle assembly.
Keratopathy After Oral Administration of Tilorone Hydrochloride

Two patients given tilorone HCl orally for varying periods of time had clinical and histopathologic ocular changes. Retrospective study of 14 cancer patients who were taking tilorone HCl orally revealed that three patients had similar ophthalmic findings accompanied by the appearance of blue halos around pinpoint light sources. Examination revealed a diffuse clouding of the epithelium sometimes associated with subepithelial infiltrates. Abnormalities seen histologically included cloudy swelling of the epithelium and cytoplasmic inclusions. By electron microscopy these were found to be myelinoid bodies. Gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry showed that tilorone HCl was present in the cornea and conjuctiva. Visual acuity was not affected and these changes were slowly reversible with the cessation of therapy. Biomicroscopic and conjunctival cytologic examination may serve to indicate the drug's storage and potential damage in the body.
Social-aware multicast in disruption-tolerant networks

Node mobility and end-to-end disconnections in disruption-tolerant networks (DTNs) greatly impair the effectiveness of data forwarding. Although social-based approaches can address the problem, most existing solutions only focus on forwarding data to a single destination. In this paper, we study multicast with single and multiple data items in DTNs from a social network perspective, develop analytical models for multicast relay selection, and furthermore investigate the essential difference between multicast and unicast in DTNs. The proposed approach selects relays according to their capabilities, measured by social-based metrics, for forwarding data to the destinations. The design of social-based metrics exploits social network concepts such as node centrality and social community, and the selected relays ensure achieving the required data delivery ratio within the given time constraint. Extensive trace-driven simulations show that the proposed approach has similar data delivery ratio and delay to that of Epidemic routing, but significantly reduces data forwarding cost, measured by the number of relays used.
Puromycin Stimulation of Rat Liver Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity

IT is well known that puromycin inhibits protein synthesis in mammalian systems1, but other metabolic effects have been reported2–5. Our own work on the purification of rat liver ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)6, the apparent rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine synthesis, led us to a study of hormonal factors which alter the activity of this enzyme. We found that dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (dibutyryl-cyclic AMP) stimulated hepatic ODC activity in normal rats6a. When actinomycin D, which had no independent effect on the basal level of the enzyme, was given with dibutyryl-cyclic AMP, ODC activity was inhibited. However, when the animals were dosed with either puromycin alone or puromycin and dibutyryl-cyclic AMP at levels of puromycin which inhibited protein synthesis, the antibiotic alone stimulated ODC activity and potentiated the activity due to dibutyryl-cyclic AMP.
Uromodulin, an Emerging Novel Pathway for Blood Pressure Regulation and Hypertension

Tamm–Horsfall protein was discovered in 1950 by Igor Tamm and Frank Horsfall,1 using a salt precipitation procedure to isolate a potent inhibitor of viral hemagglutination from urine. Muchmore and Decker,2 in 1985, isolated a glycoprotein (calling it uromodulin) with in vitro immunosuppressive properties from urine of pregnant women. In 1987, Pennica et al3 confirmed by cDNA analysis that uromodulin and Tamm–Horsfall protein were identical proteins. Since the initial discovery and without any clear understanding of the function of uromodulin, it was only in 2002 when Hart et al4 identified causative uromodulin mutations in a subset of families having familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy and medullary cystic kidney disease type 2 that interest in uromodulin biology and function was revived. Interest in uromodulin was further revitalized by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) in 2009/2010 showing an association between common single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the upstream region of the UMOD gene with renal function and hypertension.5–8 In 2013, 2 independent groups undertaking post-GWAS functional dissection of the UMOD loci provided molecular insights into a new pathway for hypertension and sodium homeostasis involving uromodulin and opening an exciting line of investigation that could enhance our understanding of renal tubule physiology, sodium homeostasis, blood pressure (BP) regulation, and potentially lead to novel therapies for hypertension.9,10 Uromodulin is a protein exclusively expressed by epithelial cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle’s loop (TAL; Figure 1). The 640 amino-acid precursor is cotranslationally translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), extensively glycosylated, glypiated, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored to the apical tubular cell membrane. From here it is released by a specific, but as yet unidentified, serine protease(s). The released protein is excreted in the urine at a rate of 20 to 100 mg/d and represents the most abundant urinary protein in …
The sexual vocabularies of heterosexual and homosexual males and females for communicating erotically with a sexual partner.

This study explored what terminology constitutes an erotic or arousing language for male and female, heterosexual and homosexual, and the extent to which that language is used with a sexual partner. Five sexual references were included: male genitalia, female genitalia, lovemaking/coitus, oral—genital contact, and hand—genital contact. Respondents consisted of 120 urban midwestern university students, 30 in each gender and sexual orientation category. Sexual orientation was as powerful a predictor as gender for language that was considered erotic. Lesbians and gay males more often than heterosexual females and males used erotic or arousing vocabulary with a spouse or lover. Gay males more often used slang with a spouse or lover than did heterosexual males and heterosexual females. Implications for sexual arousal based upon communication are discussed.
The Semiclassical Limit of the Defocusing NLS Hierarchy

We establish the semiclassical limit of the one-dimensional defocusing cubic nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation. Complete integrability is exploited to obtain a global characterization of the weak limits of the entire NLS hierarchy of conserved densities as the field evolves from reflectionless initial data under all the associated commuting flows. Consequently, this also establishes the zero-dispersion limit of the modified Korteweg‐de Vries equation that resides in that hierarchy. We have adapted and clarified the strategy introduced by Lax and Levermore to study the zero-dispersion limit of the Korteweg‐de Vries equation, expanding it to treat entire integrable hierarchies and strengthening the limits obtained. A crucial role is played by the convexity of the underlying log-determinant with respect to the times associated with the commuting flows. c 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Making a Difference in Migrant Summer School: Testing a Healthy Weight Intervention

Objective Evaluate the effectiveness of a healthy weight intervention designed for children of migrant farmworkers embedded in a 7-week summer Midwest Migrant Education Program (MEP) for changes in: weight; Body Mass Index (BMI); BMI-percentiles (BMI-p); muscle strength and muscle flexibility; nutrition knowledge; attitudes; and behaviors. Design and Sample This is a two-group pre-post quasi-experimental study. Latino children of migrant farmworkers attending summer MEP in grades one through eight were enrolled (n = 171: comparison n = 33, intervention n = 138). Measures Weight, BMI, BMI-p, muscle strength and flexibility, knowledge, and healthy behaviors. Intervention Classroom content included: food variety; increasing fruits and vegetables; healthy breakfasts; more family meals; increasing family time; decreasing TV and electronic game time; increasing physical activity; limiting sugar-sweetened drinks; portion sizes; and food labels. Results Statistically significant were increase in comparison group mean weight, decrease in intervention group BMI-p, and improvements in muscle flexibility and healthy behavior attitudes. The intervention students showed trends toward healthy BMI. The number of MEP days attended was significantly correlated in four outcomes. Conclusion Study findings have the potential to decrease incidence of unhealthy weight in Latino migrant children, reduce rates of premature adult diseases in these children, and a potential to decrease future health care costs.
Increased CCR4 Expression in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

Chemokines are critical molecules in leukocyte trafficking, promoting site-specific migration to various tissues. The chemokine receptor CCR4 has recently been associated with skin-homing T cells. In view of the potential importance of CCR4 in skin homing of T cells, we investigated the expression pattern of CCR4 and its ligands TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22 in the peripheral blood and skin of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma, a putative malignancy of the skin-homing T cells. In this study we analyzed the pattern of coexpression of the skin-homing molecules cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA) and CCR4 in the blood and skin of patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma. In the blood of cutaneous T cell lymphoma patients with peripheral blood involvement we found significantly increased percentages of T cells displaying the skin-homing phenotype (CLA+CCR4+) compared with healthy individuals. T cells expressing CLA and CCR4 were also found at high levels in cutaneous T cell lymphoma lesions along with abundant expression of the two CCR4 ligands TARC/CCL17 and MDC/CCL22. These data may explain, in part, why these T cells accumulate in the skin, a diagnostic feature of cutaneous T cell lymphomas.
α-Adrenergic Blockade Unmasks a Greater Compensatory Vasodilation in Hypoperfused Contracting Muscle

We previously demonstrated that acute hypoperfusion in exercising human muscle causes an immediate increase in vascular resistance that is followed by a partial restoration (less than 100% recovery) of flow. In the current study we examined the contribution of alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction in the initial changes in vascular resistance at the onset of hypoperfusion as well as in the recovery of flow over time. Nine healthy male subjects (29 ± 2) performed rhythmic forearm exercise (20% of maximum) during hypoperfusion evoked by intra-arterial balloon inflation. Each trial included; baseline, exercise prior to inflation, exercise with inflation, and exercise after deflation (3 min each). Forearm blood flow (FBF; ultrasound), local (brachial artery), and systemic arterial pressure (MAP; Finometer) were measured. The trial was repeated during phentolamine infusion (alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade). Forearm vascular conductance (FVC; ml min-1 100 mmHg-1) and resistance (mmHg ml min-1) was calculated from BF (ml min-1) and local MAP (mmHg). Recovery of FBF and FVC (steady state inflation plus exercise value – nadir)/ [steady state exercise (control) value-nadir] with phentolamine was enhanced compared with the respective control (no drug) trial (FBF = 97 ± 5% vs. 81 ± 6%, P < 0.05; FVC = 126 ± 9% vs. 91 ± 5%, P < 0.01). However, the absolute (0.05 ± 0.01 vs. 0.06 ± 0.01 mmHg ml min-1; P = 0.17) and relative (35 ± 5% vs. 31 ± 2%; P = 0.41) increase in vascular resistance at the onset of balloon inflation was not different between the alpha-adrenergic receptor inhibition and control (no drug) trials. Therefore, our data indicate that alpha-adrenergic mediated vasoconstriction restricts compensatory vasodilation during forearm exercise with hypoperfusion, but is not responsible for the initial increase in vascular resistance at the onset of hypoperfusion.
Contributions of Women in School Psychology: The Thayer Report and Thereafter.

Abstract The contributions of women in school psychology from the Thayer Conference to the present time from historical and personal perspectives are recounted. Contributions are examined in terms of four periods in the development of school psychology: formative years, struggle for recognition as a professional specialty, collaboration with other organizations, and present ambiguity. Although participation of women in organizational leadership, honors, fellow status, and publications may reflect some degree of underrepresentation compared with the gender ratios in the field, historically school psychology has provided many women with a growing, challenging professional specialty.
Weight Gain and Survival of Juvenile Australian Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus Fed Formulated Feeds

Abstract.— Weight gain and survival were examined in newly-hatched juvenile Australian crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus fed formulated crustacean feeds. Crayfish cultured using several Argent specialty feeds, including brine shrimp flakes, freeze-dried krill, powdered spirulina, and hatchfry encapsulon, exhibited high mortality (>90%) and little or no weight gain. After ten weeks of culture, crayfish fed AB crayfish feed (AB) exhibited the highest weight gain with nearly 100% survival. Weight gain of crayfish fed other formulated feeds, such as Zeigler post-larval feed (ZPL), Zeigler shrimp grower (ZSG), Burris Mill crayfish feed (BM), Rangen shrimp grower (RSG), and a formulated CNStacean feed (CRUS) were significantly lower. Survival of crayfish cultured using these feeds was also significantly lower, ranging from 40% (CRUS) to 72% (BM). Mortalities associated with these feeds occurred both during the intermolt period and during the molt. Recovered biomass was approximately half of that observed for crayfish cultured using AB feed, further indicating the inadequacy of these formulated feeds for use in crayfish cultures. These data suggest that many commercially available feeds do not provide the nutritional requirements for juvenile Australian crayfish.
Electron paramagnetic resonance study of iron(III) and manganese(II) in the glassy and crystalline environments of synthetic fayalite and tephroite

Crystals of the olivine minerals, tephroite (Mn2SiO4) and fayalite (Fe2SiO4) containing manganese(II) and iron (II and trace of III), respectively, were synthesized. Glasses were prepared from these crystalline materials by a splat-quench technique. Measurement of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of all these powdered samples at room temperature show that the g-factors of Mn2+ in both glassy and crystalline environments (geff = 2.004) are the same, although the EPR linewidths (for glass, ΔHpp = 200 G; for crystals ΔHpp = 287 G) suggest less clustering of paramagnetic Mn2+ ions in the glass. Mn2+ probably occupies a distorted octahedral site in the tephroite crystal structure, although a four-fold coordination is suggested from other spectroscopic investigation on this glass. The EPR parameters of Fe3+ in synthetic fayalite glass (geff = 2.01 and 6.00; ΔHpp=150 and 1375 G, respectively, for the high and low field resonances) and powdered crystals (geff = 3.31 and ΔHpp = 900 G) indicated that Fe3+ ion in the crystals, is probably located in a distorted tetragonal site M2 and an axial environment has been proposed in the glassy system.
Are the prefactor anomalies in superionic conductors due to 1-D effects?

Abstract We have examined both the ionic conductivity and the NMR line narrowing in two channel-structured superionic conductors in the light of Richards' one-dimensional theory. For Li 2 Ti 3 O 7 the ionic conductivity is not sufficiently anisotropic to explain the observed small NMR prefactor in terms of i-D effects. For β-LiAlSiO 4 the NMR line narrowing in the crossover region does not yield the predicted large change in the activation energy given by the 1-D theory.
Evolutionary changes in the fungal carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase small subunit gene and its associated upstream open reading frame

The Neurospora crassa arg-2 and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ortholog CPA1 encode the arginine-specific carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase (CPS-A) small subunit. Arginine decreases synthesis of this subunit through the action of a 5' upstream open reading frame in the mRNA that encodes a cis-regulatory element, the arginine attenuator peptide (AAP), which stalls ribosomes in response to arginine. We performed a comparative analysis of the genomic structure and predicted peptide sequence of the AAP and CPS-A small subunit across many fungi. Differences at the genomic level included variation in intron number and position within the AAP and CPS-A coding regions and differences in known regulatory motifs. Although differences exist in AAP sequence, there were three absolutely conserved amino acid residues in the predicted peptide, including an aspartic acid crucial for arginine-dependent regulation of arg-2 and CPA1. A diverged Basidiomycete AAP was shown to retain function as an Arg-specific negative regulator of translation.
Response surface analysis of pulmonary surfactant hysteresis loops

Abstract Saline extracts of minced normal canine lungs varying in sample weight from 0.25 to 3.0 gm. were prepared and the areas of hysteresis loops inscribed by the pneumatic surfactometer determined by planimeter. Using the variables of sample sizes and cycle times of 1.5, 3, 6, and 9 minutes a multiple linear regression analysis was performed to generate a three dimensional fitted polynomial surface. Maximum loop area differences between samples sizes were observed at a cycle time of 1.5 minutes and sample size of 2.0 gm. Sequential dilutions of a 2.0-gm. sample cycled at two minutes showed linear correlation with decreasing areas of the hysteresis loops. Superimposition of the dilution points on the computed polynomial surface showed good correlation for concentrations other than 50%. Quantitation of surface activity on the basis of hysteresis loop area is feasible as a rapid and convenient technic for study of whole lung samples.
Theoretical and experimental investigation of the spatial filtering properties of a number of concentric annular strain sensors

As an extension to the work done on shaped sensors as spatial filters in one dimension, spatial filtering in two dimensions is considered. The spatial windowing function of disc shaped and annular strain sensors are derived. Experimental results are shown to validate the model. A numerical method for combining annular sensors is then presented. It is shown that low and band pass sensors can be created with relatively few annular elements if the evanescent field is not significant at the sensor. Theoretical and experimental results are presented as well as design criteria. Limitations due to spatial sampling, anisotropic properties of strain sensitive materials and the effect of evanescent and in-plane structural waves are discussed.
Testing for Bias in the Impact of AmeriCorps Service on Volunteer Participants: Evidence of Success in Achieving a Neutrality Program Objective

During its nine years of existence, AmeriCorps has had a tremendous impact on its volunteers and the communities it serves. Despite concerns expressed by the Republican congressional leadership, the Corporation for National and Community Service—the federally funded administrative organization that directs AmeriCorps programs at the national level—has made clear its intention to operate in a nonpartisan, politically neutral manner. A study of AmeriCorps programs in four western states finds the corporation is accomplishing its “neutrality” objective and is rebuilding a sense of civic–mindedness in a manner that lacks gender or racial bias—a critical element in reestablishing a strong choral society—all the while properly respecting diversity.
Effect of Two Levels of Buquinolate on Endogenous Development and Oocyst Suppression of Eimeria Tenella

Abstract INTRODUCTION PREVIOUS studies have established that buquinolate 1 at concentrations of 0.00825% and 0.011% in feeds effectively controls mild to severe Eimeria tenella infections in the chicken. Although Eckman et al. (1968) showed that micronization of buquinolate enhances the efficacy of the drug, little information is available to indicate the mechanism by which the drug exerts its coccidiostatic effect. Edgar and Flanagan (1967) reported that buquinolate acts to inhibit the early asexual development of the parasite, but also found that some of the parasites were able to complete their developmental cycle in the ceca of buquinolate medicated birds. Thus, chickens fed this coccidiostat may show no clinical signs of E. tenella infection and still pass small numbers of oocysts, a phenomenon evidenced by the fact that the use of buquinolate does not interfere with the host’s development of active immunity to subsequent infection. The present study was undertaken to determine the…