cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Special-Color Pavement Marking for Highway Work Zones: Literature Review of International Practices

Roadway lanes are often repositioned to accommodate highway work operations; as a result, pavement markings need to be altered. Although there are various methods for removing or obscuring existing pavement markings, “ghost” markings often remain at the locations of the old lane lines. These ghost markings can be quite conspicuous under certain lighting conditions, creating the potential for road user confusion. The Canadian province of Ontario and several European countries routinely use a special marking color (orange or yellow) to increase the salience of temporary lane lines. Special-color markings have also been used experimentally in Australia; New Zealand; Quebec City, Canada; and the United States. As a first step toward identifying the benefits and risks of special-color markings, existing practices from several countries are reviewed and summarized. The review identified a significant policy difference among jurisdictions: in some jurisdictions special-color markings override existing markings (...
Cutaneous microbiota drive the accumulation of IL-17A-producing T cells within the lungs

The microbiome consists of a diverse array of commensal microorganisms that reside at barrier sites of the human body and promote local immune homeostasis. While recent work has demonstrated that intestinal commensals can influence immunity throughout the body, the distal effects of other microbial communities have not been fully explored. Here we show that application of distinct human commensals to the skin of mice induces the accumulation of IL-17A-producing T cells in the lungs. The induction of these cells occurs in a manner that is partially dependent on both antigen presentation and IL-23 signaling. Response kinetics and adoptive transfer experiments suggest that the T cells migrate from the skin-draining lymph nodes, while transcriptional analysis has identified specific chemokine receptors that may facilitate trafficking to the lungs. Furthermore, in the context of pulmonary infection, cutaneous application of commensals promotes the production of IL-17A and recruitment of neutrophils to the lungs. This work demonstrates that the skin microbiome can enhance pulmonary immunity, but also has the potential to exacerbate inflammation through the production of IL-17A, thus providing a possible mechanism for why children with atopic dermatitis have an increased propensity to develop asthma, a progression commonly referred to as the “atopic march.”
Analysis of the Ca2+ domain in the Arabidopsis H+/Ca2+ antiporters CAX1 and CAX3.

Ca2+ levels in plants are controlled in part by H+/Ca2+ exchangers. Structure/function analysis of the Arabidopsis H+/cation exchanger, CAX1, revealed that a nine amino acid region (87–95) is involved in CAX1-mediated Ca2+ specificity. CAX3 is 77% identical (93% similar) to CAX1, and when expressed in yeast, localizes to the vacuole but does not suppress yeast mutants defective in vacuolar Ca2+ transport. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing CAX3 containing the 9 amino acid Ca2+ domain (Cad) from CAX1 (CAX3-9) displayed altered stress sensitivities similar to CAX1-expressing plants, whereas CAX3-9-expressing plants did not have any altered stress sensitivities. A single leucine-to-isoleucine change at position 87 (CAX3-I) within the Cad of CAX3 allows this protein to weakly transport Ca2+ in yeast (less than 10% of CAX1). Site-directed mutagenesis of the leucine in the CAX3 Cad demonstrated that no amino acid change tested could confer more activity than CAX3-I. Transport studies in yeast demonstrated that the first three amino acids of the CAX1 Cad could confer twice the Ca2+ transport capability compared to CAX3-I. The entire Cad of CAX3 (87–95) inserted into CAX1 abolishes CAX1-mediated Ca2+ transport. However, single, double, or triple amino acid replacements within the native CAX1 Cad did not block CAX1 mediated Ca2+ transport. Together these findings suggest that other domains within CAX1 and CAX3 influence Ca2+ transport. This study has implications for the ability to engineer CAX-mediated transport in plants by manipulating Cad residues.
Representative Bureaucracy, Gender Congruence, and Student Performance in China

This article investigates the applicability of representative bureaucracy theory in China’s education sector. Past research mainly tests the theory of representative bureaucracy in the typical West...
Finding Place in Displacement: Latinx Youth and Schooling Along the Borderlands

Global trends of international displacement are rising to historical levels, and in the United States, the Trump Administration has proactively initiated legislation to restrict immigration by displaced peoples and build a wall between the US and Mexico. This is a reality for Latinx youth living along the US/Mexican border in the current political climate, where not only do they battle inequitable educational opportunities, but also a heightened sense of racial discrimination and profiling. This paper argues that it is crucial for teachers along the US/Mexican borderland to implement a culturally relevant curriculum to help Latinx youth fight for social justice in these concerning times.
Chicago, Redevelopment Machines, and Local Blues Clubs

Chicago, Redevelopment Machines, and Local Blues Cubs initially provide an overview of the key subject matters in the book: the nature of gentrification-centered redevelopment and Chicago’s past and present blues club scene. The chapter then highlights a conceptual need in current urban studies and urban geography: to transcend the now tired story of powerful, brutish neoliberal governances effortlessly producing gentrification-centered redevelopment. Chapter 2 suggests that it is crucial to complicate this common story recognizing that these machine actors now engage (and are engaged by) something different from before: aged, racialized blues clubs and their large base of creative but extremely poor, stigmatized people.
CCR7 fuels and LFA-1 grips.

Naive T cells migrate rapidly through the lymph node. A high-resolution look at the chemokine receptor CCR7 and integrin LFA-1 reveals that T cells remain highly responsive to their microenvironment via instantaneous tuning of chemokine-regulated actin flow and integrin-regulated adhesion.
Fundamentals of Sutures, Needles, Knot Tying, and Suturing Technique

Suture and needles are the most essential equipment for the surgeon. Their structure and design have evolved thoroughly in the era of modern surgery. Suture varies based on its physical properties including material, construction, absorbability, size, tensile strength, length, and color. Similarly, needles vary in their point type, curvature, strength, length, and color. An array of combinations of sutures and needles has been created with specific surgical tasks in mind. While there is no ultimate suture that will work in any circumstance, certain guiding principles allow the surgeon to choose the best option. Our aim in this chapter is to provide information on the physical properties of suture and needles so that individuals feel comfortable calling for the proper suture for any surgical task.
Tree Population Dynamics During the Past 20,000 Years

Paleovegetation maps compiled at the biome level (Chapter 4) provide a general overview of major trends in change of vegetation patterns through time. In order to evaluate the changes in composition and structure in vegetation during times of environmental changes such as the transition from Pleistocene to Holocene climatic conditions. it is instructive to examine the individualistic nature of the response of specific tree taxa. The nature of the pollen record does not allow mapping of distributional changes in dominance of all species of native eastern North American trees (e.g., Little 1971, 1977). Taxon calibrations available to date on a subcontinental scale. however. do allow us to map changes in relative dominance of many of the dominant. subdominant. and characteristic tree taxa (see discussions in Chapters 2 and 3).
Starting the Study

There are multiple steps in getting off to a good start in a research trial. The first is the site initiation (SIV) visit performed by the sponsor to review the study procedures. The team members should have already read the protocol, consent, and prescreening form. Then, immediately before the first subject is enrolled, the team should have a mock subject drill. After enrolling the first subject, a Study Update Meeting should be scheduled to debrief the initiation steps of the study completed so far. Finally, it is important to insist on having the first monitor visit early so that misunderstandings can be corrected.
Transgender Patient and Registration

Transgender or gender nonconforming individuals are a vulnerable population in systems which rely on binary male/female sex identifiers. In the healthcare setting, patients can be unwittingly exposed to discrimination when certain registration systems and electronic health records are used. Using a case example, we explore the implications of a staff member’s misidentification of a patient and discuss the importance of proper registration, gender affirmation, and the cascading effects of a sex-designated system within an electronic medical record.
Hemipelvectomie interne bilatérale pour ostéosarcome chez un patient pédiatrique antérieurement traité pour rhabdomyosarcome

Abstract The surgical treatment of malignant bone tumors involving the pelvis represents a great challenge in terms of local control. Internal hemipelvectomy is a major surgical procedure that involves the resection of the entire hemipelvis or of a portion of the hemipelvis with preservation of the ipsilateral extremity. The need for a bilateral internal hemipelvectomy is an extraordinary situation. We describe the case of an 11-year-old girl with a primary diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma of the bladder at the age of 2 years who subsequently developed a right pelvis osteosarcoma at the age of 6 years and a left pelvis osteosarcoma at the age of 9 years. She ultimately underwent sequential bilateral internal hemipelvectomies and she postoperatively ambulates without an assist device.
36 NEGATIVE PRESSURE PULMONARY EDEMA: CASE SERIES ANALYSIS.

Purpose of Study Negative pressure pulmonary edema (NPPE) is an uncommon form of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and is a complication of acute airway obstruction. This condition can occur postextubation and is usually recognized by the anesthesiologist. However, the general internist may not be aware of this syndrome and may be called to see these patients after they develop pulmonary edema. We wanted to review our cases to identify risk factors that could alert us to this possible complication. Methods We retrospectively collected cases of NPPE from the pulmonary consult service over a span of 10 years. The hospital medical records of these cases were searched for information for risk factor analysis. Results Twelve cases were collected and analyzed. The average age was 36.7 years; 10 patients were male. The average BMI was 25.4. None had documented previous lung disease, including asthma. Most of the operations were scheduled as outpatient procedures; the type of procedure ranged from an I&D of a bite wound to an ORIF of the radius. There were no otolaryngologic surgeries. The time for the procedure ranged from 27 to 335 minutes. Laryngospasm was the most commonly cited obstructing event (8/12). All patients had bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. The PO2s ranged from 57 to 83 on FiO2s from 35 to 100%. Treatment involved airway support with supplemental oxygen and usually diuresis. All patients survived. Conclusion Postextubation pulmonary edema continues to occur 33 years after its initial description. Many patients have no obvious risk factor for upper airway obstruction. It often occurs in young, healthy patients with no underlying disease since this patient population has the muscular strength needed to create the highly negative intrathoracic pressures required to overcome the threshold for pulmonary microvascular damage. Other contributing factors described in the literature include obesity, short neck, obstructive sleep apnea, and upper airway surgery. The resulting edema can be life threatening if not recognized and treated quickly. Treatment involves maintaining a patent airway with adequate oxygenation, fluid restriction, and diuretics. Most patients respond quickly and are discharged within 3 to 4 days.
Ambulatory Care Pharmacists' Perception of Prediabetes.

Introduction:Eighty-four million patients in the United States have prediabetes yet evidence-based interventions to prevent diabetes are infrequently used. The concept of prediabetes is contentious...
Pathogenesis and management of vascular calcification in CKD and dialysis patients

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a predisposition to develop vascular calcification due to dysregulated homeostatic mechanisms, which lead to an imbalance in the circulatory promoters and inhibitors of vascular calcification, leading to a net calcification stress. These factors promote ectopic calcification and induce vascular smooth muscle cells to undergo osteogenic differentiation and actively calcify the vascular media. The article summarizes clinically relevant pathogenic mechanisms of vascular calcification in patients with CKD and in dialysis patients and summarizes novel therapeutic interventions. In addition to the management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, patients with CKD-mineral and bone disorder need close attention in the management of the mineral metabolism to prevent adverse effects on the bone and vascular compartments. This article reviews current evidence and therapeutic guidelines in the management of mineral metabolism in CKD and dialysis.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian interactions during reproductive senescence in the rat.

The neuroendocrine status of Long-Evans female rats was evaluated at several key stages of reproductive senescence. Young (4–8 mo), middle-aged (10–14 mo) and old (24–30 mo) animals were studied according to reproductive state. The reproductive states studied were (1) regularly cycling, (2) constant estrus and (3) pseudopregnant, as determined by vaginal smear cytology. Neuroendocrine parameters at the levels of the hypothalamus, pituitary and steroid-producing organs were compared between each group. DA3, E and NE concentrations in the median eminence of the hypothalamus were determined by a highly sensitive radioenzymatic assay. LRF content in the median eminence was measured by radioimmunoassay. Circulating levels of LH, FSH, PRL and six steroids were determined. Changes in hormone and neurotransmitter concentrations were demonstrated in association with the various stages of reproductive senescence and with age advancement. These changes involved the hypothalamic, pituitary and steroid systems. NE content in the median eminence, FSH in serum and circulating androstenedione were all significantly increased in middle-aged, cyclic rats prior to the onset of senescent anovulation. DA concentration in 24 mo. old constant estrous rats (30.7+7.7 pg/yg, N=6) and in 30 mo. old pseudo-pregnant rats (27.5+7.1 pg/]ig, N=6) was significantly reduced compared to young (6 mo. old), cyclic controls on proestrous (55.0+4.7 pg/yg, N=12). This DA reduction was associated with a 3-fold increase in circulating prolactin. The results are discussed in terms of a regulatory cascade model of female reproductive senescence (Finch, 1976).
Structure-activity relationships for a series of (Bis(4-fluorophenyl)methyl)sulfinylethyl-aminopiperidines and -piperidine amines at the dopamine transporter: Bioisosteric replacement of the piperazine improves metabolic stability.

Abstract Despite considerable efforts to develop medications to treat psychostimulant use disorders, none have proven effective, leaving an underserved patient population and unanswered questions as to what mechanism(s) of action should be targeted for developing pharmacotherapies. Atypical dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitors, based on (±)modafinil, have shown therapeutic potential in preclinical models of psychostimulant abuse. However, metabolic instability among other limitations to piperazine analogues 1–3 have impeded further development. Herein, bioisosteric substitutions of the piperazine ring were explored with a series of aminopiperidines (A) and piperidine amines (B) wherein compounds with either a terminal tertiary amine or amide were synthesized. Several lead compounds showed high to moderate DAT affinities and metabolic stability in rat liver microsomes. Aminopiperidines 7 (DAT Ki = 50.6 nM), 21b (DAT Ki = 77.2 nM) and 33 (DAT Ki = 30.0 nM) produced only minimal stimulation of ambulatory activity in mice, compared to cocaine, suggesting an atypical DAT inhibitor profile.
Macromolecular Photocatalyst for Synthesis and Purification of Protein–Polymer Conjugates

We describe the application of a novel eosin Y (EY)-derived polymer photocatalyst for the synthesis of polymeric bioconjugates. The photocatalyst, a copolymer of eosin Y acrylate and N-isopropylacr...
Intracellular bioorthogonal labeling of glucagon receptor via tetrazine ligation

The third intracellular loop (ICL3) in the cytosolic face of glucagon receptor (GCGR) experiences significant conformational transition during receptor activation. It thus offers an attractive site for the introduction of organic fluorophores in our efforts to construct fluorescence-based GPCR biosensors. Herein, we report our confocal microscopic study of intracellular fluorescent labeling of ICL3 using a bioorthogonal chemistry strategy. Our approach involves the site-specific introduction of a strained alkene amino acid into the ICL3 through genetic code expansion, followed by a highly specific inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction with the fluorescent tetrazine probes. Among the three strained alkene amino acids examined, both SphK and 2'-aTCOK offered successful fluorescent labeling of GCGR ICL3 with the appropriate tetrazine probes. At the same time, 4'-TCOK gave high background fluorescence due to its intracellular retention. The fluorescent tetrazine probes were designed following a computational model for background-free intracellular fluorescent labeling; however, their performance varied significantly in live-cell imaging as the strong non-specific signals interfered with the specific ones. Among all GCGR ICL3 mutants bearing a strained alkene, the H339SphK/2'-aTCOK mutants provided the best reaction partners for the BODIPY-Tz1/4 reagents in the bioorthogonal labeling reactions. The results from this study highlight the challenges in identifying bioorthogonal reactant pairs suitable for intracellular labeling of low-abundance receptors in live-cell imaging studies.
It’s not me, it’s you: perceptions of others and attitudes toward a female nominee in the 2020 New Hampshire democratic primary

While the 2020 Democratic field was touted as one of the most diverse in presidential nomination history, a white, male, heterosexual candidate ultimately won the nomination. This is, on its face, ...
Impact of Facility Treatment Volume on Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) Outcomes in Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Prior research suggests that radiation oncologist provider experience may influence outcomes for radiation treatment modalities requiring greater technical expertise for given disease sites. We investigated whether institution treatment volume (TV) for SABR technique impacted survival outcomes for patients with NSCLC. MATERIALS/METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Veteran's Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) database to identify patients who underwent treatment for NSCLC between 2012 and 2017 at Veteran's Health Administration Medical Centers (VHAMCs). Patients were included in the cohort if they had tumor (T) stage 1 or 2 disease, node negative (N0) disease, and underwent SABR radiation treatment based on associated Current Procedural Terminology codes. We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses for overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) using Cox regression models accounting for age, sex, race, histology, T stage, tobacco history, ECOG status, and VHAMC facility TV. TV was calculated as the total number of SABR treatments performed per facility over the study period and was categorized into high and low volume groups based on a median TV cutoff. RESULTS The observational cohort included N = 433 patients with early-stage NSCLC who underwent treatment with SABR across 25 VHAMC facilities. Most patients (83.1%) had T stage 1 disease, and nearly equal proportions had SCC (31.2%) and adenocarcinoma (32.5%) histologies, with the remaining having clinical diagnoses of NSCLC. Median facility TV was 29 SABR treatments (interquartile range 19-33). Median follow up was 657 days. Estimated 2-year overall and cause-specific survival rates were 78.4% (95% CI: 73.9% - 82.1%) and 87.0% (95% CI: 83.2% - 90.0%), respectively. On univariate analysis, high versus low facility TV was not significantly associated with OS (hazard ratio (HR) 1.08, 95% CI: 0.74-1.58) or CSS (HR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.65 - 1.73). Similarly, facility volume was not associated with OS or CSS on multivariate analysis. In a sensitivity analysis, facility volume was not associated with survival outcomes when treated as a continuous variable. Covariates associated with decreased OS included male sex (HR 4.5, P < 0.05), age over 65 (HR 1.77, P < 0.05), ECOG status 2 or greater (HR 1.94, P < 0.05), SCC histology (HR 1.66, P < 0.05), and T stage 2 disease (HR 1.68, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION In this observational cohort of patients treated at VHAMCs, facility TV was not associated with survival outcomes for early-stage NSCLC radiation treatment using SABR technique. Research is ongoing to account for factors including baseline pulmonary function, comorbidities, and variations in institutional treatment patterns such as propensity for treatment with surgery versus radiation.
Layered space-time OFDM with high-performance and high-rate

We derive a layered space-time scheme for multi-antenna orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed transmissions over frequency-selective channels. Compared with existing alternatives, the proposed scheme can attain very high spectral efficiency as well as improved performance. Enhanced diversity gains document its superior performance that is also tested by simulation.
Matrix interdiction problem

In the matrix interdiction problem, a real-valued matrix and an integer k is given. The objective is to remove a set of k matrix columns that minimizes in the residual matrix the sum of the row values, where the value of a row is defined to be the largest entry in that row. This combinatorial problem is closely related to bipartite network interdiction problem that can be applied to minimize the probability that an adversary can successfully smuggle weapons. After introducing the matrix interdiction problem, we study the computational complexity of this problem. We show that the matrix interdiction problem is NP-hard and that there exists a constant γ such that it is even NP-hard to approximate this problem within an nγ additive factor. We also present an algorithm for this problem that achieves an (n−k) multiplicative approximation ratio.
Ambiguous genitals in a female infant associated with luteoma of pregnancy: Report of a case

Abstract A female newborn infant with ambiguous external genitals associated with a pregnancy luteoma is described. This association appears to be extremely rare. The mother of the patient demonstrated progressive virilization during her last trimester. Pregnancy luteoma has been observed to occur more frequently in Negroes. The cause of this apparent ethnic predilection is obscure.
The incidence of the nephrotic syndrome in children.

The results of a 5-year survey of the incidence of the nephrotic syndrome in children, in Ohio are presented. For the Greater Cleveland Area, with a total population of 1,500,000, there were 0.8 new cases per year per 100,000 total population and 6.9 new cases per year per 100,000 children aged 0 to 9 years; using an average duration of this disease of 2 to 5 years, there were 1.5 to 3.8 active cases per year per 100,000 total population and 13.8 to 34.5 active cases per year per 100,000 children aged 0 to 9 years. For the state of Ohio, with a total population of 8,000,000, there were 0.5 new cases per year per 100,000 total population and 2.3 new cases per year per 100,000 children aged 0 to 9 years; again using an average duration of this disease of 2 to 5 years, there were 1.0 to 2.5 active cases per year per 100,000 total population and 4.6 to 11.4 active cases per year per 100,000 children aged 0 to 9 years. A nationwide survey of the incidence of the nephrotic syndrome in children has been attempted, using death rates as an indicator of incidence. A possibly higher, or at least equal incidence of this disease in non-white than white children was found. A higher incidence of this disease in both the white and non-white populations of certain southern states as compared to the North was noted.
Visual search for object features

In this work we present the computational algorithm that combines perceptual and cognitive information during the visual search for object features. The algorithm is initially driven purely by the bottom-up information but during the recognition process it becomes more constrained by the top-down information. Furthermore, we propose a concrete model for integrating information from successive saccades and demonstrate the necessity of using two coordinate systems for measuring feature locations. During the search process, across saccades, the network uses an object-based coordinate system, while during a fixation the network uses the retinal coordinate system that is tied to the location of the fixation point. The only information that the network stores during saccadic exploration is the identity of the features on which it has fixated and their locations with respect to the object-centered system.
Economics of Early Education

Economic research has established that public investments in early childhood programs providing education can yield high rates of return. A substantial portion of these returns are spillover effects that benefit society generally but not the child and family creating a classic instance of market failure. Benefits include improvements in school progress and achievement, health and health behaviors, social behavior, and employment and earnings for children and improvements in maternal employment and career paths. The weight of the evidence indicates that disadvantaged children benefit more than others. While programs can produce benefits from increased maternal employment (child care function) as well as from improved child development (education function), child development benefits look to be the larger part of the potential gain. Studies of large-scale public policies and programs find much smaller benefits indicating that there may be substantial government failure in putting this knowledge into practice. One point that is immediately obvious is that public programs often fail to replicate the successful programs from research because government funds them inadequately. However, this is not the only problem as the costs and benefits of programs depend on the details of policy and program design and implementation. These details are not all well understood. Recent research has provided some insights, but has by no means answered all the key questions definitively. Key issues for further research include the advantages and disadvantages of means-tested v. universal programs, and the nature and size of investments that are most productive at each age. Keywords: early education; economic returns to early education; cost–benefit analysis; child care; early intervention; child development; long-term effects of preschool
Data mining to support human-machine dialogue for autonomous agents

Next-generation autonomous agents will be expected to converse with people to achieve their mutual goals. Human-machine dialogue, however, is challenged by noisy acoustic data, and by people's preference for more natural interaction. This paper describes an ambitious project that embeds human subjects in a spoken dialogue system. It collects a rich and novel data set, including spoken dialogue, human behavior, and system features. During data collection, subjects were restricted to the same databases, action choices, and noisy automated speech recognition output as a spoken dialogue system. This paper mines that data to learn how people manage the problems that arise during dialogue under such restrictions. Two different approaches to successful, goal-directed dialogue are identified this way, from which supervised learning can predict appropriate dialogue choices. The resultant models can then be incorporated into an autonomous agent that seeks to assist its user.
Synthesis, Structure and Properties of BEDT-TTF Derivatives

Because of the unique transport properties of charge-transfer (C-T) complexes based on the π-electron donor molecules, 4,5,4′,5′-Bis(alkyldithio)-tetrathiafulvalene1, the properties of partially selenium substituted donors bis(alkyldiseleno)-tetrathiafulvalene (BADSe-TTF) were investigated. These molecules are of particular interest to us since much of the current research in this area2 has focused on increasing the dimesionality of the transport 3,4 in C-T salts derived from these donors.
Laboratory diagnosis of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency by the amplification refractory mutation system

We used the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)--a polymerase-chain-reaction-based method--to detect the 985 A-to-G mutation of the gene coding for the enzyme medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD). The 985 A-to-G allele is thought to account for approximately 89% of the mutant alleles in this disorder and at least one copy was reported to be present in 98% of affected individuals. ARMS provided a simple and robust method that reliably identified the 985 A-to-G mutant allele in patients either homozygous or heterozygous for this allele. Combined with organic acid analysis, ARMS can provide definitive diagnosis for the great majority of the patients with MCAD deficiency. The method, therefore, should be useful in clinical laboratories involved with the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.
Nuclear protein CBP is a coactivator for the transcription factor CREB

The transcription factor CREB binds to a DNA element known as the cAMP-regulated enhancer (CRE). CREB is activated through phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA), but precisely how phosphorylation stimulates CREB function is unknown. One model is that phosphorylation may allow the recruitment of coactivators which then interact with basal transcription factors. We have previously identified a nuclear protein of M(r)265K, CBP, that binds specifically to the PKA-phosphorylated form of CREB. We have used fluorescence anisotropy measurements to define the equilibrium binding parameters of the phosphoCREB:CBP interaction and report here that CBP can activate transcription through a region in its carboxy terminus. The activation domain of CBP interacts with the basal transcription factor TFIIB through a domain that is conserved in the yeast coactivator ADA-1 (ref. 8). Consistent with its role as a coactivator, CBP augments the activity of phosphorylated CREB to activate transcription of cAMP-responsive genes.
Science Studies and English Renaissance Literature

The study of early modern science has been a topic of serious interest to literary scholars since at least the 1920s. This essay examines the history of this interest and the critical work it has engendered. In its first wave, this criticism was especially devoted to the study of the ways in which early modern science influenced – and was thereby reflected in – imaginative writing of the period. This understanding was itself underwritten by prevailing notions of science as both an autonomous and a privileged discourse governed by an irresistible and ever-evolving rationalism that staked exclusive claims to truth. Recent work in the expanding fields of science studies over the past twenty years, however, has served to dislodge this scientific exceptionalism and radically to recast both the history of science and our understanding of the nature of science. As a result, in second wave criticism of early modern science and literature, literary culture is no longer believed to exist in a merely reflective relation to the disciplines of science; instead, science and literature are set in a creative dialectic with each other that denies priority and scientism and helps to offer a more powerful understanding of the dynamic between these two complexly related cultural practices.
Role of 2=,3=-cyclic nucleotide 3=-phosphodiesterase in the renal 2=,3=-cAMP-adenosine pathway

Energy depletion increases the renal production of 2′,3′-cAMP (a positional isomer of 3′,5′-cAMP that opens mitochondrial permeability transition pores) and 2′,3′-cAMP is converted to 2′-AMP and 3′-AMP, which in turn are metabolized to adenosine. Because the enzymes involved in this “2′,3′-cAMP-adenosine pathway” are unknown, we examined whether 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) participates in the renal metabolism of 2′,3′-cAMP. Western blotting and real-time PCR demonstrated expression of CNPase in rat glomerular mesangial, preglomerular vascular smooth muscle and endothelial, proximal tubular, thick ascending limb and collecting duct cells. Real-time PCR established the expression of CNPase in human glomerular mesangial, proximal tubular and vascular smooth muscle cells; and the level of expression of CNPase was greater than that for phosphodiesterase 4 (major enzyme for the metabolism of 3′,5′-cAMP). Overexpression of CNPase in rat preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells increased the metabolism of exogenous 2′,3′-cAMP to 2′-AMP. Infusions of 2′,3′-cAMP into isolated CNPase wild-type (+/+) kidneys increased renal venous 2′-AMP, and this response was diminished by 63% in CNPase knockout (−/−) kidneys, whereas the conversion of 3′,5′-cAMP to 5′-AMP was similar in CNPase +/+ vs. −/− kidneys. In CNPase +/+ kidneys, energy depletion (metabolic poisons) increased kidney tissue levels of adenosine and its metabolites (inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid) without accumulation of 2′,3′-cAMP. In contrast, in CNPase −/− kidneys, energy depletion increased kidney tissue levels of 2′,3′-cAMP and abolished the increase in adenosine and its metabolites. In conclusion, kidneys express CNPase, and renal CNPase mediates in part the renal 2′,3′-cAMP-adenosine pathway.
The reliability of the Associate Platinum digital foot scanner in measuring previously developed footprint characteristics: a technical note.

Abstract Objective An ink pad and paper, pressure-sensitive platforms, and photography have previously been used to collect footprint data used in clinical assessment. Digital scanners have been widely used more recently to collect such data. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra- and interrater reliability of a flatbed digital image scanning technology to capture footprint data. Methods This study used a repeated-measures design on 32 (16 male 16 female) healthy subjects. The following measured indices of footprint were recorded from 2-dimensional images of the plantar surface of the foot recorded with an Associate Platinum (Foot Levelers Inc, Roanoke, VA) digital foot scanner: Staheli index, Chippaux-Smirak index, arch angle, and arch index. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were calculated to evaluate intrarater, interday, and interclinician reliability. Results The ICC values for intrarater reliability were greater than or equal to .817, indicating an excellent level of reproducibility in assessing the collected images. Analyses of variance revealed that there were no significant differences between raters for each index ( P > .05). The ICC values also indicated excellent reliability (.881-.971) between days and clinicians in all but one of the indices of footprint, arch angle (.689), with good reliability between clinicians. The full-factorial analysis of variance model did not reveal any interaction effects ( P > .05), which indicated that indices of footprint were not changing across days and clinicians. Conclusions Scanning technology used in this study demonstrated good intra- and interrater reliability measurements of footprint indices, as demonstrated by high ICC values.
Effect of Scattering Center Correlation on the Conductivity of Disordered Metals

The effect of scattering center correlation on the conductivity of two-dimensional disordered metals, is found. Der Einflus von Streuzentrenkorrelation auf die Leitfahigkeit von zweidimensionalen fehlgeordneten Metallen wird gefunden.
Good Guys with Guns: From Popular Sovereignty to Self-Defensive Subjectivity

Beliefs once limited to the extremes of the North American gun culture have become mainstream, while the US Supreme Court’s ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and a spate of right-to-carry laws have contributed to the proliferation of guns in public life. These changes in political discourses, legislative agendas, and social practices are indicative of an emergent and pernicious form of subjectivity, which is here defined as self-defensive. Such subjectivity is characterized by a pathological identification with the right of self-defense, which undermines the social conditions of individual freedom and renders subjects unable to comprehend the function of abstract rights within an informal normative order. Practically speaking, this raced and gendered subjectivity relies on extra-legal relations of domination for its reproduction. The rapid expansion of gun rights and the recent loosening of restrictions on self-defensive violence are argued to be responses to a perceived threat to these identity-constituting relations, rather than to the threat of violent crime, which has long been on the decline.
Relational Markov models and their application to adaptive web navigation

Relational Markov models (RMMs) are a generalization of Markov models where states can be of different types, with each type described by a different set of variables. The domain of each variable can be hierarchically structured, and shrinkage is carried out over the cross product of these hierarchies. RMMs make effective learning possible in domains with very large and heterogeneous state spaces, given only sparse data. We apply them to modeling the behavior of web site users, improving prediction in our PROTEUS architecture for personalizing web sites. We present experiments on an e-commerce and an academic web site showing that RMMs are substantially more accurate than alternative methods, and make good predictions even when applied to previously-unvisited parts of the site.
Kerosene intoxication: an experimental approach to the etiology of the CNS manifestations in primates.

Baboons were utilized to investigate the clinicopathologic effects of kerosene, given via various routes, on the primate brain. The animals were divided into five groups: Group 1-normal controls; Group II-kerosene administered intratracheally; Group III-kerosene injected into left cardiac ventricle; Group IV-kerosene injected into right carotid artery; Group V-kerosene injected into portal vein. Results indicate that the primate brain is resistant to the direct toxic effects of kerosene. Even when the dose is very large, the microcirculations of the liver and lung filter out sufficient amounts of kerosene to protect the brain from damage. It is assumed that the CNS manifestations following ingestion of kerosene are due to hypoxia secondary to aspiration pneumonia.
Isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, regulate mucosal immune response by suppressing dendritic cell function.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls, has been shown to have a strong adjuvant effect towards inhaled antigens contributing to airway inflammation. Isoflavones are anti-inflammatory molecules present in abundant quantities in soybeans. We investigated the effect of isoflavones on human dendritic cell (DC) activation via LPS stimulation and subsequent DC-mediated effector cell function both in vitro and in a mouse model of upper airway inflammation. Human monocyte-derived DCs (MDDC) were matured with LPS (or TNF-α) +/− isoflavones (genistein or daidzein). The surface expression levels of DC activation markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. Mature DCs +/− isoflavones were washed and cultured with freshly-isolated allogenic naive CD4+ T cells for 5 days or with autologous natural killer (NK) cells for 2 hours. The percentages of proliferating IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells and cytokine levels in culture supernatants were assessed. NK cell degranulation and DC cytotoxicity were measured by flow cytometry. Isoflavones significantly suppressed the activation-induced expression of DC maturation markers (CD83, CD80, CD86) and MHC class I but not MHC class II molecules in vitro. Isoflavone treatment inhibited the ability of LPS-DCs to induce IFN-γ in CD4+ T cells. NK cell degranulation and the percentage of dead DCs were significantly increased in isoflavone-treated DC-NK co-culture experiments. Dietary isoflavones suppressed the mucosal immune response to intra-nasal sensitization of mice to ovalbumin. Similar results were obtained when isoflavones were co-administered during sensitization. These results demonstrate that soybean isoflavones suppress immune sensitization by suppressing DC-maturation and its subsequent DC-mediated effector cell functions.
On the Purpose and Content of Secondary Reading Programs: An Educational Ideological Perspective

(1981). On the Purpose and Content of Secondary Reading Programs: An Educational Ideological Perspective. Curriculum Inquiry: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 73-93.
Glucagon - its application to childhood gastrointestinal radiology.

Glucagon, a naturally occurring pancreatic polypeptide, can be used safely and effectively in the pediatric population in relaxing the smooth muscle for detailed visualization of specific areas of the gastrointestinal tract. Glucagon has diverse diagnostic and therapeutic radiologic applications in children.
Torsional properties of healed canine diaphyseal defects grafted with a fibrillar collagen and hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate composite.

The need for alternatives to autogenous bone grafts is widely recognized. This study compared the torsional strength of canine femora 1 year after grafting with one of three forms of a collagen/hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate bone grafting material (COLLAGRAFT15), autogenous bone, or no graft. The groups were compared to each other and to the unoperated contralateral femora. Results of torsional testing were evaluated for torsional strength, torsional displacement, total energy to fracture and White fracture mode. Data analysis showed lower torsional strength of the operated vs. unoperated femora with the exception of morsellized COLLAGRAFT15 material, which had higher strength. However, the only difference in the operated groups was that the morsellized COLLAGRAFT15 had greater strength than several groups including the autogenous bone group. There was no difference found in angular displacement between any of the groups. However, there was a difference in the energy to fracture in both strip forms of the COLLAGRAFT15. The final conclusion is that in this model, grafting with COLLAGRAFT15 provided torsional properties at one year postoperatively at least equivalent to autogenous bone. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Ineffectiveness of the trauma score and the CRAMS scale for accurately triaging patients to trauma centers.

Both the Trauma Score (TS) and the CRAMS scale have been advocated for field triage of trauma victims to trauma centers. To determine which scale best serves this purpose, both scores were calculated by computer for 5,130 trauma cases in our statewide computer file of ambulance rescue runs from 1981 through 1983. A total of 3,231 patients (63%) were treated in the ED and released; 1,857 (36.2%) were admitted to the hospital (202 of whom were transferred directly from the ED to the operating room [OR] for immediate operation); and 42 (0.8%) were DOA or died in the ED. Major trauma was defined as a TS of 12 or less or a CRAMS scale of 8 or less. Both scales correctly identified as major trauma all patients who were DOA or died in the ED. The TS identified as major trauma more patients admitted to the hospital than did the CRAMS scale (33% vs 21%; P P
Quadriceps Weakness, Atrophy, and Activation Failure in Predicted Noncopers After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury

BackgroundQuadriceps weakness is common after anterior cruciate ligament injury, especially in those who do not compensate well for the injury (“noncopers”). Both atrophy and activation failure have been demonstrated in this population but have not been directly related to quadriceps weakness.Hypotheses(1) Quadriceps strength, volumes, and cross-sectional areas of the noncopers would be smaller than those of the contralateral muscles, whereas other muscles would not demonstrate atrophy. (2) Quadriceps muscle activation deficits would be observed. (3) Atrophy and activation failure would account for the quadriceps weakness in these patients.Study DesignCross-sectional study, Level of evidence, 3.MethodsSeventeen noncopers with isolated anterior cruciate ligament injury underwent burst-superimposition strength and activation testing of the quadriceps and magnetic resonance imaging of 12 muscles an average of 2 months after injury. Morphological characteristics was described by digitally reconstructing each ...
The gradual extinction of evaluation within a government agency

Politicization and a fiscal control emphasis in a state government agency paralyzed the operation of a previously functional and well-staffed evaluation division, as described in this case study.
Robust and efficient communication for real-time multi-process robot software

We present a new Interprocess Communication (IPC) mechanism and library. Ach is uniquely suited for coordinating drivers, controllers, and algorithms in complex robotic systems such as humanoid robots. Ach eliminates the Head-of-Line Blocking problem for applications that always require access to the newest message. Ach is efficient, robust, and formally verified. It has been tested and demonstrated on a variety of physical robotic systems, and we discuss the implementation on our humanoid robot Golem Krang. Finally, the source code for Ach is available under an Open Source permissive license.