cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concentrations of selected vitamins and selenium in bison cuts

We analyzed individual cuts from clod (Triceps brachii), ribeye (Longissimus thoracis), top round (semimembranosus), and top sirloin (Gluteus medius) from 12 fed bison bulls for content of selected vitamins and selenium. The bulls came from producers in the United States and Canada and had consumed concentrate diets plus hay free choice for at least 180 d. The mean nutrient concentrations of all of the bison cuts combined were as follows (per 100 grams of wet weight): .045 mg thiamin, .253 mg vitamin B6, 2.131 microg vitamin B12, no detectable vitamin C, .848 microg vitamin A, .047 mg alpha-tocopherol, .013 mg tau-tocopherol, and 25.464 microg selenium. The nutrient content values did not differ (P > .05) among the cuts of meat. Cuts from individual bulls were different (P < .05) with regard to alpha- and tau-tocopherols, selenium, and vitamin A but not with regard to thiamin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. Nutrient concentrations, with the exception of one nutrient, of five bison from the same producer were similar. Great variation was observed between the alpha- and tau-tocopherols, selenium, and vitamin A contents among bison bulls but not among cuts of meat.
Lacking status hinders prosocial behavior among the powerful

We conducted 2 studies to examine if status has varying effects on prosocial behavior for those at different levels of the power hierarchy. In Study 1 ( N = 78), adults employed full-time in the USA responded to an online survey and the results showed that self-perceived power and status interacted to predict prosocial behavior. That is, lacking status led high-power, but not low-power, individuals to engage less in prosocial behavior. In Study 2 ( N = 142), we orthogonally manipulated status and power and measured prosocial behavior. Once again, lacking status led to less helping behavior among high-power, but not low-power, participants. These findings show how power and status interact to influence interpersonal helping behavior. Implications for future research on social hierarchy and prosocial behavior are discussed.
What predicts literacy, numeracy, and problem solving for incarcerated individuals? A PIAAC examination

The purpose of this article was to investigate relationships between literacy, numeracy, and problem solving ability with characteristics of individuals within the United States prison system. The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) dataset was used for analysis, which included information for 1,319 participants ages 16–74. Results indicated that offenders’ prior experiences and prison context variables differentially predicted literacy, numeracy, and problem solving in technology-rich environments. Implications for prison education are discussed along with study limitations.
How Do People Think About the Supreme Court When They Care

This Essay — part of a symposium hosted by the Brennan Center at NYU Law School on the Trump Administration — responds to a new paper by political scientists James Gibson and Michael Nelson about public opinion related to courts in the Trump Era. Their essential finding is that various versions of criticisms of the Court made by President Donald J. Trump are not substantially undermining public support for the Court. This Reply questions how much this and related papers tell us about how people think about the Court when they actually care about the Court. This study and other important ones like it are measuring how people think about the Court when the policy implications of Court decisions are presented to subjects as relatively low. Their findings tell us a lot, but not everything. They do not tell us what happens when passions about the Court are high — precisely the moment when the Court could be at its greatest jeopardy and convincing people to believe in the Court for reasons independent of the policies it delivers is the hardest. We can have confidence about how people think about the Court when they do not care about it, but not how they think about it when they do.
Background Checks For Firearm Purchases: Problem Areas And Recommendations To Improve Effectiveness

Mandatory background checks on firearm purchasers receive widespread support from the general public and firearm owners. Background checks appear to reduce the risk of violence substantially among prohibited persons whose purchases are denied. However, population-level studies, including studies of comprehensive background check policies, have often shown no clear evidence of benefit. There is one notable exception: Permit-to-purchase policies have consistently been associated with beneficial population-level effects. The findings of no benefit may in part be an artifact of history, as the completeness of the data on which background checks are run has improved substantially since the periods examined by those studies. Nonetheless, significant problems with implementation and design still limit the population-level effectiveness of background check policies. In this article I review nine of these problem areas and suggest actions that could substantially improve the effectiveness of background check policies in preventing firearm-related violence.
Prospective Evaluation of a Fixed-Dose 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Protocol for Urgent Vitamin K Antagonist Reversal.

Abstract Background Four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) is the standard of care for reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Research has demonstrated noninferior efficacy with the use of lower, fixed-dose strategies for 4F-PCC dosing. Objectives We compared a fixed-dose 4F-PCC protocol to weight-based dosing at our institution. Methods This was a multicenter, noninferiority, interventional, quasiexperimental cohort study including subjects who were administered 4F-PCC for VKA reversal. The retrospective cohort consisted of subjects given a weight-based dose of 4F-PCC dependent on international normalized ratio (INR). The prospective cohort was managed with a fixed-dose protocol. The fixed dose was 1500 units of factor IX unless subjects weighed >100 kg or had a baseline INR >7.5, in which case the dose was 2000 units of factor IX. The primary endpoint was achievement of a postinfusion INR of Results Twenty-four subjects were enrolled in the prospective cohort and 30 in the retrospective cohort. A postinfusion INR 0.4 for noninferiority). There were no significant differences in 24-h postinfusion INRs, mortality, or venous thromboembolic events. Conclusion The use of a fixed-dose 4F-PCC protocol is safe and effective for the rapid reversal of VKA-associated anticoagulation.
Rapid solidification and surface topography for additive manufacturing with beam surface heating

The melt pool dimensions and pool-shapes that are possible with directed beam-heating are explored with a collapsed parameter model, and compared with experimental results. The peak temperatures, temperature gradients and fluid flow velocities/cells are calculated for various beam parameters. The key solidification parameters including the interface velocity are discussed for various beam powers, beam size and interaction times. The new Maximum Entropy Production Rate (MEPR) solidification theory and its successful predictions are reviewed. The ensuing prediction of the scale of the smallest feature of the microstructure is discussed.
Efficacy of high frequency oscillatory ventilation combined with pulmonary surfactant for treating neonatal meconium aspiration syndrome

Objective To explore the clinical effects of high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) combined with pulmonary surfactant (PS) on neonatal meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).Methods Data of 53 newborns with MAS admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Ning Bo Women and Children's Hospital from June 2008 to June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.According to different therapeutic measures,they were divided into three groups:conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) group (n=23),HFOV group (n=18) and HFOV+PS group (n=12).The oxygen index,arterial oxygen/alveolar oxygen ratio (a/ApO2) and inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) were monitored at 2,12,24 and 48 h after mechanical ventilation.The mechanical ventilation time,duration of hospital stay,change of symptom,complications and clinical outcomes of the three groups were compared by analysis of variance and Chi-square test.Results The parameters of the three groups at 2 and 48 h after mechanical ventilation were as followed:CMV group [oxygen index:(23.79±7.27) and (15.04±4.76) mm Hg; a/ApO2:0.11±0.04 and 0.31 ±0.07; FiO2:0.74±0.16 and 0.47± 0.21],HFOV group [oxygen index:(21.13±6.29) and (11.73±4.54) mm Hg; a/ApO2:0.14±0.06 and 0.35±0.06; FiO2:0.68±0.14 and 0.41±0.11] and HFOV+ PS group [oxygen index:( 18.35 ± 5.68 ) and ( 7.85 ± 5.06 )mm Hg; a/ApO2:0.17±0.03 and 0.40±0.02; FiO2:0.59±0.13 and 0.29±0.16].Compared with CMV group,the parameters of HFOV group and HFOV+ PS group were different at different time points,and the parameters (duration and extent) of HFOV+ PS group were better than those of HFOV group (all P＜0.05).The mechanical ventilation time was (7.2±0.6) days in CMV group,(4.2± 1.4) days in HFOV group and (2.9±0.5) days in HFOV+PS group; the hospital stay was (22.2±4.5) days in CMV group,(15.6±3.4) days in HFOV group and (11.8±4.3) days in HFOV+PS group; and the oxygen treatment time was (15.4± 2.4) days in CMV group,(11.8±5.3) days in HFOV group and (7.4±2.2) days in HFOV+PS group.The mechanical ventilation time,oxygen treatment time and hospital stay time were the longest in CMV group,the shortest in HFOV+ PS group (P＜ 0.05,respectively).Conclusions Early HFOV combined with PS might be a better therapeutic method for infants with MAS than HFOV or CMV alone. Key words: Meconium aspiration syndrome; Pulmonary surfactants; High-frequency ventilation
“The Whole Damn System Is Guilty”: Urban Violence, the Principal Contradiction of Racial Capitalism, and the Production of Premature Death in Oakland, California:

Discourses of “urban violence” are deployed in reaction to the mobilizations advanced by working-class communities of color following extrajudicial police murders. This discourse delegitimates thes...
Vascular adaptation in the presence of external support - A modeling study

Vascular grafts have long been used to replace damaged or diseased vessels with considerable success, but a new approach is emerging where native vessels are merely supported, not replaced. Although external supports have been evaluated in diverse situations - ranging from aneurysmal disease to vein grafts or the Ross operation - optimal supports and procedures remain wanting. In this paper, we present a novel application of a growth and remodeling model well suited for parametrically exploring multiple designs of external supports while accounting for mechanobiological and immunobiological responses of the supported native vessel. These results suggest that a load bearing external support can reduce vessel thickening in response to pressure elevation. Results also suggest that the final adaptive state of the vessel depends on the structural stiffness of the support via a mechano-driven adaptation, although luminal encroachment may be a complication in the presence of chronic inflammation. Finally, the supported vessel can stiffen (structurally and materially) along circumferential and axial directions, which could have implications on overall hemodynamics and thus subsequent vascular remodeling. The proposed framework can provide valuable insights into vascular adaptation in the presence of external support, accelerate rational design, and aid translation of this emerging approach.
Whole-genome sequencing identifies missense mutation in GRM6 as the likely cause of congenital stationary night blindness in a Tennessee Walking Horse.

Background The only known genetic cause of congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) in horses is a 1378 bp insertion in TRPM1. However, an affected Tennessee Walking Horse was found to have no copies of this variant. Objectives To identify the genetic cause for CSNB in an affected Tennessee Walking Horse. Study design Case report detailing a whole-genome sequencing (WGS) approach to identify a causal variant. Methods A complete ophthalmic exam, including an electroretinogram (ERG), was performed on suspected CSNB-affected horse. WGS data were generated from the case and compared with data from seven other breeds (n = 29). One hundred candidate genes were evaluated for coding variants homozygous in the case and absent in all other horses. Protein modelling was used to assess the functional effects of the identified variant. A random cohort of 90 unrelated Tennessee Walking Horses and 273 horses from additional breeds were screened to estimate allele frequency of the GRM6 variant. Results ERG results were consistent with CSNB. WGS analysis identified a missense mutation in metabotropic glutamate receptor 6 (GRM6) (c.533C>T p.Thr178Met). This single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is predicted to be deleterious and protein modelling supports impaired binding of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This variant was not detected in 273 horses from three additional breeds. The estimated allele frequency in Tennessee Walking Horses is 10%. Main limitations Limited phenotype information for controls and no additional cases with which to replicate this finding. Conclusions We identified a likely causal recessive missense variant in GRM6. Based on protein modelling, this variant alters GRM6 binding, and thus signalling from the retinal rod cell to the ON-bipolar cell, impairing vision in low light conditions. Given the 10% population allele frequency, it is likely that additional affected horses exist in this breed and further work is needed to identify and examine these animals.
Automated Detection of Periprosthetic Joint Infections and Data Elements Using Natural Language Processing.

Abstract Background Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) data elements are contained in both structured and unstructured documents in electronic health records and require manual data collection. The goal of this study is to develop a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm to replicate manual chart review for PJI data elements. Methods PJI was identified among all total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures performed at a single academic institution between 2000 and 2017. Data elements that comprise the Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria were manually extracted and used as the gold standard for validation. A training sample of 1208 TJA surgeries (170 PJI cases) was randomly selected to develop the prototype NLP algorithms and an additional 1179 surgeries (150 PJI cases) were randomly selected as the test sample. The algorithms were applied to all consultation notes, operative notes, pathology reports, and microbiology reports to predict the correct status of PJI based on MSIS criteria. Results The algorithm, which identified patients with PJI based on MSIS criteria, achieved an f1-score (harmonic mean of precision and recall) of 0.911. Algorithm performance in extracting the presence of sinus tract, purulence, pathologic documentation of inflammation, and growth of cultured organisms from the involved TJA achieved f1-scores that ranged from 0.771 to 0.982, sensitivity that ranged from 0.730 to 1.000, and specificity that ranged from 0.947 to 1.000. Conclusion NLP-enabled algorithms have the potential to automate data collection for PJI diagnostic elements, which could directly improve patient care and augment cohort surveillance and research efforts. Further validation is needed in other hospital settings. Level of Evidence Level III, Diagnostic.
Genetically Modified Citrus: Current Status, Prospects, and Future Challenges

Citrus is a very nutritious fruit that is consumed worldwide, making it one of the most economically important fruits. Like other crops, citrus must cope with multiple biotic and abiotic stressors in its growing environment. These stressors represent obstacles which must be overcome by horticultural improvement programs. Conventional breeding and genetic transformation are the most popular techniques for citrus improvement. Because conventional breeding has several limitations, biotechnology-mediated strategies are being increasingly used, allowing better management of genetic resources and faster development of superior genotypes. Gene transfer in citrus demands reproducibility as well as effective genetic transformation and plant regeneration protocols. Although Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the main method of citrus genetic modification, other direct gene transfer techniques have also attracted attention recently. Together, these methods have produced promising results against abiotic and biotic stresses which affect citrus production and has also helped in enhancing yield and fruit quality. Nevertheless, novel techniques are constantly being developed for increasing the efficiency of citrus improvement efforts. Currently, CRISPR/Cas9 is the most efficient genome-editing tool with good potential for developing edited citrus plants. In this chapter, we present the tools and techniques used with citrus biotechnology. We also highlight the efforts of the scientific community toward the generation of genetically modified citrus plants.
Binding Political Commitments

The recent unprecedented rift, in particular between the US and its European allies, in the Security Council vis-a-vis the Iran deal can be seen as the culmination of the American First policy of recent years. The United States decided to ignore the UN Security Council’s overwhelming rejection on its move to snap back the UN sanctions on Iran and proceeded unilaterally with the UN sanctions. This means that the United States plans to enforce UN Security Council resolutions that other members of the same council believe are terminated. Relatedly and more importantly, the stand-off can also be seen as the culmination of years of framing international law away from basic notions of law and though notions of soft law and political commitments. Contrary to the US position, which is partly premised on the nonbinding characterization of the deal, this piece argues that the deal is binding while outlining the inadequacy of the prevailing approaches in framing international commitments.
Price Indexes Based on the Hedonic Repeat Sales Method: Application to the Housing Market

Shiller (1993) proposes the hedonic repeated measures (HRM) approach to measuring constant quality price indexes for heterogeneous assets such as some bonds and real estate. We derive a mathematical relationship between the coefficents of the HRM model and those from the standard repeat sales model, and we demonstrate how hedonic characteristics should be chosen for inclusion in the HRM model. Empirical estimates using Fairfax, Virginia, housing transactions data show that the HRM price index evaluated at the mean of the hedonic variable is virtually identical to the standard repeat sales index, just as predicted by our mathematical relationship. But the HRM allows estimation of different price paths for heterogenous assets.
Features of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome 3 Days Following Tacrolimus Initiation in Heart Transplant Recipient

Introduction Neurotoxicity in the form of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) secondary to tacrolimus has been well described, particularly in solid organ transplant recipients. PRES presents with rapid onset of symptoms including headache, seizures, altered consciousness, and visual disturbances. The time of onset of CNI-associated PRES varies, but according to published cased reports, typically occurs after greater than 7 days of initiating therapy, with few instances reported within the first few days post initiation. Our case highlights a case with features of PRES manifesting on pos- operative day 4 of orthotropic heart transplantation (OHT), 3 days after initiation of tacrolimus. Case Report A 24 year old male, with a past medical history of limb girdle muscular dystrophy complicated by non ischemic cardiomyopathy, underwent OHT. He had no history of seizure disorder prior to transplant. The patient was initiated on tacrolimus on post operative day 1. On post operative day 3, the patient experienced witnessed tonic-clonic seizure like activity. A CT head was obtained without evidence of hemorrhagic stroke. A brain MRI showed multiple hyper-intense lesions, with the distribution of lesions concerning for underlying PRES. At this point, the patient's tacrolimus was subtherapeutic following 5 consecutive doses. PRES secondary to tacrolimus was initially considered unlikely as the etiology of the patients seizures, given unusual time course, and tacrolimus was continued. Repeat MRI brain 3 days after the first showed residual vasogenic edema consistent with PRES. At this point, the patient's tacrolimus was discontinued and he was initiated on cyclosporine. No recurrent seizures occurred. Three weeks later, a surveillance MRI brain showed near complete interval resolution of previously seen signal abnormalities related to PRES. Summary Tacrolimus-associated PRES is an uncommon, but serious complication after solid organ transplantation. It is highly unusual to develop signs of PRES within 1 week of tacrolimus initiation, but as our case highlights, it is vital to maintain PRES in your differential when approaching acute neurological symptoms post-transplant. Of note, in our case, signs of PRES occurred despite low tacrolimus blood levels and resolved clinically and radiographically following discontinuation.
You have an effective brief intervention (BI) for young adults, now what? Concrete strategies to advance BI implementation in usual care settings.

Objective: Risky drinking remains high among young adults and is associated with negative health-related consequences. Brief interventions (BIs) are an evidence-based practice for risky drinking that are particularly well suited for young adults. However, the widespread implementation of BIs remains challenging. This article highlights guiding principles for researchers and clinicians seeking to implement BI for young adults. Method: Five guiding principles for the implementation of BIs for young adults with risky drinking are introduced as follows: (a) selecting an implementation model; (b) considering contextual factors; (c) specifying an implementation strategy; (d) assessing implementation outcomes; and (e) embracing hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs. Advancing health equity is considered a key crosscutting theme. Results: Multiple implementation models are discussed including process models, determinant frameworks, classic theories, implementation theories, and evaluation frameworks. Contextual factors impacting BI implementation are then considered across multiple levels within an organization. Next, we present methods for selecting implementation strategies and discuss implementation outcomes that can be measured during preimplementation, implementation, and sustainability phases. Finally, we encourage employing hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs to reduce the BI science-practice gap. Guiding principles are illustrated with examples from two National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism-funded studies exploring BI implementation domestically and internationally. Conclusions: This article introduces foundational principles and emerging strategies to nonspecialist researchers, clinicians, and policymakers seeking to enhance the dissemination and implementation of BIs. Advancing the dissemination and implementation of BIs is essential to ensure that investments in BI research are fully realized to equitably improve public health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Intra-operative Consultation and Molecular Pathology

Triage, manipulation, and storage of a specimen at the time of intra-operative consultation have large implications in today’s expanding world of ancillary testing. This is especially true as the landscape of molecular testing continues to evolve and new assays become available. The first interaction a pathologist has with a specimen is often intra-operative consultation, which provides a unique opportunity for the handling of unadulterated fresh tissue. Pathologists may now choose to submit tissue for a broad range of molecular tests, from targeted and traditional molecular assays to comprehensive next-generation sequencing, and to preserve tissue for future testing that may not be currently available. Pathologists must select those specimens best suited for molecular testing, process them in an appropriate manner, and then direct them toward the molecular assay that will provide the most benefit for the patient.
Centering environmental justice: Gentrification beliefs, attitudes, and support of park development in a shrinking city

Abstract In shrinking cities, with large populations of low-income and people of color, redeveloping vacant lots can improve access to the benefits of greenspace, but also spur or accelerate gentrification. Understanding people’s viewpoints on gentrification and vacant lot redevelopment in shrinking cities is important, especially as these perspectives may differ depending on people’s socioeconomic conditions and proximity to these spaces. One common development of vacant lots is into parks. As such, we assessed people’s beliefs and attitudes about gentrification, their levels of support of park development in low-income areas, and differences based on presence of vacant lots in their neighborhood, through an online survey of residents in St. Louis, Missouri—a shrinking city (N = 521). We found that respondents valued investments in their neighborhood, including park development. Specifically, respondents supported signs of gentrification from those investments, but also supported preserving neighborhoods—a potentially contradictory viewpoint. When comparing by proximity to vacant lots, we found some differences in respondents’ views. Further, respondents’ beliefs and attitudes about gentrification influenced their support for different types of development, particularly building parks in formerly vacant lots, if there were not vacant lots present in their neighborhood. Among residents living near vacant lots, beliefs about neighborhood change were unrelated to their attitudes toward gentrification or support of park development—suggesting that abstract beliefs about neighborhood change are not salient to their attitudes and support. These findings have implications for urban planning and community engagement, particularly in shrinking cities where legacies of environmental racism endure.
North American Energy at the Crossroads

The United States is the heart of North American energy markets, has recently emerged from history’s biggest oil boom, and is becoming the crossroads for an increasingly two-way trade in oil and gas with its two neighboring countries. The U.S. and Mexico, in particular, have much to gain from expanded energy trade. For example, the U.S. has become a global center of natural gas and light crude oil production that can meet the growing demand for power for Mexican consumers and fuel for Mexican refineries. And Mexico’s wind power resources in Tamaulipas would be most valuable if that power could be exported to centers of urban and industrial demand in Texas. Yet there is an increasing danger that this potential will be squandered. Growing movements against eminent domain, infra-structure permits, and energy exports in the United States and moves to re-nationalize the energy sector in Mexico are making energy companies increasingly wary of investing in the future of U.S.-Mexico energy trade. Ironically, politicians on both sides of the border accuse each other of being the source of uncertainty for the future of the North American energy industry. This Article shows how energy law changes in the U.S. and Mexico present under-studied dangers to cross-border energy trade and will set an agenda for legal reform to enable mutually beneficial fuel and power trade. And it will propose the basis for an energy agreement that could be adopted either by the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) partners or by direct negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico to secure the benefits of increased energy trade and increase cooperation in energy and climate policy.
Activation and Blockade of the Nicotinic and Glutamatergic Synapses by Reversible and Irreversible Cholinesterase Inhibitors

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-ionic channel (AChR)4 of the neuromuscular junction, particularly that from Torpedo electric tissue, is the best characterized of all receptors. It has been functionally isolated, and the topographic arrangement of the polypeptide subunits and the amino acid composition have been detailed (Klymkowsky et al., 1980; Karlin et al., 1983; Noda et al., 1983; Sakmann et al., 1985). The involvement of some of these subunits in the binding sites for drugs has been determined biochemically and electrophysiologically (Krodel et al., 1979; Horn et al., 1980; Karlin, 1980; Aguayo et al., 1981; Spivak and Albuquerque, 1982; Changeux et al., 1984; Wan and Lindstrom, 1984).
Developing a model of four-year aviation program quality: A grounded theory approach

There has been a rapid increase in the number of four-year aviation programs in the U.S., from 20 programs in 1968 to over 70 programs today (UAA, 1994). The quality of these programs is difficult to determine since no research, other than accreditation standards, could be found concerning what criteria comprise a high quality four-year aviation program. Furthermore, having aviation professionals prepared through quality academic programs seems essential for the safe operation of the U.S. air transportation industry. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify criteria that support a definition or theory of quality within fouryear aviation programs in the U.S. Using Glaser and Strauss’ (1967) grounded theory approach, data were collected from U.S. baccalaureate aviation program administrators and directors of training from U.S. major, national, and regional airlines. Eighty-two responses (63% response rate) were used in the analysis. Categories of criteria emerging from the study, such as curriculum, students, and faculty, were used to develop a model for four-year aviation program quality. Results of this study have implications for aviation program administrators and faculty for developing higher quality four-year aviation programs by placing more emphasis on identified criteria of program quality.
Space Use and Habitat Selection by Resident and Transient Coyotes (Canis latrans).

Little information exists on coyote (Canis latrans) space use and habitat selection in the southeastern United States and most studies conducted in the Southeast have been carried out within small study areas (e.g., ≤1,000 km2). Therefore, studying the placement, size, and habitat composition of coyote home ranges over broad geographic areas could provide relevant insights regarding how coyote populations adjust to regionally varying ecological conditions. Despite an increasing number of studies of coyote ecology, few studies have assessed the role of transiency as a life-history strategy among coyotes. During 2009–2011, we used GPS radio-telemetry to study coyote space use and habitat selection on the Albemarle Peninsula of northeastern North Carolina. We quantified space use and 2nd- and 3rd-order habitat selection for resident and transient coyotes to describe space use patterns in a predominantly agricultural landscape. The upper limit of coyote home-range size was approximately 47 km2 and coyotes exhibiting shifting patterns of space use of areas >65 km2 were transients. Transients exhibited localized space use patterns for short durations prior to establishing home ranges, which we defined as “biding” areas. Resident and transient coyotes demonstrated similar habitat selection, notably selection of agricultural over forested habitats. However, transients exhibited stronger selection for roads than resident coyotes. Although transient coyotes are less likely to contribute reproductively to their population, transiency may be an important life history trait that facilitates metapopulation dynamics through dispersal and the eventual replacement of breeding residents lost to mortality.
Mechanisms involved in inhibitory action of EGCG against intestinal tumorignesis in ApcMin mice

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 2481 (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin in green tea, and Apc Min mice are recognized as a genetically relevant animal model to human intestinal carcinogenesis. Previously, we reported that oral administration of 0.02-0.32% EGCG to male Apc Min mice as drinking fluid for 6 weeks, starting at 5 weeks of age, dose-dependently inhibited small intestinal tumor formation . To investigate mechanisms involved in the inhibitory action of EGCG, we measured small intestinal tumor levels of E-cadherin, nuclear β-catenin, c-Myc, phospho-Erk1/2, cPLA2, phospho (ser473)-Akt, and nuclear/cytoplasmic p53 proteins by Western Blot analyses. Increased E-cadherin and nuclear p53 and decreased nuclear β-catenin, c-Myc, phospho-Erk1/2, cPLA2, phospho (ser473)-Akt, and cytoplasmic p53 protein levels were found in small intestinal tumor lysates from 0.32% EGCG-treated Apc Min mice as compared to respective levels of control Apc Min mice. In HT29 human colon cancer cells, treatment with 12.5 μM EGCG for 6 hours increased protein levels of E-cadherin and induced translocation of β-catenin from nucleus to cytoplasm and the plasma membrane (20 μM EGCG for 24 hours). These results suggest that EGCG effectively suppresses β-catenin, Erk, and Akt signalings and activates p53 signaling in Apc Min mice, and these actions may contribute to the inhibition of tumorigenesis in Apc Min mice (supported by NIH grant CA 88961) .
Promiscuous drugs compared to selective drugs (promiscuity can be a virtue)

The word selectivity describes a drug's ability to affect a particular cell population in preference to others. As part of the current state of art in the search for new therapeutic agents, the property of selectivity is a mode of action thought to have a high degree of desirability. Consequently there is a growing activity in this area of research. Selectivity is generally a worthy property in a drug because a drug having high selectivity may have a dramatic effect when there is a single agent that can be targeted against the appropriate molecular-driver involved in the pathogenesis of a disease. An example is chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CML has a specific chromosomal abnormality, the Philadelphia chromosome, that results in a single gene that produces an abnormal protein There is a burgeoning understanding of the cellular mechanisms that control the etiology and pathogeneses of diseases. This understanding both enables and motivates the development of drugs that induce a specific action in a selected cell population; i.e., a targeted treatment. Consequently, drugs that can target distinct molecular targets involved in pathologic/pathogenetic processes, or signal-transduction pathways, are being developed. However, in most cases, diseases involve multiple abnormalities. A disease may be associated with more than one dysfunctional protein and these may be out-of-balance with each other. Likewise a drug might strongly target a protein that shares a similar active domain with other proteins. A drug may also target pleiotropic cytokines, or other proteins that have multi-physiological functions. In this way multiple normal cellular pathways can be simultaneously influenced. Long term experience with drugs supposedly designed for only a single target, but which unavoidably involve other functional effects, is uncovering the fact that molecular targeting is not medically flawless. We contend that an ideal drug may be one whose efficacy is based not on the inhibition of a single target, but rather on the rebalancing of the several proteins or events, that contribute to the etiology, pathogeneses, and progression of diseases, i.e., in effect a promiscuous drug. Ideally, if this could be done at minimum drug concentration, side effects could be minimized. Corollaries to this argument are that the growing fervor for researching truly selective drugs may be imprudent when considering the totality of responses; and that the expensive screening techniques used to discover these, may be both medically and financially inefficient.
Eliminating Fear Through Recreating Community in Rwanda: The Role of the Gacaca Courts

This article describes the institution of the Gacaca Courts in Rwanda, which were set up to try people charged with participating in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The author examines the options available to the Rwandan government in seeding to prosecute people charged with crimes related to the genocide, and concludes that, while flawed, the gacaca courts were the best option available. The article explores how the courts were developed based on the participatory and restorative ideals of African indigenous legal systems, and how these courts provide an opportunity for some form of "truth telling" in post-genocide Rwanda.
Regulation of Biosynthesis of Individual Cellulases in Thermomonospora fusca

Regulation of the biosynthesis of the six cellulases comprising the cellulolytic system of the thermophilic soil bacterium Thermomonospora fusca ER1 was studied. The levels of the individual enzymes produced on different noninducing and inducing carbon sources were determined. The lowest level of cellulase synthesis (3 nM) was observed with xylose as a carbon source, and the highest level (247 to 1,670 nM for different enzymes) was found in cultures grown on microcrystalline cellulose. Endocellulases and exocellulases showed distinctly different regulation patterns. Differences in the regulation of individual enzymes appear to be determined by the specific structural organization of the upstream regulatory sequences of their genes.
Early-Life Conditions, Rapid Demographic Changes, and Older Adult Health in the Developing World

The demographic transition of the 1930s-1960s dramatically improved life expectancy in some developing countries. Cohorts born during this time are increasingly characterized by their survivorship of poor early-life conditions, such as poor nutrition and infectious diseases. As a result, they are potentially more susceptible to the effects of these conditions at older ages. This study examines this conjecture by comparing obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in older adults born in the beginning portion of the 1930s-1960s across different mortality regimes using a subset of harmonized cross-national data from seven low- and middle-income countries (RELATE, n = 16,836). Using birthplace and height as indicators of early-life conditions, the results show (1) higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes and higher likelihood of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in middle-income countries, but (2) no convincing evidence to indicate stronger effects of early-life conditions on health in these countries. However, shorter adults living in urban areas were more likely to be obese, indicating the overall importance of early-life conditions and the potential negative impact of urban exposures during adulthood. Obesity results may foreshadow the health of future cohorts born in the later portion of the 1930s-1960s as they reach older ages (60+).
Teflon Tape as a Sample Support for IR Spectroscopy

A method for making inexpensive IR Teflon cards is presented. Commercial Teflon tape is stretched over an appropriate holder made of metal, plastic, or cardboard with a hole cut in the center. The effects of stretching and sample application on the quality of the IR spectrum are discussed. IR spectra of some typical organic compounds obtained with these homemade Teflon cards are shown.
Grassroots Consensus Building and Collaborative Planning

The neighborhood collaborative planning movement has an important role to play in efforts to remake American cities. This article begins by defining neighborhood collaborative planning which centers around the importance of resident participation in decisions affecting their community. The article explains how neighborhood collaborative planning is a useful way for residents to take part in governmental decision making, particularly in large cities where distance and complexity of the governmental process may make it difficult for ordinary citizens to participate. Next, it outlines the roles that lawyers and community organizer serve under the two strategies used to foster neighborhood collaborative planning, (1) the advocacy/ confrontation model and (2) the collaborative/ consensus building approach. Also, the article briefly discusses the implementation of programs in various jurisdictions and addresses potential issues that can arise such as ethical issues of inclusion, legal issues of voting, and participation alternatives. The article concludes that neighborhood collaborative planning can be a useful technique for enabling residents who have a stake in the outcome of decisions affecting their community a way to participate in the decision making process.
Vasopressors in obstetrics. I. Correction of fetal acidosis with ephedrine during spinal hypotension.

Abstract Vasopressor correction of maternal hypotension during obstetric spinal anesthesia has been criticized on the basis of associated uterine vasoconstriction and subsequent fetal hypoxia and acidosis. In the following study, maternal and fetal cardiovascular and acid-base changes resulting from spinal hypotension and ephedrine administration were observed in 8 pregnant ewes near term. Fetal hypoxia and acidosis accompanied maternal spinal hypotension. The acidosis had both a respiratory and metabolic component. The fetal deterioration was arrested and often corrected by ephedrine administration to the mother.
Probing Serpin Conformational Change Using Mass Spectrometry and Related Methods

The folding, misfolding, and inhibitory mechanisms of serpins are linked to both thermodynamic metastability and conformational flexibility. Characterizing the structural distribution of stability and flexibility in serpins in solution is challenging due to their large size and propensity for aggregation. Structural mass spectrometry techniques offer powerful tools for probing the mechanisms of serpin function and disfunction. In this chapter, we review the principles of the two most commonly employed structural mass spectrometry techniques-hydrogen/deuterium exchange and chemical footprinting-and describe their application to studying serpin flexibility, stability, and conformational change in solution. We also review the application of both hydrogen/deuterium exchange and ion mobility mass spectrometry to probe the mechanism of serpin polymerization and the structure of serpin polymers.
Impact of fluid velocity on hot water only pretreatment of corn stover in a flowthrough reactor.

Flowthrough pretreatment with hot water only offers many promising features for advanced pretreatment of biomass, and a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for flowthrough behavior could allow researchers to capitalize on key attributes while overcoming limitations. In this study, the effect of fluid velocity on the fate of total mass, hemicellulose, and lignin was evaluated for hot water only pretreatment of corn stover in tubular flowthrough reactors. Increasing fluid velocity significantly accelerated solubilization of total mass, hemicellulose, and lignin at early times. For example, when fluid velocity was increased from 2.8 to 10.7 cm/min, xylan removal increased from 60 to 82% for hot water only pretreatment of corn stover at 200°C after 8 min. At the same time, lignin removal increased from 30 to 46%. Dissolved hemicellulose was almost all in oligomeric form, and solubilization of hemicellulose was always accompanied by lignin release. The increase in removal of xylan and lignin with velocity, especially in the early reaction stage, suggests that chemical reaction is not the only factor controlling hemicellulose hydrolysis and that mass transfer and other physical effects may also play an important role in hemicellulose and lignin degradation and removal.
Comparison of the biological actions of TGF beta‐1 and TGF beta‐2: Differential activity in endothelial cells

Beta transforming growth factor (TGF beta) has multiple in vitro biological effects including stimulation or inhibition of proliferation of specific cell types. A second major form of TGF beta, TGF beta-2, has recently been isolated from porcine platelets, from bovine bone matrix, and from several other sources. The two forms of TGF beta are biologically equipotent with the exception that TGF beta-2 was much less active than TGF beta-1 for inhibition of proliferation of a rat pleuripotent hematopoietic stem cell line. During the purification of beta TGF from bone, we obtained two fraction pools that differed in their ability to inhibit 3H-thymidine incorporation into aortic endothelial cells (AEC). We therefore compared highly purified TGF beta-1 and TGF beta-2 isolated from porcine platelets for inhibition of DNA synthesis in mink lung epithelial cells (MvILu), and in AEC, and for stimulation of 3H-thymidine incorporation in calvarial bone cells (CBC) in 3 experiments. TGF beta-1 and TGF beta-2 inhibited cell proliferation in MvILu with no significant differences in the ED50 (31 +/- 8 pg/ml vs 23 +/- 7). TGF beta-2 was much less potent than TGF beta-1 in inhibiting DNA synthesis in AEC (6310 +/- 985 pg/ml vs 101 +/- 34). The reduced specific activity of TGF beta-2 was also observed in adrenal capillary endothelial cells. Both beta-1 and beta-2 stimulated proliferation of CBC (ED50 26 +/- 2 pg/ml vs 10 +/- 4). We also examined the specificity of the MvILu and AEC inhibition assays. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF), skeletal growth factor (SGF)/insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) did not inhibit DNA synthesis in either assay system. However, when the growth factors were added to maximal inhibiting concentrations of TGF beta-1, both acidic and basic FGF significantly reduced TGF beta-1 inhibition in AEC. We conclude that (1) inhibition of DNA synthesis in endothelial cells is relatively specific for TGF beta-1, (2) inhibition of DNA synthesis in MvILu is a sensitive and specific assay for generic TGF beta activity but does not distinguish beta-1 from beta-2, (3) the relative inhibition of DNA synthesis in MvILu and AEC may provide a means to quantitatively estimate TGF beta-1 and TGF beta-2, and (4) both TGF beta-1 and TGF beta-2 are potent mitogens for chicken embryonic calvarial bone cells.
Physiological Transportation of Casson Fluid in a Plumb Duct

This paper is devoted to a study of the peristaltic motion of a Casson fluid of a non-Newtonian fluid accompanied in a horizontal tube. To characterize the non-Newtonian fluid behavior, we have considered the Casson fluid model. Suitable similarity transformations are utilized to transform the governing partial differential momentum into the non-linear ordinary differential equations. Exact analytical solutions of these equations are obtained and are the properties of velocity, pressure and profiles are then studied graphically.