cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nimodipine-induced junctional bradycardia in an elderly patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a devastating form of stroke with often detrimental outcomes for patients. Here we describe a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with nimodipine, which resulted in marked bradycardia with junctional atrioventricular heart block. Nimodipine is metabolized predominantly by the cytochrome P450 3A subfamily, and its use is often associated with adverse events, such as hypotension and bradycardia, which can be exacerbated by advanced age. Our patient had the CYP3A5*3/*3 genotype, possibly predisposing her to poor metabolism of this drug. Our case report demonstrates the potential for pharmacogenomics in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage to help predict their response to nimodipine, minimize adverse drug reactions, and potentially individualize dosing to improve future clinical outcomes.
Combinations of adverse childhood events and risk of postpartum depression among mothers enrolled in a home visiting program.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine how combinations of adverse childhood events (ACEs) contribute to the risk of postpartum depression and the mediating role of prenatal social support. Methods The Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale Questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Questionnaire were used to measure the study's exposure and outcome. Among a cohort of 419 mothers enrolled in a home visiting (HV) program, latent class analyses were used to identify classes of ACEs exposure. General linear models assessed the risk of postpartum depression, and prenatal social support was examined as a mediator. Results Four distinct classes of ACE exposure were identified. On the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale, mothers who were classified in Classes 1–3 scored higher by 2.6–4.4 points compared with women in Class 0. ACE class was found to be indirectly associated with postpartum depression scores through prenatal social support. Conclusions Identifying combinations of ACEs in an HV program has the potential to improve the characterization of ACEs among low-income perinatal women in the United States. Elucidating how these combinations contribute to the risk of postpartum depression has the potential to identify women at increased risk, which can help HV programs prioritize prevention efforts.
Neo-Nationalism and Language Policy in the United States: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Public Discourse Advocating Monolingual English Use

What makes neo-nationalism unique from conventional understandings of nationalism is the hyper-attention to border maintenance and internal homogeneity within spaces of established nationalized boundaries. Over the last decade, political actors across global spaces have utilized neo-nationalist ideologies to attain increasing levels of mainstream legitimacy. Given the central role of language in national imagining, this chapter examines neo-nationalist influence on public discourse surrounding language policy in the United States. Utilizing Critical Discourse Analysis as a methodological orientation, the author of this chapter explores six interrelated sets of texts that advocate for narrowing language use within the United States to monolingual English. His analysis first identifies argument types used to justify and to propose functions for monolingual English. He then pinpoints intertextual linkages across data sets to shed light on the scope of neo-nationalist influence on public discourse regarding language policy in the United States.
β-Arrestin 2 (ARRB2) Polymorphism is Associated With Adverse Consequences of Chronic Heroin Use

Background and objectives β-arrestin 2 is an intracellular protein recruited during the activation of G-protein-coupled receptors. In preclinical studies, β-arrestin 2 has been implicated in µ-opioid receptor desensitization and internalization and the development of opioid tolerance and dependence. The present study investigated relationships between variants in the gene encoding β-arrestin 2 (ARRB2) and clinically relevant phenotypes among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). We hypothesized that ARRB2 variants would be associated with the negative effects of long-term heroin use. Methods Chronic heroin users (N = 201; n = 103 African American; n = 98 Caucasian) were genotyped for ARRB2 r1045280 (synonymous, also affecting binding motif of transcription factor GTF2IRD1), rs2036657 (3'UTR) and rs3786047 (intron) and assessed for the past-month frequency of use, injection use, and lifetime duration of heroin use, number of heroin quit-attempts, and heroin use-related consequences. Results Lifetime heroin-use consequences (especially occupational and health-related) were significantly lower for African American ARRB2 r1045280 C-allele carriers compared with the TT genotype. There was no significant genotype difference in the Caucasian group. ARRB2 rs2036657 was in strong linkage disequilibrium with rs1045280. Discussion and conclusions These results, consistent with extant data, illustrate a role for ancestry-dependent allelic variation in ARRB2 r1045280 on heroin-use consequences. The ARRB2 r1045280 C-allele played a protective role in African-descent participants. Scientific significance These first-in-human findings, which should be replicated, provide support for mechanistic investigations of ARRB2 and related intracellular signaling molecules in OUD etiology, treatment, and relapse prevention. (Am J Addict 2021;00:00-00).
The road to hell is irreversible.

The hole in the ozone layer is a huge warning sign that society is in danger of ignoring, argues Bruce C. Gibb, who reflects on the legacy of Paul Crutzen and the Anthropocene.
Targeting the MYC Ubiquitination-Proteasome Degradation Pathway for Cancer Therapy

Deregulated MYC overexpression and activation contributes to tumor growth and progression. Given the short half-life and unstable nature of the MYC protein, it is not surprising that the oncoprotein is highly regulated via diverse posttranslational mechanisms. Among them, ubiquitination dynamically controls the levels and activity of MYC during normal cell growth and homeostasis, whereas the disturbance of the ubiquitination/deubiquitination balance enables unwanted MYC stabilization and activation. In addition, MYC is also regulated by SUMOylation which crosstalks with the ubiquitination pathway and controls MYC protein stability and activity. In this mini-review, we will summarize current updates regarding MYC ubiquitination and provide perspectives about these MYC regulators as potential therapeutic targets in cancer.
Correlation of Supervised Independence and Performance with Procedure Difficulty amongst Surgical Residents Stratified by Post Graduate Year.

PURPOSE This study investigates the role of procedure difficulty on attending ratings of supervised levels of independence and procedural performance amongst general surgery residents, while accounting for case complexity. METHODS Attending ratings for residents were obtained from System for Improving and Measuring Procedural Learning (SIMPL) database. Current procedural terminology (CPT) codes were used to match procedures to a corresponding work relative value unit (wRVU) as a surrogate for procedure difficulty. Three categories of wRVU ( 22) were identified using recursive partitioning. Procedures were also divided into ‘Core’ or ‘Advanced’ as defined by the American Board of Surgery Surgical Council on Resident Education (SCORE). Temporal advancement in resident skill was accounted for through academic quarterly analysis. A generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach was used to form separate multivariable logistic regression models for meaningful autonomy (MA) and satisfactory performance (SP) adjusted for potential clustering by program, subject, and rater. Models were further adjusted for core/advanced procedures, attending rated complexity, and academic quarter. RESULTS A total of 33,281 ratings were analyzed. Overall, 51.6% were rated as MA and 44.4% as SP. For core procedures, surgical residents rated as MA (53.5%) and SP (45.7%), which was twice as high as those for advance procedures (MA-29.2%, SP-29.0%). MA and SP both decreased with increasing wRVU (Figure 2 &3). Using a wRVU 22.00 (Table 3). Post graduate year (PGY) 5 residents in the final quarter of training obtain MA in 95.5% and SP 92.9% for core procedures with wRVU CONCLUSION Increasing procedural difficulty is independently associated with decreases in meaningful autonomy and satisfactory performance. As residents approach graduation the level of meaningful autonomy and satisfactory performance both reach high levels for common core procedures but decrease as procedural difficulty increases.
Effect of slag on shear strength of calcium bentonite

To prevent lateral migration of liquid pollutants in groundwater, relatively impervious vertical barriers are built around waste disposal sites. The slurry trench technique is the most commonly used construction method. The two common types of slurry walls are soil bentonite (SB) and cement bentonite (CB) walls. This study was undertaken to determine the strength of calcium bentonite as affected by cement and slag. Test specimens were prepared with 15% calcium bentonite, 5% to 15% cement, and 7.5% to 10% slag. Undrained triaxial compression tests and unconfined compression tests were performed on different mixes. These test results show that regardless of the proportion of cement and slag, the peak strength occurred at strain equal to or less than 1%. The strength essentially reached its ultimate value at about 2% strain and there was little change in strength beyond this point. The strength of specimens increased as the proportion of slag to cement increased. Pore water pressure at peak strength was positive. With increasing strain and increasing proportion of slag the pore water pressure reduced in magnitude. Specimens which were not subjected to vacuum during preparation showed extremely high negative pore pressures and higher strength.
Effects of macromolecular transport and stochastic fluctuations on dynamics of genetic regulatory systems

To predict the dynamics of genetic regulation, it may be necessary to consider macromolecular transport and stochastic fluctuations in macromolecule numbers. Transport can be diffusive or active, a...
DA/spl I.bar/MAP: Data Analysis and Model Assessment Portal

An important missing component in today's METOC (meteorology and oceanography) community is not the data itself, but a transparent layer or processes between data collection and data application; that is, the processes to easily register (create metadata), search, access and visualize or apply the data. A data registration mechanism is needed to allow a user to register their data sets to a metadata repository. Registration should allow the user to readily create a metadata record defining the data with reference to temporal and spatial domain, parameters, format, availability, etc. A metadata repository will facilitate the availability of data globally via some search mechanism. A data search/access mechanism is needed to find the data required by a user for the purpose of research and application. Finally, data visualization should also be automated, interactive and efficient. Our effort to fill this void with a quality assessment tool is called the Data Analysis and Model Assessment Portal (DA/spl I.bar/MAP).
Chutes and ladders in Markov chains

We investigate how the stationary distribution of a Markov chain changes when transitions from a single state are modified. In particular, adding a single directed edge to nearest neighbor random walk on a finite discrete torus in dimensions one, two, or three changes the stationary distribution linearly, logarithmically, or only locally. Related results are derived for birth and death chains approximating Bessel diffusions and for random walk on the Sierpinski gasket.
Heavy-ion fusion final focus magnet shielding designs

At the Thirteenth International Symposium on Heavy Ion Inertial Fusion (HIF Symposium), we presented magnet shielding calculations for 72-, 128, 200, and 288-beam versions of the HYLIFE-II power plant design. In all cases, we found the radiation-limited lifetimes of the last set of final focusing magnets to be unacceptably short. Since that time, we have completed follow-on calculations to improve the lifetime of the 72-beam case. Using a self-consistent final focusing model, we vary parameters such as the shielding thicknesses and compositions, focusing length, angle-of-attack to the target, and the geometric representation of the flibe pocket, chamber, and blanket. By combining many of these shielding features, we are able to demonstrate a magnet shielding design that would enable the last set of final focusing magnets to survive for the lifetime of the power plant.
The FDTD computation of electromagnetic wave scattering from surfaces

The radiative properties of engineering surfaces with microscale surface textures (patterned or random roughness and coating) are of fundamental and practical importance. In the rapid thermal processing or arc/flash-assisted heating of silicon wafers, the control of energy deposition through radiation and the surface temperature measurement using optical pyrometry require in-depth knowledge of the surface radiative properties. These properties are temperature, wavelength, and surface texture dependent. It is important that these properties can be modeled and predicted with reasonable accuracy. This study builds the foundation by solving the Maxwell equations that describe the electromagnetic wave reflection from the one-dimensional random roughness surfaces. The surface height conforms to the normal distribution, i.e., a Gaussian probability density function distribution. The models produce very accurate bi-directional reflectivity with its accuracy limited by the numerical scheme. The numerical algorithm of Maxwell equations' solution is based on the well-developed finite difference time domain (FDTD) scheme and near-to-far-field transformation. Various computational modeling issues that affect the accuracy of the predicted properties are quantified and discussed. The predicted properties were compared and found in good agreement with the published work
Comments on the Cooperstock-Tieu Galaxy Model

Daniel J. CrossDepartment of Physics, Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA 19104, USAd.j.cross@drexel.eduABSTRACTThe recently proposed Cooperstock-Tieu galaxy model claims to explain theﬂat rotation curves without dark matter. The purpose of this note is to showthat this model is internally inconsistent and thus cannot be considered a validsolution. Moreover, by making the solution consistent the ability to explain theﬂat rotation curves is lost.Subject headings: galaxies: kinematics and dynamics-gravitation-relativity-darkmatter1. IntroductionCooperstock and Tieu model a galaxy in general relativity as an axially symmetric,pressure free dust cloud with metricds
Solitude and the activity of thinking

Abstract: This paper reflects on the political importance of the activity of thinking and suggests that Arendt's space of politics may not be limited to its traditional abode within the public realm. Beyond the public realm of politics, Arendt's defense of political action requires attention to the private as well. What has been overlooked amidst all the attention to Arendt's defense of the public realm of politics over and against the rise of the social is her equally strong insistence upon a vibrant and secure private realm where active thinking is possible. Arendt's private realm is a space of solitude that is the necessary prerequisite for the activity of thinking. Indeed, it is solitude that nurtures and fosters thoughtfulness and thus prepares individuals for the possibility of political action. To create a meaningful politics amidst the loneliness of the modern world, Arendt suggests, requires solitude, which she sees as the cradle of thinking.
Atmospheric circulation and cyclone frequency variations linked to the primary modes of Greenland snow accumulation

[1] Data from 34 Greenland firn cores, extending from 1982 to 1996, are used to identify spatial accumulation variability patterns and their associated atmospheric circulation and cyclone frequencies. The first principal component, representing west-central Greenland accumulation, is correlated to NAO variability, having increased southwesterly (northeasterly) flow over that area during high (low) accumulation winters. The flow is linked to a relative increase in cyclone activity on the west central region of the ice sheet during high accumulation periods. The second principal component represents accumulation over southeastern Greenland where strong westerly flow leads to high accumulation and an increase in lee cyclones on the east and southeast coast. The study provides evidence that increased cyclone activity occurs over, or immediately adjacent to, areas experiencing anomalously high accumulation and it is important to distinguish lee cyclones from “Icelandic” cyclones, as they produce opposite precipitation effects over the ice sheet.
Conservation between coding and regulatory elements of Rhizobium meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum dct genes.

Abstract Complementation of Rhizobium leguminosarum dct mutants with a cosmid bank yielded Rhizobium meliloti homologs of the dctA, dctB, and dctD genes. The genes dctB and dctD are thought to form a two-component system which responds to the presence of C4-dicarboxylates to regulate expression of a transport protein encoded by dctA. DNA sequence analysis showed that dct coding and intergenic regions, including putative binding sites for the dctD protein and sigma 54-RNA polymerase, were highly conserved between these two Rhizobium species. Mutation of R. meliloti dctD showed that it was not essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation but was needed for growth on succinate and the expression of a dctA-lacZ fusion gene in free-living cells. Hybridization of R. meliloti genomic DNA with probes representing the central portion of dctD potentially identified more than 20 similar regulatory genes, all of which are likely to depend upon the alternative sigma factor encoded by rpoN and stimulate transcription in a manner very similar to ntrC activation of glnA in enteric bacteria.
Towards a taxonomy of explanations in science education

One major goal of science education is for students to develop sophisticated explanations of the natural world (NRC, 2000). Scientists create and revise conceptual scientific models that they employ to develop and refine explanations. Scientists also have distinct forms and criteria for accepted explanations. Likewise, inquiry-based teaching enables students to ask questions, develop conceptual models and explanations, and critique and refine their explanations. However, students build upon existing, everyday ideas to make explanations that are different than those of scientists and judge explanations differently than the way that scientists judge them (Brewer, Chinn & Samarapungavan, 1998). Most existing approaches evaluate students' explanations along scientific criteria and overlook learners' existing ideas and skills in generating explanations. Instruction that encourages students to use, distinguish and refine these existing ideas can promote sophisticated and robust explanations (Linn & Eylon, 2006).
Conditional expression in corticothalamic efferents reveals a developmental role for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in modulation of passive avoidance behavior.

Prenatal nicotine exposure has been linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cognitive impairment, but the sites of action for these effects of nicotine are still under investigation. High-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) contain the .2 subunit and modulate passive avoidance (PA) learning in mice. Using an inducible, tetracycline-regulated transgenic system, we generated lines of mice with expression of high-affinity nicotinic receptors restored in specific neuronal populations. One line of mice shows functional .2 subunit-containing nAChRs localized exclusively in corticothalamic efferents. Functional, presynaptic nAChRs are present in the thalamus of these mice as detected by nicotine-elicited rubidium efflux assays from synaptosomes. Knock-out mice lacking high-affinity nAChRs show elevated baseline PA learning, whereas normal baseline PA behavior is restored in mice with corticothalamic expression of these nAChRs. In contrast, nicotine can enhance PA learning in adult wild-type animals but not in corticothalamic-expressing transgenic mice. When these transgenic mice are treated with doxycycline in adulthood to switch off nAChR expression, baseline PA is maintained even after transgene expression is abolished. These data suggest that high-affinity nAChRs expressed on corticothalamic neurons during development are critical for baseline PA performance and provide a potential neuroanatomical substrate for changes induced by prenatal nicotine exposure leading to long-term behavioral and cognitive deficits.
Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea by Saccharomyces boulardii: A prospective study

Saccharomyces boulardii, a nonpathogenic yeast, has been widely used in Europe to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). We performed a prospective double-blind controlled study to investigate AAD in hospitalized patients and to evaluate the effect of S. boulardii, a living yeast, given in capsule form concurrently with antibiotics. Over 23 mo, 180 patients completed the study. Of the patients receiving placebo, 22% experienced diarrhea compared with 9.5% of patients receiving S. boulardii (p = 0.038). Risk factors found to be associated with AAD were multiple antibiotic combinations (containing clindamycin, cephalosporins, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) and tube feeding. Clostridium difficile, an anaerobe found in the stools of most patients with pseudomembranous colitis, was variably associated with AAD. We evaluated the role of C. difficile in AAD in the study population and found no significant association between the presence of C. difficile or cytotoxin with AAD. Approximately 33% of the patients without diarrhea harbored at least one C. difficile-positive stool and nearly 50% of these patients had detectable cytotoxin. Similar values were obtained in patients with diarrhea. Of C. difficile-positive patients, 31% (5/16) on placebo developed diarrhea compared with 9.4% (3/32) on S. boulardii; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). There were no discernable adverse effects of yeast administration. We conclude that S. boulardii reduces the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in hospitalized patients.
Clinical significance of the magnesium: calcium ratio; technic for the determination of magnesium and calcium in biologic fluids.

1. The Schwartzenbach method has been adapted for the simultaneous determination of calcium and magnesium in serum and spinal fluid. The method appears to be adaptable to all body fluids, including thoracic and abdominal transudates and exudates. Its use in the clinical laboratory is recommended because of the great saving of time, particularly in the determination of magnesium. 2. A series of 100 pathologic cases of various clinical entities has been analyzed by the new method and checked with the standard methods. A calculation and statistical analysis has revealed the Mg/Ca molar ratio to be of possible clinical significance.
SU-E-T-624: Comparison of PTV+PRV-Based Optimization and Robust Optimization in Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy.

Purpose: Robust optimization leads to IMPT plans that are more robust than and superior in optimality compared to PTV‐based optimized plans. Robust optimization incorporates setup and range uncertainties, which implicitly adds margins to targets and organs‐at‐risk (OARs); whereas PTV‐based optimization only considers setup uncertainties and adds margins only to targets in practice. The purpose of this work is to determine if the superiority of robustly optimized plans is due to not assigning margins to OARs during PTV‐based optimization. Methods: Plan robustness and optimality of the PTV plus Planning organs‐at‐Risk Volume (PRVs)‐based plans and robustly optimized plans were compared for 5 head and neck cancer cases and one rhabdomyosarcoma case. The PRVs were generated by expansion from OARs by 3 mm. 9 different dose distributions were computed ‐ one each for ± setup uncertainties along three spatial directions, for ± range uncertainty, and the nominal dose distribution. The worst‐case dose distribution was obtained by assigning the lowest dose among the 9 doses to each voxel in the target and the highest dose to each voxel outside the target. The DVHs from the worst‐case dose were used to assess the plan optimality and robustness. D1cc doses for spinal cord and brainstem, mean doses Dmean for oral cavity and parotids, and D1% doses for other organs were also used to assess plan optimality. D5% and D95% doses are used to assess target dose coverage and homogeneity. Results: For H&N cases, PTV+PRV‐based optimization was inferior to robust optimization. However, PTV+PRV‐based optimization yielded plans that spared OARs better than PTV‐based optimization, although the target dose robustness and homogeneity were comparable to the PTV‐based optimization. The same conclusions are also valid in the rhabdomyosarcoma case. Conclusions: We find that the PTV+PRV method can partly improve plan optimality, but it is still inferior to robust optimization method. This research is supported by National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant P01CA021239, the University Cancer Foundation via the Institutional Research Grant program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and MD Andersonâ€™s cancer center support grant CA016672.
Usability Improvements to Electronic Health Records

There is a need to develop more effective strategies for improving usability within information and communication technologies, specifically, electronic health record (EHR) systems. Usability incorporates the ease of use, learnability, efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction of a system by the end user. When an EHR incorporates principles of usability, the system does a better job of meeting the needs of the end users intuitively, resulting in fewer errors and better quality outcomes for patients. Health systems and governments have been urging the widespread adoption of EHR systems to help lower costs and increase efficiency, putting themselves and vendors under pressure to develop and implement the best solution quickly. Too often stakeholders rely on future releases and enhancements to fix issues not originally planned for in the initial release of the product. Hospital system end users and vendors need better strategies for improving usability in EHR solutions. Poor usability can result in frustrated end-users, inefficient and more costly processes, and, at worst, compromises to patient safety. Proposed strategies and areas for future development are discussed.
A spatial and angular moments analysis of the monoenergetic pencil beam problem

Abstract We consider the time-independent, monoenergetic, normally incident pencil beam (searchlight) problem for a homogeneous, source-free, finite thickness, purely scattering slab. By adopting a cylindrical coordinate system to describe this problem, exact equations are developed for the radial and azimuthal Fourier cosine moments of the angular flux. The analysis is carried out for both the full integral scattering description as well as its Fokker-Planck differential approximation. Assuming that the beam remains nearly collimated as it passes through the slab, these moment equations are analysed using an additional (in this case asymptotic) moments method in the polar angle. The resulting set of coupled, one-dimensional (in the depth variable) ordinary differential equations are used to construct asymptotic power series representations for certain radial moments of the scalar flux. These one-dimensional series are then used to improve earlier descriptions, due to Fermi and Jette, of the radial and depth variations of the beam scalar flux.
The Einstein relation for degenerate carrier concentrations

The generalized Einstein relation for the ratio between the diffusion coefficient and the mobility is written as a rapidly converging series in terms of powers of the carrier concentration.
Metal-to-semiconductor transition at the magnetic ordering temperature of NiS

Abstract Electrical resistivity measurements on the nickel arsenide form of NiS reveal an abrupt metal-to-semiconductor transition at the first-order antiferromagnetic transition.
Chemical assay of streptomycin B mannosido-streptomycin.

MORRIS1 has recently described the use of new reagent (0·2 per cent anthrone, a reduction product of anthroquinone, in 95 per cent sulphuric acid) for quantitative determination of carbohydrates. We have found that it can be used not only for distinguishing streptomycin B (a mannoside) from streptomycin A, but also for estimating the amount of the former present in a mixture. The glucosamine moiety, present in both molecules, apparently does not react with the reagent. Results obtained are in accord with those calculated from biological and chemical assays, making the accepted assumption about the relative biological activities of the two streptomycins.
Diode-laser-based ultraviolet absorption sensor for nitric oxide

An all-solid-state continuous-wave laser system for ultraviolet absorption measurements of the nitric oxide (NO) molecule has been developed and demonstrated. The single-mode, tunable output of a 10-mW, 395-nm external-cavity diode laser (ECDL) is sum-frequency-mixed with the output of a 115-mW, frequency-doubled, diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser in a beta-barium-borate crystal to produce 40 nW of tunable radiation at 226.8 nm. The wavelength of the 395-nm ECDL is then scanned over NO absorption lines to produce fully resolved absorption spectra. Initial results from mixtures of NO in nitrogen in a room-temperature gas cell are discussed. The estimated NO detection limit of the system for a demonstrated absorption sensitivity of 2×10-3 is 0.2 ppm per meter of path length for 300 K gas. The estimated accuracy of the measurements is ±10%.
The detection of precipitating antibodies in equine infectious anemia and partial purification of the antigen

Spleens from 12 ponies experimentally infected with the virus of equine infectious anemia (EIA) were evaluated as antigen sources against sera from known infected and normal horses using the Ouchterlony double diffusion technique. Spleens from 4 normal horses served as controls. Two of the 12 infected spleens could be used as antigen for detecting precipitating antibodies when the spleens were frozen and thawed, minced and placed in the antigen wells. When 9 of the infected spleens were treated to partially purify and concentrate the antigen, all 9 could be used as antigen. Using partially purified antigen, precipitating antibodies could not be detected in any of 107 non-EIA infected sera while antibodies could be demonstrated in 71 of 83 sera from infected horses. The 12 non-reacting sera were from 10 horses infected 14 days or less, from one horse infected 15 days, and from one horse infected 25 days. Eighty-two of 83 horses infected from 18 days to 5 1/2 years had precipitating antibodies detectable by this technique. A precipitinogen can be partially purified from EIA infected spleens and used to detect precipitating antibodies in EIA infected horses.
Evolution of aortic valve replacement for native aortic valve endocarditis

In 1964 and 1965, two groups of surgeons, Dr Thomas Yeh and colleagues from Medical College of Georgia and Dr Andrew Wallace and colleagues from Duke University, published reports of aortic valve exploration, debridement, and replacement for endocarditis. Their initial thoughtful and meticulous procedures initiated valve surgery as a treatment of native aortic valve endocarditis.
Similarities in development of substance P and somatostatin in peripheral sensory neurons: effects of capsaicin and nerve growth factor

Abstract Development of the two putative peptide neurotransmitters, substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SS), were compared in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord in vivo. The content of SS in the sixth cervical DRG increased 5-fold during the first 5 weeks of life, rising from 24 pg per ganglion at birth. SP content increased 4.5-fold during the first 5 weeks, from 56 pg per ganglion at birth. The developmental profiles for these two peptides were virtually parallel, suggesting that their respective neuronal populations developed in synchrony. Treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) significantly increased the content of both SP and SS in the DRG and dorsal spinal cord. Conversely, treatment with capsaicin significantly decreased both SP and SS in the DRG and dorsal spinal cord. Consequently, experiments involving NGF or capsaicin treatment of sensory neurons must be interpreted with extreme care, because specificity is not limited to a single peptide phenotype. Although the mechanisms of action of NGF and capsaicin on SP and SS have not been defined, the similarity of the responses of the two peptides suggests that their development may be regulated by similar processes.
Developmental mediation of genetic variation in response to the Fast Track prevention program

We conducted a developmental analysis of genetic moderation of the effect of the Fast Track intervention on adult externalizing psychopathology. The Fast Track intervention enrolled 891 children at high risk to develop externalizing behavior problems when they were in kindergarten. Half of the enrolled children were randomly assigned to receive 10 years of treatment, with a range of services and resources provided to the children and their families, and the other half to usual care (controls). We previously showed that the effect of the Fast Track intervention on participants' risk of externalizing psychopathology at age 25 years was moderated by a variant in the glucocorticoid receptor gene. Children who carried copies of the A allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism rs10482672 had the highest risk of externalizing psychopathology if they were in the control arm of the trial and the lowest risk of externalizing psychopathology if they were in the treatment arm. In this study, we test a developmental hypothesis about the origins of this for better and for worse Gene × Intervention interaction (G × I): that the observed G × I effect on adult psychopathology is mediated by the proximal impact of intervention on childhood externalizing problems and adolescent substance use and delinquency. We analyzed longitudinal data tracking the 270 European American children in the Fast Track randomized control trial with available genetic information (129 intervention children, 141 control group peers, 69% male) from kindergarten through age 25 years. Results show that the same pattern of for better and for worse susceptibility to intervention observed at the age 25 follow-up was evident already during childhood. At the elementary school follow-ups and at the middle/high school follow-ups, rs10482672 predicted better adjustment among children receiving the Fast Track intervention and worse adjustment among children in the control condition. In turn, these proximal G × I effects early in development mediated the ultimate G × I effect on externalizing psychopathology at age 25 years. We discuss the contribution of these findings to the growing literature on genetic susceptibility to environmental intervention.
Lateralization and sequential relationships in the octave illusion

Subjects made lateralization judgments concerning sequences of dichotic chords whose components stood in octave relation. In condition 1, each ear received a sequence consisting of 400‐ and 800‐Hz tones in alternation, such that when one ear received the 400‐Hz tone, the other ear simultaneously received the 800‐Hz tone. Condition 2 was identical to condition 1, except that the alternating tones were at 600 and 1200 Hz instead. In condition 3, dichotic chords at 400 and 800 Hz alternated with dichotic chords at 600 and 1200 Hz. In all conditions, the amplitude relationships between the higher and lower tones were varied, and the percent lateralization to the higher frequency signal was plotted as a function of these amplitude relationships. In all conditions, when the tones at the two ears were equal in amplitude, lateralization tended to be toward the ear receiving the higher frequency signal. Averaged across subjects, this tendency in condition 1 was overcome only when the lower frequency signal was 12 dB higher in amplitude, and, in condition 2, when it was 9 dB higher. However, in condition 3, the tendency was overcome when the lower frequency signal was 3 dB higher in amplitude. The lateralization effect was thus shown to be influenced by the sequential relationships between the frequencies presented to the two ears.
Prospective Study of the Association of Serum Triglyceride and Glucose with Colorectal Cancer

To determine if serum triglyceride and glucose levels are associated with colorectal cancer, a prospective study among 7619 Japanese-American men was conducted. From 1968 to 1998, 376 colon and 124 rectal cancer incident cases were diagnosed. A strong positive association of alcohol intake and pack-years of cigarette smoking with colorectal cancer was observed. Body mass index and heart rate were also positively related to colon, but not to rectal cancer. In contrast, serum triglyceride did not predict the development of either colon or rectal cancer. There was a modest association of serum glucose in the highest quartile group with rectal cancer (relative risk = 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-2.26), but it was not statistically significant. This study did not find a strong positive association of serum triglyceride or glucose with colorectal cancer, but additional studies including other metabolic consequences associated with increased serum triglyceride and glucose may clarify the relationship.
Synthesis of novel, multivalent glycodendrimers as ligands for HIV-1 gp120.

Multivalent neoglycoconjugates are valuable tools for studying carbohydrate−protein interactions. To study the interaction of HIV-1 gp120 with its reported alternate glycolipid receptors, galactosyl ceramide (GalCer) and sulfatide, galactose- and sulfated galactose-derivatized dendrimers were synthesized, analyzed as ligands for rgp120 by surface plasmon resonance, and tested for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection of CXCR4- and CCR5-expressing indicator cells. Four different series of glycodendrimers were made by amine coupling spacer-arm derivatized galactose residues, either sulfated or nonsulfated, to poly(propylenimine) dendrimers, generations 1−5. One series of glycodendrimers was prepared from the ceramide saccharide derivative of purified natural GalCer, and another was from chemically synthesized 3-(β-d-galactopyranosylthio)propionic acid. Synthesis of 3-sulfogalactopyranosyl-derivatized dendrimers was accomplished using the novel compound, 3-(β-d-3-sulfogalactopyranosylthio)propionic acid. ...
Stern words on the mind–brain problem: Keeping the whole person in mind

Abstract The presentation of recent research in neuroscience in articles, books, and the popular press, has reflected what Bennett and Hacker refer to as the mereological fallacy , in which a variety of psychological aspects of experience such as distorting, telling, directing, controlling, producing, managing, winning, interpreting, being political expecting, sensing, or talking, have been attributed to the brain or parts of the brain. In each and every case, the authors of such locutions are begging the question and creating a new form of Cartesian dualism that their efforts were undertaken to avoid. In this article I present Stern's view of the mind/brain relationship as found in his Critical Personalism , wherein he anticipates and refutes such attributions as are being made presently and instead attributes such experiences and tendencies not to the brain, but to the person. Stern's views and the relationship between brain development and culture are briefly explored.
Development of a gene transfer system in Treponema denticola by electroporation

Treponema denticola is strongly implicated in the etiology of periodontal diseases. However, genetic transformation of this organism has not been reported. We now demonstrate a gene transfer system in T. denticola by electroporation using a broad host plasmid pKT210 as a shuttle vector. Plasmid extraction, Southern blot hybridization as well as the polymerase chain reaction indicated the presence of the plasmid in T. denticola transformants. The restriction patterns of plasmid pKT210 rescued from the T. denticola transformants in Escherichea coli suggested that some of the rescued plasmids were identical to the original pKT210, but some of them had been modified. This transformation system could be a potentially useful tool for genetic manipulation of oral spirochetes.
Subgraphs and well-quasi-ordering

Let be a class of graphs and let ⪯ be the subgraph or the induced subgraph relation. We call ⪯ an ideal (with respect to ⪯) if ⪯ implies that ⪯. In this paper, we study the ideals that are well-quasiordered by ⪯. The following are our main results. If ⪯ is the subgraph relation, we characterize the well-quasi-ordered ideals in terms of exluding subgraphs. If⪯is the induced subgraph relation, we present three wellquasi-ordered ideals. We also construct examples to disprove some of the possible generalizations of our results. The connections between some of our results and digraphs are considered in this paper too.
Validity Issues and Decisions About Testing Accommodations

This article advocates the use of a decision-making flowchart to help understand whether the proposed test alteration(s) is an accommodation or a modification. If the proposed alteration is not lis...
Abrasive, silica phytoliths and the evolution of thick molar enamel in primates, with implications for the diet of Paranthropus boisei.

Background Primates—including fossil species of apes and hominins—show variation in their degree of molar enamel thickness, a trait long thought to reflect a diet of hard or tough foods. The early hominins demonstrated molar enamel thickness of moderate to extreme degrees, which suggested to most researchers that they ate hard foods obtained on or near the ground, such as nuts, seeds, tubers, and roots. We propose an alternative hypothesis—that the amount of phytoliths in foods correlates with the evolution of thick molar enamel in primates, although this effect is constrained by a species' degree of folivory. Methodology/Principal Findings From a combination of dietary data and evidence for the levels of phytoliths in plant families in the literature, we calculated the percentage of plant foods rich in phytoliths in the diets of twelve extant primates with wide variation in their molar enamel thickness. Additional dietary data from the literature provided the percentage of each primate's diet made up of plants and of leaves. A statistical analysis of these variables showed that the amount of abrasive silica phytoliths in the diets of our sample primates correlated positively with the thickness of their molar enamel, constrained by the amount of leaves in their diet (R2 = 0.875; p<.0006). Conclusions/Significance The need to resist abrasion from phytoliths appears to be a key selective force behind the evolution of thick molar enamel in primates. The extreme molar enamel thickness of the teeth of the East African hominin Paranthropus boisei, long thought to suggest a diet comprising predominantly hard objects, instead appears to indicate a diet with plants high in abrasive silica phytoliths.
Extracellular Space Attenuates the Effect of Gap Junctional Remodeling on Wave Propagation: A Computational Study

Ionic channels and gap junctions are remodeled in cells from the 5-day epicardial border zone (EBZ) of the healing canine infarct. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of gap junctional conductance (Gj) remodeling and Cx43 redistribution to the lateral membrane on conduction velocity (θ) and anisotropic ratio, and how gap junctional remodeling is modulated by the extracellular space. We first implemented subcellular monodomain and two-domain computer models of normal epicardium (NZ) to understand how extracellular space modulates the relationship between Gj and θ in NZ. We found that the extracellular space flattens the Gj-θ relationship, thus θ becomes less sensitive to changes in Gj. We then investigated the functional consequences of Gj remodeling and Cx43 distribution in subcellular computer models of cells of the outer pathway (IZo) and central pathway (IZc) of reentrant circuits. In IZo cells, side-to-side (transverse) Gj is 10% the value in NZ cells. Such Gj remodeling causes a 45% decrease in transverse θ (θT). Inclusion of an extracellular space reduces the decrease in θT to 31%. In IZc cells, Cx43 redistribution along the lateral membrane results in a 29% increase in θT. That increase in θT is a consequence of the decrease in access resistance to the Cx43 plaques that occur with the Cx43 redistribution. Extracellular space reduces the increase in θT to 10%. In conclusion: 1), The extracellular space included in normal epicardial simulations flattens the Gj-θ relationship with θ becoming less sensitive to changes in Gj. 2), The extracellular space attenuates the effects of gap junction epicardial border zone remodeling (i.e., Gj reduction and Cx43 lateralization) on θT.
Market‐to‐economy developments in Central Asia: performance measurement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the performance of the emerging markets of Central Asia, and to bridge quantitative development indicators with a qualitative measurement of market and broader socioeconomic conditions. While findings may warrant deeper examination of inter‐ and intra‐country developments, and, inter alia, comparison to other emerging markets, the paper aims to highlight the importance of aligning macro‐level reforms with due development of industry‐level aims to the conditions.Design/methodology/approach – This paper relies on secondary research and data from international financial institutions (IFIs), as well as the author's experience in working with private sector development issues in emerging and developing economies. The Central Asian context derives from a comparison of definitions set out by relevant IFIs. Quantitative economic and outlook data set the stage for further examination of market conditions. The paper also touches upon the total factor productivity ec...
Poly(lactic acid) membranes containing bacteriocins and EDTA for inhibition of the surface growth of gram‐negative bacteria

Films containing antibacterial reagents, ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA) and Nisaplin®, were produced by coextrusion with poly(lactic acid) in the presence of a pharmaceutical grade glycerol triacetate. The incorporation of EDTA-Nisaplin® particles resulted in a heterogeneous biphasic structure, as revealed by scanning electronic microscopy, confocal laser microscopy, and acoustic emission tests. The inclusion of glycerol triacetate reduced the Young's modulus and tensile strength, while enhancing the flexibility and the toughness of the resulting blends. The inclusion of the plasticizer also allowed the extrusion to occur at a temperature as low as 120°C to maintain the biological activity of Nisaplin®, which in combination with EDTA, plays a synergistic effect on suppression of the growth of the Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli O157:H7. The films thus obtained show potential as packaging materials with a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010