cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Instagram Posts Related to Backwoods Cigarillo Blunts: Content Analysis

Background: Instagram, one of the most popular social media platforms among youth, offers a unique opportunity to examine blunts—partially or fully hollowed-out large cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos that are filled with marijuana. Cigarillo brands like Backwoods (Imperial Tobacco Group Brands LLC) have product features that facilitate blunt making, including a variety of brand-specific flavors that enhance the smoking experience (eg, honey, dark stout). Backwoods has an active online presence with a user-friendly website. Objective: This study examined the extent to which Backwoods cigarillo–related posts on Instagram showed blunt making. Instagram offers a unique opportunity to examine blunt making as Instagram accounts will contain images reflective of behavior occurring without the prime of a researcher. Methods: Data consisted of publicly available Instagram posts with the hashtag #backwoods collected from August 30 to September 12, 2018. Inclusion criteria for this study included an Instagram post with the hashtag “#backwoods”. Rules were established to content analyze posts. Categories included Type of post (ie, photo, video, or both); Blunt-related hashtags (ie, the corresponding post caption contained one or more hashtags like #blunts, #cannabis, and #weed that were identified in previous social media research); Rolling blunts (ie, the post contained an image of one or more individuals rolling a Backwoods cigarillo visibly containing marijuana); and Smoking blunts (ie, the post contained an image of one or more individuals blowing smoke or holding a lit blunt). We coded images for Product flavor reference, where a code of 1 showed a Backwoods cigarillo pack with a brand-specific flavor (eg, honey, dark stout, Russian creme) visible in the blunt-related image, and a code of 0 indicated that it was not visible anywhere in the image. Results: Among all posts (N=1206), 871 (72.2%) were coded as Blunt-related hashtags. A total of 125 (10.4%) images were coded as Smoking blunts, and 25 (2.1%) were coded as Rolling blunts (ie, Backwoods cigarillo explicitly used to roll blunts). Among blunt images, 434 of 836 (51.9%) were coded as Product flavor (ie, a Backwoods pack with a brand-specific flavor was visible). Conclusions: Most Backwoods cigarillo–related Instagram images were blunt-related, and these blunt-related images showed Backwoods packages indicating flavor preference. Continued monitoring and surveillance of blunt-related posts on Instagram is needed to inform policies and interventions that reduce the risk that youth may experiment with blunts. Specific policies could include restrictions on product features (eg, flavors, perforated lines, attractive resealable foil pouches, sale as singles) that facilitate blunt making.
An Assessment of the benefits of Orbeseal®, when used in combination with dry cow antibiotic therapy in three commercial dairy herds

An internal teat sealant containing bismuth subnitrate was used in combination with dry cow antibiotic therapy in a cow-level prospective case-control field trial in three herds with different dry cow management practices. Treated quarters (antibiotic+sealant) had a 59% lower odds of developing a new dry period infection at 1-3 days-in-milk (DIM) than control (antibiotic only) quarters (P<0.001). Herd-level variation in new intramammary infection (IMI) and mastitis treatment rates during the first 100 DIM were observed. Greatest benefits from internal teat sealant use were documented in herds with the highest rates of new IMI during the dry period, and for environmental streptococci. Economic benefit accrued from differences in the timing of treatment for mastitis was estimated to be $5.38 per cow in the herd.
Hepatic stellate cell-derived exosomes modulate macrophage inflammatory response.

Abstract Background Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) differentiation/activation is central to liver fibrosis and is innately linked to the immune response to liver injury. Exosomes (EXOs) are important means of communication between cell populations. This study sought to characterize EXO release from HSCs and the effect of HSC-EXOs on macrophage cytokine release/function. Methods Liver from a rat fibrosis model was analyzed for EXO expression and localization. Quiescent and culture-activated rat and mouse HSCs and activated human HSCs were analyzed for microRNA expression. Mouse, rat, and human HSCs were culture-activated and EXOs purified from culture medium prior to addition to macrophages, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) mRNA and protein measured. The effect of activated HSC-EXOs on macrophage migration was assayed. Results Activation of rat HSCs led to increased EXO production in vivo, an effect mirrored by in vitro rat HSC culture-activation. Culture activation of mouse and rat HSCs led to altered EXO microRNA profiles, with a similar microRNA profile detected in activated human HSCs. Addition of activated HSC-EXOs to macrophages stimulated IL-6 and TNFα mRNA expression and protein secretion in mouse and human macrophages, but not for rat HSC-EXO-macrophages. Addition of human EXOs to macrophages stimulated migration, effects mirrored by the direct addition of rhIL-6 and rhTNFα. Conclusions HSC-EXOs associate with macrophages and stimulate cytokine synthesis-release and macrophage migration. Constructing a comprehensive understanding of EXO interactions between liver cell populations in the setting of inflammation/fibrosis increases the potential for developing new diagnostic/therapeutic approaches.
Racial/Ethnic Differences in 30-Year Trajectories of Cannabis Use among Males.

Background: Given that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in the US, continuous research on patterns of cannabis use over the life course can help to ensure progress towards impro...
Structural and functional consequences of PAX6 mutations in the brain: implications for aniridia

The paired-box 6 (PAX6) gene encodes a highly conserved transcription factor essential for the proper development of the eye and brain. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in PAX6 are causal for a condition known as aniridia in humans and the Small eye phenotype in mice. Aniridia is characterized by iris hypoplasia and other ocular abnormalities, but recent evidence of neuroanatomical, sensory, and cognitive impairments in this population has emerged, indicating brain-related phenotypes as a prevalent feature of the disorder. Determining the neurophysiological origins of brain-related phenotypes in this disorder presents a substantial challenge, as the majority of extra-ocular traits in aniridia demonstrate a high degree of heterogeneity. Here, we summarize and integrate findings from human and rodent model studies, which have focused on neuroanatomical and functional consequences of PAX6 mutations. We highlight novel findings from PAX6 central nervous system studies in adult mammals, and integrate these findings into what we know about PAX6's role in development of the central nervous system. This review presents the current literature in the field in order to inform clinical application, discusses what is needed in future studies, and highlights PAX6 as a lens through which to understand genetic disorders affecting the human nervous system.
Ensemble learning for change-point prediction

In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for the problem of predicting change-points. We assume that the causes for change-points can be characterized by the time interval between a change-point and its symptom. Based on this assumption, we first generate weak classifiers for capturing each characteristic, and then build an ensemble classifier with the weak classifiers. Experimental results show our algorithm improves the F-measure by 11% in the best case.
Crisis Management & Organizational Learning: How Organizations Learn from Natural Disasters

Managing a large scale crisis often presents a substantial challenge for an organization that may even threaten its survival. However, we argue that organizations can embrace such challenges to learn from crises. Through examining how organizations learn from the process of crisis management, we offer new implications for organization theory and management practice. We do so through conducting a longitudinal case analysis of how organizations learned from a series of similar national disasters. We examine how organizations learn from the management of crises and develop a three-stage approach to organizational learning in crisis management. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our analysis for theory and practice.
Initial ICU Management of Skin Sloughing Diseases: Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Case Presentation: A 48 year old woman with metastatic breast cancer develops signs of an upper respiratory infection, fever, and malaise two weeks after starting dilantin for seizures from brain metastases. In the ensuing 48 hours, she develops skin eruptions on her face, which progress to her upper extremities and trunk. She develops lesions of the mouth as well as bullae over her trunk and extremities. She is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) hypotensive, tachycardic, and acidotic with sloughing of the skin of her head, trunk, both arms, and legs.
Multivariate Statistics to Analyze Extraterrestrial Particles from the Ocean Floor

The elemental composition of cosmic particles found deep on the ocean floor is of astronomical interest, because of its representativeness of small meteoroids, that melt during high velocity entry into the atmosphere. The properties of these deep sea spheres (DSS) give information about the composition of the earth crossing population of small meteoroids. Meteor trajectory analysis has shown that most small meteoroids are debris from short period comets. Their elemental and Sr isotopic abundances and their content of the cosmogenic isotopes are proof of their extraterrestrial origin. Studying DSS chemical compositions unaffected by atmospheric entry is a vehicle to learn about meteoroids. With this goal in mind, chemical analysis of about 300 polished sections of 250-800 urn DSS, collected 1000 km east of Hawaii was made by electron microprobe technique. Each sample was characterized by the following elemental concentrations: Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Si, Ti. In general, it was found that the relative abundances of these elements in each particle is close to solar (chondritic) proportions. In a previous study1 conclusions about the composition of the major part and some peculiar sub-groups of the DSS samples were drawn on the basis of the univariate (one variable at a time) distributions of the elemental concentrations.
The Association between Auditor Industry Specialization and Firms' Disclosure of Internal Control Weaknesses

In this paper, we examine the association between auditor industry specialization and the disclosure of internal control weaknesses (ICWs) by firms that filed first-time Section 404 reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Using both univariate and logistic regression analyses, we find that firms audited by industry specialist auditors are more likely to report ICWs than firms audited by non-specialist auditors. Our results therefore provide further evidence that industry specialist auditors are quality differentiated.
The Relationship between Intracellular Free Iron and Cell Injury in Cultured Neurons, Astrocytes, and Oligodendrocytes

Iron is an essential element for cells but may also be an important cytotoxin. However, very little is known about iron transport, redox status, or toxicity specifically inside cells. In this study, we exploited the sensitivity of fura-2 to quenching by ferrous iron (Fe(2+)) to detect intracellular free iron ([Fe(2+)](i)) in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in primary culture. All cell types exposed to Fe(2+) in the presence of the ionophore pyrithione rapidly accumulated Fe(2+) to a similar extent. The heavy-metal chelators bipyridyl and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridalmethyl)ethyl-enediamine rapidly reversed the increase in [Fe(2+)](i), whereas desferrioxamine had little effect. Interestingly, the Fe(2+)-mediated quenching of fura-2 fluorescence was reversed in a concentration-dependent manner by hydrogen peroxide. This was likely caused by the oxidation of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+) inside the cell. Acute exposure of cells to Fe(2+) was only toxic when the metal was applied together with pyrithione, showing that Fe(2+) is only toxic when elevated inside cells. Interestingly, only neurons and oligodendrocytes were injured by this elevation in [Fe(2+)](i), whereas astrocytes were unaffected, although [Fe(2+)](i) was elevated to the same degree in each cell type. These studies provide a novel approach for detecting [Fe(2+)](i) in a manner sensitive to the redox state of the metal. These studies also provide a model system for the study of the toxic consequences of elevated [Fe(2+)](i) in neural cells.
Asymptotic analysis and design considerations of Bragg fibers

An asymptotic analysis is developed to calculate the modal dispersion, field distribution, and propagation loss of Bragg fibers. The design considerations of Bragg fibers are also discussed.
A Graph-Based Approach Towards Discerning Inherent Structures in a Digital Library of Formal Mathematics

As the amount of online formal mathematical content grows, for example through active efforts such as the Mathweb [21], MOWGLI [4], Formal Digital Library, or FDL [1], and others, it becomes increasingly valuable to find automated means to manage this data and capture semantics such as relatedness and significance. We apply graph-based approaches, such as HITS, or Hyperlink Induced Topic Search, [11] used for World Wide Web document search and analysis, to formal mathematical data collections. The nodes of the graphs we analyze are theorems and definitions, and the links are logical dependencies. By exploiting this link structure, we show how one may extract organizational and relatedness information from a collection of digital formal math. We discuss the value of the information we can extract, yielding potential applications in math search tools, theorem proving, and education.
Expressive writing in early breast cancer survivors.

craft m.a., davis g.c. & paulson r.m. (2012) Expressive writing in early breast cancer survivors. Journal of Advanced Nursing69(2), 305–315. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06008.x. Abstract Aims. This article is the report of a study aimed at determining whether or not expressive writing improves the quality-of-life of early breast cancer survivors. An additional aim is the investigation of whether or not the type of writing prompt makes a difference in results. Background. The risk of distress can extend well beyond the time of a breast cancer diagnosis. Emotional expression may assist in dealing with this. Design. Randomized controlled study. Methods. Participants (n = 120) were randomized into one of four groups: a control group (no writing) or one of three expressive writing groups: breast cancer trauma, any self-selected trauma and facts related to breast cancer. Participants wrote 20 minutes a day for 4 consecutive days. Their quality-of-life was measured, using the ‘Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer Version’, at baseline and at 1 month and 6 months after writing. Paired t-tests, multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression were used to analyse the data of the 97 participants who completed the journaling assignment and at least the first assessment, collected in 2006. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. Results/findings. Expressive writing about one’s breast cancer, breast cancer trauma and facts related to breast cancer, significantly improved the quality-of-life outcome. Conclusion. Expressive writing, focusing the instructions on writing about one’s living and dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer, is recommended for early breast cancer survivors as a feasible and easily implemented treatment approach to improve quality-of-life.
Home observation for measurement of the environment: a validation study of screening efficiency.

Home environments of 91 6-month-old infants were assessed with the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory. Multiple discriminant functions composed of the six subscale scores from the HOME Inventory were used to predict whether a child would be low IQ (below 70), low average (70 to 89), or average to superior (90 and above) at age 3 years. The mean vector of Home inventory subscales for the three IQ groups was significantly different (p less than .01). Significant univariate effects were observed for three HOME Inventory subscales: organization of the physical and temporal environment, provision of appropriate play materials, and maternal involvement with child. The discriminant function of HOME Inventory subscale scores correctly predicted 71 percent of all children who scored below 70 IQ. Results attest to the usefulness of the HOME Inventory in a comprehensive program of screening for developmental delay.
ANTHROPOLOGISTS IN THE VA: A GENERATIVE FORCE

Practicing anthropology within the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has, until recently, received little serious consideration as a respectable career option for anthropology postgraduates. But times are changing. Anthropologists employed by the VA are responsible for some of the most important and actionable anthropologically informed health research today. Far from being a marginal pursuit, VA anthropology is in fact a generative force for medical anthropology and, indeed, the discipline as a whole.
Laser beam relaying with phase-conjugate diffractive optical elements

A diffractive optical element is used to relay complex laser beam profiles by phase conjugation. It has the advantage over a conventional afocal system of avoiding light concentration at the intermediate focal point. Theoretical and experimental results show that the image quality is a function of alignment errors and mode-size changes. When the optical system is within the calculated tolerances, the diffractive optic reproduces images of high quality.
An update on the carbon-oxygen reaction

Some of the pertinent literature on the C-O2 reaction, available over the past 25 years, is considered. Fundamental, specific reaction rates are available from microscopy studies on carbons of large crystallite size, excellent crystallite alignment, and high purity. Rates are determined in a straight-forward way by following recession of the active surface as a function of time. Problems of obtaining fundamental rates for gasification of carbons from measuring total active surface area and/or those fractions covered by both a stable complex and a fleeting oxygen complex during gasification are considered. Ways now appear to be available to make the necessary measurements for calculating fundamental rates using the latter approaches.
Adrenal cortical tumors with low attenuation coefficients: a pitfall in computed tomography diagnosis.

Abstract Four cases of adrenal tumors with unusually low attenuation coefficients are reported. The tumors presented with values ranging from 8 to 17 EMI units (EU: 500 scale) instead of the expected 30 to 40 EU range of the remainder of our adrenal tumors. Two of these patients had primary aldosteronism and two had Cushing's syndrome. An unusually high lipid content may be responsible for the lucent appearance.
A Cross-National Comparison of Extreme Response Style Measures:

Five measures of extreme response style were compared across 6,146 study participants from 36 countries: the traditional measure, a modified traditional measure, the individual standard deviation, an index of dispersion and an index of entropy. The traditional measure of extreme response style, whereby the two extreme categories of an item or rating scale are assigned a value of ‘1’, all interior categories are assigned a value of ‘0’ and the sum of the ‘1’ values reflects the extent of extreme responding behaviour, performed slightly better than the other extreme response style measures examined with respect to reliability and ability to discriminate. The traditional measure of extreme response style was positively related to the variance of an attitudinal variable but unrelated to its mean. It was also related to Hofstede's cultural orientation variables of individualism-collectivism and power distance. Future cross-cultural and cross-national empirical research should systematically incorporate measure...
Information content of prior period mutual fund performance rankings

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between prior and subsequent period performance rankings for all domestic equity mutual funds followed by Morningstar over the period 1976–1992. Evidence of statistically significant persistence in relative performance was detected in the full sample during the period 1980–1992. However, further examination revealed that persistence in mutual fund performance was no longer evident when the full sample was partitioned by investment objective. In this context, prior period mutual fund performance provides minimal insight into subsequent period performance and, therefore, is of little value in the mutual fund selection process.
Successful transurethral intralesional BCG therapy of a bladder melanoma.

An isolated metastasis of malignant melanoma to the urinary bladder of a patient was successfully eradicated by transurethral intralesional injection of BCG. Total destruction of the tumor was confirmed by subsequent excision. Lymphocyte blastogenesis studies revealed no significant alteration in immunocompetence secondary to the therapy, except for an increased responsiveness to PPD. There was no evidence of presence of blocking factors following therapy; cytotoxicity against MLA-14 melanoma cells sharply increased after the intralesional injection. Humoral antimelanoma antibody levels, determined by complement fixation, were decreased before the intralesional therapy, but increased markedly immediately following the transurethral BCG injection.
Effect of Treatment of Sprague Dawley Rats with AVE7688, Enalapril, or Candoxatril on Diet-Induced Obesity

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of AVE7688, a drug that inhibits both angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity, on neural and vascular defects caused by diet induced obesity (DIO). Rats at 12 weeks of age were fed a standard or high fat diet with or without AVE7688 for 24 weeks. DIO rats had impaired glucose tolerance and developed sensory neuropathy. Vascular relaxation to acetylcholine and calcitonin gene-related peptide was decreased in epineurial arterioles of DIO rats. Rats fed a high fat diet containing AVE7688 did not become obese and vascular and sensory nerve dysfunction and impaired glucose tolerance were improved. DIO is associated with increased expression of NEP in epineurial arterioles. NEP degrades vasoactive peptides which may explain the decrease in neurovascular function in DIO.
Travel motivation as a determinant of shopping venue

Purpose – Shopping is a popular tourist activity. While a person might not travel for the purpose of shopping, many tourists shop while traveling. This study aims to examine travel motivation as a predictor of the importance assigned to desired shopping center attributes for three different shopping centers, and their effect on satisfaction, and re‐patronage intention.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected via mall‐intercept surveys from 624 tourist shoppers at seven shopping centers. A tourist was defined as a person who traveled a distance of at least 50 miles from their home.Findings – Desired shopping center attributes are influenced by travel motivation. For the superregional center, a linear relationship was computed for the exploration travel motive, mall environment, overall satisfaction and re‐patronage intention. Interestingly, overall satisfaction with the shopping center was not a significant predictor of re‐patronage intention in the theme/festival or super off‐price centers.Origin...
The Effects of ‘Playing Historian’ on Learning in History

The present study investigates conditions under which undergraduates may adopt a view of history more similar to that of historians and how learning and understanding may be affected under such conditions. Two manipulations, one of the reading material and the other of writing task, were introduced within the standard ‘read-to-write’ approach of history instruction. Undergraduates were either given a textbook chapter about Ireland between 1800 and 1850, or the same information in the form of separate sources. After reading the presented material they were instructed to write a history, a narrative or an argument regarding what produced the significant changes in Ireland's population between 1846 and 1850. It was expected that the separate source/argument writing condition would yield the most historian-like behaviour. Indeed, students in this condition learned the material as well as, or better than, students in any other condition, but had the best understanding of the material, especially of causal and explanatory relationships. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitric oxide and thiol groups

S-Nitroso(sy)lation reactions have recently been appreciated to regulate protein function and mediate 'nitrosative' stress. S-Nitrosothiols (SNOs) have been identified in a variety of tissues, and represent a novel class of signaling molecules which may act independently of homolytic cleavage to NO - and, indeed, in a stereoselective fashion - or be metabolized to other bioactive nitrogen oxides. It is now appreciated that sulfur-NO interactions have critical physiological relevance to mammalian neurotransmission, ion channel function, intracellular signaling and antimicrobial defense. These reactions are promising targets for the development of new medical therapies.
Vapor Dynamics of Heat Pipe Start-Up

Vapor dynamics of heat pipes during the start-up phase of operation is analyzed. The vapor flow is modeled by a two-dimensional, compressible viscous flow in an enclosure with inflow and outflow boundary conditions. For high-input heat fluxes, a compression wave is created in the evaporator early in the operation. A nonlinear filtering technique, along with the centered difference scheme, is used to capture the shocklike wave and overcome the cell Reynolds number problem. Multiple wave reflections are observed in the evaporation and adiabatic regions. These wave reflections cause a significant increase in the local pressure and flow circulations, which grow with time. It is shown that the maximum and maximum-averaged pressure drops oscillate periodically because of the wave reflections. Although the pressure drops converge to a constant value at steady state, they are significantly higher than their steady-state value at the initiation of the process. The time for the vapor core to reach a steady-state condition was found to be on the order of seconds.
A comparison of the water relations of the hispid cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus, and the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster

Abstract 1. 1. There was no significant difference in the ad libitum water exchange of the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus, and the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster. 2. 2. On minimum water rations, both species showed a significant reduction in water exchange by all avenues. However, the weight-specific water exchange of the cotton was about one-half that of the prairie vole. 3. 3. The maximum urine concentration of the cotton rat was 2734.4 mOsm/kg H2O as compared to 2083.8 mOsm/kg H2O for the prairie vole. 4. 4. The results suggest that the cotton rat has a greater ability to conserve water during periods of water restriction.
Things and de re modality

Distinguant la modalite metaphysique de re et la modalite metaphysique de dicto, l'A. se propose d'etudier la premiere en parallele avec la question de la choseite (thinghood). Soulevant le probleme de la verite modale et celui des proprietes de la possibilite et de la necessite des propositions, l'A. defend une position hybride, empruntant a la these essentialiste moderee, l'idee qu'une seule chose peut etre une essence, d'une part, et adoptant la these pseudo-essentialiste selon laquelle chaque chose est multiforme, d'autre part.
Microlending for housing in the United States. A case study in colonias in Texas

Abstract Applying the concept of microlending to housing is gaining momentum as a practical alternative for those who are on the margin of mainstream financial services. Microlending has been widely researched in the context of developing countries, but less is known about how – and if – it works on marginalized groups in developed countries, specifically in relation to housing. Using the case of South Texas colonias, this paper explores a microlending program for home improvements and its capacity to impact the local economy. Basic data comes from the Nuestra Casa lending program database (609 clients) and from face to face interviews with a randomly selected sample of 138 clients. Our findings show that this program targets and serves clients from the unbanked population, who do not have access to other lending alternatives; further, 70% of the current clients are living below the poverty threshold; defaults rates are found to be low, indicating a capacity to pay loans based on income-to-debt instead of loan-to-debt ratios; and finally, it positively impacts the local economy, since labor and materials necessary to implement the improvements, are purchased locally. These findings should give us policy guidelines to evaluate lending programs that attached to local economies and are suited to serve the target populations.
Bacterial classification: an overview.

Classification of bacteria evolved from limited subjective groupings to general, more objective arrangements based on overall phenotypic similarities. However, classifications based on phenotypic c...
Comparison of the white-nose syndrome agent Pseudogymnoascus destructans to cave-dwelling relatives suggests reduced saprotrophic enzyme activity.

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) is an emerging infectious mycosis that has impacted multiple species of North American bats since its initial discovery in 2006, yet the physiology of the causal agent, the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans ( = Geomyces destructans), is not well understood. We investigated the ability of P. destructans to secrete enzymes that could permit environmental growth or affect pathogenesis and compared enzyme activity across several Pseudogymnoascus species isolated from both hibernating bats and cave sediments. We found that P. destructans produced enzymes that could be beneficial in either a pathogenic or saprotrophic context, such as lipases, hemolysins, and urease, as well as chitinase and cellulases, which could aid in saprotrophic growth. The WNS pathogen showed significantly lower activity for urease and endoglucanase compared to con-generic species (Pseudogymnoascus), which may indicate a shift in selective pressure to the detriment of P. destructans’ saprotrophic ability. Based on the positive function of multiple saprotrophic enzymes, the causal agent of White-nose Syndrome shows potential for environmental growth on a variety of substrates found in caves, albeit at a reduced level compared to environmental strains. Our data suggest that if P. destructans emerged as an opportunistic infection from an environmental source, co-evolution with its host may have led to a reduced capacity for saprotrophic growth.
Inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity Attenuates Tenascin-C Production and Calcification of Implanted Purified Elastin in Rats

Elastin, a major extracellular matrix protein present in arterial walls provides elastic recoil and resilience to arteries. Elastin is prone to calcification in a number of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis and bioprosthetic heart valve mineralization. We have recently shown that purified elastin when implanted subdermally in rats undergoes severe calcification. In the present study, we used this elastin implant model to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying elastin calcification. Intense matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) and tenascin-C (TN-C) expression were seen in the proximity of the initial cal-cific deposits at 7 days. Gelatin zymography studies showed both MMP-2 (latent and active form) and MMP-9 expression within the implants. To investigate the role of MMPs in calcification, rats were administered a MMP inhibitor, (2 S -allyl- N -hydroxy-3 R -isobutyl- N -(1 S -methylcarbamoyl-2-phenylethyl)-succinamide (BB-1101) by daily injection, either systemically or at the implant site. The site-specific BB-1101 administration almost completely suppressed TN-C expression, as shown by immunohistochemical staining, within the implants. The systemic BB-1101 injections also significantly reduced TN-C expression within the elastin implants. Moreover, calcification of elastin implants was significantly reduced in the site-specific administration group (5.43 ± 1.03 μg/mg Ca for BB-1101 group versus 21.71 ± 1.19 for control group, P versus 16.92 ± 2.56 in the BB-1101 group, P
Isolation and characterization of a c-type lysozyme from the nurse shark

Lysozyme is a ubiquitous antibacterial enzyme that occurs in numerous invertebrate and vertebrate species. Three forms have been described c-type, g-type and i-type which differ in primary structure. Shark lysozyme has not been characterized; here we report on the isolation and characterization of lysozyme from unstimulated shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) leukocytes and provide amino acid sequence data across the highly conserved active site of the molecule identifying it to be a c-type lysozyme. A leukocyte lysate was applied either (a) to the first of two sequential DE-52 cellulose columns or alternatively, (b) to a DEAE-Sepharose column. Lysozyme activity in lysate and active fractions was identified by zones of lysis of Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls on lysoplates and zones of growth inhibition in agar diffusion assays using Planococcus citreus as the target organism. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed a 14 kDa protein which was identified as lysozyme by mass spectroscopic analysis of peptides, reactivity against anti-HEWL antibodies on a Western blot, hydrolysis of M. lysodeikticus cell walls, and inhibition of growth of P. citreus on AU-gel blots in which the area of growth inhibition correlated to a 14 kDa protein.
The xanthine oxidase inhibitor oxypurinol does not limit infarct size in a canine model of 40 minutes of ischemia with reperfusion

Abstract Free radicals such as superoxide (O2−) produced by xanthine oxidase might cause cell death during reperfusion after myocardial ischemia. The effect of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol on infarct size in ischemiareperfusion models has been variable, possibly because of differences in treatment duration. Adequate inhibition of xanthine oxidase may require a sufficient pretreatment period to permit conversion of allopurinol to oxypurinol, the actual inhibitor of superoxide production. To test more definitively whether xanthine oxidase-derived free radicals cause cell death during reperfusion, the effect of oxypurinol on infarct size was evaluated in an ischemia-reperfusion model. Open chest dogs underwent 40 min of circumflex coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion for 4 days. Twelve dogs were treated with oxypurinol (10 mg/kg body weight intravenously 10 min before occlusion and 10 mg/kg intravenously 10 min before reperfusion) and 11 control dogs received drug vehicle alone (pH 10 normal saline solution). Nine control dogs from a concurrent study also were included. Infarct size was measured histologically and analyzed with respect to its major baseline predictors, including anatomic area at risk and collateral blood flow (measured with radioactive microspheres). Infarct size as a percent of the area at risk averaged 23.8 ± 2.7% (mean ± SEM) in the oxypurinol group (n = 10) and 23.1 ± 4.2% in the control group (n = 17) (p = NS). Collateral blood flow to the inner two thirds of the ischemic wall averaged 0.08 ± 0.01 ml/min per g in the oxypurinol group and 0.09 ± 0.02 ml/min per g in the control group. In control dogs, infarct size was inversely related to collateral flow; oxypurinol did not shift this relation (analysis of covariance F = 0.029, p = NS). Thus, oxypurinol did not limit infarct size. These results suggest that xanthine oxidase-derived free radicals do not cause myocardial cell death during the early reperfusion period after 40 min of ischemia.
An Introduction to Dewey's Theory of Functional "Trans-Action": An Alternative Paradigm for Activity Theory

Engestrom and Miettinen in their introduction to their edited book with Punamaki (1999) compared John Dewey with the work of A. N. Leont'ev. The understanding of Dewey's work in this introduction reaches a depth rarely plumbed by those who are not specialized in Deweyan scholarship. By expanding on this comparison and contrast it is possible to develop a Deweyan critique of activity theory, at least as we find it in Leont'ev. My article suggests that activity theory (a) remains captured by a dualism between the external and the internal, (b) sometimes ignores context because it fails to distinguish existence from essence, and (c) sometimes over-intellectualizes the activities it analyzes. It is also possible to develop a Deweyan theory of activity. The article introduces (a) Dewey's theory of "trans-action," (b) his theory of functional coordination, and (c) the notion that we live in a world without a within. The article concludes with a comment on Dewey's theory of the mental, intentionality, and semiotics.
Behavioral control blunts reactions to contemporaneous and future adverse events: medial prefrontal cortex plasticity and a corticostriatal network.

It has been known for many years that the ability to exert behavioral control over an adverse event blunts the behavioral and neurochemical impact of the event. More recently, it has become clear that the experience of behavioral control over adverse events also produces enduring changes that reduce the effects of subsequent negative events, even if they are uncontrollable and quite different from the original event controlled. This review focuses on the mechanism by which control both limits the impact of the stressor being experienced and produces enduring, trans-situational “immunization”. The evidence will suggest that control is detected by a corticostriatal circuit involving the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the posterior dorsomedial striatum (DMS). Once control is detected, other mPFC neurons that project to stress-responsive brainstem (dorsal raphe nucleus, DRN) and limbic (amygdala) structures exert top–down inhibitory control over the activation of these structures that is produced by the adverse event. These structures, such as the DRN and amygdala, in turn regulate the proximate mediators of the behavioral and physiological responses produced by adverse events, and so control blunts these responses. Importantly, the joint occurrence of control and adverse events seems to produce enduring plastic changes in the top–down inhibitory mPFC system such that this system is now activated by later adverse events even if they are uncontrollable, thereby reducing the impact of these events. Other issues are discussed that include a) whether other processes such as safety signals and exercise, that lead to resistance/resilience, also use the mPFC circuitry or do so in other ways; b) whether control has similar effects and neural mediation in humans, and c) the relationship of this work to clinical phenomena.
Reflection and transmission of circularly polarized waves in nonlinear dielectrics

A time-sinusoidal circularly polarized plane standing wave solution is obtained for isotropic lossless dielectric media with arbitrary nonlinearity. The spatial variation of the standing wave depends on the nonlinearity and is found by solving a problem of centralforce motion in which the electric complementary energy density furnishes the potential and the spatial coordinate has the role of time. Two special nonlinear dielectric response laws-cubic and quintic-are treated, and explicit solutions for the spatial variation of the wave amplitude and phase are obtained in terms of elliptic functions and elliptic integrals, respectively. The standing-wave solution is applied to give steady state solutions of two reflection/transmission problems (a) reflection from, or resonance modes between, ideally conducting planes and (b) reflection and transmission at a plane interface between two nonlinear dielectric media.
Heightened false memory: A long-term sequela of severe closed head injury☆

Declarative memory impairment is a common long-term sequela of severe closed head injury (CHI). Although veridical memory performance following severe CHI has received attention in the literature, little is known about false memory production in this population. Within the present study, both long-term survivors of severe CHI and matched control participants studied and were tested on six 12-items word lists from the Deese Roediger McDermott (DRM) paradigm. Word lists from the DRM are composed of words that are strongly semantically associated to a non-presented word (i.e., the critical lure). Prior studies have shown that healthy young adults show a high level of false recall and recognition memory for the critical lures, and it was hypothesized individuals with severe CHI would show heightened susceptibility to false memory compared to control participants due to difficulty with monitoring of memory. It was further hypothesized that severe CHI participants would show high confidence in their false memories. Consistent with hypotheses, results indicated that although severe CHI participants remembered fewer actual list items, they made more semantically related intrusion errors (recall) and false-positive responses (recognition) than the control participants. Severe CHI participants also showed greater confidence in their false memories than did control participants. The results are interpreted in the context of theoretical accounts of false memory, and possible structural and functional brain changes that might account for the Severe CHI group's memory performance are discussed.
Carrier-priming leads to hapten-specific suppression

Studies over the past two decades have established1,2 that ‘helper’ T lymphocytes primed to a ‘carrier’ protein increase B-lymphocyte antibody responses to ‘haptenic’ determinants on the carrier protein. T cells from donors primed with one commonly used carrier protein, keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH), have been shown by many workers to augment B-cell IgG anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) responses in adoptive recipients stimulated with DNP-KLH. Therefore, we were surprised recently to find that the KLH-primed mice we normally use as donors for carrier-specific helper T cells in adoptive transfers3 show reduced rather than augmented IgG in situ anti-DNP antibody production when stimulated with DNP-KLH. Here we show that hapten-specific regulation of antibody production is responsible for this response failure. That is, that KLH-priming before DNP-KLH exposure reduces the production of IgG anti-DNP antibody without interfering with the anti-KLH response or with the development of anti-DNP memory B cells, and that IgG anti-DNP production remains low after further stimulation with DNP on KLH or an unrelated carrier. Thus initial stimulation with a carrier-protein creates an oddly compromised animal in which IgG antibody production to a ‘new’ haptenic determinant on the carrier is kept minimal despite the presence of normal anti-hapten memory and carrier-specific help capable of supporting other responses to the hapten-carrier conjugate.
Phase-Separating Aqueous Polymer Solutions as Simple Experimental Models for Cytoplasm

The interior of biological cells is crowded with macromolecules, heterogeneous in composition, and dynamic. We are developing simple experimental models for intracellular environments based on aqueous polymer solutions. Macromolecular crowding is modeled by inclusion of polymers such as polyethylene glycol or dextran; when both polymers are present aqueous phase separation can occur. Phase separation provides microcompartments corresponding to the dextran-rich and PEG-rich phase domains and enables control over the local concentration of not only the polymers themselves but also any molecules that accumulate in one of the phases by partitioning. Local enrichment of tenfold or greater can be maintained between the phases for solutes such as nucleic acids or proteins, and can be used to drive reactions that are concentration-dependent. Encapsulation of the aqueous two-phase systems within lipid vesicles having a semipermeable membrane provides a primitive model of biological cells capable of microcompartmentation, polarity, and asymmetric division. The synthesis and characterization of artificial cells and cell-like environments may provide new insight into how fundamental chemical and physical phenomena common to all cells may have shaped the development of early cells and underlie many of the seemingly complex behaviors of modern cells.
Developmental effects of exposure to Intimate Partner Violence in early childhood: A review of the literature

Abstract Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a prevalent social problem in the United States and women of childbearing age are the most likely victims. The young children born to these women are impacted, however, women are not routinely asked about IPV even when there is evidence that their child has been abused. To highlight the importance of routinely screening for IPV in child welfare and other social service agencies this article reviews typical social-emotional development and physiological/neurological development in early childhood and the impact that IPV and trauma have on these domains of development. Early intervention with young children and caregivers living with IPV provides a significant buffer to the negative effects that witnessing IPV have on children's development and their relationships with caregivers.
Concerns About Decisions Related to Withholding/ Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment and Futility for Persons With Disabilities:

Disability rights advocates have expressed significant concern about the potential dangers assisted suicide poses for persons with disabilities. This article extends this examination of concerns to withholding and withdrawing treatment in general and, in the specific case of physicians, using the futility rationale to discontinue or not start treatment. The arguments set forth against assisted suicide are applied to withholding and withdrawing treatment and futility and are shown to be at least as applicable to these other forms of hastening death. The article concludes with some policy suggestions.
General gauge invariance and spin waves in the B phase of superfluid $sup 3$He

Assuming that the $B$ phase of superfluid $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ is described in terms of a spherical triplet state of Balian and Werthamer, the Goldstone bosons associated with the general gauge transformation of the $B$ phase are studied theoretically. Particular attention is paid to spin waves, which are the Goldstone bosons associated with (partially broken) gauge invariance of the original Hamiltonian against the rotation of the spin space. Spin-wave dispersions in the hydrodynamic regime of the $B$ phase are determined.