cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Erythropoietin from Normal Kidneys

Significant amounts of active erythropoietin were extracted from the kidneys of normal rats, cattle, dogs, and rabbits by homogenization of the organs in 0.1 M phosphate buffer. The mean erythropoietin activities of the extracts, as determined by the starvedrat assay, were 0.26 U/g beef kidney, 0.41 U/g dog kidney, and 0.11 U/g rat kidney. The dog kidney extracts had a mean activity of 0.35 U/g, as measured by stimulation of hemoglobin synthesis in cultured bone marrow cells (in vitro assay) and produced a dose-dependent stimulation of 59Fe incorporation into circulating red cells when assayed in polycythemic mice. Extracts of rabbit kidney cortices had a mean activity of 2.12 U/g, as measured by stimulation of hemoglobin synthesis in cultured bone marrow cells. When the dog kidney homogenate was fractionated on DEAE-cellulose, all of the erythropoietin activity was adsorbed to the exchanger in the presence of 0.01 M acetate buffer, pH 4.5, and was completely eluted by 0.1 M Na2HPO4-0.5 M NaCl, pH 8. An a...
A clarification of self-terminating versus exhaustive variances in serial and parallel models.

A recent study published in Perception & Psychophysics (Donnelly, Found, & Muller, 1999) employs response time (RT) variances (in the form of standard deviations) in addition to mean RTs. Variances can contribute greatly to model testing. However, there is a danger of perpetuating the kinds of logical and methodological errors that have long attended research employing mean RTs alone. This commentary clarifies the theoretical and methodological issues, points out some new results concerning variability in search processes, and indicates how to resolve the global and specific challenges associated with identifying psychological mechanisms.
Wage discrimination and partial compliance with the minimum wage law

This paper presents a simple model to characterize the discriminatory behavior of a non-complying firm in a minimum-wage economy. In the analysis, the violating firm pays one “favored” group of workers the statutory minimum and the other “non-favored” group of workers a sub-minimum. We find conditions under which law enforcement is ineffective in improving the between-group wage differentials. We show that an increase in the minimum wage raises the sub-minimum wage and employment of workers in the non-favored group, but reduces the employment of workers in the favored group. The effect of the minimum wage increase on total employment is unambiguously negative, however.
Does stimulant therapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder beget later substance abuse? A meta-analytic review of the literature.

Objective.Concerns exist that stimulant therapy of youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may result in an increased risk for subsequent substance use disorders (SUD). We investigated all long-term studies in which pharmacologically treated and untreated youths with ADHD were examined for later SUD outcomes. Methods.A search of all available prospective and retrospective studies of children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD that had information relating childhood exposure to stimulant therapy and later SUD outcome in adolescence or adulthood was conducted through PubMed supplemented with data from scientific presentations. Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between stimulant therapy and subsequent SUD in youths with ADHD in general while addressing specifically differential effects on alcohol use disorders or drug use disorders and the potential effects of covariates. Results.Six studies—2 with follow-up in adolescence and 4 in young adulthood—were included and comprised 674 medicated subjects and 360 unmedicated subjects who were followed at least 4 years. The pooled estimate of the odds ratio indicated a 1.9-fold reduction in risk for SUD in youths who were treated with stimulants compared with youths who did not receive pharmacotherapy for ADHD (z = 2.1; 95% confidence interval for odds ratio [OR]: 1.1–3.6). We found similar reductions in risk for later drug and alcohol use disorders (z = 1.1). Studies that reported follow-up into adolescence showed a greater protective effect on the development of SUD (OR: 5.8) than studies that followed subjects into adulthood (OR: 1.4). Additional analyses showed that the results could not be accounted for by any single study or by publication bias. Conclusion.Our results suggest that stimulant therapy in childhood is associated with a reduction in the risk for subsequent drug and alcohol use disorders.
AP17 and AP19, the Mammalian Small Chains of the Clathrin- associated Protein Complexes Show Homology to Yap17p, Their Putative Homolog in Yeast*

AP17 and AP19 are the smallest polypeptide chain components of AP-2 and AP-1, the clathrin-associated protein complexes found in coated structures of the plasma membrane and Golgi apparatus of mammalian cells. cDNA clones representing the entire coding sequence of AP17 and AP19 were isolated from rat and mouse brain cDNA libraries, respectively. Determination of their nucleotide sequence predicts proteins of 142 and 158 amino acids with Mr 17,018 and 18,733. A sequence comparison of rat brain AP17 with mouse brain AP19 demonstrates that the small chains are highly related. A computer search for other related proteins has uncovered in yeast a previously unknown gene whose DNA sequence encodes a protein homologous to the small chain of AP complexes. The yeast sequence predicts Yap17p, a protein with 147 amino acids and a Mr of 17,373 that is slightly more related to the mammalian AP17 chain than to its AP19 counterpart.
Effect of vaccination of hens with an avirulent strain of Salmonella typhimurium on immunity of progeny challenged with wild-type Salmonella strains

The avirulent Salmonella typhimurium chi3985 was used to vaccinate white leghorn chickens at 16 and 18 weeks of age, and the effect of maternal antibody on Salmonella colonization of progeny of vaccinated hens was assessed with S. typhimurium F98 or chi3985. Progeny of hens that had been vaccinated at 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 weeks of age with chi3985 were used to determine the effect of maternal immunity on vaccine efficacy. Vaccination of hens induced long-lasting Salmonella-specific antibodies which were transferred into eggs and were detected as immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the egg yolk. Maternal antibody was detected in the progeny of vaccinated birds as IgG and IgA in serum and intestinal fluid, respectively. The titer of maternally transmitted IgG or IgA was highest in the first week of life of the progeny and declined with age. Maternal antibodies prevented colonization of the chicks by S. typhimurium chi3985 and reduced colonization by S. typhimurium F98. Overall, chicks from vaccinated hens had significantly higher antibody responses than did the progeny of nonvaccinated hens after oral infection with Salmonella strains. Maternal antibody reduced the efficacy of vaccination of progeny with chi3985 at 1 and 3 weeks of age. But vaccination at 2 and 4 weeks of age induced excellent protection against challenge with S. typhimurium F98 or S. enteritidis 27A PT 8 in birds from vaccinated hens and in specific-pathogen-free chickens. Vaccination of chickens at 2 and 4 weeks of age has been shown to protect the birds against challenge with homologous and heterologous Salmonella serotypes. A combination of vaccination of adult animals and use of the progeny of vaccinated birds will enhance effective control of Salmonella infections in the poultry industry. This will complement the present control of Salmonella-associated food poisoning caused by Salmonella enteritidis in eggs because the avirulent S. typhimurium vaccine strain chi3985 induced excellent protection against S. enteritidis in chickens.
INFORMATION EXTRACTION RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS: CURRENT PROGRESS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Analysts face a daunting task: they must accurately analyze, categorize, and assimilate a large body of information from a variety of sources and for a variety of domains of interest. The complexity of the task necessitates a variety of information access and extraction tools which technology up to this point has not been able to provide. SRI's TIPSTER Phase III project has focused on two major obstacles to the development of such tools: inadequate degrees of accuracy and portability. We begin by providing an overview of SRI's information extraction (IE) system, FASTUS, and then describe our efforts in these two areas in turn. We then conclude with some thoughts concerning future directions.
Light Adaptation in Salamander L-Cone Photoreceptors

The responses of individual salamander L-cones to light steps of moderate intensity (bleaching 0.3–3% of the total photopigment) and duration (between 5 and 90 s) were recorded using suction electrodes. Light initially suppressed the circulating current, which partially recovered or “sagged” over several seconds. The sensitivity of the cone to dim flashes decreased rapidly after light onset and approached a minimum within 500 ms. Background light did not affect the rising phase of the dim flash response, a measure of the initial gain of phototransduction. When the light was extinguished, the circulating current transiently exceeded or “overshot” its level in darkness. During the overshoot, the sensitivity of the cone required several seconds to recover. The sag and overshoot remained in voltage-clamped cones. Comparison with theory suggests that three mechanisms cause the sag, overshoot, and slow recovery of sensitivity after the light step: a gradual increase in the rate of inactivation of the phototransduction cascade during the light step, residual activity of the transduction cascade after the step is extinguished, and an increase in guanylate cyclase activity during the light step that persists after the light is extinguished.
A Generalization of a Theorem of Quine for Simplifying Truth Functions

A method of Quine for identifying the core prime implicants of a given truth function, without obtaining all its prime implicants, is generalized under the so-called ``don't care'' conditions. It is shown that our method is equivalent to, and sometimes an improvement of, a result of Roth. When all the prime implicants (under the don't care conditions) of a truth function are given, our method becomes a generalization of a result of Ghazala and is equivalent to another result of Roth. It is also pointed out that our method may be used, in a way similar to using Roth's, for simplifying truth functions.
Structural Inhomogeneities and Resistivity in Radiation Damaged LA2/3(CA,SR)1/3MNO3–δ Pulsed Laser Deposited Thin Films

The relationship between structural distortions and resistivity in pulsed laser deposited La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (LCMO) and La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (LSMO) thin films was investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and resistivity measurements. The growth defects inherent to annealed films were characterized, and then additional defects were introduced by radiation damage. Epitaxially grown films on (100) LaA1O3 substrates exhibited three primary types of growth defects: interface strain, column boundary mismatch, and column rotation. High resolution TEM measurements show well-ordered regions of film that offer low resistance paths for current flow around growth defects. A series of annealed samples were irradiated with 6 Mev Si+3 ions to produce 0.006 to 0.024 displacements per atom (dpa) in LCMO films, and 0.028 to 0.14 dpa in LSMO films. The peak resistance temperature (Tp) was found to depend strongly on defect concentration, varying from 235K ± 15K for the unirradiated LCMO films to 95K for 0.018 dpa. At 0.024 dpa, the LCMO film was insulating at all temperatures. LSMO films showed a downward shift in Tp from 300K for an unirradiated film to 250K for 0.028 dpa, and complete insulating behavior for 0.14 dpa.
On the Composition of Earth's Short-Period Seismic Noise Field

In the classic microseismic band of 5-20 sec, seismic noise consists mainly of fundamental mode Rayleigh and Love waves; however, at shorter periods seismic noise also contains a significant amount of body-wave energy and higher mode surface waves. In this study we perform a global survey of Earth's short-period seismic noise field with the goal of quantifying the relative contributions of these propagation modes. We examined a year's worth of vertical component data from 18 seismic arrays of the International Monitoring System that were sited in a variety of geologic environments. The apertures of the arrays varied from 2 to 28 km, con- straining the periods we analyzed to 0.25-2.5 sec. Using frequency-wavenumber ana- lysis we identified the apparent velocity for each sample of noise and classified its mode of propagation. The dominant component was found to be Lg, occurring in about 50% of the noise windows. Because Lg does not propagate across ocean- continent boundaries, this energy is most likely created in shallow water areas near coastlines. The next most common component was P-wave energy, which accounted for about 28% of the noise windows. These were split between regional P waves (Pn=Pg at 6%), mantle bottoming P waves (14%), and core-sensitive waves (PKP at 8%). This energy is mostly generated in deep water away from coastlines, with a region of the North Pacific centered at 165° W and 40° N being especially prolific. The remainder of the energy arriving in the noise consisted of Rg waves (28%), a large fraction of which may have a cultural origin. Hence, in contrast to the classic micro- seismic band of 5-20 sec, at shorter periods fundamental mode Rayleigh waves are the least significant component.
Autism genetic database (AGD): a comprehensive database including autism susceptibility gene-CNVs integrated with known noncoding RNAs and fragile sites

Background Autism is a highly heritable complex neurodevelopmental disorder, therefore identifying its genetic basis has been challenging. To date, numerous susceptibility genes and chromosomal abnormalities have been reported in association with autism, but most discoveries either fail to be replicated or account for a small effect. Thus, in most cases the underlying causative genetic mechanisms are not fully understood. In the present work, the Autism Genetic Database (AGD) was developed as a literature-driven, web-based, and easy to access database designed with the aim of creating a comprehensive repository for all the currently reported genes and genomic copy number variations (CNVs) associated with autism in order to further facilitate the assessment of these autism susceptibility genetic factors.
Examination of state regulations regarding infants and sleep in licensed child care centers and family child care settings.

Background. Twenty percent of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) occurs in child care settings. Although the incidence of SIDS in the United States has decreased with increased awareness of the risks of prone infant sleeping, smoke exposure, soft bedding, and unsafe sleep environments, avoidance of these risk factors is not universally practiced in child care settings. Advocacy through state child care regulatory agencies and legislative bodies may be effective in more widespread awareness and avoidance of risk factors. Objective. To determine what individual state regulations for licensed child care centers and family child care settings exist regarding: 1) sleep positions for infants under 6 months old, 2) crib safety, 3) bedding safety, and 4) smoking in the facilities. Design. A descriptive survey of regulations for licensed child care centers and family child care settings in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Results. Fifteen states use regulations adopted before publication of the first policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics on infant sleep position and SIDS in 1992. Six states require child care centers to place infants nonprone. Sixty-three percent of states require cribs in child care centers to meet at least 1 safety standard, and 45.1% require this in family child care homes. Six states have provisions limiting the use of soft bedding in child care centers, and 4 have such bans for family child care homes. Seventy-one percent of states prohibit smoking in child care centers during hours of operation; 17% of states have similar requirements for family child care homes. Conclusions. Many states use child care regulations that were written before the initial policy statements of the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding safe sleep environments for infants. Even those more recently adopted regulations do not adequately address sleep safety for infants. Pediatricians need to become more proactive in promoting safety regulations in child care. Adoption of new regulations can aid in education of child care providers and, thus, improve the safety for infants in child care.
Educating School Leaders for Social Justice

Traditional leadership preparation programs and licensure requirements give only token consideration to social justice concerns. This article examines the emerging social justice discourse in the educational administration field and discusses several challenges that must be considered as universities and others attempt to prepare school leaders for social justice critique and activism. Social justice scholarship in educational leadership emphasizes moral values, justice, respect, care, and equity; always in the forefront is a consciousness about the impact of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and disability on schools and students’ learning. School leadership programs face the challenge of preparing new leaders to critically inquire into the structures and norms that result in inequitable schooling for many students and to undertake an advocacy role to influence educational policies to achieve social justice.
Surface wave array tomography in SE Tibet from ambient seismic noise and two-station analysis - II. Crustal and upper-mantle structure

SUMMARY We determine the 3-D shear wave speed variations in the crust and upper mantle in the southeastern borderland of the Tibetan Plateau, SW China, with data from 25 temporary broad-band stations and one permanent station. Interstation Rayleigh wave (phase velocity) dispersion curves were obtained at periods from 10 to 50 s from empirical Green’s function (EGF) derived from (ambient noise) interferometry and from 20 to 150 s from traditional two-station (TS) analysis. Here, we use these measurements to construct phase velocity maps (from 10 to 150 s, using the average interstation dispersion from the EGF and TS methods between 20 and 50 s) and estimate from them (with the Neighbourhood Algorithm) the 3-D wave speed variations and their uncertainty. The crust structure, parametrized in three layers, can be well resolved with a horizontal resolution about of 100 km or less. Because of the possible effect of mechanically weak layers on regional deformation, of particular interest is the existence and geometry of low (shear) velocity layers (LVLs). In some regions prominent LVLs occur in the middle crust, in others they may appear in the lower crust. In some cases the lateral transition of shear wave speed coincides with major fault zones. The spatial variation in strength and depth of crustal LVLs suggests that the 3-D geometry of weak layers is complex and that unhindered crustal flow over large regions may not occur. Consideration of such complexity may be the key to a better understanding of relative block motion and patterns of seismicity.
A Phenomenological Reformulation of Psychological Science: Resources and Prospects

The question I explore in this chapter is whether the reigning self-understanding of psychological science, the investigation of mind-independent causes of human behavior, is sufficient. Specifically, I explore the possibility that the existential and phenomenological traditions, particularly Charles Guignon’s work, can provide the resources for a reinterpretation that enhances scientific psychology and its societal contributions. Although psychology offers a pathway to understanding human motivations and actions, the discipline’s research tradition explores human nature primarily by abstracting individuals from their historical, social, interpersonal, and life contexts and seeking causal explanations for atomistically defined “behaviors.” The concept of behavior is itself a highly abstract notion that portrays human action in terms of discrete units of activity that can be isolated and studied in highly contrived contexts. I explore this question with an in-depth examination of a single neuropsychological study of honesty and dishonesty. Although I will refer primarily to this one study, the important features of this investigation are quite typical in psychological research. By focusing on one study, I can provide an in-depth analysis of how experimental research tacitly relies on broader contexts of meaning that are obscured by its methods. I chose this study because of its strengths in using very sophisticated methods to investigate an intriguing problem. If anything, this particular study is closer to understanding its subjects as full-bodied agents in a meaningful world than most psychological investigations are. Even so, it is clear that it woefully underestimates the humanity of its research subjects.
Determinants of susceptibility and resistance to feline leukemia virus infection. I. Role of macrophages.

The role of autochthonous peritoneal feline macrophages (M theta) in the age-related resistance of cats to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was investigated by a study of the functional properties and FeLV susceptibility of M theta from kittens and adult cats and the effect of hydrocortisone (HC) and silica on M theta-FeLV interactions. Although the phagocytic functions of isolated M theta from kittens and adults were equivalent, the mean FeLV susceptibility of M theta from kittens was five times that of M theta from adult cats, thus establishing a direct correlation between the age-related susceptibility of cats and M theta from cats to FeLV. M theta of viremic cats were found to be infected with FeLV in vivo; virus titers were slightly higher than those obtained after in vitro infection of M theta, M theta from cats that had experienced regressive FeLV infection were not significantly more resistant to FeLV infection in vitro than were M theta from naive adult specific-pathogen-free cats. HC, which has been shown to enhance the in vivo FeLV susceptibility of cats, also enhanced the permissiveness of M theta from cats to FeLV in vitro (600-fold for M theta from adult cats and 200-fold for M theta) from kittens. M theta permissiveness to FeLV was highly sensitive to HC and occurred in M theta infected in vivo or in vitro. In parallel with the effect of HC on the natural resistance of cats to FeLV, administration of silica before virus inoculation also markedly enhanced the FeLV susceptibility of adult cats. Silica was toxic for isolated M theta but not for lymphocytes in vitro, and silica produced monocytopenia and neutrophilia, delayed skin allograft rejection, and augmented feline oncovirus-associated cell membrane antigen antibody responses in vivo. These experiments indicate that M theta were linked to the natural resistance of cats to FeLV and that the temporary elimination of M theta functions (e.g., by silica) and/or the conversion of the M theta-FeLV relationship from a nonpermissive to a permissive state (e.g., by corticosteroids) resulted in failure of early virus containment, in persistent virus amplification in hemolymphatic tissues, and in subsequent FeLV-related proliferative or antiproliferative disease.
Integrating normal and pathological personality: relating the DSM-5 trait-dimensional model to general traits of personality.

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) assesses traits relevant for diagnosing personality disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). We examined the PID-5 in relation to the Big-Three and Big-Five personality traits in outpatient and community adult samples. Domain-level analyses revealed that PID-5 Negative Affectivity correlated strongly with Neuroticism, and PID-5 Antagonism and Disinhibition correlated strongly negatively with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, respectively; Antagonism and Disinhibition also were both linked strongly to Big-Three trait Disinhibition. PID-5 Detachment related strongly to personality, including Extraversion/Positive Temperament, but did not show its expected specificity to this factor. Finally, PID-5 Psychoticism correlated only modestly with Openness. Facet-level analyses indicated that some PID-5 scales demonstrated replicable deviations from their DSM-5 model placements. We discuss implications of these data ...
Renal localization, excretion and toxicity of mercuric chloride in normal and nephrotic rats.

SummaryRats given 8 or 12 daily injections of 6-dimethylamino purine, 3-amino-d-ribose, develop increase in proteinuria, hypo-proteinemia, edema and ascites. Such rats survive an intravenous dose of mercuric chloride lethal to normal rats. The mercury contents of kidneys, collected urine and collected feces, 24 hours after intravenous injection of Hg203Cl2, are not significantly different in rats with the experimental nephrotic syndrome from those in normal rats given the same dose.
Temporal and Spatial Evolution of the Thermal Structure of a Laser Spark in Air

Experiments were conducted to quantify the temperature and electron number density of a laser spark formed in air. The laser spark was created by focusing a 180 mJ beam from the second harmonic (wavelength of 532 nm) of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a 100 mm focal length lens. For early times, between 50 ns to 1µs, images of the spark emission have been obtained to characterize the geometry. Also the temperature and electron number density were measured from the emission spectra between 490 – 520 nm where 46 NII lines are observed. The methodology of fitting the experimental data to the modeled spectra to deduce the temperature and electron number density is described. For the initial temporal range the temperature peaks at approximately 50,000 K, and decays over the first 1 us. The electron number density peaks at approximately 10 19 cm -3 , decaying only slightly slower than t -1 as suggested by simple ion – electron recombination. For the longer temporal evolution, from 20µs to 1000µs planar temperature measurements were achieved using Filtered Rayleigh Scattering. The peak temperature starts at approximately 4100 K at 20µs and decays to 580 K by 1 ms. The planar temperature images show a center jet propagating in the opposite direction as the initiating laser beam which induces a vortex ring (or torus) propagating in the direction of the beam. The evolution of the position, and radius of the torus structure is described and fit with a power law utilized by previous investigators. The temperature of the plasma created by laser induced optical breakdown appears to fit quite well using a triple exponential over the four orders of magnitude of temporal range where measurements were conducted.
Surgical Clipping versus Endovascular Intervention for the Treatment of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients in New York State

Object Randomized trials have demonstrated a survival benefit for endovascular treatment of ruptured cerebral aneurysms. We investigated the association of surgical clipping and endovascular coiling with outcomes in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients in a real-world regional cohort. Methods We performed a cohort study involving patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms, who underwent surgical clipping, or endovascular coiling from 2009–2013 and were registered in the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database. An instrumental variable analysis was used to investigate the association of treatment technique with outcomes. Results Of the 4,098 patients undergoing treatment, 2,585 (63.1%) underwent coiling, and 1,513 (36.9%) underwent clipping. Using an instrumental variable analysis, we did not identify a difference in inpatient mortality [marginal effect (ME), -0.56; 95% CI, -1.03 to 0.02], length of stay (LOS) (ME, 1.72; 95% CI, -3.39 to 6.84), or the rate of 30-day readmissions (ME, -0.30; 95% CI, -0.82 to 0.22) between the two treatment techniques for patients with SAH. Clipping was associated with a higher rate of discharge to rehabilitation (ME, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.24 to 1.01). In sensitivity analysis, mixed effect regression, and propensity score adjusted regression models demonstrated identical results. Conclusions Using a comprehensive all-payer cohort of patients in New York State presenting with aneurysmal SAH we did not identify an association of treatment method with mortality, LOS or 30-day readmission. Clipping was associated with a higher rate of discharge to rehabilitation.
Determinants of Financial Development: How Equality of Access Impacts Private Credit

The large literature on the relationship between finance and growth uses the Private Credit/GDP ratio as the proxy for financial development. However, little research has gone into the evaluation of policies to impact Private Credit. Finance theory points to information sharing and creditor rights as the important determinants of credit availability and has largely dismissed access to formal financial markets as a factor due to unreliable data. This paper is the first to utilize the novel FINDEX dataset from the World Bank and evaluate the impact of inclusive access to financial services on the main proxy in the literature - Private Credit. Significant evidence is found that inclusive financial systems have more explanatory power than both creditor rights and information sharing.
Artifacts in Fusion and Stereopsis Testing Based on Red/Green Dichoptic Image Separation

A red/green anaglyph stereotest (TNO) was administered to a group of patients who had anisometropic amblyopia, and the Worth 4-Dot test for fusion to two groups of strabismus patients. Both tests were administered twice, with the red/green lens position of the glasses reversed between eyes for the second administration. Twelve of 15 patients with anisometropic amblyopia exhibited a stereo acuity difference of 2:1 or more, and 18 of 89 strabismic patients changed Worth 4-Dot fusion or suppression status, between the two positions of the glasses. A group of seven strabismic patients who showed the reversal effect on the Worth 4-Dot test had the results of one glass' position discrepant with those of a geometrically identical achromatic test. It appears that the red/green format can introduce artifacts in binocular vision testing. Testing twice, with the red/green glasses reversed between trials, will prevent misinterpretation of binocular status and may provide diagnostically useful information.
Association of Specific Dietary Fats With Total and Cause-Specific Mortality

Importance Previous studies have shown distinct associations between specific dietary fat and cardiovascular disease. However, evidence on specific dietary fat and mortality remains limited and inconsistent. Objective To examine the associations of specific dietary fats with total and cause-specific mortality in 2 large ongoing cohort studies. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study investigated 83 349 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (July 1, 1980, to June 30, 2012) and 42 884 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (February 1, 1986, to January 31, 2012) who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and types 1 and 2 diabetes at baseline. Dietary fat intake was assessed at baseline and updated every 2 to 4 years. Information on mortality was obtained from systematic searches of the vital records of states and the National Death Index, supplemented by reports from family members or postal authorities. Data were analyzed from September 18, 2014, to March 27, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Total and cause-specific mortality. Results During 3 439 954 person-years of follow-up, 33 304 deaths were documented. After adjustment for known and suspected risk factors, dietary total fat compared with total carbohydrates was inversely associated with total mortality (hazard ratio [HR] comparing extreme quintiles, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81-0.88; P trans -fat ( P P P = .002 for trend). Conclusions and Relevance Different types of dietary fats have divergent associations with total and cause-specific mortality. These findings support current dietary recommendations to replace saturated fat and trans -fat with unsaturated fats.
GENETIC AND BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF VARI

ABSTRACT Varl polypeptide is an unusual product of the yeast mitochondrial genome displaying a strain-dependent size polymorphism in the range of 40,000 to 44,000 daltons. Different molecular weight forms of varl can be generated in crosses by asymmetric gene conversion formally involving two DNA segments which account for roughly 10% of the total protein size. These segments appear capable of inserting independently and at different frequencies from one allele to another. In some crosses we observe the insertion of only a portion of one of the segments; thus, a number of different molecular weight forms by varl can be generated by various combinations of insertions. Based in part on our results with varl, a model is presented to account for asymmetric versus symmetric gene conversions determined by insertions at different sites along the mitochondrial genome. Biochemical studies show that varl polypeptide is an integral protein of the small 38S mitochondrial ribosomal subunit. From inhibitor studies and in vivo pulse-chase experiments, varl polypeptide is found early in the maturation of the small ribosomal subunit and appears to be required for its assembly.
Explaining Organizational Membership: An Evaluation of Alternative Hypotheses

INTRODUCTION Having described and analyzed the range of variation in levels of organizational membership across 31 countries in Chapter 4, I now turn to an analysis of the factors that explain the distinctively low levels of post-communist membership. This chapter presents an analysis of the Post-Communist Organizational Membership Study (PCOMS) survey, which was conducted in 1999 with representative samples in Russia, Eastern Germany, and Western Germany, using the same measure of average number of organizational memberships per person as the previous chapter. In this chapter, I start by briefly revisiting the main socioeconomic factors developed in Chapter 4, but this time while focusing on the three populations from the PCOMS survey. The West German sample adds a comparative perspective to the East German and Russian samples, and it also enables me to include the variable for “prior communist experience” in the analysis. The results of the PCOMS survey show that, while several of the socioeconomic variables are statistically significant, prior communist experience remains the most powerful explanatory factor. Although – just as in Chapter 4 – the variable “prior communist experience” is an extremely powerful predictor, substantively, the relationship remains underspecified. This leads to an obvious question: what elements of the communist experience can explain why participation in civil society is so low throughout post-communist Europe today? The final section of this chapter explores this question in greater detail, examining in particular people's mistrust of communist organizations, the persistence of their friendship networks, and their disappointment with post-communism.
Carbonized Electrospun Nanofiber Sheets for Thermophones

Thermoacoustic performance of thin freestanding sheets of carbonized poly(acrylonitrile) and polybenzimidazole nanofibers are studied as promising candidates for thermophones. We analyze thermodynamic properties of sheets using transport parameters of single nanofibers and their aligned and randomly electrospun thin film assemblies. The electrical and thermal conductivities, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, and infrared blackbody radiation are investigated to extract the heat exchange coefficient and enhance the energy conversion efficiency. Spectral and power dependencies of sound pressure in air are compared with carbon nanotube sheets and theoretical prediction. Despite lower thermoacoustic performance compared to that of CNT sheets, the mechanical strength and cost-effective production technology of thermophones make them very attractive for large-size sound projectors. The advantages of carbonized electrospun polymer nanofiber sheets are in the low frequency domain (<1000 Hz), where the large ther...
The In Vitro Effect of Acidic-Pepsin on Nuclear Factor KappaB Activation and Its Related Oncogenic Effect on Normal Human Hypopharyngeal Cells.

Background Extra-esophageal carcinogenesis has been widely discussed in relation to the chronic effects of laryngopharyngeal reflux and most prominently with pepsin historically central to this discussion. With refluxate known to include gastric (pepsin) and duodenal (bile) fluids, we recently demonstrated the mechanistic role of NF-κB in mediating the preneoplastic effects of acidic-bile. However, the role of pepsin in promoting hypopharyngeal premalignant events remains historically unclear. Here, we investigate the in vitro effect of acidic-pepsin on the NF-κB oncogenic pathway to better define its potential role in hypopharyngeal neoplasia. Methods Human hypopharyngeal primary cells (HHPC) and keratinocytes (HHK) were repetitively exposed to physiologic pepsin concentrations (0.1 mg/ml) at pH 4.0, 5.0 and 7.0. Cellular localization of phospho-NF-κB and bcl-2 was determined using immunofluorescence and western blotting. NF-κB transcriptional activity was tested by luc reporter and qPCR. Analysis of DNA content of pepsin treated HHK and HHPC was performed using Fluorescence-activated-cell sorting assay. To explore a possible dose related effect, pepsin concentration was reduced from 0.1 to 0.05 and 0.01 mg/ml. Results At physiologic concentration, acidic-pepsin (0.1 mg/ml at pH 4.0) is lethal to most normal hypopharyngeal cells. However, in surviving cells, no NF-κB transcriptional activity is noted. Acidic-pepsin fails to activate the NF-κB or bcl-2, TNF-α, EGFR, STAT3, and wnt5α but increases the Tp53 mRNAs, in both HHPC and HHK. Weakly acidic-pepsin (pH 5.0) and neutral-pepsin (pH 7.0) induce mild activation of NF-κB with increase in TNF-α mRNAs, without oncogenic transcriptional activity. Lower concentrations of pepsin at varying pH do not produce NF-κB activity or transcriptional activation of the analyzed genes. Conclusion Our findings in vitro do not support the role of acidic-pepsin in NF-κB related hypopharyngeal carcinogenesis.
Mechanosensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 regulates Dermatophagoides farinae–induced airway remodeling via 2 distinct pathways modulating matrix synthesis and degradation

Contributions of mechanical signals to airway remodeling during asthma are poorly understood. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a mechanosensitive ion channel, has been implicated in cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis; however, its role in asthma remains elusive. Employing a Dermatophagoides farinae-induced asthma model, we report here that TRPV4-knockout mice were protected from D. farinae-induced airway remodeling. Furthermore, lung fibroblasts that were isolated from TRPV4-knockout mice showed diminished differentiation potential compared with wild-type mice. Fibroblasts from asthmatic lung exhibited increased TRPV4 activity and enhanced differentiation potential compared with normal human lung fibroblasts. Of interest, TGF-β1 treatment enhanced TRPV4 activation in a PI3K-dependent manner in normal human lung fibroblasts in vitro Mechanistically, TRPV4 modulated matrix remodeling in the lung via 2 distinct but dependent pathways: one enhances matrix deposition by fibrotic gene activation, whereas the other slows down matrix degradation by increased plasminogen activator inhibitor 1. Of importance, both pathways are regulated by Rho/myocardin-related transcription factor-A and contribute to fibroblast differentiation and matrix remodeling in the lung. Thus, our results support a unique role for TRPV4 in D. farinae-induced airway remodeling and warrant further studies in humans for it to be used as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of asthma.-Gombedza, F., Kondeti, V., Al-Azzam, N., Koppes, S., Duah, E., Patil, P., Hexter, M., Phillips, D., Thodeti, C. K., Paruchuri, S. Mechanosensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 regulates Dermatophagoides farinae-induced airway remodeling via 2 distinct pathways modulating matrix synthesis and degradation.
Fractional Flow Speed-Up from Porous Windbreaks for Enhanced Wind-Turbine Power

The potential for porous windbreaks to enhance wind-turbine power production is studied using linearized theory and wind-tunnel experiments. Results suggest that windbreaks have the potential to substantially increase power production, while lowering mean shear, and leading to negligible changes in turbulence intensity. The fractional increase in turbine power output is found to vary roughly linearly with windbreak height, where a windbreak 10% the height of the turbine hub increases power by around 10%. Wind-tunnel experiments with a windbreak imposed beneath a turbulent boundary layer show the linearized predictions to be in good agreement with particle-image-velocimetry data. Power measurements from a model turbine further corroborate predictions in power increase. Moreover, the wake of the windbreak showed a significant interaction with the turbine wake, which may inform windbreak use in large wind farms. Power measurements from a second turbine downwind of the first with its own windbreak show that the net effect for multiple turbines is dependent on windbreak height.
MODIS land cover uncertainty in regional climate simulations

MODIS land cover datasets are used extensively across the climate modeling community, but inherent uncertainties and associated propagating impacts are rarely discussed. This paper modeled uncertainties embedded within the annual MODIS Land Cover Type (MCD12Q1) products and propagated these uncertainties through the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). First, land cover uncertainties were modeled using pixel-based trajectory analyses from a time series of MCD12Q1 for Urumqi, China. Second, alternative land cover maps were produced based on these categorical uncertainties and passed into RAMS. Finally, simulations from RAMS were analyzed temporally and spatially to reveal impacts. Our study found that MCD12Q1 struggles to discriminate between grasslands and croplands or grasslands and barren in this study area. Such categorical uncertainties have significant impacts on regional climate model outputs. All climate variables examined demonstrated impact across the various regions, with latent heat flux affected most with a magnitude of 4.32 W/m2 in domain average. Impacted areas were spatially connected to locations of greater land cover uncertainty. Both biophysical characteristics and soil moisture settings in regard to land cover types contribute to the variations among simulations. These results indicate that formal land cover uncertainty analysis should be included in MCD12Q1-fed climate modeling as a routine procedure.
Beyond Lamaze: Socioeconomic Status and Women's Experiences with Childbirth Preparation

The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between income and various types and levels of childbirth preparation utilized by women, and to examine the relationship between preparation and childbirth outcomes. Forty-five primiparous women recruited from health care facilities and childbirth preparation classes participated in this study. After the birth of their infants, participants completed scales that measured childbirth preparation, perceived control, satisfaction with childbirth experience, pain perception, and pain medication. Lower income women were less likely than higher income women to attend childbirth preparation classes and more likely to acquire information about childbirth from their mothers. The women experienced similar childbirth outcomes except that lower income women reported higher levels of pain during childbirth. Findings from this study challenge the assumptions that lower and higher income women experience different childbirth outcomes and that women who do not attend classes are “unprepared.” Implications for research and practice include a re-evaluation of the way childbirth education is conceptualized.
Diversity, Compliance, Ethics & In-House Counsel

Empirical evidence demonstrates that America’s diverse population holds differing approaches to ethics, compliance, and risk. In-house counsel can harness these differences to assure that a firm’s conduct comports with, and acclimates to, the differing ethical and compliance sensibilities and sensitivities within the general population, and within key corporate constituencies such as labor, investor and consumer pools. Essentially, in-house counsel can assure that any proposed business conduct or transaction clears all relevant filters—not just the traditional white male filter—and advise senior management accordingly. Counsel wishing in good faith to stem misconduct would hold an additional tool: feedback from within the firm, or from outside counsel, that diverse perspectives found the proposed course of business or transaction objectionable. Only management uninterested in acclimating the firm to the cultural diversity within key corporate constituencies would proceed in the face of such feedback. While cultural diversity alone will not compensate for the flawed legal frameworks at play in this arena, it may arm in-house counsel with tools that can deliver superior outcomes more often than traditionally has been the case. At the very least, enhanced cultural diversity embedded in a screening function within the firm, that is armed with the tools for a heterogeneous assessment of the most dubious firm practices, provides the firm with an objective and rigorous basis for determining the ethicality and costs of a given practice or course of conduct. The firm will at least find itself well-equipped to acclimate itself to its key constituencies and that should stem the costliest corporate misconduct. Given the macroeconomic catastrophe that followed the collapse of the financial sector in 2008 and 2009, improvement may prove easy.
Effect of nicotine on placental ischemia-induced complement activation and hypertension in the rat.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific condition manifested by new-onset maternal hypertension with systemic inflammation, including increased innate immune system complement activation. While exact ...
Advances and Challenges in Transitional Urology: Caring for Adolescents and Young Adults with Lifelong Complex Genitourinary Conditions

As long-term survival with complex congenital and pediatric diseases has improved, more patients with congenital genitourinary conditions are living into adulthood. These patients can continue to face lifelong issues related to their conditions, including urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, chronic kidney disease, and difficulties with sexual health and function. The practice of transitional urology continues to grow nationwide and abroad, and it will be important to develop evidence-based practices for coordinated transition of these patients into the adult health care setting. This review describes the broader attention to transitions of care in medicine and specifically evaluates spina bifida as a model disease system for implementation of transitional practices in urology.