cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dirac Hamiltonian structure of R+R 2 +T 2 Poincaré gauge theory of gravity without gauge fixing

Dirac's Hamiltonian method for constrained systems is applied to the most general Poincar\'e gauge-invariant theory of gravity interacting with an arbitrary matter field. Working in the first-order formalism, it is shown that the Hamiltonian contains a linear combination of nine kinematical symmetry generators and one dynamical generator, ${\mathcal{H}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. The Poisson brackets between kinematical generators are calculated in the general case. In the case of a nine-parameter theory, described by the Lagrangian of $R+{R}^{2}+{T}^{2}$ type, it is shown that some of the primary constraints appear only when parameters satisfy certain conditions, which correspond to infinite tordion masses. The explicit form of ${\mathcal{H}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ valid for all values of parameters is found. Assuming massive tordions, consistency conditions of primary constraints are analyzed in detail in the case of four-parameter $R+{T}^{2}$ theory and are also discussed in the general case. As an example, the spin-1/2 matter field is examined and preliminary Dirac brackets are found.
Why We Can’t Leave Public Schools Behind: The Inseparable Legacy of Public Education and American Democracy:

versal state-supported and locally governed public schooling. Like Jefferson, Mann believed that the State should assume primary responsibility for supporting and governing public schools that would equip the American people for responsible citizenship, provide the knowledge needed for national economic development and prosperity, and instill moral and ethical values in American children and youth. However, unlike Jefferson, who viewed public schools primarily as a vehicle for training the elite for leadership, Mann thought public schools should not only exceed parochial schools in quality but also be made available to free (White) children from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds-effectively becoming the "great economic equalizer that would reduce all class conflicts" (Gutek, 2005, p. 224). Although universal and free public education is no longer a novel idea, the viability of public schools continues to come under scrutiny. Two recent books, Leave No Child Behind: Preparing Today s Youth for Tomorrow's World (2004), by James P. Comer, M.D., and The Public School (2005), edited by Susan Fuhrman and Marvin Lazerson, respond to an increasing need for balanced, nuanced, and critical examinations of the perils and the promise of public schools. These books are welcome counterpoints to the decades-old onslaught of ideologically slanted and politically motivated attacks on American public schools. They are hopeful reminders of the reasons why American citizens cannot afford to leave the quintessential American institution of public schools behind in the 21st century. In the spirit of Jefferson and Mann, both Comer and the editors and authors of The Public Schools
Effective multisite CD correlation to maximize high-end tool utilization

The semiconductor industry continues to accelerate its pace following the SIA roadmap. Many technical and business issues are exacerbated by this acceleration. One such obstacle that faces the mask making community touches on both the business and the technical aspects of the industry's desire to pull in the target dates for each roadmap node. In order to provide the industry with adequate high end capacity on a global basis, the multi-site global photomask company must routinely exercise inter-site transfer for the purpose of leveling the manufacturing loads during periods of peak regional demand. A crucial part of inter-site transfer is to ensure that common standards are used, the deviation from those standards are understood, and a statistics based methodology for correlating metrology equipment is developed. Minimizing critical dimension correlation deltas between sites is critical to successful load leveling in an era of ever shrinking error budgets. This paper will explore the methods and practices used by Photronics to achieve routine inter-site measurements correlations whose precision far exceeds those of the best available standards. Both the statistical methods employed and the results from a large sample of production plates will be reported.
Defective CD8 T Cell Memory Following Acute Infection Without CD4 T Cell Help

The CD8+ cytotoxic T cell response to pathogens is thought to be CD4+ helper T cell independent because infectious agents provide their own inflammatory signals. Mice that lack CD4+ T cells mount a primary CD8 response to Listeria monocytogenes equal to that of wild-type mice and rapidly clear the infection. However, protective memory to a challenge is gradually lost in the former animals. Memory CD8+ T cells from normal mice can respond rapidly, but memory CD8+ T cells that are generated without CD4 help are defective in their ability to respond to secondary encounters with antigen. The results highlight a previously undescribed role for CD4 help in promoting protective CD8 memory development.
Changes of micro-RNA expression in rat liver treated by acetaminophen or carbon tetrachloride--regulating role of micro-RNA for RNA expression.

Recently, microRNAs, involved in RNA interference, were discovered as a new gene regulation, with little is known in the filed of toxicology. In this study, a toxic dose of acetaminophen or carbon tetrachloride was administered singly to male rats, and microarry analysis using mirVanaTM miRNA bioarray was performed. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis of the microarray data revealed that microRNAs expression was specifically changed by treatments at 6 hr after dosing. Furthermore, we focused on miR298 and miR370 among the microRNAs commonly affected by hepatotoxicants, because they were speculated to regulate an oxidative stress-related gene. From real-time RT-PCR analysis, microRNAs expression was suppressed by hepatotoxicants at 6 and 24 hr. Regarding acetaminophen, the decreases were found even though there were no morphological changes in the liver at 6 hr. To investigate these 2 microRNAs in more detail, we measured their expression, WST-1 for mitochondrial function and LDH release for cell collapse in primary cultured hepatocytes exposed to several concentrations of acetaminophen for 3 hr. At more than 5 mM, the microRNA expression and WST-1 decreased, whereas LDH was unchanged. Therefore, the change in microRNA expression occurred at the time when mitochondrial function was damaged prior to cell collapse. From all the above findings, we conclude that microRNAs were affected by hepatotoxicants and that the changes were found in the early phase of toxicity. Thus, our data suggest microRNAs have an important role for toxicological mechanism and we proposed that the changes in microRNA expression might be key molecules for toxicity expression.
Modeling and Feedback Control of Inspired Oxygen for Premature Infants

Premature infants are commonly treated for respiratory problems due to their underdeveloped lungs. Due to Respiratory Distress Syndrome, the infant requires mechanical ventilation or increased inspired oxygen. If the blood oxygen saturation is kept a too high of a level, the infant is at risk for retinopathy of prematurity. A safe level for the infant’s blood oxygen saturation is between 85–92%. An automatic control system would aid nurses in care of premature infants. Since each infant is different, the control system must be robust enough to achieve adequate control of the percentage of oxygen in inspired air administered to the patient. Clinical data is acquired from patient bedside monitors. A parameter estimating extended Kalman filter assuming a first order model is applied to the data to calculate a range of system gains and time constants. An error model is then created using the resulting ranges of parameters. Performance specifications are defined and a μ-synthesis controller is developed to automatically control the oxygen percentage of inspired air. The control system is analyzed using H∞ methods to determine whether robust stability and robust performance are achieved in the presence of system uncertainty described by the error model.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Early intermediates in the folding of dihydrofolate reductase from escherichia coli detected by hydrogen exchange and NMR

The kinetic folding mechanism for Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase postulates two distinct types of transient intermediates. The first forms within 5 ms and has substantial secondary structure but little stability. The second is a set of four species that appear over the course of several hundred milliseconds and have secondary structure, specific tertiary structure, and significant stability (Jennings PA, Finn BE, Jones BE, Matthews CR, 1993, Biochemistry 32:3783-3789). Pulse labeling hydrogen exchange experiments were performed to determine the specific amide hydrogens in alpha-helices and beta-strands that become protected from exchange through the formation of stable hydrogen bonds during this time period. A significant degree of protection was observed for two subsets of the amide hydrogens within the dead time of this experiment (6 ms). The side chains of one subset form a continuous nonpolar strip linking six of the eight strands in the beta-sheet. The other subset corresponds to a nonpolar cluster on the opposite face of the sheet and links three of the strands and two alpha-helices. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the complex strand topology of this eight-stranded sheet can be formed correctly within 6 ms. Measurement of the protection factors at three different folding times (13 ms, 141 ms, and 500 ms) indicates that, of the 13 amide hydrogens displaying significant protection within 6 ms, 8 exhibit an increase in their protection factors from approximately 5 to approximately 50 over this time range; the remaining five exhibit protection factors > 100 at 13 ms. Only approximately half of the population of molecules form this set of stable hydrogen bonds. Thirteen additional hydrogens in the beta-sheet become protected from exchange as the set of native conformers appear, suggesting that the stabilization of this network reflects the global cooperativity of the folding reaction.
Production and economic results of commercial flocks with white layers in aviary systems and battery cages

1. In the Netherlands aviary systems are in use on 19 commercial farms. In the present study the results of 19 flocks kept in aviaries, with an average flocksize of 16,000 hens, were analysed and compared with 47 flocks kept in battery cages. 2. The aviary flocks had lower egg weights, lower mortality rates and poorer food conversion. The difference in food intake per hen per day was not significant. The average percentage of floor eggs in aviaries was 4.6, ranging from 0.9 to 11.5. 3. Production costs per kg eggs produced in aviaries were 8.2% greater than in cages. This increase was mainly caused by higher costs for pullets, housing and labour.
Membrane Surface Modification by Plasma-Induced Polymerization of Acrylamide for Improved Surface Properties and Reduced Protein Fouling

Hydrophilic modification of porous polyethersulfone (PES) membranes was achieved by Ar-plasma treatment followed by graft copolymerization with acrylamide (AAm) in the vapor phase. Both surfaces of the modified membranes were found to be highly hydrophilic, the permanency of which depends on the grafting yield. The graft reaction was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The grafting rate was dependent on plasma exposure time. The surface and pore structures of PES membranes were viewed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing no surface damage and only a slight alteration in pore structure. As a result of the incorporation of polar functionalities, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of both the Ar-plasma treated and AAm grafted membranes increased. A moderate change in the tensile strength of the modified membranes was also observed. Most importantly, the AAm grafting made the membrane surface less susceptible to adsorption o...
Cytokines and signal transduction.

Many studies have characterized the role of growth factors in multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis and have derived novel therapies to improve patient outcome based upon targeting cytokines and their signaling cascades both in the MM cell and in the bone-marrow (BM) microenvironment. These cytokines include interleukin 6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α), IL-21, B-cell stimulating factor 3 (BSF-3) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). These cytokines are secreted from stromal cells (SCs), endothelial cells and/or osteoclasts, and promote MM cell growth, survival and migration, as well as paracrine cytokine secretion and angiogenesis in the BM milieu. Thus inhibition of signaling cascades induced by these cytokine provides rationale for a therapeutic option for MM.
Predictability and stability of professional golf association tour statistics

Professional Golf Association (PGA) statistics for the years 1986–1988 were analyzed to assess their value as predictive tools. Previous studies have not yielded a consensus regarding whether PGA s...
A midwifery practice dichotomy on oral intake in labour.

Abstract Objective: to assess the views and practices of midwives regarding oral intake in labour for women with low-risk pregnancies. Design: an exploratory survey design including open- and closed-ended questions. Setting: four hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Participants: 89 practising midwives who provided care for labouring women. Findings: midwives were divided on the issue of what and when labouring women should, or should not, be allowed to eat and drink. The views and practices of these midwives were influenced by the accepted practice in the hospital in which they were employed and the types of midwifery models in which they have practised. Key conclusions: there is insufficient conclusive research evidence to support any stance on oral intake for labouring women. Most information purported by supporters of oral intake is based on anecdotal evidence and assumptions based on the physiology of the body. ‘Nil by mouth' policies have never been researched while clear fluid policies are based on research performed with non-obstetric patients. Implications for practice: without reliable research evidence for the management of oral intake for labouring women no hospital practice or policy is valid. This leaves midwives with the responsibility of deciding what they believe is the best management for the oral intake of labouring women in their care.
EpiSimdemics: an efficient algorithm for simulating the spread of infectious disease over large realistic social networks

Preventing and controlling outbreaks of infectious diseases such as pandemic influenza is a top public health priority. We describe EpiSimdemics - a scalable parallel algorithm to simulate the spread of contagion in large, realistic social contact networks using individual-based models. EpiSimdemics is an interaction-based simulation of a certain class of stochastic reaction-diffusion processes. Straightforward simulations of such process do not scale well, limiting the use of individual-based models to very small populations. EpiSimdemics is specifically designed to scale to social networks with 100 million individuals. The scaling is obtained by exploiting the semantics of disease evolution and disease propagation in large networks. We evaluate an MPI-based parallel implementation of EpiSimdemics on a mid-sized HPC system, demonstrating that EpiSimdemics scales well. EpiSimdemics has been used in numerous sponsor defined case studies targeted at policy planning and course of action analysis, demonstrating the usefulness of EpiSimdemics in practical situations.
Effect of porcelain and enamel thickness on porcelain veneer failure loads in vitro.

Statement of problem Bonded porcelain veneers are widely used esthetic restorations. Although high success and survival rates have been reported, failures occur. Fracture is the most common failure mode. Fractures range from incomplete cracks to the catastrophic. Minimally invasive or thin partial veneers have gained popularity. Purpose The aim of this study was to measure the influences of porcelain veneer thickness and enamel substrate thickness on the loads needed to cause the initial fracture and catastrophic failure of porcelain veneers. Material and methods Model discoid porcelain veneer specimens of varying thickness were bonded to the flattened facial surfaces of incisors, artificially aged, and loaded to failure with a small sphere. Individual fracture events were identified and analyzed statistically and fractographically. Results Fracture events included initial Hertzian cracks, intermediate radial cracks, and catastrophic gross failure. Increased porcelain, enamel, and their combined thickness had like effects in substantially raising resistance to catastrophic failure but also slightly decreased resistance to initial Hertzian cracking. Fractographic and numerical data demonstrated that porcelain and tooth enamel behaved in a remarkably similar manner. As porcelain thickness, enamel thickness, and their combined thickness increased, the loads needed to produce initial fracture and catastrophic failure rose substantially. Porcelain veneers withstood considerable damage before catastrophic failure. Conclusions Increased enamel thickness, increased porcelain thickness, and increased combined enamel and porcelain thickness all profoundly raised the failure loads necessary to cause catastrophic failure. Enamel and feldspathic porcelain behaved in a like manner. Surface contact damage occurred initially. Final catastrophic failure followed flexural radial cracking. Bonded porcelain veneers were highly damage tolerant.
Stimulated desorption of atoms and molecules from bodies in the outer solar system

Laboratory data is needed on electronically-induced desorption from low-temperature solids: ices, organics, hydrated salts, glasses and certain minerals. Many bodies in the outer solar system are bombarded by relatively intense fluxes of fast ions and electrons as well as solar UV photons. This can cause both changes in their optical reflectance as well as desorption of atoms and molecules from their surfaces. Stimulated desorption produces Na and K 'atmospheres' above the 'rocky' surfaces of the moon and Mercury and H2O, H2 and O2 'atmospheres' about icy outer-solar system bodies. Since theses bodies contain other surface materials, direct detection by spacecraft or remote detection by telescopes of the desorbed atoms and molecules can be used, along with laboratory data, to determine the surface composition and geological processes occurring on distant bodies. This paper describes the relevance of stimulated desorption to the ambient neutrals and plasma in Saturn's magnetosphere, in preparation for CASSINI's arrival, and to the production of atmospheres on the moons of Jupiter being studied by the Galileo spacecraft.
Of Menace and Mimicry: The 2008 Beijing Olympics

This article examines the Olympic narratives of young, educated urbanites in China to consider the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ role as a “diagnostic event” through which global conflicts and controversies coalesce and national identities are constructed. It illustrates how students and young professionals analyzed the Beijing Olympics to invoke discourses of similarity in the form of Western economic development models and difference in the form of essentialized tropes of Chinese culture to counter global images of China as a threat to international well-being. Exploring theories of mimicry to understand these appeals to similarity as a form of national value, this article also reveals how students and young professionals in China recommended the forms of culture manifest in the Olympics as an expression of difference to question and reformulate hierarchies of global power.
An analysis of the Standard and Poor's stock appreciation ranking system

Abstract The purpose of this research was to evaluate the usefulness of the Standard and Poor's stock appreciation ranking system (STARS) on both a frozen (buy and hold) basis and on a managed basis over its first two years of operation from January 11, 1989 through January 10, 1991. The STARS portfolios performed nearly in order of their expectations on a frozen basis. The highest performing portfolio was somewhat better than the market index, while, as expected, the lowest performing portfolio was significantly below the market index. The results of the managed portfolios were less consistent. Only the lowest performing portfolio was, as expected, significantly below the market index, and none of the STARS portfolios outperformed the market index.
Somatization and fashionable diagnoses: illness as a way of life

The history of "nondisease" dates back, at least 4000 years, to early descriptions of hysteria. More recently somatization became a part of the official diagnostic nomenclature by creation of the DSM III category, "somatoform disorders." Somatization can serve as a rationalization for psychosocial problems or as a coping mechanism, and for some illness, becomes a way of life. One variation of somatization can be the "fashionable diagnosis", for example, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities, dysautonomia, and, in the past, "reactive hypoglycemia". These disorders are phenomenologically related to environmental or occupational syndromes and mass psychogenic illness. Fashionable illnesses are characterized by (i) vague, subjective multisystem complaints, (ii) a lack of objective laboratory findings, (iii) quasi-scientific explanations, (iv) overlap from one fashionable diagnosis to another, (v) symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety or both, (vi) denial of psychosocial distress or attribution of it to the illness. Fashionable diagnoses represent a heterogeneous collection of physical diseases, somatization, and anxiety or depression. They are final common symptomatic pathways for a variety of influences including environmental factors, intrapersonal distress and solutions to social problems. A fashionable diagnosis allows psychosocial distress to be comfortably hidden from both the patient and the physician, but premature labeling can also mask significant physical disease. Hysteria remains alive and well and one contemporary hiding place is fashionable illness.
Using Graphic Organizers as a Tool for the Development of Scientific Language

This observational study examines the effectiveness of graphic organizers two elementary teachers in California, United States use to teach the content and the academic language of science. The study was done during the 2006-2007 school year. The data was collected through field-notes and the audio recording of instructional activities, and they were clarified through interviews with the teachers. The cross-case analysis (Borman, Clarke, Cotner, & Lee, 2006) of the two teachers’ teaching practices makes clear the different ways in which the teachers’ use of graphic organizers supported both the development of content knowledge and language development in science education.
PS3-15: Genome-Wide Association Study of Anxiety Disorders: Early Results from Kaiser Permanente’s Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH)

Background/Aims The Kaiser Permanente/UCSF Genetic Epidemiology Research Study on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort includes 110,266 individuals with comprehensive longitudinal medical records along with genome-wide genotype data. As such, it provides an unprecedented opportunity to conduct a number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of psychiatric disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD) are prevalent, persistent, disabling and heritable anxiety disorders. Numerous candidate gene studies have been published with inconsistent findings. We conducted the GWAS of PTSD and the GWAS of panic disorder among non-Hispanic white GERA cohorts to detect the underlying heterogeneous genetic architecture.
The Pharmacologic Treatment of Schizophrenia: A Progress Report

Pharmacologic agents currently used or being studied for the treatment of schizophrenia are reviewed. Neuroleptic medications are still the mainstay of treatment, but recent studies suggest new approaches to dosage and to the treatment of acute psychosis. Lithium is beneficial in psychotic illnesses with acute onset and a remitting course, regardless of the acute psychotic symptoms. Antidepressant agents may ameliorate depression in psychotic patients, but do not improve psychotic symptoms or social withdrawal. Propranolol's reported antipsychotic action has not been confirmed by controlled studies, but the drug may have a role in treating organic psychoses. The benzodiazepines, clonidine, and carbamazepine all merit more investigation as possible treatments for psychosis. The implications of differential treatment response among schizophrenic patients are discussed.
Gastric hyperplasia in mice lacking the putative Cdc42 effector IQGAP1.

Human IQGAP1 is a widely expressed 190-kDa Cdc42-, Rac1-, and calmodulin-binding protein that interacts with F-actin in vivo and that can cross-link F-actin microfilaments in vitro. Recent results have implicated IQGAP1 as a component of pathways via which Cdc42 or Rac1 modulates cadherin-based cell adhesion (S. Kuroda et al., Science 281:832–835, 1998), whereas yeast IQGAP-related proteins have been found to play essential roles during cytokinesis. To identify critical in vivo functions of IQGAP1, we generated deficient mice by gene targeting. We demonstrate that IQGAP1 null mutants arise at normal frequency and show no obvious defects during development or for most of their adult life. Loss of IQGAP1 also does not affect tumor development or tumor progression, but mutant mice exhibit a significant (P < 0.0001) increase in late-onset gastric hyperplasia relative to wild-type animals of the same genetic background. While we cannot exclude that functional redundancy with IQGAP2 contributes to the lack of developmental phenotypes, the restricted expression pattern of IQGAP2 is not obviously altered in adult IQGAP1 mutant mice. Thus, IQGAP1 does not serve any essential nonredundant functions during murine development but may serve to maintain the integrity of the gastric mucosa in older animals.
l-Arginine analogs as alternate substrates for nitric oxide synthase

The L-arginine analogs, N(delta)-methyl-L-arginine (deltaMA) and L-canavanine, were used to probe the role of the N delta nitrogen of L-arginine in the reaction catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). deltaMA was synthesized and found to be a partial alternate substrate and a weak, reversible inhibitor of NOS with a Ki equal to 1.4 mM. deltaMA undergoes hydroxylation; however, it is not converted further, hence it functions as a partial substrate. L-Canavanine was converted to an L-homoserine presumably via initial hydroxylation and decomposition. The mechanism of this reaction and products of this reaction were not probed further.
Conference reviews R&D budget

About 85 university officials, laboratory directors, industrial research executives, scientists, and engineers gathered in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of National Academy of Sciences President Frank Press, to discuss the outlook for and the implications of the federal research and development budget for fiscal 1982 and beyond. The consensus of the group is that President Reagan's proposed 12% across-the-board cut, if effected, would severely damage science; that the White House should review research funding to make more productive use of research dollars; that science and technology are vital to the Reagan administration's goals; and that basic research should take priority over development. George A. Keyworth, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and Fred Khedouri, associate director for natural resources, energy, and science in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), also attended the meeting on October 26 and 27. They advised the group to be realistic and not assume the worst case. In addition they told the conference that during this period of fiscal restraint growth will be restricted; nevertheless, science will be treated with sensitivity.
Amphotericin B and Fluconazole, a Potent Combination Therapy for Cryptococcal Meningitis

We evaluated the antifungal activities of amphotericin B, fluconazole, and flucytosine, alone and in combination, in a murine model of cryptococcal meningitis. The objectives were to determine the greatest antifungal effects achievable with these drugs alone or in combination. Meningitis was established in male BALB/c mice weighing 23 to 25 g by intracerebral injection of Cryptococcus neoformans. Treatment was started on day 2. Amphotericin B was tested at 0.3 to 1.3 mg/kg of body weight/day by slow intravenous injection. Fluconazole at 10 to 40 mg/kg/day and flucytosine at 20 to 105 mg/kg/day were administered in the sole source of drinking water. The mice were killed at 16 days, and the numbers of fungal colonies in the brain were quantified. The association between the response and the dose combination was evaluated by local nonparametric response surface methods; 99% confidence intervals were used to evaluate the antifungal effects. Ninety-five percent of the mice treated with amphotericin B at 0.5 mg/kg survived to the end of the experiment, regardless of the fluconazole or flucytosine dose used. The greatest activity was seen with amphotericin B plus fluconazole with or without flucytosine. However, the addition of flucytosine did not increase the antifungal activity. Given the widespread availability of amphotericin B and fluconazole and the relative safety profile of fluconazole compared to that of flucytosine, the full potential of this two-drug combination deserves further evaluation.
Vancomycin-Resistant and Vancomycin-Susceptible Enterococcal Bacteremia: Comparison of Clinical Features and Outcomes

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a major nosocomial pathogen. We collected clinical and laboratory data on 93 hospitalized adults with VRE bacteremia and 101 adults with vancomycin-susceptible enterococcal (VSE) bacteremia. Risk factors for VRE bacteremia included central venous catheterization, hyperalimentation, and prolonged hospitalization prior to the initial blood culture. VRE-infected patients were less likely to have undergone recent surgery or have polymicrobial bacteremia, suggesting a pathogenesis distinct from traditional VSE bacteremia. Prior exposure to metronidazole was the only significant pharmacologic risk factor for VRE bacteremia. Animal studies suggest metronidazole potentiates enterococcal overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract and translocation into the bloodstream. An increasing APACHE II score was the major risk factor for death in a multivariate analysis, with VRE status being of only borderline significance.
Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development by Joan Fitzgerald

Joan Fitzgerald, Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010).The cities of the world house about 50% of the population, consume 75% of th...
Lyme Disease: A Review of Its Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Treatment

Background Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness transmitted to humans, has become increasingly recognized. Objective Given the myriad neurovegetative and neuropsychiatric symptoms that can be associated with Lyme disease, we sought to review the epidemiology, evaluation, and treatment of the disorder. Methods A case vignette that highlights manifestations of the condition and dilemmas associated with its treatment is presented. Conclusions Knowledge about its symptoms, its abnormal laboratory tests, and its course can help to guide the timely and appropriate management of this spirochetal infection.
Effects of chocolate milk consumption on markers of muscle recovery following soccer training: a randomized cross-over study

The efficacy of chocolate milk (CM) as a recovery beverage following a period of increased training duration (ITD) was studied in intercollegiate soccer players. 13 subjects completed one week of normal 'baseline' training followed by four days of ITD. After each day of ITD, subjects received either a high-carbohydrate (504 kcal; CHO: 122 g; 2 g Fat) or isocaloric CM (504 kcal; 84 g CHO; 28 g Pro; 7 g Fat) recovery beverage. Serum creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin (Mb), muscle soreness, fatigue ratings and isometric quadriceps force (MVC) were obtained prior to ITD, and following 2- and 4-days of ITD. Performance tests (T-drill, vertical jump) were performed within training sessions. Treatments were administered in a randomly counterbalanced protocol, and subjects repeated the procedures with the alternate beverage following a two-week washout period. Mean daily training time and HR increased (p < 0.05) between baseline training and ITD, with no differences between treatments. No treatment*time effects were observed for Mb, muscle soreness, fatigue ratings and MVC. However, serum CK was significantly lower (p < 0.05) following four days of ITD with CM (316.9 ± 188.3 U·L-1) compared to CHO (431.6 ± 310.8 U·L-1). No treatment differences were observed for the performance tests. Post-exercise CM provided similar muscle recovery responses to an isocaloric CHO beverage during four-days of ITD. Future studies should investigate if the attenuated CK levels observed with CM have functional significance during more demanding periods of training.
Age-Dependent, Non-Cell-Autonomous Deposition of Amyloid from Synthesis of β-Amyloid by Cells Other Than Excitatory Neurons

Rare, familial, early-onset autosomal dominant forms of familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) are caused by mutations in genes encoding β-amyloid (Aβ) precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PS1), and presenilin-2. Each of these genes is expressed ubiquitously throughout the CNS, but a widely held view is that excitatory neurons are the primary (or sole) source of the Aβ peptides that promote synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. These efforts notwithstanding, APP and the enzymes required for Aβ production are synthesized by many additional cell types, and the degree to which those cells contribute to the production of Aβ that drives deposition in the CNS has not been tested. We generated transgenic mice in which expression of an ubiquitously expressed, FAD-linked mutant PSEN1 gene was selectively inactivated within postnatal forebrain excitatory neurons, with continued synthesis in all other cells in the CNS. When combined with an additional transgene encoding an FAD-linked APP "Swedish" variant that is synthesized broadly within the CNS, cerebral Aβ deposition during aging was found to be unaffected relative to mice with continued mutant PS1 synthesis in excitatory neurons. Thus, Aβ accumulation is non-cell autonomous, with the primary age-dependent contribution to cerebral Aβ deposition arising from mutant PS1-dependent cleavage of APP within cells other than excitatory neurons.
P53 is transported into the nucleus via an Hsf1‐dependent nuclear localization mechanism

Loss of p53 function can occur through disruption of its ability to localize to the nucleus. Previously we showed through characterization a set of mutant cell lines that lacked the ability to import p53 into the nucleus that nuclear translocation of p53 appeared to be mechanistically different from that of the SV40 T-antigen (SV40TAg). Here we extend that work by examining nuclear importation of p53 and SV40TAg using both in vivo and in vitro assays for nuclear localization. We show that disruption of microtubule polymerization using colchicine suppresses nuclear localization of p53 but not of SV40TAg. We also show, for the first time, that the heat shock transcription factor (Hsf1), is required for establishment of the microtubule network in cells and for nuclear localization of p53. In contrast, SV40TAg does not interact with polymerized microtubules suggesting that it is transported into the nucleus through an alternative mechanism. Interestingly, lacking of Hsf1 expression and suppressing Hsf1 by siRNA also made cells more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel. Hence, loss of Hsf1 activity not only suppressed p53 function, but also led to reduced sensitivity to killing by drugs that target microtubules.
Anticipating the Obama Administration's Civil Rights Agenda Balkinization

This essay explorers some of the pressing civil rights challenges facing the newly installed administration of President Obama. The coverage includes bills addressing health care, hate crimes, racial profiling, and food stamp eligibility for ex-felons.
Qualification of Technical Personnel for Employment during Construction and Operation of the SSC

In the early stages of the SSC design it became apparent that construction will have a significant impact on post-secondary technical/vocational education in Texas. Present estimates are that from 2000 to 3000 employees will be needed in the traditional fields of civil, mechanical, electrical technology, computers as well as exotic technologies such as cryogenics and high vacuum. In this paper an on-going project is described which is directed toward assuring that graduates of Texas post-secondary technical and vocational education programs will be competitive for employment in these jobs. The project involves development of SSC pedagogical material at a level appropriate to the students, education of teachers about the SSC and development of delivery systems for education about the SSC.
Renegotiation on incomplete procurement contracts

ABSTRACTThis article examines the impact of incomplete contracts on procurement costs in road construction auctions. Ex ante contracts in these auctions often fail to specify all of the potential construction contingencies, and consequently, changes in scope are necessary after construction begins. Using Vermont road construction contract data, this study finds evidence that there is a statistically significant difference in costs of firms between auctions with and without extra work adjustments. Substantial adaptation costs are responsible for the higher procurement outlays in incomplete contract. I also find that bidders inflate their bids to incorporate risk premiums in incomplete contracts; however, my estimates suggest that this bidding behaviour does not affect their profit margins.
Scalable Algorithms in Optimization: Computational Experiments

We survey techniques in the Toolkit for Advanced Optimization (TAO) for developing scalable algorithms for mesh-based optimization problems on distributed architectures. We discuss the distribution of the mesh, the computation of the gradient and the Hessian matrix, and the use of preconditioners. We show that these techniques, together with mesh sequencing, can produce results that scale with mesh size.
Tetranychid Mites as Defoliators of Cotton Cotyledons

Comparative trials on abscission of Acala 4-42 cotton cotyledons by Tetranychus atlanticus McGregor and T. telarius (L.) were conducted in the greenhouse. Abscission time was correlated with amount of feeding injury produced on the lower leaf surface T. atlanticus females caused injury at more than twice the rate caused by T. telarius females. The amount of injury from feeding by either species was directly proportional to 1) the number of mites used, and 2) the amount of feeding time that elapsed. It appears that difference in feeding injury between the 2 species are more quantitative than qualitative in nature. Only female mites caused feeding injury.
A general strategy for expanding polymerase function by droplet microfluidics

Polymerases that synthesize artificial genetic polymers hold great promise for advancing future applications in synthetic biology. However, engineering natural polymerases to replicate unnatural genetic polymers is a challenging problem. Here we present droplet-based optical polymerase sorting (DrOPS) as a general strategy for expanding polymerase function that employs an optical sensor to monitor polymerase activity inside the microenvironment of a uniform synthetic compartment generated by microfluidics. We validated this approach by performing a complete cycle of encapsulation, sorting and recovery on a doped library and observed an enrichment of ∼1,200-fold for a model engineered polymerase. We then applied our method to evolve a manganese-independent α-L-threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA) polymerase that functions with >99% template-copying fidelity. Based on our findings, we suggest that DrOPS is a versatile tool that could be used to evolve any polymerase function, where optical detection can be achieved by Watson-Crick base pairing.
Biological Activity of 9α-Fluoro-llβ-Hydroxy-Δ4-Androstene-3,17-Dione.∗†:

Summary and conclusions1) FHA (9α-fluoro-11β-hydroxy-Δ4-androstene-3,17 -dione) was an effective sodium retaining substance but was inactive in thymolytic and anti-inflammatory tests. This is the first instance of a highly active sodium retaining substance in the C19 series. 2) Introduction of fluorine at the 9α-position in 11β-hydroxy-Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione resulted in a compound essentially inactive as an androgen while the uterotrophic activity was intensified as compared to the non-fluorinated steroid.
Risk of hemorrhage during surgical evacuation for second-trimester intrauterine fetal demise.

Abstract Objective To assess risk of hemorrhage during surgical evacuation for intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). Methods We compared hemorrhage associated with surgical evacuation for IUFDs ≥14 weeks to surgical evacuations for other indications. Results From 12/2005 to 4/2013, 477 in-hospital surgical evacuations met inclusion criteria (123 IUFD, 354 comparators). The groups were demographically similar. Hemorrhage occurred in 7.3% of IUFDs and 4.2% of controls (p=.18). Fetal demise ≥4 weeks was associated with hemorrhage (odds ratio 6.8, 95% confidence interval 2.25–20.2). IUFD cases ≥21 weeks' gestational age (GA) had greater risk than did similarly aged controls (31.3% vs. 1.8%; p Conclusions Hemorrhage was more common in IUFD cases ≥4 weeks' duration or ≥21 weeks' GA.
Preparing Teachers for Hybrid and Online Language Instruction

Courses that are offered fully or partially online are becoming increasingly common for various reasons including needs for more flexibility and the affordances that technology can offer. One major challenge is that most of today’s instructors did not learn online themselves and thus need to learn how to teach effectively using technology. This growing online trend is also true for language teaching, an area which demands special consideration due to its unique challenges: language teaching involves skill development and typically uses the target language as the medium of communication. Research has shown that teacher preparation and ongoing support are critical to the success of hybrid and online courses (Rubio & Thoms, 2014a). This article provides a review of the literature on best practices in preparing and supporting those who teach a language in online or hybrid environments. Based on this, a model for professional development is proposed, which can be used and adapted by language program directors. Guidelines on developing these courses and supporting teachers as well as suggestions for further reading are provided. DOI:10.2458/azu_itet_v4i1_mcneil
Robust Central Nervous System Pathology in Transgenic Mice following Peripheral Injection of α-Synuclein Fibrils.

Misfolded α-synuclein (αS) is hypothesized to spread throughout the central nervous system (CNS) by neuronal connectivity leading to widespread pathology. Increasing evidence indicates that it also has the potential to invade the CNS via peripheral nerves in a prion-like manner. On the basis of the effectiveness following peripheral routes of prion administration, we extend our previous studies of CNS neuroinvasion in M83 αS transgenic mice following hind limb muscle (intramuscular [i.m.]) injection of αS fibrils by comparing various peripheral sites of inoculations with different αS protein preparations. Following intravenous injection in the tail veins of homozygous M83 transgenic (M83+/+) mice, robust αS pathology was observed in the CNS without the development of motor impairments within the time frame examined. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of αS fibrils in hemizygous M83 transgenic (M83+/-) mice resulted in CNS αS pathology associated with paralysis. Interestingly, injection with soluble, nonaggregated αS resulted in paralysis and pathology in only a subset of mice, whereas soluble Δ71-82 αS, human βS, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) control proteins induced no symptoms or pathology. Intraperitoneal injection of αS fibrils also induced CNS αS pathology in another αS transgenic mouse line (M20), albeit less robustly in these mice. In comparison, i.m. injection of αS fibrils was more efficient in inducing CNS αS pathology in M83 mice than i.p. or tail vein injections. Furthermore, i.m. injection of soluble, nonaggregated αS in M83+/- mice also induced paralysis and CNS αS pathology, although less efficiently. These results further demonstrate the prion-like characteristics of αS and reveal its efficiency to invade the CNS via multiple routes of peripheral administration. Importance The misfolding and accumulation of α-synuclein (αS) inclusions are found in a number of neurodegenerative disorders and is a hallmark feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD-related diseases. Similar characteristics have been observed between the infectious prion protein and αS, including its ability to spread from the peripheral nervous system and along neuroanatomical tracts within the central nervous system. In this study, we extend our previous results and investigate the efficiency of intravenous (i.v.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), and intramuscular (i.m.) routes of injection of αS fibrils and other protein controls. Our data reveal that injection of αS fibrils via these peripheral routes in αS-overexpressing mice are capable of inducing a robust αS pathology and in some cases cause paralysis. Furthermore, soluble, nonaggregated αS also induced αS pathology, albeit with much less efficiency. These findings further support and extend the idea of αS neuroinvasion from peripheral exposures.
Delayed Untwisting. The Mechanistic Link Between Dynamic Obstruction and Exercise Tolerance in Patients With Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy

Objectives We sought to determine the mechanisms linking dynamic obstruction and exercise tolerance in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Background Patients with HOCM have reduced exercise tolerance. However, the association between dynamic obstruction and peak oxygen consumption (V o 2max) is weak. Methods We enrolled 25 patients with HOCM, 20 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and 20 normal control patients. Two-dimensional, Doppler, strain, and left ventricular (LV) twist mechanics by speckle tracking echocardiography were obtained. The 25 HOCM patients had left heart catheterization, and 16 were re-examined after septal reduction. Results Deformation measurements were the lowest in HOCM patients and increased (p o 2max(r = −0.75, all p o 2max(r = 0.74, both p Conclusions Dynamic obstruction leads to delayed untwisting in HOCM, which accounts well for the increased LV filling pressures, the reduced LV volumes, and V o 2max. After septal reduction, untwisting occurs earlier and leads to an improvement in LV filling and exercise tolerance.