The conventional wisdom of discharge arbitration outcomes and remedies: fact or fiction

This study examines some of the arbitration community’s commonly accepted beliefs about arbitration outcomes and remedies in employee discharge cases, with the findings revealing that some beliefs are likely fact, while others, perhaps, are fiction. With data from 1432 Minnesota discharge awards and 74 arbitrators who decided them, eight truisms are examined pertaining to the following: the frequency that arbitrators use Daugherty’s Seven Tests rubric to analyze case evidence and whether its use affects award outcomes; the distribution of varying quanta of required proof by arbitrators and how different quanta affects award outcomes; and the effect of employee job tenure and “last chance agreement” status on award outcomes. Using a subsample of “reinstatement with back pay” awards, we additionally examine the prevalence of arbitrators ordering how back pay should be computed and “retaining jurisdiction” over back pay cases

Exploiting Parallelism in the Design of Peer-to-Peer Overlays

Many peer-to-peer overlay operations are inherently parallel and this parallelism can be exploited by using multi-destination multicast routing, resulting in significant message reduction in the underlying network. We propose criteria for assessing when multicast routing can effectively be used, and compare multi-destination multicast and host group multicast using these criteria. We show that the assumptions underlying the Chuang-Sirbu multicast scaling law are valid in large-scale peer-to-peer overlays, and thus Chuang-Sirbu is suitable for estimating the message reduction when replacing unicast overlay messages with multicast messages. Using simulation, we evaluate message savings in two overlay algorithms when multi-destination multicast routing is used in place of unicast messages. We further describe parallelism in a range of overlay algorithms including multi-hop, variable-hop, load-balancing, random walk, and measurement overlay

The influence of current and future climate-induced risk on the agricultural sector in East and Central Africa: Sensitizing the ASARECA strategic plan to climate change

Rainfed agriculture is and will remain the dominant source of staple food production for the majority of the rural poor in Eastern and Central Africa (ECA). It is clear that larger investments in agriculture by a broad range of stakeholders will be required if this sector is to meet the food security requirements of tomorrow’s Africa. Many factors contribute to the current low levels of investment, but production uncertainty associated with between- and within-season rainfall variability remains a fundamental constraint to many investors who often overestimate the impact of climate induced uncertainty. The climate of Africa is warmer than it was 100 years ago. Model-based predictions of future greenhouse gas-induced climate change for the continent clearly suggest that this warming will continue and, in most scenarios, accelerate. The projections for rainfall are less uniform; large regional differences exist in rainfall variability. However, there is likely to be an increase in annual mean precipitation in East Africa

Lack of cardiac differentiation in c-kit-enriched porcine bone marrow and spleen hematopoietic cell cultures using 5-azacytidine

The adult spleen is a source of early hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). We therefore studied whether culturing spleen or bone marrow (BM) HSC in medium containing 5-azacytidine could induce a cardiac phenotype. c-kit enrichment and depletion of adult pig spleen and BM mononuclear cells were obtained by magnetic bead separation using biotinylated pig stem cell factor (c-kit ligand). Cells were incubated with 5-azacytidine for 24 h and refreshed with 5-azacytidine-free medium every 48 h. Western blot was used to detect cardiac troponin and myosin heavy chains. Alth

Unconventional spin density wave in (TMTSF)2PF6 below T* ~ 4K

The presence of subphases in spin-density wave (SDW) phase of (TMTSF)2PF6 below T* ~ 4K has been suggested by several experiments but the nature of the new phase is still controversial. We have investigated the temperature dependence of the angular dependence of the magnetoresistance in the SDW phase which shows different features for temperatures above and below T*. For T > 4K the magnetoresistance can be understood in terms of the Landau quantization of the quasiparticle spectrum in a magnetic field, where the imperfect nesting plays the crucial role. We propose that below T* ~ 4K the new unconventional SDW (USDW) appears modifying dramatically the quasiparticle spectrum. Unlike conventional SDW the order parameter of USDW depends on the quasiparticle momentum. The present model describes many features of the angular dependence of magnetoresistance reasonably well. Therefore, we may conclude that the subphase in (TMTSF)2PF6 below T* ~ 4K is described as SDW plus USDW.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, RevTeX4; misprint corrected, references updated, a few sentences adde

Tolerance Induction to Cytoplasmic β\beta-Galactosidase by Hepatic AAV Gene Transfer — Implications for Antigen Presentation and Immunotoxicity

Background: Hepatic gene transfer, in particular using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, has been shown to induce immune tolerance to several protein antigens. This approach has been exploited in animal models of inherited protein deficiency for systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins. Adequate levels of transgene expression in hepatocytes induce a suppressive T cell response, thereby promoting immune tolerance. This study addresses the question of whether AAV gene transfer can induce tolerance to a cytoplasmic protein. Major Findings: AAV-2 vector-mediated hepatic gene transfer for expression of cytoplasmic $\beta$-galactosidase ($\beta$-gal) was performed in immune competent mice, followed by a secondary $\beta$-gal gene transfer with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral Ad-LacZ vector to provoke a severe immunotoxic response. Transgene expression from the AAV-2 vector in $\sim$2% of hepatocytes almost completely protected from inflammatory T cell responses against $\beta$-gal, eliminated antibody formation, and significantly reduced adenovirus-induced hepatotoxicity. Consequently, $\sim$10% of hepatocytes continued to express $\beta$-gal 45 days after secondary Ad-LacZ gene transfer, a time point when control mice had lost all Ad-LacZ derived expression. Suppression of inflammatory T cell infiltration in the liver and liver damage was linked to specific transgene expression and was not seen for secondary gene transfer with Ad-GFP. A combination of adoptive transfer studies and flow cytometric analyses demonstrated induction of Treg that actively suppressed CD8$^+$ T cell responses to $\beta$-gal and that was amplified in liver and spleen upon secondary Ad-LacZ gene transfer. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that tolerance induction by hepatic AAV gene transfer does not require systemic delivery of the transgene product and that expression of a cytoplasmic neo-antigen in few hepatocytes can induce Treg and provide long-term suppression of inflammatory responses and immunotoxicity

Sensitivity of Lipid Metabolism and Insulin Signaling to Genetic Alterations in Hepatic Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor-γ\gamma Coactivator-1α\alpha Expression

Objective: The peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-$\gamma$ coactivator (PGC)-1 family of transcriptional coactivators controls hepatic function by modulating the expression of key metabolic enzymes. Hepatic gain of function and complete genetic ablation of PGC-1$\alpha$ show that this coactivator is important for activating the programs of gluconeogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation, and lipid secretion during times of nutrient deprivation. However, how moderate changes in PGC-1$\alpha$ activity affect metabolism and energy homeostasis has yet to be determined. Research Design and Methods: To identify key metabolic pathways that may be physiologically relevant in the context of reduced hepatic PGC-1$\alpha$ levels, we used the Cre/Lox system to create mice heterozygous for PGC-1$\alpha$ specifically within the liver (LH mice). Results: These mice showed fasting hepatic steatosis and diminished ketogenesis associated with decreased expression of genes involved in mitochondrial $\beta$-oxidation. LH mice also exhibited high circulating levels of triglyceride that correlated with increased expression of genes involved in triglyceride-rich lipoprotein assembly. Concomitant with defects in lipid metabolism, hepatic insulin resistance was observed both in LH mice fed a high-fat diet as well as in primary hepatocytes. Results: These data highlight both the dose-dependent and long-term effects of reducing hepatic PGC-1$\alpha$ levels, underlining the importance of tightly regulated PGC-1$\alpha$ expression in the maintenance of lipid homeostasis and glucose metabolism

Quiescent ultra-diffuse galaxies in the field originating from backsplash orbits

Ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) are the lowest-surface-brightness galaxies known, with typical stellar masses of dwarf galaxies but sizes similar to those of larger galaxies such as the Milky Way1. The reason for their extended sizes is debated, with suggested internal processes such as angular momentum2, feedback3,4 or mergers5 versus external mechanisms6–9 or a combination of both10. Observationally, we know that UDGs are red and quiescent in groups and clusters11,12 whereas their counterparts in the field are blue and star-forming13–16. This dichotomy suggests environmental effects as the main culprits. However, this scenario is challenged by recent observations of isolated quiescent UDGs in the field17–19. Here we use the ΛCDM (or Λ cold dark matter, where Λ is the cosmological constant) cosmological hydrodynamical simulation to show that isolated quenched UDGs are formed as backsplash galaxies that were once satellites of another galactic, group or cluster halo but are today a few Mpc away from them. These interactions, albeit brief, remove the gas and tidally strip the outskirts of the dark matter haloes of the now quenched and seemingly isolated UDGs, which are born as star-forming field UDGs occupying dwarf-mass dark matter haloes. Quiescent UDGs may therefore be found in non-negligible numbers in filaments and voids, bearing the mark of past interactions as stripped outer haloes devoid of dark matter and gas compared to dwarfs with similar stellar content.Fil: Benavides Blanco, Jose Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Sales, Laura Virginia. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Abadi, Mario Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pillepich, Annalisa. Gobierno de la República Federal de Alemania. Max Planck Institut für Astrophysik; AlemaniaFil: Nelson, Dylan. Gobierno de la República Federal de Alemania. Max Planck Institut für Astrophysik; AlemaniaFil: Marinacci, Federico. Universidad de Bologna; ItaliaFil: Cooper, Michael. University of California at Irvine; Estados UnidosFil: Pakmor, Ruediger. Gobierno de la República Federal de Alemania. Max Planck Institut für Astrophysik; AlemaniaFil: Torrey, Paul. University of Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Vogelsberger, Mark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Hernquist, Lars. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; Estados Unido

Hemodynamic Predictors of Heart Failure Morbidity and Mortality: Fluid or Flow?

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced heart failure may persist for prolonged times with persistent hemodynamic abnormalities; intermediate and long-term outcomes of these patients are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used ESCAPE trial data to examine characteristics and outcomes of patients with invasive hemodynamic monitoring during an acute heart failure hospitalization. Patients were stratified by final measurement of cardiac index (CI; L/min/m2) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP; mmHg) before catheter removal. The study groups were CI ≥ 2/PCWP <20 (n = 74), CI ≥ 2/PCWP ≥ 20 (n = 37), CI < 2/PCWP < 20 (n = 23), and CI < 2/PCWP ≥ 20 (n = 17). Final CI was not associated with the combined risk of death, cardiovascular hospitalization, and transplantation (HR:1.03, 95% CI:0.96–1.11 per 0.2 L/min/m(2) decrease, p=0.39), but final PCWP ≥ 20mmHg was associated with increased risk of these events (HR:2.03, 95% CI:1.31–3.15, p<0.01), as was higher final right atrial pressure (RAP; HR:1.09, 95% CI:1.06–1.12 per mmHg increase, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Final PCWP and final RAP were stronger predictors of post-discharge outcomes than CI in patients with advanced heart failure. The ability to lower filling pressures appears to be more prognostically important than improving CI in the management of patients with advanced heart failure. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT0000061