Conceptualizing Municipal Elections: The Case of Toronto 2018.

Since Angus Campbell and colleagues first introduced the "levels of conceptualization" (LoC) framework as a measure of political sophistication, a number of scholars have applied the approach to subsequent American national elections. In this study, we present the first application of the LoC framework to a municipal election, and focus upon the 2018 Toronto mayoral race. After describing the method and data we use to adapt the framework to this new context, we replicate previous analyses, and find that LoC is related to local voter turnout and several measures of political sophistication. We then consider the question of whether major candidates were discussed at different LoC, and if their supporters view local politics at different LoC. We conclude by making the case that the LoC framework is helpful for resolving the debate over whether local politics are ideological or managerial in nature.

Closest to the People? Incumbency Advantage and the Personal Vote in Non-Partisan Elections.

Do incumbents dominate non-partisan elections because of an especially large personal vote? This question has important implications for understanding the causes of incumbent success and the benefits or drawbacks of non-partisan elections. This paper uses a natural experiment, combined with three original datasets, to estimate the size, persistence, and consequences of the personal vote in a large non-partisan city election. We first use individual-level survey data to show that individuals assigned quasi-randomly to a new incumbent are substantially less likely to support the incumbent. We use a second survey, one year later, to demonstrate the persistence of this effect. Finally, we use historical election results to simulate the electoral consequences of the personal vote; we find that the personal vote is sufficiently large to affect one in four incumbent races. We conclude that the personal vote, while large and important, is not sufficient to explain incumbent dominance in non-partisan contests.

The metabolic response to a high-fat diet reveals obesity-prone and -resistant phenotypes in mice with distinct mRNA-seq transcriptome profiles.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the phenotypic differences underpinning obesity susceptibility or resistance based on the metabolic and transcriptional profiling of C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: The mice were fed either a normal diet or HFD for 12 weeks. After 6 weeks, the mice on HFD were classified as either obesity-prone (OP) or obesity-resistant (OR) depending on the body weight gain. RESULTS: Lipid profiles from plasma and liver significantly improved in OR mice relative to the OP group. Energy expenditure was greater in OR mice than in OP mice, with a simultaneous decrease in body fat mass. Epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and liver were enlarged in OP mice (with visible immune-cell infiltration), but these effects were attenuated in OR mice compared with OP mice. Overall glucose metabolism was enhanced in OR mice compared with OP mice, including homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations, glucokinase activity and hepatic glycogen. Plasma adipokines and proinflammatory cytokines were upregulated in OP mice, and these changes were attenuated in OR mice. Transcriptomic profiles of eWAT and liver revealed common and divergent patterns of transcriptional changes in OP and OR mice, and pointed to differential metabolic phenotypes of OP and OR mice. There were substantial differences between OP and OR mice in molecular pathways, including atherosclerosis signaling, sperm motility, cAMP-mediated signaling in eWAT; and fibrosis, agranulocyte adhesion and diapedesis, and atherosclerosis signaling in liver. CONCLUSIONS: Taken altogether, the results provide robust evidence of major divergence in the transcriptomes, phenotypes and metabolic processes between obesity susceptibility and obesity resistance in the HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice.

Vitamin D in renal transplantation - from biological mechanisms to clinical benefits.

Recent developments in our understanding of vitamin D show that it plays a significant role in immunological health, uniquely occupying both an anti-microbial and immunoregulatory niche. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread amongst renal transplant recipients (RTRs), thus providing one patho-mechanism that may influence the achievement of a successful degree of immunosuppression. It may also influence the development of the infectious, cardiovascular and neoplastic complications seen in RTRs. This review examines the biological roles of vitamin D in the immune system of relevance to renal transplantation (RTx) and evaluates whether vitamin D repletion may be relevant in determining immunologically-related clinical outcomes in RTRs, (including graft survival, cardiovascular disease and cancer). While there are plausible biological and epidemiological reasons to undertake vitamin D repletion in RTRs, there are few randomized-controlled trials in this area. Based on the available literature, we cannot at present categorically make the case for routine measurement and repletion of vitamin D in clinical practice but we do suggest that this is an area in urgent need of further randomized controlled level evidence.

Time-course microarrays reveal modulation of developmental, lipid metabolism and immune gene networks in intrascapular brown adipose tissue during the development of diet-induced obesity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the time-course of molecular events in intrascapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) during the development of diet-induced obesity using microarrays and molecular network analysis. DESIGN: C57BL/6J male inbred mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or normal diet (ND) and killed at multiple time-points over 24 weeks. METHODS: Global transcriptional changes in iBAT were determined by time-course microarrays of pooled RNA (n=6, pools per time-point) at 2, 4, 8, 20 and 24 weeks using Illumina MouseWG-6 v2.0 Beadchips. Molecular networks were constructed using the Ingenuity knowledgebase based on differentially expressed genes at each time-point. RESULTS: Body weight and subcutaneous adipose were progressively increased over 24 weeks, whereas iBAT was significantly increased between 6 and 12 weeks in HFD-fed C57BL/6J mice compared with controls. Blood glucose and insulin levels were increased between 16 and 24 weeks. Time-course microarrays, revealed 155 differentially expressed genes at one or more time-points over 24 weeks in the iBAT of HFD-fed mice compared with controls. Time-course network analysis revealed a network of skeletal muscle development genes that was activated between 2 and 4 weeks, subsequently a network of immune trafficking genes was activated at 8 weeks. After 20 and 24 weeks, multiple lipid metabolism and immune response networks were activated. Several target genes identified by time-course microarrays were independently validated using RT-qPCR. Tnnc1 was upregulated early between 2 and 4 weeks, later Cd68 and Col1a1 were upregulated between 20 and 24 weeks, whereas 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Hsd11b1) was consistently downregulated during the development of diet-induced obesity. CONCLUSION: Molecular networks in iBAT are modulated in a time-dependent manner in response to a HFD. A broad range of gene targets exists to alter molecular changes within iBAT during the development of diet-induced obesity.

The representativeness of neighbourhood associations in Toronto and Vancouver.

Neighbourhood associations are major players in urban politics throughout North American cities and increasingly are becoming a political force in other parts of the world. However, while there is a rich and well-developed literature on the role played by neighbourhood associations in urban politics, few studies examine whether their membership reflects the socio-demographic composition and interests of the broader public. This paper addresses this gap in the literature using survey data from voters conducted during the Vancouver and Toronto 2018 municipal elections. We compare the responses of participants who identify as members of neighbourhood associations (or their equivalents) with those of the broader voting public. We find that members of neighbourhood associations in both cities are not representative of the broader population. They are more likely to be white, older and have higher education than the average voter. In addition, while the ideology of neighbourhood association members differs little from that of the broader public, their policy priorities are different from those of the majority of voters in both cities. Our findings suggest that neighbourhood associations fail in providing descriptive representation and may not offer substantive representation. These findings raise important questions about the role of neighbourhood associations in local governance. Our study also demonstrates the merit of using individual-level surveys to learn more about the composition and policy preferences of neighbourhood associations.

GABAergic processes in the mesencephalic tegmentum modulate the occurrence of active (rapid eye movement) sleep in guinea pigs.

The ventrolateral subdivision of the periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and the adjacent dorsal mesencephalic reticular formation (dMRF) are involved in the modulation of active (rapid eye movement) sleep (AS). In order to determine the effects on AS of the suppression of neuronal activity in these regions, muscimol, a GABA receptor A (GABA(A)) receptor agonist, and bicuculline, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, were microinjected bilaterally in guinea pigs and the states of sleep and wakefulness were examined. The main effect of muscimol was an increase in AS; this increase occurred in conjunction with a reduction in the time spent in wakefulness. The powerful effect of muscimol was striking especially when considering the small amount of naturally-occurring AS that is present in this species. Additional observable effects that were induced by muscimol were: 1) long lasting episodes of hypotonia/atonia during wakefulness and quiet sleep that included a lack of extensor tone in the hind limbs, and 2) frequently occurring cortical spindles, similar to those observed during naturally-occurring quiet sleep (sleep spindles), that were present during wakefulness. Conversely, bilateral microinjections of bicuculline induced a prolonged state of wakefulness and blocked the effect of subsequent injections of muscimol. These data suggest that endogenous GABA acts on GABA(A) receptors within the vlPAG and dMRF to promote AS in the guinea pig.

Congestive heart failure caused by intracardiac tumours in two dogs.

Congestive heart failure is a common presentation in small animal practice. Cardiac tumours are an unusual cause of congestive heart failure and, when they occur, usually cause clinical signs associated with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. This case report outlines the clinical and histological findings in two dogs presented with clinical signs of congestive heart failure caused by obstruction of blood flow by intracavitary cardiac tumours. Case 1 showed signs of left-sided heart failure caused by osteosarcoma within the left atrial lumen, and case 2 presented with clinical signs of right-sided heart failure due to haemangiosarcoma occupying the right atrial and ventricular lumens. This case report provides further evidence for the inclusion of intracardiac neoplasia in the differential diagnosis for dogs with clinical signs of congestive heart failure.

Direct hypothalamic innervation of the trigeminal motor nucleus: a retrograde tracer study.

It is currently thought that the hypothalamus influences motor output through connections with premotor structures which in turn project to motor nuclei. However, hypocretinergic/orexinergic projections to different motor pools have recently been demonstrated. The present study was undertaken to examine whether hypocretinergic/orexinergic neurons are the only source of projections from the hypothalamus to the trigeminal motor nucleus in the guinea-pig. Cholera toxin subunit b was injected into the trigeminal motor nucleus in order to retrogradely label premotor neurons. Two anatomically separated populations of labeled neurons were observed in the hypothalamus: one group was distributed along the dorsal zone of the lateral hypothalamic area, the lateral portion of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and the perifornical nucleus; the other was located within the periventricular portion of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. Numerous cholera toxin subunit b+ neurons in both populations displayed glutamate-like immunoreactivity. In addition, premotor neurons containing hypocretin/orexin were distributed throughout the lateral dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, perifornical nucleus and lateral hypothalamic area. Other premotor neurons were immunostained for melanin concentrating hormone; these cells, which were located within the lateral hypothalamic area and the perifornical nucleus, were intermingled with glutamatergic and hypocretinergic/orexinergic neurons. Nitrergic premotor neurons were located only in the periventricular zone of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus. None of the hypothalamic premotor neurons were GABAergic, cholinergic or monoaminergic. The existence of diverse neurotransmitter systems projecting from the hypothalamus to the trigeminal motor pool indicates that this diencephalic structure may influence the numerous functions that are subserved by the trigeminal motor system.

A beta-subclass phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from squid (Loligo forbesi) photoreceptors exhibiting a truncated C-terminus.

A PCR-based strategy has been used to isolate a full length cDNA encoding a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from a sized cDNA squid (Loligo forbesi) retinal library. The predicted protein sequence contains 875 amino acids, with calculated M(r) 98,181, and has marked similarity with PLC beta-isoforms, including conservation of the 'X' and 'Y' regions. It is unique in having a major C-terminal truncation. A major protein of apparent M(r) 120,000 estimated by SDS-PAGE has been isolated from squid photoreceptors and identified by partial protein sequence analysis to correspond to the protein sequence predicted from the cDNA clone. This protein has been shown to hydrolyse phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. It is not yet clear whether this represents the major light-activated PLC in squid vision.

Combined neutrophil and T-cell deficiency: initial report of a kindred with features of the hyper-IgE syndrome and chronic granulomatous disease.

A six year old female presented with a recent history of pyoderma gangrenosum involving her legs and arms associated with an episode of Mycoplasma-like pneumonia. This was followed by Aspergillus osteomyelitis involving her left ulna and right femur. Both the skin lesions and the osteomyelitis responded to prolonged treatment with antifungal and antibiotic agents. Investigation of this patient revealed (1) an elevated serum IgE (4,800 units/ml), (2) defect in neutrophil chemotaxis that appeared to be due to immune complexes, (3) an abnormal nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) result (0 percent stimulated and unstimulated), and (4) depressed mitogen responses to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen, negative results of intradermal skin tests, and negative dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization. The patient's clinically unaffected sibling had similar findings except for a positive DNCB response. In both children, intracellular bacterial killing of catalase-positive and negative organisms was normal. Kindred studies revealed widespread T-cell abnormalities consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance. Tissue typing studies showed that affected siblings shared the A1, B8, DR3 haplotype. This kindred is unique in that both the proband and the sibling have abnormalities of both the hyper-IgE syndrome and chronic granulomatous disease.

Varicella in pediatric orthotopic liver transplant recipients.

From May 1981 to May 1984, 90 pediatric patients underwent liver transplantation and 65 patients survived as of May 1986. Two of the nonsurvivors died with complications related to clinical varicella. Of these 67 patients (65 survivors and two nonsurvivors who died of varicella-related causes), 51 patients were determined to be varicella susceptible. Clinical disease developed in no patients with serologic evidence or clinical history of varicella prior to transplantation. Eighteen susceptible patients were exposed and received zoster immune globulin and varicella did not develop. Clinical disease developed in eight patients despite zoster immune globulin, although one patient received it 96 hours after exposure. Six patients received no zoster immune globulin and clinical varicella developed. In all, varicella developed in 14 patients. Thirteen were admitted to the hospital and treated with intravenous acyclovir. Of those treated, two died of causes related to complications of varicella. The remaining patients treated with acyclovir had mild disease. The one patient not treated with acyclovir also had mild disease. We conclude that patients contracting varicella after liver transplantation while receiving maintenance immunosuppressive agents should be treated with intravenous acyclovir. Generally, when treated with acyclovir while receiving maintenance immunosuppressive drugs, these patients have mild clinical disease. Patients recently treated with high-dose prednisone and cyclosporine may have severe clinical disease resulting in death.

Improved bioassay for estimation of inhibitory effects of ovine gastrointestinal mucus and anthelmintics on nematode larval migration.

A bioassay based on the ability of substances present in ovine gastrointestinal mucus or anthelmintics to paralyse third stage larval (L3) nematodes and inhibit their passage through 20 microns nylon mesh sieves [larval migration inhibition (LMI) activity] is described. Factors influencing the reproducibility of the bioassay were examined using exsheathed L3 of the sheep gastrointestinal nematode parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Levamisole, morantel tartrate and piperazine were shown to inhibit L3 migration in the bioassay. The bioassay was used to demonstrate that gastrointestinal mucus from nematode-resistant sheep possessed greater L3 inhibitory activity than mucus from nematode-susceptible sheep. LMI activity of mucus used in this bioassay was significantly correlated with LMI activities obtained using two previously described similar bioassays. The action of mucus components on nematode larvae was shown to be reversible in the bioassay. The modified assay has advantages over other bioassays as it avoided the use of temperature-dependent agar blocks, reduced the number of L3 required to a more manageable size, and the whole experiment could be performed on a 48-well culture plate. The reproducibility, high correlation with other bioassays, ease of performance, suitability for testing a large number of samples and low cost make this modified assay the method of choice for determining antiparasitic activity of gastrointestinal mucus components and as a screen for potential anthelmintics.

Evaluation of families wherein a single male manifests a phenotype of X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP).

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced diseases of males with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP) include fatal infectious mononucleosis (IM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ML), agammaglobulinemia, and aplastic anemia. These phenotypes also occur as sporadic cases in families, and EBV seronegative males in these families must be considered at risk for XLP until they seroconvert normally to EBV. Given that 50% of males inheriting the defective XLP gene die following primary EBV infection, it is vital that they be identified pre-EBV infection. Here we report results using molecular genetic techniques to provide information as to the relative risks of EBV negative males and potential carrier females in ten families wherein a single male had died of IM.

Urinary amino acid excretion patterns in cancer of prostate.

The excretion of urinary amino acids obtained from acid hydrolysates were studied by gas chromatographic analysis in 16 normal male subjects and 48 patients with cancer of the prostate. There were no significant differences of the most commonly excreted amimo acids in normal or patient groups or between patients with different stages of the disease because of the large variances of excretion within groups as a whole. However, with few exceptions, the patient group excreted isoleucine whereas isoleucine excretion was not detected in the normal subjects under the same experimental conditions. These findings suggest that measurement of the urinary excretion of isoleucine may be a useful parameter for the early detection of prostatic cancer.

Urinary amino acid excretion: comparison of normal individuals and patients with bladder cancer.

The excretion levels of urinary amino acids obtained from acid hydrolysates were studied by gas chromatographic analysis in 29 normal individuals and 118 patients with bladder carcinoma. Leucine and isoleucine excretion were elevated in patients with bladder carcinoma as compared with normal subjects under the same experimental condition. Mathematical computer-assisted programs developed to aid in determining clusters of amino acid variables suggested that excretion of glycine, leucine, proline, and glutamic acid in men and concentrations of valine, serine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and lysine in women vary according to the invasiveness of the disease. These findings suggest that measurements of urinary amino acids may provide a useful parameter for the detection and aid in the staging of bladder carcinoma.

Immunoelectrophoretic studies of prekallikrein in human plasma.

Using a rabbit anti-human prekallikrein antibody crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and Laurell rocket antigen determinations were done in plasma of subjects with Fletcher (prekallikrein, PKA), Fitzgerald (high molecular weight kininogen), Hageman (XII), and PTA (XI) deficiencies as well as in patients with activation of coagulation (intravascular coagulation syndromes). Abnormal CIE patterns were seen in the Fletcher and Fitzgerald deficient plasmas and also in some of the patients with intravascular coagulation. In vitro studies of plasma treated with thrombin, plasmin, and contact activating agents indicated that abnormal CIE patterns and increased PKA antigen levels were indicative of activation of the Hageman factor dependent pathway and not the result of plasma clotting by thrombin. In vivo activation of the Hageman factor dependent pathway frequently results in an abnormal CIE and a low PKA antigen level.

Radon and radon daughter levels in energy efficient housing.

Radon and radon daughter concentrations have been measured in 33 "energy-efficient" homes in a small subdivision in Kanata, Ontario. Integrated radon measurements were determined over three month periods for a year using solid state nuclear track detectors. Radon and radon daughter grab sample determinations were made during corresponding periods and confirm the distributions of the integrated radon measurements. Annual average individual home radon concentrations show an 8 fold concentration range between homes. This variability in radon concentrations is not reflected in the range of air exchange rates for the homes. A distinct seasonal variation is noted for the median values of the radon and radon daughter concentrations and the equilibrium factor F in the dwellings.

An unusual presentation of Crohn's disease.

The first case of an inflamed, discharging urachal remnant associated with granulomatous appendicitis in which the patient was subsequently found to have Crohn's disease is described.

An audit of single dose epidural diamorphine during elective caesarean section at a district general hospital.

Mothers receiving combined spinal-epidural (CSE) anaesthesia for elective caesarean section (n = 188) were audited. A single dose of epidural diamorphine (2-3 mg) was given during surgery. Unless contraindicated, diclofenac 100 mg was given per rectum at the end of surgery. Postoperative analgesia was provided as oral Co-dydramol and diclofenac. All mothers were premedicated with ranitidine 150 mg and metoclopramide 10 mg orally. Observations were recorded for 24 h postoperatively. Pain, nausea, sedation and itching were assessed on a scale of 0 (nil), 1 (mild), 2 (moderate) or 3 (severe). All mothers were reviewed during the second postoperative day. Epidural supplements during surgery and administration of naloxone, systemic opiates and anti-emetics after surgery were recorded. Postoperative analgesia was prolonged and excellent. Over 92% of pain scores were mild or less. Two mothers complained of severe pain, which was resolved with oral Co-dydramol. Postoperative morphine was not used. Itching was common but not troublesome; mild (54%), moderate (16%), severe (3%); 7% of mothers received naloxone. Nausea was uncommon: mild (19%), moderate (10%), severe (2%); 16% of mothers received anti-emetics. Itching was less than previous reports with subarachnoid diamorphine. Single dose epidural diamorphine can be used during elective caesarean section rendering systemic opiates unnecessary.