cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal and spatial localization of nectin-1 and l-afadin during synaptogenesis in hippocampal neurons.

Nectins are cell adhesion molecules that, together with the intracellular binding partner afadin, mediate adhesion and signaling at a variety of intercellular junctions. In this work we studied the distribution of nectin-1 and afadin during hippocampal synapse formation using cultured primary hippocampal neurons. Nectin-1 and afadin cluster at developing synapses between hippocampal neurons. These nectin-afadin clusters uniformly colocalize with N-cadherin–catenin pairs, suggesting that formation of developing synapses involves participation of both bimolecular systems. Nectin-1 is initially expressed at excitatory and inhibitory synapses but is progressively lost at inhibitory synapses during their maturation. Treatment of neurons with actin depolymerizing agents disrupts the synaptically localized nectin-1 and afadin cluster at an early stage and elicits nectin-1 ectodomain shedding. These data indicate that the synaptic localization of nectin-1 and l-afadin are F-actin-dependent and that the shedding of nectin-1 is a mechanism contributing to synaptic plasticity. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1228–1244, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Glutathione and its function in the lens—An overview

This paper presents an overview of the current state of our knowledge concerning the metabolism and function of glutathione (GSH) in the lens, with particular reference to the contributions of Dr Jin H. Kinoshita to this field. Glutathione in the lens is synthesized from its constituent amino acids and degraded by mechanisms involving transpeptidation and hydrolysis. The turnover of GSH in the lens is due to its catabolism rather than transport of GSSG as is the case in red blood cells and some other tissues. Three aspects of the functional role of GSH in cataract formation are considered. First, GSH may be important in maintaining protein thiols in the reduced state, thus preventing the formation of high molecular weight protein aggregates which are the basis for light scattering and lens opacification. A second function may be to protect membrane -SH groups that are important in cation transport and permeability. A third functional role is to detoxify hydrogen peroxide and other organoperoxides. The glutathione redox cycle is intimately involved in the detoxification of H2O2 which is normally present in the aqueous humor.
Integration of multi-array sensors and support vector machines for the detection and classification of organophosphate nerve agents

Due to the increased threats of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by international terrorist organizations, a significant effort is underway to develop tools that can be used to detect and effectively combat biochemical warfare. Furthermore, recent events have highlighted awareness that chemical and biological agents (CBAs) may become the preferred, cheap alternative WMD, because these agents can effectively attack large populations while leaving infrastructures intact. Despite the availability of numerous sensing devices, intelligent hybrid sensors that can detect and degrade CBAs are virtually nonexistent. This paper reports the integration of multi-array sensors with Support Vector Machines (SVMs) for the detection of organophosphates nerve agents using parathion and dichlorvos as model stimulants compounds. SVMs were used for the design and evaluation of new and more accurate data extraction, preprocessing and classification. Experimental results for the paradigms developed using Structural Risk Minimization, show a significant increase in classification accuracy when compared to the existing AromaScan baseline system. Specifically, the results of this research has demonstrated that, for the Parathion versus Dichlorvos pair, when compared to the AromaScan baseline system: (1) a 23% improvement in the overall ROC Az index using the S2000 kernel, with similar improvements with the Gaussian and polynomial (of degree 2) kernels, (2) a significant 173% improvement in specificity with the S2000 kernel. This means that the number of false negative errors were reduced by 173%, while making no false positive errors, when compared to the AromaScan base line performance. (3) The Gaussian and polynomial kernels demonstrated similar specificity at 100% sensitivity. All SVM classifiers provided essentially perfect classification performance for the Dichlorvos versus Trichlorfon pair. For the most difficult classification task, the Parathion versus Paraoxon pair, the following results were achieved (using the three SVM kernels: (1) ROC Az indices from approximately 93% to greater than 99%, (2) partial Az values from ≈79% to 93%, (3) specificities from 76% to ≈84% at 100 and 98% sensitivity, and (4) PPVs from 73% to ≈84% at 100% and 98% sensitivities. These are excellent results, considering only one atom differentiates these nerve agents.
The assay of warfarin in plasma or stool.

Abstract A thin-layer chromatographic technique was developed for the quantitative measurement of warfarin in human plasma or stool. Ethylene dichloride extracts were developed on silica gel G plates with a 9:1 ethylene dichloride:acetone solvent system. The fluorescent warfarin locus was eluted with acetone and quantitated fluorimetrically. This method was both sensitive (a limit of 0.25 μg warfarin/ml plasma) and reproducible (coefficient of variation of 1.6%). Other drugs, or warfarin metabolites, which interfere with other assay methods, were eliminated, and the procedure appeared to be specific for warfarin.
Adjusting for subgroup differences in extreme response tendency in ratings of health care: impact on disparity estimates.

Reducing disparities in health and health care by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) is a significant health policy goal; accurate measurement of these disparities is a critical first step (Institute of Medicine 2002; National Research Council 2004). Without accurate measurement, policy makers will not be able to target the patients or providers in greatest need of intervention nor to assess the effectiveness of such interventions. Consumer evaluations of health care, such as those from the Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) project sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), are a vital source of information for understanding disparities in health and health care by race/ethnicity, SES, disability or other characteristics defining vulnerable subgroups (Weech-Maldonado et al. 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008b; Bernard, Brody, and West 2004b; Onstad 2005). Dimensions such as the courtesy and respect with which patients are treated and the clarity of communication are best assessed through consumer reports about their care. Disparities in the CAHPS composites (but not the global ratings) are targeted by Healthy People 2010 (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 2008), both as a means of reducing disparities in health outcomes and because there is an inherent interest in guaranteeing patient access to health care that is respectful and allows them to participate in treatment and care decisions. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that there are “nonfinancial dimensions of quality of care that are important because they reflect respect for human dignity” (de Silva and Valentine 2000), a sentiment echoed by U.S. policy makers (Frist 2005). Unfortunately, the contribution of patient experience surveys to understanding health disparities has been limited by measurement difficulties that arise from systematic differences in how patients respond to surveys. In particular, the 0–10 CAHPS global ratings, which have potential as summative measures for evaluating national and health-plan initiatives (e.g., National Health Plan Collaborative 2006) to reduce racial and economic disparities in health and health care, have had only limited use, perhaps because of awareness of measurement limitations. In this work, we seek to reduce the extent to which differential use of response scales obscures disparities in patient experience by race/ethnicity and SES, thereby improving our ability to appropriately address those disparities. Because the elderly use health care disproportionately and are potentially vulnerable, we pursue this approach using Medicare CAHPS data.
Boundary states for AdS(2) branes in AdS(3)

We construct boundary states for the AdS_2 D-branes in AdS_3. We show that, in the semi-classical limit, the boundary states correctly reproduce geometric configurations of these branes. We use the boundary states to compute the one loop free energy of open string stretched between the branes. The result agrees precisely with the open string computation in hep-th/0106129.
Improvement of the Performance of Solar Energy or Waste Heat Utilization Systems by Using Phase-Change Slurry as an Enhanced Heat-Transfer Storage Fluid

This paper is concerned with the benefits of using phase-change slurries as enhanced heat-transfer/storage working fluids in solar energy and waste heat utilization systems. Literature is cited to show that a slurry containing a phase-change material as the dispersed phase promises to have much higher heat-transfer coefficients than conventional single-phase working fluids. Because of the latent heat, the phasechange slurry also requires lower pumping rates and smaller storage tanks than single-phase fluids for the same energy content. These benefits are documented by comparisons of temperature drops, pumping rates, pumping powers, and the sizes of storage tanks for a generic energy collection system operating with and without a slurry.
A study of the binding site requirements of rhodopsin using isomers of α-retinal and 5-substituted α-retinal analogs

Abstract Results of the binding interaction of isomers of α-retinal and six substituted α-retinals (5-butyl, 5-phenyl, 5-isopropyl, 5-heptyl, 5-decyl, and 10-fluoro) with bovine opsin are reported. Their implications on the binding site requirements are discussed.
Analysis of phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in potato plant flowers, leaves, stems, and tubers and in home-processed potatoes.

Potato plants synthesize phenolic compounds as protection against bruising and injury from bacteria, fungi, viruses, and insects. Because antioxidative phenolic compounds are also reported to participate in enzymatic browning reactions and to exhibit health-promoting effects in humans, a need exists for accurate methods to measure their content in fresh and processed potatoes. To contribute to our knowledge about the levels of phenolic compounds in potatoes, we validated and used high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to measure levels of chlorogenic acid, a chlorogenic isomer, and caffeic acid in flowers, leaves, stems, and tubers of the potato plant and in home-processed potatoes. The total phenolic acid content of flowers (626 mg/100 g fresh wt) was 21 and 59 times greater than that of leaves and stems, respectively. For all samples, chlorogenic acid and its isomer contributed 96−98% to the total. Total phenolic acid levels (in g/100 g fresh wt) of peels of f...
Electrochemical reactions of some dimethyl dialkylaminomaleates

Abstract Five dimethyl dialkylaminomaleates ( 1–5 ) have been studied by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry in acetonitrile solvent. For dimethyl di-isopropylaminomaleate ( 1 ), it is proposed that the electrochemical reduction at mercury electrodes proceeds by a rapid ECE scheme that comprises initial reduction to a radical anion, rapid protonation by residual water, subsequent reduction to an anion, followed by protonation that results in hydrogenation of the C C double bond. The lifetime of the radical anion is very short. An oxidation peak for this species could not be detected on the return sweep in cyclic voltammetry, even at scan rates up to 10 4 V s −1 and temperatures as low as −40°C. Controlled potential coulometry indicated an overall two-electron reduction, and analysis of the electrolyzed solution showed that the principal products were the two half-esters formed by hydrogenation of the C C double bond and hydrolysis of one of the two non-equivalent ester groups. The hydrolysis is induced by hydroxide formed by protonation of the intermediate anions by residual water. The oxidation of 1–5 was studied at a platinum electrode. The reaction is suggested to proceed by the initial formation of the radical cation, followed by rapid tail-to-tail dimerization of the cation radical to form a dimeric dication that deprotonates during work-up to give, in the case of 1 , the dimethyl ester of 3,4-dicarbomethoxy-2,5-bis(diisopropylamino)hexadienoic acid ( 11 ).
Convergence of Advances in Genomics, Team Science, and Repositories as Drivers of Progress in Psychiatric Genomics

After many years of unfilled promise, psychiatric genetics has seen an unprecedented number of successes in recent years. We hypothesize that the field has reached an inflection point through a confluence of four key developments: advances in genomics; the orientation of the scientific community around large collaborative team science projects; the development of sample and data repositories; and a policy framework for sharing and accessing these resources. We discuss these domains and their effect on scientific progress and provide a perspective on why we think this is only the beginning of a new era in scientific discovery.
The Role of COX-2 in Intestinal Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease, including at least three major forms: hereditary, sporadic and colitis-associated CRC. A large body of evidence indicates that genetic mutations, epigenetic changes, chronic inflammation, diet and lifestyle are the risk factors for CRC. As elevated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was found in most CRC tissue and is associated with worse survival among CRC patients, investigators have sought to evaluate the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors (COXIBs) on CRC. The epidemiological studies, clinical trials and animal experiments indicate that NSAIDs are among the most promising chemopreventive agents for this disease. NSAIDs exert their anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects primarily by reducing prostaglandin production by inhibition of COX-2 activity. In this review, we highlight breakthroughs in our understanding of the roles of COX-2 in CRC and inflammatory bowel disease. These recent data provide a rationale for re-evaluating COX-2 as both the prognostic and the predictive marker in a wide variety of malignancies and for renewing the interest in evaluating relative benefits and risk of COXIBs in appropriately selected patients for cancer prevention and treatment.
Sinusoidal Voltammetry for the Analysis of Carbohydrates at Copper Electrodes

A digital approach for the collection and analysis of electrochemical frequency domain spectra is presented for the oxidation of carbohydrates at a copper electrode using a continuous, large-amplitude sine wave as an excitation waveform. The background charging current response is a phase-shifted sine wave with the major frequency component concentrated at the fundamental frequency. A nonlinear faradaic response due to the oxidation of sugars produces significant signal intensities at the higher harmonics as well as the fundamental frequency. Examination of the frequency spectra of glucose and maltose leads to selective and sensitive detection of these sugars at a copper electrode. The selectivity of this measurement relies on the inherent difference in the frequency domain spectra (i.e., magnitude and phase of each harmonic) of sugars of different sizes. This frequency distribution is dramatically affected by temperature, indicating the effect of kinetics in the mechanism for the oxidation of sugars. The...
Zero-dimensionality and the GE2 of polynomial rings

Abstract A technique of Pierce is used to prove that any commutative ring R , the polynomial ring R [ X ] is a GE 2 -ring if and only if R is zero-dimensional. The technique yields other deductions about zero-dimensional rings as well.
WE-E-BRA-07: Experimental Determination of the LiF:Mg,Ti TLD Energy Response Correction Factor for 125I Brachytherapy Sources

Purpose: To further explore the energy response correction factor for LiF:Mg,Ti thermoluminescent dosimeters for use in experiments with 125 I low dose rate brachytherapy sources. Method and Materials: Two distinct experiments were performed to determine the value of the energy response correction factor, E(r), as defined in TG‐43U1, for 125 I seeds. The University of Wisconsin Variable Aperture Free Air Chamber was used to determine the air kerma strengths of Best Medical 2301 125 I seeds. A 3×3 array of TLD‐100 chips sealed in a thin plastic bag was attached to the center of the aperture using Kapton tape. 60 Co was used to irradiate a set of comparison TLDs to a dose to water equivalent to the dose to water given by 125 I . Monte Carlo simulations were used in both cases to calculate the dose to water from the measured air kerma. The two experiments had different annealing techniques: one using a standard anneal of one hour at 400°C followed by 24 hours at 80°C, and the other using a standard anneal at the beginning of the sorting process and then only the 80°C anneal between cycles. Results: E(r) was determined to be 1.514 ± 0.019 using the 80°C technique and 1.549 ± 0.025 using the standard technique. These values are significantly higher than the currently applied value of 1.41, but not unexpected. TG‐43U1 noted that the work of Davis et al. also observed an anomalous over‐response relative to theoretical predictions. It is speculated that the differences between these two experimental values may be the result of the annealing techniques and TL readout characteristics, which will be further investigated. Conclusion: It appears that LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs are indeed intrinsically non‐linear in their response to low energy photons. The solid state processes that cause this effect are not taken into account by Monte Carlo.
Secure and reliable broadcasting in wireless sensor networks using multi-parent trees

Summary Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been the focal point of research over the last several years. Broadcast communication is a key requirement for WSNs since many tasks in the network depend on broadcasting, including critical tasks like querying. Consequently, securing broadcast communication over sensor networks has become an important research challenge. Typically, broadcast communication involves two steps: broadcasting and acknowledging. In the broadcasting phase, the message is broadcast in the network. In the acknowledging phase, nodes that successfully received the broadcast message send an acknowledgment to the broadcast origination node, which in this paper is always the sink. The terms ‘sink’ and ‘base station (BS)’ are used interchangeably throughout this paper. Intuitively, broadcast communication has two important metrics: reliability and security. Though the reliability metric has drawn sufficient attention in the research community, the security metric has not. In this paper, we address both metrics with an emphasis on the former and address the Denial-of-Broadcast Message attacks (DoBM) in sensor networks. We propose a novel multi-parent tree-based model called the k-Parent Flooding Tree Model (k-FTM). We also present distributed algorithms for the construction of k-FTM and prove via simulation and analysis that the proposed k-FTM is robust against DoBM. Our Multi-Parent tree model enables the BS to detect DoBM very efficiently, even in the presence of a prudent adversary who focuses on remaining undetected by causing damage below the detection threshold. k-FTM is, to our best knowledge, the first fault-tolerant tree model that is both reliable and secure. Through simulations we confirm that our model achieves detection rates close to that of a static tree and a broadcast reliability close to that of blind flooding. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal Energy Allocation for Estimation in Wireless Sensor Networks

A sensor network's motes observe the environment, make estimates based on their observations, and send/relay these estimates to a Cluster-Head (CH). There are two sources of error in these multi-hop networks: observations are corrupted by noise and transmissions suffer communication errors. A novel scheme based on dithered quantization and channel compensation is used to ensure that each mote's local estimate received by the CH is unbiased. The CH fuses these unbiased local estimates into a global one using a Best Linear Unbiased Estimator (BLUE). We determine both the minimum energy required for the network to produce a BLUE estimate with a prescribed error variance and show how this energy should be allocated across the rings of a multi-hop network and the motes in each ring.
Social Cognitive Predictors of African American Adolescents' Career Interests:

This study examined the influence of social cognitive variables on African American adolescents' interest in environmental science. The sample consisted of 132 (57 male, 75 female) high school seniors enrolled in an urban scientific and technical high school from which 95% of graduates continue in higher education. Results of the regression analysis found that the predictor variables, including investigative self-efficacy, outcome expectations, perceived barriers, support, and environmental concerns, contributed significant variance to the prediction of interest in environmental science. The discussion highlights implications for school guidance counselors who are in a position to increase diversity in environmental science career fields and to facilitate career decisions among African American adolescents.
Magnetic penetration depth in V3Si and LiTi2O4 measured by μSR

Muon spin relaxation (μSR) studies have been performed in the normal spinel LiTi2O4 and the A-15 superconductor V3Si to measure the magnetic penetration depth λ. The relaxation rateσ(T) ∝ 1/λ2 in field-cooled measurements shows a sharp increase belowT c followed by saturation at low temperatures in both systems. This feature implies an isotropic energy gap without anomalous zeros, and most likelys-wave pairing. The low temperature penetration depth λ(T → 0) is determined to be 2100A for LiTi2O4 and 1300A for V3Si respectively. Assuming a clean limit relationσ ∝ λ−2 ∝n s /m *, we derive the Fermi temperatureT F ∝n / 2/3 m * from the relaxation rateσ and the Sommerfeld constantγ asT F ∝ σ3/4γ−1/4. Unlike conventional superconductors, both LiTi2O4 and V3Si have a large ratio ofT c /T F ≈ 0.01, only slightly smaller than those ratios in more exotic superconductors.
Some demographic determinants of average household size: An analytic approach

Descriptions of non-nuclear family systems in terms of rules of residence imply large and complex households, yet such households are not encountered as modal or average for large populations. Demographic factors, in particular high mortality, have been suggested as possible explanations for the apparent discrepancy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of demographic variables (viz., mortality, fertility, age at marriage) on average household size under different family systems—nuclear, extended and stem. The approach used has been applied by Coale to stationary populations. It has here been modified to apply to stable populations. The results indicate that under all family systems, average household size is positively correlated with fertility, life expectancy, and average age at marriage. Households under nuclear and stem family systems never exceed 10 persons on average. By contrast, under extended family systems, when mortality is low and fertility is high, average household size reaches levels seldom if ever observed in reality, e.g., 25 persons per household. Large households under the extended family system also tend to be fairly complex, often containing 5 or more adults. A number of modifications in the model would make for greater fit between model and real family systems. A more fruitful approach would involve the simulation of household formation and development.
Why Political Reservations

Many countries are amending their political systems to set aside positions to groups, such as women and racial or religious minorities, that are perceived as being disadvantaged. Using evidence from India, this article assesses the case for these reservations. (JEL: H4, O15) Several countries have introduced procedures—either explicit quotas or forms of gerrymandering—to ensure political representation of disadvantaged groups, such as women or ethnic minorities. In 2001, quotas for women in parliaments were in force in more than 30 countries. In India, seats are reserved for historically disadvantaged groups (Scheduled Castes, or SC, and Scheduled Tribes, or ST) in federal or state legislative assemblies and for both historically disadvantaged groups and women at all levels of the Panchayat system, the system of decentralized decision making. On the basis of evidence accumulated about the Indian experience, this paper reviews the case for reservation.
Toward a Constructive Theory for Anti‐poverty Policy

. What the “ideal”anti-poverty policy is cannot be answered without a validated theory of income deprivation. Such a theory is not yet available from economics. And sociology cannot yet provide a verified theory of why particular people are poor. The cultural and situationist hypotheses offer no adequate explanation of poverty and hence billions spent on policies based on them produced no results. Network analysis extends the institutionalist hypothesis but remains to be validated. However, empirical studies strongly suggest (though they do not prove) that structural changes in educational or employment opportunity are more realistic than compensatory or general aid programs.
Vitamin K enhancement of sorafenib‐mediated HCC cell growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo

The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is the first oral agent to show activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Apoptosis has been shown to be induced in HCC by several agents, including sorafenib as well as by the naturally occurring K vitamins (VKs). As few nontoxic agents have activity against HCC growth, we evaluated the activity of sorafenib and VKs, both independently and together on the growth of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. We found that when VK was combined with sorafenib, the concentration of sorafenib required for growth inhibition was substantially reduced. Conversely, VK enhanced sorafenib effects in several HCC cell lines on growth inhibition. Growth could be inhibited at doses of VK plus sorafenib that were ineffective with either agent alone, using vitamins K1, K2 and K5. Combination of VK1 plus sorafenib induced apoptosis on FACS, TUNEL staining and caspase activation. Phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) levels were decreased as was myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (Mcl-1), an ERK target. Sorafenib alone inhibited growth of transplantable HCC in vivo. At subeffective sorafenib doses in vivo, addition of VK1 caused major tumor regression, with decreased phospho-ERK and Mcl-1 staining. Thus, combination of VK1 plus sorafenib strongly induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in rodent and human HCC and inhibited the RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/ERK pathway. VK1 alone activated PKA, a mediator of inhibitory Raf phosphorylation. Thus, each agent can antagonize Raf: sorafenib as a direct inhibitor and VK1 through inhibitory Raf phosphorylation. As both agents are available for human use, the combination has potential for improving sorafenib effects in HCC.
Storage of Hydrogen, Methane, and Carbon Dioxide in Highly Porous Covalent Organic Frameworks for Clean Energy Applications

Dihydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide isotherm measurements were performed at 1−85 bar and 77−298 K on the evacuated forms of seven porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The uptake behavior and capacity of the COFs is best described by classifying them into three groups based on their structural dimensions and corresponding pore sizes. Group 1 consists of 2D structures with 1D small pores (9 A for each of COF-1 and COF-6), group 2 includes 2D structures with large 1D pores (27, 16, and 32 A for COF-5, COF-8, and COF-10, respectively), and group 3 is comprised of 3D structures with 3D medium-sized pores (12 A for each of COF-102 and COF-103). Group 3 COFs outperform group 1 and 2 COFs, and rival the best metal−organic frameworks and other porous materials in their uptake capacities. This is exemplified by the excess gas uptake of COF-102 at 35 bar (72 mg g−1 at 77 K for hydrogen, 187 mg g−1 at 298 K for methane, and 1180 mg g−1 at 298 K for carbon dioxide), which is similar to the performance of COF...
A comparison of laboratory determinations and Wetzel Grid estimates of basal metabolism among adolescents.

Summary Longitudinal determinations of basal metabolism made by the Tissot opencircuit technique were compared with the Wetzel Grid estimates of total calories per day for fifty-two boys and fifty-two girls between the ages of 11.5 and 17.5 years. The average difference was 128.38 calories for boys and 98.78 calories for girls. Approximately one-half of the boys and one-third of the girls deviated from the Grid estimates by at least ±12 per cent for one-third or more of their measures. Among boys, the Grid values were a consistent underestimate of the laboratory values, and the difference between the two values increased systematically with age. For girls, the Grid underestimated the laboratory values through 14 years and thereafter overestimated them. Relationships between laboratory determinations of basal metabolism and several indices of physiological maturity were cited. It is suggested (1) that at least during adolescence, standards for basal metabolism should include a maturity referent, and (2) that diagnosis of pathology on the basis of deviation of metabolic test data from Grid estimates of the appropriate caloric output should be made with caution and verified by other techniques.
A correlation study on diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes with histological and clinical diagnoses, the UCLA Medical Center experience.

Endoscopic ultrasound guided (EUS) FNA procedure has two aspects, the endoscopic sampling and the FNA interpretation. The two aspects of the procedure are performed in two different disciplines; gastroenterology (EUS) and pathology (FNA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV). Sixty-one EUS-FNA procedures of the lymph nodes were analyzed by correlating the FNA results with histological or clinical diagnoses. The lymph nodes were divided in five groups; mediastinal, gastrohepatic, peripancreatic, portal, and perirectal. The study showed a concordance of 92% in mediastinal, 80% in gastrohepatic, 81% in peripancreatic, 95% in portal, and 100% in perirectal lymph nodes with an overall sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 92%, PPV of 88%, and NPV of 89%. In conclusion, EUS-FNA offers an invaluable approach for diagnostic examination of the internal lymph nodes where percutaneous FNA is either difficult or impossible. impossible. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:460–466. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Counseling Haitian Students and Their Families: lssues and interventions

The purpose of this article is to provide counselors with a general introduction to the background of Haitian immigrant students in the United States and to the issues that often arise in working with them. The article examines the psychological, sociocultural, familial, and economic factors that make adjustment to American schools difficult for Haitian students, as exemplified by the case of a 9-year-old Haitian boy in a New York City public school. The article also recommends interventions that counselors can implement to improve the academic and social/emotional functioning of Haitian students and their families.
Aligned electrospun nanofibers for ultra-thin layer chromatography

Abstract The fabrication and implementation of aligned electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers as a stationary phase for ultra-thin layer chromatography (UTLC) is described. The aligned electrospun UTLC plates (AE-UTLC) were characterized to give an optimized electrospun mat consisting of high nanofiber alignment and a mat thickness of ∼25 μm. The AE-UTLC devices were used to separate a mixture of β-blockers and steroidal compounds to illustrate the properties of AE-UTLC. The AE-UTLC plates provided shorter analysis time (∼2–2.5 times faster) with improved reproducibility (as high as 2 times) as well as an improvement in efficiency (up to100 times greater) relative to non-aligned electrospun-UTLC (E-UTLC) devices.
The Search for Meaningful Reform: A Third-Wave Educational System.

It is widely reported that our educational system has some important shortcomings. This paper proposes that such "problems" as lack of teacher incentives, poor student motivation, lack of leadership, and lack of community support are, in fact, just effects of a more fundamental problem. It is thestructure of our educational system that is at the heart of current problems. For example, it is our group-based, lock-stepped, graded, and time-oriented system that has the dubious distinction of effectively destroying the inherent desire to learn in all but a small percentage of our children. Furthermore, micro computers are accelerating the trend toward increased use of nonhuman resources in the education of our children, and the current structure of our educational system cannot adequately accomodate the effective use of these powerful educational tools. This article describes a general approach and a specific strategy for effecting the needed structural changes, and, also describes some initial progress on implementing that strategy. This initial progress is a preliminary "blue-print" outlining the structural characteristics that a "third-wave" educational system should have.
Plicate Species of the Diatom Genus Thalassiosira (Bacillariophyta) from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of Southeastern United States, with the Description of T. livingstoniorum sp. nov.

ABSTRACT. Long-term observations of a marine planktonic plicate Thalassiosira species, T. cedarkeyensis Prasad, from the Gulf coasts of Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi and the Atlantic coasts of Florida and Georgia demonstrate its wide occurrence in the southeastern United States and its ability to form extensive blooms. We also report for the first time its ability to form typical Thalassiosira chains, linking sibling cells by threads of chitin. A closely related and co-occurring diatom, T. livingstoniorum, is described on the basis of investigations conducted during 2000–2011 as a new species from many localities in Apalachee Bay on the Gulf coast and Indian River Lagoon on the Atlantic coast of Florida. It differs from T. cedarkeyensis in areola density, presence of continuous cribra on loculate areolae, arrangement and distribution of valve processes, and the number of satellite pores surrounding the valve-face fultoportulae. We have not yet found any evidence of chain formation in T. livingstonioru...
Attitudes in Discrimination Learning

(1960). Attitudes in Discrimination Learning. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 315-327.
A Convergent Algorithm for Solving Polynomial Algorithms

The method of steepest descent is applied in a convergent procedure to determine the zeros of polynomials having either real or complex coefficients. By expressing the polynomials in terms of the Siljak functions, the methods are readily programmed on a digital computer. The significance of the procedures is that their application is straightforward, and not only is convergence rapid in the region of a zero but convergence is guaranteed independent of the initial values.
The effect of IT controls on financial reporting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine information technology (IT) control deficiencies and their affect on financial reporting.Design/methodology/approach – This study examines 278 companies reporting IT control deficiencies in the first three years of the SOX 404 requirements (2004‐2006). Using quantitative analysis, the study evaluates the impact of IT deficiencies on financial reporting and determines significant differences between companies that report IT deficiencies and companies that do not report IT deficiencies.Findings – Four accounting errors: revenue recognition issues; receivables, investments and cash issues; inventory, vendor and cost of sales issues; and financial statement, footnote, US GAAP, and segment disclosures issues stand out as common financial reporting problems in companies reporting weak IT controls. This study also suggests that companies with IT control deficiencies report more internal control (IC) deficiencies, are smaller, pay higher audit fees, and are typica...
Potential Vision Tests in Patients with Cataracts

Purpose: To determine the limits of usefulness of the potential acuity meter (PAM) and the laser interferometer (LI) in determining potential visual acuity in various severities and types of cataracts. Methods: The study included 48 patients (67 eyes) who were undergoing cataract surgery and who had PAM and LI tests. The 67 eyes were grouped into (1) eyes with cataracts only (45 eyes) and (2) eyes with cataracts and other ocular diseases (22 eyes). Group 1 eyes were subdivided into two groups according to their Lens Opacities Classification System II (LOCS II) grading: 1 a eyes (moderate cataracts) had an LOCS II grade of nuclear opalescence (NO) Results: For moderate cataracts, the accuracy of the PAM was 100% and of the LI was 92%. For severe cataracts, the accuracy of the PAM was 52% and of the LI was 79%. Both instruments tended to underestimate visual outcome more in eyes with posterior subcapsular cataracts. For eyes with other ocular diseases, the LI tends to overestimate the probable visual outcome more than the PAM, especially in patients with poor retinal function. Conclusions: Several factors such as preoperative visual acuity of 20/200 or worse, the type and severity of the cataract, and coexisting retinal disorders may affect the accuracy of the PAM and LI tests, and these should be considered when interpreting predicted vision, especially in preoperative counseling of patients.
Characterization of minor actinide mixed oxide fuel

Abstract The global nuclear energy partnership (GNEP) was created in order for ‘fuel-cycle supplier’ nations to provide assured supplies of nuclear fuel to ‘fuel-cycle customer’ nations. The customer nations would utilize the fuel for electricity generation and subsequently return it to the supplier nation after it is spent. This spent fuel would then be reprocessed by the supplier nation in order to recycle the actinide constituents, mainly uranium and plutonium, in advanced nuclear power reactors, and thus reduce waste volumes [1] , [2] . The International Atomic Energy Agency would control the nuclear materials. One of the thrust areas for the GNEP program is the development of these actinide bearing fuels for transmutation in a fast reactor.
PROTECTION AGAINST ANAPHYLAXIS IN THE RAT BY REMOVAL OF THE SPLEEN AND THYMUS.

Abstract 1.1. The influence of administration of pooled normal rat serum, of splenectomy, and of thymectomy on anaphylaxis in the rat was studied. 2.2. The intravenous administration of pooled serum of normal rats, either before or after injection of horse serum and HPV, had no influence on the severity of anaphylactic shock in the rat. 3.3. Thymectomy 5 days before injection of horse serum and HPV had no influence on the severity of anaphylaxis in the rat. 4.4. Splenectomy 5 days before injection of horse serum and HPV had a questionably very slight protective effect against anaphylactic shock. 5.5. The simultaneous removal of the spleen and thymus 5 days before injection of horse serum and HPV reduced the severity of anaphylactic shock in most rats and eliminated it in some. Similarly treated sham-operated animals had severe and usually fatal reactions on challenge. 6.6. Simultaneous splenectomy and thymectomy 6 days before repeated injections of horse serum eliminated anaphylactic shock in adrenalectomized rats. Sham-operated adrenalectomized animals, treated similarly, had severe and usually fatal reactions when challenged.
Combination lipid-altering therapy: An emerging treatment paradigm for the 21st century

For the care of an expanding segment of the US population with multiple coronary risk factors, combination lipid-altering therapy is emerging as a treatment imperative. The most recent National Cholesterol Education Program’s consensus guidelines emphasize long-term global coronary heart disease (CHD) risk status, designate patients with CHD risk equivalents (eg, diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, 20% or more 10-year absolute CHD risk) for aggressive lipid-altering therapy, and deem the metabolic syndrome (eg, obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, elevated triglycerides, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, small dense low-density lipoprotein particles) as a secondary target for intervention. With the advancing age of the US population and the high prevalence of diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and CHD, increasing numbers of patients will require a more balanced metabolic attack attainable only through combination lipid-altering regimens. Many of these patients, as well as persons at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease because of a range of heritable conditions (eg, familial hypercholesterolemia, familial combined hyperlipidemia), will undoubtedly require binary or ternary regimens involving statins in concert with niacin, fibric-acid derivatives, or bile acid resins. Such approaches enable the clinician to exploit the complementary effects of these agents, allowing them to be administered at low, optimally tolerable doses that are consistent with superior efficacy and a lower risk of adverse events as compared with escalating doses of monotherapy.
Excitation, Ionization, and Desorption: How Sub-Band Gap Photons Modify the Structure of Oxide Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of wide band gap materials MgO and CaO, subjected to low-intensity ultraviolet irradiation with 266 nm (4.66 eV) photons, emit hyperthermal oxygen atoms with kinetic energies of up to ∼0.4 eV. We use an ab initio embedded cluster method to study theoretically a variety of elementary photoinduced processes at both ideal and defect-containing surfaces of these nanoparticles and to develop a mechanism for the desorption process. The proposed mechanism includes multiple local photoexcitations resulting in sequential formation of localized excitons, their ionization, and further excitations. It is suggested that judicious choice of sub-band gap photon energies can be used to selectively modify surfaces of nanomaterials.
Photoemission investigation of surface states on strontium titanate

Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy has been used to search for surface states on ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$. No evidence was found for such states and an upper limit of about 3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{12}$/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ is placed on surface states in the gap from the valence-band maximum to within 0.2 eV of the conduction-band minimum. (The latter limit is set by the bulk Fermi-level position of the $n$-type crystal studied.) These results are discussed in terms of the large (\ensuremath{\simeq} ${10}^{15}$/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$) density of empty surface states predicted by Morin and Wolfram.
Show me your license, please: deregulation of centriole duplication mechanisms that promote amplification

Centrosomes are organelles involved in generating and organizing the interphase microtubule cytoskeleton, mitotic spindles and cilia. At the centrosome core are a pair of centrioles, structures that act as the duplicating elements of this organelle. Centrioles function to recruit and organize pericentriolar material which nucleates microtubules. While centrioles are relatively simple in construction, the mechanics of centriole biogenesis remain an important yet poorly understood process. More mysterious still are the regulatory mechanisms that oversee centriole assembly. The fidelity of centriole duplication is critical as defects in either the assembly or number of centrioles promote aneuploidy, primary microcephaly, birth defects, ciliopathies and tumorigenesis. In addition, some pathogens employ mechanisms to promote centriole overduplication to the detriment of the host cell. This review summarizes our current understanding of this important topic, highlighting the need for further study if new therapeutics are to be developed to treat diseases arising from defects of centrosome duplication.
Molecule Formation on Grain Surfaces

I will discuss the formation of molecules AB from two atoms or radicals A and B only for cases where the reaction A+B→AB is exothermic. The efficiency of this reaction on the surface of an interstellar dust grain is the product of two factors: (i) the ‘sticking coefficient’ or probability that the first radical hitting the grain surface from the interstellar gas becomes thermalized and sticks to an adsorption site; (ii) the recombination efficiency or probability that the first adsorbed radical will remain adsorbed, rather than evaporating, during the time required for the second radical to hit the grain, be adsorbed and find its partner.
The Meat Searing Process: Is Sealing in Juices Fact or Fiction?

It has been stated for hundreds of years that searing meats will seal in juices, thereby affecting the final product's flavor and texture. A controlled experiment was conducted to determine the validity of this claim using four cuts of rib eye beef steak. The results indicated that meat with intramuscular fat exhibited the least amount of cooking loss, whether seared or not. Conversely, the leaner portions, regardless of being seared, exhibited the most cooking loss. This would suggest that the searing process does not lead to juicier products or less cooking loss.
FRS2 PTB Domain Conformation Regulates Interactions with Divergent Neurotrophic Receptors

Abstract Membrane-anchored adaptor proteins FRS2α/β (also known as SNT-1/2) mediate signaling of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and neurotrophin receptors (TRKs) through their N-terminal phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domains. The FRS2 PTB domain recognizes tyrosine-phosphorylated TRKs at an NPXpY (where pY is phosphotyrosine) motif, whereas its constitutive association with FGFR involves a receptor juxtamembrane region lacking Tyr and Asn residues. Here we show by isothermal titration calorimetry that the FRS2α PTB domain binding to peptides derived from TRKs or FGFR is thermodynamically different. TRK binding is largely enthalpy-driven, whereas the FGFR interaction is governed by a favorable entropic contribution to the free energy of binding. Furthermore, our NMR spectral analysis suggests that disruption of an unstructured region C-terminal to the PTB domain alters local conformation and dynamics of the residues at the ligand-binding site, and that structural disruption of the β8-strand directly weakens the PTB domain association with the FGFR ligand. Together, our new findings support a molecular mechanism by which conformational dynamics of the FRS2α PTB domain dictates its association with either fibroblast growth factor or neurotrophin receptors in neuronal development.