cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Randomized trial of azithromycin to eradicate Ureaplasma respiratory colonization in preterm infants: 2-year outcomes.

Background To assess the potential impact of azithromycin treatment in the first week following birth on 2-year outcomes in preterm infants with and without Ureaplasma respiratory colonization who participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial. Methods Respiratory morbidity was assessed at NICU discharge and at 6, 12, and 22-26 months corrected age using pulmonary questionnaires. Comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments were completed between 22 and 26 months corrected age. The primary and secondary composite outcomes were death or severe respiratory morbidity and death or moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment, respectively, at 22-26 months corrected age. Results One hundred and twenty-one randomized participants (azithromycin, N = 60; placebo, N = 61) were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. There were no significant differences in death or serious respiratory morbidity (34.8 vs 30.4%, p = 0.67) or death or moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment (47 vs 33%, p = 0.11) between the azithromycin and placebo groups. Among all trial participants, tracheal aspirate Ureaplasma-positive infants experienced a higher frequency of death or serious respiratory morbidity at 22-26 months corrected age (58%) than tracheal aspirate Ureaplasma-negative infants (34%) or non-intubated infants (21%) (p = 0.028). Conclusions We did not observe strong evidence of a difference in long-term pulmonary and neurodevelopment outcomes in preterm infants treated with azithromycin in the first week of life compared to placebo. Impact No strong evidence of a difference in long-term pulmonary and neurodevelopment outcomes was identified at 22-26 months corrected age in infants treated with azithromycin in the first week of life compared to placebo. The RCT is the first study of 2-year pulmonary and neurodevelopmental outcomes of azithromycin treatment in ELGANs. Provides evidence that ELGANs with lower respiratory tract Ureaplasma have the most frequent serious respiratory morbidity in the first 2 years of life, suggesting that a Phase III trial of azithromycin to prevent BPD targeting this population is warranted.
Bayestrat: Population Stratification Correction Using Bayesian Shrinkage Prior for Genetic Association Studies

In genetic association studies with common diseases, population stratification is a major source of confounding. Principle component regression (PCR) and linear mixed model (LMM) are two commonly used approaches to account for population stratification. Previous studies have shown that LMM can be interpreted as including all principle components (PCs) as random-effect covariates. However, including all PCs in LMM may inflate type I error in some scenarios due to redundancy, while including only a few pre-selected PCs in PCR may fail to fully capture the genetic diversity. Here, we propose a statistical method under the Bayesian framework, Bayestrat, that utilizes appropriate shrinkage priors to shrink the effects of non- or minimally confounded PCs and improve the identification of highly confounded ones. Simulation results show that Bayestrat consistently achieves lower type I error rates yet higher power, especially when the number of PCs included in the model is large. We also apply our method to two real datasets, the Dallas Heart Studies (DHS) and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), and demonstrate the superiority of Bayestrat over commonly used methods.
Membrane surfaces regulate assembly of a ribonucleoprotein condensate

Abstract Biomolecular condensates organize biochemistry in time and space, yet little is known about how cells control either the position or scale of these assemblies. In cells, condensates often appear as dispersed, relatively small assemblies that do not grow (coarsen) into a single droplet despite their propensity to coalesce. Here we report that ribonucleoprotein condensates of the Q-rich protein Whi3 interact with the endoplasmic reticulum, prompting us to hypothesize that membrane association controls the position and size of condensates. Reconstitution of Whi3 condensates on supported lipid bilayers reveals that association with a diffusive lipid surface promotes condensation at both physiological ionic strength and protein concentration. Notably, these assemblies rapidly arrest, matching size distributions seen in cells. The timing of the arrest is influenced by the ordering of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions and controlled by the slow diffusion of complexes induced by the membrane. This slowed diffusion limits both transfer of small protein-RNA complexes between condensates and their coalescence, thus driving coarsening to arrest. Our experiments reveal a tradeoff between locally-enhanced protein concentration at membranes, which favors condensation, and an accompanying reduction in diffusion, which restricts coarsening. Thus, membranes can maintain a population of small condensates in the absence of active mechanisms. Given that many condensates are bound to endomembranes, we predict that the biophysical properties of lipid bilayers are key for controlling condensate sizes throughout the cell. One sentence summary Assembly on a membrane surface positions and scales biomolecular condensates by controlling relative diffusion rates of proteins and nucleic acids.
Differential Activity-Dependent Scaling of Synaptic Inhibition and Parvalbumin Interneuron Recruitment in Dentate Projection Neuron Subtypes

Abstract Strong inhibitory synaptic gating of dentate gyrus granule cells (GCs), attributed largely to fast-spiking parvalbumin interneurons (PV-INs), is essential to maintain sparse network activity needed for dentate dependent behaviors. However, the contribution of PV-INs to basal and input driven sustained synaptic inhibition in GCs and semilunar granule cells (SGCs), a sparse morphologically distinct dentate projection neuron subtype are currently unknown. We find that although basal inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) are more frequent in SGCs and optical activation of PV-INs elicited IPSCs in both GCs and SGCs, optical suppression of PV-INs failed to reduce IPSC frequency in either cell type. Amplitude and kinetics of IPSCs evoked by perforant path activation were not different between GCs and SGCs. However, the robust increase in sustained polysynaptic IPSCs elicited by paired afferent stimulation was lower in SGCs than in simultaneously recorded GCs. Optical suppression of PV-IN selectively reduced sustained IPSCs in SGCs but not in GCs. These results demonstrate that PV-INs, while contributing minimally to basal synaptic inhibition in both GCs and SGCs in slices, mediate sustained feedback inhibition selectively in SGCs. The temporally selective blunting of activity-driven sustained inhibitory gating of SGCs could support their preferential and persistent recruitment during behavioral tasks.
Molecular Mechanisms of Palmitic Acid Augmentation in COVID-19 Pathologies.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed over 2.7 million lives globally. Obesity has been associated with increased severity and mortality of COVID-19. However, the molecular mechanisms by which obesity exacerbates COVID-19 pathologies are not well-defined. The levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) are elevated in obese subjects. This study was therefore designed to examine how excess levels of different FFAs may affect the progression of COVID-19. Biological molecules associated with palmitic acid (PA) and COVID-19 were retrieved from QIAGEN Knowledge Base, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis tools were used to analyze these datasets and explore the potential pathways affected by different FFAs. Our study found that one of the top 10 canonical pathways affected by PA was the coronavirus pathogenesis pathway, mediated by key inflammatory mediators, including PTGS2; cytokines, including IL1β and IL6; chemokines, including CCL2 and CCL5; transcription factors, including NFκB; translation regulators, including EEF1A1; and apoptotic mediators, including BAX. In contrast, n-3 fatty acids may attenuate PA’s activation of the coronavirus pathogenesis pathway by inhibiting the activity of such mediators as IL1β, CCL2, PTGS2, and BAX. Furthermore, PA may modulate the expression of ACE2, the main cell surface receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Essay: Deciphering Risk: Sex Offender Statutes & Moral Panic in a Risk Society

Across the country, civil sanctions for sex offenders are increasing. Society's rising anxieties about sexual abuse lead us to employ seemingly ineffectual yet oppressive legislative tools to control and prevent it. This essay examines these growing fears and resulting legislation through the lens of moral panic and risk society theories. In a risk society as envisioned by scholar Ulrich Beck, people become overwhelmed with increasing industrial threats they are unable to control or even comprehend. A moral panic, the quintessential witch-hunt, can represent a comprehensible risk within risk society. Regulation of crime becomes a tangible way to control risk and quell fears. Through sex offender legislation, an over-anxious risk society attempts to assuage that anxiety by branding and banishing deviants, a classic moral panic approach to controlling the threat. Scholars have conventionally described the sexual abuse movement as a sex panic, or moral panic. While many similarities exist to moral panic, I argue that that explanation is insufficient. Sex offender legislation cannot be explained by solely a moral panic or risk society theory. Rather, it is important to understand this regime as a moral panic created in and molded by a risk society, producing a state of perpetual moral anxiety.
The Disappearance of Business Communication From Professional Communication Programs in English Departments

Since 1985, the field of professional communication has grown in size and reputation while maintaining a space within its primary disciplinary home of the English department. This article relies on...
Interleaved One-shot Semi-Persistent Scheduling for BSM Transmissions in C-V2X Networks.

Cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) networks are regarded as one of the main pillars to enable efficient and sustainable Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) safety applications and services. Such services rely on the concept of exchanging periodic status updates (i.e., basic safety messages (BSMs)) between nearby vehicular users (VUEs). Hence, it is essential to ensure small inter-packet gaps (IPGs) between successive BSMs from nearby VUEs. Large IPGs, due to successive packet losses, can result in stale information at a VUE. In this paper, we study the tail behavior of the IPG and the information age (IA) distributions using C-V2X transmission mode 4 (a decentralized resource allocation method based on semi-persistent scheduling (SPS)). Specifically, we investigate improvements and trade-offs introduced by the SAE-specified concept of one-shot transmissions. We use a high-fidelity system-level simulator that closely follows the SPS process of C-V2X transmission mode 4 to evaluate the performance of the interleaved one-shot SPS transmissions. Our numerical results show that the tails of the IA and IPG complementary cumulative distribution functions (CCDFs) are significantly improved when one-shot transmissions are enabled in various simulation scenarios.
Digital Quantification of Human Viral RNA and DNA Using a Self-Digitization Chip.

Digital nucleic acid quantitation methods show excellent sensitivity and specificity for pathogen detection. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is the most advanced digital nucleic acid quantitation method and has been commercialized, but is not suitable for many point-of-care applications due to its complex instrumentation. Here we describe a simple microfluidics-based self-digitization (SD) chip for quantifying nucleic acids at the point of care with minimal instrumentation. We demonstrate the clinical diagnostic capability of this platform by applying it to quantifying human viral DNA and RNA. SD chips with a range of well numbers and volumes are tested, and isothermal methods are used to amplify the DNA and RNA to a detectable level. Sample concentration is determined based on the measured volume in the wells and the number of wells with fluorescence greater than a threshold based on a Poisson distribution. Concentration measurements over the low concentration range of 0-100 molecules/μL showed a strong correlation (R2 = 0.99) with measurements using a real-time PCR assay, demonstrating the sensitivity and specificity of the SD chip platform.
Nietzsche's Philosophy of History

Nietzsche, the so-called herald of the 'philosophy of the future', nevertheless dealt with the past on nearly every page of his writing. Not only was he concerned with how past values, cultural practices and institutions influence the present - he was plainly aware that any attempt to understand that influence encounters many meta-historical problems. This comprehensive and lucid exposition of the development of Nietzsche's philosophy of history explores how Nietzsche thought about history and historiography throughout his life and how it affected his most fundamental ideas. Discussion of the whole span of Nietzsche's writings, from his earliest publications as a classical philologist to his later genealogical and autobiographical projects, is interwoven with careful analysis of his own forms of writing history, the nineteenth-century paradigms which he critiqued, and the twentieth-century views which he anticipated. The book will be of much interest to scholars of Nietzsche and of nineteenth-century philosophy.
Striatal patch compartment lesions reduce stereotypy following repeated cocaine administration

Abstract Stereotypy can be characterized as inflexible, repetitive behaviors that occur following repeated exposure to psychostimulants, such as cocaine (COC). Stereotypy may be related to preferential activation of the patch (striosome) compartment of striatum, as enhanced relative activation of the patch compartment has been shown to positively correlate with the emergence of stereotypy following repeated psychostimulant treatment. However, the specific contribution of the patch compartment to COC-induced stereotypy following repeated exposure is unknown. To elucidate the involvement of the patch compartment to the development of stereotypy following repeated COC exposure, we determined if destruction of this sub-region altered COC-induced behaviors. The neurons of the patch compartment were ablated by bilateral infusion of the neurotoxin dermorphin-saporin (DERM-SAP; 17 ng/μl) into the striatum. Animals were allowed to recover for eight days following the infusion, and then were given daily injections of COC (25 mg/kg) or saline for one week, followed by a weeklong drug-free period. Animals were then given a challenge dose of saline or COC, observed for 2 h in activity chambers and sacrificed. The number of mu-labeled patches in the striatum were reduced by DERM-SAP pretreatment. In COC-treated animals DERM-SAP pretreatment significantly reduced the immobilization and intensity of stereotypy but increased locomotor activity. DERM-SAP pretreatment attenuated COC-induced c-Fos expression in the patch compartment, while enhancing COC-induced c-Fos expression in the matrix compartment. These data indicate that the patch compartment contributes to repetitive behavior and suggests that alterations in activity in the patch vs matrix compartments may underlie to this phenomenon.
Generalized lymphangioma in infancy with chylothorax.

A case of generalized lymphangioma in a 9-month-old boy is described. Radioisotope studies using radioiodinated human albumin and triolein demonstrated a primary disorder in the lymphatic system. Postmortem findings revealed lymphangiomatous involvement of numerous bones, the posterior mediastinum, and the spleen, while dilated lymphatic channels were present in other viscera. The findings support the hypothesis of a generalized lymphatic abnormality.
Comparative proteomic profiling of tumor progression in fibrosarcoma

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 1840 Our investigations are directed towards gaining a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of fibrosarcoma. These highly invasive and difficult to manage mesenchymal tumors afflict ∼11,000 individuals each year in the US and result in a 5-year mortality rate of ∼ 50% due to the development of lung metastases. In order to elucidate changes in protein expression that accompany malignant progression in fibrosacoma, comparative proteomic profiling studies were conducted on matched sets of cell lines from primary tumors and corresponding post-surgical recurrences obtained from a well-characterized feline model of the disease. These cells lines have previously been characterized for in vitro and in vivo growth properties demonstrating malignant progression from primary non-metastatic tumor to metachronous local recurrence with potential for distal metastasis. Using the method of Difference In Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE), Cy3 labeled primary tumor cell proteins & Cy5 labeled proteins obtained from recurrent tumor cells were subjected to iso-electric focusing between the pH range of 4 through 7 followed by SDS PAGE through a 8.5 cm long 4-20% gradient gel. Visualization of labeled proteins on an Amersham Typhoon 8600 Imager and data analysis using the DeCyder Diffrential Analysis Software helped identify several dysregulated proteins in the experimental model which could be confirmed through repetition of the experiment. As shown in the [table][1] below, 26 spots were up or down regulated by > 2.5 fold while 140 other spots were also significantly altered between 1.5-2.5 fold. These leads are being identified by tandem mass spectrometry and validated by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical methods. Overall, the results of our studies show that comparative analysis using both human and feline fibrosarcoma samples has great potential for enhancing our understanding of key molecular components that are altered during the malignant progression of fibrosarcoma, particularly as relates to the development of aggressive biological characteristics. ![Figure][2] [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes
Transform Regression and the Kolmogorov Superposition Theorem.

This paper presents a new predictive modeling algorithm that draws inspiration from the Kolmogorov superposition theorem. An initial version of the algorithm is presented that combines gradient boosting, generalized additive models, and decision-tree methods to construct models that have the same overall mathematical structure as Kolmogorov’s superposition equation. Improvements to the algorithm are then presented that significantly increase its rate of convergence. The resulting algorithm, dubbed “transform regression,” generates surprisingly good models compared to those produced by the underlying decision-tree method when the latter is applied directly. Transform regression is highly scalable and a parallelized database-embedded version of the algorithm has been implemented as part of IBM DB2 Intelligent Miner Modeling.
Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms

Feigned mental disorders arising from malingering or factitious disorders dramatically influence the clinical presentations of clients. The accurate assessment of feigning, therefore, is a critical issue in many psychological evaluations. Inaccurate determinations of feigning have far-reaching consequences. When feigning is not detected, individuals can receive unwarranted benefits, avoid responsibilities, and utilize a disproportionate level of health care services. When feigning is misclassified, individuals with genuine mental disorders can suffer greatly by having benefits and services unfairly revoked. In some cases legal sanctions can also be imposed on these individuals. Keywords: assessment; deception; interviews; malingering
Causal and non-causal relationships and dynamic model construction in a managerial advisory system

Abstract:Recent successes in the design and implementation of expert systems in non-managerial problem domains has spurred interest in the proposition that expert systems may be viable in managerial problem domains as well. Continuing research in the design, implementation, and testing of a prototype managerial expert system is described in this paper. Issues regarding managerial knowledge organization, acquisition, representation, and utilization are discussed, and progress in the development of an advisory module is presented. Finally, results of evaluating the prototype versus the abilities of human subjects are also presented.
The Allogeneic CD4+ T-Cell-Mediated Graft-versus-Leukemia Effect

CD4+ T-cells have emerged as important cells in the initiation and delivery of the GVL response. Nevertheless it seems likely that they act in concert with other T-cells and NK cell effectors to produce the full in vivo effect of GVL. How they interact with other effectors is yet to be determined. Furthermore it is very likely that different hematological malignancies have different susceptibility to attack by various lymphocyte subsets, depending upon their MHC expression, nature of the antigens presented and other properties not yet defined. Here we specifically focus on the role of CD4+ T-cells in mediating GVL, particularly in chronic myeloid leukemia. Candidate antigens recognised by CD4+ cells are described and new approaches to GVL modulation in clinical bone marrow transplantation are discussed.
Nonlocal Problems in Electromagnetism

In this paper we consider two problems in classical electromagnetism that model nonlocal effects. The first is the problem of a conducting body. The Biot-Savart law implies that an electric current causes a magnetic field at distant points in a body. If the current is allowed to depend on this “self-field” through a generalized Ohm’s law, then the magnetic field must be given as a function of the global values of the electric and magnetic potentials. This problem is examined in ROGERS & ANTMAN (1986); we summarize the results here. The second problem is that of a ferromagnetic material. The spontaneous alignment of atomic spins in such material is usually explained in terms of ‘exchange forces’ between neighboring particles. We propose a nonlocal constitutive equation to model the interaction between particles, and prove a general existence theorem for the resulting differential equations. In doing so we refine the theory of nonlocal constitutive equations for electromagnetic media as developed by ERINGEN (1973).
Comparison of slope and height profiles for flat synchrotron x-ray mirrors measured with a long trace profiler and a PMI Fizeau interferometer

Long trace profilers (LTPs)(1) have been used at many synchrotron radiation laboratories worldwide for over a decade to measure surface slope profiles of long grazing incidence x-ray mirrors. Phase measuring interferometers (PMIs) of the Fizeau type, on the other hand, are being used by most mirror manufacturers to accomplish the same task. However, large mirrors whose dimensions exceed the aperture of the Fizeau interferometer require measurements to be carried out at grazing incidence, and aspheric optics require the use of a null lens. While an LTP provides a direct measurement of 1D slope profiles, PMIs measure area height profiles from which the slope can be obtained by a differentiation algorithm. Measurements of the two types of instruments have been found by us to be in good agreement, but to our knowledge there is no published work directly comparing the two instruments. This paper documents that comparison. We measured two different nominally flat mirrors with both the LTP in operation at the Advanced Photon Source (a type-II LTP) and a Fizeau-type PMI interferometer (Wyko model 6000). One mirror was 500 mm long and made of Zerodur, and the other mirror was 350 mm long and made of silicon. Slope error results with these instruments agree within nearly 100% (3.11±0.15 μrad for the LTP, and 3.11±0.02μrad for the Fizeau PMI interferometer) for the medium quality Zerodur mirror with 3 μrad rms nominal slope error. A significant difference was observed with the much higher quality silicon mirror. For the Si mirror, slope error data is 0.39±0.08Χrad from LTP measurements but it is 0.35 ± 0.01 μrad from PMI interferometer measurements. The standard deviations show that the Fizeau PMI interferometer has much better measurement repeatability.
Approximation with sums of exponentials in Lp[0, ∞)

Abstract We consider the problem of approximating a given f from L p [0, ∞) by means of the family V n ( S ) of exponential sums; V n ( S ) denotes the set of all possible solutions of all possible n th order linear homogeneous differential equations with constant coefficients for which the roots of the corresponding characteristic polynomials all lie in the set S . We establish the existence of best approximations, show that the distance from a given f to V n ( S ) decreases to zero as n becomes infinite, and characterize such best approximations with a first-order necessary condition. In so doing we extend previously known results that apply in L p [0, 1].
Cimetidine inhibits the histamine-induced prolactin release in male rats.

SummaryThe specificity and mechanisms through which HA alters basal PR1 release were evaluated. Rats bearing atrial catheters were given icv infusions of histamine dihydrochloride or saline. Blood samples for PRL and LH were drawn before and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after infusion. Similar groups of animals were pretreated with icv infusions of diphenhydramine, cimetidine, atropine, or methysergide prior to icv HA. Animals given icv HA (90 μg) demonstrated at least a twofold rise in PRL at 15 min which fell to baseline levels at 45 min. Pretreatment with cimetidine, but not other agents, significantly inhibited the HA-induced rise in PRL. Serum LH was basically unaltered by these treatments. Histamine appears to be a specific stimulus to PRL release. This stimulatory effect of HA is inhibited by cimetidine, an H2 receptor blocker, but not by H1 receptor, cholinergic or serotoninergic antagonists.
Prostate cancer as a model for tumour immunotherapy

Advances in basic immunology have led to an improved understanding of the interactions between the immune system and tumours, generating renewed interest in approaches that aim to treat cancer immunologically. As clinical and preclinical studies of tumour immunotherapy illustrate several immunological principles, a review of these data is broadly instructive and is particularly timely now that several agents are beginning to show evidence of efficacy. This is especially relevant in the case of prostate cancer, as recent approval of sipuleucel-T by the US Food and Drug Administration marks the first antigen-specific immunotherapy approved for cancer treatment. Although this Review focuses on immunotherapy for prostate cancer, the principles discussed are applicable to many tumour types, and the approaches discussed are highlighted in that context.
Submesoscale dynamics: Bringing physics to life

Vertical motions play a key role in primary production in the upper ocean, as they transport nutrients that phytoplankton need to grow. Until recently, scientists believed that three main types of dynamics dominated vertical motions in the upper ocean: mesoscale geostrophic eddies at horizontal scales on the order of 10–100 kilometers, internal waves with horizontal scales on the order of 0.1–10 kilometers, and microscale turbulence on scales of 0.01 kilometers or less. Now, scientists are beginning to realize the importance a fourth type of dynamics: submesoscale dynamics near the ocean surface. Submesoscale dynamics have horizontal scales on the order of 1–10 kilometers, vertical scales on the order of 100 meters, and time scales on the order of 1 day. Submesoscale dynamics arise through advective interactions that involve mesoscale currents and are influenced by Earth's rotation and the ocean's density stratification.
Convergent and Discriminant Validity of the Barclay Classroom Climate Inventory

The purpose of this study was to investigate the convergent and discriminant validity of a multimethod multitrait inventory used for assessing the climate of the elementary classroom. Using self-report, peer judgments, and teacher ratings, the inventory employs the multimethod multitrait factor analysis approach to determine the quality of social interaction and affective variables in the classroom. A computer processing procedure utilizing criteria developed in this approach scores, analyzes, and develops a written report on the pupil. These reports can be cumulated to result in descriptions of the social interaction and affective environment in the elementary classroom. A questionnaire comprised of short paragraphs defining the major factors from the inventory was administered with the inventory to nine elementary classrooms. Each student rated himself for each of the factors (for males, Affiliation, Dominance, Seclusiveness, Physical Skills, and Intellectuality; for females, Dominance, Aggression, Secl...
Does a color difference between parts impair the perception of a whole? A similarity between simultanagnosia patients and healthy observers

In three experiments, participants decided whether a Star of David shape was present among distractors. Although the participants were instructed to ignore the colors in the display, detection was slower when each triangle of the Star of David was printed in a different color than when the Star of David was printed in a uniform color or when each triangle was in two colors. Extending the object file theory, we suggest that when the parts of an object are distinguished by a color difference and are perceived as separate objects, the perception of the whole object, which is composed of these same parts, is damaged. One interpretation within object file theory is that when the visual system represents the location of a complex object as occupied by identity tags for its different parts, it cannot also link the same location to the identity of the complex object. A new object file must then be created.
PRS: Professional Plan — a spreadsheet contender

Users with sophisticated, complex spreadsheet needs will find PFS: Professional Plan to be a very efficient, easy‐to‐use and easy‐to‐learn package. PFS: Professional Plan runs on IBM‐PCs and compatibles with a minimum of 384Kb (448Kb when using DOS 3.0 or higher).
If you feed them, will they come? The use of social marketing to increase interest in attending a college alcohol program.

The authors used social marketing to design and test advertisement components aimed at increasing students' interest in attending an alcohol program focused on reaching students who drink heavily, although the authors offered no such program. Participants were undergraduate students in introductory psychology courses (N = 551). Questionnaires included measures assessing demographic information, alcohol use and negative consequences, and interest in attending an alcohol program in response to exposure to 1 of 12 systematically varied advertisements. The authors found that approximately 20% of participants across all ad types indicated some level of interest in attending the alcohol program. Students who use alcohol reported more interest in attending when an informational message was used. Of the participants offered food, 41.9% indicated the food offered in the advertisement impacted their interest in attending. Results suggest market segmentation plays a role in developing effective advertisements to rec...
Reactions and products in the Cs-Zr-I-O system relevant to fission product chemistry — a review☆

Abstract Some results and problems associated with the known chemistry of cesium and iodine in the presence of Zr/ZrO 2 at 400–600°C and under anaerobic conditions are described and discussed. These aspects include 1. (1) the recently synthesized cesium zirconates Cs 2 ZrO 3 and Cs 4 ZrO 4 and some of their thermal and hydrolytic properties 2. (2) the demonstration that the supposedly stable CsI reacts with ZrO 2 at 400–700°C to form Cs 2 ZrO 3 and ZrI 4 (as Cs 2 ZrI 6 ) and its implications regarding cesium and iodine distributions 3. (3) present knowledge of binary zirconium iodides, their contamination reactions, and the limited inhibition of the reduction of ZrI 4 by metal provided by static ZrO 2 films 4. (4) newly discovered ternary and quaternary zirconium iodides that are obtained in the presence of many common impurity atoms and, when prsesent, CsI (e.g., Zr 6 I 12 C, CsZr 6 I 14 C, Zr 6 I 14 Fe), the ease with which some of those form at least as low as 450°C, and the complications these and related new phases provide.
Contributions of the β‐subunit to spectrin structure and function

Abstract The three avian spectrins that have been characterized consist of a common alpha-subunit (240 kD) paired with an isoform-specific beta-subunit from either erythrocyte (220 or 230 kD), brain (235 kD), or intestinal brush border (260 kD). Analysis of avian spectrins, with their naturally occurring "subunit replacement" has proved useful in assessing the relative contribution of each subunit to spectrin function. In this study we have completed a survey of avian spectrin binding properties and present morphometric analysis of the relative flexibility and linearity of various avian and human spectrin isoforms. Evidence is presented that, like its mammalian counterpart, avian brain spectrin binds human erythroid ankyrin with low affinity. Cosedimentation analysis demonstrates that 1) avian erythroid protein 4.1 stimulates spectrin-actin binding of both mammalian and avian erythrocyte and brain spectrins, but not the TW 260/240 isoform, 2) calpactin I does not potentiate actin binding of either TW 260/240 or brain spectrin, and 3) erythrocyte adducin does not stimulate the interaction of TW 260/240 with actin. In addition, a morphometric analysis of rotary-shadow images of spectrin isoforms, individual subunits, and reconstituted complexes from isolated subunits was performed. This analysis revealed that the overall flexibility and linearity of a given spectrin heterodimer and tetramer is largely determined by the intrinsic rigidity and linearity of its beta-spectrin subunit. No additional rigidity appears to be imparted by noncovalent associations between the subunits. The scaled flexural rigidity of the most rigid spectrin analyzed (human brain) is similar to that reported for F-actin.
The Association of State Law to Physical Education Time Allocation in US Public Schools

Objectives. We examined whether public schools in states with specific and stringent physical education (PE) laws, as assessed by the Physical Education–Related State Policy Classification System (...
Contrasting conductance/viscosity relations in liquid states of vitreous and polymer solid electrolytes

Abstract : In order to contrast conductivity mechanisms in fast ion glassy and rubbery polymer electrolytes, the liquid states of two prototypical cases have been studied. Viscosity and conductivity measurements have been performed on molten (as opposed to glassy) (AgCl) 0.35 (Ag(I)) 0.45 (CsCl) 0.20 and on solutions of sodium triflate in low molecular weight PPG (as opposed to high mw, 1,000,000 rubbery solid PPG - called PPO). Both types of system show non-Arrhenius viscosity with divergent behavior near T(g). The energetics of the conductivity processes, however, are very different. This is emphasized by reduced temperature scale (T/T(g)) plotting of (temperature-dependent) activation energies. For the polymer salt systems, as for normal molten salt systems and aqueous solutions, conductance and viscosity energetics are comparable - the processes are coupled. Reduced temperature plots of polymer solutions and glassforming aqueous solution data show the relative importance of T(g) and ion association factors in limiting polymer electrolyte performance. Keywords: Polypropylene glycol, Fast ion conductors, Polymer electrolytes, Decoupling, Viscosity, Conductivity.
IMMUNOFLUORESCENT EXAMINATION OF THE HUMAN CHORIONIC VILLUS FOR BLOOD GROUP A AND B SUBSTANCE

The chorionic villi of term placentas were examined for A and B blood group substance using the IF technique with heterologous and homologous antisera. No specific fluorescence was found in either the villous trophoblast or vessels of the chorionic villi. The implications of these findings in relation to the question of trophoblastic antigenicity are discussed.
Cranial suture complexity in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Neurocranial expansion and mastication are commonly implicated as the two major biomechanical factors affecting suture morphology. In deer the antlers provide an additional source of biomechanical stress acting on the skull. Equivalent stresses are not found in females, who lack antlers. We analyzed the complexity and interdigitation of the interfrontal and coronal sutures that surround the antler-bearing frontal bones of (n = 67) white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to 1) evaluate changes in suture morphology throughout ontogeny, and 2) test the hypothesis that male deer have more complex sutures than females. Two methods were used to quantify suture morphology: fractal analysis and length-ratios (actual suture length divided by direct straightline length). Both techniques produced similar results, although the two methods cannot be considered equivalent. Suture complexity increases markedly throughout ontogeny, but appears to level off after animals have reached adulthood. Cranial size in males, but not females, continues to increase in adults. No significant increase in suture complexity with age in the adult cohort was detected. While deer are highly dimorphic in size and the presence of antlers, no significant differences existed between males and females for any measure of suture complexity. No consistent patterns emerged between suture complexity and skull size or antler characteristics. The presence of antlers appears to have a minimal effect on suture complexity in white-tailed deer. Factors that may contribute to the lack of dimorphism in suture complexity are discussed. J. Morphol. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Deliver the eBooks Your Patrons and Selectors Both Want! PDA Program at the University of Mississippi

Over the years, the University of Mississippi Libraries has purchased eBooks as one-time, perpetual-access collections, individual titles, and as subscription collections. Last year, the Williams Library began a patron-driven, eBook pilot program. Using ebrary's administrative tool, profiles were created to establish two patron-driven eBook collections. The records for these two profiles were then loaded into the library catalog. As patrons triggered a purchase by using an eBook, the order and payment information was recorded and the items were added to the collection. The planning, implementation, and workflow of the patron-driven, eBook pilot program was presented.
The visually pervasive augmented world

In this paper, we describe several existing Augmented Reality projects that illustrate critical yet currently disparate applications of Augmented Reality. This paper then describes a partially implemented system (the Visually Pervasive Augmented World) that has begun work on merging all of these applications together in an attempt to provide as much functionality as possible, while keeping the hardware requirements as accessible to the general public as possible. Once completed, this system will offer complete customizability to users, allowing them to interact with and modify their augmented world through user-submitted static and animated 3D models, text, a custom scripting language, and location and object based Augmented Reality.
Fabrication and Circuit Modeling of NMOS Inverter Basedon Quantum Dot Gate Field-Effect Transistors

This paper presents the fabrication of a negative-channel metal–oxide–semiconductor (NMOS) inverter based on quantum dot gate field-effect transistors (QDG-FETs). A QDG-FET produces one intermediate state in its transfer characteristic. NMOS inverters based on a QDG-FET produce three states in their transfer characteristic. The generation of the third state in the inverter characteristic makes this a promising circuit element for multivalued logic implementation. A circuit simulation result based on the Berkley simulation (BSIM) circuit model of the QDG-FET is also presented in this paper, predicting the fabricated device characteristic.
INTRACRANIAL NEOPLASMS IN INFANTS

Intracranial neoplasms are an unusual but Important cause of large head circumference or neurologic dysfunction in Infants. To delineate the presentation, course, and outcome of these tumors, the 54 primary intracranial neoplasms of central nervous system origin diagnosed in infants (≤18 months of age) in Connecticut in a 40-year period (1935 to 1974) were reviewed. 30% were medulloblastomas, 16% were ependymal neoplasms, 13% were meningeal neoplasms; other histopathologic types included astrocytoma, dermoid/teratoma, choroid plexus papilloma, and glioblastoma multiforme. Equal numbers of males and females were affected. 44% of the tumors were located in the cerebellum, 37% in the cerebral hemispheres, and 17% in the brain stem. 6 infants were diagnosed within the first few days of life. Symptoms included vomiting in 47%, abnormally increasing head circumference in 32%, lethargy or irritability in 19%, and convulsions in 13%. Physical findings included abnormally large head circumference (45%), bulging fontanelle, cranial nerve palsies, papilledema, and nuchal rigidity. 39 infants were treated by operation, radiation, or both; 15 were not treated. Average survival was 43 months. Survival varied relative to histopathologic type (longest with choroid plexus papillomas, shortest with ependymal neoplasms), and location of neoplasm. Over half the infants died within 6 months of diagnosis. Neurologic sequellae were frequent: of 18 infants surviving longer than one year, 8 are severely retarded or handicapped.
Immigrant Hungarian families' perceptions of new media technologies in the transmission of heritage language and culture

The goal of this research was to explore thoroughly the perceptions of dispersed immigrant professionals and their bilingual and bicultural children regarding the place of new media technology in their lives. Open-ended interviewing and autoethnography were used to explore families' perceptions of the role of media technology in their children's development and maintenance of heritage language (HL) skills, relationships with relatives in the heritage country, and cultural identity. The voices represented are those of two Hungarian immigrant professionals and their families. The families found media technology beneficial in all three areas explored: the development and maintenance of HL, relationships with relatives, and heritage culture. Adult family members also repeatedly pointed out the significance of their own active involvement in the process, and their responsibility in selecting appropriate resources and in being available to support children in their optimal use of media technology. The study pro...
The social context of violent victimization: A study of the delinquent peer effect

Haynie's (2001) work on the structural dimensions of peer networks demonstrated how the characteristics of networks may influence individual delinquent behavior. This study extends the network appr...
Driving force dependence of electron transfer dynamics in synthetic DNA hairpins

The driving force dependence of photoinduced electron-transfer dynamics in duplex DNA has been investigated for 16 synthetic DNA hairpins in which an acceptor chromophore serves as a linker connecting two complementary oligonucleotide arms containing a single donor nucleobase located either adjacent to the linker or separated from the linker by two unreactive base pairs. The rate constants for both charge separation and charge recombination processes have been determined by means of subpicosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy and the results analyzed using quantum mechanical Marcus theory. This analysis provides intimate details about electron-transfer processes in DNA including the distance dependence of the electronic coupling between the acceptor and nucleobase donor and the solvent and nuclear reorganization energies.
Virtual Seminars for Medical Nutrition Education

Abstract Medical nutrition educators continue to struggle with the development and implementation of nutrition curriculum into medical school and residency curricula. Experiments in use of multimedia and distance learning are important to identify ways to deliver nutrition information and skills to medical students. East Carolina University School of Medicine conducted a Virtual Seminar for first year medical students. The Virtual Seminar provided an opportunity for students to assess their skills in assessing a patient's diet for cardiovascular health and counseling a patient on dietary change. This activity was a follow-up activity to a lecture on nutrition and heart disease and counseling of a standardized patient with the Step One diet. Faculty recognized as experts in doctor-patient relationships interacted with the students in the Virtual Seminar. Students were required to log into a virtual seminar at www.preventivenutrition.com and answer questions posed by a faculty expert, including How did your skills assist you in improving patient adherence? What worked well for you? What didn't work and where do you think you need to focus on developing additional skills? What dilemmas do you face in encouraging patients to make dietary changes? Students were asked to complete an on-line evaluation at the end of the seminar. The case study of this Virtual Seminar will be presented. The description will include the technical requirements, costs, transcript of the comments of the 72 participants and experts, and summary of the post-seminar evaluation. The potential for this type of distance education in medical education will be described.
Coulomb excitation of 182, 184, 186W, 186, 188, 190, 192Os and 192, 194, 196, 198Pt with protons, 4He and 16O ions

Abstract Coulomb excitation of the first 2+ states was produced in 186Os with 3 to MeV 4He ions, 188, 190, 192Os with 4.56–5.08 MeV protons, and 192–198Pt with 4.5 MeV protons and 43.75 MeV 16O ions. Values of B(E2, 0 → 2) have been extracted with an absolute uncertainty of ±9 % for 186Os, ±7% for 188–192Os and ± 5–6% for 192–198Pt. Coulomb excitation of second 2+ states was produced in 186-2192W with 5 MeV protons, 14 and 15 MeV 4He ions and 45.5 MeV 16O ions, and in 186–192Os with 5 MeV protons, 15 MeV 4He ions and 42, 45.1 and 45.5 MeV 16O ions. Excitation of higher 2+ states at 1257, 1386 and 1286 keV was effected in 182, 184, 186W with 15 MeV 4He ions. Values of B(E2, 0 → 2'), B(E2, → 2'), B(M1, 2 '→2), and δ = 〈2 | |E2 | |2'〉/〈2 | |M1 | |2'〉 , and the transition branching ratio T(2' → 2)/T(2' → 0) are reported for second and higher 2+- states. Values of B(E2, 2 → 4) have been obtained for 182–186W and 186–192Os from direct Ge(Li) spectra using 15 MeV 4He ions and 42–45.5 MeV 16O ions and from 16O-γ coincident (NaI) spectra using 42–45.5 MeV 16O ions, and for 194, 196Pt from direct Ge(Li) spectra using 43.75 MeV 16O ions. Values of B(E2, 4→ 6) for 182, 184, 186W were also extracted from the 16O-γ data. Data analysis was carried out using first-order quantal perturbation theory in the case of proton and 4He ion experiments. First- and second-order semi-classical perturbation theory and the multipole Coulomb-excitation program of De Boer arid Winther as augmented by Sayer was used in analyzing the 16O ion data. The De Boer-Winther program was also used to estimate multiple excitation corrections for the 4He ion data. The results are compared to recent results of other workers and to the pairing-plus-quadrupole model calculations of Kumar and Baranger as well as to the predictions of the more simple phenomenological models.