cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gestational Age Standardized Nuchal Thickness Values for Estimating Mid-Trimester Down's Syndrome Risk

Objective: Our aim was to develop gestational age standardized indices of fetal nuchal thickening. In addition, we wanted to develop a method for combining nuchal thickness data with maternal age for calculating individual Down's syndrome risk.Methods: Nuchal thickness was measured prospectively in pregnancies undergoing genetic amniocentesis. A regression equation for expected median nuchal thickness based on the biparietal diameter (BPD) was developed. Nuchal thickness values were expressed as multiples of the median (MoM). Additionally, a new parameter, percentage increase in nuchal thickness (PIN) (measured minus expected nuchal thickness) ×100/expected nuchal thickness, was used. Receiver operator characteristics curves for Down's syndrome detection based on nuchal thickness values expressed as MoM, PIN, and in mm were compared. Logxo transformation of MoM data resulted in a Gaussian distribution, and the Down's syndrome likelihood ratios were calculated based on the heights of the Gaussian curves. L...
Aligning Career Expectations with the Practice of Medicine: Physician Satisfaction.

This study examined physicians' level of satisfaction with their job and the match between expectations and actual practice of specialty. Quantitative results suggested that physicians (N = 211) ha...
The γ-tubulin-encoding gene from the basidiomycete fungus, Ustilago violacea, has a long 5'-untranslated region

The gene (gamma-tub) encoding gamma-tubulin (gamma-Tub) was isolated from a cosmid library constructed for Ustilago violacea by using a PCR-amplified DNA fragment as a probe. About 2.8 kb of DNA sequence was analyzed and found to encode a protein of 469 amino acids highly homologous to the gamma-Tub from other organisms. There were eight introns interrupting the coding sequence. A 'TATA'-like sequence was found 389 bp upstream from the initial Met codon. No polyadenylation signal was found in the 3' non-coding region. Southern blot analyses indicated that gamma-tub is a single-copy gene. Northern blot analyses indicated that a 1.81-kb RNA species was transcribed. Primer extension experiments determined that the transcription start point (tsp) is at 58 bp downstream from the putative TATA box, with another possible tsp at 95 bp downstream. The long 5' non-coding sequence of the RNA contained several small open reading frames; their possible roles in the regulation of gamma-tub translation are discussed.
Writing As Communication: Creating Strategic Learning Environments for Students

(1986). Writing as communication: Creating strategic learning environments for students. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 25, Building Literacy, pp. 102-108.
Dual-frequency characterization of bending loss in hollow flexible terahertz waveguides

Low-loss, hollow, flexible, metal-coated waveguides were designed and fabricated for the maximal transmission of terahertz radiation. Since recent terahertz skin, colon, and breast cancer studies showed a contrast between normal and diseased tissues between 500 to 600GHz frequencies, flexible metal-coated waveguides with various bore diameters were studied at both 584GHz and 1.4THz frequencies for endoscopic applications. Attenuation characteristics of 2μm thick silver-coated waveguides with 99% reflective inner surface were measured as a function of wavelength, bore diameter, bending angle and bend radius. Though the theoretical attenuation coefficient in metal-coated waveguide varies directly as square of wavelength, the propagation loss was found to be smaller at higher wavelengths. This study demonstrates that flexible waveguides with bore diameters less-than 10λ preserve the linearly polarized mode and hence exhibit low bending losses even at smaller bend radii. Also, in contrast to the lower propagation losses in larger bore tubes, the analysis shows higher transmission in smaller bore tubes at larger bending angles. Finally, the dual-frequency investigation of bending and modal characteristics confirms the feasibility of using these metal-coated flexible waveguides at various terahertz frequencies, to obtain low transmission losses even at greater flexures, in addition to the Gaussian mode preservation.
Difference between In Situ Flexible Pavement Measured and Calculated Stresses and Strains

One of the 12 instrumented sections of the Virginia Smart Road was used to compare measured vertical compressive stress and measured transverse horizontal strain under the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) layer induced by a 25.8 kN (5.8 kip) single tire and a 39.5 kN (8.9 kip) set of dual tires to those calculated using layered linear elastic theory. The pavement section is composed of 38 mm (1.5 in.) HMA wearing surface, 150 mm (6 in.) of HMA base mix, 75 mm (3 in.) of asphalt stabilized open graded drainage layer, 150 mm (6 in.) of cement stabilized aggregate layer, and 175 mm (7 in.) of unbound aggregate base. The subgrade is a fill material composed mainly of rocks. Measured stresses were obtained using pressure cells embedded in the pavement during construction. Horizontal transverse strain was measured using H-type strain gauges that were also embedded during construction. Temperature in the pavement layers was measured using embedded T-type thermocouples. Theoretically calculated stresses and strains were obtained using software based on the layered-elastic theory (Kenpave, Bisar 3.0, Elsym5, and Everstress 5.0). In addition, two finite-element approaches were used. Results indicated that the layered elastic theory overestimates pavement responses at low and intermediate temperatures, but significantly underestimates the pavement responses to vehicular loading at high temperatures.
The Emerging Role of Meditation in Addressing Psychiatric Illness, with a Focus on Substance Use Disorders

Over the past 30 years the practice of meditation has become increasingly popular in clinical settings. In addition to evidence-based medical uses, meditation may have psychiatric benefits. In this review, the literature on the role of meditation in addressing psychiatric issues, and specifically substance use disorders, is discussed. Each of the three meditation modalities that have been most widely studied—transcendental meditation, Buddhist meditation, and mindfulness-based meditation—is critically examined in terms of its background, techniques, mechanisms of action, and evidence-based clinical applications, with special attention given to its emerging role in the treatment of substance use disorders. The unique methodological difficulties that beset the study of meditation are also considered. A brief discussion then integrates the research that has been completed thus far, elucidates the specific ways that meditation may be helpful for substance use disorders, and suggests new avenues for research.
Interactions of thermally induced acoustic waves with buoyancy induced flows in rectangular enclosures

Abstract Acoustic waves are generated when a compressible-fluid is exposed to a rapidly varying heat flux along a confining wall. For an enclosure, these waves reverberate and eventually decay. Buoyancy-induced flows generated within an enclosure can be affected by the acoustic waves generated. The interactions of the acoustic waves produced by rapid heating of a wall with the buoyancy-induced flow in air filled rectangular enclosures are investigated numerically. For the present simulations, the bottom wall of the enclosure is heated rapidly with varying heating rates, while the top wall is held at the initial temperature of the air. The vertical walls of the enclosure are considered insulated. The compressible unsteady Navier–Stokes equations are solved by an explicit flux-corrected transport algorithm for the convection terms and by a central-differencing scheme for the viscous and conduction terms.
The liver of the slender salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus. I. The structure of its crystalline inclusions.

The structure of the crystalline inclusions found in Batrachoseps liver cells is described and it is shown that the most symmetric unit cell upon which the crystal lattice is built is a face-centered cube. Taking into consideration the physical properties of a face-centered cubic structure, an attempt is made to determine the nature of the macromolecules that comprise the crystal. It is concluded on the basis of available evidence that the macromolecules probably represent serum lipoproteins. The intracellular synthesis of the crystals and the possible functions they may subserve in the animal are discussed. A comparison is made between the crystals and granules in rat hepatocytes discussed by Bruni and Porter (1965).
Enhanced neurogenesis following stroke

Each year hundreds of thousands of people must cope with the severe neurological consequences of a stroke. Current therapeutic strategies for stroke focus on acute treatment and neuroprotection. Unfortunately, these practices do little to reduce the long-term morbidity associated with the injury. To develop effective therapies that promote regeneration, we must have an understanding of the cellular and molecular events involved in the recovery from an insult. Neural stem and progenitor cells are likely to be affected during this period. Here we review how the proliferation, migration, and maturation of these precursors are affected by ischemia. Furthermore, we summarize data available on the underlying mechanisms and the therapeutic implications of these studies. The studies that we review provide compelling evidence that neural precursors resident in the brain initiate a compensatory response to stroke that results in the production of new neurons. Moreover, administration of growth factors can enhance this compensatory response. Based on these encouraging results, we may eventually be able to manipulate these precursors to improve recovery of function in individuals afflicted by this devastating injury.
Protein-Protein Interaction Studies Using Immobilized Oligohistidine Fusion Proteins

Using a human transcription factor, upstream stimulatory factor, as a model system, we developed a method for the rapid and efficient purification of proteins that interact with a cloned polypeptide expressed as a fusion with an oligohistidine domain. The complex between the oligohistidine fusion protein and its interacting partner was loaded onto a column of chelating resin charged with Ni2+. The bound complex could be eluted as a whole with high concentrations of imidazole. Alternatively, the secondary protein could be released separately using appropriate elution conditions. This procedure is both simple and efficient, and it presents distinct advantages over other affinity purification methods. In addition, this same method can be used to study protein-protein interactions.
Functional characterization of peptide-based anthrax toxin inhibitors.

We have identified an optimized peptide inhibitor that can be used to develop potent anthrax toxin therapeutics. Anthrax toxin, an essential virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis, elicits many of the symptoms associated with the disease, and is responsible for death. The toxin is composed of a cell-binding component, protective antigen, and two enzymatic components, edema factor and lethal factor. The three proteins are secreted individually by the bacterium and then assemble into functional complexes on the surface of mammalian cells. These complexes are endocytosed, and the enzymatic components are translocated into the cytosol, where they exert their activities. We screened a phage display library for peptides that can bind the heptameric cell-binding subunit of anthrax toxin, and identified a novel peptide that can block toxin assembly. We made a series of mutant peptides and attached these peptides to polymer backbones to assess their inhibitory activities in vitro. This series of truncated peptide ...
Obesity as an effect modifier of the risk of death in chronic kidney disease

In the general population, obesity is associated with increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), especially if obesity occurs during young adulthood. Obesity is also associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality in the general population. However, observational studies which focused on populations with ESRD have demonstrated a more indirect association between body mass index and mortality, and this association has been termed paradoxical. Some have questioned whether the association between obesity and mortality is modified by ESRD. In this review, we discuss effect modification and interaction and factors that may lead to an assumption of effect modification when we observe decreased mortality among obese adults with ESRD. We show that assumptions of the existence of effect modification may be incorrect when the analysis is conditioned on a particular disease state that is influenced by obesity.
Copper, nitrogen, and Rhizobium japonicum relationships in determinate soybean

Abstract A relationship among Cu, N, and Rhizobium japonicum was hypothesized because previous research had shown that (a) 35% or more legumes in the Atlantic Coastal Plain have Cu concentrations of 6 mg kg‐1 or less, (b) Cu influences N fixation in some legumes, and (c) irrigated soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) can accumulate most of its N through fixation. Soybean were grown on a Cu‐deficient Norfolk (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Paleudult) loamy sand with 3 fertilizer sources of Cu, 2 strains of R. japonicum, and with or without 336 kg ha‐1 of N fertilizer. Application of Cu significantly increased the number of pods plant‐1 suggesting pod abortion in determinate soybean may be caused by low Cu, but seed yield was not increased. Fertilization with N increased vegetative growth, but not total biomass or seed yield. Inoculation with R. japonicum strain 110 significantly increased seed yield by 0.3 Mg ha‐1 compared to strain 587. The yield increase was similar with or without fertilizer N applicati...
Human Parotid Secretion in Response to Ethyl Alcohol

Parotid salivary flow increased with increasing concentrations of ethyl alcohol (4.8 to 47.5%), with greater secretion at solution temperatures of 1.5 C than at 22 C. Subjects salivated significantly less when vision was eliminated by black goggles and more in response to 0.15% citric acid than to 20% alcohol, whereas the combination of acid and alcohol elicited responses similar to those from acid alone. Alcohol had a greater sialagogic effect in wine than in water.
Spontaneous changes in regional wall motion abnormalities in acute myocardial infarction

Abstract The incidence of improvement in regional wall motion of segments with severe contractile abnormalities in the first 10 days after a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was assessed with serial gated blood pool scans in 95 patients who received standard medical therapy. Regional wall motion was quantitatively assessed as percent chord shortening in 4 segments in the anterior view and 4 segments in the 45 ° left anterior oblique view. Among 237 segments with ho more than 15% shortening (severely hypokinetic or akinetic [SH/A] segments), 59 (25%) improved at least 15% at 10 days, 166 (70%) did not change and 12 (5%) deteriorated by at least 15%. Among 91 patients who had SH/A segments, 37 (41%) had improvement in at least 1 SH/A segment (group 1) and 54 had no improvement in SH/A segments (group 2). Group 1 had a higher initial ejection fraction (EF) (50 ± 12%) than group 2 (45 ± 13%, p
Correlation Analysis Based on Hierarchical Boolean Representation over Time Series Data Streams

Correlation analysis is a basic problem in the field of data stream mining. Traditional method is not suitable for real time processing with huge amount of stream data. We propose a hierarchical Boolean representation method for correlation analysis among time series data streams. The original streaming series are transformed into the Macro- Boolean series and then the Micro-Boolean series successively, and the candidate can be easily gained by simple bit operations. With huge amount of streaming series, this method can quickly get the correlation pairs of series in an efficient way by reducing huge calculation in a little space The experimental evaluations show that our method has better computation complexity with high accuracy.
ASSAY OF ANTI-ANDROGENS IN MAN BY THE SEBACEOUS GLAND RESPONSE

THE development and secretory activity of the human sebaceous glands are dependent upon stimulation by androgens (Hamilton, 1941; Rony and Zakon, 1943; Strauss et al., 1962). Thus, measurements of sebaceous gland secretion have potential value in determining androgenic responses. This report will discuss utilization of the sebaceous glands in man for assaying androgens, as well as review information available to date on the effect of anti-androgenic compounds on the human sebaceous gland.
NUTRITIONAL CONTROL OF GENE EXPRESSION: How Mammalian Cells Respond to Amino Acid Limitation*

The amino acid response (AAR) pathway in mammalian cells is designed to detect and respond to amino acid deficiency. Limiting any essential amino acid initiates this signaling cascade, which leads to increased translation of a "master regulator," activating transcription factor (ATF) 4, and ultimately, to regulation of many steps along the pathway of DNA to RNA to protein. These regulated events include chromatin remodeling, RNA splicing, nuclear RNA export, mRNA stabilization, and translational control. Proteins that are increased in their expression as targets of the AAR pathway include membrane transporters, transcription factors from the basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) superfamily, growth factors, and metabolic enzymes. Significant progress has been achieved in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which amino acids control the synthesis and turnover of mRNA and protein. Beyond gaining additional knowledge of these important regulatory pathways, further characterization of how these processes contribute to the pathology of various disease states represents an interesting aspect of future research in molecular nutrition.
‘Magic-Cube’ antenna configurations for ultra compact RFID and wireless sensor nodes

This paper presents a methodology for characterizing and building antennas on a three-dimensional cubic structure for the first time. By first modeling the inductively coupled non-uniform meander line antenna on a planar substrate, it becomes easier to design the antenna when folded on a cube. The loop size and proximity to meander line, meander line length, and microstrip width are used as independent entities that can be modified for the desired specifications of the RFID application of interest. The 3D antenna discussed in this paper can be applied to the realization of truly ubiquitous dasiaad-hocpsila networks of wireless nodes on low-cost flexible passive UHF RFIDpsilas.
“Earthquakes” (Fourth Edition) by Bruce A. Bolt

My own introduction to earthquakes and seismology came from a one-credit freshman-level class I took in 1980. The text? Earthquakes, A Primer by Bruce Bolt. Simple, clear, interesting. This classic text has been updated a number of times and translated into eight different languages. Bolt's Earthquakes is an excellent introduction to the study of earthquakes for high school and college students as well as for the public. The fourth edition, published in 1999, is significantly expanded from the original 1978 edition and boasts numerous updates. New material in the fourth edition includes a chapter on plate tectonics, an appendix listing WWW addresses for earthquake-related Web sites, a discussion of new technologies for measuring crustal deformation including GPS and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and descriptions of some of the destructive earthquakes of the mid-1990's. Unfortunately, the book went to press before the large damaging earthquakes of 1999 including the Izmit, Turkey and ChiChi, Taiwan earthquakes. The book is easy reading for the layman who is curious about earthquakes but has little or no background in Earth science. The book includes many case studies and personal narratives, giving …
Dynamical constraints on the formation and evolution of planetary bodies

The present investigation is concerned with a number of inferences as to the origin of planetary bodies, taking into account the present dynamical state of the solar system and some of the limitations which apply to the considered conclusions. Attention is given to the dynamical processes, specifically those processes which may have influenced the orbital or rotational properties of the planets and satellites. Collisional processes are explored, taking into consideration orbital spacing, planetary rotation, and stochastic effects. In connection with a discussion of the evolution of rotational motion, spin state evolution is investigated along with spin axis precession and resonance variation, and the Cassini states. The evolution of planetary orbits is also studied. The subjects considered are related to tides, secular resonances, disk dynamics, and disk-satellite interactions.
Severity of emphysema predicts location of lung cancer and 5-y survival of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

Background Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a predilection to occur in emphysematous lungs. The relation between the regional severity of emphysema and the location of NSCLC as well as long-term survival has been poorly studied. Methods Computed tomography (CT) scans of 153 patients with biopsy-proven stage I NSCLC diagnosed between 2001 and 2006 were assigned an emphysema severity score in four regions of the lung. The location of the cancer was compared with the severity of emphysema in that region. Survival was also analyzed. Results Thirty-nine patients had no emphysema documented on CT scan and 114 did. The most common location of cancer was the right upper quadrant with 37% of cancers, followed by the left upper quadrant with 23% of cancers. Twenty-two percent of the cancers occurred in the right lower quadrant, and only 12% were in the left lower quadrant. There is a strong association for cancer being located in the area with the highest degree of emphysema (P < 0.001). Emphysema severity score was also associated with long-term survival (log-rank P = 0.03). Conclusions The regional severity of emphysema assessed via a visual scale using CT appears to be associated with the location of lung cancer and is an independent predictor of long-term survival.
Bipolar disorder type 1 and schizophrenia are accompanied by decreased density of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-positive interneurons in the parahippocampal region

GABAergic interneurons synchronize network activities and monitor information flow. Post-mortem studies have reported decreased densities of cortical interneurons in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). The entorhinal cortex (EC) and the adjacent subicular regions are a hub for integration of hippocampal and cortical information, a process that is disrupted in SZ. Here we contrast and compare the density of interneuron populations in the caudal EC and subicular regions in BPD type I (BPD-I), SZ, and normal control (NC) subjects. Post-mortem human parahippocampal specimens of 13 BPD-I, 11 SZ and 17 NC subjects were used to examine the numerical density of parvalbumin-, somatostatin- or calbindin-positive interneurons. We observed a reduction in the numerical density of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-positive interneurons in the caudal EC and parasubiculum in BPD-I and SZ, but no change in the subiculum. Calbindin-positive interneuron densities were normal in all brain areas examined. The profile of decreased density was strikingly similar in BPD-I and SZ. Our results demonstrate a specific reduction of parvalbumin- and somatostatin-positive interneurons in the parahippocampal region in BPD-I and SZ, likely disrupting synchronization and integration of cortico-hippocampal circuits.
G Protein-Coupled Receptor Classification at the Subfamily Level with Probabilistic Suffix Tree

Classifying G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is an interesting topic because of the important role of GPCRs in pharmaceutical research. GPCRs have diverse functions and are involved in many biological processes, which makes them an ideal target of novel medicine. The diverse nature of GPCRs results in the lack of overall sequence homolog among the members, making the classification of GPCRs a very challenging task. Various approaches and methods have been applied to this task, such as HMM, decision tree, and SVM. However, their performances are not completely satisfactory. In this paper, we propose a new method to classify GPCRs into different subfamilies. In the proposed method, the probabilistic suffix tree (PST) is used to construct a prediction model for each of the subfamilies. To classify a GPCR protein, we calculate its similarity score against the PST prediction model of each subfamily using the multi-domain local prediction algorithm. The protein is then classified into the subfamily which gives it the highest score. Our method only uses the primary sequence information and is also very efficient. The model construction and prediction process takes very short time. However, it reports the 98.07% and 97.35% overall accuracy on the level I and II subfamily classification in a 2-fold cross validation test respectively. Given the high accuracy and efficiency, our method is a significant improvement on previously reported ones.
Control of spatially distributed processes with unknown transport-reaction parameters via two layer system adaptations

The control problem of dissipative distributed parameter systems described by semilinear parabolic partial differential equations with unknown parameters and its application to transport-reaction chemical processes is considered. The infinite dimensional modal representation of such systems can be partitioned into finite dimensional slow and infinite dimensional fast and stable subsystems. A combination of a model order reduction approach and a Lyapunov-based adaptive control technique is used to address the control issues in the presence of unknown parameters of the system. Galerkin's method is used to reduce the infinite dimensional description of the system; we apply adaptive proper orthogonal decomposition (APOD) to initiate and recursively revise the set of empirical basis functions needed in Galerkin's method to construct switching reduced order models. The effectiveness of the proposed APOD-based adaptive control approach is successfully illustrated on temperature regulation in a catalytic chemical reactor in the presence of unknown transport and reaction parameters. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2497–2507, 2015
Fluoropolymer synthesis in supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract Herein we review the environmentally friendly synthesis of fluorinated polymers in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). Historically, many high-performance fluorinated materials are commercially synthesized in aqueous media using fluorinated surfactants or in non-aqueous conditions using fluorinated solvents. Our group has pioneered both the homogeneous and heterogeneous polymerization of fluorinated monomers in scCO2. This review includes discussions on the synthesis of main-chain and side-chain fluoropolymers conducted via a chain-growth or continuous process. Specific materials consist of acrylate- and styrene-based systems, poly(vinyl ether)s, tetrafluoroethylene- and vinylidenefluoride-based, as well as novel fluorinated elastomers and thermoplastics.
The Influence of Soil Moisture on the Planetary Boundary Layer and on Cumulus Convection over an Isolated Mountain. Part I: Observations

Data collected around the Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona as part of the Cumulus Photogrammetric, In Situ and Doppler Observations (CuPIDO) experiment during the 2006 summer monsoon season are used to investigate the effect of soil moisture on the surface energy balance, boundary layer (BL) characteristics, thermally forced orographic circulations, and orographic cumulus convection. An unusual wet spell allows separation of the two-month campaign in a wet and a dry soil period. Days in the wet soil period tend to have a higher surface latent heat flux, lower soil and air temperatures, a more stable and shallower BL, and weaker solenoidal forcing resulting in weaker anabatic flow, in comparison with days in the dry soil period. The wet soil period is also characterized by higher humidity and moist static energy in the BL, implying a lower cumulus cloud base and higher convective available potential energy. Therefore, this period witnesses rather early growth of orographic cumulus convection, growing rapidly to the cumulonimbus stage, often before noon, and producing precipitation rather efficiently, with relatively little lightning. Data alone do not allow discrimination between soil moisture and advected airmass characteristics in explaining these differences. Hence, the need for a numerical sensitivity experiment, in Part II of this study.
Expression of cytochrome P450 2A3 in rat esophagus: relevance to N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine

N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine (NBzMA) must be meta- bolically activated to exert its carcinogenic potential and is a potent inducer of tumors in the rat esophagus. The activation is believed to occur in the esophagus. Although the pathways of NBzMA metabolism are well studied, the principal cytochrome P450 enzyme(s) (P450) responsible for catalyzing its activation is unknown. Several prelimin- ary studies have suggested that this enzyme may belong to the P450 2A family. We report here that P450 2A3 expressed in a baculovirus system metabolizes NBzMA, predomi- nantly by methylene hydroxylation. To determine whether or not P450 2A3 is present in the rat esophagus, the relative level of P450 2A3 mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mRNA levels of P450 2A3 were compared with the levels of P450 2A1 and 2A2 mRNA in the esophagus, liver, lung and nasal mucosa. P450 2A3 mRNA was detected in rat nasal mucosa, lung and esophagus, but not in liver, whereas P450 2A1 and 2A2 mRNAs were detected only in the liver. To determine the relative expression of P450 2A3 in each tissue, quantitative RT-PCR with PCR-MIMICS used as internal standards was performed. The expression level in the nasal mucosa was by far the greatest. The expression in the lung and esophagus was 60- and 1600-fold less, respectively. Using antibodies to P450 2A4/5 and P450 2A10/11 a 50 kDa immunoreactive protein was detected in all three tissues by western blot analysis. This is consistent with the expression of P450 2A3 in these tissues. However, the amount of protein detected in the nasal mucosa was much greater than that in the esophagus or lung. The expression of P450 2A protein was similar in the lung and esophagus. The rate of coumarin 7-hydroxylation in cultured rat esophagus was very low. This is a reaction efficiently catalyzed by P450 2A5, 2A6 and 2A10. In summary, our results clearly demonstrate the presence of P450 2A3 protein and mRNA in the esophagus, but the amounts are low and may not be sufficient to account for NBzMA activation in this tissue.
Adaptive cone-kernel time-frequency analysis

Presents a technique to adaptively optimize the performance of the cone-kernel distribution (CKD) by varying the cone length in response to changing signal properties. The result is an adaptive CKD that preserves the outer hull of signal time support, yields excellent results on real signals, outperforms fixed-length CKDs, and requires only slightly more computation than a fixed-kernel distribution. >
Effects of Parental Status on Male Body Mass in the Monogamous, Biparental California Mouse

Studies of biparental mammals demonstrate that males may undergo systematic changes in body mass as a consequence of changes in reproductive status; however, these studies typically have not teased apart effects of specific social and reproductive factors, such as cohabitation with a female per se, cohabitation with a breeding female specifically, and engagement in paternal care. We aimed to determine whether California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) fathers undergo systematic changes in body mass and if so, which specific social/reproductive factor(s) might contribute to these changes. We compared mean weekly body masses over a 5-week period in 1) males housed with another male vs. males housed with a non-reproductive (tubally ligated) female; 2) males housed with a tubally ligated female vs. males housed with a female that was undergoing her first pregnancy; and 3) experienced fathers housed with vs. without pups during their mate's subsequent pregnancy. Body mass did not differ between males housed with another male and those housed with a non-reproductive female; however, males housed with a non-reproductive female were significantly heavier than those housed with a primiparous female. Among experienced fathers, those housed with pups from their previous litter underwent significant increases in body mass across their mates' pregnancy, whereas fathers housed without pups did not. These results suggest that male body mass is reduced by cohabitation with a breeding (pregnant) female, but not by cohabitation with a non-reproductive female, and that increases in body mass across the mate's pregnancy are associated with concurrent care of offspring rather than cohabitation with a pregnant female. Additional work is needed to determine the mechanisms and functional significance, if any, of these changes in male body mass with reproductive condition.
The arthropod mushroom body: Its functional roles, evolutionary enigmas and mistaken identities

Insects share the same physical environment as terrestrial vertebrates. However, insects are vastly more successful in terms of their adaptive radiation and colonization. The biomass of insects alone is said to outweigh all other organisms and it can be speculated that their evolutionary success is a consequence, not only of their environmental colonization, but also of their behavioral versatility which sets them apart from other terrestrial arthopods. If this hypothesis is correct, it might be expected that there exist neural organizations that are peculiar to, or greatly elaborated in, the Insecta alone. This chapter describes the occurrence among selected arthropods of a brain region that, in eusocial insects, reaches great complexity and is implicated in learning and memory. Its identification in various taxa is assessed against the background of current theories of arthropod evolution and brain segmentation.
On an Argument of Shkredov on Two-Dimensional Corners

Let F n be the finite field of cardinality 2 n . For all large n, any subset A ! F n " F n of cardinality |A| ! 4 n loglogn logn , must contain three points {(x,y),(x + d,y),(x,y + d)} for x,y,d # F n and d $ 0. Our argument is an elaboration of an argument of Shkredov [14], building upon the finite field analog of Ben Green [10]. The interest in our result is in the exponent on logn, which is larger than has been obtained previously.
High throughput generation of promoter reporter (GFP) transgenic lines of low expressing genes in Arabidopsis and analysis of their expression patterns

Background Although the complete genome sequence and annotation of Arabidopsis were released at the end of year 2000, it is still a great challenge to understand the function of each gene in the Arabidopsis genome. One way to understand the function of genes on a genome-wide scale is expression profiling by microarrays. However, the expression level of many genes in Arabidopsis genome cannot be detected by microarray experiments. In addition, there are many more novel genes that have been discovered by experiments or predicted by new gene prediction programs. Another way to understand the function of individual genes is to investigate their in vivo expression patterns by reporter constructs in transgenic plants which can provide basic information on the patterns of gene expression.
Cortical injury in multiple sclerosis; the role of the immune system

The easily identifiable, ubiquitous demyelination and neuronal damage that occurs within the cerebral white matter of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been the subject of extensive study. Accordingly, MS has historically been described as a disease of the white matter. Recently, the cerebral cortex (gray matter) of patients with MS has been recognized as an additional and major site of disease pathogenesis. This acknowledgement of cortical tissue damage is due, in part, to more powerful MRI that allows detection of such injury and to focused neuropathology-based investigations. Cortical tissue damage has been associated with inflammation that is less pronounced to that which is associated with damage in the white matter. There is, however, emerging evidence that suggests cortical damage can be closely associated with robust inflammation not only in the parenchyma, but also in the neighboring meninges. This manuscript will highlight the current knowledge of inflammation associated with cortical tissue injury. Historical literature along with contemporary work that focuses on both the absence and presence of inflammation in the cerebral cortex and in the cerebral meninges will be reviewed.
Thermal decomposition behavior of potassium and sodium jarosite synthesized in the presence of methylamine and alanine

Biomolecules, methylamine and alanine, found associated with natural jarosite samples peaked the interest of astrobiologists and planetary geologists. How the biomolecules are associated with jarosite remains unclear although the mechanism could be important for detecting biosignatures in the rock record on Earth and other planets. A series of thermal gravimetric experiments using synthetic K-jarosite and Na-jarosite were conducted to determine if thermal analysis could differentiate physical mixtures of alanine and methylamine with jarosite from samples where the methylamine or alanine was incorporated into the synthesis procedure. Physical mixtures and synthetic experiments with methylamine and alanine could be differentiated from one another and from the standards by thermal analysis for both the K-jarosite and Na-jarosite end-member suites. Changes included shifts in on-set temperatures, total temperature changes from on-set to final, and the presence of indicator peaks for methylamine and alanine in the physical mixture experiments.
A comparison of assertive community treatment fidelity measures and patient-centered medical home standards.

As guidelines for assertive community treatment (ACT) increasingly emphasize treatment of general medical conditions, ACT has begun to take on the appearance of a patient-centered medical home. Noting the similarity, the authors compared fidelity standards for both models and found significant overlap. With some adjustments, particularly in the supervision of general medical care, high-fidelity ACT teams could qualify as medical homes, the authors concluded.
Medical students as EMTs: skill building, confidence and professional formation

Objective : The first course of the medical curriculum at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, From the Person to the Professional: Challenges, Privileges and Responsibilities , provides an innovative early clinical immersion. The course content specific to the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) curriculum was developed using the New York State Emergency Medical Technician curriculum. Students gain early legitimate clinical experience and practice clinical skills as team members in the pre-hospital environment. We hypothesized this novel curriculum would increase students’ confidence in their ability to perform patient care skills and enhance students’ comfort with team-building skills early in their training. Methods : Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from first-year medical students ( n =97) through a survey developed to assess students’ confidence in patient care and team-building skills. The survey was completed prior to medical school, during the final week of the course, and at the end of their first year. A paired-samples t -test was conducted to compare self-ratings on 12 patient care and 12 team-building skills before and after the course, and a theme analysis was conducted to examine open-ended responses. Results : Following the course, student confidence in patient care skills showed a significant increase from baseline ( p <0.05) for all identified skills. Student confidence in team-building skills showed a significant increase ( p <0.05) in 4 of the 12 identified skills. By the end of the first year, 84% of the first-year students reported the EMT curriculum had ‘some impact’ to ‘great impact’ on their patient care skills, while 72% reported the EMT curriculum had ‘some impact’ to ‘great impact’ on their team-building skills. Conclusions : The incorporation of EMT training early in a medical school curriculum provides students with meaningful clinical experiences that increase their self-reported level of confidence in the performance of patient care skills early in their medical education. Keywords: undergraduate medical education; curriculum; pre-hospital care; clinical skills; team building; professional role (Published: 22 July 2014) Citation: Med Educ Online 2014, 19 : 24829 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v19.24829 To access the supplementary material for this article, please see Supplementary files under Article Tools
Basic Properties of Hilbert Spaces

This is an introductory chapter in which we study the basic properties of Hilbert spaces, indispensable for an understanding of the sequel. Although it is fairly complete in itself, this chapter is necessarily brief in many areas and the reader would find it helpful to have had an elementary introduction to linear spaces, and Hilbert spaces in particular, such as one finds in the standard texts on real analysis.
Supreme Court Review: Court Settles Settlement Class Issue

Commentary and analysis of two class action decisions from the Supreme Court during the 1996-97 Term, Amchem Prods. Inc. v. Windsor and Adams v. Robertson. The Supreme Court in Amchem finally settled a number of issues relating to settlement classes, while in Adams the Court left unanswered the so-called Shutts problem, pertaining to the due process requirements for mandatory class actions involving non-resident plaintiffs. The Court’s decisions will have lasting consequences for class action settlements and will further fuel the policy debate about the most appropriate means to resolve mass tort litigation. Moreover, when combined with the recent federal trend repudiating nationwide class certification, pessimists will predict that the Amchem decision is a final nail in the federal class action coffin. Such a dire prediction, however, over dramatizes the likely consequences of the Amchem case. In reality, lawyers will continue to broker class action settlements, and judges are likely to approve them with the requirements of Amchem. In a decision by Justice Ginsburg, the Court in Amchem held that settlement classes are legitimate, and must satisfy all class certification requirements with the exception that Rule 23(b)(3) classes need not satisfy the manageability criterion. However, the Court repudiated the underlying Georgine settlement on the grounds of a lack of commonality, typicality, and adequacy of representation. This article discusses the factual and procedural history of the underlying Georgine settlement class that gave rise to the Amchem decision. In Adams v. Robertson, the Supreme Court failed to decide the appeal, concluding that certiorari had improvidently been granted. In failing to decide the appeal, the Court repeated its 1994 disposition in Ticor Title Ins. Co. v. Brown, which raised the same Shutts issue but also remained unresolved as the Court dismissed the case for improvident grant of certiorari.
Microwave signal mixing in coupled-cavity VCSELs

Two microwave signals of different frequencies are used to directly modulate the top and bottom cavity of a coupled dual-cavity VCSEL. Signal mixing is observed from the laser output which can be engineered by varying the DC biases to the two cavities.
Mammalian retinal Müller cells have circadian clock function.

Purpose To test whether Muller glia of the mammalian retina have circadian rhythms. Methods We used Muller glia cultures isolated from mouse lines or from humans and bioluminescent reporters of circadian clock genes to monitor molecular circadian rhythms. The clock gene dependence of the Muller cell rhythms was tested using clock gene knockout mouse lines or with siRNA for specific clock genes. Results We demonstrated that retinal Muller glia express canonical circadian clock genes, are capable of sustained circadian oscillations in isolation from other cell types, and exhibit unique features of their molecular circadian clock compared to the retina as a whole. Mouse and human Muller cells demonstrated circadian clock function; however, they exhibited species-specific differences in the gene dependence of their clocks. Conclusions Muller cells are the first mammalian retinal cell type in which sustained circadian rhythms have been demonstrated in isolation from other retinal cells.
Subjective well-being and physical health: a narrative literature review with suggestions for future research

In this article the authors review the findings of eighty-one studies that have tested the relationship between health status and subjective well-being. Support was found for an association between health and well-being, although the source and extent of that relationship could not be clearly delineated given the numerous measurement problems and methodological inconsistencies found among the studies. Objective indices of health tended to have lower correlations with subjective well-being than with self-reports suggesting that various report biases may account for some, but probably not all, of the relationships obtained. Problems in study design and health measurement are also noted. An outline of the major competing hypotheses is presented that would explain the health-well-being association to guide future research and call for more direct study of psychological processes affected by changes in health in future research.
Mouse adenovirus (MAV-1) expression in primary human endothelial cells and generation of a full-length infectious plasmid.

Using RT-PCR, we show that mouse adenovirus type I (MAV-1) is capable of infecting and expressing in various cell types, specifically human endothelial cells. The capability of MAV-1 to infect and express in human endothelial cells makes it a potentially useful alternative to the use of human adenoviruses type 2/5 (Ad2/5) in virus-based gene therapy, although presently MAV-1 can only be produced at lower titers than Ad2/5. In this report, we present methods for the purification of MAV-1 DNA and use of this DNA along with a modified bacteria-based homologous recombination protocol to generate a full-length plasmid clone of MAV-1 DNA. Using various transfection procedures, we show that this plasmid MAV-1 DNA can generate plaques of MAV-1 virus, albeit at low efficiencies (about 0.2 p.f.u./μg DNA). Furthermore, the construction of an MAV-1 plasmid along with its capability to express in human cells justifies the full development of MAV-1 into a system of gene therapy.
The Writing on the Mud Wall: Nigerian Novels and the Imaginary Village

"Imagining" the community, a process madefamiliar in BenedictAnderson's analysis of the historical rise of the idea of "the nation," informs an understanding of local communities as well. Using the characteristics of the Nigerian village novel and the literary system underlying this genre, I show how a common picture of African rural life before and after the colonial encounter has been molded by the exigencies of literary production. A popular remnant of social science's old tradition versus modernity dichotomy, mediated by British publishers acting as gatekeepersfor African literature, has developed and sustained a Nigerian literary genre, highly influential in the West, that is at odds with the intentions of most Nigerian authors. The case of the village novel demonstrates the impact of global cultural production systems on aesthetic creation, as well as the interplay between social fictions and literary fictions.