cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovarian Cancer — Unrealistic Expectations

What happens if we physicians are motivated to say something hopeful that turns out not to be true? Will patients continue to believe us? Why should they? The answers to these questions vary with the circumstances, of course. Certainly, the stakes are high — trust and cherished social credibility. Consider, for example, the evolving story of new treatments for ovarian cancer. Public Perceptions As the poignant death of actress Gilda Radner showed, ovarian cancer is a terrible disease. The personal crusade of Gene Wilder, Radner's bereaved husband, to implore women to avoid needless death by undergoing screening tests, has drawn . . .
Lifestyle and home energy conservation in the United States: the poor accept lifestyle cutbacks while the wealthy invest in conservation

Abstract The extent to which United States consumers have taken lifestyle cutbacks in eleven expenditure areas as a result of higher energy prices is examined. Data are from a general population sample survey of 8,392 households in ten western states, covering approximately 24 percent of all U.S. households. It was found that an index summarizing the extent to which respondents had taken lifestyle cutbacks was somewhat related in a positive direction to making temporary home adjustments to save energy, but was not related to taking permanent home-related energy conservation actions. The findings bring into question whether a market-oriented conservation policy will increase the taking of conservation actions, but also raise a disturbing question about existing tax credit programs.
Maize Production in a Traditional African Society: Economic Rationality Revisited

n.d. Agriculture, Crafts and Weekly Market of South Manbhurn. Bulletin of the Anthropological Survey of India 10(1):1-163. Skinner, G. William 1964 Marketing and Social Structure in Rural China (Part 1). The Journal of Asian Studies 24(1):3-43. Vagale, L. R., ed. 1972 Anatomy of Traditional Markets in Nigeria. Ibadan: Polytechnic, Ibadan, Town Planning Division. van Apeldoorn, G. J. 1971 Markets in Ghana. Legon: Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana.
Who is President of the United States

Of 191 patients referred for memory evaluation and asked to name the current and past presidents of the United States, 5% failed to identify the president and 37% were unable to name the previous office holder. Significant cognitive and adaptive deficits were associated with failure on either item.
The "Income-Variance" Risk Factor and Jones & Laughlin v. Pfeifer Guidelines for the Calculation of Present Value

Papers that discuss the appropriate discount rate to be used on calculating the present value of future losses are so numerous that writing such papers could be characterized as a cottage industry. For a smattering of contributions, see for example, Havrilesky(1988), Pelaez (1989 and 1997), Albrecht and Moorhouse (1989), Nowak, (1991), Bell and Taub (1990 and 1999), Haydon and Webb (1992), Bonham and La Croix (1991), Haslag, Nieswiadomy, and Slottje, (1994) and Ewing, Payne, and Piette (2001). Related articles discuss projected earnings growth rates and the “net” discount rate that is the residual of offsetting an earnings growth rate against a discount rate. There is also the issue of “real” or inflation-free discount rates versus “nominal” discount rates. A recent exchange in the literature directs our attention to the variance and not just the level, of inflation forecasts and implications for the consideration of risk. This exchange suggests a consideration of the variance of income itself over the course of a typical worklife and the question arises: Has the existence of potential year-to-year variance in projected earnings of an injured victim been sufficiently understood and accounted for in our calculations of present value? Believing the answer to this question to be in the negative, this paper attempts to state and clarify issues regarding this “income-variance” risk factor. The proximate cause of the comments ventured here was an exchange in the Fall 1999 number of the Litigation Economics Digest between Professors Bell and Taub (comment) on the one hand, and Professor Ireland (response) on the other hand. The issues revolved around “risk adjustments” in damage calculations of present value. Ireland (1997) had argued that since inflation risk involves both upside and downside exposure (unanticipated variance in actual inflation over forecast period), then unanticipated variance in actual inflation over the time period of the forecast merely increases the variance, not the mean, of future returns and hence does not require any adjustment to the discount rate. Ireland further argued that a default premium for termination of the income stream needn’t be considered in present value calculations because such calculations already contain an adjustment for survival and workforce attachment probabilities. To additionally burden expected future earnings would involve double counting. Bell and Taub take issue with both of these
Water-Soluble Dual-Emitting Nanocrystals for Ratiometric Optical Thermometry

Multishell semiconductor nanocrystals have been synthesized that display intrinsic dual emission with robust photo and thermal stability and attractive thermal sensitivity. Dual emission is demonstrated following phase transfer into aqueous media. These nanocrystals are suitable for diverse optical thermometric or thermographic applications in biotechnology or other areas.
Specific volume coupling and convergence properties in hybrid particle/finite volume algorithms for turbulent reactive flows

We investigate the coupling between the two components of a Large Eddy Simulation/Probability Density Function (LES/PDF) algorithm for the simulation of turbulent reacting flows. In such an algorithm, the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) component provides a solution to the hydrodynamic equations, whereas the Lagrangian Monte Carlo Probability Density Function (PDF) component solves for the PDF of chemical compositions. Special attention is paid to the transfer of specific volume information from the PDF to the LES code: the specific volume field contains probabilistic noise due to the nature of the Monte Carlo PDF solution, and thus the use of the specific volume field in the LES pressure solver needs careful treatment. Using a test flow based on the Sandia/Sydney Bluff Body Flame, we determine the optimal strategy for specific volume feedback. Then, the overall second-order convergence of the entire LES/PDF procedure is verified using a simple vortex ring test case, with special attention being given to bias errors due to the number of particles per LES Finite Volume (FV) cell.
Choice under concurrent VI schedules: comparison of behavior maintained by cocaine or food.

Previous research has shown that concurrent schedule responding maintained by cocaine under short variable-interval (VI) schedules is well described by the generalized matching law. That is, drug-maintained behavior was apportioned in accordance with relative frequency of reinforcement. The purpose of the present experiment was to examine the ability of the generalized matching law to account for choice under longer VI schedules of cocaine availability, and to compare cocaine-maintained to food-maintained behavior in this regard. One group of rhesus monkeys (n = 4) was prepared with indwelling IV catheters and allowed to respond under concurrent VI (conc VI) schedules of cocaine delivery (0.025, 0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg per injection) with an average inter-reinforcer interval (IRI) of 10 or 30 min. In a second group of monkeys (n = 4), a comparable experiment was conducted but with responding maintained by different amounts of food (one, two, or four 1-g banana-flavored pellets). For both groups, the same reinforcer followed responding on either lever, the only difference between the options being the VI schedule, i.e., frequency of reinforcement. The behavior of the cocaine-maintained group was well predicted by the generalized matching law. While both groups evidenced undermatching of both response and time allocation, lever pressing of monkeys whose behavior was maintained by food showed more undermatching than that of the cocaine-maintained group. In addition, a consistent and unexplained bias in responding toward the right lever developed in the food-maintained, but not the cocaine-maintained monkeys. Considering the present results with those of previous experiments, it appears that food-, but not cocaine-maintained behavior, deviates increasingly from strict matching as the IRI is extended. This difference across reinforcers could be due to differences between cocaine and food in the mechanisms by which they maintain behavior, or a direct effect of cocaine on choice performance.
Nuclear DNA Content and Ploidy Values in Clonally-Developed Plasmodia of the Myxomycete Didymium Iridis

SUMMARYThe nuclear Feulgen-DNA content of presynthetic (G1) and post-synthetic (G2) selfed plasmodial nuclei of the Panamanian 2–4 (A7) isolate of Didymium iridis was measured by quantitative microspectrophotmetry. These values were then compared with values obtained from DNA studies of swarm cells bearing the mating alleles A2 and A7, and Plasmodia produced from a cross between those isolates. The mean G1 and G2 values for the selfed Plasmodia were 0.148 and 0.277 respectively. Swarm cell of Honduran and Panamanian isolates which bear the mating alleles A2 and A7 were found to have mean DNA values of 0.292 and 0.283. The nuclear DNA content of a Plasmodium resulting from a cross between these isolates was 0.606. This value is equivalent to class 4C (replicated diploid). The G1 selfed Plasmodia are, therefore, in class C. Based on these observations we conclude that selfed Plasmodia are produced without prior nuclear fusion, and are therefore haploid.
A magnetic manganese phosphonate Langmuir-Blodgett film containing a tetrathiafulvalene amphiphile

An amphiphilic tetrathiafulvalene derivative, with two alkylphosphonic acid substituents, has been prepared and used to form a mixed organic/inorganic Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film containing a TTF-based organic network and a manganese phosphonate continuous lattice inorganic network. The inorganic network is isostructural with known manganese phosphonate layered solids, and undergoes magnetic ordering to a canted antiferromagnetic ground state. A model TTF derivative containing the alkylphosphonic acids, but without hydrophobic alkyl tails, was also synthesized and a manganese phosphonate solid, isostructural with the LB film, was prepared and characterized.
Gergonne's Card Trick, Positional Notation, and Radix Sort

Gergonne�s three pile card trick has been a favorite of mathematicians for nearly two centuries. This new exposition uses the radix sorting algorithm well known to computer scientists to explain why the trick works, and to explore generalizations. The presentation suggests strategies for introducing the trick and base three arithmetic to elementary school students.
Cognitive abilities in the early school years: No effects of shared environment between parents and offspring

From the little that is known about the genetic and environmental origins of individual differences in specific cognitive abilities in middle childhood, we predicted that verbal and spatial abilities but not perceptual speed and memory would show significant genetic influence at age 7. To test this hypothesis, specific cognitive abilities were compared for biological, adoptive, and nonadoptive parents and their 163 adopted and 142 nonadopted children tested at age 7 as part of the longitudinal Colorado Adoption Project. Model-fitting analyses support the hypothesis of significant genetic influence on verbal and spatial abilities but not on perceptual speed and memory. These results imply the existence of some genetic continuity from the early school years to adulthood for verbal and spatial abilities. In addition, genetic influence of parents on their children appears to increase from early childhood to middle childhood, accounting for about 25% of the variance of verbal and spatial abilities at age 7. In contrast, environmental resemblance between parents and offspring is nonsignificant for all four specific cognitive abilities as well as for a composite score representing general cognitive ability. Such shared environmental influence between parent and child accounts for less than 1% of the variance at age 7.
Graphs, Syzygies, and Multivariate Splines

The module of splines on a polyhedral complex can be viewed as the syzygy module of its dual graph with edges weighted by powers of linear forms. When the assignment of linear forms to edges meets certain conditions, we can decompose the graph into disjoint cycles without changing the isomorphism class of the syzygy module. Thus we can use this decomposition to compute the homological dimension and the Hilbert series of the module. We provide alternate proofs of some results of Schenck and Stillman, extending those results to the polyhedral case. We also provide examples which illustrate the role that geometry plays in determining the syzygy module.
New findings on the phase transitions in Li1−xNiO2: in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies

Abstract A synchrotron X-ray source was used for in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies on a Li 1− x NiO 2 cathode in the transmission mode. New phase transitions, different from those published in the literature, were observed. When a Li|LiNiO 2 cell was charged at the C/13 and C/84 rates in the 3.5 to 5.1 V range, there were two first-order phase transitions, with all three phases having a hexagonal structure. These new findings question the interpretation of XRD patterns used in the literature as evidence for monoclinic phase formation in this system during charge.
Dormancy in solid tumors: implications for prostate cancer.

In cancer dormancy, residual tumor cells persist in a patient with no apparent clinical symptoms, only to potentially become clinically relevant at a later date. In prostate cancer (PCa), the primary tumor is often removed and many patients experience a prolonged period (>5 years) with no evidence of disease before recurrence. These characteristics make PCa an excellent candidate for the study of tumor cell dormancy. However, the mechanisms that constitute PCa dormancy have not been clearly defined. Additionally, the definition of tumor cell dormancy varies in the literature. Therefore, we have separated tumor cell dormancy in this review into three categories: (a) micrometastatic dormancy—a group of tumor cells that cannot increase in number due to a restrictive proliferation/apoptosis equilibrium. (b) Angiogenic dormancy—a group of tumor cells that cannot expand beyond the formation of a micrometastasis due to a lack of angiogenic potential. (c) Conditional dormancy—an individual cell or a very small number of cells that cannot proliferate without the appropriate cues from the microenvironment, but do not require angiogenesis to do so. This review aims to identify currently known markers, mechanisms, and models of tumor dormancy, in particular as they relate to PCa, and highlight current opportunities for advancement in our understanding of clinical cancer dormancy.
Unique adaptations of the metabolic biochemistry of tunas and billfishes for life in the pelagic environment

Virtually all characteristics of tunas and billfishes reflect their highly charged lifestyles as apex predators in the oceanic pelagic environment. The adaptations they possess for efficient and rapid swimming, efficient and rapid food processing, turnover of nutrients and storage and mobilization of internal fuel supplies, and for rapid recovery rates, are discussed. Overall, tunas and billfishes are designed for high performance, at both sustainable and burst swimming speeds, but there are several differences between tunas and billfishes. Tunas' aerobic metabolic capacities exceed those of ectothermic fishes, including billfishes and other scombrids, by virtue of their elevated red muscle temperatures, and because heart and white muscle aerobic capacities are significantly greater in tunas. The adaptations for high performance involve some costs, including the need for a constant high energy input to sustain high metabolic rates, high activity levels, and endothermy, Yet, tunas and billfishes have adopted successful lifestyles, as evidenced by their large numbers and biomass within the marine environment. Although our knowledge of these fishes has increased dramatically during the past 15 years, there are major gaps in our understanding of the metabolic biochemistry and physiology of these fishes, and these are highlighted so that additional research can be directed towards filling these gaps.
The effect of methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) on the developing rat retina.

Abstract The morphological effects of methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) on the prenatal and postnatal rat retina were studied using light and electron microscopy. MAM was injected into pregnant rats once on days 9(E9) to 20(E20) of gestation, or into newborn pups once on days 1(PE1) through 9(PE9) after birth. Some of the retinas were examined 3–4 weeks after birth and others at 5 months. A second group of rats was injected with MAM on day PE1 and killed at 24-h intervals to day PE9. The retina from adult animals treated with MAM between days E17 and PE5 (except day E20) showed pathological damage. The retinas from adult animals treated with MAM before E17 and after PE5 appeared normal. Retinas from animals examined daily after injection of MAM had, within 2 days of the treatment, pyknotic cells and necrosis in the neuroblastic layer. By 5 days after treatment no necrotic material was visible. At 3 days after treatment, dark cells, believed to be aberrant developing photoreceptor cells, were adjacent to the pigment epithelium. These cells appeared to be the focal point for formation of rosettes which occurred on subsequent days. The developing rat retina is sensitive to MAM during gestation and the early postnatal period. Before E17 when most of the cells were still in the proliferating pool, the retina may have been able to repair the MAM-induced injury and develop normal cytoarchitecture. Between E17 and PE6 when more and more cells became postmitotic the retina was not able to compensate and rosettes were formed. Finally, after PE6 when most cells were postmitotic and less were killed by MAM, the retina again appeared not to be affected.
Safety design considerations for AC low-voltage distribution systems

Electrical hazards exist in 600 V and below electrical distribution systems. Safety criteria, protective device performance, transferred potential hazard, and National Electrical Code (NEC) voltage limits and requirements on equipment grounding practices are examined. Some recommendations on safe design are presented. >
A Practical Approach to Organizing Curriculum

Each school has its own curriculum story. An important leadership role of the principal is to focus the search for curriculum and curriculum improve ment around specific questions. The basic journalistic questions-who, what, where, why, etc.—provide such a focus.
The pasteurization of education

Stokes (1997) has argued that research projects can be described by their contributions to theoretical understanding and the solution of practical problems. Building on this model, scholars have suggested that the learning sciences should focus "use-inspired basic research." With this move has come a focus on projects with the potential to create systemic change rather than naturalistic studies of learning in context and design research to develop innovative interventions. We argue that this is based on a misreading history, and is counter-productive for learning science research. To make this case, we use Latour's (1983) study of Pasteur to suggest an alternative model for research-based transformation of education. By way of illustration, we use a brief example of a research project to ground a discussion of the broader implications of this alternative conceptualization of the process of learning sciences research.
Improved Refractive Index from a Planar Leaky Wave-Guide Coupler

Modal loss coefficients for a planar leaky wave-guide are obtained by two new methods. One is a numerical calculation combining optical thin film theory with optical wave-guide theory; another is an analytical derivation based on analogy to Beer’s law. Considering the influence of the modal loss, a modified mode equation for the planar leaky wave-guide is obtained, which greatly increases the accuracy of the refractive index and thickness of the thin film in a planar leaky wave-guide coupler (prism I film I substrate).
Anosmia in a 9-Year-Old Boy

A 9-year-old boy presented with anosmia of unknown duration. His parents thought it had been present since birth, noting that he had lacked interest in food for many years. The patient had no history of sinusitis, chronic congestion, snoring, or mouth breathing. His medical history was significant for recurrent otitis media (tympanostomy tubes had been placed at age 4 years), highfrequency hearing loss, and cryptorchidism (orchiopexy at age 18 months). He was also seeing an endocrinologist for short stature. His endocrinology records showed that his size was appropriate for his family (his mother was 157 cm, his father 165 cm) and that his rates of growth and weight gain were normal. He was prepubertal, with no family history of anosmia or delayed puberty. On a smell identification test performed in the office, he placed in the first percentile.1 He failed the 12-in alcohol smell test. Anterior rhinoscopy revealed septal deviation but no other abnormalities. Flexible fiber-optic examination of the nose revealed no masses, polyps, or cysts, with a minimal adenoid pad. A magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the nasal cavity obtained under anesthesia is shown in Figure 1. What is your diagnosis? Figure 1. Amagnetic resonance image of the nasal cavity. Clinical Review& Education
How a protein binds B12: A 3.0 A X-ray structure of B12-binding domains of methionine synthase

The crystal structure of a 27-kilodalton methylcobalamin-containing fragment of methionine synthase from Escherichia coli was determined at 3.0 A resolution. This structure depicts cobalamin-protein interactions and reveals that the corrin macrocycle lies between a helical amino-terminal domain and an alpha/beta carboxyl-terminal domain that is a variant of the Rossmann fold. Methylcobalamin undergoes a conformational change on binding the protein; the dimethylbenzimidazole group, which is coordinated to the cobalt in the free cofactor, moves away from the corrin and is replaced by a histidine contributed by the protein. The sequence Asp-X-His-X-X-Gly, which contains this histidine ligand, is conserved in the adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzymes methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase and glutamate mutase, suggesting that displacement of the dimethylbenzimidazole will be a feature common to many cobalamin-binding proteins. Thus the cobalt ligand, His759, and the neighboring residues Asp757 and Ser810, may form a catalytic quartet, Co-His-Asp-Ser, that modulates the reactivity of the B12 prosthetic group in methionine synthase.
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis After Accidental Injection of a Hog Vaccine: Successful Treatment With Plasmapheresis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, can occur after viral infections or vaccinations. We report the clinical and neuroimaging findings in a 52-year-old man in whom acute disseminated encephalomyelitis developed after accidental self-injection of an industrial hog vaccine. The protracted and progressive clinical course, despite high-dose parenteral corticosteroid therapy, was altered by aggressive plasmapheresis.
Process improvement in cardiac surgery: Development and implementation of a reoperation for bleeding checklist

Objective High-performing health care organizations differentiate themselves by focusing on continuous process improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. Reoperation for bleeding is an event associated with considerable morbidity risk. Hence, our primary objective was to develop and implement a formal operative checklist to reduce technical reasons for postoperative bleeding. Methods From January 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, 5812 cardiac surgical procedures were performed at Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH). A multidisciplinary team developed a simple, easy-to-perform hemostasis checklist based on the most common sites of bleeding. An extensive educational in-service was performed before limited, then universal, checklist implementation. Geometric charts were used to track the number of cases between consecutive reoperations for bleeding. We compared these before (phase 0) and after the first limited implementation phase (phase 1) and the universal implementation phase (phase 2) of the checklist. Results The average number of cases between consecutive reoperations for bleeding increased from 32 in phase 0 to 53 in both phase 1 ( P = .002) and phase 2 ( P = .01). Conclusions A substantial reduction in reoperation for bleeding cases followed implementation of a formalized hemostasis checklist. Our findings underscore the important influence of memory aids that focus attention on surgical techniques to improve patient outcomes in a complex, operative work environment.
Vascular calcifications on hand radiographs in rheumatoid arthritis and associations with autoantibodies, cardiovascular risk factors and mortality

Objective. To examine whether vascular calcifications on hand films in RA might aid in determining mortality risk. Methods. Hand radiographs from 906 RA patients were scored as positive or negative for vascular calcifications. Patient characteristics associated with vascular calcifications were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, and associations with mortality were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression. Cytokines and multiplex ACPA were measured in both groups. Results. A total of 99 patients (11%) demonstrated radiographic vascular calcifications. Factors independently associated with vascular calcifications included diabetes [odds ratio (OR) 2.85; 95% CI 1.43, 5.66], cardiovascular disease at enrolment (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.01, 6.09), prednisone use (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.25, 2.91), current smoking (OR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01, 0.23) and former smoking (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.27, 0.48) vs never smoking. In cytokine and ACPA subtype analysis, IL-4 and anti-citrullinated apolipoprotein E were significantly increased in patients with vascular calcifications in fully adjusted multivariable models. After multivariable adjustment, vascular calcifications were associated with an increase in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.41; 95% CI 1.12, 1.78; P = 0.004). Conclusion. Vascular calcifications on hand radiographs were independently associated with increased all-cause mortality in RA. Mechanisms underpinning the associations of IL-4 and select ACPA with vascular calcifications and their utility as biomarkers predictive of cardiovascular disease risk in RA merit further study.
Markers of inflammation are inversely associated with V̇o2 max in asymptomatic men

We investigated whether markers of inflammation, including a cytokine (IL-6), acute-phase reactants [C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen], and white blood cell (WBC) count are associated with m...
Distribution and Function of Laminins in the Neuromuscular System of Developing, Adult, and Mutant Mice

Laminins, heterotrimers of α, β, and γ chains, are prominent constituents of basal laminae (BLs) throughout the body. Previous studies have shown that laminins affect both myogenesis and synaptogenesis in skeletal muscle. Here we have studied the distribution of the 10 known laminin chains in muscle and peripheral nerve, and assayed the ability of several heterotrimers to affect the outgrowth of motor axons. We show that cultured muscle cells express four different α chains (α1, α2, α4, and α5), and that developing muscles incorporate all four into BLs. The portion of the muscle's BL that occupies the synaptic cleft contains at least three α chains and two β chains, but each is regulated differently. Initially, the α2, α4, α5, and β1 chains are present both extrasynaptically and synaptically, whereas β2 is restricted to synaptic BL from its first appearance. As development proceeds, α2 remains broadly distributed, whereas α4 and α5 are lost from extrasynaptic BL and β1 from synaptic BL. In adults, α4 is restricted to primary synaptic clefts whereas α5 is present in both primary and secondary clefts. Thus, adult extrasynaptic BL is rich in laminin 2 (α2β1γ1), and synaptic BL contains laminins 4 (α2β2γ1), 9 (α4β2γ1), and 11 (α5β2γ1). Likewise, in cultured muscle cells, α2 and β1 are broadly distributed but α5 and β2 are concentrated at acetylcholine receptor–rich “hot spots,” even in the absence of nerves. The endoneurial and perineurial BLs of peripheral nerve also contain distinct laminin chains: α2, β1, γ1, and α4, α5, β2, γ1, respectively. Mutation of the laminin α2 or β2 genes in mice not only leads to loss of the respective chains in both nerve and muscle, but also to coordinate loss and compensatory upregulation of other chains. Notably, loss of β2 from synaptic BL in β2−/− “knockout” mice is accompanied by loss of α5, and decreased levels of α2 in dystrophic α2dy/dy mice are accompanied by compensatory retention of α4. Finally, we show that motor axons respond in distinct ways to different laminin heterotrimers: they grow freely between laminin 1 (α1β1γ1) and laminin 2, fail to cross from laminin 4 to laminin 1, and stop upon contacting laminin 11. The ability of laminin 11 to serve as a stop signal for growing axons explains, in part, axonal behaviors observed at developing and regenerating synapses in vivo.
A ratioless and biasless static CMOS level shifter

A CMOS level shifter is presented that has no static power dissipation (biasless) and does not rely on MOS device sizing for basic operation (ratioless). Propagation delays for fabricated circuits are presented over a supply range of 5.0 Volts to 0.8 Volts. The proposed level shifter is intended for Scalable CMOS digital libraries and low-power automated test equipment.
Later abortions and mental health: psychological experiences of women having later abortions--a critical review of research.

Abstract Background Some abortion policies in the U.S. are based on the notion that abortion harms women’s mental health. The American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Abortion and Mental Health concluded that first-trimester abortions do not harm women’s mental health. However, the APA task force does not make conclusions regarding later abortions (second trimester or beyond) and mental health. This paper critically evaluates studies on later abortion and mental health in order to inform both policy and practice. Method Using guidelines outlined by Steinberg and Russo (2009) , post 1989 quantitative studies on later abortion and mental health were evaluated on the following qualities: 1) composition of comparison groups, 2) how prior mental health was assessed, and 3) whether common risk factors were controlled for in analyses if a significant relationship between abortion and mental health was found. Studies were evaluated with respect to the claim that later abortions harm women’s mental health. Results Eleven quantitative studies that compared the mental health of women having later abortions (for reasons of fetal anomaly) with other groups were evaluated. Findings differed depending on the comparison group. No studies considered the role of prepregnancy mental health, and one study considered whether factors common among women having later abortions and mental health problems drove the association between later abortion and mental health. Conclusion Policies based on the notion that later abortions (because of fetal anomaly) harm women's mental health are unwarranted. Because research suggests that most women who have later abortions do so for reasons other than fetal anomaly, future investigations should examine women’s psychological experiences around later abortions.
Alzheimer's Disease: Genes, Proteins, and Therapy

Rapid progress in deciphering the biological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has arisen from the application of molecular and cell biology to this complex disorder of the limbic and association cortices. In turn, new insights into fundamental aspects of protein biology have resulted from research on the disease. This beneficial interplay between basic and applied cell biology is well illustrated by advances in understanding the genotype-to-phenotype relationships of familial Alzheimer's disease. All four genes definitively linked to inherited forms of the disease to date have been shown to increase the production and/or deposition of amyloid β-protein in the brain. In particular, evidence that the presenilin proteins, mutations in which cause the most aggressive form of inherited AD, lead to altered intramembranous cleavage of the β-amyloid precursor protein by the protease called γ-secretase has spurred progress toward novel therapeutics. The finding that presenilin itself may be the long-sought γ-...
Dual Impact of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity on Project Network Performance

As the design and construction industry globalizes, it becomes increasingly important to understand the impact of cultural and linguistic differences on performance. Researchers have recently begun examining issues associated with design and construction globalization. However, there is little empirical evidence of how differences in national culture and language affect performance in global project networks. This paper presents the results of an experiment comparing the performance of multicultural and monocultural simulated project networks over time. We found cultural and linguistic diversity to have a dual impact. We observed such diversity to have a negative impact on initial performance; however, culturally and linguistically diverse project networks studied achieved better adaptation performance on average. The results suggest that, although there are initial performance liabilities, sustained interaction of culturally and linguistically diverse networks may ultimately result in multicultural netwo...
The abundant world: Paul Feyerabend's metaphysics of science

The goal of this paper is to provide an interpretation of Feyerabend's metaphysics of science as found in late works like Conquest of Abundance and Tyranny of Science. Feyerabend's late metaphysics consists of an attempt to criticize and provide a systematic alternative to traditional scientific realism, a package of views he sometimes referred to as "scientific materialism." Scientific materialism is objectionable not only on metaphysical grounds, nor because it provides a poor ground for understanding science, but because it implies problematic claims about the epistemic and cultural authority of science, claims incompatible with situating science properly in democratic societies. I show how Feyerabend's metaphysical view, which I call "the abundant world" or "abundant realism," constitute a sophisticated and challenging form of ontological pluralism that makes interesting connections with contemporary philosophy of science and issues of the political and policy role of science in a democratic society.
Protein Identification by Peptide Mass Fingerprinting

Peptide mass fingerprinting is a protein identification technique in which MS is used to measure the masses of proteolytic peptide fragments. The protein then is identified by matching the measured peptide masses to corresponding peptide masses from protein or nucleotide sequence databases. Peptide mass fingerprinting works well for analytical proteomics because it combines a conceptually simple approach with robust, high-throughput instrumentation (typically MALDI-TOF MS). As with other MS-based analytical proteomics techniques, the quality of the protein identifications made depend on the quality of both the MS data, the accuracy of the databases, and the power of the search algorithms and software used. In the remainder of this chapter, we will consider peptide mass fingerprinting in greater detail. We will describe how peptide mass measurements can be used to identify proteins and finally how algorithms and software can automate the identification process.
Serious Non-AIDS Events: Therapeutic Targets of Immune Activation and Chronic Inflammation in HIV Infection

In the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era, serious non-AIDS events (SNAEs) have become the major causes of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons. Early ART initiation has the strongest evidence for reducing SNAEs and mortality. Biomarkers of immune activation, inflammation and coagulopathy do not fully normalize despite virologic suppression and persistent immune activation is an important contributor to SNAEs. A number of strategies aimed to reduce persistent immune activation including ART intensification to reduce residual viremia; treatment of co-infections to reduce chronic antigen stimulation; the use of anti-inflammatory agents, reducing microbial translocation as well as interventions to improve immune recovery through cytokine administration and reducing lymphoid tissue fibrosis, have been investigated. To date, there is little conclusive evidence on which strategies beyond treatment of hepatitis B and C co-infections and reducing cardiovascular risk factors will result in clinical benefits in patients already on ART with viral suppression. The use of statins seems to show early promise and larger clinical trials are underway to confirm their efficacy. At this stage, clinical care of HIV-infected patients should therefore focus on early diagnosis and prompt ART initiation, treatment of active co-infections and the aggressive management of co-morbidities until further data are available.
16 – Case Studies

Publisher Summary The best way to understand system-level modeling is to model systems. This chapter thus discusses models for case studies. First, modeling goals are established and modeling domains selected. This provides a structure or anatomy for the specification. Next, models are written for basic system elements in selected domains. Functors, products, and coproducts are then used to construct composite specifications. Finally, combinators are used to generate analysis and synthesis models. The chapter also identifies system-level modeling goals, basic models and domains, and constructs composite models. System-level modeling goals reflect the overall system design goals. Knowing what the analysis goals are leads to identifying the necessary system models and their associated domains. The key is identifying the best domain for each model. Two equally important observations play key roles here, that is, the most natural domain for each model and relationships between domains in the domain semi-lattice. Furthermore, one should choose the domain most appropriate for performing analysis. This may be the domain common to the majority of models or a domain for which excellent analysis tools are available. In most cases, this choice is made when the modeling domains are chosen and impacts the structure of the entire modeling process.
Laboratory and pilot-scale dead-end ultrafiltration concentration of sanitizer-free and chlorinated lettuce wash water for improved detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

An automated dead-end (single pass, no recirculation) ultrafiltration device, the Portable Multi-use Automated Concentration System (PMACS), was evaluated as a means to concentrate Escherichia coli O157:H7 from 40 liters of simulated commercial lettuce wash water. The assessment included generating, sieving, and concentrating sanitizer-free lettuce wash water, either uninoculated or inoculated with green fluorescent protein–transformed E. coli O157:H7 at a high (1.00 log CFU/ml) or low (−1.00 log CFU/ml) concentration. Cells collected within the filters were recovered in approximately 400 ml of buffer to create lettuce wash retentates. The extent of concentration was determined by viable plate counts using a medium selective for the transformed E. coli O157:H7. The samples were qualitatively analyzed for E. coli O157:H7 according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual enrichment method and with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. This concentration method was then ...
Schmoozing in Elementary School: The Importance of Social Capital to First Graders

Sociologists have investigated the importance of social capital for many outcomes, but the influence of various types of social capital—particularly intergenerational closure—on inequality in students' academic skills remains unclear. In this study, the authors draw on and extend theoretical perspectives rooted in Coleman and Bourdieu to assess the impact of both strong and weak ties on children's learning. Analyzing data on first graders from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K), the authors show that multiple types of social capital are distributed unequally by social class, and that these disparities in social capital partially mediate the relationship between social class and gains in math skills. Intergenerational closure, however, does not promote learning net of other factors. Supporting primarily Bourdieu's perspective on social capital, the authors conclude that weak ties in particular are critical in explaining class inequality in learning, even during the early ye...
Using Explanations to Manage Impressions of Performance Appraisal Fairness

Based on the post hoc sorting of the narrative comments given by supervisors of their subordinates' performance, four major substantive categories of performance explanations emerged. Explanations focusing on the meritorious aspects of performance were typically used to explain high ratings, and apologies typically accompanied the administration of low ratings. Average ratings typically received no explanation. Perceived as fairest were ratings that enhanced the subordinate's self-image. The present results demonstrate the importance of explanations in enhancing perceptions of fairness.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction may explain symptom variation in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS), which is defined by a deletion within 22q13, demonstrates significant phenotypic variation. Given that six mitochondrial genes are located within 22q13, including complex I and IV genes, we hypothesize that mitochondrial complex activity abnormalities may explain phenotypic variation in PMS symptoms. Complex I, II, II + III and IV activity was measured in 51 PMS participants. Caretakers completed questionnaires and provided genetic information through the PMS foundation registry. Complex activity was abnormal in 59% of PMS participants. Abnormalities were found in complex I and IV but not complex II + III and II activity, consistent with disruption of genes within the 22q13 region. However, complex activity abnormalities were not related to specific gene deletions suggesting a "neighboring effect" of regional deletions on adjacent gene expression. A specific combination of symptoms (autism spectrum disorder, developmental regression, failure-to-thrive, exercise intolerance/fatigue) was associated with complex activity abnormalities. 64% of 106 individuals in the PMS foundation registry who did not have complex activity measured also endorsed this pattern of symptoms. These data suggest that mitochondrial abnormalities, specifically abnormalities in complex I and IV activity, may explain some phenotypic variation in PMS individuals. These results point to novel pathophysiology mechanisms and treatment targets for PMS patients.
Teaching Ethics in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Vignette-Based Curriculum

Abstract Introduction Ethics is an integral component of child and adolescent psychiatry. While ethics can seem abstract or philosophical, its tenets are fundamental to the practice of medicine. Un...
Metallothionein and Zinc Transporter Expression in Circulating Human Blood Cells as Biomarkers of Zinc Status: a Systematic Review

Zinc is an essential nutrient for humans; however, a sensitive biomarker to assess zinc status has not been identified. The objective of this systematic review was to compile and assess studies that determined zinc transporter and/or metallothionein expression in various blood cell types and to determine their reliability and sensitivity to changes in dietary zinc. Sixteen studies were identified that determined the expression of zrt-, irt-like protein (ZIP) 1 [solute carrier family (SLC) 39A1], ZIP3 (SLC39A3), ZIP5 (SLC39A5), ZIP6 (SLC39A6), ZIP7 (SLC39A7), ZIP8 (SLC39A8), ZIP10 (SLC39A10), ZIP14 (SLC39A14), zinc transporter (ZnT)1 (SLC30A1), ZnT2 (SLC30A2), ZnT4 (SLC30A4), ZnT5 (SLC30A5), ZnT6 (SLC30A6), ZnT7 (SLC30A7), ZnT9 (SLC30A9), and/or metallothionein in various blood cells isolated from healthy adult men and women in response to zinc supplementation or depletion. Cell types included leukocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, T lymphocytes, monocytes, and erythrocytes. ZIP1, ZnT1, and metallothionein were the most commonly measured proteins. Changes in ZIP1 and ZnT1 in response to zinc supplementation or depletion were not consistent across studies. Leukocyte metallothionein decreased with zinc depletion (-39% change from baseline, <5 mg Zn/d, n = 2 studies) and increased with zinc supplementation in a dose-dependent manner (35%, 15-22 mg Zn/d, n = 7 studies; 267%, 50 mg Zn/d, n = 2 studies) and at the earliest time points measured; however, no change or delayed response was observed in metallothionein in erythrocytes. A greater percentage of studies demonstrated that metallothionein in leukocyte subtypes was a more reliable (100%, n = 12; 69%, n = 16) and responsive (92%, n = 12; 82%, n = 11) indicator of zinc exposure than was plasma zinc, respectively. In conclusion, current evidence indicates that metallothionein in leukocyte subtypes may be a component in determining zinc status.
Electrooptic phase-sensitive detection of optical emission and scattering: methods and applications

A method of optical phase-sensitive detection is described, and its applications to the measurement of rapid optical relaxation rates and the separation of Raman scattering from spontaneous emission are discussed. Phase resolution is achieved by using the experimental arrangement shown schematically in Fig. 1. The emission excited by an electrooptically modulated laser is passed through a second electrooptic intensity modulator with adjustable phase relative to the first modulator. The light is then dispersed in a spectrometer and detected.
siRNA carrying an (E)-vinylphosphonate moiety at the 5΄ end of the guide strand augments gene silencing by enhanced binding to human Argonaute-2.

Efficient gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) in vivo requires the recognition and binding of the 5΄- phosphate of the guide strand of an siRNA by the Argonaute protein. However, for exogenous siRNAs it is limited by the rapid removal of the 5΄- phosphate of the guide strand by metabolic enzymes. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of human Argonaute-2 in complex with the metabolically stable 5΄-(E)-vinylphosphonate (5΄-E-VP) guide RNA at 2.5-A resolution. The structure demonstrates how the 5΄ binding site in the Mid domain of human Argonaute-2 is able to adjust the key residues in the 5΄-nucleotide binding pocket to compensate for the change introduced by the modified nucleotide. This observation also explains improved binding affinity of the 5΄-E-VP -modified siRNA to human Argonaute-2 in-vitro, as well as the enhanced silencing in the context of the trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated siRNA in mice relative to the un-modified siRNA.