cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Knowledge-Component Models Need to Incorporate Representational Competencies?

Traditional knowledge-component models describe students’ content knowledge (e.g., their ability to carry out problem-solving procedures or their ability to reason about a concept). In many STEM domains, instruction uses multiple visual representations such as graphs, figures, and diagrams. The use of visual representations implies a “representation dilemma”: students learn new content from visual representations they may not yet understand at the same time as they learn about visual representations that show content they do not yet understand. Therefore, students’ learning of content knowledge and of representational competencies (i.e., knowledge about representations) is invariably intertwined. Consequently, instruction may need to adapt not only to students’ acquisition of content knowledge but also to their acquisition of representational competencies. This claim corresponds to the hypothesis that knowledge-component models that describe content knowledge and representational competencies should be more accurate than knowledge-component models that describe only content knowledge. Yet, this hypothesis has not yet been tested. The work in this article tests this hypothesis by comparing knowledge-component models that describe representational competencies and content knowledge to knowledgecomponent models that describe only content knowledge. Analysis of log data from two experiments on chemistry learning with overall 203 undergraduate students suggests that including representational competencies into knowledge-component models increases model fit if the representational competencies are difficult. This finding suggests that students can learn abstract content knowledge only if they have a prerequisite level of representational competencies, and that educational technologies should use adaptive knowledge-component models that capture representational competencies the student has not yet mastered.
Disadvantaged Status and Health Matters Networks among Low-Income African American Women.

A significant gap in current network research relates to understanding the factors that shape the health matters (HM) networks of marginalized, socially disadvantaged populations. This is noteworthy, given that these networks represent a critical resource for mitigating the adverse health effects of both acute and chronic strains associated with marginalized status. Further, research has suggested that the networks of such populations—especially low-income African American women—are unique, and may operate in substantively different ways than those of other groups. Using two waves of data from a sample of low-income African American women, this research identifies the demographic, health status, and health behavior measures at time one that correspond to HM network characteristics at time two, six months later. This study offers preliminary insights on the relationship between key sociodemographic and health status characteristics of low-income African American women and their HM networks, including criminal justice involvement. Findings reveal that though poorer health status and criminal justice involvement correspond to smaller health matters networks, they also correspond to more active and supportive networks.
Perceived versus actual medication regimens among internal medicine patients.

ABSTRACT Exchange of accurate information between patients and medical providers is imperative for appropriate medication prescribing. We performed an evaluation of medication regimens of patients with information obtained independently from patient-completed surveys and nursing and provider interviews. The actual medication regimen was determined after the clinic encounter via mail-in forms or telephone interviews with patients reporting current medications directly from prescription bottles. Two hundred thirteen patients taking an average of 3.8 prescription medications were enrolled. Patients, nurses, and primary care providers were modestly accurate in reporting the number of medications being taken (κ, 0.57,0.51, and 0.58, respectively); however, they performed poorly in reporting complete medication regimens as defined by the correct names, doses, and frequencies with 100% accuracy (34%, 26.7%, and 29.3%, respectively). Patients who created their own lists were more accurate than those who relied on...
Connections between Instructor Messages and Undergraduate Students' Changing Personal Theories about Education.

Students' personal theories about education change as students gather new evidence about intelligence, learning, and knowledge. The present study investigated whether college instructors' play a ro...
Sarcopenia is a Significant Predictor of Mortality After Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair.

Abstract Background: Repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) decreases the incidence of rupture and death. In cancer patients, sarcopenia has been associated with increased surgical complications and mortality. The impact of sarcopenia on survival after AAA repair has yet to be described. Methods: Patient demographic, laboratory, body composition measurements and survival data were obtained from patients undergoing AAA repair at the Indiana University medical campus over a 5-year period. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with overall survival. Results: Overall, 58.2% presented with sarcopenia. Sarcopenic patients were older (71.8±8.3 versus 66.8±8.1 years; p<0.001), had lower body mass index (BMI) (26.3±5.2 versus 31.5±5.9 kg/m 2 ; p<0.001), higher rates of myosteatosis (84.4% versus 52.%; p<0.001), greater AAA diameter (60.6±14.0 versus 57.8±11.7 mm; p=0.016), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (32.3% versus 25.1% ³6; p=0.034), and increased rates of rupture (8.2% versus 3.8%; p=0.047). Sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic patients had no difference in 30-day morbidity (8.5% versus 8.5%; p=0.991) or mortality (3.7% versus 0.9%; p=0.07). Univariate analysis demonstrated age, sarcopenia, myosteatosis, CCI, and BMI to be associated with long-term survival. There was no correlation between BMI and sarcopenia. Both sarcopenia and myosteatosis resulted in decreased one-, three-, and five-year survivals compared to their counterparts. On multivariate analysis sarcopenia is independently associated with survival, conferring a 1.6-fold increase in death (p=0.04). The combination of sarcopenia plus myosteatosis doubled the risk of death compared to sarcopenia alone. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that over half of all patients undergoing AAA repair are sarcopenic, a condition associated with increased mortality. Sarcopenia with myosteatosis is associated with double the mortality of sarcopenia alone. CT scan, but not BMI, accurately identifies sarcopenia and myosteatosis. Defining the mechanisms through which sarcopenia contributes to late death after AAA repair is critical to developing novel interventions that may improve survival in this high risk population.
Outpatient Weaning of Inotropes is Achievable in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure

Purpose Patients admitted with advanced decompensated systolic heart failure (ADHF) typically require inotropes . Those who cannot be bridged to advanced heart failure therapies are discharged home on inotropes (as a palliative measure or until eligible for advanced therapies). Continuous inotrope infusion exposes patients to increased risk of arrhythmias and mortality. It is unknown whether such patients can be weaned off inotropic support in an outpatient setting. Methods In a single-center observational study of patients admitted with ADHF between 2016-2018, we studied demographics, clinical history, physical exam data, and laboratory data. We determined functional status and compliance with medical therapies of patients who were successfully weaned off inotropes. Creatinine , electrolytes, vital signs, and physical exam findings were followed weekly/biweekly during weaning and followed post-wean for ≥60 days. Results 9 patients (mean age 49 y; 5 males) were successfully weaned off inotropes in an outpatient setting. All had been discharged home on milrinone or dobutamine infusion. Only 1 patient had ischemic cardiomyopathy ; 2 had required mechanical support during hospitalization. Median length of stay after inotrope initiation was 8 days with median 78 days on inotropes prior to weaning. 6 patients were started on sacubitril/valsartan, which was uptitrated during weaning, of whom 3 tolerated the maximum dose. The other patients were uptitrated on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB). 60 days post-wean, all 9 patients reported doing well with NYHA Class IIIa (n=5), Class IV (n=1), and Class II (n=3) symptoms. On longitudinal follow-up, 1 patient was hospitalized 1-year post-wean, was subsequently restarted on inotropes and required heart transplantation . Conclusion With close monitoring and gentle uptitration of afterload-reducing agents, it is feasible to wean patients with ADHF off inotropes in an outpatient setting.
IVA using complex multivariate GGD: application to fMRI analysis

Examples of complex-valued random phenomena in science and engineering are abound, and joint blind source separation (JBSS) provides an effective way to analyze multiset data. Thus there is a need for flexible JBSS algorithms for efficient data-driven feature extraction in the complex domain. Independent vector analysis (IVA) is a prominent recent extension of independent component analysis to multivariate sources, i.e., to perform JBSS, but its effectiveness is determined by how well the source models used match the true latent distributions and the optimization algorithm employed. The complex multivariate generalized Gaussian distribution (CMGGD) is a simple, yet effective parameterized family of distributions that account for full second- and higher-order statistics including noncircularity, a property that has been often omitted for convenience. In this paper, we marry IVA and CMGGD to derive, IVA-CMGGD, with a number of numerical optimization implementations including steepest descent, the quasi-Newton method Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS), and its limited-memory sibling limited-memory BFGS all in the complex-domain. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm on simulated data as well as a 14-subject real-world complex-valued functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset against a number of competing algorithms.
Direct production of fatty alcohols from glucose using engineered strains of Yarrowia lipolytica.

Fatty alcohols are important industrial oleochemicals with broad applications and a growing market. Here, we sought to engineer Yarrowia lipolytica to serve as a renewable source of fatty alcohols (specifically hexadecanol, heptadecanol, octadecanol, and oleyl alcohol) directly from glucose. Through screening four fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) enzyme variants across two engineered background strains, we identified that MhFAR enabled the highest production. Further strain engineering, fed-batch flask cultivation, and extractive fermentation improved the fatty alcohol titer to 1.5 g/L. Scale-up of this strain in a 2L bioreactor led to 5.8 g/L total fatty alcohols at an average yield of 36 mg/g glucose with a maximum productivity of 39 mg/L hr. Finally, we utilized this fatty alcohol reductase to generate a customized fatty alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, from α-linolenic acid. Overall, this work demonstrates Y. lipolytica is a robust chassis for diverse fatty alcohol production and highlights the capacity to obtain high titers and yields from a purely minimal media formulation directly from glucose without the need for complex additives.
The characterization of isobaric product ions of fentanyl using multi-stage mass spectrometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry and isotopic labeling

This study uses a combination of multi-stage mass spectrometry (MSn ), accurate mass measurements - with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) - and isotopic labeling to characterize the fragmentation behavior of fentanyl and 4-ANPP. By understanding the fragmentation behavior of fentanyl and its analogs in more detail, toxicologists and seized drug analysts will be better poised to identify new and emerging fentalogs, which are increasingly common and deadly adulterants in the growing opioid crisis. Throughout the literature the product ion at m/z 188 is often the most abundant fragment in the mass spectrometric analysis of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, and this fragment is used for both qualitative and quantitative determinations. Our work shows there are at least three different structures for the isobaric fentanyl product ions at m/z 188, and they each form and fragment via different pathways. The development of fragmentation mechanisms to explain the observed fragmentation pathways of fentanyl and its main precursor 4-ANPP helps contribute to the advancement of knowledge about fentanyl fragmentation and could provide important information for the identification of future fentanyl analogs.
On improved RCM model to theart evaluation for radiation sesource

Focusing on the deficiency of intuition, real-time and complexity of threat evaluation of radiation resource, an algorithm based on improved radar chart method (RCM) is proposed in this paper. In the algorithm proposed, coarse sorting is integrated with fine sorting to obtain a more accurate and reliable result of threat evaluation. Coarse sorting is applied to sequence all the radiation resource roughly according to radar operation mode, and reduce the task priority of low-threat radiation resource. Then, on the basis of improved RCM, fine sorting is applied to sequence the radiation resource with same radar operation mode. Finally, obtain the results of threat evaluation which combined coarse sorting with fine sorting. Simulation analysis shows the correctness and effectiveness of this algorithm. Comparing with classical method of threat evaluation of radiation resource based on RCM, the algorithm proposed in this paper is more visual in image and can work quickly with lower complexity.
Unpacking the Rhetorical Equity for Development: Is Equity Achievable in an Unequal Society?

Discourses around education in Africa raise a broad range of questions and issues. What is disturbing is that there is a lot of talking and very little action. Is it not time to move away from the descriptions of issues to actions, toward alternative solutions needed and to the implementation of those recommendations? This chapter seeks to address equity issues and what it means to strive to reach equity in an unequal world. My focus is higher education in Africa, with some reference to other aspects of the education system. Some of the issues I raise are also applicable in the other sectors of education. There is continuing tension between access for social justice and limited access targeting development goals and priority areas contributing directly to development.
Impact of Parenting Intervention on Observed Aggressive Behaviors in At-Risk Infants

Aggressive behaviors in early childhood persist through childhood and adolescence and result in negative outcomes. However, studies assessing aggressive behaviors in early childhood have focused primarily on parent report. Additionally, the effects of parenting interventions and associated parenting skills on early observed aggression have not been examined. In the present study, we examined the direct effect of a brief, in-home adaptation of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy, the Infant Behavior Program (IBP), on observed frequency of aggressive behaviors and global ratings of aggression in infants ages 12 to 15 months. Additionally, we examined behaviorally-based parenting skills as a mechanism by which the IBP impacted observed infant aggressive behaviors. Sixty infants with elevated levels of behavior problems were randomized to receive the IBP or standard pediatric primary care. Infants receiving the IBP demonstrated a significant decrease in the observed frequency of aggressive behaviors during infant-led play across a 3-month follow-up. Furthermore, the intervention led to decreases in parental use of don’t skills (i.e., directive and negative parent statements), which, in turn, led to decreases in the frequency of observed aggressive behaviors at a 3-month follow-up. However, effects were not maintained at a 6-month follow-up. Results provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of a brief parenting intervention on reducing the frequency of infant aggressive behaviors, including the indirect effect of the IBP on the frequency of aggressive behaviors through reductions in parenting skills. The study highlights the importance of targeting negative parenting practices to decrease subsequent aggressive behaviors in early childhood.
Validation of Small Satellite Dynamics Simulation Modules using ASTERIA Flight Data

ASTERIA (Arcsecond Space Telescope Enabling Research in Astrophysics) was a CubeSat space telescope that operated in low-Earth orbit, having been deployed from the International Space Station in 2017. A key enabling feature of the ASTERIA mission is the low level of pointing error that has been demonstrated under ASTERIA's fine pointing control mode. Prior to launch, the ASTERIA mission performed analysis and simulations to estimate the in-flight pointing performance. This analysis used reaction wheel models provided by JPL's Small Satellite Dynamics Testbed (SSDT), which had performed Kistler table testing to characterize the jitter caused by the reaction wheels of the Blue Canyon Technologies XACT attitude control unit within ASTERIA. These models were subsequently incorporated into the SSDT simulation. The main source of jitter on ASTERIA is the set of rotating reaction wheels that are used for maintaining fine pointing during observations. Therefore, to benefit all SmallSat missions devoted to photometric or spectroscopic astrophysics applications, an on-orbit flight data acquisition and jitter testing campaign was performed in an attempt to validate the SSDT's simulation models. This paper describes the process used to validate several simulation models and attempt to characterize the ASTERIA jitter by analyzing the size of the resulting spot size for the target stars as a function of wheel speed, having commanded four wheel speeds for each of three stars of known brightness. After summarizing the on-orbit observation and jitter level measurement process, this paper compares the results obtained from the flight operational environment to the corresponding set of simulation jitter levels. Though the flight data obtained during this experiment was not sufficient to validate the simulation's jitter model, other models have been validated with flight data, including the magnetic field, orbit propagation, sun position, and long-duration orbit decay models, which may be used by all other projects that use the SSDT's simulation to increase system capability knowledge.
Casein Glycomacropeptide: An Alternative Protein Substitute in Tyrosinemia Type I.

Tyrosinemia type I (HTI) is treated with nitisinone, a tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe)-restricted diet, and supplemented with a Tyr/Phe-free protein substitute (PS). Casein glycomacropeptide (CGMP), a bioactive peptide, is an alternative protein source to traditional amino acids (L-AA). CGMP contains residual Tyr and Phe and requires supplementation with tryptophan, histidine, methionine, leucine, cysteine and arginine. Aims: a 2-part study assessed: (1) the tolerance and acceptability of a low Tyr/Phe CGMP-based PS over 28 days, and (2) its long-term impact on metabolic control and growth over 12 months. Methods: 11 children with HTI were recruited and given a low Tyr/Phe CGMP to supply all or part of their PS intake. At enrolment, weeks 1 and 4, caregivers completed a questionnaire on gastrointestinal symptoms, acceptability and ease of PS use. In study part 1, blood Tyr and Phe were assessed weekly; in part 2, weekly to fortnightly. In parts 1 and 2, weight and height were assessed at the study start and end. Results: Nine of eleven children (82%), median age 15 years (range 8.6–17.7), took low Tyr/Phe CGMP PS over 28 days; it was continued for 12 months in n = 5 children. It was well accepted by 67% (n = 6/9), tolerated by 100% (n = 9/9) and improved gastrointestinal symptoms in 2 children. The median daily dose of protein equivalent from protein substitute was 60 g/day (range 45–60 g) with a median of 20 g/day (range 15 to 30 g) from natural protein. In part 2 (n = 5), a trend for improved blood Tyr was observed: 12 months pre-study, median Tyr was 490 μmol/L (range 200–600) and Phe 50 μmol/L (range 30–100); in the 12 months taking low Tyr/Phe CGMP PS, median Tyr was 430 μmol/L (range 270–940) and Phe 40 μmol/L (range 20–70). Normal height, weight and BMI z scores were maintained over 12 months. Conclusions: In HTI children, CGMP was well tolerated, with no deterioration in metabolic control or growth when studied over 12 months. The efficacy of CGMP in HTI needs further investigation to evaluate the longer-term impact on blood Phe concentrations and its potential influence on gut microflora
Development of ketosis in obese and normal lactating dairy cows

Four groups of six multiparous cows were used to determine effects of body condition (normal or obese) on characteristics of an induced ketosis. Obese cows calved 96 kg heavier and .66 body condition score units greater than normal cows. Susceptibility to ketosis was evaluated by restricting feed by 20% and feeding 7% 1,3-butanediol from days 15 to 49 of lactation. Three normal and three obese cows developed ketosis on the induction protocol: four cows showed ketonemia and two developed clinical ketosis. Cows subjected to the induction protocol decreased milk production by 15% and milk energy secretion by 14%. The ketosis induction protocol decreased the concentration of glucose and the insulin to glucagon ratio, and it increased the concentration of Bhydroxybutyrate and the hepatic triglyceride to glycogen ratio. Obese cows lost more weight and body condition than cows of normal body condition. Despite greater adipose tissue stores and increased losses, obese cows had lower hepatic triglyceride to glycogen ratios, lower blood ketone concentrations, higher insulin to glucagon ratios, and higher blood concentrations of glucose and insulin. Seemingly obese cows were better able to compensate for the ketosis induction protocol than were normally conditioned cows. Yet, 75% of obese cows and 60% of normal cows developed some degree of ketosis from the induction protocol. Obese cows were, therefore, susceptible to ketosis, and became ketotic without dramatic changes in glucose status or liver composition.
A new 25-gauge instrument system for transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy surgery.

Abstract Objectives To introduce and evaluate the infusion and aspiration rates and operative times of the 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy system (TSV) Design In vitro experimental and comparative interventional study. Participants and controls Twenty eyes of 20 patients underwent a variety of vitreoretinal procedures using the 25-gauge TSV, including idiopathic epiretinal membrane (n = 10), macular hole (n = 4), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n = 3), branch retinal vein occlusion (n = 2), diabetic vitreous hemorrhage (n = 1), and 20 cases similar in diagnosis and severity were matched to provide comparison between duration of individual portions of the surgical procedures with the existing 20-gauge vitrectomy system. Methods Description of the 25-gauge TSV is provided; infusion and aspiration rates of the 25-gauge and standard 20-gauge vitrectomy system were measured in vitro using balanced saline solution and porcine vitreous for several levels of aspirating power and bottle height, and operating times of individual portions of surgical procedures were measured for the 25-gauge and 20-gauge vitrectomy system. Main outcome measures Infusion, aspiration rates, and operative times of the 20-gauge and 25-gauge vitrectomy system. Results Infusion and aspiration rates of the 25-gauge TSV system were reduced by an average of 6.9 and 6.6 times, respectively, compared with the 20-gauge system when balanced saline solution was used. The average flow rate of the Storz 25-gauge cutter (at 500 mmHg, 1500 cuts per minute [cpm]) was 40% greater than that of the 20-gauge pneumatic cutter (at 250 mmHg, 750 cpm) but about 2.3 times less than the 20-gauge high-speed cutter (at 250 mmHg, 1500 cpm). Mean total operative time was significantly greater for the 20-gauge high-speed cutter (26 minutes, 7 seconds) than for the 25-gauge vitrectomy system (17 minutes, 17 seconds) ( P = 0.011). Conclusions Although the infusion and aspiration rates of the 25-gauge instruments are lower than those for the 20-gauge high-speed vitrectomy system, the use of 25-gauge TVS may effectively reduce operative times of select cases that do not require the full capability of conventional vitrectomy.
Common Interest Community Covenants and the Freedom of Contract Myth

Courts take a hands-off approach with respect to the content of common interest community (CIC) covenants, reasoning that freedom of contract mandates their enforcement. But CIC covenants differ from voluntary private contracts in important ways, making deferential enforcement in the name of contract policy unwarranted. Covenants that run with the land are specifically enforceable and bind subsequent owners of the property, potentially in perpetuity. Furthermore, CIC covenants are contracts of adhesion, made up of completely non-negotiable, recorded terms bundled into home acquisition. Developers and lenders generally prescribe the content of such covenants, and they may not reflect community desires or values. Contract analogy should not create presumptive validity for all CIC covenants and properly enacted rules. The reality of CIC governance is more complicated and implicates property and constitutional concerns as well as contract law. The proper approach to CIC governance review must draw from all three of these areas of the law. The subject matter scope of CIC governance should be limited based on servitude law principles. Constitutional protections should be legislated for members of CICs. And bona fide, deliberate assent should be prerequisite to holding owners bound to CIC obligations.
Performance Measures for Robust Design

Despite their widespread use as performance measures in robust design, Taguchi's signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) do not always minimize quadratic loss. The relationship between minimization of expected quadratic loss and Taguchi's SNR was articulated by Leon et al. 1. Their performance measure independent of adjustment (PerMIA) is a general performance measure which justifies the use of the Taguchi two-step procedures as a method of minimizing quadratic loss under certain models. We review the basic conceptual framework of the PerMIA and the literature related to this performance measure. Keywords: performance measure independent of adjustment; signal-to-noise ratio; Taguchi method; robust design; loss function
Granule Cells in Aging Rats Are Sexually Dimorphic in Their Response to Estradiol

Normal aging comprises cognitive decline, including deterioration of memory. It has been suggested that this decline in memory is sexually dimorphic because of the cessation in gonadal steroid secretion that occurs during reproductive aging in female, but not male, mammals. We wondered whether neurons in brain regions associated with learning and memory underwent morphological changes that were dimorphic as well and whether cessation of the secretion of gonadal steroids influenced these morphological changes. To explore these questions, we deprived and restored estrogens to young and old gonadectomized females and males and studied the morphology of dentate granule cells by intracellular dye filling in a lightly fixed slice preparation. We found the following: (1) Aged female dentate granule cells deprived of gonadal steroids long-term have a paucity of dendritic spines compared with young females deprived short-term; however, aged male dentate granule cells deprived of gonadal steroids long-term have no decrease in dendritic spines compared with young males deprived short-term. (2) Aged female dentate granule cells with long-term estrogen replacement at either high or low levels still had a decline in spine density. (3) Aged female dentate granule cells with short-term estradiol replacement had spine density increased to levels normally observed in young adults, whereas aged males with short-term estradiol replacement had decreased spine density. These data suggest that the response of rat dentate granule cells to aging and estradiol is sexually dimorphic and that, in females, the responsiveness of granule cells depends on the temporal pattern of estradiol replacement.
Polycrystalline diamond thin film packaging technology for wireless integrated microsystems

The paper presents a polycrystalline diamond (poly-C) thin film packaging technology that can be integrated into post-MEMS fabrication processes. The test package is fabricated using a 3-mask process. After a 0.5-/spl mu/m-thick boron-doped poly-C film is deposited and patterned for feedthroughs, a 4-/spl mu/m-thick poly-C film is deposited on 4.2-/spl mu/m-thick sacrificial PECVD oxide. The poly-C film is patterned to provide fluidic access ports for releasing the package. The fluidic access ports are sealed with additional 4-/spl mu/m poly-C deposition. Boron-doped poly-C is studied as a material for feedthroughs, which is embedded in the undoped insulating poly-C package to improve the sealing of the feedthrough. The poly-C feedthroughs are doped in-situ using tri-methyl-boron diluted in hydrogen (0.098%). This doping technique can lead to an interconnect resistivity as low as 0.003 /spl Omega/-cm. However, the resistivity of the poly-C feedthroughs film in the test package was 0.02 /spl Omega/-cm.
Expression, localization, and erythrocyte binding activity of Plasmodium yoelii merozoite surface protein-8

PyMSP-8 is a member of a family of merozoite surface proteins that have been described in Plasmodium that are characterized by the presence of a glycolipid membrane anchor and 1-2 epidermal growth factor-like domains. Immunization with recombinant PyMSP-8 has also been shown to protect mice against lethal Plasmodium yoelii malaria. In this report, we demonstrate that PyMSP-8 expression is detectable throughout the entire erythrocytic life cycle of P. yoelii 17XL, reaching peak level during trophozoite development. As determined by immunofluorescence, PyMSP-8 co-localizes with PyMSP-1 on the surface of merozoites in segmented schizonts and on the surface of ring stages in newly invaded erythrocytes. PyMSP-8 binds to the surface of uninfected mouse RBCs in a species-dependent manner, suggesting a potential role in merozoite attachment to and/or invasion of erythrocytes. The receptor for PyMSP-8 on RBCs is sensitive to trypsin digestion but is resistant to treatment with chymotrypsin or neuraminidase and is putatively identified as a approximately 105kDa membrane protein. Since PyMSP-8 binds to both mature RBCs as well as reticulocytes, it appears unlikely that the function of PyMSP-8 is restricted to the invasion of normocytes. While proper folding and conformation of PyMSP-8 are important, linear determinants of PyMSP-8 also contribute to erythrocyte binding. Unexpectedly, however, PyMSP-8 specific antibodies that are protective in vivo, do not disrupt the binding of rPyMSP-8 to its receptor on erythrocytes. The data indicate that protective anti-PyMSP-8 antibodies mediate their effect in vivo by an alternate mechanism(s).
Kinetics of Synaptic Depression and Vesicle Recycling after Tetanic Stimulation of Frog Motor Nerve Terminals

We measured the time courses of two key components of the synaptic vesicle cycle during recovery from synaptic depression under different conditions, and used this and other information to create a kinetic model of the vesicle cycle. End plate potential (EPP) amplitudes were used to follow recovery from synaptic depression after different amounts of tetanic stimulation. This provided an estimate of the time course of vesicle mobilization from the reserve pool to the docked (readily releasable) pool. In addition, FM1-43 was used to measure the rate of membrane retrieval after tetanic stimulation, and the amount of membrane transferred to the surface membrane. This provided a measure of the rate of refilling of the reserve pool with recycled vesicles. The time courses of both synaptic depression and endocytosis were slowed by prolonged tetanic stimulation. This behavior could be fitted by a simple model, assuming a first-order kinetics for both vesicle endocytosis and mobilization. The results show that a nearly 20-fold decrease in the rate constant of endocytosis greatly delays refilling of the depleted reserve pool. However, to fully account for the slower recovery of depression, a decrease in the rate constant of vesicle mobilization from the reserve pool of about sixfold is also required.
Resumption of Electrical Conduction in Previously Isolated Pulmonary Veins Rationale for a Different Strategy

Background— Atrial fibrillation (AF) may recur after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) as the result of either recurrent PV conduction or non-PV foci. This study characterized the electrophysiological findings of patients with recurrent AF after initially successful PVI and the clinical outcome after a repeat procedure. Methods and Results— Among 185 patients undergoing PVI, 52 reported no significant improvement in their clinical course. We analyzed PV conduction in 51 PVs (15 patients) at repeat PVI. All PVs were isolated with either RF (30 W, 50°C, 60 seconds) or cryoablation (−80°C for 5 minutes). At repeat study, 42 of the previously isolated 51 PVs had return of conduction. All patients had recurrent conduction in ≥2 PVs, with only 1 non-PV focus identified. The mean number of RF applications required to re-isolate the PVs was fewer at the repeat compared with the initial procedure (10±6 versus 4±2, P<0.005). Over a period of 15±6 months, all but 1 patient was clinically improved by the second procedur...
Fire season and simulated grazing differentially affect the stability and drought resilience of a C4 bunchgrass, C3 bunchgrass and C4 lawngrass

Abstract We used a fully factorial experimental design to examine the effects of fire season, simulated grazing and their interaction on the temporal stability (year-to-year variation in production) of the C4 bunchgrass, Bouteloua curtipendula, the C3 bunchgrass, Nassella leucotricha, and the C4 lawngrass, Buchloe dactyloides. Treatments included three levels of fire (winter fire, summer fire, and no fire) and two levels of grazing (simulated grazing and no grazing). Additionally, a severe drought during the fourth year of the five year study allowed us to examine each species’ post-drought resilience. In the southern Great Plains, USA, these three perennial grass species are economically and ecologically important; each species is a dominant member of their functional group and important as livestock forage. Temporal stability and drought resilience of the C4 bunchgrass, Bouteloua, were significantly greatest in the summer fire treatments. In contrast, temporal stability of the C3 bunchgrass, Nassella, was significantly greatest in the no-fire treatments and its drought resilience was significantly greatest in the no-graze treatments. Temporal stability and drought resilience of the C4 lawngrass, Buchloe, were not affected by any of the treatments. The contrasting effect of fire on the C4 and C3 bunchgrasses is consistent with the hypothesis that fire favors C4 over C3 grasses due to differences in post-fire soil conditions such as increased temperature, reduced moisture and reduced mineralizable nitrogen.
Exposure and peritraumatic response as predictors of posttraumatic stress in children following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing

Studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between exposure and posttraumatic stress, but one's subjective appraisal of danger and threat at the time of exposure may be a better predictor of posttraumatic stress than more objective measures of exposure. We examined the role of peritraumatic response in posttraumatic stress reactions in over 2,000 middle school children 7 weeks after the 1995 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, bombing. While many children reported hearing and feeling the blast and knowing direct victims, most were in school at the time of the explosion and therefore were not in direct physical proximity to the incident. Physical, interpersonal, and television exposure accounted for 12% of the total variance in our measure of posttraumatic stress when peritraumatic response was ignored. Peritraumatic response and television exposure accounted for 25% of the total variance, and physical and interpersonal exposure were not significant in this context. These findings suggest the importance of peritraumatic response in children's reactions to terrorism. These carly responses can be used to help determine which children may experience difficulty over time.
Microarray analysis of the differential effects of open and laparoscopic surgery on murine splenic T-cells.

Background Surgical trauma depresses cell-mediated immunity of a duration and magnitude proportional to the degree of injury. However, the cellular mechanism underlying this effect is poorly understood. Microarrays were used to survey gene expression in murine splenic T-cells after pneumoperitoneum and laparotomy. Methods C3H/HeJ mice were assigned randomly to undergo anesthesia alone, sham laparotomy, or CO2 pneumoperitoneum and sacrificed 12 or 24 hours later. RNA was isolated from purified splenic T-cells and hybridized to Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays. Results Relative to anesthesia, 116 genes after pneumoperitoneum and 398 genes after laparotomy showed a ≥2-fold change in expression at 12 hours. One hundred thirty-two genes after pneumoperitoneum and 157 genes after laparotomy met those criteria at 24 hours. Comparing surgical modalities, 177 genes were increased and 15 decreased ≥2-fold after laparotomy relative to pneumoperitoneum at 12 hours, compared with 44 and 5 genes respectively at 24 hours. Expression changes for 8 genes were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Conclusions Laparotomy and pneumoperitoneum alter splenic T-cell gene expression, with the most extensive changes occurring 12 hours after laparotomy. This study is one of the first comprehensive genomic studies of the molecular effects of surgical manipulation on immune function. The genes identified are potential targets for modulating the immune response to surgery.
An Experimental Method to Measure Intellectual Functioning with Verbal and Motor Factors Minimal (1)

(1956). An Experimental Method to Measure Intellectual Functioning with Verbal and Motor Factors Minimal (1) The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 119-126.
To Prove or to Improve? Which Motive Distorts Perceptions of Personality Controllability?

This research extends past work on positive illusions and self-goals by examining motivated perceptions of how much control people think they have over changing their personality traits. A self-validation motivation should cause individuals to view their personality weaknesses as uncontrollable (to avoid blame for having them) and their personality strengths as controllable (to take credit for having them). A self-growth motivation should cause individuals to view their weaknesses as controllable (to view them as improvable) and their strengths as uncontrollable (to view them as unchanging). Studies 1 and 2 find evidence for self-validation in perceptions of trait controllability. Study 3 finds this pattern to be stronger for validation-seeking individuals but weaker for growth-seeking individuals. Studies 3 and 4 find that being primed with one's successful self-improvements or one's future self can attenuate the self-validation. The potential implications of distorted perceptions of trait controllabilit...
An algorithm for fast calculation of ion range and damage distributions based on the boltzmann transport equation

Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) method using large energy intervals in ion scattering calculations can lead to significant errors in the calculation of ion and damage distributions. We pointed out that the inaccuracy is caused by the fact that the flux distribution in a transited energy state is not uniform. The flux is higher at its higher energy end because of a relatively higher cross section for a small energy transfer. Neglecting this difference and assuming an evenly distributed flux will lead to significant errors. The issue can be alleviated by using small energy intervals which inevitably increases computational times. We proposed to redistribute the flux among neighboring energy states around a transited energy state, with the redistribution weighted by their proximities to the mean value of transited energy. Therefore, ion range distributions can be calculated accurately with large energy intervals, thus significantly improving computational efficiency, i.e. by at least one order of magnitudes for 100 keV Si self ion irradiation.
Improving the Effectiveness of Virtual Teams by Adapting Team Processes

Results are presented from a study on virtual teams and whether appropriate early training can positively influence their effectiveness. Sixteen teams that worked together for periods ranging from three months to three years were studied. Team processes that emerged naturally from long-duration teams were formalized and taught to shorter duration teams. These shorter duration teams comprised three different cohorts, each of which received different levels of training. It was found that the adoption of formal procedures and structured processes significantly increased the effectiveness of virtual teams. Tasks that lend themselves to a structured approach were most effectively accomplished during virtual meetings, whereas face-to-face interactions were better for relatively unstructured, discussion intensive tasks. The performance of a virtual team was significantly improved when team processes were adapted to the affordances of the CMC environment. It is shown that this adaptation can occur very rapidly if teams are trained on the technology as well as on work processes that best exploit it.
Determinants and Prediction of Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio in Five Diverse Crop Plants

Multivariate relationships in and statistical moments of eight biochemical constituents and their impact on estimating carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio in alfalfa, corn, soybean, cuphea, and switchgrass residues indicate that (1) equal portions of variation in C/N were explained by differences among crops and among organs; however, the largest variations in N and C were explained by differences among crops and among organs within crops, respectively; (2) variation in N, but not in C or N + C, content explained the greatest variance in C/N ratios; (3) biochemically, stems were closer to roots than to leaves; hence the large portion of variation in C/N ratio in roots explained by variation in biochemical constituents in stems and leaves (R2 = 61.0%) and in stems only (R2 = 58.0%); and (4) statistical moments, other than mean values of biochemical constituents, significantly impacted C/N ratio estimates and the reliability of these estimates, both of which were positively correlated (r = 0.64, p < 0.001).
Droughts threaten Bornean rainforests

At 130 million years old, the rainforests of Southeast Asia are the oldest in the world and home to thousands of species of plants and animals, some endemic to these forests. The rainforests also play important roles in modulating regional rainfall and in the global carbon cycle. However, since the 1960s, increased warming in the Indian Ocean and frequent El Nino events have reduced rainfall in the region by approximately 1.0% per decade. Furthermore, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change predicts that over the 21st century, Southeast Asia will experience higher land temperatures, more droughts, and increased seasonality; that is, wet seasons during the fall will get wetter, and dry seasons during the spring will get drier. However, few studies in the past have investigated how trees in the southeastern Asian rainforests respond to droughts and climate change.
Mechanisms of Liver Carcinogenesis: Studies of Co-morbidity Factors Using Animal Models

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary malignancy in the liver. Main risk factors of HCC are well-defined and include hepatitis B virus (HBV); lifestyle, diet and environmental factors (e.g., alcoholic beverages, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and tobacco smoking); and metabolic diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Importantly, the rise in incidence of HCC in the developed countries has been attributed, at least in part, to an increase in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, pathological states whose prevalence is growing in the US and Europe. In addition, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are well known precursor liver disease states for hepatocellular HCC in humans. While animal model studies of HCC have contributed much of the understanding of the molecular events leading to disease initiation, progression and promotion, few publications examined co-morbidity factors that are known to contribute to HCC in humans. Thi...
The President and the Environment: A Reinterpretation of Neustadt's Theory of Presidential Leadership

Neustadt's theory of presidential leadership is conventionally viewed as based on a model of the Bargaining President, in which presidents focus on twisting arms and trading favors rather than on making public appeals. However, Neustadt's theory has a deeper logic—the logic of strategic choice, in which both effective bargaining and rhetorical appeals are techniques of presidential persuasion enabled by a President's choices. This reinterpretation of Neustadt's theory is supported by an original case study of President George H.W. Bush's leadership on the 1990 Clean Air Act. The President presented an initiative in a manner that capitalized on the public mood and he made key strategic choices aimed at persuading congressional leaders to engage with his administration in a non-zero sum game to enact a law that served their mutual policy and political interests. Rhetorical appeals were few in number. Quid pro quo bargaining played a limited role.
Asp514 Within the A1 Domain of Bovine von Willebrand Factor Is Required for Interaction with Platelet Glycoprotein IB

Abstract A mutant PAD-1(D514→Q) of the recombinant fragment PAD-1 comprising Leu469-Ser723 Of the A1 domain of bovine von Willebrand factor (vWF) neither inhibited the binding of [125I]vWF to platelets nor the agglutination of human platelets induced by bovine VWF. PAD-1, on the other hand, inhibited human platelet agglutination induced by bovine VWF and [125I]vWF binding to human platelets. Collagen binding properties of the mutant, however, were indistinguishable from those of PAD-1. These results suggested that Asp514 within the A1 domain of vWF is required for interaction of bovine vWF with GPIb receptor on human platelets.
Cramér-Rao-type bounds for localization

The localization problem is fundamentally important for sensor networks. This paper, based on "Estimation bounds for localization" by the authors (2004 © IEEE), studies the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRB) for two kinds of localization based on noisy range measurements. The first is anchored localization in which the estimated positions of at least 3 nodes are known in global coordinates. We show some basic invariances of the CRB in this case and derive lower and upper bounds on the CRB which can be computed using only local information. The second is anchor-free localization where no absolute positions are known. Although the Fisher information matrix is singular, a CRB-like bound exists on the total estimation variance. Finally, for both cases we discuss how the bounds scale to large networks under different models of wireless signal propagation.