cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extreme responses to immune checkpoint blockade following bipolar androgen therapy and enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.

Background Immune checkpoint inhibition has been shown to have limited efficacy in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Prostate cancers that harbor certain homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair gene mutations, inactivating CDK12 mutations or have underlying mismatch repair deficiency may be effectively treated with immunotherapy. Combination therapy may improve clinical response rates to immune checkpoint blockade. We observed profound prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and/or objective responses to immune checkpoint blockade following prior treatment with bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) and enzalutamide. Methods We report three cases of patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) undergoing therapy with anti-PD-1 inhibitors. All patients underwent both somatic molecular testing and germline genetic testing. Results Two of the three patients with mCRPC harbored an inactivating mutation in an HR DNA repair gene (BRCA2, ATM). No patient demonstrated mismatch repair deficiency, nor were CDK12 alterations present. All three patients had been treated with BAT and enzalutamide before immune checkpoint blockade, a paradoxical approach for the treatment of mCRPC developed by our group. Conclusions These cases of mCRPC suggest that immune checkpoint blockade may have therapeutic potential in patients with prostate cancer, especially following immune activation ("priming") using BAT and enzalutamide.
Exploring job satisfaction and workplace engagement in millennial nurses.

Aim To examine job satisfaction and workplace engagement of millennial nurses. Background Millennial nurses are a rapidly growing segment of the workforce. They are significantly less satisfied in their jobs compared with nurses of other generations and are more likely to have perceptions that may negatively impact job satisfaction and engagement. It is important for nurse leaders to understand and value the perspective of these nurses to improve job satisfaction and engagement. Method Exploratory-descriptive qualitative approach with 33 millennial nurses interviewed in nine focus groups. Results Five themes revealed areas that both enhance and hinder job satisfaction and engagement. Themes include the following: (1) professional relationships; (2) rewards; (3) communication; (4) professional development; and (5) workload/staffing. Conclusion Concerns identified by millennial nurses provide direction for nurse leaders who are charged with fostering a workplace setting that nurtures empathy and respect for nurses of all generations. Implications for nursing management Strategies to address preferences of millennials include employee rounding to ask about their needs, offer assistance and provide positive feedback. Ongoing mentoring regarding opportunities to support millennials' professional development includes offering participation in activities to advance evidence-based practice, preceptor training, financial assistance with national certification examinations and tuition reimbursement.
Ethane dehydrogenation over Cr/ZSM-5: characterization of active sites through probe molecule adsorption FTIR

Dispersed Cr species supported on zeolite ZSM-5 were investigated in the context of catalytic ethane dehydrogenation. Probe molecule FTIR and XANES were used to characterize the nature of Cr sites across a range of Cr loadings and in the presence of various extra-framework cations on ZSM-5. These characteristics were related to catalytic performance in ethane dehydrogenation toward the goal of developing design principles for Cr/zeolite catalysts for improved alkane conversions. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR-DRIFTS) with nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) probe molecules was determined to be an effective tool for distinguishing various types of Cr species present after exposure to reducing conditions typical of alkane dehydrogenation catalysis. It was found that 0.5 wt% Cr/H-ZSM-5 is a stable, ethylene-selective catalyst whose Cr sites are reduced at reaction temperature (650 °C) in the presence of either ethane or N2. Zeolite framework Al sites were determined to be critical for the stabilization of active Cr sites during ethane dehydrogenation – in the absence of available Al sites, Cr sites quickly deactivated. It was also found that greater Cr/Al molar ratios yielded a greater abundance of electron-rich Cr2+ species after reduction. This trend correlated with increased ethane dehydrogenation activity and decreased stability in time-on-stream studies. Both high activity and enhanced stability were observed for Cr/Ca-ZSM-5. Taken together, these results indicate that ethane dehydrogenation over Cr/ZSM-5 is optimized when Cr preferentially situates adjacent to isolated framework Al sites.
Odor identification predicts postoperative seizure control following magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy.

Objective Olfactory dysfunction has been well documented in individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy, but its use in presurgical planning has yet to be examined. We assessed the role of preoperative odor identification in mesial onset seizure localization utilizing stereoelectroencephalography (S-EEG) and magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLiTT) outcome. Methods We identified 30 patients who had typical seizures captured during S-EEG monitoring or MRgLiTT of mesial temporal structures (n = 17 S-EEG, n = 13 MRgLiTT); seizure onset zone was classified as unilateral mesial seizure onset, or multifocal with unilateral mesial onset and nonmesial onset. Odor identification ability was assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks Odor Identification Test (SSOIT). Patients also completed measures of confrontation naming and auditory-verbal learning/memory using the Boston Naming Test and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, respectively. Results Overall, patients with intractable focal epilepsy exhibited poor olfactory performance (median [M] = 10.4, interquartile range [IQR] = 9.4-11.8). Of 19 patients who underwent MRgLiTT, 10 patients (52.6%) were seizure-free at last follow-up (M = 13 months, IQR =10-18). Patients who were seizure-free after MRgLiTT (n = 10) had poorer odor identification scores (M = 9, IQR = 7-13) compared to patients with seizure reoccurrence (M = 13, IQR = 12.5-15). Odor identification score was inversely associated with seizure freedom, with odds ratio = 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38-0.95, P = .03). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that an SSOIT score of 12 was the ideal cutoff for predicting favorable seizure outcome (area under the curve = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.64-1.0). Sensitivity was 88.9% and specificity was 78.9%, with a likelihood ratio of 2.9 of seizure failure in patients who had an odor identification score ≥ 12. Significance Interictal olfactory dysfunction is commonly seen in patients with intractable focal epilepsy. Odor identification is a novel, noninvasive presurgical biomarker to distinguish who may or may not benefit from MRgLiTT of mesial temporal structures.
Academic language and the minoritization of U.S. bilingual Latinx students

Most U.S. educational reforms have narrowly focused on how to improve the ways in which students use language, and most specifically English. But in the last two decades, it is something called “ac...
Design and Troubleshooting

The steps of the design process, outlined in the previous Chapter, are explained in detail in what follows. The points where one has to chose between moving on or iterating some previous steps are highlighted. The design activity is considered complete when the new system has been tested and found to perform as specified. The structure of the FCS design flow has been discussed in Section 1.3 of the previous Chapter. Here it will be assumed that: 1 The top-level requirements for the system have been defined. In other words, it has been determined what the system is supposed to accomplish. 2 The frequency response of the passive plant has been simplified as much as it seemed possible with a reasonable level of effort1and the need to supplement it with a FCS has been established.
Real-time and Autonomous Water Quality Monitoring System Based on Remotely Operated Vehicle

Existing water quality monitoring systems near hydropower facilities are limited by the lack of mobility of the sensors' carrier platform. Most systems use a buoy, a mounting fixture attached to a solid structure, or a human worker, which significantly limits the selection of the sampling sites and poses safety risks during data collection and equipment maintenance. To improve on this technology, we developed an autonomous water quality monitoring system that can operate in dangerous water environments near hydropower facilities for water sampling at multiple locations. The goal is to enable safe, timely, and comprehensive water-quality data collection; maximize power generation revenue with improved operational control; and reduce Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and state water quality monitoring costs for compliance. The system incorporates a remotely operated vehicle as the mobile monitoring platform, a dissolved oxygen sensor for monitoring water quality, a tether management system for automatically winding the tether, a solar mobile docking platform for supplying power to the ROV, and a web-based graphical user interface for data post-processing and visualization. Preliminary field deployment results from McNary Dam and High Rock Dam are presented to demonstrate the system capabilities. In addition, the system's adaptability for coastal monitoring was briefly discussed.
The Future of American Blackness: On Colorism and Racial Reorganization:

This manuscript leverages the plethora of research on colorism and skin tone stratification among Black Americans to consider how the “Black” racial category may change going forward. I build on id...
Waitlist Mortality and Posttransplant Outcomes in African Americans with Autoimmune Liver Diseases.

Background. Liver transplantation is indicated in end-stage liver disease due to autoimmune diseases. The liver allocation system can be affected by disparities such as decreased liver transplant referrals for racial minorities, especially African Americans that negatively impact the pre- and posttransplant outcomes. Aim. To determine differences in waitlist survival and posttransplant graft survival rates between African American and Caucasian patients with autoimmune liver diseases. Study. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify all patients with autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis who underwent liver transplant from 1988 to 2019. We compared waitlist survival and posttransplant graft survival between Caucasians and African Americans using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression models. We also evaluated the cumulative incidence of death or delisting for deterioration and posttransplant incidence of death and retransplantation using competing risk analysis. Results. African Americans were more likely to be removed from the waitlist for death or clinical deterioration (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) 1.26, 95% CI 1–1.58, ) using competing risk analysis. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was no difference in posttransplant graft survival among the two groups (hazard ratio (HR) 1.10, 95% CI 0.98–1.23, ). Conclusions. Despite the current efforts to reduce racial disparities, we found that African Americans are more likely to die on the waitlist for liver transplant and are less likely to be transplanted, with no differences in graft survival rates. The persistence of healthcare disparities continues to negatively impact African Americans.
Placenta membranacea

Placenta membranacea is a rare placental disorder characterized by the presence of fetal membranes (complete or partially) covered by chorionic villi. A 35-year-old woman, gravida 1, was admitted for preterm labor at 24 weeks and 5 days. She subsequently developed heavy vaginal bleeding and underwent a classical cesarean delivery for suspected abruption. Postpartum inspection of the placenta demonstrated a small placenta with tan colored membranes, and diffusely scattered placental cotyledons. Histologic examination revealed chorionic villi directly attached to the fetal membranes on the periphery,consistent with the diagnosis of a partial placenta membranacea. Placenta membranacea should be considered in the etiology of painless vaginal bleeding in the second and third trimester. This condition can be associated with other placental abnormalities, such as placenta previa or accreta. Perinatal outcome may include stillbirth, preterm delivery, or neonatal death.
Design of potent and selective in vivo antagonists of the neurohypophysial peptides.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the design and synthesis of potent and selectively acting agonistic analogs of oxytocin and vasopressin and some of their uses. All the reported oxytocin and vasopressor antagonists antagonize both uterine and vascular responses to oxytocin and vasopressin (AVP), and all the known antidiuretic antagonists also antagonize vasopressor responses to AVP and oxytocic responses to oxytocin. However, many of the more recent antagonists in each category exhibit considerably enhanced selectivities with respect to their antagonistic potencies at uterine, vascular, and renal tubular receptors. The approach to antagonist design relies heavily on (1) the wealth of structure-activity data on oxytocin and AVP analogs and structure-activity data on analogs of other peptides and (2) judicious application of the additivity principle—that is, combining in a single molecule those individual modifications. However, all of the antagonists developed to date lack absolute specificity. Certainly for pharmacological and receptor studies, highly selective antagonists are of much greater value than multiple site antagonists. Thus, the search for potent and selective antagonists in each category must continue in the hope of attaining therapeutically useful antagonists devoid of possible unwanted side-effects and which, in addition, might be active following oral administration. The elucidation of new roles for oxytocin and vasopressin in other tissues, for example, brain, may endow these and future antagonists with significance and uses far beyond any present day expectations.
Temporal Aggregation and Treatment of Zero Dependent Variables in the Estimation of Food Demand using Cross-Sectional Data

This study analyzes U.S. consumers' demand for eight food commodity groups: Cereal and Bakery goods, Meat and Eggs, Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables, Nonalcoholic Beverages, Fats and Oils, Sugar and Sweets, and Miscellaneous goods. The data used in this study is Nielsen Homescan data for the period 2002-2006. Two different levels of temporal aggregation, monthly and the average month within a year, referred to as "annual" were considered. We conclude that the models using monthly data closely approximate the underlying annual expenditure elasticities, but do a poor job of estimating own- and -cross price elasticities and marginal effects. This finding is true for both the uncensored model of Blundell and Meghir (1987), and the two-step censored model of Shonkwiler and Yen (1999). We also find that the more complex two-step censored model does not improve precision of the estimates over the simpler model.
The Application of Infrared Synchrotron Radiation to the Study of Interfacial Vibrational Modes

Synchrotron radiation provides an extremely bright broad-band source in the infrared which is ideally suited to the study of surface and interface vibrational modes in the range 50–3000 cm−1. Thus it covers the important range of molecule-substrate interactions, as well as overlapping with the more easily accessible near-ir region where molecular internal modes are found. Compared to standard broadband infrared sources such as globars, not only is it 1000 times brighter, but its emittance matches the phase-space of the electrochemical cell leading to full utilization of this brightness advantage. In addition, the source is more stable than water-cooled globars in vacuum for both short-term and long-term fluctuations. Thus one can work at high resolution and use isotopic shifts to identify and study very weak modes.
Lung Disease in Lupus

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses lung disease in lupus. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects women in the reproductive years, with various clinical presentations caused by the production of autoantibodies and the formation of complement-fixing immune complexes. Pulmonary complications, one of the predominant features of SLE, occur in more than half of the patients at some time during the course of their disease. In many cases, lung complications are not detected until autopsy, indicating that they are often not clinically evident. The general classification of pulmonary manifestations and their prevalence are summarized in the chapter. The chapter reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentations, differential diagnosis, management, and outcome of the broad spectrum of pulmonary complications experienced by patients with SLE.
Fine Structure of Bacillus megaterium during Microcycle Sporogenesis

Abstract Ultrathin sections were prepared from cultures of Bacillus megaterium QM B1551 undergoing microcycle sporogenesis (initial spore to primary cell to second-stage spore without intervening cell division) on a chemically defined medium. The cytoplasmic core of the dormant spore was surrounded by plasma membrane, cell-wall primordium, cortex, outer cortical layer, and spore coats. Early in the cycle, the coat opened at the germinal groove, the cortex swelled, ribosomes and a chromatinic area associated with large mesosomes (which may later be incorporated into the expanding plasma membrane) appeared in the core, and the cell wall became defined at the site of the cell wall primordium. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate granules began to appear in the primary cell at about 3 hr. By 7 hr, the forespore of the second-stage spore was delineated by typical double membranes. Between 7 and 12 hr, second-stage cell-wall primordium and cortex developed between the separating forespore membranes. The inner membrane became the plasma membrane of the second-stage spore, and the outer membrane eventually disintegrated within the second-stage spore cortex. A densely staining double layer (spore-coat primordium) developed external to the outer forespore membrane. The inner spore coat and the outer cortical layer of the second-stage spore developed from this primordium. The outer part of the spore coat, probably of sporangial origin, was laid down on the external surface of the inner spore coat. By 12 hr, second-stage spores were almost mature. By 20 hr, the mature endospores, with a thickened outer coat, were often still enclosed by degenerate primary cell wall and by the outer cortical layer and spore coat of the initial spore.
A tagged helper-free Friend virus causes clonal erythroblast immortality by specific proviral integration in the cellular genome.

A colinear molecular clone of the Lilly-Steeves polycythemia strain of Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) was modified by inserting a 215-base-pair tag of simian virus 40 DNA into its nonfunctional pol gene region. The DNA was then transfected into psi-2 packaging cells, and helper-free tagged SFFV was recovered in the culture medium. Injection of this helper-free virus into NIH/Swiss mice caused transient mild splenomegaly and formation of spleen foci at 9 to 10 days. Although the vast majority of infected erythroblast clones then differentiated and died out, rare cell clones that were present in only 20 to 30% of the mice grew extensively by 26 to 33 days to form transplantable leukemias. The clonality of these leukemias was established by Southern blot analysis of their DNAs by using several restriction endonucleases and the simian virus 40 tag as a hybridization probe. All transplantable leukemias lacked helper virus contamination and contained a single tagged SFFV provirus that expressed the mitogenic env gene product gp55. The SFFV proviruses in these leukemias also appeared to be integrated into a few tightly clustered sites in the cellular genome. Although the tagged SFFV caused polycythemia during the polyclonal early stage of erythroblastosis, growth of the helper-free clonal erythroleukemias caused severe anemia. These results suggest that a single SFFV can cause mitosis of erythroblasts, and that cell immortalization also occurs when the provirus integrates into a critical site in the host genome. We propose that mice with clonal-stage leukemia become anemic because the immortalizing proviral integrations interfere with the cellular commitment to differentiate. Images
Evaluation of the transient eddy current potential drop of a four point probe

The transient electrical potential drop of a four point probe has been calculated for the case where a current pulse is injected into a conductive plate via two surface contact electrodes and the voltage measured between two other contact electrodes. The four contact points can be co‐linear but this is not always case. For example, they can form a rectangle. Usually such probes carry direct current or alternating current and are used to measure electrical conductivity, crack dimensions or variations of conductivity and magnetic permeability with depth. However, the advantage of a current pulse excitation is that information on the variations of material properties with depth can be acquired rapidly and conveniently. What is needed is a means to infer material properties such as the conductivity variations with depth from the transient field measurements. Here, as an initial step in developing this analysis, we report on the evaluation of transient potential drop signals for four point probes on a homogeneous conductive plates.
Efficacy of Oviductal Flushing with PGE2, in Mares, in and Out of the Breeding Season

Reasons for performing study There are limited data surrounding the efficacy of oviductal flushing in restoring fertility in mares with repeated returns to oestrus. Objectives To determine the conception and foaling rates in mares treated by laparoscopic topical application of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to the oviduct(s) in mares: i) in the breeding season (January–May), pre-covering; ii) in the breeding season, post covering; and iii) out of the breeding season (June–December). Study design Follow-up study. Methods Analysis of electronic patient records (EPRs) identified 29 mares that underwent oviductal flushing via laparoscopic surgery between 1 January 2008 and 12 October 2014. One mare underwent the procedure twice; once in the breeding season (pre-covering) and once out of the breeding season. Follow-up data were collected via EPRs and from Weatherbys (www.bloodstockreports.co.uk). Results The procedure was used in 27 Thoroughbreds, one Warmblood and one Hanoverian. Mean age at the time of the procedure was 13.1 years (range 6–22 years). Mean duration barren prior to the procedure was 1.9 years (range 49 days–5.6 years). The mean time post flushing to the first positive ultrasound scan was 31 days, with average time post flushing to foaling of 367.6 days. Of the 29 horses, 55.2% (16/29) conceived successfully, with 87.5% of these confirmed to have produced a live foal. In the breeding season, 16 mares were treated; 10 pre-covering, and 6 post covering with conception rates of 60.0% and 83.3%, respectively. Thirteen mares were treated out of the breeding season, with a 35.7% conception rate. Conclusions Oviductal flushing within the breeding season was more successful in this study than flushing performed out of the breeding season. Restoration of fertility in this study was lower than that previously reported and potential reasons for this include limited pre-surgical diagnostic testing, differing prior pathologies or reasons for sub-fertility, and case selection. Ethical animal research: Research ethics committee oversight not currently required by this conference: retrospective study of clinical records. Explicit owner informed consent for inclusion of animals in this study was not stated. Source of funding: C.E. Wylie is funded by the Margaret Giffen Trust. Competing interests: None declared.
Nothing reliable about genes or environment: new perspectives on analysis of similarity among relatives in light of the possibility of underlying heterogeneity

Abstract Despite the long history of scientific, philosophical, and political debate around heritability studies, certain fundamental conceptual issues have not been recognized or well appreciated. The starting point is that heritability does not measure the degree of influence that genes have on a trait or provide a reliable basis for choosing which traits to investigate further with molecular genetic research. (Similarly, for equivalent interpretations of shared and non-shared environmental effects in studies of human variation.) The short argument on this point revolves around two issues: the disconnect between analyzing measurements of a trait and exposing the measurable genetic and environmental factors underlying the trait’s development; and the possibility of heterogeneity in these underlying factors, that is, different factors may lead to the same trait value. The idea of underlying heterogeneity is elaborated through schematic diagrams and distinguished from other senses of heterogeneity. Five conceptually distinct approaches for addressing underlying heterogeneity are identified, corresponding to distinct ways of managing the reciprocal relationship between the degree of knowledge of the dynamics through which the trait develops and the actions that can be reliably be based on what is known (or unknown). This framework, which extends the interventionist notion of causality, allows the scope and limitations of heritability studies to be clarified in greater detail. It can also inform critical appreciation of newer methods of analysis of genetic and environmental factors. The issues discussed in this article do not centre on empirical data or technical detail and should be accessible to non-specialists as well as challenging active researchers.
Comparison of patient reactions and diagnostic quality for hysterosalpingography using ionic and nonionic contrast media.

Rationale and Objectives. We compared adverse reactions and image quality for hysterosalpingography (HSG) performed with ionic (diatrizoate meglumine combined with iodipamide meglumine [DM+IM]) and nonionic (iohexol) contrast media. Methods. We performed a study of 95 patients who had HSG and were randomly selected to receive DM+IM or iohexol. Patients reported episodes of abdominal pain and other adverse reactions immediately and 24 hr after the procedure and categorized severity of symptoms on a subjective scale. Two radiologists evaluated image quality for diagnosis. Results. Prevalence of abdominal pain and other reactions both immediately and 24 hr after HSG was lower in patients who received iohexol than in patients who received DM+IM. Moderate or severe abdominal pain was significantly lower in the iohexol group than in the DM+IM group ( p Conclusion. Iohexol and DM+IM are excellent contrast media for use during HSG; iohexol 300 may cause fewer episodes of more severe and prolonged abdominal pain.
Femtosecond Laser Direct Written Diffractive Optical Elements and Their Integration in Oxide Glass

Femtosecond laser direct writing was applied to fabricate 3D diffractive optical elements in oxide glass. Here we report our initial results. We describe the consequences of fabricating Fresnel Zone Plates (FZPs) with various femtosecond laser parameters. Single or multiple layers of laser written FZPs were produced in borosilicate glasses. We are investigating the diffraction efficiencies as a function of laser and writing parameters such as pulse energy, writing speed and repetition rate.
NP-Click: a productive software development approach for network processors

Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design is too risky and prohibitively expensive for many applications. This trend, combined with increasing silicon capability on a die, is fueling the emergence of application-specific programmable architectures. This focus on architecture design for network processors has made programming them an arduous task. Current network processors require in-depth knowledge of the architecture just to begin programming the device. However, for network processors to succeed, programmers must efficiently implement high-performance applications on them. Writing high-performance code for modern network processors is difficult because of their complexity. NP-Click is a simple programming model that permits programmers to reap the benefits of a domain specific language while still allowing for target-specific optimizations. Results for the Intel IXP1200 indicate that NP-Click delivers a large productivity gain at a slight performance expense.
Volatile Inventories on Mars

Predictions for the total inventory of outgassed volatiles on Mars can be developed by studying volatiles in meteorites, terrestrial rocks, and the atmospheres of Venus, the moon, and the earth. Two models are presented, following the basic assumption that the devolatilization of Mars has been analogous to that of the earth. The recent discovery of a high abundance of argon in the Martian atmosphere appears to indicate that Mars has outgassed as completely as the earth, but present uncertainties and lacunae in the essential data set permit several other interpretations.
The mechanism of isobutane cracking over amorphous and crystalline aluminosilicates

Abstract The acid catalyzed cracking of isobutane over a silica-alumina catalyst and several zeolites was studied. The activity of these catalysts, for whatever reason, increased in the order silica-alumina 4 and H 2 and concomitantly the t-butyl and isopropyl cations. The latter either desorbed as the corresponding olefins or underwent secondary reactions. So long as the latter were relatively unimportant the C 3 + C 4 hydrocarbons formed nearly equaled the isobutane reacted. However, the sum of the CH 4 and H 2 produced was generally less than this value. Evidently hydrogen transfer is more important in the conversion of isobutane than of neopentane. This chemistry is discussed.
ACADEMIC ARGUMENTS FOR THE INDISCERNIBILITY THESIS

The Academics offered an argument from twins or perceptually indiscernible objects and an argument from dreams or madness in sup- port of the indiscernibility thesis : that every true perceptual impression is such that some false impression just like it is possible. I claim that these arguments, unlike modern sceptical arguments, are supposed to establish mere counterfactual rather than epistemic possibilities. They purport to show that for any true perceptual impression ϕ , there are a number of alternative causal histories ϕ might have had which would not have resulted in any change in the way in which ϕ represents its object.
Changes in Phosphorylation of τ During Ischemia and Reperfusion in the Rabbit Spinal Cord

The microtubule-associated protein tau plays an important role in the dynamics of microtubule assembly necessary for axonal growth and neurite plasticity. Ischemia disrupts the neuronal cytoskeleton both by promoting proteolysis of its components and by affecting kinase and phosphatase activities that alter its assembly. In this study the effect of ischemia and reperfusion on the expression and phosphorylation of tau was examined in a reversible model of spinal cord ischemia in rabbits. tau was found to be dephosphorylated in response to ischemia with a time course that closely matched the production of permanent paraplegia. Dephosphorylation of tau was limited to the caudal lumbar spinal cord. In a similar manner, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II activity was reduced only in the ischemic region. Thus, dephosphorylation of tau is an early marker of ischemia as is the rapid loss of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II activity. tau, however, was rephosphorylated rapidly during reperfusion at site(s) that cause a reduction in its electrophoretic mobility regardless of the neurological outcome. Alterations in phosphorylation or degradation of tau may affect microtubule stability, possibly contributing to disruption of axonal transport but also facilitating neurite plasticity in a regenerative response.
CO2 inhibits specific inward rectifier K+ channels by decreases in intra- and extracellular pH

Hypercapnia has been shown to affect cellular excitability by modulating K+ channels. To understand the mechanisms for this modulation, four cloned K+ channels were studied by expressing them in Xenopus oocytes. Exposures of the oocytes to CO2 for 4–6 min produced reversible and concentration-dependent inhibitions of Kir1.1 and Kir2.3 currents, but had no effect on Kir2.1 and Kir6.1 currents. Intra- and extracellular pH (pHi, pHo) dropped during CO2 exposures. The inhibition of Kir2.3 currents was mediated by reductions in both intra- and extracellular pH, whereas the suppression of Kir1.1 resulted from intracellular acidification. In cell-free excised inside-out patches with cytosolic-soluble factors washed out, a decrease in pHi produced a fast and reversible inhibition of macroscopic Kir2.3 currents. The degree of this inhibition was similar to that produced by hypercapnia when compared at the same pHi level. Exposure of cytosolic surface of patch membranes to a perfusate bubbled with 15% CO2 without changing pH failed to inhibit the Kir2.3 currents. These results therefore indicate that (1) hypercapnia inhibits specific K+ channels, (2) these inhibitions are caused by intra- and extracellular protons rather than molecular CO2, and (3) these effects are independent of cytosol-soluble factors. J. Cell. Physiol. 183:53–64, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gene Discovery and Product Development for Grain Quality Traits

The composition of oils, proteins, and carbohydrates in seeds of corn, soybean, and other crops has been modified to produce grains with enhanced value. Both plant breeding and molecular technologies have been used to produce plants carrying the desired traits. Genomics-based strategies for gene discovery, coupled with high-throughput transformation processes and miniaturized, automated analytical and functionality assays, have accelerated the identification of product candidates. Molecular marker-based breeding strategies have been used to accelerate the process of moving trait genes into high-yielding germplasm for commercialization. These products are being tested for applications in food, feed, and industrial markets.
Amorphous NiNW film as a diffusion barrier between aluminum and silicon

Abstract The influence of nitrogen on the diffusion barrier properties of amorphous NiW films was studied. Nitrogen was introduced into the amorphous NiW film by co-sputtering nickel and tungsten in a premixed gas mixture of 90% Ar and 10% N2, resulting in the formation of amorphous Ni30N21W49 film. X-ray analysis indicates a detectable crystallization of the amorphous film after 30 min annealing in vacuum at 600°C, accompanied by the formation of W2N, but backscattering spectrometry (BS) reveals a reaction with silicon only at about 725°C. The Schottky barrier height of this amorphous film on n-Si is stable for 30 min annealing up to at least 550°C. With an aluminum overlayer, BS indicates that an amorphous Ni30N21W49 film effectively prevents the metallurgical interaction between aluminum and silicon for 30 min up to 600°C. The Schottky barrier height of that contact configuration is also stable up to at least 550°C, suggesting that amorphous NiNW films have attractive features as diffusion barriers.
University Student Satisfaction: Implications for Departmental Planning

The purposes of this study were: (a) to investigate factors that might influence students' satisfaction with their majors/departments; (b) to examine attitudinal differences among groups of undergraduate students majoring in four home eco nomics areas; and (c) to derive implications for departmental planning based on students' expectations of and current satisfaction with their majors/departments. Data (N = 718) were collected from textiles and clothing departments at 16 major universities across the nation, including majors in merchandising, apparel design, interior design, and/or consumer science. Perceptions of one's courses, overall satisfaction with one's university, attitude toward one's major, and occupational orientation were the most frequently significant multiple-regression predictor variables of students'satisfaction with their majors/departments. Students did not differ significantly in their expectations of career opportunitieslservices or pro gram enrichment and differed only slightly in their expectations of attributes related to program quality/status. However, there were significant differences in current satisfaction with the department among the four groups of students. Students also differed across majors in the areas of attitude toward one's major, academic/career influences, social and self influences, overall satisfaction with one's university, and occupational orientation. The authors discuss these attitu dinal differences, possible reasons for them, and implications for departmental planning, recruiting, and retaining students in each of the four program areas.
The flight periodicity, attack patterns, and life history of Dryocoetes confusus Swaine (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), the western balsam bark beetle, in north central Colorado.

Dryocoetes confusus Swaine, the western balsam bark beetle, is an important bark beetle associated with Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. (subalpine fir) in western North America. Little information is available on the life cycle and ecology of this insect in Colorado. In this study in north central Colorado, we examined its flight periodicity, attack patterns, and life cycle in downed trees. Flight season, as indicated by pheromone-trap catches, began in early June. Peak flight was observed during early to mid-July. A second peak in flight was observed in some years, but its occurrence was not consistent. Preferred attack sites on downed trees were the underside or side of the log and through branch stubs. The life cycle for this beetle was completed in 2 years, consistent with earlier observations from British Columbia. Sex ratio was 1:1, but a higher percentage of males fly earlier in the season.
Standard control language for two different robotic manipulators

Eric M. MaistromUniversity of Arkansas, Department of Industrial EngineeringBell Engineering Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701Sandra C. ParkerUniversity of Arkansas, Department of Industrial EngineeringBell Engineering Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701ABSTRACTSuccessful integration of robots into a manufacturing system is a crucial step in achieiveinan efficient automated production system. However, different robots use different languages. I
A placebo-controlled trial of cephalexin therapy in the ambulatory management of patients with cystic fibrosis.

The effects of oral administration of cephalexin were evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 17 patients with mild to moderate pulmonary disease due to cystic fibrosis. For two years, four-month periods with cephalexin were alternated with four-month placebo periods. Thus, patients served as their own control subjects. Fungal vulvovaginitis occurred in two patients and a cephalexin-resistant Enterobacter cloacae was acquired in the sputum of another patient during cephalexin therapy. During the 2 years of study, the rate of colonization with mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa increased and disease severity deteriorated in patients initially colonized with P. aeruginosa . Short-term courses of sputum culture-specific antibiotics improved the course of some patients with mild to moderate pulmonary disease due to cystic fibrosis. Treatment with cephalexin decreased the frequency of respiratory illnesses, respiratory illnesses requiring antibiotics, and hospitalizations for respiratory illnesses in patients initially colonized with Staphylococcus aureus and/or Haemophilus influenzae , and also reduced colonization with these organisms. Improved weight gain in 16 of 17 patients was associated with periods of cephalexin therapy. Pulmonary function tests remained stable or improved in 10 of 14 patients. Disease severity improved in patients not colonized with P. aeruginosa .
Immunohistologic labeling of murine endothelium

Abstract Background: Reliable identification of endothelial cells is a prerequisite for understanding vascularity changes in many cardiovascular diseases and therapeutic interventions. With the rising use of mouse models of disease and genetic manipulation, a consistent system to label murine endothelial cells in normal and diseased tissues would be an invaluable tool. Methods: Immunohistologic and histochemical methods were used to label endothelial cells in normal and infarcted heart as well as small intestine. Isolectin B 4 or antibodies to thrombomodulin, vWF, Tie-2, VE-cadherin, CD34, and CD31 were used to immunostain tissues fixed in either 4% formaldehyde (prepared fresh from powdered paraformaldehyde, PF), methyl Carnoy's (MC), zinc (Zn) (all paraffin-embedded), or frozen sections. In addition, we used β-galactosidase histochemistry in frozen sections from the Tie-2/β-galactosidase transgenic mouse, in which the lacZ reporter gene is driven by the endothelial-specific Tie-2 promoter. Results and conclusions: Immunohistologic localization of endothelial cells was best accomplished using anti-CD31 in Zn-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Antithrombomodulin staining also worked in Zn-fixed tissues as well as frozen tissues, but additional steps were required to reduce background. The β-galactosidase reporter system also marked endothelial cells in frozen Tie-2 transgenic mouse tissues; however, this system required careful control of fixation and optimization of histochemistry and was not amenable to double labeling. Lectin staining gave complete labeling of endothelial cells but cross-reacted intensely with macrophages in the infarcted heart. We conclude that anti-CD31 immunostaining in Zn-fixed, paraffin-embedded murine tissue offered superior morphology and permitted optimal identification of proliferating endothelial cells during infarct repair.
Tax earmarking, party politics and gubernatorial veto: theory and evidence from US states

This paper provides a theory of earmarking based on the relative power of a legislature and executive. The politically powerful use earmarking as a means of resolving uncertainty and insulating preferred policy from the reach of future government. Tax revenue will be earmarked more often when political power is unified under one party or when a party has the legislative majority needed to overturn a gubernatorial veto. An empirical test of the theoretical predictions are conducted using a panel of data for US states. A state with a legislature controlled by a single party with a large enough majority to overturn a gubernatorial veto will earmark 5% more of its tax revenue than other states and a state with a unified government will earmark 6.5% more. Together these explain 18.5% of the observed decrease in the percentage of state tax revenues earmarked from 1954 to 1997.
An integrated data analysis approach to investigating measurement equivalence of DSM nicotine dependence symptoms

Abstract Introduction Research identifying nicotine dependence (ND) symptoms most appropriate for measurement of adolescent ND and invariant across the range of smoking exposure is hampered by limited sample size and variability of smoking behavior within independent studies. Integrative data analysis, the process of pooling and analyzing data from multiple studies, produces larger and more heterogeneous samples with which to evaluate measurement equivalence across the full continuum of smoking quantity and frequency. Methods Data from two studies were pooled to obtain a large sample of adolescent and young adult smokers with considerable variability in smoking. We used moderated nonlinear factor analysis, which produces study equivalent ND scores, to simultaneously evaluate whether 14 DSM ND symptoms had equivalent psychometric properties (1) at different levels of smoking frequency and (2) across a continuous range of smoking quantity, after accounting for study differences. Results Nine of 14 symptoms were equivalent across levels of smoking frequency and quantity in probability of endorsement at different levels of ND and in ability to discriminate between levels of ND severity. A more precise ND factor score accounted for study and smoking related differences in symptom psychometric properties. Conclusions DSM-IV symptoms may be used to reliably assess ND in young populations across a wide range of smoking quantity and frequency and within both nationally representative and geographically restricted samples with different study designs. Symptoms shared across studies produced an equivalently scaled ND factor score, demonstrating that integrating data for the purpose of studying ND in young smokers is viable.
Bifidus factor. II. Its occurrence in milk from different species and in other natural products

Abstract The activity of human milk for the growth of Lactobacillus bifidus var. Penn was compared with that of other species. The average relative activity was highest for human colostrum, closely followed by rat colostrum, then by human milk, rat milk, and cow's colostrum. The milk of ruminants (cow, ewe, goat) showed only very slight activity. Somewhat higher activity was found in the milk of cat, monkey, dog, donkey, rabbit, mare, and sow. The bifidus growth factor has been demonstrated in high concentration in various secretions in man, such as saliva, semen, amniotic fluid, meconium, and tears. Hog gastric mucin which has a high blood-group titer has also shown a high titer for bifidus factor, while other nitrogencontaining polysaccharides were free or almost free of bifidus factor. Ammonium salts and N -acetylglucosamine as well as N -acetylgalactosamine, especially the ammonium salts, in high concentration, were active, probably as precursors of the growth factor.
Does Low Vitamin D Status Contribute to “Age‐Related” Morbidity?

It is increasingly appreciated that vitamin D plays important physiological roles beyond the musculoskeletal system. As such, it is plausible that endemic vitamin D deficiency contributes to much nonskeletal morbidity that adversely affects quality of life with advancing age among older adults. This overview will explore the evidence for, and potential involvement of, vitamin D deficiency in nonbone conditions that are currently accepted as "age-related" morbidity among older adults.
Working with Families in Urban Teacher Education: A Critical Need for All Students

The positive impact of family–school relationships is well documented in the literature, as is the need for teacher education to prepare teachers to work positively with diverse families. This article reports the experiences and perspectives of candidates in an elementary urban teacher preparation program in the United States as they engaged in authentic experiences with the families of their students. Findings provide evidence that authentic experiences within constructivist teacher education can help candidates regard families as a valuable resource for teachers in urban schools. The results highlight the need to provide candidates with authentic and relevant community- and family-based experiences within carefully designed teacher preparation programs as we strive to prepare the teachers all children deserve.