cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 173: Clonal Analysis Reveals Limited Proliferative Capacity of Mature Cardiomyocytes during Embryonic Development.

There is growing evidence that supports the ability of the heart to generate new cardiomyocytes during development and in response to injury albeit at a very low rate. It still remains unclear whether the newly generated cells originate from cardiac progenitor/stem cells or from pre-existing cardiomyocytes that re-enter the cell cycle. Understanding the cellular mechanisms regulating new cardiomyocyte formation is imperative towards the development of novel clinical strategies. We assessed the hypothesis that the cardiomyocytes generated during cardiac development are derived from cardiac progenitor cells and to a lesser extent form proliferating cardiomyocytes. We performed clonal analysis of cardiomyocyte formation by utilizing a stochastic multicolor reporter system (Rainbow) that allows random labeling of cells with three fluorescent proteins upon Cre-mediated recombination. Rainbow mice were crossed to αMHC-CreER mice for selective marking of cardiomyocytes or to Actin-CreER mice where all types of cells can be labeled. We induced rare recombination events at embryonic day E12.5 and clonal expansion of labeled cells was retrospectively analyzed at different time-points from E15.5 to postnatal day P30. To determine at which developmental stage cardiac cells lose their ability to proliferate, recombination was induced at different time-points from early embryonic to postnatal life and analysis was performed at P30. For each time-point, data was collected from ten mice. In αMHC-CreER;Rainbow mice, we observed mainly single cell labeling, a few doublets and some rare four-cell clones. At the same time-points, Actin-CreER;Rainbow hearts exhibited a large number of clones ranging from doublets to clones of more than twenty cells. Interestingly, clone formation and expansion was reduced with age. In conclusion, our results indicate that αMHC-positive cardiomyocyte proliferation is limited during development. On the other hand, non-αMHC expressing cells exhibited clonal expansion suggesting the possible contribution of cardiac progenitors even during late cardiovascular development.
Legal Issues: Guinea Pigs on the Internet

Research experimentation involving human subjects generally requires several levels of approval. There were extensive consent forms that the project staff reviewed with users that outlined the broad purposes of the project, the user's role in the project, what they are going to be doing, any risks, and how the information was to be used. Each of these projects had also been previously reviewed by the research institution’s Institutional Review Board, an often required step when any kind of human testing is contemplated as part of a research project. Emotional expression This system generally works well in the real world, but recent reports about human experimentation using social media have raised concerns about research in the cyber world. In June of 2014, a research report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) (The research report is available online at http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full.pdf html). The research was conducted by manipulating the news feeds of nearly 700,000 Facebook users based on the “emotional expressions” of the feeds.
Improvement of Thermoelectric Properties through Reduction of Thermal Conductivity by Nanoparticle Addition and Stoichiometric Change to Mg2Si

Thermoelectric materials have been of interest for several decades due to their ability to recapture waste heat of various systems and convert it to useful electricity. One method used to improve the thermoelectric efficiency of a material is to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity (k p) while not affecting the other properties. In order to reduce the kp of the material, this paper introduces silicon (Si) nanoparticles (NPs) in Mg2Si to manipulate phonon scattering and mean free path. A series of simulations is performed with the metal silicide thermoelectric material MgxSix. The objective of this work is two-fold: 1) to determine the optimal Si nanoparticle (NP) concentration and 2) to determine the optimal MgxSix stoichiometry for minimizing the kp of the system. It should be noted, however, that the assumed reduction in thermal conductivity is only a result of reduced phonon transport and that minimal impact is made on the transport of electrons. Interestingly, the uniform off-stoichiometry (49.55 atomic percent (a/o) Si) sample of MgxSix resulted in a reduction of kp of 84.62 %, while the Si NP sample, with matching a/o Si, resulted in a reduction of kp of 78.82 %.
GLOBAL FORCES IN THE FUTURE OF LGBT AGING: DISCRIMINATION, IDENTITY, AND HEALTH OVER TIME

Worldwide the population of older adults is growing in complexity and diversity, including by sexual orientation and gender identity. Based on an innovative life course equity framework, this study reveals new cutting-edge findings on the interplay between marginalization, identity, health behaviors, quality of life and health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults, and assesses key differences by sex and age group. Based on three most recent waves of longitudinal data (N = 2,450) from Aging with Pride: National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS), this study applied fixed effect models examining within-subject changes in experiences of discrimination, identity stigma and affirmation, and health behaviors over time on quality of life and cognitive and functional impairment. Within-subject increases in day-to-day discrimination, identity stigma, and poor nutrition across time points predicted lower levels of physical, psychological, social, and environmental QOL. Within-subject increases in day-to-day discrimination and poor nutrition and decreases in physical activity predicted higher levels of cognitive and functional impairment, while an increase in microaggresions and decrease in identity affirmation predicted higher levels of cognitive impairment. Gender and generational differences were found. Change in day-to-day discrimination had a greater impact on men; poor nutrition had a greater impact on the oldest old. As the population ages, it is imperative to identify groups at highest risk and those aging well to ascertain modifiable mechanisms so that global research, practices, and policies can be tailored to improve the health and well-being of our growing worldwide demographically diverse older adult population.
Plato’s First Mover in the Eighth Book of Aristotle’s Physics

For Plato the ἀρχὴ ϰινήeως in the physical world is the self- moving principle, which he identifies with Soul. A most carefully wrought proof for this doctrine is incorporated in the Phaedrus, and in Book X of the Laws the supremacy of ψυχή is established on an even broader basis.1 Aristotle, as is well known, entertains a very different conception of the First Mover. The last Book of his Physics deduces the existence of an ἀϰίνητον as the necessary “first” in the series of movents and clarifies its place in the scheme of cosmic movements, leaving it to the Metaphysics (Λ) to secure for the Unmoved Mover a corresponding position in the ontological hierarchy and to become somewhat more outspoken about his divine qualities. Since this Mover as ἀρχὴ ϰινήσeως succeeds to the place of the Platonic World Soul, it would seem to be no more than natural that Aristotle should in Physics VIII make clear why he disapproves of Plato’s doctrine; in fact, one might almost expect this.
Legacy of Beaver–Human Interaction

Beavers have occupied the Kabetogama Peninsula for millennia, but the beaver population there has had its ups and downs since humans and beavers started to co-exist. Over-trapping of beavers during the 1600s–1800s decimated beaver populations in northern Minnesota. Logging and forest fires also changed the beaver’s habitat. Beaver numbers began to recover after the fire of 1936, and trapping was discontinued with the establishment of Voyageurs National Park in 1975. Beaver density peaked in 1981 at 1.4 colonies per square kilometer, among the highest in North America.
Goal orientations of general chemistry students via the achievement goal framework

The Achievement Goal Framework describes students’ goal orientations as: task-based, focusing on the successful completion of the task; self-based, evaluating performance relative to one's own past performance; or other-based, evaluating performance relative to the performance of others. Goal orientations have been used to explain student success in a range of educational settings, but have not been used in post-secondary chemistry. This study describes the goal orientations of General Chemistry students and explores the relationship of goal orientations to success in the course. On average, students report higher task and self orientations than other orientation. Task orientation had a positive relationship with exam performance and self orientation had a negative relationship with exam performance. Clustering students showed that for the majority of students task and self orientations moved concurrently and students with low preference across the three orientations also performed lowest on exams. Finally, students in classes using Flipped-Peer Led Team Learning, a pedagogy designed to bring active learning to a large lecture class, showed higher task orientation than those in classes with lecture-based instruction.
Abstract 17526: Engineering Prokaryotic Sodium Channels for Generation and Control of Mammalian Tissue Excitability

Introduction: Treatment of various excitability tissue disorders is often hampered by the inability to stably overexpress large mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) via viral delivery met...
Chapter 8 – Nanostructured Titanium Oxide Film- and Membrane-Based Photocatalysis for Water Treatment

Titanium oxide (TiO2) photocatalysis, one of the ultraviolet (UV)-based advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) and nanotechnologies (AONs), has attracted great attention for the development of efficient water treatment and purification systems due to the effectiveness of TiO2 in generating highly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals, which readily attack and decompose organic contaminants in water. In this chapter, we provide an overview of how the physicochemical properties of TiO2 are precisely controlled and functionalized at the nanoscale for versatile, practical, and full-scale applications. Some challenges in TiO2 photocatalysis, including enhancement of the catalytic activity, controllability of the structural properties, immobilization to form films and membranes, narrowing of the bandgap energy, and selective decomposition of target contaminants, could be solved by introducing nanotechnological synthesis routes, noble material processing approaches, and new reactor design and concepts. The nanostructured TiO2 films and membranes inherently possess multiple functions under UV and even visible-light irradiation, including photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants, inactivation of microorganisms, anti-biofouling action, and physical separation of water contaminants.
The price of discretizing time: a study in service network design

Researchers and practitioners have long recognized that many transportation problems can be naturally and conveniently modeled using time-expanded networks. In such models, nodes represent locations at distinct points in time and arcs represent possible actions, e.g., moving from one location to another at a particular point of time, or staying in the same location for a period of time. To use a time-expanded network, time must be discretized, i.e., the planning horizon is partitioned into discrete time intervals. The length of these intervals, therefore, must be chosen, and the parameters involving time, e.g., travel duration and due times, need to be mapped to these discrete intervals. Short intervals yield a high-quality approximation to the continuous-time problem, but typically induce a computationally intractable model; whereas long intervals can yield a computationally tractable, but low-quality model. The loss of quality is due to the approximation introduced by the mapping of parameters involving time. To guide researchers and practitioners in their use of time-expanded networks, we explore the choice of time discretization and its impact, by means of an extensive computational study on the service network design problem. The empirical results show that in some cases the loss of quality, i.e., the relative gap between the discretized and continuous-time optimal values, can be greater than 20%. We also investigate metrics that characterize and help identify instances that are likely to be sensitive to discretization and could incur a large loss of solution quality.
Serial discontinuity in naturally alternating forest and floodplain habitats of a Michigan (USA) stream based on physicochemistry, benthic metabolism, and organismal assemblages

We tested the response of several different water quality metrics at 6 sites along a 4-km alternating forest (canopied) and floodplain (non-canopied) reach of the East Branch of the Black River, an...
WNKs on the Fly.

A central role of the With No Lysine (K) (WNK) kinases in renal electrolyte balance and BP control was illuminated when mutations in WNK1 and WNK4 were identified as a cause of a genetic intolerance to sodium and potassium[1][1] (pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2; also known as familial hyperkalemic
Understanding Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Shocks and Mortality: On Trial

As a result of large randomized clinical trials, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is now well established for its life-saving role in the prevention of sudden death in patients at risk with a history of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), or those
A simplified pharmacologic erection program for patients with spinal cord injury.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Intracavernosal injection (ICI) of vasoactive agents has been successfully used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The authors' pharmacologic erection program, using a fixed combination of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and papaverine, is notable for its simplicity and acceptance by patients who have suffered spinal cord injuries (SCIs). METHODS Patients undergo baseline questionnaire, physical examination, and hormone profile followed by instruction and injection of a fixed combination of PGE1 and papaverine. On successive visits, the patient injects himself and the dosage is titrated until a satisfactory erection is obtained. Patients who do not respond to injection of 1.0 cc are considered treatment failures. Patients return periodically for routine follow-up. RESULTS From May 1994 to March 1997, 37 patients with SCI underwent initial evaluation and 28 (76%) responded to injection therapy and were successfully using self-injection therapy at 3-month follow-up. Twenty-three patients are still on injection therapy. Five patients have dropped out for several reasons including a lack of a current sexual partner (60%) and pain with injection (40%). Patient age ranges from 24 to 72. The dosage range was 0.10 to 0.50 cc (mean = 0.29 cc). The average duration of erection was 43 minutes. At 3-month follow-up, 85% of the patients rated their erections as good or excellent. Forty-three percent of patients are using ICI 1 or more times per week. Seventy-seven percent of patients are moderately or extremely satisfied with their treatment and 89% said that they would recommend this program to a friend. CONCLUSIONS This simplified pharmacologic erection program offers safe, well accepted, and effective therapy for ED to a SCI population with very high patient satisfaction.
Assisting Farmers Through Concessionary Loans: Insights from Ohio's Linked-Deposit Program

This article presents study results of a state-sponsored concessionary loan program for farmers in Ohio started in 1985. Four criteria are used to evaluate the program: its overall costs to the state, extent to which subsidies reached financially stressed farmers, relative size of the subsidies compared to farmers' needs, and extent to which the program provided additional funds to participating farmers. Conclusions are that the program cost the state about $12 million, that only a small percentage of the financially stressed farmers in Ohio received benefits, that the subsidies provided were small compared to need, and that the program resulted in little additional lending to farmers.
Generativity and Stagnation in Entrepreneurship Research

Emerging research has suggested a link between the desire to leave a positive legacy and the creation of new organizations.Private communal and societal wealth creationPresenter: Emmanuelle Fauchar...
Foundations and Application of Precision Medicine

Abstract The goal of precision medicine is to optimize disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment decision-making through the assimilation and analysis of multiple types of data including both genotypic (DNA variation) and phenotypic measures (traditional clinical biomarkers, gene expression, and metabolite profile). Successful integration of new data and analytical methods will pivot on a robust and secure clinical infrastructure, electronic medical records and digital health technologies. Precision medicine may be integrated into public health surveillance, preventive care, and diagnosis. This chapter provides an overview and examples to date that have contributed to the rise of precision medicine and highlight areas where effort is needed to realize the full potential of these applications.
Deciphering the causes of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage

As early as the 18th century, Morgagni recognized intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)1; however, ICH diagnostics advanced markedly after noninvasive brain imaging with CT and MRI became available. Although the literature has a plethora of reported risk factors and causes, our knowledge of a cause(s) for an individual ICH remains limited. The paucity of effective treatment options for ICH reflects our lack of understanding and classification of ICH subtypes, their natural history, and the long-term prognosis. Several causative classifications for ischemic strokes (i.e., TOAST [Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment], Causative Classification of Stroke, and ASCO [atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, cardiac source, other cause]) exist (with consequential tailored treatment strategies), but no such widely used classification existed for ICH until recently. Classification of ICHs usually followed anatomical location, providing only limited information on actual bleeding sources.2 Furthermore, the use of terms such as primary, secondary, or spontaneous ICH often seems arbitrary. Recently, 2 novel, mechanistic ICH classifications were introduced: namely, the SMASH-U and the H-ATOMIC.3,4 Both etiologic classifications have good interrater agreement.3,4 SMASH-U classification is easy and quick to execute, and is predictive of outcome.3 In H-ATOMIC classification, the etiology is scored with 3 degrees of certainty for each category: possible, probable, and definite equaling to 3, 2, and 1 point(s), respectively.4 SMASH-U may be better suited to clinical, and H-ATOMIC to scientific, purposes.
70%-Damped Spectral Acceleration as a Ground Motion Intensity Measure for Predicting Highly Nonlinear Response of Structures:

We investigate 70%-damped spectral acceleration, Sa70%(T), as a ground motion intensity measure for predicting maximum interstory drift ratios of 0.03, 0.06, and 0.1 as well as collapse. We perform...
Metabolism of Heme and Chlorophyll

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the metabolism of action of heme and chlorophyll. With the establishment of the structures of heme and chlorophyll, it became apparent that a common pathway of biosynthesis for the molecules might exist. The biosynthetic chain of chlorophyll begins with the small building blocks, acetate and glycine molecules, which are a part of the basic metabolic milieu. From protoporphyrin, two classes of compounds are formed, namely, the iron porphyrins or hemes and the magnesium porphyrins, which eventually give rise to chlorophyll. Accordingly, heme and chlorophyll are related to each other biochemically, as both arise from the same precursor molecule, protoporphyrin. The insertion of iron into protoporphyrin gives rise to the iron branch of the biosynthetic chain. Several lines of evidence suggest that iron is incorporated into the biosynthetic chain at the level of protoporphyrin and not into compounds below this level. Recent studies on peroxides activity have focused attention on the possibility that the iron of the heme may possess a higher state of oxidation.
Review of Efficient cognition: the evolution of representational decision making, (Armin W. Schulz, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2018)

Why do some organisms rely on mental representations for making decisions? Why don’t we rely merely on direct mappings from perception to behavior? Armin W. Schulz’ book, Efficient Cognition: The Evolution of Representational Decision Making, offers a novel and empirically-informed perspective on a problem that has not received the amount of philosophical attention it deserves. In his view, representational decision making evolved because creatures that use it have enhanced cognitive and neurological efficiency. Here I provide an overview of the book’s contents and a critical assessment of his proposal.
What Are the Critical Issues Necessary to Win the Confidence of State Regulators? Views of a Project Manager on Bioremediation Sites

A cooperative relationship between the regulator and the contractor is critical to the successful completion of any project where environmental issues are at stake. Frequently, however, this relationship becomes adversarial and when this has a negative impact on the work to be done, there is more to lose than just a few bruised egos. This paper will explore this relationship in the context of a bioremediation site and examine what the necessary ingredients are that can foster a cooperative relationship.
Abstract P3007: Effect of Anti-Hypertensive Treatment Lisinopril on Central Arterial Stiffness and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Adult Hypertensive Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

Background: Independent of a high salt intake, Dahl Salt-Sensitive (DSS) rats demonstrate an age-associated increase in blood pressure (BP), and central arterial stiffness estimated by pulse wave v...
Plant-microbe-soil fertility interaction impacts performance of a Bacillus-containing bioproduct on bell pepper.

Limited information is available on the performance of plant growth-promoting inoculants or bioproducts under different soil nutritional or fertility conditions. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available Bacillus-containing bioproduct, Microlife Abundance, at concentrations of 5.5 and 6.5 log cfu/ml on early growth, fertilizer use-efficiency, and fruit yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under two different soil fertility conditions (25% and 100% recommended N rates). Two pot experiments were conducted with bell pepper: (a) a 4-week-long early growth test with inoculant treatments applied once at transplanting; and (b) a 13-week-long yield test with inoculant treatments applied at transplanting and again at first blossom-set. Results from the early growth test indicated that at both N fertilization levels, applying Abundance once at transplanting at 6.5 log cfu/ml rather than 5.5 log cfu/ml significantly increased root dry weight, total root length, root volume, root surface area, and total length of very fine roots compared with the noninoculated control by 20%, 13%, 17%, 15%, and 12%, respectively. In contrast to the early growth, results from the yield test showed that only at the 100% recommended N rate, applying Abundance twice at both concentrations significantly enhanced N fertilizer use-efficiency and marketable yield of bell pepper over the noninoculated control by 34% (5.5 log cfu/ml) and 30% (6.5 log cfu/ml). Therefore, the efficacy of the Bacillus-containing bioproduct Abundance in enhancing fertilizer use-efficiency and marketable yield of bell pepper varied between soil nutritional conditions, but the early growth promotion effect of Abundance did not. Our results also demonstrate that selected microbial-based bioproducts, like Abundance, can be compatible with chemical fertilizers to enhance fertilizer use-efficiency and crop yields, but cannot be used as complete substitutes for chemical fertilizers.
The 2018 update of the US National Seismic Hazard Model: Overview of model and implications:

During 2017–2018, the National Seismic Hazard Model for the conterminous United States was updated as follows: (1) an updated seismicity catalog was incorporated, which includes new earthquakes tha...
Integrative genomic analysis in African American children with asthma finds 3 novel loci associated with lung function

Bronchodilator drugs are commonly prescribed for treatment and management of impaired lung function from diseases such as asthma. Administration of bronchodilator medication can partially or fully restore lung function as measured by pulmonary function tests. The genetics of baseline lung function measures taken prior to bronchodilator medication has been heavily studied, and the genetics of the bronchodilator response itself has received some attention. However, the research on the genetics of post-bronchodilator lung function is less well understood. To address this research gap, we analyzed three pulmonary function traits in 1,103 subjects from the Study of African Americans, Asthma, Genes, and Environment (SAGE), a pediatric asthma case-control cohort, using an integrative genomic analysis approach that combined genotype, locus-specific genetic ancestry, and functional annotation information. Crucially, we coupled summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with an admixture mapping scan to analyze the same lung function measures taken both before and after albuterol bronchodilator administration on the same subjects. We identified 18 GWAS loci, and 5 additional loci from admixture mapping, spanning several known and novel candidate genes. The admixture mapping loci often exhibited wide variation in minor allele frequency in genotyped global populations. Functional fine-mapping revealed an enrichment of annotations from lung-related cell lines. Our results point to novel potential genetic drivers of post-bronchodilator lung function with effect sizes that vary significantly by genetic ancestry.
Mutually Orthogonal Latin Squares

This chapter describes mutually orthogonal Latin squares by beginning with their origins in the 36 officer problem. It describes the major open problems concerning Latin squares. Further results are given describing the structure of Latin squares.
Using Arterial Pressure Index to Predict Arterial Injuries in Penetrating Trauma to the Upper Extremities

BackgroundUpper extremity (UE) vascular injuries account for 18.4% of all traumatic vascular injuries. Arterial pressure index (API) use in lower extremity injuries to determine the need for furthe...
Gaps in Voter Registration: Ongoing Pressures to Expand the Electorate

This chapter aims to identify the dynamics that explain variation in voter registration rates across states and time, and move beyond an explanation about properly implementing federal laws, such as the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). I introduce an aggregate measure of voter registration, namely the voter registration gap, and demonstrate how it fluctuates between federal elections, at both the state and local levels. I argue that fluctuations within a 2-year window, rather than a 4-year window, can more accurately depict how gaps in registration narrow or grow, indicating that the administration of voter registration is a significant factor to account when explaining persistent challenges with growing the registered to vote electorate.
The Evolving Responsibilities, Roles, and Competencies of East Asian Studies Librarians: A Content Analysis of Job Postings from 2008 to 2019

A content analysis of 62 job postings for East Asian studies librarians in the United States and Canada during 2008–2019 demonstrates that major job responsibilities have expanded to include collection development and management, reference and research assistance, instruction, liaison work, and outreach; relationship building and collaboration are emerging roles; skills and abilities have been progressively occupying a larger proportion than knowledge and experience in the required qualifications; top frequently required abilities and skills are generic and behavioral; and professional experiences are often preferred rather than required. The results of this research are of practical relevance to subject specialists in other areas.
Mediastinal parathyroidectomy: Utilization of a multidisciplinary, robotic-assisted transthoracic approach in challenging cases

Abstract Background The majority of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas are accessible transcervically and those not amenable to this approach pose a significant clinical and technical challenge. Methods Retrospective review of transthoracic robot-assisted mediastinal parathyroidectomy (TTRMP) for primary hyperparathyroidism between 2012 and 2019 at a single institution. Results 16 patients underwent TTRMP, 63% were female with a mean age of 64 ± 2.0 years. Nine of 16 had prior parathyroidectomy; 80% had persistent disease and a mean 2.8-year delay from index operation until TTRMP. Locations included: intrathymic (8), AP window (4), carina (3), and retroesophageal (1). Two patients underwent parathyroid reimplantation. Mean post-operative calcium and PTH were 9.2 ± 0.2 mg/dL and 20.2 ± 5.6 pg/mL, respectively. Complications included: temporary hypocalcemia (4), permanent hypocalcemia (1), DVT (1), hoarseness (1), and subcostal neuralgia (1). Conclusion In experienced hands, TTRMP is a safe and effective approach to mediastinal parathyroids not accessible transcervically. A multidisciplinary approach should be used in reoperative cases.
Dysphagia in an Adolescent with Iron Deficiency Anemia.

1. Kaitlin Devine, MD, MS*,†,‡ 2. Erika Friehling, MD, MS§ 1. *Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 2. †Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 3. ‡Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 4. §Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA A previously healthy 14-year-old girl is referred to the hematology clinic for evaluation of microcytic anemia. She has no significant medical or family history. On review of systems she reports several weeks of progressive fatigue, worsening headaches, and intermittent lightheadedness. She denies any history of bleeding, including blood in her stool or urine. She is premenarchal. She denies any rashes, arthralgias, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or intolerance of any foods. There is no family history of inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease. She has a varied diet that includes red meat and vegetables and no dietary restrictions. She denies weight loss. On further discussion she reports a history of progressive dysphagia and odynophagia, worse with solids. On examination she is pale but otherwise well appearing. Vital signs are appropriate for age. Her oral examination reveals a very smooth–appearing tongue with a lack of papillae. There are no abnormalities of the fingernails or skin. Cardiovascular examination is significant for II/VI systolic flow murmur. No hepatosplenomegaly is appreciated. Stool guaiac, urinalysis, and celiac studies are negative, including antibodies to tissue transglutaminase, anti-endomysial antibodies, and antigliadin antibodies. Chest radiography is normal. Laboratory tests are significant for a hemoglobin level of 6 g/dL (60 g/L), a mean corpuscular volume of 51.6 µm3 (51.6 fL) (reference range, 78–102 µm3 [78–102 fL]), a red blood cell distribution width of 22.1% (reference range, 11.8%–15.2%), a ferritin level of 0.9 ng/mL (0.9 µg/L) (reference range, 10–300 ng/mL [10–300 µg/L]), total iron-binding capacity of 526 μg/dL (94.15 µmol/L) (reference range, 250–420 μg/dL [44.75–75.18 µmol/L]), iron saturation of 2% (reference range, 25%–50%), and a transferrin level of 376 mg/dL (46.25 µmol/L) (reference range, …
Demonstration of receptors for insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 on Hs578T human breast cancer cells.

Hs578T human breast cancer cells are from an estrogen receptor-negative breast cell line derived from a highly aggressive mammary tumor. Our previous insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) binding studies (Oh, Y., Muller, H. L., Lamson, G., and Rosenfeld, R. G. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 14964-14971) have demonstrated specific binding of IGFBP-3 on the Hs578T cell surface and a significant inhibitory effect of IGFBP-3, itself, on monolayer growth. In this study, we have demonstrated cell surface association proteins that are specific for IGFBP-3 by showing: 1) detection of 20-, 26-, and 50-kDa proteins by affinity cross-linking with 125I-IGFBP-3E. coli and immunoprecipitation of cell monolayers and cell lysates with anti-IGFBP-3 antibodies; 2) dose-dependent competition of 125I-IGFBP-3E. coli by unlabeled IGFBP-3E. coli; 3) inhibition of IGFBP-3 binding to these cell surface proteins by EDTA and by coincubation with native insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), but not by coincubation with [Gln6,Ala7,Tyr18,Leu19,Leu27]IGF-II, an IGF-II analog with decreased affinity for IGFBP-3; and 4) partial purification of 20- and 26-kDa species by IGFBP-3.anti-IGFBP-3 antibody immunoaffinity membranes. Characteristics of these specific IGFBP-3 cell surface association proteins are identical to those observed in our previous monolayer binding assay and monolayer growth assay experiments. The specificity of binding and the inhibitory effect of IGFBP-3 binding on Hs578T cell growth suggest that these cell surface proteins are IGFBP-3-specific receptors or receptor subunits mediating the direct inhibitory effect of IGFBP-3 on monolayer growth of Hs578T cells.
Uses of biological spectral weighting functions and the need of scaling for the ozone reduction problem

In several phases of assessing implications of stratospheric ozone reduction for plants, biological spectral weighting functions (BSWF) play a key role: calculating the increase of biologically effective solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-BBE) due to ozone reduction, assessing current latitudinal gradients of UV-BBE, and comparing solar UV-BBE with that from lamps and filters in plant experiments. Plant UV action spectra (usually determined with monochromatic radiation in the laboratory with exposure periods on the order of hours) are used as BSWF. Yet, many complicating factors cloud the realism of such spectra for plants growing day after day in polychromatic solar radiation in the field. The uses and sensitivity of BSWF in the stratospheric ozone reduction problem are described. The need for scaling BSWF from action spectra determined with monochromatic radiation in laboratory conditions over periods of hours to polychromatic solar radiation in the field is developed. Bottom-up mechanistic and top-down polychromatic action spectrum development are considered as not satisfactory to resolve realistic BSWF. A compromise intermediate approach is described in which laboratory results are tested under polychromatic radiation in growth chambers and, especially, under field conditions. The challenge of the scaling exercise is to resolve disagreements between expected spectral responses at different scales of time and radiation conditions. Iterative experiments with feedback among the different experimental venues is designed to reduce uncertainties about realistic BSWF in the field. Sensitivity analyses are employed to emphasize characteristics of BSWF that are particularly important in assessing the ozone problem. Implications for use of realistic BSWF both for improved research design and for retrospective analysis of past research is described.
The SPARK That Burns Me Up

To the Editor: In the recent editorial by Lenfant,1 the acronym SPARK popped up repeatedly without ever being defined. I even went to the trouble of looking it up from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/fromdir/sparkweb.htm for a copy of the SPARK report as the author suggested, but could not find a definition of the acronym SPARK in that report either. Man is the animal that likes to abbreviate,2 …
Cooperation, Punishment, and the Evolution of Human Institutions

Given the choice, people prefer institutional arrangements in which those who overconsume common-property resources are punished compared to those in which they go free.
Investigation of longitudinal assembly and functionalization of gold nanorods using peptides

The longitudinal assembly of gold nanorods (AuNRs) has previously been demonstrated with alkanedithiols. An analogous assembly of AuNRs has been investigated using peptides containing cysteine, demonstrating similar longitudinal interplasmon coupling to hexanedithiol assemblies. Peptides are an attractive class of molecules for AuNR functionalization due to their functional flexibility and high-throughput production techniques. Developing peptide linkers for AuNR assembly and functionalization is an important step toward potential biomedical and nanotechnology applications
Momentum Dependent Mean Fields in the BUU Model of Heavy Ion Collisions

In attempts to extract the high density nuclear equation of state (EOS) from intermediate energy heavy ion collisions much attention has focused on simulating these using the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck [1, 2] (BUU) transport equation, which describes the time evolution of the one-body nucleon phase space distribution function f(r, p, t): $$\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial t}} + v.\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial r}} - \frac{{\partial U}}{{\partial r}}.\frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial p}} = - \frac{1}{{{{\left( {2\pi } \right)}^6}}}\int {{d^3}{p_2}{d^3}} {p_2},d\Omega \frac{{d{\sigma _{NN}}}}{{D\Omega }}g \left\{ {\left[ {f{f_2}\left( {1 - {f_{1\prime }}} \right)\left( {1 - {f_{2\prime }}} \right) - {f_{1\prime }}{f_{2\prime }}\left( {1 - f} \right)\left( {1 - {f_2}} \right)} \right]{{\left( {2\pi } \right)}^3}{\delta ^{\left( 3 \right)}}\left( {p + {p_2} - {p_{1\prime }} - {p_{2\prime }}} \right)} \right\}. $$ (1.1)
A Comparison of the Importance of Competencies for Applying Microcomputers in Vocational Education

AbstractA national sample including 134 vocational educators, representing 6 vocational disciplines, was surveyed to ascertain the relative importance of 47 competencies for applying microcomputers in vocational education. The 12-member DA CUM panel that generated the core of this competency profile was used as a comparison group in this investigation. A oneway ANOVA procedure was used to determine if significant differences (p < .05) occurred between the groups’ importance ratings on the 5 categories and their respective competencies. t-tests were used to identify which groups differed significantly. The groups’ ratings did not differ on the categories; however, there were significant differences on 5 of the competencies.
Multiple paths to similar germination behavior in Arabidopsis thaliana

Germination timing influences plant fitness, and its sensitivity to temperature may cause it to change as climate shifts. These changes are likely to be complex because temperatures that occur during seed maturation and temperatures that occur post-dispersal interact to define germination timing. We used the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana to determine how flowering time (which defines seed-maturation temperature) and post-dispersal temperature influence germination and the expression of genetic variation for germination. Germination responses to temperature (germination envelopes) changed as seeds aged, or after-ripened, and these germination trajectories depended on seed-maturation temperature and genotype. Different combinations of genotype, seed-maturation temperature, and after-ripening produced similar germination envelopes. Likewise, different genotypes and seed-maturation temperatures combined to produce similar germination trajectories. Differences between genotypes were most likely to be observed at high and low germination temperatures. The germination behavior of some genotypes responds weakly to maternal temperature but others are highly plastic. We hypothesize that weak dormancy induction could synchronize germination of seeds dispersed at different times. By contrast, we hypothesize that strongly responsive genotypes may spread offspring germination over several possible germination windows. Considering germination responses to temperature is important for predicting phenology expression and evolution in future climates.
A high-efficiency NaI(Tl) detector array with position sensitivity for experiments with fast exotic beams

The twenty-four trapezoidal NaI(Tl) detectors previously used as part of the trigger detector for the APEX experiment at Argonne National Laboratory have been adapted for use in experiments with beams of fast exotic isotopes at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. A high-efficiency position-sensitive detector is ideal for inelastic scattering studies with exotic beams produced at projectilefragmentation facilities. The g rays emitted from fast-moving projectiles ðv=c ¼ 0:320:5Þ are Doppler-shifted considerably. The energy in the projectile frame can be reconstructed by simultaneously measuring the emission angle and energy ofthe lab f rame photon. Position sensitivity (3 cm FWHM) is achieved by reading out photomultiplier tubes at both ends ofeach detector in coincidence. The large solid-angle coverage (75% of4 p) and high intrinsic efficiency result in a total photopeak detection probability of 17% at 1332 keV with an energy resolution of about 13%. r 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Deep-level and surface-level individual differences and applicant attraction to organizations: A meta-analysis

Abstract Given the importance of individual differences in the study of applicant attraction to organizations, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between both applicant deep-level characteristics ( e.g. , applicant ability, personality, and experience) and surface-level characteristics ( e.g. , race, gender, and age) with applicant attraction. Results of our review of over 1700 articles (of which, 85 provided relevant data for our analysis) indicated that several relevant applicant individual differences are related to applicant attraction, independent of organizational influences. Stronger effect sizes were found for applicant deep-level characteristics ( versus surface level) as well as field studies ( versus lab studies). Extraversion and conscientiousness had the strongest positive relationships with applicant attraction, while applicant grade point average, as an indicator of ability, had the strongest negative relationship. The significance of these findings, including implications for applicants and organizations, is discussed.
Analysis of a model for transmitter kinetics

Neural transmitters can generally exist in several states: stored, released, in combination with receptors, and recycling to storage. A set of equations is proposed and analyzed for such a system. We have considered boundedness and stability of solutions, and we have discussed physiological effects such as response saturation and adaptation. We have investigated the effects of the model parameters on system behavior and we have indicated how the model can be extended to include phenomena such as transmitter mobilization, modulation if its release and receptor desensitization.
Effects of grain size and grain-boundary segregation on superconducting properties of dense polycrystalline La1.85Sr0.15CuO4

The grain size dependence of magnetic and resistive properties in a series of dense (96->99%) polycrystalline La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 superconductors ranging in grain size from ∼ 1 to ∼ 10 μm has been measured. Samples were prepared by controlled hot-pressing from a single lot of chemically-derived homogeneous powder. Critical currents have been calculated from the magnetization hysteresis assuming that supercurrents flow (1) throughout the sample as a whole, and (2) only within individual grains. It is found that intra-grain critical currents are identical regardless of grain size, indicating that grain decoupling is present at low fields (< 20 Oe). It is furthermore observed that resistive transitions are broadened, and magnetic transitions exhibit unusual structure, in fine-grained sample but not in coarse-grained samples. The relationship of these results to an equilibrium segregation of Sr at grain boundaries, measured using in situ AES, is discussed.
Valuing improvements in lifetime endowments in markets with no borrowing

The objective is to determine whether single period data regarding willingness to pay for improvements in lifetime endowments when consumers cannot borrow can be used to measure the net present value of the improvements. When consumers who discount utility at the real interest rate can borrow and save, the willingness to pay for improvements in lifetime endowments is the net present value of the improvements. A single period measure of the willingness to pay for improvements in lifetime endowments without borrowing is at least as large as the improvement in the period in which the individual has the opportunity to obtain the stream of improvements. The sum of single period measures is an upper bound for the net present value of improvements in lifetime endowments.
Superresolution imaging of multiple fluorescent proteins with highly overlapping emission spectra in living cells.

Localization-based superresolution optical imaging is rapidly gaining popularity, yet limited availability of genetically encoded photoactivatable fluorescent probes with distinct emission spectra impedes simultaneous visualization of multiple molecular species in living cells. We introduce PAmKate, a monomeric photoactivatable far-red fluorescent protein, which facilitates simultaneous imaging of three photoactivatable proteins in mammalian cells using fluorescence photoactivation localization microscopy (FPALM). Successful probe identification was achieved by measuring the fluorescence emission intensity in two distinct spectral channels spanning only ∼100 nm of the visible spectrum. Raft-, non-raft-, and cytoskeleton-associated proteins were simultaneously imaged in both live and fixed fibroblasts coexpressing Dendra2-hemagglutinin, PAmKate-transferrin receptor, and PAmCherry1-β-actin fusion constructs, revealing correlations between the membrane proteins and membrane-associated actin structures.
Evolution with material symbol systems

Pattee's semantic closure principle is used to study the characteristics and requirements of evolving material symbols systems. By contrasting agents that reproduce via genetic variation with agents that reproduce via self-inspection, we reach the conclusion that symbols are necessary to attain open-ended evolution, but only if the phenotypes of agents are the result of a material, self-organization process. This way, a study of the inter-dependencies of symbol and matter is presented. This study is based first on a theoretical treatment of symbolic representations, and secondly on simulations of simple agents with matter-symbol inter-dependencies. The agent-based simulations use evolutionary algorithms with indirectly encoded phenotypes. The indirect encoding is based on Fuzzy Development programs, which are procedures for combining fuzzy sets in such a way as to model self-organizing development processes.