cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urotensin II-induced store-operated Ca2+ entry contributes to glomerular mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix protein production under high glucose conditions

Glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) proliferation and matrix expansion are pathological hallmarks of a wide range of kidney diseases, including diabetic nephropathy. Although the circulating level of peptide hormone urotensin II (UII) and kidney tissue expression of UII and UII receptors (UTR) are increased in diabetic nephropathy, it remains unclear whether UII regulates GMC growth and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that UII-induced Ca2+ signaling controls GMC proliferation and ECM production under normal and high glucose conditions. Mouse GMCs cultured under normal glucose conditions proliferated and synthesized ECM proteins in response to stimulation by mouse UII. UII-induced GMC proliferation and ECM protein synthesis were dependent on TRPC4 channel-mediated store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and sequential activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and Ca2+/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) transcription factor. Under high glucose conditions, GMCs synthesized UII. Moreover, proliferation and ECM production in high glucose-challenged GMCs were attenuated by selective UTR antagonist, TRPC4 channel blocker, and CaMKII and CREB-binding protein/p300 inhibitors. These findings indicate that UII-induced SOCE via TRPC4 channels stimulates CaMKII/CREB-dependent GMC proliferation and ECM protein production. Our data also suggest that UII synthesis contributes to GMC proliferation and ECM accumulation under high glucose conditions.
Antiviral Immunity and Virus-Mediated Antagonism in Disease Vector Mosquitoes

More than 100 pathogens, spanning multiple virus families, broadly termed 'arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses)' have been associated with human and/or animal diseases. These viruses persist in nature through transmission cycles that involve alternating replication in susceptible vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Collectively, these viruses are among the greatest burdens to global health, due to their widespread prevalence, and the severe morbidity and mortality they cause in human and animal hosts. Specific examples of mosquito-borne pathogens include Zika virus (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus serotypes 1-4 (DENV 1-4), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), yellow fever virus (YFV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). Interactions between arboviruses and the immune pathways of vertebrate hosts have been extensively reviewed. In this review we focus on the antiviral immune pathways present in mosquitoes. We also discuss mechanisms by which mosquito-borne viruses may antagonize antiviral pathways in disease vectors. Finally, we elaborate on the possibility that mosquito-borne viruses may be engaged in an evolutionary arms race with their invertebrate vector hosts, and the possible implications of this for understanding the transmission of mosquito-borne viruses.
Growth of a Multinational Corporation

This chapter covers the life of our model multinational company. It is documented using 25 years of typical corporate records. Although it is simpler than an actual multinational, there is enough detail to support the analyses in the chapters that follow.
Can Emotional Intelligence Be Measured

Lord Kelvin’s often-cited quote, which has been used to highlight the importance of accurate measurement in many different fields, pro­ vides a cautious perspective with which to begin a chapter examining the measurement of a relatively new and controversial construct such as emotional intelligence. Interest in emotional intelligence (EI) has increased substantially over the last decade, but a few researchers have raised questions about the adequacy of EI measures (e.g., Matthews, Zeidner, & Roberts, 2002). Although some practitioners have been quite optimistic about the importance of EI in organiza­ tions, critical questions remain about the concept, theory, and mea-This paper reviews and critiques EI measures, which vary widely in both their content and their method of assessment. First, the mea­ surement and psychometric properties of six prominent EI measures (Emotional Competence Inventory, Emotional Quotient Inventory, Wong and Law EI Scale, Emotional Intelligence Scale, Multifactor Emotional Intelligence Scale, Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intel­ ligence Test) are considered. These six measures were chosen be­ cause they have received the most attention by emotional intelligence researchers and consultants. The strategies used to measure EI can be broken down into personality-based and ability-based ap­ proaches. These approaches result in different conceptualizations of EI as well as very different measures. Personality-based EI measures are discussed first, and then ability-based EI measures are examined. Table 3.1 shows basic information about each of the measures, which are described in more detail below. Second, the EI measures are com­ pared and examined in light of their reliability and validity evidence. Third, this chapter addresses measurement issues related to the struggle between the science and marketing of EI. Fourth, recent meta-analyses on EI are examined, and some conclusions and sugges­ tions for future research on EI measures are provided.
Form and Meaning in Music: Revisiting the Affective Character of the Major and Minor Modes

Musical systems develop associations over time between aspects of musical form and concepts from outside of the music. Experienced listeners internalize these connotations, such that the formal ele...
Vaping cannabis among adolescents: prevalence and associations with tobacco use from a cross-sectional study in the USA.

Objective Previous research suggests that some adolescents are using e-cigarette devices to vaporise (‘vaping’) cannabis in the form of hash oil, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) wax or oil, or dried cannabis buds or leaves. However, it is unclear how adolescents who vape cannabis use other tobacco products. This study examined the extent to which adolescents reported ever vaping cannabis and investigated how demographic variables and tobacco behaviours were associated with use. Design We used cross-sectional data from adolescents (total response rate 64.5%) who participated in the 2017 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey. SAS logistic regression survey procedures were used to account for the complex survey design and sampling weights. Setting North Carolina, USA. Participants Adolescents in high school (n=2835). Primary outcome and measure Adolescents were asked to indicate whether they had ever used an e-cigarette device with marijuana, THC or hash oil, or THC wax. Results Approximately 1 in 10 high school students reported ever vaping cannabis in the overall sample (9.6%). In multivariable models, adolescents who reported using cigars (adjusted OR (aOR) 3.76, 95% CI 2.33 to 6.07), waterpipe (aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.37 to 3.93) or e-cigarettes (aOR 3.18, 95% CI 2.38 to 4.25) in the past 30 days had higher odds of reporting ever vaping cannabis compared with their counterparts. There was no significant association between use of smokeless tobacco (aOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.91) or use of cigarettes (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 0.71 to 2.29) in the past 30 days and odds of reporting ever vaping cannabis. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that large numbers of high school students who use tobacco products have vaped cannabis. As tobacco control policies—such as communication campaigns or smoke-free laws—increasingly focus on e-cigarettes, attention to understanding how adolescents use e-cigarettes to vape substances other than nicotine is essential.
When and how does sales manager physical attractiveness impact credibility: A test of two competing hypotheses

Abstract Physical attractiveness has been described as a “beauty premium.” Research shows that for leaders, attractiveness is associated with both personal and professional benefits. However, sales research has yet to investigate manager attractiveness. Here, we examine whether and how manager physical attractiveness influences salespeople's perceptions of manager credibility. Using signaling theory, we argue that physical attractiveness is an affect-based signal that induces an emotional connection with the signaler (i.e., manager) ultimately impacting credibility. However, competing theoretical explanations indicate that these relationships are contingent on salesperson experience. Particularly, does manager physical attractiveness matter more to inexperienced or experienced salespeople as it relates to credibility? Interestingly, our findings indicate that experienced salespeople rely more on manager physical attractiveness than their inexperienced colleagues do when assessing manager credibility. We also provide support that affective commitment is the mechanism through which attractiveness influences credibility. These findings suggest that physical attractiveness is an actionable managerial tool.
The Sensitivity to Threat and Affiliative Reward (STAR) model and the development of callous-unemotional traits

Research implicates callous-unemotional (CU) traits (i.e., lack of empathy, prosociality, and guilt, and reduced sensitivity to others' emotions) in the development of severe and persistent antisocial behavior. To improve etiological models of antisocial behavior and develop more effective treatments, we need a better understanding of the origins of CU traits. In this review, we discuss the role of two psychobiological and mechanistic precursors to CU traits: low affiliative reward (i.e., deficits in seeking out or getting pleasure from social bonding and closeness with others) and low threat sensitivity (i.e., fearlessness to social and non-social threat). We outline the Sensitivity to Threat and Affiliative Reward (STAR) model and review studies that have examined the development of affiliative reward and threat sensitivity across animal, neuroimaging, genetic, and behavioral perspectives. We next evaluate evidence for the STAR model, specifically the claim that CU traits result from deficits in both affiliative reward and threat sensitivity. We end with constructive suggestions for future research to test the hypotheses generated by the STAR model.
Peak focusing based on stationary phase thickness gradient.

Abstract This paper reports the development of a stationary phase thickness gradient gas chromatography (GC) column that enables analyte peak focusing and improves separation resolution. Theoretical analysis and simulation demonstrate focusing via a positive thickness gradient, i.e., the stationary phase thickness increases along the column. This effect was experimentally verified by coating a 5 m long capillary column with a film thickness varying from 34 nm at the column inlet to 241 nm at the column outlet. The column was analyzed in forward (thin to thick) and backward (thick to thin) modes and compared to a uniform thickness column with a thickness of 131 nm, using alkanes ranging from C5 to C16 and aromatics. Comparison of resolutions between forward mode and the uniform thickness column demonstrated an overall focusing rate (i.e., improvement in peak capacity) of 11.7% on alkanes and 28.2% on aromatics. The focusing effect was also demonstrated for isothermal room temperature separation of highly volatile compounds and temperature programmed separation with different ramping rates. In all cases, peak capacities from forward mode separations are higher than those from other modes, indicating the ability of a positive thickness gradient to focus analyte peaks. This thickness gradient technique can therefore be broadly applied to various stationary phases and column types as a general method for improving GC separation performance.
Historical Disaster Exposure and Household Preparedness Across the United States.

Objectives: The study determined whether households in disaster-exposed communities were more likely to be prepared. Methods: Three measures of preparedness were created using the 2013 American Housing Survey: cumulative, adequate, and minimal preparedness. Cumulative and adequate preparedness were created based on the existing literature. Minimal preparedness measured whether households had at present food, water, access to a vehicle, and funds with which to evacuate. Disaster exposure was measured using historical FEMA disaster declarations. The various preparedness measures were regressed onto historical disaster exposure, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Results: Across all measures of preparedness, historical disaster exposure was a statistically significant predictor of preparedness. Vulnerable households included those where children or the disabled were present. African-American headed households emerged as vulnerable only when minimal preparedness was assessed. Conclusions: Prior disaster exposure increased household preparedness regardless of how preparedness was defined. However, assessing minimal preparedness may better reflect the changing disaster landscape where more and more households are asked to evacuate or shelter-in-place by policy-makers.
A Framework for Analyzing Elementary Mathematics Curriculum Materials

This chapter serves as an introduction to this volume. It introduces the idea of curriculum analysis and situates the work of this volume in the Improving Curriculum Use for Better Teaching (ICUBiT) project. After providing a brief historical overview of the evolution of mathematics curriculum materials in the USA, beginning in 1990, we detail the framework guiding our analysis of five elementary mathematics programs, along with a set of assumptions that undergird our approach. We then locate our approach to curriculum analysis in the wider body of such work, identifying several key methodological questions that researchers consider when undertaking analysis of curriculum materials. Finally, we introduce the five curriculum programs that are the focus of our analysis and provide an overview of key aspects of our methodological approach. We conclude with an overview of the remaining chapters in the volume.
Conversion of liquid hot water, acid and alkali pretreated industrial hemp biomasses to bioethanol.

Abstract In this work, four varieties of hemp biomasses (Helena, SS Beta, Tygra, and Elleta Campana) pretreated with liquid hot water (LHW), H2SO4, and NaOH were investigated for ethanol production. Physicochemical and morphological properties of the pretreated hemp biomass were characterized. LHW achieved high glucan (85–98%) and xylan (67–71%) recoveries. H2SO4 induced significant glucan decomposition (5.9–10.6 g/L) and inhibitor formation (4.5–7.4 g/L of HMF and 2.8–4.5 g/L of furfural) in resulting slurries. Both LHW and H2SO4 pretreatments resulted in low glucose and ethanol yields due to recondensed lignin units. NaOH pretreatment achieved high glucose and ethanol yields due to efficient lignin removal (58.6–75.3%). There was no significant variation in ethanol yield among the four hemp varieties pretreated by NaOH. H2SO4 and NaOH pretreated biomasses showed apparent terraced-field structures and microporous protuberances. Changes in crystallinity indexes and intensities of FTIR peaks were consistent with enhanced cellulose and decreased amorphous hemicellulose.
Transcriptional control of the gonococcal ompA gene by the MisR/MisS two-component regulatory system

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of gonorrhea, is an exclusive human pathogen whose growing antibiotic resistance is causing worldwide concern. The increasing rise of antibiotic resistance expressed by gonococci highlights the need to find alternative approaches to current gonorrhea treatment such as vaccine development or novel therapeutics. The gonococcal OmpA protein was previously identified as a potential vaccine candidate due to its conservation and stable expression amongst strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. However, factors that might modulate levels of OmpA and therefore potential vaccine efficacy are unknown. Earlier work indicated that ompA is part of the MisR/MisS regulon and suggested that it was a MisR-activated gene. Herein, we confirmed MisR/MisS regulation of ompA and report that the MisR response regulator can bind upstream of the ompA translational start codon. Further, we describe the contribution of a DNA sequence upstream of the ompA promoter that is critical for MisR activation of ompA transcription. Our results provide a framework for understanding the transcription of gonococcal ompA through a regulatory system known to be important for survival of gonococci during experimental infection.
Interior ecosystem in the subarctic: wild, living, arthropod biodiversity in the University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America

Outside of pest control reports, little attention has been paid to interior ecosystems in high-latitude regions. Opportunistic sampling of live arthropods captured inside the University of Alaska Museum Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America allowed us to describe and analyse one such interior ecosystem. We document a minimum of 77 arthropod species over 18 years. Beetles, spiders, and booklice represented 80% of the total abundance. Of those captured, synanthropes consisted primarily of fungivores and detritivores, seasonals consisted primarily of predators and omnivores, and transients consisted primarily of predators and had greater diet and species diversity than the synanthropes and transients. January was the most common month for capturing synanthropes, September for capturing seasonals, and July for capturing transients. Four synanthropic species not previously known from Alaska, which appear to have breeding populations inside the museum, were found: Dorypteryx domestica (Smithers, 1958) (Psocodea: Psyllipsocidae), Cartodere constricta (Gyllenhal, 1827), Dienerella filum (Aube, 1850), and Corticaria serrata (Paykull 1800) (Coleoptera: Latridiidae). Three transient and one synanthrope species previously unreported from Alaska, with no evidence of breeding populations, were also found: the click beetle Danosoma obtectum (Say, 1839) (Coleoptera: Elateridae), a spider in the genus Phantyna, probably the species P. bicornis (Emerton, 1915) (Araneae: Dictynidae), two Colobopsis sp. ant specimens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), and the synanthropic spider Oecobius cellariorum (Duges, 1836) (Araneae: Oecobiidae).
Cooperative processing using CICS

The evolution to co-operative processing CICS communications application design performance using LAN software with CICS OS/2 inter-program communications common user access (CUA) interfaces to CICS security recovery/integrity co-operative application development systems operation. Appendices: CICS - a strategic product CICS OS/2 and host CICS differences CICS application programming using C sources recent IBM announcements.
Positive Sharp Waves in Neonatal EEG

ABSTRACT.The clinical correlates and EEG characteristics of rolandic positive sharp waves in neonatal EEG have been studied systematically. Morphologically similar positive sharp waves have been reported to occur in the temporal areas (PTS). Their significance is, however, unclear. We reviewed 52 EEGs on patients from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Twenty-one of the EEGs which were reviewed had PTS. We correlated the PTS with the results of ultrasound of the head and with clinical evaluations. PTS are more strongly correlated with the occurrence of nonhemorrhagic than of hemorrhagic intracranial pathology.
Tai Chi Improves Pain and Functional Status in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a Pilot Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Background/Aims: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious health problem resulting in significant morbidity and disability. Tai Chi may be beneficial to patients with RA as a result of effects on musc
Vine Copula Specifications for Stationary Multivariate Markov Chains

Vine copulae provide a graphical framework in which multiple bivariate copulae may be combined in a consistent fashion to yield a more complex multivariate copula. In this article, we discuss the use of vine copulae to build flexible semiparametric models for stationary multivariate higher-order Markov chains. We propose a new vine structure, the M-vine, that is particularly well suited to this purpose. Stationarity may be imposed by requiring the equality of certain copulae in the M-vine, while the Markov property may be imposed by requiring certain copulae to be independence copulae.
An Analysis of the Rejoining of X-Ray-Induced Broken Ends of Chromosomes in the Root Tips of Allium Cepa.

Experiments were performed with the roots of Allium cepa seedlings in order to analyze the rejoining behavior of x-ray-induced broken ends of chromosomes, and to test several hypotheses relating the results of such studies to the nature of chromosome organization. Studies with fractionstcd doses have shown that two classes of breaks, as judged by their average time of restitution, are induced by x-rays--those that undengo relatively rapid restitution within 15 mlnutes, and those that remain open for a relatively long period of time, e.g., four hours. In an effort to distinguish the two classes of breaks on a qualitative basis, experiments utliizing carbon monoxide treatments were performed. Carbon monoxide was found to produce a lightreversible inhibition of the restitution of both types of breaks. The results of these studies indicate that the two classes of breaks cannot be distinguished on this basis. The possibility that iron provides an ionic linkage in the chromosome is discussed. (auth)
Primal-dual approximation algorithms for metric facility location and k-median problems

We present approximation algorithms for the metric uncapacitated facility location problem and the metric k-median problem achieving guarantees of 3 and 6 respectively. The distinguishing feature of our algorithms is their low running time: O(m log m) and O(m log m(L+log(n))) respectively, where n and m are the total number of vertices and edges in the underlying graph. The main algorithmic idea is a new extension of the primal-dual schema.
Brain injury biomarkers are not dependent on β-amyloid in normal elderly.

Objective The new criteria for preclinical Alzheimer disease (AD) proposed 3 stages: abnormal levels of β-amyloid (stage 1), stage 1 plus evidence of brain injury (stage 2), and stage 2 plus subtle cognitive changes (stage 3). However, a large group of subjects with normal β-amyloid biomarkers have evidence of brain injury; we labeled them as the “suspected non-Alzheimer pathophysiology” (sNAP) group. The characteristics of the sNAP group are poorly understood. Methods Using the preclinical AD classification, 430 cognitively normal subjects from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging who underwent brain magnetic resonance (MR), 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), and Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography (PET) were evaluated for FDG PET regional volumetrics, MR regional brain volumetrics, white matter hyperintensity volume, and number of infarcts. We examined cross-sectional associations across AD preclinical stages, those with all biomarkers normal, and the sNAP group. Results The sNAP group had a lower proportion (14%) with apolipoprotein E e4 genotype than the preclinical AD stages 2 + 3. The sNAP group did not show any group differences compared to stages 2 + 3 of the preclinical AD group on measures of FDG PET regional hypometabolism, MR regional brain volume loss, cerebrovascular imaging lesions, vascular risk factors, imaging changes associated with α-synucleinopathy, or physical findings of parkinsonism. Interpretation Cognitively normal persons with brain injury biomarker abnormalities, with or without abnormal levels of β-amyloid, were indistinguishable on a variety of imaging markers, clinical features, and risk factors. The initial appearance of brain injury biomarkers that occurs in cognitively normal persons with preclinical AD may not depend on β-amyloidosis. ANN NEUROL 2013;73:472–480
A new error of tyrosine metabolism: tyrosinosis. The intermediary metabolism of tyrosine and phenylalanine.

THE object of the present paper is to describe an addition to the few known errors of metabolism. That the condition here described for the first time is not common is shown by the following observation. The only way in which it may be routinely discovered is by following up urines reported as giving a doubtfully positive sugar test. Dr Blatherwick, the head of the laboratory of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., who was present when some of these findings were presented in Chicago in 1930, has since then followed up 14,753 urines which contained 0-3 % sugar according to Benedict's picric acid method. The test with Fiske's molybdic acid reagent described below was applied to these urines. No instance of our condition was found. One case of alcaptonuria was present.
Post-Imperial Democracies: Ideology and Party Formation in Third Republic France, Weimar Germany, and Post-Soviet Russia

Post-Soviet Russia, the early Third Republic in France, and the Weimar Republic in Germany can be understood as cases of “postimperial democracy”—a situation in which a new democratic regime emerge...
Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper in nickel-base alloys with various chemical modifiers

Abstract The analytical characteristics of copper in nickel-base alloys have been investigated with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Deuterium background correction was employed. The effects of various chemical modifiers on the analysis of copper were investigated. Organic modifiers which included 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino-phenol) (Br-PADAP), ammonium citrate, 1-(2-pyridylazo)-naphthol, 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and Triton X-100 were studied. Inorganic modifiers palladium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, aluminum chloride, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen peroxide and potassium nitrate were also applied in this work. In addition, zirconium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide precipitation methods have also been studied. Interference effects were effectively reduced with Br-PADAP modifier. Aqueous standards were used to construct the calibration curves. The detection limit was 1.9 pg. Standard reference materials of nickel-base alloys were used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. The copper contents determined with the proposed method agreed closely with the certified values of the reference materials. The recoveries were within the range 90–100% with relative standard deviation of less than 10%. Good precision was obtained.
Effect of isolation on α-methyltyrosine-induced behavioral depression

Abstract The effect of chronic isolation on the behavioral depression induced by αMT was examined in rats. Isolated rats showed less depression of rotarod performance, locomotor activity and shuttle box avoidance after αMT than rats housed in groups of 6. Further studies on the αMT-induced depression of motor activity at various times after reserpine pretreatment indicated that the duration of isolation is also important. Isolation for 21 days modified the response to αMT, while isolation for 7 days did not. These results suggest that chronic isolation causes a change in central adrenergic activity.
Isolation of the major glycoprotein from fat cell plasma membranes.

Abstract The major glycoprotein of rabbit fat cell plasma membranes has been solubilized by Brij 99 extraction and purified to homogeneity by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The isolation procedure yielded a glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 79,000 which appeared as a single component by Coomassie blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining as well as by distribution of radioactivity after 125I labeling. The lectin chromatography was effective in removing polypeptides and Schiff-nonreactive glycoproteins which migrated in close proximity to the major glycoprotein during electrophoresis but were not retained on the concanavalin A column. Determination of the amino acid and sugar composition of the purified glycoprotein indicated that it contained 18% carbohydrate by weight which occurred in the form of 30 mannose, 14 galactose, 23 glucosamine, 3 galactosamine, 6 N-acetylneuraminic acid, and 1 fucose residues per molecule. Approximately one-fifth of the total protein-bound saccharide of the adipocyte plasma membrane was accounted for by this glycoprotein and its composition suggested that it was the source of some of the previously identified ( Y. Kawai, and R. G. Spiro, 1977 , J. Biol. Chem.252, 6236–6244) asparagine- and serine (threonine)-linked carbohydrate units of the fat cell surface.
Virtual and Concrete Manipulatives: A Comparison of Approaches for Solving Mathematics Problems for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are included in general education classes and expected to participate in general education content, such as mathematics. Yet, little research explores academically-based mathematics instruction for this population. This single subject alternating treatment design study explored the effectiveness of concrete (physical objects that can be manipulated) and virtual (3-D objects from the Internet that can be manipulated) manipulatives to teach single- and double-digit subtraction skills. Participants in this study included three elementary-aged students (ages ranging from 6 to 10) diagnosed with ASD. Students were selected from a clinic-based setting, where all participants received medically necessary intensive services provided via one-to-one, trained therapists. Both forms of manipulatives successfully assisted students in accurately and independently solving subtraction problem. However, all three students demonstrated greater accuracy and faster independence with the virtual manipulatives as compared to the concrete manipulatives. Beyond correctly solving the subtraction problems, students were also able to generalize their learning of subtraction through concrete and virtual manipulatives to more real-world applications.
What Are the Most Important New Targets in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a remarkably heterogeneous disease. Data clearly demonstrate the presence of multiple molecular subtypes of breast cancer, and alterations in cell physiology shared by most tumors have been identified. These recent developments in our understanding of the molecular events involved in breast cancer have led to the identification of novel targets as well as anticancer therapies based on these targets. These therapies are referred to as targeted therapy in that the agent has a high specificity for molecules involved in molecular events responsible for the cancer phenotype. This review highlights some of the most promising future targets in breast cancer.
New SFA Techniques for Studying Surface Forces and Thin Film Patterns Induced by Electric Fields

We describe two ways to measure normal and/or lateral forces between two surfaces in a surface forces apparatus (SFA) while an electric field is applied between the surfaces. The first method involves depositing thin conductive layers on the exposed substrate (usually mica) sheets; the second involves using the optically reflecting silver layers on the back surfaces of the sheets as the electrodes. Two types of experiments were performed using these new techniques: (1) measuring the effects of an electric field on the rheology of an ∼40-μm-thick film of zeolite particles suspended in silicone oil and (2) a dynamic study of electric field-induced pattern formation of a thin polymer film. In the first study, under an electric field of strength ∼106 V/m the shear force or effective viscosity of the colloid suspension was found to be two orders of magnitude higher than in the absence of the field, when the expected bulk value was measured. In the dynamic study, the initially uniform film transformed into a 2...
Theory of electron nematic order in LaFeAsO

We study a spin S quantum Heisenberg model on the Fe lattice of the rare-earth oxypnictide superconductors. Using both large S and large N methods, we show that this model exhibits a sequence of two phase transitions: from a high-temperature symmetric pha
The possibility of predator avoidance by Lake Michigan zooplankton

Low densities of Diaptomus ashlandi, Diacyclops thomasi, and Daphnia galeata mendotae were measured at depths where Mysis relicta formed nighttime aggregations. Calculations suggest that mysid predation can not account for the rarity of prey animals at these depths, which further suggests that the prey avoided the mysids. Unlike D. galeata mendotae, Daphnia pulicaria was common in mysid aggregations. The somewhat larger size of D. pulicaria may reduce its vulnerability to mysid predation, and consequently may explain the vertical distribution differences between the two congeners. Vertical distributions of Limnocalanus macrurus and copepod nauplii showed no obvious relationships to the mysid distributions. These were the only two taxa with distributions that were correlated with chlorophyll a concentrations. All crustacean taxa were rare in the epilimnion at night when sonar recorded a dense fish school.
Information, Power and Academic Responsibility

The provision of information, no matter how objective, influences power relationships in an economy. Thus, scientific activity is non-neutral in its effects on the outcome of economic interaction. Therefore the researcher and his host institution cannot avoid moral choices as to what research is performed, what information is provided, and to what use that information is put.
Raman Spectroscopy in Trace Analysis for Phenols in Water

Data are reported for the determination of 2-, 3-, and 4-nitrophenols in water by Raman spectroscopy. Simultaneous multicomponent determination is shown to be possible with the use of correlation and least-squares data treatments. Detection limits of 0.03, 0.4, 0.07, and 0.2 mg/L are reported for 2-nitro-, 3-nitro-, 4-nitro-, and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol, respectively, with the use of the 458-nm line of an argon-ion laser. The potential for ultraviolet resonance enhancement in the determination of phenols has been examined with the use of the 337.1-nm line of a nitrogen laser. Enhancement results are reported for phenol and eight substituted phenols.
The diboride compounds of molybdenum: MoB2−x and Mo2B5−y

Abstract The phase relations of the molybdenum diboride compounds MoB 2− x and Mo 2 B 5− y and the structure of Mo 2 B 5− y have been re-examined with samples prepared between 1400 and 1800°C. Two types of six-membered boron ring, nearly planar and puckered, occur within the Mo 2 B 5− y structure. The sites at the centers of the puckered rings may be unoccupied (K′ layers) or occupied by boron atoms (K layers). Neutron diffraction refinements show that these sites are completely unoccupied (K′ layers) in Mo 2 B 5− y samples of several batch compositions. This result, combined with the insensitivity of the unit cell dimensions of Mo 2 B 5− y to batch composition, shows that this phase has a narrow single phase region, with y close to unity, between 1400 and 1800°C. MoB 2− x also has a narrow single-phase region centered at about 61 at.% boron over this temperature range.
Surgical, Ultrasound Guided Drainage, and Medical Management of Tuboovarian Abscesses.

Objective. To compare surgical, ultrasound guided drainage, and medical management of tuboovarian abscesses (TOA) and determine if different characteristics in patient presentation influence treatment and outcome. Methods. Retrospective cohort study of 158 patients admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital between 2007 and 2012 with a TOA. Results. Patients treated with IV antibiotics (IV) alone were hospitalized for 5.59 days (SD 2.52), IV antibiotics and US guided drainage (IV/US) were hospitalized for 9.63 days (SD 7.58), and IV antibiotics and surgery (IV/surgery) were hospitalized for 8.14 days ((SD 3.9), ()). A total of 52 patients were readmitted with TOA; 41.8% were treated with IV; 26.9% were readmitted with IV/US; 7.1% were readmitted with IV/surgery (). Patients with a TOA measuring 0–8 cm were hospitalized for 5.97 days (SD 4.24), while those greater than 8 cm were hospitalized for 7.71 days ((SD 4.69), ()). Patients treated with a triple antibiotic regimen were hospitalized for 8.42 days (SD 5.70) versus 5.8 days (SD 3.24) when receiving an alternative regimen (). Conclusions. Longer hospitalization in patients treated uniformly with either triple antibiotics, ultrasound guided drainage, or surgery represents a delay in optimal treatment. Tailoring treatment plans based on patient presentation may allow for shorter hospital stays and improved morbidity.
Use of Interdiffusion to Determine Crystalline Solubility in Alkali Halide Systems

Measurement of the discontinuities in the concentration-distance graphs describing interdiffusion of the components in the binary systems NaF-LiF and NaCl-RbCl gave the crystalline solubility limits just below the eutectic temperatures. These are 8 mole % LiF in NaF and 1.5 mole % NaF in LiF at 625° C and 6 mole % NaCl in RbCl and 0.8 mole % RbCl in NaCl at 515°C. Experiments in the complex systems NaCl-Kl and NaF-LiF-MgF2 showed that the method was inapplicable to nonbinary systems where the phase compositions at intermediate stages in the interdiffusion do not correspond to those of the final equilibrium assemblage.
Reinforcement of the Political Self Through Selective Exposure to Political Messages

The idea that recipients prefer messages that reinforce preexisting attitudes and self-perceptions has pervaded much communication research, but effects of selective exposure are rarely examined. This 2-session experiment (n = 157) investigates such effects. The first session presented computerized questions on 12 political issue attitudes and political self-concept. Accessibility data were collected based on response times. In the second session, participants browsed through an online magazine including 4 of the 12 issues, each issue being covered by 2 articles featuring opposing viewpoints. Selective exposure was logged and categorized as attitude-consistent or counterattitudinal. Finally, a questionnaire repeated measures for attitudes and self-concept. The results show that participants preferred attitude-consistent over counterattitudinal messages, which strengthened the political self-concept through increased accessibility.
Coping with cancer: Creative teaching strategies in an elective for nursing students

Many people find it difficult to imagine that working with cancer patients can be a positive and rewarding experience. A variety of creative teaching strategies was used in teaching an elective, "Coping with Cancer," to nursing students in a baccalaureate program. The use of these teaching strategies was expected to foster an interest in oncology nursing. This article describes the journey in the teaching-learning process that allowed students to experience the adventure of cancer nursing. Drawing exercises, communication dyads, gaming strategies, and case study analysis are among the teaching strategies described in this article.
Defining the Peer Advisor in the U.S. Study Abroad Context

Peer advisor (PA) programs in study abroad offices have greatly increased in the past few years. Nevertheless, although many agree that PAs have many useful advantages, a clear definition of the PA...
A redox responsive polymeric gel based on ionic crosslinking

We report here an electrochemically responsive polymer hydrogel based on ionic crosslinking. The crosslinking by metal cations and anionic carboxylic acid side groups can be controlled by redox reactions. The crosslinks dissociate when the cation crosslinker is reduced to a lower oxidation state and reform following oxidation, which leads to a reversible and localized swelling–contraction. By choosing biocompatible components and miniaturization designs, the system has potential in microrobotic and biomedical applications.
Nutrition and Health Practices of Diabetic and Nondiabetic Men and Women from Two Southeastern New England Communities

Diabetes occurs in at least 13 million persons in the United States and is a major cause of morbidity and premature mortality. Diet is the cornerstone of diabetes management, and the purpose of this investigation was to examine dietary intakes and health practices among diabetic and nondiabetic individuals from a recently surveyed population-based sample from two communities in southeastern New England. Data were collected during cross-sectional home health surveys conducted in random population samples of two New England communities during 1987-1988, 1989-1990, and 1992-1993. A food frequency questionnaire was completed by 1,897 of 2,077 eligible respondents who made up our study sample. Statistical analyses suggest that diabetic individuals do not appear to be adhering to measures known to improve metabolic control (i.e., weight reduction and physical activity). Furthermore, both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals alike should be targeted for educational programs aimed at improving dietary intakes which lead to a reduction in consumption of total and saturated fatty acid.
Expression of Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli.

Abstract A Plasmodium falciparum gene is described which encodes lactate dehydrogenase activity P. falciparum LDH). The P. falciparum LDH gene contains no introns and is present in a single copy on chromosome 13. P. falciparum LDH was expressed in all asexual blood stages as a 1.6-kb mRNA. The predicted 316 amino acid protein coding region of P. falciparum LDH was inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pKK223-3 and a 33-kDa protein having LDH activity was synthesized in Escherichia coli . P. falciparum LDH primary structure displays high amino acid similarity (50–57%) to vertebrate and bacterial LDH, but lacks the amino terminal extension observed in all vertebrate LDH. The majority of amino acid residues implicated in substrate and coenzyme binding and catalysis of other LDH are well conserved in P. falciparum LDH. However, several notable differences in amino acid composition were observed. P. falciparum LDH contained several distinctive single amino acid insertions and deletions compared to other LDH enzymes, and most remarkably, it contained a novel insertion of 5 amino acids within the conserved mobile loop region near arginine residue 109, a residue which is known to make contact with pyruvate in the ternary complex of other LDH. These results suggest that novel features of P. falciparum LDH primary structure may be correlated with previously characterized and distinctive kinetic, biochemical, immunochemical, and electrophoretic properties of P. falciparum LDH.
Stress Intensity Factors for Fully Interacting Cracks in a Multicrack Solid

An essential part of describing the damage state and predicting the damage growth in a multicracked plate is the accurate calculation of stress intensity factors (SIF). Here, a methodology and rigorous solution formulation for SIF of a multicracked plate, with fully interacting cracks, subjected to a far-field arbitrary stress state is presented. The fundamental perturbation problem is derived, and the steps needed to formulate the system of singular integral equations whose solution gives rise to the evaluation of the SIF are identified. This analytical derivation and numerical solution are obtained by using intelligent application of symbolic computations and automatic FORTRAN generation capabilities in form of symbolic/FORTRAN package, named SYMFRAC, that is capable of providing accurate SIF at each crack tip. The accuracy of the results has been validated for the two parallel interacting crack problem. Limits and sensitivity of the results for the problem of a horizontal notch interacting with ten microcracks have been analyzed.
Investigation of the mechanism of the hemodynamic effects of ganglionic blockade produced by mecamylamine

Abstract Preceding investigations have demonstrated, in general, a decrease in cardiac output and an increase in peripheral resistance after the administration of ganglionic blocking agents. 1–3 Mecamylamine has been shown to have hemodynamic effects similar to ganglionic blocking agents used previously. 4 It has not been established, however, whether the effects of these agents are due purely to the reduction in cardiac filling pressure secondary to peripheral pooling of blood, 3–5 or whether additional factors, such as a decreased discharge from the sympathetic nervous system, are significant as a mechanism of the decreased output. 6 Submersion of the human subject in water after the administration of hexamethonium bromide restored the arterial blood pressure nearly to control values, but no data on cardiac output was recorded during this experiment. 7 In the dog heart-lung preparation or isolated papillary muscle strip, hexamethonium produces an increased force of myocardial contraction; hence, it seems that a direct depressant effect on the myocardium is not likely from this agent. 8,9 Mecamylamine, on the other hand, is reported to decrease contractility of heart muscle strips in vitro. 10 The present report describes a series of experiments designed to test the hemodynamic effect of increasing the central venous pressure after the production of ganglionic blockade.
SINGLE-PHOTON AND MULTIPHOTON PROCESSES CAUSING RESONANCE IN THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRONS BY A SINGLE POTENTIAL BARRIER IN A RADIATION FIELD

Simulations of electrons tunneling in a barrier for which the height varies sinusoidally with time show resonances increasing the transmitted current. For square barriers, these resonances occur when electrons are promoted above the barrier by absorbing quanta from the barrier oscillations, and the barrier length is an integer multiple of one-half of the de Broglie wavelength. For several barriers having other profiles, we find that there is a single broad resonance centered at a wavelength equal to 0.9 times the wavelength for a photon having the energy to take the particle exactly to the top of the barrier. We attribute this difference to the fact that quanta may only be exchanged at the ends of a square barrier, whereas quanta are exchanged throughout the full length of barriers having other profiles—especially in regions of high electric field intensity. A Floquet expansion is used to examine the change in transmission caused by barrier modulation for electrons at the different energies caused by the exchange of quanta. We find that the wavelengths for resonance are proportional to the number of quanta absorbed by the particles, and attribute this observation to the requirement that specific values of absorbed energy are necessary for resonance. The increase in transmission caused by absorbing M quanta is proportional to the Mth power of the power flux density of the radiation causing barrier modulation. Thus, as the power is increased, the total transmission (including all energies) shows greater structure due to multiphoton processes. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 75: 417–427, 1999
Simulations of the Vibrational Relaxation of a Model Diatomic Molecule in a Nanoconfined Polar Solvent

The vibrational dynamics of a model diatomic anion solute dissolved in a methyl iodide solvent confined in a nanoscale spherical cavity are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of confining the solvent on the vibrational energy relaxation time T1, solvent-induced frequency shift 〈δω〉, and pure dephasing time T2* is examined by comparing the results from confined systems of varying size (cavity radius 0.8−2 nm) to those from the bulk system. It is found that T1 increases monotonically toward the bulk solvent value with increasing cavity size, and good agreement is found between equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations based on perturbation theory and classical nonequilibrium dynamics simulations. In contrast to T1, the solvent-induced frequency shift and the dephasing time do not change monotonically with cavity size. The results are discussed in terms of the changes in solvent structure and dynamics due to confinement.