cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Case Study of Novice Bilingual Education Teachers Conducting Action Research and Diffusing Teaching Innovations

This case study examined action research conducted by bilingual education teachers in urban schools as a tool for progressing from novice-to-expert teachers. We described a longitudinal study acros...
Biomolecular Thermodynamics: From Theory to Application

"an impressive text that addresses a glaring gap in the teaching of physical chemistry, being specifically focused on biologically-relevant systems along with a practical focus…. the ample problems and tutorials throughout are much appreciated." –Tobin R. Sosnick, Professor and Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago "Presents both the concepts and equations associated with statistical thermodynamics in a unique way that is at visual, intuitive, and rigorous. This approach will greatly benefit students at all levels." –Vijay S. Pande, Henry Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University "a masterful tour de force…. Barrick's rigor and scholarship come through in every chapter."–Rohit V. Pappu, Edwin H. Murty Professor of Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis This book provides a comprehensive, contemporary introduction to developing a quantitative understanding of how biological macromolecules behave using classical and statistical thermodynamics. The author focuses on practical skills needed to apply the underlying equations in real life examples. The text develops mechanistic models, showing how they connect to thermodynamic observables, presenting simulations of thermodynamic behavior, and analyzing experimental data. The reader is presented with plenty of exercises and problems to facilitate hands-on learning through mathematical simulation. Douglas E. Barrick is a professor in the Department of Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University. He earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in biophysics and structural biology from the University of Oregon.
Novel Left Heart Catheterization Ramp Protocol to Guide Hemodynamic Optimization in Patients Supported With Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy.

Background Left ventricular (LV) hemodynamic assessment has been sparsely performed in patients supported on continuous‐flow LV assist devices (cfLVADs). Insight into dynamic changes of left heart ...
Racialized Commodities: Race and Value in Human Egg Donation.

ABSTRACTWhat is the relationship between race and value in human egg donation? Drawing on ethnographic and textual sources, I explore the construction of race and the commodification of eggs in hum...
CrossFit and rhabdomyolysis: A case series of 11 patients presenting at a single academic institution

Abstract Objectives CrossFit is an increasingly popular high intensity work out program geared towards high repetition and intensity done in short intervals. Recently, documented cases of rhabdomyolysis (muscle necrosis and extreme muscle breakdown) after CrossFit participation have become increasingly concerning to physicians and participants alike. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods All patients who presented to the main hospital at a major academic center complaining of an injury sustained performing CrossFit between June 2010 and June 2016 were identified by the key phrases ‘CrossFit’, ‘crossfit’, ‘Crossfit’ or ‘cross fit’. Results 523 patients incurred injuries associated with CrossFit activities. 11 patients presented to our institution ultimately received a diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis (2.1%). The average age of Rhabdomyolysis patient was 34.9 years, with 81.9% of patients being male. The average BMI was 24.2, and the average experience level was beginner (54.5%). The most common presenting symptom was dark urine (90.9%), followed by upper extremity pain (54.5%). Average symptom duration was 2.9 days with 81.8% of patients presenting initially to the ED. The average hospital stay was roughly 2.9 days, and patients had an average of 1.44 clinical follow up visits. Conclusion CrossFit participation poses significant risks to participants including exercise induced rhabdomyolysis. Further study is needed in order to raise awareness of this issue and further quantify risk factors that may promote injury during participation.
Re-encountering Lefebvre: Toward a critical phenomenology of social space:

In this article, I present a critical phenomenological reworking of Lefebvre’s theory of social space from the perspective of minority subjects. To do so, I identify phenomenological themes present...
TRANS-BLSTM: Transformer with Bidirectional LSTM for Language Understanding

Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) has recently achieved state-of-the-art performance on a broad range of NLP tasks including sentence classification, machine translation, and question answering. The BERT model architecture is derived primarily from the transformer. Prior to the transformer era, bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BLSTM) has been the dominant modeling architecture for neural machine translation and question answering. In this paper, we investigate how these two modeling techniques can be combined to create a more powerful model architecture. We propose a new architecture denoted as Transformer with BLSTM (TRANS-BLSTM) which has a BLSTM layer integrated to each transformer block, leading to a joint modeling framework for transformer and BLSTM. We show that TRANS-BLSTM models consistently lead to improvements in accuracy compared to BERT baselines in GLUE and SQuAD 1.1 experiments. Our TRANS-BLSTM model obtains an F1 score of 94.01% on the SQuAD 1.1 development dataset, which is comparable to the state-of-the-art result.
Optimizing the Double-Row Construct: An Untied Medial Row Demonstrates Equivalent Mean Contact Pressures in a Rotator Cuff Model.

Background:The merits of a double-row rotator cuff repair (RCR) construct are well-established for restoration of the footprint and lateral-row security. The theoretical benefit of leaving the medi...
Photoconductivity calculations of bilayer graphene from first principles and deformation-potential approach

We report first-principles calculations of electron-phonon coupling in bilayer graphene and the corresponding contribution to carrier scattering. At the phonon $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ point, electrons with energies less than 200 meV are scattered predominantly by ${\mathrm{LA}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and ${\mathrm{TA}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ modes while higher-energy electron scattering is dominated by optical phonon modes. Based on a two-temperature model, heat transfer from electrons with an initial temperature of 2000 K to the lattice (phonons) with an initial temperature of 300 K is computed, and in the overall relaxation process, most of this energy scatters into $K$-point phonon optical modes due to their strong coupling with electrons and their high energies. A Drude model is used to calculate photoconductivity for bilayer graphene with different doping levels. Good agreement with prior experimental trends for both the real and imaginary components of photoconductivity confirms the model's applicability. The effects of doping levels and electron-phonon scattering on photoconductivity are analyzed. We also extract acoustic and optical deformation potentials from average scattering rates obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations and compare associated photoconductivity calculations with DFT results. The comparison indicates that momentum-dependent electron-phonon scattering potentials are required to provide accurate predictions.
Sex‐differences in CRF1, CRF, and CRFBP expression in C57BL/6J mouse brain across the lifespan and in response to acute stress

Signaling pathways mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor and its receptor 1 (CRF1) play a central role in stress responses. Dysfunction of the CRF system has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. However, dynamic changes in the CRF system during brain development and aging are not well investigated. In this study, we characterized CRF1, CRF, and corticotropin-releasing factor binding protein (CRFBP) expression in different brain regions in both male and female C57BL/6J mice from 1 to 18 months of age under basal conditions as well as after an acute 2-hr-restraint stress. We found that CRF and CRF1 levels tended to increase in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, and to decrease in the prefrontal cortex with aging, especially at 18 months of age, whereas CRFBP expression followed an opposite direction in these brain areas. We also observed area-specific sex differences in the expression of these three proteins. For example, CRF expression was lower in females than in males in all the brain regions examined except the prefrontal cortex. After acute stress, CRF and CRF1 were up-regulated at 1, 6, and 12 months of age, and down-regulated at 18 months of age. Females showed more robust changes compared to males of the same age. CRFBP expression either decreased or remained unchanged in most of the brain areas following acute stress. Our findings suggest that brain CRF1, CRF, and CRFBP expression changes dynamically across the lifespan and under stress condition in a sex- and regional-specific manner. Sex differences in the CRF system in response to stress may contribute to the etiology of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Systematic review of noncognitive factors influence on health professions students' academic performance.

Increased importance has been placed on noncognitive skills in professional development and by accrediting bodies of health professions programs in recent years. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review of evidence examining effects of academic resilience, grit, perceived stress, locus of control, and Big Five Personality Traits on academic performance of health professions students. A literature search of peer-reviewed, English-language articles describing select noncognitive factors was performed using seven databases. Searches were performed from the earliest index date through May 2020. The following data from included studies were extracted and summarized: research design hierarchy, hierarchy of study outcomes (modified from Kirkpatrick), association between noncognitive factors and academic outcomes, and quality assessment criteria. 149 articles met inclusion criteria. Almost 80% of studies were Level III (observational). Medical students were the most frequently studied population (n = 73 articles). The most studied academic outcome was grade point average (n = 61). Perceived stress and Big Five Personality Traits accounted for greater than 50% of studies. Most studies were rated as fair to good quality. Associations between noncognitive factors and academic outcomes were largely inconsistent, although greater perceived stress was generally associated with poorer academic performance outcomes, while higher conscientiousness, academic resilience, and grit were generally associated with better outcomes. This systematic review represents a large body of evidence concerning select noncognitive factors and their association with academic performance of health professions students. Support services addressing noncognitive factors should be deliberated and tailored for specific health professions education programs and student populations.
Inhibition of AMPA receptors containing TARP γ-8 with JNJ-55511118 shows preclinical efficacy for pharmacotherapeutic treatment of chronic repetitive alcohol self-administration

BACKGROUND A prominent therapeutic indication for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is reduction in chronic repetitive alcohol use. Glutamate α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors (AMPARs) regulate chronic alcohol self-administration in preclinical models. Recent evidence indicates that the expression and function of AMPARs require the transmembrane AMPAR regulatory protein γ-8 (TARP γ-8). This study evaluated the preclinical efficacy of JNJ-55511118, a novel, selective, high-affinity inhibitor of TARP γ-8-bound AMPARs, in reducing chronic operant alcohol self-administration. METHODS Separate groups of male and female C57BL/6J mice (n = 8/sex/group) were trained to lever press for sweetened alcohol (9% v/v + sucrose 2% w/v) or sucrose only (2% w/v) in operant conditioning chambers using an FR-4 schedule of reinforcement. After a 40-day baseline, JNJ-55511118 (0, 1, and 10 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered in randomized order 1 h before self-administration sessions. Parameters of operant behavior including response rate, total reinforcers, and head entries in the drinking troughs were computer recorded. RESULTS During baseline, responding to alcohol, but not sucrose, was greater in female than male mice. In male mice, both doses of JNJ-55511118 decreased multiple parameters of alcohol self-administration but did not reduce behavior-matched sucrose-only self-administration. JNJ-55511118 had no effect on sweetened alcohol or sucrose self-administration in female mice. Subsequent tests of motor function showed that the lowest effective dose of JNJ-55511118 (1 mg/kg) had no effect on open-field activity in male mice. CONCLUSIONS This study shows for the first time that TARP γ-8-bound AMPARs regulate a behavioral pathology associated with addiction. The preclinical efficacy of JNJ-55511118 in reducing alcohol self-administration in male mice suggests that inhibition of TARP γ-8-bound AMPARs is a novel and highly significant neural target for developing medications to treat AUD and other forms of addiction.
A Social Relations Model of need supportiveness

Abstract Basic need fulfillment has important implications for optimal growth and development and may be derived through receiving need support from others. Thus far, research has primarily focused on single-person ratings of (perceptions of) need supportiveness. Thus, it is unclear whether perceptions of need supportiveness are dyadically specific and reciprocal and to what extent need supportiveness may be trait-based. In the current study, sorority and fraternity members (N = 117, ethnically diverse, 78% male) completed self-ratings and other-ratings of perceptions of need supportiveness using a round-robin design. Data was analyzed according to the Social Relations Model. We found that people tended to consistently see others as, and be seen by others as, need supportive (or not). These perceptions were related to self-reported need supportiveness, suggesting that people may have perceptual biases, and there was self-other agreement in terms of need supportiveness. These findings suggest that need supportiveness may represent an individual difference and not just a dyadic construct. Moreover, those that rated themselves as need supportive were also seen by others as need supportive, providing some support for the validity of self-report measures of need supportiveness.
Synthesis, characterization, and applications of graphene quantum dots

Abstract Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), zero-dimensional graphene fragments, continue to gain significant attention due to their unique properties, including quantum confinement-induced photoluminescence, excellent photostability, configurable surface chemistry, solvent dispersibility, bio-friendliness, edge/shape effects, and a highly tunable bandgap. The presence of a bandgap in GQDs results in properties that are significantly different from those of parent graphene lattices. For example, one of the most exciting features of GQDs is its highly stable photoluminescence (a direct consequence of the semiconducting nature), which can be tailored by engineering their size, shape, functionality, and defect density. Owing to GQDs’ exemplary properties, they have been explored for a wide range of potential applications, such as photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, memory devices, nanogenerators, sensors, bioimaging, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems. This chapter presents an overview of various methods for the synthesis of GQDs, the fundamental principles behind synthetic protocols, the effect of different synthetic protocols on the properties of the resultant GQDs, as well as the application of synthesized GQDs in various fields of scientific and technological relevance, leveraging their engineered properties.
Coping With Plenitude: A Computational Approach to Selecting the Right Algorithm:

Sociologists increasingly face choices among competing algorithms that represent reasonable approaches to the same task, with little guidance in choosing among them. We develop a strategy that uses...
Microscopic Morphology of Marijuana Ash

The common methods for the identification of marijuana depend on the chemical reactions of certain of the resin components with various color reagents or upon an examination of the leaf fragments and other parts of the plant under the stereoscopic-binocular microscope. Comprehensive studies of both chemical [1,2] and morphological [3] methods have led investigators to conclude that the two approaches are complementary. A combination of the two provides experienced analysts with a very reliable means for identifying cannabis fragments [4].
The Fragmented Intrauterine Device: An Unusual Complication of a Lippes Loop

Fragmentation on removal of an effective and asymptomatic Lippes Loop is reported. The etiology of this event is hypothesized and the patient's management is discussed. It is likely that fragmentation occurred as a result of material fatigue secondary to movement about the fixed, embedded tip. Surgical removal was effected.
Solution polymerization of selected polyphosphazenes

Several alkoxy/aryloxy-substituted phosphazene polymers [P(OR)2 N]n, where R = C6H5, CH2CF3, C8H10, were prepared by the reaction of polydichlorophosphazene with their corresponding sodium salts. The polydichlorophosphazene was obtained by the solution polymerization of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. Sulfamic acid and ammonium sulfamate were used as catalysts. Apparently, sulfamic acid functions as a catalyst through its acid group in some decomposed form. New catalysts, p-toluenesulfonic acid and sulfobenzoic aicd, have been developed for this solution polymerization. The polymerization favors a cationic mechanism. A promoter, CaSO4·2H2O, was found to speed up the polymerization reaction. Effect of several parameters such as dilution, catalyst concentration, and promoter concentration on the properties of the final polymer were investigated. The polymers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography, and 31P solution NMR spectroscopy.
THE ROLE OF POWDER PACKING IN SINTERING

The densification of powder compacts, containing larger pores in a fine grain, homogeneous matrix, is considered. Homogenization of the porous microstructure is possible in the intermediate stage of densification due to grain growth driven coalescence of the finer pores, while the coarser pores grow less. The conditions are identified for which homogeneity can be achieved at the end of the intermediate stage. It is found that for finer powders the initial packing perfection, normalized to the grain size, has to increase rapidly. The effects of temperature and the relative merits of monodispersed versus multidispersed powders are also discussed.
A nonribosomal peptide synthetase mediates siderophore production and virulence in the citrus fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata

Summary Alternaria species produce and excrete dimethyl coprogen siderophores to acquire iron. The Alternaria alternata gene AaNPS6, encoding a polypeptide analogous to fungal nonribosomal peptide synthetases, was found to be required for the production of siderophores and virulence on citrus. Siderophores purified from culture filtrates of the wild-type strain did not induce any phytotoxicity on the leaves of citrus. Fungal strains lacking AaNPS6 produced little or no detectable extracellular siderophores and displayed an increased sensitivity to H2O2, superoxide-generating compounds (KO2 and menadione) and iron depletion. Δnps6 mutants were also defective for the production of melanin and conidia. The introduction of a wild-type AaNPS6 under the control of its endogenous promoter to a Δnps6 null mutant at least partially restored siderophore production and virulence to citrus, demonstrating a functional link between iron uptake and fungal pathogenesis. Elevated sensitivity to H2O2, seen for the Δnps6 null strain could be relieved by exogenous application of ferric iron. The expression of the AaNPS6 gene was highly up-regulated under low-iron conditions and apparently controlled by the redox-responsive yeast transcriptional regulator YAP1. Hence, the maintenance of iron homeostasis via siderophore-mediated iron uptake also plays an important role in resistance to toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our results demonstrate further the critical role of ROS detoxification for the pathogenicity of A. alternata in citrus.
Recruiting, Retention, and Succession Planning of Accountants: An Investigation of the Determinants of Career Choice for Accounting Students

The accounting profession has attracted students for decades and copious studies have been conducted on the topic of career choice and the factors that influence the decision to pursue a career in the field of accounting. All firms across industries need accountants whether on staff or partially outsourced, and each firm is faced with the challenging task of recruitment, retention, and succession planning of accountants. The task encompasses finding the right candidate for the job, with proper qualification and motivation who can support the long-term growth and prosperity of the firm. Educational institutions are challenged in enrolling, and retaining students who choose the major and a career in accounting however a rather high attrition rate concerns all stakeholders. While many students complete their degree and continue their career in accounting, others choose otherwise. This study investigates the determining factors that influence a student to pursue a study and a career in accounting seen from different angles: from the accounting students’ point of view, from the practitioners in the field, and from the educators’ perspective. The results offer the stakeholders a fresh view by taking into consideration all environmental factors both intrinsic and extrinsic that influence a person in the decision making whether to pursue a career in accounting. Not surprisingly monetary reward is not the top influential factor instead: career advancement opportunity, prestige, fulfillment of psychological needs, social status, job security, higher earning potential, low variability of income ease of access to job opportunity, choice to work for large or small companies, job are available across industries and in desired geographic location are among the chief factors that have a significant influence in the career choice of a student pursuing a career in accounting. The results of the study will benefit all stakeholders in the recruitment, retention, and succession planning strategy of accountants.
Roles of IKK-β, IRF1, and p65 in the Activation of Chemokine Genes by Interferon-γ

Activation of chemokine genes in response to interferon (IFN)-γ or NF-κB is an important aspect of inflammation. Using the chemokine gene ip-10 in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells as an example, we show that the response to IFN-γ is long lasting but secondary: initial STAT1 activation drives IRF1 synthesis, and IRF1 then binds to IFN-stimulated regulatory elements (ISREs) in the ip-10 promoter. The promoters of most IKK-β-dependent IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) also contain ISREs. In response to IFN-γ, inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) kinase β (IKK-β) is required to activate both newly synthesized IRF1 and the p65 subunit of NF-κB, which contributes to ip-10 expression by binding to κB sites in the ip-10 promoter, with little or no activation of classical NF-κB. In contrast to IFN-γ, IL-1β induces ip-10 expression rapidly but transiently, by activating classical NF-κB and increasing the synthesis of IRF1. Together, IL-1β and IFN-γ induce ip-10 synergistically. IFN-γ does not affect the transient activation of class...
Routes to Conjugated Polymers with Ferrocenes in Their Backbones: Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(ferrocenylenedivinylene) and Poly(ferrocenylenebutenylene)

Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) has been used to prepare conjugated polymers that contain ferrocene moieties as part of their backbones. The conjugated polymer poly-(ferrocenylenedivinylene) (PFDV) and the analogous unconjugated polymer poly(ferrocenylenebutenylene) (PFB) with chain lengths of greater than 10 were found to be insoluble in typical organic solvents. The conductivities of oxidatively doped films of PFDV and PFB were found to be 10 -4 and 10 -5 Ω -l cm -l , respectively. Oxidative doping of the monomer 1,4-(1,1'-ferrocenediyl)-1-butene was found to yield conductivities on the order of 10 -5 Ω -l cm -l , supporting interchain hopping as the dominant mechanism for charge carrier movement through these films. The ROMP of monomers octamethyl-1,4-(1,1'-ferrocenediyl)-1,3-butadiene and 1,4-(1,1'-ferrocenediyl)-1-methoxy-1,3-butadiene was also studied. Although soluble polymer was successfully generated from the latter monomer, no conditions were found under which the octamethyl compound could be polymerized.
Photometer for the continuous measurement of calcite-dependent light scatter in seawater

Biogenically produced calcite represents a significant source of light scatter in the ocean, poorly defined in space and time. We describe an automated photometer for measuring 90 degree(s) light scatter due to calcite on time scales as short as a minute. Raw seawater continuously flows through a 1 mL glass cuvette illuminated by a helium-neon laser. A photodiode is used to measure the 90 degree(s) light scatter of particles in the incident beam. During each sampling interval, a calibrated addition of weak acid lowers the seawater pH to dissolve the calcite and another 90 degree(s) light scatter measurement is made. Standard curves are prepared using calcium carbonate coccoliths from the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. The relationships between acid-liable light scatter and coccolith abundance given an r2 of 0.96 - 0.99. The light scatter photometer is coupled to a fluorometer, temperature and salinity probe to relate the suspended calcite concentration to algal distributions and hydrography. We show some examples of its performance at sea.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Does the Risk-Benefit Analysis Favor the Extraction of Failed, Sterile Pacemaker and Defibrillator Leads?

Transvenous pacemaker and defibrillator (PM-D) lead failure is an important clinical problem. Lead extraction is routinely performed in patients with transvenous pacemaker and defibrillator (PM-D) infections. The management of sterile PM-D leads that have failed or are no longer required is less uniform. While extraction of excess or failed sterile PM-D leads is often advocated, the risk of lead extraction must be weighed against the risk of abandoning these leads. There are no randomized trials comparing lead extraction with abandoning sterile leads in this setting. What then are the data that are used to advocate the extraction of excess or failed, sterile chronically implanted PM-D leads, and are the data adequate to make this recommendation?
Darkness and near work: myopia and its progression in third-year law students.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate myopia prevalence, myopia progression, and various potential myopia risk factors in third-year law students. Design Cross-sectional study and survey. Participants One hundred seventy-nine third-year law students at the University of Pennsylvania. Methods We administered a questionnaire to assess the prevalence of myopia, myopia progression, and risk factors, including near work, family history, and daily light/dark exposure. We conducted a screening eye examination to ascertain myopia status. Myopia was defined as the mean spherical equivalent of the two eyes of ≤−0.5 diopters; myopia progression was defined by the self-reported need for a stronger eyeglass prescription during law school. Main outcome measures (1) prevalence of myopia, (2) progression of myopia. Results Seventy-nine percent of the class participated (n = 179, two were excluded for amblyopia leaving 177 students). Fifty-eight percent were male, 75% were Caucasian, and the mean age was 27 years. Seventy-nine percent reported parental myopia. The mean amount of near work was 7.4 hours/day; mean sleep was 7.9 hours/day; mean darkness was 5.3 hours/day. Sixty-six percent of the students were myopic. Of 96 participants myopic before law school, myopia increased in 83 (86%) during law school. Among 75 students not myopic at the beginning of law school, 14 (19%) became myopic. The onset of myopia could not be determined for 6 patients. There were trends for higher myopia prevalence among those with a parental myopia history ( P = 0.14) and for increased myopia progression among those reporting more daily near work ( P = 0.18). Students with ≤5.6 hours of daily darkness were more likely to report myopia progression than those with >5.6 hours of darkness per day (95% vs. 80%, P = 0.07). To account for possible confounding effects of risk factors with myopia progression, logistic regression with categorization of the continuous exposure variables (hours of near work, sleep, and darkness) above or below median values weakened the near work association (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 0.5–6.7, P = 0.35) but continued to identify darkness association with daily hours of darkness (odds ratio 4.8, 95% confidence interval 1.0 ≥ 23.3, P P = 0.01). Conclusions This study confirms high rates of myopia prevalence and myopia progression among law students. The strongest association, especially in those with myopia onset before college, was a relation of myopia progression during law school with less daily exposure to darkness, a potential risk factor previously identified in childhood myopia. The role of exposure to darkness in refractive development warrants additional study.
The Consequences of Language Proficiency and Difficulty of Lexical Access for Translation Performance and Priming

Repetition priming was used to assess how proficiency and the ease or difficulty of lexical access influence bilingual translation. Two experiments, conducted at different universities with different Spanish–English bilingual populations and materials, showed repetition priming in word translation for same-direction and different-direction repetitions. Experiment 1, conducted in an English-dominant environment, revealed an effect of translation direction but not of direction match, whereas Experiment 2, conducted in a more balanced bilingual environment, showed an effect of direction match but not of translation direction. A combined analysis on the items common to both studies revealed that bilingual proficiency was negatively associated with response time (RT), priming, and the degree of translation asymmetry in RTs and priming. An item analysis showed that item difficulty was positively associated with RTs, priming, and the benefit of same-direction over different-direction repetition. Thus, although both participant accuracy and item accuracy are indices of learning, they have distinct effects on translation RTs and on the learning that is captured by the repetition-priming paradigm.
Does directly observed therapy (DOT) reduce drug resistant tuberculosis

Background: Directly observed therapy (DOT) is a widely recommended and promoted strategy to manage tuberculosis (TB), however, there is still disagreement about the role of DOT in TB control and the impact it has on reducing the acquisition and transmission of drug resistant TB. This study compares the portion of drug resistant genotype clusters, representing recent transmission, within and between communities implementing programs differing only in their directly observed therapy (DOT) practices. Methods: Genotype clusters were defined as 2 or more patient members with matching IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and spoligotype patterns from all culture-positive tuberculosis cases diagnosed between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001. Logistic regression was used to compute maximumlikelihood estimates of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing cluster members with and without drug resistant isolates. In the universal DOT county, all patients received doses under direct observation of health department staff; whereas in selective DOT county, the majority of received patients doses under direct observation of health department staff, while some were able to self-administer doses. Results: Isolates from 1,706 persons collected during 1,721 episodes of tuberculosis were genotyped. Cluster members from the selective DOT county were more than twice as likely than cluster members from the universal DOT county to have at least one isolate resistant to isoniazid, rifampin, and/or ethambutol (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7, 3.1). Selective DOT county isolates were nearly 5 times more likely than universal DOT county isolates to belong to clusters with at least 2 resistant isolates having identical resistance patterns (OR = 4.7, 95% CI: 2.9, 7.6). Conclusions: Universal DOT for tuberculosis is associated with a decrease in the acquisition and transmission of resistant tuberculosis.
Evaluation of potato clones for resistance to tuber and stem rot induced byErwinia chrysanthemi

Tubers of 149 clones ofSolarium tuberosum subsp.andigena (andigena) from four self-pollinated (S1) families (Jak 072, 702440, 700718 and Och 5331) obtained from true seed were rated for resistance toErwinia chrysanthemi. The clones were classified into four arbitrary categories based on disease reaction: resistant, intermediate, susceptible, and very susceptible. In family Jak 072, 23% of the clones were resistant and 61% intermediate. In family Och 5331, 22% of the clones were susceptible and 67% very susceptible; and in families 702440 and 700718, 38% and 29% of the clones were intermediate and 45% and 40% were susceptible, respectively. Tubers of 11 clones chosen to represent each one of the four categories were inoculated withE. chrysanthemi (Ech), E. carotovora subsp.carotovora (Ecc) andE. carotovora subsp.atroseptica (Eca). Clones responded similarly toEch andEca. However,Ecc induced significantly more rot thanEch orEca, presumably favored by the temperature of incubation (25°C). Clones Jak 072-17 and Jak 072-18 were resistant to the three bacterial pathogens. Above ground stems of 6 of the 11 selected clones inoculated withEch were susceptible to stem rot. No correlation was found between the response of tubers and above ground stems to tuber and stem rot induced byEch.
Mayoral Perceptions of Developmental and Redistributive Policies A Cross-National Perspective

The validity of Peterson’s policy typology, outlined in City Limits (1981), is dependent on the assumption that local government decision makers understand and order public policies in specific ways. Using confirmatory factor analysis of international survey data on mayoral public policy spending preferences from the Fiscal Austerity and Urban Innovation Project, the authors find that the categories of redistributive and developmental policies are more than creations of deductive reasoning. The spending preferences of mayors in selected industrial democracies conform to the structure and order as specified in Peterson’s theory.
Tax incentives for innovation: time to restructure the R&E tax credit

The R&E tax credit has never been effective and subsequent attempts to restructure it have not addressed the major deficiencies. Moreover, in the 25 years since the R&E tax credit was enacted, a steadily increasing number of countries have implemented or expanded competing tax incentives, which in many cases are better structured and larger in size. As a result, the relative impact of the US credit is now negative in terms of incentives to conduct R&D within the domestic economy. The inadequacy of the credit stems largely from its small size and its incremental format. The impact of an R&D tax incentive is affected by its scope of coverage, the ability of industry to take advantage of it over the entire R&D cycle, the magnitude of the incentive relative to other nations’ tax policies, and its ease of implementation. In the end, a tax incentive must sufficiently lower the user’s cost of R&D to overcome barriers to allocation of private-sector resources commensurate with the potential rates of return on such investments. As a policy instrument, a tax incentive for R&D should be most effective if its form is a flat rate applied to all R&D.
Glycerol 3-Phosphate Alters Trypanosoma brucei Hexokinase Activity in Response to Environmental Change

The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, compartmentalizes some metabolic enzymes within peroxisome-like organelles called glycosomes. The amounts, activities, and types of glycosomal enzymes are modulated coincident with developmental and environmental changes. Pexophagy (fusion of glycosomes with acidic lysosomes) has been proposed to facilitate this glycosome remodeling. Here, we report that, although glycosome-resident enzyme T. brucei hexokinase 1 (TbHK1) protein levels are maintained during pexophagy, acidification inactivates the activity. Glycerol 3-phosphate, which is produced in vivo by a glycosome-resident glycerol kinase, mitigated acid inactivation of lysate-derived TbHK activity. Using recombinant TbHK1, we found that glycerol 3-P influenced enzyme activity at pH 6.5 by preventing substrate and product inhibition by ATP and ADP, respectively. Additionally, TbHK1 inhibition by the flavonol quercetin (QCN) was partially reversed by glycerol 3-P at pH 7.4, whereas at pH 6.5, enzyme activity in the presence of QCN was completely maintained by glycerol 3-P. However, glycerol 3-P did not alter the interaction of QCN with TbHK1, as the lone Trp residue (Trp-177) was quenched under all conditions tested. These findings suggest potential novel mechanisms for the regulation of TbHK1, particularly given the acidification of glycosomes that can be induced under a variety of parasite growth conditions.
Five Steps to Becoming a Better Peer Reviewer

Higher education faculty's teaching-related activities are often evaluated either for summative (personnel/tenure decisions) or formative (developmental) purposes. Although many faculty members feel they benefit from thoughtful attention to their teaching, other faculty find the peer-review process intimidating, meaningless, or both. The author presents five useful ways for peer reviewers to enrich the peer-review process for their colleagues
A channel approach to television influence

This investigation compared television with radio, print, interpersonal, and public address communication, examining the manner in which each exercises influence. Respondents were exposed to a commercial, political, or social action persuasive message presented via one of the five communication modalities. The pattern of results revealed that television resembles interpersonal more than the other communication modalities in the manner that it exercises influence, placing greater emphasis on relational as opposed to content messages, source as opposed to content factors, and a warmer, more casual communication style.
Concentration of carbon dioxide by a high-temperature electrochemical membrane cell

The electrochemical carbon dioxide concentrator has emerged over the last few years as the best technique for carbon dioxide control in a manned spacecraft. Preliminary investigations have shown that the Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) can be successfully converted into a molten carbonate CO2 concentrator (MCCDC) for CO2 removal from a space-cabin [1]. The present investigation involved studying the MCCDC cell performance without use of a fuel for anode depolarization. Cathode CO2 removal efficiencies of 97% were achieved with 0.25% CO2 inlet concentration. Anode CO2 concentrations were as high as 3.4% for 0.25% CO2 and 5.8% for 1% CO2 inlet concentration. Anode polarizations were approximately four times higher than cathode polarizations, which are considerably higher than in the MCFC. Anode exchange current densities were much smaller than cathode exchange current densities, suggesting poor anode-electrolyte contact. The total mathematical model consists of simple cathode and anode representations, combining activation and gas-phase diffusion. This treatment is capable of accurately correlating cell performance as a function of the process variables, such as flowrate, temperature, and CO2 inlet concentration.
The Channel Tunnel Negotiations, 1984–1986: Some Aspects of the Process and Its Outcome

The negotiations leading to a decision to build a fixed link across the channel and to agree on a joint scheme and its mode of operation provide an interesting illustration of a basically non-conflictual, complex, multiple-issue, multipleactor, multiple-event negotiation. Obviously stakes, interests, constraints, goals, and expectations were not similar, but the parties involved took advantage of a “ripe moment” to act on an undertaking that had first been envisaged almost two centuries ago.
Bodacious Berry, Potency Wood and the Aging Monster: Gender and Age Relations in Anti-Aging Ads

This paper situates age discrimination within a broader system of age relations that intersects with other inequalities, and then uses that framework to analyze internet advertisements for the anti-aging industry. Such ads reinforce age and gender relations by positing old people as worthwhile only to the extent that they look and act like those who are middle aged or younger, by defining manhood and womanhood in opposition to each other, and by defining old age as an unhealthy loss of gender identity. These ads promote a reversion to middle age and white, middle-class, heterosexual norms of male performance and female beauty. The analysis demonstrates the utility of understanding age discrimination in terms of intersecting relations of inequality rather than learned attitudes alone.
Natural Convection in a Multi-Layered Geothermal Reservoir

The effect of layered structure of rock formation on free convection in a geothermal reservoir is investigated in this work. The model examined is that of a rectangular reservoir comprised of three horizontal permeable layers with different permeabilities. The reservoir is considered to be bounded by impermeable surfaces on the sides and at the bottom. The upper boundary of the aquifer is permeable, which permits the recharge and discharge of water to and from the aquifer. A transient two-dimensional convective flow is developed when the impermeable boundaries are raised suddenly to high temperatures. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations with appropriate boundary and initial conditions are solved numerically by finite difference methods. Application of the direct method for solving Poisson’s equation for stream function made it possible to carry out the solution for a much longer time than possible with iterative techniques. Numerical results are obtained for various parameters and configurations of the geothermal reservoir. The influence of a less permeable middle layer on the flow and heat transfer characteristics in the aquifer is discussed. The computed vertical temperature profiles are similar in shape to the complex temperature profiles observed at the HGP-A well.
Effects of Secret in and Cholecystokinin-Pancreozymin on Pancreatic Juice and Insulin Secretion of Goats

Abstract Goats injected intravenously with as much as 3.75 clinical Units of secretin per kilogram body weight did not show an increased serum immunoreactive insulin level. An intravenous injection of 5.6 Crick Units of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin per kilogram caused an immediate doubling of the serum immunoreactive insulin level, which returned to near normal after 3 to 5 min. The maximum dose tested of secretin was several times higher than that required to cause the response in other species; the cholecystokinin-pancreozymin dose caused less of a response in goats than in monogastric animals. The highly purified secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin hormone preparations were also shown to have a marked effect on the exocrine function of the pancreas at doses less than those tested above. Therefore, although secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin cause exocrine secretion of the pancreas similar to that in monogastrics, only cholecystokinin-pancreozymin causes insulin secretion in goats.
Endogenous and transfected mouse alpha-fetoprotein genes in undifferentiated F9 cells are activated in transient heterokaryons

Mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells provide a system to study developmentally regulated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression. AFP is not expressed in undifferentiated F9 cells but is induced when cells differentiate as cell aggregates in the presence of retinoic acid. Previous studies have led to the suggestion that undifferentiated F9 cells contain negative regulators of AFP expression. To test this, we have used transient heterokaryons to ask whether inactive AFP genes in undifferentiated F9 cells are responsive to positively acting trans-acting factors. Our results indicate that silent endogenous and transfected AFP genes are activated when undifferentiated F9 cells are fused to human hepatoma HepG2 cells. This suggests that the lack of AFP expression in undifferentiated F9 cells is due to the absence or insufficient level of positive-acting transcription factors, rather than the presence of dominant negative regulators. We also demonstrate that stably transfected AFP genes, although unmethylated, are properly regulated in F9 cells.
Mapping Cardiac Fiber Orientations from High-Resolution DTI to High-Frequency 3D Ultrasound.

The orientation of cardiac fibers affects the anatomical, mechanical, and electrophysiological properties of the heart. Although echocardiography is the most common imaging modality in clinical cardiac examination, it can only provide the cardiac geometry or motion information without cardiac fiber orientations. If the patient’s cardiac fiber orientations can be mapped to his/her echocardiography images in clinical examinations, it may provide quantitative measures for diagnosis, personalized modeling, and image-guided cardiac therapies. Therefore, this project addresses the feasibility of mapping personalized cardiac fiber orientations to three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound image volumes. First, the geometry of the heart extracted from the MRI is translated to 3D ultrasound by rigid and deformable registration. Deformation fields between both geometries from MRI and ultrasound are obtained after registration. Three different deformable registration methods were utilized for the MRI-ultrasound registration. Finally, the cardiac fiber orientations imaged by DTI are mapped to ultrasound volumes based on the extracted deformation fields. Moreover, this study also demonstrated the ability to simulate electricity activations during the cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) process. The proposed method has been validated in two rat hearts and three canine hearts. After MRI/ultrasound image registration, the Dice similarity scores were more than 90% and the corresponding target errors were less than 0.25 mm. This proposed approach can provide cardiac fiber orientations to ultrasound images and can have a variety of potential applications in cardiac imaging.