cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
33 Young novice drivers’ compliance with and police enforcement of graduated driver licensing (GDL) restrictions

Purpose GDL systems restrict newly-licensed (“intermediate”) young drivers from carrying multiple passengers and nighttime driving. We know little about the extent to which teens’ comply with GDL restrictions. Further, Methods used to measure compliance are unable to provide population-level estimates. We aimed to estimate compliance with GDL one-passenger and nighttime (11:01 pm–4:59 am) restrictions among New Jersey’s 17- to 20-year-old intermediate driver population. Methods We used a novel application of the quasi-induced exposure (QIE) Method, a validated Method used in traffic safety research. Specifically, we borrow QIE’s primary assumption – that non-responsible drivers in “clean” (i.e., only one responsible driver) multi-vehicle crashes are randomly selected by the responsible driver and thus are reasonably representative of the general driving population. We identified all 9,250 non-responsible intermediate drivers involved in clean multi-vehicle crashes between 7/1/10–6/31/12 from NJ’s linked licensing-crash database and ascertained information on driver- and crash-level characteristics – including the presence of passengers and time of crash. Results We estimated that 8.3% and 3.1% of intermediate driver trips were not in compliance with passenger and nighttime restrictions, respectively. Generally, non-compliance was more common among drivers residing in low-income areas, in summer months, and among older drivers; males and females had similar non-compliance rates. With NJ’s ≈170,000 young intermediate drivers taking an average of three trips per day (estimated from a separate data source), we estimate that over 40,000 intermediate driver trips in NJ each day are not in compliance with passenger restrictions. Conclusions Results suggest there is progress to be made in encouraging teens and families to comply with GDL restrictions. Subgroups with higher noncompliance rates should be targeted for prevention efforts. Significance/contributions This Method produces estimates very similar to those made via substantially more resource-intensive Methods such as in-vehicle technology, thus providing a more feasible and cost-effective Method to estimate population-level compliance.
Statins, news, and nuance

Journalism that exposes the public to ongoing controversies in science should be nurtured Did news coverage of questions about the risk:benefit balance of statins influence their use in the United Kingdom? In a linked paper, Matthews and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.i3283) assert that it did, describing “impact,” “the effect of negative media coverage,” and “a transient rise in the proportion of people who stopped taking statins.”1 They assumed causality but did not prove it, despite the causal language used. The news in question was not all negative. Stories swung between extremes. One newspaper headline claimed that “statins do not have major side effects” just days after another newspaper headlined “millions face terrible side effects as [statin] prescription escalates.” Those two stories might have had very different effects on current or potential statin users. Two stories are a slim sample on which to base conclusions, but that is all the authors cited, after describing “widespread media coverage” over a six month period that was both “intense” and “negative.” In one story, less than 20% of the text …
The Conversion of the Jews

It is a fact, everywhere acknowledged and now even canonized in the histories, that between roughly 1945 and 1960 the terrain of American literature underwent a radical change, and that Jewish writers, critics, and intellectuals played an essential role in that change. In a phrase, American fiction was Europeanized, and it was Jewish writers and thinkers, in touch with European trends, who bore some responsibility for the new directions in American writing. To document that I could simply enumerate the names of those novelists, poets, playwrights, and critics who starred on the American literary stage during this period, or list the journals, starting with Partisan Review and Commentary, that became the vehicles of a new sensibility, but since that list could go on for pages and there is no end of list-making, I would prefer for the moment to dispense with the roll call and examine the proposition, rather than defend it. What I want to explore in brief is the question of where this Jewish presence came from, what it consisted of, and why it should have flourished just when it did.
Human milk exosomes and their microRNAs survive digestion in vitro and are taken up by human intestinal cells.

cope : Human milk exosomes provide a natural means of genetic material transfer to infants; however, the effect of gastric/pancreatic digestion milk exosomes stability and their microRNA content is largely unknown. Methods and Results : We took a simulated gastric/pancreatic digestion protocol to perform in vitro digestion of milk exosomes, explore intestinal epithelial uptake, and further elucidate microRNA responses to digestion at early-, mid-, -late lactation by massive parallel sequencing. Both undigested and digested exosomes enter human intestinal crypt-like cells (HIEC), with evidence of nuclear localization. We identified 288 mature microRNAs from all 24 exosome samples, and an additional 610 at low abundance. A large number of synapse development- and immune-related microRNAs were identified. hsa-miR-22-3p was the most abundant miR, and the top 15 microRNAs contributed ∼11% of the sequencing reads. Upon digestion, the overall microRNA abundance in human milk exosomes was stable. Conclusion : Our results for the first time reveal the survivability and complexity of human milk exosome microRNAs upon simulated gastric/pancreatic digestion, and the dynamics during lactation stages. The results suggest a previously underexplored area of infant response to genetic material in human milk exosomes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Mitochondrial Myopathies: Biochemical Aspects

Publisher Summary Mitochondrial diseases are uniquely interesting from the genetic point of view because mitochondria are endowed with their own DNA. Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes 13 structural proteins, all of them being subunits of respiratory chain complexes and ATP synthase, and also two rRNAs and 22 tRNAs needed for translation. Mutations of nuclear genes encoding structural mitochondrial proteins can affect any area of mitochondrial metabolism and should result in diseases transmitted by Mendelian inheritance. Most disorders in this group are transmitted as autosomal recessive traits. Biochemically, these are usually single enzyme defects—monoenzymopathy and, in homozygotes, there is almost complete deficiency of the affected enzyme. These defects can involve genes encoding tissue-specific proteins or genes encoding proteins common to all tissues. Large-scale deletions and duplications of mtDNA have been associated with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), and Pearson's marrow/pancreas syndrome.These disorders, when associated with single mtDNA deletions, are invariably sporadic, implying that the deletions arise in the zygote and affect somatic rather than germline cells.
Tc-99m tilmanocept versus Tc-99m sulfur colloid in breast cancer sentinel lymph node identification: Results from a randomized, blinded clinical trial.

Introduction No prior trials have compared sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification outcomes between Tc-99m tilmanocept (TcTM) and Tc-99m sulfur colloid (TcSC) in breast cancer (BC). Methods We report on the secondary outcomes from a randomized, double-blinded, single surgeon clinical trial comparing post-injection site pain between TcTM and TcSC. Patients were randomized to receive a preoperative single, peritumoral intradermal injection of TcTM or TcSC. The number of total, “hot”, and blue nodes detected and removed were compared between groups. Results Fifty-two (27-TcSC and 25-TcTM) patients were enrolled and underwent definitive surgical treatment. At least one “hot” SLN was detected in all patients. Three (5.8%) patients had a disease positive-SLN. The total number of SLNs removed was 61 (mean 2.26 (standard deviation (SD) 0.90)) in the TcSC group and 54 (mean 2.16 (SD 0.90)) in the TcTM group, P = 0.69. The total number of “hot” nodes in the TcSC group was 1.96 (SD 0.76) compared to 2.04 (SD 0.73) in the TcTM group, P = 0.71. Conclusions The number of identified SLNs did not differ significantly between TcTM and TcSC. Given that no significant technical advantages exist between the two agents, surgeons should choose a radiopharmaceutical based on cost and side effect profile.
Transforming from planar to three-dimensional lithium with flowable interphase for solid lithium metal batteries

Solid-state lithium (Li) metal batteries are prominent among next-generation energy storage technologies due to their significantly high energy density and reduced safety risks. Previously, solid electrolytes have been intensively studied and several materials with high ionic conductivity have been identified. However, there are still at least three obstacles before making the Li metal foil-based solid-state systems viable, namely, high interfacial resistance at the Li/electrolyte interface, low areal capacity, and poor power output. The problems are addressed by incorporating a flowable interfacial layer and three-dimensional Li into the system. The flowable interfacial layer can accommodate the interfacial fluctuation and guarantee excellent adhesion at all time, whereas the three-dimensional Li significantly reduces the interfacial fluctuation from the whole electrode level (tens of micrometers) to local scale (submicrometer) and also decreases the effective current density for high-capacity and high-power operations. As a consequence, both symmetric and full-cell configurations can achieve greatly improved electrochemical performances in comparison to the conventional Li foil, which are among the best reported values in the literature. Noticeably, solid-state full cells paired with high–mass loading LiFePO 4 exhibited, at 80°C, a satisfactory specific capacity even at a rate of 5 C (110 mA·hour g −1 ) and a capacity retention of 93.6% after 300 cycles at a current density of 3 mA cm −2 using a composite solid electrolyte middle layer. In addition, when a ceramic electrolyte middle layer was adopted, stable cycling with greatly improved capacity could even be realized at room temperature.
Long-Term Effects of Fire on Vegetation Structure and Predicted Fire Behavior in Wyoming Big Sagebrush Ecosystems

Fire historically occurred across the sagebrush steppe, but little is known about how patterns of post-fire fuel accumulation influence future fire in Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) communities. To quantify change in fuel composition and structure in intact sagebrush ecosystems, we sampled 17 years following prescribed fire in eight approximately 400 ha plots (4 burned, 4 unburned control) at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, OR, USA. Fuels data were used to model potential fire behavior in burn and control plots across four environmental scenarios that mimic drying of fuels through the fire season. Seventeen years after fire total fuel loads were 7 × higher in controls (6015 kg ha−1) than burned plots (831 kg ha−1; P < 0.01). Herbaceous fuels were 5 times greater in burns (P < 0. 01). Shrub fuel was nearly 10 times higher in unburned plots (P < 0.01), and litter under shrubs in controls was 3.75 times greater than in burns (P < 0.01). Potential fire behavior was lower in burned plots than in unburned controls across all environmental scenarios. In the driest scenario, potential rate of spread ranged from 0.4 to 1.5 m min−1 in burns and 2.7 to 5.5 m min−1 in controls (P < 0.01). Maintaining resilience in these ecosystems at multiple spatial and temporal scales may include a consideration of the natural role of fire in good condition Wyoming big sagebrush ecosystems. This study shows that under these conditions, fire can promote good condition mid-successional ecosystems and can act as a fuel break, slowing the spread and decreasing the intensity of a future wildfire.
Family socioeconomic status and maternal depressive symptoms: Mediation through household food insecurity across five years.

Abstract Rationale Food insecurity is a significant social problem that has been found to co-occur with both poverty and depression. However, few studies have utilized longitudinal data to investigate the associations among poverty, depression, and food insecurity. Objective This study tested two competing hypotheses, the food inadequacy hypothesis and the mental health hypothesis, in examining the associations among family socioeconomic status (SES), maternal depression, and household food insecurity across children's first five years of life. Methods Data were drawn from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), a dataset nationally representative of all children born in the United States in 2001. Mothers reported family SES and household food insecurity when their children were nine months, 24 months, four years, and at kindergarten entry; maternal self-rated depressive symptoms were included at nine months, four years, and kindergarten entry. Results An autoregressive cross-lagged model showed that family SES was predictive of later household food insecurity, which in turn was associated with later maternal depressive symptoms. Significant mediation pathways were found with household food insecurity mediating the link between family SES and maternal depressive symptoms. Conclusions This study highlights the need to consider household food insecurity as an underlying mechanism of maternal depressive symptoms in under-resourced families. Findings of this study can inform public health policy by highlighting the importance of considering factors such as food insecurity in the delivery of services to depressed mothers and their children in under-resourced contexts, and emphasizing the need for coordinated, integrated care in responding to the needs of these high-risk, vulnerable families.
From Pre-Service to Employed Teacher

The research study described in this article is an extension of a yearlong mixed methods study of eight co-teaching pairs (four English and four science) and their implementation of co-teaching during the clinical experience. A year after these eight pre-service teachers participated in the co-teaching research study while enrolled in a teacher education program, they were interviewed at the conclusion of their first year of employed teaching with the goal of exploring the impact that the co-teaching experience had on their development as a teacher. Findings reveal that co-teaching during the clinical experience provides an opportunity to shape pre-service teachers to be collaborative, reflective practitioners who seek out opportunities to collaborate and position themselves as lifelong learners. However, teacher education programs that implement co-teaching during the clinical experience have a responsibility to ensure that co-teaching occurs with fidelity and that pre-service teachers are supported to transition to full-time employment where the day-to-day co-teaching opportunities may be more limited.
Asymptotic Orthogonal Space Shift Keying in Massive MIMO Systems

We investigate space shift keying, which is a simple form of spatial modulation. The bit error rate performance of line-of-sight (LOS) multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) was obtained in the literature with orthogonal subchannels for indoor millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications. It is essential to impose a rigid restriction on the distance between the transmitter and the receiver and antenna spacing to maintain orthogonal subchannels. However, in wireless communications, it is not viable to meet the strict distance requirements since user equipment is portable. We propose asymptotic orthogonal space shift keying with mobile stations. The asymptotic orthogonal space shift keying approaches orthogonal subchannels for a large number of transmitter and receiver antennas in correlated subchannels. This result is valuable for future wireless MIMO communications in mmWave frequencies. The massive MIMO renders the subchannel correlation symmetrical so that they can cancel each other. The example correlation model is employed for a numerical illustration. The proposed performance analysis is based on a large number of miniaturized antennas available in mmWave frequencies.
Breaking of Lorentz invariance in electron-proton parity violation

A popular framework for exploring Lorentz violation is the Standard Model extension. This extension contains a large number of parameters that can be bounded in various experiments. Most studies, however, focus on the fermion or photon sector. Here, we consider Lorentz violation in the weak vector boson sector. The strongest bounds come from measurements of the asymmetry in M\o{}ller scattering. We study the bounds that can be obtained from future measurements of the parity violating asymmetry in deep inelastic electron-proton scattering at the EIC, the LHeC, and the FCC-eh. For the FCC-eh, the bounds could be substantially improved over current bounds by including timing information.
Mixed Actinomyces israelii and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection causing empyema necessitatis and multiple skin abscesses in an immunocompetent patient

A 45-year-old- man presented with left chest wall pain, swelling and cough. Over a 2-month period he developed abscesses in the right foot, right anterior thigh, left buttock and left chest. Incision and drainage of the soft tissue abscesses and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to drain the loculated empyema contiguous with the chest wall abscess were performed as surgical management. Gram stain showed beaded Gram-positive rods and the culture initially grew Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Eikenella corrodens Pathological evaluation of the pleura showed sulfur granules and organisms consistent with Actinomyces spp. on Gomori methenamine silver stain; Actinomyces israelii was recovered in culture with extended incubation. The patient was treated for 3 weeks with ceftriaxone and oral metronidazole, followed by oral amoxicillin. Culture of A. actinomycetemcomitans with other findings consistent with actinomycosis warrants 6-12 months of antibiotic therapy.
Improved Jitter Distribution Tail-Fitting Algorithm for Decomposition of Random and Deterministic Jitter

An improved method for decomposition of random and deterministic jitter measurements using tail fitting of the probability density function of total jitter is proposed. The currently employed techniques assume that the tails of the probability density function tend to a Gaussian function. We show that to be inaccurate by deriving analytical expressions for the accurate asymptotic form of the probability density and cumulative distribution functions. In doing so, we prove that the tails approach a Gaussian function multiplied by a term that is inversely proportional to the total jitter. Monte Carlo simulations of jitter consisting of a combination of random and deterministic components are performed and nonlinear least squares fits to the derived asymptotic forms are used to estimate the root mean square of the random component and the bounds of the deterministic component for a few examples.
A new species of Lentiella (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from Proechimys simonsi (Rodentia: Echimyidae) in Bolivia

During a biodiversity survey of mammals and their parasites in the Beni, Bolivia in the summer of 2000, several spiny rats, Proechimys simonsi Thomas, 1900, ...
Stress-strain characteristics and brittleness index of alkali-activated slag and class C fly ash mortars

Abstract An experimental study on the stress-strain characteristics of alkali-activated slag (AAS) and alkali-activated class C fly ash (FAC) mortars subjected to axial compression is presented. The effect of activator concentration (Na2O% and silica modulus (Ms)) on compressive strength, elastic modulus, ultimate stress, and ultimate strain of AAS and FAC mortars is evaluated. Further, the stress-strain behavior is studied and the brittleness index (BI) values of AAS and FAC mortars are determined as a function of strain. The brittleness indices obtained for AAS and FAC mortars are 52% and 48% respectively. The compressive strength of mortars is related to the BI. Higher concentrations (≥4% Na2O and ≥1.25 M) of activator led to improved ultimate stress, strain, elastic modulus, and increased brittleness. The influence of shrinkage mitigation methods such as internal curing using light weight aggregate (LWA), the addition of polypropylene fibers, and shrinkage reducing admixtures (SRA) on stress-strain characteristics and brittleness of alkali-activated mortars are also determined. Alkali-activated mortar mixtures containing LWA (10–30%), fibers (1–2%) and, SRA (2.5–7.5%) exhibited a lower BI.
The Effect of Motion-Induced Eddy Currents on Three-Axis MFL Signals for High-Speed Rail Inspection

Nondestructive testing (NDT) methods are widely used in the rail industry to detect rolling contact damage (RCD) defects to ensure railway safety. With the need of monitoring millions of miles of rail tracks more effectively and efficiently that leads to improved rail safety, reliability, and optimized assets management, the research on high-speed and high-accuracy NDT methods that can obtain high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and high sensitivity defect signals at higher speeds is of vital importance. Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) is one of the NDT methods used for high-speed rail inspection, which is suitable for detecting surface and subsurface RCD defects on railhead, but the measured MFL signals are distorted severely by the effect of motion-induced eddy currents (MIEC). However, the fundamental understanding of the mechanism of MIEC generation, distribution, and magnitude is lacking, and the physical interaction between MIEC and MFL measurement during high-speed rail inspection has not been well studied. This article investigates the effect of MIEC on three-axis MFL signals through 3-D finite-element method (FEM) simulations. The 3-D distributions of MIEC and 2-D image signals of MFL measurements for high-speed rail MFL inspection are presented and analyzed. The simulations are conducted with an inspection speed range of 0–62.5 mi/h, and a surface hemisphere-type defect and subsurface hole-type defect are both considered. The results show that the motion between the magnetizer and the rail will generate two types of MIEC, which in turn decreases the peak values of three-axis MFL signals from the subsurface defect and affects the MFL signals spatially, especially the base values along rail transverse and vertical directions. The effect of MIEC on the three-axis MFL signals in terms of SNR, sensitivity, and asymmetry is discussed.
Novel photonic filter and receiver based on whispering gallery mode microresonators

We describe two new devices based on whispering gallery mode microresonators. The first device, a multipole filter, is based on coupled microresonators, the frequency of which is trimmed in situ to produce the desired filter function. The second device is based on a lithium niobate microresonator, which can detect applied microwave signals with power as low as 2.5 nW.
Abstract PO-066: Relationship between KEAP1/NFE2L2 pathway activation and radiation resistance in oral cavity cancer

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the primary treatment modalities for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) either in the definitive or the adjuvant setting. Unfortunately, despite therapeutic and technological advances in radiotherapy, some patients will have persistence tumor or develop locoregional failure, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Presently, there is no biomarker that can reliably identify HNSCC that is resistant to RT. Recent genomic sequencing studies show that mutations in the KEAP1/NFE2L2 pathway exist in HNSCC. However, very little data is available with regards to the relationship between RT resistance and activating mutation or pathway hyperactivation of this pathway in HNSCC. Moreover, the mechanism by which dysregulation of this pathway can lead to RT resistance in HNSCC is poorly understood. Therefore, the project is aimed to study the relationship between KEAP1/NFE2L2 mutations and patient outcomes in HNSCC. To address this aim, DNA sequencing strategies and tissue microarray (TMA) are used to identify mutations and/or a hyperactivation protein signature of the KEAP1/NFE2L2 oxidative stress pathway in an oral cavity cancer patient cohorts (N = 69[MOU1]) treated with surgery and adjuvant RT. In addition, identified mutations are introduced into HNSCC cell lines and mouse xenografts to study the effect of these mutations on radiation response and to identify the mechanism by which they mediate radiation resistance. Here we find that 6% of oral cavity cancer patients harbor mutation in this pathway, primarily in a hotspot in the NFE2L2 gene. NFE2L2 mutation is associated with 100% in-field recurrence after radiotherapy. Strong co-expression of two downstream targets of this pathway (HO1 and NQO1) in tumor cells on the TMA strongly correlates with NFE2L2 mutation and in-field recurrence after RT. Finally, overexpression of the mutated NFE2L2 gene in HNC cell lines lead to increased ROS and radioresistance. Our findings suggest oral cavity cancers harboring activating mutation or a hyperactivation protein signature of the KEAP1/NFE2L2 pathway are more radioresistant. Work is ongoing to validate these findings in other types of HNSCC and to determine how to enhance radiation effectiveness in mutated tumors. Citation Format: Li Guan, Hongbin Cao, Angela Hui, Shirley Kwok, Vignesh Viswanathan, Dhanya Nambiar, Rie V. Eyben, Brittany Holmes, Christina Kong, Maximilian Diehn, Quynh-Thu Le. Relationship between KEAP1/NFE2L2 pathway activation and radiation resistance in oral cavity cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Radiation Science and Medicine; 2021 Mar 2-3. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(8_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-066.
Preparing for Strong Therapeutic Relationships: Creativity in Addictions Counselor Education

In observation of empirical support and theoretical support for relational and attachment-based interventions in addictions counseling education and research, the authors explore the relational dep...
An Assessment of Monitoring Technologies Deployed in Multiple Carbonate Reef Reservoirs at the MRCSP Large-Scale CO2-EOR Site Michigan

The Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) is one of seven regional partnerships established in October 2003 as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (RCSP) program to assess the technical and economic viability and public acceptability of carbon sequestration in the U.S. The MRCSP Phase III project injected over 1 million metric tons (MT) of CO2 into a group of Silurian (Niagaran)-age pinnacle reef reservoirs in Otsego County, Michigan (USA) that are operated by Core Energy, LLC [1]. There are over 800 pinnacle reefs in northern Michigan, and collectively, these geologic features have enough capacity to store several hundred million MT of CO2. Moreover, most of the reefs are depleted oil- or gas-reservoirs having previously undergone primary production in the 1970s and 1980s; therefore, they offer the opportunity to achieve CO2 storage through enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) (associated storage) and via geologic sequestration (injection alone without production). A key objective of the MRCSP Phase III project was to evaluate the effectiveness of various monitoring technologies for use in associated storage or sequestration projects in the Niagaran pinnacle reefs. Over the period 2013 to 2020, the MRCSP Phase III project conducted monitoring using eleven different technologies for their effectiveness for CO2 plume delineation, assessing geochemical interactions, well integrity, leak detection, induced seismicity, land deformation, and mass balance accounting in the group of study reefs operated by Core Energy. This paper discusses the effectiveness of selected monitoring technologies that had the goal of detecting/delineating the extent of CO2 in the subsurface. The results are relevant to others planning or currently conducting CO2 sequestration or associated storage projects in similar carbonate reef reservoirs.
An Interview with Bill Moos, University of Oregon Athletic Director

Since moving to the University of Oregon in July 1995, William “Bill” Moos has presided over what many consider to be the most successful era of the University's storied athletic history, overseeing the development of more than $120 million in facilities and athletic department improvements. A bold visionary who believes you must consistently commit to excellence, he has utilized marketing and sponsorship, including securing an all-sports contract with Nike, to take Oregon to new heights. Here he talks to Rick Burton, Executive Director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.
Decreased cardiolipin synthesis corresponds with cytochrome c release in palmitate-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Apoptosis has been identified recently as a component of many cardiac pathologies. However, the potential triggers of programmed cell death in the heart and the involvement of specific metabolic pathway(s) are less well characterized. Detachment of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial inner membrane is a necessary first step for cytochrome c release into the cytosol and initiation of apoptosis. The saturated long chain fatty acid, palmitate, induces apoptosis in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes and diminishes content of the mitochondrial anionic phospholipid, cardiolipin. These changes are accompanied by 1) acyl chain saturation of phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylglycerol, 2) large increases in the levels of these two phospholipids, and 3) a decline in cardiolipin synthesis. Although cardiolipin synthase activity is unchanged, saturated phosphatidylglycerol is a poor substrate for this enzyme. Under these conditions, decreased cardiolipin synthesis and release of cytochrome c are directly and significantly correlated. The results suggest that phosphatidylglycerol saturation and subsequent decreases in cardiolipin affect the association of cytochrome c with the inner mitochondrial membrane, directly influencing the pathway to cytochrome crelease and subsequent apoptosis.
Hydrogenated amorphous silicon

1. Introduction 2. Growth and structure of amorphous silicon 3. The electronic density of states 4. Defects and their electronic states 5. Substitutional doping 6. Defect reactions, thermal equilibrium and metastability 7. Electronic transport 8. Recombination of excess carriers 9. Contacts, interfaces and multilayers 10. Amorphous silicon device technology.
Associated Higgs boson production in the MSSM

We investigate the inclusive production of the Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric model with a heavy quark pair (t{bar t} and b{bar b}), in e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} collisions at high energies, {radical} (s) =500 GeV and {radical} (s) =1 TeV. The O({alpha}{sub s}) QCD radiative corrections are included and the dependence of the production rates on the parameters of the MSSM is explored. The associated production of a Higgs boson with a b{bar b} pair receives large resonant contributions and can have a significant rate. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Cytochromes P450 12: diversity of ACTH (cAMP)-dependent transcription of bovine steroid hydroxylase genes.

An essential role of ACTH is to assure that optimal steroidogenic capacity is maintained in the adrenal cortex throughout life. This is achieved by maintaining transcriptional pressure on the genes encoding the adrenocortical steroid hydroxylases via the second messenger, cAMP. Even though these genes respond coordinately to cAMP, it has been surprising to discover that each gene uses its own unique cAMP response system during this coordinate response. Thus, different cis elements and sets of transcription factors control the cAMP responsiveness of each different steroid hydroxylase gene. Although the physiological basis of this diversity in biochemical mechanisms of transcriptional regulation is not apparent, a portion of this signaling pathway is common to all of these genes. In particular, the action of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and an as yet uncharacterized cycloheximide-sensitive step are necessary for ACTH-mediated transcription of each gene. Biochemical characterization of these common steps in...
Picture Postcards of Urbanity

Abstract The Planwerk Innenstadt (“master plan for the inner city”) was passed in 1999 by the Berlin local government as the official model for local architectural projects in an extended area that includes the historic city center. The plan is based on the urbanistic concept of the “European City” and has been the subject of a heated debate since its first publication.
The California Acceleration Project: Reforming Developmental Education to Increase Student Completion of College‐Level Math and English

This chapter describes how the authors are using data and professional learning to mobilize change in developmental English and mathematics curricula and pedagogy across multiple community colleges in California.
Quantitative Signatures of Galactic Superwinds on Lyα Clouds and Metal-Line Systems

We investigate possible signatures of feedback from galactic superwinds (GSWs) on the metallicity of the Lyα forest, using a set of high-resolution hydrodynamic simulations of a ΛCDM model. Simulations produce metals self-consistently, based on one single parameter, the metal yield, which in turn is constrained by metallicity in the intracluster gas. We follow metals as a separate density species. The metallicity of Lyα clouds having column density of N ~ 1014.5-1015.5 cm-2 at z = 2-4 is correctly predicted by simulations, both with and without GSWs, implying an in situ origin for these metals. However, a unique signature and sensitive test of GSWs are provided by lower column density clouds of 1012-1014 cm-2. We find that the number density of Lyα lines with metallicity Z ≥ 10-3 Z☉ and neutral hydrogen column density N < 1013.5 cm-2 provides a first quantitative measure of the strength of GSWs, because metals in these systems are a contaminant. We predict that the number of such lines per unit redshift at z ~ 3 should be about 0.1 in the absence of GSWs. With the observed GSW strength, we expect to see 20-50 such lines per unit redshift. This is an observational challenge. Furthermore, we find that the difference between simulations with and without GSWs becomes much larger with regard to a subset of such clouds with high Doppler widths, since the contaminated systems are considerably hotter than the normal IGM. We also present preliminary results on C IV and O VI lines as a function of GSW strength. The filling factor of metal-rich regions is a strong function of GSWs. With and without GSWs the volume filling factor is 6.0%, 4.2%, and 1.9% and 1.0%, 0.28%, and 0.08%, respectively, for regions with metallicity greater than 10-3, 10-2, and 10-1 Z☉. Finally, in clouds of N ~ 1014.5 cm-2, we predict that the ratio of secondary (e.g., N) to primary metals (e.g., O, C) is expected to be smaller by a factor of 10 than in large galaxies, which better retain metals; this factor increases to ≥50 for N ≤ 1013.5 cm-2.
Characterization of Aortic Root Compliance at Different Heights

Aortic valve stenosis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality [1]. Currently, the preferred treatment of severe aortic stenosis is aortic valve replacement, which carries a significant risk for patients with comorbidities [2]. Recently, percutaneous aortic valve (PHV) replacement represents an endovascular alternative to conventional open heart surgery without the need for sternotomy, aortotomy, or cardiopulmonary bypass [3]. However, there are significant serious adverse events associated with the percutaneous procedure, such as myocardial infarction, peripheral embolism, injury to the aorta, perivalvular leak and access site injury [3–5]. Furthermore, long-term durability and safety of these valves need to be evaluated and studied carefully. We hypothesize that the device (dys)function could be more accurately predicted if a better understanding of the biomechanical interaction between the native aortic valve/root and the PHV were available. In this study, our objective is to characterize the mechanical properties of the aortic root such that its interaction with the PHV device can be quantified.© 2008 ASME
A bacterial cyclic dinucleotide activates the cytosolic surveillance pathway and mediates innate resistance to tuberculosis.

William Bishai and colleagues report that cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate produced during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis induces IFN-β and contributes to the innate sensing of tuberculosis. Detection of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP), a bacterial second messenger, by the host cytoplasmic surveillance pathway (CSP) is known to elicit type I interferon (IFN) responses, which are crucial to antimicrobial defense1,2,3. However, the mechanisms and role of c-di-AMP signaling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence remain unclear. Here we show that resistance to tuberculosis requires CSP-mediated detection of c-di-AMP produced by M. tuberculosis and that levels of c-di-AMP modulate the fate of infection. We found that a di-adenylate cyclase (disA or dacA)4-overexpressing M. tuberculosis strain that secretes excess c-di-AMP activates the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) pathway with enhanced levels of IFN-β, elicits increased macrophage autophagy, and exhibits substantial virulence attenuation in mice. We show that c-di-AMP-mediated IFN-β induction during M. tuberculosis infection requires stimulator of interferon genes (STING)5-signaling. We observed that c-di-AMP induction of IFN-β is independent of the cytosolic nucleic acid receptor cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS)6,7, but cGAS nevertheless contributes substantially to the overall IFN-β response to M. tuberculosis infection. In sum, our results reveal c-di-AMP to be a key mycobacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) driving host type I IFN responses and autophagy. These findings suggest that modulating the levels of this small molecule may lead to novel immunotherapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.
Spatial variation of soil properties relating to vegetation changes

Bekele and Hudnall provide an interesting perspective on the spatial variation of soil chemical properties in a natural area undergoing transition from prairie to forest. Their focus is on the unique calcareous prairie ecosystem of Louisiana where prairie remnants are being encroached upon by the forest, primarily eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.). Bekele and Hudnall were especially interested in investigating any differences in spatial variability among similar sites and in documenting the scale at which the variability occurs. Geostatistical methods have been used to describe and model spatial patterns in soil data for more than 20 years. The accessibility of user-friendly geostatistical software packages has increased the use of spatial analysis of soil’s data but carries the risk that these tools are used without due consideration of the underlying theory, especially in the field of semivariogram modeling or recommended good practices. The feedback between plant community composition and species distribution and soil properties in natural systems has promise to provide enhanced insight into the short- and long-term relationships between plants and soil properties. This is an intriguing area of research that couples plant ecology and soil science and should provide valuable information on the interaction of soils with the processes of plant succession and competition. Researchers in this area are urged to be cautious in verifying the assumptions behind popular geostatistical methods and explicit in describing the important steps such as trend analysis, which can reveal critical interpretive information.
Transcription of the Rhodobacter capsulatus nifHDK operon is modulated by the nitrogen source. Construction of plasmid expression vectors based on the nifHDK promoter

We characterized the Rhodobacter capsulatus nifHDK promoter by nucleotide sequencing and nuclease S1 analysis of mRNA-protected DNA probes. Comparison of this promoter to nifP and ntrP promoters from other species reveals extensive homology to the canonical nifP consensus sequence. Using lac fusions we have demonstrated that transcription of the nifHDK operon is totally repressed when the growth medium is supplemented with ammonia, becomes fully derepressed in ammonia-free medium, and proceeds at intermediate levels when other nitrogen sources are used. Based on this information, we constructed plasmid expression vectors in which the rates of transcription from cloned DNA fragments are determined by the nitrogen source used in the growth medium.
Solid state structure of [HB(pz)3]2Sn

Abstract The solid-state structure of [HB(pz)3]2Sn has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex is pseudo octahedral, counting the stereochemically active lone pair as occupying the sixth coordination site. One [HB(pz)3]− ligand is bidentate and the other is tridentate. The coordination sphere about the tin atom is very asymmetric with Sn N bond distances varying from 2.263(3) to 2.732(4)A˚. There is also a significant distortion in the square arrangement of the nitrogen donor atomscis to the lone pair. Three of these N Sn N angles from adjacent nitrogen atoms range from 72.3(1) to 79.4(1)°, but the fourth is much larger at 124.4(1)°. The asymmetric structure explains the fact that the119Sn NMR chemical shift of this complex is centered between four-coordinate [B(pz)4]2Sn and the more symmetric, five-coordinate [HB(3,5-Me2pz)3]2Sn.
Plasma total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and risk of aggressive prostate cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort

Purpose Some recent studies have suggested that higher total cholesterol levels are positively associated with risk of aggressive prostate cancer. However, evidence about this association is limited and few studies examined cholesterol subfractions. We therefore examined associations of total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol concentrations with subsequent risk of aggressive prostate cancer within the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort.
A Blue Baby Grows Up

This report describes the history of a 41-year-old female patient born with atresia of the right atrioventricular valve, hypoplasia of the right ventricle, an atrial septal defect, and malposed great arteries. The patient underwent surgical pulmonary artery banding in infancy but did not undergo corrective surgery due to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension. This report touches on several important clinical issues that may arise when caring for the adult with complex palliated cyanotic congenital heart disease, including the development and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: advances in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

emophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially life-threatening disorder characterized by immune dysregulation, overwhelming immune activation, and inflammation. HLH has been categorized as primary or familial HLH (FHLH), when there is a family history of HLH or known underlying genetic defects. Reactive or secondary HLH occurs in the setting of infection or underlying rhematologic disorders or malignancy. HLH occurring in a setting of rheumatologic illness is commonly referred to as macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Most patients with FHLH have defects in lymphocyte cytotoxicity, leading to ineffective infection control and immune dysregulation resulting in massive activation and expansion of cytotoxic T cells and macrophages. This immune activation results in marked elevation of inflammatory cytokines, including interferon (IFN)-g, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and IL-10, and an ensuing extreme hyperinflammatory state. Clinically, patients with FHLH or secondary HLH typically present with high-grade fever, progressive cytopenias, liver dysfunction, coagulopathy, and variable degrees of neurologic symptoms. Depending on the predominant organ system involved in HLH, patients may be seen by different clinical subspecialists. Initial manifestations of HLH may include fulminant hepatic failure or isolated neurologic involvement presenting with seizures and altered sensorium. Over the last decade, research on the genetics and pathophysiology of HLH has greatly improved our understanding of this condition. Importantly, increasing awareness and availability of better treatment options have improved the prognosis of HLH from a fatal disorder to a treatable condition with good long-term survival. In this review, we present recent advances in genetic and pathophysiological research, rapid diagnostic modalities, and clinical management of HLH.
The future of fractions

The formal teaching of fractions remains a well‐established part of the elementary school mathematics curriculum, beginning in grade four, in spite of the continuing existence of a number of pertinent questions regarding its value in comparison to other mathematics topics. The low achievement rates among students in fractions knowledge and computation has led to some scepticism as to the validity of the defences made of fractions teaching. It does not appear that the current advocacy made for the extensive teaching of fractions to children is based on empirical evidence. This instruction, instead, seems to be perpetuated by the forces of tradition and logic, rather than by experimental data. Certain key issues regarding this instruction beg for a clearer resolution by researchers in mathematics education. In addition, an input by teachers as to the usefulness of fractions in children's everyday lives and in the learning of higher‐order mathematics should be given greater consideration. Investigations of t...
Differentiating physical discipline from abuse: Q findings from Chinese American mothers and pediatric nurses

The perception and use of physical discipline (PD) is culture-based, and the differentiation between PD and abuse is subjective and complex. The purpose of this study was to understand how Chinese American mothers and one group of mandated reporters of child abuse (i.e. pediatric nurses) differentiate PD from abuse. Using Q-methodology, 3 viewpoints on PD and abuse differentiation were uncovered from a sample of 35 Chinese American mothers and 48 pediatric nurses. Although there was wide consensus on the most acceptable and most unacceptable parent discipline behaviors across the 3 views, the acceptability of punishments differed by their potential to inflict injury, pain, or incite fear and uncertainty. This was the first study to examine PD and abuse differentiation based on 5 definable domains of PD (i.e. specific behavior, intention, delivery, outcome, and pattern of use). Findings point to important nuances in how some mothers and nurses differentiate abuse from acceptable discipline, and the potential for using Q-methodology for exploring PD and abuse differentiations across diverse cultural, social, and professional groups.
A rapid and convenient method for preparing salt-free [γ-32P]ATP

(..gamma..-/sup 32/P)ATP is prepared by an existing enzymatic method that yields approximately 95% incorporation of /sup 32/P into ATP. A rapid and convenient method for purifying the (..gamma..-/sup 32/P)ATP which results in a product free of both salt and buffer is reported.