cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of human Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 in sperm function, derived from studies in transgenic mice.

Most of our knowledge on the biological role of the testis-specific Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 isoform derives from studies performed in non-human species. Here, we studied the function of human Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 after its expression in transgenic mice. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct, containing the human ATP1A4 gene locus, we obtained expression of the human α4 transgene specifically in mouse sperm, enriched in the sperm flagellum. The expressed, human alpha 4 was active, and compared to wild-type sperm, those from transgenic mice displayed higher Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 activity and greater binding of fluorescently labeled ouabain, which is typical of the alpha 4 isoform. The expression and activity of endogenous alpha 4 and the other Na,K-ATPase alpha isoform present in sperm, alpha 1, remained unchanged. Male mice expressing the human ATP1A4 transgene exhibited similar testis size and morphology, normal sperm number and shape, and no changes in overall fertility compared to wild-type mice. Sperm carrying the human transgene exhibited enhanced total motility and an increase in multiple parameters of sperm movement, including higher sperm hyperactive motility. In contrast, no statistically significant changes in sperm membrane potential, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, or spontaneous acrosome reaction were found between wild-type and transgenic mice. Altogether, these results provide new genetic evidence for an important role of human Na,K-ATPase alpha 4 in sperm motility and hyperactivation, and establishes a new animal model for future studies of this isoform.
Private codes or succinct random codes that are (almost) perfect

Coding theory addresses the design and analysis of codes that enable communication over noisy channels. Two types of channels that have been extensively considered are the binary symmetric channel and the adversarial channel. In a binary symmetric channel each bit of the sent message is flipped independently with some probability p, implying that the noise imposed by the channel is random in nature where the amount of noise is determined by p. In an adversarial channel the message is treated as a whole, and the noise may be an arbitrary (and malicious) function of the message being sent, as long as it does not effect more that a certain fraction (say p) of the bits transmitted. Roughly speaking, any code designed for an adversarial channel can be used on a corresponding binary symmetric channel successfully, whereas the contrary is not necessarily true. In this work we present a construction that transforms the best codes for binary symmetric channels into "codes" for corresponding adversarial channels. The "codes" we present assume that the sender and the receiver of the message have a joint secret random string (which is not known to the channel). These codes are referred to as private codes. Intuitively, this private randomness allows a reduction between the random and adversarial channels. Such a reduction is simple once the size of the joint random string is /spl Theta/(n log n) (here the codes are a subset of {0,1 }/sup n/). In this work we present private codes in which the size of the joint random string is O(log n). Moreover, we show that our result is tight. Namely, to design private codes that allow communication over adversarial channels that meet the bounds achievable when communicating over binary symmetric channels, an amount of /spl Omega/(log n) shared random bits are required. To the best of our knowledge, no prior results of this nature have been presented in the past. As part of our proof we establish a connection between list decodable codes and private codes which complements a recent result of Guruswami (CCC '03) on list decoding with side information.
Acoustic emission from composite-reinforced metals

Acoustic-emission (AE) count rates are presented for tensile loading of unidirectional boron-epoxy and for aluminum sheets reinforced with unidirectional boron-epoxy. It is shown that different prepreg materials have different characteristic AE patterns. Results from composite-reinforced metal specimens show that early failures are accompanied by a sharp increase in AE count rate at the knee of the bilinear stress-strain diagram. It is further shown that the count rates are a function of specimen fabrication and that higher total counts do not necessarily correspond to early failures.
The adjustment dilemma [calibration]

Calibration plays an important part of today's manufacturing process, and close control is placed by the UKAS upon the measuring techniques employed by those who provide calibration services. But what controls are there covering the actual process of calibration? In a quality-driven manufacturing process, knowledge of the performance of a piece of test equipment yesterday (i.e. before it was sent for calibration) is just as important as its performance today. Having accurate, believable calibration data concerning the performance of that equipment as it was last used is every bit as important as the final calibration report.
A nanomechanical device based on the B–Z transition of DNA

The assembly of synthetic, controllable molecular mechanical systems1,2,3,4,5,6,7 is one of the goals of nanotechnology. Protein-based molecular machines, often driven by an energy source such as ATP, are abundant in biology8,9. It has been shown previously that branched motifs of DNA can provide components for the assembly of nanoscale objects10, links11 and arrays12. Here we show that such structures can also provide the basis for dynamic assemblies: switchable molecular machines. We have constructed a supramolecular device consisting of two rigid DNA ‘double-crossover’ (DX) molecules connected by 4.5 double-helical turns. One domain of each DX molecule is attached to the connecting helix. To effect switchable motion in this assembly, we use the transition between the B and Z13,14 forms of DNA. In conditions that favour B-DNA, the two unconnected domains of the DX molecules lie on the same side of the central helix. In Z-DNA-promoting conditions, however, these domains switch to opposite sides of the helix. This relative repositioning is detected by means of fluorescence resonance energy transfer spectroscopy, which measures the relative proximity of two dye molecules attached to the free ends of the DX molecules. The switching event induces atomic displacements of 20–60 A.
Abduction of Arm Facilitates Correction of Kinked Peel-Away Sheath During Subclavian Central Line Placement

A tunneled central line catheter placement using a subclavian vein approach can be complicated by an occurrence of peel-away sheath kink which prevents the advancement of the catheter through the sheath. The kink is created due to the angular junction of subclavian and brachiocephalic veins which meet at 90 degree angle. A technique is described which corrects the peel-away sheath kink by extending the subclavian/brachiocephalic vein angle to greater than 90 degrees by abducting the patient's arm.
Carbon nanotube-assisted capturing of bacterial pathogens

This study explored the use of co-polymer poly(propionylethyleneimine-co-ethyleneimine (PPEI-EI) functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as a coating material on filters for capturing of bacterial pathogens from aqueous solutions. Polycarbonate membranes with pore sizes of 1.2 and 3.0 μm were coated with different PPEI-EI-MWNTs and cross-linked PPEI-EI-MWNTs samples at various coating densities, and then evaluated for capturing of E. coli cells at flow rates of 0.25 and 0.5 mL min−1. With a good combination of PPEI-EI-MWNTs sample, coating density, appropriate filter pore size and flow rate, a capture efficiency of higher than 4 log (up to 6 log or larger) of bacterial cells was achieved. The filters coated with the cross-linked PPEI-EI-MWNTs were unexpectedly less efficient than those with the other PPEI-EI-MWNTs samples, likely due to the poorer dispersibility of the cross-linked sample and consequently the less homogeneous coating on filters. The results of this study demonstrated the feasibility of PPEI-EI-MWNTs as a coating material on filters for highly effective capturing of bacterial pathogens, and also presented both challenges and opportunities for further investigations in controlling the coating material synthesis to improve performance in capturing bacterial cells.
IL-4-STAT6 Signal Transduction-Dependent Induction of the Clinical Phase of Sjögren’s Syndrome-Like Disease of the Nonobese Diabetic Mouse

NOD.B10-H2(b) and NOD/LtJ mice manifest, respectively, many features of primary and secondary Sjogren's syndrome (SjS), an autoimmune disease affecting primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands leading to xerostomia (dry mouth) and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). B lymphocytes play a central role in the onset of SjS with clinical manifestations dependent on the appearance of autoantibodies reactive to multiple components of acinar cells. Previous studies with NOD.IL4(-/-) and NOD.B10-H2(b).IL4(-/-) mice suggest that the Th2 cytokine, IL-4, plays a vital role in the development and onset of SjS-like disease in the NOD mouse model. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which IL-4 controls SjS development, a Stat6 gene knockout mouse, NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-), was constructed and its disease profile was defined and compared with that of NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(+/+) mice. As the NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice aged from 4 to 24 wk, they exhibited leukocyte infiltration of the exocrine glands, produced anti-nuclear autoantibodies, and showed loss and gain of saliva-associated proteolytic enzymes, similar to NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(+/+) mice. In contrast, NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice failed to develop glandular dysfunction, maintaining normal saliva flow rates. NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice were found to lack IgG1 isotype-specific anti-muscarinic acetylcholine type-3 receptor autoantibodies. Furthermore, the IgG fractions from NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) sera were unable to induce glandular dysfunction when injected into naive recipient C57BL/6 mice. NOD.B10-H2(b).C-Stat6(-/-) mice, like NOD.B10-H2(b).IL4(-/-) mice, are unable to synthesize IgG1 Abs, an observation that correlates with an inability to develop end-stage clinical SjS-like disease. These data imply a requirement for the IL-4/STAT6-pathway for onset of the clinical phase of SjS-like disease in the NOD mouse model.
Changes in Young Adult Primary Care Under the Affordable Care Act

Objectives. We sought to describe changes in young adults’ routine care and usual sources of care (USCs), according to provider specialty, after implementation of extended dependent coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010.Methods. We used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 2006 to 2012 to examine young adults’ receipt of routine care in the preceding year, identification of a USC, and USC provider specialties (pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology).Results. The percentage of young adults who sought routine care increased from 42.4% in 2006 to 49.5% in 2012 (P < .001). The percentage identifying a USC remained stable at approximately 60%. Among young adults with a USC, there was a trend between 2006 and 2012 toward increasing percentages with pediatric (7.6% vs 9.1%) and family medicine (75.9% vs 80.9%) providers and declining percentages with internal medicine (11.5% vs 7.6%) and obstetrics and gynecology (5.0% vs 2.5%) providers.Conclusions. Ef...
Differential Effects of Sucrose, Fructose and Glucose on Carbohydrate-Induced Obesity in Rats

Caloric intakes, body weights, plasma glucose levels and glucose tolerance were examined in male Sprague-Dawley rats given a single standard diet or the standard diet and one of four sources of sugar: 1) a 32% glucose solution, 2) a 32 % fructose solution, 3) a 32% sucrose solution or 4) granulated sucrose. After 50 days, blood was collected from fasted animals for analyses of serum glucose, triglycerides and insulin levels. Livers, kidneys, epididymal and retroperitoneal fat depots and intrascapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) were removed and weighed. Animals given sugar solutions and the standard diet consumed significantly more calories, gained more weight and had significantly more retroperitoneal fat than controls given only the standard diet. Although rats given granulated sucrose and the standard diet did not eat more, they did gain significantly more weight per kilocalorie consumed and had more retroperitoneal fat than controls. Rats given the sucrose solution had significantly more BAT than controls or rats given the fructose solution or granulated sucrose. Rats receiving glucose had significantly more BAT than controls. Access to the fructose or sucrose solutions led to a decreased ability to tolerate an oral glucose load. Animals given fructose had significantly greater serum triglyceride levels than controls or rats given the glucose or sucrose solutions.
Composite cortical networks as systems of multimodal oscillators

This paper uses a theory of coordinated firing patterns in local cortical networks to extend the modular view of cortical organization into a theory of the structure of neuroelectric signaling in composite regions of cortex that are the size of association or primary receiving areas. The theory assumes that individual cortical modules signal informational states according to particular modes of locally sustained recurrent reverberations, and that the resultant equilibrium configurations across entire composite cortical regions are determined by excitatory and inhibitory lateral interactions among large numbers of such modules. Rough computer simulation of the theory indicates the influences of the local, regional, and global interconnections and the general character of the composite network patterns. The work builds a tentative theoretical bridge across the structure of neuroelectric signals in single neurons, in local networks, and in composite networks, and indicates possible relationships to neuropsychological representations in composite networks.
Kinetic models of the drug--receptor interaction.

Abstract A model of drug action is proposed which is based upon intramolecular rearrangement of the drug-receptor complex. The model is a modification of classical occupancy theory kinetics. It is able to account for the transient excitatory response that is evoked by some blocking agents; it can also account for the phenomenon of “fade” (Paton, 1961) whereby the tissue response to a spasmogen exhibits an initial upstroke in its time-course, followed by decay to a plateau. The proposed kinetic model is discussed in relation to current structural models of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors.
Predicting safe employee behavior in the steel industry: Development and test of a sociotechnical model

Abstract Industrial safety is an important issue for operations managers — it has implications for cost, delivery, quality, and social responsibility. Minor accidents can interfere with production in a variety of ways, and a serious accident can shut down an entire operation. In this context, questions about the causes of workplace accidents are highly relevant. There is a popular notion that employees' unsafe acts are the primary causes of workplace accidents, but a number of authors suggest a perspective that highlights influences from operating and social systems. The study described herein addresses this subject by assessing steelworkers' responses to a survey about social, technical, and personal factors related to safe work behaviors. Results provide evidence that a chain reaction of technical and social constructs operate through employees to influence safe behaviors. These results demonstrate that safety hazards, safety culture, and production pressures can influence safety efficacy and cavalier attitudes, on a path leading to safe or unsafe work behaviors. Based on these results, we conclude with prescriptions for operations managers and others who play roles in the causal sequence.
Administrative reorganization: An attempt to control government documents in the library

Abstract In an effort to manage increasing workloads caused by the volume of government publications, changes in cataloging practice, automation of Library files and limitations of Department staff, the Government Documents Department of the General Library, University of California, Berkeley, recently underwent an administrative reorganization. The traditional area arrangement under which staff were assigned to handle either U.S., state, foreign or international documents has been replaced by an arrangement by function. Separate units now handle acquisition and monograph processing, serials processing, and public service/catalog maintenance. Procedures have been standardized and bibliographic control of documents has been increased; however, the implications of these changes for reference service and staff job satisfaction are still problems.
Biochemical and dynamic responses to single and repeated doses of methyldopa and propranolol during dynamic physical activity

Our purpose was to determine changes in potassium disposition with antirenin antihypertensives during dynamic physical activity in normal subjects receiving methyldopa and propranolol. Before the study, 2 hr after dosing and coincident with immediate preexercise on treadmill (at graded increases of exercise), and 2 hr after exercise, blood was sampled for determination of potassium, renin, aldosterone, and catecholamine levels. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured. The results demonstrate no greater increase in potassium after single or multiple doses of methyldopa than after placebo. After the first dose of propranolol there was a greater rise in potassium over that with placebo, but it was not observed after multiple doses, which may be related to the low doses. There were minor, but significant, changes in norepinephrine, renin, and systolic pressure with multiple-dose methyldopa and in renin, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic pressure with propranolol. Overall, the adrenergic responses to exercise with methyldopa and propranolol were biochemically altered rather than functionally impaired. The latter is related to dose and the underlying age and state of health of our subjects. Methyldopa (or Clonidine) may be useful in patients with hypertension who exercise and are predisposed to pertubations in potassium disposition. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1982) 32, 701–710; doi:10.1038/clpt.1982.226
Discussion of Investigating the Impact of Auditor‐Provided Systems Reliability Assurance on Potential Service Recipients

For at least the last two decades the AICPA and CICA have been reporting that the accounting profession is going through profound changes. These findings were formalized in the report of the Special Committee on Assurance Services (frequently referred to as the Elliott Committee after its chair, Robert Elliott). The report indicated that traditional A&A (accounting and auditing) were becoming commodities and that revenue growth for these services was flat. Instead of recommending that practitioners pursue totally new areas of services, the report recommended building on current reputation and skills. Practitioners have the reputation for being independent, objective, and trustworthy. In addition, they have the skills necessary to conduct attestation, assurance, and audit engagements. Prior to the publication of the Elliott Report an increasing number of practitioners were already conducting attestation and assurance engagements outside the traditional domain of financial audits. The report encouraged even more attestation and assurance activities. The report listed over 200 types of potential assurance engagement that it collected from the Committees interviews with practitioners and corporate representatives. The report discussed six potential assurance engagements in more detail, including:
The AIDS Memorial Quilt: Knitting Together the Fabric of Understanding

(1994). The AIDS Memorial Quilt: Knitting Together the Fabric of Understanding. Journal of Health Education: Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 313-315.
Gene expression changes in aging retinal microglia: relationship to microglial support functions and regulation of activation

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. It has been hypothesized that microglia undergo age-related changes in gene expression patterns that give rise to pathogenic phenotypes. We compared the gene expression profiles in microglia isolated ex vivo from the retinas of mice ranging from early adulthood to late senescence. We discovered that microglial gene expression demonstrated progressive change with increasing age, and involved genes that regulate microglial supportive functions and immune activation. Molecular pathways involving immune function and regulation, angiogenesis, and neurotrophin signaling demonstrated age-related change. In particular, expression levels of complement genes, C3 and CFB, previously associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), increased with aging, suggesting that senescent microglia may contribute to complement dysregulation during disease pathogenesis. Taken together, senescent microglia demonstrate age-related gene expression changes capable of altering their constitutive support functions and regulation of their activation status in ways relating to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the CNS.
COMPENSATORY PRESCHOOL‐‐DO ITS EFFECTS JUSTIFY ITS EXISTENCE?

Abstract Preschool education has often been acclaimed as an important influence on educational achievement capable of offsetting or even compensating for social, economic and educational disadvantages. However, studies done in America and Britain suggest that its effects are not as important as might be desired.
On the development of traveling load finite elements

Abstract Specialized finite elements are devised to handle traveling load problems in stationary and moving/rotating semi-infinite and body of revolution structures (slabs, rollers, tires, etc.). The generality of the elements is such that the full range of rectilinear/rotary loading and structural velocities can be handled. Hence, such phenomena as resonances and standing as well as traveling sub/supersonic waves can be simulated. The accuracy and capabilities of the elements is demonstrated by several numerical examples.
Ligand-field photochemistry of the [CuII(bpy)(serine–H)]+· complex in the gas phase

Abstract Photochemistry resulting from excitation of a d–d transition at 575 nm between ligand-field states in the gas-phase [CuII(bpy)(serine–H)]+ · complex generated by electrospray ionization is reported. These results are discussed in terms of a reaction scheme proposed by Turecek and co-workers [C.L. Gatlin, F. Turecek, T. Vaisar, J. Mass Spectrom. 30 (1995) 1617] for collisionally activated dissociation of this complex at low center-of-mass collision energies under multiple-collision conditions. Three photofragment ions are observed, corresponding to elimination of formaldehyde, stepwise loss of formaldehyde followed by ·OC(OH)CHNH2, and transfer of a hydroxyl group to the CuII ion accompanied by loss of H2CCHNH2CO2. A fourth fragmentation channel reported by Turecek and co-workers corresponding to decarboxylation and associated dehydration is also observed at moderate center-of-mass collision energies under single-collision conditions but is absent in the laser photofragmentation difference mass spectrum resulting from excitation of [CuII(bpy)(serine–H)]+ · at 575 nm.
Backscatter and depolarization measurements of aerosolized biological simulants using a chamber lidar system

To ensure agent optical cross sections are well understood from the UV to the LWIR, volume integrated measurements of aerosolized agent material at a few key wavelengths is required to validate existing simulations. Ultimately these simulations will be used to assess the detection performance of various classes of lidar technology spanning the entire range of the optical spectrum. The present work demonstrates an optical measurement architecture based on lidar allowing the measurement of backscatter and depolarization ratio from biological aerosols released in a refereed, 1-m cubic chamber. During 2009, various upgrades have been made to the chamber LIDAR system, which operates at 1.064 μm with sub nanosecond pulses at a 120 Hz repetition rate. The first build of the system demonstrated a sensitivity of aerosolized Bacillus atrophaeus (BG) on the order of 5×10 5 ppl with 1 GHz InGaAs detectors. To increase the sensitivity and reduce noise, the InGaAs detectors were replaced with larger-area silicon avalanche photodiodes for the second build of the system. In addition, computer controlled step variable neutral density filters are now incorporated to facilitate calibrating the system for absolute back-scatter measurements. Calibrated hard target measurements will be combined with data from the ground truth instruments for cross-section determination of the material aerosolized in the chamber. Measured results are compared to theoretical simulations of cross-sections.
The World Wide Lightning Location Network and Convective Activity in Tropical Cyclones

Abstract Lightning flash density in tropical cyclones (TCs) is investigated to identify whether lightning flashes provide information on TC intensity and/or intensity change, to provide further insight into TC asymmetric convective structure induced by vertical shear and storm motion, and to assess how well the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) is suited for the observation of TCs. The 24 Atlantic basin TCs that came within 400 km of the United States from 2004 to 2007 are studied. The National Lightning Detection Network is used to analyze flash density as a function of peak current and to evaluate the WWLLN. Flash density is shown to be smaller for hurricanes than for tropical depressions and storms, with this reduction being gradually more pronounced as flash peak current increases. The results suggest that flash density in the inner core is a parameter with potential for distinguishing intensifying versus nonintensifying TCs, particularly in the weaker storm stages where flash densities ar...
Learning the Moves: The Effect of Familiarity and Facial Motion on Person Recognition across Large Changes in Viewing Format

Familiarity with a face or person can support recognition in tasks that require generalization to novel viewing contexts. Using naturalistic viewing conditions requiring recognition of people from face or whole body gait stimuli, we investigated the effects of familiarity, facial motion, and direction of learning/test transfer on person recognition. Participants were familiarized with previously unknown people from gait videos and were tested on faces (experiment 1a) or were familiarized with faces and were tested with gait videos (experiment 1b). Recognition was more accurate when learning from the face and testing with the gait videos, than when learning from the gait videos and testing with the face. The repetition of a single stimulus, either the face or gait, produced strong recognition gains across transfer conditions. Also, the presentation of moving faces resulted in better performance than that of static faces. In experiment 2, we investigated the role of facial motion further by testing recognition with static profile images. Motion provided no benefit for recognition, indicating that structure-from-motion is an unlikely source of the motion advantage found in the first set of experiments.
Expression of HLA-DR antigens in human fetal pancreas tissue.

The expression of HLA-DR antigens in human fetal pancreas tissue was studied using four independently derived monoclonal antibodies recognizing nonpolymorphic HLA-DR antigens. Immunoperoxidase staining of frozen sections revealed numerous DR-antigenpositive cells. Two major cell types could be distinguished. Large, strongly DR-positive cells with dendritic morphology were distributed throughout the pancreatic parenchyma and interstitial connective tissue. Dual staining of DR antigens and insulin using a two-color immunoperoxidase technique clearly showed that some of these DR-positive dendritic cells were located within and in close association with insulin-producing islets. Also observed as a regular feature of fetal pancreas tissue sections were large clusters of DR-positive cells with lymphoid morphology. Positive staining of many cells within these clusters with monoclonal antibodies against T-cell marker (Leu-1) and T-cell subset markers (Leu-2 and -3) supported their classification as lymphoid cells. In contrast, no positive staining with anti-T-cell antibodies was observed outside of lymphoid cell clusters, confirming the distinction between these cells and the DR-positive cells distributed throughout the pancreas. The presence of other DR-bearing cell types in fetal pancreas could not be excluded, but most endothelial cells appeared to be DR-negative. The demonstration of numerous DR-bearing cells associated with fetal pancreas tissue may require that we alter our views on DR-antigen ontogeny and develop new strategies for fetal pancreas transplantation.
Clinical evaluation tools for dual track adult and gerontology nurse practitioner students.

Purpose: To describe the development of a dual track offering for the Adult Health and Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) Programs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and share clinical evaluation tools used with nurse practitioner students in this curriculum. Data sources: Selected research and clinical articles. Conclusions: A variety of evaluation approaches are utilized in the AGNP student clinical performance evaluation. These incorporate the extended clinical practicum sequence for the dual track curriculum in addition to each individual program's objectives. Formative and summative evaluations include reflective logs, clinical documentation of patient encounters, preceptor evaluation, and faculty site visits. Self-evaluative skills of the student and quality faculty feedback are two additional integral components that facilitate learning outcomes in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains. Implications for practice: The summary of evaluation tools presented here is an example of how the AGNP Programs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing effectively measure student progress in a curriculum model for dual track enrollment.
Honoramos A Todas Nuestras Madres Con El Don Del Conocimiento: A Conference To Learn the Needs of Latina Patients and Families Seen for Breast Cancer Risk Assessment.

Background: Long-term follow-up surveys of Spanish-speaking Latina patients at increased risk for hereditary breast cancer who completed genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) in our underserved clinics revealed a need for ongoing education and support. Consequently, we invited patients back for a half-day educational conference, employing mixed methods research to better understand their medical and social/cultural issues and needs. Aims: The conference aims were to: 1) share medical advances in GCRA and cancer screening and prevention recommendations and resources and 2) explore GCRA-related experiences and needs, and access to risk-appropriate care. Methods: Invitees were Latina patients with personal and/or family history of breast cancer who completed GCRA between 2001-2009 and their family members. The conference, conducted entirely in Spanish, was held at the regional county medical facility where our underserved clinic is conducted. Educational information was delivered by podium-presentations, expert and patient panel discussions and interactive sessions and community resource booth exhibits. Mixed methods research (surveys and Audio Response System [ARS] mediated interaction and discussion) was used to explore GRCA experiences and access to care. Results: The 71 primarily Spanish speaking (96%) participants ranged in age from 18 to 71 years (mean age, 44), were female (93%), had children (78%), and had at least completed high school (71%). Of the 41 patient-participant, 78% were accompanied by at least one family member and/or friend. Thirty (73%) had a personal history of breast cancer; 4 also had ovarian cancer. Of the 35 tested, 20 (57%) were BRCA positive. Nearly all participants (96%) completed the voluntary survey and post-conference evaluation. On average, 87% responded to eight ARS questions related to the GCRA process and access to care. The majority of patient-participant (71%) understood why they were referred for GCRA, 15% did not, and 13% were uncertain. Eighty percent understood their cancer risk; however 20% expressed a need for more risk information. Although 83% understood cancer screening recommendations, 17% were unsure and requested more information. Interestingly, only 5% reported lack of access to care. More than 75% found the GCRA process stressful and desired more support and preparedness for sharing information with relatives. All responders (96%) reported that the conference met their expectations, valued the resources provided, and suggested allocating more time for questions in a future conference. Conclusion: The interactive conference format was highly rated and effective in providing Latina breast cancer patients and family members with ongoing education and support following GCRA, and provided important information to guide improvement in the risk assessment process. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3073.
Synthesis of multilabeled histidine

The synthesis of tetralabeled histidine 15 described. Glycine-15N was converted essentially by literature procedures to 4-chloromethylimidazole-3-15N-2,5-2H2. Alkylation of ethyl acetamidocyanoacetate-2-13C, followed by acid hydrolysis and decarboxylation yielded DL-histidine-α- 13C-3-15N-2,5-2H2. The compound is useful as a mass spectrometric standard for the measurement of histidine and metabolites in biological media.
Morphometric evaluation of lipid droplet associations with secretory vesicles, mitochondria and other components in the lactating cell

The size, cellular location, and identity of surface-associated components were determined for lipid droplets in lactating cells. Transmission electron-microscopic measurements were made involving 3801 droplets in approximately 211 cells from three rats and 1197 droplets in 66 cells from a mouse. For the purposes of droplet evaluation, cells were divided into seven locations ranging from basal to secreting positions. Droplets were also categorized with respect to contact with other droplets, basolateral plasma membrane, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, secretory vesicles, and endoplasmic reticulum-cytoplasm (ERC). Data on droplet size showed that droplet growth occurs mainly in the secretory position, confirming previously published findings. Lipid droplets from mouse tissue, although somewhat smaller in size showed similar growth trends to those of the rat. Data on numbers of droplet contacts and percentages of droplet circumferences involved in associations with other cell components showed that the dominant interaction of lipid droplets was with the ERC. However, intimate association of droplets with mitochondria was noted in all cellular locations. In addition, nursed animals exhibited a greater proportion of droplet surface association with secretory vesicles and less in contact with mitochondria in comparison to those not nursed. The significance of these relationships to milk synthesis and secretion is discussed.
Anonymity and Self‐Disclosure on Weblogs

Bloggers are typically cautious about engaging in self-disclosure because of concerns that what they post may have negative consequences. This article examines the relationship between anonymity (both visual and discursive) and self-disclosure on weblogs through an online survey. The results suggest that increased visual anonymity is not associated with greater self-disclosure, and the findings about the role of discursive anonymity are mixed. Bloggers whose target audience does not include people they know offline report a higher degree of anonymity than those whose audience does. Future studies need to explore the reasons why bloggers visually and discursively identify themselves in particular ways.
Effects of exercise on synovium and cartilage from normal and inflamed knees

The effect of running activity on normal and inflamed knees was determined by light microscopic (LM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations on hamster articular cartilage. Animals were split into two groups; one housed in standard cages and one given free access to running wheels. Twenty-one days prior to analysis, half of each group was given an intra-articular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to cause an inflammation, the other half were uninjected. No remarkable changes were observed by LM in either the control running or nonrunning groups. In contrast, cartilage proteoglycan depletion, and pannus and synovial hyperplasia were equally observed in both groups of LPS-injected animals. SEM observations on the patellae from control animals found them to be free from damage to the articular cartilage. The joints of both the LPS nonrunning and running animals contained synovial hypertrophy with villus projection from the synovial lining. However, only the LPS-injected running hamsters had cartilage fraying over large areas of the articular surface, as well as areas in which the villus projections had been flattened. These results demonstrated that mechanical stress applied to a proteoglycan-depleted cartilage enhances the breakdown of the collagen matrix as judged by fibrillation, and may aggravate the inflammation by crushing the swollen synovial lining where it encroaches on the joint space.
TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MUTATIONS OF THE CKA1 GENE REVEAL A ROLE FOR CASEIN KINASE II IN MAINTENANCE OF CELL POLARITY IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Casein kinase II (CKII) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains two distinct catalytic subunits, α and α′, that are encoded by the CKA1 and -2genes, respectively. We have constructed conditional alleles of the CKA1 gene. In contrast to cka1 cka2 ts strains, which exhibit a defect in both G1 and G2/M cell cycle progression,cka1 ts cka2 strains continue to divide for three cell cycles after a shift to restrictive temperature and then arrest as a mixture of budded and unbudded cells with a spherical morphology. Arrested cells exhibit continued growth, a nonpolarized actin cytoskeleton, delocalized chitin deposition, and a significant fraction of multinucleate cell bodies, confirming the presence of a cell polarity defect in cka1 tsstrains. The presence of budded as well as unbudded cells in the arrested population suggests that CKII is required for maintenance rather than establishment of cell polarity, although a role in both processes is also possible. The terminal phenotype of cka1 ts strains bears a strong resemblance to that of orb5 strains of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which carry a temperature-sensitive CKII catalytic subunit mutation, but the underlying mechanism appears to be different in the two cases. These results establish a requirement for CKII in cell polarity in S. cerevisiae and provide the first evidence for functional specialization of CKA1 and -2.
Mechanisms of glucocorticoid-induced immunosuppression: inhibitory effects on expression of Fc receptors and production of T-cell growth factor.

Abstract T-cell growth factor, produced by mitogen or antigen-stimulated spleen cells, is necessary for the proliferation of T-lymphocytes in culture, and may be responsible for clonal expansion of antigen-responsive T-cells. We have found that treatment of Con A-stimulated rat spleen cells or human peripheral mononuclear cells with 100 n M dexamethasone inhibited the production of the growth factor by 95%. This effect was specific for glucocorticoids at physiologic concentrations. Addition of T-cell growth factor completely reversed the inhibition by glucocorticoid of mitogen-induced blastogenesis. We propose that the inhibitory actions of glucocorticoids on antigen- or mitogen-induced T-cell blastogenesis are related to inhibition of production of T-cell growth factor. These inhibitory effects may be responsible for the delay in the primary immune response produced by glucocorticoids. Fc receptors play important roles in phagocytosis and other aspects of immune responses. We have studied the effects of glucocorticoids on Fc receptors on the human progranulocytic cell line HL-60. Treatment of HL-60 cells with dexamethasone for 72 h reduced by 35–50% the number of Fc receptors per cell (normally about 20.000) with no effect on cell viability or proliferation. Overall rates of leucine incorporation were stimulated by 10–20%. A half-maximal response was obtained with 10nM dexamethasone. The effect was specific for glucocorticoids. These findings suggest that an important component in glucocorticoid-induced immunosuppression may be a reduction in Fc receptors.
Development of behavioural differences between individuals and populations of sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Behavioural syndromes are correlations between behaviours in different contexts. For example, an individual's behaviour in response to a predator might be related to the same individual's behaviour towards conspecifics. We examined the developmental stability of single behaviours (activity in an unfamiliar environment, aggressive behaviour and boldness under predation risk) and correlations between these behaviours in two Californian populations of three-spined sticklebacks. Individually marked fish were measured for all three behaviours at three points during development, as juveniles, subadults and adults. Even though single behaviours were unstable through time, some correlations between behaviours were stable. For example, in one population, neither boldness nor aggression was stable but the positive correlation between them was. Certain correlations between behaviours were apparent at some developmental stages but not others, and the pattern of correlations differed between the two populations. These data suggest that behavioural syndromes do not necessarily limit behavioural plasticity, and suggest that ecological and developmental circumstances might favour different suites of traits.
Molecular pseudopotential calculations on transition-metal complexes: Ni(CO)4, Pd(CO)4, and Pt(CO)4

Abstract The electronic structures of the transition-metal complexes Ni(CO) 4 , Pd(CO) 4 , and Pt(CO) 4 are studied using ab initio molecular pseudopotential theory. We report the valence-orbital energies for each compound. For Ni(CO) 4 , we also present the calculated equilibrium NiC bond length and the A 1 vibrational stretching frequency. The Ni(CO) 4 results are compared with conventional SCF calculations and with experiment and are found to be in excellent agreement.
Topical Mosquito Repellents X: 2-Oxazolidones

A number of 2-oxazolidones were evaluated for their effectiveness as topical mosquito repellents. Although some compounds approached diethyltoluamide in potency, none was superior.
Correlating a Persona to a Person

Participation in online social networks (OSNs) such as Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter has dramatically increased over the years. For example, it is estimated that Facebook has more than eight hundred million registered users. The popularity of OSNs has increased the sheer amount of personal information on the Internet. In this paper, we introduce a profiling and tracking attack that correlates a visitor's online persona that is captured from a seemingly innocuous website with that of the same visitor's real Facebook profile. We compare this with the analytics captured from a custom Facebook Fan Page to show how we can identify the visitor given only their online persona. Furthermore, we create a Facebook application that is linked from the custom website and Fan Page. This application when, accessed and allowed by a visitor (assuming they have a Facebook account), will capture their profile. We tie the analytics captured by the custom website and the Fan Page with that of the profiling and tracking enabled application. Our stated hypothesis is: The majority of visitors can be profiled, tracked, and led to reveal their identity by an adversary who uses website analytic tools. This is because of the actions the visitor performs on the Internet and the information they freely display on their Facebook profiles. We analyze the online behavior of 25 participants and our results show we are able to correctly determine 16 of 25 or 64% of them. We focus on the ramifications of this research and provide defense mechanisms to help protect OSN users.
The function(s) of CAK, the p34cdc2-activating kinase

The protein kinase p34cdc2 plays a central role in controlling the G2 to mitosis transition in all eukaryotic cells. It is regulated by protein-protein association and by multiple phosphorylations; one of these phosphorylations is absolutely required for activity. Until recently, the molecular identity of the protein kinase that phosphorylates this site was unknown. The subunits of this enzyme have been identified recently as p40MO15, the catalytic subunit, and cyclin H, a regulatory subunit. Similarities between this kinase and the p34cdc2 family of protein kinases suggest how p40MO15 itself may be regulated.
Do scientific aims justify methodological rules

According to a popular view of scientific methodology, scientific methods are prescriptive rules (methodological rules) which are justified in so far as they realize or promote the aims of science. This paper considers several different interpretations of the phrase “aims of science”, arguing that none of these interpretations allow aims to provide a satisfactory justification of methodological rules.
Continued detention involvement and adolescent marijuana use trajectories.

Justice-involved youth have high rates of marijuana use. Less is known about what may drive these rates, particularly when justice-involved youth return to the community. One factor that has been i...
Intercultural New Media Studies: The Next Frontier in intercultural Communication

New media (ICT's) are transforming communication across cultures. Despite this revolution in cross cultural contact, communication researchers have largely ignored the impact of new media on intercultural communication. This groundbreaking article defines the parameters of a new field of inquiry called Intercultural New Media Studies (INMS), which explores the intersection between ICT's and intercultural communication. Composed of two research areas—(1) new media and intercultural communication theory and (2) culture and new media—INMS investigates new digital theories of intercultural contact as well as refines and expands twentieth-century intercultural communication theories, examining their salience in a digital world. INMS promises to increase our understanding of intercultural communication in a new media age and is the next frontier in intercultural communication.
Population-wide infant screening for HLA-based type 1 diabetes risk via dried blood spots from the public health infrastructure

The frequency of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)-associated HLA DQ alleles in the U.S. Pacific Northwest is as high as in Scandinavia, which has the highest T1DM incidence in the world. The high regional rate of islet autoimmunity observed among DPT-1 relatives supports this notion. Fortunately, Washington State archives dried blood spots after legislature-mandated newborn screening. The Diabetes Evaluation in Washington (DEW-IT) study aims to show that population-based prospective prediction of T1DM by HLA genotype screening followed by autoantibody surveillance can be performed within the public health infrastructure.