cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Victimization Locations in Elementary School Children: Effects of Grade Level and Gender

Little research has examined the locations in which youth are victimized, particularly outside the school context. Further, it is not clear if the locations in which youth are victimized vary as a function of grade level or gender. The goals of the current study were to: (1) Determine the locations inside and outside of the school context in which elementary school students are most likely to report being victimized, and (2) Examine whether the locations in which victimization takes place varies by grade level and gender. Associations were examined in a sample of 186 2nd thru 5th grade students (52 % male) who reported experiencing victimization. The playground was the most common place in which victimization was reported, followed by home and the neighborhood. Boys were more likely than girls to report being victimized on the bus or during a sporting activity, while girls were more likely than boys to report being victimized at home. No grade level effects were found, suggesting that specific locations of victimization did not become more or less evident at older grade levels. Findings indicate that there are many locations inside and outside the school context that need to be further monitored for the prevention of victimization and that gender differences may need to be considered.
Heightened Condition Dependence of a Sexually Selected Signal in Male Polistes dominulus Paper Wasps

Sexually selected signals are theoretically expected to exhibit heightened condition dependence compared to non-signaling traits. This link to condition enables sexual signals to provide information regarding individual quality and also provides a mechanism that allows animals to develop signals that accurately reflect their abilities. Most previous work on sexual signal condition dependence has focused on signals that have clear developmental costs, while less is known about the development of other types of quality signals. Male Polistes dominulus paper wasps have yellow-on-black abdominal spots that are important signals during female choice and male–male competition. These signals lack obvious production costs, as males are covered in yellow and black patterns composed of the same pigments. Here, we assess signal condition dependence by testing whether larval diet has a stronger influence on the development of male spots than on the development of control traits composed of the same pigments. Males reared on ad libitum diets developed elliptical spots similar to those seen on dominant, attractive males, while males reared on restricted diets developed irregularly shaped spots similar to those seen on subordinate, unattractive males. Remarkably, the development of a control trait composed of the same yellow and black pigments was not influenced by larval diet. Therefore, sexually selected signals can be developmentally decoupled from traits comprised of the same pigments. Condition dependence of sexually selected signals is likely to be a widespread solution to the challenge of developing sexually selected signals that accurately convey information about individual quality.
Risk of advanced diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes is associated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism

Risk of advanced diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes is associated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism. Background Polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene ( eNOS ) may be implicated in the development of nephropathy in patients with type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Methods Three groups of IDDM patients were selected to study this hypothesis: cases with advanced diabetic nephropathy ( N = 78), cases with overt proteinuria but normal serum creatinine ( N = 74), and controls with normoalbuminuria despite 15 years of diabetes ( N = 195). Parents of 132 cases and 53 controls were also examined and were used for the transmission disequilibrium test, a family-based study design to test association. Results We examined four eNOS polymorphisms, and two were associated with diabetic nephropathy in the case-control comparisons: a T to C substitution in the promoter at position -786 and the a-deletion/b-insertion in intron 4. For the former, the risk of developing advanced nephropathy was higher for C allele homozygotes than for the other two genotypes (odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.6). For the latter polymorphism, it was the a-deletion carriers that had the higher risk (odds ratio 2.3, 95% CI, 1.3 to 4.0) in comparison with noncarriers. Both polymorphisms were analyzed together as haplotypes in a family-based study using the transmission disequilibrium test. The C/a-deletion haplotype was transmitted from heterozygous parents to cases with advanced diabetic nephropathy with a significantly higher frequency than expected ( P = 0.004). Conclusion The findings of the case-control and family-based studies demonstrate clearly that DNA sequence differences in eNOS influence the risk of advanced nephropathy in type 1 diabetes.
Prostaglandin secretion by adrenal tissue of human anencephalic fetuses

Previously we reported that the human fetal adrenal gland secreted various prostaglandins and that prostaglandin secretion was inhibited by endogenously synthesized glucocorticoids. Furthermore, we reported that the neocortex secreted larger quantities of prostaglandins than did fetal zone tissue and that the pattern of secretion of prostaglandins of the two zones differed. In the present investigation the rate and pattern of prostaglandin secretion by adrenal tissue of anencephalic fetuses were assessed and compared to either whole or separated zones of human fetal adrenal tissue. The rate of prostaglandin secretion into the culture medium was determined by measuring prostaglandin E2 or prostaglandin F2 alpha with use of specific radioimmunoassays in media collected at 24-hour intervals. The rate of prostaglandin E2 secretion by adrenal glands obtained from two anencephalic fetuses declined rapidly from 1.71 +/- 0.65 ng/mg-1 of protein per 24 hours and 0.82 +/- 0.46 ng/mg-1 of protein per 24 hours on day 1, respectively, to 0.36 +/- 0.03 and 0.12 +/- 0.04 ng/mg-1 of protein per 24 hours by the fifth day in culture. The rate and pattern of prostaglandin F2 alpha secretion by anencephalic tissue was similar to that of prostaglandin E2. The pattern of prostaglandin secretion by anencephalic adrenal tissue was similar to that observed in neocortex tissue, but the rate of prostaglandin secretion was less. When the rates of prostaglandin secretion by anencephalic and neocortex adrenal tissue were compared to the rates of secretion of cortisol, an inverse relationship was observed. Finally, when whole human fetal adrenal glands or anencephalic tissues were incubated in the presence of adrenocorticotropic hormone, dexamethasone, metyrapone, or SU 10603, the data obtained seemed to suggest that the rate of prostaglandin secretion was regulated in both tissues by endogenously synthesized glucocorticosteroids. In summary, the pattern of secretion of prostaglandins by the anencephalic adrenal gland was similar to that of neocortex tissue, and the rate of secretion of prostaglandins was inhibited by endogenously synthesized cortisol.
What's Happening in YA Literature? Trends in Books for Adolescents

Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest and activity in the field of young adult literature. In order to describe the types of young adult books being published currently, a systematic content analysis was undertaken on of a wide sample of titles published in English between 1999 and 2005 representing both high quality literature and books popular with teens. This article reports on trends found in the genres, descriptive features, subject matters, and writing styles of the books. ملخص البحث: لقد شهدت السنوات الأخيرة طفرة في الاهتمام والنشاط في مجال الأدب للشباب. لقد تم القيام بتحليل المحتوى والتنظيم من أجل وصف أنواع الكتب للشباب التي تنشر حاليا من عينة عريضة مختارة من عناوين الكتب المنشورة في اللغة الإنكليزية بين عامي 1999 و2005 تمثل فيها كتبا ذات الجودة العالية والكتب التي تتمتع بشعبية كبيرة مع المراهقين. إذ تنقل هذه المقالة خبرا عن النزعات الموجودة في أنواع الكتب ومعالمها ومواضيعها وأساليبها الكتابية. 对年轻成人文学领域的兴趣及其活动近年来有所激增。为描述当今出版发行的年轻成人书籍的种类，研究者对1999年和2005年间以英语出版的广大书籍样本，进行一项系统性的内容分析﹔该书籍样本代表了既是高质量的文学作品，又是青少年的流行读物。本文报告关于这些书籍的体裁、描述特点、题材和写作风格的趋势。 Les dernieres annees ont temoigne d'un regain d'interet et d'activite dans le champ de la litterature de jeunesse. Afin de decrire les types de livres pour les jeunes adultes publies recemment, nous avons entrepris une analyse systematique de contenu portant sur un large eventail de titres publies en anglais de 1999 a 2005 et representant a la fois la litterature de bonne qualite et des livres bien connus des jeunes. Cet article rapporte les tendances que nous avons trouvees dans les genres, les traits caracteristiques, les sujets traites, et les styles d'ecriture des livres. В последние годы зафиксирован всплеск интереса и активности в области литературы для молодежи. Что именно сейчас издается? Чтобы ответить на этот вопрос, авторы предприняли системный содержательный анализ большой выборки книг, изданных на английском языке между 1999 и 2005 годами, куда вошли и высококачественные литературные произведения, и книги, популярные среди подростков. В статье описаны основные жанровые и содержательные тенденции, а также особенности авторского стиля и художественного оформления этих книг. Los ultimos anos han visto gran interes y actividad en el campo de la literatura para adultos jovenes. Para poder describir las clases de libros que se estan publicando ahora para adultos jovenes, se emprendio un analisis sistematico del contenido de una muestra extensa de titulos publicados en ingles entre 1999 y 2005, tanto de libros de gran calidad como de libros populares entre los adolescentes. Este articulo da informacion sobre las tendencias en los generos, las descripciones que presentan, el material y el estilo de escritura de los libros.
Comparison of detergent-solubilized and membrane-bound forms of kidney (Na + K)-ATPase.

Abstract The detergent solubilization of dog kidney (Na + K)-ATPase has been investigated. The nonionic detergents, Brij 58, C 12 E 8 , and Lubrol WX were tested for their ability to produce active, soluble enzyme. Lubrol WX gave the best results. Enzyme so treated is found in the supernatant fraction after centrifugation at 100,000 g for 1 h. It has the same or slightly greater specific activity, the same subunit composition as judged by SDS-gel electrophoresis, and very similar kinetic parameters with respect to sodium, potassium, ATP, pNPP, and ouabain as the membrane-bound enzyme. The Lubrol-treated enzyme is stable for at least 5 days at 4 °C. The phospholipid content of the Lubrol-treated enzyme is decreased, as might be expected, by about 50%. Limited tryptic proteolysis and fluorescence changes seen after modification with FITC indicate that the solubilized (Na + K)-ATPase undergoes the same conformational transitions as the membrane enzyme. Our results indicate that kidney enzyme solubilized as described here is nondenatured and fully active, and therefore a valuable preparation for spectroscopic and other approaches for study of this enzyme.
Memory distortion in Alzheimer's disease: deficient monitoring of short- and long-term memory.

Objective This study measured distortions of memory during short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) versions of a semantically associated word list learning paradigm. Performance of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD; MMSE ≥16) was compared with performance of age-matched, healthy older adult participants. Method In a STM version of the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) task, participants viewed four-word lists and were prompted for recall after a brief interval. The LTM task tested recall memory for 12-word lists. Results Compared with the healthy group, the AD participants show greater impairment on the LTM task than on the STM task, although veridical recall is significantly reduced on both tasks. Furthermore, on both memory tasks, (1) participants with AD generate more nonsemantic intrusions than healthy older adult participants, and (2) semantic intrusion rate, when computed as a proportion of total recall, does not differ between groups. Notably, nonsemantic intrusions are consistently high for AD participants across both STM and LTM despite a marked difference in recall accuracy (65% and 23%, respectively). Conclusions STM impairment with some preserved semantic processing is evident in AD. The extent and variety of intrusions reported by AD participants indicates a breakdown in their ability to monitor and constrain their recall responses, even within seconds of initial learning.
JetStream: Achieving Predictable Gossip Dissemination by Leveraging Social Network Principles

Gossip protocols provide probabilistic reliability and scalability, but their inherent randomness may lead to high variation in number of messages that are received at different nodes. This paper presents techniques that leverage simple social network principles enabling nodes to select gossip targets intelligently. The simple heuristics presented in the paper achieve a more uniform message overhead at each node, lowering the system-wide gossip traffic, while simultaneously reducing the latency of gossip spread (by up to 25%). We experimentally compare our system, called JetStream, against canonical gossip as well as gossip on the Chord overlay. Intuitively, JetStream seeks to make gossip spread more deterministic and predictable, while still inheriting its scale and reliability. JetStream also provides an added benefit by reducing network bandwidth utilization with a low sustained rate of gossip injection.
Prognosis on Chronic Dobutamine or Milrinone Infusions for Stage D Heart Failure

Background— There are no published clinical trials comparing dobutamine with milrinone in outpatients with stage D heart failure on continuous inotropes. Methods and Results— In a retrospective analysis of 112 inotrope-dependent patients with stage D heart failure who were not transplant candidates at enrollment, we investigated the relationship between choice of dobutamine or milrinone and mortality. Half the patients were on dobutamine (mean dose, 5.4�2.5 μg/kg per minute) and half on milrinone (mean dose, 0.4�0.2 μg/kg per minute). Those on dobutamine tended to be older (63 years old versus 54 years old), male (86% versus 79%), and fewer had implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (57% versus 74%). During a median follow-up time of 130 days (range, 2 to 2345 days), there were 85 deaths (76% of cohort) and 55 rehospitalizations. Use of dobutamine compared with milrinone was associated with higher all-cause mortality in an unadjusted analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.63; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.52; P<0.03). Howev...
CEO Characteristics and Firm R&D Spending

Over the past fifteen years, a number of studies have examined the determinants of firm R&D spending. These studies, however, almost invariably focus on the role of firm or external ownership characteristics in predicting R&D spending while overlooking the attributes of the top managers involved in allocating corporate resources. In this study, we change that focus by empirically examining how R&D spending as compared to industry competitors varies at firms based on the characteristics of their CEOs. Using a sample of publicly traded firms, we find that CEO characteristics explain a significant proportion of the sample variance in firm R&D spending even when corporate strategy, ownership structure, and other firm-level attributes are controlled. In terms of individual CEO characteristics, we find that R&D spending is greater at firms where CEOs are younger, have greater wealth invested in firm stock and signifacant career experience in marketing and/or engineering/R&D. In contrast to existing theory, we find that the amount of a CEO's formal education had no significant association with R&D spending once a CEO has attained a college degree. However, significant R&D spending increases are found at firms where CEOs have advanced science-related degrees. From subgroup analyses, we further find that CEO effects on relative R&D spending increase with longer CEO tenure implying that CEOs, over time, may mold R&D spending to suit their own preferences. From these results, we make implications for both research on determinants of R&D spending and managerial practice.
Cloudy with a Chance of Sunshine, or the Future of Magazine Publishing

EIC George K. Thiruvathukal describes how the cloud can revolutionize printing and how the publishing world in particular can benefit.
Sound Source Segregation Assisted by Audio Watermarking

The success of computer segregation of sound sources from a single-channel mixture often relies on the estimation of multiple fundamental frequencies. Instead of solving the problem directly, this paper describes a unique audio watermarking scheme to assist sound source segregation. Individual sources are assumed to be available for watermark embedding before mixing. Each source's short-time spectral peaks are aligned to frequency grid points labeled with binary quantization indexes. A modified sound source is synthesized with a sinusoidal model. Thus, each source is embedded with a watermark. Watermarked sources are then linearly added. To un-mix the sources, sinusoidal trajectories found in the mixture are segregated based on whether its frequency more often aligns to one or the other set of quantization grid points. Then, segregated signals are reconstructed by sinusoidal synthesis. Although the reconstructed signals sound different from the original sources, to a certain extent, the melodies can be extracted from the segregated signals by monophonic pitch estimation.
Relict Lacustrine Sediments on Inner Continental Shelf, Southeast Texas: ABSTRACT

Using scuba, 27 rock samples were collected from a small northwest-trending ridge with 5.5 m of relief located 74 km south of the northern entrance to Padre Island National Seashore and 3.2 km offshore from Padre Island (26°51^primeN, 97°18^primeW) in 14 m of water. All are massively bedded subarkoses and sublitharenites cemented by low-Mg micritic calcite. The acid-insoluble residue, which averages 73 percent, is a subrounded muddy, fine sand (Mz = 3.06^phgr) that is poorly sorted (^sgrI = 1.74^phgr), extremely leptokurtic (KG = 4.32), and strongly fine skewed (SkI = +0.65). Most contain mesovugs and channels that are lined with sparry calcite, clay, or fibrous chalcedony. Irregular shaped lumps and clots of iron and anganese oxides are common. Land snails (Helicina orbiculata tropica, Polygyra septemvolva febigeri) and freshwater snails (Helisoma trivolvis, Physa sp.) have been extracted from the rock. Teeth and bones of Pleistocene mammals (Mammuthus columbi, Mammut americanum, Bison sp.) also have been found in crevices in the ridge. The ridge is interpreted as an intermittent lake deposit that formed on a late Pleistocene extension of the South Texas eolian sand sheet. Mud and fine sand were blown into the lake from surrounding dune fields and mixed with accumulating carbonate deposits. During dry periods, the sediments developed soils that were vegetated and later calichified. Because of their superior hardness, the lake sediments survived the Holocene transgression and have become a submarine prominence. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2213------------
In vitro induction of fetal hemoglobin in human erythroid progenitor cells.

Abstract Objective. Clinical heterogeneity among patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is influenced by the amount of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) within circulating erythrocytes. Current pharmacotherapy focuses on increasing HbF in order to reduce hemolysis and help prevent acute vaso-occlusive events. Hydroxyurea, a known S-phase–specific cytotoxic ribonucleotide reductase (RR) inhibitor, is an effective agent for HbF induction in patients with SCA, but the mechanisms by which hydroxyurea induces HbF in vivo have not been elucidated. Materials and Methods. We adapted an in vitro assay for HbF induction, growing burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) colonies in methylcellulose from peripheral blood of children with SCA and extracting the hemoglobin for high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of HbF. Hydroxyurea and other known RR inhibitors, along with cytotoxic agents that are not RR inhibitors, were tested for the ability to induce HbF using this in vitro assay. Results. Hydroxyurea decreased the number of BFU-E colonies that grew in culture and significantly increased HbF from 13.6%±6.2% to 25.4%±8.0% at 50 μM HU ( p =0.012). Three other known RR inhibitors also significantly induced HbF: 4-methyl-5-amino-1-formylisoquinoline thiosemicarbazone ( p =0.025), guanazole ( p =0.008), and gemcitabine ( p =0.028). Cytarabine and alkylating agents BCNU and 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide, which are cytotoxic agents but not RR inhibitors, reduced BFU-E colony number but did not significantly induce HbF. Conclusion. Hydroxyurea and other RR inhibitors significantly induce HbF in vitro in human erythroid progenitor cells. Inhibition of RR may be a critical mechanism by which hydroxyurea increases HbF in vivo in patients with SCA.
Laser spallation adhesion metrology for electronic packaging development

In this paper, the merits of the laser spallation (LS) technique are described and demonstrated with regard to next-generation flip-chip packaging development. LS is based on conversion of a laser pulse into a mechanical stress pulse on the backside of a sample, which can spall films on the front side if of sufficient amplitude. One significant advantage of LS over traditional adhesion metrologies is that actual components can be evaluated, improving throughput and eliminating process-matching issues associated with making test coupons. Other advantages and case studies involving test-vehicle die and package-side applications are discussed.
Matching Criteria for Vocabulary-Independent Search

This paper investigates a variety of progressively more complex similarity measures for vocabulary independent search in phone based audio transcripts. English audio data is segmented and decoded to produce a sequence of phones that represent the data. These sequences are then parsed into N-grams which are used to index the data. The audio segments define the documents to be retrieved and are thus localized in time. Search is performed by expanding text based queries into phone sequences and N -grams, followed by matching these against the index. The baseline similarity measure combines elements found in the literature and uses edit distance with a phonetic confusion matrix to determine the similarity of query and index N-grams. Comparable performance to other approaches in the literature is achieved. Extensions to the baseline are developed using a constrained form of the similarity measure together with the ability to account for higher order confusions, namely of phone bi-grams and tri-grams. Results show improved performance across a variety of system configurations. We then generalize further and use the framework of conditional random fields (CRFs) to model confusions. Whereas others in the literature have used CRFs to model parameters of an edit distance that incorporates deletions, substitutions, and insertions, our approach focuses on using CRFs to model context dependent phone level confusions directly. The CRF is trained on parallel phonetic transcripts, which provides a general framework for modeling the errors that a recognition system may make, taking contextual effects into consideration. Results obtained on both in and out of vocabulary (OOV) search tasks improve most notably for OOV, showing 5%-6% relative improvement. Finally, we investigate the degree to which the information captured in the three approaches is complementary and show that system combination can further improve performance.
Acrolein activates matrix metalloproteinases by increasing reactive oxygen species in macrophages

Acrolein is a ubiquitous component of environmental pollutants such as automobile exhaust, cigarette, wood, and coal smoke. It is also a natural constituent of several foods and is generated endogenously during inflammation or oxidation of unsaturated lipids. Because increased inflammation and episodic exposure to acrolein-rich pollutants such as traffic emissions or cigarette smoke have been linked to acute myocardial infarction, we examined the effects of acrolein on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which destabilize atherosclerotic plaques. Our studies show that exposure to acrolein resulted in the secretion of MMP-9 from differentiated THP-1 macrophages. Acrolein-treatment of macrophages also led to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), free intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity. ROS production was prevented by allopurinol, but not by rotenone or apocynin and by buffering changes in [Ca2+]I with BAPTA-AM. The increase in MMP production was abolished by pre-treatment with the antioxidants Tiron and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or with the xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol or oxypurinol. Finally, MMP activity was significantly stimulated in aortic sections from apoE-null mice containing advanced atherosclerotic lesions after exposure to acrolein ex vivo. These observations suggest that acrolein exposure results in MMP secretion from macrophages via a mechanism that involves an increase in [Ca2+]I, leading to xanthine oxidase activation and an increase in ROS production. ROS-dependent activation of MMPs by acrolein could destabilize atherosclerotic lesions during brief episodes of inflammation or pollutant exposure.
Reevaluation of the Status of Taxa of Central American Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona), with Comments on Their Origin and Evolution

Abstract New specimens and a new analysis provide the basis for systematic revision of Central American caecilians. We recognize seven species in the genus Dermophis (oaxacae, mexicanus, gracilior, costaricense, glandulosus, parviceps, and occidentalis). Two species of Gymnopis (syntrema and multiplicata), three of Oscaecilia (osae, elongata, and ochrocephala), and four of Caecilia (nigricans, volcani, isthmica, and leucocephala) occur in Central America. New information about the geology of the region permits reevaluation of the biogeographic history of the group. Data for specimens, distribution maps, and a key are provided.
Effective Proof Reading Strategies for Comprehending Mathematical Proofs

In this paper, I identify five effective proof reading strategies that mathematics majors can use to comprehend proofs. This paper reports two studies. The first study is a qualitative study in which four successful mathematics majors were videotaped reading six proofs. These students used five proof reading strategies to foster comprehension: (i) trying to prove a theorem before reading its proof, (ii) identifying the proof framework being used in the proof, (iii) breaking the proof into parts or sub-proofs, (iv) illustrating difficult assertions in the proof with an example, and (v) comparing the method used in the proof with one’s own approach. The qualitative analysis of these proof reading strategies illustrates how they may foster comprehension. The second study was a quantitative study in which 83 mathematics professors were surveyed about whether they desired that their students use these strategies. Most mathematicians indicated that they desired that students use them.
Risky Business: The Legal Implications of Social Media's Increasing Role in Employment Decisons

The increasing use of social media as a determinative factor in employment decisions has resulted in litigation and, in certain instances, legislative enactments. Courts and legislatures alike are wrestling with the rights and responsibilities arising under federal and state law when social media is involved in employment-related disputes. The legal landscape is dotted with a wide array of issues ranging from the evidentiary admissibility of social media postings; the use of social media histories, both public and password-protected, to screen prospective candidates; the termination of employees for Twitter and Facebook posts; the unauthorized access by employers to private social media accounts; ownership disputes between employers and employees over social media accounts; and the protections surrounding social media postings under various federal laws. This article explores this legal landscape, providing a broad overview of the emerging trends in the law and identifying the legal challenges faced by employers and employees when disputes erupt in the workplace over social media use.
Tracking hole localization in K -shell and core-valence-excited acetylene photoionization via body-frame photoelectron angular distributions

Asymmetry in the molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions from core-hole- or core-valence-excited polyatomic targets with symmetry-equivalent atoms can provide direct evidence for core-hole localization. Using acetylene as an example, we contrast the small asymmetry that can be seen in direct core-level ionization, due to the competition between two competing pathways to the continuum, with ionization from core-valence-excited HCCH, which offers the prospect of observing markedly greater asymmetry.
Progress on Research of Association of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor Gene with Idiopathic Short Stature

Growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor axis is the most essential neuroendocrine axis for children growth and development.Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor(IGF-1R) is an effector molecule that adjusts the cascade of hormone receptor response.The abnormality in its molecular structure or function will affect its binding with target gene IGF-1,which leads to growth retardation.This may be related to the occurrence of idiopathic short stature.Abroad there was no gene for IGF-1R study of the relationship with ISS.In this review,the relationships of the IGF-1R gene and short stature are summarized.
Religious Awakenings and Status Politics: Sources of Support for the New Religious Right

is used to examine these explanations. Results suggest that support for the New Religious Right is more strongly related to religious and cultural variables than to threatened statuses, as implied by status politics explanations. Implications for understanding the social dynamics of conservative religiopolitical movements are discussed.
Teaching GLM Concepts: Explicating the Connections

The purpose of the present paper is to encourage textbook authors, quantitative instructors, curriculum writers, and software developers to move away from the use of isolated apparently disconnected analyses and instead move towards the use of the general linear model as a foundational framework for graduate level statistics training. It is argued that an understanding of modeling, simple linear equations, and commonly used analogous statistical terms will facilitate students understanding of frequently used parametric analyses. Additionally, this holistic approach will equip students with the necessary preparatory skills to understand newer analytical approaches. Three heuristic examples are provided.
Decreasing GABA function within the medial prefrontal cortex or basolateral amygdala decreases sociability.

Abstract Introduction Decreased sociability is a symptom of psychiatric conditions including autism-spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Both of these conditions are associated with decreases in GABA function, particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA); structures that are components of the social brain. Here, we determined if decreasing GABA transmission within either the PFC or the BLA decreases social behavior. Methods Rats were implanted with cannulae aimed at either the medial PFC or the BLA and then were tested on up to 4 behavioral tests following bilateral infusions of 0.5 μl bicuculline methiodide (BMI, a GABA A receptor antagonist) at doses of 0, 25, or 50 ng/μl. Rats were tested in the social interaction test, the social preference test, the sucrose preference test and for locomotor activity (BLA infusions only). Results Intra-BLA or PFC BMI infusions decreased the amount of time and the number of social interactions in the social interaction test. Further, in the social preference test, rats infused with 50 ng BMI no longer exhibited a preference to explore a social over a non-social stimulus. The change in sociability was not due to a change in reward processing or locomotor behavior. Discussion Decreasing GABA transmission in either the medial PFC or BLA decreased sociability. Thus, changes in GABA signaling observed in conditions such as autism or schizophrenia may mediate the social withdrawal characteristic of these conditions. Moreover, they suggest that social withdrawal may be treated by drugs that potentiate GABA transmission.
Producing heritage: culture as commodity in Madurai.

This paper explores the actual and potential museumification of living cultural and religious forms at the Minakshi-Sundareshvara temple complex in Madurai, a major pilgrimage site in the state of Tamil Nadu, south India. It focuses primarily on attempts to sanitise and thus reinvent tradition by removing commerce from within the 17th-century Pudu Mandapam (Tamil, 'new hall'), where it has had a longstanding place. This endeavour is ironically related to larger attempts to produce 'heritage' as a commodity that can be marketed in the context of a growing cultural tourism industry. The finished museum will reconfigure everyday life, transforming the ephemeral into static, ahistorical displays that appeal to foreigners, foreign nationals of Indian ancestry and visitors from other parts of India.
Prostate Cancer Prevention and the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT): A Selenium Perspective

The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) randomized 35,533 healthy men, ≥55 years (≥50 years if African American), with normal digital rectal exams and prostate-specific antigens <4 ng/mL, to (i) 200 μg/day l-selenomethionine, (ii) 400 IU/day all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), (iii) both supplements, or (iv) placebo for a median of 5.5 years (range 4.2–7.3 years). The hypotheses underlying SELECT, that selenium and vitamin E individually and together decrease prostate cancer incidence, derived from epidemiologic and laboratory evidence and significant secondary endpoints in the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer (NPC) (selenium) and Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene (vitamin E) trials. Results from SELECT showed that prostate cancer incidence did not differ among the four arms: hazard ratios (HRs) (99% CIs) for prostate cancer: 1.13 (99% CI, 0.95–1.35; p = 0.06; n = 473) for vitamin E, 1.04 (99% CI, 0.87–1.24; p = 0.62; n = 432) for selenium, and 1.05 (99% CI, 0.88–1.25; p = 0.52; n = 437) for selenium + vitamin E vs. 1.00 (n = 416) for placebo. Statistically nonsignificant increased risks of prostate cancer with vitamin E alone (RR 1.13; p = 0.06) and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus with selenium alone (RR 1.07; p = 0.16) were observed. SELECT data show that neither selenium nor vitamin E, alone or together, in the doses and formulations used, prevented prostate cancer in this heterogeneous population of healthy men. Although there are many potential explanations for the null findings in SELECT, the most likely reasons appear to be a mismatch between the target population and the intervention agents selected, or that effects were limited to as-yet-undetermined subgroups of susceptible men.
Trans -Fatty Acid-Stimulated Mammary Gland Growth in Ovariectomized Mice is Fatty Acid Type and Isomer Specific

We previously reported that the trans-18:2 fatty acid trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (t10,c12-CLA) stimulates mammary gland development independent of estrogen and its receptor. Given the negative consequences of dietary trans-fatty acids on various aspects of human health, we sought to establish whether other trans-fatty acids could similarly induce ovary-independent mammary gland growth in mice. Prepubertal BALB/cJ mice were ovariectomized at 21 days of age then were fed diets enriched with cis-9, trans-11 CLA (c9,t11-CLA), or mixtures of trans-18:1 fatty acids supplied by partially hydrogenated sunflower, safflower, or linseed oil. The resultant mammary phenotype was evaluated 3 weeks later and compared to the growth response elicited by t10,c12-CLA, or the defined control diet. Whereas partially hydrogenated safflower oil increased mammary gland weight, none of the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils promoted mammary ductal growth. Similarly, the c9,t11-CLA supplemented diet was without effect on mammary development. Taken together, our data emphasize a unique effect of t10,c12-CLA in stimulating estrogen-independent mammary gland growth manifest as increased mammary ductal area and elongation that was not recapitulated by c9,t11-CLA or the partially hydrogenated vegetable oil diets.
The HOSPITAL score and LACE index as predictors of 30 day readmission in a retrospective study at a university-affiliated community hospital

Introduction Hospital readmissions are common, expensive, and a key target of the Medicare Value Based Purchasing (VBP) program. Validated risk assessment tools such as the HOSPITAL score and LACE index have been developed to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission so they can be targeted for interventions aimed at reducing the rate of readmission. This study aims to evaluate the utility of HOSPITAL score and LACE index for predicting hospital readmission within 30 days in a moderate-sized university affiliated hospital in the midwestern United States. Materials and methods All adult medical patients who underwent one or more ICD-10 defined procedures discharged from the SIU-SOM Hospitalist service from Memorial Medical Center (MMC) from October 15, 2015 to March 16, 2016, were studied retrospectively to determine if the HOSPITAL score and LACE index were a significant predictors of hospital readmission within 30 days. Results During the study period, 463 discharges were recorded for the hospitalist service. The analysis includes data for the 432 discharges. Patients who died during the hospital stay, were transferred to another hospital, or left against medical advice were excluded. Of these patients, 35 (8%) were readmitted to the same hospital within 30 days. A receiver operating characteristic evaluation of the HOSPITAL score for this patient population shows a C statistic of 0.75 (95% CI [0.67-0.83]), indicating good discrimination for hospital readmission. The Brier score for the HOSPITAL score in this setting was 0.069, indicating good overall performance. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test shows a χ2 value of 3.71 with a p value of 0.59. A receiver operating characteristic evaluation of the LACE index for this patient population shows a C statistic of 0.58 (95% CI [0.48-0.68]), indicating poor discrimination for hospital readmission. The Brier score for the LACE index in this setting was 0.082, indicating good overall performance. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test shows a χ2 value of 4.97 with a p value of 0.66. Discussion This single center retrospective study indicates that the HOSPITAL score has superior discriminatory ability when compared to the LACE index as a predictor of hospital readmission within 30 days at a medium-sized university-affiliated teaching hospital. Conclusions The internationally validated HOSPITAL score may be superior to the LACE index in moderate-sized community hospitals to identify patients at high risk of hospital readmission within 30 days.
Health Disparities and the Global Landscape of Lymphoma Care Today

Lymphoma encompass a wide variety of distinct disease entities, including, but not limited to, subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). In the last 3 decades, therapeutic advancements have resulted in substantial improvements in lymphoma outcome. In most high-income regions, HL is a largely curable disease and for patients with two frequent subtypes of NHL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL), survival has dramatically improved with the incorporation of rituximab as a standard treatment approach. Despite these advances, outcomes vary between and across populations. This review will provide updated information about health disparities in lymphoma in the United States and across the globe.
Regulating Secretory Proteostasis through the Unfolded Protein Response: From Function to Therapy

Imbalances in secretory proteostasis induced by genetic, environmental, or aging-related insults are pathologically associated with etiologically diverse protein misfolding diseases. To protect the secretory proteome from these insults, organisms evolved stress-responsive signaling pathways that regulate the composition and activity of biologic pathways involved in secretory proteostasis maintenance. The most prominent of these is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) unfolded protein response (UPR), which functions to regulate ER proteostasis in response to ER stress. While the signaling mechanisms involved in UPR activation are well defined, the impact of UPR activation on secretory proteostasis is only now becoming clear. Here, we highlight recent reports defining how activation of select UPR signaling pathways influences proteostasis within the ER and downstream secretory environments. Furthermore, we describe recent evidence that highlights the therapeutic potential for targeting UPR signaling pathways to correct pathologic disruption in secretory proteostasis associated with diverse types of protein misfolding diseases.
Chapter 1 - VLSI Processor Design Methodology*

Publisher Summary Integrated Circuit (IC) technology has made the production of chips with several transistors possible. Systems of such complexity are difficult to design. The computer architect faces problems in the areas of system partitioning with sub goal specification, subsystems interface specification and verification, and overall system integration. This improvement in IC technology allows the fabrication of processors with complexity, comparable to the largest mainframe computers designed using off-the-shelf technologies (SSI, MSI, and LSI). The advent of very large scale integrated (VLSI) processor has significantly changed the way in which computers are designed and implemented. This chapter discusses the use of VLSI as an implementation medium and it focuses on the design of general purpose microprocessors. In many ways, the architecture and organization of a VLSI processor are similar to the designs used in the CPUs of modern machines implemented by using standard parts. The MOS technology imposes some new constraints that emphasize on the interaction between architecture and implementation. The chapter discusses the issues that arise in determining the suitability of architecture as a program host, the implications of the architecture on the organization, and some guidelines to help evaluate the suitability of architecture both for an application environment and for implementation using VLSI.
Correcting values of DNA sequence similarity for errors in sequencing

The similarity between two DNA sequences is one of the most important measures in bioinformatics, but errors introduced during sequencing make values of similarity lower than they should be. Here we develop a method to correct raw sequence similarity for sequencing errors and estimate the original sequence similarity. Our method is simple and consists of a single equation with terms for 1) raw sequence similarity and 2) error rates (e.g., from Phred quality scores). We show the importance of this correction for 16S ribosomal DNA sequences from bacterial communities, where 97% similarity is a frequent threshold for clustering sequences for analysis. At that threshold and typical error rate of 0.2%, correcting for error increases similarity by 0.36 percentage points. This result shows that, if uncorrected, sequencing error would increase similarity thresholds and generate false clusters for analysis. Our method could be used to adjust thresholds for cluster-based analyses. Alternatively, because it requires no clustering to correct sequence similarity, it could usher in a new age of analyzing ribosomal DNA sequences without clustering.
Defining Systems to Evaluate System Efficiency and Effectiveness

This paper focuses on the application of systems thinking, systems theory, and systems evaluation theory (SET) in evaluating modern day systems. SET consists of three steps purposively sequenced wi...
Screening Designs for Constrained Mixture Experiments Derived from Classical Screening Designs

The properties of screening designs for constrained mixture experiments derived from classical two-level screening designs are investigated. A slightly modified version of the XVERT algorithm is discussed and illustrated for eight- and eleven-component ..
How Do Contractions of the Stapedius Muscle Alter the Acoustic Properties of the Ear

We describe our investigations of the mechanisms through which contractions of the stapedius muscle in the cat cause alterations in acoustic transmission through the middle ear. We have observed that stapedius contractions displace the stapes head along the direction of the stapedius tendon, which is perpendicular to the direction of stapes motion in response to sound. This stapes-head displacement (SHD) occurs without detectable displacement of the incus or malleus. This result suggests that the changes in transmission are solely caused by changes in the stapes impedance due to the SHD. Measurements of SHD were made together with the associated transmission changes. For SHDs up to 40 μm, the transmission was reduced up to 10 dB in the frequency range below 1.5 kHz with little change for higher frequencies. For SHDs larger than 40 μm, reductions in transmission up to 30 dB were observed in the low frequency range and up to 15 dB for high frequencies. We explore the possibility that changes in the configuration of the annular ligament at the stapes footplate are the source of the acoustic changes by comparing our results with other measurements of changes of stapes impedance. We conclude that this hypothesis is tenable.
The Role of the α v B 3 Integrin in Smooth Muscle Cell Migration

Intimal hyperplasia is a key event in advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Thickening of the intimal layer of large muscular arteries may result from smooth muscle cells (SMC) that migrate from the muscular wall to the subluminal area and proliferate. The molecular basis for SMC motility is not known.
The Problem of Abortion

We come now to the third part of this study into the origins of Western medical ethics. Having already investigated the social setting of ancient medicine as well as the rise of European medical ethics with Hippocrates and his successors, we are at last in the best position to explore the thinking of the ancients on abortion and euthanasia. Let us, then, see what the leading philosophers and physicians had to say about these topics. In so doing, let us also be careful to look at their related thoughts on infanticide and suicide. Our final task involves clarifying and analyzing the felt moral responsibility of the ancient physician in regard to his professional role as a potential abortionist or purveyor of euthanasia.