cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of reduced chloride reabsorption on renin release in the isolated rat kidney.

To investigate the relationship between tubular reabsorption of chloride and renal renin release in the isolated perfused rat kidney, perfusate renin activity was measured during substitution of either nitrate or thiocyanate for varying amounts of perfusate chloride but with maintained perfusate sodium concentration. Renin rose significantly as perfusate chloride fell; there was a sevenfold increase between perfusion with normal chloride and almost complete substitution of chloride by nitrate. With a normal perfusate chloride the addition of furosemide 10−4 M to the perfusate also led to an increase in renin and a reduction in tubule chloride reabsorption. For all these experiments there was a significant negative correlation between renin and absolute tubular reabsorption of chloride (r=−0.68,P<0.001), but no such relationship with absolute sodium reabsorption. Renin release in a nonfiltering kidney, produced by elevating perfusate albumin concentration, increased approximately 40-fold. Thus increasing plasma oncotic pressure elevates renin by mechanisms additional to cessation of tubular chloride absorption. However, substitution of chloride in the perfusate by nitrate in this nonfiltering kidney did not further elevate renin release. We conclude that renin release is influenced by a signal dependent on, and inversely proportional to, chloride reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of the Loop of Henle.
Stress analysis of the double cantilever beam specimen

Abstract A higher-order plate theory which includes transverse shear deformation and a thickness-stretch mode is utilized to analyze a complete double cantilever beam specimen. Homogeneous, orthotropic materials are considered. The beam is divided into a section along the crack and a second section along the uncracked region. Complete continuity of inplane force resultant, transverse shear force resultant, bending moment, and displacements are satisfied across the boundary between the two sections. This analysis allows one to obtain an approximate distribution of the interlaminar normal stress ahead of the crack. The effect of specimen geometry on energy release rate is investigated numerically. Consideration is also given to the average stress criterion as an alternative to a fracture mechanics approach for characterizing interlaminar peel strength.
Potentiation by novobiocin of the cytotoxic activity of etoposide (VP-16) and teniposide (VM-26)

The coumermycin antibiotic novobiocin, which interacts with the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase II, produced supra-additive toxicity to WEHI-3B D+ leukemia cells at clinically achievable concentrations, when combined with teniposide (VM-26) or etoposide (VP-16). Simultaneous exposure of cells to both agents was required for maximum efficacy of the combination. Novobiocin also produced supra-additive toxicity to A549 human lung carcinoma cells when combined with VM-26 or VP-16. At concentrations above the peak plasma levels achievable in patients, novobiocin lost its potentiating activity. Exposure of WEHI-3B D+ cells to novobiocin did not modify the cytotoxicity produced by the topoisomerase II inhibitor m-AMSA, whereas, in contrast, novobiocin antagonized the cytotoxicity of m-AMSA in A549 cells. Although it has been suggested that inhibitors of the syntheses of DNA and RNA interfere with the cytotoxic activity of the epipodophyllotoxins, maximum potentiation of the cytotoxicities of VP-16 and VM-26 occurred at novobiocin concentrations that decreased the rates of synthesis of both DNA and RNA in WEHI-3B D+ cells by about 50%. The number of DNA-topoisomerase-ll covalent complexes stabilized by VM-26 in WEHI-3B D+ cells was greatly increased when cells were exposed simultaneously to VM-26 and novobiocin for 1 hr, but not when cells were treated with m-AMSA and novobiocin for the same period of time. Novobiocin did not affect the amount of covalent complexes produced by VM-26 in isolated nuclei, suggesting that the potentiating activity of novobiocin was not due to its direct interaction with the nuclear topoisomerase II enzyme. Our findings suggest that therapeutic levels of novobiocin may be capable of enhancing the clinical activities of VP-16 and VM-26. © 1992 Wifey-Liss, Inc.
A theoretical study of an expanding monomer and an oxirane Part 1: Expanding monomer reactions

Abstract Spiroorthocarbonates have shown promise for use in polymerization reactions in which reduced shrinkage is desired. The purpose of this study was to use quantum mechanical methods to evaluate possible homopolymerization mechanisms to gain insight for likely reactions of 1,5,7,11-tetraoxaspiro[5.5]undecane (TOSU) using gas phase calculations. Protonation and subsequent ring opening was investigated and compared with ab initio calculations to determine the likelihood of reversibility. As experimental data collected from this group was inconsistent with the presumed propagation mechanism as well as previously studied mechanisms, an alternative mechanism was explored. AM1 results indicated a previously unreported mechanism for six-membered TOSU which forms 1,3-dioxan-2-one (cyclic carbonate) has calculated energetics which are competitive to other mechanisms and corroborate with experiment. DFT and RHF calculations further supported the competitiveness of this reaction. In addition, reactions with water were modeled to provide the likely mechanism for hydrolysis and subsequent termination of the cationic species.
A New, Self-Contained Asymptotic Correction Scheme To Exchange-Correlation Potentials for Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory

By combining the asymptotic correction scheme of Casida and Salahub for exchange-correlation potentials and the phenomenological linear correlation between experimental ionization potentials and highest occupied Kohn−Sham (KS) orbital energies found by Zhan, Nichols, and Dixon, we propose a new, expedient, and self-contained asymptotic correction to exchange-correlation potentials in KS density functional theory (DFT) for use in time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) that does not require an ionization potential as an external parameter from a separate calculation. The asymptotically corrected (TD)DFT method is implemented in the quantum chemistry program suite NWChem for both sequential and massively parallel execution. The asymptotic correction scheme combined with the B3LYP functional [B3LYP(AC)] is shown to be well balanced for both valence- and Rydberg-type transitions, with average errors in excitation energies of CO, N2, CH2O, and C2H4 being smaller than those of uncorrected BLYP and B3LY...
Selective induction and inhibition of direct and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic reactivity.

Abstract The immune reactivity of mice (C57BL/6, H-2 b ) which had been challenged with various numbers (10 2 –10 8 ) of allogeneic tumor cells (P815, H-2 d ) was assessed at various times after challenge. Challenge with a high dose (10 8 ) of tumor cells resulted in the development of direct cytotoxicity (DCMC), lectin-dependent cytotoxicity (LDCC), delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), and antibody production, whereas challenge with lower doses ( 6 ) of tumor cells favored development of DTH and LDCC with marginal or no DCMC or antibody production. Spleen cells from low-dose alloimmune animals failed to produce DCMC when cultured with P815 cells in vitro and were capable of nonspecifically suppressing the DCMC response of normal spleen cells in MLC. Treatment with cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg) prior to alloimmunization did not alter the pattern of DTH and cytotoxic reactivity, although treatment after alloimmunization was immunosuppressive for all forms of reactivity. When low-dose challenge was followed by cyclophosphamide treatment and a subsequent high-dose challenge, selective inhibition of DTH, LDCC, and suppressor activity, but not DCMC, was observed. The data suggest that (a) the initial challenge dose plays a significant role in determining which effector and regulatory populations will be activated and what direction the expression of immune reactivity will take; (b) the activated responding populations of DTH, DCMC, and LDCC effector cells are sensitive to cyclophosphamide treatment, whereas the precursors of each are resistant to the effects of the drug; (c) low-dose alloimmunization may be used in combination with cyclophosphamide treatment to modulate DTH, DCMC, and LDCC reactivity in a selective manner; (d) the cytotoxic effector cells responding to highdose challenge and mediating DCMC and those responding to low-dose challenge and mediating LDCC appear to arise from distinct precursor populations.
High and low-risk specialties experience with the U.S. medical malpractice system

“High-liability risk specialties” tend to be the focus of medical malpractice system research and debate, but concerns and fears are not limited to this group. The objective of this study was to examine whether “high-liability risk” medical specialties have a different experience with the malpractice system than “low-liability risk” specialties. We reviewed claims data from the Physician Insurers Association of America’s Data Sharing Project between January 1985 and December 2008. We used linear regression, controlling for year, to determine how liability risk affected outcomes of interest. In high-liability risk specialties, 33% of claims result in indemnity payments compared to 28% for low-liability risk specialties (p < 0.001). The average indemnity payment for high-liability risk specialties was $315,314 compared to $267,146 for low-liability risk specialties (p = 0.25). Although only a small percentage of claims go to trial, low-liability risk specialties have significantly more claims that are ultimately dropped, withdrawn or dismissed, while high-liability risk specialties have significantly more claims that result in plaintiff settlement (p < 0.001). Malpractice risk exists for all specialties. Variability in indemnity costs are found in both high- and low-liability risk specialties. Differences in the reasons for which claims are initiated for high- and low-liability risk specialties likely necessitate different risk management solutions.
Prelude to Chavez: The national farm labor union in California

(1975). Prelude to Chavez: The national farm labor union in California. Labor History: Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 453-469.
Sensible heat flux records constrain projections of European warming

Rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are adding more energy to the Earth system, but how that extra energy turns to heat—and where that heating takes place—depends in part on regional variations in how the atmosphere and the land surface interact. Based on a historically high susceptibility to natural climate variability, driven in part by such land surface–atmosphere interactions, researchers expect Europe to be more strongly affected by climate change than some other regions.
Law Necessitarianism and the Importance of Being Intuitive

The counter-intuitive implications of law necessitarianism pose a far more serious threat than its proponents recognize. Law necessitarians are committed to scientific essentialism, the thesis that there are metaphysically necessary truths which can be known only a posteriori. The most frequently cited arguments for this position rely on modal intuitions. Rejection of intuition thus threatens to undermine it. I consider ways in which law necessitarians might try to defend scientific essentialism without invoking intuition. I then consider ways in which law necessitarians who accept the general reliability of intuition might try to explain away the intuitions which conflict with their theory.
Best-practice interventions: keeping central line infection at bay.

By learning and following the latest recommendations, you can help prevent avoidable deaths from this dangerous type of nosocomial infection.
Survival and dominant transmission of "lethal" platyspondylic dwarfism of the "West coast" types.

Abstract Torrance, San Diego, and Luton types (“West coast” types) of neonatal platyspondylic short-limbed dwarfism are suspected to be caused by dominant mutations that are obligatorily lethal. We report on an affected mother, who passed the disease to her daughter, confirming dominant disease transmission. Survival of the mother indicates a wider phenotypic spectrum. (J Pediatr 2000;136:411-3)
Laws of large numbers for classes of functions

Let (X, A, P) be a probability space and Gn, n ≥ 1, a sequence of classes of measurable complex-valued functions on (X, A, P). Under a weak metric entropy condition on Gn and sup {‖g‖∞: g ∈ Gn}, Glivenko-Cantelli theorems are established for the classes Gn with respect to the probability measure P; i.e., limn → ∞ supg ∈ Gn ‖∫ g(dPn − dP)‖ = 0 a.s. The result is applied to kernel density estimation and a law of the logarithm is derived for the maximal deviation between a kernel density estimator and its expected value, improving upon and generalizing the recent results of W. Stute (Ann. Probab. 10 (1982), 414–422). This result is also used to derive improved rates of uniform convergence for the empirical characteristic function.
Gravity/topography admittance inversion on Venus using niching genetic algorithms

[1] We used niching genetic algorithms (NGAs) to invert localized Venus gravity/topography admittance over lowland regions Atalanta and Lavinia Planitiae, as well as volcanic rise Atla Regio for comparison. Assuming both top (topography) and bottom (mantle density anomalies) loads, we calculated theoretical admittance using thin elastic shell models. We inverted admittance for crustal thickness, elastic lithosphere thickness, mantle density anomaly thickness, and ratio (pz) of mantle density anomaly to topographic load. NGA inversion provides an efficient means of finding globally optimal and sub-optimal solutions. Error analyses of all three regions show that pz is a robust estimate; there is significant trade-off between elastic lithosphere and mantle anomaly thicknesses, while crustal thickness is ill-constrained. Optimal models suggest that mantle density anomalies are ∼+1 to 2% underlying lowland regions and ∼−3 to −4% underlying Atla Regio.
Relationship between Self-Actualization and Manipulation:

To assess the r between self-actualization and Machiavellianism the Personal Orientation Inventory and Mach IV were administered to 137 Ss. The inventory's major scales, Time Competent and Inner-directed, were not significantly correlated with Mach IV scores. Significant positive rs held between the Mach IV scale and subscales of Existentiality, Feeling Reactivity, Self-acceptance, Capacity for Intimate Contact. A significant negative r was found between the inventory subscale of Nature of Man Constructive and the Mach IV scale. Similarities between self-actualizers and Machiavellians were discussed.
Markov Random Field Based Text Identification from Annotated Machine Printed Documents

In this paper, we describe an approach to segment handwritten text, machine printed text and noise from annotated machine printed documents. Three categories of word level features are extracted. We use a modified K-Means clustering algorithm for classification followed by a relabeling procedure using Markov Random Field(MRF) based on a concept of neighboring patches and Belief Propagation(BP)rules. Experimental results on an imbalanced data set show that our approach achieves an overall recall of 96.33% .
Adding Stability to the Crescentic Basilar First Metatarsal Osteotomy

Crescentic basilar osteotomies for metatarsus primus varus and hallux valgus allow for substantial correction of the first intermetatarsal angle and the hallux valgus angle. Crescentic osteotomies have two well-documented pitfalls: sagittal plane instability and difficulty in fixation. We describe the addition of a plantar shelf to crescentic basilar osteotomy that allows for easier fixation and less risk of elevation of the first metatarsal postoperatively. This plantar shelf is made in the metaphyseal portion of the first metatarsal, which provides the benefit of better bone healing. In 20 patients, we found an average reduction in the intermetatarsal angle of 9.3° and an average reduction in the hallux valgus angle of 21.8°. Eight weeks postoperatively, only one patient showed elevation of the first metatarsal. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(5): 502–504, 2004)
Using variability in gene expression as a tool for studying gene regulation

With the advent of quantitative tools for measuring gene expression in single cells, researchers have made the discovery that in many contexts, messenger RNA and protein levels can vary widely from cell to cell, often because of inherently stochastic events associated with gene expression. The study of this cellular individuality has become a field of study in its own right, characterized by a blend of technological development, theoretical analysis, and, more recently, applications to biological phenomena. In this review, we focus on the use of the variability inherent to gene expression as a tool to understand gene regulation. We discuss the use of variability as a natural systems-level perturbation, its use in quantitatively characterizing the biological processes underlying transcription, and its application to the discovery of new gene regulatory interactions. We believe that use of variability can provide new biological insights into different aspects of transcriptional control and can provide a powerful complementary approach to that of existing techniques.
Rotor time constant updating scheme for a rotor flux oriented induction motor drive

This paper presents a simple online rotor time constant identification scheme of an indirect field-oriented induction motor for the purpose of improving the performance and robustness of the drive. The proposed technique neither requires any special test signal nor any complex computations. This scheme is based on a special switching technique of the current-regulated pulsewidth modulation (CRPWM) voltage-source inverter (VSI), which allows measuring the induced voltage across the stator phase. The rotor time constant is then identified directly from this measured voltage. This proposed technique provides six windows within one electric cycle to update the rotor time constant, which should be sufficient for all practical purposes. Simulated results followed by experiments are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Structure and cost scaling for intermediate size superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems

The Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) Engineering Test Model (ETM) was sized to be extrapolated to a full-scale utility system and only warm structural support was practical. If this constraint is removed, then smaller systems structurally reinforced with cold mass are more cost effective than supported with warm mass. Higher field is also more advantageous and thus the bore of a 20 MWh magnet is an order of magnitude smaller than an ETM. Both aluminum and stainless steel supports were considered and the weight of 1-100 MWh systems were determined. The cost of the SMES magnet scales as 0.5 power of stored energy. The cross over in stored energy where magnets supported by warm structures becomes cheaper was also determined. >
Laminar histochemical and cytochemical localization of cytochrome oxidase in the goldfish retina and optic tectum in response to deafferentation and during regeneration.

Cytochrome oxidase (C.O.) histochemistry and cytochemistry were used to examine the effects of optic denervation and subsequent optic fiber regeneration on oxidative metabolism in the retina and optic tectum of the goldfish. In the tectum, there was a dramatic and rapid decrease in C.O. activity within the optic layers 3-4 days after contralateral eye removal or optic nerve crush. At the E.M. level this was correlated with an initial decrease in mitochondrial reactivity within optic terminals followed by the subsequent degradation of mitochondria and phagocytosis of optic terminals. By 1 month after optic nerve crush, the entire tectum was reinnervated. However, the normal dark reactivity of the stratum fibrosum et griseum superficialis (SFGS), the main optic innervation layer, was not restored until after 3-4 months postcrush. The normal intense reactivity of the large-diameter optic axons and terminals at the bottom of the SFGS required an even longer period, about 7-8 months, for full recovery. The delayed restoration of C.O. reactivity was not due to a delay in synaptogenesis or in mitochondrial accumulation within optic terminals but to a delay in the maturation of mitochondrial reactivity. Following regeneration, the normal sublaminar stratification of C.O. bands was reestablished, suggesting that metabolically distinct classes of optic fibers may reinnervate at their original sublaminae. By using a distinct and persistent C.O. reactive sublamina, a of stratum griseum centrale (SGCa), just subjacent to the SFGS, it was possible to measure the thickness of the SFGS following optic denervation and subsequent reinnervation. At 1 week after optic nerve crush, the SFGS shrank by 35%. During regeneration, the thickness of the SFGS gradually increased to about 23% above normal at 2 months postcrush and this was maintained indefinitely. In the retina, ganglion cells were hypertrophic by 1 month postcrush and exhibited elevated levels of C.O. during the same period of time when optic terminals were unreactive. This indicates that oxidative metabolic activity within perikarya and axon terminals of the same neuron may be locally and independently regulated. It also suggests that in spite of the well-known elevation of axonal transport during the initial period of axon elongation and synaptogenesis, that oxidative metabolic energy production within the optic fibers is less than that of the mature projection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Regulation of Telomerase by Telomeric Proteins

▪ Abstract Telomeres are essential for genome stability in all eukaryotes. Changes in telomere functions and the associated chromosomal abnormalities have been implicated in human aging and cancer. Telomeres are composed of repetitive sequences that can be maintained by telomerase, a complex containing a reverse transcriptase (hTERT in humans and Est2 in budding yeast), a template RNA (hTERC in humans and Tlc1 in yeast), and accessory factors (the Est1 proteins and dyskerin in humans and Est1, Est3, and Sm proteins in budding yeast). Telomerase is regulated in cis by proteins that bind to telomeric DNA. This regulation can take place at the telomere terminus, involving single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (POT1 in humans and Cdc13 in budding yeast), which have been proposed to contribute to the recruitment of telomerase and may also regulate the extent or frequency of elongation. In addition, proteins that bind along the length of the telomere (TRF1/TIN2/tankyrase in humans and Rap1/Rif1/Rif2 in budding y...
Multichannel cochlear implantation: Utah‐design

The Utah-design multichannel cochlear implant consists of six intracochlear monopolar electrodes, one promontory electrode, and an indifferent electrode. Connection of the intracochlear system to the external sound processor is via a percutaneous pedestal system. Four of the intracochlear electrodes receive simultaneous stimulation. Twenty patients implanted at the University of Utah with more than 1 year of sound processor use were evaluated for the study. All patients wear their sound processors on a daily basis. Seven of the 20 are able to use the telephone without special devices. Nineteen patients were tested with open set CID sentences with an average 42.2% response. A comparison was made between live voice and taped voice open-set spondee word list performance, showing slightly better overall performance with live voice.
A fast luminosity monitor system for PEP II

The PEP II fast luminosity system provides a measurement of luminosity to the control system with a time constant of 0.3 seconds and fluctuations less than 0.1% for this interval, adequate for use in feedback systems. Continuous visual updates of luminosity are provided. The alignment of the positron beam at the collision point can also be monitored, and there is a visual display of the luminosity associated with each bunch-pair in the machine, sampled approximately every two seconds.
Tips for better visual elements in posters and podium presentations.

Context: The ability to effectively communicate through posters and podium presentations using appropriate visual content and style is essential for health care educators. Objectives: To offer suggestions for more effective visual elements of posters and podium presentations. Methods: We present the experiences of our multidisciplinary publishing group, whose combined experiences and collaboration have provided us with an understanding of what works and how to achieve success when working on presentations and posters. Many others would offer similar advice, as these guidelines are consistent with effective presentation. Findings/Suggestions: Certain visual elements should be attended to in any visual presentation: consistency, alignment, contrast and repetition. Presentations should be consistent in font size and type, line spacing, alignment of graphics and text, and size of graphics. All elements should be aligned with at least one other element. Contrasting light background with dark text (and vice versa) helps an audience read the text more easily. Standardized formatting lets viewers know when they are looking at similar things (tables, headings, etc.). Using a minimal number of colors (four at most) helps the audience more easily read text. For podium presentations, have one slide for each minute allotted for speaking. The speaker is also a visual element; one should not allow the audience's view of either the presentation or presenter to be blocked. Making eye contact with the audience also keeps them visually engaged. Conclusions: Health care educators often share information through posters and podium presentations. These tips should help the visual elements of presentations be more effective.
Grid analysis: continuing the search for a metric of shape

Abstract A model of form perception is proposed, based on the concept that shape properties can be assessed by the measurement of the dimensions of a form, taken at regular intervals over several directions in a grid of lines. These measurements are then collected into a frequency distribution, which serves as a translationally invariant summary of shape properties for purposes of perceptual judgment. The present article illustrates the basic approach using simple convex forms, with primary emphasis on grid properties and the plausibility of the model with respect to biological substrates.
Passive mass deposition control of cryogen sprays through the use of wire meshes.

Background and Objectives: Cryogen spray cooling (CSC) is used for epidermal protection during laser dermatologic surgery. However, further research is necessary to optimize the use of CSC for many applications, particularly in patients with darker skin types, and in procedures with deep-targeted chromophores. Study Design/Materials and Methods: With the objective to enhance cryogen spray atomization and introduce a passive mass deposition control, stainless steel wire meshes of various sizes were positioned in the spray path of two nozzles of different diameters (0.7 and 1.4 mm). A temperature sensor placed at a fixed distance below the nozzle tips measured variations in temperature as a function of time. Calculations for heat flux (q), and overall heat extraction (Q) were done through an inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP) algorithm. Results: The use of wire meshes reduced maximum q and thus cooling efficiency for both nozzles. However, for the larger diameter nozzle (1.4 mm), cooling duration was prolonged significantly when compared to the case without mesh, which led to an increase in Q. Conclusions: Wire meshes, within the range of wire diameters used, are not desirable for use with the smaller diameter nozzle because they reduce cooling efficiency. For the larger diameter nozzle, however, the prolonged cooling duration and increase in Q may be beneficial for laser dermatological procedures directed towards deeper targeted chromophores, such as hair removal. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:329–334, 2004. 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mineral Distribution and Dimensional Changes in Human Dentin during Demineralization

Many bonding agents require the dentin surface to be acid-etched prior to being bonded. Understanding the stability and morphology of the etched dentin surface is important for improving bond strength and reliability in these systems. In this study, the atomic force microscope was used to quantify dimensional changes that occur to fully hydrated dentin during demineralization with a pH 4.0 lactic acid gel. A high-resolution microtomography instrument, the x-ray tomographic microscope, was also used to quantify the mineral density distribution in the dentin as a function of etching time. The intertubular dentin surface shrank by less than 0.5 microns during etching, while the peritubular dentin receded at an initially rapid linear rate. The dentin surface retained its initial morphology, although it was more porous with the removal of the peritubular dentin. Beneath the etched surface, there were three major zones characterized by mineral density differences. The first zone was a fully demineralized collagen layer, subjacent to which was a partially demineralized zone of roughly constant mineral density. Immediately following the partially mineralized layer was normal dentin. The presence of the partially mineralized layer could be explained in terms of different transport rates in the peritubular and intertubular dentin.
Degradation Reliability Assessment Using Severe Critical Values

For some products that degrade over time, failure is defined in terms of a specified critical value of performance characteristic. The life of such a product depends on the specified critical value. The more severe the critical value, the shorter the life would be, and vice versa. This paper presents a method of accelerating life by using severe critical values. The method, based on degradation measurements, provides estimates of the relationship between life and critical value and reliability. An example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed method. Comparison between the method and traditional time-to-failure analysis shows that the proposed method is more efficient and cost-effective.
Communicating Civic Engagement: Contrasting Models of Citizenship in the Youth Web Sphere

Communication aimed at promoting civic engagement may become problematic when citizenrolesundergohistoricchanges.Inthecurrentera,youngergenerationsareembracing more expressive styles of actualizing citizenship defined around peer content sharing and social media, in contrast to earlier models of dutiful citizenship based on one-way communication managed by authorities. An analysis of 90 youth Web sites operated by diverse civic and political organizations in the United States reveals uneven conceptions of citizenship and related civic skills, suggesting that many established organization are out of step with changing civic styles.
Reexamining Data from the National Reading Panel's Meta-Analysis: Implications for School Psychology.

The National Reading Panel (NRP) recently conducted a meta-analysis about reading interventions and made several recommendations from the data. However, given that reading is the academic area for which most children are referred to school psychologists, further exploration of the implications of the NRP data may be warranted. Effect size data for reading outcome measures were qualitatively interpreted, with none of the posttest effect sizes, and only one-third of all of the effect size coefficients exhibiting a large effect. Furthermore, reading outcome measures were divided into three categories: pseudowords, words in isolation, and contextual reading. The resulting recomputed mean effect sizes of .84, .92., and .37, respectively, questions the grouping of these three variables into one outcome. Other concerns about methodology were also included. This supports the need for targeted reading interventions based on assessment of reading skills. Implications for the three roles that school psychologists play in the educational research area are also discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 40: 605–612, 2003.
A control philosophy for prosthetic hands

The majority of prosthetic hands available today make no pretense of approaching the versatility and functionality of the human hand. Available prostheses generally possess only one degree of freedom, which greatly reduces the manipulative ability of the device. Additional degrees of freedom are rarely added, because of the difficulty in controlling them naturally. The authors have developed a control philosophy based on minimum information transfer from the amputee and maximum local autonomy of the device. To test this philosophy, they have developed a graphical simulation of a five-fingered anthropomorphic device. The results presented show that this is a viable method for the control of a multifingered prosthetic hand. >
Substrate Specificity of the Adenylation Enzyme SgcC1 Involved in the Biosynthesis of the Enediyne Antitumor Antibiotic C-1027

Abstract C-1027 is an enediyne antitumor antibiotic composed of a chromophore with four distinct chemical moieties, including an (S)-3-chloro-4,5-dihydroxy-β-phenylalanine moiety that is derived from l-α-tyrosine. SgcC4, a novel aminomutase requiring no added co-factor that catalyzes the formation of the first intermediate (S)-β-tyrosine and subsequently SgcC1 homologous to adenylation domains of nonribosomal peptide synthetases, was identified as specific for the SgcC4 product and did not recognize any α-amino acids. To definitively establish the substrate for SgcC1, a full kinetic characterization of the enzyme was performed using amino acid-dependent ATP-[32P]PPi exchange assay to monitor amino acid activation and electrospray ionization-Fourier transform mass spectroscopy to follow the loading of the activated β-amino acid substrate to the peptidyl carrier protein SgcC2. The data establish (S)-β-tyrosine as the preferred substrate, although SgcC1 shows promiscuous activity toward aromatic β-amino acids such as β-phenylalanine, 3-chloro-β-tyrosine, and 3-hydroxy-β-tyrosine, but all were <50-fold efficient. A putative active site mutant P571A adjacent to the invariant aspartic acid residue of all α-amino acid-specific adenylation domains known to date was prepared as a preliminary attempt to probe the substrate specificity of SgcC1; however the mutation resulted in a loss of activity with all substrates except (S)-β-tyrosine, which was 142-fold less efficient relative to the wild-type enzyme. In total, SgcC1 is now confirmed to catalyze the second step in the biosynthesis of the (S)-3-chloro-4,5-dihydroxy-β-phenylalanine moiety of C-1027, presenting downstream enzymes with an (S)-β-tyrosyl-S-SgcC2 thioester substrate, and represents the first β-amino acid-specific adenylation enzyme characterized biochemically.
Perception of Oncoming Vehicle Time-to-Arrival:

An experiment was conducted in a fixed-base driving simulator which manipulated the time-to-arrival (Ta) of an oncoming vehicle, the viewing distance to that vehicle and the type of oncoming vehicle to determine the perceptual basis for a left-turn decision. Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to a group where either a motorcycle, a compact car, a full-size car, or delivery truck represented the oncoming vehicle. There were an equal number of participants of each gender in the four groups. As Ta was increased, underestimation of vehicle arrival time also increased. Significant main effects were found for Ta, gender of participants, vehicle type, and viewing distance, and for interactions for gender x Ta and gender x vehicle type. Males and females differed in their accuracy of judgments for vehicle types, where males were more accurate in estimating the arrival of delivery vans and motorcycles than their female peers. The pattern of results for the size of the approach vehicle were consistent ...
Relationship between dehydroepiandrosterone and calcitonin gene-related peptide in the mouse thymus.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are naturally occurring substances that are reported to have both opposing and complementary effects on immune functions. In the current study, we sought to determine how they might work together to influence the mitogen-stimulated proliferation of thymocytes. In concanavalin A (ConA)-induced thymocyte proliferation assays, CGRP and DHEA each inhibited proliferation. When the CGRP antagonist CGRP-(8–37) was added to Con A-stimulated thymocytes, the proliferative response was significantly greater than the ConA response alone across a range of ConA doses. Moreover, CGRP-(8–37) blocked the inhibitory effect of DHEA. Individually, CGRP-(8–37), CGRP, DHEA, or their combination did not stimulate thymocyte proliferation in the absence of ConA. CGRP affects the proliferation of CD4+ T cells and thus may be a regional endogenous inhibitor of the proliferation of virgin mature T cells while they remain in the thymus. Furthermore, DHEA may act via endogenous CGRP on the thymus CD4+ T cell population.
Preliminary studies with implanted polyvinyl alcohol sponges as a model for studying the role of neointerstitial and neovascular compartments of tumors in the localization, retention and photodynamic effects of photosensitizers.

Although several thousand cancer patients have been treated by porphyrin-sensitized photodynamic therapy (PDT) to date (Dougherty, 1984), the fundamental mechanisms involved in this unique and interesting application of photochemotherapy to the palliation and eradication of tumors are poorly understood. For example, little is known about the mechanism(s) of the localization and retention of porphyrins in tumors and in certain non-malignant tissues (Tsutsui et al., 1975; Evensen et al., 1984) or of those structural aspects of the porphyrin molecule essential for efficient retention. Related to this, much more information is needed on the microscopic sites of porphyrin retention in tumors. Finally, much remains to be learned about the processes by which a tumor that retains porphyrin is destroyed on illumination during PDT.
Targeted Mutagenesis in Zebrafish Using CRISPR RNA-Guided Nucleases.

Abstract In recent years, the zebrafish has become a critical contributor to various areas of biomedical research, advancing our fundamental understanding of biomedicine and helping discover candidate therapeutics for human diseases. Nevertheless, to further extend the power of this important model organism requires a robust and simple-to-use genome editing platform that will enable targeted gene knockouts and introduction of specific mutations identified in human diseases into the zebrafish genome. We describe here protocols for creating insertion or deletion (indel) mutations or precise sequence modifications in zebrafish genes using customizable CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided nucleases (RGNs). These methods can be easily implemented in any lab and may also potentially be extended for use in other organisms.
Processing and Properties of Intermetallic Matrix Composites

This paper is concerned with the processing and mechanical properties of intermetallic-matrix composites. The effects of processing variables on fabrication of compounds including Ni3Al, NiAl, TiTaAl2, MoSi2 and their composites is described. A key concern is with processing effects on microstructure, selection of compatible ceramic reinforcing phases, and whisker alignment through injection molding.
Growth rate and the cost of calling activity in male carpenter frogs, Rana virgatipes

Energy stress during the breeding season and relationships between calling activity and growth were investigated in male carpenter frogs, Rana virgatipes. This species has a prolonged breeding season of up to three months in Southern New Jersey. Monthly collections made in 1985 revealed that both dry mass and percent body lipid decreased throughout the breeding season but sharply increased at the end of the breeding season. Observations of free-living males showed that small males were more likely to gain mass than large males during the breeding season. All males gained mass at higher rates after the breeding season. A simultaneous record of calling activity and mass change was obtained for 42 males. Males called on 95% of nights, indicating that they rarely ceased their reproductive activities. Small males tended to have low calling efforts and high growth rates. When the effect of initial mass was removed, growth rate was negatively correlated with calling effort among small males. This is the first demonstration of a direct tradeoff between a reproductive activity and growth in an anuran.
Weighted Logistic Regression Model

Binary responses, which are common in surveys, can be modeled through binary models which can then provide a relationship between the probability of a response and a set of covariates. However, as explained in Chap. 4, when the data are not obtained by simple random sampling, the standard logistic regression is not valid. When the data come from a complex survey designed with stratification, clustering, and/or unequal weighting, the usual estimates are not appropriate (Rao & Scott, 1984). In these cases, specialized techniques must be applied in order to produce the appropriate estimates and their standard errors. Clustered data are frequently encountered in fields such as health services, public health, epidemiology, and education research. Data may consist of patients clustered within primary care practices or hospitals, or households clustered within neighborhoods, or students clustered within schools. Subjects nested within the same cluster often exhibit a greater degree of similarity, or homogeneity, of outcomes compared to randomly selected subjects from different clusters (Multilevel analysis: an introduction to basic and advanced multilevel modeling, Thousand Oaks, CA; Hierarchical linear models: applications and data analysis methods, Thousand Oaks, CA; Introduction to multilevel modeling, Thousand Oaks, CA; Multilevel statistical models, London; Canadian Journal of Public Health 92:150–154, 2001). Due to the possible lack of independence of subjects within the same cluster, traditional statistical methods may not be appropriate for the analysis of clustered data. While Chap. 4 uses the overdispersed logistic regression and the exchangeability logistic regression model to fit correlated data, this chapter incorporates a series of weights or design effects to account for the correlation. The logistic regression model on the analysis of survey data takes into account the properties of the survey sample design, including stratification, clustering, and unequal weighting. The chapter fits this model in SAS, SPSS, and R, using methods based on:
Genetic epidemiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in north India: distribution of Gm and Km allotypes in 'Punjabis'.

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is becoming endemic to modernizing and urbanizing populations all over the globe. The data on Gm and Km allotypes in the 'Punjabis' (n = 165) from north India show an interesting association with NIDDM. Differences between diabetic and control samples for the Km allele frequency distribution approach significance (p = 0.0897). The observed phenotypic diversity in the Gm system in diabetics indicates genetic heterogeneity in the disease group. A significant decrease (or absence) of phenotype Gm1,3,17; ;5,21 (p = 0.0119), and presence of phenotype Gm1,2,3,17; ;5,21 (p = 0.0158) in diabetics may constitute a risk factor for this disorder in 'Punjabis'.
Glycine transport by human red blood cells and ghosts: evidence for glycine anion and proton cotransport by band 3.

Stilbene-sensitive glycine transport was investigated in human red blood cells and ghosts. We have found that this component of glycine transport was inhibited by the stilbene derivatives 4,4'-dini...
Wide-angle structured light with a scanning MEMS mirror in liquid

Microelectromechanical (MEMS) mirrors have extended vision capabilities onto small, low-power platforms. However, the field-of-view (FOV) of these MEMS mirrors is usually less than 90° and any increase in the MEMS mirror scanning angle has design and fabrication trade-offs in terms of power, size, speed and stability. Therefore, we need techniques to increase the scanning range while still maintaining a small form factor. In this paper we exploit our recent breakthrough that has enabled the immersion of MEMS mirrors in liquid. While allowing the MEMS to move, the liquid additionally provides a "Snell's window" effect and enables an enlarged FOV (≈ 150°). We present an optimized MEMS mirror design and use it to demonstrate applications in extreme wide-angle structured light.
A theoretical and empirical evaluation of an algorithm for self-healing computation

In the problem of reliable multiparty computation (RMC), there are n parties, each with an individual input, and the parties want to jointly compute a function f over n inputs; note that it is not required to keep the inputs private. The problem is complicated by the fact that an omniscient adversary controls a hidden fraction of the parties. We describe a self-healing algorithm for this problem. In particular, for a fixed function f, with n parties and m gates, we describe how to perform RMC repeatedly as the inputs to f change. Our algorithm maintains the following properties, even when an adversary controls up to $$t \le (\frac{1}{4} - \epsilon ) n$$ parties, for any constant $$\epsilon >0$$ . First, our algorithm performs each reliable computation with the following amortized resource costs: $$O(m + n \log n)$$ messages, $$O(m + n \log n)$$ computational operations, and $$O(\ell )$$ latency, where $$\ell $$ is the depth of the circuit that computes f. Second, the expected total number of corruptions is $$O(t (\log ^*{m})^2)$$ , after which the adversarially controlled parties are effectively quarantined so that they cause no more corruptions. Empirical results show that our algorithm can reduce message cost by a factor of 432 when compared with algorithms that are not self-healing.
THZ1 targeting CDK7 suppresses STAT transcriptional activity and sensitizes T-cell lymphomas to BCL2 inhibitors

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are aggressive diseases with poor response to chemotherapy and dismal survival. Identification of effective strategies to target PTCL biology represents an urgent need. Here we report that PTCL are sensitive to transcription-targeting drugs, and, in particular, to THZ1, a covalent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7). The STAT-signalling pathway is highly vulnerable to THZ1 even in PTCL cells that carry the activating STAT3 mutation Y640F. In mutant cells, CDK7 inhibition decreases STAT3 chromatin binding and expression of highly transcribed target genes like MYC, PIM1, MCL1, CD30, IL2RA, CDC25A and IL4R. In surviving cells, THZ1 decreases the expression of STAT-regulated anti-apoptotic BH3 family members MCL1 and BCL-XL sensitizing PTCL cells to BH3 mimetic drugs. Accordingly, the combination of THZ1 and the BH3 mimetic obatoclax improves lymphoma growth control in a primary PTCL ex vivo culture and in two STAT3-mutant PTCL xenografts, delineating a potential targeted agent-based therapeutic option for these patients.