cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects by educational attainment of a mammography screening patient decision aid for women aged 75 years and older

BACKGROUND To help inform screening decisions, a mammography screening decision aid (DA) for women aged 75 years and older was tested in a cluster randomized clinical trial of 546 women. DA use increased women's knowledge of the benefits and harms of mammography and lowered screening rates. In the current study, the objective was to examine whether participants' views of the DA and/or its effects differed by educational attainment. METHODS A secondary analysis was conducted of 283 women who received the DA before a personal care provider (PCP) visit during the trial to examine the acceptability of the DA and its effects on knowledge of the benefits and harms of mammography, screening intentions, and receipt of screening by educational attainment. Adjusted analyses accounted for clustering by PCP. RESULTS Of the 283 participants, 43% had a college education or less. Regardless of educational attainment, 87.2% found the DA helpful. Women with lower educational attainment were less likely to understand all of the DA's content (46.3% vs 67.5%; P < .001), had less knowledge of the benefits and harms of mammography (adjusted mean ± standard error knowledge score, 7.1 ± 0.3 vs 8.1 ± 0.3; P < .001), and were less likely to lower screening intentions (adjusted percentage, 11.4% vs 19.4%; P = .01). Receipt of screening did not differ by educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS A mammography DA for women aged 75 years and older was helpful to women regardless of their educational attainment; however, those with a college degree or greater understood the DA and, possibly as a result, lowered their screening intentions. Future studies need to examine how to better support informed decision making around mammography screening in older women with lower educational attainment. LAY SUMMARY The authors examined data from a previous study to learn the effects of a mammography decision aid (DA) for women aged 75 years and older according to their level of education. Overall, women found the DA helpful, but women with lower educational attainment found it harder to understand the benefits and harms of mammography screening and were less likely to lower their screening intentions than women with a college degree. The findings suggest that women aged 75 years and older who have lower educational attainment may need an even lower literacy DA and/or more support from health care professionals.
Pressurized water versus ethanol as a Silybum marianum extraction solvent for inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation mediated by copper and J774 macrophage cells.

Silybum marianum contains flavonolignans, termed silymarin (SM), that are therapeutic agents for many inflammation-based diseases including atherosclerosis. Oxidation of human low-density lipoprotein was induced by CuSO4 or J774 macrophage cells and measured by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). SM was extracted by pressurized hot water (PHWE) or ethanol, and the effects of these extracts on TBARS formation were evaluated in comparison with those of SM preparations made from blending masses of individual flavonolignan standards in ratios identical to those of the water and ethanol extracts. Ethanol-extracted SM and its blended counterpart inhibited the generation of TBARS by 82% and 43%, respectively, at 150 μmol/L doses. TBARS levels in the presence of 150 μmol/L of the PHWE and its blended SM counterpart were reduced by 84% and 38%, respectively. Extracts from milk thistle fruit displayed higher protective effects than blended SM solutions of the same concentration with an...
AC Magnetic Fields

Magnetic fluctuations have been observed by ground observatories from the Pc5 band to the VLF band. Not all these fluctuations have been observed also in space however. The precision of satellite borne instruments, data rates and orbital characteristics have restricted observations in the past, so that only the lowest and the highest frequencies have been examined extensively. Preliminary results from recent experiments are beginning to fill this gap. Some of these new results are presented together with a review of past work.
Taking a Journey with Today's Digital Kids: An Interview with Deneen Frazier Bowen

At the 2005 National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) in Philadelphia, Deneen Frazier Bowen gave a keynote presentation entitled "The Natives Are Restless" in which she used her acting skills to portray a cast of characters who revealed students’ struggles to connect school with "real life." Co-author of The Internet for Your Kids (1997) and a former educational software design consultant and K-12 academic technology coordinator, her unusual presentation demonstrated considerable insight about how to engage the digital mindset and creative energy of young people. I interviewed her after the presentation.
The Effects of Organizational Experiences on Career Satisfaction of IT Postsecondary Teachers in Thailand

The quality of information technology education depends heavily on the teaching commitment of Thai IT educators. With many universities competing for academic excellence, the quality of teaching and career satisfaction among Thai educators is often overlooked. To understand how different organizational experiences influence career satisfaction and teaching commitment, data collected from Thai IT educators reveals that organizational acceptance, training programs, and academic support influence career satisfaction. Thai universities can focus on strategies that will enhance these organizational experiences, which can lead to higher quality IT educators in Thailand.
Significance of the vertical profile of the Indonesian Throughflow transport to the Indian Ocean

[1] Using an ocean general circulation model, we find that the vertical profile of the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) transport is important in regulating the stratification and surface heat fluxes of the Indian Ocean. With the same total ITF transport, a thermocline-intensified ITF, relative to a surface-intensified ITF, not only cools the surface layer of the Indian Ocean while warming the Indian Ocean below the thermocline, but also induces negative temperature anomalies at the sea surface throughout the Indian basin. As a consequence of this surface effect the net heat gain of the Indian Ocean is increased. The results suggest that it is necessary to properly represent the vertical profile of ITF transport within ocean and climate numerical models.
The absence of Itk inhibits positive selection without changing lineage commitment

The Tec family tyrosine kinase Itk is critical for efficient signaling downstream of the TCR. Biochemically, Itk is directly phosphorylated and activated by Lck. Subsequently, Itk activates phospholipase C-γ1, leading to calcium mobilization and extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. These observations suggested that Itk might play an important role in positive selection and CD4/CD8 lineage commitment during T cell development in the thymus. To test this, we crossed Itk-deficient mice to three lines of TCR transgenics and analyzed progeny on three different MHC backgrounds. Analysis of these mice revealed that fewer TCR transgenic T cells develop in the absence of Itk. In addition, examination of multiple T cell development markers indicates that multiple stages of positive selection are affected by the absence of Itk, but the T cells that do develop appear normal. In contrast to the defects in positive selection, CD4/CD8 lineage commitment seems to be intact in all the TCR transgenic itk −/− lines tested. Overall, these data indicate that altering TCR signals by the removal of Itk does not affect the appropriate differentiation of thymocytes based on their MHC specificity, but does impact the efficiency with which thymocytes complete their maturation process.
Abstract AS23: Microenvironment mediated downregulation of miR-193b promotes ovarian cancer metastasis

The cross-talk between ovarian cancer cells with the microenvironment of the site of metastasis is an essential determinant of successful metastatic colonization. microRNAs have been well established to play critical roles in various stages of cancer progression, including metastasis. However, the role of the signals from the microenvironment in regulating key microRNAs in metastasizing cancer cells has not been studied. Using a 3D culture model mimicking the human omentum, one of the principal sites of ovarian cancer metastasis, we have identified the microenvironment-induced downregulation of a tumor suppressor microRNA miR-193b in the metastasizing ovarian cancer cells. The direct interaction of the ovarian cancer cells with the mesothelial cells covering the surface of the omentum caused DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) mediated methylation and decreased expression of miR-193b. The reduction in miR-193b enabled the metastasizing cancer cells to invade and proliferate in the omentum both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model of ovarian cancer metastasis. The functional effects of miR-193b were mediated at least partly through the concomitant increased expression of its target urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Our findings link paracrine signals from the microenvironment with the regulation of a key microRNA in cancer cells that is essential for the initial steps of ovarian cancer metastatic colonization. Targeting miR-193b would be a promising approach to treat ovarian cancer metastasis. Citation Format: AK Mitra, CY Chiang, P Tiwari, ME Peter, E Lengyel. Microenvironment mediated downregulation of miR-193b promotes ovarian cancer metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Ovarian Cancer Research Symposium; Sep 8-9, 2014; Seattle, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(16 Suppl):Abstract nr AS23.
Embracing Applied Policy Practice: A Case Study From a Robust BSW Program

This article, first presented at the Policy Conference 2.0 in Austin, Texas, May 2014, portrays a case example of an undergraduate social work program’s robust response to the imperative that policy advocacy serve as a demonstration to students of commitment to the profession and its mission. Initial evidence from field supervisors, students, and examples of recognition suggests that students are prepared to engage in policy advocacy as they enter the profession.
Job Redesign in the Public Sector: the Track Record

Job redesign has been used in the public and private sectors for at least two decades. This essay examines the use of job redesign techniques in the public sector. The psychological basis of job redesign is briefly reviewed, focusing on motivation theories. Then, several cases are reviewed il lustrating the application of different techniques. Finally, the utility of job redesign in the public sector is assessed, concluding with a call for more rigorous research. An Appendix lists twenty-one cases of various job redesign efforts in the public sector.
Global health funding: a glass half full?

With global health likely to be high on the agenda of this years G8 Summit starting today in St Petersburg Russia it is worth taking stock of international assistance funding trends and prospects. High-level attention to global health has risen markedly over the past two decades particularly since 2000. One concrete measure of the priority placed on health by donors is the level of funding provided for the developing world. Previous analyses have shown that funding has been on the rise. Our analysis of data from 2000 to 2004 found a continuation of this trend with donor funding for global health approaching US$14 billion in 2004--in part good news as donors seem to have heeded the global health call. Still funding for health falls far short of global need as estimated in part by the WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health which found that donors would need to provide an additional $22 billion a year by 2007 and $31 billion a year by 2015 to help finance the scaling-up of essential interventions health-system development and research and development devoted to the diseases of the poor. In addition investments in health seem to be uneven raising cautionary notes about the global communitys ability to meet let alone sustain financing needs over time. (excerpt)
STEADY MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC FLOW PAST A NONCONDUCTING WEDGE

This paper presents a study of the steady two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow of an infinitely conducting fluid past a nonconducting wedge with nonaligned flow and magnetic field. The flows considered are in the "superfast" or fully hyperbolic regime. The flows consist of several regions of uniformity connected by shocks and expansion waves. Because of the boundary condition on the magnetic field, the magnetic field must be the same in the regions above and below the wedge; thus the flows in these regions are coupled, unlike in the case of ordinary supersonic gasdynamics. Only small wedge angles and weak waves (characteristics) are considered. The problem thus is linearized, and explicit solutions are obtained which are qualitatively similar to the nonlinear solutions. Some interesting and unexpected features arise, and they are discussed in detail.
Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: Esophageal Applications.

Endoscopic mucosal resection is an invaluable tool to diagnose and potentially treat superficial cancers in Barrett’s esophagus as well as squamous cell cancers. The technique can be performed using equipment available in most endoscopic laboratories. The tissue retrieved from these procedures gives the endoscopist histologic information regarding tumor depth of penetration, which is critical to treatment of early cancers. In addition, standard pinch biopsies are often unable to diagnose malignancies that may underlie areas of dysplasia or even normal mucosa. Endoscopic mucosal resection can be used to diagnose these lesions with relative safety, particularly when applied to the esophagus.
NEWBORN ASSESSMENTS IN AN AFRICAN POPULATION

This study describes the behavior of 24 healthy full-term newborn Gusii infants of Kenya, using the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale. The Scale defines the infant's motor and social behavior and state and physiological organization. This behavior was then correlated with biomedical assessments done during the antecedent pregnancies and during the newborn period. Findings included: a)the quality of the infant's motor performance was unique in our experience in its synthesis of increased yet balanced tone with slow, smooth, large-arced movement; overshooting, startles or tremors were rarely sacn; b)state changes were slow and gradual leading to long periods of alertness; c)performances on all items were stable over the first ten days; this is in marked contrast to American samples which show a characteristic “recovery curve”; d)pre- and perinatal, biomedical and cultural factors placed these infants at high-risk for poor neonatal outcome; this made their organized and stable behavior all the more impressive. A comparison is made to an American sample of low risk infants. On all scale items, the Gusii infants performed at least as well as the American group, and scored significantly higher in three areas: motor maturity (p < .001), general tone (p < .001) and startles (p < .05). These findings will be discussed in three contexts: 1)the cultural variations in pregnancy risk factors, 2)the question of differences in motor development between black and white infants, and 3)the contribution of the infant's behavior to his caregiver within a specific cultural milieu.
Assessment of Peer-Led Team Learning in Calculus I: A Five-year Study

This five-year study of the peer-led team learning (PLTL) paradigm examined its implementation in a Calculus I course at an all-male HBCU institution. For this study we set up a strong control group and measured the effect of PLTL in the teaching and learning of Calculus I through two points of measure: retention and success rates and learning gains. Our analysis reveals those aspects that can make the implementation of PLTL in calculus and perhaps in mathematics in general challenging and also shows hopeful aspects that promote better learning of the subject.
Retroviral integrases and their cousins.

Abstract The recently determined structures of the catalytic domains of HIV integrase, avian sarcoma virus integrase and the Mu transposase are strikingly similar to each other and also exhibit significant similarity to several nucleases. All these enzymes cut polynucleotides, leaving 3′OH and 5′PO 4 groups. The integrase and transposase also possess a strand-transfer activity that splices DNA. The structural similarities among members of this superfamily of polynucleotidyl transferases suggest that they share a similar mechanism of catalysis.
Artificial neural networks for structural damage detection and classification

An analysis of artificial neural networks on damage assessment of an aluminum cantilever beam was conducted. The neural networks were trained and tested with deterministic data of resonant frequency information to test their ability in determining the magnitude, location and type of damage on the beam. Being a preliminary study, no experimental data has been included, since no information was found in the literature where neural networks were used in determining the type of damage on a structure. This paper includes a discussion on the theory of neural network and the process involved in developing the architecture for three layer backpropagation neural networks for damage assessment. The neural networks were tested for three types of damage using four damage magnitudes.
Microscopes and ocular infections.

Environmental microbial assays of industrial microscope eyepieces were conducted following reports of multiple intershift ocular infections. Pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus was identified among the microorganisms cultured. This paper suggests that direct contact with industrial microscope eyepieces provides a potentially significant route of transmission of both bacterial and viral ocular infections. An industrial hygiene ocular health questionnaire was distributed to a first and second shift manufacturing operation to assess the incidence of ocular infections. These data were compared to the questionnaire responses of 122 control manufacturing workers who did not use microscopes. Based on self-reporting by employees, those who used microscopes were found to have statistically significant incidence of sties and conjunctivitis that was 8.3 times that of the control group. Sterilization of eyepieces by ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and isopropyl alcohol were considered, but ultimately rejected. These biocid...
Key research issues in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely diverse and heterogeneous disease and improving patient outcome is a difficult undertaking. While many therapeutic options exist, few have been subjected to rigorous study, so patient benefit is uncertain. Comparative trials need to be performed to determine the value of these and, of course, newer treatments. However, there are numerous challenges to the design and conduct of such studies. While stratification parameters are important in most clinical trials, they are particularly critical when studying HCC. The cancer staging of HCC must reflect prognosis and, therefore, must include parameters of liver disease. This is because the underlying hepatic dysfunction may often determine how long patients survive and confuse the interpretation of anti-HCC treatment trials. Two new staging paradigms—Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) and Chinese University Prognostic Index (CUPI)—have been developed, and these need to be validated. The role of the many different treatment options must be determined. However, the diverse nature of presentation of HCC and the proliferation of many routine procedures—such as chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation—make controlled trials nearly impossible. Even drug development is a special circumstance, because HCC patients with underlying liver disease may need different dosing regimens and schedules compared to other cancer patients. This makes clinical trial design more cumbersome and the risks of participating in clinical trials for HCC greater. The immense unique challenges of this disease make it imperative for investigators to identify the most promising agents for HCC. At the same time, all patients with HCC should, if possible, be treated on well-designed clinical trials.
Why is the satellite observed aerosol's indirect effect so variable?

[1] Although evidence has shown that enhanced aerosol concentration reduces cloud drop size and increases cloud albedo, this phenomenon is not always observed by satellite. Satellite derived correlation between cloud drop size and aerosol concentration can be either negative, insignificant or even positive, depending on the location of the clouds. In this study, we propose an analytical model describing the coupled effects of aerosol concentration and cloud depth on cloud drop size and explain one major cause of the puzzling correlation. Marine stratocumulus observed over northeastern Pacific during summer is analyzed to support the proposed explanation. The result also reassures the aerosol indirect radiative effect being still at work even for the regions where it appears no negative correlation between aerosol concentration and cloud drop size observed by satellite.
Cross-sectional area for the calculation of carotid artery stenosis on computed tomographic angiography

Objective The use of cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements obtained from computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for the calculation of carotid artery stenosis has been suggested but not yet validated in a large population. The objective of this study was to determine whether CTA-derived CSA measurements were able to predict carotid stenosis with a level of confidence similar to CTA-derived diameter measurements, using Strandness criteria applied to carotid duplex ultrasound (CDUS) as a surrogate for true stenosis. Methods A retrospective review was conducted to identify patients who underwent both CDUS and CTA between 2000 and 2009. Percent stenosis was calculated using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) formula with diameter measurements and again with CSA measurements. A nonparametric correlation coefficient was calculated to detect correlation between the two groups. Two-dimensional receiver-operating characteristic curves with corresponding area under the curve (AUC) statistics were generated for >50% stenosis and >80% stenosis. Three-dimensional receiver-operating characteristic plots with corresponding volume under the surface (VUS) statistics were generated to measure the comparative accuracy of diameter-based and CSA-based stenosis for 80% stenosis. Results A total of 575 vessels in 313 patients were included in the study. Spearman's correlation coefficient between diameter and CSA-derived stenosis was ρ = 0.938 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.927-0.947; P 50% stenosis and 0.950 (95% CI, 0.928-0.972; P 50% stenosis and 0.935 (95% CI, 0.908-0.961; P Conclusions These data support the use of CTA as an accurate method of calculating carotid artery stenosis based on agreement with Strandness criteria applied to CDUS velocities. When additional imaging beyond CDUS is necessary, we report no significant difference between diameter and CSA measurements obtained from CTA for preoperative evaluation of carotid disease.
Sampling errors in the measurement of rain and hail parameters

Attention is given to a general derivation of the fractional standard deviation (FSD) of any integrated property X such that X(D) = cD to the n. This work extends that of Joss and Waldvogel (1969). The equation is applicable to measuring integrated properties of cloud, rain or hail populations (such as water content, precipitation rate, kinetic energy, or radar reflectivity) which are subject to statistical sampling errors due to the Poisson distributed fluctuations of particles sampled in each particle size interval and the weighted sum of the associated variances in proportion to their contribution to the integral parameter to be measured. Universal curves are presented which are applicable to the exponential size distribution permitting FSD estimation of any parameters from n = 0 to n = 6. The equations and curves also permit corrections for finite upper limits in the size spectrum and a realistic fall speed law.
Teaching lens design

Lens design is one of the most basic activities in optical engineering. The subject requires an active working knowledge of all aspects of optics, and is a profession changing with the rise of new techniques in modern optics. The approach to teaching the subject is discussed, and the changes that have taken place over the past few decades are described.
Tyrosine phosphorylation of Dbl regulates GTPase signaling.

Rho GTPases are molecular “switches” that cycle between “on” (GTP-bound) and “off” (GDP-bound) states and regulate numerous cellular activities such as gene expression, protein synthesis, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and metabolic responses. Dysregulation of GTPases is a key feature of many diseases, especially cancers. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) of the Dbl family are activated by mitogenic cell surface receptors and activate the Rho family GTPases Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA. The molecular mechanisms that regulate GEFs from the Dbl family are poorly understood. Our studies reveal that Dbl is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues upon stimulation by growth factors and that this event is critical for the regulated activation of the GEF. These findings uncover a novel layer of complexity in the physiological regulation of this protein.
High-resolution imaging of 1: 1 [0 0 0 1] ordered a-plane Al0.3Ga0.7N

Abstract We report the observation of ordering in Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N as part of an epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) of GaN carried out using (1 1 2¯ 2) GaN templates grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on m -plane sapphire. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the crystalline quality of the ELO GaN was greatly improved when the ELO SiO 2 mask was patterned along the [1 1 2¯ 0] sapphire direction. The ELO GaN wings had an inclined columnar shape with smooth (0 0 0 1) and (1 1 2¯ 0) facets. Layers of 1:1 [0 0 0 1] ordered a -plane Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N were observed on the a -plane GaN facets by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular-dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. However, no ordering was observed for c -plane Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N layers grown at the same time on the c -plane GaN facets.
Secondary-Structure Analysis of Human Peripheral Cannabinoid Receptor CB2 Based on Solid-State 13C-,15N-MAS NMR and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The secondary structure of the human peripheral cannabinoid receptor CB2 was investigated according to chemical shift data obtained on lipid-reconstituted, functional CB2. The CB2 receptor, uniformly labeled with 13C and 15N, was produced by bacterial expression, purified in milligram quantities, and reconstituted in an agonist-bound form into unilamellar liposomes. One- and two-dimensional 13C and 15N spectra were recorded by solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Homogeneity of the reconstitution was examined by measurement of the 31P chemical-shift anisotropy of the membrane phospholipids and functional integrity monitored by a G-protein activation assay. The acquired one- and two-dimensional 13C-, and 15N-MAS NMR spectra of CB2 were compared with Cα, Cβ, C=O, and N-H chemical shifts predicted from a computer model of CB2, obtained in microsecond time scale, all atom molecular dynamics simulations. Although experimental spectra suffered from heavy superposition of resonances, the comparison of theoretical and experimental spectra gave insights into secondary structure of protein domains. There is sufficient spectral resolution to partially assign the resonances of specifically labeled CB2. The prospects for spectroscopic targeting of structural changes that take place upon CB2 activation by a combination of NMR experiments and computer modeling will be discussed.
An algorithmically optimized combinatorial library screened by digital imaging spectroscopy.

An Algorithmically Optimized Combinatorial Library Screened by Digital Imaging Spectroscopy
Time-to-failure analysis of 5 nm amorphous Ru(P) as a copper diffusion barrier

Abstract Evaluation of chemical vapor deposited amorphous ruthenium–phosphorous alloy as a copper interconnect diffusion barrier is reported. Approximately 5 nm-thick Ru(P) and TaN films in Cu/Ru(P)/SiO 2 /p-Si and Cu/TaN/SiO 2 /p-Si stacks are subjected to bias-temperature stress at electric fields from 2.0 MV/cm to 4.0 MV/cm and temperatures from 200 °C to 300 °C. Time-to-failure measurements suggest that chemical vapor deposited Ru(P) is comparable to physical vapor deposited TaN in preventing Cu diffusion. The activation energy of failure for stacks using Ru(P) as a liner is determined to be 1.83 eV in the absence of an electric field. Multiple models of dielectric failure, including the E and Schottky-type √ E models indicate that Ru(P) is acceptable for use as a diffusion barrier at conditions likely in future technology generations.
Novel microwave initiated synthesis of Zn2SiO4 and MCrO4 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb)

Abstract A novel microwave initiated solid-state metathesis synthesis of metal chromates and zinc silicate has been investigated. The high lattice energy of NaCl drives the solid-state metathesis reaction (CaCl 2 ·2H 2 O + Na 2 CrO 4 ·4H 2 O → NaCl + CaCrO 4 + 6H 2 O↑) in the forward direction to obtain the products. The structural, optical, and chemical properties of synthesized compounds are determined by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and diffused reflectance spectroscopy in the UV–vis range.
Bounds on the range of density-functional-theory point-defect levels in semiconductors and insulators

Abstract Defects in semiconductors and insulators are characterized by their levels, which are defined as the values of the Fermi level at which the charge state of the defect changes. Kohn–Sham density functional theory calculations for charged defects have been widely and successfully used to predict defect levels. Due to their lower computational cost and demonstrated ability to predict levels spanning the measured band gap, semilocal exchange–correlation functionals are widely used in these calculations. However, there is a potential pitfall in using semilocal functionals: although they often predict accurate energies for adding or removing electrons from states that are localized near the defect, the famous band gap error results in overly small energies for adding or removing electrons from extended band edge states. As a result, electrons (or holes) that should occupy localized states may become partially or fully delocalized. In order to help detect and analyze such cases, we introduce bounds on the defect levels that can be obtained using a given functional, supercell, and Brillouin zone sampling. Since these bounds correspond to the charge transition levels of the corresponding defect-free supercell, comparison with the bounds reveals when a calculated level is behaving in a bulk-like rather than defect-like manner. We find that the bounds depend significantly on supercell size due to band-filling effects that arise from the finite charge density created when one electron is added to or removed from a finite-sized supercell, and this size dependence helps explain the success of defect level calculations using semilocal functionals.
Privatizing state owned enterprises in Latin America: A research agenda

This paper identifies major areas related to the privatization of state owned enterprises in Latin America that could very well be applied to other regions of the world, as more countries try to allow the private sector to play a larger role in their economies.
Disruption to Recovery Metabolism in the Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis Infected with the Malarial Parasite Plasmodium mexicanum

Abstract Western Fence Lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis, are frequently parasitized by the malaria-causing protozoan Plasmodium mexicanum, reducing hemoglobin concentrations, increasing reliance on anaerobic metabolism, and elevating the cost of recovery. We examined the influence of malarial infections in Fence Lizards on aerobic capacity, blood metabolites, and cardiopulmonary activity following activity (<2 min of maximal activity) on a treadmill at 35.0 ± 1.0°C. Aerobic capacity was determined from resting and maximal oxygen uptake. Blood glucose and lactate were measured before activity and at 15 min intervals during 60 min of recovery. Heart rate and ventilation rate were determined from electrocardiograph tracings. Maximal aerobic capacity was over 35% higher in uninfected lizards compared to both malaria-infected lizards and anemic-uninfected animals. Malarial infection decreased lizard resting blood glucose levels, yet induced hyperglycemia during recovery; blood glucose levels were elevated by a...
Dexamethasone and the inflammatory response in explants of human omental adipose tissue.

Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid that is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. The present studies examined the changes in gene expression of 64 proteins in human omental adipose tissue explants incubated for 48 h both in the absence and presence of dexamethasone as well as the release of 8 of these proteins that are putative adipokines. The proteins were chosen because they are inflammatory response proteins in other cells, are key regulatory proteins or are proteins with known functions. About 50% were significantly up-regulated while about 10% were unchanged and the remaining 40% were down-regulated. Dexamethasone significantly up-regulated the expression of about 33% of the proteins but down-regulated the expression of about 12% of the proteins. We conclude that dexamethasone is a selective anti-inflammatory agent since it inhibits only about one-fourth of the proteins up-regulated during in vitro incubation of human omental adipose tissue.
Synthesis of an immunopathogenic fusion protein derived from a bovine interphotoreceptor retinoidbinding protein cDNA clone

Abstract We have extended the cDNA sequence of bovine interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) and subcloned one of the sequenced cDNA fragments into an expression vector. The nucleotide (nt) sequences of four bovine IRBP cDNA clones have been determined. These sequences when assembled cover the 3' proximal 3629 nt of the IRBP mRNA and encode the C-terminal 551 amino acids (aa) of IRBP. This cDNA sequence validates the intron: exon boundaries predicted from the gene. A 2-kb Eco Rl insert from λIRBP2, one of the clones sequenced, encoding the C-terminal 136 aa of IRBP was subcloned into the expression vector pWR590-1. Escherichia coli carrying this plasmid construction, pXS590-IRBP, produced a fusion protein containing 583 N-terminal aa of β-galactosidase, three linker aa residues, 136 C-temunal aa of IRBP and possibly a number of additional C-terminal residues due to suppressed termination. This 86-kDa fusion protein, purified by detergent/chaotrope extraction followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, crossreacted with anti-bovine IRBP on Western blots. This protein induced an experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis and experimental autoimmune pinealitis in Lewis rats indistinguishable from that induced by authentic bovine IRBP. Thus, it is evident that biological activity of this region of IRBP, as manifested by immunopathogenicity, is retained by the fusion protein.
HIV-1 Protease: Characterization of a Catalytically Competent Enzyme−Substrate Intermediate

The steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic parameters for the interaction of E with the fluorogenic substrate 2-aminobenzoyl-Thr-Ile-Nle-Phe(p-NO(2))-Gln-Arg-NH(2) were determined in 1.25 M NaCl, 0.1 M MES-TRIS at pH 6.0 at 25 degrees C. At low concentrations of enzyme, the values of the K(m) and k(cat) calculated from steady-state data were 2.1 microM and 7.4 s(-1), respectively. At high concentrations of enzyme, the time-courses of fluorescence enhancement associated with catalysis were very dependent on the excitation wavelength used to monitor the reaction. Because the absorbance spectrum of the substrate overlapped the fluorescence emission spectrum of the enzyme, these abnormalities were attributed to fluorescence energy transfer between the enzyme and the substrate in an enzyme-substrate intermediate. The kinetic data collected with lambda(ex) = 280 nm and lambda(em) > 435 nm were analyzed according to the following mechanism in which EX was the species with enhanced fluorescence relative to substrate or products: [formula see text]. The values of the kinetic parameters with (1)H(2)O as the solvent were K = 13 microM, k(2) = 150 s(-1), k(-2) = 25 s(-1), and k(3) = 11 s(-1). The values of the kinetic parameters with (2)H(2)O as the solvent were K = 13 microM, k(2) = 210 s(-1), k(-2) = 12 s(-1), and k(3) = 4.4 s(-1). These values yielded solvent isotope effects of 2 on k(cat) and 0.9 on k(cat)/K(m). From analysis of the complete time-course of the fluorescence change (lambda(ex) = 280 nm and lambda(em) > 435 nm) during the course of substrate hydrolysis, the intermediate EX was determined to be 6.3-fold more fluorescent than the product, which, in turn, was 4.5-fold more fluorescent than ES or S. Rapid quench experiments with 2 N HCl as the quenching reagent confirmed that EX was a complex between enzyme and substrate. Consequently, the small burst in fluorescence observed when monitoring with lambda(ex) = 340 nm (0.3 product equiv per enzyme equivalent) was attributed to the fluorescence change upon transfer of substrate from an aqueous environment to a nonaqueous environment in the enzyme. These results were consistent with carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage being the major contributor to k(cat).
Sparse factor analysis via likelihood and ℓ 1 -regularization

In this note we consider the basic problem to identify linear relations in noise. We follow the viewpoint of factor analysis (FA) where the data is to be explained by a small number of independent factors and independent noise. Thereby an approximation of the sample covariance is sought which can be factored accordingly. An algorithm is proposed which weighs in an l 1 -regularization term that induces sparsity of the linear model (factor) against a likelihood term that quantifies distance of the model to the sample covariance. The algorithm compares favorably against standard techniques of factor analysis. Their performance is compared first by simulation, where ground truth is available, and then on stock-market data where the proposed algorithm gives reasonable and sparser models.
Psychology and the law: The critical agenda for citizen justice and radical social change

Many observers have noted that the law-psychology movement has mostly failed to meet its objectives of producing social change in any radical or otherwise substantial way. One explanation for these disappointing results is that no systematic and thorough attempt has been made to explain what the radical agenda embodies, especially in relation to identifying its core assumption. Relying on several insights developed within critical theory and appropriated by scholars of radical law-psychology, this article describes four cutting-edge approaches to contemporary psycholegal inquiry: political economy, feminist jurisprudence, anarchism, and postmodernism. Individually, these orientations provide a clearer portrait of what radical scholarship has come to represent. Collectively, they suggest a new and much-needed direction in law-psychology research, especially in relation to advancing the aims of justice in the legal sphere. This article concludes by tentatively discussing the implications of the critically i...
Administrative Perspectives on Dynamic Collections and Effective Interlibrary Loan

One of the signposts of 21st century librarianship is the shifting paradigm to an increasingly dynamic collection to serve the resource needs of our patrons. Interlibrary loan is an integral library service for this model. This article focuses on key facets of successful practices and administrative issues that maximize efficient resource sharing, particularly regarding nonreturnable materials (articles/book chapters). Issues regarding tools, staffing, accurate and informative serials holding information, deflection policies, embargoes and database licensing are identified.
Fulde-Ferrell state in heavy-fermion superconductors.

Within the weak-coupling model we study the upper critical field of S-wave and D-wave superconductors in the clean limit close to the Chandrasekhar-Clogston limit. We find for parameters derived from ${\mathit{dH}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T)/${\mathit{dT}}_{\mathit{T}=\mathit{T}\mathit{c}}$ of a single crystal of the recently discovered heavy-fermion superconductor ${\mathrm{UPd}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{3}$ that the Fulde-Ferrell (FF) state is possible for the S-wave and one of the D-wave superconductors of ${\mathit{D}}_{6\mathit{h}}$ symmetry but not for the hybrid state. Indeed, choosing a g factor slightly less than 2, we can describe the temperature dependence of ${\mathit{H}}_{\mathit{c}2}$(T) for both H\ensuremath{\parallel}Rc and H\ensuremath{\parallel}a extremely well. On the other hand the D-wave model predicts the transition into the FF state at T/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$=0.29 in sharp contrast to the experimental observation T/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}0}$=0.8.
Taxation and the value of nonmarket time

Abstract In this study, the value of nonmarket time is estimated for American families using the opportunity cost approach whereby the market wage is taken as a measure of the value of time and used to impute nonmarket income to each household. In cases where the market wage is not observed, a new estimation technique is used to obtain consistent estimates of the wage. It is shown that the nonmarket income of families increases with family money income and family size, but decreases with age and the number of job holders in the family. The implications for taxation are discussed.
Market requirements and the functionality of intelligent networks

The provisioning of telecommunications services is no longer the exclusive task of monopolist telecommunications infrastructure operators. Digitisation of the network and the shift of service definition from software that resides in the switches to computer platforms enables new service providers to enter the market of telecommunications. The Intelligent Network (IN) is the central platform and entry point for the competitors. This paper focuses on the requirements from the market side that drive the development of today's Intelligent Networks. The factors that will lead to successful creation and implementation of new services are discussed in the light of a market oriented approach to be applied by the service providers. The main finding is that in order to be successful the service providers have to fully understand the market segments and specific subscribers' needs they want to address. once the service has been created the service provider's key to success is to better understand and serve the customers by using the information that the Intelligent Network provides. future requirements of Intelligent Networks will be driven by open interfaces to the service creation facilities of the Intelligent Network and the network infrastructure operators' abilities to integrate and manage independent service providers that will in return help generate more traffic in the network.
RNA and proteins of the Kirsten sarcoma-xenotropic leukemia virus complex propagated in rat and duck cells.

Abstract Kirsten sarcoma virus-xenotropic leukemia virus complex (Ki-MSV(MLV)) produced by transformed NRK rat cells was shown to replicate in duck cells. Infected duck cells assumed a transformed morphology and produced virus at about the same rate as NRK rat cells. The RNAs of Ki-virus produced by duck and rat cells were indistinguishable by comparative electrophoresis and fingerprinting of RNase T1-resistant oligonucleotides. The viral proteins p10, p12, p15, and p30 of rat- and duck-derived virus were electrophoretically indistinguishable. Electrophoretic evidence suggested that the viral glycoprotein gp70 of rat-propagated virus is slightly larger than that of duck-propagated virus. Preliminary analysis indicated that the glycoprotein from rat-produced virus contains larger glycopeptides than the corresponding glycoprotein from duck-produced virus. It is suggested that the size difference between the viral glycoproteins from different cells is host-controlled.
Kinematic viscosity of metallic mercury, sodium and potassium, over their entire liquid range (i.e., from the melting-point to the critical point) and a comparison with van der Waals' substances

The kinematic viscosities of three metals—mercury, sodium and potassium—are presented over their entire liquid temperature range, i.e., from the melting point to the critical point. The kinematic viscosities of all three liquid metals, and in complete contrast to van der Waals' substances, like Ar, H2O, CO2, C2H6, etc., are, over a substantial part of their liquid range, below the critical kinematic viscosity. All three liquid metals show a minimum in their viscosities at about ≌1200°K for Hg, ≌1700°K for Na and ≌1400°K for K; these minima are within the range of present experimentation and, at least for Hg and K, could be checked experimentally in the near future. The v's of the saturated vapors of the three metals behave, as expected from theory, like any other gases, since they have lost all metallic properties in the gaseous state (except in the vicinity of the critical point).
Growth factors to stimulate bone formation

During the past decade we and others have shown that bone is a storehouse for growth factors. Accordingly, bone contains a number of growth factors including insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I, IGF-II) transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2), platelet-derived growth factor, basic and acidic fibroblast growth factor, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Osteoblasts have been shown to produce many of these growth factors, which then act in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. The production of these growth factors is regulated by both systemic hormones and local mechanical stress. Recent studies on the relative distribution of bone growth factors during different physiologic and pathologic situations indicate that the concentration of bone growth factors is not invariant and provide indirect evidence that growth factors deposited in bone have physiologic significance. In addition, many of these bone growth factors have been shown to increase bone formation either systemically or locally in vivo. Based on the past findings, we propose that different growth factors may have a specific role in regulating proliferation and differentiation of different stages of osteoblast lineage cells and play important roles in the local regulation of bone formation.