cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for Transfer of Membranes from Mesenchymal Stem Cells to HL-1 Cardiac Cells

This study examined the interaction of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) with cardiac HL-1 cells during coculture by fluorescent dye labeling and then flow cytometry. MSC were layered onto confluent HL-1 cell cultures in a 1 : 4 ratio. MSC gained gap junction permeant calcein from HL-1 cells after 4 hours which was partially reduced by oleamide. After 20 hours, 99% MSC gained calcein, unaffected by oleamide. Double-labeling HL-1 cells with calcein and the membrane dye DiO resulted in transfer of both calcein and DiO to MSC. When HL-1 cells were labeled with calcein and MSC with DiO, MSC gained calcein while HL-1 cells gained DiO. Very little fusion was observed since more than 90% Sca-1 positive MSC gained DiO from HL-1 cells while less than 9% gained gap junction impermeant CMFDA after 20 hours with no Sca-1 transfer to HL-1 cells. Time dependent transfer of membrane DiD was observed from HL-1 cells to MSC (100%) and vice versa (50%) after 20 hours with more limited transfer of CMFDA. These results demonstrate that MSC and HL-1 cells exchange membrane components which may account for some of the beneficial effect of MSC in the heart after myocardial infarction.
Reduction in organic effluent static acute toxicity to fathead minnows by various aeration techniques.

Abstract This study compared results of no aeration, intermittent aeration, and constant aeration strategies in determining the static acute (48-h) toxicity of phenolic-based effluents to adult fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas ). Toxicity was greatest in no aeration tests followed by intermittent aeration and constant aeration. Two factors were considered responsible for the observed patterns of toxicity. First, in side-by-side tests of no versus intermittent aeration and intermittent versus constant aeration, toxicity reductions were directly attributed to maintenance of dissolved oxygen above 5·0 mg litre −1 in aerated containers. Secondly, toxicity was reduced when treatment system temperatures were warmest, probably due to increased microbial activity and volatilisation during late spring to early autumn (temperatures > 16°C). Effluent was slightly more toxic on- than off-site, presumably due to degradation of phenolic compounds during transport and set-up at the off-site laboratory (approximately 4·5 h). Gill tissue ultrastructure and histopathology were used to determine the extent of effluent-induced damage and the recovery of minnows to short (6-h) effluent exposures. After a 48-h exposure to the approximate LC 50 level, gill tissue lamellae were characteristically desquamated with epithelium lifting from the basement membrane. Gill tissue was similarly damaged after a 6-h exposure to 100% effluent and had recovered to pre-exposure conditions after 42 h in clean water. Aeration strategies in these studies demonstrated potential air-stripping of volatile compounds, although stress to test organisms from low dissolved oxygen was relieved.
Mobile phone text-message–based drinking brief interventions for young adults discharged from the emergency department

Brief intervention (BI) has the potential to reduce heavy drinking in young adults that present to the emergency department (ED) but require time and resources that are rarely available. Text-messaging (TM) may provide an effective way to collect drinking data from young adults after ED discharge as well as to provide ongoing support for behavior change. Young adults in three urban EDs identified as hazardous drinkers based on Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score were randomly assigned to weekly TM feedback with goal setting (intervention group), weekly TM drinking assessments without feedback (assessment group), or a control group. Participants in the intervention group who reported drinking ≥5 drinks during any 24-hour period (≥4 drinks for women) were asked whether they would set a goal to reduce their drinking the following week. We assessed the interaction between TM and goal-setting as well as heavy drinking days (HDD), and drinks per drinking day (DPDD) using the timeline follow-back procedure at baseline and three months. Forty-five young adults (age 18-24 years, 54% female) met inclusion criteria and were randomized to one of the three study conditions. Of these, six (13%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5-27) did not complete the three-month web-based follow-up. Eighty-eight percent (95% CI, 84-91%) of weekly TM drinking assessments were answered, with 77% (95% CI, 58-90) of participants responding on all 12 weeks. Agreeing to set a goal was associated with a repeat HDD 36% of the time (95% CI, 17-55) compared with 63% of the time (95% CI, 44-81) when participants were not willing to set a goal. At three months, participants exposed to the TM intervention had 3.4 fewer past-month HDD (standard deviation [SD], 5.4) and 2.1 fewer DPDD (SD, 1.5) compared with baseline. Interventions delivered via text message have the potential to reduce heavy drinking among young adults but larger studies are needed to establish efficacy.
The EGF-CFC Protein One-Eyed Pinhead Is Essential for Nodal Signaling

The zebrafish EGF-CFC gene one-eyed pinhead (oep) is required zygotically for the formation of the ventral neuroectoderm, endoderm, and prechordal plate. Here we report that embryos lacking both maternal and zygotic Oep activity are defective in germ layer formation, organizer development, and the positioning of the anterior-posterior axis. An identical phenotype is displayed by double mutants for the nodal-related genes squint and cyclops. Mutations in oep eliminate the response to Squint and Cyclops overexpression but are suppressed by expression of Activin and activated forms of the type I receptor ActRIB and Smad2. Expression of the murine EGF-CFC gene cripto rescues oep mutants. These results suggest a conserved role for EGF-CFC proteins as essential extracellular cofactors for Nodal signaling during vertebrate development.
Cultured Kaposi's Sarcoma Tumor Cells Fail to Stimulate T Cell Proliferation

Abstract Prior to the AIDS epidemic, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was a rare neoplasm. However, in the context of immunosuppression, cutaneous KS lesions more frequently develop and express various surface molecules recognized by T cells such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54) and HLA–DR. The KS tumor cells are thought to arise locally from endothelial cells via a transdifferentiation process. To determine if KS tumor cells can stimulate resting T cell proliferation, we asked whether the tumor cells express the critically important T cell costimulatory molecules B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86). In contrast to cytokine-activated endothelial cells, which were induced to express B7-1, but not B7-2 and could function in bacteria-derived superantigen-driven T cell proliferation, four different KS tumor cell lines failed to express either B7-1 or B7-2 and were unable to stimulate allogeneic T cell proliferation upon addition of bacteria-derived superantigen. These results suggest that KS tumor cells behave differently in their response to cytokines compared with endothelial cells and may be able to evade the local immune response by not expressing costimulatory molecules necessary for T cell proliferation.
Joseph Merlin in London, 1760–1803: the Man behind the Mask. New Documentary Sources

Joseph Merlin (1735–1803), ‘Ingenious Mechanick’, musical-instrument maker and flamboyant showman, is perhaps best remembered for his Museum in Princes Street, London, with its scintillating displays of automata and extraordinary inventions. Two newly identified sets of Court documents, Nicholl v. Merlin, 1779 and Merlin v. Celsson, 1779–81, now provide insights into previously unknown aspects of his business dealings and personal life. The former concerns a dispute over a house that Merlin commissioned to be built in 1776, the latter a violation of his 1774 combined harpsichord-pianoforte patent rights. Material relating to Lavigne Verel, his musical instrument foreman from 1773 to 1781, is also reported. Amongst other novel findings, perhaps the most surprising is Merlin's marriage in 1783. Contemporary primary-source material consulted includes original manuscripts held at The National Archives, UK, the Scone Palace Archives, Parish Registers, Land Tax and Apprenticeship records and numerous contempora...
Queuing analysis of shared‐buffer ATM switches with grouped output channels

Shared buffering and channel grouping are powerful techniques with great benefits in terms of both performance and implementation. Shared-buffer switches are known to have better performance and better utilization than input or output queued switches. With channel grouping, a cell is routed to a group of channels instead of a specific output channel. In this way, congestion due to output contention can be minimized and the switch performance can therefore be greatly improved. Although each technique is well known by itself in the traditional study of queuing systems, their combined use in ATM networks has not been much explored previously. In this paper, we develop an analytical model for a shared-buffer ATM switch with grouped output channels. The model is then used to study the switch performance in terms of cell loss probability, cell delay and throughput. In particular, we study the impact of the channel grouping factor on the buffer requirements. Our results show that grouping the output channels in a shared-buffer ATM switch leads to considerable savings in buffer space. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Importance of the polymerase chain reaction in the study of hepatitis C virus infection

Recently, the principal etiological agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis was molecularly cloned from the plasma of an experimentally infected chimpanzee and has been named hepatitis C virus. Determination of the complete nucleotide sequence of the hepatitis C virus genome was a crucial step in preparing the way for future study of this medically important human pathogen. Due to the very low concentration of virus in serum, amplification of viral RNA sequences by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction is the only practical method currently available for demonstrating viremia in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. This review examines the pivotal role of the polymerase chain reaction in understanding the biology of hepatitis C virus.
Meetings and More Meetings: The Relationship Between Meeting Load and the Daily Well-Being of Employees.

Meetings are an integral part of organizational life; however, few empirical studies have systematically examined the phenomenon and its effects on employees. By likening work meetings to interruptions and daily hassles, the authors proposed that meeting load (i.e., frequency and time spent) can affect employee well-being. For a period of 1 week, participants maintained daily work diaries of their meetings as well as daily self-reports of their well-being. Using hierarchical linear modeling analyses, the authors found a significant positive relationship between number of meetings attended and daily fatigue as well as subjective workload (i.e., more meetings were associated with increased feelings of fatigue and workload).
Thoughts on paediatric diabetes care in the UK

Paediatric diabetes ranks among the most common chronic diseases in childhood and affects 23,000 children under 17 years in the UK with an increase at a rate of about 3% a year. Acute medical management at manifestation is well established and successfully conducted in the vast majority of cases. The chronic long-term treatment is challenging and involves self-managed, regular subcutaneous insulin administration for life, together with diet, exercise and lifestyle support to avoid short and long-term complications. Variability of average glycaemic control in children with type 1 diabetes exists between centres both nationally and internationally. Glycaemic control in UK children, however, is worse than in many other European countries. Herein, we review findings on glycaemic control reflected by glycated haemoglobin A1C and consider the current trend in the UK in comparison with the European continent. Furthermore, small practical differences in care delivery exemplified by differences in practice such as...
Dendritic cells require T cells for functional maturation in vivo.

Abstract We examined dendritic cell (DC) status in SCID and RAG2 −/− mice to assess the influence of T cells on DC development and function in vivo. These mice have reduced numbers of DC in the epidermis and lymph nodes draining hapten-sensitized skin. Epidermal DC in these mice were defective in presenting antigen in vivo to adoptively transferred, hapten-sensitized T cells from normal mice. Likewise, draining lymph node DC were deficient in their capacity to stimulate naive T cells in vitro and in vivo. DC numbers as well as the impaired ability to present antigen in vivo, were corrected by reconstituting these animals with normal T lymphocytes, suggesting that T cells are crucial for normal DC maturation and function in vivo.
Assessing the Influence of the Physical Sports Facility on Customer Satisfaction within the Context of the Service Experience

It can be argued that customer satisfaction is at the centre of the marketing concept, and strategic planning of physical facilities has been found to influence consumer satisfaction. Considering the spectator sport industry has experienced a tremendous boom in the building of facilities, a better understanding of how facilities influence customers is warranted. A sample of 218 minor league ice hockey spectators was used to investigate the influence of individual physical facility elements on customer satisfaction, and to investigate the influence of the physical facility relative to other targets of quality, namely the core product and service personnel. Multiple regression analysis revealed that facility elements together predicted customer satisfaction ( R 2 = 0.183, adjusted R 2 = 0.162), but that the attributes of the facility had little impact individually. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that both perceptions of service personnel and of the physical facility contributed to customer satisfaction over and above the impact of customers’ perceptions of the core product. Based on these results, it is argued that managers must address the physical facility in combination with other targets of quality to improve spectators’ levels of customer satisfaction.
Micropuncture: unlocking the secrets of renal function

This essay looks at the historical significance of five APS classic papers that are freely available online: Wearn JT and Richards AN. Observations on the composition of glomerular urine, with part...
Instruction scheduling using MAX-MIN ant system optimization

Instruction scheduling is a fundamental step for mapping an application to a computational device. It takes a behavioral application specification and produces a schedule for the instructions onto a collection of processing units. The objective is to minimize the completion time of the given application while effectively utilizing the computational resources. The instruction scheduling problem is NP-hard, thus effective heuristic methods are necessary to provide a qualitative scheduling solution. In this paper, we present a novel instruction scheduling algorithm using MAX-MIN Ant System Optimization approach. The algorithm utilizes a unique hybrid approach by combining the ant system meta-heuristic with list scheduling, where the local and global heuristics are dynamically adjusted to the input application in an iterative manner. Compared with force-directed scheduling and a number of different list scheduling heuristics, our algorithm generates better results over all the tested benchmarks with better stability. Furthermore, by solving the test samples optimally using ILP formulation, we show that our algorithm consistently achieves a near optimal solution.
Response of High Producing Dairy Cows Fed Alfalfa Hay and Corn Silage to Supplemental Protein and Urea

Abstract Thirty-two high producing Holstein cows were assigned randomly to three rations of varying percents and sources of protein: 1) 14.4% crude protein from natural sources, 2) 17.5% crude protein from natural sources, and 3) 17.7% crude protein from both natural and nonprotein nitrogen (urea) sources. Urea nitrogen constituted 11.1% of the total nitrogen in ration 3. Dietary treatments were examined in two trials during the first 84 to 140 days of lactation. Mean daily intakes of dry matter and total digestible nutrients were higher for cows fed elevated protein: 20.1, 14.0; 21.7, 15.2; and 22.1, 15.2kg for rations 1,2, and 3. Means of 3.5% fat-corrected milk were 32.5, 34.8, and 34.3 kg/day. The principal effect of elevated protein was an increase in intakes of dry matter and energy which may have been contributory to the small increase in milk production. However, the trend for higher milk production was established during the first 28 days of lactation when energy intakes were equal. No adverse effects of urea supplementation on feed intake or milk production were apparent.
Impact analysis of faults and attacks in large-scale networks

Monitoring and quantifying component behavior is key to, making networks reliable and robust. The agent-based architecture presented here continuously monitors network vulnerability metrics providing new ways to measure the impact of faults and attacks.
Solderless high-density interconnects for burn-in applications

The development and evaluation of a high-contact-density burn-in socket for a pinless module with 1156 terminals and an intended useful life of at least 1000 h at 200 degrees C are described. Characterization and stress data for wire button contacts realized in various metallurgies along with results for elastomer contacts are presented. Contact integrity and resistance were monitored while under temperature and current accelerated stress. A molybdenum wire button prototype socket was successfully constructed and stress tested. >
EDHF Redux: EETs, TRPV4, and Ca2+ Sparks

See related article, pages 1270–1279 Over the past two decades the complexity of the molecular processes underlying endothelial-dependent vascular relaxation has gradually become apparent. After the ground breaking discovery of the role of NO as a major endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF), evidence emerged indicating the existence of a hyperpolarizing factor (endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor [EDHF]) with actions distinct from the cyclase-dependent relaxations associated with endothelial production of NO and prostacyclin.1–3 The specific molecules and vascular relaxation mechanisms underlying this intensely studied phenomenon have been difficult to establish, however. H2O2, K ions, and epoxygenase products have all been implicated as the EDHF, and evidence has suggested in turn that the mechanism by which EDHF relaxes arteries involves diffusion of the substance to smooth muscle and direct gating effects on calcium-activated K+ (maxiK) channels,4,5 actions mediated through endothelial small and intermediate conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK and IK) channels,6–8 and passive ionic effects associated with an extracellular accumulation of K+ ions.9 To further muddy these dark waters, recent evidence has implicated TRPV4 channels in EDHF signaling in several vascular preparations. In this issue of Circulation Research , Earley and colleagues10 identify a new putative mechanism and one that links EDHF to the regulation of Ca2+ release by ryanodine receptors (RYR), thereby forging a mechanistic link between EDHF and the well described local gating of large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ …
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGRICULTURAL LAND USE AND WEST NILE VIRUS ANTIBODY PREVALENCE IN IOWA BIRDS

In the Plains states of the central United States, research suggests that the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) disease in humans is higher in agricultural areas than in nonagricultural areas. In contrast, there is limited information about WNV exposure in birds, the primary amplifying host of WNV, in agriculturally dominated landscapes. We evaluated whether exposure to WNV in peridomestic birds sampled in central Iowa varied with the proportion of land use devoted to agriculture. Over the summers of 2009 and 2010, we captured birds in sites comprising gradients of agricultural, urban, and natural land uses, and tested their sera for antibodies to WNV. Overall, WNV antibody prevalence was low (2.3%). Our results suggest that agricultural land use had minimal influence on WNV exposure in birds. We conclude that birds are not likely to be useful indicators of WNV activity in agricultural areas in the Plains states despite human risk being highest in those areas. Antibody prevalence for WNV, however, was higher in American Robins, Mourning Doves, and Northern Cardinals than in other species, making these species potentially useful for monitoring WNV activity in the US Plains states.
Detection of anomalous network packets using lightweight stateless payload inspection

A real-time packet-level anomaly detection approach for high-speed network intrusion prevention is described. The approach is suitable for small and fast hardware implementation and was designed to be embedded in network appliances. Each network packet is characterized using a novel technique that efficiently maps the payload histogram onto a simple pair of features using hypercube hash functions, which were chosen for their implementation efficiency in both hardware and software. This two-dimensional feature space is quantized into a binary bitmap representing the normal and anomalous feature regions. The potential loss of accuracy due to the reduction in feature space is countered by the ability of the bitmaps to capture nearly arbitrary shaped regions in the feature space. These bitmaps are used as the classifiers for real-time detection. The proposed method is extremely efficient in both the offline machine learning and real-time detection components. Results using the 1999 DARPA Intrusion Detection Evaluation Data Set yield a 100% detection of all applicable attacks, with extremely low false positive rate. The approach is also evaluated on real traffic captures.
Prolactin, epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor-α activate a mammary cell-specific enhancer in mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat

Mammary specific expression of elevated levels of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) contributes to mammary carcinogenesis. Mechanisms which regulate provirus expression have not been completely defined. Using a MMTV-long repeat terminal (MMTV-LRT) directed chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene system and a human breast cancer cell line T47D, we demonstrate that prolactin (PRL), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) act on a mammary cell-specific enhancer at the extreme 5' end of the MMTV-LTR involving sequences -1094 through -858. PRL and either EGF or TGF-alpha exert concerted roles in this activation of these sequences. In contrast, using a plasmid construct lacking this mammary cell-specific enhancer, EGF or TGF-alpha, but not PRL, act synergistically with progesterone to induce CAT activity, indicating that the action of PRL on regulatory elements of the MMTV-LTR is restricted to this mammary cell-specific enhancer involving sequences -1094 through -858. A mobility shift assay was used to demonstrate that PRL, EGF or TGF-alpha induce nuclear factors (MP4, MAF, and MGF) which bind directly to this mammary cell-specific enhancer element.
Towards a Systematic Repository of Knowledge about Managing Collaborative Design Conflicts

Increasingly, complex artifacts such as cars, planes and even software are designed using large-scale and often highly distributed collaborative processes. A key factor in the effectiveness of these processes concerns how well conflicts are managed. Better approaches need to be developed and adopted, but the lack of systematization and dissemination of the knowledge in this field has been a big barrier to the cumulativeness of research in this area as well as to incorporating these ideas into design practice. This paper describes a growing repository of conflict management expertise, built as an augmentation of the MIT Process Handbook, that is designed to address these challenges.
First bite syndrome caused by adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland

First bite syndrome is a well-described sequelae of parapharyngeal space surgery, thought to result from sympathetic denervation of the parotid gland. We describe a case of first bite syndrome caused by an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland. The tumor was not clinically or radiographically apparent until 18 months after initial presentation despite repeated imaging. In patients with first bite syndrome and no surgical history, there must be high suspicion for a malignancy, which may be occult on presentation. The submandibular gland should be considered as a possible site of a lesion.
Safety of inhaled corticosteroids in children.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are now first-line therapy for persistent asthma in children. The major safety concerns of long-term ICS therapy for childhood asthma are potential effects on adrenal function, growth, and bone mass. Dosage, type of inhaler device, and individual drug characteristics influence systemic effects of ICS. Sensitive measures of basal adrenal function can show statistically significant changes during ICS therapy, but these do not accurately predict clinically meaningful adrenal axis suppression. Adrenal insufficiency is rare and confined to children receiving high doses of ICS. Dose-related inhibition of growth has been seen in some short- and intermediate-term studies, but long-term studies have found no detrimental effect on final height. ICS therapy has not been associated with significant changes in measurements of bone and bone biomarkers, but more studies of high doses and of therapy in adolescents are needed. Overall, although ICS are the most effective anti-inflammatory treatment available for asthma, high doses of ICS in children are still of concern. The risk of high doses is compounded in children with concomitant allergic conditions that require multiple forms of topical corticosteroids. Benefits of ICS clearly outweigh potential adverse effects and risks associated with poorly controlled asthma. Risk can be minimized by using the lowest effective ICS dose, limiting systemic availability of the drug through proper technique to minimize swallowed drug, and selection of agents with efficient first-path hepatic inactivation of swallowed drug. Adjuvant treatments can reduce the dose of ICS required for asthma control, allowing a reduction in overall systemic exposure for most children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. Therefore, these agents should be added to, but should not replace, ICS therapy.
The effects of smoking on bone metabolism

Osteoporosis is a common, morbid and costly disorder characterized by deterioration in bone strength. Cigarette smoking is associated with reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. There are basic, clinical, and observational studies that define several of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms that predispose smokers to bone loss. Such mechanisms include alterations in calciotropic hormone metabolism and intestinal calcium absorption, dysregulation in sex hormone production and metabolism, alterations in adrenal cortical hormone metabolism and in the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) system (RANK–RANKL–OPG system), and direct cellular effects of cigarette use on bone cells. In addition, there is evidence of reversibility in the aforementioned mechanisms with smoking cessation. In summary, cigarette smoking is a reversible risk factor for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures through diverse pathophysiologic mechanisms.
Mimo/-space time codes for Polynomial Phase modulation wireless communications

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) space time codes are used to increase the diversity or the number of degrees of freedom for improving the capacity (data rate) and reliability (error rate) of wireless communication over fading channels. In this paper, we propose a new structure of space time code designed for non-stationary constant-amplitude modulation formats using Polynomial Phase Signals (PPS). In PPS modulation, the information is carried in the coefficients of polynomials that modulate the phase of a carrier. Here, Space Time Code (STC) structures differ from the conventional STC design as they are designed based on the coefficients of the phase polynomials instead of the Euclidean distance of the transmitted signals. These MIMO/STC/PPS based systems offers variable rates of transmission, better performance and easier implementation than conventional formats.
Examining Dimensions of Self-Efficacy for Writing.

A multifactor perspective on writing self-efficacy was examined in 2 studies. Three factors were proposed—self-efficacy for writing ideation, writing conventions, and writing self-regulation—and a scale constructed to reflect these factors. In Study 1, middle school students (N = 697) completed the Self-Efficacy for Writing Scale (SEWS), along with associated measures. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed SEWS data fit the proposed 3-factor model well. In Study 2, a second CFA of data from 563 students from 2 high schools likewise showed good model fit. Scores based on the 3 writing self-efficacy factors were examined in relation to students' liking writing, self-reported writing grades, and statewide writing assessment (SWA) scores. Results showed writing ideation and self-regulation self-efficacy to be significantly more strongly related to liking writing than conventions self-efficacy but less related than conventions self-efficacy to SWA scores. All 3 writing self-efficacy dimensions showed moderate positive correlations with self-reported writing performance. Further analyses showed higher levels for all 3 dimensions of writing self-efficacy for students in more advanced English/language arts classes. Overall, results from the studies were interpreted as supporting multifactor models of writing self-efficacy and the utility of closer ties between self-efficacy measures and domains being assessed.
The Function of Twisted Gastrulation in Regulating Osteoclast Differentiation is Dependent on BMP Binding

Proper regulation of osteoclast (OCL) function is critical for normal bone homeostasis. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling and its regulation have been shown to have direct effects on OCL differentiation and activity. One of the major modulators of BMP signaling in the extracellular space is the secreted protein twisted gastrulation (TWSG1), which can inhibit BMP signaling and OCL differentiation. In this study we examine specific N-terminal regions of TWSG1 protein that have been previously proposed as BMP binding sites to determine whether TWSG1 binding to BMPs is required for its inhibitory effects on OCLs. We demonstrate that overexpression of wild type TWSG1 suppresses osteoclastogenesis, while overexpression of mutant TWSG1 proteins (W66A and N80Q/N146Q mutants), which cannot bind BMPs, leads to increased BMP signaling, enhanced osteoclastogenesis, increased resorptive activity, and expression of OCL-specific genes. Our results show that BMP binding is required for TWSG1-mediated inhibition of OCL formation and function, and validate the critical functional regions within the TWSG1 protein for these interactions.
LSS: An S-Plus/R program for the accelerated failure time model to right censored data based on least-squares principle

Due to lack of proper inference procedure and software, the ordinary linear regression model is seldom used in practice for the analysis of right censored data. This paper presents an S-Plus/R program that implements a recently developed inference procedure [Z. Jin, D.Y. Lin, Z. Ying, On least-squares regression with censored data, Biometrika 93 (2006) 147-161] for the accelerated failure time model based on the least-squares principle. The program is user-friendly and yields outputs similar to S-Plus/R function 1m.
PRICE PASS-THROUGH AND THE MINIMUM WAGE

This paper tests a textbook consequence of competitive markets: that an industry-wide increase in the price of labor is passed on to consumers through an increase in prices. Using several data sources on restaurant prices, I explore the price impact of minimum-wage hikes in Canada and the United States. Particular attention is paid to the timing of these price responses to gauge the ‘stickiness’ of minimum-wage cost shocks. I find that restaurant prices generally rise with changes in the wage bill and that this response is concentrated in the quarter surrounding the month during which the legislation is enacted.
Response to Clarke and Fraser: effects of temperature on metabolic rate

In two recent papers, Clarke and Fraser (2004) and Clarke (2004) discussed the empirical data and the mechanistic processes relating metabolic rate to temperature. They criticized the framework proposed recently by Gillooly et al . (2001) and presented an alternative evolutionary trade-off hypothesis. Gillooly et al . (2001) (see also West, Brown and Enquist 1997; Gillooly et al . 2002; Charnov and Gillooly 2003; Brown et al . 2004a,b) developed a theory for the scaling of metabolic rate that combines the effects of two primary variables, body size and temperature, based on first principles of physics, chemistry and biology – including the fitnessmaximizing dynamic of natural selection. This leads to a single equation for whole-organism metabolic rate, B :
Second-generation wavelet collocation method for the solution of partial differential equations

An adaptive numerical method for solving partial differential equations is developed. The method is based on the whole new class of second-generation wavelets. Wavelet decomposition is used for grid adaptation and interpolation, while a new O(N) hierarchical finite difference scheme, which takes advantage of wavelet multilevel decomposition, is used for derivative calculations. The treatment of nonlinear terms and general boundary conditions is a straightforward task due to the collocation nature of the algorithm. In this paper we demonstrate the algorithm for one particular choice of second-generation wavelets, namely lifted interpolating wavelets on an interval with uniform (regular) sampling. The main advantage of using second-generation wavelets is that wavelets can be custom designed for complex domains and irregular sampling. Thus, the strength of the new method is that it can be easily extended to the whole class of second-generation wavelets, leaving the freedom and flexibility to choose the wavelet basis depending on the application.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from the chemolithotroph Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was partially purified from both glucose-grown and iron-glucose-grown Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The enzyme possesses a dual nucleotide specificity for either nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and has a molecular weight of 110,000 as determined by gel electrophoresis. Evidence is presented that T. ferrooxidans glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is identical when isolated from cells grown mixotrophically (iron-glucose grown) or cells grown heterotrophically (glucose-grown cells). The enzyme is activated by Mg2+, and to a lesser extent by low concentrations of Mn2+. Reduced NAD inhibits the enzyme from T. ferrooxidans. No deviation from normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics was observed in velocity versus substrate concentration experiments. Adenosine triphosphate exerted a profound inhibition of the enzyme; the effect was 10 times more pronounced in the presence of NAD as compared to NADP. The physiological significance of this inhibition is discussed.
IVT atherectomy with suction for treatment of carotid stenosis: experimental study

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the western world. One of the most common causes of stroke is atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. The treatment of choice has traditionally been surgical endarterectomy or bybass to restore the cerebral circulation. Those patients at high surgical risk or with surgically inaccessible lesions require an alternative procedure. Over the past several years, percutaneous angioplasty methods have been attempted; however, the potential for dislodging the thrombus and plaque to the distal cerebral circulation has blocked the progress of this nonsurgical intervention. Recently, an IVT atherectomy catheter with a suction device for removal of debris during the cutting of the atheroma, has been developed. We produced and treated an animal model with carotid stenosis with the atherectomy device to determine the safety and feasibility of using it in the treatment of carotid stenosis.
Beyond the Flipped Classroom: Redesigning a Research Methods Course for e[superscript3] Instruction.

The "flipped classroom" has gained in popularity as a new way to structure teaching in which lectures shift from in-class events to digitally-based homework, freeing up class time for practice exercises and discussion. However, critics note such a teaching strategy continues emphasis on the less effective techniques of the lecture as transmission-based knowledge dissemination. They urge rethinking from single instructional tasks to learning environments that promote not just assignment goals but also knowledge application and broader learning outcomes. What do we want students to be able to do? Instructional design is a formal body of theory that has years of testing and evidence for effectiveness that may provide a framework for re-envisioning course design. A 2013 book by M. David Merrill, First Principles of Instruction, attempts to examine the body of instructional design theory for commonalities and develop a set of general principles and processes that can guide the development of such learning environments for instructors. The emphasis is on project-centered learning with a focus on students applying knowledge in ways that "reverse" action from the end of a course to the beginning to implement effective, efficient and engaging (e 3 ) learning. This paper examines some of the key principles and provides an example of e 3 implementation from a research methods class.
SnO2–CuO–NaCl/SiO2 Catalysts for Propylene Epoxidation

The discovery of heterogeneous catalysts capable of direct gas-phase production of propylene oxide (PO) from propylene and molecular oxygen remains a challenge in industrial catalysis. The SnO2–CuO–NaCl/SiO2 system has been shown to produce PO at 55–60% selectivity with propylene conversion of 1% at 250 °C and 1 bar. A product shift toward CO2, found to occur during continuous operation, was counteracted by cofeeding 10–50 ppm 1-chloropropane, maintaining peak PO selectivities for 12 h. Temperature-programmed-reduction (TPR) studies indicated that Na increases copper dispersion. Additional catalyst characterization studies performed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed the presence of distinct phases of CuO, SnO2, and NaCl.
A Carbon Drug Delivery System for Lithium

Lithium was introduced into pyrolyzed phenolic resins by dissolving lithium nitrate (5, 10, and 15% by mass) in a resol precursor. Impregnated specimens were pyrolyzed at 500°C, 575°C, and 650°C in inert atmosphere. After pyrolysis, samples were placed in 5 ml of phosphate buffered saline solution, refrigerated at 5°C, for various Li release times. Inductively coupled plasmaatomic spectroscopy was used to analyze these solutions, which were tested every 24 hours for 5 days; another set was tested after 60 days. Samples containing 5% lithium salt, fired to 500°C, released Li+ at a lower rate than those fired at higher temperature. At the early stages of exposure to saline, samples fired at 575°C and 650°C released Li+ at a higher rate, which fell to that of 500°C samples after many days. After leaching, nuclear reaction analysis using alpha radiation, with an exposure time of I hour, allowed us to analyze [Li+] and gradient up to 121μm below the surface. This indicates that a smaller [Li+] remains in 650°C samples than in those fired at 575°C and 500°C. For 500°C samples, [Li+] near the surface was lower than that for samples fired at 575°C and 650°C. This indicates that 500°C samples release Li+ from near the surface, whereas samples fired at higher temperature release Li+ from deep below the surface, probably because of higher permeability. Li+ release rates of samples fired at 500°C and below 650°C follow a simple diffusion law, with diffusivities between 1017 and 10-18m2/s. Li+ rate may controlled over long time by a multilayered sprayed precursor with variable concentration.
Token Economy for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The token economy is considered a valuable intervention in the treatment of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This chapter provides the reader with important considerations and guidance in arranging and implementing a token economy for individuals with ASD based on basic and applied research findings as well as our collective clinical experiences. The chapter reviews the use of conditioned reinforcement in token economies and options for clinicians to establish tokens as reinforcers. The considerations and steps involved in arranging a token economy are outlined and include: token identification, target behavior identification, schedule of reinforcement, backup reinforcement, exchange procedures, behavioral goal identification and data collection, and token economy fading. The chapter discusses the use of response cost within token economies. Other topics related to the use of token economies are also discussed, including training others to implement the token economy and the use of contingency contracting and group contingencies.
Ein bisschen Allgemeine Relativitätstheorie

Wie in Kap. 2 erwahnt, gelangte Einstein zu seinen auserordentlichen Erkenntnissen uber die Natur der Zeit, weil er davon uberzeugt war, dass das Relativitatsprinzip fur die Gesetze des Elektromagnetismus genauso gelten sollte wie fur die Mechanik. Elektrische und magnetische Krafte waren im Jahr 1905 jedoch nicht die einzigen Krafte von fundamentalem Interesse. Es gab auch noch die Schwerkraft oder Gravitation(-skraft). Einstein verbrachte weitere zehn Jahre mit dem Versuch, die Relativitatstheorie auf gravitative Phanomene zu ubertragen. Schlieslich konnte er 1915 seine Allgemeine Relativitatstheorie veroffentlichen, welche bis heute von grundlegender Bedeutung fur Kosmologie und Astrophysik ist – und ebenso fur die sehr praktische Frage, wie man mit Satellitennavigationssystemen wie dem GPS (Global Positioning System) exakte Positionsangaben auf der Erdoberflache erhalten kann, was bemerkenswert ist bei einem Thema, das man so lange fur eine rein akademische Angelegenheit hielt. Anders als die Spezielle Relativitatstheorie verbietet die Allgemeine Relativitatstheorie eine Behandlung auf dem durchweg elementaren mathematischen Niveau dieses Buchs. Aber immerhin schliest sich eine von Einsteins allgemein-relativistischen Erkenntnissen sehr gut an unseren bisherigen Gedankengang an. Und zwar handelt es sich dabei um die (insbesondere fur das GPS ganz wesentliche) Entdeckung, dass die Gravitation die Taktrate einer Uhr beeinflusst – ein kleines, aber wichtiges Puzzleteil, das Einstein bereits vor 1915 gefunden hatte.
Biomarkers for Immunotherapy: Current Developments and Challenges

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer therapy and has been named the cancer advance of the year for 2016. Checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated unprecedented rates of durable responses in some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers; however, many treated patients do not respond, and the potential for serious side effects exists. There is a growing need to identify biomarkers that will improve the selection of patients who will best respond to therapy, further elucidate drug mechanisms of action, and help tailor therapy regimens. Biomarkers are being explored at the soluble, cellular, and genomic levels, and examples in immunotherapy include serum proteins, tumor-specific receptor expression patterns, factors in the tumor microenvironment, circulating immune and tumor cells, and host genomic factors. The search for reliable biomarkers is limited by our incomplete understanding of how immunotherapies modify the already complex immune response to cancer, as well as the contribution of immuno-editing to a dynamic and inducible tumor microenvironment and immune milieu. Furthermore, there has been little extension of any candidate assay into large, prospective studies, and the lack of standardization in measurement and interpretation restricts their validity. Both tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression within the tumor microenvironment have been recognized as having both prognostic and predictive value for patients treated with immunotherapy. Alternately, a larger panel of gene signatures, chemokines, and other factors that correlate with response has been proposed. In this article, we will explore the status of current biomarker candidates.
Comparison of Lymphocyte Markers and Lymphoblastic Transformation Studies of Patients Converted from Hemodialysis to CAPD

Sequential studies of lymphcyte markers and in vitro lymphoblast transformation were performed in 15 patients who transferred voluntarily from hemodialysis to CAPD. Absolute lymphopenia was observed during hemodialysis therapy. However, there was no significant difference between lymphocyte subpopulations during hemodialysis and CAPD therapies. Mitogen induced in vitro lymphoblast transformation was subnormal during both therapies for all situations except 3-day pokeweed mitogen responses but there was no significant difference between the responses on the two therapies. Our results suggest that a combination of an intrinsic defect in uremic lymphocyte and an inhibitory influence of uremic serum are responsible for this hypo-responsive state.
Effect of Temperature and Moisture on the Physical Stability of Binary and Ternary Amorphous Solid Dispersions of Celecoxib

Abstract The effectiveness of different polymers, alone or in combination, in inhibiting the crystallization of celecoxib (CEX) from amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) exposed to different temperatures and relative humidities was evaluated. It was found that polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and PVP-vinyl acetate formed stronger or more extensive hydrogen bonding with CEX than cellulose-based polymers. This, combined with their better effectiveness in raising the glass transition temperature (T g ) of the dispersions, provided better physical stabilization of amorphous CEX against crystallization in the absence of moisture when compared with dispersions formed with cellulose derivatives. In ternary dispersions containing 2 polymers, the physical stability was minimally impaired by the presence of a cellulose-based polymer when the major polymer present was PVP. On exposure to moisture, stability of the CEX ASDs was strongly affected by both the dispersion hygroscopicity and the strength of the intermolecular interactions. Binary and ternary ASDs containing PVP appeared to undergo partial amorphous–amorphous phase separation when exposed 94% relative humidity, followed by crystallization, whereas other binary ASDs crystallized directly without amorphous–amorphous phase separation.