cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variable Expression of O:61 in Salmonella Group C2

ABSTRACT According to the Kauffmann-White scheme, 39 pairs of serovars in Salmonella serogroup C2 differ only by the minor antigen O:61. We characterized strains from 10 serovars representing five Salmonella serogroup C2 pairs. All strains demonstrated variable expression of O:61. These results indicate that these pairs are not distinct serovars.
Statics, metastable states, and barriers in protein folding: A replica variational approach

Protein folding is analyzed using a replica variational formalism to investigate some free energy landscape characteristics relevant for dynamics. A random contact interaction model that satisfies the minimum frustration principle is used to describe the coil-globule transition (characterized by ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{CG}}$), glass transitions (by ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$ and ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$), and folding transition (by ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{F}}$). Trapping on the free energy landscape is characterized by two characteristic temperatures, one dynamic (${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$) and the other static [${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$ (${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$g${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$)], which are similar to those found in mean field theories of the Potts glass. (i) Above ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$, the free energy landscape is monotonous and the polymer is melted both dynamically and statically. (ii) Between ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$ and ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$, the melted phase is still dominant thermodynamically, but frozen metastable states, exponentially large in number, appear. (iii) A few lowest minima become thermodynamically dominant below ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$, where the polymer is totally frozen. In the temperature range between ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$ and ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$, barriers between metastable states are shown to grow with decreasing temperature, suggesting super-Arrhenius behavior in a sufficiently large system. Due to evolutionary constraints on fast folding, the folding temperature ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{F}}$ is expected to be higher than ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{K}}$, but may or may not be higher than ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{A}}$. Diverse scenarios of the folding kinetics are discussed based on phase diagrams that take into account the dynamical transition, as well as the static ones.
6-Aryl-8H-indeno[1,2-d]thiazol-2-ylamines: A1 Adenosine Receptor Agonist Allosteric Enhancers Having Improved Potency

Allosteric enhancers (AEs) of the A1 adenosine receptor (A1AR) have potential as drugs for treating neurological, cardiovascular, and renal diseases. This report describes the synthesis and evaluation of a series of 6-aryl-8H-indeno[1,2-d]thiazol-2-ylamines that exhibited AE activity at the A1AR. Palladium-mediated condensation of arylboronic acids with 5-bromoindan-1-one generated arylindanones 2a−aj for iodine-catalyzed condensation with thiourea, generating 2-aminothiazolium salts 3a−aj. Binding studies using membranes from cells stably expressing human A1ARs, A2AARs, or A3ARs evaluated AE activity and receptor subtype selectivity. The EC50 of the AE activities of compounds 3m−o, 3x, and 3ae were 2.2, 1.5, 0.9, 1.0, and 3.0 μM, respectively, substantially lower than that of the well characterized 2-amino-3-aroylthiophene (PD 81,723), >10 μM. The new compounds also have substantially higher maximal AE activity. These compounds had no AE activity at the A2AAR and only minimal activity at the A3AR.
Evaluation of primary cervical cancer screening with an oncogenic human papillomavirus DNA test and cervical cytologic findings among women who attended family planning clinics in the United States.

Objective Our goal was to evaluate the performance of screening with (1) Papanicolaou and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing and (2) Papanicolaou testing with reflex HPV testing of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or more in clinics that serve low-income women in the United States. Study Design There were 4799 women who were recruited primarily from Planned Parenthood clinics and who were screened with liquid-based Papanicolaou testing and HPV DNA testing and referred for biopsy based on a positive test result for oncogenic HPV DNA or a Papanicolaou test that showed atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance or more. Results Among 931 women who were 30-50 years of age, the sensitivity of reflex HPV testing was 53.8% (range, 38.2%-72.3%). The sensitivity of HPV DNA and Papanicolaou testing was 91% (range, 74.6%-100%). The specificity of reflex HPV testing was 95.1% (range, 93.8%-96.3%). Generally, the specificity of HPV DNA and Papanicolaou testing was low. Conclusion Among US women who are ≥30 years old, HPV DNA and Papanicolaou testing is a reasonable cervical cancer screening strategy.
Biomaterial‐neutrophil interactions: Dysregulation of oxidative functions of fresh neutrophils induced by prior neutrophil‐biomaterial interaction

Biomaterial-associated infection results in increased morbidity and mortality, and may occur because of nonproductive premature activation of neutrophils resulting in impaired phagocyte function at the biomaterial surface in the event of bacterial challenge. To further explore the effects of this premature activation, we evaluated the supernatants of biomaterial associated neutrophils to determine whether soluble mediators were released, and the likely role of these mediators. We show that these supernatants contain a chemoattractant and thereby induce chemotaxis by fresh neutrophils. No evidence of enhanced oxidative free radical production by either unstimulated neutrophils or a primed response to other mediators occurs when neutrophils were incubated with these supernatants. We also examined the effect of adding fresh neutrophils to a biomaterial surface containing a previous inoculum of neutrophils, and observed that the fresh cells did not become stimulated to release reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) and also exhibited impaired killing of staphylococci. These studies suggest that not only does the biomaterial surface activate the initial wave of neutrophils but that subsequent waves of neutrophils exhibit an impaired host-defense function. These results are consistent with the known impairment of host defense in the presence of biomaterials, and provide evidence for a long-term down-regulation of neutrophil function at biomaterial surfaces.
A self-administered Timeline Followback to measure variations in underage drinkers' alcohol intake and binge drinking

Underage drinkers typically have not developed regular patterns of drinking and so are likely to exhibit situational variation in alcohol intake, including binge drinking. Information about such variation is not well captured by quantity/frequency (QF) measures, which require that drinkers blend information over time to derive a representative estimate of "typical" drinking. The Timeline Followback (TLFB) method is designed to retrospectively capture situational variations in drinking during a specific period of time. We compared our newly-developed Self-administered TLFB (STLFB) measure to a QF measure for reporting alcohol intake. Our sample of 429 (men=204; women=225) underage (i.e., age 18-20 years) drinkers completed the two drinking measures and reported on alcohol problems. The STLFB and QF measures converged in assessing typical daily intake, but the STLFB provided more information about situational variations in alcohol use and better identification of regular versus intermittent binge drinkers. Regular binge drinkers reported more alcohol problems. The STLFB is an easy-to-administer measure of variations in alcohol intake, which can be useful for understanding drinking behavior.
Bending and buckling of a class of nonlinear fiber composite rods

Abstract An investigation of the mechanics of bending and buckling is carried out for a class of nonlinear fiber composite rods composed of embedded unidirectional fibers parallel to the rod axis. The specific class of composite considered is one in which the fibers interact with the matrix through a nonlinear Needleman-type cohesive zone [Needleman, A., 1987. A continuum model for void nucleation by inclusion debonding. ASME J. Appl. Mech. 54, 525–531; Needleman, A., 1992. Micromechanical modelling of interfacial decohesion. Ultramicroscopy 40, 203–214]. The primary decohesive mechanism active in bending and buckling of these composite rods is shear slip along the fiber–matrix interfaces allowing the use of a previously developed constitutive relation for antiplane shear response [Levy, A.J., 2000b. The fiber composite with nonlinear interface—part II: antiplane shear. ASME J. Appl. Mech. 67, 733–739]. The formulation requires the specification of a potential interface force–slip law that is assumed to permit interface failure in shear. Four cases of the bending and shearing of beams (concentrated or uniform load on a cantilever or a simply supported beam) are analyzed, each of which exhibits qualitatively distinct response. For certain values of interface parameters, the beam deflection or its gradient at a fixed location can change discontinuously with load. Furthermore, for interface parameter values within a certain range, singular surfaces will exist in uniformly loaded beams where there is a non-uniform distribution of shear stress along the beam length. These singular surfaces divide the beam into regions of maximal and minimal fiber slip and propagate with a rate that varies inversely as the square of the applied load. For other parameter values, singular surfaces will not exist and fiber slip will be diffuse. For the class of nonlinear composite considered, bifurcation and imperfection buckling of pinned–pinned columns is analyzed. For bifurcation buckling, a nonlinear eigenvalue problem is derived and the solution is obtained by Galerkin's method. It is demonstrated that critical loads are influenced by the initial slope, and hence the linear portion, of the interface force–slip relation but the post-buckling response, which in some sense resembles that of plastic buckling, is affected by the entire interface constitutive relation. Imperfection buckling is analyzed in a similar manner by assuming a slight initial curvature of the rod. Sensitivity of the response to imperfection magnitude is discussed as well.
Overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.

AbstractIntroduction:Patients with regionally or distantly metastatic melanoma have poor long-term prognosis. The objective of this analysis was to describe survival rates among patients diagnosed with unresectable stage IIIB/C or stage IV melanoma.Methods:Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, patients diagnosed with unresectable stage IIIB/C and stage IV (M1a, M1b, M1c) melanoma between 2004 and 2009 were selected. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were reported at the time of diagnosis. The outcome of the analysis was time from melanoma diagnosis to death. Survival was presented as 1 year, 2 year, and 3 year survival rates, and median overall survival.Results:A total of 1682 patients met the study criteria, with 4.4% at stage IIIB/IIIC, 12.6% at M1a, 17.4% at M1b, and 65.6% at M1c. The mean age was 64 years, 49.5% of patients were 64 years old or younger, 68.0% were male, and 91.7% were white. Patients at stage IIIB/IIIC had a median overall su...
The temperature at the ocean-air interface

Abstract A simple theory is presented to account for the difference between the temperature at the ocean-air interface and that of the water at a depth of about one meter. Except in very light winds and intense solar radiation the mean temperature difference ΔT is expected to be of the formwhere q is the sum of the sensible, latent, and long-wave radiative heat flux from ocean to atmosphere and τ/ρw is the kinematic stress. No data are available to test this prediction. The influence of slicks and solar insolation on interface temperature is also briefly discussed.
Fiber-optic sensors make waves in acoustics, control, and navigation

The operation of fiber-based sensors is explained and the two types (intensity-based and phase-based) are examined in detail. Research directed toward the use of fiber-optic interferometric sensors for underwater acoustic sensing is discussed. Developments in fiber-optic magnetic sensors, flow measurement, and gyroscopes are described. >
Overexpression of CD97 Confers an Invasive Phenotype in Glioblastoma Cells and Is Associated with Decreased Survival of Glioblastoma Patients

Mechanisms of invasion in glioblastoma (GBM) relate to differential expression of proteins conferring increased motility and penetration of the extracellular matrix. CD97 is a member of the epidermal growth factor seven-span transmembrane family of adhesion G-protein coupled receptors. These proteins facilitate mobility of leukocytes into tissue. In this study we show that CD97 is expressed in glioma, has functional effects on invasion, and is associated with poor overall survival. Glioma cell lines and low passage primary cultures were analyzed. Functional significance was assessed by transient knockdown using siRNA targeting CD97 or a non-target control sequence. Invasion was assessed 48 hours after siRNA-mediated knockdown using a Matrigel-coated invasion chamber. Migration was quantified using a scratch assay over 12 hours. Proliferation was measured 24 and 48 hours after confirmed protein knockdown. GBM cell lines and primary cultures were found to express CD97. Knockdown of CD97 decreased invasion and migration in GBM cell lines, with no difference in proliferation. Gene-expression based Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas, demonstrating an inverse relationship between CD97 expression and survival. GBMs expressing high levels of CD97 were associated with decreased survival compared to those with low CD97 (p = 0.007). CD97 promotes invasion and migration in GBM, but has no effect on tumor proliferation. This phenotype may explain the discrepancy in survival between high and low CD97-expressing tumors. This data provides impetus for further studies to determine its viability as a therapeutic target in the treatment of GBM.
Compiling parallel programs by optimizing performance

This paper describes how Crystal, a language based on familiar mathematical notation and lambda calculus, addresses the issues of programmability and performance for parallel supercomputers. Some scientifc programmers and theoreticians may ask, “What is new about Crystal?” or “How is it different from existing functional languages?” The answers lie in its model of parallel computation and a theory of parallel program optimization, and we examine this in the text to follow. We illustrate the power of our approach with benchmarks of compiled parallel code from Crystal source. The target machines are hypercube multiprocessors with distributed memory, on which it is considered difficult for functional programs to achieve high efficiency.
Beauty semi-leptonic branching ratios

Recent measurements of inclusive and exclusive semi-leptonic b branching ratios are reviewed. Model-independent analyses from ARGUS and CLEO confirm the value BR(b→lνX)=10.4%, while new analyses from ALEPH obtain higher values above 11%. The difference is not consistent with measured values of b hadron lifetime. New measurements of BR(B→D*lν) from CLEO and ALEPH are in good agreement. First measurements of B→D*πlν branching ratios from OPAL, DELPHI, and ALEPH confirm indirect evidence for a large D** component in semi-leptonic B decays.
Clinical outcomes of late rather than early full-donor chimerism in patients with advanced lymphomas receiving nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic SCT.

Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) can ideally provide long-term remission in advanced lymphoma patients by capturing a graft-vs-tumor (GVT) effect. On the basis of a murine model, we attempted to optimize a GVT effect through nonmyeloablative therapy and HLA-matched related donor HSCT with intentional induction of mixed chimerism followed by prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion. A total of 26 advanced lymphoma patients were separated into an early and late full-donor chimerism (FDC) group using a median of 45 days post-HSCT as the defining point for FDC. Upon generating these groups, analysis by Student's t-test demonstrated that they were statistically distinct in time to develop FDC (P<0.01). There was a trend toward improved CR rates in the late group relative to the early group (62 vs 31%; P=0.12). A trend toward improved progression-free survival at 5 years was also observed in the late compared to the early group by Kaplan–Meier analysis (38 vs 8%; P=0.081). However, this did not correlate to a significant overall survival benefit. In conclusion, these data support the observation from our mouse models that the most potent GVT effect occurs in mixed chimeras with late chimerism conversion.
The heterogeneity of new daily persistent headache.

CLINICAL HISTORIES Case 1.—This is a 42-year-old woman who developed a right nuchal-occipital throbbing and vice-like headache with an intensity of 10/10 at the onset while sitting with nausea, vomiting, and a spinning sensation but no hearing loss, pressure in the ears, tinnitus, or other neurological symptoms 5 months previously. The headache had an intensity of 10/10 for about 3 weeks. Since then, she has had a constant headache described as a right nuchal-occipital and right hemicranial aching, throbbing, and stabbing with an intensity ranging from 4 to 8/10, with an average of 3-5/10 with nausea at times, and light and noise sensitivity, but no vomiting, visual symptoms, or vertigo since the first day. She had intermittent true vertigo lasting up to 30 minutes initially on a daily basis that did not totally resolve for about 6 weeks. She was taking baclofen 10 mg in the morning and 20 mg at bedtime that decreased the pain. She tried eletriptan 40 mg that dulled the pain. Three years previously, she had a mild head injury resulting in headaches for 3 weeks following but no other history of headaches. There was a past medical history of asthma. She initially saw her primary care physician who prescribed oral ketorolac and promethazine without benefit. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain without contrast 4 days after onset was negative. She then saw a neurologist who placed her on topiramate that was titrated up to 200 mg daily with mild benefit.A complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, thyroid function tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antinuclear antibody, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) scans of the brain were normal. She had a normal evaluation by an otorhinolaryngologist including an audiogram and electronystagmogram. I saw her in headache consultation 4 weeks after onset. A neurological examination and an MRA of the brain and neck, MRV of the brain, and MRI of the brain with and without contrast were normal. Topiramate was increased to 300 mg daily that mildly decreased the intensity of the pain, allowing her to work. Although consideration was given to a trial of From the Montefiore Headache Center, Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA (M.S. Robbins); Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA (R.W. Evans).
New insights into the neuroimmunity of SIV infection by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was employed to noninvasively monitor neuronal injury in eight rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), whose immune system was compromised by CD8 T lymphocyte depletion and treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). SIV infection and CD8 depletion resulted in a rapid decline in cerebral N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels, a sensitive marker of neuronal health. Within 3 months of SIV infection and CD8 depletion, four animals developed AIDS and severe SIV encephalitis. The other four macaques underwent daily doses of HAART beginning 4 weeks after infection/CD8 depletion. HAART involved drugs that do not penetrate the central nervous system (CNS) including 9-[2(R)-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine and a racemic mixture of d-l-enantiomers of 2′,3′-dideoxy-5-fluoro-3′thiacytidine. HAART resulted in reversal of NAA/Cr decline after 4 weeks of therapy, and no virus or encephalitis was found in brain samples analyzed. These results indicate that the CNS injury in AIDS is entirely dependent on events involving the peripheral immune system mediated by trafficking of SIV-infected monocytes into the brain. The rapid decline in NAA/Cr with SIV infection/CD8 depletion and its rapid recovery with HAART suggest that: (1) infected monocyte turnover in the CNS is rapid, occurring in days to weeks; (2) there are endogenous mechanisms that reverse neuronal injury; and (3) a threshold level of infected monocytes/macrophages in the CNS is required to overcome the neuronal recovery processes. These observations explain the clinical success of antiretroviral therapy in reducing the incidence of HIV-associated dementia and minor cognitive/motor disorder and suggest novel targets for drug development.
Photoproduction through Chern-Simons Term Induced Interactions in Holographic QCD

We employ both top-down and bottom-up holographic dual models of QCD to calculate vertex functions and couplings that are induced by the five-dimensional Chern-Simons term. We use these couplings to study the photoproduction of ${f}_{1}$ mesons. The Chern-Simons-term-induced interaction leads to a simple relation between the polarization of the incoming photon and the final state ${f}_{1}$ meson which should allow a clear separation of this interaction from competing processes.
A method to calculate the structure and motion parameters from line correspondences

Abstract In this paper a new scheme is introduced for the estimation of structure and motion parameters in an image sequence. The proposed method consists of two steps. In the first step, using the correspondences of two straight lines over four frames, a set of nonlinear equations in terms of the structure and motion parameters is established. In order to solve the simultaneous equations numerically, a good initial guess is required, thus the second step uses a new technique to obtain initial guess values of the parameters from the existing solutions for planar surfaces.
INFORMATION GAMING IN DEMAND COLLABORATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE

Demand collaboration has recently been promoted by industry leaders as an important tool for supply chain management. Its greatest significance beyond the sharing of point-of-sale and forecast information stems from its potential to allow supply chain partners to extract private market information from each other for more effective planning and better supply chain performance. A simulation framework based on actual business processes is developed to investigate the underlying drivers of demand collaboration and the inherent risks and benefits of such collaboration.
Social relationships and intravenous drug use among methadone maintenance patients

This study examined the extent to which social relationships were associated with continued injection drug use and needle sharing among 252 methadone maintenance patients. Logistic regression analyses indicated that drug use was highest among persons who had a substance using live-in partner and among those with more drug-using social relationships. Among injectors, whites and those who had more people present during IV drug use were more likely to share needles, while those with more emotional support were less likely to do so. These findings suggest that personal relationships strongly influence continued injection drug use and that methadone programs should help patients develop social networks of non-users.
The anthocyanin reduced Tomato Mutant Demonstrates the Role of Flavonols in Tomato Lateral Root and Root Hair Development

This study utilized tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutants with altered flavonoid biosynthesis to understand the impact of these metabolites on root development. The mutant anthocyanin reduced (are) has a mutation in the gene encoding FLAVONOID 3-HYDROXYLASE (F3H), the first step in flavonol synthesis, and accumulates higher concentrations of the F3H substrate, naringenin, and lower levels of the downstream products kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, and anthocyanins, than the wild type. Complementation of are with the p35S:F3H transgene reduced naringenin and increased flavonols to wild-type levels. The initiation of lateral roots is reduced in are, and p35S:F3H complementation restores wild-type root formation. The flavonoid mutant anthocyanin without has a defect in the gene encoding DIHYDROFLAVONOL REDUCTASE, resulting in elevated flavonols and the absence of anthocyanins and displays increased lateral root formation. These results are consistent with a positive role of flavonols in lateral root formation. The are mutant has increased indole-3-acetic acid transport and greater sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of the auxin transport inhibitor naphthylphthalamic acid on lateral root formation. Expression of the auxin-induced reporter (DR5-β-glucuronidase) is reduced in initiating lateral roots and increased in primary root tips of are. Levels of reactive oxygen species are elevated in are root epidermal tissues and root hairs, and are forms more root hairs, consistent with a role of flavonols as antioxidants that modulate root hair formation. Together, these experiments identify positive roles of flavonols in the formation of lateral roots and negative roles in the formation of root hairs through the modulation of auxin transport and reactive oxygen species, respectively.
Luminescence of RbI: Tl

Emission spectra of RbI: Tl for excitation in $A$, $B$, $C$, and $D$ absorption bands were measured at 4.2, 77, and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. At 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, four prominent bands are observed at 3.42, 4.24, 2.82, and 2.58 eV. The 3.42- and 4.24-eV emission bands appear most prominently for $A$ and $B$ excitations. They are thus assigned ${T}_{1u}$ and ${T}_{2u}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{A}_{1g}$ transitions, respectively. The 2.82- and 2.58-eV bands appear for both $C$ and $D$ excitations. These are also stimulated with high efficiency in the first exciton region of RbI. Both these bands are attributed to the decay of self-trapped excitons adjacent to thallium ions.
Silicon-CsI detector array for heavy-ion reactions

Abstract An array of 60 silicon-CsI(Tl) detector telescopes has been developed along with associated electronics. The close packing of the telescopes required novel designs for the photodiodes and the silicon ΔE detectors. Newly developed electronics include preamplifiers, shaping amplifiers, test pulse circuitry, and a module to monitor leakage currents in the silicon diodes. The array covers angles from 5° to 18° in the 4π Array at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. It measures protons to 150 MeV and has isotopic resolution for intermediate mass nuclei.
Multiple Scattering in the Quark Model

We show that a systematic analysis of multiple-scattering contributions in the quark model can explain the detailed structure of the hadronic differential cross sections at high energies. As an extension of previous work on multiple-scattering effects in the quark model, we fit the high-energy differential cross sections for nucleon-nucleon, nucleon-antinucleon, and pion-nucleon scattering, assuming simple forms for the quark-quark scattering amplitudes and the baryon and meson form factors. Of the ten parameters involved, seven are determined by measurements at forward or near-forward angles, leaving the entire wide-angle cross sections to be fitted by the remaining three parameters. Reasonably good fits are obtained to the present data, and calculations at higher $t$ values which may become experimentally accessible in the near future are presented. The parameters found provide some information about the interactions of quarks (should they exist) at high energy and are used to calculate double-scattering corrections to total cross sections and the phase of the nucleon-nucleon amplitude as a function of momentum transfer.
Gender, Prior Academic Performance and Beliefs as Predictors of Attitudes Toward Biology Laboratory Experiences

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between gender, prior academic performance, beliefs and student attitudes toward biology laboratory experiences. The sample consisted of 294 students from 10th, 11th and 12th grades enrolled in a Catholic high school in a major metropolitan area in the Southeast. Two 11-item scales were created; one to measure student attitudes toward biology laboratory experiences, and the other to measure student beliefs about the benefits of biology laboratory. A three-way analysis of variance (gender × prior academic performance × beliefs) was conducted with the attitudes toward biology used as the dependent variable. Gender had a significant effect on attitudes, with females reporting more positive attitudes toward biology laboratory than males. Prior academic experience was also a significant predictor of attitudes; students who received lower GPAs in previous science courses reported more positive attitudes toward biology laboratory than students with higher GPAs. Based on previous research this finding was surprising; however, it appears that lower achieving students may perceive that there is a higher benefit from “hands on” laboratory experiences than high achieving students. The data also indicated that beliefs had the strongest correlations with attitudes; students who believed laboratory experiences were beneficial had more positive attitudes. The implications for research, theory and practice are also presented.
Neonatal Dexamethasone Administration. I. Temporary Delay of Development of the Circadian Serum Corticosterone Rhythm in Rats

A series of experiments was undertaken to examine the effects of neonatal dexamethasone administration on the development of the circadian serum corticosterone rhythm in rats. Initial experiments showed that the rhythm began normally on postnatal day 18 in untreated animals. Then, 1-day-old rats were injected sc with dexamethasone acetate (1, 10, or 100 μg), dexamethasone phosphate (1, 10, or 100 μg), or three daily sc injections of dexamethasone phosphate (1, 3, or 5 μg) beginning on day 1. Appropriate vehicle controls were included. At most doses and dosage regimens, rat pups were sacrificed at 0700 and 1900 h on postnatal days 16, 18, 20, and 22, but at the highest doses, they were sacrificed only on days 25 and 30. The single dexamethasone acetate injection (100 μg) delayed the appearance of the corticosterone rhythm for 2 days compared to that in the vehicle-injected controls. Similarly, the 3 consecutive injections of dexamethasone phosphate (5 μg) delayed the appearance of the rhythm for 4 days. Al...
Helmet Use Among Users of the Citi Bike Bicycle-Sharing Program: A Pilot Study in New York City

The use of bicycle helmets to prevent or reduce serious head injuries is well established. However, it is unclear how to effectively promote helmet use, particularly in the context of bicycle-sharing programs. The need to determine rates of helmet use specifically among users of bicycle-sharing programs and understand if certain characteristics, such as time of day, affect helmet use, is imperative if effective promotion and/or legislative efforts addressing helmet use are to be developed. We estimated the prevalence of helmet use among a sample of Citi Bike program users in New York City. A total of 1,054 cyclists were observed over 44 h and across the 22 busiest Citi Bike locations. Overall, 85.3 % (95 % CI 82.2, 88.4 %) of the cyclists observed did not wear a helmet. Rates of helmet non-use were also consistent whether cyclists were entering or leaving the docking station, among cyclists using the Citi Bikes earlier versus later in the day, and among cyclists using the Citi Bikes on weekends versus weekdays. Improved understanding about factors that facilitate and hinder helmet use is needed to help reduce head injury risk among users of bicycle sharing programs.
Victim Service Or Self Service: An Analysis of Prosecution Based Victim-Witness Assistance Programs And Providers

Victim witness assistance programs are found throughout the United States. This paper analyzes one state's prosecution based victim witness programs and the individuals responsible for service delivery. We report on the services offered, a comparison tot he legislative intent, a description of the advocates and an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of these programs. The findings suggest that prosecution based victim witness programs do little to meet most needs of crime victims. Additionally, the oversight of these programs by the local District Attorneys determines what services are offered and the role the advocates will assume.
An emerging role for microRNAs in sexually dimorphic neurobiological systems.

Over the past 20 years, our understanding of the basic mechanisms of gene regulation has vastly expanded due to the unexpected roles of small regulatory RNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs add another layer of complexity to the regulation of effector molecules for nearly every physiological process, making them excellent candidate molecules as therapeutic targets, biomarkers, and disease predictors. Hormonal contributions to mature miRNA expression, biosynthetic processing, and downstream functions have only just begun to be investigated. Elucidating the physiological consequences of miRNA sexual dimorphism, and their associated regulatory processes, may be key toward understanding both normal and pathological processes in the brain. This short review provides a basic overview of miRNA biosynthesis, their role in normal brain development, and potential links to neurological diseases. We conclude with a brief discussion of the current knowledge of sex-specific miRNA processes in both the brain and the heart to conceptually integrate the relevance of miRNAs with the overarching theme (“sex differences in health and disease: brain and heart connections”) of this special topics issue.
Grief Therapy and the Reconstruction of Meaning: From Principles to Practice

Viewed from a constructivist perspective, grieving is a process of reconstructing a world of meaning that has been challenged by loss. Although most people successfully navigate bereavement and retain or return to pre-loss levels of functioning, a significant proportion struggle with protracted grief, and are unable to find meaning in the wake of an unsought transition. For these individuals, constructivist therapists have a number of strategies at their disposal that foster meaning making and help clients reestablish a coherent self-narrative that integrates the loss, while also permitting their life story to move forward along new lines. After reviewing theory and evidence that scaffolds this constructivist conceptualization, this article draws on excerpts of therapy with two bereaved clients to illustrate how narrative retelling, therapeutic writing, a focus on metaphorical language, and the use of visualization can all be viable strategies in helping individuals reconstruct meaning in the wake of bereavement.
103 Gain of Chromosome 2p25.3 Involving the ACP1 Gene is Frequent in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

S120 with high-risk disease features. Full Abstract: Introduction: Chemoimmunotherapy with CD20 mAb is standard frontline treatment for physically fit patients with CLL. Ofatumumab, a human mAb, binds to a membrane-proximal epitope composed of both the smalland large-loop domains of CD20. The pivotal international study of ofatumumab monotherapy demonstrated high overall response rates (ORR) of 47%–58% in patients with fludarabine-refractory CLL. This international, randomized, phase II trial evaluated efficacy and safety of 2 dose levels of ofatumumab in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide as frontline therapy for CLL. Methods: Previously untreated patients with active CLL were randomized to ofatumumab 500 mg or 1000 mg day 1, with fludarabine 25 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m2 days 2–4, course 1; days 1–3, courses 2–6; every 4 weeks for 6 courses. All patients received ofatumumab 300 mg for course 1. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate, as assessed by an Independent Review Committee using the 1996 NCI-WG criteria. Results: 61 patients were randomized (500 mg, n 31; 1000 mg, n 30). The median (range) age was 56 (38–73) years; 13% of patients had 17p deletion; 64% had 2-microglobulin 3.5 mg/L. CR rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 32% (17%–51%) for 500 mg and 50% (31%–69%) for 1000 mg cohort; ORR (95% CI) was 77% (59%–90%) and 73% (54%–88%), respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) have not been reached with current follow-up (median 8 months). Based on univariable regression analyses, 2-microglobulin and number of O-FC courses completed were ignificantly correlated (P 0.05) with CR, ORR and PFS. Most ommon investigator-reported adverse events (CTC grade 3–4) ere neutropenia (48%), thrombocytopenia (15%), anemia (13%) nd infection (8%). Conclusion: O-FC, at the ofatumumab dose evels evaluated, was active in previously untreated patients with LL, including in patients with high-risk features.
Barriers to abortion facing Mexican immigrants in North Carolina: Choosing folk healers versus standard medical options

Abortion is among the most stigmatized reproductive health issues faced by women in the United States. Using the reproductive justice framework, we discuss the numerous obstacles Mexican immigrant women and teens living in North Carolina face in seeking abortions and the ways in which the barriers experienced by these women are the product of intersecting forms of oppression based on race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, age, immigration status and linguistic abilities, among others. These struggles are depicted through ethnographic data as well as interviews with midwives, program directors, folk healers (curanderas/os) and Mexican immigrant women and girls making decisions about abortion. Their experiences are analyzed to highlight that Mexican immigrant women and teens are restricted by legal and medical institutions. The findings focus on how these women ultimately receive abortion services in the face of structural barriers to formal care and why women often seek abortion care outside of the formal health-care sector.
An analysis of ambulatory care quality assessment research

This article offers a framework that distinguishes quality as an attribute of the processes of medical care from effectiveness as the results of that care. The review of process-outcome studies in the light of this framework reveals not only a confusion of concepts but a variety of methodological and measurement problems. Among the measurement problems is the lack of assessment of the reliability and validity of the process and outcome measures in most quality studies in ambulatory medical care. This article proposes a minimum set of elements to be considered in developing a valid quality assessment method.
Nanoscale Alloying, Phase-Segregation, and Core−Shell Evolution of Gold−Platinum Nanoparticles and Their Electrocatalytic Effect on Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The design of active and robust bimetallic nanoparticle catalysts requires the control of the nanoscale alloying and phase-segregation structures and the correlation between the nanoscale phase structures and the catalytic properties. Here we describe new findings of a detailed investigation of such nanoscale phase structures and their structure−catalytic activity correlation for gold−platinum nanoparticles prepared with controllable sizes and compositions. The nanoscale alloying and phase-segregation were probed as a function of composition, size, and thermal treatment conditions using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electrochemical characterization, and density functional theory modeling. The results have provided the experimental evidence in support of the theoretically simulated dependence of alloying and phase segregation on particle size and temperature. More importantly, new insights have been gained into the control of the nano...
Social Control of Adult Size in Males of Xiphophorus variatus

As in other species of poeciliid fish, male Xiphophorus variatus (Pisces, Poeciliidae) virtually cease growth at maturity. The size of an adult male, then, is determined by its average growth rate before it reaches maturity and the age at which this happens. The latter factor is under social control in this species. When I raised juvenile males in groups, they usually started to mature in sequence, largest first, and subsequently maturing males did not usually reach maturity until they were longer than all previously matured males. As a result, the juvenile size order was negatively correlated with adult size order. When the fish in a group were isolated from one another such patterns disappeared indicating that some degree of social interaction was necessary for their maintenance1.
Making an Ethical Decision: A Utilitarian Strategy.

By identifying and weighting the effects of an act on each constituency, a matrix based on John Stuart Mill's actutilitarianism illuminates and helps resolve complex ethical dilemmas.
Solar Coronal Heating and the Magnetic Flux Content of the Network

We investigate the heating of the quiet corona by measuring the increase of coronal luminosity with the amount of magnetic flux in the underlying network at solar minimum when there were no active regions on the face of the Sun. The coronal luminosity is measured from Fe IX/X-Fe XII pairs of coronal images from SOHO/EIT. The network magnetic flux content is measured from SOHO/MDI magnetograms. We find that the luminosity of the corona in our quiet regions increases roughly in proportion to the square root of the magnetic flux content of the network and roughly in proportion to the length of the perimeter of the network magnetic flux clumps. From (1) this result, (2) other observations of many fine-scale explosive events at the edges of network flux clumps, and (3) a demonstration that it is energetically feasible for the heating of the corona in quiet regions to be driven by explosions of granule-sized sheared-core magnetic bipoles embedded in the edges of network flux clumps, we infer that in quiet regions that are not influenced by active regions the corona is mainly heated by such magnetic activity in the edges of the network flux clumps. Our observational results together with our feasibility analysis allow us to predict that (1) at the edges of the network flux clumps there are many transient sheared-core bipoles of the size and lifetime of granules and having transverse field strengths > approx. 100 G, (2) approx. 30 of these bipoles are present per supergranule, and (3) most spicules are produced by explosions of these bipoles.
Tibial compression is anabolic in the adult mouse skeleton despite reduced responsiveness with aging

The ability of the skeleton to adapt to mechanical stimuli diminishes with age in diaphyseal cortical bone, making bone formation difficult for adults. However, the effect of aging on adaptation in cancellous bone, tissue which is preferentially lost with age, is not well characterized. To develop a model for early post-menopausal women and determine the effect of aging on cancellous bone adaptation in the adult mouse skeleton, in vivo tibial compression was applied to adult (26 week old) osteopenic female mice using loading parameters, peak applied load and peak diaphyseal strain magnitude, that were previously found to be osteogenic in young, growing (10 week old) mice. A Load-Matched group received the same peak applied loads (corresponding to +2100 μe at the medial diaphysis of the tibia) and a Strain-Matched group received the same peak diaphyseal strains (+1200 μe, requiring half the load) as the young mice. The effects of mechanical loading on bone mass and architecture in adult mice were assessed using micro-computed tomography and in vivo structural stiffness measures. Adaptation occurred only in the Load-Matched group in both the metaphyseal and diaphyseal compartments. Cancellous bone mass increased 54% through trabecular thickening, and cortical area increased 41% through medullary contraction and periosteal expansion. Adult mice were able to respond to an anabolic stimulus and recover bone mass to levels seen in growing mice; however, the adaptive response was reduced relative to that in 10 week old female mice for the same applied load. Using this osteogenic loading protocol, other factors affecting pathological bone loss can be addressed using an adult osteopenic mouse model.
Genetics of childhood disorders: XV. Prader-Willi syndrome: genes, brain, and behavior.

Prader-Wdli syndrome (PWS) is a developmental disorder characterized by mental retardation or learning disability, infantile hypotonia and poor suck reflex, growth retardation, delayed sexual development, and the childhood onset of pronounced hyperphagia Food-related difficulties are the most striking and widely recognized sequelae of this syndrome. Without appropriate dietary and behavioral intervention, almost everyone with PWS will become dangerously obese. However, in addition to these well-known problems with food, those with PWS also suffer from a range of psychiatric and behavioral difficulties, including high rates of depression, obsessions, and compulsions. PWS is a relatively rare disorder, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 10,OOO to 15,000 live births. Nonetheless, it has figured prominently in the recent history of genetics. This is due in large part to its surprising relationship with Angelman syndrome (AS) and the resulting identification of genomic imprinting in humans. Moreover, as research into the various aspects of this disorder has progressed, it has become increasingly evident that PWS may provide neuroscientists a valuable window into the complex interplay of genes, brain, and behavior. At first glance, the genetics of PWS appear to be rather straightforward. For most affected individuals, a sporadic (as
Simulation of vehicle traffic on an automated highway system

A traffic simulator has been developed at Argonne National Laboratory to study highway traffic under various degrees of automation. The key components of this simulator include a global and a local Expert Driver Model, a human factor study, and a graphical user interface. Furthermore, an Autonomous Intelligent Cruise Control, which is based on a neural network controller, is described and results for two typical driving scenarios are given. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.