cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Marijuana Use on Thyroid Function and Autoimmunity.

Background: Marijuana is legalized for medical use in 24 states and for recreational use in 5. However, effects of marijuana use on thyroid function and autoimmunity are unknown. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2007 and 2012 to assess the effects of marijuana on thyroid function and autoimmunity in users. We included 5280 adults ages 18 to 69 years, who responded to questions related to marijuana use and had laboratory results related to thyroid parameters. Subjects were categorized as nonusers (never used), past users (used prior to 30 days ago), and recent users (used within last 30 days). Using NHANES normative cut offs for thyroid parameters, we compared recent users with nonusers and past users and calculated the odds ratios for the relative rate of clinically significant thyroid dysfunction in those groups. Multivariate logistic regression was then performed to control for confounders. Resul...
Effects of Lipid Composition, Peptide Charge, and Molecularity on the Structure of Antimicrobial Peptide Transmembrane Pores

The structure of transmembrane pores formed by antimicrobial and cell-penetrating peptides depends on the properties of the membrane and the peptide. To examine the effect of lipid composition, we simulated magainin 2 (MAG2) antiparallel tetramers in DMPC, DMPG and DMPC/PG 1:1 bilayers. Together with the results from our previous work (1), we observe that the MAG2 pore size initially decreases as the anionic content of the membrane increases. However, in pure DMPG the observed pore is similar in size to that in DMPC, but with considerably more unfolded peptides. We also simulated a PGLa parallel tetramer in POPE/PG 3:1 and observed that 1-2 monomers either adopt or tend to adopt a surface orientation during the 5 μs of the simulation, in partial agreement with NMR data (2).We explored the effect of molecularity by simulations of hexamers and octamers of melittin and octamers of MAG2 and comparison with previous tetramer results (1,3). The results show a stable wide pore for the MAG2 octamer, with all the monomers involved in the formation and support of the water channel. On the contrary, in both melittin oligomers the number of peptides in contact with the pore is reduced during the simulation. Finally, we explored the effect of peptide charge by comparing simulations of hexamers of melittin (charge +5) and its gain-of-function variant MELP5 (charge +2) (4). Whereas the melittin hexamer broke up into two trimers, one surrounding a pore and one dry, the MELP5 hexamer simulation resulted in a stable wide pore.(1) Pino-Angeles A, Leveritt JM 3rd and Lazaridis T. PloS Comput Biol (2016) 12(1):e1004570(2) Stranberg E, Zerweck J et al. Biophys J (2013) 104(6):L9-11(3) Leveritt JM 3rd, Pino-Angeles A and Lazaridis T. Biophys J (2015) 108(10):2424-6(4) Wiedman G, Fuselier T et al. J Am Chem Soc (2014) 136(12):4724-31
Effect of congenital heart disease on 4 year neurodevelopment within multiple gestation births

Abstract Objectives We sought to assess the effect of congenital heart disease requiring infant surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass on neurodevelopmental outcomes and growth at 4 years of age, while matching for gestational age, socioeconomic status, maternal gestational conditions, home environment, and parental intelligence by studying multiple-gestation births. Methods We performed within-family comparison of 14 multiple-gestation births in which 1 child had congenital heart disease requiring surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at ≤6 months of age. Between 4 and 5 years of age, a comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessment was performed. Paired comparisons were conducted between siblings with and without heart defects using a series of nonparametric tests. Results On average, the children qualified as late preterm (mean gestational age 35.4 ± 2.6 weeks). At an average age of 4.8 ± 0.1 years, children with congenital heart disease weighed less than their siblings (median weight for age z score −0.4 vs 0.1, P = .02) and had worse performance for cognition (median full-scale IQ 99 vs 109, P = .02) and fine motor skills (median Wide Range Assessment of Visual Motor Ability, Fine Motor score 94.5 vs 107.5, P Conclusions After controlling for socioeconomic status, home environment, parental intelligence, and gestational factors by using multiple-gestation births, congenital heart disease requiring surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at ≤6 months of age is associated with lower weight, cognitive abilities and fine motor skills at 4 years of age.
Misfolded SOD1 is not a primary component of sporadic ALS

A common feature of inherited and sporadic ALS is accumulation of abnormal proteinaceous inclusions in motor neurons and glia. SOD1 is the major protein component accumulating in patients with SOD1 mutations, as well as in mutant SOD1 mouse models. ALS-linked mutations of SOD1 have been shown to increase its propensity to misfold and/or aggregate. Antibodies specific for monomeric or misfolded SOD1 have detected misfolded SOD1 accumulating predominantly in spinal cord motor neurons of ALS patients with SOD1 mutations. We now use seven different conformationally sensitive antibodies to misfolded human SOD1 (including novel high affinity antibodies currently in pre-clinical development) coupled with immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation to test for the presence of misfolded SOD1 in high quality human autopsy samples. Whereas misfolded SOD1 is readily detectable in samples from patients with SOD1 mutations, it is below detection limits for all of our measures in spinal cord and cortex tissues from patients with sporadic or non-SOD1 inherited ALS. The absence of evidence for accumulated misfolded SOD1 supports a conclusion that SOD1 misfolding is not a primary component of sporadic ALS.
Toxins of Prokaryotic Toxin-Antitoxin Systems with Sequence-Specific Endoribonuclease Activity

Protein translation is the most common target of toxin-antitoxin system (TA) toxins. Sequence-specific endoribonucleases digest RNA in a sequence-specific manner, thereby blocking translation. While past studies mainly focused on the digestion of mRNA, recent analysis revealed that toxins can also digest tRNA, rRNA and tmRNA. Purified toxins can digest single-stranded portions of RNA containing recognition sequences in the absence of ribosome in vitro. However, increasing evidence suggests that in vivo digestion may occur in association with ribosomes. Despite the prevalence of recognition sequences in many mRNA, preferential digestion seems to occur at specific positions within mRNA and also in certain reading frames. In this review, a variety of tools utilized to study the nuclease activities of toxins over the past 15 years will be reviewed. A recent adaptation of an RNA-seq-based technique to analyze entire sets of cellular RNA will be introduced with an emphasis on its strength in identifying novel targets and redefining recognition sequences. The differences in biochemical properties and postulated physiological roles will also be discussed.
Effects of Heating and Cooling Rates on Phase Transformations in 10 Wt Pct Ni Steel and Their Application to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

10 wt pct Ni steel is a high-strength steel that possesses good ballistic resistance from the deformation induced transformation of austenite to martensite, known as the transformation-induced-plasticity effect. The effects of rapid heating and cooling rates associated with welding thermal cycles on the phase transformations and microstructures, specifically in the heat-affected zone, were determined using dilatometry, microhardness, and microstructural characterization. Heating rate experiments demonstrate that the Ac3 temperature is dependent on heating rate, varying from 1094 K (821 °C) at a heating rate of 1 °C/s to 1324 K (1051 °C) at a heating rate of 1830 °C/s. A continuous cooling transformation diagram produced for 10 wt pct Ni steel reveals that martensite will form over a wide range of cooling rates, which reflects a very high hardenability of this alloy. These results were applied to a single pass, autogenous, gas tungsten arc weld. The diffusion of nickel from regions of austenite to martensite during the welding thermal cycle manifests itself in a muddled, rod-like lath martensitic microstructure. The results of these studies show that the nickel enrichment of the austenite in 10 wt pct Ni steel plays a critical role in phase transformations during welding.
International teacher attrition: multiperspective views

This special issue of Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice (TTTP) features international research on teacher attrition, a perennial problem receiving heightened attention due to its intensity...
The Results of the Equity Premium January 2009 Survey

As to the equity premium, the 2008 decline in the stock market has made economists mildly more bullish about future stock market rates of return. Typical expected equity premia are between 5% and 6% per year.As to policy, the recommended fiscal stimulus is around $700 billion. A large majority feel that a financial bailout was necessary, that the government should stop equity dividends of banks that receive TARP funds, and that corporate governance is broken. A majority feels that the (Bush) government has spent the first half of the TARP funds badly. And a small majority feels that the government should force debt-to-equity conversions for banks that receive TARP funds.
Oral viral leukoplakia--a new AIDS-associated condition.

Viral leukoplakia of the tongue in immunosuppressed male homosexuals (oral “hairy” leukoplakia, H.L.) is a newly described lesion showing an association with the subsequent development of AIDS, often with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The lesion appears to contain papillomavirus as well as a second virus of the herpes-group (1). In this paper we present evidence for the presence, within the epithelial cells of hairy leukoplakia, of both papillomavirus and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and for the presence of EB viral capsid antigen (VCA).
Si X Forbidden Emission in NGC 1068 and NGC 7469

This Letter presents the first observation of [Si X] emission in a celestial object other than the solar corona. The detected line at 1.430 μm is present in the spectra of both NGC 1068 and NGC 7469. The ionization potential of Si X is 401.4 eV, which makes this one of the highest ionization energy lines observed in active galactic nuclei. The line falls in a region of high telluric absorption that requires a fortuitous combination of redshift and abnormally dry observing conditions to observe.
Some Factors Affecting Release of Clearing Factor Lipase from Isolated Perfused Rat Heart

The presence of a lipolytic enzyme has been demonstrated in a variety of tissue preparations of the heart (2–10). This enzyme has been referred to rather indiscriminately as “lipoprotein lipase,” a term which was introduced by Korn (2). According to Korn this lipase was extracted from rat heart acetone powder in an ammonia buffer in the presence of heparin; the enzyme had little activity unless the substrate which was a coconut oil emulsion (Ediol) was “activated” by serum.
Immune Responses Induced by Mineral Dusts

Inhalation of dusts of silica and beryllium metal can produce granulomatous interstitial lung disease. Both agents are also recognized to have important effects on the host’s local and systemic immune system. For beryllium, there appears to be a primary role in the pathogenesis of disease and the development of immune abnormalities; for silica, a wide variety of secondary immune phenomena may result (Vigliani and Pernis 1963).
Mantenere il ruolo delle biblioteche nel web semantico tramite RDA: resource description and access

Catalogare non vuol dire semplicemente costruire un catalogo. Vuol dire far si che gli utenti accedano tempestivamente alle informazioni pertinenti alle loro esigenze. Il lavoro di identificazione delle risorse raccolte da biblioteche, archivi, musei, da luogo a ricchi metadati che possono essere riutilizzati per molti scopi ("le attivita dell’utente"). Cio comporta la descrizione delle risorse e il mostrare le loro relazioni con persone, famiglie, enti e altre risorse, consentendo cosi agli utenti di navigare attraverso surrogati delle risorse per ottenere piu rapidamente le informazioni di cui hanno bisogno. I metadati costruiti lungo tutto il ciclo di vita di una risorsa sono particolarmente preziosi per molti tipi di utenti: dai creatori delle risorse, agli editori, alle agenzie, ai librai, agli aggregatori di risorse, ai fornitori di sistemi, alle biblioteche, ad altre istituzioni culturali ed agli utenti finali. Il nuovo codice internazionale di catalogazione, RDA: Resource Description e Access, e progettato per soddisfare le attivita di base degli utenti producendo metadati ben formati e interconnessi per l'ambiente digitale, dando la possibilita alle biblioteche di rimanere rilevanti nel web semantico. Acknowledge Il testo inglese del saggio e pubblicato in "Serials", November 2011, 24, 3, con il titolo Keeping Libraries Relevant in the Semantic Web with RDA: Resource Description and Access , DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1629/24266 . Traduzione italiana di Maria Chiara Iorio e Tiziana Possemato, che ringraziano Carlo Bianchini e Mauro Guerrini per la rilettura della traduzione.
International Financial Reporting Standards Adoption and Information Quality: Evidence from Brazil

This paper examines whether the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Brazil in 2010 has improved the value relevance of accounting information, information content of earnings, financial analyst forecasting activities, and liquidity. We examine the variables in the pre‐IFRS mandatory adoption sample period, considered herein as 2008 to 2009, and the post‐IFRS adoption period of 2011 to 2012. We provide evidence demonstrating improvement in value relevance of earnings and number of analysts following the firms in the period after IFRS adoption, but we do not find improvements in information content of earnings, accuracy in analyst forecasting, and liquidity in the post‐adoption period. Our findings suggest a positive relationship between IFRS adoption and some areas of information quality in Brazil. By focusing on one important economy as it takes significant steps toward full convergence with IFRS, our study contributes to the growing literature concerning the impact of IFRS adoption around the world.
Crk adaptor proteins mediate actin-dependent T cell migration and mechanosensing induced by the integrin LFA-1.

T cell entry into inflamed tissue involves firm adhesion, spreading, and migration of the T cells across endothelial barriers. These events depend on “outside-in” signals through which engaged integrins direct cytoskeletal reorganization. We investigated the molecular events that mediate this process and found that T cells from mice lacking expression of the adaptor protein Crk exhibited defects in phenotypes induced by the integrin lymphocyte function–associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), namely, actin polymerization, leading edge formation, and two-dimensional cell migration. Crk protein was an essential mediator of LFA-1 signaling–induced phosphorylation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase c-Cbl and its subsequent interaction with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) subunit p85, thus promoting PI3K activity and cytoskeletal remodeling. In addition, we found that Crk proteins were required for T cells to respond to changes in substrate stiffness, as measured by alterations in cell spreading and differential phosphorylation of the force-sensitive protein CasL. These findings identify Crk proteins as key intermediates coupling LFA-1 signals to actin remodeling and provide mechanistic insights into how T cells sense and respond to substrate stiffness.
Tob1 suppresses invasive phenotype of human breast cancer

4547 TOB1 has been shown to function as an anti-cell proliferation gene and a promising candidate tumor-suppressor gene. Here we show that the loss of TOB1 expression in highly metastatic breast cancer cell lines compared to normal breast epithelial cell lines and non-metastatic breast cancer cell lines. Overexpression of TOB1 caused a significant reduction of cell invasion and a decreased clonogenicity in soft (0.3%) and hard (0.9%) agar in the metastatic human breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-435. By injected into the mammary fat pads of athymic nude mice, MDA-MB-435 tumors with high expression of TOB1 reduced metastatic potential by 90% compared to control tumors. Increased expression of TOB1 significantly induce higher cell surface levels of alpha5- and alpha3-containing integrins and reduced levels of alpha2-, alpha4-, alpha6-, alpha(v)-, and some beta1-containing integrins. Analysis of human breast cancer specimens revealed that loss of TOB1 expression occurred most frequently in advanced and metastatic cancers. These studies suggest TOB1 may play an important role in the metastatic cascade of breast cancer and could be a useful target for therapeutic intervention.
Evaluation of Humeral and Glenoid Bone Deformity in Glenohumeral Arthritis

Glenohumeral arthritis is the sequela of a variety of pathologic shoulder processes, most commonly degenerative osteoarthritis, but may also be secondary to post-traumatic conditions, inflammatory arthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, and postsurgical conditions most commonly post-capsulorrhaphy arthritis. Patients with glenohumeral arthritis commonly demonstrate patterns of bony deformity on the glenoid and humerus that are caused by the etiology of the arthritis. For example, osteoarthritis commonly presents with posterior glenoid wear, secondary glenoid retroversion, and posterior humeral head subluxation, while inflammatory arthritis routinely causes concentric glenoid wear with central glenoid erosion. A thorough history and physical, as well as laboratory and radiographic workup, are keys to understanding the etiology of arthritis and understanding the secondary bony deformity of the glenohumeral joint. Understanding the etiology and pattern of glenoid bone wear helps the surgeon formulate a successful treatment plan and surgical goals to address the pathoanatomy and improve the durability of shoulder arthroplasty. The evaluation of humeral and glenoid bone deformity in glenohumeral arthritis has profound surgical implications and is fundamental to successful shoulder arthroplasty.
Perceived Executive Functioning in Parents at Risk for Child Physical Abuse

Research suggests that deficits in executive functioning are associated with negative parenting behaviors. However, limited research has examined the link between executive functioning and risk for...
Survival analysis of distant prostate cancer by decade (1973–1997) in the Detroit Metropolitan Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program Registry: has outcome improved? (United States)

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine differences in survival after diagnosis with distant stage prostate cancer by decade of diagnosis. Methods: Subjects are 3337 Caucasian and 1947 African-American men with newly diagnosed primary distant stage prostate cancer between 1973 and 1997, with follow-up through 2001, from the Detroit SEER registry. The proportion of men within each category of each variable of interest is calculated. Relative survival is used to examine survival patterns over time. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard models are also used to examine the relationship between decade of diagnosis and survival between short term (≤24 months) and long term (>24 months) survivors. Results: Relative survival has increased over the past three decades although this trend is not statistically significant. Relative survival is similar by race and decreases with increasing grade of tumor. Survival for men living ≤24 months after diagnosis is similar over time. However, for men living >24 months after diagnosis, there is a significant difference over time (p 24 months) that are the primary contributors to this difference in survival by decade of diagnosis.
A Novel 3D and Inkjet Printed Pressure-sensing Button-shaped Resonator

In this paper, a novel 3D and inkjet printed pressure-sensing button-shaped resonator is proposed. The button is fabricated using fast, cost-effective, flexible and environment friendly stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing and inkjet printing techniques. The resonant frequency of the button can be tuned from 2.7 GHz, for idle status, to 1.6 GHz, for a hard press. This design can be used for applications such as gesture detection for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and wireless pressure monitoring for buildings and constructions.
Neumann Heat Kernel Monotonicity

This chapter contains the probabilistic proof of the claim that the Neumann heat kernel in a ball, evaluated on the diagonal, is a monotone function of the distance from the center.
The Cultural Indexicality of the N41 Sign for bjȝ: The Metal of the Sky and the Sky of Metal:

This article explores the cultural implications of the sign N41 used in an apparently random constellation of words related to women, water and metals. The symbolic meaning of iron and its consiste...
My Response to Alon Goshen-Gottstein's Luther the Anti-Semite: A Contemporary Jewish Perspective

Alon Goshen-Gottstein deserves kudos for reassessing Luther’s legacy for Jew and Christian. He has pried open new vistas of negotiating inter-religious differences. Most importantly, he has alerted us to the twin trap of religious triumphalism and delegitimation. For those of us on the precipice, it is precisely the awareness of the trap, both religiously and politically, that keeps us from falling into the chasm below. In this review, I have thus pushed the theopolitical dimensions in exploring alternative ways of conceptualizing primarily a Jewish–Christian partnership and secondarily the Jewish–Christian–Muslim one under the Abrahamic umbrella while pointing out some of the pitfalls. The first is the importance of the doctrine of Jewish election in accounting for Christian antisemitism as well as that of Islam, Nazism, and possibly Soviet Communism. The second is the suggestion of using the changing relationship between Britain and America as a model for that between Judaism and Christianity. For the relationship between Judaism and the sister faiths of Islam and Christianity, I have suggested also the models of the Aleinu prayer and that of Abraham. This is accompanied with an understanding of religious pluralism that allows for this development. We are all indebted to this unusual and courageous book for prodding and provoking more thinking on the complexities, possibilities, and pitfalls of the fluctuating relationship of Judaism, Christianity, and others.
Agency and pedagogy in literacy education: Toward culturally sustaining pedagogy for immigrant adolescents

Abstract This longitudinal ethnographic case study examines, from a sociocultural perspective, how a White female English as a second language teacher of immigrant adolescents enacted agency toward culturally sustaining pedagogy in her classroom, school, and community. The teacher demonstrated her agency in her personal and professional spaces by (a) re-contextualizing curriculum and instruction with students, (b) engaging in daily conversations with students, (c) recruiting community members to participate in class, (d) constructing an ELL teacher community, (e) visiting students’ homes and involving herself in refugee communities, and (f) performing community services with students. This study provides significant implications about how teachers, who will be working in classrooms and schools and encountering deficit discourses about immigrant students and standardization forces, can create agentive pedagogical spaces where the linguistic, cultural, and community resources of immigrant students are identified, understood, centered, and can connect those resources with classroom and community practices.
Partisanship, Religion, and Issue Polarization in the United States: A Reassessment

Researchers debate the extent of issue polarization in the United States, as well as what role (if any) social identities such as partisanship and religion play in issue polarization. In an effort to answer these questions, we develop a theory that social identities may lead to issue polarization, as long as identifiers have the constraint necessary to connect their identities to each issue. Using this theory, we hypothesize that partisanship should structure polarization on nearly any salient issues, while the impact of religious identities should be concentrated among cultural issues. We then introduce an original measure of issue polarization that allows us to capture the "depth" of issue polarization on five cultural issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, teaching Intelligent Design in public schools, displaying the Ten Commandments on government property, and anti-transgender bathroom bills) and five non-cultural issues (welfare, healthcare, immigration, the environment, and the size of the military). Relying on data from an original survey fielded in February 2020, we find evidence that a sizeable minority of the population holds polarized views on each issue. In addition, we find that partisanship structures polarization on nearly all of these issues, while religion's impact is mostly concentrated on cultural issues. Our findings help clarify academic debates about the origins and extent of issue polarization by demonstrating that a sizeable minority of the public holds polarized views on these issues, and that social identities such as partisanship and religion are important factors in that polarization.
Volume and Verve: Understanding Correction/Behavioral Warnings in Teacher-Child Classroom Interactions Involving an African American Kindergarten Student.

Purpose Using a framework of culturally and linguistically responsive classroom management, this study employed both quantitative and qualitative analyses of ethnographic data to illustrate pattern...
Catastrophic intraoperative failure of a ceramic femoral head

Abstract Approximately 17 years after a primary metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty, a 59-year-old female developed pain, swelling, and weakness in her right hip accompanied by laboratory findings and imaging suggestive of an adverse local tissue reaction. Acetabular revision was performed to upsize the femoral head and improve hip stability. Upon impaction of the new, non-option ceramic femoral head onto the unsleeved retained stem, the head split into two pieces without fragmentation. The surgery was completed using a cobalt-chromium head, which was impacted without issue onto the stem’s taper. Although BIOLOX delta femoral heads do not require titanium sleeves, we believe that careful consideration should be given to their use in revision total hip arthroplasty with ceramic heads, regardless of the extent of trunnion damage noted intraoperatively.
An ASIC design and formal analysis of a novel pipelined and parallel sorting accelerator

Abstract Sorting, which is widely used in different areas such as database systems, IP routing, bio informatics, and cognitive-processing-based applications, imposes considerable overhead on computing resources. Therefore, an efficient on-chip sorting accelerator may significantly enhance real-time decision-making in such applications. In this paper we introduce a novel pipelined and parallel sorting algorithm with streaming I/O, with the time, logic, and memory complexity of O ( n ) , O ( n ) , and O ( n ) , respectively. We present a formal analysis to prove the correctness of this algorithm. We then model, verify, and synthesize this unconditional algorithm (in the TSMC 0.13 micron technology) for 4k-word clusters as an ASIC accelerating engine. More specifically, our implementation with 3969-word multiple-bank memory, 63 word-size comparators, 64 word-size multiplexers, and 63 word-size registers only requires some 8k clock cycles to sort an arbitrary 3969-word long array of random data, which arrive at the sorter and also depart it one item at a time.
Sketch of Complex Variable Theory

In this section we are going to consider briefly some of the basic concepts from complex variable theory. We shall need just enough to obtain a method for finding inverse transforms, which means that the reader will be referred to Appendix A for many of the details.
Functional Properties of the Hippocampus in the Sub-human Primate

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the functional properties of the hippocampus in the sub-human primate. At the present time, the functional role played by the hippocampal formation in operational activities of the central nervous system remains uncertain. Stimulation and ablation experiments in the squirrel monkey and other animals appear to implicate the hippocampus as participating in transactional or associative activities of the central nervous system away from processes related to recognition of primary sensory information or execution of somatic motor response. This situation is in contrast to the extensive and growing body of information on the intrinsic anatomical, physiological, and gross behavioral properties of this brain area. The direction and magnitude of hippocampal bias of subcortical neural activity appears to be related in part to the extent and frequency of hippocampal pyramidal cell output. It is suggested that within this context, hippocampal function may well be related to directional and anticipatory components of “motivation.”
Biosynthesis of the fatty acid synthetase by isolated rat liver cells.

Abstract Intact, isolated parenchymal cells were prepared from livers of rats fed a fat-free diet for 10 to 12 hours, following a 48-hour period of fasting. The ability of these cells to synthesize protein, in general, and the soluble fatty acid synthetase, in particular, was studied. These investigations demonstrated that the isolated liver cells synthesized protein and that one of the proteins synthesized was the soluble fatty acid synthetase complex.
Stimulation and priming of protein kinase C translocation by a Ca2+ transient-independent mechanism. Studies in human neutrophils challenged with platelet-activating factor and other receptor agonists.

N-Formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and leukotriene B4 stimulate human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to translocate protein kinase C from the cytosol to plasmalemma as judged by their abilities to increase PMN binding of and receptor numbers for [3H]phorbol dibutyrate [( 3H]PDB) (O'Flaherty, J.T., Jacobson, D.P., Redman, J.F., and Rossi, A.G. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 9146-9152). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) had these same effects. Moreover, two potent PAF analogs (but not an inactive analog) increased [3H]PDB binding; a PAF antagonist blocked responses to PAF without altering those to fMLP; and PMN treated with PAF became desensitized to PAF while retaining sensitivity to fMLP. Indeed, PMN incubated with 1-100 nM PAF for 5-40 min had markedly enhanced [3H]PDB binding responses to fMLP. PAF thus acted through its receptors to stimulate and prime protein kinase C translocation. Its effects, however, did not necessarily proceed by a standard mechanism: Ca2(+)-depleted PMN failed to raise Fura-2-monitored cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations [( Ca2+]i), yet increased [3H]PDB binding and receptor numbers almost normally after PAF challenge. PAF also primed Ca2(+)-depleted PMN to fMLP. Nevertheless, [3H]PDB binding responses to PAF were blocked in PMN loaded with Ca2+ chelators, viz. Quin 2, Fura-2, or 5,5'-dimethyl-1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA). Exogenous Ca2+ reversed Quin 2 inhibition, and a weak chelator 4,4'-difluoro-BAPTA, lacked inhibitory actions. The chelators similarly influenced fMLP and leukotriene B4. Thus, PMN can by-pass [Ca2+]i to translocate protein kinase C. They may achieve this using a regulatable pool of Ca2+ that evades conventional [Ca2+]i monitors or a signal that needs cell Ca2+ to form and/or act. This signal may mediate function in Ca2(+)-depleted cells, the actions of [Ca2+]i-independent stimuli, cell priming, and protein kinase C movements that otherwise seem [Ca2+]i-induced.
A Novel Discrete Gross Motor Learning Task: Modifications of the Bachman Ladder

Abstract A modification of the Bachman ladder climb task is proposed which eliminates the speed vs. height trade-off by scoring the task as a discrete task. Performance curves for men and women are presented, and the advantages of the modified task are discussed.
Serine Proteases and Serine Protease Inhibitors

Serine proteases are among the largest group of proteolytic enzymes in the human genome that play vital roles in health and disease. Regulation of their activity in vivo is mediated by a diverse group of serine protease inhibitors. An overview of the interplay between serine proteases and their inhibitors is provided. In addition, approaches to characterize this relationship are discussed with subsequent emphasis on how such measures apply to pathologies that result from defect of serine proteases or their inhibitors.
Anti-inflammatory Agents

Descriptions of inflammation are found in the earliest medical records of civilization. The Greeks referred to it as phlogsis and the Romans as inflammatio. Cornelius Celsus (c. 30 b.c.e. to 38 c.e.) is generally given credit for describing the four cardinal signs of inflammation as rubor et tumor cum calore et dolore: redness and swelling with heat and pain. This nonspecific response of tissues is induced by diverse insults or stimuli. Most observations suggest that the inflammatory response is a beneficial reaction of tissues to injury, leading to removal of the inducing agent and repair of the injured tissue. However, if the stimulus persists, the process may become chronic and produce permanent tissue damage or inappropriate healing.
New results on ( f , g )-invariance

Abstract The existing result for a nonsingular and involutive distribution Δ to be ( f, g)- invariant has a priori assumption that (G + Δ)/Δ is nonsingular. This paper treats the problem of ( f, g)- invariance for the case where (G + Δ)/Δ is singular. Necessary and sufficient conditions for a nonsingular and involutive distribution to be ( f, g)- invariant are presented. The constructive proof provides an algorithm for the construction of the feedback law.
Improved Guarantees for Agnostic Learning of Disjunctions.

Given some arbitrary distribution D over {0, 1}n and arbitrary target function c∗, the problem of agnostic learning of disjunctions is to achieve an error rate comparable to the error OPTdisj of the best disjunction with respect to (D, c∗). Achieving error O(n · OPTdisj) + ǫ is trivial, and Winnow [13] achieves error O(r ·OPTdisj) + ǫ, where r is the number of relevant variables in the best disjunction. In recent work, Peleg [14] shows how to achieve a bound of O( √ n ·OPTdisj)+ ǫ in polynomial time. In this paper we improve on Peleg’s bound, giving a polynomial-time algorithm achieving a bound of O(n ·OPTdisj) + ǫ for any constant α > 0. The heart of the algorithm is a method for weak-learning when OPTdisj = O(1/n), which can then be fed into existing agnostic boosting procedures to achieve the desired guarantee.
Lean mass and fat mass predict bone mineral density in middle-aged individuals with noninsulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus

Summary Objective Despite high bone mineral density (BMD), persons with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk of fracture. The relationship between body composition and BMD in noninsulin-requiring diabetes is unclear. The aim was to examine how fat and lean mass independently affect the skeleton in this population. Research design and methods Subjects for this cross-sectional analysis were men (n = 78) and women (n = 56) aged 40–65 years (56 ± 6 years) with uncomplicated, noninsulin-requiring type 2 diabetes. Total body fat and lean mass, total body, hip and lumbar spine BMD were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Magnetic resonance imaging measured total abdominal, visceral and subcutaneous (SQ) fat. Results Subjects had normal all-site BMD and were obese to overweight (body mass index 29–41 kg/m2) with controlled diabetes (HbA1c women 6·6 ± 1·2%, men 6·7 ± 1·6%). Lean mass was positively associated with total body, hip, femoral neck and hip BMD in both sexes. Fat mass, abdominal total and SQ fat were associated with total body and hip BMD in women. In multivariate analyses adjusted for sex, lean mass significantly predicted total, hip and femoral neck BMD in men and women. In unadjusted models, lean mass continued to predict BMD at these sites in men; fat mass also predicted total body, femoral and hip BMD in women. Conclusions In men and women with uncomplicated, noninsulin-requiring diabetes, lean mass significantly predicted BMD at the total body, hip and femoral neck. Further research is needed to determine whether acquisition or maintenance of lean mass in T2DM can prevent hip fracture in this at-risk population.
TESTING ECOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR BIOGEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES

Barriers to dispersal and resulting biogeographic boundaries are responsible for much of life's diversity. Distinguishing the contribution of ecological, historical, and stochastic processes to the origin and maintenance of biogeographic boundaries, however, is a longstanding challenge. Taking advantage of newly available data and methods--including environmental niche models and associated comparative metrics--we develop a framework to test two possible ecological explanations for biogeographic boundaries: (1) sharp environmental gradients and (2) ribbons of unsuitable habitat dividing two highly suitable regions. We test each of these hypotheses against the null expectation that environmental variation across a given boundary is no greater than expected by chance. We apply this framework to a pair of Hispaniolan Anolis lizards (A. chlorocyanus and A. coelestinus) distributed on the either side of this island's most important biogeographic boundary. Integrating our results with historical biogeographic analysis, we find that a ribbon of particularly unsuitable habitat is acting to maintain a boundary between species that initially diverged on distinct paleo-islands, which merged to form present-day Hispaniola in the Miocene.
Examining the role of amenities in migration decisions: A structural estimation approach

I develop a discrete choice dynamic migration model to examine the importance of amenity values in immigrants' migration decisions. The model accounts for differentials in both wages and location-specific amenities as determinants of migration decisions, and the size of migrants' networks is allowed to influence the value of the US location choice as well. By estimating the model using panel data from the Mexican Migration Project, I find that Mexican migrants place substantial value on amenities in the United States, which are shown to fall precipitously with migrants' age. Simulation results from policy experiments indicate that Mexican immigrants are more responsive to a policy that reduces the amenity values related to unauthorized US residence than to an increase in the number of border patrol officers.
Pairing and rotational properties of actinides and superheavy nuclei in covariant density functional theory

The cranked relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory has been applied for a systematic study of pairing and rotational properties of actinides and light superheavy nuclei. Pairing correlations are taken into account by the Brink-Booker part of finite-range Gogny D1S force. For the first time, in the covariant density functional theory (CDFT) framework, the pairing properties of deformed nuclei are studied via the quantities (such as three-point ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{(3)}$ indicators) related to odd-even mass staggerings. The investigation of the moments of inertia at low spin and the ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}^{(3)}$ indicators shows the need for an attenuation of the strength of the Brink-Booker part of the Gogny D1S force in pairing channel. The investigation of rotational properties of even-even and odd-mass nuclei at normal deformation, performed in the density functional theory framework in such a systematic way for the first time, reveals that in the majority of the cases the experimental data are well described. These include the evolution of the moments of inertia with spin, band crossings in the $A\ensuremath{\ge}242$ nuclei, the impact of the particle in specific orbital on the moments of inertia in odd-mass nuclei. The analysis of the discrepancies between theory and experiment in the band crossing region of $A\ensuremath{\le}240$ nuclei suggests the stabilization of octupole deformation at high spin, not included in the present calculations. The evolution of pairing with deformation, which is important for the fission barriers, has been investigated via the analysis of the moments of inertia in the superdeformed minimum. The dependence of the results on the CDFT parametrization has been studied by comparing the results of the calculations obtained with the NL1 and NL3* parametrizations.
Opposite sex touch avoidance: A national replication and extension

Virtually all previous research on touch avoidance was conducted in the Northeast region of the United States (U.S.). The present study replicated and extended Andersen and Leibowitz' (1978) research on touch avoidance by testing hypotheses for nearly 4,000 subjects at 40 universities from all socio-cultural regions of the United States. Results confirmed previous research, with the pattern of results at each of 40 universities showing considerable consistency. Opposite sex touch avoidance was higher for females than males, was positively related to communication apprehension, and was negatively related to verbal predispositions to communicate, open communicator style, and self-esteem. Some regional variations were uncovered, but they failed to correspond to political or cultural taxonomies of U.S. regions. Ideas for future research on regional patterns of communication and on touch avoidance are discussed.
Regional speech rates in the United States: A preliminary analysis

This study compared rates of speech found in naturally occurring contexts in the United States. Ninety‐three samples of speech were recorded at regional, public universities in various locations in the United States including the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, and the Upper Midwest. The speech samples were taken from two contexts, university courses in public speaking and courses in group discussion. Rates in words per minute were calculated from transcriptions and comparisons were made on the basis of gender, region, and context. Significant differences were found for context. However, there were no significant differences for gender or region. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Navigation Error Analysis of Atom Interferometer Inertial Sensor

The recent development of the atom interferometer and its demonstration as an inertial sensor of acceleration and rotation rate augur a new generation of inertial navigation systems that would rival today's satellite navigation accuracy at the few-meter level. This paper reviews the principles of inertial measurement using the atom interferometer from a rudimentary viewpoint to illustrate the fundamentals and to highlight some of the potential shortcomings with a particular type, the cold-atom interferometer. One of these shortcomings is the fact that this interferometer requires a finite period of time during which the atoms are prepared (cooled) before they enter the interferometer and respond to its dynamics relative to an inertial frame. This lapse in the measurement duty cycle could be supplemented with very precise conventional inertial measurement units (IMUs), or eliminated with multiple, interleaved atom interferometers. Error analyses show that cold-atom interferometric IMUs that capture 50 percent of the dynamics must be coupled with conventional IMUs that are 50 times more accurate than typical navigation-grade units to sustain a horizontal position error of under 5 m (root mean square) after 1 h.
Expression of an exogenous gene in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes

We have constructed a plasmid vector system into which a segment of the Trypanosoma cruzi gene encoding the spliced leader (SL) has been inserted to drive expression of a downstream gene encoding bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). We used this construct to establish conditions that permit reproducible transfection of cultured T. cruzi epimastigotes where transfection was mediated by electroporation and measured by assaying expression of CAT. CAT activity was detected only in T. cruzi lysates from cells transfected with constructs containing a properly oriented SL gene; constructs in which the gene was inserted in reverse orientation did not express CAT. The optimal electric field strength, cell density and DNA concentration for efficient transfection were established. This and similar systems will permit genetic dissection of this parasite.
VASCULAR INVASION PREDICTS RECURRENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: STRATIFICATION OF RISK BASED ON PATHOLOGIC VARIABLES

Objectives. To determine whether vascular invasion (VI) is an independent predictor of prostate cancer recurrence and/or survival and to stratify risk of recurrence in patients with VI. Methods. Vascular invasion status was documented in 620 radical prostatectomy specimens with an average of 7.5 years of follow-up. The relationship between VI and other clinical and pathologic features was tested. Vascular invasion as an independent predictor of recurrence was investigated by logistic regression analysis. Survival analyses and stratification of VI patients was developed with Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Results. Vascular invasion was identified in 110 patients (18%) and correlated significantly (P 0.0001) with high Gleason grade, extracapsular extension (EPE), seminal vesicle invasion, increasing cancer volumes, positive margins, and elevated preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that VI was a strong and independent predictor for disease recurrence, when considered with grade, EPE, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node involvement, cancer volume, preoperative PSA levels, and positive margins. At 12 years after radical prostatectomy, patients with VI demonstrated significantly lower disease-specific survival (P 0.0005). Among patients with VI, stratification of grade, EPE, and the number of VI foci identified three significantly different prognostic groups. Conclusions. In long-term follow-up, VI was a significant predictor of prostate cancer recurrence and death after radical prostatectomy. In patients with VI, high Gleason grade, EPE, and more than five foci of VI are associated with poor prognosis. UROLOGY 64: 749‐753, 2004. © 2004 Elsevier Inc.
Balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of the aorta

Balloon angioplasty of native coarctations of the aorta is one of the most controversial facets of the pediatric interventional cardiologist's practice. We have evaluated the history and experimental rationale of this technology. Presently accepted techniques are outlined and controversies intrinsic in performance of this procedure are discussed. Acute, short-term, and long-term results are reviewed with particular emphasis on differences in success of the procedure as related to patient age. Common and significant complications are discussed and in some cases compared to analogous surgical complications. Newer technologies and approaches to interventional therapy for coarctation of the aorta are also discussed.
Case Report Gonococcal Endocarditis in a Patient with Mitral Valve Prolapse: Study of Host Immunology and Organism Characteristics

The first case of gonococcal endocarditis on a prolapsing mitral valve is reported. The organism was found to be highly sensitive to penicillin G, Arg−Hyp−Ura−, and sensitive to the bactericidal action of normal serum. This combination of characteristics in a strain of Neisseria gonorrheae causing systemic disease is distinctly unusual. With high dose penicillin therapy the immunologic parameters returned to normal and the patient made an uneventful recovery. High levels of circulating immune complexes were detected in the patient’s serum.