cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Survey of Sleep Medicine Physician Perceptions on the Surgical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Purpose Surgical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) varies by specialty. Our survey sought to answer 3 principal questions: 1) To which surgical specialists are sleep physicians referring patients for upper airway surgery? 2) Which surgical treatment do sleep specialists find to be most effective in treating OSA? 3) Do sleep medicine physicians believe that maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is worthwhile to patients who are surgical candidates? Materials and Methods We formulated a cross-sectional survey. The study sample was obtained by identifying all practices that advertised as sleep medicine specialists in Houston, Texas, by using Internet searches. Physicians who treated children were excluded. Seventy-nine surveys were hand delivered to offices in the greater Houston area; the survey included 6 questions to determine referral and surgical preferences for OSA. Variable responses included years in practice, specialty, and a comments section. A 10-point Likert scale was used to assess sleep medicine physicians' referral patterns and perceptions regarding surgical treatment of OSA. Numerical data were analyzed by calculating mean values and by dividing responses into “disagree” ( 5). Results Twenty-six surveys were returned. More sleep medicine physicians referred patients to ear, nose, and throat surgeons (52%) than to oral and maxillofacial surgeons (20%). MMA was viewed as the most effective surgery (72%), followed by “none” (16%), “other” (8%), and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (4%). More respondents viewed the benefits versus risks as favorable for MMA (44%) than for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (29%). Conclusions The results of this survey show that sleep medicine physicians in the greater Houston area view MMA as the most favorable and effective surgical option for treating OSA. Although MMA was most often referred for, more respondents refer patients to ear, nose, and throat surgeons than to oral and maxillofacial surgeons for surgical management of OSA. Years in practice displayed no correlation in referral patterns or preference for type of OSA surgery.
Viral epitope-specific T cell responses induced in chronic, hepatitis C virus-infected patients.

Abstract Background Approximate 180 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Historically, vaccination has been the most effective strategy for controlling infections of such major health concern. Therapeutic vaccine strategies for HCV, however, have demonstrated negligible success. Aim Demonstrate the ability of highly-conserved viral epitopes to overcome the immune dysfunction often associated with chronic HCV infections. Methods T cells from five chronic, HCV-infected patients were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry. The ex vivo T cell responses to highly-conserved viral epitopes were assessed by ELISpot assay and cytokine bead array analysis. Results Both HLA-DRB-1- and HLA-A2-restricted viral epitopes induced specific, TH1-type cytokine production by T cells derived from the patients. Induction occurred despite expression of cell-surface inhibitory molecules and the presence of regulatory T cells. Conclusion These findings support the potential ability of a broad, multi-epitope-based therapeutic vaccine to elicit virus-specific immune responses in chronic hepatitis C virus-infected patients.
Clustering-Based Online Player Modeling

Being able to imitate individual players in a game can benefit game development by providing a means to create a variety of autonomous agents and aid understanding of which aspects of game states influence game-play. This paper presents a clustering and locally weighted regression method for modeling and imitating individual players. The algorithm first learns a generic player cluster model that is updated online to capture an individual’s game-play tendencies. The models can then be used to play the game or for analysis to identify how different players react to separate aspects of game states. The method is demonstrated on a tablet-based trajectory generation game called Space Navigator.
Issues of Aging: An Exploration of Asian American Families in the Southern Region of the United States from the Perspective of Community Leaders

This paper focuses on older adults and the aging concerns of this population among groups of Asian American communities in a specific state in the southern region of the United States. A qualitative approach was used to gain a more in-depth understanding of issues related to aging from caregivers who are Asian American leaders from a community perspective. Areas of concern identified include intergenerational dynamics, physical and mental health concerns, and the need for a community center and living facility. The paper concludes with discussion on how to address the areas of concern.
The Educational Efficiency of Employing a Three-Tier Model of Academic Supports: Providing Early, Effective Assistance to Students Who Struggle

This paper presentation will explore the intricacies of the Three-Tier Model of Academic Supports, frequently referred to as Response to Intervention. Processes and procedures for implementing the Three-Tier Model in K-12 schools will be described. The goal is to show attendees how to develop a systemic organizational method that will allow schools to move away from the traditional special education structure and toward a program that assists all students on an as-needed basis. Historically, the labeling of certain students as "learning disabled" and providing assistance based on this label has resulted in a bifurcated system of education that uses a protocol of testing to differentiate between students who qualify for special assistance and those who do not. Unfortunately, many struggling students do not qualify and are denied access to specialized assistance. Other students who do qualify may function quite well in the regular education classroom. The special education program as currently conceived has become overly expensive, frequently ineffective, and separates students in less than optimal ways. The Three-Tier Model of Academic Supports allows students to be served based on need rather than label, facilitates a precise focus on areas of weakness that can then be efficiently remedied, and permits students to move fluidly between the levels of support as need dictates. In addition to an academic focus in K-12 education, a three-tier model of supports structure can be used effectively with a behavioral focus and can also be used in any setting in which people learn at different rates.
Review of Kecskes, Istvan (2017)Explorations into Chinese as a Second Language

This article reviews Explorations into Chinese as a Second Language by Istvan Kecskes 978-3-319-54026-9
Light-regulated promoters for tunable, temporal, and affordable control of fungal gene expression

Regulatable promoters are important genetic tools, particularly for assigning function to essential and redundant genes. They can also be used to control the expression of enzymes that influence metabolic flux or protein secretion, thereby optimizing product yield in bioindustry. This review will focus on regulatable systems for use in filamentous fungi, an important group of organisms whose members include key research models, devastating pathogens of plants and animals, and exploitable cell factories. Though we will begin by cataloging those promoters that are controlled by nutritional or chemical means, our primary focus will rest on those who can be controlled by a literal flip-of-the-switch: promoters of light-regulated genes. The vvd promoter of Neurospora will first serve as a paradigm for how light-driven systems can provide tight, robust, tunable, and temporal control of either autologous or heterologous fungal proteins. We will then discuss a theoretical approach to, and practical considerations for, the development of such promoters in other species. To this end, we have compiled genes from six previously published light-regulated transcriptomic studies to guide the search for suitable photoregulatable promoters in your fungus of interest.
Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Central Nervous System Autoimmunity: A Case Series (P3.418)

Objective: N/A Background: Clinical trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated significant survival benefits in a variety of advanced malignancies. However, they have also been associated with a number of immune-related adverse effects. Design/Methods: We present three cases of previously unreported central nervous system autoimmunity following checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Our patients had CNS manifestations ranging from bilateral ballismus with new MRI changes, neurosarcoidosis, and GAD antibody associated cerebellar degeneration. Results: All of the above cases seem unlikely to be purely paraneoplastic given the temporal association with the cancer immunotherapy. Treatment approaches to central nervous system immune-related adverse events widely vary and the prognosis is variable. Conclusions: Further studies into checkpoint inhibitor-induced neurologic immune disease are warranted. Early detection is crucial to adequately address the manifestations of immune therapy related neurologic adverse effects. Study Supported by: N/A Disclosure: Dr. Shah has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dunn-Pirio has nothing to disclose. Dr. Luedke has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morgenlander has nothing to disclose. Dr. Skeen has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Biogen, Novartis, Celgene, Mallinckrodt, genentech and genzyme. Dr. Skeen has received research support from Novartis and Abbvi. Dr. Eckstein has nothing to disclose.
Explaining Style Growth and Change: A Richer Semiotic Model

For the past four years I have been working with a concept of style as competency, in the sense of its use by Chomsky (1965) in linguistics and Jonathan Culler (1975) in his Structuralist Poetics. It is the ‘code’ of Jakob-son’s (1960) semiotic poetics, with emphasis on its usability, its functionality as the shared ‘language’ between sender and receiver, between composer and educated listener. Style as competency differs from the literary critic’s varied usage of style as either the sum of distinctive traits or as deviance from a norm. The literary critic tends to view style as a part of works, whereas for a style theorist, the ‘code’ and the ‘message’, in Jakobson’s terms, are distinct theoretical categories.
Structural parameters effect on signal integrity of inter-tier vias in 3D stacking technology

This paper presents a signal integrity study of 3-D Vias in three-dimensional integrated circuits based on their structural parameters, which include Via height, Via pitch, and Via size. Additionally, we show the electrical characteristics and performance of 3D interconnect for a stacked Vias structure. All Simulation results are based on 0.15 μm MIT 3DFDSOI technology, and obtained using the 3D Full wave simulator (HFSS) From Ansoft Corporation and the Spice-type Advanced Design System simulator (ADS) From Keysight Technologies to model and characterize 3-D Vias in frequency and time domains respectively.
Annals Graphic Medicine - Caring for Dying Patients: Visual Narratives From the Intensive Care Unit

In this powerful series of drawings, Dr. Bao looks at and into her patients in the intensive care unit as she reflects on how daily medical interventions affect a patient's experience.
Improving the sensitivity of traditional Western blotting via Streptavidin containing Poly-horseradish peroxidase (PolyHRP).

Immunoassays such as ELISAs and Western blotting have been the common choice for protein validation studies for the past several decades. Technical advancements and modifications are continuously being developed to enhance the detection sensitivity of these procedures. Among them, Streptavidin-containing poly-horseradish peroxidase (PolyHRP) based detection strategies have been shown to improve signals in ELISA. The use of commercially available Streptavidin and antibodies conjugated with many HRPs (PolyHRPs) to potentially enhance the detection sensitivity in Western blotting has not been previously investigated in a comprehensive manner. The use of PolyHRP-secondary antibody instead of HRP-secondary antibody increased the Western blotting sensitivity up to 85% depending on the primary antibody used. The use of a biotinylated secondary antibody and commercially available Streptavidin-conjugated with HRP or PolyHRP all resulted in increased sensitivity with respect to antigen detection. Utilizing a biotinylated secondary antibody and Streptavidin-conjugated PolyHRP resulted in as much as a 110-fold increase in Western blotting sensitivity over traditional Western blotting methods. Quantification of troponin I in rat heart lysates showed that the traditional Western blotting method only detected troponin I in ≥2 μg of lysate while Streptavidin-conjugated PolyHRP20 detected troponin I in ≥50 ng of lysate. A modified blocking procedure is also described that eliminated the interference caused by the endogenous biotinylated proteins. These results suggest that Streptavidin-conjugated PolyHRP and PolyHRP secondary antibodies are likely to be commonly utilized for Western blots in the future.
B cell targeted therapies in autoimmune disease.

Purpose of review FDA-approved B cell-targeted therapy has expanded to a multitude of autoimmune diseases ranging from organ specific diseases, like pemphigus and multiple sclerosis, to systemic diseases such as ANCA-associated vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this review, we discuss the variability in response to B cell-targeted therapies with a focus on the diversity of human B cells and plasma cells, and will discuss several of the promising new B cell-targeted therapies. Recent finding The pathogenic roles for B cells include autoantibody-dependent and autoantibody-independent functions whose importance may vary across diseases or even in subsets of patients with the same disease. Recent data have further demonstrated the diversity of human B cell subsets that contribute to disease as well as novel pathways of B cell activation in autoimmune disease. The importance of eliminating autoreactive B cells and plasma cells will be discussed, as well as new approaches to do so. Summary The past several years has witnessed significant advances in our knowledge of human B cell subsets and function. This has created a nuanced picture of the diverse ways B cells contribute to autoimmunity and an ever-expanding armamentarium of B cell-targeted therapies.
Chemoselective nucleophilic additions to perfluorocyclopentene: An efficient building block to highly fluorinated molecules

Abstract A number of new fluorinated molecules were synthesized utilizing the chemoselective nucleophillic addition to perfluorocyclopentene (PFCP). These compounds were prepared under relatively mild conditions, requirering little or no further purification, and obtained in high yield. Furthermore, the compounds were designed to have reactive end groups for ease of incorporation into a polymer or material. As such, additional transformations were utilized to demonstrate this and are also presented. These molecules show the diverse pool of compounds and reactive monomers that can be prepared via this versatile starting material.
Comito, L. (Ed.). Tech for all: Moving beyond the digital divide: Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019. 191 pp., $45.00 (pbk), ISBN 978-1-5381-2218-1

Providing access to current and emerging technologies for the economically disadvantaged, special populations, and underserved areas of local communities has always been a focus of public libraries...
Reactivity and recovery in romantic relationships following a trauma analog: Examination of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in community couples.

Emotion regulation has important implications for individual and relationship health. Psychophysiological responses, such as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), can serve as a key indicator of emotion regulation processes subsequent to a stressor and may be the process by which couples confer health benefits. Moreover, partners in romantic relationships can mutually impact physiological states both during times of stress and times of support. The current study examined physiological reactivity through RSA during a laboratory stress-induction (i.e., stressful-film trauma analog) and recovery within the context of a romantic relationship. Sex, relationship health, and individual mental health indicators were examined as moderators of reactivity and recovery. Forty-five (n = 90 individuals) community couples, primarily White (n = 75, 83.3%), heterosexual (n = 63, 70.0%), and dating (n = 67, 74.4%), were examined. Both partners' RSA were measured continuously through a series of baseline tasks, a stressful-film task, and a post-film interaction task. Reactivity and recovery trajectories were moderated by sex, study task (i.e., baseline, film, and post-film), and individual mental health (ps < .05). Repeated-measures actor partner interdependence modeling analyses revealed a strong self-regulatory (i.e., actor) effect across all tasks as well as co-regulation (i.e., partner effects) during the post-film interaction task. Findings provided some evidence of stress transmission to the non-exposed partner. This study offers initial evidence of self- and co-regulation following a laboratory stress-induction and potential predictors and moderations of the set point and stability of these regulatory dynamics. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Enhancing polypropylene bioconversion and lipogenesis by Yarrowia lipolytica using a chemical/biological hybrid process.

Abstract Plastic waste can serve as a feedstock for microbial bioconversion using a chemical/biological hybrid strategy. We developed a polypropylene (PP) upcycling process that coupled pyrolysis with bioconversion by the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. Using virgin PP, we optimized pH, inoculum density, C/N ratio, and osmolarity and increased the fatty acid titer nearly four-fold to 1.9 g L−1, with 41 percent cellular fatty acid content, the highest content reported to date for plastic-to-lipid microbial bioconversion. The highest fatty acid titer was achieved with an inoculum density of 3 (OD 600 nm), pH = 6.0 and C/N ratio of 80:1. Increasing the medium osmolarity by adding sodium chloride adversely affected cell growth and did not improve the fatty acid titer. The maximum fatty acid titer occurred under conditions that balanced cell growth versus lipogenesis. Using postconsumer PP, the fatty acid titer was significantly lower (0.13 g L−1). Overall, the work demonstrates the potential and the challenges associated with microbial bioconversion of plastics.
Exhibitions of Impact: Introducing the Special Issue:

The Exhibitions of Impact (EOI) special issue of American Behavioral Scientist consists of six articles from authors in communication studies and rhetoric, public health, medicine and bioethics, me...
Comparison of Fault Detection Techniques for an Ocean Turbine

The Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Florida Atlantic University, which supersedes the Center for Ocean Energy Technology (Driscoll et al., 2008), is conducting research and development to support the implementation of ocean current and ocean thermal energy technologies for a low environmental-impact extraction of energy. Fault detection capability is needed for these offshore ocean turbines (and other systems) because access to these machines for maintenance is difficult and costly. Techniques that offer reliable and early (incipient) detection allow for preventive maintenance to prevent the development of secondary faults that may be generated by the primary faults. Several methods for processing and displaying vibration data are compared and evaluated relative to synergistic detection utilizing data from a prototype (dynamometer) of an ocean current turbine. The results may generically apply to other machines, such as wind turbines.
An intersectional approach to understanding the correlates of depression in college students: Discrimination, social status, and identity.

We assessed the impact of bearing multiple marginalized identities, experiencing discrimination and perceived social status on the prevalence of depression in college students using an intersection...
Implementation of a real-time, ultrasound-guided prostate HDR brachytherapy program.

This work presents a comprehensive commissioning and workflow development process of a real-time, ultrasound (US) image-guided treatment planning system (TPS), a stepper and a US unit. To adequately benchmark the system, commissioning tasks were separated into (1) US imaging, (2) stepper mechanical, and (3) treatment planning aspects. Quality assurance US imaging measurements were performed following the AAPM TG-128 and GEC-ESTRO recommendations and consisted of benchmarking the spatial resolution, accuracy, and low-contrast detectability. Mechanical tests were first used to benchmark the electronic encoders within the stepper and were later expanded to evaluate the needle free length calculation accuracy. Needle reconstruction accuracy was rigorously evaluated at the treatment planning level. The calibration length of each probe was redundantly checked between the calculated and measured needle free length, which was found to be within 1 mm for a variety of scenarios. Needle placement relative to a reference fiducial and coincidence of imaging coordinate origins were verified to within 1 mm in both sagittal and transverse imaging planes. The source strength was also calibrated within the interstitial needle and was found to be 1.14% lower than when measured in a plastic needle. Dose calculations in the TPS and secondary dose calculation software were benchmarked against manual TG-43 calculations. Calculations among the three calculation methods agreed within 1% for all calculated points. Source positioning and dummy coincidence was tested following the recommendations of the TG-40 report. Finally, the development of the clinical workflow, checklists, and planning objectives are discussed and included within this report. The commissioning of real-time, US-guided HDR prostate systems requires careful consideration among several facets including the image quality, dosimetric, and mechanical accuracy. The TPS relies on each of these components to develop and administer a treatment plan, and as such, should be carefully examined.
Architecture of the Adenovirus Capsid.

Smith, Kendall O. (Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.), Warren D. Gehle, and Melvin D. Trousdale. Architecture of the adenovirus capsid. J. Bacteriol. 90:254–261. 1965.—The capsids of adenovirus type 2 were fragmented by treatment with low concentrations of sodium lauryl sulfate. The clusters of capsomeres resulting from this treatment displayed characteristic patterns. Some of these clusters, each consisting of nine capsomeres, interlocked so as to form the triangular facets of the viral icosahedron. There is some evidence which suggests that the capsomeres are connected to each other by filamentous structures located near their bases. Connections between capsomeres along the edges and at the vertices of the triangular facets were the first to break when particles were treated with sodium lauryl sulfate. Further treatment broke connections between other capsomeres. These data provide additional information concerning the capsomere arrangements and the fine structure of adenoviruses. Images
Numerical Analysis Of 2-D Nonlinear Cable Equations With Applications To Low-Tension Problems

Two efficient techniques are presented for analyzing cables under zero or low tension. First, an explicit finite-difference algorithm that is stable for zero-tension problems is presented. Secondly, an implicit finite-difference algorithm, which incorporates the effects of bending stiffness, is discussed. The importance of bending stiffness is shown for low-tension problems and the method proves stable, regardless of the cable tension magnitude. Therefore, the implicit method provides an efficient means with which to study low-tension cable problems in a more physically accurate way.
The N=8 superconformal bootstrap in three dimensions

We analyze the constraints imposed by unitarity and crossing symmetry on the four-point function of the stress-tensor multiplet of $$ \mathcal{N}=8 $$ superconformal field theories in three dimensions. We first derive the superconformal blocks by analyzing the superconformal Ward identity. Our results imply that the OPE of the primary operator of the stress-tensor multiplet with itself must have parity symmetry. We then analyze the relations between the crossing equations, and we find that these equations are mostly redundant. We implement the independent crossing constraints numerically and find bounds on OPE coefficients and operator dimensions as a function of the stress-tensor central charge. To make contact with known $$ \mathcal{N}=8 $$ superconformal field theories, we compute this central charge in a few particular cases using supersymmetric localization. For limiting values of the central charge, our numerical bounds are nearly saturated by the large N limit of ABJM theory and also by the free U(1) × U(1) ABJM theory.
Research on the Semantic Web-Based Technology of Knowledge Integration for Agricultural Production

Agricultural knowledge representation, organization and integrated application in distribute environment is a complex and difficult problem, mainly due to the distributed, polymorphic and heterogeneous characteristics of the agricultural knowledge resources. In order to overcome the problem, an application framework which supports the agricultural production knowledge integration based on semantic web technology was designed. The framework was divided into four layers including data layer, operation application layer, knowledge integration layer and knowledge service layer. The structure and function of each layer was introduced. The key techniques for knowledge representation and description, construction of knowledge chain, knowledge transformation method and knowledge retrieval and integration were studied. Finally, an agricultural knowledge semanteme retrieval prototype system was proposed. The new system was validated with more than 2000 documents describing agricultural production. The results show that the method established in the new system can improve the precision ratio effectively than the traditional methods.
Urban containment policies and physical activity. A time-series analysis of metropolitan areas, 1990-2002.

Background Urban containment policies attempt to manage the location, character, and timing of growth to support a variety of goals such as compact development, preservation of greenspace, and efficient use of infrastructure. Despite prior research evaluating the effects of urban containment policies on land use, housing, and transportation outcomes, the public health implications of these policies remain unexplored. This ecologic study examines relationships among urban containment policies, state adoption of growth-management legislation, and population levels of leisure and transportation-related physical activity in 63 large metropolitan statistical areas from 1990 to 2002. Methods Multiple data sources were combined, including surveys of urban containment policies, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the U.S. Census of Population, the National Resources Inventory, and the Texas Transportation Institute Urban Mobility Study. Mixed models were used to examine whether urban containment policies and state adoption of growth-management legislation were associated with population levels of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and walking/bicycling to work over time. Results Strong urban containment policies were associated with higher population levels of LTPA and walking/bicycling to work during the study period. Additionally, residents of states with legislation mandating urban growth boundaries reported significantly more minutes of LTPA/week compared to residents of states without such policies. Weak urban containment policies showed inconsistent relationships with physical activity. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence that strong urban containment policies are associated with higher population levels of LTPA and active commuting. Future research should examine potential synergies among state, metropolitan, and local policy processes that may strengthen these relationships.
Exponential Characteristic Spatial Quadrature for Discrete Ordinates Radiation Transport with Rectangular Cells

The exponential characteristic (EC) spatial quadrature for discrete ordinates neutral particle transport previously introduced in slab geometry is extended here to x-y geometry with rectangular cells. The method is derived and compared with current methods. It is similar to the linear characteristic (LC) quadrature (a linear-linear moments method) but differs by assuming an exponential distribution of the scattering source within each cell, S(x) = a exp(bx + cy), whose parameters are rootsolved to match the known (from the previous iteration) spatial average and first moments of the source over the cell. Similarly, EC assumes exponential distributions of flux along cell edges through which particles enter the cell, with parameters chosen to match the average and first moments of flux, as passed from the adjacent, upstream cells (or as determined by boundary conditions). Like the linear adaptive (LA) method, EC is positive and nonlinear. It is more accurate than LA and does not require subdivision of cells. The nonlinearity has not interfered with convergence. The exponential moment functions, which were introduced with the slab geometry method, are extended to arbitrary dimensions (numbers of arguments) and used to avoid numerical ill conditioning. As in slab geometry, the method approaches O({Delta}x{sup 4}) globalmore » truncation error on fine-enough meshes, while the error is insensitive to mesh size for coarse meshes. Performance of the method is compared with that of the step characteristic, LC, linear nodal, step adaptive, and LA schemes. The EC method is a strong performer with scattering ratios ranging from 0 to 0.9 (the range tested), particularly so for lower scattering ratios. As in slab geometry, EC is computationally more costly per cell than current methods but can be accurate with very thick cells, leading to increased computational efficiency on appropriate problems.« less
Bohr- und Schlitzwandgeräte

Um Lasten von Bauwerken in tiefer liegende, tragfahige Schichten abzutragen, werden Bohrpfahle in verschiedensten Durchmessern und Langen ausgefuhrt. Weiter kommen Schlitzwande zur Anwendung z. B.
On the Wind-Driven Ocean Circulation1

Some aspects of existing theories of the wind-driven ocean circulation are examined with particular emphasis on the question of the need for the inclusion of lateral eddy viscosity to provide a mec...
RNASeq in C. elegans Following Manganese Exposure

Manganese is a metal that is required for optimal biological functioning of organisms. Absorption, cellular import and export, and excretion of manganese are all tightly regulated. While some genes involved in regulation, such as DMT-1 and ferroportin, are known, it is presumed that many more are involved and as yet unknown. Excessive exposure to manganese, usually in industrial settings such as mining or welding, can lead to neurotoxicity and a condition known as manganism that closely resembles Parkinson's disease. Elucidating transcriptional changes following manganese exposure could lead to the development of biomarkers for exposure. This unit presents a protocol for RNA sequencing in the worm Caenorhabditis elegans to assay for transcriptional changes following exposure to manganese. This protocol is adaptable to any environmental exposure in C. elegans. The protocol results in counts of gene transcripts in control versus exposed conditions and a ranked list of differentially expressed genes for further study.
Impact of an unstressed canopy conductance on the Bouchet‐Morton complementary relationship

[1] Indirect methods of quantifying evapotranspiration (λEa) are sought since regional estimations of λEa require prohibitive instrumentation or highly parameterized and data-intensive land surface models (e.g., involving temporally and spatially varying soil moisture, soil hydraulic properties, and vegetation properties). Complementary relationship (CR) models, based on Bouchet's hypothesis, are one such method of estimating λEa from routinely measured meteorological variables. Bouchet's CR states that given a change in regional surface moisture availability (MA), changes in λEa are reflected in changes in potential evapotranspiration (λEp), such that λEa + λEp = 2λE0, where λE0 is an assumed equilibrium condition at which λEa = λEp = λE0 given sufficiently large MA. Whereas λEp conceptually includes a transpiration component, the treatment of vegetation in existing CR applications varies from neglecting it to indirectly accounting for it through recalibration of Penman's empirical wind function. We utilize the First International Land Surface Climatology Field Experiment (FIFE) data set to demonstrate that inclusion of a maximum (i.e., unstressed) canopy conductance (gc,max) in a Penman equation with stability-corrected atmospheric conductance (i.e., replacing the Penman equation with an unstressed Penman–Monteith equation) significantly improves both CR convergence and symmetry. Inclusion of gc,max results in more accurate λEa estimates than are found with the Penman equation (using either Monin–Obukhov atmospheric conductance or using empirical wind functions in the literature). The proposed method also performs better than the 1992 advection-aridity CR method, modified to include atmospheric stability effects, which attributes noncomplementarity to horizontal advection and corrects for it by adjusting λE0 by the magnitude of the potential sensible heat flux (∣Hp∣), found from the surface energy balance of the λEp calculation. In the proposed method a similar energy balance adjustment occurs naturally because the finite canopy conductance causes an increase of surface temperature and sensible heat flux in the λEp energy balance calculation. The proposed method is consistent with CR explanations that rely on feedbacks with the boundary layer vapor pressure deficit since the impact of such changes on both λEp and λEa would be modulated by stomatal conductance.
p35, the Neuronal-specific Activator of Cyclin-dependent Kinase 5 (Cdk5) Is Degraded by the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) was originally isolated by its close homology to the human CDC2 gene, which is a key regulator of cell cycle progression. However, unlike other Cdks, the activity of Cdk5 is required in post-mitotic neurons. The neuronal-specific p35 protein, which shares no homology to cyclins, was identified by virtue of its association and activation of Cdk5. Gene targeting studies in mice have shown that the p35/Cdk5 kinase is required for the proper neuronal migration and development of the mammalian cortex. We have investigated the regulation of the p35/Cdk5 kinase. Here we show that p35, the activator of Cdk5, is a short-lived protein with a half-life (t1/2) of 20 to 30 min. Specific proteasome inhibitors such as lactacystin greatly stabilize p35 in vivo. Ubiquitination of p35 can be readily demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of Cdk5 activity by a specific Cdk inhibitor, roscovitine, or by overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of Cdk5 increases the stability of p35 by 2- to 3-fold. Furthermore, phosphorylation mutants of p35 also stabilize p35 2- to 3-fold. Together, these observations demonstrate that the p35/Cdk5 kinase can be subject to rapid turnover in vivo and suggest that phosphorylation of p35 upon Cdk5 kinase activation plays a autoregulatory role in p35 degradation mediated by ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis.
Ingroup Versus Outgroup Perceptions of the Characteristics of High-Risk Youth: Negative Stereotyping1

Adolescents tend to categorize themselves and their peers into discrete ingroups and outgroups. A comparison of ingroup versus outgroup perceptions of the characteristics of high-risk youth was investigated. Based on current stereotype research, we examined the perspective that outgroup members would hold a more extreme stereotype of high-risk youth compared to the perceptions of ingroup members. A total of 955 7th- and 10th-grade southern California adolescents completed a questionnaire regarding the characteristics of their own peer group and a high-risk group. Support was obtained for an extremity of judgement effect. Outgroup youth perceived that their high-risk peers engaged in fewer school and nonschool low-risk activities, more high-risk activities, and greater drug use than did ingroup members. Outgroup members also held perceptions of high-risk youth as less likely to hold a white-collar job than did the ingroup members. The perceptions that adolescents have of these groups may play major roles in their own social behavior. The implications of these results for future tobacco use prevention programs are considered.
Electric-Field Gradient at Cu Nuclei Due to an Interstitial Positive Muon

The electric-field gradient caused by an intersitital positive muon at near-neighbor Cu nuclei is calculated from first principles. The electron density distribution around the ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}$ is obtained using the self-consistent density-functional formalism and the Bloch enhancement factor is computed from a band-structure model based on the tight-binding scheme. Good agreement with recent experimental result is obtained.
Some Considerations Relating to Growth Chemistry of Amorphous SI and (SI,GE) Films and Devices

Recent experiments suggest that the chemistry responsible for the growth of amorphous and microcrystalline Si and (Si,Ge) alloys is more complicated than suggested by the standard model of growth. In particular, unexpected phenomena related to the density of ion flux, magnitude of ion energy and the presence of inert gas ions in the discharge suggest that both inert and reactive ion flux profoundly influence the growth of amorphous and microcrystalline films and devices. The influence of the ion flux is particularly important in understanding the growth of high quality a-(Si,Ge):H films. By carefully controlling this flux, we can change significantly the H bonding environment in a-(Si,Ge):H and produce high quality materials and devices. These observations suggest that the standard model of growth, which postulates that the growth is primarily limited by surface diffusion of radicals, and that H is eliminated by spontaneous bond breaking between neighboring Si-H bonds and formation of H2 molecule, does not describe the actual growth chemistry very well. Rather, the growth is limited by both surface diffusion of radicals and more fundamentally, by how rapidly H desorbs from surface and subsurface bonds. Ion induced desorption of excess H is shown to be very important in controlling the growth of both a-Si and a-(Si,Ge):H.
Promoting Inclusion in Secondary Classrooms

Although less frequently represented in the literature, inclusion on the secondary level represents a significant challenge for educators. Of particular concern are issues of academic complexity, pace of instruction, teacher attitudes, and the potential consequences of high-stakes testing. In this article, we first review the characteristics of effective inclusive classrooms and then discuss these characteristics with reference to secondary-level students with disabilities. Next, we describe recent undertakings in some areas of importance to secondary inclusive classrooms, including English, algebra, and biology classes, employing such interventions as peer tutoring, co-teaching, and strategy instruction. Inconsistencies in the observed patterns of results highlight the complexities of inclusive instruction on the secondary level.
Effects of tetracycline on pancreatic protein synthesis and secretion in pigeons.

Studies presented herein examine the effects of tetracycline hydrochloride on pancreatic protein synthesis and secretion in pigeons, in vivo and in vitro. An unexpected finding was the impaired transport or secretion of amylase by the pancreas of treated animals. The studies indicate that tetracycline hydrochloride interferes with processes of secretion as well as synthesis and suggest that gastrointestinal dysfunction observed in patients receiving the antibiotic may, in part, be due to defective pancreatic protein synthesis and secretion.
On the mechanism of the UDP-D-glucose-4'-epimerase. Evidence for a 3-keto-hexose intermediate.

Summary The E. coli UDP-D-glucose-4′-epimerase reacts with D-glucose in the presence of 5′-UMP to yield inactive enzyme-DPNH. The relative rates of D-glucose, D-glucose-3d, D-glucose-4d and D-glucose-5d are 1, 0.3, 1, 1, respectively. The primary isotope effect observed with glucose-3d, but not with glucose-4d is discussed in terms of the role of a 3-keto-hexose intermediate in the UDP-D-glucose-4′-epimerase.
Fibroblast growth factor–specific modulation of cellular response by syndecan-4

Proteoglycans participate in growth factor interaction with the cell surface through their heparan sulfate chains (HS), but it is not known if they are otherwise involved in growth factor signaling. It appears now that the syndecan-4 core protein, a transmembrane proteoglycan shown previously to bind phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and activate PKCα, participates in mediating the effects of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)2 on cell function. Mutations in the cytoplasmic tail of syndecan-4 that either reduced its affinity to PIP2 (PIP2−) or disrupted its postsynaptic density 95, disk large, zona occludens-1 (PDZ)-dependent binding (PDZ−) produced a FGF2-specific dominant negative phenotype in endothelial cells as evidenced by the marked decline of their migration and proliferation rates and the impairment of their capacity to form tubes. In both cases, the molecular mechanism was determined to consist of a decrease in the syndecan-4–dependent activation of PKCα. This decrease was caused either by inhibition of FGF2-induced syndecan-4 dephosphorylation in the case of the PDZ− mutation or by disruption of basolateral targeting of syndecan-4 and its associated PDZ-dependent complex in the case of the PIP2− mutation. These results suggest that PKCα activation and PDZ-mediated formation of a serine/threonine phosphatase-containing complex by syndecan-4 are downstream events of FGF2 signaling.
Seismic structure of the upper oceanic crust revealed by in situ Q logs

In situ seismic attenuation is computed through 2.1 km of the upper oceanic crust in the vicinity of ODP Hole 504B. The results strongly tie crustal properties to seismic measurables and observed geological structures: we find that the attenuation can be used to define seismic layer boundaries and is closely related to the intensity of vertical heterogeneity. The in situ attenuation Q−1 consists of both intrinsic and scattering contributions, but is dominated by the scattering attenuation unless porosities are near zero, when it approaches typical estimates from seismic refraction studies. The attenuation is analytically modeled by multiple backscattering from heterogeneities observed in a sonic Vp log and is found to decrease step-wise in relatively homogeneous layers from Q=25 to Q > 300 between the top of seismic layer 2A and a sharp discontinuity at 1.3 km depth. These changes correspond with heterogeneities at 1.0–1.3 m and at 5.6–10.0 m wavelengths that we interpret to be associated with fracturing and structure of pillow basalts and lava flows in seismic layers 2A and 2B. Although seismic velocity studies suggest that the layer 2/3 boundary also occurs at about 1.3 km, the large variation in Q (140 to 460) below this depth indicates that a seismically homogeneous and uniform layer 3 has not been reached in Hole 504B. We derive an empirical relationship between attenuation and porosity Q−1=Q0−1 eβϕ, where Q0−1=0.004 and β=25, that may be applicable at other oceanic crust locations and useful for constraining seismic inversion models.
FINE PARTICLE EMISSIONS FROM RESIDUAL FUEL OIL COMBUSTION: CHARACTERIZATION AND MECHANISMS OF FORMATION

Abstract : The characteristics of particulate matter (PM) emitted from residual fuel oil combustion in two types of combustion equipment were compared. A small commercial 732 kW rated fire-tube boiler yielded a weakly bimodal particulate size distribution (PSD) with over 99% of the mass contained in a broad coarse mode and only a small fraction of the mass in an accumulation mode consistent with ash vaporization. Bulk samples collected and classified by a cyclone indicate that 30% to 40% of the total particulate emissions were less than 2.5mum aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5). The coarse mode PM was rich in char, indicating relatively poor carbon burnout, although calculated combustion efficiencies exceeded 99%. This characteristic behavior is typical of small fire-tube boilers. Larger, utility-scale units firing residual oil were simulated using an 82 kW rated laboratory-scale refractory-lined combustor. Particulate matter emissions from this unit were in good agreement with published data including published emission factors. These data indicated that the refractory-lined combustor produced less total but more fine particulate emissions, as evident from a single unimodal PSD centered at <0.1 mum diameter. Bulk cyclone segregated samples indicated that here all the PM were smaller than 2.5 mum aerodynamic diameter, and loss on ignition (LOI) measurements suggested almost complete char burnout. These findings are interpreted in the light of possible mechanisms governing the release of organically bound refractory metals and may have particular significance in considering the effects of fuel oil combustion equipment type on the characteristic attributes of the fine PM emitted into the atmosphere and their ensuing health effects.
Pulsed Infrared Radiation Leads to Synchronous Contraction in Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes

Adult stem cell derived cardiomyocyte research has been limited by the inability of these cells to fully mature into fully functioning cardiomyocytes. Although these cells exhibit correct gene expression and protein production, they do not spontaneously contract as seen in vivo. Several methods are currently being investigated to stimulate the contraction of these cells in vitro. We investigated a method which uses pulsed infrared radiation (IR) to induce contraction. Through a mitochondrial calcium flux we were able to induce contraction in these cells. Although successful in stimulating contraction, the location of calcium release and absence of continuous contraction has led us to believe that a more physiological method of stimulating these cells is required for future studies.