cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glass and metals on crystalline oxides

Wetting and dewetting of liquid metals and glasses on ceramic substrates has been investigated using a combination of microscopy techniques. The influence of surface structure on dewetting behavior and the influence of the dewet droplets on the morphology of surface steps has been shown with the aid of experimental observations from many systems. The role of chemistry and kinetics on the wetting behavior has also been demonstrated. Finally, the possibility of exploiting reconstructed ceramic surfaces for nanopatterning of metal particles has been illustrated.
Binding and activation of the human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 promoter by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4.

Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is expressed in a tissue-specific fashion with high levels in liver, heart, kidney, and muscle, and low levels in most other tissues. The ALDH2 promoter was found to bind nuclear proteins at a pair of adjacent sites approximately 300 bp upstream from the translation start site, each of which was contacted at motifs containing the hexamer A/GGGTCA. The 3′ site was shown to bind in vitro translated HNF-4. It was also shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assay utilizing antibodies against nuclear factors and rat liver nuclear extracts to be bound by hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4), chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor I and II, and retinoid X receptors. A reporter construct containing four copies of this promoter element was activated by co-transfection of an HNF-4 expression plasmid in COS-1 and hepatoma cell lines. These results suggest that the tissue specificity of ALDH2 expression is in part determined by its activation by HNF-4.
Studies of coherent backscattering from opal photonic crystals

Abstract We studied the coherent backscattering (CBS) of light from synthetic opal photonic crystals with incomplete photonic gap. For incident angles far from the Bragg angle, we found that the CBS cones are similar to those observed in previous measurements of various random media and in excellent agreement with theory. However, for incident angles close to the Bragg angle, we observed a substantial broadening of the CBS cone. This broadening is due to the light intensity decay in course of propagation along the Bragg direction. We also measured the wavelength dependence of the CBS cone from opals and compare it to that of TiO 2 particle suspensions.
Ablation of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase isoform 4 prevents development of hypertrophy in a model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The mechanisms linking the expression of sarcomeric mutant proteins to the development of pathological hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remain poorly understood. We investigated the role of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase PMCA4 in the HCM phenotype using a transgenic model that expresses mutant (Glu180Gly) α-tropomyosin (Tm180) in heart. Immunoblot analysis revealed that cardiac PMCA4 expression was upregulated early in Tm180 disease pathogenesis. This was accompanied by an increase in levels of the L-type Ca(2+)-channel, which is implicated in pathological hypertrophy. When Tm180 mice were crossed with a PMCA4-null line, loss of PMCA4 caused the abrogation of hypertrophy in Tm180/PMCA4-null double mutant mice. RT-PCR analysis of Tm180/PMCA4-null hearts revealed blunting of the fetal program and reversion of pro-fibrotic Col1a1 and Col3a1 gene expression to wild-type levels. This was accompanied by evidence of reduced L-type Ca(2+)-channel expression, and diminished calcineurin activity. Expression of the metabolic substrate transporters glucose transporter 4 and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b was preserved and Tm180-related changes in mRNA levels of various contractile stress-related proteins including the cardiac ankyrin protein CARP and the N2B isoform of titin were reversed in Tm180/PMCA4-null hearts. cGMP levels were increased and phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein was elevated in Tm180/PMCA4-null hearts. These changes were associated with a sharp reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in Tm180/PMCA4-null hearts, which occurred despite persistence of Tm180-related impairment of relaxation dynamics. These results reveal a novel and specific role for PMCA4 in the Tm180 hypertrophic phenotype, with the "protective" effects of PMCA4 deficiency encompassing multiple determinants of HCM-related hypertrophy.
Best-possible bounds for the distribution of a sum — a problem of Kolmogorov

Recently, in answer to a question of Kolmogorov, G.D. Makarov obtained best-possible bounds for the distribution function of the sumX+Y of two random variables,X andY, whose individual distribution functions,FX andFY, are fixed. We show that these bounds follow directly from an inequality which has been known for some time. The techniques we employ, which are based on copulas and their properties, yield an insightful proof of the fact that these bounds are best-possible, settle the question of equality, and are computationally manageable. Furthermore, they extend to binary operations other than addition and to higher dimensions.
Transparency and Liquidity: A Controlled Experiment on Corporate Bonds

This paper reports the results of a unique experiment designed to assess the impact of last-sale trade reporting on the liquidity of BBB corporate bonds. We find that increased transparency has either a neutral or positive effect on market liquidity depending on trade size. Measures of trading activity such as daily trading volume and number of transactions per day suggest that increased transparency does not lead to greater trading interest. Except for very large trades, spreads on bonds whose prices become more transparent decline relative to bonds that experience no transparency change. However, we find no effects of transparency for very infrequently traded bonds. The observed decrease in transactions costs is consistent with investors' ability to negotiate better terms of trade with dealers once the investors have access to broader bond pricing data.
State and parameter estimation of microalgal photobioreactor cultures based on local irradiance measurement.

Local photosynthetic photon flux fluence rate (PPFFR) determined by a submersible 4π quantum micro-sensor was used in developing a versatile on-line state estimator for stirred-tank microalgal photobioreactor cultures. A marine micro-alga Dunaliella salina was used as a model organism in this study. On-line state estimation was realized using the extended Kalman filter (EKF), based on a state model of the photobioreactor and on-line local PPFFR measurement. The dynamic state model for the photobioreactor was derived based on mass-balance equations of the relevant states. The measurement equation was established based on an empirical correlation between the microalgal biomass concentration and the local PPFFR measured at a fixed point inside the photobioreactor. An internal model approach was used to estimate the specific growth rate without the need of state-based kinetic expression. The estimator was proven to be capable of estimating biomass concentration and specific growth rate, as well as phosphate and dissolved oxygen concentrations in a photobioreactor illuminated with either fixed or time-varying incident radiation. The quantum sensor was shown to be robust and able to quickly respond to dynamic changes in local PPFFR. In addition, the quantum sensor outputs were not affected by bubble aeration or agitation within the typical operating range. The strong filtering capacity of EKF gives the state estimator superior performance compared to direct calculation from the empirical biomass/local PPFFR correlation. This state estimation system makes use of inexpensive and reliable sensor hardware to report key process dynamics of microalgal photobioreactor cultures on-line, enabling improved operation of such a process.
Manufacture of porous biodegradable polymer conduits by an extrusion process for guided tissue regeneration

We have fabricated porous, biodegradable tubular conduits for guided tissue regeneration using a combined solvent casting and extrusion technique. The biodegradable polymers used in this study were poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA). A polymer/salt composite was first prepared by a solvent casting process. After drying, the composite was extruded to form a tubular construct. The salt particles in the construct were then leached out leaving a conduit with an open-pore structure. PLGA was studied as a model polymer to analyze the effects of salt weight fraction, salt particle size, and processing temperature on porosity and pore size of the extruded conduits. The porosity and pore size were found to increase with increasing salt weight fraction. Increasing the salt particle size increased the pore diameter but did not affect the porosity. High extrusion temperatures decreased the pore diameter without altering the porosity. Greater decrease in molecular weight was observed for conduits manufactured at higher temperatures. The mechanical properties of both PLGA and PLLA conduits were tested after degradation in vitro for up to 8 weeks. The modulus and failure strength of PLLA conduits were approximately 10 times higher than those of PLGA conduits. Failure strain was similar for both conduits. After degradation for 8 weeks, the molecular weights of the PLGA and PLLA conduits decreased to 38% and 43% of the initial values, respectively. However, both conduits maintained their shape and did not collapse. The PLGA also remained amorphous throughout the time course, while the crystallinity of PLLA increased from 5.2% to 11.5%. The potential of seeding the conduits with cells for transplantation or with biodegradable polymer microparticles for drug delivery was also tested with dyed microspheres. These porous tubular structures hold great promise for the regeneration of tissues which require tubular scaffolds such as peripheral nerve, long bone, intestine, or blood vessel.
Shoulder MR imaging normal variants and imaging artifacts

The appearance of osseous, labral, hyaline cartilage, ligament, muscle, and tendon variants and pitfalls are discussed with attention to the keys to distinguishing each of the findings from pathologic lesions of the shoulder.
Evaluation of heterogeneity in the association between congenital heart defects and variants of folate metabolism genes: conotruncal and left-sided cardiac defects.

BACKGROUND: Genetic variation in the folate metabolic pathway may influence the risk of congenital heart defects. This study was undertaken to assess the associations between the inherited and maternal genotypes for variants in folate-related genes and the risk of a composite heart phenotype that included two component phenotypes: conotruncal heart defects (CTDs) and left-sided cardiac lesions (LSLs). METHODS: Nine folate-related gene variants were evaluated using data from 692 case-parent triads (CTD, n = 419; LSL, n = 273). Log-linear analyses were used to test for heterogeneity of the genotype-phenotype association across the two component phenotypes (i.e., CTD and LSLs) and, when there was no evidence of heterogeneity, to assess the associations of the maternal and inherited genotypes with the composite phenotype. RESULTS: There was little evidence of heterogeneity of the genotype-phenotype association across the two component phenotypes or of an association between the genotypes and the composite phenotype. There was evidence of heterogeneity in the association of the maternal MTR A2756G genotype (p = 0.01) with CTDs and LSLs. However, further analyses suggested that the observed associations with the maternal MTR A2756G genotype might be confounded by parental imprinting effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses of these data provide little evidence that the folate-related gene variants evaluated in this study influence the risk of this composite congenital heart defect phenotype. However, larger and more comprehensive studies that evaluate parent-of-origin effects, as well as additional folate-related genes, are required to more fully explore the relation between folate and congenital heart defects. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Addressing the envelope for gene delivery.

In this issue of Blood , Zhou et al describe a strategy for modifying the envelope proteins of a lentiviral vector to display a single chain antibody fragment, or ScFv, specific for CD8 so that the lentiviral vector selectively binds to and transduces CD8+ T lymphocytes.[1][1] Retroviral and
The Control of Agricultural Processing and Distribution

change institutions so as to achieve additional power or prevent erosion of existing power. In food processing and distribution the main participants (controllers) are a few hundred corporations that, implicitly, have been granted the privilege, though not an explicit responsibility, of running this industrial sector in the manner of huge corporations elsewhere in the economy. Longtime ITT board chairman, Harold Geneen, acknowledges baldly these realities: "Increasingly, the larger corporations have become the primary custodians of making our entire system work" (Sampson, p. 125). This heavy dependence on huge corporations quite naturally raises questions bout the legitimacy of their custodianship, of whether they are running the system in the public interest. Resolving this issue frequently leads to a clash between the corporation and democratic institutions. Since the main threat to private power not disciplined by market forces is the state, corporate power may seek to subvert, neutralize, or co-opt the state, making it an ally rather than a foe in the struggle for control. Thus, inquiry into questions of control inevitably leads to questions of public policy; indeed, this is the major reason independent researchers need make inquiry into the matter. In order to contribute meaningfully to the public policy dialogue, it is necessary to understand the sources, nature, and consequences f corporate control. Determining the legitimacy of these consequences brings us to the area of performance norms, a subject to which I shall return. But first I shall examine briefly the economic sources of control, namely the structures of modem markets and the forces
The Life of Music in North India: The Organization of an Artistic Tradition

Daniel M. Neuman offers an account of North Indian Hindustani music culture and the changing social context of which it is part, as expressed in the thoughts and actions of its professional musicians. Drawing primarily from fieldwork performed in Delhi in 1969-71?from interviewing musicians, learning and performing on the Indian fiddle, and speaking with music connoisseurs?Neuman examines the cultural and social matrix in which Hindustani music is nurtured, listened and attended to, cultivated, and consumed in contemporary India. Through his interpretation of the impact that modern media, educational institutions, and public performances exert on the music and musicians, Neuman highlights the drama of a great musical tradition engaging a changing world, and presents the adaptive strategies its practitioners employ to practice their art. His work has gained the distinction of introducing a new approach to research on Indian music, and appears in this edition with a new preface by the author.
The composition of extracted nuclei of developing frog embryos used as template material for RNA synthesis in vitro.

Les quantites de proteines basiques et residuelles, de phosphoproteine et ded-RNA se trouvant dans les noyaux extraits d'embryons deRana pipiens diminuent en passant du stade de blastula a celui de la larve. Cette evidence suggere que l'accumulation progressive des proteines ou dud-RNA, en masquant le DNA n'offre pas le controle principal de la synthese de l'RNA in vivo. Une reduction de la quantite de l'endogene RNA polymerase fonctionelle incluse dans la proteine residuelle explique mieux la reduction de la synthese dud-RNA dans les stades plus avances du developpement embryonnaire.
Fatal disease and demographic Allee effect: population persistence and extinction.

If a healthy stable host population at the disease-free equilibrium is subject to the Allee effect, can a small number of infected individuals with a fatal disease cause the host population to go extinct? That is, does the Allee effect matter at high densities? To answer this question, we use a susceptible–infected epidemic model to obtain model parameters that lead to host population persistence (with or without infected individuals) and to host extinction. We prove that the presence of an Allee effect in host demographics matters even at large population densities. We show that a small perturbation to the disease-free equilibrium can eventually lead to host population extinction. In addition, we prove that additional deaths due to a fatal infectious disease effectively increase the Allee threshold of the host population demographics.
Recognition of auditory sequences by aphasic, right-hemisphere-damaged and non-brain-damaged subjects

Non-brain-damaged, nonaphasic right-hemisphere-damaged and aphasic left-hemisphere-damaged subjects performed in a task in which they reported whether pairs of sequences of one, two or four pure tones were the "same" or "different" in pitch. Brain-damaged subjects performed less well than non-brain-damaged subjects. Subjects with right hemisphere damage performed progressively less well as the number of tones within tone sequences increased, but non-brain-damaged and aphasic subjects more accurately reported four-tone than two-tone sequences. The results suggested that the deficits in temporal sequencing by aphasic subjects previously reported in the literature do not result from output disorders, and that subjects with hemisphere lesions exhibit deficits that are consistent with deficits in the ability to process melodic materials.
Characterization of Two Partially Unfolded Intermediates of the Molecular Chaperone DnaK at Low pH

In this study, the effect of pH on the conformation and the reactivity of the Escherichia coli Hsp70 molecular chaperone DnaK was investigated using spectroscopic and chemical assays. DnaK exhibits negligible binding of the hydrophobic dye 1-anilino-naphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) between pH 7 to 5.0, whereas appreciable binding occurs between pH 4.5 to 4.0. The binding of ANS to a protein is diagnostic of the presence of accessible ordered hydrophobic surfaces. Such hydrophobic surfaces are often displayed by partially folded protein intermediates such as molten globules. Nucleotide inhibits 70% of the ANS binding at pH 4.5 but none of the ANS binding at pH 4.0. Proteolysis of nucleotide-free DnaK at pH 4.5 with cathepsin D yields detectable fragments (masses > 20 kDa) of the C-terminal peptide-binding domain but none of the N-terminal ATPase domain, thus the ATPase domain is preferentially targeted for proteolysis. In contrast, proteolysis of nucleotide-free DnaK at pH 4.0 with cathepsin D cuts near the linker region, yielding both functional domains. Our interpretation of these data is that incubation of DnaK at pH 4.5 produces a partially unfolded form of the ATPase domain, in which secondary structure is mainly intact, but tertiary structure is reduced. Incubation of the protein at pH 4.0 produces an intermediate in which both functional domains have collapsed and possibly separated. Nucleotide inhibits the conformational change that occurs at pH 4.5 but not at 4.0.
Comparison of CT myelography performed in the prone and supine positions in the detection of cervical spinal stenosis.

AIM: To quantify the change in the cross-sectional area of the cervical spinal cord and subarachnoid space (SAS) in the supine neutral vs prone extension positions in patients with myelopathy undergoing cervical CT myelography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Axial CT myelgrams of 21 myelopathic patients were performed in both the supine neutral and prone extension positions. The SAS and cord cross-sectional areas were then measured at the disk spaces and mid-pedicle levels from C2 to T1 in both the supine and prone positions using a public domain NIH Image program, version 156b18. Mean area measurements in both positions were then compared for each level examined. RESULTS: Mean SAS cross-sectional area in the prone position was notably reduced compared with the supine position at C4–C5 [128.8 mm2vs 168.1 mm2(P< .05)], and C5–C6 [98.8 mm2vs 143.2 mm2(P< .05)] disk levels. The mean cord cross-sectional area failed to change signficantly with positioning. CONCLUSIONS: Prone myelography may demonstrate a greater degree of cervical spine stenosis compared with CT myelography performed in the supine position in myelopathic patients. Imaging with the patient prone with neck extended in both myelography and CTM may improve precision in the results of measurements of the stenotic spinal canal when comparing these two methods.Blease Graham III, C. (2001). Clinical Radiology56, 35–39.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in the pediatric population as the phenomenology of this disorder is becoming more clearly delineated. Early diagnosis and treatment of pediatric BPD is important to minimize psychosocial disability and improve prognosis. Traditional mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotic agents are frequently used to treat BPD in youth, and there are emerging data to support their use in this population. This article provides a review of the literature on appropriate pharmacologic treatment strategies for BPD in children and adolescents. The complex treatment issues of comorbid BPD and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder also are addressed.
An empirical investigation of food safety culture in onsite foodservice operations

Limited studies have explored employees' perceptions of food safety culture in onsite foodservices, despite the growing recognition of the impact of improving food safety practices. A cross-sectional paper-based survey was conducted with nonsupervisory employees (n = 582) from health care and school foodservice operations (n = 51) in three Midwest states to assess food safety culture using an instrument developed and validated in this specific context. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which employees' perceptions of food safety culture differ based on demographic variables and operation characteristics (management system, size, and type of operation). Employees' perceptions of food safety culture were evaluated on factors of management and coworkers support, communication, self-commitment, environment support, work pressure, and risk judgment. Areas of strength and potential improvement were identified; significant differences found in employees' perceptions can guide development of interventions that support safe food handling practices in onsite foodservices.
FISCHER-TROPSCH SYNTHESIS: CHARACTERIZATION AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF RHENIUM PROMOTED COBALT ALUMINA CATALYSTS

Abstract The unpromoted and promoted Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts were characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (BET SA), hydrogen chemisorption and catalytic activity using a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The addition of small amounts of rhenium to a 15% Co/Al2O3 catalyst decreased the reduction temperature of cobalt oxide but the percent dispersion and cluster size, based on the amount of reduced cobalt, did not change significantly. Samples of the catalyst were withdrawn at increasing time-on-stream from the reactor along with the wax and cooled to become embedded in the solid wax for XAS investigation. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data indicate significant cluster growth with time-on-stream suggesting a sintering process as a major source of the deactivation. Addition of rhenium increased the synthesis gas conversion, based on catalyst weight, but turnover frequencies calculated using sites from hydrogen adsorption and initial activity were similar. A wide range of synthesis gas conversion has been obtained by varying the space velocities over the catalysts.
A Fenchel–Rockafellar duality theorem for set-valued optimization

A duality theorem of the Fenchel–Rockafellar type for set-valued optimization problems is presented along with a result for the conjugate of the sum of two set-valued functions and a chain rule. The underlying solution concepts rely on order complete lattices of sets defined via set relations. Set-valued replacements for linear operators are used as dual variables, for example in order to define Fenchel conjugates for set-valued functions. An application to mathematical finance is given.
Partial difference equations in m 1 ≥m 2 ≥...≥m n ≥0 and their applications to combinatorics

Various discrete functions encountered in Combinatorics are solutions of Partial Difference Equations in the subset of N^n given by m"1>=m"2>=...>=m"n>=0. Given a partial difference equation, it is described how to pass from the standard ''easy'' solution of an equation in N^n to a solution of the same equation subject to certain ''Dirichlet'' or ''Neumann'' boundary conditions in the domain m"1>=m"2>=...>=m"n>=0 and related domains. Applications include a rather quick derivation of MacMahon's generating function for plane partitions, a generalization and q-analog of the Ballot problem, and a joint analog of the Ballot problem and Simon Newcomb's problem.
Comparative mitochondrial genomics of snakes: extraordinary substitution rate dynamics and functionality of the duplicate control region

Background The mitochondrial genomes of snakes are characterized by an overall evolutionary rate that appears to be one of the most accelerated among vertebrates. They also possess other unusual features, including short tRNAs and other genes, and a duplicated control region that has been stably maintained since it originated more than 70 million years ago. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of evolutionary dynamics in snake mitochondrial genomes to better understand the basis of these extreme characteristics, and to explore the relationship between mitochondrial genome molecular evolution, genome architecture, and molecular function. We sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes from Slowinski's corn snake (Pantherophis slowinskii) and two cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) to complement previously existing mitochondrial genomes, and to provide an improved comparative view of how genome architecture affects molecular evolution at contrasting levels of divergence.
An investigation of relationships between students’ mathematical problem-posing abilities and their mathematical content knowledge

The importance of students’ problem-posing abilities in mathematics has been emphasized in the K-12 curricula in the USA and China. There are claims that problem-posing activities are helpful in developing creative approaches to mathematics. At the same time, there are also claims that students’ mathematical content knowledge could be highly related to creativity in mathematics, too. This paper reports on a study that investigated USA and Chinese high school students’ mathematical content knowledge, their abilities in mathematical problem posing, and the relationships between students’ mathematical content knowledge and their problem-posing abilities in mathematics.
Adenocarcinoma of the retroperitoneal ascending and descending colon: Sites of initial dissemination and clinical patterns of recurrence following surgery alone

One hundred twenty-seven patients with previously untreated primary carcinomas of proximal, retroperitoneal large bowel were retrospectively analyzed. Sites of involvement in 33 patients with surgically incurable (disseminated) disease were analyzed to define patterns of initial spread. Ninety-four patients were analyzed following attempted curative resection to determine anatomical distribution of initial clinical recurrences. Thirty-one patients recurred (33%). Twenty-four of these patients (77.5%) demonstrated an initial pattern of relapse clinically confined to the abdomen and retroperitoneum. Analysis was performed to identify factors of prognostic significance. Implications for adjuvant therapy are discussed.
Predictive analysis network tool for human knowledge elicitation and reasoning

Bayesian networks are useful for predicting future activities on the battlefield. Bayesian mathematics provides the most benefit in JDL fusion levels 2+, i.e. situation, threat, and performance assessment. However, these networks are exceedingly difficult for the average person to develop, much less a soldier in the middle of a war. We are in the process of developing a Bayesian modeling aid that walks the user through each step of the process, supplying help, suggesting alternatives, and translating their model into a human language description that is understandable by non-experts. This effort was originally funded as an AFRL Phase I SBIR (FA8750-06-C-0089) and is currently a Phase II SBIR. In this paper we will walk through the process of developing a Bayesian network and discuss how our tool helps at each step.
Medium perfusion enables engineering of compact and contractile cardiac tissue

We hypothesized that functional constructs with physiological cell densities can be engineered in vitro by mimicking convective-diffusive oxygen transport normally present in vivo. To test this hyp...
The Management of Emotions in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract Much of the research on emotions in the workplace focuses on the management of happiness and anger, neglecting sadness. This study examines criminal justice workers' (e.g., detectives, prosecutors, and victim services counselors) management of their own and victims' sadness, and the focus is on a particular group of victims, people who have lost a loved one to murder (bereaved victims). The data come from in-depth interviews with 19 Union County (pseudonym) criminal justice workers who worked on murder cases and a participant observation of murder cases in the Union County criminal justice system. Criminal justice workers expressed an interest in helping bereaved victims but a reluctance to connect closely with their grief. Workers' encounters with bereaved victims brought obligations to express sympathy and resolve the case, obligations that felt emotionally burdensome and diminished workers' status in the organization. Criminal justice workers used their status (e.g., status shield, organizatio...
Chemotherapy for retinoblastoma: where do we go from here? A review of published literature and meeting abstracts, including discussions during the Vth International Symposium on Retinoblastoma, October 1990.

The history of the application of chemotherapy in the management of retinoblastoma (RB) may conveniently be divided into three eras: initial enthusiasm (from early 1950s to mid 1970s), realism (from late 1970s to mid 1980s) and possibility (from mid 1980s to the future). Available data from each of these eras are reviewed in the clinical categories of: intraocular RB, micrometastatic RB and overt dissemination. The latter is further sub-classified into: orbital invasion, central nervous system involvement and systemic metastases. Experimental models are described with particular emphasis on future directions.Early reports led to initial optimism subsequently dampened by a more critical approach. Recent results with increasingly effective chemotherapeutic regimens offer the possibility of a valid contribution in each of the above clinical settings. A multi-modality approach is recommended optimizing a combination of the most active drugs with continuing refinements of other techniques.In selected patients ...
Problem-Based Learning in an Online Course: A Case Study.

Problem-based learning (PBL) is the use of a “real world” problem or situation as a context for learning. The present study explores the use of PBL in an online biotechnology course. In the PBL unit, student groups dealt with the ethical, legal, social, and human issues surrounding pre-symptomatic DNA testing for a genetic disease. Issues concerning implementation of PBL in the online environment are discussed, as are differences between online PBL and face-to-face PBL. This study provides evidence to suggest that PBL stimulates higher-order learning in students. However, student performance on a lower-level exam testing acquisition of factual knowledge was slightly lower for PBL students than for students who learned the same material through a traditional lecture-based approach. Possible reasons for this lower level of performance are explored. Student reactions and feedback to the PBL format yield more insight into issues surrounding the implementation of PBL in the online environment. Keywords: problem-based learning, case-based learning, distance education, cooperative learning, genetic diseases, genetic testing, instructional design
Pulmonary Hemodynamic Responses to Intravenous Prostaglandin E2 in Broiler Chickens

ABSTRACT Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) affects pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and respiratory rate (RR) in mammals, but no information previously was available regarding avian pulmonary responses to PGE2. Two experiments were conducted in which 45- to 55-d-old male broiler chickens were infused i.v. with PGE2 at the lowest rate (30 μg/min for 4 min) that reliably reduced PAP during pilot studies. When compared with preinfusion (control) values in experiment 1, PGE2 reduced PAP from 19 ± 1 to 16 ± 1 mmHg (P 0.05). Infusing PGE2 also reduced the RR from 57 ± 2 to 46 ± 4 breaths/min (P 0.723). These results indicate that in broilers PGE2 reduced PAP by reducing CO rather than by acting as a pulmonary vasodilator to lower PVR. The PGE2-induced reductions in PAP would benefit broilers that are susceptible to pulmonary hypertension syndrome by reducing their right ventricular overload; however, the reductions in CO and RR combined with the onset of systemic arterial hypoxemia would accelerate the pathophysiological progression leading to terminal pulmonary hypertension syndrome.
Predictive technology model for nano-CMOS design exploration

A predictive MOSFET model is critical for early circuit design research. In this work, a new generation of Predictive Technology Model (PTM) is developed, covering emerging physical effects and alternative structures, such as the double-gate device (i.e., FinFET). Based on physical models and early stage silicon data, PTM of bulk and double-gate devices are successfully generated from 130nm to 32nm technology nodes, with effective channel length down to 13nm. By tuning only ten primary parameters, PTM can be easily customized to cover a wide range of process uncertainties. The accuracy of PTM predictions is comprehensively verified with published silicon data: the error of the current is below 10p for both NMOS and PMOS. Furthermore, the new PTM correctly captures process sensitivities in the nanometer regime. PTM is available online at http://www.eas.asu.edu/~ptm.
The Coherent Processor: an associative processor architecture and applications

The Coherent Processor (CP), a massively parallel computer based on content addressable memory, is discussed. The CP offers advantages such as high performance, low cost, low weight, low power consumption, and a simple system interface and programming model. These features make it well-suited for real-time and embedded systems. The CP is currently available for both the VME and MicroChannel buses with single-card configurations of up to 8192 processors. System configurations with 65536 processors or more are also available. The CP software supports MS-DOS, AIX, and SUN-OS (Unix). Applications of the CP are described, including LAN (local area network) routing, genetic sequence comparison, pattern recognition, image processing, expert systems, databases, radar, X-windows, text filters, neural networks, and sparse matrix computation. >
Multiple Tracheal Resections and Anastomoses in a Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

A 1.5-year-old, male blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) was anesthetized for a health examination and blood collection. The following day it was returned for episodes of coughing. The bird was presented again 13 days after the initial presentation with severe dyspnea. A tracheal stenosis was diagnosed by endoscopy and treated by surgical resection of 5 tracheal rings and tracheal anastomosis. The bird was discharged but returned 2 days later with a recurrent stenosis. Bougienage and balloon dilation of the stenotic area were performed separately; each resulted in less than 48 hours' improvement in clinical signs after treatment. A second tracheal resection and anastomosis was performed, during which an additional 10 tracheal rings were removed. This second anastomosis was significantly more difficult to complete given the marked variation in diameter of the proximal and distal tracheal segments. The macaw recovered without complication and has had no recurrence of respiratory abnormalities 2 years after the second surgery. This report describes the longest total tracheal segment to be resected, followed by tracheal anastomosis, in a psittacine bird. The positive outcome in this case suggests that, when surgical therapy is elected, an aggressive approach is necessary to prevent recurrence of tracheal stenosis. In addition, macaws can recover well even after significant lengths of the trachea are resected.
The Associated Friends

Dr. Gabriel Wells attracted wide attention by purchasing at the Benefit Auction held at Delmonico's in February four important items which he at once gave to four university libraries. Rutgers, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, all received gifts from "the outstanding bidder" of the sale, as the New York Times Book Review called Dr. Wells. The Rutgers gift is especially important for its historical significance. The unhappy history of Spain for the last century and more has been punctuated by revolutions and counter-revolutions. One of these revolts took place in 1868 when Queen Isabella was forced to flee in the face of a republican uprising. The news of this event was approved in the United States by all those who welcomed republican regimes where ever they appeared, and in at least one case a group of prominent citizens united to send an expression of their pleasure to the new government. An Address of American Citizens to the Spanish Government and People, which Dr. Wells bought at Delmonico's and gave to the Library is the original manuscript of the document which these enthusiastic American friends of freedom drew up in support of the new Spanish government. It bears such names as those of Peter Cooper, Charles A. Dana, Horace Greeley, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and many others who were eminent in their generation. It forms, moreover, an important piece of evidence concerning the attitude of Americans of two generations ago toward those who were fighting for the right to govern themselves. The Associated Friends are indeed grateful to their Honorary President for his generosity in thus adding to the many gifts which he has already made to the Library.
Meta-Analysis of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms and Type 1 Diabetes: A HuGE Review of Genetic Association Studies

Several polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR ) gene have been reported to be associated with the risk of developing type 1 diabetes, yet published findings have been conflicting. In this study, the authors attempted to evaluate the evidence regarding the association. They searched all relevant reports from original papers published from 1997 to December 2005. Predefined criteria were used to identify 1) case-control association studies examining the Fok I (11 studies), Bsm I (13 studies), Apa I (9 studies), and Taq I (7 studies) polymorphisms and 2) a few family-transmission studies with analysis of these four polymorphisms. In random-effects modeling, the 95% confidence intervals of the summary odds ratios for all four polymorphisms included 1, indicating no effect. Except for Fok I, no heterogeneity was found. The 95% confidence intervals of the transmission proportions all included 0.5, indicating no effect. Thus, the authors found no evidence for an association between VDR gene polymorphisms and type 1 diabetes risk in either case-control studies or family-transmission studies. In fact, a reanalysis of previously published data (McDermott et al., Diabetologia 1997;40:971–5) indicated no evidence of an association as reported. association; diabetes mellitus, type 1; epidemiology; genetics; meta-analysis; polymorphism, genetic; receptors, calcitriol; VDR
The Avian XPR1 Gammaretrovirus Receptor is Under Positive Selection and is Disabled in Bird Species In Contact with Virus-Infected Wild Mice

Xenotropic mouse leukemia viruses (X-MLVs) are broadly infectious for mammals except most of the classical strains of laboratory mice. These gammaretroviruses rely on the XPR1 receptor for entry, and the unique resistance of laboratory mice is due to two mutations in different putative XPR1 extracellular loops. Cells from avian species differ in susceptibility to X-MLVs, and 2 replacement mutations in the virus-resistant chicken XPR1 (K496Q and Q579E) distinguish it from the more permissive duck and quail receptors. These substitutions align with the two mutations that disable the laboratory mouse XPR1. Mutagenesis of the chicken and duck genes confirms that residues at both sites are critical for virus entry. Among 32 avian species, the 2 disabling XPR1 mutations are found together only in the chicken, an omnivorous, ground-dwelling fowl that was domesticated in India and/or Southeast Asia, which is also where X-MLV-infected house mice evolved. The receptor-disabling mutations are also present separately in 5 additional fowl and raptor species, all of which are native to areas of Asia populated by the virus-infected subspecies Mus musculus castaneus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the avian XPR1 gene is under positive selection at sites implicated in receptor function, suggesting a defensive role for XPR1 in the avian lineage. Contact between bird species and virus-infected mice may thus have favored selection of mouse virus-resistant receptor orthologs in the birds, and our data suggest that similar receptor-disabling mutations were fixed in mammalian and avian species exposed to similar virus challenges.
Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins (Srebps): Controllers of Lipid Synthesis and Cellular Uptake

Mammalian cells use an exquisitely sensitive mechanism to control the amount of cholesterol and fatty acids in their membranes. This process relies on a feedback system that adjusts the rates of transcription of genes encoding the low density lipoprotein receptor and multiple enzymes in the cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthetic pathways. When cellular cholesterol levels are depleted, these genes are all transcribed in abundant amounts, and their transcription is repressed when sterols build up within the cell. Until recently, the mechanism of this regulation was elusive. How do cells sense the level of a membrane-embedded lipid such as cholesterol and how is this information transmitted to the nucleus where gene transcription is regulated? Answers are now beginning to emerge from the study of a newly discovered family of transcription-regulating proteins called sterol regulatory element binding proteins.
Cytoplasmic Domain of Sendai Virus HN Protein Contains a Specific Sequence Required for Its Incorporation into Virions

In the assembly of paramyxoviruses, interactions between viral proteins are presumed to be specific. The focus of this study is to elucidate the protein-protein interactions during the final stage of viral assembly that result in the incorporation of the viral envelope proteins into virions. To this end, we examined the specificity of HN incorporation into progeny virions by transiently transfecting HN cDNA genes into Sendai virus (SV)-infected cells. SV HN expressed from cDNA was efficiently incorporated into progeny Sendai virions, whereas Newcastle disease virus (NDV) HN was not. This observation supports the theory of a selective mechanism for HN incorporation. To identify the region on HN responsible for the selective incorporation, we constructed chimeric SV and NDV HN cDNAs and evaluated the incorporation of expressed proteins into progeny virions. Chimera HN that contained the SV cytoplasmic domain fused to the transmembrane and external domains of the NDV HN was incorporated to SV particles, indicating that amino acids in the cytoplasmic domain are responsible for the observed specificity. Additional experiments using the chimeric HNs showed that 14 N-terminal amino acids are sufficient for the specificity. Further analysis identified five consecutive amino acids (residues 10 to 14) that were required for the specific incorporation of HN into SV. These residues are conserved among all strains of SV as well as those of its counterpart, human parainfluenza virus type 1. These results suggest that this region near the N terminus of HN interacts with another viral protein(s) to lead to the specific incorporation of HN into progeny virions.
Larger Error Signals in Major Depression are Associated with Better Avoidance Learning.

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is particularly reactive to signals of error, punishment, and conflict in the service of behavioral adaptation and it is consistently implicated in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). This association makes conceptual sense, given that MDD has been associated with hyper-reactivity in neural systems associated with punishment processing. Yet in practice, depression-related variance in measures of mPFC functioning often fails to relate to performance. For example, neuroelectric reflections of mediofrontal error signals are often found to be larger in MDD, but a deficit in post-error performance suggests that these error signals are not being used to rapidly adapt behavior. Thus, it remains unknown if depression-related variance in error signals reflects a meaningful alteration in the use of error or punishment information. However, larger mediofrontal error signals have also been related to another behavioral tendency: increased accuracy in avoidance learning. The integrity of this error-avoidance system remains untested in MDD. In this study, EEG was recorded as 21 symptomatic, drug-free participants with current or past MDD and 24 control participants performed a probabilistic reinforcement learning task. Depressed participants had larger mid-frontal EEG responses to error feedback than controls. The direct relationship between error signal amplitudes and avoidance learning accuracy was replicated. Crucially, this relationship was stronger in depressed participants for high conflict “lose–lose” situations, demonstrating a selective alteration of avoidance learning. This investigation provided evidence that larger error signal amplitudes in depression are associated with increased avoidance learning, identifying a candidate mechanistic model for hypersensitivity to negative outcomes in depression.