cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phospholamban Oligomerization, Quaternary Structure, and Sarco(endo)plasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase Binding Measured by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer in Living Cells

Phospholamban (PLB) oligomerization, quaternary structure, and sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) binding were quantified by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in an intact cellular environment. FRET between cyan fluorescent protein-PLB and yellow fluorescent protein-PLB in AAV-293 cells showed hyperbolic dependence on protein concentration, with a maximum efficiency of 45.1 ± 1.3%. The observed FRET corresponds to a probe separation distance of 58.7 ± 0.5A, according to a computational model of intrapentameric FRET. This is consistent with models of the PLB pentamer in which cytoplasmic domains fan out from the central bundle of transmembrane helices. An I40A mutation of PLB did not alter pentamer conformation but increased the concentration of half-maximal FRET (KD) by >4-fold. This is consistent with the previous observation that this putatively monomeric mutant still oligomerizes in intact membranes but forms more dynamic pentamers than wild type PLB. PLB association with SERCA, measured by FRET between cyan fluorescent protein-SERCA and yellow fluorescent protein-PLB, was increased by the I40A mutation without any detectable change in probe separation distance. The data indicate that the regulatory complex conformation is not altered by the I40A mutation. A naturally occurring human mutation (L39Stop) greatly reduced PLB oligomerization and SERCA binding and caused mislocalization of PLB to the cytoplasm and nucleus. Overall, the data suggest that the PLB pentamer adopts a “pinwheel” shape in cell membranes, as opposed to a more compact “bellflower” conformation. I40A mutation decreases oligomerization and increases PLB binding to SERCA. Truncation of the transmembrane domain by L39Stop mutation prevents anchoring of the protein in the membrane, greatly reducing PLB binding to itself or its regulatory target, SERCA.
Reflections on “Race” and Publication in Communication Journals: The Case of The Howard Journal of Communications

This commentary from the perspective of the founding editor of The Howard Journal of Communications speaks to the editor's perception that communication research involving race, ethnicity, and gender inherently risks some editorial resistance. While writing about these topics raises few issues for readers, using them in an interpretive or critical analysis potentially invites negative responses from readers.
Migration of Leukocytes across Endothelial Junctions: Some Concepts and Controversies

This article is not meant to be a comprehensive review of leukocyte migration or endothelial cell junctions. Rather, I have chosen some aspects of inflammation that might be of general interest to vascular biologists and have focused on the structural and molecular elements of the endothelial junction involved in these processes. These are all active (and some controversial) areas of investigation. I have tried to objectively present both sides of any controversies, while stating at the end the general consensus of the field.
Calculations for 4f atoms using new exchange‐correlation schemes

Local spin density, self‐interaction corrected, and average density approximation calculations have been performed for La, Ce, Gd, and Lu as a function of 4f occupancy. Techniques are described and implications for band calculations discussed.
A note on optimal vector unbiased predictor

A characterization of optimal vector unbiased predictor is obtained. Some properties of optimal unbiased predictors are established. It is shown that simultaneous prediction of future random variables is equivalent to marginal prediction of these random variables. Following Kale and Chandrasekar (1983) and Chandrasekar (1984), it is shown that the criteria proposed by ishii (1969) based on matrices and the one proposed by Bibby and Toutenburg (1977) based on quadratic loss in the class of vector unbiased predictors are equivalent. The above approach is illustrated with some examples.
Dynamic Analysis and Simulation of a 1-DOF Driven by a Parallel Force/Velocity Actuator (PFVA)

Some work has been done to try to combine force control and velocity control capability into the same actuator design. The objective in trying to incorporate two fundamentally distinct resources (force and motion priorities) into the same actuator is to obtain an expanded spectrum of dynamic responses at the output of the system so that the system may (ideally) operate in pure force control mode or pure velocity control mode or a combination of these modes. Presented in this paper is a design that combines two fundamentally distinct actuators (one using low reduction or even direct drive, which we will call a Force Actuator (FA) and the other with a high reduction gear train that we will refer to as a Velocity Actuator (VA)). The premise of this work is that we could obtain a variety of responses at the system’s output by integrating separate force and motion priorities (Parallel Force/Velocity Actuator) within the same system in-parallel and dynamically “mixing” their contributions. We conceptually describe a Parallel Force/Velocity Actuator (PFVA) based on a Dual-Input-Single-Output (DISO) epicyclic gear train. We then present a dynamic model formulation for a non-linear 1-DOF mechanical system (Slider-Crank Mechanism) that uses a PFVA at the input. Using this dynamic model, we present a numerical simulation. The numerical simulation focuses on two issues, (a) effect of the relative scale change (ρ) between the two inputs on the torques at the two prime-movers and (b) effect of ρ on the dynamic coupling between the inputs. It was observed that as the relative scale change (represented by ρ) was decreased (i.e. the sub-systems tend towards behaving as “equal” systems) the dynamic coupling between the systems increased. In the study of the effect of ρ on the inertia and static torques at the prime-movers, it was noticed that they follow inverse trends.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Physical Activity and Irreversible Disability in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that may result in the progressive worsening of disability. Recent research has identified physical activity as a behavioral correlate of disability in MS. The current review highlights that previous research has generally included samples with minimal disability and provides a rationale for considering physical activity as an influence of disability in the second stage of MS.
Chemical shifts of N14 in the NMR spectra of compounds containing NH2 and CN groups

Abstract The N14 peaks in the CN groups of NaCN, CH3CN, and NH4SCN are observed to have large positive shifts relative to the corresponding peak in the nitrates. The resonance in KCNO is narrow and in a freshly prepared solution shows an even larger positive shift; hydrolysis of the solution can be followed by observing a broadening and shift of the N14 peak. The N14 peak positions in urea and thiourea are found to be different. The N14 resonances in acetamide and in hydroxylamine hydrochloride are broad and have somewhat smaller shifts than those in urea and thiourea. The N14 peaks in glycine and dl-alanine are close to the corresponding peaks in ammonium compounds. These results are discussed.
Abstract 2860: EphA2 and its phosphorylation is a key determinant of dasatinib sensitivity in endometrial cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Background: Growing evidence points to EphA2 having bidirectional signaling to promote or inhibit tumorigenicity in ligand-independent and ligand-dependent manner. But the mechanistic and biological impact of this EphA2 dual switch function in the context of EphA2 targeted therapy in cancer is not known. Materials and Methods: The effects of dasatinib alone or in combination with paclitaxel on human endometrial cancer cell lines were examined using a series of in vitro experiments, including MTT, RPPA, Western blot, ELISA, and plasmid transfection (for inactivated or constitutively activated phosphorylation at EphA2-S897). In vivo, an orthotopic mouse model of endometrial cancer was utilized to identify the biological effects of dasatinib in orthotopic endometrial cancer models. Molecular markers for response prediction were identified by using ELISA, RPPA and immunohistochemistry. Results: In vitro, the effects of dasatinib treatment varied among the different endometrial cancer cell lines tested, (IC50 values ranged from 10 nM to10,000 nM) which was associated with varying levels of EphA2 and EphA2S897 phosphorylation, basal level of p-AKT and caveolin-1 in the EphA2 positive (Hec-1A, Ishikawa, and SKUT-2) and negative cells (SPEC-2). Moreover, in vivo experiments showed that dasatinib monotherapy or in combination with paclitaxel led to tumor inhibition over controls in the EphA2 positive Hec1A and Ishikawa murine models. Specifically, dasatinib treatment resulted in 48% and 71% reduction of tumor growth in these models, respectively (p<0.01). Combination of dasatinib and paclitaxel showed even greater efficacy (87% - 89% reduction in tumor growth, p<0.001). In the EphA2 negative SPEC2 murine models, dasatinib therapy resulted only in modest efficacy (31%, p<0.05), while the efficacy in combination with paclitaxel was better (75%, p<0.01). The antitumor effects of dasatinib were significantly associated with EphA2 and its phosphorylation status at S897, especially in the tumors with high expression of caveolin-1, as detected by RPPA, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: The efficacy of dasatinib therapy in uterine cancer models depends on the status of the EphA2 and its activation of p-EphA2s897. These findings may have clinical implications for future dasatinib-based clinical trials. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2860. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2860
Improved Outcome for Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in Children: Interim Results of a Prospective, Multi-institutional Study from the PARF Study Group † 185

The Pediatric Acute Respiratory Failure (PARF) Study Group was organized to study the effects of new therapies on the outcome of lung injury in children. Each center agreed to use similar pressure-limited ventilator strategies including high frequency ventilation (HFV) in all patients. Methods: All intubated children in participating centers with lung injury requiring at least 50% FiO2 and an end expiratory pressure greater than 5cm H2O were enrolled and data were prospectively collected. Patients with significant co-morbidities (chronic lung disease, immunocompromising conditions, cardiac disease, profound, acute central nervous system injury) were excluded from this analysis. Outcome was compared with a validated mortality prediction tool(Crit Care Med 24:323-9, 1996) using data from the Pediatric Critical Care Study Group multi-insitutional study in 1991 (Chest 108: 789-97, 1995) in which patients were selected using the same criteria. Results: In an interim analysis of 131 patients from 7 centers with complete data, 77 patients did not have co-morbidities. Mortality (18.2%) was significantly lower (P=.003) than predicted (32.8%). Improvement appeared in each mortality risk quartile. Severity of disease, as measured by oxygenation index (22 +/- 16) and PRISM score(14 +/- 8), was similar to values from the 1991 predictive data set. The highest peak airway pressure (33 +/- 6 cm H2O) and pCO2 (66 +/- 16 Torr) confirmed the use of pressure limited strategies. The use of high frequency ventilation (34%) was higher than in 1991, but improvement in mortality over predicted was noted in both patients treated with (P=.05) and without (P=.03) HFV. Conclusions: Survival following acute lung injury in patients without co-morbid conditions has improved since 1991 co-incident with the widespread use of pressure limited ventilator strategies.(Supported in part by Ronald MacDonald Charities).
Lives in Motion: A Review of Former Foster Youth in the Context of their Experiences in the Child Welfare System.

Abstract In light of the poor prospects facing many former foster youths during the transition to adulthood, it is surprising that so little attention has been given to substitute care contexts during child welfare system involvement. A review of child welfare research finds that many former foster youths go through an alarming number of placement changes and report a high rate of placement into congregate care settings and other unplanned events. Future research should take explicit account of substitute care contexts in designing and carrying out studies examining the adult outcomes of aging out foster care populations. Interventions intended to circumvent high rates of movement in foster care should also be broadened to target multiple aspects of substitute care contexts.
Trans-synaptic regulation of the development of end organ innervation by sympathetic neurons.

Abstract To examine the regulation of development of end organ innervation the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), and two of its target organs, the iris and pineal gland, were studied using biochemical and histofluorescence approaches. During postnatal ontogeny the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (T-OH), which is localized to adrenergic neurons, increased 50-fold in iris, and 34-fold in pineal nerve terminals of the rat. These increases paralleled the in vitro rise in iris [ 3 H]norepinephrine 9[ 3 H]NE) uptake, a measure of the presence of functional nerve terminal membrane. These biochemical indices of end organ innervation correlated well with developmental increases in density of innervation, adrenergic ground plexus ramification and nerve fiber fluorescence intensity as determined by fluorescence microscopy. Unilateral transection of the presynaptic cholinergic nerves innervating the SCG in 2–3-day-old rats prevented the normal development of end organ innervation: T-OH activity, [ 3 H]NE uptake, innervation density, plexus ramification and fluorescence intensity failed to develop normally in irides innervated by decentralized ganglia. It is concluded that trans-synaptic factors regulate the maturation of adrenergic nerve terminals, and the development of end organ innervation by SCG.
Re-Examining the Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Technology Use in Mathematics Classroom Practices

Over the past 15 years a considerable amount of research has been devoted to study of the socioeconomic aspects that affect the use of technology in the mathematics classroom. With the call for curricular and instructional reform, educational institutions have embarked on the process to reform their educational practices to aid the urban student in their quest to obtain quality mathematics and science based education with the integration of technology. The study performed was to reexamine the socioeconomic disparities in the mathematics classroom as it relates to implementing technology interventions to support quality teaching and active student learning. This article is to provide empirical evidence of whether these disparities continue to exist and their effects on student achievement in the mathematics classroom. The results of this study showed an overall positive relationship regarding the use of technology interventions within the mathematics classroom with levels of student achievement, showing a clear signs of continued disparities within mathematics classroom.
Demographic Processes Influencing Population Viability of the Iowa Pleistocene Snail (Discus Macclintocki)

Understanding the importance of variable local population abundance and the limited potential for dispersal and genetic exchange is crucial for the conservation of many species with limited geographic distribution and specialized habitat requirements. Because of rareity, it is often difficult to study the relative importance of variation in recruitment and survival and their net effect on population growth. We designed a survey of natural populations of endangered Iowa Pleistocene snails (Discus macclintocki) using the robust mark-recapture design to estimate population size and vital rates. A dense population remained stationary throughout the 6-y study whereas vital rates fluctuated substantially in two much smaller populations. In the smaller populations rates of growth varied from sharply increasing to sharply decreasing among years, and changes in estimated recruitment were the primary vital rate influencing these fluctuations. Snails were highly sedentary and sampling at random locations showed that the populations were highly subdivided within a site. Fluctuations in demographic rates and patchy distribution may provide the basis for substantially different rates of genetic change within and among sites. Although in the short-term, fluctuations in recruitment of these snails may influence local dynamics most substantially, long-term threats of habitat loss or climatic change will likely affect survival of adults and persistence of the populations.
Cost-minimizing retrofit/replacement strategies for diesel emissions reduction

The cost effectiveness of various emission reduction diesel retrofits is analyzed, as is early vehicle retirement. An integer program is developed to find cost-minimizing cleanup strategies, given reduction goals for various pollutants, as well as technological and budget constraints. Retrofits are assumed to take place in the present, but benefits and costs can be distributed over time. Budget constraints deal with short-term expenditures, while the overall objective is to minimize the net present value of short and long-term costs. The model is intended as a tool both for fleet owners and for government administrators. A case study examines the potential to clean up a diesel school bus fleet.
Kingship, Fatherhood, and the Abdication of History in Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde

While Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde is not, strictly speaking, a translation, it is heavily indebted both to the medieval understanding of Trojan historiography and to Boccacio’s handling of the romance of Troiolo and Criseida in his Filostrado. While Chaucer was a capable translator with respect and fondness for Boccaccio’s text, he was also a confident innovator who was quite willing to modify, append, or totally change the text whenever the needs of his particular narrative warrant it. One such site of this deliberate alteration is in the handling of the character of Priam, King of Troy. While Chaucer includes every passage in which Boccaccio mentions Priam, he consistently modifies the phrasing or situation in order to downplay the king’s political role, emphasizing instead his interpersonal or familial bonds. Furthermore, the material that Chaucer adds concerning Priam expands the changes made in translation, furthering a move away from the social and political and toward the personal and the individual. This example, one of many, indicates that Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde is a work constructed around history that tries to suppress the political and historical, attempting instead to interpret events and characters in terms of their most immediate, personal settings or, when pressed, by eternal truths such as Love or Fortune. Such a focus allows us to see the “depth” of the individual or the philosophical foundations of their faith while attempting to deny the political and ideological construction of this subjectivity and belief.
Perceptions about hospice from a community-based pilot study: lessons and findings.

Research investigating the knowledge and attitudes of diverse older adults about hospice care and end-of-life issues is needed to expand service utilization. This pilot study explored an urban area’s perceptions and awareness of hospice through local churches. The sample consisted of 148 adults age 43 and older. Although recruitment efforts resulted in a relatively homogenous sample, findings suggest a lack of knowledge about whether hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance. Perceptions of the expense of hospice, however, were not associated with knowledge of coverage. Respondents generally agreed that hospice is important and would recommend its services for their family members.
Taste and food preferences as predictors of dietary practices in young women.

Objective To investigate links between taste responses, self-reported food preferences and selected dietary outcomes in young women. Methods Subjects were 159 women, with a mean age of 27.0 years. Taste responses were measured using aqueous solutions of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and sucrose. All subjects completed a 171-item food preference checklist, using nine-point category scales. Food preference data were reduced using principal components factor analyses, with the internal consistency of factor-based subscales established using Cronbach's alpha. Dietary intakes, available for a subset of 87 women, were based on 3 days of food records. Estimated intakes of carbohydrate, fibre and beta-carotene were the key dietary outcome variables. Results Genetically-mediated sensitivity to the bitter taste of PROP was associated with reduced preferences for Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach and coffee beverages. Higher preferences for sucrose in water were associated with increased preferences for sweet desserts. Food preferences, in turn, were associated with measures of current diet. Reduced acceptability of vegetables and fruits was associated with lower estimated intakes of carbohydrate, fibre and beta-carotene. Conclusions Taste responses to sucrose and PROP were predictive of some food preferences. Food preferences, in turn, were associated with food consumption patterns. Given that taste responsiveness to PROP is an inherited trait, there may be further links between genetic taste markers, eating habits and the selection of healthful diets.
Cellular excitation with high-frequency chopped defibrillator waveforms

Waveform shape and stimulus intensity are both critical in determining efficacy of defibrillating waveforms. Defibrillator waveforms for which the electrode current is interrupted or chopped at high frequency may alter current flow patterns in the heart and thereby lower defibrillation threshold. However, cellular effects of high-frequency chopped waveforms are unknown. Defibrillation may occur due to production of prolonged refractory period responses which prolong the fibrillation action potential through mechanisms similar to excitation. To test the hypothesis that cells can be excited by current which is chopped into many high frequency pulses, the authors examined effects of chop frequencies ranging from 0.05 to 25 kHz on cellular excitation threshold. The results show that excitation threshold depends on chop frequency in a theoretically predictable manner which suggests that the cell membrane integrates individual pulses at frequencies greater than 5 kHz. >
Sympathetic Effects on Renin Secretion: Mechanism and Physiological Role

Considerable evidence indicates that renin secretion is regulated in part via the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic effects appear to be mediated by way of β-adrenergic receptors that are probably located in the kidneys. Indeed, there is reason to believe that circulating catecholamines and norepinephrine liberated at adrenergic nerve terminals near the juxtaglomerular cells act directly on these secretory cells to stimulate renin secretion. In the present paper, I would like to review the evidence for these statements and analyze the physiological role of the sympathetic nervous system in the regulation of renin secretion.
Shifted Leakage Power Characteristics of Dynamic Circuits Due to Gate Oxide Tunneling

The subthreshold and gate oxide leakage power characteristics of domino logic circuits are evaluated in this paper. The preferred input vectors and node voltage states are identified to minimize the total leakage power consumption in the sleep mode. New low leakage design guidelines based on the results are presented. Previous studies indicate that a discharged dynamic node voltage state with high inputs is preferable to reduce the subthreshold leakage power consumption in an idle dual threshold voltage domino gate. However, the gate oxide leakage is ignored in the previous studies. The significantly increased gate dielectric tunneling current, as described in this paper, shifts the leakage power characteristics of dynamic circuits in the sub-65nm CMOS technologies. Contrary to the previously published techniques in older technologies, a charged dynamic node voltage state with low inputs is preferred for reducing the total leakage power consumption in the wide fan-in dual threshold voltage domino gates. Similarly, a charged dynamic node voltage state with low inputs is preferred for lowering the leakage power consumption in all types of low threshold voltage domino gates in a 45nm CMOS technology
Increased calbindin-D28k immunoreactivity in striatal projection neurons of R6/2 Huntington's disease transgenic mice

Striatal degeneration in Huntington's disease (HD) is associated with increases in perikaryal calbindin immunolabeling in yet-surviving striatal projection neurons. Since similar increases have also been observed in surviving striatal projection neurons after intrastriatal injection of the excitotoxin quinolinic acid, the increased calbindin in HD striatum has been interpreted to suggest an excitotoxic process in HD. We used immunolabeling to assess if calbindin is elevated in striatal projection neurons of R6/2 HD transgenic mice. These mice bear exon 1 of the human huntingtin gene with 144 CAG repeats and show some of the neuropathological signs (e.g., neuronal intranuclear inclusions) and clinical traits (e.g., wasting prior to early death) of HD. We found an increased frequency of calbindin-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya in the striatum of 6- and 12-week-old R6/2 mice compared to wild-type controls. This increase was most notable in the normally calbindin-poor dorsolateral striatum. We found no significant changes in the total area of striatum occupied by the calbindin-negative striosomes and no consistent changes in striatal calbindin mRNA. The increase in calbindin in R6/2 striatal neurons was thus limited to the matrix compartment, and it may be triggered by increased Ca2+ entry due to the demonstrated heightened NMDA sensitivity of these neurons. The data further support the similarity of R6/2 mice to HD, and are consistent with the occurrence of an excitotoxic process in striatum in both.
Ly-6A.2 Expression Regulates Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cell Proliferation and Cytokine Production

Ly-6 proteins appear to serve cell adhesion and cell signaling function, but the precise role of Ly-6A.2 in CD4+ T lymphocytes is still unclear. Overexpression of Ly-6A.2 in T lymphocytes has allowed us to analyze the influence of elevated Ly-6A.2 expression on T cell function. In this study we report reduced proliferation of CD4+ T cells overexpressing Ly-6A.2 in response to a peptide Ag. Moreover, the Ly-6A.2-overexpressing CD4+ cells generated elevated levels of IL-4, a key factor that propels the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th2 subset. The hyporesponsiveness of Ly-6A.2 transgenic CD4+ T cells is dependent on the interaction of Ly-6A.2 T cells with the APCs and can be reversed by blocking the interaction between Ly-6A.2 and a recently reported candidate ligand. Overexpression of Ly-6A.2 in CD4+ T cells reduced their Ca2+ responses to TCR stimulation, therefore suggesting effects of Ly-6A.2 signaling on membrane proximal activation events. In contrast to the observed Ag-specific hyporesponsiveness, the Ly-6A.2 transgenic CD4+ T cells produced IL-4 independent of the interactions between Ly-6A.2 and the candidate Ly-6A.2 ligand. Our results suggest that 1) interaction of Ly-6A.2 with a candidate ligand regulates clonal expansion of CD4+ Th cells in response to an Ag (these results also provide further functional evidence for presence of Ly-6A.2 ligand on APC); and 2) Ly-6A.2 expression on CD4+ T cells promotes production of IL-4, a Th2 differentiation factor.
Insulin attenuation of vasopressin-induced calcium responses in arterial smooth muscle from Zucker rats

Insulin attenuates agonist-induced vascular contractility of aortic rings and decreases vasopressin (AVP)-elicited increases in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). To determine if insulin's effects on AVP-induced [Ca2+]i responses are altered in an insulin-resistant and hypertensive state, we studied vascular smooth muscle calcium responses in VSMC derived from Zucker lean and obese rats. AVP concentration-response experiments revealed that VSMC derived from obese animals exhibited exaggerated [Ca2+]i responses over the range of 1 x 10(-10) to 1 x 10(-7) M AVP compared to lean controls (P < 0.05, by multiple analysis of variance). Insulin treatment (7 x 10(-7) M) decreased the [Ca2+]i response to 1 nM AVP by 66 +/- 8% and 71 +/- 9% in lean and obese VSMC, respectively. Similar decreases were observed with the 10 nM AVP stimulus (41 +/- 9% and 61 +/- 7%, for lean and obese, respectively). AVP receptor binding studies revealed that exaggerated [Ca2+]i responses in obese VSMC were not due to alterations in AVP-binding properties (no significant differences in ID50, Kd, or binding capacity in lean and obese VSMC preparations). In addition, insulin treatment (1 x 10(-7) M) resulted in no differences in AVP receptor-binding properties in either cell line. Therefore, exaggerated [Ca2+]i responses in obese VSMC are most likely due to a postreceptor abnormality. These abnormalities in VSMC [Ca2+]i metabolism preceed and may play a role in the development of hypertension in the Zucker obese rat. Although insulin resistance in Zucker obese rats has been demonstrated in several tissues, VSMC [Ca2+]i responses to AVP are, nonetheless, similarly attenuated by insulin in obese and lean VSMC preparations.
Correlates of Neurocognitive Function of Patients After Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

• BACKGROUND Decreases in neurocognitive function have been reported in patients who have undergone off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery; however, few investigators have examined the correlates of the decreases. • OBJECTIVES To explore and determine the correlates of neurocognitive function at the time of discharge from the hospital in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. • METHODS Patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn, were administered tests of neurocognition (cognition and motor function), anxiety, depression, and quality of life preoperatively (within 72 hours of surgery) and postoperatively (at least 72 hours after surgery but before discharge from the hospital). • RESULTS A total of 54 patients (79.6% men), mean age 64.5 years, completed tests both preoperatively and postoperatively. When baseline function was controlled for, increased age and new-onset atrial fibrillation (F 3,40 = 42.97; P < .001) were associated with decreases in postoperative cognitive function; increased age and anxiety (F 3,35 = 15.83; P < .001) were associated with decreases in postoperative motor function. • CONCLUSION Older patients, anxious patients, and patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation are at risk for neurocognitive changes after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Further studies with larger sample sizes should be done to examine interventions to reduce preoperative anxiety in these patients. Interventions to prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation should be explored to determine whether the interventions prevent a decline in neurocognitive function. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2006;15:290-298)
Work in progress — Implementation of a project-based learning curriculum

A new project-based learning (PBL) curriculum has begun in northeastern Minnesota as a collaboration between a community college, Itasca Community College, and a state university, Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Iron Range Engineering (IRE) model is a unique, undergraduate problem-based learning engineering program. Students at IRE, who are mostly graduates of Minnesota's community colleges, are upper-division engineering students, enrolled at Minnesota State University, Mankato. IRE students do not take classes. Rather than studying about engineering in the context of 15-week engineering courses, IRE students work in mining, milling, and manufacturing industries solving complex and ill-structured industry problems. All of their learning activities are organized and indexed by those industry projects. At the completion of their two-year program, they receive a B.S. in Engineering with emphases in mechanical engineering and/or electrical engineering. True to the intent of ABET and the attributes of the “The Engineer of 2020”, graduates emerge from the IRE program with integrated technical/professional knowledge and competencies.
Physical activity participation, health perceptions, and cardiovascular disease mortality in a multiethnic population: The Dallas Heart Study

Background Physical activity (PA) participation differs by ethnicity, but contributing factors and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes related to these disparities are not well understood. We determined whether health beliefs regarding the benefit of PA contribute to ethnic differences in participation and assessed how these differences impact CV mortality. Methods The Dallas Heart Study is a longitudinal study of CV health. We assessed PA participation and health perceptions by questionnaire among 3,018 African American, Hispanic, and white men and women at baseline visit (2000-2002). Participant mortality was obtained through 2008 using the National Death Index. Results African Americans (odds ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.53-0.80) and Hispanics (odds ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.26-0.45) were less likely to be physically active compared with whites even after accounting for income, educational status, age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Beliefs regarding the benefits of PA did not contribute to this disparity, as >94% of individuals felt PA was effective in preventing a heart attack across ethnicity. Physical activity participation was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.66, 95% CI 0.46-0.93) and CV disease death (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.32-0.97) in multivariable adjusted models. Similar results were seen when restricting to African Americans (CV disease death, HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.31-1.05). Conclusions Ethnic minorities reported less PA participation, and lack of PA was associated with higher CV mortality overall and among African Americans. Health perception regarding the benefits of PA did not contribute to this difference, indicating there are other ethnic-specific factors contributing to physical inactivity that require future study.
The effect of centrifugal distortion on CO 2 -laser frequencies

An analysis of the effects of higher order centrifugal distortion terms on C12O 2 16-laser frequencies is presented. This analysis, coupled with recent high-accuracy measurements of C12O 2 16-laser beat frequencies by Petersen et al. at the National Bureau of Standards, points out the weakness of existing frequency tables for high J lines. Expected values for both H and L centrifugal distortion coefficients are calculated, and J values for which these terms become important are discussed.
A frequency domain adaptive filter algorithm with constraints on the output weights

The least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm is very popular in adaptive filtering applications due to its robustness and efficiency. The frequency domain implementation of the LMS algorithm offers advantages in both reduced computational complexity for long filter lengths and improved convergence performance. The frequency response of the filter can also be tailored to specific requirements, for example limiting the magnitude response. In this paper, we present an algorithm formulated in the frequency domain based on the principle of minimum disturbance, with a penalty function incorporated to limit the adaptive filter magnitude response at any given frequency. This algorithm performed better than existing ones in terms of convergence and gain limiting, especially in colored noise environments. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the performance of this algorithm in comparison to other algorithms that limit the filter magnitude response.
Neighbor Proximity Analysis, A Technique for Assessing Spatial Patterns in The Fossil Record

Abstract Time-averaging can be a major obstacle in reconstructing fine-scale ecological processes in the fossil record. This study presents a technique, Neighbor Proximity Analysis that attempts, despite time-averaging, to elucidate fine-scale ecological information on a single bedding plane. The technique takes advantage of the tendency for most sessile organisms to cluster in conspecific clumps, and assumes that time-averaging will tend to overprint patterns of conspecific clustering given sufficient time. The fossil species of interest is mapped onto an appropriate grid, point-counted, and the number of conspecific neighbors for each individual is counted. The community distribution is then permuted randomly for multiple iterations; and for each iteration, the number of randomly generated conspecific neighbors is compared to the observed number of conspecific neighbors. Taxa that exhibit clustering greater than expected under the random model probably clustered in life, revealing features of the local ...
Psychometric properties and reliability of the Assessment Screen to Identify Survivors Toolkit for Gender Based Violence (ASIST-GBV): results from humanitarian settings in Ethiopia and Colombia

Refugees and internally displaced persons who are affected by armed-conflict are at increased vulnerability to some forms of sexual violence or other types of gender-based violence. A validated, brief and easy-to-administer screening tool will help service providers identify GBV survivors and refer them to appropriate GBV services. To date, no such GBV screening tool exists. We developed the 7-item ASIST-GBV screening tool from qualitative research that included individual interviews and focus groups with GBV refugee and IDP survivors. This study presents the psychometric properties of the ASIST-GBV with female refugees living in Ethiopia and IDPs in Colombia. Several strategies were used to validate ASIST-GBV, including a 3 month implementation to validate the brief screening tool with women/girls seeking health services, aged ≥15 years in Ethiopia (N = 487) and female IDPs aged ≥ 18 years in Colombia (N = 511). High proportions of women screened positive for past-year GBV according to the ASIST-GBV: 50.6 % in Ethiopia and 63.4 % in Colombia. The factor analysis identified a single dimension, meaning that all items loaded on the single factor. Cronbach’s α = 0.77. A 2-parameter logistic IRT model was used for estimating the precision and discriminating power of each item. Item difficulty varied across the continuum of GBV experiences in the following order (lowest to highest): threats of violence (0.690), physical violence (1.28), forced sex (2.49), coercive sex for survival (2.25), forced marriage (3.51), and forced pregnancy (6.33). Discrimination results showed that forced pregnancy was the item with the strongest ability to discriminate between different levels of GBV. Physical violence and forced sex also have higher levels of discrimination with threats of violence discriminating among women at the low end of the GBV continuum and coercive sex for survival among women at the mid-range of the continuum. The findings demonstrate that the ASIST-GBV has strong psychometric properties and good reliability. The tool can be used to screen and identify female GBV survivors confidentially and efficiently among IDPs in Colombia and refugees in Ethiopia. Early identification of GBV survivors can enable safety planning, early referral for treatment, and psychosocial support to prevent long-term harmful consequence of GBV.
Measuring Self-Regulation in Second Language Learning: A Rasch Analysis

Self-regulation has become a widely discussed subject in education as it facilitates learners’ ability to master their own learning. The purpose of the present study is to examine the psychometric properties of self-regulation in second language learning via Rasch measurement. A total of 528 high-school students from an East Asian country participated in the study, and the Self-Regulating Capacity in English Language Learning (SRClang) Scale was used as a self-report instrument. The results suggest that self-regulation in second language learning as measured by the SRClang Scale does not appear to be unidimensional. Based on item-model fit statistics, several items in the SRClang Scale may need to be revised or removed. Nonetheless, the response categories in the SRClang Scale function well as intended, and the scale can reliably separate items and persons based on their difficulty levels and ability trait levels, respectively. Overall, the SRClang Scale serves as an appropriate measure of self-regulatory...
A Change in Intracellular pH does not Contribute to the Signal Transduction Chain in Phytochrome-Mediated Spore Germination

Calcium ions act as a “second messenger” in phytochrome-stimulated spore germination in Onoclea sensibilis L. In this study we determine whether changes in intracellular pH also contribute to the signal transduction chain. Using 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, in which it is possible to resolve changes as small as 0.2 pH units, we fail to observe any change in intracellular pH associated with red light irradiation. In addition artificially inducing an intracellular change in pH of greater than 1 pH unit (5.8–7.2) has no effect on germination. These data indicate that a sustained increase in intracellular pH does not contribute to the; signal transduction chain in phytochrome-mediated fern spore germination.
FastGGM: An Efficient Algorithm for the Inference of Gaussian Graphical Model in Biological Networks.

Biological networks provide additional information for the analysis of human diseases, beyond the traditional analysis that focuses on single variables. Gaussian graphical model (GGM), a probability model that characterizes the conditional dependence structure of a set of random variables by a graph, has wide applications in the analysis of biological networks, such as inferring interaction or comparing differential networks. However, existing approaches are either not statistically rigorous or are inefficient for high-dimensional data that include tens of thousands of variables for making inference. In this study, we propose an efficient algorithm to implement the estimation of GGM and obtain p-value and confidence interval for each edge in the graph, based on a recent proposal by Ren et al., 2015. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that the algorithm is faster by several orders of magnitude than the current implemented algorithm for Ren et al. without losing any accuracy. Then, we apply our algorithm to two real data sets: transcriptomic data from a study of childhood asthma and proteomic data from a study of Alzheimer’s disease. We estimate the global gene or protein interaction networks for the disease and healthy samples. The resulting networks reveal interesting interactions and the differential networks between cases and controls show functional relevance to the diseases. In conclusion, we provide a computationally fast algorithm to implement a statistically sound procedure for constructing Gaussian graphical model and making inference with high-dimensional biological data. The algorithm has been implemented in an R package named “FastGGM”.
Post-Oriental Otherness: Hollywood's Moral Geography of Arab Americans

How do filmmakers in the United States play a role in perpetuating narratives of belonging to the American culture? What is the marking line between Orientalist and post-Orientalist articulations of Arabness? In what ways have the transnational configurations of geopolitics affected the image formations of Arab Americans in Hollywood? This article emerges at the intersection of those inquiries, and provides a historical account of Hollywood’s representation of Arab Americans rooted in the 1970s. This decade, I argue, constitutes a turning point in the industry’s nationalist projections of Arabness from an Orientalist trope for Arabia to a post-Orientalist notion influenced by U.S.-Arab and Arab-Israeli geopolitics. It replaces an earlier moral geography that consumes the Orient while remaining distant from it with a new moral geography that constantly questions Arab Americans’ belonging through narratives of alienness and terrorism. The significance of this work lies in its investigation of the historical trajectory of Hollywood’s engagement with the Arab American cultural identity.
Dark Current Reduction in Near Infrared P-I-N Detector Diodes Fabricated from In.75Ga.25As Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy on InP Substrates

We have investigated several approaches to improve the material quality of lattice-mismatched In .75 Ga .25 As grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) on (100) InP substrates. They include linear grading of In composition from lattice matched In .53 Ga .47 As to In .75 Ga .25 As in a 1 μm buffer layer grown at reduced substrate temperature, in combination with various in situ annealing and material regrowth steps. The material was used for fabrication of mesa-structure p-i-n photodetectors with 2.2 μm cutoff wavelength. The room temperature dark current density at 1 V reverse bias was approximately 2 mA/cm 2 in all structures that were subjected to anneal and regrowth process, a factor of three improvement over reference samples which were not subjected to annealing and regrowth. The dark current density at 15 V reverse bias (10 mA/cm 2 for the best devices) was at least two orders of magnitude lower in all annealed samples than in reference samples. These results suggest that the MBE grown material can be an attractive alternative to the vapor phase epitaxy (VPE) grown material which is commonly used for fabrication of these detectors.
Perspectives on Migration Theory – Economics

Early work on migration was based on limited data referring to life-time migration and was primarily descriptive. Although numerous hypotheses were developed, the lack of data prevented the development of theoretical models. This condition prevailed during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and beyond the first quarter of the twentieth century. In the late 1930s, British economists began to develop theoretical underpinnings for their empirical research, and a short time later this theory would be further developed into the gravity model, which was the earliest theoretical approach to interregional migration. Later, economists would place migration in an investment context, and present discounted value would become a key concept underlying the study of migration decisions. This idea led to a focus on the time horizon of an intended move and also on the discount rate itself. Search-theoretic models also had their roots in present-value concepts. The more recent availability of microdata opened many new areas of migration research and provided numerous important insights into the study of migration. Now specific characteristics, such as age and education, can be taken into account, and the migration of individuals with these types of characteristics may be studied.
Quality assurance of the analytic process: pre- and postanalytic variation.

This article attempts to define and identify sources of variation in laboratory analysis that occur predominantly “away” from the analytic bench. Problems in the derivation and application of reference ranges are reviewed and sources of non-analytic error are “located” within the entire testing cycle. Reference sources are presented.