cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF ADDED SODIUM CHLORIDE AND POTASSIUM CHLORIDE ON THE CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF PRECOOKED, RECOMBINED BEEF CHUCK ROASTS1

Commercial beef chuck tenders were processed into recombined roasts utilizing salt or Morton's® Lite Salt (43% NaCl, 57% KCl) according to treatment (100% salt, 70% salt—30% lite salt, 30% salt—70% lite salt or 100% lite salt). Roasts were cooked to an internal temperature of 68°C. Percentages of water and protein were relatively constant across treatments and as fat percentages increased (P < 0.05) so did caloric content. As the level of lite salt increased, the percentage extractable potassium also increased. Cooking loss was not affected by treatment. Treatment 1 (100% salt) was harder and less tender (P < 0.05) than the other treatments; while juiciness, flavor and overall palatability were not affected by treatment. Results of this study suggest the feasibility of substituting lite salt for salt in these types of value added, precooked products.
Nitrogen biogeochemistry of aquaculture ponds

Nitrogen (N) biogeochemistry of aquaculture ponds is dominated by biological transformations of N added to ponds in the form of inorganic or organic fertilizers and formulated feeds. Nitrogen application in excess of pond assimilatory capacity can lead to the deterioration of water quality through the accumulation of nitrogenous compounds (e.g., ammonia and nitrite) with toxicity to fish or shrimp. Principal sources of ammonia include fish excretion and sediment flux derived from the mineralization of organic matter and molecular diffusion from reduced sediment, although cyanobacterial nitrogen fixation and atmospheric deposition are occasionally important. Principal sinks for ammonia include phytoplankton uptake and nitrification. The magnitude of losses by ammonia volatilization and ammonium fixation to cation exchange sites is minor, but unknown. Interactions between pond sediment and water are important regulators of N biogeochemistry. Sediment represents a source of ammonia and a sink for nitrite and nitrate. The large volume of reduced sediment suggests that the potential for N removal by denitrification is high, although the magnitude of N removal by this mechanism is low because nitrification and denitrification are tightly coupled in aquatic sediments and sediment nitrification is limited by the depth of sediment oxygen penetration. Nitrogen biogeochemistry of aquaculture ponds is affected by feeds and feeding practices, water exchange and circulation, aeration, pond depth and other management procedures. Opportunities for management of N biogeochemistry are limited and goals are based largely on the intensity of fish production.
Until Death Do Us Part? Husband Perceptions and Responses to Fear of Crime

This article examines the link between men's personal fear of crime and men's fear of crime for others. Previous work finds men fear crime less than women and that men fear crime for others, especially spouses. Gender role socialization is a key reason men lack personal fear. Few works consider the connection between personal fear and vicarious fear for men. Analyzing in-depth interviews with fourteen married couples, this study relies on marriage as a context to understand the relationship between personal fear and fear for spouses among married men. Narratives with married men demonstrate a heightened sense of personal fear and fear for spouses due to a new sense of “responsibility” for spousal safety and protection.
Factors Influencing the Rate of Non-Enzymatic Activation of Carboxylic and Amino Acids by ATP

The rate of non-enzymatic activation of carboxylic and amino acids by ATP has been found to vary as a function of several factors. These include, (a) the pKa of the carboxyl group, (b) pH, (c) temperature, (d) salt concentration, (e) the divalent metal cation, (f) the molar ratio of metal cation to ATP, and (g) the nature of the amino acid. The rates of activation of a select group of hydrophobic amino acids (phe, leu, val, ile and met) were found to differ under a variety of conditions, although phe was always activated most rapidly. This amino acid, moreover, was always found to have the greatest affinity for various adenine derivatives as determined by several methods. We conclude that the rate of non-enzymatic activation of amino acids by ATP is at least partially a function of the affinity of the amino acid for this nucleotide.
A recursion-based broadcast paradigm in wormhole routed networks

A novel broadcast technique for wormhole-routed parallel computers based on recursion is presented in this paper. It works by partitioning the interconnection graph into a number of higher-level subgraphs. Then, we identify the transmission subgraph (TSG) in each subgraph. Both the higher-level subgraphs and the TSGs are recursively defined, i.e., we split each level i subgraph into several level i+1 subgraphs and identify-level i+1 TSGs accordingly. We first split and scatter the source message into the TSG of the original graph. Next, in each recursive round message transmissions are from lower-level TSGs to higher-level TSGs and all transmissions at the same level happen concurrently. The algorithm proceeds recursively from lower-level subgraphs to higher level subgraphs until each highest-level subgraph (a single node) gets the complete message. We have applied this general paradigm to a number of topologies including two or higher dimension mesh/torus and hypercube. Our results show considerable improvements over all other algorithms for a wide range of message sizes under both one-port and all-port models.
Reflections on the positive consequences of illicit drug usage by the younger generation.

This paper starts with the basic assumption that together with its dysfunctional consequences illicit drug usage by the young has led to some positive societal developments. This paper attempts to identify and describe these positive developments. Accordingly there seems to be: (1) less glorification of medication in general; (2) more adequate controls in the realm of drug production, distribution and research; (3) an awareness of inconsistencies, in the existent drug laws, their enforcement, both of which resulted in attempts at making both the existing laws and their enforcement less arbitrary.
Effect of tamoxifen on transforming growth factor beta1 production by keloid and fetal fibroblasts.

Background: Evidence suggests that keloid scar formation may be mediated, in part, by deranged growth factor activity, including that of transforming growth factor (TGF) b1. Tamoxifen citrate has shown promise in the treatment of keloids. Objective: To evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on autocrine growth factor expression in keloid and fetal dermal fibroblasts, which exhibit scar-free healing. Design: Serum-free cell lines of keloid and fetal dermal fibroblasts were established. Cell cultures were exposed to different concentrations of tamoxifen solution (8 and 12 or 16 µmol/L). Cell counts were performed and supernatants collected at 24, 48, and 96 hours. Cell-free supernatants were quantitatively assayed for TGF-b1 expression. Results: Keloid fibroblasts show increased per-cell TGF-b1 production compared with fetal fibroblasts. Tamoxifen appeared to decrease per-cell TGF-b1 production at each of the time points evaluated. Conclusions: Keloids likely arise due to locally insufficient or excessive concentrations of specific growth factors. The higher level of TGF-b1 produced by keloid cells compared with fetal fibroblasts could be related to the aberrant wound healing seen with keloids. The addition of tamoxifen may lead to improved wound healing in keloids by decreasing the expression of TGF-b1.
Depressed mood and cause-specific mortality: a 40-year general community assessment

Purpose The current study describes how the excess mortality risk associated with depression translates into specific causes of death occurring during a 40-year follow-up period, with focus on deaths related to injuries, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
Land use implications of sea level rise: A case study at myrtle beach, South Carolina

Abstract the prospect of global warming and consequent sea level rise will have important implications for coastal communities. this article examines the land use implications of alternate sea level rise scenarios on the city of myrtle beach, south carolina. current trends as well as high and low sea level rise scenarios are superimposed on the city's beach profile and near shore contours to estimate the type and value of land development likely to be impacted. It is found that losses associated with accelerated sea level rise would be particularly high in the city's hotel district and that overall property loss could range from 21 to 60% of the city's total property value. to lessen these potential losses, coastal communities such as myrtle beach must choose among one of three policy options including: (1) barricade the beach, (2) raise the land, and (3) implement a strategic retreat. specific alternatives within each of these options are explored in turn. the article concludes that successful developmen...
Special session: Re-imagining engineering education: Feminist visions for transforming the field

The goal of this special session is to explore what engineering education might be like if it were done from a feminist perspective, and how this new vision might influence the profession and society. Feminist perspectives are understood broadly to recognize the connectedness of all forms of social injustice. Thus feminist visions of engineering might address a broad set of concerns such as militarism, racism, and global economic inequality as well as sexism and heterosexism. Outcomes include concrete ideas for future research and institutional transformation, collaboration and mutual support of one another's efforts.
Genetic Homogeneity of Clostridium botulinum Type A1 Strains with Unique Toxin Gene Clusters

A group of five clonally related Clostridium botulinum type A strains isolated from different sources over a period of nearly 40 years harbored several conserved genetic properties. These strains contained a variant bont/A1 with five nucleotide polymorphisms compared to the gene in C. botulinum strain ATCC 3502. The strains also had a common toxin gene cluster composition (ha−/orfX+) similar to that associated with bont/A in type A strains containing an unexpressed bont/B [termed A(B) strains]. However, bont/B was not identified in the strains examined. Comparative genomic hybridization demonstrated identical genomic content among the strains relative to C. botulinum strain ATCC 3502. In addition, microarray data demonstrated the absence of several genes flanking the toxin gene cluster among the ha−/orfX+ A1 strains, suggesting the presence of genomic rearrangements with respect to this region compared to the C. botulinum ATCC 3502 strain. All five strains were shown to have identical flaA variable region nucleotide sequences. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of the strains were indistinguishable when digested with SmaI, and a shift in the size of at least one band was observed in a single strain when digested with XhoI. These results demonstrate surprising genomic homogeneity among a cluster of unique C. botulinum type A strains of diverse origin.
Unilateral lower limb suspension does not mimic bed rest or spaceflight effects on human muscle fiber function

We used Ca2+-activated skinned muscle fibers to test the hypothesis that unilateral lower leg suspension (ULLS) alters cross-bridge mechanisms of muscle contraction. Soleus and gastrocnemius biopsies were obtained from eight subjects before ULLS, immediately after 12 days of ULLS (post-0 h), and after 6 h of reambulation (post-6 h). Post-0 h soleus fibers expressing type I myosin heavy chain (MHC) showed significant reductions in diameter, absolute and specific peak Ca2+-activated force, unloaded shortening velocity, and absolute and normalized peak power. Fibers obtained from the gastrocnemius were less affected by ULLS, particularly fibers expressing fast MHC isoforms. Post-6 h soleus fibers produced less absolute and specific peak force than did post-0 h fibers, suggesting that reambulation after ULLS induced cell damage. Like bed rest and spaceflight, ULLS primarily affects soleus over gastrocnemius fibers. However, in contrast to these other models, slow soleus fibers obtained after ULLS showed a decrease in unloaded shortening velocity and a greater reduction in specific force.
Photochemistry of a Bacterial Photosynthetic Reaction Center Missing the Initial Bacteriochlorophyll Electron Acceptor

A novel chromophore composition of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center (RC) has been discovered: RCs lacking the L-side monomeric bacteriochlorophyll chromophore result from mutation of the native isoleucine at M204 to glutamine in Rhodobacter capsulatus. This conclusion is obtained from 77 K UV–vis spectroscopy and pigment extractions of the I(M204)Q mutant and seven variants containing the I(M204)Q plus other mutations. The oxidation potential of the primary electron donor P (a dimer of bacteriochlorophylls) was measured for three of the mutants and found to be 50–65 mV lower than in wild-type RCs. Ultrafast transient absorption measurements reveal (minimally) two subpopulations of P* that have distinct lifetimes and photochemical outcomes for all mutants containing I(M204)Q. In one subpopulation P* decays solely by internal conversion to the ground state. In the other subpopulation P* decays by electron transfer to the normally inactive M-side bacteriopheophytin (HM) in competition with intern...
From actors to agents to persons: the development of character representation in young children's narratives.

This study addressed a puzzling discrepancy in existing research about when children achieve and manifest a mentalistic conception of the person. Narrative research suggests that children do not represent characters as mental agents until middle childhood, whereas social cognition research places this understanding at around 4 years. Using a theoretically informed typology, 617 stories were analyzed composed by 30 children participating in a storytelling and story-acting practice integrated into their preschool curriculum. Results indicated that children's representation of characters shifted from almost exclusively physical and external portrayals of “actors” at 3 to increasing inclusion of “agents” with rudimentary mental states at 4 and of “persons” with mental representational capacities by 5. The developmental trajectories of boys and girls differed somewhat.
Injection of Externally Generated Ions into an Increasing Trapping Field of a Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

Trapping ions injected into a quadrupole ion trap (QIT) by increasing the trapping r.f. voltage on a ring electrode is an effective and widely recognized method of interfacing an ion trap with pulsed ion sources such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). In this paper, the problem of mass discrimination during the injection and trapping of ions by the increasing r.f. field was studied both experimentally and by numerical simulation using SIMION software. For a MALDI/QIT interface design with a remote external ion source described here, experiments with polyethylene glycol (PEG 1000 and PEG 1500) showed little mass discrimination for trapping ions in a wide mass range (500–2000 Da) for a broad range of experimental conditions, which include kinetic energies of 5–40 eV for the injected ions and an r.f. voltage of 400–4000 V0–p amplitude ramped at a rate of 30–140 V0–p μs-1. In the numerical simulation, complex and sharp dependences of the trapping efficiency on the phase of the r.f. voltage and initial kinetic energy of ions were observed. However, after averaging over the r.f. phase and over a reasonable range of kinetic energy, the simulation resulted in relatively constant and high values for the trapping efficiency (normally 0.2–0.3) for any mass and kinetic energy considered, which are consistent with the weak sensitivity to injection parameters observed in the experiment. A simple model for the qualitative description of ion injection and trapping is suggested that relies on phase interaction of injected ions with the r.f. field rather than on collisions with the buffer gas molecules to decrease the ion kinetic energy. © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The instability of a fluid layer with time-dependent heating

The problem of the stability and growth of disturbances in a fluid with time-dependent heating is investigated. The analysis is restricted to the case when the temperature gradient is large in a layer which is narrow by comparison with the overall depth of the fluid. An approximate method of solution is presented. Results of computations are also presented which illustrate the method of solution and the essential features of the problem.
Frequency transposition around dead regions simulated with a noiseband vocoder

In sensorineural hearing loss, damage to inner hair cells or the auditory nerve may result in dead regions in the cochlea, where the information transmission is disrupted. In cochlear implants, similar dead regions might appear if the spiral ganglia do not function. Shannon et al. [J. Assoc. Res. Otolaryngol. 3, 185–199 (2002)] simulated dead regions of varying size and location using a noiseband vocoder. Phoneme recognition by normal-hearing subjects was measured under two frequency-place mapping conditions: the frequency range corresponding to the dead region was (1) removed or (2) reassigned to bands adjacent to the dead region to simulate the off-frequency stimulation of neurons at the edge of a dead region. The present study extends the results of Shannon et al. by including a frequency transposition mapping condition, where the overall acoustic input frequency range was distributed over the entire remaining nondead region. The frequency transposed map provided more acoustic information when compared...
A proof of Weinberg’s conjecture on lattice-ordered matrix algebras

Let F be a subfield of the field of real numbers and let n F ( 2 ≥ n ) be the n n × matrix algebra over F. It is shown that if n F is a lattice-ordered algebra over F in which the identity matrix is positive then n F is isomorphic to the lattice- ordered algebra n F with the usual lattice order. In particular, Weinberg's
Photo-oxidation of Polymers Synthesized by Plasma and Initiated CVD

Plasma polymers are often limited by their susceptibility to spontaneous and photo-oxidation. We show that the unusual photoluminescence (PL) behavior of a plasma polymer of trans-2-butene is correlated with its photoluminescence strength. These photo-processes occur under blue light illumination (λ=405 nm), distinguishing them from traditional ultraviolet degradation of polymers. These photo-active defects are likely formed during the plasma deposition process and we show that a polymer synthesized using initiated (i)CVD, non-plasma method, has 1000× lower PL signal and enhanced photo-stability. In conclusion, non-plasma methods such as iCVD may therefore be a route to overcoming material aging issues that limit the adoption of plasma polymers.
Perinatal Lesioning and Lifelong Effects of the Noradrenergic Neurotoxin 6-Hydroxydopa.

6-hydroxydopa (6-OHDOPA) was synthesized with the expectation that it would be able to cross the blood–brain barrier to be enzymatically decarboxylated to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), the newly discovered neurotoxin for noradrenergic and dopaminergic neurons. In part, 6-OHDOPA fulfilled these criteria. When administered experimentally to rodents, 6-OHDOPA destroyed peripheral sympathetic noradrenergic nerves and did exert neurotoxicity to noradrenergic nerves in brain—in large part, from its conversion to 6-OHDA. However, the efficacy of 6-OHDOPA was less than that of 6-OHDA; also, 6-OHDOPA was relatively selective for noradrenergic neurons; near-lethal doses of 6-OHDOPA were required to damage dopaminergic nerves; and ultimately, 6-OHDOPA was found to be an agonist at AMPA receptors, thus accounting for more non-specificity. Nevertheless, 6-OHDOPA was found to be a particularly valuable tool in uncovering processes and mechanisms associated with noradrenergic nerve regeneration and sprouting, particularly when administered to perinatal rodents. Also, 6-OHDOPA was a good tool for selective mapping of noradrenergic nerve tracts in brain, since dopaminergic tracts were unaffected and did not interfere with the histofluorescent methodology used for this purpose in the early 1970s. As an experimental research tool, 6-OHDOPA was valuable in a short time-window, but its utility is largely limited because of newer research technologies that provide better means today for nerve tract mapping, and for experimental approaches engaged toward study of processes and mechanisms attending nerve regeneration. AMPA actions of 6-OHDOPA have not been extensively studied, so this avenue may enliven use of 6-OHDOPA in the future.
Attitude Determination Experiment for Aerospace Design Education

Accreditation of astronautical engineering programs, and some programs in aerospace engineering, requires graduates to have knowledge of attitude determination algorithms and hardware. In addition, these programs must prepare graduates with a design experience that includes integration of aeronautical or astronautical topics. Since many, if not most, contemporary applications require either cockpit automation or fully autonomous control systems, attitude determination becomes an important design element in the development of a new aerospace vehicle. This paper will present a hardware experiment that has been developed to enhance student understanding of attitude determination methods and their role in aerospace vehicle design.
Anorexia and Bulimia

Eating disorders are receiving increasing attention in the lay press and in psychiatric research. Young women are most often affected by eating disorders, frequently with additional psychiatric syndromes. This article focuses on accurate diagnosis, medical and psychiatric complications, and current management techniques.
Optical nonlinearities in high-confinement silicon carbide waveguides

We demonstrate strong nonlinearities of n2=8.6±1.1×10−15 cm2 W−1 in single-crystal silicon carbide (SiC) at a wavelength of 2360 nm. We use a high-confinement SiC waveguide fabricated based on a high-temperature smart-cut process.
Wireless protocol validation under uncertainty

Runtime validation of wireless protocol implementations cannot always employ direct instrumentation of the device under test (DUT). The DUT may not implement the required instrumentation, or the instrumentation may alter the DUT’s behavior when enabled. Wireless sniffers can monitor the DUT’s behavior without instrumentation, but they introduce new validation challenges. Losses caused by wireless propagation prevent sniffers from perfectly reconstructing the actual DUT packet trace. As a result, accurate validation requires distinguishing between specification deviations that represent implementation errors and those caused by sniffer uncertainty.
Discovery of imidazopyridazines as potent Pim-1/2 kinase inhibitors

Abstract High levels of Pim expression have been implicated in several hematopoietic and solid tumor cancers, suggesting that inhibition of Pim signaling could provide patients with therapeutic benefit. Herein, we describe our progress towards this goal using a screening hit ( rac - 1 ) as a starting point. Modification of the indazole ring resulted in the discovery of a series of imidazopyridazine-based Pim inhibitors exemplified by compound 22m , which was found to be a subnanomolar inhibitor of the Pim-1 and Pim-2 isoforms (IC 50 values of 0.024 nM and 0.095 nM, respectively) and to potently inhibit the phosphorylation of BAD in a cell line that expresses high levels of all Pim isoforms, KMS-12-BM (IC 50 = 28 nM). Profiling of Pim-1 and Pim-2 expression levels in a panel of multiple myeloma cell lines and correlation of these data with the potency of compound 22m in a proliferation assay suggests that Pim-2 inhibition would be advantageous for this indication.
System optimization of contents delivery network with information-zooming function

This paper proposed a new CDN with information zooming function, which delivers generic/specific contents by mirror servers and customizing servers. First, algorithms for the optimum location problem of p mirror servers and q customizing servers are presented. The system optimization problem of Z-CDN is investigated, and effective algorithms for optimum number and location of mirror/customizing servers with the minimum system cost are presented. Proposed Z-CDN may satisfy varieties of individual demands
The acquisition of the semantic values of the Spanish present tense in L2 and heritage Spanish

We examine the acquisition of the semantic values of the Spanish present tense among second language learners and Spanish heritage speakers, an area so far underexplored. We predict bilingualism effects evidenced in lower patterns of use, acceptance and preference of the simple present with an ongoing meaning, as well as preference for the progressive in ongoing and habitual contexts. Furthermore, we expect the heritage speakers to outperform the L2 learners, and to behave closer to native speakers. In contrast to our expectations, we found overextension of the simple present to ongoing situations and to contexts where the present progressive is preferred. The heritage speakers behaved closer to the native speakers, suggesting age-related effects in language development. We argue for morphosemantic convergence towards the less aspectually restrictive configuration.
The impact of education on legislative responsiveness in three field experiments

Three field experiments were used to investigate whether a constituent’s education level influences state legislators’ responsiveness to their request for assistance. Legislators were sent emails t...
Measures of Kidney Disease and the Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) Study

Background Kidney disease has been associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, but results conflict and there is little information regarding blacks. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 30,239 black and white adults 45 years or older enrolled in the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) Study 2003 to 2007. Predictors Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the combined creatinine–cystatin C (eGFR cr-cys ) equation and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). Outcomes The primary outcome was adjudicated VTE, and secondary outcomes were provoked and unprovoked VTE, separately. Mortality was a competing-risk event. Results During 4.6 years of follow-up, 239 incident VTE events occurred over 124,624 person-years. Cause-specific HRs of VTE were calculated using proportional hazards regression adjusted for age, sex, race, region of residence, and body mass index. Adjusted VTE HRs for eGFR cr-cys of 60 to 2 were 1.28 (95% CI, 0.94-1.76), 1.30 (95% CI, 0.77-2.18), and 2.13 (95% CI, 1.21-3.76). Adjusted VTE HRs for ACR of 10 to Limitations Single measurement of eGFR and ACR may have led to misclassification. Smaller numbers of events may have limited power. Conclusions There was an independent association of low eGFR ( 2 ) with VTE risk, but no association of ACR and VTE.
Gratitude, psychological well-being, and perceptions of posttraumatic growth in adults who lost a parent in childhood.

ABSTRACTFindings from an online survey of 350 adults who experienced early parental death showed that current dispositional gratitude was positively correlated with psychological well-being and posttraumatic growth and negatively correlated with depression. Further, 281 participants produced textual responses indicating they could remember the time following their parent’s death. Increases in gratitude attributable to the experience of losing a parent were reported by 79% of these participants. They associated their increased gratitude with a newfound belief that life is precious and with greater appreciation for loved ones. Direction of change in gratitude was associated with psychological well-being, posttraumatic growth, and depression.
PTPN11 Mutations E76K, D61V, and D61Y Induce Hypersensitivity of Hematopoietic Progenitors to GM-CSF and IL-3.

Abstract The childhood leukemia, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), is a lethal disease of young children characterized by spontaneous growth of peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors and hypersensitivity of hematopoietic progenitors to the cytokine GM-CSF. Notably, hematopoietic progenitors from JMML patients do not typically demonstrate hypersensitivity to the cytokine IL-3. Mutations in the RAS and NF1 genes have long been recognized as pathogenic in this disease, and more recently, mutations in the PTPN11 gene, which encodes Shp-2, a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase, have also been found commonly in leukemic cells from children with JMML. We hypothesized that the mutant Shp-2 molecules observed in JMML patients would induce hypersensitivity of hematopoietic progenitors to GM-CSF. To examine this hypothesis, we subcloned the WT Shp-2 cDNA and three mutant Shp-2 cDNAs found in leukemic cells from children with JMML (E76K, D61V, and D61Y), into the murine stem cell retroviral plasmid pMIEG3 in tandem with EGFP. Each vector was sequenced to verify the desired point mutation and to rule-out unwanted mutations. Murine bone marrow low density mononuclear cells were subjected to fibronectin-assisted retroviral transduction and sorted for EGFP positive cells using fluorescence activated cell sorting. EGFP positive cells were plated into progenitor assays with increasing concentrations of GM-CSF (0, 0.01 0.1, 1, and 10 ng/mL). As predicted, transduction with each of the Shp-2 mutations induced hypersensitivity to GM-CSF compared to vector alone or to WT Shp-2, as evidenced by significantly higher % maximal colony formation at each GM-CSF dose tested (Figure 1). Download : Download high-res image (96KB) Download : Download full-size image We next conducted progenitor assays using EGFP positive cells with increasing concentrations of IL-3 (0. 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 U/mL). Although hematopoietic progenitors from JMML patients have not been described to be hypersensitive to IL-3, surprisingly, we have observed in preliminary studies that introduction of each of the Shp-2 mutations induced hypersensitivity to IL-3 in a similar fashion to that observed with GM-CSF (Figure 2). Download : Download high-res image (93KB) Download : Download full-size image These data demonstrate that somatic PTPN11 mutations observed in children with JMML induce hematopoietic cell growth aberrancies in a manner overlapping with the classical description of JMML, yet also induce unique hematopoietic cell growth characteristics based on the observed hypersensitivity to IL-3. These findings suggest that signaling pathways in addition to the Ras-MAPK cascade may be dysregulated in PTPN11 mutation-bearing hematopoietic cells and provide a novel model for the investigation of new therapeutics in JMML. Current studies are ongoing to examine the effect of these mutations on in vivo hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis.
Estimation of the water requirement for beef production in the United States

A static model of developed water use for U.S. cattle production was constructed on a spreadsheet. Water use included that consumed directly by various classes of animals, water applied for irrigation of crops that are consumed by the cattle, water applied to irrigated pasture, and water used to process animals at marketing. Government statistics were consulted for numbers of cattle and crop production. The most recent statistics available for numbers of cattle and crops in individual states were used. On January 1, 1992, a total of 33.8 million beef cows and 5.7 million replacement heifers were in U.S. breeding herds, 12 million animals were on feed, and approximately 28 million animals were fed annually. Thus, the U.S. beef cattle herd produced 6.9 billion kg of boneless beef. Beef cattle directly consumed 760 billion L of water per year. Feedlot cattle were fed various grain and roughage sources corresponding to the regions in which they were fed. Feeds produced in a state were preferentially used by cattle in that state with that state's efficiency; any additional feedstuffs required used water at the national efficiency. Irrigation of crop feedstuffs for beef cattle required 12,991 billion L of water. Irrigated pasture for beef cattle production required an additional 11,243 billion L of water. Carcass processing required 79 billion L of water. The model estimates 3,682 L of developed water per kilogram of boneless meat for beef cattle production in the United States. The model was most sensitive to the dressing percentage and percentage of boneless yield in carcasses of feedlot cattle (62 and 66.7, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Looping and Attachment in Early Childhood Education: How Applications of Epigenetics Demand a Change

Increasing focus on the quality of child care and pre-K is calling attention to the circumstances of child care and impact on the child’s social and emotional health, specifically in terms of attachment. The early childhood profession recognizes that consistency in caregiving is essential for the child’s attachment. Looping, the practice of keeping a group of children with the same teacher for more than year, has the potential to provide that consistency that is critical for attachment. The field of epigenetics and its compelling findings in regard to attachment demand a second look at looping and how it can be implemented to maintain attachment, which is critical to the child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional health now and in the future. This case study conducted at a preschool that practices looping examines the benefits and challenges of looping through the lens of applied epigenetics.
The problematics of "evidence" in historical scholarship and criticism

This essay asks us to rethink the evidentiary basis for the claims we make in historical scholarship and criticism. How certain can we be of what we think we know? What evidence do we have, and can it be tested or otherwise verified? Many biographical questions cannot be answered with any confidence. Was Jonathan Swift a virgin? Opinions differ, and evidence is lacking. In theater history huge gaps in performance records prior to the advent of daily newspaper ads post 1700 leave us ignorant of what was performed on more than 80 percent of nights in Restoration London. In some realms we can dig up lawsuit testimony, but plaintiff and defendant rarely agree. What seems plausible is not always true, and the improbable can sometimes be proven. Attribution is a particularly knotty problem, as the horrible messes in the canons of Defoe and Fielding remind us. Memoirs are treacherous, even if not demonstrably laced with lies, and the temptation to use a bad source in the absence of any other needs to be resisted. Reliability must always be questioned, and if possible, tested. We should always remember that when trying to answer a historicist question, we may find ourselves at any of five points in a spectrum stretching from (1) what we believe is proven fact to (5) what may well be irresolvable indeterminacy. A level below “fact” is (2) high probability. Two steps down we have (3) plausible but not proven. Below that we have (4) incertitude, where the evidence is sufficiently limited or conflicted that no sound judgment can be rendered. When we get down to (5) indeterminacy, the reason is usually either complete lack of necessary evidence or fatally contradictory evidence. To fail to admit the inadequacy or unreliability of evidence is to build on rotten foundations. If our scholarship is to be anything more than wishful thinking, we must be prepared to ask ourselves, and to demand of our colleagues, “How do you know that? Prove it! ”
SAP and Lessons Learned from a Primary Immunodeficiency

Approximately 19 years ago, Terhorst and colleagues ([1][1]) reported the cloning of the gene encoding a small adaptor protein, signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP), named by virtue of its binding to the intracellular tail of the cell surface receptor SLAM.
History-based action selection bias in posterior parietal cortex

Making decisions based on choice-outcome history is a crucial, adaptive ability in life. However, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying history-dependent decision-making are poorly understood. In particular, history-related signals have been found in many brain areas during various decision-making tasks, but the causal involvement of these signals in guiding behavior is unclear. Here we addressed this issue utilizing behavioral modeling, two-photon calcium imaging, and optogenetic inactivation in mice. We report that a subset of neurons in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) closely reflect the choice-outcome history and history-dependent decision biases, and PPC inactivation diminishes the history dependency of choice. Specifically, many PPC neurons show history- and bias-tuning during the inter-trial intervals (ITI), and history dependency of choice is affected by PPC inactivation during ITI and not during trial. These results indicate that PPC is a critical region mediating the subjective use of history in biasing action selection.
Dark side of the planet: hidden dimensions of urban agglomeration

This intervention probes the hidden, political dimensions of planetary urbanization. Drawing on political theory, it approaches its analysis through the analytic of ‘the political,’ the dimension i...
Evaluation of a Tool to Measure Pharmacists’ Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that demands a comprehensive health care response. Provider education and training is needed for the entire health care team, including pharmacists, to competently care for IPV-impacted patients. Standardized assessments are needed to determine need for training and to evaluate the effectiveness of IPV training initiatives. The Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Survey (PREMIS) has previously been validated for physicians. This study adapted and evaluated the PREMIS instrument for use with pharmacists to assess knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and intentions related to IPV and IPV screening. A total of 144 surveys from community pharmacists were analyzed. Pharmacists had low levels of IPV knowledge. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure: workplace and self-efficacy, preparation, legal requirements, alcohol and drugs, and constraints. This instrument can be utilized to guide the development and implementation of IPV-related training initiatives for pharmacists.
Blue Genes and the Monoamine Hypothesis of Depression

78 J Clin Psychiatry 61:2, February 2000 BRAINSTORMS is a monthly section of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry aimed at providing updates of novel concepts emerging from the neurosciences that have relevance to the practicing psychiatrist. From the Clinical Neuroscience Research Center in San Diego and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. Reprint requests to: Stephen M. Stahl, M.D., Ph.D., Editor, BRAINSTORMS, 8899 University Center Lane, Suite 130, San Diego, CA 92122. Blue Genes and the Monoamine Hypothesis of Depression
Configuration Interaction Overview of Chemical Reactivity

The current qualitative theories of organic chemistry are based on one-determinental MO theory. In such approaches one constructs the MO’s of a total system from the MO’s of fragments and assumes that the energy of the configuration generated by this procedure approximates the energy of the corresponding state. This is a reasonable expectation for most thermal reactions but a rather unrealistic one for photochemical reactions. Adopting a better approach, one seeks to generate electronic states from electronic configurations, which, in turn, have been generated from fragment MO’s. This is the CI approach. In this chapter, two different CI methods which can be utilized in the analysis of actual chemical problems will be described. As background, a brief outline of the theoretical manipulations involved in a typical CI calculation follows.
Shock Tube Studies of the Hydrogen—Oxygen Reaction System

The shock tube is one of the most useful experimental tools currently available to the chemical kineticist for the study of fast reactions in gases, particularly at temperatures above those achievable statically in laboratory apparatus. When coupled with one or more of a great variety of appropriate diagnostic methods, it is well-suited for the study of chemical processes taking place over the approximate range from 10−6 to 10−3 seconds. Shock wave methods to study chemical reactions and related time-dependent phenomena have been described in the literature throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, and the techniques and many of the important experimental results are described in a number of excellent books1 and recent review articles.2–4 Notwithstanding the concern for aerodynamic nonidealities in shock tube flows which is increasing conspicuously at the time of this writing, and for the quantitative corrections which these effects make necessary, shock tubes are now a well-established means for obtaining information on chemical reaction rates in thermally perturbed homogeneous systems.
Valeo IP to Shut Down September 2

On June 29, 2005, Valeo IP (www.valeoip.com), an online copyright licensing service, announced on its Website and to its employees that it is shutting down it operations effective September 2, 2005. The move comes after a volatile spring which saw the company engaged in a bitter lawsuit with former partner DataDepth (www.datadepth.com) and the abrupt departure of its President. The departure of Valeo IP leaves a gap in the growing, but confusing business of licensing digital content. Both the growth and the confusion come from the increasing awareness of the need to manage copyrights and use of digital content, with uncertainty as to how copyright law applies to digital content.
Pilomyxoid astrocytoma of the spinal cord: report of three cases.

Objective and importance Pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) is a recently described, rare, circumscribed glioma similar to pilocytic astrocytoma. Despite its circumscribed nature, PMA implies a worse overall outcome than typical pilocytic astrocytoma. All PMAs reported to date involved the hypothalamic/chiasmatic region. Since these original reports, we have encountered three tumors in the spinal cord with histological features identical to those of PMA. Clinical presentation We report three male pediatric patients. The first patient presented at age 6 with back pain and constipation. The second patient presented at age 8 with back pain and a bout of urinary incontinence. The third patient, a neonate, presented with respiratory failure and hypotonia. Intervention The first patient's cervical and thoracic neoplasm was treated with subtotal resection and multiple laminectomies and spinal fusion for recurrence. The second patient underwent gross total resection of his thoracic neoplasm. The neonate underwent laminectomy and biopsy of his holocord tumor. Conclusion PMAs typically occur in the hypothalamic region and within the first 4 years of life. Tumors with identical histological features are being recognized outside this typical clinical setting. The cases presented in this report suggest that PMA can occur at a later age and can involve the spinal cord. We believe that increased recognition of these circumscribed gliomas will help to elucidate their nature and lead to better management decisions.
Quantitative Spectrochemical Analysis

Quantitative spectrochemical analysis usually is considered to have originated about 1882 when W. N. Hartley, in Ireland, used a spark source to determine beryllium. In 1902, de Gramont, in France, used a spark to excite solid samples and used the method for metallurgical analysis.
Trust and Approachability Mediate Social Decision Making in Human-Robot Interaction:

As humanoid robots become more advanced and commonplace, the average user may perceive their robotic companion as human-like entities that can make social decisions, such as the deliberate choice to act fairly or selfishly. It is important for scientists and designers to consider how this will affect our interactions with social robots. The current paper explores how social decision making with humanoid robots changes as the degree of their human-likeness changes. For that purpose, we created a spectrum of human-like agents via morphing that ranged from very robot-like to very human-like in physical appearance (i.e., in increments of 20%) and measured how this change in physical humanness affected decision-making in two economic games: the Ultimatum Game (Experiment 1) and Trust Game (Experiment 2). We expected increases in human-like appearance to lead to higher rates of punishment for unfair offers and higher ratings of trust in both games. While physical humanness did not have an impact on economic dec...
Shear-driven flow of athermal, frictionless, spherocylinder suspensions in two dimensions: Stress, jamming, and contacts.

We use numerical simulations to study the flow of a bidisperse mixture of athermal, frictionless, soft-core two-dimensional spherocylinders driven by a uniform steady-state shear strain applied at a fixed finite rate. Energy dissipation occurs via a viscous drag with respect to a uniformly sheared host fluid, giving a simple model for flow in a non-Brownian suspension and resulting in a Newtonian rheology. We study the resulting pressure p and deviatoric shear stress σ of the interacting spherocylinders as a function of packing fraction ϕ, strain rate γ[over ], and a parameter α that measures the asphericity of the particles; α is varied to consider the range from nearly circular disks to elongated rods. We consider the direction of anisotropy of the stress tensor, the macroscopic friction μ=σ/p, and the divergence of the transport coefficient η_{p}=p/γ[over ] as ϕ is increased to the jamming transition ϕ_{J}. From a phenomenological analysis of Herschel-Bulkley rheology above jamming, we estimate ϕ_{J} as a function of asphericity α and show that the variation of ϕ_{J} with α is the main cause for differences in rheology as α is varied; when plotted as ϕ/ϕ_{J}, rheological curves for different α qualitatively agree. However, a detailed scaling analysis of the divergence of η_{p} for our most elongated particles suggests that the jamming transition of spherocylinders may be in a different universality class than that of circular disks. We also compute the number of contacts per particle Z in the system and show that the value at jamming Z_{J} is a nonmonotonic function of α that is always smaller than the isostatic value. We measure the probability distribution of contacts per unit surface length P(ϑ) at polar angle ϑ with respect to the spherocylinder spine and find that as α→0 this distribution seems to diverge at ϑ=π/2, giving a finite limiting probability for contacts on the vanishingly small flat sides of the spherocylinder. Finally, we consider the variation of the average contact force as a function of location on the particle surface.