cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postmortem studies on a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type I: histopathological findings after one year of enzyme replacement therapy

Deficiency of lysosomal α-l-iduronidase results in systemic accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Cardiac lesions due to accumulation of GAGs include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, valvular insufficiency/stenosis, and coronary artery stenosis due to intimal proliferation. Cardiac dysfunction is one of the most common causes of death in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I). Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with laronidase has shown clear effects in reduction of hepatomegaly and it has been unclear whether ERT could improve or prevent the cardiac lesions. Postmortem findings in a 3 1/2-year-old boy diagnosed with MPS I at age 2 years are described. He received ERT with laronidase at 100 U/kg/week for one year. He suddenly developed cardiorespiratory failure and died the next day after C2–3 spinal surgery for instability. Postmortem examination showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic valve and mitral valve thickening with shortened chordae, and endocardial fibroelastosis. Histology of the cardiac tissue revealed increased perivascular and interstitial connective tissue in the myocardium and intimal thickening causing stenosis in the cardiac vessels. Electron-microscopic (EM) studies of the thickened endocardium revealed numerous histiocytes with enlarged lysosomes. EM examination of the liver and the cardiac muscle revealed no accumulation of GAGs. ERT with laronidase showed clear effects in removing GAGs from the liver and the cardiac muscle. However, it did not show a clear effect on the thickened endocardium, myocardial perivascular and interstitial connective tissue or intimal thickening in the epicardial vessels.
Neurotensin-like immunoreactivity released into the portal vein by duodenal acidification in the dog.

The present study in the dog evaluates neurotensin as a potential hormone, mediating the inhibition of gastric acid secretion by duodenal acidification. Histamine-stimulated acid output was determined before and during duodenal acidification. Portal vein blood was obtained and assayed for carboxy-terminal neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NTLI). Duodenal perfusion with 15 mmol HCl for 30 min significantly inhibited histamine-stimulated acid output to 67% of control output. This inhibition was not associated with any change in the peripheral plasma NTLI, but the portal plasma NTLI was significantly elevated from 27 to 78 pM. The effect of duodenal acidification on liver extract meal-stimulated acid secretion was determined in a second group of dogs without portal vein catheter. Duodenal perfusion with 15 mmol HCl for 30 min significantly inhibited meal-stimulated acid secretion to 37% of control output. Intravenous infusion of synthetic neurotensin to a plasma level of 130 pM was required to inhibit meal-...
Visualizations for the spyglass ontology-based information analysis and retrieval system

Spyglass is an ontology-based information retrieval system designed to help analysts explore very large collections of unstructured text documents. The tool includes two main components: server and client. The server is a web-based service that uses a specific domain ontology to index a collection of documents, answer queries from the client, and provide retrieval and visualization services based on the ontology and the resulting index. The client is a graphical user interface which allows analysts to explore the document collections, query single or multiple entities of interest of the ontology and retrieve the documents relevant to the query. The rich set of visualization tools in Spyglass will be presented in this paper.
Effect of pertussis toxin and N-ethylmaleimide on voltage-dependent and -independent calcium current modulation in serotonergic neurons.

Abstract Introduction of GTP-γ-S into a neuronal cell spontaneously results in G-protein activation. A possible contribution to this mechanism is that some receptors have a constitutive activity that stimulates GDP/GTP exchange resulting in increased GTPase activity of G-protein α subunits, leading to a facilitation of GTP-γ-S binding. It follows that partial or complete uncoupling of receptors and G-proteins could inhibit Ca 2+ current modulation by GTP-γ-S. This possibility was tested in acutely isolated rat dorsal raphe neurons by uncoupling the receptor and G-protein using N -ethylmaleimide and pertussis toxin. Since these compounds have been suggested to differentially block voltage-dependent inhibition, relative to voltage-independent, we investigated whether the apparent voltage-independent component of Ca 2+ channel modulation by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) shares the same mechanism as the voltage-dependent component. N -ethylmaleimide inhibited the response to 5-HT by about 50% but had no effect on the response to GTP-γ-S. In dorsal raphe neurons 28.9% of the total response to 5-HT was voltage-independent. N -ethylmaleimide had identical effects on the voltage-dependent and -independent components as measured by tail current inhibition. The response to 5-HT was completely sensitive to pertussis toxin, and completely uncoupling the receptors and G-proteins did not affect the maximal response to GTP-γ-S. Our results suggest that the apparent voltage-independent component of Ca 2+ channel modulation by 5-HT in dorsal raphe neurons might share the same mechanism as does the voltage-dependent component. In addition, these experiments provided evidence that partial or even complete uncoupling of receptors and G-proteins did not affect Ca 2+ current modulation by direct activators of G-proteins.
The random walk of tracers through river catchments

River catchments play critical roles in regional economies and in the global economy. In addition, rivers carry large volumes of nutrients, pollutants, and several other forms of tracers into the ocean. An intricate system of pathways and channels, both on the surface and in the subsurface of catchments, allows rivers to carry large volumes of tracers. However, scientists do not yet fully understand how pollutants and other tracers travel through the intricate web of channels in the catchment areas of rivers. In a new study, Cvetkovic et al show that the travel path of tracers through channels can be modeled as a random walk, which is mathematically similar to the path an animal would trace when foraging. Previous studies have applied the random walk approach to understand the behavior of fluids flowing through aquifers and soils but not to model the transport mechanism of tracers that travel passively with water flowing through catchments.
Abstract 224: The role of Bmi-1 in benzyl isothiocyanate-mediated suppression of breast cancer stem cell self-renewal

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA We have shown previously that benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a nontoxic small-molecule constituent of edible cruciferous vegetables (eg, garden cress) inhibits breast cancer stem cells (bCSC) in vitro and in vivo but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Bmi-1 is a member of the polycomb group family of proteins that function in the epigenetic silencing of genes governing self-renewal, differentiation, and proliferation. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of Bmi-1 in BITC-mediated inhibition of bCSC. BITC treatment downregulated protein level of Bmi-1 in cultured human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, SUM159 and MDA-MB-231), and in MDA-MB-231 xenografts in vivo. Ectopic expression of Bmi-1 alone was sufficient to drive stemness in MCF-7 cells. In addition, Bmi-1 overexpression in MCF-7 cells conferred marked protection against BITC-mediated inhibition of bCSC as evidenced by mammosphere frequency and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity. Consistent with these observations, silencing of Bmi-1 in SUM159 cells remarkably reduced the portion of bCSC. Apoptosis induced by BITC was also partially attenuated by overexpression of Bmi-1 in MCF-7 cells but its silencing had no effect on BITC-induced apoptosis in SUM159 cells. Previous studies have shown that miRNA128 inhibits cell proliferation and self-renewal by direct regulation of Bmi-1. BITC treatment modestly but statistically significantly increased the expression of miRNA128 in both MCF-7 and SUM159 cells. Inhibition of miRNA128 increased the mammosphere formation in MCF-7 and SUM159 cells and partially attenuated BITC-mediated inhibition of mammosphere formation. These observations led us to conclude that Bmi-1 is a novel target of BITC-mediated inhibition of bCSC. This study was supported by the grant RO1 CA129347 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Su-Hyeong Kim, Shivendra V. Singh. The role of Bmi-1 in benzyl isothiocyanate-mediated suppression of breast cancer stem cell self-renewal. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 224. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-224
Functional mapping of the early stages of status epilepticus: a 14C-2-deoxyglucose study in the lithium-pilocarpine model in rat.

Abstract Continuous convulsive activity in status epilepticus generally does not occur suddenly in response to the inciting epileptogenic agent, but is rather the culmination of a stereotyped sequence of stages. Initially seizures are discrete, then undergo waxing-and-waning of convulsive/electroencephalographic severity. Following a transitional EEG-recorded fast-and-slow spiking phase, continuous fast spiking with invariant convulsive behavior ensues. We sought to map the seizure anatomic substrates corresponding to these stages, utilizing the 14C-2-deoxyglucose technique, in order to make inferences about underlying mechanisms. The lithium-pilocarpine status epilepticus model in rat was employed. Cerebral autoradiographs associated with discrete seizures revealed non-uniform cerebral metabolic activation, with rostral cortical and olfactory areas especially involved. Portions of basal ganglia were also activated, consistent with projections from seizure-activated areas. Successive stages of status entry displayed additional limbic and cortical activation, along with subcortical projection sites, so that by fast-and-slow spiking most forebrain areas were recruited. Based on these results, a model is proposed whereby cyclical seizure-attenuating mechanisms cause, in the initial stages of status entry, fluxing of seizure anatomic extents between small and large cerebral domains, with corresponding cycling of convulsive severity. In the later stages of status entry, these mechanisms become ineffective, resulting in steady-state maximal forebrain recruitment, associated with continuous and invariant convulsive behavior and electrographic fast spiking.
Order-disorder transitions and subsurface occupation for hydrogen on Pd(111)

Abstract Theoretical and experimental studies of H/Pd(111) reveal two distinct ordered phases with √3 × √3 R30° symmetry and critical temperatures near 100 K, lower than any previously reported for a chemisorbed species on a surface. The symmetry and critical temperatures of these ordered phases are measured by low energy electron diffraction and independently predicted by the embedded atom method. A unique feature of the theoretical results is that the occupation of subsurface sites is crucial to the ordering behavior.
Differential diagnosis of dry eye conditions.

The pre-ocular tear film is a complex biochemical structure produced by the lacrimal glands and epithelial cells on the ocular surface. Clinical syndromes of ocular irritation may result from deficiencies in one or more of these layers. At a recent dry eye workshop at the National Eye Institute, dry eye conditions were classified into those with adequate aqueous tear production and those with aqueous tear deficiency. The majority of patients with aqueous adequate dry eye suffer from meibomian gland dysfunction that results in lipid tear deficiency. Aqueous tear deficiency can be subclassified into non-Sjogren's syndrome and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) groups. Patients with non-Sjogren's aqueous tear deficiency have less-severe symptoms and ocular surface disease than those with SS. The etiology of non-Sjogren's aqueous tear deficiency has not been established, but it appears to be multifactorial. In SS, immune-mediated destruction of the lacrimal gland results in severe aqueous tear deficiency. Aqueous tear deficiencies lead to ocular surface disease, termed keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). KCS results from abnormal terminal differentiation of the ocular surface epithelia and is associated with marked reduction in mucin production by these cells. Clinical features helpful in differentiating the various dry eye syndromes are reviewed.
Reading "Terebithia" in Southern Virginia.

“I believe in parables. I navigate life using stories where I find them, and I hold tight to the ones that tell me new kinds of truth.” Barbara Kingsolver The Bridge to Terebithia unfolded slowly, ...
A propagator expansion method for solving linearized plasma kinetic equations with collisions

Abstract The essence of the expansion method is the representation and use of the collisional propagator for a given problem as an expansion in powers of the collision frequency. When the Balescu-Lenard operator is used to describe electron-electron and electron-ion collisions, and when the zero-order distribution function is maxwellian, we obtain an exact expression for the collisional correction to the Landau damping formula in the long wavelength limit to the first order in the plasma parameter.
Micro-Fluidic Assisted Passive Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

A novel design of micro-fluidic structure has been proposed to facilitate passive methanol supply and ventilation of carbon dioxide in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). Experimental study was conducted for three in-house fabricated cells which have different membrane-electrode-assemblies (MEA) and cathode-side air-breathing current collectors. Low rate of passive methanol supply and control was accomplished through capillary-force-driven mass transfer in the in-plane of carbon paper wicks. The low methanol supply rate using this passive method only meets the need of fuel of the electrochemical reaction, and there is almost no surplus methanol that could cross over the membrane. The micro-fluidic structure on the anode plate also makes passive removal of the CO2 gas from the electrochemical reaction. The influence of the concentration of methanol and cell operation temperature was examined and compared in the study. The results reveal very promising performance in the passive DMFCs when a methanol concentration is above 8M.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
“Liquid stylet” for percutaneous radial artery cannulation

Radial artery catheterization in elderly patients may be difficult. The “liquid stylet” created by slow intra-arterial fluid injection facilitates insertion of arterial cannulae, and proved effective in 14 consecutive patients in whom percutaneous radial artery catheterization was otherwise unsuccessful. This technique is useful when difficulty in radial artery cannulation is encountered.
An X-ray diffraction study of the strain and structure of SiGeC/(100)Si alloys

Abstract High resolution X-ray diffraction studies were conducted on samples of Si1-x-yGexCy grown on (100)Si by chemical vapor deposition. The measurements were made with the diffractometer in its triple-axis configuration to produce reciprocal space maps. Films with compositions of approximately Si0.78Ge0.21C0.01 and thicknesses ranging from 120 nm to 750 nm were found to be pseudomorphic with a tetragonal distortion strain, eT, near 1%. The tetragonal strain was found to be independent of sample thickness. The strain in samples with compositions near Si0.47Ge0.50C0.03 and thicknesses ranging from 61 to 115 nm were found to have tetragonal strain values greater than 2%. These strain measurements correlated well with ion channeling measurements. The experimental perpendicular lattice parameters were used to estimate the relaxed film lattice constants. These values fell midway between predicted values using Vegard's law for complete strain compensation by the carbon and no compensation by the carbon.
Anomalous optogalvanic line shapes of argon metastable transitions in a hollow cathode lamp

Anomalous optogalvanic line shapes were observed in a commercial hollow cathode lamp containing argon buffer gas. Deviations from Gaussian line shapes were particularly strong for transitions originating from the 3P2 metastable level of argon. The anomalous line shapes can be described reasonably well by the assumption that two regions in the discharge are excited simultaneously, each giving rise to a purely Gaussian line shape, but with different polarities, amplitudes, and linewidths.
The Penitentials Attributed to Bede

Scholars have long recognized the value of penitentials, or handbooks of penance, as sources for the intellectual and social history of the Middle Ages. Lists of sins likely to be confessed, followed by penances graded according to the severity of the offenses, the penitentials would seem to be richly informative of medieval morality. But they are evidence that must be used with care. Especially for the early medieval period, the texts are available only in old editions which do not offer reliable guides to dating, provenance, authorship, or other criteria without which valid historical analysis is impossible.1 This essay studies various penitentials attributed to the Venerable Bede (d. 735). Any tradition linking the foremost English churchman of the early Anglo-Saxon period to a specific text is worthy of study in its own right. But the penitentials attributed to Bede claim our attention for important reasons that are not related to the question of authorship. The historical context of the English penitentials has not been carefully defined. We do not know enough about the relationship of early English to earlier Irish penitentials, or about the manuscript traditions of handbooks attributed to Bede and his near contemporaries, Theodore of Canterbury (d. 690) and Egbert of York (d. 766). These traditions-will illuminate the development of private penance on the continent, where nearly all the manuscripts of supposedly English penitentials have survived. Indeed, the best argument for close textual analysis of all early medieval penitentials is our need for greater geographical as well as chronological precision when discussing their historical significance.2
Victim-Offender Relationship Status Moderates the Relationships of Peritraumatic Emotional Responses, Active Resistance, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology in Female Rape Survivors

This study examined whether the level of victim-offender relationship (VOR) moderated the relationship between peritraumatic fear and active resistance as well as the relationship between peritraumatic fear and posttraumatic stress symptom severity in a community sample of female rape survivors. One hundred thirty-five participants were interviewed about their emotional and behavioral responses during the rape and assessed for posttraumatic stress symptomatology within one month of the assault. Results indicated that peritraumatic fear was positively associated with active resistance, but only among survivors of acquaintance rape. Additionally, peritraumatic fear was positively associated with posttraumatic stress symptom severity, but only among survivors of intimate partner rape. These results suggest that VOR may be an important contextual factor that influences emotional and behavioral responses during rape as well as posttraumatic stress symptomatology in its aftermath. Language: en
SLC6A4 variation and citalopram response

The influence of genetic variations in SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter gene) on citalopram treatment of depression using the Sequenced Treatment to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) sample was assessed. Of primary interest were three previously studied polymorphisms: 1) the VNTR variation of the second intron, 2) the indel promoter polymorphism (5HTTLPR or SERT), and 3) a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs25531. Additionally, SLC6A4 was resequenced to identify new SNPs for exploratory analyses. DNA from 1914 subjects in the STAR*D study were genotyped for the intron 2 VNTR region, the indel promoter polymorphism, and rs25531. Associations of these variants with remission of depressive symptoms were evaluated following citalopram treatment. In white non-Hispanic subjects, variations in the intron 2 VNTR (point-wise P = 0.041) and the indel promoter polymorphism (point-wise P = 0.039) were associated with remission following treatment with citalopram. The haplotype composed of the three candidate loci was also associated with remission, with a global p-value of 0.040 and a maximum statistic simulation p-value of 0.0031 for the S-a-12 haplotype, under a dominant model. One SNP identified through re-sequencing the SLC6A4 gene, Intron7-83-TC, showed point-wise evidence of association, which did not remain significant after correction for the number of SNPs evaluated in this exploratory analysis. No associations between these SLC6A4 variations and remission were found in the white Hispanic or black subjects. These findings suggest that multiple variations in the SLC6A4 gene are associated with remission in white non-Hispanic depressed adults treated with citalopram. The mechanism of action of these variants remains to be determined.
The Evolution of Neonatology

In 1960, the terms “neonatology” and “neonatologist” were introduced. Thereafter, an increasing number of pediatricians devoted themselves to full-time neonatology. In 1975, the first examination of the Sub-Board of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine of the American Board of Pediatrics and the first meeting of the Perinatal Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics were held. One of the most important factors that improved the care of the neonate was the miniaturization of blood samples needed to determine blood gases, serum electrolytes, glucose, calcium, bilirubin, and other biochemical measurements. Another factor was the ability to provide nutrition intravenously, and the third was the maintenance of normal body temperature. The management of respiratory distress syndrome improved with i.v. glucose and correction of metabolic acidosis, followed by assisted ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure, antenatal corticosteroid administration, and the introduction of exogenous surfactant. Pharmacologic manipulation of the ductus arteriosus, support of blood pressure, echocardiography, and changes in the management of persistent pulmonary hypertension, including the use of nitric oxide and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, all have influenced the cardiopulmonary management of the neonate. Regionalization of neonatal care; changes in parent–infant interaction; and technological changes such as phototherapy, oxygen saturation monitors, and brain imaging techniques are among the important advances reviewed in this report. Most remarkable, a 1-kg infant who was born in 1960 had a mortality risk of 95% but had a 95% probability of survival by 2000. However, errors in neonatology are acknowledged, and potential directions for the future are explored.
Case Study: Two-Dimensional Model Simulation of Channel Migration Processes in West Jordan River, Utah

The paper presents the application of a two-dimensional depth-averaged numerical model to simulate the lateral migration processes of a meandering reach in the West Jordan River in the state of Utah. A new bank erosion model was developed and then integrated with a depth-averaged two-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The rate of bank erosion is determined by bed degradation, lateral erosion, and bank failure. Because bank material in the West Jordan River is stratified with layers of cohesive and noncohesive materials, a specific bank erosion model was developed to consider stratified layers in the bank surface. This bank erosion model distinguishes itself from other models by relating bank erosion rate with not only flow but also sediment transport near the bank. Additionally, bank height, slope, and thickness of two layers in the bank surface were considered when calculating the rate of bank erosion. The developed model was then applied to simulate the processes of meandering migration in the study reach ...
Obesity associated alterations in the biology of adipose stem cells mediate enhanced tumorigenesis by estrogen dependent pathways

Obesity has been associated with increased incidence and mortality of breast cancer. While the precise correlation between obesity and breast cancer remains to be determined, recent studies suggest that adipose tissue and adipose stem cells (ASCs) influence breast cancer tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Breast cancer cells lines were co-cultured with ASCs (n = 24), categorized based on tissue site of origin and body mass index (BMI), and assessed for enhanced proliferation, alterations in gene expression profile with PCR arrays, and enhanced tumorigenesis in immunocompromised mice. The gene expression profile of ASCs was assess with PCR arrays and qRT-PCR and confirmed with Western blot analysis. Inhibitory studies were conducted by delivering estrogen antagonist ICI182,780, leptin neutralizing antibody, or aromatase inhibitor letrozole and assessing breast cancer cell proliferation. To assess the role of leptin in human breast cancers, Oncomine and Kaplan Meier plot analyses were conducted. ASCs derived from the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese subjects (BMI > 30) enhanced breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. These findings were correlated with changes in the gene expression profile of breast cancer cells after co-culturing with ASCs, particularly in estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) expression. Analysis of the gene expression profile of the four groups of ASCs revealed obesity induced alterations in several key genes, including leptin (LEP). Blocking estrogen signaling with ICI182,780, leptin neutralizing antibody, or letrozole diminished the impact of ASCs derived from obese subjects. Women diagnosed with estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) breast cancers that also expressed high levels of leptin had poorer prognosis than women with low leptin expression. ASCs isolated from the abdomen of obese subjects demonstrated increased expression of leptin, through estrogen stimulation, which increased breast cancer cell proliferation. The results from this study demonstrate that abdominal obesity induces significant changes in the biological properties of ASCs and that these alterations enhance ER+/PR+ breast cancer tumorigenesis through estrogen dependent pathways.
High Efficiency and Low Emissions from a Port-Injected Engine with Neat Alcohol Fuels

Ongoing work with methanol- and ethanol-fueled engines at the EPA’s National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory has demonstrated improved brake thermal efficiencies over the baseline diesel engine and low steady state NOx, HC and CO, along with inherently low PM emissions. In addition, the engine is expected to have significant system cost advantages compared with a similar diesel, mainly by virtue of its low-pressure port fuel injection (PFI) system. While recognizing the considerable challenge associated with cold start, the alcohol-fueled engine nonetheless offers the advantages of being a more efficient, cleaner alternative to gasoline and diesel engines. The unique EPA engine used for this work is a turbocharged, PFI spark-ignited 1.9L, 4-cylinder engine with 19.5:1 compression ratio. The engine operates unthrottled using stoichiometric fueling from full power to near idle conditions, using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and intake manifold pressure to modulate engine load. As a result, the engine, operating on methanol fuel, demonstrates better than 40% brake thermal efficiency from 6.5 to 15 bar BMEP at speeds ranging from 1200 to 3500 rpm, while achieving low steady state emissions using conventional aftertreatment strategies. Similar emissions levels were realized with ethanol fuel, but with slightly higher BSFC due to reduced spark authority at this compression ratio. These characteristics make the engine attractive for hybrid vehicle applications, for which it was initially developed, yet the significant expansion of the high-efficiency islands suggest that it may have broader appeal to conventional powertrain systems. With further refinement, this clean, more efficient and less expensive alternative to today’s petroleum-based IC engines should be considered as a bridging technology to the possible future of hydrogen as a transportation fuel.
Farnesol concentrations required to block germ tube formation in Candida albicans in the presence and absence of serum

Concentrations of (E,E)-farnesol needed to inhibit germ tube formation were determined for Candida albicans strains A72 and SC5314 by using six different conditions known to trigger germination. For defined media, 1 to 2 μM farnesol was sufficient. However, with serum at 2 to 20%, up to 250 μM farnesol was required. Farnesol blocked germ tube formation but did not block elongation of existing germ tubes.
“You Could Be Doing Brain Surgery”: Gifted Girls Becoming Teachers:

This qualitative study focuses on messages to gifted girls about their choice of a career in teaching. Participants consisted of 18 female teachers identified as gifted. The methodology consisted of semi structured interviews and focus group discussions. Findings indicate that messages of discouragement toward a career in teaching were more numerous and more emphatic than were messages of encouragement. Despite this, these participants were content with and remained committed to teaching careers for the foreseeable future. Participants also mentioned a variety of ways in which their giftedness interacted with their teaching, for their own benefit and that of their students. Recommendations for counselors, teachers, and parents include providing information about the entire range of career options and carefully matching career pathways with the student's interests and dreams rather than the adult's preconceived notions of success or prestige
Randomness condensers for efficiently samplable, seed-dependent sources

We initiate a study of randomness condensers for sources that are efficiently samplable but may depend on the seed of the condenser. That is, we seek functions Cond : {0,1}n×{0,1}d→{0,1}m such that if we choose a random seed S←{0,1}d, and a source X= A(S) is generated by a randomized circuit A of size t such that X has min-entropy at least k given S, then Cond(X;S) should have min-entropy at least some k′ given S. The distinction from the standard notion of randomness condensers is that the source X may be correlated with the seed S (but is restricted to be efficiently samplable). Randomness extractors of this type (corresponding to the special case where k′=m) have been implicitly studied in the past (by Trevisan and Vadhan, FOCS ‘00). We show that: — Unlike extractors, we can have randomness condensers for samplable, seed-dependent sources whose computational complexity is smaller than the size t of the adversarial sampling algorithm A. Indeed, we show that sufficiently strong collision-resistant hash functions are seed-dependent condensers that produce outputs with min-entropy k' = m - O(log t), i.e. logarithmic entropy deficiency. — Randomness condensers suffice for key derivation in many cryptographic applications: when an adversary has negligible success probability (or negligible "squared advantage" [3]) for a uniformly random key, we can use instead a key generated by a condenser whose output has logarithmic entropy deficiency. — Randomness condensers for seed-dependent samplable sources that are robust to side information generated by the sampling algorithm imply soundness of the Fiat-Shamir Heuristic when applied to any constant-round, public-coin interactive proof system.
Fortifying the Pipeline: A Quantitative Exploration of High School Factors Impacting the Information Literacy of First-Year College Students

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between a sample of first-time college freshmen students’ high school experiences that are developmentally related to information literacy competency and their scores on the iSkills assessment. iSkills is an online evaluation developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which tests the range of Information and Communications Technology literacy (ICT literacy) skills aligned with nationally recognized Association of Colleges & Research Libraries (ACRL) standards. Through hierarchical multiple regression analysis, four variables predictive of a significantly higher score on the iSkills assessment at the p
Mojoceratops perifania, A New Chasmosaurine Ceratopsid from the Late Campanian of Western Canada

A new genus of long-horned chasmosaurine ceratopsid is described from the Dinosaur Park Formation (upper Campanian) of Western Canada. Mojoceratops perifania is represented by a skull and a parietal from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta and an isolated parietal from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Saskatchewan. Several other specimens are provisionally referred to this taxon. While Mojoceratops shares many plesiomorphies with Chasmosaurus, the animal lacks the forward-curving parietal epoccipitals and reduced postorbital horns that diagnose the genus Chasmosaurus, and it differs from all other chasmosaurines in exhibiting a prominent sulcus on the anterior margin of the parietal, swellings on the anterodorsal surface of the parietal rami, and a small accessory process on the first parietal epoccipital. Other unusual features include anteriorly extended parietal fenestrae, a broad, heart-shaped frill, and transverse expansion of the postfrontal fontanelle. The type material of “Eoceratops canadensis” and “Chasmosaurus kaiseni” are nondiagnostic and these names are therefore considered nomina dubia, but their morphology is consistent with Mojoceratops and they probably belong to this genus. The frill of Mojoceratops shows marked variation. Some of this variation probably results from intraspecific variation or ontogenetic changes, but because the Dinosaur Park Formation encompasses more than a million years of time, evolution may explain some of these differences. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Mojoceratops forms a clade with Agujaceratops mariscalensis; Chasmosaurus is the most basal member of Chasmosaurinae.
To frame or not to frame: the role and design of frameless displays in ubiquitous applications

A frameless display is a display with no perceptible boundaries; it appears to be embodied in the physical world. Frameless displays are created by projecting visual elements on a black background into a physical environment. By considering visual arts and design theory together with our own experience building about a dozen applications, we argue the importance of this technique in creating ubiquitous computer applications that are truly contextualized in the physical world. Nine different examples using frameless displays are described, providing the background for a systematization of frameless displays pros and cons, together with a basic set of usage guidelines. The paper also discusses the differences and constraints on user interaction with visual elements in a frameless display.
Consumer Knowledge and Understanding of Consumer Credit

Much has recently been written about the desirability of restrictive usury laws. While low maximum rates may prevent excessive charges to some, they also limit the ability of high-risk persons to borrow. Therefore, if consumers have a sufficient understanding of the credit market to realize what they are paying for and how much they are paying when they borrow, a case can be made against low maximum finance rates. This article reports on a nationwide study designed to measure consumer knowledge and understanding of consumer credit. The results are that while consumers can generally rank lenders correctly in terms of cost, there are serious gaps in their knowledge of the credit market. Education and income are the key determinants of knowledge and understanding of consumer credit.
Transgenesis and neuronal ablation in parasitic nematodes: revolutionary new tools to dissect host–parasite interactions

SUMMARY Ease of experimental gene transfer into viral and prokaryotic pathogens has made transgenesis a powerful tool for investigating the interactions of these pathogens with the host immune system. Recent advances have made this approach feasible for more complex protozoan parasites. By contrast, the lack of a system for heritable transgenesis in parasitic nematodes has hampered progress toward understanding the development of nematode-specific cellular responses. Recently, however, significant strides towards such a system have been made in several parasitic nematodes, and the possible applications of these in immunological research should now be contemplated. In addition, methods for targeted cell ablation have been successfully adapted from Caenorhabditis elegans methodology and applied to studies of neurobiology and behaviour in Strongyloides stercoralis. Together, these new technical developments offer exciting new tools to interrogate multiple aspects of the host–parasite interaction following nematode infection.
Rethinking Precolonial Plant Cultivation on the Northwest Coast of North America

The indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America are widely believed to have been true “hunter-fisher-gatherers,” lacking plant cultivation of any kind. This depiction of the region's indigenous inhabitants emerged within early colonial accounts and was perpetuated within the literatures of geography, anthropology, and archaeology. Still, there is ample evidence of plant cultivation available from archival, archaeological, and ethnographic sources. In particular, the peoples of coastal British Columbia created large gardens of edible estuarine plants, using sophisticated indigenous technologies. The oversight of these practices in written representations of the region reveals consistent patterns of bias, emanating from the agendas of colonial agents and early academics alike. In turn, this bias has undermined aboriginal traditions of cultivation and indigenous land claims.
Anisotropic Calcium Segregation to the Surface of Al2O3

The surface enrichment of Ca on various crystalloraphic planes of CaO-doped sapphire has been measured as a function of annealing temperature using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Strong Ca enrichment was found on the (1010) prism plane at ≥1300°C, whereas no evidence or Ca segregation could be observed on the (0001) basal plane up to 1500°C. The surface enrichment factor estimated at 1300°C was at least 3 × 103 for the prism plane, while that for the basal plane was below 50, which corresponds to the detectability limit of AES. The Ca segregation to the prism plane was uniform and limited to the surface monolayer; an apparent heat of segregation determined in the range of 1300° to 1500°C was–169 kJ/mol. Low-energy electron diffraction studies of annealed surfaces revealed that Ca segregation was concurrent with a two-dimensional surface phase transition. The anisotropic segregation behavior of Ca may explain why CaO is not an effective additive for alumina sintering.
Three-Dimensional Cloud-System Modeling of GATE Convection

Deep convection and its associated mesoscale circulations are modeled using a three-dimensional elastic model with bulk microphysics and interactive radiation for a composite easterly wave from the Global Atmospheric Research Program Atlantic Tropical Experiment. The energy and moisture budgets, large-scale heat sources and moisture sinks, microphysics, and radiation are examined. The modeled cloud system undergoes a life cycle dominated by deep convection in its early stages, followed by an upper-tropospheric mesoscale circulation. The large-scale heat sources and moisture sinks associated with the convective system agree broadly with diagnoses from field observations. The modeled upper-tropospheric moisture exceeds observed values. Strong radiative cooling at the top of the mesoscale circulation can produce overturning there. Qualitative features of observed changes in large-scale convective available potential energy and convective inhibition are found in the model integrations, although quantitative magnitudes can differ, especially for convective inhibition. Radiation exerts a strong influence on the microphysical properties of the cloud system. The three-dimensional integrations exhibit considerably less sporadic temporal behavior than corresponding two-dimensional integrations. While the third dimension is less important over timescales longer than the duration of a phase of an easterly wave in the lower and middle troposphere, it enables stronger interactions between radiation and dynamics in the upper-tropospheric mesoscale circulation over a substantial fraction of the life cycle of the convective system.
TGF-β-activated Smad3 represses MEF2-dependent transcription in myogenic differentiation

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) inhibits myogenesis and associated gene expression. We previously reported that the TGF-β signaling effector Smad3 mediates this inhibition, by interfering with the assembly of myogenic bHLH transcription factor heterodimers on E-box sequences in the regulatory regions of muscle-specific genes. We now show that TGF-β-activated Smad3 suppresses the function of MEF2, a second class of essential myogenic factors. TGF-β signaling through Smad3 represses myogenin expression independently of E-boxes, and prevents a tethered MyoD-E47 dimer to activate transcription indirectly through MEF2-binding sites. In addition, Smad3 interacts with MEF2C, which requires its MADS domain, and disrupts its association with the SRC-family coactivator GRIP-1, thus diminishing the transcription activity of MEF2C. Consistent with this physical displacement, TGF-β signaling blocks the GRIP-1-induced redistribution of MEF2C to discrete nuclear subdomains in 10T1/2 cells, and the recruitment of GRIP-1 to the myogenin promoter in differentiating myoblasts. These findings indicate that the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway targets two critical components of the myogenic transcription machinery to inhibit terminal differentiation.
Home and office blood pressures. Clinical observations and hemodynamic mechanisms

Wide fluctuations in arterial pressure have long been recognized as a feature in many hypertensive patients and have consistently been a major difficulty in decisions for treatment and understanding of pathophysiology. It is only in the past decade that more precise estimates of the degree of diurnal variations could be obtained by ambulatory 24-hour recordings of blood pressure from intra-arterial catheterization (1) or noninvasive methods (2–3). In the absence of these methods, it is still possible to avoid the pitfalls associated with sole dependence on office blood pressure levels by asking the patients to measure their own pressures at home or at work. This was the method used for over forty years in our center; it had many advantages that could outweigh its limited number of daily observations. Blood pressure could be followed over long periods of time and not be limited to one day; the patients developed a greater sense of participating in their follow-up and came to recognize their pressure fluctuations as a physiolgoical variable analagous to changes in daily weight.
Polyethylene Functionalization Using Metal Carboxylates

The synthesis of copper(II) functionalized polyethylene powders by entrapment functionalization is described along with preliminary studies of the reactivity of copper(II) ions located at the polymer-solution interface of such functionalized powders. Ethylene oligomers terminated with copper(II) carboxylates were prepared by anionic oligomerization of ethylene using n-butyllithium-TMEDA as an initiator followed by quenching with carbon dioxide. The carboxylic acid resulting from protonation of this product was allowed to react with copper(II) naphthoxyglycolate to form a copper carboxylate of polyethylene. Dissolution of this copper containing oligomer along with virgin polyethylene followed by cooling formed the entrapment functionalized powder. Reactions of the copper in this entrapment functionalized powder with complexing agents including diphenylthiocarbazone and TRIAP were studied by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. Comparison of the amount of copper(II) extracted within 12 h with either of these reagents with the amount of total copper(II) estimated to be present based on 1H NMR spectroscopy (of a methyl ester of the starting oligomer) or based on ICP analysis showed that a substantial amount of the entrapped copper(II) was at the polymer solution interface. As expected, ESCA too showed copper was present at the surface of these functionalized films.
Physical and Biological Release of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) from Municipal Solid Waste in Anaerobic Model Landfill Reactors.

A wide variety of consumer products that are treated with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and related formulations are disposed of in landfills. Landfill leachate has significant concentrations of PFASs and acts as secondary point sources to surface water. This study models how PFASs enter leachate using four laboratory-scale anaerobic bioreactors filled with municipal solid waste (MSW) and operated over 273 days. Duplicate reactors were monitored under live and abiotic conditions to evaluate influences attributable to biological activity. The biologically active reactors simulated the methanogenic conditions that develop in all landfills, producing ∼140 mL CH4/dry g refuse. The average total PFAS leaching measured in live reactors (16.7 nmol/kg dry refuse) was greater than the average for abiotic reactors (2.83 nmol/kg dry refuse), indicating biological processes were primarily responsible for leaching. The low-level leaching in the abiotic reactors was primarily due to PFCAs ≤C8 (2.48 nmol/k...
Adaptive Air Fuel Ratio Controls in Presence of Oxygen Sensor Faults

Fault monitoring of the upstream universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor, as mandated by the California air resources board (CARB), is a necessary action to maintain the performance of the operation of the air-fuel ratio (AFR) control system and indicate the need for maintenance when a fault is present which could potentially lead to exceeding the emissions limits. When the UEGO sensor fault is accurately diagnosed, i.e. fault is detected, direction is identified and magnitude is estimated, tuning of the controller gains can be performed accurately with minimal calibration efforts. Presented in this paper is a control strategy that utilizes the type, direction and magnitude of fault detected to adapt the gains of the controller and update the parameters of the Smith predictor (SP) in order to maintain the stability of AFR control loop. The proposed approach has been validated on a vehicle (Mustang V6 3.7L) equipped with ATI No-Hooks rapid prototyping system. Different fault types and magnitudes were tested and the tailpipe emissions were assessed on federal test procedure (FTP) cycles.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Chronic rhinosinusitis: Epidemiology and burden of disease.

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is based on sinonasal symptoms coupled with sinonasal tissue inflammation. Establishing the epidemiology and prevalence of CRS, therefore, is challenging give...