cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving science inquiry with elementary students of diverse backgrounds

This study examined the impact of an inquiry-based instructional intervention on (a) children's ability to conduct science inquiry overall and to use specific skills in inquiry, and (b) narrowing the gaps in children's ability among demographic subgroups of students. The intervention consisted of instructional units, teacher workshops, and classroom practices. The study involved 25 third- and fourth- grade students from six elementary schools representing diverse linguistic and cultural groups. Quantitative results demonstrated that the intervention enhanced the inquiry ability of all students regardless of grade, achievement, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), home language, and English proficiency. Particularly, low-achieving, low-SES, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) exited students made impressive gains. The study adds to the existing literature on designing learning environments that foster science inquiry of all elementary students. 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 337- 357, 2005 At the opening of the previous century, theorist Franklin Bobbitt (1926) described the importance of training students not only to reproduce facts but, more importantly, to develop the power to think in relation to the world's activities. Given the technological and mass media culture that has developed since Bobbitt asserted the importance of preparing students to become critical thinkers, his comments are even more relevant today than when he made them almost a century ago. Today's complex society requires members to analyze and respond to issues and a constantly expanding knowledge base. To achieve this goal, classrooms must be transformed from environments that encourage students to go beyond memorizing facts into taking the initiative and responsibility for their own learning (Alberts, 2000; Gibson & Chase, 2002). Inquiry-based
The Impact of Employer Characteristics and Workforce Commitment on Earnings of Former Welfare Recipients

Former welfare recipients have fared differentially in the 1990s. Some are now earning self-supporting incomes, whereas others remain in poverty despite work efforts. Still others have no recorded work involvement. In this article, the authors attempt to learn why. The vast majority of research studies to date on the employment and earnings outcomes of former welfare recipients have focused exclusively on the characteristics of the women recipients. This study is an exception: It focuses on the characteristics of the employers who chose to hire these former recipients. It asks two questions: One concerns the overall importance of employer characteristics in determining employment and earnings outcomes. The second explores the relative roles of various employer characteristics in determining earnings outcomes. The article also examines the effect on earnings of women’s commitment to work. This is the first comprehensive longitudinal examination of these topics.
“Important, if True”: Graduate Education will Drive America's Future Prosperity

This essay contends that America's economic and social prosperity depends on nurturing and improving graduate programs, and that both universities and policy makers need to act in some very specifi...
Tumor suppression in triploid trout

Abstract Triploidy was induced in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) by heat shock of fertilized eggs and triploid and diploid fry were treated with three carcinogens (DMBA, MNNG and aflatoxin B1) by bath exposure. The incidence of tumors was substantially lower in triploids than in diploids in the swimbladder, stomach and kidney and moderately lower in the liver. The lower tumor incidence in triploids may reflect a lower likelihood that all copies of tumor suppressor genes would mutate during carcinogenesis in triploids. Polyploid lower vertebrates may thus provide novel systems for investigating tumor suppressor genes in carcinogenesis.
Combined diffuse optical spectroscopy and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a case study

Monitoring tumor response to therapy can enable assessment of treatment efficacy, maximizing patient outcome and survival. We employ a noninvasive, handheld laser breast scanner (LBS) based on broadband diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) in conjunction with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) to assess tumor response to presurgical neoadjuvant chemotherapy. DOS and cMRI scans are performed after the first and fourth cycles of a doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide regimen in a patient with invasive ductal carcinoma. DOS measurements are used to quantify bulk tissue optical and physiological parameters, which are mapped to T2- and T1-weighted cMRI images. Initial DOS measurements show high tumor/normal contrast in total hemoglobin concentration (THC, 56±7 versus 27±4 µM) and water fraction (81.4±1% versus 24±3%) colocalized with regions of strongly enhancing T2-wieghted and cMRI signals. After the fourth cycle of chemotherapy, we observe decreases in peak MRI contrast-enhancement values (37.6%) and apparent lesion volume (21.9 versus 13.7 cm3), which corresponds to physiological changes measured by DOS, including a 20 to 25% reduction in the spatial extent of the tumor and a 38.7% drop in mean total hemoglobin content (THC, 41.6 versus 23.4 µM). These data provide in vivo validation of the accuracy of broadband DOS and the sensitivity of optical methods to changes in tumor physiology.
Correlation of photoreactivation of ultraviolet-induced killing with dimer splitting before and after DNA replication in an excisionless strain of Escherichia coli.

— Splitting of thymine-containing dimers was compared quantitatively with photoreactivation (PR) of killing induced by ultraviolet radiation (254 nm) in a uvrA (excisionless) strain of E. coli. Immediately after irradiation, the splitting rate (number of dimers split/genome/unit PR dose) agreed well with the PR rate of the cells (rate of recovery from photoreactivable lethal damage converted into an ‘estimated’ number of dimers split/genome/unit PR dose). After 4 h of incubation of cells in nutrient medium, the maximal fraction of splittable dimers decreased, as did the maximal fraction of photoreactivable lethal damage. However, the initial splitting rate after incubation was equal to that before incubation. During the 4-h incubation, the heavily irradiated uvrA cells did not divide but became filamentous and their DNA increased about 70 per cent. It is concluded that roughly half of the dimers in DNA that has replicated after ultraviolet irradiation are split as efficiently as those in DNA that has not replicated.
Recurrence of Kolmogorov-Arnol'd-Moser tori and fractal diagram.

In area-preserving maps exhibiting recurrence of Kolmogorov-Arnol'd-Moser tori, we illustrate the relationship between the recurring stability of periodic orbits and the recurrence of invariant tori. The fractal diagram is found to consist of ``pagoda''-type structures which replaces the ``arches'' of the standard map. The increase in the recurrences with the period of the orbit is explained as due to a series of bifurcation of the stable regimes inside the pagoda as well as the bifurcation of the pagoda itself. We compute some of the scaling exponents associated with the bifurcation.
Quantitative DNase footprint titration: a tool for analyzing the energetics of protein–DNA interactions

A major goal in biomedical research is to determine the mechanisms responsible for gene regulation. However, the promoters and operators that control transcription are often complex in nature, containing multiple-binding sites with which DNA-binding proteins can interact cooperatively. Quantitative DNase footprint titration is one of the few techniques capable of resolving the microscopic binding affinities responsible for the macroscopic assembly process. Here, we present a step-by-step protocol for carrying out a footprint titration experiment. We then describe how to quantify the resultant images to generate individual-site binding curves. Finally, we derive basic equations for binding at each site and present an overview of the fitting process, applying it to the anticipated results. Users should anticipate that the footprinting experiment will take 3-5 d starting from DNA template isolation to image acquisition and quantitation.
Ion-trap mass spectrometry with an inductively coupled plasma source†

A new mass spectrometry technique using an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ionization source and an ion-trap mass spectrometer (ITMS) detector is described and evaluated for elemental and isotopic analysis. Initial results obtained with the ICP-ITMS technique include sub-ppb detection of bare ions for, most elements, complete destruction of typical polyatomic matrix ions (e.g., CIO+, ArO+, and ArCl+), and effective neutralization of strong Ar+ ion currents. The latter effects allow observation of clearer mass spectra at m/z < 80 and potentially improved detection of ‘problem’ elements in ICP-MS (e.g., K, Ca, V, Fe, As, and Se). Formation of poly-oxide and -hydroxide ions of metals with high oxide bond strengths were observed and require system modifications to alleviate.
Analysis and Characterization of HK-2 Cells for High Throughput Drug Testing

We are working to develop a multi-channel microfluidic device to model human kidney function using HK-2 (human kidney proximal tubule) cells as a model cell type. Optimization of growth conditions and characterization of cells was achieved through the use of various methods including growth curves, measurement of epithelial electrical resistance, enzymatic assays, immunohistochemistry, and transport studies. These studies allowed for us to understand the growth of renal cells over time, formation of tight junctions between cells, modes of transport and permeability of these cells to proteins. The results of the characterization studies suggest that HK-2 cells can be used to model human proximal tubule function in pharmaceutical testing.
Sulfasalazine Attenuates Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B-Induced Immune Responses

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and related exotoxins are important virulence factors produced by Staphylococcus aureus as they cause human diseases such as food poisoning and toxic shock. These toxins bind directly to cells of the immune system resulting in hyperactivation of both T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages. The excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines from these cells mediates the toxic effects of SEB. This study examined the inhibitory activities of an anti-inflammatory drug, sulfasalazine, on SEB-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Sulfasalazine dose-dependently inhibited tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1 (IL-1) β, IL-2, IL-6, interferon γ (IFNγ), and various chemotactic cytokines from SEB-stimulated human PBMC. Sulfasalazine also potently blocked SEB-induced T cell proliferation and NFκB activation. These results suggest that sulfasalazine might be useful in mitigating the toxic effects of SEB by blocking SEB-induced host inflammatory cascade and signaling pathways.
A radioimmunoassay for human glucose phosphate isomerase: measurement of immunoreactive enzyme from genetic variants.

Abstract Glucose phosphate isomerase has been isolated to homogeneity from human placenta and monospecific antibody generated against the protein. The enzyme was radiolabeled with 125I and purified by specific substrate-induced elution from cellulose phosphate. A radio-immunoassay was developed and the ratio of catalytic activity to immunoreactivity of the enzyme (molecular specific activity) was determined in hemolysates from five individuals heterozygous for genetic variant forms of the enzyme. In four cases involving point mutations no change in the molecular specific activity was noted. However, in a fifth case involving a deletion mutation, a decreased molecular specific activity was observed. Erythrocytes were fractionated on a density gradient and the molecular specific activity of the enzyme was measured in cells of different ages. A lower molecular specific activity was found in older cells, suggesting the accumulation of catalytically inactive, immunoreactive material during the aging of the erythrocyte.
Uncertainty in the Determination of Thermal Efficiency in Natural Gas Engines

This paper discusses the measurement of thermal efficiency for natural gas-fueled engines and the resulting uncertainty. Two methods for determining thermal efficiency are described in detail. For each method, the sources of uncertainty are identified and quantified, and an estimate of the overall uncertainty is calculated. The analysis indicates that a thermal efficiency calculation that uses a mass fuel flow rate measurement directly as a basis for the energy input rate provides less uncertainty than the other method that uses a volumetric flow measurement.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Justice, Fairness, and Employee Reactions

Of all the issues that employees consider in organizational life, justice and fairness are among the most salient. Justice reflects the perceived adherence to rules that represent appropriateness in decision contexts (e.g., equity, consistency, respect, truthfulness). Fairness reflects a more global perception of appropriateness that lies downstream of justice. Our review integrates justice theories (fairness heuristic theory, the relational model, the group engagement model, fairness theory, deonance theory, uncertainty management theory) and broader theories (social exchange theory, affective events theory) to examine three questions: (a) Why do employees think about justice issues in the first place? (b) how do employees form fairness perceptions? and (c) how do employees react to those perceptions? We close by describing how justice and fairness can be managed in organizations, especially given new technological trends in how people work.
Epinephrine: Is it really the black sheep of vasoactive agents?

There were no patients lost to follow-up; one patient withdrew consent after 3 days. At day 28, there were 64 (40%) deaths in the epinephrine group and 58 (34%) deaths in the norepinephrine plus dobutamine group (p=0.31; relative risk 0.86, 95% CI 0.65-1.14). There was no signifi cant diff erence between the two groups in mortality rates at discharge from intensive care (75 [47%] deaths vs. 75 [44%] deaths, p=0.69), at hospital discharge (84 [52%] vs. 82 [49%], p=0.51), and by day 90 (84 [52%] vs. 85 [50%], p=0.73), time to hemodynamic success (log-rank p=0.67), time to vasopressor withdrawal (log-rank p=0.09), and time course of SOFA score. Rates of serious adverse events were also similar. Conclusions There is no evidence for a diff erence in effi cacy and safety between epinephrine alone and norepinephrine plus dobutamine for the management of septic shock. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00148278).
Sleep duration as a risk factor for incident type 2 diabetes in a multiethnic cohort.

Purpose We evaluated the association between sleep duration and type 2 diabetes in a multiethnic cohort, considering insulin sensitivity (SI) and secretion (acute insulin response [AIR]), two important diabetes risk factors. Methods Among 900 diabetes-free persons, 146 developed incident type 2 diabetes. At baseline, sleep duration was assessed by self-report and SI and AIR by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Results Among non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics, short sleep (≤7 hours: odds ratio [OR] 2.36; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–3.79 compared to 8 hours) was associated with increased odds of diabetes, adjusting for age, sex, glucose tolerance, clinical site, hypertension, family history of diabetes, smoking, education, and body mass index. Adjustment for SI and AIR did not affect short sleep (2.36; 1.11–5.00), but further attenuated the already non-significant association with long sleep (2.15; 0.50–9.30). In African Americans, an opposing pattern was observed, but none of the associations reached statistical significance. Conclusion Our study supports the role of short sleep as an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes in whites and Hispanics. While insulin sensitivity and secretion may explain previously reported associations of long sleep duration with diabetes risk, they do not seem to mediate the effects of short sleep on diabetes.
Impaired phagocyte oxidative capacity in human immunodeficiency virus- infected children

Children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have T helper cell deficiency, but frequent bacterial infections suggest phagocyte dysfunction. Whole blood chemiluminescence (CL) assays were used to measure the respiratory burst capacity of phagocytes from HIV-infected children, perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected children, and normal healthy children. Phagocytes were stimulated by zymosan opsonized with human complement with and without priming by platelet-activating factor (PAF) or FMLP. Activities of enzymes involved in the respiratory burst, oxidase and myeloperoxidase, were examined after opsonin receptor‐independent stimulation with PMA. Unprimed CL responses to opsonized zymosan were decreased for HIV-infected children with severe CD4 lymphocyte suppression compared with healthy children ( ), and PAF-primed CL responses to opsonized zymosan were P 5 .03 decreased in HIV-infected children with both moderate and severe CD4 lymphocyte suppression ( and , respectively), despite normal or increased activities of the resP 5 .02 P 5 .01 piratory burst enzymes. These impairments may contribute to secondary bacterial infections.
Galactose-Depleted Xyloglucan is Dysfunctional and Leads to Dwarfism in Arabidopsis

Xyloglucan is a polysaccharide that has important roles in the formation and function of the walls that surround growing land plant cells. Many of these plants synthesize xyloglucan that contains galactose in two different side chains (L and F), which exist in distinct molecular environments. However, little is known about the contribution of these side chains to xyloglucan function. Here, we show that Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants devoid of the F side chain galactosyltransferase MURUS3 (MUR3) form xyloglucan that lacks F side chains and contains much less galactosylated xylose than its wild-type counterpart. The galactose-depleted xyloglucan is dysfunctional, as it leads to mutants that are dwarfed with curled rosette leaves, short petioles, and short inflorescence stems. Moreover, cell wall matrix polysaccharides, including xyloglucan and pectin, are not properly secreted and instead accumulate within intracellular aggregates. Near-normal growth is restored by generating mur3 mutants that produce no detectable amounts of xyloglucan. Thus, cellular processes are affected more by the presence of the dysfunctional xyloglucan than by eliminating xyloglucan altogether. To identify structural features responsible for xyloglucan dysfunction, xyloglucan structure was modified in situ by generating mur3 mutants that lack specific xyloglucan xylosyltransferases (XXTs) or that overexpress the XYLOGLUCAN L-SIDE CHAIN GALACTOSYLTRANSFERASE2 (XLT2) gene. Normal growth was restored in the mur3-3 mutant overexpressing XLT2 and in mur3-3 xxt double mutants when the dysfunctional xyloglucan was modified by doubling the amounts of galactosylated side chains. Our study assigns a role for galactosylation in normal xyloglucan function and demonstrates that altering xyloglucan side chain structure disturbs diverse cellular and physiological processes.
A local, high-density, single-nucleotide polymorphism map used to clone Caenorhabditis elegans cdf-1.

Ras-mediated signaling is required for induction of vulval cell fates during Caenorhabditis elegans development. By screening for suppressors of the multivulva phenotype caused by constitutively active let-60 ras , we identified the mutation n2527. To clone the gene affected by n2527 , we developed a method for high-resolution mapping. We took advantage of the genomic DNA sequence of the N2 strain by using DNA sequencing to scan for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at defined genomic positions of the RC301 strain. An average of one polymorphism per 1.4 kb was detected in predicted intergenic regions. Because of this high frequency, DNA sequencing is an efficient method to scan for SNPs. By alternating between identifying SNPs and mapping n2527 using selected recombinants, we generated an SNP map of progressively higher density. An intensive search for SNPs resulted in a local map with an average marker spacing of ∼4 kb. This was used to map n2527 to a 9.6-kb interval. The small size of this interval made it feasible to use DNA sequencing to identify the molecular lesion. In principle, this approach can be used for high-resolution mapping of any C. elegans mutation. Furthermore, this approach can be applied to other species as the genomic sequence becomes available. The n2527 mutation affects a previously uncharacterized gene that we named cdf-1 , as it encodes a predicted protein with significant similarity to members of the cation diffusion facilitator family.
Leader-follower framework for control of energy services

This paper presents a framework for leader-follower control of energy services. In this framework, the main emphasis is to provide market players with proper economic signals in order for the market to function efficiently in light of market players' profit motives and system reliability and security requirements. The problem formulation and the data needed for the implementation of the proposed framework are also presented.
The Effects of Labor Shortages on Starting Salaries for Sex-Typed Jobs

An experimental simulation was conducted to examine potential differences in sensitivity to forces to supply and demand among male and female sex-typed jobs. Respondents faced with a labor shortage favored raising salaries for male sex-typed jobs, but favored alternatives to salary increases for female sex-typed jobs at entry and middle levels. Findings are discussed in terms of occupational sex stereotypes and differing perceptions regarding the urgency and difficulty of filling vacancies in male and female positions.
Effect of Shear Energy on Size Reduction of Starch Granules in Extrusion

The changes of size and size distribution of starch granules under extrusion conditions have been investigated by using a single screw extruder and an optical microscope coupled with an image analysis system. The mechanical energy input and material processing time were key factors influencing the degree of starch granular size reduction. In a high shear extrusion process (T = 40°C), the weight-average granular size of extrudate was reduced from ∼ 12.4 μ (raw waxy corn starch) to 1 ∼ 2 μ, whereas in a low shear extrusion (T = 90°C), the granular size was reduced to ∼ 7 μ. Fine particles (≤ 0.5 μ) were observed in both extrusion processes. They were 76% (w/w) under a high shear and long processing time conditions and 5% in a low shear and short time process. During the size reduction process, the peaks of size distribution of starch granules shifted from the large size region toward the medium size region and finally to a rather narrowed peak at the small size region when extensive size reduction measures were applied. Extrusion processes can be used to reduce starch granular size effectively
Investigation of a VLF airborne resistivity survey conducted in northern Maine

Airborne wavetilt resistivity surveys and profiles at VLF have been analyzed for the effects of topography, altitude, and wavetilt phase and amplitude. Topographic relief is known to affect at least one electric field component, flight altitude often varies over relief, and phase, upon which the airborne measurement depends and which cannot be separated from amplitude by an airborne antenna system, depends on the earth’s resistivity stratification and the relative strength of displacement to conduction current. A mountainous area in northern Maine of predominantly slate, but containing an igneous stock, was surveyed at 150 m mean flight altitude. The 150-m survey was repeated at 300 m, and two of the 150-m flight lines were repeated at a total of three other altitudes. A comparison of the 150-m survey with the topography and with the 300-m survey revealed that although most of the resistivity information of the 150-m survey was retained at 300 m, serious differences arose due to topographic influences. Pr...
Effect of Differing Temperature Cycles on Egg Shell Quality and Layer Performance

Abstract Egg shell quality deteriorates when the laying hen is exposed to high environmental temperatures. Within the continental United States, the normal spread during the summer months between the high and low temperature within a 24-hr period is 11 to 14 C degrees. Laying hens exposed to a 24-hr linear temperature cycle ranging from 26.7 to 35 C had a significantly poorer egg shell breaking strength, a thinner egg shell, and a significantly greater body-weight change than hens exposed to temperature cycles of 21.1 to 35 C and 15.6 to 35 C. No significant difference in performance existed in hens exposed to 24-hr linear temperature cycles of 21.1 to 35 C and 15.6 to 35 C. Use of ventilation fans at night reduces laying house temperatures to near the minimum daily temperature, which normally occurs just before sunrise.
Ontogenic and nutritional regulation of steroid receptor and IGF-I transcript abundance in the prepubertal heifer mammary gland.

In prepubertal cattle, mammary development is characterized by the growth of an epithelial-rich parenchyma (PAR) into the mammary fat pad (MFP). This proliferation and accumulation of mammary epithelial cells require estrogen. Paradoxically, both epithelial cell proliferation and PAR accumulation rate decline with rising plasma estrogen as puberty approaches. The possibility that variation in abundance of estrogen receptors (ERs) in PAR or MFP accounts for a portion of these effects has not been examined in cattle. Additionally, we recently demonstrated that MFP is highly responsive to exogenous estrogen, suggesting that this tissue may play a role in coordinating estrogen’s effects on PAR; however, the developing bovine MFP has yet to be studied in detail. To address these hypotheses, Holstein heifers were assigned to planes of nutrition supporting body growth rates of 950 (E) or 650 (R) g/day and harvested every 50 kg from 100 to 350 kg body weight (BW). Post-harvest, their mammary glands were dissected into PAR and MFP compartments. Transcript abundance of genes encoding members of the ER family (ERa ,E Rb, and estrogen-related receptor a-1 (ERRa)) and estrogen-responsive genes (IGF-I and progesterone receptor (PR)) were measured in both mammary compartments by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Significant expression was detected for all genes in both compartments, with the exception of the ERb gene. Transcript abundance of both ERa and IGF-I decreased linearly with increasing BW within both compartments. ERRa and PR expressions decreased with increasing BW in PAR but not in MFP. Nutrition stimulated ERa and ERRa expression in the PAR but had no effect on IGF-I or PR in either PAR or MFP. Overall, ERa and IGF-I transcript abundance are consistent with the drop in mammary epithelial cell proliferation and PAR accretion observed over development, but do not support a negative effect of nutrition on PAR growth.
Doing Well by Doing Good: The Benevolent Halo of Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is commonly viewed solely as a tool for enhancing company reputations and engendering goodwill among customers. In contrast, this research shows that the impact of corporate social responsibility can extend beyond public relations and customer goodwill to influence the way consumers evaluate a company’s products. Specifically, this research documents that acts of social goodwill—even when they are unrelated to the company’s core business, as in the case of charitable giving—can alter product perceptions, such that products of companies engaged in prosocial activities are perceived as performing better. More important, the data show that inferences drawn from a company’s prosocial actions are strong enough to alter the product evaluations even when consumers can directly observe and experience the product. The data further show that this effect is a function of the moral undertone of the company’s motivation for engaging in socially responsible behavior and is attenuated when consumers believe that the company’s behavior is driven by self-interest rather than by benevolence. By documenting that social goodwill can benefit consumer perceptions of product performance, these findings show that doing good can indeed translate into doing well.
Genomic characterization of the inflammatory response initiated by surgical intervention and the effect of perioperative cyclooxygenase 2 blockade

Objective There are potentially deleterious sequelae of the physiologic response to surgical intervention. Some inflammatory cytokines can act as tumor growth factors, angiogenic and metastatic promoters, or both. Modulation of negative effects could improve outcomes from surgical intervention. The effects of surgical intervention on gene expression have not been fully elucidated. We assayed gene expression changes in an animal model of thoracotomy versus a sham operation and evaluated the ability of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, celecoxib, to mediate these changes. Methods Sixty adult male BALB/c mice were randomized into one of 3 experimental groups: sham operation with anesthesia only, thoracotomy incision, and thoracotomy incision with perioperative celecoxib administration. Six hours after surgical intervention, the animals were killed, and blood was collected. RNA pools from each group were labeled and hybridized to Mouse Whole Genome Microarrays. Gene expression profiles were analyzed to determine the effect of both surgical intervention and celecoxib treatment. Results Surgical intervention initiated a robust gene expression response. We identified 867 transcripts that were found to be statistically significant (corrected P Conclusions Surgical intervention has a dramatic effect on the expression of genes related to the inflammatory response. Perioperative treatment with a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor abated many of these changes and might counteract many of the negative effects of the response to surgical intervention.
LIVER SINUSOIDAL CELLS: Identification of a Subpopulation for Erythrocyte Catabolism

Sequestration and degradation of red blood cells (RBC) are believed to occur in part in the liver, but the magnitude and cellular localization of this process remain uncertain. This problem was studied in rats by investigating isolated parenchymal and sinusoidal cell populations of the liver. After digesting the perfused liver with pronase, hepatic sinusoidal cells were isolated free of RBC and debris. Of the isolated cells, 90% were phagocytic, as judged by their uptake of colloidal 198Au or of aggregated albumin-131I administered in vivo After administration of spherocytic (heat-treated) RBC, however, only about one quarter of the isolated cells were found to contain phagocytized RBC. This apparently distinct population of RBC-phagocytizing cells is designated as "erythrophagocytic (EP)" cells. The EP cell population was further characterized functionally by its specific phagocytosis of colloidal carbon and of 99mtechnetium-sulfur colloid and histochemically by its peroxidase activity. The role of the EP population in the catabolism of RBC-hemoglobin was studied in isolated hepatic sinusoidal cells by assay of microsomal heme oxygenase (MHO), which is the inducible enzyme system that converts heme to bilirubin. The MHO activity of individual sinusoidal isolates was related directly to their content of EP cells Assay of the MHO activity of the whole spleen and of the total EP cell population of the liver suggested that these two tissues may be of comparable importance in their ability to degrade RBC-hemoglobin.
Anesthesia for bilateral single-lung transplantation.

Abstract Patients with end-stage lung disease have been successfully treated with lung transplantation. Single-lung transplantation has been used for patients with endstage pulmonary fibrosis,1–3 and double-lung transplantation has been used for patients with end-stage emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and bilateral pulmonary sepsis.4,5 Doublelung transplantation has been performed as an en-bloc transplantation4,5, the anesthetic considerations of which have been reviewed recently by Gayes et al.6 Bilateral single-lung transplantation is an evolving technique, that avoids some of the potential complications of the en-bloc method, including cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), tracheal anastomosis, and cardiac surgery.' A report of the anesthetic management of the first patient at the Stanford University Hospital to have bilateral single-lung transplantations is presented.
The use of human subjects in human factors research.

Some legal and ethical aspects of utilizing human subjects in research are discussed. Among these key issues are: (I) How does one make a fair judgment of the risks involved as opposed to the potential benefits to be gained? (2) Can one be assured of a subject's “informed consent”? (3) How can a researcher protect himself against liabilities arising from accusations of negligent behavior? As part of the answer, it is suggested that the Human Factors Society establish committees to recommend a code of ethics for its members and also review proposals for human research at the request of its members. Such provisions could be of legal and ethical value in the protection of its member researchers and would help establish and preserve a high professional recognition for the society's leadership in human factors research involving risk to the human subject.
The Influence of Reward Program Membership and Commitment on Hotel Loyalty

This research evaluated the role of reward membership and commitment on switching costs, defined as the price at which consumers would switch to a nonpreferred hotel brand. Online survey respondents were classified by reward tier and two types of commitment: value (reward program benefits) and affective (emotional attachment to brand). The results showed that all reward program members exhibit value commitment but upper tier members are more likely to develop an emotional bond. Participants rated likelihood to switch in response to 20 pricing scenarios that varied base price for the preferred brand and discount for a nonpreferred brand. Value commitment was associated with greater price sensitivity, whereas affective commitment produced less differentiation between prices and discounts. Findings indicate that value commitment and lower tier membership are associated with a utilitarian perspective, whereas high-tier members or those with high affective commitment value intangible benefits and are less susc...
Aspirin-triggered 15-Epi-Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) and LXA4 Stable Analogues Are Potent Inhibitors of Acute Inflammation: Evidence for Anti-inflammatory Receptors

Lipoxins are bioactive eicosanoids that are immunomodulators. In human myeloid cells, lipoxin (LX) A4 actions are mediated by interaction with a G protein–coupled receptor. To explore functions of LXA4 and aspirin-triggered 5( S ),6( R ),15( R )-trihydroxy-7,9,13- trans -11- cis –eicosatetraenoic acid (15-epi-LXA4) in vivo, we cloned and characterized a mouse LXA4 receptor (LXA4R). When expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells, the mouse LXA4R showed specific binding to [3H]LXA4 ( K d ≈ 1.5 nM), and with LXA4 activated GTP hydrolysis. Mouse LXA4R mRNA was most abundant in neutrophils. In addition to LXA4 and 15-epi-LXA4, bioactive LX stable analogues competed with both [3H]LXA4 and [3H]leukotriene D4 (LTD4)– specific binding in vitro to neutrophils and endothelial cells, respectively. Topical application of LXA4 analogues and novel aspirin-triggered 15-epi-LXA4 stable analogues to mouse ears markedly inhibited neutrophil infiltration in vivo as assessed by both light microscopy and reduced myeloperoxidase activity in skin biopsies. The 15( R )-16-phenoxy-17,18, 19,20-tetranorLXA4 methyl ester (15-epi-16-phenoxy-LXA4), an analogue of aspirin triggered 15-epi-LXA4, and 15( S )-16-phenoxy-17,18,19,20-tetranor-LXA4 methyl ester (16-phenoxy-LXA4) were each as potent as equimolar applications of the anti-inflammatory, dexamethasone. Thus, we identified murine LXA4R, which is highly expressed on murine neutrophils, and showed that both LXA4 and 15-epi-LXA4 stable analogues inhibit neutrophil infiltration in the mouse ear model of inflammation. These findings provide direct in vivo evidence for an anti-inflammatory action for both aspirin-triggered LXA4 and LXA4 stable analogues and their site of action in vivo .
Age-Dependent Susceptibility of Chromosome Cohesion to Premature Separase Activation in Mouse Oocytes

A hypothesis to explain the maternal age-dependent increase in formation of aneuploid eggs is deterioration of chromosome cohesion. Although several lines of evidence are consistent with this hypothesis, whether cohesion is actually reduced in naturally aged oocytes has not been directly tested by any experimental perturbation. To directly target cohesion, we increased the activity of separase, the protease that cleaves the meiotic cohesin REC8, in oocytes. We show that cohesion is more susceptible to premature separase activation in old oocytes than in young oocytes, demonstrating that cohesion is significantly reduced. Furthermore, cohesion is protected by two independent mechanisms that inhibit separase, securin and an inhibitory phosphorylation of separase by CDK1; both mechanisms must be disrupted to prematurely activate separase. With the continual loss of cohesins from chromosomes that occurs throughout the natural reproductive lifespan, tight regulation of separase in oocytes may be particularly important to maintain cohesion and prevent aneuploidy.
Emotion reactivity and regulation are associated with psychological functioning following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis in Japan.

Frequent and successful use of cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy that involves rethinking the meaning of an emotional event in order to change one's emotional response, has been linked in everyday life to positive outcomes such as higher well-being. Whether we should expect this association to be maintained in a strong, temporally and spatially close emotional context is an unexplored question that might have important implications for our understanding of emotion regulation and its relations to psychological functioning. In this study of members of the U. S. Embassy Tokyo community in the months following the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis in Japan, self-reported use of cognitive reappraisal was not related to psychological functioning, but demonstrated success using cognitive reappraisal to decrease feelings of unpleasantness in response to disaster-related pictures on a performance-based task was associated with fewer symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress. Moreover, emotional reactivity to these pictures was associated with greater symptomatology. These results suggest that situational intensity may be an important moderator of reappraisal and psychological functioning relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Investigation of corona initiation voltage at reduced pressures

The results of an experimental study of the 60 Hz ac corona inception voltage at reduced pressures for a cylindrical conductor and a parallel ground plane are presented. Several spacings and bare and insulated conductors of several diameters are considered. Empirical expressions from which a reasonably accurate prediction of the corona inception voltage (CIV) may be made have been inferred from experimental data. >
A new nonlinear functional analytic framework for modeling artificial neural networks

A framework is presented for modeling the input-output map f: R/sup N/ to R/sup M/ of artificial neural networks used in pattern classification. Assuming only that f belongs to an appropriate space F (called a neural space) of nonlinear analytic maps, its structure is obtained by requiring that f match a set of exemplary input-output pairs while minimizing a maximum error in an uncertainty ball in F. This criterion guarantees robustness of the solution. The optimal model f thus obtained consists of a two-layer feedforward net, the first layer being the same as the matching score layer of the Hamming net, and the second layer being a new layer (absent in the Hamming net) possessing synaptic weights which result from the described optimization procedure. >
Feasibility of a new direct measurement of the muon‐neutrino mass

Two possible experiments are examined for their feasibility to produce an improved measurement of the muon‐neutrino mass. It is concluded that either one might result in a mass limit in the range of 50 to 100 keV/c2.
Time series analysis of mosquito population data.

A statistical technique, time series analysis, has been introduced, allowing the development of objective and quantitative insights into the behavior of relative mosquito densities as a function of time. This method is particularly useful for detecting periodicities in mosquito densities as well as the relationship between meteorological phenomena and mosquito densities.
Understanding perceptions of changing hurricane strength along the US Gulf coast

The scientific debate on the impact of climate change on hurricane intensity/strength continues. Regardless of its causes, the consequence of increasing hurricane intensity is undeniably immense among coastal residents. In this study, we investigate how various objective measures of hurricane strength affect people's perception of changing hurricane strength over time. We utilize original survey data to examine the relationship between perceived and actual shift in hurricane strength. In this article, hurricane strength is indicated as maximum wind speed at landfall, storm surge, and economic damage. We find that the characteristics of hurricane strength associated with the most recent landfall are much more closely associated with perceptions of changing hurricane strength than objectively measured trends. This result is consistent with availability bias, suggesting that perceptions are associated with most accessible and retrievable events. We also find that people's belief in climate change play a powerful role in one's perception of changing hurricane strength. Political predispositions are found to affect one's perceptions of changing hurricane strength. Compared to Democrats and Independents, Republicans are far less likely to believe that climate is changing and thus they tend to not believe that hurricanes are becoming stronger. Given that this study focuses on how physical characteristics of past hurricane events influence individual perceptions of hurricane strength shift, future research should focus on how expectations of future climate and weather-related events influence individual attitudes and behaviours.
Combinatorial generation of structurally complex test inputs for commercial software applications

Despite recent progress in automated test generation research, significant challenges remain for applying these techniques on large-scale software systems. These systems under test often require structurally complex test inputs within a large input domain. It is challenging to automatically generate a reasonable number of tests that are both legal and behaviorally-diverse to exercise these systems. Constraint-based test generation is an effective approach for generating structurally complex inputs for systematic testing. While this approach can typically generate large numbers of tests, it has limited scalability – tests generated are usually only up to a small bound on input size. Combinatorial test generation, e.g., pair-wise testing, is a more scalable approach but is challenging to apply on commercial software systems that require complex input structures that cannot be formed by using arbitrary combinations. This paper introduces comKorat, which unifies constraint-based generation of structurally complex tests with combinatorial testing. Specifically, comKorat integrates Korat and ACTS test generators to generate test suites for large scale software systems with structurally complex test inputs. We have successfully applied comKorat on four software applications developed at eBay and Yahoo!. The experimental results show that comKorat outperforms existing solutions in execution time and test coverage. Furthermore, comKorat found a total of 59 previously unknown bugs in the four applications.
Optimization for Reduction/Precipitation Treatment of Hexavalent Chromium

This paper describes wastewater treatment optimization studies performed on an industrial wastewater generated in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The manufacturing plant generates hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] wastewater as a result of chromating brass, bronze and copper parts produced in the manufacturing operations. The facility utilizes a continuous flow treatment train, involving segregated Cr(VI) reduction with sodium metabisulfite (Na 2 S 2 O 5 ) under acidic conditions, followed by combined wastestream two-stage pH adjustment, metals precipitation, and clarification before discharge to the municipal sewer. The objectives of the studies were to define and evaluate critical parameters, such as pH and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) for hexavalent and total chromium control and to perform treatability studies to optimize the performance of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The treatability studies included Cr(VI) reduction versus Na 2 S 2 O 5 dosage evaluations and corresponding chromium reduction kinetic studies, and trivalent chromium hydroxide precipitation. The Cr(VI) reduction experiments and chromic hydroxide precipitation studies were performed for three different wastewaters collected from within the manufacturing process; a high, typical, and dilute strength wastewater.
Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) compared with breast MRI for breast cancer detection.

11069 Background: Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a new study to detect contrast enhancing malignancy that may not be visible on conventional mammogram. Limited studies have shown ...
The ink of citizenship

ABSTRACTNations actively write themselves onto human bodies. They etch and scratch their borders onto human flesh with figurative, often contradictory, ink that delivers stark material impact. The impacts hold their greatest force in metering the hinged consequences of contingent citizenship for some and unfettered citizenship for a few others. In this essay, I consider the often overlooked logics of these national scriptings and the curricular potential we lose when we perpetuate the faulty idea that migration is only about movement across countries.
Is there a role for multi-gene screening panels in patients who previously underwent noninformative genetic testing?

1536 Background: The availability of next-generation sequencing coupled with the recent discovery of multiple cancer-related genes has caused a shift away from single gene testing towards multi-gene panel testing for familial cancer syndromes. However, the utility of multi-gene panels in individuals who previously underwent noninformative genetic screening has yet to be evaluated. We aim to evaluate the use of rescreening and results of multi-gene panels in this rescreened population. Methods: We reviewed all patients who had previously undergone genetic testing for familial cancer syndromes and then underwent multi-gene panel testing at a single institution between 9/2013-11/2014. Results: One hundred and twenty-four patients with prior non multi-gene panel testing underwent multi-gene panels. One hundred patients (81%) had a history of cancer and 115 patients (93%) had at least one family member with cancer. On primary testing, no deleterious mutations were identified and 11 variants of uncertain signif...
Adolescence, brain maturation and mental health

The rate of development of the brain connectome distinguishes adolescents with and without psychiatric symptoms. Those with symptoms exhibit delayed development of connectome distinctiveness as compared to healthy adolescents.