cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association between sugar-sweetened beverage availability in school vending machines and school staff sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

Abstract Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is a leading strategy to help combat high rates of adult obesity and overweight. Regulating SSB sales in schools has reduced access among youth. However, current federal school nutrition standards are focused on student rather than staff environments (i.e. school staff lounges). This study examines the association between the availability of SSBs in school vending machines and school staff SSB consumption. The study sample included 51 public schools in California, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, and Washington DC participating in an evaluation of Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools initiative in school year 2017–18. Data collection included: 1) observations of school cafeterias, staff lounges, stores and outdoor snack areas for the presence of, and content in, vending machines, and 2) an online survey of school staff about their SSB consumption. Fifty-nine percent (n = 1586) of staff responded to the survey; 1229 (77% of respondents) reported on SSB consumption. Thirty percent of schools had staff lounges with SSB vending machines and 34% of staff reported drinking ≥1 SSBs/day. On average, the probability of consuming ≥1 SSBs/day was 6.6% greater in staff in schools with SSBs available in staff lounge vending machines (95% CI: 0.11%, 13.12%). Staff in schools with SSB vending machines in staff lounges were more likely to report consuming ≥1 SSBs per day compared to staff without SSB vending in staff lounges. Examining the impact of extending SSB regulations to the entire school environment on school staff SSB consumption is an important next step.
Efficient Neural Network Deployment for Microcontroller.

Edge computing for neural networks is getting important especially for low power applications and offline devices. TensorFlow Lite and PyTorch Mobile were released for this purpose. But they mainly support mobile devices instead of microcontroller level yet. Microcontroller support is an emerging area now. There are many approaches to reduce network size and compute load like pruning, binarization and layer manipulation i.e. operator reordering. This paper is going to explore and generalize convolution neural network deployment for microcontrollers with two novel optimization proposals offering memory saving and compute efficiency in 2D convolutions as well as fully connected layers. The first one is in-place max-pooling, if the stride is greater than or equal to pooling kernel size. The second optimization is to use ping-pong buffers between layers to reduce memory consumption significantly. The memory savings and performance will be compared with CMSIS-NN framework developed for ARM Cortex-M CPUs. The final purpose is to develop a tool consuming PyTorch model with trained network weights, and it turns into an optimized inference engine(forward pass) in C/C++ for low memory(kilobyte level) and limited computing capable microcontrollers.
Hepatic FGF21 mediates tissue tolerance during bacterial inflammation by preserving cardiac function

Abstract Sickness behaviors, including anorexia, are evolutionarily conserved responses to acute infections. Inflammation-induced anorexia causes dramatic metabolic changes, of which components critical to survival are unique depending on the type of inflammation. Glucose supplementation during the anorectic period induced by bacterial inflammation suppresses adaptive fasting metabolic pathways, including fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21), and decreases survival. Consistent with this observation, FGF21 deficient mice are more susceptible to mortality from endotoxemia and poly-bacterial peritonitis, but not viral infection. Here we report that increased circulating FGF21 during bacterial inflammation is hepatic-derived, promotes cardiac function, and is required for survival. FGF21 signaling downstream of its obligate co-receptor beta-Klotho (KLB) is required. However, mice with central nervous system or adipose-specific deletion of Klb do not demonstrate any difference in response to bacterial inflammation, suggesting that multiple tissues and/or a novel FGF21 target tissue are required for the full protective effect of FGF21. These data suggest that hepatic FGF21 is a novel cardioprotective factor in bacterial sepsis. eTOC Summary In response to bacterial inflammation, hepatic fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an endocrine hormone that mediates adaptive responses to metabolic stresses such as starvation, promotes survival by supporting heart function.
Immunometabolic Endothelial Phenotypes: Integrating Inflammation and Glucose Metabolism.

Rationale: Specific mechanisms linking inflammation and metabolic re-programming, two hallmarks of many pathobiological processes, remain incompletely defined. Objective: To delineate the integrati...
Intraoperative Hydromorphone Decreases Post-Operative Pain Who Would Have Thought? An Instrumental Variable Analysis

Background A growing body of literature suggests that intraoperative opioid administration can lead to both increased post-operative pain and opioid requirements. However, there has been minimal data regarding the effects of the intraoperative administration of intermediate duration opioids such as hydromorphone on post-operative outcomes. Causal inference using observational studies is often hampered by unmeasured confounding, where classical adjustment techniques, such as multivariable regression, are insufficient. Instrumental variable analysis is able to generate unbiased causal effect estimates in the presence of unmeasured confounding, assuming a valid instrumental variable can be found. We previously demonstrated, using a natural experiment, how hydromorphone presentation dose, i.e. the unit dose provided to the clinician, affects intraoperative administration dose, with the switch from a 2-mg to a 1-mg vial associated with decreased administration. As the change in hydromorphone presentation dose was unrelated to any external factors, presentation dose could serve as an instrumental variable to estimate the effect of intraoperative hydromorphone administration dose on post-operative outcomes. Methods In this observational study with 6,751 patients, an instrumental variable analysis was employed to estimate the causal effect of an increased intraoperative administration dose of hydromorphone on post-operative pain and opioid administration. The study population included patients who received intraoperative hydromorphone as part of an anesthetic at the University of California, Los Angeles, from October 2016 to November 2018. Before July 2017, hydromorphone was available as a 2-mg unit dose. From July 1, 2017 to November 20, 2017, hydromorphone was only available in a 1-mg unit dose. A two-stage least squares regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of intraoperative hydromorphone administration dose on post-operative pain scores and opioid administration. Results An increase in hydromorphone administration caused a statistically significant decrease in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit pain scores as well as maximum and mean pain scores on post-operative days one and two, without a statistically significant effect on post-operative opioid administration. Various sensitivity analyses support the validity of the instrumental variable assumptions and suggest that the results are robust against violations of these assumptions. Conclusions The results of this study suggests that the intraoperative administration of intermediate duration opioids do not cause the same effects as short acting opioids with respect to post-operative pain. Instrumental variables, when identified, can be invaluable in estimating causal effects using observation data whereby unmeasured confounding is likely present.
The Costs and Other Consequences of Traffic Congestion

In an increasingly fast paced and globally oriented economy, the efficient movement of persons and goods is a competitive necessity [1]. Traffic congestion adversely impacts quality of life and economic productivity in metropolitan areas. It increases fuel consumption, the cost of traveler and freight movement, the number of crashes, and tailpipe pollutants harmful to human health.
Minority Students and the Political Environment: A Historical Perspective

I feel like a strange interloper in these proceedings. Most other conference participants are either educators with long practical experience in training minority students in the sciences and medicine or social scientists who have studied the attendant problems for years. By contrast, I am an historian, an historian of science and medicine more specifically, and I am very new to the business of medical education. Although I have been the assistant director of the Center for Biomedical Education (CBE) at the City College of the City University of New York (CUNY) for a little over two and a half years and in that capacity have performed many functions, I serve primarily to represent the social sciences and humanities in the center’s unusual educational curriculum and to embody what might be called a societal or ethical perspective.
What Goes Up Apparently Needn't Come Down: Asymmetric Predictions of Ascent and Descent in Rankings

In eight studies, we document an upward mobility bias, or a tendency to predict that a rise in rankings is more likely than a decline. This asymmetry was observed in predictions of classroom performance, NBA and NFL standings, business school rankings, and employee performance rankings. The bias was found for entities people care about and want to see improve their standing, as well as entities in which people are not invested. It appears to result from people's tendency to give considerable weight to a focal agent's intentions and motivation, but to give less weight to the intentions of competitors and other factors that would thwart the focal agent's improvement. We show that this bias is most pronounced for implicit incremental theorists, who believe that performance is malleable (and hence assign more weight to intentions and effort). We discuss implications of this asymmetry for decision making and for an understanding of the underdog bias. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation of Acetate Auxotrophs of the Methane-Producing Archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis by Random Insertional Mutagenesis

To learn more about autotrophic growth of methanococci, we isolated nine conditional mutants of Methanococcus maripaludis after transformation of the wild type with a random library in pMEB.2, a suicide plasmid bearing the puromycin-resistance cassette pac. These mutants grew poorly in mineral medium and required acetate or complex organic supplements such as yeast extract for normal growth. One mutant, JJ104, was a leaky acetate auxotroph. A plasmid, pWDK104, was recovered from this mutant by electroporation of a plasmid preparation into Escherichia coli. Transformation of wild-type M. maripaludis with pWDK104 produced JJ104-1, a mutant with the same phenotype as JJ104, thus establishing that insertion of pWDK104 into the genome was responsible for the phenotype. pWDK104 contained portions of the methanococcal genes encoding an ABC transporter closely related to MJ1367-MJ1368 of M. jannaschii. Because high levels of molybdate, tungstate, and selenite restored growth to wild-type levels, this transporter may be specific for these oxyanions. A second acetate auxotroph, JJ117, had an absolute growth requirement for either acetate or cobalamin, and wild-type growth was observed only in the presence of both. Cobinamide, 5', 6'-dimethylbenzimidazole, and 2-aminopropanol did not replace cobalamin. This phenotype was correlated with tandem insertions in the genome but not single insertions and appeared to have resulted from an indirect effect on cobamide metabolism. Plasmids rescued from other mutants contained portions of ORFs denoted in M. jannaschii as endoglucanase (MJ0555), transketolase (MJ0681), thiamine biosynthetic protein thiI (MJ0931), and several hypothetical proteins (MJ1031, MJ0835, and MJ0835.1).
Enantioseparation of 1-phenyl-1-propanol by simulated moving bed under linear and nonlinear conditions

Abstract Approximately optimum operating conditions needed to separate 1-phenyl-1-propanol (PP) enantiomers by simulated moving bed (SMB) were determined using the “safety margin” approach in the linear case and the “triangle theory” in the nonlinear case. Previous results showed the adsorption isotherm data to fit well to the competitive Langmuir model. This allowed the use of the triangle theory approach that applies straightforwardly to Langmuir systems. Experimentally, the operating conditions under nonlinear isotherm behavior were determined for a feed solution with a total concentration of 5 g/l. The purity of the products exceeded 98% for the raffinate and 95% for the extract. Failing to reach complete purity while the experimental conditions were chosen inside the separation zone is explained by the nonideality of the system used, which violates one of the triangle theory assumptions. The computed overall daily production rate was 11.6 g of racemic PP processed per day per kg of stationary phase, a result that compares favorably with previous ones.
A Relationship between Potential Vorticity and Zonal Wind on Jupiter

We present evidence from analysis of Voyager data and numerical experiments that in Jupiter's troposphere at midlatitudes the potential vorticity is given simply by the reciprocal of the streamfunction. This relationship agrees with the results of a vortex-tube stretching analysis of the Voyager wind-field data of the Great Red Spot and White Oval BC, whereas other published models do not. The derivative of streamfunction with respect to potential vorticity is negative definite, and in the quasigeostrophic limit the relationship is neutrally stable with respect to Arnold's second stability theorem. Numerical experiments indicate that the relationship is also neutrally stable in the primitive shallow-water system. This resolves a long-standing question as to how Jupiter's cloud-top winds are able to violate the Rayleigh-Kuo stability criterion, and constrains the two-layer model to a single free parameter.
On the molecular basis of oncogenesis

Abstract Among the non-histone nuclear proteins are a subgroup of control proteins which mediate cellular differentiation. By binding to multiple sites on the chromatin, these proteins repress fetal gene products, induce the expression of adult characteristics, and modulate the cell cycle by preventing the initiation of DNA synthesis. The last function is critical in the prevention of neoplasia, since it is responsible for diversion of cells from the cell cycle to the reproductively inactive state Go. Mutation or interruption of the cistrons coding for these control proteins leads to neoplastic transformation. Different mutations of the control protein lead to a spectrum of reduction in binding affinity, which results in tumors having larger or smaller growth fractions and hence, faster or slower growth. When the same proteins also influence gene product expression, the variability of binding affinity from mutation to mutation causes a spectrum of tumor differentiation from well differentiated to anaplastic, the faster growing tumors tending to be more anaplastic. Viruses capable of random integration in the genome, or having nucleotide sequences homologous to critical control cistrons, may integrate within and thus cleave the cistron, causing truncation or loss of the control protein. Such viruses are oncogenic, although their gene products are not necessary for maintenance of the transformed state.
A NEW SPECIES OF ARTHROXYLON (CALAMITACEAE) FROM THE PENNSYLVANIAN OF KANSAS

CRIDLAND, ARTHUR A. (Kansas U., Lawrence.) A new species of Arthroxylon (Calamitaceae) from the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(10): 709-712. Illus. 1959.-Arthroxylon resinaceum sp. nov. is described from 3 specimens found in a coal-ball collected at West Mineral, Kansas. The tracheids have 1 or 2 rows of pits on the radial walls and the pith cells adjacent to the protoxylem canals are filled with brown contents. Fungus spores are present in the tissues of
THE REGULATION OF CRUSTACEAN METAMORPHOSIS

Nothing whatsoever is known of the endocrinology of crustacean metamorphosis. In spite of the recent advances in our knowledge of growth-controlling systems of the malacostracans, and the increasing certainty of the close parallels between the major arthropod groups, there is little save conjecture to report about metamorphic control. This is certainly a transistory situation. It is reasonable to expect this gap to be filled, and it is the aim of this review to stimulate work to fill it.
Activation waves in a model of platelet aggregation: existence of solutions and stability of travelling fronts.

Platelets cohere to one another to form platelet aggregates as part of the blood's clotting response. The ability of a platelet to participate in this process depends on its prior ‘activation’ by chemicals released into the blood plasma by other activated platelets. We study the piecewise-linear system of reaction-diffusion equations which, in one spatial dimension, describe the chemically-mediated spread of platelet activation. We establish the existence of classical solutions to this system of equations, and show that these solutions do not blow up in finite time. We also explicitly construct travelling front solutions and discuss their stability. Finally, we present numerical evidence which suggests that for a broad range of initial data with the correct limiting values at ± ∞, the solution to the initial value problem rapidly evolves into the travelling front solution provided the front is linearly stable.
How effective is tailored print communication

This article reviews the “frist generation” of tailored print communications studies in the published literature, describing the purpose, theoretical framework, sample, research design, message type and source, outcomes measured, and findings of each. Eight studies compared tailored versus similar nontailored print; one compared tailored print versus an alternate intervention, and three included tailored print as one of several intervention components. Although studies varied by behavioral topic, type of tailoring, and measurement of behavioral outcomes, several themes persist.
Malignant mixed tumor of the gallbladder.

An unusual case of malignant mixed tumor of the gallbladder is reported. Its four microscopic components—adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and osteoid—are illustrated. Its similarity to malignant mixed tumors of the liver is described. Possible explanations for its origin are presented.
No muss, no fuss irreversible hydrocolloid impressions.

Abstract The above described technique provided a practical and adequate method to mix irreversible hydrocolloid impression material, decreasing clean-up time by decreasing the usual mess associated with impression procedures.
Effect of denture thickness and curing cycle on the dimensional stability of acrylic resin denture bases

Abstract This study evaluated the relationship between denture thickness and the dimensional stability of acrylic resin denture bases as a result of the compression molding process. Forty-eight maxillary complete dentures were fabricated in 3 different thicknesses using 4 curing and cooling cycle combinations. After processing, the dentures were replaced on the original cast and both the molar-to-molar linear shrinkage and the dimensional change in the posterior palatal area were measured using an optical comparator. The different curing cycles tested (e.g., 165°F for 9 h as opposed to 165°F for 1 h followed by 212°F for 30 min) had little effect on the processing shrinkage. However, significantly more distortion (p=0.05) was observed for the dentures quenched in water as compared to those specimens which were benced cooled. The thicker dentures had less molar-to-molar linear shrinkage, but more dimensional change in the posterior palatal area as compared to the thinner dentures.
The molecular adsorption of ethane on sulfur- and ethylidyne-covered surfaces of Pt(111)

Abstract Initial adsorption probabilities, α 0 , were determined for ethane incident on sulfur- and ethylidyne-covered surfaces of Pt(111) at 95 K for incident translational energies from 10 to 44 kJ mol −1 and incident angles from 0 to 60°. At normal incidence and for all translational energies studied, α 0 on these surfaces was found to be enhanced relative to clean Pt(111). The initial adsorption probabilities on both adsorbate-covered surfaces were found to be independent of the angle of incidence, suggesting a highly corrugated static gas-surface potential. The interconversion of normal and parallel momenta due to this corrugation appears to be the mechanism which best explains these results. The notion of increased energy transfer from a match in mass of the collision partners (ethane/sulfur) is clearly not consistent with the data, since the adsorption probability of ethane on the sulfur-covered surface at glancing incidence (60°) is less than that on the clean surface at this same angle. Ethylidyne was found to increase α 0 more than sulfur for all incident conditions, apparently due to energy transfer to the internal degrees of freedom of ethylidyne, a mechanism which is not available to the sulfur adsorbate.
Financial engineering at Columbia University

Columbia University is home to a vibrant community of financial engineering research and education. Faculty and students from business, engineering, mathematics and statistics share classes and collaborate on research in all areas of quantitative finance, including derivative securities, risk management, portfolio optimization, trading strategies, asset pricing, computational methods and econometrics. Faculty expertise, recognized through numerous awards and publications, covers the whole range from theory to practice. Columbia also takes full advantage of its New York location, drawing on expert practitioners for teaching, seminars, conference participation, research collaborations and internships for students. This overview of financial engineering at Columbia describes degree programs and research activities and highlights some connections with industry. 2. Degrees and programs
Geomagnetic disturbances: characteristics of, distinction between types, and relations to interplanetary conditions

Abstract This tutorial emphasis disturbances in auroral emissions and ionospheric currents and their relation to interplanetary conditions and the overall level of geomagnetic activity. Auroral zone disturbances are divided into three fundamentally different types: poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs), substorms, and effects of solar wind dynamic pressure enhancements. The most common type of auroral-zone disturbance is the PBI, which occurs during all levels of geomagnetic activity. PBIs have an auroral signature that often can be seen to move equatorward from the magnetic separatrix. They are typically associated with ground magnetic perturbations of few tens of nT, but perturbations can be as high as ∼500 nT . Individual PBIs are longitudinally localized, associated with the longitudinally localized flow bursts in the tail plasma sheet, and occasionally traverse essentially the entire latitudinal extent of the plasma sheet. PBIs appear to generally be the dominant type of auroral-zone disturbance during periods of enhanced magnetospheric convection, including the growth phase of substorms, convection bays, and the main phase of magnetic storms. Substorms are a far more dramatic and large scale, but far less common, disturbance than PBIs. They occur after a ≳30 min growth-phase period of enhanced convection. It is now known that at least ∼50% of substorms are associated with IMF changes that lead to a reduction in the strength of convection. However, it has not yet been shown whether or not all are most substorm onsets are caused by these types of IMF changes. Auroral activity during substorms typically initiates within a ∼1–2 h MLT sector near the equatorward boundary of the auroral oval and then expands both poleward and azimuthally. Substorms are associated with ground magnetic disturbances that range from ∼50 to ∼2000 nT , a reduction in strength of the cross-tail current, a poleward displacement of the inner edge of the plasma sheet, and a large release of plasma and magnetic field energy from the region earthward of the new inner edge of the plasma sheet. The reduction of cross-tail current is also believed to often be associated with a severance, and loss from the magnetotail, of the outer portion of the plasma sheet (r≳25RE). Recent studies have shown that solar wind dynamic pressure increases caused large auroral-zone disturbances during a stormtime period of strongly enhanced convection, affecting the poleward boundary, latitudinal width, and intensity of the auroral oval. Dynamic pressure increases also appear to also enhance the entire magnetospheric current system, including the magnetopause, cross-tail, region 1 field-aligned, and global ionospheric currents. Thus, in addition to PBIs, significant variations in solar wind dynamic pressure should be considered as a possibly important source of geomagnetic disturbances during periods of enhanced magnetospheric convection.
Grooved Stones from Zawi Chemi Shanidar, a Protoneolithic Site in Northern Iraq

Grooved stones appear as a new cultural element in Epipaleolithic-Protoneolithic sites (dating from ca. 9000–6000 B.C.) in a broad geographic zone from Southwest Asia to North Africa. Similar objects have been recorded from archeological and ethnographic contexts in both the Old World and the New World. Ethnographic and other evidence has shown that the several types of grooved stones are associated with a variety of functions, mainly related to the manufacture and use of arrows and arrow shafts. It is suggested that these tools may be associated with the discovery and diffusion of the bow and arrow.
A Bayesian Approach to Jointly Modeling Toxicity and Biomarker Expression in a Phase I/II Dose-Finding Trial

In this article, we propose a Bayesian approach to phase I/II dose-finding oncology trials by jointly modeling a binary toxicity outcome and a continuous biomarker expression outcome. We apply our method to a clinical trial of a new gene therapy for bladder cancer patients. In this trial, the biomarker expression indicates biological activity of the new therapy. For ethical reasons, the trial is conducted sequentially, with the dose for each successive patient chosen using both toxicity and activity data from patients previously treated in the trial. The modeling framework that we use naturally incorporates correlation between the binary toxicity and continuous activity outcome via a latent Gaussian variable. The dose-escalation/de-escalation decision rules are based on the posterior distributions of both toxicity and activity. A flexible state-space model is used to relate the activity outcome and dose. Extensive simulation studies show that the design reliably chooses the preferred dose using both toxicity and expression outcomes under various clinical scenarios.
Mo K AND U L X-RAY TRANSITIONS FROM SEPARATED ISOTOPES

The $K\ensuremath{\alpha}(K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{L}_{\mathrm{III}}, K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{L}_{\mathrm{II}})$ x-ray lines of Mo and the $L{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{1}({L}_{\mathrm{II}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{M}_{\mathrm{IV}})$ and $L{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}({L}_{\mathrm{III}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{M}_{\mathrm{V}})$ x-ray lines of U have been measured from separated isotopes using a double-crystal x-ray spectrometer. The x-ray transitions were induced by radiative excitation from a W target x-ray tube. Intensities were measured with a 70-cm Kr-filled Geiger counter.No evidence of nuclear isotopic effects (hyperfine structure and isotope shift) on the x-ray levels was found in the measurement of these transitions. The $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ transitions from the separated isotopes ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{92}$ (95.5 percent), ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{95}$ (88.0 percent), and ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{100}$ (86.65 percent) in Mo${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and the $L{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{1}$ and $L{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ transitions from the separated isotopes of ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ and ${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$ in ${\mathrm{U}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ show no measurable shift in peak positions and no changes in line widths. The limit of an observable effect is 0.2 volt for the Mo transitions and 0.4 volt for the U transitions.
‘The solid gold mailbox': direct mail and the changing nature of buying and selling in the postwar United States

This article explores the changing nature of advertising and marketing by direct mail in the postwar United States. Through an analysis of direct mail literature, it explores the changing ideas and technologies that transformed marketing by mail and consumer culture. The primary sources include the speeches and papers of prominent figures in direct advertising, as well as industry literature and popular media sources. Prior to the 1980s, direct mail and its practitioners were largely marginalized in the advertising world. As firms and marketers searched for ways to segment the mass market of consumer societies in the 1960s and 1970s, direct mail proved to be an effective tool not only for selling products, but also for studying the changing interests and buying behaviors of consumers. The article draws much needed attention to the history of direct mail advertising in consumer culture and the role of database technologies in the changing relationships between firms and consumers in the late twentieth cent...
Estradiol down-regulates CD36 expression in human breast cancer cells

CD36 is a trans-membrane receptor that regulates apoptosis and angiogenesis in response to its ligand thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1). This study measures expression of CD36 and TSP-1 in breast cancer cell lines. Expression of TSP-1 was approximately 50-fold higher in the aggressive cell line MDA-MB-231 than in less aggressive MCF-7, BT-474, ZR-75 and T47-D cells. In contrast, MDA-MB-231 express 30 to 100-fold less CD36 than less aggressive cells. Hormone-dependent T47-D and MCF-7 cells down-regulate CD36 in response to estradiol, and anti-hormone ICI 182,780 block this effect. These results suggest that the estrogen receptors play a role in regulating CD36 expression and ICI 182,780 prevents loss of CD36 as a novel mechanism for its anti-estrogen effect in breast cancer cells.
The Value of SAT Scores and High School Grades in the Selection of Honors Program Candidates from the Perspective of Honors Students and Graduates

Admission to honors programs is competitive and typically relies heavily on the applicant's high school grades and SAT scores. Research shows that of the two criteria, the stronger predictor of performance in an honors curriculum is the high school record, which would imply that grades should receive the greater emphasis. We surveyed current students (109 respondents) and the graduates (203 respondents) of an honors program at a private university to determine their views about how high school grades and SAT scores should be treated in the honors admission decision. The majority in both groups indicated stronger support for a minimum high school GPA (74% of the current students and 72% of the alumni) than for a minimum SAT (49% of the students and 43% of the alumni). Similarly, a majority (74% of students, 67% of alumni) agreed that in the admissions process, a high GPA score should be allowed to override a nonqualifying SAT score. Conversely, only a minority (36% of students, 23% of alumni) supported the proposition that a good SAT score should be permitted to override a poor high school GPA. In cases where a discrepancy exists between the two criteria, the overwhelming view (84% of the students and 90% of the alumni) was that the high school GPA should receive the greater weight. A two-step cluster analysis of the five items revealed the presence of two segments in both samples. The major differentiator between the two clusters was opinion about whether a high SAT score should be allowed to override a nonqualifying GPA. Since the defining feature of each cluster was whether or not good SAT scores should be allowed to override poor high school grades, we explored the relationship of opinion on this issue to motivation to enroll in an honors program and the perceived personality of the typical honors student. Surprisingly, very few of these items correlated to respondents’ position on this matter, and even the significant correlations were small in magnitude. The survey showed that irrespective of opinion about the SAT overriding GPA, honors students’ motivation to enroll in an honors program rests mainly on wanting to be with students who share both their ability and work ethic. In terms of personality, the typical honors student is viewed by honors participants themselves as someone who is more likely than the non-honors student to be intellectually curious, highly motivated, possessing good study habits, and having a tendency to be compulsively driven to work hard. On the other hand, honors participants consider the typical honors student to be less likely than the non-honors student to be extraverted, social, athletic, and to enjoy working in teams.
Examining the stress, satisfaction, and experiences of computer crime examiners

While the stress of policing has been well documented for more traditional law enforcement duties, stress and job satisfaction among cybercrime investigators remains limited. This study examined the stress and job satisfaction from a sample of law enforcement agents who completed computer training from the National White Collar Crime Center and who had experience with digital evidence handling. The results show that role conflict was the most salient factor in predicting both stress and satisfaction. Experience with digital evidence handling increased job stress, but was not predictive of job satisfaction. The implications of the study are discussed.
Classifying the Canadian Boreal forest's structure using multi-modal remote sensing

One of the most fundamental new technical challenges of a DESDynI-R space-borne mission is the fusion of the several sensor modalities, including the onboard SAR and external LiDAR and Optical sensors in order to accurately estimate desired 3D vegetation structures and biomass parameters in areas where the sensors overlap. The objective of this paper is to use measured datasets in conjunction with our sensor models to develop a classification algorithm that fuses multi-modal remote sensing technologies with a minimal amount of ground information and yields an accurate estimate of forest structure including dry biomass and canopy height.
Hybrid-transport point kinetics for initially-critical multiplying systems

Abstract The paper presents an extension of the Hybrid Transport Point Kinetic (HTPK) model to initially-critical multiplying structures, i.e. in a source-free medium with transients starting from the equilibrium between neutron distribution and precursor concentrations. The mathematical model behind the HTPK methodology is derived from the detailed time-dependent balance equations and with reference to the limiting cases (i.e., point model and multi-collision models). Numerical simulations of transient systems demonstrate the interesting features of HTPK, which is shown to sensibly increase the accuracy of classical point kinetics models even at low truncation orders.
Free radical-mediated membrane depolarization in renal and cardiac cells.

Abstract Cell membrane potential was measured with a flow cytometer by quantitating the intracellular accumulation of a fluorescent cationic carbocyanine dye. We used this system to demonstrate depolarization upon the addition of hydrogen peroxide (10–1 000 μM) and ferrous chloride (25–100 μM) to cultures of either neonatal rat myocardial or LLC-PK1 renal epithelial cells. Ferrous chloride-induced depolarization was prevented by superoxide dismutase, catalase and dimethyl sulfoxide, suggesting roles for the superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical in effecting this depolarization, possibly through a Fenton-type reaction mechanism. Supplementation of either cell type with 2 μM tocopherol acid succinate during growth in tissue culture, prior to exposure to the oxidizing agent, decreased the magnitude of the depolarization in both cell types. The results are consistent with a role for tocopherols in scavenging free radical species responsible for the depolarization of the cell membrane.
Epigenetics? Mediator does that too!

Summary Adding to the concept that Mediator acts as an "integrative hub," Ding et al. (2008) report in this issue of Molecular Cell that, by facilitating the recruitment of the G9a methyl transferase, Mediator can also promote epigenetic silencing of selected genes.
An electron microprobe study of a mature cement paste

Abstract A portland cement paste 23 years old, and essentially fully hydrated, was studied by electron probe microanalysis. X-ray images indicated that the shapes of the original, largely polymineralic cement grains, and those of the regions occupied by the individual phases within them, are substantially preserved in the hydrated material. This was shown especially clearly by the Mg and Fe images, probably because these elements do not readily migrate in the alkaline medium. Estimation of individual phase compositions is rendered uncertain because of possible admixture of phases on or below a micrometer scale, but the atomic ratios relative to Ca are, approximately: Mg 0.03, Al 0.08, Si 0.60, S 0.03 and Fe 0.015 (Ca:Si 1.67) for the C-S-H, and Al 0.40, Si 0.33 and Fe 0.27 for the hydrogarnet.
Linguistic operations in the analysis of pairs of class-membership statements

The ordering of solution times and error rates in a task comprising the comparison of statements that were logically equivalent but linguistically different was successfully predicted by a model involving two operations capable of transforming the linguistically differing forms into each other.
Small-size relative (p,ε)-approximations for well-behaved range spaces

We present improved upper bounds for the size of relative (p,e)-approximation for range spaces with the following property: For any (finite) range space projected onto (that is, restricted to) a ground set of size n and for any parameter 1 ≤ k ≤ n, the number of ranges of size at most k is only nearly-linear in n and polynomial in k. Such range spaces are called "well behaved". Our bound is an improvement over the bound O(log(1/p)/e2 p) introduced by Li et. al. [17] for the general case (where this bound has been shown to be tight in the worst case), when p l e. We also show that such small size relative (p,e)-approximations can be constructed in expected polynomial time.Our bound also has an interesting interpretation in the context of "p-nets": As observed by Har-Peled and Sharir [13], p-nets are special cases of relative (p,e)-approximations. Specifically, when e is a constant smaller than 1, the analysis in [13, 17] implies that there are p-nets of size O(log{(1/p)}/p) that are also relative approximations. In this context our construction significantly improves this bound for well-behaved range spaces. Despite the progress in the theory of p-nets and the existence of improved bounds corresponding to the cases that we study, these bounds do not necessarily guarantee a bounded relative error.Lastly, we present several geometric scenarios of well-behaved range spaces, and show the resulting bound for each of these cases obtained as a consequence of our analysis. In particular, when e is a constant smaller than 1, our bound for points and axis-parallel boxes in two and three dimensions, as well as points and "fat" triangles in the plane, matches the optimal bound for p-nets introduced in [3, 25].
Mitochondria-targeted Ogg1 and aconitase-2 prevent oxidant-induced mitochondrial DNA damage in alveolar epithelial cells

Mitochondria-targeted human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (mt-hOgg1) and aconitase-2 (Aco-2) each reduce oxidant-induced alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) apoptosis, but it is unclear whether protection occurs by preventing AEC mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Using quantitative PCR-based measurements of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage, mtDNA damage was preferentially noted in AEC after exposure to oxidative stress (e.g. amosite asbestos (5–25 μg/cm2) or H2O2 (100–250 μm)) for 24 h. Overexpression of wild-type mt-hOgg1 or mt-long α/β 317–323 hOgg1 mutant incapable of DNA repair (mt-hOgg1-Mut) each blocked A549 cell oxidant-induced mtDNA damage, mitochondrial p53 translocation, and intrinsic apoptosis as assessed by DNA fragmentation and cleaved caspase-9. In contrast, compared with controls, knockdown of Ogg1 (using Ogg1 shRNA in A549 cells or primary alveolar type 2 cells from ogg1−/− mice) augmented mtDNA lesions and intrinsic apoptosis at base line, and these effects were increased further after exposure to oxidative stress. Notably, overexpression of Aco-2 reduced oxidant-induced mtDNA lesions, mitochondrial p53 translocation, and apoptosis, whereas siRNA for Aco-2 (siAco-2) enhanced mtDNA damage, mitochondrial p53 translocation, and apoptosis. Finally, siAco-2 attenuated the protective effects of mt-hOgg1-Mut but not wild-type mt-hOgg1 against oxidant-induced mtDNA damage and apoptosis. Collectively, these data demonstrate a novel role for mt-hOgg1 and Aco-2 in preserving AEC mtDNA integrity, thereby preventing oxidant-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, p53 mitochondrial translocation, and intrinsic apoptosis. Furthermore, mt-hOgg1 chaperoning of Aco-2 in preventing oxidant-mediated mtDNA damage and apoptosis may afford an innovative target for the molecular events underlying oxidant-induced toxicity.
Effect of arginine on the secretion of insulin and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the pancreatic venous effluent of trained, nonanesthetized dog.

Abstract Pancreatic vein adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (c-AMP), insulin and glucose were measured following administration of arginine in 10 conscious, unstressed dogs with chronic indwelling silastic catheters. Insulin secretion during arginine administration occurred in two phases which may correspond to two distinct anatomic or metabolic pools: an immediate short burst and a more sustained release. Plasma glucose rose about 50% and peaked at 6 min. Plasma c-AMP rose significantly after an initial fall.
Thermal conductivity of condensed D-T and T 2

The thermal conductivity of condensed ${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$ and D-T has been measured by conventional techniques. Measurements for solid ${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$ and D-T (${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$-DT-${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$) from the triple points to 3 K are presented, along with measurements in the liquid phases from the triple points to 25 K. The sample geometry was that of a thin disk, a single heater being used to produce a temperature difference between the faces of the disk. The steady-state thermal conductivity of the solid increases from 0.15 W/m K at 3 K to between 0.5 and 0.7 W/m K at 8 to 10 K before dropping to 0.3 W/m K at the triple points. Two ${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$ samples had large thermal conductivities (\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.2 W/m K) at 9 K, probably caused by accidentally good sample packing. The liquid thermal conductivity increases from 0.3 W/m K at the triple points to between 2 and 6 W/m K at 25 K, with convection of the liquid being probable. The effect of shrinkage upon freezing is considered, and an unexplained time-dependent behavior, seen in both ${\mathrm{T}}_{2}$ and D-T, is described. The considerable importance of the solid thermal conductivity to nuclear spin polarization of D-T is discussed in detail. The need for a triton spin-lattice-relaxation time greater than 100 s is made evident by the need to remove the heat due to tritium decay and that from microwave pumping of the electron spins.
Convergent evolution in the hindlimb of bipedal rodents

Convergent evolution in bipedal rodents has been studied using multivariate analysis of morphological features of their hindlimb. Bipedal and quadrupedal representatives of four rodent families were dissected. Although there are certain basic morphological trends associated with the evolution of bipedal saltation in rodents, the species differ from one another significantly in the degree to which these trends are embodied. It is likely that only a combination of explanations can account for the differences in degrees of specializations associated with bipedal saltation in rodents. Similarities in animals as different in leaping abilities as zapodids and dipodids reflect the role of genetic factors. Extreme differences in habitat, particularly those related to aridity, have almost certainly played a major role. A general sequence of events could have been as follows. Selection pressures for bipedal saltation elicited the appearance of the basic morphological features, which are biomechanically essential for this mode of locomotion. From this point, the specific features characterizing bipedality in a group were determined by genetic make-up, the nature of the particular habitat, and, possibly, the length of time evolution along these lines took place. Zusammenfassung Konvergente Evolution der Hintergliedmasen bipeder Rodentier Konvergente Evolution morphologischer Besonderheiten der Muskulatur der Hintergliedmasen bipeder Nagetiere wurde mit Hilfe multivariater Verfahren untersucht. Bipede and quadripede Arten aus vier Familien der Nagetiere dienten als Studienobjekte. In der Evolution bipeden Springens zeichnen sich bei Nagetieren wohl bemerkenswerte allgemeine Tendenzen ab, aber der Grad der Vervollkommnung ist bei den Gattungen unterschiedlich. Die verschiedenen Spezialisationen lassen sich nicht einheitlich deuten. Daher mussen verschiedene Erklarungsmoglichkeiten miteinander verknupft werden, um Eigenarten des bipeden Springens bei Nagetieren verstandlich zu machen. Beim Zustandekommen der Besonderheiten, die bipedem Springen dienen, spielen genetische Einflusse eine Rolle. Dies ist aus den morphologischen Ahnlichkeiten zwischen Zapodiden and Dipodiden zu schliesen, obgleich die Springfahigkeit dieser Tiere verschieden ist. In der Evolution haben sich sicher such Unterschiede im Lebensraum, besonders die Trockenheit von Gebieten, ausgewirkt. Die Evolution zweifusigen Springens kann in folgender Weise vor sich gegangen sein: Selektive Einflusse fuhrten zur starkeren Auspragung jener Strukturen, die sich jeweils biomechanisch vorteilhaft auswirkten. Die Besonderheiten, die mit der bipeden Fortbewegung der verschiedenen Gattungen einen Zusammenhang haben, sind als das Ergebnis eines Zusammenwirkens genetischer Anlagen mit Umwelteinflussen and wohl auch der Zeitdauer der einzelnen Evolutionen zu verstehen.
"The choking game": self-induced hypoxia presenting as recurrent seizurelike events.

Abstract Risk-taking behavior resulting in accidental injury is common in adolescence. Self-induced hypoxia as a means of self-stimulation, sometimes referred to as “the choking game,” has recently become more widely recognized, particularly with a series of well-publicized deaths in teenagers and with wider visibility on national news and Internet sites. We report a case of self-induced hypoxia via carotid compression and breath holding that presented as recurrent confusional episodes and seizurelike events. Video/EEG monitoring was a useful tool in elucidating the neurological effects of the “game,” which may result in prolonged neurological injury or life-threatening outcome.
The use of the method of lines in 3-D fracture mechanics analyses with application to compact tension specimens

The line method of analysis has been successfully modified to appreciably increase its accuracy and reduce convergence problems. Applications to three dimensional bodies with cracks indicate that good accuracy can be obtained with relatively coarse grids. In particular, application to the compact tension specimen shows very good agreement with a modified displacement substitution method for evaluating stress intensity factors from finite element results. The method is as efficient with respect to the use of the computer as are currently applied finite element methods.