cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preservation of Anomalous Subgroups On Variational Autoencoder Transformed Data

We investigate the effect of variational autoencoder (VAE) based data anonymization and its ability to preserve anomalous subgroup properties. We present a Utility Guaranteed Deep Privacy (UGDP) system which casts existing anomalous pattern detection methods as a new utility measure for data synthesis. UGDP’s approach shows that properties of an anomalous subset of records, identified in the original data set, are preserved through the anonymization of a VAE. This is despite the newly generated records being completely synthetic. More specifically, the Bias-Scan algorithm identifies a subgroup of records that are consistently over- (or under-) risked by a black-box classifier as an area of ’poor fit’. This scanning process is applied on both pre- and post- VAE synthesized data. The areas of poor fit (i.e. anomalous records) persist in both settings. We evaluate our approach using publicly available datasets from the financial industry. Our evaluation confirmed that the approach is able to produce synthetic datasets that preserved a high level of subgroup differentiation as identified initially in the original dataset. Such a distinction was maintained while having distinctly different records between the synthetic and original dataset.
FBXW7 triggers degradation of KMT2D to favor growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells.

Mature B-cell neoplasms are the fifth most common neoplasm. Due to significant heterogeneity at the clinical and genetic levels, current therapies for these cancers fail to provide long-term cures. The clinical success of proteasome inhibition for the treatment of multiple myeloma and B-cell lymphomas has made the ubiquitin pathway an important emerging therapeutic target. In this study, we assessed the role of the E3 ligase FBXW7 in mature B-cell neoplasms. FBXW7 targeted the frequently inactivated tumor suppressor KMT2D for protein degradation, subsequently regulating gene expression signatures related to oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). Loss of FBXW7 inhibited diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell growth and further sensitized cells to OxPhos inhibition. These data elucidate a novel mechanism of regulation of KMT2D levels by the ubiquitin pathway and uncover a role of FBXW7 in regulating oxidative phosphorylation in B-cell malignancies. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings characterize FBXW7 as a prosurvival factor in B-cell lymphoma via degradation of the chromatin modifier KMT2D.
Monitoring Environmental Parameters with Oil and Gas Developments in the Permian Basin, USA.

This study evaluates the groundwater qualities and environmental changes to obtain information on the groundwater contamination in the Permian Basin, Texas. Coupled with the U.S. government’s open data, these analyses can identify regions where environmental change could have affected groundwater quality. A total of thirty-six wells were selected within the six counties: Andrews, Martin, Ector, Midland, Crane, and Upton. Spatial distribution maps were created for six different parameters: pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and arsenic. Total groundwater quality maps incorporate all the contaminants and denote regions of poor, medium, and optimum conditions. To identify spatial changes in groundwater quality, maps were separated into two different time intervals, 1992–2005 and 2006–2019. We found that groundwater contamination resulted primarily from the mobilization of the contaminant from anthropogenic activities such as chemical fertilizers, oil and gas developments. Overall, groundwater quality decreased during the study period from 1992 to 2019 as population and urban growth began to develop in the Permian Basin. This study contributes on understanding of the response of groundwater quality associated with environmental change in the Permian Basin. Therefore, this research provides important information for groundwater managements in developing plans for the use of water resource in the future.
Outcomes of Gender Affirming Peritoneal Flap Vaginoplasty Using the Da Vinci Single Port Versus Xi Robotic Systems.

Abstract Background Robotic-assisted peritoneal flap gender-affirming vaginoplasty (RPGAV) with the da Vinci Xi system has been reported to be a safe alternative to traditional penile inversion vaginoplasty. Utilizing the Single Port (SP) robot system, our surgical approach has evolved. Objective To describe a step-by-step technique for RPGAV using the SP robot and to compare outcomes between Xi and SP systems. Design, setting, and participants A total of 145 transgender women underwent RPGAV between September 2017 and December 2019. We retrospectively reviewed data for patients with a minimum 6 mo of follow-up. Surgical procedure Peritoneal flaps are harvested from the posterior bladder and pararectal fossa. The vaginal space is dissected transabdominally. Inverted penile flap with or without scrotal graft is sutured to the peritoneal flaps, which form the neovaginal apex. Measurements Demographics, perioperative data, and clinical outcomes were evaluated. Results and limitations A total of 100 (Xi = 47; SP = 53) patients had a minimum 6 mo of follow-up. The mean age was 36.2 (range 16.1–71.4) yr. Average procedure times were 4.2 and 3.7 h in Xi and SP cohorts, respectively (p Conclusions RPGAV using the SP robot reduces operative time by facilitating a dual-surgeon abdominal-perineal approach. There is no difference in complication rates between the two approaches. Patient summary We studied the outcomes of robotic peritoneal flap vaginoplasty with two robot systems. With both systems, patients had good vaginal depth and width at an average follow-up of 1 yr. Surgery time was shorter with the Single Port (SP) robot.
Techniques for Isolating Nuclear Hybrids

Nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions have been studied in mammalian cells through the formation of cybrids (cytoplasts fused to whole cells) using a mutation for cytoplasmically inherited chloramphenicol resistance (CAPΓ) (Bunn et al., 1974; Wallace et al., 1975; Wallace and Eisenstadt, 1979). McBurney and Strutt (1979) fused karyoplasts to whole cells, a product they termed karyobrids. However, their isolation technique did not distinguish nuclear hybrids from whole-cell hybrids. Muggleton-Harris and Palumbo (1979) produced nuclear hybrids, identified on the basis of nuclear morphology. Because both of these procedures lacked genetic verification, we have developed genetic and physical-genetic techniques for isolating nuclear hybrids. These techniques permit the isolation and verification of nuclear hybrids with the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial content of predominantely one cell.
Remotely sensed ensembles of the terrestrial water budget over major global river basins: An assessment of three closure techniques

Abstract Remote sensing is a useful tool for observing the water cycle. However, combining remote sensing products over any major river basin will result in a residual error in the overall water balance. Previous studies have either quantified this error without correcting it, or have merged observations together with land surface models (LSMs) to produce a single “best” estimate of the water balance. Here, we present a new approach in which combinations of remote sensing and in situ observations are constrained to enforce water balance closure. Rather than a single estimate, this produces an ensemble of unique water balance estimates intended to characterize uncertainty and to avoid biases implicit in LSMs. We evaluate three techniques of varying complexity to enforce water balance closure for individual ensemble members over 24 global basins from Oct. 2002 - Dec. 2014, resulting in as many as 60 realizations of the monthly water budget, contingent upon data availability. Compared with a published climate data record, the ensemble shows strong agreement for precipitation, evapotranspiration and changes in storage (R2: 0.91–0.95), with less agreement for streamflow (R2: 0.42–0.47), which may be indicative of LSM biases in the climate data record. Water balance residual errors resulting from combinations of raw products vary significantly (p
Priming Effects of Social Media Use Scales on Well-Being Outcomes: The Influence of Intensity and Addiction Scales on Self-Reported Depression:

To understand behavior on social media, researchers have created and validated dozens of scales. Many can be sorted into two main categories: those that focus on the intensity of social media use a...
Direct Quantification of the Effect of Ammonium on Aerosol Droplet pH.

Ammonium is an important atmospheric constituent that dictates many environmental processes. The impact of the ammonium ion concentration on 10–50 μm aerosol droplet pH was quantified using pH nano...
Efficacy of Pediatric Residency Advocacy Curriculum in Improving Skills and Intent

Program Goals: The importance of training in child advocacy has reached national recognition, and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) now mandates pediatric residency training have “experiences that include elements in community pediatrics and child advocacy." The literature supports a clear interest in advocacy among pediatric residents, from disease prevention to healthcare access. To address this need, we partnered with experts from the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP), local legislators, and advocacy groups to create a curriculum teaching tangible advocacy skills to all pediatric residents at the University of …
Alternative somatic and germline gene-regulatory strategies during starvation-induced developmental arrest

Nutrient availability governs growth and quiescence, and many animals arrest development when starved. Somatic and germline cells have distinct functions and constraints, suggesting different regulatory mechanisms contribute to an integrated starvation response. Using C. elegans L1 arrest as a model, we show that gene expression changes deep into starvation. Surprisingly, relative expression of germline-enriched genes increases for days. We conditionally degraded the large subunit of RNA Polymerase II and found that early but not late somatic transcription is required for survival and that germline transcription does not affect survival. Expression analysis revealed that thousands of genes are continuously transcribed in the soma, though their absolute abundance declines, while the germ line is transcriptionally quiescent with extreme transcript stability. This work reveals alternative somatic and germline gene-regulatory strategies during starvation, with the soma relying on a robust transcriptional response to support immediate survival while the germ line relies on transcriptional quiescence and mRNA stability to maintain future reproductive success.
The Different Worlds of Project 2061

Project 2061: Education for a Changing Future is a long-term reform initiative designed to transform science, mathematics, and technology education from kindergarten through grade 12. Launched by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 1985, the goal of Project 2061 is scientific literacy for all citizens. Project 2061 defines scientific literacy as embracing the natural and social sciences, mathematics, statistics, engineering, and technology. An adult who is literate in science understands a common core of scientific knowledge; is aware that science, mathematics, and technology are interdepen­dent human enterprises; and uses the habits of mind associated with these fields for individual and social purposes (AAAS 1990 and AAAS 1993). Project 2061 sees science literacy as “essential to the education of today’s children for tomor­row’s world.” “The terms and circumstances of human existence can be expect­ed to change radically during the next human life span. Science, mathematics, and technology will be at the center of that change—causing it, shaping it, responding to it” (AAAS 1989, cover page).1
Validating High-Level Synthesis

The growing design-productivity gap has made designers shift toward using high-level languages like C, C++ and Java to do system-level design. High-Level Synthesis (HLS) is the process of generating Register Transfer Level (RTL) design from these initial high-level programs. Unfortunately, this translation process itself can be buggy, which can create a mismatch between what a designer intends and what is actually implemented in the circuit. In this paper, we present an approach to validate the result of HLS against the initial high-level program using insights from translation validation, automated theorem proving and relational approaches to reasoning about programs. We have implemented our validating technique and have applied it to a highly parallelizing HLS framework called SPARK . We present the details of our algorithm and experimental results.
The cryogenic wind tunnel for high Reynolds number testing

An improved way to increase the Reynolds numbers capability of wind tunnels has been developed at the Langley Research Center. Cooling the test gas to cryogenic temperatures by spraying liquid nitrogen into the tunnel circuit increases Reynolds number with no increase in dynamic pressure and a reduction in drive power. In addition, the ability to vary the temperature of the test gas independently of pressure and Mach number allows for the first time the independent determination of Reynolds number, Mach number, and aeroelastic effects. A new fan-driven transonic cryogenic tunnel being built at the Langley Research Center will provide an order of magnitude increase in Reynolds number capability over existing transonic tunnels in the United States when it is completed later this year.
CONFRONTING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

At some time in his or her career, almost every instructor will be confronted with student academic dishonesty. The misconduct may take several forms: plagiarising, cheating on an examination, reus...
Temperature Dependence of the Optical Transmission Edge in Cd 3 (As x P 1- x ) 2 Alloys

The temperature dependence of the transmission edge has been studied in several alloys of the ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}{({\mathrm{As}}_{x}{\mathrm{P}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x})}_{2}$ system for $0\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}1$. Analysis of the data on the basis of the Kane model suggests that a band crossover occurs near the ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}$${\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ end of the system. An approximately linear variation is obtained for the energy gap ${E}_{g}$ between interacting bands from 0.59 eV in ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}$${\mathrm{P}}_{2}$ to-0.25 eV in ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}$${\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ at helium temperatures. The temperature coefficient of the gap also shows a nearly linear variation from -3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ eV/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}$${\mathrm{P}}_{2}$ to-6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ eV/\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in ${\mathrm{Cd}}_{3}$${\mathrm{As}}_{2}$ for temperatures above 100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.
Ratiometry of transmembrane voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye emission in hearts.

Transmembrane voltage-sensitive fluorescence measurements are limited by baseline drift that can obscure changes in resting membrane potential and by motion artifacts that can obscure repolarizatio...
Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales vs. Summated Rating Scales: Psychometric Properties and Susceptibility to Rating Bias:

Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales developed according to Bernardin, LaShells, Smith, and Alvarez's (1976) optimal procedure was compared with a carefully constructed summated rating scale. Using both scales, 727 undergraduates rated 32 instructors. Psychometric comparisons indicated that BARS had less halo error, more leniency error, and lower interrater reliablity than the alternative format. The two formats did not differ in ratee discrimination and susceptibility to rating bias due to rater characteristics. Finally, the formats contained convergent and discriminant validity.
Comment on ``Bose-Einstein Condensation of Magnons in Cs 2 CuCl 4 ''

A Comment on the Letter by T. Radu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 127202 (2005). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Adenylate Kinase–Catalyzed Phosphotransfer in the Myocardium Increased Contribution in Heart Failure

Abstract —Although the downregulation of creatine kinase activity has been associated with heart failure, creatine kinase–deficient transgenic hearts have a preserved contractile function. This suggests the existence of alternative phosphotransfer pathways in the myocardium, the identity of which is still unknown. In this study, we examined the contribution of adenylate kinase–catalyzed phosphotransfer to myocardial energetics. In the isolated mitochondria/actomyosin system, which possesses endogenous adenylate kinase activity in both compartments, substrates for adenylate kinase promoted the rate and amplitude of actomyosin contraction that was further enhanced by purified adenylate kinase. Inhibition of adenylate kinase activity diminished both actomyosin contraction and mitochondrial respiration, which indicated reduced energy flow between mitochondria and myofibrils. In intact myocardium, the net adenylate kinase–catalyzed phosphotransfer rate was 10% of the total ATP turnover rate as measured by 18 O-phosphoryl labeling in conjunction with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. In pacing-induced failing heart, adenylate kinase–catalyzed phosphotransfer increased by 134% and contributed 21% to the total ATP turnover. Concomitantly, the contribution by creatine kinase dropped from 89% in normal hearts to 40% in failing hearts. These phosphotransfer changes were associated with reduced levels of metabolically active ATP but maintained overall ATP turnover rate. Thus, this study provides evidence that adenylate kinase facilitates the transfer of high-energy phosphoryls and signal communication between mitochondria and actomyosin in cardiac muscle, with an increased contribution to cellular phosphotransfer in heart failure. This phosphotransfer function renders adenylate kinase an important component for optimal myocardial bioenergetics and a compensatory mechanism in response to impaired intracellular energy flux in the failing heart.
More Content or More Policy? A Closer Look at Syllabus Detail, Instructor Gender, and Perceptions of Instructor Effectiveness

Research has suggested that a lengthier course syllabus may increase positive impressions of instructor effectiveness. In this investigation, we disentangle the effects of adding restrictive course boundary information from the addition of course content information. Furthermore, we examine the role of instructor gender as a moderator of the relationship between syllabi content and impressions of instructor effectiveness. Undergraduate students (N = 126) enrolled in a general psychology course read a syllabus for a course with either a male or female instructor in which the syllabus either contained basic course information alone, additional restrictive course policy information or additional course content information. Results revealed that only additional restrictive course boundary information increased perceptions of instructor competence. Instructor gender did not significantly moderate this effect, suggesting more restrictive course policy information may equally benefit male and female instructors....
Electrohydrodynamic mass spectrometry

Etude, caracterisation et applications de la spectrometrie de masse par ionisation electrohydrodynamique
Regolith residence time and the concept of surface age of the Piedmont “Peneplain”

The common upland weathering profile on foliated metamorphic rocks on the Appalachian Piedmont between Alabama and Maryland includes a 50 cm-1 m thick clay-rich soil B-horizon over 10–20 m of saprolite. The saprolite retains the volume, fabric and structure of the underlying parent rock, but has lost about one-third of the mass of the parent rock. Where the saprolite is thickest beneath upland drainage divides, those divides are of loow slope and relief. The flatness of the Piedmont drainage divides provides the appearance of a planation surface of accordant summits, or peneplain. I interpret this flatness to be the result of three active processes: volume reduction during compaction of saprolite into soil, loss of mass in dissolved solids draining the soil B-horizon, and loss of mass from the soil surface by erosion of clay-size particles. The cumulative effects of these upland processes are to convert saprolite into soil, to limit soil thickness and residence time, and to limit the age of the oldest residual soils on the surface. This results in a continual lowering of the Piedmont “peneplain” surface. This interpretation is corroborated by evidence of topographic inversion of fluvial gravels since the Miocene near the Fall Line. Study of baseflow dissolved solids draining Piedmont basins indicates a minimum rate of saprolite production of about 4 m Ma−1. This minimum rate of production near the Fall Line is less than the estimated rate of surface lowering and saprolite consumption during the late Tertiary and Quaternary periods of topographic inversion. Measurement of cosmogenic 10Be inventories in two 15–20 mores of Piedmont upland regolith indicate a minimum residence time of residual soil and saprolite of about 1 Ma. This indicates a possible maximum rate of saprolite production and erosion of about 20 m Ma−1. Using the best available evidence, therefore, the typical Piedmont upland regolith has a residence time of between 1 and 5 Ma. Residence times may not be the same everywhere and ages may vary systematically across the surface. The geomorphic evidence of topographic inversion, and similar regolith profiles in other humid temperate and tropical regions, strongly suggests that production and removal of Piedmont saprolite has been an ongoing Quaternary process and that most of the Piedmont regolith is significantly younger than 5 Ma. Independent geophysical evidence suggests that the rate of uplift, probably involving tilting, of parts of the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge has averaged between 5 and 20 m Ma−1 through the Cenozoic.
The consequences of adult foraging success on the components of lifetime fitness in a semelparous, sit and wait predator

We evaluated the role of adult foraging success in the lifetime fitness of female crab spidersMisumena vatia. Misumena are semelparous, sit and wait predators that hunt for insect prey on flowers, in this study primarily on inflorescences (umbels) of milkweedAsclepias syriaca. We used path analysis to integrate previously performed experimental and observational studies, thereby establishing the magnitude, correlations and causal relationships of key foraging and life history variables and their roles in lifetime fitness. A path proceeding from maternal hunting patch choice through maternal mass, clutch mass and number of dispersal-age young was the dominant element and explained a large part of the variation. Other paths that incorporated parasitism of the egg mass and predation of young leaving the nests made only small impacts on variation. No trade-offs were found, primarily because a single factor, maternal mass (a maternal effect) resulting from foraging success, provided major benefits for successive life history stages. Since differences in the numbers of eggs, egg loss and mortality at dispersal resulted almost entirely from differences in maternal mass, they are controlled by the maternal generation and, thus, are appropriately attributed to the lifetime fitnesses of the mothers, rather than to those of their offspring.
From deracialization to racial distinction: interpreting Obama's successful racial narrative

While many scholars attribute Barack Obama's success in the 2008 presidential election to his so-called deracialized campaign strategy, I argue that Obama constructed a persuasive message strategy that was fundamentally based on race. I argue that in pursuing what I call a racial distinction strategy, Obama mobilized race differently than previous Black candidates running in White-voter electoral majorities. Specifically, Obama's racial distinction strategy constructed a seamless racial narrative – deployed through constellations of subtle racial language and imagery – incorporating Obama's own personal biography within a broader narrative of the nation, specifically a narrative of American progress. The fact that Obama employed a racial distinction strategy, and the fact that he succeeded in doing so, sheds new light on, and leads us to reconsider the veracity of popular political theories such as post-Blackness, post-racialism and deracialization, along with the general ideology of colorblindness.
Same-day transradial outpatient stenting with a 6-hr course of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade: a feasibility study.

The aim of the study was to explore the feasibility of same-day outpatient stent placement using a short course of intravenous antiplatelet therapy. Patients (n = 26) had stent placement and 6 hr of eptifibatide therapy. Demographics, procedural information, CPK data, and length of stay were recorded along with postdischarge outcomes. Twenty-one men and five women with median age of 60 years (49, 69) underwent transradial stenting. Baseline characteristics included diabetes 62%, hyperlipidemia 77%, prior coronary bypass surgery 19%, and unstable angina 35%. There were no CPK elevations (> 2 x normal) or ECG changes. Discharge occurred after 6.5 hr (5.8, 7.0). Neither vascular site complications nor readmission for procedure-related problems occurred. One patient later expressed concerns about discharge education. Outpatient stent placement with 6-hr infusion of GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor appears feasible and efficient in select patients. There may be challenges to meet with regard to patient education. Further studies with larger populations are needed to evaluate and optimize this approach.
Limitations of Richardson Extrapolation and Some Possible Remedies

The origin of oscillatory convergence in finite difference methods is investigated. Fairly simple implicit schemes are used to solve the steady one-dimensional convection-diffusion equation with variable coefficients, and possible scenarios are shown that exhibit the oscillatory convergence. Also, a manufactured solution to difference equations is formulated that exhibits desired oscillatory behavior in grid convergence, with a varying formal order of accuracy. This model-error equation is used to statistically assess the performance of several methods of extrapolation. Alternative extrapolation schemes, such as the deferred extrapolation to limit technique, to calculate the coefficients in the Taylor series expansion of the error function are also considered. A new method is proposed that is based on the extrapolation of approximate error, and is shown to be a viable alternative to other methods. This paper elucidates the problem of oscillatory convergence, and brings a new perspective to the problem of estimating discretization error by optimizing the information from a minimum number of calculations.
The Multilevel Crossed Random Effects Growth Model for Estimating Teacher and School Effects: Issues and Extensions

This article examines the multilevel linear crossed random effects growth model for estimating teacher and school effects from repeated measurements of student achievement. Results suggest that even a small degree of unmodeled nonlinearity can result in a substantial upward bias in the magnitude of the teacher effect, which raises concerns about its appropriateness for estimating teacher effects. To address this issue, a piecewise linear crossed random effect growth model is proposed. A comparison with the linear growth form shows that the piecewise specification provides more accurate estimates of teacher effects when achievement growth departs from linear growth across grade levels or over summer, which are prevalent conditions. Fitted examples using nationally representative data and Bayesian estimation methods are provided.
The Role of Nicotine in Smoking-Related Cardiovascular Disease☆☆☆

Nicotine activates the sympathetic nervous system and in this way could contribute to cardiovascular disease. Animal studies and mechanistic studies indicate that nicotine could play a role in accelerating atherosclerosis, but evidence among humans is too inadequate to be definitive about such an effect. Almost certainly, nicotine via its hemodynamic effects contributes to acute cardiovascular events, although current evidence suggests that the effects of nicotine are much less important than are the prothrombotic effects of cigarette smoking or the effects of carbon monoxide. Nicotine does not appear to enhance thrombosis among humans. Clinical studies of pipe smokers and people using transdermal nicotine support the idea that toxins other than nicotine are the most important causes of acute cardiovascular events. Finally, the dose response for cardiovascular events of nicotine appears to be flat, suggesting that if nicotine is involved, adverse effects might be seen with relatively low-level cigarette exposures.
A Farnesyl-Protein Transferase Inhibitor Induces p21 Expression and G1 Block in p53 Wild Type Tumor Cells *

Farnesylation is required for the membrane partition and function of several proteins, including Ras. Farnesyl-protein transferase inhibitors (FTIs) were developed to prevent Ras processing and thus to be effective agents for the treatment of cancers harboring mutated ras. However, FTIs inhibit the growth of most tumor cells and several xenograft models, irrespective of whether they possess mutated ras. Furthermore, the antiproliferative effect is not correlated with inhibition of Ki-Ras processing; tumors with wild type rasare inhibited, and FTIs are not particularly toxic. These data suggest that the mechanism of FTI action is complex and may involve other targets besides Ras. To begin to understand how FTIs work, we investigated the mechanism of growth inhibition. FTI causes G1 arrest in a subset of sensitive lines. This is accomplished by transcriptional induction of p21, which mediates the inhibition of cyclin E-associated protein kinase activity, pRb hypophosphorylation and inhibition of DNA replication. Induction of p21 is p53-dependent; it does not occur in cells with mutant p53 or in cells expressing human papillomavirus E6. However, neither p53 nor p21 are required for inhibition of cell proliferation. FTI still blocks the growth of cells deficient in these proteins. In the absence of p21, G1 block is relaxed, DNA replication is not affected, and cells become polyploid and undergo apoptosis. These results suggest that farnesylated protein(s) may be involved in regulating p53 function and in coordinating entrance into S, and that the consequences of FTI treatment are a function of the other mutations found in the tumor cell.
Spot test detection and colorimetric determination of aniline, naphthylamine and anthramine derivatives with 4-azobenzenediazonium fluoborate

Abstract Some new sensitive procedures are introduced for the detection and determination of aniline, α- and s-naphthylamines, and α- and β-anthramines, as well as their N-alkyl and N,N-disalkyl derivatives. The chromogens are (p-phenylazophenylazo)-aniline, -naphthylamine and -anthranaine dyes. For example with N,N-dimethylaniline, the blue di-cation of N,N-dimethyl-p-(p-phenylazophenylazo)aniline is formed. The absorptivity of N,N-dimethylaniline obtained in the colorimetric procedure is 0.823 μg−1 ml cm−1. In the analysis for N,N-dimethylaniline, Beer's Law was obeyed from 0.1 to at least 3.6 μg per ml of final solution. Because of the widely differing rates of reaction, naphthylamine or anthramine derivatives can be determined in the presence of aniline derivatives. Also, with the help of a masking agent a dialkylaniline can be determined in the presence of primary and secondary amines. Spot tests for aniline, naphthylamine and anthramine derivatives are described, but their sensitivity does not compare with the sensitivities obtained in the colorimetric procedure.
Education for Management: New Directions and New Challenges

Describes developments in management education and interprets their impact on the teaching of management at the university level. Decline of the functional concept; Growth in scientific disciplines...
Restorative practices as formal and informal education

This article reviews restorative practices (RP) as education in formal and informal contexts of learning that are fertile sites for cultivating peace. Formal practices involve instruction about response to conflict, while informal learning occurs beyond academic lessons. The research incorporated content analysis and a critical examination of the reported practices. The findings illuminate the nature of the practices and sources of power differentials in them. The discussion concludes with recommendations for the use of RP. Five identified opportunities for expansion and refinement of RP as informal and formal education resonate with, and extend, suggestions for this important aspect of peace education.
An empirical study of the statistics of phase drift of off-the-shelf oscillators for distributed MIMO applications

We report on the results of an empirical study of the phase drift of commercial RF oscillators, and the performance limitations implied by these drifts for distributed multi-input multi-output (DMIMO) wireless systems. The stochastic clock drifts of the oscillators at the nodes of the virtual array and the resulting synchronization errors limit the performance of DMIMO systems. Furthermore the synchronization requirements for DMIMO applications are subtly different from other synchronization problems. We examine two commercially available oscillators and present a series of measurements and calculations to characterize their short-term stability. Specifically we quantify the decrease in phase drift for a temperature controlled oscillator (TCXO) as compared to an uncompensated (VCXO) crystal oscillator. We also present the results of tracking the clock drifts of both oscillators using a simple algorithm based on an Extended Kalman Filtering framework. One key observation coming out of our study is that while the temperature compensated oscillators are an order of magnitude better than the uncompensated ones as measured by their frequency stability, the corresponding performance improvement for DMIMO applications is quite modest. This suggests the need for new figures of merit and novel oscillator designs specifically optimized for DMIMO applications.
Brecciation processes in fault zones: Inferences from earthquake rupturing

Surface-rupture patterns and aftershock distributions accompanying moderate to large shallow earthquakes reveal a residual brittle infrastructure for established crustal fault zones, the complexity of which is likely to be largely scale-invariant. In relation to such an infrastructure, continued displacement along a particular master fault may involve three dominant mechanical processes of rock brecciation: (a)attrition brecciation, from progressive frictional wear along principal slip surfaces during both seismic and aseismic sliding, (b)distributed crush brecciation, involving microfracturing over broad regions when slip on the principal slip surfaces is impeded by antidilational jogs or other obstructions, and (c)implosion brecciation, associated with the sudden creation of void space and fluid-pressure differentials at dilational fault jogs during earthquake rupture propagation. These last, high-dilation breccias are particularly favorable sites for hydrothermal mineral deposition, forming transitory low-pressure channels for the rapid passage of hydrothermal fluids. Long-lived fault zones often contain an intermingling of breccias derived from all three processes.
Polarographic detection by reverse-pulse amperometry in cation-exchange chromatography without interference from dissolved oxygen

Abstract Reverse-pulse amperometry (r.p.a) at a static dropping mercury electrode (SDME) is applied for detection in high-performance cation-exchange chromatography for Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Ni 2+ , Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ and Fe 2+ using a tartrate eluent (pH 3.5–4.5). The technique of r.p.a. as applied eliminates the need for removal of dissolved oxygen because the anodic signals for oxidation of the reduction products are measured at a potential at which oxygen is not electroactive. Typical detection limits ( S/N = 2) for a 100-μl sample are illustrated by the values 13 μg l −1 Zn 2+ (1.3 ng) and 64 μg l −1 Cu 2+ (6.4 ng). The detection limits are decreased by ca. 2 orders of magnitude by using preconcentration from a 10.0-ml sample on a cation-exchange fore-column.
The Promise and Pitfalls of Differentiated Instruction for Undergraduate Political Science Courses: Student and Instructor Impressions of an Unconventional Teaching Strategy.

ABSTRACT Pedagogical differentiation (i.e., tailoring instruction to each student's learning style, readiness level, and interest) has been applied to primary and secondary classrooms for over a decade but has never been formally applied to the undergraduate classroom. This paper explores the potential for differentiated instruction within the undergraduate political science classroom by evaluating student and instructor responses to the unconventional teaching method. The study is both descriptive and analytical in nature; illustrating the characteristics of a differentiated classroom and assessing the practical and ethical concerns associated with learning and teaching in a differentiated setting. The primary research questions are whether students would accept a teaching approach that challenges their notions of academic fairness, and whether the approach would prove practical for college level instructors, leaving it to future research to assess the overall effectiveness of the teaching strategy. The ...
The mechanism of spontaneous infiltration of Al–Si alloy into SiC preform in air

Rapid, spontaneous infiltration can be achieved by dipping a SiC preform that contains pyrolyzed carbon into an Al–Si alloy bath in an open air environment. The mechanism for infiltration is investigated in the present work by studying the effects of several relevant parameters on the infiltration process. Experimental results have shown that the requirements for rapid spontaneous infiltration are an infiltration temperature higher than 1400 °C, the presence of a pyrolyzed carbon, and the presence of SiC particle in the preforms. The concentration of Si in the alloy does not have significant influence on the infiltration rate, but it strongly affects the resulting microstructures in the infiltrated composites.
ROC-type assessments of medical imaging and CAD technologies: a perspective.

Great progress has been made in the past 2 decades in our understanding of the use of observer performance studies for the evaluation of diagnostic systems performance. Our understanding has progressed both in absolute terms and—perhaps more important from a practical point of view—in relative terms, namely, in regard to the differences in performance levels among systems. Methods for designing, performing, and analyzing receiver operating characteristic (ROC)–type studies have evolved to a point where they are quite satisfactory in regard to technical and analytic issues. Analytic approaches that account for variability of cases, readers, and modes are rapidly gaining credibility; hence, their use is becoming common not only in scientific investigations but also in industrial demonstrations of system utility as a condition for regulatory approvals. The use of these measurement tools in
Spin Seebeck effect: Thinks globally but acts locally

Experiments on magnetic insulators and semiconductors imply that the spin Seebeck effect is conceptually different from the standard thermoelectric effect, launching new challenges for both theorists and experimentalists in spintronics.
Apparent dewetting of ultrathin multilayered polyelectrolyte films incubated in aqueous environments.

We have investigated and characterized changes in film morphology and surface structure that occur when ultrathin multilayered polyelectrolyte films fabricated from linear poly(ethylene imine) (LPEI), sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (SPS), and two hydrolytically degradable polyamines (polymers 1 and 2) are incubated in physiologically relevant environments. Characterization of the physical erosion profiles of films having the structure (LPEI/SPS)10(1/SPS)4(2/SPS)4 (∼80 nm thick) by atomic force microscopy (AFM), reflective optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that these materials undergo large-scale changes in surface structure and morphology upon incubation in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 37 °C. The patterns and structures generated during this transformation (e.g., nucleation and growth of holes, coalescence of holes, formation of cell-type structures, and the subsequent breakup of these features into droplets) are similar in many ways to those observed for the de...
Socioeconomic Background, Disease, and Mortality among Union Army Recruits: Implications for Economic and Demographic History

Abstract This paper examines the effects of age, occupation, population size of place of residence, nativity, and household wealth on the disease and mortality experiences of Union army recruits while in service. The pattern of the mortality differentials among the army recruits was nearly the opposite of the normal pattern found among the civilian populations. The observed features of disease-specific mortality and timing of death suggest that the different degrees of exposure to disease prior to enlistment were probably the main determinant of the wartime mortality differentials. Wealth had a significant effect only for diseases on which nutritional influence is definite. Implications of these results for some issues in economic and demographic history are discussed.
Fatal bleomycin toxicity from a low cumulative dose in a patient with renal insufficiency

A 54-year-old man with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic renal insufficiency was treated with combination chemotherapy which included bleomycin. Fatal pulmonary toxicity developed after administration of a total bleomycin dose of only 60 U. Transbronchial biopsy and autopsy demonstrated pathologic findings consistent with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. High-dose corticosteroid therapy did not appear to alter the clinical course. Extreme caution should be exercised when administering bleomycin to patients with renal insufficiency.
Recombinant Expression of α-Bungarotoxin in Pichia pastoris Facilitates Identification of Mutant Toxins Engineered to Recognize Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

A snake venom-derived alpha-neurotoxin, alpha-bungarotoxin (alphaBgtx), is the classic competitive antagonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The very high specificity and essentially irreversible binding of alphaBgtx to various nAChRs make alphaBgtx the prime candidate for studying the molecular determinants of specificity for nAChR-ligand interactions. To facilitate site-directed mutagenesis of alphaBgtx for functional analysis, we have developed a recombinant expression system for alphaBgtx using the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris. A synthetic gene coding for alphaBgtx was subcloned into an expression vector that directs secretion of the recombinant alphaBgtx (rBgtx) when stably integrated into the yeast genome. Expression of rBgtx was induced by growth of yeast cultures with methanol as the sole carbon source. The activity of the rBgtx in the cell-free medium was measured by competition with 1251-Bgtx for binding to Torpedo nAChR-enriched membranes. The rBgtx, purified to homogeneity by standard HPLC, has the correct predicted amino terminal sequence and molecular mass. Its circular dichroism spectrum is very similar to that of authentic venom-derived alphaBgtx, and the biological activity of the rBgtx is identical to that of authentic alphaBgtx. We have used the Pichia expression system to study a double point mutation of alphaBgtx, rBgtx-K38P/L42Q, that has a high affinity for alpha3beta2 neuronal nAChRs. This is the first demonstration of engineering an alpha-neurotoxin to recognize non-alpha7 neuronal nicotinic receptors.
Dynamical methods for evaluating the time-dependent unfolding of social coordination in children with autism

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) suffer from numerous impairments in social interaction that affect both their mental and bodily coordination with others. We explored here whether interpersonal motor coordination may be an important key for understanding the profound social problems of children with ASD. We employed a set of experimental techniques to evaluate not only traditional cognitive measures of social competence but also the dynamical structure of social coordination by using dynamical measures of social motor coordination and analyzing the time series records of behavior. Preliminary findings suggest that children with ASD were equivalent to typically developing children on many social performance outcome measures. However, significant relationships were found between cognitive social measures (e.g., intentionality) and dynamical social motor measures. In addition, we found that more perceptually-based measures of social coordination were not associated with social motor coordination. These findings suggest that social coordination may not be a unitary construct and point to the promise of this multi-method and process-oriented approach to analyzing social coordination as an important pathway for understanding ASD-specific social deficits.
An optimized parallel LSQR algorithm for seismic tomography

The LSQR algorithm developed by Paige and Saunders (1982) is considered one of the most efficient and stable methods for solving large, sparse, and ill-posed linear (or linearized) systems. In seismic tomography, the LSQR method has been widely used in solving linearized inversion problems. As the amount of seismic observations increase and tomographic techniques advance, the size of inversion problems can grow accordingly. Currently, a few parallel LSQR solvers are presented or available for solving large problems on supercomputers, but the scalabilities are generally weak because of the significant communication cost among processors. In this paper, we present the details of our optimizations on the LSQR code for, but not limited to, seismic tomographic inversions. The optimizations we have implemented to our LSQR code include: reordering the damping matrix to reduce its band-width for simplifying the communication pattern and reducing the amount of communication during calculations; adopting sparse matrix storage formats for efficiently storing and partitioning matrices; using the MPI I/O functions to parallelize the date reading and result writing processes; providing different data partition strategies for efficiently using computational resources. A large seismic tomographic inversion problem, the full-3D waveform tomography for Southern California, is used to explain the details of our optimizations and examine the performance on Yellowstone supercomputer at the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC). The results showed that the required wall time of our code for the same inversion problem is much less than that of the LSQR solver from the PETSc library (Balay et al., 1997).