cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender and Race Differences in Middle School Students’ Perceptions of Caring Teacher Behaviors

This study investigated differences in 50 fifth through eighth grade students’ perceptions of caring teacher behaviors. The analyses revealed that African American and female students were more likely to value behavior that encourages academic achievement than were White and male students, who were more likely to value warm interpersonal behaviors.
Automatic modulation recognition for spectrum sensing using nonuniform compressive samples

The theory of Compressive Sensing (CS) has enabled the efficient acquisition of high-bandwidth (but sparse) signals via nonuniform low-rate sampling protocols. While most work in CS has focused on reconstructing the high-bandwidth signals from nonuniform low-rate samples, in this work, we consider the task of inferring the modulation of a communications signal directly in the compressed domain, without requiring signal reconstruction. We show that the Nth power nonlinear features used for Automatic Modulation Recognition (AMR) are compressible in the Fourier domain, and hence, that AMR of M-ary Phase-Shift-Keying (MPSK) modulated signals is possible by applying the same nonlinear transformation on nonuniform compressive samples. We provide analytical support for the accurate approximation of AMR features from nonuniform samples, present practical rules for classification of modulation type using these samples, and validate our proposed rules on simulated data.
Comparison of Energy Storage Methods for Solar Electric Production

Energy storage is key to expanding the capacity factor for electric power from solar energy. To accommodate variable weather patterns and electric demand, storage may be needed not just for diurnal cycles, but for variations as long as seasonal. Five solar electric systems with energy storage were simulated and compared, including an ammonia thermochemical energy storage cycle, compressed air energy storage (CAES), pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), vanadium flow battery, and thermal energy storage (TES). To isolate the influence of the storage system, all systems used the same parabolic concentrator and Stirling engine. For CAES, PHES and battery, the engine directly produced electricity, which was then converted and stored. For TES, heat transfer fluid was heated by the dish and stored, and later used to drive the engine to produce electricity. For ammonia, the dish heated an ammonia dissociation reactor to produce nitrogen and hydrogen, which was stored. Heat was recovered to drive the engine by reforming ammonia from the stored gases. Each system was simulated in TRNSYS with weather data for Louisville, KY and Phoenix, AZ with subsystem efficiencies and storage losses estimated from previous experimental results. All systems including the ammonia cycle involved time dependent storage losses. Losses from the receiver included convection and emitted radiation, both of which depend on receiver temperature.Overall (solar-storage-electric) efficiency of the ammonia cycle depended strongly on synthesis reactor temperature, ranging from less than 1% to ∼18% for both Louisville, KY and Phoenix, AZ, at 500 K to 800 K, respectively. In contrast, the effect of dissociation reactor temperature was less. Overall (solar-electric-storage-electric) efficiencies of the CAES, systems in the limit of zero storage time ranged from ∼10% to ∼18% for solar receiver temperature of 500 K to 800 K. The vanadium flow battery and PHES efficiencies ranged from ∼9% to ∼17% for the same conditions. TES initially provided 12 to 23% efficiency over the same range of temperature. When time-dependent storage losses were included, however, efficiencies for all systems declined rapidly except the ammonia cycle in both locations and PHES in Louisville. The ammonia system had the highest efficiency after one month of storage, an advantage that increased with time of storage.The simulations showed that TES was most efficient for diurnal-scale storage and the ammonia cycle for longer storage. Full capacity factor for solar electric production may be most efficiently accomplished with a combination of direct solar-electric production and systems with both diurnal and long-term storage, the proportions of which depending on weather conditions and electric demand profiles.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Paper Citizens, How Illegal Immigrants Acquire Citizenship in Developing Countries

The article presents a review of the book "Paper Citizens, How Illegal Immigrants Acquire Citizenship in Developing Countries," by Kamal Sadiq.
Theoretical and Experimental Uncertainty in Temperature Measurement of Materials by Raman Spectroscopy

Previous work has shown the potential of the Stokes/anti-Stokes intensity ratio from Raman spectroscopy for optically probing the temperature of materials. This paper uses the statistics of photon counting to set theoretical limits on the temperature accuracy of the technique, as well as developing an expression whereby the theoretical temperature uncertainty for any Raman band at a given temperature can be predicted. Comparison of the theory to experimental data is shown, and experimental limitations are discussed.
ON THE SUBJECTIVITY OF PERSONALITY THEORY

Every theorist of personality views the human condition from the unique perspective of his own individuality. As a consequence, personality theories are strongly influenced by personal and subjective factors. These influences are partially responsible for the present day lack of consensus in psychology as to basic conceptual frameworks for the study of man. The science of human personality can achieve a greater degree of consensus and generality only if it begins to turn back on itself and question its own psychological foundations. The role of subjective and personal factors in this field can be studied and made more explicit by means of a psychobiographical method which interprets the major ideas of personality theories in the light of the formative experiences in the respective theorists' lives. This method is briefly illustrated by an examination of the influence of personal experiences on theoretical concepts in the work of Carl Jung, Carl Rogers, Wilhelm Reich, and Gordon Allport. The subjective factors disclosed by psychobiographical analysis can bee seen to interact with influences stemming from the intellectual and historical context within which the theorist work. The psychobiographical study of personality theory is only one part of a larger discipline, the psychology of knowledge, which would study the role of subjective and personal factors in the structure of man's knowledge in general.
Identification of the gene at the pmg locus, encoding system II, the general amino acid transporter in Neurospora crassa.

Abstract Mutations at the pmg locus in Neurospora crassa cause a deficiency in a transport system for a broad range of amino acids. We have isolated a gene that encodes a protein with a high degree of sequence similarity to the GAP1 general amino acid permease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our data indicate that this is the gene at the pmg locus. It encodes a 572-residue protein with a molecular mass of 62,649 Da. The predicted secondary structure has 12 membrane-spanning regions, a feature characteristic of a superfamily of permease proteins. Inactivation of the gene yielded a mutant strain with the same phenotype as the pmg− strain, and a cosmid containing a functional copy of the gene rescued the pmg− strain. Although the pmg− strain has previously been assayed in a genetic background that contains mutations in genes for two other amino acid transport systems, we have found conditions in which the pmg− strain has an identifiable phenotype in an otherwise wild-type genetic background.
Preliminary Studies on SDS‐PAGE and Isoelectric Focusing Identification of Sturgeon Sources of Caviar

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing (IEF) analyses of caviar were used to identify species of American, European and Asian sturgeon. Caviar samples of American and Gulf of Mexico sturgeon showed distinctive protein banding patterns on SDS-PAGE. IEF gels containing 20% pH 3-10 and 80% pH 4-6.5 ampholyte enabled differentiation of sturgeon species. IEF was more reliable than SDS-PAGE for identification of sturgeon species.
Applications of the division theorem inH s

We prove a version of the division theorem in Sobolev spaces with an estimate of the constant ass tends to infinity. We then apply it to derive spatial decay estimates for time-periodic solutions of linear wave equations in one space dimension and to prove that the space of decaying solutions is finite-dimensional. The main point is to show that some of the arguments used to analyze embedded eigenvalues of Schrodinger operators can be extended to cases where positivity arguments are not available. This has implications for nonlinear Klein-Gordon equations. A different approach, based on the proof of the stable manifold theorem, is also worked out, under slightly different assumptions.
Automated method for the quantitation of orthophosphate.

Abstract A convenient automated method for measuring inorganic phosphate based on the malachite green reaction with a phosphomolybdate complex has been developed. Less than 100 pmol of inorganic phosphate can be readily quantitated by the method which utilizes standard AutoAnalyzer equipment. Inorganic phosphate is measured in sample volumes of less than 0.1 ml and without interference by a number of phosphorylated metabolic intermediates or nucleotides. This methodology is especially useful in the analysis of hydrolytic processes involving phosphorylated substrates.
Sex, Communication Structures and Role Specification

Abstract This study investigates variations in male and female approaches to leadership in small discussion groups. Three aspects of leadership are investigated: (1) the nature of participation in the turn-taking system (cf. Duncan, 1972), (2) leadership role specialization (cf. Burke, 1967) and (3) the differential bases of attribution of leadership by sex. Data are obtained from 10 four-member groups, each composed of two males and two females. In half of the groups a male was appointed as coordinator, while a female was appointed as coordinator in the other half. Results indicate no differences between male and female coordinators in the number of turns taken in the discussions, but near significant differences in providing back-channel feedback to current speakers and in turn-collaborations, with male coordinators engaging in more of these activities than non-coordinators, and female coordinators engaging in fewer of these activities than non-coordinators. In terms of leadership role specialization, b...
Global solvability for the porous medium equation with boundary flux governed by nonlinear memory

Abstract We introduce the study of global existence and blow-up in finite time for nonlinear diffusion equations with flux at the boundary governed by memory. Via a simple transformation, the memory term arises out of a corresponding model introduced in previous studies of tumor-induced angiogenesis. The present study is also in the spirit of extending work on models of the heat equation with local, nonlocal, and delay nonlinearities present in the boundary flux. Specifically, we establish an identical set of necessary and sufficient conditions for blow-up in finite time as previously established in the case of local flux conditions at the boundary.
VEGF analysis induced by endothelialized gas-plasma treated D,L-PLA scaffolds.

Abstract Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) isoforms play different roles in the temporal sprouting of endothelial-lined vessels in a nude mouse peritoneal model as cells respond to nontreated control and gas-plasma-treated bioresorbable poly-d,l-lactide acid 3D scaffolds with human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Methods and materials: Nude mice peritoneums were incubated with HAEC (CW=control; TW=gas-plasma treated) or polymer scaffolds (C p =control; T p =treated) for 12, 24 and 72 days. Cytoplasmic and nuclear protein fractions were isolated using NER, electrophoresized using NuPAGE–MES and analyzed by WesternBreeze Chemiluminescent. Results: Prominent VEGF bands included 28, 45 and 62 kDa; 52-kDa VEGF observed in cytoplasmic TW fractions contributed about 18.6% at 12 days, 20.0% at 24 days and 13.1% at 72 days of the total VEGF signal. Yet, it was only noted in CW at 72 days where it accounted for 6.9%. A unique 32-kDa band appeared in both C p (24.6%) and T p (18.3%). Significant differences between band densities occurred for cytoplasmic nuclear CW24–TW24 ( P =.022), CW72–TW72 ( P =.011) and, also, cytoplasmic C p 24–T p 24 ( P =.038). Conclusions: The temporal and spatial organization of the TW isoforms results in more angiogenesis.
Superoxide released into the mitochondrial matrix

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are produced by mitochondria are released toward the mitochondrial matrix or the intermembrane space. Each ROS pool is likely involved in different cellular mechanisms and damage. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish the provenance and effects of ROS. Here we introduce a method to semiquantitate the steady-state levels of superoxide produced in the matrix of mitochondria. Superoxide produced during cellular respiration is capable of oxidizing hydroethidine, a probe that is membrane permeant. The poor membrane permeability of the hydroethidine oxidation products causes accumulation of these fluorescent products within the mitochondria. After isolation of mitochondria, a method based on the capillary electrophoretic separation of individual organelles and their detection by laser-induced fluorescence detection is used to determine their fluorescent contents. Use of this method for the analysis of organelle fractions obtained from cells treated with antimycin A or rotenone confirms that the detected fluorescence is associated with superoxide produced by mitochondria. Furthermore, using this method the superoxide levels in the mitochondrial matrix of a cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cell line (ΔH2-1) and one of its parent cell lines (143B) were compared.
Atmospheric surface pressure related to coal mine explosions

Investigations into the synoptic situations preceding explosions in coal mines during the past 12 years show the feasibility of forecasting periods of dangerous accumulation of combustible gas mixtures in coal mines. Several physical, as well as some psychological, aspects are discussed.
Association of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with thyroid cancer

This prospective study investigates the relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and thyroid cancer (TC) in patients with thyroid nodules (TNs). We prospectively examined 2100 patients with 2753 TNs between January 5, 2010 and August 15, 2013. A total of 2023 patients with 2669 TNs met the inclusion criteria of TN ≥5 mm and age ≥18 years. Each patient had blood drawn before fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the following measurements: TSH, free thyroxine, free tri-iodothyronine, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and antithyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). Diagnosis of TC was based on pathology analysis of thyroidectomy tissue. The associations of TC with the independent variables were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and reported as adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI. A total of 248 malignant nodules were found in 233 patients. There was an association of TC with both increased serum TgAb concentration and age<45 years. An elevated serum TgAb concentration was found in 10.2% of patients (182 of 1790) with benign nodules as compared with 20.6% of patients (48 of 233) with malignant nodules (P≤0.0001). TgAb (OR=2.24: CI=1.57, 3.19) and TSH ≥1 μIU/ml (OR (95% CI)) OR: 1.49 (1.09, 2.03) were significant predictors of TC in multivariate analysis controlling for age and gender. TC was not associated with serum concentrations of TPOAb. In patients with TN, elevated serum concentration of TgAb and TSH ≥1 μIU/ml are independent predictors for TC. The association between HT and TC is antibody specific.
Anodic Behavior of Alloy 22 in Calcium Chloride and in Calcium Chloride Plus Calcium Nitrate Brines

Alloy 22 (UNS N60622) is a nickel-based alloy, which is extensively used in aggressive industrial applications, especially due to its resistance to localized corrosion and stress corrosion cracking in high chloride environments. The purpose of this work was to characterize the anodic behavior of Alloy 22 in concentrated calcium chloride (CaCl{sub 2}) brines and to evaluate the inhibitive effect of nitrate, especially to localized corrosion. Standard electrochemical tests such as polarization resistance and cyclic polarization were used. Results show that the corrosion potential of Alloy 22 was approximately -360 mV in the silver-silver chloride (SSC) scale and independent of the tested temperature. Cyclic polarization tests showed that Alloy 22 was mainly susceptible to localized attack in 5 M CaCl{sub 2} at 75 C and higher temperatures. The addition of nitrate in a molar ratio of chloride to nitrate equal to 10 increased the onset of localized corrosion to approximately 105 C. The addition of nitrate to the solution also decreased the uniform corrosion rate and the passive current of the alloy.
Mortality From Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Reproductive-Aged Women: United States, 1999–2010

Objectives. I estimated the sexually transmitted disease–related mortality among US reproductive-aged women from 1999 to 2010.Methods. I estimated mortality from National Center for Health Statistics’ Multiple Cause of Death data. I defined reproductive age as 15 to 44 years. For diseases partially caused by sexual transmission, I estimated the proportion attributable to sexual transmission from the literature. To calculate mortality rates, I estimated number of deaths from each disease and Census Bureau population for reproductive-aged women for 1999 to 2010.Results. From 1999 to 2010, the cumulative sexually transmitted disease–related mortality rate decreased by 49%, from 5.3 to 2.7 deaths per 100 000. The primary contributors were HIV and human papilloma virus infections. Mortality from sexually transmitted HIV infection decreased by 62%, from 3.4 to 1.3 deaths per 100 000. Mortality from human papilloma virus–associated gynecologic cancers decreased by 19%, from 1.6 deaths per 100 000 in 1999 to 1.3 ...
The determination of lidocaine and benzocaine in isopropyl myristate

Abstract An in vitro membraneless drug release model utilizing an isopropyl myristate (ISM) sink as the acceptor phase has been used for the study of the release of lidocaine and benzocaine from aqueous Pluronic F-127 gels. The use of this system necessitated the development of a quantitative determination of lidocaine and benzocaine m isopropyl myristate solution. Extraction processes were developed to prepare the samples for the appropriate assay procedures: benzocaine by ultraviolet absorption spectrophotometry and lidocaine by gas chromatography. Direct assay of aqueous acid extracts of ISM sink solutions was not possible for benzocaine due to interfering UV absorbing substances. In the case of lidocaine, variable results were obtained from direct injections of the viscous ISM solutions into the GC column. In the latter case, however, direct assay was useful for the estimation of lidocaine concentrations, providing qualitative results for establishing appropriate concentrations necessary for a more complicated, but quantitative method based on a double extraction procedure.
Recent Progress on Tissue-Resident Adult Stem Cell Biology and Their Therapeutic Implications

Recent progress in the field of the stem cell research has given new hopes to treat and even cure diverse degenerative disorders and incurable diseases in human. Particularly, the identification of a rare population of adult stem cells in the most tissues/organs in human has emerged as an attractive source of multipotent stem/progenitor cells for cell replacement-based therapies and tissue engineering in regenerative medicine. The tissue-resident adult stem/progenitor cells offer the possibility to stimulate their in vivo differentiation or to use their ex vivo expanded progenies for cell replacement-based therapies with multiple applications in human. Among the human diseases that could be treated by the stem cell-based therapies, there are hematopoietic and immune disorders, multiple degenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzeimeher’s diseases, type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus as well as eye, liver, lung, skin and cardiovascular disorders and aggressive and metastatic cancers. In addition, the genetically-modified adult stem/progenitor cells could also be used as delivery system for expressing the therapeutic molecules in specific damaged areas of different tissues. Recent advances in cancer stem/progenitor cell research also offer the possibility to targeting these undifferentiated and malignant cells that provide critical functions in cancer initiation and progression and disease relapse for treating the patients diagnosed with the advanced and metastatic cancers which remain incurable in the clinics with the current therapies.
Sensitivity of point and interval estimates to distributional assumptions in longitudinal data analysis of small samples

We explore the sensitivity of the point estimates of the fixed effects and variance components, and of interval estimates and hypothesis tests of the fixed effects, to the distributional assumptions about the random effects in longitudinal data analysis using the REML estimation procedure described by Laird and Ware (1982). In the small sample setting we consider distributions for the random effects that differ in tail thickness and skewness from the assumed normality. We investigate the bias, mean square error of the point estimates of the fixed effects and the variance components, the actual coverage of the nominal normal theory (1-α)% confidence intevals for the fixed effects, and α-level hypotheses tests performance under an asymptotic criteria. When random effects are not normal, but symmetric, point and interval estimates of fixed effects are unaffected, but estimates of variance components are highly variable. When random effects are from a skewed distribution, REML performs quite poorly
Defining the Role of mTOR in Cancer

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged as a critical effector in cell-signaling pathways commonly deregulated in human cancers. This has led to the prediction that mTOR inhibitors may be useful in oncology, and derivatives of one such molecule, rapamycin (from which mTOR derives its name), are currently in clinical development. In this review, we discuss recent progress in understanding mTOR signaling, paying particular attention to its relevance in cancer. We further discuss the use of rapamycin in oncology and conclude with a discussion on the future of mTOR-targeted therapy.
Particulate matter accumulation on horizontal surfaces in interiors: Influence of foliage plants

Abstract Particulate matter accumulation on horizontal surfaces was measured gravimetrically, at one week intervals, in two interior spaces. Interior plants were added to or removed from the rooms on a random schedule. Particulate matter accumulation was lower in both rooms when plants were present than when plants were absent. The location of particulate matter deposition was unaffected by the presence or absence of plants: collection dishes located near the corners of a room consistently accumulated less particulate matter than dishes in other locations, regardless of treatment. In addition, relative humidity was higher when plants were present.
Fundamental cryobiology of mouse ova and embryos.

An increasing fraction of mouse ova and embryos are killed as the rate at which they are cooled to -196/sup 0/C is increased. The survival of these cells depends not only on cooling rate, but also on the minimum subzero temperature to which the cells are cooled. Low temperature microscopy demonstrates that lethal cooling rates are coincident with those that produce intracellular ice formation, and that the lethal temperature appears to be that at which intracellular ice forms. Furthermore, the microscopy shows that ova do not dehydrate when cooled at rates that produce intracellular ice and cell death, but undergo substantial shrinkage when cooled at rates that produce little intracellular ice and high survival. Measurements of the water permeability of mouse ova and the temperature coefficient of that permeability can be used to test a mathematical model formulated to describe the kinetics of water loss at subzero temperatures from a hypothetical cell. The observed dehydration of ova cooled to subzero temperatures at given rates is approximately predicted by the mathematical model, although there is some quantitative discrepancy between the observed and calculated responses.
The introduction of spurious modes in a hole-coupled Fabry-Pérot open resonator

A hemispherical open resonator has previously been used to make relative comparisons of the surface resistivity of metallic thin-film samples in the submillimeter wavelength region. This resonator is fed from a far-infrared laser via a small coupling hole in the center of the concave spherical mirror. The experimental arrangement, while desirable as a coupling geometry for monitoring weak emissions from the cavity, can lead to the introduction of spurious modes into the cavity. Sources of these modes are identified, and a simple alteration of the experimental apparatus to eliminate such modes is suggested.
TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF THE CYCLODEPSIPEPTIDE IONOPHORE PITHOMYCOLIDE

Abstract The total synthesis of pithomycolide 1 , a structurally unique ionophoric depsipeptide from the fungus Pithomyces chartarum , is described.
A unique case of pulmonary artery catheter bleeding from the oximetry connection port

Pulmonary artery catheter is an invasive monitor usually placed in high-risk cardiac surgical patients to optimize the cardiac functions. We present this case of blood oozing from the oximetry connection port of the pulmonary artery catheter that resulted in the inability to monitor continuous cardiac output requiring replacement of the catheter. The cause of this abnormal bleeding was later confirmed to be due to a manufacturing defect.
Human central nervous system pharmacology of pentamethylmelamine and its metabolites.

Pentamethylmelamine (PMM) 80 mg/ m2 was administered IN. to 8 patients during surgical resection of intracerebral tumors. PMM concentrations in tumors were generally much higher than concurrent plasma concentrations, ranging from undetectable (< .01 μg/g) to as high as 4.47 μg/g and were much higher in malignant melanoma samples than in astrocytoma samples. PMM was barely detectable or undetectable in most samples of edematous brain tissue adjacent to intracerebral tumor and in temporalis muscle. The PMM metabolites tetramethylmelamine (TeMM), trimethylmelamine (TrMM), and dimethylmelamine (University of Texas Cancer Center M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas, USADMM) were each detectable in tumor samples from one or two patients. Monomethylmelamine (MMM) was present in tumor samples from all except one patient. MMM was noted in samples of edematous brain tissue adjacent to tumor from 4 of 8 patients. It was the only PMM metabolite found in brain. TrMM, DMM, and MMM but not PMM, and TeMM were found in tumor cyst fluid from a patient with an intracerebral malignant melanoma.
Surveying China's agricultural resources: Patterns and progress from space

Abstract The creation of an agricultural remote sensing center at Beijing Agricultural University (BAU) and an initial network of participating subcenters located in Harbin, Nanjing, and Chengdu marks the beginning of Chinas efforts to assess, monitor, and tabulate its agricultural production. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries (MAAF) has designated BAU as its lead research and applications center to develop remote sensing technologies throughout the six agro‐economic zones of the country. Working with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funding and implemented through the assistance of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN/FAO), the center and subcenters have been staffed, equipped, and trained to inaugurate their own research and development programs in agriculture. Three of their initial activities are described here to alert the scientific community to the existing infrastructure and breadth of current interests. These studies include (1) an aerial,...
Building an instructional portal: channeling the writing lab

During the past decade, adjunct tutorial and learning services at many colleges and universities took first steps towards extending their reach on-line. In particular, many campus-writing centers began to explore a new model for making their reference resources, training, and consultation services available in the form of on-line writing labs. The U.C. Berkeley OWL Portal project takes this concept a step further by constructing an on-line writing lab using the building blocks provided by state-of-the-art portal technology. With the Berkeley OWL Portal's integrated set of content-management and communication tools, writing students have customizable views onto reference material as well as a wide range of tools for communicating with instructors, tutors, and classmates throughout the writing process.
Integration of multiple downstream signals determines the net effect of insulin on MAP kinase vs. PI 3′-kinase activation: potential role of insulin-stimulated H2O2

Cellular insulin stimulation generates a burst of H2O2 that modulates protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in the insulin action pathway, in part by the inhibition of redox-sensitive protein-tyrosine phosphatases [J. Biol. Chem. 276 (2001) 21938]. Blocking the insulin-induced rise in H2O2 with the NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) strongly attenuated the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3′ (PI 3′)-kinase, Akt and GLUT4 translocation by insulin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; however, under identical conditions, we observed a paradoxical increase in the activation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. DPI inhibited the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and IRS-1/2, and also reduced the association of Grb2 with IRS-1, suggesting that the effect of DPI on MAP kinase activation occurred downstream of the IR and IRS proteins. DPI increased the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAP kinase with no change in basal, and increased insulin-stimulated MAP kinase kinase (MEK) activity by a similar degree. DPI enhanced basal Grb2–Sos binding and reduced the effect of insulin to potentiate the dissociation of the Grb2–Sos complex, suggesting that the effect of DPI was mediated upstream of Raf-1. Cell treatment with dibutyryl cAMP significantly reduced the enhancement of MAP kinase activation in the presence of DPI. However, forskolin, acting in a PKA-independent manner, increased the insulin stimulation of MAP kinase and MEK, but fully abrogated the effect of DPI to enhance these insulin responses. PLCγ inhibition with U73122 blocked the insulin stimulation of MAP kinase and MEK as well as the enhancing effect of DPI on these responses. PKC activation strongly stimulated MAP kinase and MEK activation, even in the presence of U73122, consistent with PKC acting downstream of PLCγ. These data show that the insulin-stimulated oxidant signal differentially affects the two major downstream components of the insulin signaling pathway, PI 3′-kinase and MAP kinase, and cross-talk between insulin action, PLCγ and, to a lesser extent, PKA modulates the net cellular effects of insulin-stimulated cellular H2O2.
Using adaptive linear prediction to support real-time VBR video under RCBR network service model

A dynamic bandwidth allocation strategy to support variable bit rate (VBR) video traffic is proposed. This strategy predicts the bandwidth requirements for future frames using adaptive linear prediction that minimizes the mean square error. The adaptive technique does not require any prior knowledge of the traffic statistics nor assume stationarity. Analyses using six one-half-hour video tracts indicate that prediction errors for the bandwidth required for the next frames and group of pictures (GOP) are almost white noise or short memory. The performance of the strategy is studied using renegotiated constant bit rate (RCBR) network service model and methods that control the tradeoff between the number of renegotiations and network utilization are proposed. Simulation results using MPEG-I video traces for predicting GOP rates show that the queue size is reduced by a factor of 15-160 and the network utilization is increased between 190%-300% as compared to a fixed service rate. Results also show that even when renegotiations occur on the average in tens of seconds, the queue size is reduced by a factor between 16-30.
Plasma from rheumatoid arthritis patients promotes pro-atherogenic cholesterol transport gene expression in THP-1 human macrophages.

Immunologic derangements in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients likely contribute to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Traditional CVD risk factors do not reliably identify at-risk RA patients, probably because disease-associated mechanisms are not taken into account. The purpose of this study was to determine whether plasma from subjects with RA exhibits atheroma-promoting properties leading to disruption of cholesterol homeostasis in human monocytes/macrophages. Twenty-one healthy controls (HC) and 22 RA patients were enrolled in an IRB approved study at Winthrop University Hospital. Naive THP-1 macrophages were exposed to plasma from each HC and RA patient. Following incubation, RNA and protein were isolated. QRT-PCR and Western blotting techniques were then used to measure expression of proteins responsible for cholesterol efflux (ATP binding cassette transporter (ABC)A1, ABCG1, 27-hydroxylase) and cholesterol uptake (CD36, ScR-A1, lectin oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor (LOX)-1, CXCL16). To confirm the pro-atherogenic effects of RA plasma on macrophages, foam cell formation was quantified. Results showed that RA plasma downregulates cholesterol efflux proteins and upregulates scavenger receptors CD36, LOX1 and CXCL16. These pro-atherogenic changes in gene expression in the presence of RA plasma are associated with augmented lipid accumulation and foam cell formation by THP-1 macrophages. RA plasma induces macrophage cholesterol overload. Demonstration of disrupted cholesterol homeostasis mediated by RA plasma provides further evidence of the involvement of the immune system in atherogenesis. Our data suggest that chronic exposure to RA plasma adversely affects the capacity of monocytes/macrophages in the arterial wall to metabolize cholesterol and maintain lipid homeostasis, thereby contributing to the development of premature atherosclerosis.
Subjective Well-Being: A General Overview

We provide a comprehensive review of the field of subjective well-being in terms of its societal and individual benefits, demographic correlates, theories of origin, and relationship to culture. Interventions to increase well-being are also presented as well as the argument that national accounts of well-being for public policy should be instituted and utilized, alongside economic and social indicators, to both reveal and improve the quality of life within nations.
Beyond the "big talk": the roles of breadth and repetition in parent-adolescent communication about sexual topics

OBJECTIVE. Most studies of parent-adolescent communication about sexuality focus on the frequency of communication without distinguishing between the breadth of topics covered and repetition. The goal of this study was to assess the independent influence of breadth and repetition of sexual discussion on adolescents9 perceptions of their relationship and communication with their parents. METHODS. Data came from 312 adolescents who, along with their parents, were control participants in a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate a worksite-based intervention designed to improve parent-adolescent sexual communication. Adolescents completed surveys before the intervention (time 1) and at 1 week, 3 months, and 9 months after the intervention (times 2, 3, and 4, respectively). At each survey, adolescents reported whether they had discussed each of 22 sex-related topics with their parent. Breadth was defined as the number of topics discussed for the first time between times 1 and 4, and repetition was defined as the number of previously discussed topics repeated during that period. RESULTS. Adolescents whose sexual communication with their parents involved more repetition felt closer to their parents, felt more able to communicate with their parents in general and about sex specifically, and perceived that discussions with their parents about sex occurred with greater openness than did adolescents whose sexual communication with their parents included less repetition. Breadth of communication was associated only with the perceived ease of parent-adolescent sexual communication: adolescents who discussed more new topics with their parents between times 1 and 4 felt that their sexual discussions occurred with greater openness than did adolescents who discussed fewer topics. CONCLUSIONS. Clinicians may want to advise parents about the value of discussing sexual topics repeatedly with their children, because this may provide parents an opportunity to reinforce and build on what they have taught their children and provide children the opportunity to ask clarifying questions as they attempt to put their parents9 sexual education into practice.
Transport of the δ-opioid receptor agonist [D-penicillamine2,5] enkephalin across the blood–brain barrier involves transcytosis1

The delta opioid receptor antagonist [D-penicillamine2,5]-enkephalin (DPDPE) is an enzymatically stable peptide analogue of Met-enkephalin. DPDPE uses a saturable transport mechanism to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), though the exact mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to identify the mechanism by which DPDPE enters the brain. The effect of phenylarsine oxide (PAO), an endocytosis inhibitor, on the transport of [3H]DPDPE was investigated using both in vitro and in situ transport studies. Two in vitro models of the BBB utilizing primary bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BBMEC) were studied. [3H]DPDPE permeability across monolayers of BBMEC grown on polycarbonate filters was studied. PAO significantly reduced the permeability of [3H]-DPDPE across the monolayer. PAO also reduced the uptake of [3H]-DPDPE into BBMEC cells, without affecting binding to the cells. The in situ perfusion model of the BBB was also studied, PAO reduced DPDPE uptake by the brain in a dose-dependent manner. These studies indicate that DPDPE enters the brain via an energy-dependent transcytotic mechanism.
Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Cognitive-behavior techniques have been applied to alleviate physical pain, anxiety, and maladaptive adjustments related to physical illness. Although distinctions are made between the behavioral and cognitive approaches, the techniques overlap and are often used in conjunction with one another.
Oral hygiene device for disabled users

A daily routine for millions of people and a staple of preventative health care, the act of brushing one's teeth is often overlooked. Certain disabilities ranging from the physical to the psychological inhibit people from caring for their teeth traditionally. Few available devices on the market address this sector of disabled users, prompting the need to develop a new device. In order to meet these specific customer requirements, cleaning effectiveness, required dexterity, and ease of use were all of high importance.
Subband coding of cyclostationary signals

Fig. 4. The control input using the boundary-layer technique. formed LTV system to retain the dynamical features of the original LTV system. The update law of the transformation matrix using a timevarying differential Sylvester equation has been developed to guarantee the uniformly exponential convergence of the closed-loop dynamics on the sliding mode. A robust sliding-mode output regulator using only the output measurements has been designed to drive the system output to converge to zero in a finite time. A simulation example has been carried out with the results that good convergence and robustness properties with respect to the bounded input disturbance are obtained. Further work is to extend the scheme to the control of general SISO and MIMO LTV systems with uncertainties. REFERENCES
Parental characteristics as predictors of birthweight

BACKGROUND: Previous studies provided conflicting results on the relevance of parental characteristics for offspring’s size at birth. The objective of this study was to investigate parental predictors of birthweight. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 34 063 women in the Nurses’ Mother’s Cohort were queried about parental characteristics during the pregnancy with and birthweight of their nurse daughter. RESULTS: The predictive linear regression model of birthweight included 13 factors and the majority of the predictive power came from parental anthropometric factors. In the adjusted analysis, daily consumption of each additional glass of milk was associated with an increase of 6 g in birthweight (P for trend 5 0.01) and daily consumption of each additional cup of coffee was associated with a decrease of 10 g in birthweight (P for trend < 0.0001). Drinking 1‐2, 3‐4 and 51 cups of coffee daily was associated with a 28% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12, 0.47], 30% (95% CI 0.10, 0.55) and 63% (95% CI 0.25, 1.12) increase, respectively, in the odds of intrauterine growth restriction when compared with non-drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed several previously reported determinants of birthweight. Maternal dietary intake of milk and coffee during pregnancy may influence fetal growth.
Exact Grading of Multiple Path Delay Faults

The problem of fault grading for multiple path delay faults is studied and a method of obtaining the exact coverage is presented. The faults covered are represented and manipulated as sets by zero-suppressed binary decision diagrams (ZBDD), which are shown to be able to store a very large number of path delay faults. For the extreme case of memory problem, a method to estimate the coverage of the test set is also presented. The problem of fault grading is solved with a polynomial number of BDD operations. Experimental results on the ISCAS'85 benchmark include test sets from ATPG tools and specifically designed tests in order to investigate the limitations and properties of the proposed method.
Collagen membrane for hemodialysis.

Commercially available collagen membrance was evaluated as a hemodialysis membrane in the Kolff quad-coil artificial kidney. The inherent physical weakness of the membrane was strengthened by a double-screen support substracture in a coil. Greater metabolite clearance and ultrafiltration (over four times) were demonstrated with the double-screen-supported collagen coil than with either cellophane or cuprophane membrane supported by the same double-screen support substructure.
Reflective discourse: developing shared understandings in a physics classroom

The study examines ways of speaking that foster the communication of physics principles through reflective discourse. By reflective discourse we mean classroom discussions during which three conditions frequently occur: students express their own thoughts, comments and questions rather than recite a textbook exposition; the teacher and individual students engage in an extended series of questioning exchanges that help students better articulate their beliefs and conceptions; and student/student exchanges involve one student trying to understand the thinking of another. Data consisted of two videotaped lessons about the nature of gravity and its effects. We developed a narrative analysis of the transcripts and identified characteristic features of reflective discourse. These included invoking metaphors for teaching and learning, following a student's lead in thinking and structuring the discussion to foster and monitor changes in the students’ conceptions.
Videotape Modeling of the Child Dental Patient

One week before their first dental visit, 36- to 60-month-old children were shown a videotape to model their behavior in the dental situation. The behavior was then rated for three visits. The children who had been modeled did not behave significantly better than either children who had no previous contact with the dental setting or children who had visited the reception room one week before their first dental visit.
Continuous-time models of group selection, and the dynamical insufficiency of kin selection models.

Abstract Traditionally, the process of group selection has been described mathematically by discrete-time models, and analyzed using tools like the Price equation. This approach makes implicit assumptions about the process that are not valid in general, like the central role of synchronized mass-dispersion and group re-formation events. In many important examples (like hunter–gatherer tribes) there are no mass-dispersion events, and the group-level events that do occur, like fission, fusion, and extinction, occur asynchronously. Examples like these can be fully analyzed by the equations of two-level population dynamics (described here) so their models are dynamically sufficient. However, it will be shown that examples like these cannot be fully analyzed by kin selection (inclusive fitness) methods because kin selection versions of group selection models are not dynamically sufficient. This is a critical mathematical difference between group selection and kin selection models, which implies that the two theories are not mathematically equivalent.
The psychiatric significance of the personal self

Drawing upon literature reviews in psychiatry, the social sciences, and philosophy, this article defines the concept of the "personal self" and briefly describes its importance to the following areas of psychiatry: (1) mental illness, (2) psychiatric ethics, (3) diagnosis, (4) the clinician, (5) clinical research, (6) psychiatric pluralism, and (7) the goals of psychiatric treatment. The personal self is a Western common-sense concept which is characterized by five aspects: agency, identity, trajectory, history, and perspective. Because of the intimate and often ambiguous relationship between the personal self and mental illness, the personal self has considerable psychiatric significance in moral, professional, research, and existential realms.
Stellate Cell Contraction: Role, Regulation, and Potential Therapeutic Target

The contraction of hepatic stellate cells has been proposed to mediate fibrosis by regulating sinusoidal blood flow and extracellular matrix remodeling. Abundant data from diverse, yet complementary, experimental methods support a robust model for the regulation of contractile force generation by stellate cells. In this model, soluble factors associated with liver injury, including endothelin 1 and nitric oxide, are transduced primarily through Rho signaling pathways that promote the myosin II-powered generation of contractile force by stellate cells. The enhanced knowledge of the role and differential regulation of stellate cell contraction may facilitate the discovery of new and targeted strategies for the prevention and treatment of hepatic fibrosis.