cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Covariate Selection for Generalizing Experimental Results: Application to Large-Scale Development Program in Uganda

Generalizing estimates of causal effects from an experiment to a target population is of interest to scientists. However, researchers are usually constrained by available covariate information. Analysts can often collect much fewer variables from population samples than from experimental samples, which has limited applicability of existing approaches that assume rich covariate data from both experimental and population samples. In this article, we examine how to select covariates necessary for generalizing experimental results under such data constraints. In our concrete context of a large-scale development program in Uganda, although more than 40 pre-treatment covariates are available in the experiment, only 8 of them were also measured in a target population. We propose a method to estimate a separating set -- a set of variables affecting both the sampling mechanism and treatment effect heterogeneity -- and show that the population average treatment effect (PATE) can be identified by adjusting for estimated separating sets. Our algorithm only requires a rich set of covariates in the experimental data, not in the target population, by incorporating researcher-specific constraints on what variables are measured in the population data. Analyzing the development experiment in Uganda, we show that the proposed algorithm can allow for the PATE estimation in situations where conventional methods fail due to data requirements.
Leptin receptor-expressing neuron Sh2b1 supports sympathetic nervous system and protects against obesity and metabolic disease

Leptin stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), energy expenditure, and weight loss; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we uncover Sh2b1 in leptin receptor (LepR) neurons as a critical component of a SNS/brown adipose tissue (BAT)/thermogenesis axis. LepR neuron-specific deletion of Sh2b1 abrogates leptin-stimulated sympathetic nerve activation and impairs BAT thermogenic programs, leading to reduced core body temperature and cold intolerance. The adipose SNS degenerates progressively in mutant mice after 8 weeks of age. Adult-onset ablation of Sh2b1 in the mediobasal hypothalamus also impairs the SNS/BAT/thermogenesis axis; conversely, hypothalamic overexpression of human SH2B1 has the opposite effects. Mice with either LepR neuron-specific or adult-onset, hypothalamus-specific ablation of Sh2b1 develop obesity, insulin resistance, and liver steatosis. In contrast, hypothalamic overexpression of SH2B1 protects against high fat diet-induced obesity and metabolic syndromes. Our results unravel an unrecognized LepR neuron Sh2b1/SNS/BAT/thermogenesis axis that combats obesity and metabolic disease. Leptin regulates the sympathetic nervous system, energy expenditure and body weight through incompletely understood mechanisms. Here the authors report that Sh2b1 in leptin receptor positive neurons mediates the ability of leptin to stimulate sympathetic nerve activity in brown adipose tissue, body temperature and cold tolerance.
Natural Killer Cells in Bronchoalveolar Lavage are Associated with Antibody-Mediated Rejection, CLAD, and Death in Lung Transplant Recipients

Purpose Natural killer (NK) cells mediate complement-independent cytotoxicity by binding donor specific antibodies (DSA) through the activating Fc receptor CD16A. We hypothesized that CD16+ NK cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) would be associated with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) and subsequent chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Methods BAL was prospectively collected during 507 bronchoscopies from 195 lung transplant recipients. NK cell populations in BAL were assessed by flow cytometry. Samples with low total cell counts were excluded. AMR was graded according to ISHLT criteria. Associations between outcomes and NK cell groups were determined with generalized estimating equations. The impact of CD16+ NK cell exposure on CLAD-free survival as a time-dependent covariate was determined by Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for subject characteristics. Results Absolute NK cells were increased in BAL from subjects with higher numbers of HLA mismatches (p=0.006). Compared to subjects with 0-2 HLA mismatches (1x105cells/L), there were increased absolute CD16+ NK cells in subjects with 3-6 HLA mismatches (250%, p=0.01), 7-10 mismatches (560%, p Conclusion BAL CD16+ NK cells were associated with HLA donor and recipient mismatching, AMR, and subsequent risk of CLAD or death. NK cells may mediate allograft injury observed in AMR, and NK cell phenotyping may prove a useful adjunct in assessing AMR.
The impact of microaggressions on Black college students' worry about their future employment: The moderating role of social support and academic achievement.

Objectives Several studies have documented the negative impact of microaggressions on anxiety among Black individuals. However, few investigations have examined the impact of microaggressions on Black college students' worries about their future employment and potential moderating factors. We examined whether there would be an association between microaggressions and worries about future employment. Furthermore, both social support and academic achievement (measured by grade point average) were purported to moderate this association. Method Secondary data analysis was used, with the study sample consisting of Black college students (n = 225) from a predominately White institution. Participants had a mean age of 20.43 years (SD = 1.79), with females comprising 74.80% of the sample. Results Results revealed that social support buffered the effect of microaggressions for low-achieving students, while a buffering effect of social support was not found for high-achieving students. Conclusions Perceived social support offers some protection against the exposure of racial microaggressions, although high-achieving Black college students (the most vulnerable to potential isolation and academic pressure) may not benefit from overall social support. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Automated closed-loop insulin delivery: system components, performance, and limitations

Abstract Closed-loop control of glucose concentrations in type 1 diabetes mellitus has progressed significantly over the last decade. Automated insulin delivery systems, or artificial pancreas systems, have advanced to incorporate model-based predictive controllers developed on the basis of adaptive and personalized glucose-insulin models. This chapter reviews the advancements and the state of the art in control algorithms and modeling paradigms employed to develop the artificial pancreas systems. Recent technological breakthroughs in dual-hormone systems, run-to-run control approaches, and multivariable control architectures for improving glycemic control are discussed. A novel integrated physiological and metabolic simulation platform for multivariable glucose, insulin, and physiological variables simulation is used to demonstrate the ability of the artificial pancreas systems to counteract the diverse meal and exercise disturbances and maintain euglycemia.
Court-affiliated diversion programs for prostitution-related crimes: a comprehensive review of program components and impact

OBJECTIVE Court diversion programs offer alternative treatment interventions in lieu of punitive sanctions. Programs have recently been developed for women arrested for prostitution, with a recognition that many of these individuals frequently experience multiple forms of violence and experience multiple barriers to exiting sex work. This review aims to (a) examine programmatic components used across programs, and (b) identify the diversionary programs' impact on participants. METHODS Studies were identified by entering key search words into three electronic databases and by conducting a citation search. RESULTS Nine articles were included in the review. Although programs varied in structure, services, and length of time, studies indicated a range of positive outcomes for participants. CONCLUSIONS Results help to illuminate future directions for criminal justice practice, policy, and research.
A Self-supervised Approach for Semantic Indexing in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic.

The pandemic has accelerated the pace at which COVID-19 scientific papers are published. In addition, the process of manually assigning semantic indexes to these papers by experts is even more time-consuming and overwhelming in the current health crisis. Therefore, there is an urgent need for automatic semantic indexing models which can effectively scale-up to newly introduced concepts and rapidly evolving distributions of the hyperfocused related literature. In this research, we present a novel semantic indexing approach based on the state-of-the-art self-supervised representation learning and transformer encoding exclusively suitable for pandemic crises. We present a case study on a novel dataset that is based on COVID-19 papers published and manually indexed in PubMed. Our study shows that our self-supervised model outperforms the best performing models of BioASQ Task 8a by micro-F1 score of 0.1 and LCA-F score of 0.08 on average. Our model also shows superior performance on detecting the supplementary concepts which is quite important when the focus of the literature has drastically shifted towards specific concepts related to the pandemic. Our study sheds light on the main challenges confronting semantic indexing models during a pandemic, namely new domains and drastic changes of their distributions, and as a superior alternative for such situations, propose a model founded on approaches which have shown auspicious performance in improving generalization and data efficiency in various NLP tasks. We also show the joint indexing of major Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and supplementary concepts improves the overall performance.
Controlling Polymorphism and Orientation of NU-901/NU-1000 Metal-Organic Framework Thin Films

NU-1000, a zirconium (Zr)-based metal–organic framework (MOF), is a promising candidate for heterogeneous catalysis, gas storage, electrocatalysis, and drug-delivery applications due to its large p...
Internet Usage and Economic Growth: The Case of Mexico

This paper finds that more internet users as a percentage of total population promote economic growth in Mexico and that the impact exhibited a nonlinear relation and was greater in the initial stage of Internet adoption. In addition, less government budget deficit as a percent of GDP, a higher real stock price, real peso appreciation, a higher real crude oil price or a lower expected inflation rate would enhance economic growth.
On the margins: action heroines in Coin-Locker Girl and The Villainess

In this paper, I examine Coin-Locker Girl (Chainataun, Han Jun-hee, 2015) and The Villainess (Aknyeo, Jung Byung-gil, 2017), two recent examples of women-centred action genre films through the key ...
The Anisotropic Yield Surface of Cellular Materials

The use of mechanical metamaterials in engineering applications is often limited because of uncertainty regarding their deformation behavior. This uncertainty necessitates large safety factors and assumptions about their behavior to be included in mechanical designs including metamaterials, which detracts from their greatest benefit, viz. their ultralight weight. In this study, a yield envelope was created for both a bending-dominated and a stretching-dominated cellular material topology to improve the understanding of the response of cellular materials under various load types and orientations. Experimental studies revealed that the shear strength of a cellular material is significantly lower than that predicted by Mohr’s criterion, necessitating a modification of the Mohr’s yield criterion for cellular materials. All topologies experienced tension–compression anisotropy and topology orientation anisotropy during loading, with the stretching-dominated topology experiencing the largest anisotropies.
Influences of Data Bases on Model Performance

Until recently, the ability to provide objective evaluations of air quality models has suffered from: The scarcity of adequate test data bases. The lack of a standardized statistical protocol for model evaluation.
Chapter 17 Regulation by nicotine of midbrain dopamine neurons

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the regulation of midbrain dopamine neurons by nicotine. The chapter summarizes the results of recent studies where two approaches are used to study the action of nicotine on midbrain dopamine neurons. The first was a neurochemical approach where the effect of nicotine on the release of dopamine in vitro using isolated slices and in vivo utilizing push-pull perfusion of rat striatum in freely moving unanesthetized rats is examined. The second approach is electrophysiological where the firing rates of dopamine and nondopamine cells is measured in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area of Tsai following systemic injection of nicotine following injection of the alkaloid into the terminal regions of these dopamine neurons, namely the caudate nucleus and nucleus accumbens. There is growing evidence that the so-called nigro-striato-nigral loop consists not only of the striatonigral projection and dopaminergic neurons which project back to the striatum, but also involves the nondopaminergic pars reticulata (SNR) neurons which have been demonstrated to influence other brainstem and thalamic nuclei with a tonic inhibition.
Serving in Africa: US Peace Corps in Cameroon

Based on a variety of primary sources including recently declassified documents, interviews in Cameroon, letters, and Peace Corps Volunteers’ personal correspondence, this study examines the service of the US Peace Corps in “Agroforestry” and “Small Enterprise Development” in Cameroon. The study argues that Volunteers were ill trained, ill prepared, and ill equipped for service in Cameroon, and as a result did not achieve Goal 1 of the Peace Corps Act, which calls on the agency to assist developing nations in gaining “trained manpower”. The study has broader implications, as it raises questions about the relevance of Peace Corps-like organizations in Cameroon, and in African nations as a whole. It focuses on Cameroon for a variety of reasons, among which is that Cameroon is one of only three nations in Africa in which Volunteers have served uninterruptedly since 1962.
Induction of the Ubiquitin–Proteasome Pathway during the Keratocyte Transition to the Repair Fibroblast Phenotype

PURPOSE To examine dynamics and function of the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome pathway (UPP) during corneal stromal cell acquisition of the repair fibroblast phenotype. METHODS An established cell culture model was used in which freshly isolated rabbit corneal stromal cells acquire a repair fibroblast phenotype, thereby mimicking injury-induced stromal cell activation. RESULTS Transition to the repair fibroblast phenotype during the 72 hours after initial plating was coincident with progressive UPP induction. Levels of Ub, Ub-conjugated proteins, ubiquitinylating enzymes E1 and E2-25K, and 26 S proteasome increased two- to fivefold in activated stromal cells. These increases were associated with enhanced (>10-fold) capacity for Ub-dependent proteolysis of (125)I-labeled H2A and with progressive (>6-fold) increases in the UPP substrate, inhibitor of kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha). Because IkappaBalpha expression is induced by nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, this finding suggests that rates of constitutive NF-kappaB activation, and thus IkappaBalpha degradation, are elevated in activated stromal cells. Both freshly isolated and activated stromal cells degraded IkappaBalpha in response to IL-1alpha; yet, only activated stromal cells maintained autocrine IL-1alpha expression after 24 hours. UPP induction was coincident with a more than 90% loss of tissue transketolase (TKT) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) class 1. TKT was stabilized during the repair phenotype transition by proteasome inhibition and was degraded (>30%/h) by the UPP in cell-free assays. CONCLUSIONS Coordinate induction of the UPP during stromal cell activation alters levels of IkappaBalpha and TKT, two UPP substrates that are implicated in the loss of tissue stasis and corneal clarity after injury.
Palliation of Massive Hemoptysis from Unresectable Carcinoma of the Lung

Unresectable carcinoma of the lung has traditionally been recognized as a contraindication to surgery in massive hemoptysis. A 60-year-old man had massive hemoptysis. At surgery an unresectable neoplastic mass invading the mediastinum and great vessels was encountered. Subtotal resection was accomplished using a stapler (Autostapler). The margins of the bronchial and vascular staples were of necessity placed directly through the tumor. The patient had an uneventful recovery and has survived six months without further hemoptysis. This method is presented as an effective strategic retreat under circumstances not permitting definitive therapy.
Adjuvant-Guided Type-1 and Type-2 Immunity: Infectious/Noninfectious Dichotomy Defines the Class of Response

Traditionally, protein Ags have been injected in CFA (oil with inactivated mycobacteria) to induce immunity and with IFA (oil alone) to induce tolerance. We report here that injection of hen eggwhite lysozyme, a prototypic Ag, in CFA-induced and IFA-induced pools of hen eggwhite lysozyme-specific memory T cells of comparable fine specificity, clonal size, and avidity spectrum, but with type-1 and type-2 cytokine signatures, respectively. This adjuvant-guided induction of virtually unipolar type-1 and type-2 immunity was observed with seven protein Ags and in a total of six mouse strains. Highly polarized type-1 and type-2 immunity are thus readily achievable through the choice of adjuvant, irrespective of the genetic bias of the host and of the nature of the protein Ag. This finding should have far-reaching implications for the development of vaccines against infectious and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, our demonstration that Ag injected with IFA is as strongly immunogenic for T cells as it is with CFA shows that the presence of the mycobacteria determines not the priming of naive T cells through the second-signal link but the path of downstream differentiation toward CD4 memory cells that express either type-1 or type-2 cytokines.
Localized mutagenesis and evidence for post-transcriptional regulation of MAK3. A putative N-acetyltransferase required for double-stranded RNA virus propagation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract The MAK3 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is necessary for the propagation of the L-A double-stranded RNA virus and its satellites, such as M1 that encodes a killer toxin. We cloned the MAK3 gene based on its genetic map position using physically mapped lambda-clones covering nearly all of the yeast genome. The minimal sequence necessary to complement the mak3-1 mutation contained 3 open reading frames (ORFs). Only one (ORF3) was necessary to complement mak3-1. A deletion insertion mutant of ORF3 grew slowly on nonfermentable carbon sources, an effect not due simply to its loss of L-A. Although ORF3 alone is sufficient for MAK3 activity when expressed from an expression vector, in its native context an additional 669 base pairs 3' to the ORF and complementary to the gene for a non-histone protein are necessary for expression, but not for normal steady state transcript levels. This suggests a post-transcriptional control of MAK3 expression by the 3' region. The MAK3 protein has substantial homology with several N-acetyltransferases with consensus patterns h..h.h. . . Y..[HK]GI[AG][KR].Lh. . .h and h.h[DE]. . . .N..A. . .Y . . .GF. . . .. . . .Y . . [DE]G, (h = hydrophobic). Mutation of any of the underlined conserved residues (94GI----AA, 123N----A, 130Y----A, 134GF----SL, 144Y----A, and 149G----A) inactivated the gene, supporting the hypothesis that MAK3 encodes an N-acetyltransferase.
The DNA replication licensing factor miniature chromosome maintenance 7 is essential for RNA splicing of epidermal growth factor receptor, c-met and platelet derived growth factor receptor

Miniature chromosome maintenance 7 (MCM7) is an essential component of DNA replication licensing complex. Recent studies indicate that MCM7 is amplified and over-expressed in a variety of human mal...
Growth of SrTiO3 on Si(001) by hybrid molecular beam epitaxy

We report the heteroepitaxial growth of SrTiO3 thin films on Si(001) by hybrid molecular beam epitaxy (hMBE). Here, elemental strontium and the metal-organic precursor titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) were co-supplied in the absence of additional oxygen. The carbonization of pristine Si surfaces during native oxide removal was avoided by freshly evaporating Sr into the hMBE reactor prior to loading samples. Nucleation, growth and crystallization behavior as well a structural properties and film surfaces were characterized for a series of 46-nm-thick SrTiO3 films grown with varying Sr to TTIP fluxes to study the effect of non-stoichiometric growth conditions on film lattice parameter and surface morphology. High quality SrTiO3 thin films with epitaxial relationship (001)SrTiO3 || (001)Si and [110]SrTiO3 || [100]Si were demonstrated with an amorphous layer of around 4 nm thickness formed at the SrTiO3/Si interface. The successful growth of high quality SrTiO3 thin films with atomically smooth surfaces using a thin film technique with scalable growth rates provides a promising route towards heterogeneous integration of functional oxides on Si. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Novel Global Tractography Algorithm Based on an Adaptive Spin Glass Model

This paper introduces a novel framework for global diffusion MRI tractography inspired from a spin glass model. The entire white matter fascicle map is parameterized by pieces of fibers called spins. Spins are encouraged to move and rotate to align with the main fiber directions, and to assemble into longer chains of low curvature. Moreover, they have the ability to adapt their quantity in regions where the spin concentration is not sufficient to correctly model the data. The optimal spin glass configuration is retrieved by an iterative minimization procedure, where chains are finally assimilated to fibers. As a result, all brain fibers appear as growing simultaneously until they merge with other fibers or reach the domain boundaries. In case of an ambiguity within a region like a crossing, the contribution of all neighboring fibers is used determine the correct neural pathway. This framework is tested on a MR phantom representing a 45° crossing and a real brain dataset. Notably, the framework was able to retrieve the triple crossing between the callosal fibers, the corticospinal tract and the arcuate fasciculus.
Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Memory, Oxidation, and Lifespan in SAMP8 Mice

Oxidative damage is associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid has been found to improve memory in mouse models of AD. Here, we administered alpha-lipoic acid daily to SAMP8 mice starting at 11 months of age and continuing until death. We found that treatment with alpha-lipoic acid decreased survival from 34 weeks in those receiving vehicle to 20 weeks. A subset of 18 month old mice given alpha-lipoic acid for two weeks and then tested in an object-place recognition paradigm had improved memory. A second subset of 18 month old mice given alpha-lipoic acid for two weeks and tested in the Barnes maze had improved learning. After testing, the mice were sacrificed and indices of oxidative damage were measured in the brain tissue. The mice that received alpha-lipoic acid had significantly increased glutathione and decreased glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde indicating reversal of oxidative stress. These results indicate that alpha-lipoic acid improves memory and reverses indices of oxidative stress in extremely old SAMP8 mice, but decreases lifespan. These findings are similar to studies using other types of antioxidants.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-binding protein null mutation results in defective mammary gland development.

A conditional null mutation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-binding protein (PBP) gene was generated to understand its role in mammary gland development. PBP-deficient mammary glands exhibited retarded ductal elongation during puberty, and decreased alveolar density during pregnancy and lactation. PBP-deficient mammary glands could not produce milk to nurse pups during lactation. Both the mammary ductal elongation in response to estrogen treatment and the mammary lobuloalveolar proliferation stimulated by estrogen plus progesterone were attenuated in PBP-deficient mammary glands. The proliferation index was decreased in PBP-deficient mammary glands. PBP-deficient mammary epithelial cells expressed abundant β-casein, whey acidic protein, and WDNM1 mRNA, indicating a relatively intact differentiated function. PBP-deficient epithelial cells were unable to form mammospheres, which were considered to be derived from mammary progenitor/stem cells. We conclude that PBP plays a pivotal role in the normal mammary gland development.
Monitoring product reliability and supply chain logistics in warranty data

In this paper, we show how warranty data may be used to monitor the distributions of time spent by the product in the supply chain and its time to failure after reaching the consumer using simulated data. In our proposed modeling method, we estimate the parameters of the two distributions based on available warranty data that are collected periodically. Standard I-MR charts in statistical process control are used in monitoring the parameters that affect supply chain and product reliability.
The Average Sample Number for Truncated Single and Double Attributes Acceptance Sampling Plans

In attributes sampling acceptance plans the decision to reject the lot can often be made before inspection of a single sample is completed. In double sampling, the same decision may be possible before inspection of the first sample is completed or, if a second sample is required, before the second sample is completely inspected. Or, in double sampling one may always complete the inspection of the first sample, but if a second sample is required, terminate inspection of the second sample if the lot can be rejected before it is completely inspected. Using two formulas, believed to be new, it is shown how to compute the average sample number under these three hinds of truncation and tables of results for typical sampling plans are given.
A link adaptive scheme for multihop cellular systems using congestion feedback

LTE-Advanced standards contemplate support for heterogeneous networks, through the use of relays, as well as the ability to perform carrier aggregation in order to achieve higher data rates. In this paper, we model the User Equipment's (UE) ability to select its current point-of-access to the network (either a relay or the base station), aggregate additional channels, and perform power adaptations. The adaptations by UEs affect one another, by impacting the interference conditions in the network as well as congestion conditions in the relay-to-base station links. We propose an adaptation mechanism whereby the UEs consider these factors and select their transmit power, channels, and point of access to the network to optimize a combination of achieved data rate and energy consumption. Our results show these adaptations to be more efficient than adaptations that simply consider current channel quality indicators, combined with greedy channel aggregation.
Managing the transition of adolescents with GH deficiency

From a pediatrician's perspective, the dominant feature of growth GH deficiency has always been slow growth with severe dwarfism unless GH is replaced. In the early years of GH therapy the hormone was so scarce that only severely affected children were offered treatment using dosing regimens considered modest by today's standards. The major goal of treatment was to stimulate linear growth, hopefully reaching a final height within the normal range, but generally accepting stature below that expected based on the parents' heights. The only indication for GH apart from this was to prevent hypoglycemia in GH-deficient infants. The advent of recombinant GH irrevocably altered the approach to individuals with GH deficiency. Treatment could be given at an early age, continuously and optimized for growth. Though the metabolic effects of GH have been known for years, it has only been over the last decade that the phenotype of adult GH deficiency has been defined and the beneficial effects of GH replacement proven for those who have completed skeletal growth. Now that we are in a new era of GH therapy for adults, physicians caring for children with GH deficiency must consider which patients may benefit from life-long replacement with GH. The use of GH for adults has been the subject of published consensus statements and reviews. The objective here is to focus on the issues that relate to the management of patients who are at the transitional stage of GH therapy, i.e. where linear growth in nearly complete or satisfactory and the issue of continuing GH for non-statural indications is at hand. What follows is brief discussion of what is known and what is not known concerning the use of GH during transition from adolescence to adulthood, accompanied by the Author's suggestions for management.
The incidence of central nervous system leukemia in adults with acute leukemia

To determine the incidence of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) in adults with acute leukemia (AL) we studied 299 patients admitted from 1966 to 1971, and reviewed 170 autopsies from that group. CNSL was diagnosed clinically in 38 of 299 (13%) patients, with a higher incidence in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) and a lower incidence in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and acute blastic crisis of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML-ABC). Autopsy evidence of CNSL was found in 43 of 170 (25%) evaluable autopsies with a higher incidence in ALL, AUL, and CML-ABC, and a lower incidence in AML. The incidence of CNSL is related to morphological type, age, sex, survival, and responsiveness to chemotherapy. Arachnoidal infiltration was associated with a higher incidence of other pathologic manifestations of CNSL and extramedullary leukemic infiltrations. CNSL is common enough in adult AL to warrant aggressive diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic measures.
Colocalization of calcium-dependent protease II and one of its substrates at sites of cell adhesion

Adhesion plaques, specialized regions of the plasma membrane where a cell contacts its substratum, are dynamic structures. However, little is known about how the protein-protein interactions that occur at adhesion plaques are controlled. One mechanism by which a cell might modulate its associations with the substratum is by selective, regulated proteolysis of an adhesion plaque component. Here we show that the catalytic subunit of the calcium-dependent protease type II (CDP-II) is localized in adhesion plaques of several cell types (BS-C-1, EBTr, and MDBK). We have compared the susceptibility of the adhesion plaque constituents vinculin, talin, and alpha-actinin to calcium-dependent proteolysis in vitro and have found talin to be the preferred substrate for CDP-II. The colocalization of a calcium-requiring proteolytic enzyme and talin in adhesion plaques raises the possibility that calcium-dependent proteolytic activity provides a mechanism for regulating some aspect of adhesion plaque physiology and function via cleavage of talin.
Preparation and stoichiometry effects on microstructure and properties of high purity BaTio3

Effects of stoichiometry, precursor origin and powder synthesis method on sintered microstructure and dielectric properties of commercial high purity BaTiO3 were examined, with a view to potential interchangeability. Powders used were prepared by conventional calcination, by precipitation from oxalate precursors and by hydrothermal synthesis. Stoichiometric (Ba:Ti) ratios were in the range 0.987 to 1.002. Characterization by SEM, x-ray diffraction, BET surface area and particle size analysis revealed significant differences, particularly in agglomerate structure, resulting in different microstructural development. Stoichiometric effects on microstructure were also significant, if predictable. However, the combined effects of agglomerate structure and stoichiometry on measured dielectric properties could not be predicted, hence interchangeability of powders could not be achieved.
Choosing Money over Drugs: The Neural Underpinnings of Difficult Choice in Chronic Cocaine Users

Addiction is considered a disorder that drives individuals to choose drugs at the expense of healthier alternatives. However, chronic cocaine users (CCUs) who meet addiction criteria retain the ability to choose money in the presence of the opportunity to choose cocaine. The neural mechanisms that differentiate CCUs from non-cocaine using controls (Controls) while executing these preferred choices remain unknown. Thus, therapeutic strategies aimed at shifting preferences towards healthier alternatives remain somewhat uninformed. This study used BOLD neuroimaging to examine brain activity as fifty CCUs and Controls performed single- and cross-commodity intertemporal choice tasks for money and/or cocaine. Behavioral analyses revealed preferences for each commodity type. Imaging analyses revealed the brain activity that differentiated CCUs from Controls while choosing money over cocaine. We observed that CCUs devalued future commodities more than Controls. Choices for money as opposed to cocaine correlated with greater activity in dorsal striatum of CCUs, compared to Controls. In addition, choices for future money as opposed to immediate cocaine engaged the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of CCUs more than Controls. These data suggest that the ability of CCUs to execute choices away from cocaine relies on activity in the dorsal striatum and left DLPFC.
Sequence and submolecular localization of the 115-kD accessory subunit of the heterotrimeric kinesin-II (KRP85/95) complex

The heterotrimeric kinesin-II holoenzyme purified from sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) eggs is assembled from two heterodimerized kinesin-related motor subunits of known sequence, together with a third, previously uncharacterized 115-kD subunit, SpKAP115. Using monospecific anti-SpKAP115 antibodies we have accomplished the molecular cloning and sequencing of the SpKAP115 subunit. The deduced sequence predicts a globular 95-kD non-motor "accessory" polypeptide rich in alpha-helical segments that are generally not predicted to form coiled coils. Electron microscopy of individual rotary shadowed kinesin-II holoenzymes also suggests that SpKAP115 is globular, with a somewhat asymmetric morphology. Moreover, the SpKAP115 subunit lies at one end of the 51-nm-long kinesin-II complex, being separated from the two presumptive motor domains by a approximately 26-nm-long rod, in a manner similar to the light chains (KLCs) of kinesin itself. This indicates that SpKAP115 and the KLCs may have analogous functions, yet SpKAP115 does not display significant sequence similarity with the KLCs. The results show that kinesin and kinesin-II are assembled from highly divergent accessory polypeptides together with kinesin related motor subunits (KRPs) containing conserved motor domains linked to divergent tails. Despite the lack of sequence conservation outside the motor domains, there is striking conservation of the ultrastructure of the kinesin and kinesin-II holoenzymes.
Examining How Activity Shapes Students' Interactions While Creating Representations in Early Elementary Science.

It is common practice in elementary science classrooms to have students create representations, such as drawings, as a way of exploring new content. While numerous studies suggest the benefits of representation in science, the majority focus on specific, canonical representations, such as graphs. Few offer insight or guidance regarding how teachers might effectively incorporate ad hoc, non-normative student-generated representations in their curricula. This study addresses this gap by detailing the relationship between two designed activities—one that supported more open-ended engagement with referents and the other that promoted a synthesis of referents—and the representational products that students generated as a result. We present data from a mixed age classroom (ages 6–9, N = 32) as students depicted their understanding of loggerhead sea turtles. Findings indicate that students performed better when working alone in the open condition and in collaborative dyads in the synthesize condition. These resu...
An ethnographic study of distributed problem solving in spreadsheet development

In contrast to the common view of spreadsheets as “single-user” programs, we have found that spreadsheets offer surprisingly strong support for cooperative development of a wide variety of applications. Ethnographic interviews with spreadsheet users showed that nearly all of the spreadsheets used in the work environments studied were the result of collaborative work by people with different levels of programming and domain expertise. Cooperation among spreadsheet users was spontaneous and casual; users activated existing informal social networks to initiate collaboration.
Palliative Sedation Versus Euthanasia: An Ethical Assessment

The aim of this article was to review the ethical debate concerning palliative sedation. Although recent guidelines articulate the differences between palliative sedation and euthanasia, the ethical controversies remain. The dominant view is that euthanasia and palliative sedation are morally distinct practices. However, ambiguous moral experiences and considerable practice variation call this view into question. When heterogeneous sedative practices are all labeled as palliative sedation, there is the risk that palliative sedation is expanded to include practices that are actually intended to bring about the patients' death. This troublesome expansion is fostered by an expansive use of the concept of intention such that this decisive ethical concept is no longer restricted to signify the aim in guiding the action. In this article, it is argued that intention should be used in a restricted way. The significance of intention is related to other ethical parameters to demarcate the practice of palliative sedation: terminality, refractory symptoms, proportionality, and separation from other end-of-life decisions. These additional parameters, although not without ethical and practical problems, together formulate a framework to ethically distinguish a more narrowly defined practice of palliative sedation from practices that are tantamount to euthanasia. Finally, the article raises the question as to what impact palliative sedation might have on the practice of palliative care itself. The increasing interest in palliative sedation may reemphasize characteristics of health care that initially encouraged the emergence of palliative care in the first place: the focus on therapy rather than care, the physical dimension rather than the whole person, the individual rather than the community, and the primacy of intervention rather than receptiveness and presence.
Very Low Pressure Magnetron Reactive Ion Etching of GaN and AlxGa1−xN Using Dichlorofluoromethane (Halocarbon 12)

In this work we report on the magnetron reactive ion etch (MRIE) technology for gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminum gallium nitride (Al x Ga1−x N) using dichlorodifluoromethane (CCl2F2), commonly known as halocarbon 12, with etch rates greater than 1,000 and 840 A/min, respectively. Magnetic confinement of a very low pressure (10−4 Torr range) radio frequency (RF) discharge generates high-density plasmas, with low sheath voltages at the bounding surfaces, and very high dissociation of the source gas. Furthermore, the very low pressure of the etch process is characterized by long mean free paths so that sputtering contamination is reduced. MRIE chemistry has been monitored in situ by means of mass spectroscopy. Finally, we report on the successful fabrication of an indium gallium nitride (In x Ga1−x N) blue light emitting diode (LED), whose fabrication sequence included the MRIE etching of GaN in CCl2F2.
Deficits in docosahexaenoic acid and associated elevations in the metabolism of arachidonic acid and saturated fatty acids in the postmortem orbitofrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder.

Previous antemortem and postmortem tissue fatty acid composition studies have observed significant deficits in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in red blood cell (RBC) and postmortem cortical membranes of patients with unipolar depression. In the present study, we determined the fatty acid composition of postmortem orbitofrontal cortex (OFC, Brodmann area 10) of patients with bipolar disorder (n=18) and age-matched normal controls (n=19) by gas chromatography. After correction for multiple comparisons, DHA (-24%), arachidonic acid (-14%), and stearic acid (C18:0) (-4.5%) compositions were significantly lower, and cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) (+12.5%) composition significantly higher, in the OFC of bipolar patients relative to normal controls. Based on metabolite:precursor ratios, significant elevations in arachidonic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid conversion/metabolism were observed in the OFC of bipolar patients, and were inversely correlated with DHA composition. Deficits in OFC DHA and arachidonic acid composition, and elevations in arachidonic acid metabolism, were numerically (but not significantly) greater in drug-free bipolar patients relative to patients treated with mood-stabilizer or antipsychotic medications. OFC DHA and arachidonic acid deficits were greater in patients plus normal controls with high vs. low alcohol abuse severity. These results add to a growing body of evidence implicating omega-3 fatty acid deficiency as well as the OFC in the pathoaetiology of bipolar disorder. Language: en
The Effects of High Environmental Temperature on Thyroid Secretion Rate of Domestic Fowl

Abstract THERE is considerable evidence that the thyroid gland of birds responds to environmental temperature changes (Hoffman and Shaffner, 1950; Joiner and Huston, 1957; Premachandra et al., 1959; Heninger et al., 1960; Stahl and Turner, 1961). Studies have shown a relationship between thyroxine secretion rate and growth (Schultze and Turner, 1945; Glazener and Shaffner, 1948; Glazener et al., 1949; Hoffmann, 1950; Premachandra et al., 1958). Since growth rate and egg production are retarded by high environmental temperatures, an experiment was designed to measure the thyroid secretion rate of fowl of different ages exposed to different environmental temperatures. MATERIALS AND METHODS The birds used in all three trials were held from day of hatch in a room with a constant environmental temperature of either 66°F. or 88°F. All birds were grown in battery brooders until four weeks of age. Brooder temperatures were maintained at 95°F. the first week and dropped 5°F. each …
MRI screening in a clinic population with a family history of breast cancer.

Background Breast MRI is increasingly being used in patients at increased risk for breast cancer; however, guidelines for MRI screening are inadequately defined. We describe our experience with MRI screening in a large population of women with a family history of breast cancer.
In situ studies of ion irradiated inverse spinel compound magnesium stannate (Mg2SnO4)

Abstract Magnesium stannate spinel (Mg2SnO4) was synthesized through conventional solid state processing and then irradiated with 1.0 MeV Kr2+ ions at low temperatures 50 and 150 K. Structural evolutions during irradiation were monitored and recorded through bright field images and selected-area electron diffraction patterns using in situ transmission electron microscopy. The amorphization of Mg2SnO4 was achieved at an ion dose of 5 × 1019 Kr ions/m2 at 50 K and 1020 Kr ions/m2 at 150 K, which is equivalent to an atomic displacement damage of 5.5 and 11.0 dpa, respectively. The spinel crystal structure was thermally recovered at room temperature from the amorphous phase caused by irradiation at 50 K. The calculated electronic and nuclear stopping powers suggest that the radiation damage caused by 1 MeV Kr2+ ions in Mg2SnO4 is mainly due to atomic displacement induced defect accumulation. The radiation tolerance of Mg2SnO4 was finally compared with normal spinel MgAl2O4.
Yb3+ energy levels in α-Al2O3

Abstract The incorporation of rare earth ions into α-Al2O3 is difficult due to the large difference between the rare earth and the Al3+ ionic radii. Recently, rare earth doped α-Al2O3 has been synthesized via the sol–gel technique. In this process, rare earth doped γ-Al2O3 is produced first, which can then, upon sintering, be converted into the α-phase. It has to be noted that this technique leads to a number of different rare earth containing phases in addition to the desired phase in which the rare earth ions substitutes for an Al3+ ion, particularly in heavily doped samples. Also, the sol–gel produced α-Al2O3 is polycrystalline, which prohibits an investigation of the polarization of optical transitions. Here, we report on optical studies of Yb3+ doped single crystalline Al2O3, grown by the laser heated pedestal growth technique. This technique, in which a focused CO2 laser beam is used to melt polycrystalline precursors, produces single crystal fibers with typically 1 mm diameter and 15 mm length. Single crystal seeds enable the growth of oriented samples. Using absorption, photoexcitation, and emission measurements, the energy level diagram of Yb3+ in α-Al2O3 : Yb3+has been determined. We note that only a small amount of Yb3+ions enter the lattice substitutionally, and that higher dopant concentration again leads to the presence of a variety of Yb containing phases.
PRISM: A Planned Risk Information Seeking Model

Recent attention on health-related information seeking has focused primarily on information seeking within specific health and health risk contexts. This study attempts to shift some of that focus to individual-level variables that may impact health risk information seeking across contexts. To locate these variables, the researcher posits an integrated model, the Planned Risk Information Seeking Model (PRISM). The model, which treats risk information seeking as a deliberate (planned) behavior, maps variables found in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991) and the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model (RISP; Griffin, Dunwoody, & Neuwirth, 1999), and posits linkages among those variables. This effort is further informed by Kahlor's (2007) Augmented RISP, the Theory of Motivated Information Management (Afifi & Weiner, 2004), the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (Johnson & Meischke, 1993), the Health Information Acquisition Model (Freimuth, Stein, & Kean, 1989), and the Extended Parallel Processing Model (Witte, 1998). The resulting integrated model accounted for 59% of the variance in health risk information-seeking intent and performed better than the TPB or the RISP alone.
Cross-National Cultural Diffusion: The Global Spread of Cricket:

This article explores the dynamics of cross-national cultural diffusion through the study of a case in which a symbolically powerful cultural practice, the traditionally English sport of cricket, successfully diffused to most but not all countries with close cultural ties to England. Neither network ties, nor national values, nor climatic conditions account for this disparity. Our explanation hinges instead on two key factors: first, the degree to which elites chose either to appropriate the game and deter others from participating or actively to promote it throughout the population for hegemonic purposes; and second, the degree to which the game was “popularized” by cultural entrepreneurs looking to get and keep spectators and athletes interested in the sport. Both outcomes relate to the nature of status hierarchies in these different societies, as well as the agency of elites and entrepreneurs in shaping the cultural valence of the game. The theoretical significance of this project is thus the observati...