cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BRAF and AXL oncogenes drive RIPK3 expression loss in cancer

Necroptosis is a lytic programmed cell death mediated by the RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL pathway. The loss of Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) expression and necroptotic potential have been previously reported in several cancer cell lines; however, the extent of this loss across cancer types, as well as its mutational drivers, were unknown. Here, we show that RIPK3 expression loss occurs progressively during tumor growth both in patient tumor biopsies and tumor xenograft models. Using a cell-based necroptosis sensitivity screen of 941 cancer cell lines, we find that escape from necroptosis is prevalent across cancer types, with an incidence rate of 83%. Genome-wide bioinformatics analysis of this differential necroptosis sensitivity data in the context of differential gene expression and mutation data across the cell lines identified various factors that correlate with resistance to necroptosis and loss of RIPK3 expression, including oncogenes BRAF and AXL. Inhibition of these oncogenes can rescue the RIPK3 expression loss and regain of necroptosis sensitivity. This genome-wide analysis also identifies that the loss of RIPK3 expression is the primary factor correlating with escape from necroptosis. Thus, we conclude that necroptosis resistance of cancer cells is common and is oncogene driven, suggesting that escape from necroptosis could be a potential hallmark of cancer, similar to escape from apoptosis.
Correction: Novel variants in COL4A4 and COL4A5 are rare causes of FSGS in two unrelated families.

The originally published version of this Article contained an error in the name of the author Nabeel Aslam, which was incorrectly given as Aslam Nabeel. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Human Mars Entry, Descent and Landing Architecture Study: Deployable Decelerators

NASA’s Entry, Descent and Landing Architecture Study uses a trajectory simulation framework to evaluate various technologies and concepts of operations for human scale EDL at Mars. The study results inform agency technology investments. This paper summarizes the design assumptions and analysis of two deployable entry concepts performed in Phase 2 of the study. The entry concepts include a rigid deployable called the Adaptable Deployable Entry Placement Technology and an inflatable concept called the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator. This paper describes the concept operations of these vehicles to deliver a 20-metric ton payload to the surface of Mars. Details of vehicle design and flight performance are summarized along with results of analysis on the aft body heating and its effect on the payload. Finally, recommended technology investments based on the results are presented.
Automatic Synchronization for GPU Kernels

We present a technique for automatic synthesis of efficient and provably correct synchronization in GPU kernels. Our technique relies on an off-the-shelf correctness oracle and achieves efficient synthesis by leveraging the race location information provided by the oracle in order to encode optimal synchronization synthesis as a MaxSAT problem. We have implemented our technique in a tool called AUTOSYNC that works on kernels written in CUDA and uses a static verifier GPUVERIFY as the correctness oracle. An evaluation on 18 realistic kernels from the GPUVERIFY benchmark suite shows that AUTOSYNC is able to synthesize optimal synchronization placements, and synthesis times are reasonable (20 seconds for our largest benchmark).
Multiple Dopamine Systems: Weal and Woe of Dopamine

The ability to predict future outcomes increases the fitness of the animal. Decades of research have shown that dopamine neurons broadcast reward prediction error (RPE) signals-the discrepancy between actual and predicted reward-to drive learning to predict future outcomes. Recent studies have begun to show, however, that dopamine neurons are more diverse than previously thought. In this review, we will summarize a series of our studies that have shown unique properties of dopamine neurons projecting to the posterior "tail" of the striatum (TS) in terms of anatomy, activity, and function. Specifically, TS-projecting dopamine neurons are activated by a subset of negative events including threats from a novel object, send prediction errors for external threats, and reinforce avoidance behaviors. These results indicate that there are at least two axes of dopamine-mediated reinforcement learning in the brain-one learning from canonical RPEs and another learning from threat prediction errors. We argue that the existence of multiple learning systems is an adaptive strategy that makes possible each system optimized for its own needs. The compartmental organization in the mammalian striatum resembles that of a dopamine-recipient area in insects (mushroom body), pointing to a principle of dopamine function conserved across phyla.
Abstract 009: Comparative Associations of Peripheral Artery Disease vs. Prevalent Myocardial Infarction or Stroke with Subsequent Mortality in the US Population, NHANES 1999-2004

Background: The FOURIER trial of a PCSK9 inhibitor in patients with prevalent cardiovascular disease reported that patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) without myocardial infarction (MI) o...
A temporal thymic selection switch and ligand binding kinetics constrain neonatal Foxp3+Tregcell development.

The neonatal thymus generates Foxp3+ regulatory T (tTreg) cells that are critical in controlling immune homeostasis and preventing multiorgan autoimmunity. The role of antigen specificity on neonatal tTreg cell selection is unresolved. Here we identify 17 self-peptides recognized by neonatal tTreg cells, and reveal ligand specificity patterns that include self-antigens presented in an age- and inflammation-dependent manner. Fate-mapping studies of neonatal peptidyl arginine deiminase type IV (Padi4)-specific thymocytes reveal disparate fate choices. Neonatal thymocytes expressing T cell receptors that engage IAb-Padi4 with moderate dwell times within a conventional docking orientation are exported as tTreg cells. In contrast, Padi4-specific T cell receptors with short dwell times are expressed on CD4+ T cells, while long dwell times induce negative selection. Temporally, Padi4-specific thymocytes are subject to a developmental stage-specific change in negative selection, which precludes tTreg cell development. Thus, a temporal switch in negative selection and ligand binding kinetics constrains the neonatal tTreg selection window.
Lp(a): Addressing a Target for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

To review the current recommendations for lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) screening, the evidence behind the thresholds for increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and the available data supporting Lp(a) lowering. Lp(a) is almost entirely genetically determined and has an independent causal association with CVD. Measurement of Lp(a) is challenging given the structural heterogeneity of apolipoprotein a (apo(a)), for which isoform-insensitive immunoassays should be used. Current guidelines do not recommend treatment to lower Lp(a) but rather focus on intensified preventive measures including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering in patients with high Lp(a). Evidence suggests that levels higher than 50 mg/dL (125 nmol/L) identify significantly increased CVD risk. Mendelian randomization studies suggest that in order to have a clinically significant reduction in coronary heart disease, Lp(a) levels should be reduced by at least 60–70 mg/dL to attain a significant benefit. Ongoing studies of targeted therapy with antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) have shown promising reductions in Lp(a) up to 80%, but a cardiovascular outcomes trial is needed. There is unquestionably an increased risk for CVD in patients with elevated Lp(a); however, measurement assay issues and the lack of Lp(a)-targeted therapies with proven outcome reduction limit the clinical utility of this important risk factor. Available evidence suggesting specific thresholds for clinically significant CVD risk are based on European or Caucasian populations, not accounting for important racial differences. Novel Lp(a)-targeted emerging therapies may need to account for an expected reduction of at least 60–70 mg/dL to achieve a clinically significant benefit.
Abstract P228: Do Cardiometabolic Risk Profiles Differ Across Race-Ethnicity? An Analysis of the Most Active U.S. Adults in the 2003-2006 NHANES

Introduction: Previous studies have revealed a significant, inverse dose-response relationship between total activity counts/day (TAC/d) and several cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF). An ongoing ...
Zebra or quagga mussel dominance depends on trade-offs between growth and defense—Field support from Onondaga Lake, NY

Two invasive mussels (zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha and quagga mussel D. rostriformis bugensis) have restructured the benthic habitat of many water bodies in both Europe and North America. Quagga mussels dominate in most lakes where they co-occur even though zebra mussels typically invade lakes first. A reversal to zebra mussel over time has rarely been observed. Laboratory experiments have shown that quagga mussels grow faster than zebra mussels when predator kairomones are present and this faster growth is associated with lower investment in anti-predator response in quagga mussels than zebra mussels. This led to the hypothesis that the dominance of quagga mussels is due to faster growth that is not offset by higher vulnerability to predators when predation rates are low, as may be expected in newly colonized lakes. It follows that in lakes with high predation pressure, the anti-predatory investments of zebra mussels should be more advantageous and zebra mussels should be the more abundant of the two species. In Onondaga Lake, NY, a meso-eutrophic lake with annual mussel surveys from 2005 to 2018, quagga mussels increased from less than 6% of the combined mussel biomass in 2007 to 82% in 2009 (from 3 to 69% by number), rates typical of this displacement process elsewhere, but then declined again to 11-20% of the mussel biomass in 2016-2018. Average total mussel biomass also declined from 344-524 g shell-on dry weight (SODW)/m2 in 2009-2011 to 34-73 g SODW/m2 in 2016-2018, mainly due to fewer quagga mussels. This decline in total mussel biomass and a return to zebra mussel as the most abundant species occurred as the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) increased in abundance. Both the increase to dominance of quagga mussels and the subsequent decline following the increase in this molluscivorous fish are consistent with the differences in the trade-off between investment in growth and investment in defenses of the two species. We predict that similar changes in dreissenid mussel populations will occur in other lakes following round goby invasions, at least on the habitats colonized by both species.
Responding to Change in Higher Education: The Case of the Nonprofit Leadership Studies Program at Murray State University and Program Identity

Nonprofit studies programs have grown over the past three decades in both number and size. Although scholars have devoted increasing attention to both the field of study and its infrastructure, not much attention has been devoted to the administration of these programs. This study reviews the over three-decade-long history and development of the nonprofit leadership studies program at Murray State University and reflects on the various challenges the program has faced, including enrollment concerns, program reorganization, and declining resources. This analysis highlights the importance of developing a clear program identity, which in this case was shaped around the concepts of service learning and student philanthropy. The conclusions extrapolate broad recommendations that can serve as a road map to similar programs that face common budgetary and enrollment challenges in a changing higher education landscape. Subscribe to JNEL
African American Perceptions of Police Misconduct and Accountability

This article examines city residents’ reported experiences with and perceptions of various forms of police misconduct as well as their perspectives on two types of accountability mechanisms: internal and external to the police department. The data are derived from in-depth interviews with adult African American residents of the city. Our findings highlight the complexities involved in establishing credible citizen-led review boards, particularly in the types of cities such as the one examined here, East St. Louis. Survey research reveals that a majority of the public supports the principle of external oversight, but this general support may be diluted in settings where the public lacks confidence in both the police and in external mechanisms of accountability. The study draws on rich, qualitative data in examining the factors and universes of meaning that influence public attitudes toward police misconduct and accountability.
Cross-Cutting Skills: Strategies for Teaching & Learning.

This conceptual article focuses on teaching and learning strategies aimed at helping students in higher education develop cross-crossing skills such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, p...
An open-access occurrence database for Andean bears in Peru

The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature; however, the lack of knowledge regarding different aspects of its ecology, biogeography, and abundance hinders the conservation efforts of researchers and managers. To address the high cost of acquiring information and the lack of systematized data, we created a database for records of this species in Peru. We compiled Andean bear occurrence records in Peru for the years 1980–2018 from different sources, including direct observations, indirect observations (footprints, food remains, bear beds and scats), and camera-trap photographs from published literature, gray literature, and environmental impact studies. With collaboration from many colleagues, we obtained 973 records and created an open access database by using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility data repository. We encourage the use, publication, and sharing of raw data from studies and opportunistic observations to gain better knowledge and support for the conservation of the Andean bear and other threatened species.
Prospective Evaluation of Surgical and Anesthetic Technique of Carpal Tunnel Release in an Orthopedic Practice.

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine whether the type of anesthesia (monitored anesthesia care [MAC] vs wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet technique [WALANT]) or the surgical technique (mini-open vs endoscopic) would affect patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control, postoperative pain, or opioid use after carpal tunnel release (CTR). The hypothesis was that endoscopic and open CTR surgery would have the same patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control, postoperative pain, and opioid use, but WALANT surgery would have higher patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control, postoperative pain, and opioid use than MAC. Methods This prospective study examined all patients undergoing carpal tunnel surgery by 4 hand surgeons at our institution. Two surgeons perform primarily 1-incision endoscopic CTR and the other 2 perform mini-open CTR. Two surgeons perform all procedures under WALANT; the other 2 employ MAC with a local anesthetic. Postsurgical questionnaires were completed at the 2-week postoperative visit. Patients reported remaining pills, average pain, highest pain, lowest pain, and overall satisfaction with postoperative pain control. Results A total of 93 patients underwent CTR by the 4 participating hand surgeons. Of these, 43 underwent open CTR and 50 underwent endoscopic CTR. Sixty-two were performed under MAC and 31 with WALANT. With regard to anesthesia type, overall there was 5.5 mean morphine equivalents (MME) less prescribed and an average of 3.6 MME more remaining on the first postoperative visit with WALANT compared with MAC. Patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control was an average score of 7.9 for MAC and 7.4 for WALANT. With regard to surgical technique, overall, there was 15.2 MME less prescribed and an average of 1.03 MME more remaining on the first postoperative visit with endoscopic CTR compared with open CTR. Patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control between endoscopic and open release demonstrated an average score of 7.1 and 8.0, respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrates minimal differences in opioid pain medication use, patient satisfaction with postoperative pain control, and pain scores in a comparison of surgical technique as well as anesthesia type. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Mechanism of Diuresis and Natriuresis by Cannabinoids: Evidence for Inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase in Mouse Kidney Thick Ascending Limb Tubules.

The endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA), stimulates cannabinoid receptors (CBR) and is enriched in the kidney, especially the renal medulla. AEA infused into the renal outer medulla of mice stimulates urine flow rate and salt excretion. Here we show that these effects are blocked by the CBR Type I (CB1) inverse agonist, rimonabant. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of CB1 in thick ascending limb (TAL) tubules. Western immunoblotting demonstrated the presence of CB1 (52 KDa) in the cortex and outer medulla of mouse kidney. The effect of direct (CP55940 (CP) or AEA) or indirect (fatty acyl amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor, PF3845 (PF)) cannabinoidimetics on Na+ transport in isolated mouse TAL tubules was studied using the Na+-sensitive dye, SBFI-AM. Switching from 0 Na+ solution to control Ringers solution (CR) rapidly increased TAL cell [Na+]i. Addition of CP to CR produced a further elevation, similar in magnitude to that of ouabain, a Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitor. This [Na+]i-elevating effect of CP was time-dependent, required the presence of Na+ in the bathing solution, and was insensitive to Na+-K+-2Cl- co-transporter (NKCC2) inhibition. Addition of PF to CR elevated [Na+]i in FAAH wildtype but not FAAH knockout (KO) TALs, whereas the additions of CP and AEA to PF-treated FAAH KO TALs increased [Na+]i. An interaction between cannabinoidimetics and ouabain (Ou) was observed. Ou produced less increase in [Na+]i after cannabinoidimetic treatment, whereas cannabinoidimetics had less effect after Ou treatment. It is concluded that cannabinoidimetics, including CP and AEA, inhibit Na+ transport in TALs by inhibiting Na+ exit via Na+-K+-ATPase. Significance Statement Cannabinoids including endocannabinoids induce renal urine and salt excretion and are proposed to play a physiological role in the regulation of blood pressure. Our data suggest that the mechanism of the cannabinoids involves inhibition of the sodium pump, Na+,K+-ATPase, in thick ascending limb cells and, likely, other proximal and distal tubular segments of the kidney nephron.
The Changing Meaning of Citizenship and Identity and a Perspective Model of Citizenship Education

There has been a dramatic worldwide renewal of interest in citizenship in the last several decades. This interest was ignited by a number of steady, sometimes contradictory, trends such as, a growing role of minorities in society, reevaluation of the position of women, rise of nationalism, and the impact of globalization. Citizenship education that was originally tasked with instilling patriotic and nationalist sentiments has increasingly become a space for critical reassessment of the place and role of a government in society. The global trend and eventual delocalization of citizenship brought up new challenges to citizenship education. On the one hand, citizenship is used in education discourses and spaces as an ideological tool to instill loyalty and preserve narrow traditionalistic communitarian view of responsibility in a community; on the other, citizenship is interpreted as an active agency of change on all levels, including global. This chapter analyzes the convergence of the subject of citizenship education and the new tasks derived from this convergence that citizenship education is inevitably going to face.
Value sensitive design as a formative framework

In this article, we first offer a model of design knowledge types (know-about, know-that, know-how) and their interrelationships in value sensitive design. Then we demonstrate that value sensitive design is a formative framework, which provides a shaping influence on practice, enables creative appropriation, and supports theory and method development.
More Than Shelter: Housing for Urban Maternal and Infant Health.

Housing quality, stability, and affordability have a direct relationship to socioemotional and physical health. Both city planning and public health have long recognized the role of housing in health, but the complexity of this relationship in regard to infant and maternal health is less understood. Focusing on literature specifically relevant to U.S. metropolitan areas, I conduct a multidisciplinary literature review to understand the influence of housing factors and interventions that impact infant and maternal health. The paper seeks to achieve three primary goals. First, to identify the primary “pathways” by which housing influences infant and maternal health. Second, the review focuses on the role and influence of historical housing discrimination on maternal health outcomes. Third, the review identifies emergent practice-based housing interventions in planning and public health practice to support infant and maternal health. The literature suggests that the impact of housing on infant health is complex, multifaceted, and intergenerational. Historical housing discrimination also directly impacts contemporary infant and maternal health outcomes. Policy interventions to support infant health through housing are just emerging but demonstrate promising outcomes. Structural barriers to housing affordability in the United States will require new resources to foster greater collaboration between the housing and the health sectors.
Description of an Association Between Leukocytosis and Clinical Outcomes in Large Hemispheric Infarctions

Abstract Background Large hemispheric infarctions (LHI) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Leukocytosis has been observed to directly correlate with stroke severity but has not been specifically described in the LHI population. We hypothesized that patients with LHI and leukocytosis on admission have worse clinical outcomes. Methods Retrospective study of patients admitted to the neurosciences intensive care unit at a tertiary care center with the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke from Jan 2012 to Dec 2018. Inclusion criteria included admission imaging with stroke size greater than two-thirds of the middle cerebral artery territory, with or without other vascular territory involvement. Patients were excluded if antibiotics were started on admission for presumed infection. White blood cell count was recorded at admission, along with Modified Rankin Scale on admission and discharge, need for mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, and discharge disposition. Logistic regression was used for association measures. Results Of the 2,318 patients that were screened, 360 met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 64, median was 63; 51.7% were female. Mean and median NIHSS were 21. Leukocytosis on admission was seen in 139 patients (38.6%), and it was associated with need for mechanical ventilation (p Conclusions Leukocytosis on admission in patients with LHI significantly correlated with mortality and need for mechanical ventilation. There was a trend towards association with poor outcome at discharge, although not statistically significant. Further research may identify how leukocytosis and other SIRS markers may be used to prognosticate outcomes in this challenging patient population.
Phenotyping as disciplinary practice: Data infrastructure and the interprofessional conflict over drug use in California:

The narrative of the digital phenotype as a transformative vector in healthcare is nearly identical to the concept of “data drivenness” in other fields such as law enforcement. We examine the role ...
New Perspectives in P-Selectin Biology

P-selectin is a cell adhesion molecule that is an integral membrane protein of the alpha granules of resting platelets 1,2 and the Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells3,4. Stimulation of these cells results in translocation of P-selectin to the plasma membrane where it serves as a receptor for leukocytes5,6. P-selectin is a member of the selectin family of adhesion molecules. It shares a common domain structure with other family members, E-selectin and L-selectin. These proteins contain a lectin domain, an EGF domain, a variable number of concensus repeats, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail7,8,9,10
Meritocracy, Technocracy, Democracy: Understandings of Racial and Gender Equity in American Engineering Education

The idea that technological labor produces both individual security and satisfaction and societal benefits has shaped engineering education in the United States since its inception. Educators and employers have historically cast engineering instruction as a route towards individual and collective uplift for the nation’s citizens. But ideologies of racial, gender, and other categories of difference predicated on identity underlie all such claims and explain the less-than-democratic character of STEM occupations, in which minority citizens, women, LGBT persons and persons with disabilities remain under-represented despite decades-old legal proscriptions against such discrimination. This chapter explores two linked logics that perpetuate this inequitable distribution of opportunities: the technocratic understanding of engineering as an enterprise in which power relations play no part; and the related construction of engineering education as a field based solely on meritocratic judgments about eligibility and skill. Through both of these formulations American engineering supports the ongoing exclusion of certain communities based on perceived heritage and ascriptions of potential in turn based on those identities. This chapter also frames a recent strengthening of these ideologies under emergent neoliberal understandings of market, state, and the agency of individual citizens-as-learners. Finally, given the origins of engineering knowledge and practice in discriminatory social relations, this chapter asks whether improved diversity in engineering would in fact represent a liberatory change.
A new silicon-on-glass process for integrated sensors

A process is reported for the formation of high-performance thin single-crystal silicon films on glass substrates. The process utilizes the electrostatic bonding of a silicon wafer to glass and subsequent etching of the silicon to form films having thickness controlled from less than 2 mu m to over 20 mu m. The use of Corning 1729 glass substrates yields an excellent thermal expansion match to the silicon film and allows the use of postbond processing temperatures for the films of as high as 800 degrees C, allowing the formation of both MOS and bipolar device structures. Thus, integrated circuitry can be incorporated in dissolved-wafer sensing structures. A variety of related processes are also possible where some or all of the silicon device processing is performed at high temperature before bonding to the glass. >
Parallel Mesh Adaptation for Highly Evolving Geometries with Application to Solid Propellant Rockets

We describe our parallel 3-D surface and volume mesh modification strategy for large-scale simulation of physical systems with dynamically changing domain boundaries. Key components include an accurate, robust, and efficient surface propagation scheme, frequent mesh smoothing without topology changes, infrequent remeshing at regular intervals or when triggered by declining mesh quality, a novel hybrid geometric partitioner, accurate and conservative solution transfer to the new mesh, and a high degree of automation. We apply these techniques to simulations of internal gas flows in firing solid propellant rocket motors, as various geometrical features in the initially complex propellant configuration change dramatically due to burn-back. Smoothing and remeshing ensure that mesh quality remains high throughout these simulations without dominating the run time.
Exploiting streams in instruction and data address trace compression

Novel research ideas in computer architecture are frequently evaluated using trace-driven simulation. The large size of traces incited different techniques for trace reduction. These techniques often combine standard compression algorithms with trace-specific solutions, taking into account the tradeoff between reduction in the trace size and simulation slowdown due to compression. This paper introduces SBC, a new algorithm for instruction and data address trace compression based on instruction streams. The proposed technique significantly reduces trace size and simulation time, and can be successfully combined with general compression algorithms. The SBC technique combined with gzip reduces the size of SPEC CPU2000 traces 59-97930 times, and combined with Sequitur 65-185599 times.
Two-Photon Absorption from a Phase-Diffusing Field

We report here experimental results on the effect of random frequency fluctuations of a laser field on the process of two-photon absorption. The laser field which we produce experimentally realizes the properties of the phase diffusion model.
Exposure to a novel environment interferes with the induction of hippocampal primed burst potentiation in the behaving rat

Primed burst (PB) potentiation is a low threshold form of long-term potentiation that is induced by a pattern of electrical stimulation that mimics specific features of hippocampal physiology. In our paradigm, stimulation of the hippocampal commissural afferents composed of a single priming pulse, followed 170 msec later by a burst of four pulses at 200 Hz, induces PB potentiation of the CA1 population spike. We now report that the capacity for patterned stimulation to induce PB potentiation in behaving rats is affected by the animals’ experience with the recording procedures. Specifically, PB potentiation occurred in only 15% of the first recording sessions. With continued stimulations over the course of days, the incidence of PB potentiation increased: Lasting effects occurred in 30% of the second, 75% of the third, and 92% of the fourth through sixth recording sessions. In additional studies, acclimation to the environment, rather than a kindlinglike phenomenon, was identified as the critical precondition for PB potentiation to occur. Thus, our findings indicate that exposure of a rat to a novel environment results in a profound, but temporary, inhibition of hippocampal plasticity. The relationship of this work to studies of stress and hippocampal-dependent learning is discussed.
Cocoonase I. PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF A PROTEOLYTIC ENZYME FROM SILK MOTHS

Abstract Cocoonase is a proteolytic enzyme produced by silk moths during adult development and used for softening the end of the cocoon to permit exit of the adult moth. It is deposited on the surface of the galeae (mouth parts) as a partially crystalline deposit. In nature, it is dissolved in a buffer produced by labial glands; for study, it can be picked off the animal in the dry form with forceps. Cocoonase "crystals" contain an active enzyme (80%) and an inactive protein or peptide or mixture of proteins or peptides (20%). The inactive material is probably derived, at least in part, from the enzyme itself. The active component seems to be a single enzyme as judged by several criteria. It has a molecular weight near 25,000 and an amino acid composition very similar to that of trypsin, except for fewer half-cystine residues. There appears to be only one disulfide bridge. The stability of cocoonase under a variety of conditions is rather different from trypsin, an enzyme which it resembles in other respects. Cocoonase is quite stable to autodigestion at neutral and mildly alkaline pH, but is rapidly deactivated at low pH. It is much less stable than trypsin to heating and to treatment with urea.
Structural, magnetic, thermal, and transport properties of X 8 Ga 16 Ge 30 ( X = E u , S r , Ba ) single crystals

Structural, magnetic, electrical and thermal transport, and heat-capacity measurements are reported on single crystals of ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30},$ ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30},$ and ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}.$ These compounds all crystallize in a cubic type-I ice clathrate structure, and are of interest as potential thermoelectric materials. Neutron-diffraction measurements were made on a single crystal of ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}$ that was grown using isotopically pure ${\mathrm{Eu}}^{153}.$ Nuclear density maps clearly show that Eu atoms at the $6d$ sites $(\frac{1}{4},$$\frac{1}{2},0)$ can move away from the cage center to one of four nearby positions. Ferromagnetism is observed in ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}$ for temperatures below 32 K, with the preferred direction of the Eu spins along the (100) axis. Ferromagnetism in these heavily doped semiconductors $(\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{21}{\mathrm{e}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{s}/\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{3})$ is likely due to a Rudermann-Kittel-Kasuya-Yoshida-type interaction. A large (\ensuremath{\approx}10% at 8 T) negative magnetoresistance was measured near the Curie temperature of ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}.$ The lattice thermal conductivities of ${\mathrm{Eu}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}$ and ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}$ single crystals show all of the characteristics of a structural glass. The thermal conductivity of ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}$ is low at room temperature (1.3 W/m K), but exhibits a temperature dependence characteristic of a crystal. A magnetic field has no significant effect on the thermal conductivity of any of the crystals for temperatures between 2 and 300 K. Heat-capacity measurements indicated Einstein contributions from each of the rattlers, with characteristic temperatures of 60, 53, and 30 K for Ba, Sr, and Eu atoms respectively. No superconductivity was observed in heavily doped single crystals of ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{8}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{16}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{30}$ for temperatures above 2 K, contrary to a previous report.
Quasi-axisymmetric circulation and superrotation in planetary atmospheres

Atmospheric superrotation is ubiquitous in the solar system, and numerous theoretical models have been proposed to describe the effect. However, no model is fully accepted. Problems are primarily related to an understanding of the angular momentum and the energy budgets. In connection with the present investigation, attention is given to hybrid models, where three-dimensional models may describe eddy processes and two-dimensional symmetric models may describe the global scale circulation in the framework of a viscous medium. It is believed that the concept of an axisymmetric circulation is still useful. It is the main purpose of the current investigation to explore some of the properties of the circulation in planetary atmospheres. It is assumed that the eddy transports are downgradient or diffusive in nature. Energy and momentum are perceived to cascade from the global scale circulation driven by the sun to the smaller scale eddies which in turn determine the diffusive properties. A numerical model of the Venusian circulation is presented, and results are discussed for different conditions of static stability.
Automated calibration of noise figure measurement path of a low noise RF receiver

In an automated production test system, to achieve high precision NF measurement of low noise RF receiver with high production rate, the test fixture NF measurement path has to be calibrated repetitively with high accuracy and speed between measurements. The calibration path was designed within the fixture utilizing a noise figure analyzer and a noise source, such that switching between measurement path and calibration path can be controlled through software automatically or at discretion of the operator. The condition for precise measurements required that the measurement path contribution to the DUT noise figure must be continuously calibrated out at the NFA. This requires that the noise figure calibration path must have equivalent characteristics to the measurement path so that to ensure equal path loss compensation to the measurement path, as well as equal thermal noise. The designed system was implemented with a 5% repetitive precision.
Plasma corticosterone and cortisol following dexamethasone in psychiatric patients

Radioimmunoassays of cortisol (F) and corticosterone (B) were carried out in 133 plasma specimens, obtained at 0800 or 1600 h on the day following administration of dexamethasone (1.0 mg), from 69 patients admitted to a psychiatric inpatient service, to test suggestions that assays of B might complement those of F in the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) in a psychiatric setting. The overall correlation between F and B was +0.80. Concentrations of B averaged 5-8% those of F. We found close agreement (80-85%) between positive (F greater than or equal to 4.5 micrograms/dl) and negative DST results for both steroids assayed by radioimmunoassay at a criterion of greater than or equal to 1.5 ng/ml for B, as well as a reasonable compromise between sensitivity and specificity of the B-DST at that criterion. Post-dexamethasone samples obtained at 1600 h showed somewhat closer agreement between the B-DST and the F-DST than at 0800 h. Inclusion of 0800 h samples added little to the rate of positive results with the F-DST but did add to those of the B-DST by about 10% or more, depending on the criterion selected for a positive B-DST. The rate of positive DSTs among 44 patients who had both steroids assayed at both times was approximately 61%, and the agreement between positive test results among these patients was 92%. In a mixed population of acutely ill, hospitalized patients with various DSM-III diagnoses, but excluding those with medical or pharmacologic contraindications to the DST, high rates of positive DST results were obtained in patients with major depressive disorders (47-58%), with little difference found among those with bipolar, non-bipolar or melancholic characteristics. High rates also were found among manic and other acutely psychotic patients, as well as others with neurotic or characterological diagnoses, but rarely in a small group of chronic schizophrenics. Thus, a positive DST as evaluated with B or F is evidently not specific for cases of major depression, but may be indicative of acute illness, possibly with affective features. The results support suggestions that a steroid suppression test based on corticosterone may be useful to aid in diagnosis of major psychiatric illnesses and might complement or substitute for the F-DST. It may be possible to avoid certain pharmacologic complications in the DST by use of a test based on suppression of B by F rather than by dexamethasone.
A Behavioral Science Approach to Personnel Selection

Although traditional methods of selection of personnel have accomplished a great deal in predicting job performance, the perspective of these methods is too narrow. In this article a behavioral mod...
Persistent Socioeconomic Disparities in Infant, Neonatal, and Postneonatal Mortality Rates in the United States, 1969-2001

OBJECTIVES. This study examines changing patterns of inequalities in US infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality rates between 1969 and 2001 by area deprivation and maternal education. METHODS. A deprivation index was linked to county vital records data to derive annual infant mortality rates by deprivation quintiles from 1969 to 2000. Rates by maternal education were computed for 1986, 1991, 1996, and 2001 using national linked birth/infant death files. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate relative risks of infant mortality by deprivation and time period. Cox regression was used to model overall and birth weight–specific infant mortality risks by maternal education after adjusting for covariates. Temporal disparities were summarized by log-linear regression and inequality indices. RESULTS. Although absolute disparities have narrowed over time, relative socioeconomic disparities in infant mortality have increased since 1985. In 1985–1989, infants in the most deprived group had, respectively, 36% and 57% higher risks of neonatal and postneonatal mortality than infants in the least deprived group. The corresponding relative risks increased to 43% and 96% in 1995–2000. The adjusted risk of infant mortality was 22% higher in 1986 for mothers with CONCLUSIONS. Dramatic declines in infant mortality among all of the socioeconomic groups during 1969–2001 represent a major public health success. However, substantial socioeconomic disparities persisted in both neonatal and postneonatal mortality. Relatively larger declines in infant and postneonatal mortality among higher socioeconomic groups have contributed to the widening gap in mortality since 1985. Persistent disparities in infant mortality may reflect increasing polarization among socioeconomic groups in material and social conditions, smoking during pregnancy, and health care services.
A virtualization architecture for mobile WiMAX networks

Systems virtualization offers convenient means for sharing networking infrastructure while improving its utilization. This study addresses the challenges of virtualizing a commercial off-the-shelf 4G mobileWiMAX basestation. We highlight additions and modifications needed in theWiMAX network architecture for supporting multiple simultaneous virtual basestations on a single physical basestation. The most prominent features provided by the proposed virtual basestation framework include the capability to perform all frame switching at layer-2, and control mechanisms to provide isolation across slices needed to ensure experiment repeatability. By prototyping on a commercial WiMAX radio, this paper shows the usage of the virtual basestation system for housing mobile virtual network operators and testbeds alike. A use case is shown where the virtual basestation design is used to evaluate mobile handoff schemes. Another usage case is shown for optimizing a video delivery on the edge. The video delivery use case is used to show performance improvements of up to 5dB in the PSNR. Evaluation of prototype shows a significant improvement in the slice isolation, with aggregate throughput improvements of up to 192% achievable through fair resource allocation.
Ultrafiltration by a compacted clay membrane—I. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic fractionation

Abstract Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the magnitude of the isotopic fractionation of distilled water and of 0.01 N NaCl forced to flow at ambient temperature under a hydraulic pressure drop of 100 bars across a montmorillonite disc compacted to a porosity of 35 per cent by a pressure of 330 bars. The ultrafiltrates in both experiments were depleted in D by 2.5%. and in O18 by 0.8%. relative to the residual solution. No additional isotopic fractionation due to a salt filtering mechanism was observed at NaCl concentrations up to 0.01 N. Adsorption is most likely the principal mechanism which produces isotopic fractionation, but molecular diffusion may play a minor role. The results suggest that oxygen and hydrogen isotopic fractionation of ground water during passage through compacted clayey sediments should be a common occurrence, in accord with published interpretations of isotopic data from the Illinois and Alberta basins.
Improved in situ rat liver perfusion technique.

Abstract A compact, in situ rat liver perfusion system was designed for accurate and precise control of liver temperature at preselected ambient temperatures from 31 to 45 ± 0.1°C. The system employed a thermostatically controlled perfusion cabinet and water jacketed perfusate reservoirs. The liver temperature was controlled primarily by the temperature of the perfusate. Hepatic biosynthetic function at 37°C was normal when assessed by gluconeogenesis, urea formation, and O2 consumption. A standard multibulb oxygenator was compared to a reusable, commercially available membrane oxygenator for evaporative water loss. Significant evaporative water loss from the perfusate occurred with use of the multibulb oxygenator (4.8% hr) but this loss was negligible (0.1% hr) when the membrane oxygenator was used. It is suggested that evaporative water loss should be determined in perfusion systems employing gas-fluid interface oxygenators. Significant errors in estimating perfusate metabolite concentrations could result from excessive perfusate volume loss. Superiority of the membrane oxygenator was demonstrated by eliminating the requirement for perfusate volume corrections.
An exploratory study of the relationships among science, technology and society (STS) issues as conceived by fifth grade students

Fifth grade students' conceptions of the relationships among thirty-one science, technology and society issues were explored in this study. Sixteen males and fifteen females participated in the study which used the technique of multidimensional scaling analysis, as well as qualitative data comprising of written statements provided by the subjects. Findings of the study suggest that both male and female subjects at this grade level had developed meaningful conceptions of relationships among issues which have personal relevance to them. Students at this grade level had not developed very clear conceptions of the relationships among environmental issues. The implications of the findings of this study are discussed.
Detection of optical squeezing and photon statistics in polaritons

Abstract Methods are proposed and theoretically analysed for the detection of optical squeezing and non-poissonian photon statistics in exciton and phonon-polaritons. These quantum-optical effects were theoretically predicted by us. The novel idea here is to probe the evanescent portion of the bulk polariton at total internal reflection on the crystal surface, to determine the photocount statistics of the bulk wave. The estimated experimental sensitivity is comparable to that used in analogous quantum optical measurements.
Publication trends in chronic fatigue syndrome: Comparisons with fibromyalgia and fatigue: 1995–2004

Abstract Objective In order to identify publishing patterns in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), we compared the annual number of peer review articles for CFS, fibromyalgia (FM), and non-CFS fatigue over a recent decade (1995–2004). Method Citations were drawn from Ovid/Medline, PsychInfo, and the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for peer review articles focusing on CFS, FM, and fatigue for each year of the decade ending in 2004. Statistics included chi-square, tests for differences in proportions, and regression-based curve estimation. Results The frequency of CFS peer review articles did not significantly change from the first half to the second half of the decade (1995–2004). By comparison, the output of both FM and fatigue articles significantly increased (P The highest percentage of citations (15–16%) for both CFS and FM fell within the domains of diagnosis, physiopathology, and psychology. For fatigue, almost one third (31.4%) of the citations were focused on etiology, while psychology (11.5%) and physiopathology (10.4%) articles were the next most cited. Based on first-author affiliation, CFS articles were most likely to originate in the United States (37.7%), England (31.4%), and the Netherlands (4.9%). Conclusion The output of CFS peer review articles has not increased over the past decade, while the number of FM and fatigue articles has increased substantially.