cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leveraging Geodetic GPS Receivers for Ionospheric Scintillation Science

We demonstrate scintillation analysis from a network of geodetic Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers which provide data at 1-second resolution. We introduce proxy phase (σ TBC ) and amplitude (SNR 4 ) scintillation indices and validate them against the rate of change of TEC index (ROTI) and S 4 . Additionally, we validate scintillation observations against a Connected Autonomous Space Environment Sensor scintillation receiver. We develop receiver-dependent scintillation event thresholding using hardware-dependent noise variance. We analyze 6 days adjacent to the 7–8 September 2017 geomagnetic storm, using 169 receivers covering magnetic latitudes between 15° and 65° in the American longitude sector. We leverage the available spatial sampling coverage to construct 2-D maps of scintillation and present episodic evolution of scintillation intensifications during the storm. We show that low-latitude and high-latitude scintillation morphology match well-established scintillation climatology patterns. At midlatitudes, spatiotemporal evolution of scintillation partially agrees with known scintillation patterns. Additionally, the results reveal previously undocumented midlatitude scintillation-producing structures. The results provide an unprecedented view into the spatiotemporal development of scintillation-producing plasma irregularities and provide a resource to further exploit scintillation evolution at large spatial scales.
A country-level comparison of access to quality surgical and non-surgical healthcare from 1990-2016.

Background The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index, developed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, uses estimates of amenable mortality to quantify health system performance over time. While much is known about general health system performance globally, few studies have portrayed the performance of surgical systems. In order to quantify access to quality surgical care, evaluate changes over time, and link these changes to health care investments, surgical and non-surgical Health Access and Quality sub-indices were developed. Design We categorized 32 amenable mortality causes as either surgical or non-surgical conditions. Using principal components analysis and scaled amenable mortality rates, we constructed a surgical and non-surgical Health Access and Quality sub-index. Using these sub-indices, relative improvement over time was compared. An expenditure model with country fixed effects was built to explore drivers of differences in relative improvement of sub-indices. Results Compared to low-income countries, high-income countries have been 2.77 times more effective at improving surgical care (p < .05). Government expenditure on healthcare has a larger effect on improving surgical Health Access and Quality (p < 0.05) while development assistance for health has a larger effect on improving non-surgical Health Access and Quality (p < 0.05). Conclusions and relevance Global health investment must prioritize strengthening health systems as opposed to the historically favored vertical programming. In order to achieve health equity in low-income countries, more focus should be placed on domestic financing of surgical systems. Health Access and Quality sub-indices can be used by countries to identify targets, monitor progress, and evaluate interventions aimed at improving access to quality surgical healthcare.
MS Excel in Engineering Data

This chapter focuses on the uses of MS Excel in handling engineering data. However, these uses are multidimensional and very versatile, which helps to extend the use of these functions in numerous fields. The chapter opens with the concepts of file management in Excel, which includes importing files to Excel and exporting files from Excel. Numerical methods of calculation can also be implemented in Excel, and demonstration has been provided to introduce the Gauss–Seidel method in Excel. The addition, subtraction, and multiplication of matrices have been included in this chapter. The methods of determining the transpose, inverse, and determinant of matrices are also explained. Plotting of equations and trendlines is also discussed in this chapter. Forecasting missing or future data is an essential task in Excel, which is given due space in this chapter. Three techniques of data manipulation, namely sorting, filtering, and flash fill, are covered here. Besides, some data cleaning techniques, such as removal of extra spaces within texts, blank cell handling, and duplicate data detection and removal are described in this chapter. The process of changing text into uppercase or lowercase letters is also contained here, along with the process of converting numbers that are stored as text into numbers. The functions used in data analysis are also included with examples. This chapter contains some very practical applications of MS Excel that eases handling large amounts of data. This chapter will be utterly useful for almost all Excel users.
A randomized controlled trial of a video intervention shows evidence of increasing COVID-19 vaccination intention

Increasing acceptance of COVID–19 vaccines is imperative for public health, as unvaccinated individuals may impede the ability to reach herd immunity. Previous research on educational interventions to overcome vaccine hesitancy have shown mixed effects in increasing vaccination intention, although much of this work has focused on parental attitudes toward childhood vaccination. In this study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate whether vaccination intention changes after viewing an animated YouTube video explaining how COVID–19 mRNA vaccines work. We exposed participants to one of four interventions — watching the video with a male narrator, watching the same video with a female narrator, reading the text of the transcript of the video, or receiving no information (control group). We found that participants who watched the version of the video with a male narrator expressed statistically significant increased vaccination intention compared to the control group. The video with a female narrator had more variation in results. As a whole, there was a non–significant increased vaccination intention when analyzing all participants who saw the video with a female narrator; however, for politically conservative participants there was decreased vaccination intention for this intervention, particularly at a threshold between being currently undecided and expressing probable interest. These results are encouraging for the ability of interventions as simple as YouTube videos to increase vaccination propensity, although the inconsistent response to the video with a female narrator demonstrates the potential for bias to affect how certain groups respond to different messengers.
Assessment of the impacts of sample preparation on the use of EDS for analysing recycled asphalt blending.

Several past studies have demonstrated merit to using tracer-based energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis to investigate blending between virgin and recycled materials in asphalt mixtures. However, these past studies have focused on proof of concept and did not establish robust fabrication and microscopy procedures. This study rigorously evaluates the ability to form a stable blend between the tracer and virgin asphalt binder, and the potential for tracer smearing during the preparation of EDS specimens. The results demonstrate that a high shear mixer can be used to prepare homogeneous, stable blends of a titanium dioxide tracer and virgin binder. A critical evaluation of an asphalt mixture specimen prepared to contain specific areas with and without the tracer demonstrates no evidence of tracer smearing due to sample preparation. The results demonstrate that tracer-based EDS analysis of asphalt mixtures can measure local recycled material availability. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Lower Bounds for Prior Independent Algorithms

The prior independent framework for algorithm design considers how well an algorithm that does not know the distribution of its inputs approximates the expected performance of the optimal algorithm for this distribution. This paper gives a method that is agnostic to problem setting for proving lower bounds on the prior independent approximation factor of any algorithm. The method constructs a correlated distribution over inputs that can be generated both as a distribution over i.i.d. good-for-algorithms distributions and as a distribution over i.i.d. bad-for-algorithms distributions. Prior independent algorithms are upper-bounded by the optimal algorithm for the latter distribution even when the true distribution is the former. Thus, the ratio of the expected performances of the Bayesian optimal algorithms for these two decompositions is a lower bound on the prior independent approximation ratio. The techniques of the paper connect prior independent algorithm design, Yao's Minimax Principle, and information design. We apply this framework to give new lower bounds on several canonical prior independent mechanism design problems.
CD44 interactions with hyaluronan decrease the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 5244 CD44 is an adhesion molecule present on a wide variety of cells, including mammary epithelial tumor cells. However, the role of CD44 in tumor progression is a controversial one. While many believe CD44 to promote tumor progression, others believe CD44 is not involved in tumor progression and may even be protective against invasion. To firmly establish the role of CD44 in breast cancer metastasis, MMTV-PyMT transgenic and MMTV-PyMT CD44-/- bitransgenic mouse tumor progression and metastatic lung tumor formation were evaluated. No difference was observed in the rate of primary tumor formation. However, MMTV-PyMT CD44-/- bitransgenic mice had a 67% incidence of metastasis compared to a 16% incidence on the MMTV-PyMT control mice. Additionally, the average number of metastatic tumors per mouse was also higher in the in the CD44 null mice. Together these findings suggests that CD44 does not play a role in tumor progression, but rather, plays a role in delaying metastatic tumor formation. To resolve the cause of the increased number of metastatic pulmonary tumors in the absence of CD44, we have looked at the expression patterns of the CD44 and its ligand Hyaluronan (HA). CD44 expression is found throughout the mammary tumor epithelium while HA expression is limited to the stromal area surrounding the tumor. This led us to investigate which cells may be responsible for HA production in mammary tumor tissue through the use of an MMTV-PyMT Has2-GFP bitransgenic mice. The Has2-GFP mouse expresses GFP under the control of the promoter for an HA producing enzyme, Has2. Anti-GFP staining shows tumor epithelial cells do not produce HA. Rather, cells within the stromal compartment surrounding the tumor are responsible for Has2 mediated HA production. Since HA production is mediated by stromal cells we designed an invasion assay that would mimic cellular invasion into a 3 dimensional matrix that contained immobilized HA similar to the stromal compartment surrounding tumors. We subjected 3 CD44 positive metastatic breast cancer cell lines to the assay. In each case invasion into gels cast with HA occurred at a rate significantly lower than invasion into gels that contained no HA. These result suggest that the presence of HA in a matrix may function to inhibit cellular invasion. To test whether HA mediated inhibition of invasion was a CD44 dependant event, we incubated the invasive breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 with a CD44 blocking antibody prior to the addition to the invasion assay. Invasion into gels containing no HA did not differ with or withoutwithout the blocking antibody. However, cellular invasion into gels containing HA was higher in the presence of the blocking antibody. In fact, invasion into HA containing gels with the blocking antibody was even higher than into gels that contained no HA. Therefore, while HA may inhibit cellular invasion in the presence of CD44, the absence of CD44 may promote HA mediated invasion.
Quantitative Analysis of REM Sleep Without Atonia in Neurocognitive Syndromes (S53.004)

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether quantitative REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) analysis aided distinction between patients with neurocognitive syndromes of Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) with and without REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). BACKGROUND: RBD/RSWA is frequent in patients with synucleinopathies, especially DLB. Braak et al. have suggested an ascending pattern of synuclein accumulation. We hypothesized that patients with DLB+RBD would have greater RSWA than DLB patients without RBD, and those with presumed tauopathy and amyloidopathy pathologies. DESIGN/METHODS: Patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) between 2008-2012 were included if: (1) met diagnostic criteria for aMCI, AD, FTD, or DLB +/- RBD, and (2) had 蠅1 supportive FDG-PET, neuropsychology, CSF amyloid/tau, or DaT-scan. Four groups were identified: AD/aMCI (n = 8), FTD (n = 6), DLB (n = 5), and DLB+RBD (n = 9). RSWA was determined by both visual and automated scoring. Multivariate regression analyses were used to correct for significant demographic differences between groups. RESULTS: Age at PSG and cognitive symptom onset is older in the DLB and DLB+RBD than AD and FTD groups. DLB+RBD patients had significantly greater RSWA than those with AD, FTD, or DLB, by both automated scoring (p = 0.0021) and visual scoring (p-value ranged <0.0001 to 0.0031 for different indices). Correlation was moderately positive (R-squared = 0.52) between automated and visual RSWA scoring. CONCLUSIONS: The DLB+RBD group had significantly higher RSWA than DLB, AD/aMCI, and FTD groups, suggesting that the subset of patients having DLB+RBD may follow a Braak-type caudal-rostral neurodegenerative course, whereas DLB without RBD may instead follow a different topography of synuclein accumulation. Automated RSWA analysis is a time-efficient and accurate tool for distinguishing DLB+RBD patients. Study Supported by: Grant P50 AG016574, and the Mangurian Foundation. Disclosure: Dr. Jong has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boeve has received research support from GE Healthcare. Dr. St. Louis has received personal compensation for activities with Inspire, Inc.
Use of Metal Chelating Agents to Modulate Ehrlich Cell Growth Multiple Metal-Ligand Interactions

Metal chelating agents are used to simulate metal - deficient conditions in culture or to modulate the content and distribution of specific intracellular metals. In general, multidentate ligands can form stable complexes with a variety of metal ions. They may compete selectively with biological metal complexes for metal. Depending on their solubility characteristics, they will also differ in their access to intracellular metal. Because of these complications, studies have been conducted to determine the effects of a series of commonly used ligands on metal distribution in Ehrlich cells.
A case of juvenile pernicious anemia: study of the effects of folic acid and vitamin B12.

Observations on a 4-year-old boy with Addisonian pernicious anemia have been presented. Noteworthy clinical features included the onset of glossitis at the age of 4 months, followed by anemia severe enough to require hospitalization at the age of 1 year. Relapse occurred in the absence of specific therapy with vitamin B12 and was completely unaffected by the administration of folic acid. Studies with radioactive vitamin B12 demonstrated that almost all of the compound administered by mouth was unabsorbed and was recovered in the stools. When the vitamin was given simultaneously with a concentrate of intrinsic factor, however, approximately 70 per cent was absorbed. Furthermore, the child’s gastric juice, when mixed with radioactive vitamin B12 and fed to an adult with pernicious anemia in relapse, failed to enhance the latter’s absorption of the vitamin. The failure of our patient to absorb the vitamin alone, but his ability to do so when it was administered with intrinsic factor concentrate, was also confirmed by the "Schilling test," in which a proportion of the absorbed radioactive vitamin was "flushed" into the urine by parenteral injection of one milligram of conventional vitamin B12. Of special interest was the occurrence in the urine of an unidentified derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid, derived from orally administered pteroylglutamic acid. The presence of this compound in the urine was demonstrated chromatographically when the patient was critically ill with his disease prior to treatment with vitamin B12. Subsequent to therapy with vitamin B12, while the administration of folic acid was continued, the abnormal metabolite of folic acid could not be found in the urine. Similarly, the administration of folic acid did not lead to the appearance of this metabolite in the urine at a time when, after more than two years without specific therapy, a hematological relapse occurred that was much less severe than that previously observed. The implications of these observations, with respect to the metabolic interrelationships of folic acid and vitamin B12, are discussed. Of further interest were the findings of strongly acid gastric juice containing much mucus and free hydrochloric acid. A fairly normal gastric mucosa was demonstrated by biopsy. The meaning of these unusual findings is discussed and an hypothesis to account for them is offered. The probable sequence of events in these patients from childhood to the development of anemia, usually in later life, is set forth.
The Effect of Wear Groove on Vibration and Noise of Aircraft Brakes: Theoretical and Experimental Evidence

The goal of this paper is to delineate recent experimental evidence that the presence of conforming surface wear groove tends to stabilize the vibration and noise response of aircraft brakes. This finding is consistent with an earlier theoretical study in which the contact between Carbon-Carbon (C/C) composite brake disks were assumed to be visco-elastic and through this assumption it was found that the existence of conforming grooves results in increasing dynamic stability of brake disk interaction. Therefore, the presumption of visco-elastic contact for C/C brakes seems to agree with the experimental observation in a subscale dynamometer. The present paper summarizes both theoretical analysis and the test results. In the tests C/C composites were heat treated for one hour at temperatures 1800°C and 2400°C, respectively. They were then subjected to frictional tests in a subscale aircraft brake dynamometer at 50 % relative humidity (RH) level. Coefficient of friction (μ), vibration and noise were recorded during simulated braking. The surface topography was determined after each sequence of friction tests. The nanohardness of fiber and matrix in bulk composite were measured using a nanoindenter. The hardness of fiber was found to be two times of that of the matrix for the samples heat treated at 2400°C as compared to the samples heat treated at 1800°C. The surface roughness (sRa) was measured as 1.96 μm for the sample heat treated at 2400°C after the 100% simulated normal landing energy conditions. The sample heat treated at 1800°C exhibited smoother friction surface (sRa=0.86μm). During braking, μ varied by a factor of 2 or more which led to undesirable vibration. Both the theoretical model and the tests results point to the same conclusion; existence of conforming grooves enhances dynamic stability of a disk pair, resulting in significant reduction in vibration and noise in braking.
Juan Francisco Martínez Peria. ¡Libertad o Muerte! Historia de la Revolución Haitiana. Buenos Aires: Centro Cultural de la Cooperación Floreal Gorini, 2012.

Review: Juan Francisco Martinez Peria. iLibertad o Muerte! Historia de la Revolucion Haitiana. Buenos Aires: Centro Cultural de la Cooperacion Floreal Gorini, 2012.
Narrowing Care Gaps for Early Language Delay A Quality Improvement Study

Background and Objective. Poverty is a risk factor for both language delay and failure to access appropriate therapies. The objective of this study was to increase the percentage of children 0 to 3 years old referred from an urban primary care center who attended an initial appointment with speech pathology or audiology within 60 days from 40% to 60%. Methods. The Model for Improvement was used to develop and test the intervention, which addressed potential logistical barriers faced by low-income families. Adherence was plotted on run charts in time series to assess overall improvement, and subgroups were analyzed to identify reduction in disparities. Results. Median referral adherence improved from 40% to 60%. Families from lower income neighborhoods had lower preintervention adherence; these differences were eliminated postintervention. Conclusions. System-level changes improved access to evaluation and treatment for low-income children with language delay and narrowed the gap in access between families...
When Whites' Attempts to Be Multicultural Backfire in Intergroup Interactions

Whites' attempts to enact multicultural ideals in intergroup interactions can sometimes have negative interpersonal consequences. This paper reviews the instances when Whites' efforts to acknowledge, appreciate, and learn about racial and ethnic differences can make people of color's group identity uncomfortably salient (minority spotlight effect), make people of color feel that certain attributes are being imposed onto their group identity (positive stereotyping), or make people of color feel precluded from another group identity (identity denial). Each of these situations introduces a hurtful discrepancy between how people of color are seen by others and how they wish to be seen. Suggestions for how to “do” multiculturalism in ways that avoid creating this discrepancy are discussed.
MICCLLR: Multiple-Instance Learning Using Class Conditional Log Likelihood Ratio

Multiple-instance learning (MIL) is a generalization of the supervised learning problem where each training observation is a labeled bag of unlabeled instances. Several supervised learning algorithms have been successfully adapted for the multiple-instance learning settings. We explore the adaptation of the Naive Bayes (NB) classifier and the utilization of its sufficient statistics for developing novel multiple-instance learning methods. Specifically, we introduce MICCLLR (multiple-instance class conditional log likelihood ratio), a method for mapping each bag of instances as a single meta-instance using class conditional log likelihood ratio statistics such that any supervised base classifier can be applied to the meta-data. The results of our experiments with MICCLLR using different base classifiers suggest that no single base classifier consistently outperforms other base classifiers on all data sets. We show that a substantial improvement in performance is obtained using an ensemble of MICCLLR classifiers trained using different base learners. We also show that an extra gain in classification accuracy is obtained by applying AdaBoost.M1 to weak MICCLLR classifiers. Overall, our results suggest that the predictive performance of the three proposed variants of MICCLLR are competitive to some of the state-of-the-art MIL methods.
Talking about interest: exploring the role of social interaction for regulating motivation and the interest experience

The Self-Regulation of Motivation Model suggests that the experience of interest is an important source of human motivation and that people often strategically regulate the experience of interest. Previous work based on this model suggests that the social context may influence this process at multiple points. The present research focuses on whether talking to others about an activity experience is one means by which individuals evaluate how interesting that activity is. In Study 1 college students completed questionnaires that asked about real life experiences where working on an activity was more interesting because they worked with others. They described experiences that occurred first in any domain, and then that occurred specifically in the school domain. Results suggested that the more students talked with others about the activity after it happened the more they reported greater interest in the activity after the conversations. In the school domain, this was especially true for Latinos and for individuals who scored higher on the Relational Self-Construal scale. Study 2 employed a lab paradigm to control for the task that individuals talked to others about and to examine whether the nature of listeners’ reactions influenced the speaker’s interest even after the study was ostensibly over. First, replicating Pasupathi and Rich (2005, ‘Inattentive listening undermines self-verification in personal storytelling’, Journal of Personality 73, pp. 1051–1086) college students who talked to a distracted friend about a computer game during the lab session reported a significant drop in interest relative to those who talked to attentive friends, regardless of whether the attentive listeners agreed or disagreed with participants. Importantly, interest ratings at a 4–6 week follow-up were affected by the perceived responsiveness of listeners during spontaneous conversational retellings outside the lab, controlling for interest levels at the end of the lab session. Taken together, results suggest that social interaction plays an important role in regulating activity interest even beyond the immediate activity experience.
An Industry-Driven Model of Hospitality Curriculum for Programs Housed in Accredited Colleges of Business

The purposes of this study were to measure the perceptions of industry professionals regarding the importance of course subject areas in hospitality management curriculum for a program housed in an accredited college of business and economics, to identify any gaps between the industry needs and the current curriculum of the program, and to propose a model for hospitality curricula. A questionnaire, using a 5-point Likert scale, was sent out to 2339 hospitality industry professionals, with 328 (14.02%) respondents. Of the 40 course subject matter variables measured, ethics was ranked the most important—followed by leadership, preparation for industry employment, internships/industry experience, hospitality management and organization, and operations analysis. A proposed model for curriculum for hospitality programs housed in accredited colleges of business is presented.
Chapter 4 Cognitively guided instruction: Building on the knowledge of students and teachers*

Abstract This chapter summarizes the results of a series of correlational, experimental, and case studies on Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), a program designed to help teachers understand children's thinking and use this knowledge to make instructional decisions. Results of the studies show that teachers' knowledge and beliefs about students' thinking are related to students' achievement. There were significant differences between CGI classes and control classes on the emphasis on problem solving and low level skills, the freedom given to students to construct their own strategies for solving problems, the teachers' knowledge of their students thinking, and the students' achievement in both problem solving and skills.
Trauma-hemorrhagic shock-induced red blood cell damage leads to decreased microcirculatory blood flow.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that trauma-hemorrhagic shock (T/HS)-induced changes in red blood cells (RBC) contribute to the reduction of blood flow in distant organs. Design: Laboratory study. Setting: Academic medical center laboratory. Subjects: Specific pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 250 and 350 g. Interventions: Rats were transfused with trauma-sham shock (T/SS), or T/HS whole blood, or RBC-depleted blood (blood with the RBC removed and consisting of white blood cells and plasma). Measurements and Main Results: Cardiac output and organ blood flow were measured by the radioactive microsphere technique. RBC tissue trapping, deformability, and RBC aggregation and adhesion were studied. Measurements of RBC adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and plasma fibrinogen were performed. Exchange transfusion with T/SS blood did not alter cardiac output or organ blood flow. However, cardiac output and blood flow in several organs were decreased when T/HS whole blood was used and RBCs were trapped in the organs that evidenced decreased blood flow. T/HS also increased RBC aggregation and adhesion, and decreased deformability. The ability of T/HS exchange transfusion to decrease microcirculatory blood flow did not appear to be due to plasma factors or non-RBC elements (i.e., white blood cell), because organ blood flow was not reduced after exchange transfusion with T/HS RBC-depleted blood. Likewise, neither decreased RBC ATP nor increased plasma fibrinogen explained the T/HS-induced changes that were observed. There was no change in fibrinogen levels during or after shock. Although there was a transient decrease in T/HS erythrocyte ATP levels during the early shock period, in contrast to RBC function, the ATP levels had returned to normal with resuscitation. Conclusions: T/HS induces significant changes in RBC functions and the injection of T/HS, but not T/SS, RBC leads to decreased organ blood flow. These findings confirm the hypothesis that T/HS-induced RBC alterations will directly cause organ hypoperfusion and suggest that T/HS-induced RBC damage contributes to this process. Thus, T/HS-induced changes in RBC function may contribute to the development of shock-induced multiple organ failure.
Power Transmission to Synchronous Machines for Adjustable-Speed Pump and Compressor Drive Systems

The adjustable-speed synchronous motor drive system uses static power conversion technology and hardware which has been proven by millions of kilowatts of installed capacity in dc motor drives and dc transmission systems. The application of dc power conversion technology to transmit power to a synchronous machine provides unique operating characteristics of the drive system with respect to pump and compressor applications. Alternative drive system configurations are presented with the benefits relative to performance and reliability.
Pyrene excimer signaling molecular beacons for probing nucleic acids

Molecular beacon DNA probes, containing 1−4 pyrene monomers on the 5‘ end and the quencher DABCYL on the 3‘ end, were engineered and employed for real-time probing of DNA sequences. In the absence of a target sequence, the multiple-pyrene labeled molecular beacons (MBs) assumed a stem-closed conformation resulting in quenching of the pyrene excimer fluorescence. In the presence of target, the beacons switched to a stem-open conformation, which separated the pyrene label from the quencher molecule and generated an excimer emission signal proportional to the target concentration. Steady-state fluorescence assays resulted in a subnanomolar limit of detection in buffer, whereas time-resolved signaling enabled low-nanomolar target detection in cell-growth media. It was found that the excimer emission intensity could be scaled by increasing the number of pyrene monomers conjugated to the 5‘ terminal. Each additional pyrene monomer resulted in substantial increases in the excimer emission intensities, quantum yi...
Monoclonal antibody that identifies subsets of neurones in the central visual system of monkey and cat

Striking correlations between structure and function are found in the visual cortex of Old World primates. These include the co-localization of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD, the biosynthetic enzyme of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid) with the mitochondrial enzyme, cytochrome oxidase (CO) in functionally distinct subcompartments of ocular dominance columns. We report here immunocytochemical studies with a monoclonal antibody (CAT 301) showing that the antibody recognizes an uncharacterized antigen on surfaces of some neurones in certain layers of the monkey striate cortex (area 17), and in certain parts of the cat and monkey dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei (LGN). Patches of immunocytochemically stained neurones and neuropil, apparent in layers III, IVB and VI of the striate cortex of normal monkeys, become even more clearly delineated in animals from which one eye has been removed. The antibody-stained patches in the three layers line up radially with one another in lines passing through the centres of ocular dominance columns (demonstrable by CO staining in layers IVA and IVC). In layers III and VI the patches coexist with CO-positive patches and, in the horizontal dimension, both antibody and CO-positive patches are aligned to form rows. Stained neurones in the monkey LGN are primarily in the magnocellular layers and in the cat LGN are confined to laminae A and A1, the inter-laminar plexuses, the perigeniculate nucleus and the medial inter-laminar nucleus. The antigen we have localized is associated with particular cell populations, some of which may correspond to a specific, physiological class.
Social Achievement Goals: The Nature and Consequences of Different Orientations Toward Social Competence:

The proposition that achievement goals are applicable to the social domain was examined in four studies. Study 1 established that different orientations toward developing or demonstrating social competence can be seen in individuals' responses to open-ended questions about their social goals and social competence. Studies 2 through 4 evaluated a new survey measure of social achievement goals. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the hypothesized model of social achievement goals. Convergent and discriminant validity for the new measure of social achievement goals was established. In line with hypotheses, a social development goal was associated with adjustment and a social demonstration-avoid goal was associated with maladjustment both concurrently and longitudinally. A social development goal also was positively related to instructor ratings of students' social adjustment in small classroom settings. A social demonstration-approach goal was most often unrelated to adjustment. The importance of social achievement goals for a comprehensive understanding of social motivation and adjustment is discussed.
Colonization of new host plant individuals by locally adapted thrips

This study considered the dispersal and subsequent reproduction of Apterothrips apteris, a wingless, folivorous thrips species that is divided into local populations, each adapted to its individual host plant. We placed host plants with no thrips into the field and observed the rate at which thrips colonized these plants. Colonization events were rare; on average each pot received 1.47 immigrants during the year. Immature thrips were found associated with 64.5% of these events, indicating that reproduction had occurred. Colonization was most likely to occur during the summer. Most colonists walked onto the new host and airborne movements were very rare. Plants that were located far from near neighbors were less likely to be colonized although the size of nearby source populations did not influence the rate of colonization. These results suggest that limited movement is associated with division of this population into isolated demes. Limited movement appeared to be more important as a barrier to successful colonization than was demographic success following arrival at a
Variation in the magnitude of black-white differences in stroke mortality by community occupational structure.

STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to examine the patterns of black-white differences in stroke mortality across communities with varying levels of occupational structure in the southern region of the United States DESIGN--Annual age adjusted race-sex specific rates for stroke mortality were calculated for the years 1979-1981 and related to socioeconomic conditions. SETTING--The study involved 211 state economic areas comprising the southern region of the USA. STUDY POPULATION--Data on stroke mortality for black and white men and women between the ages of 35 and 74 years living in the study area were acquired from the National Center for Health Statistics. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS--Occupational structure was measured as the proportion of white collar workers in each state economic area, and is an indicator of the employment opportunities and related social and economic resources of a community. Stratified analyses and linear regression modelling indicate that communities of lower occupational structure have (a) higher levels of stroke mortality for all four race-sex groups (p less than 0.05) and (b) larger racial inequalities in stroke mortality (p less than 0.01). For men and women, the excess stroke mortality among blacks compared to whites is larger in communities of lower occupational structure. CONCLUSIONS--Consideration of occupational structure and related patterns of economic development is crucial for understanding the distribution of stroke mortality within and between racial groups, as well as for planning effective public health interventions. The larger racial inequalities in communities of lower occupational structure in the south suggest that aspects of the black experience which are conducive to high rates of stroke mortality are exacerbated in those communities. Public health interventions to reduce the racial and social inequalities in stroke mortality should recognise the social context within which nutritional, occupational, medical care, and environmental determinants of stroke are distributed.
Frontiers of test validity theory: measurement, causation, and meaning

As signalled by the title of their book, Frontiers of Test Validity Theory: Measurement, Causation, and Meaning, Markus and Borsboom (2013) tackle the foundational issues of measurement, causality,...
Humoral immunity in renal transplantation: epitopes, Cw and DP, and complement-activating capability – an update

Humoral immune responses can destroy a renal allograft. In January 2013, Consensus Guidelines were published regarding testing and management concerns with respect to antibodies in transplantation. New studies have been reported over the past two yr and controversies remain. We review here the new data in light of the Consensus Guidelines and the relevant prior research with emphasis on antibody characteristics and potential for pathogenicity. The heart of immune recognition, epitopes, is stressed, including the realization that DQ (and probably DP) epitopes may be determined not only by eplets within a given α- or β-chain, but also by specific α- and β-chain pairings. The significance of Cw and DP loci are discussed. To better understand which donor-specific antibodies are pathogenic, IgG subclass determination has been studied, and in in vitro complement fixation assays, such as the C4d and C1q assays, have been evaluated.
Ceramide-induced G2 arrest in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells requires p21Cip1/Waf1 induction and is prevented by MDM2 overexpression.

The sphingoplipid ceramide is responsible for a diverse range of biochemical and cellular responses including a putative role in modulating cell cycle progression. Herein, we describe that an accumulation of ceramide, achieved through the exogenous application of C6-ceramide or exposure to sphingomyelinase, induces a G2 arrest in Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell lines. Utilizing the RMS cell line RD, we show that this G2 arrest required the rapid induction of p21Cip1/Waf1 independent of DNA damage. This was followed at later time points (48 h) by the commitment to apoptosis. Apoptosis was prevented by Bcl-2 overexpression, but permitted the maintenance of elevated p21Cip1/Waf1 protein expression and the stabilization of the G2 arrest response. Inhibition of p21Cip1/Waf1 protein synthesis with cyclohexamide (CHX) or silencing of p21Cip1/Waf1 with siRNA, prevented ceramide-mediated G2 arrest and the late induction of apoptosis. Further, adopting the recent discovery that murine double minute 2 (MDM2) controls p21Cip1/Waf1 expression by presenting this CDK inhibitor to the proteasome for degradation, RD cells overexpressing MDM2 abrogated ceramide-mediated p21Cip1/Waf1 induction, G2 arrest and the late ensuing apoptosis. Collectively, these data further support the notion that ceramide accumulation can modulate cell cycle progression. Additionally, these observations highlight MDM2 expression and proteasomal activity as key determinants of the cellular response to ceramide accumulation.
Bayesian network implementation of Levi's epistemic utility decision theory

Isaac Levi has proposed an epistemic decision rule that requires two convex sets of probability distributions: a set of credal probability distributions that represent a decision agent's state of knowledge, and a set of information-determining distributions that represent the decision agent's assessment of the informational value of various hypotheses. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of using Bayesian network structures, in which conditional probability distributions are computed using local computations and conditional independence relationships, to implement Levi's decision rule. We find that Bayesian network update algorithms do not in general result in convex sets of distributions; however, Bayesian networks can compute sets of a posteriori extremal distributions from sets of a priori and conditional extremal distributions. We also show that Levi's decision rule gives the same answer when applied to arbitrary sets of credal and information-determining distributions as it gives when applied to the convex closure of those sets of distributions. Thus, implementation of Levi's decision rule using Bayesian network structures is feasible.
Fine structure of the secretory activity of the pars intermedia of Rana pipiens.

Abstract The partes intermedia of adult, Rana pipiens, white- and black-background adapted for 14 days (MI 1.0–1.5 and 4.5–5.0, respectively), were studied with electron microscopy. Thus, ultrastructural characteristics of nonsynthesizing/nonsecreting versus synthesizing/secreting melanophore-stimulating hormone (MSH) cells were established. Cytoplasmic granules of varying size (150–300 nm) and electron density appeared in far greater numbers in the secretory cells of white-adapted animals than those of black-adapted. The latter contained only smaller (150–200 nm), more dense granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) of the black-adapted frogs was well developed, and the dilated rER cisternae contained a filamentous precipitate. The rER of the white-adapted frogs was reduced. The neurointermediate lobes of black-adapted frogs were transplanted into the anterior chamber of the eyes of nine black-adapted frogs, which were then maintained on a black background three additional days. The ultrastructure of 85–90% of the cells of both transplanted and in situ partes intermedia appeared similar to that of a white-adapted animal. These cells showed numerous granules and reduction in rER. Again, nine black-adapted frogs served as donors of intraocular transplants for nine black-adapted recipients. Then the hosts were placed on a white background for 3 days and showed skin darkening (MI 4.5–5.0). This experiment indicated that the transplant was not under hypothalamic control. The transplanted glands contained cells similar to those found in the black-adapted frog; the cells of the host pars intermedia were comparable to those of a white-adapted frog. Finally, six frogs were black background adapted and injected with porcine α-MSH (1 × 10−7 g/m2) every 2.5 hr for 3 days. Glands of these animals were similar to those of black-adapted frogs containing transplants; they contained many cytoplasmic granules. It appears that exogenous MSH, either of transplanted or injected origin, inhibits the synthesis and release of granules which have been considered MSH. It appears that MSH is acting at the pituitary level rather than the hypothalamic level to produce this inhibition. The intact pituitary remained under hypothalamic control, but the transplanted one did not. These results suggest a direct feedback in which circulating MSH affects release and further synthesis of MSH. The exact role of this mechanism in normal physiological control of color change is not known.
Children's Literature and Early Literacy Success: Using the Charlotte Zolotow Award Collection in Early Childhood Teacher Education

Early childhood education (PK–2) has become a site of increasing accountability, with the attempt to normalize instruction through “scientifically based” reading programs. The use of authentic children's literature for early literacy instruction is often pushed aside in lieu of highly scripted commercial programs. As early childhood teacher educators prepare preservice teachers, there is a need to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. This article speaks to teacher educators who wish to provide preservice teachers with the theoretical rationale for keeping authentic children's literature as a focus of early reading programs. Drawing on early reading research and sociocultural theories of literacy development, the article provides examples of curriculum and instruction around picture-books that have received the Charlotte Zolotow Award, which is given to children's books with high-quality writing. The article offers numerous book suggestions for use in teacher education classes that demonstrate how lan...
Molecular Medicine: Humans and Simpler Organisms

We arewitnessing a revolution in human biology. The genes implicated in human disease are being mapped and cloned at a dizzying pace. These advances are being quickly followed by new DNAbased diagnostic procedures, and practical methods of gene therapy seem just around the corner. At the same time, the Human Genome Project is well under way and promises a complete description of our genetic makeup at the nucleotide level. In the midst of this excitement in human biology, it is perhaps a good time to consider the role of basic scientific research and, in particular, the role of research on simpler organisms, in the new molecular medicine. What have been the contributions of research on such organisms as yeast, worms, and fruit flies, and what contributions can such research make in the future to medicine, in general, and to otolaryngology in particular? First, it must be realized that many
Carrier Frequency of the Bloom SyndromeblmAshMutation in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population

Abstract Bloom syndrome is more common in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent than in any other population, and one particular mutation in the Bloom syndrome gene, blm Ash , is homozygous in nearly all Ashkenazi Jewish persons with Bloom syndrome. We have determined the frequency of blm Ash in 1491 Ashkenazi Jewish persons with no known history of Bloom syndrome and found that 1 in 107 persons was heterozygous. Although not common, genetic screening for Bloom syndrome is feasible in this population.
Measuring nepotism through shared last names: the case of Italian Academia.

Nepotistic practices are detrimental for academia. Here I show how disciplines with a high likelihood of nepotism can be detected using standard statistical techniques based on shared last names among professors. As an example, I analyze the set of all 61,340 Italian academics. I find that nepotism is prominent in Italy, with particular disciplinary sectors being detected as especially problematic. Out of 28 disciplines, 9 – accounting for more than half of Italian professors – display a significant paucity of last names. Moreover, in most disciplines a clear north-south trend emerges, with likelihood of nepotism increasing with latitude. Even accounting for the geographic clustering of last names, I find that for many disciplines the probability of name-sharing is boosted when professors work in the same institution or sub-discipline. Using these techniques policy makers can target cuts and funding in order to promote fair practices.