cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Classroom goal structures and communication style: the role of teacher immediacy and relevance-making in students’ perceptions of the classroom

We examined the relationships between teachers’ communication styles and students’ perceptions of the classroom goal structure. Within the context of high school health classes focused on teaching about HIV/STD/pregnancy prevention, we surveyed 456 students about their teachers’ immediacy behaviors, efforts to make course content relevant, and their perceptions of the classroom goal structure. We found that the more teachers stressed the relevance of course material and used verbal and nonverbal immediacy behaviors, the more students perceived a mastery goal structure in their classrooms. Conversely, when teachers did not emphasize these immediacy behaviors, students were more likely to perceive an avoidance goal structure. Immediacy behaviors were not related to perceptions of an extrinsic goal structure. Our results suggest that teachers can help create a positive, mastery-oriented classroom by communicating with students in a way that demonstrates authentic care and concern for students’ learning. Implications for future research into cues students rely on when perceiving classroom goal structurers and implications for instruction are discussed.
Use of vemurafenib in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, poorly differentiated type of thyroid cancer occurring in less than 5% of all thyroid cancers. Patients typically have a poor prognosis with very few options for treatment.2 With current therapy of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, median survival is only 6 months from the time of diagnosis. Several mutations in cell cycle regulation have been discovered in ATC that contribute to its undifferentiated state, one of which is the BRAF kinase mutation. This mutation results in activation of the MAPK pathway and uncontrolled cell proliferation. In this case report, a 51 y old male presented with a 2-week history of hoarseness and was diagnosed with ATC. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in BRAF kinase; the patient subsequently began therapy with vemurafenib, a BRAF kinase inhibitor indicated for melanoma. After an initial response, the patient quickly declined and consequently died from his disease. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a deadly cancer without an ...
Abstract 93: Universal homogenous bioluminescent assay that monitor the activity various classes of methyltransferases in vitro

Post transcriptional modifications of proteins and nucleic acids are well-recognized to play major role in influencing cell fate towards cellular proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Such modifications that include phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, etc. have been validated as drug targets resulting in the development of several drugs. Recent biochemical and biological data suggest that the enzymatic activities of several of these enzymes have pathogenic roles in cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, pharmacological modulation of these enzymes by small molecules will be beneficial in developing novel therapeutics for multiple unmet medical needs. Of these, methyltransferases are known to alter the epigenome by altering the methylation status of nucleic acids or proteins resulting in changes in cellular functions. Towards this goal of searching for activators/inhibitors of these enzymes for the development of next generation of drugs, screening assays for these modulators are urgently needed. To address these unmet needs, we have developed a novel assay that monitors the activities of these enzymes and their modulation by small molecules. The assay is bioluminescent based, HTS formatted and highly sensitive. The assay is universal since it is based on monitoring the formation of the universal product S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), i.e., capable of detecting changes in activity of a broad range of methyltransferases such as DNA, protein, RNA, and small molecules methyltransferases. In addition, the assay has been validated for all classes of protein methyltransferases (Lysine and Arginine), and with different types of substrates (small peptides, large proteins, or even nucleosomes). This enables determining the specificity of these enzymes and their substrate requirements. The assay has high signal to background and low C.V. The assay is robust (Z’ value > 0.7) and has been validated using various plate densities such as 96-, 384, and 1536-well plates. A strong feature of this assay is its utility with broad range of substrates with no limitations on the use of high concentrations of substrates or the composition of the substrates (short vs. long peptides), thus enabling the generation of kinetic data and determining the mechanism of action of various modulators of methyltransferases of interest. Citation Format: Kevin Hsiao, Said Goueli. Universal homogenous bioluminescent assay that monitor the activity various classes of methyltransferases in vitro. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 93. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-93
Toward a Perception-Based Theory of Probabilistic Reasoning

The past two decades have witnessed a dramatic growth in the use of probability- based methods in a wide variety of applications centering on automation of decision-making in an environment of uncertainty and incompleteness of information.
Acceleration of Mass Flow in the Chromosphere of α Orionis

The spectrum of α Orionis is composite and consists of four components arising from 1) the photosphere, 2) two distant shells expanding at constant velocities differing by 6–7 km/s and 3) a warm chromosphere in which the mass flow is being accelerated, perhaps to its terminal value in the inner shell.
Knowledge Management Systems: A Health Care Initiative with Lessons for Us All

We are not only in a new millennium but also a new era. A variety of terms such as the Post-Industrial Era (Huber, 1990), the Information Age (Shapiro et al, 1999), the Third Wave (Hope et al, 1999) or the Knowledge Society (Drucker, 1999) are being used to describe this epoch. However, whichever term one subscribes to, most are agreed that one of the key defining and unifying themes of this period is knowledge management. From the mid 90s, we have evidenced tremendous investment in knowledge management and knowledge management systems (KMS). Some of the leaders into this knowledge management abyss have been the big consulting companies. These firms started to incorporate knowledge management as a key component of their strategies and business plans as early as the late 1980s. The literature discussing knowledge management and KMS focuses almost exclusively on this sector. However, KMS are useful in other sectors too. Furthermore, they are prevalent in these other sectors. One area KMS are present, yet the literature is notably silent, is in the health care arena. This paper presents the case of Kaiser PermanenteOhio and their development and use of MARS (medical automated record system); a KMS in health care.
14 Syntactic structure, grammatical accuracy, and content in second-language writing: An analysis of skill learning and on-line processing

Abstract This chapter examines second-language sentence production both as a skill and as an on-line process by measuring relationships among linguistic and content characteristics of language samples both between and within participants. Written language samples were obtained from high school students enrolled in an intermediate-level English as a Second Language (ESL) class with embedded science instruction. Across participants, the skills of producing sentences with correct English grammar and accurate science content were positively associated with the skills of producing complex syntactic structures and more elaborate science content. Within participants, the on-line production of correct grammar was compromised when complex science content was expressed. The pattern of results obtained highlight the importance of analyzing bilingual language acquisition data in terms of both skill learning and on-line performance.
Profile of vitamin D in a cohort of physicians and diabetologists in Kolkata.

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency has been documented across all age groups and both sexes from India. However, there is paucity of data on vitamin D deficiency in a particular cohort of population. Objectives: To assess the vitamin D status in a cohort of physicians and diabetologists in Kolkata. Material and Methods: An observational cross sectional study carried out in the month of December 2011 in a cohort of 40 physicians and diabetologists in Kolkata. Results: A total of 40 subjects were studied. Mean age of the cohort was 52.22 ± 10.91.Mean serum vitamin D level was 13.02 ± 4.77 ng/ml. Nearly 92.5% and 5.0% of subjects had vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. Conclusions : Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in physicians and diabetologists in Kolkata.
Intraoperative fluid administration is associated with perioperative outcomes in pancreaticoduodenectomy: A single center retrospective analysis

Background Recent studies on perioperative fluid administration in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery have suggested that increased fluid loads are associated with worse perioperative outcomes. However, results of retrospective analyses of the relationship between intraoperative fluid (IOF) administration and perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) are conflicted. We sought to investigate this relationship in patients undergoing PD at our academic center. Methods A retrospective analysis of 124 patients undergoing PD from 2007 to 2012 was performed. IOF administration rate (ml/kg/hr) was correlated with perioperative outcomes. Outcomes were also stratified by preoperative serum albumin level. Results Regression analyses were performed comparing independent perioperative variables, including IOF rate, to four outcomes variables: length of stay, severity of complications, number of complications per patient, and 30-day mortality. Both univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed IOF rate correlated with one or more perioperative outcomes. Patients with an albumin ≤3.0 g/dl who received more than the median IOF rate experienced more severe complications, while patients with an albumin >3.0 g/dl did not. Conclusion Increased IOF administration is associated with worse perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing PD. Patients with low preoperative serum albumin levels (≤3.0 g/dl) may be a group particularly sensitive to volume overload. J. Surg. Oncol. 2013 108:242–247. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Winch’s philosophical bearings

Winch’s The Idea of a Social Science is explicitly based on a conception of philosophy. This article outlines and criticizes this conception, and then explores the relevance of this for Winch’s conception of social science. Winch identifies philosophy with conceptual analysis, and social science with unearthing the meaning of concepts operating within a form of life. These identifications produce a one-sided view both of philosophy (which must also criticize schemes of concepts and propose alternatives to them) and of social science (which must also explain schemes of concepts and sometimes attempt to change them).
Sex-linked major-gene influences on selected types of spatial performance.

Four paper-and-pencil spatial tests, measuring two- and three-dimensional spatial visualization and spatial orientation, were administered to 2508 Caucasian high-school studients. Sibling correlations and within-sex score distributions were examined for the influence of a major sex-linked gene. Sex-linked influences were most clear on the test of two-dimensional visualization and on an average of the standard scores on all the tests. For those tests best fitting the genetic model, estimates of the frequency of the recessive gene (contributing to good performance) were near 0.45. There was evidence of sex limitation and a small amount of assortative mating, but no evidence of incomplete dominance in females. Environmental or non-sex-linked genetic factors influenced spatial performance but did not systematically improve performance with age.
Analysis of ATM cell loss for systems with on/off traffic sources

Cell loss, which occurs when buffers overflow in ATM switches, is a key measure for the performance of an ATM network. An ATM network must be designed for very low and predictable cell loss probabilities to provide adequate quality of service for all users. Many methods have been proposed for allocating bandwidth and determining buffer size requirements to provide quality-of-service guarantees. The probabilistic nature of these methods is subject to overly optimistic allocations (insufficient in the worst case) or overly pessimistic allocations (over specified in the best case). The authors present an exact analysis of cell loss for periodic on/off (bursty) traffic sources. Periodic on/off traffic sources are representative of output traffic from leaky-bucket rate-control mechanisms as used in ATM networks. Closed-form equations for buffer sizing and cell loss probabilities are developed and rigorously proved for a single queue with multiple traffic sources and multiple queues with multiple traffic sources serviced via a round-robin discipline. These closed-form equations can be used in concert with probabilistic methods to ensure that buffer and bandwidth allocations are made between the best- and worst-case requirements.
Survival and development of ciliary ganglion neurones grown alone in cell culture

NEURONAL cell death is a conspicuous part of development for many neuronal populations in the vertebrate nervous system1,2. Although little is known about the mechanisms that control neurone death, it seems that interactions with the postsynaptic target tissue are important. Thus, for the chick ciliary ganglion (CG), Landmesser and Pilar showed that half of the neurones present die between days 8 and 13 in the embryo. Before cell death, all the neurones extend processes to the periphery. Ablating the periphery early in development causes more than 90% of the neurones to die at the normal time3. We have previously shown that nearly all the neurones from chick CG, including those destined to die in vivo, can survive and develop in cell culture when ganglia from 8-d-old embryos are dissociated and grown with skeletal myotubes4. Many of the neurones innervate myotubes in these conditions. Are neuromuscular synapses necessary to prevent the death of ciliary ganglion neurones? We report here that they are not. Culture medium conditioned by contact with heart or skeletal muscle cells permits complete long-term survival of the dissociated neurones grown in the absence of other cell types. The neurones develop levels of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity comparable to those obtained for neurones grown with myotubes.
Cationic amino acid transport in chicken small intestine

Abstract 1. 1. The cationic amino acids have been shown to represent a transport class in the chicken small intestine on the basis of their competition for what appears to be a single transport site. 2. 2. This site does not appear to be the primary site of histidine entry. 3. 3. Leucine is a strong competitive inhibitor of arginine uptake, while the influence of arginine upon the influx of leucine is slight. 4. 4. Comparison of inhibition of lysine and methionine by various amino acids and analogs showed that the inhibition of lysine by neutral amino acids occurs by their attachment to a site other than the one involved in the uptake of methionine.
World Variable Binding and Beta-Binding

This paper investigates the analysis of the de re/de dicto distinction and related facts. I start with the assumption, supported by Cresswell 1990, that the evaluation of the truth of a proposition relative to a particular possible world/situation is mediated via the presence in the syntax of a silent pronoun with type-s denotation. In this system, the de re/de dicto distinction arises from a difference in which an operator binds a given situation pronoun. Percus 2000 shows that such a system potentially overgenerates, in that a third type of reading is predicted to exist for sentences which actually have only two: de re and de dicto. Percus proposes constraints on the binding of situation pronouns, which correctly rule out these third readings. This paper shows, however, that extrinsic constraints on the binding of situation pronouns are not necessary to rule out the unwanted readings, as long as we develop a more precise theory of binding in the first place. I adapt the binding operator argued for by Buring 2004, originally developed only for overt pronouns, and show that when used as an operator for situation pronouns, the unwanted readings are not predicted to occur.
Improving the Oral Efficacy of Recombinant Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor and Transferrin Fusion Protein by Spacer Optimization

Purpose To improve the oral efficacy of the recombinant fusion protein containing granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and transferrin (Tf) by inserting a linker between the two protein domains.
κ-Opioid receptor-mediated analgesia: Hotplate temperature and sex differences

The present experiment was designed to investigate the dose-effect and time-effect functions of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist [5alpha,7alpha, 8beta)-(-)-N-Methyl-N-[7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-oxaspiro(4, 5)dec-8-yl]benzeneacetamide] (U69,593) in intact and gonadectomized male and female rats as a function of hotplate temperature (45 degrees C or 51 degrees C). At 45 degrees C baseline lick latencies were longer in female rats than in male rats. Lick latencies increased dose-dependently in all subjects except intact female rats. U69,593 increased lick latencies as a function of time since its administration in all subjects. At 51 degrees C baseline lick latencies did not differ between groups and they increased dose-dependently in all subjects. The effectiveness of U69,593 decreased as a function of time since its administration, but not in castrated male rats. These observations suggest that gonadal hormones could play a role in modulating the behavioral effects of U69,593 when subjects are tested at different hotplate temperatures.
The capillary factor in myocardial infarction.

Abstract The deleterious effect of lack of blood supply or of oxygen on capillaries in general is well known. In the studies reviewed in this paper, the results of the earlier work of others on the effect of temporary myocardial ischemia are confirmed and extended. The vulnerability of the myocardial capillaries to ischemic, asphyxic and anoxic insult is demonstrated. Evidence is cited to suggest that this vulnerability occurs because the heart is a continuously working muscle, highly sensitive to ischemia, asphyxia and anoxia.
A Survey Of Diagnostic Expert Systems

Diagnostic expert systems is an area of growing interest in the application of expert system technology. Diagnosis is a step-by-step process that attempts to ascertain the internal characteristics of a physical system. The first generation of knowledge-based systems for hardware diagnosis are based primarily on the largely empirically derived knowledge of human experts. A number of diagnostic expert systems dealing with electronic and computer hardware have been developed over the last several years. The majority of these systems have utilized a variety of diagnostic techniques and concepts to solve a specific hardware application. This paper surveys four of the most successful diagnostic expert systems in the areas of computers and electronic hardware and analyzes each in a comparative manner. Several additional systems are summarized to provide the reader with a relatively extensive overview of existing research and development activities in the area of diagnostic expert systems.
Nano-PPUF: A Memristor-Based Security Primitive

CMOS devices have been used to build hardware security primitives such as physical unclonable functions. Since MOS devices are relatively easy to model and simulate, CMOS-based security primitives are increasingly prone to modeling attacks. We propose memristor-based Public Physical Unclonable Functions (nano-PPUFs), they have complex models that are difficult to simulate. We leverage sneak path currents, process variations, and computationally intensive SPICE models as features to build the nano-PPUF. With just a few hundreds of memristors, we construct a time-bounded authentication protocol that will take several years for an attacker to compromise.
Esophagus in-field: a new predictor for esophagitis.

Abstract Purpose To define optimization parameters for limiting esophageal toxicity with concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and methods A retrospective analysis of patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation at the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Hospital Cancer Center was done with IRB approval. All patients were treated with concurrent CRT. All patients underwent 3-D conformal radiotherapy planned with ECLIPSE (Varian, Palo Alto, CA) treatment planning system. Patients had their esophagus contoured in two ways: the entire esophagus (Esoph) and esophagus in-field (Esoph in ). Together with clinical variables, dose volume metrics including mean dose, V5–V60 of both structures (Esoph and Esoph in ) were analyzed for correlation with acute esophagitis (⩾grade 3) and late esophageal stricture. The analyses and graphics were completed using R (R Development Core Team, 2006). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationships between dosimetric factors and swallowing complications while controlling for non-dosimetric variables. Results 109 patients were studied between 2000 and 2006. 25% of patients had grade 3 or greater acute esophagitis. 5/109 (5.5%) had late esophageal stricture with a six-month actuarial risk of stricture of 6.5% (95% CI=1–11%). Mean dose and V45–V60 for both Esoph and Esoph in significantly correlated with development of acute esophagitis. V55 and V60 for both Esoph and Esoph in significantly correlated with development of stricture. On Multivariate analysis V55 of the Esoph and Esoph in was most predictive of toxicity. Limiting the V55 Esoph in to 50% was the best cut-point for acute esophagitis. Conclusions In the setting of concurrent CRT, V55 of the Esoph or Esoph in is the best predictor of acute esophagitis.
Intrathecal metrizamide computed tomography: Diagnosis of downbeat nystagmus in Arnold-Chiari I malformation

Abstract Conventional computed tomographic scans are often inadequate for the evaluation of the medullary cervical junction and adjacent cerebellar structures. Visualization of the subarachnoid spaces from the distal tip of the dural spinal canal to the cranial cavity is greatly enhanced by the intrathecal injection of metrizamide. Photographs demonstrate findings with and without metrizamide injection in the case of a 58-year-old patient with Arnold-Chiari I malformation.
Gamma-ray detectors (>10 MeV)

Photons in the energy region above 10 MeV can provide unique information about the highest energy particles produced in solar flares. Measurements of the energy spectra, temporal behavior and anisotropies of the incident photons, can give valuable insights into the particle acceleration process. In this paper we review the detection techniques used at these energies, typical instruments which use these techniques, and future solar missions both actual and potential.
Proactive pain control

ABSTRACT:It is now widely accepted that animals feel pain. Providing analgesia is, therefore, an integral part of animal welfare. This article summarises the need for proactive pain control, outlining interventions and pharmacological treatments we can consider and explains how pain can be assessed and controlled in practice.
The role of future longitudinal studies in ICU survivors: understanding determinants and pathophysiology of weakness and neuromuscular dysfunction

Purpose of review The goals of this review are to discuss the pathophysiology and determinants of muscle weakness and neuromuscular dysfunction after critical illness, and to offer thoughts regarding the role of future longitudinal studies in this area. Recent findings While recent studies support the finding that neuromuscular dysfunction is common and important after critical illness, reversible risk factors and approaches to prevention and treatment remain unproven. Pathophysiologic studies implicate disease and treatment associated factors in the development of nerve and muscle damage during critical illness; these factors may provide targets for future studies. Summary Additional studies with improved methodology that address epidemiology and that test interventions are needed to understand and to improve neuromuscular function after critical illness.
Prograde versus retrograde endoscopic laser therapy for the treatment of malignant esophageal obstruction: a comparison of techniques.

The prograde and retrograde approaches to the treatment of malignant esophageal obstruction with the Nd:YAG, or neodymium: yttrium, aluminum, garnet, laser are compared. With the prograde technique, tumor destruction procceds from the proximal to the distal tumor margin. In retrograde treatment, the endoscope is passed to the distal tumor margin so that the treatment can proceed in the reverse direction, thereby completing therapy in a single treatment session. This is usually accomplished by passage of a guide wire down the biopsy channel of the endoscope, tumor dilatation, and then passage of the endoscope over the guide wire to the distal tumor margin, where laser destruction is begun. Twenty nonrandomly selected patients with malignant esophageal obstruction were studied. The first ten patients were treated with the prograde technique, the next ten with the retrograde technique. The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, and tumor histologies. Patients treated retrogradely had narrower pretreatment lumens (average 2.3 vs. 4.1 mm) as well as longer tumor lengths (average 8.9 vs. 4.8 cm). The posttreatment luminal diameters were similar for each group: 18.0 mm for prograde; 16.3 for retrograde. In the retrograde group, therapy was completed in fewer treatments (1.6 vs. 2.9) and over a shorter period of time (3.6 vs. 7.8 days), despite the longer tumor lengths. All patients in both groups were able to tolerate a regular diet at the completion of therapy. The complication rate was low in both groups. It is felt that the retrograde technique (single session therapy) is the preferred method because it allows more-rapid treatment without increased complications and thereby shortens hospital stay and reduces hospital costs.
Two-dimensional infrared investigation of N-acetyl tryptophan methyl amide in solution.

The linear infrared and two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra in the amide-I region of N-acetyl tryptophan methyl amide (NATMA) in solvents of varying polarity are reported. The two amide-I transitions have been assigned unambiguously by using 13C isotopic substitution of the carbonyl group. The amide unit at the amino end shows a lower transition frequency in CH2Cl2 and methanol, while the acetyl end has a lower transition frequency in D2O. Multiple conformers exist in CH2Cl2 and methanol, but only one conformer is evident in D2O. The 2D IR cross peaks from the intermode coupling yield off-diagonal anharmonicities 2.5 ± 0.5, 3.25 ± 0.5, and 3.0 ± 0.5 cm-1 in CH2Cl2, methanol, and D2O, respectively, which by simple matrix diagonalization yield the coupling constants 8.0 ± 0.5, 8.0 ± 1.0, and 5.5 ± 1.0 cm-1. The major conformer in CH2Cl2 corresponds to a C7 structure, in agreement with that found in the gas phase [Dian, B. C.; Longarte, A.; Mercier, S.; Evans, D. A.; Wales, D. J.; Zwier, T. S. J. Chem. ...
PERSPECTIVE: Revisiting the Digital Divide: An Analysis of Mobile Technology Depth and Service Breadth in the BRIC Countries

Can mobile communication technologies bridge the digital divide between developing and developed countries? This paper shows that the divide looks differently from what was previously thought for the fastest-growing developing countries—Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) based on 2006 data. While mobile technology depth (number subscriptions as percentage of population) is lower in BRIC, it has been rapidly growing, equaling, or surpassing some developed countries for BRIC such as Russia and Brazil. BRIC such as India and Russia also equal or surpass several developed countries in 2006 in terms of mobile technology breadth (service variety) on 34 individual and five categories of mobile services available worldwide. While some BRIC may be behind developed countries on one of these dimensions in 2006, they are ahead on the other dimension. Thus, the digital divide between BRIC and developed countries can be narrower, absent, or even reversed, depending on the metric used. This paper argues that BRIC can serve as frontrunners whose lessons on technology diffusion can be applied in other developing countries. The paper presents implications for new product and innovation management and digital divide research and for policy making and business processes for high-tech companies in BRIC and other developing countries.
Retrovirus-mediated transduction of cultured epidermal keratinocytes.

Abstract Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer is an efficient means of introducing and expressing exogenous gene(s) in many cell types including keratinocytes. However, parameters of transduction and gene expression have not been systematically analyzed for keratinocytes. To carry out such a study we have transduced cultures of newborn foreskin cells with retroviral vectors that encode the genes for neomycin resistance (neo r ) and for beta-galactosidase (B-gal). The neon gene is a dominant selectable marker and the B-gal gene encodes a histochemically detectable product. Our key findings are the following: 1) all keratinocytes that form colonies can be successfully transduced at a viral titer greater than 5 × 10 6 colony-forming units/ml; 2) transduction is effected by integration of a single copy of retroviral DNA; 3) transduced cells are not at a growth disadvantage and, in fact, single clones of transduced keratinocytes can be expanded to yield over 10 9 cells, suggesting that stem cells are transduced; 4) whereas most transduced colonies exhibit B-gal staining in a high percentage of constituent cells, some colonies had a mosaic or sectored staining pattern; 5) expression of the non-selectable B-gal gene was somewhat greater in differentiated cells of the culture as compared to nondifferentiated precursors. The ability to transduce stem cells at a high efficiency and to follow expression of transduced genes in clonal progeny will allow lineage mapping in stratified epithelial tissues.
Empirical evidence for the superiority of non-US oil and gas investments

Abstract This paper provides empirical estimates of the return on US and non-US exploration investment. The estimates are obtained from a polynomial distributed lag model [Econometrica 33 (1965) 178] that relates the present value of current period reserve discoveries to current and lagged US and non-US exploration investment. The empirical evidence presented in the paper indicates that the net present value of $1 invested in non-US exploration is larger in a statistically significant sense than the net present value of $1 invested in U.S exploration. In particular, results indicate that the return on non-US exploration investment is approximately 3.5 times as large as the return earned on US exploration investment. The results reported in this paper provide insights potentially useful to US energy policymakers.
Gastrointestinal and renal involvement in vasculitis: management strategies in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

The joint pain, inflammation, and painful cutaneous edema of Henoch-Scholein purpura (HSP) are effectively treated with analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and corticosteroids, but the optimal management of HSP-associated gastrointestinal and renal involvement has not yet been determined. The results of mostly anecdotal and uncontrolled studies favor a short course of oral corticosteroids for severe abdominal pain and aggressive immunosuppressive therapy for patients with progressive HSP nephritis.
The reader as writer, the author as con artist: Nuala O'Faolain and the criminal narratives of Chicago May

Nuala O'Faolain seeks to revise the life story of May Churchill Sharp, an international con woman born in Ireland, in hopes of establishing a feminist identification with her. But O'Faolain's claim for her writing of a kind of authorial authenticity ultimately precludes an identification with Sharp, as Sharp's narrative – like all narratives – is a criminal narrative which renders feminist ‘authenticity’ impossible to achieve, something O'Faolain herself refuses to acknowledge.
Dependence of the specific heat of Na x CoO 2 ∙y H 2 O/ D 2 O on sodium and water concentrations

We report specific heat measurements down to 0.4 K on the layered oxide Na{sub x}CoO{sub 2} {center_dot} yH{sub 2}O/D{sub 2}O with 0 x 0.74 and y = 0 and 1.4. For the nonhydrated system (y = 0), the electronic specific heat coefficient {gamma}{sub N} and the Debye temperature {Theta}{sub D} vary nonmonotonically with x, both displaying minima when x is close to 0.5. This indicates a systematic change of the electronic and vibrational structures with Na content. For both hydrated and deuterated systems (x = 0.35 and y = 1.4), the specific heat reveals a sharp peak with {Delta}C{sub p}-45.5 mJ/mol K at T{sub c}{sup mid}-4.7 K and an anomaly at T{sub x}-0.8 K. While the origin of the latter is not clear, the former corresponds to the superconducting transition. With the application of magnetic fields up to 14 Tesla, T{sub c} decreases gradually but T{sub x} remains more or less unchanged. The implication of these results is discussed.
Without Boundaries: An Inquiry into Deaf Epistemologies through a Metaparadigm.

The ongoing debate on Deaf epistemologies reflects two major paradigms in deaf education: positivism and constructivism. The present article investigates Deaf epistemologies through a metaparadigm, which should blur the boundaries among different paradigms and connect the epistemological inquiry to instructional practice for d/Deaf students. The author states that researchers and educators should not be obsessed with defending a particular paradigm and attacking others, but should move toward paradigmatic integration. If successful instructional practices are to be fully understood, each paradigm needs insights from the others. Furthermore, effective classroom instruction should be based on the goal of the educational activity and the ability of the students in the classroom. Mainstream theories and research in English literacy education can and should be applicable to d/Deaf students; furthermore, using appropriate instructional tools, teachers of the d/Deaf can and should teach phonologically related skills to their students.
A jump condition of PMP-based control for PHEVs

Abstract An optimal control strategy based on Pontryagin's Minimum Principle (PMP) is a promising solution because it provides a simple solution for controlling Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and guarantees the best performance under reasonable conditions [1] , [2] . However, it needs to be very careful when applying the control strategy if inequality state constraints are active because handling the state constraints is one of the difficult issues in optimal control problems. In contrast to HEVs, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) possibly consume all of the available electric energy, and so the activation of the state constraint on minimum State of Charge (SOC) is, unfortunately, a very common control problem for PHEVs. This paper describes mathematical derivations for an additional condition necessary for the inequality state constraints and solves the problem with several control options. Whereas PMP-based control allows a unique solution for HEVs [2] , this paper shows that the control idea based on PMP produces a number of alternative solutions for PHEVs. However, battery efficiencies can be considered to evaluate the optimality of each solution, and simulation results from several control options show that maximizing a blended-mode control is the best solution to saving fuel for PHEVs. In terms of performance, the results of applying blended-mode control are very close to those obtained by applying a global optimal solution obtained from Dynamic Programming (DP).
Comparative Aspects of Diet and Habitat in some New Caledonian Lizards

No comparative ecological studies have previously been conducted on the lizards of New Caledonia. This study examines two parameters of resource partitioning-diet and microhabitat, for eleven species of native lizards (Gekkonidae and Scincidae). Differences in diel activity patterns and coarse habitat differences tend to segregate geckos from skinks. Microhabitat and dietary differences were found among four sympatric species in a forest assemblage at Mt. Koyaboa, but retreat sites and some food resources were employed by all. Rock piles and crevices are important retreats for all the forest species studied and are a crude predictor of lizard abundance. Crickets and terrestrial isopods are the most important items in the diet of the predominant gecko Bavayia sauvagii. Though generally considered arboreal, this lizard is frequently active on the ground as well. Ants are an important food source of the forest skink Leiolopisma tricolor, whereas the ubiquitous ground skink Leiolopisma austrocaledonicum eats a wide variety of prey, with smaller individuals selectively taking smaller prey. Larger individuals consume feew large prey items but these may be of great energetic importance.
Supercritical fluid extraction of contaminants from environmental matrices

Supercritical fluids are rapidly gaining importance as solvents in extraction processes. These fluids have attractive physicochemical properties that result in advantages in extraction such as ease of solvent recovery, elimination of residual solvent in the extracted medium, lower pressure drops, and enhanced mass transfer rates. In addition close to zero surface tension of these fluids enables facial penetration into the pores of a solid matrix to extract the deposited compounds. This article focuses on the use of supercritical fluids in extraction of organic contaminants from environmental matrices. Data and theoretical developments are reported on extraction of organics from water and solids, especially soils.
Effect of endotoxin on canine colonic motility and transit.

Diarrhea is a common problem in patients who have episodes of sepsis and are beingfed enterally. Endotoxemia results in gastrointestinal motor dysfunction characterized by slowed gastric emptying and rapid intestinal transit; however, the effect of endotoxin on colonic motility is unknown. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of a single sublethal dose of endotoxin on colonic motility and transit. Seven dogs underwent construction of a 50 cm colonic Thiry-Vella fistula. Five manometry catheters were sewn into the colonic lumen at 8 cm intervals along the fistula. Following recovery, the fistula was perfused with an isotonic solution at 2.9 ml/min, and fasting and postprandial colonic motility was determined. Liquid transit was assessed by bolus ofa nonabsorbable marker instilled into the proximal end of the Thiry-Vella fistula. Recordings of gastrointestinal contractile activity were made digitally to determine contractile frequencies and motility indexes. Following completion of the baseline studies, each dog was given a single dose ofE. coli lipopolysaccharide, 200 γg/kg intravenously, and studies were repeated daily for the next 3 days. Endotoxin doubled the fasting colonic contractile frequency on postendotoxin day 1 and also increased motility indexes on that same day. Fasting motility indexes and contractile activity were decreased on postendotoxin days 2 and 3. The postprandial frequency of contractions and motility indexes were decreased on postendotoxin day 3. Fasting colonic liquid transit was rapid on postendotoxin day 1, whereas postprandial liquid transit was rapid on both postendotoxin days 1 and 2. Endotoxin temporarily speeds liquid transit and increases both the frequency and strength of colonic contractions. These effects may contribute to the diarrhea that occurs during episodes of sepsis.
The neural noise hypothesis: Evidence from processing speed in adults with multiple sclerosis

Abstract On measures of speeded performance, adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) typically respond more slowly than do adults without MS. A review of 12 published studies yielded 38 pairs of response times (RTs) in which each pair consisted of a mean RT for a sample of persons with MS for an experimental condition and the corresponding mean RT for a sample of persons without MS. the primary result was that, across the 38 conditions, RTs for individuals with MS increased linearly as a function of RTs for persons without MS. Because MS involves demyelination of the axons in the central nervous system (CNS), it is suggested that this result provides support for the neural noise hypothesis of cognitive aging.
Ultrasensitive spectral trace detection of individual molecular components in an atmospheric binary mixture

We present what is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of the application of the laser homodyne interferometric technique to the quantitative identification of individual trace molecular constituents of a binary mixture in an ambient atmospheric background. Operation of the laser interferometric detection system to within a factor of 26 of the theoretical quantum noise limit, without extensive vibration isolation, is observed. We realize the spectral identification of SF6 and CF2Cl2 mixed in various trace concentrations, without significant cross interference, using molecular spectral features overlapping the 10P CO2 laser transitions.
Molecular design of antifungal agents.

In a rational approach to the design of antifungal agents against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a series of alkyl gallates (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoates) were synthesized and assayed. Nonyl gallate (1) was found to be the most effective with a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 12.5 μg/mL (42 μM), followed by octyl gallate (2) with an MFC of 25 μg/mL (89 μM). These MFCs are little influenced by pH values. A time−kill curve study indicates that nonyl gallate exhibits fungicidal activity against S. cerevisiae at any growing stage. The antifungal activity of nonyl gallate is due primarily to its ability to act as a nonionic surface-active agent (surfactant). The length of the alkyl group is not a major contributor but plays a role in eliciting the activity to a large extent. As far as alkyl gallates are concerned, their antimicrobial spectra and potency depend largely on the hydrophobic portion of the molecules. Keywords: Antifungal activity; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; nonyl gallate; surfactant property; anti...
Amorphous Poly-2,7-fluorene Networks

We have developed a novel strategy for the synthesis of emitters, based on amorphous poly-2,7-fluorene (2,7-PF) networks which exhibit high glass transition temperatures and good photoluminescence properties and are suitable for incorporation into multilayer lightemitting diodes (LEDs). The materials design includes nickel(0)-mediated copolymerization of 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dihexylfluorene with a tetrafunctional spiro-compound, 2,2′,7,7′-tetrabromo-9,9-spirobifluorene, and 4-bromostyrene as end-capping reagent. The introduction of the spiro-bifluorene leads to a 90° branch of the growing 2,7-PF chain, the number of which can be controlled via the feed ratio of monomers used. The termination of the growing network with 4-phenylethenyl end groups limits the molecular weight, hence keeps the material soluble and processable. The oligomer solution can be cast into thin films and thermally cross-linked leading to new amorphous 2,7-PF networks. The amorphous 2,7-PF networks were incorporated in bilayer and trilayer LED devices which emitted colorfast blue light.
Interaction of hydrogen with the Be(0001) surface

Extensive first-principles calculations of the H-Be interaction reveal that novel H-surface vacancy structures dominate the high-coverage regime, from 2/3 to 1 monolayer (ML). At 1 ML the low-energy structure is a honeycomb of Be vacancies each decorated by three bridge-bonded H's tilting inward. At 2/3 ML the H's tilt in toward linear trenches organized in a 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 structure. At low coverages H prefers ordinary hcp threefold sites. A combination of the three structural models explains most of the experimental results. The adsorption of H in subsurface sites is shown to be unlikely.
Salsolinol, an endogenous neurotoxin, activates JNK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in human neuroblastoma cells.

Salsolinol, an endogenous neurotoxin, is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the present study, we have investigated the effects of salsolinol on the activation of two different signaling pathways that involve c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and nuclear factor-κB, (NF-κB) in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Salsolinol treatment caused upregulation in the levels of c-Jun and phosphorylated c-Jun. It also caused degradation of IκBα and translocated the active NF-κB into the nucleus. The binding activity of NF-κB to DNA was enhanced by salsolinol in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, salsolinol decreased the levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and increased pro-apoptotic protein Bax, while enhancing the release of cytochrome-c from mitochondria. Mitochondrial complex-I activity was significantly decreased and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased in salsolinol treated cells. These results partly suggest that salsolinol-induced JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways may be involved in induction of apoptosis in human dopaminergic neurons, as seen in Parkinson’s disease.
Collection and Washout of Airborne Pollens and Spores by Raindrops

Data on aerodynamic capture of particles are used to estimate efficiency of collection of pollen grains and spores by falling raindrops. Simple probability arguments then yield the fractional removal of airborne pollens and spores by rain. Pollen grains are generally large enough to be washed out by all but the lightest showers of large thunderstorm-type drops; smaller-sized spores experience lower removal rates. Various specialists concerned with pollen dissemination will find rain-scavenging a significant process.
PG490-88, a Derivative of Triptolide, Blocks Bleomycin-Induced Lung Fibrosis

In this study we evaluate the antifibrotic properties of PG-490-88, a water-soluble derivative of triptolide. Triptolide is an oxygenated diterpene that is derived from a traditional Chinese herb that has potent immunosuppressive and antitumor activity. We used the intratracheal bleomycin mouse model and found that PG490-88 inhibits fibrosis in the bleomycin group when given the same day or 5 days after bleomycin. PG490-88 also markedly reduced the number of myofibroblasts in the bleomycin treatment group. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed a significant decrease in TGF-β in the PG490-88-treated groups compared to the bleomycin-treated group. Additionally, triptolide blocked bleomycin-induced increase in TGF-β mRNA in cultured normal human lung fibroblasts. The efficacy of PG490-88 when administered late after bleomycin installation suggests a potential role in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.