cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quaking regulates Hnrnpa1 expression through its 3' UTR in oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

In mice, Quaking (Qk) is required for myelin formation; in humans, it has been associated with psychiatric disease. QK regulates the stability, subcellular localization, and alternative splicing of several myelin-related transcripts, yet little is known about how QK governs these activities. Here, we show that QK enhances Hnrnpa1 mRNA stability by binding a conserved 3′ UTR sequence with high affinity and specificity. A single nucleotide mutation in the binding site eliminates QK-dependent regulation, as does reduction of QK by RNAi. Analysis of exon expression across the transcriptome reveals that QK and hnRNP A1 regulate an overlapping subset of transcripts. Thus, a simple interpretation is that QK regulates a large set of oligodendrocyte precursor genes indirectly by increasing the intracellular concentration of hnRNP A1. Together, the data show that hnRNP A1 is an important QK target that contributes to its control of myelin gene expression.
Differential protein mobility of the γ-aminobutyric acid, type A, receptor α and β subunit channel-lining segments

The gamma-aminobutyric acid, type A (GABAA), receptor ion channel is lined by the second membrane-spanning (M2) segments from each of five homologous subunits that assemble to form the receptor. Gating presumably involves movement of the M2 segments. We assayed protein mobility near the M2 segment extracellular ends by measuring the ability of engineered cysteines to form disulfide bonds and high affinity Zn(2+)-binding sites. Disulfide bonds formed in alpha1beta1E270Cgamma2 but not in alpha1N275Cbeta1gamma2 or alpha1beta1gamma2K285C. Diazepam potentiation and Zn2+ inhibition demonstrated that expressed receptors contained a gamma subunit. Therefore, the disulfide bond in alpha1beta1E270Cgamma2 formed between non-adjacent subunits. In the homologous acetylcholine receptor 4-A resolution structure, the distance between alpha carbon atoms of 20' aligned positions in non-adjacent subunits is approximately 19 A. Because disulfide trapping involves covalent bond formation, it indicates the extent of movement but does not provide an indication of the energetics of protein deformation. Pairs of cysteines can form high affinity Zn(2+)-binding sites whose affinity depends on the energetics of forming a bidentate-binding site. The Zn2+ inhibition IC50 for alpha1beta1E270Cgamma2 was 34 nm. In contrast, it was greater than 100 microM in alpha1N275Cbeta1gamma2 and alpha1beta1gamma2K285C receptors. The high Zn2+ affinity in alpha1beta1E270Cgamma2 implies that this region in the beta subunit has a high protein mobility with a low energy barrier to translational motions that bring the positions into close proximity. The differential mobility of the extracellular ends of the beta and alpha M2 segments may have important implications for GABA-induced conformational changes during channel gating.
Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Ankle in Children and Adolescents Demographics and Epidemiology

Background:Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the ankle is a disorder of the talar or distal tibial subchondral bone and articular cartilage whose incidence in children is not clearly known.Purpose:To assess the demographics and epidemiology of OCD of the ankle in children.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiologic study.Methods:A retrospective chart review of an integrated health system was conducted on patients with ankle OCD aged 2 to 19 years from 2007 to 2011, with >1 million patients in this cohort. Lesion location, laterality, and all patient demographics were recorded. Ankle OCD incidence was determined for the group as a whole and by both sex and age group (divided into age groups of 2-5, 6-11, and 12-19 years). The risk for ankle OCD for age group, sex, and ethnicity was assessed using multivariate logistic regression models.Results:A total of 85 patients fit the inclusion criteria, and 71.8% of lesions found were in the medial talus, 56.5% of lesions were right sided, and none were bilateral. No an...
Probable argument and proof in Whately's theory of rhetoric

This essay explores the relationship between argument and rhetoric, Whately's subjective interpretation of probability, and his rhetorical, rather than strictly logical, conception of argumentative proof.
Hydrogen bonding mediated by key orbital interactions determines hydration enthalpy differences of phosphate water clusters.

Electronic structure calculations have been carried out to provide a molecular interpretation for dihydrogen phosphate stability in water relative to that of metaphosphate. Specifically, hydration enthalpies of biologically important metaphosphate and dihydrogen phosphate with one to three waters have been computed with second-order Moller−Plesset perturbation and density functional theory (B3LYP) with up to the aug-cc-pvtz basis set and compared to experiment. The inclusion of basis set superposition error corrections and supplemental diffuse functions are necessary to predict hydration enthalpies within experimental uncertainty. Natural bond orbital analysis is used to rationalize underlying hydrogen bond configurations and key orbital interactions responsible for the experimentally reported difference in hydration enthalpies between metaphosphate and dihydrogen phosphate. In general, dihydrogen phosphate forms stronger hydrogen bonds compared to metaphosphate due to a greater charge transfer or enhance...
Management education, some troublesome realities and possible remedies

Developing effective managers requires a reappraisal of the development process — for the educators, as well as the students. It is necessary to make the curricula as exciting and attractive, as well as basically useful, as possible. The method of teaching, as well as the content, must also be stimulating. The use of workshops and seminars is advocated.
A COMPARISON OF THREE METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STANDARDS ON THE NATIONAL TEACHER EXAMINATIONS

Minimum standards were established for the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) area examinations in mathematics and in elementary education by independent panels of teacher educators who had been instructed in the use of either the Angoff, Nedelsky, or Jaeger procedures. Of these three procedures, only the Jaeger method requires that normative data be provided to the judges when evaluating the items. However, it was of interest to study the effect such information would have upon the standards obtained using the other two methods. Therefore, the design incorporated three sequential review sessions with the level of normative information different for each. A three-factor ANOVA revealed significant main effects for methods and sessions but not for subject area. None of the interactions was significant. The anticipated failure rates, the psychometric characteristics of the ratings, and other factors suggest that the Angoff procedure, as modified during the second session of this study, yields the most defensible standards for the NTE area examinations.
Performance of Carbon Nanofiber-Cement Composites with a High-Range Water Reducer

The effect of a polycarboxylate-based high-range water reducer (HRWR) on incorporation of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in cement composites was evaluated. Use of the HRWR proved successful in disaggregating the CNFs in solution and improved the dispersion of CNFs in the cement paste at the individual fiber level. However, an inhomogeneous distribution of the fibers within the composites was observed. Addition of 0.2% CNFs per weight of cement resulted in increased splitting tensile strength of 22% in portland cement composites and 26% in composites that also contained silica fume. Migration of the CNFs in the bleed water was observed depending on the water-binder ratio used, creating a porous layer of agglomerated CNFs intermixed with cement paste at the upper surface of the composite.
Multiple myeloma and the translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32): a report on 13 cases

Complex cytogenetic abnormalities have been described in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). To better understand the significance of the most frequent translocation observed in MM, we studied the clinical characteristics of patients with MM and the t(11;14)(q13;q32) abnormality. A search of the cytogenetic database at the Mayo Clinic identified patients with MM and t(11;14)(q13;q32). The medical records were reviewed for the clinical characteristics of these patients. We identified 13 patients with MM and t(11;14)(q13;q32) determined by standard cytogenetic analysis: in 10 patients the abnormality was detected at the time of relapse (three with previously normal results of cytogenetic examination). At the time the translocation was detected, plasma cell (PC) leukaemia was clinically diagnosed in two patients. The median number of circulating PCs, as determined by the cytoplasmic immunofluorescence of T-cell-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells, was 1.1x10(9)/l (mean 1.74; range 0.0017-6.26x10(9)/l). On linear regression analysis there was a strong correlation between the number of circulating PCs and the number of bone marrow PCs. The median survival after demonstration of the translocation was 8.1 months. Of all patients, 10 died of disease progression and three were alive. Patients with MM who have t(11;14)(q13;q32) seem to have an aggressive clinical course, even when the abnormality is detected at the time of diagnosis, with evidence of many circulating PCs.
Treating Panic in a Veteran With Comorbid Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Research indicates that psychiatric comorbidity can limit the effectiveness of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions. Panic disorder (PD) can be effectively treated with panic control treatment. However, the effectiveness of this intervention with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not well established. This case is about a 57-year-old Vietnam Veteran diagnosed with PD with agoraphobia and comorbid PTSD and depression. The veteran participates in 10 sessions of panic control treatment after limited success with pharmacotherapy. He completed a structured clinical interview and self-report measures at pretreatment, 1-week posttreatment and 3-month follow-up. The veteran’s panic attacks were eliminated prior to completing the protocol. He remained panic free at posttreatment and follow-up but continued to meet criteria for PTSD and depression. These findings indicate that comorbid PTSD and depression do not limit the success of panic control treatment for PD. However, treatment effects do ...
New interpretation of the origin of tiger's-eye

Tiger's-eye is an attractive and popular gemstone that is ubiquitous in stores that cater to rock and mineral collectors. For more than a century, textbooks and museum displays have identified the material as an archetype of pseudomorphism, i.e., the replacement of one mineral by another with the retention of the earlier mineral's shape. Our study has revealed that the textures responsible for the shimmer of tiger's-eye do not represent pseudomorphic substitution of quartz after preexisting crocidolite asbestos. Rather, we argue that tiger's-eye classically exemplifies synchronous mineral growth through a crack-seal vein-filling process.
The relative importance of spatial vs. temporal variability in generating a conditional mutualism

We explored the relative importance of temporal vs. spatial variability to the conditionality of a mutualism between the treehopper Publilia modesta and the ant Formica obscuripes. The effect of the ants on the membracids varied considerably among years. When the effect of the ants on the membracids was estimated in five sites spread over 5 km there was mixed evidence for spatial conditionality in the mutualism. Using repeated surveys of nymph number we found that the effect of the ants on nymph number varied among sites through time. When total new adult production was examined, however, no such interaction between ants and location was evident. Aggregations displayed strong negative density-dependent adult production. Thus, while in some sites ants had a greater positive effect on nymph survivorship, aggregations at those sites produced proportionately fewer adults because of negative density dependence. Density dependence reduced or elim- inated spatial differences in the effect of the ants on the membracids. Differences among sites did not explain spatial variation in the effect of ants on nymphs or new adult production. We conclude that temporal variability is much more important than spatial variability in generating conditionality in the mutualism.
Cabinet Decision Rules and Political Uncertainty in Parliamentary Bargaining

We investigate how cabinet decision-making rules interact with political uncertainty to affect the outcomes of bargaining processes in parliamentary systems. Our formal models compare two types of decisions rules: (1) those that give prime ministers unilateral authority to demand a vote of confidence and (2) those that require prime ministers to obtain collective cabinet approval for confidence motions. We examine these models under assumptions of complete information and of political uncertainty, that is, party leaders lack information about the precise policies that others in the governing coalition will support. Our analysis suggests that the nature of the cabinet decision rules should influence the distribution of bargaining power, the ability to exploit political uncertainty, the likelihood of inefficient government terminations, the circumstances surrounding such failures, and, indirectly, the political considerations that parties face when choosing prime ministers during government formation. Simple empirical tests support some of these insights.
Urban trauma care is threatened by inadequate reimbursement.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Hospitals struggle to support trauma care. Recent installation of cost accounting systems now provides information on actual costs for different categories of patients. This paper examines the cost of trauma care in an urban teaching hospital. METHODS: All patients entered into the hospital trauma registry for the period July 1, 1996, through June 30, 1997, were abstracted from the registry. These data were merged with a database of all admitted patients with an injury-compatible ICD-9 diagnostic code for the same time period that included cost and estimated revenue from the cost accounting system. Complete data were available for 667 patients and the remaining 96 were uninsured patients with missing cost data. RESULTS: The calculated cost of care for the 667 patients was $10,342,130; total expected revenue was $10,396,456; estimated net revenue for insured patients was $54,326. The estimated cost of care for the 96 uncompensated patients was $1,619,989. The hospital had positive net revenue for patients with length of stay of 7 days or less, but was unable to recoup costs for patients with a longer stay. Reimbursement exceeded hospital cost for blunt injuries, primarily motor vehicle crash victims, and for other injuries covered by fee-for-service insurers. Managed care plans and government-funded insurance did not reimburse sufficiently to cover hospital costs. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that earlier literature, based on charges and estimated costs, were correct in documenting a serious threat to the continuation of centers providing high volumes of trauma care.
A project-based approach to teaching research writing to nonnative writers

It is commonly accepted that writing instruction should meet the specific needs of writers and that students in scientific and technical fields benefit more by learning to write to match the requirements of their specific fields. A variety of models for writing classes have been proposed to meet these needs, from genre-based approaches to courses targeting specific disciplines to general courses serving a heterogeneous group of students from many disciplines. Although persuasive arguments can be made for discipline-specific writing courses, many writing courses for nonnative writers at U.S. universities operate with two key constraints. First, monetary and curricular limitations mean that students from a variety of disciplines are placed in the same course. Second, these courses are staffed by instructors who, while well-prepared in addressing language needs of nonnative writers, may know very little about the content and conventions of engineering and science. This paper discusses a writing course which works within these constraints and has been developed for graduate students who are early in their program of study. In the course, groups of students carry out an original research project as a vehicle to learn professional writing conventions common to research papers in a variety of scientific and engineering fields. In addition, students analyze written conventions in published articles within their fields to raise awareness of how general conventions are worked out in their individual disciplines. General principles for the course are discussed, and samples of successful research topics are provided.
Mean Reversion of Abnormal Stock Returns

This study tests for mean reversion in abnormal stock returns that divert more than one standard deviation from the mean. Biases due to a small sample, the January effect, and unique events are avoided by using large samples generated by a block bootstrap procedure starting in random months and studying two different periods. The results show stronger mean reversion in abnormal returns than in all returns for large- and small-company stocks during both periods, thus supporting the rationale for time diversification. Both large and small-company stocks exhibited the strongest mean reversion for four-year returns from 1926–1966 and for five-year returns from 1967–2007.
Reporting Hemoglobin A1c: Do the Units Matter?

Hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c)2 is the analyte most commonly measured in clinical laboratories for patients with diabetes mellitus. Physicians use Hb A1c to monitor long-term glycemic control, adjust therapy, and predict complications of diabetes. Recently, Hb A1c was added as a criterion for the diagnosis of diabetes. Unlike most analytes, many patients with diabetes know their Hb A1c value and are familiar with the target value they need to attain for good glycemic control. Glycation of proteins was recognized over 100 years ago. Hb A1c was first isolated (by chromatography) in 1958 (1) and was identified 8 years later as a Schiff base between hemoglobin and a ketone or aldehyde (2). Early commercial assays for Hb A1c were limited by the absence of standardization. For example, a comparison of 7 methods in 1992 revealed very large differences (>200%) in Hb A1c values among methods (3). Standardization programs were developed soon after 1993, when the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) documented the clinical value of Hb A1c in patients with type 1 diabetes (4). The publication 5 years later of results for the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), which revealed that decreasing Hb A1c in patients with type 2 diabetes reduced complications (5), further emphasized the essential contribution of Hb A1c monitoring to patient care. Importantly, the Hb A1c results obtained in the UKPDS were aligned with those in the DCCT. Therefore, appropriate patient management requires that an individual's Hb A1c value be traceable to DCCT/UKPDS values. The NGSP, previously known as the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program, was formed to achieve this objective. The NGSP laboratory network assists manufacturers of Hb A1c assays in calibrating their methods so that patient values correlate with those …
Clinical physiology grand rounds.

Summary Background: Clinical Physiology Grand Rounds (CPGR) is an interactive, case-based conference for medical students designed to: (1) integrate preclinical and clinical learning; (2) promote inductive clinical reasoning; and (3) emphasise students as peer teachers. CPGR specifically encourages mixed learning level student interactions and emphasises the use of concept mapping. We describe the theoretical basis and logistical considerations for an interactive, integrative, mixed-learner environment such as CPGR. In addition, we report qualitative data regarding students’ attitudes towards and perceptions of CPGR. Context: Medical students from first to fourth year participate in a monthly, interactive conference. Programme description: The CPGR was designed to bridge gaps and reinforce linkages between basic science and clinical concepts, and to incorporate interactive vertical integration between preclinical and clinical students. Medical education and content experts use Socratic, interactive teaching methods to develop real-time concept maps to emphasise the presence and importance of linkages across curricula. Programme evaluation: Student focus groups were held to assess attitudes towards and perceptions of the mixed-learner environment and concept maps in CPGR. Qualitative analyses of focus group transcripts were performed to develop themes and codes describing the students’ impressions of CPGR. Discussion: CPGR is a case-based, interactive conference designed to help students gain an increased appreciation of linkages between basic science and clinical medicine concepts, and an increased awareness of clinical reasoning thought processes. Success is dependent upon explicit attention being given to goals for students’ integrated learning.
Movements and Habitat Use of the Key Largo Woodrat

Abstract We radio-collared and tracked 16 (10 female, 6 male) Neotoma floridana smalli (Key Largo woodrats) from March–November 2002 and recorded a total of 631 locations. The average monthly ranges of individual male and female woodrats were 4756 (95% CI = 2376–7136) m2 and 2051 (95% CI = 1091–3011) m2, respectively. We found male and female ranges to be significantly different (P = 0.032). Female ranges varied with season (P = 0.032), while male ranges did not (P = 0.567). Spring (P = 0.033) and summer (P = 0.019) ranges were significantly different between sexes. At two spatial scales, Key Largo woodrats showed a preference for young habitat with selection ratios of 6.3 and 6.7. Six female ranges overlapped an average of 49% and 2 males overlapped an average of 8%. No woodrats were recorded crossing a major road. Study results suggest that N. f. smalli prefer early succession hammock, male woodrats should be introduced separately, and a major road is a barrier to woodrat movements.
Understanding the Concentration Dependence of Viral Capsid Assembly Kinetics—the Origin of the Lag Time and Identifying the Critical Nucleus Size

The kinetics for the assembly of viral proteins into a population of capsids can be measured in vitro with size exclusion chromatography or dynamic light scattering, but extracting mechanistic information from these studies is challenging. For example, it is not straightforward to determine the critical nucleus size or the elongation time (the time required for a nucleus to grow to completion). In this work, we study theoretical and computational models for capsid assembly to show that the critical nucleus size can be determined from the concentration dependence of the assembly half-life and that the elongation time is revealed by the length of the lag phase. Furthermore, we find that the system becomes kinetically trapped when nucleation becomes fast compared to elongation. Implications of this constraint for determining elongation mechanisms from experimental assembly data are discussed.
Multimodal interaction during multiparty dialogues: initial results

Groups of people involved in collaboration on a task often incorporate the objects in their mutual environment into their discussion. With this comes physical reference to these 3-D objects, including: gesture, gaze, haptics, and possibly other modalities, over and above the speech we commonly associate with human-human communication. From a technological perspective, this human style of communication not only poses the challenge for researchers to create multimodal systems capable of integrating input from various modalities, but also to do it well enough that it supports, but does not interfere with the primary goal of the collaborators, which is their own human-human interaction. This paper offers a first step towards building such multimodal systems for supporting face-to-face collaborative work by providing both qualitative and quantitative analyses of multiparty multimodal dialogues in a field setting.
POLKADOTS Are Foci of Functional Interactions in T-Cell Receptor–mediated Signaling to NF-κB

Stimulation of the T-cell receptor (TCR) results in the activation of several transcription factors, including NF-kappaB, that are crucial for T-cell proliferation and gain of effector functions. On TCR engagement, several proteins within the TCR-directed NF-kappaB signaling pathway undergo dynamic spatial redistribution, but the significance of these redistribution events is largely unknown. We have previously described TCR-induced cytoplasmic structures called POLKADOTS (punctate and oligomeric killing or activating domains transducing signals) that are enriched in the NF-kappaB signaling intermediate, Bcl10. We now show that these structures are formed only under conditions that promote efficient NF-kappaB activation. Furthermore, POLKADOTS formation is dependent on functional domains of specific NF-kappaB signal transducers. Through use of a photoactivatable GFP, we demonstrate that POLKADOTS contain both a highly stable and a rapidly equilibrating protein component. FRET analyses show that POLKADOTS are sites of enriched interactions between Bcl10 and partner signaling proteins. These observations strongly suggest that POLKADOTS are focal sites of dynamic information exchange between cytosolic intermediates in the process of TCR activation of NF-kappaB.
COMPARISON OF SEDIMENTS AND ORGANISMS IN IDENTIFYING SOURCES OF BIOLOGICALLY AVAILABLE TRACE METAL CONTAMINATION

Sediments and an indicator organism (Macoma balthica, a deposit-feeding bivalve) were used to assess the relative importance of secondary sewage, urban runoff, a landfill containing metal-enriched ash wastes and a yacht harbor in contributing to Ag, Cu and Zn enrichment in South San Francisco Bay. Spatial gradients in sediments and organisms showed Cu and Ag enrichment originated from sewage discharge, whereas Zn enrichment originated from both sewage and urban runoff. Elevated concentrations of Cu in the sediments of the yacht harbor resulted from a high abundance of fine particles. The biological availability of Cu, Ag and Zn did not coincide with metal enrichment in sediments. The availability of Cu and Ag was greatest nearest the sewage outfall and greater in winter and spring than in summer. The availability of Zn in urban runoff appeared to be lower than the availability of Zn associated with sewage.
Incorporating Biomarkers of Frailty and Senescence in Cancer Therapeutic Trials

As the population ages, oncologists are faced with the quandary of how to efficiently identify frail individuals that may have more difficulty tolerating and recovering from systemic therapy for cancer. Recent advances have been made in recognizing frailty via clinical geriatric assessment of older patients with cancer. These advances appear to allow for better prediction of toxicity than physician-rated performance status. Although the development of these tools is a large step forward in geriatric oncology, we still lack an understanding of how the underlying biologic processes of aging affect tolerance of cancer treatment. Determining specific biologic causes underlying frailty may allow oncologists to become even more adept at identifying patients at risk for excessive toxicity and provide the opportunity to therapeutically target these processes to help improve tolerability and survival outcomes for older patients with cancer. This article provides a background on potential biologic factors that may identify frail individuals at increased risk for toxicity related to cancer treatment. Potential methods to incorporate these factors into cancer therapeutic trials are discussed.
Embedded wavelet-based coding of three-dimensional oceanographic images with land masses

We describe the wavelets around land masses (WAVAL) system for the embedded coding of three-dimensional (3-D) oceanographic images. These images differ from those arising in other applications in that valid data exists only at grid points corresponding to sea. Grid points that cover land or lie beyond the bathymetry have no associated data. For these images, the WAVAL system employs a 3-D lifting wavelet transform tailored specifically to the potentially sparse nature of the data by processing only the valid sea data points between land masses. We introduce successive-approximation runlength (SARL) coding, an embedded-coding procedure that adds successive-approximation properties to the well known stack-run (SR) algorithm. SARL is employed to code wavelet coefficients resulting from the 3-D transform in the WAVAL system. However, it is a general technique applicable to other coding tasks in which embedded coding is desired but for which zerotree techniques are impractical. Experimental results show that the WAVAL system achieves substantial improvement in rate-distortion performance over the technique currently used by the US Navy for compression of oceanographic imagery.
Information Processing Approaches to Studying Spelling Deficiencies

Although numerous research articles and position papers on spelling and spelling problems have appeared in the literature, no theoretical model of spelling knowledge acquisition has been developed to guide research on learning problems related to spelling. This paper explores components of various information processing “protomodels” of spelling performance that might prove useful for understanding two common characteristics of LD students' spelling behavior: error making and retarded rates of acquisition. Specifically, in light of recent research on the development of children's acquisition of spelling ability, weaknesses in traditional “two channel” models borrowed from reading research are examined. It is argued that an adequate theory of spelling processes must, at a minimum, model: (a) qualitative changes in performance as a function of maturation that underlie development of automaticity; and (b) transactional development of spelling-related knowledge structures and efficient algorithms for searchin...
Soil Bacteria and Fungi Respond on Different Spatial Scales to Invasion by the Legume Lespedeza cuneata.

The spatial scale on which microbial communities respond to plant invasions may provide important clues as to the nature of potential invader–microbe interactions. Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don is an invasive legume that may benefit from associations with mycorrhizal fungi; however, it has also been suggested that the plant is allelopathic and may alter the soil chemistry of invaded sites through secondary metabolites in its root exudates or litter. Thus, L. cuneata invasion may interact with soil microorganisms on a variety of scales. We investigated L. cuneata-related changes to soil bacterial and fungal communities at two spatial scales using multiple sites from across its invaded N. American range. Using whole-community DNA fingerprinting, we characterized microbial community variation at the scale of entire invaded sites and at the scale of individual plants. Based on permutational multivariate analysis of variance, soil bacterial communities in heavily invaded sites were significantly different from those of uninvaded sites, but bacteria did not show any evidence of responding at very local scales around individual plants. In contrast, soil fungi did not change significantly at the scale of entire sites, but there were significant differences between fungal communities of native versus exotic plants within particular sites. The differential scaling of bacterial and fungal responses indicates that L. cuneata interacts differently with soil bacteria and soil fungi, and these microorganisms may play very different roles in the invasion process of this plant.
Citrate enhances olfactory receptor responses and triggers oscillatory receptor activity in the channel catfish.

Citrate, a normal constituent of cellular metabolism, in a binary mixture with an amino acid enhanced asynchronous olfactory receptor responses in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. In addit...
Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: Clipping Versus Coiling

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) have an estimated incidence of up to 10 % and can lead to serious morbidity and mortality. Because of this, the natural history of IAs has been studied extensively, with rupture rates ranging from 0.5 to 7 %, depending on aneurysm characteristics. The spectrum of presentation of IAs ranges from incidental detection to devastating subarachnoid hemorrhage. Although the gold standard imaging technique is intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography, other modalities such as computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are being increasingly used for screening and treatment planning. Management of these patients depends upon a number of factors including aneurysmal, patient, institutional, and operator factors. The ultimate goal of treating patients with IAs is complete and permanent occlusion of the aneurysm sac in order to eliminate future hemorrhagic risk, while preserving or restoring the patient's neurological function. The most common treatment approaches include microsurgical clipping and endovascular coiling, and multiple studies have compared these two techniques. To date, three large prospective, randomized studies have been done: a study from Finland, International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT), and the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (BRAT). Despite differences in methodology, the results were similar: in patients undergoing coiling, although rates of rebleeding and retreatment are higher, the overall rate of poor outcomes at 12 months was significantly lower. As minimally invasive procedures and devices continue to be refined, endovascular strategies are likely to increase in popularity. However, as long-term outcome studies become available, it is increasingly apparent that they are complementary treatment strategies, with patient selection of critical importance.
Tailoring traditional optimizations for runtime compilation

Runtime compilation, due to its online nature, presents unique challenges and opportunities to compiler designers. Since compilation occurs during program execution, a just-in-time compiler (JIT) must be judicious in expending compilation time. The literature on traditional, offline compilers describes numerous program transformation techniques that strive to increase execution efficiency. However, while optimization passes for static compilers are well understood and have been thoroughly investigated, many such transformation algorithms cannot be implemented on a JIT environment due to compilation-time constraints. Further, offline algorithms are not designed to exploit information available to an online compiler at program execution time. The thesis of the research presented in this document is that program optimization techniques designed for traditional, offline compilers can be profitably adapted for a runtime compiler by effectively respecting the constraints imposed on compilation time and by exploiting the opportunities available in a runtime compilation environment. To that end, the dissertation explores the complexity of implementing program transformations for a runtime compiler and redesigns two optimization techniques for a JIT: register allocation and loop unrolling. The two transformations present contrasting challenges when they are included in a runtime compiler. While several offline, heuristic allocation algorithms achieve impressive results, they consume large amounts of compilation-time that are typically unacceptable for a JIT. We describe the design of two allocation algorithms that reduce allocation time while preserving the advantages of strong techniques authored for offline compilers. An experimental evaluation of the new algorithms demonstrates their effectiveness on a runtime compilation environment. While a runtime compiler is limited by the constraints imposed by its environment, compiling just prior to program invocation provides certain advantages over an offline compiler. In particular, it can examine information only available at program execution time. We describe the design of a lightweight runtime value-examining mechanism and a loop unrolling algorithm that work in tandem. Our experimental results indicate that the runtime unroller achieves significant improvements on floating point, scientific benchmarks. In summary, thus, the research described in this dissertation demonstrates how compiler optimization algorithms can be effectively tailored for runtime compilation.
Patient-derived xenografts as tools in pharmaceutical development

Successful drug development in oncology is grossly suboptimal, manifested by the very low percentage of new agents being developed that ultimately succeed in clinical approval. This poor success is in part due to the inability of standard cell-line xenograft models to accurately predict clinical success and to tailor chemotherapy specifically to a group of patients more likely to benefit from the therapy. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) maintain the histopathological architecture and molecular features of human tumors, and offer a potential solution to maximize drug development success and ultimately generate better outcomes for patients. Although imperfect in mimicking all aspects of human cancer, PDXs are a more predictable platform for preclinical evaluation of treatment effect and in selected cases can guide therapeutic decision making in the clinic. This article summarizes the current status of PDX models, challenges associated with modeling human cancer, and various approaches that have been applied to overcome these challenges and improve the clinical relevance of PDX cancer models.
Bereavement, religion, and posttraumatic growth: A matched control group investigation.

This study examined the intersection between bereavement, religion, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). A total of 369 young adults completed the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (Fetzer Institute/NIA, 1999) and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996), divided equally into three groups: one bereaved by a violent loss (accident, suicide, or homicide) in the prior two years, one bereaved by a nonviolent death in the prior two years, and a third, nonbereaved group that experienced a general life stressor in the two years preceding the study. Individuals in the two bereaved groups generally endorsed greater religiousness when compared with persons in the nonbereaved group (as assessed by daily spiritual experiences, organizational religiousness, religious coping, forgiveness, and religious support). In addition, survivors who had lost loved ones to a violent death had higher scores across all domains of PTG and reported more distress symptomatology. When controlling for demographics and other study variables, bereavement status and religion factors significantly increased the explained variance in participants’ perceptions of PTG and psychological distress. Although the study design restricts the ability to draw any causal conclusions, these findings highlight the possible spiritual impact of bereavement and how specific dimensions of religion can contribute to growth and healing in the adjustment process.
Domains and knowledge effects : Strategies in object and social classification

This research examined differences in classification strategies in object and social domains. Wattenmaker (1995) found that additive classification rules were more compatible with the social than the object domain. The present experiments examined the generality of these results by using fundamentally different types of social and object categories. A sorting paradigm was used to evaluate the frequency with which subjects used additive strategies. In Experiment 1, the social domain was represented by social events that possess very different properties than core social concepts such as traits or occupations. Even with these types of social materials, however, many more additive strategies and family resemblance sorts occurred with social than object materials. In Experiment 2, the object domain was represented by abstract object categories that were designed to possess properties of core social concepts such as traits. Again, however, more additive strategies and family resemblance sorts occurred with social than object materials. The results indicate that differences in the compatibility between additive strategies and object and social domains are not limited to subsets of categories in these domains but rather extend to many types of object and social categories.
Angiotensin induces a pressor regulating role for collecting duct renin

the traditional view of the renin-angiotensin system is that renin, the enzymatic rate-limiting step in the production of angiotensin II (ANG II), is produced in and secreted from the juxtaglomerular (JG) cells in the terminus of the afferent arteriole. Renin enters the renal circulation where it
Common mechanisms of monoacylglycerol and fatty acid uptake by human intestinal Caco-2 cells.

Free fatty acids (FFA) andsn-2-monoacylglycerol (sn-2-MG), the two hydrolysis products of dietary triacylglycerol, are absorbed from the lumen into polarized enterocytes that line the small intesti...
Methane Hydrate Formation and Dissociation on Suspended Gas Bubbles in Water

Understanding gas hydrate formation on gas bubbles evolved from an oil/gas blowout and the stability conditions of the hydrates formed are key to controlling hydrates during a blowout and its containment. In this work, methane hydrate formation and dissociation conditions on suspended gas bubbles in water were studied. For the formation process, methane gas was gradually injected into a counter flowing water column until a full hydrate shell on suspended gas bubbles was observed. The hydrate shells were then dissociated by either depressurization or heating. The minimum methane concentration to form hydrate shells on suspended gas bubbles in water was determined for the pressure range of (7.0 to 17.3) MPa at 277 K. The dissociation pressures of hydrates are also reported for temperatures from (276 to 286) K. It is observed that the hydrate shells on gas bubbles formed and remained stable only when a minimum dissolved concentration (∼0.0013 mole fraction) of gas in water was reached. During dissociation, h...
On the development and demonstration of a code validation process for industrial applications

As advanced computational techniques are integrated into industrial design, analysis, and manufacturing practices, the need for a consistent, rational, and affordable code validation procedure becomes more critical. This need is especially pronounced for computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which, because of its unique ability to function both as a "numerical laboratory" as well as a predictive science, is rapidly becoming a key engineering tool. An earlier paper^ defined a four phase code validation procedure and related the use of CFD directly to the engineering design cycle. This paper updates that process and demonstrates its use in the development of a computational aeroacoustic analysis system. Emphasis here is on providing the operational details of the process rather than discussing in depth the error assessment techniques that are used within the process. Error assessment techniques are the topic of a subsequent paper.
Evaluation of the efficacy of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in treatment of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder: a meta-analytic review of outcome studies

ABSTRACTA meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relative effectiveness of the broad-based treatments for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The analysis includes 13 pharmacotherapy studies and 12 psychotherapy studies obtained from a PsychINFO database search and a reference search. Studies of pharmacotherapy treatment efficacy demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in reducing PTSD symptoms, t (22) = −2.74, p = 0.01, d = 0.05. A random coefficient analysis supports this finding with significance determined at p < 0.001 for the fixed effects in the models. A limited examination of depression as a frequently comorbid disorder indicated pharmacotherapy also demonstrated a significantly greater decrease than psychotherapy in depression symptoms, t (15.77) = −2.26, p = 0.04, d = 0.16. Differences between treatments are discussed as potentially reflective of assignment to treatments and assessment techniques as well as therapeutic effects.
Study on the Relation between Level of IFT and Enhanced Oil Recovery

The author analyzes the defect of the theory about surfactant/polymer flooding and alkaline/surfactant/polymer flooding in which the lowest interfacial tension must reaches 10~(-3)mN/m. On the basis of plenty of displacement tests, the result of comparing with the enhanced oil recovery values under different IFT shows that the value of interfacial tension, 10~(-3)mN/m, is not the necessary condition of surfactant flooding, and it can reach the same flooding effect when the value of interfacial tension is 10~(-2)mN/m. And if only the dynamic interfacial tension can reach 10~(-3)mN/m, we can acquire a better flooding effect. So the experiment basis can be provided for the wide application of surfactant/polymer flooding.