cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation and characterization of the “zooxanthellae” from soritid foraminifera and the giant clam Tridacna maxima

Various methodological approaches are being used to characterize Symbiodinium spp isolated from Marginopora vertebralis and Amphisorus hemprichii and Amphisorus sp. from the Indo-pacific. While most of the cells in culture are non-motile vegetative cells, dinospores occur in batch cultures. We find consistant variance among the isolates in the duration and time of appearance of motile forms. Nitrate (0.146 mM) supports higher populations of the isolates than NH4 (0.146 mM). Higher concentrations of NH4 inhibit growth. Although Fensome et al. (1993) characterized the Order Suessiales (and Family Symbiodiniaceae) as gymnnodiniphycideans in which the amphiesmal vesicals are arranged in 7–10 longitudinal series we were unable to detect any plates on the surfaces of our isolates in the SEM. We were unsuccessful in revealing plates on non-motile forms by freeze fracture but they were present after treatment with various chemical agents (e.g. H2O2, HOCl−) and enzymes (cellulase, chitinase). They are not polygonal or arranged in the patterns anticipated for the Symbiodiniaceae. Polyclonal antibody studies of the Symbiodinium-like isolates are in agreement with molecular systematic studies in the sense that there is a common relation. The foram endosymbiotic dinoflagellates share some common surface antigens with each other and with the few invertebrate isolates we have tested. Studies of the foraminiferal symbionts' plastids revealed considerable morphological diversity. We isolated a diversity of endosymbionts from the mantle of Tridacna maxima from the Red Sea and the Marshall Islands. These included Symbiodinium, Amphidinium, Tetraselmis, and an unidentified chlorophyte.
Tumor ploidy as a risk factor for disease recurrence and short survival in surgically-treated dukes' B2 colon cancer patients

The risk factors for colon cancer recurrence following a curative intent surgery include the presence of metastatic disease, the tumor location and size, number of positive lymph nodes, the presence of adhesions, perforation, bowel obstruction, depth of invasion, histological grade, percentage of S-phase content, and cell kinetic profile. The DNA content of colon cancers in 20 Dukes' B2 patients in follow-up evaluation at our center, who relapsed, either locally or systemically following surgical treatment was measured by image analysis. The data were pair-matched for age, sex, tumor site, and grade with 20 Dukes' B2 patients who had no evidence of disease. Aneuploidy occurred in 16 (80%) patients with recurrence, as compared with only in 8 (40%) in the control group. Aneuploidy was associated with significantly higher tumor recurrence rate (P = 0.024) and shorter overall survival (P < 0.002). Our data may point out a possible indication for systemic adjuvant chemotherapy in Dukes' B2 colon cancer patients who have aneuploid tumors on image analysis. This warrants further investigation in a prospective controlled randomized study.
Vector Access Performance in Parallel Memories Using a Skewed Storage Scheme

The degree to which high-speed vector processors approach their peak performance levels is closely tied to the amount of interference they encounter while accessing vectors in memory. In this paper we present an evaluation of a storage scheme that reduces the average memory access time in a vector-oriented architecture. A skewing scheme is used to map vector components into parallel memory modules such that, for most vector access patterns, the number of memory conflicts is reduced over that observed in interleaved parallel memory systems. Address and data buffers are used locally in each module so that transient nonuniformities which occur in some access patterns do not degrade performance. Previous investigations into skewing techniques have attempted to provide conflict-free access for a limited subset of access patterns. The goal of this investigation is different. The skewing scheme evaluated here does not eliminate all memory conflicts but it does improve the average performance of vector access over interleaved systems for a wide range of strides. It is shown that little extra hardware is required to implement the skewing scheme. Also, far fewer restrictions are placed on the number of memory modules in the system than are present in other proposed schemes.
Absentéisme et productivité : le cas des enseignants aux Etats-Unis

Resume. Partant de donnees relatives a 285 professeurs et 8 631 eleves d'un district scolaire economiquement desavantage des Etats-Unis, les auteurs testent l'hypothese selon laquelle les absences des enseignants sont souvent discretionnaires et reduisent leur productivite, mesuree par les resultats des eleves a un examen de mathematiques. Comme cela est courant, lorsque le remplacant est moins qualifie, l'enseignement est moins intense et coherent, avec une chute, limitee mais significative, des resultats des eleves, pouvant conduire a une baisse de leur classification et de leur motivation. Les auteurs proposent des mesures susceptibles de limiter cet absenteisme.
Soccer Moms, Hockey Moms and the Question of “Transformative” Motherhood

From Dwight Eisenhower to John McCain, presidential candidates have appealed to female voters by highlighting motherhood in their campaigns. The most recent example of this has been the “hockey mom” trope introduced by the first hockey mom to earn a slot on the GOP presidential ticket, Governor Sarah Palin. These appeals, while motivated by political gamesmanship, imply that mothers see the political world a bit differently from other women. They suggest that women with children have different political priorities and concerns and, at times, different positions on political issues. This article takes this proposition seriously, and asks the question: Does becoming a mother have a transformative effect on women's political attitudes? Using longitudinal data from the four-wave 1965–97 Political Socialization Panel Study, I track the movement of women's political attitudes on partisan identification, ideological identification, and policy issues. I find that the effects of motherhood on women's political attitudes, while not uniform in nature, do push some women to adopt more conservative political attitudes. Thus, these results suggest that while motherhood does not transform women's political attitudes, for some women motherhood does promote interesting attitudinal shifts.
Diabetic nephropathy and end-stage renal disease in Mexican Americans

Hispanics are the second largest minority group in the United States. Mexican Americans (MAs) are the largest subgroup at 14 million in 1990. MAs have a two- to threefold increased prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Population-based studies of MAs with non-insulin-dependent diabetes have shown that these patients may be more likely than non-Hispanic whites to develop proteinuria and are more likely to develop end-stage renal disease. The reasons for this excess risk are yet to be completely elucidated, but may be due to worse glycemic control, worse blood pressure control when hypertension does occur, worse access to medical care, and/or genetics. When MAs are treated for diabetic end-stage renal disease, they have better survival. Much less data are available for other Hispanic subgroups. From a public health perspective, higher incidence and longer survival as well as relatively young and rapidly growing population predict an increasing burden for MAs if prevention measures are not instituted soon.
Grid and Particle Hydrodynamics

A new plasma/fluid transport algorithm is presented that combines and retains the strengths of the particle and hydrodynamic methods. By including internal velocity characteristics of real particles within each finite size macro-particle (FSP), a redundancy is introduced in the representation of the real particle distribution that is recovered by the superposition of these macro-particles. This redundancy is exploited by merging particles that sufficiently overlap in parameter space. The internal velocity distribution is exploited by allowing the distribution within each FSP to evolve hydrodynamically. In turn the evolution establishes the partitioning of moments into central and expansion particles. Such aggressive increases in the number of individual FSPs probe for emerging features. If interesting features fail to materialize, aggressive merging provides particle economy. The objective is to economically recover details of the particle distribution necessary for accurate collisions. GaPH promises to accomplish this mission without squandering computational resources in uninteresting regions of phase space. This paper reports collisionless GaPH test results that compare well with analytic solutions that initially contain large gradients.
How do female and male cardiac patients and their spouses share responsibilities after discharge from the hospital

This study explored sex differences in household and employment responsibilities among cardiac patients (N = 63; 46 men) and spouses during the 5 months following discharge from the hospital. Results showed that both patients and partners maintained traditional sex-typed activities. As patients or spouses, women tended to assume greater responsibility for domestic tasks such as laundry, cleaning, and cooking than their husbands. Men as patients or spouses tended to assume greater responsibility for household repair and maintenance tasks. Husbands also worked more for pay outside the home than did wives, except in couples where the male patient was high risk. Correlations for male patients indicated that reports of more cardiac symptoms were associated with assuming fewer responsibilities. In contrast, among women, the correlations between symptoms and activities were more complex and suggested that female patients might not be heeding signs of overexertion.
Inflammasome Up-Regulation and Activation in Dysferlin-Deficient Skeletal Muscle

A deficiency of the dysferlin protein results in limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B and Miyoshi myopathy, with resulting plasma membrane abnormalities in myofibers. Many patients show muscle inflammation, but the molecular mechanisms that initiate and perpetuate this inflammation are not well understood. We previously showed abnormal activation of macrophages and hypothesized that activation of the inflammasome pathway may play a role in disease progression. To test this, we studied the inflammasome molecular platform in dysferlin-deficient human and mouse muscle. Consistent with our model, components of the NACHT, LRR and PYD-containing proteins (NALP)-3 inflammasome pathway were specifically up-regulated and activated in dysferlin-deficient but not in dystrophin-deficient and normal muscle. We demonstrate for the first time that normal primary skeletal muscle cells are capable of secreting IL-1β in response to combined treatment with lipopolysaccharide and the P2X7 receptor agonist, benzylated ATP, suggesting that not only immune cells but also muscle cells can actively participate in inflammasome formation. In addition, we show that dysferlin-deficient primary muscle cells express toll-like receptors (TLRs; TLR-2 and TLR-4) and can efficiently produce IL-1β in response to lipopolysaccharide and benzylated ATP. These data indicate that skeletal muscle is an active contributor of IL-1β and strategies that interfere with this pathway may be therapeutically useful for patients with limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B.
Temporal Performance Degradation under NBTI: Estimation and Design for Improved Reliability of Nanoscale Circuits

Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) has become one of the major causes for temporal reliability degradation of nanoscale circuits. In this paper, we analyze the temporal delay degradation of logic circuits due to NBTI. We show that knowing the threshold voltage degradation of a single transistor due to NBTI, one can predict the performance degradation of a circuit with a reasonable degree of accuracy. We also propose a sizing algorithm taking NBTI-affected performance degradation into account to ensure the reliability of nanoscale circuits for a given period of time. Experimental results on several benchmark circuits show that with an average of 8.7% increase in area one can ensure reliable performance of circuits for 10 years.
Cylindricity of ablation-controlled arcs

A rigorous calculation of ablation-controlled arcs in cylindrical tubes that can reproduce a noncylindrical arc boundary correctly is presented. Earlier workers on the subject implicitly assumed nearly cylindrical arcs. The more rigorous results presented a posteriori justify those simplifications. A complete scan of sonic solutions is presented. >
Enhancing the success of SOTL research: A case study using modified Problem-Based Learning in social work education

This article describes a study which utilizes Modified Problem-Based Learning (MPBL) as a teaching method in undergraduate social work practice classes. The authors report both qualitative and quantitative findings of the research. Additionally, the authors reflect on the use of the MPBL method and on the lessons learned throughout this research on the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Exploration of compact protein conformations using the guided replication monte carlo method

We have studied the use of a new Monte Carlo (MC) chain generation algorithm, introduced by T. Garel and H. Orland[(1990) Journal of Physics A, Vol. 23, pp. L621–L626], for examining the thermodynamics of protein folding transitions and for generating candidate Cαbackbone structures as starting points for a de now protein structure paradigm. This algorithm, termed the guided replication Monte Carlo method, allows a rational approach to the introduction of known “native” folded characteristics as constraints in the chain generation process. We have shown this algorithm to be computationally very efficient in generating large ensembles of candidate Cαchains on the face centered cubic lattice, and illustrate its use by calculating a number of thermodynamic quantities related to protein folding characteristics. In particular, we have used this static MC algorithm to compute such temperature-dependent quantities as the ensemble mean energy, ensemble mean free energy, the heat capacity, and the mean-square radius of gyration. We also demonstrate the use of several simple “guide fields” for introducing protein-specific constraints into the ensemble generation process. Several extensions to our current model are suggested, and applications of the method to other folding related problems are discussed. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Intraoperative Functional and Perfusion Monitoring During Surgery for Giant Serpentine Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms.

Background Giant serpentine aneurysms are a rare entity, which can be managed using either endovascular or surgical techniques. Although the perioperative morbidity and mortality have decreased since the development of bypass revascularization procedures, their surgical treatment is still challenging. Intraoperative functional and perfusion monitoring techniques can be precious to make better decisions and improve outcomes. Case Description We report on the case of a giant, unruptured, partially thrombosed, serpentine middle cerebral artery aneurysm that was treated with partial endovascular coiling of intra-aneurysmal vascular channels, surgical resection of the aneurysm, and end-to-end M1-temporal M2 anastomosis. Conclusions Intraoperative continuous motor evoked potentials monitoring, flowmetry, and indocyanine-green angiography provide precise and reproducible information about cerebral function and perfusion, respectively, allowing for more rational decision making during surgery for these challenging malformations.
Computational Study of Fluidic Thrust Vectoring using Separation Control in a Nozzle

A computational investigation of a two- dimensional nozzle was completed to assess the use of fluidic injection to manipulate flow separation and cause thrust vectoring of the primary jet thrust. The nozzle was designed with a recessed cavity to enhance the throat shifting method of fluidic thrust vectoring. The structured-grid, computational fluid dynamics code PAB3D was used to guide the design and analyze over 60 configurations. Nozzle design variables included cavity convergence angle, cavity length, fluidic injection angle, upstream minimum height, aft deck angle, and aft deck shape. All simulations were computed with a static freestream Mach number of 0.05, a nozzle pressure ratio of 3.858, and a fluidic injection flow rate equal to 6 percent of the primary flow rate. Results indicate that the recessed cavity enhances the throat shifting method of fluidic thrust vectoring and allows for greater thrust-vector angles without compromising thrust efficiency.
Evidence on the Minimal Management Principle of Program Design: Implementation of the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit

Implementation problems in the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC) challenge the conclusion, drawn from the study of policy implementation, that programs using a market mechanism are more easily and effectively implemented than programs with heavily managed, public delivery systems. TJTC sought to expand employment opportunities for targeted individuals through a tax credit voucher system but it experienced several of the implementation problems observed in programs using public delivery systems. Implementers were unable to influence the employer response to the tax credit, lower-level bureaucrats failed to implement the instructions of their superiors, and third-party vendors absorbed program monies and successfully pressured implementers to facilitate vendor activities.
Thermally induced interactions and gelation of combined myofibrillar protein from white and red broiler muscles

The gelling properties of broiler myofibrillar protein were studied by determining protein-protein interactions during heating. Breast and leg salt-soluble protein (SSP) showed 1–3 transitions in protein-protein interactions within pH 5.5–6.5. The maximum transition temperatures of leg SSP decreased when leg SSP was mixed with breast SSP. The combined breast/leg myofibrils formed stronger gels than leg myofibrils alone at pH ≥ 6.0, and stronger gels than breast myofibrils alone at pH < 6.0. The results suggest that interactions existed between breast and leg myofibrillar proteins, and the transitions in these interactions were useful for predicting gel strength of the combined breast/ leg myofibrils.
Reconstituted synaptotagmin I mediates vesicle docking, priming, and fusion

The synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin I (syt) promotes exocytosis via its ability to penetrate membranes in response to binding Ca2+ and through direct interactions with SNARE proteins. However, studies using full-length (FL) membrane-embedded syt in reconstituted fusion assays have yielded conflicting results, including a lack of effect, or even inhibition of fusion, by Ca2+. In this paper, we show that reconstituted FL syt promoted rapid docking of vesicles (<1 min) followed by a priming step (3–9 min) that was required for subsequent Ca2+-triggered fusion between v- and t-SNARE liposomes. Moreover, fusion occurred only when phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate was included in the target membrane. This system also recapitulates some of the effects of syt mutations that alter synaptic transmission in neurons. Finally, we demonstrate that the cytoplasmic domain of syt exhibited mixed agonist/antagonist activity during regulated membrane fusion in vitro and in cells. Together, these findings reveal further convergence of reconstituted and cell-based systems.
Low Noise 1 THz SIS Mixer for Stratospheric Observatory: Design and Characterization

We report the development of a low noise SIS mixer aimed for 1 THz channel of the Caltech Airborne Submillimeter Interstellar Medium Investigations Receiver (CASIMIR), designed for the Stratospheric Observatory for Far Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). The mixer uses Nb/Al-AlN/NbTiN SIS junctions with critical current density of about 45 kA/cm2. The junctions are shaped in order to optimize the suppression of the Josephson DC currents. We used a double slot planar antenna to couple the mixer chip with the telescope beam. The RF matching microcircuit is made using Nb and gold films. The mixer IF circuit is designed to cover 4-8 GHz band. The test receiver with the new mixer has the low noise operation in a 0.9-1.05 THz band. The minimum DSB receiver noise measured at 1 THz is 260 K (Y=1.64) , apparently the lowest reported up to date.
The von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein and Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma

Germ line VHL tumor suppressor gene loss-of-function mutations cause von Hippel-Lindau disease, which is associated with an increased risk of central nervous system hemangioblastomas, clear cell renal carcinomas, and pheochromocytomas. Somatic VHL mutations are also common in sporadic clear cell renal carcinomas. The VHL gene product, pVHL, is part of a ubiquitin ligase complex that targets the α-subunits of the heterodimeric transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) for polyubiquitylation, and hence, proteasomal degradation, when oxygen is available. pVHL-defective clear cell renal carcinomas overproduce a variety of mRNAs that are under the control of HIF, including the mRNAs that encode vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor B, and transforming growth factor α. In preclinical models, down-regulation of HIF-α, especially HIF-2α, is both necessary and sufficient for renal tumor suppression by pVHL. These observations are probably relevant to the demonstrated clinical activity of vascular endothelial growth factor antagonists in clear cell renal carcinoma and form a foundation for the testing of additional agents that inhibit HIF, or HIF-responsive gene products, in this disease.
The locus of spatial attention during the temporal integration of visual memories and visual percepts

Temporal integration is a process by which two serially presented visual stimuli are mentally integrated to form a composite representation. In the present research, we explored how spatial selective attention is used during the delay separating stimuli, in order to determine the contents of spatial working memory in this task. A two-task situation was created. On the primary task, two dot arrays were serially presented within a grid, leaving one space empty, which subjects identified. On the secondary task, instead of the second array, a discrimination probe was presented. Integration accuracy increased through delays of 1,500 msec, revealing an estimate of the time required to form an optimal memory trace for integration. Once the memory trace was formed (but not before), response time to the probe was faster if it was presented in a location previously occupied by a dot from Array 1. This indicates that during the delay separating the arrays, the subjects assigned spatial attention to the locations occupied by the first array and actively maintained the leading array in working memory. Implications for theories of visual processing and memory are discussed.
Low overhead fault-tolerant FPGA systems

Fault-tolerance is an important system metric for many operating environments, from automotive to space exploration. The conventional technique for improving system reliability is through component replication, which usually comes at significant cost: increased design time, testing, power consumption, volume, and weight. We have developed a new fault-tolerance approach that capitalizes on the unique reconfiguration capabilities of field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's). The physical design is partitioned into a set of tiles. In response to a component failure, a functionally equivalent tile that does not rely on the faulty component replaces the affected tile. Unlike application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and microprocessor design methods, which result in fixed structures, this technique allows a single physical component to provide redundant backup for several types of components. Experimental results conducted on a subset of the MCNC benchmarks demonstrate a high level of reliability with low timing and hardware overhead.
Structural MRI as a tool for the study of neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders.

High-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging affords an unprecedented opportunity to study the severity and distribution of neurodegenerative changes in the human brain. By selecting specific MR sequence parameters (i.e., TE and TR), different MR signals can be received from different tissue types, such as gray and white matter. Through optimization of the contrast between different tissue types, the surfaces and internal structures of brain structures of special interest can be visualized and quantitated. Metrics such as two-dimensional areas, three-dimensional volumes, and three-dimensional shape characteristics have proven to be highly useful for quantitating the effects of toxins on the human brain. Among toxins, the effects of alcohol on the human brain have been most intensively studied using structural MR imaging. Volume losses in the cerebral cortex and other brain regions of interest have been carefully quantitated. However, because exposure to alcohol is almost always repeated over many years, the effects of normal aging must be carefully considered when making comparisons between diseased and healthy populations. In contrast to the literature on alcohol, structural MR imaging has been relatively underutilized in the study of drugs and other chemicals such as MPTP and other drugs of abuse that are toxic to special populations of neurons. However, as the resolution of structural MR continues to improve, the structural characteristics of such neuron populations will be visualized and quantitated, and successful use of structural MR imaging for the study of such toxins will become possible.
The Polka Alternative: Polka as Counterhegemonic Ethnic Practice

(2004). The Polka Alternative: Polka as Counterhegemonic Ethnic Practice. Popular Music and Society: Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 407-427.
Radiation induced valvulitis with late leaflet rupture

Various cardiac sequelae of mediastinal irradiation have been reported, from pericarditis to conduction defects. Despite the potentially fatal nature of some of these abnormalities, many may present with few or no symptoms. In this case report, the patient, who had received 4000 rads to the mediastinum 24 years previously, presented with worsening shortness of breath and two episodes of lightheadedness. Subsequently, he was found to have aortic valve rupture associated with fibrosis. A review of the literature indicates that valve rupture is a novel consequence of mediastinal radiation.
A Mammary Stem Cell Population Identified and Characterized in Late Embryogenesis Reveals Similarities to Human Breast Cancer

Gene expression signatures relating mammary stem cell populations to breast cancers have focused on adult tissue. Here, we identify, isolate, and characterize the fetal mammary stem cell (fMaSC) state since the invasive and proliferative processes of mammogenesis resemble phases of cancer progression. fMaSC frequency peaks late in embryogenesis, enabling more extensive stem cell purification than achieved with adult tissue. fMaSCs are self-renewing, multipotent, and coexpress multiple mammary lineage markers. Gene expression, transplantation, and in vitro analyses reveal putative autocrine and paracrine regulatory mechanisms, including ErbB and FGF signaling pathways impinging on fMaSC growth. Expression profiles from fMaSCs and associated stroma exhibit significant similarities to basal-like and Her2+ intrinsic breast cancer subtypes. Our results reveal links between development and cancer and provide resources to identify new candidates for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.
Poverty Reduction in China: The Contribution of Popularizing Primary Education

Using the instrumental variable model and the regression discontinuity approach, this paper explores how access to primary education affects the Chinese labor market and helps people to escape poverty. Several important findings are obtained. The popularization of primary education has significantly reduced poverty in China, especially in urban areas. In contrast, the Compulsory Education Law has not been well implemented for older children in rural areas. In addition, the labor market premium for completing primary education is much larger in urban areas than in rural areas. Poor rural school quality might explain this rural–urban disparity. Effort needs to be made to further reduce poverty by ensuring adequate financial resources for primary education in poor areas and improving school quality in rural China.
Pilot Study of Gaze Scanning and Intersection Detection Failures by Drivers with Hemianopia

In a prior study, intersection detection failures of individuals with hemianopia were strongly associated with inadequate head scanning; however, eye position was not tracked. In this pilot study, the authors tracked eye and head movements, and examined the relationship between gaze scanning and detection of pedestrians at intersections in a driving simulator. Gaze scan deficits, in particular not scanning sufficiently far into the blind hemifield, were the main reason for detection failures at the extreme edge of the clear-sight triangle in the blind hemifield. In addition, the gaze data revealed detection failures due to looked-but-failed-to-see events. The results suggest that homonymous hemianopia (HH) drivers may be at increased risk for collisions at intersections.
Development of Residual Stress Simulation and Experimental Measurement Tools for Stainless Steel Pressure Vessels

In forged, welded, and machined components, residual stresses can form during the fabrication process. These residual stresses can significantly alter the fatigue and fracture properties compared to an equivalent component containing no residual stress. When performing lifetime assessment, the residual stress state must be incorporated into the analysis to most accurately reflect the initial condition of the component. The focus of this work is to present the computational and experimental tools that we are developing to predict and measure the residual stresses in stainless steel for use in pressure vessels. The contour method was used to measure the residual stress in stainless steel forgings. These results are compared to the residual stresses predicted using coupled thermo-mechanical simulations that track the evolution of microstructure, strength and residual stress during processing.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Hypercholesterolemia. The evidence supports use of statins.

Using statins to treat older men and women with coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypercholesterolemia reduces the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, coronary events, coronary revascularization, stroke, Intermittent claudication, and congestive heart failure. The target serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level is or = 130 mg/dL, or a serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol < 50 mg/dL. Data from the Heart Protection Study favor treating patients at high risk for vascular events with statins regardless of age or initial serum lipids.
N-phenylpropyl-N'-substituted piperazines occupy sigma receptors and alter methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice.

Abstract This study examined the effect of the N -phenylpropyl- N ′-substituted piperazine ligands SA4503 (3.4-dimethoxyphenethyl), YZ-067 (4-methoxyphenethyl), YZ-185 (3-methoxyphenethyl) and Nahas-3h (4-methoxybenzyl) on methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity in mice. In a previous study in rats, SA4503 increased methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity at a lower ligand dose and enhanced it at a higher dose. The other ligands have not been investigated in this assay. Presently, mice were administered sigma ligands, and specific [ 125 I] E -IA-DM-PE-PIPZE and [ 125 I]RTI-121 binding was measured to determine σ1 sigma receptor and dopamine transporter occupancy, respectively. Mice were also administered sigma ligands followed by methamphetamine, and locomotor activity was measured. Each of the ligands occupied σ1 sigma receptors (ED 50 = 0.2–0.6 μmol/kg) with similar potency, but none occupied the transporter (ED 50 > 10 μmol/kg). At the highest dose tested (31.6 μmol/kg) all four sigma ligands significantly attenuated methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity. Interestingly, SA4503, YZ-067 and Nahas-3h, but not YZ-185, enhanced methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity at lower ligand doses (1–3.16 μmol/kg). These results suggest that these ligands function as stimulant agonists at lower doses and as antagonists at higher does, with subtle changes in the substitution pattern at the 3- and 4-positions of the phenethyl group contributing to the nature of the interactions. Overall, these data indicate a complex role for σ1 sigma receptor ligands in methamphetamine's behavioral effects.
A rare manifestation of insulin therapy in a young male with diabetes mellitus

Abstract Acanthosis nigricans is an epidermal proiferative disorder commonly associated with insulin resistance. Subcutaneous insulin therapy related acanthosis is a rare and seldom reported adverse effect. Here we report the case of a young diabetic male with atypical bilaterally symmetrical acanthosis nigricans affecting the anterior thighs secondary to exogenous insulin use.
Manipulation of T Cell Activation in the Anti-Tumor Immune Response

Recent advances in the understanding of the regulation of T cell activation have allowed the rational design of new treatment protocols aimed at inducing or enhancing T cell responses against tumors. This review describes the progress our laboratory has made in applying these principles to several different murine tumor model systems. These findings are discussed in the context of developing an effective immunotherapeutic treatment for cancer.
Effect of Land Cover Changes on the Sediment and Water Quality Characteristics of Brays Bayou Watershed

Rapid increase in impervious surfaces due to urbanization often intensifies the frequency of flooding which in turn increases runoff of environmental pollutants. The Brays Bayou watershed (BBW) is a heavily urbanized and densely populated watershed located mostly in Harris County, TX. The objectives of our study are (1) to analyze and interpret the spatial and temporal land use and land cover changes in BBW and (2) to determine nutrient, heavy metal, and bacterial contamination in the Brays Bayou. Water and sediment samples were collected from selected sampling locations along the Brays Bayou and analyzed for various nutrient and metal concentrations. Bacterial analysis was conducted to enumerate the fecal coliform bacteria in water samples. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite images sampled from over three decades (1980–2010) for the BBW study area were processed and analyzed for land use and land cover changes. Our remote sensing analysis revealed that the BBW lost about 28.4% (9463 acres) vegetation during the period of 1984 to 2010. The loss in vegetative areas resulted in increased impervious surface areas. In sediment samples, increasing trends for Al, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn were observed towards the downstream of Brays Bayou. Lead concentrations were found at the highest concentration (70 mg/kg) in certain Brays Bayou sampling locations. Escherichia coli concentrations decreased towards the downstream of Brays Bayou and were found below 200 maximum probable numbers/100 ml. Integration of remote sensing along with the chemical and biological analysis helped to understand the impact of land cover changes on the bayou water quality.
Outstanding Challenges in Scientific Research on Mindfulness and Meditation.

Van Dam et al. raise a number of critical issues in contemporary research on mindfulness and meditation and offer a prescriptive agenda for future work in this area. While we agree with all of the key points made in their article, there are a number of important issues omitted that are central to a comprehensive agenda for future research in this area. This commentary highlights five key points: (a) Many of the key methodological issues the article raises are not specific to research on mindfulness; (b) contemplative practices are varied, and the landscape of modern scientific research has evolved to focus almost exclusively on one or two types of practice to the exclusion of other forms of practice that are potentially highly impactful; (c) mindfulness and related contemplative practices were not originally developed to treat disease; (d) key issues of duration, intensity and spacing of practice, and the extent to which formal meditation practice is required or whether practice can be piggybacked onto ot...
The ontology of science teaching in the neoliberal era

Because of ever stricter standards of accountability, science teachers are under an increasing and unrelenting pressure to demonstrate the effects of their teaching on student learning. Econometric perspectives of teacher quality have become normative in assessment of teachers’ work for accountability purposes. These perspectives seek to normalize some key ontological assumptions about teachers and teaching, and thus play an important role in shaping our understanding of the work science teachers do as teachers in their classrooms. In this conceptual paper I examine the ontology of science teaching as embedded in econometric perspectives of teacher quality. Based on Foucault’s articulation of neoliberalism as a discourse of governmentality in his ‘The Birth of Biopolitics’ lectures, I suggest that this ontology corresponds well with the strong and substantivist ontology of work under neoliberalism, and thus could potentially be seen as reflection of the influence of neoliberal ideas in education. Implications of the mainstreaming of an ontology of teaching that is compatible with neoliberalism can be seen in increasing marketization of teaching, ‘teaching evangelism’, and impoverished notions of learning and teaching. A shift of focus from teacher quality to quality of teaching and building conceptual models of teaching based on relational ontologies deserve to be explored as important steps in preserving critical and socially just conceptions of science teaching in neoliberal times.
Dreadful: Aesthetic Fear in Victorian Reading

The late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the rise of both the novel and physiological psychology, in which thinkers interested in affect often turned to literature to understand the functions of fictional emotion. One problem that has dogged aesthetic and psychological theorists since at least Aristotle is the aesthetic appreciation of negative affects. Why do we read tragedy, melodrama, and horror fiction, which evoke fear and sadness? How do we enjoy them? This essay will survey the history of the debate on the psychology and physiology of fear, including associationism, common sense and evolutionary theories. It will then discuss the period’s fiction, focusing especially on the affect of reading in the genres of gothic and sensation.
Nonperturbative Self-Interactions, Solitary Waves and Others

The discovery of the existence of exact, collisionally stable, localized solutions of classical field equations —solitons [1]—has inspired a large amount of research in quantum field theory in recent years—some of which has been described at this Institute. The principal analogy is that localized, classical solutions of nonlinear field equations, bags, etc. [2] represent, in some sense, extended objects, i.e., particles with structure. The major problem has been to find suitable methods of quantizing the motion of these systems, for example, by using path integrals, WKB approximations or other semiclassical techniques [3].
Intervening in Special Education Cases

Some background information about special education in different areas of the world is provided and then mediation is presented as a possible approach to resolving or reducing special education disputes. Special education mediation in the United States is discussed and details of a case are given. The chapter concludes with some points to consider by those who want to establish, improve or analyze a special education mediation program.
High Voltage Electron Microscopy for Microstructural Analysis

Interest in high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM) has grown steadily over the past fifteen years or so with developments occurring in various parts of the world. In France, a 1. 5 MV microscope was designed and built by Dupouy at Toulouse. This was followed in Japan by Hitachi (500 kV, 650 kV and then 1 MV) and by JEOL (1 MV). In England, a 750 kV instrument at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge has been developed into a1 MV version by GEC-AEI. In the United States, R. C.A. have built a 500 kV microscope at the University of Virginia and a1 MV microscope at the Bain Laboratories of U. S. Steel. Commercial instruments are available from Hitachi, JEOL and GEC-AEI. The standard 100 kV microscopes are still by far the most popular and are eminently suitable for most applications. However, there has been a steady increase in the the number of HVEM facilitieSo For example, in the U.S. following the R. C.A. microscopes, Hitachi 650 kV microscopes have been installed at Berkeley, Case Western Reserve University and Oak Ridge and a JEOL 1 MV microscope at the Hanford Laboratory in Richland, Washington; several other facilities are being built or planned. The most recent development in the HVEM field has been the construction and operation of two 3 MV microscopes, one by Dupouy in France (1) and the other by Hitachi in Japan (2).
Comprehensive Diabetes Self-Management Support From Food Banks: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives. To determine whether food bank provision of self-management support and diabetes-appropriate food improves glycemic control among clients with diabetes.Methods. We screened 5329 adults ...
Optimization of the Laboratory Fabrication of Small Specimens for Asphalt Mixture Performance Testing

The use of 38-mm-diameter small specimens for uniaxial dynamic modulus and cyclic fatigue asphalt mixture performance testing offers a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency of laborator...
The Economic Mobility of Immigrants: Public Charge Rules Could Foreclose Future Opportunities

Newly arrived immigrants to the United States typically have lower incomes than similar age native-born counterparts when they arrive, but the immigrant-native gap gradually closes as the immigrants remain for a longer time, improving their job skills, English proficiency and social capital. This paper discusses how recently proposed federal rules that threaten the ability of recent immigrants to attain permanent residency conflict with immigrants’ economic mobility and may ultimately harm not only the immigrants, but the broader economy. Specifically, “public charge” rules propose to prevent immigrants from becoming permanent residents if they have used means-tested public benefits or if they have low incomes or less than a high school education. The rule implicitly assumes that immigrants are poor in their first years in the country will remain poor, despite the evidence that immigrant incomes rise relatively quickly. Analyses presented in this paper, which are consistent with other prior research, show that immigrants start out with lower incomes than those native-born, but gradually catch up. Moreover, immigrants with low education close the immigrant-native income gap even faster, catching up with similar US-born counterparts within six to seven years on average. By making it more difficult for lawful immigrants to remain in the United States, the proposed public charge regulations stifle immigrants’ future opportunities and undercut their ability to contribute to the nation.
A Karez System’s Dilemma: A Cultural Heritage on a Shelf or Still a Viable Technique for Water Resiliency in Arid Regions

Karez system is considered as the global human heritage since it is not only a traditional water supply system of exploiting groundwater, but also it reflects the culture, socio-economy, and history of the ancient civilizations that had utilized them for thousands of years in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. However, with the explosive population growth and rapid development of pumping technology in the last century, the karezes dried up or were abandoned as pumping wells lower the groundwater table. This poses a dilemma to policy makers whether to facilitate large-scale utilization of pumping well technology over karez system and treat karez as a cultural heritage which is non-functional for food production, or to keep using and preserving the karez system as a sustainable way of groundwater management as part of the integrated water supply systems in the arid regions. In this paper, we reviewed the historical, socio-economic, and cultural importance of karezes in the arid regions. We also discussed the distribution of karezes in the world, their unique geographical characteristics, technological advantages and limitations. We observed that the karez system is not only economically robust over the long term, but also a viable water supply technique for irrigation and domestic uses. The karezes should be protected as indigenous human heritage, and at the same time, they can be utilized as a sustainable way of water resources management in the arid regions to enhance water resiliency under changing environment.
A Mirror Image Fluorogenic Aptamer Sensor for Live-Cell Imaging of MicroRNAs.

Development of biocompatible tools for intracellular imaging of RNA expression remains a central challenge. Herein, we report the use of heterochiral strand-displacement to sequence-specifically interface endogenous d-miRNAs with an l-RNA version of the fluorogenic aptamer Mango III, thereby generating a novel class of biocompatible miRNA sensors. Fluorescence activation of the sensor is achieved through the displacement of an achiral blocking strand from the l-Mango aptamer by the d-RNA target. In contrast to d-Mango, we show that the l-Mango sensor retains full functionality in serum, enabling a light-up fluorescence response to the target. Importantly, we employ a self-delivering version of the l-Mango sensor to image the expression of microRNA-155 in living cells, representing the first time l-oligonucleotides have been interfaced with a living system. Overall, this work provides a new paradigm for the development of biocompatible hybridization-based sensors for live-cell imaging of RNAs and greatly e...
Nietzsche's intuitions

This essay examines a particular rhetorical strategy Nietzsche uses to supply prima facie epistemic justification: appeals to intuition. I first investigate what Nietzsche thinks intuitions are, gi...
Examining the relationship between decoding and comprehension in L2 listening

Abstract In L2 listening research, there is debate over the roles of bottom-up and top-down processing in comprehension. However, little previous research has examined the relationship between listeners' ability to aurally decode individual words (an aspect of bottom-up processing) and their overall comprehension of listening texts (believed to be the result of both bottom-up and top-down processes). Additionally, the extent to which L2 listeners use context to compensate for aural decoding difficulties is unclear. In this study, 25 intermediate to advanced learners of Spanish (L1 English) listened to excerpts of three stories in Spanish. They completed a recall protocol in their L1 and a transcription task in the L2 for each story. Results indicate that good comprehension (defined as a score of ≥70% on the recall protocol) was sometimes achieved when participants correctly decoded as few as 73.5% of the words in the story, but only scores of ≥93.0% on the transcription task were consistently associated with good comprehension, which provides preliminary evidence suggesting a strong relationship between accurate aural decoding and good comprehension. Additionally, only 16.6% of aural decoding errors were semantically appropriate to the context, which suggests a limited role for context in participants’ decoding of the input.