cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Animal-Assisted Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 2016 to 2020

In the last 5 years, the literature on animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has doubled in size from 42 studies prior to 2015 to 85 studies (cumulative total assessed in 2020). Horses remain the most commonly researched animal for AAI, followed by dogs. The most commonly researched outcome was social interaction, across 21 studies. Though the quantity of studies has increased, issues with methodological rigor remain. Results highlight the need for a continued focus on methodological rigor as well as refining the structure of animal-assisted interventions, addressing the welfare needs of the animals involved, and continuing to establish an evidence base of both significant and nonsignificant findings for AAI for individuals with ASD.
Biological activities residing in the Fc region of immunoglobulin.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses studies involving lymphocyte activation and immune regulation by peptides derived from IC and Fc fragments of immunoglobulin (Ig). The cellular and subcellular events involved in lymphocyte activation by these biologically active peptides are discussed. There are five major classes of mammalian Ig: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, and IgE. The fundamental structure of the Ig molecule consists of two identical light (L) and two identical heavy (H) chains. IgG can be cleaved into smaller fragments by a variety of enzymes other than papain. Pepsin cleaves Ig on the carboxy terminal side of the inter-H chain disulfide bonds, resulting in the formation of a large F (ab')2 fragment. The Fc fragment is degraded by pepsin into heterogeneous peptides. The Fc region of the Ig molecule is involved in a wide variety of biological effector functions that include control of catabolic rate, C fixation, binding to FcR, anaphylaxis, opsonization, placental and gut transfer, and immune regulation. Because the cellular events in lymphocyte activation by Fc fragments and IC appear to be identical, perhaps immunoregulation by these agents occurs via similar pathways. The release of biologically active peptides derived from the Fc fragment of antibody may be part of a potent nonspecific in vivo immunoregulatory network. In addition to the release of Fc region peptides, IC formation also results in C activation with the subsequent release of C fragments (C3a and C5a) that possess immunoregulatory properties.
Gene delivery from a DNA controlled-release stent in porcine coronary arteries

Expandable intra-arterial stents are widely used for treating coronary disease. We hypothesized that local gene delivery could be achieved with the controlled release of DNA from a polymer coating on an expandable stent. Our paper reports the first successful transfection in vivo using a DNA controlled-release stent. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) plasmid DNA within emulsion-coated stents was efficiently expressed in cell cultures (7.9% ± 0.7% vs. 0.6% ± 0.2% control, p < 0.001) of rat aortic smooth muscle cells. In a series of pig stent-angioplasty studies, GFP expression was observed in all coronary arteries (normal, nondiseased) in the DNA-treated group, but not in control arteries. GFP plasmid DNA in the arterial wall was confirmed by PCR, and GFP presence in the pig coronaries was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Thus, DNA-eluting stents are capable of arterial transfection, and could be useful as delivery systems for candidate vectors for gene therapy of cardiovascular diseases.
Learning Chemistry Through the Use of a Representation-Based Knowledge Building Environment

Many students leave high school chemistry courses with profound misunderstandings about the nature of matter, chemical processes, and chemical systems. The ChemSense project is addressing this problem through a multidisciplinary program of research and development to examine the impact of representational tools, chemical investigations, and discourse on chemistry learning and teaching in high schools and colleges. This work intersects several theoretical approaches to learning, including collaborative project-based investigations, representational competence, knowledge building, and the design of chemistry curriculum. The ChemSense Knowledge Building Environment allows students and instructors to collaborate in the investigation of chemical phenomena, collect data, build representations of these phenomena, and participate in scaffolded discourse to explain these phenomena in terms of underlying chemical mechanisms. Research indicates that ChemSense is effective in supporting student representational use and chemical understanding. In this paper, we present our theoretical approach, describe the ChemSense learning environment in the context of actual use by high school students, summarize our research findings, and discuss the implications of these findings for future work.
Modelling Industry-level Ccorporate Credit Risk for the Netherlands

This paper examines corporate credit risks in the Netherlands at the industry-level, addressing two key questions. First, to what extent are corporate credit risks driven by idiosyncratic financial factors or systematic macroeconomic factors? Second, did debt financing in the late 1990s indeed push a large number of firms into bankruptcy in the subsequent years? To this end, bankruptcy rates are regressed on a number of industry-specific financial ratio's and macroeconomic variables in a panel-regression framework covering six industries from 1992 to 2005. I find that an industry's bankruptcy rate rises with an increase in leverage and a decrease in profitability and liquidity. Adding macroeconomic variables shows that lower GDP growth, higher interest rates, and an appreciating currency raise credit risks. Applying a model with parameter heterogeneity illustrates that systematic factors primarily account for the overall rise in bankruptcy rates between 2000 and 2003, but that idiosyncratic factors dominate in the worst-affected industries. This includes the IT industry where the build-up of debt was most pronounced and compounded losses.
Role of Reduced Exogenous Organic Compounds in the Physiology of the Blue-Green Bacteria (Algae): Photoheterotrophic Growth of a “Heterotrophic” Blue-Green Bacterium

Nostoc sp. (strain Mac) was shown to be capable of using glucose, fructose, or sucrose as a sole source of carbon and energy in the dark. In the light in the absence of exogenously supplied CO2, this strain exhibited a more versatile metabolism. In addition to the three sugars above, glycerol and acetate served as sole sources of carbon. This photoheterotrophic growth in the absence of exogenously supplied CO2 appears to involve O2-evolving photosynthesis. The action spectrum for photoheterotrophic growth on acetate closely resembles the action spectrum for photosynthesis. The physiology of photoheterotrophic growth was further investigated through determinations of stable carbon isotope ratios and measurements of gas exchanges. These investigations suggest that respired CO2 from substrate oxidation is assimilated by the photosynthetic machinery.
Structure determination through Z-contrast microscopy

Summary This review outlined the quantum mechanical basis for regarding Z-contrast imaging and EELS in the STEM as directly interpretable, column-by-column imaging and analysis. These techniques form a powerful basis for structure determination that provides a first-order model without the need to solve any phase problem. In the examples discussed, theoretical modeling was used to refine the structures and make the link to properties through calculation of impurity or vacancy segregation energies and electronic structure. Future developments in the correction of aberrations offer the potential for greatly improved sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratios, with single-atom sensitivity in both imaging and analysis. This sensitivity will lead to a new level of insight into the atomic origin of materials properties. It will give rise to the ability to understand the limiting factors in optical and electronic devices, the active sites and mechanisms in catalysis, the origin of strength and ductility in structural materials, and the origin of the unique properties of nanostructured materials. There is a bright future for electrons.
Diagnostic criteria of limited adenocarcinoma of the prostate on needle biopsy

Over a period of 25 weeks 434 needle biopsy specimens of the prostate were sent to the author for consultation because of diagnostic concerns. The final diagnoses were cancer (69%), benign (13%), atypical but not diagnostic (10%), high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) (5%), and miscellaneous (3%). The most common benign entities mimicking cancer were atrophy (29 specimens) and adenosis (19 specimens). The 300 cancer specimens were analyzed further. Architecturally, the presence of small glands between larger benign glands was the most common pattern seen in 80% of carcinomas; haphazard growth patterns, single cells, and cribriform glands were seen less frequently. The following diagnostic features were helpful: nuclear enlargement (77% of specimens); prominent nucleoli (76%); pink acellular intraluminal secretions (53%); amphophilic cytoplasm (39%); blue-tinged mucinous secretions (34%); crystalloids (25%); PIN (13%); mitotic figures (11%); and perineural invasion (3%). The mean and median numbers of malignant glands in this series were 31 and 20, respectively (range, two to 300). Tumors with a Gleason score lower than 6 caused greater diagnostic problems for referring physicians because these tumors had a greater number of malignant glands, yet were still sent in for consultation (P = .0018). Gleason score was positively correlated with prominent nucleoli and amphophilic cytoplasm and inversely correlated with the presence of crystalloids. Prominent nucleoli, which often are quoted as being essential for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, were not seen in 24% of the specimens and seen only rarely in another 25%. The diagnosis of prostate cancer is based on a constellation of features. Even in this series with a limited number of malignant glands, 85% of specimens contained three or more of the above-listed diagnostic features in addition to architectural atypia.
Integrative repair of the meniscus: lessons from in vitro studies.

Current therapies for meniscal injury seek to preserve and repair damaged tissue since loss of meniscal tissue is associated with degenerative changes in the joint, ultimately leading to osteoarthritis (OA). After a meniscal tear, the difficulty of integrating juxtaposed meniscal surfaces continues to be an obstacle. In order to determine the local factors that are necessary for successful tissue repair, previous studies have developed in vitro model systems that allow both biological and quantitative biomechanical measures of meniscus repair. Many studies have shown the importance of individual factors in meniscus metabolism, but there is a complex interplay among a variety of factors that influence meniscal healing, including inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, mechanical loading, and zonal differences in cell and tissue properties. In particular, the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines following joint injury appears to have significant catabolic influences on meniscal cell metabolic activity that must be overcome in order to promote repair. In the presence of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), intrinsic meniscal repair in vitro is significantly inhibited. While anabolic growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), enhance meniscal repair, they cannot completely overcome the IL-1-mediated inhibition of repair. The mechanisms by which these mediators influence meniscal repair, and their interactions with other factors in the microenvironment, such as mechanical loading, remain to be determined. Future studies must address these complex interactions during meniscal healing to ultimately enhance meniscal repair.
Design assessment and implementation potential of three-phase asynchronous AC traction motor systems for North America

AC traction system technology is discussed in light of the issues of design maturity, current state of the art, adaptability to the North American freight railroad environment, and its introduction into North America. A description of what a North-American AC traction system locomotive might look like is given. Descriptions of European and North-American AC traction system equipped locomotives are presented. The issue of wheel diameter mismatch, and the near-term prospects for implementation of this technology in North America are also discussed. >
Distributed rule processing in active databases

Processing rules in a distributed active database involves three design issues: how to decompose rules, how to distribute rules to sites, and how to evaluate distributed rules correctly. The authors study these three issues for complicated rules, which are complex and time-consuming to evaluate. They propose a relational operator, AND, and the associated algebraic manipulations of this operator to find independent parts of a rule query, which can be distributed among sites. Due to geographical dispersion in a distributed system, correct evaluation of distributed rules is not trivial. A distributed evaluation algorithm is preferred, which guarantees the correctness of the evaluation result of the distributed rule by collecting consistent local results from sites to form a global view. >
ISSUES RAISED BY COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING OF BUS TRANSIT SERVICE IN THE USA

Public agencies in the USA have been contracting with private transportation providers for public transportation services since the early 1970's. Only recently, however, have relatively large amounts of bus transit services been competitively contracted. As this strategy remains politically controversial, despite strong policy support from the federal mass transit agency, attention has been focused on several major issues associated with competitive contracting of transit services. The most prominent of these issues are the magnitude and long term durability of cost savings from competitive contacting—including such factors as administrative costs of contracted services and the length of the transition period before actual budgetary savings can be realized, the impact of contracting on service quality and safety, and the source of lower private sector costs, most notably whether lower costs are simply a function of lower wages for workers. Some information now exists from actual experiences with relativel...
Surface Iodination of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Intact Cells

The membranes from epidermoid carcinoma cells (A-431) that were surface iodinated while intact using catalysis by lactoperoxidase and 125 I as iodide contain one major labeled protein of M r = 180,000. This protein is clearly iodinated on the outside of the intact cell because it is not the major protein labeled when isolated membranes are iodinated. This major surface-iodinated protein is almost certainly the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, since both have the same M r and have identical sensitivity to proteases. Both are nearly quantitatively converted from an M r = 180,000 form to an M r = 160,000 form by an endogenous calcium-activated neutral protease when cells are broken in the presence of calcium. Both are degraded by trypsin only if trypsin has access to the inside of the cell. This latter finding implies that the surface-iodinated EGF receptor spans the plasma membrane. Since the EGF receptor is an autophosphorylating kinase whose activity is enhanced in the presence of EGF, the receptor was labeled and identified using [γ- 32 P] ATP. While both iodination and EGF-enhanced phosphorylation occur on tyrosine residues, peptide mapping of the iodinated or phosphorylated M r = 180,000 band showed that different peptides were being labeled. Since the EGF receptor-kinase spans the plasma membrane, the peptide iodinated on the surface of the intact cell must be different from the peptides that are probably autophosphorylated on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.
Causes and Consequences of Heart Failure After Prophylactic Implantation of a Defibrillator in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II

Background— Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy may be associated with an increased risk for heart failure (HF). The present study evaluated the frequency, causes, and consequences of HF after ICD implantation. Methods and Results— We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical factors and outcomes associated with postenrollment HF events in 1218 patients enrolled in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of ICD:conventional therapy for first and recurrent HF events were 1.39 (P=0.02) and 1.58 (P<0.001), respectively. The risk was increased among patients who received single-chamber or dual-chamber ICDs. Development of HF was associated with an increased mortality risk (HR, 3.80; P<0.001). Among patients who received a single-chamber ICD, there was a similar survival benefit before and after the development of HF (HR, 0.59 and 0.61, respectively; P=0.92 for difference), whereas among patients with dual-chamber devices, there ...
Pasting and Thermal Properties of Flours from Oat Lines with High and Typical Amounts of β-Glucan

ABSTRACT Experimental oat lines high in β-glucan (6–7.8%) and traditional lines (3.9–5.7% β-glucan) were used to evaluate the effect of β-glucan on pasting (by rapid viscoanalysis) and thermal properties (by differential scanning calorimetry) of oat flours. Significant correlations established between β-glucan concentration and the pasting parameters after amylolysis demonstrated the role of β-glucans in oat pasting. The relative decrease of peak viscosity (PV) observed after enzymatic removal of β-glucans was correlated with β-glucan concentration (r = 0.880, P < 0.010) and reconfirmed their contribution to pasting. A significant increase of PV with β-glucan concentration obtained under conditions of either autolysis (deionized water used for dispersion) (r = 0.89, P < 0.010) or inhibition (silver nitrate solution used for dispersion) (r = 0.91, P < 0.001) might be explained by an increase in water retention capacity caused by the β-glucans. Predictive models of β-glucan concentration based on the whole ...
Efficiency of the First Component of Complement (C'1) in the Hemolytic Reaction

With the use of the first component of guinea pig complement (C91) labeled in vivo with 14C-amino acids, we have obtained evidence that, under the conditions required for the assay of C91, each molecule of C91 capable of interaction with cell surface antigen-antibody complexes is capable of initiating the reaction sequence that leads to lysis of the cell.
“One-pot” synthesis, characterization, and NH3 sensing of Pd/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite

Abstract In this letter, we report a novel route to prepare stable Pd/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (Pd/PEDOT:PSS) colloid. With addition of PSS, the Pd/PEDOT:PSS aqueous dispersion was formed by simultaneous oxidation–reduction reaction between Pd(NO 3 ) 2 and ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) at room temperature. The morphologies of the Pd/PEDOT and Pd/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscope. The Pd nanoparticles in the composites were identified with X-ray powder diffraction and UV/vis/NIR spectrum. The chemical structures of PEDOT were studied using FTIR spectra and UV/vis/NIR spectra. The results confirmed the formation of oxidized PEDOT polymer. The sensing property of the Pd/PEDOT:PSS thin film to the NH 3 vapor was investigated.
An analysis of the modeling accuracy of the GaAs MESFET models for telecommunication power amplifier design

• Curtice Cubic model produces excellent agreement in ACPR and EVM (within 2 dB & 1% error, respectively.) • Model makes good predictions in power, PAE, small signal gain, and 2nd harmonic • Model is less accurate in 3rd harmonic and 3rd order intermodulation distortion
Observations of internal tides in October 1950

Over six days of anchor station hydrographic data from each of three vessels on a line 280 mi long were analyzed for internal waves of tidal (and other) periods. Waves of semidiurnal period with amplitudes greater than 30 ft were found at the nearshore station (40 mi offshore in 1080 fm), but little evidence of these waves or any other periodic phenomena was found at the stations farther offshore though there was considerable vertical fluctuation of isotherms. It is suggested that the waves found originate near the coast in the action of the surface tides and that, since the length of such waves, if free, is short, they either dissipate before proceeding far offshore or, more likely, are so distorted by the varying density structure and water velocity that they are no longer recognized.
The X-Ray Diffraction Analysis and Spectral Studies of Mixed Anionic (1:1) CdII3[(FeIII/CoIII)(CN)6]2·14H2O

Abstract Refinement of the crystallographic structure of (1:1) CdII3[(FeIII/CoIII)(CN)6]2·14H2O (I) has been carried out by means of three-dimensional single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. This novel disordered mixed anionic complex crystallizes in the cubic space groupFm 3 m(Z=11/3) witha0=10.638(1) A. Based on 166 unique reflections, the employed full-matrix least-squares method yielded a final reliability factor ofR=0.041 (Rw=0.047) and a goodness-of-fit value (Σ2) of 1.79. Indexed power diffraction data are reported and evaluated according to the quantitative figures-of-meritF21=114 (0.007, 25) andM20=154.9. A thermal gravimetric analysis revealed 14 water molecules per formula unit and the experimental density is 1.93(5) Mg m−3[calc., 1.87(1) Mg m−3]. The divalent Cd atoms are linked to the (1:1) mixed metal atoms by linear cyanide bridging. The disordered structure I is isomorphous with the hydrated cobalticyanides of Mn and Cd. A hydrogen-bonding network is set up within cavities of the crystal lattice created by the molecular disorder. Selective geometric parameters as well as conoscopic and IR spectral results are presented.
On Experimentation and the Study of Corridors: Response to Beier and Noss

*Department of Zoology, Box 7617, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695–7617, U.S.A., email nick haddad@ncsu.edu†Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, U.S.A., email dan.rosenberg@orst.edu‡Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523–1474, U.S.A.,email brnoon@cnr.colostate.edu
The possible role of the kynurenine pathway in anhedonia in adolescents

To address the heterogeneous nature of adolescent major depression (MDD), we investigated anhedonia, a core symptom of MDD. We recently reported activation of the kynurenine pathway (KP), a central neuroimmunological pathway which metabolizes tryptophan (TRP) into kynurenine (KYN) en route to several neurotoxins, in a group of highly anhedonic MDD adolescents. In this study, we aimed to extend our prior work and examine the relationship between KP activity and anhedonia, measured quantitatively, in a group of MDD adolescents and in a combined group of MDD and healthy control adolescents. Thirty-six adolescents with MDD (22 medication-free) and 20 controls were included in the analysis. Anhedonia scores were generated based on clinician- and subject-rated assessments and a semi-structured clinician interview. Blood KP metabolites, collected in the AM after an overnight fast, were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The rate-limiting enzyme of the KP, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), was estimated by the ratio of KYN/TRP. Pearson correlation tests were used to assess correlations between anhedonia scores and KP measures while controlling for MDD severity. IDO activity and anhedonia scores were positively correlated in the group psychotropic medication-free adolescents with MDD (r = 0.42, P = 0.05) and in a combined group of MDD subjects and healthy controls (including medicated patients: r = 0.30, P = 0.02; excluding medicated patients: r = 0.44, P = 0.004). In conclusions, our findings provide further support for the role for the KP, particularly IDO, in anhedonia in adolescent MDD. These results emphasize the importance of dimensional approaches in the investigation of psychiatric disorders.
Punching holes in GVHD and GVL

T lymphocytes contained within an allogeneic stem cell transplant for leukemia are a force for both good and evil. T cells significantly decrease the incidence of disease relapse by killing leukemic cells (graft-versus-leukemia effect, or GVL) while simultaneously causing often life-threatening
Studies on the origin of the near-infrared (800–900 nm) absorption of cytochrome c oxidase

Abstract Data are presented which were collected in the course of the past ten years and bear on the correlation of absorbance at 800 nm and the EPR signal at g = 2 (‘copper signal’) of cytochrome c oxidase in various states of oxidation and ligation. Both EPR and optical reflectance spectra were obtained at low temperature (−170 to −190°C). For some sets of samples spectra were recorded in the range 500–1100 nm. A particular effort was made to study this correlation with what are called ‘mixed valence’ states (Greenwood, C., Wilson, M.T. and Brunori, M. (1974) Biochem. J. 137, 205–215), when cytochrome a and the EPR-detectable copper are thought to be oxidized and the other components reduced and vice versa. These data show no evidence that the copper component of cytochrome oxidase which has so far not been detected by EPR makes a contribution to the absorption between 800 and 900 nm exceeding 10–15% of the total, which is close to or within the error of the respective measurements. For the various states of the oxidase examined in this work the 700–800 nm region did not appear to be more useful than the 800–900 nm region for determining the state of the EPR-undetectable copper in a reliable way. These conclusions are in agreement with results presented previously from other laboratories concerning the relationship of optical (approx. 800 nm) and EPR spectroscopic ( g = 2) data obtained with the enzyme.
Serum protein profiling using surfactant-aided matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

It has been shown previously that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) can be used at its critical micellar concentration to increase the number of peptides detected in a peptide mixture by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Here we demonstrate that, in a similar fashion, preparation of peptides and low molecular weight proteins from serum using SDS micelles improves the information content in MALDI-MS. In particular, the addition of SDS yielded a 30% increase in the number and a 50% increase in the abundance of low molecular weight (<6000 Da) analytes. C 18 ziptips and Cig magnetic beads were used as pre-cleaning steps for comparative analysis and it was found that magnetic beads were more suitable for pre-cleaning prior to combining the eluent with SDS. The non-ionic surfactant n-octyl-β-D-glucopyrinoside yielded improved ion abundances of peptides with masses above 6000 Da, although these increases are less dramatic than those found with SDS. These results demonstrate that surfactant-aided MALDI-MS can lead to an increase in the amount of information obtained from complex mixtures of peptides/proteins. Such improvements may prove advantageous for applications such as those focused on protein profiling.
GATA-3 expression is controlled by TCR signals and regulates CD4/CD8 differentiation

GATA-3 is expressed at higher levels in CD4 than in CD8 SP thymocytes. Here we show that upregulation of GATA-3 expression in DP thymocytes is triggered by TCR stimulation, and the extent of upregulation correlates with the strength of the TCR signal. Overexpression of GATA-3 or a partial GATA-3 agonist during positive selection inhibits CD8 SP cell development but is not sufficient to divert class I-restricted T cell precursors to the CD4 lineage. Conversely, expression of the GATA-3 antagonist ROG or of a GATA-3 siRNA hairpin markedly enhances development of CD8 SP cells and reduces CD4 SP development. We propose that GATA-3 contributes to linking the TCR signal strength to the differentiation program of CD4 and CD8 thymocytes.
Item analysis of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

The current study explores the item structure of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). A factor analysis of responses of a large sample (n = 1291) yielded six salient factors, four resembling the four scales of the MBTI. Kuder-Richardson 20 coefficients are reported for the scales and factors. Pearson rs are also reported for the factor-scale relationships. All analyses yield only limited support for the item validity of the MBTI. Relevant issues involving the construction of the test are discussed and suggestions are made for future research.
We Grew It!: Enrichment Through Gardening in Elementary School

Although environmental education in lower grade levels is increasing, many students are often only told about the origination and lives of vegetables and animals and others are still not being reached (Kahn, 2009; Malone & Tranter, 2003). In this article, we share how kindergarten through second graders and their families chose to guide the process of creating a garden as part of a school-wide, interest-based enrichment model. We argue that in the garden, students’ knowledge of the environment became more nuanced as they collaborated with family members, problem-solved, made decisions, and engaged directly with the earth.
Genetic mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: impact on response to treatment

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most-common sustained arrhythmia observed in clinical practice, but response to therapy is highly variable between patients. Current drug therapies to suppress AF are incompletely and unpredictably effective and carry substantial risk of proarrhythmia and noncardiac toxicities. The limited success of therapy for AF is partially the result of heterogeneity of the underlying substrate, interindividual differences in disease mechanisms, and our inability to predict response to therapies in individual patients. In this Review, we discuss the evidence that variability in response to drug therapy is also conditioned by the underlying genetic substrate for AF. Increased susceptibility to AF is mediated through diverse genetic mechanisms, including modulation of the atrial action-potential duration, conduction slowing, and impaired cell-to-cell communication, as well as novel mechanisms, such as regulation of signalling proteins important in the pathogenesis of AF. However, the translation of genetic data to the care of the patients with AF has been limited because of poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms associated with common AF-susceptibility loci, a dearth of prospective, adequately powered studies, and the challenges associated with determining efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs. What is apparent, however, is the need for appropriately designed, genotype-directed clinical trials.
A specific membrane binding protein for progesterone in rat brain: sex differences and induction by estrogen.

Abstract Progesterone conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a probe to study sex differences and the effects of hormonal status on binding of progesterone to crude synaptosomal membrane preparations (P2) derived from the mediobasal hypothalamic-anterior hypothalamic-preoptic area or the corpus striatum. Binding of 125I-labeled BSA linked to progesterone at the 11 position of the steroid (P-11-BSA) was decreased by competition with unlabeled P-11-BSA or P-3-BSA (in which progesterone is bound to BSA at the 3 position). P-3-BSA displayed higher affinity than P-11-BSA. Hypothalamic and striatal preparations from adult females show high specific binding (60-80%) to the progesterone-BSA conjugate. Specific binding was reduced more than 80% 14 days after ovariectomy. Estrogen treatment (10 micrograms per rat for 4 days) of 14-day ovariectomized rats restored specific binding to levels equivalent to intact females. In contrast, adult males displayed drastically reduced or no specific binding in either tissue. No specific binding was detected after orchidectomy. Estrogen treatment of orchidectomized animals induced specific binding sites similar to those in intact females. Additionally, an affinity probe was developed by linking primary amines on the P-3-BSA conjugate to agarose activated aldehydes in an AminoLink column. A digitoxin-solubilized fraction from female rat P2 cerebellum preparations yielded a single major band after affinity purification with an estimated molecular mass of 40-50 kDa in an SDS/PAGE system after silver stain. These results show a reversible sex difference in the specific binding of progesterone to synaptosomal membrane sites in the central nervous system of male and female rats which is dependent on estrogen.
Food Aversion Induced by Area Postrema Ablation

Rats with lesions of the area postrema (APX rats) avoid foods ingested on a regular basis during the period of severe hypophagia immediately following surgery (Tomoyasu & Kenney, 1989). The present work determined whether APX rats would also avoid foods to which they are exposed only after they have recovered from the lesion-induced hypophagia. APX and SHAM-lesion rats were fed a novel food for 8 days beginning at least 1 month after surgery when food intakes (adjusted for body weight) and weight gains of the APX rats had returned to control levels. During 24 h, two-food choice tests, APX rats avoided the food ingested a month after the ablation while avidly ingesting an alternative food, but SHAM rats showed no preference between the foods. There was no indication that this aversion developed by APX rats to foods ingested after recovery from hypophagia is weaker than that developed to foods ingested immediately after the lesion. We conclude that area postrema ablation results in the development of an unconditioned stimulus capable of supporting food-aversion conditioning which remains effective more than 1 month after the ablation. Hence, the relationship between APX-induced food aversion and hypophagia must be indirect and complex. Also, conditioning of food aversions induced by area postrema ablation alone may confound studies of the role of this structure in mediating the development of food aversions after other physiological and/or pharmacological manipulations.
Cesium dichromate, Cs2Cr2O7: heat capacity and thermodynamic properties from 5 to 350 K

Abstract The heat capacity of a sample of Cs 2 Cr 2 O 7 was determined in the temperature range 5 to 350 K by aneroid adiabatic calorimetry. The heat capacity at constant pressure C p o (298.15 K ), the entropy S o (298.15 K), the enthalpy increment { H o (298.15 K) − H o (0)}, and the function −{G o (298.15 K) − H o (0)} 298.15 K were found to be (231.54 ± 0.23) J K −1 mol −1 , (330.06 ± 0.33) J K −1 mol −1 , (44646 ± 45) J mol −1 , and (180.32 ± 0.18) J K −1 mol −1 , respectively. Non-isothermal peaks in the heat capacity, probably correlated with structural changes, were noted at (278 ± 1) K and (310 ± 1) K.
Relaying tapped substations for high-voltage faults

THE NEED for relaying a small-capacity substation tapped to a high-voltage transmission line for faults on the line is not a frequent occurrence. Most substations tapped to high-voltage transmission lines (Fig. 1) supply essentially passive or nonmotor loads and present no problem in case a fault occurs on the high-voltage transmission line. The need for special consideration of relaying at a tapped substation is encountered when a substation supplies power to a subtransmission or distribution system with considerable connected rotating machinery, and high-speed reclosing of circuit breakers is desired on the high-voltage transmission line. Typical examples of such substations are as follows: 1. A station supplying power to a low-voltage system with connected generation operating in parallel with the high-voltage transmission system, such as a municipality or a large industrial plant. 2. A station supplying power to large synchronous motors, as in an industrial or pumping plant. 3. A station supplying power to a low-voltage system where the load is predominantly small induction motors.
Methods for Measuring Mechanisms of Contention

A substantial intellectual movement has been growing in the social sciences around the adoption of mechanism- and process-based explanations as complements to variable-based explanations, or even as substitutes for them. But once we have recognized the validity and dignity of studying mechanisms and processes, what is the next step? Recently, both political scientists’ and sociologists’ discussions have begun to turn away from correlation to mechanism-based approaches to causation. But there is still a widespread assumption that mechanisms are unobservable. We maintain that ways can be developed to observe the presence or absence of mechanisms either directly or indirectly. In this paper, by way of example, we put forward four methods—two direct and two indirect—for measuring mechanisms of contention.
Photochemical treatment of platelet concentrates with amotosalen hydrochloride and ultraviolet A light inactivates free and latent cytomegalovirus in a murine transfusion model.

BACKGROUND: A photochemical treatment (PCT) process utilizing amotosalen hydrochloride and long wavelength UVA light has been developed to inactivate pathogens in PLTs. This study investigated the effects of amotosalen/UVA treatment on free and latent murine CMV (MCMV) in PLT preparations using a murine model of transfusion-transmitted CMV (TT-CMV). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In a model of latent MCMV infection, “donor” mice received 1 × 106 plaque-forming units (PFUs) MCMV and were rested 14 days. Subsequently harvested, pooled, and washed WBCs were PCR positive for MCMV. Murine WBC doses of 1 × 104, 1 × 105, and 1 × 106 were added to human apheresis PLTs in 35 percent autologous plasma and 65 percent PLT AS (PAS). The WBC-PLT products were treated with 150 µmol/L amotosalen and 0.6 J per cm2 UVA and transfused via tail vein injection into recipient mice. Recipients were killed on Day 14. Blood and spleens were collected and assayed for MCMV by PCR. In a parallel model of active infection with free virus, human PLT in 35 percent autologous plasma and 65 percent PAS were dosed with 1 × 105 and 1 × 106 PFUs of MCMV. All other procedures were as described above. RESULTS: In the absence of amotosalen/UVA-pretreatment, transfusion of PLT latently or actively infected with MCMV produced TT-CMV in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, all transfusion recipients of identical PLT preparations pretreated with amotosalen/UVA were uniformly PCR negative for MCMV (abrogation of TT-CMV; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PCT of PLT preparations with the specified doses of amotosalen hydrochloride and UVA light prevents transfusion transmission of free and latent MCMV in a murine model. These results suggest that PCT of human PLTs with amotosalen/UVA should also effectively abrogate TT-CMV in the clinical setting.
Grammatical Morpheme Production in 4-Year-Old Children.

Despite the importance of grammatical morpheme (GM) production for both clinical decision-making and theoretical accounts of child language impairment, evidence concerning developmental expectation...
BIORTHOGONAL MULTIWAVELETS RELATED BY DIFFERENTIATION

We provide a procedure for constructing biorthogonal multiwavelets from a family of biorthogonal multiscaling functions compactly supported on [-1,1]. The scaling vectors and the associated multiwavelets are piecewise continuously differentiable, symmetrical and possess approximation order three. The construction of scaling vectors is accomplished using quadratic fractal interpolation functions. The filters corresponding to scaling vectors possess certain properties which enable us to construct a new pair of biorthogonal scaling vectors and associated multiwavelets with different regularity and approximation order, related to the old ones by differentiation. The old and new biorthogonal multiwavelet systems give rise to compactly supported biorthogonal multiwavelet basis for the space of divergence-free vector fields on the upper half plane with the Navier boundary condition.
Animal-Assisted Prolonged Exposure: A Treatment for Survivors of Sexual Assault Suffering Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This paper proposes the development of a new model of treatment for survivors of sexual abuse suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Foa, Rothbaum, Riggs, and Murdock (1991) and Foa, Rothbaum, and Furr (2003) support Prolonged Exposure (PE) as a highly effective treatment for PTSD. However, PE can be intimidating to survivors, contributing to hesitancy to participate in the treatment. This paper posits that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) will decrease anxiety, lower physiological arousal, enhance the therapeutic alliance, and promote social lubrication. The paper also posits that AAT will enhance the value of PE by making it more accessible to survivors, increasing social interaction, and perhaps decreasing the number of sessions required for habituation to the traumatic memories.
Laser Studies of Metal Cluster Beams

Recent developments in laser and molecular beam technology have now made it possible to produce supersonic beams of virtually any element in the periodic table. Using laser vaporization of the appropriate target, the beam source conditions may be adjusted to produce either the cold free atoms alone, or clusters of these atoms with each other—or with another element. Since the vaporization laser heats only a small spot on the target, extremely high local temperatures can be obtained without heating any other part of the apparatus; and beams of even the highest boiling element (tungsten) are readily obtained both in atomic and cluster form. The physics and chemistry of these exotic cluster species is almost completely unknown on the fundamental level. Even for clusters containing 100 atoms, most of these atoms lie on the surface, and the chemical and physical properties will be predominately surface phenomena. Initial studies of these clusters have entailed the use of one- and two- photon laser ionization with time-of-flight mass selective detection. Using a variety of fixed frequency lasers, the work function of copper clusters has been examined as a function of cluster size in the range from 2 to 29 atoms per cluster. Considerable detailed information has also been obtained for the electronic structure and bond lengths of a number of transition metal dimers and trimers (including Cu2, Cr2, V2, Mo2, and Cu3) through the use of high resolution laser spectroscopy with mass-selective photoionization detection.
Saliva Protein Binding to Streptococcal Layers Placed at Different Oral Sites in 48 Persons

Preliminary studies of 10 subjects suggested that saliva protein binding to oral bacteria might vary among oral sites. This study investigated saliva protein binding to layers of oral streptococci in an expanded sample of 48 subjects. Those persons were at opposite extremes for unstimulated whole saliva amylase, sIgA, lactoferrin, and lysozyme in an initial screening of 128 individuals. Layers of Streptococcus gordonii Blackburn or Streptococcus oralis 10557 on enamel chips were placed on buccal left and right upper premolars and molars (UL, UR), labial upper central incisors (UC), and lingual lower central incisors (LL). After a 10-minute exposure to saliva, bacterial extracts were assayed for bound amylase, sIgA, lactoferrin, and lysozyme. Those proteins also were quantified in unstimulated whole saliva collected after chip exposure. Both strains bound significantly more amylase at UL and UR, and significantly less at UC. Blackburn bound more amylase than 10557 at all sites. Significantly less sIgA was bound at UC; strain differences for sIgA were inconsistent across sites. Significantly more lactoferrin and lysozyme were bound at LL. There were no strain differences for lactoferrin; 10557 bound significantly more lysozyme at UL and UR. Subjects at opposite extremes for saliva protein concentrations differed for bound amylase and lactoferrin; those differences were smaller than site and strain differences. Bound protein levels were correlated across sites and strains. Correlations between whole saliva and bound proteins were moderate and were most consistent at LL. These findings suggest that saliva protein effects on oral ecology may vary among oral sites.
XANES/EXAFS STUDY OF THE COPPER ACTIVE SITE IN METHANOL SYNTHESIS CATALYST

We have used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the electronic and geometric structure of the copper active site in methanol synthesis catalysts. Compared to the edge and FT of the EXAFS data of CuO, the data suggest that most of the Cu(II) in the calcined form does not have the same ligation as in the CuO lattice and more importantly that some of the Cu is dissolved in the ZnO lattice. For the reduced sample, the edge shifts to lower energy after reduction, indicating the presence of either Cu(I) or Cu(0). The EXAFS data analyses of reduced catalysts show the presence of copper clusters. Reaction with H2S is shown to decompose the Cu clusters in the reduced catalyst and the level of Cu cluster decomposition increases with further reaction at higher temperature and longer time period.
Slab delivery of incoherent pump light to double-clad fiber amplifiers: numerical simulations

Compact fiber amplifiers with tapered slab delivery of the pump are analyzed numerically. A procedure for the selection of the structural parameters of this device is presented together with a simple asymptotic estimate for the efficiency. Simulations based on the scalar paraxial beam propagation equation demonstrate the validity of this estimate.
Patient selection for mechanical bridging to transplantation

Background. Patients with advanced heart failure often cannot undergo cardiac transplantation soon enough to prevent fatal hemodynamic deterioration or sudden death. The approach to these patients includes tailoring of medical therapy with vasodilators and diuretics, which allows stabilization of 60% to 80% of potential candidates. Current criteria for mechanical support before transplantation currently focus on the identification of hospitalized patients with at least 30% chance of death before transplantation. The much larger question relates to the potential use of mechanical support to bridge ambulatory patients, who represent 90% to 95% of the transplant waiting list, with waiting times frequently exceeding 2 years. Methods. From 1988 to 1993, 265 potential candidates were discharged after evaluation for transplantation with New York Heart Association class IV status and left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.25 or less. Patients were analyzed for clinical hemodynamic and echocardiographic profiles that would identify ambulatory patients unlikely to survive without urgent transplantation. Results. After tailored medical therapy, presenting hemodynamic parameters are not useful for predicting 2-year survival without urgent transplantation, which was 45% at 2 years. Left ventricular diastolic dimension of 80 mm or greater was associated with only 29% two-year survival without urgent transplantation. Serum sodium level less than 132 mEq/L predicted 35% two-year survival without urgent transplantation. Peak oxygen consumption less than 10 mL · kg −1 · min −1 identified poor outcome but was often not measured in patients with resting symptoms. Conclusions Although definition of indications for urgent bridging requires complex clinical assessment based on immediate risk, it should be possible to identify a larger ambulatory population for whom improved devices will offer extended survival without transplantation.