cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The transcriptional trajectories of pluripotency and differentiation comprise genes with antithetical architecture and repetitive-element content.

Extensive molecular differences exist between proliferative and differentiated cells. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of publicly available transcriptomic datasets from preimplantation and differentiation stages examining the architectural properties and content of genes whose abundance changes significantly across developmental time points. Analysis of preimplantation embryos from human and mouse showed that short genes whose introns are enriched in Alu (human) and B (mouse) elements, respectively, have higher abundance in the blastocyst compared to the zygote. These highly expressed genes encode ribosomal proteins or metabolic enzymes. On the other hand, long genes whose introns are depleted in repetitive elements have lower abundance in the blastocyst and include genes from signaling pathways. Additionally, the sequences of the genes that are differentially expressed between the blastocyst and the zygote contain distinct collections of pyknon motifs that differ between up- and down-regulated genes. Further examination of the genes that participate in the stem cell-specific protein interaction network shows that their introns are short and enriched in Alu (human) and B (mouse) elements. As organogenesis progresses, in both human and mouse, we find that the primarily short and repeat-rich expressed genes make way for primarily longer, repeat-poor genes. With that in mind, we used a machine learning-based approach to identify gene signatures able to classify human adult tissues: we find that the most discriminatory genes comprising these signatures have long introns that are repeat-poor and include transcription factors and signaling-cascade genes. The introns of widely expressed genes across human tissues, on the other hand, are short and repeat-rich, and coincide with those with the highest expression at the blastocyst stage. Protein-coding genes that are characteristic of each trajectory, i.e., proliferation/pluripotency or differentiation, exhibit antithetical biases in their intronic and exonic lengths and in their repetitive-element content. While the respective human and mouse gene signatures are functionally and evolutionarily conserved, their introns and exons are enriched or depleted in organism-specific repetitive elements. We posit that these organism-specific repetitive sequences found in exons and introns are used to effect the corresponding genes’ regulation.
Neuro-SWARM³: System-on-a-Nanoparticle for Wireless Recording of Brain Activity

A fundamental limitation of the implantable brain-machine interfaces (BMI) is the wiring requirements for power transfer and signal transmission. Existing microelectrode technologies can only record from localized sections of the brain and require implantation of invasive electrodes through cranial surgeries. Here, we introduce a system-on-a-nanoparticle probe, a Neurophotonic Solution-dispersible Wireless Activity Reporter for Massively Multiplexed Measurements (Neuro-SWARM3), enabling remote detection of in vivo bioelectric signals. Neuro-SWARM3 offers five fundamental advancements simultaneously: (1) it enables use of infrared light within the biologically transparent near infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) window for direct read-out through the skull, (2) it circumvents invasive surgical operations since no wiring or power supply is needed for the wireless (electro-plasmonic) excitation and remote detection, (3) due to its diminutive dimensions ( in vivo measurements that are not restricted by electrode dimensions, physical wiring, and electronic bandwidth limitations, (5) by being much smaller than the critical dimensions that trigger glial cell response ( $\sim 12~\mu \text{m}$ ), it offers a long term operation capability. As we show below, NeuroSWARM3 provides high signal to shot noise ratio (SSNR $\sim 10^{3}$ ) wireless recording capability from single neurons due to its enhanced scattering cross-section ( $\sim 10^{4}$ nm $^{2}$ ) and field-sensitivity (up to ~40%).
Understanding spike-triggered covariance using Wiener theory for receptive field identification

Receptive field identification is a vital problem in sensory neurophysiology and vision. Much research has been done in identifying the receptive fields of nonlinear neurons whose firing rate is determined by the nonlinear interactions of a small number of linear filters. Despite more advanced methods that have been proposed, spike-triggered covariance (STC) continues to be the most widely used method in such situations due to its simplicity and intuitiveness. Although the connection between STC and Wiener/Volterra kernels has often been mentioned in the literature, this relationship has never been explicitly derived. Here we derive this relationship and show that the STC matrix is actually a modified version of the second-order Wiener kernel, which incorporates the input autocorrelation and mixes first- and second-order dynamics. It is then shown how, with little modification of the STC method, the Wiener kernels may be obtained and, from them, the principal dynamic modes, a set of compact and efficient linear filters that essentially combine the spike-triggered average and STC matrix and generalize to systems with both continuous and point-process outputs. Finally, using Wiener theory, we show how these obtained filters may be corrected when they were estimated using correlated inputs. Our correction technique is shown to be superior to those commonly used in the literature for both correlated Gaussian images and natural images.
An Efficient Partial Order Reduction Algorithm with an Alternative Proviso Implementation

This paper presents a partial order reduction algorithm called Twophase that generates a significantly reduced state space on a large class of practical protocols over alternative algorithms in its class. The reduced state-space generated by Twophase preserves all CTLa-X assertions. Twophase achieves this reduction by following an alternative implementation of the proviso step. In particular, Twophase avoids the in-stack check that other tools use in order to realize the proviso step. In this paper, we demonstrate that the in-stack check is inefficient in practice, and demonstrate a much simpler alternative method of realizing the proviso. Twophase can be easily combined with an on-the-fly model-checking algorithm to reduce memory requirements further. A simple but powerful selective caching scheme can also be easily added to Twophase. A version of Twophase using on-the-fly model-checking and selective caching has been implemented in a model-checker called PV (Protocol Verifier) and is in routine use on large problems. PV accepts a proper subset of Promela and a never automaton expressing the LTL-X assertion to be verified. PV has helped us complete full state-space search several orders of magnitude faster than all alternative tools available in its class on dozens of real protocols. PV has helped us detect bugs in real Distributed Shared Memory cache coherency protocols that were missed during incomplete search using alternate tools.
Patterns of circulating serotonin and related metabolites in multiparous dairy cows in the peripartum period.

Dairy cows are challenged to maintain Ca and glucose homeostasis during the transition period. Serotonin (5-HT) is a monoamine that modulates Ca and glucose homeostasis in rodents. Serotonin is positively correlated with Ca and glucose status in dairy cows on d 1 of lactation. However, the pattern of circulating concentrations of 5-HT over the course of a 305-d lactation is unknown. In this observational, longitudinal study, we examined the metabolite patterns of 5-HT, Ca, glucose, parathyroid hormone-related protein, and β-hydroxybutyrate on 2 commercial dairy farms in south-central Wisconsin. Cows sampled on farm 1 were multiparous Jersey cows (n = 30) that calved within a 23-d period; cows on farm 2 were multiparous Holstein cows (n = 35) that calved within a 20-d period. Blood samples were collected daily between d −5 and d 10 relative to parturition and on d 30, 60, 90, 150, and 300 of lactation. Farms 1 and 2 were analyzed individually because of the presence of a farm effect in the initial analysis; a time effect was present on both farms. Concentrations of 5-HT decreased near parturition compared with prepartum by 57.9 and 29.5% on farm 1 and 2, respectively. Transition period 5-HT nadirs were observed on d 1 on farm 1, and on d 1 and 9 on farm 2. Serotonin recovered to prepartum concentrations by d 5 on farm 1. On farm 2, 5-HT recovered to prepartum concentrations by d 4, with a subsequent decrease of 34.6% on d 9 to a level similar to that observed on d 1. Furthermore, 5-HT increased markedly in cows on both farms near peak lactation (d 60, 90, and 150) and decreased on d 300. Compared with prepartum concentrations, Ca decreased by 34.2 and 11.2% on farms 1 and 2, respectively. Circulating total Ca nadir was observed on d 1 on both farms. Circulating 5-HT and circulating Ca were positively correlated during the early lactation period (d 1 to 5 and d 6 to 10) on farm 1 (r = 0.31 and r = 0.22, respectively) and d 6 to 10 on farm 2 (r = 0.16). Circulating 5-HT and glucose were negatively correlated during the early lactation period (d 1 to 5) on farm 1 (r = −0.21) and during mid-lactation (d 30 to 150) on farm 2 (r = −0.26). Milk 5-HT and milk total Ca were positively correlated on farm 2 (r = 0.34). These results demonstrate that 5-HT concentrations change dynamically throughout the transition period, with a pattern similar to that of total Ca concentrations. Further research using controlled experiments should be aimed at discerning the association between 5-HT and Ca and between 5-HT and glucose in dairy cows.
Enhancing interactive image segmentation with automatic label set augmentation

We address the problem of having insufficient labels in an interactive image segmentation framework, for which most current methods would fail without further user interaction. To minimize user interaction, we use the appearance and boundary information synergistically. Specifically, we perform distribution propagation on the image graph constructed with color features to derive an initial estimate of the segment labels. Following that, we include automatically estimated segment distributions at "critical pixels" with uncertain labels to improve the segmentation performance. Such estimation is realized by incorporating boundary information using a non-parametric Dirichlet process for modeling diffusion signatures derived from the salient boundaries. Our main contribution is fusion of image appearance with probabilistic modeling of boundary information to segment the whole-object with a limited number of labeled pixels. Our proposed framework is extensively tested on a standard dataset, and is shown to achieve promising results both quantitatively and qualitatively.
The gene encoding the small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated protein N is expressed at high levels in neurons.

Abstract The highly homologous small nuclear ribonucleoprotein-associated proteins of the Sm group, human N and B/B', are derived from distinct, but similar genes. While the almost identical structural organization of the genes for N and B/B' suggests that they emerged from a common ancestral gene via a duplication event, they now reside on different chromosomes. In contrast to B (which is expressed in all tissues examined) and B' (which is widely expressed with the notable exception of the brain), results from in situ hybridization experiments showed that N is found predominantly in central neurons. Analysis of the transcriptional activity of the 5'-flanking sequences of the human N-encoded gene suggests that the cell-specific expression of N is achieved by selective repression of transcription by distal 5'-flanking sequences.
Autonomy in automation: trends, technologies, tools

Summary Any but the most indomitable technophile today would, we expect, refuse to be a passenger in a pilotless airliner or have an uninhabited yet operational refinery in her neighborhood. But, regardless, the trend toward reducing human involvement in the operation of complex engineering systems, driven as it is by considerations of economics, performance, and safety, appears inexorable. Further substantial improvement in process automation, however, will require more than evolutionary technological advances. Our focus in this paper has been on autonomy, a property absent in today's automation systems. In order to satisfy the demands of industry and society, we will need to make our automation solutions autonomous—they will need to be able to respond appropriately to unforeseen situations, not just limited to precompiled behaviors. We have noted two research directions that are central for engineering autonomy. First, diverse representations of knowledge—of process dynamics, failure modes, the environment, and other factors—will be needed and will need to be integrated so that unanticipated situations can be explicitly reasoned about. Models are widely recognized as principal determiners of control system performance; we must broaden our attention now to multimodels. Second, dynamic resource management technology must be developed to allow multiple, competing, heterogeneous computational tasks to execute on real-time platforms under hard and soft deadlines and resource constraints. The full space of relative priorities that could be faced by an autonomous system cannot be predicted; tradeoffs among resource allocations for different tasks will need to be made online and adaptively, not through static scheduling. Engineering autonomy will require maturing concepts into tools. Tools that can truly enable multimodeling and dynamic resource management are unavailable today. A key, general differentiating attribute that distinguishes the tools that are needed from those that are currently in use is the level of integration. Whether it is models of different subsystems, or knowledge from disparate sources, or performance and resource usage aspects of computational tasks, tools for autonomous systems will require integration of diverse phenomena, features, and representations. Finally, we suspect that our pursuit of autonomy in automation and control will bring the topic of consciousness—at least in the limited sense of an agent's awareness of its environment and context and its deliberative adaptation of its information processing priorities—into the foreground of discussion.
The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival and Complications in Horses with Pleuropneumonia (2002-2012): 74 Cases.

Background Fibrinous parapneumonic pleural effusions are associated with decreased efficacy of pleural fluid drainage and increased risk of medical treatment failure in people, but similar associations have not been established in horses. Hypothesis/Objectives We hypothesized that fibrin deposition in the pleural cavity of horses with parapneumonic effusions increases the risk of poor outcome. Animals Seventy four horses with bacterial pleuropneumonia diagnosed by culture and cytology of tracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or both, and pleural effusion diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination. Methods Retrospective study of cases was from 2002 to 2012. Information obtained from the medical records included signalment, history, sonographic findings, treatments, and outcome. The primary outcome investigated was survival and secondary outcomes were development of complications and surgical intervention. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were applied for categorical variables. A t-test was used to find differences in continuous variables between groups. Results Seventy four horses met study criteria and 50 (68%) survived. Fibrinous pleural effusion was associated with higher respiratory rate and pleural fluid height at admission, necrotizing pneumonia, increased number of indwelling thoracic drains required for treatment, and decreased survival. Conclusions and clinical importance Fibrin accumulation in parapneumonic effusions is associated with increased mortality. Direct fibrinolytic treatment might be indicated in affected horses.
Laparoscopy has a superior diagnostic yield than percutaneous image-guided biopsy for suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma.

To date, no study has compared laparoscopy (LB) to percutaneous (PB) biopsy for the diagnosis of abdominal lymphoma. The objective of this study is to compare the success rate and safety profile of laparoscopic lymph node biopsy to the percutaneous approach in patients with intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy concerning for lymphoma. We performed a multi-institution, retrospective review of patients undergoing lymph node biopsy for suspected intra-abdominal lymphoma between 2005 and 2013. Our primary outcome was adequate tissue yield between the two techniques, both for histologic diagnosis and for ancillary studies such as flow cytometry. Secondary outcomes included 30-day morbidity, 30-day readmission rates, the need for additional lymph node biopsy procedures, and length of stay. All 34 of the LB patients had adequate specimen for histologic diagnosis compared to 92.3 % of patients with a PB (p = 0.18). Significantly more patients in the LB group had sufficient tissue for ancillary studies when needed than in the PB group, 95.5 and 68.2 %, respectively (p = 0.04). A second biopsy was pursued in 23.1 % of failed PB patients, 0 % with success on second attempt. When index of suspicion is high or when biopsy is performed for patient previously diagnosed with lymphoma and recurrence/transformation is suspected, LB safely and consistently provides adequate tissue for initial diagnosis and for ancillary studies. In contrast, image-guided PB may be more appropriate for patients for whom ancillary studies are unlikely to add to planned treatments or when there is a high risk of complications from either general anesthesia or patient comorbidities.
Aedes aegypti TMOF modulates ecdysteroid production by prothoracic glands of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar.

Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF) is a decapeptide that inhibits the biosynthesis of trypsin-like enzymes in the midgut of several insect species and, as such, serves as a dipteran oostatic hormone. In vitro incubation of lepidopteran prothoracic glands with Aedes aegypti TMOF revealed that this decapeptide, in the presence of brain extract, modulates ecdysteroid production. The modulatory effect was highly dependent on both the concentration of TMOF and brain extract. Typically, TMOF was stimulatory in the presence of lower concentrations of Lymantria dispar brain extract (0.01 and 0.025 brain equivalent), and either neutral or inhibitory at higher concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 brain equivalent) of extract. In the presence of European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) brain extract, TMOF also exhibited modulatory effects, effects that again were dependent on the concentrations of both brain extract and TMOF present in the incubation medium. At 1.5 brain equivalents, TMOF was inhibitory at all but the highest concentration tested (5×;10–6 M), at 1.0 brain equivalent, TMOF was stimulatory at 10–6 M and at 0.5 brain equivalents, TMOF did not significantly affect PTG synthesis of ecdysteroids. Results suggest the presence of a modulatory peptide(s), which fine tunes the synthesis and release of ecdysteroids by PTGs in accordance with the insect’s developmental/physiological requirements. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 45:60–68, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Expression and Secretion of TNF-α in Mouse Taste Buds: A Novel Function of a Specific Subset of Type II Taste Cells

Taste buds are chemosensory structures widely distributed on the surface of the oral cavity and larynx. Taste cells, exposed to the oral environment, face great challenges in defense against potential pathogens. While immune cells, such as T-cells and macrophages, are rarely found in taste buds, high levels of expression of some immune-response-associated molecules are observed in taste buds. Yet, the cellular origins of these immune molecules such as cytokines in taste buds remain to be determined. Here, we show that a specific subset of taste cells selectively expresses high levels of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Based on immuno-colocalization experiments using taste-cell-type markers, the TNF-α-producing cells are predominantly type II taste cells expressing the taste receptor T1R3. These cells can rapidly increase TNF-α production and secretion upon inflammatory challenges, both in vivo and in vitro. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-α expression in taste cells was completely eliminated in TLR2−/−/TLR4−/− double-gene-knockout mice, which confirms that the induction of TNF-α in taste buds by LPS is mediated through TLR signaling pathways. The taste-cell-produced TNF-α may contribute to local immune surveillance, as well as regulate taste sensation under normal and pathological conditions.
Short-Term Prospective Effects of Homophobic Victimization on the Mental Health of Heterosexual Adolescents

Many heterosexual youth report homophobic victimization but there is little longitudinal research to examine its mental health consequences for them. In a 7-month study across an academic school year among 572 heterosexual high school students (55 % females), we tested the short-term effects of homophobic victimization on anxiety and depressive symptoms with attention to gender differences. Homophobic victimization at the beginning of the school year predicted higher levels of concurrent anxiety over and above levels attributable to general victimization. Further, when controlling for initial anxiety and general victimization, homophobic victimization at the beginning of the school year predicted increased anxiety at the end of the school year for males, but not for females. Homophobic victimization across time points was more strongly associated for males than females, and this accounted for why initial homophobic victimization predicted increased anxiety for males but not females (i.e., it was indicative of mediated moderation). In contrast, homophobic victimization at the beginning of the school year did not predict concurrent depressive symptoms over and above general victimization. Similarly, although it predicted increased depressive symptoms at the end of the school year for males but not for females, the effect was weaker than for anxiety. These findings underscore that the effects of homophobic victimization are not temporary, particularly as they pertain to anxiety, and underscore the need to consider the nature of the victimization that youth experience, including for heterosexual youth.
Up-regulation of spinal glutamate transporters contributes to anti-hypersensitive effects of valproate in rats after peripheral nerve injury

Valproate produces analgesia in animals and humans, however, its mechanisms of action are yet unknown. The present study examined effects of repeated administration of valproate on behavioral hypersensitivity and expression of glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) and glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) in the spinal dorsal horn in rats after L5-L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL). SNL significantly reduced mechanical withdrawal threshold and expression of GLT-1 and GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn. Repeated oral administration of valproate reduced hypersensitivity, restored down-regulated expression of GLT-1 and GLAST in the spinal dorsal horn, and enhanced analgesia from the glutamate transporter activator riluzole. This analgesia from valproate was blocked by the selective GLT-1 blocker dihydrokainic acid (DHK). These data suggest that valproate restores down-regulated expression of glutamate transporters in the spinal cord to presumably reduce glutamate signaling and to reduce hypersensitivity after nerve injury, and that combination of valproate with riluzole produces enhanced analgesia which relies on the spinal glutamate transporters.
The Limits of Economic Expertise: Prophets, Engineers, and the State in the History of Development Economics

What role is there for government in promoting the economic well-being of citizens within its national boundaries? This question has vexed social philosophers for centuries. If we assume that political authority derives its legitimacy in part from the satisfaction it affords its subjects, then it follows that a “good” government will adopt policies that will enhance the economic well-being of its citizens. What exactly those policies are has been one of the main subjects of controversy in economics since its founding. Some have contended that the role of government is to be at best a referee, whereas other economists have argued the government must actively participate in the economic game. We identify two theoretical tensions that exist in this debate. First, fromAdam Smith onward a large part of the teachings of economics has stressed the mutually beneficial aspects of trade. But for the gains from exchange to be had, some level of coercion is postulated by the economist to ensure the provision of the basic framework of property and contract. Without the government providing the legal infrastructure, mutual gains from exchange will go unrealized. To fund government provision of this framework and to empower government to enforce this framework, the presumption toward voluntarismmust be suspended. How precisely to negotiate this divide is something that economics and political economy wrestles with to this day.
PD06-03: Cost Effectiveness Analysis of BRCA1/2 Genetic Testing.

Background: Family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer is associated with an increased risk to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutationmutations which significantly increase a woman9s risk to develop breast and/or ovarian cancer. This study examines whether BRCA1/2 genetic testing (intervention) remains cost-effective compared to no genetic testing strategy (control) from the societal and private payer perspectives given updates in healthcare practice, policy and clinical specificity of testing in the last 10 years. Data and method: We updated a previous published semi-Markov model (Holland et al., Value in Health, 2009. 12(2): p. 207) to include new information about associated costs and treatment strategies and test specificity. The target population is 35 year old asymptomatic US women with an elevated risk of BRCA1/2 genetic mutation. The estimates of probability (prevalence, risk, preference and mortality), cost, and utility are derived from published reports and BRCA1/2 test technical documentation. We conducted the basecase cost-utility analysis and a series of sensitivity analyses by varying pretest probability of BRCA1/2 mutation, clinical sensitivity of BRCA1/2 testing, initial utility after BC diagnosis and patient preference in the first year after mastectomy, cost of BRCA1/2 testing, and out-of-pocket costs. Results: From the societal perspective, the “no test” strategy was estimated to cost $162K and resulted in 20.2 QALY gain over a patient9s lifetime. The “test” strategy was estimated to cost $172K and result in 20.5 QALY gain, resulting in the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $30.6K/QALY. From a private payer perspective, the ICER was $36.8K/QALY. By conducting sensitivity analyses, we concluded that the model was robust to variation in the model parameters. Within the ranges of most variable estimates, the test strategy was more cost effective compared to the no-test strategy. The initial utility after BC diagnosis (basecase value 0.75) does not impact the choice of preferred strategy (testing is always preferred). Based on the probability of mutation for women with family history (basecase value 8.7%), testing is preferred if probability is greater than 3.1%, while no testing is preferred for values Discussion: The strategy of BRCA1/2 testing of women at high risk for BRCA1/2 mutations and treatment of BRCA1/2 positive women is cost-effective compared to “no genetic testing” strategy. Cost of the actual test is not a barrier to its cost-effectiveness. Despite adding MRI to breast cancer surveillance in high risk population and increases in healthcare costs, BRCA1/2 testing remains cost-effective from both the societal and from a private payer perspectives for an unaffected population with BRCA1/2 prevalence of greater than 3%. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD06-03.
A Generic, Transient Model of a Turbocharged, Multi-Cylinder, Common-Rail Diesel Engine

The paper presents a generic model of a turbocharged, common rail diesel engine developed on a SIMULINK platform. The model is developed for the main task of predicting transient behavior of the turbocharged engine, especially acceleration under load. In order to reduce computer time, the model is zero-dimensional as far as combustion is concerned, but split injection is considered to simulate the main characteristic of modern common rail diesel engines. A simplified generic model of the turbocharger is developed such as to determine the effects of different design parameters on the acceleration of the engine. A detailed dynamic model of the engine is considered to allow estimating the torsional behavior of the crankshaft and evaluate the impact of torsional vibrations. The model is validated on a four-cylinder, 2.5 liter common-rail diesel engine and is further used to identify the fueling strategy and the design parameters that could be improved in order to obtain the best possible engine acceleration under different load conditions.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Some Estimation Theory on the Sphere

We consider distributions with densities of the formf(μ′x) andf(‖x v ‖) where μ andx are unit vectors inR q and ‖x v ‖ is the norm of the part ofx in somes dimensional subspaceV ofR q . For several loss functions, optimal Bayesian and Pitman estimators of μ andV are given. When uniform priors are used, these estimators are identical. Then the infinitesimal robustness characteristics of several special cases of these estimators are calculated.
Effect of Bound Hole Pairs on the d-Band Photoemission Spectrum of Ni

It is shown that the spectral density of the Ni $d$ electrons contains a peak due to excitations of bound hole pairs. The spectral density is observed directly in photoemission experiments which show a satellite peak below the bottom of the $d$ bands. The observed peak exhibits a strong resonance as a function of photon energy and this behavior is also explained by the present theory.
It's a small, small world: data collection strategies for research with children and adolescents.

This article describes methodological processes focusing on developmentally appropriate, creative data collection strategies for use with children and adolescents, illustrated from data-based research. The research reported includes adolescents' understanding of physical activity and engagement in designing a computerized questionnaire, adolescent decision making and consent to psychiatric treatment, social skills focus groups for children with behavioral disorders, and development of a longitudinal intervention study to improve the physiological–functional–psychosocial status of children with cystic fibrosis from three qualitative studies of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Use of developmentally appropriate strategies is critical for successful research, contributing to our understanding of the world of children and adolescents.
Partition function of long-ranged ferromagnet and of a long-ranged fully frustrated model

Abstract We examine the partition function of two long-ranged models; in the first, every spin interacts ferromagnetically with every other, and in the second, antiferromagnetically. We show how the zeros in the partition function in the first case, in the complex temperature plane, pinch in the real axis and determine the phase transition; and how in the second case, they avoid the real axis, preventing the occurrence of a phase transition.
Interaction Between Autonomic Tone and the Negative Chronotropic Effect of Adenosine in Humans

Prior studies have demonstrated that sympathetic tone may influence the effects of adenosine on His-Purkinje automaticity, and that enhanced vagal tone may influence its effects on the sinus node. However, the interaction between autonomic tone and the effects of adenosine on the sinus node in humans remains unknown. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the interaction between different states of autonomic tone and the bradycardiac response of the sinus node to adenosine. In 11 patients without structural heart disease who underwent a clinically indicated electrophysiology procedure, the sinus cycle length was measured before and after a 12-mg bolus of adenosine in the baseline state, during an infusion of 2 mcg/min of isoproterenol, after the administration of 0.2 mg/kg of propranolol, and again after the administration of 0.04 mg/kg of atropine. Adenosine significantly lengthened the sinus cycle length in the baseline state (760 +/- 165 vs 909 +/- 188 ms, P < 0.05), during isoproterenol infusion (516 +/- 67 vs 766 +/- 146 ms, P < 0.05), after propranolol (850 +/- 153 vs 914 +/- 143 ms, P < 0.05) and after the combination of propranolol and atropine (662 +/- 76 vs 801 +/- 121 ms, P < 0.05). The degree of lengthening in sinus cycle length was significantly greater (P < 0.05) during isoproterenol infusion (253 +/- 157 ms, or 51% +/- 40%) than in the baseline state (149 +/- 85 ms, or 20% +/- 12%), after propranolol (68 +/- 53 ms, or 8% +/- 8%), and after propranolol and atropine (140 +/- 110 ms, or 21% +/- 18%). The negative chronotropic effect of adenosine is influenced by autonomic tone. The effect of adenosine on the sinus node is accentuated by beta-adrenergic stimulation and unaffected by beta-adrenergic blockade or combined beta-adrenergic and cholinergic blockade.
Up-regulation of high-affinity neurotrophin receptor, trk B-like protein on Western blots of rat cortex after chronic ethanol treatment

We previously reported that the total neurotrophic activity of hippocampal extracts was significantly (25–50%) reduced after 21–28 weeks of chronic ethanol treatment (CET) [23]. To test whether the level of a neurotrophic factor (i.e., ligand itself) is compromised, we measured nerve growth factor (NGF) protein and NGF mRNA contents using ELISA and Northern analysis. We reported that CET did not appear to reduce NGF protein, NGF mRNA or total neurotrophic activity when measured on sympathetic ganglia neurons [4]. We also observed that both NT-3 mRNA and bFGF mRNA levels were unaffected, but the BDNF mRNA level was significantly reduced in CET rat hippocampus [18]. Neuronal degeneration and reduction of total neurotrophic activity after CET appear to be induced, at least partially, by compromised transcription of BDNF gene. CET may also induce functional changes in receptors for the neurotrophic factors. To investigate possible changes in neurotrophic factor-receptors, we examined Western blots (immunoblots) of rat cortex after 28 weeks of CET. After sonication and ultra-centrifugation, the supernatant of crude lysates of the cortex from individual animals was subjected to SDS-PAGE, electrotransfered to nitrocellulose membrane, incubated with anti-trk B antibody and secondary antibody conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, and reacted with chemiluminescent substrate. The membranes were then exposed to Kodak XAR film. Compared to controls (n = 6), CET rats (n = 6) appeared to have significantly higher band intensity (P < 0.01) of trk B-like protein at about 145 kDa, which suggests an up-regulation of trk B-like proteins to compensate the compromised level of certain subset (i.e., BDNF or NT-4/5, but not NGF) of neurotrophins in cortex.
Solar storage systems using salt hydrate latent heat and direct contact heat exchange—III. Operating characteristics of a sodium sulphate-sodium phosphate mixture

Resultats d'etude des caracteristiques de fonctionnement d'un accumulateur de chaleur pilote utilisant soit Na 2 SO 4 .12H 2 O soit un melange de Na 2 SO 4 et Na 2 HPO 4
Rapid, high yield, directed addition of quantum dots onto surface bound linear DNA origami arrays.

We have developed an approach, which routinely generates ∼10 micron long one dimensional (1D) arrays of DNA origami. Coupled with a sequential assembly method with a very short (∼1 min) reaction time, this extended platform enables the production, in high yield, of 1D arrays of biomolecules or conjugates.
The nature of exocytosis in the yolk trophoblastic layer of silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) juvenile, the representative of ancient teleost fishes.

We have chosen the silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), a representative of the most ancient teleost family Osteoglossidae, to address the question of yolk nutrients utilization. Silver arowana have particularly large eggs (1–1.5 cm of diameter) and a unique morphology of the yolk. We present evidence that the yolk cytoplasmic zone (ycz) in the “yolksac juveniles” is a very complex structure involved in sequential processes of yolk hydrolysis, lipoprotein particles synthesis, their transport, and exocytosis. Vacuoles filled with yolk granules in different stages of digestion move from the vitellolysis zone through the ycz to be emptied into the microvillar interspace in the process of exocytosis. The area of the ycz with the abundance of the mitochondria must play an important role in providing energy for both the transport of vacuoles and the release of their contents. Therefore, we postulate that the function of yolk syncytial layer (ysl) as the “early embryonic patterning center” transforms in fish larvae or yolksac juveniles into a predominantly specialized role as the yolk trophoblastic layer (ytl) involved in yolk nutrients utilization. In addition to discovering the mechanism of transformation of the ysl function into ytl function, we suggest that the machinery involved in nutrient mobilization and exocytosis in yolk of arowana yolksac juveniles can be very attractive system for studies of regulatory processes in almost all secretory pathways in animal cells. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Emergency Departments, Medicaid Costs, and Access to Primary Care — Understanding the Link

Many state governments are seeking ways to cut Medicaid spending. Washington State has proposed to reduce beneficiaries' overuse of emergency departments by refusing to pay for “unnecessary” visits. However, primary care is often unavailable to these patients.
Web-based simulation: some personal observations

The web has a short history, but has grown at an exponential pace since its introduction six years ago. Web-based simulation represents the connection between the web and the field of simulation. Web based simulation is not an existing field but rather an idea which represents an interest on the part of simulationists to exploit web technology. To further this cause, I present some issues and concepts in web based simulation to serve as a back drop for a more formal discussion, and potentially the formation of a new simulation sub-area.
Direct synthesis of 3-fluoro-α-fluoromethyl-p-tyrosine

Abstract 3-Fluoro-α-fluoromethyl-p-tyrosine was synthesized directly by the reaction of acetyl hypofluorite with α-fluoromethyl- p-tyrosine. α-Fluoromethyl-p-tyrosine was prepared by a four-step reaction while acetyl hypofluorite was prepared from elemental fluorine. Products were characterized by mass spectrometry, multinuclear (1H, 13C and 19F) NMR spectroscopy and HPLC. 3-[18F]-Fluoro-α-fluoromethyl-p-tyrosine, a potential imaging agent for dopamine neurons, was subsequently prepared from cyclotron-produced [18F]acetyl hypofluorite with an average radiochemical yield of 19.3 ± 1.7%.
Fractionation of starch dextrins on sephadex

Abstract Partial resolution of a number of starch dextrins on Sephadex columns was achieved. The dextrins examined were Naegeli amylodextrin, an α-amylase digest of amylose and soluble starch. Resolution according to molecular size was demonstrated in these systems by iodine-staining power and by paper chromatography. Amylodextrin could be completely separated from amylose. The partially hydrolyzed amylose was separated into blue and red iodine-staining zones, and into oligosaccharides.
New synthetic routes for the preparation of the triangular trinuclear clusters of tungsten-containing bromine atoms as terminal ligands: Structural characterization of [W 3 S 4 Br 3 (depe) 3 ]PF 6 ·0.5C 7 H 8 and [W 3 S 4 Br 3 (depe) 3 ]Br·2CH 3 OH

Synthetic methods are reported for the preparation of compounds containing the trinuclear triangular cluster [W3S4Br3(depe)3[+. These involve reactions between WBr5 and NaB(C2 H5)3H or NaBH4 as reducing agent in THF, and subsequent addition of methanolic solutions of NaHS and depe ligand. Both compounds, [W3S3Br3(depe)3]PF6·0.5C7H8,1, and [W3S4Br3(depe)3]Br·2CH3OH,2, are characterized by x-ray single crystal studies. Compounds1 and2 crystallize in space group $$P\bar 1$$ . For1,a=10.427 (3) A,b=15.415(4) A,c=18.140(5) A, α=79.36(2)°, β=73.59(2)°, γ=81.54(2)°, andV=2734.8(2) A3;R=0.050 and for 2a=10.491(3) A,b=15.074(3) A,c=18.246 A, α=95.76(2)°, β=105.82(2)°, γ=98.18(2)°, andV=2718.4(3) A3;R=0.081. The two cations in1 and2 possess C3 symmetry. The W-W distances are in the range 2.783−2.891 A (for1) and 2.778−2.785 A (for2) and the average W-Br distances in1 and2 are 2.616[2] A and 2.594[4] A, respectively. Each metal atom in the [W3S4Br3(depe)3]+ ions is attached to one capping sulfur atom, two bridging sulfur atoms, one bromine atom, and one chelating depe ligand. One P atom in depe ligand istrans to μ3-S and the otherP atom istrans to a μ2-S atom. UV-Vis and NMR spectra for these compounds are also reported.
Spirituality, culture, and cancer care.

Objectives: To explore the inter-relatedness of culture and spirituality in the context of cancer caregiving and to provide suggestions for improving clinical practice. Data Sources: Research reports and theoretical and clinical papers from nursing and medicine. Conclusion: Understanding spiritual-cultural influences that affect responses to cancer are essential if a nurse is to provide effective care. Research has documented spiritual-cultural aspects of cancer prevention and screening, living and coping with cancer, and dying with cancer. This research suggests that African American and Hispanic cancer patients are more religious, recognize more spiritual needs, and benefit more from religious coping strategies, than do white Americans. Implications for Nursing Practice: Strategies proposed for increasing a nurse's effectiveness while caring for clients with diverse spiritual-cultural beliefs and behaviors include: increasing awareness of personal spiritual-cultural values and beliefs, gaining knowledge about diverse religious traditions, and negotiation with clients when values and beliefs that compromise care conflict.
Induction into Mate‐Swapping: A Review

The question of how and why people become involved in co-marital sexual mate-swapping is examined in the larger context of familial behavior. The literature on other areas of sexuality are tapped for possible explanations of the mate-swapper phenomenon.
Determination of nitrate in a pine bark substrate

Abstract An experiment was conducted to evaluate extraction methods for the determination of nitrate in a synthesized pine bark substrate. It was found that prior to nitrate determination, oven dryino of the pine bark sample was necessary followed by rewetting and extraction in a vacuum for 72 hours. Using this technique, about 65% of applied nitrate was recovered.
Heritabilities for Regression and Progression of Rous Sarcomas in the Chicken

Abstract Variance components for hatch, line, and sire expressed as percentages of the total variance for each parameter of regression and progression of Rous sarcomas in chickens were obtained. Some parameters measured specific stages of regression or progression, and other parameters measured the entire process of regression or progression of Rous sarcomas. Heritabilities of each parameter were estimated. Additive genetic variation is strongly implicated in the defense of the chicken against early tumor growth and during the entire process of regression. Environmental variation is important in influencing the point in time of tumor growth when the first reduction in size of tumor occurs. There is evidence of genetic variation exclusive of the R-Rs-1 gene locus that assists the chicken to resist tumor growth. The coefficient of variation for each of the parameters is very large as compared with the coefficient of variation for economic traits such as body weight at broiler age.
Visual analysis of the effects of load carriage on gait

As early as the 1970's it was determined that gait, or the "manner of walking" is an identifying feature of a human being. Since then, extensive research has been done in the field of computer vision to determine how accurately a subject can be identified by gait characteristics. This has necessarily led to the study of how various data collection conditions, such as terrain type, varying camera angles, or a carried briefcase, may affect the identifying features of gait. However, little or no research has been done to question whether such conditions may be inferred from gait analysis. For example, is it possible to determine characteristics of the walking surface simply by looking at statistics derived from the subject's gait? The question to be addressed is whether significant concealed weight distributed on the subject's torso can be discovered through analysis of his gait. Individual trends in subjects in response to increasing concealed weight will be explored, with the objective of finding universal trends that would have obvious security purposes.
Abrupt interfaces with novel structural and electronic properties: Metal-cluster deposition and metal-semiconductor junctions.

Abrupt interfaces with no observed substrate disruption are produced by a novel method of metal-semiconductor junction formation. This method involves the condensation of a thin Xe buffer layer on cleaved surfaces to isolate the semiconductor from impinging metal atoms. This Xe buffer layer provides a surface upon which the metal atoms diffuse, nucleate, and grow into metallic clusters. These clusters are then brought into contact with the substrate when the Xe is thermally desorbed. The result is an abrupt, nondisrupted, nearly ideal interface. Photoemission studies of Al, Ag, Au, Ga, Ti, and Co clusters grown on n- and p-type GaAs(110) show unique Fermi-level positions \ensuremath{\sim}0.3 and 1.0 eV below the conduction-band minimum, respectively, that are nearly metal and coverage independent. We find no evidence that metal-induced gap states or conventional defect levels are important in determining the Fermi-level position in the gap, but photoemission results indicate surface unrelaxation around the clusters. This unrelaxation results in the reappearance of states in the gap. High-resolution electron-microscopy results for Au(clusters)/GaAs(110) show intimate contact with no intermixing at the interface, with sintering of Au clusters to form an interconnected network of metal islands at high coverages. Comparisons of these results with those for interfaces formed by atom deposition at 60 and 300 K emphasize the novel properties of the cluster interface.
Dense matter in stellar collapse and neutron stars

Abstract In stellar collapse and neutron stars, matter reaches densities as high as an order of magnitude greater than that of nuclear matter. A review is given of the properties of nuclei in matter at sub-nuclear densities, a subject of importance for stellar collapse. Particular emphasis is placed on some of the very aspherical shapes nuclei can adopt. The properties of Skyrme's chiral soliton model at high densities, and the implications of the model for neutron stars and nuclear forces are discussed.
Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why it Matters for Global Capitalism, by George A. Akerlof and Robert J. Shiller

Fil: Rapetti, Martin. CEDES. Centro de Estudio de Estado y Sociedad, Area de Economia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas (CONICET); Argentina