cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race/Sex Comparisons of Elderly Living Arrangements Factors Influencing the Institutionalization of the Unmarried

This article describes recent trends in the total institutionalization rates among unmarried Black and White populations, by sex. In addition, an analysis is provided that evaluates the individual attributes associated with the probability of institutionalization for these same groups in 1980. To accomplish these goals, U.S. Census data from the 1960, 1970, and 1980 Public Use Samples are employed. The evidence suggests convergence over time in age-standardized rates across both race and sex groups. Also, there is considerable consistency among the groups in the factors that predict the likelihood of being in a formal long-term care situation. Although the Black population continues to access formal institutions less frequently than does the White population, the findings suggest that forecasters and planners need to take into account the increasing rate of elderly Black institutionalization along with the individual characteristics that influence these rates.
Gamma and neutrino radiation dose from gamma ray bursts and nearby supernovae.

Supernovae and gamma ray bursts are exceptionally powerful cosmic events that occur randomly in space and time in our galaxy. Their potential to produce very high radiation levels has been discussed, along with speculation that they may have caused mass extinctions noted from the fossil record. It is far more likely that they have produced radiation levels that, while not lethal, are genetically significant, and these events may have influenced the course of evolution and the manner in which organisms respond to radiation insult. Finally, intense gamma radiation exposure from these events may influence the ability of living organisms to travel through space. Calculations presented in this paper suggest that supernovae and gamma ray bursts are likely to produce sea-level radiation exposures of about 1 Gy with a mean interval of about five million years and sea-level radiation exposures of about 0.2 Gy every million years. Comets and meteors traveling through space would receive doses in excess of 10 Gy at a depth of 0.02 m at mean intervals of 4 and 156 million years, respectively. This may place some constraints on the ability of life to travel through space either between planets or between planetary systems. Calculations of radiation dose from neutrino radiation are presented and indicate that this is not a significant source of radiation exposure for even extremely close events for the expected neutrino spectrum from these events.
PRODUCTION OF MACROPHAGE MIGRATION INHIBITION FACTOR BY CONTINUOUS CELL LINES

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was found in media of human and mouse lymphocyte and fibroblast cell lines that were continuously growing. Its release was dependent on activation of the cells to enter the mitotic cycle, particularly on cells in S phase. The greatest quantity of MIF was detected in supernatants of lymphocytes collected during S phase after the cells were synchronized in G1 and in supernatants of growing fibroblasts. When the latter were contact inhibited little or no MIF was found in media. MIF was also released into media of cells proliferating in homologous serum in the absence of fetal calf serum and into media lacking any protein. The MIF produced by lymphocyte lines eluted from Sephadex G-100 in the same fashion as MIF produced by the interaction of sensitized guinea pig cells and antigen. The results indicated that MIF is not a specific mediator of delayed hypersensitivity and cellular immunity and that MIF released by sensitized lymphocytes incubated with antigen merely reflects that fraction of cells activated by antigen to enter the mitotic cycle.
Improvements in Poverty and Income in 1995 Tempered by Troubling Long-Term Trends

Census data on poverty and income show short-term improvements in 1995, but the trends were not as positive over the longer term. Poverty rates remained higher than they were at comparable points in previous economic cycles. The incomes of lower- and middle-income households grew in 1995, but only the wealthiest fifth of the population completely recovered from the recession of the early 1990s. Although poverty rates fell and incomes rose for most groups in 1995, Hispanic households did not share in the overall economic gains. In addition, economic improvements were not shared by all geographic areas--the reduction in poverty was concentrated in suburban areas. The current poverty measure does not show the full impact of government benefit programs on poverty, as it does not take into account the effect of non-cash benefits or taxes. An alternative poverty measure gives a much better picture of the effectiveness of government benefit programs in reducing poverty.
Mechanisms of reduction of antitumor drug toxicity by liposome encapsulation

The antitumor drug Actinomycin D is effective against the growth of some human solid tumors but its use is limited by its extreme toxicity. The development of a method of administering Act. D to reduce its systemic toxicity by incorporating the drug within liposomes reduced its toxicity but its tumoricidal activity was retained.
Structure, kinetics, and mechanism of a methane-oxygen flame inhibited with methyl bromide

Experimental profiles of temperature and composition were obtained for a 0.05-atm, lean, methane-oxygen flame inhibited with methyl bromide. The net rates of reaction were calculated and a hydroxyl-radical concentration derived from the measured methane rate and the known rate constant. The hydroxyl-radical concentration is about equal to the thermal equilibrium value in contrast to the excess radical concentration usually found in hydrocarbon flames indicating a reduction of radical concentration in the presence of inhibitor. The primary reaction of methyl bromide is probably CH 3 Br+OH→CH 2 Br+H 2 O A reaction rate constant of k ≈1.5×10 13 cm 3 /mole/sec is calculated for the temperature range 1800°–2000°K. The calculated rates of hydrogen bromide, methyl bromide, and methane show that the reaction of methane does not begin until most of the hydrogen bromide and part of the methyl bromide have reacted. A comparison of methane rates indicates that the primary reaction zone in the inhibited flame is shifted to a higher temperature, is narrower, and has a greater absolute value than in an uninhibited flame. These observations are used to support a flame-inhibition mechanism in which a major effect of the inhibitor is to prolong the preignition zone and shift the primary reaction to a higher temperature. The inhibition reactions have a lower activation energy so that radicals which diffuse into the preignition zone react preferentially with the inhibitor. These reactions do not initiate chains so that the rate of radical build-up is decreased and ignition is prolonged until a higher temperature is reached.
Mars surface mineralogy from Hubble Space Telescope imaging during 1994–1995: Observations, calibration, and initial results

Visible to near-infrared observations of Mars were made with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during 1994–1995 with the goals of monitoring seasonal variability of the surface and atmosphere and mapping specific spectral units to constrain the planet's surface mineralogy. This paper presents the details of the collection and calibration of the data, concentrating specifically on the near-IR data that were obtained exclusively for the surface mineralogy aspect of our HST Mars observing program. We also present some initial results from the calibrated data set. Our calibration procedures included the standard “pipeline” processing steps, supplemented by special procedures required for use with the linear ramp filters on the Wide Field/Planetary Camera 2 instrument, and an additional point spread function deconvolution procedure applied in order to realize the full potential spatial resolution of the images (23 to 64 km/pixel between August 1994 and August 1995). The calibration results in a set of images projected onto a standard map grid and presented in radiance factor (I/F) units, having an estimated ≈5% photometric accuracy based on the performance of HST and comparisons with previous ground-based and spacecraft Mars spectra. Initial scientific analyses of these data reveal (1) distinct red/blue color units within the classical bright regions, similar to those seen in Viking Orbiter images and possibly related to variations in nanophase and/or crystalline ferric mineral abundance; (2) near-IR spectral slope variations correlated with albedo on a large scale (darker is “bluer” near-IR slope) but exhibiting wider variations among many of the small-scale features visible in the data; (3) an absorption at 860 nm that occurs in all regions but which is 3 to 5% stronger in many of the classical dark regions than in the bright regions, possibly because of a greater abundance of a well-crystalline ferric phase like hematite or a very low Ca pyroxene or opx/cpx mixture; and (4) an absorption from pyroxene at 953 nm with a band depth that is inversely correlated with albedo (bright regions 0 to 5% deep; dark regions 7 to 15% deep) and which shows the highest band depth values in individual craters, calderas, and other small geologic units that are resolved in the images.
Religious Doubt, Helping Others, and Psychological Well-Being

A growing body of research reveals that religious doubt may have a deleterious effect on well-being. However, relatively less is known about how people try to cope with doubt. The purpose of this study is to see whether providing tangible help to others offsets the effects of religious doubt on well-being. Findings from a nationwide survey of middle-aged and older adults indicate that helping strangers reduces the negative relationship between religious doubt and three indicators of well-being: self-esteem, life satisfaction, and optimism. But in contrast, similar dissonance reduction benefits were not provided by helping family members and friends.
Abstract 2723: Circulating microRNA as a biomarker for screening for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Recent reports suggest a link between aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs, miR) and various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined whether measurement of serum levels of 3 miRNAs (miR16, miR195, and miR199a) could be used to differentiate HCC from HCV-related chronic liver disease (CLD). Method: The 3 miRNAs were measured using real-time PCR-based assays in sera from 104 patients with HCC, 59 patients with CLDs, and 67 normal control subjects. Small nuclear RNA U6 was used as an internal control. Cutoff values were determined by visual inspection of miRNA distribution curves. Serum levels of the conventional HCC markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), AFP-L3, and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) were also measured, with cutoffs based on established reference ranges. Results: Median serum levels of miR16, miR195, and miR199a were significantly lower in patients with HCC than in CLD and control subjects (all p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2723.
Integrated control strategies for surface street and freeway systems

Freeway ramp metering often exists in the vicinity of a signal-controlled diamond interchange, at which the surface street system and the freeway system intersect. Even though both systems are controlled by traffic signals, they primarily operate independently of one another. The integrated operations of a surface street system and a freeway system were studied with VISSIM, a microscopic simulation model. A traffic network consisting of a surface street and a freeway segment was constructed in VISSIM. The surface street and freeway are connected through a diamond interchange with on-ramps and off-ramps. The objective of the study was to develop an integrated control algorithm for both the diamond interchange signal and the ramp-metering signal. The proposed control algorithm, including an adaptive diamond interchange control and a traffic-responsive ramp-metering control were programmed with VISSIM's vehicle-actuated programming, which serves as an external control function for the simulation model. Preliminary tests of the proposed control algorithm indicated improved operations for both the surface street system and the freeway system. Traffic operations were significantly improved compared with nonadaptive diamond control and static ramp-metering control. Although similar performance measures were found (with the particular scenarios evaluated) with no-metering control, with the existing traffic-responsive ramp-metering control, and with the proposed traffic-responsive ramp-metering control, the proposed control algorithm has more flexibility and may be adapted over a broader range of traffic flow conditions.
The mechanism of the electrochemical oxidation of oxalic acid

Abstract Oxalic acid oxidation on platinized platinum has been studied at 80°C in solutions of H 2 SO 4 , Na 2 SO 4 and NaOH. Reaction rates were measured as a function of potential, pH and concentration of oxalic acid. Coulombic efficiency was determined by measurements of CO 2 production. Empirically i = kc H 2 C 2 O 4 0·35 c H+ −0·55 exp ( FV / RT ). Coulombic efficiency of oxidation to CO 2 is ca 100%. No oxidation occurs in alkaline solutions. The results are interpreted in terms of a mechanism having the following characteristics. Undissociated acid is the reacting species. Oxidation occurs under Temkin conditions. Both electrons are supplied by the organic species. The second charge transfer is the rate-determining step.
Beamlet focal plane diagnostic

This paper describes the major optical and mechanical design features of the Beamlet Focal Plane Diagnostic system as well as measurements of the system performance, and typical data obtained to date. We also discuss the NIF requirements on the focal spot that we are interested in measuring, and some of our plans for future work using this system.
Deletion of exon 3 of the insulin receptor gene in a kindred with a familial form of insulin resistance

Molecular scanning techniques, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), greatly facilitate screening candidate genes for mutations. The authors have used DGGE to screen for mutations in the insulin receptor gene in a family in which four of five daughters were affected by type A insulin resistance in association with acanthosis nigricans and hyperandrogenism. DGGE did not detect mutations in any of the 22 exons of the insulin receptor gene. Nevertheless, Southern blot analysis suggested that there was a deletion of exon 3 in the other paternal allele of the insulin receptor gene. Analysis of the father`s cDNA confirmed that exon 3 was deleted from mRNA molecules derived from one of his two alleles of the insulin receptor gene. Furthermore, the father was found to be hemizygous for a polymorphic sequence (GAC{sup Asp} at codon 234) in exon 3 that was not inherited by any of the five daughters. Instead, all five daughters inherited the paternal allele with the deletion mutation. They did not detect mutations in the mother`s insulin receptor gene. Furthermore, the clinical syndrome did not segregate with either of the mother`s two alleles of the insulin receptor gene. Although the youngest daughter inherited the mutant allele frommore » her father, she was not clinically affected. The explanation for the incomplete penetrance is not known. These results emphasize the importance of specifically searching for deletion mutations when screening candidate genes for mutations. Furthermore, the existence of apparently asymptomatic carriers of mutations in the insulin receptor gene, such as the father in the present study, suggests that the prevalence of mutations in the insulin receptor gene may be higher than would be predicted on the basis of the observed prevalence of patients with extreme insulin resistance. 34 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less
Complements to cognition: a longitudinal study of the relationship between complex syntax and false-belief-understanding

A longitudinal study traced the development of the understanding of false belief and various measures of spontaneous language production and comprehension over the course of one year. The subjects were 28 normally developing preschoolers who averaged 3–5 years when the study began. The children were given a battery of tasks to assess false-belief-understanding and language mastery during four testing periods, with the contents of the materials varying and counterbalanced. The results of regression analyses strongly suggest that the mastery of a specific aspect of syntax, namely tensed complements, is a precursor and possible prerequisite of successful false-belief performance. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Deciding to stay: The intersection of sex and race/ethnicity

While much of prior research has focused on understanding the reasons students leave engineering, and therefore talk to those students who switched out of an engineering major, this study contributes the new perspective of students who seriously considered leaving but ultimately decided to stay in their engineering major. The qualitative analysis suggests that about one-third of students seriously considered leaving engineering but ultimately decided to stay. The reasons students decided to stay in engineering fell into eight main categories, with the most common reasons being the rewards that will come with an engineering degree; enjoyment of engineering; or an aversion to quitting or desire to prove that you can do it. Differences in rationales were discovered between males and females, between different race/ethnicity groups and at the intersection of sex and race/ethnicity.
Medical Informatics for Medical Students: Not Just Because It's There

There has been increasing interest in the use of computers in medical education, but there has been less attention given to the rationale for the use and selection of applications. This article discusses an approach to the selection of medical informatics applications for the undergraduate medical curriculum.
cDNA microarray analysis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells subjected to cyclic mechanical strain

Endothelial cells are constantly subjected to mechanical forces due to blood flow. The forces have been implicated in vascular pathogenesis; therefore, the consequences of these forces need to be examined. Using cDNA microarray technology, we studied the gene expression of human umbilical vein endothelial cells subjected to a 10% cyclic strain for 6 and 24 hours. Of the 4000 genes included on the Research Genetics GeneFilter/sup /spl reg// 211, thirty genes were determined as differentially expressed. The most highly upregulated gene at 6 hours was carboxypeptidase A3 at 3.2-fold; whereas, the most downregulated gene was dystrobrevin, alpha at 0.4-fold. At 24 hours, the most highly upregulated was matrix metalloproteinase 10 at 3.6-fold and the most downregulated was secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor at 0.5-fold. These genes were not only regulated by the strain of the cells, but some were actually regulated by the fluid agitation inherent in the system over the cells.
THE RESPONSE OF X-IRRADIATED LIMBS OF ADULT URODELES TO NORMAL TISSUE GRAFTS. I. EFFECTS OF AUTOGRAFTS OF SIXTY-DAY FOREARM REGENERATES.

Results are reported of autoplastic transplantation of parts of nonirradiated, regenerated forelimb to the contralateral x-irradiated forelimb in adult Triturus viridescens. The right forelimbs were exposed to various doses of localized irradiation (1000 to 5000 r) followed by amputation of both left and right forelimbs through the mid forearm. Left limbs regenerated normally, but irradiated right limbs failed to exhibit any significant degree of regenerative activity over a 3-month period. Both forelimbs were reamputated through the distal humerus and observed for an additional two months. Left limbs produced normal regenerates, but irradiated right limbs gave no gross evidence of regeneration at any of the radiation dose levels. Normal left regenerates were reamputated immediately distal to the elbow on the 60th day after the second amputation; the severed forearm was trimmed with scissors along anterior and posterior borders and denuded of skin over its proximal half, leaving an essentially complete forearm region as a normal autograft. This was implanted into the irradiated right upper arm stump, after ablation of the distal half of its humerus, with normal proximodistal polarity in all cases. The irradiated stump was reamputated through the distal portion of the implanted normal autograft two weeks after implantation, andmore » was observed for four months. Periodic gross observations showed that over 90% of irradiated upper arms formed regenerates at a rate which paralleled that of nonirradiated controls. However, regenerates formed on irradiated upper arms exhibited a restriction of morphogenetic capacity, only 60% attaining 3- and 4-digit stages. Most of the morphologically more complex regenerates which developed on the irradiated upper arm stumps manifested left limb asymmetry despite their formation on right irradiated stumps, suggesting a relation between the asymmetry of the normal graft and that of the resulting regenerate. All regenerates which developed on irradiated upper arms showed marked deficiencies in the restoration of a complete proximodistal structural pattern appropriate to the level of amputation through the irradiated stump. However, the actual pattern produced was appropriate to the level of amputation through the implanted normal autograft. These findings support the hypothesis that normal grafts promote the formation of regenerates on irradiated limbs through the autonomous developmental activity of the transected graft. (BBB)« less
Fine and Gross Motor Task Performance When Using Computer-Based Video Models by Students With Autism and Moderate Intellectual Disability:

This investigation examined the effects of video modeling on the fine and gross motor task performance by three students with a diagnosis of moderate intellectual disability (Group 1) and by three students with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (Group 2). Using a multiple probe design across three sets of tasks, the study examined the effectiveness of video modeling across differing types of motor response requirements (fine and gross motor) and whether effects would differ across disability groups. Results indicate an increase in the number of fine and gross motor tasks correctly performed following the introduction of video modeling. As a whole, students across both groups performed more gross motor than fine motor tasks independently correct and students in Group 1 performed more tasks independently correct than those in Group 2. Implications are discussed concerning evaluation of task requirements and the development of video models.
The effect of gabapentin on brain gamma‐aminobutyric acid in patients with epilepsy

Gabapentin has come into clinical use as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of epilepsy. Designed to mimic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), its mechanism of action remains elusive. In vivo measurements of GABA in human brain were made using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We used a 2.1-T magnetic resonance imager-spectrometer and an 8-cm surface coil to measure a 13.5-cm3 volume in the occipital cortex. GABA levels were measured in 14 patients enrolled in an open-lbel trial of gabapentin. GABA was elevated in patients taking gabapentin compared with 14 complex partial epilepsy patients, matched for antiepileptic drug treatment. Brain GABA levels appeared to be higher in patients taking high-dose gabapentin (3,300-3,600 mg/day) than in those taking standard doses (1,200-2,400 mg/day). Gabapentin appears to increase human brain GABA levels.
Electrophysiology of the Cerebellar Networks

The sections in this article are: 1 Comparative Aspects of Cerebellar Circuits 2 Field Potentials 2.1 Local Stimulation of Cerebellar Cortex 2.2 Field Potentials Generated by White Matter Stimulation of Cerebellar Cortex 2.3 Summary 3 Unitary Cell Recording from Cerebellar Cortex 3.1 Electrophysiology of Purkinje Cells 3.2 Activation of Climbing Fiber Afferents 3.3 Mossy Fiber Afferents 3.4 Inhibitory Systems in Cerebellar Cortex 3.5 Summary 4 Purkinje Cell Target Neurons, Cerebellar Nuclei, and Deiters' Nucleus 4.1 Summary 5 Inferior Olive 5.1 Intracellular Recording From Inferior Olivary Cells In Vivo and In Vitro 5.2 Ionic Mechanisms in Spike Generation 5.3 Inferior Olivary Cell as Single-Cell Oscillator 5.4 Long-Term Changes in Inferior Olive Neuronal Excitability 5.5 Electrotonic Coupling 5.6 Summary 6 Overall Function of Cerebellum 6.1 Braitenberg's Timing Model 6.2 Marr's Learning Model 6.3 Pellionisz-Llinas Tensor Model 6.4 Boylls' Synergic Parameterization Theory 6.5 Summary
Mothers' and fathers' working models of childhood attachment relationships, parenting styles, and child behavior

This study addresses the question of whether or not parents' working models of childhood attachments constitute a risk factor for difficulties in current parent-child relations. In a sample of 27 families and their preschool-aged children, mother-child and father-child dyads were observed in separate laboratory play sessions from which ratings of parents' and children's behavior were collected. Working models of attachment were assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1984). Results showed that parents classified as insecure were less warm and provided less structure in interactions with their children than did parents classified as secure. Children of insecure parents were less warm toward their parents than were children of secure parents. Analyses of parents' joint attachment classification showed that insecure women married to insecure men were less warm and provided less structure with their children than did mothers in either the insecure-secure or secure-secure dyads. These findings suggest that, in two-parent families, an insecure working model may be a risk factor for less competent parenting but that the risk is more pronounced when both parents have insecure working models of attachment.
An international nanoscience advisory board to improve and harmonize nanotechnology oversight

As governments around the world begin to implement regulations aimed at controlling nanotechnology, those regulations should be based upon the best available science, applied as consistently as possible within jurisdictions and, to the extent feasible, across jurisdictions. These goals would be easier to achieve with the creation of an international nanoscience advisory board. Such a body could be modeled on similar international scientific advisory bodies for other issues, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Such a body should also take into account lessons learned from these similar organizations. An international nanoscience advisory board could assist regulatory bodies by providing a central source of accurate scientific information about the risks and benefits of nanotechnology, including relevant uncertainties, rather than having each regulatory body make these determinations independently. An international nanoscience advisory board could facilitate harmonization within and between jurisdictions by involving the top experts in the field to produce a centralized knowledge base for regulatory decisions. While an international nanoscience advisory board presents many potential benefits, it also faces significant difficulties, which are best illustrated by examining the history and challenges of existing international science advisory bodies.
Cellular processing of the large glycoprotein of lacrosse virus (family bunyaviridae); implications for virion assembly and host defense.

LaCrosse virus (LAC) is a major causative agent of mosquito-borne human encephalitis in the USA (1). LAC is an enveloped RNA virus containing two glycoproteins, Gl and G2 (2). Based on electron micrographs of LAC-infected cells, it is thought that LAC derives its lipid envelope by budding from host smooth membranes rather than from the plasma membrane (3). We have demonstrated that the LAC Gl protein accumulates in a juxtanuclear region (probably Golgi) and not at the plasma membrane of the infected cell. Further evidence suggests that Gl is inefficiently modified in Golgi (4).
Predisposition to atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor due to an inherited INI1 mutation.

Background Germline mutations of the INI1 gene predispose children to the development of rhabdoid tumors. Reports of familial cases, however, are extremely rare. Procedure We have identified a three-generation family in which two half-brothers were diagnosed with central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT). The two boys, diagnosed at 2 months and 17 months of age, had a germline insertion mutation in exon 4 of the INI1 gene that was inherited from their healthy mother. A maternal uncle died in childhood from a brain tumor and a malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney, and presumably carried the same germline mutation. As the mother and uncle had different fathers, the grandmother is also an obligate carrier of the mutation. Conclusion The identification of two unaffected carriers in a family segregating a germline mutation and rhabdoid tumor supports the hypothesis that there may be variable risks of development of rhabdoid tumor in the context of a germline mutation. There may be a developmental window in which most rhabdoid tumors occur. This family highlights the importance of mutation analysis in all patients with a suspected rhabdoid tumor. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2006;47:279–284. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On the relationship of trait PANAS positive activation and trait anger: Evidence of a suppressor relationship

This article presents evidence that trait anger is directly associated with trait positive activation (PA) as measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS; Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988), when controlling for happiness. This supports previous state findings suggesting that PA taps both positivity and approach motivation, which can be negative in valence. These results also suggest the importance of considering motivational direction separately from affective valence, and the importance of including both motivational direction and valence in models of affective experience.
Growth responses of littoral mayflies to the phosphorus content of their food

We examined how mayfly growth rates and body stoichiometry respond to changing phosphorus (P) content in food. In two experiments, mayfly nymphs were given high or low quantities of food at different carbon:phosphorus (C:P) ratios and their growth was measured. Low food quantity resulted in negative growth rates in both experiments, regardless of food P content. However, under high food availability, mayfly growth was affected by the type of food eaten, with low C:P ratio food producing more rapid growth. In addition, mayfly growth increased somewhat when P-poor food was artificially enriched with inorganic P although this effect was not statistically significant. Mayfly body P content was inversely related to body size but increased in animals fed artificially P-enriched food. A model was constructed to simulate mass balance constraints on mayfly growth imposed by the relative supply of two elements (C and P) in food. The model shows that mayfly growth should be limited by food P content at moderately low C:P ratios (c. 120, by mass). Given high C:P ratios (mean c. 270, by mass) in periphyton from oligotrophic boreal lakes, our experimental and theoretical results indicate that stoichiometric constraints are important factors affecting benthic food webs in lakes from the Canadian Shield and perhaps in other systems with similarly high C:P ratios in periphyton.
Heregulin induces expression, ATPase activity, and nuclear localization of G3BP, a Ras signaling component, in human breast tumors.

We have found using differential display of mRNA that the growth factor heregulin β1 (HRG), a combinatorial ligand for human epidermal growth factor receptors (HERs), induced expression of G3BP, the Ras GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein, in breast cancer cells. G3BP is a downstream effector protein of Ras signaling with ATP-dependent RNase and helicase activities, which may link Ras signaling with RNA turnover and cell cycle progression. In human breast cancer cells, HRG induced G3BP mRNA and protein expression. Up-regulation of G3BP was found in MCF7 breast cancer cells overexpressing HER2. G3BP was also overexpressed in human breast tumors in parallel with HER2 overexpression and in an estrogen-independent manner, suggesting a role for G3BP in cancer progression. In addition, HRG stimulation of breast cancer cells promoted phosphorylation of G3BP and increased the association of G3BP with GTPase-activating protein, both of which are essential for G3BP activity. G3BP ATPase activity was also significantly increased by HRG treatment. Furthermore, HRG treatment resulted in G3BP translocation to the nucleus and colocalization with acetylated histone H3, a hallmark of active transcription sites. G3BP induction, phosphorylation, ATPase activity, and relocalization after HRG treatment could all be blocked by pretreatment with the anti-receptor HER2 monoclonal antibody Herceptin (trastuzumab), which may suggest additional applications for this therapeutic antibody. These findings demonstrate for the first time the receptor-dependent regulation of G3BP, a downstream effector of Ras signaling, by HRG, a growth factor with diverse functions in breast cancer cells.
Process–property–performance relationships for titanium dioxide coatings engineered from nanostructured and conventional powders

Abstract Nanostructured (Nano), fused and crushed (F&C) and plasma-fused (PF) titania (TiO2) powder particles were thermally sprayed via flame spray (FS), air plasma spray (APS) and high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) on low carbon steel substrates. Flame spray processing, although widely employed industrially, generally has received very limited attention in academic papers. However, the results of this research have demonstrated that a FS Nano titania coating was the best performing among all coatings tested, exhibiting no measurable signs of mass/volume loss after dry-sliding wear testing (ball-on-disk) and the highest deposition efficiency (DE) level. This is regarded as an important result, considering the fact that among these three processing techniques FS is the least expensive, the most portable and exhibits the lowest energy consumption levels. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that the sliding wear scars of the FS and HVOF-sprayed Nano coatings were smooth, without significant irreversible deformation or formation of ridges. These characteristics are not typical of ceramic materials. It is hypothesized that this plastic-like behaviour and resilience exhibited by FS and HVOF-sprayed Nano coatings explain their improved performance under dry-sliding wear.
A microfluorometric method for quantifying RNA and DNA in terrestrial insects

Evidence is accumulating for a mechanistic linkage between body phosphorus content and growth and reproduction of individual organisms, due in part to variation in allocation of resources to ribosomal RNA. Testing this connection requires reliable methods of quantifying the nucleic acid content of individual organisms. Although methods for quantifying nucleic acids are available for a wide array of organisms, adaptation of such methods for study of insects has been neglected. Sensitive stains and high throughput fluorometric measurements are now available that substantially improve past methodologies. Here we present methods for the extraction and quantification of insect RNA and DNA based on the use of N-lauroylsarcosine and sonication for extraction, the nucleases RNase and DNase, and the use of microplate fluorescent assays to quantify nucleic acids as percent of body weight in insects. We illustrate the method using Drosophila and curculionid weevils.
HCN channels in behavior and neurological disease: too hyper or not active enough?

The roles of cells within the nervous system are based on their properties of excitability, which are in part governed by voltage-gated ion channels. HCN channels underlie the hyperpolarization-activated current, Ih, an important regulator of excitability and rhythmicity through control of basic membrane properties. Ih is present in multiple neuronal types and regions of the central nervous system, and changes in Ih alter cellular input-output properties and neuronal circuitry important for behavior such as learning and memory. Furthermore, the pathophysiology of neurological diseases of both the central and peripheral nervous system involves defects in excitability, rhythmicity, and signaling, and animal models of many of these disorders have implicated changes in HCN channels and Ih as critical for pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on recent research elucidating the role of HCN channels and Ih in behavior and disease. These studies have utilized knockout mice as well as animal models of disease to examine how Ih may be important in regulating learning and memory, sleep, and consciousness, as well as how misregulation of Ih may contribute to epilepsy, chronic pain, and other neurological disorders. This review will help guide future studies aimed at further understanding the function of this unique conductance in both health and disease of the mammalian brain.
An exploratory study on organisational adjustments due to Green IT

The objective of this study is to empirically explore the impact of the implementation of Green IT measures on organisational resources. To this end, this paper integrates two streams of research: (1) the adoption of Green IT measures and (2) the resource-based view of a firm. The findings suggest that organisations had to reconfigure their IT and non-IT resources in order to implement Green IT initiatives. Moreover, two organisations in our sample of ten have been successful in mobilising their resources by offering new products and services as a result of implementing Green IT. The findings also indicate that organisation-wide awareness and support of Green IT are critical to initiating strategic actions in this area.
Optimally ensured interactive service in distributed multimedia presentation systems

We develop a new service to support optimally ensured user interactions with minimum latency in interactive distributed multimedia presentation environments. The novelty of our scheme is to reduce bandwidth requirements of a network in exchange of memory at the client side, because we expect an increase in network load in the next years in comparison to falling memory prices. Utilizing the properties of smoothing algorithms presented in the literature, we introduce the concepts of the interactive river bed and optimal interactive river bed, which guarantee optimal interactive service over the whole playback time of the video stream. Our approach provides optimal service for a given buffer size. We also derive requirements for a minimal buffer size in which we can give the optimal boundaries for an interactive transmission plan. Experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Promoting Language Development Through Music

Certain special qualities of music can aid in promoting language development and reading skills.
Shrinking the Administrative State: New Public Management Before and After 9/11

La Nueva Administracion Publica (NPM) es un fenomeno mundial que nace de la experiencia norteamericana. Alimentada en los anos de la administracion Reagan con la retorica de “quitarse al gobierno de las espaldas”, este maduro bajo la critica nacional a la actuacion del Presidente Clinton y el posterior acercamiento republicano bajo el mandato del Presidente Bush. Tanto los lideres democratas como republicanos proporcionaron una vision de gobierno empresarial, menos intruso pero mas responsable a los ciudadanos. El indice de crecimiento de los programas de gobierno iba a ser limitado. Sin embargo, el ataque terrorista del 11 de septiembre del 2001 sobre el World Trade Center y el Pentagono dio pie a la “guerra contra el terrorismo” cambiando las prioridades. Fueron enfatizados los valores tradicionales de la administracion publica, el control y la coordinacion centralizada y la cooperacion intra–gubernamental. La disminucion del estado administrativo fue limitado a las areas que no implican tematicas de defensa y seguridad.
Russian and European neighbourhood policies compared

The European neighbourhood policy (ENP) has been unable to shift the political and security processes in the Eastern neighbourhood of the European Union. This is partly to do with the fact that ENP has been developed as if the EU is the ‘only game in town’ and that its neighbours are keen to adopt the European model, just as Central Europe was in the 1990s. In reality, however, the ENP faces a well‐resourced, albeit informal, Russian neighbourhood policy. Both Russia and the EU have used soft and hard power to achieve their objectives in the neighbourhood, and have often undermined each others’ policies in the region. Improving the effectiveness of the ENP will require more EU commitment to deliver on its promises, as well as an understanding that there can be no stable EU–Russia partnership without greater cooperation, not disengagement, in the shared neighbourhood.
Tendon Disorders of the Foot and Ankle, Part 3: The Posterior Tibial Tendon

This article provides a review of posterior tibial tendon pathology and the authors' preferred management. The tibialis posterior musculotendinous unit is the most powerful inverter of the foot and an important dynamic stabilizer of the arch. In the stance phase of the gait cycle, it serves as an initiator of both ankle plantar flexion and subtalar inversion. This creates a rigid midfoot by stabilizing the transverse tarsal joint, and allows for increased power generation by the gastrocsoleus complex through toe-off. Injuries to the posterior tibialis tendon include traumatic laceration and dislocation, as well as tenosynovitis and tendinopathy, which can lead to attenuation and rupture. If these injuries are not addressed, significant clinical deformity and disability can result.
Fast and Accurate Workload Characterization Using Locality Sensitive Hashing

Embedded applications are increasingly offloading their computations to a cloud data center. Determining an incoming application's sensitivity toward various shared resources is a major challenge. To this end, previous research attempts to characterize an incoming application's sensitivity toward interference on various resources (Source of Interference or SoI, for short) of a cloud system. Due to time constraints, the application's sensitivity is profiled in detail for only a small number of SoI, and the sensitivities for the remaining SoI are approximated by capitalizing on knowledge about some of the applications (i.e. training set) currently running in the system. A key drawback of previous approaches is that they have attempted to minimize the total error of the estimated sensitivities, however, various SoI do not behave the same as each other. For example, a 10% error in the estimate of SoI A may dramatically effect the QoS of an application whereas a 10% error in the estimate of SoI B may have a marginal effect. In this paper, we present a new method for workload characterization that considers these important issues. First, we compute an acceptable error for each SoI based on its effect on QoS, and our goal is to characterize an application so as to maximize the number of SoI that satisfy this acceptable error. Then we present a new technique for workload characterization based on Locality Sensitive Hashing (LSH). Our approach performs better than a state-of-the-art technique in terms of error rate (1.33 times better).
Trade, Conflict, and Cooperation Among Nations

At least since Baron de Montesquieu’s 1748 statement on “peace being a natural effect of trade”, a number of economists and political scientists maintained that trade among nations leads to peace. The logic is as follows: if political conflict between two nations leads to a diminution of trade, then a portion of the costs of conflict between these nations can be measured by the lost gains from trade. The greater the two nations gain from trade, the more costly is bilateral (dyadic) conflict for them. This article develops the analytical logic behind this proposition and describes the data used to test it. The article then goes on to outline current developments and extensions taking place, including how the proposition can be used to help explain the democratic peace, and how the logic can be applied to foreign direct investment.
The possible pathology and pharmaceutical therapy of ovarian cancer

Human ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological cancer in the western world, causing enomous physical and mental suffering as well as financial hardship to the patients and their families. However, the etiology of the human ovarian cancer is not well understood. To date, multiple etiological factors, including but not limiting to Slit/Robo family, TGF-β family, sex hormones, and angiogenic factors, have been found involved in the pathological process of human ovarian cancer. The involvement of these factors in the human ovarian cancer makes them potential targets for treating human ovarian cancer. Given that human ovarian cancer is highly heterogeneous at both the cellular and molecular levels, the better understanding of actions of these factors and underlying cellular mechanisms in each subtype of human ovarian cancer cells will facilitate the personalized medicine of the lethal disease on the basis of individual characteristics at the cellular and molecular levels.
Randomized Reduction

Despite their power and simplicity, randomized algorithms are often under-emphasized in the classroom (and as a consequence, ultimately in practice) since they can be more challenging to analyze than their deterministic counterparts. In this paper, we describe a simplified framework that streamlines the analysis of dozens of common randomized algorithms and data structures. The key component of this framework, which we call the randomized reduction lemma, builds on intuition that is already commonly held by most students based on their experience with deterministic algorithms, and reduces the necessary prerequisites one must know from probability theory to a minimal subset. For example, one can prove that randomized quicksort runs in O(n log n) time with high probability in two paragraphs, without knowledge of random variables or Chernoff bounds. This paper is intended to be self-contained and written in a sufficiently student-friendly fashion so that it may serve as a classroom handout.
Perspectives of Health Care Providers on US South Asians’ Attitudes Toward Pain Management at End of Life:

A lack of research on pain management among seriously ill South Asians reveals a critical gap in the knowledge base regarding culturally responsive end-of-life care. This qualitative descriptive study investigated the perspectives of health care providers that have cared for seriously ill older South Asians, on the attitudes of US South Asians toward the management of pain experienced at end of life and the factors that influenced these attitudes. Thematic analysis of interviews and focus group discussions with 57 health care providers indicated that providers perceive South Asian patients and families to be generally reluctant to use medications to treat pain experienced at end of life. Detailed description of patient-related and culturally based reasons for this reluctance is provided along with implications for hospice and palliative care.