cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the Role of Technology To Create a Safe Haven for Student Teachers

AbstractThis research examines the use of technology to create a relationship between student teachers and preservice teachers as they navigate the union of practice and theory within the two contexts of a teacher education course and student teaching practicum. Technology was used to create a safe haven where students could explore their respective experiences through protected conversations. The study focused on the uses of electronic dialogue among students to strengthen the student educators’ abilities and awareness to integrate culturally responsive pedagogy, to practice reflective teaching, and to model professionalism through mentoring. Multiple qualitative data sources were analyzed, resulting in three themes: transformation of identity, collegial relationships, and cultural responsiveness.
Differential Susceptibility of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species to Compound-Enhanced Copper Toxicity.

Rationale: Mycoplasmas represent important etiologic agents of many human diseases. Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance and slow rate of novel discovery, unconventional methods of drug discovery are necessary. Copper ions are utilized in host microbial killing, and bacteria must regulate intracellular Cu concentrations to avoid toxicity. We hypothesized that human mollicutes may have susceptibility to Cu-induced toxicity, and compounds that augment copper-dependent killing. Methods: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mpn), Ureaplasma parvum (Up), Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) and Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) were exposed to CuSO4 to determine minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Once inhibitory concentrations had been determined, bacteria were treated with an FDA-approved drug disulfiram (DSF), glyoxal bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) (GTSM) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine), with or without Cu2+, to determine compound MICs. Results: Ureaplasma species and Mh were able to tolerate 30-60 µM CuSO4, while Mpn tolerated over 10-fold higher concentrations ( >1 mM). GTSM inhibited growth of all four organisms, but was unaffected by Cu2+ addition. Inhibition by GTSM was reduced by addition of the cell-impermeant Cu chelator, bathocuproine disulfonate. Neocuproine exhibited Cu-dependent growth inhibition of all organisms. DSF exhibited Cu-dependent growth inhibition against Mh at low micromolar concentrations, and at intermediate concentrations for Mpn. Conclusions: MICs for CuSO4 differ widely among human mollicutes, with higher MICs for Mpn compared to Mh, Uu and Up. DSF and Neocuproine exhibit Cu-dependent inhibition of mollicutes with copper concentrations between 25-50 µM. GTSM has copper-dependent anti-microbial activity at low levels of copper. Drug enhanced copper toxicity is a promising avenue for novel therapeutic development research with Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species.
EncoDeep: Realizing Bit-flexible Encoding for Deep Neural Networks

This article proposes EncoDeep, an end-to-end framework that facilitates encoding, bitwidth customization, fine-tuning, and implementation of neural networks on FPGA platforms. EncoDeep incorporates nonlinear encoding to the computation flow of neural networks to save memory. The encoded features demand significantly lower storage compared to the raw full-precision activation values; therefore, the execution flow of EncoDeep hardware engine is completely performed within the FPGA using on-chip streaming buffers with no access to the off-chip DRAM. We further propose a fully automated optimization algorithm that determines the flexible encoding bitwidths across network layers. EncoDeep full-stack framework comprises a compiler that takes a high-level Python description of an arbitrary neural network. The compiler then instantiates the corresponding elements from EncoDeep Hardware library for FPGA implementation. Our evaluations on MNIST, SVHN, and CIFAR-10 datasets demonstrate an average of 4.65× throughput improvement compared to stand-alone weight encoding. We further compare EncoDeep with six FPGA accelerators on ImageNet, showing an average of 3.6× and 2.54× improvement in throughput and performance-per-watt, respectively.
Micro-anatomic alterations of the placenta in a non-human primate model of gestational protein-restriction

Objectives Maternal protein malnutrition is associated with impaired fetal growth, and lifetime consequences for the offspring. Our group has previously developed a model of protein-restriction in the non-human primate, which was associated with fetal growth restriction, stillbirth, decreased placental perfusion, and evidence of fetal hypoxia, suggesting perturbed vascular development. Our objective was to histologically characterize the micro-anatomic alterations associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes taking an approach that permits investigation of the 3D vascular structure and surrounding histology without the requirement for 3D vascular casting or relying on 2D stereology which both have methodological limitations. Methods Rhesus macaques were assigned in the pre-gestational period to a control diet that contained 26% protein, or study diet containing 13% protein (50% PR diet). Placental tissue was collected at delivery and processed using a clarification, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy protocol published previously by our group. Three dimensional reconstructions and quantitative assessment of the vascular micro-anatomy was performed using analysis software (Imaris®) and statistical analysis accounted for maternal and fetal confounders. Results In unadjusted analysis, when comparing those pregnancies on a 50% PR diet (n = 4) with those on a control diet (n = 4), protein-restriction diet was associated with decreased maternal pre-pregnancy weight (difference of -1.975kg, 95% CI -3.267 to -0.6826). When controlling for maternal pre-pregnancy weight, fetal sex, and latency from tissue collection to imaging, a gestational protein-restriction diet was associated with decreases in total vascular length, total vascular surface area, total vascular volume, and vascular density. Conclusion In this pilot study, a gestational protein-restriction diet altered the placental micro-vasculature with decreased vascular caliber and density, which may be related to the observed adverse pregnancy outcomes and perturbed placental perfusion previously demonstrated in this model.
Taking the pulse of aging oil wells in the Permian Basin from space

Abstract Thousands of unplugged abandoned oil wells throughout the Permian Basin – one of world's leading oil plays – have potential to create ground instability and damage the environment due to aging facilities and instances of mismanagement. Satellite radar remote sensing technologies, capable of detecting subtle surface changes over time with broad geographic coverage, are a valuable tool for monitoring the health and integrity of aging oil wells by gauging the stability of the well and its surroundings.
School-based Transition Readiness Services for Adolescents with Disabilities

This study of occupational therapy services to students with disabilities, 14 to 16 years of age, demonstrated effectiveness (Pierce, Spence, Sakemiller, & Roberts, 2020). The intervention approach...
Different Passive Viscoelastic Properties Between the Left and Right Ventricles in Healthy Adult Ovine.

Ventricle dysfunction is the most common cause of heart failure, which leads to high mortality and morbidity. The mechanical behavior of the ventricle is critical to its physiological function. It is known that the ventricle is anisotropic and viscoelastic. However, the understanding of ventricular viscoelasticity is much less than that of its elasticity. Moreover, the left and right ventricles (LV&RV) are different in embryologic origin, anatomy, and function, but whether they distinguish in viscoelastic properties is unclear. We hypothesized that passive viscoelasticity is different between healthy LVs and RVs. Ex vivo cyclic biaxial tensile mechanical tests (1, 0.1, 0.01 Hz) and stress relaxation (strain of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15%) were performed for ventricles from healthy adult sheep. Outflow track direction was defined as the longitudinal direction. Hysteresis stress-strain loops and stress relaxation curves were obtained to quantify the viscoelastic properties. We found that the RV had more pronounced frequency-dependent viscoelastic changes than the LV. Under the physiological frequency (1 Hz), the LV was more anisotropic in the elasticity and stiffer than the RV in both directions, whereas the RV was more anisotropic in the viscosity and more viscous than the LV in the longitudinal direction. The LV was quasi-linear viscoelastic in the longitudinal but not circumferential direction, and the RV was nonlinear viscoelastic in both directions. This study is the first to investigate passive viscoelastic differences in healthy LVs and RVs, and the findings will deepen the understanding of biomechanical mechanisms of ventricular function.
Higher Order Mode Conversion From Berry's Phase in Silicon Optical Waveguides

We present mode conversion between the higher order ${{\bf E}}_{21}^{\boldsymbol{x}}$ and ${{\bf E}}_{12}^{\boldsymbol{x}}$ optical modes in an out-of-plane silicon waveguide exhibiting Berry's phase. Superpositions of the ${{\bf E}}_{21}^{\boldsymbol{x}}$ and ${{\bf E}}_{12}^{\boldsymbol{x}}$ waveguide modes form quasi-Laguerre-Gaussian modes with total angular momentum of $1\hbar $ per photon for a 720 × 600 nm2 silicon waveguide core. When the waveguide is deflected out-of-plane by 22.5°, 50% mode conversion occurs from the ${{\bf E}}_{21}^{\boldsymbol{x}}$ mode to the ${{\bf E}}_{12}^{\boldsymbol{x}}$ mode. The concatenation of a quarter wavelength straight section results in an output with $0.89\hbar $ orbital and $0.15\hbar $ spin angular momentum per photon. Orbital angular momentum generation in a waveguide platform provides a route for on-chip applications that utilize the angular momentum of light for sensing, optical manipulation, non-linear optics, and communications.
Venetoclax and azacitidine followed by allogeneic transplant results in excellent outcomes and may improve outcomes versus maintenance therapy among newly diagnosed AML patients older than 60.

The combination of venetoclax (ven) and azacitidine (aza) has resulted in high response rates in the upfront treatment of AML in patients age > 75 and patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy. Given the poor historical outcomes in patients age ≥ 60 treated with induction chemotherapy, ven/aza has become our institutional preference for the initial treatment of non-core binding factor (CBF) AML patients age ≥ 60. The benefit of allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) in patients who achieve response to ven/aza is uncertain. We report outcomes of SCT-eligible patients treated at our center. Between 1/2015 and 1/2020, 119 newly diagnosed non-CBF AML patients age ≥ 60 received ven/aza as initial therapy. 21 patients underwent SCT; 31 additional patients were potentially SCT eligible but deferred SCT. Overall survival (OS) was significantly greater among SCT patients (median survival not reached) versus potentially SCT eligible patients not undergoing SCT (median 518 days) (p = 0.01). Our data suggest that ven/aza followed by SCT in newly diagnosed AML patients older than ≥ 60 results in excellent outcomes and likely improves outcomes over maintenance therapy. Ongoing investigation will further refine the optimal timing of and selection of patients for SCT based on prognostic disease features and response assessments.
Inhibition of Liver Lipogenesis by Dietary Polyunsaturated Fat in Severely Diabetic Rats

Diabetic and nondiabetic rats were used to ascertain if dietary polyunsaturated fats inhibited hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase in insulin-insufficient rats as had been previously shown for normal rats. Male rats were rendered diabetic (400-600) mg glucose/100 mL blood) with streptozotocin and were fed a high fructose fat-free diet. Safflower oil or palmitate (or tallow) was added to the basal fructose diet at a level to supply 12,24 or 36% additional digestible energy. Compared with normal rats, diabetic rats had significantly lower hepatic fatty acid biosynthesis, but the proportion of acetyl-CoA carboxylase expressing catalytic activity as determined by the avidin-inactivation technique was unaffected by diabetes. Diabetes did not lower the maximal maximal activities of carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase. Moreover, the activities of these enzymes greatly exceeded the rate of fatty acid synthesis. At all levels of fat supplementation, the high linoleate safflower oil consistently resulted in a 50% lower rate of fatty acid biosynthesis than did comparable levels of tallow or palmitate. Safflower oil was also a more effective suppressor of the activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase than the saturated fats. Our data suggest that the greater inhibition of hepatic fatty acid biosynthesis by polyenoic fatty acids is an insulin-independent mechanism.
Rem, a member of the RGK GTPases, inhibits recombinant CaV1.2 channels using multiple mechanisms that require distinct conformations of the GTPase

Rad/Rem/Gem/Kir (RGK) GTPases potently inhibit CaV1 and CaV2 (CaV1-2) channels, a paradigm of ion channel regulation by monomeric G-proteins with significant physiological ramifications and potential biotechnology applications. The mechanism(s) underlying how RGK proteins inhibit ICa is unknown, and it is unclear how key structural and regulatory properties of these GTPases (such as the role of GTP binding to the nucleotide binding domain (NBD), and the C-terminus which contains a membrane-targeting motif) feature in this effect. Here, we show that Rem inhibits CaV1.2 channels by three independent mechanisms that rely on distinct configurations of the GTPase: (1) a reduction in surface density of channels is accomplished by enhancing dynamin-dependent endocytosis, (2) a diminution of channel open probability (Po) that occurs without impacting on voltage sensor movement, and (3) an immobilization of CaV channel voltage sensors. The presence of both the Rem NBD and C-terminus (whether membrane-targeted or not) in one molecule is sufficient to reconstitute all three mechanisms. However, membrane localization of the NBD by a generic membrane-targeting module reconstitutes only the decreased Po function (mechanism 2). A point mutation that prevents GTP binding to the NBD selectively eliminates the capacity to immobilize voltage sensors (mechanism 3). The results reveal an uncommon multiplicity in the mechanisms Rem uses to inhibit ICa, predict new physiological dimensions of the RGK GTPase–CaV channel crosstalk, and suggest original approaches for developing novel CaV channel blockers.
Long-term Outcomes Among Women With Cervical Cancer Treated from 1960-1987

To determine long term survival among women treated for cervical cancer and to provide long-term information regarding mortality and morbidity following treatment. Among a cohort of young women treated for cervical cancer over a 27 year period, with survival available up to 48 years from initial diagnosis, there were no variables identified which impacted the duration of survival beyond the initial stage of cervical cancer at presentation.
Every dogma has its day

This paper is a reexamination of “Two Dogmas . . .” in the light of Quine’s ongoing debate with Carnap over analyticity. It shows, first, that ‘analytic’ is a technical term within Carnap’s epistemology. As such it is intelligible, and Carnap’s position can meet Quine’s objections. Second, it shows that the core of Quine’s objection is that he (Quine) has an alternative epistemology to advance, one which appears to make no room for analyticity. Finally, the paper shows that Quine’s alternative epistemology is itself open to very serious objections. Quine is not thereby refuted, but neither can Carnap’s analyticity be dismissed as dogma.
Confident difference criterion: a new Bayesian differentially expressed gene selection algorithm with applications

Recently, the Bayesian method becomes more popular for analyzing high dimensional gene expression data as it allows us to borrow information across different genes and provides powerful estimators for evaluating gene expression levels. It is crucial to develop a simple but efficient gene selection algorithm for detecting differentially expressed (DE) genes based on the Bayesian estimators. In this paper, by extending the two-criterion idea of Chen et al. (Chen M-H, Ibrahim JG, Chi Y-Y. A new class of mixture models for differential gene expression in DNA microarray data. J Stat Plan Inference. 2008;138:387–404), we propose two new gene selection algorithms for general Bayesian models and name these new methods as the confident difference criterion methods. One is based on the standardized differences between two mean expression values among genes; the other adds the differences between two variances to it. The proposed confident difference criterion methods first evaluate the posterior probability of a gene having different gene expressions between competitive samples and then declare a gene to be DE if the posterior probability is large. The theoretical connection between the proposed first method based on the means and the Bayes factor approach proposed by Yu et al. (Yu F, Chen M-H, Kuo L. Detecting differentially expressed genes using alibrated Bayes factors. Statistica Sinica. 2008;18:783–802) is established under the normal-normal-model with equal variances between two samples. The empirical performance of the proposed methods is examined and compared to those of several existing methods via several simulations. The results from these simulation studies show that the proposed confident difference criterion methods outperform the existing methods when comparing gene expressions across different conditions for both microarray studies and sequence-based high-throughput studies. A real dataset is used to further demonstrate the proposed methodology. In the real data application, the confident difference criterion methods successfully identified more clinically important DE genes than the other methods. The confident difference criterion method proposed in this paper provides a new efficient approach for both microarray studies and sequence-based high-throughput studies to identify differentially expressed genes.
Adaptive packet and circuit switching

A technique is described for mixing packet- and circuit-switched data streams on clear channels of any speed. The technique is adaptive in the sense that the bandwidth used by circuits is dynamically allocated according to source burstiness, and packets always use all the remaining bandwidth. Using this concept, function placement in VLSI hardware and code has been investigated for an integrated private network. This adaptive packet/circuit switching conceptual design and prototyping work is seen as a vehicle to understand and develop the functions of bandwidth management and the layering of these functions in VLSI, microcode, and code. The VLSI implementation provides automatic and instantaneous bandwidth reallocation inside a complex frame. This is key to the new proposed classes of service which are required by narrowband and broadband real-time transfer applications. >
Formation of buyer‐seller trade networks in a quality‐differentiated product market

We examine the formation of buyer-seller links when exchange can take place only if such a link exists. Sellers produce products of different qualities, and multiple sellers can form a sellers' association to pool their customers setting uniform prices. Buyers form trade links with individual sellers or sellers' associations. We show which buyer-seller links will form and find the set of links that are stable and show how these links influence prices. We also show that a trade network mismatch may occur where a high-quality good remains unsold even without an economy-wide excess supply of goods. JEL classification: D40, D51, D82
Task structures, feedback to individual students, and student skill level in physical education

Research on effective teaching has addressed many of the variables thought to enhance student learning. One variable that has received a great deal of attention in the literature is teacher feedback directed to individual students, because a role of the teacher is to monitor instruction and provide students with information that will improve their subsequent performance. Feedback, which has been studied in motor learning and physical education research, is an often prescribed part of teacher education and teacher evaluation. The ability to provide relevant feedback generally is regarded as an important aspect of good teaching. Results on the relationships of feedback to learning a motor skill have not been as strong as the prescriptions often given to teachers. Motor learning research (Magill, 1993) consistently has shown there are relationships between feedback and achievement. In the past few years, research on feedback in physical education has shown that the results from motor learning research may not be directly applicable to the physical education setting (Silverman, 1994). Research conducted in physical education has shown mixed results with regard to the effects offeedback (see Lee, Keh, & Magill, 1993). Silverman, Tyson, and Krampitz (1992, 1993) have suggested that feedback may only be responsible for a small percentage
Discriminators of migration propensity among black and white men in the middle and later years.

The objective of this research is to increase our understanding of racial variations in the correlates of migration propensity among men passing through their middle and later years. An analytical model is developed around environmental disamenities, socioeconomic bonds, personal resources, and age. The results suggest the importance of determining the extent to which selected variables differentially discriminate migrants from nonmigrants dependent on race.
Nonstandard Employment in the Nonmetropolitan United States.

We examine the prevalence of nonstandard employment in the nonmetropolitan United States using the Current Population Survey Supplement on Contingent Work (1999 and 2001). We find that nonstandard work is more prevalent in nonmetropolitan than in central city or suburban areas. Logistic regression models controlling for sociode-mographic and work characteristics, show that nonmetropolitan workers experience higher odds of nonstandard employment than central city or suburban workers. Variations in industrial and occupational structures in nonmetro and metro areas do not explain residential differences in nonstandard work. We also estimate the odds of employment in each of the three components of nonstandard work: contingent work, part-time, and varied hour work. Nonmetropolitan workers are more likely than central city and suburban workers to be employed in contingent or varied hour work. The benefits and wages of nonstandard work are lower than for standard work across residence areas. The results highlight the importance of understanding nonstandard work and the components of nonstandard work, particularly when considering the nature of work across industries, occupations, and residence.
Academic Self-Concept Correlates of Potential Burnout in a Sample of First-Semester Elementary-School Practice Teachers: A Concurrent Validity Study:

For a sample of 109 graduate students beginning their first semester of practice teaching at the elementary-school level the concurrent validity of each of five subscales of the measure of academic self-concept entitled Dimensions of Self-Concept (DOSC)-Level of Aspiration, Anxiety, Academic Interest and Satisfaction, Leadership and Initiative, and Identification versus Alienation-was found relative to each of three criterion scales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scored for both frequency and intensity of response: (a) Emotional Exhaustion, (b) Depersonalization, and (c) Personal Accomplishment. It was concluded that for the most part the subscales of the DOSC demonstrated promising concurrent validity relative to the criterion measures afforded by the MBI. Substantial evidence was present that those student teachers who exhibited scores on the DOSC indicative of a positive or facilitative academic self-concept tended to register scores on the MBI associated with minimal tendency toward burnout be...
Invariant Imbedding For The Solution Of Vector Radiative Transfer In General Plane-Parallel Media

In this paper, we consider the problem of electromagnetic propagation in plane-parallel random media under rather general conditions and obtain solutions for the scattered polarized fields using radiative transport and the Stokes vector representation. More specifically, the plane-parallel medium is inhomogeneous, scatters radiation anisotropically, and has arbitrary boundary conditions. No restriction is placed on the radiative source as to its spatial and directional profiles. A uniform, unidirectional radiation beam incident on the medium from outside constitutes a special case. The formulation is based on the development of the Green's matrix for the scattering medium. The source matrices of this problem satisfy Fredholm integral equations of the second kind. The invariant imbedding technique developed by R. Bellman and co-workers is used to replace these integral equations with the equivalent Cauchy initial-value problems which can be solved using an appropriate quadrature formula and integration scheme. Various applicable symmetry relations for the scattered polarized fields are derived, and their utility in the solution of the initial-value problems is discussed. The Green's matrix approach is particularly useful in remote sensing applications, since it decouples the radiative sources and boundary conditions from media properties. For example, the temperature profile in a snow pack may be inferred by comparing the observed radiative field with the radiative field obtained by convoluting the Green's matrix solution with various trial temperature profiles.
Estimation of trapped thrombus volumes in retrievable inferior vena cava filters: a visual scale.

Purpose To establish a visual, objective scale for estimating trapped thrombus volumes in five types of retrievable inferior vena cava filters. Material and methods Silicone-based radiopaque polymer volumes of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mL were created. Both sphere and cone shapes were used. Polymer volumes were confirmed by means of the water displacement method. The volumes were then positioned to simulate trapped thrombus in five retrievable filters: Recovery and G2 (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, Ariz), Gunther Tulip and Celect (Cook, Bloomington, Ind), and OptEase (Cordis Endovascular, Warren, NJ). Radiographs were obtained by using conventional parameters. Visual scales of thrombus volume were created for each filter type. Results Visual scales for each retrievable filter type were created with simulated thrombi in typical trapping positions. Conclusion The authors developed a visual, objective scale for estimating trapped thrombus volume in five types of retrievable IVC filters. This could facilitate standardized reporting of thrombus volumes in studies of optional vena cava filters.
New Life for Old Ideas: The "Second Wave" of Sequence Analysis Bringing the "Course" Back Into the Life Course:

In this article the authors draw attention to the most recent and promising developments of sequence analysis. Taking methodological developments in life course sociology as the starting point, the authors detail the complementary strength in sequence analysis in this field. They argue that recent advantages of sequence analysis were developed in response to criticism of the original work, particularly optimal matching analysis. This debate arose over the past two decades and culminated in the 2000 exchange in Sociological Methods & Research. The debate triggered a "second wave" of sequence techniques that led to new technical implementations of old ideas in sequence analysis. The authors bring these new technical approaches together, demonstrate selected advances with synthetic example data, and show how they conceptually contribute to life course research. This article demonstrates that in less than a decade, the field has made much progress toward fulfilling the prediction that Andrew Abbott made in 20...
The preparation and properties of some activated carbons modified by treatment with phosgene or chlorine

Abstract Treatment of coal or coconut shell activated carbons with either phosgene or chlorine at 180°C followed by washing with methanol or water results in chlorinated carbons with very similar pore structures to their precursors. Water adsorption experiments show that the modified materials are relatively Hydrophobic, presumably as a result of replacement of oxygen-containing surface groups by chlorine. Adsorption of the model hydrophobic vapour chloropicrin from humid air is usually better for the modified carbons which, unlike the controls, do not appear to be subject to degradation in performance on ageing in a humid atmosphere. The stability of the modified carbons is probably a consequence of the chlorination of those sites on the control carbons that are prone to ready oxidation or hydroxylation.
CASSCF-wave packet ab initio prediction of electronic and vibrational spectra - Application to the A2Pi-X2Sigma(+) absorption of C2H at 3000 K

The combination of ab initio calculation of electronic wave functions with a wave packet calculation of the nuclear motion is used, within the Born–Oppenheimer approximation to compute the vibrational and electronic absorption of a polyatomic molecule. A particular virtue of this approach is that high as well as low temperature spectra are both calculable. This method is applied to C2H, for which the complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) method is used to determine full Born–Oppenheimer potential surfaces. Using the assumption that the A(2Π) ← X(2Σ+) absorption can be written as the sum of the A(2A’) ← X and A(2A‘) ← X absorptions, the spectra are determined to 60 cm−1 resolution at a temperature of 3000 K. As a result of the large thermal bending amplitude at 3000 K, the calculated spectra are broad and have little resolved structure. Two bands are resolvable, one is due to the A(2A‘) ← X absorption and is centered at 5500 cm−1, while the other is due to A(2A’) ← X absorption and is center...
Stimulation of Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity by Insulin in Developing Rat Brain

Insulin administered ip or intracisternally (ic) increased the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in whole brains and brain parts of neonatal rats. Maximal stimulation of activity occurred 4-5 h after ip administration. At the highest doses, insulin stimulated ODC activity by up to 5- and 8-fold after ip and ic injection, respectively. The same amount of insulin given ic caused greater increases in activity than when given ip. Insulin stimulated ODC activity in 2-day-old and in 17- to 60-day-old rats but not in 5- or 9-day old neonates or 80-day-old adults. When insulin-induced hypoglycemia was prevented by giving dextrose, the stimulation of ODC activity was approximately the same as that in animals receiving insulin without dextrose. This indicates that insulin-induced stimulation of brain ODC activity was not caused by insulin-induced hypoglycemia or physiological responses to hypoglycemia. Since ODC is considered an indicator of growth stimulation, these results suggest that insulin or insulin-like peptides have a role in the regulation of brain development.
Social skills training for an unassertive adolescent

Abstract An adolescent was trained to be more assertive through use of a social skills training program consisting of instruction, feedback, behavior rehearsal, and modeling by adult role models. The training program was applied to three component behaviors of assertiveness—requests for new behaviors, ratio of eye contact to duration of speech, and loudness of speech—in a multiple‐baseline analysis design. Two of these behaviors increased as a function of the training program, while the third behavior remained at baseline levels. Ratings of overall assertiveness also increased as a function of the training program. These effects of the training program using an adult therapist generalized to personal situations involving peers. A negative effect of social skills training was also observed.
Projection of accurate configuration-interaction wave functions for He

To quantify the extent of validity of the molecular model of atoms with correlated electrons, we project well-converged configuration-interaction wave functions for doubly excited states of He and for bound states of alkaline-earth-metal atoms onto simple rotor-vibrator wave functions for the ''linear triatomic molecule'' e-core-e. The three independent vibrational frequencies and the equilibrium electron-nucleus separation are treated as parameters which are varied to maximize the overlap with the well-converged functions. For intrashell states, the overlaps with harmonic normal-mode functions are generally quite large, about 85--95 % for the alkaline-earth-metals, and the corresponding optimized parameters are in rough agreement with the energy-level separations. The overlaps are improved by using an anharmonic local-mode representation, particularly for intershell states (corresponding to excited stretching vibrations), though the optimized parameters appear to lose some of the consistency shown by those in the harmonic normal-mode representation. A comparison is made of plots of the conditional probability densities based on rotor-vibrator functions and on independent-particle functions with those based on accurate functions. This shows clearly the superiority of the molecular picture over the independent-particle picture as a zero-order model for intrashell states of two-electron atoms.
Progesterone can either increase or decrease weight gain and adiposity in ovariectomized syrian hamsters

We examined the effects of estradiol and progesterone on weight gain, food intake, and carcass composition in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). In ovariectomized (OVX) hamsters injections of 5 micrograms/day estradiol benzoate (EB) alone decreased weight gain and adiposity, whereas treatment with progesterone alone (1 or 5 mg/day) resulted in increased weight gain and adiposity. However, concurrent treatment with progesterone and EB reduced body fat content to levels significantly below those of hamsters treated with EB alone. In a second experiment, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone were administered via subcutaneous Silastic capsules in doses which produce physiological levels of steroids. Implants of estradiol significantly decreased body weight gain and fat content. As in the first experiment, these effects of estradiol were exaggerated by concurrent progesterone administration. Implants of progesterone alone did not affect body weight or fatness in OVX hamsters. These data indicate that estradiol and progesterone interact to decrease body lipid stores in hamsters, whereas in rats progesterone reverses the adiposity-reducing actions of estradiol. This species difference in responses to progesterone could help to explain why rats increase, whereas hamsters decrease, their body lipid stores during pregnancy, when circulating progesterone levels are elevated.
Electrophysiologic changes in ischemic ventricular myocardium: I. Influence of ionic, metabolic, and energetic changes.

Myocardial Ischemia. Myocardial ischemia leads to significant changes in the intracellular and extracellular ionic milieu, high-energy phosphate compounds, and accumulation of metabolic by-products. Changes are measured in extracellular pH and K+ and intracellular pH, Ca2+, Na+ Mg2+, ATP, ADP, and inorganic phosphate. Alterations of membrane currents occur as a consequence of these ionic changes, adrenergic receptor stimulation, and accumulation of lactate, amphipathic compounds, and adenosine. Changes in the volume of the extracellular and intracellular spaces contribute further to the ultimate perturbations of active and passive membrane properties that underlie alterations in excitability, abnormal automaticity, refractoriness, and conduction. These characteristic changes of electrophysiologic properties culminate in loss of excitability and failure of impulse propagation and form the substrate for ventricular arrhythmias mediated through abnormal impulse formation and reentry. The ability to detail the changes in ions, metabolites, and high-energy phosphate compounds in both the extracellular and intracellular spaces and to correlate them directly with the simultaneously occurring electrophysiologic changes have greatly enhanced our understanding of the electrical events that characterize the ischemic process and hold promise for permitting studies aimed at developing interventions that may lessen the lethal consequences of ischemia.
Betalain pigments for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract A dye-sensitized solar cell based on natural betalain pigments from red beet roots is described. Reddish-purple betanin is an easily oxidized, water-soluble pigment with strong visible light absorption, having a maximum molar absorptivity of about 65,000 M −1 cm −1 at 535 nm. A photoanode was fabricated from nanocrystalline TiO 2 on transparent conductive glass, treated with ethanolic HCl solution, then sensitized with raw beet extract or a betanin solution from which yellow betaxanthin pigments were removed by column chromatography. The betanin-sensitized film when employed in a dye-sensitized solar cell gave a maximum photocurrent of 2.42 mA/cm 2 and open-circuit photovoltage of 0.44 V in the presence of methoxypropionitrile containing I − /I 3 − redox mediator. Photocurrents and photovoltages are also reported for the DSSC sensitized with yellow betaxanthin and a brown betalain-derived oxidation product. Wavelength-dependent incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiencies (IPCEs) show maximum values of 14% and 8% for betaxanthin- and betanin-based solar cells, respectively.
PAHs and metals in the soils of inner-city and suburban New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Representative soil samples of an inner-city and suburban community (n = 19 each) are evaluated for 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs (naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[j]fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene) and nine metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Co and V). Surface (2.5cm deep) samples were air-dried and sieved (2mm USGS #10). Accelerated solvent extraction was used for PAH preparation prior to analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metals were extracted at a 5:1 ratio of 1mol nitric acid to soil, shaken at room temperature, centrifuged, filtered and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Total PAHs (median 2927ngg(-1) versus 731ngg(-1)) and the total metals (median 1323μgg(-1) versus 183μgg(-1)) summarize differences (P foundations > residential streets > open areas. This study provides real-world data about various chemical mixtures which may be a factor of possible health disparities in sensitive populations, especially children, in different communities of New Orleans.
Intramural small intestinal hemorrhage—A differential diagnosis

Abstract Intramural small intestinal hemorrhage has many causes but produces only two roentgenographic patterns. In one, the traumatic form, the pattern is diagnostic if all the manifestations are recognized. In the spontaneous form, however, the pattern is almost identical with the appearance of certain non-hemorrhagic conditions. Recognition of this stacked coin or picket fence appearance limits the diagnostic possibilities, and differentiation can usually be established by clinical and laboratory findings.
Sensor point spread function effects on the statistics of multispectral target signatures

A statistical parametric multispectral sensor performance model was developed by ERIM to support mine field detection studies, multispectral sensor design/performance trade-off studies, and target detection algorithm development. A key element in this performance model is the influence of the background on the target's multispectral statistics due to the size and shape of the target under the sensor's point spread function and pixel sampling function. The multispectral statistics of interest include the first-order (mean) and second-order moments (covariance) of the target's radiance signature. This paper presents a formulation which not only considers the effects of a multispectral sensor with a single point spread function, but also considers the joint effects of multiple, potentially misregistered, point spread functions on the target's covariance statistics. The model and an example of sensor point spread function and pixel sampling function effects on the target's spectral statistics are presented.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Muscle Mitohormesis Promotes Longevity via Systemic Repression of Insulin Signaling

Summary Mitochondrial dysfunction is usually associated with aging. To systematically characterize the compensatory stress signaling cascades triggered in response to muscle mitochondrial perturbation, we analyzed a Drosophila model of muscle mitochondrial injury. We find that mild muscle mitochondrial distress preserves mitochondrial function, impedes the age-dependent deterioration of muscle function and architecture, and prolongs lifespan. Strikingly, this effect is mediated by at least two prolongevity compensatory signaling modules: one involving a muscle-restricted redox-dependent induction of genes that regulate the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt ) and another involving the transcriptional induction of the Drosophila ortholog of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7, which systemically antagonizes insulin signaling and facilitates mitophagy. Given that several secreted IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) exist in mammals, our work raises the possibility that muscle mitochondrial injury in humans may similarly result in the secretion of IGFBPs, with important ramifications for diseases associated with aberrant insulin signaling.
Alloimmunization to red cell antigens in liver and multivisceral transplant patients

Background. Alloimmunization to red blood cell (RBC) antigens can significantly impact transfusion support of patients undergoing solid-organ transplantation. This study evaluated the incidence of clinically significant RBC alloantibodies (abs) in 2000 consecutive adults receiving liver (OLTX), intestinal (ITX) or multivisceral (MVT) transplants. Methods. From January 1991 to May 2006, 2000 patients underwent OLTX (n= 1892), MVT (n=74), or ITX (n=34). Blood sample for serologic investigation was submitted to the transfusion service no later than 4 hr before surgery. The presence of clinically significant RBC abs before transplant with subsequent transfusion requirements, the incidence of delayed transfusion reactions, and de novo abs after transplant were evaluated. Results. One hundred fifteen patients (5.75%) had clinically significant RBC abs before transplant, with 56.7% directed against Rh system antigens. Forty-six (40%) had multiple abs. A mean of 18 packed RBC units (U) were transfused per patient. Patients requiring >20 U (n=34) or those with multiple abs received antigen-negative units for the first 5-10 U when antibody was still present, switched to antigen-unscreened units during massive blood loss and returned to antigen-negative units for the last 5-10 U transfused. Twelve patients (0.6%) developed de novo abs posttransplant. Twenty-two (1.1%) had delayed serologic transfusion reaction. All patients were successfully managed without delay in initiation of surgery or hemolytic complications. Conclusion. RBC alloimmunization can present a special challenge to solid-organ transplantation. Early serologic testing of the recipient pretransplant and prompt communication between the transfusion service and transplant team facilitates successful transfusion management of these patients.
An update regarding the effects of hormones on the endometrium: practical considerations for the surgical pathologist

Abstract The endometrium displays a unique physiology characterized by its cyclical response to steroid hormones, which results in morphological changes that contribute to a pathologist's interpretation of proper endometrial function. Distinctive changes are also observed during times of physiological hormonal shifts (such as during pregnancy), pathological hormonal imbalances (such as certain functioning ovarian tumours) and iatrogenic hormonal imbalances (such as hormone therapy). The ubiquity of these states, particularly in conjunction with the widespread use of oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and intrauterine devices, requires that the pathologist be familiar with both the complete patient history and the histologic patterns specific to each entity in order to obtain an accurate and practical diagnosis for the clinician. Furthermore, some endometrial changes may mimic more worrisome lesions, and vigilance is necessary to accurately distinguish among these histologic patterns when evaluating endometrial samples.
Effects of Fadrozole (CGS 16949A) and Letrozole (CGS 20267) on the inhibition of aromatase activity in breast cancer patients

Fadrozole Hydrochloride (CGS 16949A) and Letrozole (CGS 20267), are two of the newest non-steroidal, orally active aromatase inhibitors currently being evaluated as second line treatment of patients with hormone dependent forms of metastatic breast cancer. In a phase I clinical efficacy study, we examined the ability of these two imidazole derivatives to suppress the synthesis of estrogen in a cohort of postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer. Both medications at relatively low doses were potent and rapid inhibitors of aromatase activity as evidenced by their ability to suppress the level of blood and urine estradiol and estrone as well as blood estrone sulfate in these patients. Letrozole appeared to be the more potent of the two, with over 95% suppression of both plasma and urinary estrogens observed within 2 weeks of therapy. Letrozole appeared to be more selective than Fadrozole in inhibiting aromatase activity in that no compromise in cortisol and aldosterone output was evident with Letrozole therapy at all of the doses tested, a compromise clearly seen with Fadrozole. The inhibition of aromatase activity by these imidazole derivatives as second line therapy for patients with hormone dependent breast cancer appears to be a favorable alternative form of hormone ablative therapy and holds considerable promise for the treatment of this malignancy.
Quantification of context effects in speech perception: Influence of prosody

Speech recognition requires that the auditory system incorporate both acoustic and contextual cues from the signal for adequate comprehension. A number of contextual effects in speech have been shown to improve recognition ability, among these are intonational/prosodic cues and syntactic and semantic congruency. The relationship between the processing of prosodic cues and the processing of syntactic and semantic information, however, is uncertain. The present investigation mathematically quantified the contribution of linguistic factors to speech perception, with an emphasis on relating how prosody affects the processing of syntactic and semantic information. Subjects listened to and repeated sentences having normal and abnormal prosodic contours, which contained three levels of syntactic and semantic constraint. Results revealed that prosody does affect listeners' ability to utilize syntactic and semantic information, suggesting that the presence of prosody serves to alter how an individual utilizes cont...