cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Loss of RUNX1 is associated with aggressive lung adenocarcinomas

The mammalian runt-related factor 1 (RUNX1) is a master transcription factor that regulates lineage specification of hematopoietic stem cells. RUNX1 translocations result in the development of myeloid leukemias. Recently, RUNX1 has been implicated as a tumor suppressor in other cancers. We postulated RUNX1 expression may be associated with lung adenocarcinoma etiology and/or progression. We evaluated the association of RUNX1 mRNA expression with overall survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a publically available database. Compared to high expression levels, Low RUNX1 levels from lung adenocarcinomas were associated with a worse overall survival (Hazard Ratio = 2.014 (1.042-3.730 95% confidence interval), log-rank p = 0.035) compared to those that expressed high RUNX1 levels. Further immunohistochemical examination of 85 surgical specimens resected at the University of Vermont Medical Center identified that low RUNX1 protein expression was associated with larger tumors (p = 0.038). Gene expression network analysis was performed on the same subset of TCGA cases that demonstrated differential survival by RUNX1 expression. This analysis, which reveals regulatory relationships, showed that reduced RUNX1 levels were closely linked to upregulation of the transcription factor E2F1. To interrogate this relationship, RUNX1 was depleted in a lung cancer cell line that expresses high levels of RUNX1. Loss of RUNX1 resulted in enhanced proliferation, migration, and invasion. RUNX1 depletion also resulted in increased mRNA expression of E2F1 and multiple E2F1 target genes. Our data implicate loss of RUNX1 as driver of lung adenocarcinoma aggression, potentially through deregulation of the E2F1 pathway.
Neural network classification of corneal topography. Preliminary demonstration

Purpose. Videokeratography is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of corneal shape abnormalities. However, interpretation of the topographic map is sometimes difficult, especially when pathologies with similar topographic patterns are suspected. The neural networks model, an artificial intelligence approach, was applied for automated pattern interpretation in corneal topography, and its usefulness was assessed. Methods. One hundred eighty-three topographic maps were selected and classified by human experts into seven categories : normal, with-the-rule astigmatism, keratoconus (mild, moderate, advanced), postphotorefractive keratectomy, and postkeratoplasty. The maps were divided into a training set (108 maps) and a test set (75 maps). For each map, 11 topography-characterizing indices calculated from the data provided by the TMS-1 videokeratoscope, plus the corresponding diagnosis category, were used to train a neural network. Results. The correct classification was achieved by a trained neural network for all 108 maps in the training set. In the test set, the neural network correctly classified 60 of 75 maps (80%). For every category, accuracy and specificity were greater than 90%, whereas sensitivity ranged from 44% to 100%. Conclusions. With further testing and refinement, the neural networks paradigm for computer-assisted interpretation or objective classification of videokeratography may become a useful tool to aid the clinician in the diagnosis of corneal topographic abnormalities. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 ;36 :1327-1335.
Stable Isotopes and Bayesian Modeling Methods of Tracking Sources and Differentiating Bioavailable and Recalcitrant Phosphorus Pools in Suspended Particulate Matter

Understanding the sources of different phosphorus (P) pools and their bioavailability under imposed biogeochemical environments in a watershed is limited largely due to the lack of appropriate methods. In this research, phosphate oxygen isotope ratios and Bayesian modeling on fingerprinting elements were applied as two novel methods to identify sources and relative recalcitrancy of particulate P pools suspended in water in the continuum of sources from land to the mouth of a coastal estuary to the Chesapeake Bay. Comparative analyses of sizes, relative ratios, and oxygen isotope values of particulate P pools in the creek water suggested that the NaHCO3–P pool was bioavailable, whereas NaOH–P and HCl–P pools were recalcitrant during P transport along the creek. Agricultural field soil, streambank, and river bottom sediments were major sources of particulate P and their contributions varied significantly at the headwater and downstream regions of the creek. Bayesian modeling based on fingerprinting elements...
A Systematic Review of Interpathologist Agreement in Histologic Classification of Lupus Nephritis

Introduction Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. The gold standard for diagnosis of LN is a renal biopsy. Considering the importance of the biopsy in determining long-term prognostication and treatment decisions, it is crucial to assess renal histopathology with utmost accuracy and precision. This review represents a systematic search of published literature to estimate the degree of interpathologist reproducibility in current assessment of LN. Methods Using the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines, studies analyzing the agreement of 4 or more pathologists assessing LN slides using the ISN/Renal Pathology Society (RPS) classification, activity index, and chronicity index were selected for analysis in this systematic review. Results In reviewing 6 qualifying studies (those analyzing the agreement of 4 or more pathologists using the ISN/RPS classification, activity index, and chronicity index) for the assignment of ISN/RPS class was 0.325 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.2405–0.425), which is “poor.” The median interpathologist concordance values for the assigned activity index and chronicity index were “moderate”: 0.52 (IQR 0.51–0.69) and 0.49 (IQR 0.36–0.58), respectively. Conclusion Thus, the current scoring using the ISN/RPS classification system and activity and chronicity indices for LN exhibits poor interpathologist agreement, which limits its use in clinical practice. Given that this can have severe repercussions on a patient’s treatment and prognosis, efforts to update pathology assessment guidelines, objectively measurable biomarkers, and deep learning approaches are strongly warranted.
It is all about the process(ing): P-body granules and the regulation of signal transduction

The eukaryotic cell is subdivided into distinct functional domains by the presence of both membrane-bound and membraneless organelles. The latter include cytoplasmic granules, like the Processing-body (P-body), that are induced in response to stress and contain specific sets of mRNAs and proteins. Although P-bodies have been evolutionarily conserved, we do not yet understand the full extent of their biological functions in the cell. Early studies suggested that these structures might be sites of mRNA decay as the first protein constituents identified were enzymes involved in mRNA processing. However, more recent work indicates that this is not likely to be the primary function of these granules and has even suggested that P-bodies are sites of long-term mRNA storage. Interestingly, P-bodies and other ribonucleoprotein granules have been found to also contain a variety of signaling molecules, including protein kinases and phosphatases key to the normal control of cell growth and survival. Therefore, P-bodies could have a role in the modulation of cell signaling during particular types of stress. This review discusses both the general implications of such a proposal and one particular example that illustrates how the granule recruitment of a protein kinase can impact overall cell physiology.
Tensorial Modulation of Electrokinetic Streaming Potentials on Air and Liquid Filled Surfaces

Textured surfaces, comprised of grooves filled with air, e.g., air-filled surfaces (AFS), or with liquid, e.g., liquid-filled surfaces (LFS), significantly influence fluid flows and the related ele...
TDP-43 is associated with a reduced likelihood of rendering a clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies in autopsy-confirmed cases of transitional/diffuse Lewy body disease.

Trans-active response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) can be detected in up to 63% of autopsy-confirmed Lewy body disease (LBD) cases. It is unclear whether TDP-43 is associated with a decreased likelihood of a clinical diagnosis of probable dementia with Lewy bodies (pDLB) during life. In an autopsy cohort of 395 cognitively impaired patients from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, we determined the presence of TDP-43 in the hippocampus [hTDP-43(+)] and examined associations between hTDP-43 and an antemortem pDLB clinical diagnosis with multiple regression analyses. For this study, given our specific question, we only counted transitional and diffuse Lewy body disease as LBD positive (LBD+). One-hundred forty-five cases (37%) were hTDP-43(+) and 156 (39%) were LBD+; co-pathology was noted in 63 (16%) cases. Patients with pDLB− LBD+ were more likely to be older, hTDP-43(+) and have high Braak neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) status compared to the pDLB+ LBD+ patients. After accounting for older age at death and high Braak NFT status, hTDP-43(+) status was associated with the absence of a clinical diagnosis of pDLB despite LBD+ status (p < 0.05). The absence of a diagnosis of pDLB during life in patients with LBD is associated with older age, high Braak NFT stage and hTDP-43, each feature contributing independently to a lower likelihood of a clinical diagnosis of pDLB during life.
Nomograms for predicting overall and recurrence-free survival after trimodality therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma

Background Locally advanced esophageal carcinoma is treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy. Patients may still experience recurrence and death despite undergoing potentially curative trimodality therapy. This study describes predictive nomograms for recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after the completion of trimodality therapy. Methods A total of 215 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma underwent trimodality therapy from September 2010 to April 2018. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to create nomograms for OS and RFS. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated for OS and RFS comparing high-risk and low-risk cohorts. Results On multivariate analysis, clinical N-stage, tumor differentiation, tumor regression grade, anastomotic leak, body mass index, age, and number of lymph nodes removed were predictive variables for overall survival. Clinical N-stage, tumor differentiation, tumor regression grade, anastomotic leak, age, and positive lymph nodes were significant predictors of RFS in a multivariate model. The nomogram for OS had good predictive ability (Harrell's Concordance index [C-index]: 0.71 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.66-0.76]). The nomogram for RFS also performed well (C-index: 0.70 [95% CI: 0.65-0.74]). Conclusion Our nomograms can accurately predict OS and RFS after trimodality therapy and may provide guidance regarding adjuvant therapy and surveillance.
Exploration-based learning of a step to step controller predicts locomotor adaptation

Humans are able to adapt their locomotion to a variety of novel circumstances, for instance, walking on diverse terrain and walking with new footwear. During locomotor adaptation, humans have been shown to exhibit stereotypical changes in their movement patterns. Here, we provide a theoretical account of such locomotor adaptation, positing that the nervous system prioritizes stability in the short timescale and improves energy expenditure over a longer timescale. The resulting mathematical model has two processes: a stabilizing controller which is gradually changed by a reinforcement learner that exploits local gradients to lower energy expenditure, estimating gradients indirectly via intentional exploratory noise. We consider this model walking and adapting under three novel circumstances: walking on a split-belt treadmill (walking with each foot on a different belt, each belt at different speeds), walking with an exoskeleton, and walking with an asymmetric leg mass. This model predicts the short and long timescale changes observed in walking symmetry on the split-belt treadmill and while walking with the asymmetric mass. The model exhibits energy reductions with exoskeletal assistance, as well as entrainment to time-periodic assistance. We show that such exploration-based learning is degraded in the presence of large sensorimotor noise, providing a potential account for some impairments in learning.
How do family ownership, control and management affect firm value?

Abstract Using proxy data on all Fortune-500 firms during 1994–2000, we find that family ownership creates value only when the founder serves as CEO of the family firm or as Chairman with a hired CEO. Dual share classes, pyramids, and voting agreements reduce the founder's premium. When descendants serve as CEOs, firm value is destroyed. Our findings suggest that the classic owner-manager conflict in nonfamily firms is more costly than the conflict between family and nonfamily shareholders in founder-CEO firms. However, the conflict between family and nonfamily shareholders in descendant-CEO firms is more costly than the owner-manager conflict in nonfamily firms.
Sexual Dysfunctions in Women

In this article, we summarize the definition, etiology, assessment, and treatment of sexual dysfunctions in women. Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV-TR) is our guiding framework for classifying and defining women's sexual dysfunctions, we draw special attention to recent discussion in the literature criticizing the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria and their underlying assumptions. Our review of clinical research on sexual dysfunction summarizes psychosocial and biomedical management approaches, with a critical examination of the empirical support for commonly prescribed therapies and limitations of recent clinical trials.
Exploring How Community College Presidents Make Human Resources Decisions for Financial Aid Departments in an Era of Uncertainty

Community college presidents play a critical role in making decisions that shape the organizational cultures and policies of their institutions. This study explored the perceptions of 15 public com...
Exploring the Effect of Augmented Reality on Verbal Communication and Code-editing in a Collaborative Programming Task

Augmented reality (AR) has been shown its prominence in immersive learning across various fields of education, especially in STEM curricula. Researchers have demonstrated that AR visualization can improve learning and cognitive outcomes by multimodal interaction. However, compared to passive modes of learning like reading and viewing, there is little research focused on the effects of AR on a collaborative problem-solving task like pair programming in computer science education, which is difficult to analyze due to the increased complexity in the task and user-user interaction. We designed an AR application, where two participants can work together to solve a programming task, and conducted a within-subject study to evaluate how the participants’ code editing and vocal communication are different in the AR and non-AR visualizations. The result showed that participants using the AR visualization exhibited strategic programming behavior and had more interactive communication than using the non-AR visualization. Overall, this preliminary work contributes to the understanding of how AR can support collaborative problem-solving and engage users in verbal communication by multimodal analytics.
SPECTRAL METHODS FOR TIME-DEPENDENT PROBLEMS.

Reference EPFL-BOOK-190435doi:10.1017/CBO9780511618352 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511618352 Record created on 2013-11-12, modified on 2017-05-12
Leadership Development in the Context of International Service Learning

In the spring of 2012, our university began an innovative project that was designed to foster leadership development using a multi-pronged approach. With funds from a three-year grant from the state of Tennessee, we were able to launch an international service-learning project that students, under the supervision of their instructor and two other university employees (one faculty member and one staff member), completed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. This project was the culminating activity in an upper-division leadership course that focused on international development issues in the context of social justice challenges.
Pulmonary Alveolar Macrophages Contribute to the Premetastatic Niche by Suppressing Antitumor T Cell Responses in the Lungs

In contrast to tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, or inflammatory monocytes, functions of tissue resident macrophages, including alveolar macrophages (AM), in cancer were not well studied. Using a mouse model of breast cancer, we show that AM promote cancer metastasis to the lungs by suppressing antitumor T cells in this organ. AM accumulated in the premetastatic lungs through complement C5a receptor-mediated proliferation but not through recruitment from the circulation. AM preconditioned by breast tumors inhibited Th1 and favored generation of Th2 cells that had lower tumoricidal activity than Th1 cells. In addition, AM reduced the number and maturation of lung dendritic cells by regulating TGF-β in the lung environment. Depletion of AM reversed immunosuppression imposed by these cells and strengthened local Th1 responses, which significantly reduced lung metastatic burden. C5a receptor deficiency, which also lessens myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the premetastatic niche, synergized with the depletion of AM in preventing metastasis, leading to protection of mice from lung metastases. This study identifies AM as a new component of the premetastatic niche, which is harnessed by tumors to impose immunosuppression, and as a new target for cancer immunotherapies to eliminate or reduce metastasis. Because the lungs are the most common target for hematogenous metastasis, this research offers a plausible explanation for susceptibility of the lungs to cancer metastasis.
A National Survey of Curriculum Needs as Perceived by Professional Environmental Educators

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess perceived environmental education (EE) curriculum needs in the United States (K-16). The Environmental Education Curriculum Needs Assessment Questionnaire (EECNAQ) was developed, validated, and direct-mailed to 169 randomly selected professional environmental educators (58.6% return rate). The EECNAQ elicited perceptions about the desired status and the current state of EE curricula, the need for curriculum development, the anticipated use of curricula teachers, and the need for inservice teacher education. These five major questions were posed relative to fifteen goals which reflected the Tbilisi objectives and four levels of environmental literacy. The findings reveal a consensus among the professional participants that the EE goals are important ones, that they are not being met to a large extent in existing curricula, that extensive needs exist for both goal-oriented curricula and teacher education, and that the goaloriented curricula would be used by t...
New names and combinations in Trixis (Compositae)

Trixis chiapensis, T. grandibracteata, T. mexicana var.auriculata, T. mexicana var.macradenia, andT. parviflora are described as new, and the combinationsT. californica var.peninsularis, T. michuacana var.longifolia, andT. pringlei var.oligantha are proposed. The application of the namesT. inula andT. michuacana is discussed.
Normative Perceptions in Relation to Substance Use and HIV-Risky Sexual Behaviors of College Students

Abstract In this study, 410 college students completed a survey assessing their personal substance use patterns and sexual behavior and their perceptions of other students' substance use and sexual behavior. Two parallel sets of questions were presented to reflect the two contextual conditions of being drunk or high versus being not drunk or high. Results indicated that number of recent sexual partners and normative perceptions of HIV- risky sexual behavior were the strongest predictors of personal HIV-risky behavior when not drunk or high. HIV-risky behavior when drunk or high was predicted by personal substance use as well as by number of recent partners and normative perceptions of peer sexual behavior. These findings suggest that HIV-prevention programs for college students should aim to correct overinflated perceptions of other students' high-risk sexual behavior.
Non-olfactory chemoreceptors in asymmetric setae activate antennular grooming behavior in the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus.

SUMMARY In the spiny lobster Panulirus argus the antennules carrying olfactory sensilla called aesthetascs and several types of other non-olfactory sensilla accompanying them are frequently groomed by the third maxillipeds in a stereotyped behavioral pattern. This behavior can be elicited by chemical stimulation with l-glutamate. Using selective sensillar ablations, we tested whether this behavior is driven by the numerous aesthetascs, which have been implicated as mediating this chemically elicited antennular grooming behavior in a previous investigation, or other, less numerous sensilla called asymmetric setae, which are tightly associated with aesthetascs. The selective sensilla ablations showed that the asymmetric setae are necessary and sufficient for driving chemically elicited antennular grooming. Bilateral elimination of the ca. 160 asymmetric setae almost completely abolished the behavior, whereas bilateral elimination of the ca. 2600 aesthetascs or of another type of sensilla associated with them (guard setae) did not cause a reduction in chemically elicited antennular grooming. Microscopical analysis of the morphological properties of the asymmetric setae revealed the presence of a terminal pore at the tip of the seta and a phalloidin-positive scolopale below its base. Since these structures have been identified in decapod crustaceans as modality-specific structures of bimodal chemo- and mechanosensory sensilla, we conclude that the asymmetric setae belong to this type of sensilla and thus have the appropriate features to function as chemoreceptors in the elicitation of antennular grooming. The identification of asymmetric setae and not aesthetascs as the drivers of chemically elicited antennular grooming suggests that it is not the olfactory pathway in the brain but a parallel pathway, constituted mainly by the lateral antennular neuropils, that is the neuronal substrate of this behavior. The lateral antennular neuropils receive non-olfactory sensory input from the antennule and contain the major arborizations of antennular motoneurons, allowing that direct sensory-motor coupling is involved in mediating the chemical elicitation of antennular grooming behavior.
Thyroglobulin and 27-S ioprotein. Iodination and ultracentrifugal heterogeneity

Abstract The time course of iodination of individual thyroid iodoproteins has been investigated by “equilibrium” labeling in rats and “pulse” labeling in rats and man. Although the “equilibrium” experiments demonstrated little difference between the rate of incorporation of iodine into these poteins after two days, pulse label experiments at earlier times indicated that thyroglubulin (19 S) was labeled at a faster rate than the 27-S iodoprotein. The 27-S protein, which contains more iodine, becomes more highly labeled than thyroglobulin during “equilibrium” labeling. Radiochromatography after hydrolysis revealed no significant difference in the relative distribution of iodoamino acids in the 19-S and 27-S proteins at varied times after labeling. Ultracentrifugal heterogeneity of thyroglobulin has been demonstrated by density-gradient centrifugation. A slower-sedimenting fraction containing less iodine was separated from a more highly iodinated, faster-sedimenting one. A correlation seemed also to exist between the chromatographic behavior of thyroglobulin on DEAE-cellulose and the sedimentation properties of thyroglobulin. The faster- sedimenting molecules were more strongly retained on DEAE-cellulose, and labeling in vivo showed a positive correlation between the time of iodination and the sedimentation rate. It is concluded that the faster-sedimenting thyroglobulin molecules are more dense, contain more iodine, are more negatively charged, and are iodinated later than the slower-sedimenting ones.
Cause of chemical zoning in the Bishop (California) and Bandelier (New Mexico) magma chambers

Rhyolitic magma chambers often erupt to form deposits with a wide range of trace element chemistry, inferred to reflect zoning in the magma chamber prior to eruption. Ion probe microanalyses of trapped melt inclusions and matrix glass from the large Lower Bandelier Tuff and Bishop Tuff eruptions shows that much of this compositional variation can be blamed on the intrusion of a second rhyolitic magma into the base of the chambers. The second rhyolite was composed of similar major elements but contained significantly higher Ti, Sr, and Ba in both examples. Microanalyses of sanidine phenocrysts show pronounced trace element zoning profiles in accord with the glass chemistry. Applying the available diffusion coefficients for Sr in sanidine to the zoning suggests residence times on the order of 104 yrs after the mixing event. The source of the second magma is not known, but similarities in chemical zoning patterns in silicic magmas throughout the world point toward a common process. Mixing of less fractionated magma derived from similar source rocks is the simplest mechanism. Detailed isotopic studies may help distinguish different sources. Independent of the second magma, large variations in trace elements are observed in the melt inclusions from the Lower Bandelier and Bishop Tuffs which can be modeled by ∼ 40% fractional crystallization.
Albumin grafting on to polypropylene by thermal activation

Abstract 4-azido-2-nitrophenyl albumin (ANP-albumin) was prepared by reacting 4-fluoro-3-nitrophenyl azide with albumin. The thermal decomposition kinetics of phenyl azide of ANP-albumin was studied at various temperatures by Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The decomposition rate of the phenyl azide increased with temperature. The activation energy for the first-order decomposition of the phenyl azide was 128.0 kJ/mol. Albumin was grafted on to polypropylene (PP) films by thermolysis of the azido groups of ANP-albumin with no premodification of the PP surface. The albumin-grafted surface was characterized by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and by quantitative determination of platelet adhesion and activation. The bulk concentration of ANP-albumin used for adsorption varied from 0.001 to 30 mg ml −1 , and the albumin-adsorbed PP films were incubated at 100°C for up to 7 h. The carbon and nitrogen peaks resulting from the grafted albumin were used to compare the surface albumin concentrations as a function of the concentration of ANP-albumin in the adsorption solution. When the PP film was adsorbed with ANP-albumin at the concentration of 5 mg ml −1 or higher and incubated at 100°C for longer than 5 h, the surface became resistant to platelet adhesion. The ANP-albumin can be grafted on to chemically inert surfaces such as PP surface through simple thermolysis of azido groups to prevent platelet adhesion and activation.
DNA synthesis associated with the inner membrane of the nuclear envelope.

IN Escherichia coli1 and Bacillus subtilis2, the most recently synthesized DNA was found to be attached to the cell membrane. When human amnion tissue culture cells were briefly exposed to3H-thymidine, electron microscope autoradio- J graphy of the cells showed that the radioactivity was restricted to the nuclear envelope and the periphery of the nucleolus. This suggested that DNA replication was initiated at the nuclear membrane3. We have analysed DNA synthesis in nuclear envelopes isolated from rats shortly after administration of3H-thymidine and have shown that nascent DNA, as indicated by DNA of highest specific activity, was associated with a membrane fraction derived from the inner layer of the nuclear envelope.
A study of the color reaction of iron with “TTA”

TTA, or 2-Thenoyltrifluoroacetone, gives with ferric ion, in various concentrations colorations ranging from blood red to light pink. The advantages of this test are that it is simple to perform, that it is applicable in different acid media of fairly high concentrations, and that it is somewhat sensitive in the presence of ions that usually interfere with such tests. The sensitivity (limit of identification) was found to be 0,5γ and the limit of concentration 1 : 100000 when a benzene solution of the reagent was reacted with a slightly acid solution of ferric ion on spot paper.
Growth and thermal stability of Ag or Au films on Nb(110).

The growth and thermal stability of ultrathin (<50-A-thick) Ag and Au films on Nb(110) was investigated with use of photoemission spectroscopy and low-energy electron-diffraction (LEED) patterns. The LEED results show that Ag or Au forms a monolayer which is commensurate with the substrate, but also show that the structure of this overlayer reverts to a more close-packed structure after three monolayers (ML) have been deposited. Photoemission spectra show trends that suggest the evolution of the Ag or Au band structure with coverage and also show that a surface deposit of at least 2 ML of Ag or Au is required to observe valence-band states characteristic of the bulk metal. Further examination of the photoemission spectra suggests that the Ag or Au d-band states play only a small role in the chemical bonding that occurs between the noble metals and Nb(110), and this can be contrasted with the extensive d-band involvement in chemisorption bonds formed between Pd or Pt and Nb(110). Heating does not cause substantial change in the electric structure of 12.8-ML-thick Ag films and they thermally desorb from Nb when heated above 830 K. Similar Au films intermix with Nb to form a disordered surface phase when heated beyondmore » 750 K. Desorption or complete in-diffusion of Au occurs when the substrate is heated beyond 1100 K. Implications for the formation of strained surface layers and surface chemical properties of noble metals on Nb(110) are discussed.« less
Beyond mentoring and advising: Toward understanding the role of faculty “developers” in student success

It is old news that interactions between students and faculty enhance student learning. In this article, Vicki Baker and Kimberly Griffin offer another role for faculty in their relationships with students—that of developer.
Influence of Age on Metabolic Activity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

SummaryA study of lactate oxidation by washed cells of M. tuberculosis strain H37Ra revealed a marked influence of the age of the cells. Cells obtained during the logarithmic phase of growth were the most active metabolically.
Discovery and characterization of three novel synuclein genes in zebrafish.

The neuronal protein α-synuclein has been linked to the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies, a collection of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease. α-Synuclein belongs to a family of synuclein genes that includes β- and γ-synuclein. However, despite being associated with several fatal human neurodegenerative diseases, little is known about the normal function of synucleins. Here we report the cloning and characterization of three synucleins from zebrafish, sncga, sncgb, and sncb. The sequences of these zebrafish synucleins are very similar to those of the human proteins. We used whole-mount in situ hybridization to analyze their spatial and temporal expression patterns during development. sncgb was expressed exclusively in the notochord, while sncga and sncb were expressed strongly in the nervous system. Our identification of synuclein genes in zebrafish and the characterization of their expression patterns will facilitate future experiments aimed at assessing their functions in normal physiology as well as their role in pathophysiology. Developmental Dynamics 237:2490–2495, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A 210,000-year record of barium variability in the deep northwest Atlantic Ocean

THE deep ocean is the storehouse for most of the carbon and nutrients in the ocean–atmosphere system; together with its out-crops at high latitudes, the deep ocean is of great importance in driving glacial–interglacial changes in the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere1–3. The chemical and physical structure of the deep glacial oceans can be reconstructed by means of palaeochemical tracers; for example, the cadmium and carbon isotope contents of benthic foraminifera have been used to reconstruct the phosphate (or labile nutrient) compositions of deep waters4–14. Recently, it was proposed15 that barium in benthic foraminifera could be used to reconstruct the distribution of refractory, deep-regenerated chemical properties in the water masses of the glacial oceans. A reconstruction of barium concentra-tions in the oceans at the time of the Last Glacial Maximum revealed the greatest changes in the North Atlantic, where barium concentrations in deep water were up to 50% higher than at present16. Here we present a record of the benthic Ba/Ca ratio in the deep northwest Atlantic stretching back to interglacial stage 7 (∼210 kyr ago), encompassing two full glacial cycles. A comparison of the barium record with that of the other nutrient-like tracers lends confidence in the general agreement between these tracers while showing some spectral variability unique to barium, thus underscoring its utility as an additional palaeoceanographic tracer.
Pt/GaN Schottky diodes for harsh environment NO sensing applications

Pt/GaN Schottky diodes were fabricated and tested for responsivity to NO in a background of nitrogen and synthetic air. The voltage of the diode was monitored at a constant forward current of 10 mA while exposing the diode to NO. The voltage increased when exposed to NO in a background of nitrogen and the voltage decreased when exposed to hydrogen in a background of nitrogen. The response to NO saturated after several pulses and little response was seen until the diode was exposed to hydrogen to reset the sensor. In a background of synthetic air the voltage decreased for both NO and hydrogen. The voltage response had square root dependence to concentration. The 95% prediction intervals for a 40 nm Pt thickness GaN/Schottky diode was calculated to be 65 ppm at a concentration of approximately 500 ppm, with a voltage response of 0.4 mV. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Mediation from multilevel to structural equation modeling

Background/Aims: The purpose of this article is to outline multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) for mediation analysis of longitudinal data. The introduction of mediating variables can improve experimental and nonexperimental studies of child growth in several ways as discussed throughout this article. Single-mediator individual-level and multilevel mediation models illustrate several current issues in the estimation of mediation with longitudinal data. The strengths of incorporating structural equation modeling (SEM) with multilevel mediation modeling are described. Summary and Key Messages: Longitudinal mediation models are pervasive in many areas of research including child growth. Longitudinal mediation models are ideally modeled as repeated measurements clustered within individuals. Further, the combination of MSEM and SEM provides an ideal approach for several reasons, including the ability to assess effects at different levels of analysis, incorporation of measurement error and possible random effects that vary across individuals.
The Formation of Sulfates and the Enhancement of Cloud Condensation Nuclei in Clouds

Abstract The production of ammonium sulfate by oxidation of dissolved sulfur dioxide in cloud droplets in a wave cloud situation, and the resulting enhancement of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) released from the cloud on evaporation, have been calculated. The condensational growth of droplets formed on 75 initial CCN sizes is considered simultaneously with the production of sulfates via the Scott-Hobbs mechanism in the droplets in an air parcel moving through a wave cloud. The results show that significant increases in the concentrations of CCN active at 0.5% supersatutation can be produced by SO2 oxidation in wave clouds with short “flow-through” times (4 min) and with concentrations of SO2 and NH3 typical of unpolluted air (1 and 3 ppb, respectively). The sulfate production is found to decrease as the SO2 concentration rises above 10 ppb. This effect is due to the limited buffering capacity of the NH3. The results of the calculations indicate that the in-cloud production of ammonium sulfate can probabl...
Somatic embryos of daylily in space.

Abstract Poor growth and nuclear abnormalities observable in some space-grown plants have been hypothesized as due to a combination of factors such as degree of development, the specific way the plants are grown and the way they experience multiple stresses, some of which are space-specific. Data from a 132-day experiment on ‘Mir’ using embryogenic cell cultures of daylily ( Hemerocallis ) allow seemingly contradictory evidence from earlier Shuttle missions to be harmonized: a) the more developed an embryo the less likely it is to suffer catastrophic cell stress during growth, whereas the less developed it is, the greater its vulnerability; (b) the extent to which the stress becomes manifest is also dependent on the extent of pre-existing stresses imposed by suboptimal growing conditions; (c) an appropriate, albeit undesirable, ‘stress match’ with other non-equilibrium determinants, much like a ‘tug of war’, can result in genomic variations in space. It is not understood what is/are the feature(s) of the space environment that cause the various cell division perturbations but they have not yet been mimicked on earth. The stress symptoms were found only in space materials and, as predicted, they were most frequently encountered in smaller, less-developed materials grown under non-optimized conditions. It is concluded that, while any substantial deviation from ‘optimum’ can be a ‘stress’, spaceflight subjects vulnerable materials to cell division or DNA-repair stress(es) that appear distinctive, but remain elusive so far. Fastidiously-controlled growing environments must be devised to resolve the matter of direct versus indirect effects of space. On a practical level, it is predicted that adapting plant biotechnologies to space conditions will not be a casual matter.
Effect of ethylene glycol, urea, and N-methylated glycines on DNA thermal stability: The role of DNA base pair composition and hydration

The accumulation of the cosolutes ethylene glycol, urea, glycine, sarcosine, and glycine betaine at the single-stranded DNA surface exposed upon melting the double helix has been quantified for DNA samples of different guanine-cytosine (GC) content using the local-bulk partitioning model [Record, M. T., Jr., Zhang, W., and Anderson, C. F. (1998) Adv. Protein Chem. 51, 281-353]. Urea and ethylene glycol are both locally accumulated at single-stranded DNA relative to bulk solution. Urea exhibits a stronger affinity for adenine (A) and thymine (T) bases, leading to a greater net dehydration of these bases upon DNA melting; ethylene glycol local accumulation is practically independent of base composition. However, glycine, sarcosine, and glycine betaine are not necessarily locally accumulated at single strands after melting relative to bulk solution, although they are locally accumulated relative to double-stranded DNA. The local accumulation of glycine, sarcosine, and glycine betaine at single strands relative to double-stranded DNA decreases with bulk cosolute molality and increases with GC content for all N-methylated glycines, demonstrating a stronger affinity for G and C bases. Glycine also shows a minimum in melting temperature T(m) at 1-2 m for DNA samples of 50% GC content or less. Increasing ionic strength attenuates the local accumulation of urea, glycine, sarcosine, and glycine betaine and removes the minimum in T(m) with glycine. This attenuation in local accumulation results in counterion release during the melting transition that is dependent on water activity and, hence, cosolute molality.
RESERPINE, DEXTRO-NOREPINEPHRINE (+)-(NE) AND TYRAMINE INTERACTIONS.

Abstract 1. The effects of tyramine on the blood pressure and heart rate of reserpinized spinal cats were not changed by the intravenous infusion of (+)-norepinephrine (+)-(NE), but its effect on the nictitating membrane was greatly increased. 2. Tyramine was approximately as effective as (+)-NE in increasing the rate and the force of contractions of the isolated atria from unmedicated (control) rabbits; it had no effect on the atria from reserpinized rabbits (reserpinized preparations). 3. The sensitivity of the control and the reserpinized preparations to the inotropic effect of (+)-NE was approximately the same; at the highest concentrations the chronotropic effect was higher on the control preparations. 4. (−)-NE was considerably more active than the dextro-isomer. There was no obvious difference in the sensitivity of the control and reserpinized preparations to the chronotropic effect of (−)-NE, but its inotropic effect was higher on the latter.
National Cooperative rHu Erythropoietin Study in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure—An Interim Report

This second interim report of the National Cooperative rHu Erythropoietin Study presents data from 324 patients new to recombinant human erythropoietin (Epoetin alfa) who completed at least 12 months of study participation. Mean hematocrit levels increased to approximately 30% by month 3 in patients on hemodialysis (n = 293) and stabilized for the remainder of the study whether Epoetin alfa was administered by the intravenous (n = 250) or subcutaneous (n = 42) route. The intravenous dosage level ranged between 106.9 and 121.6 U/kg/wk; subcutaneous dosing ranged between 87.4 and 108.0 U/kg/wk; dosing levels in patients on peritoneal dialysis (n = 31) were similar, although there was a trend towards slightly higher hematocrit levels. Throughout the 12 months of the study, there was no relationship between blood pressure and either hematocrit level or Epoetin alfa dose. Approximately two thirds of the patients were receiving iron supplementation at any given time, and there was a trend towards the increased use of oral iron supplements. The incidence of adverse events in this cohort of patients was low throughout the study, and there was no relationship between the incidence of adverse events and either hematocrit level or Epoetin alfa dose. Based on an analysis of data from baseline to first follow-up, Epoetin alfa therapy resulted in improvement in several quality-of-life factors, most notable of which was vitality. Improvement occurred in all patient subgroups with some variability in the level and intensity of effect. Overall, these data demonstrate that Epoetin alfa therapy is safe and effective when used in a broad cross-section of patients on dialysis. The most significant trend observed in the study was that the Epoetin alfa dose was usually adjusted to maintain a hematocrit level of approximately 30%.
Model Continuity to Support Software Development for Distributed Robotic Systems: A Team Formation Example

Modeling, design and testing of the software underlying distributed robotic systems is a challenging task, especially when a large number of mobile robots and task coordination are involved. Model continuity, the ability to use the same model of a system throughout its design phases, provides an effective way to manage this development complexity and maintain consistency of the software. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a team-formation multi-robot system. This is used as an example to demonstrate how a modeling and simulation environment, based on the DEVS formalism, can support model continuity in the design of distributed robotic systems. This example shows how the intelligent control models of the robots are first designed and tested via simulation and, when verified mapped to physical robots with DEVS-on-a-chip “brains” for execution.
Reconsidering Assessment: From Checklist to Dialectic.

Abstract When composition teachers evaluate student essays, how well-aligned is their grading practice with what those teachers profess is important about writing? How do instructors discover this alignment? This article describes the consequences of inadvertent misalignment by analyzing a document typically found in many writing programs—an instructor's essay evaluation checklist. A critique of this common assessment instrument reveals that, in trying to promote evaluative consistency, the checklist privileges product over process, the authority of academic discourse over the autonomy of students' own voices, and an analytic predisposition to student writing as opposed to an instructor's reader-response. In so doing, the checklist undercuts the kind of composition pedagogy instructors claim to espouse in their classroom practice. Perhaps these conflicts cannot be overcome, but, in response to this precarious predicament, this essay poses this question: Can assessment find its direction and vitality by acknowledging such conflicts? A dual heuristic, of sorts, is proposed for locating assessment techniques that directly address the conflicts inherent in the checklist. This heuristic seeks out in assessment what the checklist clearly lacks: dialogic and dialectic dimensions. Defining which assessment methods best fulfill this heuristic—and in so doing more honestly align pedagogy with evaluation—is the purpose of the concluding remarks in this essay.
In vivo conduction properties of regenerating giant nerve fibers in earthworms

Non-invasive electrophysiological techniques have been used to study spatial and temporal aspects of conduction properties in regenerating earthworm giant nerve fibers. The initial coupling of medial giant fiber (MGF) spikes across the lesion can occur as early as five (and usually within seven) days after severing the ventral nerve cord. In the case of the lateral giant fiber (LGF), the initial coupling of spikes across the lesion occurs as early as 12 days after severing the cord. During the first, few days after initial coupling across the lesion, properties of the recovering giant fibers included: a) intermittent and labile coupling of spikes across the lesion, b) long conduction times (up to 6 msec) across the lesion, c) frequent occurrence of, “rebound” spikes initiated in the lesion area, and d) similarity of conduction properties across the lesion for orthodromic and antidromic spikes. Three to four weeks after initial coupling, the following changes were observed: a) increased tendency for,1:1 coupling of spikes across the lesion, b) reduction in conduction time across the lesion, and c) decreased tendency for “rebound” spikes. The results are consistent with a model in which conduction across the lesion, during the first few days after initial coupling and thereafter, occurs by means of an electrical junction established between the severed giant fibers.
Impact of Health Literacy on Socioeconomic and Racial Differences in Health in an Elderly Population

BACKGROUND: Differences in health literacy levels by race and education are widely hypothesized to contribute to health disparities, but there is little direct evidence.